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Best of 2010

2011-02-17T18:23:00.002-06:00

Well, we're ten days out from the Oscars, so I thought I should go ahead and do my top ten for 2010. There's still a few I would like to see (Rabbit Hole, Another Year, and Biutiful), but I know I won't get to them this month.

While there were plenty of good movies this year, overall, it felt was a little underwhelming. 2010 is not a year that we will look back to in awe that "all THOSE" movies came out in the same year (incidentally, the biggest "all those" year in my opinion is still 1989 - Driving Miss Daisy, Born of the 4th of July, Dead Poets Society, Field of Dreams, My Left Foot, Glory, When Harry Met Sally, Do the Right Thing, The Abyss, Batman... okay, I'll stop, but there are more).

First, honorable mention goes to these six movies that I really enjoyed, but ultimately didn't think belonged in the ten best of the year:

Black Swan - While I think Portman should win for best actress here and Aronofsky deserves his directing nod, the script was just too weak for me.

True Grit - Loved Jeff Bridges, loved the dialogue, but was disappointed in the last twenty minutes.

Easy A - I probably liked this one because it's not getting a lot of love. It has a great, original sense of humor to it. Stanley Tucci steals the show in his very limited screen time.

The Town - Jeremy Renner deserved his nomination. The script is good but not great. I've been an Affleck fan since Chasing Amy and really like that his career is on the way back up.

Harry Potter and the blah, blah, blah - I am a fan. This one made me wish all the books had been split into two movies. It just wasn't made as a stand-alone film.

The Kids Are All Right - ...as is this movie. I liked it, but it's overrated.

And now the countdown (drum roll optional):

10. Animal Kingdom - I really like this one because it's a thriller that's never over the top. The pace is kept slow, so instead of turning into an action/chase-scene type of thriller, it feels very realistic, which makes it that much more intense. The protagonist is a high school kid who goes to live with his grandma (Oscar nominated Jacki Weaver) and uncles after his mom dies of a heroin overdose. He's an extremely taciturn kid whose uncles rope into their world of crime. It does a great job of showing the good and the bad on both sides of the fight against crime. Fair warning - the Australian accents can get a little thick. I've talked to some people who had to turn the subtitles on.

9. Blue Valentine - Another painfully realistic movie about a marriage on the rocks. The narrative runs almost exactly like American History X with a "present" time line and a "past" time line, both moving forward and revealing vital information about the relationship. Ryan Reynolds and Michelle Williams are so good that you forget you're watching a movie and not a documentary or reality TV show (nix that - "reality" TV is never this realistic). The troubles in their marriage aren't necessarily the fault of either party. They both have their flaws but, while they love each other, that may not be enough.

8. Toy Story 3 - Crazy thought: should Toy Story be considered one of the best movie trilogies of all-time? I hadn't considered that until just now, but the answer is yes. It's filled with original, memorable characters. The sequels faithfully build upon the foundation of the first and explore new territory without just rehashing old ideas. In this final installment, the toys have to wrestle with the question of whether it's better to be kept as a cherished reminder of Andy's childhood or to be passed on to the next generation of children.

7. The Social Network - Based on the reception this film has been given so far by critics, putting it at seven feels like a slight. While I did like six other movies better this year, I want to focus on what I liked about this one instead of nit-picking about why I don't think it should win best picture (since it's looking like a down-to-the-wire race between this and King's Speech). First, any movie written by Aaron Sorkin keeps you mesmerized by the dialogue. There has been a lot of debating about how much and what parts of this movie are accurate. Sorkin and director David Fincher point out that accuracy was only a secondary concern. This is a movie about friendship, loyalty, and greed.

6. Never Let Me Go - This is probably much higher than it deserves, but I am a big fan of originality. This story took a sci-fi/action movie premise and made it a heartbreaking character drama instead. In a not-too-distant future, people are cloned for organ donation. The story focuses on three clones who grew up together at a boarding school. Again, I have to emphasize that all sci-fi elements are thrust into the background to the point that they aren't even really talked about. I don't think the word "clone" is actually even in the movie. It stars Keira Knightley, Carey Mulligan (An Education), and Social Network's Andrew Garfield. While snubbed by the Oscars, it won the Phoenix Film Critic's prize for "Overlooked Film of the Year."

5. Kick-Ass - Again, I'm a fan of originality. This movie spins the superhero genre in a wonderful new direction. If you saw the trailer, they sold this as a comedy. Don't be fooled. While there are certainly funny moments, this is an action drama. The protagonist, Dave Lizewski, asks the question, what would happen if someone REALLY tried to be a superhero. As he dons a homemade costume to find out, he immediately ends up way over his head. No punches - or stabs, slashes, or vulgarities - are pulled. This is a full-on, R-rated superhero movie, and unlike the awkwardly existential Watchmen, it works. Oh, and the real star is the show-stealing Chloe Moretz as the tween badass Hit-Girl. If actors were stock, you would be wise to invest heavily on the career of Miss Moretz.

The final four here are, I believe, a tier above the rest of this year's crop and the only movies from 2010 that I would call truly "great." They are virtually tied in my book and while I considered reshuffling them, I kept them in the order they originally fell as I watched my way through 2010.

4. The King's Speech - Just when The Social Network was starting to look like the runaway favorite for Best Picture, The King's Speech in quick succession won the top prize at both the Screen Actors and Directors Guild awards and earned the most Academy Award nominations, making it the new favorite heading into Oscar night. If it is indeed a two-horse race, I'm rooting for this one. The biggest surprise about this British royal drama to me was how funny it was. I can't of anything more positive to say other than it deserves all the accolades it's receiving.

3. 127 Hours - In the wrong hands, this could have been Open Water. But with Oscar winner Danny Boyle and, now Oscar nominated, James Franco it is one of the most compelling and gut-wrenching character dramas you will ever see. I was very nervous about seeing it as I am not a big fan of overly gratuitous violence. But as you are stuck in the canyon with Aron Ralston, and he gradually comes to a very literal life-or-death decision, the action, while extremely graphic, is anything but gratuitous. And in a for-whom-the-bell-tolls kind of way, you owe it Ralston to watch.

2. Inception - Originality, originality, originality. Just like two years ago, I find myself coming to bat (no pun intended) for Christopher Nolan after he was snubbed in the best director category at the Oscars despite having received his third DGA nomination this year. Can anyone tell me of another director who is producing original, quality, blockbuster content on the level of Christopher Nolan. (Note to those of you who just said, "James Cameron": I said original, not Dances with Wolves in space). Inception is far from perfect, but name another movie like it... ever. Also, for those who feel they know whether or not the top falls at the end, I've heard enough interviews with Nolan (and seen all his movies) to know that there is no answer. If you want your movies to be wrapped with a bow at the end, Nolan is your worst nightmare - and may be inside that nightmare stealing your secrets.

1. The Fighter - My favorite thing about The Fighter is that they made a movie filled with conflict without making anyone the bad guy. It would have been easy to make Micky's crack-addicted brother or controlling mother into the villain, but even at their lowest, you know they sincerely want what is best for Micky (Mark Wahlberg). In fact, most of the conflict revolves around the debates over what is best for Micky as he makes one last shot at becoming a champion boxer. Christian Bale is one of the bigger favorites of the night in the supporting actor category as Micky's brother Dicky. Amy Adams and Melissa Leo are also up in the supporting actress category, playing Micky's girlfriend and mother, respectively. Wahlberg was nominated four years ago himself for The Departed and doesn't disappoint here. He's just the straight man at the core of the story. Boxing movies are always about heart and drive, this one adds in a full measure of love and loyalty to boot.

The King's Speech

2010-12-29T18:14:00.002-06:00

I do believe Colin Firth has just won himself an Oscar. His biggest challengers will likely be James Franco (127 Hours) and Jesse Eisenberg (Social Network) as they were the only other two nominated for both a Golden Globe and a SAG. Eisenberg's performance is too understated to win it all and Firth will beat Franco by seniority, if nothing else.

None of this is meant to imply that Firth doesn't earn every bit of it. As King George VI, Firth plays the life-long stammerer thrust into power at the beginning of the age of radio. The British Empire fully expects to hear the voice of their monarch, especially as war looms with Germany in 1939. Beyond just the speech impediment, Bertie (as he is known to his family) fights insecurities so great that he wonders if he's fit to be king at all.

A remarkable true story especially when one considers that this nervous and reluctant king's progeny will likely reign for centuries to come.

The Fighter

2010-12-24T22:19:00.002-06:00

Whatever you do, don't try to dismiss this as just another boxing movie. In The Fighter what happens in the ring is ultimately of very little consequence. I still have a few contenders (no pun intended) to see this year, but this is the best character drama of the year. The script is great and the acting is fantastic. Every fight keeps you on the edge of your seat, both the ones in the ring and those outside it.

Christian Bale has to be the favorite for the Oscar playing Mark Wahlberg's older brother who has fallen from the local hero, who once knocked down Sugar Ray Leonard, to crack addict.

The film perfectly shows how a family can simultaneously destroy each other and love each other unconditionally.

True Grit

2010-12-23T20:23:00.003-06:00

I hate to say I was disappointed, because this was a very good movie, but it failed to excite me to the same level as its trailer did.

I had been defending the show against those calling it a remake of the Oscar-winning John Wayne film as it is merely based on the same novel. After watching it, however, it is harder to defend as it does feel like a remake. Most notably, Barry Pepper seems to be doing his best Robert Duvall impression in the same role Duvall played in the original.

None of that is technically a problem and I really did enjoy the movie. The dialogue was superb and handled brilliantly by the actors. Jeff Bridges and Hailee Steinfeld have both received SAG nominations.

The biggest problem was a narrative one that may derive from being too faithful to the book (which I have not read). Without giving anything away, the ending is extremely anticlimactic and takes an unfulfilling turn. You could argue the same thing with the Coen brothers masterpiece No Country for Old Men, but its ending fits the spirit of the movie. That isn't the case here.

I do recommend the movie, but the trailer is even better.

The Town

2010-12-23T20:13:00.002-06:00

The opening titles here tell us that in the Charlestown neighborhood of Boston, robbing banks is a family business. Ben Affleck directs and stars as one of these robbers hoping to turn his life around after meeting a beautiful bank manager.

I made a point to watch this as it has received favorable reviews and is a fringe contender this awards season. It was pretty good. The script was only slightly above average, but Affleck did a good job directing it.

The highlight was the acting, most notably Jeremy Renner, who is frightening as Affleck's violent best friend. If there's a nomination to be found here, he's it, especially on the heels of his first nomination last year for The Hurt Locker.

SAG/Golden Globe comments

2010-12-19T22:42:00.001-06:00

After a long absence, here are a few observations about the first leg of awards season.

I guess I don’t have too much to analyze about the Golden Globes. No surprises in the number of noms for the juggernaut Glee and for 30 Rock, which is possibly the most complete comedy of our time (Arrested Development is funnier, but it had such a short life! It will always feel incomplete, and that’s part of its mystique.) I know he isn’t necessarily the best actor out there this year, but think this year might be the year for Steve Carell – he’s won zero SAGs and one GG for seven seasons at the helm at The Office, and he’s on his way out after this season. I especially suspect he might get the SAG as a nod of respect from his peers (as opposed to the GG). Plus we’ve seen from Dan in Real Life, etc. that he’s a damn good actor, even though The Office has had its ups and downs. And - MILD MILD MILD SPOILER – since they brought Holly back to the show you know they’re gearing up for some major season-end Michael Scott drama. He has to have a good exit and that’s even more time for him to shine.

This might be a dumb question, but is The Big Bang Theory really that good? I just have a hard time believing that someone from either Weeds, Modern Family, Community, Chuck or HIMYM doesn’t deserve most of their nomination spots instead. Maybe I’m missing out.

One thing I particularly like about the SAGs is that they cover their bases better than lots of award shows. Awards for ensemble casts by genre and best stunt ensembles make it so they can award some really specific achievements and I suspect that comes from being some of the most familiar people with the shooting process, as opposed to a voting pool that includes say, critics. They also aren’t afraid to recognize a really great talent in a show that’s maybe not so great. I’m talking specifically about Mariska Hargitay, Law and Order SVU’s Detective Olivia Benson. I am a sucker for this show, but I think despite its tendency to rip stories from the headlines and try cheesy one-liners it does two important things: 1) it does a good job of illustrating and having frank discussions about what happens when women are raped, and 2) it shows a strong female lead dealing with it. There are a million crime shows out there but SVU is the only one that’s not afraid to approach subjects like the stigma that comes with being a rape victim and the fear and red tape that come with actually bringing a rapist to justice. Hargitay's been quoted about the amount of fan mail she gets from women who find a little bit of solace in watching her in SVU. It might not be the most cut-and-dry or direct way to do it, and I’m sure their mind isn’t wholly on the greater good, but I like that SVU is doing a little bit to raise awareness about all of that.

It makes me chuckle that Johnny Depp was nominated for The Tourist AND Alice, but I’m glad that Alice is getting a little recognition. While I hate to admit it, I am among those who think that most childhood stories and fairy tales could benefit from a Tim Burton take, and Alice certainly benefits my side of that argument. And on that note, I thought The Tourist wasn’t supposed to be *that* good?

Black Swan

2010-12-18T20:59:00.004-06:00

Nina Sayers is a technically flawless dancer, but she struggles to find the sensuality needed to play the seductive Black Swan.

Natalie Portman stars as Nina, whose obsession with perfection is quite literally driving her crazy. Portman is sure to be a front-runner for the Oscar. Parts like this are all too rare for actresses. Also stunning is Mila Kunis who has officially shed her cocoon as the annoying girlfriend on That 70s Show. She impressed me as smart and sexy in Forgetting Sarah Marshall and takes that to another degree here. Both actresses have received Golden Globe and SAG nominations.

Darren Aronofsky is his usual self as a master of heavy, visceral material.

Ultimately, however, I don’t think the script is strong enough for this to go all the way. Some moments are downright hokey. It’s almost as if they took a script that could have easily been a throw-away thriller and gave it to an Oscar-caliber production team.

Oscar Preview

2010-03-04T11:29:00.003-06:00

The Academy awards are in three days and I just wanted to give a quick rundown of who I would vote and who I think will win.

Best Picture - This is a race between The Hurt Locker and Avatar. It's the first time in a long time that there wasn't a nearly sure thing heading in to Oscar night, probably since Brokeback Mountain vs Crash. Inglourious Basterds even has an outside chance after getting the top SAG award. But the favorite here, and the one I think will win, is Hurt Locker. With the exception of the SAG to Basterds and the GG that went to Avatar, it's won every major precursor. Avatar won't be an upset by any means, however. My vote here would go to Basterds. Yes, Avatar is more revolutionary and Locker is more socially relevant, but Basterds has the best story and the best characters with Tarantino's one of a kind flair. My favorite movie this year was actually (500) Days of Summer, but it didn't make it to the dance.

Best Director - As usual, this race mirrors the best picture race. The five nominees here represent the five movies that no doubt would have been nominated in a typical Oscar year. Right or wrong, I really think the edge here goes to Locker's Kathryn Bigelow as she would become the first woman to ever win this category. If she were a man, I think Cameron would win for Avatar. I know it's sexist in a way, but the Academy is known for handing out statues that represent a larger body of work than the film for which a nominee is currently up for. I also think that extends to any tie going to the historical factor, in this case first woman director to win. Yes, Sophia Coppola lost this category just six years ago, but she wasn't in a virtual tie, she was up against the Return of the King behemoth. I again here take the third option and would vote for Tarantino. He offers one of the most unique voices in the history of Hollywood and will be rewarded for it some day.

