Don't Stop Dragging the Lake

I'm at least a step closer to furthering my education. Though it was probably a folly to do so while I should have been more focused on studying, I was not restricted from watching quite a few pictures while I was incommunicado. Be prepared for the deluge. It's less threatening than it appears, at least early on, because despite my notes I'm still vague on some of these due to the amount of time since I watched them – thus, reaffirming the use of a record like this. I've also contemplated working around with the format a bit. It all depends on my fickle nature.

2/25 Coco Before Chanel (2009)

Audrey Tautou remains completely adorable in this period drama. Coco Chanel is not the happy-go-lucky type of girl, but Tautou manages to maintain Coco's indomitable spirit by being an impertinent hardass when the situation demands. Do I even need to emphasize the great costume design?

2/25 In the Bedroom (2001)

This is what would come to pass if Se7en were set in an upper middle class, rural family. I feel the most sympathy for Marisa Tomei's character, and after the "bad shit" occurs we rarely see her. Her lack of presence could very well be the reason I have increased pity for her. While it's hard to say much about the other characters and their eventual development and motives, I will conclude by saying that there's no lack of hardhearted badassery and massive helpings of mopey self-destruction to pass around, especially from Tom Wilkinson. P.S. Ethan from LOST is always a creepy mutha-effer.

2/26 Diabolique (1955)
Maybe I shan't become a teacher after viewing this classic mystery – at least not if my headmaster is a douchestack and a half. The friendly old private eye guy, clichéd as he might be, was the real hero. Dude wasn't phased by any of the growing nonsense. There's a brilliant fake out that is the sole element of the plot, though I could have easily done without the overwrought trick of having our poor heroine screaming and fainting all the time. Simone Signoret was the surprise takeaway from my viewing; I'll be talking more about her below, but despite not being very heroic she is refreshingly all business next to the worried antics of Mrs. Schoolmarm.

2/27 Crazy Heart (2009)
I managed to get to the theater to see Crazy Heart before the Oscars. I had plenty of expectations of great character acting and possibly forced music performances. Jeff Bridges is an idol of mine, thus I feel I should mention in the interest of full disclosure that it's going to be nearly impossible for me to say anything negative about his performances. When naming my favorite types of music I probably won't give much thought to bluegrass, folk, or country-western music but I'm always finding myself surprised by the sheer variety within those genres. Colin Farrell, of all people, pulls off an astonishing musical number. I was alarmed at the uplifting nature of the film--there was a bit of unbelievable shark jumping to get to the ending, but that's somewhat forgiven for the feeling I was left with at the conclusion.

2/27 The Damned United (2009)
I'm finding that I am more and more becoming an anglophile. Michael Sheen is a good 20% of the reason I think the Brits are so charming (other catalysts of my love will be detailed later). I know zilch about futball but didn't mind sitting through The Damned United. Sheen has a Ph. D. in charisma and I'm the naughty grad student jumping into his metaphorical bed. His recent stint on 30 Rock was confusing, as he wasn't allowed to flex his overdeveloped charm muscles, but in The Damned United he's impossible to hate. This is juxtaposed with half the cast of characters looking down their noses at poor, handsome Michael. Sheen's character – which I ignorantly just assume is accurately based upon someone important in soccer lore – managed to return some of that vitriol. Surprisingly, this leads him to places of power while his friends all end up hating him! Wow! This isn't a movie about underdog sports teams, it's a character drama! The genuine surprise I felt at this turn of events – surprise based upon my wrong prejudgment – made the third act shine more than the cute lead up.

3/01 Standard Operating Procedure (2008)
The shocking headlines concerning Abu Ghraib arrived in 2004. Documentary film maker Errol Morris came out with his latest work almost four years later. That's not quiet house burning speed. His slant on the events at the infamous American prison in Iraq comes almost exclusively from those that were there or directly involved with the official investigation. There's the sense that what happened was wrong, but also that nagging feeling that these silly kids were just doing what they were told. I can't say that I'm entirely sure how I feel about the events on the ground all over Iraq, but it was worth taking the time to uncomfortably shift through the stories told in Standard Operating Procedure, even if it only succeeded in making me less confident that there is any pure side to this mess.

3/03 Hunger (2009)
This was more difficult for me to watch than the previous film on this list. Throughout the viewing I was focused on the horrible condition that the actors forced upon their bodies. I know Hunger is foreign, not funny or filled with action, has no recognizable stars--though Liam Cunningham has the same beautiful Irish brogue as Liam Neeson, which was confusing for a few moments--and spends all its time hitting you over the head the absolutely shitty conditions (literally, at points) these dissidents were forced to endure. Taking all of that into account, there's no reason to not see this movie. The acting, especially at the beginning of the third act, where two of the characters talk for almost twenty minutes without a cut, is staggering in its intensity. The palate that the cinematographer utilizes is drab and gray, but there's plenty of poignant moments; one scene oversells the lonely prison existence of the characters, but I found myself re-watching it more than once. Though not a fun film, Hunger is nearly perfect.

3/04 The Invention of Lying (2009)
Another annual Ricky Gervais vehicle. I'm not sure how well his Hollywood films do here in their country of origin (nor elsewhere), but I found a slight stench of miss-marketing. The script probably reads better than it plays out, but that's just me being a typical gigantic snob. The premise didn't excite me the first twelve times I contemplated seeing this in the theater, but Gervais and his myriad superstar friends pull out something a few levels beneath profound, and not at all slapstick or burlesque (that's my dirty mind at work, knowing I'd most likely not be able to do anything but abuse the power of lies). Fun drinking game: anytime you see an Oscar nominated/winning actor in a minor, single-scene role, cleanse your stomach with an entire bottle of cheap vodka. You'll need at least three. Re-watch the movie when you get out of the hospital.

