Netflix Customer Reviews

Inglourious Basterds

Despite having some pretty violent things in it and a premise that could easily embrace an over-the-top free for all, I found it almost downright subdued. It felt like grown-up, mature, disciplined filmmaking. In categorizing the film the first thing that comes to my mind isn't a war movie or revenge fantasy. The plot and drama around the movie within a movie to me takes center stage. The film definitely has Tarantino's mark all over it. Witty, smart dialogue (a great monologue involving rats), fantastically scored (more Morricone, and it's gorgeous) beautiful camera work, a lovely tracking shot, yummy close-ups (literally), a great use of his foot fetish, fun little visual touches, a Mexican stand-off, an intense opening scene that builds the tension and drama wonderfully. And a couple of audio cameo appearances sure to bring a smile to any fan. The scenes are long and lingering and that's not a bad thing because they in no way hinder the pace. In fact, it's quite the opposite because each scene does so well at building itself to a frothy conclusion. Each also tends to give you something to laugh at, something to wince at and something to hold your breath at. Everything you read regarding this film you will undoubtedly hear about how awesome Christoph waltz is. And that is simply because it is indeed an amazing, grand performance. I should also mention Brad Pitt. Playing it more a caricature than a character, he is blessed with some of the funniest lines and I absolutely loved the entire speaking Italian bit... very funny and very well played. My only small complaint is that I thought Eli Roth was a casting misstep. You should only cast your friends if they can act. He was definitely the weak link, but everyone around him made up for it and his part, like all the basterds, was relatively small. No doubt, there are a ton of movie references that I missed (or don't know) but that leaves all the more fun for the next viewing, which I'm definitely looking forward to.

Taken

I liked the first half of the film. The build-up to and including the abduction scene worked fairly well in building intensity and getting the audience invested. Ironically, it is the point where the movie kicks into full action mode where I found it to become increasingly boring and typical. As each new group of bad guys got dispensed for the next group of bad guys, I became less and less interested. It is hardly memorable or really interesting in the second half, but watchable enough for a quick action, semi-fun break from reality.

Gran Torino

This is a movie I probably normally wouldn�t have watched, but not being able to ignore all the positive reviews� I succumbed and ended up liking it much more than I ever would have anticipated. Despite the fact that you know where the movie is going, especially between the relationship between Eastwood's grumpy curmudgeon and the young boy next door, the predictability is made not just tolerable, but entertaining. There are many laugh out loud moments, some nice little subtle touches of story and the film earned its inevitable, redemptive ending. Clint is good, though I thought a touch heavy-handed with the growling. I was more impressed with the rest of the basically non-professional cast. It isn�t a perfect film, but it is solid, enjoyable, easy viewing and kinda irresistibly lovable.

Waltz with Bashir

On an artistic level it looks fantastic. I loved the animation and the yellow/golden tones were gorgeous. The characters are so expressive and I loved all the tiniest of details going on in the backgrounds. It felt both real and surreal simultaneously. It really was a visual treat. But this goes so much beyond a beautifully done animated film. The beginning draws you in and then takes you through so many dynamics� from fantasy to repression to the horrors of war� at times it feels encased in such a hard and harsh reality, and other times it is a poetic fantasy, a therapy session, a band of brothers bonding, or a music video interrupted by bullets. All of it is done brilliantly. And the end leaves you speechless and humbled and affected. For me, best documentary, best animated film, best film of the year.

In Bruges

It comes off as both a quiet little picture and a bloody-loud shooter simultaneously. It seriously manages to blend several seemingly conflicting vibes in a way that works very well and leaves you with that �ahhh, i�ve just seen a movie� satisfied feeling. A solid cast all the way around, but with his beautifully weathered face that lets you see directly into the depths of this character, Brendan Gleeson is the stand out here. There really is a lovely chemistry at work with him and Colin Farrell. The movie has a sense of humor, is at times absurd and it does a great job of capturing the tone through the (title) city, which plays a part itself. I have a suspicion it may get even better seeing it a second time.

Milk

Sean Penn is a triumph as Harvey Milk. I don't expect I'll see a better performance this year. His complete transformation is extraordinary. He brings such a gentle spirit into this flawed, strong, passionate character. It really is just phenomenal to watch. The supporting actors all rise up as well. Emile Hirsch, James Franco, Diego Luna and especially Josh Brolin, who does such a great job revealing his character's inner torment. Gus Van Sant shows such a grace in this piece of filmmaking. There is light and playfulness and serious and importance. Historical footage blends seamlessly into the current filming, it is effortless getting lost in the story. It does the film a disservice to think of it as only a wonderful political, gay rights issue movie. It goes so far beyond being that. Its scope is far more universal.

The Wrestler

I swear I don't think I saw the same film as everybody else. Yes, Mickey Rourke is excellent and definitely deserves the lavish praise he has been getting for his performance. As a fan, I always want to love what Aronofsky does, but overall this movie was a little disappointing to me. Not to say it was bad, but in the end I couldn't help feeling like I've seen this very movie a hundred times before and I'm not sure this one brought anything new or really interesting (outside Rourke�s performance) to the table. Seriously, I kept being surprised that the movie was going down such a predictable road. The fault fully lies in the screenwriting. I expect more than a story that can be called scene by scene and never once challenging anything beyond typical Hollywood fare. Being in the severe minority I'm willing to say I'm probably wrong about this film, but for me, in the end I felt sad not from the story, but from my disappointment.

Frozen River

If this doesn't end up being my favorite film of the year it will at least be among the top three. It is a depressing story of single mother desperation but below the surface it is a testament to female resolve and survival without any clich�d cries of feminism to muck it up. A rather simple story but with real moments of tension and nervousness that never seem contrived. From her first moment on screen Melissa Leo is captivating and never lets up. This truly is one of the best performances of the year. She gives this seemingly simple woman such a realness while never letting it slip into some sort of trailer-trash stereotype. Charlie McDermott as her oldest son also stands out. Playing a boy who has to be more of a man than he should have to be, he is the perfect combination of responsibility and recklessness that rings absolutely true. This felt like a real kid. Many of the characters make morally or intellectually questionable choices but it's easy to understand feeling cornered into making such decisions that could be easily judged by someone who has never had to worry about things like feeding their children or being able to hold your baby. By the time we leave these characters all of them will have suffered consequences and will have changed and even grown, yet you can't help feeling that their circumstances have little chance of getting better. That may be a depressing concept to be forced to take, but it's a real one. It is life.

21 Grams

There is nothing I didn't love about this movie... the acting is flawless all the way across the board and the story is captivating. Just as in his "Amores Perros", I��rritu makes us work for the pay off without making it a chore. The non-linear, interlaced plot is told in what appears to be a very random way yet it works beautifully. Despite initially not having a clue what was going on I was caught up in drinking in these people and these circumstances and it all made for an emotional and bittersweet ride. The way we are presented with the broken storyline doesn't feel to me like a gimmick or an attempt to wow us with style. I think it mirrors and compliments the broken characters. Haunting, sad and brilliant film.

Raging Bull

There is nothing I can say that has not already been said about the greatness that is raging bull. This is film perfection. De Niro�s complete and so intense it�s scary submersion into this character is amazing. He takes this character that really doesn't give us much to work with as far as being likable and makes us understand him. The black and white and every technical choice on this film proves what an unbelievably gifted man Martin Scorsese is. The horrifyingly and beautifully choreographed boxing sequences� the use of different speeds of slow motion, the editing, the sound, the music, the lighting�. everything. And the true greatness of all of that is that you won't really notice the greatness of them because they are so fluidly weaved into creating the film as a whole. They become subliminal. For example, the different distorted animal noises used during the violence are so cohesive to the theme that this character was an animal and operated on a very base instinct level. The jail cell scene is obviously an extremely intense, emotional one that many directors would have used to put it in your face, forcing the viewer to witness in full the destruction of this man. However, what Scorsese does is keeps us distant, only seeing glimpses of light through the darkness and it becomes more intense and more horrific because of it. To become a true classic, a film must face the test of time and survive decades of movie watchers and critics. This film will only continue to garner the respect it deserves and will, without question, always remain a classic.

Diabolique

If you judge this film by today's standards, it is still great. Then remember it's over 50 years old and it is simply mind-blowing how fantastic a film this is. The atmosphere at the school is set beautifully. The viewer can feel the tension, the resentments are palpable and you can almost smell the rotting meat. The suspense is crafted brilliantly. The plotting of the murder is mesmerizing and watching the swimming pool is suspense at its best. The twists that come are surprising and still plausible. Any Hitchcock fan should adore this.

Adaptation

Blasphemous I know, but I really just didn�t like 'Being John Malkovich' much. So when this movie came out and it got the same sort of critical acclaim I had my doubts but rented it anyway. It immediately went on my must own list. This is super smart screenwriting... well, super smart screenwriting within screenwriting. The blurred and blended lines between reality and fiction all get a little surreal... and it's great. I was immediately drawn in by one of the best openings ever and then Nic Cage takes it from there doing a great job in dual roles. The rest of the cast is top-notch as well. Meryl Streep is, well� Meryl Streep (perfection is expected) and Chris Cooper was most definitely Oscar worthy. Fresh, witty, complex, bold and artistic. This film could not have more pleasantly surprised me.

