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- DirectorFrancis Ford CoppolaStarsMarlon BrandoAl PacinoJames CaanThe aging patriarch of an organized crime dynasty transfers control of his clandestine empire to his reluctant son.Just a slight overrated, but only a slight. The Godfather is probably not the best movie ever made, but the fact that it is mentioned alongside all the greats should give you an idea of the magnitude of it's greatness. The Godfather is a brilliant portrait of organized crime. Even through the violence, The Godfather has very strong messages of respect and family. Every performance given here is nailed perfectly, especially Pachino's. This is Al Pachino's best work (which is saying something), and watching his transfiguration from an honest veteran to a mob boss is magnificent. The violins in the theme are haunting, and the score is perfect. A must-see not only for moviegoers, but for everybody.
DATE: 2007-10-21 - DirectorFrank DarabontStarsTim RobbinsMorgan FreemanBob GuntonOver the course of several years, two convicts form a friendship, seeking consolation and, eventually, redemption through basic compassion.One of the greatest stories ever brought to the silver screen. Frank Darabont doesn't do anything groundbreaking or especially great with the camera, but he is far from an amateur and gets top-tier performances from his cast; Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman both give arguably the best performances of their careers. The story allows for amazingly deep characterization and Andy, Red and the Warden all undergo transfigurations on many levels. The story is engaging to the maximum degree and I dare anyone not to get caught up in it.
31 August 2011
DATE: 2007-12-10 - DirectorFrancis Ford CoppolaStarsAl PacinoRobert De NiroRobert DuvallThe early life and career of Vito Corleone in 1920s New York City is portrayed, while his son, Michael, expands and tightens his grip on the family crime syndicate.Absorbing. The three and a half hours really fly by. One cannot really call this a sequel. Usually, by today's standards, the word "sequel" implies that it's the same movie redux and it makes you pine for the original. That is anything but the case here. The story continues with some of the finest performaces ever given courtesy of Al Pachino and Robert De Niro. All the dialogue is so well written and all the acting is as perfect as you will ever see. Also, the lighting is perfect here. The dark silhouettes match the dark conversations taking place in dimly lit offices and really add to the atmosphere.
DATE: 2007-12-21 - DirectorJudd ApatowStarsSteve CarellCatherine KeenerPaul RuddGoaded by his buddies, a nerdy guy who's never "done the deed" only finds the pressure mounting when he meets a single mother.Even though I have enjoyed mostly all of the productions from the Judd Apatow squad, none of them come close to The 40 Year Old Virgin in terms of favorites for me. The premise is simple enough in that you have a super strait-laced guy, Andy (Steve Carell) who never got around to losing his V-card. Three of his co-workers find out about this and go about giving him advice and trying to help him solve his problem. This has all the hallmarks of what is a Judd Apatow film: 1. It's raunchy, but doesn't go overboard; it knows where the line to stop is. 2. It has a good message hidden beneath all the adult jokes. 3. It's well written, hilarious and goes about twenty minutes too long. Steve Carell is the perfect actor to play this awkward virgin, and the supporting cast is all very likable and characters you would love to hang out with. One fantastic all around comedy.
DATE: 2009-09-06 - DirectorJoel CoenEthan CoenStarsJeff BridgesJohn GoodmanJulianne MooreJeff "The Dude" Lebowski, mistaken for a millionaire of the same name, seeks restitution for his ruined rug and enlists his bowling buddies to help get it.My favorite comedy of all-time, bar none. Being as I just finished subjecting myself to the entire library of Uwe Boll, I felt I earned myself a treat, and really, this movie is my comfort food; just thinking/talking about it makes me feel warm inside and smile. Also, I wanted to write a more expansive review on it, being that my previous review was essentially two more sentences than saying "Best. Comedy. EVAR." So it's the cult comedy classic directed by the Coen brothers, and it’s all about an escalating case of mistaken identity. Jeff Bridges plays The Dude who gets mistaken for a millionaire who shares the last name, and the movie is all about how this laid back slacker approaches these situations where he is completely out of his element. Comedy as a genre is tricky when it comes to multiple viewings, because so much of the success of comedy relies on surprise. This, however, is one of the very few movies that I could never get sick of watching; the way the dialogue is written and the way it is delivered is just like music to my ears. There are multiple times where there are three people having one conversation, and yet, at the same time having three completely different conversations simultaneously, and that fascinates me. The Coens are the masters of creating quirky characters, and here, they are at the very top of their game; you would be hard-pressed to find characters that are more eccentric and rich. I absolutely love this movie and know the script almost verbatim; you would be surprised at how much I discretely slip this movie into normal everyday conversations that I have. It always reminds me to never let life get me down; there isn't a thing that can't be solved by a few white russians and going bowling.
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10 July 2011 - DirectorKevin SmithStarsBrian O'HalloranJeff AndersonMarilyn GhigliottiA day in the lives of two convenience clerks named Dante and Randal as they annoy customers, discuss movies, and play hockey on the store roof.The definitive movie for the man who isn’t even supposed to be here today. Clerks takes a look at people who don’t usually the get to have their stories told and spends a day with them, and those people are the convenience store clerks. This is Kevin Smith’s first movie, and while my opinion of him as a director has certainly dwindled as his career has continued (or as I have grown up, one or the other), his debut still holds up and is one of my favorites. The script is tightly packed with well-written jokes that are even funnier if you’ve had a job where you deal with customers on a regular basis. The acting, no, it’s nothing to write home about, but the material and the writing more than make up for it. When you look at the skeleton budget, you can’t help but be inspired from an independent filmmaking standpoint; you don’t need millions of dollars to get a movie off the ground; all you need is a well-written script, the determination and the grit. There’s something about this that is just comfort food for me, it’s still infinitely quotable and I am happy to say that it still holds up 17 years later.
- DirectorJonathan KesselmanStarsAdam GoldbergAndy DickJudy GreerAn orthodox Jewish blaxploitation hero saves Hanukkah from the clutches of Santa Claus' evil son.
- DirectorJared HessStarsJon HederEfren RamirezJon GriesA listless and alienated teenager decides to help his new friend win the class presidency in their small western high school, while he must deal with his bizarre family life back home.
- DirectorJoel GallenStarsChyler LeighJaime PresslyChris EvansA sendup of all the teen movies that have accumulated in the past two decades.
- DirectorMike JudgeStarsRon LivingstonJennifer AnistonDavid HermanThree company workers who hate their jobs decide to rebel against their greedy boss.I had almost forgotten how hysterical this is. This is one of my absolute favorite comedies; it hits every sarcastic snark. It has Mike Judge's sense of humor written all over it, and he brings to life characters you really like. You don't need to work in an office to laugh; pretty much if you have ever had a job or a boss you have hated, you can relate. Laugh riot.
DATE: 2008-11-27 - DirectorEdgar WrightStarsSimon PeggNick FrostKate AshfieldThe uneventful, aimless lives of a London electronics salesman and his layabout roommate are disrupted by the zombie apocalypse.FUCK-A-DOODLE-DO! Edgar Wright is a highly skilled director and did a superb job with this zom-com.
3 March 2009
18 October 2010
13 June 2011
DATE: 2007-06-04 - DirectorJay ChandrasekharStarsJay ChandrasekharKevin HeffernanAndré VippolisFive Vermont state troopers, avid pranksters with a knack for screwing up, try to save their jobs and out-do the local police department by solving a crime.
