The Mask (1994): This movie is so idiosyncratic that it stands out through this alone. Probably my favourite “silly” Jim Carrey performance, “The Mask” is one of the most cartoonish movies you will ever come across. It’s a product of its time, but I think a mostly honest and heartfelt story about a lonely nice guy needing to break through his own boundaries. Mix in a surprisingly entertaining crime plot, some inspired and energetic musical moments and the magnetic debut of Cameron Diaz, (whom I didn’t know I liked before this), and you’ve got one of the more memorable romps of the 90s. 7
Glorious (2022): A seemingly heartbroken guy pulls up at a roadside rest stop in the middle of nowhere and has an encounter within it that puts in balance the fate of mankind. It’s a minimalistic movie, that stretches itself out at times with borderline tiresome dialogue, but it manages to find traction when it matters. With visual effects used effectively and, I would say, sparingly, director Rebekah McKendry manages to walk the line between comedic and unsettling, delivering an unusual movie along the way. 7
Hard Miles (2023): An uplifting story about teenage convicts coming into their own after an arduous bike ride to the Grand Canyon, Hard Miles is mostly familiar stuff, but it stands its ground because it is restrained in its sensibilities. It’s great to see Matthew Modine in the lead role, with a performance that really anchors the movie’s strengths – a true story that’s also a sad indictment of the juvenile convicts system. What I find as a shortcoming is that director/co-writer RJ Daniel Hanna doesn’t take any chances to break the mould, making for a satisfying, but tame experience. 6
Matrix: Generation (2023): This short (French) documentary takes on the legacy that The Matrix and its sequels and spin-offs have cemented for so many people around the world – but particularly in the United States. There’s a lot of information in it, as it breezes through cultural references, cinematic influences and social reverberations, in a manner that makes it feel a bit like a Wikipedia article. Taking on so much, including the appropriation of Matrix terminology by the Trump machine, M:G inevitably seems a bit scattershot, without adding very much from this already well-tapped vein of pop-culture. 6
The Legend of Tarzan (2016): The series of absolute duds that Harry Potter director David Yates has been churning out during the last decade (Fantastic Beasts anyone) includes this modern Tarzan adaptation. While it does take some freedom in adapting the story to, let’s say, current day sensibilities, the movie is a mundane CGI fest, barely made tolerable by its exceptional cast. Of this, only Samuel L. Jackson brings some goods to the table, as everyone else slots into the generic moulds of their roles. A very sad affair. 4
tributary stu 