No Country for Old Men is the best movie I’ve seen from the Coen Brothers. Naturally, it’s about a psychotic killer with a high-pressure air gun looking for stolen money, and another guy who stole the money running from the guy with the air gun. I normally don’t care much for the way the Coen Brothers use lethal violence in their movies, but in this case it’s fascinating and compelling because it’s so cinematic. It’s a pleasure to watch the craftsmanship that goes into it. And it’s not all for show. The images and the subtle details work together to create a story and a weird reality that takes you for a ride and leaves you thinking, “What the hell was that?” It’s a crime drama, a thriller, a comedy and a morality tale, and it’s entertaining. (A detailed analysis and discussion of the film on Jim Emerson’s Blog.)
The Third Man is a classic film noir with more Dutch angles than you can throw a dead cat at. Deep dark crazy shadows all over the place, Orson Welles never looked better, cloak-and-dagger intrigue and a cool chase scene near the end to cap it all off.
Gone Baby Gone is Ben Affleck’s directorial debut and it’s pretty damn good. It’s the story of a private investigator looking for a little girl who has gone missing in his neighbourhood, and brother does he get messed up in some serious shit. And just when you think you know what’s going on, you don’t, and it’s at that point the film shifts into high gear and doesn’t let up until the very last shot. It’s not just a thriller; it’s an intellectually engaging and morally challenging film, one that will give you something to talk about while the credits are rolling. That’s an accomplishment for any film. (Not recommended for parents with small kids, though.)
Striking cinematography and good acting cannot make up for the fact that the story is so %$#@! up and depressing, it leaves you feeling dirty, like it’s time for a really long shower now. The Dead Girl is a well-made film but definitely not for everyone.
Death Proof (Extended and Unrated) is Quentin Tarantino’s tribute to Grindhouse films and is better than the theatrical cut, though it’s difficult to qualify “better” in a movie that doesn’t strive too hard to be good in the first place (there are some unpleasant though quick gore shots). Tarantino doesn’t bring anything new to the table (the dialogue and direction are derivative of himself) — except for the car chase scene at the end which is fun and funny.
I’ve seen all of Taratino’s movies. I’ll eventually post about them as I re-watch them.
The Gauntlet is a 1977 Clint Eastwood cop movie with a snazzy jazzy soundtrack that has Clint falling in love and on the run with a prostitute because he was set up, and I wonder who set him up? A totally lame and predictable movie, but watching the cops shoot the shit out of everything is kind of fun. Famous for the final scene where the shoot a bus up with about 10 million bullet holes. Stupid… yet classic. Also directed by Clint (before he became a respectable director).
A History of Violence may be David Cronenberg’s most conventional film to date, but, like most of his films, it fails to touch me on an emotional level. It’s interesting and compelling and a bit violent and bloody at times. And that’s it. The moral of the story is…?
Without Jodie Foster’s convincing performance of a woman who becomes a vigilante — and is conflicted about what she’s become — The Brave One would have been a melodramatic revenge flick. Half the audience is likely to miss the point and cheer whenever she shoots her gun; the rest might find it disturbing. I don’t agree with everything that goes down in the end, but the psychological transformation of Foster’s character makes this film worth watching. Terrence Howard is pretty good too.
The Bourne Ultimatum is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a theatre this summer. A solid action movie in which all the stunts and explosions and chases are real. No CGI. And it feels real. This is a visceral, tense, exciting film with a few moments to catch your breath and then BAM! we’re back in business. It’s a cool movie. Lots of fun.
Infernal Affairs is part one of a trilogy of films from which The Departed is a re-make. This highly stylized and sometimes silly Hong Kong action flick is fun to watch, though maybe not as humorous as the American version. I need to watch it again more objectively to fully appreciate it.
I had low expectations for this mystery thriller starring Anthony Hopkins, but it’s not bad. Fracture isn’t a great movie, but it’s intriguing and interesting enough to satisfy.
The look and feel of Bon Cop, Bad Cop reminded me of every CBC-TV crime drama I’ve seen in the past 15 years: too clean and brightly lit to be gritty. I wanted to like it (it’s not all bad), but it did nothing for me.
Bananas is an early Woody Allen film of slapstick humour that is of most interest to Woody Allen fans. The Howard Cosellintro and ending are the funniest parts.
Convincing performances by every actor in the cast make Zodiac a watchable thriller. Can’t complain much about David Fincher’s direction either (it does the job), but the unfocused manner in which main characters come and go from the storyline makes it difficult to care about them. Well-acted and well-made, but probably forgettable.
The Lady Vanishes is an early Hitchcock mystery that’s more interesting than suspenseful. If I was alive during the 1930s, I probably would have loved it. (Dec. 12, 2008: I planned to update this commentary with a brief plot summary, but I can’t remember a damn thing about the movie.)
I saw Scorsese’s Mean Streets years ago and forgot about it. It seems tame compared to crime movies that came after it, but it is a hugely influential film, and for that reason, it’s interesting. I’m not biting at the bit to watch it again any time soon, but I’m sure I’ll appreciate it more with each viewing.
I’ve seen most of Scorsese’s movies. I’ll eventually post about them as I re-watch them.
Match Point is a slowly unfolding thriller that’s likely to have you rooting for the most dislikeable character in the movie. You’d never know it was a Woody Allen film (don’t let his name turn you off). It takes place in London, England, and there are no neurotic New Yorkers. I don’t know what the big deal is about Scarlett Johansson, but the filmmaking is brilliant.
The Departed is the most fun I had watching a movie in a theatre in 2006. I haven’t enjoyed a Martin Scorsese motion picture for well over a decade. Now, with The Departed, he’s hit a grand-slam home-run right out of the park. It’s great to see Scorsese return to form at what he does best: the crime drama. This isn’t a retread of old territory like Casino. He does a few things we’ve seen before, but it’s fresh and exciting and fantastic. It may not be seen as his best film, but it’s certainly one of his most entertaining.
No Country for Old Men is the best movie I’ve seen from the Coen Brothers. Naturally, it’s about a psychotic killer with a high-pressure air gun looking for stolen money, and another guy who stole the money running from the guy with the air gun. I normally don’t care much for the way the Coen Brothers use lethal violence in their movies, but in this case it’s fascinating and compelling because it’s so cinematic. It’s a pleasure to watch the craftsmanship that goes into it. And it’s not all for show. The images and the subtle details work together to create a story and a weird reality that takes you for a ride and leaves you thinking, “What the hell was that?” It’s a crime drama, a thriller, a comedy and a morality tale, and it’s entertaining. (A detailed analysis and discussion of the film on Jim Emerson’s Blog.)
