01. Extract (2009, USA) Mike Judge -
worth seeing [C+]
02. United States of Tara SSN 1 (2009, USA) Diablo Cody creator - above average
03. Up in the Air (2009, USA) Jason Reitman -
a must see [B-]
04. White Lightnin' (2009, UK) Dominic Murphy -
worth seeing [C]
05. The Chaser (2008, S. Korea) Na Hong-jin -
a must see [B-]
06. Acolytes (2008, Australia) Jon Hewitt -
has redeeming facet [D]
07. The Friends of Eddie Coyle (1973, USA) Peter Yates -
Masterpiece
08. The Color of Money (1986, USA) Martin Scorsese -
a must see
09. Just Another Love Story (2007, Denmark) Ole Bornedal -
worth seeing [C+]
10. Dead-End Drive In (1986, Australia) Brian Trenchard-Smith -
a must see
11. Into the Night (1985, USA) John Landis -
Excellent
12. Robin Hood: Men in Tights (1993, USA) Mel Brooks -
has redeeming facet
13. Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs (2009, USA) Phil Lord and Chris Miller -
worth
seeing [C]
14. Brief Interviews with Hideous Men (2009, USA) John Krasinski -
worthless [F]
15. Lonely are the Brave (1962, USA) David Miller -
a must see
16. Ginger Snaps: Unleashed (2004, Canada) Brett Sullivan -
worth seeing [C]
17. Eastbound & Down SSN 1 (2009, USA) Jody Hill, Ben Best, Danny McBride [creators] - [2nd viewing; no change in rating ***]
18. Up (2009, USA) Pete Docter & Bob Peterson (co-director) - [2nd viewing; rating dongraded slightly from **** Masterpiece to **** Excellent]
19. Anvil! The Story of Anvil (2008, USA) Sacha Gervasi -
a must see [B]
20. Picasso Trigger (1988, USA) Andy Sidaris -
worth seeing
21. The Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call - New Orleans (2009, USA) Werner Herzog -
a must
see [B]
22. Wise Blood (1979, USA) John Huston -
Masterpiece
23. Night of the Demons 2 (1994, USA) Brian Trenchard-Smith -
worth seeing
24. Brief Encounter (1945, UK) David Lean -
a must see
25. Perfect Getaway (2009, USA) David Twohy -
worth seeing [C+]
26. Moon (2009, UK) Duncan Jones -
a must see [B+]
27. The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus (2009, UK) Terry Gilliam -
a must see [B]
28. The House That Dripped Blood (1971, UK) Peter Duffell -
worth seeing
29. The Lovely Bones (2009, USA) Peter Jackson -
has redeeming facet [D]
30. These are the Damned (1963, UK) Joseph Losey -
Excellent
31. Wake in Fright (1971, Australia) Ted Kotcheff -
Masterpiece
32. The Invention of Lying (2009, USA) Ricky Gervais & Matthew Robinson -
a must
see [B]
33. The Brothers Bloom (2008, USA) Rian Johnson -
a must see [B]
34. The Getaway (1972, USA) Sam Peckinpah -
Excellent The ending is truly flawed, but given the cold control Peckinpah displays on the rest of the picture, one can forgive such a thing...
35. Bend It Like Beckham (2002, UK) Gurinder Chadha -
has redeeming facet
36. 35 Shots of Rum (2008) Claire Denis -
a must see [B+]
37. I Like Killing Flies (2004, USA) Matt Mahurin -
a must see [B+]
38. Beyond Dreams Door (1989, USA) Jay Woelfel -
worth seeing
39. Powder Blue (2009, USA) Timothy Linh Bui -
worthless [F] Just about everything I hate about Contemporary American cinema wrapped neatly into a star-studded-P.T. Anderson-plagiarized art film shell. To say I hated the fuckin’ thing would be an understatement.
40. Cujo (1983, USA) Lewis Teague -
worth seeing
41. Whip It (2009, USA) Drew Barrymore -
worth seeing [C+]
42. Big Fan (2009, USA) Robert D. Siegel -
a must see [B-]
s1. Green Porno - Bon Appetit (2009, USA) [short] Isabella Rossellini & Jody Shapiro - average
43. This Is It (2009, USA) Kenny Ortega -
worth seeing [C+]
44. The Resurrected (1992, USA) Dan O'Bannon -
a must see
45. Man Push Cart (2005, USA) Ramin Bahrani -
a must see [B]
Films seen in February
46. Bright Star (2009, UK) Jane Campion -
a must see [B]
47. Triangle (2009, UK) Christopher Smith -
a must see [B-]
48. House of the Devil (2009, USA) Ti West -
Excellent [A-]
49. Age of Consent (1969, Australia) Michael Powell -
a must see
50. Home (2008, Switzerland) Ursula Meier -
a must see [B]
51. Conan the Destroyer (1984, USA) Richard Fleischer -
worth seeing
52. Love Exposure (2009, Japan) Sion Sono -
Masterpiece [A]
53. Phantom of the Paradise (1974, USA) Brian De Palma -
a must see
54. Couples Retreat (2009, USA) Peter Billingsley -
has redeeming facet [D]
55. The Cove (2009, USA) Louie Psihoyos -
Excellent [A-]
56. Lesbian Vampire Killers (2009, UK) Phil Claydon -
worth seeing [C-]
57. Cold Souls (2009, USA) Sophie Barthes -
worth seeing [C]
58. Streets of Fire (1984, USA) Walter Hill -
a must see
59. I Could Never Never Be Your Woman (2007, USA) [2008 based on DVD Premiere] -
worth seeing [C]
60. Slime City (1988, USA) Greg Lamberson -
has redeeming facet
61. 24 City (2008, China ) Jia Zhang Ke -
a must see [B+]
s2. Cry Me a River (2008, China ) Jia Zhang Ke [short] solid stuff.
