Film

FILM Not in the mood for a downer

JIM KEOGH

Talking to my sister the other day, I asked what she’s been watching. Episodes of “30 Rock” on Hulu, she said, “The Office” on Netflix, and any movie that makes her laugh. There is no room in her psyche for anything too grim these days. A favorite novel of hers, Wally Lamb’s “I Know This Much is True” — about identical twins, one an institutionalized schizophrenic, whose lives come undone — was made into an HBO miniseries she still hasn’t seen, in part because of my non-recommendation. I believe the words “relentless downer” were nested somewhere in my review to her.

“I don’t need that right now,” she conceded. “Only comedies.”

I can’t tell you how often I’ve heard similar sentiments from friends, family and co-workers. During the cataclysm that is 2020, our own annus horribilis, many are seeking comfort from sources that soothe rather than agitate — funny movies,

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Avibrant story gives new life to the coming-of-age sick teen subgenre in the top new DVD releases for the week of Sept. 22.

“Babyteeth”: As teenager Milla (Eliza Scanlen) zones out while waiting for the train, a considerable distance from her peers, she looks a little too longingly at the tracks below. When the train barrels toward the platform, she sharply inhales after being shoved by a 23-year-old man, Moses (Toby Wallace). It’s the breath of fresh air she needs, in the midst of dealing with cancer, chemo and loneliness. As the two become friends, her parents, Anna and Henry (Essie Davis and Ben Mendelsohn), struggle between the sketchiness of the age difference, let alone Moses’ criminal leanings, and seeing their dying daughter reawaken to the world.

For a film swirling around death, it

Skyler Gisondo appears in “The Social Dilemma.”

NETFLIX

nostalgic TV shows, heartwarming videos about different species of animals becoming fast friends. These people are not entirely burying their heads in the sand, they are simply being choosier about which negative stimuli to be assaulted with at any given time.

I’m with them. At the end of a long work day, often dealing with matters related to the pandemic, I’m in no mood to subject myself to crime shows, talking-head politics, or glows with life, with small moments carrying the most weight: Anna smiling at Milla passionately dancing to Sudan Archives at a music lesson, a pregnant neighbor going into labor, an impromptu photo session at the beach that leaves Henry attempting to hide his devastation in seeing Milla hint at her final days. Davis’ effortless charm shines through Anna’s drug-addled coping mechanisms, while Mendelsohn achieves melancholic disconnect without hiding Henry’s humanity, and the spirited soundtrack is perfectly complemented by a heavy string score by Amanda Brown. Director Shannon Murphy and writer Rita Kalnejais ultimately succeed in taking a coming-of-age subgenre that has become familiar in recent years and making it as lively as Milla’s bright blue wig.

ALSO NEW ON DVD SEPT. 22

“Babysplitters”: Two couples who aren’t wild about the concept of having a baby decide to share one among the four of them. Stars Maiara Walsh, Danny Pudi, Emily Chang and most documentaries (a genre I normally love). Until Saturday, the last documentary I’d watched was “Too Funny to Fail: The Life & Death of the Dana Carvey Show,” which detailed the former “SNL” actor’s gloriously irreverent, and tragically short-lived, 1996 sketch show that shredded the playbook about what was acceptable on network television. Apparently, Carvey, as Bill Clinton, breast-feeding a litter of Golden Retriever puppies was not. Eddie Alfano.

“Beckman”: A former assassin who now serves as a church pastor (David A.R. White) seeks revenge against a cult leader who took his daughter away.

“Full Metal Jacket”: The classic 1987 Vietnam film directed by Stanley Kubrick is being released in 4K resolution.

“Iceland Is Best”: Discouraged by her community, an Icelandic teenager (Kristin Auður Sophusdottir) dreams of moving to The Golden State.

“DC’s Legends of Tomorrow: The Complete Fifth Season”: The CW superhero series picks up after the Legends have gained celebrity and respect for defeating Neron.

“Man with a Plan: Season 3”:

The CBS sitcom returns as Adam (Matt LeBlanc) and Andi (Liza Snyder) have decided to begin working together professionally.

“Rick and Morty: Season 4”:

The hit Adult Swim animated series makes its return after a two-year

I said “until Saturday” because this past Saturday I settled in to watch “The Social Dilemma,” and emerged from it wishing I’d instead watched puppies lapping at Dana Carvey’s fake teats.

The documentary features a series of tech experts describing the ways social media has corrupted our political and cultural space, feeding us an algorithm-determined “reality” that buttresses our world views and leaves us incapable of considering alternative opinion or even objective fact. The designers of some of the most popular platforms (including some who appear in this film, blowing the whistle on the “persuasive technology” they helped develop) are blunt about the tactics used to addict social media users, who are briefly energized by the dopamine hits to their brain supplied by every “Like” and every affirming comment made after a post.

From there, “The Social Dilemma” connects the dots to authoritarian governments’ deployment of social media to influence elections, arouse break.

“Sanctuary, Season 1”: Canadian sci-fi series follows an organization that hunts supernatural creatures.

“The Good Fight: Season

Four”: The CBS All Access legal drama starring Christine Baranski kicks off with an alternate timeline in which Hillary Clinton won the 2016 presidential election.

“The Secret: Dare to Dream”:

A struggling widow (Katie Holmes) meets a handyman (Josh Lucas) who teaches her about the law of attraction.

OUT ON DIGITAL HD SEPT. 22

“Jay Sebring ... Cutting to the

Truth”: Documentary follows the life and legacy of the hairstylist, who was murdered by members of the Manson Family.

“Let It Snow”: A snowboarder (Ivanna Sakhno) sets off on a dangerous journey and faces bitter cold, as well as a masked pursuer on a snowmobile.

“Resisterhood”: Documentary public sentiment and even promote genocide, as evidenced by the Myanmar military’s use of Facebook to incite the massacre of the Rohingya people.

A few years ago, Joaquin Phoenix starred in the film “Her,” about a man who falls in love with his computer’s operating system. I concluded my review of “Her” with this: “The ‘Terminator’ movies envisioned a day when artificial intelligence would grow self-aware then crush the world with an army of cyborg assassins. Forget about it. Computers will do more damage by becoming our best friends and then taking us down one broken heart at a time.”

I still believe it. As I write this, artificial intelligence has recorded my last keystroke and is already predicting my next one. By now, I’m sure it’s assembling a list of movie comedies that will miraculously pop up on my news feed, setting me up

‘Babyteeth’ builds depth of joy amid family tragedy

for the heartbreak yet to come. follows the movement that kicked off with the 2017 Women’s March following President Donald Trump’s inauguration.

“Stuntwomen: The Untold

Hollywood Story”: Documentary shows behind-the-scenes look at the women powering action sequences since the dawn of cinema.

“The Swerve”: A woman (Azura Skye) struggling with insomnia begins to question her reality.

OUT ON DIGITAL HD SEPT. 23

“I’ll Be Around”: Scores of 30-somethings reveal complications in their lives at a post-punk music festival.

OUT ON DIGITAL HD SEPT. 25

“LX 2048”: A dying man (James D’Arcy) fights to keep his family safe as the sun’s toxic rays prevent anyone from going outside during the day.

“Misbehaviour”: A group of ‘70s era feminists attempt to take over a London-based beauty competition. Stars Keira Knightley, Gugu MbathaRaw and Jessie Buckley.