Now that Halloween is over and you’re sick and tired of watching horror films, it’s finally time to break out some classic Christmas movies!!! Oh, wait. No it’s not. No Christmas movies until December, I promise. This week on What to Stream Right Now it’s all about the weird, so if you’re not into things a little bit stranger than usual, check out some iconic science fiction from last episode, or catch up on your geniuses from episode 6!

TRAINSPOTTING – Dir. Danny Boyle (1996) IMDb

A very strange film, starring Ewan McGregor as a career doper who makes several attempts to change his lifestyle and escape the bad influence of his equally doped friends. What ensues is a crazy and euphoric journey of maturity, sobriety, and of course… heroin. And while it sounds like a preachy or depressing movie, TRAINSPOTTING is actually an incredibly fun and fast paced tale about finding joy in one’s reality, away from the harsh effects of drug abuse. Our Scottish protagonist, Renton, struggles with his profound decision by going to some pretty bizarre lengths in order to cleanse himself of his addiction. Sometimes it works, other times it doesn’t.

Director, Danny Boyle’s vision has always been a little hallucinogenic, but never quite as much as it is in his beloved, drug-loving, movie. Like I said, it’s weird. There’s this whole scene where Ewan McGregor dives into the most disgusting toilet ever put to screen, just so he can retrieve some pills. But then again, if that’s not enough to sell you on this film, I’m not sure what is. Maybe it’s not a realistic look on the Scottish drug scene, but it sure is an interesting, albeit magical, take on the controversial subject.

TWIN PEAKS – Two Seasons (1990-1991) IMDb

At first glance, David Lynch’s cult classic TV series doesn’t seem all that weird. Keep watching. What appears to be a story about the death of a young girl in a small Washington town, quickly transpires into a mystery of magical occurrences surrounding the strange town of Twin Peaks. FBI Special Agent, Dale Cooper, leads the investigation into Laura Palmer’s death with the help of Sheriff Harry S. Truman (yeah, I’m not sure why) and other townsfolk including the late Log Lady played by Catherine Coulson. Together, they attempt to discover which of these quiet people murdered such a young and apparently troubled girl.

I started watching TWIN PEAKS after hearing the news that Mark Frost and David Lynch are bringing the show back in 2017 with the same cast plus new additions like Amanda Seyfried. So far, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the quirky series, and while I can admit that it’s oddness won’t appeal to everyone, I’m very interested in seeing what they do with the new series in the coming years.

STEVE JOBS marks the third biopic of the Apple cofounder, and the second within the past two years. It also just happens to be this reviewer’s honest opinion that it is easily the best of the three. Sorry Ashton Kutcher. Let me start by saying that by the end of the first half hour of the movie, I was convinced I was watching Steve Jobs himself on the screen. That’s how amazing Michael Fassbender portrayed the man. He’s already in talks to be nominated for an Oscar for this performance and I could quickly understand why that might be the case. Kate Winslet and Seth Rogan also play their parts impeccably as Joanna Hoffman and Steve Wozniak, respectfully. Then we have the always incredible, Jeff Daniels, rounding out the cast with another great performance (we’ll just forget about Dumb and Dumber To).

Now, I don’t want to talk much about the technical aspects of this film, but this was a really interesting film in that it was shot three different ways. The narrative is laid out in a three-act structure. However, unlike an ordinary three-act structure, Sorkin presented each act before a crucial product launch in three different years; the Mac in 1984, the NeXT computer in 1988, and the iMac in 1998. In the 1984 sequence, Danny Boyle chose to shoot on 16mm film. Naturally, this gives the impression that we are watching something dated. In 1988, he shot on 35mm film. This is a more common type of film for moviegoers to experience, but it’s still strange to see since we are so adjusted to digital. And, as you can expect, the sequence set in 1998 was shot on digital. This decision really gives each act a unique feel and helps the audience understand the gaps in time along with the advancement of technology that we missed between acts.

It should be noted that this is a dialogue heavy film. That’s actually an understatement. This movie is completely dialogue driven. Writer, Aaron Sorkin is famous for his witty and fast paced dialogue, which you can also see in other films and TV shows such as THE SOCIAL NETWORK and THE NEWSROOM. Due to his talent in crafting genuine and sometimes hilarious dialogue, the two hour conversation never seems to grow old. I was surprised by the pacing of the film and was kind of upset when I realized that it was actually over. A movie is really special, in my opinion, when it can cause the viewer to invest so heavily in the characters without the use of unneeded special effects or action scenes. Having read Walter Isaacson’s biography of Steve Jobs, I knew everything there was to know about the man, but I still wanted him to succeed in every way possible. I wanted him to connect with his daughter. I wanted him to stop being such a jerk to the people who helped him become the success that he was. I wanted him to overcome the odds. Why? Because the characters and what they had to say were the only important aspects of this film. And they were both executed expertly.

If you enjoy a good and unique story, albeit one that does not rely on action or explosions, you will enjoy this movie. It’s very likely that you’ll enjoy this movie regardless of your taste in cinema. Steve Jobs was a jerk, sure, but an interesting jerk nonetheless. The performances were all top notch, the writing was crisp and fluid, and it was beautifully shot and directed. Well worth the price of admission.

 4.5 / 5 Stars

STEVE JOBS (R) – Directed by Danny Boyle

Written by Aaron Sorkin

Starring: Michael Fassbender, Kate Winslet, Seth Rogan, Jeff Daniels

Run time: 122 minutes