Director: Chan-Wook Park (first movie I've seen by him)
Stars: Min-sik Choi (some Korean shit)
Je-tae Yu (some other Korean shit)
YesNoSoso: 2
Incredible. Seriously get off your fat ass and rent this movie now. I think its fair to say that part of my excitement about this movie is that it is a diamond in the rough and Speilberg and Will Smith are rumored to be planning a remake. Apparently when it previewed @ Cannes, Tarantino was the head judge and wanted to give it the Palm D'or, but the other judges couldln't be swayed away from Farenheit 9/11. Not really sure where I was going with that, but fuck you if it wasn't an amusing enough anecdote.
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12/1/08
Iron Man (2008)
Director: Jon Favreau (Made, Elf)
Stars: Robert Downey Jr. (Tropic Thunder, The Shaggy Dog)
Jeff Bridges (The Big Lebowski, Heaven's Gate)
YesNoSoso: 2
I thought this movie was solid and well done, but I don't understand the glorified hype surrounding it. Obviously, Downey Jr. was incredible (if you haven't seen Tropic Thunder, movie the Sex and the City movie down the queue and add it) and the ensemble cast including Bridges, Terrance Howard and Gwyneth Paltrow definitely held their own. However, I didn't at any point feel that it was anything other than a moderatley well made super hero movie. The only differentiating characteristic was less "crime-fighting" action. There really is only one scene in which Iron Man fights evil doers. This would be great as it is in the very good super hero movies (Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, X-men 1 & @, Spiderman 1 & 2) but only when the lulls in action are used to add depth to the hero character. Downey's brilliant acting help in this regard, but the plot and overall writing do little to assist him.
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Stars: Robert Downey Jr. (Tropic Thunder, The Shaggy Dog)
Jeff Bridges (The Big Lebowski, Heaven's Gate)
YesNoSoso: 2
I thought this movie was solid and well done, but I don't understand the glorified hype surrounding it. Obviously, Downey Jr. was incredible (if you haven't seen Tropic Thunder, movie the Sex and the City movie down the queue and add it) and the ensemble cast including Bridges, Terrance Howard and Gwyneth Paltrow definitely held their own. However, I didn't at any point feel that it was anything other than a moderatley well made super hero movie. The only differentiating characteristic was less "crime-fighting" action. There really is only one scene in which Iron Man fights evil doers. This would be great as it is in the very good super hero movies (Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, X-men 1 & @, Spiderman 1 & 2) but only when the lulls in action are used to add depth to the hero character. Downey's brilliant acting help in this regard, but the plot and overall writing do little to assist him.
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11/19/08
Spider (2002)
Director: David Cronenberg (The Fly, A History of Violence [never seen a bad movie by him])
Stars: Ralph Fiennes (Schindler's List, Maid in Manhattan)
Miranda Richardson (she's been in tons of movies but nothing I have a strong opinion of, Sleepy Hollow)
YesNoSoso: 2
Spider may have gotten a cheap YesNoSoso 2 merely because I'm not entirely sure what happened in the movie and require a second viewing just to be sure. But I suppose the fact that I desire to see it again is a testament to it being legitimately good. Story centers around a schizophrenic man just released from the hospital trying to piece together the past that put him there in the first place.
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Stars: Ralph Fiennes (Schindler's List, Maid in Manhattan)
Miranda Richardson (she's been in tons of movies but nothing I have a strong opinion of, Sleepy Hollow)
YesNoSoso: 2
Spider may have gotten a cheap YesNoSoso 2 merely because I'm not entirely sure what happened in the movie and require a second viewing just to be sure. But I suppose the fact that I desire to see it again is a testament to it being legitimately good. Story centers around a schizophrenic man just released from the hospital trying to piece together the past that put him there in the first place.
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For Your Consideration (2006)
Director: Christopher Guest (Best in Show, Almost Heroes)
Stars: Catherine O'Hara (Home Alone, Orange County)
Eugene Levy (American Pie, Armed and Dangerous)
YesNoSoso: 1
If you enjoy Christopher Guest style mockumentaries (This is Spinal Tap, Best in Show) then this movie is definitely worth checking out, but don't expect it to be as funny. Ricky Gervais makes a great cameo but mostly its just more of the same, which is good enough for a viewing but nothing to get too excited for.
