Best of 2009 so far...

We are half way through the year as of yesterday and I thought I’d make a list of the best movies I have seen thus far. It’s been a slow start to the year for me (I’ve only seen 45 movies) but there have been some very good ones. In alphabetical order, here are the 5 best movies I’ve seen so far this year:

AWAY WE GOSome people have problems with this one, but I found it charming, heartwarming and entirely entertaining. From the opening scene, this movie had me and it never let go.

THE BROTHERS BLOOMThis is a funny, clever, stylized and extremely well made movie. The second film from Rian Johnson (BRICK) is no sign of a let down. He further defines his voice and his status as one of the most exciting filmmakers for years to come.

GOODBYE SOLOThis is a really wonderfully simple film with complex characters. The third film from director Ramin Bahrani (MAN PUSH CART and CHOP SHOP) is my personal favorite and his most engaging. With standout performances by Souleymane Sy Savane and Red West, this is a must see.

THE HURT LOCKERThis movie was just released in select cities and I highly encourage people to check it out. It is so well directed and shot that it will have you on the edge of your seat for the entire film. Jeremy Renner is fantastic as the reckless bomb tech with seemingly litter regard for his own well being. Don’t dismiss this as “another Iraq war film”. Just see it.

UPIt’s Pixar so it almost goes without saying, but yes… it’s that good. The first 10 minutes alone will bring most to tears. This is a wonderful film that will make you laugh, cry and walk out wanting a talking collar for your dog. Most have seen it, but just in case you haven’t, please do.


One of the reasons I am writing this list is to encourage people to go see the movies that are coming out that are actually good. Not all movies are filled with cheesy dialogue and big explosions. But if people don’t see the movies like the ones above, they will stop getting financed.

Here are some more that I also really liked…
ADVENTURELAND
CORALINE
DRAG ME TO HELL
THE GIRLFRIEND EXPERIENCE
SUGAR

What are your favorites so far this year???

GRRRRRRRRRRan Torino

THE EMPEROR HAS NO CLOTHES!!!

I have grown tired in the last few years of all the Eastwood love and people hailing him as one of greatest directors of all time. Ever since the release of MYSTIC RIVER in 2003, it seems like Eastwood can do no wrong in the eyes of the critics. Now I did like that film and his Oscar winning follow up, MILLION DOLLAR BABY, but I have watched as all four films since have gotten good to glowing reviews. Why do they? Are they actually good movies or are the critics just brainwashed into believing that everything Eastwood touches is gold…

I’m standing up and finally calling “BULLSHIT”.

Tonight I went to see his latest opus GRAN TORINO largely because of the acclaim for the film and specifically the lead performance by Eastwood. I didn’t expect too much for the film but thought it would be a decent film with a good performance. What I got was hands down one of the worst films I have seen all year (up to now I have seen 109 movies so far from this year). GRAN TORINO is poorly directed, horribly written and the acting is absolutely pathetic.

The story is that of Walt Kowalski (Eastwood) as the most grouchy, racist bastard in the world who fought in the Korean war, worked at a Ford plant and now finds himself living in a neighborhood filled with Asian (specifically Hmong) people. After his wife dies, he is left alone with nothing left to do but growl, spit out racial slurs and threaten anyone that comes in his path. When the Hmong teenage boy from next door tries to steal Walt’s most prized possession (his Gran Torino), things get more complicated. I won’t get into the rest, but there is lots more racial comments, gangs, growling, shootings, beatings, threats, growling, a well meaning priest, drinking, and even more growling.

The dialogue in this film is some of the worst that I have ever heard (at times it’s even worse than THE HAPPENING… yeah I meant that). All of the characters are drawn with extra broad strokes (think the white trash family from MILLION DOLLAR BABY but that’s everyone in the film). None of the interactions are even remotely believable and the situations are laughably ridiculous.

