12.29.2007

So for Christmas I got Super Mario Galaxy for the Wii. Such a fun game. But now I realized why the Wii remotes have the strap on them for your wrist.

On first thought, it's so when you play something like bowling or baseball, the remote doesn't slide from your grip and break your TV screen. Nope. After many frustrating stars in Mario Galaxy, I've concluded that the wrist strap is primarily so when you get super pissed off from dying with 99 out of 100 coins you can't throw your fragile controller into the wall.

Actually, thinking about it, I'm sure Nintendo could've made more money since people would have to buy replacements. But no, Nintendo always looks out for the little guy. I love it.

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12.03.2007

This is mostly a list for my personal reference, but I feel the general public will benefit as well.

Movies not yet released which I need to see:

Sweeney Todd
Atonement
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Juno
There Will Be Blood
The Savages
The Kite Runner
Cassandra's Dream (not very good buzz so far, though)
Youth Without Youth (same as above)

Movies already released that I need to catch up on:

Into the Wild
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
I'm Not There

And, movies I have seen from 2007 that, if you haven't seen, you should see ASAP (and a quick, off-the-wall rating):

No Country for Old Men (10/10)
Before the Devil Knows You're Dead (9.5/10)
American Gangster (8.5/10)
Eastern Promises (8.5/10)
Zodiac (10/10)
Ratatouille (10/10)
3:10 to Yuma (8/10)
Hairspray (8/10)
La Vie en Rose (9/10)
Away From Her (9/10)

What does all this mean? Oh, you know. The end of the year crunch for studios to put out movies for Oscar season. Unless something comes way out of left field (which is possible, there's usually one) a majority of the nominations will come from the movies above. The only other movie I can think of is Michael Clayton, which I did not like at all. It's just nice to finally be able to sort through the enormous post from earlier this year, which had lots of potential. Now we know what to see and what to skip. That's me -- saving kids money $7.50 at a time.

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11.30.2007

I feel I should be updating more. I will work on that.

As a writer, it often comes up that I'm required to shrink my stories -- that is, to summarize a story I've written in a paragraph, a page, two pages, rarely more. But see, therein lies the problem. If I could put all the important stuff from my story down into one page, why wouldn't I just make the story itself one page?

Or maybe I'm just bad and I will always need someone else to do it for me.

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11.24.2007

La Vie en Rose

Backstage, an old Edith Piaf stands, preparing for one of her final performances. Her torso is wrapped, and her doctor tells her that she is risking her life if she goes on with her performance. “So?” she responds. “You have to risk something.”

One would not think much of Marion Cotillard’s looks if they only saw her in the roles she takes. Outside of the movies she is gorgeous, but here, in ‘La Vie en Rose,’ she shaved her eyebrows and reduced her hairline to become Edith Piaf -- and that is only the beginning of the transformation.

The movie takes place around three stages in Edith’s life. The first is of her as a child, and this is one of the few movies, biopic or not, that has successfully managed to evoke sympathy for a character within the first twenty minutes. Practically orphaned, Edith suffers to the point where she may become blind. She goes to pray, blindfolded, to Saint Theresa and Jesus, so that she may have sight and be able to read like the rest of the children.

But this is a few of the only words Edith says during her childhood, until her father steals her from the brothel she was being raised in so he can use her in his circus act. Which is a better home, a whorehouse or a circus cart? One could have a tough time making that decision. Her father has her on the sidewalk holding out a hat, begging for change as he does cheap acrobatics, until the crowd wants Edith herself to do something. What does she do? Oh, she sings.

Time passes, and Marion Cotillard comes out as a teenager who sings on the streets for change, to which she has to give her father a cut as he wastes his life away in a pub. Edith’s luck comes and goes in a rollercoaster of successes and failures. One day she is drinking champagne at a New Years’ party, the next she is a step from having to whore herself out for food money. There is no doubt, in this stage of her life, that she lives for the moment -- whether good or bad.

A third chunk of the movie’s time line is the elder Edith Piaf, one who cannot pick up a glass without her hand shaking furiously. But her determination is possibly the strongest of any character in a movie I’ve seen in a long time. She is the lady who holds her friends close, but everything is second to her love of music. She became a national treasure for France, and she worked hard to uphold that image.

These three time lines are intertwined throughout the movie’s 140 minute run-time. The director, Olivier Dahan, manages to piece these events together in a way that nothing is spoiled and each chunk makes the next that much more important, regardless of how it happened chronologically. This is not a movie of stages of life, but of the events that shape a person.

The real achievement in this movie is Marion Cotillard herself. She plays Edith Paif with such vigor, yet in her face you can always see that behind her eyes she has worries and desperation, but that tiny smile she gives with her bright red lips is just enough so you also know she is full of love, whether she is singing, drinking, or praying. If this isn’t an Oscar-worthy performance, I don’t know what is.

And how can one ignore the music in a biopic about a singing legend? I think my reaction to this movie says enough: Starting the movie, I was familiar with La Vie en Rose as a song. As the movie played, and ended, the next thing I did was look for a soundtrack. It is a rare thing when the singing in a movie, even of a country’s national anthem, can take over one so completely. This is the movie that does it.

I’ve seen a number of biopics, a number of which have been about musical legends. ‘La Vie en Rose’ tops any I can think of at the moment, in acting, composition, art direction, and just plain, good old-fashioned storytelling.

Rating: 7/7

La Vie en Rose is now out on DVD.

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11.17.2007

Yesterday I was fortunate enough to see two movies that are still both in limited release. Fortunately, both movies were great.

No Country for Old Men

The new movie from the Coen brothers (Fargo, Blood Simple) is taken out West this time -- West being Texas. Their source material is the novel of the same title by Cormac McCarthy. The film follows three primary stories revolving around about $2 million in cash.

First we have Llewelyn Moss (Josh Brolin), a retired 'nam Vet who, while out hunting one day, comes upon the remnants of a drug deal gone bad. Among the corpses he manages to come across the money, which he takes home to his wife in their trailer park. He's a smart character and knows whoever's money it is will come looking for it. He goes on the run while he tells his wife to hide elsewhere.

His pursuer is Anton Chigurh (Javier Bardem), who may or may not be the primary character of this story. He is unsympathetic to human life and does what he wants, freely and without worry. To figure out his motives is not an easy task. There is no method to Chirugh's actions, other than it involves lots of killing and the pursuit of the money.

To complete the triangle is an old sheriff, Ed Tom Bell (Tommy Lee Jones). He starts the movie with a voice-over that establishes a number of things, the most important may be his matter-of-fact way of dealing with the law. He also talks about how old-time sheriffs never used to carry guns. Tom Bell is on the trail of Chigurh's killings, not because he wants justice, but because he wants to save lives. He knows he'll never understand a person like Chigurh, but he does know he can save Llewlyn Moss if he catches up to them.

With those introductions going, let me say this -- the movie is hardly what you may expect, especially from a movie in this genre (crime/western). You may, and probably will be, frustrated. Some scenes are graphic enough to make you churn in your seat. At the very beginning, the first murder Chigurh commits on screen, you'll realize that this is not a movie of good against bad, right against wrong, but instead a movie about the actions of an incomprehensible killer in the face of his victims. Chigurh enjoys having small chats with the casualties before he murders them.

If there's one thing the Coen brothers have done well in their movies, it is a simultaneous pull where you do not want a scene to end, but at the same time can't wait to see what happens next. And each scene is like this in a different way. Moss and Chigurh encountering each other in hotels across the state is enough tension, but scenes where Tom Bell sits in a diner reading the paper strike equally, if not more-so. Through the movie Tom Bell has a younger sheriff, Wendell, tagging along. Wendell asks Tom Bell if he thinks Moss knows what he's into, and Tom Bell responds, "I don't know, he ought to. He's seen the same things I've seen, and it's certainly made an impression on me."

It is this sense of intelligence among the main characters that makes this movie a success. Moss knows how to saw off shotguns, Chigurh can pull shotgun shrapnel out of his own knee and completely sanitize it, and Tom Bell can tell how long it's been since pretty much anyone has been pretty much anywhere.

I know these paragraphs are vague, but more than anything I do not want to ruin the hints and surprises of the movie. It is a story of nuances and subtleties, but also the blood sometimes hits you right in the face. Be sure to see this movie.

Rating: 7/7


Before the Devil Knows You're Dead

Director Sidney Lumet is back behind the camera, and what a great movie this is. I would say it's on par with 'Dog Day Afternoon,' but that may even be an understatement. This could be among his masterpieces, such as 'Network' and '12 Angry Men.'

With that said, I will give a small overview for those who have not seen the preview. I say this only because to reveal more than the preview shows would be disastrous to the experience. Two brothers, Andy (Philip Seymour Hoffman) and Hank (Ethan Hawke), both have their money problems. Hank has to pay $900 a month for child support to his ex-wife, and he's already three months behind. Andy has to scramble for cash to keep his wife Gina (a gorgeous Marisa Tomei) happy. Her self-esteem is so low around Andy all she can do to keep going is to tell herself they will go back to Brazil, where they took a vacation and everything was perfect.

With money in mind, Andy and Hank arrange a jewelry store robbery. The catch is that it's their mom (Rosemarry Harris) and dad's (Albert Finney) store. But that's good, because they know the schedule, they know where the alarms are, and the parents are covered in the insurance. But oh, how everything goes completely wrong.

