Some Wheelchair Kamikaze Movie Recommendations

And now for something completely different… I’ve been hard at work on an MS related article for an online general media outlet, which when finished will also eventually appear on this blog. I was hoping to have the piece done at least a week ago, but I’m finding it difficult to write for a general audience after so long writing specifically for people with direct knowledge of MS. This hurdle combined with the usual Creeping Paralysis crap (weakness, paralysis, fatigue, etc.) have combined to make writing the article something of a tough slog. No worries, though, I’ll get it done, and hopefully the editors of the internet site will find it to their liking. 

In the meantime, I don’t want to leave WK readers feeling abandoned. As my mind is filled with MS related flotsam and jetsam as a result of working so hard on the aforementioned article, I figured I’d go in a completely different direction for this blog post. How about some movie recommendations for others like me who find themselves with lots of time to stare at TV screens due to the vagaries and vulgarities of multiple sclerosis?

Here, then, are a few lesser-known films that I hope you might check out and find enjoyable/interesting. If any of you have already seen any of these films or watch them as a result of these recommendations, I’d love to know your thoughts about them. Please feel free to leave your own critiques in the comments section, below.

The Drop – This was James Gandolfini’s last film before his untimely death. It’s a modern film noir, centered on a Brooklyn bar that is used by underworld figures as a “drop” for their ill-gotten gains. Though there are a few action sequences, this is more a nuanced character study of the central players, who may or may not be the people we assume them to be when first we meet them. Kind of like life, no? The film features a tremendous performance by Tom Hardy, who I think is one of the finest actors of his generation. Gandolfini also gives a fine performance in his last screen appearance. Fans of The Sopranos – and others who like their films a bit dark and complex, like a zinfandel – should definitely give this one a look.

Paterson – A lovely, quirky film by director Jim Jarmusch, which focuses on the power and beauty of the little things in life; a box of matches, conversations overheard, the simple but simultaneously complex emotional dance that is love itself. The picture gives us a peek into the lives of a bus driver/poet (Adam Driver), his wife (Golshifteh Farahani ), and some of the characters who populate their neighborhood in Paterson, New Jersey. Filled with wonderful poetry (both visual and literary) and an affection for the small details that often go unnoticed, this is a gem that will leave you smiling and thinking about its many facets for quite a while after viewing.

20^th Century Women – A kind of coming-of-age story of not only an adolescent boy, but also of the Bohemian adults who surround him. Set in Southern California circa 1979, a period at the precipice of the great social changes that would unfold in the coming decades (the rise of Reaganism, the Internet, the computerization of everything), 20^th Century Women involves the lives of a teenage boy (Lucas Jade Zumann ) and his mother (Annette Benning), who share a house with several unconventional housemates. Elle Fanning stands out as the young man’s best friend/love interest, and the film hits all the right notes in regards to the time period, the complexities of personality, and the subtle – and sometimes not-so-subtle – emotional skirmishes of both adolescence and adulthood.

Hunt For the Wildepeople – a fun and funny film from New Zealand about a troublesome teenage boy (Julian Dennison) and a gruff older man (Sam Neill) who inadvertently find themselves the subjects of a national manhunt through the wilds of New Zealand’s outback. A witty script, endearing characters, and the natural beauty of New Zealand combine to make this sometimes silly, sometimes seriocomic film a deliciously diverting watch, one with a few laugh out loud moments, some over-the-top action sequences, and lots of heart. Not a film that reaches for profundity, but if you’re looking for some offbeat entertainment, Hunt For The Wildepeople will fit the bill nicely.

Green Room – I’m a big fan of horror films, but not the kind that feature ghosts, demons, or other supernatural creatures. Human beings can be horrific enough. Green Room finds a young punk rock band on tour in their dilapidated van far away from home, with money and patience running desperately short. The band inadvertently picks up a gig at a Nazi skinhead club, where they stumble upon a murder. Let’s just say the things go downhill from there. Patrick Stewart is terrific as the elder patron and leader of the skinhead crew, and the film is packed with tension, anxiety, and plenty of adrenaline inducing moments. I classify this as more of a thriller than a pure horror flick, though it does contain some gore. Definitely recommended for fans of the genre.

Irreversible – perhaps the finest product to come out of the “French Extreme” movement, 2002’s Irreversible is an unforgettable film that is definitely NOT for everybody. Over the last few decades the French have stretched the boundaries of the horror/thriller genre, with a number of films that leave nothing to the imagination but also, at their best, plumb the depths of the human experience. Irreversible depicts the events of one extremely tragic night in Paris, in reverse chronological order. In other words, the film starts with the ending credits, and the night’s sequence of events plays out backwards, last to first. Each sequence of the film is shot as a single take with no cuts, and the camera work by director Gaspar Noé is as spectacular as it is unsettling. A terrific cast (Monica Bellucci, Vincent Cassel, Albert Dupontel) thoroughly inhabit the film’s largely ad-libbed script and make the events portrayed all the more gut wrenching. As the film spools out, some of our initial assumptions about the characters are turned on their head, and Irreversible is a cinematic experience that will impact you for days if not weeks afterwards. Again, this film is not for everybody; in fact, when screened at Cannes, large parts of the audience walked out during its jarring first 40 minutes. Those who remained were said to have sat in stunned, heartbroken silence for quite a while after it ended. The film graphically portrays terrible violence as well as graphic sexual acts, and contains an extended rape scene that illustrates the full, unremitting horror and unspeakable cruelty of that crime. It also contains one of the sweetest love scenes on film. That said, Irreversible is among the most exceptional pieces of cinema I’ve experienced. The violence portrayed is key to the film’s ultimate power, but again, Irreversible is not for those even slightly squeamish, or who might have personal issues with the events portrayed. But for viewers up to it, Irreversible offers an unforgettable cinematic experience.


I've also watched a whole bunch of the campy B-movie 70s horror flicks I so love (I Drink Your Blood, I Spit on Your Grave, etc.), but I know that flicks like these aren't everybody's cup of tea. Depending on what country you live in, most of the above recommended films are available on the popular streaming movie services (Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu). Again, I’d love to get readers' impressions of these films, as well as any recommendations of your own, in the comments section below. I’ll be back with our regularly scheduled MS related content in the next few weeks. In the meantime, happy viewing!