63. Revanche (2008, Austria) Götz Spielmann -
Excellent [A-]
64. Coco Before Chanel (2009, France) Anne Fontaine -
worth seeing [C-]
65. Shutter Island (2010, USA) Martin Scorsese -
a must see [B+]
66. Container (2006, Sweden) Lukas Moodysson -
Excellent [A-]
67. Drag Me to Hell (2009, USA) Sam Raimi [unrated Dir. cut?] 2nd viewing; no change in rating: ****
68. Air Guitar Nation (2006, USA) Alexandra Lipsitz -
worth seeing [C+]
69. Death in a Garden (1956, France) Luis Buñuel -
a must see
70. Link (1986, UK) Richard Franklin -
worth seeing
71. The Box (2009, USA) Richard Kelly -
a must see [B-]
72. Cabin Fever 2: Spring Fever (2009, USA) Ti West -
worthless [F] Ti West is one of the few in a new young generation of Horror filmmakers out there who genuinely excites me. It’s a goddamn shame that the DGA denied his claim to be discredited from this pathetic pile of shit, as I would hate for it tarnish the career of such a promising talent. Anchor Bay dvd does not win any fans with their DVD release either – West shot in a 2.40:1 scope, while the studio re-shoots are in a mismatching 2.35:1 – the DVD itself is anamorphically formatted for 2.35:1 so everything West shot is a squished disaster of pencil-faced people. Pretty ridiculous if you ask me, post-screening this DVD went straight into the trash can.
73. Foreignland (1984, Austria) Götz Spielmann [short] 16mm, 45 min. - below average
74. Black Dynamite (2009, USA) Scott Sanders -
a must see [B] "Your knowledge of scientific biological transmogrification is only outmatched by your zest for kung-fu treachery." -- This is borderline genius.
75. The Pit and the Pendulum (1991, USA) Stuart Gordon -
a must see
76. High and Low (1963, Japan) Akira Kurosawa -
Masterpiece
77. The Centerfold Girls (1974, USA) John Peyser -
worth seeing
78. The Headless Woman (2008, Argentina) Lucrecia Martel -
a must see [B]
79. The Forest for the Trees (2003, Germany) Maren Ade -
Masterpiece
s3 . Wallace and Gromit in 'A Matter of Loaf and Death' (2008, UK) Nick Park [short] 28 min. -
worth seeing
s4. French Roast (2008, France) Fabrice Joubert [short] 8 min. -
a must
see
s5. Granny O'Grimm' Sleeping Beauty (2008, Ireland) Nicky Phelan [short] 6 min. -
has redeeming facet
s6. Lady and the Reaper (2009, Spain) Javier Recio Gracia [short] 8 min. -
has redeeming facet
s7. Logorama (2009, France) François Alaux, Herve de Crecy, Ludovic Houplain -
a must see
Films seen in March
80. Food, Inc. (2008, USA) Robert Kenner -
worth seeing [C]
81. Duck (2005, USA) Nicole Bettauer -
worthless [F]
82. Spetters (1980, Netherlands) Paul Verhoeven -
worth seeing
s8. Estes Avenue (2005, UK) Paul Cotter [short] 3 min. Color -
worth seeing
83. Alice in Wonderland (2010, USA) Tim Burton -
worth seeing [C+]
84. Hi, Mom! (1970, USA) Brian De Palma -
a must see
85. We Live in Public (2009, USA) Ondi Timoner -
a must see [B]
86. The September Issue (2009, USA) R.J. Cutler -
worth seeing [C+]
87. Alexander the Last (2009, USA) Joe Swanberg -
worth seeing [C-]
88. The Long Riders (1980, USA) Walter Hill -
a must see Solid stuff all round, and Hill is clearly on his game (editing abounds!). The inventive casting goes a long way, but I just wish this wasn't so indebted to The Wild Bunch
89. Blue Collar (1978, USA) Paul Schrader -
MasterpieceIncisive, entertaining, maybe even timeless (it’s sure as hell still relevant today), this documents the woes and mischief of a trio of Detroit line workers as they uncover corruption in their union, and it's probably as good as anything I expect to see this year. Amazing that this was Schrader’s first film as it is arguably his finest. Pryor was never better.
