Director: Robert Altman Starring: Donald Sutherland, Elliott Gould, Tom Skerritt
I've never watched much of the MASH TV show, but I like what I have seen. This movie was very different and very hit or miss, though probably more on the hit side.
I have only seen one Robert Altman movie (Nashville) and I liked it. This movie was a "comedy", but wasn't consistently funny. The anti-war message was not a strong as I was expecting, though there was a lot of gore for a comedy. The scenes where they were performing surgery were brutal, yet often contained very funny moments.
This movie was episodic. It was made up of 5 or so arcs of story that were self contained. This made for an uneven watch. Some were hilarious throughout, while others really fell flat (especially the random football movie thrown in at the end).
The thing that made me like this movie was the performances of Gould and Sutherland. These guys pulled of their roles perfectly.
Overall, an ok comedy that I wouldn't call a classic.
Lola Rennt (Run Lola Run) Director: Tom Tykwer Starring: Franka Potente, Moritz Bleibtreu
My heart is still pumping from this movie. Wow. I'd heard about this movie a few years ago and had been meaning to check it out. Glad I did.
Lola has 20 minutes to attain 100,000 marks and make it to her boyfriend Manni before he is killed by a mobster. The film is broken into 3 segments of 20 minutes of real time. This is a sort of Rashomon/Groundhog Day deal, where we get the same general story over and over again. Each take alters only the smallest details, changing the action by mere seconds, but with huge consequences.
The movie is made up of almost entirely short, 2-3 second cuts. This, coupled with the non stop techno music, makes for a very exciting ride. The whole visual style of this movie is an adrenalene rush and a whole lot of fun. I think the Wachowskis stole some of this film's style when they made the Matrix a year later.
Overall, this movie was unique, fun, and well made.
Up Director: Pete Docter, Bob Peterson Starring: Edward Asner, Christopher Plummer, Jordan Nagai
Pixar amazes me. They have consistently made the most imaginative movies of the past 10 years. Ever movie is a masterpiece (though I've never seen Cars).
My favorite Pixar movie is the Incredibles, mostly because it brought me back to my childhood Saturday morning cartoons. Pixar manages to do things like that for me. It reminds me of all the great adventures I loved as a kid. This movie was all about that sense of adventure.
The movie tells the story of an elderly man named Carl (can anyone tell me another kids movie with an elderly protagonist?). Carl is on his childhood quest to go to South America to see Paradise Falls. I won't bother with a big plot summary, but it all includes fighting his boyhood hero, meeting a talking dog, dealing with an annoying kid, and lifting his house into the air with helium balloons.
This was probably the most emotionally heavy movie Pixar has made. The first twenty minutes of the film were my favorite. They told the story of Carl's young life with his wife Ellie. These scenes of their relationship are so beautifully crafted. The end of this sequence is heartwrenching, really giving us a great insight into our hero Carl.
The movie's visual style was amazing (another Pixar triumph). Everytime we got a shot of the magnificent hosue soaring through the air with multicolored balloons, I was in awe.
I love animation, but am usually annoyed with computer animated movies. Though I still miss hand drawn and stop motion animation, I will continue to love Pixar. Thanks for giving me back my childlike wonder. Keep up the good work.
Raging Bull Director: Martin Scorsese Starring: Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, Cathy Moriarty
This is a classic film and I am very glad that I finally saw it. I never want to see it again.
It was too harsh, too depressing to be a favorite of mine. This was a hard movie to stomach, but at least the brutality was absolutely beautiful to watch.
This was the story of the rise and fall of Jake LaMotta, a middle-weight boxing champion. Something about boxing fascinates me. It seems like this should not be a sport anymore, but there is something so human about it. Guys have been beating the crap out of each other for sport since the beginning of time. There is something deeply rooted in our history and psyche that makes watching the sport captivating, yet disgusting at the same time. Fighting is such a horrible reality in our world that the idea of people doing it for sport is so intriguing. Also, it looks really cool on film.
