Styles of Movie Watching

Over the years of watching film I have come to realize that there has to be varying degrees of movie watching. With advertising and the internet being so prevalent it is almost impossible to watch a film without having some preconceived feeling of what the film will be or what ones response to the film will be.

To be completely honest my viewpoint is almost always biased. When I hear that a movie is gaining Oscar buzz I tend to give the film more leeway as it relates to our critique points. When my cohort on this blog gives a raving review I go into the film with a positive light. Now that's not to say that I don't completely disagree with professional critics (i.e. I completely despise Pulp Fiction) at times or on the rare occasion Derek (Gran Torino), but I go into the movie looking for ways to find the good aspects of the film and not completely subjective as one should.

I think a case in point for this is Derek's review of The Happening. He had heard from me how horrible it was, and from everyone else for that matter, so he approached the movie expecting the absolute worst and he found the redeeming qualities instead.

So all that to ask, what is the resolution to this problem?

I am not sure there is an answer. I guess to get an absolute true opinion one must watch a film having seen no preview and having heard nor read a review of the film unfortunately for the average movie fan this is not an option. So maybe the answer comes from gauging our expectations. Maybe we set up a scale that we expect a movie to hit when we start and then rate the film based on what it provides based on that scale. This might keep us from finding that sneaky hidden gem (think Once or Diving Bell and the Butterfly), but it may also help us judge movies for what they are. Remember this is all a form of entertainment and all actors and actresses take different films for the paycheck. They all mail it in occasionally.

So obviously this whole thought process stems from something. Well, by my wife's choice I spent this evening watching Bride Wars, now my expectations going in were low and in the end even those expectations were too high. Even Anne Hathaway could not come close to saving this disaster of a film, but it got me thinking that maybe there should be a sliding scale for rating movies. Maybe going in for movies that we have a preconceived estimate in our head we rate how the movie did at meeting those expectations.

I don't think anyone goes into movies like the aforementioned Bride Wars or say Fools Gold, another Kate Hudson classic, expecting to see Oscar worthy performances, state-of-the-art camera work, or amazing special effects they just want to be entertained and some will find those films entertaining. I on one hand loved the first Mummy movie even though Brendan Fraser should not be seen anywhere near an Oscar stage (Yes, I have seen Crash and yes the rating is deteriorating for me daily). Watching the movie back there are lots of issues, but it is entertaining and maybe that should be rated on a different scale than say The Departed or Revolutionary Road. Of course as it stands our scale is open to all classes and varieties of film and unfortunately that means a VERY low rating for the likes of Bride Wars (it could be on a two point scale and it would still be rated poorly). I think though for someone out there if you based the scale not on the quality of the overall picture from a critical standpoint, but maybe completely how entertained they were for a film, that they were not expecting Oscar worthy performances, than someone out there might rate that move higher, but its not me.

YFG and the forgotten films of 2008

Making a quality film doesn't always ensure box office success or even critical acclaim during award season. Whether independant or backed by a large studio, all films rely on marketing to to create interest. As much as any other industry, film is a beauty contest. When a film does well at the box office or takes home an academy award it's no accident. Millions of dollars go into wooing both audiences and critics with the hopes of generating a buzz that will yield a significant return. Without this financial backing, even the best of films can go unnoticed.

2008's Oscar darling, Slumdog Millionaire nearly fell through the cracks when Warner Bros. shut down their Indie distribution division. Had Fox Searchlight not purchased and released the film, it would have almost certainly headed straight for DVD, killing any and all hope of Oscar glory.

Unfortunately, when financial disaster strikes, not all films are lucky enough to be rescued. In December of 2008, Yari Film Group's (YFG) movie distribution division filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy. YFG had long been a major independent movie distributer with titles like Crash, The Matador, and the Illusionist to their credit. The company's financial woes left two films with legitimate award show aspirations, Nothing but the Truth and What Doesn't Kill You, in limbo.

