I have been spending more time with my family lately. When we typically get together, we will either play board games or watch movies. Since most of us have been busy, we took a day or two to unwind and watch movies. We were able to watch around ten movies in total, give or take a few. Most of them I had seen before, so my attention wavered. But there were a few first-time watches which were all pretty good.
Late Night with the Devil
Directed by: Cameron Cairnes, Colin Cairnes
Released: March 22, 2024
Late Night with the Devil is a pseudo-found footage film. It takes place on a late-night talk show set, sometime in the 1970s. The premise is that it is a behind-the-scenes look of a live television broadcast wherein the host, Jack Delroy (played by David Dastmalchian), unwittingly unleashes an unspeakable evil.
This really feels like something you would stumble upon on Adult Swim. It is weird, wacky and only mildly disturbing. The aesthetic of the whole thing is top-notch. Helps to keep the viewer interested in what all is going on. Which, honestly, this is more of a slow burn kind of experience. But once it does pick up, it goes from zero to one-hundred faster than the speed of light. I would say that this is best for fans of Stephen King or David Cronenberg, sort of has that overall vibe to it.
You can watch Late Night with the Devil on AMC+ or you can rent it on Amazon Prime, YouTube, etc.
Problemista
Directed by: Julio Torres
Released: March 22, 2024
This one is mega weird. Sort of. At its core, it is an immigrant story. It is a story about the American Dream. But the way it is told is quite odd. Problemista is about Alejandro (played by Julio Torres himself). It is about Alejandro’s journey towards maintaining a U.S. sponsorship via getting a job at Hasbro. Because Alejandro aspires to be a toymaker.
Also starring Tilda Swinton as Elizabeth, this is a movie that is easy to dislike. As Elizabeth is a mess of a character and Alejandro is just plain awkward. The characters here are not exactly likeable. But there is a charm to it. It helps that Swinton and Torres have some stellar chemistry which shines through the screen. While it may be easier to follow as, say, Everything Everywhere All at Once… Problemista is about as wacky as its aforementioned counterpart. I liked this one more though because it is shorter, it is more based in reality and I could strongly relate to Alejandro.
You can watch Problemista on HBO Max or you can rent it on Amazon Prime, YouTube, etc.
Arrival
Directed by: Dennis Villeneuve
Released: November 11, 2016
Without a doubt, the most popular movie on this list. It is one that I have never watched in full, until now. I have always been against Villeneuve, for no good or discernible reason. I think he makes good movies. Even if their stories don’t often move me, they are usually gorgeous to look at. Arrival being the exception. Arguably his ugliest movie to date, but also his most narratively captivating. I love how language plays such a monumental role here.
For those unaware, Arrival is a sci-fi epic starring Amy Adams as Louise Banks. With Jeremy Renner co-starring as Ian Donnelly. Louise is the professor turned translator, whereas Ian is the scientist behind the whole operation. When aliens land on Earth, the military rounds up the brightest minds on Earth to help translate what exactly it is that the aliens are trying to communicate.
Arrival is a beautiful experience. One unlike anything I have seen before. You probably have already seen this one, it got quite a bit of Oscar buzz back in the day. But use this mention of it here now as a reminder that it exists and is incredible.
You can watch Arrival on Paramount+, Pluto TV, or YouTube. Alternatively, you can rent it on Amazon Prime.
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