Crunch On This!
Danny's Movie Blog
Crunch On This!
Red Tails
Red Tails
Starring Cuba Gooding Jr., Terrance Howard, and David Oyelowo
Directed by Anthony Hemingway (HBO’s Treme)
Rated PG-13 for some sequences of war violence
The story of the Tuskegee Airmen is a classic American tale of courage, skill and perseverance. While the U.S. Military did not allow the African American pilots to fight in the main combat arena until towards the end of the war, their record of kills vs. casualties as well as their success at protecting American bombers is a truly fantastic and almost unbelievable achievement. So there is also no doubt that these brave men of the 332nd Fighter Group deserve to be heralded and have their story preserved in film. The problem is that they deserve a much better legacy than this.
The 1995 HBO movie The Tuskegee Airmen was a decent enough approach to the subject but had many problems. That is probably why Executive Producer George Lucas and others at Lucas Films wanted to improve upon the story. Unfortunately, the only thing that was improved upon was the special effects. The aerial effects are truly spectacular and the fight sequences are surprisingly exciting. I say surprisingly because while everything in the air is gold, everything on the ground is lame.
Many will come away saying the acting is just plain lousy, but that’s not altogether true. There are some decent performers here that should have had a better script to read from. The dialog is very poorly written throughout and most of the characters are nothing more than cookie cutter caricatures. I’m shocked that many of the characters even had names. At least there was some personality given to the members of the 332nd, because the white characters in the film were treated like complete stereotypes. There was “Racist General,” “Nice White Pilot,” “Racist Nazi Pilot” and many other completely contrived characters who only detracted from the power of the overall story. But even the main characters suffered from a lack of substance. The only member of the cast that got a sufficient plot line was that of Joe “Lightening” Little (Oyelowo) but his story alone couldn’t save the film.
Another serious issue with the script is its historical accuracy. It’s widely known that the Tuskegee Airmen were extremely successful, but this film makes them look invincible. While they lost less than most, they lost many more than this film represents. Their version of the war is almost like a video game where the hero has to make it at least to the end. War movies by nature revolve around the loss of human life and to show war differently is both deceptive and dishonorable. This lack of humility to the very idea of war distracts from the movie and steals away any credibility they manage to achieve.
The fact is that there is potential greatness in this premise and the film itself could have been another Glory. But rather than making an inspired and inspirational film, the filmmakers settled for a visually captivating movie that serves as a poor representation of the men who gallantly fought in WWII and surprised a nation. C
New in Home Entertainment - January 24, 2012
New in Home Entertainment
January 24, 2012
Real Steel
Rated PG-13 for some violence, intense action and brief language
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
When I was a kid I used to have the old Mattel game Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em which placed you against a friend in a robotic boxing match. Now, decades later, comes the real thing with Hugh Jackman as a retired boxer trying to make it in the futuristic sport of robot fighting. While the film is based on a 1956 short story by Richard Matheson, and not on the classic game, you get the sense that there were a lot of fans of the game on the production team. The good news is that the fight sequences are pretty fantastic just as you would hope. The bad news is that the writing is not nearly as strong as the special effects. The script is full of bad exposition and cheesy dialog. Jackman is a very good actor, but its hard to overcome a bad screenplay. Still, I was hoping for an entertaining film filled with over-the-top robot fighting and that’s precisely what I got. B-
Paranormal Activity 3
Rated R for some violence, language, brief sexuality and drug use
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
The first two films in this now very popular franchise sent chills up my spine. In fact, I found them to be absolutely terrifying. With the success of the first two, a third was inevitable and this time around they chose a prequel. Following the young sisters, Katie and Kristi, PA 3 sticks tight to the same trick, having the characters set up video cameras to capture the demon in action. This time around the nuance has worn off though and while there are some creative scares and a lot of creepy material, the pic is not as effective at creating goosebumps. B-
50/50
Rated R for language throughout, sexual content and some drug use
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Sometimes your favorite movies are the ones that you expect very little from and then bop you over the head. This was definitely one of those movies for me. I honestly blew this one off thinking that I saw it the first time when it was called Funny People. I was dead wrong. This highly personal story based on the real-life relationship between writer Will Reiser and actor Seth Rogen is a powerhouse of a script about a young man (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) who gets a dire cancer diagnosis and subsequently fights it to the best of his ability while preparing for the worst. It’s rare to have a film like this that is as funny as it is moving but the amazing cast and the material they had to work with allow for a terrific movie that will leave you very entertained. A
Belle De Jour: The Criterion Collection
Unrated
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
