It's Christmas time, or was, and with my family, that means Christmas movies. That of course includes classics like Christmas Vacation, A Christmas Story, Scrooged, White Christmas, It's A Wonderful Life etc.
However, these last few years I've been trying to mix it up a little bit. Last year, we started a new tradition with an annual Christmas viewing of Die Hard, so this year I thought I would stay with that formula and watch Lethal Weapon.
Obviously, this movie rules. Mel is at his batshit crazy best, with a wonderfully nude introduction to Riggs, a grieving ex-special forces officer turned homicide detective. Seriously, Mel Gibson is insane and the character of Riggs in this first installment of the franchise was the perfect sign of what was to come.
Honestly though, Lethal Weapon is a truly great 80s action flick. Not only is the action tense and well executed, but the dramatic and comedic chemistry between Gibson and Danny Glover is incredibly appealing, easily reinvigorating the buddy cop genre of the time.
The sequels went on to get more ludicrous and hilarious with each installment, which isn't exactly a bad thing, but it is without a doubt that this first entry is easily the best.
Our annual Christmas trip to the theater this year was True Grit, a remake of the Oscar winning John Wayne classic, this time told through the eyes of the Coen Brothers.
It feels odd writing about True Grit at this point as it has already been praised by pretty much every one. I guess I'll just have to sound like a broken record, because this is great movie. The Western is my favorite genre of film, one which is becoming increasingly rare, but thankfully the Coens' are on a hot streak and have breathed new life into the genre.
Replacing John Wayne is The Dude himself, Jeff Bridges, who himself is on a bit of a hot streak ( some would argue it's a streak that has lasted his entire career). His take on Rooster Cogburn is at once hilarious and touching. He is a man with true grit, ready and willing to shoot a man down at a moments notice, while at the same time patient and understanding.
Matt Damon plays Labeouf, a Texas Ranger trailing the same man Cogburn and young Mattie Ross are after. Damon has a very tricky role here, his character, while upstanding and proud, is actually a bit of a creep, admitting to wanting to steal a kiss from 14 year old Ross and later giving her an actual spanking. Yet somehow, Damon brings out a thoughtfulness to him while also giving a very finely tuned comedic performance.
The real standout here, though, is Hailee Steinfeld as Mattie Ross, a teenage girl looking to hire a marshal to bring about justice to her father's killer. Steinfeld is simply a revelation, going head to head with big hollywood stars and coming out on top. People have said this is one of the best child performances of all time, and it's hard to argue. Steinfeld is the true star of the film, being in virtually every scene, and she handles it like a pro, and whats even more impressive, is that Bridges, Damon and the rest of the talented cast have no problem letting her take the spotlight.
True Grit is easily the best western in years, and should in time rank highly with the best of them all.
To conclude our Christmas day viewings, we put in Tremors. on BLU RAY.
This is a true gem of a movie. Monsters, horses, guns and Bacon. Kevin Bacon.
Kevin gives one of his classic performances here, and is joined by a more than willing Fred Ward. Both star as Val and Earl, two handy men in middle of nowhere Nevada or New Mexico or whatever who are always looking for a way to make a quick buck, and on the eve of their departure for bigger and better things, giant, blind, underground worms begin attacking the town.
That is the entire movie. Literally. And it is glorious.
Actually, what really makes this movie work is the cast. Aside from Bacon and Ward, you have Michael Gross and Reba McEntire as a gun loving married couple with enough armory to single handedly win WWIII, and Victor Wong ( of Big Trouble in Little China fame) as the local store owner hoping to cash in on the town's new discovery, and not to mention a slew of can't quite place them character actors who bring life to these people dealing with these giant, smelly worms.
Simply put, Tremors is Sweet.
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Friday, December 17, 2010
Black Swan
About 20 mins into Black Swan I was beginning to think that maybe I had over-hyped it for myself. It wasn't terrible mind you, I just wasn't seeing what all the fuss was about.
