Five Films for Your Lockdown!! (Pt. 2)

Here is the second part (obviously).  And like before, there should be enough variety to have a fair amount of picks as I continue to post! 

1. Star Trek: Beyond

         Probably what I consider to the best of this particular trilogy. The first two felt like they lost a lot of the meat of the Star Trek series. While this one does have the blockbusters tendencies of the previous films, this one felt much more authentic and spirited. Director Justin Lin (The Fast and the Furious) and writers Simon Pegg and Doug Jung, seem to understand the elements of what makes a good Star Trek experience while still incorporating the high-octane approach of the previous films. All the characters feel much, much, much more fleshed out and involved than in the last ones, and their interactions feel as they should from the series. The film also focuses on similar themes of the original series and explores the character of Kirk in ways they should have a long time ago, such as acknowledging that this is an alternate version of the original Kirk from when the timeline was changed, and how he's struggling to create his own path.



The special effects also feel much more utilized creatively and the actions scenes have much more weight, giving a sense of urgency throughout its plot to keep you engaged. The villain himself, while not perfect, has an interesting motivation, even if it's just another vengeful plan to destroy the Federation.....a third time in a row. But regardless, I've enjoyed this film thoroughly ever since I saw it in the theater and it was a incredibly refreshing entry into this very flawed trilogy. In many ways I wished this was the film they started their trilogy with and that would've helped immensely. A definite recommendation for fans and non-fans of the series.

2. Isle of Dogs

    Director Wes Anderson never fails to impress, with Isle of Dogs being his second animated film right behind Fantastic Mr. Fox. Much like his other films, his symmetric stationary shot composition is continuously perfected with every single film he's made. The animation itself, like Mr. Fox is a fantastic visually stop-motion treat full of endless, thorough attention to detail. The story itself is very well told and the characters are all as quirky and likable as you'd expect from a Wes Anderson film. The voice acting from Bryan Cranston, Scarlet Johansson, Edward Norton, Greta Gerwig, Leiv Screiber, Bill Murray, Jeff Goblum, Bob Balaban, and Bill Murray is outstanding and really brings these animated characters to life. There isn't too much to say about it without spoiling anything but this is a much-watch.

3. 12 Angry Men

       Let's go all the way back to 1957 shall we? 12 Angry Men is the go-to for any aspiring screenwriters for learning how to write spicy, sizzling, razor-sharp dialogue.  The entire film is dialogue-driven and throughout its 90-minute runtime, the film takes place in one single room with twelve jury members deciding the fate of a young boy who is accused of killing his father.  Whether you like older films or not, this film will suck you in right from the start and never take you out of it. All the characters are distinctive and pronounced, and the story continuously unfolds and evolves as the conflict escalates. This is a film I've yet to get tired of and is an absolute blast to watch. Whether you've heard of it or not, it's a bucket list-worthy watch that you won't regret.

4.Secret Sunshine

       Now I've already talked my head off about this movie so I'll keep it brief. Directed by Lee Chang-Dong (Burning), Secret Sunshine is one of the most compelling films of recent memory. Being beautiful, dark, and very sad, it's an emotion-high experience that needs to be seen. Lead actress Jeon Do-yeon won the award for Best Lead Actress at Cannes Film Festival in 2007, and it was more than well deserved. Her performance is so good that it's truly the strongest standout element of the film, showing such level of grief after a tragically defining moment of her character's life. The film explores grief and belief in the spiritual in ways that don't feel preachy or pandering. If you want more information of my thoughts on the film you can look on my blog. But if you haven't seen this film, DON'T READ THE BLOG. I highly encourage everyone to check this film out completely blind.

5. Once Upon a Time.....In Hollywood

            Quentin Tarantino's most controversial film he's done so far. This is undoubtedly his most patient and mature film to date. It's a film that acknowledges a bygone era of film-making, similar to how film is changing today. Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt, who won Best Supporting Actor at the Academy Awards, have excellent chemistry and their relationship is truly the heart of the film. Margo Robbie, with the minor screen-time she had was a sheer beauty to watch in every scene she was in. Most people heavily dislike this film, while the others are the opposite. It's not going to be everyone's cup due to it's unconventional pacing, but it displays a true example of a filmmaker who's growing and maturing and sharing an honest vision while still sticking to his roots.  Aside from stellar writing, the film has a great soundtrack and has some incredible shots, cinematography, and camerawork. The film truly captures the feel and look of the late 1960's and is consistently immersive throughout. If you haven't seen the film already and looks good to you, then give it the checkout.

Leave a comment on your thoughts on any of the films you've seen! Stay tuned for Part 3 also!