February 12, 2021
Must-Watch Movies
Stymied by all the in-home entertainment options while you’re social distancing? We’ve got you! Here are some of The Driftwood’s favorites for beating away boredom.
She’s the Man: Viola Hastings is crushed when her high school soccer team is cut, but when she asks to try out for the Cornwall men’s squad, the coach (as well as her soon-to-be-ex-boyfriend, Justin) laughs in her face, telling her “Girls can’t beat boys.” Upon finding out that her twin brother Sebastian is sneaking off to London for a couple weeks with his band, Viola develops a crazy scheme to get revenge: she makes herself look like a boy and goes to Illyria (Sebastian’s new boarding school) to pretend to be him, joining the soccer team in hopes of defeating Cornwall in the opening game of the season.
Unfortunately for Viola, keeping up the ruse that she’s a boy isn’t the only challenge she faces; there are also a multitude of complicated, drama-filled high school love triangles that threaten to blow up her big secret! She’s the Man is an absolutely hilarious 2006 rendition of Shakespeare’s famous 1601 play, Twelfth Night, featuring the talents and charms of dynamic-duo Amanda Bynes and Channing Tatum. Available to rent from Amazon Prime, iTunes, and other platforms.
—Mallory Allen, Movies Editor
The Wicker Man: One of my favorite movies of all time is The Wicker Man from 1973. This movie was one of the most controversial films of its time, bringing up topics like opposing religions and showing a cult and their traditions. The movie centers on Sergeant Howie, a policeman sent to the small island of Summerisle to investigate a missing child. Little does he know, he is walking into a very strange cult, and there is much more to this island than it seems. The imagery and dialogue throughout this film is jarring and stays with you even after you finish it, and has made its mark on horror films, inspiring films like Midsommar and Pet Sematary. If you love horror like I do, check out The Wicker Man for a scare that hits you and stays with you. Available to rent from YouTube Movies, Amazon Prime, and other platforms.
—Sydney Sebert
Labyrinth: If you’re looking for an old-school cult classic, you’ve found it. This iconic Jim Henson film stars not only Jennifer Connelly, but David Bowie. Prior to his appearance in Labyrinth, he played leading roles in five award-winning films. David Bowie portrays a goblin king named Jareth, who takes away young Sarah’s (Jennifer Connelly) baby brother, Toby. Jareth brings Toby to his castle in the Labyrinth, where Sarah must find him before the next 13 hours are up. If she fails to beat the Labyrinth, her baby brother stays with the Goblin King. and she will never see him again. She fights her way through the Labyrinth, making friends and surviving the seemingly impossible maze. Oh, also, it’s a musical. The soundtrack is both written and performed by David Bowie, which makes the movie even more unique. What makes this movie so interesting is its ability to walk the line of “I never want to see that again” and “I definitely need to watch that again” so successfully. In its time (1986), it was a flop, but now, it’s a favorite amongst the fantasy fanatic community. This standalone film is a must see for any movie lover. Available to rent on Amazon Prime and other streaming sites.
—Aleida Toebe