There is much credit due to screenwriter Kelly Masterson, whose first movie this is. The non-linear storytelling of how each character's life goes a few days before, and a few days after the robbery is enough to make Quentin Tarantino jealous. And Lumet takes control of these scenes and gives them so much life that we almost feel like we're part of the Hanson family ourselves.

The family dynamic is played perfectly. In a scene where Andy asks Hank if he's "in" on the plan, he makes Hank raise his hands into plain view so there's no fingers-crossed, like when they were kids. Small things like these show us that even though Ethan Hawke and Philip Seymour Hoffman may not look alike at all, there is never any doubt of their kinship.

The great performance in this movie, though, is Albert Finney. There is a funny thing about this movie. The "law" seems to prove completely incapable of doing anything. Charles Hanson (Finney, the dad) finds this out and begins investigating the robbery himself. Andy and Hank do not know this, and their extreme paranoia drives them to a climax that is so epic it almost redefines the word.

The film also relies heavily on the music by Carter Burwell, who with his low chords and slow melodies sets a mood in every scene that feels like the movie would fail without it. A success regardless, the score just propels it the movie to greatness.

And there is the tip of the iceberg. Here Lumet proves that even in his old age he can still make movies much better than most, and because of that, this one should not be passed up.

Rating: 7/7

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11.10.2007

Last night I was channel flipping, going down in numbers. I got to channel 12, which here is TBS, and it was the end of The Wizard of Oz. Great movie. A fine coincidence. I note the channel, and continue through the last few to see if anything better was on.

So I went down one more channel, which is TNT, and The Wizard of Oz was on that channel was well. At the same part (I think TBS' was about 40 seconds ahead). Freakin' weird.

What are the odds that on November 9th, a random Friday night, at the exact same time two cable channels which, as far as I know, don't have anything to do with each others programming, would be showing the same movie at the same time? And not a new movie, but a very old movie.

The odd thing though was that The Wizard of Oz was re-released on DVD maybe a year ago on a special edition, which I bought. I think it was newly restored or something. Anyway, TBS had a restored, more colorful version, where it looked like TNT had the original.

Man, I love that movie.

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11.05.2007

So finally, after about a year, I have now seen every movie on AFI's list of the 100 greatest movies (view the completed checklist here). The reason I did this was to discover great movies I would never otherwise watch, and in that aspect this list was very helpful.

I sat here for a few minutes and thought, 'Why not rearrange these into a top 100 of MY picking?' I began doing so, and after about twenty movies I had to stop because there's so many fantastic movies on this list it's literally impossible to rank them against each other fairly. How do you compare 'Vertigo' to 'The Searchers?' They're two completely different movies. 'Singin' in the Rain' versus 'The Maltese Falcon.' Two very different genres, yet they're both probably the best of the best within those areas.

Which movie do you rank higher -- the innovative movie that set the bar for a whole movement, or the movie that perfected those elements a few years later? Each movie is unique and special by its own criteria.

For that reason, I will instead split the movies into three categories. The first category will be 'Perfect Movies.' These will be movies that should be on everyone's must-see list. They age like wine. Their importance to film cannot possibly be understated.

So, the Perfect Movies list (in alphabetical order):

12 Angry Men (1957)
2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
All About Eve (1950)
Annie Hall (1977)
The Apartment (1960)
Apocalypse Now (1979)
Bonnie and Clyde (1967)
Casablanca (1942)
Chinatown (1974)
Citizen Kane (1941)
City Lights (1931)
The Deer Hunter (1978)
Double Indemnity (1944)
Dr. Strangelove (1964)
The General (1927)
The Godfather (1972)
The Godfather, Part II (1974)
Gone With the Wind (1939)
The Graduate (1967)
It Happened One Night (1934)
It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
Jaws (1975)
The Maltese Falcon (1941)
M*A*S*H (1970)
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)
Network (1976)
On the Waterfront (1954)
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)
The Philadelphia Story (1940)
Psycho (1960)
Raging Bull (1980)
Rear Window (1954)
Rocky (1976)
Schindler's List (1993)
The Searchers (1956)
The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
Singin' in the Rain (1952)
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
Some Like It Hot (1959)
Star Wars (1977)
A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)
Sunset Boulevard (1950)
The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948)
The Wizard of Oz (1939)
Vertigo (1958)


Next, I guess would be 'Great Movies.' These are the movies that should also not be ignored. They probably rank around a 4.5/5 rating, and definitely not below a 4/5. There are two reasons a movie may fall here. The first is that while some of these movies are loved by a majority of movie historians/film critics, they just don't hit me like the best of them. I understand why some of these movies are great, and while I learned things from watching them, they just don't do it for me. The second reason may just be that the movie is very solid (i.e. 'King Kong'), but I mean it's still maybe only a 9/10. It doesn't have that little extra thing that separates goodness from greatness.

Here's the Great Movies list:

All the President's Men (1976)
The African Queen (1951)
Ben-Hur (1959)
The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
Bringing Up Baby (1938)
A Clockwork Orange (1971)
Duck Soup (1933)
Easy Rider (1969)
E.T. -- The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
The French Connection (1971)
The Gold Rush (1925)
Goodfellas (1990)
The Grapes of Wrath (1940)
High Noon (1952)
In the Heat of the Night (1967)
Intolerance (1916)
King Kong (1933)
Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
Midnight Cowboy (1969)
Modern Times (1936)
Nashville (1975)
North by Northwest (1959)
Platoon (1986)
Pulp Fiction (1994)
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
Saving Private Ryan (1998)
Shane (1953)
Sophie's Choice (1982)
The Sound of Music (1965)
Sunrise (1927)
Swing Time (1936)
Taxi Driver (1976)
Titanic (1997)
To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)
Tootsie (1982)
Toy Story (1995)
Unforgiven (1992)
West Side Story (1961)
The Wild Bunch (1969)

And last, I'll have the 'Other List.' This list will be movies that I either did not enjoy at all, I don't think were very culturally important (or, were done better in other ways in other movies), or I think should just be completely off the list. And if those three aren't enough, it may be that I am annoyed these movies are on the list, but great movies like 'Amadeus' and 'Fargo' were cut. So here's the Other List:

American Graffiti (1973)
Blade Runner (1982)
Cabaret (1972)
Do the Right Thing (1989)
Forrest Gump (1994)
The Last Picture Show (1971)
A Night at the Opera (1935)
The Sixth Sense (1999)
Spartacus (1960)
Sullivan's Travels (1941)
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966)
Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942)


These lists are really hard, as I was saying. I know some people who would kill me for having 'High Noon' and 'Taxi Driver' and 'Lawrence of Arabia' not under perfection. But what's the point in making a list like this if I'm not completely honest? I can go around all day telling you why 'The Grapes of Wrath' was a great movie, but if I don't love it, why should I pretend to?

Yet on the other hand, I really enjoy watching 'All the President's Men' and 'Butch Cassidy' and 'Pulp Fiction,' but I would feel like I'm toying with my standards if I grouped them with 'Some Like It Hot.'

And it's hard to clump everything into three groups like this. Of course I love 'All About Eve' a lot more than '12 Angry Men,' and while 'Eve' is probably the better movie, they're both great and enjoyable. Hell, I liked 'Swing Time' more than 'The Searchers,' but I know 'Swing Time' isn't the better movie.

But with that said, I also can't help somewhat contradicting myself. If I had to pick only ten from this list to be a 'Top 10,' in alphabetical order, they would be...

All About Eve
Annie Hall
The Apartment
Casablanca
Citizen Kane
Dr. Strangelove
The Godfather
It's a Wonderful Life
Psycho
The Wizard of Oz

There. There it is. Be happy.

Honestly, I recommend everyone tries to see at least half the AFI list. You'll learn so much and be entertained. What can be better than that?

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10.21.2007

Earlier I was at the bookstore on campus, and since I'd been drinking coffee I had to use the restroom. So I go to the hallway and pass the women's room, which has a sign on the door. It said something along the lines of "Please no merchandise beyond this point!" etc. etc.

Then I get to the men's room, which did not have any sign about merchandise or anything.

What does this mean? It shows that women are more likely to steal, and as such are not trusted to bring merchandise into a private area.

Don't try to argue this. It's scientific fact.

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10.10.2007

So at Wal Mart they had Match Point on DVD, new, for $3.98. I didn't know anything was cheaper than the $5 bin. There were also a bunch of other DVDs, but I either had them already (Catch Me If You Can), didn't really need them (Mission: Impossible III), or were they were really bad (Yours, Mine, and Ours).

But then today at Blockbuster they had some 4-for-$20 on previously viewed DVDs. Why not, they work perfect? So I got Children of Men and Casino Royale while my friend got The Pursuit of Happyness and Hollywoodland. So all in all, a sweet DVD-buying splurge for me.

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9.30.2007

I know I've been slacking. I'm a bit tired but here are a few mini-reviews because I want to.

Love Me If You Dare

A French movie that I recently watched off a recommendation. An interesting concept of kids obsessed with a game of dare, in which the other cannot refuse. They take turns, and the story begins with things such as cursing in class and peeing their pants as kids, but evolves into things such as saying 'No' at their wedding or avoiding each other for ten years.

Now, the two main characters love each other, we see this. They share an uncommon bond, this desire to live dangerously and have momentary power over each other completely. But the problem is that it stretches a little too far for believability, and not far enough to push surrealism. I can't imagine any real person wishing to put themselves through so much anguish, and while the movie was enjoyable, ultimately a bit of a letdown.

Rating: 4/7

2 Days in Paris

I love a good romantic comedy, even the most formulaic of them. But here we get a romantic comedy with a nice mix of quirky mannerisms and some vulgar humor. A great mix for me, personally.

