Little Bit of Letterboxd
October 16, 2024
Writer: Mia Bronstein
Editor: Lauren Ripperger
As the sweltering September heat subsides, college flu season sets in, and professors assign all midterm projects and exams to the same day, it’s officially fall in Ann Arbor. I have compiled a list of movies to cure the incoming seasonal academic slump. To cure this slump, I’ve compiled a list of movies in a collection I’ve named “6 Feel-Good, Bad, Sad, and Funny Fall Films for Fun or Feeling Something.”
Whiplash (2014): For the drumming, a young and passionate Miles Teller, and that single tear shed at the sight of hard work.
Who doesn’t love an early Miles Teller moment, if not THE defining moment? After watching Whiplash, I developed a newfound respect for drummers and Teller, who performed 99% of his own drumming in the film. The story follows a gritty young drummer recruited into the nation’s top collegiate jazz band. Along with fierce competition, he faces manic coaching from his idol, played by J.K. Simmons. Dimly lit and emotionally intense (despite what Rotten Tomatoes may say), Whiplash is a feel-good watch. After all, who doesn’t love an underdog story? Highly recommend it if midterm stress is getting to you—don’t worry, Miles almost got kicked out of his college jazz band too.
Joker (2019) and Beetlejuice (1988): For foundational field research and cocktail-party conversation starters.
If you’re not keeping up with release dates, Joker: Folie à Deux and Beetlejuice 2 are two of the most anticipated films coming this fall. By the time this piece is published, I (hopefully) will have seen both successors at either State Street Theater or Emagine Saline. Watching the originals beforehand will give you an appreciation for the cultural references and serial shifts these franchises are known for. Joker (2019) features an outstanding performance by Joaquin Phoenix, delving into the complex psyche of the infamous villain. Beetlejuice, a cult classic turned Broadway success, achieved notoriety with its stellar cast and uncomfortably enticing subject matter. Well-timed by Warner Brothers, the film’s release is just in time for Halloween, which is another list in itself, but Beetlejuice is a must-watch for getting into the spooky season.
Knives Out (2019): For Daniel Craig’s accent, fall foliage, suspense and mystery!!
If it feels like people are still talking about Knives Out and its sequel, Glass Onion, it’s because they are—and this franchise isn’t slowing down anytime soon. Calling it a “whodunnit" barely scratches the surface of this group dramedy that takes you on an emotional rollercoaster. Overall a great watch with stunning visuals, a cool old mansion, and plot twists left and right. It’s a great watch with stunning visuals and plot twists galore. I won’t say more to avoid spoilers, but I highly recommend it—whether you’re watching for the first time or rewatching to catch clues you missed.
The Proposal (2009): For an easy laugh, peek into Alaskan life, and a happy ending.
This is the token rom-com of the list. If you’re a Deadpool fan like me, it’s Ryan Reynolds without the mesh mask. Name-dropped in his latest film, Deadpool and Wolverine (2024), Reynolds co-stars alongside Sandra Bullock, who, in classic rom-com fashion, eventually steals our hearts despite her strictly businesswoman persona. However, the true star of the film is none other than the late Betty White. A testament to her legendary career and lighthearted spirit, her scenes delivered the hardest belly laughs.
From one couch-lover to another, I am sending my deepest regards this midterm pre- Halloween season.
Runner-ups: Good Will Hunting (1997), Wayne’s World I and II (1992-93), and Inception (2010).