Open Water

Marketing it as "Blair Witch meets Jaws" or... "Blair Witch, in the ocean" I was very ready to love it. But whoa, was that ever not the case. It was annoying how much lost potential it had because it really could have been a good film. Absolutely nothing was done to make me care one way or the other about the characters. We do not know anything about them or their relationship, which may have been overcome if the actors did their job once in the water but their reactions seemed either completely unrealistic or out of sequence. After 5 hours of bobbing in the ocean, they are still polite and then suddenly have a fight that felt completely forced and unnatural. I did not believe them at all. A movie that is trying to show several hours of being stranded in the ocean has one thing going for it, built in terror. It would have been pretty easy to make the audience feel how terrifying it must be. Yet this movie does not... at all. It isn�t that it needed action either; in fact I don't think they did a good job at showing the prolonged nothingness of the situation. I was waiting for how scary the night was going to be and they tried to do something there by putting us in total darkness but that didn�t work either. Not to mention the whole night sequence was really short. There was a little too much teasing with the sharks which I suppose was meant to build suspense but instead it just built annoyance. And I hated the music too. I liked the idea of the movie. You don't have to have a ton of special fx and an outrageous budget to make a thrilling, suspenseful or scary movie. But what you do have to have is something interesting to put in the place of those things. This movie just didn�t do that. In the hands of a better filmmaker it could have been something very cool... too bad.

The Brave One

Normally a fan of revenge films, I found this one really disappointing. Everything was too easy, everything falling into place so paint-by-numbers perfectly that you can't help but see it all coming right up until the ridiculous ending. I didn't even find it to work on some sort of woman empowerment level. I just didn't find this to ever get under the surface of the character's transformation.

12 Angry Men

I loved the simple style of this film. Apart from the very brief opening and closing scenes, the entire movie takes place inside the jury room of young boy on trial for murder in what seems like a solid case against him. And that jury room is the only place you want to be. The film does well not to give up any answers, as the point is not about the young man's guilt or innocence at all but rather the questions raised and our perceptions of people. Our tendency to look at things not from the perspective of others but only from that of our own and the idea that some things may not be what they appear as well as some people for that matter. The cast is wonderful and the movie stands up well over time... a true classic.

Following

Christopher Nolan stirs together a low budget psychological b&w noir, a basically simple but very interesting story, great characterization, a suspenseful build-up and a nice pay off and ends up with a really strong debut feature. Smart and well constructed, it raises societal questions that explore, among other things... voyeurism, identity and anonymity. The film unravels in layers of time and does require brain activity on the part of the viewer, which is a good thing and lends itself well to repeated viewings.

Ed Wood

Somebody please tell me Johnny Depp has an irritable bowel, unusually tiny genitalia or foul body odor... something... something that would even out the universe because no one person should have so much going for them and so much talent without having to pay for it some cosmic way... it's just not fair. He delivers another flawless performance as the cross dressing title character who has the distinction as being noted as the worst director ever. Martin Landau... wow... his portrayal of Bela Lugosi was nothing short of brilliant. This movie would be worth seeing for just the performances alone but it is a well-made, good movie too. One made even better if you are familiar with the work of Ed Wood.

The Lives of Others

The opening scene set in a classroom where an East German member of the secret police is teaching students how to conduct proper torture interrogation techniques that will induce an immediate confession grabbed me instantly. The acting all around is flawless and Muhe is brilliant here. Set five years before the fall of the Berlin Wall, his character is assigned to spy on a writer (Sebastian Koch). Very nuanced and restrained in his performance, his emotional struggle is clear in his face and body language and as different feelings emerge, you feel them and believe them easily. In addition to being a commentary on a dark and chilling period in German history, it also says something about art and freedom, not to mention the limits of love and allowing and accepting personal growth. The film is smart and deep and captivating at the same time and the final scene is every bit as compelling as the first, but in a completely different way.

The Secret Life of Words

There comes a point in the film where it just physically hits you in the gut. Yes, it does come late in the film and the previous 120 or so minutes leading up to it some might say move too slow, though i disagree. I think the slow build is important in understanding this tortured character when we learn what has caused her to be so isolated. Isolation is slow, it is quiet, and it is deliberate. Sarah Polley is exceptionally effective in playing that sad emptiness and she is great here. Playing a hearing impaired factory worker forced to take a vacation and ends up on an oilrig nursing a temporarily blind burn victim (Tim Robbins, who thankfully curbs his urge to overact for the most part). This is one of those films that lingered long after the credits rolled.

Waking the Dead

I don�t know if there was anything necessarily wrong with the movie other than I was just bored throughout most of it. It just felt like I had seen it many times before and it wasn�t really bringing anything new to the table. Acting-wise there was no problem at all. Jennifer Connelly is always a pleasure to watch for me and the supporting work was fine as well. As for the plot I really don�t have much to say one way or the other. I didn�t have any problems with it, but I also didn�t find it extraordinary either� it was kind of just ok. There were some interesting moments but ultimately I will probably eventually forget the parts I already haven�t. Because I can�t find much fault with it despite the fact of just not really liking it all that much, it falls squarely in the �just ok� camp.

Dial M for Murder

I have always thought this movie doesn't get enough credit in Hitchcock's filmography and is one of my favorite of his films. Ray Milland is deliciously, charmingly nasty in plotting the nearly perfect murder of his wife (Grace Kelly) and when things don't work out as planned he deviously comes up with an alternate plan on the spot. I love how this movie was shot, the fact that we basically stay in one room builds the suspense and tension without causing the movie itself to feel trapped. That Hitchcock really was something else...

The Isle

Kim Ki-Duk is one of the most interesting filmmakers I've come across. And like his other films, this movie rattled inside my head for days. Typically, there isn't a lot of dialog in the movie as his characters tend to be outsiders and disconnected from society, sometimes mute as was one of the main characters here. This film needs a warning: there is quite a bit of animal cruelty in it and it is very real so anybody who is hyper sensitive to this would be better to stay away, I promise you it will upset you. Though the violence isn�t limited to animals, there is a very gruesome scene that I thought was one of the most difficult things I have ever watched on film� until a scene even more gruesome tops it later and I found myself wishing it was only that earlier scene again. This was the closest I�ve come to not being able to watch something on screen and almost had to pause to regroup. This film is loaded with symbolism and metaphors and it is filmed with hauntingly beautiful images. The main characters are damaged and sad and we only get a glimpse as to what brought them to their individual dark places. But they do change each other, though not in conventional ways but very consequentially. Each of them both appalled me and broke my heart and left me feeling way more than I bargained for. And that�s why I love his films.

Rio Bravo

It�s a great and entertaining movie that stands out as one of the best of the genre. This film transcends simply being thrown into the �western� movie category however, when it has so much going for it. I was absolutely floored at how affected I was by the amazing scene in the film where Dean Martin, Ricky Nelson and Walter Brennan are sitting around and breeze into singing a song. It was so unexpectedly beautiful that it ranks as one of my favorite scenes and is one of the sweetest moments on film I've ever seen.

Volver

Translated as "to return", the term "volver" works in layers both literal and philosophical� some of which don't come completely to light until the movie has been consumed as a whole. Working on the theme that where we come from shapes who we are, sometimes in ways that don't make sense until we have returned to them, there is a quaint charm that is all over the film. Pedro Almodovar loves women and here once again he gives them a light and a depth that nobody else does in quite the same way. And it's all wrapped up in his scrumptious use of colour. Despite looking and feeling very much like "an Almodovar film" it does have somewhat of a smaller, more subdued feel than some of his other works and it isn't a bad thing at all here. In fact, I think in this case it even enriches it. Much of that credit goes to Penelope Cruz who delivered a pitch-perfect performance. The mood switches in the film many times and the story about mothers and daughters and sisters and aunts in life and in death in less capable hands might come off in a ridiculous, madcap way. But this just works and is another winner to add to his collection of work.

Man on the Train

Lovely film� a criminal arrives in town on a train for a bank heist. He meets a retired poetry teacher and the two develop an interesting relationship. Through the course of the film we see how each appreciates the life of the other and how they covet such a life for themselves. The acting by both men is delightful. The two mismatched characters, meeting by chance and filling in each other something they themselves lack, have a great chemistry together. The end is open to many interpretations and none of them completely obvious. I'm not even convinced that my own interpretation is right, but I liked figuring out several possibilities and deciding the fate of these men with my own ending.

Suicide Club

Weird, funny, creepy little movie with a great message/punch line, this is not one for the squeamish. Story involves an outbreak of suicides happening after 54 schoolgirls jump in front of train. Very violent and not for everybody but I not only liked it on a gore film level but also for its biting social pop-culture commentary.

Grind House

A totally cool theatrical experience that but for the fact I was watching it at my local 16 multiplex instead of some run-down grimy theater, was as close to a flawless theatrical experience that I�ve ever had. I�m not sure if it will come across quite as well watching at home on a television but this should definitely be seen as a package and not split up into two separate films because this really is more about the grindhouse experience rather than the individual films. I hate that they were split for the dvd release.