Marion and Jack are in a long relationship, and after somewhat of a European tour, they decide to spend the last two days in Paris, where Marion grew up. They stay in a bedroom above Marion's parents, and throughout the story Jack meets a lot of Marion's friends, and ex-lovers. Naturally it irks him that she has so many old flames around this town, as it would most people.

Where the movie succeeds is in Marion (played by writer/director Julie Delpy), who while not being perfect, is perfectly lovable. At one point she has an emotional breakdown because she reads women use twice as much toilet paper as men since they wipe when they pee, and that means they kill more trees. Whereas Jack can't sleep so he stays up at nights watching 'M' on his laptop.

The movie ended a little too quick for me, but still has one great last line that I won't ruin by quoting.

Rating: 6/7

Eastern Promises

I love the end of the year because that's when all the 'artsy' movies come out. Eastern Promises is really the first of the season -- or at least that I've seen.

This is the story of the Russian mafia in London. The story of a nurse who finds a journal of a woman who died in childbirth. And how the child and journal bring her into contact with the Russians.

I'm not going to spoil because to reveal much more than I said above would ruin the threading of the movie, how it plays out so craftily that it seems like clockwork.

Again, a problem with this movie I have is the ending. There is an inconclusiveness that seemed a bit too open-ended for me. This movie could have been 150 hours instead of 100 minutes, but the team made a decision. Let's just say I would've liked 50 more minutes.

Either way though, still a great movie all around and this is one of my first recommendations of the season.

Rating: 6.5/7

The Game Plan

Okay, I saw this for free.

First, we've all seen this formula a thousand times and all know how it's going to end.

Secondly, 110 minutes? Seriously? Oh, and an agonizing 110 minutes it was. But I have to say, honestly, if the movie had been 90 minutes it could've been decent.

My last major gripe is that for an eight year-old the kid was way, way too smart. Even a gifted precocious kid couldn't have made some of those jokes.

I never thought I would say this, but... even Dwayne Johnson ("The Rock") couldn't save this movie. But he was easily the best part. I'm eagerly waiting for 'Southland Tales' where we can possibly see him outside of his stereotype. We'll see.

Rating: 2/7

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9.14.2007

Since I haven't done a post in a while, here's something moderately big. I'll call it a '4th Quarter Preview,' though it will partially encompass the end of September. These are movies you should keep an eye on and why you should do so. This is partially geared toward Oscar-worthy movies, or generally 'artsy' movies. I love when the summer blockbuster season comes to an end.

September 14th

Eastern Promises - Trailer

A gangster flick with Viggo Mortenson and the beautiful Naomi Watts. Also, David Cronenberg has made some good movies, plus it's getting great early reviews.

In the Valley of Elah - Trailer

I have no real desire to see this one, but the last few years Paul Haggis has been a big name in the Oscar business (writer: Million Dollar Baby, Crash, Letters from Iwo Jima), so I can't ignore it. Also Tommy Lee Jones and Charlize Theron. IMDb plot outline: "A career officer (Jones) and his wife (Sarandon) work with a police detective (Theron) to uncover the truth behind their son's disappearance following his return from a tour of duty in Iraq."

September 21st

Into the Wild - Trailer

Another one I'm not rushing to see, but Sean Penn directs and there was some great buzz from the film festivals.

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford - Trailer

Maybe my favorite so far. Brad Pitt seems to be straying into some uncharted waters the last few years, taking serious roles in movies that look good. Could be good. As with almost all movies on this list, good early buzz.

Lust, Caution - Trailer

I posted about this before, but here it is. Ang Lee's next directorial effort, and it looks intense/seductive/coy enough to be worthwhile.

September 29th

The Darjeeling Limited

Owen/Luke Wilson. Wes Anderson. Can't go wrong. Though I haven't heard anything about this movie yet.

October 12th

Elizabeth: The Golden Age - Trailer

I really love Cate Blanchett, even if she's played Elizabeth in like 50 different movies. The other 'Elizabeth' movie was all right. This one looks a lot better.

November 2nd

American Gangster - Trailer

Also posted about this one before. I'm pretty excited and sad that it's so far away. Even though Russell Crowe is an enormous asshole, he's still a good actor. Denzel is always good. Plus Ridley Scott. Best line-up yet? I think so.

November 9th

No Country for Old Men - Trailer

The Coen brothers, even at their worst, still make good movies. I'm so excited for this one since it looks like Fargo goes out West. I want to give this a 10/10 without seeing it. Also great early reviews.

Lions for Lambs - Trailer

Robert Redford has done some decent directing before (obvious understatement), and this time we have Meryl Streep. Tom Cruise, well... maybe he's back in good form. Wait for reviews on this one.

November 16th

Beowulf - Trailer

Doubt it'll be too great, but the special effects should be pretty solid. I'm going to see it unless it bombs with early reviews.

I'm Not There - Trailer

Doubt I'll see this one, but obviously all Bob Dylan fans will. Plus I think it's hilarious/awesome that Cate Blanchett is one of the six actors portraying him.

Margot at the Wedding - Trailer

After some success on his own, Noah Baumbach (The Squid and the Whale) is out front again. This time he has Nicole Kidman, who can hopefully nullify the awfulness of Jack Black. We'll see.

Atonement - Trailer

Don't know how I feel about this one, but early reviews are all raves. James McAvoy praise, and Keira Knightly isn't bad either.

November 30th

Cassandra's Dream

New Woody Allen movie. Always worth seeing, cause even bad Woody Allen is still pretty good.

December 14th

Youth Without Youth

Coming out of what may have been a retirement, Francis Ford Coppola is making a new movie about a man who finds a way to restore his youth. I have no doubt that this will be at least somewhat of a hit, even if it's for the indie crowds. But I mean it's Coppola, so it can't be too indie.

December 21st

Sweeney Todd

I'm actually really excited for this one. Tim Burton doing a musical? That's live action? No way. Of course it has Johnny Depp and HBC, but whatever. Unless he butchers the original material I see good things.

December 25th

Charlie Wilson's War

Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, Amy Adams, and Mike Nichols directing. I don't know too much about this one, but I'm sure it will be a flick to watch.

December 26th

There Will be Blood - Trailer

Oil and war seem to be the popular topics in today's film. Paul Thomas Anderson, of Magnolia and Boogie Nights fame, comes again with a new flick. The trailer didn't strike me too well (wow that pun was amazing), but we'll see.


I think I hit all the main movies for this Oscar season. I'll edit this later if I missed one, or let me know.

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9.11.2007

It's been a while so I feel obligated to post something. I've been pretty busy.

I've hit 90 movies on my quest to see all of AFI's 100 Movies. Getting close.

Also been writing quite a bit and forming plot ideas in my head. Not reading as much as I need to, but hey, whatever....

Yesterday I watched Swing Time, which was great. Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers are about as good as it gets. But then today in my History of Motion Pictures class we watched Singin' in the Rain, so now I'm really uppity and want to dance everywhere I go. Of course that won't happen outside the privacy of my own home, but it's fun to think about.

I ordered Purple Rose of Cairo online today because I couldn't find it anywhere. I also need to buy, Match Point, It Happened One Night, Children of Men, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, and 2001. If only I was rich.

Marlon Brando is the greatest actor of all time, but Jimmy Stewart is still my favorite.

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8.30.2007

A little treasure from Canada... Away From Her, which may sound unknown to most, is a film written and directed by Sarah Polley, whom most may know as 'the hot main blonde chick from Dawn of the Dead.' And even more annoying is I've been wanting to see it for a while, but it didn't come to Orlando or Ft. Walton Beach. So I forgot about it, then when seeing Ocean's Thirteen again at a terrible dollar theater, I see Away From Her is playing there. So tonight I was back at the ghetto theater.

This is not an easy movie to watch, the subject matter being the effects of Alzheimer's. An old couple of about sixty, Fiona and Grant Anderson, are in their little cabin in Canada. We get glimpses of the difficulty they have when Fiona washes a skillet, then absently opens the freezer, places it in there, and goes to the next room. Grant watches her in despair, then replaces the skillet under the sink, where all the pots go.

As the plot moves, the dilemma arises of putting Fiona in a nursing home, or trying to care for her himself. Relationships form between a sympathetic staff member and Grant, as with Fiona and other patients. But as time goes on, Fiona forgets who her husband is and becomes more attached to her new friends. But then her memory comes and goes. That's one of the most depressing parts, that one day Fiona is fine and knows what's going on, and the next, 'up in the clouds.'

This would sound like a teen drama, maybe Mean Girls, if it wasn't dealing with specific subject matter in such a delicate way that even a scene where Grant talks to a goth-rocker-teenage girl we get some understanding.

Okay, lost my train of thought. I really want to rant about another movie, so...

6.5/7

Tonight I caught a midnight showing of Rob Zombie's remake of Halloween. My God, what a travesty.

Making this movie experience even worse, I watched the original just before going to the theater. The original is great -- a classic. John Carpenter created a template for countless future horror flicks (some good, a lot not).

To begin with, Rob Zombie's remake spends an excessive amount of time on the childhood years. First he gives us an assortment of cliches and white trash language that is funny, I guess, if you laugh at a drunk man calling his wife a 'bitch' and telling her to 'do the God damn dishes.' We then see Michael Meyers, 10, get picked on a little at school. That's not overdone either... So after school he beats the kid to a pulp, then that night kills his step-dad, sister, sister's boyfriend, and for some reason leaves his baby sister alone. Mom finds the horror.