3/09 Big Fan (2009)
This movie made me feel fantastically uncomfortable. Big Fan is yet another sports themed movie that has very little to do with sports. Patton Oswalt is a super nerd: the type of person I secretly can't stand. The type of person I secretly might be (psst, I have a blog about all the recent movie's I've seen). It's great to see some range from Oswalt. Dollhouse and Caprica have been graced with his presence lately, in less humorous roles, yet here he's a totally different beast: angry, lonely, and vain. I'm getting slightly emotional just thinking about this movie. I didn't even think it was that special. Whatever. I'm allowed to practice some self-deception on my own list when I feel the need.

3/10 Capitalism: A Love Story (2009)
A Michael Moore documentary that is everything you would expect it to be. Timely, yet quickly dated. Emotionally manipulative. At times, silly. A documentary will always have the mark of its director, but you're getting a little predictable now, Michael. That being said, I enjoyed my time here. Moore is a craftsman, despite what you might think of him (haters gonna hate). Anyone that's attempting to find real investigative reporting on the financial collapse of 2008 can probably skip it.

3/15 Sound and Fury (2000)
Deaf culture is surprisingly vocal and angry. This is the main thing I've learned from this decade-old documentary on the differing choices parents of deaf children are forced to make when it comes to possibly giving their children the chance to be able to hear. The choice sounds obvious on the surface, but if this movie succeeds at anything it's making you feel like an idiot when it comes to knowing what being deaf means to lots of people. Also, the 1990s were terrifying.

3/24 Best in Show (2000)
From what I've been told, this is Christopher Guest's best witty comedy. I've got bad memories in my youth of my favorite nature shows being interrupted by afternoon-long dog shows on the Discovery Channel and Animal Planet. I love dogs as much as anyone, but to me these shows exist in the same realm as pre-teen beauty pageants. They're somewhat frightening, alien, and unnecessary. The dogs don't even perform, as far as I've ever seen, they're just blessed with particular genes. I've gone off on a rant and it's obvious that I exercised plenty of schadenfreude during my viewing. Behold further (NSFW?) canine show insanity in this Telegraph article.

Bright Young Things (2003)

Here's another chunk of why I love Great Britain. Many of my recent favorites are all present in the dramatis personae, most of them in top form: Michael Sheen, James McAvoy, Emily Mortimer, Fenella Woolgar, Peter O'Toole, Jim Broadbent, and David Tennant (as well as Canadian/American Dan Aykroyd) share their time in the spotlight. Every character is fleshed out and lovely even as we only get to spend limited time with each of them. The protagonist, played by Stephen Campbell Moore, leads us through this comedy of errors with unsure panache (oxymoron!). And what ties this wartime feature together? Stephen Fry in the writer and directorial chair. Be still, my beating heart.

3/28 The Hangover (2009)
The months-long wait to see this popularly requested movie via Netflix allowed the hype to constantly assemble. It's unfair to the film and to me that it doesn't live up to a lot that build up. There's great shooting and framing here, something I wouldn't be surprised to see in a Coen brothers comedy or drama, and the physical humor is hysterical. Waiting for Zach Galifianakis to open his mouth was the major hook that dragged me through the entire film. For all other parts of the movie I rarely laughed, failing the true litmus test for comedies.

3/29 The Man from Earth (2007)
Another reviewer mentioned that this is like My Dinner with Andre with a Star Trek script. I've not yet seen Andre, and I'm probably the least among my friends when it comes to Trek adoration, but it seems an accurate description from where I'm sitting: The Man from Earth didn't provide me with any grand pleasure and was just a series of conversations between unique individuals. The film's writer, prolific sci-fi author and screenwriter Jerome Bixby, had Star Trek and Twilight Zone credits to his name, and I wonder if he would've been pleased with this adaptation of his script. The only actor I found believable was John Billingsley, also of Star Trek infamy, as the alien doctor on Enterprise (and recently seen as the parish mortician in the first season of True Blood), but I was probably just distracted by his signature side-mouth lisp. The story asks for a high degree of suspension of disbelief, and that's fine, but it still manages to fail when it doesn't concern itself with tangential facts. The historian in me is easily angered, I'll admit, but take heed: Columbus was not original in his belief of a round Earth! The movie is just ultimately boring to anyone that's read a book or two.

3/31 Army of Shadows (1969)
This is the first of Jean-Pierre Melville's movies that I've had the chance to watch. It's maybe not obvious when watching the film that the director had firsthand experience with the French resistance, but the narrative, setting, and impulses of the characters all feel accurately gritty. Simone Signoret plays another no-nonsense gal, though she's more morally attractive here than in Diabloque. We see little of any debilitating attacks on the National Socialists and more of the terror, boredom, and mischance of those fighting for French liberty. Being a member of the resistance requires cruelty toward one's fellow countrymen and comrades, a tragic lesson that the film does well at illuminating.

3/31 Rocky (1976)
I once tried to watch Rocky when I was in my early teens and had to take it back to the rental store before I was able to finish viewing it. I believe that I found it very boring. My recent attempt at seeing it left me with a great appreciation for Netflix and the leisure time for second chances. I've flirted with the idea of practicing the sweet science for exercise and stress relief, but I've never made the jump. It looks painful, and I'm a sobbing coward. In any case, this interminable American classic isn't really worried with the life of a boxer. Rocky is simply about being an underdog and having a love for life. I don't think I'll ever take the time to watch the numerous sequels as I don't want to ruin the good feeling I've acquired from the original.

3/31 Aguirre: The Wrath of God (1972)
The irony here is that I saw a still image from a scene in Aguirre years back and was ignorant of the source (the frame in question is the one with the close up on the anteater with the subtitle, “This animal sleeps its whole life away”). It's a cute image out of context, but once I saw it within the film it made a different sort of sense. I'm not just picking out the symbolism of this scene simply because it makes a somewhat interesting story, but because it actually paints an accurate picture of this early Werner Herzog masterpiece. The plot is completely sleepy and dreamlike, as the conquistadors find themselves trapped in an alien world and grappling with one another in a slowly unraveling tragedy. The scene, incidentally, is also the only time we see Aguirre being completely kind and pleasant.