90. Gentlemen Broncos (2009, USA) Jared Hess -
has redeeming facet [D]With the exception of Jemaine Clement, whose performance as a pretentious Sci-Fi author is one of those comic gems that it practically makes this thing worth recommending, this is ultimately a gigantic misfire from Hess. His brand of outcast humor and personal filmmaking simply does not lend itself to recognizable actors playing dress up; it needs an unknown to lend that uncomfortable hint of authenticity to the role (something Napoleon Dynamite had). In today’s YouTube age I can spare you the film and send you off with this…
91. Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire (2009, USA) Lee Daniels -
worth seeing [C+]
s9. Boat (2007, USA) David Lynch [short] Digital, 8 min. -
a must see
93. In the Electric Mist (2009, USA) Bertrand Tavernier -
a must see [B+]
94. The Cheerleaders (1973, USA) Paul Glickler -
worthless
95. Alice in Wonderland (1933, USA) Norman Z. McLeod -
worth seeing
96. Carriers (2009, USA) Àlex Pastor & David Pastor -
has
redeeming facet [D+]
97. Eyes of Crystal (2004, Italy) Eros Puglielli -
worth seeing [C]Modern day giallo has some moments, but remains a bit too predictable, especially in a genre known for its twists, to be anything major.
98. Just for the Hell of It (1968, USA) Heschell Gordon Lewis -
worthless
99. Blast-Off Girls (1967, USA) Heschell Gordon Lewis -
worth seeing
100. The Tin Drum (1979, West Germany) Volker Schlöndorff -
a must seeMany of the complaints about this film failing to work as allegory are spot on, but its just too damn bizarre and unique to dismiss as a failure.
s10 . La Cabina (1972, Spain) Antonio Mercero (35mm Color, 34 min.) -
MasterpieceHere’s an uncovered treasure – a man enters a phone booth and becomes trapped, possibly the victim of some sort of human mousetrap, will he ever escape? – this surreal blend of Tati physical and Bunuel psychological storytelling is ripe for rediscovery. Antonio Mercero snatched an Emmy for his work on this, but besides some slight notoriety amongst cult/surreal film circles, the film remains all but forgotten today. Take the time and seek this one out, you wont regret it.
101. Broken Embraces (2009, Spain) Pedro Almodóvar -
a must see [B-]
102. I Think We're Alone Now (2008, USA) Sean Donnelly -
a must see [B]A documentary about two troubled souls who are in love with the Pop singer Tiffany, and how their obsession has earned them the label of “stalker.” Low budget docs like this, rooted in Shirley Clarke’s masterpiece A Portrait of Jason, are potent reminders that flashy titles and dramatic scores have no place in a documentary film. It is enough to simply record a real person, one with real feelings and hardships, and let your drama take its own shape.
103. The Ghost Writer (2010, UK) Roman Polanski -
Excellent [A-]
104. Afterschool (2008, USA) Antonio Campos -
a must see [B-]
105. He Knows You're Alone (1980, USA) Armand Mastroianni -
worthless
106. The African Queen (1951, USA) John Huston [3rd viewing; first in 10+ years, no change in rating ****]
107. The Fourth Kind (2009, USA) Olatunde Osunsanmi -
has redeeming
facet [D+]
s11 . "Telephone" - Lady Gaga music video (2009, USA) Jonas Åkerlund -
has redeeming facet
108. Brothers (2009, USA) Jim Sheridan -
worth seeing [C+]A little too forced for my tastes, with musical cues on every scene telling us exactly how we should be feeling. Following In America though, I'm inclined to say that Sheridan might be one of the finest directors of children we have. He soars in those scenes...
109. The Watcher in the Woods (1980, USA) John Hough -
worth seeing
Probably last seen back in 1986 -- I was six years old -- and I believe I had to turn the TV off. Too terrifying!
110. The Vicious Kind (2009, USA) Lee Toland Krieger -
a must see [B-] Described as "the best film Neil LaBute never made" by the Village Voice, and I can't say I disagree. LaBute himself Executive Produced, and while the film is a bit predictable and hard to swallow at times, the seething misanthropy beneath the surface makes me long for the LaBute of old to return to these types of pictures. Krieger handles the widescreen frame exceptionally well and his actors have the chops to carry his script. Solid stuff all around, I'm curious to see what's on the horizon.