About a decade ago Martin Scorsese supervised spearheaded the restoration and re-release of this classic 1967 French film by famed director Luis Banuel and now its Criterion’s turn with this new high-definition digital restoration. This story about a Parisian housewife, beautifully portrayed by Catherine Deneuve, who fights the boredom of her empty life by becoming a prostitute is a fascinating character study that will leave you haunted. This new edition comes fully loaded with tons of extras about the film and its legacy. B+
New in Home Entertainment - January 17, 2012
New in Home Entertainment
January 17, 2011
Courageous
Rated PG-13 for some violence and drug content
Available on DVD, Blu-ray and VOD
Some would say that a good Christian film is an oxymoron, and I would say that while there is truth in that statement, that’s not always true. Over the last few years we’ve seen some pretty decent examples of the genre including the Narnia series and To Save a Life. Unfortunately, this new pic from the makers of the relatively successful films Fireproof and Facing the Giants is a bit of a dud. Just like their previous films, the intention here is good. The overall story about a group of cops who want to be better leaders of their families has the potential for a good family-friendly film. After all, the filmmakers really want their viewers, especially men, to focus on their home lives and become Christians with integrity - and there is certainly nothing wrong with that. The problem is that while they mean well, the message is clouded by some pretty poor examples of acting, writing and directing. Some of the scenes are bearable, but much of the film is cringe-inducing. If this is a genre you truly love, you might value the message over the media and find a way to enjoy the film, but if you are the average movie-watching public, this movie could be a real turnoff. The good news is that the production looks and sounds professional. I just wish that the production company, Affirm Films, would spend some of their profits on making sure their next film doesn’t suffer from these obvious problems. C
The Guard
Rated R for pervasive language, some violence, drug material and sexual content
Available on DVD, Blu-ray and VOD
In this indie favorite, Brendan Gleeson (Braveheart) is an exceptional but unorthodox cop from Ireland who teams up with an FBI agent (Ocean 11’s Don Cheadle) in order to track down a ruthless drug-smuggling ring. Trying to stay away from the traditional cop buddy film genre, writer/director John Michael McDonagh gives the film a bleak look while providing a wry sense of humor that borders on the abstract. The movie turns out to be funny and gloomy at the same time without coming off as a traditional dark comedy. The characters are very different from the norm which gives the talented cast much to chew on. If you are expecting Lethal Weapon, you’ll most likely be sorely disappointed, but if you are in the mood for a strange little dramedy with nice twists and unexpected dialog, you might find yourself having a good time. B+
Memphis
Available on DVD, Blu-ray and Netflix
In 2010 the Broadway musical Memphis surprised the world by winning the Tony for Best Musical. This interracial love story set in 1950’s Memphis tells the story of a white DJ who was instrumental in introducing the white world to black music. The story feels like a hybrid of Ragtime and Hairspray but never quite achieves the power of either. Most of the music is good although there are a few stinkers in the songbook. The performances are all excellent except for that of the lead, played by Chad Kimball. I know he was nominated for a Tony for the role, but I found his performance to be one of the most irritating and overrated performances in recent memory. Still, I like the fact that more and more musicals are being released in this format and the fact that the show is still alive and well on Broadway and on tour proves that it has legs and is still capable of entertaining large audiences. B-
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
Starring Thomas Horn, Max von Sydow, Sandra Bullock and Tom Hanks
Directed by Stephen Daldry (Billy Elliot)
Rated PG-13 for emotional thematic material, some disturbing images and language
There is a moment in Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close where the young boy played by Thomas Horn covers his ears and yells at his father, played by Tom Hanks, begging him to not be disappointed in him. It is a startling and rather tender moment that shatters any misconception that the boy is cold and unfeeling or anything besides strong, resilient, and a little obnoxious. Taking place in New York City shortly after the 9/11 attacks, the boy is learning to live without his father who was killed while in the World Trade Center. He worshipped his father and wants nothing more in life than to make him proud. When he finds a key hidden in his father’s closet he goes on a desperate mission to discover what the key opens, even at the expense of missing school and practically abandoning his mother (Sandra Bullock). Soon after he begins his search, his adventure is shared with an older man carrying an important secret (Max von Sydow) who is eager to aid him on his quest.
I must warn you that this movie is a major tear jerker. Some might call it manipulative, but it’s not overly so. It’s just a subject matter that brings out a very strong emotional response. But don’t think that this is merely a sad film. It is about love and loss, but more importantly its about not giving up. Even when all seems lost, all might not be completely gone. It’s also very funny and incredibly moving.
Based on the best-selling novel by Jonathan Safran Foer, the movie is a compassionate yet challenging look at what we as a nation lost on that “worst day.” Through the boy’s eyes we see a world that can be cruel, but that can also be filled with love, laughter and adventure.
