Vic's Picks: The Best Movies of Spring 2024
My three favorite movies from the past few months that are worth checking out in theaters.
In this edition of Vic’s Picks, I’ll be talking about three movies from the past few months that I highly recommend you check out. And stay tuned for album and TV show recs coming later this week.
Dune: Part Two – March
To be honest, I wasn’t all that excited for Dune: Part Two. I felt a bit underwhelmed when I went to see the first part in theaters two years ago––and I thought that the hype around Timmy C’s Paul Atreides was a bit exaggerated. But wow, I am so glad I brought my ass to the theater to see Dune Part Two in IMAX. Holy shit, what an experience.
I went in to the film with little to no recollection of what had happened in the first movie, so it was kind of like seeing it with no context. But when the first scene with the Harkonnen troops flying up to the top of the rock face began, I was fully locked in. Everything from the cinematography, to the set design, to the score, to the acting was top-notch. I love Denis Villeneuve’s choice to use practical effects whenever possible, as for example, the scene where Paul rides the sandworm looked absolutely incredible. The tension in the theater was so palpable–– you could really feel Paul digging into the flesh of the worm and the wind whipping against him. If they chose to use CGI for that scene, I really don’t think it would have been as compelling as it was.
Performance-wise, this film features a career-defining performance from Timothée Chalamet. His presence on screen, especially in the third act, was mesmerizing. I had enjoyed his performances before, but his Paul Atreides really won me over in this film. Some additional excellent performances from Zendaya as Chani and Javier Bardem as Stilgar, along with a fascinatingly deranged Austin Butler as Feyd-Rautha really brought me into the world and politics of Arrakis.
I have no doubt Dune: Part Two will be in the running for Best Picture this year. This movie fucking rocks. That’s all I can say. Definitely go see it if you haven’t already–– it’s available now for streaming on Max.
Monkey Man – April
Dev Patel has got some mean kicks man. In his directorial debut, Patel stars as Kid, a young man looking to avenge the death of his murder at the hands of a corrupt police chief. From getting his ass beat in a fighting ring to taking on waves of baddies Oldboy style, Kid rises above the odds to bring the system down, one kick at a time.
Stylistically, this movie is jarring, fast-paced and brutal, which fits perfectly with the overarching revenge narrative throughout. The camera movements are quick, abrupt, and, at times, downright disorienting. That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy them though. In fact, I found it to be especially exciting and immersive that it was so haphazard. Apparently, the production saw a number of issues, including several injuries to Patel that he sustained throughout filming, and budget cuts led a lot of footage being shot on iPhone and GoPro.
I wouldn’t say I am a huge action movie buff–– I do enjoy a good action flick here and there–– but I will say that the fight choreography in this film was excellent. I was pumping my fist in the theater every time Patel was on screen kicking ass, eagerly anticipating the inevitable showdown between him and the main villain. Patel’s character was focused and wholeheartedly devoted to his revenge, and you could see that easily through his facial expressions and behavior. That man was pissed!
This movie was really fun to watch, and I would highly recommend to see it with friends. If it weren’t for theater etiquette, I would have been hooting and hollering for most of my viewing experience. But once I watch it again at some point, I’ll make sure to do it then.
Challengers – May
Tennis and sex are one and the same in this modern romance that explores the competition of love. The second movie featuring Zendaya on this list, in arguably her greatest performance to date, Challengers is my favorite film of the year so far.
This movie is outstanding, and there is genuinely nothing negative I can say about it. I thought the structure of the film was enthralling–– I loved how it kept switching between past and present to weave in important context for the Challenger match between Mike Faist and Josh O’Connor’s characters. The whole first act of this movie is seemingly devoted to emphasizing how stunning Zendaya is, and you can bet my ass was seated. But it’s not egregious–– it’s essential to know how deeply Art Donaldson and Patrick Zweig, played by Faist and O’Connor respectively, are enamored with Zendaya’s Tashi Duncan.
Performance-wise, as I mentioned before, Zendaya steals the show. Tashi Duncan is diabolical, funny, intense, sexy, and everything in between. My eyes were glued to the screen every time she was in frame, as she expressed Duncan’s extreme devotion to tennis through her dialogue and mannerisms. She even gives Jake Gyllenhaal a run for his money with some especially noteworthy eye-acting. But that’s not to discount equally great performances from Faist and O’Connor, with O’Connor in particular nailing his role as the messy, passionate, charismatic and talented Zweig.
With incredible framing and cinematography (some shots were so creative, I genuinely can’t wrap my head around how they shot them), and a synthy dopamine-rush of a soundtrack from Nine Inch Nails’ Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, Luca Guadagnino crafts one of the greatest love triangle stories since A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Challengers is an absolute must-see, and it deserves an easy six bags of popcorn with two sodas (for any “On Cinema” fans out there).