Written as part of the weekly blogathon hosted by Wandering Through the Shelves. Come join us by picking three movies that fit the week's theme and writing a bit about them!
I'll be honest: movies about viral outbreaks are NOT my thing. WAY too real. I'm not much of a germophobe, but this sort of thing really makes me want to crawl up into a ball, silently rock back and forth, and never EVER leave my house.
That said, these movies are really good.
Contagion (Steven Soderbergh, 2011) Do NOT watch this movie unless you want to go through life with latex gloves and a doctor's mask on FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE. Seriously, this movie is SO scary - Gwyneth Paltrow contracts a cold on a business trip, except it's NOT a cold, but rather a SUPER contagious disease, and then everything goes to hell. This movie seriously feels all too real. A ridiculously starry cast is the least that this movie has to offer.
World War Z (Marc Forster, 2014) FAR better than the initial reviews would have you believe, World War Z is a terrific thriller about a United Nations investigator who has to find a way to stop a zombie pandemic. Yes, it's ridiculous, and yes it ends on a bit of an anti-climax, but its best sequences are real edge-of-your-seat, biting-your-nails, watching-through-splayed-fingers masterpieces of suspense.
Idiocracy (Mike Judge, 2006) Yes, yes, alright, fine. This TECHNICALLY doesn't have any sort of viral outbreak in it, BUT, admit it - an epidemic of stupid is kind of scarier than an outbreak of bird flu. Especially since Mike Judge's satire of American machismo and overconsumption gets more and more prescient every day.
Yeah, I figured that Contagion would be the big one this week. I couldn't think of any others that fit, so I had to get creative for that third pick. Idiocracy just fit so well!
I thought Contagion was a decently made film but was missing that certain POP that would have taken it from merely good to great if you know what I mean. Still an amazing cast, and I was glad that sent the GOOP woman off quickly!, Kate Winslet was the standout for me.
LOVE your spin on the theme with Idiocracy which I liked but didn't love I agree however it becomes ever more timely unfortunately.
Haven't seen WW-Z but it's on my list.
Not being a big horror fan, though if the film falls under the disaster umbrella I'm all in, I sought films with a more dramatic edge though my last is more of a thriller. My first is a film I think is a tremendous document that feels like a gut punch by the end every time I watch it.
Longtime Companion (1989)-The AIDS epidemic is viewed through the prism of its impact on a small group of friends. We begin with young Willy (Campbell Scott), his best friend John (Dermot Mulroney) and a few others going about their day both in Manhattan and Fire Island during the summer of 1981 as one of them, Lisa (Mary Louise Parker) notices a small article in The New York Times mentioning a new disease at first called "GRID: Gay-Related-Immune-Disorder". As time passes and the government remains indifferent to the disease’s spread the group is slowly decimated by the disease. At times searingly sad but also balanced with humor and beautifully acted. Bruce Davison was deservedly nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar.
Panic in the Streets (1950)-When called in to do a routine autopsy on an unknown gunshot victim in New Orleans Dr. Clint Reed (Richard Widmark) discovers he also has signs of the infectious pneumonic plague. He alerts the authorities who at first are skeptical but when he explains they have only 48 hours to locate anyone he came into contact with to prevent a pandemic the chief of police (Paul Douglas) goes into action. Meanwhile the dead man’s killer (Jack Palance) and associates begin to fall victim to the disease. Probably the only film noir pandemic movie you’ll ever find.
Outbreak (1995)-A deadly contagion breaks out in a California town and once alerted a group of scientists realize that it could spread through the rest of the country in a matter of days. But as the military quarantine tightens, the head scientist (Dustin Hoffman) begins to suspect that there’s more than the outbreak to worry about, and that he himself might be in danger for knowing it.
...AND now I'm crying because you had to go and bring up Longtime Companion, which is a brilliant pick.
Haven't seen Panic in the Streets, but a noir pandemic movie sounds like a perfect match! I actually can't remember if I've seen Outbreak all the way through or not. I definitely remember it, though. Great cast.
