Retro Recs
I love covering new release films, but sometimes it can feel like finding a great new release is similar to looking for a needle in a haystack. There are obviously thousands of remarkable films from previous years that are worth checking out, but so few of them have I gotten the chance to write about. Hopefully this will help change that!
My goal with “Retro Recs” is not to write about films like “Casablanca” or “Citizen Kane” that everyone knows they should watch, but instead try to spotlight some more obscure movies that are worth the watch. If you have been watching movies for a long time, there is certainly going to be some editions of “Retro Recs” that you have seen, but hopefully it will give you a new perspective & make you want to revisit the film.
Also, I am applying a loose definition to retro. It won’t always be movies from 20-30 years ago. Sometimes it may be a movie from just a few years ago. My hope is to explore everything from the 50s all the way to the 2010s and eventually the 2020s.
You Can Count on Me (2000) (Directed by Kenneth Lonergan)
Premise - “A single mother's life is thrown into turmoil after her struggling, rarely seen younger brother returns to town.”
Noteworthy cast - Laura Linney, Mark Ruffalo, Matthew Broderick, Amy Ryan, and Rory Culkin
My thoughts - One of the most beautiful portrayals of the complicated & unconditional tough love dynamic between siblings.
Shared trauma, laughs, and years together can never be erased. But those shared childhoods will shape adulthood in very different ways.
Some will cling to the small town & others will mock those who stay in the small town.
Some will cling to the faith of their parents and others will disregard it entirely.
Some will allow childhood trauma to make them a control freak while others will let loose and live life as it comes.
Despite differences that will always exist, what will never change is the need for the other, even if you are too proud to admit it.
If you are in the mood for a slow, thoughtful drama that has a little bit of comedy sprinkled in, “You Can Count on Me” may be the answer.
Rating - 4/5
How did it do at the box office? - Grossed $11.2 million ($9.4 million domestically) on a $1.2 million budget
Did it win any Oscars? - It was nominated for Best Original Screenplay & Laura Linney was nominated for Best Actress. Neither won.
Where to watch - Available to buy/rent on Amazon
Sicario (2015) (Directed by Denis Villeneuve)
Premise - “After rising through the ranks of her male-dominated profession, idealistic FBI agent Kate Macer receives a top assignment.”
Noteworthy Cast - Emily Blunt, Benicio del Toro, and Josh Brolin
My thoughts - You can really see certain shots throughout this where Denis is starting to get reps in for what he ultimately perfects in Dune Part 2.
There is so much I adore about him as a filmmaker, but the thing I keep coming back to is his understanding of tone. He never wastes any time making sure the audience is on the same page with him about the tone of the film.
In the Netflix-era of movies, the algorithms point to drawing in your audience in early in the movie or the audience will turn to their phone. For most movies that means some silly set piece to open. I love that Denis is much more interested in making you feel the tone rather than constantly needing to show you.
Just an absolute banger of a film from start to finish.
Rating - 4.5/5
How did it do at the box office? - Grossed $84.8 million ($46.8 million domestically) on a $30 million budget
Where to watch - Currently streaming on Netflix and available to rent/buy on Amazon
Erin Brokovich (2000) (Directed by Steven Soderbergh)
Premise - “A flamboyant law firm secretary works tirelessly to gain justice for a small town wrecked by a utility company's pollution.”
Noteworthy cast - Julia Roberts, Albert Finney, & Aaron Eckhart
My thoughts - The whole film is filled with much more life than the log line suggests thanks to the combo of Julia Robert’s charming/fiery performance & Soderbergh infusing the story with so much heart. Not to mention some great one liners from Roberts.
There is a moment in the film where everyone is waiting for a decision by the judge. When he says “denied”, Julia Roberts gives a masterclass in facial acting. It was in that moment that I fully understood her movie stardom.
Rating - 4.5/5
How did it do at the box office? - Grossed $256 million ($125 million domestically) on a $52 million budget
Did it win any Oscars? - It was nominated for Best Original Screenplay, Best Director (Soderbergh), Best Supporting Actor (Finney), Best Actress (Roberts), and Best Picture. Julia Roberts won for Best Actress.
Where to watch - Currently on Netflix until the end of the month plus you can rent or buy on Amazon
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