Welcome to I Have to Return Some Videotapes! Each month, film buffs Rhianna Mehta and Kevin Maguire will take you through their cinematic journeys with all of their usual insight and humour, as they take advantage of covid-induced indoor time to catch up on their favourite films and explore new ones.

We had the opportunity to watch Denis Villeneuve’s Dune on opening night at an absolutely packed IMAX theatre. It was such an exhilarating experience, not only because the film is such a spectacle, but also because of the sheer excitement of the audience! Although Dune did not crack into our top films of the month, it is definitely worth seeing on the big screen. While it is definitely a beautiful film that deserves acclaim, it is hard to judge a story that is only halfway complete at this point. After the success of the first film, thankfully it was announced that Dune Part 2 will be released in 2023. Other than watching Dune, in October we continued to watch horror films and also included psychological thriller and crime movies. As much as we love horror, we know there is so much out there to be enjoyed! We hope you enjoy this month’s recommendations on what to watch, what to skip, and what you may want to give a shot.

If you would like to connect with us further on Letterboxd, please find us at rhirhi19 and Kevin_Maguire. If you want to get a sense of our taste, some of our favourites in each genre, and the way we approach film overall, be sure to check out our appearance on The Generalists.

Monthly Favourites:

Rhianna: Phantom of the Paradise (Brian De Palma, 1974) This is easily one of my favourite movies of all time! The Phantom of the Paradise is a rock-musical horror comedy film about a young man, Winslow Leach, who has written a musical composition inspired by Faust. After Winslow performs his Faust music in an audition, nefarious music producer Swan sets out to steal Winslow’s music for the grand opening of his rock palace, The Paradise. Through a series of misfortunes orchestrated by Swan, Leach becomes horribly disfigured and vows to seek revenge on Swan and The Paradise. This Faust, The Picture of Dorian Gray, and The Phantom of the Opera mash-up offers contemptuous criticism of the music industry. The film often alludes to Swan having complete control over who achieves success, and he goes to extreme lengths to ensure he is at the forefront of the industry. Further, Swan’s access to state-of-the-art audio equipment gives us a glimpse into the world of auto-tune, and really highlights just how manufactured the music making process can be. The composition that is central to the film’s plot also serves as the film’s soundtrack, and it often provides additional subtext to the film. When Winslow begins to follow-up with Swan after his initial meeting, Winslow’s song “I Never Thought I’d Meet the Devil” plays in the background. At times the film’s soundtrack was in the background, but mostly the film is chock full of musical numbers incorporated into the plot directly. This is a film unlike any I have seen before – it is truly unique in its analysis, style, and sheer absurdity. If you want to watch something that is a blast from start to finish, check this film out!

Runner-up: Badlands (Terrence Malick, 1973) This film starts off like a beautiful hazy dream, but slowly turns into a waking nightmare. Badlands stars Martin Sheen and Sissy Spacek, and is loosely based on the real-life murders committed by a young man and his girlfriend. I found the voice-over narration from Sissy Spacek’s character very compelling, giving the audience insight into the differing motivations behind hers and Martin Sheen’s character. The film’s depiction of violence is thoughtful and measured in a way that makes it all the more unsettling. This Americana classic is a must-see!

Kevin: After Hours (Martin Scorsese, 1985) When people think of Martin Scorsese, of course the first films that come to mind are acclaimed classics like Goodfellas, Raging Bull, and Taxi Driver. Lost in the shuffle of his incredible film library is After Hours. This 1985 film follows Paul Hackett, a man with a boring desk job who is about to have the most intense night of his life. Through a series of chance encounters, miscommunications, and sheer bad luck, you are introduced to the rest of the cast through their interactions with Hackett as he criss-crosses New York City streets. A lot of the scenes are shot as a film noir while including a bit more of a humorous tone. It was also very interesting to watch Scorsese rely on talent outside of his usual stable of prolific box office draws. This may have been one of the contributing factors for why this is not regarded higher in Scorsese’s filmography. Using a lesser known cast may have affected the overall box office, but I really felt like I got to appreciate his film direction so much more. While his talent has always been evident, it is hard not to argue that the likes of Robert DeNiro, Al Pacino, and Leonardo Dicaprio bring their own aura to his other pictures that help elevate them to the upper echelon. However, this is not to take anything away from the cast in After Hours, as they were absolutely exceptional. With great acting and directing, this film is pulse pounding from start to finish. Sprinkle in a great use of dark humour and you have what I honestly think is one of Martin Scorsese’s best films. If you love neo-noir films filled with suspense and laughs, you have got to check out After Hours!

Runner-up: Wild Indian (Lyle Mitchell Corbine Jr., 2021), The Dead Zone (David Cronenberg, 1983)

Least Favorite:

Rhianna: All About Steve (Phil Traill, 2009) Yikes … this movie is a lot. The film centers around Mary, played by Sandra Bullock, an intelligent but quirky crossword constructor. After one awkward date with news cameraman Steve, played by Bradley Cooper, Mary is convinced he is her soulmate, and follows Steve to media events across the country to convince him that they belong together. If the plot alone was not cringe worthy enough, Mary’s behaviour and stalker-like tendencies towards Steve are appalling. Despite having some great qualities, her character is so desperate that it becomes incredibly hard to relate to her. Oftentimes I found myself closing my eyes because I was just so embarrassed for her. Sandra Bullock actually won the infamous Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actress for this film, which was the same year she won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in The Blind Side. Although Sandra Bullock’s character was abysmal, thankfully Bradley Cooper and the supporting cast were somewhat tolerable. The other aspects of the film are all pretty basic, which I guess I should expect from a late 2000’s romantic comedy. Honestly, I am just glad this film did not derail Bradley Cooper’s career.

