Title: Stalker
Year: 1979 (Russia), 1982 (US)
Director: Andrei Tarkovsky
Writers: Arkadi Strugatsky, Boris Strugatsky & Andrei Tarkovsky, based on the Strugatskys' novel
Starring: Aleksandr Kaidanovsky, Alisa Frejndlikh, Anatoli Solonitsyn, Nikolai Grinko
Music: Eduard Artemyev
Distinctions: formerly on IMDb's Top 250
Synopsis: there's a mysterious region called The Zone, and the Stalker leads people in illegally
How I saw it: on video (rented from Netflix), June 2008
Subjective Rating: 3/10 (Bad).
Objective Rating: 2/10 (gets points for concept and special effects/design) c. 1.7/4 (Eh).
Slow, uninteresting and beats you over the head with bad philosophy. It turns out the horrors and wonders of "The Zone" are three hours of strong breezes and dark tunnels. The characters are walking symbols. Occasionally, the dialog makes a little sense. The cinematography is very stylized at the expense of clarity. They often have conversations with their backs to the camera so you don't know who's saying what (which I think is the primary contributor to the dialog problem). Promising concept; terrible movie.
April 7, 2009
April 6, 2009
Wings of Desire
Title: Der Himmel über Berlin
Year: 1987 (Germany), 1988 (US)
Director: Wim Wenders
Writers: Peter Handke, Richard Reitinger & Wim Wenders
Starring: Bruno Ganz, Solveig Dommartin, Otto Sander, Curt Bois, Peter Falk
Music: Jürgen Knieper
Distinctions: formerly on IMDb's Top 250
Synopsis: one of the many Angels hanging out in Berlin listening to people think wants to become human, and, and... Peter Falk as himself!
How I saw it: on video (rented from Netflix), June 2008
Subjective Rating: 7/10 (Good).
Objective Rating: 7/10 (points off for story, dialog and pacing) c. 3.0/4 (Good).
Best. Concept. Ever. Okay, maybe not, but... Peter Falk as himself! The story is okay, but didn't live up to the potential. They were just kind of winging it. For the most part it's completely brilliant, but every now and then, especially the final scene, they take a break to be Very German and pretentious, enough so to ruin the movie. They never let you forget you're watching an art film and not a movie, so in spite of everything that's good, you don't really get a chance to enjoy yourself. It's still good, if you're able to watch with a German filter on your brain. Cut out the reading of poetry and asides of Nihilsim, and you'd have a perfect 90-minute movie. The music is amazing. And did I mention... Peter Falk as himself!?
Year: 1987 (Germany), 1988 (US)
Director: Wim Wenders
Writers: Peter Handke, Richard Reitinger & Wim Wenders
Starring: Bruno Ganz, Solveig Dommartin, Otto Sander, Curt Bois, Peter Falk
Music: Jürgen Knieper
Distinctions: formerly on IMDb's Top 250
Synopsis: one of the many Angels hanging out in Berlin listening to people think wants to become human, and, and... Peter Falk as himself!
How I saw it: on video (rented from Netflix), June 2008
Subjective Rating: 7/10 (Good).
Objective Rating: 7/10 (points off for story, dialog and pacing) c. 3.0/4 (Good).
Best. Concept. Ever. Okay, maybe not, but... Peter Falk as himself! The story is okay, but didn't live up to the potential. They were just kind of winging it. For the most part it's completely brilliant, but every now and then, especially the final scene, they take a break to be Very German and pretentious, enough so to ruin the movie. They never let you forget you're watching an art film and not a movie, so in spite of everything that's good, you don't really get a chance to enjoy yourself. It's still good, if you're able to watch with a German filter on your brain. Cut out the reading of poetry and asides of Nihilsim, and you'd have a perfect 90-minute movie. The music is amazing. And did I mention... Peter Falk as himself!?
Bringing Up Baby
Title: Bringing Up Baby
Year: 1938
Director: Howard Hawks
Writer: Dudley Nichols, Hagar Wilde
Starring: Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant
Music: Roy Webb
Distinctions: formerly on IMDb's Top 250
Synopsis: a man encounters a woman who deliberately destroys his life over the course of two days
How I saw it: on video (rented from Netflix), June 2008
Subjective Rating: 4/10 (Eh).
Objective Rating: 1/10 (gets a point for characters) c. 1.6/4 (Eh).
The first half is painful to watch (a series of bad things happening to a sympathetic character). Then at one point Grant seems to just give up and go along with it, and that's nice for a little while (and even made me laugh once or twice). But then the second half just gets boring. It moves at the right pace, but there's just too much movie. They tried really hard to be witty, but it just didn't happen. I was a little shocked that Katharine Hepburn wasn't completely terrible. Not good, mind you, but not completely terrible.
Year: 1938
Director: Howard Hawks
Writer: Dudley Nichols, Hagar Wilde
Starring: Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant
Music: Roy Webb
Distinctions: formerly on IMDb's Top 250
Synopsis: a man encounters a woman who deliberately destroys his life over the course of two days
How I saw it: on video (rented from Netflix), June 2008
Subjective Rating: 4/10 (Eh).
Objective Rating: 1/10 (gets a point for characters) c. 1.6/4 (Eh).
