Watched Fall 2012
I'm condensing most of my reviews to a few short sentences, so pardon my inner snob for rearing his sniveling head. You may notice through the prose that I'm fairly charitable to the movies that I watch. The simple explanation is that I am on a diet of movies I believe I will enjoy. As I have a short amount of time to teach myself about film, I am trying to work from the top down. Please feel free to leave comments, suggestions and criticisms below.
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- DirectorLukas MoodyssonStarsOksana AkinshinaArtyom BogucharskiyPavel PonomaryovSixteen-year-old Lilja and her only friend, the young boy Volodja, live in Russia, fantasizing about a better life. One day, Lilja falls in love with Andrej, who is going to Sweden, and invites Lilja to come along and start a new life.The invasive sadness of the movie is marred by several directorial flubs. However, it makes shockingly effective use of the POV camera. 7/10
- DirectorTony GilroyStarsJeremy RennerRachel WeiszEdward NortonAn expansion of the universe from Robert Ludlum's novels, centered on a new hero whose stakes have been triggered by the events of the previous three films.A fine and mildly satisfying action thriller, in the same vein as its predecessors. The MacGuyver-inspired moments remain the best parts of the film. 6.5/10
- DirectorMatthew VaughnStarsAaron Taylor-JohnsonNicolas CageChloë Grace MoretzDave Lizewski is an unnoticed high school student and comic book fan who one day decides to become a superhero, even though he has no powers, training or meaningful reason to do so.A marvel of filmmaking fun, fists, frisson, and f-words. The dark humor is often cutesy, but the movie experience is a truly visceral work of art. 8.5/10
- DirectorJohn McTiernanStarsBruce WillisAlan RickmanBonnie BedeliaA New York City police officer tries to save his estranged wife and several others taken hostage by terrorists during a Christmas party at the Nakatomi Plaza in Los Angeles.Endearingly sardonic one-liners and ridiculous scenarios make Die Hard really fun. Some pacing dead zones notwithstanding, it's a well-crafted action film and an American classic. 8.5/10
- DirectorJoss WhedonStarsRobert Downey Jr.Chris EvansScarlett JohanssonEarth's mightiest heroes must come together and learn to fight as a team if they are going to stop the mischievous Loki and his alien army from enslaving humanity.Breathtaking production value, a handful of knee-slappers, and one liners at the expense of breaching character are the essence of this movie. It feels fine-tuned to make the maximum amount of money. I can't love it, but I can't hate it. 7/10
- DirectorQuentin DupieuxStarsStephen SpinellaRoxane MesquidaWings HauserA homicidal car tire, discovering it has destructive psionic power, sets its sights on a desert town once a mysterious woman becomes its obsession.Odd and little too big for its britches. Makes an admirable if esoteric statement about the film industry, but tends to wear out its welcome by moving as slowly as its protagonist, a tire. 7.5/10
- CreatorDavid BenioffD.B. WeissStarsEmilia ClarkePeter DinklageKit HaringtonNine noble families fight for control over the lands of Westeros, while an ancient enemy returns after being dormant for millennia.This show pulls exactly zero punches. Visceral, dark, complex and political, Game of Thrones magnificently expands the viewer's capacity to love and despise characters. 9/10 (1 season in)
- DirectorRidley ScottStarsHarrison FordRutger HauerSean YoungA blade runner must pursue and terminate four replicants who stole a ship in space and have returned to Earth to find their creator.Once again Ridley Scott presents us with an impeccably crafted environment, but character development struck me as conspicuously lacking. Much like a tapestry, Blade Runner is beautiful in scope but somewhat flat up close. 8.5/10
- DirectorF.W. MurnauStarsGeorge O'BrienJanet GaynorMargaret LivingstonA sophisticated city woman seduces a farmer and convinces him to murder his wife and join her in the city, but he ends up rekindling his romance with his wife when he changes his mind at the last moment.This movie proves that facial expression is the soul of silent cinema. Although the middle of the film is confusingly slow and tangential, the transformation that takes place is a joy to behold. 9.5/10
- DirectorDrew GoddardStarsKristen ConnollyChris HemsworthAnna HutchisonFive college friends head out to a remote cabin for a getaway, but things don't go as planned when they start getting killed. They soon discover that there is more to the cabin than it seems.This alle-"gore"-ical masterpiece gives you more than you expect, in unexpected ways. Make it through the first half, and the second will wholly justify it. 9/10
- DirectorSpike JonzeStarsJohn CusackCameron DiazCatherine KeenerA puppeteer discovers a portal that leads literally into the head of movie star John Malkovich.This ingenious work from the mind of Charlie Kaufman explores the horror and wonder of identity. It's a quirky and rare film that my words can't adequately describe. Do watch. 10/10
