Here are our picks for what you should watch this week.
Moonrise Kingdom
There are few filmmakers with a more distinct and recognizable style than Wes Anderson. His craftsmanship is always noteworthy. When you see a film with symmetrical compositions for nearly every shot, defined color palettes throughout, and a soundtrack filled with pop music from the 1960s and ’70s, then you know you’re watching a Wes Anderson flick. While all of his films incorporate similar elements, perhaps none illuminate his style better than Moonrise Kingdom. Set at a summer camp on an island in the 1960s, the film encapsulates Anderson’s expression of whimsy.
The film follows two twelve-year-olds who fall madly in love and run away together into the wilderness. The lovers are tracked and chased by the authorities, blissfully unaware of the large storm brewing just off the coast of their hideaway. The film is full of eccentric characters with personalities that pop off the screen, and a cast of stars to bring them all to life. Moonrise Kingdom features Bruce Willis, Edward Norton, Bill Murray, Frances McDormand, Tilda Swinton, and Jason Schwartzman. The two kids (Jared Gilman and Kara Hayward) still manage to steal the show.
The Roughnecks
Everyone knows how big football has become. It’s a cultural institution. People gather together for the game every Sunday. But it’s bigger than just the 32 teams of the NFL — the love for the sport trickles all the way down to the youth crowd. The Roughnecks looks at pee-wee football team the Ridglea Roughnecks of Fort Worth, Texas. The film focuses on the players, families, and coaches of the team to give an inside look at how the squad of 11-year-olds participate in the sport of football.
Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret
Cowspiracy is a documentary that found its audience before it existed. That’s because the creators of the film turned to IndieGoGo to fund the project. With cash backing from people who are as passionate about the topic as the filmmakers, the team created Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret. The film takes time to investigate various environmental organizations, while posing the idea that one of the biggest causes of damage to the environment revolves around animal agriculture.
Comedy Bang! Bang! Season 4
There is no other show on television like Comedy Bang! Bang! Hosted by Scott Aukerman, the visual spinoff of the popular audio-only podcast features a plethora of oddball humor, outlandish gags, surreal moments, and music. Built like a late night show — complete with a band leader in the form of Kid Cudi for season four — the show pulls in some of comedy’s biggest names and gets them to do improvised skits that regularly turn into something so out there and hilarious that you won’t want to miss it.
It Happened Here
Sexual assault is a major topic of discussion on college campuses, where a culture has been created that makes victims of rape and violence feel not only violated, but alone. The documentary focuses on five survivors of sexual assault who are now fighting to make a difference in the way collegiate institutions handle these horrific incidents. The stories are as powerful as they are troubling and illuminate the need for change.