3/31 Fitzcarraldo (1982)
I thought I might be in for another downer when I fired up a second Herzog film after seeing Aguirre, but this tale is absolutely sentimental and gorgeous. I can't imagine how much this film must have cost to make; Herzog is truly a mad genius. “YOU'LL LAUGH! YOU'LL CRY!” is an accurate, if overdone, tagline.

4/3 How to Train Your Dragon (2010)
When I first saw publicity media for How to Train Your Dragon, I was horrified. Animated Dreamworks films have got a lot to prove to please me. I cringe when I witness that horrible, iconic raised-eyebrow/half-grin face, and I take great pride in being an elitist Pixar fanboy. There was a healthy dose of hype and positive reviews for How to Train Your Dragon, though I still remained hesitant. I can gladly say the movie surpassed both my low expectations and the various hype I'd seen. Comparing this to Avatar seems pretty popular, as they both have amazing and over-advertised use of 3D, and both movies have a lot in common with FernGully (though the vign diagram wouldn't be evenly organized). The story is just as predictable as Avatar's, yet I wasn't as offended here because I cared about the characters and the world of HtTYD immensely. I wasn't surprised when I learned that much of the same creative team behind Lilo and Stich was employed in the production of the movie; there's a fluid realness to the feline movement of both Stich and the dragon, Toothless. The voice acting (as absurd as Scottish vikings might be) is superb. It's really noteworthy that I had some amount of adoration for the minor, archetypical characters just because they seemed mostly real, though still not entirely fleshed out. I've not passed any final judgment on the growing trend of 3D films, but I completely accept their viability in animated family pictures. It's nice to see Pixar being given a run for its money when it comes to digital artistry because at the end of the day the entire art form, the artists, and moviegoers all profit.

Thrill and Fear

Sick days are no fun when you're actually sick. Well, they're a little fun. This horrible cough has given me an extra powerful case of the Mondays that has lasted until hump day and left me lounging in my bathrobe most of this week. I battled my way through it with two gallons of OJ, three different OTC decongestants, and the guilty pleasure of the entire first season of a gritty teen drama. Those British teenage models that make up the cast of Skins can make a guy feel like his erstwhile high school and collegiate days were much lonelier than they truly were. I got plenty of vicarious living done, and of course nothing worthwhile to speak of was accomplished with my time (unless you choose to count my feeble attempt to not cough on everyone that came into the book store these last two days). So, here we are.

2/18 The House of the Devil (2009) DVD, 4/5 stars, RT: 87%

I frighten easily. I can't watch Jurassic Park today without a younger part of me feel the need to let out a high pitched cry whenever the velociraptors are present on screen (more embarrassingly, I continue to have to fight the tiny urge to crawl behind the couch whenever I see Ursula from The Little Mermaid). I know a lot of people fail to see the fun in getting scared, and when I'm being rational I'm usually well entrenched in that camp. I'm fascinated by the artistic design behind that indescribable creepy feeling you get with some movies, though. Forgive me the pretense here, there's really no other way I can begin to explain my infatuation with The House of the Devil. There's something I have to get out of the way here before I go further. Nearly everyone that discusses this movie mentions how deliberately dated it looks. I'm hardly an expert on 1980's low budget horror films (hell, I've never seen a Jason or Elm Street movie in my life) but if you showed me this movie without telling me it was made last year even I would have guessed it was from the decade of big hair. But wait, don't associate this movie with the cheesy quality you more than likely immediately conjure up when you think about the 1980's. House of the Devil has something to say about the fears most Americans had in the decade before the fall of Soviet Union, securing it in the tradition of Satanic horror films from the period. Although, yes, there's plenty of tight jeans and teased hair here as well. The tense atmosphere the director has created here for our lone, every-woman, college student doesn't need to be dated. I've honestly not seen it done much better than it's shown here (excluding Hitchcock, naturally). There's no early tease of something sinister or the seemingly requisite shots of naughty young adults being murdered, the tension is all a product of the slowly building arc of the plot. I found myself more than slightly interested in the plight of the protagonist as I was bluntly shown her dreams for a place of her own in the opening scenes (a dream which I share with her). This issue, and the associated money question, is what leads her into her desperate, demonic situation. It's believable that she's willing to house-sit for the eventual creepy old family because the actress and the rest of the film's creators have illustrated the desire of the character to be independent. The obvious theme of doing something risky now for valued safety in the future is done in a satisfying way. My one major knock against this film is the less understandable actions of the main character after she's been exposed to some big deal breakers soon thereafter. There wouldn't be a movie otherwise and it wouldn't be a horror film if I didn't cringe at the momentary stupidity of the heroine, so I'm mostly okay with it. This allows me to point out that the audience doesn't see the first absolutely shocking event of the film until nearly half way through the movie. The methodical pace of the film is the real joy here, the seemingly overdone story and characters are just the trappings. I know it's hard for most people to give completely unknown movies their time and energy, but I'm really glad I took the chance this time. There's really stellar work to be seen here, even if you're afraid of door-opening dinosaurs and obese, cartoon sea witches.

2/19 Jaws (1975) DVD, 4/5 stars, RT: 100%

I'd never seen Jaws until last week. Pop culture references flew by me while I stood there with a stupid grin on my face. No longer. Bigger boats and bad hats, Harry. I get it now. My life is much closer to being complete. Do I really need to say more? I've got to be the last person alive to see this. Here's the typical: It's cool that it takes so long to actually see the shark, the acting is pretty wonderful, and the story is totally lame.

There's a test coming up next month that's going to be the focus of most of my attention. I don't like the idea that I'm just making excuses to get out of work-- I would like nothing better than to spend more of my time watching movies. This blogger project has improved my writing enough that I have some confidence in my abilities for the exam. I'll be back afterwards, hopefully still in good spirits. There's still room for improvement when I have the time to indulge in this silly little hobby. Thanks to everyone that gave me advice and overly solicited praise. I love you.

You're My Picture On the Wall

All right. I'm back. I didn't see much this past week and had an unusually eventful Superbowl Sunday at the end of the last week. I think I slept half the afternoon. Here's the last two weeks, then, on this Valentine's evening.

