These thoughtful, unique films focus on unlikely relationships that alter lives and reinforce the value of open-minded reception of diversity and multiple perspectives. Elaine and Jay have provided two very different piles of movies to add to your watchlist.
ELAINE’S PICKS
Driveways (Andrew Ahn, 2019)
Cathy and her young son, Cody, arrive in a small town tasked with clearing out the house of her dead sister. Their relationship with Del, the elderly widower next door, develops naturally, quietly, in this remarkable tale of friendship. Brian Dennehy's final film.
Bob Trevino Likes It (Tracie Laymon, 2024)
Lily searches for her estranged father on Facebook. She finds him - but it's not actually him. Based on writer-director Tracie Laymon's true story, Bob Trevino focuses on the value of a stranger's kindness.
A Little Prayer (Angus MacLachlan, 2023)
David Strathairn and Jane Levy shine in this story of a father and daughter-in-law who find strength in each other as they navigate their chaotic family struggling to survive a crisis.
Shun Li and the Poet (Andrea Segre, 2011)
A young Chinese immigrant working in an osteria outside Venice meets and elderly fisherman who understands her loneliness. Small acts of generosity bring them together.
JAY’S PICKS
Bad Words (Jason Bateman, 2013)
Jason Bateman directs and stars in this comedy about a 40-year-old spelling bee contestant who spews obscenity with the vigor of a pubescent boy who just read his first Philip Roth novel. There's an artistry to the film's vulgar lexicon as our unlikable protagonist befriends one of his fellow contestants and reveals the beating heart behind the film's filthy mouth.
The Visitor (Tom McCarthy, 2007)
Despite his accolades, Richard Jenkins might be one of the most underappreciated actors of his generation. A college professor returns to New York City after a long hiatus to discover a young immigrant couple living in his apartment. McCarthy's film is a bittersweet conversation about acceptance and human dignity.
The Matador (Richard Shepherd, 2005)
Sometimes dark comedies become cult classics, but most never reach their audience and slip into the past, like they never existed. Shepherd's comedy casts Pierce Brosnan as a hit man that befriends a workaday schlub (Greg Kinnear). Brosnan's performance nimbly deconstructs his 007 persona using metatextual irony and earned emotional beats. The film starts goofy but becomes a tongue-in-cheek genre parody about friendship and love and the inescapability of true regret.
The Purple Rose of Cairo (Woody Allen, 1985)
Set during the Depression, Purple Rose tells the story of a film lover (Mia Farrow) who escapes an abusive relationship by falling in love with a film character (Jeff Daniels) who steps forth from the silver screen to enter the real world. Inspired by Buster Keaton’s great Sherlock Jr. (1924), Allen’s tragicomedy is a love letter to old cinema and a fascinating discussion of feminine film theory and the viewer’s identification with the screen.