So essentially after wasting the first twenty minutes, we arrive at the same exact conclusion we got in the John Carpenter version after the first scene. I thought less was more? Apparently not for Rob Zombie.

So we, the audience, suffers so long through watching Michael in prison that I was about to fall asleep, then there's one of the most ridiculous jail escapes I've ever seen. Later his ability to break chains is slyly explained with him being able to lift half a ton by himself. Okay.

After an hour of these shenanigans, the plot follows the original for a while, with some of the same casualties in some of the same places. Obviously there's more boobs and blood and gore, because subtlety and finesse are nonexistent here. Rob Zombie only cares about trying to cram as much R rated material into each scene as possible. Ever notice how in the original characters who have sex die, and the one(s) who don't live? It's even made fun of in 'Scream.' Well, it's true, and that point was a nice find in the original if you paid attention. Here it's thrown at us so hard I don't want to even see a girl in a bathing suit unless I have a loaded revolver. With at least four shots, since Michael can take numerous bullets.

I say this with trouble, but one thing that improved a bit was the ending action scenes. Not the ending. Not any other part of the movie. I just liked having a moderately long chase scene, since it's, you know, a horror movie. But again, not near enough reason to see it.

I only saw this movie because of my love for the original, and I can safely say that John Carpenter, regardless of how the rest of his career turned out, will always be a better writer/director than Rob Zombie.

Rating: 0.5/7

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8.26.2007

A few sweet movie trailers.



Looks like they're pushing the Oscar angle hard, but why not? Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe, Ridley Scott, Steven Zaillian. Should be a good flick.



French subtitles are a bit annoying, but... Woody Allen might be back in good form now.



Not the most informative trailer, but Ang Lee could have another hit on his hands.

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8.20.2007

So I just put in Roman Holiday for my nightly movie viewing. As I was watching the opening credits, I caught that it says, "and introducing Audrey Hepburn."

Now I know all the stories about this, that it was her first role, that she won an Oscar for this movie, that Gregory Peck called it, etc. etc. etc.

The point I'm trying to make is that now, almost 55 years later, I'm watching this movie, and while RH was her first real role, Audrey Hepburn has long since won her Oscar, played out her career, died, and become pretty much legendary. And this is where it started.

I think that's one reason why I like watching old movies so much, is because if you pay enough attention and put it together right, it's just like watching history.

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8.19.2007

Two movie notes, one on a movie that came out this week, one I just bought on DVD.

Last night I went and saw Superbad, which was a great experience. Normally I don't laugh at dick jokes, but they're met with some witty allusions from other characters, so it's just great. That probably made no sense. An example would be something like, Seth makes a joke about how he dated the hottest chick ever two years ago, and now his sex life is over, all down-hill from here. Then Evan says, 'Like Orson Welles.' Get it? If you do, congratulations. Out of the sold out theater, I think one of my friends and I were the only two people to laugh/get it.

But those jokes are definitely backseat to the vulgar, inappropriate, yet ultimately true statements made by the protagonists. And for once the 'lesson' at the end of the movie isn't done in cliche. Sure, the motif is a bit old-fashioned, but it plays out well.

My only real gripe with the movie is length. The scenes with the police officers for the first thirty minutes they had on screen were funny, but when the same two cops kept showing up it grew tiresome. While the rest of the movie stayed fresh, the cops became redundant, their jokes predictable. I guess, though, since Seth Rogan (who plays one of the cops) was a co-writer, he had to give himself as much screen time as possible.

Rating: 6/7

Now, seven months ago, because I was lazy, I gave Mulholland Dr. a 10/10 because Naomi Watts has lesbian scenes topless. Now, that's definitely a good reason for a perfect score, but there's a lot more to the movie than hot lesbian action.

I try to use the word 'masterpiece' sparingly. Mulholland Dr., if not a masterpiece, is very, very close. It is definitely David Lynch's best film. The movie clocks in at 145 minutes, with scenes ranging from music auditions to murders. There's quite a few storylines, and you can honestly double the count of however many characters you have, because the last forty or so minutes will fuck you over once you think you have the movie put together.

That's why this movie is so great. There are plenty (I've read a dozen, all of which could be valid) of theories, and am pretty stuck on my own. But still, every time I watch the movie, I question myself. To explain plot points would take pages, and it still would make no sense. Let's just say that there's a thin line between dream and reality, and nothing is really certain when it's all said and done.

I would type up my interpretation with a spoiler alert, but I know people would read it anyway without seeing the movie, so I won't. I'll leave it up to you, and if you're lucky you'll enjoy drawing your own conclusions.

Rating: 7/7

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8.16.2007

So at this other site I'm doing weekly 'what's opening' glimpses. I figure, if I'm doing it anyway, might as well post here. Why am I doing this? Because no one wants to spend $7-$11 AND be forced to sit through a bad movie. Lose/lose. Of course, I'll be a little biased because I have better taste and have seen more movies than most people, but I'll keep some objectivity in mind. Modesty, not so much. Also, with the summer blockbuster season ending and the 'Oscar season' coming up, this will be a little guide.


First, and probably the most popular release this weekend is Superbad. IMDb. Trailer.

The trailer looks funny, which usually means the movie is mediocre. However, a surprising 82 on Metacritic and 89% CotC on RottenTomatoes make me think this is 114 minutes of good entertainment.

Second up in wide release is The Invasion IMDb. Trailer.

As much as I like Nicole Kidman, this looks trivial at best. Even the better reviews say it's predictable and, well, bad. Skip.

The last wide release this weekend is The Last Legion. IMDb. Trailer.

So aside from the terrible cheesy trailer and that the little kid is from Love Actually, the movie looks entertaining. But alas, I haven't heard anything about it before I watched the trailer just now, which usually means one thing: disaster.

This isn't really my thing, but since Leo DiCaprio is a pretty big star, here's The 11th Hour. IMDb. Trailer.

I mention this because I've heard more about this than both The Invasion and Last Legion, even though it's only in limited release. It's a documentary about Earth's climate, what people can do to save it, etc. If that's your thing you should check it out. If not, well... don't.


There's a few other limited releases, but they either won't attract any attention BO-wise, or aren't worth mentioning yet.

Jon's Choice

Go see Superbad.

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8.11.2007

Since the movie I wanted to see this weekend was only in limited release (Rocket Science), instead I went to see 'Stardust.'

Surprisingly, though the movie is overly congested by the end with sub-plots and deus ex machinas, it's so fun that it doesn't matter.

Not straying far from the mold for romances, fantasies, or a combination of both, there's still a traditional sense of 'quest' and 'love' that has been around since, well, forever. What Stardust attempts to do is blend the realities, with a boy from real-world England going into a fantasy world where ghosts provide hilarious commentary, stars are incarnated as beautiful ladies (Claire Danes, whom I love forever), and witches need to eat hearts to survive.

The movie hits just the right amount of comedy, and though it's not overwhelming, it seems that the movie itself is just a tad too long. It breaks the two hour marker, which is almost a cardinal sin of rom-coms. Even though Robert DeNiro had some great moments, cutting out his plot line could've shortened the movie and not hurt it at all. I think it would've clocked in at about 90 minutes, which is close to perfect.

And why is Michelle Pfeiffer, even at (almost) 50, still the hottest chick in this movie? She's such a great actress and I'm glad she's back after a few years break. Between this and Hairspray I like her infinitely more.

If you're on the fence about seeing this, remember what one guy said to his group of 5 guy friends when the credits came up: "See, I told you it wasn't going to be as gay as you thought!"

Rating: 5.5/7

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8.08.2007

I was at work tonight doing whatever, and these kids came up to me. Conversation went something like this:

Girls: What's your name?

Jon: Why, do I look like someone you know?

Girls: Yeah. What's your name?

Jon: What's your friend's name, and I'll tell you if it's the same as mine.

[at this point I think maybe they have me confused with my brother]

Girls: Warren, or _______, or ___________ (they said a few W names).

Jon: Nope. Does your friend live here?

Girls: No. We're from Tennessee.

Jon: Then why would I be, or know, him? I'm working here, so obviously I live here.

Girls: I don't know..........

Man, some people . . . .

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8.01.2007

So basically the movie 'Becoming Jane' is the exact same premise as 'Shakespeare in Love,' except instead of it being about an author that mattered, it's about Jane Austen. Sweet! Trailer below.

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7.27.2007

I could've sworn I did a review for Zodiac back when I saw it in theaters, but apparently not.

I've been waiting for the DVD for a month, with a huge itch to watch it again. I also had this itch for about a week after my initial viewing.

The movie opened with fair-to-good reviews, clocking a 77 at MetaCritic and 78% CotC at RottenTomatoes.

I hate using the word 'fan,' but I've been a David Fincher 'fan' for years. Seven, Panic Room, Fight Club, and even The Game were all very well-made movies. Fincher has a very distinctive style, mixing traditional technique with an apparent love for personal flare. And this, with the cinematography, meshes well to give a fantastic feel of the 60s, and eventually spanning all the way until 1991.

There's also the overwhelming superscripts on every scene, which skips the step of inserting a timeline through subtle measures and just getting it up front. Four years or ten hours, it's all shown in a quick note (except for one great shot showing a skyscraper being constructed over a year). The feel of investigatory reminds me a lot of All the President's Men... though slightly different subject matter. Very different movies, but I just got that feel. And that's a good thing.

