40 Film Challenge: Week 2 (4-20-2020)

WEEK 2: "WAR! WHAT IS IT GOOD FOR?"

Originally recorded by The Temptations, it was Edwin Starr's iconic 1970 version of the protest song that became an anthem for the following decade's anti-war movement. Even after becoming a memorable punch-line in the "Rush Hour" movies, the song's plain yell for peace still packs an emotional punch. This makes it the perfect song to represent this week's theme: life in a time of war. Each film examines, in its own way and with its own perspective, the impact that war has on the day-to-day lives of everyone unfortunate enough to experience a world working against itself.

CLASSIC:

“Pan's Labyrinth” (2006)

Written by Guillermo del Toro

Directed by Guillermo del Toro

Genre: Historical Fantasy

“Pan’s Labyrinth” remains a spellbinding masterpiece, thanks to its effortless combination of historical commentary and fable-esque storytelling. Set during the Spanish Civil War, del Toro lets his protagonist, the young Ophelia, seamlessly guide the audience between “real” and fantasy. Like the labyrinth, the film’s verisimilitude is equally mysterious and beautiful. Del Toro’s themes of loss of innocence aren’t subtle, but they’re exquisitely told with a loving, storybook touch and astounding practical effects. NEW CLASSIC:

“Inglourious Basterds” (2009)

Written by Quentin Tarantino

Directed by Quentin Tarantino

Genre: War, Drama, Comedy

Mixing fiery revisionism and cinematic idolatry, “Inglourious Basterds” is one of the most straightforwardly entertaining movies out there. Tarantino has arguably never been better, feeding his actors rich dialogue in multiple languages as he builds scenes to almost unbearable levels of tension. Come to see Brad Pitt grimace with a Tennessee accent, and stay for Christoph Waltz, a former German television actor who walks away with the movie as Hans Landa, a Nazi detective with a penchant for languages and cruelty.

DEEP CUT:

“In This Corner of the World” (2016)

Written by Sunao Katabuchi, Chie Uratani

Directed by Sunao Katabuchi

Genre: Animation, War, Drama

Sunao Katabuchi cut his teeth as an assistant director for animation-titan Hayao Miyazaki, and much of Miyazaki’s gentle sensibilities have found a new home with Katabuchi. The first hour is a leisurely tour through the regular customs of life in a seaside village in Japan, but the story’s patience is an unnerving contrast to the mushroom cloud on the horizon. Katabuchi expresses this tale of ordinary living during extraordinary times with a similarly dichotomous combination of simple caricature and impressionist watercolors. The one requires waiting, but it pays off wonderfully. OUT THERE:

“M.F.K.Z.” (2018)

Written by Guillaume “Run” Renard

Directed by Shōjirō Nishimi

Genre: Animation, Action

This movie’s punk-rock-anime aesthetic paints a different type of warzone than other movies on this list: the inner-city streets of America, left for dead in the crossfire of a brutal class war. Fittingly,  “M.F.K.Z.” is graffiti art as story: loud, vibrant, and unconcerned with the rules. Demon dogs, luchadors, and alien conspiracies are all on the table when it comes to building this movie’s compellingly bizarre world. But in the end, the movie asks, is our world really any less screwed up than theirs? KELLY’S PICK:

“Ip Man” (2008)

Written by Edmond Wong, Tai-Li Chan

Directed by Wilson Yip

Genre: Kung-Fu, War, Drama

Ip Man’s original claim to fame was his superstar student, Bruce Lee, but this movie lets the venerated kung-fu teacher have his own moment in the spotlight. Set during the Japanese occupation of China, much of the story is undercooked propaganda, but it's made up for by a revelatory Donnie Yen. He never loses his character’s quiet dignity even as he dispatches waves of opponents with stunning martial arts choreography. After this movie, it’s impossible to forgive “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” for not putting him front and center.

BONUS:

“The Death of Stalin” (2017)

Written by Armando Ianncci, David Schneider, Ian Martin, Fabien Nury

Directed by Armando Iannucci

Genre: Comedy

Armando Iannucci spent years perfecting his style of foul-mouthed political satire on shows like “The Thick Of It” and “Veep,” and he finds a perfect new home for it in the crumbling aftermath of Josef Stalin’s death. Dispensing with the pointless need to affect phony Russian accents, Iannucci lets his incredible cast be themselves to more capably fire spectacular insults at one another. Of special note is Jason Isaacs, best known for playing Lucius Malfoy, who delightfully chews scenery as pompous war-hero Marshall Zhukov.

BONUS “COMMUNITY” EPISODE: 

“Modern Warfare” (Season 1, Episode 23)

This is the episode where “Community,” the regular Thursday sitcom on NBC, morphed into “Community,” the beloved internet favorite and benchmark for millennial entertainment. Directed by Justin Lin, the same guy behind the wildly successful “Fast & Furious” movies, “Modern Warfare” takes a game of paintball assassin and turns it into a sparkling action-movie-pastiche, all built around the culmination of a season-long “will they, won’t they.” If you’re wondering why all your kids love movies and TV that constantly reference other movies and TV, start here.