The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest

I know. I'm woefully behind on my horror films. But I can't help it - the Giants are in the playoffs, so a lot of my tv time has been monopolized by baseball. I'll probably keep watching things through November.

Also - a quick note on Conviction. I thought the Boston Globe review brought up a good point (surprisingly; I don't think they have the world's best reviews). The bit was this; "Rockwell’s face conveys the emotional wear and tear of prison life, but his character’s struggle is the existential meat of the movie: How do inmates survive an unjust conviction?" While Rockwell really does do a great job in those brief scenes of demonstrating his character, the reviewer makes a great point. I think the movie would have been much better if we had seen more of Kenny's struggle alongside his sister's. But, hey, I'm a big Oz fan. I love prison drama.


ANYWAYS - the Brattle got a special preview screening of The Girl That Kicked the Hornet's Nest, so I went to that last night.

[On a quick note: reason #37 I love the Brattle? Ned was talking up some upcoming shows and mentioned that they would be showing Frederick Wiseman's new film, Boxing Gym, which is mercifully short, and a good chunk of the audience started laughing. How many places in the world will you be around people who get a Frederick Wiseman punchline?]

Back to the Hornet's Nest.

The good news is I liked it much better than the second film. I didn't like it as much as the first film, but overall I enjoyed it. My only quibbles would be that a little bit of the middle started to drag before the trial kicks in (which is surprising, considering how much material they were trying to cram in from the book). Also that a couple of my favorite characters from the book got minimal screen time. But that problem is definitely understandable, given the length of the source material. Oh, and they changed Erika's arc, which I thought made her a little bit shrill in the movie. I liked her so much in the book that I found that change a little disappointing, but it was a pretty minor part of the movie. And I definitely think that Erika needed to stick around Millennium for the plot of the film (in the book she leaves for a different position).

I was discussing the film at work today and I hadn't thought about this before, but I think one of the reasons I really enjoyed it was that it passes the Bechdel Test. I was thinking about how much I enjoyed the scenes between Lisbeth and Annika. And it struck me that I think part of that chemistry is that they are both really interesting, strong female characters interacting with each other, which I don't get to see very often.

I really liked Annika in this movie - I think she provides a really interesting counterpart to Lisbeth. They unfortunately left out one of my favorite cross-interrogations of hers from the book, though - when she tears down the psychiatrist's argument that Lisbeth's piercings and tattoos indicate a damaged psyche.

I don't remember if in the book Annika was pregnant? But she was in the film, and I really liked that, too. It was jarring at first. I can't think of the last time I saw a pregnant woman on film where the film wasn't about her pregnancy. But no - in this film, she was just going around, being a lawyer, and the fact that she was pregnant was never commented on. Just like in real life, but hardly ever like in the movies.

Oh and I loved the guy they got to play Anders Jonasson, Lisbeth's doctor. The actor they picked was younger than I had pictured from reading, but he was so spot on in the way in which he cares for Lisbeth.

Mikael and Lisbeth continue to be riveting to watch. Noomi Rapace is such an exceptionally gifted actress that she can hold the audience's attention so well while being mute and still.

Obviously, there is more in the books, and it will be interesting to see what David Fincher does with the material, but the Swedish films are well worth a watch. (Okay - the second one isn't, but it leads into the third...)

4/5 stars.

BFF and Conviction

I went to see Conviction at the Boston Film Fest the other night. I realized that I have been wildly spoiled IFF Boston. The Boston Film Fest seemed to be terribly organized and run. There were screenings listed in the brochure that weren't available for tickets. There was no organization to line up for seats. The seating was late. And the special guest was a no-show.

It was also my first time at the Stuart Street Playhouse. While I guess it's nice that there is officially an indie theater within city limits for the snobs who live on Arlington, I'm definitely sticking with the Kendall and the Brattle. It's not a particularly nice theater.

As for Conviction, it was fine. It isn't really Oscar caliber, but the narrative is broken up enough to keep from being formulaic. Sam Rockwell is really good, but not Moon good. I'm not positive he'll get that supporting actor nom yet.

Linkspam roundup

The Trailer Tragedy of Alice Creed. I'm so glad someone wrote this up. I've been reading a number of interesting interviews with Gemma Arterton, but I feel as if I already know what happens in the movie because of the trailer. It killed any interest in the film for me. It isn't quite as gratuitous as The Town, but it is close.

So, remember how I was talking about long delays for films being released? I recently saw the trailer for Colin Fitz Lives! and thought it looked interesting. Yeah, it turns out it premiered at Sundance in 1997. It currently available On Demand. (Not quite as long, but a film due to premiere the week after 9/11 finally showed up on tv).

Step Up 3-D. Is it wrong that I kind of want to see this? I figure it must be like Avatar; crap story but fun to watch. (2 articles about the film; a leap forward for musicals and an interview with the director). Plus - bonus Home and Away connection!

Is it wrong that these make me excited for Captain America? My favorite one.

*sigh* I'm going to miss Doc Jensen. I mean, I miss Lost more....

Speaking of which.... (although I'd like to go on record here and say that I was a huge fan of how it all wrapped up and the series as a whole. Although it always could have used more Desmond. Yes, I'm a big fan of his post S2 finale essay (#4).)

I love that they picked the transbay terminal design with the park on top. It is going to be gorgeous. I liked one of the other tower designs better, but at least we won't end up with the hideous red orange spiky thing.

Modern rom-coms are neither.

Fun trailers here. I really like the one for Amer.

Wooooo Sam Rockwell! Ummm, maybe? Please don't let this be another Gentleman Broncos.

Cillian Murphy in talks for I'm.mortal. Does this mean I have to go see something with Justin Timberlake in it?

Lipless zombie girl!

No. No, no, NO. I'm sorry, but if she doesn't "possess a visible understanding of what it means to be homeless, penniless, strung out, and dying of a terrifying disease" then she doesn't work as Mimi.

Hey, it's me.

First half of 2010

Finally (finally) caught Blue Velvet at the Brattle the other night. FABULOUS. I loved it.

And hey! We're halfway through 2010 already! So I thought I'd go ahead and rank the films I've seen thus far...

Winter's Bone (hey! Guess what? This is playing RIGHT NOW. You can go see it RIGHT NOW.)
Red Riding: 1974
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Fish Tank (2009/2010 release, but I saw it in January, so I'm adding it here)
Red Riding: 1980
Perrier's Bounty
Cell 211
Red, White and Blue
The Killer Inside Me
The Crazies

All of the above are really fantastic and well worth checking out. Hmmm.... been sort of a violent year thus far. And no - I haven't seen Red Riding 1983 yet....

