[tps_title]Matt Goudreau’s Top Midyear Picks in Movies[/tps_title]
- Mad Max: Fury Road (Directed by George Miller). Regardless of how this makes me sound, I have no shame in admitting I cried watching this film. It’s so carefully constructed, both as a narrative and an intense action spectacle. Miller expertly demonstrates how action films don’t need countless scenes of expository dialogue and backstory to convey character development. A more than worthy addition to a fantastic franchise.
- Love and Mercy (Directed by Bill Pohlad). It’s an unconventional biopic of an unconventional musical genius. Both John Cusack and Paul Dano portray their own versions of Beach Boys frontman Brian Wilson without treading into mimicry or identical performances of one another. Much like great music, how you listen to the film is as important as how you look at it.
- Ex Machina (Directed by Alex Garland). Garland returns to true science fiction with the aid of a thought-provoking script and fantastic performances. Oscar Isaac reaffirms his position as one of the great up and coming actors of today. The bleak but beautiful cinematography and art direction help to create a feeling of claustrophobia to match the feelings of the main character.
- It Follows (Directed by David Robert Mitchell). In an era of horror defined by cheap jump scares and exploitative violence, It Follows triumphs as a minimalistic but skin-churning horror film. It’s an experience that stayed with me well after I left the theater. It Follows abides by a classic rule that Hitchcock eloquently portrayed with his films: what you don’t see is far scarier than what you do see.
- Dope (Directed by Rick Famuyiwa). Despite its excessive ambition at points, Dope is a well-told coming-of-age film with a strong sense of honesty. Director Famuyiwa helps keep the story moving at a frenetic but extremely entertaining pace throughout. Expect this film to serve as a platform for star Shameik Moore to advance into the mainstream.
Advertisement
