"He has something up his sleeve."

Based off the short story Billy Budd, Sailor by Herman Melville, Beau Travail follows a french Foreign Legion chief stationed in Djibouti grows increasingly jealous and suspicious of his new recruit, trying to do everything in his power to stop him from becoming their commanding officer's new favorite. 

This is not a war film in the sense of combat and explosions and gunfire, but rather a more private showdown between the newcomer (Gregoire Colin) and the chief (Denis Lavant). Instead of fighting, this movie leads the audience through tough exercises and endurance tests which are stylized and choreographed almost like dances. The desert landscape and bare-bones architecture of the location add to the mise-en-scene, creating a rich and hauntingly beautiful atmosphere that sucks you in and keeps you captivated. It is often credited as director Claire Denis's magnum opus, and it isn't hard to see why. It now has a passionate following in the film community and is a must-see for any serious film fan, making it a modern cult classic. 

"Terminate with extreme prejudice." 

Apocalypse Now can only accurately be described as a fever dream. A surrealist dark comedy war epic. When have you ever heard that combination before?  This film is captivating. It follows our protagonist Benjamin Willard (Martin Sheen) through the hellscape of the Vietnam war on his mission to take out a rogue Captain who has escaped to Cambodia and become some sort of deity to a group of locals (Marlon Brando).  As we follow Willard and his motley crew of young soldiers, including Laurence Fishburne in his first ever role, we witness their slow descent into madness as they get closer and closer to their destination. 

A slow as molasses meandering towards danger and its effect on those involved in the mission make for a truly unique and addictive story that may even rub off on you. An unsettling score, breathtaking cinematography, and creepy performances make this "art film on a blockbuster budget" a cult classic worth watching.