Across the Universe

Chances are you'll either really like it or really hate it. Turning songs of the Beatles into a story with characters like Lucy and Jude and Prudence. There are a ton of references to discover, most of them obvious to anyone who is a fan of the music. Maybe some a little more obvious than I would have liked (my discovery of "hey, she just came in through the bathroom window" was somewhat dampened when one of the characters pointed it out right after I did). The story itself was a little on the thin side but in this situation that didn't bother me because I felt this was more about the visuals and the experience... the journey, if you will. I�m a giant fan of the Beatles and for me, almost all of their original songs are as good as they're ever going to get and certainly this film hasn't changed that, but neither did I find these interpretations blasphemous. I especially liked how a song like "I want to hold your hand" was turned into a sad song of unrequited love... a tone in the song I never would have picked up on myself. I have no idea how to gauge who will or won�t like this film but as for me, I really did.

Fur

This actually has some really good things about it. The cinematography was excellent, I loved the way it looked. Nicole Kidman is in her niche playing this repressed 50's wife and she does so flawlessly. Ty Burrell was also really great as her husband. The movie wasn't as weird and abstract as I was thinking it was going to be and it delivered its point well that beauty is in the eye and heart of the beholder. It isn't trying to be a biopic but rather pay tribute to Diane Arbus and in that I think it succeeded.

American Psycho

I liked it a lot and found it a complete satire on American values and morals that made me gasp and laugh out loud with the same breath. The 'me' generation 80's is embodied flawlessly in both the script and in Christian Bale's performance as the titular serial killer/commodities broker. The visuals of the movie match as well, being very slick and stylish. There seem to be two definite camps of thought regarding the non-conclusive ending. The good news is that the movie could theoretically support either case. Yeah, it is quite violent though no one should be surprised when the name of the movie is 'American Psycho' and if you're going to make a movie about a serial killer violence can be a good thing (especially when it involves cats and atm machines :) To me this movie just works on all levels... just do yourself a favor and avoid the sequel.

Fahrenheit 451

I had not read the book before I saw the film so I can�t speak to any comparisons. First off, I loved the premise. The story, the look, the reflection and relevance to a modern society and how the entire weight of the issue sneaks up on you without realizing it is happening. By the end of the film my mind was racing with thoughts and ideas. It is the kind of film that after watching it I immediately wanted to discuss it. I am slightly obsessed with 50�s to 70�s retro� from housewives to go-go dancers, mod fashion, shag carpet, futuristic furniture� I love it all. One thing I find absolutely fascinating is that period's vision of the future, perhaps because as a child my concept of the future looked something like The Jetsons unanimated. This movie was set in one of those retro looks of the future, this one where that ever-watchful government has banned all books and one of the fireman responsible for upholding the law by searching for books and burning them is up for promotion but begins to question his job. The robotic-hypnotic giant, flat panel screen TVs on the wall serve as a lovely reflection on modern times and humanity in general. The imaginative way it introduces us to the rogue groups who fight the system was clever and very thought-provoking. Even the credits at the beginning of the film are not read, but spoken, which at the time I just thought it was very different because I had never seen that done before. Later it hit me how it was all tied in to the entire theme. I just think it was a smart and really interesting film.

Proof

I thought it was brilliantly paced, never rushing and never dragging which made the movie experience fly by. When it was over I felt like I wanted to keep following these characters. Gwyneth Paltrow turns in a great performance as Catherine. She plays a person whose major characterization throughout the entire film is in question. During the movie we believe completely opposite things about her and question whether she did or didn�t inherit her father�s illness. But it was done with subtlety, which I don�t think is easy to pull off. This is a completely complicated woman played without dramatic effect (so much so that it wasn't until later that I realized to what extent). There is a scene that takes place in which Catherine speaks out honestly and it is such a dramatic moment, she is loyal and sad and vulnerable and pissed off all at once and it was delivered without being too much of anything. It's the kind of thing that is so understated it could easily go unnoticed. Some things the movie leaves you to think about are genius and madness and where the two mesh as well as the familial roles we play in life� and umm� something about proving math theories. I think the end was left open enough that it will leave you with a conclusion that you want it to, whatever that may be. My only slight complaint is I was a little distracted that seemingly not one single person living in Chicago had even a hint of an accent, but it�s probably that I�m from that area that I even cared.

The Station Agent

Peter Dinklage gives an amazing performance. Playing that empty, lonely, withdrawn person, you know exactly why he doesn't want to be around people. Everything is completely believable and he remains totally understated even in the one moment of the film where he takes a dramatic stand. I absolutely love when a movie and a character totally puts me in the zone like this one did. I�ve never been a male dwarf, but I could completely relate and feel like I now know what it might feel like. Patricia Clarkson and Bobby Cannavale (who was just fun as a hot dog vendor who won't shut up) were also really good. A subtle little movie that to me nailed the feel that 'About Schmidt' was going for but I felt missed.

You Can Count on Me

There is nothing big about this movie. No big cinematography, no big characters or big plot twist, no big story, no big FX... absolutely nothing big. And it is exactly the lack of all those things that make it a really, really good movie. It is in the simplicity that it works so well. One of the most realistic movies I�ve seen. The people look and act real. They are multi-dimensional, flawed characters and by the end of the movie no character is radically different from where they started but we can see the subtle scars of where they�ve just been. I loved the dynamic between Terry and his nephew. My favorite scene is when Terry comes into the youngster�s room (which was his childhood room) and the two have a conversation in which Mark's character, who is both good and bad for the child, talks to the 8 year old the exact same way he talks to an adult. He makes no distinction which is both part of his charm and an example of his flaky personality. The hammer scene was another example and showed another sweet dynamic. If you just love a good, well written and acted movie this one fits the bill.

Little Fish

The always wonderful Cate Blanchett plays Tracey, a former drug addict who is trying to build a life for herself. The story takes some time to unfold, we see things happening that we aren't given the background information for and I was immediately drawn into this woman and wanting to not only see her do well but learn about how she got to this point. We do eventually get all the answers we need. The rest of the cast is terrific as well, notably Hugo weaving as a practicing junkie. There is some nice imagery in a couple spots where we see Tracey underwater in a pool as though she were in a womb. Tracey is indeed facing her own rebirth in this new, post-druggie life. Despite trying to be better than your past, you can't completely be apart from it either. Your family is still your family, situations still happen and sometimes good intentions just aren't enough to secure a future� which brings about the story arc. Tracey ends up facing many demons from the past with mixed results. The movie has a definite conclusion in that the ending itself is concrete, but as to what will happen to these people when we leave is another matter.

What's Eating Gilbert Grape

This is one of my favorite Johnny Depp roles because it's just such a subtle, sweet performance. And I have to believe that anyone who says Leo Dicaprio can't act is either closed-minded on the subject or hasn't seen this because he is fantastic. In addition to being a great movie I think it's an important one. I think it makes a strong statement on human behavior, prejudice and pride. There is a wonderful scene where Gilbert brings his girlfriend (Juliet Lewis) to meet his severely obese, recluse mother that is one of my very favorite scenes ever. The mother, having only reluctantly agreeing to the meeting because she is well aware she is perceived by everyone as a joke, apologizes and says �I haven�t always been like this�� the reaction of Lewis� character took me by surprise and was simple and just beautiful. It�s not every movie that moves you to the point that it directly impacts who you are as a person. For me, this one did. It is so easy for us to not see people so far removed from ourselves as real people. This is the movie that forced me to see us all as one and as a result try to live my life as best I could by the Golden Rule.

Bobby

The film takes place entirely on the evening of June 4th, 1968 at the Ambassador Hotel but I felt that it missed in trying to evoke the time. It takes more than wardrobe and a ton of mascara to bring the feel of an era to life and there was something artificial about the whole thing. You know this because you�ve seen plenty of movies pull it off brilliantly actually taking you back in time. For that matter, you�ve seen it done better on �That 70�s Show�, where Ashton Kutcher makes a much more believable druggie than he does here. This ensemble piece intends to stitch together the stories of various people who happened to be at the hotel that night and these range from predictable to clich� to just boring. Not even saved by the pool of talented actors involved, the entire movie felt like it was trying to nail that which was just out of reach. It wasn�t awful but as ambitious a project as it was, it just wasn�t nearly enough. It sadly fails at evoking that kind of thing Robert Altman mastered so well. Since the movie itself isn�t focused on Bobby Kennedy as much as these random characters I�d expect to get drawn in to care about these people but none of the stories were fully developed and as it turned out, the only characters I even remotely became slightly invested in were the ones played by Freddy Rodriguez and Sharon Stone. Even a powerful build-up set to a beautiful speech from Kennedy felt off. I think the cuts between archival footage and the actors responding didn�t help in feeling effective, just fake.

The Science of Sleep

I�m a huge fan of Gael Garcia Bernal, I�ve never seen him not make something look effortless. His character in this film is not an easy one to pull off. In my favorite scene he gives off the vibe of both adorable sweetheart and creepy stalker at the same time. Michel Gondry is definitely not your main-stream director and if Eternal Sunshine was too weird for you I honestly wouldn�t even bother here. This movie really is like a dream put to the screen and as such it can be quite odd. The visual effects are crude and child-like. Instead of slick cgi we get cardboard cars and cellophane water� and they are really quite awesome. The film flows between English, French and Spanish which I thought added to the dream-like state. And because dreams are at the center here I think the film is extremely open to interpretation. I found it to be sad; the person I saw it with didn�t think that at all. Even to say what it�s about I think is also open for discussion. Stephane is both very childlike and innocent and also selfish and immature, spends most of his time in his dream world and seemingly has trouble discerning the difference from those dreams and reality and as the viewers here, so do we� though it hardly matters� I just don�t think it�s that important that we must know exactly which parts are real and which dreams. I�m sure people would disagree on which were which anyway and that is the absolutely amazing thing about this movie. Like a dream I think what each person gets out of it is going to be very different and very personal and completely run the range from dismissive, stupid garbage to a life-changing experience, which is exactly why the film and Gondry win� that�s brilliant.

