There are few movie's so far on this list that I disagree with and today I watched a movie that I absolutely hated. That film is the Italian "masterpiece" 8 1/2. So fair warning this will be a rant. The movie is about a film maker who doesn't have his heart in his next project so he spends his time thinking back on his youth and not talking to anyone else in the creative process. This movie is much like Akira Kurosawa's Dreams except it isn't as good. By that I mean the movie is clearly about the actual film director's life and the movie's lack of caring is the directors feelings that he would rather not do movie's he is pressured into.
The movie follows no narrative but I'm ok with that I gave The Man with a Movie Camera four stars and that has no narrative. This movie flows so slow I could carry a boulder up a mountain before anything important happens. Now I don't want to sound like I totally hated this movie because I did enjoy one scene where the director is remembering himself as a child on the beach. But other than that scene I find no love in this movie.
I know I must be wrong because this is often hailed to be a near perfect film about movie making but this movie takes all the wonder away from the behind the camera. Instead go watch My Week with Marilyn or Hitchcock. Do not waste your time with this one, but if you understand it please tell me. I guess the best way to describe this movie is one with no aim and no ambition. The movie itself is about a movie with no heart so perhaps that's what this movie is.
Ebert's score 4 stars
Tyler's score 1.5 stars
Monday, September 30, 2013
Yeah, well I saw it on TV first, then I made it up
Since I skipped a movie on Saturday I'll be watching two today to make up for it also tomorrow check for my top ten movies of this month. To start today I watched Saturday Night Fever which is the movie I should have watched Saturday just because it was a pun. This movie follows around Tony (John Travolta) he's a dancing superstar in Brooklyn during the disco years and yes this movie is stocked with the Bee Jees. Tony goes through life training for a dance off while his friends and family screw up it's like a teenage coming to age movie except this one swears more than a sailor.
I can't say I loved this movie because I was bored after thirty minutes and I wasn't really into it until the last twenty. But this movie isn't a throwaway like I thought Shane was this movie just drags in the middle because the pacing is a bit off. The characters are never developed fully and that's a shame because I felt like that would have pushed the movie forward quite a bit. But I will say the atmosphere of the movie felt like I was back in the day. Pretty soon I'm going to say groovy like Ash from The Evil Dead 2.
This movie had a lot going for it and I feel like it missed a heart which is kind of what this movie is about. The dancing is good and if your into shirtless John Travolta you won't be disappointed. Overall I think the movie was good but wasn't perfect. It was by no means a great film and I wouldn't have put it on this list. But I will say it's worth checking out if your a disco chick or if you like teen dramas. If those things aren't your grove then I can't really suggest it to you. It's cool but once was enough.
Ebert's score 4 stars
Tyler's score 3 stars
I can't say I loved this movie because I was bored after thirty minutes and I wasn't really into it until the last twenty. But this movie isn't a throwaway like I thought Shane was this movie just drags in the middle because the pacing is a bit off. The characters are never developed fully and that's a shame because I felt like that would have pushed the movie forward quite a bit. But I will say the atmosphere of the movie felt like I was back in the day. Pretty soon I'm going to say groovy like Ash from The Evil Dead 2.
This movie had a lot going for it and I feel like it missed a heart which is kind of what this movie is about. The dancing is good and if your into shirtless John Travolta you won't be disappointed. Overall I think the movie was good but wasn't perfect. It was by no means a great film and I wouldn't have put it on this list. But I will say it's worth checking out if your a disco chick or if you like teen dramas. If those things aren't your grove then I can't really suggest it to you. It's cool but once was enough.
Ebert's score 4 stars
Tyler's score 3 stars
Sunday, September 29, 2013
Have the lambs stopped screaming?
The Silence of the Lambs is one of the best thrillers to ever grace the silver screen. This movie frightens us few ways movies can it's in the acting. For the small amount of you on the Internet who haven't seen this movie I am ashamed to count you among the human race. Go watch this movie unless your under the age of fourteen as this movie is very disturbing in a physiological kind of way. The movie is told by Clarice (Jodi Foster) and as much as I love every character in this film it is her movie all the way.
The movie is famous for many reasons but the main one is Hannibal Lector who is brilliantly played by Sir Anthony Hopkins. He is so creepy that to this day I get chills when he talks and more so during the prison dinner scene. This man is a cannibal who loves whine and beans, AFI even named him the number one movie villain of all time just above Norman Bates and Darth Vader. But as I said earlier moviegoers often overlook Jodi Foster's performance.
