Stake Land 7/10
This genre-bending thriller combines vampires, religious fanatics and post-apocalyptic horrors with a coming-of-age tale that finds drifter Mister (Nick Damici) training young Martin (Connor Paolo) to survive the nightmare that has become America as they journey to New Eden.
Pretty good for a horror movie I had never heard of. Enjoyed it all the way up to the end.
Pretty much delivered what i expected. Lots of fun action.
American Reunion - 7.5/10
Again, basically exactly what i was hoping for.
Always been a fan of the American Pie series (the ones with the original cast), and this one delivered a good helping of laughs and groans, as always.
The Darkest Hour - 6/10
Pretty ridiculous movie, but still decent suspense, tensions, and action through out.
The 400 Blows - 8.5/10:
This was good, but I'm surprised it's as popular as it is. A great example of French new wave, but it wasn't one of the best movies I've ever seen, so maybe that accounts for my relatively low rating.
The film is about a young trouble-making boy, Antoine, who lives in Paris with his parents. The film documents his relationship with his parents, his friends, and the world while he continuously finds a way to screw up. The film's title is a straight translation from the French title, and its meaning is lost...
It's a beautiful film and the score is great. The actor playing Antoine was perfect and so was all of the cast. Some things felt a little flat though and I think there was some room for improvement.
Rififi - 9.5/10:
One of the original heist films, and it's a great one. I suggest reading the wikipedia page for this movie if you've already seen it, lots of interesting tidbits. Dassin went to France to work after being blacklisted by Hollywood. He took over Rififi with permission of another director who had planned to make it, Jean-Pierre Melville. One can only imagine how it would have turned out, and I believe Melville release Bob the Gambler a year after Rififi, and it's interesting to see how parts of Rififi influenced Melville's later films.
Dassin also wrote the script in English, in 6 days. It's amazing how smart all the dialogue is, very witty and funny. The actors help, and apparently they were unknowns as the movie was being made on a very tight budget. Furthermore, the original novel that the movie was based on was apparently pretty shitty. To take a bad novel and turn it into this film without many resources is damn amazing.
I won't bother talking about the plot, go watch it!
Days of Heaven - 6/10:
If you told me that this was a TV movie instead of a Malick, I'd believe you. I think the word plodding was created to describe this movie. Some of it is pretty, but I thought the lighting in many scenes was drab and ugly. The story is uninteresting and told poorly. It took Malick 3 years to edit this, and his final solution was the add the most painful and terrible narration I've ever heard! I don't see the appeal of this movie at all.
Drive - 8/10: Needed a little more oomph but overall it was enjoyable, the chase scenes were a lot of fun and the tension/mystery was nonstop. It would have been a little better if they revealed the main character's (Gosling) background a bit more, and developed his relationship with the waitress he liked. All in all I enjoyed the 80's feel and the artistic nature of the film in how they used music/slo-mo/lighting to really define a scene (elevator for example was great).
Drive - 7/10:: A bit hyped for much of not-so-much. I know the persona they were going for with Driver but I don't think he pulled off the tough-guy / quiet-guy. Story itself was engaging enough, and they threw in some of that retro feel to it. Style points.
Monsters - 9/10:: Where did this movie come from??? Apparently they only had a $500k budget but the quality in production far surpassed expectations. The acting and emotions by both leads fit a much bigger movie than this was supposed to be. Definitely a good watch in this sci-fi creature drama. Also a "good" ending that toys with your emotions. On Netflix instant-play for your viewing pleasure. (possible did-not-want-to-know because this movie is mostly about the characters: the leads were boyfriend/girlfriend at time of filming and are now married - watching the movie you'd never think it. Oh and she's hot.)
Richard Gere and Topher Grace and CIA and FBI agents after a cold war era assassin who is suspected in killing a senator. Its decent, and its not often you see a piano wire watch used in combat.
