Wuthering Heights (1939)
#74 on my Top 100 List
Since the 70th anniversary of Hollywood's Greatest Year is drawing to a close, I figured I'd watch this as my last 1939 film. Laurence Olivier is amazing in everything he does, from this to Maxim deWinter in Rebecca to his multiple Shakespearian roles and finally his chilling performance in Marathon Man. His Heathcliffe is tortured and tragic, but not whiny. This sort of dark, gothic melodrama is the precursor to today's "emo" stories, but without the irritating self-pity. There is self-pity, of course, but it's the brooding kind. Sort of like Angel on Buffy as opposed to Edward Cullen. The child actors in the beginning leave something to be desired and Cathy is never a sympathetic character, but Merle Oberon leaves nothing to be desired in her performance.
My Netflix rating: 5 stars
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Monday, December 28, 2009
December 27, 2009
It's Complicated (2009)
Wow, Meryl Streep just keeps on going, doesn't she? It doesn't matter how this movie was (though it was definitely enjoyable) - she's amazing. As usual. This movie sort of reminded me of Something's Gotta Give, but Meryl, Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin had much better screen chemistry than Jack Nicholson, Diane Keaton and Keanu Reeves. Steve Martin especially impressed me, since he was playing the straight man to the other characters. The graduation scene excluded of course, which is one of the funniest scenes in the whole film. I don't watch The Office, so I have no feelings of John Krasinski one way or the other, but he's adorable and hysterical in this. Especially when he's wearing pajama pants covered in little red hearts.
My Netflix rating: 4 stars
Wow, Meryl Streep just keeps on going, doesn't she? It doesn't matter how this movie was (though it was definitely enjoyable) - she's amazing. As usual. This movie sort of reminded me of Something's Gotta Give, but Meryl, Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin had much better screen chemistry than Jack Nicholson, Diane Keaton and Keanu Reeves. Steve Martin especially impressed me, since he was playing the straight man to the other characters. The graduation scene excluded of course, which is one of the funniest scenes in the whole film. I don't watch The Office, so I have no feelings of John Krasinski one way or the other, but he's adorable and hysterical in this. Especially when he's wearing pajama pants covered in little red hearts.
My Netflix rating: 4 stars
Saturday, December 26, 2009
December 26, 2009
Sherlock Holmes (2009)
#88 on my Top 100 List
There was a lot of hype surrounding this movie and it lived up to all of it. Robert Downey, Jr. was excellent as Holmes and Jude Law was fun and dashing as Watson. I even didn't hate Rachel McAdams. It has a vibe similar to Pirates of the Caribbean - a no holds barred, in your face, loud, violent adventure. With lots of explosions. There was some definite subtext (and things that Kat, Anna and I laughed at that no one else did) and Holmes and Watson had a great chemistry onscreen. It was nice to see Watson as a real character, smart in his own right and able to kick ass alongside his friend. Also, Jude Law totally rocks the three-piece suit. It's only sort of a book adaptation - this particular story never appeared in any of the original Holmes tales - but I listed it that way anyway. Hopefully there will be sequels - I'm looking forward to them!
My Netflix rating: 5 stars
#88 on my Top 100 List
There was a lot of hype surrounding this movie and it lived up to all of it. Robert Downey, Jr. was excellent as Holmes and Jude Law was fun and dashing as Watson. I even didn't hate Rachel McAdams. It has a vibe similar to Pirates of the Caribbean - a no holds barred, in your face, loud, violent adventure. With lots of explosions. There was some definite subtext (and things that Kat, Anna and I laughed at that no one else did) and Holmes and Watson had a great chemistry onscreen. It was nice to see Watson as a real character, smart in his own right and able to kick ass alongside his friend. Also, Jude Law totally rocks the three-piece suit. It's only sort of a book adaptation - this particular story never appeared in any of the original Holmes tales - but I listed it that way anyway. Hopefully there will be sequels - I'm looking forward to them!