The acting here is absolutely top-notched. It helps to have accomplished actors such as Hanks, Bullock and von Sydow, but Horn appears to have been up to the challenge of working with such a talented cast. His character is that of a very different boy with possible high-functioning autism. It’s a tough part and he did a splendid job.
The story and the script here are what make the film so special. To come up with such an amazing idea for the novel and then to have it terrifically adapted by Academy Award winner Eric Roth (Forest Gump) is an amazing feat which seems so effortless here.
A lot of credit also goes to Stephen Daldry who has become quite a masterful story teller. He never shies away from tough material and seems to always churn out great movies.
Lastly, unlike the other two big 9/11 films, I think it’s a movie that audiences can get behind. It’s a very unique tale that many will find a deep connection with. A
New in Home Entertainment - January 10, 2012
New in Home Entertainment
January 10, 2012
Boardwalk Empire: The Complete First Season
Rated TV-MA
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
While HBO’s True Blood is certainly a popular replacement for their hit shows The Sopranos, Rome, Six Feet Under and Deadwood, HBO was in desperate need for another critical hit and it certainly found it in Boardwalk Empire. Set in the 1920’s in the very corrupt Atlantic City, New Jersey, Empire follows the life and times of Nucky Thompson (Steve Buscemi) who takes advantage of prohibition in order get rich off of the illegal booze trade. As you expect, there are many folks who try to get in the way including his former protege Jimmy Darmody (Michael Pitt) and the feds led by Agent Van Alden (Michael Shannon). From the lavish production design to the pitch perfect writing and acting, this is one heck of a great drama which proves once again that television is sometimes immensely more entertaining than the movies. A
Moneyball
Rated PG-13 for some strong language
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
While I can appreciate baseball, I’ve never really loved the sport, but one thing I do love is a good baseball movie and Moneyball certainly falls into that category. Loosely based on the true story of Oakland A’s general manager Billy Beane (Brad Pitt), Moneyball follows Beane during the historic 2002 season when he chose to use statistics rather than traditional scouting in order to assemble a ball team that could fall within his budget and win in the postseason. The movie works so well in its off-the-field moments that it almost doesn’t matter that the gameplay scenes rather stink. That is mostly due to the talent of Pitt as well as his by-the-numbers assistant played by Jonah Hill. The pic is a real crowd pleaser and should leave you with a big grin on your face. B+
Killer Elite
Rated R for strong violence, language and some sexuality/nudity
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Supposedly based on a true story, Killer Elite follows a contract killer (Jason Statham) who is forced to do a complicated mission in order to save the life of his mentor (Robert De Niro). With a talented cast like this you would think there was a chance to be a strong action thriller. While Statham is his normal kick-butt self and his scenes are fun to watch simply due to his antics, the convoluted plot only makes for a good head-scratching and the writing is, for the most part, total crap. So if you are just looking for a rental with decent action, you’ll probably enjoy it, but if you are expecting something great from a great cast, you will most likely be disappointed. C
New in Home Entertainment - January 3, 2012
New in Home Entertainment
January 3, 2012
Contagion
Rated PG-13 for disturbing content and some language
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Director Stephen Soderbergh (Traffic) loves to assemble big casts of A-list actors and place them masterfully into ensemble films. Here he tells the story of a fictitious pandemic starting from the very first victim until its tragic end. Matt Damon, Marion Cotillard, Lawrence Fishburne, Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow and Kate Winslet all combine forces to provide an idea of what could very well happen if a deadly contagious disease traveled the world today. It’s a grim tale well told and aside from the ending which was a bit too tidy, it’s a very solid film. Not only will it entertain you but it also provides a nice “what if” scenario that is extremely believable. B+
Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark
Rated R for violence and terror
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
While this indie horror film about a young girl haunted by miniature monsters is sold as a Guillermo Del Toro film, don’t be fooled. Del Toro wrote the screenplay but the film was directed by first time feature director Troy Nixey and the lack of experience shows. The premise of the film isn’t bad, and the creatures are fairly creepy, but the movie is poorly directed and lacks any scares aside from the big one seen in the trailer. Perhaps if Del Toro would have taken on a larger role this film might have been a nice twisted macabre masterpiece, but instead it is a forgettable dud. C-
Mildred Pierce: The Collector’s Edition
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
HBO once again proves that they are the king of miniseries with this terrific adaption of the novel by James M. Cain about a divorced single mom (Kate Winslet) in Depression-era Los Angeles who struggles to maintain even a strained relationship with her daughter (Evan Rachel Wood). Directed by Todd Haynes (Far From Heaven) the story is very different from the 1945 Joan Crawford classic and with its 344 minute running time it becomes more of an epic than a drama. The performances from Winslet and Guy Pearce are most definitely worthy of their Emmy wins and the overall production is a remarkable feet for HBO to have accomplished. A-
The Adventures of Tintin
The Adventures of Tintin
Starring Jamie Bell, Andy Serkis and Daniel Craig
Directed by Steven Spielberg
Rated PG for adventure action violence, some drunkenness and brief smoking
Based on the famous comic books by Herge′, this first of what are sure to be many adventures of the character Tintin finds the young detective Tintin on a dangerous quest to find the location of three secret scrolls, all of which are individually contained within the models of a ship called The Unicorn, that will eventually lead him to a great treasure. Along with his brave dog Snowy and the inebriated Captain Haddock, the team competes with the sinister Mr. Sakharine in the race to find the scrolls and the mystery behind them.
