Julie Bulger
When it comes to the latest films, the library has them. The latest Marvel films? Check. Summer blockbusters? Check. But don’t forget about the smaller films. As a movie lover I enjoy discovering new and different things to watch, so this month I have some selections that caught me by surprise from last year. If you’re looking for something different to watch here are some titles I recommend:
The Farewell When Billi learns that her grandmother, Nai Nai, has been diagnosed with a terminal illness, she flies back to her childhood home in China to see her one last time. But Billi learns her extended family does not want Nai Nai to know she is dying, and instead they use a cousin’s wedding as the reason for everyone to gather and celebrate Nai Nai’s life. I enjoyed The Farewell because it balances both comedy and drama very well as it explores themes of family and cultural traditions. It’s also a story inspired by director Lulu Wang’s real-life grandmother’s illness.
Plus One: Alice and Ben are long-time best friends who are having a year where it seems like everyone they know is getting married. As they make their way through the long wedding season, they agree to be each other’s “plus-one” to make these events more bearable. If you like romantic comedies such as When Harry Met Sally then definitely check out this film (Fun Fact: the film stars Jack Quaid who’s the son of Meg Ryan). As someone who finds a number of romantic comedies rather predictable, I enjoyed this film for its relatable characters and relationship issues.
Family: Kate is a career woman whose selfish and egotistical personality keeps her isolated from everyone around her. Her estranged brother desperately contacts her and asks her to babysit his daughter, Maddie, while he and his wife are away on a family emergency. Kate reluctantly accepts, and while her parenting skills are horrible, she and Maddie find themselves bonding. Family is a good comedy about self-discovery and figuring out how to fit in when you feel like a misfit.
Ready or Not: Grace and Alex are newly married. But Grace learns that her wedding night will be spent playing a game with her new family, and that game just happens to be deadly. Will Grace survive the night? This is a fun movie if you enjoy a good horror comedy with plenty of blood. I found this to be highly entertaining and loved the ending.
The Gangster, The Cop, The Devil (blu-ray): If you’re into action-thrillers, check out this South Korean film that’s based on a true story. A cop suspects a series of random stabbings may be connected to a serial killer even though the rest of the police department doesn’t agree. Meanwhile a major crime boss becomes the next victim and barely survives a stabbing. The gangster is determined to find and exact revenge on the killer, but in order to do so he needs to team up with the cop. The two forge a rather untrustworthy relationship so that the cop can prove there’s a killer, and the gangster can get his revenge.
Wild Rose: Do you enjoy music-based films? Check out Wild Rose. Rose loves country music and her ambition in life is to become a country singer, despite living in Glasgow, Scotland, and hitting rock bottom. She was recently released from prison and is struggling not only to getting her life back on track but reconnecting with her young children who have been living with her mother. Her mother insists she should focus on family and give up on her dreams, Rose is still determined to catch her big break. I liked the character Rose. Even though she struggles and doesn’t always make the right decisions, I rooted for her.
