Everyone else is doing these year-end lists, so I figure I'll jump on the bandwagon and throw my two cents in before it gets too far into '08. Keep in mind, these were my personal favorite films of the year, not necessarily what I thought were the BEST films of the year (although many of them fall into that same category).
10. Disturbia
Director: DJ Caruso
Starring: Shia LaBeouf, David Morse
This was the coming out party for LaBeouf, the movie that showed us he can actually act (not that playing a "slacker" is much of a stretch for him, but still). I really enjoyed this movie, way more than I probably should have. The suspense was great, the acting was exactly what it needed to be, and it was a respectful - yet updated - homage to Hitchcock's Rear Window. I still haven't seen any of DJ Caruso's other films, but I'm looking forward to his upcoming projects (Eagle Eye, Y: The Last Man).
9. Live Free or Die Hard/Transformers
Director: Len Wiseman/Michael Bay, respectively
Starring: Bruce Willis, Justin Long, Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, and more
I cheated a little bit because these are technically two different movies, although I see them as one since they were the two big summer movies of the year. The acting here was kind of suspect, but it made up for it with big time action that was exactly what we paid for. I've still never seen as much debris in a movie as I did in Transformers (with no explanation of how they rebuilt an entire city or a mention of how many innocent people must have been killed in that final battle), and I kind of hope that we see John McClane smash through onto the big screen again soon. If they waited this long between sequels and LFoDH was still good, then why NOT do another one? Count me in.
8. The Bourne Ultimatum
Director: Paul Greengrass
Starring: Matt Damon
I will drive out to Hollywood and stab someone in the neck with a pencil if they make another one of these films. The trilogy is near-perfect as it is, capped off by the best film in the franchise, The Bourne Ultimatum. There are rumblings that they are going to make another one, which would completely undercut the brilliance of the third movie. Damon was awesome, both in ass-kicking and the overall complexity he brought to the role. This was MUCH better than The Bourne Supremacy.
7. Resurrecting The Champ
Director: Rod Lurie
Starring: Samuel L. Jackson, Josh Hartnett
This was one of those movies that no one saw and no one talks about. I loved pretty much everything about it. The acting was the best I've ever seen from Samuel L., and Hartnett wasn't bad either. It was one of the best "journalism" movies I've ever seen, second only to Shattered Glass, which was phenomenal. I'm really surprised that Samuel L. Jackson didn't get any award nominations for his performance.
6. Into the Wild
Director: Sean Penn
Starring: Emile Hirsch
A really gorgeous film, both visually and topically. A 22-year-old burns all his belongings and takes off, hoping to make it to Alaska. Sean Penn was surprisingly adept behind the camera, and Hirsch (future Speed Racer!) was incredible in front of it.
5. No Country For Old Men
Director: Joel and Ethan Coen
Starring: Josh Brolin, Javier Bardem, Tommy Lee Jones
This one tops most of the real film critics' lists out there, and for good reason. If you don't look at it as a metaphorical tale in which Bardem is Death/Evil, Brolin is Man/Good, and Tommy Lee Jones is Society trying to make sense of it all, then you'll probably hate this film. It doesn't move too quickly and the ending is questioned by many, but after a little reflection I realized it was the only true way it could have ended, and that makes the movie much better off because of it.
4. 3:10 To Yuma
Director: James Mangold
Starring: Russell Crowe, Christian Bale, Ben Foster
Westerns made a comeback in 2007, thanks in part to this excellent piece of filmmaking. The performances were great, the script was perfect, and the execution was all I could have hoped for. One of the best westerns I've ever seen.
3. Gone Baby Gone
Director: Ben Affleck
Starring: Casey Affleck, Michelle Monaghan
Ben Affleck's directorial debut was stunning on multiple levels. For one, it was good to see that he can actually make a decent movie. This was definitely one of the best dramas of the year.
2. Juno
Director: Jason Reitman
Starring: Ellen Page, Michael Cera
The first attempt from screenwriter Diablo Cody promises good things for her in the future. Ellen Page and Michael Cera were perfectly cast, Reitman's directing was spot-on, and the movie managed to be funny and heartwarming at the same time.
1. Wristcutters: A Love Story
Director: Goran Dukic
Starring: Patrick Fugit, Shannyn Sossamon
The best independent movie I've laid eyes on. I don't know more than two people who have seen this, and they were in the same theater with me when I saw it. The most metaphorical film on this list (aside from No Country), but maybe that's why I liked it so much. I've never seen anything like it. By far my favorite movie of the year.