There is nothing happy about this movie. Jake destroys his own life and it is really difficult to feel sorry for him. Maybe that was why this movie made me feel so uneasy. The way he treats everyone around him (especially his wife) makes me think that this guy deserves everything he gets. It's hard to watch a movie where you don't like the protagonist at all (something I've talked about before).
The thing that made me really enjoy watching this movie was the cinematography. The acting was remarkable (especially De Niro's transformation into a fat slob), but the way this flick was shot is eye candy. This is one of the most beautiful films I've ever seen. The black and white makes everything so real and gritty, yet with a classic feel. Scorsese's direction of the boxing matches was a piece of art. From the breathtaking opening credits to the touching final monologue, this movie was masterfully crafted.
But I never want to watch it again (at least in its entirety).
Double Indemnity Director: Billy Wilder Starring: Fred MacMurray, Barbara Stanwyck, Edward G. Robinson
I really like film noir. The Maltese Falcon is one of the best movies I've ever seen. I love hard boiled detective stories with dangerous dames, double crossing, and a large body count. This was one of the formative films for the genre and it was perfect.
The plot of this film deals with an insurance salesman's attempt at a "perfect murder" (reminded me of Crimes and Misdemeanors from last week). He goes in with a man's wife on an attempt to collect life insurance money from his murder. This sort of plot is been used again and again in films today. It was carried out in this classic with outstanding performances from the three main actors.
Some of the noir characteristics that I loved in this film: 1. Main character voice over narration that gives the whole picture a great literary feel. (in this movie, this takes the form of his recorded confession to the crime) 2. Quick, snappy dialogue that is full of fun jargon and great one liners 3. A saucy dame that is both beautiful and dangerous 4. Great use of music, shadows, and camera angles to build suspense and set the atmosphere 5. A heartbreaking end in the main character's relationship to the femme fatale 6. A "parlor room" scene in which the main character reveals his plot with a monologue
This film was so exciting and well executed. Can't wait to further my noir repertoire.
Before Sunset Director: Richard Linklater Starring: Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy
If I was in charge of the film business, this movie would have never been made. Thank God I'm not in charge of the film business.
I only lasted about a week after seeing Before Sunrise (one of the best of this project so far). This film takes Jesse and Celine 9 years after their amazing night together in Vienna. The last movie was open ended, but it needed to be that way. It was so romantic and perfect that to know how things turned out would most likely be disastrous. Linklater, Hawke, and Delpy managed to make a sequel that is just as real and emotional as the first.
Our two characters are very different now, but they start conversing again and fall right into their old ways. You can tell how much that night meant to both of them. Their facial expressions, stories, and body language tell so much about the personal lives they're trying to hide. Watching them slowly reveal the importance of that one night is done with great attention to detail. It was enthralling. They way that they have dealt with their feelings over the past 9 years are SO different, yet both are very understandable.
The movie was mostly made up of six minute (or so) unedited shots of dialogue. This may sound boring, but I couldn't look away. I feel for these characters. I feel the insane regret. Also, the film takes place in real time. This is an hour of their life and they are trying to cram 9 years of lost time into this afternoon. You can feel them grasping onto their few remaining minutes together (I was doing the same).
The ending will split people's opinion on this movie. Kaylen usually doesn't like open ended movies, but she was somewhat satisfied. The ending managed to escape the two likely extremes. It was not unrealistically romantic and idealistic. It was not horribly real and depressing. It was...well, you should really just watch it.
Lesson learned: You can't escape the past, so don't try.
Les parapluies de Cherbourg [The Umbrellas of Cherbourg] Director: Jacques Demy Starring: Catherine Deneuve, Nino Castelnuovo, Anne Vernon
First foreign language and musical film of the project (a double whammy!).
This was unlike any music I have ever seen. First of all, it was the first musical I've ever seen that is not in English. Second, all of the dialogue was sung, it was non stop music. Third, it was very realistic.
