Movie Recommendations: Personal Favorites
Tideland:
Incredible actors. Incredible setting. Incredible cinematography. Incredible plot. Incredible dialogue.
The film follows the imagination of a young girl as she escapes from the reality of her addict parents' habits, the apparent loneliness of a lack of human connections and then the events that unfold throughout. To escape, she utilizes several doll heads which interact in a definite form of self expression that can be disturbing at times. I was personally surprised by the amount of physical interaction the child actor had with some questionable circumstances.
In the film, the girl's mother overdoses and her father immediately reacts with alarm, performing several ridiculous farewell ritual before taking his daughter to an isolated house beyond civilization. Upon arriving, the girl aids her father in "going on vacation" and finds her father dead after playing on her own.
The situation that follows is some mixture between grotesque, fantastical and ridiculous. I'll leave it up to you to decide which crushes the other two, as it's one of those movies that you hate or love.
4/5
Mysterious Skin:
The subject matter in Mysterious Skin, while dark, maintains an eerie innocence up until the individual realization of the viewer. I think the time until this epiphany depends on one part cynicism and two parts receptiveness, as there are fractured clues among the obscurity. I won't elaborate too much because I want everyone (or despise) to enjoy that aha! moment.
The plot follows two boys as they separately grow into young men, one with a "void" where empathy should be and the other believing he was abducted by aliens throughout his childhood. The pace is pretty low key, quiet almost, and yet the atmosphere is soft enough that it's more pleasant than boring.
Very pretty. Amazing actors. This may not be my favorite movie but it was a massive competitor.
5/5
Dreamland:
Just like the title says, the setting absolutely set the tone and convinced me to endure the occasional dragging moment. Like Mysterious Skin, the peace was somewhat welcome, but it was just slightly less rewarding. Even so, I must stress again the wonderful environment and props within the environment. A hot tub in a run-down desert trailer park, a place where many dream and few act, continues to strike a cord somewhere.
The plot is better summarized by the trailer below as it's more of a train of thought, meaning granted through feeling, type of film.
4/5
The Fall:
First and foremost, the cinematography left me breathless and it was a most welcome chore to keep up with the vast array of colors with each change in scenery. This is a movie split into two stories: reality and the fictional tale the male protagonist weaves in order to sate his young compadre. In reality, this man is in a hospital bed, set upon obtaining pills in order to successfully finish himself. And then he meets another patient, a young girl with an injured arm and week English, who demands a story in exchange for assistance.
The story is ever-changing, altering on a whim in some cases depending on the man's mood or the little girl's outrage. As they follow the fictional story, it begins to parallel reality. You'll need to see the trailer to begin appreciating the glory of the extensive use of colors.
A solid film, mildly predictable, and yet a joy to watch throughout.
5/5
A Serious Man:
FFF.
The dark humor is not for everyone, but I was quietly collapsing in laughter (only silent) over the circumstances surrounding this poor man. As this "serious man" grows more and more desperate for an answer to the bad happening to him, the world seems to reply with a resounding "..."
The lack of meaning reflects the man's inability to locate a meaning within his own life and, man, if you enjoy dark humor, you will definitely watch this several times.
4.5/5
Is Anybody There?:
"I remember looking up at the stars, thinking what a great big universe it is; now it's very, very small."
Michael Caine nails his role as a disgruntled elderly man who, due to circumstances, must surrender some sense of independence and enter a family-run retirement home. He quickly clashes with the young boy sharing the home, but this animosity gradually lessens when Caine's character, a retired magician, begins teaching the boy magic tricks. The two offer eachother something that betters their outlook on life and, to avoid spoilers, I will say no more on the plot.
I will say that the plot isn't unique. However, and it may be the quality of the actors, I found it to be particularly tragic and simultaneously uplifting, standing out well beyond others of a similar plotline. Humor, drama and something thoughtful to chew on with a touch of eccentricity speckled throughout.
4/5
Tipping the Velvet:
Ah, yes.
This three-part feature will not be for everyone, but hopefully those who fit the target audience recognizes the film for its beauty. It is, as I mentioned, something of a mini series divided into three parts, but I couldn't leave it out.