What Doesn't Kill You was "fortunate" enough to receive a limited theatrical release in the US just three days before YFG went under. Directed by Brian Goodman, What Doesn't Kill You is a gritty, enthralling crime drama set in South Boston. In what could easily pass as a Dennis Lehane novel adaptation, the film chronicles two life long friends and their lives as theives, drug dealers, and runners for a crime boss. Ethan Hawke and Mark Ruffalo are both quite convincing as small time Irish thugs. Amanda Peet, who plays Ruffalo's wife who is struggling to deal with her husband's life outside of the home and family, also gives a notable performance. While the film probably isn't Oscar worthy, it's certainly a very solid drama that had the potential to be a real crowd pleaser with a little marketing.

In what is perhaps the best film about print journalism since 1976's All the President's Men, Kate Beckinsale stars as a reporter who, despite pressure from the federal government, refuses to give up her source that broke the biggest story of her career. Beckinsale, along with Alan Alda and Vera Farmiga deliver very strong performances worthy of acclaim on any stage. While Beckinsale and Farmiga were nominated for Critic's choice awards, the straight to DVD release of the film killed any chance they had of Academy Award or Golden Globe nominations.

Both Nothing but the Truth and What Doesn't Kill You are exceptional films worthy of a wide audience. However, with the troubles of YFG and the lack of financial support behind these films, even their recent DVD releases are bound to go unnoticed by most.

The Fall

The Fall made its way through the film festival circuit during 2006 and 2007. It finally recieved a limited US release in the spring of 08. There was very little buzz about this film and it recieved very modest accolades. However, when my good friend and highly respected movie critic, Justin Newsome named The Fall his top film of 2008, I had to see it.

Acting: (7) An unknown Lee Pace was an interesting choice for the lead. While he handled emotional hospital scenes quite well, the fantasy action sequences were really a stretch. Whether it was an artistic choice or folly, he appeared almost comical as the "Blue Bandit." The little girl added a great deal of depth and reality to the film. She obviously struggled with English and her lines. However, Pace played off her so naturally that her stutters and repeats flowed like natural conversation.

Audio / Visual: (9) There can be no debate that the film's visuals are astonishing. During the fantasy sequences, the screen is filled with wide landscapes, elaborate sets, and choreograhped movements that are quite enchanting. Tarsem's vision and imagination are the stars of this film. In fact, the film's visuals could actually be criticized for overpowering both the characters and the complex story. The only complaint I would raise involves the costumes of the bandits. Again, I'm not sure whether this was intentional or not, but the costumes reminded me of a low budget community theatre play.

Plot: (8.5) There is really a lot going on in this film. There are so many stories within the story. Tarsem skillfully weaves the story of the stunt man and the young girl together through the telling of the epic revenge saga. The film runs the risk of becoming muddled and confusing when it attempts to fuse storylines occuring in both the fantasy and real world simultaneously. By the end of the film the stories have all been told fairly well. If you're able to avoid being distracted by the events happening on the screen, you may actually be able to follow each of them.

Entertainment: (8) This film would have been engaging as a silent movie. The visuals are that powerful. The stories (all of them) are worth a listen. I always tend to give extra credit to original, bind benders, as is the case with The Fall.

Overall: (8) - Very Good

Rachel Getting Married

Rachel Getting Married (2008)
Directed By: Jonathon Demme
Starring: Anne Hathaway, Rosemarie DeWitt, Debra Winger, Bill Irwin

Well as stated in my previous post it has been tough getting the time to watch movies lately, but the fact that a Red Box just opened in the local grocery store will hopefully help things out.

Acting: (9.5) It is funny how quickly someone can become a favorite. All it took was The Devil Wears Prada and Anne Hathaway jumped to the top of my list of favorite actresses, and this performance gives credence to that view. The movie truly shines through the acting displayed by the entire cast. This is probably one of the best ensemble performances I have ever seen. Everyone for the most part nails their parts and as a whole it doesn't get much better. My favorite aside from Anne was actually Mather Zickel, who I thought stole most of the scenes he was featured in.