The actors are even worse than the lines they’re given to deliver… I’ll start with the big dog himself. Eastwood growls every line in the movie. I get it… he’s grump and bitter and mean, but to growl is not to act. I know I have used the word “growl” way too many times, but really, see this movie (or don’t) and you’ll see why. His racism is so over the top I couldn’t believe it. When I wasn’t laughing at the stupidity of what was coming out of his mouth my jaw just hung open. All of that said, he is by far the best performance in the film. I believe the reason critics seem to be praising him for this role is because compared to the rest of the cast, he’s AMAZING. By that rationale though, his dog should receive a nomination for best supporting actor.

The rest of the performances in the film are worse than what you would find in a grade school play. There are not enough words to describe how forced, wooden and false everyone was. The two standouts of crap were the lead boy, Thao (Ahney Her) and the priest (Christopher Carley). For all of those people that declare Eastwood one of the best directors of all time, please look at the acting in this film. I am so sick and tired of everyone praising Eastwood for only doing two takes and letting the cast do what they want. He rarely gives any direction to the cast in his films and moves on, making the crew love him because they shoot short days. Well you know what you get when he casts actors that aren’t named Morgan Freeman, Hillary Swank, Sean Penn, Tim Robbins or other marquee talented stars appearing on the poster? You get the terrible excuse for acting on display here and that litter many of his other films.

Now I know that I’m being extremely hard on mister Eastwood, but that is just because other have been giving him a free ride for years. I have been a big fan of some of his films and consider UNFORGIVEN to be one of the best of the 90’s, but how can they forget some of his other films? Between UNFORGIVEN (1992) and MYSTIC RIVER (2003), here are some of the movies he’s made: BLOOD WORK. SPACE COWBOYS. TRUE CRIME. ABSOLUTE POWER. MIDNIGHT IN THE GARDEN OF GOOD AND EVIL. Not all of his movies are bad. I’m just saying that just because he directed it doesn’t necessarily make it good.

While GRAN TORINO is one of the 5 worst films I saw in 2008, I can say one thing for it. I laughed more during it than almost any comedy I saw. The problem is… GRAN TORINO is supposed to be a drama.

BEST FILMS of 2007: 1 - 10

10. AMERICAN GANGSTER
Ridley Scott has been on a roll in this decade making some of the best films of his career (BLACK HAWK DOWN, KINGDOM OF HEAVEN) and he continues with the stellar AMERICAN GANGSTER. This is the true story of an American entrepreneur Frank Lucas (Denzel Washington) who went from nothing to become the heroine kingpin of New York and is being pursued by Jersey detective Richie Roberts (Russell Crowe). TO call a drug lord an entrepreneur might sound odd, but Lucas treated the drug world like a corporation and built an empire, eliminating the middleman to maximize his profits. The portrayal of these two men is perhaps the most interesting aspect of this film. Lucas, while being a cold blooded drug dealer that will shoot a man in the head without second thought if it helps his cause, is on the surface a family man and one that looks out for his community. He turns his organization into a family business and takes care of the people that are close to him. Roberts, while he is a cop, is a mess in his own personal life. His family is falling apart and you see him as a mess of a person and a bad father. This creates an interesting examination of the real world of right and wrong. AMERICAN GANGSTER is extremely well made with the sharp attention to detail by a legendary filmmaker and a truly special collaboration with one of the best cinematographers in the business (Harris Savides). This is a beautiful film and a well crafted story with great performances by two of our very best actors.

9. LARS AND THE REAL GIRL
This is a plot that on paper should simply not work. Lars is a damaged and lonely young man that separates himself from the world around him and orders a “real doll” online and seems to think she is his actual girlfriend. What makes this movie rise above the pitfalls that this premise threatens is the delicate skill with which it is made and the fantastic performances throughout. Ryan Gosling delivers maybe the best performance of his career as Lars. He is sweet, charming and awkward without ever being creepy. He makes you root for him throughout and after a time, I started to see Bianca (his real doll) as a real person. In many ways, this is a magical film and I found myself transported by it.

