100 Movies in 2009
Another year, another movie meme! Okay, so it's the same movie meme as 2008, purely because last year I was a sad failure and fell five new movies short of the 100 mark. Alas. 2009 will be better!
If you would like to revisit the 95 movie reviews I wrote in 2008, they can be found here! Otherwise, carry on to the new ones! (I realize that at this point there are no new ones, and that this is just a pathetic list. I swear I'll get around to writing the reviews soon! And posting my top and bottom movies of 2008, and my favourite photos of 2008, and possibly writing something about stuff that happened in December before I leave for Egypt...maybe :P)
1. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button ........ A-
January 1, 2008
I really loved this movie. It felt to me like watching a novel. The plot does not progress in a really sensible fashion, which might drive some people crazy, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. The make-up and effects are pretty amazing. Brad Pitt's performance is good, but fairly under-stated. I'm surprised by all of the raves it's gotten. I feel he's done better and will do better in the future. Cate Blanchett is wonderful too, as she always is.
2. Slumdog Millionaire ........ B+
January 4, 2009
"Slumdog" is a little unpolished. Some of the cuts back and forth between past and present are really awkwardly staged. Otherwise, I was quite impressed. I've never seen a movie quite like it before. There's an interesting feeling of ancient against modern, despite it taking place in a twenty year time span. Although I liked "Benjamin Button" better, I won't be surprised or really disappointed if Oscar voters choose to honour this one in February. I would also be quite interested in reading the book. I enjoyed the movie, but have a feeling it left a lot out.
3. Milk ........ A-
January 10, 2009
A really interesting, well written, well acted film. I'm surprised that it's only buzzing for Sean Penn's performance (which is of course fantastic), because it's an all-around accomplishment in my opinion!
4. Doubt ........ B+
January 11, 2009
"Doubt" is definitely a performance piece. When reflecting on it, I realized that plot-wise, basically nothing happened in the whole film. It's interesting study of the power of a planted idea though, and wonderfully acted by everyone involved. As usual I have to complain that I would like to see Amy Adams not play herself in a single movie, but at least this character, despite being the usual sunny, naive, earnest girl, is layered and conflicted. A step in the right direction for the actress to be sure!
5. Crimes and Misdemeanors ........ C+
January 13, 2009
I can see how this was innovative and interesting in its time, but after having seen "Match Point", which is pretty much Woody Allen recycling most of this plot and making it better, I wasn't hugely enthusiastic about the film. The conversation especially didn't feel natural to me at all, and some of the acting was very college drama class.
6. The Wrestler ........ A-
January 17, 2009
Heed my advice anyone who is as prone to motion sickness as I. Do NOT view this film from the front row of a crowded theatre. Your stomach will not thank you. Much of it feels like it's shot on a camcorder, and so many scenes follow the back of Mickey Rourke's head as he walks. The camera jiggles, he bobs up and down, I try not to vomit. Other than the less than ideal viewing situation, I really enjoyed the movie. Mickey Rourke is as perfect as I had heard. You want to beat sense into his character, possibly at the same time as giving him a hug. Marisa Tomei's role as the stripper-with-a-heart-of-gold character is a little bit too classic stereotype. And don't get me wrong, the woman looks absolutely incredible naked, but other than lovely skin I didn't see her role as that challenging, or a real feat of acting. I'm surprised that she's getting all the props over Evan Rachel Wood, who manages to break your heart in the two or so scenes she has. In the end though, this film is all about Mickey Rourke and a really well written script chronicling the dramatic fall of this former star. Good stuff.
7. Bottle Shock ........ B
Started January 19
Finished January 31, 2009
Alan Rickman can draw me to see just about anything, including a movie about wine, which is possibly my least favourite substance on earth haha. (Eliza Dushku being my biggest girl-crush of all time doesn't hurt either). I was quite pleasantly surprised when this movie turned out to be extremely watchable. Not the best comedy on earth by any stretch, but plenty of laughs and a compelling enough story to get me interested in the humble beginnings of the California wine industry, at least for a couple of hours.
8. Ghost Town ........ C+
January 20, 2009
Ricky Gervais is hilarious at times in this film about a surly dentist who suddenly finds himself able to communicate with dead people. With a plot like that, and the actors involved, I was deeply disappointed with how dull and formulaic it turned out to be.
9. Rachel Getting Married ........ A-
January 31, 2009
Anne Hathaway is phenomenal in this film. I'd imagine the Oscar won't go to her, but I would love to see it do so. It's a powerful, small movie about a semi-recovered drug addict, filmed in a very home-video type of style, and much of it truly feels like captured, private moments rather than a movie. The consequence of this is that some of the scenes (the rehearsal dinner for instance) are so realistic that they end up feeling a little long and boring, as though you're actually sitting through yet another of these events. It is a very effective method though.
10. Fred Claus ........ D+
January 31, 2009
Yet another holiday film that proves that despite the success of creative, thoughtful fare like "Wall-E" or "The Incredibles", many producers continue to think that kids will be entertained by absolutely anything. Vince Vaughn, Paul Giamatti and even Rachel Weisz I can forgive this blunder, but why, Kevin Spacey? Why?
11. Deliver Us From Evil ........ A-
Feb. 6, 2009
A really interesting documentary about the issues of molestation within the Catholic church. Particularly disturbing is a series of interviews with a former priest who has molested and raped a shocking number of children. He actually describes some of the acts in detail, with an amazing amount of detachment. This is a very well done film, but one that will be difficult for many to watch.
12. The Reader ........ B-
Feb. 14, 2009
This film starts out quite promising, lots and lots of hot sex with minors! I approve. The scenes during which David Kross watches Kate Winslet's trial are also high intensity and well done. The rest of the film is surprisingly bland, and boring enough to make one's attention wander. I've honestly never seen Ralph Fiennes as unconvincing as I found him to be here. Still, Kate Winslet's performance is fantastic, and David Kross really deserves to be getting more praise for his (and for being very attractive and naked!).
13. It's A Boy Girl Thing ........ D
Feb. 15, 2009
A High School body-switch movie featuring a nerdy chick, and football jock. Extremely entertaining, but for all the wrong reasons. Fortunately, Kevin Zegers is very pretty.
14. Man On Wire ........ B+
Feb. 22, 2009
A very interesting documentary about the crazy Frenchman, Philippe Petit, who managed to sneak into the World Trade Centre, put up a tightrope between the twin towers and do an act in broad daylight before being arrested. I really enjoyed it! That man is insane!! Although I have to say, I’m not quite sure it actually deserved to win the Oscar for Best Documentary, since the vast majority of what makes it interesting and special are photos and videos that the people involved in the caper made at the time of the events and graciously supplied to the filmmakers. Some of the reenactments were really cheesy. Putting it all together doesn’t seem like it would necessarily have been a great challenge.
15. He's Just Not That Into You ........ D-
Mar. 1, 2009
You know...even if I were able to get past how totally offensive I find the whole concept of this book/movie...which I clearly cannot do to in order to give a bias-free review...I still only laughed about three times. I can think of two positive comments for you: #1 Scarlett Johansson did not distract me at all with her inability to act! She actually does a perfectly reasonable job in this role! WOW! #2 Unlike the book, the movie is willing to explore the idea that men can be just as over-analytical and ridiculous as women can be. However it then falls on its face, because it just can't be a Hollywood movie and still convey the message that the books wants to, that being that you're not the exception, you're the rule. The message it ends up with is "You're not the exception now, but eventually you might be?". On the plus side, my abs got a nice work-out from being clenched in discomfort for over two hours! Good work, guys. Good work :P
16. Sleepy Hollow ........ B-
Mar. 6, 2009
Quite a decent movie, although not really what I was expecting! Although there are many scenes that have Tim Burton's signature written all over them, you can't quite see him dripping from every shot like in many of his other films. I also wasn't expecting the element of goofiness present through the whole film in Johnny Depp's character, which is actually quite effective because while dark, this story is rather goofy when you get right down to it. In another filmmaker's hands, this movie probably would have taken itself far too seriously.
17. Watchmen ........ C-
Mar. 7, 2009
By no means a terrible movie, but far more "meh" than I was expecting. I was extremely disappointed. Not in the sense that I felt bitter about the $10 I paid to see it or anything like that, but I expected far better considering all of the hype. The idea that this film is going to set a new standard for the genre is appalling given that "The Dark Knight" came out this summer. Without ruining anything, I felt that this film could be described as a few truly fantastic scenes held together by lots and lots of boredom. I can forgive a superhero movie with this much violence for a lot of things, but boredom is not one of them. Also, most of the characters are really undeveloped considering this is a three hour movie, and many of the effects are cheesy. I'm sure that true fans of the graphic novel would want to slay me for this comment, but instead of sticking so close to the source material, I wish they had updated it, as they did with "V For Vendetta" (a far superior film based on an Alan Moore graphic novel). Many of the references to 80s political events either went over my head or felt really socially irrelevant.
I'm probably making the movie sound worse than it was because I was so disappointed by it though. On the positive side, I loved everything about the Rorschach character. The constantly changing inkblot mask was amazingly well done, and Jackie Earle Hayley did a fantastic job with the character, and embodying the fact that he is in fact creepier without the mask. I'll even forgive the cross between the cartoon Wolverine and Christian Bale's Batman voice he was doing :P For the most part the fight scenes are just awesome. Plus there's some full frontal blue penis, which can save any movie :P
18. One Week ........ B+
Mar. 8, 2009
A film starring Joshua Jackson, about a young man diagnosed with cancer who goes on a road trip across Canada instead of seeking treatment. I have to say, I was quite pleasantly surprised by how much I liked it. Especially for a Canadian movie (I mean...I'm not insulting my country's mad filmmaking skillz...) it's quite decent. I thought Joshua Jackson was very convincing as he goes through the stages of soul searching, and the effects that his decision to take this trip have on his relationship with his fiancé are quite believable. Also it was interesting to take in so much of Western Canada's countryside (he doesn't venture out of the rural areas too often). Who knew we had so many "The biggest fill-in-random-object-here in the world" type sights?
19. The Bank Job ........ B+
Mar. 8, 2009
A really interesting heist movie, especially given that it's based on a true story. I really enjoyed it. Also, I think that this role is quite a testament to Jason Statham's rarely tested acting skills. He's able to convey quite a range of emotion through very subtle shifts in facial expression, which I probably wouldn't have given him credit for before. It would be nice to see him take on some roles with more depth. It's a shame that this film didn't make much of a splash at the box office. My only real issue with it was a very slow and rocky start. I thought I might turn it off after the first 15 minutes, but was very glad I chose not to.
20. Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li ........ Actual Quality: D- Entertainment Value: A +++++++
Mar. 12, 2009
In all honesty, this is one of the most hilariously terrible movies that I've ever seen. It was everything I was hoping it would be. I went hoping for “so bad it’s good”, and wow was I ever not disappointed.
First was the decision to cast Kristin Kreuk as Chun Li, which is probably mostly because no credible Asian actress was interested in this role. Consequently, the series of children they have playing Chun Li as a young girl get progressively whiter looking as they age. Oh dear. Kreuk’s acting isn’t actually nearly as bad as I was expecting given the reviews. I mean, I understood when she was angry or sad because her jaw clenched. Lots and lots of clenching. What more do you want really?
Sure sign that your movie is in trouble:
“So, we need a big name American lead to play this badass, rugged cop character. Who do we got?”
“Chris Klein is on board.”
Chris Klein is amazing. Pure comic genius. Except perhaps not deliberately. His bug-eyed attempts at conveying intimidation are only bested by the wig that he apparently stole from Tom Hanks’ Da Vinci Code set. Amazing. Even more awkward is the “sexual tension” contrived with fellow badass cop, Moon Bloodgood. After a five minute long scene during which they display no chemistry whatsoever, we are supposed to believe that Chris Klein’s smooth and manly tactic of making out with her to divert attention from their stakeout, leaves her with tingles of happiness in naughty places, instead of an uncontrollable urge to scream, “RAPE!"
Robin Shou (whose only other major role was in “Mortal Kombat” as an amusing side note) plays “Gen”, a character who seems to be a cross between Ryu and Ken, but for some unfathomable reason, is not actually either of these people.
Michael Clarke Duncan is pretty damn entertaining as Balrog (and not even accidentally), I do have to say. The guy playing Bison is fairly enjoyable as well, (although the script tells us that Bison was born in Ireland but raised in Thailand since he was 7 months old, should he really have a heavy Irish accent??).
There are one or two good things about this movie. Props to them for at least attempting to include some fun from the video game. Chun Li wears the white boots while stomping around Thailand, her spinning bird kick is in there, and there's a fence involved in the fight with Vega. That might be the extent of it haha. Also, despite the reviews that state the contrary, I thought that many of the fight scenes were pretty damn cool. Nothing really unique or shocking, but certainly on par with any other throwaway action movie.
Lastly, I won't spoil it for anyone, but the absolute best part of this movie is the back story they've come up with for Bison and how he became so evil. It involves a very unique method of delivering a baby and disposal of a soul, and I don't know if I've ever seen such a WTF scene come right out of left field in the middle of any movie before. Pure comic gold.
21. Last Chance Harvey ........ B-
Mar. 14, 2009
There's really nothing unique or non-formulaic about this story, but Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson make it watchable and endearing. Sweet without being sentimental, they certainly didn't make my frozen heart melt into a puddle of goo, but they didn't make me want to throw up either, which is impressive. Eileen Atkins in her few scenes as Emma Thompson's eccentric mother provides very effective comic relief (albeit totally irrelevant to the story, but that's not such a bad thing). Liane Balaban does a great job in her role as the hurt but hopeful daughter, a believable story arc that dampens the silly Hollywood romance aspect effectively. In short, this is a pretty decent film, but would have fallen extremely flat without the excellent cast.
22. My Winnipeg ........ WTF?
Mar. 15, 2009
I have no idea how to review this utterly bizarre "Docu-Fantasia" about my hometown. Guy Maddin is a seriously bizarre dude. I can't really imagine anyone who hasn't lived in Winnipeg being remotely interested in this crazy film, but since it ended up on so many top 10 lists from major critics, I have to concede that there must be something appealing about it that I don't see. I would, however, recommend that everyone from Winnipeg give it a look.
23. Revolutionary Road ........ A
Mar. 20, 2009
I'm shocked that this film got such tepid reviews, it seems like the sort of film that should have been a critical darling. Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet were both fantastic. I have to even agree that Leo should have gotten the Oscar nod over Brad Pitt, which is really saying something coming from me, as I love Brad Pitt and find Leo irritating half the time. I think that the Academy probably did the right thing in choosing "The Reader" over this one for Kate, because that role was clearly leading, and also is a bit more subtle and layered, probably overall more challenging, but either performance would have been worthy of the statue in my opinion. But I digress :P This film is really well written, the intensity builds gracefully, Michael Shannon is gleefully good in his brief role as a psychiatric patient who says what everyone's thinking. I felt that the subject matter is still extremely socially relevant, at least to my generation. The struggle between the desire for stability and money, and the desire to lead an exciting and fulfilling life is in my head practically every day. I actually left the theatre feeling really depressed, which some might not think is a good sign, but it's rare that a movie can affect me to that degree.
24. I Love You, Man ........ B+
Mar. 21, 2009
Quite enjoyable! I liked the unapologetic bro-mance of it all. Paul Rudd's character is so awkward that it could have easily been overdone, but he pulls it off endearingly. It's not the sort of movie that's so funny it will leave you in stitches, but it's certainly one that I would be happy to see again.
25. Don't Come Knocking ........ D
Mar. 22, 2009
This was probably a labour of love for Wim Wenders and Sam Shepard, but it comes across as a poorly executed vanity project. Overall quite boring despite a couple of good scenes. Also poorly written, oddly paced, and badly acted in many places despite what appears to be a stellar cast. I was not impressed.
26. Adventureland ........ C+
Mar. 23, 2009
This film is one cliché after another, which wouldn't have been the worst thing on Earth, but it's also disappointingly emo, and not very funny. Almost every single joke seems to be in the trailer. Jesse Eisenberg does an amazingly accurate imitation of Michael Cera in this film. Whether or not that was what he was trying to accomplish remains in question. On the bright side, the movie did do a good job of really bringing me back to the feeling of university-era summers, and kind of made me want to make out with random people! Woo!?
27. This Film Is Not Yet Rated ........ A
Mar. 28, 2009
A really interesting documentary about the MPAA and how ridiculous the ratings system is. I never really understood before how destructive an NC-17 rating could be to a film and how easy it is to get one (especially when raters seem to use no criteria whatsoever). I really liked how this film uses a mix of interviews from filmmakers who have had problems with the MPAA in the past, along with a highly engaging current day story, wherein the director hires two detectives to try to investigate exactly who rates the films (the list of names is kept secret). We also get to see the process through which the director goes to get the documentary itself rated. Really great film, I'd recommend it.
28. Paris, je t'aime ........ B
Mar. 31, 2009
"Paris, je t’aime" is a collection of 20 short films set in Paris, all by different directors. Aside from being a tribute to the city, these short films really have nothing in common. They range from funny to sad. From pretentiously artsy, to blatantly ridiculous (there are pieces about vampires and mimes, for god's sake!) The real issue with this collection of films is not the different genres, or even really how no piece has anything to do with another, but as you might expect, the fact that some pieces are fabulous, and some, well just suck. The pacing is also a little off. I wouldn’t have ordered the films the way they were. It starts off with mostly strong, very interesting films, and then the middle seems to drag unnecessarily with the repetitive and unnecessary.
I did really appreciate the effort on the part of Emmanuel Benbihy, who envisioned this project and put it all together. The finished product is quite interesting, and unlike anything I’d ever seen before. I certainly found it worth sitting through the duds to get to the meatier pieces. It’s definitely going to be an acquired taste though, I can’t see everyone feeling that way.
29. Sunshine Cleaning ........ B
Apr. 3, 2009
More melancholy than I would have expected from the trailers, this is a decent little film but not a great one, and probably quite disappointing as a follow up to “Little Miss Sunshine” for the avid fans. This might actually be my favourite role of Amy Adams’. It’s not a massive departure, her character is still the earnest, fountain of positivity, but unlike most of her prior roles, this character is in no way naïve. She’s very aware of what a mess she’s made of her life and doesn’t know what to do about it. The only thing I didn’t really like about this character was the bizarre back story that she was once head cheerleader and has now fallen dramatically. Not only is her career non-existent, but she's having an affair with the former star quarterback. It’s unnecessary, and the only thing about the character that seems really forced and false. A woman in a dead-end job having an affair with a married man would have been quite sufficient.
The plot of the story is interesting, I liked the details about the business of post-death clean-up operations. However, the way that the story unfolds is in some places clichéd and in some just hard to buy. Sort of like “Little Miss Sunshine” in that regard actually, the set up is quite unique and has so much more potential than the actual execution, however the former is without a doubt the better movie.
30. You Kill Me ........ C
Apr. 5, 2009
It's really disappointing that I was unaware this movie was filmed in my hometown at the time of viewing. Scanning the background for familiar sights would have provided a lot more entertainment than actually paying attention to this uninteresting film. The description made it sound hilarious, but I found it to be only just barely funny enough to keep me from turning it off.
31. Intermission ........ A-
Apr. 10, 2009
I don't even know how to begin describing what this one is about. Well worth checking out if you're a fan of the off kilter, slightly brutal humour in films like "In Bruges". Definitely geared at the slightly demented (which clearly I am! :)).
32. 17 Again ........ C+
Apr. 16, 1009
I went into this movie with low expectations and was not disappointed. At what point Zac Efron became a more convincing actor than Matthew Perry (who blunders through his brief role in this film with about as much enthusiasm as you might expect from a once credible actor accepting a job like this), I don’t know, but it’s a sad day indeed. In fact, thank god that Zac Efron is so entertaining and endearing in this movie, because otherwise it would have been downright unwatchable. (Leslie Mann as well helps to carry this film, but for the most part the rest of the acting is a bit painful). As it is, it’s not the worst thing you’ll ever see. A modern take on the classic high school type comedy, it’s definitely got some fabulous moments, but for the most part the writing is awkward, and most of it is just not very funny.
33. Cassandra's Dream ........ C
Apr. 19, 2009
When I saw in Blockbuster's "Hidden Gem" ad that Colin Farrell, Ewan McGregor and Tom Wilkinson had made a Woody Allen movie, I immediately had high hopes. Unfortunately, this film is quite disappointing. Woody Allen clearly has some fixations on certain kinds of subject matter. I've only seen four or five of his films and with the exception of "Vicky Cristina Barcelona", they all seem incredibly derivative of each other. "Cassandra's Dream" is essentially a cross between "Match Point" and "Crimes and Misdemeanors", and nowhere near as good as either. The writing is bland, the story hard to swallow, and the "twist" ending clearly visible from a mile away.
