In the 32nd week of 2020 for Wandering Through the Shelves' Thursday Movie Picks. We go into the themes of the seven deadly sin with the final one in pride. Defined as the most deadly of the seven deadly sins in terms of Dante’s definition as “love of self-perverted to hatred and contempt for one’s neighbor” as it play into some of the darkest aspects of human nature. Here are my three picks:
1. The Bonfire of the Vanities
Brian de Palma’s adaptation of the Tom Wolfe novel is definitely one of his worst films in the way it showcases some of the awful aspects of humanity. While the film tried to showcase a rich yuppie’s downfall after a hit-and-run caused by his mistress who would later throw him under the bus to protect herself. The film is a total fucking mess as it has individuals involved in politics, religion, and journalism all trying to put their own spin on this incident. It’s a film that falls apart with characters that are irredeemable with Tom Hanks miscast in the role of Sherman McCoy while Bruce Willis is just phoning it in as the journalist Peter Fallow. So far, it’s de Palma’s worst film.
2. American Psycho
Let’s see what Huey Lewis and Weird Al Yankovich think of this film…
3. Foxcatcher
Bennett Miller’s dramatic real-life story of John du Pont and Schultz brothers in their quest to bring importance to the American amateur wrestling and maintain its dominance in competitions such as the Olympics. The film is a study of this man who is eager to make wrestling a big deal yet succumbs into madness as he would take in Mark Schultz as someone under his wing and eventually get Mark’s older brother Dave into the picture which only complicate things. Even as Mark would see this downward spiral emerge that eventually lead to tragedy as the film features great performances from Steve Carrell as du Pont with Channing Tatum and Mark Ruffalo respectively playing Mark and Dave Schultz as it is a fascinating exploration of a man losing himself in his glory.
© thevoid99 2020
6 comments:
I haven't heard about your last pick but definitely enjoyed the first two!
American Psycho is so perfect for this. I haven't seen your first pick, but I enjoyed Foxcatcher too. That's a film I wouldn't mind seeing again, I should see if it's streaming anywhere.
Foxcatcher is yet another reminder that comedians make great dramatic actors, because comedy is hard. It gets no respect, but over and over again comedians deliver performances like Carrell's.
I love that Huey Lewis/Al Yankovic clip.
Bonfire of the Vanities is an interesting pick considering you seem to have a lot of contempt for it!
I have not seen Bonfires and am glad I have not seen it. I tried watching American Psycho but I find it too distasteful. Foxcatcher is an excellent film and your description is right on
American Psycho is so perfect for this theme!
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