Effects / Cinematography: (7) Camera shots for the most part were great, but I have to complain about the length of the wedding scenes. I thought it was a poor choice of editing and it dragged on....and on....and on. They could have easily cut 10 minutes out of the post wedding without impacting the overall movie in any way. Its my opinion that every scene should have a purpose and there was just way too much filler. I hear Derek say that it was to bring a balance of joy to all the sorrow of the film, but it was just too much for me.

Plot: (8.5) A modern day adaptation of the prodigal son, or in this case the prodigal daughter. I thought the script was well written and flowed effortlessly.

Entertainment: (7.5) The unending wedding scenes really brought the movie down a notch for me on an entertainment level. I thought the feeling portrayed of actually being a part of the festivities was done pretty well, but both the rehearsal dinner and the post vows parts were extremely tedious.

Cumulative: (8.125) Overall a solid movie and one that should be studied in film classes across the country. The acting was phenomenal, but editing choices brought the overall score down a bit for me. I haven't gotten through all of the 2008 movies that Derek has, but I would place this near the top of my list as well.

10 Movies for 2009

It has been a while since I have posted any updates and its about time I rejoin the action. My movie watching days have dwindled with the arrival of a daughter in September so movies happen few and far between nowadays. That said I have scanned a few lists and here is a of ten movies that, like my cohort, I don't necessarily anticipate being award winning or even potentially good, but the actors involved, the story told, or a peak at the trailer has gotten me interested.





In order of release:



10. The Brothers Bloom - limited release May 15th. Despite the wide variety and quality of roles Rachel Weisz is still one of my favorite actresses. Add in Adrien Brody and this being Rian Johnson's follow up to Brick and I am intrigued.



9. Away We Go - limited release June 5th. I am usually a fan of Sam Mendes and I am a big fan of The Office so I am hoping this will be a decent movie for John Krasinski who gets a chance to finally break out after being stuck with roles in License to Wed and Leatherheads. I am worried about the casting of Maya Rudolph, who I typically deem as one of the least funny people on SNL, but the trailer has me hoping this might be worth seeing.



8. Public Enemies - release July 1st. I love Johnny Depp and I love gangster movies. The trailer has me worried a little bit about the quality of this film. I tend to like my gangster movies dark (think Road to Perdition) and this seems like it may be a little lite but we shall see.



7. Bruno - release July 10th. Don't know if it will be the hit that Borat was, but it is guaranteed to offend and entertain.



6. The Cove - release July 31st. Big praise from Sundance has me intrigued about exposing the dolphin trade in Japan.



5. Inglorious Basterds - release August 21st. While I dislike most everything Quentin Tarantino the inclusion of Brad Pitt in this film has me hoping that I may enjoy this, despite his ridiculous mustache in the movie. Sure to be a big money maker with Tarantino's cult following.



4. This Side of Truth - release September 25th. Huge fan of Ricky Gervais and after being pleasantly surprised by Ghost Town I am excited for this arrival.



3. Shutter Island - release October 2nd. I think Derek explained this one well enough and I was going to avoid any overlap in our lists, but this has too much potential.



2. Amelia - release October 23rd. Though I despise Hillary Swank I am excited about the return of Ewan McGregor to the main screen. This has early Oscar buzz and imdb.com properly describes it as "The Aviatrix" as it follows the life of Amelia Earhart.



1. All right I am running out of slots and two movies I just discovered both have me intrigued. Despite the subject matter, The Wolf Man - release November 6th, has me intrigued by the inclusion of Anthony Hopkins, Emily Blunt, and Benicio Del Toro. Also Nine - release November 25th has Daniel Day-Lewis and Penelope Cruz.



There, 11 movies to choose from and I am most excited about the fact that none of them include Seth Rogen and am most disappointed that, with the exception of Bride Wars (which I won't see), my life will have no Anne Hathaway in 2009.



