A24 Gems (Part 2)

Here are another 5 A24 gems for you to prize your eyes on, enjoy.

1. Minari (2020)

A dreamlike tale of a Korean-American family seeking the American dream. Minari truly gives it all, family drama, lighthearted comedy, beautiful landscapes, a soothing and adventurous soundtrack and powerful performances from Steven Yeun and Yeri Han. Alan Kim plays David perfectly, hitting all the right comedic tones in his dialogue and delivering amazing chemistry with Yuh-Jung Youn who won an Oscar for her portrayal of Soonja, David's Grandma.

2. The Farewell (2019)

The Farewell is one of the few films I enjoy rewatching. Its subtle dark comedy is perfect and this is, by far, Hollywood actor Awkwafina's best performance, it's certainly her most serious and realistic role. This is a perfect film to watch with your parents, it'll make you laugh and it might make you cry. Who would've known a film about the impending death of Grandparents could be so heartwarming, it gives a brighter outlook on life and the importance of spending time with family. This is the one film that made me like Awkwafina and appreciate her as an actor, I feel she's definitely deserving of more serious roles like this in the future and I hope she can find a way out of the comedic best friend archetype that she's found herself typecast into so often. This film is also a true story, so if you're a person who likes their 'based on a true story' films then this is one for you.

3. Mid90s (2018)

Pumped full of nostalgia, this film took me back to a time where I wasn't even born. I feel like I just about fit into its demographic, being one of the last generations to not have to organise meeting up with friends, instead, we'd just rock up to their door and knock to see if they were in. This reminded me of those times, the freedom from social media, forcing us to socialise face to face, to meet up and play around doing whatever we found cool in the public areas near where we lived before we were old enough to have a house to crash at. Mid90s shows the brutality of growing up fast, focusing specifically on skate culture, Jonah Hill's directorial debut gives an insight into a way of life that may seem rough but at its core is built on brotherhood and helping each other up when they fall. The film's 90s skate documentary-style immerses the audience in the group as if they are one of them, we laugh with them and not at them. We get connected to each character and this makes the ending of the film so much more impactful, we feel as if it isn't just the ending of the film but an ending of an era, a chapter of their childhood.

4. 20th Century Women (2016)

A beautiful portrait of motherhood, almost made me tear up a little, I felt truly connected with these characters and found a lot of relatability in the son, Jamie, played by Lucas Jade Zumann. The narration throughout from Jamie and his mother Dorothea, played by Annette Bening, carries us through the narrative as if we're being told a story by a parent. The storytelling alongside the beautiful cinematography and brilliant performances allows us to see the full picture and beauty of the narrative, showing a raw and heartbreaking look on parenting a child as they transition into adulthood.

5. Locke (2014)

One hour and twenty-four minutes of Tom Hardy in a car. What's more to love? (Plus voice performances from A-listers such as Olivia Coleman, Andrew Scott, Ruth Wilson and Tom Holland.