"Palm Springs ". 2020. Directed by Max Barbakov.
The main feel-good movie of the first year of the pandemic, when the whole world was stuck in a time loop of self-isolation. At the center of this Sundance hit is charming rascal Knows, who finds himself trapped at a wedding between strangers in Coachella Valley. One day due to him, his bride’s forlorn sister Sarah also gets caught up in this same time loop.
In contrast to 'Groundhog Day', 'Palm Springs' is a full-fledged romcom, in which the loop of time becomes a metaphor for a crisis in relationships and an unwillingness to grow up. While Phil Connors finds meaning in life and salvation by helping those around him, Sarah and Nyles are trapped on November 9th not because of karma or fate, but due to their reluctance to delve into themselves and learn from their mistakes.
Max Barbackov, a debutant director, was able to bring the romantic comedy genre back to life which is now clearly undergoing a crisis. Thanks not only to his fresh take on "Saving Valentine's Day" but also to the chemistry of comedic duo Andrew Samberg ("Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping," "Brooklyn Nine-Nine") and Cristin Milioti ("Adult Life Toy," "Resort") that filled the movie with poignant and romantic gags.
"Two Distant Strangers", released in 2020, was directed by Trayvon Free and Martin Desmond Row.
The only entry in the selection to receive an "Oscar" was this 30-minute Netflix social tragedy about a comic book Afro-American (rapper Joey Badass) who is repeatedly killed by a New York City cop-racist (Andrew Howard). At first, due to the one dimensional character of 'Stranger', it appears as if it is going to be just another episode of 'Tom and Jerry'. However, towards the end, it becomes clear that amid protests following George Floyd's murder, authors wanted their direct stance on police brutality and racism. It turns out that the take from 'Day of The Dead' can shed light not only on hero’s inner shortcomings but also on pressing societal issues.
"Source code". Released in 2011. Directed by Duncan Jones.
After the crash in Afghanistan, military pilot Carter Stevens (Jake Gyllenhaal) comes to himself in the body of another person - a school teacher who is on a high-speed train to Chicago. Every eight minutes the train explodes - it’s a simulated terrorist attack that the military sent Carter's consciousness into so he can figure out who was responsible for the catastrophe.
Duncan Jones, a saifai specialist (of "Moon 2112" and "Mute") and son of David Bowie, also took the concept of something supernatural as its base – adding elements from science fiction, thriller, detective stories and even some body-horror. On paper it could seem like a lot of nonsense but "Source Code" instantly grabs attention and Gyllenhaal plays his character's uncertainty with such skill that it is impossible not to sympathize. Furthermore there are alternative timelines too - just like in Marvel!
"Edge of Tomorrow", 2014. Directed by Doug Liman.
The most expensive movie in this selection is the sci-fi action movie based on the novel of the same name by Hiroshi Sakurazaka. Tom Cruise plays a timid press secretary for the US army Major William Cage, who finds himself stuck in a time loop while fighting alien monsters that have taken over Europe. Alongside Cage is Sergeant Rita Vrataski (Emily Blunt), who has been stuck in a time loop once before. And yes, everyone fights in good old exoskeletons.
Despite the expectation of the actor, Cruze's original cinematic appearance in Siafe did not make the movie a hit. However, after its digital release, there was an army of fans who still that demand from Warner Bros for a continuation.
"Koko-di koko-da" (2019). Directed by Johannes Nyholm.
Another temporal loop from the "Sundance" program, no longer a pleasant little romcom, but a fantasmagoric art-horror about depression. Two years after the death of their daughter, a married couple sets off with a tent into a Swedish forest. There they are repeatedly killed by an enigmatic trio: a nasty old man in white suit, dismal bogeyman with dead dog in his arms and woman with alive dog on leash. carnival freaks - it does not matter. They murder with fancy imagination, sadism and songs about some "coco-di coco-da". It all looks like an evil fairy tale in theatre.
Using the work of Lynch, Trier and apparently Michael Haneke (without animation or shadow theatre), Swedish director Johannes Nyholm conveys a state of distress and joylessness in "The Giant". There is no more absurdness of existence, necessary humanism or self-transcendence in this film.
"Russian Doll." TV Series, 2019-2022. Show Runner - Natasha Lión
To conclude - the main series in the subgenre. Here into a time loop falls video game developer, matron and wild child Nastya Vulkov (Natasha Lyonne from "Orange Is the New Black" and "Pokerface") - she breaks her neck at a stuffy party celebrating her 36th birthday, after which begins her day of bad luck.
Again: a dark comedy, slapstick, nihilism and humanism - the heroine is only saved when she starts helping her close ones. Now it's clear that the success of such stories entirely rests on the main character and the setting he inhabits. And here everything worked out: in Netflix's drama "Matryoshka", a fragile artist Leonne who seemed to be stuck with supporting roles for ever finally got a chance to demonstrate her full potential. Depicting friendship and adulthoods, authors of "Matryoshka" explore mid-life frustrations and anxieties of New York freelancers. In short, they remind us about importance of working through childhood trauma.
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