Best Actor - Having only seen two of the five nominees here, I have to abstain. Jeff Bridges is going to win.

Best Actress - Similar dynamic as the best picture race. The match up here is Sandra Bullock vs Meryl Streep. Bullock has the edge in all the precursors, but I really think the idea of the next All-About-Steve-esque movie carrying the tag "Oscar winner Sandra Bullock" will give voters pause. I think Streep wins in a minor upset. She's the most nominated actor ever and hasn't been rewarded in 26 years. My vote goes to newcomer Gabourey Sidibe, but only after seeing how bubbly and giggly she is in real life compared to her counterpart, Precious.

Best Supporting Actor - Inglourious Basterds's Christopher Waltz will make it three villains in a row in the category following Javier Bardem and Heath Ledger. Possible upset is Christopher Plummer as the Academy does like to reward veterans here. My vote is Waltz.

Best Supporting Actress - Mo'Nique. Hands down, no contest, surest bet of the evening. Up is more likely to lose the animated film category than Mo'Nique is to lose here. And she absolutely deserves it. The most emotionally wrenching scene of this entire film year is her climatic confession in Precious.

Original Screenplay - Tough to call. The favorite here is probably Hurt Locker as the best picture winner typically adds a screenplay win. But in a tight year, enough people may choose to reward Tarantino here or even the Pixar geniuses for Up. I'm going to play it safe and say it's Hurt Locker's night all around. My vote, yet again, is to Tarantino, though I'd be seriously tempted to angrily write-in (500) Days of Summer.

Adapted Screenplay - I think Up in the Air wins here because the Academy is ready to reward Jason Reitman who is proving to be the best young filmmaker in the business. It'd probably get my vote too.

I'm going to pass on the minor categories and just see what happens Sunday, after which I think I'll rewatch (500) Days of Summer.

Top 10 Movies of 2009

2010-01-23T19:10:00.003-06:00

Oscar ballots are due today (for those who actually get to vote), so even though I haven't seen a few contenders, I figured I'd throw out my top ten of the year as if I had to submit them today.

10. District 9 - Realistic, thought-provoking alien movie. Great look into the human condition.

9. Public Enemies - Nothing we haven't seen before story-wise, but a very well done movie by Michael Mann, staring the always-great Johnny Depp.

8. Avatar - I liked it, I really did. But story and characters matter more to me than anything. So, yes, Avatar is an absolute game changer in the movie world for it's visuals, but everything else was only good, not great.

7. Precious - This is this year's tear-jerker and it deserves to win not only best supporting actress (which it is favored to) but also best lead actress.

6. Star Trek - I rewatched this on DVD and, yes, it's that good. I know it probably won't get the best picture nomination, but I'd love to see it score an adapted screenplay nomination.

5. Up in the Air - One of those movies you could watch over and over again. Jason Reitman seems to have developed a knack for that rather quickly. It's probably not ambitious enough to win best picture and it didn't pull me in enough to rank any higher on my list, but I really like it.

4. Zombieland - I'm surprised this hasn't been getting more buzz. This is a better, more original comedy than The Hangover. It's not even about the zombies. It's about unique characters, who happened to have survived a zombie apocalypse. It's a character comedy, posing as a spoof. Sorry, Shaun of the Dead, you are no longer the best zombie-comedy.

3. The Hurt Locker - In all honesty, this is probably the movie that "should" win best picture. It's gritty, compelling, and reaches a wide range of movie goers. It also has a very strong chance of providing the first best director win to a female director. Though the Golden Globes showed Avatar may be another Titanic for James Cameron.

2. Inglourious Basterds - Tarantino - genius - 'nuff said.

1. (500) Days of Summer - Like Zombieland, I can't believe this show isn't being elevated as a serious contender this awards season. Original, funny, heartfelt, superbly acted, wonderfully written, (500) Days of Summer is the best movie of 2009.

Up in the Air

2009-12-28T12:53:00.002-06:00

Jason Reitman is quickly becoming one of my favorite directors. He's made just three movies, but is now batting a thousand. Up in the Air is well written and flawlessly acted. The story is inspiring, though it is a little predictable which hurts it. I thoroughly enjoyed it, but it would not get my vote for best picture this year which I mention as it is considered one of the front-runners.

Avatar

2009-12-25T09:56:00.005-06:00

Unlike anything you've ever seen, Avatar is visually stunning from beginning to end. The story is solid, but nothing groundbreaking. My brother pointed out that it is strikingly similar to Dances with Wolves (though it's probably even more like The Last Samurai).

I watched the 3-D version, but actually think I would have preferred the 2-D version simply because the novelty of the 3-D quickly wore off and I got tired of the darned glasses.

I hate to completely dismiss it because it was really cool, but there's a reason most critics I've seen have left it out of their top ten movies of the year - it's basically like watching a 3-hour video game trailer.

Precious

2009-12-02T11:14:00.003-06:00

Give Mo'Nique the Oscar.

While Precious is not the downer it appears to be on the surface, there are some very dark elements. We follow Precious through her life where all odds are stacked against her while she dreams frivolously of beautiful things both she and you as the viewer know are never going to happen.

It's powerful stuff and realistically presented. The antagonist is her demon of a mother played by Mo'Nique. At the end (don't worry, not a spoiler) as she is explaining her life to a social worker, Mo'Nique absolutely steals the entire show and leaves you numb with horror and grief. But, again, don't worry - Precious is the light.

An Education

2009-11-28T18:52:00.003-06:00

What if someone offered you a shortcut to everything you ever wanted? What if your friends and family supported your abandonment of the original path in favor of the short cut? Could you say no?

In An Education, Jenny (Carey Mulligan) is the top student in her class with dreams of going to Oxford to study English. She adores the finer, sophisticated thing in life and has, by and large, been isolated from them. When she meets the older, worldly David, he not only offers her these things, but wins over her parents in the process.

The film is called An Education because Jenny learns a lot. She learns about life, love, people, expectations, morality, beauty, and how to put it all in perspective.

Overall, a solid, intriguing film. The script is simple yet very well constructed. The acting is understated, but sincere, giving the whole thing a realistic feel. Not a best picture contender in my opinion, but definitely one that will garner some attention.

Where the Wild Things Are

2009-10-18T17:06:00.002-06:00

This movie is great to look at, but not to watch. The Wild Things and their world are very well done and shot nicely. Unfortunately that's the extent of the positive things I can say about this movie. It's not that it's that bad, it's just not that good. The acting is adequate. The biggest problem is the script. Nothing happens. Max runs away, finds the Wild Things, hangs out with them for awhile, the end. To get away with something like this, you have to have very strong character development, so that even though the plot is secondary, the audience is still engaged. Cool scenery was not enough to hold my attention.

I was bored.

Zombieland

2009-10-17T09:54:00.002-06:00

Movies are rarely this much fun to watch. Zombieland works because it doesn't waste any time trying to explore where the zombies came from or how the main characters can save humanity or anything like that. It gathers a small band of quirky characters who have managed to survive after zombies have ravaged most of the U.S. or world. They refer to each other by city of origin/destination to keep from getting attached. The hero, Columbus, is anything but heroic and has survived through sheer boy scout like efficiency and dedication to safety. He meets the surprisingly carefree Tallahassee who is on a quest to find one last Twinkie while he can and encourages Columbus to enjoy the little things. The dialogue brings to mind Pulp Fiction as the characters chat about the mundane in the midst of this zombie apocalypse.

Zombieland is simple yet bold and provides plenty of original laughs.

Bright Star

2009-10-07T06:54:00.005-06:00

The beauty of the English language is center stage in this period romance. I've never been particularly interested in poetry, but I have to say that this film will have me searching for the works of John Keats on Amazon. Even when I didn't have time to process what was being said, the words had a melodic quality to them. I sat through the entire closing credits, which I rarely do, to listen to the poetry reading that accompanied them.

I would ultimately call this film a mood piece. There isn't really much in the way of plot - girl likes boy, boy likes girl, but boy is just a poor poet. But it works as you completely buy in to the 19th century repressed longing they feel for each other. It is remarkable how their relationship is simultaneously chaste and sensual .

Abbie Cornish shines as the titular star and may very well find herself in the Best Actress race this year.

On the whole, the movie is good, but not great. A best picture nomination would only be a gift of the expansion to ten films in that category.

District 9

2009-09-16T18:46:00.005-06:00

The most realistic alien movie ever. Period. If you're looking for mind blowing special effects, crazy plot twists, popular catch phrases, etc. then this is not your movie.

District 9 is part social commentary but never gets preachy. It's part character study, but we don't really get to know the protagonist all that well. We mostly just watch the story happen to him instead of the other way around. The movie neither asks questions nor offers answers. The entire thing is one big, "what if?"

The majority of the movie is archive footage that was shot for a documentary of sorts within the movie. The problem is that there are also times when the forth wall is thrown back up and we are seeing things no one else in the world of the movie sees and it's not always obvious who is behind the camera.

It's an enjoyable film that had lots of potential. The effects are seamlessly incorporated with the live footage. Ultimately, however, it falls a little sort in trying to find a solid identity.

Inglourious Basterds

2009-08-22T17:02:00.002-06:00

Some people make movies for a living, some people are artists. Guess which category Quentin Tarantino belongs to? Ever since Pulp Fiction emerged in 1994 writers and directors have tried to either directly imitate Tarantino or at least to find a QT inspired spark of their own. Most have failed to do so and even those who've made successful career of it (I'm looking at you, Guy Ritchie), fail to approach the master.

What's the difference? How does he do it? Most movies are about a story happening to a group of characters. In a Tarantino movie, the characters happen to the story. From Mr. Orange to Jules and Vincent to the Bride, Tarantino's protagonists control the show even when they lose control of the situation. Add the Basterds to their ranks.

One can tell Tarantino has no master but his own vision. The film is beautifully shot, conventions are thrown out the window, rules are broken, and the viewer has absolutely no idea what is going to happen down to the final minutes of the movie. If Tarantino had been born in an earlier generation, one could see him writing of once upon a midnight dreary or painting a coy smile on an Italian lady.

The Hurt Locker

2009-08-12T10:40:00.004-06:00

If actors were stock, I'd tell you to put all the money you can on Jeremy Renner. The 38-year-old has been acting steadily since the mid-90s, but his work in The Hurt Locker will make him a star between now and the Oscars, even if he's not nominated. He demonstrates that he's skilled enough to carry a movie on his shoulders. Now he may just end up being another Jason Statham, but his pay checks are on their way.

Hurt Locker holds you at the cliff's edge for its entire run time. Every moment is life or death, which is exactly the point. This is what our soldiers in combat have to deal with every day. Any plot is secondary to simply putting you into the shoes of a soldier for a couple hours. There is no political agenda here, nothing rings false. War is what it is. And, as we are told in the movie's opening, for Renner's Staff Sergeant Will James who lives for the next challenge and risk of death, war is a drug.

(500) Days of Summer

2009-08-12T10:09:00.002-06:00

500 Days of Summer takes pains to declare that it is not a love story. I disagree. Not only is it a love story, it's one of the best love stories ever put on film, which is probably why they don't think they qualify. For me it called to mind atypical (and outstanding) romances such as Chasing Amy and Closer.

This movie is boldly unconventional. It's not afraid to take risks and it succeeds on all fronts. It is funny, gripping, and unique. Joseph Gordon-Levitt controls the screen and shows that he is a talent who could one day contend for little gold statues. He'd get my vote here.

Foreign Film

2009-07-31T21:43:00.000-06:00

I've noticed that whenever I talk movies with someone who has similar taste, I eventually ask whether or not they've seen many (or any) foreign movies. Responses range from, "yeah, a few" to a slightly embarrassed, "no." So, I want to quickly address this group all at once and insist you watch more.

The biggest advantage that most foreign (and independent) movies have is that they weren't made primarily to make money. I am not a fan of art for the sake of art and that's not what I'm talking about. But there's something very refreshing about a movie that wasn't designed to cater to the least common denominator of the American public.

The first essential is Life Is Beautiful. I've never met anyone who didn't consider this one of their all-time favorites (unless they made the mistake of watching the English dubbed version). This was a best picture nominee and Robert Benigni (who wrote, directed, and starred) won the Oscar for best actor.

If you're still unsure, I suggest Jet Li's Hero. There isn't a lot of dialogue and you'll forget you're watching a foreign movie. I've used this one several times to get people to start watching foreign films.

Working at our DVD store, I usually feel obligated to inform customers when a movie they've selected is not in English. The all-to-common response is their decision to put it back and find something else. But my all-time favorite response came from Corey Richardson, who said simply, "I can read."

If you think about it, really listening to English dialogue is about on par with reading subtitles. Remember it's not their fault you don't speak their language nor should they be faulted for choosing to film in their native tongue or, as with Clint Eastwood's amazing Letters From Iwo Jima, to film in the language the actual events were spoken.

So, you have your homework assignment. Let me know if you have any questions. Also please share your favorite foreign movies on the wall of this group.

These are the foreign movies from my "list." The full list can be found under the Favorite Movies topic on the discussion board. I did just notice Hero and Letters From Iwo Jima weren't on there yet, accidental omissions.

2046 - Wong Kar Wai is a bad ass. I've yet to see his first English movie Blueberry Nights. He's made several good movies, but this is my favorite. I can't even really explain it, you just have to watch it.

Amores Perros - The writer/director tandem that has since brought us 21 Grams and Babel started with this... and it's the best of the three.

Brotherhood of the Wolf - Roger Ebert called it an "explosion at the genre factory." I'm not normally a sucker for action sequences - LotR and Dark Knight are obvious exceptions, so it this.

City of God - One of the best movies ever made. Nothing more needs to be said.

Hero - Similar to Rashomon with the multiple versions of the same story, but with cool fighting :)

Letters From Iwo Jima - Went in thinking, "oh great, another war movie." Came out thinking it was one of the best war movies ever.

Life is Beautiful - Benigni tried to make a comedy about the Holocaust... and it worked.

No Man's Land - A frightening and sometimes comedic look at the Bosnian conflict.

Rashomon - From the legendary Akira Kirosawa (if you haven't heard of him, you've got a long way to go); a story told from different perspectives with the truth left for the viewer to decide.

Red Violin - I'll go ahead and count it, since I think less than half of it is in English. The main character is the violin.

Run, Lola, Run - Lola's boyfriend calls and says he needs $100,000 marks (they're German) in an hour or he's a dead man. In a sort of Groundhog Day style, she gets three attempts.

Seven Samurai - Kirosawa again. One of, if not the first,foreign movies I ever saw. I never would have thought a 50-year-old Japanese movie could make you laugh and cry.

If you need more, let me know. Happy hunting.

Public Enemies

2009-07-03T14:15:00.004-06:00

Well, we're in the second half of the year now, so I'll start with the first film to have a legitimate shot at a best picture nomination, especially the expansion of that category to ten nominees.