111. Black Snake (1973, USA) Russ Meyer -
has redeeming facet
112. Dread (2009, USA) Anthony DiBlasi -
has redeeming facet [D-]
113. The Stepford Wives (1975, USA) Bryan Forbes -
a must see
Films seen in April
114. Greenberg (2010, USA) Noah Baumbach -
a must see [B-]
115. Ossos (1997, Portugal) Pedro Costa -
Excellent
116. The Secret of Kells (2009, Ireland) Tomm Moore -
worth seeing
[C+]
117. Mr. Jealousy (1997, USA) Noah Baumbach -
a must see
118. Bitch Slap (2009, USA) Rick Jacobson -
worthless [F]
119. Carlito's Way (1993, USA) Brian De Palma -
Masterpiece
120. Dirty Mary Crazy Larry (1974, USA) John Hough -
a must see
121. The Devil, Probably (1977, France) Robert Bresson -
a must see
122. How to Train Your Dragon (2010, USA) Dead DeLois & Chris Sanders -
a must see
[B-]
123. Beeswax (2009, USA) Andrew Bujalski -
a must see [B+]
124. Chop Shop (2007, USA) Ramin Bahrani -
a must see [B]Slumdog stripped of all the hokey BS.
125. Treeless Mountain (2008, USA/South Korea) Kim So Yong -
worth
seeing [C+]
126. Westworld (1973, USA) Michael Crichton -
a must see
127. The Giant Claw (1957, USA) Fred F. Sears -
worth seeing
128. Serbis (2008, Philippines) Brillante Mendoza -
worth seeing
[C+]
129. Suburban Secrets (2004, USA) Joseph W. Sarno -
worthless
130. Dark Star (1974, USA) John Carpenter -
a must see
131. Blood Work (2002, USA) Clint Eastwood -
a must see
132. I'm Gonna Explode (2008, Mexico) Gerardo Naranjo -
a must see [B-]
133. The Young Victoria (2009, UK) Jean-Marc Vallée -
worth seeing
[C]
134. An Education (2009, UK) Lone Scherfig -
a must see [B-]
135. The Hangover (2009, USA) Todd Phillips [2nd viewing; last seen Jul '09, no change in rating ***]
136. Zombies of Mass Destruction (2009, USA) Kevin Hamedani -
worthless [F]
137. The Final (2010, USA) Joey Stewart -
worth seeing [C-]
138. Lake Mungo (2009, Australia) Joel Anderson -
worth seeing [C+]
139. Crazy Heart (2009, USA) Scott Cooper -
a must see [B-]
140. The Witches (1990, UK) Nicolas Roeg -
a must see
141. The Blind Side (2009, USA) John Lee Hancock -
worth seeing [C-]
142. Kill Theory (2009, USA) Chris Moore -
worth seeing [C-]
143. Uncertainty (2009, USA) Scott McGehee & David Siegel -
has redeeming
facet [D-]
144. The Ballad of Cable Hogue (1970, USA) Sam Peckinpah -
Excellent
145. It's Complicated (2009, USA) Nancy Meyers -
worth seeing [C]
146. Armored (2009, USA) Nimród Antal -
worth seeing [C]
147. The Keep (1983, UK) Michael Mann -
worth seeing
148. Halloween II (2009, USA) Rob Zombie -
worth seeing [C]
149. Passing Strange (2009, USA) Spike Lee -
worth seeing [C+]
150. White Hunter, Black Heart (1990, USA) Clint Eastwood -
Masterpiece
Films seen in May
151. Kick-Ass (2010, USA) Matthew Vaughn -
worth seeing [C+]
152. The Car (1977, USA) Elliot Silverstein -
a must see
153. Mammoth (2009, Sweden) Lukas Moodysson -
a must see [B]
154. The Dead Pool (1988, USA) Buddy Van Horn -
has redeeming facet
155. Lifeforce (1985, UK) Tobe Hooper -
has redeeming facet
156. The Human Centipede (2009, Netherlands) Tim Six -
worth seeing
[C]
157. London in the Raw (1964, UK) Arnold L. Miller -
worth seeingAverage Mondo film, strives for playfulness rather than shock value, which is a welcomed change of pace for that genre.
158. Tetro (2009, USA) Francis Ford Coppola -
worth seeing [C]Gorgeous cinematography, but what an awful script. Gallo carries this one on his back.
159. Easier With Practice (2009, USA) Kyle Patrick Alvarez -
worth
seeing [C+]Potent indie stuff, along with The Vicious Kind, there seems to be a stream of hard edged Labute influenced indies out there, the perfect antidote to the Post-Juno nonsense.
160. Babies (2010, France) Thomas Balmes -
worth seeing [C-]A doc on babies. Works best when it isn't hammering home jokes with cross cutting, and simply let's the viewer find their way through the material.
161. Air Doll (2009, Japan) Hirokazu Koreeda -
a must see [B-] Too whimsical for my tastes but another solid effort from Koreeda who seems to always want reinvent himself.
162. The Haunted World of El Superbeasto (2009, USA) Rob Zombie -
worth
seeing [C+] Surprisingly entertaining and creative, actually owes more to classic Warners cartoons and rises above being just a succession of horror film nods.
163. The Devil's Rejects (2005, USA) Rob Zombie - 3rd viewing; last seen 12/05; rating upgraded from *** to **** Masterpiece
Just keeps getting better, and now I think its something major. I think I had Zombie all wrong. Mosley should have been recognized for one of the best supporting performances of the decade.
