Best Movies of the Decade Pt. 6: Support the Girls 🎉
Plus, my review of the 'Black Christmas' remake and my take on the trailer for 'In the Heights'
🎬 Happy Friday! I hope you had a great week.
We’re talking about my favorite movies of the decade all this month. Monday we went to Japan, Wednesday to Indonesia, let’s finish the week in the exotic locale of Texas.
Also, my review of the remake of Black Christmas (aka one of my favorite movies of all time), in theaters today and my take on the trailer for In the Heights.
Okay, here’s day six.
Today's Movie // Streaming on Hulu
Support the Girls
Support the Girls follows the lives of a group of waitresses at a Hooters-like restaurant in Texas. In particular, the manager Lisa (Regina Hall) and her two friends and employees Macy (Haley Lu Richardson) and Danyelle (Shayna McHayle). (Trailer)
Why you should watch it: I’ve talked about heart a lot so far in this series, but Support the Girls might have the biggest heart of all. There’s not much of a plot to speak of — it’s truly just a day in the life of these women — but it makes up for it in endearing and complex characters that we get to know in depth. It also helps the Regina Hall gives the best performance of her career (even better than this) and one of the best of the decade.
As one character notes, you cry until you laugh and you laugh until you scream. If Support the Girls wants you to walk away with one thing it’s that it’s okay to do all those things. Life is frustrating. Just take it one day at a time.
Directed by Andrew Bujalski
Runtime 91 mins
Year 2018
Genre Comedy-Drama
📺 Buy or rent: Prime Video // iTunes // YouTube
In theaters
Black Christmas
A remake of the 1974 film of the same name, which I talked about here, Black Christmas follows a group of sorority sisters who are stalked by a mysterious stranger before winter break. (Trailer)
My review: The 1974 Black Christmas is, regardless of genre, one of my favorite movies of all time. So of course I was skeptical of a remake. I’m happy to report that it’s solid, which is more than I can say for most horror rehashings. It has all the subtlety of a fat man in a red suit with a beard slipping down your chimney. However, the well-directed horror sequences and spirit of the original in its DNA keep the slay bells ringing. (Full review)
Directed by Sophia Takal
Runtime 92 mins
Year 2019
Genre Slasher
📺 In theaters today.
One trailer you should watch
In the Heights
Based on the Tony-winning musical of the same name (one of my favorites), In the Heights takes place over three days on a block in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Manhattan where the residents — many of them Latinx immigrants and first-generation Americans — chase dreams amid the sweltering heat.
My take: One of the most difficult things to nail in an adaptation of a stage musical is to capture the spirit of the show. This trailer does that for me. There are moments that are easily identifiable as pulled from the show, but not carbon copies. To pull off a movie musical is no small feat, but I’m very excited for this one.
Directed by Jon M. Chu
Year 2020
Genre Musical
📺 In theaters Summer 2020.
Thank you for reading! If you ever watch one of my recommendations, let me know by replying to any email. I’d love to hear what you thought.
Have a fun and safe weekend!
Karl (@karl_delo)