We’re halfway through the year, and thought it would be fun to share some of our staff’s favorite films they’ve seen from January-June! It’s been a great year for film already, and there are plenty of films coming soon to a/perture that will make our lists change by the time December rolls around. Catch up on these selections and stop by to catch something new!
sta/ff member: Lawren Desai
film pick: Perfect Days
why this film:
I thought Perfect Days was pretty, well, perfect. Directed by a legendary filmmaker, Wim Wenders, itâs a simple and tranquil film about a simple and tranquil man, Hirayama, who spends his days cleaning public toilets in Japan. Hirayama appreciates the joys in life and I just love the scenes where he drives around Tokyo in his minivan and pops a cassette in full of classic American rock. See the playlist I created here. Â
what you’d pair this film with:
If I could pair Perfect Days with any film for a double feature it would be Columbus, directed by Kogonada. To me they both have a similar vibe and use architectural elements of their city locations to elevate the story. In Perfect Days, the Tokyo Toilets are a character and in Columbus itâs the buildings in Columbus, Ohio designed by architect legends like Saarinen (father and son) and I.M. Pei.Â
sta/ff member:Â Jason Leeper
film pick: Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
why this film:
I think âFuriosa: A Mad Max Sagaâ is downright phenomenal. I struggle to wrap my head around the fact that its director, George Miller, is nearly eighty years old and retains a keen ability to craft such memorable characters, detail-oriented environments and highly ambitious action sequences in the fifth-entry of a nearly fifty-year old franchise.Â
 Although it uses several of the same environments and characters from âFury Road,â I think âFuriosaâ is a very different film in the structural sense. While âFury Roadâ is a high-octane chase movie, âFuriosaâ acts as a decade-spanning revenge epic doubling as a character study for its virtually silent and incredibly captivating protagonist. Anya Taylor-Joy doesnât say much throughout the film, but her piercing eyes and nuanced physical performance together speak volumes about her character.Â
 Chris Hemsworthâs performance as the power-hungry Dementus was immensely enjoyable to watch. I found it wonderful to see a villain on-screen with such a big personality that turned out to be somewhat incompetent and amusingly pathetic by the end of the film. The final confrontation between him and Furiosa I found to be very satisfying as well.Â
what you’d pair this film with:
I am certainly not the first person to say this, but the relationship between âFury Roadâ and âFuriosaâ reminds me a lot of the Tarantino two-part revenge epic: âKill Bill.â âFury Roadâ and âKill Bill Vol. 1â are similar in the sense that they are more action-oriented, while âFuriosaâ and âKill Bill Vol. 2â slow things down pacing-wise and allow for characterization and dialogue to come to the forefront. As a result, I think there is a definite split among audiences and critics for both films. Some prefer the relentless action-packed nature of Fury Road/Vol. 1 while others gravitate more toward the character-focused narrative in Furiosa/Vol. 2. I personally feel that I can appreciate âFury Roadâ and âFuriosaâ on near-equal terms because they both strive for different goals and ended up exceeding my expectations; I think they are both masterpieces in their own right.
sta/ff member:Â Lilly Parker
film pick:Â Dune: Part Two
why this film: Â
While this film was an excellent experience from start to finish, what stood out most to me was the gorgeous cinematography and incredible soundtrack. In this age of streaming services, the huge sweeping shots and vast rumbling music in Dune: Part Two were a much-needed testament to the magic of experiencing a film – or rather, a cinematic masterpiece – on the big screen. Plus, as someone who has read all six of Frank Herbertâs Dune novels, the book-to-film adaptation did not disappoint. The film captured the spirit of the books while still developing its own identity.
what you’d pair this film with:
With Dune: Part 2, I would pair another of director Denis Villenueveâs master works set to a Hans Zimmer soundtrack, Blade Runner: 2049. Of course Iâd also be the first to vouch for a double feature of Dune and Dune: Part Two.
sta/ff member:Â Aaron Botts
film pick:Â Perfect Days
why this film: Â
I really like the cultural differences and connections in regard to work life between Japan and the United States. Very rarely can a film capture the essence of what âa day in the lifeâ feels like. And Perfect Days did just that. Moreover, I loved the small interactions the main character had with his co-worker. It shows everyone is subject to a call out, an extra bout of work, and lending a helping hand.
what you’d pair this film with:
Iâd pair it with: This movie needs to be tied with any spring cleaning that you need to do. After this movie I was cleaning places in my apartment that I know havenât been touched. Joking aside, Iâd pair it with, âOffice Space.â I think itâs a funny juxtaposition to go from âa day in the lifeâ with a focused plot line to âcultural commentaryâ with a several plot lines.Â
sta/ff member:Â Jake Laystrom
film pick:Â La Chimera
why this film: Â
This was my first Alice Rohrwacher, and I fell in love with her playfulness as a filmmaker. There are several sequences in this film that use sped-up action like you see in Buster Keaton movies, and it completely works with the mysterious and tranquil tone she sustains throughout the story. Plus Josh OâConnorâs white linen suit will be this yearâs go-to Halloween costume (in a perfect world)!
what you’d pair this film with:
My essentially tied-for-favorite film this so far year, also a playful and moving story of found families â The Ross Brotherâs GASOLINE RAINBOW, which follows a group of teenagers taking an eventful road trip to the Oregon coast at the end of their senior year of high school. Is it a documentary, is it scripted? Itâs both, kind of, you just have to watch it and find out for yourself! Â