Comments: Had too much of the stereotypically cheap 1980's cinema feel for my tastes. Perhaps it just didn't age well.
Additional Info:
WikipediaWednesday, December 26, 2012
Body Double (1984)
Comments: Had too much of the stereotypically cheap 1980's cinema feel for my tastes. Perhaps it just didn't age well.
Saturday, December 22, 2012
Blow Out (1981)
Comments: The cinematography and camera work really grabbed me on this one. Travolta's and Lithgow's performances, the unique use of sound, and the wonderfully captured sound equipment were highlights as well. It gave me a whole new respect for De Palma and the process of making movies
Additional Note: If possible watch the Criterion version and be sure to check out the interview with Garrett Brown. Amazing stuff. The De Palma interview is super good as well.
Additional Info:
WikipediaWednesday, December 19, 2012
The War Of The Worlds (1953)
Comments: Fantastic special effects for its time, however, it had trouble living up to the all great images conjured up by the 1938 radio broadcast with which I was more familiar (probably not a very fair comparison).
Additional Info:
WikipediaSafety Not Guaranteed (2012)
Monday, December 17, 2012
Page Eight (2011)
Comments: A great made-for-TV spy thriller with good depth and superb acting. While the plot shares similarities with many other spy movies, the dialog, acting and the overall mood help set it apart. A must see for anyone who enjoyed Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, The American or others with more intrigue than action.
Additional Info:
Wikipedia(EDU)
Friday, December 14, 2012
Circumstance (2011)
Comments: Stylistic and first rate production along with very believable performances by the two leads and a fairly good storyline make for a very solid movie across the board. I am not sure how accurate it is, but seeing the western influence in Iran was an interesting contrast.
Additional Info:
WikipediaThursday, December 13, 2012
Griff The Invisible (2010)
Comments: It had some promising moments and offered an interesting twist on the homemade superhero genre, but overall it never really got going and ended up being just OK.
Additional Info:
WikipediaTuesday, December 11, 2012
Weekend (2011)
Comments: A solidly directed, well-acted, and very explicit portrayal of the highs and lows of romance. The regular depictions of drug use sometimes detracted a bit from the characters overall appeal, who were otherwise quite endearing and genuine.
Additional Info:
Wikipedia(EDU)
Saturday, December 8, 2012
The Woman In Green (1945)
The House Of Fear (1945)
Comments: A very solid offering from the Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce era of Sherlock Holmes movies. A good blend of mystery, humor, and intrigue, alongside a not overly predictable ending. Lots of fun.
Additional Info:
Wikipedia(T)
White Dog (1982)
Comments: It deserves credit for its underlying message on racism, but the predictable and lackluster storyline and mediocre acting held it back.
Additional Info:
Sunday, December 2, 2012
Road To Nowhere (2010)
Comments: A fantastic puzzle of a movie that both challenges and entertains with its deeply layered story, fine acting, and superb directing by Monte Hellman. Just be ready for some questions that you may not be able to answer.
Additional Info:
Wikipedia(R) (1/3/12)
Thursday, November 29, 2012
In Between Days (2006)
Comments: This is the second So Yong Kim film I've seen and it was more of the same great casting and film making. A very personal and touching portrayal.
Additional Info:
WikipediaWednesday, November 28, 2012
Julia's Eyes (Los ojos de Julia) (2010)
Comments: A decent story with a consistent and well-executed dark mood. It doesn't blow you away, but the solid production and subtle turns should keep you interested.
Additional Info:
WikipediaMonday, November 26, 2012
The Myth Of The American Sleepover (2010)
Comments: Think American Pie mixed with Kids minus most of the bad stuff from Kids and the vulgarity and over-the-top moments from American Pie. The characters are very endearing and the delivery is subtle and sincere. Very refreshing.
Additional Info:
WikipediaFriday, November 23, 2012
Prometheus (2012)
Comments: The stunning visuals and fantastic special effects sometimes took a back seat to a challenging plot and a myriad of questions about it. It definitely warrants a fair amount of thinking and discussion to fully appreciate. Giving it that extra attention does not disappoint.
Additional Info:
WikipediaWednesday, November 21, 2012
The Raid: Redemption (2011)
Comments: This movie contained some of the best and most stylistic action scenes I've seen. The deficiencies in the story, which ran pretty deep, were easily made up for by the in-your-face and sometimes brutal action.