Shame on me for rushing to judgment. This is one of the best and most intense movies I have seen all year.
Natalie Portman gives what is not only my personal favorite female performance of the year, but easily the best of her career. Her character Nina, is in a constant state of fear. She is defined by it. She fears her overbearing mother, her director, but most importantly she fears that she just isn't good enough.
Darren Aronofsky has basically made a movie that is pure psychological assault. He puts the audience in Portman's head, ensuring the we are just as frightened and confused about what is happening as she is, and once things start to really fall apart for Nina, Aronofsky turns the tension level up to 11 and doesn't let up until the very last frame of film. He literally does not let you catch your breath at all. In fact, as soon as the credits started to roll, half of the audience in the theater couldn't even get up, processing what they had just witnessed.
It's a bold move, to not give the audience that breathing room at the end of a film, and in the hands of anyone else, there probably would have been some sort of needless prologue, but thankfully Aronofsky is not that guy, and he has proven once again that he is one the absolute best working directors in the industry today.
Shame on me for rushing to judgment. This is one of the best and most intense movies I have seen all year.
Natalie Portman gives what is not only my personal favorite female performance of the year, but easily the best of her career. Her character Nina, is in a constant state of fear. She is defined by it. She fears her overbearing mother, her director, but most importantly she fears that she just isn't good enough.
Darren Aronofsky has basically made a movie that is pure psychological assault. He puts the audience in Portman's head, ensuring the we are just as frightened and confused about what is happening as she is, and once things start to really fall apart for Nina, Aronofsky turns the tension level up to 11 and doesn't let up until the very last frame of film. He literally does not let you catch your breath at all. In fact, as soon as the credits started to roll, half of the audience in the theater couldn't even get up, processing what they had just witnessed.
It's a bold move, to not give the audience that breathing room at the end of a film, and in the hands of anyone else, there probably would have been some sort of needless prologue, but thankfully Aronofsky is not that guy, and he has proven once again that he is one the absolute best working directors in the industry today.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Top Ten of 2010
I realize that this list is incredibly late, but it took me quite some time to catch up on many of films that came out during the last few weeks of the year, and even then, I wasn't able to see everything. So without further ado, here are my top ten movies of 2010.
10. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 1- I was completely surprised at how much I liked this one. I have been a minor fan of the Potter films so far, with Prisoner of Azkaban being my previous favorite. They have definitely gotten better throughout the years, but none of them ever really wowed me. Hallows, however, really invested me not only in the world for the first time, but the characters. I believed the threat that Harry and friends were running from was real, which is probably the main thing that has kept me from loving previous entries. There is a real sense of dread here, a feeling that everything might not actually be OK, and I think it's that feeling that impressed me most. Not only is it hard to to have that feeling in any movie, but it's especially hard for a 7th movie in a 10 year old franchise to achieve it.
9. How to Train Your Dragon- This was another surprise for me last year. I had heard the hype, but still I was hesitant. I just didn't think any animated movie could come even close to Toy Story 3, and while this film isn't as wonderful as TS3, it came much closer than I thought it would. Dreamworks really stepped up their game not only in story and characters, but animation as well. If they can keep up this kind of quality, they might actually have a shot at being a legitimate rival to Pixar.
8. 127 Hours- Easily the most inspiring film I'd seen last year. James Franco is the whole show here, and he doesn't disappoint in the slightest. I'll admit I was quite nervous about seeing this one, specifically for "the" scene, something I think that has kept quite a few people from seeing it in theaters. Yes, I did almost pass out, but I didn't! I pushed through the cold sweat and couldn't be happier that I stayed strong and gave this a shot. I dare anyone to watch this and not feel inspired and grateful to be alive.
7. Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World- Joy. Pure Joy. That is the best way to describe Edgar Wright's adaptation of the comic series about Scott Pilgrim and his journey to battle his dream girl's seven evil ex's. I literally cannot stop smiling whenever I watch this. Chris Evans alone is worth the viewing, and he's in it no more than 5 minutes! If you were at all skeptical about watching it, wise up and see it. You will not be disappointed.
