;)
Upon the US release of Paddington 2 in 2018, film critic David Ehrlich wrote about a new age of optimistic movies. He called this phenomenon, nice core. They were films that emerged in the era of Trump and Brexit, little rays of celluloid sunshine that celebrated the power of kindness and the wonder of humanity from filmmakers living in an increasingly cruel world. If you're looking for formalistic vanguard or challenging experiences, you won't find it in this type of cinema, though that doesn't have to be necessarily bad. Art of modest ambition whose main purpose is comfort shouldn't be undervalued.
One could almost say that, when ironic detachment becomes standard, the exaltation of sincere cinema can be a radical gesture…
Whether they're daring explosions of earnest joy or conventional nonsense, I admit I love the flicks. In these troubled days, when anxieties are high and inescapable, such morsels of contentment can be of particular marvel. Escapism allows us to forget the evils of reality and lose ourselves in brief dreams of a better, kinder world. It's not a remedy for every occasion, but it helps. With that in mind, I decided to compile a list of some of my favorite nice core flicks that are currently available on VOD and streaming services. Not everyone agrees that these films are nice core, but ,since this is a personal list, my opinion is the criteria.
With no more preamble, here are some cute distractions to watch at home:
MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO
No matter how many masterpieces he might have produced since Totoro will always be Hayao Miyazaki's greatest achievement. The genius of this tale lies in its utter simplicity, both in terms of animation and storytelling, tone and humor. If happiness could be captured by cinema in its purest form, I wager it would look a lot like this animated miracle.
Available on Amazon Video, Google Play, Youtube and others.
;)
PRIDE
Pride tells the story about the miners' strike that affected Britain in the 1980s, more specifically it tells a tale of solidarity between the miners and LGBT activists that try to help them through times of hardship. With its sprawling cast of well-defined characters, this is the rare inspirational piece that focuses on collective heroism. It's lovely and heartwarming, even though it might make you cry a couple of times. It's also funny as all hell.
Available on Amazon Prime, Google Play, Youtube, and others.
;)
PADDINGTON & PADDINGTON 2
The Paddington duology is the greatest manifestation of a nice core ever produced. The adventures of London's most beloved Peruvian bear are a delight from start to finish, perfect in every way from the dulcet tones of Ben Wishaw's voice-acting to the drag extravagaza of Hugh Grant's villainous disguises.
Available on HBO Now, iTunes, DIRECTV, and others.
;)
QUEEN OF KATWE
Based on an inspiring true story, Mira Nair's Queen of Katwe is the rare example of a good family movie that's as good-hearted as it is charming. For those wanting to see something aesthetically marvelous, Mobolaji Dawodu's costumes are Oscar-worthy triumphs of color and texture. As for the actressexuals among us, Lupita Nyong'o's performance is a perfect treat.
Available on Disney+, Amazon Video, iTunes, and others.
FACES PLACES
Agnès Varda was a ray of sunshine and humanistic ardor. Her cinema reflected that reality, especially her documentary efforts. Among those, Faces Places, her penultimate film, shines bright as a beacon of hope. It's a travelogue of artists, finding beauty in the mundane, making the casual wonder of people into poster-like monuments.
Available on Kanopy, Google Play, Youtube, and others.
;)
MAMMA MIA! HERE WE GO AGAIN (2018)
I'm among the many curmudgeons that weren't ever able to warm up to the apparent delights of the original Mamma Mia! From 2008. Still, when confronted with this dream of a sequel I couldn't keep a smile off my face, from the ridiculous staging of "Waterloo" to the camp pyrotechnics of the curtain call.
Available on Max Go, Amazon Video, Google Play, and others.
YESTERDAY
You can always count on the power of charismatic actors with great chemistry. Such is their ability that even the tritest of concepts can become something special thanks to them. That's what happened with Danny Boyle's wacky comedy about a singer that wakes up in a world where nobody but him remember The Beatles. Himesh Patel and Lily James are adorable.
Available on HBO Now, DIRECTV, Amazon Video, and others.
;)
BLINDED BY THE LIGHT
If it weren't so disarmingly sincere, this love letter to Bruce Springsteen's music by Gurinder Chadha could have been insufferable. However, it's impossible not to feel a bit chuffed by the cannonballs of charm the director and her team fire at the audience. Viveik Kalra has the magnetism of a star, while Kulvinder Ghir's blend of pathos and caricature is one of the best performances of last year.
Available on Amazon Video, Google Play, iTunes, and others.
A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD
No list celebrating the power of kindness and cheery, almost stubborn, optimism could be complete without a bit of Mr. Rogers' particular magic. While many may prefer the saccharine taste of the documentary Won't You Be My Neighbor, Marielle Heller's masterful A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood offers a more fulfilling meal of complex cinematic flavors.
Available on Amazon Video, Google Play, iTunes, and others.
Are you ready for a Nicecore-palooza or do you prefer something less terminally cheerful to brighten your spirits?