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Stars: Catherine O'Hara (Home Alone, Orange County)
Eugene Levy (American Pie, Armed and Dangerous)
YesNoSoso: 1
If you enjoy Christopher Guest style mockumentaries (This is Spinal Tap, Best in Show) then this movie is definitely worth checking out, but don't expect it to be as funny. Ricky Gervais makes a great cameo but mostly its just more of the same, which is good enough for a viewing but nothing to get too excited for.
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A Place in the Sun (1951)
Director: George Stevens (Shane, Giant)
Stars: Montgomery Clift (From Here to Eternity, never seen anything else)
Elizabeth Taylor (Whose Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, The Flinstones)
YesNoSoso: 2
An awesome movie. This was one of the AFI 100 that I thought I would hate, but ended up really enjoying. Not just for the sentimentality of it being considered one of the greatest movies of all time, for its honest to God entertainment value. I find a lot of these movies were perhaps original at the time of its making, but lose its luster over the years. A Place in the Sun maintains a stark amount of inventive orginanality.
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Stars: Montgomery Clift (From Here to Eternity, never seen anything else)
Elizabeth Taylor (Whose Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, The Flinstones)
YesNoSoso: 2
An awesome movie. This was one of the AFI 100 that I thought I would hate, but ended up really enjoying. Not just for the sentimentality of it being considered one of the greatest movies of all time, for its honest to God entertainment value. I find a lot of these movies were perhaps original at the time of its making, but lose its luster over the years. A Place in the Sun maintains a stark amount of inventive orginanality.
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Cabin Fever (2002)
Director: Eli Roth (Hostel, Hostel: II [that worked out nicely!!])
Stars: Rider Strong ("Boy Meets World", My Giant)
James DeBello (Detroit Rock City, 100 Girls)
YesNoSoso: 2
I am definitely going to get shit for this, but I actually liked this movie. As I stated in the 28 Weeks Later post, I love a good Horror movie but hate 99.99% of the genre. I thought this was fresh take on an old concept, executed extremely well.
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Stars: Rider Strong ("Boy Meets World", My Giant)
James DeBello (Detroit Rock City, 100 Girls)
YesNoSoso: 2
I am definitely going to get shit for this, but I actually liked this movie. As I stated in the 28 Weeks Later post, I love a good Horror movie but hate 99.99% of the genre. I thought this was fresh take on an old concept, executed extremely well.
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Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (1992)
Director: David Lynch (Muholland Drive, I'm sure he's done bad movies, but I don't know any)
Stars: Sheryl Lee (Wild at Heart, John Carpenter's: Vampires)
Chris Issak (That Thing You Do!, A Dirty Shame)
YesNoSoso: 1
Warning: the YesNoSoso rating of 1 is contingent on on seeing, and enjoying, the Twin Peaks television show. If you haven't seen the show, do not see this movie. You will be confused and quite honestly it will be one of the worst movies you have ever seen. If you have seen the Twin Peaks TV show, this movie will be at best a giant disapointment, but neccessary to fully absorb as much of the Twin Peaks universe as possible.
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Stars: Sheryl Lee (Wild at Heart, John Carpenter's: Vampires)
Chris Issak (That Thing You Do!, A Dirty Shame)
YesNoSoso: 1
Warning: the YesNoSoso rating of 1 is contingent on on seeing, and enjoying, the Twin Peaks television show. If you haven't seen the show, do not see this movie. You will be confused and quite honestly it will be one of the worst movies you have ever seen. If you have seen the Twin Peaks TV show, this movie will be at best a giant disapointment, but neccessary to fully absorb as much of the Twin Peaks universe as possible.
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The Last Kiss (2006)
Director: Tony Goldwyn (The only movie's he's directed, he's the bad guy in Ghost)
Stars: Zach Braff (Garden State, Chicken Little)
Casey Affleck (The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, Ocean's Twelve)
YesNoSoso: 2
Its a Paul Haggis screenplay and so far in his career that pretty much guarantees a solid movie. What Crash is to racial issues, The Last Kiss is to relationship issues. Its all here, newly weds, newly engaged, long term marriages, all going down in a blaze of depressing glory. If you have a strong stomach for depression, and/or aren't in a fragile relationship, check it out.