The following films you may enjoy, depending on your mood and preferences:

Kick Ass
Iron Man 2
I Love You Phillip Morris
Marwencol
Micmacs
Alice in Wonderland
Tiny Furniture
How to Train Your Dragon (in 2-D. I'm fairly certain this would be higher in 3-D, but I was on a plane.)
Anne Perry: Interiors
October Country
Shutter Island
Down Terrace
The Extra Man
Cracks

Non-2010 releases (because apparently I don't watch movies on netflix anymore):
Awesome:
Lars and the Real Girl
Hunger
Bronson
Blue Velvet

Worth checking out:
There Will Be Blood
Quantum of Solace
Hangover
Terminator 3

Ummmm - not so much:
Withnail & I
Rashomon
Nine

Most anticipated for the next 6 months? Ondine, I am Love, Red Riding 1983, The Girl who Played with Fire and Kicked the Hornet's Nest, Inception, Salt, Animal Kingdom, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, happythankyoumoreplease, Centurion, Never Let Me Go, Conviction (JUST GIVE SAM ROCKWELL AN OSCAR), Harry Potter, The Fighter. Some others, too, without release dates, which may get pushed to 2011.

And of course some that will depend on reviews, like Red.

Speaking of mid year reports, here is one from IndieWire.

Also - the next two months at the Brattle are fab. A Cabaret mini-rep, a bunch of noir, the restored Metropolis and a bunch of the best of the oughts - which includes a TON of films I really should have seen by now and haven't (Wendy & Lucy, The Lives of Others, 4 Months 3 Weeks and 2 Days.) PLUS!! A double feature of Zodiac and Kiss Kiss Bang Bang - how fabulous is that?!

The Top 100 - part 3

(part 1 and part 2)

Fourth Tier – the 'definitely adding to my DVD collection' selection

Across the Universe (2007) I love Julie Taymor's style. Here, she tells a story of the 60s through Beatles music, which works well given their extensive catalog. Overall, a very good cast, including the stellar Dana Fuchs, who is surely the reincarnation of Janis Joplin. If a couple of the numbers don't quite hit true, there are many more imaginative, touching and wonderful ones.

Batman Begins (2005) The Dark Knight certainly got more attention for its indigo-toned nihilism and tapping into the national mood. And while that is a beautifully shot movie, and certainly riveting to watch, it doesn’t actually make much sense. I prefer this Batman. I’ll take Katy Holmes as Rachel Dawes in exchange for Cillian Murphy’s Scarecrow.

Brick (2006) A neo-noir set in high school. It's a beautiful, audacious film and the central conceit holds well (even if I didn't catch all the Dashiell Hammett dialogue the first time around). The high school setting works perfectly for the archetypal characters and paints the classic 'teen' film in a whole new light.

Damned United (2009) Less a sports movie than a biopic, the film follows Brian Clough, the football coach who led Derby to a League championship and later took the job as head coach of Leeds, which lasted only 44 days. Michael Sheen may be the most chameleon actor around, and his scenes with Timothy Spall (as his assistant coach) are a joy to watch.

Gone Baby Gone (2007) My favorite Denis Lehane adaptation. Directed by Boston native Ben Affleck, and starring his supremely talented brother Casey, I think Gone Baby Gone does the best job of the recent wave of Boston-set dramas in portraying both the feel of Boston and the hold it has over native residents. Amy Ryan turns in a stunning performance and the story's moral quandaries resonate long after the film ends.

I heart Huckabees (2004) My friend Emily has a theory that to determine whether or not you are compatible with someone, rather than looking at mac vs pc, or cat vs. dog, you should use this film. I have never laughed harder in a theater in my life.

In the Loop (2009) I was almost afraid to laugh during this one for fear of missing the next line. A blazingly quick-witted, completely vicious satire of UK and US politicians going to war. Peter Capaldi revels in one of the best characters of the year; a nasty, bullying, Alastair Campbell-esque press chief whose expletive-laden tirades are things of… well, if not beauty, then wonderment.

King Kong (2005) Peter Jackson does a marvelous job of updating the classic, recreating its epic feel with stunning visuals. The unusual casting (Adrien Brody, Jack Black and Colin Hanks) generally works, Naomi Watts is terrific and Andy Serkis and WETA made Kong a believable, relatable character.

Lost in Translation (2003) A moody, dreamy look at people who find companionship far from home. Less a travelogue than a character study, the film is instantly relatable to any who've struggled for definition in the company of strangers.

Mirrormask (2005) Dave McKean's art, Neil Gaiman's story telling, and the Jim Henson Company's production come together for this wonderful, sumptuous tale. The story itself is simple enough; a young girl dealing with family troubles at home finds herself in a fantasy land where she must prove herself (shades of Alice in Wonderland or Pan's Labyrinth). The visuals, however, are completely stunning and enchanting.

Prestige (2006) A twisty-turny mystery thriller. It is an atmospheric, haunting period piece of dueling Edwardian magicians who challenge each other to greater and more dangerous heights professionally and personally. Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman are fantastic, and even if you guess some of the plot twists before the reveal, I doubt you'll get them all.

Rescue Dawn (2007) Werner Herzog's take on the great escape genre. The true story of Dieter Dengler, a German-American pilot who was shot down and captured in Laos during the Vietnam war. Christian Bale is fantastic and completely immerses himself in this POW tale of a man's struggle to stay alive, and sane, in the depths of the war. He should've won the Oscar.

Shattered Glass (2003) Based upon a fascinating true story, this film is about Stephen Glass, who quickly rose to preeminence as one of Washington's hottest young journalists before his career came crashing down. In addition to being a fascinating character study (both of Glass and of his manager, played by Peter Sarsgaard), it's also an interesting look at journalistic ethics and it came out during a particularly turbulent time for journalism in America.

Snow Angels (2008) A searing juxtaposition of two relationships; one that is just starting out and another that continues to fall apart. A remarkably strong ensemble cast gives the story its emotional depth. The director, David Gordon Green, manages to sustain the tension of the dramatic arc while shooting the frozen Pennsylvania landscape in a style reminiscent of Terrence Malick. Incredibly moving.

Sunshine (2007) A small band of astronauts are on a long mission to send a bomb into the heart of the sun, which is dying. The first mission failed, and now they are the last hope to save the solar system. The cast is incredible and the direction is fantastic. The film does a good job of exploring the tensions that would arise in such small quarters over a long period of time and the stresses of trying to carry on the mission as things begin to go wrong. The last third of the film becomes a slightly rote thriller, but the rest of the film is stunning enough to make up for those flaws. Finally, it should be noted that this film is visually stunning - the light of the sun is practically another character.

Sweeney Todd (2007) Tim Burton takes his cast of players and thrusts them into the pitch black Sondheim musical of murder and cannibalism. Easily one of his best films, here Burton finds both the dark humor and tragedy of the tale, while adding his own touches. More than any other production I've seen (and with a starting point this good, they've all been excellent) this one captures the act of humans being turned into meat. It's absolutely gruesome, but also the most affecting and faithful to the story.