Honorable Mentions: The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters, 300, I Am Legend, Air Guitar Nation, 1408, Casino Royale, Blood Diamond
Until next time...
Friday, January 18, 2008
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?
This is a short film that I made in 2005 for extra credit for a film class I was taking. Boze, Jared, and I wrote it, and we shot it in a couple of hours in my apartment. Obviously it's pretty shoddy when it comes to technical aspects of production (lighting, cameras, sound quality, etc.), but Branz demanded I put it on this site, and I like to make my readers happy. Needless to say, I'd like to think I'm better at making films at this point in my life, so consider this an insight into some early work. Enjoy - if you can decipher the dense dialogue, hah. Until next time...
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Juno
Juno
Director: Jason Reitman
Starring: Ellen Page, Michael Cera, Jennifer Garner, Jason Bateman
If you've seen the preview, you know what you're getting yourself into here. If you've been forced to see it by your girlfriend/wife/fiance (Congratulations, JohnKaren!), then you'll probably hate the movie, but if you've seen the trailer and wanted to see it on your own (as I did), then I believe you'll get what you pay for.
The internet film community has been abuzz about Juno ever since it ran the festival circuit months ago, and I've been anxious to see if it lived up to all the hype. Jason Reitman, son of the famous Ivan Reitman (Stripes, Ghost Busters, Kindergarten Cop), scored with an excellent debut film in Thank You For Smoking. (Why didn't that movie make it on my list?) I knew he could make a really good movie, but one of the most publicly-overlooked aspects of film production is the script, and with Juno the scriptwriter was getting more publicity than anyone else involved with the project. Enter Diablo Cody, the blogger-turned-stripper who has become the hottest screenwriter in Hollywood seemingly overnight. After seeing the movie, I think she deserves all the praise she has been getting and I think she's a lock for the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. She has crafted a fantastically realistic world with characters that feel so true-to-life that the movie could almost be a documentary.
Ellen Page is adorable as Juno MacGuff, the suddenly-pregnant main character of the film whose eccentricities border on those of my group of friends. Diablo Cody has a knack for writing dialogue, and Juno's unique verbal style shines above the rest. Page does a perfect job with the character; she was born for that role. Michael Cera plays his normal awkward character (really well, as usual) as Paulie Bleeker, the father of Juno's child. Jennifer Garner was acceptable as the hopeful-mother-to-be Vanessa, while Jason Bateman breezes through his middle-aged rock star wannabe character with ease. J.K. Simmons (J. Jonah Jameson from the Spider-Man series), is refreshing as the Juno's dad - the actors all did such a great job in this movie, you really believe they could be related. In other words, the audience didn't require a great deal of suspension of disbelief in this one.
The music was the one thing that I didn't particularly care for - I thought they went a little overboard with the whole "independent" vibe they were going for. But hey - apparently it's the best selling album on iTunes right now, so what do I know? I will give them one thing: that "Anyone Else But You" song by The Moldy Peaches is ridiculously catchy, if not way too indie for my tastes.
When it was all said and done, I liked Juno a lot. It was funnier than I thought it'd be, and the comic timing and delivery of the lines can only be attributed to the actors for that. I'd recommend it if you're looking for something a little more lighthearted than I Am Legend at the theater before it comes out on DVD.
(Spoilers 'til the end)
I just wanted to give my thoughts on the relationship between Mark (Jason Bateman) and Juno, because during one particular scene I was so uncomfortable that I resorted to physically shrinking away from the screen and squinting my eyes. Their relationship is definitely strange, but also (I believe) pretty easy to figure out. To Mark, Juno represents everything he wants (aka fun, music, movies, etc) but can't have because of his stifled marriage and, more importantly, his refusal to grow up. He sees her as a person, instead of a means to an end like Vanessa sees her. [This isn't to say that Juno and Vanessa don't have a good relationship. As proved in the mall scene, Juno is more than willing to allow Vanessa the joy of being a mother vicariously through her and ultimately Juno ends up giving up her son to Vanessa because she believes, among other things, that it was "always hers." It's the type of relationship they SHOULD have had.]
