tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60154893588426560902024-03-05T01:49:59.709-08:00Film OutsiderKevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09359639965748678556noreply@blogger.comBlogger129125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6015489358842656090.post-54882583069298947392009-04-14T09:04:00.001-07:002009-04-14T09:06:56.992-07:00Movie Clip and Trailer of the Day<span style="font-family: georgia;">Hey everyone, I'm posting this here in hope that you'll follow the new feature of FilmOutsider. Everyday, on my Twitter feed, I'll be posting a Movie Clip of the Day and a Trailer of the Day. These will range in time period, in content and mood but everyday these will be happening! Keep a close look at </span><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://www.twitter.com/kevinsimpson">twitter.com/kevinsimpson</a><span style="font-family: georgia;"> for each day's update!</span>Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09359639965748678556noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6015489358842656090.post-30037140535241832692009-03-04T11:52:00.000-08:002009-03-04T11:57:51.360-08:00Trailer: Public Enemies<object height="237" width="450"><param name="movie" value="http://www.traileraddict.com/emd/9276"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.traileraddict.com/emd/9276" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" wmode="transparent" allowfullscreen="true" height="237" width="450"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">So, here we have it: the first real glimpse at Michael Mann's newest. Immediate reactions? Not sure if I like the more modern feel of the music but I'm told that the music in the film is much more period-accurate, i.e. songs from the 20's and 30's. Visually, it looks like Michael Mann: arresting and innovative. However, the digital look is different for a period piece. It could just be my initial reaction but that look seems to put forth a certain type of modernity, even futuristic quality at points. It was perfect for the bright lights of </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: georgia;">Collateral </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">and </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: georgia;">Miami Vice</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">. How will it affect a period piece? It worked well for </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: georgia;">Che</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> though so I have faith in Mann's technical expertise. Acting look spectacular as does the plot. Word has it (even those who have seen previews and not enjoyed the film) that Depp is tremendous and from this, I don't doubt it. This is my most eagerly anticipated movie of the summer, perhaps, year. </span>Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09359639965748678556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6015489358842656090.post-42842443213407763952009-03-03T12:50:00.000-08:002009-03-03T12:51:44.593-08:00Public Enemies Poster<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglAsRkS0DzclYqOE2t1rKzLGdMX_dKy290WbA3BaD4GzVhC-h7GbwtKRMSvGb-yibkQ1IqUcUEVhUM9waghf9QVWKa2TRtwB11olnKay_Df5RdtvK_Y6TTbaCb3yrJyYeQRd619CTy2lg/s1600-h/redlady.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 220px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglAsRkS0DzclYqOE2t1rKzLGdMX_dKy290WbA3BaD4GzVhC-h7GbwtKRMSvGb-yibkQ1IqUcUEVhUM9waghf9QVWKa2TRtwB11olnKay_Df5RdtvK_Y6TTbaCb3yrJyYeQRd619CTy2lg/s320/redlady.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309067009679419394" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;font-family:georgia;" >Sweet. </span>Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09359639965748678556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6015489358842656090.post-41262486168842552732009-03-03T12:43:00.000-08:002009-03-03T12:46:53.989-08:00The Other Side of the Wind at Cannes<span style="font-family:georgia;">This is interesting and intriguing to say the </span><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118000218.html?categoryid=3554&cs=1">least</a><span style="font-family:georgia;">. We're talking about a legendary lost film, an unfinished supposed masterpiece from one of the true geniuses of cinema. If the prospect of an Orson Welles project with the description of "an aging Hollywood director attempting to revive his career by making a trippy movie filled with sex and violence" doesn't excite you, well, then, you're just not much of a cinephile. </span>Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09359639965748678556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6015489358842656090.post-89676415965988790612009-02-25T15:33:00.001-08:002009-02-25T15:33:47.751-08:00Worth Revisting<span style="font-family: georgia;">In the wake of Kate's win on Sunday.</span><br /><br /><object height="295" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/cEnjiGwVw6o&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/cEnjiGwVw6o&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="295" width="480"></embed></object>Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09359639965748678556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6015489358842656090.post-32672485925572206362009-02-23T13:04:00.000-08:002009-02-23T13:10:40.470-08:00Trailer: Funny People<span style="font-family: georgia;">It can't be embedded but </span><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://www.moviefone.com/movie/funny-people/33221/main">here</a><span style="font-family: georgia;"> is the first trailer for Judd Apatow's follow up to </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: georgia;">Knocked Up</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">, </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: georgia;">Funny People</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">. </span>Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09359639965748678556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6015489358842656090.post-26806504990763440642009-02-23T12:24:00.000-08:002009-02-23T12:26:18.489-08:00Predicting the 2010 Oscars<span style="font-family: georgia;">The day after the big show, the blogosphere is up and raring to go for 2010. Here's a glimpse from </span><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://www.incontention.com/?p=4464">Kris Tapley</a><span style="font-family: georgia;">, at InContention, and </span><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://hollywood-elsewhere.com/2009/02/next_balloon.php">Jeffery Wells</a><span style="font-family: georgia;">, from Hollywood Elsewhere, as to their opening salvo of guesses for what might be the big winner a year from now.</span>Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09359639965748678556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6015489358842656090.post-58343991323461058562009-02-23T08:28:00.000-08:002009-02-23T08:31:44.283-08:00First Glimpse of Public Enemies!