Gerard Butler plays an ex con drug dealing biker who finds God and goes to Africa to become a missionary. He then takes up arms against the local rebels. It has more heart than the title implies, and is based on a true story.
Frequency - 8/10: Dennis Quaid: Firefighter and Baseball enthusiast with an awkward New York accent in 1969. Jim Caviezel: A youngish, troubled, brooding former Baseball enthusiast, cop with an acceptable New York accent in 1999. Ham radios collide and they end being able to speak with each other, even though Quaid died 30 years prior...dun dun dun! It sound like a bit of a silly premise, and it kind of is, but I ended up really getting sucked in here and liking the movie. The Father-Son relationship was nice (stirred up some feelings in me, which is weird because I am generally devoid of emotion) and how it turns into kind of a whodunit procedural was pretty fun. It hits some sappy, silly notes, but in total it really worked for me.
The Lorax - 5.5/10: We decided to go see this because it looked kind of Eastery (and because it happened to be the only thing playing at a point where we were free). The first half of the film was relatively fun with a nice world set-up and a couple of fun characters smattered throughout, but about half-way through the movie it hit some quicksand, slowed down to a crawl, and essentially just became a preachy slog (trees are good mmmkay?). I did enjoy the forest creatures, particularly the fat bear, and The Lorax had a couple of good parts, but so many of the surrounding characters were flat, boring, or trying too hard. The film really needed to do more with its villain, though maybe they would argue the villain is all of humanity (ugh), but just making a guy short and giving him a bad haircut, does not a compelling villain make! I'd much rather re-watch Despicable Me.
Bottle Rocket - 7.5/10:
Wes Anderson's first feature, and the first of his that I've seen from start to finish. I liked the story and the characters, and for a first time director it was really well done.
What I didn't enjoy was some of the "quirky" humor, though I can't think of the right word to describe it. It's those off kilter comments that seem funny because of what the audience knows, I don't find that amusing at all. Luckily there were some honestly funny moments as well, but the rest of the "jokes" really bothered me because I don't think they are funny. The example I think best sums up what I mean, and you'll have to have seen the movie to understand, but the letter Anthony writes to Grace: "I do have one bit of advice for you, though Grace. Take the time in school to learn a foreign language. I myself never did , and I feel I've paid a price for it." The last sentence is almost corny enough to make it funny, but there were a few lines like this that got on my nerves.
I read Rogert Ebert's review from 1996 and he says he didn't like the movie too much, but he was looking forward to what Anderson and the Wilsons do in the future. I feel the same way but I'm wary because what I've seen from the rest of Anderson's movies it looks like he only gets weirder, and I don't think "weird" on its own is funny. We'll see.
Well if you dislike the quirky humour here, then you may not enjoy much of what's to come. Some of the later films are even quirkier. I do enjoy most of his stuff though, but I also am a fan of quirk in general.
Stake Land 7/10
This genre-bending thriller combines vampires, religious fanatics and post-apocalyptic horrors with a coming-of-age tale that finds drifter Mister (Nick Damici) training young Martin (Connor Paolo) to survive the nightmare that has become America as they journey to New Eden.
Pretty good for a horror movie I had never heard of. Enjoyed it all the way up to the end.
The 400 Blows - 8.5/10:
This was good, but I'm surprised it's as popular as it is. A great example of French new wave, but it wasn't one of the best movies I've ever seen, so maybe that accounts for my relatively low rating.
The film is about a young trouble-making boy, Antoine, who lives in Paris with his parents. The film documents his relationship with his parents, his friends, and the world while he continuously finds a way to screw up. The film's title is a straight translation from the French title, and its meaning is lost...
It's a beautiful film and the score is great. The actor playing Antoine was perfect and so was all of the cast. Some things felt a little flat though and I think there was some room for improvement.