- 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.Don't you wish YOUR favorite novels would get treated as well and with such care as Peter Jackson did for bringing The Lord of the Rings to the silver screen? This is the classic J.R.R. Tolkien epic fantasy of elves, dwarves, orcs and hobbits. There is one ancient ring that must be destroyed in Mount Doom, and it is entrusted to Frodo Baggins to transport it there. I just watched the special extended edition for the first time, the one with thirty-minutes more of material, and it is so well done that it took me to around the 160-minute mark for me to realize how long I had been sitting there. It has perfect casting, perfect pacing and perfect treatment, all courtesy of Peter Jackson. This series contains some of my favorite CGI; the creatures blend seamlessly with the on-location shooting in New Zealand. The only quip I have with the first movie is the way it ends; because it is a set-up movie, and it finishes up on a note that leaves you wanting more. It is fantastic in it's epic glory, but talk about a movie you need to be in the right mood to watch; you really need to devote an entire afternoon if you ever want to watch any one of these movies.
DATE: 2009-08-13 - 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.The saga CONTINUES! I got the chance to sit down and watch the 223-minute special extended edition, and man, The Two Towers is still just as epic as I remembered. Samwise and Frodo continue their journey to destroy the ever-powerful ring in the fires of Mount Doom. But, at the same time, the Dark Lord Sauron is building an enormous army with the sole purpose of trampling all of Middle Earth. Man is the first species on the extinction list, and they fight for their lives on two fronts. The Two Towers is where we are officially introduced to the tragic character of Gollum; his story is such a sad one, and the way they handle his character with seamless special effects is beautiful. The CGI and special effects here, even though they coming up on being eight years old, still hold up and look great; they look better than 95% of what we are getting in movies today. There is a certain craft about the making of this trilogy; you rarely see the fantasy genre approached with such care, and Peter Jackson, with his camera dynamics and movie-making comprehension, was the perfect person for the project. I still have to watch it again, because I still haven’t seen it since it first came out on DVD, but I think I may prefer the theatrical cut to the extended. Don’t get me wrong, the extended cut more than merits a watch; there is a lot more character development and motivations defined. I prefer the extended cut of The Fellowship of the Ring because you get a much richer back-story to this magical world you are being introduced to. With this second movie, however, the first two thirds of the movie are just building and building to a climactic third act that kicks your ass. Building wonderfully, yes, but you still want to get there before the 150-minute mark, and the added material, while insightful, doesn’t allow the movie to flow as fluently as the theatrical cut. It is an engrossing movie with every 10-15 minute scene just flying by, but the extended cut is for hardcore fans only.
- 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.I really do fraking love these movies, so much so that I sat down and watched the 251-minute fully immersive cut of Return of the King. It's the epic closing chapter of one of the most epic stories around. Frodo is getting close to Mount Doom, nearing the end of his task. Meanwhile, the race of man is making their last stand at Minas Tirith. As phenomenal and incredibly handled as this movie is, four hours is a hell of a long time for a movie. Don't get me wrong, I'm with it every step of the way and just love it... it's just that four hours is a hell of a long time for a movie. How much you enjoy getting lost in Middle Earth should determine which cut you watch, as you'll get the same overall effect from either cut, just with the extended edition, you get to spend more time in this world. This is seamless fantasy filmmaking; this trilogy is an achievement, and the special effects are still as mind-blowing as they were when they first came out, and it's coming up on a decade since these movies were released. One thing that's understated about these movies is how great the camera work is; every shot is just dripping with competency. I have now seen all of the extended cuts, and while I'm definitely happy I watched them all, the only extended cut that I'll be rewatching is the one for the first movie; I'll stick with the theatrical cut for the other two. The first one really adds a lot of backstory to the main characters, while the other two just flush out tertiary characters. Also, the first is the only one that doesn't feel like it's bloating the runtime. People always criticize this installment for having a half dozen endings, and yes, it feels a little stretched, but look at it this way: you just got over 9 hours of awesome story (over 11 if you watched the extended editions); isn't it appropriate to take an extra ten minutes to say goodbye? Regardless how you feel about the ending, the Lord of the Rings trilogy is one of the best things to ever happen to the fantasy genre.
DATE: 2011-02-08 - DirectorRobert RodriguezStarsHarvey KeitelGeorge ClooneyJuliette LewisTwo criminals and their hostages unknowingly seek temporary refuge in a truck stop populated by vampires, with chaotic results.
- DirectorTony ScottStarsChristian SlaterPatricia ArquetteDennis HopperIn Detroit, a pop-culture nerd steals cocaine from his new wife's pimp and tries to sell it in Hollywood, prompting the mobsters who own the drugs to pursue the couple.Tarantino writing and Tony Scott direction, are you freaking kidding me? Don't be fooled by the title, this movie is vi-o-lent. It is your typical boy-meets-girl romance... only the girl is a call girl who has a cocaine-dealing pimp named Drexl. And can you say all-star cast? Christian Slater, Patricia Arquette, Dennis Hopper, Val Kilmer, Gary Oldman, Brad Pitt, Christopher Walken... If this movie was only the conversation between Hopper and Walken, this movie would be worth watching, but you also have a kickass movie surrounding it. You can definitely tell that Tarantino wrote the screenplay; it is filled with talks of movies and pop culture. My only complaint is the overkill on the xylophone score, but I have to admit, this being the second time watching it, I found myself smiling every time it came on.
21 March 2010
DATE: 2009-05-15 - DirectorOliver StoneStarsWoody HarrelsonJuliette LewisTom SizemoreTwo victims of traumatized childhoods become lovers and psychopathic serial murderers irresponsibly glorified by the mass media.
- 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."Why am I Mr. Pink?" "Because you're a faggot, alright?" One of my all-time favorite crime movies; it never gets old. Mr. Blonde is badass personified. Fantastic directorial debut by Quentin.
12 April 2009
21 March 2010
DATE: 2007-06-10 - 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.The best-made movie of it's decade and the pinnacle of 90's cinema. The entire cast give performances of a lifetime, and the film itself is incomparably stylish, yields a perfectly written script and is one of the most quotable movies of all-time.
2 April 2009
21 March 2010
DATE: 2007-06-10 - DirectorQuentin TarantinoStarsPam GrierSamuel L. JacksonRobert ForsterA flight attendant with a criminal past gets nabbed by the ATF for smuggling. Under pressure to become an informant against the illegal arms dealer she works for, she must find a way to secure her future without getting killed.Three years, four months and twelve days later, I’ve come to appreciate everything that went into the making of Jackie Brown. This is the story of an airline stewardess who gets in trouble with the law. They don’t want her, though, they want the man she works for, so she goes about dangerously playing both sides of the field. This is a movie I have been meaning to give another chance to for a long while; everybody I know who has seen it has told me to watch it again, unsure why I didn’t like it. The last time I watched, I’ll admit, I was pretty worn out, and that’s the thing with Tarantino; his movies are so conversation and dialogue driven that if you’re tired and not in the mood to follow these clever and witty line exchanges, it has the potential to bore you. I was much more entertained by Pam Grier this time around, the woman playing Jackie Brown; she’s essentially playing a double agent, and you’re never sure what side she’s working for until the very end. I do still feel that her leading role gets overshadowed by the great performances given by Samuel Jackson and Robert Forster; they are my favorite parts of the movie. I am not as in love with it as I am with Tarantino’s other works, but he adds a lot of little things and touches that any lover of film is bound to appreciate. And the soundtrack is worth mentioning, because it is well placed and fantastic. You don’t need to be an expert in blaxploitation to watch this, but I would make sure you go into it not feeling drowsy.