The first half is painful to watch (a series of bad things happening to a sympathetic character). Then at one point Grant seems to just give up and go along with it, and that's nice for a little while (and even made me laugh once or twice). But then the second half just gets boring. It moves at the right pace, but there's just too much movie. They tried really hard to be witty, but it just didn't happen. I was a little shocked that Katharine Hepburn wasn't completely terrible. Not good, mind you, but not completely terrible.
The Bourne Supremacy
Title: The Bourne Supremacy
Year: 2004
Director: Paul Greengrass
Writer: Tony Gilroy, based on the novel by Robert Ludlum
Starring: Matt Damon, Franka Potente, Brian Cox, Julia Stiles, Karl Urban, Gabriel Mann, Joan Allen
Music: John Powell
Synopsis: Bourne is framed for an assassination, leading the CIA to resume looking for him
How I saw it: on video (rented from Netflix), yesterday
Subjective Rating: 3/10 (Bad).
Objective Rating: 2/10 (points for special effects/design and acting) c. 1.6/4 (Eh).
Boring, pointless waste of time. At its best, it's slightly worse than the original. More often, it's complete crap - even the action scenes. Fast cuts and loud noises, with no sense of suspense or drama.
Year: 2004
Director: Paul Greengrass
Writer: Tony Gilroy, based on the novel by Robert Ludlum
Starring: Matt Damon, Franka Potente, Brian Cox, Julia Stiles, Karl Urban, Gabriel Mann, Joan Allen
Music: John Powell
Synopsis: Bourne is framed for an assassination, leading the CIA to resume looking for him
How I saw it: on video (rented from Netflix), yesterday
Subjective Rating: 3/10 (Bad).
Objective Rating: 2/10 (points for special effects/design and acting) c. 1.6/4 (Eh).
Boring, pointless waste of time. At its best, it's slightly worse than the original. More often, it's complete crap - even the action scenes. Fast cuts and loud noises, with no sense of suspense or drama.
The Big Lebowski
Title: The Big Lebowski
Year: 1998
Director: Joel Coen
Writers: Ethan Coen & Joel Coen
Starring: Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Julianne Moore, Steve Buscemi, David Huddleston, Philip Seymour Hoffman
Music: Carter Burwell, plus lots of non-original music
Distinctions: currently #152 on IMDb's Top 250
Synopsis: a middle-aged stoner and his bowling buddies inadvertently get involved in a kidnapping scheme
How I saw it: on video a number of times (used to have on DVD), most recently two days ago (rented from Netflix)
Subjective Rating: 8/10 (Great).
Objective Rating:9/10 (1 point off for concept) c. 3.5/4 (Very good).
Sort of the ultimate Coen Brothers movie - not their best and certainly not my favorite (not that I don't think it's hilarious), but probably the most Coen-y.
Year: 1998
Director: Joel Coen
Writers: Ethan Coen & Joel Coen
Starring: Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Julianne Moore, Steve Buscemi, David Huddleston, Philip Seymour Hoffman
Music: Carter Burwell, plus lots of non-original music
Distinctions: currently #152 on IMDb's Top 250
Synopsis: a middle-aged stoner and his bowling buddies inadvertently get involved in a kidnapping scheme
How I saw it: on video a number of times (used to have on DVD), most recently two days ago (rented from Netflix)
Subjective Rating: 8/10 (Great).
Objective Rating:
Sort of the ultimate Coen Brothers movie - not their best and certainly not my favorite (not that I don't think it's hilarious), but probably the most Coen-y.
April 4, 2009
Red
Title: Trois couleurs: Rouge
Year: 1994
Director: Krzysztof Kieslowski
Writers: Krzysztof Kieslowski & Krzysztof Piesiewicz
Starring: Irène Jacob, Jean-Louis Trintignant
Music: Zbigniew Preisner
Distinctions: Oscar nominations for Best Director, Best Original Screenplay and Best Cinematography; formerly on IMDb's Top 250
Synopsis: a woman meets a retired judge who is listening to people's phone conversations
How I saw it: on video (rented from Netflix), June 2008
Subjective Rating: 5/10 (Indifferent).
Objective Rating: 7/10 (points off for concept, story and subjective rating) c. 3.0/4 (Good).
It's a good movie, I guess, but I'm indifferent. I wouldn't have complained about the story while watching it (it kept my interest), but then it ended and not much had really happened.
Year: 1994
Director: Krzysztof Kieslowski
Writers: Krzysztof Kieslowski & Krzysztof Piesiewicz
Starring: Irène Jacob, Jean-Louis Trintignant
Music: Zbigniew Preisner
Distinctions: Oscar nominations for Best Director, Best Original Screenplay and Best Cinematography; formerly on IMDb's Top 250
Synopsis: a woman meets a retired judge who is listening to people's phone conversations
How I saw it: on video (rented from Netflix), June 2008
Subjective Rating: 5/10 (Indifferent).
Objective Rating: 7/10 (points off for concept, story and subjective rating) c. 3.0/4 (Good).
It's a good movie, I guess, but I'm indifferent. I wouldn't have complained about the story while watching it (it kept my interest), but then it ended and not much had really happened.
