As some of you might be aware, a group of friends and I started doing this about 4 years ago in attempts to catch up on movie-watching and beat the boredom of the winter blahs.
The premise is to watch 30 movies in the 31 days during the month of January. Where for each film you would write a minimum 2-line review of and give it a rating out of 5.
Since its inauguaration the group has expanded over FB to include other aquaintances and strangers alike. This is where we have spent the last 31 days amidst lively discussions, movie poster images, trailers, and even a few movie dates in between.
Below are my collected reviews for 2010, if you would like to take part in the challenge next year, please join the group on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/#/group.php?gid=7202166447&ref=ts I guarantee no spam throughout the year, just a few friendly reminders to get your movie on at the end of December.
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1) Hard Boiled - dir John Woo
This is your iconic Hong Kong action film with tough cops and cool gangsters in a senseless rain of bullets and explosions that would put all middle east turmoil to shame. Staring HK heros Chow Yun Fat and Tony Leung, this is the stuff that inspired Quentin Tarantino and his hollywood contemporaries.
4/5
2) Sleep With Me - dir Rory Kelly
This is a dialogue driven script about a best friend who falls for his best friend's wife and the havoc it causes amongst a group of friends. Though the real reason anyone I know has even seen it is because of Quentin Tarantino's cameo in which he makes the famous Top Gun speech. This movie was kind of annoying last time I saw it, but as I got older and learned that age doesn't necessarily mean maturity, it actually seems a little more logical.
3/5
3) Cookie's Fortune - dir Robert Altman
Before Gosford Park there was this little murder mystery set in a small southern town. Take away the issues of class segregation and add in a few more ounces of absurdity and you have Cookie's Fortune.
3.5/5
4) Stay - dir Mark Forster
A mess of a psychological thriller that wastes the talents of Ewan McGregor, Ryan Gosling, and Naomi Watts. A doctor tries to stop a mysterious patient from committing suicide amidst some contrived "eerie" run-ins with supposedly dead persons and a distorted soundtrack. Even after the truth is revealed, I didn't get the point of the hour of footage that preceeded.
2/5
5) Dim Sum Funeral - Anna Chi
I was ready to pass this off as an ABC (American-Born Chinese) film when to my horror I realized it was a Canadian production. This North-American Chinese coming to terms with their heritage and their parents' generation's values is a really tiresome topic, and never done well in my opinion. This one is made worse by bad acting, cliche extreme characters, and an ending that is ridiculous for any culture and makes me rather outraged that they're associating such behaviour with the Chinese. The only redeeming factor is that the movie is set in Seattle, so when the audience bolts out of the theatre the second the credits begin to roll, they will never be the wiser of this production's Canadian roots.
1/5
6) Valentino: The Last Emperor
Here you have a fancy, often dramatic world renown fashion designer... in a simple little documentary about the months leading up to his 45th anniversary celebration, and it really works. It's not contrived, it's not needlessly artsy, and really lets the subject speak for itself. We're able to admire Valentino the man, his wing man Giancarlo, their partnership, and of course his beautiful gowns and how they materialize. The balance was what I loved most. Those pugs were freakin' hilarious too, I think I'd rather live the life of a filthy rich fashion designer's dog than my own. Haha.
3.5/5
7) The Good German - Dir Steven Soderbergh
This was an awesome little piece of nostalgia, not just a 40's setting but also shot in 1940's standards (aspect ratio, microphones, etc.) Good story, good acting, it all blends so seamlessly you really would think Clooney & Blanchett really were from the Bogey & Dietrich era. Soderbergh's throwback efforts don't overwhelm the film, the story is strong and holds its own. I could go on...
4/5
8) 500 Days of Summer - Dir. Mark Webb
I have a ridiculous amount of sentimental value tied to this film but even without, you're still talking about one of my favourite actors - Joseph Gordon Levitt being perfectly cast opposite Zooey Deschanel (love both the sister actresses - Zooey and Emily), in an offbeat boy meets girl movie, that is creatively edited, and smartly scripted. The only thing I wasn't crazy about was the ending, but I'm not sure that there could've been another one anyway.
4/5
9) Little Ashes - dir. Paul Morrison
A 2008 film staring Robert Pattinson as Salvador Dali chronicling his homosexual exploits with poet Federico Garcia Lorca. No, seriously, the gay make-out scenes with RP are there, but it is actually about Dali, Garcia Lorca, and Luis Bunuel's days in school together. While the somewhat pretentious subject of the film does appeal to a part of me, as does the camera work and some of the music, overall I could not get past the muddled accents. The casting choice seemed strange to me, you have mostly Spanish actors, why not go with all Spanish and just keep the film in its native language? Everytime Federico Garcia Lorca recited a poem it was in Spanish but simultaneously translated into English, as a result I never caught a word nor got to appreciate it in its native tongue. The film, like this review = muddled.