I'm not saying all musicals are uppers (West Side Story?), but this one was special. It was the three act story of a boy and girl who fall in love, but the boy is drafted into the army. This sounds like your typical Rogers and Hammerstein plot, but it did not unfold in any typical way. This move was so bittersweet and real. This is what a Wes Anderson musical would be like. The characters were complex, melodramatic, and relatable. The film ends with an incredible moment that is horribly heartbreaking, yet comfortably honest at the same time.
This film was, of course, Kaylen's choice. it was right up her alley. The set design, costumes, and entire color scheme were like something made specifically for her. From a technical standpoint, the movie kept my interest. Interesting shots and camera movement gave the film a sophisticated feel (or maybe it was all the French that did that). The opening credits were beautiful and immediately grabbed my attention and didn't let go until the end of the film.
Overall, this is one of the best musicals I have ever seen. I highly recommend it.
Lesson learned: Things don't always turn out how we want them to, but that's not necessarily bad.
PS- Some of the film's sad music was used for the most heartbreaking sequence ever in a cartoon, the ending bit from Futurama's "Jurassic Bark".
The General Director: Clyde Bruckman, Buster Keaton Starring: Buster Keaton, Marion Mack
I enjoy silent movies, but am mostly uneducated about them. I really enjoy Chaplin's comedy, but have only seen clips of his movies. Silent horror movies are great, too. This, however, was my first exposure to Buster Keaton.
This movie was about a Southern train conductor during the Civil War who goes on an adventure to save his two loves: his lady and his locomotive. The film is bookended by two long train chases, one with Keaton chasing and one with him as the chasee.
Keaton is a strange sort of comic. He remains straight faced the whole time, relying on whole body slapstick instead of facial gags. The movie wasn't really full of laugh out loud hilarity or anything. The strength of the film came from its amazingly choreographed physical action. The use of real trains made for exciting action for almost the entire film (which got a little tedious and exhausting a few times). Keaton was incredible, jumping all over the trains, performing some of the coolest stunts I've ever seen.
This film's production showed great timing and planning. If this movie would have been made today, it would have been full of uninteresting special effects. The fact that an adventure on this scale was made in 1927 makes it impressive. They actually crash a train through a bridge and into a river! My jaw literally dropped. Apparently this was the most expensive scene of the silent movie era and the train remained in the river until WWII, when it was salvaged for scrap metal!
Overall, I look forward to expanding my silent movie knowledge. Though Keaton's understated brand of comedy wasn't as immediately charming as something like Charlie Chaplin, I assume it is an acquired taste that I will enjoy even more the next time through.
Lesson learned: Ladies love a man in uniform.
PS- The version I watched was scored by the Alloy Orchestra, who I've seen do a live performance set to Lon Chaney's Phantom of the Opera!
Happy-Go-Lucky Director: Mike Leigh Starring: Sally Hawkins, Eddie Marsan
This movie continues my quest to see last year's big award winners (Hawkins won a Golden Globe and was nominated for an Oscar). It turns out, though, that this quaint little British movie wasn't really my bag.
The movie follows the unrealistically optimistic Poppy who is learning to drive for the first time. The film focuses on her evolving relationship with her curmudgeon of a driving instructor, Scott. These are two polar opposites.
It's hard not to be annoyed with Poppy. Her mannerisms, attitude, and language all got on my nerves. I assume this is to be expected, but that initial annoyance never faded for me (maybe because I was very tired while watching it). Nothing really happens in this movie. The plot didn't hold my interest. I've found that it's very difficult to enjoy a "slice of life" movie when you don't care much for the main character.
I probably should have tried watching this another time. I was really exhausted and trying not to nod off during this one. I thought parts of the movie were heartwarming, but I just was not in the mood. Oh well.
Well, this may be my worst review yet. Sorry. I promise to not do this when I'm falling asleep anymore. You'll have to make your own opinion about this movie.