The movie also has a very odd color pallet mostly yellows and greens much like Se7en. This is nice because it gives us a creepy feel to the whole product. It's hard for me to say anything about this movie because it's all been said before. However, I will say that this movie is truly a work of art and love the editing is ahead of it's time and nods heavily on The Godfather. So go and rewatch this classic piece of cinema... Bon Appetit.
Ebert's score 4 stars
Tyler's score 4 stars
The movie is famous for many reasons but the main one is Hannibal Lector who is brilliantly played by Sir Anthony Hopkins. He is so creepy that to this day I get chills when he talks and more so during the prison dinner scene. This man is a cannibal who loves whine and beans, AFI even named him the number one movie villain of all time just above Norman Bates and Darth Vader. But as I said earlier moviegoers often overlook Jodi Foster's performance.
The movie also has a very odd color pallet mostly yellows and greens much like Se7en. This is nice because it gives us a creepy feel to the whole product. It's hard for me to say anything about this movie because it's all been said before. However, I will say that this movie is truly a work of art and love the editing is ahead of it's time and nods heavily on The Godfather. So go and rewatch this classic piece of cinema... Bon Appetit.
Ebert's score 4 stars
Tyler's score 4 stars
Friday, September 27, 2013
The Dude abides
I've seen The Big Lebowski about five times and every time I've laughed a bit but it's never been my favorite Coen Brothers movie that spot goes to No Country for Old Men but I won't deny that this movie is funny. However, this time my eyes were opened and I saw this movie for what it is a great movie. The movie follows "The Dude" as he searches for a new rug, his rug was peed on because he shares a name with a millionaire whose wife owes money to some gangsters. "The dude" is then hired by "the big Lebowski" to get his wife back while all the dude wants to do is bowl with his buddies.
This movie took me a while but it's so funny I almost died every time Walter (John Goodman) said anything because how serious he was about telling Donny (Steve Buscemi) to shut the f--- up. This movie is just so different that one might be put off by it but you have to give it a chance and you have to give it a few views because there is genius here.
The soundtrack is also quite grand and I was shocked by how well it complemented the movie which is a weird thing to say but they just worked so well together. The acting in this movie deserves praise Jeff Bridges was outstanding as the Dude and Philip Seymour Hoffman was excellent as the nervous assistant to the big Lebowski. If you haven't seen this one check it out and give it some time you'll be glad you did. because it really ties the room together.
Ebert's score 4 stars
Tyler's score 4 stars
This movie took me a while but it's so funny I almost died every time Walter (John Goodman) said anything because how serious he was about telling Donny (Steve Buscemi) to shut the f--- up. This movie is just so different that one might be put off by it but you have to give it a chance and you have to give it a few views because there is genius here.
The soundtrack is also quite grand and I was shocked by how well it complemented the movie which is a weird thing to say but they just worked so well together. The acting in this movie deserves praise Jeff Bridges was outstanding as the Dude and Philip Seymour Hoffman was excellent as the nervous assistant to the big Lebowski. If you haven't seen this one check it out and give it some time you'll be glad you did. because it really ties the room together.
Ebert's score 4 stars
Tyler's score 4 stars
Thursday, September 26, 2013
I suppose you'll call this a confession when you hear it...
There are a few things I require in every Film Noir I see. The first is a great Femme Fatale. The second thing is the movie must feel dark I want to know that there is no hope for any of these people. Three the costumes must be top notch the men in fedoras and the ladies in something a little more sultry. Finally, everyone needs to smoke at least four packs a day. Double Indemnity has all of these things plus a whole lot more. For those of you who don't know it's the movie is the main characters confession of murder. The movie acts out the scenes as they happen and it is just dark as ever.
If you haven't seen a Film Noir I recommend you get lost in this sleazy world its on instant stream and a great way to spend two hours. The story weaves it way through the plot twisting corners every chance it can. The people all talk in old urban slang for example every woman is a dame and a bombshell of one. This movie starts out dark and dreary and rolls down hill fast which is very interesting to see. Memento by Christopher Nolan is a more modern film that follows this kind of a feel where they tell or show a person die and then they lead up to his or her death.
