It’s an excellent time to go see a movie. Which is good news, because it’s also been chilly and rather dreary here in Winston-Salem lately. Perfect movie-watching weather.
Kevin and I have seen three awesome movies recently — Room, The Witch, and Deadpool — and still have so many more that we need to catch. It’s a good problem to have, since so often there are those “movie desert” periods where there seems to be NOTHING good to see in a theater. (Thank goodness for Netflix in times like those. Well, all the time, actually. Let’s be real.)
If you haven’t seen these flicks yet, I recommend all three, for the following reasons:
- Room: After reading the book several years ago (and LOVING it), I couldn’t wait to see the movie. It didn’t disappoint. Not one bit. (Kevin was hesitant to see the movie but came along because he knew it was at the top of my list, and he ended up loving it, too.) Rotten Tomatoes gave it a 96%, and lead actress Brie Larson won the Best Actress in a Drama award at this year’s Golden Globes for her role in the film. And don’t even get me started on the talent that 5-year-old Jacob Tremblay exhibited in the movie. It’s good stuff, people. Oh, and if you’re a fan of the book like I was, don’t be a bit wary of the film adaptation. Sophie Gilbert of The Atlantic said (and I agree with her), “It’s hard to think of a movie adaptation of a book that feels truer and more loyal to its source than Room.”
- The Witch: When the credits were rolling on this movie, I found myself wondering how I felt about the film I’d just seen. I was certainly expecting it to be more of a horror film than I found it to be (it was haunting — don’t get me wrong — but in less of an overt way), for one. Ultimately, though, I decided I really did enjoy this beautiful film, and appreciated it for the historical accuracy it aimed to convey (it was largely based on written accounts from the time). In fact, this film is frightening because I can absolutely see why people in Puritanical times believed witches and other supernatural forces were lurking in their woods, ready to steal their souls for the Devil. The isolation, the unknown, the often harsh conditions — I’m so glad I wasn’t alive during that time period. No thank you. David Sims of The Atlantic captured my feelings about the film perfectly in the following quote: “This is a film that conjures its scares not from sharp jumps, but from the eerie hostility of the untamed American wilderness.” Two other notes: 1) Anya Taylor-Joy is an incredible talent, and I look forward to seeing her in future films. 2) Black Phillip, the goat from the movie, has a Twitter account, and his profile says he’s “living the delicious life.” Props to you, Black Phillip. Props to you.
- Deadpool: Y’all. See this movie. Do you like superhero movies? See it. Do you dislike superhero movies? You should see it, too. If you love Ryan Reynolds, you’ll love him even more after this movie. Not so much a fan of his? You will be after Deadpool. The character’s self-depreciating brand of humor is delightful, and Ryan Reynolds describes Deadpool as a “meta self-aware character who is formed exclusively to annoy the shit out of everyone around him.” That’s about right. And it’s a pleasure to watch.
Have you seen any good movies lately?