Lesson learned: Maybe sometimes the glass really is half empty.
The Jerk Director: Carl Reiner Starring: Steve Martin, Bernadette Peters
I've been meaning to see this movie for a long time. It did not disappoint.
This story of a poor black child's journey from rags to riches to rags again was HILARIOUS. I've always been a Steve Martin fan (even though his recent output of movies is disappointing...Pink Panther 2???). He is great in this movie as to super naive idiot Navin Johnson.
The comedy in this movie worked for me. They took you along and, just when you thought you know what someone would do, they go on and do the complete opposite. The dialogue was silly, the slapstick was outrageous (HE HATES THESE CANS!).
I can see why this comedy has its classic status. Cat juggling, weight guessing, phone book fame... Bravo, Mr. Martin.
Bonus- the movie features Steve Martin playing a song on the ukulele!
Lesson learned: Lord loves a workin' man; don't trust whitey; see a doctor and get rid of it.
Time Bandits Director: Terry Gilliam Starring: John Cleese, Sean Connery, Ian Holm
This movie was right up my alley for several reasons.
First, I am a huge Monty Python fan. I've seen all their movies and own the entire Flying Circus on DVD. This film featured performances from Palin and Cleese (my two favorite members of the crew) and was directed by Terry Gilliam. I'd call myself a mild Gilliam fan, though I still need to see more of his stuff (Brazil, Fear and Loathing, and Fischer King are on my list for the summer).
Second, this was a classic fantasy film. It was very similar in atmosphere to Labyrinth, Willow, Legend, Dark Crystal, etc. These movies have a special place in my heart and are exactly the kind of movie I loved as a kid.
Third, its dwarfish theives travel through time, meeting some great figures of history (Robin Hood, Agamemnon, Napoleon). As I've stated before, I'm a history nerd.
So, this movie was a perfect combination of Pythonesque humor and high fantasy. Cleese's outrageous performance as Robin Hood was probably my favorite bit of the movie. The boyhood wonder that fantasy listerature and film have given me in my life can be seen in our child protagonist. This movie was just plain fun (much like Princess Bride or Stardust). Gilliam's vision for the surreal is definitely present in this movie. It was just beautiful to watch, amazing production.
I'm glad Lord of the Rings came along to revive fantasy cinema. Maybe we'll get more fun flicks like this. Gilliam's next film looks to be more of the same whimsical imagination. I'm ready.
Lesson learned: God is relly kind of silly in person.
Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story Director: Jake Kasdan Starring: John C Reilly, Jenna Fischer, Tim Meadows
I am a fan of the Apatow house of comedy. I think that films like Knocked Up, 40 Year Old Virgin, and Adventureland are well written and feature a fantastic group of actors. These guys are just consistently hilarious.
This film, though, didn't do it for me as much. I think the beginning of the movie was too much parody. I am not a parody hater (I love the films of Mel Brookes). I think, though, that it stuck a little too close to Walk the Line for the first half of the movie. The second half, though, took me by surprise by going through music history of the 60's and 70's. This is where the film really shined.
This movie as a whole is weak. There were, though, some highlights:
1. Jack White's Elvis impression was priceless. 2. The parts with the Beatles (played by Jack Black, Paul Rudd, Jason Schwartzman, and Justin Long) were great, especially the Yellow Submarine bit. 3. The Pet Sounds parody. 4. My favorite part was the Bob Dylan phase, especially the parts that ripped the incredible Dylan doc Don't Look Back. The parody was spot on. 5. Any time that they made an allusion to how silly it is to have one actor play a character from teen years to death.
I don't really have much to say about this flick. I wanted to see it because I love the Apatow films. This is a lesser effort from the group, but it did leave me with some fond scenes that I will remember fondly.
Lesson learned: Johnny Cash's life wasn't that funny.
PS- The original music was great. I'm a sucker for that kind of stuff (Spinal Tap, Mighty Wind, etc.)
