This week I’ve decided to include something called the Bin of Shame, and I’m sure you can guess exactly what will be going into it. Do you really care about Harold and Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay? Or Never Back Down, that Karate Kid knockoff that was two decades too late? I don’t. I don’t think you do. So they go into the Bin of Shame and I’m not going to mention them again. Each week I’ll chuck a few films in there, so you’ll know they exist if you really want to see them, but I will not have to lost part of my soul by writing about them. It’s a win-win-win situation.
The Band’s Visit –
Rent this film immediately. Every time I think back on it I smile. It is a simple, beautiful, but moving comedy about the human experience. Nothing of great import happens, and although the film involves Arabs and Israelis having to stay with one another, there is absolutely no politicizing. It is a film filled with tender and wonderful moments and one of the top 5 films I’ve seen this year. Along with Jellyfish (which I just reviewed), Israel seems to be having quite the cinematic revolution. Perhaps they are experiencing a ‘New Wave,’ that term pretentious cinephiles of all ages love to toss around. Anyone know of any other fantastic Israeli films I need to check out?
Recommended if you liked Lost in Translation or Lars and the Real Girl
Surfwise
This is out on DVD and my local arthouse opens it up this Friday. Do you see something wrong with that picture? Regardless, this doc about a Jack Kerouac-like father figure who packs his wife and 8 kids and takes them on a cross-country surfing trip inside a 24 ft. camper appears to be about more than what I just wrote. Daniel Getahun had a great write-up on it, and I hope to have a review up later this week.
Recommended if you like documentaries about controversial child rearing tactics. And really, who doesn’t?
Doomsday –
Post-apocalyptic genre bender FTW! Ok, I have to admit I started this the other night and fell asleep 30 minutes in. I plan on finishing it at some point, but that isn’t exactly a glowing recommendation. This one is more for the rubbernecker in you, the oh-my-gosh-I-can’t-believe-they-made-a-film-like-this side of you that just has to look. You know who you are. This is 28 Days Later meets Mad Max meets King Arthur meets Gladiator meets pure insanity. Not a good film by any means, but certainly a film.
Recommended if you like all of the films I mentioned above and have been longing for someone to combine them into one.
Shine a Light
I betray my musical documentary/biopic prejudice again by putting this at the bottom of the list. While I loved U2 3D, neither The Rolling Stones nor Scorsese really do it for me (I know, I know, I’m a Philistine), and this doesn’t appeal in the slightest. I got rapped hard on the knuckles the last time I did this with a musical biopic (Anton Corbijn’s Control), so perhaps I will be reprimanded once again.
Recommended if you disagree with everything I just wrote.
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