22 October 2010 - DirectorQuentin TarantinoStarsUma ThurmanDavid CarradineDaryl HannahAfter awakening from a four-year coma, a former assassin wreaks vengeance on the team of assassins who betrayed her.QT gets back on track by crafting one of the best revenge stories out there. The first chapter is very over-the-top, but this is not a bad thing at all. Very fun.
27 September 2008
6 December 2008
8 June 2010
DATE: 2007-06-10 - 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.Goes the opposite direction of Volume 1 in that it focuses more on plot than style (although it does have much of the latter). David Carradine steals the show. Another masterpiece in the Tarantino collection.
7 July 2010
DATE: 2007-06-10 - DirectorLana WachowskiLilly WachowskiStarsKeanu ReevesLaurence FishburneCarrie-Anne MossWhen a beautiful stranger leads computer hacker Neo to a forbidding underworld, he discovers the shocking truth--the life he knows is the elaborate deception of an evil cyber-intelligence.Just rewatched this and I had nearly forgotten how cool it is. Keanu is Neo, the world you know isn't what it appears, and there's an epic war happening behind The Matrix. The Matrix is the world that we all live in, when in reality, the machines have taken over, harvesting humans for energy. It sounds preposterous, but in context of the movie, it works. The role Keanu was born to play is still Ted Logan from Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, but the material is so strong here that it carries him. You can take the story as deeply as you want to take it; you can look at it simplistically or overanalyze it to death. I prefer a middle ground, analyzing it more when I am in the mood. One of the two things that The Matrix excels at is the perfect pacing; there isn't a dull moment in 136-minute runtime. The other is the style; you can't deny how cool this movie looks. In a way, it is style over substance, but that's because the style factor is through the roof.
5 August 2010
9 January 2011
DATE: 2009-03-31 - DirectorLana WachowskiLilly WachowskiStarsKeanu ReevesLaurence FishburneCarrie-Anne MossFreedom fighters Neo, Trinity and Morpheus continue to lead the revolt against the Machine Army, unleashing their arsenal of extraordinary skills and weaponry against the systematic forces of repression and exploitation.The sheer spectacle of it all makes it worthwhile as a blockbuster, but man, does this sequel miss the point. So it’s the follow-up to the 1999 science-fiction-action phenomenon. Zion is in danger from hundreds of thousands of sentinels on route, and it is up to Neo, Morpheus and Trinity to find a solution. I still have yet to see the third Matrix movie, but if you look at the first two movies as a collective whole, this movie really cheapens all that the first has going for it. Most of the slick style from the first one is still there, but the writing is nowhere near as tight, and you don’t have that thought provoking science fiction to complement all the great eye candy. Also, if you look back at the first one, it has a bookend, satisfying conclusion. Here, nothing is really resolved; it just has a cliffhanger ending that pretty much says “TO BE CONCLUDED IN PART 3”, and that is a pet peeve of mine. All that said, there are still some very impressive special effects in here. There’s this fifteen minute badASS freeway chase scene that justifies the movie’s entire existence. There’s a really cool scene where Neo is fighting off hundreds of Agent Smiths, but, as you can see, these are only scenes showcasing special effects that people remember when they walk away from this. There’s nobody that’s talking about the intelligent story like people were with the first one. Truth be told, these sequels should have never been made; they should have implemented these special effects into an original idea.
- DirectorKevin ReynoldsStarsJim CaviezelGuy PearceChristopher AdamsonA young man, falsely imprisoned by his jealous "friend", escapes and uses a hidden treasure to exact his revenge.
- DirectorBrian De PalmaStarsAl PacinoMichelle PfeifferSteven BauerIn 1980 Miami, a determined Cuban immigrant takes over a drug cartel and succumbs to greed.
- DirectorDavid FincherStarsMorgan FreemanBrad PittKevin SpaceyTwo detectives, a rookie and a veteran, hunt a serial killer who uses the seven deadly sins as his motives.Seldom do masterpieces come as dark as this; bleakness has never looked so stylish. The story is captivating and the performances given are top-notch. This is the movie that really put David Fincher on the map. One of the best movies of the 90's.
30 September 2010
DATE: 2007-09-06 - 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.Robert Rodriguez's finest hour. Graphically stunning, Sin City is a visual feast for the eyes. The blend between black and white and exquisite, harsh color is truly a sight to behold. The stories are captivating and everything and everyone in this movie just clicks.
27 April 2011
DATE: 2007-08-03 - DirectorSidney LumetStarsHenry FondaLee J. CobbMartin BalsamThe jury in a New York City murder trial is frustrated by a single member whose skeptical caution forces them to more carefully consider the evidence before jumping to a hasty verdict.Would you believe me if I told you one of the most gripping films ever made was shot almost entirely in a 16 x 24 ft room? You know that tingling feeling you occasionally get when you are watching a fantastic movie? You get this feeling over a handful of times throughout. All twelve performances are uniformly excellent, especially Henry Fonda, Lee J. Cobb, Ed Begley and E.G. Marshall. The scenes flow together seamlessly for all ninety-six minutes and it is really exciting to watch the case unfold. A must-see for anyone who loves movies.
19 March 2010
DATE: 2008-07-11 - DirectorSam KopetzkyStarsHarvey ShainBarbara LynnSharon MattA man is sent back in time through his past lives to realize how he had failed at love and what he can do about it.
- DirectorDanny BoyleStarsCillian MurphyNaomie HarrisChristopher EcclestonFour weeks after a mysterious, incurable virus spreads throughout the UK, a handful of survivors try to find sanctuary.Taut. 28 Days Later is every coma patient’s worst nightmare: waking up alone and isolated in a hospital to find that the zombie apocalypse has occurred in your slumber. This is an effective and welcome addition to the survival horror genre. Now you can debate semantics on if this is a “zombie” movie or not (and if you ask me, for all intents and purposes, it is), but the one certain thing about it is that it is quality and has a lot more going for it than your usual horror flick. From the surrealistic beginnings to the hybrid it becomes, it is masterfully shot and everything we’ve come to expect from director Danny Boyle. He’s an immensely talented director with style to spare, and the way he sets up shots really adds a lot to the film as a whole. Good performances are given from a solid cast, and this is the movie that put Cillian Murphy on the map. If you are a fan of the genre and haven’t seen it, you’ve really got to put it on your must-see list, as it is seldom done better.
23 January 2011 - DirectorJames CameronStarsSigourney WeaverMichael BiehnCarrie HennDecades after surviving the Nostromo incident, Ellen Ripley is sent out to re-establish contact with a terraforming colony but finds herself battling the Alien Queen and her offspring.A perfect film. Now THIS is what I’m talking about when I say take time and care with your sequels and franchises. This is, in this reviewer’s humble opinion, the best sequel ever made, with the only other one coming close being the second part of The Godfather. It takes everything the first one did right and just expands upon it. Aliens picks up right where Alien left off: Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) has been drifting around in hypersleep for 57 years when a salvage ship happens upon her vessel. People have been living on the planet where they discovered the original crashed alien ship. They lose contact with that planet, so a Marine Corps team investigates, bringing along Ripley as a consultant, just in case. To say things get shot to shit would be putting it very lightly. Where Alien is the perfect sci-fi horror movie in all of its claustrophobic glory, Aliens is the perfect sci-fi action movie (although it still stays true to its horror roots). Time is taken to develop all these characters and give them depth, so when we get to these awesome set pieces, you are 100% invested and care completely about the outcome. Sigourney Weaver as Ripley is not only one of the strongest female characters in the history of cinema (if not the strongest), but she is also one of the most bonafide badasses as well. All the ingredients are mixed just right, and it all culminates with one of the best climaxes in action movie history. It is a perfect movie to me, and I wouldn’t change a thing about it, even if I could.