Gangs of New York Director: Martin Scorsese Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Daniel Day-Lewis, Cameron Diaz
Well, I suppose I regain my man points lost yesterday with this beautiful piece of cinema.
I watched this movie to start remedying two of my main regrets. In their entirety, I have only seen one film by Martin Scorsese (the Departed) and one film starring Daniel Day-Lewis (There Will Be Blood). I'm starting by killing two birds with one stone.
I love history. Though my preference is medieval history (especially subjects on the Crusades and on vikings). I've always been more of a European history man. The American Civil War, though, is the exception. This period in American history really started the transition from a loose quilt of immigrants into a unified nation. From the wild west to a more "civilized", law based society. Just as interesting as the war itself, though, is the American homefront around the war.
This film is a classic revenge tale, with the Civil War serving as a mere background aspect to the main story (much like the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly). This film featured great side performances by some of my favorite great character actors (Brendan Gleeson, John C Reilley, Jim Broadbent, Liam Neeson). Leo did a great job. I grew up knowing this guy as the hunky heartthrob from Titanic. It wasn't until I saw Catch Me If You Can that I started to respect him as a real actor (and he has proven himself many times to me since).
The real star of the flick, though, was Daniel. His performance in There Will Be Blood os one of the best I have ever seen. He's just as strong here as Billy the Butcher. This is the stuff of history. This actor will be remembered long after he dies for his incredible contribution to movies. This role was perfectly executed with malice, humor, saddness, and pride.
Scorsese has created a great film that shows a piece of lost history. It's the perfect combination of the old west, medieval values, and modern warfare. I loved how distinct each gang was and how strong the ethnic heritage was for each group. Very tribal. Overall, a great, brutal film that made me want to go out and buy some history books.
Lesson learned: Never piss off an Irishman.
Man, I love listening to Martin talk about movies. This guy knows his stuff.
Before Sunrise Director: Richard Linklater Starring: Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy
I guess this could be called a "chick flick". I used to avoid any movie that could be categorized as such. Having Kay around has changed that...
I like Richard Linklater, but for very different kinds of films (Dazed and Confused, School of Rock). This is a romance about an American (Hawke) and a French girl (Delpy) who meet randomly on a train and decide to spend the evening together in Vienna. Their story takes place in one night. This movie did a lot of amazing things. Their experience, chemestry, awkwardness, freedom, and insecurity is perfectly captured in real time.
First, my nitpick: 2 strangers would not have this many deep things to talk about in real life. However, I accept this because it is a romantic portrayal of the possibilites that such a situation can bring.
Now begins the sappy post (this will sound like an actual blog for a bit...sorry)
So, how would you act around someone if you didn't know them and knew you'd never see them again? Would you be yourself or the person you wish you were?
For the first 20 years of my life, I never had a "girlfriend". I was a hopeless romantic whose life was full of unrequited crushes. A movie like this represents an experience I would have dreamed of. To meet a stranger and bear my soul and fall in love in an instant. This would be my dream. Just one night of a true experience with a girl.
Now I have Kaylen, the most important person in my life. It's better than I could have ever dreamed of. I think I would have looked at this movie differently 2.5 years ago. Now, I would never be satisfied with one night. I would be like these two people in this movie (I forgot the character names, but the beauty is that their names are not relevant at all). They decide at the last possible second that their story must not end. That's how I would feel too. I could have never agreed to never see Kaylen again after the first night we spent together. I think that's how people are. We're rarely satisfied with isolated experiences. We can never get enough of a good thing. That's why we take pictures of everything, call each other all the time, and reminesce about things that just happened. This movie presents a human experience in a real way.
Ok, sorry for the schmaltz, that sort of just came out of nowhere. More about the movie:
I was so enthralled with the movie that I wasn't able to pay attention to the technical aspects of the movie. Kaylen would occasionally point out to me, though, things like "wow, this is all one continuous shot!" That is a testament to the wonderful job done by these two actors. It's funny, at the end, Kay said she identified with Delpy and I said that I definitely identified with Hawke.
