Unfortunately, because school is starting soon, this will be my last week of REEL Recommendations. This is not to say that I will not continue this in the future, but I am ending this for now. But, to tide you over, as you can see, this week I am giving you 12 picks. This week, all 12 films are a smattering of my favorite films across all genres and decades. I wanted to end with a bang. This has been so much fun for me and I hope it has been for you. I will still of course be doing reviews on my site when we can start going back to movies, but until then, I hope this can suffice. 

- Andrew 

Who Framed Roger Rabbit? is available for free on Disney+ (with subscription) or to rent/buy anywhere • Philadelphia is available for free with Starz (with subscription) or to rent/buy anywhere • Bowfinger is available for free with Cinemax (with subscription) or to rent/buy anywhere • Memento is available for free on Amazon Prime (with membership), FilmRise (can access through app, or on YouTube), or to rent/buy anywhere • The Devil Wears Prada is available to rent/buy anywhere• Tropic Thunder is available to rent/buy anywhere • The Princess and the Frog is available for free on Disney+ (with subscription) or to rent/buy anywhere • Bridesmaids is available for free on HBO Max (with subscription) or to rent/buy anywhere• Interstellar is available to watch on FXNOW (with subcription) or to rent/buy anywhere • The Grand Budapest Hotel is available to rent/buy anywhere • Arrival is available to rent/buy anywhere • Bad Times at the El Royale is available for free with Cinemax (with subscription) or to rent/buy anywhere

one of the most influential film of all time. This film utilizes older conventions in Hollywood, but it also creates new ones, technical conventions that have lasted through time. It was made and produced by people who had no prior film experience. Every actor was new to film at the time. It also has an excellent way of story-telling, one that was unheard of at the time. It very well written and it unfolds in such an entertaining way. While I don't consider it the greatest film ever made, it is still a seminal masterpiece.

My second choice this week is Steven Speilberg's 1985 film The Color Purple. The film follows the life of Celie Johnson from her time as a young teenager under the control of her abusive father to her life as a 50-year-old woman. This is an excellent film about the struggle to find identity especially since it looks through the lens of a southern Black woman.  The film features excellent debut performances from Whoopi Goldberg and Oprah Winfrey, both of whom were nominated for Academy Awards. Fun fact: this film is tied with The Turning Point (1977, dir. Herbert Ross) for the most Oscar nominations without a single win (11). This film has also spawned a stage musical adaptation that is one of my favorite stage musicals ever.

Third this week, we have Good Will Hunting (1997, dir. Gus van Sant). Now this one I might catch some flak for because the film that won Best Picture this year was the infamous Titanic (1997, dir. James Cameron). I personally believe that this film is better than Titanic. It is a compelling story about a janitor named Will Hunting at M.I.T. who discovers that he is a mathematical genius who, with the help of his therapist Sean, played wonderfully by the late Robin Williams, tries to find direction in his life. It is very moving and heartwarming. It is a pretty standard tale of someone who is seeking redemption in life, but it is the excellent screenplay by stars Matt Damon and Ben Affleck and the performances from Matt Damon and Robin Williams that make this film excel. See, Titanic is fantastic, but it's something about this film that just gives it the edge.

The fourth pick this week is one of my all-time favorites (I actually saw this film in theaters for my 14th birthday): Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017, dir. Martin McDonagh). I remember watching the Oscars this year and being so mad that The Shape of Water (2017, dir. Guillermo del Toro) won Best Picture. I have grown since then and appreciate that film (it is quite good) but I still think that Three Billboards is superior. It is about a woman who, after her daughter is brutally murdered, rents three billboards outside of town  to bring attention to the lack of action done by the police department and she creates quite a stir in the community. This film succeeds in so many different elements. It is darkly comedic, which on the surface seems like an odd choice, but it really works. It's a a gripping story complete with excellent performances, including one of my favorite performances ever from Frances McDormand. She owns every single scene that she's in and she's so powerful in this role. I love it. Another highlight is Sam Rockwell's performance. He plays a racist alcoholic cop with anger issues. His performance is so raw and real. 

My final choice is my third recommendation from acclaimed director Spike Lee: his recent 2018 joint BlacKkKlansman. This film lost to Green Book (2018, dir. Peter Farrelly). I don't even wanna go into why Green Book shouldn't have won (I'm happy for Mahershala, though). All I'll say is, it's not it. This film is it. It follows the story of Ron Stallworth, the first black police officer in Colorado Springs, who successfully infiltrates the Ku Klux Klan with the help of his partner Flip Zimmerman. This is a crazy true story, but it carries a lot of resonance for now, especially since this film includes footage from the 2017 Charlottesville attacks (they happened about a year prior to the film's release). It's so poignant and powerful. Spike Lee deserved all of the awards attention that he received for this film (he won his first Oscar for the screenplay... LONG OVERDUE).  I reviewed it last year, so for more thoughts, check that out here.

Citizen Kane is available for free on HBO Max (with subscription) or to rent/buy anywhere • The Color Purple is available for free on Hulu (with subscription) or to rent/buy anywhere • Good Will Hunting is available for free on HBO Max (with subscription), all Showtime platforms (with subscription), or to rent/buy anywhere • Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri is available to rent/buy anywhere • BlacKkKlansman is available to rent/buy anywhere

one of the most effective in terms of psychological disturbance. In fact, this film is so disturbing, I would classify it as a horror film. The film dives into the mind of a serial killer and tries to dissect it and does so excellently. Hannibal Lector is widely considered one of the greatest villains of all time, and I have to agree. Sir Anthony Hopkins performance is so chilling, it will stay with you for a while. I don not recommend watching this film at night if you’re like me and are very skittish.