6. Kick-Ass- This was one of the few amazing theater experiences I've had since living in North Carolina, one that actually came close to the energy and fun an Alamo Drafthouse audience can bring to a viewing. Everyone in the theater was on board from the very first second to the very last, and it's hard to see why not. This is a ridiculously violent and hilarious film, and of course the absolutely insane Nicolas Cage doing an Adam West impression throughout. I just don't know what else you need to be able to enjoy a film.
5. The Fighter- Christian Bale. Mmmm. Even as a grossly thin junky, I still find myself attracted to the man. Also, he gives another amazing performance in a long list of amazing performances. Of course, there is also Mark Wahlberg, Melissa Leo and Amy Adams all giving top notch turns as a family who lives and breathes boxing. More so than the sports aspect though, it's the story of the family struggling to stay together that really gives the film it's emotional core. Thankfully, I don't pay attention to real life, as I prefer to watch movies, so I was completely surprised at the ending and got more than a little choked up seeing how their story ended.
4. The Social Network- I'm convinced that David Fincher can do anything. The fact that he was able to pull off a straight faced drama about Facebook says it all. Of course he is greatly assisted not only by a great script, but an almost perfectly cast ensemble. Jesse Eisenberg is the perfect ass hole. However, one of my favorite aspects of this movie is the score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. It really sneaks up on you and helps provide a very distant feeling between not only Eisenberg and the other characters in the film, but between the audience as well. Something which, for me at least, makes the story seem all the more tragic. Fantastic film making all around.
3. Black Swan- Just as 127 Hours was the most inspiring movie I saw in 2010, Black Swan was definitely the most intense. Natalie Portman stars as Nina, an aspiring ballerina finally getting her shot at a starring role in a new version of Swan Lake who is slowly losing her grip on reality as pressure from both herself and her peers becomes too much for her to handle. Darren Aronofsky has crafted a fascinating look into a fragile psyche on the verge of madness, and in doing so he takes the audience, and Portman, through the ringer, not giving either a moment to breath until the very end.
2. Toy Story 3- A near perfect ending to what might be the greatest trilogy ever made. Alternately heartbreaking and hilarious, Pixar once again proves why they are the king of the animation world right now. Not only are they not scared to allow kids to actually experience emotion instead of fart jokes, they actually have the balls to put all of the characters in a truly life threatening situation. Oh yea, I also cry like a baby every time I watch it.
1. Inception- What else can I say about this movie that hasn't already been said. It's just stupid good. I want Christopher Nolan to live forever so that he will never stop making movies.
So that's it. My personal favorite movies of 2010. Feel free to hate me.
10. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 1- I was completely surprised at how much I liked this one. I have been a minor fan of the Potter films so far, with Prisoner of Azkaban being my previous favorite. They have definitely gotten better throughout the years, but none of them ever really wowed me. Hallows, however, really invested me not only in the world for the first time, but the characters. I believed the threat that Harry and friends were running from was real, which is probably the main thing that has kept me from loving previous entries. There is a real sense of dread here, a feeling that everything might not actually be OK, and I think it's that feeling that impressed me most. Not only is it hard to to have that feeling in any movie, but it's especially hard for a 7th movie in a 10 year old franchise to achieve it.
9. How to Train Your Dragon- This was another surprise for me last year. I had heard the hype, but still I was hesitant. I just didn't think any animated movie could come even close to Toy Story 3, and while this film isn't as wonderful as TS3, it came much closer than I thought it would. Dreamworks really stepped up their game not only in story and characters, but animation as well. If they can keep up this kind of quality, they might actually have a shot at being a legitimate rival to Pixar.