Rififi - 9.5/10:
One of the original heist films, and it's a great one. I suggest reading the wikipedia page for this movie if you've already seen it, lots of interesting tidbits. Dassin went to France to work after being blacklisted by Hollywood. He took over Rififi with permission of another director who had planned to make it, Jean-Pierre Melville. One can only imagine how it would have turned out, and I believe Melville release Bob the Gambler a year after Rififi, and it's interesting to see how parts of Rififi influenced Melville's later films.
Dassin also wrote the script in English, in 6 days. It's amazing how smart all the dialogue is, very witty and funny. The actors help, and apparently they were unknowns as the movie was being made on a very tight budget. Furthermore, the original novel that the movie was based on was apparently pretty shitty. To take a bad novel and turn it into this film without many resources is damn amazing.
I won't bother talking about the plot, go watch it!
Days of Heaven - 6/10:
If you told me that this was a TV movie instead of a Malick, I'd believe you. I think the word plodding was created to describe this movie. Some of it is pretty, but I thought the lighting in many scenes was drab and ugly. The story is uninteresting and told poorly. It took Malick 3 years to edit this, and his final solution was the add the most painful and terrible narration I've ever heard! I don't see the appeal of this movie at all.
I haven't watched 400 Blows (I own the Blu though) or Rififi yet! Gah, need to get on those.
I don't remember much about Days of Heaven, but I remember really liking it. I can understand not enjoying his pacing, but I recall getting wrapped up in the world he'd created. Need to give this one a re-watch soon so I can comment better.
Drive - 7/10:: A bit hyped for much of not-so-much. I know the persona they were going for with Driver but I don't think he pulled off the tough-guy / quiet-guy. Story itself was engaging enough, and they threw in some of that retro feel to it. Style points.
Monsters - 9/10:: Where did this movie come from??? Apparently they only had a $500k budget but the quality in production far surpassed expectations. The acting and emotions by both leads fit a much bigger movie than this was supposed to be. Definitely a good watch in this sci-fi creature drama. Also a "good" ending that toys with your emotions. On Netflix instant-play for your viewing pleasure. (possible did-not-want-to-know because this movie is mostly about the characters: the leads were boyfriend/girlfriend at time of filming and are now married - watching the movie you'd never think it. Oh and she's hot.)
Yeah good little movie. Pretty damn effective for a micro-budget monster movie. I was stunned by how good the film looked for that budget. I did find the characters a bit annoying at times, but it is a good flick.
Gerard Butler plays an ex con drug dealing biker who finds God and goes to Africa to become a missionary. He then takes up arms against the local rebels. It has more heart than the title implies, and is based on a true story.
I remember hearing about this one last year. It never really showed up anywhere here, but I was intrigued by it despite Butler, because of the true story angle. I'll have to keep it on my list.
I was just very underwhelmed with Days of Heaven, considering the only other Malick movie I've seen is The Tree of Life. Days of Heaven almost seems like The Tree of Life if you took out Sean Penn, all the nature scenes, all the beautiful cinematography and everything that was "artsy" and you were left with the story. Add in terrible narration and you're done. But hey, it works for other people so that's fine with me, maybe I'm missing something.
I was just very underwhelmed with Days of Heaven, considering the only other Malick movie I've seen is The Tree of Life. Days of Heaven almost seems like The Tree of Life if you took out Sean Penn, all the nature scenes, all the beautiful cinematography and everything that was "artsy" and you were left with the story. Add in terrible narration and you're done. But hey, it works for other people so that's fine with me, maybe I'm missing something.
Well at least you'll get some Caviezel in TTRL! :awe:
I think the beauty and "artyness" worked for me and sometimes the story becomes superfluous to me when that's the case. If I can be roped in by those other things, then I kind of don't care. That does not mean it's successful as an overall film, but if those things hit me hard, then I can ignore a clunky story (or even a lack of story).
Fast Five - 6/10: Don't expect a rich plot or great acting, but it does an OK job doing what it's supposed to do: provide over the top action and silly car chase scenes.
Remember to live your life a quarter mile at a time!