Perfume: The Story of a Murderer

Tom Tykwer continues to impress me, bringing a difficult concept from an unusual story to the screen beautifully. He definitely put his own stamp on the adaptation of a novel not easily adapted for the screen. I only wish that he had included more of the sequence that Jean-Baptiste spent up in the cave as I remember specifically when reading the book how that part stood out to me. As usual, the visuals are amazing. Both the gorgeous (including a wonderful scene where Dustin Hoffman smells an amazingly beautiful scent and we see the manifestation of it appear rolling on the screen behind him, absolutely no words are needed as it is so visually stunning you almost physically smell it) and also the ugly. It may sound weird to think of rat infested fish guts as something of wonder and yet� go figure, it was. The job of transferring the idea of scent to the screen is simply brilliantly done. The famous scene at the end looked like an actual piece of painted art come alive.

The Boondock Saints

I really disliked this movie a lot. To me it just felt like somebody watched Pulp Fiction and decided they too could make a "cool" movie, which would have been absolutely fine with me, if the result was a movie that were actually any good. But instead this one just seemed way too contrived. Neither character nor plot ever reaches below the surface.

Ponette

Holy crap the performance (can it even be a performance, this boggles my mind) of that 4 year old little girl is just something of inexplicable proportions. The story itself shows grief through a 4 year old that is getting all sorts of information on death and God from many different sources both adult and other children, mixed in with her own emotions and personality, and how she comes to process it all. I seriously can�t stress enough how brilliant this little girl was.

Dog Day Afternoon

I first saw this many years ago and I remember thinking it was ok. But years later after viewing it a second time all I can figure is I had no clue what the heck I was talking about. It is amazing. I don�t think there is a performance by Pacino that is any better than this. I think when I originally saw it I thought maybe it wasn't exciting enough or was too slow but I completely disagree with myself on those points now. In addition to being a great character movie I would suggest watching this movie along with Network for a great double feature look at society and the media. I think they both speak volumes about the current state of news and paparazzi and our thirst as a society for the sensational.

The Dying Gaul

I really loved this movie until the last act when it turned into a Lifetime movie of the week. Peter Sarsgaard plays Robert, a screenwriter very much in grief. He is also very much conflicted when a movie producer, Jeffrey, (Campbell Scott) insists he make a vital change to his script that he not only disagrees with on an artistic level but also on a very personal one. For his own very personal reasons Jeffrey tempts him with a lot of money and trips to his gorgeous beach house where Robert ends up spending a lot of time with Jeffrey and his wife (Patricia Clarkson). Secret relationships develop and the plot thickens with discoveries and horrible acts of vengeance. For the great acting alone I think it is worth seeing, however the ending is so contrived and ridiculous it cheapens the entire film.

The Notorious Bettie Page

First of all it looks gorgeous. It is beautifully lit in black & white with little bits of 50's retro Technicolor thrown in. Something about the way it was shot also gives it a very authentic retro feel as though we're watching a film from that era. The way it chooses to show her early life, merely hinting at things that happened but leaving no room for doubt about the reality of it. I felt the nude scenes had an innocent quality to them which works amazingly well because that is exactly what defines the character. There was a complete sense of irony in that despite being notorious for her provocative pin-ups, nudes and bondage pictures she did not see the "dirty" side of them. She brought a complete innocence and did not for a second confuse nudity with sexuality or as the movie put it� "She can be nude without being naked". Gretchen Mol was a perfect choice to play Bettie. She absolutely nails that virtuous exuberance without ever looking stupid. She gives her Bettie a quiet strength of character that again, just seems to play into the feel of that whole era. I really liked her a lot in this.

The Piano Teacher

One of those hard to take, disturbing movies that if you allow yourself to take the abuse, pays off. Isabelle Huppert plays a well respected, harsh and brilliant piano teacher who lives with her mother, has emotional issues and releases her sexual tension in non-traditional ways involving a discarded tissue picked up from the wastebasket. This isn�t even the most disturbing thing she does. One of her students lets her know he is attracted to her and the two embark on a relationship of sorts though neither is getting what they want. She wants him to adhere to her very specific sexual rules of how she wants to be dominated and he wants to love her and have sex with her. From the first scene we see there are a lot of issues between her and her mother and through that relationship along with the other we see her emotional downward spiral. Not a super easy film to watch but it will make you think� and that is a good thing.

Paradise Now

It�s great filmmaking when you can take a hotbed topic as harsh and political as this and show it with no violence at all and still be captivating the whole way through. Two friends have been chosen to go to Tel Aviv as suicide bombers. Kais Nashef and Ali Suliman as the two leads are fantastic. We meet the two men and see the news being delivered, we go home with them as they spend their last nights with their families without letting their loved ones know it will be their last night and we see the preparations of the bombers and the execution of the mission. But more than this, what we also see are the bombers as not just simply heroes or villains but as human. We aren�t forced to condemn the 2 men but neither are we forced to sympathize with them. In fact the film comes across so neutral that it might sound boring, but it isn�t unless what you are wanting is to see explosions and destruction everywhere. It is quite suspenseful and the tension definitely builds up nicely. I personally was not only not disappointed with the ending� I thought it was absolutely perfect.

Gerry

This is a movie a vast majority of people will hate. I completely understand that and wouldn�t even try to change their mind. There are a thousand reasons to not like this film. Yet... yet... I have to say I am a big fan of it. This may not be the slowest movie ever, but it�s up there. 2 boys (Casey Affleck and Matt Damon) get lost in the desert. And with that I have just basically not only given away the entire plot but all the action. There is extremely little dialogue and there are long sequences of time where you are just watching them walk... and walk.... and walk.... and walk... seriously for like 10 minute stretches. And then you see them sit... and sit... and sit. But the movie is beautifully shot and I don�t know why, but I found it captivating. I�ve actually seen it 3 times. On purpose. The ending is open for interpretation. Actually the whole movie is up for interpretation. I loved the little foreshadowing in the dialogue and the symbolism throughout. For me, the slow and quiet tone worked perfectly in feeling that sense of being lost in the desert. Along with my 4 stars and high praise I have included all the reasons not to see it so if you watch it and like it� you�re welcome and if you hate it, well� I did warn you.

In the Mood for Love

Very artistic film that is visually magnificent. This unconventional love story is like a poem brought to life. The movie unfolds in an interesting way. For example, a level of purity lies in the fact that we never see the cheating spouses. The scenes with the main couple acting out imaginary scenes as each other�s spouses are brilliant and add such a depth to the characters. The suppressed emotions, longing and what is left unspoken causes us to feel their connection very deeply. The camera work and cinematography are absolutely amazing. A brilliant use of colour, texture, music and the acting is perfect. I barely stopped thinking about it for days after it had all been wrapped in its sad, poignant, haunting conclusion. I loved this so much I not only immediately bought it, but bought 3 additional WKW films.

Away from Her

Some people just seem to have talent by the bucketloads. Sarah Polley is among them. Already a smart, gifted actress (especially effective in sad roles, she has something behind the eyes that is just heartbreaking) and now blossoming as a writer and director all before 30. That�s impressive. This is an unconventional, beautiful love story that is wonderfully acted. Julie Christy and Gordon Pinsent were both heart wrenching and beautiful. I also really liked Kristen Thomson as Nurse Kristy. The story is sad to be sure yet you can�t help but feel good at seeing such real love as demonstrated by this long married couple who have lived through decades of a relationship both good and bad and demonstrate what it is to be selfless in love.

The Prestige

What a blast. It was like watching the magician version of spy vs. spy between Batman and Wolverine. I liked that even after I thought I had it figured out I turned out to only be partially right. It took the entire movie for me to get the full picture and hours later I was still replaying all the clues in my head. Chris Nolan (who is building quite an impressive body of work for himself) creates a film that is itself a magic trick. And I am guessing that it might take more than one viewing to appreciate just how well he pulled it off too. I�m loving this guy.

Man Bites Dog

Right off the bat let�s get this out of the way� this is most definitely not a film for everyone. It places high on the disturbing film list and there is pretty much something in it to offend everybody or at the very least, make you very uncomfortable. It is graphically violent, shot in black and white and subtitled. With the feel of a documentary, a film crew follows around a serial killer - an extremely active serial killer. And when he isn�t serially killing and pilfering he spends his time philosophizing. Oh, did i mention this is a comedy. Very dark, satiric comedy, the movie doesn�t delve into the psyche of a killer to show us why he became that way or what makes him tick. That isn�t the point of it. In the beginning of the film the crew is simply doing their job making their documentary. As things progress however, they become more involved, much more involved� having fun until their personal boundary lines are crossed. And that is where this film is a commentary on human nature because we, the viewer, are in the same boat. One minute I�m laughing at the absurdity of this man who in a very charming manner explains how to weigh a body down properly so that it will sink and the next I am extremely uncomfortable by what I�m seeing. Taken for what it is, this really is a great film.