- DirectorJohn HustonStarsHumphrey BogartMary AstorGladys GeorgeSan Francisco private detective Sam Spade takes on a case that involves him with three eccentric criminals, a gorgeous liar and their quest for a priceless statuette, with the stakes rising after his partner is murdered.Humphrey Bogart makes this film with the coldest role I've ever seen him play. Snappy dialogue abounds, but the dramatic tension is rather understated. 8.5/10
- DirectorMichael CurtizStarsHumphrey BogartIngrid BergmanPaul HenreidA cynical expatriate American cafe owner struggles to decide whether or not to help his former lover and her fugitive husband escape the Nazis in French Morocco.Beautiful beyond words. You know a movie is special when marginal characters convey themselves so vividly, and the spaces between the lines are the funnest parts to read. 10/10
- DirectorBilly WilderStarsFred MacMurrayBarbara StanwyckEdward G. RobinsonA Los Angeles insurance representative lets an alluring housewife seduce him into a scheme of insurance fraud and murder that arouses the suspicion of his colleague, an insurance investigator.This movie is a golden standard of film noir. That said, I thought that it lacked soul and is not particularly compelling in story, dialogue or characters. 8/10
- DirectorDaniel GordonStarsDaniel GordonHyon Sun PakSong Yun KimA British documentary that follows two young North Korean girls as they prepare for the Mass Games, the world's largest choreographed gymnastics performance.Watching this movie is like peering at a pack of wolves through binoculars: an eerie look at a far-off but strangely beautiful entity of hatred. It's best to keep in mind that the North Korean government allowed only the "good" parts past censorship. 8/10
- CreatorDan HarmonStarsJoel McHaleDanny PudiDonald GloverA suspended lawyer is forced to enroll in a community college with an eccentric staff and student body.This is, quite rightfully, my generation's feel-good TV show. For delightfully quirky popcorn entertainment, look no further than Abed and Pierce. 9/10
- DirectorAlfred HitchcockStarsCary GrantIngrid BergmanClaude RainsThe daughter of a convicted German spy is asked by American agents to gather information on a ring of German scientists in South America. How far will she have to go to ingratiate herself with them?A second viewing made me appreciate Hitchcock's audacity in making the villain more sympathetic than the main romantic interest. It's rare that a spy thriller is so dependent on characters rather than weapons, and to such great effect. 9.5/10
- CreatorVince GilliganStarsBryan CranstonAaron PaulAnna GunnA chemistry teacher diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer turns to manufacturing and selling methamphetamine with a former student in order to secure his family's future.I tend to agree with my fellow Ambrose alum, who described Breaking Bad as "the show the Coen Brothers would make if they made a show." There is no hot chick. There is no catchphrase. The main characters are a coughing old man and a punkass meth-addict. Everything about this show bespeaks gritty, grimy realism: humanity caught with its pants down. 9/10 (Season 1)
- DirectorSamuel VartekStarsJim OlsonTony ClarkeMaude BarlowWars of the future will be fought over water as they are over oil today, as the source of human survival enters the global marketplace and political arena. Corporate giants, private investors, and corrupt governments vie for control of our dwindling supply, prompting protests, lawsuits, and revolutions from citizens fighting for the right to survive. Past civilizations have collapsed from poor water management.While I was not persuaded by the environmental issues presented, this film makes a compelling case against privatized water distribution. Corporations are starving people of water and keeping a thumb on third-world countries, period. 7.5/10
- DirectorQuentin TarantinoStarsHarvey KeitelTim RothMichael MadsenWhen a simple jewelry heist goes horribly wrong, the surviving criminals begin to suspect that one of them is a police informant.No film before or since has embraced nihilism so willingly and made you enjoy it so much (hopefully, to some shame.) I'm not convinced there is any point to this movie but to be a movie, and that job it does quite well and provides a little context to Tarantino's later films. 9/10
- DirectorZack SnyderStarsJackie Earle HaleyPatrick WilsonCarla GuginoIn a version of 1985 where superheroes exist, the murder of a colleague sends active vigilante Rorschach on the trail of a conspiracy that will change the course of history.Watchmen is everything a comic-book movie should be: dark, dramatic and visually mesmerizing. The dialogue even sounds like a comic book. Both the novel and the movie exhibit a breathtakingly fresh perspective on the human condition and an array of characters as diverse as their respective ideologies. 9/10
- DirectorStanley DonenGene KellyStarsGene KellyDonald O'ConnorDebbie ReynoldsA silent film star falls for a chorus girl just as he and his delusionally jealous screen partner are trying to make the difficult transition to talking pictures in 1920s Hollywood.The best of comedy, joy and wonder, distilled to perfection. It took me half an hour to wipe the smile off my face; this is a must-see classic. 10/10
- CreatorJames Manos Jr.StarsMichael C. HallJennifer CarpenterDavid ZayasHe's smart. He's lovable. He's Dexter Morgan, America's favorite serial killer, who spends his days solving crimes and nights committing them.
