agentotter (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
agentotter) wrote2009-07-20 04:47 pm
agentotter) wrote2009-07-20 04:47 pm
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more movie reviews for 101 in 1001
Here, my friends, are more movie reviews for my 101 in 1001.
[60] View and review 50 films. (14/50)
Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang *****
It's too bad that I've sort of instituted a five-star limit on movies, because otherwise I would give this one eleventy stars. Eleventy billion stars. I can't remember the last time I enjoyed a film quite this much, and frankly it's a bit astonishing to me that I haven't watched it before. It's been recommended to me by approximately everyone ever, but I guess I always figured it was in that category of films that everyone recommends but I just can't drum up interest in, like The Big Lebowski and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.
It's not, though. I mean, I've never seen either of those but even so, I feel confident assuring you that Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang is a much better film. It's possibly a much better film than any film ever. It has the lulz, it has the thrills, it has the classic mystery and Gay Perry and Robert Downey Junior and omg. Just seriously, omg. I want to make out with this movie. I want to watch this movie ten million times just to see if the one-liners will get any less zingy with repetition. (I suspect they won't.) This film is made of 100% pure joy. Well, also murder and violence and hijinx and Val Kilmer being so cool it could kill you. But you get my point. You've probably all seen it because you're so far ahead of the curve, but if not, go get it immediately. IMMEDIATELY.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince *****
For the sake of full disclosure, I should mention that the Harry Potter movies, generally speaking, make me happy. They're the sort of films I can watch over and over and over again and not really get tired of, and in most every way I find them infinitely superior to the books. So I'm vastly predisposed to liking these movies, and because I imagine most of you who would have an interest in viewing this film are already familiar with the books and know what happens in this one, I won't really sum up the plot for you or anything. Instead, I'd like to point out two things that were fantastic about this film. The first is Jim Broadbent, who can always be depended upon for a fantastic performance and who delivers such a fantastic performance here that he blows all previous actors in the series out of the water. (Sorry, Gary Oldman.) I never saw his character, Professor Slughorn, as being particularly interesting or deserving of sympathy in the book, but Broadbent plays him as such a marvelously broken figure in the film. LOVE.
The other thing that I love, which I love perhaps behind all others, is the art direction and cinematography in this particular film. I read recently that the studio forced the creative team behind this film to rework a lot of the material they'd already shot, because the studio felt they'd gone too far with their color palettes and whatnot, and I'd love to see that original material because I'll bet it's even better than what ended up on the screen. This movie is just gorgeous top to bottom, and if you're a visually oriented sort of person, you'll find it worth watching even if the story doesn't interest you so much. I give it five stars just for the prettiness. I like that the filmmakers aren't afraid to go darker and more adult, and I think the actors as they grow into the roles are just getting better and better, too. (Have I mentioned how deeply disgusted I was to see a whole spread critiquing Emma Watson's clothing choices in the latest Entertainment Weekly? Plz FUCK OFF, EW. You are assholes.)
The Jane Austen Book Club ***
It was made of cute and fuzziness and was full of good performances, and in many ways was much more than I expected from a chick flick of any description, but was not quite good enough for me to remember any of the characters' names nor have any particular memory of what happened in the film. They like... read Jane Austen? And the books mirrored their lives and they asked themselves "what would Jane do?" The answer is -- and I know this because I've seen that other film, Becoming Jane -- is that Jane would totally fuck James MacAvoy. But then, wouldn't we all? I approve of this movie for Sunday-afternoon viewing, which is how we did it up my household, but I don't recommend expecting much. It's enjoyable for what it is, and it'll make you go "awww" sometimes and "omg, just say it!" the rest of the time, and you might want to hit some of the characters occasionally, but maybe that's just me and my violent streak.
