MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
5 Honey Boy
Shia LaBoeuf is one of those actors who consistently provokes curiosity. Whether it be his outlandish comments and beliefs, or the various controversies he’s been embroiled in over the years, his life remains far from dull. Written by and starring Shia LaBoeuf, Honey Boy captures the early years of LaBoeuf’s childhood as a child television actor while living with his complex, overbearing father.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
The film examines the trials and tribulations of a father (James) and son (Otis), and the ramifications of abuse. As critic Sheila O’Malley states, “Honey Boy is a cry of pain for the neglected boy Otis was, but it is also a cry of pain for James. The most painful truth of all may be that James was doing the best he could.”
4 Sound of Metal
Director Darius Marder’s critically acclaimed Sound of Metal was nominated for six awards at last year’s Oscars, winning two for Best Editing and Best Sound Design. Sound of Metal details the failing ears of heavy metal drummer Ruben Stone (Riz Ahmed), as he attempts to navigate through the insidious, perilous, and isolating terrain of deafness. Heavy Metal duo, and lovers, Ruben and Lou (Olivia Cooke) tour America in their RV, performing gigs across the country.
It becomes apparent that Ruben is suffering from onset hearing loss, and seeks help via a refuge for deaf recovering drug users run by Joe (Paul Raci), a Vietnam War veteran. Mark Kermode of The Guardian encapsulates the movie’s sentiments perfectly: “Just as addiction is a central theme, so Ruben’s desperate desire for surgery becomes a metaphor for a wider crisis of faith, and identity struggle embodied in the multilayered sound design.”
3 Jai Bhim
Jai Bhim translates to “Victory for Bhim,” and was used by the followers of late Indian advocate, B.R. Ambedkar, the man behind the Constitution of India. Jai Bhim follows the true story of Rajakannu and his wife Sengeni, poor villagers from the maltreated Irula tribe. Rajakannu is falsely accused of theft from a rich, non-Irula family. Despite his protestations, he is remanded in custody and is subjected, along with other suspects, to torture at the hands of the local police.
Seeking justice, Rajakannu’s family seeks out lawyer K. Chandru, who specializes in matters of tribal affairs. The movie exposes the flaws of the Indian judicial system and utilizes those faults as a voice for change and reform. It serves as a stark and harrowing reminder of the issues of police brutality, public mistrust, and at times, the inadequate practices of world-leading justice systems.
2 Borat Subsequent Movie Film
The sequel documents the American explorations of the Kazakhstani Borat, recently released from prison, and his daughter. While it is largely conceded that the Borat sequel doesn’t quite reach the lofty heights of the first installment’s legendary mockumentary status, Borat Subsequent Movie Film still provides belly-laughs and painfully awkward encounters while taking a real hold on the state of the world through Trump’s America and social media.
1 Manchester By the Sea
The award-winning Manchester by the Sea traverses themes of love, devastating loss, grief, and acceptance. Casey Affleck’s depiction of Lee is a triumph, both in embodying the true nature of that level of grief, but also laying bare the vulnerability, and raw emotion of his character as he battles his demons, all while simultaneously remaining steadfast for his nephew. Michelle Williams is featured less but is equally emotionally devastating.