Public Enemies is a very well made movie with very cool moments. I was struck by both the costumes and the cinematography which are normally things that don't catch my interest. The story itself isn't anything we haven't seen before with bank robber and gangster movies, but the script is solid and Michael Mann is at the top of his game. The acting is nothing stellar. Depp and Cotillard standout, but it will take a weak year to get them nominated. Everyone else is just kinda there. Billy Crudup, who I loved in Almost Famous, seemed out of place as J Edgar Hoover.

I will say it is my top movie of 2009 so far, but I'm looking forward to seeing the films that will no doubt knock it down.

Good show.

Best Snubbed

2009-05-19T13:21:00.000-06:00

I’m not sure if this was inspired by others following my lead to work on seeing every best picture nominee (I’ve currently seen all since 1973) or lingering frustration over The Dark Knight’s snubbing. Probably both. Either way, the following is a year-by-year examination of the best movies of the last twenty years that were not graced by the Academy with a best picture nomination. Winner and should-be winner in bold.

1989 – Glory

Nominated for five Oscars, it won three, including Best Supporting Actor – Denzel Washington. Based on the true story of an all black regiment in the Civil War. Powerful and entertaining. IMDb rating: 8.0

The nominees: Driving Miss Daisy, Born on the 4^th of July, Dead Poets Society, Field of Dreams, My Left Foot

This was an incredibly tough year and the votes were no doubt evenly spread. I’d hate to dethrone any of these nominees, however, the snubbing of Glory is a greater injustice. I really like Driving Miss Daisy, but it’s the first to go.

Also snubbed: When Harry Met Sally…, Do the Right Thing, Henry V

How it should have played out: Glory, Born on the 4^th of July, Dead Poets Society, Field of Dreams, My Left Foot

1990 – Misery

Kathy Bates won for Best Actress. A rare thing – a good horror movie. IMDb rating: 7.8

The nominees: Dances with Wolves, Awakenings, Ghost, The Godfather, Part III, Goodfellas

A much weaker year than ’89. No offense to Wolves, but you could argue that Glory would have won in this year. The nominations of Ghost and Godfather III are particularly weak. I haven’t seen Cyrano (only one I mention in this post that I haven’t seen), but it earned five nominations and, come on, Ghost is a 6.9 on IMDb.

Also snubbed: Hamlet, Cyrano de Bergerac

How it should have played out: Dances with Wolves, Awakenings, Misery, Goodfellas, Cyrano de Bergerac

1991 – Terminator 2: Judgment Day

Nominated for six Oscars and winner of four. Still considered a major milestone in film history for it’s groundbreaking special effects. Not really best picture material, but a stronger movie than all but two of that year’s nominees. IMDb rating: 8.5

The nominees: The Silence of the Lambs, Beauty and the Beast, Bugsy, JFK, The Prince of Tides

Beauty and the Beast is good, but it’s not like it stands higher above other animated musicals than does T2 among action movies. Bugsy is plain boring and forgettable. Tides is fine, but not best picture caliber.

Also snubbed: The Fisher King, Europa, Europa

How it should have played out: JFK, The Silence of the Lambs, Beauty and the Beast, Terminator 2, The Fisher King

1992 – Reservoir Dogs

Tarantino’s directorial debut. Ignored by the Academy probably for simply being too small at the time. Low budget, largely unknown cast – unforgettable action thriller. IMDb rating: 8.4

The nominees – Unforgiven, The Crying Game, A Few Good Men, Howard’s End, Scent of a Woman

Crying Game got this purely on shock value for its famous twist. Scent and Howard are good but far from great. I like Unforgiven but A Few Good Men is more memorable and entertaining.

Also snubbed: Malcolm X, Glengarry Glen Ross

How it should have played out: A Few Good Men, Unforgiven, Reservoir Dogs, Glengarry Glen Ross, Malcolm X

1993 – Tombstone

In my opinion, one of the best westerns ever made. I’m not a huge Val Kilmer fan, but he should have won best supporting actor for his job as Doc Holliday. Not only did the award go to an unchallenging role for Tommy Lee Jones in The Fugitive, but Kilmer wasn’t even nominated. IMDb rating: 7.7

The nominees – Schindler’s List, In the Name of the Father, The Fugitive, The Piano, The Remains of the Day

The year of the dramas apparently with only The Fugitive throwing in some thrills. All good shows, but nominations of any kind for the completely snubbed Tombstone and Groundhog Day would have added some life to the party.

Also snubbed: Groundhog Day, Philadelphia

How it should have played out: Schindler’s List, Tombstone, Groundhog Day, The Remains of the Day, Philadelphia

1994 – Leon (The Professional)

A great movie that seems to have fallen completely through the cracks. In an odd parallel to Les Miserables, a hit-man takes in an orphaned young girl and they each fill a role badly needed in the life of the other. Make sure to opt for the more poignant international cut (Leon) over the American cut (The Professional). The American version removes all scenes of him training her to kill and those with chaste sexual tension. Natalie Portman’s first movie. IMDb rating: 8.6

The nominees: Forrest Gump, Pulp Fiction, The Shawshank Redemption, Quiz Show, Four Weddings and a Funeral

Strongest year since 1989. Weddings is the lightest fare, but still a very good show. Pulp and Shawshank are in a virtual tie for my favorite movie of all time. Pulp gets the tie breaker on sheer originality.

Also snubbed: Clerks

How it should have played out: Pulp Fiction, The Shawshank Redemption, Quiz Show, Forrest Gump, Leon

1995 – The Usual Suspects

The movie won for script and supporting actor (Kevin Spacey) and can’t get a nomination in the best pic category. Keep in mind this is a great movie even without its famous twists. IMDb rating: 8.7

The nominees: Braveheart, Apollo 13, Babe, Il Postino, Sense and Sensibility

Okay, Babe is fine, but it’s a joke as a best pic nominee. Only Braveheart and Apollo 13 are best pic material here. Some great movies got passed over this year. Voting must have been tight – real tight allowing a greased Babe to sneak in.

Also snubbed: Dead Man Walking, Seven, Before Sunrise, Leaving Las Vegas, Mr. Holland’s Opus, Richard III, Twelve Monkeys

How it should have played out: Braveheart, Apollo 13, The Usual Suspects, Dead Man Walking, Seven

1996 – Trainspotting

A little out-there, I know, but that’s just why it deserved a shot in this race. Ewan McGregor as a heroin junkie in his native Scotland. The life-affirming rant that bookends the film with altered subtext is genius. IMDb rating: 8.2

The nominees: The English Patient, Fargo, Jerry Maguire, Secrets & Lies, Shine

A pretty soft year where something like Trainspotting could have snuck in. Secrets was just boring. I need to rewatch Fargo and my change here reflects what I feel is now pretty much the consensus more than my personal opinion.

Also snubbed: Beautiful Girls, Sling Blade, Hamlet, Primal Fear

How it should have played out: Fargo, The English Patient, Shine, Trainspotting, Jerry Maguire

1997 – Chasing Amy

Ben Affleck falls in love with a lesbian in a movie that is every bit as dramatic as it is funny. Kevin Smith’s best movie by far. An indie that did manage a Golden Globe nomination for Joey Lauren Adams. IMDb rating: 7.5

The nominees: Titanic, As Good as It Gets, Good Will Hunting, L.A. Confidential, The Full Monty

A very strong year, but sorry, Monty, you get the boot. And Titanic is good, but it’s also the most titanically overrated movie ever. Good Will Hunting is one of my all-time favorites.

Also snubbed: Boogie Nights, Donnie Brasco

How it should have played out: Good Will Hunting, L.A. Confidential, As Good as It Gets, Chasing Amy, Titanic

1998 – American History X

I find it extremely unfortunate that many racists seem drawn to this film and are oblivious to the real point it is trying to make. It’s not terribly great film making, but the acting and its message resonate. Sorry, Roberto, Mr. Norton should have won the Oscar here, but I’ll give you the best picture prize. IMDb rating: 8.6

The nominees: Shakespeare in Love, Saving Private Ryan, Elizabeth, Life is Beautiful, The Thin Red Line

The big battle here was always the showdown between Shakespeare and Private Ryan and many were insulting by Shakespeare’s win. The real injustice was that Benigni quietly created one of the best films in history. Does anyone even remember Thin Red Line?

Also snubbed: Gods and Monsters, The Truman Show

How it should have played out: Life is Beautiful, Saving Private Ryan, Shakespeare in Love, American History X, Gods and Monsters

1999 – Fight Club

Obviously not for everyone. I remember thinking the preview to this looked horrible, but it is so much more than what it seems. Great acting, great characters, interesting social commentary. IMDb rating: 8.8

The nominees: American Beauty, The Sixth Sense, The Green Mile, The Cider House Rules, The Insider

I really like all of these movies, but someone is going to have to make room for Fight Club.

Also snubbed: South Park, Boys Don’t Cry, Magnolia

How it should have played out: American Beauty, Fight Club, The Insider, The Green Mile, The Sixth Sense

2000 – Almost Famous

This omission had me livid at the time. It won the Golden Globe for best comedy (over Chocolat). Cameron Crowe wins the Oscar for best screenplay to go with its three other nominations. Based on Crowe’s actual experiences as a 15-year-old writer for Rolling Stone Magazine, the movie plays as one long love letter to music. One of my all-time favorites. IMDb rating: 8.0

The nominees: Gladiator, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Traffic, Chocolat, Erin Brokovich

Solid year. Gladiator has since grown on me, and though I did like it at first I found myself arguing against it simply because it could have been so much later. [Minor spoiler coming if you haven’t seen Gladiator]. When Maximus reveals himself in the arena to the emperor who thought he had been killed, I was thinking, “What has it been? Two weeks? Make it twenty years and then you have a story. Give me The Count of Monte Cristo for a revenge story”

Also snubbed: Requiem for a Dream, Amores Perros, Billy Elliot, Quills, The Contender

How it should have played out: Almost Famous, Gladiator, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Traffic, Requiem for a Dream

2001 – Memento

A drama/thriller about a man who can’t make new memories trying to track down his wife’s murderer. And it’s told in such a way that you find yourself struggling to keep the memory of previous scenes fresh in your mind. The breakout movie for director Christopher Nolan. A major criticism has always been supposed plot-holes, but I’ve seen this movie several times and I just don’t buy that argument. You can pick every movie apart if you are so inclined. IMDb rating: 8.6

The nominees: A Beautiful Mind, The Fellowship of the Ring, Gosford Park, In the Bedroom, Moulin Rogue

What is with the token British nominations that pop up most every year? Gosford Park, go win a BAFTA and leave the rest of us alone!

Also snubbed: Training Day, Iris, Monster’s Ball, I am Sam, Ali

How it should have played out: Fellowship of the Ring, Moulin Rouge, Memento, A Beautiful Mind, Training Day

2002 – Adaptation.

I couldn’t stop grinning for 30 minutes after seeing this movie in the theater. It is pure genius – a movie about writing the script for THIS movie. Charlie Kaufman had to be thinking his career was over when he had the guts to turn this script in. He made himself the main character of the screenplay for a book that has nothing to do with him (it’s about flowers) and the film actually contains the line, “I’ve written myself into my screenplay.” It was nominated for four Oscars and Chris Cooper won best supporting actor. IMDb rating: 7.9

The nominees – Chicago, The Two Towers, The Pianist, Gangs of New York, The Hours

Chicago pales in comparison to Moulin Rouge as a movie musical. And although The Pianist wasn’t my favorite movie this year, the fact that it won for best director, script, and actor but somehow lost to Chicago for the overall prize, blows my mind.

Also snubbed: Hero, About Schmidt, Far From Heaven, Catch Me if You Can, Frailty, Talk to Her, Road to Perdition, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Frida

How it should have played out: The Pianist, The Two Towers, Gangs of New York, Adaptation., Hero

2003 – City of God

Roger Ebert constantly complains about the Academy’s selection process for foreign films and if anything proves what a joke it is, it’s the fact that City of God managed to earn a Best Director nomination without earning a best foreign film nomination. This is an absolute classic exploring gang life in Rio de Janeiro. IMDb rating: 8.8

The nominees: The Return of the King, Master and Commander, Mystic River, Lost in Translation, Seabiscuit

All good shows but since Return of the King is the only other masterpiece here, the other four are all in the way. In America and Whale Rider are two of the most emotionally touching movies I’ve ever seen.

Also snubbed: 21 Grams, Cold Mountain, House of Sand and Fog, Monster, In America, Whale Rider

How it should have played out: The Return of the King, City of God, In America, Whale Rider, Mystic River

2004 – Kill Bill: Vol. 2

Volume 1 didn’t really do a lot for me. It seemed all style and little substance. That was until the story was completed in volume 2. Looking at the whole thing as one big movie elevates it to rival Pulp Fiction. Ignored completely by the Oscars, it did get two Golden Globe acting nominations. IMDb rating: 8.0

The nominees: Million Dollar Baby, The Aviator, Finding Neverland, Ray, Sideways

This was the year Aviator was supposed to win everything for Scorsese before Baby snuck in at the last minute to steal the show (and rightfully so). I probably should have highlighted Hotel Rwanda, but Kill Bill is the more interesting choice. Hotel Rwanda is so emotionally powerful it transcends movies and is a required life experience.

Also snubbed: Hotel Rwanda, Closer, Collateral, Kinsey, Maria Full of Grace

How it should have played out: Million Dollar Baby, Hotel Rwanda, Kill Bill: Vol. 2, The Aviator, Collateral

2005 – Brick

Had to pick this one because most of you probably haven’t seen it, or even heard of it. Style points are off the charts here, it’s film noir featuring modern high school students. I heard the screenwriter say in an interview he even chose some words just because of the way they sounded not because of the meaning. Joseph Gordon-Levitt tries to unravel the labyrinth of a local crime syndicate to figure out what happened to his ex-girlfriend. IMDb rating: 7.6

The nominees: Crash, Brokeback Mountain, Munich, Capote, Good Night, and Good Luck.

Munich is the only one here I didn’t care for. I’ll save my rant on how Speilberg is overrated for another day.

Also snubbed: Walk the Line, Cinderella Man, Match Point, A History of Violence

How it should have played out: Crash, Brokeback Mountain, Brick, Capote, Good Night, and Good Luck.

2006 – Blood Diamond

This one caught me completely off guard. I was just expecting a slightly better than average action movie and found one of the biggest snubs on this entire list. The acting is great, the action is compelling and never forced, and the ending is unforgettable. IMDb rating: 8.0

The nominees: The Departed, The Queen, Letters from Iwo Jima, Babel, Little Miss Sunshine

Babel was good but the weakest in a sort of trilogy begun with Ameros Perros and continued in 21 Grams. Departed was helped by the Aviator’s loss two years earlier. Letters is so much more than your standard war movie. Queen – see note above concerning Gosford Park.

Also snubbed: Dreamgirls, Little Children, The Last King of Scotland, Children of Men

How it should have played out: The Departed, Letters from Iwo Jima, Blood Diamond, Babel, The Last King of Scotland

2007 – Once

One of the best musicals ever and it’s not really a musical; the characters just happen to be musicians. Not only that, instead of hiring actors to play musicians, the director hired musicians to act. You may remember them from the Oscar win for best original song. I challenge you to watch this movie, find the Oscar clip on youtube of them winning, and not cry. It can’t be done. IMDb rating: 8.1

The nominees: No Country for Old Men, There Will be Blood, Juno, Michael Clayton, Atonement

Atonement can go hang out with The Queen and Gosford Park in timeout. I absolutely love Daniel Day-Lewis and he definitely deserved the Oscar here, but the movie was missing something for me. Michael Clayton surprised me in much the same fashion as Blood Diamond, but it got its nomination.