Thirteen (2003) This will hardly sound like an endorsement, but this film is absolutely incredible and I never want to watch it, ever again. It is a completely wrenching, scarily accurate portrayal of what girls are like at that age (even if they don't get up to exactly the same things the protagonists do). I seem to remember reading at the time that Nikki Reed, who portrays Evie, was consulted on the screenplay, which probably contributes to the film's realism and effectiveness.

Whale Rider (2003) The story of a young Maori girl who strives for acceptance and her place among her tribe. Anchored by a fantastic performance by Keisha Castle-Hughes, the film shows off New Zealand's natural beauty and examines the struggle of a tribal community's halting struggles to advance their traditions.

Winged Migration (2003) A beautifully filmed look at birds and their journeys across the globe. The direction does an incredible job of instilling a sense of flight in the viewer. It isn't strictly linear, or even heavily narrated. Instead, it immerses you in the world of birds and instills a sense of awe for their lives and struggles.

Y Tu Mama Tambien (2002) While this is partly on here for being a great road trip/ friendship movie, it's also worth noting that it's success helped pave the way for many more Latin films to find distribution here in the US. The story of two best friends on the verge of adulthood and a tempting older woman traveling to find an elusive beach, it starts off as a simple travelogue and becomes a thought-provoking journey of self discovery. I really can't find a way to make that sound less cliche, but the movie is much deeper and well worth watching.

Top 100 of the Decade - part 1

Yes, I am a month late on this. So sue me. And I'll be putting it up in chunks as I go. Because it's been daunting to finish otherwise.

Anyways - the oughts. The decade following the best ever year in film (no, it wasn’t 1939, it was 1999, but that’s another blog piece altogether).

Yes, there are some films I still haven’t seen from this decade (25th Hour, Lantana, Half Nelson, Elephant, Cache, There Will Be Blood, Hunger, Old Joy etc.), but I think it’s safe to say I’ve seen a fairly sizable chunk of major releases.

A couple of notes about the list. I’ve separated them out into groups of 20, but within those divisions, they are listed alphabetically. I could barely settle on fifths. I couldn’t possibly rank all 100. I’d be stuck in perpetual indecision. Yes, my write-ups from 2009 are repeated. It’s my writing. I can do that.

While I whine and moan about the Academy giving short shrift to anything but serious, important dramas, nearly the entire top 40 is just that. What can I say? Either I’ve been brainwashed into thinking serious means good, or we just had a particularly good decade for drama. While some of the other films have shifted from second to third or fifth to fourth, the top 20 is pretty set for me. They’re just the movies that spoke to me the most and that I think can reasonably argued to be the best.

One would think I could just put together a top 10 list for each year, but it hasn’t worked out that way. Turns out I did not care much for films made in 2000 (3) or 2004 (5) and 2006 and 2007 were the best years in film for me (with 16 each) followed closely by 2003 (15). [Oscar winners for each of those years; 2000 – Gladiator, ugh, 2003 – Return of the King, 2004 – Million Dollar Baby, 2006 – The Departed, 2007 – No Country for Old Men).

Fun Facts:

Number of times Sam Rockwell appears in the top 100: 4

Number of foreign films: approximately 29 (some of the British ones iffy as to who was the majority producer, so it’s a rough guesstimate)

Number of animated films: 7 (that includes Mirrormask, and excludes ones with only scenes of animation, like Hedwig and Across the Universe).

Number of times Christian Bale appears: 6. Trufax.

The filmmakers that really stand out from this decade? Christopher Nolan (Memento, Batman, and the Prestige), Peter Jackson (LotR and King Kong), Danny Boyle (28 Days Later, Sunshine, Slumdog Millionaire), the Coens (O Brother Where art Thou, No Country for Old Men, A Serious Man), and Charlie Kaufman (Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, Adaptation, Eternal Sunshine, Synecdoche New York).

And seeing as most of the top 20 are notable for gorgeous camera work, a quick note on cinematography. This was the decade in which we lost Conrad Hall (Road to Perdition, American Beauty), Roger Deakins continued his rise to preeminence (O Brother Where Art Thou, the Man Who Wasn’t There, Jarhead, No Country for Old Men, the Assassination of Jesse James, the Reader, A Serious Man), Emmanuel Lubezki continued doing incredible work (Y tu Mama Tambien, the New World, Children of Men – my favorite of his, Sleepy Hollow, missed the decade by a year – and fun fact, Roger Deakins was DP for the New York bits), Wally Pfister worked as Christopher Nolan’s DP, giving each of his films their distinctive look (Memento, Insomnia, Batman Begins, the Prestige, the Dark Knight, and Inception due next year), Seamus McGarvey not only did great work on the Hours, but was responsible for the jaw-dropping tracking shot in Atonement which was the only camera work more noted than Children of Men this decade, Barry Ackroyd shot both the Hurt Locker and the Wind that Shakes the Barley and finally, Dion Beebe did amazing work on Memoirs of a Geisha (which mostly had cinematography going for it), Chicago and Equilibrium. Are there any women on that list? Nooooo… Because no matter how much you think directing is a boys club, cinematography is worse. Anyways…

Today's Section? The honorable mentions. We shall start at the bottom and work our way up, thus increasing antici....pation till the top bracket [for all two of you out there].

Honorable mentions, or, good flicks to add to your netflix queue; Wristcutters: A Love Story, Igby Goes Down, Kiss kiss bang bang, The Lookout, Grindhouse, Wanted, Sin City, Kill Bill, Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India, Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, A Single Man, Fish Tank (These last 3 may eventually make it onto the top 100 list, Fish Tank in particular being wildly brilliant, but since I just saw them, the proximity might be currently skewing me towards them)

Dream Oscar Nominations

I just realized these were posted on facebook, but never cross-posted here. Since the actual nominations are finally out, the ones that actually made it are in bold.

Best Picture
Hurt Locker
Moon
Bright Star
District 9
Inglorious Basterds
Brothers
Fantastic Mr. Fox
A Serious Man
In the Loop
Watchmen

Best Actress
Abbie Cornish (Bright Star)
Rachel Weisz (Brothers Bloom)
Carey Mulligan (An Education)
Melanie Laurent (Inglorious Basterds)
Zooey Deschanel (500 Days of Summer)
Michelle Monaghan (Trucker)
Ellen Page (Whip It)

What? Dream noms. I can pick more than 5.

Best Actor
Sam Rockwell (Moon)
Jeremy Renner (The Hurt Locker)
Ben Whishaw (Bright Star)
Brian Cox (The Escapist)
Michael Sheen (The Damned United)
Michael Stuhlbarg (A Serious Man)
Colin Firth (A Single Man)

Best Supporting Actress
Rinko Kikuchi (The Brothers Bloom)
Rosamund Pike (An Education)
Olivia Williams (An Education)
Diane Kruger (Inglorious Basterds)
Julianne Moore (A Single Man)
Natalie Portman (Brothers)
Marion Cotillard (Public Enemies)

Best Supporting Actor
Christian McKay (Me and Orson Welles)
Christoph Waltz (Inglorious Basterds)
Jackie Earle Haley (Watchmen)
Peter Capaldi (In the Loop)
Timothy Spall (The Damned United)
Jake Gyllenhaal (Brothers)
Alfred Molina (An Education) (I'm actually a little shocked he wasn't in)
Michael Emerson (LOST). Because he should win everything forever.

