Best Movies of the Decade Pt. 3: Her 📱❤️
Also, a review of the Mr. Rogers biopic 'A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood'
💥
Happy Friday!
Thanks for coming back.
I’m talking about my
favorite movies of the decade
all month long. ICYMI, here are my
other
recommendations
from this week.
What is your favorite movie of the 2010s?
Let me know by replying!
Also, a review of the Mr. Rogers biopic
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
and my take on the new
Mulan
trailer.
Okay, here’s day three.
Today's Movie //
Streaming on Netflix
Her
It’s the classic boy meets girl, boy and girl fall in love story — just replace the girl with Siri. In the not-so-distant future, Theodore (Joaquin Phoenix), a writer going through a divorce, purchases an operating system that’s designed to meet the user’s every need — and what he needs is a romance. (
Trailer
)
Why you should watch it:
Her
is a great encapsulation of the 2010s in film. It’s one of the early examples of genre lines being blurred and world-building feeling engrained in the story. Spike Jonze’s vision of the future is sleek and subtly advanced, but also close enough to our present that it feels completely within reach.
However, what makes it one of the best of the decade is his screenplay. Without a flashy narrative, he delivers a poignent exploration of lonliness and relationships. In particular, he explores what it means to love and reminds us to accept when it’s time to let that love go.
Directed by
Spike Jonze
Runtime 126 mins
Year
2013
Genre
Sci-fi, Romance
📺 Buy or rent:
Prime Video
//
iTunes
//
YouTube
In theaters now
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
Lloyd Vogel (Matthew Rhys), a ruthless investigative reporter, is assigned to write a profile of Fred Rogers aka Mr. Rogers (Tom Hanks). However, what starts as a standard interview quickly turns into a life-changing conversation. Based on a true story. (
Trailer
)
My review:
Between documentary
Won't You Be My Neighbor?
and
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
it's clear that Fred Rogers is exactly who you think he is: the nicest man to ever live. So, instead of exploring his life, director Marielle Heller focuses in on his lessons. In particular, that it's okay to feel and face negative emotions.
She does this by disguising a character study about childhood trauma as a traditional biopic — though this is anything but traditional. Telling the story as a meta, surrealist version of
Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
is going to be divisive, but it absolutely worked for me. Don’t be fooled. This isn’t a sweet, charming movie about a beloved children’s show host. It’s a reminder that we all need to go to therapy — and that’s okay.
Directed by
Marielle Heller
Runtime 107 mins
Year
2019
Genre
Drama
📺
In theaters nationwide.
One trailer you should watch
Mulan
You know the story. But in case you don’t,
Mulan
follows the titular character (Liu Yifei) as she disguises herself as a man to take her ailing father’s place in the Chinese army. Adapted from the 1998 animated film of the same name.
My take:
This. Looks. Terrific. At the very least it’s not a shot-for-shot remake like past Disney live-action remakes
Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin
, and
The Lion King.
It even takes it a step further and darkens the tone, adds futher action, and even changes the story. I should have learned my lesson with these remakes, but I’m optimistic.
Directed by
Niki Caro
Year
2020
Genre
Action-adventure
📺
In theaters nationwide on March 27, 2020.
Thanks for reading! It means the world to me that you’re here. If you have a movie lover in your life, considering sharing the newsletter with them:
Have a fun and safe weekend!
See you next week.
Karl (@karl_delo
)