Mark's Must See Movies - Chinatown

In mid 1940s Los Angeles, Jake Gittes (Jack Nicholson) is a private detective who specializes mostly in catching husbands and wives committing adultery. When a woman named Eveyln Mulwray hires Jake to follow her husband Hollis, the case presents itself to him like any other. After finding Mr. Mulwray keeping company with a younger woman, Gittes believes that his job is done and yet another one of his cases has been closed. Jake soon discovers though that the woman who hired him to follow Hollis Mulwray as an imposter and to complicate things even more, Hollis has been found dead.

What started off as a simple investigation for Jake has now led him into a web of lies and murder. Jake soon finds that finding the truth will be far dangerous and disturbing than expected.

Chinatown is widely considered one of the true classics of Hollywood. Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunway portray their characters perfectly and give some of the best performances of their careers. With plenty of twists and turns, Chinatowns greatest strength is in it's screenplay. Now almost 40 years old, this movie is solidly in my must see category.

Mark's Must See Movies - Safety Not Guaranteed

When a strange ad in the classified section of a newspaper advertises someone seeking a partner to travel back in time with - Safety not guaranteed. The ad catches the eye of a writer for a Seattle based magazine named Jeff (Jake Johnson) and wish to investigate the ad for a possible story. With the help of two interns Darius (Aubrey Plaza) and Arnau (Karan Soni) the three set out to the a small Pacific Northwest coastal town to gather the information needed for their story.

After learning the identity of the ads author is a grocery store worker named Kenneth (Mark Duplass), Darius is handed the task of gaining his trust in order to get the information they need for the story. As Darius assists Kenneth in preparing for their mission, the two learn more about one another and develop a special connection. As Darius and Kenneth grow closer and the time for them to travel back fast approaches, it becomes harder for her to determine whether or not Kenneth is insane or if he has actually succeeded in building a time machine.

Safety Not Guaranteed is a movie that surprised me on many levels. The movie received high praise at the 2012 Sundance movie festival and was equally loved by audiences and critics. On the surface, the film is an off beat comedy about a man who claims he's built a time machine. However under lining themes of love, regrets, lost dreams, and making every day of your life count are what really gives this movie it's staying power. Aubrey Plaza (Many will recognize her as April in the NBC comedy Parks and Recreation) gives a fantastic performance in her leading role and has perfect on screen chemistry with Duplass. Jake Johnson's character of Jeff is one I think many can relate too and also gives a great performance in doing so. I have to say again how shocked I was at the hear and sentiment this film carried along with it but did so without every being sappy, corny, or using any age old cliches.

This movie is just another brilliant example of just how great a low budget and independent film can be. Click here to watch the trailer for Safety Not Guaranteed on YouTube and Netflix users can watch this film online now via instant screen.

Mark's Must See Movies - The Wrestler

The 2008 drama The Wrestler starred Mickey Rourke as Randy 'The Ram" Robinson. The story of a professional wrestler whose glory days are behind him as he struggles to make ends meet. While he once fought in the ring at huge venues in front of thousands of fans, he know finds himself working part-time at a grocery store and fighting at small wrestling venues. Twenty years of the pro wrestling life have left Randy's health, appearance, and his personal life. When Randy is faced with health problems that all but end what's left of his career, he tries to rekindle a damaged relationship with his daughter (Evan Rachel Wood) and form a closer bond with a stripper named Cassidy (Marisa Tomei) he's developed romantic feelings for.

The Wrestler is a gritty drama that will tug on your heart strings and connect with you on a level you might not expect. Though few of us can relate directly too Randy's struggles, we as an audience connect with Randy and compare his struggles with our own. The character of Randy Robinson is crafted beautifully and Mickey Rourke's performance is flawless. Despite the many hardships that inflict Randy's life, most of which were brought on by his own choices, you geniuley care for the character and are always pulling for him to find the best outcome. Randy is a very personable and likeable guy and it's the humanity in his character that makes the audience become so attached to him. Rourke was rightfully nominated for an Oscar for his role in The Wrestler and his named not being called out as Best Actor in a Leading role that year is now considered one of the biggest mistakes and upsets the Academy has ever made.

The Wrestler makes it's way onto my must see movie list because unlike many films in recent years it's main purpose is to tell us a story. It's not flashy, it's not over produced, and it doesn't take place in a world most of us can't understand. A masterfully crafted script, exceptional performances by all the actors,  and strong directing by Darren Aronofsky all come together to become one of the most gritty, entertaining, and hearfelt movies ever to hit the silver screen. If my thoughts on the movie haven't convinced you, click here and the trailer for the film will.