White
Title: Trois couleurs: Blanc
Year: 1994
Director: Krzysztof Kieslowski
Writers: Krzysztof Kieslowski & Krzysztof Piesiewicz, with Agnieszka Holland, Edward Zebrowski & Edward Klosinski
Starring: Zbigniew Zamachowski, Julie Delpy
Music: Zbigniew Preisner
Synopsis: the romantic "comedy" portion of the Three Colors trilogy
How I saw it: on video (rented from Netflix), June 2008
Subjective Rating: 3/10 (Bad).
Objective Rating:6/10 (points off for concept, story, dialog and subjective rating) c. 2.5/4 (Okay).
Apparently, Polish Director + Comedic Script = Complete Sh**. It has all the makings of a good absurd dark comedy, but all of the jokes play purely as drama, so... not really a comedy so much as a bad drama.
Year: 1994
Director: Krzysztof Kieslowski
Writers: Krzysztof Kieslowski & Krzysztof Piesiewicz, with Agnieszka Holland, Edward Zebrowski & Edward Klosinski
Starring: Zbigniew Zamachowski, Julie Delpy
Music: Zbigniew Preisner
Synopsis: the romantic "comedy" portion of the Three Colors trilogy
How I saw it: on video (rented from Netflix), June 2008
Subjective Rating: 3/10 (Bad).
Objective Rating:
Apparently, Polish Director + Comedic Script = Complete Sh**. It has all the makings of a good absurd dark comedy, but all of the jokes play purely as drama, so... not really a comedy so much as a bad drama.
Blue
Title: Trois couleurs: Bleu
Year: 1993
Director: Krzysztof Kieslowski
Writers: Krzysztof Kieslowski & Krzysztof Piesiewicz, with Agnieszka Holland, Edward Zebrowski & Slawomir Idziak
Starring: Juliette Binoche, Benoît Régent
Music: Zbigniew Preisner
Synopsis: a woman deals with grief after losing her husband and child
How I saw it: on video (rented from Netflix), June 2008
Subjective Rating: 7/10 (Good).
Objective Rating:9/10 (1 point off for concept) c. 3.3/4 (Very good).
Not my sort of movie by a long shot, but it is hell of well done. Judging the music is a hard call; it's very important to the film (the dead husband is a composer) and needs to work in a very specific way, like a 2nd lead character, and I don't think it managed to do that, but it's too good to not give it a point.
Year: 1993
Director: Krzysztof Kieslowski
Writers: Krzysztof Kieslowski & Krzysztof Piesiewicz, with Agnieszka Holland, Edward Zebrowski & Slawomir Idziak
Starring: Juliette Binoche, Benoît Régent
Music: Zbigniew Preisner
Synopsis: a woman deals with grief after losing her husband and child
How I saw it: on video (rented from Netflix), June 2008
Subjective Rating: 7/10 (Good).
Objective Rating:
Not my sort of movie by a long shot, but it is hell of well done. Judging the music is a hard call; it's very important to the film (the dead husband is a composer) and needs to work in a very specific way, like a 2nd lead character, and I don't think it managed to do that, but it's too good to not give it a point.
April 3, 2009
Network
Title: Network
Year: 1976
Director: Sidney Lumet
Writer: Paddy Chayefsky
Starring: Faye Dunaway, William Holden, Peter Finch, Robert Duvall, Ned Beatty, Beatrice Straight
Music: Elliot Lawrence
Distinctions: Oscars for Best Original Screenplay, Best Actor (Finch), Best Actress (Dunaway) and Best Supporting Actress (Straight); Oscar nominations for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (Holden), Best Supporting Actor (Beatty), Best Cinematography and Best Editing; currently #227 on IMDb's Top 250
Synopsis: a television network keeps a disgruntled news anchor on the air as he loses his mind
How I saw it: on video (rented from Netflix), May 2008
Subjective Rating: 9/10 (One of my favorites).
Objective Rating: 8/10 (points off for cinematography and music) c. 3.4/4 (Very good).
Hilarious, bizarre, dramatic... Mostly, just plain awesome.
Year: 1976
Director: Sidney Lumet
Writer: Paddy Chayefsky
Starring: Faye Dunaway, William Holden, Peter Finch, Robert Duvall, Ned Beatty, Beatrice Straight
Music: Elliot Lawrence
Distinctions: Oscars for Best Original Screenplay, Best Actor (Finch), Best Actress (Dunaway) and Best Supporting Actress (Straight); Oscar nominations for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (Holden), Best Supporting Actor (Beatty), Best Cinematography and Best Editing; currently #227 on IMDb's Top 250
Synopsis: a television network keeps a disgruntled news anchor on the air as he loses his mind
How I saw it: on video (rented from Netflix), May 2008
Subjective Rating: 9/10 (One of my favorites).
Objective Rating: 8/10 (points off for cinematography and music) c. 3.4/4 (Very good).
Hilarious, bizarre, dramatic... Mostly, just plain awesome.