Also snubbed: Sweeney Todd, Into the Wild, 3:10 to Yuma, Charlie Wilson’s War

How it should have played out: No Country for Old Men, Juno, Michael Clayton, Once, Into the Wild

2008 – The Dark Knight

If you were around me at all during the most recent Oscar season, you’ve already heard me complain non-stop about this omission. If not, check it my comments here: http://hesaidshesaidfilm.blogspot.com/2009/01/top-movies-of-2008.html IMDb rating: 8.9

The nominees: Slumdog Millionaire, Milk, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Frost/Nixon, The Reader

The Reader is considerably better than the other British fare I complained of above, but it doesn’t belong in this race. And I still can’t forgive the last 15 minutes of Ben Button.

Also snubbed: Changeling, The Visitor, The Wrestler, Doubt

How it should have played out: The Dark Knight, Slumdog Millionaire, Milk, The Visitor, Changeling

And the winner is...

2009-02-22T23:26:00.003-06:00

Slumdog Millionaire and its impressive eight Academy Awards including, of course, Best Picture of the year.

No real surprises tonight. Slumdog won in 8 of the 10 prizes it was nominated for, losing only to itself in original song and The Dark Knight in sound editing (poetic justice?).

Sean Penn takes home his second best actor award and Kate Winslet got her first. Penelope Cruz and Heath Ledger won the supporting trophies, with Ledger's parents and sister accepting the Oscar on his behalf.

I loved watching the shots of all the actors' reactions to Heath Ledger's win. I enjoyed how Danny Boyle got more excited for the other Slumdog winners than he did for himself. Hugh Jackman did great (though am I alone in thinking everyone I've seen host recently did a good job?). And does anyone know when Sophia Loren turned into a zombie? I was worried she was going to feast on Kate's brains.

The one upset of the night was the Japanese movie Departures beating out both Waltz with Bashir and The Class in the foreign film category. I believe this category is so hard to predict because so few of them are seen until voting time. How else could a movie like Pan's Labyrinth two years ago, nominated six times over and winner of three Oscars, lose the prize for best foreign film? And a movie like City of God still flies completely under the radar.

Oscar Eve

2009-02-21T18:19:00.003-06:00

It's Oscar weekend so I'll run through real quick and say what I think (or guess) will win and also what I would vote for if I was an Academy member.

Best Picture - Slumdog Millionaire will most likely win. I loved it, but Milk would get my vote.

Best Director - Danny Boyle is the favorite here and he gets my vote too.

Best Actor - A tight race. Mickey Rourke is right there, but I saw Sean Penn edges him (though a Frank Langella win won't completely surprise me either). Penn gets my vote.

Best Actress - Kate Winslet is finally getting her Oscar due and I'll probably cry. However, for this particular race my vote swung to Angelina Jolie this week after finally watching Changeling (I still have not seen Frozen River or Rachel Getting Married).

Best Supporting Actor - Heath. Ledger.

Best Supporting Actress - "They" say Penelope Cruz is the favorite in an extremely tight race with Viola Davis her closest competitor. I'll go ahead a pick Davis to win, but her castmate Amy Adams would get my vote.

Original Screenplay - Some say Milk will win here as a consolation prize for losing Best Pic to Slumdog, but I think Wall-E takes home the prize. Wall-E gets my vote as well.

Adapted Screenplay - I still want it clarified whether this is the best job of adaptation or the best screenplay that qualifies as adapted. I think Benjamin Button wins for its total reimagining of Fitzgerald's 20 page short story unless Slumdog love extends to this category. I'd vote for Slumdog.

Cinematography - Slumdog's spectacular photography of India will win as it should, though depending on the mood I was in at the time, I might for The Dark Knight.

Animated Movie - Wall-E x 2

Special Effects - Ben Button will probably win for its aging of Brad Pitt, but I'd vote for Dark Knight out of spite here.

I'll leave the rest of the categories alone as I either haven't seen enough of them, or still am not sure what they are (sound editing?)

Changeling

2009-02-18T11:01:00.002-06:00

Changeling definitely falls into the category of "truth is stranger than fiction," because if this wasn't based on a true story, you wouldn't buy it.

A boy is returned to his mother after a five month disappearance, but his mother doesn't recognize him. Is this, as the police insist, because she is in shock and the ordeal has also had physical manifestations in the boy, or is the mother the victim of a corrupt LAPD looking only to keep its image shining brightly in the public's collective eyes?

The mother, Christine Collins, played by Oscar nominated Angelina Jolie continues to fight the police and their insistence that the case is closed. Only at the beginning of her and her son's "reunion" does she question whether she might be mistaken.

John Malkovich plays a local reverend who has made it his life's mission to challenge the LAPD and takes up Mrs. Collins's cause. I'm normally not a fan of Malkovich but he is very good here.

The film is long, but only because it continues to present you with the facts of the case as they happened nearly 80 years ago in California. It provokes anger at several injustices, sadness for a mother's loss and impotence, and hope that patience and persistence may overcome.

It also forces me to update my top 5 movies of the year:

1. The Dark Knight

2. Milk

3. Slumdog Millionaire

4. Changeling

5. The Visitor

Oldboy

2009-02-18T00:33:00.003-06:00

I have to admit, I must really be missing the boat on Oldboy, because I didn't enjoy much of anything about this movie.

I found it disconnected and violent to the point of absurdity (still wondering why we watched him pulling teeth). I got bored during the fight scenes where the main character showed off the skills he learned watching TV in captivity. The almost-ending monologue by the bad guy reminds me of how in The Incredibles and Kim Possible the villains always get caught up in a huge monologue and then the heroes take advantage of their distraction and foil the evil plot.

I was disappointed by the fact that the only real female character was completely useless. There's never really explanation for why she keeps hanging around with a violent crazy person and having no personality of her own, except "Oh, we hypnotized her, too." Her lines during sex are things like "It hurts so much, but I'll endure it for you" and "I want to make you feel good." Vomit.

I guess I'm just going to have to chalk it up to not getting some angle of this movie. Clearly, I am disagreeing with the majority. I recognize some elements that make a good story, and also some sharp technical skills. But it just felt like a hollow box.

Weeds is about as addictive as an actual drug.

2009-02-17T23:45:00.002-06:00

Four years ago, I didn't watch TV. Today, I would consider myself a devoted watcher of probably 7 shows (though one of them is sadly off the air). How did this happen?

Because of shows like Weeds, that's how. Weeds is the blackest of black comedies, a comedy about a single mom who resorts to dealing pot to pay the bills after her husband's sudden death. Her family is hilariously dysfunctional, and so are her suburban So-Cal neighborhood and neighbors.

If you are a fan of shows like Arrested Development, The Office, and awkward comedies in general, you will love this show.

Coraline

2009-02-17T23:02:00.002-06:00

Coraline is one of the scariest "kids' movies" that I've ever seen. That said, it was very cool, and hands down the best animation I have ever seen. There's not much analysis to be done - it's just a really cool movie. I can't believe Tim Burton isn't somewhere on credits.

If this movie was a month and a half earlier in its release, it would be really tough competition for WALL-E in the Best Animated Film category.

Top movies of 2008

2009-01-28T11:12:00.005-06:00

I originally intended this to be a top 10 list, but attempts at compiling such a list proved just as frustrating as trying to rank my all-time favorite movies. How does one weigh, for example, the merits of Vicky Cristina Barcelona vs Iron Man vs The Reader. All were high quality productions which I enjoyed and would gladly watch again, but by what criteria do I judge them against each other? Also, I have not seen every movie released in 2008 (nor would I want to). Not only have I missed obvious titles such as Changeling or Rachel Getting Married, but titles very few have seen like Wendy and Lucy or Waltz with Bashir.

Perhaps it is too soon to throw together a best of '08 list? But consider that not only have Academy members already voted, but votes have already been tabulated and released in the form of the Oscar nominations. (Don't think good movies fall through the cracks?)

So, here's the plan. I'll briefly mention several 2008 movies I considered (in no particular order) and close with the five movies I would have voted for had I been an Academy member.

Iron Man - Definitely a tier above your standard action movie and if it hadn't been for The Dark Knight's release just a month later, more people would be talking about it. The final confrontation was a little weak, but a solid show.

Forgetting Sarah Marshall - What can I say? This was a really funny movie with interesting characters. Not your standard throw away comedy with no story.

Doubt - Loved seeing the behind the scenes world of the priests and nuns at a Catholic school. Four Oscar nominations for acting is not a fluke.

Burn After Reading - Even the people who said they didn't really care for this movie, laugh out loud when you remind them of some of the highlights. Brad Pitt and J.K. Simmons steal the show.

Vicky Cristina Barcelona - If it weren't for that damned voice over, this might have cracked my top five.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - Enjoyed the ride, but can't forgive the weak final act.

In Bruges - Far from perfect but a lot to love here. Excited about its Oscar nom for screenplay, and happy for Colin Farrell's Golden Globe win.

The Wrestler - I watched the trailer 15 times. The movie was great, but the trailer actually moved me more. Springsteen not getting nominated for Best Original Song was one of the biggest Oscar snubs.

The Reader - I liked it, but nothing really surprised me here. It fills the roll of pretty good movie that boots better movies out of the Best Picture category (I'm talking to you Atonement and The Queen).

WALL*E - Brilliant. First 3/4 are absolutely revolutionary. Final quarter is solid, but drifts toward the more conventional. Don't be surprised to see it win for Best Original Screenplay.

I'm sure there are still others I forgot to mention, but moving on - here are my five "votes" for Best Picture of the Year:

5. Frost/Nixon - Frank Langella is amazing as Richard Nixon. This movie turned an interview with an ex-president into an epic battle for information. I could have watched these two battle it out for hours. Oscar moment - Nixon calls Frost in the middle of the night to rant about how "they" (the underprivileged), appreciate their success more and will rub it in the faces of the rich kids who stood in their way - a conversation Nixon has no memory of the next day.

4. The Visitor - If every film had the same resources to campaign during awards season, I think you would have seen in The Visitor nominated for far more than just its leading actor, Richard Jenkins. People are all too often, too selfish and too absorbed in their own lives to connect with strangers. Walter (Jenkins) takes that leap with Tarek, a Syrian living in NYC, and it changes his life. Think of this as a mellower version of American Beauty.

3. Slumdog Millionaire - This movie is an absolute blast. It is intense and dark at times, balanced by love and light. What started as the underdog movie out of India has avalanched into the absolute front runner for Best Picture. I only wish the characters had a little more polish to them. It's not my number one of the year, but there's no way to root against it.

2. Milk - The Scots had William Wallace, the Indians had Mahatma Gandhi, the gays had Harvey Milk. Seriously, this movie parallels Braveheart in more ways than you could imagine. I know we've seen movies where one man or woman battles against injustice to fight for what is right, but this is one of the best. Not only did Harvey Milk inspire thousands of oppressed people but his is a battle that is still being fought today.

1. The Dark Knight - Few question that this is the best superhero movie ever made. That in itself should make the Academy feel ashamed for leaving it out of the Best Picture race. The best fantasy movie won the top prize just five years ago (LotR - The Return of the King). They have rewarded horror (Silence of the Lambs), thriller (The Departed), western (Unforgiven), and comedy (Annie Hall), but not The Dark Knight. I read once that the Academy Awards honor those achievements that advance the art and science of film making. Yes, TDK was nominated for eight awards, but despite being THE BEST SUPERHERO MOVIE EVER MADE, it was left out of the Best Picture and Best Director races.
The Dark Knight is not only filled with memorable action sequences, it is filled with social commentary, and characters sincerely torn as to what is "right." And, of course, there's Heath Ledger's Joker who might be the best (or worst) movie villain ever (sorry, Darth Vader). But it's much more than that, Batman is the ultimate hero, willing to make the ultimate sacrifice - not dying for a cause, but living for it after all his supporters become his enemies.
I never thought about it until this moment, but the Batman that Christopher Nolan and Christian Bale have created is the Man described in Rudyard Kipling's "If" - "If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you..."

Oscar race update

2009-01-26T08:30:00.002-06:00

The Producers and Screen Actors Guilds announced their winners this weekend. Slumdog Millionaire took home the top prize for both. It will now be an upset if it doesn't take home the Oscar for best pic. The SAG award is especially telling. Doubt was nominated for four acting awards to Slumdog's one, yet Slumdog was awarded for best cast in a motion picture.

Heath Ledger is still a lock for supporting actor, but the other three categories just got more competitive than they already were. Sean Penn won the SAG after Mickey Rourke won the Golden Globes. Those two and Frank Langella are in a virtual dead heat. Meryl Streep beat out Kate Winslet and company to win for Doubt, though Winslet at the Oscars is nominated for The Reader, not Revolutionary Road as she was at the SAGs.

But by far the closest race is supporting actress. Kate Winslet matched her GG win with a SAG last night for The Reader. She won't be around come Oscar time in this category, and there's no way to know which way the voters plan to swing when they can't vote for Kate in this category.

The Wrestler

2009-01-24T17:31:00.002-06:00

The Wrestler is the fourth movie by Darren Aronofsky and there is definitely a theme that threads them all together: loneliness and isolation. Pi gives us a mathematician isolated by his own genius. Requiem for a Dream follows a group of friends whose drug problems push them deeper and deeper into the cocoons of their separate addictions. The Fountain follows Tom on three parallel journeys to find/save his soul mate with no one who can help him.

Now Mickey Rourke stars as professional wrestler Randy "The Ram" Robinson (don't dare call him by his real name, Robin Razinski). Many movies deal with a crisis of identity, with a character struggling to find where they fit in the world. The Wrestler approaches that concept from a different angle. Randy knows what he is: a wrestler. But how long will his body let him continue. He's already 20 years past his prime. In the ring he is a god, but in real life he is insecure and scared while still trying to wear the worn badge of The Ram. He is alone.

Frost/Nixon

2009-01-24T12:35:00.003-06:00

Saw Frost Nixon last night, and I'm going to have to disagree with Richie. This movie is a serious contender for the top spot this year, and here's why:

1) This is a true event. Unlike Slumdog Millionaire, The Reader and Ben Button, there's a lot less artistic license allowed. And that makes it all the more impressive when you can recreate it impressively on the big screen.

2) As the ending commentary of the movie notes, the power of the close-up is incredible. This entire movie is a close up. These guys entertained you with a movie where you learned the names of all of 8 characters, and go to know fewer than that. At least half of the framing of was just a face, and nothing else. There was more silence in the sound than any movie I think I've ever seen. And despite all of these extreme close-ups, they kept everyone's attention for over two hours!

Quite simply, this movie will give the others a run for their money because it is the year's best achievement in filmmaking. It took the least interesting situation of the five - an interview (though it was politically charged) and turned it into two hours of awesomeness.

Revolutionary Road

2009-01-23T20:13:00.003-06:00

With expectations diminished by its lower than expected Oscar nomination tally (three), I went in to Revolutionary Road hoping to enjoy it more because now it could surprise me.

This was not the case.

The acting was top notch. Kate, Leo, Oscar nominated Michael Shannon, Kathy Bates, everyone. Ultimately, the story just wasn't that interesting nor could I get emotionally invested despite the great performances.