Note: This film is VERY, VERY disturbing and psychologically manipulative. If you cannot handle films of this type, do not watch this. I do not want to be responsible for any mental breakdowns. If you suffer from mental illness, or poor mental stability, DO NOT watch this film. It could be easily triggering. It is an excellent film, just not for the faint of heart.

The second pick for this week, oddly enough, contains another one of the greatest villain portrayals in cinema history: Christopher Nolan’s 2008 sequel to his 2006 film Batman Begins, The Dark Knight. For those that are unfamiliar, this is the second film in the Dark Knight trilogy, Christopher Nolan’s take on Batman. This is my favorite Batman film. It’s the best film in this trilogy. It’s not only a great comic book film, it’s a great film all around. It contains one of the greatest villain performances ever and one of the best performances from the 21st century, Heath Ledger’s Joker. He BECOMES the Joker. Like, it’s borderline scary how good it is. Sadly, he passed away before the film was released, but he was posthumously awarded the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor and tons of other awards. Actually, a fun fact about this film and the Oscars… This film is the reason for the expanded Best picture category. If you are unaware, the Best Picture category, for forever, had 5 nominees, but after this film was snubbed for a Best Picture nomination, there was so much backlash that the Academy announced that they would expand the number of nominees in the category to 10. So now, anywhere between 5 and 10 films can be nominated for Best Picture and that is because of this film.

My third pick this week is my favorite film from one of my favorite franchises… the fourth Mission: Impossible film, Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol. In this installment, Ethan Hunt and his team chase a terrorist who has access to Russian nuclear launch codes and is planning an attack on the US after the IMF being implicated in the bombing of the Kremlin. This is film is the installment when the franchise started its turnaround to become a fun and noteworthy franchise. Prior to this film, the franchise established itself as having a bit of a darker tone and being a bit more serious, especially with the third installment. But this was the one that took it in a different and better direction. This is a great, fun, and funny action film with some great visuals and a death-defying stunt from Tom Cruise (he does his own stunts) where he climbs up the side of the tallest building in the world. From here on, every film, I feel, has exceeded the expectations set by the previous installment, but this one is my favorite because it set the tone for the best films of the franchise.

My fourth film this week is one of the funniest films I’ve ever seen: the successor to their 2012 film 21 Jump Street, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller’s 2014 sequel 22 Jump Street. This second installment in the Jump Street franchise follows Jenko and Schmidt’s shenanigans as they go undercover as college students to try to find the supplier of a new drug called WHYPHY. It is absolutely hilarious. I was belly-laughing during the entire film. I personally think that this film is better than 21 Jump Street because it is able to stick to the comedic style established in the first film and expand on it well. The film is very meta and self-referential which is hilarious. It knows what kind of movie it is, and it sticks to it. Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum are great together, and Ice Cube actually does an excellent job here as the self-titled “Angry Black Captain.” This and Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol are probably the most fun and light movies this week. So, if you’re looking for some levity in your week, especially if you need to calm down after hearing the Donald Trump wants to delay the election or if you need to cheer up after John Lewis’ funeral, I would go with either of these.

My last recommendation this week is one of the most successful sequels I’ve seen: Blade Runner 2049 (2017, dir. Denis Villeneuve). It follows K, a new Blade Runner, who unearths a secret that could damage society as he knows it, so he must find Rick Deckard, a former Blade Runner, who’s been missing for 30 years. By successful sequel, I mean that it is one of the best follow-up films I’ve seen. It takes a new character, K, in a universe that we know and tells his story, while also finishing the original’s main character, Deckard, story arch. It is also a beautiful film. I love Denis Villeneuve’s style. It’s always very sleek and clean. His film Arrival is one of my Top 5 films of all time. This film is also in my Top 50 (click here to see where it falls).

The Silence of the Lambs is available for free on Netflix (with subscription), Amazon Prime (with membership), or to rent/buy anywhere • The Dark Knight is available for free on Hulu (with subscription) or to rent/buy anywhere • Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol is available for free on Hulu (with subscription), Amazon Prime (with membership), or to rent/buy anywhere • 22 Jump Street is available to rent/buy anywhere • Blade Runner 2049 is available to rent/buy anywhere

toxic relationship with the other men in his ward and the totalitarian nurse that watches over them, Nurse Ratched. It's a great anti-establishment film about someone who is in touch with themselves in a place where he's not allowed to be.  It is exceptionally profound, even though at first glance it might not seem that way. The performances are great throughout the film. It stars a pre-Taxi Danny DeVito and a pre-Back to the Future Christopher Lloyd who are both great., but the stand-outs for me are from Jack Nicholson, Louise Fletcher, and Will Sampson as the kind of calm center of the film. 

