The best movies currently in theaters
After two days non-stop rain I am at that point of my autumn depression where I think it will never be dry again. Or warm. Those blessed with a fireplace (yes, envious) can drape themselves there 24/7, but those like me living three stories up without any form of heat source have to look elsewhere. Personal favorite: the cinema. Two hours in a big chair in a dark room losing yourself in someone else's life, and then rolling back outside full of energy. The darker the months, the better the movies, so here’s a list of what you shouldn’t miss.
The Maze Runner
Yes, you have to love this because it takes place in a “post-apocalyptic world” and that’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but I dig it. We follow the story of Thomas, whose memory has been wiped and suddenly finds himself in a community of boys trapped in a maze. The goal is to escape that maze but also to “unravel the chilling secret behind their fate.” I mean, how super exciting is that! Lots of special effects and impossible choices and situations, and oh it’s delightful.
Gone Girl
For heaven's sake, go see this movie because everyone is going to tell you that you have to see it, and when you say you haven’t seen it yet, people will start shouting that it’s soooo amazing, and that’s always very annoying. Lucky for you, it’s also really brilliant, so that won’t be the issue. It’s a nail-biting whodunit story where ‘nothing is what it seems‘ and every detail has a function, and you’ll think at the end, ‘wow, what just happened?‘ I won’t say too much more because spoilers are lurking.
Boyhood
People who have seen Boyhood only use words like “masterpiece” or “brilliant” and “the best movie ever.” Your film critic for one day (that’s me) hasn’t seen the film yet, but that will change soon. The film was shot intermittently over a period of 12 years (!) and is thus a unique coming-of-age story where we literally see the characters grow older. Romance, family, friendship – everything life is about, really.
If I Stay
A young girl with a grand future in the world of classical music is faced with an impossible dilemma. I must admit, it has a pretty high drool factor, but it’s quite a nice film to completely lose yourself in.
The Fault in Our Stars
The film adaptation of the eponymous book by John Green is a mega success and has single-handedly caused every reader and cinema-goer to suffer from dehydration due to the insane amount of tears shed. I read the book, I cried like a baby, and I dare not watch the film but really want to see it. But I will only do that when it’s out on DVD so I can do it in the safety of my own bed, allowing me to cry into my pillow afterwards. For those who don’t know what it’s about: two teenagers with cancer become entangled in an impossible and beautiful love drama, partly filmed in Amsterdam.
Take from my heart
This is undoubtedly going to be the favorite movie of the Netherlands this winter. It premieres on Monday, and just the trailer makes me eager with excitement. A classic romantic comedy in which brothers Tom (played by Benja Bruijning, the sweetheart of Anna Drijver) and Niek (Fedja van Huet) run a clothing rental business, each doing so in their own unique and opposing way. Of course, a woman comes into play who complicates everything, and suddenly love, family, traditions, and business are all on shaky ground. Almost every fun Dutch actor and actress is in this, and I dare to bet that you’ll come out of the theater cheering with joy.
The Judge
Robert Downey Jr. plays a ruthless lawyer named Hank Palmer who prefers to defend the bad guys and is not ashamed of it. The relationship with his father, a local judge in his hometown, is downright bad (“he’s dead to me”), but when the old man is suspected of murder, Hank returns to defend him. And that, of course, leads to a lot of trouble. A nice watch that has already received a 7.8 on IMDB.