Favorite scene #1: towards the beginning of their evening, the two wander into a record store (one of the first place I would take a stranger) and listen to a song in a listening booth. This scene shows awkwardness and uncertainty about their decisions and feelings with pauses, silence, and avoiding glances
Favorite scene #2: the two make fake phone calls to friends at home to tell about their night. This is their first opportunity to take a step back, examine the last few hours, and tell the other person how they really feel.
Wow, I've typed a lot... guess I liked this movie even more than I thought. Lucky for me, a sequel was made 9 years later. Kay and I wanted to watch it tomorrow, but decided we should wait, like our two protagonists. Let's let this movie's experience be what it is for a little while first.
Lesson learned: Sometimes, it's ok to talk to strangers.
(I'm not showing favorite scene #2 because it wouldn't mean anything unless you've watched the previous events)
Here's our first documentary (and a music documentary no less).
I'm a music snob. Ever since my freshman year of college, I have acquired music at a frightening pace. This has made me into a sort of annoying music fan. I'm a total hipster who loves indie rock and things lauded by Pitchfork Media.
I'd call myself a casual fan of the Flaming Lips. My first exposure to the band was when I heard Ben Folds' (a high school favorite) cover of "She Don't Use Jelly". Loving the song, I went out and bought the album Transmissions from the Satellite Heart. This was WAY to weird and loud for my high school junior self. I gave the band another shot in college and found some of their later material to be right up my alley. I love Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots and the Soft Bulletin (a recent favorite). These albums perfectly combine geeky sensibilities with weird, sincere symphonic pop music.
This documentary about the band really showed who these guys are. They're just regular people from Oklahoma City who make strange music, both with and without the influence of drugs. I was surprised by how normal frontman Wayne Coyne seemed. He's just a nice guy who still lives in the slummy neighborhood he grew up in. He wants to make music that is fun and that inspires people (I'd say he's been successful).
The most interesting part of the film, though, was about the drug addiction of band member Steven Drozd. There's actually a scene in the film where you see him do heroin while he explains the drug and his addiction. it was one of the most eye opening scenes I've ever seen in a documentary. More powerful than any "drug movie". This portion of the film does has a seemingly happy ending.
Overall, this was a decent band documentary that made me like the Flaming Lips a little more than I already did. It didn't come anywhere close to the greatness of my favorite rock-doc, Gigantic: A Tale of Two Johns (about TMBG).
Lesson learned: Regular people can make some really odd music (especially when they're on drugs).
PS- I'll finally see this band live this year at Pitchfork Music Festival!
Crimes and Misdemeanors Director: Woody Allen Starring: Martin Landau, Woody Allen, Mia Farrow
As you may have guessed from my blog header, I am a big Woody Allen fan. Something about his movies speaks to me. The humor is right up my alley, a perfect combination of slapstick comedy and subtle wit. I also like how he deals with very human stories without sugar coating it, yet somehow makes them life affirming. I think Woody Allen's movies have shown me that, no matter how humiliating or depressing a situation is, heartbreak and pain are things you can learn something from and even laugh at.
Crimes and Misdemeanors is a far cry from the screwball comedy of films like Love and Death (one of my favorites) or Take the Money and Run. This is Allen at his most bleak. It is an ethical drama that deals with very serious issues. Like many of Allen's films, this deals with the brain vs heart situation often caused by affairs. This, however, takes it a step further into the realm of murder.
People get murdered all the time in movies, usually without much fuss made about it. This film shows how real, everyday people would react to such a crime. Could a person live with themselves if they got away with it? Can we judge people in such situations?
My main exposure to Landau in the past was his killer performance as Bela Lugosi in Tim Burton's Ed Wood. Here, he gives us a believable performance as a man torn apart by a horrible deed and his repressed religious upbringing. Allen plays his usual neurotic role, yet somehow comes off even sadder than usual as a married man who falls in love with another woman.
