G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (Stephen Sommers): 53- Definitely overrated (realistically it's more like 37) but there's so much going on in the margins that at the time I was feeling generous. G.I. Joe has a sloppy kung-fu fight with kids and not only that but one is trying to eat biscuits during the fight, a character that has taken a vow of silence and actually keeps it, a conversation on a treadmill with Chatum Tatum jumping rope in the background for no apparent reason, a headbutt as a sign of affection, body suits that turn a normal chase into a choreograph dance sequence, a guy with balloons only there to get them knocked out of his hands only then to have to have the balloons escape out of a glass ceiling when it is broken moments later (empty symbolism? reference to Pixar?), flaming car tire rolling by in the background of a standard shot/counter shot, again, for no apparent reason, and that’s only what I can remember off hand, I’m sure there’s more.
Sherlock Holmes (Guy Ritchie): 25- Entire film is a setup for the final confrontation/ explanation where all the weird elements that make no sense are explained in like ten straight minutes. Plays out like Law and Order: Criminal Intent, the D'Onofrio episodes, which are my least favorite.
2012 (Roland Emmerich): 28- Went into this one willingly, only to find out on the way there it’s two and a half hours!! That’s way too fucken long for this sort of thing! I was pre-rationalizing that maybe they would withhold the destruction until the last 45mins or so ratcheting up the tension, or at least keep it non-stop to the point of deadening. Instead you have a film that stretches its B movie ambition filling its runtime with so much subplot and pointless dialogue you wonder how it got made in the first place.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Top Ten, 2009
For awhile now I have been creating top ten lists for each year. What I should explain is that these lists are not set in stone but more like living documents. I can’t even come close to viewing everything that is out there and many times I don’t even have the opportunity, primarily with world cinema, only hoping to catch up when it becomes available on DVD. I know for sure I missed some key films (Limits of Control, In the Loop, The Sun, A Serious Man, Tetro, Anvil! and A Letter the Uncle Boomee to name a few) and will try to catch up as soon as possible. I decided this year to add some comments for each choice. I know there are "better" films out there but I usually go with gut over the academic. Oh, and I count Julia and Afterschool as 2008 or this list would be hella stronger.
5/12- Seen Limits of Control and respect it more than like it, even as I watch Hsiao-hsien. Found Uncle Boomee and for no good reason I've been putting it off. See below for Serious Man.
1. Fanatic Mr. Fox (Wes Anderson)- Generally passed over and actual Anderson fans dismissed it. WHAT’S WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE!!! Not only is it hilarious and drop dead gorgeous, but through extreme overdeterminism Anderson actually freed himself. Instead of tight-ass composition the film is literally bursting at the seams. Number 1 film in a walk.
2. Public Enemies (Michael Mann)- Almost subverts the entire gangster genre but levels out after awhile. Still, it’s clear Mann isn’t listening to anyone anymore and there is no one working better with digital video. He came close in Miami Vice and if he could just throw out this pesky little thing called story he would really be onto something.
3. The Hurt Locker (Kathryn Bigelow)- Speaking of throwing away story, first half is near perfect with characters being developed through their responses to the imminent. Loses its footing and momentum slightly when it focus on Renner exclusively, but Oscar hype aside this is still one damn fine film.
And now an auteur double, double
4. My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done (Werner Herzog)- No this isn’t a Lynchian pastiche, Herzog doesn’t do surrealism. Grounded in suburbia, he explores the human mind to ask who’s crazier- a single man or everyone else for rationalizing his behavior.
4b. The Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call- New Orleans
5. The Girlfriend Experience (Steven Soderbergh)- This is film that has the pulse of our times, that is the economic downfall and early Obama era, not Up in the Air.
5b. The Informant!
6. Sutro (Jeanne Liotta)- In the recent trends department, interesting that many artists are directly dealing with the ‘death’ of film by taking video down with it. Specifically dealing with analog TV Sutro goes from the figurative, past fragmentation, and straight into abstraction. Phenomenological? Yes. Disagree? Watch it four or five times and get back to me.
7. I literally have no seventh film. It’s a bit sad but a can’t see raising the status of the final three and giving the tenth spot some kind of kiss off. Vacancy to the filled, applications welcomed.
5/12- (7) Serious Man (Coens)- After learning a bit about Christian allegory vs Jewish parable I've come to terms with my main complaints; that is, that the text can hold multiple interpretations that are at odds with each other with both being equally vaild and in the end nothing is resolved. This is the Coens doing Kafka.
8. Star Trek (JJ Abrams)- Now I'm no die hard but thank god for Abrams. This is exactly how a mainstream blockbuster should be.
9. The Time Traveler’s Wife (Robert Schwentke)- I’m going out on a limb and assume that I underrated this at the time. A film that deals with temporal and spatial relationships can’t be all bad.