<span style="font-family: georgia;">For those who stuck through the credits of the Oscars last night, you caught a glimpe of </span><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1152836/"><span style="font-style: italic;">Public Enemies</span></a><span style="font-family: georgia;">, Michael Mann's newest creation. As a Mann devotee, the footage looked tremendous, especially the shot of Christian Bale unloading a tommy gun at the camera. A classic Mann composition. July can't come quick enough. Look for a trailer in the coming couple of weeks.</span><br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/nb1yyG5Z30Q&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/nb1yyG5Z30Q&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object>Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09359639965748678556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6015489358842656090.post-14023448312754637162009-02-23T07:53:00.000-08:002009-02-23T08:32:30.463-08:00Oscar's Wrap Up<span style="font-family: georgia;">As last night's Academy Awards ceremony came to a close, so did the cinematic year that was 2008, a span of 365 that many felt was underwhelming, while others reveled in the releases. As I've written before, 2008 was underwhelming for me, save for some stone cold and could-be classics. The depth wasn't there, the variety didn't quite match 2007. Still, I look forward to the Oscars like a junkie to a fix so Sunday's ceremony was a welcome treat and with that said, all in all, I enjoyed the broadcast, although not always agreeing with it although I'm not sure there is anything on par with the </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: georgia;">Crash</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> fiasco of a few years back.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: georgia;">Highlights:</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">-James Franco, Seth Rogen and Janusz Kaminski (!) in Judd Apatow's wonderful montage of the year in comedy, which including a brilliant skewering of some of the big Oscar bait. Franco is an immensely talented guy who I feel like we've only seen shades of what he can really do. 2008 was a great year for him between his film redeeming performance in </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: georgia;">Pineapple Express</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> to his excellent work in </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: georgia;">Milk</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> and this seemed like a good way for it to end.</span><br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/QFDSre4D5U0&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/QFDSre4D5U0&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">-Tina Fey, Steve Martin and the Screenplay Nominees. A brilliant moment from two of the world's funniest that was topped off by Dustin Lance Black's immensely deserved win for Best Original Screenplay. Black's script is brilliant and heartbreaking, a timely portrait of pivotal figure that is frequently forgotten by the general public. Black's speech was heartfelt, moving and all too true, the best of the evening.</span><br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/aLLVisPC3IQ&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/aLLVisPC3IQ&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">-Sean Penn's win for his impressive work in </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: georgia;">Milk</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">. While I would have been content with either Penn or Rourke (and I think Rourke's speech would have been more moving and entertaining), Penn's performance is too good to miss. It's a subtle, moving portrayal that deserves all the accolades it has received. Rourke's work is equally as impressive but this was Penn's award and he rightfully came out on top. Also, I try to avoid politicizing here but his remarks about Prop 8 were dead on. Those who wish to discriminate against gays are no different than those who tried to destroy the civil rights movements of the 1960's. We look back at those people as uneducated bigots and I believe that, in due time, those with anti-gay agendas will appear no different.</span><br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/1dnM8v9aaR0&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/1dnM8v9aaR0&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">-Penelope Cruz's win for </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: georgia;">Vicky Cristina Barcelona</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">, a transcendent performance in a criminally underseen and underrated film. She's a talented, charismatic performer and her performance in </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: georgia;">VCB</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> is her best to date.</span><br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ge-U4Pg_Fac&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ge-U4Pg_Fac&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">-Heath Ledger's win for </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: georgia;">The Dark Knight</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">, the only win of note for the biggest film of the year. This is the last time the Academy will be able to award an actor who seemed to be becoming of his generation's best and thankfully, it doesn't have to go to a sub-par performance. Even the most </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: georgia;">TDK</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> haters have issues trying to critique Ledger's brilliant, searing and disturbing work.</span><br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/_mqqPtViGW0&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/_mqqPtViGW0&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: georgia;">Letdowns</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">-The overwhelming </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: georgia;">Slumdog</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> victory. I believe that Boyle deserves it but the rest of it rings hollow to me as I've noted here before. It went 8 for 10 on the evening and very few of those were the right choices. I hate to sound like a fanboy hitting back at a film I wasn't crazy about but this was not the best film of 2008 by any stretch of the imagination and nothing anyone will say will convince me that it was any greater than any number of films, including most of the other Best Picture nominees, most particularly Van Sant's </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: georgia;">Milk</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">-The length was a bit much. It seemed like it was moving along pretty well at the half way point but the second half of the show began to drag a little bit, not enough for me to want to turn it off but enough for me to understand non-cinephiles tuning out.