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Stars: Zach Braff (Garden State, Chicken Little)
Casey Affleck (The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, Ocean's Twelve)
YesNoSoso: 2
Its a Paul Haggis screenplay and so far in his career that pretty much guarantees a solid movie. What Crash is to racial issues, The Last Kiss is to relationship issues. Its all here, newly weds, newly engaged, long term marriages, all going down in a blaze of depressing glory. If you have a strong stomach for depression, and/or aren't in a fragile relationship, check it out.
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Maria Full of Grace (2004)
Director: Joshua Marston (nothing else really)
Stars: Catalina Sandino Moreno (Fast Food Nation, Che)
Some other Latino people
YesNoSoso: 2
Drug Mules and Jesus references? SOLD! The film tells the story of a 17 year old Colombian who becomes a drug mule. Its subtitles so if reading ain't your strong suit you may want to skip it, but for those of you with a 3rd grade education this movie will provide a solid dose of entertainment.
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Stars: Catalina Sandino Moreno (Fast Food Nation, Che)
Some other Latino people
YesNoSoso: 2
Drug Mules and Jesus references? SOLD! The film tells the story of a 17 year old Colombian who becomes a drug mule. Its subtitles so if reading ain't your strong suit you may want to skip it, but for those of you with a 3rd grade education this movie will provide a solid dose of entertainment.
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Dancer in the Dark (2000)
Director: Lars Von Trier (some foreign crap I've never heard of)
Stars: Bjork (she sings and stuff, never heard of any of her other movies)
Catherine Deneuve (Repulsion, french movies I've never seen [I know, running theme])
YesNoSoso: 2
I know its kind of a musical so I SHOULD hate it. But its dark as hell and I love that. I guess the simple juxtaposition of the musical aspects and extremely depressing storylines were enough to warm me up. Well not literally, this movie is depressing as a dead puppy.
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Stars: Bjork (she sings and stuff, never heard of any of her other movies)
Catherine Deneuve (Repulsion, french movies I've never seen [I know, running theme])
YesNoSoso: 2
I know its kind of a musical so I SHOULD hate it. But its dark as hell and I love that. I guess the simple juxtaposition of the musical aspects and extremely depressing storylines were enough to warm me up. Well not literally, this movie is depressing as a dead puppy.
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Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942)
Director: Michael Curtiz (Casablanca, never heard of anything else)
Stars: James Cagney (haven't really heard of anything else, I suppose he was famous cause I know his name)
I'm not even gonna attempt a second star
YesNoSoso: 0
I'm sure George C Cohan was an amazing patriot deserving of our respect, but unfortunately for him and his legacy his movie sucks. Although teetering on the AFI 100 @ 100, there's no way this should be on it while Requiem for a Dream is not.
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Stars: James Cagney (haven't really heard of anything else, I suppose he was famous cause I know his name)
I'm not even gonna attempt a second star
YesNoSoso: 0
I'm sure George C Cohan was an amazing patriot deserving of our respect, but unfortunately for him and his legacy his movie sucks. Although teetering on the AFI 100 @ 100, there's no way this should be on it while Requiem for a Dream is not.
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Singin' in the Rain (1952)
Director: Stanley Donan and Gene Kelly (I'll pass on examples since it was a joint effort)
Stars: Gene Kelly (An American in Paris, The Magic Lamp)
Debbie Reynolds (How the West was Won, too many to pick one)
YesNoSoso: 1
As stated on numerous occasions, I fucking hate musicals. If you like musicals, this movie would probably fall into an emphatic YesNoSoso 2, but you not me so shut up. There were impressive moments and was somewhat entertaining, but it was still roughly 2.5 hours of a dude singing and dancing.
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Stars: Gene Kelly (An American in Paris, The Magic Lamp)
Debbie Reynolds (How the West was Won, too many to pick one)
YesNoSoso: 1
As stated on numerous occasions, I fucking hate musicals. If you like musicals, this movie would probably fall into an emphatic YesNoSoso 2, but you not me so shut up. There were impressive moments and was somewhat entertaining, but it was still roughly 2.5 hours of a dude singing and dancing.