10. Where the Wild Things Are (Spike Jonze)- This film suffered from it’s own misrepresentation and I’m specifically talking about the trailer. Parents quickly figured out it was way too dark for kids and everyone else didn’t know what to make of it (do hipsters even know who Lacan is? mirror stage?). Instead of a lighthearted affair Jonze and Co. give us a more serious look into development, one that actually struggles with the psychological complexities of childhood. Hopefully it will find a better life on DVD.
Honorable Mention
Avatar (James Cameron)
District 9 (Neill Blomkamp)
Fighting (Dito Montiel)
the diversity of animation this year- Up!, 9, Coraline, Ponyo, Fox, Wild Things, Avatar, Monsters v. Aliens, $9.99, need I say more?
opening credits of Watchman
Just Dance (Melina Matsoukas)
Films That Everyone Else Likes But I Just Can’t Get Behind
The Hangover (Todd Phillips)
Duplicity (Tony Gilroy)
The Brothers Bloom (Rian Johnson)
Inglorious Bastards (Quentin Tarantino)
5/12- Seen Limits of Control and respect it more than like it, even as I watch Hsiao-hsien. Found Uncle Boomee and for no good reason I've been putting it off. See below for Serious Man.
1. Fanatic Mr. Fox (Wes Anderson)- Generally passed over and actual Anderson fans dismissed it. WHAT’S WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE!!! Not only is it hilarious and drop dead gorgeous, but through extreme overdeterminism Anderson actually freed himself. Instead of tight-ass composition the film is literally bursting at the seams. Number 1 film in a walk.
2. Public Enemies (Michael Mann)- Almost subverts the entire gangster genre but levels out after awhile. Still, it’s clear Mann isn’t listening to anyone anymore and there is no one working better with digital video. He came close in Miami Vice and if he could just throw out this pesky little thing called story he would really be onto something.
3. The Hurt Locker (Kathryn Bigelow)- Speaking of throwing away story, first half is near perfect with characters being developed through their responses to the imminent. Loses its footing and momentum slightly when it focus on Renner exclusively, but Oscar hype aside this is still one damn fine film.
And now an auteur double, double
4. My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done (Werner Herzog)- No this isn’t a Lynchian pastiche, Herzog doesn’t do surrealism. Grounded in suburbia, he explores the human mind to ask who’s crazier- a single man or everyone else for rationalizing his behavior.
4b. The Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call- New Orleans
5. The Girlfriend Experience (Steven Soderbergh)- This is film that has the pulse of our times, that is the economic downfall and early Obama era, not Up in the Air.
5b. The Informant!
6. Sutro (Jeanne Liotta)- In the recent trends department, interesting that many artists are directly dealing with the ‘death’ of film by taking video down with it. Specifically dealing with analog TV Sutro goes from the figurative, past fragmentation, and straight into abstraction. Phenomenological? Yes. Disagree? Watch it four or five times and get back to me.
7. I literally have no seventh film. It’s a bit sad but a can’t see raising the status of the final three and giving the tenth spot some kind of kiss off. Vacancy to the filled, applications welcomed.
5/12- (7) Serious Man (Coens)- After learning a bit about Christian allegory vs Jewish parable I've come to terms with my main complaints; that is, that the text can hold multiple interpretations that are at odds with each other with both being equally vaild and in the end nothing is resolved. This is the Coens doing Kafka.
8. Star Trek (JJ Abrams)- Now I'm no die hard but thank god for Abrams. This is exactly how a mainstream blockbuster should be.
9. The Time Traveler’s Wife (Robert Schwentke)- I’m going out on a limb and assume that I underrated this at the time. A film that deals with temporal and spatial relationships can’t be all bad.
10. Where the Wild Things Are (Spike Jonze)- This film suffered from it’s own misrepresentation and I’m specifically talking about the trailer. Parents quickly figured out it was way too dark for kids and everyone else didn’t know what to make of it (do hipsters even know who Lacan is? mirror stage?). Instead of a lighthearted affair Jonze and Co. give us a more serious look into development, one that actually struggles with the psychological complexities of childhood. Hopefully it will find a better life on DVD.
Honorable Mention
Avatar (James Cameron)
District 9 (Neill Blomkamp)
Fighting (Dito Montiel)
the diversity of animation this year- Up!, 9, Coraline, Ponyo, Fox, Wild Things, Avatar, Monsters v. Aliens, $9.99, need I say more?