But the real thing is, what ties the movie together? This isn't a spoiler: the Zodiac murders were never solved. It takes a lot of talent to pull off closure when there's no certain evidence, no verdict. It's all circumstantial. There's no PROOF. Some say that's where the movie falls flat. That's why the movie thrives, is because the movie is about the Zodiac killer, but the real motif is addiction. Zodiac is just the string that holds the movie together.

We'll see how things go come Oscar time. I'm not holding my breath, but maybe a few tech nods will come up. I have a feeling, though, in five, maybe ten years, this movie will be looked upon as 'great.' We'll see.

Rating: 7/7

(And there is a reason I picked a 7 point rating system. Explaining it would just be a bunch of convoluted run-on sentences, so I won't, but just trust me that it makes sense.)

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7.25.2007

Skeptical upon seeing the original trailer, today I had an overwhelming urge to go see Hairspray.

Where to begin? Let's start with the bad. John Travolta. . . why? His lines were cheesy and his performance outlandish, yet I can't hate too much. It wasn't awful, just the weakest link.

The script takes plenty of opportunities to throw in some racist humor without actually being racist. It's one of those, they make the characters who say ignorant jokes look like complete morons, so apparently that makes it okay. Either way, it's hilarious because of the great:



I love me some Michelle Pfeiffer. Top-notch performance, and Brittany Snow plays her daughter with a look straight out of 'Mean Girls.' A perfect duo.

But then there's the ever-great Christopher Walken, and even people like Amanda Bynes deliver.

I'm no expert on choreography, all I can do is tell when something is 'good' and something is 'bad.' The song/dance mix in this flick is definitely in the 'good' category.

Rating: 6.5/7

(I think I'm switching to the seven-point rating system. Why? Because I like the number 7.)

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7.19.2007

'Fargo' goes out West.



Just kidding. But this movie looks great.

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7.12.2007

Tonight I went to Starbuck's to get a coffee, and it was about 8:15 or so. They close at 10:30. No one else is inside, and I go order a venti coffee. They say they're out of coffee and have to brew a fresh thing and it'll be a few minutes. I'm like, "It's okay. No problem."

But the lady kept apologizing, offered me a free pastry (I just ate, so I said no). I really didn't mind, I mean if it was busy I'd be waiting anyway. So ~5 minutes went by, I got my coffee, and she gave me a generic coupon that's for a free any drink I want next time I go in. Sa-weet.

But these generic coupons... at movie theaters (well, Regal ones) they have re-admission tickets that they give out if your movie screws up or something. They're on a huge roll of maybe a few hundred. Starbuck's has these little coupons. They don't have to be signed or anything. So I wonder what one has to do to get their hands on one of these rolls/packs. I mean, I don't want to work at these places, but how awesome would it be to have free coffee, or movies, for the next few years? I'd save so much money...

It wouldn't even be that hard to not get caught. There's enough Starbuck's around with enough employees. Movies theaters, a bit harder. Just make sure it's a different clerk. Hmm...

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I've watched a lot of movies since I last updated, but I'll just post about the ones people may be interested in.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

When a movie gets to the 5th part of a series, it becomes very easy for the audience to predict what will happen using a very, very simple formula that can be deduced from the previous four movies. In every movie, a new antagonist comes around, they give Harry (and friends) a hard time, we get a mild 'twist' ending, and Voldemort is one step closer to returning. This grows tiresome. The problem is that I'm sure there's more depth in the books, but J.K. Rowling makes them so long it would be impossible to fit it all into a movie -- however, it would be very possible to fit the small bit of plot from OotP (movie) into another frame and not have it drag on for 138 minutes. This problem stems from the new screenwriter and a director who only has TV experience. We get a big picture, and the movie lacks small quirks that made the other Harry Potter movies fun. Instead of tournaments, we get excessive CGI as the students lock themselves in a training room, practicing spells. Sure, it's important, but we don't need to waste twenty minutes on it. The time is better spent elsewhere, whether it's seeing something that was left out, or on my couch because I got out twenty minutes earlier.

When Alfonso Cuaron did the 'Prisoner of Azkaban' it ran for 141 minutes, but the series was still fresh after only three movies. But also, Cuaron is a great storyteller. That's why the third movie (and fourth, which is even longer) were better than the new OotP. It's not that OotP is a bad movie, but nothing new comes to risk for Harry, and it's just a stepping stone so the studio can make two more movies. There's nothing wrong with making a three hour movie as long as it's three hours worth of material.

The series seems to be getting darker, constantly looming Voldemort over our heads, but there's never a taste, especially in this movie, and there's nothing audience members hate more than cliffhangers and anti-climactic endings. But then again, it is Harry Potter, so even if the movie got one-star reviews from every critic in the United States, it would still open at the top of the box office.

6/10

Ratatouille

On a more positive note, this is easily the best movie of the summer as far as 'big' movies go.

After a long stretch of mediocre animated films (Surf's Up, Shrek 3, any number of others), finally Pixar has a release, and Pixar always means great movies. I think Cars is my least favorite, but it's still good.

Ratatouille is a film by Brad Bird (The Incredibles), and while I love The Incredibles, I think Ratatouille is a superior film.

The reason this film is so good, as with all Pixar movies, is it takes a simple concept that children can understand (doing what you love, loyalty to your family), and makes it universally appealing. There are two particular moments in the film that are so well crafted that it makes me realize how millions of people have experienced one of 'those things,' yet until now it's never been shown on screen. I don't want to spoil it, but if you've seen the movie, you probably know what I mean. These are the scenes that make a good movie great.

And, of course, Peter O'Toole doing the voice of Anton Ego is a highlight as well.

9.5/10

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7.06.2007

I'm going to revise my rating of The Apartment from this post.

I reacted prematurely in stating that some of the traditional elements seem dated by today's standards. Over the last year or so, I've watched a lot of Billy Wilder movies, and if asked who was my favorite writer/director, he would be it. What makes Billy Wilder so great is that his movies are timeless. Some Like It Hot is still hilarious. Sunset Blvd. is still a depressing story about clinging to lost dreams. Sabrina still tops any recent romantic comedies. The Apartment still holds up against the finest dramas.

Yes, I called The Apartment a 'drama.' See, that's the whole thing. Looking at The Apartment from a comedic perspective, it's funny, sure. But looking at it as a drama with comedic aspects is when the movie clicks.

This time around I focused a lot more on Shirley MacLaine, who plays Miss Kubelik so fantastically that it's impossible to not see how any man would want to take her home. But there's that other side, the side where she thinks, "I was jinxed from the word go. The first time I was ever kissed was in a cemetery." She's stuck in a place she doesn't want to be, and that in itself is depressing.

But then we see Jack Lemmon, fixed on his career. He loves Miss Kubelik, sure, but that comes a distant second to him willing to get pneumonia just for a chance at a promotion. It's very traditional: he wants a promotion, but he needs Miss Kubelik. Miss Kubelik makes him a better person -- she makes him be the one guy out of 31,000 who takes his hat off in the elevator. Not only do we sympathize with Jack Lemmon's character, but we're cheering for him to break the business shell and become a human being.

Billy Wilder may not be the most innovative director of all time, but he knows how to make a movie entertaining. In an interview he said, his first nine commandments were 'Thou Shalt Not Bore,' and his tenth was something like, 'Thou Shalt Have Rights to Final Cut.' That may explain why his movies are so good.

9.5/10

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6.30.2007

Last night I was watching the movie 'Girl Fever' aka '100 Women,' which is pretty bad, but it's almost a guilty pleasure...

Anyway, there's this line in there, something about art is the only thing that's honest, where you 'can't fake it.' Your stuff is either good, or it isn't.

Then I thought about the movie 'Fever Pitch,' where Jimmy Fallon says something about how Baseball is the best sport because there's no faking it. You can either hit a curve ball, or you can't.

So naturally I think, what the hell? I guess you could say that about anything. Basketball -- you can either make it in the basket, or you can't. Accounting -- you can either do the math, or you can't. This seems to be a pretty common analogy.

But, what really gets me is that, at least with Baseball, hitting a curve ball is a good metaphor. A curve ball to one person is a curve ball to another.

With art, it is about 70% subjective, 30% objective. I really don't like any Andy Warhol stuff, but apparently he was some important artist. I'm sure some would agree, and some would disagree. Subjective.

But my point is people need to come up with a new metaphor for why things are honest and the best. Because 'you can either ______ a _______ or you can't' has been done and done. If I see it again in a movie, I'm walking out.

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6.23.2007

I heard this second-hand, but it's true and here's a source: http://www.wdtn.com/Global/story.asp?S=6696215

Basically on a Superman ride at Six Flags, something went wrong and ripped off this teen girl's feet. If I had to pin down the top three thing I'd think would be the most painful, that would be one of them.

And of course this is another reason why Superman sucks. Batman for life.

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6.21.2007

Oh man, so AFI finally redid their 100 movies list! I haven't looked at it yet, but I've been on a quest to see them all. Right now I'm at 82 (see the old list here).

I had a long post here ranting about movies I like being dropped numerous spots to make way for inferior movies, but things like that aren't ever good. Sure, American Beauty was snubbed and movies like Forrest Gump, which shouldn't be anywhere near that list, remain, but what can you do? Fargo being kicked is very, very sad.

I like the first list a lot better. Oh well, time to tally.

80. So I lose 2 movies. Still, what a terrible new list. Ten years from now until they fix it...

Oh, you can check the full list on the AFI site but you have to log in, so do it here.