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Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Skyfall (2012)
Comments: The amount of drama seemed a bit thicker than usual, which made it feel a little more lethargic than previous offerings. Otherwise, it was a pretty straight forward Bond affair with some great action sequences and a menacing villain, so fans of the series should not pass it up.
Additional Info:
Wikipedia(T)
Monday, November 19, 2012
Kiss Me Deadly (1955)
Comments: Solid film noir with a hefty dose of violence (for its time) and some cool non-traditional horror and science fiction elements.
Additional Info:
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Godzilla (Gojira) (1954)
Comments: It is a little difficult to see a movie like this in 2012 and have the proper perspective and understanding to appreciate it as much as it should be. I can only imagine how original the story was and how great the effects were for its time. All that being said, I really enjoyed it.
Additional Info:
WikipediaTuesday, November 13, 2012
Black Moon (1975)
Comments: Besides the intriguing start and a few "Oh my gosh" moments along the way, there was not much that kept me engaged. The overt and repetitive strangeness never let up enough to allow for even the slightest hint of a purpose to develop. I would still encourage the curious to check it out though, as I think this is one of those love it or hate it type of films.
Additional Info:
Monday, November 12, 2012
Walkabout (1971)
Comments: I can't speak too much about its underlying meaning, but I thought it was very unique and it did a great job of keeping me interested from beginning to end. It is worth watching for the gorgeous Australian landscapes alone.
Additional Info:
WikipediaSunday, November 11, 2012
Love Crime (2010)
Comments: A well-crafted and smart psychological thriller with a very unique mystery added for good measure. It keeps you guessing and pays out competent rewards.
Additional Info:
WikipediaMulholland Dr. (2001)
Comments: Not quite as accessible as I expected, but very entertaining nonetheless. While some scenes are more rewarding than others, the whole thing is chock full of Lynchian gear changes and perplexities. Just when you think you have things pieced together, you soon discover that you don't.
Additional Info:
WikipediaThursday, November 8, 2012
Vampyr (Der Traum des Allan Grey) (1932)
Comments: Filled to the brim with some seriously eerie and hair-raising images and scenes. The use of shadows and the cinematography made for an amazing atmosphere. The story was a little short on depth and a bit hard to follow at times, but given when it was made, those are probably unfair gripes.
Additional Note: If possible, see the Criterion version of this film. The quality is awesome and the extras, especially the essay, are super insightful.
Additional Info:
WikipediaMonday, November 5, 2012
The Hunter (2011)
Comments: A first-class mix of intrigue, suspense, and mystery. All within the amazing Tasmanian landscapes. Willem Dafoe was awesome and fit the role perfectly. I was really close to giving this an 8.5. A really pleasant surprise all around.
Additional Info:
WikipediaSunday, November 4, 2012
W. (2008)
Comments: Terrific acting by Josh Brolin and Richard Dreyfuss, and the portrayal of Bush’s more private side were highlights, however, Stone's subtle embellishments and the sense of incompleteness that it left me with made it only just above average overall.
Additional Info:
WikipediaFriday, November 2, 2012
The Bay (2012)
Comments: Despite the sometimes distorted and low-quality visuals of the "found video", it did a great job of creating serious tension and holding a steady level of believability throughout. It also has one of the coolest horror movie posters I've seen in quite some time.
Additional Info:
Wikipedia(T)
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Invasion Of The Body Snatchers (1956)
Comments: Does a very good job of living up to its "classic" billing. The combination of simplicity and effectiveness serves as a welcome change from most of the horror movies from the last few decades.
Additional Info:
WikipediaTuesday, October 30, 2012
Yellow Brick Road (2005)
Comments: A very heart warming documentary. It does a great job of connecting the viewer with the performers and trials and fun they have preparing for the performance.
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Sunday, October 28, 2012
Straw Dogs (2011)
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Comments: Very similar to the 1971 original, but I liked the original better mainly for the acting and the slight plot differences. There is nothing overtly bad about this version, but it does very little to separate itself.
Additional Info:
WikipediaThursday, October 25, 2012
Delicatessen (1991)
Comments: A fairly strange story with a very unique presentation. The humor balances out the creepiness quite well and makes for an entertaining watch overall.
Additional Info:
WikipediaWednesday, October 24, 2012
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005)
Comments: A very pleasant surprise with a good balance of humor, action, and mystery. Quality production, story, and acting. Val Kilmer was great in this and makes you wish he was getting more substantial roles. This is a must see for any fan of mystery/crime movies.
