“Eat The Rich” — My Favorite Genre in Film
by Isobelle Cruz [February 1, 2022]
The Menu (2022) dir. by Mark Mylod
The phrase in the title comes from political philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s quote, “When people have nothing to eat, they will eat the rich.” The last film I watched that had me surprised they did not literally eat the rich was The Menu by Mark Mylod.
This film never took itself too seriously despite its center around the wealthy and the lengths they go to just to experience the finer things in life. It is fully aware of its bizarreness and adds bits of humor here and there, making it enjoyable despite mostly taking place in one setting.
As the first film I had seen this year, The Menu truly sets up expectations and a fresh path to more of what the industry has in store for the rest of the year. Moving on, here are four more films to see if you enjoyed The Menu:
Triangle of Sadness (2022) dir. by Ruben Östlund
Starting off strong with one of my final watches of 2022 that had me saying “what the fuck?” under my breath every few minutes is Triangle of Sadness directed by Ruben Östlund. What initially caught my interest in watching this film was a clip in the opening part wherein we see a bit of the modeling industry and its quirks, or so, ridiculousness. What I didn’t know, and certainly wasn’t prepared for, was what I would witness next.
I went into this film after refraining myself from spoilers or even a hint of what it could be about, preparing myself to be either disappointed or pleased with what I was about to be met with. And that is exactly what I suggest to you as well. Ditch the synopsis and logline and head straight into this experience. Just know that you’ll be met with great dialogue, delicate cinematography, and a whole lot of shit—both figuratively and literally.
Parasite (2019) dir. by Bong Joon-ho
Behind my little song to the clouds to tuck its raindrops away, a certain thought would always lie at the back of my head while growing up. As we celebrate a class suspension and give thanks for the chilly weather in the desert-like heat of the Philippines, I wonder what life is like for those living by the rivers, whose roofs are made with cheap iron or yero and whose walls are made of thin wood.
It hasn’t occurred to me before how important these thoughts were until I encountered this film a few years back. Parasite presents its audience with the rich’s ignorance of their surroundings and several contrasts between the everyday life scenes of a wealthy and poor family.
Parasite is precise, well-written, and surely deserving of its multiple awards.
Knives Out (2019) dir. by Rian Johnson
Whodunnit—-they say that when you see them once, you’ve seen them all. And that may be true, but Knives Out’s fast pacing and quick cuts from past to present still kept my eyes glued to the screen. It’s a classic murder mystery, encouraging the audience to say things like “It’s too early on for such an obvious clue.”
This will keep you thinking throughout its length, asking questions again and again in your head, eager to beat the ending before the killer’s reveal. Though predictable for some, Knives Out nonetheless offers a fun view into the world of a money-starved family and their deceased father, along with a bunch of odd and entertaining characters.
The Handmaiden (2016) dir. by Park Chan-wook
Of course I found a way to sneak The Handmaiden into this list.
The film follows Kim Tae-ri’s character who falls in deep romance with Lady Hideko, the woman she works for. Just when you think it is about to finally end, a sharp turn comes and it’s as if the story had only begun then—this happens thrice, by the way.
As we go further along the story we encounter money’s play in the wickedness of men and are left with our mouths agape after another unexpected revelation or scene.
The Handmaiden is not only a story of forbidden romance between two women but also a showcasing of comradeship and care for another in suffering. Looking past its long length and adult scenes is a mind-boggling and thoroughly written story accompanied by excellent direction, camera work, and acting.
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Just a Robert Eggers fan..
really hyped for his Nosferatu, thinking on the casting choices and who they might be playing..
Bill Skarsgård as Nosferatu (announced, the only one confirmed)
Lily-Rose Depp as Ellen Hutter/Mina Harker (originally Anya Taylor-Joy)
Nicholas Hoult as Thomas Hutter/Jonathan Harker (originally maybe Harry Styles)
Willem Dafoe as Professor Von Franz (a Van Helsing equivalent?)
Emma Corrin as Anna Harding (a Lucy Westenra equivalent?)
Aaron-Taylor Johnson as Friedrich Harding (Anna’s husband, the original’s shipowner)
Simon McBurney as Herr Knock/Renfield
Ralph Ineson as Dr. Wilhelm Sievers/Dr. John Seward
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Amelia Dimoldenberg reporting at the Oscars '24
Jennifer Lawrence, Billie Eilish, Finneas, Florence Pugh, Becky G, Taylor Zakhar Perez, Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, Cord Jefferson, Ke Huy Quan, Alex Consani, Sandra Hüller, Diane Warren, Ramy Youssef, Liza Koshy, Ludwig Göransson, Amber Midthunder, Christian Friedel, Anya Taylor-Joy, Cynthia Erivo, Simu Liu, Scott Evans, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Colman Domingo, Danielle Brooks, Josh Hartnett, Tamsin Egerton, Celine Song, Justine Triet
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