2/2 Whatever Works (2009) DVD, 3/5 stars, RT: 47%

Oh, Woody Allen. You've finally left me feelingly slightly confused. You too, Larry David. And you're both in New York again. What went wrong? I think I might not have been ready for the lack of concern any of the characters have with the absurdity that transpires. Characters transform and the viewer is given no warning. Everything works out in the end, of course, and there's a lot of good laughs. If I hadn't expected something (I honestly don't know what, exactly) from Allen and David, I don't think I would have been so down on this movie by the end of it. There's just tons of better material out there from both of these genius writers.

2/2 Rebecca (1940) DVD, 5/5 stars, RT: 100%

A classic disturbing love story told through the eyes of the master of suspense. There's really nothing else you'd need to know to watch this. It's a masterpiece. I felt that Joan Fontaine might be overacting a bit, especially with today's more evolved standards, but she's still the star here. Laurence Olivier is also great, as one would expect, but he doesn't take as much screen time. His emotive reactions to his poor wife's attempts to love him are perfectly jagged. I cringed at every little mistake she made and how it affected him. I've not read Daphne du Maurier's novel so I can't comment on any plot inconsitencies, but it is stricking how well this fits in with the Alfred Hitchcock pantheon with its twists and flawed characters. I'm not saying anything new here, but I'm really in love with this movie.

2/3 You, the Living (2007) Netflix Watch Instantly, 1/5 stars, RT: 100%

I forget why this movie was added to my queue at all. When it's something I've never heard of it usually means it's been recommended by a friend or other trusted source. It's a newish release and recently added to Netflix's Watch Instantly program, and I found myself watching it. You, the Living is a critically adored Swedish film that is achingly gloomy. The plot involves a set characters with individual stories that are loosely tied together. The point of the movie is to make you understand how shitty life can be, I guess? And it's supposed to be ironic, but I mostly just wanted to be done with it the entire time. All of the characters are disgusting in a pathetic way, you're supposed to feel sorry for them but I couldn't help being elitist towards their insecurity, which made me feel even worse for being such a dick. I couldn't feel empathy at all for them and thus became bored. Goethe's poems are an inspiration for the vignettes and I could see the obvious Sturm und Drang yet I just wasn't interested. Most scenes have a fixed camera that only rarely moves, so each scene is usually just one extended take. I've always enjoyed this, it's just a shame that it had to be tied up in a movie which I didn't care for.

2/4 The English Patient (1996) Netflix Watch Instantly, 5/5 stars, RT: 84%

I have vague memories of my childhood when this movie was causing a buzz. I know it was the butt of jokes and has been seen as the ultimate modern Hollywood movie for melodrama. I can see why this is. And knowing this for so long I should have seen it much sooner. I avoided any other details about the movie, which is lucky, and saw this unspoiled. Every role is acted just how I would want it, and the ending is predictable, but I was really surprised at the layering of subplots between the two main settings. I have a love/hate relationship with the work of Anthony Minghella, but this squarely lands on the love side. Since watching I've learned that there's been some critical controversy over the actions of some of the characters with claims that they're much too selfish to be relateable. They do hurt other people that don't deserve the pain, but don't we all?

2/5 New York, I Love You (2009) Netflix Watch Instantly, 3/5 stars, RT: 40%

The next in what looks to become a series of City Name, I Love You. Paris, Je T'aime was such a wonderful collection of short love stories produced by some of my favorite auteurs. New York, I Love You has no one I'm familar with in the directing roles (except Brett Ratner, eww) and slightly lower tier actors (Bradley Cooper, Hayden Christensen, Shia LeBeouf, Orlando Bloom). The story with Bloom and one story with an aged couple (the only one seemingly not set in Manhattan) are the only ones I can claim to have really enjoyed. Unfortunately the movie does little to explore the city and focuses a lot on yuppies smoking outside of bars. New York has so much more to offer. It's over quickly, though, and was worth watching despite nothing special of note.

2/5 Role Models (2008) DVD, 4/5 stars, RT: 76%

This is another Judd Apatow style comedy (this one directed by Dain Wain) with a recongizeable cast. It doesn't overly offend and is pretty safe all around. You know the pattern the movie's going to have: individuals get thrust into a slightly shitty situation that turns out to be slightly awesome, friendships are tested, loyalty saves the day. Throw in hundreds of great jokes and quick dialogue and you're set. Jane Lynch and Bobb'e J. Thompson are the real stars, though Sean William Scott was also endearing (more so than Paul Rudd's character, interestingly). You're not missing anything profound by not seeing it, but it's entertainment to time wasted ratio is worth it if you've exhausted other classic comedies.

2/12 Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2001) Netflix Watch Instantly, 4/5 stars, RT: 93%

Wow. The synposis for this movie is pretty unbelievable. I'm feeling lazy enough right now that I'm not even going to attempt to do it justice. The basics: Transexual punk rocker Hedwig's life is pretty shitty. The plot meanders, as is the case with musicals. Hedwig herself is completely compelling because she is a total rock star. The music is wistfully in tune with the 70's pop rock that the main character grew up listening to in East Berlin. The conclusion is a fake out of sorts, but felt worthy enough to me. Hedwig is just fun.

2/13 Adventureland (2009) DVD, 5/5 stars, RT: 88%

Another recent favorite of mine that I've given another viewing. I don't often do this unless I'm sharing my passion with others, which was the case here. This is my third viewing of the movie though, and I had fears that it would start to appear dull to me. I got slight premonitions of such, but I'm still going to keep a small place in my heart for this overlooked and misintereprated movie. I'm glad that the audience of friends I shared this with seemed to like it. When I first saw Adventureland I felt really strange about it. It's surprising how heartfelt it is. I couldn't help but love it. I used more hyperbole than usual when I first explained it to friends, and though I can be more critical now, I'm still glad my enthusiasm convinced many of them to see it and that I was able to share it with more friends this weekend. It's always worth multiple viewing for the great music alone, anyhow.