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11/18/08
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007)
Director: Andrew Dominick (No movies before this but Chopper and I've never seen it)
Stars: Brad Pitt (12 Monkeys, Troy)
Casey Affleck (Gone Baby Gone, Soul Survivors)
YesNoSoso: 2
If this movie was 45 mins shorter it would've been one of my favorites of all time. Still amazing, with inventive and stunning cinematography, excellent character development and phenomenal acting, its only fault is dragging on a bit too long. The Narrator is some guy named Hugh Ross, just like Alec Baldwin in The Royal Tennebaums and Morgan Freeman in Any Time He Opens his Mouth, is an integral and vital addition.
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Stars: Brad Pitt (12 Monkeys, Troy)
Casey Affleck (Gone Baby Gone, Soul Survivors)
YesNoSoso: 2
If this movie was 45 mins shorter it would've been one of my favorites of all time. Still amazing, with inventive and stunning cinematography, excellent character development and phenomenal acting, its only fault is dragging on a bit too long. The Narrator is some guy named Hugh Ross, just like Alec Baldwin in The Royal Tennebaums and Morgan Freeman in Any Time He Opens his Mouth, is an integral and vital addition.
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11/12/08
The Good Shepard (2006)
Director: Robert De Niro (A Bronx Tale [the only other movie he's directed])
Stars: Matt Damon (The Born Identity, Ocean's Twelve)
Angelina Jolie (Changeling, Original Sin)
YesNoSoso: 2
Solid Spy Flick. It can get a little convoluted at times, but I will take an aggressive story line over some watered down bullshit any day of the week. Amazing performances from a slew of actors ranging from Alec Baldwin and Joe Pesci, to John Turturro and Billy Crudup.
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Stars: Matt Damon (The Born Identity, Ocean's Twelve)
Angelina Jolie (Changeling, Original Sin)
YesNoSoso: 2
Solid Spy Flick. It can get a little convoluted at times, but I will take an aggressive story line over some watered down bullshit any day of the week. Amazing performances from a slew of actors ranging from Alec Baldwin and Joe Pesci, to John Turturro and Billy Crudup.
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Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurii (1999)
Director: Jim Jarmusch (Dead Man, Coffee and Cigarettes [both awesome])
Stars: Forest Whitaker (Bird, Phenomenom)
RZA [in a very small role, but I don't know anyone else in the movie] (American Gangster, Derailed)
YesNoSoso: 2
So fucking awesome. I can't even fully put my finger on why I loved this movie so much, but I did get off your ass and see it. Forest plays a calm and, dare I say, badass gheto-fied ninja fucking up some mobsters and RZA does the soundtrack. RZA has a cameo late in the movie which is incredible in its simplistic glory.
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Stars: Forest Whitaker (Bird, Phenomenom)
RZA [in a very small role, but I don't know anyone else in the movie] (American Gangster, Derailed)
YesNoSoso: 2
So fucking awesome. I can't even fully put my finger on why I loved this movie so much, but I did get off your ass and see it. Forest plays a calm and, dare I say, badass gheto-fied ninja fucking up some mobsters and RZA does the soundtrack. RZA has a cameo late in the movie which is incredible in its simplistic glory.
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11/5/08
House of Sand and Fog (2003)
Director: Vadim Perelman (first full feature film)
Stars: Jennifer Connelly (Requiem for a Dream, The Rocketeer)
Ben Kingsley (Schindler's List, The Love Guru)
YesNoSoso: 2
I didn't quite realize how good both of these actors were until I looked up there resume's. It was really difficult to find a truely bad movie they were each in and even more difficult to pick just one great one. Their performances in this tragedy is no exception. Original story, poignant direction and a great ending.
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Stars: Jennifer Connelly (Requiem for a Dream, The Rocketeer)
Ben Kingsley (Schindler's List, The Love Guru)
YesNoSoso: 2
I didn't quite realize how good both of these actors were until I looked up there resume's. It was really difficult to find a truely bad movie they were each in and even more difficult to pick just one great one. Their performances in this tragedy is no exception. Original story, poignant direction and a great ending.
