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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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