If you are like me and very American, you will have probably never heard of Tintin. One of the reasons Spielberg opened the movie in Europe almost two months before the U.S. premiere is because Tintin is a national treasure there. While the movie is having a tough time coming out of the gate here, worldwide it has already grossed over a quarter billion dollars. But just because the character is not an icon here as it is there, don’t be surprised if he starts to makes some inroads.
Americans love thrilling movies and this one is non-stop action and adventure. The journey starts almost as soon as the film begins and doesn’t let up until the credits. It’s like a 107 minute roller coaster that doesn’t make you sick.
The film has several other admirable qualities, chief among them is the animation. Using motion capture, Spielberg has managed to create a breathtakingly beautiful world that you can’t take your eyes off of. So far the films that have utilized this technology form animation (i.e. Mars Needs Moms, Beowulf, The Polar Express) have had what many consider to be a creepy look. Tintin however has a brand new style that is mesmerizing. It’s so captivating that I had to watch the film twice in order to fully understand the plot simply because the look was distracting from the story. The story is fine, but the art takes over completely.
The one thing that American audiences will find most troubling is the lack of character development. When you watch the Indiana Jones sequels you’ll notice a lack of character development simply because you are so familiar with the lead character, thanks to Raiders of the Lost Ark, and it’s okay to jump right into the action. Rather than go into a genesis story which would give you that same familiarity, Spielberg chose to jump right in under the assumption that most international audiences won’t need it. I think he hoped that American audiences would be sophisticated enough to go without as well. Would I have liked a genesis story? Absolutely, as will many of you. I’m probably not going to go back and read the comics just to have a better appreciation of the history of Tintin. This strategy in telling the tale might just hurt the chances of a humongous domestic box office, but I’m sure that is a risk they were willing to take, and so far it has paid off.
Also of note is that this should have been a PG-13 movie. It doesn’t have any bad language or sex, but there is plenty of violence and drinking that will make parents of young children uncomfortable. Also, I don’t think young children will have an appreciation of anything more than the colors as the story is complicated and might be a little too hard to follow for them. B+
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Starring Daniel Craig, Rooney Mara and Christopher Plummer
Directed by David Fincher (The Social Network)
Rated R for brutal violence including rape and torture, strong sexuality, graphic nudity, and language
Based on the best-selling novel by Swedish author Stieg Larsson, Girl tells the story of a Swedish magazine journalist (Craig) who goes on the search for a woman who has been missing for forty years. When his search becomes overly tedious, he acquires the help of a young but brilliant computer hacker with a huge set of personal issues (Mara). Together they find themselves on the verge of not only finding their missing woman, but uncovering a hidden secret that has plagued a northern Swedish town for decades.
Before I dive into the obvious, I will admit that this new version of the huge best-seller is pretty darn good. It is a dark and frightening film that is a testament to what a film can be when you put a lot of money behind great source material and then hire the best director, writer and actors to build it.
And now the elephant in the room: why did we need the film to begin with? In 2009 the first of the trilogy was released with another great director, writer and stellar cast. Sure it was in Swedish, and you had to read subtitles, but that didn’t seem to matter since the film ended up being a huge international success both financially and critically. Also, the lead actors both ended up as the stars of two other big competing holiday films (Michael Nyqvist in Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol and Noomi Rapace in the new Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows). The film won many awards and made many critics’ top ten lists that year.
And yet two years later the Americans decide they can best it. Well of course they can, but what’s the point? If the film wasn’t released in the US or had little recognition that would be one thing, but that simply isn’t the case. Did Fincher do a better job? Yes, but not that much better. Is Steven Zaillian’s script better written? Of course but both scripts relied heavily on the source material by Stieg Larsson. Are the actors better? Not hardly. They are better looking, that’s for sure, but both casts were fantastic. It’s one of those situations where you feel that instead of the filmmakers asking themselves if they could make a better movie, they needed to ask themselves if they should.