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10/30/08
Run Ronnie Run (2002)
Director: Troy Miller ("Tenacious D", Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd)
Stars: David Cross ("Arrested Development, Scary Movie 2)
Bob Odenkirk (Melvin Goes to Dinner, My Big Fat Independent Movie)
YesNoSoso: 0
It really pains me to give Run Ronnie Run a YesNoSoso 0, because I love Mr. Show and basically anything David Cross and Bob Odenkirk do. But this movie just wasn't funny. And without it being funny its just weird. And not interesting wierd. Just wierd. And Boring.
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Stars: David Cross ("Arrested Development, Scary Movie 2)
Bob Odenkirk (Melvin Goes to Dinner, My Big Fat Independent Movie)
YesNoSoso: 0
It really pains me to give Run Ronnie Run a YesNoSoso 0, because I love Mr. Show and basically anything David Cross and Bob Odenkirk do. But this movie just wasn't funny. And without it being funny its just weird. And not interesting wierd. Just wierd. And Boring.
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Layer Cake (2004)
Director: Matthew Vaughn (Stardust [awesome and his only other film as of 2008])
Stars: Daniel Craig (Casino Royale, I Dreamed of Africa)
Tom Hardy (Marie Antoinette, Star Trek: Nemesis)
YesNoSoso: 1
Pretty solid action flick. Sienna Miller in her lingerie getup make it more than worth a YesNoSoso 1. Word has it, this was the film that landed Daniel Craig his role in Bond. And after looking over his Bio on IMDB I would just like to say Kudos. He was real good in a number of real good movies before hitting it big with Bond and I like to see actors grind it out and finally make it. Definatley worth checking out.
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Stars: Daniel Craig (Casino Royale, I Dreamed of Africa)
Tom Hardy (Marie Antoinette, Star Trek: Nemesis)
YesNoSoso: 1
Pretty solid action flick. Sienna Miller in her lingerie getup make it more than worth a YesNoSoso 1. Word has it, this was the film that landed Daniel Craig his role in Bond. And after looking over his Bio on IMDB I would just like to say Kudos. He was real good in a number of real good movies before hitting it big with Bond and I like to see actors grind it out and finally make it. Definatley worth checking out.
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Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006)
Director: Adam McKay (Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgandy, Step Brothers)
Stars: Will Ferrell (Old School, Kicking and Screaming)
John C Reilly (Magnolia, The Perfect Storm)
YesNoSoso: 1
I didn't think this movie was anything special or particularly funny. I will, however, allow that it could be on that short list of movies that underwhelmed me on first view but then grew in respect over time (e.g. The Big Lebowski, Anchorman, Office Space). But I doubt it. Those movies shared the common trait of being extremely quotable AND edgy. Based on the lack of pop culture references we've encountered in the years since this movie came out I would guess Ricky Bobby lacks that aura.
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Stars: Will Ferrell (Old School, Kicking and Screaming)
John C Reilly (Magnolia, The Perfect Storm)
YesNoSoso: 1
I didn't think this movie was anything special or particularly funny. I will, however, allow that it could be on that short list of movies that underwhelmed me on first view but then grew in respect over time (e.g. The Big Lebowski, Anchorman, Office Space). But I doubt it. Those movies shared the common trait of being extremely quotable AND edgy. Based on the lack of pop culture references we've encountered in the years since this movie came out I would guess Ricky Bobby lacks that aura.
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The Last King of Scotland (2006)
Director: Kevin MacDonald (One Day in September, haven't heard of anything else he's done)
Stars: Forest Whitaker (Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurii, Bloodsport)
James McAvoy (Atonement, Wimbledon)
YesNoSoso: 1
Nothing special. Seriously, I know it got a heap of praise but i didn't think there was anything to write home about this movie. Forest Whitaker is incredible, as always, and McAvoy does a great job, but there just wasn't anything particularly interesting about this movie. Hence the brevity of this review.
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Stars: Forest Whitaker (Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurii, Bloodsport)
James McAvoy (Atonement, Wimbledon)
YesNoSoso: 1
Nothing special. Seriously, I know it got a heap of praise but i didn't think there was anything to write home about this movie. Forest Whitaker is incredible, as always, and McAvoy does a great job, but there just wasn't anything particularly interesting about this movie. Hence the brevity of this review.
