Top 10's

I've decided to lay this down on paper. As a film fan, I am used to ranking things. Top 10's are part of my life. Therefore, I shall rank films by genre. Here is my first entry in the Top 10 list: Westerns

1. The Proposition- the most raw Western ever made, true to the form.
2. Unforgiven- like the Proposition, everything about it is what a Western should be
3. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid- the most entertaining Western, an ode to the adventurous spirit of the West
4. Once Upon A Time In The West- an epic only a Western could achieve
5. The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly- It was the beginning of the modern Western
6. McCabe and Mrs. Miller- a real thinking man's Western and a tribute to those who dreamt of success in the west
7. Open Range- just a good, old-fashioned Western showdown
8. The Ox-Bow Incident- moral, ethical, and destructive consequences of the lawlessness that existed during the time
9. High Noon- the original showdown Western
10. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford- a brave and new vision of western epics, should be a staple for all Westerns to learn from in the future

And in a close 11 place....The Searchers....just cause you can't have a Western list without John Wayne

I Hate Movies....

You know why I hate movies? I was talking to a friend last night who admitted to seeing Twilight seven times in theaters. Seven times!?!? I mean, did they pay all seven times? I don't think there is a film in existence that is worth seeing in theaters seven times. And of all the movies to watch...Twilight!? I don't get it. I just do not understand the craze over that movie, book, franchise, whatever it's called. All these sad, romance-starved women have to read a book about a vampire to feel giddy about their lives? I mean, in real life vampires are scary, weird, dangerous, revolting. If you met a vampire in an alleyway, you'd scream like a mofo. If it's Eddie Cullen though you pass out. I hate movies.
You know why I hate movies? Because people don't get movies. They don't understand what's so great about movies. There are people who's minds are so linear they couldn't see a box if they are shown a square. They see the world as one thing and not a million things. How can someone see a movie that so blatantly insults their intelligence? How can someone see a movie that offers no moral, ethical, residual value? When I think of your average movie fan I think of how R.P. McMurphy was after his lobotomy. Your average fan doesn't understand what makes a movie a good movie. They don't even understand what makes a bad movie good to them, they just think it's good! I hate movies.

Finding Neverland-...................found it.

I've said for years that film is the ultimate storytelling medium. Unlike photography, painting, writing, or music, film combines other mediums and creates a tapestry of what makes all of those things beautiful. Listening to a song which makes you happy is extenuated when combined with a picture that makes you happy. Lay over a story behind the picture and you get film. When a film does all of these things right, either by a perfect balance of these things or a meaningful detraction of one, film can be an overwhelming experience.
Finding Neverland is the story of James Barrie, the creator of Peter Pan, and how the lives of a family influenced his work and life. Johnny Depp plays the lead and shows off his ability to play a more subtle character than usual. He is one of the dwindling few American actors who can play British (even though the character is Scottish) when usually it's vice-a-versa. Kate Winslet plays the mother of the four boys Barrie comes to adore and she is exceptional as usual. The star of the movie however is Freddie Highmore. Now a teenager, he was barely older than ten when he made this movie. He does a remarkable job as a boy who, so affected by the death of his father, lacks the imagination, joy, and free spiritidness of youth. In addition, Marc Forster does a fantastic job directing. Dabbling in moments of magic into an otherwise real life story creates a more enjoyable film. Oftentimes he dabbles at the perfect moments to offer genuine amusement, much like James Barrie himself.
If you can't hold back tears, grab a box of tissues and get prepped. It truly stimulates an emotional response without overtly manipulating the audience. It simply runs it's course and the characters take the reins. One of the most underrated movies of the last five years, it's one to put high on any list.

The Terminator- way to go a**hole!

