I am giving fair warning now that I will not be revealing super important spoilers but if you do not want to know basic plot information, or if a film actually has a surprise ending, then do not read any further.
The two topics above, of course, tie in together. But I will get to that in a bit.
For years, certain movies have had twists so significant you feel as if you belong to a secret society once you have watched them. Jaw-droppers, I have come to call them, are probably my favorite genre. This is mainly because they make you think. The movie takes a turn and your brain says, "WHAT?! But no.... that can't... hold on!" And you go back and work the puzzle through the right way. Sometimes, and this has only happened to me a few times, you hate the ending at first. Then, a few hours later you think it over again and go, "You know... that was really clever."
I give writers credit; in a world of remakes, people still manage to give some films a brilliant, unique edge. Go to most theaters now, and you will see posters for nothing but re-adaptions and sequels. Now, don't get me wrong, I love me some revamping. However, one would think originality would be a little more abundant. I suppose not.
The two best movies with plot twists, in my opinion, have to be Fight Club and The Sixth Sense. Closely followed by Memento. Eastern Promises also had a great surprise moment.
The first stars Edward Norton, Brad Pitt, and Helena Bonham Carter. Much more than fighting, this is a story of a man who is falling apart. Not for the squeamish or faint-hearted. Directed by David Fincher.
The second: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, and Haley Joel Osment perform beautifully in the tale of a boy whose seemingly simple childhood trauma is much more than his psychiatrist planned for. Supernatural awesomeness. Good chilling scenes too. M. Night Shyamalan filmed this.
Numéro trois est le film where Guy Pearce plays a man who, after his wife's murder, seeks vengeance on the killer. What's makes this so different is that his character, Leonard Shelby, sustained a head injury on the night of the homicide. He remembers life before but is unable to create new memories, having lapses at least three times a day. He covers himself in tattoo reminders, all hints on how to find the killer. Best part? The whole movie goes backwards by scene. This one is INTENSE. Done by Chris Nolan.
And last but not least at all: The Russian mob in London has to cover up their crimes when the diary of a deceased young mother falls into a midwife's hands. Naomi Watts, Viggo Mortensen, and Vincent Cassel perform admirably in this drama that's plot thickens with each turn it takes. Courtesy of David Cronenberg. Bit of gore, lots of violence. Just a heads up.
In case you have not seen these fantastic motion pictures, I will not mention more. But rent them as soon as you are able. I can almost guarantee you will not regret it.
Another recent film with a very intriguing twist was The Book of Eli.
Denzel Washington, Mila Kunis, and Gary Oldman lead in an apocalyptic thriller with a deeper inner meaning. Denzel, keeper of a sacred book, must elude Oldman, and sets off for the rightful wielders with Kunis. Not for those with weak stomachs.
And speaking of such, on to Repo Men.
If you know anything about this movie, you are aware that this is a film for people who A: have very strong stomachs, B: can differentiate movie makeup from real gore, or C: have that sixth sense (oh how fitting) of knowing when to look away.
I, fortunately, possess both trait B and C.
Here's the plot for those not in the know. Repo Men takes place in the future. The world of medical science has evolved wondrously and now, instead of getting organ transplants from a donor, one can simply purchase a top of the line synthetic organ made by a company called The Union. Do you see where this is going? Sure, these organs are great. But they're expensive. And if you can't make the payments someone like Jude Law's character Remy or Forest Whitaker's Jake will come to your house and repossess what belongs to The Union. And they are not there to make you comfortable, just to take back what is no longer yours. The point of all this? A faulty defib unit causes Remy to be hospitalized and he is given a replacement heart. Guess who can't make the payments.
That is not the twist though. Not even close. If you want a good "Whoa" moment, see this movie soon. It's not perfect, but nothing is, really.
So, now you know, if you want to psyche out your mind, these are a few of the movies to see. All of them are very enjoyable.
Have any movie suggestions for me? Twists I left out? Tell me. :] I always love a new cinematic adventure.