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Lucky Number Slevin (2006)
Director: Paul McGuigen (Wicker Park [sucked], haven't seen anything else by him)
Stars: Josh Hartnett (Sin City, Here on Earth)
Bruce Willis (The Sixth Sense, The Whole Ten Yards)
YesNoSoso: 1
Actually a pretty solid flick, barely missing a YesNoSoso 2 because it is TOO convoluted. I like confusing movies because, and call me crazy, I'm not entertained by the 10 regurgitated Hollywood bullshit storylines that get churned out year in year out. Hartnett and Willis are joined by a pretty solid cast of Morgan Freeman, Stanley Tucci, Ben Kingsley and Lucy Liu. Check it out, but don't watch it twice. The Classic YesNoSoso 1.
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Stars: Josh Hartnett (Sin City, Here on Earth)
Bruce Willis (The Sixth Sense, The Whole Ten Yards)
YesNoSoso: 1
Actually a pretty solid flick, barely missing a YesNoSoso 2 because it is TOO convoluted. I like confusing movies because, and call me crazy, I'm not entertained by the 10 regurgitated Hollywood bullshit storylines that get churned out year in year out. Hartnett and Willis are joined by a pretty solid cast of Morgan Freeman, Stanley Tucci, Ben Kingsley and Lucy Liu. Check it out, but don't watch it twice. The Classic YesNoSoso 1.
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Le Fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain (2001)
Director: Jean-Pierre Jeunet (The City of Lost Children, Alien: Resurrection)
Stars: Audrey Tautou (Dirty Pretty Things, The DaVinci Code)
Mathieu Kassovitz (Munich, I've never heard of anything else he's done)
YesNoSoso: 2
I like to pride myself on being able to enjoy a good movie regardless of its genre. Amelie is one of the movies I examples I use to prove this point. Its a total chick flick, romantic and sappy. But it is awesome. Incredible cinematography, captivating plot and just overall entertaining. One of a very select few chick flicks that I will gladly rewatch.
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Stars: Audrey Tautou (Dirty Pretty Things, The DaVinci Code)
Mathieu Kassovitz (Munich, I've never heard of anything else he's done)
YesNoSoso: 2
I like to pride myself on being able to enjoy a good movie regardless of its genre. Amelie is one of the movies I examples I use to prove this point. Its a total chick flick, romantic and sappy. But it is awesome. Incredible cinematography, captivating plot and just overall entertaining. One of a very select few chick flicks that I will gladly rewatch.
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The Seventh Seal (1957)
Director: Ingmar Bergman (Jungfrukallan, stuff you've never heard of)
Stars: Max Von Sydow (The Exorcist, Judge Dredd)
Some other Swedish actors
YesNoSoso: 2
This movie is not for everyone. As the tag says, its existential, which roughly translates to arty. If you can tolerate leaving a movie with more questions than answers and enjoy the challenge of figuring out meaning in obscure references, than you will find this movie an unparalleled work of art. Von Sydow is a knight returning from the Crusades to his plague ravaged homeland only to find Death waiting for him. In order to delay his death and see his wife one more time after 10 years away he challanges Death to a chess match. The film's exploration of the ideas of religion, athiesm and death are still fascinating and relevant today.
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Stars: Max Von Sydow (The Exorcist, Judge Dredd)
Some other Swedish actors
YesNoSoso: 2
This movie is not for everyone. As the tag says, its existential, which roughly translates to arty. If you can tolerate leaving a movie with more questions than answers and enjoy the challenge of figuring out meaning in obscure references, than you will find this movie an unparalleled work of art. Von Sydow is a knight returning from the Crusades to his plague ravaged homeland only to find Death waiting for him. In order to delay his death and see his wife one more time after 10 years away he challanges Death to a chess match. The film's exploration of the ideas of religion, athiesm and death are still fascinating and relevant today.
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The Philidelphia Story (1940)
Director: George Cukor (My Fair Lady, Zaza)
Stars: Cary Grant (Bringing up Baby, An Affair to Remember)
Katharine Hepburn (The African Queen, Olly Olly Oxen Free)
James Stewart (Vertigo, Rear Window [Both movies are on my top 10])
YesNoSoso: 2
Yeah I know, i broke convention with 3 stars in the header, but its legitimately a starting 3 and they are all incredible. Fantastic acting and a truly entertaining movie. A truly original and well-paced plot about a love square (There are 3 guys and one girl), end unpredictably.
