Inglourious Basterds (2009)

Inglourious Basterds
Director: Quentin Tarantino
Starring: Brad Pitt, Christoph Waltz, Melanie Laurent

I would call myself a Tarantino fan. Pulp Fiction is one of my favorite movies and I really enjoyed Kill Bill. This movie is definitely more on the Kill Bill side of things. It was a stylized revenge flick. The violence was ridiculous and he blatantly ripped various genres, including spaghetti westerns. This was unlike any war movie I have ever seen. This was more like a comic book than a film.

This is not the movie that the previews made it out to be. This was not all about Brad Pitt and his men running around, slaughtering Nazis. This was maybe 1/4 of the movie, and I was glad of this. I actually found Pitt's "Basterds" to be the least interesting story arc of the film. In true Tarantino style, the movie was broken into chapters that told 3 different stories that all slowly blended together. One story was about a young French movie theater owner whose parents were killed by Nazis. She is involuntarily befriended by a Nazi war hero who wants to throw a big movie premier at her theater. The second story is about the Basterds, a crew of American Jews who are out to terrorize and scalp the Nazis. The third story focuses on a British mission to rendezvous with a German movie star double agent and take out Hitler. This all culminates into one vengeful bloodbath (with a historically inaccurate ending).

The acting was superb. Everyone was great (except for the awful Eli Roth) but were outshined by Christoph Waltz's performance as the Nazi "Jew Hunter". This guy was oozing with charisma and delivered his lines flawlessly. He was menacing, powerful, playful, and tricky all at once. He was the perfect villain. Amazing. Expect to see his name a lot at awards shows this year.

I loved that language played a big role in this movie. Nazis spoke German. French people spoke French. This may seem obvious, but almost no other war movie has taken language into account as much as this film did. Also, Tarantino has proven again that he is a great dialogue writer. The three best scenes of the movie all involve long conversations that built tension. The audience knew that someone was about to die and, in true Leone fashion, Tarantino keeps us on the edge of our seats until we are surprised when the inevitable killing takes place.

This was s fun movie, but was ver episodic. I think the parts here are greater than the whole. Is it accurate? No. Are the Nazis treated as human beings? No. Was it fun? Yes. Hitler was a supervillain. Nazis were his evil henchmen. This was a WWII exploitation film unlike any other war film.

Lesson learned: Germans count with their thumb.

Gosford Park (2001)

Gosford Park
Director: Robert Altman
Starring: a ton of people

I have seen two other Robert Altman movies, Nashville and MASH. Though this is limited exposure, I feel the movies gave me a pretty good idea about Altman's general style. Though this movie was made almost 30 years later, it shared many key characteristics. Huge ensemble cast, loose plot, strong characters, and a very slow pace. Altman likes to throw a ton of characters into a flick, each with their own story, and just watch what happens. Who needs a narrative story when you have 20 people with their own agendas.

What happens when you get a dozen or so British aristocrats and their wives and servants in a country house for a shooting party? Somebody gets killed and everybody gossips.

This murder mystery was not what I was expecting. This was not a "who dunnit?". I'm actually not sure who it was who did the actual killing. The real fun of this movie was the divide between the hired help and their employers. The story played out almost like a bedroom farce, but without all the slapstick gags. Doors are opened and closed. People try to avoid each other in a house. People hook up, emotional outbursts occur. Watching the characters slowly unfold on the screen was great (and something Altman does best).

The best part of the movie was watching the enormous, ridiculously talented cast work together. Some favorites included: Maggie Smith's scene stealing countess, Emily Watson's conflicted servant, and Clive Owen's mysterious valet. I also really enjoyed the subtle, charming performances from Claudie Blakely and Tom Hollander (who is fantastic in everything I've seen him in). The real joy, though, was Jeremy Northam. He played British actor and singer Ivor Novello, who has made it big in Hollywood. The scenes in which he plays piano were my favorites in the movie. I was as enchanted as the maids in the background. He really pulled off the charm and gusto of old Hollywood.

I liked this movie a lot. Sure, it dragged a lot. I was expecting that. This was just a rediculously talented cast to watch. I didn't even get to mention Stephen Fry, Michael Gambon, or Helen Mirren. Check it out.