- DirectorPete TravisStarsKarl UrbanOlivia ThirlbyLena HeadeyIn a violent, futuristic city where the police have the authority to act as judge, jury and executioner, a cop teams with a trainee to take down a gang that deals the reality-altering drug, SLO-MO.I approached Dredd expecting a certain level of kitschy action-movie fare. Over-the top violence, slow-motion action sequences, at least one likable character, cheesy but fun one-liners, et al.
In every area I can think of, Dredd failed to meet my rather low standards for the action movie it was advertised as.
First of all, the main character has no character. This becomes a problem when determining how much I care about the outcome of the film. About two jokes are attempted in the whole movie, provoking a guffaw from only the lowest of plebeian audience members.
The music works, at a basic level. It's like a someone trying to replicate the Dark Knight soundtrack with Garageband and a keyboard. In all fairness, it fits the tone of the movie.
Throughout the film, the cinematography is the best money can buy. But a slow-mo sequence early on makes big promises that the rest of the film doesn't keep. There are three truly beautiful shots of bullets going through flesh at 1% speed. At that point, the producers seemingly nodded in unison and decided that would do for the remaining hour and a half of the movie. All other slow-motion is reserved for extended falling sequences, each of which wears out its welcome after about 1000 CG sparkles.
Dredd fits nicely into the pseudo-intellectual sci-fi genre, along with predecessors Surrogates (2009) and Gamer (2009). It's a good excuse for morons to say "it makes you think" without the firing of a single neuron. The moral issues are established as a theme, then skirted about without a second thought. All in all, Dredd is meathead material and certainly not worth the price of admission. - DirectorNicolas Winding RefnStarsRyan GoslingCarey MulliganBryan CranstonA mysterious Hollywood action film stuntman gets in trouble with gangsters when he tries to help his neighbor's husband rob a pawn shop while serving as his getaway driver.
- DirectorMathieu KassovitzStarsVincent CasselHubert KoundéSaïd Taghmaoui24 hours in the lives of three young men in the French suburbs the day after a violent riot.
- DirectorCharles ChaplinStarsCharles ChaplinPaulette GoddardJack OakieDictator Adenoid Hynkel tries to expand his empire while a poor Jewish barber tries to avoid persecution from Hynkel's regime.
- DirectorTerence YoungStarsAudrey HepburnAlan ArkinRichard CrennaA recently blinded woman is terrorized by a trio of thugs while they search for a heroin-stuffed doll they believe is in her apartment.
- DirectorRian JohnsonStarsJoseph Gordon-LevittBruce WillisEmily BluntIn 2074, when the mob wants to get rid of someone, the target is sent into the past, where a hired gun awaits - someone like Joe - who one day learns the mob wants to 'close the loop' by sending back Joe's future self for assassination.
- DirectorCharles LaughtonStarsRobert MitchumShelley WintersLillian GishA self-proclaimed preacher marries a gullible widow whose young children are reluctant to tell him where their real dad hid the $10,000 he'd stolen in a robbery.
- DirectorQuentin TarantinoStarsJohn TravoltaUma ThurmanSamuel L. JacksonThe lives of two mob hitmen, a boxer, a gangster and his wife, and a pair of diner bandits intertwine in four tales of violence and redemption.
- DirectorErrol MorrisStarsRobert McNamaraJohn F. KennedyFidel CastroThe story of America as seen through the eyes of the former Secretary of Defense under President John F. Kennedy and President Lyndon B. Johnson, Robert McNamara.
- DirectorAlain ResnaisStarsMichel BouquetReinhard HeydrichHeinrich HimmlerThe history of Nazi Germany's death camps of the Final Solution and the hellish world of dehumanization and death contained inside.
- DirectorTimur BekmambetovStarsAngelina JolieJames McAvoyMorgan FreemanA frustrated office worker discovers that he is the son of a professional assassin, and that he shares his father's superhuman killing abilities.Delicious visuals and few chuckles of superiority are the only thing this movie has going for it. Worth a watch for a lazy afternoon, but essentially a movie for people who thought Tyler Durden was right.