opening credits of Watchman
Just Dance (Melina Matsoukas)
Films That Everyone Else Likes But I Just Can’t Get Behind
The Hangover (Todd Phillips)
Duplicity (Tony Gilroy)
The Brothers Bloom (Rian Johnson)
Inglorious Bastards (Quentin Tarantino)
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Films Seen, January 2010
I’m going to be adding to this post as I see ‘em, so check back if you’re interested
first viewing unless otherwise stated, - seen on video, / internet or computer viewing, + projected DVD or VHS, v video piece, s short, m medium
Brothers (Jim Sheridan): 47
/Send Her to the Electric Chair (Guy Maddin): s
Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans (Werner Herzog, 2009): 64
My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done (Werner Herzog, 2009): 70
-Southland Tales (Richard Kelly, 2007): 50 and I being super generous, first complete viewing
-Fighting (Dito Montiel, 2009): 62- down from 64, first viewing since release
/Rose Hobart (Joseph Cornell, 1936): s
/The Girl's Nervy (Jennifer Reeves, 1995)
-Open Range (Kevin Costner, 2003): 71
/A Movie (Bruce Conner, 1958): saw it at the Hammer a few months ago, probably not going to log any more repete viewings
-The Tall T (Budd Boetticher, 1957): 61
-Decision at Sundown (Budd Boetticher, 1957): 57
Ruhr (James Benning, 2009): v
The Road (John Hillcoat, 2009): 56
-Buchanan Rides Alone (Budd Boetticher, 1958): 63
-Ride Lonesome (Budd Boetticher, 1959): 68
-Rize (David LaChapelle, 2005): 65, tentative rating
-Comanche Station (Budd Boetticher, 1960): 54
-Crank: High Voltage (Mark Neveldine and Brain Taylor, 2009): 40
Avatar- 3D (James Cameron, 2009): 55, or 75 with great reservation
-Fast, Cheap & Out of Control (Errol Morris, 1997): 93, second viewing
-The Thin Blue Line (Errol Morris, 1988): 67
-Schindler's List (Steven Spielberg, 1993)
Information (Hollis Frampton, 1966): s
Manual of Arms (Hollis Frampton, 1966): s
States (Hollis Frampton, 1966): s
Winter Solstice (Hollis Frampton, 1974): s
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (Terry Gilliam, 2009): 57
The Book of Eli (Hughes Bros.): 64
Prince Ruperts Drops (Hollis Frampton, 1969): s
Critical Mass (Hollis Frampton, 1971): s
/World Cinema (Coen Bros.): s
-Bubble (Steven Soderbergh, 2005): 60
-On the Waterfront (Elia Kazan, 1954): 55
-Phoebe in Wonderland (Daniel Barnz, 2009): 68
-The Graduate (Mike Nichols, 1967): 70
-Lake Tahoe (Fernando Eimbcke , 2008): 75
first viewing unless otherwise stated, - seen on video, / internet or computer viewing, + projected DVD or VHS, v video piece, s short, m medium
Brothers (Jim Sheridan): 47
/Send Her to the Electric Chair (Guy Maddin): s
Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans (Werner Herzog, 2009): 64
My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done (Werner Herzog, 2009): 70
-Southland Tales (Richard Kelly, 2007): 50 and I being super generous, first complete viewing
-Fighting (Dito Montiel, 2009): 62- down from 64, first viewing since release
/Rose Hobart (Joseph Cornell, 1936): s
/The Girl's Nervy (Jennifer Reeves, 1995)
-Open Range (Kevin Costner, 2003): 71
/A Movie (Bruce Conner, 1958): saw it at the Hammer a few months ago, probably not going to log any more repete viewings
-The Tall T (Budd Boetticher, 1957): 61
-Decision at Sundown (Budd Boetticher, 1957): 57
Ruhr (James Benning, 2009): v
The Road (John Hillcoat, 2009): 56
-Buchanan Rides Alone (Budd Boetticher, 1958): 63
-Ride Lonesome (Budd Boetticher, 1959): 68
-Rize (David LaChapelle, 2005): 65, tentative rating
-Comanche Station (Budd Boetticher, 1960): 54
-Crank: High Voltage (Mark Neveldine and Brain Taylor, 2009): 40
Avatar- 3D (James Cameron, 2009): 55, or 75 with great reservation
-Fast, Cheap & Out of Control (Errol Morris, 1997): 93, second viewing
-The Thin Blue Line (Errol Morris, 1988): 67
-Schindler's List (Steven Spielberg, 1993)
Information (Hollis Frampton, 1966): s
Manual of Arms (Hollis Frampton, 1966): s
States (Hollis Frampton, 1966): s
Winter Solstice (Hollis Frampton, 1974): s
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (Terry Gilliam, 2009): 57
The Book of Eli (Hughes Bros.): 64
Prince Ruperts Drops (Hollis Frampton, 1969): s
Critical Mass (Hollis Frampton, 1971): s
/World Cinema (Coen Bros.): s
-Bubble (Steven Soderbergh, 2005): 60
-On the Waterfront (Elia Kazan, 1954): 55
-Phoebe in Wonderland (Daniel Barnz, 2009): 68
-The Graduate (Mike Nichols, 1967): 70
-Lake Tahoe (Fernando Eimbcke , 2008): 75
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