2/5
10) Last Romance - dir. Yonfan
A sappy little film that Taiwanese master Yonfan made in the late 80's starring Maggie Cheung and Cherie Chung about the perils of life, love, and friendship. It follows two best friends from their school days to womanhood and their ties with a young man they befriend. If you can look past the 80's fashion and overt cliches, it's actually an effective but sad little story about the harsh realities of life. (Exactly the type of dribble I like to ponder about for hours in attempts to make myself feel deep)
3/5
11) Sex and Breakfast - Dir. Miles Brandman
A movie starting Eliza Dushku and Alexis Dziena about young couples who try group sex in order to solve their relationship problems. It's one of those things that scream hot train wreck that you just HAVE to see. Well sorry to dissapoint but nobody shows their boobs and seeing Eliza Dushku make out with Macauley Culkin was probably one of the most disturbing visuals I've had to endure in recent history. It's not bad so much as it's pointless, unrelatable, and suprisingly bland given the premises.
2/5
12) Dinner With Friends - Dir. Norman Jewison
I blame Jon. A wordy 1.5 hr analysis about the poignance of marriage, which would be ok done nerotic, nerdy Woody Allen style but not so much as a psycho-analysis courtesy of Andie McDowell. To top it off I came to the horrible realization that they're listing the merits of the cliche story marriage that I personally despise. It does make you think sometimes (of something other than blowing your brains out before saying "I do" ) and reiterates the merits of angry sex.
2/5
13) Mirrormask - Dir. Dave McKean
I've always put off seeing this in hopes of reading the book first, but finally caved and decided on seeing the on-screen version of Neil Gaiman's fantasy tale as brought to life on screen by Jim Henson's workshop. Aside from having a story slightly on the simple side I really loved the visuals and characters portrayed on screen, it's something I could really watch over and over there's so much to take in.
3.5/5
14) Repo! The Genetic Opera - (I'm doing the director a great service not remember his name!)
What does it say when you've heard nothing but bad things about a movie, hit play with drastically lowered expectations, and are still surprised by how LOATHESOME it is?! Would it have killed them to cast actors that can actually sing (nevermind act)? I thought my ears were going to start bleeding (save for Sarah Brightman of course) Won't even touch on the story, directing, nothing... I've already given this piece of garbage to much attention
0/5 (would've been a 0.5 for the costumes but the rest of it was so torturous I just can't do it...)
15) The Last King of Scotland - Dir. Kevin Macdonald
This film is based on events in Uganda under Amin's rule as recounted by his physician and trusted advisor Dr. Nicholas Garrigan. The story quickly draws you in, and Forest Whitaker's performance is mezmerizing. I thought the turn of events sometimes happened a little fast (not that I necessarily wanted the movie to be longer, so much as provide me with a greater understanding of historical events as it related to the common people and the rest of the world) but kept the film moving heart-thumping pace. Also some disturbing imagery that was burned into my brain for a few days following.
3.5/5
16) Abre los ojos (Open Your Eyes) - Dir. Alejandro Amenabar
Henceforth known as the film that Tom Cruise ruined for North American audiences. This is the original that Vanilla Sky was based on, and WOW what a huge difference. Penelope dazzles and Eduardo Noriega is a MUCH more captivating lead. I was glued to my chair for the 1hr 45min but what gripped me most was the first night Cesar and Sophia met and spent together, each line and gesture so pitch perfect, quite possibly the most accurate representation of "falling" in love I've seen on screen.
5/5
17) Spirited Away - Dir. Hayao Miyazaki
One of my favourite animated films of all time - actually I think it IS my favourite animated film of all time. This tale of a young girl's love and courage warms my heart everytime. The imagery is beautiful, full of cultural context and some based in superstition that I know nothing about, but somehow that doesn't make me feel excluded, the story is universal.
5/5
18) The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeosie - Dir. Luis Bunuel
After seeing Little Ashes and knowing this was *someone's* favourite movie, I figured it was high time I gave it a real chance (watching clips when I was in university doesn't count) But I have to say, it came up short for me. Un Chien Andalou shocks you (or makes you want to throw up, whichever ) and gets your attention, but this just meanders along in a series of dream sequences that aren't necessarily very interesting. Some are pretty cool, and I saw the humour, but overall, 1.5 of loosely strung together scenes and complete lack of plot gave me a pretty bad headache.
2/5
19) An Education - Dir. Lone Scherfig
Nick Hornby wrote this screenplay based on the memoirs of a young girl in 1960s London and her relationship with a much older man. It was a coming of age story that managed to feel fresh despite its over-used theme. Carey Mulligan and Peter Sarsgaard gave a terrific performances. I highly recommend this one for its acting, charm and well-balanced humour.
4/5
20) Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? - Dir. Mike Nichols
This movie, based on the play by Edward Albee, has never been an easy watch. Though if you can hold on to your sanity better than the film's characters you are in for some very powerful performances. This is Elizabeth Taylor at her best, Richard Burton is also excellent. It's tough to brace this psychologically, but once a decade... it's worth it.