And courtesy of some people at AwardsDaily, here's a couple lists:

All the movies that are NEW:

18 The General (1927)
49 Intolerance (1916)
50 Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
59 Nashville (1975)
61 Sullivan’s Travels (1941)
63 Cabaret (1972)
67 Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966)
71 Saving Private Ryan (1998)
72 The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
75 In the Heat of the Night (1967)
77 All the President’s Men (1976)
81 Spartacus (1960)
82 Sunrise (1927)
83 Titanic (1997)
85 A Night at the Opera (1935)
87 12 Angry Men (1957)
89 The Sixth Sense (1999)
90 Swing Time (1936)
91 Sophie’s Choice (1982)
95 The Last Picture Show (1971)
96 Do the Right Thing (1989)
97 Blade Runner (1982)
99 Toy Story (1995)

All the movies that have been DROPPED:

(39) Doctor Zhivago (1965)
(44) The Birth of a Nation (1915)
(52) From Here to Eternity (1953)
(53) Amadeus (1984)
(54) All Quiet on the Western Front (1930)
(57) The Third Man (1949)
(58) Fantasia (1940)
(59) Rebel Without a Cause (1955)
(63) Stagecoach (1939)
(64) Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)
(67) The Manchurian Candidate (1962)
(68) An American in Paris (1951)
(73) Wuthering Heights (1939)
(75) Dances With Wolves (1990)
(82) Giant (1956)
(84) Fargo (1996)
(86) Mutiny on the Bounty (1935)
(87) Frankenstein (1931)
(89) Patton (1970)
(90) The Jazz Singer (1927)
(91) My Fair Lady (1964)
(92) A Place in the Sun (1951)
(99) Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner (1967)

Sad they went: My Fair Lady, Amadeus, Fargo, Manchurian Candidate, Fantasia.
Glad they joined: Shawshank Redemption, 12 Angry Men ... and that's it.

I'll have to just make my own damn list.

Edit: And as one last note, why is LotR: Fellowship on there, and not LotR: Return of the King? The third was a much better movie....

Okay, and here's my new list:

AFI 100 Movies. I got some movies to watch.

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6.14.2007

So when I was in Vegas, I learned that supposedly AFI also did the 100 best movie posters. Here's a site where you can see them all:

moviegoods.com

I haven't seen a number of these, actually... Well, here's some of my favorite posters from this list (emphasis on 'posters,' with the quality of the movie having no weight). Also, ignore the terrible MovieGoods logo, I guess.











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So last week I was in Las Vegas, which was pretty awesome. I kept a detailed log, but it's hand written and just for me. But anyway, two things about Vegas for now:

I can't believe how dry it is there. Granted, it's in the middle of the fucking desert, but every day after the first my lips were completely dried out, regardless of the bottles of water I'd drink. I think maybe I'm too used to the Florida humidity.

Also, the cab drivers there are ridiculous. I don't know how they go more than three minutes without an accident. They never check their mirrors or blind spot or anything, and squeeze into spots I would never even consider. And there's no cops driving around, so pretty much all of them run red lights. The only real traffic law seems to be, don't hit the pedestrians, but they still honk at them even when there's an okay to walk signal.

And of course none of them speak English very well.

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6.13.2007

My bad guys, I went out of town for a week, plus general lazy tendencies. More on that later. For now, what I do best: mini movie reviews.

Ocean's Thirteen

Better than Twelve, not as good as Eleven. Definitely not a 'good' movie, but for sure a very entertaining one. Soderbergh and the crew should continue making these forever.

8/10

Pirates 3

A little late on this one. . . . Pretty long, pretty bad. There's no real care for the characters, and while they didn't exploit Johnny Depp as much as they did in the second one, it gave Orlando Bloom more lines, which is never good. So many plot holes and subplots that really don't lead anywhere. Disappointing.

5/10

Knocked Up

Quite the hilarious movie. Solid laughs all the way through. Most of the jokes are just great one-liners, so I won't say much since quoting them out of context isn't effective.

8.5/10

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5.27.2007

I'm not dead, just being productive. Must act on inspiration when you have it, ya know?

PS. The Good Shepherd -- terrible.

Stranger Than Fiction -- still decent on a second viewing. Emma Thompson carries the movie.

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5.20.2007

This really is turning in to a 'movie blog,' as much as I don't want that to be the main content. . . .

I watched The Prestige yesterday, and thought it was fantastic. Christopher Nolan is a very competent director, and I'm becoming sort of a 'fan' for his flicks. Plus, Batman and Wolverine in the same movie?! Holy crap. Also, Michael Caine is one of the most talented actors. As Woody Allen said back in the day, Michael Caine is one of those few people who can do both comedy and drama, and do them well. A rare breed--he can do no wrong.

Tonight I saw The Ex for free in the theater, and it was mildly entertaining. Zach Braff plays, well, himself. I like Amanda Peet. This movie was, as expected, extremely formulaic. No curve balls, some lethargic scenes that could've easily been cut. This could've been a sweet forty minute episode of Scrubs, but instead it's ~90 minutes of frustration with the occasional quirky joke.

If you ever need a good laugh, read some of Ebert's reviews of terrible movies. His Zero Star reviews. Here's a couple hilarious ones: Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo, Jaws the Revenge, and Freddy Got Fingered.

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5.17.2007

I'm sitting here watching Julius Caesar, which has Marlon Brando, and is directed by Joe Mankiewicz. It's pretty much word-for-word with the play, which is great, but since I've read it a few times, I'm only half-watching. Hence, a post.

I rewatched Traffic about a week ago. I still don't know which I think is a better movie, Traffic or Gladiator. Both are fantastic, but as we know Gladiator won Best Picture. Traffic won Director, writing, editing, and supporting actor--four huge awards. Gladiator had Lead Actor, costumes, sound, and visual effects (and best picture). I don't get the Academy sometimes (note: all the time). Maybe it's because Drugs (capital D) is a touchy subject matter, and they didn't want a movie about unspeakable activities engraved as a Best Picture (hey, Brokeback Mountain). Gladiator was a much more 'epic' movie, in the sense of crowd-pleasing. It did have huge box office appeal, Gladiator with 187 million domestic, Traffic with 124 (which still isn't bad). I've continually thought Traffic was a slightly better movie, but that's a very, very hard call.

But my original intent of posting was because I recently watched Woody Allen's movie, Sleeper.

Sleeper was released in 1973, which was just after Woody Allen's debut film era (Bananas; Play It Again, Sam; and others), and just before he hit it real big (Annie Hall; Manhattan). He eventually fine tunes a style all his own, but where he draws his inspiration is distinct. On the one hand, there's numerous moments of Marx Brothers- and Charlie Chaplin-like comedy: In the future, giant fruits and vegetables are grown, and while being chased, Allen and his pursuer slip over and over on a giant banana peel. However, Allen has, in almost every movie, used sex as a strong comedic element--not with people having it, but with what revolves around it, and what its importance is to people. When Allen's character finds out his brain will be reprogrammed, he says, "My brain? Why, that's my second favorite organ." Or how there's a machine that allows humans to climax almost instantly, then go about their day. Woody also has typical Freudian jokes, such as, (to put this in context, he was frozen, and wakes up 200 years later) "I haven't seen my analyst in 200 years. He was a strict Freudian. If I'd been going all this time, I'd probably almost be cured by now." Though it's a work of fiction, his charaters seem to always have a semi-autobiographical quality, since Allen has been seeing psychiatrists for many years--all Freudian. The scenes without Allen cracking jokes seem to lag behind the rest. If I want to watch slapstick stories with little dialogue, I'll pop on a Chaplin flick, or anything early Marx Brothers. Allen does a decent job, but his characters' personalities outshine their actions. I'm glad he stayed away from this style after this flick. It was entertaining, but far from his best.

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5.15.2007

Very quick movie reviews:

Spider-man 3

Disappointing. Main criticism: it wasn't possible to distinguish between which parts were supposed to be serious, and which were supposed to be funny because the acting was so bad. I mean, I don't expect the greatest acting in a Spidey movie, but come on. Spidey 2 > 1 > 3.

28 Weeks Later

I would almost say this one was better than the original. . . . The first jump-out scare literally made my leg jerk so hard that I pulled a calf muscle, and consequentially felt like a moron. Either way, plenty of good moments, and even a few subtle throwbacks to the first one (i.e. the guy pushing in his wife's eyes with his thumbs, like Jim does in the first one.). A few plot holes, but whatever, still entertaining.

What If God Were the Sun?

Never heard of this movie? Probably because it was a Lifetime original. Why did I go out of my usual boundaries to watch a terrible lifetime movie? Because Lacey Chabert was in it. Sadly, not even she could save this movie. No plot coherence, two-dimensional characters, jumpy character arcs. . . no wonder it was on Lifetime.

Casino Royale

Okay, so I saw this in theaters, but I just watched it again on DVD. Still good--great, even. One of the better Bond movies.

A real post coming soon.

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5.10.2007

So here's my top five favorite movies! It's hard to place these five as I love them all, but here is how I favor them. . . .

5. The Godfather (1972) || IMDb
Last year: 6, up 1

The fall and rise story of the Corleone family. Why do I like this movie so much? Never a dull moment in these three hours. Every word, every shot is perfection. There's even a few funny lines: "Leave the gun. Take the cannolis." The greatness of this movie is how it gives deep characterization to the families, while also not harming a single outsider through the film (okay, maybe one in Sicily, but that's debatable). Memorable quote:

Michael: My father made him an offer he couldn't refuse.
Kay Adams: What was it?
Michael: Luca Brasi held a gun to his head, and my father assured the bandleader, that either his signature or his brains would be on the contract.