Blood, Sweat & Gears ****
So this is a documentary that I happened to catch on Sundance Channel, about Team Garmin-Slipstream, chronicling the bicycling team's attempts to earn a place in the Tour de France (and somewhat less dramatically, a failed bid for Olympic glory). I DVRed it because I like documentaries and am interested in everything, and I ended up being very glad I'd done so; it's a very engaging documentary. I like bicycling but had very little understanding of it as a sport, much less how very much it's a team sport. It was fascinating to see the strategy that goes into a race like the Tour de France, much less all the maneuvering and racing that leads up to that, and the huge support it takes behind the scenes to keep the team competing. This film also talks at length about doping within the sport (Slipstream is committed to zero doping and tests with incredible frequency to prove that everyone on the team is clean, and they're very outspoken against doping). One of Slipstream's riders is David Millar, who was banned from racing for several years after a very messy and public doping scandal, so it was really interesting to hear his perspective about it and about his fellow riders (he's obviously a very seasoned competitor and seems to have a leadership role on the team) and what they're trying to do to prove you can win races without doping. I just really dug it; nice documentary and incredibly informative, not to mention how it sucks you into the Tour de France drama; I'd never watched the actual race, and they certainly didn't show it in its entirety in the film, but I did find myself cheering on the riders as they pushed toward winning the stage and placing in the race. (One of the team's members came in fourth overall at the Tour the year that the documentary was filmed.)
In the Valley of Elah *****
I don't think I'm the only one who in times like these can find it a little hard to watch anything that's more than harmless fluff. I was flipping through Entertainment Weekly the other day and happened across an article lamenting the death of the "adult film" -- those serious movies that mean something, that go beyond entertainment value, that aren't sanitized for the kids or sensationalized for the teenagers or consisting primarily of special effects and explosions, so we don't have to think too hard.
I don't know what the article said about the death of the adult film, by the way. It seemed like far too serious an article to read.
The sad thing is, though I often avoid more "serious" films, when I do drum up the wherewithall to watch one, I'm usually blown away. Such is definitely the case with In the Valley of Elah, which seemed to come and go from the new release shelf at the video store without much fanfare, and which is easily one of the best films I've seen in recent memory. I hesitate to even attempt to describe it because I feel like anything I could drum up to describe this film isn't going to be adequate. It was incredible. Really, truly, deeply incredible. Beautifully written, beautifully shot, beautifully acted, in that way where by the time you get to the end your heart is broken into a million tiny little pieces. But like... in the good way? Essentially the story is that of a retired military man (Tommy Lee Jones) whose son, now in the armed forces himself, is brutally murdered after returning from the Middle East; with the help of a very reluctant cop (Charlize Theron) he takes it upon himself to investigate the murder. I won't simplify the plot with any sort of "...and soon discovers that things are more complicated than they seem," instead I'll tell you that the characters in this film are real: they're complicated and they're messy and though they may be good people deep down at the root of themselves, they also have their moments of weakness and pain and terror.
Also, the Due South fans in the audience may be interested to know that this film was both written and directed by Paul Haggis. I didn't realize that until the end credits rolled, at which point I understood exactly why this film was so amazing. Oh, Paul Haggis. Why aren't you my boyfriend?
The Night Listener ***
A late-night radio personality becomes entangled in the drama surrounding a memoir of childhood abuse. I don't really want to say any more than that because I don't want to spoil the plot for anyone, but it is kind of an awesome mindfuck.
I'd give it five stars for the performances alone, but I'm afraid there were just too many scenes of people doing things that made me want to hit them for me to like the film overall that much. ;D The acting was truly fantastic, though.
Another thing that I was really impressed with about this film is that the main character, played by Robin Williams, is gay. There's a lot of material in the film about his long-term relationship, how that relationship disintegrating impacts his decisions and his state of mind, and the ways in which what we went through and is going through with his partner makes him more vulnerable to I think the relationship is drawn really well, but the great thing about it is that the film isn't about that character being gay.
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie ***
I know, I know: you totally want to call shenanigans right now. I'm meant to be reviewing films I haven't seen before. And clearly, since I have a deep and abiding love for MST3K, I've seen the film before. Only, I actually hadn't! I know, it's miraculous. Anyway, as MST3Ks go, it was pretty good times. I always fast-forward through the stuff on the spaceship and whatnot and get straight to the film-mocking, and this one was pretty good. I don't really have anything to say beyond that. It was good for the lulz?