8. RATATOUILLE
Pixar has done it again… When it comes to Pixar there are good movies, great movies and then there are instant classics. RATATOUILLE is a borderline instant classic. This movie is so well made, well crafted and has a stunning visual look. It takes no time at all to look beyond the fact that the lead character is a rat (something that is by definition pretty disgusting) and see him as a personality. We are not only not bothered with the idea of him cooking and handling food, we want him to, having complete faith in his ability. This is a fun and sweet movie and one that I have watched again and again and am still drawn into.

7. THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES BY THE COWARD ROBERT FORD

Aside from being the longest title of the year, it is also one of the best made, beautiful, captivating and fascinating films of 2007. Brad Pitt as Jesse James is note perfect as the outlaw in the last few months of his life, but this movie belongs to Casey Affleck. Affleck plays Robert Ford as a shy and disturbed man who not only idolizes James; he is obsessed with him and with what makes him. James was one of the most famous people in the country and Ford is his stalker. JESSEE JAMES takes its time unfolding the stories and examining the lives of the people involved, but it is done with such skill that time simply doesn’t matter. The photography by Roger Deakins is some of the best work of his career, not only complimenting the story, but also in many cases dictating it. This is a bold film and one that never got a chance to find an audience in the theater. Please take the time to check this one out when it hits DVD (or Blu-Ray if you can get access to one). In years to come, I believe that people will look back at this one as a classic.

6. THE DIVING BELL AND THE BUTTERFLY
Jean-Dominique Bauby was the editor-in-chief of French Elle magazine and a man that embraced life and lived it to the fullest. When he suffered a massive stroke and loses all motor functions with the exception of his left eye, he finds himself trapped in his own body. This is a true story and one of the most amazing films of the year. While in this state, Bauby managed to write a book about his experience through blinking his left eye. It is a wonderful story about hope and never taking anything for granted. He never gives up and uses his imagination and his memory to keep him going and to keep up his spirits. That combined with the support of his friends and family, lifts Bauby up from a crushing incident and allows his to continue to embrace life and all that it has to offer. There is one scene with Max von Sydow towards the end that will break your heart and is one of the best scenes I have seen all year.

5. NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN
For the story that it is telling and the themes that it explores, NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN is pretty much a perfect film. I watch this film and wonder why every movie is not made with the skill that this one is. Every frame and every shot is meticulously placed together to tell this story. The use of sound and the sparse use of music create an environment that grabs you and just doesn’t let go. Brolin and Bardem are amazing here creating fully realized characters involved in a cat and mouse game that will be remembered for years to come. This is the film that will bring the Coen’s their much deserved Oscar for director and probably for picture. It is their best film since FARGO. So why in the hell is it my number 5 film of the year??? To answer that I will say that any of my top five could be my number one of this year. In my eyes, there were five classic films made this year and made it a phenomenal year for film and the lovers of film. I’ve seen all of these at least three times and look forward to seeing them again and again.

4. ZODIAC
David Fincher might have made his masterpiece with this one. This is his first film that takes an amazing story and lets the story dictate the style. He shows here that he is not only a master of visuals, but he has become a master storyteller. This is not just a movie that takes place in the seventies, by watching this, you actually feel transported to the seventies. There is so much effort put into the smallest details it comes across as effortless at times. I loved this movie when I saw it back in March, but I just picked up the HD disc and watched it with the commentary, the documentaries and the gorgeous transfer and I was reminded of the highest quality in every aspect of filmmaking. I love this movie and urge everyone that has not had the opportunity to check it out to do so. You will not be disappointed.

full review of ZODIAC

3. INTO THE WILD
When I read the Jon Krakauer, I was deeply affected by the talk of the 2 year journey of Christopher McCandless and its tragic outcome in the Alaskan wilderness. One of the many reasons was that when I read it, I was the same age as McCandless and found that I could really relate to him and what he was going through. When I saw Sean Penn’s film based on the book I was similarly affected. This is a wonderful film that captures the pure spirit of the book and the lead character. Many have complained that McCandless was stupid in his actions and his blind naivety of the world around him. Penn did not glorify the actions of his lead character nor did he judge them. He simply presented this fascinating person who at times I greatly admire and at others I cringe, knowing where his actions are going to lead him in the end.