The acting is snappy and right on the nose and the dialogue while old timey sounds fresh and cool. This movie is very fun as almost all of these 1940's films are because they learned that its not enough to see the people in the maze you have to be in the maze yourself.
Ebert's score 4 stars
Tyler's score 4 stars
If you haven't seen a Film Noir I recommend you get lost in this sleazy world its on instant stream and a great way to spend two hours. The story weaves it way through the plot twisting corners every chance it can. The people all talk in old urban slang for example every woman is a dame and a bombshell of one. This movie starts out dark and dreary and rolls down hill fast which is very interesting to see. Memento by Christopher Nolan is a more modern film that follows this kind of a feel where they tell or show a person die and then they lead up to his or her death.
The acting is snappy and right on the nose and the dialogue while old timey sounds fresh and cool. This movie is very fun as almost all of these 1940's films are because they learned that its not enough to see the people in the maze you have to be in the maze yourself.
Ebert's score 4 stars
Tyler's score 4 stars
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
AN EXPERIMENTATION IN THE CINEMATIC COMMUNICATION
The Man with a Movie Camera will be the hardest film in the world for me to describe. It isn't a movie in a classical sense it's more of an experiment. There are no actors, plots, or anything of that nature. However, this film works well without any of them. It is a film about a man with a camera who films a day in Russia during the Soviet rule. That's it the whole movie follows this guy around day after day and they splice it all into one movie.
Now I know that this sounds way boring but it isn't. This movie just seems to work somehow. Perhaps it's the simplicity, but I think the main reason is the music. The music in this film makes the movie it pushes us through this film almost by itself. No movie has done that solely by its score Requiem for a Dream is the only movie that comes close but its not in the same category because it has plot and actors. If you haven't seen it watch it now. Then watch The Man with a Movie Camera both are on instant stream.
Another final and interesting thing about this movie is the shot length. Most movies of this time had a shot length of eleven seconds this one has roughly three. Basically the first half of Moulin Rouge! except I enjoy this one because it isn't up in your face about it. Again, this movie is more of what a movie can show than what it can tell. I think most of you will enjoy it because it is a different type of movie that they don't make anymore, others will be bored by the lack of plot. I was entranced.
Ebert's score 4 stars
Tyler's score 4 stars
Now I know that this sounds way boring but it isn't. This movie just seems to work somehow. Perhaps it's the simplicity, but I think the main reason is the music. The music in this film makes the movie it pushes us through this film almost by itself. No movie has done that solely by its score Requiem for a Dream is the only movie that comes close but its not in the same category because it has plot and actors. If you haven't seen it watch it now. Then watch The Man with a Movie Camera both are on instant stream.
Another final and interesting thing about this movie is the shot length. Most movies of this time had a shot length of eleven seconds this one has roughly three. Basically the first half of Moulin Rouge! except I enjoy this one because it isn't up in your face about it. Again, this movie is more of what a movie can show than what it can tell. I think most of you will enjoy it because it is a different type of movie that they don't make anymore, others will be bored by the lack of plot. I was entranced.
Ebert's score 4 stars
Tyler's score 4 stars
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
A gun is as good or as bad as the man using it
Ah the wild wild west it was a simpler time when you could
tell a man's character just by the color of his hat. It was a time when an old
gun slinger could give up his old life and just till the earth until trouble
comes around. I'm talking about Shane a man with a bad past who's just trying
to be good. Until someone tries to stop
him. So strap on your spurs as we go back to the wild west.
All bad jokes
aside this movie is probably my least favorite out of all the one's I've seen
so far and by no means is a great movie. I'll start out by saying the Western
isn't my favorite genre but there are some things I demand in my Western tales.
For starters this movie just isn't grand enough to be on this list. The
characters are boring and the small boy joey is just annoying. This feels like
a movie of the week type of film. This movie also had terrible pacing, a movie
should flow well this one made me check my clock one to many times (which is
once).
I have beef with this story not going anywhere until the last ten minutes and then it just ends kind off unsatisfactory. This movie had a lot of potential to really bite at you and a barely felt a nimble. The movie just felt to drab for me when it could have been this big force. It's not an adventure story so I was expecting some dryness but this movie had almost no meat. There were a few saying point a great fight, a good speech, and a very good use of the setting. This movie isn't terrible it's kind of like a big mac. There's taste and you can't deny the taste but it's not a steak.
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