Arsenic and Old Lace
Title: Arsenic and Old Lace
Year: 1944
Director: Frank Capra
Writers: Julius J. Epstein & Philip G. Epstein, based on the play by Joseph Kesselring
Starring: Cary Grant, Josephine Hull, Jean Adair, Raymond Massey, Peter Lorre, Priscilla Lane
Music: Max Steiner
Distinctions: currently #234 on IMDb's Top 250
Synopsis: a newlywed finds out his sweet old aunts have been killing people
How I saw it: on video (rented from Netflix), May 2008
Subjective Rating: 5/10 (Indifferent).
Objective Rating: 0/10 c. 1.3/4 (Bad).
Filming a farcical play is almost always a bad idea, and this is a bad farcical play, badly filmed. Grant is terrible. Peter Lorre is great. Everyone else (on either side of the camera) is just getting by. The story comes down to mayhem until time is up, then cue the police. The characters are just walking excuses for hamming. As far as entertainment value goes, it could be a lot worse, but I don't see why anyone would think this is a good movie.
Year: 1944
Director: Frank Capra
Writers: Julius J. Epstein & Philip G. Epstein, based on the play by Joseph Kesselring
Starring: Cary Grant, Josephine Hull, Jean Adair, Raymond Massey, Peter Lorre, Priscilla Lane
Music: Max Steiner
Distinctions: currently #234 on IMDb's Top 250
Synopsis: a newlywed finds out his sweet old aunts have been killing people
How I saw it: on video (rented from Netflix), May 2008
Subjective Rating: 5/10 (Indifferent).
Objective Rating: 0/10 c. 1.3/4 (Bad).
Filming a farcical play is almost always a bad idea, and this is a bad farcical play, badly filmed. Grant is terrible. Peter Lorre is great. Everyone else (on either side of the camera) is just getting by. The story comes down to mayhem until time is up, then cue the police. The characters are just walking excuses for hamming. As far as entertainment value goes, it could be a lot worse, but I don't see why anyone would think this is a good movie.
Inherit the Wind
Title: Inherit the Wind
Year: 1960
Director: Stanley Kramer
Writers: Nedrick Young & Harold Jacob Smith, based on the play by Jerome Lawrence & Robert E. Lee
Starring: Spencer Tracy, Fredric March, Gene Kelly, Dick York
Music: Ernest Gold
Distinctions: Oscar nominations for Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Actor (Tracy), Best Cinematography (black-and-white) and Best Editing; formerly on IMDb's Top 250
Synopsis: a science teacher is put on trial for teaching evolution
How I saw it: on video (rented from Netflix), May 2008; also in high school
Subjective Rating: 7/10 (Good).
Objective Rating: 7/10 (points off for concept, cinematography and special effects/design) c. 2.9/4 (Good).
Based-on-a-true-story courtroom drama around a touchy political issue sounds like a train wreck waiting to happen. Somehow, the train wreck never happens. They manage to keep things charged without ever being offensive, PC or preachy. Presumably this means the characters are real enough that they never come across as the writers' mouthpiece. The characters didn't strike me as interesting while watching it, but I'm sure they must be to blame for the movie working. The quality of the acting is mixed, but Tracy is good, and he's the one that matters. The music in the opening credits is fantastic. I certainly did not appreciate this movie when we watched it in 9th grade.
Year: 1960
Director: Stanley Kramer
Writers: Nedrick Young & Harold Jacob Smith, based on the play by Jerome Lawrence & Robert E. Lee
Starring: Spencer Tracy, Fredric March, Gene Kelly, Dick York
Music: Ernest Gold
Distinctions: Oscar nominations for Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Actor (Tracy), Best Cinematography (black-and-white) and Best Editing; formerly on IMDb's Top 250
Synopsis: a science teacher is put on trial for teaching evolution
How I saw it: on video (rented from Netflix), May 2008; also in high school
Subjective Rating: 7/10 (Good).
Objective Rating: 7/10 (points off for concept, cinematography and special effects/design) c. 2.9/4 (Good).
Based-on-a-true-story courtroom drama around a touchy political issue sounds like a train wreck waiting to happen. Somehow, the train wreck never happens. They manage to keep things charged without ever being offensive, PC or preachy. Presumably this means the characters are real enough that they never come across as the writers' mouthpiece. The characters didn't strike me as interesting while watching it, but I'm sure they must be to blame for the movie working. The quality of the acting is mixed, but Tracy is good, and he's the one that matters. The music in the opening credits is fantastic. I certainly did not appreciate this movie when we watched it in 9th grade.
April 2, 2009
Rififi
Title: Du rififi chez les hommes
Year: 1955 (France), 1956 (US)
Director: Jules Dassin
Writers: Jules Dassin, René Wheeler & Auguste Le Breton, based on Breton's novel
Starring: Jean Servais, Carl Möhner, Robert Manuel
Music: Georges Auric
Distinctions: formerly on IMDb's Top 250
Synopsis: the planning and execution of a jewelery store robbery
How I saw it: on video (rented from Netflix), May 2008
Subjective Rating: 7/10 (Good).
Objective Rating: 9/10 (1 point off for cinematography) c. 3.2/4 (Very good).
The first classic French film I actually enjoyed. 30+ minutes of silence in the middle of the movie created a lot of suspense. Not something I'm aching to watch a second time, but it worked.