34. Crank: High Voltage ........ B
Apr. 21, 2009
Ahh the latest Jason Statham romantic comedy. I actually enjoyed this far more than I was expecting to. When you’re making a sequel to a movie that absolutely did not need a sequel whatsoever, probably one of the best approaches one can take is to make virtually the exact same movie, but harder, faster and a good deal more violent. This picks up directly after the original left off, and really does feel like an hour and a half extension to the first film, rather than a sequel. It would also appear that the main discussion behind the Crank 2 theme went something like this: “What was missing from Crank 1?” “TITS!!! Lots and lots and lots of tits!!” And believe me, the filmmakers decided to make up for that lack and then some. I also have to give the filmmakers props for attempting to make the sequel even more ridiculous than the original, a feat I would not have thought possible. Add in the most bizarre ending ever, fun cameos from Geri Halliwell and David Carradine among others, and you’ve got some good, solid fun. Not as good as the first one mind you, but will probably be enjoyed by anyone who liked the original Crank.
35. Earth ........ B-
Apr. 23, 2009
"Earth" starts off quite slow, I found my attention wandering quite a bit. It was a bit of an awkwardly paced film on the whole actually, but a couple of truly amazing scenes made it totally worthwhile. Lions vs elephants. I won’t say more, but freaking wow. People actually filmed that. Speaking of which, it’s definitely worth staying through the credits to see some behind the scenes footage. Good stuff!
36. State of Play ........ A
Apr. 25, 2009
I wasn’t really sure what to expect going into this one since I hate Russell Crowe but love pretty much the whole supporting cast. I am pleased to say that I really really liked it. It’s suspenseful, and very well thought out. There are plenty of twists and turns, but it’s a gradual process. Most of the twists are slight enough that they don’t ring false or forced as with many movies in this genre. Russell Crowe actually does do a good job here, and isn’t particularly irritating. Helen Mirren is totally my new old lady crush. Love her!! The very first scene of this film is a brief but intense chase, like none I’d ever seen before. It immediately set the pace for the whole thing, and could have gone really downhill, but maintained it all the way. I don’t know if this movie would be to everyone’s taste, but I recommend it highly for what it’s worth ;)
37. The Clique ........ D-
Apr. 26, 2009
An attempted cross between “Mean Girls” and “Clueless”, except set in grade 7. The “attempted” part of the equation of course being that the latter two films are hilarious and really well done. This one is really really not. Well, hilarious certainly, but not for the intended reasons. It’s also produced by Tyra Banks, which perhaps accounts for it. Lines like “Did I invite you to my BBQ? Then what are you doing up in my grill?!” add to the general hilarity. Fairly terrible movie, but quite entertaining to watch!
38. Confessions of a Shopaholic ........ C-
May 1, 2009
I love Isla Fisher, and that's probably the only thing that saved this movie for me. It's unapologetically formulaic, and not in a good way. Most of the gags seem to be built entirely on over-the-top situations that the main character, Rebecca Bloomwood, could have gotten out of with a simple, "No, fuck off." (Ie. Being forced to wait tables at an important event because her dress matched that of the serving staff. OMG faux pas!) This movie also rides on the premise that the serious financial magazine that Rebecca ends up working for finds an article she writes comparing shopping to savings to be an innovative and genius breath of fresh air. This might be easier for the audience to even pretend to swallow if the film had showed Rebecca producing more than one 1,000 word article, which doesn't really seem like enough to vault a financial journalist to instant stardom. I know that nit-picking at plot points in silly romantic comedies is unwise and probably enough to drive one mad, but the real problem with this movie is that it's not particularly entertaining or funny. If it was, all of the above things would be forgivable. Personally I was hoping to be able to sit through the movie purely due to loads of expensive and shiny happy clothes on display before my eyes, but Rebecca Bloomwood is more of a "Legally Blonde" character than a "The Devil Wears Prada" character, and for the most part her wardrobe certainly doesn't make me green with envy. On the plus side, as I mentioned, Isla Fisher does do a really good job and makes a character that would have been unbearably obnoxious in the hands of most, reasonably likable. Hugh Dancy is also charming and pretty, which doesn't hurt.
39. The Cement Garden ........ B-
May 11, 2009
It's really hard for me to judge how good this movie actually is because I loved the book so much, and it just doesn't compare. All of the glorious atmosphere of creepiness is all but gone. I don't think the point was to make incest seem innocent and natural. Still, I was impressed with how boldly the filmmakers stuck with the text. All of the actors did a great job and were perfectly cast, particularly Charlotte Gainsbourg. Despite not living up to the book, I did quite enjoy watching it.
40. Lust, Caution ....... B
May 16, 2009
A couple of scalding hot sex scenes don't quite make up for the fact that this period thriller is about an hour too long. Despite being slow moving though, it's interesting and stylish, and not a disappointing effort from my favourite director. Did I mention the sex? There's some hot sex.
41. Duplicity ........ B+
May 18, 2009
This movie was quite enjoyable. Julia Roberts and Clive Owen have great chemistry, Tom Wilkinson is always God, and Paul Giamatti plays a beautiful slimeball. A few people have told me that the time shifts are hard to follow, although I didn't find that personally. Lots of fun.
42. Teeth ........ A
May 22, 2009
Most men will consider this a horror movie, and most women a frothy and delightful comedy. The main character is a purity obsessed teenager who preaches chastity at local elementary schools, until her boyfriend forces himself on her and she discovers that her vagina comes equipped with a set of monstrous chompers, ready to deal with any such offenders. This movie is unapologetically campy, delicious and hilarious. Extra fun viewing if there's a male in the room who will provide extra entertainment with squirming and curling into the foetal position.
43. JCVD ........ B
May 30, 2009
Much darker than I was expecting, both in tone and actual filming. Very interesting idea for a film. JCVD himself did a great job. Perhaps he'll continue to explore roles that involve actual acting in the future.
44. Living Out Loud ....... C-
June 6, 2009
Danny DeVito in a pseudo-main love interest role is probably never okay. Otherwise, this movie is just incredibly strange. I was mainly focused on Queen Latifa's boobs. Again, wow.
45. Kung Fu Panda ........ B
June 10, 2009
It's amazing that Jack Black can still manage to play Jack Black even when voicing an animated panda. I was surprised that so many big names were wasted on extremely small supporting roles too. Still, this movie is lots of fun. I think that as a tiny child I would have been scared shitless of the bad guy!
46. Year One ........ C+
June 26, 2009
Pretty much exactly what you'd expect. Mostly cheap laughs. Incredible stupidity. Jack Black playing Jack Black. Michael Cera playing Michael Cera. Totally mindless, but reasonably entertaining.
47. The Hangover ........ A-
June 27, 2009
No holds barred on this one! So much fun! I laughed through the whole thing!! Can't wait to see the inevitable uncensored DVD version!
48. Truly Madly Deeply ........ C+
July 2, 2009
Not at all what I was expecting. This film seems to have quite a few different ideas going on, and executes none of them well. At times poignant and sad, and at times attempting off the wall humour, it's not that it has no potential to work, it's more that no idea is really developed. Juliet Stevenson and Alan Rickman's early scenes are genuine, unsettling and extremely well acted. Unfortunately, the film then veers off in a million different directions and the ending comes abruptly and is totally ineffective. Bonus points to Alan Rickman for still being strangely sexy, despite the horrible mustache.
49. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince ........ A
July 14, 2009
I was thrilled by how much I enjoyed the latest installment of the Harry Potter film franchise. I'll say no more, but if you're interested, direct yourselves to my lengthy spoiler-filled review here.
50. The Proposal ........ B
July 27, 2009
Romantic comedy is in no way my favourite genre as most know, but this film is a cut above, not because it's in any way innovative or non-formulaic, but because of quirky well-written characters, and performances by Ryan Reynolds and Sandra Bullock. The plot veers into over-the-top and irritating territory about mid-way through the movie, which is too bad because the charm is entirely in the character interactions, not much to do with the plot.
51. Inkheart ........ B-
July 31, 2009
I was really concerned about this one when I started watching it, because the first 15 or so minutes are bad. The film belly-flops right into the story with no grace whatsoever. I certainly understand the need to condense the first quarter of the book, and to provide back information in a matter of minutes, but it is not done well. Fortunately, beyond the awkward beginning, I was pleasantly surprised by the film. I'd really enjoyed the novel and was unsure about how they were going to capture the main theme, which is really how magical reading can be. The result is pretty pleasant. Many things were tweaked, deleted and added in, but all for good reason and all effectively. I think this would be an exciting movie for a kid to watch, and stood up to adult viewing as well. Helen Mirren is wasted in the tiny role she's got here, but I loved what brief screen time she had. Jim Broadbent is perfect for his role as is most of the supporting cast. Eliza Bennett who plays the main character is perhaps slightly over-dramatic, but for the most part quite convincing. The weakest link is Brendan Fraser, who I swear had acting ability at some point in his career...none whatsoever is displayed in this film. Sort of distracting in places in fact. I do have to commend them for the final action sequence though. The one major flaw that I felt the book had was a totally anti-climactic conclusion. Hollywood can be counted on to take care of that!
52. Taken ........ C+
August 1, 2009
The premise of this film is pretty weak. And by premise I mean the initial set up of Liam Neeson's past, his relationship with his daughter, and the underground operation he uncovers trying to find her. So basically the entire plot. Also, Liam Neeson cannot do an American accent to save his life. So distracting! The fight scenes in this movie are definitely enjoyable, and the one car chase is pretty innovative. Not a bad action flick if that's what you're in it for, but definitely the type of movie movie that takes itself far too seriously considering the silliness of the story. Considering the hype, I was expecting a lot better.
53. Humpday ........ A
August 2, 2009
I find that films based entirely on fairly every day conversation almost always suffer from either ringing false (much of Woody Allen IMO) or being extremely tedious (all of Robert Altman IMO). Not so in this surprisingly intelligent comedy about two best buddies who decide that it’s an innovative and artsy idea to make a gay porn starring straight guys (namely them). Not knowing anything beyond this premise going in, I was obviously expecting a dumb but funny “Zack and Miri” type of comedy. As it turns out, “Humpday” is more of an art film itself, featuring extended dialogue and filmed mostly with intensely close angles. The humour is in the incredibly genuine awkwardness, which is tolerable to me because it’s based on very believable human interactions (the film actually actually manages to convince that the gay/straight porn idea seems like a completely reasonable one to these dudes), rather than an overblown character, like say a Napoleon Dynamite. Despite being surprisingly subtle given the subject matter, the film had me laughing out loud quite a few times. I can see how it wouldn't be to everyone's taste, but I recommend it highly.
54. (500) Days of Summer ........ A-
August 9, 2009
It's always refreshing when a film that dares to do something different with the romantic comedy genre comes along. The story is not told in chronological order. You get the ending first and then it jumps around, giving you pieces to the puzzle along the way. It also features very quirky devices like a scene in split screen (the character's expectations vs reality), and a post-coital dance number. However, the very modern story takes a decidedly unmodern twist toward the end which is just so untrue to one of the characters that it left me feeling sour towards the movie as a whole. I had it as a B rating for a while before I was able to take a step back and appreciate the film-making, not just the feeling that it left me with.
