THE WIZARD [1989] movie review
May 18, 2013
I do not think there could be a more nostalgic movie for me than THE WIZARD [1989]. I have not watched it since it came out now almost 25 years ago. For me, it held up perfectly and was much better than expected it to be to my now 38-year old eyes. The biggest surprise was that it was a road movie to California, perhaps an omen? [Read more]
POINT BREAK [1991] movie review
May 9, 2013
I have shaken Keanu Reeve’s hand. I have never thought derisively about his acting as so many others do. I can dig his style and appreciate it for what it is. He is in classic form in POINT BREAK [1991], a movie the guys were talking about regularly lately on the DP Show and since HBO was running it, and I had not seen it so long I could not remember, I thought it was a good time to revisit this classic of a sort. [Read more]
CRAZY, STUPID, LOVE. [2011] movie review
April 27, 2013
Sometimes I watch just the movie I need to for the emotional state I am in. Such was the case with the time of watching CRAZY, STUPID, LOVE. [2011] tonight. This movie is a lot more than what the cast list says and what the two sentence plot description is. It is very Hollywood and very real and very surprising, and thus a very good movie. [Read more]
SEARCHING FOR SUGAR MAN [2012] movie review
March 1, 2013
If things like the amazing story of the musician Rodriguez can be true as seen in the Oscar winning documentary SEARCHING FOR SUGAR MAN [2012], then the world remains a place of mystery and wonder. At least the world did before the Internet. [Read more]
Top Ten Movies of 2012
February 28, 2013
I did not get my Ten Best Movies of 2012 list out before the Oscars this year, but I had seen all the movies I wanted to before it aired. Of the 9 best picture nominees, I saw 8 choosing not to see LES MISERABLES on purpose. Only three of my top ten movies of 2012 overlapped with best picture nominees. I saw everyone of the movies with best actress nominations and 4 of the 5 for best actor (again save for LES MISERABLES). For best supporting actress 3 of 5 and 5 of 5 for best supporting actor.
In the calendar year 2012 I watched 112 movies total (released in any year) down three from 2011. I felt overall 2012 was way down from 2011 as far as movies that really stood out for me and I had a hard time finding ten movies I actually felt that strongly about. Honorable mention goes to THE GREY which could have made the list.
My Ten Best Movies of 2011
I knew from the very beginning I think of watching THE HUNGER GAMES that it was going to be my favorite movie of 2012. The time in my life, the situation and circumstances leading up to out of the blue going to see the movie, it all added to a movie theater going experience that could not be matched this year and ranks in my top ten all-time movie theater experiences. I did not know much of the story, had no idea it was a trilogy, all I knew is that all but one entering the arena had to die and therefore I never, ever felt more scared, more petrified for a character than I did for Katniss. Few movies have ever had me more emotionally involved from first frame until the very last ending with a haunting original song playing over the credits. I felt my stomach drop when Katniss unceremoniously whooshed up the cylinder into the arena. To be my favorite movie of the year, and really all-time, the emotional reaction to the movie has to be strong, and my reaction to THE HUNGER GAMES was as strong as it gets. I immediately had to go out and read the last two books of the trilogy to learn how the story ends. Also, my adoration of Jennifer Lawrence was solidified from where it began first seeing her in WINTER’S BONE.
Perhaps a Jennifer Lawrence bias is in play here, but she is the star of my two favorite movies of 2012 and deservedly won the best actress award for her performance alongside Bradley Cooper in a very awkward, but in the end very emotionally effective and satisfying dark comedy-drama. The movie felt raw and unflinching and desperate and as it provided healing for its characters, so to did it do so for its viewers.
3. ARGO
A great thriller with tremendous suspense over the final act of the movie as everyone tries to just simply make it through an airport and onto a plane for safety. This is an example of how to bring history to life in an entertaining way and one of the few 2012 movies that lived up to its hype for me.
4. END OF WATCH
If you have not seen this movie, go out and see it immediately! It is by far the best sleeper movie of 2012 with an amazing ending that will knock you out. Few police movies, if any, have this level of realism, this level of danger as two cops patrol the streets of L.A. There is a palpable sense of danger throughout the movie and when the viewer finally realizes the absolute danger the two officers find themselves in the end, no punches are held in showing the consequences.
5. CLOUD ATLAS
The best sci-fi fantasy movie of the year and one I had no problem just going with as it told its multi-level, multi-timeline spanning story with reincarnations of characters throughout the ages. The distant past and the future are packed with plot that is as dense as it gets in the beginning of the movie, but the viewer is allowed to digest and see how it all comes together in one grand love story.
6. SKYFALL
SKYFALL was hardcore and unafraid to advance the James Bond franchise past its established holy grails and set it up to be relevant to a modern movie going audience. Even if the characters were anonymous SKYFALL would have stood on its own as an action adventure movie. The set pieces were the best I had seen in a long time. This is a great action movie.
7. THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER
Another hidden gem I had not really heard of before, THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER was a fantastic coming of age movie with minimal gimmicks and a great 80s & 90s soundtrack. The story follows a high school freshman in 1992 (the year I actually graduated) as he hangs out with a group of seniors who themselves are misfits. Emma Watson’s performance stands out.
8. THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL
A movie with mature actors performing their craft with fun all with great chemistry between them set in an exotic local. This is definitely a feel-good movie which we need these days more than ever. If you need motivation to go out and see the world, watch this movie and it just may help.
9. LIFE OF PI
I include LIFE OF PI more for its truly stunningly fantastic visuals than for the movie overall which I felt was good, but not great. What helped save it was a twist at the end. However, there is not a big overlying message or emotional impact for most of the movie as I expected. The movie also did not end where I think it should have for maximum effect.
I thought for sure this was going to be my favorite movie of the year as THE DARK KNIGHT is on my all-time top ten list for movies period and was the most hardcore movie I have ever seen. Still, it was a solid conclusion to the best super hero movie trilogy series ever.
THE WARRIORS [1979] movie review
February 2, 2013
Recently I had heard THE WARRIORS [1979] mentioned for reasons I cannot recall. Then seeing it randomly in my recommended section on Netflix I decided to suddenly watch it tonight. It is kind of exactly what one might expect from a movie made in 1979 about New York street gangs hunting one of their own: gritty, analog and creepy music. [Read more]
THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER [2012] movie review
January 27, 2013
I do not know how THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER is not on ten best lists of 2012 movies. I am very glad I all of a sudden decided to watch it tonight, otherwise I would have had to edit my ten best list and taken something off and put this movie on, and in the top five no less. This movie is that good.
SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK [2012] movie review
January 16, 2013
SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK [2012] is a difficult, powerful, visceral movie that will only further convince you that Jennifer Lawrence is the most fascinating actress in Hollywood right now, though some may say I am a little biased. Nevertheless, I was drawn in almost against my will into SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK in an emotional way that made me adjust my seating position in hopes of influencing the events of the final scenes of the movie.
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