- DirectorAlfred HitchcockStarsRobert DonatMadeleine CarrollLucie MannheimA man in London tries to help a counter-espionage agent, but when the agent is killed and the man stands accused, he must go on the run to save himself and stop a spy ring that is trying to steal top-secret information.
- DirectorDavid FincherStarsBrad PittEdward NortonMeat LoafAn insomniac office worker and a devil-may-care soap maker form an underground fight club that evolves into much more.
- DirectorBanksyStarsBanksyMr. BrainwashSpace InvaderFollowing the style of some of the world's most prolific street artists, an amateur filmmaker makes a foray into the art world.
- DirectorRichard KellyStarsJake GyllenhaalJena MaloneMary McDonnellAfter narrowly escaping a bizarre accident, a troubled teenager is plagued by visions of a man in a large rabbit suit who manipulates him to commit a series of crimes.Some lazy writing (and subsequently odd acting) notwithstanding, this film never fails to blow my mind and touch on a deep spiritual nerve. Gotta love the free will/predestination discussions afterward.
- DirectorJoel SchumacherStarsJason PatricCorey HaimDianne WiestAfter moving to a new town, two brothers discover that the area is a haven for vampires.Go home, 80's. You're drunk.
Nevertheless, an entertaining flick. I prefer Kiefer Sutherland as the same character in Stand By Me, though. - DirectorJean-Luc GodardStarsAnna KarinaClaude BrasseurDanièle GirardTwo crooks with a fondness for old Hollywood B-movies convince a languages student to help them commit a robbery.So weird and tragically funny. This is clearly a movie to watch at least 3 times; I still need to process.
- 19641h 35mPG8.4 (519K)97MetascoreDirectorStanley KubrickStarsPeter SellersGeorge C. ScottSterling HaydenAn unhinged American general orders a bombing attack on the Soviet Union, triggering a path to nuclear holocaust that a war room full of politicians and generals frantically tries to stop.
- DirectorScott DerricksonStarsEthan HawkeJuliet RylanceJames RansoneA controversial true-crime writer finds a box of Super 8 home movies in his new home, revealing that the murder case he is currently researching could be the work of an unknown serial killer whose legacy dates back to the 1960s.The Good: Immaculate sound design and cinematography. A satisfying "reveal" and several hair-raising freaks. A stylistic gem of horror.
The Bad: Utterly predictable. The ending feels like something's missing.
This movie will definitely scare you, and is certainly worth the price of admission. But it's no mind-blower. - DirectorDarren AronofskyStarsNatalie PortmanMila KunisVincent CasselNina is a talented but unstable ballerina on the verge of stardom. Pushed to the breaking point by her artistic director and a seductive rival, Nina's grip on reality slips, plunging her into a waking nightmare.Good Lord. This is one moving film. So stressful and frightening. I don't think it's a mistake that the music and mannerisms make this whole story feel like an actual ballet.
Also, I think that Aronofsky has a thing for computer-generated skin and hair. - DirectorTim BurtonStarsJohnny DeppHelena Bonham CarterAlan RickmanThe legendary tale of a barber who returns from wrongful imprisonment to 1840s London, bent on revenge for the rape and death of his wife, and resumes his trade while forming a sinister partnership with his fellow tenant, Mrs. Lovett.The last time I saw this, I was 13 and watching a crappy pirated cam of it on some kid's iPod. So rewatching on a MBP Retina was much funner.
I love how you can feel how grody everyone is in Tim Burton's London. Blood and sweat are the currency of the story. I can't say I entirely enjoy Depp's singing, but "Johanna" is pretty wonderful. - DirectorKar-Wai WongStarsBrigitte LinTakeshi KaneshiroTony Leung Chiu-waiTwo melancholic Hong Kong policemen fall in love: one with a mysterious female underworld figure, the other with a beautiful and ethereal waitress at a late-night restaurant he frequents.
- DirectorTomas AlfredsonStarsKåre HedebrantLina LeanderssonPer RagnarOskar, an overlooked and bullied boy, finds love and revenge through Eli, a beautiful but peculiar girl.Wow. Add this to my list of favorite non-scary horror films (as of yet non-existent). Imagine my disappointment when I hover over "romantic horror film" on Wikipedia, but it's only links to "romantic" and "horror film".
- DirectorAndré ØvredalStarsOtto JespersenRobert StoltenbergKnut NærumA group of students investigates a series of mysterious bear killings, but learns that there are much more dangerous things going on. They start to follow a mysterious hunter, learning that he is actually a troll hunter.
- DirectorEdgar WrightStarsSimon PeggNick FrostKate AshfieldThe uneventful, aimless lives of a London electronics salesman and his layabout roommate are disrupted by the zombie apocalypse.A practice run for Hot Fuzz?