4. Annie Hall (1997) || IMDb
Last year: 10, up 6

I've watched a lot of Woody Allen movies since last year, but this is still my favorite. Manhattan is a close second, but. . . . Count on Woody Allen to string together a seemingly random array of scenes with pop culture jokes, as well as comedy ranging from racial stereotypes to the absurdness of the California mindset. Memorable quote:

Alvy Singer: Syliva Plath - interesting poetess whose tragic suicide was misinterpreted as romantic by the college girl mentality.

3. It's a Wonderful Life (1946) || IMDb
Last year: 1, down 2

Still love this movie, but I need something a little less seasonal. So Jimmy Stewart is probably my favorite actor, plus anything by Frank Capra is great. Sure it's a Christmas movie, but even in the middle of June I get sappy by the end. Cheesy? Maybe. Great movie? Definitely. Memorable quote:

Clarence: You've been given a great gift, George: A chance to see what the world would be like without you.

2. All About Eve (1950) || IMDb
Last year: 12, up 10

I may not be correct, but I'd be willing to debate against whomever this is the best movie ever made. I think I'd also have valid points. But this list is about favoritism. I wrote a very in-depth post about this movie a while back. Basically, Bette Davis is at her best, but of course Anne Baxter is pretty and charming and manipulative and evil and I love it. Joe Mankiewicz has made some solid movies, but this is without question his best. The screenplay is the highlight, in my opinion, though I may be a bit biased since I'm a creative writing major. Hell, the movie even has Marilyn Monroe, who steals scenes from even the best actors in the movie. Know why? She's freakin' Marilyn Monroe. I guess she can get the Memorable quote:

[a butler passes by]
Miss Claudia Caswell: Oh, waiter!
Addison DeWitt: That is not a waiter, my dear, that is a butler.
Miss Claudia Caswell: Well, I can't yell "Oh butler!" can I? Maybe somebody's name is Butler.
Addison DeWitt: You have a point. An idiotic one, but a point.

1. American Beauty (1999) || IMDb
Last year: 2, up 1

Who didn't see this coming? I also made a more in-depth post about this movie last year. As I already said, it's sad when Sam Mendes' directorial debut is the best movie of the last decade
(winning the Oscar for Picture, Director, Screenplay, Actor, and Cinematography), and his next films just keep getting worse and worse. Jarhead? Road to Perdition? Come on.

Kevin Spacey's fantastic in the lead, and even supporting characters stand out. Wes Bentley, even though his floating bag speech has been mocked many times, makes is so believable. I'm in love with the screenplay, and so glad they cut out the original ending (the kids at a trial). The score is mesmerizing, and I could watch this movie forever. Memorable quote:

Lester Burnham: I feel like I've been in a coma for the past twenty years. And I'm just now waking up.

Conclusion

Well, there it is. Sorry for no pictures this year. Lots of movement. Here's some stats:

New additions: 6 (Fargo, Spirited Away, Amelie, The Departed, Sabrina, Match Point)

Movies in B&W: 11

Movies that won at least one Oscar: 26
--- Best Picture winners: 11

Oldest movie: Gone With the Wind -- 1939
Newest movie: The Departed -- 2006

Biggest jump: Gone With the Wind -- up 14
Biggest fall: Jerry Maguire -- down 11
(this is of course not counting Amelie ranking 12 on a first showing)

Highest animated movie: Lilo & Stitch -- #16
Directors' count: Billy Wilder (3). Woody Allen, Stanley Kubrick, Francis Coppola, Mel Brooks, Kevin Smith all with (2).

I would do most mentioned actor/actress but that's too much work.

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5.09.2007

Here it is, the top ten.

10. A Shot In the Dark (1964) || IMDb
Last year: 7, down 3

Much better than any of the Pink Panther movies, this somewhat of a spin-off is Clouseau at his best. A perfect blend of slapstick and traditional comedy, Peter Sellers controls the whole movie, even when he's just walking/stumbling. Memorable quote (there's so many to choose from and obviously they're much better with a French accent):

Clouseau: Facts, Hercule, facts! Nothing matters but the facts. Without them the science of criminal investigation is nothing more than a guessing game.

9. A Streetcar Named Desire (1951) || IMDb
Last year: 3, down 6

It's rare when a play-turned-movie is taken word-for-word from its source material, but then again, if it isn't broken, don't fix it. Plus, Marlon Brando is pretty much the best actor ever, and then we have the lovable Vivien Leigh as Stellaaaaaaaaa! Memorable quote:

Blanche DuBois: Whoever you are, I have always depended on the kindness of strangers.

8. The Shawshank Redemption (1994) || IMDb
Last year: 4, down 4

Some serious movement for the top ten. I don't like this movie any less than last year, I just like the others that moved ahead more. Shawshank is one of those movies that was horribly overlooked in 1994/5, being shut out of the Oscars; yet over ten years later, it's seen as the best movie from '94 (and if not, then it's Pulp Fiction. Not Forest Gump, ugh). Morgan Freeman is at his best, and the way we see Tom Robbins' character from his perspective is what makes this story unique, and what makes us sympathetic. Memorable quote:

Andy Dufresne: Get busy living, or get busy dying.

7. The Princess Bride (1987) || IMDb
Last year: 5, down 2

This has been a favorite for longer than any of the others, I think. Definitely the best sword fight of all time. Also, the abundance of subtle comedy and traditional romance blends sweetly. Memorable quote:

Inigo Montoya: Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father prepare to die.

6. Some Like It Hot (1963) || IMDb
Last year: 8, up 2

Even more Billy Wilder. Jack Lemmon is great, but of course so is Tony Curtis. Cross-dressing is always funny when done right. Then, we have Marilyn Monroe, who makes any movie twenty times better. I'm chipping away at the AFI movie list, and on their separate list for Comedies, this was ranked number one. Good call. Memorable quote:

Sugar: I come from this musical family. My mother is a piano teacher and my father was a conductor.
Joe: Where did he conduct?
Sugar: On the Baltimore and Ohio.

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5.08.2007

Top 15 is serious business. In related news, I think I fixed my desktop computer (have been using the laptop for a long time). That's good, but I don't want to jinx it, since it's only been about a day. . . .

15. Psycho (1960) || IMDb
Last year: 9, down 6

Pretty much everything Hitchcock touched became a classic, and this thriller is no exception. The pacing is perfect, and the way it shows the extremes characters go to for traits such as jealousy and greed is what makes it so good.

14. Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964) || IMDb
Last year: 15, up 1

I won't deny that the first time I watched this movie, I fell asleep. This was probably a few years ago. Then I watched it again when it wasn't late at night and wasn't on a computer screen, and I enjoyed it infinitely more. Peter Sellers is one of the best comic actors, even if you just count Dr. Strangelove and the his Inspector Clouseau. But it's not just the title character that makes this movie so funny. George C. Scott contributes a lot himself. The ending scene/line is awesome.

13. Casablanca (1942) || IMDb
Last year: 11, down 2

On an unbiased list of 'best' movie ever, this would be in the top 3 (I cannot just pick one, and you'll see the other two shortly). Few movies that are old have dialogue this crisp, and those that do are obviously why they are 'classics.' Ingrid Bergman is also a favorite of mine, and who can hate on Bogart? I don't think this is my favorite Bogart performance, but it's my favorite film with him in it.

12. Le Fabulex destin d'Amelie Poulain (2001) || IMDb
Last year: N/A

A big first appearance for miss Amelie. Hearing French spoken is always pleasant, and when you get to look at someone so pretty as Audrey Tautou speaking it, it's impossible not to love her. Let's also consider that she's quirky, meddling, and partially altruistic. A great character; but the movie is also great. The cinematography of Paris has received criticism for not being realistic (too pretty/clean/etc), but that's why it's so good.

11. Sunset Blvd. (1950) || IMDb
Last year: 16, up 5

Some more Billy Wilder showing up. I regretted putting this at sixteen last year, and it's rightfully moved up. 1950 was a good movie year. I really don't want to ruin the plot. . . William Holden is an out of work screenwriter who gets stranded at Gloria Swanson's mansion. Swanson is a retired silent film star who is rich, but delusional. She hires Holden to proofread her own screenplay about her life, and he gets trapped by her--not physically, but by each others' needs. Fantastic writing.

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5.07.2007

My bad for the lapse, I spontaneously went out of town yesterday. Ten for today!

25. The Departed (2006) || IMDb
Last year: N/A

Saw it twice in theatres. . . have watch it three times since I bought it. . . . I like Leo DiCaprio more and more every year, and this movie seems like the fastest 2.5 hours in cinema history.

24. Blazing Saddles (1974) || IMDb
Last year: 22, down 2

Mel Brooks was a comedy genius. Also, Gene Wilder--so good. Obviously the best Western of all time.

23. Finding Nemo (2003) || IMDb
Last year: 21, down 2

I watched this movie many times recently, and can safely say I can quote most of it. Such great writing, and I think it's my favorite Pixar movie. Ellen DeGeneres is great, which is weird, since I kind of don't like her.

22. Traffic (2001) || IMDb
Last year: 20, down 2

Steven Soderbergh is fantastic, and I'm go glad he won Best Director. I don't know if I think it's better than Gladiator. . . . Highlight of the movie: Topher Grace as a drug addict.

21. The Silence of the Lambs (1991) || IMDb
Last year: 19, down 2

Flesh-eating Anthony Hopkins? Human skin as clothes? What more is needed for a great movie, really?