55. Public Enemies ........ B+
August 13, 2009
Maybe a bit longer than necessary, this film is still pretty action packed. I'm not sure how to take the many reviews accusing it of being boring. Johnny Depp is fabulous as always, and Christian Bale is solid, though predictable in the do-gooder role. The blatant support of the outlaw in this movie feels a little morally questionable (for instance, we're supposed to condemn the police for getting a bit rough with a woman who won't give information leading to a group of murderers?), but still a pretty enjoyable piece of work.
56. Dick Tracy ........ B+
August 15, 2009
It's always hard putting a rating on older movies, but I did love seeing all of these big names, covered in crazy make-up and in such a fun movie!
57. Can't Buy Me love ........ C-
August 19, 2009
Oh the 80s...I always have trouble watching these geek-gets-made-over-into-stud type 80s movies because who can really differentiate between "bad" and "good" 80s clothing?? The plot here is pretty weak as well, but I still had a very good time watching this pretty awful movie ;)
58. Clue ........ B
August 28, 2009
A lot of fun! I especially appreciated how so many details from the board game were worked into the movie without seeming overly forced.
59. Låt den rätte komma in (Let The Right One In) ........ B
August 29, 2009
More of an art film than a horror, this film is a must for a lover of vampire lore. It's a slightly different take on the traditional, with
Lina Leandersson playing an effective, creepy, undead child. The plot is absolutely strange. There's no real other way to describe it. The endless is also bizarre, although fairly satisfying. It's the sort of film leaves you unsure of whether or not you actually liked it until a few days later. Definitely like nothing I've ever seen before.
60. The Visitor ........ A-
September 14, 2009
Both a bittersweet story about a man who has lost his wife and is lifted out of numbness by two illegal immigrants that he finds living in their apartment, and a criticism of US immigration laws, this film is powerful. Richard Jenkins is wonderful, and well deserving of his surprise Oscar nod, although he doesn't over-shadow the performances of the unknown supporting cast, in particular Haaz Sleiman as a young man facing deportation.
61. X-Men Origins: Wolverine ........ B
September 22, 2009
I was actually shocked by how much I enjoyed this movie considering the bad press! It's in the same vein as the second X-Men. A little showier and less raw than the first, but mostly quite enjoyable. Nowhere near as painful as the third. They also continue with the trend of using the mythology as inspiration rather than law, but the new story is fitting with the character so it all works. Also I just enjoy Hugh Jackman to death. Taylor Kitsch as Gambit is a welcome addition. Most of the minor characters were brilliantly cast, although I thought that Ryan Reynolds' performance was overdone in what is basically a reprise of his Blade 3 role. I love him to death, but he stuck out like a sore thumb.
62. Coraline ........ A
September 26, 2009
One of the most creative pieces of work I've ever seen. Visually stunning, great characters and a really inventive story. I have to say though, I really don't think this would be appropriate for young children. In fact, I think it will probably succeed in creeping out most adults.
63. District 9 ........ A-
October 3, 2009
Truly original. I've honestly never seen anything like it. I confess to finding it a bit hard to watch, as the main character is such an unlikable idiot that it's very difficult to sympathize with him. I can't say I have any desire to ever see the film again, but would still call it a must-see for any sci-fi fan.
64. Julie & Julia ........ A-
October 4, 2009
Charming on every level! But make sure you've eaten a good meal prior to viewing. If you're hungry, watching will be pure agony.
65. Il y a longtemps que je t'aime (I've Loved You So Long) ........ A-
October 10, 2009
A very moving and somber little art film with many great performances. I loved it right up until the end. I won't spoil anything, but the conclusion rang a little false.
66. Whip It ........ B+
October 11, 2009
Super cute movie. It's definitely fluffier than I would expect from a Drew Barrymore/Ellen Page collaboration, but enjoyable candy nonetheless. And very effective in making one want to slip on a pair of skates and punch a bitch.
67. Surrogates ........ B+
October 17, 2009
I was pleasantly surprised by this Sci-Fi action flick. The dystopia it depicts is fairly believable given the current tone of the world. Very interesting plot despite the ease with which one can poke it full of holes. Bruce Willis plays a good stoic anti-hero and Ving Rhames is enjoyable in what is almost a cameo appearance.
68. Cairo Time ........ B
October 19, 2009
This film is billed as a romantic drama set in Cairo. What it is in actuality is a love affair with Cairo itself. The city is the main character. While Patricia Clarkson and Alexander Siddig are both excellent in their roles, the story does not revolve around them. In fact there really isn't much of a story at all, truth be told. I still very much enjoyed this plodding exploration of Egyptian culture. Having visited there quite recently, it was especially interesting to me. The cinematography is beautiful, and I think that the film did an excellent job of capturing the very strange but effortless mixture of very traditionally African and Middle Eastern dress and lodging with very modern Western style dress and architecture. I honestly am not sure how much most people will really enjoy this film, but I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in Egypt.
69. Fargo ........ A-
October 20, 2009
Oh you crazy Coens! I really did believe that this film was based on a true story until I watched the special features too :P Definitely a classic that I'd been missing out on until now. Steve Buscemi always plays such a fabulous slimeball. All around great black comedy.
70. Zombieland ........ B
October 30, 2009
A very enjoyable comedy even if you're not a zombie movie fan. Jesse Eisenberg continues to imitate Michael Cera flawlessly, even when pursued by rampaging monsters. (As a side note, my head just exploded a little bit when a glance at his imdb page revealed him to the same age as me. What?! He's not 12??) Woody Harrelson is hilarious. Emma Stone displays an impressive loyalty to four layers of eyeliner considering there are monsters lurking around every corner. And Abigail Breslin is adorable. I'm highly supportive of her choosing projects like this. Oh, and course there's a highly entertaining cameo which I won't ruin by so much as hinting at it! I wouldn't say that this is the comedic masterpiece that some are hailing it as. It does run out of gas a bit toward the end, but it's highly enjoyable for what it is!
71. Where the Wild Things Are ........ A-
November 1, 2009
I'm really not sure how to rate this one. I'd say it's a triumph of film-making, but I'm not sure how much I actually enjoyed watching it, and am equally unsure of how enthused most children will be. The cinematography is totally amazing. It's undeniably a visually stunning film. The monsters in the film seem very real and at the same time very old school costume style. It may take a special kind of child to appreciate this one as the style is bleak and the story is very emotionally heavy. I think that my main issue is that I found it extremely difficult to sympathize with the main character, or the monster he feels a bond with. The kid is just too much of a terror, and the dissatisfying home life is just not a sufficient excuse to me. This behaviour is of course reflected in the monster he befriends, whose cuddliness does not compensate for his dependency issues. It's somewhat difficult to watch, and difficult to determine what outcome to root for. This aside it truly is a beautifully done film. Worth a watch at least once.
72. This Is It ........ A-
November 2, 2009
To call "This Is It" a documentary is a bit of a stretch. It wasn't quite what I was expecting, but was fabulous to watch nonetheless. It's made up of footage that was shot at the dress rehearsals for what would have been Michael Jackson's farewell tour. The footage was intended to be a special feature on the concert DVD. As it is, the film plays like the concert itself, a little unpolished, but you really do get an idea of what an amazing show it would have been. There are amusing bits of behind the scenes footage stuck in between songs. You do get a sense of Michael Jackson's dedication to the music, and why he would have been an inspiring and sometimes frustrating person to work for. But 90% of the film really is the music. I don't know if a non-fan with vague interest would get any enjoyment of this piece whatsoever. But for the fans, while it's a shame that no one will ever experience the concert as MJ intended, it's a beautiful thing that this footage exists.
73. Shut Up & Sing ........ A-
November 5, 2009
A very interesting account of life as the Dixie Chicks in the aftermath of lead singer Natalie Maines’ flippant comment about the George W. Bush. My jaw drops at the amazing stupidity of humanity, or perhaps just the elite section of humanity made up of right-wing country fans.
74. The Time Traveler's Wife ........ C-
November 15, 2009
While I do think it would be nearly impossible to make a film that would live up to the source material, this one doesn’t even seem to be making an effort. It’s not even that the script is hugely unfaithful, but it does absolutely nothing to capture the magic, mystery and horror of the story, nor does it inspire any of the wide range of emotions that the reader experiences while flying through the book. I thought that Rachel McAdams did a reasonably good job, but Eric Bana was dry as toast and the two had very little chemistry. Ron Livingston as Gomez was endearing but completely mis-cast. Overall this movie is not unwatchable, but isn’t a good tribute to the novel, nor could I imagine it coming off as much more than a silly and superficial weepy chick flick to a viewer unfamiliar with the source material.
75. Elegy ........ A
November 28, 2009
"Elegy" is a relatively simple story. An aging Lothario is surprised to find himself genuinely in love with his student, but is unsure how to proceed because of the age gap and his own mental blocks. The film evolves into an exploration of love in modern times, and aging in general. Ben Kingsley and Penelope Cruz are both amazing (although both probably about ten years too old for their parts), but it was Dennis Hopper as Ben Kingley's best friend who really won me over. It's a love story, but I was absolutely heartbroken by the friendship. As a side note, while I did enjoy Penelope Cruz's role in "Vicky Cristina Barcelona", this was the 2008 film she deserved the Oscar for.
76. Everybody's Fine ........ B-
December 3, 2009
This is another one of those "holiday" films, which is deceptively advertised in an attempt to lure in Christmas-fun seekers. In fact, the story has absolutely nothing to do with Christmas. It's a fairly depressing drama with some funny moments that's being advertised as a comedy. Not to say that it's a bad movie, but I would be concerned that audiences won't be getting what they've paid for. In any event, the plot is pretty contrived and in some places doesn't feel very genuine, like it's pushing hard for an emotional reaction. It's mostly saved by endearing performances.
77. Precious ........ B
December 12, 2009
Tremendous acting and gut-wrenching subject matter help to cover up the fact that this isn't really a great film. Still, well worth watching.
78. Four Christmases ........ C+
December 14, 2009
Mildly entertaining in places, this film is just another example of how Hollywood knows it can make a profit from a holiday movie, no matter how mediocre. Perhaps appropriately, "Four Christmases" had four screenwriters and it shows. It actually feels like these four individuals each wrote a quarter of the script and didn't bother to compare notes. The family hi jinx definitely gets some laughs, but this isn't really a heart-warming family tale. In an attempt to avoid a cookie-cutter ending, the character development and motivation actually ends up making little to no sense.
79. Casablanca ........ Unrateable. It's Casablanca for Chrissakes!
December 20, 2009
My mom has been trying to force me to watch this film for years and up until today I had resisted. No idea why really. It's quite fantastic.