The story opens in London where Nan, a young, impressionable girl of modest background, grows increasingly infatuated with a stage performer named Kitty. Kitty's performance involves impersonating a male and Nan finds herself fantasizing, that the woman would display an interest in her and perhaps act upon it. And so, too, does it occur. In fact, Kitty whisks her away to the city where she involves the younger woman in the show as well.
The episodic sections focus on Nan's journey of self discovery as she interacts with a wide range of people and adjusts accordingly. I really, really would hate to give too much away, but it does involve fairly mature subject matter at several points. The grittiness adjacent to the exceptional beauty earned massive points, though the cinematography was admittedly on the cheaper side. The acting was good, but the plot and setting primarily carried the film.
4.5/5
The Quills:
The Marquis de Sade -- need I say more?
It's a playful take on his time within the asylum, with quick and witty lines by some fantastic actors. Needless to say, the humor can be mildly to extremely mature and so I leave that discretion up to you. Generally, it's a fun movie to watch if you enjoy films set in the time period; on the same vein, I would also recommend The Other Bolelyn Girl, though I didn't have enough room to work that in.
In any case, the filming wasn't the best, but that's the only real criticism I have. The plot wasn't revolutionary, but I enjoyed it, and the humor was just too exceptional that it well earned its four out of five.
4/5
My Trip to Al-Quaeda:
I wouldn't do it justice reviewing this. Simply watch it and hopefully it does as much for you as it did for me. I'd make it a 6/5 even, if I didn't wanna run the point system. Incredible documentary.
Brick:
Okay.
Dialogue: Unmatched.
Cinematography: Tear-jerking due to sheer AWE.
Actors: Yes.
Plot: Predictable.
This film is essentially the equivalent of a noir set among people of a younger, more modern group. It's almost a deliberate parody and it's fuckin' orgasmic to listen as the actors deliver the most incredible lines in the most effective way without even a beat. Not very realistic, but you can most certainly forgive everyone for that. It was a five out of five regardless of the predictability of everything; it was a true noir in every sense of the word.
Also, there was one fight scene that had me squirming due to the utter rawness. I call this a masterpiece, ladies and gentlemen.
5/5
Incredible actors. Incredible setting. Incredible cinematography. Incredible plot. Incredible dialogue.
The film follows the imagination of a young girl as she escapes from the reality of her addict parents' habits, the apparent loneliness of a lack of human connections and then the events that unfold throughout. To escape, she utilizes several doll heads which interact in a definite form of self expression that can be disturbing at times. I was personally surprised by the amount of physical interaction the child actor had with some questionable circumstances.
In the film, the girl's mother overdoses and her father immediately reacts with alarm, performing several ridiculous farewell ritual before taking his daughter to an isolated house beyond civilization. Upon arriving, the girl aids her father in "going on vacation" and finds her father dead after playing on her own.
The situation that follows is some mixture between grotesque, fantastical and ridiculous. I'll leave it up to you to decide which crushes the other two, as it's one of those movies that you hate or love.
4/5
Mysterious Skin:
The subject matter in Mysterious Skin, while dark, maintains an eerie innocence up until the individual realization of the viewer. I think the time until this epiphany depends on one part cynicism and two parts receptiveness, as there are fractured clues among the obscurity. I won't elaborate too much because I want everyone (or despise) to enjoy that aha! moment.
The plot follows two boys as they separately grow into young men, one with a "void" where empathy should be and the other believing he was abducted by aliens throughout his childhood. The pace is pretty low key, quiet almost, and yet the atmosphere is soft enough that it's more pleasant than boring.
Very pretty. Amazing actors. This may not be my favorite movie but it was a massive competitor.
5/5
Dreamland:
Just like the title says, the setting absolutely set the tone and convinced me to endure the occasional dragging moment. Like Mysterious Skin, the peace was somewhat welcome, but it was just slightly less rewarding. Even so, I must stress again the wonderful environment and props within the environment. A hot tub in a run-down desert trailer park, a place where many dream and few act, continues to strike a cord somewhere.
The plot is better summarized by the trailer below as it's more of a train of thought, meaning granted through feeling, type of film.
