Quarantine Staff Picks: Part 5

Here at MovieBabble, we like to watch movies, obviously. However, the Coronavirus has created a sudden drop off in the number of new movies for us to watch. But we will not be stopped, and we’ve turned to the many decades of cinema preceding us for our entertainment. Some of us have gotten into familiar favorites, others have chosen to dive headfirst into the artsiest of artsy movies, and the rest of us are somewhere in between. For the duration of this crisis, we will be keeping you in the know about these quality gems through our Quarantine Staff Picks. So, without further ado, here are some of the movies we’d recommend for your viewing pleasure this week.

Read Part 1 here.

Read Part 2 here.

Read Part 3 here.

Read Part 4 here. 

Wolf (1994)

Chris Van Dijk: This werewolf drama does not have the spectacular effects of An American Werewolf in London, nor the gore and humor to boot. But it does have Jack Nicholson, which should easily make up for it. Wolf is unlike your typical werewolf film, as it examines a man suffering from a midlife crisis as well as a serious case of lycanthropy. It’s a true gem of the genre, with a magnificent cast: Michelle Pfeiffer, a young, hot, and sleazy James Spader, and Christopher Plummer. The rest of the supporting cast features Kate Nelligan, Richard Jenkins, and David Hyde Pierce. Watch out for a young David Schwimmer as a hapless cop! (Available to rent on Video On Demand)

Stalker (1979)

Nick Kush: You can read my extended thoughts on Stalker at your own leisure, but to add to them, there hasn’t been a day that goes by I haven’t thought about this film since I first watched it a few weeks ago. Stalker is the template for all science fiction movies where a group goes into a place where strange and dangerous events happen. It’s richly poetic and mysterious to this day. If you enjoy contemplative sci-fi movies like Annihilation or naturalistic head-scratchers like Primer, Stalker is a must-see. (Available on The Criterion Channel and to rent on Video On Demand)

Tampopo (1985)

Alessandro Louly: Although this pick is a little obscure, I wish it weren’t. Tampopo is a Japanese film about a ramen shop owner, named Tampopo, who is determined to craft the best ramen dish. Two truck drivers stumble upon the shop and decide to help the owner achieve her dreams. The film weaves through different food-related vignettes, while still circling back to the film’s original narrative. If you love food, you’ll this film. (Available on the Criterion Channel and to rent on Video On Demand)

Loaded Weapon 1 (1993)

Kali Tuttle: Imagine Airplane! but with cops — that’s what Loaded Weapon 1 is. (Not to mention being a clear riff on the Lethal Weapon series.) It cracks me up every time! I love early Samuel L. Jackson. (Available to rent on Video on Demand)

The Truth About Cats and Dogs (1996)

Brian Connor: Basically a genderswapped Cyrano de Bergerac, but an utterly charming one thanks to the lead trio of Uma Thurman, Janeane Garofalo, and Ben Chaplin. That rare rom-com with no villain, it’s a lovely way to spend 90 minutes. (Streaming on Hulu)

Follow MovieBabble on Twitter @MovieBabble_

Thank you for reading! What are your thoughts on our Quarantine Staff Picks: Part 5? Comment down below!

If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to MovieBabble via email to stay up to date on the latest content.

Join MovieBabble on Patreon so that new content will always be possible.