During Juno's relationship glitch with Bleeker (she finds out he's going to the prom with Katrina Whatshername), Juno reaches out to Mark as the replacement guy in her life to fill the void that Bleeker has left. This is an older guy who used to be in a band, has similar interests, cool guitars, etc. What's not to like about him? We get an insight into the possible undertones in their relationship when Bren tells Juno not to cross the line because Mark is married, but Juno blows her off. Soon after, Mark and Juno find themselves alone (again!) in the house and start dancing, reminiscing about Mark's prom. Juno finds herself in the place of a girl that Mark danced with years ago, mimicking this girl's dancing motions and hand placement for him as he relives his childhood experience through her, a similar tactic employed by Vanessa. This is Mark's last feeling of true happiness in the film: dancing in his room full of stuff that Vanessa doesn't approve of with a girl who is compatible with him on every level except age.
I don't think that Mark would have made a real move on Juno - he had the opportunity a couple of times when they were alone and didn't pull the trigger. He's not a bad guy or a pedophile or anything like that; he's just repressed and Juno was the only outlet for him. For proof that he wouldn't make a move on her, watch the scene again - it's Mark who stops the dance by revealing that he wants a divorce from Vanessa. "I thought you'd be cool with this!" he says, hoping more for an encouraging response from his newfound friend than a confession of love from her. He has found a kindred spirit in Juno and didn't want to give it up, although he knew it was necessary.
Agree or disagree and let me know what you think in the comments section. Until next time...
Trivia: The movie cost $2.5 million to make, and made over $52 million in its first month of release. Also, you can download the script for free at this link, which I would recommend if you want to see what a real film script looks like. It'll take a second to load, but it's worth a look.
Director: Jason Reitman
Starring: Ellen Page, Michael Cera, Jennifer Garner, Jason Bateman
If you've seen the preview, you know what you're getting yourself into here. If you've been forced to see it by your girlfriend/wife/fiance (Congratulations, JohnKaren!), then you'll probably hate the movie, but if you've seen the trailer and wanted to see it on your own (as I did), then I believe you'll get what you pay for.
The internet film community has been abuzz about Juno ever since it ran the festival circuit months ago, and I've been anxious to see if it lived up to all the hype. Jason Reitman, son of the famous Ivan Reitman (Stripes, Ghost Busters, Kindergarten Cop), scored with an excellent debut film in Thank You For Smoking. (Why didn't that movie make it on my list?) I knew he could make a really good movie, but one of the most publicly-overlooked aspects of film production is the script, and with Juno the scriptwriter was getting more publicity than anyone else involved with the project. Enter Diablo Cody, the blogger-turned-stripper who has become the hottest screenwriter in Hollywood seemingly overnight. After seeing the movie, I think she deserves all the praise she has been getting and I think she's a lock for the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. She has crafted a fantastically realistic world with characters that feel so true-to-life that the movie could almost be a documentary.
Ellen Page is adorable as Juno MacGuff, the suddenly-pregnant main character of the film whose eccentricities border on those of my group of friends. Diablo Cody has a knack for writing dialogue, and Juno's unique verbal style shines above the rest. Page does a perfect job with the character; she was born for that role. Michael Cera plays his normal awkward character (really well, as usual) as Paulie Bleeker, the father of Juno's child. Jennifer Garner was acceptable as the hopeful-mother-to-be Vanessa, while Jason Bateman breezes through his middle-aged rock star wannabe character with ease. J.K. Simmons (J. Jonah Jameson from the Spider-Man series), is refreshing as the Juno's dad - the actors all did such a great job in this movie, you really believe they could be related. In other words, the audience didn't require a great deal of suspension of disbelief in this one.
The music was the one thing that I didn't particularly care for - I thought they went a little overboard with the whole "independent" vibe they were going for. But hey - apparently it's the best selling album on iTunes right now, so what do I know? I will give them one thing: that "Anyone Else But You" song by The Moldy Peaches is ridiculously catchy, if not way too indie for my tastes.
When it was all said and done, I liked Juno a lot. It was funnier than I thought it'd be, and the comic timing and delivery of the lines can only be attributed to the actors for that. I'd recommend it if you're looking for something a little more lighthearted than I Am Legend at the theater before it comes out on DVD.