- DirectorAdam McKayStarsWill FerrellChristina ApplegateSteve CarellIn the 1970s, an anchorman's stint as San Diego's top-rated newsreader is challenged when an ambitious newswoman becomes his co-anchor.
- DirectorJohn LandisStarsJohn BelushiKaren AllenTom HulceAt a 1962 college, Dean Vernon Wormer is determined to expel the entire Delta Tau Chi Fraternity, but those troublemakers have other plans for him.
- DirectorFrancis Ford CoppolaStarsMartin SheenMarlon BrandoRobert DuvallA U.S. Army officer serving in Vietnam is tasked with assassinating a renegade Special Forces Colonel who sees himself as a god.
- DirectorDanny BoyleStarsLeonardo DiCaprioTilda SwintonDaniel YorkOn vacation in Thailand, Richard sets out for an island rumored to be a solitary beach paradise.
- DirectorJohn CarpenterStarsKurt RussellKim CattrallDennis DunA rough-and-tumble trucker and his side kick face off with an ancient sorcerer in a supernatural battle beneath Chinatown.
- DirectorStephen NorringtonStarsWesley SnipesStephen DorffKris KristoffersonA half-vampire, half-mortal man becomes a protector of the mortal race, while slaying evil vampires.
- DirectorDavid LynchStarsIsabella RosselliniKyle MacLachlanDennis HopperThe discovery of a severed human ear found in a field leads a young man on an investigation related to a beautiful, mysterious nightclub singer and a group of psychopathic criminals who have kidnapped her child.My favorite movie of all-time. Never has beauty and horror been so perfectly blended together. Every time I watch this movie, I just get lost in it. It is probably the only movie out there that I don't want to end while watching it; I just want to go further down the rabbit hole. Every shot is so perfectly and masterfully done, it is truly an experience. The dim lighting is absolutely perfect and must be watched in pitch black to be fully appreciated. Dennis Hopper plays one of the best foul-mouthed villains ever created. Blue Velvet is so very fantastic, perfect and beautiful.
16 May 2010
DATE: 2007-09-14 - DirectorTroy DuffyStarsWillem DafoeSean Patrick FlaneryNorman ReedusTwo Irish Catholic brothers become vigilantes and wipe out Boston's criminal underworld in the name of God.Incredibly cool. So who are the Boondock Saints? They are two brothers living in Boston, who decide to stop working for a meat packing company and start fixing the world around them, namely by killing evil, corrupt men. FBI agent Paul Smecker (Willem Dafoe) is brought in to investigate the surplus of murders, but the more wicked men he sees slain, the more convinced he becomes that the saints are actually doing the right thing. The Boondock Saints, a cult classic on DVD ever since bombing at the box office for having the untimely release date of the Columbine shootings, has two things working greatly to it's favor: 1. The action sequences. There are a number of shootouts, all uniquely and originally done, and this movie has one of my very favorite gunfights in it, and 2. The style. Troy Duffy may be a complete asshole, but his movie is undeniably cool. Willem Dafoe is just fantastic, and the only complaint I can find is that almost everybody has an accent here, and sometimes they are thick and difficult to understand. Still, there's a reason why this is such a cult phenomenon, and that's because it's a good movie.
DATE: 2009-11-22 - 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.
- DirectorJ. Lee ThompsonStarsGregory PeckRobert MitchumPolly BergenA lawyer's family is stalked by a man he once helped put in jail.
- DirectorMartin ScorseseStarsRobert De NiroSharon StoneJoe PesciIn Las Vegas, two best friends - a casino executive and a mafia enforcer - compete for a gambling empire and a fast-living, fast-loving socialite.
- DirectorStanley DonenStarsCary GrantAudrey HepburnWalter MatthauRomance and suspense ensue in Paris as a woman is pursued by several men who want a fortune her murdered husband had stolen. Whom can she trust?In my opinion, the most overlooked movie of all time. This is a movie that really has something for everybody. It is a murder-mystery-comedy-romance-thriller. How many movies have you seen that honestly succeed on all those levels? This is the very best Hitchcockian movie that Hitchcock had nothing to do with. There are very few movies out there that live up to their claim to "leave you guessing until the very end". This one accomplishes that and then some. This was my first Cary Grant movie the first time I watched it and I must say, he is one of the most charismatic actors ever. His stage presence is commanding and he delivers every line with pitch-perfect wit. Audrey Hepburn is a movie star and is really quite adorable. This is really one of my favorite movies and I wish it got more recognition. Also, has an awesome theme song.
19 June 2009
DATE: 2007-12-30 - DirectorNorman JewisonSam PeckinpahStarsSteve McQueenAnn-MargretEdward G. RobinsonAn up-and-coming poker player tries to prove himself in a high-stakes match against a long-time master of the game.
- DirectorStanley KubrickStarsMalcolm McDowellPatrick MageeMichael BatesIn the future, a sadistic gang leader is imprisoned and volunteers for a conduct-aversion experiment, but it doesn't go as planned.The best way I can describe the premise of A Clockwork Orange to any of you who haven't gotten around to seeing it (you slackers) is perversion, brainwashing and a bit of the old ultra-violence, all to the music of Ludwig Van. Yeah, it is art-house, which might not appeal to everybody, but it's Kubrick at top form flexing his directorial muscle. It's in my top 5 Kubrick, which IS saying something. Being able to see Kubrick on the big screen at the San Marco at midnight was really a memorable experience for me that I encourage any movie lover to experience should you get the chance, and I can't wait to go see The Shining there in a couple of weeks.
DATE: 2008-02-24 - DirectorJonathan LynnStarsEileen BrennanTim CurryMadeline KahnSix guests are anonymously invited to a strange mansion for dinner, but after their host is killed, they must cooperate with the staff to identify the murderer as the bodies pile up.Smart, very funny, and proof that you can make a good movie based on a board game. It is based on the Parker Brothers game by the same name, where six guests arrive at a mansion. Their host, Mr. Boddy, is killed during a blackout, and it is up to the guests (or players, if you are playing the board game) to deduce who killed him in what room and with what weapon. This movie is a whole lot of fun. All of the jokes are streaming and fast in the same spirit of Abbott and Costello. If it makes any sense, they captured the feel and essence of the board game: a fun, whodunit mystery. They did this by achieving two things: the writing of a lot of sharp, snappy jokes and signing Tim Curry to bring the whole thing together as the butler; the man has enough chops to dominate any movie. It's a raucous good time filled with plenty of one-liners guaranteed to get stuck in your head.
DATE: 2010-05-25 - DirectorRichard LinklaterStarsJason LondonWiley WigginsMatthew McConaugheyThe adventures of high school and junior high students on the last day of school in May 1976.What a coming of age film should be. There isn't a whole lot of plot other then it's the last day of high school back in the 70's. There's plans of a party happening later on in the night and the journey the kids take in getting there, but it's all about spending time with a few separate bands of kids, and Richard Linklater successfully captures what a high school movie should feel like. One unique thing about this movie is that you can come in at any point and immediately pick it up and know what is going on. It has an awesome soundtrack, has a number of laugh out loud moments and is just an all around classic. Oh, and also? Matthew McConaughey's best. Role. Ever.
DATE: 2009-06-28 - DirectorTerence FisherStarsChristopher LeeCharles GrayNike ArrighiDevil worshipers plan to convert two new victims.