A Sea Change

As accurately predicted this past week was much too full of other forms of time wasting for me to view any movies. I feel slightly dirty for this. Let it not be said that I don't prioritize my time. I even managed to get some studying done. Goodness!

There's one movie I saw, though I've seen it many many many many many times before. Many.

The last time was probably when I was twelve.

1/30 Hook (1991) DVD, 5/5 stars, RT: 22%

Okay this is totally a case of looking through rose tinted glasses. It's impossible for me to be objective here. I've already made pretty clear that I've seen this movie dozens of times growing up. Thinking about it now I'm not sure that it was Robin Williams, Dustin Hoffman, or the story that so enthralled me. It was most likely the Lost Boys. Every scene with the orphans is a picture perfect example of what you wanted to do as a kid but never could. This is what is appealing about Never Never Land and the entire Peter Pan story, but Hook shows the kids skateboarding while playing basketball, getting into food fights with what looks like rainbow-food-colored mash potatoes, and utterly destroying pirates with eggs, marbles, paint guns, and other myriad inspired childlike contraptions. If you're ten years old you're going to love this. Now I have to be the grumpy grown up and comment on everything in the movie that doesn't hold up with my nostalgia. I remember Captain Hook himself being much more terrifying. Dustin Hoffman has grown on me as an actor as I've matured, even as I've realized that most of his roles are fairly standard fluff. He just completely lives inside his characters. It's interesting that he's next to Robin Williams as Peter Pan here since they're similar actors yet Williams is always seen as the oddball goof and Hoffman is considered a serious performer. This view might just be my own skewed angle on the way things are, but it's worth noting because I honestly didn't even realize before this viewing that it was Hoffman playing the titular role here (I also forgot that this was a Steven Spielberg joint). I always remember being bored at points when I was a kid (it's a long movie), but now I pick up on a lot of puns and references I never understood as a youngster. Yet the movie also seems like it might be muddling for a new viewer. If I hadn't known each scene and line before it occurred I'm not sure that I would have enjoyed the pacing. I'm nitpicking, though. I'm going to stop being a critic since I've demonstrated that I'm grasping to find fault with this because of my disclosed bias. I watched Hook with friends that seemed to share my love for the film, and this is really the best way to see old favorites. The movie isn't in my top ten favorites but I'll certainly have more fond memories watching this than any other movie. Bangorang!

I've noticed these getting longer. I'm either making up for not watching as many films this time around, getting a big head as no one's knocked me down yet, or just enjoying this much more than I thought I would when I started. Probably a bit of each. I'll work on being concise. And on watching something new next week.

Until then, friends: to the second star to the right and straight on 'til morning (I can't believe I associated this solely with Star Trek before last night).

And the Hits Just Keep On Coming

It's not been a great week. Mr. O'Brien pleaded that us young folks shouldn't be cynical and I'm trying my best! Honestly, there's only one thing I'm worried about. It concerns one person and he knows who he is. I hope you get better, my friend.

For now, onward with the healing powers of scheduled lists.

1/18 Medicine for Melancholy (2008) DVD, 4/5 stars, RT: 88%

I have a soft spot for small movies that deal with the entwined lives of a pair of lovers. Okay, it's trite for me to say I have a soft spot for any sort of movie, since doing this entire thing proves that I have a soft spot for almost all movies. It's true though. I can almost nail down when I first became slightly unhinged for the world of film: Richard Linklater's Before Sunrise. I bring this up because both of these movies are very similar in their take on new romance. The focus is still only on two characters but in the case of Medicine for Melancholy it's the attempts of the characters to come to terms with their one night stand rather than the evolution of a slowly budding relationship. The film itself is art here, low saturated and beautiful. I can't get enough of it. Let it be said that the acting by both leads is not only great, it's almost the only other reason to watch the film. They make up for some slightly stilted writing, though I do like that the film dealt with real people (skeletons in closets included). The prime reason I wanted to see this film was Wyatt Cynac, hilarious comedian-correspondent on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, but I actually found his character less likable than Tracy Heggins' role. This isn't his fault, he plays a fairly needy egomaniac. Heggins' character Jo is more levelheaded, but she's also betraying a boyfriend by spending time with the character of Micah. Neither of them are angels. I've come to learn a lot about San Fransisco lately, and if there's a third character here it's the city. You don't see a ton of it, and it's filtered through the eyes of minority characters. Though they're both middle class, Micah has a huge problem with race in the city. In the end, this is what makes the relationship both real and a disaster, and left me feeling slightly lost emotionally. My final thoughts about my experience with the film, the city, and the characters can be summed up by Micah's most important line: "Nah, I love the city. I hate the city but I love the city. San Fransisco is beautiful, but you shouldn't have to be upper-middle class to be a part of that."

1/20 Joint Security Area (2000) DVD, 5/5 stars, RT: 75%

JSA is a Korean drama directed by horror/vengeance god Park Chan-wook about both South and North Korean soldiers stationed at guard houses on either side of the DMZ, specifically at the neutral Joint Security Area. This is where most negations and relations happen between the two countries. Though not completely accurate to the conditions at the DMZ, and slightly dated now because of all the more recent uproar over North Korea's missiles and human rights violations, this movie is still completely relevant. If it wasn't for the specifics, you could set this movie at any militarily contested zone in the world and I'm sure the point that the filmmakers seem to want to convey would still hold up. This movie doesn't really choose sides, since it's almost completely a soldier's story. It's a backwards telling of a horrible shooting and international event that could lead to war, but also the lengths people will go to make friends instead of enemies. Sadly, these same good intentions only lead to tragedy and hatred because of the system the soldiers live in. It's all very powerful and though it might not be on the artistic level of a Schindler's List or Paths of Glory it most certainly has just as much to say as these other similar films about the role of the underprivileged and their pathos in dealing with ensnarement in a fate so out of their hands. It's also more entertaining as a mystery story since it's told through the device of a police procedural type investigation. I'm completely on board for whatever Park Chan-wook does in the future with any genre he wants.