164. Daybreakers (2009, Australia) Michael & Peter Spierig -
a must see [B] Boy my radar was off on this... I skipped it Toronto and it ends being one of the best genre films of last year. Potent is an understatement -- this script has something serious to say about the state of the global economy. Finally vampires are more than just a hip trend...
165. A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984, USA) Wes Craven - 3rd viewing; last seen ??; rating downgraded from *** to ** worth seeing
It's just not as great as most make it out to be. The De Palma copping at the end is also unforgivable.
166. The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976, UK) Nicolas Roeg -
Excellent Rather brilliant, and not just in a cult film sort of way, it’s a deeply realized bit of pulp philosophy. Derails slightly at the end, but I could care less by that point.
167. Fragile (2005, UK) Jaume Balagueró -
has redeeming facet [D+]Balagueró has skills but besides creating a little atmosphere and effectively reproducing the Jap ghost story for a different brand of audience, there is simply nothing to get excited about here.
168. A Talking Picture (2003, Portugal) Manoel de Oliveira -
a must see [B+] Dreamlike, philosophical, at times deeply pretentious, this picture snakes it way into a place you'd never expect it to reach and ends on a note so baffling that I had to wonder if I had missed something. It was only later upon reading some comments by Jonathan Rosenbaum that my suspicions were confirmed, this picture Bunuelian to the core.
169. Bad Timing (1980, UK) Nicolas Roeg -
a must seePlays like like the remarkable sex scene in Don't Look Now made into a feature film and exhibits just about every positive and negative inherent with such a concept.
170. BMX Bandits (1983, Australia) Brian Trenchard-Smith -
worth seeingNicole Kidman's feature debut and Trenchard-Smith's most tame film, plays out like your typical "kids get mixed up with gang of goons, goons try to eliminate pesky kids, kids save the day." 80's camp factor of dudes popping serious BMX wheelies abounds though, which is always a plus.
171. Purana Mandir (1984, India) Shyam Ramsay &Tulsi Ramsay -
has redeeming facet My first exposure to Bollywood horror and let's just say I'm not rushin' out to see more. At 144 min this feels like a patch quilt of about 3 different films, although the horror elements do have a sort of visual charm that was simultaneously showing up in the States via Sam Raimi.
s12. Splatter (2009, USA) Joe Dante [short, 26 min.] -
worth seeingRoger Corman produced short by the great Dante, feels like a Hammer film hammered out on a mediocre budget.
171. The Messenger (2009, USA) Oren Moverman -
a must see [B]Incredible performances, with a pulse of Cassavetes-like realism, is more than just comment on the war, but a look at the human response to the inevitable confrontation with death we all deal with in our lives.
s13. Dead & Lonely (2009, USA) Ti West [short, 25 min.] -
worth
seeingSerial made for IFC and available for free online. Keeps you watching, but the builds up to very little. West's understated horror works better at feature length.
172. [.REC] 2 (2009, Spain) Jaume Balagueró & Paco Plaza -
a must see [B+]Very strong sequel, picks up where the first left off, but abandons the long-take approach for a more choppy, special effects driven thrill ride. The scripting and pacing are spot-on and the resulting frenetic film is one of incredible control. Great stuff.
173. Cargo 200 (2007, Russia) Aleksey Balabanov -
worth seeing [C+]It's an eye opener to be sure, but I'd be lying if I said I could explain the politics behind it all -- and since almost everything Balabanov includes is a political jab of some form -- I must confess to not fully "getting it."
174. Gross Pointe Blank (1997, USA) George Armitage -
worth seeingI think Armitage is sharp, but this is one of those "witty scripts" that I have a hard time stomaching, like a precocious child you just want to smack.
175. Valhalla Rising (2009, UK) Nicolas Winding Refn -
Excellent [A-]Brutal and deftly executed, Refn has produced a purely primal film, a thinking man’s version of 300 blended with Malick’s The New World. If you think that sounds like a batshit crazy Herzog-riff you may be right, but wait until you have your breath taken away by the ever-gorgeous visuals that contrast lush lowlands with the shattering of human skulls. A case for further study for sure…
176. The Descent: Part 2 (2009, UK) Jon Harris -
has
redeeming facet [D]Lame sequel which rehashes the first film's action but leaves out every bit of tension and character which raised the first film to greatness.
177. Tentacles (1977, Italy) Ovidio G. Assonitis -
worthlessThe worst movie I have ever seen constructed with a cast of great actors. Astonishing really, there is not a single thing to enjoy here...
s13. Trailers From Hell (2008, USA) Joe Dante, Edgar Wright, Mick Garris, Eli Roth
It's hard to complain about having some of your favorite directors spout off about some of their favorite films. The Dante commentaries are especially exceptional. VIEW HERE.