My Netflix rating: 5 stars
Friday, December 25, 2009
December 25, 2009
Love Actually (2003)
#10 on my Top 100 List
I think that I want to marry Richard Curtis. Anyone who can write and direct a movie that makes me grin like an idiot every time I even think about it is an amazing filmmaker. When this movie was out, I remember that people used to disappear from the concession aisle at the theater I worked in and sure enough, they (and I was guilty of this too) would be in the back of the theater, watching this movie. Every aspect of it is wonderful, from the speech that Hugh Grant gives to his countrymen (and subsequent dance scene - hilarious!) to Colin Firth's bilingual conversations with his Portuguese maid to the heartbreaking posters reading "To me, you are perfect" to the parallel scenes in Portugal and Heathrow Airport at the end. The entire cast is fantastic. I also like that not all of the stories end necessarily happily. Laura Linney's character is the only one that bothers me - if Rodrigo Santoro is naked in your bed, you don't leave! The music in this is also great, especially Olivia Olson's performance of "All I Want For Christmas Is You." The fact that this was never even nominated for an Academy Award is atrocious. It's heartwarming and funny and makes you feel warm and loved. Also, it includes the most romantic marriage proposal I have ever seen.
My Netflix rating: 5 stars
#10 on my Top 100 List
I think that I want to marry Richard Curtis. Anyone who can write and direct a movie that makes me grin like an idiot every time I even think about it is an amazing filmmaker. When this movie was out, I remember that people used to disappear from the concession aisle at the theater I worked in and sure enough, they (and I was guilty of this too) would be in the back of the theater, watching this movie. Every aspect of it is wonderful, from the speech that Hugh Grant gives to his countrymen (and subsequent dance scene - hilarious!) to Colin Firth's bilingual conversations with his Portuguese maid to the heartbreaking posters reading "To me, you are perfect" to the parallel scenes in Portugal and Heathrow Airport at the end. The entire cast is fantastic. I also like that not all of the stories end necessarily happily. Laura Linney's character is the only one that bothers me - if Rodrigo Santoro is naked in your bed, you don't leave! The music in this is also great, especially Olivia Olson's performance of "All I Want For Christmas Is You." The fact that this was never even nominated for an Academy Award is atrocious. It's heartwarming and funny and makes you feel warm and loved. Also, it includes the most romantic marriage proposal I have ever seen.
My Netflix rating: 5 stars
Thursday, December 24, 2009
December 24, 2009
The Road (2009)
I am fascinated by the production design on post-apocalyptic movies. You'd think that life after human civilization has ended would look the same in every film, but it doesn't. Each production designer has their own unique and usually amazing take on what the world would look like after it was done with us as a species. This is one of the best. Everything is gray and hazy, often rainy, and completely empty. There is no one around for miles. Very little actually happens in this movie, yet it has a constant sense of tense foreboding. Viggo Mortensen is fantastic as the unnamed father fighting to protect his son. The end is unsettling and ambiguous, but nice in a way in that you can decide for yourself where it leads. Not a very seasonal movie, I grant you, but oh well. Merry Christmas, everyone!
My Netflix rating: 4 stars
I am fascinated by the production design on post-apocalyptic movies. You'd think that life after human civilization has ended would look the same in every film, but it doesn't. Each production designer has their own unique and usually amazing take on what the world would look like after it was done with us as a species. This is one of the best. Everything is gray and hazy, often rainy, and completely empty. There is no one around for miles. Very little actually happens in this movie, yet it has a constant sense of tense foreboding. Viggo Mortensen is fantastic as the unnamed father fighting to protect his son. The end is unsettling and ambiguous, but nice in a way in that you can decide for yourself where it leads. Not a very seasonal movie, I grant you, but oh well. Merry Christmas, everyone!
My Netflix rating: 4 stars
December 23, 2009
Precious (2009)
First of all, I refuse to add the ridiculously long subtitle that unfortunately got tacked onto this film. We know it's based on a book and now we all know who wrote it, thank you very much. This movie is all about the performances. Mo'Nique is frightening and disturbing in her performance as the main character's abusive, acid-tongued mother and Gabourey Sidibe is amazing as an illiterate pregnant teenage girl who is morbidly obsese and convinced that she is utterly unloved. The story is brought to life only by the calibre of the acting and the camerawork is definitely odd - sometimes slowmotion, sometimes hazy, sometimes edited to see one shot over and over again.