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Stars: Cary Grant (Bringing up Baby, An Affair to Remember)
Katharine Hepburn (The African Queen, Olly Olly Oxen Free)
James Stewart (Vertigo, Rear Window [Both movies are on my top 10])
YesNoSoso: 2
Yeah I know, i broke convention with 3 stars in the header, but its legitimately a starting 3 and they are all incredible. Fantastic acting and a truly entertaining movie. A truly original and well-paced plot about a love square (There are 3 guys and one girl), end unpredictably.
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Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan (2006)
Director: Larry Charles (Masked and Anonymous, "Curb Your Enthusiam")
Stars: Sacha Baron Cohen (Ali G Indahouse, Madagascar)
YesNoSoso: 2
Incredible. I am one of those people that understand and respect the 'embarrassment' humor of Curb and Ali G, but can hardly stomach the awkwardness. If you could see a webcam of me watching Saw and then an episode of Curb without knowing which one I was watching when, you would guess them backwards. Borat is fucking incredible. I was worried that after an entire series, Borat's humor potential would be dried up, but just like Jackass (the original) it came off as a best-of-compilation despite it being all new material.
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Stars: Sacha Baron Cohen (Ali G Indahouse, Madagascar)
YesNoSoso: 2
Incredible. I am one of those people that understand and respect the 'embarrassment' humor of Curb and Ali G, but can hardly stomach the awkwardness. If you could see a webcam of me watching Saw and then an episode of Curb without knowing which one I was watching when, you would guess them backwards. Borat is fucking incredible. I was worried that after an entire series, Borat's humor potential would be dried up, but just like Jackass (the original) it came off as a best-of-compilation despite it being all new material.
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My Fair Lady (1964)
Director: George Cukor (The Philidelphia Story, Heller in Pink Tights)
Stars: Audrey Hepburn (Breakfast at Tiffany's, The Nun's Story)
Rex Harrison (Cleopatra, Dr. Dolittle)
YesNoSoso: 1
As explicitly stated earlier: I hate musicals. This movie achieved a YesNoSoso rating of 1 merely because of the exorbitant amount of famous songs that have come out of this movie. Seems like every annoying kitschy song that comes out of a >55 year old woman is from this movie. I know, not a ringing endorsment worthy of a 1 rating. I don't really care, see it or don't, your pathetic life does not interest me.
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Stars: Audrey Hepburn (Breakfast at Tiffany's, The Nun's Story)
Rex Harrison (Cleopatra, Dr. Dolittle)
YesNoSoso: 1
As explicitly stated earlier: I hate musicals. This movie achieved a YesNoSoso rating of 1 merely because of the exorbitant amount of famous songs that have come out of this movie. Seems like every annoying kitschy song that comes out of a >55 year old woman is from this movie. I know, not a ringing endorsment worthy of a 1 rating. I don't really care, see it or don't, your pathetic life does not interest me.
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An American in Paris (1951)
Director: Vincente Minnelli (Gigi, The Pirate [I've never hear of it either])
Stars: Gene Kelly (Singin' in the Rain, "The Love Boat")
Leslie Caron (Gigi, The Reef)
YesNoSoso: 1
I hate Musicals. Let that be known. But if you're going to watch a musical, you could do worse than this or Kelly's Singin' in the Rain. Some of the dance numbers are actually pretty impressive. And that's all my fragile virility will allow me to write positively about a musical.
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Stars: Gene Kelly (Singin' in the Rain, "The Love Boat")
Leslie Caron (Gigi, The Reef)
YesNoSoso: 1
I hate Musicals. Let that be known. But if you're going to watch a musical, you could do worse than this or Kelly's Singin' in the Rain. Some of the dance numbers are actually pretty impressive. And that's all my fragile virility will allow me to write positively about a musical.