178. Explorers (1985, USA) Joe Dante -
a must see Falters a bit by the end, but not before hammering home a meaty philosophical point, and it's potency like this that makes Dante the true master of the Spielberg/Lucas family film adventure
s14. “Smack My Bitch Up” -- video for Prodigy (1997, UK) Jonas Ackerlund [umpteenth veiwing, ****]
With the exception of maybe Thriller, this remains one of the best music videos ever made.
Films seen in June
179. Cloak & Dagger (1984, USA) Richard Franklin -
a must see A childhood fav, that not only retains all of it's magic, but holds even richer treasures for the more mature viewer apt to pick out all of Franklin's Hitchcock nods as well as the deeper meaning of the film's father/son psychology.
180. Yatterman (2009, Japan) Takashi Miike -
Excellent
[A-]Miike at his most anarchist is capable of out doing Tarantino and Eli Roth. Miike at his most playful, as is the case here, is capable of making some of the most inventive and enjoyable family films out there -- the kind that we convince ourselves Robert Rodriguez's is making -- in the world according to Adam, this movie would be on fucking lunchboxes!
181. Invaders from Mars (1986, USA) Tobe Hooper -
has
redeeming facetWell, maybe if the kid could act...
182. Megane aka Glasses (2007, Japan) Naoko Ogigami -
Excellent [A-]Snuck up out of nowhere on me, don't buy into the negative buzz, this a zen film that approaches the mastery of early Kitano, mixed with an enthralling stasis that rivals Jarmusch, it combines culinary charm and the natural world in such a way that I didn't want to stop looking through Ogigami's glasses...
183. Avatar (2009, USA) James Cameron - [2nd complete viewing, last seen 12/09, no change in rating ****]
Far from perfect and the shortcomings only become more apparent on the small screen, however I can't shake the visionary scope of this film.
184. Splice (2010, Canada) Vincenzo Natali -
worth seeing
[C+]Natali is not a "creature" nor a visceral director, so the cerebral first half of the film which sticks to the science is wonderful, while the final half, which is about as over the top as Verhoeven's Hollow man, the word "falters" would be putting it lightly.
185. The Wolfman (2010, USA) Joe Johnston -
worthless [F]I don't even know what this movie was about. No seriously. Not a clue.
186. Defendor (2009, Canada) Peter Stebbings -
worth seeing
[C-]Clever film about a man who believes he's a super hero. It's odd how movie ideas seem to spawn in pairs (cf. Kick-Ass). This is a smaller more realistic approach, but for my money, the real star of this breed of film is the little seen Special.
187. Hachiko: A Dog's Story (2009, USA) Lasse Hallström -
worth seeing
[C-]Devastatingly sad story, but not much of a film.
188. Tell-Tale (2009, USA) Michael Cuesta -
worth seeing
[C]The whole "transplanted organ is possessed!" theme is better left in heydays of EC comic horror, but this tale about a vengeful heart, is compulsively watchable. Cuesta seems to be gravitating towards horror these days, and to my surprise, he has a knack for it, his unaired pilot for the zombie-themed Babylon Fields just picked up stock in my book.
189. Let the Right One In (2008, Sweden) Tomas Alfredson - [2nd viewing, last seen 3/09, no change in rating ****]
First viewing of the film with the correct subtitles, bullies become more cruel and foul mouthed, and some subtle humour is revealed in places, but for the most part the film plays the same. The young Lina Leandersson's performance is incredible.
190. Crows Zero (2007, Japan) Takashi Miike -
a must see
[B]Like most Miike, it's hard to know how to approach this. Young thugs attend high school solely to beat the shit out of each other and gain rank. Things grow to a boil and eventually we have a 200 man brawl, at which point Miike decides to cross cut with a Jap-Pop musical performance, undermining the machismo vibe like a slap in the face. This is more than just Manga stylized violence, and surely not a comment on Japanese youth culture, Miike is out to lambast the yakuza picture. By portraying the gangster heroes/villians as a bunch of misguided youths posturing for power, we see the criminal underworld is nothing more than a schoolyard to live out their childish fantasies.
191. United States of Tara Season 2 (2010, USA) Diablo Cody creator -
worth seeingCody wrote like one episode? This season felt like a neglected child...
192. Pink Cadillac (1989, USA) Buddy Van Horn -
a must seeThis movie is pure Eastwood and at the same time the anti-Eastwood film, anti-climatic with the ending, it's essentially a course on pathos, ethos, and logos in the Eastwood canon. All in all great stuff and vastly overlooked.
193. The Stepfather (2009, USA) Nelson McCormick -
has redeeming facet
[D] The whole demystification of the suburbs thing has long been played out and the fact that the politically sharp edge of the 1980's Reagan era original is no longer pertinent did not stop Hollywood from remaking this one. With not a drop to say it leaves hardly an impression, but there is some suspense to had in between. Hey, where the hell is that Mandy Lane movie?? That shit was pretty good...