Best Director
Kathryn Bigelow (The Hurt Locker)
Lone Scherfig (An Education)
Jane Campion (Bright Star)
Neill Blomkamp (District 9)
Lee Daniels (Precious)
Tom Ford (A Single Man)

And if we had to let in one straight, white, American male:
Quentin Tarantino (Inglourious Basterds)

Best Cinematography
A Serious Man
The Hurt Locker
Bright Star
Inglorious Basterds
The White Ribbon
Public Enemies

Best Animated
Fantastic Mr. Fox
Coraline
9
Ponyo
A Town Called Panic
The Secret of Kells
Mary and Max

Yeah, that’s right. No Up. [I'd like to point out that I dream-predicted the biggest upset of the nominations!]

Best Original Screenplay
Mark Boal (The Hurt Locker)
Quentin Tarantino (Inglorious Basterds)
The Coens (A Serious Man)
Scott Neustadter & Michael Weber (500 Days of Summer) [Seriously? SERIOUSLY OSCAR?]

Best Adapted Screenplay
Neill Blomkamp & Terri Tatchell (District 9)
Jane Campion (Bright Star – although this should SO be considered original)
Tom Ford (A Single Man)
Nick Hornby (An Education)
Wes Anderson & Noah Baumbach (Fantastic Mr. Fox)
Spike Jonze (Where the Wild Things Are)

(If I could pick just two, I'd hand deliver screeners for Abbie Cornish and Sam Rockwell. And I'm pretending Christian McKay could still be a surprise nom come February)

I accidentally left off In The Loop for screenplay - I think because it had been considered original for some and adapted for others, but I'm THRILLED it is nominated and really rooting for it. I also didn't do a category for makeup, but I didn't think I'd have to mention the District 9 effects. Maybe the academy voters also assumed someone else would vote for it?

Sadly, neither Christian McKay nor Melanie Laurent made it in, when I hoped they both had a good chance. And neither Sam nor Abbie pulled off a thrilling upset. C'est la vie. I did read this good news (via Notes on a Season at the LA Times);

"Another Fox label, Searchlight, has already jumped into next year's Oscar race by announcing Wednesday their acquisition of a new true life drama, "Betty Anne Waters" with Hillary Swank and Sam Rockwell in the story of a woman who became a lawyer to find a way to free her wrongly imprisoned brother. Bloggers, Nikki Finke among them, are speculating as to why Searchlight would jump back into business with Swank on the heels of the disappointing box office and critical reception for "Amelia" which proved to be an Oscar non-starter. Could it be because this is a crackerjack drama and remarkable story, a grittier "Blind Side" which features a great performance by Swank, back in her comfort zone and a brilliant one by Sam Rockwell that could make him as inevitable a supporting actor contender next year as Christoph Waltz is this season? The answer is, yes it could. Searchlight is as shrewd as they get. They plan a fall 2010 release with award recognition the driving force. They will get it."

Top 10 Films of 2009

Top 10 films of 2009

This is probably wildly narcissistic (so what else is new?) but I have had a few people ask for recommendations for things to see over the holidays (either in theatres or on DVD – noted where appropriate). I still have some to see that are just coming out (Avatar, A Single Man, The White Ribbon) and there are some I missed (Bronson, Flame & Citron, Adventureland), but given those limitations, here’s my top 10 list for the year.

[God – I still can’t believe I missed Bronson. D’oh!]

First - special mentions;

The Escapist. I know. It’s wildly snobby to include this one, as it has never (and will never) be released in the U.S., but it is hands down my favorite film I’ve seen this year. It’s a prison break film, shot in Kilmainham gaol in Dublin. It stars Brian Cox, Joseph Fiennes, Dominic Cooper, Seu Jorge, Liam Cunningham, and Damian Lewis. Can we pause for a moment and appreciate that cast? It’s wildly original and Brian Cox gives an astounding career-high performance. You can buy a region 2 dvd from amazon.uk if so inclined, but if you ever see it playing at a fest near you, definitely check it out!

[Ed note: per comment, it will soon be on Region 1 DVD! YAY! GO SEE IT!!]

Trick ‘r treat. This never got a proper release, but it’s available on DVD. A Halloween anthology, it captures the traditions and mythology surrounding the holiday perfectly. Starring Anna Paquin as Red Riding Hood, Brian Cox as a grumpy scrooge, and Dylan Baker as the scariest high school principal ever. Rent it if Nightmare before Christmas puts you in the mood for something fun and creepy.

Top 10:

1. The Hurt Locker (DVD). The best word I can think of to describe this film is immersive. Tense, surprisingly funny, with incredible acting from every person who shows up on screen (hey, was that Guy Pearce? And Ralph Fiennes? And Evangeline Lily?) At heart though, it is an incredible portrait of a soldier who thrives in the dangers of war. Completely brilliant.

2. Moon (DVD). I love, love, love this film. It’s best to go into this film knowing little of the plot. Basically, it concerns astronaut Sam Bell, who has 2 weeks to go on his 3-year solitary mining shift on the moon. It has the year’s most incredible performance by Sam Rockwell, who is pretty much the only one on screen (Kevin Spacey voices the computer on the moon station).

3. Bright Star (not yet on DVD). Jane Campion returns to film with this gorgeous, lush presentation of the love story between Fanny Brawne and her neighbor John Keats, who died at the age of 25. Moody and dreamy, it unfolds like a Keats poem.

4. Watchmen (DVD). Step off, haters. I think in time this will be recognized for how brilliant it is. No – it isn’t perfect, but it encompasses the sprawling complexity of the original novel while capturing the gritty feel perfectly. “Superheroes” debating morality doesn’t have the black and white simplicity of your Spider-Man 2, but it leaves far more to contemplate and discuss long after the movie has finished. Also has one of the year’s best performances in Jackie Earle Haley’s Rorschach.

5. The Brothers Bloom (DVD – rental only, to buy in 2010). This one got lost in the shuffle, which was such a shame. A globe-trotting, one-last-con flick, featuring a pair of con men brothers (Adrian Brody and Mark Ruffalo), a longing-for-adventure heiress (Rachel Weisz), and an explosives expert (Rinko Kikuchi). Rachel Weisz and Rinko Kikuchi would both be up for Oscars, were there any justice in the world.

