I remember seeing this back in the summer of '98, confused mostly, because I expected a comedy, but ultimately enraptured in it all. I don't remember a film pouncing me intellectually as hard as this film did at that point, so it was a very new experience. Not only was it a fascinating concept, but it visually was so unique and different that I couldn't help but fall instantly in love. I wasn't quite the aspiring filmmaker that I am now back then, but I'd argue that this film was one of the first to really pique my increasing interest in film as art, as well as entertainment.
Oh, and Peter Weir can do no wrong in my book, so that's that.
Side Note: This film was a part of a double bill on that day in August of 1998. The other film? Six Days, Seven Nights. A perfect pair, if I may say so.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Up (2009)
This movie has the distinction of being one of two films to make me get visibly emotional. Phenomenal filmmaking, in every regard.
Side Note: The other film is The Green Mile.
Buy? - Duh.
Side Note: The other film is The Green Mile.
Buy? - Duh.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Broadcast News (1987)
This film has eluded me for some time. It's been one that I've meant to see on several different occasions, but the mood was never right. Until now.
So, what did I think? Was it worth the wait? Or was I correct to pass it by....?
Boy oh boy was I missing out. Not only is the film well-written (it's James L. Brooks for cryin' out loud), but the acting is out-of-this-world. All three of the leads (Holly Hunter, Albert Brooks, William Hurt) nail it, especially Albert Brooks; he takes the sarcastic Jewish man to new heights in this film, giving him a love-sick persona that would make Woody Allen jealous.
All in all, the film is subtle, witty, charming and in the end, very satisfying, despite a rather romantically unsatisfying ending. A joy to behold.
Buy? - But of course!
So, what did I think? Was it worth the wait? Or was I correct to pass it by....?
Boy oh boy was I missing out. Not only is the film well-written (it's James L. Brooks for cryin' out loud), but the acting is out-of-this-world. All three of the leads (Holly Hunter, Albert Brooks, William Hurt) nail it, especially Albert Brooks; he takes the sarcastic Jewish man to new heights in this film, giving him a love-sick persona that would make Woody Allen jealous.
All in all, the film is subtle, witty, charming and in the end, very satisfying, despite a rather romantically unsatisfying ending. A joy to behold.
Buy? - But of course!
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Monday, December 21, 2009
Just Friends (2005)
I never quite noticed how zany this film is at times. It's got an odd cadence to its comedy that is both manic and annoying. I dunno. I still love the movie, if only for the winning comedy of Anna Faris and Ryan Reynolds. A great Christmas film.
Side Note: I'm convinced that Ryan Reynolds has chemistry with every actress he's paired up with. Why? Because I don't like Amy Smart, and yet, I like her in this film. Could it be the effervescent charm of one Ryan Reynolds helping to buoy her up? Probably.
Buy? - Own it!
Side Note: I'm convinced that Ryan Reynolds has chemistry with every actress he's paired up with. Why? Because I don't like Amy Smart, and yet, I like her in this film. Could it be the effervescent charm of one Ryan Reynolds helping to buoy her up? Probably.
Buy? - Own it!
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Le dîner de cons (1998)
Hilarious. The French really understand farce, and this film's no exception.
Check it out. The English title is The Dinner Game, so find it, and enjoy it.
Buy? - Eventually.
Check it out. The English title is The Dinner Game, so find it, and enjoy it.
Buy? - Eventually.
Friday, December 18, 2009
Avatar (2009)
I don't know what to write about this one. Just see it. See it in theaters. Don't wait for DVD on this one. I promise you that even if the story is subpar, there's more than enough eye candy to distract you from realizing the film's script is actually just Dances With Wolves in Space.
And see it in 3D. The glasses aren't too bad. They even leave little marks on your face from having rested there for a good 2 and half hours. It's like Ash Wednesday for movie nerds.
Anyway, back to the film...
Two words: Incredible filmmaking. There were moments when I was utterly convinced what I was seeing was real, and yet my mind couldn't believe it. It's not perfect, but more often than not, it works, and it works VERY well.
Loved it.
Buy? - This is a tough one. If I could buy a movie theater to see it in, then yes. On Blu-ray or DVD? It just may not have the same sorta kick, so is it worth it? We'll see...
And see it in 3D. The glasses aren't too bad. They even leave little marks on your face from having rested there for a good 2 and half hours. It's like Ash Wednesday for movie nerds.
Anyway, back to the film...
Two words: Incredible filmmaking. There were moments when I was utterly convinced what I was seeing was real, and yet my mind couldn't believe it. It's not perfect, but more often than not, it works, and it works VERY well.
Loved it.
Buy? - This is a tough one. If I could buy a movie theater to see it in, then yes. On Blu-ray or DVD? It just may not have the same sorta kick, so is it worth it? We'll see...
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Love Actually (2003)
I think I try and watch this every year, if not at Christmas. Why? Cause I love it. Isn't that appropriate?