If you would like to revisit the 95 movie reviews I wrote in 2008, they can be found here! Otherwise, carry on to the new ones! (I realize that at this point there are no new ones, and that this is just a pathetic list. I swear I'll get around to writing the reviews soon! And posting my top and bottom movies of 2008, and my favourite photos of 2008, and possibly writing something about stuff that happened in December before I leave for Egypt...maybe :P)
1. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button ........ A-
January 1, 2008
I really loved this movie. It felt to me like watching a novel. The plot does not progress in a really sensible fashion, which might drive some people crazy, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. The make-up and effects are pretty amazing. Brad Pitt's performance is good, but fairly under-stated. I'm surprised by all of the raves it's gotten. I feel he's done better and will do better in the future. Cate Blanchett is wonderful too, as she always is.
2. Slumdog Millionaire ........ B+
January 4, 2009
"Slumdog" is a little unpolished. Some of the cuts back and forth between past and present are really awkwardly staged. Otherwise, I was quite impressed. I've never seen a movie quite like it before. There's an interesting feeling of ancient against modern, despite it taking place in a twenty year time span. Although I liked "Benjamin Button" better, I won't be surprised or really disappointed if Oscar voters choose to honour this one in February. I would also be quite interested in reading the book. I enjoyed the movie, but have a feeling it left a lot out.
3. Milk ........ A-
January 10, 2009
A really interesting, well written, well acted film. I'm surprised that it's only buzzing for Sean Penn's performance (which is of course fantastic), because it's an all-around accomplishment in my opinion!
4. Doubt ........ B+
January 11, 2009
"Doubt" is definitely a performance piece. When reflecting on it, I realized that plot-wise, basically nothing happened in the whole film. It's interesting study of the power of a planted idea though, and wonderfully acted by everyone involved. As usual I have to complain that I would like to see Amy Adams not play herself in a single movie, but at least this character, despite being the usual sunny, naive, earnest girl, is layered and conflicted. A step in the right direction for the actress to be sure!
5. Crimes and Misdemeanors ........ C+
January 13, 2009
I can see how this was innovative and interesting in its time, but after having seen "Match Point", which is pretty much Woody Allen recycling most of this plot and making it better, I wasn't hugely enthusiastic about the film. The conversation especially didn't feel natural to me at all, and some of the acting was very college drama class.
6. The Wrestler ........ A-
January 17, 2009
Heed my advice anyone who is as prone to motion sickness as I. Do NOT view this film from the front row of a crowded theatre. Your stomach will not thank you. Much of it feels like it's shot on a camcorder, and so many scenes follow the back of Mickey Rourke's head as he walks. The camera jiggles, he bobs up and down, I try not to vomit. Other than the less than ideal viewing situation, I really enjoyed the movie. Mickey Rourke is as perfect as I had heard. You want to beat sense into his character, possibly at the same time as giving him a hug. Marisa Tomei's role as the stripper-with-a-heart-of-gold character is a little bit too classic stereotype. And don't get me wrong, the woman looks absolutely incredible naked, but other than lovely skin I didn't see her role as that challenging, or a real feat of acting. I'm surprised that she's getting all the props over Evan Rachel Wood, who manages to break your heart in the two or so scenes she has. In the end though, this film is all about Mickey Rourke and a really well written script chronicling the dramatic fall of this former star. Good stuff.
7. Bottle Shock ........ B
Started January 19
Finished January 31, 2009
Alan Rickman can draw me to see just about anything, including a movie about wine, which is possibly my least favourite substance on earth haha. (Eliza Dushku being my biggest girl-crush of all time doesn't hurt either). I was quite pleasantly surprised when this movie turned out to be extremely watchable. Not the best comedy on earth by any stretch, but plenty of laughs and a compelling enough story to get me interested in the humble beginnings of the California wine industry, at least for a couple of hours.
8. Ghost Town ........ C+
January 20, 2009
Ricky Gervais is hilarious at times in this film about a surly dentist who suddenly finds himself able to communicate with dead people. With a plot like that, and the actors involved, I was deeply disappointed with how dull and formulaic it turned out to be.
9. Rachel Getting Married ........ A-
January 31, 2009
Anne Hathaway is phenomenal in this film. I'd imagine the Oscar won't go to her, but I would love to see it do so. It's a powerful, small movie about a semi-recovered drug addict, filmed in a very home-video type of style, and much of it truly feels like captured, private moments rather than a movie. The consequence of this is that some of the scenes (the rehearsal dinner for instance) are so realistic that they end up feeling a little long and boring, as though you're actually sitting through yet another of these events. It is a very effective method though.
10. Fred Claus ........ D+
January 31, 2009
Yet another holiday film that proves that despite the success of creative, thoughtful fare like "Wall-E" or "The Incredibles", many producers continue to think that kids will be entertained by absolutely anything. Vince Vaughn, Paul Giamatti and even Rachel Weisz I can forgive this blunder, but why, Kevin Spacey? Why?
11. Deliver Us From Evil ........ A-
Feb. 6, 2009
A really interesting documentary about the issues of molestation within the Catholic church. Particularly disturbing is a series of interviews with a former priest who has molested and raped a shocking number of children. He actually describes some of the acts in detail, with an amazing amount of detachment. This is a very well done film, but one that will be difficult for many to watch.
12. The Reader ........ B-
Feb. 14, 2009
This film starts out quite promising, lots and lots of hot sex with minors! I approve. The scenes during which David Kross watches Kate Winslet's trial are also high intensity and well done. The rest of the film is surprisingly bland, and boring enough to make one's attention wander. I've honestly never seen Ralph Fiennes as unconvincing as I found him to be here. Still, Kate Winslet's performance is fantastic, and David Kross really deserves to be getting more praise for his (and for being very attractive and naked!).
13. It's A Boy Girl Thing ........ D
Feb. 15, 2009
A High School body-switch movie featuring a nerdy chick, and football jock. Extremely entertaining, but for all the wrong reasons. Fortunately, Kevin Zegers is very pretty.
14. Man On Wire ........ B+
Feb. 22, 2009
A very interesting documentary about the crazy Frenchman, Philippe Petit, who managed to sneak into the World Trade Centre, put up a tightrope between the twin towers and do an act in broad daylight before being arrested. I really enjoyed it! That man is insane!! Although I have to say, I’m not quite sure it actually deserved to win the Oscar for Best Documentary, since the vast majority of what makes it interesting and special are photos and videos that the people involved in the caper made at the time of the events and graciously supplied to the filmmakers. Some of the reenactments were really cheesy. Putting it all together doesn’t seem like it would necessarily have been a great challenge.
15. He's Just Not That Into You ........ D-
Mar. 1, 2009
You know...even if I were able to get past how totally offensive I find the whole concept of this book/movie...which I clearly cannot do to in order to give a bias-free review...I still only laughed about three times. I can think of two positive comments for you: #1 Scarlett Johansson did not distract me at all with her inability to act! She actually does a perfectly reasonable job in this role! WOW! #2 Unlike the book, the movie is willing to explore the idea that men can be just as over-analytical and ridiculous as women can be. However it then falls on its face, because it just can't be a Hollywood movie and still convey the message that the books wants to, that being that you're not the exception, you're the rule. The message it ends up with is "You're not the exception now, but eventually you might be?". On the plus side, my abs got a nice work-out from being clenched in discomfort for over two hours! Good work, guys. Good work :P
16. Sleepy Hollow ........ B-
Mar. 6, 2009
Quite a decent movie, although not really what I was expecting! Although there are many scenes that have Tim Burton's signature written all over them, you can't quite see him dripping from every shot like in many of his other films. I also wasn't expecting the element of goofiness present through the whole film in Johnny Depp's character, which is actually quite effective because while dark, this story is rather goofy when you get right down to it. In another filmmaker's hands, this movie probably would have taken itself far too seriously.
17. Watchmen ........ C-
Mar. 7, 2009
By no means a terrible movie, but far more "meh" than I was expecting. I was extremely disappointed. Not in the sense that I felt bitter about the $10 I paid to see it or anything like that, but I expected far better considering all of the hype. The idea that this film is going to set a new standard for the genre is appalling given that "The Dark Knight" came out this summer. Without ruining anything, I felt that this film could be described as a few truly fantastic scenes held together by lots and lots of boredom. I can forgive a superhero movie with this much violence for a lot of things, but boredom is not one of them. Also, most of the characters are really undeveloped considering this is a three hour movie, and many of the effects are cheesy. I'm sure that true fans of the graphic novel would want to slay me for this comment, but instead of sticking so close to the source material, I wish they had updated it, as they did with "V For Vendetta" (a far superior film based on an Alan Moore graphic novel). Many of the references to 80s political events either went over my head or felt really socially irrelevant.
I'm probably making the movie sound worse than it was because I was so disappointed by it though. On the positive side, I loved everything about the Rorschach character. The constantly changing inkblot mask was amazingly well done, and Jackie Earle Hayley did a fantastic job with the character, and embodying the fact that he is in fact creepier without the mask. I'll even forgive the cross between the cartoon Wolverine and Christian Bale's Batman voice he was doing :P For the most part the fight scenes are just awesome. Plus there's some full frontal blue penis, which can save any movie :P
18. One Week ........ B+
Mar. 8, 2009
A film starring Joshua Jackson, about a young man diagnosed with cancer who goes on a road trip across Canada instead of seeking treatment. I have to say, I was quite pleasantly surprised by how much I liked it. Especially for a Canadian movie (I mean...I'm not insulting my country's mad filmmaking skillz...) it's quite decent. I thought Joshua Jackson was very convincing as he goes through the stages of soul searching, and the effects that his decision to take this trip have on his relationship with his fiancé are quite believable. Also it was interesting to take in so much of Western Canada's countryside (he doesn't venture out of the rural areas too often). Who knew we had so many "The biggest fill-in-random-object-here in the world" type sights?
19. The Bank Job ........ B+
Mar. 8, 2009
A really interesting heist movie, especially given that it's based on a true story. I really enjoyed it. Also, I think that this role is quite a testament to Jason Statham's rarely tested acting skills. He's able to convey quite a range of emotion through very subtle shifts in facial expression, which I probably wouldn't have given him credit for before. It would be nice to see him take on some roles with more depth. It's a shame that this film didn't make much of a splash at the box office. My only real issue with it was a very slow and rocky start. I thought I might turn it off after the first 15 minutes, but was very glad I chose not to.
20. Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li ........ Actual Quality: D- Entertainment Value: A +++++++
Mar. 12, 2009
In all honesty, this is one of the most hilariously terrible movies that I've ever seen. It was everything I was hoping it would be. I went hoping for “so bad it’s good”, and wow was I ever not disappointed.