6. District 9 (DVD). A cheeky political commentary on marginalized peoples (or aliens) that turns into an amazing action piece. Wildly ambitious, a sci-fi epic shot on an (unnoticeable) shoestring budget, a drama crossed with a stylized thriller, it is impressively original.

7. Inglourious Basterds (DVD). Each of the chapters could be an award-winning short film. So many films today take quick edits to the extreme of also having quick scenes. While Tarantino doesn’t employ particularly long takes, he does allow long scenes to play out, slowly building the tension of each interrogation. Yes, it is also a satisfying revenge fantasy and an ode to the power of cinema, but it is the drama of these small contests of will that remain freshest months later.

8. The Damned United (not yet on DVD). Less a sports movie than a biopic, the film follows Brian Clough, the football coach who led Derby to a League championship and later took the job as head coach of Leeds, which lasted only 44 days. Michael Sheen may be the most chameleonic actor around, and his scenes with Timothy Spall (as his assistant coach) are a joy to watch.

9. Brothers (in theaters). I’m not sure why critics are divided on this one. I think it’s an incredibly well acted character piece that examines the affects of war at home. Tobey Maguire may be getting a few accolades due to the showier role (and Leo’s campaigning), but Jake Gyllenhaal has a more impressive character arc as the black sheep in a military family.

10. Fantastic Mr. Fox (in theaters). Wes Anderson stylization comes to animation, which recalls Wallace and Gromit crossed with Gumby. The story, based on a Roald Dahl tale, follows a fox family and their woodland neighbors as they fight off the local farmers. A whimsical action caper that is completely endearing.

Ten more:

11. A Serious Man (in theaters). The biblical tale of Job retold in the Midwestern 60s suburbs. A really dark and really funny look and faith and suffering.

12. In the Loop (DVD). I was almost afraid to laugh during this one for fear of missing the next line. A blazingly quick-witted, completely vicious satire of UK and US politicians going to war. Peter Capaldi revels in one of the best characters of the year; a nasty, bullying, Alastair Campbell-esque press chief whose expletive-laden tirades are things of… well, if not beauty, then wonderment.

13. Zombieland (not yet on DVD). The most fun I’ve had at the movies this year. Completely hilarious.

14. Me and Orson Welles (leaving theaters). Centered during the week before the opening of Caesar in 1937, this film is a charming ode to the theater and the characters that inhabit it. Mostly fluffy, it is largely a vehicle for Christian McKay’s brilliant portrayal of Orson Welles.

15. Pirate Radio (leaving theaters). The second most fun I’ve had this year. Fun and charming look at rock radio stations operated at sea in Britain in the 60s. Best Little Richard reference in a film this year.

16. Coraline (DVD). After seeing this one, I felt that Avatar was allowed to be a dud, since I had already seen something visually astounding on the big screen this year. Not only is the fairytale (written by Neil Gaiman) a wonderful and eerie story, but the use of 3-D cleverly creates a fantasy other-world that seduces our young heroine.

17. An Education (in theaters). The story of a British schoolgirl who takes up with an older man. Carey Mulligan gives a breakout performance as the rapidly maturing Jenny. A poignant period piece that deals with the options of well-educated women at a time when few career possibilities were available.

18. Whip It (not yet on DVD). Another one that got lost in the shuffle. I’m going to try not to be cynical and say that it had anything to do with the fact that is had one of the better female casts around. I went in thinking it was going to be your typical underdog sport film, albeit with roller derby, and it turned out to be a sweet coming of age/first romance/fun punk rock empowerment flick. Really enjoyable.

19. 500 Days of Summer (DVD). Toes the line of almost too precious, but it’s a cute, shuffled up look back on a romance. Elaborate, amazing dance sequence aside, the trips to IKEA keep the film grounded in something like reality (well, despite some Garden State stylization). It’s also a nice nod to the city of LA, which hardly ever gets any cinematic love.

20. Ponyo (not yet on DVD). I think of this as the companion piece to Totoro. Ponyo and Mei are spiritual sisters, with their boundless enthusiasm and winningly extreme emotions. Also, Tina Fey outrunning the tsunami is hilarious.

Other good ones to check out:

Half Blood Prince (DVD). I had a couple of script problems with this one, but this scene (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUNg9v5TQ5Q) totally made up for it.

Star Trek (DVD). Yup, Zachary Quinto makes a great Spock. I feel that this one was slightly over-praised, coming on the heels of several blockbuster disappointments, but it is a very good reboot and action-adventure film.

La Mission (not yet on DVD). The story of a MUNI driver coming to grips with his son coming out and the gentrification of the Mission district. Really good performances all around.

Where the wild things are (leaving theaters). One of the best movies about childhood ever made. It’s dark and beautiful and painful and magical and imaginative altogether.

Mary & Max (not yet on DVD). The first animated film to ever open Sundance, this is about the penpal relationship between a lonely girl in Australia and a man with Asperger’s in New York.

Jennifer’s Body (DVD). The most poorly marketed film of the year. It’s not a horror movie and it’s not all about Megan Fox. It uses horror tropes, including the focus on female sexuality, to create a wickedly funny allegory of adolescence and female rivalry. Also – Adam Brody does a dead-on Brandon Flowers.

Kisses (not yet on DVD). Two Irish children run away from home and spend a night on the streets of Dublin. A minor fairytale set against a bleak urban backdrop.

The International (DVD). I liked this one, though I know I’m in the minority. I think making the bad guy a bank may have hit a little too close to home when people wanted more escapism from their action films. But I’d recommend this one.

I Sell the Dead (not yet on DVD). A fun, shlocky ode to the Hammer horror films, this film tells the story of two grave robbers on the eve of their execution. It has one of the best moments of slapstick in a film this year, involving a particularly animated corpse.

Public Enemies (DVD). This one was really interesting, because one of the largest complaints was the disconnect between the ultra-modern cinematography and the setting of the film. But I think that adds to the realism of the film, because it emphasizes that these characters were once living, breathing people. Great acting by all involved. I think it could have been tightened up a bit, which is why it misses the top 20.

Young Victoria (in theaters). Emily Blunt comes off a little too modern in sections, but it’s otherwise a good period romance. The court intrigue sections are never quite as well developed, though, which is surprising, considering it’s written by Julian Fellowes (who penned one of my all-time favorites, Gosford Park).

Men who stare at goats (leaving theaters). Mis-marketed as a an out-and-out comedy, when it is really more of a dramedy. I liked it though. It has an engaging cast, and certainly several laugh out loud moments. It’s amusing, if not hysterical.

A few others also seen this year:

Everybody’s Fine (in theaters) To be fair, not as trite as I expected. Robert DeNiro does a good job of acting older and frailer than he is. And I was happy that all the reviews pointed out that Sam Rockwell was the high point of the film. (Kate Beckinsale, meanwhile, is wretched.)

Brief Interviews with Hideous Men (not yet on dvd). A noble effort, but read the book instead.