My Netflix rating: 3 stars
First of all, I refuse to add the ridiculously long subtitle that unfortunately got tacked onto this film. We know it's based on a book and now we all know who wrote it, thank you very much. This movie is all about the performances. Mo'Nique is frightening and disturbing in her performance as the main character's abusive, acid-tongued mother and Gabourey Sidibe is amazing as an illiterate pregnant teenage girl who is morbidly obsese and convinced that she is utterly unloved. The story is brought to life only by the calibre of the acting and the camerawork is definitely odd - sometimes slowmotion, sometimes hazy, sometimes edited to see one shot over and over again.
My Netflix rating: 3 stars
December 22, 2009
The Santa Clause (1994)
I feel like it says something if you still laugh at a movie that you've watched over and over. This is a fun and heartwarming Christmas movie that doesn't go over the top too often. This is also back from when Tim Allen used to be funny (remember that?), playing on his popular Home Improvement sitcom. The supporting cast is perfect, from Judge Reinhold as the dorky stepfather to David Krumholtz as the stressed and sarcastic head elf at the North Pole. Comet the reindeer is a little cheesy, but it is a family Christmas movie, after all.
My Netflix rating: 4 stars
I feel like it says something if you still laugh at a movie that you've watched over and over. This is a fun and heartwarming Christmas movie that doesn't go over the top too often. This is also back from when Tim Allen used to be funny (remember that?), playing on his popular Home Improvement sitcom. The supporting cast is perfect, from Judge Reinhold as the dorky stepfather to David Krumholtz as the stressed and sarcastic head elf at the North Pole. Comet the reindeer is a little cheesy, but it is a family Christmas movie, after all.
My Netflix rating: 4 stars
Monday, December 21, 2009
December 21, 2009
Brothers (2009)
I'm glad that I saw this back-to-back with The Messenger because they share a similar theme and tone - this one's just much better. I didn't know that Tobey Maguire had those kinds of acting chops in him, but he's great as the soldier who suffers torture at the hands of the enemy and, after coming home, finds that he can't deal with the real world anymore. Natalie Portman, Jack Gyllenhaal and Carey Mulligan (although she's really only in one scene - again she's great) round out a fantastic cast. The two girls cast as the daughters are adorable and good little actors. Some of the POW scenes are incredibly difficult to watch, but somehow the movie manages not to be smotheringly depressing (I'm looking at you, The Hours).
My Netflix rating: 4 stars
I'm glad that I saw this back-to-back with The Messenger because they share a similar theme and tone - this one's just much better. I didn't know that Tobey Maguire had those kinds of acting chops in him, but he's great as the soldier who suffers torture at the hands of the enemy and, after coming home, finds that he can't deal with the real world anymore. Natalie Portman, Jack Gyllenhaal and Carey Mulligan (although she's really only in one scene - again she's great) round out a fantastic cast. The two girls cast as the daughters are adorable and good little actors. Some of the POW scenes are incredibly difficult to watch, but somehow the movie manages not to be smotheringly depressing (I'm looking at you, The Hours).
My Netflix rating: 4 stars
December 20, 2009
The Messenger (2009)
Everyone seems to think that this movie is something special. It's not. Woody Harrelson (who, by the way, is having a fantastic year between this, 2012, and Zombieland) is good as the primary soldier in charge of notifying the next of kin of soldiers killed in battle and Ben Foster is not bad as his assistant, but he loses major points for being a creepy stalker. Seriously, why does Samantha Morton like this guy? He follows her around the mall and shows up at her house, all the while having been the guy who told her that her husband is dead? Not realistic. Also, most of this movie is done hand-held and you all know how I feel about that.
My Netflix rating: 3 stars
Everyone seems to think that this movie is something special. It's not. Woody Harrelson (who, by the way, is having a fantastic year between this, 2012, and Zombieland) is good as the primary soldier in charge of notifying the next of kin of soldiers killed in battle and Ben Foster is not bad as his assistant, but he loses major points for being a creepy stalker. Seriously, why does Samantha Morton like this guy? He follows her around the mall and shows up at her house, all the while having been the guy who told her that her husband is dead? Not realistic. Also, most of this movie is done hand-held and you all know how I feel about that.