The second pick this week, Forrest Gump (1994, dir. Robert Zemeckis), is my second favorite film of all-time. I actually used to say that it was my favorite because nobody ever knew what Dreamgirls was, so I would just say that my favorite movie was Forrest Gump. I used to joke that Forrest Gump was my favorite movie to white people. I don't do that anymore because I've grown up but that was something that I did for a while. This is no shade to the film, which is fantastic. There's a reason why it's one of my ultimate favorites. If you don’t know, Forrest Gump is about the life of Forrest Gump, an academically challenged, but sweet, man who loves to run. The film follows him through every big moment in his life, from being in the Vietnam War to running from coast to coast for no reason. I love this film for two reasons. 1) this is the most heartfelt and heartwarming story I've ever encountered and 2) Tom Hanks. This film made Tom Hanks become my favorite actor. He plays the role with such grace and it's so transformative, you can't help but love him. I mean, he IS America's dad.

My third pick this week is Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (2014, dir. Alejandro G. Iñárritu). This is one of the most inventive and creative films I've seen, and the reason why is that this film utilizes every tool of filmmaking excellently. This film is presented as one continuous shot and that is just the most perfect choice. Before I forget, the film is about a semi-washed-up Superhero actor who is trying to make a comeback on Broadway with a show that he has written and is directing. The film is more of a character study of a man who is struggling with self-denial (embodied by a voiceover that acts as his subconscious). It is absolutely brilliant. The cinematography, editing, performances, even the visual effects (there are some superhero-like sequences in this film) are fantastic. I can't believe I didn't see this film until several years after it was released. I actually saw this for the first time a couple of months ago and it's already become one of my favorite movies of all-time.

My fourth pick has probably the most interesting story around it... At the 2017 Academy Awards, the wrong movie was announced as the winner for Best Picture. Initially, La La Land (2016, dir. Damien Chazelle) was announced as the winner. The error was not corrected for a while, with the producers even going so far as giving their acceptance speeches. Eventually, the presenters returned to the stage and said that there has been a mistake and then Moonlight (2016, dir. Barry Jenkins) was correctly awarded the Best Picture Oscar, leaving everyone's mouths, including mine, agape. Not only was the wrong movie awarded the Oscar, but it happened on live television for the ENTIRE WORLD TO SEE. It was magnificent, especially since the white people on stage had to give their awards to the rightful winners, black people... It's quite poetic if you think about. But, I have to say that Moonlight was more deserving of the award anyway. The film, which follows a black man from Miami struggling with his sexuality from adolescence to adulthood, is absolutely beautiful in every aspect. I love Barry Jenkins' visual style (his follow-up to this film If Beale Street Could Talk, I feel is an even better example of it). It perfectly matches the stories that he tells. The film features stellar performances, particularly from Mahershala Ali (he received an Oscar for this performance), and the film's cinematography and score are notable as well.

My final pick for this week is the most recent Best Picture winner, my favorite film from last year, and one of my absolute favorite movies, Parasite (2019, dir. Bong Joon-Ho). I've already written a review on this film (you can find it under Reviews -> 2020 Best Picture Nominees Reviews, or here. Check it out!) so I will keep this short. The following is the only information that I wish to divulge about the film itself: "The destitute Kim Clan attempts to swindle the wealthy Park family out of their fortune." That's all that I can give away without spoiling anything. I went into this film almost completely blind (I had seen a trailer, but their vague, so they won't help) and I was completely astounded. My brother and I sat in complete silence for 5 minutes after it was finished because we were so shocked at how good it was. I can't recommend this film enough. It is a brilliant satire about greed and power. It's *chef's kiss*. Please go check this one out.

One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest is available to rent/buy anywhere • Forrest Gump is available for free with Starz (with subscription) or to rent/buy • Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) is available to rent/buy anywhere • Moonlight is available for free on Netflix (with subscription) or to rent/buy anywhere • Parasite is available for free on Hulu (with subscription) or to rent/buy anywhere

I love a good biopic. I like them because I enjoy films that make me learn something. My favorite part is at the end when the facts about where all the characters ended up in life show up. Sometimes, they’re paired with pictures so you can see if the people that were cast in the movie look like the people they’re portraying and if they don’t and you’re just like, “Why did they- Like they didn’t put any thought into it?” But then sometimes, they do look alike, and you’re like, “Wow, they really casted this well…” I’m going on a tangent. My point is that this week I’ve picked some biopics that are well cast, very interesting, and pretty damn good.

My first pick this week is one that you’ve probably heard a lot about in recent weeks: Spike Lee’s 1992 film Malcolm X. As indicated by the title, the film is about the life of Malcolm X, from his time as a small-time criminal to his development into the controversial Black Nationalist leader we know him as today. And I really only have one thing to say about this film. If you don’t watch it for its compelling story, stellar cinematography and costume design, or its powerful message, watch it for this reason… DENZEL WASHINGTON. Widely considered one of the most egregious snubs in Academy Awards history, Denzel’s performance in this film is so magnificent, I- I don’t know what else I can say. It’s transformative. He becomes Malcolm X in this film and it’s a true marvel to witness. He should have won the Oscar that year, but it’s fine. He won the Oscar for this film a couple of years later. The Academy said that the win was for Training Day, but we all know that it was to make up for him being snubbed for this one.

The second choice for this week is Catch Me If You Can (2002, dir. Steven Spielberg). It follows the story of Frank Abagnale Jr., who successfully forged millions of dollars while posing as a pilot, pediatrician, and attorney before his 19th birthday, and the FBI Agent who tries to track him down, Carl Hanratty. There are some great performances here from Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hanks (always my favorite), and Christopher Walken, who was actually nominated for an Academy Award for his performance in this film. This film, more than anything, is a fun adventure. I love watching the cat and mouse game unfold here. So, if you’re like me and enjoy heists and crime films, then this is for you.