Also, I think Columbia Pictures has been confused about this project for a while. They’ve done a poor job marketing it, partly because I don’t think they have a clue how to sell it to American audiences. They didn’t allow most critics groups to see the film before voting deadlines, which means they are only banking on possible Oscar nominations with no buzz leading up to it. And then you have the fact that they are releasing the film on an extremely crowded Christmas weekend which is a horrible date for a movie of this nature. Most Americans will go see a movie with their families over the holidays and I seriously doubt that audiences will choose a film about sexual violence over typical holiday fare like action and comedy.
I’m sure many of you though haven’t seen the original and are asking yourselves if it is worth a go. At that point the answer is yes. This is a very good film, but be prepared for a disturbing drama. The original title of the book is “Men Who Hate Women.” Of course “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” has a nicer ring to it, but the actual Swedish title is a better descriptor. Sexual violence is not an easy subject matter to explore and that’s the theme of the entire film. A-
New in Home Entertainment - December 27, 2011
New in Home Entertainment
December 27, 2011
The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret: Series One
Available on DVD
In this ridiculously funny IFC original series, Todd Margaret (David Cross) is an inept American employee of a company run by an even more incompetent boss (Will Arnett) to become the new UK sales manager for a North Korean-made energy drink called Thunder Muscle. Addicted to lying and making bad choices, Margaret goes from one horribly uncomfortable situation to the next. While completely outlandish, the show is absolutely hilarious and a quick cure for those who miss British series such as The Office or Extras. B+
Apollo 18
Rated PG-13 for some disturbing sequences and language
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
While Apollo 17 was officially the last of the Apollo missions, the U.S. Department of Defense secretly launched one more and the footage from that voyage has been locked away, until now. While Blair Witch, Cloverfield and the Paranormal Activity franchise have made quite a splash with this “found footage” horror genre, Apollo 18 just doesn’t deliver the goods necessary to scare the daylights out of you. I think that the potential was there and there are some creepy moments with a nice mood throughout, but the fact is that I just wasn’t scared. I never once got a shiver in my spine. It doesn’t help that the characters are fairly boring and the acting isn’t the strongest. But more importantly, while the gimmick is interesting, the filmmakers couldn’t quite pull it off. C+
A Farewell to Arms (1932)
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
This first film adaptation of Ernest Hemingway’s about a young ambulance driver who falls in love with a lovely nurse during WWI is finally getting a beautiful new release by Kino. While Hemingway was very vocal about how much he didn’t like this adaptation of his book, it walked away with two Oscars (cinematography and sound) and was nominated for two more (picture and art direction). It was also the film that put Gary Cooper on the map and made him the star he became. I’ll admit that the movie is a little corny and the chemistry isn’t the best between Cooper and Helen Hayes, but overall it’s a beautiful example of early filmmaking and this new release by Kino is exemplary. B-
The Borgias: The First Season
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Trying to capitalize on its hit show The Tudors, Showtime turned to Rome in the late 1400s as the Borgia family, billed here as the original crime family. Led by their patriarch, Rodrigo Borgia, brilliantly played by Jeremy Irons, the Borgia family manages to place Rodrigo as pope. As head of the Roman Catholic church he desperately commits every sin possible in order to retain his powerful position. While much creative license was taken in the storytelling, the writing and acting are solid and the deceit and lechery make it a very interesting show to watch. With a creator like Neil Jordan (The Crying Game), it’s no wonder these nine episodes are so enjoyable. B
The Best and Worst of 2011
The Best and Worst of 2011
In 2010 my list was top-heavy with animated films. As a big fan of animation storytelling, I love it when a year has so many great examples of the art. Unfortunately 2011 wasn’t a good year for animation, and overall there were a lot of stinkers in theaters. While I did enjoy Arthur Christmas and had a fun time checking out The Adventures of Tintin, neither was close to the quality of How to Train Your Dragon, Toy Story 3 or Tangled.
This year had some great cinematic moments, including my top film of the year which I consider to be one of the best of the last decade. There was a lot of emotion this year, some terrific drama, and an immense amount of creativity and advancement of the cinematic art form. I was surprised to find that most of my favorites this year didn’t come out in December as is usual, but instead have been out for months and many are already available for you to watch at home.
As for the worst films? Why isn’t the new Twilight or Jack and Jill on there you might ask? That’s simple. I try not to watch bad films. I like to have at least the hope that I might like it if I’m to spend two hours or more watching it. All of these bad films actually held some potential at some point before I suffered through them.
