Breaking my own rules
I have some general rules to live by. Most of them are uniquely mine, but they’re my form of discipline. This one rule has lasted since 1994, but I have broken it a few times just out of curiosity. This rule is: I don’t watch movies originally released between January and April of any year. I call this season on the film year “The Mob Money-Laundering, Alimony-Paying” season.
At least 90 percent of all films released during this season are awful and are only made to get box-office dollars fast. It’s kind of like those income tax refund loans. You get your money in hand only to get stuck with the payments and interest for life. These movies have a very similar feeling to them.
Granted, there have been some films (“Sin City,” “Inside Man”) that stand out as great movies in this terrible season, but there aren’t that many. Yet, this month, I have already broken that rule with bad results and am tempted to break it again.
I saw “Watchmen two weeks ago when I had a free pass to watch it. After the 40 minutes of trailers and commercials I had to sit through before it started, I knew I wanted to go home. And I should have done so. I paid too much to see it.
But now, I really want to see “Duplicity.” I will watch just about any Clive Owen movie there is, and while I’m not a Julia Roberts fan, I’m willing to overcome that. Plus, I met one of the film’s producers a few months back, and I would like to show my support for her work.
So, maybe Wednesday, as an award for surviving this difficult month, I might go see this and get Thai food afterward.
permalink | Comment | film | 03/24/2009
And then there were five
I usually make my Oscar predictions a lot sooner than now, but for the first time I had the chance to see all five Best Picture nominees. So here is my list for the major categories:
Best Picture
Should: Frost/Nixon
Will: Slumdog Millionaire
Would Like To See Win: Frost/Nixon
Best Actor
Should: Mickey Rourke
Will: Sean Penn
Would Like To See Win: Richard Jenkins
Best Actress
Should: Meryl Streep
Will: Kate Winslet
Would Like To See Win: Melissa Leo
Best Supporting Actor
Should: Heath Ledger
Will: Heath Ledger
Would Like To See Win: Heath Ledger
Best Supporting Actress
Should: Viola Davis
Will: Penelope Cruz
Would Like To See Win: Taraji P. Henson
Best Director
Should: Danny Boyle
Will: Danny Boyle
Would Like To See Win: Gus Van Sant
Best Original Screenplay
Should: Milk
Will: Milk
Would Like To See Win: Wall-E
Best Adapted Screenplay
Should: Frost/Nixon
Will: Slumdog Millionaire
Would Like To See Win: Frost/Nixon
permalink | Comment | film | 02/22/2009
Cinephile
I can only write the following after watching There Will Be Blood:
DANIEL. DAY. LEWIS.
DANIEL. DAY. LEWIS.
DANIEL. DAY. LEWIS.
DANIEL. DAY. LEWIS.
DANIEL. DAY. LEWIS.
permalink | Comment | film | 01/25/2008
The predictability of stupidity
It’s my personal belief that there are no good movies released between the months of January and April. You wouldn’t find me inside of a theater at that time unless the movie is up for best picture at the Oscars. So, it comes at no surprise that Epic Movie took over the box office this weekend. Honestly, these four months are the cinematic wasteland that is used for mafia’s money laundering and for alimony checks.
However, it’s the best time to watch movies that were released in bigger cities in December. Sure, I have to travel an hour to see them, but most of the time it’s worth the trip. This was the case when I watched Pan’s Labyrinth last Thursday. It’s so engaging (especially for someone like me who is greatly interested in Franco Spain), and it’s a cleverly disguised war movie. Sure, there was the fairy tale aspect of it, but the family/revolution story was the most fascinating.
permalink | Comment | film | 01/29/2007
Critically acclaimed
I don’t know why I put my life into the hands of movie critics. In the last two weeks, I watch six films that averaged two stars among critics. There are only four critics/sources that I trust: Christian Science Monitor, The Associated Press, Owen Gleiberman of Entertainment Weekly and the AV Club at The Onion. Sometimes, Peter Travers of Rolling Stone has it dead on, but it’s rare.
Marilyn Hotchkiss’ Ballroom Dancing and Charm School: This is such a cute film to watch. It’s like Fight Club but with dancing and melancholy. Some of the Scripps Howard critics were a bit unfair to this gem. It’s worth renting.
Junebug: This was very overrated. Granted, I went to college in Winston-Salem and have known the area in which it was filmed for eight years. However, I was disappointed that a Salem native would portray the area in such an ugly matter. Outside critics can see how this is a portrait of a region and get lost in it, but I can’t see things the way they’re presented.
Aeon Flux: I should have just stayed with the fond memories I had to the cartoon series. This adaptation had it all wrong.
The Matador: Severely overrated as well. Peter Rainer of CSM was right about this being a lame buddy flick.
Snakes on a Plane: Given that it is a bad movie, it’s a great popcorn, afternoon-getaway-from-the-heat flick. I was glad to have something to do while it is so hot.
Cache: This one sticks to the bone. I was haunted by the plot and by the characters. If you do see this, forget the literary format of American storytelling and embrace a new way of seeing.
