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.
Sunday, January 07, 2007
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
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
Friday, January 05, 2007
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
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
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
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.
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.
Monday, January 01, 2007
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).
(I rate this post a C+, it's a bit boring).
Saturday, December 30, 2006
Volver
Volver is a wonderful film. In all ways.
I noticed, while watching it, that there are certain things about films in foreign languages (foreign to me, at least) both draw emphasis and take away emphasis on language. They draw in emphasis on language because reading adds a certain focus onto what is being said. But they take away emphasis because you don't hear what is being said, so the mind can take in what it doesn't understand and view other aspects of the film. In the case of Volver, I was very much drawn into Almodóvar's direction. I tend to do this with foreign directors (I was the same way with Jean-Pierre Jeunet).
Seeing films in foreign language is quite an experience on its own.
But particularly about Volver, the performances are really incredible on all parts. Having a lot of hispanic relatives, I know what it's like to be deep in the culture with family. A lot of the film felt very real. It is a great piece of work. So far it's the first of the Best Foreign Language films that I've seen, and I must say that I hold it in high esteem.
B+
IMDB information on VOLVER
I noticed, while watching it, that there are certain things about films in foreign languages (foreign to me, at least) both draw emphasis and take away emphasis on language. They draw in emphasis on language because reading adds a certain focus onto what is being said. But they take away emphasis because you don't hear what is being said, so the mind can take in what it doesn't understand and view other aspects of the film. In the case of Volver, I was very much drawn into Almodóvar's direction. I tend to do this with foreign directors (I was the same way with Jean-Pierre Jeunet).
Seeing films in foreign language is quite an experience on its own.
But particularly about Volver, the performances are really incredible on all parts. Having a lot of hispanic relatives, I know what it's like to be deep in the culture with family. A lot of the film felt very real. It is a great piece of work. So far it's the first of the Best Foreign Language films that I've seen, and I must say that I hold it in high esteem.
B+
IMDB information on VOLVER
Monday, December 25, 2006
Children of Men
I like movies that bring something up that hasn't necessarily been done before. This was the first thing that drew me into Children of Men, focusing mostly on the concept of a future where children cannot be made. Therefore, when people die, there is no one left. It's creepy. And Children of Men isn't the kind of film that is going to be optimistic about such subject matter.
This is one of the best directed films of the year. I feel this way about Babel as well, but they are two very different styles and are so for different reasons. Where Babel's genius in directing lies in the way it beautifully intertwines it's stories, Children of Men is wonderful at putting the audience into the moment. The film has a lot of handheld cameras. While watching it, a co-worker of mine thought that the film was messed up. The cameras are shakey a lot of the time, and this can seem a bit distracting at times. But it just adds to the realism of the directoring style, which is best shown in an amazing scene executed perfectly with a long shot and wonderful fast paced action.
The plot progression is a bit flawed and it feels like not a lot is accomplished in the movie overall, but it is hardly unsatisfactory. Where the movie ends up is in a comfortable ground. I felt very good about the way things came together.
It's a cool movie. It's not groundbreaking or anything, but it's still a very noteable film and one of the best of the year. Clive Owen proves yet again that he is a very solid actor. And director Alfonso Cuarón creates a piece of work that I can really admire. And I do.
A-
IMDB information on CHILDREN OF MEN
This is one of the best directed films of the year. I feel this way about Babel as well, but they are two very different styles and are so for different reasons. Where Babel's genius in directing lies in the way it beautifully intertwines it's stories, Children of Men is wonderful at putting the audience into the moment. The film has a lot of handheld cameras. While watching it, a co-worker of mine thought that the film was messed up. The cameras are shakey a lot of the time, and this can seem a bit distracting at times. But it just adds to the realism of the directoring style, which is best shown in an amazing scene executed perfectly with a long shot and wonderful fast paced action.
The plot progression is a bit flawed and it feels like not a lot is accomplished in the movie overall, but it is hardly unsatisfactory. Where the movie ends up is in a comfortable ground. I felt very good about the way things came together.
It's a cool movie. It's not groundbreaking or anything, but it's still a very noteable film and one of the best of the year. Clive Owen proves yet again that he is a very solid actor. And director Alfonso Cuarón creates a piece of work that I can really admire. And I do.
A-
IMDB information on CHILDREN OF MEN
Friday, December 22, 2006
The Good Shepherd
3 hours. You can feel it, too.
The Good Shepherd is about the lifelessness of a man who is an essential part of the beginning of the CIA. And the movie's tone takes on quite the lifeless feeling. There's really no feeling towards the characters. There's not a lot of feeling towards anything. It's a movie that looks like it should be amazing thoughout, and yet it's just a lot of dead air. The fact that it's directed by Robert De Niro and includes quite a number of wonderful actors do even more to draw attention to it. But the fact of the matter is that there's just not a lot of substance. It's the kind of movie people will feel like they should like. I foresee a popular reaction to this movie by the typical American audience being, "yeah, it was pretty good." Why? Because that's what people say when they think a movie is good even though they didn't really like it. And that's just the kind of movie this is. As for me, I don't really think it was very good. Had some good technical work and a good overall look to it, some good performances (although Edward Jr., both versions of him, did much to annoy me), and little things that were positive. 3 hours though... that's pretty damn long. And reminiscing upon it, having just seen it less than an hour ago... I couldn't tell you very much about the movie at all.
