Top 3 of September 2018

Let me start this month's iteration Top 5 by apologizing to all of you and myself. This past September, I barely managed to watch five new films. Of those five, only three of them were worthy of making my "prestigious" list. Beyond attending an intense new film program and making new friends, I watched more old films this past month than new ones. Almost every class I'm in uses examples of older movies during lectures to display high-level film making and storytelling in action. Some of the highlights were No Country for Old Men (2007), Juno (2007), American Beauty (1999) and The Godfather (1972).

Regardless of my excuses, I'm still here to tell you guys about the best movies I watched for the first time this month. Two of the movies on my list I owe thanks to Mubi, an online streaming service that showcases hot international movies. The website rotates new movies every thirty days, adding a new film every day and taking one out. The result is an online educated film community and dozens of amazing international movies. Did I also mention it's free for film students? If you're a student or interested in quality international cinema, go check out Mubi and what they have to offer!

Without further ado, here's the Top 3 films I watched this month for the first time:

#3: Fish Tank

Written and Directed by Andrea Arnold

Courtesy of Mubi's streaming service, Fish Tank is a powerful Independent film from the United Kingdom starring Michael Fassbender and (in her breakout role) Katie Jarvis. It tells the story of a fifteen year old teenager named Mia (Jarvis) living with her sister and mother in a run-down flat. Mia's daily routine involves starting beef with other girls around town, hip-hop break dancing, bumming any alcohol she can get her hands on and attempting to free an old chained up horse. But one day when Mia's mother brings home a new boyfriend (Fassbender) her perspective on life changes and nothing for her is the same ever again. It's a fantastically written, shot and directed film with hypnotizing visuals and incredibly vivid characters. The cherry on top is the wonderful soundtrack including songs from Eric B. and Rakim, Nas, James Brown and several other amazing artists. This movie left me feeling entranced, dirty, refreshed and awe-struck all at the same time.

#2: Kramer vs Kramer (1979)

Directed by Robert Benton

Straight up drama. Straight up acting prowess. Straight up storytelling skill. These are a few of the amazing qualities that make up Kramer vs Kramer. Two A list actors at the top of their game in the height of their careers is already a recipe for success, let alone a powerful story and wonderful cinematic quality. Kramer vs Kramer tells the story of two parents, played by Dustin Hoffman and Meryl Streep, going through a divorce and how it affects their lives and those close to them. This change is most drastically felt in the life and well being of their son. Growing up in New York is hard enough already; each hardship is felt by everyone, including the viewer. Not only does this movie take a powerful stance on divorce but it also has a strong commentary on the immense relationship between a father and his son. This movie is truly a drama for the ages and stands out, for me, as Hoffman and Streep's best performances ever.

#1: Caché (2005)

Written and Directed by Michael Haneke

After watching The English Patient (1996) I became an instant fan of Juliette Binoche. For me, watching this film started as a chance to see her act again. What I didn't expect was 117 minutes of pure ART. Caché tells the story of the Laurent family; Anne (Binoche) is a writer and her husband Georges (played by Daniel Auteuil) is a television personality who interviews authors and helps promote them on their book tours. Life is normal for them until a series of strange videotapes begin appearing at their doorstep from an unknown stalker. What ensues is an intense investigation and winding road that leads to tragedy, suspense and heavy guilt. Michael Haneke's style is almost documentarian and it serves this film brilliantly. The camera captures the raw action and emotion of the whole scene from just one or two angles and we never know (as an audience) if we're watching as the stalker through his video camera or as a mere fly on the wall. A truly powerful film with a truly powerful theme and higly intellectual message, Caché will have you watching once and then coming back hungry for more.

October brings new challenges and new beginnings. The end of my first term at VFS and the beginning of my second one. Let's hope I have time between terms to catch up on some new movies and relax! Thank you so very much for reading and until next time...

-morgan