MIX/VHS | Week 014
Lots of crazy fun eclectic stuff for you to view this week. The team at MIX/VHS is always excited to show you watch we're hoping, in hopes that you find something to fall in love with like we have. Enjoy this week's mix!
Austenland (dir. by Jerusha Hess)
WATCH THE TRAILER HERE!
Austenland is my go-to feel good movie, and you’ll understand why when you see it. Keri Russell plays Jane Hayes, a woman obsessed with everything Jane Austen who spends her life savings on a trip to Austenland, a British Georgian era themed immersion resort, only to find it isn’t quite what she was expecting. Hilarity ensues with a fantastic ensemble cast featuring one of my personal favorites, Jennifer Coolidge.
- Samantha
Speechless with Carly Fleischmann
WATCH IT HERE!
The remarkable young woman who created the YouTube show Speechless has Autism, but that doesn't stop her from having one of the laugh out loud funniest interviews with Hollywood star Channing Tatum. My hope is that after watching this, you delve more into Carly's story, because it really is amazing. Raising awareness for those with Autism is so crucial, and Carly is one of those charismatic people who is leading the charge. I'm hooked, and you should be too.
- Spencer
Ugetsu (dir. by Kinji Mizoguchi)
WATCH IT HERE!
Ugetsu is a wonderful example of the jidaigeki genre (Japanese period drama) which play up the beauty and tragedy of mid 1500's through 1600's Japan. This film focuses on two couples living in a rural village facing the beginning of an invasion. While the wives think it's reasonable to find a safe place to settle for a while, their husbands are overcome by pride and greed. On a quest to capitalize on the oncoming war in the city, Genjûrô is spotted by a young Lady Wakasa who takes a liking to him. This is a very unexpectedly spooky film showing the pitfalls of man and war. Ugetsu is an absolute Masterpiece!
- Felix
Amy Krouse Rosenthal’s Thought Bubble: Kindness
WATCH IT HERE!
In case you need a reminder that the world and people can still be good, here's Amy Krouse Rosenthal's Thought Bubble: Kindness. Not only does this video offer food for thought, but it is done with the cutest cut out animations. I often watch shorts like these when I'm feeling down and need that extra push to remain kind in even the most trying situations. This video reminds the viewer to think about one of the biggest questions in life: how do you want to be remembered?
- Brooke
Swiss Army Man (dir. by The Daniels)
WATCH THE TRAILER HERE!
The new DANIELS film, Swiss Army Man, takes you on a journey of bizarre circumstances. The film follows Hank, who has been stranded on a island. He miraculously discovers what appears to be a dead man named Manny and begins on an adventure to return home. Through trying to re-create memories and experiences, Hank discovers the swiss army-like properties Manny possesses, and together they embark towards civilization. The film is a wonderful mix of dark, witty comedy and deeply emotional scenes. Beautifully filmed and colorized, I love the dreamy quality in which the re-enactments of their life events take place. It's a story that'll keep you wondering, and is full of twists and turns. I highly recommend checking it out. It's Alamo Drafthouse's "Drafthouse Recommends" this month, and I think it's totally deserving. It's really a unique piece of filmmaking.
- Sloane
Girl Band // Pears for Lunch (dir. by Bob Gallagher)
WATCH IT HERE!
This video for Dublin's Girl Band (and no, they're not an actual girl band) is a perfect complement for their building, desperate-bordering-on-psychotic song "Pears for Lunch". A man with a TV for a head journeys from unemployed schlub to trapped fiancé. Sounds simple enough, right? But a truly great music video doesn't just provide interesting visuals, but also builds on them to construct a continually engrossing narrative, however abstract it may be. The symbolism in this vid is pretty damn obvious, but it doesn't make it any less horrifying and/or hilarious (and yes, your reaction is probably dependent on your current romantic state). Fans of satire, cheesy stock footage, and '90s coloring, give it a looksie.
- JJ
Jodorowsky's Dune (dir. by Frank Pavich)
WATCH THE TRAILER HERE!
Jodorowsky's Dune tells the story of surrealist filmmaker Alejandro Jodorowsky's attempt to create the film adaptation of "Dune," the classic Frank Herbert sci-fi novel of the same name. What makes this documentary so harrowing is the incredible and engaging personality of Jodorowsky himself, which in and of itself helps fills in the blanks of what kind of film this was going to be. Despite being nearly 90 years old, his energetic mind and pursuit of film art is so prominent, and you get a sense of the film climate that he hoped to change in the 1970s. He and his team of filmmakers are some of the geniuses behind the modern day sci-fi genre, and yet, the classic that was to be has yet to be made. This is the story of what could have been.
- Jake
Like this mix? Tell us what you think in the comments below, and let us know what you’re watching this week!