The good news is that Georgia appears to be on the upswing. We’ve seemingly been successful in flattening the COVID-19 curve (if you trust the numbers) and restrictions have loosened. The bad news is that many of us who work in the film industry are still out of work. And though it’s been three weeks since Georgia lifted its stay-at-home order for better or worse, if you’re like me, then you’re probably still social distancing for the time being. (Better safe than sorry!)
Presumably, the number of people stuck at home in need of viewing material has flattened as well. Luckily, officials (i.e. me) have proposed an aggressive strategy to deal with this public boredom crisis. The following lineup consists of socially relevant films to help ease us through these troubling times while providing a little something different for everyone. This isn’t a list of popular titles trending on streaming services, nor will you find any films about cabin fever or viral outbreaks. We want to stay positive and keep spirits up. The common theme of this list is – you guessed it – social distancing. Something I’m sure a lot of us can relate to right now. Enjoy!
1. Rear Window (1954) – Directed by the master of suspense Alfred Hitchcock, this classic thriller tells the story of a photographer (Jimmy Stewart) confined to his home after a crippling leg injury. With a telephoto lens as his sole source of entertainment, he picks up the unusual new hobby of peeping on his neighbors, only to discover one of them is a killer. Featuring the always-stunning Grace Kelly, Rear Window is proof that social distancing doesn’t have to be boring! And as a bonus, if you want a more updated take on the story, Distburbia (2007) starring Shia Labeouf is a fantastic modern reimagining. (Not currently streaming but well worth the rental!)
2. Castaway (2000) – Directed by the great Robert Zemeckis, Castaway is probably the best marooned-on-an-island flick, though there admittedly aren’t too many of those out there. A story of a man and his volleyball, Castaway depicts the human will to survive in dramatic a and compelling fashion. While most of us can take comfort in the fact that we didn’t resort to befriending athletic equipment, how many of us sported quarantine beards like Tom Hanks? “WILSONNN!” (Streaming on Hulu)
3. Frozen (2013) – If you’re looking for family friendly fare, look no further than Frozen. In addition to being the queen of Arendelle, Elsa is also the queen of social distancing! In Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck’s frigid fairytale, Disney princess Elsa locks herself away in her castle for years to protect her younger sister from her icy powers. How’s that for self-isolation? Unless you’ve been living under a rock like the trolls in the movie, odds are you’ve seen Frozen or at least heard the catchy soundtrack. Nevertheless, it remains a modern Disney classic and carries a potent message of female empowerment. (Streaming on Disney+)
4. Room (2015) – Lenny Abramson’s Room begins as a dark drama about a captive kidnap victim (Brie Larson) raising her young son (Jacob Tremblay) in a small windowless shed, but turns into an ultimately hopeful tale of a second chance at life and a child discovering the world for the first time. Abramson’s film serves as a reminder that though we may feel confined or trapped at times, there is always light at the end of the tunnel. Plus, Brie Larson’s Academy Award-winning performance is incredible to behold, and Jacob Tremblay is the finest child actor working in movies today. (Streaming on Netflix)
5. Misery (1990) – This ones for the horror fans out there. In Rob Reiner’s adaptation of one of Stephen King’s greatest novels, a writer played by James Caan finds himself bedridden and in the care of his biggest fan – the obsessive and unstable Annie Wilkes. Played with terrifying zeal by Kathy Bates in a role that earned her an Oscar, Annie has saved Caan’s life but now refuses to let him go! Though social distancing may be tough for many of us, we can at least be thankful we weren’t quarantined with Annie Wilkes. (Streaming on Hulu)
Do you know of any Social Distance films not mentioned in this blog post? Send us an email to atlantafilmandtv@gmail.com