My third choice for this week is Morten Tyldum’s 2014 film The Imitation Game. The film follows Alan Turing, a mathematical genius, and his crew of code-breakers who create a machine to try to crack the German Enigma Code to give the Allies an advantage in World War II, and inadvertently create what we now know today as a computer. I remember seeing this film for the first time in 2014 when it came out and being in love with it. It’s such a compelling story, and even though it’s wat really happened, it seems like a fabricated story with twists and turns. The entire concept of the film can be boiled down to a “race against time,” but even to say that is not true. There are several layers to the story, with the interactions and rich relationships between characters and the internal struggle that Turing has with his homosexuality (it would later be the ultimate cause of his death). The film keeps you engaged throughout, a fantastic quality for a film to possess.

The fourth choice this week is also the second crime-based film this week: Can You Ever Forgive Me? (2018, dir. Marielle Heller). It follows the story of Lee Israel, a best-selling celebrity biographer, and her turn to deception and forgery for money. She forges pieces of writing by prominent celebrities for money with the help of her friend Jack. This is another one of those films that has a very enticing story. I love to see films where the protagonist pushes boundaries of legality. I always enjoy seeing how far they are willing to go and how long they can get away with it. This is one of those films. You are so focused in the story because you want to find out when it’s all gonna come crashing down. Now, it is notable that the two actors in the leading performances, Melissa McCarthy (my favorite comedic actress) and Richard E. Grant, are both comedic actors. They are both able to balance the comedic elements of their performances with the dramatic very well. There’s a reason they were both nominated for Academy Awards for their performances in this film.

The fifth pick for this week was released on Netflix less than a year ago: Dolemite is My Name (2019, dir. Craig Brewer). Starring my favorite comedic actor Eddie Murphy, the film follows Rudy Ray Moore, a comedy and rap pioneer, as he seeks to create his own Blaxploitation film Dolemite in the 1970s. This is an interesting one because it’s a comedy. A lot of times, biopics are dramatic, but this one is a pure comedy (and a pretty good one, too). This film was viewed as the resurgence of Eddie Murphy, and rightfully so. He hasn’t been this strong in a performance since Dreamgirls (scroll down to last week for my thoughts on that film). It was egregious that he wasn’t nominated for Best Actor at the Academy Awards. But, he’s not the only one who holds their own. The supporting cast of characters in this film is stellar, particularly Wesley Snipes as director/star D’Urville Martin and Da’Vine Joy Randolph as Lady Reed. Also, one more thing I must mention… the costume design in this film is astronomical! Designer Ruth E. Carter (who costume designed Malcolm X and Black Panther, for which she won an Oscar) did the sh*t out of these costumes. Everything is handmade and it looks amazing. She was really snubbed for Best Costume Design.

And for this week, I’ve decided to give y’all a bonus film. I wanted to start the second half of REEL Recommendations off strong, so here you go.

My final pick for this week technically fits into the category, so I made an exception. The Death of Stalin (2017, dir. Armando Iannucci), while not necessarily true (most events depicted in the film are fictional), is based AROUND real events and people. It’s a sort of historical fiction film. It is about the aftermath of Josef Stalin’s death and the people in his cabinet trying to deal with that and the country at the same time. This is a comedy and it’s quite hilarious. If you’ve seen/like Veep, director Armando Iannucci’s other prominent creation, it’s the same kind of humor: political mixed with scathing insults and slapstick. Veep is one of my favorite TV shows, so that can probably tell you where I fall on this film. This film is very sharply written and hilarious throughout. The performances are great, particularly Steve Buscemi. I will say about this film that it is VERY dialogue focused, meaning that you have to pay attention to the dialogue to understand the humor. This is not mindless humor. It requires you to think a little bit and that’s one of the reasons that I like it. It doesn’t reduce everything to the lowest common denominator. It treats its audience like they’re not stupid.

Malcolm X is available for free on Netflix (with subscription) or to rent/buy anywhere • Catch Me If You Can is available for free on HBO Max (with subscription), all Showtime platforms (with subscription), Amazon Prime (with membership; with ads), or to rent/buy anywhere • The Imitation Game is available to rent/buy anywhere • Can You Ever Forgive Me? is available for free on all Cinemax platforms (with subscription) or to rent/buy anywhere • Dolemite is My Name is ONLY available for free on Netflix (with subscription) • The Death of Stalin is available for free on Netflix (with subscription) or to rent/buy anywhere

and the film has a very impressive visual style. The cinematography and production design are particularly great. This film, at the time, actually was the most expensive film made in New York City. Fun fact: There is a scene in the film that happens in a subway station that, remarkably, used to terrify me. When you see it, you’ll know what I’m talking about and you’ll understand that that is justifiably terrifying for a young child.

The second selection for this week is certainly the funniest: Frank Oz’s 1986 sci-fi musical comedy Little Shop of Horrors. For those unfamiliar, the film follows Seymour Krelborn, a plant enthusiast, who cultivates a plant that survives off eating people. First things first, this film is NOT a horror movie. There are horror elements in terms of the “eating people” aspect, but it’s not scary. It’s quite funny. There are some comedic cameos from Steve Martin and Bill Murray that are quite memorable. Steve Martin’s song “Dentist!” is probably my favorite of all of them. It’s very zany and quick-witted and a very brisk 94 minutes. So, it’s not a long watch. This film is one of the more obviously entertaining, if I were to generalize, but don’t give up hope yet. We still got some bangers left.