Howl's Moving Castle **
Back when the book of Howl's Moving Castle was a big new thing, a lot of friends told me that I should read it and that I would love it. I confess, I never made it through the book. I didn't even make it through most of the book. But since I do have a tendency to often like the film version better (Dan Brown's books, for example, are greatly improved by moving them to a medium that doesn't involve Dan Brown's writing), and since one of the voice actors for this adaptation was Christian Bale, I gave it a try. It was uninspiring, I'm afraid. I liked the animation. I liked a lot of aspects of the world-building (I love universes that mix an almost medieval or colonial feel with a steampunk-and-zeppelins sensibility), and the voice actors weren't bad, I just... didn't care that much. About any of them. And mostly spent the whole movie wanting to kick Howl right in the junk.
Talk To Me ****
I watched Talk To Me, which isn't typically a film I'd pick up -- I'm not generally much for biopics -- for two reasons. One was that it stars Chiwetel Ejiofor and Don Cheadle, both of whom I love (and a smaller part for Martin Sheen, as well), and the other was that the Race!Fail debate was making me realize how whitewashed my viewing habits were, and I wanted to start making a conscious effort to expand my horizons. I'm incredibly glad I did with this film, because it was more than worth watching. Talk To Me is the story of "Petey" Greene, a Washington D.C. radio host who got his start on the airwaves in prison and went on to become a major voice in the civil rights movement in the 1960s.
The only reason I didn't give it five stars is because I really hate the part of films like this where they show the inevitable decline or the "losing himself in stardom" thing that happens. I mean, it's reality, I'm sure, but I don't want to see it. :D So I'd have to say that I liked the first half of the film much better than the second half, but overall Petey Greene's story is astonishing and his contribution to the civil rights movement very undervalued, as I'm willing to bet that a lot of people have no idea who he is. (I didn't.) The performances here are terrific -- Cheadle and Ejiofor both own the screen in their own ways from the first moments they appear -- and though there are plenty of moments played for laughs (Taraji Henson as Petey's girlfriend is often hilarious, but profoundly human), this film doesn't pull any punches. Definitely recommended.
Dan In Real Life ****
I'd have given it five stars, to be honest, but see, I have this embarrassment squick? In which I almost can't watch those parts of a film where normal people would just be going, "Oh, Dan. NO, honey." There weren't too many of those moments, luckily, but just enough that I couldn't whole-heartedly recommend it. I would also like to note that I cannot in good conscience comment on how "real" or not the depiction of Dan's family life was, because I have heard that some people have families like that -- you know, where you like all love each other and you know all your nieces and nephews names and stuff? -- but I have never witnessed it with my own eyes.
But on to the review-y parts! So this film has Steve Carell, whom I love, and Dane Cook, whom I also love, and in addition, a whole pack of precocious youngsters and crude uncles and psychic mothers and other family-related shenanigans with which I cannot relate. NO MATTER. The important thing is, this movie kind of makes me happy. Well, it kind of makes me happy while simultaneously slowly squeezing my heart to death. I'm not even going to tell you what happens in it, because a sum-up of basic plot is kind of a spoiler, and I'd like for you to go in unspoiled, if possible, like I did. It's better that way, hits your guts all warm and surprising like gulping down too-hot tea. It totally makes you suffer first, but it's all worth it for Steve Carell, basically, whose performance is understated and quiet and heartbreaking until suddenly it isn't anymore.
Also, bonus points for a soundtrack by Sondre Lerche, whom I also love. He should also be hired to produce the music for every Bryan Fuller series ever. At very least, there should be a legion of Pushing Daisies vids to his music, instead of just the one.
I also feel it's worth noting two films that I attempted to watch but cannot in good conscience add to my tally, since I didn't make it past the first ten minutes: the new-ish Brendan Fraser version of Journey to the Center of the Earth and The Education of Little Tree. Both of them made me go "feh," and the latter made me run away screaming. I have an IMPORTANT QUESTION for you, Internets: are there any good films about Native American people that do not a) actually star a white person, while all the actual Indian people are relegated to supporting roles and b) are not written by Sherman Alexie? I ask the latter not because I want to avoid Sherman Alexie, because actually I love him to perhaps an unhealthy extent, but simply because I'm pretty sure I've already seen all of his. Any recommendations?
While we're talking in general about films with Indian actors in them, though, may I again recommend Big Eden for your watching enjoyment? Eric Schweig is divine and the whole movie is snuggly, snuggly love. WATCH IT. NOOOOOW.