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">-A general lack of surprises. The only award that stunned me (and seemingly the film community) was Best Foreign Film, which many felt was a shoe-in for </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: georgia;">Bashir </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">or </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: georgia;">The Class</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">. It appears that very few people have seen </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: georgia;">Departures</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> (hell, even A.O. Scott at the NY Times admitted to not having seen it) so I believe it's win was a stunning turn. The category was already one of controversy with the snub of the supposedly tremendous </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: georgia;">Gomorrah</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> and I'm not sure this isn't more ammunition for the complainers.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">Overall, as I said earlier, I enjoyed the evening but with the Oscar's, it doesn't take much to keep me interested. It's unfortunate that </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: georgia;">Slumdog</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">'s big night will obscure the other winners but many have pointed out this morning that it's win may signal a new path in Hollywood. As the recession bores down and studios have less money to make the big Oscar contenders, 2009 may be a year of small films making big splashes next February. Until then, thanks for reading! Enjoy 2009!</span>Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09359639965748678556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6015489358842656090.post-19338454699368747232009-02-20T07:32:00.000-08:002009-02-20T08:00:51.127-08:00Looking to 2009Apologies for a lack of reviews. I was holding off on re-starting them until 2009 releases hit the pipeline and have had no desire to see any of the dreck that is being released now (<span style="font-style: italic;">Gomorrah </span>hasn't hit CT yet).<br /><br />Still, with the Oscars only a few days away, here is <a href="http://theplaylist.blogspot.com/">The Playlist</a>'s look at <a href="http://theplaylist.blogspot.com/2009/01/60-most-anticipated-films-of-2009.html">2009</a>. Films I'm looking forward to?<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br /><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1152836/">Public Enemies</a> (Mann)<br /><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1130884/">Ashecliffe (Shutter Island)</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span>(Scorsese)<br /><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1057500/">The Human Factor</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span>(Eastwood)<br /><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0432283/">Fantastic Mr. Fox</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span>(Anderson)<br /><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1091722/">Adventureland</a> (Mottola)<br /><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0898367/">The Road</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span>(Hillcoat)<br /><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0478304/">The Tree of Life</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span>(Malick)<br /><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0361748/">Inglourious Basterds</a> (Tarantino)<br /><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1201167/">Funny People</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span>(Apatow)<br /><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0386117/">Where the Wild Things Are</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span>(Jonze)<br /><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0887912/">The Hurt Locker</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span>(Bigelow)<br /><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0947810/"><span style="font-style: italic;">Green Zone</span> </a>(Greengrass)<br /><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1130080/">The Informant</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span>(Soderbergh)<br /><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1127896/">Taking Woodstock</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span>(Lee)<br /><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0409459/">Watchmen</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span>(Snyder)<br /><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0499549/">Avatar </a>(Cameron)<br /><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1022603/">500 Days of Summer</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span>(Webb)<br /><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0796366/">Star Trek</a> (Abrams)<br /><br />Thats just a sampling. Of those, <span style="font-style: italic;">Public Enemies</span> is about as excited for a film that I get. A recent test screening brought some <a href="http://www.slashfilm.com/2009/02/15/test-screening-reviews-michael-manns-public-enemies/">positive buzz</a> which is hopeful but from an ardent admirer of <span style="font-style: italic;">Miami Vice</span>, Mann's follow up should be worth the price of admission.<br /><br />What are you looking forward to?Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09359639965748678556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6015489358842656090.post-59580133653881582602009-02-12T09:10:00.000-08:002009-02-12T13:47:41.902-08:00Zodiac Appreciation Pt. 1<span style="font-family: georgia;">As perfect a tone- and mood-setting opening as there is in recent memory. </span><br /><br /><object height="295" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/qO19JWoWg-A&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/qO19JWoWg-A&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="295" width="480"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span>Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09359639965748678556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6015489358842656090.post-80598630139735455042009-02-12T08:21:00.001-08:002009-02-12T08:26:24.644-08:00Finally. Inglourious Basterds: Trailer<object height="255" width="440"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/fohT0sS0wpo&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/fohT0sS0wpo&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="295" width="480"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">At a time when all war films feel the same, QT rides in to save the day.