By Tilda Sutter
Movies open up worlds we would be unable to experience otherwise, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Here are my top recommendations for this week:
The Angel Levine (1970)
Ján Kadár, a famous proponent of the Czechoslovakian New Wave, made his Hollywood debut with the playful, incredibly imaginative, and surprisingly moving The Angel Levine. The film features Zero Mostel starring as Morris Mishkin, an elderly Jewish New York City tailor whose faith falters as the joys in his life seem to come to a close. Luckily for Morris, Alexander Levine (played by the legendary Harry Belafonte) visits him from the dead, as an angel ready to reconstruct Morris’s faith. The two characters hilariously wrestle to understand each other in front of the beautiful, vibrant backdrop of New York City in the 70s. Available for rent on Amazon Prime, or free with a Criterion Channel subscription.
Original Cast Album “Company” (1970)
In 1970, the renowned rockumentary director D.A. Pennebaker spent one day with the cast of “Company,” an incredibly successful Broadway musical, as they recorded their soundtrack for release. Documented over an incredibly excruciating nineteen hour session, the film focuses mainly on the breathtaking performances of the cast, specifically of Elaine Stritch, whose powerful voice and presence tower above the entire movie. Pennebaker’s improvised style leaves all the performers vulnerable and allows for an unusually mesmerizing and emotional film. Streaming available with subscription on the Criterion Channel.
Touch of Evil (1958)
Orson Welles directs and stars in Touch of Evil, an exhilarating film noir about corrupt and righteous detectives as they race to find the culprit responsible for a car-bombing on the US-Mexican border. Welles is accompanied by the captivating Janet Leigh and Charlton Hetson, and their threatic performances, combined with the truly mind-boggling cinematography, produce a film that is impossible to look away from. Touch of Evil remains incredibly significant decades after its release and is still considered one of Welles’s greatest accomplishments, second only to Citizen Kane. Available for rent/purchase on Amazon Prime.
Happy-Go-Lucky (2008)
Mike Leigh’s characteristically charming, personal, and uplifting film stars Sally Hawkin as Poppy, an impossibly optimistic elementary teacher. Poppy is quite literally happy-go-lucky, she approaches the world with funny one-liners and a perpetual smile, refusing to take the world too seriously, even as she encounters those who could not be more different. Sally Hawkins’s performance is absolutely wonderful. She is hilarious, bright, and pops off the screen with her dynamic energy, amplified by the colorful cinematography. Happy-Go-Lucky is an absolute joy to watch, and Poppy provides a much needed lesson in keeping hope during bleak times. Available to rent/purchase on Amazon Prime.
Approaching a Breakthrough (2017)
Approaching a Breakthrough is a charming short film directed by Noah Pritzker, centered around a quintessential young New Yorker, Norman Kaminsky, as he tries to run away from his problems. Norman begins the film walking through Central Park with his girlfriend, during which he bumps into his two former therapists, former teacher, ex-girlfriend, and an employee at the garage he used to park his car at. As Norman sits hopelessly by, this cast of characters begins to diagnose his patterns of behavior and tendency to quit any endeavors he embarks on. Approaching a Breakthrough pays incredible attention to the complexities and details of New Yorkers, the quiet sarcasm in their interactions, and the true empathy they never fail to show. Available to stream on Vimeo.