Lesson learned: Americans seems silly in a house full of British people.

I have a new blog. I'll still post here whenever I watch movies, but THIS is where I will be focusing my energy.

Sunset Blvd. (1950)

Sunset Blvd.
Director: Billy Wilder
Starring: William Holden, Gloria Swanson, Erich von Stroheim

A classic that I had never seen before. I should have known as soon as I saw Wilder's name that it would be great. The guy has made a ton of movies that are entertaining and artistic. They are just as interesting and satisfying as anything made today (actually, way better than most).

This is an iconic movie that I think I saw a parody of on Tiny Toons once (this happens with a lot of films though: Citizen Kane, Rear Window, etc). A struggling young writer randomly finds himself on the doorstep of a washed up silent movie era starlett. She is planning her big comeback (I'm sorry, "return") to the movies and wants him to fix up her script. Of course, he takes the job. There's a ton of money to be taken from this old broad. Things go sour when she falls in love with him and wont let him leave the house. Also, she kills him (this is not big spoiler, they tell us at the beginning).

From the opening shots, I was already impressed with the camera angles and atmosphere. This movie has style. It's got all the characteristics that make film noir great. We have deadpan voiceover narration, black and white cinematography, and a moody soundtrack. The strongest piece of the puzzle, though, was the screenplay. The dialogue is so witty and perfect. Holden read the narration like a man who was helplessly away of his tragic fate.

The real joy of the movie, though, was the twisted performance of Swanson as Norma Desmond. She played her part just like a silent movie queen would, with raging facial expressions and piercing eyes. I was on edge every time she was on the screen. So creepy, pathetic, and dangerous. She was a shell of her former self. It sort of reminded me of Grey Gardens. A lot actually. She had lost all sense of reality and lived in the past.

Sometimes, I think classic movies are overrated. This is not one of those times. The final scene on the staircase gave me chills. Everything was so well done. See this movie!

Lesson learned: A car is not worth losing your life.

Top 10

Well, now that the project is over, it's time to pick the cream of the crop. Which movies did I like the most? Which will stick with me for a while? Which DVDs will I put on my Christmas list this year? Here they are: the top 10 of the summer (in order):


10. Lady Snowblood (1973)

Have you ever watched a movie and thought "that movie would have been way cooler if..."? I couldn't say that after Lady Snowblood. It was the sort of movie I've always wanted to see. A Kurosawa film, but with more action. A sword fighting movie, but with more story. An action movie, but with originality and style. This was just a fun revenge flick with great characters, costumes, and fight scenes. I'm surprised Tarantino was the first to rip it off. This is as close as it gets to live action manga.

What will always stick with me: The opening bloodbath in the snow.


9. The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928)

I watched some classic silent films this summer, including comedies by Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin. The best of these, though, was a serious drama about Joan of Arc. This movie really blew me away with its intense emotion and revolutionary camera work. Probably 90% of the film in this movie was made up of quick cuts of facial closeups. What made this work, though, was the performance of Maria Falconetti.

What will always stick with me: Falconetti's crazy eyes.


8. Paper Moon (1973)

I really didn't know what to expect from this movie. Every synopsis and trailer I saw made it look sort of bland. This con man movie turned out to be anything but! It was funny and had some beautiful black and white cinematography. The was outstanding, father/daughter combo in the lead roles. This was an old fashioned good time that showed what it may really be like to be a con man.

What will always stick with me: A little girl smoking a cigarette while listening to the radio.


7. Gangs of New York (2002)

I watched 3 Scorsese pictures this summer and this was my favorite. Sure, the two classics were probably more artsy and real, but this movie was more up my alley. It was easier to watch, had a superb ensemble cast, and had some of the best sets and costumes I've ever seen (which really appealed to the history teacher in me). I could just watch Billy the Butcher all day!

What will always stick with me: Daniel Day Lewis's big climactic scene at the theater.


6. Run Lola Run (1998)

This little German movie didn't have much in the way of plot or acting. The reason it made my list is because it was so different. The 81 minute run time feels like 15. The same 20 minute story is told three times, with slight variations making all the difference. This is the film equivalent to listening to techno. My heart is pumping just thinking about it!

What will always stick with me: Lola running through the street over and over again.


