The Intern

This De Niro movie is based off the quirky idea of a senior retired executive going back to work as an intern primarily to fend off his boredom and to feel wanted. It follows his adventures as he finds a place at an online clothing startup. He adapts admirably to the age gap of the workers around him using his experience to help and guide his colleagues in their day-to-day work.

He becomes close to the young founder and CEO who struggles to manage sudden success and is under intense pressure by investors to step aside while also trying to manage her marriage which is under severe strain. The movie is rather predictable, and quite undramatic. Ultimately this is a feel-good movie which subtly plays the feminist card with scant regard for real world consequences of decisions.

The Phantom of the Open

This is a genuinely funny movie, a true story about a middle-aged man trying to find his fulfillment by attempting something outrageous. This movie is warm and honest.

The main character is a crane operator who competes at the British Open Golf Tournament despite never having played golf before. Despite opposition and ridicule and labelled the world’s worst golfer he tries to pursue his dream of becoming a professional golf player competing against all odds. The script is excellent and the acting is top notch with brilliant timing as far as the comedy element is concerned. Definitely a great movie.

Eddy the Eagle

Based on the true-life story of Michael “Eddie” Edwards who competed as a Ski Jumper for Britain in the 1988 Winter Olympics. This is an inspirational movie and tells the story of Eddie’s interest in sport from a young age despite having a childhood walking disability.

Eddie matures into a young man determined to take part in the Olympics. He learns that he has a spot at qualifying as a Ski Jumper as no one else has represented the country in nearly 6 decades. He runs into trouble with the British Olympic Association which refuses to take him seriously and dismisses his efforts. Eddie then goes to Germany where he trains by himself until he is noticed and mentored by a former champion Ski jumper played by Hugh Jackman.

The acting is authentic with great comedy especially by Eddie’s supportive but concerned parents who are for the most part bewildered by their son.

Parasite

This is a story about a family undertaking extreme measures with exceptional deviousness in order to secure a comfortable lifestyle for themselves.

Set in South Korea, the Kim family struggles and lives an impoverished life when suddenly their son manages to get fraudulently employed in a rich household. He then manages to get his sister also employed using fake credentials and eventually the father and mother also end up working there after getting rid of the existing employees. Things start to unravel however when a former employee shows up unexpectedly. This film has been widely feted and won the Palme d’Or for best movie at the Cannes Film Festival. It also won 4 Oscars’ namely Best Movie, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay and Best Foreign language film.

This film is well directed and features impressive acting from its lead actors; besides it touches upon a hot button social justice issue of the time and has been well rewarded for it.