The Terminator is one of those rare movies that had a good sequel when the 1984 film spawned a 1991 sequel, T2: Judgment Day that was arguably it's superior. Following a ten-year hiatus, the series returned with a respectable 2003 film, Rise of the Machines. Now in the year 2009 the series is back. Edward Furlong and Nick Stahl have been replaced by Christian Bale. James Cameron and Johnathan Mostow have been replaced by McG. Let's get to it.
In the year 2018, at the height of the war against Skynet and the machines, John Connor has discovered a way to end the war. Meanwhile, an executed convict named Marcus Wright who donated his body to Skynet in 2003 is alive and somehow tied into the whole deal. The action is solid if uninventive and the plot offers some solid emotion and surprises. The acting is good, with Aussie Sam Worthington stealing the show. I do give McG credit for a great vision of a post-apocalyptic future and some great shots. Watch for a great long shot when we first meet Mr. Connor and a compositional excellent shot after a jet fight.
Overall, it was a good flick but not great. The story following Marcus Wright (Sam Worthington) is a highlight of the film and really carries the film.

I Hate Movies...

I've decided that my blog was getting a little too I-watch-a-flick-I-review-said-flick. Therefore, this will be the first of a new style of entry! I call it: I Hate Movies. In each post, I will rant (keep that word in mind because each post will be very much a rant) about things in the movie biz that really grind my gears. Ready? No? Ok!
You know why I hate movies? Because of people who like to use the word, 'blockbuster' to describe a summer movie. Blockbuster? What does that even mean? According to Dictionary.com, "... a motion picture, novel, etc., esp. one lavishly produced, that has or is expected to have wide popular appeal or financial success." HUH? That's like making up a word to describe how Starbucks is popular. Let's call it, 'Caffeineation'. A blockbuster is nothing but a cash grab by a bunch of actors who are paid a lot of money, directors who say they like to make, 'fun, popcorn movies' (code for: I have no talent), and greedy studio execs.
You know why I hate movies? People who review a 'blockbuster' by saying that said 'blockbuster' is one of the very best 'blockbusters' that year....FIVE MONTHS INTO THE YEAR! How many blockbusters are we expecting here? Fifty? There really only are three or four a year and half are known to be shite before release and half of the good ones turn out to be shite upon release and the one left remaining is generally a good, but not great, movie. I guess I really should criticize the person reviewing the flick.
You know why I hate movies? People who review a flick and use presumptuous or hasty terms to describe it. I.e. masterpiece, the best of..., classic, etc. It makes no sense. Give it a couple of years, heck, even a couple of months before you start heaping praise on the thing like THAT. The Godfather is a masterpiece, Blade Runner is a classic. Why? THEY'VE BEEN IN CIRCULATION AND STOOD THE TEST OF TIME! The definition of a classic is, '...of literary or historical renown.' and '...of enduring interest, quality, or style." HISTORICAL and ENDURING. You get it?

The Verdict- Hello Newman

Who doesn't like a good, old fashioned courtroom drama? I know I do. Who doesn't like a good, old fashioned Paul Newman flick? I know I do. What is better than combining the two? I know I don't know. The Verdict is a vehicle built solely to show off the skills of one of the finest actors of all time, Paul Newman. Naturally I was intrigued. Let's get on with it.
The Verdict is about a burnt-out, alcoholic lawyer who takes on a case that quickly becomes a nearly no-win situation. The pace is slow and makes it difficult at times to maintain attention. However, the performances are excellent. With every lingering moment Paul Newman stands on screen you feel his character Frankie Galvin deflating physically, emotionally, and spiritually. This is Newman at his peak. Yet the supporting roles are just as good. James Mason plays the brilliant defense attorney who knows the law like he knows himself. He's British, he's calmy aggressive, and he's meticulous. There is one moment where he is blindsided by Galvin's sheer luck of evidence and yet never wavers even as the judge pushes him to question the witness. He simply holds up his hand, reads his notes, and stonewalls Galvin. Beautiful. Roxanna Hart is brilliant as the surprise witness who has lived with the mistakes and pressures of her former bosses for years. Charlotte Rampling and Jack Warden are solid as Galvin's only friends in the case and life.
The Verdict can be a tough watch. You have to really invest yourself in watching it. You will be happy you did though.

