Joey Magidson
Welcome back to my Home Movies! Today, none other than Tenet from Christopher Nolan is the top pick. That long awaited epic joins a really unique group of titles this week, making for a slate full of interesting options. If you’re looking for a film to pick up and give to a family member for the holidays, there are certainly ones to consider here. Read on for more…
Joey’s Top Pick
Tenet
At long last, Tenet is here. Neither the masterpiece some said or the letdown others proclaimed, it’s a complex and exciting Nolan outing, with some notable flaws. Last week, I posted my review, which you can find here. I started it off like so:
“The journey to watching Christopher Nolan‘s Tenet has been a surprisingly epic one for me. Obviously, I’m hardly the only one, but still. If you told me at the start of the year that I wouldn’t see Nolan’s latest until December, I’d think you were nuts. However, life and COVID made seeing it in a theater, after it finally was released into theaters, something I just wasn’t going to do. So, at home, on 4K, is where I finally experienced it. So, here we are. I’ve seen Tenet, and you know what? It’s good! would it have been worth traveling out of state to see, potentially putting myself at risk of contracting the virus? Of course not. But, now hitting 4K, Blu-ray, and Digital on Tuesday, it’s definitely one of 2020’s best blockbusters.”
Basically, Tenet is fun and may also frustrate the hell out of you. Still, it’s the best option this week and absolutely worth seeing, especially in 4K. Give it a shot and see what you think!
Recommended Viewing
The Beach House
Liana Liberato does a very solid job in this eco-horror film, helping to smooth over some of its rougher edges. Where The Beach House has some hit or miss moments, Liberato remains compelling and easy to watch. Consider it a decent genre option, but more evidence that she’s an actress going places…
The Dark and the Wicked
Last month, I reviewed this horror flick (read that review here), finding it bleak but ruthlessly effective. Essentially, it’s another quality Bryan Bertino effort. Here is how I started that review:
“Somewhat below the radar, Bryan Bertino is quietly becoming a force to reckon with in horror. Best known for The Strangers, Bertino has a knack for unsettling his audience. As well regarded and widely seen as The Strangers is, his previous outing, The Monster, is arguably as effective, with a phenomenal performance from Zoe Kazan. Working on small budgets, he creates a vibe of terror that serves him well. This most recent effort, The Dark and the Wicked, is more of the same. Taking a different angle for the genre than usual, Bertino again crafts something deeply dark, brutally efficient, and largely bleak. It won’t be for everyone, but fans of fright flicks should dig it in a big way.”
The Opening Act
Whenever a comedian directs a movie about their own world, it’s worth paying attention to. Steve Byrne does just that with The Opening Act, and it’s an indie with some charm and a lot of realism about life on the road. Stand up comedy is hard to do right on screen, but Byrne manages. If you’re looking for some laughs, this is one to definitely consider today…
The Wolf of Snow Hallow
Defying easy convention, The Wolf of Snow Hallow shows just how varied a talent filmmaker and actor Jim Cummings is. Making a horror comedy like this, featuring very dry humor, as well as a werewolf, is no easy task. The fact that he manages to pull it off is really quite something. Anyone looking for something different this week would do well to give it a shot!
Also Available This Week
Avenue 5: The Complete First Season (TV)
Aviva
Chick Fight
The Expanse: Season Four (TV)
Criterion Corner
Amores perros
From The Criterion Collection: “Sending shock waves through the Mexican film industry and the world, this blistering feature debut from Alejandro G. Iñárritu brought the director’s electrifying visual style and bravura multistrand storytelling to the screen with the heart-stopping impact of a primal scream. In Mexico City, the lives of three strangers—a young man mixed up in the gritty underworld of dogfighting, a glamorous woman who seems to have it all, and a mysterious assassin who is desperate to reconnect with his estranged daughter—collide in a tragic twist of fate that forever alters their personal journeys. A tour de force of violence and emotion captured in a rush of kinetic handheld camera work, Amores perros is an unforgettable plunge into a world of brutality and aching, interconnected humanity.”
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