Movies with Matt: Quarantine Films Vol. 1

Hello and Good Health to you wherever you may be.

As of right now most of us are on some state of lock down, not leaving home, working from home or avoiding people as much as possible. While this is honestly not the actual apocalypse, it certainly is very annoying. Working from the home is keeping many people busy, but we have a lot of time now to think about the films out there that can give us some good tips and tricks for keeping the peace with our quarantine mates, and—maybe most importantly—how to stay safe and sane in the face of long term boredom.

Cube (1997)

A stylish cult film, the sci-fi mystery Cube puts five strangers in a square room, with no memories, no answers and only each other to figure out why they are trapped in what might be the devil’s Rubik’s cube. Cube is an impressive low budget thriller that feels like an episode of the Twilight Zone from a slick, scary high tech future. 

Valuable Takeaways:
- Don’t stop the sudoku; keep your math skills sharp. 
- Hungry? You might run out of food, but you can always put a button in your mouth to stave off hunger for a while. 
- Colors matter- take the time to redecorate. Soothing blue rooms keep stress down, red lighting is harsh and dangerous. 

​Where to watch: Free on YouTube.

Dogtooth (2009)

Three rich but very isolated teenagers are confined to their homes forever by their domineering parents in this surreal and unreal dark comedy directed by Yorgos Lanthimos. Using misinformation and language control, these teenagers have been convinced that it is far too dangerous to leave home until one has lost a "dogtooth"—an adult molar. While their existence may be comfortable, a well-manicured prison is no substitute for authentic freedom.
 
Valuable Takeaways:
- Vocabulary is important: learn a new word each day with Mirriam-Webster!
- Be kind to animals. Having a pet can relieve stress and cut through the boredom. Aspen Daily News reports an all time high for animal adoptions during the COVID-19 outbreak. 
- Flash Dance like no one is watching. 

Where to watch: Stream on Kanopy using your Basalt Library card!
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Good Time (2017)

Remember going outside? Me neither. In the Safdie brothers landmark crime thriller, Connie—played by Robert Pattinson, and his brother Nick—played by director Benny Safdie, embark on a misadventure which will drag them both through the hellish criminal underworld of New York City. After a bank robbery spirals out of control Connie rushes to get enough money to set his brother free, with honestly terrible results. What won't Connie do to keep his brother out of jail? Visually exciting, gritty and unnerving Good Time takes you on an anti-hero’s journey into a world of bright color and shady characters. 
 
Valuable Takeaways:
-Don’t ever do anything that anyone does in this film ever. 
-Despite the title, Good Burger is unfortunately not a sequel to Good Time.

Where to watch: Stream on Kanopy.
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Oldboy (2003)

This neo-noir masterpiece from Korean director Park Chan-wook explores the life of salaryman Oh Dae-su, who has been kidnapped and trapped in a strange hotel-like prison for 15 years. Dae-su has no idea why he has been imprisoned or by whom, and after his abrupt and mysterious release it is up to him to solve this crime  for himself. After being home for what seems like 15 years now, many of us could learn a lot from Dae-su’s daily exercise and dumpling routine. If you enjoyed 2019 Oscar Winner Parasite, you must check out Oldboy. 
 
Valuable Takeaways:
- Hammer Fight.
- Laugh and the world laughs with you, cry and you cry alone.

Where to watch: Stream on Kanopy.

If you want to splurge on a movie rental:

​Finally, even though it is not available on Kanopy (yet) I must also highly recommend the 2019 film The Lighthouse. Starring Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson, this gripping and unforgettable film captures an air of isolation and confusion that makes our own quarantines seem hilarious in comparison. This film is available to rent or buy from YouTube or Amazon Prime Video.
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Once again, please stay safe and if you have any film or TV recommendations please email them to matthew.cleer@basaltlibrary.org or leave links in the comments!
 
-Matt