What should we watch?

by London Basco Staff Writer

You’ve gathered your snacks, the lights are dimmed, and you’ve got a cozy blanket draped across your shoulders.

But what’s next is a heavy and tedious challenge that you and I and the rest of the world have been faced with in the past: deciding on the perfect movie to spend the rest of your evening watching.

Here are five must-see films that will solve the obstacle that is choosing the perfect movie.

“The Truman Show” (1998)

“The Truman Show” is a psychological sci-fi comedy starring comedy actor Jim Carrey. The movie follows the life of Truman Burbank, a “nothing special” yet lovable and charismatic man. Unbeknownst to Truman, every action from his childhood to adulthood is broadcast to the whole world from the television studio that, to him, is home.

All his bubbly and perfect friends, neighbors, and strangers on the street are actors on “The Truman Show,” of which he is the main character. With the growing desire to see more of the world beyond his town, Truman carries out multiple attempts to leave and begins to unfold the lie that is his life.

Not only does the film provide viewers with an amazing performance from Carrey, but it also emphasizes important themes that are still applicable today like the media’s effect on an individual and society as a whole, the acceptance of reality, and many more.

“The Truman Show” is truly a movie that will leave a lasting impression on the way one may approach life.

The majority of movies involving love end the same. Two people meet by chance, have some conflict that separates them, and find their way back to each other again.

“500 Days of Summer” ventures off the path of a regular, sappy romance by portraying the highs and lows that come with creating a deep connection with another person.

The main character, Tom Hansen, didn’t grow up with much experience when it came to romantic partners. Not being considered conventionally attractive and also being a bit of an outcast in school, Tom’s perspective when it came to love derived from romance stories he would observe on screen. Highly contrasting is his love interest, Summer Finn. Though she’s had a long history of being intimate with others, Summer was never one to obsess over love, sometimes even opposed to the general idea of it.

The two cross paths and create a close relationship. However, it’s easy to assume that things can go wrong between a hopeless romantic and a non-believer in true love. This is what separates “500 Days” from other romance films. It shows viewers the frustrating and unfortunate reality of falling in love.

“Fantastic Mr. Fox” (2009)

Originally a Roald Dahl picture book marketed toward children, “Fantastic Mr. Fox” is a beautiful stop motion animation movie that kids and adults alike can learn valuable lessons from.

“Fantastic Mr. Fox” covers the story of a father fox’s pursuit to ensure the safety and happiness of his family. Through his actions, one can reflect on the struggles of balancing their own desires and habits with maintaining the comfort of the people and environment around you. Most children’s movies have a main character who seems perfect to create a good role model for a young audience, but Mr. Fox captures real characteristics and behaviors of addiction, depression, and anxiety in ways that are light enough to be appropriate for a 6-year-old, yet strong enough to resonate with an adult.

“Spider-Man: Into the SpiderVerse” (2018)

I’m not sure if there has ever been a time where a movie so entirely captured everything that I love about art, music, emotion, and film quite like “Into the Spider-Verse.”

Miles Morales, an Afro-Latino teen in NYC, develops spider-like qualities in the same iconic way that the live actions characters do. After coming across another Spider-Man, Miles realizes he is not alone in his abilities and neither is the universe that he lives in.

On top of his obligation to save the multiverse, Miles faces struggles as a normal teenager. His journey through loss, acceptance, and sacrifice are what make the character so lovable and relatable to many teens.

This movie challenges the world of animation in ways that even the most amazing animation pictures haven’t. Instead of replicating that cartoony yet realistic style that almost every other animated film is made with, “Into the SpiderVerse” explores a new style that embodies the classic look of comic books while still preserving the vibrancy that a proper animated film should have.

The soundtrack and graffiti art add so much layer, understanding, and pure enjoyment to each scene by perfectly reflecting the desired tone and personalities of each character. And the way it pushes toward emphasizing the importance of representation in the entertainment industry is just another reason why “Into the Spider-Verse” is a must-watch.

I don’t think any formation of words could capture how much I love this film. From the terrific acting performances to the stunning coloration and visuals, “Whiplash” has become one of my favorite movies of all time.

Who knew that the story of a guy with a passion for jazz and drumming could top all the other incredible movies that I’ve seen?

Andrew Neiman begins his journey to (hopefully) becoming one of the world’s greatest jazz drummers at Shaffer Conservatory. There he meets and is accepted into the jazz band of Terence Fletcher. Fletcher is no ordinary conductor and musician, as he uses both physically and emotionally abusive methods in order to keep his ensemble to a high standard that is nothing but perfection. When I say nothing, I mean absolutely nothing.

If you were to ask me to describe “Whiplash” in one word, I wouldn’t hesitate to say “intense.”

The music, the coloration, the deep cutting words of the sadistic yet inspiring conductor, and even points of silence in the film were powerful in that they perfectly, yet subtly complement the story while still maintaining the organic plot.

The film flawlessly hammers home themes and emotions to the audience in a way that I have never seen in theaters before.