One of the many things that really struck me about INTO THE WILD was the way that the country that I have lived in and traveled my entire life was portrayed in a visual and more so in an emotional way. I walked out of this film inspired and with my eyes opened to the world and more aware of the little things that surround us all that make life worth living.

full review of INTO THE WILD

2. ONCE
ONCE is the most magical film that I have seen this year and for all intensive purposes, it is my “favorite” film that I saw in 2007. It is so simple, so real and so emotional that it transported me into the lives of these two characters as they spent a small amount of time together recording music. What lifts ONCE above other small films is the music that was created for the film and performed by the film’s stars, Glen Hansard and Maketa Irglova. Music is such a big part of the story and of the film that it is and should be considered a musical. One example and it still might be my favorite single scene of the year is in which they play together for the first time. The song is “Falling Slowly” and should win the Oscar. This is such a tender and real moment.

I have never played in a band or written a song, but after watching ONCE, I felt like I was apart of the recording of these beautiful songs and I was emotionally invested with the characters and what they were creating. These feelings led to my reaction to a moment in the film when, after recording the album, the band heads to the beach to unwind. There is nothing that happens of note in this scene. It is a car ride followed by hanging on the beach, playing Frisbee and just fooling around. It is the emotional release that comes with that scene that makes it remarkable. I have had moments like this in my life and this film captured that feeling like I have never seen. This is an amazing film and one that was never released in theaters in most of the country. It is now out on DVD and I urge everyone to rent or buy it and experience on of the most personal and heartwarming films of the last few years.

full review of ONCE

1. THERE WILL BE BLOOD
“I have a competition in me. I want no one else to succeed. I hate most people. There are times when I look at people and I see nothing worth liking” - Daniel Plainview

There was no other movie that I was more excited for this year than THERE WILL BE BLOOD. There was also no other film that I had higher expectations for. Paul Thomas Anderson is my favorite working filmmaker and he has made a film that will stand as a benchmark in his career. This is an epic film about an amazing time in our country; focusing on one of the most dynamic and at time despicable characters I have even seen in a movie. THERE WILL BE BLOOD is the best film of the year.

I could spend hours dissecting this movie and all of the things that I love about it. Instead I will focus on a few key moments. The first is the first act of this film chronicling the rise of oil tycoon Daniel Plainview. There is not a word spoken for about fifteen minutes, but we get to know not only who Daniel is, but also the passion and drive that fills his every being. This is pure filmmaking. By the time that we hear the first words of the film (a speech to land owners by Daniel) we are with him for the long haul. He has sacrificed everything to get here and there is nothing that will stop him from going further. This is the basis for the downfall of a human being that we witness for the next two and a half hours.
The second moment that I will discuss is one when Daniel sits by the fire with his apparent brother Henry who has just entered his life. This is where the quote above is taken from. For those people that think that Daniel is just a monster I ask them to pay attention to all of the demons and layers that are in this scene. He is a fatally flawed man who attributes that make him successful and magnetic are exactly the things that eat away at him and destroy the man that he is, leaving an empty shell. He is aware of the direction that he is going, but his fierce competition is such that he cannot stop the train that was started years ago. This is the most emotionally revealing scene in the film in many ways and one that I point to reveal the man behind the legend that is Daniel Plainview.