</span>Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09359639965748678556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6015489358842656090.post-61509083165122231852009-02-01T10:44:00.001-08:002009-02-01T10:47:47.406-08:00And the Best Director Oscar Goes To...<span style="font-family: georgia;">Danny Boyle. Congrats man, you're a hell of a talent who is the sole reason for Slumdog working at all. With his Directors Guild win last night, Boyle has more or less locked down the Oscar win, which is too bad for David Fincher, who's work on Benjamin Button is nearly as impressive. </span>Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09359639965748678556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6015489358842656090.post-50515011885982080292009-01-27T16:02:00.001-08:002009-01-27T16:08:59.709-08:00Newsweek's Oscar Roundtable<span style="font-family:georgia;">A nice, yet kind of awkward (given Sally Hawkins got screwed out of a nomination) </span><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://video.newsweek.com/#?t=8816763001&l=8711257001">roundtable </a><span style="font-family:georgia;">from a talented group of stars: Langella, Pitt, Hathaway, Downey Jr., Hawkins, Rourke. If you've got the time, watch all 8 parts for a solid 45 minutes of entertaining talk. Perhaps NSFW due to some coarse language. Click on the big play button to start the vids.<br /></span>Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09359639965748678556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6015489358842656090.post-25698928141379678872009-01-27T15:03:00.001-08:002009-01-27T15:04:33.916-08:00Watchmen: Trailer<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/E4blSrZvPhU&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/E4blSrZvPhU&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="405" height="324"></embed></object>Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09359639965748678556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6015489358842656090.post-8109947011496327612009-01-27T14:46:00.001-08:002009-01-27T14:50:18.956-08:00Fincher Discussion<span style="font-family:georgia;">For all the Fincher-heads out there, here's an </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;" >excellent </span><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://www.thehousenextdooronline.com/2009/01/conversations-david-fincher.html">discussion</a><span style="font-family:georgia;"> of the guy's work. Stick around for the comments, which are nearly as interesting as the actual, formal discussion, and provide a stellar defense of Fincher's latest "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button". </span>Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09359639965748678556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6015489358842656090.post-39793910465785703322009-01-27T09:52:00.000-08:002009-01-27T10:38:10.230-08:00Slumdog Thoughts<span style="font-family: georgia;">Having seen Slumdog alittle over a month ago, I've had time to sit back and really think about it. Being a HUGE fan of Danny Boyle and his previous work (28 Days Later, for my money, is as good of a horror film as any other released in the past 25 years), I have to say that I continue to be disappointed with Slumdog. I can understand why people like, even love it, but I have to think that some of those people find the film overly original or fresh. I also have to think that those people have not seen City of God or City of Men (either the TV show or feature length film companion), both of which deal with extreme poverty in massive cities and the attempts to escape the harsh nature of live in poor areas.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">Both of the Meirelles projects (he directed the former, produced the latter) seem to bristle with a constant vitality. This isn't to say that Slumdog doesn't feel alive at points as it most certainly does, perhaps as much as any other film this fall, but never does it match the sheer rush of either of the Brazillian films. City of God may be more violent in its drug trade narrative focus but it also features a greater range of emotion. The more gut-wrenching scenes in Slumdog (the torture and mutiliation scenes come to mind) don't match the sheer heart in the throat points of City of God (there is nothing remotely close to the power of this </span><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ng9q5-xkNmE&feature=related">scene</a><span style="font-family: georgia;">, apologies for the sound being off and in another language). Slumdog never wants to take the real horror of those situations to their logical endpoint. Rather, it wants to stay as an almost Dickensian fable about poor kids in the big city. However, the inclusion of these thin line walking scenes which are too in your face to label the film as an audience pleaser, too reserved to actually make a true impression. It seemed to me that Slumdog didn't know what it wanted to be.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">For those who think of City of God as being only a violent exploration of favela life, there are more than enough moments of genuine joy and exuberance that break through the darkness. Yet, City of God's blend seems more cohesive and fleshed out. Where as the horrific moments of City of God seem earned and necessary to the film, those moments in Slumdog seem so much more forced, so much less a necessity.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">It's unfortunate that, as I believe Boyle to be a true master, Slumdog seems to be the film he's most remembered and adored for. His previous works (28 Days Later, Trainspotting, Millions, hell, even Sunshine in it's flawed glory) struck a much deeper chord with me than Slumdog ever did. It's not to say that Slumdog isn't a good, noteworthy work that adds to Boyle illustrious filmmography but to have it sweep the major awards and dominate critic circles best-of-lists seems like overpraise of the highest order.</span>Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09359639965748678556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6015489358842656090.post-36660186111399866332009-01-26T10:10:00.000-08:002009-01-26T10:16:17.061-08:00The Outsider's Oscar Nominations<span style="font-family: georgia;">When the Oscar nominations were announced last week, there was a fair amount of crying about different categories. In the spirit, here are my own personal nominations for the Oscars. In the coming weeks, I'll mark down who should win my nominations, who should win the real nominations and then the night of the Oscars, who </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: georgia;">will</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> win the Oscars. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: georgia;">Best Picture</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">The Dark Knight</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">Wall-E</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">Milk</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">The Curious Case of Benjamin Button</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">Vicky Cristina Barcelona</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: georgia;">Best Actor</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">Sean Penn – Milk</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">Mickey Rourke – The Wrestler</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">Benecio Del Toro – Che</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">Clint Eastwood – Gran Torino</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">Frank Langella – Frost/Nixon</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: georgia;">Best Actress</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">Meryl Streep – Doubt</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">Kate Winslet – Revolutionary Road</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">Anne Hathaway – Rachel Getting Married</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">Cate Blanchett – The Curious Case of Benjamin Button</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">Angelina Jolie – Changeling</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: georgia;">Best Supporting Actor</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">Heath Ledger – The Dark Knight</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">Phillip Seymour Hoffman – Doubt</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">Robert Downey Jr. – Tropic Thunder</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">Michael Shannon – Revolutionary Road</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">Emile Hirsch – Milk</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: georgia;">Best Supporting Actress</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">Penelope Cruz – Vicky Cristina Barcelona</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">Frances McDormand – Burn After Reading</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">Viola Davis – Doubt</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">Taraji P. Henson – The Curious Case of Benjamin Button</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">Rosemarie DeWitt – Rachel Getting Married</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: georgia;">Best Director</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">David Fincher – The Curious Case of Benjamin Button</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">Christopher Nolan – The Dark Knight</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">Gus Van Sant – Milk</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">Sam Mendes – Revolutionary Road</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">Steven Soderbergh – Che</span>Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09359639965748678556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6015489358842656090.post-33641989273840040442009-01-25T10:40:00.000-08:002009-01-25T10:51:28.378-08:00Year in Review: Addendum<span style="font-family: georgia;">I have just been able to see Che and The Wrestler, both of which feature tremendous, transcendent lead performances that jump off the screen. Both easily are some of the year's best, probably clocking in the top 10. With that said, consider my new top ten something like this.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">10. The Wrestler</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">9. Rachel Getting Married</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">8. Che</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">7. Paranoid Park</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">6. Revolutionary Road</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">5. Vicky Cristina Barcelona</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">4. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">3. Wall-E</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">2. The Dark Knight</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">1. Milk</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">This knocks Man on Wire and Doubt just out of my top 10 of the year.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">Che's brilliance lies in its refusal to play by typical biopic conventions. It may rub some the wrong way that it doesn't have the big emotional payoff that one typically likes after 4 hours and 20 minutes (no lie) but the depth of ideas pervade the film. It's first half (which details Guevara's role in the Cuban Revolution) works better than the second but both are wonderful returns to form for Steven Soderbergh and are easily his best work since Traffic. Benecio Del Toro is absolutely amazing, giving a soulful, intelligent performance that has been terribly overlooked due to the film's length, which has prohibited it from being shown outside of major cities up to this point. As someone who finds Che a fascinating figure, the film gripped me from the outset, with Soderbergh's guerilla style filmmaking beautifully complementing the narrative and themes.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">For The Wrestler, its easy to see why everyone is so crazy for Mickey Rouke's performance which is wonderful in every way. Humorous, heartbreaking and entirely human, Rouke brings a vitality to the screen that was only matched by Sean Penn's work in Milk and perhaps Del Toro in Che. A resonant drama that holds something for many, this is much more than just a wrestling film and in many ways, is the Raging Bull for wrestling. In other words, one need not be interested in the sport (or entertainment depending on how you view it) of wrestling, only in in-depth examinations of human struggle. Rourke deserves every bit of his Globe win and Oscar nomination. If the Oscar ends up going to either him or Penn, consider this writer content.