5. 8 Diagram Pole Fighter (1984)

You all probably got tired of reading boring kung fu reviews. I decided to pick the best one to put on my list. This was hard, but I ended up going with this beauty because it simply has the best fight scenes ever (and isn't that how this genre should really be judged anyway?). The story was barely coherent and the acting was over the top, but that's all part of the charm. From the first few minutes of the film to the very end, the action doesn't stop. Gordon Liu's pole fighting is really something that I can't describe. He's just the best and that's what set this movie apart from the others this chop socky summer.

What will always stick with me: The jaw dropping final fight scene involving coffins and defanging.


4. The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985)

I guess this was the summer of martial arts and Woody Allen (an unlikely combination). Again, I wanted to pick my favorite for this list and ended up going for one that Allen didn't even act in. This movie was magic. It explored the wonder of film in a whimsical fairy tale that ended with a smack if bittersweet reality. Movies like this are why Woody is probably my favorite filmmaker of all time.

What will always stick with me: Jeff Daniels talking to Mia Farrow from a movie screen.


3. The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964)

I wasn't expecting to like this movie as much as I did. Kay had been bugging me about seeing this for a while, so I threw it on the Netflix queue. What I got was the best musical I have ever seen (and it wasn't even in my language). What do you get when you mix wonderful music, eye candy visuals, and real world emotions? A classic movie.

What will always stick with me: The painfully real closing scene.


2. Harold and Maude (1971)

If I hadn't heard that this was a major influence on Wes Anderson, I probably would have never watched this movie. I'm glad I got past the disturbing plot synopsis and checked this out. This had everything I love about indie comedies today: quirky characters, hilarious gags, tear jerking moments, interesting camera work, and a killer soundtrack.

What will always stick with me: Cat Stevens music being put to good use.


1. Before Sunrise (1995)

I recommend this movie to everyone who hasn't seen it. This is a classic romance in every way. Linklater has created something so real with this movie. Even though it is made up entirely of long cuts of straight dialogue, I couldn't look away. Simply a beautiful piece of cinema that has become a personal favorite.

What will always stick with me: The hard goodbye.

The End of Summer

Well, faithful readers, I start work again tomorrow. I guess that makes this the official end to the "Daily Cinema" blogging. I can't really commit myself to regular posting at this point (not that I did a great job of it the second half of the summer).

I started this on May 12 and, as of today, I have watched 76 movies in 92 days. I missed 16 days of movies, which is pretty disappointing. However, I'd like to think that on those days I was busy saving the world or doing something else useful with that spare 2 hours.

I have learned a lot of lessons watching these movies. I'll probably do a compilation of those if I get bored in the next few days. This really has been a fun project. I've found a few new favorites and really immersed myself in the world of kung fu cinema. Though my selection ended up a little more on the bizarre than classic side of things, I saw a lot of worthwhile stuff.

More than anything else, though, this has been a creative exercise for me. Most of my reviews on here are horrible pieces of criticism. I have realized my own limitations as a writer and have tried to take the time to create some reviews that are worthwhile (which maybe a dozen or so actually are).

Fret not, comrades. Shed no more tears. I do plan on continuing this blog. Though I will not be posting on any regular schedule, I will continue to blog a review for every movie I see (which should still be a few posts a week).

Thanks for reading and watching along with me!

Day 76: I Am Trying To Break Your Heart (2002)

I Am Trying To Break Your Heart
Director: Sam Jones
Starring: Wilco

Rock Doc. #2 for the summer project. Wilco is an amazing Midwestern band that I have still not had the pleasure of seeing live (mostly because their shows sell out in minutes in St. Louis, Tweedy's original stomping grounds). I got into Wilco my freshman year of college. A guy on my floor was from Chicago and was obsessed with the band. He gave me Yankee Hotel Foxtrot to listen to and I liked most of it (mostly the accessable pop songs like Heavy Metal Drummer and I'm the Man Who Loves You). I went on a retreat at the end of that year and snuck a forbidden cd player with me. For some reason, this was the album I kept listening to. The more attention I gave the record, the more it's open spaces hit me. It's really an incredible collection of songs delicately string together with some great production.

This documentary is the story of how this album got made (or, rather, almost did not get made). In 2001, Wilco had released three solid albums and was on the verge of becoming more than just another mid level rock band. They had just signed to a major label (Reprise) and were working on an album that was way more complex than anything else they had ever done, taking them to a new artistic level. Unfortunately (and predictably) their label didn't get it and dropped them.

A lot of the movie focused on the balance of power in the band between singer-songwriter Jeff Tweedy and multi-instrumentalist Jay Bennett. These guys make up the creative core of the band, but (to quote the film) a circle only has one center. Bennett had a vision for the record and meticulous attitude seemed to wear on all the other members of the band. He wanted them to take a step forward, and had a clear vision for that. He had some trouble communicating this to the rest of the band. Tweedy obviously is uncomfortable bickering on film and even throws up in the bathroom in the middle of a scuffle over the transition into Heavy Metal Drummer. It's an intense scene that really gives an insight into the creative strains of the group. When Tweedy goes on a solo tour and tries to explain the new album to a small group of people, he is at a loss for words. His discomfort (and the black and white cinematography) made me instantly think of my favorite film portrait of a musician on the verge of new heights, Don't Look Back.

The thing I found very interesting about this film is the inside look into record label business. Reprise dropped them because they wanted the record to be altered into something they could sell easier. The band refused (which I guess is the definition of not selling out). They then had a completed, paid for record that they could take to the highest bidder (which is sort of a band's dream). They end up putting it out on Nonesuch, another Warner owned label. It's just funny that Warner paid for the album twice over. It's sort of funny that this was a problem, considering that the band's latest album sees them with their most outright commercial potential.

I see Wilco as a quintessential band, like America's Radiohead. I'm looking forward to more fine music from these guys. Great movie about a great band.

Lesson learned: Music business is not an oxymoron, it's just plain moronic.

Day 75: Julie and Julia (2009)

Julie and Julia
Director: Nora Ephron
Starring: Meryl Streep, Amy Adams, Stanley Tucci

This movie may have been a chick flick. I'm not sure. The fact that the director also did Sleepless in Seattle and You've Got Mail make me wonder. What I am sure of, though, is that I enjoyed this film. Also, it made me hungry.

The film is seem is based on two books. One is the autobiography of Julia Child, the woman who brought French cuisine into American homes. The other is a book by Julie Powell, a blogger who tries to bring change or meaning to her life by cooking all of Child's recipes in a year. The parallels between their lives are pretty thin, but are held together enough to make for a cohesive film.

I'm not very familiar with Julia Child, but Meryl Streep was very likable in this movie. She was charming, funny, fearless, and honest. Tucci was the perfect compliment for her, playing the super supportive husband.

I have always been an Amy Adams fan. She is very cute and charismatic. While Streep played a character to admire and laugh with, Adams played a character that we can identify with. She is lost in her life and wants some silly little project to fill her time and give her a sense of purpose. She starts a daunting blog project. I did the same thing with this blog. I really had no plans for the summer and wanted to goal to attain so my time didn't get wasted. The only bad part is that I'm getting no book deal and I don't get to eat delicious food every time I blog.

This movie was a delightful fun time. I love to eat and cook, so watching this was a great way to spend an afternoon.

If anyone would like to turn my blog into a book, just let me know. I promise to get better at posting every day!

Lesson learned: Butter makes everything taste good.

Day 74: G.I. Joe- The Rise of Cobra (2009)

G.I. Joe- The Rise of Cobra
Director: Stephen Sommers
Starring: Channing Tatum, Sienna Miller, Christopher Eccleston, Marlon Wayans

Growing up, my twin brother and I were obsessed with action figures. We mostly played with Ninja Turtles and Star Wars toys. Mixed in with these, though, were a good amount of GI Joes. We inherited some original toys, vehicles, and bases from our older brother and added our own into the mix. Playing with GI Joes was all about cool poses, crashing vehicles, blowing up bases, and superhuman acrobatics. The GI Joe movie was about all the same things (and sacrificing plot, characterization, and intelligence).

GI Joe is a Team America-type squad of super soldiers that battle international terrorists. The threat here was a Scottish weapons dealer who is planning to use deadly nano-machines to take over the world. Think saturday morning cartoons. There was a fair amount of fan service for those who loved the old cartoon (including the lines "knowing is half the battle" and "yo Joe".

It's really silly to complain about this movie having no brains. You pretty much know that coming into it. Instead of having a compelling story or deep, non-two-dimensional characters, we get lots of explosions and fighting. The action was pretty much non stop. The scene in which the Joes are chasing down the Baroness's car is really fun to watch. The movie, though, was all about Snake Eyes. This movie was full of awesome ninja battles, and I still wanted more!

This was your typical summer blockbuster. It was all flash with very little style or substance. It was a fun ride, but really makes me appreciate those few summer flicks that keep the fun, but take it in a little more fulfilling route (Dark Knight, Star Trek, Iron Man). At least it was better than the juvenile Transformers movies.

Lesson learned: Secret military squads don't worry much about discression.

Day 73: Grey Gardens (1975)

Grey Gardens
Director: Albert and David Maysles
Starring: Edith and Edie Beale

This is one of the strangest documentaries I have ever seen. It is so frantic and disjointed and real. It was fascinating to watch, but gave me a headache at the same time.

Edith Bouvier Beale and her daughter Edie live in an old mansion called Grey Gardens that is falling apart. Edith was a wealthy young singer who married a millionaire who left her. Edie was an intelligent young debutant girl who was courted by many rich young men for marriage. Both women have now ended up living a codependent live in a huge estate overrun with cats and even a raccoon.

This was a very eerie movie. You get the feeling that these two are full of regret and denial. They have painted their own pictures of their past lives. Edie is constantly talking about how she hates living in the country and wants to write. Edith is left laying in bed singing her old songs over and over again. They almost never see any other living souls besides each other.

Throwing a camera crew in this mess of a home seems to bring out some very interesting feelings for these women. Edith is constantly trying to impress everyone with her singing. Edie dances around and gabs non stop. Both of them want to make sire that their own side of every story is heard. They are talking on top of each other, fighting over how things real happened throughout the entire movie.

This was really a sort of sad movie. It was recently made into an HBO movie that Kaylen enjoyed (which is why we watched this). I would be interested to see how this could be turned into a cohesive film. This one was pretty rough to watch.

Lesson learned: Raccoons make ok pets.

Day 72: Funny People (2009)

Funny People
Director: Judd Apatow
Starring: Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen, Leslie Mann

I am a fan of the Apatow house of comedy. His crew churns out hilarious movies at a wild rate full of loveable characters and quotable dialogue. Though his name gets attached to almost every other comedy that comes out these days, this is only the third movie he has directed (along with 40 Year Old Virgin and Knocked Up). I'm not sure I like this movie as much as his others, but it is definitely up to par.

Sandler plays George Simmons, a world famous comedy star who has just found out he is dying. He highers a young struggling stand up comedian (Rogen) to write jokes and become his personal assitant. He is also pining over (and later actively persuing) the "girl that got away". He also tries to grow up a little bit along the way.

This may seem like plenty of story to fill a film (and it is). However, this would be a sad movie, so Judd threw in a B story (a first for his films) that deals with Rogen's roommates and a crush he has. This really seems unnecessarily jammed into the movie, but it made me laugh, so it's hard to complain too much.

I'm not the biggest Adam Sandler fan. I like Happy Gilmore and think Billy Madison is kind of funny. That's about it. Here, though, he really impressed me. It's like watching Bill Murray in Rushmore. To se a funny man channel some really inner striggle can be very powerful. Sandler did very well at portraying the struggles of his character (which changed him throughout the movie). The supporting cast was also great, especially Eric Banna and Jason Schwartzman. Hell, I even thought Jonah Hill was funny (and I usually can't stand him!).

The real hilight here, though, was Seth Rogen. I just love the guy. I think that I would like almost any movie he stars in. He's just so loveable and genuine. Here, we see a much sweeter, honest character than he usually plays. This guy is the comedy superstar of today and I don't mind it at all.

My only complaint here is that Judd seemed to have trouble with his female characters (played by Mann and Aubrey Plaza). Both characters seemed to be flaky and nowhere near as genuine as their male counterparts.

Overall, a funny movie that handled the dramatic side very well. I thought the ending was very satisfying and would probably laugh harder if I saw the movie again.

Lesson learned: Wilco is a good date band.