1/23 In the Loop (2009) DVD, 5/5 stars, RT: 93%

High praise for this one. I'm prone to high praise, but I really mean it this time! This movie is hilarious. It doesn't hurt to be a political junkie, but it also appeals anyone that enjoys a creative curse or mass confusion. I've heard this movie compared to Dr. Strangelove but I'd place it more accurately with the recent Burn After Reading. Everyone's an idiot of some sort, and not one single person has even the slightest clue as to what anyone else is doing. The dramatic weight of the entire farce is the relations between the United States and the United Kingdom as they dance around the issue of going to war in the Middle East. In the Loop is completely fictional but obviously inspired by the preceding of the current Iraqi War and one feels, sadly, that the actual pre-war planning was filled with just as much self-serving politics and bumbling idiocy as the movie portrays. Don't let that stop you from having a grand ole time, though. I really want to watch this again because the dialogue is so rapid and I'm positive I'll find something brilliant and new on a second viewing. I'll gush about this movie on command. Or without any prompting. Beware.

1/25 Anvil: The Story of Anvil (2008) DVD, 5/5 stars, RT: 98%

This was a documentary I watched mostly based on a recommendation by my friend Matt. I've read good things but I'm personally not really into metal music, and stories of washed up old rockers never makes me feel that great. These guys aren't washed up. The movie portrays them as honest and lovable down-on-their-luck-but-still-aiming-high dudes. Almost your average Joe the Rocker, but they're hardly normal and their lives are tragic. For me a lot of the heart of movie is that these people are nice guys. They're neurotic, yeah. You'd expect that as 50-year old heavy metal rockers, but they're not at all bad at what they do. There are a lot of stories about bad luck and fate that I've seen lately (hey, the human condition is good material), but this one is real and full of soul. They're pressed down by their luck, but they're still mostly happy people ready to share their joy. I was not prepared at all for how this was going to stick with me for the rest of the day.

Well, what to say at the end of a strange week? It wasn't all bad! I saw a couple of friends that I hadn't seen in some time. I ate some great food. I've come to realize the addictive joy I get out of movies in bad times. Times aren't terrible now, for sure, and having distractions has a lot to do with that. I'm not going to complain. I'm just grateful for the stuff that doesn't stink, I guess. That's not to say I'd be totally okay with more garbage in the future!

One last small note before I head off to bed. My other shameful monkey on the back will be rearing its head next week. The epic RPG video game Mass Effect 2 comes out. I'll remember to shower and eat, cross my heart. Expect less time for movies, though.

Looking Through the Bent Backed Tulips

I'm not going to look for themes every time I write my little list, but after spending a good deal of my time this last week reading up on earthquake relief in Haiti it's easy to see, more than usual, the huge gap between the rich and the poor. In light of all that horror it's a quaint coincidence and also fitting that some of my favorite movies of the last week are about how the other half lives.

1/11 Grey Gardens (1975) Netflix Watch Instantly, 3/5 stars, RT: 100%

Documentaries become dated. I have to judge this one a little harshly because of personal experience. I don't know much about the Beales, the crazy and self-sure cousins of Jackie Onassis, but Grey Gardens' main success was in showing me just how crazy they were. Okay. I'll be real here for a second and explain my subjectiveness. I've spent more time than I'd normally like to admit looking at the worst that the internet has to offer. Social deviants and unconventional lifestyles have to be pretty insane to get past my perverse inoculation if they want to actually startle me. Grey Gardens can't be faulted for this, but it at least explains why I wasn't fully engaged with the work. I'll be clear and fair once more on this point: the Beales are totally nuts, but it's pretty tame. After about eighty minutes I was more interested in the process of the film making than the subjects being presented. The editing of the scenes and the natural camera work I especially enjoyed. I'd still like to see the HBO dramatic adaptation staring Drew Berrymore and Jessica Lange that came out last year.

1/11 City of Men (2007) DVD, 5/5 stars, RT: 75%

I watched this out of order. It's a case of my slight OCD nature battling with itself. I won't bore you with the complete story, but I'll place final blame on Netflix's dubbed stream. Fun fact about me: I can't stand dubs. Despite all that noise I loved this movie. City of Men's real impetus for existing is to catch up with the characters from the Brazilian TV series of the same name (which I've not yet seen), but really traces back to City of God. God completely hit me over the head when I saw it many years ago. It might have been the first truly grim modern film that I had seen. It's a comment on my own tastes and the zeitgeist as a whole that the last decade has seen a lot of critically acclaimed poverty/crime fetish movies and series that I've loved (Slumdog Millionaire, The Wire). I'm not sure that's an inherently good or bad thing. In this case I think the judgement lies with the people of Rio de Janerio. I can't speak for them (or for Mumbai, or for Baltimore, to reuse my previous examples). It's a failure on my part here because I can't nail down any real reason why this is the case, but Men was more uplifting to me than God. It's to the film's credit that I really want to go back and watch the TV series, yet I think I could go without seeing City of God again. Crazy.

1/13 Passing Strange (2009) DVD, 4/5 stars, RT: 100%

Shameful. Shameful that I've only just recently discovered my love for musicals. They've never really been anywhere out of sight, so I have no excuse. Passing Strange is unique from the other musicals I've seen recently because it's the actual filmed final performance of the Broadway play. Rather than getting Hollywood actors, multi-take production, and lip-synced performances you can see the pure product. This probably sounds dull to anyone that turns their nose up at musicals of all forms, but hear me out real quick. This is a rock opera. Okay, I'm losing you again. It's an effin' rock and roll semi-autobiographical story about a young black musician from the 1970's discovering (and losing) himself in Amsterdam and Berlin. I feel bad because that's a terribly oversimplified synopsis. I don't want to oversell this. The final act is blunt and the first half of it is just more of the same from the previous act. If you think you might like musicals but don't know where to start, you can't go wrong with something modern like this. I want to see a lot more. One of my resolutions this year is to see more live plays, in general.