I can't really recommend it, though, because of content. But, if you keep your remote at the ready, you can avoid the indiscretions,rather relatively unharmed.
Look at me, encouraging you to watch a dirty film. Look, I so genuinely love this movie, that I'm actually willing to risk myself going straight to the scary place in order to bring you some smidgen of romantic comedy pleasure; I am just that generous. Fist bump.
Buy? - Already own it. But, a Blu-ray would be nice.
I can't really recommend it, though, because of content. But, if you keep your remote at the ready, you can avoid the indiscretions,
Look at me, encouraging you to watch a dirty film. Look, I so genuinely love this movie, that I'm actually willing to risk myself going straight to the scary place in order to bring you some smidgen of romantic comedy pleasure; I am just that generous. Fist bump.
Buy? - Already own it. But, a Blu-ray would be nice.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)
Halfway through this film, I realized I loved it so much, that I was almost in tears.
I think that's praise enough.
Buy? - Cuss yeah.
I think that's praise enough.
Buy? - Cuss yeah.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Up In The Air (2009)
Dear Jason Reitman,
If I may, I have a request. May I please, please (pretty please) be your mentee? May I please fashion my burgeoning (and decidedly piss poor) career after yours? Do I have your permission to shamelessly model all of my films after yours? Do I? DO I?
If you don't respond, that's okay. I don't need validation, because I'm just gonna do it anyway.
So, consider yourself my new cinematic guru. You and J.J. (you know, as in Abrams, not Jameson). Right there, side by side. Should be fun, right?
Sincerely yours,
Me.
If I may, I have a request. May I please, please (pretty please) be your mentee? May I please fashion my burgeoning (and decidedly piss poor) career after yours? Do I have your permission to shamelessly model all of my films after yours? Do I? DO I?
If you don't respond, that's okay. I don't need validation, because I'm just gonna do it anyway.
So, consider yourself my new cinematic guru. You and J.J. (you know, as in Abrams, not Jameson). Right there, side by side. Should be fun, right?
Sincerely yours,
Me.
Surrogates (2009)
Let me list all the things about Surrogates that I just didn't get, or were never answered:
*SPOILERS AHEAD. But really, do you care? Cause you shouldn't...*
1) Procreation. How? When? If everyone is so tied up to their precious surrogate, how do they get out and make babies? Has this created some sort of Children of Men situation? Is the population dwindling? Why is this a more interesting scenario than the ACTUAL film?
2) War. Why fight against surrogates? If surrogates can get hit and killed WITHOUT killing their host, then what's the point of war? War is about human devastation. The loss of lives. Not the loss of toy robots. A big part of this film is the military creating a weapon that CAN kill the surrogate and the host, but before that? Yeah, just a lot of action figures getting hit by bombs.
3) Wait... There's NO murder?! But, aren't people sitting helplessly in their houses, connected to their surrogates? Doesn't that make them perfectly susceptible to being shot in the head without even seeing it coming? Yeah, it does.
4) How can one's mind separate controlling one's surrogate (like say, their arms), and then, in an instant, be able to control their own arms, so as to take off their techno goggles and "pause" their surrogate?
5) Why do surrogates refer to humans as Meatbags? That's pretty much the definition of the pot calling the kettle black. Surrogates are STILL HUMAN, no matter what lame plastic Ken doll you have out there pretending to be you. This is a pretty transparent attempt to be political, and it just doesn't make a whole lot of sense.
6) The film insists that "it's a felony to control someone else's surrogate" but how the freak do they control that? And, to make matters weirder, one shot in the film features an attractive surrogate wearing a company badge with a picture of the surrogate's user, who just happens to LOOK COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. WHA? What's the point of the picture? How do they know this person is who he says he is? At one point, a human manages to kill a surrogates user, and then inhabit their surrogate with very little red tape or security to speak of.
This is the biggest, and weirdest hole of all. Surrogacy seems to be "patroled" but how closely? Not enough that an FBI agent surrogate couldn't easily be taken over by a complete stranger. That's not security. That's just retarded.
7) And the ending. This whole time, we're meant to believe this weapon is going to kill surrogates and their users, but when Brucie decides to shut down the surrogates, using the same weapon, why do their users survive? I suppose, since the weapon is being used on every surrogate in the world (yeah, the FBI can tap into them all, apparently), it's not as potent, but that's just not explained. And, I suppose, even if it was, the ending would still suck.
Buy? - Ha! Really? Is that even a question?
*SPOILERS AHEAD. But really, do you care? Cause you shouldn't...*
1) Procreation. How? When? If everyone is so tied up to their precious surrogate, how do they get out and make babies? Has this created some sort of Children of Men situation? Is the population dwindling? Why is this a more interesting scenario than the ACTUAL film?
2) War. Why fight against surrogates? If surrogates can get hit and killed WITHOUT killing their host, then what's the point of war? War is about human devastation. The loss of lives. Not the loss of toy robots. A big part of this film is the military creating a weapon that CAN kill the surrogate and the host, but before that? Yeah, just a lot of action figures getting hit by bombs.