Year: 1955 (France), 1956 (US)
Director: Jules Dassin
Writers: Jules Dassin, René Wheeler & Auguste Le Breton, based on Breton's novel
Starring: Jean Servais, Carl Möhner, Robert Manuel
Music: Georges Auric
Distinctions: formerly on IMDb's Top 250
Synopsis: the planning and execution of a jewelery store robbery
How I saw it: on video (rented from Netflix), May 2008
Subjective Rating: 7/10 (Good).
Objective Rating: 9/10 (1 point off for cinematography) c. 3.2/4 (Very good).
The first classic French film I actually enjoyed. 30+ minutes of silence in the middle of the movie created a lot of suspense. Not something I'm aching to watch a second time, but it worked.
The Sweet Life
Title: La Dolce vita
Year: 1960 (Italy), 1961 (US)
Director: Federico Fellini
Writers: Federico Fellini, Ennio Flaiano & Tullio Pinelli, with Brunello Rondi
Starring: Marcello Mastroianni, Anita Ekberg, Anouk Aimée, Yvonne Furneaux
Music: Nino Rota
Distinctions: Oscar for Best Costume Design (black-and-white) (1962); Oscar nominations for Best Director, Best Story and Screenplay and Best Art Direction/Set Decoration (black-and-white) (1962); currently #239 on IMDb's Top 250
Synopsis: jackass + 3 hours = movie!
How I saw it: on video (rented from Netflix), May 2008
Subjective Rating: 3/10 (Bad).
Objective Rating: 4/10 (gets points for cinematography, special effects/design, acting and music) c. 2.2/4 (Okay).
The sort of movie that gets heavily analyzed because the audience has Nothing Else To Do for 3 hours. No story. No dramatic tension of any kind. The characters are well developed, but I don't have any reason to give a crap about any of them; they're not remotely sympathetic, and they're not doing anything. Given my (modern-day, American) taste, I think I've been remarkably tollerant of Fellini so far, but this one takes the self-indulgence way too far.
Year: 1960 (Italy), 1961 (US)
Director: Federico Fellini
Writers: Federico Fellini, Ennio Flaiano & Tullio Pinelli, with Brunello Rondi
Starring: Marcello Mastroianni, Anita Ekberg, Anouk Aimée, Yvonne Furneaux
Music: Nino Rota
Distinctions: Oscar for Best Costume Design (black-and-white) (1962); Oscar nominations for Best Director, Best Story and Screenplay and Best Art Direction/Set Decoration (black-and-white) (1962); currently #239 on IMDb's Top 250
Synopsis: jackass + 3 hours = movie!
How I saw it: on video (rented from Netflix), May 2008
Subjective Rating: 3/10 (Bad).
Objective Rating: 4/10 (gets points for cinematography, special effects/design, acting and music) c. 2.2/4 (Okay).
The sort of movie that gets heavily analyzed because the audience has Nothing Else To Do for 3 hours. No story. No dramatic tension of any kind. The characters are well developed, but I don't have any reason to give a crap about any of them; they're not remotely sympathetic, and they're not doing anything. Given my (modern-day, American) taste, I think I've been remarkably tollerant of Fellini so far, but this one takes the self-indulgence way too far.
Blood Diamond
Title: Blood Diamond
Year: 2006
Director: Edward Zwick
Writer: Charles Leavitt; story by Leavitt & C. Gaby Mitchell
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Djimon Hounsou, Jennifer Connelly
Music: James Newton Howard
Distinctions: Oscar nominations for Best Actor (DiCaprio), Best Supporting Actor (Hounsou), Best Editing, Best Sound and Best Sound Editing; formerly on IMDb's Top 250
Synopsis: a slave with a stolen diamond tries to save his family
How I saw it: on video (rented from Netflix), May 2008
Subjective Rating: 5/10 (Indifferent).
Objective Rating: 7/10 (points off for concept, dialog and subjective rating) c. 2.6/4 (Good).
My impersonation of this movie: "Hey, everybody! Hollywood is important and responsible!" It's shot well and has a great cast and enough excitement to keep my interest. But I just don't want to hear what these people have to say about moral responsibility (and they won't stop talking about it).
Year: 2006
Director: Edward Zwick
Writer: Charles Leavitt; story by Leavitt & C. Gaby Mitchell
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Djimon Hounsou, Jennifer Connelly
Music: James Newton Howard
Distinctions: Oscar nominations for Best Actor (DiCaprio), Best Supporting Actor (Hounsou), Best Editing, Best Sound and Best Sound Editing; formerly on IMDb's Top 250
Synopsis: a slave with a stolen diamond tries to save his family
How I saw it: on video (rented from Netflix), May 2008
Subjective Rating: 5/10 (Indifferent).
Objective Rating: 7/10 (points off for concept, dialog and subjective rating) c. 2.6/4 (Good).
My impersonation of this movie: "Hey, everybody! Hollywood is important and responsible!" It's shot well and has a great cast and enough excitement to keep my interest. But I just don't want to hear what these people have to say about moral responsibility (and they won't stop talking about it).
