Letters From Iwo Jima

Not the best movie in a foreign language of the year (as the Golden Globes would leave you to believe), but mostly because there were some great ones this year. This is a truly great movie about a side of the story of World War II that isn't told very much. Japan. The movie is moving. It's gripping. It's great. The pacing can be much at times and the subject matter is chaotic... but it works. It's a very important film, and will definitely be remembered as such. Clint Eastwood needs to stop making such fantastic movies. He's becoming too good.

B+

IMDB information on LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA

Golden Globe Nominees

Interesting choices. Here's my take on what needs a take.

The double nominees are proof of the laziness of whoever is in charge of choosing the nominees. Leo is wonderful, I swear I love him. I wanted him to win for The Aviator. But to be nominated twice? There were better performances than either or both of his films (The Departed/Blood Diamond) in Dramatic roles. Probably. I'm not going to think of one. And Clint Eastwood for both of his Iwo Jima movies? I haven't seen either of them yet, so I won't be prejudiced. But I highly doubt they are both so much better, direction-wise, than the rest of the films this year. In fact, the fact that Alfonso Cuarón wasn't nominated proves it. And putting Scorcese in there is just because they have to.

What is the deal with the Foreign Language films? Why is Mel Gibson's movie in there? And Letters From Iwo Jima? I believe those are both movies made by Americans. They are really cutting away from the foreign countries by choosing two films by American directors. Not that it matters, since Pan's Labyrinth is a shoe in. :)

The lack of separation of Adapted and Original Screenplays is annoying. The Departed is taken almost directly from its original form, Infernal Affairs. Granted, it probably is the best screenplay, but it's adapted, so doesn't deserve to even be nominated, let alone win.

Ben Affleck is nominated for an award. For his acting. That's kind of funny.

It would be stupid if Sacha Baron Cohen won for Acting in Comedy. He is just doing a character the exact same way he has been doing it for years, only now it's in a movie. It's not deserved. The other nominees in that category aren't too great, anyway. Johnny Depp should just get it, because he's always good as Jack Sparrow and it would please everyone. That blockbuster, moneymaking bastard.

Very good to see that Little Children got recognition as a Best Picture nominee.

Very bad to see Children of Men is nowhere in sight in the entire away ceremony.

I won't pick my choices, because this isn't the Oscars. It's not important yet.

Pan's Labyrinth

I really loved Pan's Labyrinth. It was a great movie. I mean... well, I walked out of it thinking, "I cannot think of anything that I disliked about that film." And that is true.

The film has a wonderful parallel between a fairy tale world and harsh reality. It captures human emotion. It is visually wonderful. It has great pacing and a wonderful balance of time between different parts of the movie. It is rich in all ways. And in the end it gives a lot of room for reflexion. It is sad and philosophical. I can keep stating these facts of the movie, but it just remains that it is wonderful and must be seen. This is one of the best movies of 2006, but will probably just be tossed in the "Foreign Language" category of the Oscars. Psh.

A

IMDB information on PAN'S LABYRINTH

Perfume: The Story of a Murderer

I was going to watch Freedom Writers for a screening at work, but then I discovered Perfume was going to be playing, as well. I wanted to see Perfume a lot because the trailer looked interesting and it was directed by the director of Run Lola Run. This seemed more appealing than Freedom Writers.

Perfume started off well. I enjoyed the beginning quite a bit. Visually, the film is very pleasing. Director Tom Tykwer creates very visually spectacular films, and this is no different. The story worked for a while, too. I enjoyed the parts with Dustin Hoffman and a lot of the introductory stuff. The movie had me for a while.

Then the movie kept running. And not a lot happened. The film suffers from the same weakness that many films are suffering for lately: it is too long and too slowly paced. The movie starts to feel long after a while. And it is quite long. 2 and a half hours, at least. And not a lot happens, really. And it works at the beginning, but I was dosing off towards the latter half of the film. I woke up (and proceeded to wake my arm up) in time to catch a spectacular orgy sequence. Ah yes. But by this time the movie just felt lifeless. I got what happened at the end, both plainly and thematically. But I didn't care. Somehow I went from fairly engrossed to apathetic. And that just isn't good.

I guess there's enough there for others to maintain interest. It's not a bad movie, really. There are just problems. I don't feel it could be considered a great movie, but a co-worker of mine walked out proclaiming its greatness (but, then again, he was very excited by the said orgy sequence). So opinions can be all over the place. I'd just warn those who are easily bored to steer clear.

C+

IMDB information on PERFUME: THE STORY OF A MURDERER

Best of 2006 List... COMING SOON

Best of 2006 Top 10 list coming once the following movies have been viewed by myself:

Pan's Labyrinth
The Queen
Letters From Iwo Jima
Flags of Our Fathers
Dreamgirls
Notes on a Scandal

...and perhaps a few more. But once those have been viewed, I'll try my best to compile my list. I already have a crude list of the very best of what I've seen so far (narrowed down to about 12). So probably by the end of January I will have a list. Hopefully within the next few weeks.

Ratings

Due to a request (I guess my work is read?), I'm adding ratings with each writing I do on a movie that I have viewed. However, I can't promise that the paragraph or whatever I write about the movie will justify my rating. The rating is just a simple way of seeing my feeling on a movie. The words are just thoughts. As for the complete reason behind things... well, one could just ask me.

(I rate this post a C+, it's a bit boring).