Weekly 5: Aug. 13-19
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Here's what you should watch between Aug. 13-19
1. The Squid and the Whale (2005) - Independent Comedy - 4 stars
Summary: This comedy follows a family as it goes through a divorce and its effects on the children, who are thrown in to the middle of it.
Review: The people I've talked to who have seen this film have two reactions — "It's great" or "I don't get it." Those who think that it's great have either gone through a divorce themselves or experienced their parents' divorce as a child. Those who don't get it come from very happy homes. I am a part of the former. I thought this movie was hysterically accurate. 4 stars
2. Arthur (1981) - Comedy - 5 stars.
Summary: This comedy chronicles the everyday life of Arthur, a drunk who is the heir to a wealthy fortune if he plays by the family's rules. They want to arrange a marriage to another wealthy family's daughter. His heart, however, belongs to another.
Review: Start to finish, this is one of the funniest films I have ever seen. It is featured in Empire Magazine's 500 Greatest Movies of All Time. I hadn't heard of it, which surprised me since few comedies slip by me, especially ones in lists like this. But Arthur did and when I finally watched it, I was left with my face hurting from all my laughter. 5 stars.
3. Igby Goes Down (2002) - Comedy - 5 stars
Summary: Loosely based on JD Salinger's "The Catcher in the Rye," Igby Goes Down tells the story of a young runaway as he tries to stay afloat in the big city.
Review: It has been several years since I've seen this movie, but its originality and charm is still fresh in my mind. The acting is superb and a very unique coming-of-age tale, albeit not a nice one. 5 stars.
4. Road to the World Series of Beer Pong (2008) - Documentary - 5 stars
Summary: Two men set to legitimize the beer pong world and hold the biggest event in the history of the "sport."
Review: Before you write this off and never view it, hear me out. A documentary sheds light on a subject you may not know much about. I know a lot about beer pong — a game popular on any college campus or fraternity in America. I did not know how serious some people can take it. This film is more about achieving a sports dream and you'll be surprised when you find yourself rooting for two men playing, of all things, beer pong.
5. The Red Balloon (1956) - Foreign Classic Drama - 4 stars.
Summary: Just 16 minutes in length, this is among the most famous shorts in history. A young boy finds a red balloon, which he has a weird power over. The balloon seems to follow orders and interact with the boy. But jealous children threaten the relationship and try to rip the balloon from the boy's control.
Review: Don't worry that this is a foreign film. There are about six lines of dialog, none of which is particularly crucial to the story. This is more an honest and revealing take on how children interact and the bonds of friendship. It reminded me a lot of the first 30 minutes of Wall-E simply because, in both films, you're totally engrossed without so much as a sound made by the characters. It's an excellent piece of storytelling.
