10 Films On Repeat
Diverging from the typical essays and analysis, I decided to share my personal top ten movie list, listed from least to best-liked!
I personally enjoy movies that have a personal story of self-discovery or self-realization, astonishing and distinctive cinematography and style, mystery and drama, and great pacing and beautiful instrumental score.
10. Chef (2014)
It’s a feel-good and feel-starving movie! More than (at least for me) just a haram Cuban food galore, the movie is about the process of rekindling a relationship between an estranged ego monster chef-father and a gen-Z son in a single road trip.
The pacing of the movie is fast. The exploration of food and how they present food is categorically pornographic.
Like a burger, the culinary presentation was just buns between the patty. At its core, the story is about the newly earned respect and empathy from a father and a son that came from a completely different world in a completely different time.
9. I love you, Man (2009)
Unlike other early 2000’s sitcoms, Paul Rudd is not struggling to find the love of his life but he’s struggling to find the best man for his wedding!
The film is the epitome of ‘what girls think when boys hang out vs what they actually do”. The film explores the emotionally awkward friendship of the male species while juggling zany moments such as fighting another real estate agent for the Hulk’s house.
Paul Rudd and Jason Segel remind me about my middle school, high school, and college best friends and how stupidly fun we hung out. When days are rough and when I miss them, this is my go-to.
8. Spiderman Into the Spider-verse (2018)
After Spiderman: No Way Home outing in late 2021, people must’ve battled these two movies on who reigns superior like two actions figures in an 8-year-old bedroom. For me, it would still be Miles and his interdimensional counterparts.
I think I don’t have to say much about the film especially the amazing and meaningful technicalities of the animation because numerous interviews and Youtube video essays are accessible. But I championed their action sequences and the personal connection it draws to the main and other characters.
The best part about Spiderman is always going to be their fighting methods and thrilling acrobatic sequences, which this movie delivers effectively and creatively.
The personal connection made between Miles and the seasonal Spiderman, his father, and his villain uncle are the main bread and butter. After the connection is made the movie placed its stakes and delivers wonders in just 1h56m of run time.
7. Batman Under The Redhood (2010)
Batman’s moral vice of not killing even to save million is once again put to the test as he fends off the mysterious Redhood. Redhood is effective, brutal, and deadly, a vigilante with a utilitarianist approach that juxtaposes the cape crusader’s philosophy. And a twist; he knows who Batman is.
The film is a critique of the caped crusader himself. It shows how Redhood is more effective at fearmongering than Batman because he actually kills and rules the criminals with dread. Although animated, the action sequence is brutal and choreographed smoothly overshadowing the consequences that may came after.
This movie was truly my earliest exposure of the DC comic’s grand lore and when you start with an amazing thriller-drama, your expectation will rise for more Batman and DC comics.
6. The King (2019)
Virtuous yet unwanted and wayward yet feared. The story of Henry V is one of betrayal and consideration after the death of his king-father.
The gloomy and grainy cinematography is an eye-candy even at the field of battle whilst the score intensifies its scale.
Teeming with Shakespearean dialogue, epic score and high stake decision-making — that questions leadership and governance in a complex political climate — diverging itself from other modern films.
Some might scalp-scratch with my choice as none, I think, will select this film into their holy top-ten list. Reviewers didn’t like this movie either. But when I’m searching for a look-good and moody film with an unorthodox-to-the-modern-days take, I’d watch this.
Overall it never failed to immersed me as perfect escapism.
5. Tick Tick Boom (2021)
The main villains of the musical are the world, time, and himself. To-do lists, deadlines, and anxiety seem to be a shared mind-killer of creativity and the soul as each tick of clocks although unheard is ever-lurking.
The musical tells about the idealist almost-30-years-old starving artist and corporate antagonist, trying to survive New York City. Facing against money problems, the inability to choose an important relationship decision, idealism on meaningful career, and his battle against procrastination, and creative block to finish his play.
The musical questions and relates to the real-world consequences and the dilemma of letting go of our creative pursuit for the sake of money. But the movie ends with a thump of hope and fairness for these pursuits.
4. The Judge (2014)
Families that left feelings unspoken and the effects of it might be the theme of every generation. The twists and turns of this courtroom drama explore how coming home might be a mistake (like how dreadful coming home is by the poem Bonedog by Eva H.D) especially facing the fact that the father chooses to be a great judge rather than a great father.
The main character realizes to accept the father as what he is as he also learned how his brothers loved him although he had been a bad brother.
I left the movie to question harsh parenting as well as the consequences of success.
We left because we feel we had conquered it. There is nothing new, we know everything. But how can we be so wrong about home?
3. Blade Runner 2049 (2017)
Gloomy aesthetics + a murder mystery + and leather coat = A neo-noir.
The depiction of a sci-fi alternate dystopia is always breathtaking especially in the seasonal hands of David Villeneuve. Digressing from its philosophical core about identity, artificial intelligence, and humanity, the movie is about a personal story of Detective K trying to unravel the mystery of whether or not he is a human (rather than the classic; is he a robot?).
The score teems with synth and the wide scope cinematography captures the scenery of the desolate world we left for the sake of advancement perfectly.
Some might steer away from its 2h43 run time but for a thriller, I think, it justifies the time it took for the sake of build-up.
2. The Social Network (2010)
The story is told by jumping through time from the creation of the stolen idea of Facebook to its bitter lawsuit.
Beat by beat the conversation is swift and witty. It is true, the genius script created by Aaron Sorkin was a poem. The directing of Fincher made the pitch of a lawsuit and the creation of social media interesting and devious. The score of Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross creates an eerie atmosphere which adds more suspense to each minute we watch the naive uni student turns evil best friend.
There is no personal connection between me and The Social Network’s story but I love to rewatch this movie on a monthly basis and left surprised as how many new things I found in each rewatch. In summation, it’s cinema education on writing and directing and more than that; style.
1. Lady Bird (2017)
Lady Bird faces a personal predicament of her self-worth. She had personally branded herself as a different breed of a high schooler but now faced the fact that being different is punishing as she just wanted to be accepted and appreciated.
When she realized the social surface-level points of popularity, wealth, and intelligence are actually the capital she needs, she felt the urge to adjust. Sadly, as her family is facing financial struggles her own mother needs to step up and be the hard leader. The mother became the main antagonist as Ladybird felt her mother doesn't understand that she cannot sacrifice anything in her current position.
But at the end of the story, she was struck by the realization of the hardships of adulthood and she was living in a bubble of her own ego. She learned how to love her mother as what she is not as what she had wanted and to make the best of her situation.
As a kid from Makassar and was driven by ego and the ever-elusive dream to be different, Lady Bird cuts deep into my psychological veins. Maybe the lesson isn't to be different but the lesson was to be more understanding and considerate to even the ones who doesn’t deserve it.