8. 127 Hours- Easily the most inspiring film I'd seen last year. James Franco is the whole show here, and he doesn't disappoint in the slightest. I'll admit I was quite nervous about seeing this one, specifically for "the" scene, something I think that has kept quite a few people from seeing it in theaters. Yes, I did almost pass out, but I didn't! I pushed through the cold sweat and couldn't be happier that I stayed strong and gave this a shot. I dare anyone to watch this and not feel inspired and grateful to be alive.
7. Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World- Joy. Pure Joy. That is the best way to describe Edgar Wright's adaptation of the comic series about Scott Pilgrim and his journey to battle his dream girl's seven evil ex's. I literally cannot stop smiling whenever I watch this. Chris Evans alone is worth the viewing, and he's in it no more than 5 minutes! If you were at all skeptical about watching it, wise up and see it. You will not be disappointed.
6. Kick-Ass- This was one of the few amazing theater experiences I've had since living in North Carolina, one that actually came close to the energy and fun an Alamo Drafthouse audience can bring to a viewing. Everyone in the theater was on board from the very first second to the very last, and it's hard to see why not. This is a ridiculously violent and hilarious film, and of course the absolutely insane Nicolas Cage doing an Adam West impression throughout. I just don't know what else you need to be able to enjoy a film.
5. The Fighter- Christian Bale. Mmmm. Even as a grossly thin junky, I still find myself attracted to the man. Also, he gives another amazing performance in a long list of amazing performances. Of course, there is also Mark Wahlberg, Melissa Leo and Amy Adams all giving top notch turns as a family who lives and breathes boxing. More so than the sports aspect though, it's the story of the family struggling to stay together that really gives the film it's emotional core. Thankfully, I don't pay attention to real life, as I prefer to watch movies, so I was completely surprised at the ending and got more than a little choked up seeing how their story ended.
4. The Social Network- I'm convinced that David Fincher can do anything. The fact that he was able to pull off a straight faced drama about Facebook says it all. Of course he is greatly assisted not only by a great script, but an almost perfectly cast ensemble. Jesse Eisenberg is the perfect ass hole. However, one of my favorite aspects of this movie is the score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. It really sneaks up on you and helps provide a very distant feeling between not only Eisenberg and the other characters in the film, but between the audience as well. Something which, for me at least, makes the story seem all the more tragic. Fantastic film making all around.
3. Black Swan- Just as 127 Hours was the most inspiring movie I saw in 2010, Black Swan was definitely the most intense. Natalie Portman stars as Nina, an aspiring ballerina finally getting her shot at a starring role in a new version of Swan Lake who is slowly losing her grip on reality as pressure from both herself and her peers becomes too much for her to handle. Darren Aronofsky has crafted a fascinating look into a fragile psyche on the verge of madness, and in doing so he takes the audience, and Portman, through the ringer, not giving either a moment to breath until the very end.
2. Toy Story 3- A near perfect ending to what might be the greatest trilogy ever made. Alternately heartbreaking and hilarious, Pixar once again proves why they are the king of the animation world right now. Not only are they not scared to allow kids to actually experience emotion instead of fart jokes, they actually have the balls to put all of the characters in a truly life threatening situation. Oh yea, I also cry like a baby every time I watch it.
1. Inception- What else can I say about this movie that hasn't already been said. It's just stupid good. I want Christopher Nolan to live forever so that he will never stop making movies.
So that's it. My personal favorite movies of 2010. Feel free to hate me.
Inception
I don't really feel the need to go too in depth about my love for Inception.
It is simply my favorite type of movie. A movie with an epic premise, amazing actors and an epic director behind it all.
Watching Inception now, is like watching Jurassic Park as a 7 year old. It just blows my fucking mind. The journey Christopher Nolan has created is so beautifully realized and so awesomely awesome that I just would not want to be your friend if you can't appreciate this movie is some way, shape or form.
That's all I have to say about that.
It is simply my favorite type of movie. A movie with an epic premise, amazing actors and an epic director behind it all.
