During these times of uncertainty, we hope everyone is staying safe and healthy out there. In light of the current global health climate, many of us are practicing ‘social distancing’, which means staying at home and avoiding public places and gatherings as much as possible. While this can certainly be a great time to catch up on some mental and physical TLC, as well as spending quality time with family, housemates, or your own self, this type of prolonged isolation can become difficult to handle at times. Boredom and monotony are a few concerns that people are already facing, so in lieu of this, we’ve come up with a list of some great films that will simultaneously lift you up, make you laugh, and make you think. Ultimately, I believe all of these films will help to inspire hope — hope that we, in our communities and as a world, will get through this difficult time together.
This film list is inclusive of various genres, and are all relevant to the situation we are currently facing in their own unique ways. Rather than having this be a time of panic, let’s try to use it as a time to reflect, connect to art, and realize what the important things in life are.
Since this list is made up of 10 films altogether, we’ll be separating it into two posts, so look out for Part 2 coming soon!
#1 – Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
What better to quell a worldwide panic than to watch a post-apocalytpic film?
No, but in all seriousness, this 2015 action-thriller directed by George Miller is one wild ride. The movie is equal parts exciting as it is serious, fun, and even hopeful. I promise you that watching this movie won’t contribute to further panic, but will actually provide insight into the incredible depths of human survival, even against all odds. At the forefront there are a myriad of awesome and strong female characters, and the film works to subvert the gender stereotypes that are present in so many other action movies. And if all that doesn’t impress you, I assure you the outstanding work that went into the production design, such as the vehicles and costumes, will. I only have good things to say about this film, so if you’d like to read a further breakdown on the feminist overtones of Mad Max: Fury Road, read more here.
Mad Max: Fury Road starring Charlize Theron and Tom Hardy is available to watch on Amazon Prime.
#2 – The Terminal (2004)
Loosely based on a true story, The Terminal starring Tom Hanks and directed by Steven Spielberg is about a man who is trapped in a US airport because he is not allowed to enter America and yet cannot go back home because of a military coup.
If this premise sounds eerily relevant, that’s because it is. Many countries have closed their borders due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which unfortunately means that many travellers are currently facing long waits in airports as well as long screening times.
Though the premise of this film definitely sounds like a nightmare, the comedy-drama nature of the genre allows The Terminal to be an interesting mix between romantic, heart-warmingly comedic, and emotionally poignant. Spielberg himself said of the film that he wanted to make a movie that could “make us laugh and cry and feel good about the world…. This is a time when we need to smile more and Hollywood movies are supposed to do that for people in difficult times.” Though the movie was released in 2004, Spielberg’s quote still applies.
Tom Hanks (who let’s face it, is a national treasure at this point) and his wife Rita Wilson were recently released from quarantine after testing positive for COVID-19 earlier this week and were stuck abroad in Australia while being treated, both factors that uncannily makes the film even more relevant to the current climate.
The Terminal is available to watch on Netflix.
#3 – Zombieland (2009)
Yes, I know, another post-apocalyptic movie. But trust me on this one when I say that the oddball characters of Zombieland will make you laugh so hard you will temporarily forget about real-time world issues.
What is best characterized as a zombie-comedy film and reminiscent of cult classic Shaun of the Dead, Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Emma Stone, and Abigail Breslin star as a group of strangers who somehow find each other amidst the apocalypse and search for a promise land unaffected by zombies. What results is a bizarre and wacky adventure that will have you hooked on the character arcs of these four survivors. The best part? By any other standard, they’re just a group of regular humans — which gives people like me hope for survival in case a zombie apocalypse does come someday.
Zombieland can be found on Netflix, and if you happen to have already watched the first installment, its recent sequel Zombieland: Double Tap (you can read further thoughts on this film in our “Top Favourites 2019: Movies” review here) is available to rent on Amazon Prime and the Cineplex store.
#4 – Groundhog Day (1993)
This Bill Murray classic is, well, a classic. Even if you haven’t seen the 1993 film directed by Harold Ramis, you’ll likely know the basic premise: a man is stuck in a time loop of the same day – Groundhog Day – that only he is aware of.
The film follows as Murray’s character, Phil Connors, goes through a character transformation. Since Phil is unaware of how to get out of the time loop, he is forced to live through the events day by day with only the ability to change his own actions. Through the wacky series of events, Phil goes from being a jaded weatherman to a more self-aware and compassionate version of himself. Though the film relies heavily on its comedic elements, Groundhog Day also reminds us that we can take seemingly difficult or monotonous situations as an opportunity to improve our own selves.
If you haven’t already caught on, Connors’ situation is extremely pertinent to those who are either working or studying from home, are practicing social distancing, or are in self-isolation. Though being cut off from regular social activities or outings may seem jarring, there are so many things we can do to keep ourselves busy, thriving, and constantly improving.
Groundhog Day is available to watch on Netflix.
#5 – Star Trek Beyond (2016)
I recently watched Star Trek Beyond and was pleasantly surprised at how good it was, considering what a flop its predecessor, Star Trek Into Darkness was (don’t even get me started on how disappointing the choice to cast a white man to play a historically PoC character was).
The third installment of the new Star Trek films was refreshing in every way. It is about a group of people who are thrust into an incredibly dire situation, with much unknown of how to navigate it, and yet who still manage to rally with each other’s help and find hope. Though they deal with many losses, they ultimately come out on the positive end of it.
With so much that is unknown about our real-life climate currently, watching a film like Star Trek Beyond is a wonderful reminder that building communities during hard times is a powerful thing. Working together, as opposed to adopting the “every man for himself” mentality, is so much more effective for making positive change and impact.
Star Trek Beyond is available to watch on Netflix.
Remember to stay safe, healthy, and happy, readers! Enjoy your social distancing time and maximize it to the fullest, and stay tuned for Part 2 of our film list coming soon!
~ Z ~
Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash
