I love movies and I watch a LOT of them! Every movie I watch and every season of a TV series I watch will receive between zero and four stars. When I watch with my other half, you will see a (P) after my star grade and an (M) after his. I'm also (very slowly) adding in my "Best of the Year" lists from 1990 on (for both movies and music), as well as eventually adding the results for my yearly movie awards (1998 on).
Mar 29, 2011
UNFORGIVEN (3-24-11)
OSCAR WINS:
- Best Picture
- Best Director (Clint Eastwood)
- Best Supporting Actor (Gene Hackman)
- Best Film Editing
OSCAR NOMINATIONS:
- Best Actor (Clint Eastwood)
- Best Original Screenplay
- Best Cinematography
- Best Art Direction
- Best Sound
Mar 22, 2011
Mar 17, 2011
LAST TRAIN HOME (3-9-11)
Every spring, China's cities are plunged into chaos as 130 million migrant workers travel back to their home villages for the New Year's holiday. This mass exodus is the world's largest human migration. Director Lixin Fan follows one married couple, who years ago left their two children in the country with a grandmother, taking low-paying jobs at a factory in the city in hopes of a better life for their children. The couple lives in a boarding house with almost no privacy and are virtual strangers to their children, who see them once a year. Last Train Home is a heartfelt documentary that sheds some light on the human cost of China's ascendence as an economic superpower.
BURIED (3-8-11)
Paul (Ryan Reynolds) is a US contractor working in Iraq. After an attack by a group of insurgents he wakes to find himself buried alive inside a coffin, with nothing but a cell phone and a lighter. Buried is a bold little thriller that spends the entire film with one actor trapped in one setting. Reynolds gives it his all and it's an interesting premise, but it's hard to swallow. Cell phone reception while buried in the desert?
THE TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON (3-8-11)
New Moon is the second of a planned five films based on Stephenie Meyer's silly Twilight series and while it is a marked improvement over the first film, it still isn't very good. The plot centers around Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart), a high schooler in small town Forks, Washington who finds herself falling into a deep depression after her boyfriend, vampire Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson), leaves her unexpectedly. She finds comfort in local werewolf Jacob (Taylor Lautner), all the while pining for her "true love" Edward. There are some decent visual effects in the film, but it's VERY slow and heroine Bella is a bit of a drag.
Mar 8, 2011
PARIS IS BURNING (3-8-11)
In Paris is Burning, Jeannie Livington's 1991 documentary, we are taken into the world of New York drag queens in the late 80's. We learn the origin of "vogueing", watch queens prepare for and compete in "balls" and hear sad stories of violence and ridicule. A thoughtful and well-made film - I only wish it was a bit longer.
Mar 7, 2011
WILLIAM KUNSTLER: DISTURBING THE UNIVERSE (3-6-11)
William Kunstler was one of the most famous lawyers of the 20th century. A fierce advocate for civil rights, he was also known to take on high-profile, publicly despised defendants. This documentary, loving made by his daughters Emily and Sarah, follows his career, capturing his larger than life personality and giving us a (somewhat biased) look into what drove this controversial figure.
IRON MAN 2 (3-6-11)
While I didn't love 2008's Iron Man, I at least enjoyed it. And while I enjoyed the first few minutes of the sequel, the rest was a bit of a mess. The storyline goes all over the place, with unimpressive villians (Mickey Rourke, Sam Rockwell) and useless characters who seem to have been added purely for the benefit of some extra star power (Samuel L. Jackson, Scarlett Johansson). Robert Downey Jr. creates a very likeable superhero as the arrogant Tony Stark, but Gwyneth Paltrow is just terrible as his leading lady. The CGI-effects are impressive in some scenes, but cartoonish in others. I didn't hate the film, but there wasn't a whole lot to like.
HEARTS OF DARKNESS: A FILMMAKER'S APOCALYPSE (3-3-11)
Hearts of Darkness chronicles the creation of Francis Ford Coppola's Vietnam masterpiece Apocalypse Now. The shoot was such a chaotic, catastrophe-plagued odyssey (the script, actors, weather and budget all threatened to close production down), that it's a wonder the film was ever finished at all. Expertly mixing on-location home movies shot in the Philippines by Coppola's wife Eleanor with revealing interviews with the cast and crew ten years later, this is the most insightful and engrossing "making-of" documentary you will find.
Mar 6, 2011
WALL STREET: MONEY NEVER SLEEPS (3-3-11)
A young Wall Street trader (Shia LaBeouf) attempts to take down a merciless executive (Josh Brolin) who he blames for the death of his mentor (Frank Langella). He enlists the help of a disgraced Wall Street legend (Michael Douglas) in exchange for the man to be reunited with his estranged daughter (Carey Mulligan), who just happens to be the young trader's fiancee. A great cast and a talented director (Oliver Stone) create a rather boring, predictable film. Everything happens all too conveniently here. Kudos to Brolin who is pitch perfect as the greedy, vengeful millionaire with a heart of cold.
THE TILLMAN STORY (3-2-11)
When Pat Tillman left the NFL in 2002 to join the US Army he became something of a national hero. When he was killed in Afghanistan in 2004, the military and government used him as a propaganda tool in support of the War. When his family had difficulty obtaining information surrounding his death, they began to realize that there had been a massive cover up. Directed by Amir Bar-Lev, Tillman is a riveting and enraging documentary, told through the voices of Pat's family and fellow soldiers (with narration by the terrific Josh Brolin).
THE X-FILES: SEASON 1 (2-28-11)
I watched X at various points during it's initial run on FOX, but have never seen every episode. All nine seasons are available to watch instantly through Netflix, so I've decided to watch the series from start to finish.
The series stars David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson as Fox Mulder (the believer) and Dana Scully (the skeptic), two FBI agents who investigate the strange and unexplained. Only a little of the mythology the series is known for is touched upon here in the first season (most are stand alone episodes), but there are some hints towards a grand conspiracy, and these are the episodes I enjoyed the most. There are some below average episodes, while some can stand with the best of the series. A decent (but not extraordinary) first season.
CATFISH (2-24-11)
A perfect companion piece to The Social Network, Catfish is one of those films that the less you know going in, the better. The documentary follows Nev Schulman, a New York photographer who strikes up a Facebook relationship with an eight-year-old Michigan girl and her family. Filmed on digital video by Nev's brother Ariel and their friend Henry Joost, Catfish is a fascinating study of human interaction in this modern world. A little more editing could have bolted this into the 4-star range, but still, one of most interesting films I've seen in a while.
THE ILLUSIONIST (2-24-11)
Director Sylvia Chomet (The Triplets of Belleville) gives us another almost dialogue-free animated masterpiece! The plot revolves around a struggling French illusionist who travels to a remote community in Scottland, where he meets a young woman who believes he can perform real magic. The story that unfolds is gorgeously animated and extreemly touching (with a wonderful score composed by Chomet himself). My favorite animated film of the year.
THE TOWN (2-23-11)
In the years most over-hyped film, Ben Affleck plays Doug, a thief who finds himself falling in love with a bank manager (Rebecca Hall) connected to one of his heists. Will Doug give up a life of crime for love? Set in Boston and directed by Affleck, The Town features some strong supporting performances (Blake Lively and Jeremy Renner steal every scene they're in) and a couple of decent heist scenes, but not much else. Affleck's Doug comes across as bland and blank and the story is completely uninspired (and kinda stupid). Jon Hamm, Pete Postlethwaite and Chris Cooper also star.
BLUE VALENTINE (2-23-11)
Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams give heartbreaking performances as a couple whose marriage is on the rocks in Derek Cianfrance's deeply sad (and very realistic) Blue Valentine. The film flashes back in time, showing us how the couple initially met and fell instantly in love, and then back to the present day, when one of the couple begins to realize this isn't what they want in life. Depressing and bleak, and one of the best films of 2010.
Mar 3, 2011
THE KING'S SPEECH (2-22-11)
Directed by Tom Hooper, TKS tells the story of King George VI's (Colin Firth) sudden ascension to the throne and the speech therapist (Geoffrey Rush) who helped the monarch gain some much needed confidence. TKS has become the Oscar's baby this year, which should come as no big surprise to anyone. It's a lavish period peace, with wonderful sets and costumes, gorgeous cinematography and a sparkling music score. Firth is a revelation as the King, while Rush and Helena Bonham Carter (as Queen Elizabeth) give strong supporting performances. It may not be my favorite film of the year, but it certainly deserves any recognition it receives.
OSCAR WINS:
- Best Picture
- Best Director (Tom Hooper)
- Best Actor (Colin Firth)
- Best Original Screenplay
OSCAR NOMINATIONS:
- Best Supporting Actor (Geoffrey Rush)
- Best Supporting Actress (Helena Bonham Carter)
- Best Film Editing
- Best Cinematography
- Best Art Direction
- Best Costume Design
- Best Music Score
- Best Sound Mixing
RABBIT HOLE (2-21-11)
In Rabbit Hole, Nicole Kidman and Aaron Eckhart give devestating performances as Becca and Howie, a married couple trying to adapt to life after the death of their young son Danny. Director John Cameron Mitchell's third film (after Hedwig and the Angry Inch and Shortbus), RH is a quiet, contemplative and occassionally humorous study in grief. David Lindsay-Abaire adapted the script from his play, and there are scenes that probably worked perfectly on the stage but come across as overly dramatic on the screen - but this is a small distraction. While the two leads were excellent in their roles, the real stand-outs of the film for me were Dianne Wiest (as Kidman's supportive mother) and Miles Teller (as the teenager responsible for Danny's death). Sandra Oh and Tammy Blanchard also star.
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