[60] View and review 50 films. (14/50)
Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang *****
It's too bad that I've sort of instituted a five-star limit on movies, because otherwise I would give this one eleventy stars. Eleventy billion stars. I can't remember the last time I enjoyed a film quite this much, and frankly it's a bit astonishing to me that I haven't watched it before. It's been recommended to me by approximately everyone ever, but I guess I always figured it was in that category of films that everyone recommends but I just can't drum up interest in, like The Big Lebowski and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.
It's not, though. I mean, I've never seen either of those but even so, I feel confident assuring you that Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang is a much better film. It's possibly a much better film than any film ever. It has the lulz, it has the thrills, it has the classic mystery and Gay Perry and Robert Downey Junior and omg. Just seriously, omg. I want to make out with this movie. I want to watch this movie ten million times just to see if the one-liners will get any less zingy with repetition. (I suspect they won't.) This film is made of 100% pure joy. Well, also murder and violence and hijinx and Val Kilmer being so cool it could kill you. But you get my point. You've probably all seen it because you're so far ahead of the curve, but if not, go get it immediately. IMMEDIATELY.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince *****
For the sake of full disclosure, I should mention that the Harry Potter movies, generally speaking, make me happy. They're the sort of films I can watch over and over and over again and not really get tired of, and in most every way I find them infinitely superior to the books. So I'm vastly predisposed to liking these movies, and because I imagine most of you who would have an interest in viewing this film are already familiar with the books and know what happens in this one, I won't really sum up the plot for you or anything. Instead, I'd like to point out two things that were fantastic about this film. The first is Jim Broadbent, who can always be depended upon for a fantastic performance and who delivers such a fantastic performance here that he blows all previous actors in the series out of the water. (Sorry, Gary Oldman.) I never saw his character, Professor Slughorn, as being particularly interesting or deserving of sympathy in the book, but Broadbent plays him as such a marvelously broken figure in the film. LOVE.
The other thing that I love, which I love perhaps behind all others, is the art direction and cinematography in this particular film. I read recently that the studio forced the creative team behind this film to rework a lot of the material they'd already shot, because the studio felt they'd gone too far with their color palettes and whatnot, and I'd love to see that original material because I'll bet it's even better than what ended up on the screen. This movie is just gorgeous top to bottom, and if you're a visually oriented sort of person, you'll find it worth watching even if the story doesn't interest you so much. I give it five stars just for the prettiness. I like that the filmmakers aren't afraid to go darker and more adult, and I think the actors as they grow into the roles are just getting better and better, too. (Have I mentioned how deeply disgusted I was to see a whole spread critiquing Emma Watson's clothing choices in the latest Entertainment Weekly? Plz FUCK OFF, EW. You are assholes.)
The Jane Austen Book Club ***
It was made of cute and fuzziness and was full of good performances, and in many ways was much more than I expected from a chick flick of any description, but was not quite good enough for me to remember any of the characters' names nor have any particular memory of what happened in the film. They like... read Jane Austen? And the books mirrored their lives and they asked themselves "what would Jane do?" The answer is -- and I know this because I've seen that other film, Becoming Jane -- is that Jane would totally fuck James MacAvoy. But then, wouldn't we all? I approve of this movie for Sunday-afternoon viewing, which is how we did it up my household, but I don't recommend expecting much. It's enjoyable for what it is, and it'll make you go "awww" sometimes and "omg, just say it!" the rest of the time, and you might want to hit some of the characters occasionally, but maybe that's just me and my violent streak.
