This dude definitely abides.
(81) The Big Lebowski (1998): This is, without a doubt, one of my all-time favorite movies. Jeff Bridges pulls off the perfect slacker/hippie/stoner in this comedy farce about greed, kidnapping, and bowling. xsw3d (my 3-month-old son typed that). The Big Lebowski has proven to be one of the Coen Brother's most enduring films, and has spawned a plethora of tributes including lines of clothing, dudeist bumper stickers, and gazillions of people who know the script by heart. A great romp with Bridges, John Goodman, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Steve Buscemi, Julianne Moore, John Tuturro, Tara Reid, Sam Elliott, Flea, Peter Thewlis, and Peter Stormare. Highly recommended. Caveat emptor: Foul language is pervasive.
4 Stars
Friday, May 28, 2010
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
May 26, 2010 - Where the Wild Things Are
Watched a movie tonight that is just not my speed of movie. Oh well...
(80) Where the Wild Things Are (2009): The thing about this movie, most of all, was that it was boring. Dull, slow, and boring. I don't know what else to say about it. Perhaps the source material is the problem. It's like twenty pages and only like eleven words. Kind of skinny on just about every element needed to tell a good story. I just didn't like it and there's really nothing more I care to write about it.
1 Star
(80) Where the Wild Things Are (2009): The thing about this movie, most of all, was that it was boring. Dull, slow, and boring. I don't know what else to say about it. Perhaps the source material is the problem. It's like twenty pages and only like eleven words. Kind of skinny on just about every element needed to tell a good story. I just didn't like it and there's really nothing more I care to write about it.
1 Star
Monday, May 24, 2010
May 24, 2010 - Daybreakers
Oh the film this could have been....
(79) Daybreakers (2009): This piece of crap could have been a million times better if it would have left the surface of the story one single time and actually delved into some detail. I didn't give a rip about a single person in the entire movie, and that's a very bad sign. All form, no function, makes for a boring bunch of blah blah blah. Ethan Hawke was on valium or some other slow-me-down. Anyone who says his turn in this movie was one of those understated performances is just being nice. The movie had a good premise -- a world ruled by vampires who are running out of human blood and looking for substitute -- but it just never materialized into anything credible. Don't watch this unless you have a free Redbox coupon like I did.
1 Star
(79) Daybreakers (2009): This piece of crap could have been a million times better if it would have left the surface of the story one single time and actually delved into some detail. I didn't give a rip about a single person in the entire movie, and that's a very bad sign. All form, no function, makes for a boring bunch of blah blah blah. Ethan Hawke was on valium or some other slow-me-down. Anyone who says his turn in this movie was one of those understated performances is just being nice. The movie had a good premise -- a world ruled by vampires who are running out of human blood and looking for substitute -- but it just never materialized into anything credible. Don't watch this unless you have a free Redbox coupon like I did.
1 Star
Saturday, May 22, 2010
May 22, 2010 - Lola Rennt (Run Lola Run)
A super fun film from Tom Tykwer.
(78) Lola Rennt (Run Lola Run) (1996): This film from German writer/director Tom Tykwer has a few familiar faces in it, inlcluding Franka Porente (Blow, Borne Identity, Borne Supremacy), Moritz Bliebtreu (The Baader-Meinhof Complex, Munich, The Experiment). The film is one of those slick, jump cut, multi-media events told in three segments with slightly different things happening in each segment because of cause and effect. The music is pulsing Lola (Potente) and Manni (Bliebtreu) are sexy, and it's only 80 minutes long! Fun for one and all, with very little objectionable content.
3 Stars
(78) Lola Rennt (Run Lola Run) (1996): This film from German writer/director Tom Tykwer has a few familiar faces in it, inlcluding Franka Porente (Blow, Borne Identity, Borne Supremacy), Moritz Bliebtreu (The Baader-Meinhof Complex, Munich, The Experiment). The film is one of those slick, jump cut, multi-media events told in three segments with slightly different things happening in each segment because of cause and effect. The music is pulsing Lola (Potente) and Manni (Bliebtreu) are sexy, and it's only 80 minutes long! Fun for one and all, with very little objectionable content.