(Spoilers 'til the end)
I just wanted to give my thoughts on the relationship between Mark (Jason Bateman) and Juno, because during one particular scene I was so uncomfortable that I resorted to physically shrinking away from the screen and squinting my eyes. Their relationship is definitely strange, but also (I believe) pretty easy to figure out. To Mark, Juno represents everything he wants (aka fun, music, movies, etc) but can't have because of his stifled marriage and, more importantly, his refusal to grow up. He sees her as a person, instead of a means to an end like Vanessa sees her. [This isn't to say that Juno and Vanessa don't have a good relationship. As proved in the mall scene, Juno is more than willing to allow Vanessa the joy of being a mother vicariously through her and ultimately Juno ends up giving up her son to Vanessa because she believes, among other things, that it was "always hers." It's the type of relationship they SHOULD have had.]
During Juno's relationship glitch with Bleeker (she finds out he's going to the prom with Katrina Whatshername), Juno reaches out to Mark as the replacement guy in her life to fill the void that Bleeker has left. This is an older guy who used to be in a band, has similar interests, cool guitars, etc. What's not to like about him? We get an insight into the possible undertones in their relationship when Bren tells Juno not to cross the line because Mark is married, but Juno blows her off. Soon after, Mark and Juno find themselves alone (again!) in the house and start dancing, reminiscing about Mark's prom. Juno finds herself in the place of a girl that Mark danced with years ago, mimicking this girl's dancing motions and hand placement for him as he relives his childhood experience through her, a similar tactic employed by Vanessa. This is Mark's last feeling of true happiness in the film: dancing in his room full of stuff that Vanessa doesn't approve of with a girl who is compatible with him on every level except age.
I don't think that Mark would have made a real move on Juno - he had the opportunity a couple of times when they were alone and didn't pull the trigger. He's not a bad guy or a pedophile or anything like that; he's just repressed and Juno was the only outlet for him. For proof that he wouldn't make a move on her, watch the scene again - it's Mark who stops the dance by revealing that he wants a divorce from Vanessa. "I thought you'd be cool with this!" he says, hoping more for an encouraging response from his newfound friend than a confession of love from her. He has found a kindred spirit in Juno and didn't want to give it up, although he knew it was necessary.
Agree or disagree and let me know what you think in the comments section. Until next time...
Trivia: The movie cost $2.5 million to make, and made over $52 million in its first month of release. Also, you can download the script for free at this link, which I would recommend if you want to see what a real film script looks like. It'll take a second to load, but it's worth a look.
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
A Few Good Men, Primal Fear
A Few Good Men
Director: Rob Reiner
Starring: Tom Cruise, Jack Nicholson, Demi Moore
Hands down, this 1992 movie is the best court room drama I've ever seen. I watched it again over the break and it re-established itself as one of my favorite movies. If you've never seen it, or its been a few years, go rent it and you won't be disappointed.
If you're looking for an action oriented 90's flick, look elsewhere; in fact, this is one of the most dialogue-heavy movies I've ever seen. There's a reason for all the talking - the film was based on a Broadway play. After watching it, I've often wondered how I would react to seeing a stage play version of this story. I'm almost certain I would be let down because the performances in the movie version are so iconic that I couldn't imagine anyone else playing the roles.
I'm not a big Demi Moore fan (Indecent Proposal kind of sucked), but she held her own in this one against some big-time movie stars. Tom Cruise was fantastic as the arrogant lawyer Daniel Kaffee, and Kevin Pollack provided welcome comic relief in an otherwise-serious story about the death of a Marine private in Cuba and the soldiers charged with his murder.
Jack Nicholson. What is there to say about him? The guy has played some of the best characters to grace the screen in his 48 year career, and Col. Nathan Jessup falls into that category. I've seen this movie nine or ten times, and that final scene in the courtroom STILL gave me goosebumps when I watched it.
(If you've never seen the movie before, this is a section of the final scene of A Few Good Men. I'll leave it up to you to check it out if you want to ruin it for yourself.)
Plus, it gives people ammo to use on soundboards like this one to make priceless prank phone calls to unexpecting to people who have never seen the movie.
Primal Fear
Director: Gregory Hoblit
Starring: Richard Gere, Edward Norton
I don't know how many courtroom movies you guys have seen, but I've seen a surprising number in a genre that I'm not really that fond of. (Runaway Jury, Devil's Advocate, and The Firm are some that I didn't particularly care for, while I liked Amistad, The Client, and A Time To Kill a little more.)
