10 posts tagged “movies”
I’m not very good with “Best of” lists.
I think that they’re kind of boring. So why not let someone else do the hard work. Here’s a list that I disagree with in some choices but support in concept and dedication. I’ve seen about ninety of the movies here. And the only places where I disagree is that certain “grittier” and “uglier” documentaries didn’t make it.
But I guess that’s just the way it goes.
Anyway, check out the list and download the free PDF e-book, discover, ignore, discuss, complain. It’s all in the love of good filmmaking.
Thanks to Kevin Kelly for creating the list, it looks like it took a real bit of hard work.
For awhile now I've thought that Chris Cunningham would have the career of a David Lynch or David Cronenberg, but it looks like I'll have to wait on that. The good news is that while Chris is off working on the sequel to Rubber Johnny (just guessing) his style is being used to market a movie that he could have directed.
Exhibit A: The Trailer for "The Work of Chris Cunningham"
I should say that I kind of dig the trailer for The Signal, although I feel like it might be a take on "The Ring" - which I also liked but always think that I didn't.
From imdb:
In this bloody tale of loyalty and friendship, Chow Yun-Fat is Jeffrey, an assassin who wishes to leave the business so he can take care of Jennie, the beautiful lounge singer who he inadvertently blinded during a previous assignment. Danny Lee is the determined cop who will stop at nothing to bring him in, only he realizes that Jeffrey is no ordinary assassin, and wishes to help him in his quest. Only problem is that Jeffrey's employers refuse to pay him for his last job, money which is needed to restore Jennie's eyesight. Written by Vince at unigx.ubc.ca
Hey, remember when you used to watch action movies and laugh at the fact that the hero seemed to fire 30 shots without reloading? Tell the truth you kind of miss those days. (At least, a litte) Well that's where The Killer steps in to fill that hollow void in your life.
The movie that turned John Woo into an international sensation and subsequently developed his current household name status is the visual template for everything we know love about Woo. It's all here, the slow-motion, the ballet gunfights, the doves flying as our hero walks straight towards us, even the odd religious/spiritual undertones.
In fact the church scene in Face-Off (a masterpiece in a different way) plays out similarly to the one in The Killer. (Although the two lead's in Face-Off don't refer to each other playfully as Disney characters, that's no reason to shit on Face-Off.)
But what makes The Killer a gem is it's made by a man shooting for the moon. This movie showed the promise of John Woo as the next...I dunno...brilliant action director. It's hard to think of someone to compare Woo to, because most of the immediate names that come to mind have been influenced by him. American action movies where ripping him off before we even knew who he was.
What I loved about John Woo's films where that sure there was balls to the wall action. But it was action with a heart. As silly as that is. You can see that John Woo loves westerns. He loves film noir and he loves religious metaphor. His movies where a blend of Howard Hawks, Sam Peckinpah, and Martin Scorsese - with Chow Yun-Fat shooting two .45's in slo-mo.
Now it seems that the Hollywood machine has crushed another artist in it's gigantic machinations. John Woo has gone from making movies about honor, redemption, forgiveness, to movies that star Ben Affleck. So until The Battle of Red Cliff comes out. Let's all sit reminisce about the good old days.
If you have seen this film or plan on seeing it, please let me know.
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The Killer on Rotten Tomatoes
Tomorrow's Movie of the Day Clue: "Virgins and Death"
From Netflix
Based on a true story, this moving film centers on a Spaniard, Ramon Sampedro (Javier Bardem), who's condemned to life as a quadriplegic. Determined to die with dignity, Sampedro leads a 30-year campaign to win the right to end his life. An extraordinary man, Sampedro inspires his lawyer, Julia (Belen Rueda), and a local woman (Lola Duenas) to reach for the stars, and through his inspiration, the women achieve far beyond their wildest dreams.
Life can be pretty tough, but it's definitely tougher for those who can't curl up in a ball and cry about it or run away from our problems. This film has some amazing passages that go from being somewhat morbid to feeling warm joyous.
