Social Distancing Series: Movie Night
Ok…
So,
This is a weird time. A lot of people are very anxious about a very uncertain future. The one certain thing is we all have to socially distance. This is critical to not overwhelm our hospitals and the medical workers who are doing heroic things. Social distancing will take a team effort, and it won’t be easy, especially with the uncertain timeframe involved.
So, we decided to help everyone out. With a little help from the other editors and writers here, we are starting a series of articles of recommendations to keep us all entertained while we are stuck at home.
Today, we are tackling movies…
Shane Brennan ’20 – Shaun of the Dead (Amazon Video)
Edgar Wright’s Shaun of the Dead is one of the best indie films of the 2000s. It tells the story of Shaun, a dead end retail worker in his last 20s who has grown complacent with his routine and lukewarm lifestyle. He is a zombie in his own life, but that changes when a zombie outbreak happens, and he, his lifelong best friend Ed, his ex-girlfriend, her friends, and his mom, have to fend off zombie hoards. It works on every fundamental level, delivering effective satire and wit while also delivering genuine emotion and a stellar story of growth. It is a perfect movie for our current situation and one of my personal favorites.
Jack Hipschman ’20 – Steve Jobs (Netflix)
To start off with, I’m not one to watch serious movies, but in the empty hours of a quarantined afternoon, I didn’t think it could hurt. I chose to watch Steve Jobs: The Movie, a recent addition to Netflix. The film begins at the product launch for the original Macintosh. We follow Steve Jobs, played by Michael Fassbender, around as he prepares for the event. I will admit, I was beginning to feel Jobs’ stress as he handled the press, technology problems, family problems, and everything in between, only a few minutes away from launching the product.
It quickly became apparent that Jobs was driven by his wild visions of success and had trouble balancing other aspects of his life, especially his daughter, who he refuses to take ownership of. As the film progresses, this theme becomes more apparent; As Jobs gets closer to his goal, he strays further from the reality we all live in. Overall, I enjoyed this movie. If you’re looking for an edge of your seat thriller, this is not the movie for you. But if you want to learn the crazy history and the crazy man behind the technology you’re likely reading this on, I would definitely give it a shot.
Jordan Chesebrough ’20 – Zootopia (Hulu)
My favorite movie is the 2016 cinematic masterpiece, Zootopia. The reason I like it so much is because it’s about bunnies and foxes living in the big city, so you can see how I relate to it. Do you ever feel like a bunny amidst a sea of spooky, scary foxes? Then this film is for you. Zootopia follows Judy Hopps as she embarks on a journey to attain her goal of becoming a police officer.
Judy faces treacherous terrain, enormous enemies, and personal battles all while keeping the city safe. Overall, Zootopia is a riveting adventure that encompasses the true meaning of being a hero. Give this classic a try and it will have you pondering life’s meaning and even your own existence until long after the quarantine’s cessation.
Jonathan Heite ’20 – Goodfellas (Amazon Video)
Goodfellas is one of the greatest films in Martin Scorcese’s illustrious directing career and my personal favorite for a plethora of reasons. I’ve watched many mafia movies throughout my life, and this stands out because of the star-studded cast, gripping storyline, and hair-raising action. Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta, and Joe Pesci are three of the biggest names in Hollywood and each play unique characters in the film, as well as showcase the complex mafia world in America on the big screen.
The movie is centered around Ray Liotta’s character Henry Hill (movie is based on a true story) and his rise and fall with the mob in New York. Not giving away any spoilers but the movie is filled with too many twists and turns to count and will definitely keep the viewer entertained for hours. I can almost guarantee you will want to watch this movie again and again and will also make you feel like you are directly a part of Scorcese’s mafia universe for two hours and 25 minutes.
