Movie for Last Month

Tick, Tick… Boom! (2021)

Tick, Tick… Boom! is a 2021 drama musical about Jonathan Larson (the writer of Rent) starring Andrew Garfield, Alexandra Shipp, and Robin de Jesus. The movie takes place in the time between New Year’s Day of 1990, and Larson’s 30th birthday, a month later. Larson is desperately trying to get his very first musical funded before he turns 30, as he is scared that if he doesn’t, his life will fall to a void of mediocrity. In shorter terms, Jonathan Larson has an existential crisis as he tries to sell someone his high-concept sci-fi musical. This movie has an absolutely stellar soundtrack, amazing acting, and a gut-wrenching plot focusing on themes of mortality and legacy. It’s also directed by Lin Manuel Miranda, who is most famous for writing, directing, and starring in the hit Broadway musical Hamilton.

Movie for This Month

The Princess Bride (1987)

An iconic family classic that is hard to limit to one genre, it’s a hilarious comedy, a gripping adventure movie, and a beautiful romance all wrapped into one. The movie is framed by scenes of a sick boy being read to by his grandfather, with the story of the book being the actual story of the movie. The story focuses on Westley (played by Cary Elwes) as he rescues the Princess Bride (Robin Wright) from an old man named Vizzini (Wallace Shawn), his hired strongman Fezzik (Andre the Giant) and his swordsman Inigo Montoya (Mandy Patinkin). The story seems simple when summarized, but each character has their own distinct goal throughout the movie, and the writing is so effortlessly funny that it elevates this simple concept to an all-time classic for anyone to enjoy.

A Personal Favorite

The Holdovers (2023)

A comedy drama film set during a holiday break in a New England prep school, it’s a Christmas movie, so this is a little late to watch, but it is so absurdly well-written that I feel the need to include it nonetheless. During holiday break in 1970, a handful of students stay behind at the school to be babysat by an old and curmudgeonly history teacher and the school’s head cook. This movie is the best of the movies based around the trope of “found family,” and expresses concepts of loss and identity. Beyond that, the movie is beautifully shot and acted incredibly well. Notably, the main student of the film (Angus Tully) is played by Dominic Sessa in his very first acting role, and he still performs incredibly well. This movie is not only my favorite movie to take place during the winter, it is one of my favorite movies overall.