My third recommendation this week is, interestingly enough, a Best Picture winner: Chicago (2002, dir. Rob Marshall). It’s about two murderesses on death row in 1920s Chicago that develop a rivalry and battle for publicity and fame. It’s an excellent film as well as an enticing musical. It’s visually stunning. It won 5 other Oscars including Best Art Direction-Set Decoration and Best Costume Design. The musical numbers are dazzling. They, unlike other musicals, are presented as performances and/or almost as dream sequences with great choreography and production design. The music has a very jazz-like feel which gives it a very original quality. This film does include the classic “Cell Block Tango” and I must say, it is one of the best musical sequences I’ve seen.

The fourth pick this week is one that I’m delighted to share with you. This week, I present to you, my favorite movie of all time, Dreamgirls (2006, dir. Bill Condon). The film follows a trio of soul singers from the 1960s and is loosely based on the story of Motown and The Supremes. It is an adaptation of the 1981 musical of the same name, and it is fantastic. The music is some of my favorite, period. The big Act I finale “And I’m Telling You (I’m Not Going)” is one of my absolute favorite songs. The film is beautiful, especially in its production design. The production designer for this movie and Chicago are actually the same person. Also, the writer/director of this film wrote Chicago as well. The film tackles a lot of issues that plagued the artists of the time period like appropriation (white people stealing black people’s music) and not being able to crossover to popularity amongst white audiences. It’s also about chasing dreams and accomplishing goals no matter the obstacle. It’s just a really great movie. I can’t end this without mentioning the performances. Everyone in this movie, even Beyonce who, let’s just say, is not known for her acting, does a great job, but the standouts are Jennifer Hudson and Eddie Murphy. Both of them were nominated for the Supporting Role Oscars and Hudson won, understandably so. Eddie Murphy plays a role that you never seen him in before and he does it so well, it makes you wonder why he had such a bad string of films in the late 90s and early 2000s. And, Jennifer Hudson … Can we just take a moment to appreciate the magic that is Jennifer Hudson’s performance in this film? I’ll wait … She, in her debut film role, I might add, brings a raw and ferocious energy to Effie that is so perfect that you can’t do anything but root for her. Her voice is *chef’s kiss*. I mean, I can unabashedly say that this her movie. This is what, in addition to American Idol, shot her to the level of celebrity she has now.

Listen, Dreamgirls has been such a large part of my life ever since it was released in 2006. I mean, we have home videos of me and my siblings dancing to “Steppin’ to the Bad Side.” We all know all the words to all the songs. I joke that we are the worst people to watch this with, because you won’t be able to hear the movie. Of everything that I’ve ever seen, there has never been a film that has given me as much joy as this one. So, I ask, if you were ever going to watch any of these five films, in my opinion, you can’t do better than Dreamgirls.

My last recommendation for this week is the third that is in my Top 50 Films of all time (here): Adam Shankman’s 2007 adaptation of Hairspray. This is based on a stage musical of the same name that is based on a 1988 film of the same name (not a musical). It is about a plus-sized girl in 1962 segregated Baltimore whose dream is to be a dancer on the Corny Collins Show and her want for integration. This is another one of my childhood favorites. Every time we watch this, by the end, we are up and dancing with the people on screen. Of the films this week, this is probably the one that will make want to dance the most. The music has a danceable quality, something that not a lot of musicals have. This film I would recommend solely based on its enjoyment quality.  You'll probably have the most fun watching this one.

The Wiz is available for free with Starz (with subscription) or to rent/buy anywhere • Little Shop of Horrors is available for free on all HBO platforms (with subscription) or to rent/buy anywhere • Chicago is available for free on HBO Max (with subscription), Showtime platforms (with subscription), or to rent/buy anywhere • Dreamgirls is available to rent/buy anywhere • Hairspray is available for free on HBO Max (with subscription; until Aug. 1, 2020) or to rent/buy anywhere

The first film that I have selected this week you might not have heard of, but you’ve probably heard the following quote from it: “We don’t need no stinkin’ badges,” or something to that effect. This is John Huston’s classic 1948 film The Treasure of the Sierra Madre. The film is about three men on their quest to discover gold in the Sierra Madre mountains and how this gold and greed corrupts them. It’s a great adventure western about the power and influence of greed. Though you might not have heard of it, its influence and notoriety are undeniable. It was one of the first films to be shot on location outside of the United States (it was shot and takes place in Mexico). It is cited as a favorite film by renowned directors like Stanley Kubrick, Spike Lee, Sam Raimi, and Paul Thomas Anderson. Spike Lee actually cited this film as a direct influence on his most recent joint, Da 5 Bloods.