Hard Candy

This movie commands your attention right off the bat and doesn�t let up. Almost the entire movie is nothing but the two lead characters, a formula that could be a disaster but thankfully was handled extremely well. First time seeing Ellen Page and I really liked her. I thought she was extremely incredible playing quite a difficult role. It was one that could have easily been over-the-top and straight into a movie clich� but she kept me captivated. Hayley is a really smart 14 year old girl who has been chatting on the computer with a 32 year old photographer. They meet in a public place and she ends up going back to his house (this is about the first 15 minutes) the rest of the film is what takes place there. It will be better the less you know about the film going in but I�ll just say that my feelings after the credits rolled were conflicted. It will not be the most comfortable film you�ve ever watched but it is worth it. Despite the subject matter I didn�t find anything at all gratuitous, in fact I thought it was quite restrained.

No Country for Old Men

Oooh some people are really going to hate the ending of this movie. But for me, I think this is my favorite Coen brothers movie to date. There are a lot of ways to describe this film though it doesn�t fit too neatly into any one box. It�s more than a good guy / bad guy cat and mouse chase or a psychopathic killer or drug deal run amok or the consequences that our actions cause. The hype around Javier Bardem is justified. It becomes obvious his character follows a set of self-regulated rules and lives by his own code. Methodical and very business-like, he doesn�t play like the homicidal maniac or the robotic-like killing machine it may seem on the surface. More than anything he seems to possess a really strong work ethic. That is what makes him scary. Josh Brolin embodies a man both not special but with quiet bravado. Happenstance and a moment of temptation of hope for a life I�m sure dreamed of that few could have resisted, he ends up finding himself in a fight for his life. Tommy Lee Jones is right at home as the weary town sheriff. His weathered face tells us he has seen the worst of this world and yet still manages to be flabbergasted at the evils of it. All three characters in their own way are loaded with complex simplicity. The movie�s greatness doesn�t wallop you over the head so much as it seeps in through your eyes and ears and keeps building upon itself delivering a message of dehumanization without being heavy-handed and manipulative. Cinematography and musical score hit exactly the right tones and notes that play perfectly. The movie delivers surprises throughout by showing us the one constant� life is arbitrary.

The Nines

This is a mind-bendy movie that pretty much leaves everything up for interpretation. The film is comprised of three parts, with all the actors playing different roles in each part. All three parts intersect and intertwine, blurring the lines and crossing paths. While watching there were times I wasn't sure if I was really liking it or if at any moment I was going to realize I hated it. Ultimately, how can I not like a movie that makes me wax philosophical about both God and video games and the connection between the two. I think one of the most interesting things about it is how writer/director John August demonstrated the idea of creating something and the emotions of wanting to perfect it and becoming personally involved into a creation itself. Art imitating life. And if you do end up liking the movie, the good news is it is one of those that will be good for multiple viewings.

Michael Clayton

Though personally I wouldn�t place this as one of the 5 best movies of the year, it is a solid film with very good performances by George Clooney and his supporting cast. What I did really like was that it didn�t try too hard. So many �psychological thriller� movies rely too heavily on trying to twist and turn their way into cleverness or making the plot so intricate you need a flow chart to follow but this film allowed its story and acting to carry it. I appreciated the straight-up delivery of the movie. I found it a perfectly satisfying, enjoyable movie experience.

Rescue Dawn

The movie is good. The documentary (little Dieter needs to fly) is awesome. I would suggest watching the film first and then follow it up with the documentary. I think this makes both of them even better and I�m afraid if you do it the other way around you won�t enjoy the film as much because it is impossible for it to be as good as the doc (plus it will reveal everything that happens). Dieter Dengler was a German American pilot who was shot down over Laos in 1966 and taken prisoner. The film accounts the story of this incredible man and what he went through. Played by Christian Bale who continues his dominance on screen. We witness this man�s strength and character that after watching the documentary later we see is not some fictional heroic character on screen but who this man is at the core. Bale captures Dengler�s energy and drive very well and the supporting cast is fantastic, led by Steve Zahn and Jeremy Davies. Warner Herzog once again shows the struggle of man against environment, a theme he obviously is well equipped to handle and he delivers a solid film experience. Initially, my one complaint with the film was going to be its ending which seemed to come off a little over-the top and almost manipulative. However, after watching Dengler describes his experience in the documentary I have to take it back.

Wristcutters: A Love Story

This is a different little film that's worth a rental. Sort of a Dead Like Me feel in that the afterlife is presented as a boring, tedious and well, lifeless venture and the color is de-saturated, giving it a washed out look and feel. Patrick Fugit and Shannyn Sossamon are perfectly likable and the story is cute enough. I loved the opening scene. Unfortunately, it's probably also the best scene. I thought the story kind of fell apart a little bit once they got to camp (although it was a nice distraction to have Gob, I mean, Will Arnett's character perform what looked like basically a foiled magic trick) I also thought the ending was predictable, right down to the last shot. Though not as quirky as I thought or hoped it would be, I still enjoyed it.

Little Dieter Needs to Fly

A decade before he made Rescue Dawn Werner Herzog told Dengler�s story in documentary form. Dieter Dengler was a German American pilot who was shot down over Laos in 1966 and taken prisoner. Little Dieter needs to fly goes even further into the details of what happened and it is captivating. The movie is good. The documentary is awesome. I would suggest watching the film first and then follow it up with this documentary. I think this makes both of them even better and I�m afraid if you do it the other way around you won�t enjoy the film as much because it is impossible for it to be as good as the doc (plus it will reveal everything that happens). Seeing the man describing these things that he endured is both inspirational and horrifying. One could only hope that they would face what life throws at them with the grace and resolve that this man has. We witness his strength and integrity that is not some fictional heroic movie character on screen but who this real person is at the core. If watching this doesn't humble you, you have no soul.

The King of Comedy

One of Scorsese�s more under-appreciated films. There may not be as much blood and violence as in taxi driver but the character of Rupert Pupkin is every bit as terrifying as Travis Bickle. And now I am going to say something that you don�t hear everyday, you might want to sit down� Jerry Lewis is really good. His performance is completely downplayed and subdued. Scorsese does some fun stuff too, like having the store �chok ful o� nuts� the backdrop in a scene between the two looney characters (De Niro and Sandra Bernhard), or his clever cameo as� the director. Rupert very much lives in the world inside his head where he is a star, where everyone adores and respects him and he deserves all things he longs for and has been denied. Rupert fancies himself a comedian and wants his shot on a talk show. He wants it at the cost, however, of not having to put in the work for it and when initial attempts to contact his �good friend� don�t work he tries a more direct, alternate plan� involving kidnapping. The saddest part of all of this is the end (before the final scene, which i personally believe was in his head) it is a completely ugly and truthful look at us as a society. It is the explanation why pseudo celebrities become famous for nothing more than bad behavior and a taste for fame and why you can�t go 3 channels without running into someone willing to compromise themselves for the sake of a ridiculous reality show. Life will naturally work toward the lowest common denominator and unless we start looking away, refusing to give people power they shouldn�t have and actually taking a higher road instead of simply talking about it we have nobody to blame but ourselves. How poignant the thought �better to be king for a night than a schmuck for a lifetime� and if you look at the price of fame for people who are more �infamous� than �famous�� in many cases it doesn�t seem that high. It certainly didn�t in Rupert�s case. It seemed like a pretty fair trade.

Into the Wild

Living completely free, no identity except the one you choose to give yourself and no ties to responsibilities or money or relationships. Nothing except living, except breathing in this moment. Nothing except being. It�s beautiful. I would never do it but i get it. Seeing it playing in front of me in this film was affecting. For no real reason I found myself crying throughout this movie. It seemed to be connecting on a level bone-deep. Perhaps I think because this man felt more alive in 5 minutes than I have in a lifetime. I think Sean Penn exudes a grace as a filmmaker. The movie, gorgeously shot, follows a beautiful, soulful journey of one man's self-awareness and poetic discovery while touching very profoundly those that come into his path, including the viewer. The music is perfect (Vedder being the perfect choice to capture the mood) and expertly acted by Emile Hirsch and everybody around him. Hal Holbrook was just heartbreaking. I suppose a lot of people might view the actions of Chris as self-indulgent, spoiled or selfish. I know there was a horrible side to it as far as the family left behind and a parent�s worst nightmare. And yet, I still couldn�t help but see it as pure. In my life I would never be such a bright light living life with wild abandon kind of a person and that�s ok. But I would be happy to have such a person dance through my life.

Living in Oblivion

A favorite comedy of mine, this is one very funny film. Watching Steve Buscemi as an indie film director attempting among a plethora of problems to get through one day of shooting is a lot of fun. The actual cast is great portraying a cast and crew that are quite the group of characters. A very insecure leading lady, a big-name actor dork who is mostly just a human clich� and an angry dwarf along with the eye-patched cinematographer named wolf. Catherine Keener gives us a virtual acting seminar as we see her character playing a character doing the same scene over and over and you can see the interesting differences in the takes. This film also has a great rewatchability factor. Not to mention the movie pulls off one of the best bits of irony in what is a dream and what is real.