3 Stars
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
May 18, 2010 - Perfume
Watched the movie of a book I read a few years ago.
(77) Perfume (2006): 'Twas an interesting movie, but pretty long in the tooth, and quite unlike other Tom Tykwer films I've seen in the past. It was a great period piece costume-wise, and the source material was great fodder for the story; some good performances, but overall quite slow and a tad dull. The story is of a man who's born with the sensitive olfactory in the world. He becomes a perfumer out to capture that one elusive scent: the essence of the soul. Can't really recommend this film unless it's something you think you'd enjoy. At almost 150 minutes, it's longer than I generally care for when the pace is the deliberate.
1.5 Stars
(77) Perfume (2006): 'Twas an interesting movie, but pretty long in the tooth, and quite unlike other Tom Tykwer films I've seen in the past. It was a great period piece costume-wise, and the source material was great fodder for the story; some good performances, but overall quite slow and a tad dull. The story is of a man who's born with the sensitive olfactory in the world. He becomes a perfumer out to capture that one elusive scent: the essence of the soul. Can't really recommend this film unless it's something you think you'd enjoy. At almost 150 minutes, it's longer than I generally care for when the pace is the deliberate.
1.5 Stars
Sunday, May 16, 2010
May 16, 2010 - Every Little Step
Watched a nifty little doc today that I'd been meaning to see for a while.
(76) Every Little Step (2009): This is a documentary about the revival of the smash Broadway hit, A Chorus Line, which includes great archival footage of the creative processes involved in the putting together the original. One gets a sense of what it really is like to be an aspiring dancer in New York City, with only one result being acceptable. This show made careers for the original cast and crew, and is now creating brand new careers for the new troupe. An excellent documentary. Oh, and if the Jason Tam audition doesn't bring tears to your eyes, it's time for a visit to the Wizard.
3 Stars
(76) Every Little Step (2009): This is a documentary about the revival of the smash Broadway hit, A Chorus Line, which includes great archival footage of the creative processes involved in the putting together the original. One gets a sense of what it really is like to be an aspiring dancer in New York City, with only one result being acceptable. This show made careers for the original cast and crew, and is now creating brand new careers for the new troupe. An excellent documentary. Oh, and if the Jason Tam audition doesn't bring tears to your eyes, it's time for a visit to the Wizard.
3 Stars
Saturday, May 15, 2010
May 15, 2010 - Strictly Ballroom
Finally watched a movie I'd been meaning to see for some time.
(75) Strictly Ballroom (1992): If there's one thing Baz Lurhmann knows how to do, it's tell a colorful tale. This film is set in an Australia where nothing but ballroom dancing matters. To be the Pan-Asian Champion is the goal of all goals. The movie is beautifully shot and marvelously acted. It's got a Broadway feel to it, and the over-the-top acting lends to this overall feel. The dancing is beautiful, the colors are vibrant, and the personalities are bigger than life. This is one of the few movies that totally predictable and totally engrossing from start to finish.
3.5 Stars
(75) Strictly Ballroom (1992): If there's one thing Baz Lurhmann knows how to do, it's tell a colorful tale. This film is set in an Australia where nothing but ballroom dancing matters. To be the Pan-Asian Champion is the goal of all goals. The movie is beautifully shot and marvelously acted. It's got a Broadway feel to it, and the over-the-top acting lends to this overall feel. The dancing is beautiful, the colors are vibrant, and the personalities are bigger than life. This is one of the few movies that totally predictable and totally engrossing from start to finish.
3.5 Stars
Sunday, May 9, 2010
May 9, 2010 - Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention: 1960s
Watch a cool doc today.
(74) Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention: 1960s (2009): If you're a fan of the late, great musical genius Frank Zappa then this documentary is for you. You'll quickly discover this cat saw the world, particularly the world of music, in a way no one else had, did, does, or will. A unique perspective told by archival footage and living members of the original avant-garde band.
3 Stars
(74) Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention: 1960s (2009): If you're a fan of the late, great musical genius Frank Zappa then this documentary is for you. You'll quickly discover this cat saw the world, particularly the world of music, in a way no one else had, did, does, or will. A unique perspective told by archival footage and living members of the original avant-garde band.