- DirectorDon SiegelClint EastwoodStarsClint EastwoodAndrew RobinsonHarry GuardinoWhen a man calling himself "the Scorpio Killer" menaces San Francisco, tough-as-nails Police Inspector "Dirty" Harry Callahan is assigned to track down the crazed psychopath.
- DirectorTony ScottStarsKeira KnightleyMickey RourkeEdgar RamírezA recounting of Domino Harvey's life story. The daughter of actor Laurence Harvey turned away from her career as a Ford model to become a bounty hunter.Sure, it suffers from a muddled narrative and it has a lot of fat that could have easily been cut out, but it has undeniably cool characters and is stylish enough so that it is never boring. It's the biography of real life bounty hunter Domino Harvey... kind of. I'm pretty sure that every single character here is MUCH better looking than their real-life counterparts. Mickey Rourke is entertaining as always and Keira Knightly is hot AND badass. The story is convoluted with things that could have been left in the editing room; the whole bit with Mo'Nique could have been cut entirely and wouldn't have made any difference to the main plot. It is style over substance, but that style is sleek and fun to watch.
DATE: 2009-03-13 - 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.Love it or hate it, you have to admit, this is captivating and fascinating film making. It's about this weird high school kid named Donnie Darko (Jake Gyllenhaal). He inadvertently dodges death by not being in his room when a jet engine crashes through it. Instead, he was sleeping in the middle of a golf course with no recollection on how he got there (and no, he's not a drunk). In the dead of night before he wakes up on the golf course, a six-foot tall bunny rabbit named Frank tells him when the world will end. Donnie's next month is a turbulent one to say the least. This is the very definition of a cult classic. Nobody saw it in theaters (it made a paltry 4.1 million dollars worldwide), but you can't keep a good movie down and it caught rave word of mouth recommendations, and with that gained a huge following on DVD. The story is engrossing and thought provoking, and the characters are relatable to (I mean really, who hasn't felt like an out of place teenager in high school). Jake Gyllenhaal plays a great smart-ass, almost too smart for his own good. It's not the most uplifting of messages, but there is a novelty and originality about the film; there is really no other movie quite like it.
DATE: 2010-05-16 - DirectorDavid LynchStarsAnthony HopkinsJohn HurtAnne BancroftA Victorian surgeon rescues a heavily disfigured man who is mistreated while scraping a living as a side-show freak. Behind his monstrous façade, there is revealed a person of kindness, intelligence and sophistication.What makes a freak show? Is it the explotation of a lesser human? Yes, to an extent, but what really makes a freak show is the audience. People lining up to see a show to make them feel more normal. The Elephant Man takes a hard look at how ugly people can be, and I am talking about everyday people, not John Merrick. If this one doesn't move you, you don't have a pulse. It moves me to tears, and I am not the least bit ashamed to admit it. A must-see.
DATE: 2007-09-03 - 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.One cannot view Eraserhead as a movie, it's really like nothing else you've ever seen. The best and only way I can describe it is that you are watching someone else's nightmare. There is a point behind the painstakingly slow pacing: the ending. The first 4/5 crawls along, while the end spirals out of control as if you were coming to the end of a bad dream. The lighting is also very well done here. Will this be your favorite film? Most likely not; it's quite an unpleasant and uncomfortable film. Is it worth a watch? Most definitely. The movie behind the word "Lynchian".
16 June 2009
11 September 2011
DATE: 2007-08-29 - DirectorMichel GondryStarsJim CarreyKate WinsletTom WilkinsonWhen their relationship turns sour, a couple undergoes a medical procedure to have each other erased from their memories forever.Not meant to be forgotten. Eternal Sunshine takes place in a universe where it is possible to erase the memory of a past lover just by getting a simple overnight procedure done. Joel and Clementine (Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet) are a couple who are in a relationship that just doesn’t work anymore. When Clementine gets this procedure done and Joel finds out about it, he also chooses to get the procedure done, only to find midway through the operation that he doesn’t want to forget these memories. This movie has so much innovative creativity from the mind of Michel Gondry that it makes it a must-see. There are so many little things he does while we are in the memories of Joel with many a small touch added to show you that you are indeed in a dream world, and it is actually somewhat of a science-fiction piece. Jim Carrey gives a very subdued performance and proves that he can pull back and actually act, not just be an over-the-top comedian all of the time. Adam Sandler has also done this in Punch-Drunk Love, and so has Will Ferrell in Stranger Than Fiction. It’s a great, sad little movie that has a huge cult following for a reason.
- DirectorBlake EdwardsStarsGlenn FordLee RemickStefanie PowersA man with an asthmatic voice telephones and assaults clerk Kelly Sherwood at home and coerces her into helping him steal a large sum from her bank.
- DirectorTerry GilliamStarsJohnny DeppBenicio Del ToroTobey MaguireAn oddball journalist and his psychopathic lawyer travel to Las Vegas for a series of psychedelic escapades.As your attorney, I advise you that this is Johnny Depp at his most eccentric. I have seen this movie at least a half dozen times completely trashed, so, as an added bonus, I get an eerie sense of déjà vu when I watch. Terry Gilliam, Depp and Del Toro successfully capture the warped and twisted perception of perpetual drug use. The story is nonsensical and almost pointless, but I think it perfectly complements Johnny Depp's caricature of Raoul Duke. Also has a dynamite soundtrack.
27 July 2008
24 July 2009 - DirectorLuc BessonStarsBruce WillisMilla JovovichGary OldmanIn the colorful future, a cab driver unwittingly becomes the central figure in the search for a legendary cosmic weapon to keep Evil and Mr. Zorg at bay.One of my childhood favorites that holds it's ground as a good movie even a decade later. When I first fell in love with The Fifth Element, I think it was because I was allowed to see a PG-13 rated movie (yes, I had somewhat strict parents growing up). Upon rewatching, I was very capable of appreciating Luc Besson's work. Bruce Willis has mastered this type of role, and his supporting cast plays their parts just right. Overall, this is a movie that doesn't take itself too seriously and is just a really good time.
23 September 2008
4 June 2009
30 June 2011
DATE: 2007-10-14 - 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.Out of all the films on my favorites list, it’s easily Fight Club that has the largest following, and for good reason. Unless you’re really young or just don’t watch too many movies, you’ve probably already seen it, but it you haven’t, you should sit down and watch it at your earliest convenience, because the less you know about it the better, and watching it ASAP will lessen the possibility of spoilers. If you have to know what it’s about, let’s just say that it’s about a young man rediscovering himself. It’s a movie that has everything going for it: a script that is infinitely quotable, masterful direction, a story that grabs you and doesn’t let you go and a sense of style in every shot that is hugely gratifying. I can pop this movie in at any time and be just as engaged with it as the first time it blew me away. It’s over two hours, but it never feels like it because it’s so tightly put together and has no lag points. It has a mean sarcastic streak that plays right into my sense of humor. Really, this is nothing short of a modern masterpiece and I envy you if you get to watch this for your first time.
15 August 2009
9 January 2011
14 June 2011 - DirectorSteve BaldersonStarsKaren BlackMike PattonSusan TraylorA young boy who lives in a dysfunctional home went to the carnival and met a singer. Shortly after, a murder took place. The town's sheriff is seeking answers. The singer is trying to escape her environment so is the boy. But both has to face their own horror.
- DirectorFrancis Ford CoppolaStarsAl PacinoDiane KeatonAndy GarciaFollows Michael Corleone, now in his 60s, as he seeks to free his family from crime and find a suitable successor to his empire.
- DirectorPaul WegenerHenrik GaleenStarsPaul WegenerHenrik GaleenLyda SalmonovaAn antiques dealer finds a golem, a clay statue that had been brought to life four centuries earlier by a Kabbalist rabbi to protect his people from persecution. The dealer resurrects the golem as a servant but it goes on a rampage.