20. The Producers (1968) || IMDb
Last year: 18, down 2

More Mel Brooks, more Gene Wilder. Forget the terrible remake, go with the original. Best concept for a plot, ever. Also, Springtime For Hitler, genius.

19. Halloween (1978) || IMDb
Last year: 13, down 6

Ugh, I can't believe Rob Zombie is remaking this. My favorite horror movie, which sort of revolutionized the slasher genre.

18. Gone With the Wind (1939) || IMDb
Last year: 32, up 14

I still can't believe Victor Fleming directed both this and The Wizard of Oz in the same year, and both are so great. The more I see of Clark Gable, the more I like him. Ditto, obviously, for Vivien Leigh. So what if it's 4 hours long, it's all so good.

17. Clue (1985) || IMDb
Last year: 14, down 3

1+2+2+1. . . .

16. Lilo & Stitch (2002) || IMDb
Last year: 17, up 1

Going to ruin the countdown: this is my favorite Disney movie. I really hate kids, but it's so great watching Lilo whine. And if I ever had a pet (alien) dog, I'd definitely want him to be like Stitch. Plus, an abundance of Elvis songs? A+

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5.06.2007

More of the Top 50 (wow, this didn't post last night for some unknown reason. Good thing I copy/pasted and didn't turn off my computer)

30. Mean Girls (2004) || IMDb
Last year: 30, no movement

Differing from many teen comedies, Mean Girls is actually a moderately mature look at High School drama. However, there's still plenty of cheesy lines that I love to quote on an everyday basis. Oh, and Lacey Chabert, Rachel McAdams. . . yay!

29. How To Lose a Guy In 10 Days (2003) || IMDb
Last year: 27, down 2

I've definitely seen this movie more times than any other movie, ever. If you gave me a list of scenes I could probably write the whole script verbatim. There's so many great lines, and something about the Kate Hudson.Matthew McConaughey pair that makes me happy. I don't know exactly why, but I really, really like this movie.

28. Clerks (1994) || IMDb)
Last year: 26, down 2

So the sequel wasn't as good, but was definitely decent. This is another movie where I laugh before the jokes happen because I've seen it so many times. I looooooooooove Randal, and also Kevin Smith's original movie.

27. The Godfather: Part II (1974) || IMDb
Last year: 25, d own 2

It's hard to write about an intellectual movie while drunk. . . . . I love, love some parts of the original DeNiro flashbacks. I'm not going to ruin them, but. . . they're amazing. Maybe I suck, but I love the 'modern' scenes with Al Pacino and his company more than the flashbacks of Vito. One of my favorite scenes of all time is when Al Pacino kisses his brother and admits he knows Fredo was 'in' on it. Freaking amazing, and I love this movie.

26. Chinatown (1975) || IMDb
Last year: 23, down 3

I still think, from a writing perspective, this is one of the best movies of all time. And I still love Jack Nicholson. The way this crime drama unfolds is perfectly paced, and Roman Polanski is a great director.

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5.04.2007

Continuing the Top 50 favorites.

35. About a Boy (2002) || IMDb
Last year: 35, no movement

I have a soft spot for movies done by Paul Weitz, including the first American Pie, In Good Company, and About a Boy (we shall not include the god-awful American Dreamz). About a Boy shows Hugh Grant how he is--a complete asshole--and it's beaufitul. Plus, Rachel Weisz is hot, so...

34. Chocolat (2000) || IMDb
Last year: 36, up 2

The struggle of a gorgeous Juliette Binoche to support her new chocolate shoppe in a town where Lent and religion forbid it. Also, there's a completely random Johnny Depp role, which is always nice.

33. Reservoir Dogs (1992) || IMDb
Last year: 29, down 4

I used to be moderately obsessed with this movie. Definitely not as good as Pulp Fiction, but still great in its own right. This movie is more on the list because of nostalgia.

32. The Usual Suspects (1995) || IMDb
Last year: 31, down 1

Kevin Spacey is great when he's not in POS movies like Pay It Forward. The writing is fantastic, falling out of the terrible cliches that can mess up any crime movie. Also, even though there's the 'shock' ending, the best part is that even without it, the movie is still great. That's what makes it so good.

31. Moulin Rouge! (2001) || IMDb
Last year: 28, down 3

Nicole Kidman was robbed by Halle Berry come Oscar time. Say what you will, but I think this movie was much better than A Beautiful Mind (maybe not Gosford Park). I do have sort of a 'thing' for musicals, though. . . . The costumes and songs are amazing, but I guess that wasn't enough.

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5.03.2007

Continuing the Top 50.

40. A Night at the Roxbury (1998) || IMDb
Last year: 45, up 5

Is this the movie I quote more than any other? No. . . . . yes! Okay, maybe not as much as a certain teen comedy, but this movie is great comedy.

39. Love Actually (2003) || IMDb
Last year: 42, up 3

Everyone I know, regardless of how manly or hardcore they are, has liked this movie. Just accept the fact it's a romantic comedy. I hate the tagline it had, something like 'The ultimate romantic comedy,' but it's so true. Definitely one of those 'warm, fuzzy feeling' movies. Impossible not to feel happy afterwards.

38. Ghost Busters (1984) || IMDb
Last year: 37, down 1

Do I really need to explain this choice?

37. Schindler's List (1993) || IMDb
Last year: 39, up 2

I have a hard time watching this movie more than once a year. I don't use the word 'powerful' to describe movies a lot, but this is a good place to stick it. Also, if this was a 'best movies' countdown, the placing would be much higher. Especially higher than the next choice, but. . . .

36. Army of Darkness (1992) || IMDb
Last year: 38, up 2

I'm so excited for the midnight showing of Spider-man 3, but before the Spider-man series, Sam Raimi made some great movies as well, which included a badass Bruce Campbell role with a shotgun in one hand, and a chainsaw for the other. It doesn't get much more awesome than that.

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5.02.2007

Continuing the top 50.

45. Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961) || IMDb
Last year: 41, down 4

Another Audrey Hepburn appearance. I love me some Holly Golightly. Her small quirks are the highlight of the movie. I admit, some scenes I usually skip, but overall, still very enjoyable.

44. Jerry Maguire (1996) || IMDb
Last year: 33, down 11 (ouch)

A big fall, but it's still on the list, so obviously I still like it. Probably one of Tom Cruise's best. Despite lines being mocked constantly, they're still so great in their original context.

43. Spirited Away (2001) || IMDb
Last year: N/A

Wouldn't say this is the best animated movie ever, but it's close. This is the only foreign movie I can suggest watching with English dubbing, because Disney did such a fantastic job of adapting it, you won't even notice. This is pretty far from traditional Japanese 'anime' that so many people hate, and I really, really suggest everyone give this movie a chance.

42. Mallrats (1995) || IMDb
Last year: 44, up 2

A great comedy, with too many lines to pick just one to go here. Jason Lee is the spotlight, but the running gags and great cast--which all seem to be supporting him--make this movie hilarious. Oh, and I hate the topless psychic.

41. Match Point (2005) || IMDb
Last year: N/A

Yay for Woody Allen. When I first saw this back in theaters, I was unsure how to react. I was sure, however, that Allen set out to do something unprecedented in movies, and he pulled it off. Now, having seen it four times, it's great to notice how expertly the plot unfolds, and how careful each character is in every word they speak.

Five more tomorrow.

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5.01.2007

Starting the new countdown of my 50 favorite movies. Introduction and the list from last year can be found here.

I hate, hate the concept of honorable mention(s), so I'll just jump right into it.

50. Sabrina (1954) || IMDb
Last year: N/A

People will notice a lot of movies Billy Wilder directed on this countdown, and here's the first. With a cast like Audrey Hepburn, Humphrey Bogart, and William Holden, it's hard to go wrong. Hepburn is charming (as always), and once she comes back from Paris, she's irresistable. I wish comedies these days relied on charm and character motivation instead of terrible, frustrating coincidences.

49. Fargo (1996) || IMDb
Last year: N/A

This one just barely missed the countdown last year. I like some of the other Coen brothers' movies, but this is definitely their best. The way each character gives so much in their subtle actions, how everything escalates and spins out of control--except Frances McDormand, who stays calm and collected, even when she sees a body being shoved into a wood chipper. McDormand is the only constant in the scenes where we're constantly shown seemingly endless snow stretching out of sight, every character struggling with loneliness and uncertainty. The depressing reality of this movie is what makes it so great.

48. My Cousin Vinny (1992) || IMDb
Last year: 46, down 2

The first comedy (well, Sabrina is pretty comical, but...) on the list. I've seen this movie probably ten times, and it never gets old. Of course, Marisa Tomei is amazing, but Joe Pesci's misunderstandings and blatant resent for the South is the highlight.

47. The Shining (1980) || IMDb
Last year: 43, down 4

Kubrick does horror. Jack Nicholson is pretty awesome in any role, but he seems right at home as the crazed dad stuck in isolation. And I still love the scene where he axes the guy in the chest.

46. Shakespeare in Love (1998) || IMDb
Last year: 49, up 3

Since I'm an English major I'm a bit partial to Shakespeare. The comedy in this movie is great, especially Geoffrey Rush. One of my favorite lines:

[talking about Marlowe's death]

Ned: A quarrel about the bill.

Philip Henslowe: The bill! Ah, vanity, vanity!

Ned: Not the billing--the BILL!


And that's it for today. Tomorrow comes 45-41. With three new additions, what got bumpd up and what got cut? Okay... we can all do without the cliffhanger ending. Check back tomorrow.

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