Dreamgirls

I don�t think this film was snubbed at all. It was pretty formulaic. 45 seconds in I knew it was only a matter of time before I would be getting a magazine cover montage. When you have such a standard story, and certainly there is nothing wrong with the standard that is this story, it becomes imperative that you give something to make it fresh. Honestly there wasn�t anything fresh here to me. I didn�t think the movie was bad� well, except that cringe-worthy �family� song number which I thought could have been better written by 4th graders, but I don�t think it was anything above average. I am not on board the Jennifer Hudson train either. I thought her performance was decent but a tad overrated. I swear I saw her �acting� more than once. I always want to like a musical. When done well I think they can be magical. But a key ingredient naturally falls on the strength of the songs, which brings me to my biggest gripe about the film. The songs ranged from ok to horrible for me. I understand that the lyrics in musical songs tend to be somewhat literal since often they are what advance the story and that�s ok but these take that literalness too far, right smack dab into the center of smarm town.

The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada

Kudos all over the place. A great story written by Guillermo Arriaga and Tommy Lee Jones is equally good both behind and in front of the camera. Really great supporting cast as well. The narrative is non-linear and the cinematography is wonderful. (the most amazing scene with a dead horse since The Godfather) The revenge aspect of this film is one of the amazing things because it isn�t brought on by rage, anger or retaliation but by honor, dignity, responsibility and friendship. Pete doesn�t want to simply make the young man pay he wants him to find redemption. He doesn�t want this man to plead forgiveness to him, but to the man who he took everything from. I thought the true brilliance of this film lies in what happens when they arrive at their destination. We discover something else about Mel and it isn�t something sinister (some may take it that way) but something bittersweet and poignant. Pete is not only able to give him in death what was only a dream in his life, he is able to avenge the death of his friend in the most honorable way. Not by taking the eyes of the man responsible, but by opening them. I found myself thinking about the characters after the credits rolled. Especially the border patrolman who suffered through a lot along the way and still� his life has been changed in ways that he is yet to even find out. I guess I�d like to think he and Pete aren�t done with each other yet. This is really quite a touching film.

Juno

I know one of the big sticking points to much of the love of this film is the writing, but to be honest I found it a little uneven. Clever in some parts but trying too hard to be clever in others. I also was interested in spending more time with the adopting couple both with and without Juno. Another thing, and it saddened me because I realize that she is probably a character I would totally embrace if I were 16, Juno also got a little grating. The problem was not Ellen Page, she was great. Again, it comes back to the writing. It just felt to me like it was trying too hard to be hip and important and the stuff pop culture is made of. All that isn�t to say I hated the film but that I was disappointed and had hoped for more. There were some things that worked well, including a solid supporting cast. I liked that these supporting characters avoided being stereotypical.

Elizabethtown

I really wanted to like this movie. However, certain things prevented me from doing so. And by �certain things� I mean most of the movie. To sum up the basic plot, Drew (Orlando Bloom) designed a bad shoe that costs his company multi-millions and as he is wallowing in his failure (though really, he didn�t seem all that crushed) he gets the news that his father has died. He flies to Kentucky to bring his father back and on the plane he meets Claire (Kirsten Dunst). The relationship did not seem the slightest bit authentic to me. The movie has some ridiculous moments that come off as so completely contrived and desperate to be touching. I was hoping that we would get a nice glimpse of the ambiance that part of the country actually has, unfortunately the way Cameron Crowe decided to solely demonstrate this was with the abundant use of crickets. The entire sequence of Drew connecting with his southern family was drab and dull and missed the mark and don�t even get me started on that entire funeral sequence. I thought that was a complete fiasco. One thing that did work really well was the all night phone call. I thought he was on to something there and almost continued it during the final road trip sequence, which could have been good under different circumstances. As it was in the movie though, it was just more cheese on top of the �oh, this will really get them� pie that the movie became.

Atonement

I liked the story, thought it was interesting. However, I found the middle of the movie a little draggy and kinda boring. That portion of the film just didn�t gel and it didn�t take me into the story or the characters and get me invested in them. What was even worse, however, was that vexatious coda they felt compelled to tack on to an otherwise decent ending (played wonderfully by Vanessa Redgrave). I absolutely hated the very last scene and as a last impression of the film, it only served to leave me feeling aggravated because it felt so� crafted. Don�t feed me two hours of tragedy and sadness, top it off with a punch in the gut of even more heartbreak only to then offer up a fantasy ending created solely to manipulate me into leaving uplifted.

Fido

Though not quite as good as either, it feels like a cross between Pleasantville and Shaun of the Dead. If you saw �SotD� (and if you didn�t, you should) it sort of picks up the idea of where that film left off. After the great zombie wars, all the happy little technicolor 50�s towns are now contained via fence and for the most part remain safe thanks to the Zomcon Corporation (�a better life through containment�). They have come up with a collar that domesticates the zombies and keeps them from their normal flesh-eating ways and into a wide array of public servants. Docile bag boys or garbage men or your own personal Rosie the robot for your home or the girlfriend you never could have. Funny in spots and cute throughout with some zombie gore thrown in (not really that much though) it definitely provided a fun little break in the day.

Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

You know that awkward moment between funny and horrifying, or like the adage says� �it�s all fun and games till someone loses an eye�? I can�t think of a single film that illustrates that better than this one does. I was immediately drawn in with Elizabeth Taylor�s (stellar) performance. There is a scene early on where they have just come home from a party, drunk of course, and she quotes a movie and then asks her husband what movie it is from because she can�t remember and she rambles on about it. She grabs a piece of chicken out of the fridge and begins to devour it, looking completely unglamourous. That was such a genuine moment, that scene still remains a favorite of mine. The film follows the events that take place over the rest of the night. Another young couple has been invited over and it is an extremely awkward little party as George and Martha are horrible to each other and do not hold back for the sake of their guests. The fun and games quickly turns to games of pain for all involved. All the acting is amazing. Once you are let in on what is going on between these respective couples it should give you plenty to think about. One of the best film directing debuts, Mike Nichols� film is one that is worthy of multiple viewings and being dissected and analyzed as a great character study.

3-Iron

There is very little dialog and absolutely none from the main character, which I suppose could cause some frustration, but if you sit back and let the images tell the story I found that it makes the two characters so much more connected and thus gives the movie its haunting, emotional impact. A young man has a system for finding houses that are empty. He then breaks into them and makes himself at home. Interestingly, while in these homes he also does some unexpected and unusual things. He eventually breaks into the house of a sad and broken woman, which results in an unconventional romance. To be sure, the film requires patience. Most likely you will not like it or find it poetic and beautiful, as I did. The ending is open for interpretation, though I think more grounds can be made for one way over the other. This has the same essence of a peace and beauty that feels very spiritual to me, which I find a common thread among so many Korean films. I don�t know exactly what it is, I just know I like it.

4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days

I don�t know the last time I�ve felt so tense watching a movie much really happening on screen and without the aid of suspenseful music. Almost dogme in feel, the film chronicles one girl who helps her friend in obtaining an illegal abortion in 1987 Romania. Though any moral right to life/pro choice issue is really not the point here. Gabita is pregnant. She�s also obviously not very mature. It is her roommate Otilia that the movie is centered around. She is the one who is taking care of everything that needs to be taken care of. Where Gabita is almost childlike (due to a little incompetence and a lot of fear), Otilia is the adult and ends up sacrificing more in the name of friendship than anyone should ever have to. All three leads are brilliant, most notably though is Anamaria Marinca playing Otilia. Never has a more boring scene been more fascinating as the one where she is at her boyfriend�s mother�s house for dinner. Not an easy movie for sure, and although in my mind nothing I thought was going to happen happened and what did happen very often caught me off guard. You�ll hear about a very disturbing shot that you�ll recognize immediately when you seen the film. But for me, the far more devastating is the last shot of Otilia which is haunting and perfect and very hard to shake.

West Side Story

I don�t know how old I was when I first saw this, but I was pretty young and I fell immediately in love. Fell in love with Tony, with Maria, with the music, with the dancing, with the romantic, timeless story, with the tragic ending and with the experience of being swept up by a film and taken away someplace else. And still, after seeing the movie dozens of times, I fall in love all over again every time. The movie, of course, speaks to prejudice and closed-mindedness and how in the end we�re not, as people, different from one another no matter where we come from. Set against a palatte of vibrant, rich colours, this film is visually stunning. Natalie Wood defines beautiful on the screen and Richard Beymer is hope personified. George Chakiris and Rita Moreno shine in their Oscar winning roles. Where this triumphs like no other is in those musical numbers. The songs are amazing and the dancing is exquisite. This is what it�s all about� this is filmmaking magic.