4/5
The Fall:
First and foremost, the cinematography left me breathless and it was a most welcome chore to keep up with the vast array of colors with each change in scenery. This is a movie split into two stories: reality and the fictional tale the male protagonist weaves in order to sate his young compadre. In reality, this man is in a hospital bed, set upon obtaining pills in order to successfully finish himself. And then he meets another patient, a young girl with an injured arm and week English, who demands a story in exchange for assistance.
The story is ever-changing, altering on a whim in some cases depending on the man's mood or the little girl's outrage. As they follow the fictional story, it begins to parallel reality. You'll need to see the trailer to begin appreciating the glory of the extensive use of colors.
A solid film, mildly predictable, and yet a joy to watch throughout.
5/5
A Serious Man:
FFF.
The dark humor is not for everyone, but I was quietly collapsing in laughter (only silent) over the circumstances surrounding this poor man. As this "serious man" grows more and more desperate for an answer to the bad happening to him, the world seems to reply with a resounding "..."
The lack of meaning reflects the man's inability to locate a meaning within his own life and, man, if you enjoy dark humor, you will definitely watch this several times.
4.5/5
Is Anybody There?:
"I remember looking up at the stars, thinking what a great big universe it is; now it's very, very small."
Michael Caine nails his role as a disgruntled elderly man who, due to circumstances, must surrender some sense of independence and enter a family-run retirement home. He quickly clashes with the young boy sharing the home, but this animosity gradually lessens when Caine's character, a retired magician, begins teaching the boy magic tricks. The two offer eachother something that betters their outlook on life and, to avoid spoilers, I will say no more on the plot.
I will say that the plot isn't unique. However, and it may be the quality of the actors, I found it to be particularly tragic and simultaneously uplifting, standing out well beyond others of a similar plotline. Humor, drama and something thoughtful to chew on with a touch of eccentricity speckled throughout.
4/5
Tipping the Velvet:
Ah, yes.
This three-part feature will not be for everyone, but hopefully those who fit the target audience recognizes the film for its beauty. It is, as I mentioned, something of a mini series divided into three parts, but I couldn't leave it out.
The story opens in London where Nan, a young, impressionable girl of modest background, grows increasingly infatuated with a stage performer named Kitty. Kitty's performance involves impersonating a male and Nan finds herself fantasizing, that the woman would display an interest in her and perhaps act upon it. And so, too, does it occur. In fact, Kitty whisks her away to the city where she involves the younger woman in the show as well.
The episodic sections focus on Nan's journey of self discovery as she interacts with a wide range of people and adjusts accordingly. I really, really would hate to give too much away, but it does involve fairly mature subject matter at several points. The grittiness adjacent to the exceptional beauty earned massive points, though the cinematography was admittedly on the cheaper side. The acting was good, but the plot and setting primarily carried the film.
4.5/5
The Quills:
The Marquis de Sade -- need I say more?
It's a playful take on his time within the asylum, with quick and witty lines by some fantastic actors. Needless to say, the humor can be mildly to extremely mature and so I leave that discretion up to you. Generally, it's a fun movie to watch if you enjoy films set in the time period; on the same vein, I would also recommend The Other Bolelyn Girl, though I didn't have enough room to work that in.
In any case, the filming wasn't the best, but that's the only real criticism I have. The plot wasn't revolutionary, but I enjoyed it, and the humor was just too exceptional that it well earned its four out of five.
4/5
My Trip to Al-Quaeda:
I wouldn't do it justice reviewing this. Simply watch it and hopefully it does as much for you as it did for me. I'd make it a 6/5 even, if I didn't wanna run the point system. Incredible documentary.
Brick:
Okay.
Dialogue: Unmatched.
Cinematography: Tear-jerking due to sheer AWE.
Actors: Yes.
Plot: Predictable.
This film is essentially the equivalent of a noir set among people of a younger, more modern group. It's almost a deliberate parody and it's fuckin' orgasmic to listen as the actors deliver the most incredible lines in the most effective way without even a beat. Not very realistic, but you can most certainly forgive everyone for that. It was a five out of five regardless of the predictability of everything; it was a true noir in every sense of the word.
Also, there was one fight scene that had me squirming due to the utter rawness. I call this a masterpiece, ladies and gentlemen.
5/5