The next film I’ve chosen, 12 Angry Men (1957, dir. Sidney Lumet), is arguably the most famous American courtroom drama ever. Well, either this film or To Kill A Mockingbird (1962, dir. Robert Mulligan), but the latter came out after this film, so it wins. 12 Angry Men is based on a teleplay of the same name about 12 jurors, one of whom doesn’t agree with everyone else, that try to come to a decision on a murder case involving an 18-year-old Puerto Rican boy. It’s a very powerful and impactful drama, which is especially remarkable because this film takes place solely in one location. This film proves the power that a good screenplay and strong cast have, because to be honest, that’s all that the film has to hold on to. If you’re like me and you enjoy courtroom dramas, this is THE film for you. I also must commend the film for it’s runtime. It does everything that it needs to do in 96 minutes, a rarity for the time period (*cough*, Lawrence of Arabia, Gone with the Wind, The Ten Commandments, and several others, *cough*).

My third choice this week - though a Best Picture winner - I must admit, I didn’t really enjoy at first. The first hour or so of West Side Story (1961, dir. Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins) made me question why this film was considered a classic. It moves kind of slowly and the songs aren’t really gripping. But then, I got to the big number, “America,” sung principally by Anita and Bernardo. They sing about what it’s like to be an immigrant in America and certain issues that plague them, and from then on, I was in. It’s like that number is the catalyst for everything that makes this film so good. It’s energetic, fun, emotional, and exciting all at the same time. The music is pretty good, it’s not all terrific but the best moments were the dance routine during “Cool,” the song “Somewhere,” and of course, all of the song “America.” The film is 2 and a ½ hours long, and it does feel that at some points, but aside from that, this is probably the most fun film of the recommendations this week. This or The Treasure of the Sierra Madre. 

The fourth film I’ve selected this week is also the second Best Picture winner this week, Norman Jewison’s 1967 film In the Heat of the Night. Starring Sidney Poitier, the most famous black actor of the time, this film follows a white police officer in Mississippi who reluctantly receives help on a murder investigation from a Black detective after having wrongly accused him of the murder. This film is a strong murder mystery with strong performances from Rod Steiger and Sidney Poitier. Now, unfortunately, In the Heat of the Night is an example of the films that populated this era - and still exist today – that contain a trope known as the “Magical Negro.” “Magical Negro” is a term that was popularized in the early 2000s by director Spike Lee that essentially means “a black supporting character who comes to the aid of white main characters in a film.” You’ve seen it in films such as Driving Miss Daisy, Ghost, Green Book, and this film. They often exist as a way for white characters to recognize their own prejudiced, racist, and/or insensitive ways. This trope was mainly employed to make white audiences feel better about themselves and further push the notion that white people are the ultimate saviors. In this film, Poitier’s Detective Tubbs goes against this by serving a purpose outside of that (helping the investigation) but that element is still very much present in a more subtle way. This is not a reason to not watch the film, but, again, we must take everything that we see with a grain of salt.

The last recommendation this week is an early classic from one of the greatest directors of all-time, Taxi Driver (1976, dir. Martin Scorsese). The film follows a mentally unstable insomniac veteran who works as a nighttime taxi driver. He pursues a relationship and meets an underage prostitute who he tries to liberate from her pimp. This film is an excellent character study about a man who slowly delves into madness. And, another classic quote comes from this film: “You talkin’ to me? You talkin’ to me? Well, I’m the only one here. Who the f*ck do you think you’re talkin’ to?” The film is actually cited as a direct influence on last year’s Joker. In all honesty, Joker is almost a copy of this film. They are incredibly similar. But anyways, this is a MOVIE. By that, I mean it’s an experience. The film takes such a hard-left turn in the last 20-30 minutes. I was absolutely glued to the screen. Lastly, a disclaimer. This film is very dark, gritty, and it verges on being unsettling. If you’re not one who can handle very tonally dark films, this might not be for you. But, if you can, I wholeheartedly recommend this.

The Treasure of the Sierra Madre is available for free on HBO Max (with subscription) or to rent/buy anywhere • 12 Angry Men is available for free on Amazon Prime (with membership), or to rent/buy anywhere • West Side Story is available for free on Netflix (with subscription), Amazon Prime (with membership), Hulu (with subscription), or to rent/buy anywhere • In the Heat of the Night is available for free on Amazon Prime (with membership) or to rent/buy anywhere • Taxi Driver is available for free on Netflix (with subscription) or to rent/buy anywhere

It's a technique that I believe works very well. This film is crazy suspenseful, which is a testament to Hitchcock’s incredible skill. I mean, he is often referred to as the Master of Suspense. This film, for about the first 20-30 minutes, might not seem worth it. But by the end, you will have been on one of the most fun and tense journeys ever. For me, the brilliance of it didn’t kick in until I realized that every quiet moment is there to build the suspense. Everything builds and builds, then everything reaches a fever pitch. By the end, you will be so satisfied.

The next selection for this week was an awards darling of the early 2010s: Gravity (2013, dir. Alfonso Cuarón). It is about a woman who is stranded alone in space and her quest to get home. This is one of the most technically stunning films I’ve ever seen. It’s just beautiful. The winning aspect is the film’s cinematography by accomplished cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki. He captures her loneliness in the vastness of space so well, it’s amazing. Throw in some strong direction from Alfonso Cuarón and an excellent performance from Sandra Bullock and you've got an excellent film. This film did win 7 Academy Awards, including Best Director and Best Cinematography, so I'm not far off, I guess. 