- DirectorSergio LeoneStarsClint EastwoodEli WallachLee Van CleefA bounty hunting scam joins two men in an uneasy alliance against a third in a race to find a fortune in gold buried in a remote cemetery.Movies don't come more perfect than this. Perfect cast, perfect story, perfect score, perfect opening credits...just perfect. The story is so entrancing that you won't even notice that three hours has past. Beautiful scenery and fantastic directing, this movie made Clint Eastwood my hero. The final standoff is epically amazing and will forever be immortalized in my mind.
16 August 2009
8 April 2011
DATE: 2007-06-25 - DirectorMartin ScorseseStarsRobert De NiroRay LiottaJoe PesciThe story of Henry Hill and his life in the mafia, covering his relationship with his wife Karen and his mob partners Jimmy Conway and Tommy DeVito.Right up there with Pulp Fiction for the best made movie of the 90's. Goodfellas focuses on Henry Hill, and it starts off with that memorable quote, “As far back as I can remember, I always wanted to be a gangster.” It’s based on a true story, and it examines Henry’s life in the crime underworld. Nobody does crime dramas like Scorsese. Right from the opening scene, he lets you know that they’re not fucking around, and Goodfellas goes for the jugular in all of its gritty glory. Even though it deals with a subject and people most wouldn’t dream of being associated with, it still manages to make you see just how this shady lifestyle could be so appealing to Henry. And through every bit of the film, you are always finding this life of crime fascinating like Henry does, as it is remarkably well paced. All of the leads shine, Robert De Niro is great, Ray Liotta has been trying to recapture the magic he had here for the last twenty years of his career, and Joe Pesci is fantastic at playing such an unpredictable loose cannon that’s prone to flying off the handle. It has a great soundtrack that ties it all together, and it works as a crime epic, as a character study and as a period piece.
- DirectorRichard DonnerStarsSean AstinJosh BrolinJeff CohenA group of young misfits called The Goonies discover an ancient map and set out on an adventure to find a legendary pirate's long-lost treasure.Easy to see why this has such a cult following. So a group of misfit kids find a treasure map in the attic for the very town they live in. Will they save the day, find the treasure and subsequently be able to pay off developers from destroying the neighborhood? Or will the fugitive Fratelli family catch up with them and steal the treasure for themselves? It’s cool watching it now and seeing these actors before they’ve grown up. Some of them have gone out and made names for themselves, like Josh Brolin and Sean Astin, while others have gone on to become Corey Feldman. Now I didn’t grow up with this, so I don’t have a strong childhood connection to resonate in the nostalgia department, but that doesn’t mean it’s not an enjoyable movie to those of us who first saw it later in life. It's like an Indiana Jones movie, except starring kids instead of Harrison Ford, and even though the kids are all quirky, they never get on your nerves. You can see why it’s beloved by people who watched it when they were kids, because the character of Mikey is so easy for them to transpose themselves onto. It does have that 80's smell to it, but the pacing really works, with there never being a dull moment in this sometimes silly, but always good hearted adventure.
- DirectorTed PostStarsClint EastwoodInger StevensPat HingleWhen an innocent man barely survives a lynching, he returns as a lawman determined to bring the vigilantes to justice.
- DirectorMichael MannStarsAl PacinoRobert De NiroVal KilmerA group of high-end professional thieves start to feel the heat from the LAPD when they unknowingly leave a verbal clue at their latest heist.
- DirectorJohn McNaughtonStarsMichael RookerTracy ArnoldTom TowlesArriving in Chicago, Henry moves in with ex-con acquaintance Otis and starts schooling him in the ways of the serial killer.Effective and unconventionally disturbing. Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer's violence is actually fairly tame by today's standards, but it's more than that. McNaughton understands that the imagination can think of much more gruesome deaths than can be captured on film, and achieves this by showing the aftermath of deaths with sounds of the killing. This also makes it so when it does get violent, it's exhilarating. Definitely understandable that when this came out, it earned it's X-rating. The ending is dare I say sad, even though one could probably predict it in the beginning. The theme song is haunting and memorable.
14 August 2011
DATE: 2007-10-28 - DirectorSofia CoppolaStarsBill MurrayScarlett JohanssonGiovanni RibisiA faded movie star and a neglected young woman form an unlikely bond after crossing paths in Tokyo.
- DirectorKevin SmithStarsShannen DohertyJeremy LondonJason LeeBoth dumped by their girlfriends, two best friends seek refuge in the local mall.Really hilarious. The acting honestly isn't anything special, but NOBODY writes inappropriate insinuating jokes like Kevin Smith. Jason Lee steals the show in this laugh-a-minute masterpiece of juvenile proportions. Kevin Smith knows comedy.
DATE: 2008-01-15 - DirectorChristopher NolanStarsGuy PearceCarrie-Anne MossJoe PantolianoA man with short-term memory loss attempts to track down his wife's murderer.About two inches away from being my favorite movie. How many movies out there can you say have an original structure? It alternates from being told chronologically and being told backwards. I feel that it is best to go in knowing as little as possible about the movie, but I'll touch upon it briefly here. Guy Pearce plays Leonard, a man with memory disability. He is seeking vengeance for his wife, and the movie is about him playing detective, while you, the audience, is also playing detective, trying to solve the movie's puzzle, which makes it so novel. The structure, direction and acting are all completely engrossing and top-notch. It has an airtight, brilliant script and is a modern-day noir that everybody should see. Twice.
11 October 2010
DATE: 2009-02-04 - DirectorClint EastwoodStarsHilary SwankClint EastwoodMorgan FreemanFrankie, an ill-tempered old coach, reluctantly agrees to train aspiring boxer Maggie. Impressed with her determination and talent, he helps her become the best and the two soon form a close bond.Much like Hillary Swank's character, Million Dollar Baby has a lot of heart. It's Clint Eastwood's best picture winning film from 2004 about a female boxer (Swank) who is determined to make it to the top. But to reach the top, she's has to get the proper training, and she's got her eyes set on an old vetern trainer, Frankie (Eastwood), a cranky old man who refuses to train girls, and thus you have an unstoppable force meeting an immovable object. It's a bit of a standard boxing story that takes a different turn in the third act, but what elevates this above the rest is how damn good the acting and direction is. Clint is a capable director with his fair share of hits and misses, but when his direction is on, it's ON, and he's made a few movies that I just love. I also like the character he plays in here, Frankie; he's very crotchity, but still funny and lovable at the same time, and it's a role that he excels at (he plays a very similar character, Walt, in Gran Torino). I've never been a big Hillary Swank fan per se, but this is the role she was born to play, and she knocks it out of the park. The fighting is well done if you're into that, and has a gritty and authentic feel to it, but it does a lot of other good stuff as well, like examining the line between protecting someone you love and overprotecting to the point of hindering. It may not necessarily be the best film the year it came out, but it is still rock solid.