3) Wait... There's NO murder?! But, aren't people sitting helplessly in their houses, connected to their surrogates? Doesn't that make them perfectly susceptible to being shot in the head without even seeing it coming? Yeah, it does.
4) How can one's mind separate controlling one's surrogate (like say, their arms), and then, in an instant, be able to control their own arms, so as to take off their techno goggles and "pause" their surrogate?
5) Why do surrogates refer to humans as Meatbags? That's pretty much the definition of the pot calling the kettle black. Surrogates are STILL HUMAN, no matter what lame plastic Ken doll you have out there pretending to be you. This is a pretty transparent attempt to be political, and it just doesn't make a whole lot of sense.
6) The film insists that "it's a felony to control someone else's surrogate" but how the freak do they control that? And, to make matters weirder, one shot in the film features an attractive surrogate wearing a company badge with a picture of the surrogate's user, who just happens to LOOK COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. WHA? What's the point of the picture? How do they know this person is who he says he is? At one point, a human manages to kill a surrogates user, and then inhabit their surrogate with very little red tape or security to speak of.
This is the biggest, and weirdest hole of all. Surrogacy seems to be "patroled" but how closely? Not enough that an FBI agent surrogate couldn't easily be taken over by a complete stranger. That's not security. That's just retarded.
7) And the ending. This whole time, we're meant to believe this weapon is going to kill surrogates and their users, but when Brucie decides to shut down the surrogates, using the same weapon, why do their users survive? I suppose, since the weapon is being used on every surrogate in the world (yeah, the FBI can tap into them all, apparently), it's not as potent, but that's just not explained. And, I suppose, even if it was, the ending would still suck.
Buy? - Ha! Really? Is that even a question?
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Crossroads (2002)
No joke, I hate this movie. I know, right? You'd think, a flash-in-the-pan pop songstress mixed with a decidedly improbable story about Used-To-Be-Friends getting together for one last hurrah after graduation and a large helping of a gloriously perky soundtrack would be the key to my adoration. But, like all disappointing things, this one just leaves you feeling cold and rejected and without cab fare home. Props to Zoe Saldana for being gorgeous, tho. Too bad her character's a BEE-yotch.
Side Note: Shonda Rhimes, creator of Grey's Anatomy wrote this. Take that to mean what you will.
Buy? - Not a chance, y'all.
Side Note: Shonda Rhimes, creator of Grey's Anatomy wrote this. Take that to mean what you will.
Buy? - Not a chance, y'all.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Precious (2009)
The acting is phenomenal, but there's little else to say about this one. It's a Cinderella story of the most basic kind, so there's little narrative complexity. Mo'Nique is pretty fierce, and Gabby Sidibe holds her own in her debut performance. It didn't leave a lasting impression on me, other than a few sad moments. An Oscar contender, for sure, but only for its acting.
Side Note: Mariah Carey doesn't wear make-up at all in this movie.
Buy? - No.
Side Note: Mariah Carey doesn't wear make-up at all in this movie.
Buy? - No.
Law-Abiding Citizen (2009)
(I've decided to post again, but with different rules. I don't think I'll document it quite like I did in the past, because formatting is a bore for me, and I'd rather not have that ruin the fun of giving opinions on films)
Okay, this film has one thing going for it: surprise. Half the fun of creating a character like Gerard Butler's is that you can keep the audience guessing as to his motives, and especially his methods. The Nolan Bros. accomplished this same feat with the Joker in The Dark Knight. I was genuinely interested in the seeing this film to its end simply because I didn't know what was going to happen next. I knew people were going to die, but who, how and when were all very good questions. Overall, the film is ridiculous. It's littered with plot holes, and it just doesn't accomplish what it sets out to be (a critique on the justice system), so if fails for the most part. Still, good try.
Side Note: I read a good chunk of a draft of this script way back when, and it was a lot of fun, and very different, but mostly in its characters. The writer who wrote the draft didn't receive any credit, so I imagine that the script is different enough from the final product, so I want to finish it. There you go.
Buy? - No.
Okay, this film has one thing going for it: surprise. Half the fun of creating a character like Gerard Butler's is that you can keep the audience guessing as to his motives, and especially his methods. The Nolan Bros. accomplished this same feat with the Joker in The Dark Knight. I was genuinely interested in the seeing this film to its end simply because I didn't know what was going to happen next. I knew people were going to die, but who, how and when were all very good questions. Overall, the film is ridiculous. It's littered with plot holes, and it just doesn't accomplish what it sets out to be (a critique on the justice system), so if fails for the most part. Still, good try.
Side Note: I read a good chunk of a draft of this script way back when, and it was a lot of fun, and very different, but mostly in its characters. The writer who wrote the draft didn't receive any credit, so I imagine that the script is different enough from the final product, so I want to finish it. There you go.
Buy? - No.
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