Oscar nominations

2009-01-23T19:21:00.005-06:00

I watched the Oscar nomination announcement live Thursday morning with the anxiety of a kid hoping Santa brought him the one thing he REALLY wanted for Christmas. I don't know why I became so personally invested, but the one thing I really wanted was that best picture nomination for The Dark Knight. No offense to The Reader, but it was the lump of coal I got instead. The Dark Knight did receive eight total nominations, though I'm not sure if that makes me feel better or worse. I'll save my full Dark Knight rant when I post my favorite movies of 2008 in the next few weeks. Moving on to the other nominations...

Best picture and best director were the same five movies: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Frost/Nixon, Milk, The Reader, and Slumdog Millionaire. This is probably a 2 1/2 horse race, with Slumdog in the lead, Button within reach, and Milk trailing and hoping they both crash.

Best actor wasn't too surprising, matching the SAGs exactly: Brad Pitt (Ben Button), Sean Penn (Milk), Frank Langella (Frost/Nixon), Richard Jenkins (The Visitor), and Mickey Rourke (The Wrestler). Rourke won the Golden Globe. Penn and Langella will push him for the Oscar. Penn's win for Mystic River probably hurts his chances a bit.

Best actress played out about the same way, but with one twist: while the same five women were nominated as for the SAGs, Kate Winslet is nominated for The Reader and not Revolutionary Road. The Academy does not allow an actor to be nominated twice in the same category so the fact that she didn't vote split herself out of contention leads me to believe she would have been double nominated had it been allowed. I'm going to call her a lock for the Oscar for three reasons: Kate is really good in The Reader, there's no clear favorite everyone is talking about (like a Charlize Theron in Monster), and it's her turn, something the Academy all too often takes into account. Also nominated are Meryl Streep (Doubt), Anne Hathaway (Rachel Getting Married), Melissa Leo (Frozen River), and Angelina Jolie (Changling).

Supporting actor is close to the SAGs with Revolutionary Road's Michael Shannon subbed in for Slumdog's Dev Patel. The other four are Robert Downey Jr (Tropic Thunder), Philip Seymour Hoffman (Doubt), Josh Brolin (Milk), and, the biggest lock of the season, Heath Ledger (The Dark Knight).

Supporting actress also goes 4 for 5 with the SAGs with Taraji Henson (Ben Button), Viola Davis (Doubt), Amy Adams (Doubt), Penelope Cruz (Vicky Cristina Barcelona), and Marisa Tomei (The Wrestler) takes the spot vacated by Winslet's promotion to the lead category for The Reader. I am excited to see Amy Adams here, but I'll likely end up rooting for Tomei (watching Wrestler tomorrow). This might be the tightest race at the Oscars.

Here is the IMDb link for the complete list of nominees: http://www.imdb.com/Sections/Awards/Academy_Awards_USA/2009

Doubt

2009-01-14T10:48:00.003-06:00

Doubt opens with Father Flynn (Philip Seymour Hoffman) delivering a sermon on the bond of shared uncertainty during a public crisis, such as the aftermath of the JFK assassination, and how we should empathize with our neighbor who may be experiencing equally powerful but private feelings of doubt in his or her own life. I can't think of a more blatant way of smacking the viewer with the theme of your movie, but it actually works just fine here. After all, Father Flynn is only human and he can choose his sermon topics as he sees fit.

The thorn in Father Flynn's side is Sister Aloysius played by Meryl Streep who I normally am not a huge fan of (blasphemy, I know), but she is masterful here and much deserving of her impending Oscar nomination. Sister Aloysius believes Father Flynn is up to no good, for no other real reason than she believes it. The story is nearly that simple. The characters are very strong and the performances all top notch. My favorite though is one that will most likely be left out of the Oscar race (though she was Golden Globe nominated) and that is Amy Adams. She shows her range here, breaking from normally more flamboyant performances to play the demure Sister James who makes even other nuns seem like hedonist sinners.

Overall, the story falls just a little flat, but I enjoyed living in this world and wished I could have spent more time with the characters... even Sister Aloysius.

Golden Globes

2009-01-12T08:41:00.002-06:00

It was already inching in that direction, but last night Slumdog Millionaire pole vaulted to the top of the Oscar race, taking home four Golden Globes including best director and best dramatic picture.

Vicky Cristina Barcelona won best comedy/musical movie.

Heath Ledger won his expected award for supporting actor.

Sally Hawkins won best actress in a comedy for Happy-Go-Lucky.

Mickey Rourke beat out Sean Penn and Frank Langella for best actor in a drama.

Colin Farrell was somewhat surprising winning best actor in a comedy for In Bruges.

The highlight, for me, was Kate Winslet winning not one but two Golden Globes for best actress in a drama and best supporting actress. This will hopefully be the year she brings home her first Oscar.

Ten days until Oscar nominations...

Frost/Nixon

2009-01-10T16:19:00.002-06:00

Though I suppose it should have been obvious beforehand, I never would have guessed how apt the title of this movie was. Think Ali/Frazier or, more appropriately, Balboa/Creed, because Frost/Nixon is essentially an underdog boxing movie.

Frank Langella is captivating as Richard Nixon and will give Sean Penn and Mickey Rourke a serious run for their money in the best actor race. He is nearly as mesmerizing as the late Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight. He walks a delicate line, creating a Nixon that invokes pity without letting him off the hook for his crimes.

After his turn as Tony Blair in The Queen and now as the calmly charismatic David Frost, I'd love to see Michael Sheen take on a more emotionally challenging role to test his mettle.

I don't think this movie has enough to go all the way, but it's a good show.

Gran Torino

2009-01-10T11:25:00.002-06:00

The preview for Gran Torino didn't overly impress me. The only reason I rushed to see it opening day was its astronomical IMDb rating - 8.4 and currently #142 all-time. Turns out my instinct was right and I should have just waited for the DVD. It's a good show, but it can't even smell the ballpark of great. Eastwood growls and barks for two hours as only he can. The rest of the acting ranges from passable to laughable. The story is descent but the script is weak. I will give props to Ahney Her who plays the daughter of the family next door. It was her film debut and she gives a solid performance.

Not a bad movie, but if anything other than Clint gets nominated I'll be surprised. And I won't lose any sleep if he doesn't.

PGA

2009-01-05T18:11:00.002-06:00

Sorry, golf fans, in the movie world that's the Producer's Guild. And the PGA has me pretty excited with their nomination of The Dark Knight for best picture of the year. Its top five match exactly what Entertainment Weekly is predicting for the Oscar nominations. It is also the scenario have I have been wishfully predicting, not because I necessarily agree these are the top five films of the year, but because this is the scenario that most likely gets Dark Knight into the race.

PGA best pic noms:

The Dark Knight

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Frost/Nixon

Milk

Slumdog Millionaire

The Reader

2009-01-05T10:47:00.003-06:00

The Reader is yet another example of why I love this time of year for movies. It's not even one of my favorite movies of the year, but I got exactly what I was hoping for - a really well-made, well-acted movie.

The story is of an older Michael, played by Ralph Fiennes, telling of his affair as a young boy with an older woman, play by Kate Winslet. Morality is a central theme, but what impressed me the most was simply looking at the various stages a person's life goes through and how diverse they can be while still coming together to form the whole of that person's experience. It was also interesting to watch how the dynamic of a relationship can change with time. When he encounters her again as an old woman, his affection resembles that of a son to an aging mother.

I'm a big Kate Winslet fan and there is much speculation she could be double nominated this year at the Oscars for her supporting work in The Reader and as the female lead in Revolutionary Road. She already has five nominations to her credit at just 33-years-old and that would push her total to seven. Record holder Meryl Streep had four at 33 and now has 14 total, though she too will likely add to that this year with Doubt.

Guess he hasn't seen Mockingbird?

2009-01-05T00:33:00.003-06:00

Stanley Fish for the New York Times makes his list of the 10 Best American Movies of all Time. If you ask me, he's got a little research to do.

http://fish.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/01/04/the-10-best-american-movies/

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

2009-01-02T16:20:00.004-06:00

It's about the journey, not the destination. So the saying goes. In Ben Button this is illustrated in life affirming wonder as it hasn't been on screen since Forrest Gump and his box of chocolates fourteen years ago.

It's remarkable how viewing the world through Benjamin's eyes can hold the mirror up to our own thoughts and desires so beautifully. Perhaps it is precisely because Benjamin's life is quite literally a reflection of the normal human life. He was born an old man and ages backward, entering the summer of his life as his peers enter their fall.

The acting, special effects, and tone are all spot on and completely engrossing. The only detraction ties in with my opening. This seemed a movie without a destination and the end isn't as strong as what proceeds it. I suppose it was inevitable that it would falter a bit under its own weight. This is not, in my opinion, the best movie of the year, but it's one hell of a journey.

Contemplating the IMDB ratings thus far.

2008-12-26T23:25:00.002-06:00

So, out of the major contenders for Best Pic, this is how they stack up for IMDB voters thus far:

- Slumdog Millionaire, 8.6 with just under 8,000 votes.
- Doubt, 8.0 with about 1,000 votes
- Ben Button, 8.7 with 1,000 votes
- Milk, 8.3 with 5,500ish votes
- Revolutionary Road, 8.0 with 800 votes
- Frost/Nixon, 8.2 with 2,500 votes
- The Wrestler, 8.8 with 2,600 votes

Interesting development: Awards Circuit has now added WALL-E to its predictions for top 5 films. I really liked the film, but I can't believe that will happen. But, they had a big win with the LAFCA and, it's held on to an 8.6 for what must be six months now, with 101,000 votes and #34 on the top 250 list on IMDB.

So, things to note:

I know that Frost/Nixon has had a few sneak previews (freaking Columbia, Mo!), and I assume the same for The Wrestler.

From what I've seen, numbers tend to go up after a wide release* (and people who are less critical than those who review movies for a living or go to sneak previews start voting in force). This makes me wonder, where the heck will Ben Button end up? Will the weirdness of the story affect its reception upon wide release (which was yesterday)? What about The Wrestler? It's higher rating still doesn't have it anywhere near WALL-E on the top 250 list, so most of the regular voters haven't even voted yet (who will, I'll make a wild guess, will love it).
*Note: This does not apply to cult films.

SAG vs Golden Globes

2008-12-24T10:50:00.004-06:00

The SAG nominations came out recently and I just wanted to briefly compare them to the GG nominations and speculate on the impending Oscar noms. My thinking is that anything they agree on pretty much becomes a lock for an Oscar nom.

Best Actor: SAG - Richard Jenkins (The Visitor); GG - DiCaprio (Revolutionary Road)
That leaves Sean Penn (Milk), Mickey Rourke (The Wrestler), Brad Pitt (Ben Button), and Frank Langella (Frost/Nixon) as "locks."

Note - Even though Oscar nominations come only from members working in the field of a particular category, the Oscar noms and SAG noms don't always match up. My guess is this is due to the smaller voting pool of Academy actors.

Best Actress: SAG - Melissa Leo (Frozen River); GG - Kristen Scott Thomas (I've Loved You So Long).
"Locks": Angelina Jolie (Changling), Meryl Streep (Doubt), Anne Hathaway (Rachel Getting Married), Kate Winslet (Revolutionary Road)

Note - Obviously, the GG nominate 10 leading actors and actresses. I only looked at the dramatic performances which does leave alive someone like Sally Hawkins (Happy Go Lucky), however, she did not make the SAG five.

Supporting Actor: SAG - Josh Brolin (Milk), Dev Patel (Slumdog Millionaire); GG - Tom Cruise (Tropic Thunder), Ralph Feinnes (The Duchess)
"Locks": Heath Ledger (Dark Knight), Phillip Seymour Hoffman (Doubt), Robert Downey Jr (Tropic Thunder)

Supporting Actress: SAG - Taraji Henson (Ben Button); GG - Marissa Tomei (Wrestler)
"Locks": Amy Adams (Doubt), Viola Davis (Doubt), Kate Winslet (The Reader), Penelope Cruz (Vicky Cristina Barcelona)

SAG Best Cast: Doubt, Milk
GG Best Drama: The Reader, Revolutionary Road
"Locks" for Oscar best pic: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Frost/Nixon, Slumdog Millionaire

This puts Milk back alive in the best picture race after getting snubbed by the GG. Things are not looking good for The Dark Knight. Once again, Heath was its only nomination. I could still see it getting four to six total Oscar noms with technical awards, but it seems that's the best it can hope for.

Slumdog Millionaire is ridiculously good.

2008-12-21T19:18:00.004-06:00

As amazing as Milk was, and before that The Dark Knight, Slumdog Millionaire has officially unseated them both for the title of My Favorite Movie of 2008... for the time being, haha.

Richie has already voiced many of my thoughts. The story structure was amazing. We followed Jamal through his arrest and torture by Indian police. As he is with them, they watch his entire show on Millionaire, and for each question, he uses an anecdote (flashback) to explain how he knew the answer. It's a great story. It did lack some character development, but I still loved it.

I've never seen a movie's soundtrack contribute so much. The songs used and the original score both contributed SO much to the mood and tempo of the movie. That soundtrack will be purchased immediately. And thoroughly enjoyed.

There won't be any acting awards for this, and I'm not sure if it qualifies for the Best Original Score (but it SHOULD). Directing and cinematography would be my best bet. I'm sure there will be a Best Picture Nom, and I'd support that, but we'll have to wait and see how heavyweights like The Wrestler and Revolutionary Road compare.

Slumdog Millionaire

2008-12-21T09:08:00.003-06:00

When I first heard the title and premise of this movie I was extremely skeptical. The trailer, however, was filled will promise and the movie pretty much delivered. While I had a blast watching it, I wasn't as emotionally as involved as I would have hoped. That being said, I've found that I can't stop thinking about it. Last night as I was explaining the premise to my brother I got really excited.

The story unfolds expertly in a series of flashbacks intercut with Jamal on stage as a contestant on the Indian version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire. The concept is simple and brilliant - winning on this show is not about being a genius and knowing everything; it's about getting the right questions that YOU know. Trust me, that gives nothing away, it's merely the starting point. I think Danny Boyle's a safe bet for a directing nom, setting the tone and the pace perfectly. The story is urgent and sentimental at the same time.

However, I don't think this one can go all the way. A best picture nomination is likely, but I don't think it can win. The acting is fine, but the roles are not particularly demanding. The weakest part of the script is relatively flat characters. Jamal reminded me of Ryan Gossling in The Notebook who was defined only by his desire for "the girl" and, though sweet, was a very unemotional person. Likewise the girl, Latika, was little more than the object of Jamal's obsession. The film was so enjoyable, I would have loved to see another 45 minutes worked in to flesh out the characters. That would have been a romantic epic capable of bringing home Oscar gold.

Oh, and this show had the best closing credits ever. :)

Verdict: Great... but not the greatest.

Got Milk?

2008-12-16T01:44:00.004-06:00

Sorry, I realize how lame that was. But I still had to.

Richie and I had the distinct pleasure of seeing Milk on Saturday. I have had a feeling ever since awards predictions started appearing that Milk would be my favorite movie of the year. I'll start of this review by saying that nothing I saw Saturday disparaged that feeling in the least.