DATE: 2011-02-11 - 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.Atmospheric like no other. So an evil, manipulative preacher (Robert Mitchum) shares a cell with a man on death row for the stealing and stashing $10,000 and the killing two men (hey, it was a lot of money back then). When the preacher gets out of jail, he goes right to the dead man’s widow and her two children to charm his way to the money. You know what you’re getting into when the opening theme starts: “though the hunter in the night fills your childish heart with fright/fear is only a dream, so dream, little one, dream”. This is one of my very favorite movies, and it is a creepy masterpiece. The whole entire film, there’s this unshakable feeling of imminent danger, as you are really nervous for these two kids. This feeling is made possible because 1. it lets you know in the first act that it is the type of movie that is not afraid to pull some punches, and 2. the dominating performance given by Robert Mitchum. He is a bullshit artist to the nth degree, misusing people’s trust in his religious cover for classic misdirection, and whenever he is talking, you cannot take your eyes off of him. There’s really good shadow play with some fantastically done lighting, and whenever people are singing, it’s so damn creepy, even when it’s an innocent enough song. It’s a movie that’s the equivalent to a child’s nightmare, and for that, it will always stick with you.
- DirectorAlfred HitchcockStarsCary GrantEva Marie SaintJames MasonA New York City advertising executive goes on the run after being mistaken for a government agent by a group of foreign spies, and falls for a woman whose loyalties he begins to doubt.They don't make 'em like they used to anymore. Probably the best movie about mistaken identity out there. Hitchcock is such a great director and Cary Grant is such a great actor, when they get together, it's magic. Grant is perfect at playing smart, charming and suave characters, so the part of Roger Thornhill is tailor-made for him. Charade is still my favorite Cary Grant movie, but this is still damn fine entertainment. If you haven't seen this, you really ought to.
10 July 2011
DATE: 2008-09-03 - DirectorTodd PhillipsStarsLuke WilsonVince VaughnWill FerrellThree friends attempt to recapture their glory days by opening up a fraternity near their alma mater.
- DirectorRichard DonnerStarsGregory PeckLee RemickHarvey StephensMysterious deaths surround an American ambassador. Could the child that he is raising actually be the Antichrist? The Devil's own son?
- DirectorMilos FormanStarsJack NicholsonLouise FletcherMichael BerrymanIn the Fall of 1963, a Korean War veteran and criminal pleads insanity and is admitted to a mental institution, where he rallies up the scared patients against the tyrannical nurse.Jack Nicholson's best performance by far (and he's not going to top it). All of the mental ward patients are very convincing, and Nurse Ratched is one of the most understated villians. The story is great and is heart-warming, tragic, and every note in between. Still holds up now, over thirty years later.
DATE: 2008-02-03 - DirectorGore VerbinskiStarsJohnny DeppGeoffrey RushOrlando BloomBlacksmith Will Turner teams up with eccentric pirate "Captain" Jack Sparrow to save his love, the governor's daughter, from Jack's former pirate allies, who are now undead.A raucous good time. This movie is so goddamn popular, I shouldn't have to tell you what it's about, which should be obvious anyway: pirates. Johnny Depp plays the iconic Captain Jack Sparrow, the staggering rum-swilling pirate trying to reclaim his old ship, The Black Pearl. The governor's daughter (Keira Knightly) gets mixed up with the undead pirates that currently control The Black Pearl, so a blacksmith that is head over heals for her (Orlando Bloom) teams up with Captain Jack to get her back. This IS the series that firmly cemented Johnny Depp as an A-list actor; sure he had done a few good Tim Burton films before this, but this was the first movie where everyone lost their goddamn minds over him, and rightfully so if you ask me, he's pitch-perfect for this role. The movie itself has great pacing to it; it's never at any point boring and always aims to entertain. It has that epic feel about it without ever taking itself too seriously. Calling this first Pirates movie a modern day classic isn't too much of a stretch for me.
DATE: 2010-02-06 - DirectorAlfred HitchcockStarsAnthony PerkinsJanet LeighVera MilesA Phoenix secretary embezzles $40,000 from her employer's client, goes on the run and checks into a remote motel run by a young man under the domination of his mother.A mandatory check-in for every filmgoer. So becoming a criminal on a whim, a young woman (Janet Leigh) steals $40,000 when the opportunity presents itself and hits the road. When she spends a rainy night at the Bates hotel, however, she meets Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins), a young man who has taken care of his dominating mother for far too long, and things take a turn for the worse, and that’s putting it lightly. It’s nothing short of a masterpiece, but what else do you expect from classic Hitchcock? He is arguably the most intelligent filmmaker of all time, and he knows how to keep the suspense level ratcheted up to eleven. Taking a step back of how engaging a film it is as a movie, from a technical standpoint, it’s hugely impressive. There have been books written on the shower scene alone, and rightfully so; it contains some of the most intense 45 seconds caught on film. In terms of storytelling, Hitchcock breaks traditional narrative expectations with Janet Leigh, and it completely works. The score of Psycho is phenomenal; you can practically feel every hair on your body stand up when Bernard Herrmann wants it to. Psycho gives us one of the most memorable characters of all time with the disturbing Norman Bates, and Anthony Perkins does a wondrous job of capturing the psyche of that character. This really should be required viewing for everybody.
- DirectorAlfred HitchcockStarsJames StewartGrace KellyWendell CoreyA wheelchair-bound photographer spies on his neighbors from his Greenwich Village courtyard apartment window and, despite the skepticism of his fashion-model girlfriend, becomes convinced one of them has committed murder.A tenant above suspicion. Rear Window is about a successful photographer with a broken leg (James Stewart), and he is confined to his apartment in a wheelchair while he makes his recovery. It’s not like he has TV or anything, so he passes the time by watching his neighbors carry out their days through his window. But when evidence begins to stockpile that a husband may have murdered his wife across the courtyard, he begins to become obsessed. Out of all of Hitchcock’s movies that I have seen thus far (I need to see more, as I have only seen seven), this is my favorite of his and is one of my very favorite movies of all time. It is a classic in every sense of the word; it is intelligently crafted with smart photography, and is mandatory viewing for anybody who says that they like movies. The cinematography is masterful, and you end up transposing yourself into Stewart’s wheelchair, and seeing his neighbors as he sees them. Hitchcock is so successful in what he is trying to do here, and that is to play on the taboo of voyeurism. It’s something everybody loves to do, but nobody admits to doing. Being the proverbial fly on the wall and seeing the actions that nobody is suppose to see, it’s almost perverse, but it’s something that we, as a culture, are fascinated by, and it’s a comment on film as a medium in and of itself. It really is a masterpiece, and it’s an intricate thriller that you are continually fed pieces of the overall puzzle in utmost effectiveness.
- DirectorDarren AronofskyStarsEllen BurstynJared LetoJennifer ConnellyThe drug-induced utopias of four Coney Island people are shattered when their addictions run deep..Double-Barrel Buckshot to the Chest. Being that Black Swan is taking its sweet ass time to get to Jacksonville, I wanted an Aronofsky fix, so I popped Requiem for a Dream in for another viewing. It's not a film that I frequently revisit, as it is a downright downer of a film. It’s an addiction drama that focuses on four people: a young drug entrepreneur (Jared Leto), his mother (Ellen Burstyn), his friend (Marlon Wayans) and his girlfriend (Jennifer Connelly). This is a hugely effective film that should be mandatory viewing, as it is a very important movie. It’s about that unattainable American Dream that is always in sight, but just out of reach. All of these stories are downward spirals, and hoo boy, that rabbit hole just keeps going deeper. These stories reach the point of being living nightmares, the mother growing dependant on her diet pills in particular. It's a more effective horror movie than 95% of the films out there brandishing that genre title. This is a movie that is sure to scar; it has a doozy of a third act goes for the jugular. Requiem for a Dream is innovative filmmaking, and is an art film that intelligently put together.
- 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.
- DirectorJohn DahlStarsMatt DamonEdward NortonGretchen MolA young, reformed gambler must return to playing high stakes poker to help a friend pay off loan sharks, while balancing his relationship with his girlfriend and his commitments to law school.