Lost- ok, now I'm lost

When ABC's Lost debuted in 2004, it was hailed as richly original. It was a character story first and foremost. What really intrigued most viewers was how and why these characters were connected. What tied them together with their situation. Five season later...we still have no idea. Granted, it still is one of the more compelling shows on television. The problem is that it constantly gives and gives and gives in aching inches and then takes away feet.
Lost is a story about a plane crash that stranded a number of passengers on a mysterious tropical island. These characters are all different and have unique histories. This dynamic alone made the show watchable. Throw in a faceless monster, some terrorizing island natives, supernatural occurrences and baby you got a stew goin'. Like I said before though, we still don't know enough. Now I shall rant.
From season to season the show has changed dramatically in narrative. Seasons one and two were chalk full of intrigue as we were introduced to our characters and their pasts. The island and it's mysteries were like icing on the cake. Gradually this balance has changed. The island is now the character and the people we've come to enjoy have become worn. But the way in which we learn about the island is too close chested compared to the way we learned about the characters. We learn too little in too much time to satisfy the changes in our characters. YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYIN'!?!?!?
I am going to watch Lost until the end, no matter how bitter it may be. Producers have promised that season six is going to be one of explanation and not deception. I somewhat fear that. Lost is a magic trick. Like any shows that depend on the tension of what's 'inside the box' and considering how Lost has built a really big mother of a box.....well, it better be a mother of an answer.

Star Trek- beam me up....Oscar?

The title of this post may hit people a little hard. It's not like I'm saying it's the best movie of the year. I doubt it will be come Oscar time next year. However, it offers some of the best used CGI I've seen in a while. Perhaps not the best but the best used. Anyways, let's get right into it.
Star Trek is a prequel to the television show of the same name that has come to rule science-fiction minds worldwide. It describes the origins of the characters such as Captain Kirk, Spock, Bones McCoy, Uhura, Sulu, Chekov, Scotty, and so on and so forth. Firstly, the casting was great. I accepted that this would be an entertainment vehicle and found the actors interpretations of the original characters to be fun if somewhat exaggerated. Chris Pine was funny and remarkably charismatic as Kirk, providing an intriguing and believably portrayal of the young rogue. Everyone did a good job in that respect except perhaps Anton Yelchin as a young Chekov only because his accent was poor (despite the actors Russian influences). The story was cool ***SPOILER*** even though the whole time travel thing has been done in so many ways nowadays and kinda, sorta, negates major components of the entire series storyline.
Now back to my original point, the cinematography in this flick is great. Unlike in the recent Star Wars movies, the CGI is beautiful and artistic even. As a viewer, you actually get a sense of some mise-en-scene. Does an Oscar ring in thine ear? Regardless, this is an excellent flick. As summer blockbusters go, this is right up there.

300- aaaccctiiiiooon in slooooooooowwww mooooooooooo

There are many effects used in film to create emphasis. Lighting effects, special effects, camera effects, etc. One effect that when overused is as painful as pins under your eyelids (no experience in that) is film speed. You know, speeding things up and slowing things down. While speeding scenes up is rare because of it's disorienting, slowing scenes down is a time-tested effect.
300 is a film adaptation of the graphic novel of the same name. It's a retelling of the historical battle of Thermopylae where 300 Spartans staved off a massive Persian army to protect their country. Now first and foremost I'm aware this is a stylized film. I'm not dumb enough to judge it like a Shakespearean play. One can still expect some drama, some meaning, something! Alas, there is none. No, this is a film about violence in slow mo. This is a movie made to look cool. It lacks so many narrative elements it looks like a sheet of cellophane held in front of a sunrise. You can see right through it at the 'beauty' that's there. That impresses only the near-sighted.
Now let me say this as well: the perception of originality and vision about this film is shockingly bad. No offense. People actually think the look is something different. This is a literal panel-for-panel carbon copy. No offense. If any credit is due, it's too the computer programmers. Not the director. A monkey could have filmed this. No offense. Screw it. All offense meant.