Bombs and Hair Curlers: The Mini-Series

I once again have Netflix to thank for this find. While perusing it's generally forgettable recommendations, I stumbled upon Bomb Girls. It follows the lives of women working in a Canadian munitions factory in World War II. What makes it special is it's completely unique perspective on the war, showing it both from a woman's viewpoint and from a Canadian stance. I had never really learned about women's participation in the War. I mean, obviously I knew they worked in factories, but this series gave that whole dynamic life and character. I love movies and series about this time period, so I knew I was going to like this show, and I was right. From the start, the series presents a cast of characters so diversified in their personalities it is impossible not to root for at least one of them. While it is generally fairly light, the show has some darker moments in each forty-five minute episode, dealing with the subject matter it does. I would definitely recommend getting into this show, especially because the second season has recently been released and, so far, I've been loving it.

Lots of Screaming, Guy Eats Rat: The Movie

So it's that time of year again and I figured I would whip out the only horror movie I have genuinely enjoyed, and not for the right reasons. This is a truly great mockumentary-style horror film, and by 'truly great' I mean really bad. But, like the subject of a One Direction song, it is it's flaws that make it beautiful. Grave Encounters is a "reality" show hosted by the characters of the movie that investigates supernatural occurrences. The movie shows one night when the TV crew is locked in an asylum which turns out to be actually haunted. Horror ensues, etc. etc. I can't put my finger on a reason to watch this movie, but I still find myself recommending it. It falls into the genre of random movies on Netflix that are a combination of low production value and accidentally funny. And hey, if you don't get enough ridiculous horror from this movie, it has a sequel! Happy Halloween.

Sad Stuff and An Idiot: The Movie

Alright, so it's taken me awhile to get around to watching this movie, though I'm not sure why. All I can say is that I'm glad I did. Because I was watching it in a fairly sketchy, online way, the film didn't have any subtitles. This made the two French portions a wee bit difficult. What I ended up doing was reading along with the screenplay for those sections, but I caught myself looking over at it more often. It was a beautifully written script and definitely added to my enjoyment of the film. Joe Wright is one of my favorite directors and of course the cast was superb. One of my favorite elements of this movie, and of most of Joe Wright's movies, is the way he uses silence and sound. The clicking of a typewriter was almost omnipresent throughout the movie and even became a sort of music in parts, but what I loved was the way little sound effects would be the only sound in some scenes. The scratch of a pen or the sound of paper moving would be the only noise, ringing out in the silence. Another thing I liked was the way the script didn't hold your hand and explain everything to you simply. You had to put some effort into the story, you had to be an active listener. Closing thoughts: honestly this movie is heartbreakingly beautiful, but you probably already know that.

Magic and Facial Hair: The Movie

Ha! I finally picked a serious movie! Alright. I'll calm down now.
The Illusionist has, for some time now, been one of my favorite movies. I've always been a sucker for a mystery and this one has a hell of a lot of twists and turns. What starts out as a bit of a period romance, gets much darker and more interesting by the time the credits roll. Along with an intensely fascinating plot, it is a visually stunning film. Gorgeous set dressing creates turn of the century Vienna which blends seamlessly with computer animated magic to create beautiful and chilling shots. What is particularly well done in this film is the way the events are allowed to unfold through visual storytelling rather than through heavy explanatory dialogue, while still keeping the audience somewhat in the dark. As the tagline states, "nothing is what it seems" and we aren't even let in on the mystery until the very end. Also, everyone has awesome facial hair.

Cliques, A Monocle, and Funerals: The Movie

If traditional, cliquey teen movie was poured into a cauldron, sent back to the eighties, and made a bit darker, that's Heathers. This movie had flown completely beneath my radar for ages, mostly because of it's release date, and it wasn't until this year that it was brought to my attention. Going into this movie, you have to really like dark humor, otherwise it's a bit disturbing (Luckily, I do). The film centers around a clique of girls, the Heathers, in which every member (except for Winona Rider) is named Heather. They are rich, popular, manipulative, and without a care in the world. Unfortunately for them, soon enough their small town begins experiencing an onslaught of unexpected suicides, all by popular, happy students. Stunningly hilarious hijinks of sorts ensue. Heathers is currently rocking a 95% on Rotten Tomatoes. It's twisting of the rules when it comes to "high school movies" set the stage for later films such as Mean Girls. Honestly, it's great. if you've seen it you know what I'm talking about. If you haven't... it's on Netflix, go watch it.

Money, Money, Money, Bruises: The Movie

So this film was at the Dallas International Film Festival last year and I had very much wanted to see it, but it conflicted with something else, I can't remember what. So imagine my happiness and surprise when I saw it in the 'Recently Added' section of Netflix. My path was clear, I had to finally watch this movie, and boy am I glad I did. It was at times hilarious, others chilling, generally weird and marvelously acted. The cast was broad and unexpected, but each actor fit their character in an odd yet perfect way.
Alright guys, it's plot synopsis time. Alice (Juno Temple) and John (Michael Angarano) are a couple, completely in love, but pitifully broke. That is, until they find a magical, ancient teapot that spews out money when someone feels pain. Yeah. Like I said, it's a bit weird, but the good kind. As the film progresses, the tea pot begins to change and consume the once pure couple. Innocent endeavors begin to turn sour as the teapot begins demanding greater and greater sacrifice for its rewards.
If it is anything, this movie is unique. At first I thought it was a little to funny to be dramatic and a little too violent to be a comedy, but it soon figured all that out and found a balance. By the end of the movie I was truly invested in the characters and satisfied by the ending. I would definitely recommend. I know good reviews aren't fun to read, but there aren't a lot of movie I dislike.

Almost a RomCom, But Not(?): The Movie

I first found this movie on an adventure through the recommended videos side bar of youtube, clicking through various trailers. When a friend found it a couple weeks later on demand, I figured what the heck, it looks funny. As it says on the poster above, this film was made by the producers of Love Actually, so I was expecting great things. While walking the line between comedy and romcom, I Give it a Year was an awful lot of fun to watch. It was full of quips and comebacks and was driven by the fast-paced dialogue. It played a lot with the expectations associated with this kind of movie and gave us a new version of the classic happy endings. Alongside the intensely funny script, was a masterful use of visual gags and levels. Sure, it's not going to change your world view or inspire your creative genius, but if you're in a bad mood or having a rotten day, try this out. And if you watch it for nothing else, it has a pretty good soundtrack.
P.S. I promise I'll write about something serious next week.