- DirectorRoman PolanskiStarsMia FarrowJohn CassavetesRuth GordonA young couple trying for a baby moves into an aging, ornate apartment building on Central Park West, where they find themselves surrounded by peculiar neighbors.
- DirectorAkira KurosawaStarsToshirô MifuneTakashi ShimuraKeiko TsushimaFarmers from a village exploited by bandits hire a veteran samurai for protection, who gathers six other samurai to join him.Critically acclaimed for a reason. Akira Kurosawa gives us some of the deepest characterizations on screen played by Toshirô Mifune and Takashi Shimura. It's essentially three movies in one: the recruiting of the seven samurai, the preperation for the bandits, and the actual battle itself. The 208 minute runtime may be a turn off for some, but believe me, it's all quality. Some of the most beautiful camera work and direction of all-time.
- DirectorAlex CoxStarsGary OldmanChloe WebbDavid HaymanThe relationship between Sid Vicious, bassist for British punk group Sex Pistols, and his girlfriend Nancy Spungen is portrayed.
- DirectorGuy RitchieStarsJason StathamBrad PittStephen GrahamUnscrupulous boxing promoters, violent bookmakers, a Russian gangster, incompetent amateur robbers and supposedly Jewish jewelers fight to track down a priceless stolen diamond.Absolutely brillant. Tongue in cheek sarcasm doesn't come better than it does in Snatch. A very, very stylish sequel to Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, this movie is what started my mancrush on Jason Statham. My favorite comedy behind The Big Lebowski.
31 December 2009
23 October 2010
DATE: 2007-08-16 - DirectorJack HillStarsLon Chaney Jr.Carol OhmartQuinn K. RedekerA caretaker devotes himself to three demented siblings after their father's death.
- DirectorJonas ÅkerlundStarsJason SchwartzmanJohn LeguizamoPatrick FugitA drug dealer introduces one of his customers, a 'speed freak', to the man who runs the meth lab. A crazy three-day adventure ensues.
- DirectorMatt GoodmanMorgan StoneStarsStephen LynchDrew LynchMark TeichCaptures one of today's most original singer-comedians in his natural environment: onstage.
- 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.Has aged remarkably well. You have this guy, Travis Bickle (Robert De Niro), and right off the bat, you can tell that something is wrong with him. His conversations with people don't go the way that normal conversations go, and he also suffers from isolation and insomnia, which he cures by getting a job as a New York City taxi driver. Travis grows continually more disgusted with the world he sees around himself, until he ultimately decides to do something about it. This movie works so well because of the level of talent behind it. You've got director (and actor, for an excellent cameo) Martin Scorsese on the top of his game and acting legend Robert De Niro on the top of his. It is an extremely gritty look at the underbelly of New York City street life, so gritty that they actually had to tone back a scene just to get an R-rating. It's an American classic and an inspiration to a number of other movies, such as Falling Down. Required viewing.
DATE: 2009-11-17 - DirectorTrey ParkerStarsTrey ParkerMatt StoneElle RussPopular Broadway actor Gary Johnston is recruited by the elite counter-terrorism organization Team America: World Police. As the world begins to crumble around him, he must battle with terrorists, celebrities and falling in love.
- DirectorJohn CarpenterStarsKurt RussellWilford BrimleyKeith DavidA research team in Antarctica is hunted by a shape-shifting alien that assumes the appearance of its victims.Science fiction suspense like no other. It's set on Antarctic base inhabited by scientists. They find an obliterated Norwegian base nearby, with everybody burnt to a crisp, nobody alive to question, and a huge block of ice with a big chunk missing. They go back to their base and learn about what actually destroyed that camp: a shape-shifting alien that can perfectly imitate anybody it absorbs, but it already may be too late by the time they learn this. It's a classic for a reason. The whole movie, you're right on the same level as all of the scientists; you have no idea who you can trust, because any one of them can be the thing! Really great performances are given by everyone; the acting makes it so much more intense. John Carpenter takes his time setting the mood, never rushing the pacing so it has a great build up, and never showing you more than you need to see. A couple of the effects are a bit dated, but they're almost all practicals (always a good thing in the horror genre), and a number of them make you feel queasy because they look so bloody disgusting. I absolutely love this movie; it is glorious.
DATE: 2010-04-11 - DirectorDanny BoyleStarsEwan McGregorEwen BremnerJonny Lee MillerRenton, deeply immersed in the Edinburgh drug scene, tries to clean up and get out despite the allure of drugs and the influence of friends.Danny Boyle's directing is nothing short of genius in this well paced story about heroin. It's very different then the usual anti-drug stories because it shows the fun side of the drugs, too. Renton says at one point in the beginning: "People think it's all about misery and desperation and death and all that shit which is not to be ignored, but what they forget is the pleasure of it. Otherwise we wouldn't do it." Has a very good message. Subtitles are almost a necessity, as the Scottish accents are extremely thick.
DATE: 2007-09-16 - DirectorDavid LynchStarsSheryl LeeRay WiseMädchen AmickLaura Palmer's harrowing final days are chronicled one year after the murder of Teresa Banks, a resident of Twin Peaks' neighboring town.Dark, moody and surrealistic, even by Lynchian standards. I have not seen the television series, but I really have been meaning to. Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me covers everything from drugs, murder, and schizophrenia to rape, incest and sexual abuse, so obviously it's not going to be everybody's bag, but I, being such a huge David Lynch fan, have a special place for it. This probably isn't the best place to start for people trying to get into Lynch, but it's definitely a worthy chapter and has a terrific, brooding soundtrack. Also contains the scariest scene I have seen.
DATE: 2008-04-03 - DirectorBryan SingerStarsKevin SpaceyGabriel ByrneChazz PalminteriThe sole survivor of a pier shoot-out tells the story of how a notorious criminal influenced the events that began with five criminals meeting in a seemingly random police lineup.Who is Keyser Soze? With little else to go on, police vigorously question Roger 'Verbal' Cint (Kevin Spacey), a cripple, small time criminal who is the only man left standing after a crime that has all authorities baffled. There's a destroyed boat and 27 men dead, including four hardened criminals. The Usual Suspects is very much a guy movie, but it manages to do so nontraditionally: it does it not with an excess of guns and explosions, but instead almost entirely with smartly written, macho, tough guy dialogue. The Usual Suspects is renown for its world famous reveal, and most people have been pretty good at not spoiling the twist, as it is truly one of the best and most effective rug pullers you'll ever see. And even if this isn't your first viewing, it still makes for a fun watch because of the all-star cast and the super-tight script. Do be forewarned, though, because it is a very dense and compact 100 minutes, so you do have to play close attention, because it doesn't hold your hand through it. While every guy in this is great, from Gabriel Byrne to Chazz Palminteri, from Stephen Baldwin to even Kevin Pollak, it is Kevin Spacey that steals the show, and he just knocks it out of the park in typical Kevin Spacey fashion. It's a terrific film, and you are in for a real treat if this is your first exposure to it.
DATE: 2011-03-14 - DirectorAlfred HitchcockStarsJames StewartKim NovakBarbara Bel GeddesA former San Francisco police detective juggles wrestling with his personal demons and becoming obsessed with the hauntingly beautiful woman he has been hired to trail, who may be deeply disturbed.
- DirectorJames MangoldStarsJoaquin PhoenixReese WitherspoonGinnifer GoodwinA chronicle of country music legend Johnny Cash's life, from his early days on an Arkansas cotton farm to his rise to fame with Sun Records in Memphis, where he recorded alongside Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Carl Perkins.
- 19641h 35mPG8.3 (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.