I also can't complete this list without mentioning that I am excited, curious, and baffled that two of my favorite childhood books (Where the Wild Things Are and Cloudy with A Chance of Meatballs) are supposed to be released as movies this year. Considering you can read both in less than 10 minutes, how they will be able to stretch the stories into a feature length film is beyond me.

Gattaca (1997)

Directed by: Andrew Niccol

Starring: Jude Law, Ethan Hawke, and Uma Thurman

Acting (7.5): This is where the film surprised me most. Outside of Alan Arkin, who has a small role in the film, I am not a fan of any actor in this cast. In this film, however, each actor seemed to fit their given role quite well. For the first time ever, I actually found Uma Thurman attractive. She has somewhat of a futuristic android look to her that fall right in line with her character.

Plot (9): This is one of the most intelligent and socially relevant Sci Fi movies I've ever seen. It doesn't take a giant leap with it's dipiction of DNA alteration. Medical ethics and "playing God" are examined closely and criticized subtley. The story, though set in the future, also holds up a critical mirror to today's society regarding discrimination. This is where I think the casting of someone like Ethan Hawke was crucial. As the all American white kid with a heart condition, Hawke makes for a sympathetic protagonist. The fact that he's discriminated against for a lack of perfect DNA feels completely unjust and shows just how ridiculous discrimination in our own society is.

The movie shows a future in which perfection is strived for in every person. Even the slightest "defect" can make one an exile. The fact that an "Invalid" or "God child" was able to outsmart everyone and excel in this dystopia creates great drama and real inspiration. Hawke's character is an underdog in every sense; and one we root for.

Audio / Visual (8): Unlike many futuristic thrillers, this film used much more subtle methods for defining it's futuristic environment. The technology was advanced, but not over the top. Much of the mood in this film was created from the lighting. The outdoors always seemed to have yellowish tint acting as an ever present reminder of the sun and space while the inside of buildings were sleak, metallic, and sterile.

Entertainment (8): The story is very fascinating and engaging. It challenges the view intellectually while still managing to stimulate with excitement. As the plot unfolds and nears it's climax there is true suspense. It's really a fun, intellectual picture.

Overall (8) = Very Good

10 Most Anticipated films of 2009

The blockbuster movie season is near. Since recently completing my top 10 list from 2008, I've changed focus with an eye on 2009. After scanning many lists of proposed theatrical releases, I've selected the ten films that seem most intriguing on the surface. I certainly don't expect these to be the ten best films of the year. Many of the featured films are simply intriguing because of the people they involve or the stories they continue.


10. X Men Origins: Wolverine: First off, I really enjoyed the first two X Men films. The third one felt like overkill and really lacked substance. Also, Wolverine is easily my favorite mutant. That being said, I'm very apprehensive about this film. Rumors of numerous re-shoots haven't done anything to disperse my doubt. Thankfully, Brett Ratner, the man responsible for X-Men Last Stand will not be directing this spin-off. Unfortunately, neither will Bryan Singer. Gavin Hood (Rendition, Tstosi) gets a crack at this potentially profitable film. Rumor has it, a sequel is already in the works. It remains to be seen whether Hood can capture the same magic that Singer did in the original films. The trailer looks action packed and I'd expect nothing less. It's the cultivating of a good story that always seems to be the biggest challenge in these types of films.



9. Sherlock Holmes: Perhaps no actor had a bigger 2008 than Robert Downey Jr. His roles in Iron Man, Charlie Bartlett, and Tropic Thunder cemented his place among Hollywood's elite. This year looks quite promising for the formally troubled star as well. Sherlock Holmes could be another huge role for Downey. The film also features Rachel McAdams and Jude Law and is set for a late year release which could suggest anticipated award circuit consideration. Though I'm a bit worried about Guy Ritchie's consistency as a movie maker, when he's on, he's really on; which gives this film a lot of potential.