Sean Penn is triumphant as Harvey Milk, leading thousands of freedom-seeking people through the streets of San Francisco, first to a safe haven in their own neighborhood and then to be a political force to be reckoned with. He's endearing, telling his lover that a pasta dinner is the best meal he's ever had or shouting, "Hey, I like the way those jeans fit!" at a kid (Emile Hirsch) walking by his campaign table. And he is tragic, breaking your heart along with his when his lover, Scott, leaves him and again when he is killed by a political rival.

The supporting actors were eloquently cast. Emile Hirsch deserves a mention, who has shown himself to be one of the most versatile young actors around. James Franco has drawn attention (deservedly) for this role and also for his part in Pineapple Express. And, as I'm a sucker for anything out of Latin America, it was awesome to see Diego Luna in a high-profile English-language film, stealing the scenes he was in.

What makes this film even more amazing is that Van Sant makes it a complete package, with some of the most creative shots I've seen in a drama piece. Remember when M. Night Shyamalan did that shot in Signs (shut up.) where you saw the alien first in the TV reflection? Van Sant recycles and improves the effect by using it for dramatic juxtaposition. And that's just one example. The film is a technical masterpiece.

It looks like Milk could be a strong contender in several categories - hopefully Best Pic, best actor, best supporting actor (kind of a dude-heavy movie), definitely cinematography, perhaps editing or screenplay? Lots of possibilities.

Milk

2008-12-14T12:59:00.002-06:00

My awards season viewing got off to a great start yesterday with Milk. The biopic of openly gay San Francisco politician Harvey Milk is a powerful look at a prejudice that has made some progress in the 30 years since Milk's assassination, but still has a long way to go. While today's debate is over whether or not gays should be allowed to marry, in the 70's they were fighting for the right to be able to keep their jobs and not be randomly beaten by bigoted police.

What starts as Milk's simple stubbornness evolves into devout courage in fighting for his people. As he tells fellow supervisor Dan White, this is not an "issue," it is their lives they are fighting for. Sean Penn is a lock for a best actor nomination.

I like parties. Especially Hollywood awards parties.

2008-12-11T23:25:00.003-06:00

Awards season is FINALLY here. Hooray! Here are my initial reactions to this year's GG noms.

1) TOM CRUISE FOR BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR, MUSICAL/COMEDY.

2) The Batman thing.

In my humble opinion (which I will back up with data and boundless knowledge if necessary), the lack of Batman nominations for anything besides Heath Ledger is just evidence of the fact that even with Heath's awesome performance (which IS award-worthy), those in positions of award-voting authority are still biased against summer popcorn movies, even if those summer popcorn movies are completely badass and the best movie you've seen all year.

This kind of bias will probably be a barrier to Heath here and at the Oscars, but let's hope not.

3) Geez, how about those best actress categories? This will be one of the toughest years ever for the five Oscar noms.

4) I'm intrigued by the building buzz for Frost/Nixon. That'll be a damn good movie.

As for TV:

- Tina Fey is pretty much the biggest thing in comedy TV right now. I would not be surprised if 30 Rock wins best show, and Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin also bag their respective awards. 30 Rock was awesome when it began, and has only gotten better. I wish I could say the same about the Office (which I still love, but it's not the same deal).

- Mad Men is all over the place, and with good reason. If you have not started watching this show, do so immediately. I watched all but 2 episodes of season one in one sitting during a long, sleepless night in Phoenix. After about three episodes, I kept watching because I couldn't stop. Not because I couldn't sleep (though I still couldn't).

In conclusion:

This is a heck of a year for awards. There are no weak categories! Awesome.

Getting the Party Started

2008-12-11T11:07:00.004-06:00

I'm going to call today the official start of the movie awards season (and jump start of this blog) with the announcement of the Golden Globe nominations this morning. You can find the complete list of nominees at IMDb. http://www.imdb.com/features/rto/2009/globes

The most notable omissions were in the Best Motion Picture, Drama category, which lacked The Dark Knight, and, perhaps more surprising, Milk.

I like to think this is simply because these are very "American" movies that the Hollywood Foreign Press didn't fully appreciate. But that is probably just wishful thinking. It seems unlikely now that The Dark Knight will be able to go the way of Lord of the Rings by breaking out of the shackles of its own genre. My research is a bit rusty, but the only Oscar best picture nominee that comes to mind that did not also receive a GG nom is The Shawshank Redemption 14 years ago. If that trend is bucked again this year, it will more likely be Milk that sneaks in (IMO).

I'll still keep rooting for The Dark Knight and, to be fair, I have yet to see any of the GG drama nominations, though I seriously doubt two (let alone all 5) of them will impress me more than TDK. In the meantime I'm forced to rest all my TDK hopes on Mr. Ledger bringing home the posthumous Oscar gold.

On the comedy/musical side, I have seen 3 of the 5 nominees - In Bruges, Burn After Reading, and Vicky Cristina Barcelona. I have to say VCB is my favorite of these, but I still can't get over its obscenely gratuitous voice over. I sincerely hope (while equally sincerely doubting) there will be an option on the DVD to watch it sans the VO.

Not much else to say for the moment. I'm just really excited to be able to see some great movies, which, unfortunately are far too rare.

Damn it, I will get back into this; also, I watched Se7en and it was awesome.

2008-07-01T01:23:00.004-06:00

Thoughts on movies:

1) I watched Se7en. My first copy died a terrible death about 1/3 of the way through the movie. It was at that time when I realized that Se7en is possibly the worst movie to stop in the middle of, ever. When I finally finished the movie a couple of days later, I figured out the ending about the same time Morgan Freeman did. Freaking amazing.

2) Things I need to see:
WALL-E - let's face it, anything touched by the hand of Steve Jobs, even if it's from a board room, is gold. Scratch that, it's platinum.

Wanted - well, maybe.

Batman - This movie will be ridiculously amazing. Buddies have insinuated that Heath Ledger's death/drugs were because he was so messed up from getting into character to be the Joker. The director said he is "terrifying." It's going to be fantastic.

Quantum of Solace - maybe. If it doesn't fall down the same hole as every single other James Bond movie except Casino Royale.

I'm sure there are things missing from this list.

For the love of all that is holy, get off 'Speed Racer''s back. Please and thank you.

2008-05-20T00:36:00.003-06:00

I have been wanting to start writing again for oh, about the amount of time that it's been since my last blog post. And the unfounded criticisms that have made 'Speed Racer' a "eh, maybe when it comes out on DVD" movie to the general public have gotten me riled up so much that I had to post about it.

(Richie, this is not in response to the conversation that we had. Promise. I just should not read rotten tomatoes).

I saw the movie twice and was completely absorbed both times. The movie is funny, sweet and exciting. The visual effects are as good as in any movie, ever. Just different (and INNOVATIVE). And it's the best cinematography and film editing I've ever seen.

I went to Rotten Tomatoes to find out exactly what 'the experts' had complained about. Here are my responses to the first ones I found:

Diabetics need to be wary of Andy and Larry Wachowski's adaptation of the cult anime series Speed Racer. The big-screen version contains so much eye candy, you're liable to slip into a coma.
I'm sorry, is the complaint here that the visual effects were too colorful? They were very much so, but ... what did he expect?

This is not family time, it's boredom time. Whizz, whizz, whizz, yet another car zooms past and it's less exciting than building one from Meccano. Speed Racer is a snore.
Um... no. Did we not pick up on the race-fixing plotline? Speed's fight to keep racing a sport and not a business? His journey of self-discovery?

The ultimate problem is that this is a film based on a lousy cartoon from the '60s that can only be properly called a "classic" through the muddied lens of Boomer nostalgia.
Wow. Someone has a heart of stone.

At 134 minutes, Speed Racer throws so much color on the screen for so long, younger viewers (and even some not-so-young ones) will get worn out and want this ride to stop.
Wow, better make sure your kids don't see Willy Wonka, either. They might not like all the fun!

Provides all the hallucinogenic benefits of an LSD trip without any of the nasty side-effects
Still confused as to why sweet-ass special effects have to be in earth tones to be appreciated. This just isn't a valid complaint.

There's no thrill of victory and no agony of defeat here -- just more cars flying through the air...and cartwheeling before bursting into flames.
Again. Did we miss the plot?

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Seriously. What kind of complaints are these? "The special effects are too much?" What the hell did you expect from a futuristic movie about racing cars in exotic locations on impossible tracks? 'Speed Racer' made no secret about that.

The movie more than captured the spirit of the hilarious '60s cartoon. It took it to a whole new level. I think if the creators could have made it this way the first time around, they wouldn't have thought twice about it.

So, go see the movie. And remember, it's supposed to be fun.

A beef with Rotten Tomatoes

2007-10-11T18:05:00.000-06:00

Today, huge nerd that I am, I wandered on to rottentomatoes.com and browsed their list of best reviewed sci-fi films ever. Their countdowns are unfortunately structured so that the user must go through the entire list backwards, one movie at a time. The quickest way to browse the list is to go by tens towards the front. Opposite of user-friendly.

Finally I got to the top ten. Wondering why Star Wars: A New Hope was so far down on the list (#9, behind Minority Report and Children of Men), I went to read the reviews. You have to be a pretty big cynic to give Star Wars a bad review, especially when in 1977 it was the coolest thing that had ever happened in a movie theater.

What I found was terribly disappointing. The reviews cited on Rotten Tomatoes do not include any from the original release! Instead, they are all prolific comments like "Classic!" There are bad reviews that claim triteness and shallowness... all from 1997.

I find a "Top Reviewed ________" list extremely less credible when it omits any period reviews from older movies and relies solely on jaded analysis of the DVD re-releases. Thoughts?

Save the cheerleader...

2007-09-25T10:43:00.000-06:00

Despite the infamous tagline, Heroes is worth your time if you haven't already checked it out. It's hard to say anything without spoiling, so let me say this: some characters are lovable, others are scary, others can't decide which they are. I still don't know whose side some people are on.

I think I set a new record of general ridiculousness yesterday when I watched the (intense!) finale of Season One about 50 minutes before watching the premiere of Season Two live. It's going to be a complicated season, but that's part of what makes this show fun.

All I'm saying is, wtf happened to Peter?

I am officially the lamest blogger ever.

2007-09-20T22:39:00.000-06:00

HOWEVER, I'm getting back on the horse, first of all by posting an arbitrary Office picture. John Krasinski with an iPod... it doesn't get any sexier than this.

It's been a long summer, and a long first month or so of school. I'm tired of movies not being a part of my life. So, a few short points of interest:

1) This is a convenient website: http://videoeta.com/ Damn you, Simpsons Movie, for not being released sooner.

2) Important forthcoming dates: Office Season 4 starts Thursday. Heroes Season 2 starts Monday. Those actually weren't so much dates but days. Oops.

3) I recently gained one tiny, tiny, tiny granule of respect for Grey's Anatomy, and that is because they name all of the episodes after songs. The two part episode called "The End of the World" and "As We Know It" is my favorite. So, think about a grain of sugar, and you now know the exact size of my respect for that show, which is bigger than it used to be, but very small indeed.

4) Today I rented "The Tiger and the Snow", one of Roberto Benigni's latest projects, naturally starring him and his wife and directed by him, also with an appearance by Jean Reno, whom we all know is a badass. It has a 6.9 on imdb, and since it's not a cult film I tend to be a little more trusting of their rating system. So although I am excited, I'm also a shade worried.

5) I'm writing this last one to keep myself honest. I need to post about Hairspray, which was hilarious, Heroes, which kicks ass, and Arrested Development, which might be the greatest thing to ever happen to Planet Earth, and I don't mean Prince's new album.

Kubrick

2007-06-24T11:26:00.000-06:00

I've long been a fan of Kubrick and am always frustrated when Speilberg is mentioned ahead of him in terms of great directors. How many directors have the courage to take on really controversial material. Kubrick made film versions of TWO of the most controversial novels of the 20th century: Lolita and A Clockwork Orange.

His IMDb stats are stagering and unparalleled. Dismissing the handful of short films and documentaries he did prior to 1956, Kubrik directed just eleven movies over 43 years. Here they are in ascending order based on IMDb rating:

Eyes Wide Shut (1999) - 7.0
Lolita (1962) - 7.6
Barry Lyndon (1975) - 8.0
Spartacus (1960) - 8.0 #188
The Killing (1956) - 8.2 #135
Full Metal Jacket (1987) - 8.3 #94
2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) - 8.3 #78
The Shining (1980) - 8.4 #60
A Clockwork Orange (1971) - 8.4 #50
Paths of Glory (1957) - 8.5 #42
Dr. Strangelove (1964) - 8.7 #21

Blood Diamond

2007-06-19T13:10:00.000-06:00

Great, great movie. What could have easily been turned into a standard, unimportant action movie was handled with great care by Edward Zwick (Glory). The acting was spot-on. DiCaprio is like a real life Han Solo. The Oscar nominations were well deserved, in fact, there are probably a few nominees that owe Blood Diamond an apology for taking a spot it deserved in the Best Picture category (sorry, The Queen, get out).

Children of Men

2007-06-09T10:48:00.000-06:00

Dark, raw, disturbing, and visually stunning. I wouldn't have thought this would be a movie I'd regret not having seen in the theater. I don't know if this movie should be #122 on IMDb, but it certain needs to be watched by everyone as an unfortunately accurate insight into the human condition.

A pirate's life for me... maybe

2007-05-25T14:47:00.001-06:00

So, I definitely paid $25 for my ticket to Pirates III, but I guess that is to be expected in London's West End. Even the indie theater there is $20 per ticket. Also, the theater was almost empty, ergo London has officially been given the rating of "lame" as a movie town until further notice (Harry Potter).

Anyway, last night I saw At World's End in Leicester Square in a huge theater that has absolutely nothing on the Warren. It was three hours long. However, so much plot stuff was going on that it was hard to deal with the characters at all. I was happy to see a little bit more time spent with Will and Elizabeth. Elizabeth turns out to be a complete badass and that part I loved.

What I loved the most about this movie, though, was the ending. It was really sad (it could be taken as not that sad, but I thought it was pretty painful), so that was actually a nice surprise. I don't prefer movies to have sad endings, but the way they handled it in Pirates III redeemed them a little bit for Pirates II. Let's just say it took the movie down a couple of notches on the Popcorn-O-Meter, which in the dire situation of this franchise, is a good thing.

For this reason and others, At World's End also pandered a lot less to the section of its fanbase that is easily entertained. Dead Man's Chest was pretty much the Johnny Depp-being-hilarious-but-ultimately-undermining-the-franchise's-value show. This isn't the case in the latest installment. That is not to say that At World's End suffers from a lack of swashbuckling. It was much less dependent on physical comedy and re-used Disnefied jokes.

So, see it because you should finish out the series, but a la the Matrix, this trilogy might have been better off with just the initial film. No pirate movie and few of any genre will ever be as cool as POTC: The Curse of the Black Pearl.

The Namesake = amazing

2007-05-13T23:21:00.000-06:00

So, nevermind the timestamp on this entry... it's been worse. Today in a very rare occurance I had the pleasure of seeing a movie with Richie, and what a movie. Kal Penn was all grown up in The Namesake, an absolutely incredible movie. There is no short way to describe what happens in this movie. Suffice it to say that it is fabulous.