Monster-in-Law

There is no reason why you shouldn't be able to make a fun and semi-intelligent comedy without it sucking the brain cells directly out of your brain. This movie took what could be a funny premise, the mother-in-law from hell, and reduced it to a blubbering pile of ick. I know Jane Fonda can act so I'm going to chalk up her contrived performance to being out of practice. Jennifer Lopez has shown potential in the past (out of sight) but gives the dullest, most uninspired performance I've seen in quite a while. As for Vartan, well it matters little since they solve the problem of there being zero chemistry between the couple by making his character irrelevant and practically invisible. The story misses from the get-go. They meet and fall in love and he brings her home to meet mom. Mom, who recently got fired from her daytime talk show job and has suffered some kind of psychotic break, immediately hates the girl and the two set out to one-up each other throughout the rest of the movie. Why mom immediately hates the girl is never really clear, but that's ok because just as quickly as that hate manifests itself at the beginning of the movie it just as quickly vanishes in an instant at the end. Again, for no reason except to be just in time for everything to work out perfectly. If the plot were any thinner it would evaporate.

Closer

Whatever you do, do not think of this as a Julia Roberts movie. This is not a syrupy romantic comedy set in some altered chick flick reality, and I loved it. I loved the gaps of time element and how on the surface it seems like the only weird thing is the fact that everyone seems to always tell the truth, but even the truths aren�t really true� or noble� or timely. I think all of them did a great job although Clive Owen was the stand out. Natalie was also absolutely beautiful and captivating to watch. This is another movie I find myself thinking about from time to time out of the blue. There is a great tone to it which I thought was set up perfectly by the opening music and visual. That same slightly dark and edgy sadness hangs in the air during the entire movie like a fog. The best thing about the movie is the fantastic character work. These are real and flawed and cynical and raw people. You leave the experience of being immersed in these lives a little emotionally bruised and damaged.

Before the Devil Knows You're Dead

Over 50 years ago Sidney Lumet directed 12 Angry Men, a classic to this very day. He helped define the 70�s with some of the best the decade has to offer in Serpico, Dog Day Afternoon and Network. And now, firmly in his 80�s, he delivers a knock out with Before the Devil Knows You�re Dead. Amazing. Using a fractured timeline seems to work either wonderfully well or come off lame and like a weak device used to build a film into more than what it is. In the case of this movie it is the former. I loved the way the whole thing was presented and it worked really well in keeping it intense right from the start. The stark, harsh tone is immediately established and then we are thrown directly into the heart of the matter, taken right to the scene of the crime. Then the movie goes back, character by character and fills in all the details. None of it is done to confuse or is hard to follow, but merely to flesh out the story and characters. You�d think it would get tiring constantly saying how great Philip Seymour Hoffman is, but as usual he just nails it. The rest of the cast is also great, including Ethan Hawke, Marisa Tomei and Albert Finney. It�s an exciting ride. It�s tragic family drama. It�s crime gone horribly wrong. It�s what people who feel cornered can become driven to do. And it�s really good movie-making.

The Five Obstructions

Not something for the casual movie watcher who isn't really into the art of filmmaking,as it's not so much a movie as it is an exercise in that art. However, for those that are into it, boy are you about to be in for a treat! I spent a lot of time thinking about this even years after seeing it. It is a glimpse behind the curtain of creative masterminds. The premise is Von Trier presents the challenge to his mentor Leth of recreating Leth's short film The Perfect Human (that original material is also included on the dvd and I would suggest watching it first) in five different ways, each with very different sets of rules to followed. The results are very interesting. I enjoyed each obstruction, but was absolutely blown away by the 4th one. Equally interesting is watching the dynamic between the two filmmakers.

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

I think everything comes together here. Beautiful but not overpowering music, gorgeous and amazing cinematography, and acting that was across the board solid. Casey Affleck gave my favorite performance of the year. There was a scene at a dinner table where he is being embarrassed and made fun of that he did so brilliantly. Showing so much in his face in really quiet moments that it literally caused me to say �wow� out loud. Another thing I thought that worked really, really well was the narration by a voice very distinctive from what you normally hear and with a tranquil, deliberate delivery that fit the overall tone very well. Getting back to the cinematography for a second, it too was my favorite of the year. There are dozens of moments I could point out that were spectacular. Like a lifeless body in a snowy grave that looked hauntingly beautiful or something as simple as Robert Ford opening a door and walking through it that was turned into art. As for the plot, it�s pretty much all right there in the title. It�s straightforward, moody and filled with tension. Some may think it slow but I had no idea I had just sat through 160 minutes because I enjoyed every single one of them.

Things We Lost in the Fire

Watching this I was constantly aware that a movie was being made. I'm all for style, but the way this was shot was annoying, only because it felt like somebody trying really, really hard to be stylistic, as opposed to their artist's vision of expressing the story they are telling. With the extreme tight close-ups and the hand-held camera, the non-linear format... it all felt like an attempt to try and make this way more interesting of a story than it was. As for the story, it wasn't bad, but you've seen better, trust me. Overall, it felt like somebody following a recipe in an attempt to try and make an Oscar movie. The only reason I would recommend watching this is to see Benicio Del Toro give another amazing performance. A performance far, far better than the movie itself.

The Kite Runner

A compelling story that didn�t feel remotely manipulative to me. Marc Forster takes themes that are very popular in movies (social class, loyalty, betrayal, guilt, redemption) and relies on the strength of the story and the (unknown) actors to do the job. It all works. One of the best of 2007.

Lust, Caution

It�s too bad that this movie has become known only for its nc-17 rated sex scenes because it is so much beyond that. But to get that topic out of the way I�ll just say this� I absolutely agree with and respect the decision not to cut them down to achieve a more acceptable (and profitable) �r� rating. Those scenes reveal so much more about the two characters and not for the obvious reasons. Honestly, my opinion is that most sex scenes are probably unneeded. A lot of time I think it�s lazy filmmaking and most of them bore me, but when used well, as is the case here, it can be a very powerful thing. Before the movie even gets to any of that though, there is a scene that is far more shocking and surprising but shot with equally unapologetic rawness. Another great sequence is the mah-jongg game scenes. Beautifully shot, a lot going on with these women and all against the backdrop of cool clicking sounds of the tiles. All around it is expertly acted and as always, Tony Leung is fantastic. A young group of Chinese revolutionaries in 1940�s Japanese-occupied China concoct a plot to kill a highly placed collaborator. A plot that (of course) doesn�t go as planned and ends up with everyone on all sides paying a big price. The movie is long and I never felt it a bit� I loved it all.

Sunshine

The premise is pretty ridiculous and the last 40 minutes or so slips into something frustratingly sorta lame. And yet, I can�t help but like this movie. As ridiculous as the premise may be it is fascinating. If they could have trusted in the story and characters they had built and not felt the need to ramp it into something �thrilling� this would have been an awesome movie. There is just something very watchable about people traveling through space, in trouble. And this isn�t just any space trip, it was a trip to the sun! Lots of built in drama with a small crew who obviously were sacrificing years for the good of the future of mankind. Add in technical difficulties, pretty visuals and a futuristic �world of tomorrow� HAL-type voice running things and how can you not be in for a good time? I'll tell you how. By taking a sharp left turn from good drama into a whole crazy other thing. The last 40 minutes or so are frustrating because of how good it all started. You can put this in the life imitating art category; changing course turned out to be a really bad idea. Though even with this major, major misstep with the movie, the good stuff in the first 3/4 of the film compensates.

Lars and the Real Girl

I think what it comes down to is one thing� if you allow yourself to accept the idea of a community so loving and nurturing that every single person comes together to help and support one of their own. It is (sadly) an unrealistic notion to think that the reactions and actions shown in this film are even remotely plausible, but if you let yourself suspend plausibility and allow yourself that indulgence� what you get is a beautiful, sweet, touching little movie. Ryan Gosling does the best work he has ever done� trumping even last year�s half nelson. It�s nothing short of spectacular what he pulls off here, and pulls off with a sensibility and grace. The supporting cast is also really great as well. I can�t believe I�m about to say this (and not even as a joke)� but even the �real girl� I swear seemed to be emoting at times� What would normally sound like the most outlandish, ridiculous joke of a plot is handled so well. Never going for the obvious joke or cheap shot, the humor to be had is sweet. It�s moving, heartwarming and uplifting� what a great, great surprise of a movie.

Lilya 4-Ever

This is one of those haunting, emotionally hard to take films. Like, for example� The War Zone, Irreversible, The Secret Life of Words, Requiem for a Dream, Breaking the Waves, Dancer in the Dark, Dolls, The Sweet Hereafter� etc. One of those that will stay with you long after you watch it. �Lilya� is a 16 year old girl who lives with her mother �somewhere in the former Soviet Union� and she is full of excitement and hope about her new future because they are moving to America. When her mother informs her that she and her boyfriend are going to go over first and then Lilya will make the trip after they are settled, it becomes just the first heartbreak of what will become and endless string of nightmares to happen to this girl. Pretty much the only glimpses of real sweetness comes in her unlikely friendship with a young boy whose father kicked him out and is living out in the cold. The settings are drab, depressing and tone-perfect and the music used was also fantastic. The young lady who plays Lilya does so with a mix of tough rebellion and naive hope. She will break your heart. I could see some people thinking the last scene is too cheesy or over-the-top, but there is a picture that is very important in the movie� a picture that is very important to the character� and based on that, I think the film earns that last scene. Bottom line� if you like the kind of gut-wrenching, emotional, tragic movies like those I�ve mentioned� you have to add this one to your film agenda, It is not an option.