1/14 Departures (2008) DVD, 5/5 stars, RT: 81%

The Golden Globes are on tonight and it's reminded me of the simple, heartwarming speech that Yōjirō Takita gave when this won Best Foreign Film at last year's Oscars. The movie is pretty simple and heartwarming itself. Daigo, an average cellist, is forced to move back home after his orchestra in Tokyo is dissolved. He applies for a job that requires no previous work experience: preparing the bodies of the recently departed (the help-wanted ad has a typo that mentions departures, leading Daigo to think it's a travel agency). The setting and specific traditions are novel for American audiences, which gets it free points. Departures is completely predictable and full of archetype characters, yet it also plays with that and surprises you. Without giving much away, I'll say that there's actual arcs to the side characters that you don't totally expect. I'll end here with a simple, stereotypical rule that's yet to fail me: French people and movies make me feel melancholic and affectionate, Russian hurt my head, and Japanese consistently just make me happy.

1/17 The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009) Malco Paradiso Theater, 4/5 stars, RT: 66%

In a totally unoriginal move, most of what I'm going to say up front about this movie is about Heath Ledger. He's not really the main character of this movie. I can't really tell you who is. There's a lot of layered messages here about chance and coincidence versus choice and fate. You can't escape the connection between Ledger's real life death and the plot of this movie unless you're watching this thirty years from now and don't know the history of the production. I got most of my surface enjoyment of this movie from that association and I feel slightly profane for that. Tom Waits was marvelous as the Mr. Nick/Satan/whatever. At the end of the movie I got the impression that all his tricks and "evil" actions were more to preserve balance and provide a helpful service. I liked that aspect of the story a lot more than the mechanics of the magic mirror that were the crux of the plot. This unexpected subtext entertained me more than my preconceived perception of what the story was about. From what I've seen of Terry Gilliam (this and Twelve Monkeys) his movies are unique and complex. It bothers me slightly that the films leave you with little to focus on, but they offer up myriad minute moments that please. I am very glad that he is a film maker, as Gilliam is the most literary of any of the big auteurs that I'm familiar with.

I made it to the movie theater this week. It's been about a month since the last time I had a chance. I've been more frugal with my money lately and with Netflix and fairly good home set-up I can afford to wait. But I'm very glad that I went.

I'm not going to apologize for the lack of big name movies this week. If I started that habit now it would become one I'd have to repeat each week. Lastly for now, I've decided to make this a Sunday event. It makes the most sense with my current schedule. See y'all next time!

A Stolen Idea

I can attribute the basic origin of this project to something that happened almost four years ago: I had the love of lists instilled in me by a close friend in college at a time when all my other acquaintances were quickly dropping out of school to play video games. She showed me what I think all Type-A overachievers (something I am most certainly not) know very well: lists are holy. Now that I've spent some amount of time out of that wheelhouse of scheduled classes and deadlines I get the feeling that I'm becoming less of a good person. Less of a list-maker-type. As I currently study for the PRAXIS and look into getting a degree in education I've quickly come to realize that though I've devolved at a later point than those undergrad friends I have still become the slacker ideal. Much of my entire life has been spent in pursuit of instant gratification, but now that I don't have the constant requirement to write I've been left with more time to spend getting head shots in Modern Warfare 2, reading the newest Audrey Niffenegger novel or Joe Hill comic, listening to the leaked Vampire Weekend album, and watching whatever it is that the Criterion Collection tells me I should be watching. That all sounds like harmless, good fun on the surface. I'm frightened of it becoming all that I am.

The final push that lead to the inception of what I'm hoping to do here was a post on the blog of the estimable Jeff Green, Greenspeak. It's only out of guilt and the threat of being caught that I point out that I've in fact lifted this project wholly from his most recent post (pointless footnote: the name I chose for this blog is being used by someone that has not used their address in around three years, which was also the case with Jeff when he started his blog, and is surely a crime).

The important facts: I want to keep writing but need an excuse; this gives it to me. I'm not going to become a monk and suddenly give up my hobbies but I do want to cut back and refine my habits and at the very least make them more worthwhile. It's no coincidence that this is happening at the start of a new year. My Netflix queue currently sits at over 500 movies and television shows that I have varied interest in seeing and though I haven't done the math on how long it will take, just being confronted with the list (lists!!!) every time I visit the site is daunting. Putting all these facts together, vis-à-vis the stolen idea from Greenspeak, I have decided to chronicle my film watching for the next year by writing my very basic impressions of what I watch. It's the hope that what I'm going to do here will motivate me to be more focused on the act of film watching as well as remembering what I've seen and incentivize me to maybe be more judicious in what I spend my time doing, watching movies or otherwise (making me the well rounded "good catch" for some lucky girl out there, right?). The final argument for movies rather than books, music, or video games for this overly complicated project is that it's the medium in which I've most recently come to adore and so I'll logically become less bored with this versus my other hobbies. There's also an efficiency to movies which will allow me to discuss more of them in a shorter amount of time. Plus there's the fact that my tastes are more likely to be in line with the average when it comes to films, which means more reason for people to read this.

Just to start things off I would like to state that my tastes lately have been for a lot of foreign drama and low budget independent pieces. This hasn't really been the status quo for me at all, and is more of a recent fad. Have no fear, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World and the next Harry Potter are squarely at the top of what I want to see this year. Though you can expect to see more shit you've never heard of discussed here from time to time (is that a bad thing?) do not tremble overmuch kind souls for I love going to the movie theater and "shit you've never heard of" does not often play there.

Posts will be shorter in the future. I promise you. The formula for this might change up, but as it stands now each movie listed will come with links to the IMDB entry, the star rating I gave it on Netflix as well as when and how I watched it (the theater, DVD, etc.), and for comparison the Rotten Tomatoes percentage.

If there's something else you'd like to see done let me know!