- DirectorJames FrancoIan OldsStarsJulie BermanSara A. BibelSteve BurtonA mini-thriller comprised of TV footage of actor James Franco's guest-starring appearances on the American daytime drama, General Hospital (1963).Utterly pretentious BS. James Franco made a thousand people sit through footage of his face with an accompanying whisper track and cheap glitch effects. An unbearable 70 minutes.
- DirectorSpencer ParsonsStarsJonny MarsJosephine DeckerAdam Wyatt TateA dark and bloody parody about a Scooby-Doo-like team of paranormal investigators and their devoted dog. With the crew nearing bankruptcy, they're hired to get to the bottom of a series of spooky events at the remote Kyser mansion, an old religious school plagued by rumors of satanism and ritualistic murder. They're experts at debunking ghost stories, so they get right to work, and despite the ominous signs that this isn't just another greedy land-developer or bitter landlord, they set up to stay the night. When the sun goes down, the truth comes out: this place might actually be haunted...by sadistic spirits or something much, much deadlier.A horror comedy that really drags on; I found it neither scary nor funny. Despite the filmmakers' efforts, it still looks very indie.
- DirectorDavid O. RussellStarsBradley CooperJennifer LawrenceRobert De NiroAfter a stint in a mental institution, former teacher Pat Solitano moves back in with his parents and tries to reconcile with his ex-wife. Things get more challenging when Pat meets Tiffany, a mysterious girl with problems of her own.Funnier than I expected, with great performances from De Niro, Cooper and Lawrence. No masterpiece, but a great date movie.
- DirectorTodd BergerStarsRachel BostonLaura AdkinKevin M. BrennanFour couples meet for Sunday brunch, then discover they are stuck in a house together as the world may be about to end.Features a refreshingly different role for David Cross. Unfortunately, the hilarity is oft interrupted by the very melodrama it seeks to lampoon.
- DirectorBrian De PalmaStarsSissy SpacekPiper LaurieAmy IrvingCarrie White, a shy, friendless teenage girl who is sheltered by her domineering, religious mother, unleashes her telekinetic powers after being humiliated by her classmates at her senior prom.
- DirectorMartin ScorseseStarsRobert De NiroJodie FosterCybill ShepherdA mentally unstable veteran works as a nighttime taxi driver in New York City, where the perceived decadence and sleaze fuels his urge for violent action.
- DirectorJim SharmanStarsTim CurrySusan SarandonBarry BostwickA newly-engaged couple have a breakdown in an isolated area and must seek shelter at the bizarre residence of Dr. Frank-n-Furter.wut
- DirectorCharles CrichtonJohn CleeseStarsJohn CleeseJamie Lee CurtisKevin KlineIn London, four very different people team up on a jewel heist, then try to double-cross one another for the loot, complicated by their efforts to fool a very proper barrister.
- DirectorTerrence MalickStarsMartin SheenSissy SpacekWarren OatesAn impressionable teenage girl from a dead-end town, and her older greaser boyfriend, embark on a killing spree in the South Dakota Badlands.
- DirectorMartin McDonaghStarsColin FarrellBrendan GleesonCiarán HindsAfter a job gone wrong, hitman Ray and his partner await orders from their ruthless boss in Bruges, Belgium, the last place in the world Ray wants to be.
- DirectorFrank MillerQuentin TarantinoRobert RodriguezStarsMickey RourkeClive OwenBruce WillisAn exploration of the dark and miserable Basin City and three of its residents, all of whom are caught up in violent corruption.The story of three men who risk all for a couple of hookers.
This movie took violence to a whole new level for me the first time I saw it. There are never more than two or three colors at a time, but it's all black really. And yet, for such an incredibly dark tale, I can't help but note: there is shockingly little language for an action movie. It even reenforces themes of monogamy and universal justice. You might say this is the dark armpit of heroism. - DirectorLixin FanStarsChanghua ZhangYang ZhangSuqin ChenA couple embarks on a journey home for Chinese new year along with 130 million other migrant workers, to reunite with their children and struggle for a future. Their unseen story plays out as China soars towards being a world superpower.
- DirectorSam MendesStarsKevin SpaceyAnnette BeningThora BirchA sexually frustrated suburban father has a mid-life crisis after becoming infatuated with his daughter's best friend.Wow. Some movies just hammer home one particular point or plot line. Others, such as this one, cover a huge swathe of themes and ideas in 2 hours. I love that. Apart from two cringe-worthy teen girls performances and some odd spots of lazy dialogue, this film has a lot going for it. Kevin Spacey nails it as a loser on the rise. The music perfectly augments the mood of the movie. I'm going to have to watch this again sometime, in light of all the themes presented.
