If you’re looking to quarantine and chill, Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn has got you covered with unique movie recommendations. Under normal circumstances, people would head to the cinema in an attempt to escape real life for a few hours. But this past week, real life proved too pressing to ignore. As a result of the COVID-19 strain of the coronavirus, many aspects of daily life have been temporarily altered. The entertainment business hasn’t been exempted. Highly-anticipated movie releases, starting with No Time to Die, and including the ninth installment in the Fast and Furious franchise, have been delayed significantly. A bunch of television shows have halted production, with more likely to follow. Late night hosts have opted to forgo live audiences, before shutting down entirely.
The world of sports has also been changed by concerns over the global pandemic. Major League Baseball, the National Basketball Association, and the National Hockey League are among the long list of institutions to experience disruptions. The superstars of WWE, including John Cena, performed in front of empty seats for an episode of Smackdown that was both exceptional and a little eerie. Various theme parks have closed down, as well, for health precautions. With the facts on the ground changing and evolving at a rapid pace, few things are certain at the moment.
It would be safe to say, however, that entertainment options are somewhat limited going forward. There have already been attempts to respond to this new reality, with Disney+ debuting Frozen 2 for streaming three months earlier than planned. James Gunn, the director of the Guardians of the Galaxy movies and the upcoming Suicide Squad sequel, took to Twitter with a thread of recommendations for those who might have already seen the most popular titles offered by the various streaming platforms. Check out Gunn’s quarantine and chill post, and learn more about his film suggestions, below.
Gunn begins by recommending Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice, a 1969 dramedy that Gunn praises for its dialogue. The director also advises Villainess, a South Korean thriller, and Pretty Poison which is a dark comedy centered around a sociopath. One Cut of the Dead, a movie about movies and also about zombies, gets a shoutout though Gunn cautions to watch it without too much prior knowledge. For those looking for a feature which is bolstered by a bit of name recognition, Gunn’s list includes Mother by Bong Joon-ho. The Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call – New Orleans, directed by Werner Herzog, with leading performances from Nicholas Cage and Eva Mendes, ranks as Gunn’s seventh choice.
It’s worth reading through Gunn’s thread to get a more complete sense of the titles he's chosen. Ten in total, they’re diverse and speak to his sensibilities as one of the most unique filmmakers hired to helm a big budget blockbuster. While the question of what to watch is certainly not the most pressing thing right now, Gunn’s approved films could help to ease the stress of the current situation. Hopefully, other notable directors and creators will follow his lead.
Source: James Gunn