I'm still at a loss as to how to describe what happens in this movie without using way too many words. It covers an Indian couple adjusting to life in New York and then their American kids trying to balance their American culture with having an Indian family and dealing with traditions and expectations. It's a beautiful movie and I want to watch it again tomorrow. And read the book.

Spiderman 3

2007-05-07T20:57:00.000-06:00

My reaction to this movie was actually pretty neutral. I can't really think of anything negative to say against it nor did I especially enjoy it. Reading online reviews for it, I found I agreed with most of the critics - the good and the bad reviews.

If you liked the first two, you have to see this one, but let me some up with this comment: Spiderman 2 made me cry at parts, it was that good; Spiderman 3 - not even close.

Spiderman!

2007-05-06T21:21:00.000-06:00

I realize my lameness in not posting about Spiderman until now, but it's been a busy week and weekend. Good, but busy.
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Spiderman 3 was really good, but far from perfect. I loved that it was much more of a tribute to the cheesy '60s comic strip and then cartoon that it began as. A few things were rushed, but a lot of things were good. It's definitely a satisfactory ending to the series (I was deathly afraid they would mess it up). Spiderman 3 is no Spiderman or Spiderman 2, but it's immensely entertaining and I'd see it again.

I can't think of a title that accurately conveys my anger and frustration at this.

2007-05-04T11:55:00.000-06:00

This showed up in the imdb news thingy today:

The Oscar-winning Best Foreign Film is to be remade as a Hollywood movie. German espionage drama The Lives Of Others will be revamped as an English-language film with moviemakers Sydney Pollack and Anthony Minghella coming together for the project. Pollack tells trade paper Daily Variety, "We would just desperately love for that film to be something that reaches more people. We haven't gotten locked into making it yet, but we're working hard at trying to get it going." The film's writer/director Florian Henckel Von Donnersmarck claimed Oscar gold for the film in February.

NONONONONONONONONONONONONOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

The Lives of Others is amazing and fantastic just the way it is. Americanizing it will do absolutely nothing to its benefit. In fact, it will be detrimental. It will cheapen it to an unbelievable degree. That is not to say that American films are not good, but the Lives of Others is not an American film and it never will be. No one can make it one. Part of the beauty of The Lives of Others is that it is a window into a different time and a different culture. I can't imagine watching it in English.

I am having trouble finding un-profane words to describe how I feel about the absolute mockery of filmmaking that is this proposal.

And as for trying to reach more people - come on! Making a big-name, English-language version of this movie is like making a coloring book line drawing of Starry Night. The people who see the English-language version because it is in English are not going to a) go to the movie with the intent of taking away what the original filmmakers wanted or b) take that away at all, because it will be painfully absent in the dumbed-down version. Heck, maybe we can make it really fun and cast George Clooney and Angelina Jolie in the lead roles. Please, production companies, why don't you just go ahead and advertise it as a way to rip off one country's art and market it to a popcorn-film-loving audience?

What a horrible upon horrible idea. I hate big business sometimes. Now is one of those times.

Hairspray = hilarity.

2007-05-02T15:51:00.000-06:00

This movie promises to be utterly hilarious.

Yes, that is in fact John Travolta. If that doesn't abolish any doubts you may have, I don't know what will. Check out the production stills on imdb.

Children of Men

2007-04-30T07:12:00.000-06:00

So, I watched Children of Men Saturday night and even though I started it at 11 p.m. or so I was completely sucked in and amazed.

First of all, this movie has set decoration like no movie I have seen in a long time. The detail was incredible and the variety was ridiculous. Michael Caine (who was ridiculous, and I'll get to that later) had a house in the middle of nowhere that was full of knick-knacks and nature-y things, which contrasted absolutely beautifully with the drab, dirty, monochrome set that was London and the harrowing warzone/refugee camp, where the film's last 20 minutes took place. The difference between all of these gave the movie a very intense, gritty feel. A particularly stirring (read: awesome) scene that comes to mind: Clive Owen is running from gunshot cover to gunshot cover, and there are dead bodies everywhere. He eventually just dives into a pile of bodies behind a barricade. All three of the people in my room watching were startled (audibly) to find out that the bodies were actually alive (they reacted angrily to being dove into). That's how engrossed we were.

Back to Michael Caine. If the man suffers from any career pitfalls, he suffers from being typecast as Alfred Pennyworth (seriously, did anyone else come to mind when you heard they were updating the Batman franchise?). Not anymore. He was hilarious, tragic, and spot on as Jasper Palmer, the old hippie who actually told a guy with a gun in his face to pull his finger.

Also, I have to say that the production crew in this movie is incredible. During one scene in the warzone/refugee camp where Clive Owen is frantically looking for the girl and the baby, he walks through several floors and around several corners. The thing is,, this scene, which was several minutes long,, was done with a single camera - it was one long take full of explosions and gunshots and reactions, which would have required an incredible amount of strict coordination.

Children of Men was gloriously dark, and please don't think I'm crazy/emo. The mood was beautifully conveyed by every aspect of the movie. It was just really good, and very sobering.

Dial M for Murder

2007-04-22T21:42:00.000-06:00

The more Alfred Hitchcock movies I watch, the more I wonder why he is most remembered for Psycho. I'd rank it last of the ones I've seen.

Here's how engaging Dial M for Murder was: I didn't realize until I heard it mentioned in the special features that the entire film takes place within the same apartment.

Grindhouse

2007-04-16T07:21:00.000-06:00

So, Grindhouse was pretty much everything it was expected to be. Ridiculous, contentless, but pretty funny because things were out of control and it was funny to see good actors in random, goofy roles. I wasn't disappointed by this one because I wasn't expecting anything. Meh. Not worth seeing again.

All I have to say is, if I could do whatever the heck I wanted with a movie... it wouldn't be this.

The Lives of Others

2007-04-16T00:16:00.000-06:00

Today I saw two (technically three) movies, and the first of those three was The Lives Of Others. What an amazing movie. My roommate put it very well when she said that she forgot that she was reading subtitles. It's completely true. You will have no idea, watching this movie, that it's in a different language than you are used to.

The Lives of Others is about love, duty, and sympathy. It comments gracefully and empathetically on the lives of Germans living in East Berlin - Germans who wanted to believe that their system was working and also those who were ready to rebel. It dealt with how people had to sell themselves to preserve their art, and give up some dignities to preserve what they loved the most. The movie is sad at times and tense at others. It is absolutely gripping.

Supposedly Pan's Labyrinth losing the Oscar to this movie was the year's big (also, only) upset at the Academy Awards, but I beg to differ. The only reason people think that is because The Lives of Others was lesser known. The Lives of Others is on par with any and all movies in the Best Picture category of what I would consider an excellent year for movies.

Looking forward

2007-04-09T10:37:00.000-06:00

First of all, may I just say that I am about eight movies behind and one of these days when I don't have a ton of news stories in progress I WILL get completely caught up.

Secondly, I just need to say that I am really, really excited about Revolutionary Road, a movie coming out in 2008 starring... Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet!!!! This is awesome for two reasons - 1) duh, Titanic reunion. Although cheesy, this movie's impact is undeniable. 2) Look how much these two have grown since then! They have eight Oscar nominations between the two of them and six of those have come since Titanic. Sam Mendes is directing, and it's going to be good.

Run, Lola, Run

2007-04-07T19:20:00.000-06:00

I believe this is my first post of a movie I had already seen. It was also the first movie I watched using Netflix's "watch now" feature, so that was pretty cool. I rarely rewatch movies anymore, but it had probably been five years since I first saw this one.

Lola's boyfriend calls her saying he needs 100,000 marks (they're German) in 20 minutes or he's a dead man. Thanks to writer/director Tom Tykwer, she gets three, instant replay style attempts to save him. Each time through illustrates, in no subtle fashion, how large an impact minor things can have. For example, if Lola is delayed by two seconds, it can be the difference between catching up to someone or missing them entirely.

Run, Lola, Run is nearing it's 10 year anniversary, but it still pops with bold originality and earns its spot in the IMDb top 250 (currently #163 all-time).

Mysterious Skin

2007-04-05T12:41:00.000-06:00

This is a movie that completely flew under the radar. I didn't even stumble across it on IMDb or because of a Netflix recommendation. It was mentioned on Ebert & Roeper as they were discussing Joseph Gordon-Levitt possibly becoming one of our next great actors. After watching this and Brick I am inclined to agree. Gordon-Levitt has continued working steadily since 3rd Rock from the Sun but without, apparently, taking any role just to get a paycheck. He's choosing risky, challenging stuff.

Mysterious Skin is a disturbing character piece following two young men who happened to be on the same Little League team ten years earlier. One has become obsessed with UFO's, convinced he was abducted as a child, the other, Gordon-Levitt, has become a gay male prostitute. The former's search for answers leads him back to his Little League days and his old teammate. This is a spectacular movie, but is not for everyone, earning its NC-17 rating for explicit sex and pedophilic scenes.

A quick side note - as a Kansan, I was excited to learn that the novel this movie is based on was written by a 1985 Little River graduate who was born in Hutchinson. The movie is set in Hutch, with the characters taking a couple trips to Inman.

Chungking Express

2007-04-05T12:23:00.000-06:00

I first heard of Chungking Express several years ago. I think it was actually a trailer on my VHS copy of Pulp Fiction. It is a film by Wong Kar-Wai whose work I previously enjoyed with In the Mood for Love and 2046. 2046 instantly became one of my all-time favorites. It's hard to explain Kar-Wai's style, you just have to experience it. It's simultaneously realistic and surrealistic; gritty and lighthearted.

I might rank Chungking Express third of the movies of his I've seen, but he's becoming one of my favorite working directors. His next project, My Blueberry Nights, stars Jude Law, Ed Harris, Natalie Portman, Rachel Weisz, Tim Roth, David Strathairn, and Norah Jones.

It's always refreshing to realize that even though we have all the crap that Hollywood shoves in our faces, there is still a whole world of filmmakers producing quality work. If it weren't for movies like Chungking Express, something like Dukes of Hazzard 2: The Beginning might be cause for suicide.

A Quick Note on Bergman and Fellini

2007-04-01T16:04:00.000-06:00

Sweden's Ingmar Bergman (not to be confused with Casablanca's Ingrid Bergman) and Italy's Federico Fellini have one important thing in common: their films are first and foremost about people. The story takes a backseat and, in some cases, doesn't exist at all. No matter the character, they make sure you will find something about them that you identify and empathize with.

The problem is they are often more patient with their characters than I am prepared to be. I need a story to keep me going. So, as talented as these directors are, it is hit or miss as to whether I like their films. I didn't really care for Fellini's 8 1/2 or La Dolce Vita but did like La Strada. I've had better luck with Bergman. I really liked both The Seventh Seal and Wild Strawberries though I wasn't as impressed with Persona (which I just watched this morning, prompting this post). Bergman himself aptly referred to Persona as "poetry in images." That sounds wonderful enough, but you can guess where I found it lacking - in story.

If you're into movies you should definitely explore these two artists. Just have some caffeine ready.

The Up Series

2007-03-29T18:30:00.000-06:00

In 1963 a British television network did a 40 minute documentary looking at the lives of fourteen seven-year-olds. The idea was that kids that age at that time would comprise the work force of the year 2000. They called it a "glimpse into Britain's future." Director Michael Apted (Coal Miner's Daughter, Gorillas in the Mist, HBO's Rome), a young assistant on the project in 1963 has revisited these same people every seven years since, most recently in 2005 when they were all 49-years-old.

Though the subjects themselves don't seem to fully appreciate it, they are involved in something I can best describe as mesmerizing and important. It is surreal to watch their lives on fast forward. You can't help but draw parallels to your own life and reflect on where you came from and where your life is going. Roger Ebert commented that the series "isn't about their lives, it's about life."

Apted is careful not to go over the top. His questions are very simple: Are you happy? What do you hope for for your children? etc.

This is a time capsule of the contemporary human experience. Watch it.

Go see TMNT. Now.

2007-03-27T00:56:00.000-06:00

My second day of the new-movie-each-day vow resulted in me seeing the long-awaited TMNT. It's fabulousamazing.

A few things have changed. The turtles are... skinnier. Spinter's voice sucks. April has become Lara Croft instead of being a TV reporter (sad for me, who always thought it was sweet that she was a journalist). Oh yeah, and she and Casey Jones are living together - not something I expected out of the Ninja Turtles franchise.

TMNT picks up after Turtles III. Leonardo has gone on some kind of leadership enlightenment quest, and the other Turtles have faded somewhat into normal society and no longer fight crime, with the exception of Raphael. April finds Leo while she's on a treasure hunt for a statue some rich wacko will pay big bucks for, and convinces him to come back just as all hell breaks loose, and of course, the Foot reappear.

TMNT is dark and just grown up enough. It retains so much of the amazingness and hilarity that was the cartoon and live-action movies of the late 80s and early 90s (also, the movie is FULL of references to these older installments... awesome). Raphael and Leonardo remain the central characters. The struggle between the two of them is unusually developed and just really done well.

TMNT is packed with stand-alone moments of all moods and genres that are just... fantastic. The soundtrack is great, but contains no Vanilla Ice (Go ninja, go ninja, go!). I loved every second, and I am positive that anyone that grew up with the orginal cartoon/live action movies will, and everyone else will too.

Cowabunga. There, I said it.

Cars, or Disney/Pixar Again Fails to Disappoint

2007-03-27T00:43:00.000-06:00

Cars has been on my list for a while to see, and is one selection that is of very poor quality on peekvid.com. I've had it from Netflix for several weeks, and last night I finally watched it. It was about that time that I decided to make it a personal goal to watch one new movie I haven't seen each day this spring break starting with Cars. I have been slacking, big time.

I believe The Incredibles was the last Disney/Pixar movie that I saw, and it was endearing, hilarious, and everything we have come to expect from this collaborative group. I didn't expect as much from Cars, and was pleasantly surprised.

Don't get me wrong, Cars is no Incredibles, but it's very, very good. There were several times when I laughed aloud... alone in my room... and felt like a huge nerd. For example, at one point Lightning McQueen and Mater go tractor-tipping. Hilarious. The story itself was also just plain good. There were more plot threads than in many comparable movies, and each was developed just enough to let them blend effortlessly. Keep up the good work, guys at Disney and Pixar!

Pride and Prejudice - the 2005 version, a.k.a. the Keira Knightley version

2007-03-26T23:55:00.000-06:00

So, a certain huge fan of the book and Ms. Austen's literature sat me down to watch Pride and Prejudice, and I was very impressed.

This movie excels in its subtlety. All of the humor comes from subtle visual jokes or subtle insults in polite dialogue. The costumes of the Bennett family look like normal dresses, but as you see the women in different dresses of the same pattern throughout the movie, you better realize their relative poverty.

The casting was impeccable. Seriously, I think Jane Austen might have written Elizabeth Bennett with Keira Knightley in mind. Everything about the movie absolutely beautiful, especially the script, and I would also venture to say that it is one of the best literary adaptations I have seen.

Also, the almost-ending scene where the Elizabeth and Darcy are in a field at sunrise... wow. The light is amazing. To shoot this shot, the director and actors would have to have perfect timing, and shoot it in one or two takes or wait until the next day at sunrise to try again. Put that in with some incredible dialog and the guy and girl finally getting together and you have yourself a scene that's a complete package - which is what this entire movie really is.