Suffice to say, what a depressingly true visage of how *beep* and empty people are behind their beautiful façades. - DirectorTony KayeStarsEdward NortonEdward FurlongBeverly D'AngeloLiving a life marked by violence, neo-Nazi Derek finally goes to prison after killing two black youths. Upon his release, Derek vows to change; he hopes to prevent his brother, Danny, who idolizes Derek, from following in his footsteps.
- DirectorMichelangelo AntonioniStarsDavid HemmingsVanessa RedgraveSarah MilesA fashion photographer unknowingly captures a death on film after following two lovers in a park.
- DirectorAkira KurosawaStarsToshirô MifuneEijirô TônoTatsuya NakadaiA crafty ronin comes to a town divided by two criminal gangs and decides to play them against each other to free the town.Toshiro Mifûne was one versatile actor.
- DirectorSpike JonzeStarsNicolas CageMeryl StreepChris CooperA lovelorn screenwriter becomes desperate as he tries and fails to adapt 'The Orchid Thief' by Susan Orlean for the screen.I suspect that Being John Malkovich, Adaptation and Synecdoche, New York are all different parts of the same movie. Charlie Kaufman has adapted himself brilliantly into the history of the world through film. He's like the Samuel Beckett of film.
- DirectorJean-Pierre JeunetStarsAudrey TautouMathieu KassovitzRufusDespite being caught in her imaginative world, Amelie, a young waitress, decides to help people find happiness. Her quest to spread joy leads her on a journey where she finds true love.Boy there are so many things to love about this movie. The gorgeous color scheme, the irresistible French New Wave quirk, the montages, those dolly shots. The sense of destiny and belonging.
This film is a wonderful celebration of life. - DirectorJoss WhedonStarsRobert Downey Jr.Chris EvansScarlett JohanssonEarth's mightiest heroes must come together and learn to fight as a team if they are going to stop the mischievous Loki and his alien army from enslaving humanity.Third watch, still the most overrated movie of the year.
It's the kind of thing that aims to make people like Del Boy extol its undeniable *beep* No offense to Mr. Boy. I feel that the producers saw Joss Whedon's affinity for exploiting genre clichés, and paid him to pull out all the stops. It's like paying a CSI expert to perform the perfect murder. Audiences everywhere bought it.
Deconstruction may be a good place to start.
1) Effects
The cinematography here is, in a sense, the best that money can buy. It does the job without any subtlety, which is no problem. Likewise, the CG was pretty spectacular for the most part. But with a production of this magnitude, I can't help but be confused at times. What's with Loki's godawful costume? Everything he does dredges up memories of sparkly Zeus in Clash of the Titans. Or that otherworldly dimension that looks like a laser tag arena, its sole inhabitant a leper from 300? Really selling it, buddy.
And that's just the surface.
2) Writing
The characters are oft compromised for the sake of driving plot or telling a joke. Also, Shakespeare in the Park was horrific until Robert Downey Jr. called it that. 'Twas truly hilarious.
3) Plot
Tons of boring, tired exposition. The last 30 minutes dragged on spectacularly.
I'm tired of writing about this movie for now. In short, it is a fine piece of pulp entertainment. Iron Man basically makes it. But it amazes me the extent to which people nerd out over such a shallow movie. - DirectorChristopher NolanStarsChristian BaleTom HardyAnne HathawayEight years after the Joker's reign of chaos, Batman is coerced out of exile with the assistance of the mysterious Selina Kyle in order to defend Gotham City from the vicious guerrilla terrorist Bane.I liked this better the second viewing, possibly because I knew what to expect. The first time I saw it, I was amped for more of the brilliantly interlaced plot line with a compelling commentary on society. Instead, TDKR was more of a satisfaction of what could sell to audiences. Beyond the many nonsensical decisions by otherwise competent characters and the apparent aversion to exploring poverty and anarchy in depth, the movie was a good theatre experience and a fitting end to the series.
And by that, I mean the end. People don't seem to get that the Robin reference was bringing us full circle rather than plugging a sequel. It'll be a long time before anyone has the balls to try something of this magnitude again, and even longer before we've forgotten the stunning performances in these movies. - DirectorJonathan DemmeStarsJodie FosterAnthony HopkinsScott GlennA young F.B.I. cadet must receive the help of an incarcerated and manipulative cannibal killer to help catch another serial killer, a madman who skins his victims.Anthony Hopkins is great, but Ted Levine is the real star of this show.