My third pick for this week, and my first from 2015, is Ridley Scott's The Martian. It stars Matt Damon as a botanist who is left stranded on Mars after his team leaves him because they think he’s dead. This film is so good. One of the hallmarks of this film is just how enjoyable it is. When you take into consideration how dire Mark’s situation is, you’d think this would be the saddest thing ever, but the fact that this is fun, funny, and enjoyable is a testament to the film. And for those who have strong opinions on this, I know that this is not a comedy (if you’re familiar with the Golden Globes controversy of 2016, you’ll understand), so get off my case. Also, fun fact: Famed Astrophysicist Neil DeGrasse Tyson considers this film to be the most accurate, in terms of the science behind it, science-fiction film. So, that’s something.

My second 2015 pick, and fourth overall, is a film that, of which, I’m sure a lot of you haven’t even heard: Anomalisa (2015, dir. Charlie Kaufman and Duke Johnson). This one is certainly interesting. It’s a stop-motion animated film about an author/speaker that has become so engrossed in the mundanity of life that everyone sounds the same. That means that every character that isn’t him is voiced the same way by the same person. It doesn’t matter male or female, young or old… It’s the same voice. It’s a choice that I think works wonders for the film. But he encounters a woman who sounds different. It’s about his exploration of and meditation on this relationship and his life over the course of one night in Cincinnati. The film explores questions about life, love, solitude, and human connection in an excellently subtle way. I just think it’s a very interesting experience. It’s one of the more odd and surreal films I’ve seen. This film was nominated for Best Animated Feature at the 88th Academy Awards (it lost to Inside Out, so I’m not mad at all) and another fun fact, this film was crowd-funded using Kickstarter. All 1,000 or so people who donated to the campaign are listed in the credits.

My final pick for this week is the 2015 Best Picture Nominee The Revenant (2015, dir. Alejandro González Iñárritu). This is my favorite survival film. It’s a true story about a man who is left for dead after a bear mauling in the American Midwest in the winter. It’s about his solo quest for revenge and his survival in the wilderness. Some of you might know this film as the one that won Leonardo DiCaprio his Oscar, because it is. I think this film is beautiful. All of the lighting is natural which gives the film a great look. It’s also a very immersive experience. There are a lot of very beautiful wide shots and just overall stunning camera work by, once again, Emmanuel Lubezki. He won an Oscar for this film as well. What I love about this film is that you are taken on this journey of revenge and redemption with Hugh, the main character, and you feel as if you’re right there with him. It’s so great. And I mean, DiCaprio ate raw beef liver for this role… and he’s a vegetarian. So, if that doesn’t deserve an Oscar, I don’t know what does (ok, but like for real, his performance is literal magic… it is amazing. He actually did deserve it).

Rear Window is available for free on Peacock TV (no subscription needed, with ads; with subscription, no ads) or to rent/buy anywhere • Gravity is available to rent/buy anywhere • The Martian is available to rent/buy anywhere • Anomalisa is available to rent/buy anywhere • The Revenant is available to rent/buy anywhere

in fact, received his first Golden Globe nomination for this performance, so at least someone else agrees with me. Also, fun fact, this was the first PG-13 film I was allowed to watch. I mean, it was technically Dreamgirls, but I was too young to know the difference. This was the first film that was PG-13 that I asked to watch and was allowed to watch.

The second selection for this week is an excellent indie film that was nominated for 5 Academy Awards including Best Picture: Lady Bird (2017, dir. Greta Gerwig). This film, the first collaboration between writer/director Greta Gerwig and actress Saoirse Ronan, is the coming-of-age story, set in the early 2000s, of Lady Bird, a girl just trying to figure out her life. I genuinely love this film. It’s so honest and I feel that it’s an accurate depiction of girl coming of age. There are also some excellent performances in here, specifically Saoirse Ronan as Lady Bird and Laurie Metcalf as her mother, both of whom were nominated for Academy Awards for their performances in this film. Had Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri and I, Tonya not come out that same year, they would’ve been a shoo-in for the top prize. Also, another piece of trivia, Greta Gerwig became only the fifth woman to be nominated for Best Director at the Oscars, which is a grave tragedy, but its true. No women have been nominated in that category since her nomination 3 years ago.

My third pick for this week, coincidentally enough, just had a spin-off premiere on Hulu this past Wednesday: Greg Berlanti’s 2018 film Love, Simon. Now, this film is more of a romantic comedy than anything, but don’t let that stop you. It is a sweet love story and one of the first films from a major studio with a main character that’s gay. I will say that this story is heavily sanitized, meaning that it doesn’t cover as much territory as it should regarding issues that affect the LGBTQ+ community, but it’s a good start. This film is very heartwarming, and I promise that it’ll just make you feel good inside.

The fourth selection for this week is quite simply one of my favorite films of all time: Eighth Grade (2018, dir. Bo Burnham). I love it because there is something in the story that everyone can connect to, especially those who are around my age. It’s incredibly accurate, and I think that’s because the writer/director Bo Burnham, of YouTube fame, included contribution from its star, Elsie Fisher, regarding how eighth graders act. Without her input, her character would be using Facebook instead of Snapchat (this is true… Google it). Also, Elsie Fisher absolutely KILLS it in this film. You might know her as the voice of Agnes in the Despicable Me films, but she really comes into her own in this film. She was nominated for a Golden Globe for her performance, so… I also think that this film should’ve been nominated for Best Original Screenplay at the Oscars that year, but that is a rant that I will spare you.