1/1 Extract (2009) DVD, 3/5 stars, Rotten Tomatoes critic rating: 63%

Office Space does something simple very well. You can't help but remember the copier scene, the stapler, and the profuse "Yeaaah. . . I'm gonna need ya. . ."s. Mike Judge's newest comedy has a very similar subject and yet lacks almost all of that memorable flavor (doyougetitdoyougetit?! you see extracts are made for flavoring). There's nothing terrible here (minus some strange but forgivable editing and pacing problems, something it does share with Office Space) and it has an adorable cast with J.K. Simmons, Kristen Wiig, and Mila Kunis fronted by Jason Bateman. And yet less than ten days after seeing it I can't recall a single hilarious element. A forgettable movie, but would be perfect for a date at the two dollar theater.

1/3 Che (2008) Netflix Watch Instantly, 5/5 stars, RT: Part 1 (The Argentine): 72%, Part 2 (Guerrilla): 76%, combined movie: 62%

With all the politics and news of cut funding and time I never thought I'd see Steven Soderbergh's epic Ernesto Guevara biopic released in America. I'd heard a lot of crazy stuff about select screenings of film around the world: standing ovations in Havana and protests in Miami. Having seen the movie I can understand both opinions. Che was really filmed as two seperate movies, the first part dealing with Che Guevara's rise to fame in the Cuban revolution, the second with his bumbling and failed attempt in Bolivia. Both parts are scarce on showing the man in much of a bad light, but a lot of that it just how much Benicio Del Toro makes you like his understated portrayal of Che. If you detach it from the politics (which is impossible), this is mostly a depressing war movie. I have a warm place in my heart for those. This one is often slow, but every scene with Del Toro (almost all of them) left me contented with and envious of his ability to present humanity when given such a difficult role. It's worth noting that I saw all four plus hours of this after only sleeping about as many and wasn't personally bored, but it might be more ennui than excitement for most.

1/3 A Christmas Tale (2008) DVD, 5/5 stars, RT: 86%

I saw this doubly late. It had a limited release in America during the holidays in 2008 and I heard a lot of good things from sources I trust. Unfortunately it didn't hit DVD until December 2009. I didn't receive my copy from Netflix until after the new year, just when all that Christmas flavor becomes tired. So in a pregnant and backwards way this movie was somehow really refreshing. A Christmas Tale is a family drama that I watched alone while my own family out of state on vacation. I liked Mathieu Amalric in the latest James Bond flick and The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (also the beautiful Anne Consigny, present in both French movies) and was excited to see more, but Catherine Deneuve in the role of the plot-axial mother stole all the spotlight. I've not seen anything else with this absolutely legendary French actress, but now I totally want to. I'd only recommend this film to a select few, though. If The Royal Tenenbaums / Death at a Funeral + bourgeois French adult-angst and schadenfreude sounds good to you, give it a shot. Might I suggest Christmas 2010 after you've found a quiet moment away from your family?

1/5 The Seventh Seal (1959) Netflix Watch Instantly, 5/5 stars, RT: 93%

Death comes for a crusading knight who holds him off with a game of chess, hilarity ensues. Obviously the subject of the movie is often poignant and the film is considered historically and critically important for the entire art, but I honestly did not expect this to be so funny. And it's not just gallows humor; it has so much to say about acting, family, love, death, war, the church, faith, and on and on. I'm no Ingmar Bergman scholar (my friend Daniel is probably the closest that I know in this regard), but after watching The Seventh Seal I want to be. I so desperately want to be. Also, props to (500) Days of Summer for making me want to see this even more.

1/5 Trucker (2008) DVD, 4/5 stars, RT: 58%

This was just released on DVD. A very independent affair, complete with cheap DVD menus. Honestly, the only reason I gave this a shot was because it has Nathan Fillion. I feel in love with Michelle Monaghan, though. Now that I think about it, the kid wasn't bad either. I don't feel that I was deceived but it should be said that Trucker was more about motherhood and responsibility than about the life of a semi-trailer truck driver.

1/6 Solaris (2002) DVD, 4/5 stars, RT: 65%

I liked this film. I liked the original Andrei Tarkovsky version more. The subtext about heaven and hell is handled with less grace in Soderbergh's adaptation. I feel that if the idea was for the movie to be made more appealing to American audiences it should have dispensed more with the contemplative pacing and added some actual tension (something present in the 1970's Soviet era film and endemically lacking in the clean and polished years of the early 2000's). If you care at all about the story premise, watch both (and I'm told you should read the book, too).

1/6 I Like Killing Flies (2004) Netflix Watch Instantly, 5/5 stars, RT: 95%

This isn't an insult to New Yorkers, but with all my pretense and vanity I'd either fit right in or get my ass kicked in NYC. I was told to watch this student film-quality documentary if I liked people. I do like people. I saw the words "Jewish, Greenwich Village, comfort food, oddball resturant" and knew that I had to see this.

1/8 Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974) Netflix Watch Instantly, 4/5 stars, RT: 100%

I heard Patton Oswalt talking with Terry Gross on NPR about Martin Scorsese and realized that I hadn't yet seen all of his (Scorsese's) movies. Like a good dealer, Netflix hooked me up instantly with some well aged wine (pretty lame, as far as mixed metaphors go). This is early Scorsese, and before Taxi Driver. The story is that of a mother and a series of failed relationships with mostly abusive men while she attempts to provide for her eleven year old son. Not exactly what I expected in many ways. It's raunchy with language and dialogue (fine for Scorsese, but slightly shocking for the characters at first). The kid isn't very likable at times. Also of note: a twelve year old, hipster Jodi Foster.

1/8 Lorna's Silence (2008) DVD, 5/5 stars, RT: 86%

This is my favorite movie that I've seen this year. We'll see how long it manages to hold on to this spot. I'm not sure I could gush uncontrollably about this movie without giving away a lot of what it has to offer. I wasn't familiar with the directing team behind this, Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne, but I'm going to be watching everything else they create. I've read that they're known for realism within complicated situations, and that holds true here. Finally, I'm pretty level headed these days but I will admit that I found myself looking up Arta Dobroshi pictures on Google Image Search. What am I, fifteen? Maybe what I need right after watching all these depressing family focused dramas is a childish crush.

And so then our noble knight went off to slay more dragons and watch more DVDs. There's mail on Monday and I've got movies to watch before the postman comes. The quest never ends. See you next time!