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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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