I have not seen any of these but I do want to see Contagion and still on the fence about WWZ since I am a chicken. I love your take on Idiocracy and I really want to see this one. The last one is an epidemic.
Contagion is popular this week. I love that you went bold with Idiocracy. An epidemic of stupid totally counts! lol
ReplyDeleteYeah, I figured that Contagion would be the big one this week. I couldn't think of any others that fit, so I had to get creative for that third pick. Idiocracy just fit so well!
DeleteI thought Contagion was a decently made film but was missing that certain POP that would have taken it from merely good to great if you know what I mean. Still an amazing cast, and I was glad that sent the GOOP woman off quickly!, Kate Winslet was the standout for me.
ReplyDeleteLOVE your spin on the theme with Idiocracy which I liked but didn't love I agree however it becomes ever more timely unfortunately.
Haven't seen WW-Z but it's on my list.
Not being a big horror fan, though if the film falls under the disaster umbrella I'm all in, I sought films with a more dramatic edge though my last is more of a thriller. My first is a film I think is a tremendous document that feels like a gut punch by the end every time I watch it.
Longtime Companion (1989)-The AIDS epidemic is viewed through the prism of its impact on a small group of friends. We begin with young Willy (Campbell Scott), his best friend John (Dermot Mulroney) and a few others going about their day both in Manhattan and Fire Island during the summer of 1981 as one of them, Lisa (Mary Louise Parker) notices a small article in The New York Times mentioning a new disease at first called "GRID: Gay-Related-Immune-Disorder". As time passes and the government remains indifferent to the disease’s spread the group is slowly decimated by the disease. At times searingly sad but also balanced with humor and beautifully acted. Bruce Davison was deservedly nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar.
Panic in the Streets (1950)-When called in to do a routine autopsy on an unknown gunshot victim in New Orleans Dr. Clint Reed (Richard Widmark) discovers he also has signs of the infectious pneumonic plague. He alerts the authorities who at first are skeptical but when he explains they have only 48 hours to locate anyone he came into contact with to prevent a pandemic the chief of police (Paul Douglas) goes into action. Meanwhile the dead man’s killer (Jack Palance) and associates begin to fall victim to the disease. Probably the only film noir pandemic movie you’ll ever find.
Outbreak (1995)-A deadly contagion breaks out in a California town and once alerted a group of scientists realize that it could spread through the rest of the country in a matter of days. But as the military quarantine tightens, the head scientist (Dustin Hoffman) begins to suspect that there’s more than the outbreak to worry about, and that he himself might be in danger for knowing it.
...AND now I'm crying because you had to go and bring up Longtime Companion, which is a brilliant pick.
DeleteHaven't seen Panic in the Streets, but a noir pandemic movie sounds like a perfect match! I actually can't remember if I've seen Outbreak all the way through or not. I definitely remember it, though. Great cast.
I have not seen any of these but I do want to see Contagion and still on the fence about WWZ since I am a chicken. I love your take on Idiocracy and I really want to see this one. The last one is an epidemic.
ReplyDeleteWorld War Z wasn't scary in a horror way, more in a thriller way. It's good.
DeleteThe movie Contagion has been picked so many times you could say its...contagious.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you, I really liked World War Z.
Idiocracy is a good choice, haha. Pretty sure the epidemic has already happened though. Haha.
lol yeah, the situation with Contagion this week is appropriate, isn't it?
DeleteGlad to see another who liked World War Z!
Contagion is everywhere today, even my post! Love that you went with World War Z. Very underrated film, in my opinion. I still need to see Idiocracy.
ReplyDeleteI think you'd really like Idiocracy. And glad to see another who thinks World War Z is underrated!
DeleteI agree about the plague of stupidity - far scarer as we can see it happening all around. Great picks!
ReplyDeleteYeah. Idiocracy is SO eerily prescient that I keep wondering how long it's going to be until it looks more like a documentary.
DeleteI haven't seen Idiocracy but it sounds like a great choice!
ReplyDelete