Breaking Upwards (not yet on dvd). Hipsters talking about their feelings. Makes me glad I don’t live in Brooklyn.

It Might Get Loud (DVD). Wildly disappointing. First off, they should have included Matthew Bellamy. But that omission aside, this is terribly interviewed and edited, resulting in a film that bounces around with no clear thematic direction and too little from the people it is featuring. You get neither enough history of the guitarists, or enough information on their instruments. You get a lot of vague statements about “that guitar defined the sound of the band.” Okay – how? How was it different than another guitar? What was best about that model for those songs? The only time you actually feel that you’ve learned something satisfactory is when the Edge plays Elevation both with and without the effects of his soundboard. The best parts of the film are watching them each play, but a concert documentary would have worked better in that respect.

My One and Only (not yet on DVD). Considering how much I dislike Renee Zellweger, I enjoyed this more than I expected. This is mainly due to a winning supporting cast (including Robin Wiegart as an uptight and rigid relation and an all-too brief turn by Nick Stahl as a quiet mechanic). The film is based on the life of George Hamilton, and it really sticks too closely to the truth. Had they only used the plot as a springboard, fiction might have improved upon fact. But it is an interesting examination of a woman on her own at a time when a woman could be detained for prostitution just for ordering a drink on her own. (God forbid.)

9 (DVD). The plot is a little formulaic, but I really liked the visuals. Some of the scariest animated creatures ever.

Gentleman Broncos (not yet on DVD). Jermaine Clement and Sam Rockwell are funny. The rest is nearly unwatchable. I would’ve rather had Sam guest star on Flight of the Conchords.

Happy Holidays!!

Favorite movie scenes

'ello 'ello. I thought I'd start posting here again. Not that I'll be able to keep it up, but it’ll be a good place for keeping my thoughts about movies and the movie business. Instead of just yelling them at the computer like I normally do.

First up, /Film has an interesting post on favorite movie scenes. The author picks Tiny Dancer from Almost Famous, which is a classic. So… what is my favorite movie scene?

I love musical numbers, and they are easily separated out as discrete scenes. Mein Herr from Cabaret is one of my all time favorites, as is the time warp in Rocky Horror. The ballet from an American in Paris is brilliant, and I tend to rewatch just that scene, rather than the whole movie. Other great ones? The tango in Moulin Rouge. Make ‘em laugh from Singing in the Rain. The rave at the end of Groove. Sugarhigh in Empire Records. The absolutely incredible, totally silly ballet in Center Stage (oh my god - go watch it. It has a MOTORCYCLE).

I like moments that make me cry. I love the scene in Shakespeare in Love where Viola and Will leave each other – the “you shall never age for me, nor fade, nor die”. But that’s kinda short (starts about 3:00 here). Same with the scene in gaol at the end of the Wind that Shakes the Barley when Damien writes home before his death (starts at 3:30).

I love great action scenes; the lobby scene in the Matrix, parliament blowing up to the 1812 overture in V for Vendetta. The sword fights at the end of the Scarlet Pimpernel and Stardust, respectively, and the one on the cliff in Princess Bride. The car chase from Bullitt and the fight in the house in Mr. and Mrs. Smith. The fight between the bride and O-Ren Ishii in Kill Bill vol 1. The T-Rex escape in Jurassic Park.

I love Night on Bald Mountain from Fantasia. But that’s kind of a cop out, because it is more of a short film than a scene within a larger whole.

Comedy? I love when Wadsworth explains the mystery in Clue, because it is so delightfully madcap, but that’s a bit long. I like Ralph Fiennes and Colin Farrell discussing how to shoot at each other in In Bruges. Kevin Kline beating and apologizing to John Cleese in A Fish Called Wanda.

I love big reveals, or twist endings (when done well). One of my all time favorites is the coffee cup scene in Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (so brilliant). The bowler hat scene in the Thomas Crown Affair is definitely up there.

I like cool or beautiful cinematography, like the long panning shots of the car in Children of Men (spoiler), or the beach in Atonement. The scene of John Smith in the forest in the New World has always stuck with me, in part for the beautiful scenery and Terrence Malick’s dreamy direction. I like the scene with the nightwalker and the kodama in the treetops in Princess Mononoke – it’s so painterly and lush. And I love the opening of Dead Poets’ Society because it showcases someplace I was lucky enough to live for four years. The opening of 28 Days later in deserted London is fantastic and creepy.

Good monologues, like the USS Indianapolis in Jaws or Prior’s speech about the Angel Bathesda in Angels in America, stand out. I like Kevin Spacey’s monologue as he dies at the end of American Beauty and his telling of the legend of Kaiser Soze in the Usual Suspects. The Hip to be Square monologue in American Psycho is brilliant. The closing argument in To Kill a Mockingbird. The final lines in Out of Africa (“If I have a dream of Africa”). O for a muse of fire from Henry V and Flute’s scene at the end of a Midsummer Night’s Dream. Funeral Blues in Four Weddings and a Funeral. (Ooh – La Belle Dame sans merci in Bright Star, also for poetry recitation). Tommy Lee Jones at the end of No Country for Old Men.

But finally, the first scene I thought of, my immediate gut reaction (heh) to this question, was a scene in Lawn Dogs, when Trent and Devon show each other their scars. It sounds obvious and cliché, but it is done so perfectly, it has always stuck with me. Plus, the scene starts with an absolutely gorgeous setup of a pickup truck, off center under a wide blue sky. It’s such a perfect image. So I think that wins for my favorite scene. At least for today.

I'm baaack!

Hello? (hello... hello...) Echo... (echo... echo...)

'Sup, y'all? Sorry to have been gone. I've had two very rough weeks at work followed by a week of the plague. I was going to update for the emmys (I might still post a mini-recap at some point - oh and I came in 123rd out of about 3100 in the Emmy prediction game), but I was seriously ill. Whatcha gonna do? Here's about a week's worth of news and stuff. It's been a fairly slow news time for films anyways - I feel like there's been very little buzz out of the film fests.

(Oh - AND I'm raked 46th in the Fall Box Office Challenge so far. I rock.) (Oh - and how to fix the emmys) (Oh - and Josh Groban? I think Defamer puts it best; "Say what you will about his talent, his popularity, his banality, his backstory, whatever, but the guy isn't stupid. He knew the position he was in, he knew the job he had to do, and unlike the hosts, writers and producers who pumped (and tape-delayed!) three hours' worth of bullshit into America's beloved televisions, he did his job. And he pretty much meant it — every outlandish segue into a condescending gospel choir or Muppet guest appearance seemed to nudge his energy incrementally higher. It was genuinely stirring, as in: We might not have finished our liveblog without it.")

