By Jared Free
Brick (2005)
Director Rian Johnson has benefited from an increased profile in recent years, following up his divisive but acclaimed entry into the Star Wars canon with one of the most successful original films of 2019. But his first feature, Brick, made 2005 for half a million dollars, proves that he’s always had an ingenious touch. The solemn but not despairing film is a pitch perfect recreation of a noir in a high school setting, with a young Joseph Gordon-Levitt knocking it out of the park as a young detective.
Lu Over the Wall (2017)
Masaaki Yuasa’s spin on the Little Mermaid reinvents the story with a vigor and youthfulness so earnest it almost hurts. His animation style is distinctive and appealing as always, but this feature doesn’t skimp on the songs either, with several stand out dance sequences that will make you break out into a grin whether you like it or not.
Tampopo (1985)
The infectious joy of Tampopo is hard to understate. The film takes a Rocky-style origin story and casts it in the world of ramen, where single mother and proprietress Tampopo must train day and night to transform her ramen shop. Tampopo’s story is delightful but a touch thin, so the movie fills itself out with short anecdotes centered around food. The movie provides good laughs, and like Ratatouille, leaves you in just the right mood for a great mood.
Support the Girls (2018)
There’s a lot to love in Support the Girls. Andrew Bujalski’s screenplay and direction are lowkey without losing their stakes, and the setting is evocative and emotional. But for me it all comes down to the cast. Regina Hall, Haley Lu Ruchardson, and Shayna McHayle all knock it out of the park as employees a local Hooters-esque chain.
An Elephant Sitting Still (2018)
This film is one of my absolutely favorite projects of the last few years. Written and directed by freshman director Hu Bo, Elephant is a novelistic journey through a day in the life of four interconnected characters in a small northern Chinese city. Hu committed suicide shortly after completing editing on the film, and while the story is at times gloomy, it is ultimately hopeful, and a testament to an artistic vision cut too short.
