Seven Films for the Next Quarentine

As the Autumn season and foliage are in full swing, the days are getting shorter, the weather is becoming colder and the number of Covid-19 cases are rising. In some places, especially those who don't experience a uptick in 'leaf peeper' tourists, a second quarantine lockdown can be expected. For my initial Spring, I used it as an opportunity to catch up on movies I had been yearning to see. As quarantine progressed and headlines became less optimistic, I began to turn to movies not just for a two-hour escapism, but to help stimulate senses of both thought and joy during such a muddied down time. Here are seven films I watched for the first time during quarantine that I recommend we enter uncharted territory and faced with the circumstance of another lockdown.

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

Sony Pictures Animation

While this is the only superhero movie that made the list, the level of depth and heart that 'Spider-verse' showcases surpasses many films that do not fall in the superhero genre. Following the story of Miles Morales, a Brooklyn teenager who gains powers after being bitten by a radioactive spider and is joined by an ensemble of other 'spider' heroes from parallel dimensions to save the universe. All while he is learning to navigate the challenges and strifes that come with teenage and family life. 

Balancing swashbuckling action scenes with just as gripping gentle emotional scenes, 'Spider-verse' successfully weaves together a compelling experience revolving around a central theme of overcoming fear. Accompanied with great humor, soundtrack, and groundbreaking animation that seems to jump off the screen, even the most staunch anti-comic book movie critic can find joy and meaning in 'Spider-Verse'. 

Sony Pictures Animation

Groundhog Day

Columbia Pictures

A film that seems to have made a resurgence over the course of the pandemic. With a premise that easily could have been turned into a cheap horror movie, living the same day over and over again with seemingly no escape, 'Groundhog Day' has become one of the most beloved comedies. 

Midway through watching the film, I realized it's premise somewhat resembled the reality of which I found myself facing in quarantine. Each morning I was waking up at the same time, memorized the schedule of my roommates and the time any prospects of the day becoming a productive one would crash into a dampened mindset. Watching Bill Murray's character break out of his repetitive rut by doing good for those around him brought a sense of comedic relief and reinforced the importance of compassion.

Ex Machina

The first non-comedic movie to enter the list has also been one of the films that had the largest impact. Ex Machine follows a lonely computer programmer who wins a chance to spend a week on the isolated estate of his company's eccentric CEO and take part in one of the most groundbreaking tests in human history. 

Universal Pictures

If this sounds like a set up for a too-good-to-be-true scenario gone bad, that's exactly what unravels. Instead of a generic escape thriller film, Ex Machina is a slow-burning meditation on themes of the relationship between humanity and technology. Juxtaposed with gorgeous shots of the natural world, Ex Machina is great for stirring up thought in a bogged down mind. My personal recommendation is to view this on a rainy day.

Universal Pictures

Her

Warner Brothers Pictures

Similar to Ex Machina, Her delves into the connection between loneliness, isolation and turning to technology to fill in that missing gap that many feel. Centering around a sensitive and lonely man who writes personal letters for other people, while missing personal connection in his own drab life. He begins to break free from his mundane life after developing a relationship with a partner. What separates Her from other dream girl romance movies, it that his 'partner' is an operating system that is designed to be a perfect match for him. 

In such a tech-driven film, the story's resolution drives home the message of no matter how much we try to create technology that perfectly fits our personality, nothing can replace genuine human connection. The film's message of human connection is something I think is particularly important when facing the instance of a quarantine.

Warner Brothers Pictures

I Lost My Body

Netflix

Suprisingly a animated movie that opens with a lone hand escaping a lab was one of the most up-lifting. I Lost My Body weaves between narratives of the hand as it travels to find it's owner, a young man Naoufel who himself is lost in life unable to move on from previous traumatic experiences. As the hand gets closer to what it's longing for, running parallel is Naoufel's journey of personal triumphs. Both if which reach a surprising ending 

The films grasps themes of grieving, isolation, personal discovery and finding mini personal triumphs to get through difficult situations. Not the triumphs that save the day as in Spider-verse, but celebrates small personal triumphs we all experience, which are just as important.

Netflix

Searching for Sugarman

Sony Classics 

Yes, that documentary you've been recommended to watch dozens of times lives up to the hype! Searching For Sugarman follows the story of two fans of folk singer Rodriguez who is one of the biggest selling artists in their home country of South Africa. The catch, Rodriguez's whereabouts faded into obscurity in the early 70's after his music failed to capture hold in the U.S. markets and is unaware of his massive fame in South Africa.

What's more compelling than the persistence of these two devoted fans, is the humble life of Rodriguez himself. Watching a man who repeatedly had life beat him down continue get back on his feet and in the end gets the ultimate reward, playing for an adoring audience. Even though the screen it's hard not to become enthralled by Rodriquizes's work ethic and commitment to justice.

Sony Classics

Goodfellas

Warner Brothers Pictures

This was the first film I watched during the pandemic and remains the one I reflect on the most. Goodfellas transports the viewer into a wild escapist lavish lifestyle in a way that feels as if you are actually there. With the exception of the highly violent scenes, I find it difficult to keep my eyes off the screen.

In traditional Scorsese manner, with it's charismatic and hilarious dopamine fueled performances, the film serves as a reminder not to look too fondly on the mob's antics and that their excessive hyper-masculine lifestyle often leads to disastrous results... if you are lucky enough to make it. Between the stellar acting, camera work, music, food, romance and violence, Goodfellas is the film over the course of my initial quarantine I found myself reflecting and rewatching scenes the most.

Warner Brothers Pictures

Thanks for taking the time to read this. I am interested to know what films you watched during quarantine and if you have any recommendations!

You can also find the list on letterboxd here!