Blood, Sweat & Gears ****
So this is a documentary that I happened to catch on Sundance Channel, about Team Garmin-Slipstream, chronicling the bicycling team's attempts to earn a place in the Tour de France (and somewhat less dramatically, a failed bid for Olympic glory). I DVRed it because I like documentaries and am interested in everything, and I ended up being very glad I'd done so; it's a very engaging documentary. I like bicycling but had very little understanding of it as a sport, much less how very much it's a team sport. It was fascinating to see the strategy that goes into a race like the Tour de France, much less all the maneuvering and racing that leads up to that, and the huge support it takes behind the scenes to keep the team competing. This film also talks at length about doping within the sport (Slipstream is committed to zero doping and tests with incredible frequency to prove that everyone on the team is clean, and they're very outspoken against doping). One of Slipstream's riders is David Millar, who was banned from racing for several years after a very messy and public doping scandal, so it was really interesting to hear his perspective about it and about his fellow riders (he's obviously a very seasoned competitor and seems to have a leadership role on the team) and what they're trying to do to prove you can win races without doping. I just really dug it; nice documentary and incredibly informative, not to mention how it sucks you into the Tour de France drama; I'd never watched the actual race, and they certainly didn't show it in its entirety in the film, but I did find myself cheering on the riders as they pushed toward winning the stage and placing in the race. (One of the team's members came in fourth overall at the Tour the year that the documentary was filmed.)
In the Valley of Elah *****
I don't think I'm the only one who in times like these can find it a little hard to watch anything that's more than harmless fluff. I was flipping through Entertainment Weekly the other day and happened across an article lamenting the death of the "adult film" -- those serious movies that mean something, that go beyond entertainment value, that aren't sanitized for the kids or sensationalized for the teenagers or consisting primarily of special effects and explosions, so we don't have to think too hard.
I don't know what the article said about the death of the adult film, by the way. It seemed like far too serious an article to read.
The sad thing is, though I often avoid more "serious" films, when I do drum up the wherewithall to watch one, I'm usually blown away. Such is definitely the case with In the Valley of Elah, which seemed to come and go from the new release shelf at the video store without much fanfare, and which is easily one of the best films I've seen in recent memory. I hesitate to even attempt to describe it because I feel like anything I could drum up to describe this film isn't going to be adequate. It was incredible. Really, truly, deeply incredible. Beautifully written, beautifully shot, beautifully acted, in that way where by the time you get to the end your heart is broken into a million tiny little pieces. But like... in the good way? Essentially the story is that of a retired military man (Tommy Lee Jones) whose son, now in the armed forces himself, is brutally murdered after returning from the Middle East; with the help of a very reluctant cop (Charlize Theron) he takes it upon himself to investigate the murder. I won't simplify the plot with any sort of "...and soon discovers that things are more complicated than they seem," instead I'll tell you that the characters in this film are real: they're complicated and they're messy and though they may be good people deep down at the root of themselves, they also have their moments of weakness and pain and terror.
Also, the Due South fans in the audience may be interested to know that this film was both written and directed by Paul Haggis. I didn't realize that until the end credits rolled, at which point I understood exactly why this film was so amazing. Oh, Paul Haggis. Why aren't you my boyfriend?
The Night Listener ***
A late-night radio personality becomes entangled in the drama surrounding a memoir of childhood abuse. I don't really want to say any more than that because I don't want to spoil the plot for anyone, but it is kind of an awesome mindfuck.
I'd give it five stars for the performances alone, but I'm afraid there were just too many scenes of people doing things that made me want to hit them for me to like the film overall that much. ;D The acting was truly fantastic, though.
Another thing that I was really impressed with about this film is that the main character, played by Robin Williams, is gay. There's a lot of material in the film about his long-term relationship, how that relationship disintegrating impacts his decisions and his state of mind, and the ways in which what we went through and is going through with his partner makes him more vulnerable to I think the relationship is drawn really well, but the great thing about it is that the film isn't about that character being gay.
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie ***
I know, I know: you totally want to call shenanigans right now. I'm meant to be reviewing films I haven't seen before. And clearly, since I have a deep and abiding love for MST3K, I've seen the film before. Only, I actually hadn't! I know, it's miraculous. Anyway, as MST3Ks go, it was pretty good times. I always fast-forward through the stuff on the spaceship and whatnot and get straight to the film-mocking, and this one was pretty good. I don't really have anything to say beyond that. It was good for the lulz?