194. Achilles and the Tortoise (2008, Japan) Takeshi Kitano -
a must see [B+]The best in Kitano's recent self-relfection trilogy, this harkens back to the shit-eating grin humor of his early films (something that never ceases to get a belly laugh out of me), while also being a potent look at the struggle for artistic originality and the absurd lengths we go to achieve it.
s14 . Elevated (1997, Canada) Vincenzo Natali [short, 19 min.] -
worth
seeingOne of those shorts you aren't really crazy about, but you know the filmmaker is destined for a promising feature-length work.
195. Quid Pro Quo (2008, USA) Carlos Brooks -
worth seeing
[C-] The cold and clinical melancholia we typical associate with Atom Egoyan is the method of choice from newcomer Carlos Brooks who employs this unusual approach to a script so absurd, it has to be taken with a dose of dark humor in order to work. The story deals with a subculture of folks who envy the paralyzed, pretending themselves to be crippled; they depend on their wheelchairs for a sense of self. There is a predictable twist, some fine acting (when is Farmiga bad?), and enough bizarre dysfunctional sorrow on display to keep things watchable, but it’s a tough pill to swallow, both as truth or as metaphor. Bunuel would have had a field day with a story like this, but Brooks barely seems to scratch the surface.
s15. Amazing Stories - SSN 2.16 -- "Family Dog" (1987, USA) Brad Bird [short] -
a must seeVery entertaining little short, evokes classic Warner's 'toons and Tim Burton's unmistakable visuals give that skewed look to suburbia that plays nicely off Bird's traditional sense of humor.
196. Dr Jekyll & Sister Hyde (1971, UK) Roy Ward Baker -
worth seeingDoesn't nearly go far enough exploring the gender/sex/homosexual/transexual/etc possibilities set forth by the script, but Baker's classical approach to the material gives it all a very weird Paul Morrissey vibe. Definitely one of the more bizarre offerings from Hammer Studios ...
197. Death and the Maiden (1994, UK) Roman Polanski -
ExcellentMasterfully crafted thriller that occupies a world where everything is a little “off,” from the strange choice of actors, to the fake exotic local, it plays out like a fever dream of pent up fears and anxieties, that explodes in a burst realist drama. Even the minor films in the Polanski cannon are something major.
198. The Night Flier (1997, USA) Mark Pavia -
a must seeAn overlooked gem that builds to a rolling boil, this is written and directed with an intensity sorely missing from the majority of contemporary horror films. The resolution is a bit of a letdown, but the journey is well worth taking. Happy to see this filmmaker has a sophomore project underway.
199. Something Wicked This Way Comes (1983, USA) Jack Clayton -
has redeeming facetIn the early 80’s Walt Disney was producing some tremendously interesting, if not wholly successful live-action films aimed at child audiences, but carrying a darker more adult edge. This one is marred by an abundance of poor special effects so you are never really able to get your imagination going, but had you been given the chance, the story about a wicked carnival that overtakes a small town screams potential. Movies like this don’t get made in America anymore, which makes it hard not to appreciate this in some form.
200. North Face (2008, Germany) Philipp Stölzl -
a must see [B-]I expected Touching the Void, and I got an equal amount of suspense, but also a riveting love story and a wonderful pre-WWII setting wherein the doomed mountain climbers are a symbol for the bald-faced arrogance of the German empire. Stölzl displays remarkable control utilizing his landscapes to figure a larger role in the film
201. Seagull Diner aka Kamome Diner (2006, Japan) Naoko Ogigami -
a must see [B+]Appreciating the quiet, simpler pleasures of life is what Ogigami is all about, be it a well made cup of coffee, a cold Sapporo on a hot day, a comforting silence, the smell of a new place, and what it means to share these moments with another person. These intangible elements are difficult to capture on film, and they can’t be realized without the viewer bringing a bit of themselves to the experience -- film cannot tell us what coffee tastes like -- a character drinks coffee, most of us know what that character is tasting. It is this notion – the intangible senses -- that Ogigami uses to bring us into his filmic worlds, linking us to the characters on screen much as they are linked to each other. There is no room for hate, sex, violence, or money in these movies, their tone is “life” and they exude it effortlessly.
202. An American Werewolf in London (1981, USA) John Landis [2nd viewing, last seen 11/03] -
a must seeThis one has gotten better for me over the years and Landis is a great deal better than I’ve ever given him credit for. The key is not approaching this as a horror film.
s16. Day & Night (2010, USA) Teddy Newton [short] -
worth seeingCute little love story showcases some clever animation. Oscar short film fodder.
203. Toy Story 3 (2010, USA) Lee Unkrich -
worth seeing [C+]These Pixar projects are beginning to feel like a brainstorming session wherein a dozen different people’s great ideas are pieced together to form one big crowd-pleasing picture. It’s hard not to enjoy, but movies are not an assembly line, and mass-produced media has never really been my cup.
204. The Maid (2009, Chile) Sebastián Silva -
a must see [B-] Very well acted little film about a bat-shit-crazy housemaid and her struggle to define a life of her own in a profession that requires her to live through others. Silva’s film is socially and politically relevant, but the picture is marred by some horrendous cinematography that does a disservice to scene after scene of brilliant material.