My final pick for this week is a comedy film from last year, believe it or not: Olivia Wilde’s debut film Booksmart. This film was one of my favorites from last year (read my review HERE). I think this movie is so frickin’ funny. Like, when I saw this in theaters, my throat was closing from laughing so much (TMI, but it's to underscore just how funny this film is).  The screenplay is on point (it should've been nominated for Best Original Screenplay) and the lead performances from Beanie Feldstein and Kaitlyn Dever are excellent. Feldstein was actually nominated for a Golden Globe for her performance (her performance was actually my favorite of the two). The best way to describe this film is like a female-led Superbad. It's quite apt, especially since actress Beanie Feldstein is the sister of Superbad's lead Jonah Hill.  Beanie Feldstein, interestingly enough, is also in Lady Bird. So, there you go.

School of Rock is available for free on all HBO platforms (with subscription), or to rent/buy anywhere • Lady Bird is available for free on Netflix (with subscription), or to rent/buy anywhere • Love, Simon is available to rent/buy anywhere • Eighth Grade is available for free on Amazon Prime (with subscription), or to rent/buy anywhere • Booksmart is available for free on Hulu (with subscription), or to rent/buy anywhere

It even delves into the lack of black film critics. It's a deceptively complex film and one that I feel is worthy of your time. It's also pretty funny, too.

The next film that I picked is an undeniable classic, Spike Lee's 1989 film Do The Right Thing. This film is one of my favorites (it's my #3 film of all-time, actually... Check out my Top 50 films here) and that's because I think it is damn close to perfection.  Spike Lee has cemented himself as one of the most provocative filmmakers in American history and this film is a large part of why. I think it's an interesting film to talk about within the context of now because of the themes of police brutality explored through the character of Radio Raheem. Lee actually crafted a short film very recently that draws parallels between Radio Raheem, George Floyd, and Eric Garner, all unarmed black men that were strangled by police, entitled 3 Brothers (available on his Instagram page). In 1989, it was very uncommon to talk about gentrification, police brutality, and race with such a blatant and obvious stance, so this film was considered revolutionary in several ways.  This film has one of the most perfect screenplays, I think, ever and one of my favorite opening credit sequences. 

The third film that I've chosen is actually, fun fact, the first documentary film that I ever saw in theaters (I had seen documentaries before, but never in theaters), Academy Award-nominated documentary I Am Not Your Negro (2016, dir. Raoul Peck).  This is an interesting concept... The documentary is inspired by an unfinished manuscript by acclaimed author James Baldwin entitled Remember This House. It tells the story of  race in modern America with clips suggested by Baldwin's words. The narration of the film, done by Samuel L. Jackson, is crafted from excerpts of the very manuscript on which the film is based. When I saw this film, I felt almost a change in myself. I had never fully understood the power of documentary filmmaking until I saw this film. It is so moving and powerful. It was robbed of the Oscar for Best Documentary (I could go on a long rant about that, but I digress). If you don't watch this film for anything else, its striking imagery, the bountiful historical clips, WATCH IT FOR THE WORDS. Listen to James Baldwin's words that guide the film. They are so perfectly stated. For instance, there is a clip shown in the film when Baldwin is in an interview. He was talking about the perception of the black man in America, and I vividly remember his words. He said, "I am not a n****r, I am a man. But if you think I am, it means you need him." He goes on to say, "But because the white population invented him, they must figure out why they need him in the first place." There is nothing else to be said.

My next two recommendations are from the same year, 2018. 

The first 2018 film I would like to spotlight is Barry Jenkins' If Beale Street Could Talk, oddly enough based on James Baldwin's novel of the same name. This film is truly of of the most visually stunning films, I believe, of recent memory. That's especially interesting because that compliment very rarely goes to films that aren't science-fiction or space films. The look and feel of this movie are all exquisite and I think are perfect companions to the films main theme, love.  This film does an excellent job of dissecting the notion of love in the black community and the power of love. It also features one of my favorite performances ever from Regina King (she won an Oscar for it, so other people agree with me). 

The second 2018 film I have chosen is an excellent indie film entitled Blindspotting (2018, dir. Carlos López Estrada). This film, also probably Hollywood Shuffle, is some fantastic fun. If you noticed on the poster, the film stars Daveed Diggs, of Hamilton fame, and he along with his friend Rafael Casal, also on the poster, wrote the screenplay. Now, I mention this because the screenplay is infused with both of their spoken word/rap skills. There are moments in the film where the scene will start rhyming, to give the film a poetic feel and to inflict the power of poetry onto the audience. It's certainly a powerful tool, especially in the final climactic scene... Whoo, that's an emotional scene. The film is almost like a modern Do The Right Thing, in the sense that they both tackle similar issues of gentrification and police brutality, but the poetry sets it apart. The film also has a bit of a documentary feel to it, which adds to the real and authenticity of the script.

Hollywood Shuffle is available for free with an Amazon Prime membership, or to rent/buy anywhere • Do The Right Thing is available for free on Peacock TV (no subscription needed, but with ads; with subscription, no ads) or to rent/buy anywhere • I Am Not Your Negro is available for free on Amazon Prime (with membership), Netflix (with subscription), or to rent/buy anywhere • If Beale Street Could Talk is available for free with a Hulu subscription, or to rent/buy anywhere • Blindspotting is available to rent/buy anywhere