Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story (2005)
Location: Manor Theater
Seen Before: No
Rating: 4.0
I thought this film was rather funny and well made, but the part that didn't work most for me was that I never felt close to any of these characters; I was just watching flickers on the screen and not invested in the outcome. The performances were great and I give this a 4.0 as it made me laugh and I admired how the whole idea of how to tell a story and have it unfold is twisted about. It seems that the film could have been greatly improved if we didn't have to wait so long (at least 30 or 40 minutes) for [what seemed like] the actual story of the making of the movie to kick in. Enjoyable, though, and recommended.
Bubble
Location: Home
Seen Before: No
Rating: 5.0
I knew this film deserved a high rating in Blog du Cinema, but I couldn't decide between a four and a five. When I popped in the dvd and looked through a couple of scenes to grab a screenshot for the entry, just seeing the images of the film (or video, rather) again immediately settled the score at a solid five. Digital video has never done it for me in terms of how it appears on screen, but Bubble really turns that around. The simply pristine quality coupled with how masterfully Steven Soderbergh frames these images truely lets you take in every aspect of what is unfolding in front of you. Take this style, mix it with the performances and top it off with the writing and you feel like you're in the midst of a documentary. Any audience member will be able to tell that they are watching non-professional actors, but what they have to keep in mind is how true (and heartbreakingly monotonous) the way these characters talk is. How many times have you worked with someone like this? I felt a genuine excitement while watching this as I never knew exactly where Soderbergh was going to take me; I just knew I wanted to go.
I did think about whether I felt unsatisfied by the conclusion of the film and, I suppose I do to a degree, but isn't Soderbergh being so much more truthfull to the types of characters and the enviorment encapsulating the story by not trying to twist and turn you in a classic Hitchcock or Clouzot way? Wouldn't that be copping-out in a sense; taking what has perhaps become the "expected unexpected route" (i.e. Million Dollar Baby)?
Soderbergh further solidifies that he is possibly the most diverse and interesting of contemporary filmmakers with Bubble, so sign me up for the five counterpart films he's following this up with--I don't want to wait.
Sleepy Hollow (1999)
Location: Home
Seen Before: Yes
Rating: 2.5
It seems like Tim Burton would be one of the few filmmakers in Hollywood today to make this film work, but the mirror opposite of that is true--it's Burton's helm that ultimately makes this film fail. Him finally being able to make an R-rated, full-blown horror flick gives him too much room to put everything out there; the subtlety and imagination of Edward Scissorhands and the biting wit of Ed Wood are completely lost on this film. In fact, the only part left over of the two aforementioned Burton heyday works--Johnny Depp--is the only thing that holds together this overall unsatisfying attempt. He's spot-on and fun to watch and the art direction and cinematography are impressive as well, but this is truely only worth a viewing for the uber-curious.
L'Age D'Or (1930)
Location: Home
Seen Before: No
Rating: 5.0
One Flew Over The Cukoo's Nest
Location: University Center 212
Seen Before: Yes
Rating: 5.0
It's interesting how this film is so flawless and memorable that every other mental institution-concerned effort since is measured up against it (and always falls short). One of the classic '70s Nicholson performances and perhaps the best of that bunch.
The Big Heat
Location: Home
Seen Before: No
Rating: 5.0
Double Indemnity
Location: University Center 212
Seen Before: Yes
Rating: 5.0
The epitome of film noir. I think watching these Billy Wilder films lately have helped me to start to understand the Auteur Theory a bit more...
Sunset Boulevard
Location: Home
Seen Before: No
Rating: 5.0I really, really loved this; it completely shocked me. The writing, director, acting, cinematography, editing--everything--is at the top of its game. I'll write some more notes about this after I watch it a few more times. This is the type of film that, even while watching it, you can feel how many layers there are for peeling back and revealing more.
Drugstore Cowboy (1989)
Location: Home
Seen Before: Yes
Rating: 5.0
Air Force One
Location: University Center 212
Seen Before: Yes
Rating: 1.0I was looking forward to watching this as I'd only seen it once before upon its initial release and remember, to a degree, thinking it not that bad. Mere moments into this film, however, my illusion of accepting this as being one of the better big-budget Hollywood action flicks (like Die Hard, for example) was completely shattered. This film is so abominable and trite that it turned into the funniest movie I've seen in quite some time. My classmates and I laughed out loud and in unison as people were thoughtlessly maimed by director Wolfgang Petersen via Russian gunmen. The single, solitary star that this cinematic stain earned is due completely to Gary Oldman's portrayal of the evil leader--you can tell he had fun taking him over the top. Get together with a theater of people, pop in AFO, and watch the cheese drip from the screen.
Au Hasard Balthazar
Location: Home
Seen Before: No
Rating: 3.5 (?)
I don't think I can fairly rate this because I feel like there is just too much happening this film to pin down after simply one viewing.