Primal Fear, while having a questionable title, turned out to be a solid trial film. I'd put it right up there slightly under A Few Good Men as a favorite in the genre. There is a killer twist in the movie that separates it from the other courtroom movies of its kind, and Edward Norton's performance is amazing. This was his debut film, and it's easy to see why he soon began getting a lot of work in Hollywood. Great stuff from him. Richard Gere is the main character, a hotshot lawyer (is there any other kind?) named Martin Vail who defends Ed Norton in a murder trial. Richard Gere is one of those guys that is a polar actor. What I mean by that is he's either good or terrible in every movie he does. There's no middle ground with him. He's obviously done a lot of chick flicks (Runaway Bride, Chicago, etc.), but he's done some cool stuff too - the most prominent in my mind being 1997's The Jackal opposite Bruce Willis, and he was a decent Lancelot in 1995's First Knight opposite Sean Connery. Now that I think about it, those are the only other movies that I enjoyed with him in them. Anyway, my point is that his character in Primal Fear was a pretty good role for him. Frances McDormand had a small but crucial role as a neuropsychologist who examines Norton's character, and she was great. I liked her a lot in Primal Fear, and I guess 1996 was a good year for her because that and Fargo came out in the same year and she won an Academy Award for Best Actress in Fargo.
That's all for now, so enjoy the rest of your winter break. Until next time...
Director: Rob Reiner
Starring: Tom Cruise, Jack Nicholson, Demi Moore
Hands down, this 1992 movie is the best court room drama I've ever seen. I watched it again over the break and it re-established itself as one of my favorite movies. If you've never seen it, or its been a few years, go rent it and you won't be disappointed.
If you're looking for an action oriented 90's flick, look elsewhere; in fact, this is one of the most dialogue-heavy movies I've ever seen. There's a reason for all the talking - the film was based on a Broadway play. After watching it, I've often wondered how I would react to seeing a stage play version of this story. I'm almost certain I would be let down because the performances in the movie version are so iconic that I couldn't imagine anyone else playing the roles.
I'm not a big Demi Moore fan (Indecent Proposal kind of sucked), but she held her own in this one against some big-time movie stars. Tom Cruise was fantastic as the arrogant lawyer Daniel Kaffee, and Kevin Pollack provided welcome comic relief in an otherwise-serious story about the death of a Marine private in Cuba and the soldiers charged with his murder.
Jack Nicholson. What is there to say about him? The guy has played some of the best characters to grace the screen in his 48 year career, and Col. Nathan Jessup falls into that category. I've seen this movie nine or ten times, and that final scene in the courtroom STILL gave me goosebumps when I watched it.
(If you've never seen the movie before, this is a section of the final scene of A Few Good Men. I'll leave it up to you to check it out if you want to ruin it for yourself.)
Plus, it gives people ammo to use on soundboards like this one to make priceless prank phone calls to unexpecting to people who have never seen the movie.
Primal Fear
Director: Gregory Hoblit
Starring: Richard Gere, Edward Norton
I don't know how many courtroom movies you guys have seen, but I've seen a surprising number in a genre that I'm not really that fond of. (Runaway Jury, Devil's Advocate, and The Firm are some that I didn't particularly care for, while I liked Amistad, The Client, and A Time To Kill a little more.)
Primal Fear, while having a questionable title, turned out to be a solid trial film. I'd put it right up there slightly under A Few Good Men as a favorite in the genre. There is a killer twist in the movie that separates it from the other courtroom movies of its kind, and Edward Norton's performance is amazing. This was his debut film, and it's easy to see why he soon began getting a lot of work in Hollywood. Great stuff from him. Richard Gere is the main character, a hotshot lawyer (is there any other kind?) named Martin Vail who defends Ed Norton in a murder trial. Richard Gere is one of those guys that is a polar actor. What I mean by that is he's either good or terrible in every movie he does. There's no middle ground with him. He's obviously done a lot of chick flicks (Runaway Bride, Chicago, etc.), but he's done some cool stuff too - the most prominent in my mind being 1997's The Jackal opposite Bruce Willis, and he was a decent Lancelot in 1995's First Knight opposite Sean Connery. Now that I think about it, those are the only other movies that I enjoyed with him in them. Anyway, my point is that his character in Primal Fear was a pretty good role for him. Frances McDormand had a small but crucial role as a neuropsychologist who examines Norton's character, and she was great. I liked her a lot in Primal Fear, and I guess 1996 was a good year for her because that and Fargo came out in the same year and she won an Academy Award for Best Actress in Fargo.
That's all for now, so enjoy the rest of your winter break. Until next time...
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