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Title: Le Scaphandre et le papillon
Year: 2007
Director: Julian Schnabel
Writer: Ronald Harwood, based on the book by Jean-Dominique Bauby
Starring: Mathieu Amalric, Emmanuelle Seigner, Marie-Josée Croze, Max von Sydow
Music: Paul Cantelon (plus a lot of non-original music)
Distinctions: Oscar nominations for Best Directing, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography and Best Editing; currently #206 on IMDb's Top 250
Synopsis: a man is paralyzed and dictates his memoir by blinking
How I saw it: on video (rented from Netflix), May 2008
Subjective Rating: 7/10 (Good).
Objective Rating: 9/10 (1 point off for concept) c. 3.3/4 (Very good).
Not my kind of movie (the phrase "based on a true story" always sounds to me like "bad movie - mess you up"), but it's extremely well done. Not much happens, but somehow it manages to be a good story. The dialog is great; I suppose since it's based on a book written by a guy dictating with his eyelids, it's not too much of a surprise that there aren't any wasted words. The soundtrack happens to use a number of my favoritest songs (including a Bach piano concerto and Tom Waits' "Green Grass").
Year: 2007
Director: Julian Schnabel
Writer: Ronald Harwood, based on the book by Jean-Dominique Bauby
Starring: Mathieu Amalric, Emmanuelle Seigner, Marie-Josée Croze, Max von Sydow
Music: Paul Cantelon (plus a lot of non-original music)
Distinctions: Oscar nominations for Best Directing, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography and Best Editing; currently #206 on IMDb's Top 250
Synopsis: a man is paralyzed and dictates his memoir by blinking
How I saw it: on video (rented from Netflix), May 2008
Subjective Rating: 7/10 (Good).
Objective Rating: 9/10 (1 point off for concept) c. 3.3/4 (Very good).
Not my kind of movie (the phrase "based on a true story" always sounds to me like "bad movie - mess you up"), but it's extremely well done. Not much happens, but somehow it manages to be a good story. The dialog is great; I suppose since it's based on a book written by a guy dictating with his eyelids, it's not too much of a surprise that there aren't any wasted words. The soundtrack happens to use a number of my favoritest songs (including a Bach piano concerto and Tom Waits' "Green Grass").
Rope
Title: Rope
Year: 1948
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Writers: Hume Cronyn & Arthur Laurents, based on a play by Patrick Hamilton
Starring: James Stewart, John Dall, Farley Granger
Music: David Buttolph (the only score is over the credits)
Distinctions: currently #212 on IMDb's Top 250
Synopsis: a pretentious jackasses murders someone as an intellectual challenge
How I saw it: on video (rented from Netflix), May 2008
Subjective Rating: 2/10 (Terrible).
Objective Rating: 2/10 (gets points for pacing and music) c. 1.4/4 (Bad).
One of the worst movies I've ever seen. The only redeeming value is Stewart's performance. Unfortunately, John Dall, not Jimmy Stewart, is the lead, and he makes community theater look good. The writing is appallingly unnatural - one of those movies that's obviously and awkwardly based on a play. The "cinematography" comes down to a single camera pointing at a stage -- and it's obviously a stage. Everything else might go wrong, but at least Hitchcock has the mercy to chop it down to 80 minutes.
Year: 1948
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Writers: Hume Cronyn & Arthur Laurents, based on a play by Patrick Hamilton
Starring: James Stewart, John Dall, Farley Granger
Music: David Buttolph (the only score is over the credits)
Distinctions: currently #212 on IMDb's Top 250
Synopsis: a pretentious jackasses murders someone as an intellectual challenge
How I saw it: on video (rented from Netflix), May 2008
Subjective Rating: 2/10 (Terrible).
Objective Rating: 2/10 (gets points for pacing and music) c. 1.4/4 (Bad).
One of the worst movies I've ever seen. The only redeeming value is Stewart's performance. Unfortunately, John Dall, not Jimmy Stewart, is the lead, and he makes community theater look good. The writing is appallingly unnatural - one of those movies that's obviously and awkwardly based on a play. The "cinematography" comes down to a single camera pointing at a stage -- and it's obviously a stage. Everything else might go wrong, but at least Hitchcock has the mercy to chop it down to 80 minutes.
8½
Title: 8½
Year: 1963
Director: Federico Fellini
Writers: Ennio Flaiano, Tullio Pinelli, Federico Fellini & Brunello Rondi
Starring: Marcello Mastroianni, Claudia Cardinale, Anouk Aimée, Sandra Milo
Music: Nino Rota
Distinctions: Oscars for Best Foreign Language Film and Best Costume Design (black-and-white); Oscar nominations for Best Director, Best Original Screenplay and Best Art Direction/Set Decoration; currently #150 on IMDb's Top 250
Synopsis: an adulterous director doesn't make a movie
How I saw it: on video (rented from Netflix), yesterday
Subjective Rating: 6/10 (Okay).
Objective Rating: 7/10 (points off for concept, story, characters) c. 2.9/4 (Good).
It's an okay movie, and I can see why certain people like it. The lead character (who is a director in pre-production of a movie remarkably similar to 8½) sums it up pretty well: "I really have nothing to say, but I want to say it all the same." I guess it's kind of cute that the movie contains its own criticisms (and there's a lot of that -- it's like the movie is an essay on itself). But what really strikes me about that quotation is that he sees the problem as having "nothing to say," rather than having no story to tell. Maybe it's just me, but I've got this crazy notion that fiction is supposed to tell stories...