There are a bunch of things I want to see in theaters, but the only thing I've been up to seeing through my sickness was RENT filmed live, since it was limited run and pricey. But well worth it. While it wasn't perhaps the strongest cast RENT has ever had, and the filming of the production was not always great (the camera often seemed placed about 2 inches too low), it was worth it to see Michael Greif's superb stage direction one last time. There were some standouts in the cast (Mimi had a very lovely voice), which made up for others who were particularly rough (Benny springs to mind). Were a DVD ever available, I would probably buy it, RENThead that I am, but I'll still probably watch my bootleg of the Angel cast more often. Still, since I couldn't see it live one last time, at least with this set, these costumes, and this direction, the filming made for a nice final way to see it, even when it lacked some of the thrill and energy of a live performance (that was particularly noticeable when Rent kicked in). And hey - at least it's better than the movie. Here's a clip of highlights.

Choke is out! Choke is out! It's been a monsoon here, so I have yet to brave the out of doors and see it, but I'll probably go tomorrow. Here are some reviews: Entertainment Weekly, Cinematical ("...there's only one reason why I would recommend you check out this film, and one reason only: Sam Rockwell."), New York Times ("It remains for Mr. Rockwell to create a center for a satire that is about not having a center. He distills a skeptical attitude of an under-40 everyman from the educated class (he is a medical school dropout): bored and cynical, concealing his hurt under layers of defiance, sarcasm and feigned indifference. Mr. Rockwell makes you see all the layers as well as feel the pain that lies beneath.") Speaking of which, Sam Rockwell in High School. 7: sex addicts on the silver screen.

Paul Newman dies

The Academy's re-opening! Yay! Check out the architecture here. It's gorgeous. (Speaking of which, a mile long line to get in.)

I've been reading a lot of Mark Morford of the SF Chronicle recently. Here's a good one on Palin. And the Good News and the Bad News.

Synecdoche, New York poster, Changeling poster, Valkyrie

Trailers: Benjamin Button tv spot / trailer here, For the pleasure of being robbed, badass final Spirit trailer (I know... it'll probably be bad. But I'm gonna go see it.) the Elephant King, Valkyrie, Timecrimes, Hunger (this looks amazing), Revolutionary Road, Deadgirl, Synecdoche, Waltz with Bashir, Year of the Fish,

Fan Rant: Can we focus on Keira Knightley's performances, not her ribs? (Which is a good sentiment, if the author talks about herself waay too much) and this is also funny because a few hours earlier a different writer when commenting on Kiera taking on Zelda Fitzgerald, wrote, "Keira does a decent job with these sort of roles, but Zelda was not a waif. I hope, at the very least, she tries to get that cherubic flapper look for the role." That's right, focus on her looks, not the acting job required. Also: 7 Knightley costume pics.

7: movies within movies since 2000

The essay on Tom's Diner by Suzanne Vega

The most awesome magazine cover. Plus a great interview with Colbert and Stewart.

18 wild trips to the library

The Paddy's Pub Blog is fun for all you fans of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (how brilliant was the cannibalism episode?)

Hear the full Another Way to Die. I like it alright. I like the rhythm and the horns, but I'm not sure Alicia Keys was really utilized effectively.

I hate the new Sound Bites format, but John Krasinski's arms (9.24) crack me up

Watchmen legal update: dressing up as a comic book character solves everything!

More Choke fun

Clips are going up all over the place, and while I was initially torn as to whether or not to watch them, my love of all things Sam Rockwell won out. And lucky for me, they are all great and I don't think they've spoiled anything. I can understand not wanting to see half the movie before it opens, which is why I often stop watching clips a few weeks before a premiere - the Dark Knight being a case in point. But occasionally a studio has the good sense to release just a few good clips, which actually make you excited to see a film, without giving away the best parts or major plot developments. It makes me happy when Hollywood gets it right.


Anyhoo - clip 1 (Colonial America), clip 2 (visiting Angelica), clip 3 (Angelica and young Victor - love the hat!)


Also, the higher def Frost/Nixon trailer can be found here.

That's all the update from here, and as I'm taking off for labor day, I probably won't get back into the swing of actual updates till September. At that point, I'd like to try writing some more columns, in addition to your regularly scheduled linkspam, but as I still don't have a laptop, we will see how that pans out.

Burninator!

I am so loving Flight of the Conchords. Clips for your enjoyment here, here, and - maybe most amazingly - here. Also, I hate to say it, but without the beard, Bret kind of looks like Frodo. (I will also say that the show reminds me a bit of the Mighty Boosh. (Do they have that show in America?))

Since my last post I saw The Lookout, which was pretty good, the Notorious Bettie Page, which I enjoyed, although I felt the ending was a bit abrupt, and Enchanted, which I found amusing, particularly James Marsden's clueless prince.

I'd also like to point out that In Bruges is now out on DVD. It is most likely going to end up in my top 10 films of the year. I really, really highly recommend it. It is very dark and very funny.

7 moments of George Carlin greatness My brother and I were lucky enough to see him at Davies Symphony Hall a few years back. The stage at Davies had never seen that kind of language. Probably never will again...

The Saturn Awards SUCKED Seriously. Enchanted over STARDUST?!? Cloverfied over SUNSHINE?!? Although I'm okay with 300 for action and Sweeney Todd for Horror. No, it isn't a straight-up horror flick and I'm sure it won for being mainstream and critically adored. However, Tim Burton certainly made the scariest version of the story possible; the way he filmed the bodies being turned into meat was pretty horrific. And fairly brilliant.

Rip Roarin' ammo fest 'Wanted' is a Can't Miss


Wall*E downplays message


I saw this ad in EW. It made me laugh.

7 Chick flicks for guys Or for those of us who won't touch chick flicks with a ten foot pole. That was one thing I noticed about Definitely, Maybe. I usually cannot stand romantic comedies as a genre, but this stood out as something I'd like to see at some point. The list is fairly standard, Jerry Maguire aside (ugh.).

Is the sky falling on indies? Well, I was disappointed by the returns for Snow Angels and Joshua the year before. (Joshua may have been the most under appreciated film of the year.) Certainly the angle on Sundance coverage this year was the slow buyers market. I think once this year's crop of films gets released, there'll be a better idea of how things stand.

Arrested Development movie Maybe. I don't actually see anything in that quote that confirms a film.

Revisiting Brideshead

The Geek Beat: Super Careers

Youth in Revolt has a great cast

19 one scene wonders I'd add Sam Rockwell in Jarhead, but his scene only made it on the DVD, unfortunately.

Defiance screens Includes a comparison to the Wind that Shakes the Barley, which instantly makes me much more interested.

Is Wall*E the most expensive silent film ever? Umm.. first off, awesome. I love silent films. But doesn't Eve talk?

Hancock billboard amuses passing Londoners, film bloggers across pond I don't find the billboard as amusing as the fact that someone originally titled the film "Tonight, He Comes." What the???

Kate Winslet gets old for the Reader

Ann Curry prowls for James McAvoy Aah!

Could you shoot curvy bullets? This calls for... Mythbusters!