8. Sunshine Cleaning: This film was actually released in NY an LA last week and is set for wide release on Friday. As I, however, have not seen the film, it is still highly anticipated for me. Sunshine premiered at Sundance and received moderate accolades. It's a project from several of the people responsible for 2006's Indie darling, Little Miss Sunshine. According to many of those that have seen both films, the similarities almost distractingly glaring. Regardless of what type of reviews this film receives, I have two reasons for being very excited, Emily Blunt and Amy Adams. They are two of my absolute onscreen favorites. I expect the cuteness level to be alarmingly high.


The trailer for the film looks promising. Blunt and Adams play sisters looking to make their own paths by starting a cleaning business. Alan Arkin plays their father in a role that certainly looks reminiscent of his Oscar winning Little Miss Sunshine turn. No doubt hilarity will ensue.



7. Harry Potter & The Half Blood Prince: This series of films has already exceeded my expectations. The films have managed changing production crews and directors, and still maintained fluidity from story to story. The best part about the series is that the films have grown up with the characters. Each film has become increasingly darker. I think the quality of the films has increased with each installment as well. David Yates, who directed Order of the Phoenix, will be running the show for Half Blood. If the 2007 film was any indication of what viewers can expect, I'm quite excited about the possibilities. Unlike many viewers, I have never read the books and have no idea how the story continues. I look forward to more quality Harry Potter films and completing an onscreen story that began in 2001.


6. Avatar: I've heard rumblings about this James Cameron (Titanic, Terminator) project going on 4 years. The buzz regarding the ground breaking special effects has been especially high. I know very little about the plot, but that really doesn't matter. James Cameron only makes BIG movies. I'm a little surprised that this will be a winter release, but it only increases my curiosity.


5. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen: Few films in recent years have surprised me like 2007's Transformers. Michael Bay + Robots was sure to equal box office success, but I didn't have high hopes for the film. I was blown away by the entire audio / visual experience of the film. The story wasn't half bad either. It was really a sleek, entertaining, action film. I only wish I would have seen it on the big screen.

2009's Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, features many of the same characters and promises even more destruction and alien robots. When speculating about what we can expect from this summer's sequel, a look at Bay's track record isn't encouraging. Lightning rarely strikes twice in same spot (this spot being Michael Bay's brain). Hopefully, I'm wrong and this film exceeds the first in every aspect.


4. The Lovely Bones: Anytime you attach Peter Jackson's name to a film, I'm going to get excited. Bones will mark Jackson's first directorial work since 2005's King Kong. Based on the popular young adult novel by Alice Sebold, the film stars Mark Wahlberg, Rachel Weisz, Saoirse Ronan, Susan Sarandon, and Stanley Tucci.

The book was a really good read and I have pretty high expectations for the film. The people involved and the source material are just too goo for anything but a good movie to be produced. Early Oscar polls list Bones among the favorites.


3. Public Enemies: Johnny Depp, Billy Crudup, and Christian Bale in a period gangster flick...what's not to like? Throw in the fact that Michael Mann (The Insider, Heat) is directing, and you've got the formula for a truly great guy movie. I know very little about guys like John Dillenger or Baby Face Nelson so I could care less about historical accuracy in this film. I just want to see Depp, Bale, and Crudup at their best.



2. Terminator Salvation: Box office domination is almost a given for this film, but I'm hoping for some substance as well. It will be hard to watch the film without thinking about Bale's outrageous rant that was released to the public months ago. This will up the unintentional comedy level tremendously. Let's hope the film is good enough to overcome that.

I'm really surprised the Bale was willing to take on the lead role in another huge franchise, but I couldn't be happier. He seems like the perfect fit for John Connor. Though I'm a bit concerned about McG's direction, I'm confident that Bale's involvement will produce a solid action / Sci-fi thriller.


1. Shutter Island: Great books don't always get adapted into great movies, but Dennis Lehane has to be pleased thus far. His two previous adaptations, Mystic River and Gone Baby Gone were both critical and commercial successes. With names like Scorsesse and DiCaprio attached to Shutter Island, this one could be the best.

Lehane is my favorite current author. His books are incredibly gritty and powerful. Shutter Island is somewhat different from most of his work, but I expect this to be one of the best films of 2009.