Well, yesterday I was able to watch quite a few movies. I had actually intended to only watch 4, but managed to squeeze 5 in before the end of the day, though the last one can't really be counted as I had already watched it before.

First up is The Outlaw Josey Wales. This is a film that's considered by many western fans to be a crucial Clint Eastwood movie, and surprisingly, as a huge western fan myself, I have to disagree. It's not a bad film per se, but it's also nowhere near Clint's best in the genre.

Right off the bat, the flick opens with the murder of Wales' family by The Red Legs, a group of evil cowboys roaming the land killing people and pillaging their homes. It's supposed to show us why Josey would become an outlaw, and why we should be rooting for him. Unfortunately, the moment falls flat. We don't get his family's name, nor do we even get to see his wife except from a distance, so when they are murdered we have absolutely no attachment to them. There is a moment where he buries his fallen family and cries at their graves, but it's just not enough. It's as if we're supposed to go " well shit, man, Clint Eastwood is sad, that sucks", and granted if there's anyone who can pull something like that off it's Clint, but here is just isn't enough. What's worse though, is that because the movie starts with such a disconnect it flows into the rest of the movie. Along the way, Josey runs into various characters, including an elder Native American and a big-mouthed granny and shy granddaughter from Kansas, all of whom are humorously realized by the actors, but it just doesn't pull me in.

Overall, The Outlaw Josey Wales is not a bad film. Clint is badass as always and there really are some good performances by the supporting players, but in my correct opinion the movie ranks on the lower end of Eastwood's western catalog.


Next up is Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind from Charlie Kaufman and Michel Gondry. In case you ever lived under a rock, Eternal is a journey of one couple's relationship played by Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet, told through dream flashbacks ( how Kaufman-esque ) during Carrey's attempt to erase the relationship from his mind via a new technology that can erase memories.

It felt only right to follow Being John Malkovich with this movie. Obviously saying it's dream-like is an understatement as it literally takes place in a dream, but there really is no other word for it. Director Gondry brilliantly realizes dreams on film, making them surreal and confusing, but never hard to follow. He would go on to explore the dream state further with The Science of Sleep a few years later, but it's here where he really laid the foundation.

Amongst all the visuals and amazing camera tricks, Gondry wisely focuses on the the relationship of the two characters, showing both the good and bad. He makes us believe that these two very different individuals could work as a couple, and also how that happiness can evaporate no matter great they can be together. It helps that Carrey and Winslet are absolutely terrific. Winslet is always great, but there is something she does here that makes her absolutely adorable and detestable at the same time. I felt as though I had been through the relationship with her. Great, great work.

Carrey brings the goods just as much a Winslet does. He creates a character that feels completely human, and I honestly don't think he's ever been as good as he is here. Man on the Moon comes close, but no cigar.

I haven't even mentioned the supporting cast. Mark Ruffalo, Kirsten Dunst, Elijah Wood, Tom Wilkinson and David Cross. Needless to say they are all amazing, though I have to give extra props to Ruffalo who is amazingly eccentric here. Not over the top, but just weird enough to be endearing.

Eternal Sunshine is one of those movies that really takes me back to a specific time and place in my life in a way that great movies and sometimes music can do. This movie was somewhat of a catharsis for me in high school. Yes, it was high school and nowhere near as horrible as I perceived it to be at the time, but still, this movie helped me through it, again reminding me why it is that I like movies.


Continuing with the theme of loneliness, I put in The Talented Mr. Ripley starring Matt Damon, Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow and Phillip Seymour Hoffman.

Damon plays the title character Tom Ripley, a bathroom attendant in 1950's New York who by sheer luck, coincidence and misunderstanidng/lying is sent to Italy by a rich business man to retrieve his playboy son and bring him back to New York.

From the get go though, it's obvious that something is off with Tom. He doesn't hesitate to take advantage of the misunderstanding that leads to his trip to Italy. In fact, he takes obvious pleasure in it. In his first few moments in Italy, he even tells someone that he is Dickie Greenleaf, the person he is supposed to be bringing back to New York. It only gets weirder from there, as Damon deftly manipulates his way into Dickie and his girlfriends' lives.

I hesitate to call this movie slow, because I feel that it implies that it's boring, which it isn't. I think a better way to put it is that it's deliberately paced. Director Anthony Minghella spends a full hour with Damon, Law and Paltrow before any murder and homosexual tension appears ( I told you it gets weird), but it's time well spent. We not only get to see what makes Dickie so infatuating, but also what doesn't, which helps give a character like Tom Ripley much needed sympathy, given that he is an imposter/murderer.

Damon plays Ripley with an effeminate loneliness, something that really makes you feel sorry for the guy. He wants nothing more than to be loved and appreciated, and it's a true testament to Damon's performance that we have sympathy for the character at all.

After that first hour, the film really turns on the suspense as Ripley attempts to live both as himself and Dickie, and director Minghella handles it like a master. In fact, the movie really feels like a modern Hitchcock film. Filled with suspense, dread and a sense of loneliness throughout, The Talented Mr. Ripley is a hugely underrated flick from the 90s that I strongly urge you to check out.

I ended the night with my first viewing of Predator on blu ray. First off, I just have to say how gorgeous this movie looked. Between this and the pristine prints of Alien and Aliens, Fox has put themselves at the forefront of home entertainment. End Tangent.

I have seen Predator countless times, and I'm sure you have as well ( even you haven't, lie to me), but the last few times I just kind of put the movie in as background noise and hadn't really paid attention to it until now.

I realize that John McTiernan's next movie was Die Hard, and it of course went on to be the greatest action movie ever made and all, but holy shit, Predator is incredible. The pace, the tension, the make up, the cast. Oh and that cast. This movie is straight up iconic.

I mean, this movie has one of the best set ups of any action movie, other than Die Hard of course, that I've ever seen. Within 8 minutes, we are introduced to every character perfectly and are informed of the mission and the stakes and like that, the movie is off and running. What's even more amazing is, aside from the brief moment in the beginning, this movie doesn't even hint at sci-fi for almost a full hour.

I was honestly astounded at well this movie holds up. Yes, it's a towering action film of the 80s, but more than that, it's just a towering action film. Easily Arnold's best role outside of The Terminator. Like I said, I know you've seen this movie ( I KNOW!), but put it in again and be reminded just how awesome it is.



Since I was so floored with Predator, the only obvious follow up was Predator 2, and while obviously nowhere near as good, there's plenty I like about it. It's definitely one of the weirdest sequels of the 90s, so of course I love it.


Anywho, that's all for now. Won't be able to have a marathon for a little over a week due to work, but I will be seeing Prometheus this Tuesday and I promise to get on here and share.

So until then, suck it.