Additional Info:
WikipediaTuesday, October 23, 2012
The Spirit Of The Beehive (El espíritu de la colmena) (1973)
Comments: Great cinematography and setting, but had trouble getting into it and finding much reward in the story itself. I don't think my artistic pallet is seasoned enough to appreciate this one, but that should not hold anyone back from seeing it. Saw the Criterion Collection version and the quality was tremendous.
Additional Info:
WikipediaSunday, October 21, 2012
The Cabin In The Woods (2011)
Comments: This one ended up disappointing me a little, mainly because of how far fetched and hokey the story was. The tagline of the trailer is accurate "You think you know the story." is fitting, but I think it cause me to expect too much. It is still worth seeing, especially if you like genre bending films.
Additional Info:
WikipediaSaturday, October 13, 2012
Iron Man 2 (2010)
Comments: Ample fun and action alongside a story that gives the viewer more background on the characters and sets the table well for the things to come. Robert Downey Jr.. is great as the cocky super hero. I enjoyed this one quite a bit more than the original.
Additional Info:
WikipediaTuesday, October 9, 2012
Rescue Dawn (2006)
Comments: This was the first non-documentary film I've seen by Werner Herzog and I was really impressed all around. Great story and solid acting, especially by Bale and Zahn.
Additional Info:
WikipediaMonday, October 8, 2012
Two-Lane Blacktop (1971)
Comments: One of the best car movies I've seen. The '55 Chevy is probably the coolest and meanest car you'll find in any movie. The lack of any tangible storyline seemed to make it better and bolster the overall mood. Seeing James Taylor and Dennis Wilson in their only starring roles was a nice bonus. I can't wait to see more of Monte Hellman's work.
Additional Info:
WikipediaSaturday, October 6, 2012
Kill List (2012)
Comments: The concept of crime and horror in one package was intriguing, but the nonsensical plot and cult infused climax, while surprising, felt over-the-top and pointless.
Additional Info:
WikipediaFriday, October 5, 2012
Headhunters (Hodejegerne) (2011)
Comments: Lots of mayhem, intelligent twists and turns, and some moral sensibility thrown in for good measure. This one really caught me off guard with how good it was.
Additional Info:
WikipediaTuesday, October 2, 2012
The Snowtown Murders (2011)
Comments: The storyline was a bit hard to follow,at times, and even harder to swallow given its grizzly nature and that it was based on true events. On the positive side the general production and acting was very good, especially by Daniel Henshall and Lucas Pittaway.
Additional Info:
WikipediaSunday, September 30, 2012
In Bruges (2008)
Comments: Plenty of wit and vulgarity all well executed by a stacked cast. Good all around fun.
Additional Info:
WikipediaSaturday, September 29, 2012
The Loved Ones (2009)
Comments: I am not sure this lives up to it's nearly perfect Rotten Tomatoes score, but it deserves fairly high marks for the creepiness and the craziness that it pulls off. This one is disturbing for sure, and is not for the faint of heart.
Additional Info:
WikipediaThursday, September 27, 2012
Gasland (2010)
Comments: A very well put together, eye-opening and often scary look at natural gas well drilling in the US and it's health and environmental impacts.
Additional Info:
WikipediaTuesday, After Christmas (Marţi, după Crăciun) (2010)
Comments: Too many scenes seemed slow and drawn without any real purpose or dramatic appeal. To me this would have been better served as a 20 minute short.
Additional Info:
WikipediaTuesday, September 25, 2012
The Dead Girl (2006)
Comments: While some of the segments seem inconsequential to main storyline, they all make you want to know more about the characters and their stories. It.leaves a lot to the imagination. Good cast and acting.
Additional Info:
WikipediaFriday, September 21, 2012
Whale Rider (2002)
Comments: A very good story and solid acting especially by the lead.(Keisha Castle-Hughes). It is worthy of the praise it received.
Additional Info:
WikipediaWednesday, September 19, 2012
Wild Things (1998)
Comments: Despite all the bad acting, the multitude of twists and turns and Bill Murray make this a fairly decent watch.
Additional Info:
Wikipedia
(R)
Monday, September 17, 2012
Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)
Comments: Solid acting and a slightly unconventional storyline make for a pretty solid movie overall, for its genre.
Additional Info:
WikipediaSunday, September 16, 2012
The Thing (2011)
Comments: Not quite as good as I wanted it to be, but not too bad either for what it is. If you like monster/alien stuff, then it is worth watching.
Additional Info:
Wikipedia
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