C
IMDB profile on THE GOOD SHEPHERD
The Good Shepherd is about the lifelessness of a man who is an essential part of the beginning of the CIA. And the movie's tone takes on quite the lifeless feeling. There's really no feeling towards the characters. There's not a lot of feeling towards anything. It's a movie that looks like it should be amazing thoughout, and yet it's just a lot of dead air. The fact that it's directed by Robert De Niro and includes quite a number of wonderful actors do even more to draw attention to it. But the fact of the matter is that there's just not a lot of substance. It's the kind of movie people will feel like they should like. I foresee a popular reaction to this movie by the typical American audience being, "yeah, it was pretty good." Why? Because that's what people say when they think a movie is good even though they didn't really like it. And that's just the kind of movie this is. As for me, I don't really think it was very good. Had some good technical work and a good overall look to it, some good performances (although Edward Jr., both versions of him, did much to annoy me), and little things that were positive. 3 hours though... that's pretty damn long. And reminiscing upon it, having just seen it less than an hour ago... I couldn't tell you very much about the movie at all.
C
IMDB profile on THE GOOD SHEPHERD
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
AFI Best of 2006 List
The AFI has voted and the list of the top 10 movies of 2006 are up. They are...
*Babel
*Borat
The Devil Wears Prada
Dreamgirls
*Half Nelson
*Happy Feet
*Inside Man
Letters From Iwo Jima
*Little Miss Sunshine
*United 93
( * movies I have seen )
I've seen seven of the movies. Well, I saw half of The Devil Wears. I didn't walk out because I didn't like it, I was only watching it to take up time before screening Clerks II. From what I saw of The Devil Wear's Prada, I felt little need to return and watch the end. I do want to see Dreamgirls. At first I wasn't sure, but it's getting a lot of good buzz. Yes, and it has the personal recommendation of my friend Nora, who'd shove it in my face if she heard me say I want to see it (I told her at one point that I didn't really care about it).
As for the part of the list that I have seen, I'm not sure. I agree with a lot of the obvious ones (Little Miss Sunshine, at least), but some I'm different on. I don't have my top 10 list yet. I still have a large handful of films to see before I'll even think about making one. But I'm not sure what I think about Happy Feet being in the top 10. I was only mildly amused by the film. And even Borat seems odd for me. It was pretty funny, but wasn't that great of a movie. And even movies like Babel or Inside Man seem like they weren't fantastic enough for a Top 10 list. But who knows, maybe I haven't surveyed things out enough yet.
I didn't find Half Nelson to be as great as a lot of the critics said. It was a good movie, but I wasn't overly impressed with it. Just satisfied. I don't think that'll be making it to my list.
I'm also very glad that United 93 made it on the list and World Trade Center did not. WTC was a bad movie. I very much disliked it. But United 93 was much better.
The worst part of the list is the injustice. Where the hell is The Departed, most likely the best movie of the year? There's no reason for so many so-so movies to be featured (especially Happy Feet) and The Departed to be nowhere in sight! And where's Little Children? To me, Babel was a lesser version of what Little Children was. Little Children was a much more affective and emotion-filled movie.
Not a bad list, but hardly perfect. I guess this year wasn't too full of hands down wonderful movies, so there's much room for debate. I'll have to see how my list turns out in the next month or so. Who knows, I might end up eating my words...
AFI 2006 Awards
*Babel
*Borat
The Devil Wears Prada
Dreamgirls
*Half Nelson
*Happy Feet
*Inside Man
Letters From Iwo Jima
*Little Miss Sunshine
*United 93
( * movies I have seen )
I've seen seven of the movies. Well, I saw half of The Devil Wears. I didn't walk out because I didn't like it, I was only watching it to take up time before screening Clerks II. From what I saw of The Devil Wear's Prada, I felt little need to return and watch the end. I do want to see Dreamgirls. At first I wasn't sure, but it's getting a lot of good buzz. Yes, and it has the personal recommendation of my friend Nora, who'd shove it in my face if she heard me say I want to see it (I told her at one point that I didn't really care about it).
As for the part of the list that I have seen, I'm not sure. I agree with a lot of the obvious ones (Little Miss Sunshine, at least), but some I'm different on. I don't have my top 10 list yet. I still have a large handful of films to see before I'll even think about making one. But I'm not sure what I think about Happy Feet being in the top 10. I was only mildly amused by the film. And even Borat seems odd for me. It was pretty funny, but wasn't that great of a movie. And even movies like Babel or Inside Man seem like they weren't fantastic enough for a Top 10 list. But who knows, maybe I haven't surveyed things out enough yet.
I didn't find Half Nelson to be as great as a lot of the critics said. It was a good movie, but I wasn't overly impressed with it. Just satisfied. I don't think that'll be making it to my list.
I'm also very glad that United 93 made it on the list and World Trade Center did not. WTC was a bad movie. I very much disliked it. But United 93 was much better.
The worst part of the list is the injustice. Where the hell is The Departed, most likely the best movie of the year? There's no reason for so many so-so movies to be featured (especially Happy Feet) and The Departed to be nowhere in sight! And where's Little Children? To me, Babel was a lesser version of what Little Children was. Little Children was a much more affective and emotion-filled movie.
Not a bad list, but hardly perfect. I guess this year wasn't too full of hands down wonderful movies, so there's much room for debate. I'll have to see how my list turns out in the next month or so. Who knows, I might end up eating my words...
AFI 2006 Awards
Eragon
In an age where Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings are supreme box office titans, a movie like Eragon can just come along and... well, be unnoticed. Really, the movie is quite forgettable. Even fans of the book feel so (as I've heard). It's fun for kids, even for adults at times. I enjoyed parts of it, I admit. I didn't hate it too much, to be honest. It was just plain. It was generic. And when it was done, no one cared. That sums it up pretty well. The best thing it has going for it is that it's not over 2 hours like most other crazy fantasy movies. So it's only an hour and a half of your life wasted.
C-
IMDB information on ERAGON
C-
IMDB information on ERAGON
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