The Best of 2011:
1) The Tree of Life. How do you even start to explore God’s complex relationship with mankind on film? Many artists have attempted to take on this task but none has ever done so as elegantly as Terrence Malick. The film has a dreamy, ethereal quality about it that asks more questions than provides answers, but it is all done in such a way as to bring comfort to the receptive soul watching it. Brad Pitt and Jessica Chastain turn in electrifying performances as the parents of three boys in 1950‘s Waco, Texas, but the film is bigger than the actors. While Pitt, Chastain and Sean Penn are the known stars of the film, they are really merely just the colors on the canvas being masterfully painted by Malick. Possibly the most polarizing film in many years (just as many folks hated it as loved it) but those that loved it, like myself, have a connection to the picture that is hard to explain. I was mesmerized and exhilarated by every minute. It’s the kind of theatrical experience I didn’t know was even possible.
2) Warrior. When Warrior was released in early September I was convinced that it would be a huge hit. Afterall, they took UFC fighting, a very popular sport, and created an emotional powerhouse of a story around it with a wallop of an ending that would have any grown man in tears. Watching the film land with a thud at the box office really hurt. I’m still convinced that the reason it isn’t getting the nominations from critics groups is that enough people still haven’t seen it. So now my hope is that when it is released this week on blu-ray and digital download that people will finally take a look. I feel this movie has the power to become the next Fight Club or Office Space if the word gets out. If there is one movie from this list that I insist you watch, Warrior is it.
3) Midnight in Paris. I will freely admit that seeing this film while flying to Paris last month added much to my enjoyment of it, but regardless, this is Woody Allen’s best film since Annie Hall. Allen’s story about a young writer living in Paris who is transported back to the 1920’s every night at midnight is absolutely magical. If you are one of those that just doesn’t like Allen due to personal feelings, you may be glad to know that he is only behind the camera here. But whether or not you love or hate him, it’s hard not to appreciate the genius of his work here. It’s hard to imagine this comedy not putting a big cheesy smile on your face. And just like Warrior, Midnight in Paris comes out this week on DVD and blu-ray.
4) Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. Don’t be surprised if you haven’t heard of this film yet as it won’t be released until late January, but let’s just say you’ll have a pleasant surprise in about a month. As you can probably imagine, making a movie about the events of September 11 without creating an aura of depression would be a difficult task. Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock are the parents of a uniquely strange nine-year-old who is doesn’t know how to cope with the fact that his father has been killed in the terrorist attacks. When he finds a key belonging to his father he starts off on a journey to discover whatever it may be his dad left him to find. This movie is not completely without tears (you may in fact need a large pocket stuffed with tissues) but the story is as powerful as it gets and the performances are incredibly moving.
5) The Help. Making a movie about the 60’s civil rights movement that is as funny as it is sobering is quite an accomplished task. Relative new-comer Tate Taylor wrote and directed this adaptation of the best-selling novel by Kathryn Stockett and the risk by Disney and DreamWorks has paid off big time with its $200 million haul. More than that though, they made a movie to be proud of with one of the best ensemble casts seen this year.
6) 50/50. Before going to see this I was certain that I would leave the theater imitating David Spade by saying “I liked it better the first time I saw it when it was called Funny People.” Needless to say I was wrong. Yes, Seth Rogen again plays the friend of a cancer victim who is given a horrible prognosis, but the script here is so much stronger and strangely hilarious. Joseph Gordon-Levitt is terrific in the role of the young man with terminal cancer and Anna Kendrick once again redeems herself after putting us through so many bad Twilight films. The big star here though is writer Will Reiser and his very brave script based on his own life and his relationship with his friend Seth Rogen.
7) The Artist. I’m sure most of you are very skeptical about all of these critics talking so highly about a French black and white silent film. I was too until I sat down to watch it. The film tells the story of a silent movie star, played brilliantly here by Jean Dujardin, who becomes obsolete once the talkies hit the scene. Writer/director Michel Hazanavicius has created a very original and lovely film that will entertain anybody willing to give it a chance.
8) Hugo. So much money was wasted this year on completely crappy 3D versions of movies. In fact, many audiences have shunned the technology and have opted to both save money and have a more enjoyable time by not sitting through the lame effects studios have thrown down in the hopes of a bigger return. Fortunately there are still films like Hugo which uses 3D the way it should be used: to greatly enhance the storytelling. Director Martin Scorsese has done a tremendous job of creating an innovative family film about a young orphan in 1930’s Paris who finds himself struggling to not get sent to an orphanage by secretly living behind the walls of a train station. When the boy’s secret is discovered, so is his journey which his father led him to before he died. Hugo is simply a fun and beautiful adventure which perfectly utilizes the much-abused 3D technology.
9) Rise of the Planet of the Apes. Aside from the ridiculous “damn dirty ape” comment by Draco Malfoy at the beginning of the third act, this wildly creative film that sets up the iconic but silly franchise is anything but just another Planet of the Apes film. Every few years a film comes along that breaks new ground technologically, but in order to give that film credibility, a great story has to take place, and Rise does just that.