- DirectorPeter JacksonStarsElijah WoodIan McKellenOrlando BloomA meek Hobbit from the Shire and eight companions set out on a journey to destroy the powerful One Ring and save Middle-earth from the Dark Lord Sauron.Few movies can instill epicness to the level that LOTR does, for a few hours at least. That much is clear to all but the greatest of hipsters.
Still, it took me many, many watches to admit to myself that the film is far from perfect. There's an overusage of slow-motion, which feels misguided. Every time Elijah Wood makes that little high-pitched squeak, I cringe.
But for the first in a trilogy in 2001, everything is delightfully ambitious. It's a special effects masterpiece with some of the best source material possible. A true classic. - DirectorMichel GondryStarsJim CarreyKate WinsletTom WilkinsonWhen their relationship turns sour, a couple undergoes a medical procedure to have each other erased from their memories forever.
- DirectorPeter JacksonStarsElijah WoodIan McKellenViggo MortensenWhile Frodo and Sam edge closer to Mordor with the help of the shifty Gollum, the divided fellowship makes a stand against Sauron's new ally, Saruman, and his hordes of Isengard.
- DirectorSam MendesStarsDaniel CraigJavier BardemNaomie HarrisJames Bond's loyalty to M is tested when her past comes back to haunt her. When MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost.
- DirectorTerence YoungStarsSean ConneryRobert ShawLotte LenyaJames Bond willingly falls into an assassination plot involving a naive Russian beauty in order to retrieve a Soviet encryption device that was stolen by S.P.E.C.T.R.E.
- DirectorTerrence MalickStarsJim CaviezelSean PennNick NolteAdaptation of James Jones' autobiographical 1962 novel, focusing on the conflict at Guadalcanal during the second World War.
- DirectorMatt ReevesStarsKodi Smit-McPheeChloë Grace MoretzRichard JenkinsA bullied young boy befriends a young female vampire who lives in secrecy with her guardian.Basically superfluous. The original was perfect, and this film mimics everything about it while losing much of the subtlety. Just watch the Swedish version.
- DirectorAkira KurosawaStarsToshirô MifuneTatsuya NakadaiKeiju KobayashiA crafty samurai helps a young man and his fellow clansmen trying to save his uncle, who has been framed and imprisoned by a corrupt superintendent.
- DirectorMarc WebbStarsAndrew GarfieldEmma StoneRhys IfansAfter Peter Parker is bitten by a genetically altered spider, he gains newfound, spider-like powers and ventures out to save the city from the machinations of a mysterious reptilian foe.
- DirectorDoug LimanStarsFranka PotenteMatt DamonChris CooperA man is picked up by a fishing boat, bullet-riddled and suffering from amnesia, before racing to elude assassins and attempting to regain his memory.
- DirectorJames McTeigueStarsHugo WeavingNatalie PortmanRupert GravesIn a future British dystopian society, a shadowy freedom fighter, known only by the alias of "V", plots to overthrow the tyrannical government - with the help of a young woman.A shiver-inducingly epic tale. Whenever I see it, my faith in filmmaking and humanity is restored a little.
- DirectorPeter JacksonStarsElijah WoodViggo MortensenIan McKellenGandalf and Aragorn lead the World of Men against Sauron's army to draw his gaze from Frodo and Sam as they approach Mount Doom with the One Ring.
- DirectorMartin ScorseseStarsLeonardo DiCaprioEmily MortimerMark RuffaloTeddy Daniels and Chuck Aule, two US marshals, are sent to an asylum on a remote island in order to investigate the disappearance of a patient, where Teddy uncovers a shocking truth about the place.
- DirectorMartin ScorseseStarsLeonardo DiCaprioMatt DamonJack NicholsonAn undercover cop and a mole in the police attempt to identify each other while infiltrating an Irish gang in South Boston.
- DirectorQuentin TarantinoStarsUma ThurmanDavid CarradineDaryl HannahAfter awakening from a four-year coma, a former assassin wreaks vengeance on the team of assassins who betrayed her.
- DirectorQuentin TarantinoStarsUma ThurmanDavid CarradineMichael MadsenThe Bride continues her quest of vengeance against her former boss and lover Bill, the reclusive bouncer Budd, and the treacherous, one-eyed Elle.
- DirectorAndrew LemanStarsMatt FoyerJohn BolenRalph LucasWhile sorting the affairs of his late Uncle, a man accidentally stumbles across a series of dark secrets connected to an ancient horror waiting to be freed.Brilliant, both in its adaptation of the original and its mimicry of 1920's film. Very fun.
- DirectorWoody AllenStarsWoody AllenDiane KeatonTony RobertsAlvy Singer, a divorced Jewish comedian, reflects on his relationship with ex-lover Annie Hall, an aspiring nightclub singer, which ended abruptly just like his previous marriages.