First was the decision to cast Kristin Kreuk as Chun Li, which is probably mostly because no credible Asian actress was interested in this role. Consequently, the series of children they have playing Chun Li as a young girl get progressively whiter looking as they age. Oh dear. Kreuk’s acting isn’t actually nearly as bad as I was expecting given the reviews. I mean, I understood when she was angry or sad because her jaw clenched. Lots and lots of clenching. What more do you want really?
Sure sign that your movie is in trouble:
“So, we need a big name American lead to play this badass, rugged cop character. Who do we got?”
“Chris Klein is on board.”
Chris Klein is amazing. Pure comic genius. Except perhaps not deliberately. His bug-eyed attempts at conveying intimidation are only bested by the wig that he apparently stole from Tom Hanks’ Da Vinci Code set. Amazing. Even more awkward is the “sexual tension” contrived with fellow badass cop, Moon Bloodgood. After a five minute long scene during which they display no chemistry whatsoever, we are supposed to believe that Chris Klein’s smooth and manly tactic of making out with her to divert attention from their stakeout, leaves her with tingles of happiness in naughty places, instead of an uncontrollable urge to scream, “RAPE!"
Robin Shou (whose only other major role was in “Mortal Kombat” as an amusing side note) plays “Gen”, a character who seems to be a cross between Ryu and Ken, but for some unfathomable reason, is not actually either of these people.
Michael Clarke Duncan is pretty damn entertaining as Balrog (and not even accidentally), I do have to say. The guy playing Bison is fairly enjoyable as well, (although the script tells us that Bison was born in Ireland but raised in Thailand since he was 7 months old, should he really have a heavy Irish accent??).
There are one or two good things about this movie. Props to them for at least attempting to include some fun from the video game. Chun Li wears the white boots while stomping around Thailand, her spinning bird kick is in there, and there's a fence involved in the fight with Vega. That might be the extent of it haha. Also, despite the reviews that state the contrary, I thought that many of the fight scenes were pretty damn cool. Nothing really unique or shocking, but certainly on par with any other throwaway action movie.
Lastly, I won't spoil it for anyone, but the absolute best part of this movie is the back story they've come up with for Bison and how he became so evil. It involves a very unique method of delivering a baby and disposal of a soul, and I don't know if I've ever seen such a WTF scene come right out of left field in the middle of any movie before. Pure comic gold.
21. Last Chance Harvey ........ B-
Mar. 14, 2009
There's really nothing unique or non-formulaic about this story, but Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson make it watchable and endearing. Sweet without being sentimental, they certainly didn't make my frozen heart melt into a puddle of goo, but they didn't make me want to throw up either, which is impressive. Eileen Atkins in her few scenes as Emma Thompson's eccentric mother provides very effective comic relief (albeit totally irrelevant to the story, but that's not such a bad thing). Liane Balaban does a great job in her role as the hurt but hopeful daughter, a believable story arc that dampens the silly Hollywood romance aspect effectively. In short, this is a pretty decent film, but would have fallen extremely flat without the excellent cast.
22. My Winnipeg ........ WTF?
Mar. 15, 2009
I have no idea how to review this utterly bizarre "Docu-Fantasia" about my hometown. Guy Maddin is a seriously bizarre dude. I can't really imagine anyone who hasn't lived in Winnipeg being remotely interested in this crazy film, but since it ended up on so many top 10 lists from major critics, I have to concede that there must be something appealing about it that I don't see. I would, however, recommend that everyone from Winnipeg give it a look.
23. Revolutionary Road ........ A
Mar. 20, 2009
I'm shocked that this film got such tepid reviews, it seems like the sort of film that should have been a critical darling. Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet were both fantastic. I have to even agree that Leo should have gotten the Oscar nod over Brad Pitt, which is really saying something coming from me, as I love Brad Pitt and find Leo irritating half the time. I think that the Academy probably did the right thing in choosing "The Reader" over this one for Kate, because that role was clearly leading, and also is a bit more subtle and layered, probably overall more challenging, but either performance would have been worthy of the statue in my opinion. But I digress :P This film is really well written, the intensity builds gracefully, Michael Shannon is gleefully good in his brief role as a psychiatric patient who says what everyone's thinking. I felt that the subject matter is still extremely socially relevant, at least to my generation. The struggle between the desire for stability and money, and the desire to lead an exciting and fulfilling life is in my head practically every day. I actually left the theatre feeling really depressed, which some might not think is a good sign, but it's rare that a movie can affect me to that degree.
24. I Love You, Man ........ B+
Mar. 21, 2009
Quite enjoyable! I liked the unapologetic bro-mance of it all. Paul Rudd's character is so awkward that it could have easily been overdone, but he pulls it off endearingly. It's not the sort of movie that's so funny it will leave you in stitches, but it's certainly one that I would be happy to see again.
25. Don't Come Knocking ........ D
Mar. 22, 2009
This was probably a labour of love for Wim Wenders and Sam Shepard, but it comes across as a poorly executed vanity project. Overall quite boring despite a couple of good scenes. Also poorly written, oddly paced, and badly acted in many places despite what appears to be a stellar cast. I was not impressed.
26. Adventureland ........ C+
Mar. 23, 2009
This film is one cliché after another, which wouldn't have been the worst thing on Earth, but it's also disappointingly emo, and not very funny. Almost every single joke seems to be in the trailer. Jesse Eisenberg does an amazingly accurate imitation of Michael Cera in this film. Whether or not that was what he was trying to accomplish remains in question. On the bright side, the movie did do a good job of really bringing me back to the feeling of university-era summers, and kind of made me want to make out with random people! Woo!?
27. This Film Is Not Yet Rated ........ A
Mar. 28, 2009
A really interesting documentary about the MPAA and how ridiculous the ratings system is. I never really understood before how destructive an NC-17 rating could be to a film and how easy it is to get one (especially when raters seem to use no criteria whatsoever). I really liked how this film uses a mix of interviews from filmmakers who have had problems with the MPAA in the past, along with a highly engaging current day story, wherein the director hires two detectives to try to investigate exactly who rates the films (the list of names is kept secret). We also get to see the process through which the director goes to get the documentary itself rated. Really great film, I'd recommend it.
28. Paris, je t'aime ........ B
Mar. 31, 2009
"Paris, je t’aime" is a collection of 20 short films set in Paris, all by different directors. Aside from being a tribute to the city, these short films really have nothing in common. They range from funny to sad. From pretentiously artsy, to blatantly ridiculous (there are pieces about vampires and mimes, for god's sake!) The real issue with this collection of films is not the different genres, or even really how no piece has anything to do with another, but as you might expect, the fact that some pieces are fabulous, and some, well just suck. The pacing is also a little off. I wouldn’t have ordered the films the way they were. It starts off with mostly strong, very interesting films, and then the middle seems to drag unnecessarily with the repetitive and unnecessary.
I did really appreciate the effort on the part of Emmanuel Benbihy, who envisioned this project and put it all together. The finished product is quite interesting, and unlike anything I’d ever seen before. I certainly found it worth sitting through the duds to get to the meatier pieces. It’s definitely going to be an acquired taste though, I can’t see everyone feeling that way.
29. Sunshine Cleaning ........ B
Apr. 3, 2009
More melancholy than I would have expected from the trailers, this is a decent little film but not a great one, and probably quite disappointing as a follow up to “Little Miss Sunshine” for the avid fans. This might actually be my favourite role of Amy Adams’. It’s not a massive departure, her character is still the earnest, fountain of positivity, but unlike most of her prior roles, this character is in no way naïve. She’s very aware of what a mess she’s made of her life and doesn’t know what to do about it. The only thing I didn’t really like about this character was the bizarre back story that she was once head cheerleader and has now fallen dramatically. Not only is her career non-existent, but she's having an affair with the former star quarterback. It’s unnecessary, and the only thing about the character that seems really forced and false. A woman in a dead-end job having an affair with a married man would have been quite sufficient.
The plot of the story is interesting, I liked the details about the business of post-death clean-up operations. However, the way that the story unfolds is in some places clichéd and in some just hard to buy. Sort of like “Little Miss Sunshine” in that regard actually, the set up is quite unique and has so much more potential than the actual execution, however the former is without a doubt the better movie.
30. You Kill Me ........ C
Apr. 5, 2009
It's really disappointing that I was unaware this movie was filmed in my hometown at the time of viewing. Scanning the background for familiar sights would have provided a lot more entertainment than actually paying attention to this uninteresting film. The description made it sound hilarious, but I found it to be only just barely funny enough to keep me from turning it off.
31. Intermission ........ A-
Apr. 10, 2009
I don't even know how to begin describing what this one is about. Well worth checking out if you're a fan of the off kilter, slightly brutal humour in films like "In Bruges". Definitely geared at the slightly demented (which clearly I am! :)).
32. 17 Again ........ C+
Apr. 16, 1009
I went into this movie with low expectations and was not disappointed. At what point Zac Efron became a more convincing actor than Matthew Perry (who blunders through his brief role in this film with about as much enthusiasm as you might expect from a once credible actor accepting a job like this), I don’t know, but it’s a sad day indeed. In fact, thank god that Zac Efron is so entertaining and endearing in this movie, because otherwise it would have been downright unwatchable. (Leslie Mann as well helps to carry this film, but for the most part the rest of the acting is a bit painful). As it is, it’s not the worst thing you’ll ever see. A modern take on the classic high school type comedy, it’s definitely got some fabulous moments, but for the most part the writing is awkward, and most of it is just not very funny.
33. Cassandra's Dream ........ C
Apr. 19, 2009
When I saw in Blockbuster's "Hidden Gem" ad that Colin Farrell, Ewan McGregor and Tom Wilkinson had made a Woody Allen movie, I immediately had high hopes. Unfortunately, this film is quite disappointing. Woody Allen clearly has some fixations on certain kinds of subject matter. I've only seen four or five of his films and with the exception of "Vicky Cristina Barcelona", they all seem incredibly derivative of each other. "Cassandra's Dream" is essentially a cross between "Match Point" and "Crimes and Misdemeanors", and nowhere near as good as either. The writing is bland, the story hard to swallow, and the "twist" ending clearly visible from a mile away.