My Netflix rating: 3 stars
Sunday, December 20, 2009
December 19, 2009
White Christmas (1954)
This is just more evidence to support my theory that 1954 is second only to 1939 as Hollywood's greatest year. Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye are a perfect team (the girls are good too, but those two are the real stars of the show), balancing comedy and absolutely beautiful singing. The musical numbers themselves get a little repetitive, but sequence at the end more than makes up for that. It's a touching Christmas moment, but without the saccharine sentimentality of It's a Wonderful Life. Parts of this are obviously shot on a sound stage, but for the most part that doesn't detract.
My Netflix rating: 4 stars
This is just more evidence to support my theory that 1954 is second only to 1939 as Hollywood's greatest year. Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye are a perfect team (the girls are good too, but those two are the real stars of the show), balancing comedy and absolutely beautiful singing. The musical numbers themselves get a little repetitive, but sequence at the end more than makes up for that. It's a touching Christmas moment, but without the saccharine sentimentality of It's a Wonderful Life. Parts of this are obviously shot on a sound stage, but for the most part that doesn't detract.
My Netflix rating: 4 stars
Friday, December 18, 2009
December 18, 2009
The Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert (1994)
#39 on my Top 100 List
The foreign label on here is used loosely - it's an Australian film, but it was theatrically released in the US before Australia and it's in English. There are very few movies as fabulous as this one. Two drag queens and a transsexual travel through the Australian Outback in a big pink bus named Priscilla to perform an ABBA show at a resort deep in the heart of the continent. Guy Pearce and Hugo Weaving have no business having legs as nice as those. The soundtrack is fantastic, as are the costumes and the shots of the wide open desert. The shiny silver shoe that they attach to the top of the bus is pretty awesome too.
My Netflix rating: 5 stars
#39 on my Top 100 List
The foreign label on here is used loosely - it's an Australian film, but it was theatrically released in the US before Australia and it's in English. There are very few movies as fabulous as this one. Two drag queens and a transsexual travel through the Australian Outback in a big pink bus named Priscilla to perform an ABBA show at a resort deep in the heart of the continent. Guy Pearce and Hugo Weaving have no business having legs as nice as those. The soundtrack is fantastic, as are the costumes and the shots of the wide open desert. The shiny silver shoe that they attach to the top of the bus is pretty awesome too.
My Netflix rating: 5 stars
December 17, 2009
Everybody's Fine (2009)
What's with all the emotional manipulation this year? Between this, Amelia, 2012 and The Blind Side, I feel like I'm being bashed over the head with sad music and close-ups of grieving family. This, though it seemed to be advertised as a Christmas movie, had nothing whatsoever to do with any holiday and shows an old man (whose silent scenes alone with his suitcase as he walks through various airports and bus stations are the only truly moving moments of the whole film) as he tries to see all four of his widely-scattered children in one trip. There are stupid subplots involving a Mexican drug arrest, a bad set of lungs, and mysterious envelopes, none of which add anything to the overall story except to lead up to a totally shameless tear-jerking finale. I absolutely hate it when bad movies make me cry. Makes me feel like all those good ones that make me cry (Atonement, Return of the King, The Perfect Storm, etc.) are somehow degraded by it.
My Netflix rating: 3 stars
What's with all the emotional manipulation this year? Between this, Amelia, 2012 and The Blind Side, I feel like I'm being bashed over the head with sad music and close-ups of grieving family. This, though it seemed to be advertised as a Christmas movie, had nothing whatsoever to do with any holiday and shows an old man (whose silent scenes alone with his suitcase as he walks through various airports and bus stations are the only truly moving moments of the whole film) as he tries to see all four of his widely-scattered children in one trip. There are stupid subplots involving a Mexican drug arrest, a bad set of lungs, and mysterious envelopes, none of which add anything to the overall story except to lead up to a totally shameless tear-jerking finale. I absolutely hate it when bad movies make me cry. Makes me feel like all those good ones that make me cry (Atonement, Return of the King, The Perfect Storm, etc.) are somehow degraded by it.
My Netflix rating: 3 stars
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