Well if you dislike the quirky humour here, then you may not enjoy much of what's to come. Some of the later films are even quirkier. I do enjoy most of his stuff though, but I also am a fan of quirk in general.
Yeah, I like all of Wes Anderson's movies. The Royal Tenenbaums and Rushmore being my favorites, but I can understand why many wouldn't like his movies.
Maybe it's because I didn't really get into the previous 3, but I just can't bring myself to really enjoy these movies. This one seemed more enjoyable than the others, but I didn't feel it was as good as people were making it out to be, and I really wanted to like it. There are just much better action movies out there.
I really wanted to like it, and there was a lot I liked; The style, the story/characters. I just couldn't dig it all. Quirky is fine, but on its own I don't find it funny. There were plenty of actually funny parts, but some of it got away from me. I'll definitely give the rest a shot
Bottle Rocket is my favorite Wes Anderson film, I think I liked each subsequent one progressively less. Interesting tidbit, my ex-gf lived in the same house in Austin that Wes Anderson and one (?) of the Wilsons lived in while they were there. The house was also used in a scene from 'Man of the House' - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0331933/ They transformed it into a frat house, and paid her to stay elsewhere during they days they were filming. Pretty neat experience. Never saw the film though.
Also, one of her hot roommates was an extra in The Life of David Gale, actually got some decent screentime (not surprising, she was quite attractive).
Bottle Rocket is my favorite Wes Anderson film, I think I liked each subsequent one progressively less. Interesting tidbit, my ex-gf lived in the same house in Austin that Wes Anderson and one (?) of the Wilsons lived in while they were there. The house was also used in a scene from 'Man of the House' - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0331933/ They transformed it into a frat house, and paid her to stay elsewhere during they days they were filming. Pretty neat experience. Never saw the film though.
Also, one of her hot roommates was an extra in The Life of David Gale, actually got some decent screentime (not surprising, she was quite attractive).
Hah, Man of the House. Hilarious. My doctor was telling me about his house being rented by a film crew a few years back and how they completely transformed it; it does seem like a cool experience to go through. I'd let them use my house!
The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane - 6/10
So, I was expecting much more of a suspense story, but didn't get it. It began well, but was too much a 70s movie, and the way it's made left much to be desired. It had the trendy fim-making tricks of its era, including the stationary camera zooming in on who's talking, low indoor contrast, long zoom shots, and so on. Oh, and it had funkified 70s light rock for most of the background music. Now, in a *ploitation movie, corny thriller, etc., that can work, and even add some charm. This story, though, needed more basic story telling techniques, a more basic score (one or two real or synth instruments), and simpler shooting. It seemed too much that went on in the movie was foreshadowed too soon and too obviously, and concluded too quickly, and too directly; including the final scene, which should have had more of a climax, and 10-15 minutes of finishing up. It's just not the kind of story to end immediately like that. It's not a Poe kind of story.
Now, on to the good. Martin Sheen and Alexis Smith were phenomenal. Mrs. Hallet (Smith), who owned the house, knew something was up, and that Rynn's (Foster) father wasn't really there. But between getting authorities too interested, and Rynn knowing a bit too much about her deviant son, by the time she starts figuring it out (this isn't in spoilers, because you get it all in the first 15 minutes of the movie), she's got to be clever. Meanwhile, her son (Sheen) is obsessed and angry with Rynn, and that just can't end well.
I hated that Mrs. Hallet died so soon. More of her and Rynn's antagonist relationship would have been great.
It would be hard to find anyone better than Jodie Foster, too, managing to be so calculating and callous, yet not the least bit evil, or sociopathic, but at the same time not falling into the easy path of acting vulnerable to offset the callousness. It's also eerie, when you don't see Jodie Foster's face or profile, how much she was just like she was 20+ years later. Same raspy voice, same mannerisms, and her 13 year old hands looked like they belonged to a 30-year-old.
P.S. Awhile back I saw and reviewed Bright Lights Big City, and it was kind of so-so. Not to spoil it, the book is excellent.
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