</span>Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09359639965748678556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6015489358842656090.post-5549707697788837142009-01-14T11:49:00.000-08:002009-01-14T12:04:48.071-08:00Finalists for Oscar's Best Foreign Language Film<span style="font-family: georgia;">After last year's disastrous snubbing of 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days by the Oscar Foreign Language committee, it seems like the group has done it again. Conspicuously absent from this year's finalists is </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: georgia;">Gomorrah</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">, by director Matteo Garrone, one of the most critically acclaimed films of the year. The blogosphere is up in arms over this, as the Academy proves again that more often than not, their Foreign Language category isn't always the best barometer when truly determining the best Foreign film of the year. Here are the finalists, from which the five nominees will be selected:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: georgia;">Revanche </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">(Gotz Spielmann, Austria)</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: georgia;">The Necessities of Life</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> (Benoit Pilon, Canada)</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: georgia;">The Class</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> (Laurent Cantet, France)</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: georgia;">The Baader Meinhof Complex</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> (Uli Edel, Germany)</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: georgia;">Waltz with Bashir</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> (Ari Folman, Israel)</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: georgia;">Departures</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> (Yojiro Takita, Japan)</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: georgia;">Tear This Heart Out </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">(Roberto Sneider, Mexico)</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: georgia;">Everlasting Moments</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> (Jan Troell, Sweden)</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: georgia;">3 Monkeys </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">(Nuri Bilge Ceylan, Turkey)</span><br /><p style="font-family: georgia;">Courtesy of <a href="http://www.variety.com/awardcentral_article/VR1117998446.html?nav=news&categoryid=1982&cs=1">Variety</a>.</p>Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09359639965748678556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6015489358842656090.post-58599657922033328402009-01-12T11:22:00.000-08:002009-01-12T11:24:25.795-08:00Year in Review 2008<span style="font-family: georgia;">2008 has come and gone and with it, another cinematic year is in the books. The Golden Globes were last night but I’ll get to that in a bit. We’ll start with a brief look back at the year that was. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">Ultimately, my judge of a cinematic year is not only how many great movies were released, but also, the variety of the films released. Take, for example, 2007, a year that was jam packed with solid 10’s (or at least near 10’s). </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: georgia;">No Country, Zodiac, There Will Be Blood</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> may lead the charge but not far behind you have </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: georgia;">This is England, Knocked Up, Control, Assassination of Jesse James</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">, etc. Had it been released in 2008, </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: georgia;">Eastern Promises</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> would be a solid contender for number 1. In 2007, its in a tight race for a solid second half of the top 10. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">I don’t mean to say that 2008 was a bad year for movies, you certainly have your memorable pics, but in the wake of 2007, one of the best cinematic 365 day span of my lifetime, 2008 just doesn’t hold up. Still, there is a lot to be celebrated in 2008, as evidence by the video I posted a couple of posts back. Yet, when I watch that, I can’t help think that more of those work better at moments as opposed to whole works. Still, any cinephile who watches that and doesn’t feel their heart pumping needs to get their pulse checked and I think that really speaks to the power of cinema. In a 4 minute video, filled with 3 or 4 second clips, so many good memories are brought up, so many moments that will permanently be lodged into our brains. In many ways, we’ll forget some of these movies and the overall, final product. Yet, certain shots and sequences will forever be etched into our cultural fabric. This is the type of video that I would have watched as a kid, seen those scenes, identify the movie and want to see the entire film. Only now, I can identify every shot, every last second of the thing. Granted, I see more movies than most but I think it’s a powerful summary of what was. Fact is, I’m happy I saw everything in there, not because I want to be able to say I saw everything in there, but because I’m happy I was able to experience valuable (however minor) parts of the cultural output of 2008. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">I think people forget that: that film is a major cultural output of our country, of our world in the present time. Those who decry film, its study or one’s love of film as inconsequential are short sighted and delusional. Those type of people would have been the same type who dismissed the popular fictions of the 19th century, the Mark Twain’s, the Edgar Allen Poe’s, the Jane Austen’s of the world, as inconsequential (read: idiots). In the current wave of cinema (which is woefully underrated), it’s easy to look at the cinematic garbage of the world and use it as an example of film’s unnecessary nature. However, if one sits down (really sits down) and closely watches the works of David Fincher, PT Anderson, Gus Van Sant, Clint Eastwood or Michael Mann, they’ll discover a grouping of artists making as intelligent of works as any other artist in the world today. These are the people who’ll influence what will come for the next 50 years. They’ll influence the music, the film, the art, the literature of our kid’s generation and of our kid’s kid’s generation in a way that Hitchcock, Ford and Godard has influenced the current generation. Cinema just represents the next step in art, the next logical progression from still paintings, from still images. One can look at Ford’s films such as </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: georgia;">The Searchers</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">, </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: georgia;">Stagecoach</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> or </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: georgia;">My Darling Clementine</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> and not only see D.W. Griffith or but also the ideas of Frederick Jackson Turner or the themes of James Fenimore Cooper. Point is, to watch some big budget studio trash, be disappointed and then hold it against film as a whole is useless. You just have to have a sense of adventure, a sense of wanting to discover the culture of your generation to find the gems. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">What’s 2008 have to offer for this? I’d say the epic and intelligent, yet accessible and entertaining moments of </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: georgia;">The Dark Knight</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">, a perfect parable for a time when a major societal question is how should we combat evil? Perhaps </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: georgia;">Wall-E</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">, with its strong warnings of environmental destruction and human health, all in an animated film about a robot, is more your cup of tea. Or is it </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: georgia;">Milk</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">, the vibrant and inspirational look at one of the great social advocates of the near past with its themes of acceptance and human rights is for you. Maybe it’s </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: georgia;">The Curious Case of Benjamin Button</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">, Fincher’s second film in thematic trilogy about live, passion and the passage of time; or </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: georgia;">Revolutionary Road</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> and its reminders to live your life to the fullest and to follow your passions or risk lifelong unhappiness; or </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: georgia;">Vicky Cristina Barcelona</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">, a delicacy of a film about the spirit of the good life, of love, of food, of good drink. There’s something for everyone, just go and find it. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">Still, 2008 can’t beat 2007. Fincher’s </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: georgia;">Button</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> is great, even tremendous, and will probably be more liked by audiences due to its undeniable emotional effect but it doesn’t match up with </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: georgia;">Zodiac</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">, Fincher’s 2007 release. </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: georgia;">Zodiac</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> will never be remembered as fondly by regular audiences because of its methodical pacing and its steadfast refusal to give out simple emotional thrills but at its core, it’s a better film, a more complex film, a more complete film. Nothing matches up with the deranged nature of </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: georgia;">There Will Be Blood</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> and there certainly isn’t a performance this year that tops Daniel Day Lewis’ Daniel Plainview, a performance that has to be watched 5 or 10 times to pull every bit of nuance from it. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">Regardless, 2008 was better than some, worse than others but it does stand up on its own. Its films form a snapshot of our time, a capsule of sorts to remember our fears and hopes for the year. What will 2009 bring? Will a new presidency change the tone of Hollywood? Only time will tell but I’ll be happy to take the ride, whatever it may be. </span>Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09359639965748678556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6015489358842656090.post-46332598269077782192009-01-11T17:25:00.001-08:002009-01-11T17:25:48.795-08:00Year in Review 2008: Best Films (73-51)<span style="font-family: georgia;">73. The Happening</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">72. Semi-Pro</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">71. Funny Games U.S.</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">70. 21</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">69. Get Smart</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">68. The Other Boelyn Girl</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">67. Doomsday</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">66. Sex and the City</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">65. Leatherheads</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">64. OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">63. My Blueberry Nights</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">62. Speed Racer</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">61. Mongol</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">60. The Incredible Hulk</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">59. Pineapple Express</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">58. Mamma Mia!</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">57. You Don’t Mess With the Zohan</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">56. Miss Pettigrew Lives for the Day</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">55. Hancock</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">54. Miracle at St. Anna</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">53. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">52. The Bank Job</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">51. Forgetting Sarah Marshall</span>Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09359639965748678556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6015489358842656090.post-80524905525237380012009-01-11T17:23:00.000-08:002009-01-11T17:25:15.681-08:00Year in Review 2008: Best Films (50-26)<span style="font-family: georgia;">50. Diary of the Dead</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">49. Cloverfield</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">48. The Hammer</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">47. Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">46. Wanted</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">45. Flash of Genius</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">44. Zack and Miri Make a Porno</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">43. Cassandra’s Dream</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">42. Quantum of Solace</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">41. Redbelt</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">40. Be Kind Rewind</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">39. Body of Lies</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">38. Son of Rambow</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">37. In Bruges</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">36. Slumdog Millionaire </span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">35. Stop-Loss</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">34. Joy Division</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">33. Joe Strummer: The Future is Unwritten</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">32. Bigger, Stronger, Faster*</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">31. Standard Operating Procedure</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">30. Surfwise</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">29. Chicago 10</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">28. Blindness</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">27. Valkyrie</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">26. City of Men</span>Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09359639965748678556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6015489358842656090.post-50719121625365973302009-01-11T17:22:00.000-08:002009-01-11T17:23:37.228-08:00Year in Review 2008: Best Films (25-11)<span style="font-family: georgia;">25. Gonzo: The Life of Hunter S. Thompson</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">24. Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">23. Frost/Nixon</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">22. U23D</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">21. The Visitor</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">20. W.</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">19. Hellboy II: The Golden Army</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">18. Iron Man</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">17. Burn After Reading</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">16. Synecdoche, New York</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">15. Ghost Town</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">14. Shine a Light</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">13. Changeling</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">12. Tropic Thunder</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">11. Gran Torino</span>Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09359639965748678556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6015489358842656090.post-7485250557622900512009-01-11T17:21:00.000-08:002009-01-11T17:22:56.214-08:00Year in Review 2008: Best Films (10-1)<span style="font-family: georgia;">10. Doubt- John Patrick Shanley’s adaptation of his own stage play works so well thanks to its ability to ask the tough question while refusing the easy answers. It forces it audiences to think in all the best ways, with questions about faith, sexuality and gender. P.S. Hoffman, Meryl Streep and Amy Adams all contribute knock out performances, unflinching in their honesty. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">9. Man on Wire- The year’s best documentary tells the unbelievable story of Philippe Petit’s attempt to walk the high wire between the two Twin Towers soon after their construction. It works so well due to the fact that its told like the best heist film you can imagine, filled with suspense and intrigue. Priceless documentary footage complement the new interviews to form one of the most entertaining films of the year. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">8. Rachael Getting Married- Jonathan Demme’s view of a dysfunctional family’s wedding has a wonderfully improvisational feel to it and a stellar lead performance by Anne Hathaway. The rest of the cast is up to Hathaway’s challenge, as there are great performance sprinkled throughout. At first, I wasn’t sure how I felt about the musical interludes that pop up through the film but few films have stuck with me as much as this. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">7. Paranoid Park- The year of Gus Van Sant started here with his small indie flick about a teen who witnesses a murder. Led by a stellar cast of virtual unknowns, it’s as beautifully shot as any true indie that you’ll see thanks to Christopher Doyle’s cinematography. A quiet meditative film that forms one half of the best one/two directorial punch of the year. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">6. Revolutionary Road- A dark, searing and unflinching look at the soullessness of suburbia, Revolutionary Road marks Sam Mendes return to the neighborhoods of American Beauty, only 50 years earlier. Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet lead a stellar cast that makes the best of the heavy, heavy, heavy material. Moving and disturbing, it hits close to home more than one may like but like all good art, it provokes considerable thought about the very being of your life. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">5. Vicky Cristina Barecelona- Woody Allen’s best film since his heyday, Vicky Cristina Barcelona is achingly alive, glowing off the screen. Its vibrancy and sense of place allow you to get lost in a European vacation of your own without leaving the theatre. Tremendous acting all around, VCB is erotic and sexual without ever feeling dirty, its quick wit continually propping it up. Criminally under seen, this is a film that deserves a much larger audience. Absolutely lovely in every aspect. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">4. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button- Much like his previous work Zodiac, David Fincher’s The Curious Case of Benjamin Button will only get better with each successive viewing. Epic in scope yet intimately personal at all times, Fincher’s newest masterpiece is an innovative technical marvel that raises questions about the very nature of life itself. Strikingly shot and filled with amazing performances, this is the perfect example of a film that nails its setting and atmosphere so well that I was checking my watch, hoping to spend even more time in this universe. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">3. Wall-E- Just when you think that Pixar can’t top themselves, they go ahead and wow you once again, this time with Wall-E, which may be the finest animated film of all time, certainly of the year. Combining Chaplin-esque pathos with a timely message and timeless characters, Wall-E succeeds on every front. Adult in themes yet presented in ways that even a child could understand, Wall-E confronts a complex subject head on, with jaw dropping visuals and a bittersweet tone that impossible not to fall for. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">2. The Dark Knight- THE movie of 2008, Christopher Nolan’s sequel to his Batman Begins is a startling, dread filled, modern masterpiece. Its pop filmmaking of the highest order, a deft combination of blockbuster action and indie smarts. At its core are questions vital to our current society, all neatly wrapped in a black cape. Ledger’s performance is already legendary, with good reason. It immediately takes it place among the greatest screen villains of all time. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">1. Milk- A moving, exciting biopic from the immensely talented Gus Van Sant relies on a spectacular lead performance by Sean Penn to carry the considerable weight of the material. Vibrant to the end, Van Sant continues to prove he’s one of the most gifted filmmakers working today. Yet, this may be his masterpiece, a sound examination of a man, a movement, a city, hell, an entire time period.</span>Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09359639965748678556noreply@blogger.com0