Quarantine Staff Picks: Part 9

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. 

Read Part 5 here.

Read Part 6 here. 

Read Part 7 here. 

Read Part 8 here. 

Miami Vice (2006)

Michael Heimbaugh: Colin Farrell and Jamie Foxx are Sonny Crockett and Ricardo Tubbs, two Miami cops going undercover for the FBI to infiltrate a south Florida drug trafficking ring, but their romantic entanglements complicate the mission. Those in search of a straightforward reboot of the classic 80s detective series will walk away disappointed. Director Michael Mann instead uses digital film to craft a gritty and melancholy — but nonetheless gorgeous — vision of crime, violence, and disillusionment. There’s a speedboating scene in this that just might be the most beautiful thing ever put to film. (Available to rent on Video On Demand.)

Save the Tiger (1973)

Chris van Djik: Possibly the most underrated performance of Jack Lemmon’s extraordinary career. This film is ripe for rediscovery. To my mind, it’s also the best film by John G. Avildsen, who also directed classics like Rocky and The Karate Kid (as well as the second and third part of the franchise). (Available to rent on Video On Demand.)

The Lady from Shanghai (1947)

Nick Kush: Orson Welles’ surrealist mystery is both great and highly memeable — a combination I adore in a movie. The actual mystery itself is very alluring with Rita Hayworth and Welles as the two leads. Although you may blindly guess the actual conclusion of the film, it’s constructed in a way that always keeps you guessing and slightly confused. You feel like characters are always a few steps ahead.

But then there’s Welles’ hammy Irish accent, which I find endlessly funny. It’s a win-win. (Available to rent on Video On Demand.)

Woman in the Dunes (1964)

Spencer Henderson: One of the best films ever made about isolation on both an external and internal level. The pacing is absolutely masterful, the setting is utilized in incredible ways, and the film dives deep into the psyche of its central characters. It is an absolute must-see. (Available to stream on the Criterion Channel.)

What We Do in the Shadows (2014)

Collin Willis: Now that Waititi has landed in the mainstream, it doesn’t feel like as genuine of a hidden gem as it used to — however, it is still damn hilarious. It’s an absurd take on vampire lore and the often lazily utilized mockumentary formula. Waititi and Clement bring their improvisational A-game, and the fact that one of the main cast members didn’t even realize he was a legitimate part of the movie just makes it even better. I would also highly recommend the commentary track to this film because it’s just as hilarious than the actual movie, if not more. (Available to rent on Video On Demand)

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