10) The Descendants. I love Alexander Payne films and The Descendants falls right in line with his other superb work such as Sideways and About Schmidt. The very understated performance by George Clooney as a husband and father who finds out his wife, who is in a coma, has been cheating on him, will no doubt place him once again as an Oscar front-runner.
Honorable Mention: A Separation, The Adventures of Tintin, Arthur Christmas, Beginners, Bridesmaids, Buck, Life in a Day, The Elephant in the Living Room, Horrible Bosses, Mission Impossible 4: Ghost Protocol, Moneyball, The Muppets, My Week With Marilyn, Project Nim, Shame, Take Shelter
The Worst of 2011:
1) Your Highness. Oscar-winning actress Natalie Portman teams up with Oscar-nominee James Franco and Danny McBride for the most disappointing film of the year. The only excuse I can think of for this waste of space is that they were all too stoned to practice good judgment.
2) The Change-Up. The good idea was there, the perfect cast was assembled, but the atrocious script ultimately ruined any chance of laughter.
3) Sucker Punch. Okay Zack Snyder, I’ll admit 300 was pretty cool and Watchmen was interesting, but Sucker Punch? You’ve gone too far dude. There’s no excuse for this mess of a film. And don’t try crying about how the studio made you trim it up too much. I saw your director’s cut and it sucked just as bad.
4) Arthur. Let’s take a movie that wasn’t very good to begin with and remake it with a wannabe movie star who likes to act drunk all of the time in real life. Sound like a good idea? I thought not.
5) The Hangover Part II. Second verse, same as the first. If I wanted to see the first movie again, I would have simply watched it again. I really want to like these guys but I feel a bit deceived.
In 2010 my list was top-heavy with animated films. As a big fan of animation storytelling, I love it when a year has so many great examples of the art. Unfortunately 2011 wasn’t a good year for animation, and overall there were a lot of stinkers in theaters. While I did enjoy Arthur Christmas and had a fun time checking out The Adventures of Tintin, neither was close to the quality of How to Train Your Dragon, Toy Story 3 or Tangled.
This year had some great cinematic moments, including my top film of the year which I consider to be one of the best of the last decade. There was a lot of emotion this year, some terrific drama, and an immense amount of creativity and advancement of the cinematic art form. I was surprised to find that most of my favorites this year didn’t come out in December as is usual, but instead have been out for months and many are already available for you to watch at home.
As for the worst films? Why isn’t the new Twilight or Jack and Jill on there you might ask? That’s simple. I try not to watch bad films. I like to have at least the hope that I might like it if I’m to spend two hours or more watching it. All of these bad films actually held some potential at some point before I suffered through them.
The Best of 2011:
1) The Tree of Life. How do you even start to explore God’s complex relationship with mankind on film? Many artists have attempted to take on this task but none has ever done so as elegantly as Terrence Malick. The film has a dreamy, ethereal quality about it that asks more questions than provides answers, but it is all done in such a way as to bring comfort to the receptive soul watching it. Brad Pitt and Jessica Chastain turn in electrifying performances as the parents of three boys in 1950‘s Waco, Texas, but the film is bigger than the actors. While Pitt, Chastain and Sean Penn are the known stars of the film, they are really merely just the colors on the canvas being masterfully painted by Malick. Possibly the most polarizing film in many years (just as many folks hated it as loved it) but those that loved it, like myself, have a connection to the picture that is hard to explain. I was mesmerized and exhilarated by every minute. It’s the kind of theatrical experience I didn’t know was even possible.
2) Warrior. When Warrior was released in early September I was convinced that it would be a huge hit. Afterall, they took UFC fighting, a very popular sport, and created an emotional powerhouse of a story around it with a wallop of an ending that would have any grown man in tears. Watching the film land with a thud at the box office really hurt. I’m still convinced that the reason it isn’t getting the nominations from critics groups is that enough people still haven’t seen it. So now my hope is that when it is released this week on blu-ray and digital download that people will finally take a look. I feel this movie has the power to become the next Fight Club or Office Space if the word gets out. If there is one movie from this list that I insist you watch, Warrior is it.
3) Midnight in Paris. I will freely admit that seeing this film while flying to Paris last month added much to my enjoyment of it, but regardless, this is Woody Allen’s best film since Annie Hall. Allen’s story about a young writer living in Paris who is transported back to the 1920’s every night at midnight is absolutely magical. If you are one of those that just doesn’t like Allen due to personal feelings, you may be glad to know that he is only behind the camera here. But whether or not you love or hate him, it’s hard not to appreciate the genius of his work here. It’s hard to imagine this comedy not putting a big cheesy smile on your face. And just like Warrior, Midnight in Paris comes out this week on DVD and blu-ray.
4) Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. Don’t be surprised if you haven’t heard of this film yet as it won’t be released until late January, but let’s just say you’ll have a pleasant surprise in about a month. As you can probably imagine, making a movie about the events of September 11 without creating an aura of depression would be a difficult task. Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock are the parents of a uniquely strange nine-year-old who is doesn’t know how to cope with the fact that his father has been killed in the terrorist attacks. When he finds a key belonging to his father he starts off on a journey to discover whatever it may be his dad left him to find. This movie is not completely without tears (you may in fact need a large pocket stuffed with tissues) but the story is as powerful as it gets and the performances are incredibly moving.
5) The Help. Making a movie about the 60’s civil rights movement that is as funny as it is sobering is quite an accomplished task. Relative new-comer Tate Taylor wrote and directed this adaptation of the best-selling novel by Kathryn Stockett and the risk by Disney and DreamWorks has paid off big time with its $200 million haul. More than that though, they made a movie to be proud of with one of the best ensemble casts seen this year.
6) 50/50. Before going to see this I was certain that I would leave the theater imitating David Spade by saying “I liked it better the first time I saw it when it was called Funny People.” Needless to say I was wrong. Yes, Seth Rogen again plays the friend of a cancer victim who is given a horrible prognosis, but the script here is so much stronger and strangely hilarious. Joseph Gordon-Levitt is terrific in the role of the young man with terminal cancer and Anna Kendrick once again redeems herself after putting us through so many bad Twilight films. The big star here though is writer Will Reiser and his very brave script based on his own life and his relationship with his friend Seth Rogen.
7) The Artist. I’m sure most of you are very skeptical about all of these critics talking so highly about a French black and white silent film. I was too until I sat down to watch it. The film tells the story of a silent movie star, played brilliantly here by Jean Dujardin, who becomes obsolete once the talkies hit the scene. Writer/director Michel Hazanavicius has created a very original and lovely film that will entertain anybody willing to give it a chance.
8) Hugo. So much money was wasted this year on completely crappy 3D versions of movies. In fact, many audiences have shunned the technology and have opted to both save money and have a more enjoyable time by not sitting through the lame effects studios have thrown down in the hopes of a bigger return. Fortunately there are still films like Hugo which uses 3D the way it should be used: to greatly enhance the storytelling. Director Martin Scorsese has done a tremendous job of creating an innovative family film about a young orphan in 1930’s Paris who finds himself struggling to not get sent to an orphanage by secretly living behind the walls of a train station. When the boy’s secret is discovered, so is his journey which his father led him to before he died. Hugo is simply a fun and beautiful adventure which perfectly utilizes the much-abused 3D technology.
9) Rise of the Planet of the Apes. Aside from the ridiculous “damn dirty ape” comment by Draco Malfoy at the beginning of the third act, this wildly creative film that sets up the iconic but silly franchise is anything but just another Planet of the Apes film. Every few years a film comes along that breaks new ground technologically, but in order to give that film credibility, a great story has to take place, and Rise does just that.
10) The Descendants. I love Alexander Payne films and The Descendants falls right in line with his other superb work such as Sideways and About Schmidt. The very understated performance by George Clooney as a husband and father who finds out his wife, who is in a coma, has been cheating on him, will no doubt place him once again as an Oscar front-runner.
Honorable Mention: A Separation, The Adventures of Tintin, Arthur Christmas, Beginners, Bridesmaids, Buck, Life in a Day, The Elephant in the Living Room, Horrible Bosses, Mission Impossible 4: Ghost Protocol, Moneyball, The Muppets, My Week With Marilyn, Project Nim, Shame, Take Shelter
The Worst of 2011:
1) Your Highness. Oscar-winning actress Natalie Portman teams up with Oscar-nominee James Franco and Danny McBride for the most disappointing film of the year. The only excuse I can think of for this waste of space is that they were all too stoned to practice good judgment.
2) The Change-Up. The good idea was there, the perfect cast was assembled, but the atrocious script ultimately ruined any chance of laughter.
3) Sucker Punch. Okay Zack Snyder, I’ll admit 300 was pretty cool and Watchmen was interesting, but Sucker Punch? You’ve gone too far dude. There’s no excuse for this mess of a film. And don’t try crying about how the studio made you trim it up too much. I saw your director’s cut and it sucked just as bad.
4) Arthur. Let’s take a movie that wasn’t very good to begin with and remake it with a wannabe movie star who likes to act drunk all of the time in real life. Sound like a good idea? I thought not.
5) The Hangover Part II. Second verse, same as the first. If I wanted to see the first movie again, I would have simply watched it again. I really want to like these guys but I feel a bit deceived.