The War Zone

What an apt title for the movie. Emotionally draining, this is a hard movie to watch. Particularly one scene that I might like to wipe out of my memory. But as graphic as the scene was (and it was) it was not exploitative or gratuitous in any way. It was just very, very real. It is obvious this was a very personal project for Tim Roth and he treated it gently and respectfully. Beautifully, we are allowed tiny moments of wonderful, anamorphic landscapes which feel like coming up for air from the drowning of what is happening within. Tilda Swinton and Ray Winstone as the mom and dad, as well as the brother and sister who had no prior acting experience are all exceptional. There is no gloss in anything about this movie. It is all raw. We aren�t given an explanation for things and we aren�t lectured or talked down to or insulted. We are presented with this family in the war zone and then we are sent back to our lives. It is a hard film to watch� but thankfully it is handled in such an honest, caring way that makes it an important film to watch.

Sliding Doors

A good concept doesn't necessarily equal a great movie. Case in point, Sliding Doors. As a concept, simultaneously showing two different paths a life can take by one seemingly insignificant event is interesting. It's too bad that the movie, instead of taking that good premise and developing it... instead chooses to simplify it. Apparently, missing or catching the bus is the only event that determines your path. Life isn't this neat and the movie shouldn�t have been either. Instead of taking us on a messy and complicated ride of good and bad. It went down a very straight line of simplicity, only to try and make a point at the end. Though not horrible, this movie was simple and tidy. Much better examples of similar premise: Blind Chance or Lola Rennt

Pan's Labyrinth

One of the things I think makes it great is the level to which it can become personal. I know all film is subjective, but this one seems especially so. People can take away completely different things from it and yet all still enjoy and appreciate it just as much. You can go away from the movie thinking everything was real or that it was all imagined� you can interpret it as a fairy tale, a metaphor, a comment on current events, history lesson, a story within a story� or something else entirely� and to me, that all falls into place not only as part of its charm, but in part, its theme� what�s inside our heads. You don�t need a lot of background about the actual story itself, it�s not difficult to follow and I think it wouldn�t serve to better your experience. But beyond that, the cleaner your mind is I think the more personal an experience it will become. The use of sound was done well. Every whoosh and click did as much for the creatures as did their look. And they looked very well done and quite creative, as did the movie itself with some very nice cinematography. Another note to add that yes, there is definitely some real violence, which you may not be expecting going in. For me, I think the underlying themes (surviving a tragic situation, questioning authority, self-sacrifice, etc.) all seemed enveloped in one bigger wrapping� I saw it as an ode to books, to the power of the written word and the magic of what feels like is becoming a dying medium� reading.

Apocalypto

This was a disappointment. I pretty much ignored reviews of this film because I think way too many people have a bias one way or the other based off �Passion of the Christ� (which I liked). I would almost say that he did another great job as a director� giving us a visual style and lots of pretty cinematography. However, there is just one real problem I had with this film and unfortunately, it�s a really, really big problem. I found the story to be pretty lame. No, more than lame� unbelievably predictable and lame. And that is one of the things it�s impossible to really get passed no matter how distracted it tries to make me with skewering flesh or testicle munching. I'm fine with violence in entertainment media. And I imagine a look at an ancient civilization would definitely call for it. But that doesn�t, in and of itself, qualify as substance� or plot.

Dogville

This movie, with practically no props, a single primitively done stage, a chalk outline playing the role of the dog and nothing but sound effects playing doors comes off very much like a play. Before it begins I immediately think it�s going to be a really slow yak-fest of a movie that maybe only the stuffiest of the film elite might actually get or like. All that, coupled with the fact that it is a very long movie (almost 3 hours) and I wasn�t sure what I was in for. But it didn�t take long and I was completely entranced. With little else to see, you have no choice but to watch intently these characters and their every twist and turn. Brilliant casting across the board, right down to the perfect narration by john hurt. Nicole Kidman�s Grace, is a stranger who arrives in the town of dogville in trouble. We watch how this small community reacts to her and through the course of events that unfold we are taken on a gut-wrenching journey through the best and worst of the human condition� to simply write this off as anti-American anything is simple-minded. I know to hear the description it may not sound all that alluring. But it�s probably not what you think it will be. This absolutely is not a movie for everyone, but I just loved it and after seeing it I immediately went and ordered it.

Alexandra's Project

I would have a lot to say about this film, (I am sort of surprised at some of the reactions I've read (not just here)as to the motivations and justifications for actions taken, let's just say... I don't think the issue was the marriage and how the wife was treated in it.) but the most important is to say to stop reading reviews of this and watch it. There isn't anything you need to know going in and in fact the less you know, the better. The film does a really good job at building up the tension and then throwing you a curve, which will not have the same impact if you know ahead of time what to expect. If you are open to a more off the beaten track kind of film, give it a go.

C.R.A.Z.Y.

As happens many times, the description does not do the movie justice. It does deal with a Canadian family in the 60�s and 70�s with one child being gay, but it is so not typical while coming off so true and real. There is great depth to the film, and it works on every level. I was pulled in instantly and was moved and entertained the entire way through with a few moments that literally took my breath away. The story is compelling and the acting was great. The young boy who played the main character as a child was so enjoyable I did not want to leave that time and have him grow up. Until it happened and then I was equally impressed with the actor portraying the older version. I just don�t have anything but praise for this movie.

The Perfect Storm

The perfectly ridiculous storm. I had so many issues with this movie� not the least of which is the total miscasting of George Clooney. Not that I can think of a single actor who could have saved this, pardon me, ship wreck. Though perhaps casting Bozo the Clown would at least have clued me in as to what I was in for. Like the �so lame it was great in a completely laughable way� shark attack� or the �let�s pile as much drama into one boat ride as we possibly can� story� the cheese factor of this movie is so high� I know that it was supposed to be about honor and �the life� of a true fisherman� but because the movie tries too hard to be dramatic, all it ends up really about was how many completely stupid decisions one person can make to cause the death of several people and put even more in danger� I�d like to think (and considering the ending� I would imagine it to be the case) that this was not anything of a true depiction of what really happened, but rather some lame writer and director�s (wrong) ideas of what makes for good drama.

Casablanca

I don't have anything bad to say about this film. It is, without a doubt, a classic and should be seen by any cinephile. However, for whatever reason, that inner connection that makes a movie hit your soul and become a favorite didn't quite happen for me.

Bad Education

Where the movie works so well is not in the big issues� but in the layers. The very noir feel. You don�t get twists thrown in your face, you get small revelations presented to you. You get sadness, injustice, broken faith, love, almost love� To be honest, not everyone should see this. There are a lot of people who would condemn the movie and have absolutely no chance of getting anything out of it� but I don�t think it�s really for them� I can�t help but feel this is more of a personal offering from almodovar to the broken� including himself�

Psycho

All I can say is� what in the hell! This is quite possibly the absolute worst filmmaking decision in the history of really bad filmmaking decisions. The only shocking thing about this is how they got such major talents as William H. Macy, Julianne Moore & Philip Baker Hall agree to do it. I�m not sure where to begin in listing everything wrong with this picture� maybe I should start with how inferior Vince Vaughn�s Norman Bates is� oh, his performance is creepy all right. But mostly just in a �this bad acting is making me uncomfortable� kind of way. The worst offense is adding in the bit with Norman while watching Marion through the wall. This is just so wrong, not only doesn�t it add anything, but it takes away much of what made Norman one of the greatest movie villain characters ever. The very essence of Norman included pent up sexual frustration. Now the movie just begs for �(mastur)bates motel� jokes. Most of the acting (with the exception of Vaughn) isn�t bad... but was, like the film itself, uncalled for. As a movie lover, this travesty offends me. I just can�t justify any reason for doing this. Now, if you�ll excuse me I have to go watch something good� if I died, I would really be ticked if the last movie I ever saw was the remade Psycho.

The Weather Man

At first I thought the soulless feeling that the movie had was on purpose to make a point, at first I thought they were going somewhere with Nicolas Cage�s character� complete with dry voice-over, and his relationship with his kids. I thought it was going to be interesting to show the reality that you can love your child and still be disappointed with how they turned out and still feel regret and frustration because of course we want our children to be these amazing people, but things tend not to work out how we expect. Unfortunately, they sort of abandoned that direction and made a sharp turn into some pretty typical stuff. We�ve seen Cage do the empty and vacant and wandering character well in the past, but it doesn�t work here because this character isn�t fully realized. His weather man doesn�t come off as real so much as just like, well�. a character. By the end of the movie I felt like I just watched an hour and a half long commercial for fast food� something the character comes to compare himself to� �easy, it tastes all right, but it doesn�t really provide you any nourishment��. it pretty much can sum up the movie as well. I realized that the soulless, drab feel that I initially thought was going to be artistic style turned out to merely be lacking any nourishment.

They Shoot Horses, Don't They?

Now this is a movie� I loved it. 'dance marathon� is a rather sweet name for what takes place (and as I understand, was a pretty accurate depiction of what used to go on)... to compare it to a roman gladiator spectacle would not be an exaggeration. The abuse these desperate people put themselves through for �the free meals� and a chance for a cash prize is quite humbling. These are real characters here� with back stories and histories that we don�t completely know or need to know. Everything we need to know we find out on the dance floor and in the 10 minute breaks every 2 hours. This is not a feel-good movie; it is quite tragic on many levels with a lot to read into about the human condition� both at the time and now as well.