Movie posters vie for street cred

Poster premiere: Death Defying Acts

Sam Riley to play Robin Hood While I've heard great things about Control... I'm not sure he can cancel out Russell Crowe and Sienna Miller.

Watchmen trailer to go before the Dark Knight? Stuff at Comic Con? Neither of these (if true) seem particularly surprising. And it isn't as if there'd be any Watchmen fans not already seeing the Dark Knight when it opens...

Morning spoilers. Hello pretty Milo. Seriously, bless whichever costume designer picks out Peter's coats. And yes, I'm biased, but who doesn't look better with dark hair? Hayden Panettiere, Cameron Diaz, Sarah Jessica Parker, Sienna Miller, Gwenyth Paltrow. Still, I guess it's lucky for brunettes that so few Hollywood blonds choose to stay dark.

Sam news! Sam and Anna Faris to shoot Linda Lovelace biopic this summer?

And I'm reposting Cleolinda's entry about the following bit of news, because she's brilliant; "Hopkins Confirmed As Lear. Apparently Naomi Watts will also join Gwyneth Paltrow and Keira Knightley as the third daughter. Quoth the director, an "American newcomer," "It's pre-Roman, Celtic, very raw. It's a period in British history, from which Tolkien took a lot of his inspiration, where there were thatched-roof roundhouses and fortresses." AND THE TROGDOR COMES IN THE NIIIIIIIGHT!"

New Zealand - It's not part of Australia!

Oops. Sorry to have been away. Things have been a wee bit hectic around here. I'm probably missing a bunch of linkspam, but oh well. In my life, I got a massage on Friday which did wonders for my back; I'm not sure I even realized how tense I'd become. I'm volunteering at the SPCA tomorrow (kitties!). And between interviews, housework and working on the family finances, I've been plowing through a book every two days as well as watching a ton of stuff from the tivo and netflix. To wit, in addition to Flight of the Conchords (have I mentioned I passed by Brett in Wellington?) I've recently seen:

Ratatouille. Very cute. I particularly loved Will Arnett's character; "with theeese thumb."

The Fountain. I'm still so disappointed I never got to see this on the big screen. The visuals were really made to be seen on something larger than my tv. I enjoyed it. I thought Hugh Jackman does a fantastic job. Rachel Weisz doesn't get much to do as Tess; her character doesn't have a lot of progression. It makes sense, as she is close to death and the movie covers 3 stories, but she exists more as a motivator for Hugh Jackman rather than as her own person, I felt.

Fracture. Kinda fun and twisty, if a bit overblown. Ryan Gosling and Anthony Hopkins both do alright and the way the murder is committed is interesting. I felt they spent too much time on Ryan's turnabout from corporate greed to activist. Plus, it has Cliff Curtis! I love it when he shows up in films.

The Anniversary Party. The jury's still out on this one. I can't decide if it's an interesting look at L.A. culture and relationships or a totally narcissistic and self-indulgent project.

Shoot Em Up. Whee! Clive Owen can kill a man.... with a carrot. Twice!

Breakfast on Pluto. I really liked this one. It stars Ireland (no, really. Think of an Irish actor. Got it? Trust me, he's in it.) Anyways, it actually stars Cillian Murphy as Patrick Kitten Braden, a transgender Irish youth growing up int he 1970s. Patty refuses to take things seriously, despite the Troubles, and the film is likewise fanciful and endearing. I think Cillian's golden globe nod was well-deserved.

The Incredible Hulk. No, it's not Iron Man (hi, Robert Downey Jr!). But I enjoyed it, much more than I thought I would. I think the main problem was that the film was sort of schizo. There were the Hulk action sequences, which were fun (explosions! whee!) and there was Edward Norton feeling maligned and angsting. Which he does very well. But there seemed to be no continuity between the two, Liv Tyler aside. Not being familiar with the comics, why was it the hulk bore no resemblance to Bruce Banner? Even Tim Roth's monster could talk and held onto aspects of his personality. So I enjoyed Edward Norton racing around trying to find a cure and I enjoyed the hulk smashing things, but they felt like two very different films. Can we put Edward Norton in a similarly angsty role that doesn't involve CGI (but is still big budget) and leave the action films to Wolverine and the Dark Knight? I feel like all of Edward Norton's films recently have been indie (Down in the Valley and the 25th Hour) or not marketed widely (hello, Painted Veil). I guess the Illusionist was big, but I felt it suffered compared to the Prestige. And you never saw his face in Kingdom of Heaven.

Also, Liv Tyler's breathy way of talking, while it worked in Empire Records and Lord of the Rings, really began to get on my nerves. Although I loved her quip about her lip gloss.

Sense & Sensibility. Okay - Masterpiece Theatre and not an actual film, but close enough. It was alright. I think the casting was pretty well done (hurrah for Dominic Cooper as Willoughby!) and I much preferred Dan Stevens to Hugh Grant as Edward. However, Kate Winslet made Marianne far more sympathetic and I think Emma Thompson's screenplay was better. Still, this version had sword fighting!

Linkspam:

First up, and most importantly, the first poster and image from Sam Rockwell's Moon. WHEEE! And no, I don't care if it is similar to another poster. Few posters are truly original these days.

Non-movie: Unless we get a superhero out of this who can fix the national economy and give me a pony, plutonium is bad! Also: Michael Ian Black tries to pick a fight with David Sedaris.

Also: I love these; haunting snow globes. They're very Edward Gorey. Personal faves here, here, and here.

Stan Winston passes away

Tyler Durden sings Also, Edward Norton's Fight Club PSA if you haven't already seen it.

Downey Jr. to play Cowboys and Aliens

Girls clamor for "pecked to within an inch of her life" Barbie

Oscar changes rules for foreign film, song Thank God. No more Disney medleys and hopefully we won't have a repeat of what happened in the foreign category last year.

New Joker poster It's a great poster, but a bit up close and personal I think, all things considered. I prefer the old one. And some more viral marketing. And Nestor Carbonell on LOST and the Dark Knight (ignore the headline). Yeah, didn't know he was in the Dark Knight.

Bolt poster reminds us...

New Burn After Reading Trailer Fantastic - what a great cast.

Liam Neeson in new Taken trailer

Full Mummy trailer hits I'm sorry, wasn't the last one full length?

Christian Bale as Robin Hood? Hmmm.... does casting Christian Bale cancel out Russell Crowe and Sienna Miller? Given that this is still a rumor, and Christian Bale is signed on in 2 major franchises, I think I'll stick with Jonas Armstrong and the boys for now.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt is excited about GI Joe. No, really.

New Brideshead images. I'm torn between hating the story and thinking these images are fab. Also, isn't Aloysius supposed to be bigger?

New Mama Mia images Why hello there, Dominic Cooper.

The rest of the Spirit posters roll out I had no idea Sarah Paulson was in this.