Year: 1963
Director: Federico Fellini
Writers: Ennio Flaiano, Tullio Pinelli, Federico Fellini & Brunello Rondi
Starring: Marcello Mastroianni, Claudia Cardinale, Anouk Aimée, Sandra Milo
Music: Nino Rota
Distinctions: Oscars for Best Foreign Language Film and Best Costume Design (black-and-white); Oscar nominations for Best Director, Best Original Screenplay and Best Art Direction/Set Decoration; currently #150 on IMDb's Top 250
Synopsis: an adulterous director doesn't make a movie
How I saw it: on video (rented from Netflix), yesterday
Subjective Rating: 6/10 (Okay).
Objective Rating: 7/10 (points off for concept, story, characters) c. 2.9/4 (Good).
It's an okay movie, and I can see why certain people like it. The lead character (who is a director in pre-production of a movie remarkably similar to 8½) sums it up pretty well: "I really have nothing to say, but I want to say it all the same." I guess it's kind of cute that the movie contains its own criticisms (and there's a lot of that -- it's like the movie is an essay on itself). But what really strikes me about that quotation is that he sees the problem as having "nothing to say," rather than having no story to tell. Maybe it's just me, but I've got this crazy notion that fiction is supposed to tell stories...
April 1, 2009
Toy Story 2
Title: Toy Story 2
Year: 1999
Directors: John Lasseter, Ash Brannon & Lee Unkrich
Writers: Andrew Stanton, Rita Hsiao, Doug Chamberlin & Chris Webb; story by John Lasseter, Pete Docter, Ash Brannon & Stanton
Starring: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Kelsey Grammer, Don Rickles, Jim Varney, Wallace Shawn, John Ratzenberger, Annie Potts, Wayne Knight
Music: Randy Newman
Distinctions: Oscar nomination for Best Song ("When She Loved Me"); formerly on IMDb's Top 250
Synopsis: Woody is stolen by a toy collector
How I saw it: on video (rented from Netflix), April 2008
Subjective Rating: 7/10 (Good).
Objective Rating: 5/10 (points off for concept, characters, cinematography, acting and music) c. 2.4/4 (Okay).
Fun. I was kind of shocked; this is much better than the original. The animation is impressive technically, but there's not much there creatively. Why does Kelsey Grammer have a voice acting career?
Year: 1999
Directors: John Lasseter, Ash Brannon & Lee Unkrich
Writers: Andrew Stanton, Rita Hsiao, Doug Chamberlin & Chris Webb; story by John Lasseter, Pete Docter, Ash Brannon & Stanton
Starring: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Kelsey Grammer, Don Rickles, Jim Varney, Wallace Shawn, John Ratzenberger, Annie Potts, Wayne Knight
Music: Randy Newman
Distinctions: Oscar nomination for Best Song ("When She Loved Me"); formerly on IMDb's Top 250
Synopsis: Woody is stolen by a toy collector
How I saw it: on video (rented from Netflix), April 2008
Subjective Rating: 7/10 (Good).
Objective Rating: 5/10 (points off for concept, characters, cinematography, acting and music) c. 2.4/4 (Okay).
Fun. I was kind of shocked; this is much better than the original. The animation is impressive technically, but there's not much there creatively. Why does Kelsey Grammer have a voice acting career?
Toy Story
Title: Toy Story
Year: 1995
Director: John Lasseter
Writers: Joss Whedon, Andrew Stanton, Joel Cohen & Alec Sokolow; story by John Lasseter, Pete Docter, Stanton & Joe Ranft
Starring: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Don Rickles, Jim Varney, Wallace Shawn, John Ratzenberger, Annie Potts, John Morris, Erik von Detten
Music: Randy Newman
Distinctions: Special Achievement Academy Award; Oscar nominations for Best Original Screenplay, Best Score (musical or comedy) and Best Song ("You've Got a Friend"); currently #179 on IMDb's Top 250
Synopsis: a boy's favorite toy is jealous of a new toy
How I saw it: on video, several times, most recently January 2009 (rented from Netflix)
Subjective Rating: 6/10 (Okay).
Objective Rating: 8/10 (points off for cinematography and music) c. 3.0/4 (Good).
It's very watchable, but I've never really gotten much out of it. The score's not bad, and I've got nothing against Randy Newman, but there is zero call for songs in this movie.
Year: 1995
Director: John Lasseter
Writers: Joss Whedon, Andrew Stanton, Joel Cohen & Alec Sokolow; story by John Lasseter, Pete Docter, Stanton & Joe Ranft
Starring: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Don Rickles, Jim Varney, Wallace Shawn, John Ratzenberger, Annie Potts, John Morris, Erik von Detten
Music: Randy Newman
Distinctions: Special Achievement Academy Award; Oscar nominations for Best Original Screenplay, Best Score (musical or comedy) and Best Song ("You've Got a Friend"); currently #179 on IMDb's Top 250
Synopsis: a boy's favorite toy is jealous of a new toy
How I saw it: on video, several times, most recently January 2009 (rented from Netflix)
Subjective Rating: 6/10 (Okay).