3.5/5
21) The Lodger - Dir. Alfred Hitchcock
After all the yelling in the previous film, I needed something SILENT The Lodger was made in 1926 and is one of my favourite Hitchcock films, about London griped by a mysterious killer that targets blondes and one family who takes in a mysterious lodger who may or may not be the murderer.
4/5
22) Just Friends - Dir. Roger Kumble
The idea behind this film isn't a complete write-off, haven't we all been put in the "friend zone" before? However, a good idea isn't enough to make a good film, and Ryan Reynolds lost me at the fat suit. It's hard to root for a bungling asinine hero, who even when he's 'being himself' is a bit of a jerk at best. Amy Smart's character ain't all that, and Anna Farris is being...well Anna Farris, which is ok but overall it still cheapens the movie and kills its potential to be taken seriously. Doesn't qualify for pure slapstick tho, at least one scene in there was too darn real. It's just a mess of a movie.
2/5
23) Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone - Dir. Chris Columbus
First of the Harry Potter movies. It was a good intro film, very accessible to anyone who hasn't read the books (or needs a refresher like myself), cute kids, laughs, adventures... it's all there.
3/5
24) Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - Dir. Chris Columbus
I'm watching all the films consecutively so it's a little blurred in my head -- I think this is the one (or is it the 3rd one?) with the nice shots of King's Cross/St Pancras? Definitely a highlight. I wasn't as fond of the onscreen story of Chamber of Secrets, thought it went on a little long before they cut to the chase. Also I wasn't a Dobby fan.
2.5/5
25) Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - Dir. Alfonso Cuaron
Finally getting into a meatier plot - tho this is also the first book that I haven't read. Going back to see these, it's cool to see the little things/gestures that foreshadow what is to come in later films. That being said, still didn't blow me away.
2.5/5
26) The Lovely Bones - Dir. Peter Jackson
I think the first thing I said after the credits started rolling was "That actually wasn't too many endings for a Peter Jackson film" And to elaborate, there was only one ending I didn't care for, the rest was o..k... I've always been more interested in Peter Jackson's production design than storytelling, so the 70's set decoration, the miniatures... all awesome. The 'in-between' imagery could've been better. The story was more or less as I expected, moving enough, suspenseful enough where it had to be. I guess I high expectations for this one.
3.5/5
27) Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - Dir. Mike Newell
Well, who knew my running theme for this year's 30 films would be Robert Pattinson? Also that my friend Vanessa is completely right - every one of his attempts at looking intense just comes across as looking constipated instead! Despite that, I think this is my fav of the Harry Potter movies so far, story, character development, balance of fun, mystery, and anticipation.
3.5/5
28) Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - Dir. David Yates
I think the general consensus was that they packed too much into this and I would tend to agree. Also I wasn't so fond of the clean cut Harry. This was the first one that Helena Bonham Carter was in though, and that goes a long way in my books.
3/5
29) Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince - Dir. David Yates
I don't know anything about David Yates as a director but I think he's definitely put his stamp on the HP movies, there's been an added dark intensity since he took the reins. It's appropriate, this transformation from light family adventure movie to something much more adult, but I'm not sure I loved Half Blood Prince. I was engrossed, and I always appreciate non-formulatic story structure (it didn't have the classic build up, climax, and denouement of the earlier films), but I didn't think the movie was great or anything...
3/5
30) Pulp Fiction - Dir. Quentin Tarantino
Much as I love QT I'm going to have to say Eric Stolz won for most worn in and comfy-looking bathrobe. Best foreshadowing moment: When Vincent Vega says to Butch in the bar "I ain't your friend palooka" and lo and behold, days later it's Butch that shoots him dead. I would say that's a good reason not to be someone's friend. Still some of the greatest camera out there, the famous trunk shot and all the ridiculously long shots, be it on dolly or stedicam... why do it? But when you execute is SO well, why NOT? (Next time you watch it, stop to admire the steadicam shot that follows Butch from his car through the back way to his apt, and then dolly tracking shot right after. Awesome.)
5/5
BONUS ROUND:
31) Closer - Dir. Mike Nichols
My favourite stage play adaptation staring one of my favourite actresses - Natalie Portman. I've seen this repeatedly but the characters and dialogue leave me rooted to my chair every time. It's such a stark reflection of human beings and their inability to really connect, whether you agree with their motivations and choices or not, I think this story speaks volumes about human nature and our capacity for brilliant but dark motivations all in the name of "love".
5/5
32) The Dark Knight - Dir. Christopher Nolan
I'll say it again and again - Heath Ledger = phenomenal Joker. I can never get enough of The Dark Knight and I rarely say this about comic superhero hollywood action flicks. Story, character development, complexity, performances, visual effects, what wasn't awesome about this movie?
5/5
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