There's a lot to talk about topically here, but there's other stuff going on that makes this movie amazing. Cinematic gags like helicopter shots that start on a mountainside and fly inches above the water - are a dime a dozen. They feel like car commercials sometimes. They usually are a visual shorthand for passages of time, or a metaphor for characters deep thoughts. And while there's a slight hint of that here. Because our main character is unable to move. Camera movement feels meaningful, when the camera rises over the sea it resonates visually with the feeling of dreams and longing to do that which you know you cannot.
The Sea Inside is a gorgeous film that does not judge a man that it obviously loves.
If you have seen this movie or or going to see it let me know.
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The Sea Inside on imdb
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From imdb
A documentary about the rise and fall of filmmaker Troy Duffy. An aspiring writer-director who got the dream of a lifetime when he sold a script to Miramax as his first feature to direct. But beneath the seemingly happy deal that made Duffy the man of the hour, was an arrogant egomaniac whose ambitions alienated friends, and burned bridges in the film industry. Overnight is a movie about how one director ultimately ruins a promising career that could have been from an overnight success.
Troy Duffy has been called the biggest asshole ever, but to be honest I kind feel bad for him. Truth be told he has the right attitude to make it in Hollywood. He was strong minded, determined, and would not take now for an answer. But he just didn't know when to stop being that and realize that not everyone is trying to fuck you over.
Sure to make you cringe with Duffy's go-for-the-jugular personality. It's an amazing thing to watch a man lose his head up his own ass.
If you have seen this film or are going to see it please let me know.
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Boy Overnight
Overnight on imdb
Overnight on RottenTomatoes
From imdb:
I've always liked Jonathan Demme, but this is one of my favorite Demme films. The film feels so free, ti's camera flies around, the colors pop without shame. And the closing credits just have to make you smile with their love for music, people, and all things celluloid. From the first half of the film's happy-go-lucky, car scenes and hotel scenes. The first half always feels like a child's adventure.The uneventful life of business-man Charles Driggs suddenly changes when he meets the wild and sexy Lulu. When he accepts her offer to drive him back to his office, she instead takes him out of town and on a trip, leaving behind his old life. Posing as a married couple, Charles and Audrey (which turns out to be Lulu's real name) visit her mother and her highschool reunion. At this reunion they meet Audrey's violent ex-husband Ray, who's just released from jail. When Ray makes it clear that he wants Audrey back, that's when the real trouble begins.
But as soon as Ray Liotta's Character shows up, the movie takes a dark turn. The movie is split into two segments Day and Night, the brighter moments in life followed by the darker moments. The thing that I find interesting about this isn't that they're split right down the middle, (a la Full Metal Jacket) but instead transition through color and music.
It's always great to watch the Red, White, and Blue colors that dominate Tak Fujimoto's cinematography. I wonder if they're trying to suggest something about Americans?
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Buy Something Wild
Something Wild on imdb
Something Wild on RottenTomatoes
So, accordiing to the oft inaccurate imdb.com David Fincher's Zodiac/The Chronicles (title changed to remove confusion with the "other" Zodiac movie) is in reshoots. Which would change the release date from Early January to a Possible mid June Release.
In an effort to inform those you are unfaimliar with the film and to keep the rest up to date here's the poster.
And here's a short video with Director David Fincher talking about using digital technology as a filmmaking tool.
There have also been a couple of test screenings - with various reactions. you can read those over at aintitcool.com
Enjoy!
I found this amazing interview with tthe director of Pan's Labyrinth which got a 20-plus minute standing ovation at the Cannes Film Festival this year. The director ttalks about working on big budget film, indie fiilmmaking, and even gives ua a look at his personal journals.
Worth watching whether you're a fan or have yet to discover this great filmmaker.
Click here to watch the video.
I saw the poster for this movie a couple of weeks ago and I thought, "well, there's a movie with balls to spare" and then patiently waited for more info to appear online. Then a few days ago I found this trailer and wild horses couldn't keep me away from this filck
Hope you dig it as much as I do.
Del Toro films has an awesome praising of Guillermo Del Toro's (Hellboy, Cronos, The Devil's Backbone) new/upcoming film Pan's Labyrinth. Definitely worth the read.
