How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies is a Thai drama (selected to represent the country at the Oscars) that addresses deep ideological, moral, and economic differences between generations of the same family. The story follows a lazy, unemployed young man who has a complicated relationship with his family. Prompted by a cousin who received an inheritance from a relative she cared for in his last days, he decides to care for his grandmother when she is diagnosed with terminal cancer, hoping to receive something in return when she dies. However, as they spend time together, they begin to understand each other, and he is forced to reconsider his beliefs. It is a beautiful film, perhaps overly melodramatic due to its use of music, but it provides important explorations of generational gaps and reflections on the abandonment of the elderly.
Thelma could very well be the best action comedy of the year, which might sound like a stunning claim considering it stars nonagenarian June Squibb (Oscar-nominated for Nebraska). Written and directed by actor Josh Margolin in his directorial debut, inspired by his own grandmother, the film follows the titular protagonist who, after falling victim to a phone scam, is determined to recover her money to reaffirm her independence as someone who doesn’t need to go to a nursing home. The film uses irony to depict mundane situations as life-and-death in a spy story. Because in a way, they are: the director dignifies his elderly protagonists and, with a clever nod to Tom Cruise, even invites us to reflect on the stories we consider 'interesting' in cinema. Thelma makes one think that, in reality, authentic stories are the best to enjoy in film (and it easily becomes one of the best movies of 2024).