205. Youth in Revolt (2009, USA) Miguel Arteta -
a must see
[B-]
206. Escape to Witch Mountain (1975, USA) John Hough -
worth seeing
[rating downgraded; last seen many moons ago]
s16. La maison en petits cubes (2008, Japan) Kunio Katô [short, 12min, hand drawn] -
worth seeing
207. Funny People (2009, USA) Judd Apatow -
worth seeing [2nd
viewing; no change; last seen 08/09]
208. Grand Prix (1966, USA) John Frankenheimer -
a must see
209. Caged (1950, USA) John Cromwell -
worth seeing
210. The Blues Brothers (1980, USA) John Landis -
Excellent
211. Father of My Children (2009, France) Mia Hansen-Løve -
a must see [B-]I'm more or less ambivalent to this on first viewing. Hansen-Løve has something to show us and I'd love to explore more, but this is a little too novelistic for my tastes. Killer soundtrack.
Films seen in July
212. The Crazies (2010, USA) Breck Eisner -
has redeeming facet
[D] Boom. Pretty dumb.
213. Cat's Eye (1985, USA) Lewis Teague -
worth seeing It's funny that all I hear about it the Troll segment, but in fact the first two are small marvels, harkening back to vintage EC comic horror, and the Troll bit borders on camp these days. Over the top morality parables are so underrated...
214. Hot Tub Time Machine (2010, USA) Steve Pink -
worth seeing [C-]Ok, so we could only come up with a half-dozen 1980's jokes??? The set-up is great, but is wasted on a bunch of "dick and fuck Apatow-humor" and throws the 80's setting to the wayside.
215. Caddyshack (1980, USA) Harold Ramis -
a must see
[umpteenth viewing]
216. Land of the Lost (2009, USA) Brad Silberling -
a must see [B-] As far as dumb comedies are
concerned, this is right up my alley.
s17. “Smack My Bitch Up” -- video for Prodigy (1997, UK) Jonas Ackerlund [umpteenth veiwing, ****]
s18. Impaled (2006, USA) Larry Clark [last seen: 07/08; no change in rating ****]
217. A Single Man (2009, UK) Tom Ford -
worth seeing [C+]
218. Sleepaway Camp (1983, USA) Robert Hiltzik [3rd viewing: last seen 04/04; no change in rating ***]
219. Romancing the Stone (1984, USA) Robert Zemeckis [first viewing in many years; no change in rating ***]
220. Frownland (2007, USA) Ronald Bronstein -
worth seeing [C+]
221. Suicide Girls Must Die! (2010, USA) Sawa Suicide -
worthless [F]
222. Doghouse (2009, UK) Jake West -
worth seeing [C]
223. Stand By Me (1986, USA) Rob Reiner [first viewing in many years; no change in rating ***]
224. Invictus (2009, USA) Clint Eastwood -
a must see
[B]
225. Point Break (1991, USA) Kathryn Bigelow [first viewing in many years; no change in rating ****]
226. Yes Man (2008, USA) Peyton Reed -
worth seeing [C]
227. Life During Wartime (2009, USA) Todd Solondz -
worth seeing
[C+]
228. Midnight Madness (1980, USA) Michael Nankin & David Wechter [first viewing in many years; no change in rating ***]
229. Inception (2010, USA) Christopher Nolan -
a must see
[B+]
230. Don't Look Back (2009, France) Marina de Van -
worthless [F]
231. She's Out of My League (2010, USA) Jim Field Smith -
worth seeing
[C-]
232. Death Race 2000 (1975, USA) Paul Bartel - second viewing, last seen 11/03, no change in rating ***
233. Chloe (2009, Canada) Atom Egoyan -
worth seeing [C+]
234. Summer Wars (2009, Japan) Mamoru Hosoda -
a must see
[B-]
235. Solomon Kane (2009, UK) Michael J. Bassett -
worth seeing [C]
236. What About Bob? (1991, USA) Frank Oz -
a must see
237. Year One (2009, USA) Harold Ramis -
worth seeing [C+]
238. Galaxy of Terror (1981, USA) Bruce D. Clark -
worth seeing
239. The Happiest Man in the Triple Cities: The Legend of Masty Huba (2010, USA) Kyle McKeveny - No rating assigned*, but please take the time to look this one up
A very honorable and personally felt look at one man's life, this rises above your standard talking heads bio pic and becomes a revealing and compelling look at the bygone era that gave rise to such an indomitable spirit and the community that faded away with him.
[* rating on hold given my personal relationship with the filmmaker and the fact that this may not have been a final cut]
240. A Town Called Panic (2009, France) Stéphane Aubier & Vincent Patar -
worth seeing [C]
241. Forbidden World (1982, USA) Allan Holzman -
worth seeing December Screening Log
November 09 Screening Log
October '09 Screening Log - Halloween Horror Challenge - 45 films