There is the filmmaking in this film and I cannot put it on this list without mentioning it. This is a wonderfully accomplished movie and shows a deep maturity by director P.T. Anderson that he has not shown before. Every aspect of the film is done with extreme attention to detail and character and the story that it serves. The photography is stunning. The sounds range from loud and jarring to subtle but all are mixed to an effective result. The music is phenomenal in the way that it uses a variety of unique sounds blended with classical score to create an environment of tone that permeates the film. The editing is amazing, balancing the tone and the methodical pace of the film resulting in a symphony of emotions.
There is much that has been talked about regarding the end of this film and all that I will say that, for me, it is the only way to end this incredible story of a complex and damaged man. He is a giant in this film. Daniel Day-Lewis delivers perhaps the best performance in his career. THERE WILL BE BLOOD is an amazing film and one that not only met my unrealistically high expectations, but exceeded them.

BEST FILMS of 2007: 11 - 20

20. THE WIND THAT SHAKES THE BARLEY
Ken Loach’s film is a disarmingly personal and tragic story of brothers torn apart by the guerilla war between the IRA and the British. It is a beautiful film that slowly develops into a heart wrenching one about politics, freedom, values and family. Having won the Palme d’Or at the 2006 Cannes film festival, I would have thought more attention would have been paid upon its release, but unfortunately it came and went with little fan fare. Please take the time to rent it on DVD… it is a true treasure of 2007.

19. LAKE OF FIRE
This balanced look at the abortion debate is the most compelling, thought provoking and disturbing documentary of the year. Made with extreme skill and an artful eye, Tony Kaye’s film is one that should be seen by everyone even though it is incredibly difficult to watch at times. This is not a film designed to answer questions or to pass judgment, but to make the viewer think and it succeeds tremendously.

click for full review of LAKE OF FIRE

18. LUST, CAUTION
Ang Lee followed up his Oscar winning BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN with this sexual spy thriller set in WW 2 era Shanghai during its occupation by Japan. It is one of the most visually stunning movies of the year and really takes its time developing complex characters and their intertwining relationships. It is tense, gives the world and the characters the time to breathe. Much has been made of the sexuality, but it serves the movie dramatically, drawing you in to the lives and emotions of the people that you are watching.

17. SWEENEY TODD
Tim Burton has come out and made his most skillful film in 13 years. The look, the shot selection, the performances and the songs are all top notch and while the plot is thin, SWEENEY TODD is a very enjoyable ride. Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter shine throughout in this very dark and morbid tale seemingly tailor-made for mister Burton’s sensibilities.

16. I’M NOT THERE
In many ways Todd Haynes film based on the many faces of Bob Dylan is a masterpiece and the fact that it is number 16 on my list of the year is a testament to the quality of films released. This is an examination of a musical icon by casting different actors to play him at different stages of his life. While this is not a direct biopic, it captures the spirit of Dylan. It is an art film, but true to itself and becomes an amazing experience as you let a masterful filmmaker take you on a ride.

15. HOT FUZZ
This is a movie that succeeds on pretty much every level imaginable. It is one of the funniest movies of the year. It is fantastically clever in its parody of the action genre, while also succeeding to be an effective action film in its own right. The style pays homage (parodies) with skill, but also maintains a style of its own. This is not only maybe the most fun movie of the year, but it is made with precision and care.

14. THE LIVES OF OTHERS
At last year’s Oscars when THE LIVES OF OTHERS beat PAN’S LABYRINTH for best foreign language film, I almost screamed, but then I saw it. While not as good as PAN’S (little is in my eyes), this is a smart, well-crafted, beautifully acted film about a man that listens. Compelling and engaging, the less you know, the better so just see it.

13. ATONEMENT
The power of a word and the consequences of a misunderstanding. These are just two of the many themes explored in ATONEMENT. This is another film that is best seen knowing as little about the plot as possible. What I do want to comment on is the skill behind the camera in every way in this film. This is an amazingly well crafted story that will engage you from the opening sound cue. I will get more into details when I make my list of technical achievements of the year, but this is a fine film that will grab you and take you on a journey.