Watching Inception now, is like watching Jurassic Park as a 7 year old. It just blows my fucking mind. The journey Christopher Nolan has created is so beautifully realized and so awesomely awesome that I just would not want to be your friend if you can't appreciate this movie is some way, shape or form.
That's all I have to say about that.
Friday, December 10, 2010
Serpico, Raging Bull
It's safe to say that I'm officially on a Pacino/De Niro binge. It started with The Deer Hunter, which led to Heat, which led to Serpico, which then led to Raging Bull.
I've seen more classic De Niro than I have Pacino, so I was particularly excited to finally check out Serpico.
It's almost shocking to see Pacino restrained these days, after gotten used to chewing scenery for the last two decades, but it's roles like Serpico that reminds us why he is an acting giant. His authentic and dedicated performance gives us an idea of what Serpico was really like, and in turn makes us care not only about the character but for the cause he is working so hard for.
Something I've noticed while talking about this film and also The Deer Hunter, is that when you actually talk about what the film is about and what they are trying to achieve is actually quite simple. For example, Serpico is about an honest cop trying to make a difference in the very corrupt system he works for. That's it. The Deer Hunter follows a group of smalltown friends and the affect the Vietnam War has on them. Sounds simple enough. Yet the combination of great acting and great direction turns these simple premises into something that can stand the test of time. It's a point I've touched on before, but the amount of care that went into making films like these is something that is so evidently missing in most of film making today, and it really makes me appreciate that period of time in the 70s and early 80s when true filmmakers were the ones running Hollywood.
Sorry for the tangent, back to business.
I had seen Raging Bull only once before, so I was going into this viewing with a fairly fresh perspective. I remembered most of the big story beats, but had forgotten a lot of the harsh relationships in the movie.
The work De Niro does here is the stuff of legend, and it is without a doubt one of the best performances of all time, but I have to admit I appreciated his work in the The Deer Hunter more. It's obviously a much more personal performance, and granted Raging Bull isn't exactly trying to get you to love Jake LaMotta, but with The Deer Hunter I was able to understand what his character had been through and why it made him act the way he did. Whereas in Raging Bull, he is simply, a dick.
Don't get me wrong, I love Raging Bull, and it absolutely deserves it's status as a classic film, it's just so fresh and exciting to finally see some of De Niro's quieter performances and to also finally realize why he is indeed a damn fine actor.
I've seen more classic De Niro than I have Pacino, so I was particularly excited to finally check out Serpico.
It's almost shocking to see Pacino restrained these days, after gotten used to chewing scenery for the last two decades, but it's roles like Serpico that reminds us why he is an acting giant. His authentic and dedicated performance gives us an idea of what Serpico was really like, and in turn makes us care not only about the character but for the cause he is working so hard for.
Something I've noticed while talking about this film and also The Deer Hunter, is that when you actually talk about what the film is about and what they are trying to achieve is actually quite simple. For example, Serpico is about an honest cop trying to make a difference in the very corrupt system he works for. That's it. The Deer Hunter follows a group of smalltown friends and the affect the Vietnam War has on them. Sounds simple enough. Yet the combination of great acting and great direction turns these simple premises into something that can stand the test of time. It's a point I've touched on before, but the amount of care that went into making films like these is something that is so evidently missing in most of film making today, and it really makes me appreciate that period of time in the 70s and early 80s when true filmmakers were the ones running Hollywood.
Sorry for the tangent, back to business.
I had seen Raging Bull only once before, so I was going into this viewing with a fairly fresh perspective. I remembered most of the big story beats, but had forgotten a lot of the harsh relationships in the movie.
The work De Niro does here is the stuff of legend, and it is without a doubt one of the best performances of all time, but I have to admit I appreciated his work in the The Deer Hunter more. It's obviously a much more personal performance, and granted Raging Bull isn't exactly trying to get you to love Jake LaMotta, but with The Deer Hunter I was able to understand what his character had been through and why it made him act the way he did. Whereas in Raging Bull, he is simply, a dick.