This movie was great. Really dark and contemplative. I'll be thinking about this one for a few days. I think everyone who watches it would see something different. It's a great discussion piece that will really tell you a lot about your world view.
Lesson learned: There's no such thing as a "perfect murder".
PS- When enjoying the films of Woody Allen, I find it best to ignore his personal life. It allows me to enjoy them more. Maybe that's just me.
Here's a non daily movie post. These will happen from time to time. I need the opportunity to geek out about other stuff sometimes.
So, I'm into comic books in a big way (have been since I was in kindergarten). I spent most of my grade school/high school career reading tons of superhero comics (which I still enjoy from time to time). Since college, though, I've become an indie comic junkie. Here's a few books I've recently devoured:
I've heard about Mike Allred's work for a long time, but just recently picked up my first Madman comic at the recent St. Louis Area Book Fair. I was blown away at the amazing art and quirky fun of this character. The book feels like a sci-fi/superhero B-movie with an existential kick. I mean, the main character is a reanimated corpse named Frank Einstein (named after Sinatra and Albert respectively). How cool is that?
This is a recent mini series that just came out in one collection. This comic is incredible. The art style is beautiful, the humor is subtle, and the whole book is truly heartfelt. It's about a nerdy, young, outcasted girl who...kills giants...kind of... This is a very difficult comic to describe, so I won't waste my time trying to explain it. Just go read it.
I decided (after eating there again last night) that Pi is my favorite restaurant in St. Louis. The pizza place has recently become famous because our current president had them come to DC and make a meal for his family. It is worthy of this executive praise. My favorite pizza is their deep dish (crust made with cornmeal!) "the Berkeley". It had cheese, tomatoes, olives, mushrooms, onions, and zucchini. AMAZING.
The new Wilco album was leaked by the band. I can't stop listening to "Wilco the Song". Also, best album cover ever?
30 Rock is the most consistently funny show on TV and this week's season finale was no exception! Some of the best Tracy Jordan bits of the season. Season 3 has been the show's weakest, but it has definitely had it's moments.
I am more excited for Edgar Wright's film adaptation of Scott Pilgrim than I have been for any movie since Fellowship of the Ring. This is my favorite comic series in recent memory. Check them out (and Wright's blog)!
I'm a Strategy/RPG junkie and recently grabbed a used copy of this beauty off ebay. An awesome game and time killer. Probably not as good as the FF Tactics series, but still great!
Frost/Nixon Director: Ron Howard Starring: Frank Langella, Michael Sheen, Sam Rockwell
I am a history teacher. I really love the drama of history. This movie was right up my alley. It was like a more exciting Good Night and Good Luck.
I have Raging Bull coming up on my Netflix queue. This, though, is my first boxing movie of the summer. The tension was built up to a bout between two titans ready to come out swinging. It had all the twists and turns of a great sports movie. Such amazing acting (especially from Sam Rockwell, a personal favorite). Frank Langella deserves all the praise he got last year.
So far, each of these daily movies has surprised me. This movie did something I didn't expect it to. I felt sorry for Richard Nixon. Extremely sorry for this sad old man. The subtle power of Langella's performance really touched me. This film worked for me on every level. Bravo, Ron Howard.
This was the big Oscar contender from last year that I never got around to seeing. Probably my second favorite nominated film, next to Milk (though Dark Knight was robbed of a nomination and would have been my pick for best picture).
Someone needs to do one of these interviews with Bush Jr.
Lesson learned: Crime doesn't pay (not even for a president).
Director: Nicholas Meyer Starring: William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley
I've always been a Star Wars guy, not a Star Trek guy. I think everyone is more one than the other. Growing up, I ate, breathed, and slept Star Wars. I've seen the original trilogy countless times. However, I can count the number of Star Trek episodes I've seen on two hands. Only recently have I begun to remedy my lack of Star Trek knowledge, watching episodes of the original series online. Seeing JJ Abrams' AMAZING new movie has only motivated me more.