3 Stars
Saturday, May 8, 2010
May 8, 2010 - Män som hatar kvinnor (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo)
Finally, got back to the Broadway to see a movie I'd been dying to see.
(73) Män som hatar kvinnor (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) (2009): This Swedish film is based on a trilogy of books written by the late Stieg Larsson. The movies follows a shamed newspaperman as he tries to solve a 40-year-old missing persons case with the help of a female computer hacker. The movies feels like a made-for-television movie based on a novel by Danielle Steele or Sidney Sheldon, but is enhanced by the fact that its not hampered by content restrictions. One thing I really like about this movie is that it's the story that tells the tale. No elborate set pieces, no gonzo technology, not a million unnecessary explosions, etc. It's not a Hollywood production is what I'm getting it. It's smartly acted, cleverly constructed, and I'm so glad my schedule worked out so I could see it on the big screen. It was very much worth my time and I'd like to see it again before it leaves town. Go see this movie!
3.5 Stars
(73) Män som hatar kvinnor (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) (2009): This Swedish film is based on a trilogy of books written by the late Stieg Larsson. The movies follows a shamed newspaperman as he tries to solve a 40-year-old missing persons case with the help of a female computer hacker. The movies feels like a made-for-television movie based on a novel by Danielle Steele or Sidney Sheldon, but is enhanced by the fact that its not hampered by content restrictions. One thing I really like about this movie is that it's the story that tells the tale. No elborate set pieces, no gonzo technology, not a million unnecessary explosions, etc. It's not a Hollywood production is what I'm getting it. It's smartly acted, cleverly constructed, and I'm so glad my schedule worked out so I could see it on the big screen. It was very much worth my time and I'd like to see it again before it leaves town. Go see this movie!
3.5 Stars
Monday, May 3, 2010
May 3, 2010 - Videodrome
Another nifty film by a filmmaker I really like.
(72) Videodrome (1983): Another installment from David Cronenberg. I'm really starting to like his films, and with the exception of Eastern Promises I've liked them all so far. This film stars James Woods and Deborah Harry in a very strange tale of low-budget cable TV programming, S&M snuff broadcasts, and hallucinations about these things. The material is a little bit dated but the story is timeless, and goes right along with Cronenberg's other films, Scanners and Existenz. Worth watching if you're a fan of this filmmaker, otherwise you might wonder what you've just watched. If you're feeling adventurous then this might be a good one to grab from Netflix.
2.5 Stars
(72) Videodrome (1983): Another installment from David Cronenberg. I'm really starting to like his films, and with the exception of Eastern Promises I've liked them all so far. This film stars James Woods and Deborah Harry in a very strange tale of low-budget cable TV programming, S&M snuff broadcasts, and hallucinations about these things. The material is a little bit dated but the story is timeless, and goes right along with Cronenberg's other films, Scanners and Existenz. Worth watching if you're a fan of this filmmaker, otherwise you might wonder what you've just watched. If you're feeling adventurous then this might be a good one to grab from Netflix.
2.5 Stars
Saturday, May 1, 2010
May 1, 2010 - Commune
Chose a documentary today that I found on Netflix Instant Play.
(71) Commune 2005: This is terrific documentary about the Black Bear Ranch commune in Northern California, started in 1968 by Elsa and Richard Marley. It's so awesome they have been able to preserve the film footage and photographs from back then. Their motto was "Free Land for Free People", and to this day the commune continues on. It has been preserved in perpetuity by the Black Bear Ranch Land Trust, which means it can never be torn down, or sub-divided, or sold, or razed, or anything else. If you're at all interested in what motivates some people to live off the grid and be free, this is a very poignant look at all that.
3 Stars
(71) Commune 2005: This is terrific documentary about the Black Bear Ranch commune in Northern California, started in 1968 by Elsa and Richard Marley. It's so awesome they have been able to preserve the film footage and photographs from back then. Their motto was "Free Land for Free People", and to this day the commune continues on. It has been preserved in perpetuity by the Black Bear Ranch Land Trust, which means it can never be torn down, or sub-divided, or sold, or razed, or anything else. If you're at all interested in what motivates some people to live off the grid and be free, this is a very poignant look at all that.
3 Stars
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