34. Crank: High Voltage ........ B
Apr. 21, 2009
Ahh the latest Jason Statham romantic comedy. I actually enjoyed this far more than I was expecting to. When you’re making a sequel to a movie that absolutely did not need a sequel whatsoever, probably one of the best approaches one can take is to make virtually the exact same movie, but harder, faster and a good deal more violent. This picks up directly after the original left off, and really does feel like an hour and a half extension to the first film, rather than a sequel. It would also appear that the main discussion behind the Crank 2 theme went something like this: “What was missing from Crank 1?” “TITS!!! Lots and lots and lots of tits!!” And believe me, the filmmakers decided to make up for that lack and then some. I also have to give the filmmakers props for attempting to make the sequel even more ridiculous than the original, a feat I would not have thought possible. Add in the most bizarre ending ever, fun cameos from Geri Halliwell and David Carradine among others, and you’ve got some good, solid fun. Not as good as the first one mind you, but will probably be enjoyed by anyone who liked the original Crank.
35. Earth ........ B-
Apr. 23, 2009
"Earth" starts off quite slow, I found my attention wandering quite a bit. It was a bit of an awkwardly paced film on the whole actually, but a couple of truly amazing scenes made it totally worthwhile. Lions vs elephants. I won’t say more, but freaking wow. People actually filmed that. Speaking of which, it’s definitely worth staying through the credits to see some behind the scenes footage. Good stuff!
36. State of Play ........ A
Apr. 25, 2009
I wasn’t really sure what to expect going into this one since I hate Russell Crowe but love pretty much the whole supporting cast. I am pleased to say that I really really liked it. It’s suspenseful, and very well thought out. There are plenty of twists and turns, but it’s a gradual process. Most of the twists are slight enough that they don’t ring false or forced as with many movies in this genre. Russell Crowe actually does do a good job here, and isn’t particularly irritating. Helen Mirren is totally my new old lady crush. Love her!! The very first scene of this film is a brief but intense chase, like none I’d ever seen before. It immediately set the pace for the whole thing, and could have gone really downhill, but maintained it all the way. I don’t know if this movie would be to everyone’s taste, but I recommend it highly for what it’s worth ;)
37. The Clique ........ D-
Apr. 26, 2009
An attempted cross between “Mean Girls” and “Clueless”, except set in grade 7. The “attempted” part of the equation of course being that the latter two films are hilarious and really well done. This one is really really not. Well, hilarious certainly, but not for the intended reasons. It’s also produced by Tyra Banks, which perhaps accounts for it. Lines like “Did I invite you to my BBQ? Then what are you doing up in my grill?!” add to the general hilarity. Fairly terrible movie, but quite entertaining to watch!
38. Confessions of a Shopaholic ........ C-
May 1, 2009
I love Isla Fisher, and that's probably the only thing that saved this movie for me. It's unapologetically formulaic, and not in a good way. Most of the gags seem to be built entirely on over-the-top situations that the main character, Rebecca Bloomwood, could have gotten out of with a simple, "No, fuck off." (Ie. Being forced to wait tables at an important event because her dress matched that of the serving staff. OMG faux pas!) This movie also rides on the premise that the serious financial magazine that Rebecca ends up working for finds an article she writes comparing shopping to savings to be an innovative and genius breath of fresh air. This might be easier for the audience to even pretend to swallow if the film had showed Rebecca producing more than one 1,000 word article, which doesn't really seem like enough to vault a financial journalist to instant stardom. I know that nit-picking at plot points in silly romantic comedies is unwise and probably enough to drive one mad, but the real problem with this movie is that it's not particularly entertaining or funny. If it was, all of the above things would be forgivable. Personally I was hoping to be able to sit through the movie purely due to loads of expensive and shiny happy clothes on display before my eyes, but Rebecca Bloomwood is more of a "Legally Blonde" character than a "The Devil Wears Prada" character, and for the most part her wardrobe certainly doesn't make me green with envy. On the plus side, as I mentioned, Isla Fisher does do a really good job and makes a character that would have been unbearably obnoxious in the hands of most, reasonably likable. Hugh Dancy is also charming and pretty, which doesn't hurt.
39. The Cement Garden ........ B-
May 11, 2009
It's really hard for me to judge how good this movie actually is because I loved the book so much, and it just doesn't compare. All of the glorious atmosphere of creepiness is all but gone. I don't think the point was to make incest seem innocent and natural. Still, I was impressed with how boldly the filmmakers stuck with the text. All of the actors did a great job and were perfectly cast, particularly Charlotte Gainsbourg. Despite not living up to the book, I did quite enjoy watching it.
40. Lust, Caution ....... B
May 16, 2009
A couple of scalding hot sex scenes don't quite make up for the fact that this period thriller is about an hour too long. Despite being slow moving though, it's interesting and stylish, and not a disappointing effort from my favourite director. Did I mention the sex? There's some hot sex.
41. Duplicity ........ B+
May 18, 2009
This movie was quite enjoyable. Julia Roberts and Clive Owen have great chemistry, Tom Wilkinson is always God, and Paul Giamatti plays a beautiful slimeball. A few people have told me that the time shifts are hard to follow, although I didn't find that personally. Lots of fun.
42. Teeth ........ A
May 22, 2009
Most men will consider this a horror movie, and most women a frothy and delightful comedy. The main character is a purity obsessed teenager who preaches chastity at local elementary schools, until her boyfriend forces himself on her and she discovers that her vagina comes equipped with a set of monstrous chompers, ready to deal with any such offenders. This movie is unapologetically campy, delicious and hilarious. Extra fun viewing if there's a male in the room who will provide extra entertainment with squirming and curling into the foetal position.
43. JCVD ........ B
May 30, 2009
Much darker than I was expecting, both in tone and actual filming. Very interesting idea for a film. JCVD himself did a great job. Perhaps he'll continue to explore roles that involve actual acting in the future.
44. Living Out Loud ....... C-
June 6, 2009
Danny DeVito in a pseudo-main love interest role is probably never okay. Otherwise, this movie is just incredibly strange. I was mainly focused on Queen Latifa's boobs. Again, wow.
45. Kung Fu Panda ........ B
June 10, 2009
It's amazing that Jack Black can still manage to play Jack Black even when voicing an animated panda. I was surprised that so many big names were wasted on extremely small supporting roles too. Still, this movie is lots of fun. I think that as a tiny child I would have been scared shitless of the bad guy!
46. Year One ........ C+
June 26, 2009
Pretty much exactly what you'd expect. Mostly cheap laughs. Incredible stupidity. Jack Black playing Jack Black. Michael Cera playing Michael Cera. Totally mindless, but reasonably entertaining.
47. The Hangover ........ A-
June 27, 2009
No holds barred on this one! So much fun! I laughed through the whole thing!! Can't wait to see the inevitable uncensored DVD version!
48. Truly Madly Deeply ........ C+
July 2, 2009
Not at all what I was expecting. This film seems to have quite a few different ideas going on, and executes none of them well. At times poignant and sad, and at times attempting off the wall humour, it's not that it has no potential to work, it's more that no idea is really developed. Juliet Stevenson and Alan Rickman's early scenes are genuine, unsettling and extremely well acted. Unfortunately, the film then veers off in a million different directions and the ending comes abruptly and is totally ineffective. Bonus points to Alan Rickman for still being strangely sexy, despite the horrible mustache.
49. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince ........ A
July 14, 2009
I was thrilled by how much I enjoyed the latest installment of the Harry Potter film franchise. I'll say no more, but if you're interested, direct yourselves to my lengthy spoiler-filled review here.
50. The Proposal ........ B
July 27, 2009
Romantic comedy is in no way my favourite genre as most know, but this film is a cut above, not because it's in any way innovative or non-formulaic, but because of quirky well-written characters, and performances by Ryan Reynolds and Sandra Bullock. The plot veers into over-the-top and irritating territory about mid-way through the movie, which is too bad because the charm is entirely in the character interactions, not much to do with the plot.
51. Inkheart ........ B-
July 31, 2009
I was really concerned about this one when I started watching it, because the first 15 or so minutes are bad. The film belly-flops right into the story with no grace whatsoever. I certainly understand the need to condense the first quarter of the book, and to provide back information in a matter of minutes, but it is not done well. Fortunately, beyond the awkward beginning, I was pleasantly surprised by the film. I'd really enjoyed the novel and was unsure about how they were going to capture the main theme, which is really how magical reading can be. The result is pretty pleasant. Many things were tweaked, deleted and added in, but all for good reason and all effectively. I think this would be an exciting movie for a kid to watch, and stood up to adult viewing as well. Helen Mirren is wasted in the tiny role she's got here, but I loved what brief screen time she had. Jim Broadbent is perfect for his role as is most of the supporting cast. Eliza Bennett who plays the main character is perhaps slightly over-dramatic, but for the most part quite convincing. The weakest link is Brendan Fraser, who I swear had acting ability at some point in his career...none whatsoever is displayed in this film. Sort of distracting in places in fact. I do have to commend them for the final action sequence though. The one major flaw that I felt the book had was a totally anti-climactic conclusion. Hollywood can be counted on to take care of that!
52. Taken ........ C+
August 1, 2009
The premise of this film is pretty weak. And by premise I mean the initial set up of Liam Neeson's past, his relationship with his daughter, and the underground operation he uncovers trying to find her. So basically the entire plot. Also, Liam Neeson cannot do an American accent to save his life. So distracting! The fight scenes in this movie are definitely enjoyable, and the one car chase is pretty innovative. Not a bad action flick if that's what you're in it for, but definitely the type of movie movie that takes itself far too seriously considering the silliness of the story. Considering the hype, I was expecting a lot better.
53. Humpday ........ A
August 2, 2009
I find that films based entirely on fairly every day conversation almost always suffer from either ringing false (much of Woody Allen IMO) or being extremely tedious (all of Robert Altman IMO). Not so in this surprisingly intelligent comedy about two best buddies who decide that it’s an innovative and artsy idea to make a gay porn starring straight guys (namely them). Not knowing anything beyond this premise going in, I was obviously expecting a dumb but funny “Zack and Miri” type of comedy. As it turns out, “Humpday” is more of an art film itself, featuring extended dialogue and filmed mostly with intensely close angles. The humour is in the incredibly genuine awkwardness, which is tolerable to me because it’s based on very believable human interactions (the film actually actually manages to convince that the gay/straight porn idea seems like a completely reasonable one to these dudes), rather than an overblown character, like say a Napoleon Dynamite. Despite being surprisingly subtle given the subject matter, the film had me laughing out loud quite a few times. I can see how it wouldn't be to everyone's taste, but I recommend it highly.
54. (500) Days of Summer ........ A-
August 9, 2009
It's always refreshing when a film that dares to do something different with the romantic comedy genre comes along. The story is not told in chronological order. You get the ending first and then it jumps around, giving you pieces to the puzzle along the way. It also features very quirky devices like a scene in split screen (the character's expectations vs reality), and a post-coital dance number. However, the very modern story takes a decidedly unmodern twist toward the end which is just so untrue to one of the characters that it left me feeling sour towards the movie as a whole. I had it as a B rating for a while before I was able to take a step back and appreciate the film-making, not just the feeling that it left me with.