Inherit the Wind

2007-03-26T21:49:00.000-06:00

I can't remember the last time a movie got me as fired up as this one did. It's based on the play that was based on the Scopes trial in 1925. I'm not sure how close it is to the true story, but the debate is the timeless creationism versus Darwinism. I was mad from the beginning, watching the citizens of this town marching and singing with signs saying, "Down with Darwin," "Deliver us from Evil," and the like. I took a step back and asked myself, "what about this is making me angry?" I don't have a problem with people expressing their religious beliefs and being passionate about those beliefs.

What I hate is the unwillingness to consider both sides of an argument, people who completely shut down and say, "this is the way it is and nothing else is possible." Creationists base their belief on the Bible and its infallibility as God's word... supposedly, meaning, if that were the case, I could live with it, but what occurred to me while watching the movie is that it is not the infallibility of God these people were holding sacred, but their own interpretation of God's word.

The Bible is man's interpretation of God's word. Man is fallible, so how can the interpretation be infallible? The common answer to that is that the authors of the Bible were inspired by God. Again, fair enough, but who decided that they were inspired by God? Other fallible men! The next answer is simply, "that's faith," but that's the same as saying, "I have no idea about anything, I just believe what I've been told to believe my whole life."

Wow. So this is a movie review right? Like I said, this show got me fired up. [We won't even go into the separation of church and state and how a public school could possibly ban topics simply because they conflict with fundamental religious teachings or the culture of hate, not love, that too often comes from zealots].

Anyway, watch this movie. It will get you talking and, hopefully, thinking.

Just to throw everyone for a loop - I DO believe in God and the teachings of Jesus Christ.

13 Tzameti

2007-03-25T21:27:00.000-06:00

A friend called and recommended this to me. It was actually already in my Netflix queue, so I moved it to the top and watched it the other night.

It's a French thriller with the subtlety of Hitchcock but with a more modern sense of brutality. It was very interesting yet very simple. I won't say much more as they will be remaking it with an American cast with the same writer/director. Normally, I'd frown on something like this, but with its sub-90 minute runtime, I'm really curious to see what the director can do with a bigger budget and another crack at this idea.

The Faces of Daniel Day-Lewis

2007-03-22T18:09:00.000-06:00

I just watched The Unbearable Lightness of Being and it solidified an opinion I've formed over my recent years of movie watching: Daniel Day-Lewis is the best actor ever. His body of work includes more diverse and more complete and more convincing characters than anyone else I can think of. To top it off, he has done so with only 17 movies to his credit over the last 25 years.

It's hard to explain, but Day-Lewis doesn't act - he becomes his characters. The voices and body language he uses from role to role are as distinct as the physical changes he undergoes.

I am extremely excited about his next project There Will Be Blood, an adaptation of an Upton Sinclair novel directed by Paul Thomas Anderson (Boogie Nights, Magnolia, Punch Drunk Love).

Here's a rundown of the pictures above (left to right):

Convict/IRA member/boxer,yet good guy, Danny Flynn in Jim Sheridan's The Boxer.

Fun loving Gerry Conlon caught in the wrong place at the wrong time in In the Name of the Father.

Prim, proper, and slightly annoying Cecil Vyse in A Room with a View.

The menacing, sadistic, racist, strangely honorable Bill "The Butcher" Cutting in The Gangs of New York. In my opinion the second greatest villain in film history (behind, of course, Darth Vader).

His Oscar winning role as severely disabled artist Christy Brown in My Left Foot.

A bi-sexual layabout in My Beautiful Laundrette.

Troubled father Jack Slavin in The Ballad of Jack and Rose.

Womanizing Czech surgeon Tomas in The Unbearable Lightness of Being.

... another pic from The Boxer because I messed up. So I'll mention his one scene in Gandhi as a bigoted bully who attempted to block the sidewalk.

Upstanding gentleman Newland Archer torn between two women in The Age of Innocence.

Bad-ass warrior Hawkeye in The Last of the Mohicans.

Salem resident John Proctor whose spurning of a young woman ultimately leads to a lot of accusations and some trials you may have heard of.

Pirates 3 Trailer

2007-03-20T13:44:00.000-06:00

So, there's a sweet trailer for Pirates 3: At World's End on yahoo.com. In what I must assume is an attempt to thwart YouTube users from posting it, they have generously provided a way to post it on your blog already.

A way that does not take into account the fact that not all blogs are the same layout. The embedded video file is some 600 by 500 pixels, also known as huge. I have a feeling me changing the code would not end well.

Enjoy:

http://movies.yahoo.com/feature/piratesofthecaribbeanatworldsend.html

Kundun

2007-03-17T23:08:00.000-06:00

A very straightforward biopic of the Dalai Lama directed by Martin Scorsese. Quite interesting if you don't know much about Tibet and Buddhism. I preferred Seven Years in Tibet (though it's been awhile since I've seen it). Coincidentally, both were released in 1997.

Yay for the old imdb layout

2007-03-16T15:08:00.000-06:00

In case anyone else is dissatisfied with the new reader-unfreindly layout of imdb.com where all you can see is ads, you can for a little while go to your site preferences and change them so the movie and people pages are in the old format.

Thank God.

300

2007-03-11T22:34:00.000-06:00

Expectations definitely play a role in how you view a movie. I was fortunate enough to have my outrageous expectations for 300 tempered by reactions like Rebekah's. So I got, more or less, what I was expecting: pure action. Normally, this would not be near enough for me, but it was so spectacularly beautiful that I really enjoyed it.

As fantastic as the story seems, one must remember that, more or less, it really happened. The Spartans WERE that rabid about warfare. 300 Spartans DID lead a Greek force against a 200,000 plus strong Persian force. [A contemporary newspaper article called the stand at the Alamo, a modern day Thermopylae]. Even some of the quotes in the movie are historically recorded.

So, unfortunately, there is no real depth here, but at the same time, it offers many things we have never seen before and is worth seeing because of them. This, along with its brother, Sin City, will likely become visual mile-markers in film history.

Are we kidding, imdb voters?

2007-03-10T21:50:00.000-06:00

300 currently has an 8.4 rating on imdb. Are we serious, kids?

The movie was cool, and every visual and sound aspect was amazing, but ultimately the movie is empty of everything except testosterone.

So, I enjoyed watching it, but it doesn't even come close to living up to its hype. Disappointing.

Promises

2007-03-10T20:48:00.000-06:00

This is an Oscar nominated documentary interviewing children on both sides of the Israel-Palestine conflict about what they think of each other. It's not as emotionally engaging as it could have been (perhaps that's why it didn't win the Oscar), but when two Jewish boys visit and play with their counterparts in a Palestinian refugee camp it's hard not to realize how ridiculous all this fighting is.

We in American (i.e. the general population) know far too little about the Middle East, especially considering how involved we like to get over there. It's always the black and white of terrorists bad, democracy good. Keep in mind this country was basically founded by terrorists revolting against an Imperial government. When one side is completely outmatched militarily, they will resort to other means to score "victories." Before I get ridden out of town on a rail, let me point out that I'm a pacifist. I'm just willing to look at a situation with an open mind and recognize that there are very few, if any, evil people, only evil deeds.

This movie gives important insight not just into Israel and Palestine, but also something we can try to apply to all human conflict.

Barton Fink

2007-03-09T12:49:00.000-06:00

In true Coen Brothers fashion, Barton Fink is filled with sharp, original characters and a wonderful exercise in the use of the English language. However, neither the plot nor the characters were developed enough for my taste.

Worth a look if you flip by it on TV.

Spider-Man 3 7 minute clip.

2007-03-07T15:16:00.001-06:00

Alright, forget going to YouTube. Apparently we are still with Blogger Beta...?

Check this out.

2007-03-07T13:24:00.000-06:00

If you haven't already, get yourself over to YouTube and enjoy these seven minutes of wonderfulness, also known as a huge Spiderman 3 trailer.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=su1HZS3nn1U

Danny, in case you read this blog, thanks for pointing me in that direction.

I attempted to enable our blog to post videos, but either Blogger or YouTube is being a jerk and not accepting my username and password, which is incredibly inconvenient.

The Defiant Ones

2007-03-07T10:36:00.000-06:00

Using IMDb and Netflix, I am constantly mining for potentially great movies. I struck gold with The Defiant Ones.

Two convicts, one white, one black, chained together escape when the truck escorting them runs off the road and wrecks. Self-preservation forces them to look out for the other guy.

Nominated for nine Academy Awards, this movie was ahead of its time in dealing with race relations and, to a lesser extent, the treatment of criminals. It could have easily failed or been merely average, but with Tony Curtis and Sidney Poitier as the convicts, it soars to unforgettable.

The Science of Sleep

2007-03-07T08:31:00.000-06:00

This movie is a piece of work, but very good. It's a about Stepháne, a.k.a. my love Gael García Bernal, who has issues discerning his dreams from reality, and director Michael Gondry does an incredible job implementing this with every aspect of the movie.

Most noticeably, it's in three languages. The movie goes from French to Spanish to English and back again with almost no transition. The movie also goes from dream to reality to halfway in between with little or no padding. It conveyed to the viewer exactly what kind of confusion Stepháne is feeling.

Next, and as demonstrated in the picture, are the sets. A lot of the movie takes place in a room made of what looks like egg cartons (seen above). It's a TV studio, of sorts, with two windows for Stepháne's eyes and cardboard cameras that Stepháne constantly adjusts as he tries to control things in his life. In his dreams, everything is made of arts-and-crafts supplies that Stepháne (appropriately) could have made himself. He is closest to Stephanie, his neighbor, when they are making little craft... things. I don't know what to call them. Anyway, it demonstrates how he is more able to control and shape things in his dream-like state. Maybe that's why he has trouble getting away from it.

The Science of Sleep is not plot based at all, but instead is a complex blend of character development and amazing artistic achievement with the mis-en-scene and screenplay. It is a portrait much more than it is a biography. Watch it with this in mind, and enjoy.

A Quick Note on Krzysztof Kieslowski

2007-03-05T13:01:00.000-06:00

The brilliant Polish writer and director ended his career with the spectacular Three Colors trilogy that all students of film should see (the third part earned him an Oscar nomination for best director).

He is perhaps better known, however, for The Decalogue, a Polish TV mini-series where each of the ten parts deals loosely with one of the ten commandments and each protagonist lives in the same Warsaw apartment complex.

All of that is great stuff, but I just unnecessarily watched his A Short Film About Killing which, I found while watching it, is just a slightly longer version of Part 5 of The Decalogue. It would have been as good as his other stuff... if I hadn't already seen it! (i.e. it was good, but I thought was getting new Kieslowski, not recycled Kieslowski). Only watch it if want to substitute it in place while watching The Decalogue. Or just pass all together.

The Illusionist

2007-03-05T08:36:00.000-06:00

I watched The Illusionist last night, and it was very, very cool. I really enjoyed everything about it. As seems to be a pattern with movies I have seen lately, there is no analysis to be made. It's a good story with a great ending.

(Don't read this if you haven't seen) That said, the person I was watching the movie with asked me in the middle of the movie if I liked Romeo and Juliet. I was like "huh? yes...?" (end spoilers).

That said, I also am watching The Science of Sleep. That movie is so far a piece of work, but also genius. Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday I juggle English, French, and Spanish. I didn't think I would be doing that in a movie. It's frying my brain a little.

Stranger than Fiction.

2007-03-04T18:08:00.000-06:00

Good show. It barely qualifies as a comedy. I would call it an amusing drama, similar in tone to something like In Good Company.

I really enjoyed the movie while I watching it but, unfortunately, it felt almost pointless in the end. The book being written (as overheard in Emma Thompson's voice over) sounds far more interesting than what we are being shown.

I liked it, soon forgot it, but would definitely watch it again.

The Ghost and Mrs. Muir

2007-03-02T12:30:00.000-06:00

I really liked this movie. For whatever reason, some older movies don't stand up well against time while others do. This is a perfectly timeless movie.

The widowed Mrs. Muir moves to a seaside house still occupied by the ghost of its former master. Their relationship is captivating. This a fairly straightforward movie, but I was completely engrossed by it. A must see.

White Heat

2007-03-02T12:26:00.000-06:00

James Cagney as momma's boy gangster Cody Jarrett. While it feels a bit outdated and mechanical, it is still a very well crafted crime movie and worth watching if you stumble across it.

The Oscars!

2007-03-01T17:54:00.000-06:00

Well, since Richie used a picture of Marty in his Oscar post, there was really only one thing left for me to do. It's amazing how hard it is a) to find any pictures of Gael at the Oscars b) that I can save. This is pretty much the best there is. Thank goodness for fansites.

The Oscars this year were, I thought one of the best Oscar shows that I've ever seen. The last four awards were a little bit boring because there were no surprises, but really most of it was pretty good. Ellen was a good host and I enjoyed watching her harass Eastwood and Spielberg. Also, the presenters were well-chosen. Tobey and Kirsten with the Spiderman intro. Gael García Bernal. Abigail Breslin and Jaden Smith. Gael García Bernal... yeah. Let's just say that I've got The Science of Sleep sitting on my TV stand (which, actually, is two filing cabinet-like pieces of dorm furniture pushed together) and I'm pretty excited.

Oh -- I almost forgot to mention! Where were Brad and Angelina?!?

Just kidding.

The Big Sleep... also unfortunately belated

2007-02-28T18:12:00.000-06:00

The Big Sleep is film noir and what is known as "classic cinema" at the very top of its game. Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall (who, I contend, has to be a tenor) star. Bogey is a private detective and has that exact same office setup you've seen copied in parodies and cartoons of film noir stuff. Bacall is the rich old guy's rebellious and slightly shady daughter. It's great.

On top of being one of the movies that everyone copies, The Big Sleep is also one that is just very good. It's funny a lot, heartbreaking at times, and full of savory mysteries and intrigue. There's no analysis to be made. Every frame of it just makes you happy because you know that amidst grotesque wastes of time and energy like Norbit and Epic Movie, sometimes, sometimes people make incredible movies.

A Very Belated 21 Grams

2007-02-28T17:37:00.000-06:00

You know how you can watch a Tarantino movie and without being told know who the director was after five minutes (tops)? It's the same way with this director - the amazing and wonderful Alejandro Gonzáles Iñárritu. He loves to mess with time and sequencing, which makes for a great movie-watching experience piecing together an entire story.

This year's Babel, which was unfortunately disappointed several times at the Oscars on Sunday, is his third such piece, and it's amazing. Amores Perros (2000), one of my favorite movies, is also his. On a side note, Babel and AP both feature the most gorgeous man of all time, Gael García Bernal. Between the two films was 21 Grams (2003, for those keeping track), undoubtedly the most shocking (in terms of subject matter) of the trilogy. It is also the one that most mixes up the sequencing.

Out of the three characters' stories, Benicio del Toro's was, I thought, the best, partially because it was the most unpredictable. This opinion also might have been affected by the fact that there were more people involved in his story and therefore more characters to develop. It also was interesting to see what has to be the inspiration for a Spielberg scene in Munich. Towards the end of the movie Eric Bana's character has painful flashbacks about the terrorism while he's going at it with his wife. Benicio del Toro's character does the same thing, but two or three years earlier and done better, if you ask me.

Amores Perros is still my favorite Iñárritu film, but I'm definitely a fan of 21 Grams. It's emotional and riveting, with lots of character development. Also known as a recipe for a Rebekah movie.