Objective Rating: 8/10 (points off for cinematography and music) c. 3.0/4 (Good).
It's very watchable, but I've never really gotten much out of it. The score's not bad, and I've got nothing against Randy Newman, but there is zero call for songs in this movie.
Grindhouse
Title: Grindhouse [theatrical double feature version]
Year: 2007
Directors: Robert Rodriguez & Quentin Tarantino, with Rob Zombie, Edgar Wright and Eli Roth
Writers: Robert Rodriguez & Quentin Tarantino, with Rob Zombie, Edgar Wright, Jeff Rendell and Eli Roth
Starring: (see below)
Music: Robert Rodriguez and others; mostly non-original music
Distinctions: formerly on IMDb's Top 250
Synopsis: a collection of 70's-style B-movies and fake trailers
How I saw it: online (streaming from Netflix), yesterday
Subjective Rating: 8/10 (Great).
Objective Rating: 5/10 (points off for story, characters, dialog, cinematography and acting) c. 2.4/4 (Okay).
It's interesting how much better these movies are in context. They're significantly shorter (which is a huge help for Death Proof, which is just painful in the DVD version), but I'm not sure that's what does it. Some of the best bits from the longer versions aren't even in this version, while some of the worst bits are. Just the fact that they're stuck together in a single, ridiculous experience makes all the difference. Watching the movies seperately, as if they were real movies, kind of defeats the purpose.
Title: Planet Terror [DVD version]
Year: 2007
Director: Robert Rodriguez
Writer: Robert Rodriguez
Starring: Rose McGowan, Freddy Rodríguez, Josh Brolin, Marley Shelton, Jeff Fahey, Michael Biehn, Rebel Rodriguez, Bruce Willis, Naveen Andrews
Music: Robert Rodriguez
Synopsis: military experiment-induced zomie invasion
How I saw it: on video, twice (rented from Netflix), most recently May 2008
Subjective Rating: 7/10 (Good).
Objective Rating: 5/10 (points off for story, characters, dialog, cinematography and acting) c. 2.2/4 (Okay).
Title: Death Proof [DVD version]
Year: 2007
Director: Quentin Tarantino
Writer: Quentin Tarantino
Starring: Kurt Russell, Zoe Bell, Rosario Dawson, Vanessa Ferlito, Sydney Tamiia Poitier, Tracie Thoms, Rose McGowan, Jordan Ladd, Mary Elizabeth Winstead
Music: various (basically, a mix tape that's better than the movie)
Synopsis: a stuntman kills girls with his car
How I saw it: on video, twice (rented from Netflix), most recently May 2008
Subjective Rating: 5/10 (Indifferent).
Objective Rating: 3/10 (gets points for concept, special effects/design and music) c. 1.7/4 (Eh).
Year: 2007
Directors: Robert Rodriguez & Quentin Tarantino, with Rob Zombie, Edgar Wright and Eli Roth
Writers: Robert Rodriguez & Quentin Tarantino, with Rob Zombie, Edgar Wright, Jeff Rendell and Eli Roth
Starring: (see below)
Music: Robert Rodriguez and others; mostly non-original music
Distinctions: formerly on IMDb's Top 250
Synopsis: a collection of 70's-style B-movies and fake trailers
How I saw it: online (streaming from Netflix), yesterday
Subjective Rating: 8/10 (Great).
Objective Rating: 5/10 (points off for story, characters, dialog, cinematography and acting) c. 2.4/4 (Okay).
It's interesting how much better these movies are in context. They're significantly shorter (which is a huge help for Death Proof, which is just painful in the DVD version), but I'm not sure that's what does it. Some of the best bits from the longer versions aren't even in this version, while some of the worst bits are. Just the fact that they're stuck together in a single, ridiculous experience makes all the difference. Watching the movies seperately, as if they were real movies, kind of defeats the purpose.
Title: Planet Terror [DVD version]
Year: 2007
Director: Robert Rodriguez
Writer: Robert Rodriguez
Starring: Rose McGowan, Freddy Rodríguez, Josh Brolin, Marley Shelton, Jeff Fahey, Michael Biehn, Rebel Rodriguez, Bruce Willis, Naveen Andrews
Music: Robert Rodriguez
Synopsis: military experiment-induced zomie invasion
How I saw it: on video, twice (rented from Netflix), most recently May 2008
Subjective Rating: 7/10 (Good).
Objective Rating: 5/10 (points off for story, characters, dialog, cinematography and acting) c. 2.2/4 (Okay).
Title: Death Proof [DVD version]
Year: 2007
Director: Quentin Tarantino
Writer: Quentin Tarantino
Starring: Kurt Russell, Zoe Bell, Rosario Dawson, Vanessa Ferlito, Sydney Tamiia Poitier, Tracie Thoms, Rose McGowan, Jordan Ladd, Mary Elizabeth Winstead
Music: various (basically, a mix tape that's better than the movie)
Synopsis: a stuntman kills girls with his car
How I saw it: on video, twice (rented from Netflix), most recently May 2008
Subjective Rating: 5/10 (Indifferent).
Objective Rating: 3/10 (gets points for concept, special effects/design and music) c. 1.7/4 (Eh).
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