55. Public Enemies ........ B+
August 13, 2009
Maybe a bit longer than necessary, this film is still pretty action packed. I'm not sure how to take the many reviews accusing it of being boring. Johnny Depp is fabulous as always, and Christian Bale is solid, though predictable in the do-gooder role. The blatant support of the outlaw in this movie feels a little morally questionable (for instance, we're supposed to condemn the police for getting a bit rough with a woman who won't give information leading to a group of murderers?), but still a pretty enjoyable piece of work.
56. Dick Tracy ........ B+
August 15, 2009
It's always hard putting a rating on older movies, but I did love seeing all of these big names, covered in crazy make-up and in such a fun movie!
57. Can't Buy Me love ........ C-
August 19, 2009
Oh the 80s...I always have trouble watching these geek-gets-made-over-into-stud type 80s movies because who can really differentiate between "bad" and "good" 80s clothing?? The plot here is pretty weak as well, but I still had a very good time watching this pretty awful movie ;)
58. Clue ........ B
August 28, 2009
A lot of fun! I especially appreciated how so many details from the board game were worked into the movie without seeming overly forced.
59. Låt den rätte komma in (Let The Right One In) ........ B
August 29, 2009
More of an art film than a horror, this film is a must for a lover of vampire lore. It's a slightly different take on the traditional, with
Lina Leandersson playing an effective, creepy, undead child. The plot is absolutely strange. There's no real other way to describe it. The endless is also bizarre, although fairly satisfying. It's the sort of film leaves you unsure of whether or not you actually liked it until a few days later. Definitely like nothing I've ever seen before.
60. The Visitor ........ A-
September 14, 2009
Both a bittersweet story about a man who has lost his wife and is lifted out of numbness by two illegal immigrants that he finds living in their apartment, and a criticism of US immigration laws, this film is powerful. Richard Jenkins is wonderful, and well deserving of his surprise Oscar nod, although he doesn't over-shadow the performances of the unknown supporting cast, in particular Haaz Sleiman as a young man facing deportation.
61. X-Men Origins: Wolverine ........ B
September 22, 2009
I was actually shocked by how much I enjoyed this movie considering the bad press! It's in the same vein as the second X-Men. A little showier and less raw than the first, but mostly quite enjoyable. Nowhere near as painful as the third. They also continue with the trend of using the mythology as inspiration rather than law, but the new story is fitting with the character so it all works. Also I just enjoy Hugh Jackman to death. Taylor Kitsch as Gambit is a welcome addition. Most of the minor characters were brilliantly cast, although I thought that Ryan Reynolds' performance was overdone in what is basically a reprise of his Blade 3 role. I love him to death, but he stuck out like a sore thumb.
62. Coraline ........ A
September 26, 2009
One of the most creative pieces of work I've ever seen. Visually stunning, great characters and a really inventive story. I have to say though, I really don't think this would be appropriate for young children. In fact, I think it will probably succeed in creeping out most adults.
63. District 9 ........ A-
October 3, 2009
Truly original. I've honestly never seen anything like it. I confess to finding it a bit hard to watch, as the main character is such an unlikable idiot that it's very difficult to sympathize with him. I can't say I have any desire to ever see the film again, but would still call it a must-see for any sci-fi fan.
64. Julie & Julia ........ A-
October 4, 2009
Charming on every level! But make sure you've eaten a good meal prior to viewing. If you're hungry, watching will be pure agony.
65. Il y a longtemps que je t'aime (I've Loved You So Long) ........ A-
October 10, 2009
A very moving and somber little art film with many great performances. I loved it right up until the end. I won't spoil anything, but the conclusion rang a little false.
66. Whip It ........ B+
October 11, 2009
Super cute movie. It's definitely fluffier than I would expect from a Drew Barrymore/Ellen Page collaboration, but enjoyable candy nonetheless. And very effective in making one want to slip on a pair of skates and punch a bitch.
67. Surrogates ........ B+
October 17, 2009
I was pleasantly surprised by this Sci-Fi action flick. The dystopia it depicts is fairly believable given the current tone of the world. Very interesting plot despite the ease with which one can poke it full of holes. Bruce Willis plays a good stoic anti-hero and Ving Rhames is enjoyable in what is almost a cameo appearance.
68. Cairo Time ........ B
October 19, 2009
This film is billed as a romantic drama set in Cairo. What it is in actuality is a love affair with Cairo itself. The city is the main character. While Patricia Clarkson and Alexander Siddig are both excellent in their roles, the story does not revolve around them. In fact there really isn't much of a story at all, truth be told. I still very much enjoyed this plodding exploration of Egyptian culture. Having visited there quite recently, it was especially interesting to me. The cinematography is beautiful, and I think that the film did an excellent job of capturing the very strange but effortless mixture of very traditionally African and Middle Eastern dress and lodging with very modern Western style dress and architecture. I honestly am not sure how much most people will really enjoy this film, but I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in Egypt.
69. Fargo ........ A-
October 20, 2009
Oh you crazy Coens! I really did believe that this film was based on a true story until I watched the special features too :P Definitely a classic that I'd been missing out on until now. Steve Buscemi always plays such a fabulous slimeball. All around great black comedy.
70. Zombieland ........ B
October 30, 2009
A very enjoyable comedy even if you're not a zombie movie fan. Jesse Eisenberg continues to imitate Michael Cera flawlessly, even when pursued by rampaging monsters. (As a side note, my head just exploded a little bit when a glance at his imdb page revealed him to the same age as me. What?! He's not 12??) Woody Harrelson is hilarious. Emma Stone displays an impressive loyalty to four layers of eyeliner considering there are monsters lurking around every corner. And Abigail Breslin is adorable. I'm highly supportive of her choosing projects like this. Oh, and course there's a highly entertaining cameo which I won't ruin by so much as hinting at it! I wouldn't say that this is the comedic masterpiece that some are hailing it as. It does run out of gas a bit toward the end, but it's highly enjoyable for what it is!
71. Where the Wild Things Are ........ A-
November 1, 2009
I'm really not sure how to rate this one. I'd say it's a triumph of film-making, but I'm not sure how much I actually enjoyed watching it, and am equally unsure of how enthused most children will be. The cinematography is totally amazing. It's undeniably a visually stunning film. The monsters in the film seem very real and at the same time very old school costume style. It may take a special kind of child to appreciate this one as the style is bleak and the story is very emotionally heavy. I think that my main issue is that I found it extremely difficult to sympathize with the main character, or the monster he feels a bond with. The kid is just too much of a terror, and the dissatisfying home life is just not a sufficient excuse to me. This behaviour is of course reflected in the monster he befriends, whose cuddliness does not compensate for his dependency issues. It's somewhat difficult to watch, and difficult to determine what outcome to root for. This aside it truly is a beautifully done film. Worth a watch at least once.
72. This Is It ........ A-
November 2, 2009
To call "This Is It" a documentary is a bit of a stretch. It wasn't quite what I was expecting, but was fabulous to watch nonetheless. It's made up of footage that was shot at the dress rehearsals for what would have been Michael Jackson's farewell tour. The footage was intended to be a special feature on the concert DVD. As it is, the film plays like the concert itself, a little unpolished, but you really do get an idea of what an amazing show it would have been. There are amusing bits of behind the scenes footage stuck in between songs. You do get a sense of Michael Jackson's dedication to the music, and why he would have been an inspiring and sometimes frustrating person to work for. But 90% of the film really is the music. I don't know if a non-fan with vague interest would get any enjoyment of this piece whatsoever. But for the fans, while it's a shame that no one will ever experience the concert as MJ intended, it's a beautiful thing that this footage exists.
73. Shut Up & Sing ........ A-
November 5, 2009
A very interesting account of life as the Dixie Chicks in the aftermath of lead singer Natalie Maines’ flippant comment about the George W. Bush. My jaw drops at the amazing stupidity of humanity, or perhaps just the elite section of humanity made up of right-wing country fans.
74. The Time Traveler's Wife ........ C-
November 15, 2009
While I do think it would be nearly impossible to make a film that would live up to the source material, this one doesn’t even seem to be making an effort. It’s not even that the script is hugely unfaithful, but it does absolutely nothing to capture the magic, mystery and horror of the story, nor does it inspire any of the wide range of emotions that the reader experiences while flying through the book. I thought that Rachel McAdams did a reasonably good job, but Eric Bana was dry as toast and the two had very little chemistry. Ron Livingston as Gomez was endearing but completely mis-cast. Overall this movie is not unwatchable, but isn’t a good tribute to the novel, nor could I imagine it coming off as much more than a silly and superficial weepy chick flick to a viewer unfamiliar with the source material.
75. Elegy ........ A
November 28, 2009
"Elegy" is a relatively simple story. An aging Lothario is surprised to find himself genuinely in love with his student, but is unsure how to proceed because of the age gap and his own mental blocks. The film evolves into an exploration of love in modern times, and aging in general. Ben Kingsley and Penelope Cruz are both amazing (although both probably about ten years too old for their parts), but it was Dennis Hopper as Ben Kingley's best friend who really won me over. It's a love story, but I was absolutely heartbroken by the friendship. As a side note, while I did enjoy Penelope Cruz's role in "Vicky Cristina Barcelona", this was the 2008 film she deserved the Oscar for.
76. Everybody's Fine ........ B-
December 3, 2009
This is another one of those "holiday" films, which is deceptively advertised in an attempt to lure in Christmas-fun seekers. In fact, the story has absolutely nothing to do with Christmas. It's a fairly depressing drama with some funny moments that's being advertised as a comedy. Not to say that it's a bad movie, but I would be concerned that audiences won't be getting what they've paid for. In any event, the plot is pretty contrived and in some places doesn't feel very genuine, like it's pushing hard for an emotional reaction. It's mostly saved by endearing performances.
77. Precious ........ B
December 12, 2009
Tremendous acting and gut-wrenching subject matter help to cover up the fact that this isn't really a great film. Still, well worth watching.
78. Four Christmases ........ C+
December 14, 2009
Mildly entertaining in places, this film is just another example of how Hollywood knows it can make a profit from a holiday movie, no matter how mediocre. Perhaps appropriately, "Four Christmases" had four screenwriters and it shows. It actually feels like these four individuals each wrote a quarter of the script and didn't bother to compare notes. The family hi jinx definitely gets some laughs, but this isn't really a heart-warming family tale. In an attempt to avoid a cookie-cutter ending, the character development and motivation actually ends up making little to no sense.
79. Casablanca ........ Unrateable. It's Casablanca for Chrissakes!
December 20, 2009
My mom has been trying to force me to watch this film for years and up until today I had resisted. No idea why really. It's quite fantastic.