So you're stuck at home, doing some self-quarantine self-care in the time of coronavirus. What the heck are you gonna do? James Gunn, filmmaker of such beloved works as Guardians of the Galaxy, Slither, and the upcoming The Suicide Squad has an answer. 10 of them, actually. Gunn took to Twitter to share, in his words, "10 GREAT MOVIES YOU LIKELY HAVEN'T SEEN TO STREAM WHILE YOU SELF-QUARANTINE" (all-caps his, not ours). His effort is to make social distancing as chill as possible (as in, he's making the hashtag #QuarantineAndChill), and he's doing so with a wonderful starter pack of cinematic goodies. Please enjoy this list of 10 underseen movies to watch while you stay the heck at home. And please wash your hands, avoid your face, stay safe, and stay sane!
Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice
Director: Paul Mazursky
Writers: Paul Mazursky, Larry Tucker
Cast: Natalie Wood, Robert Culp, Elliott Gould, Dyan Cannon
"Uber-‘70’s dramedy with some of the greatest dialogue of all time. The naturalistic acting was a huge influence on me, and the Elliot Gould/Dyan Cannon bedroom scene is one of my all-time favorites."
The Villainess
Director: Jung Byung-gil
Writers: Jung Byung-gil, Jung Byeong-sik
Cast: Kim Ok-vin, Shin Ha-kyun, Sung Joon, Kim Seo-hyung, Jo Eun-ji
"As revolutionary to actions [sic] films as was The Matrix, [Mad Max] Fury Road, and The Raid, and yet this South Korean film was seen by so many fewer people in the States."
Pretty Poison
Director: Noel Black
Writer: Lorenzo Semple Jr.
Cast: Anthony Perkins, Tuesday Weld, Beverly Garland, John Randolph, Dick O'Neill
"Dark comedy starring Tuesday Weld as a coquettish sociopath and Anthony Perkins as a lonely dude caught in her web. Shockingly funny and not dated."
The Wanderers
Director: Philip Kaufman
Writers: Rose Kaufman, Philip Kaufman
Cast: Ken Wahl, John Friedrich, Karen Allen, Toni Kalem
"The strangest and most beautiful street gang film ever (yes, EVER) – in turns exciting, touching, and surrealistic - a populist art film."
Mother
Director: Bong Joon Ho
Writers: Bong Joon Ho, Park Eun-kyo
Cast: Kim Hye-ja, Won Bin
"Long before Parasite, and after The Host, Bong Joon-ho made this film about a mother’s undying – some would say almost psychotic – love for her son. My favorite of his films."
One Cut of the Dead
Director/Writer: Shin'ichirô Ueda
Cast: Takayuki Hamatsu, Mao, Harumi Syuhama, Yuzuki Akiyama, Kazuaki Nagaya
"To tell you anything about this movie could hurt it – but if you love zombies and filmmaking and joy, this is the movie for you while you #QuarantineAndChill."
Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans
Director: Werner Herzog
Writer: William M. Finkelstein
Cast: Nicolas Cage, Eva Mendes, Jennifer Coolidge, Val Kilmer, Brad Dourif, Alvin 'Xzibit' Joiner, Fairuza Balk
"I’ve recommended this to some friends who thought I was nuts. But to my mind it’s one of the greatest films of the 2000’s. Leave it up to Herzog to use off-the-rails Nic Cage to full effect."
The Yellow Sea
Director/Writer: Na Hong-jin
Cast: Ha Jung-woo, Kim Yoon-seok
"Another great South Korean action film, gritty and over-the-top and practical where Villainess is stylized. Perhaps the greatest non-car chase scene ever."
Hail the Conquering Hero
Director/Writer: Preston Sturges
Cast: Eddie Bracken, Ella Raines, William Demarest
"I could probably just recommend every Preston Sturges movie ever – but this little gem is one of the least-seen and probably my favorite. He is the true pioneer of what writer-directors like me do today."
Duck, You Sucker!
Director: Sergio Leone
Writers: Luciano Vincenzoni, Sergio Donati, Sergio Leone, Roberto De Leonardis, Carlo Tritto
Cast: Rod Steiger, James Coburn, Romolo Valli
"Leone is one of my favorite directors. This is probably my second favorite film of his after Once Upon a Time in the West, and is the one that’s been the most forgotten."