Howl's Moving Castle **
Back when the book of Howl's Moving Castle was a big new thing, a lot of friends told me that I should read it and that I would love it. I confess, I never made it through the book. I didn't even make it through most of the book. But since I do have a tendency to often like the film version better (Dan Brown's books, for example, are greatly improved by moving them to a medium that doesn't involve Dan Brown's writing), and since one of the voice actors for this adaptation was Christian Bale, I gave it a try. It was uninspiring, I'm afraid. I liked the animation. I liked a lot of aspects of the world-building (I love universes that mix an almost medieval or colonial feel with a steampunk-and-zeppelins sensibility), and the voice actors weren't bad, I just... didn't care that much. About any of them. And mostly spent the whole movie wanting to kick Howl right in the junk.
Talk To Me ****
I watched Talk To Me, which isn't typically a film I'd pick up -- I'm not generally much for biopics -- for two reasons. One was that it stars Chiwetel Ejiofor and Don Cheadle, both of whom I love (and a smaller part for Martin Sheen, as well), and the other was that the Race!Fail debate was making me realize how whitewashed my viewing habits were, and I wanted to start making a conscious effort to expand my horizons. I'm incredibly glad I did with this film, because it was more than worth watching. Talk To Me is the story of "Petey" Greene, a Washington D.C. radio host who got his start on the airwaves in prison and went on to become a major voice in the civil rights movement in the 1960s.
The only reason I didn't give it five stars is because I really hate the part of films like this where they show the inevitable decline or the "losing himself in stardom" thing that happens. I mean, it's reality, I'm sure, but I don't want to see it. :D So I'd have to say that I liked the first half of the film much better than the second half, but overall Petey Greene's story is astonishing and his contribution to the civil rights movement very undervalued, as I'm willing to bet that a lot of people have no idea who he is. (I didn't.) The performances here are terrific -- Cheadle and Ejiofor both own the screen in their own ways from the first moments they appear -- and though there are plenty of moments played for laughs (Taraji Henson as Petey's girlfriend is often hilarious, but profoundly human), this film doesn't pull any punches. Definitely recommended.
Dan In Real Life ****
I'd have given it five stars, to be honest, but see, I have this embarrassment squick? In which I almost can't watch those parts of a film where normal people would just be going, "Oh, Dan. NO, honey." There weren't too many of those moments, luckily, but just enough that I couldn't whole-heartedly recommend it. I would also like to note that I cannot in good conscience comment on how "real" or not the depiction of Dan's family life was, because I have heard that some people have families like that -- you know, where you like all love each other and you know all your nieces and nephews names and stuff? -- but I have never witnessed it with my own eyes.
But on to the review-y parts! So this film has Steve Carell, whom I love, and Dane Cook, whom I also love, and in addition, a whole pack of precocious youngsters and crude uncles and psychic mothers and other family-related shenanigans with which I cannot relate. NO MATTER. The important thing is, this movie kind of makes me happy. Well, it kind of makes me happy while simultaneously slowly squeezing my heart to death. I'm not even going to tell you what happens in it, because a sum-up of basic plot is kind of a spoiler, and I'd like for you to go in unspoiled, if possible, like I did. It's better that way, hits your guts all warm and surprising like gulping down too-hot tea. It totally makes you suffer first, but it's all worth it for Steve Carell, basically, whose performance is understated and quiet and heartbreaking until suddenly it isn't anymore.
Also, bonus points for a soundtrack by Sondre Lerche, whom I also love. He should also be hired to produce the music for every Bryan Fuller series ever. At very least, there should be a legion of Pushing Daisies vids to his music, instead of just the one.
I also feel it's worth noting two films that I attempted to watch but cannot in good conscience add to my tally, since I didn't make it past the first ten minutes: the new-ish Brendan Fraser version of Journey to the Center of the Earth and The Education of Little Tree. Both of them made me go "feh," and the latter made me run away screaming. I have an IMPORTANT QUESTION for you, Internets: are there any good films about Native American people that do not a) actually star a white person, while all the actual Indian people are relegated to supporting roles and b) are not written by Sherman Alexie? I ask the latter not because I want to avoid Sherman Alexie, because actually I love him to perhaps an unhealthy extent, but simply because I'm pretty sure I've already seen all of his. Any recommendations?
While we're talking in general about films with Indian actors in them, though, may I again recommend Big Eden for your watching enjoyment? Eric Schweig is divine and the whole movie is snuggly, snuggly love. WATCH IT. NOOOOOW.
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
It makes me happy every time I see it.