Don't get me wrong, I love Raging Bull, and it absolutely deserves it's status as a classic film, it's just so fresh and exciting to finally see some of De Niro's quieter performances and to also finally realize why he is indeed a damn fine actor.
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Heat
Heat is awesome.
I feel as though most people would agree with that statement.
I know that not everyone likes good movies, and I appreciate the fact that for a lot of people, some movies just aren't "for them", but I feel that Heat is one film that anyone can not only appreciate, but straight up love.
So I was extra excited when Katy had finally agreed to watch it for the first time, after years of me telling her it was "essential to her existence".
As I hit play, I was more than confident that after the movie ended, Katy would be thanking me for finally making her watch this obvious masterpiece, and even ask when we could watch it again.
As the credits rolled, I sarcastically asked, " Did you hate it?" Horribly, she answered, " No, it was good, but I think you over-hyped it a bit."
....
I wanted to throw up.
It's Heat. HEAT. How can you over-hype it?? Mann, Pacino, De Niro, Cops, Robbers. I mean come on!!
I was able to keep my cool at the moment, and continued to have a very practical conversation about her wrong opinion, but as the night went on I couldn't help but think that maybe it was true. Maybe I had, indeed, over-hyped Heat.
I was heartbroken. Not only did Katy not love it, but I was the one who prevented her from doing so. After that realization, my mind began to delve deeper. Maybe Heat is a little over-hyped. Maybe I love it more for nostalgia than actual quality. Along with Die Hard with a vengeance, Heat was one of the first movies that made me love movies. But that didn't make sense. I had done nothing but stress my attraction for all things Willis from the beginning of our relationship, and still, she liked that movie.
So what was it then? Did I over-hype Heat? Was it just not as good as I remembered? Or was Katy just plain wrong?
These were hard questions for me, and after a few hours of soul searching I was finally able to reach a logical conclusion. Heat is awesome. I mean, it's Heat. Heat is awesome. I'm simply stating what I know to be fact.
I still love Katy though, and I plan on continuing to make her watch movies she may or may not love for the rest of our natural lives.
I feel as though most people would agree with that statement.
I know that not everyone likes good movies, and I appreciate the fact that for a lot of people, some movies just aren't "for them", but I feel that Heat is one film that anyone can not only appreciate, but straight up love.
So I was extra excited when Katy had finally agreed to watch it for the first time, after years of me telling her it was "essential to her existence".
As I hit play, I was more than confident that after the movie ended, Katy would be thanking me for finally making her watch this obvious masterpiece, and even ask when we could watch it again.
As the credits rolled, I sarcastically asked, " Did you hate it?" Horribly, she answered, " No, it was good, but I think you over-hyped it a bit."
....
I wanted to throw up.
It's Heat. HEAT. How can you over-hype it?? Mann, Pacino, De Niro, Cops, Robbers. I mean come on!!
I was able to keep my cool at the moment, and continued to have a very practical conversation about her wrong opinion, but as the night went on I couldn't help but think that maybe it was true. Maybe I had, indeed, over-hyped Heat.
I was heartbroken. Not only did Katy not love it, but I was the one who prevented her from doing so. After that realization, my mind began to delve deeper. Maybe Heat is a little over-hyped. Maybe I love it more for nostalgia than actual quality. Along with Die Hard with a vengeance, Heat was one of the first movies that made me love movies. But that didn't make sense. I had done nothing but stress my attraction for all things Willis from the beginning of our relationship, and still, she liked that movie.
So what was it then? Did I over-hype Heat? Was it just not as good as I remembered? Or was Katy just plain wrong?
These were hard questions for me, and after a few hours of soul searching I was finally able to reach a logical conclusion. Heat is awesome. I mean, it's Heat. Heat is awesome. I'm simply stating what I know to be fact.
I still love Katy though, and I plan on continuing to make her watch movies she may or may not love for the rest of our natural lives.
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