Maudern Movies, a weekly series that curates films for your viewing pleasure.
Love, a feeling that defies time, space, and sometimes, as is the case in Hollywood and this particular genre, all earthly logic. For decades, movies have been made that explore far amorous reaches in made-up worlds with made-up species, all to do one simple thing (besides win best set and costume design): Remind us that this universal emotion conquers all. And frankly, in this current never-before-seen dystopia we're living in, we are here for it.
From that singular word "ditto" spoken from specter to his still-living spouse, to a water-logged love forged between a mute and a mutant, we give you 5 of our favorite wondrous cinematic tales that will take you to other places and spaces—for at least 1.5-2 hours. Up, up, and away.
Ghost, 1990
Directed by: Jerry Zucker
Starring: Patrick Swayze, Demi Moore, Whoopi Goldberg
Artist, Molly Jensen (Moore) and banker, Sam Wheat (Swayze), live a comfortable life in Manhattan. One night, they are mugged and Sam is murdered—leaving Molly riddled with questions. Sam's spirit, however, is left to roam the Earth, where he eventually learns that his death was no accident. Psychic Oda Mae Brown (Goldberg) may be his only chance at redemption.
Where to watch: Amazon, Vudu
The Lobster, 2015
Directed by: Yorgos Lanthimos
Starring: Colin Farrell, Rachel Weisz, Jessica Barden
The Lobster is set in a dystopian society where singles must find love or be turned into an animal of their choice. We meet David (Farrell) who has recently been left by his wife. As he begins to look for "the one", he soon realizes the absurdity of this endless chase for love. He encounters The Loners — a collective joined by a shared rejection of romance. Here he meets a mysterious stranger (Weisz) who begins to capture his heart.
Where to watch: Amazon, Netflix, Vudu
The Shape of Water, 2017
Directed by: Guillermo del Toro
Starring: Sally Hawkins, Octavia Spencer, Michael Shannon
This award-winning supernatural film comes from the mind behind films like Pan's Labyrinth and Hellboy. Set in 1962 Baltimore, the film follows Elisa (Hawkins), a mute who works as a cleaning woman at a government lab. On one of her shifts, she discovers a scaled creature recently brought to the facility from South America. As the two develop an unexplainable and intimate bond, she realizes that its fate of survival is in her hands.
Where to watch: Amazon, Hulu, Vudu
Thelma, 2017
Directed by: Joachim TrierStarring: Eili Harboe, Kaya Wilkins, Henrik Rafaelsen
Thelma (Harboe) has just left home, a small town and religious family, to attend the University of Oslo. As school begins she starts to have seizures, finding herself pulled towards her classmate Anja (Wilkins), but unsure why. As her seizures get increasingly worse, she becomes more and more overwhelmed by her feelings for Anja, the truth about her past, and supernatural abilities.
Where to watch: Amazon, Hulu, Vudu
Border, 2018
Directed by: Ali Abbasi
Starring: Eva Melander, Eero Milonoff, Jörgen Thorsson
In the Swedish film Border, Tina (Melander) is a customs officer with a world-class sense of smell — able to identify the underlying feelings any individual may be hiding. A dubious passenger Vore (Milonoff) stumps her abilities, she knows he's hiding something but is unsure what. She develops an attraction to him as the refreshing and powerful story unfolds. This film explores the complexities of identity and love in an unprecedented way.
Where to watch: Amazon, Vudu
