Thursday Movie Picks by Wandering through the Shelves returns. According to the theme of the week, three to five movies are picked and shared with the reason. Should anyone be interested in joining in, feel free to visit the main page here.
As for this week, our theme is Rivalry, which is kinda easy for me. I know dozens of movies about rivalry, but only given 3-5 movies at max to pick; therefore, I add an additional theme within theme to make it easier (or more challenging). And, the theme within the theme for this week is: Sibling Rivalry. Why? Because I recently watched Ryan Murphy's latest show, FEUD: Bette and Joan, about rivalry between Oscar-winning actresses, Bette Davis and Joan Crawford; and, that rivalry escalated during the production of a film about sibling rivalry, which kinda adds up to the narrative. Simple, right? So, here's my pick.
01. What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962)
This list should begin with the film that starts it all. FEUD: Bette & Joan introduces me to this cancerous psycho-biddy about sibling madness, in which paraplegic Blanche (Joan Crawford) is held captive by her sister, Baby Jane (Bette Davis). It all started with a rivalry during the sisters' earlier artistic career (and actually ends with it, too). Adorned with troublesome production and legendary feud between the stars, What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? really emanates the rivalry atmosphere vividly at all levels. I watched it recently (thanks to Ryan Murphy) and I regretted for not watching it earlier.
02. Adaptation (2002)
In Spike Jonze's metafilm, Adaptation, Nicolas Cage portrays fictional version of the film's writer, Charlie Kaufman, and his fictional twin brother, Donald. Both are struggling writers-Charlie with his Being John Malkovich follow-up, an adaptation of Susan Orlean's The Orchid Thief, and Donald with his debut. Real world and fiction almost blend in here; and Nicolas Cage superbly portrays the twins with their rivalry.
03. Warriors (2011)
Brothers, Tommy Riordan (Tom Hardy) and Brendan Conlon (Joel Edgerton), become rival in MMA rings, after both get engaged in a tournament. The fight choreography is astonishing, but the drama really is the fuel for this dramatic sibling rivalry. This is instantly one of the most well-made movie in 2011.