Runner-up: Swimfan (John Polson, 2002) This film is so stupid. It is supposed to be a suspenseful thriller about a high school swim jock who is stalked by a crazy fan, but instead all I saw was a guy who cannot take responsibility for his actions.

Kevin: Old (M. Night Shyamalan, 2021) Somehow, despite plenty of terrible competition, this is definitely M. Night Shyamalan’s worst movie to date. This felt like a lazy attempt in every aspect of filmmaking. From the script, to the acting, to the overall story and themes, it felt like there was very little effort put into this movie. You are introduced to the Cappa family, who are heading on a vacation to a beautiful resort. It quickly turns into an ensemble cast when they are joined on an isolated beach by a few more couples and their respective children. Once there, things quickly descend into nonsensical chaos. They meet a rapper named Mid Size Sedan who has been on the beach for an undetermined amount of time (yes, “Mid Size Sedan” - I can understand if you skip the rest of this review). At this point an accelerated aging process that occurs on the beach has started in full swing, but does not seem to affect everyone at the same rate. Some of the adults decline rapidly, while others like Mr. Sedan who has been there a lot longer than the rest of them barely seems affected. The children understandably age physically quicker than the adults, but it is never determined whether their minds mature as well. This makes the next part pretty weird: two of the children have sex and you are forced to watch in horror as this now-teenage girl speeds through nine months of pregnancy. It is just as disturbing as it sounds. As they all continue to age it is a race against time and logic. It is revealed (spoilers ahead) that the beach somehow accelerates aging because of magnetic forces (WHAT?) and is being used for medical research, as scientists are able to watch the drugs they slipped into the guests’ drinks react over an entire lifetime in one day. While the concept may seem interesting on the surface, there are so many holes in how these studies are being conducted. There are absolutely no controls in place for these studies, and unsurprisingly none of the drugs end up working fully anyways. The drugs accidentally became a metaphor for this movie. No foresight, poor execution and ultimately you are left with a huge feeling of disappointment. I would avoid this movie at all costs and be very wary of the next Shamalan twist.

Runner-up: All About Steve (Phil Traill, 2009), Swimfan (John Polson, 2002)

Biggest Surprise:

Rhianna: Exotica (Atom Egoyan, 1994) This film was such a surprise, and it really stuck with me. The film tells the story of individuals who live separate lives, but as the story unfolds their lives begin to intertwine. A tax auditor, Francis, is grieving the loss of his daughter, and has been sent to audit the financial earnings of a pet store owned by a man named Thomas Pinto. Francis is also a regular of a strip club in Toronto called Exotica, and consistently has the same dancer, Christina, give him private dances, to the dismay of her ex-boyfriend and strip club MC, Eric. The film follows a non-linear plot structure, and it is so fascinating to watch these characters’ lives become entangled and unfold in unimaginable ways. The films’ central themes of obsession and grief are explored through each character differently, and for some characters these emotions manifest themselves through disturbing behaviour. Given that the film’s central location is a strip club, there is also an interesting view into the relationships between men and women. Christina has two primary relationships in the film - an emotional and monetary one with Francis, and a soured romantic relationship with Eric. Each of these relationships helps the audience understand how Francis and Eric each deal with the heavy emotions of obsession and grief. This is my first film by Canadian director Atom Egoyan, and it is for sure not going to be my last.

Runner-up: The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (Robert Wiene, 1920) Wow, this movie was such a pleasant surprise. I expected something that was a little slow, given that it is a foreign silent film that is just over 100 years old, but I cannot believe how wrong I was! During the film a young man recalls his experience of visiting “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari”, an exhibit at a local fair where a doctor shows a somnambulist awaking for the first time to reveal eternal truths. The film is astounding in its set and costume design, and really progressed film as a medium. I know this film is not for everyone, but this was one of the most enjoyable films I have seen in a long time.

Kevin: Dial M for Murder (Alfred Hitchcock, 1954) Originally a successful stage play, Dial M for Murder is one of the most intense films I’ve ever seen. It is the first film where I found myself rooting for the villain almost the entire time. Ray Milland plays the main pro antagonist, Tony Wendice, who after discovering his wife was having an affair, plots to have her killed. When the plot goes sideways, he switches his plans and begins taking steps to frame her for murder! Alfred Hitchcock is a master of suspense and I think this film may be the pinnacle of his success. Every step taken by Tony Wendice is so cold and calculating it is borderline genius. The number of hurdles he has to go through for his plan to work is nothing short of remarkable. Even when an obstacle is thrown his way he navigates the situation with incomparable ease and poise. On top of such a thrilling story, the script is so well written and keeps you on the edge of your seat. What is also impressive is that with limited sets, this film is still able to keep the audience captivated because the actors bring so much life into every scene. With every plot twist and turn you are left wondering who will come out on top in this cat and mouse game. I absolutely love the entire structure of this film and I would recommend it to everyone.

Runner-up: Badlands (Terrence Malick, 1973), The Evil Dead (Sam Raimi, 1981)

Coming Attractions:

For the month of November, we have decided to move away from the fantastical and absurd in favour of film that is more grounded in reality. We will be exclusively watching documentaries, biopics and films based on true stories. Documentary films are a genre we have not delved deep into, so we are excited to find some treasures!