This movie has a special place in the nerd culture canon. I've often been embarrassed to tell people that I hadn't seen it. I enjoyed watching it, though not nearly as much as I did watching this summer's blockbuster relaunch.
This is a classic revenge tale. The cast does a great job in this movie and the emotions really hit home. I was really devastated and touched by the last 20 minutes of this movie, even though my knowledge of the Star Trek universe is limited. The scenes on the bridge are all great, really building suspense.
The tag lines for the new movie include "this isn't your father's Star Trek". Wrath of Khan is absolutely your father's Star Trek. The pace is slow, the action is sparse, and the moral dilemmas are melodramatic. It's cornball in a very similar way to Return of the Jedi.
Also, X2 totally stole the ending.
Overall, an enjoyable movie. I can see why Trekkies love these guys so much. This movie continues the trend of good geek movie sequels that improve upon the first movie (X2, Dark Knight, Empire Strikes Back, Spiderman 2). Word of warning, though... beware 3rd movies in most geek series/trilogies. The drop in quality is inevitable (let's hope Chris Nolan breaks that curse).
Lesson learned: Revenge is really decent dish at any temperature.
P.S.- I really need to go back to see the new movie again. Lots of winks and references to this movie.
Citizen Kane Director: Orson Welles Starring: Orson Welles
Well, this movie has been a long time coming. This has been repeatedly hailed as one of the greatest movies ever made (if not the greatest). I've been meaning to see it for years.
This movie was not what I expected. I already knew from collective pop culture knowledge what "Rosebud" referred to. I was expecting this to take away the suspense or intrigue of the movie. This was not the case. This movie was so different. I was expecting a Casablanca type picture. Instead, I got a dark, moody piece about a broken man. This movie really reminded me of 2007's There Will Be Blood.
The cinematography of this movie...wow. Maybe the coolest opening shots I've ever seen! Way more interesting than most movies made after it (even most movies today).
Orson Welles made this movie when he was 26 years old. This makes me feel like a talentless hack. Sure, I'm only 22, but I'm not on my way to any masterpieces in the next four years.
Overall, not the best movie I've seen. However, it did surprise and impress me with its atmosphere, amazing camera techniques (really cool scene transitions!) and a stellar performance from a young actor.
Say Anything Directed by: Cameron Crowe Starring: John Cusack, Ione Skye, John Mahoney
Part of the purpose of this project is to fill in gaps in my pop culture knowledge. I feel never seeing this film is a big gap.
This movie kind of surprised me. I don't think I ever realized how much I like John Cusack. Sure, two of my favorite movies are Grosse Pointe Blank and High Fidelity, but I never really felt much of a connection to him. This movie felt like a John Huges movie (in a good way). very 80's, very gen. X angsty, and very real.
Not the most entertaining movie, but it had its moments. I liked that we saw John with Jeremy Piven in thie movie (which explains their great chemistry in GPB).
Chuck Klosterman wrote an essay for Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs about his failures with women. He claimed that women were always disappointed because they all wanted to date Lloyd Dobler. Now I understand him. I mean, if this is true, can you blame the ladies?
So, I am a teacher and summer is fast approaching. I'm working a no brain job this summer and am not taking any summer school. I am afraid that I will lok back in August and think, "wow, I really wasted those last three months".
I want a long-term, ambitious project to keep me satisfied and challenged. I am doing a "movie a day" project starting tomorrow. I signed up for Netflix and am ready to waste two hours everyday on movies.
My intention is to watch a movie I've never seen everyday (to get rid of that "why the heck haven't I seen this yet?" list). You may be shocked at some of the classics I've never seen. There will, though, surely be days when I watch something I've seen before.
The movies I watch will range from classic, to trash, to indie, to blockbuster, etc.
Here are scenes some of my favorite films (just so you know before I get started). Can you pick out the movies?