12. AWAY FROM HER
Writer/director Sarah Polley is best known from her acting work, but the beautiful and heartbreaking simplicity of AWAY FROM HER is the crowning achievement in her already impressing career. Julie Christie is amazing here as a woman that is having her life ripped away from her by Alzheimer’s. She captures the pain, confusion, sadness and loss with near perfection.

11. JUNO
JUNO is one of the most charming films of the year. While the first fifteen minutes are over written and too precious, the rest of the film more than makes up for it. Ellen Page is amazing here as a sixteen year old girl who finds out that she is pregnant and decides to not only go through with the pregnancy, but to give up the baby for adoption to an upper-class couple played wonderfully by Jason Bateman and Jennifer Garner. The dialogue is clever and sometimes very intentional and director Jason Reitman maintains the tricky balance of tone as to never lose the viewer on an entertainment level or an emotional one. This is a sweet, funny, well-acted and charming film. Check it out and you will not be disappointed.

pro-thought

When it comes to subjects that it is best to stay away from in conversation, the debate over abortion is one that is at the top of the list. It is almost a pointless conversation. People have made up their mind one way or another and it will only lead to an argument or a fight. Knowing that, I walked into the new film by Tony Kaye (AMERICAN HISTORY X) very curious and open minded. It is a graphic look at BOTH sides of the abortion argument. Not only that, but it is black and white and runs two and a half hours long. Needless to say, the theater was almost completely empty. What a shame…
LAKE OF FIRE is one of the very best documentaries that I have seen in quite some time specifically for the reasons why it will be controversial. First, there is the graphic nature of the film. It is a film about abortion and in order to properly portray the issue at hand, there is a responsibility by the filmmaker to show exactly what is up for debate. There are two abortions shown in the film and while they are extremely difficult to watch, I believe they are completely necessary. It prevents either side from boiling this down to a talking point and makes it real… I would imagine too real for some. While the footage is graphic, it is not gratuitous, never using these images to sway the viewer one way or another; it simply presents it as what it is.
What sets LAKE OF FIRE above many of the other documentaries of recent years is its impartiality. There is no judgment here, only facts. It presents each side of the argument in an equal and compelling way. This is a very complex issue with many sides and cannot (and should not) be simplified to a talking point. This film should make anyone who watches it think and re-think their stance on abortion, as it presents the other side. Watching the film, I have no idea what Kaye’s stance is on the issue and that is fantastic. He is simply there to present the facts in an interesting and compelling way, not to judge. This manner of filmmaking stands in contrast to “documentarians” like Michael Moore, who set out to make a point with their film and take the facts that support their argument and twist the ones that don’t. Kaye spends a great deal of time with each side, both the extremists and the more rational, and asks the audience to make up their own mind.
This filmmaking is fantastic here. The use of the black and white photography works on many levels. The first and maybe the most obvious is that it makes the graphic scenes more tolerable to sit through (if anything could). The other is the artistic aspect it adds to the storytelling. This is a beautiful looking film with high contrast and wonderfully dynamic framing, making the visuals as compelling as the arguments. Kaye shot this movie himself over the last 14 years, but kept a style throughout, maintaining a stylistic coherence. The use of other footage intercut with interviews and footage that Kaye was able to capture at rallies and events is amazing. The way that he goes back and forth between the different points of view is done in a way that keeps you unbalanced and on your toes, never knowing which side of the fence you are on while watching. It is a very delicate subject and if handled at all improperly, would be painful at this running time. While it does run two and a half hours, LAKE OF FIRE never felt too long, but there is enough information and opinions presented that after watching it, I felt exhausted.
This is a movie that everyone should see. It is tough to sit through at times, but it is well worth it. I only hope that the people that do go are able to walk into the theater with an open mind and actually listen to what the film has to say. It does not tell you what the right answer is, but it does present both sides well and impartially. I hope that LAKE OF FIRE starts people talking about this issue and about the more complex facets of the subject. My fear is that people will ignore this film and any legitimate discussion and hold on to their pre-established stance, whether it is thought out or not.