- DirectorJeremiah S. ChechikStarsChevy ChaseBeverly D'AngeloJuliette LewisThe Griswold family's plans for a big family Christmas predictably turn into a big disaster.There is no vacation in this movie. You sit on a throne of lies!
- DirectorMamoru HosodaStarsRiisa NakaTakuya IshidaMitsutaka ItakuraA high-school girl named Makoto acquires the power to travel back in time, and decides to use it for her own personal benefits. Little does she know that she is affecting the lives of others just as much as she is her own.
- DirectorChristopher NolanStarsLeonardo DiCaprioJoseph Gordon-LevittElliot PageA thief who steals corporate secrets through the use of dream-sharing technology is given the inverse task of planting an idea into the mind of a C.E.O., but his tragic past may doom the project and his team to disaster.
- DirectorSam RaimiStarsBruce CampbellEllen SandweissRichard DeManincorFive friends travel to a cabin in the woods, where they unknowingly release flesh-possessing demons.I know this won't be a popular opinion, since there are a lot of cinema lovers around here who adore these movies. But my reaction was... "meh". The Evil Dead is billed as 1) horror, 2) comedy, and 3) classic. I thought it was not really scary, not really funny, and mildly groundbreaking. The swaying POV camera was a fun effect, and there were some cool special effects shots (especially for such a cheaply-made c-movie), but I found the whole experience a tad boring. Must be an 80's kids thing, I guess.
- DirectorJames McTeigueStarsRainRick YuneNaomie HarrisA young ninja turns his back on the orphanage that raised him, leading to a confrontation with a fellow ninja from the clan.Is it weird that this is the bloody ballet I dreamt up when I was 12? Cheesy dialogue and all.
- DirectorJonathan DaytonValerie FarisStarsSteve CarellToni ColletteGreg KinnearA family determined to get their young daughter into the finals of a beauty pageant take a cross-country trip in their VW bus.The happy take on American Beauty. So many things to love.
The Devotchka/Sufjan soundtrack.
Abigail Breslin's pitch perfect performance.
Alan Arkin's lecherous old man.
Steve Carrell's floundering gay meekness.
Paul Dano's loathing apathy.
The realization that life is not a beauty contest, not a climb to the top, not sex and drugs, not achievements. It's all in the family. - DirectorMartin ScorseseStarsLeonardo DiCaprioCameron DiazDaniel Day-LewisIn 1862, Amsterdam Vallon returns to the Five Points area of New York City seeking revenge against Bill the Butcher; his father's killer.
- DirectorDanny BoyleStarsCillian MurphyNaomie HarrisChristopher EcclestonFour weeks after a mysterious, incurable virus spreads throughout the UK, a handful of survivors try to find sanctuary.In my opinion, highly overrated. For a zombie movie, it's very slow and boring. The characters have little no depth. The themes aren't explored very well at all. And seriously that kid is a terrible actor.
- DirectorMartin ScorseseStarsRobert De NiroNick NolteJessica LangeA convicted rapist, released from prison after serving a fourteen-year sentence, stalks the family of the lawyer who originally defended him.I was biting my nails by the end. Which I do anyway, but still. Holy crap, this movie gets under your skin.
- DirectorAkira KurosawaStarsTatsuya NakadaiAkira TeraoJinpachi NezuIn Medieval Japan, an elderly warlord retires, handing over his empire to his three sons. However, he vastly underestimates how the new-found power will corrupt them and cause them to turn on each other...and him.Once again Kurosawa blends the rich sets and armies of feudal Japan with psychological and emotional conflicts. This movie has a lot to say about the depravity and futility of man's existence. One thing that struck me was how traditionally it was shot. It's almost as if a late 50's Kurosawa was simply colorized, for how conventional the cinematography is. True to form, Kurosawa foregoes tracking shots for wide, sweeping pans. Also, what wonderful set pieces these battle scenes are! The man had an ironic skill for creating epic combat sequences.
- DirectorJohn HillcoatStarsRay WinstoneGuy PearceEmily WatsonA lawman apprehends a notorious outlaw and gives him nine days to kill his older brother, or else they'll execute his younger brother.
- DirectorPaul Thomas AndersonStarsTom CruiseJason RobardsJulianne MooreAn epic mosaic of interrelated characters in search of love, forgiveness and meaning in the San Fernando Valley.
- DirectorDavid LynchStarsJack NanceCharlotte StewartAllen JosephHenry Spencer tries to survive his industrial environment, his angry girlfriend, and the unbearable screams of his newly born mutant child.