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10/28/08
Happiness (1998)
Director: Tom Solondz (Welcome to the Dollhouse, Palindromes)
Stars: Phillip Seymour Hoffman (Boogie Nights, Twister)
Dylan Baker (Road to Perdition, Head of State)
YesNoSoso: 2
Not for the faint of heart. Dylan Baker plays an extremely three dimensional pedophile. The story revolves around three sisters, Lara Flynn Boyle is the oldest and most successful, Cynthia Stevenson plays the middle sister married to Baker's pedophile phychologist and Jane Adams plays the fuck-up youngest. Obviously has extremely racy content so I would pass it if you liked a movie like say...Titanic. If you like solidly acted, thought inducing films, Happiness is perfect for you.
Stars: Phillip Seymour Hoffman (Boogie Nights, Twister)
Dylan Baker (Road to Perdition, Head of State)
YesNoSoso: 2
Not for the faint of heart. Dylan Baker plays an extremely three dimensional pedophile. The story revolves around three sisters, Lara Flynn Boyle is the oldest and most successful, Cynthia Stevenson plays the middle sister married to Baker's pedophile phychologist and Jane Adams plays the fuck-up youngest. Obviously has extremely racy content so I would pass it if you liked a movie like say...Titanic. If you like solidly acted, thought inducing films, Happiness is perfect for you.
10/15/08
You Don't Mess with the Zohan (2008)
Director: Dennis Dugan (Happy Gilmore, The Benchwarmers)
Stars: Adam Sandler (Punch-Drunk Love, Little Nicky)
John Turturro (The Big Lebowski, Mr. Deeds)
YesNoSoso: 0
Holy Shit this movie is awful. The only redeeming quality (and I really wish there was a more absolute word than 'only') was the otherworldly hotness of Emmanuelle Chriqui, and even that was canceled out by her disastrous Palestinian accent. Seriously, I haven't heard accents this bad since James Coburn and Rod Steiger in Fistfull of Dynamite.
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Stars: Adam Sandler (Punch-Drunk Love, Little Nicky)
John Turturro (The Big Lebowski, Mr. Deeds)
YesNoSoso: 0
Holy Shit this movie is awful. The only redeeming quality (and I really wish there was a more absolute word than 'only') was the otherworldly hotness of Emmanuelle Chriqui, and even that was canceled out by her disastrous Palestinian accent. Seriously, I haven't heard accents this bad since James Coburn and Rod Steiger in Fistfull of Dynamite.
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10/7/08
My Own Private Idaho (1991)
Director: Gus Van Sant (Good Will Hunting, Psycho)
Stars: River Phoenix (Stand by Me, I Love You to Death)
Keanu Reeves (The Matrix, The Watcher)
YesNoSoso: 1
Not for the Homophobic. River and Keanu play what is described as hustlers which is a nice way of saying male whores. There are extremely graphic descriptions of what that entails. The story is loosely based on Shakespeare's Henry IV and V and I do like my Billy Shakes. Its also extremely stylized (another of my weaknesses), with the most graphic of scenes displayed as a series of shots of the actors standing still for the camera is various states of disarray. Definatley check it out, this may be one of those YesNoSoso 1's that over time become YesNoSoso 2's (See Big Lebowski, Office Space).
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Stars: River Phoenix (Stand by Me, I Love You to Death)
Keanu Reeves (The Matrix, The Watcher)
YesNoSoso: 1
Not for the Homophobic. River and Keanu play what is described as hustlers which is a nice way of saying male whores. There are extremely graphic descriptions of what that entails. The story is loosely based on Shakespeare's Henry IV and V and I do like my Billy Shakes. Its also extremely stylized (another of my weaknesses), with the most graphic of scenes displayed as a series of shots of the actors standing still for the camera is various states of disarray. Definatley check it out, this may be one of those YesNoSoso 1's that over time become YesNoSoso 2's (See Big Lebowski, Office Space).
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9/30/08
Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny (2006)
Director: Liam Lynch (Tribute Music Video, Sarah Silverman: Jesus is Magic)
Stars: Jack Black (Tropic Thunder, Shallow Hal)
Kyle Gass (Elf, Shallow Hal)
YesNoSoso: 1
The TV show on HBO was awesome but this movie is not. It contains some nice inside jokes for fans of the TV show, but not enough to satisfy true D fans' desires and too many for someone not familiar with the show. Its not overly funny but still entertaining. Look for Dave Grohl of Nirvana and Foo Fighters fame as the Devil.
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Stars: Jack Black (Tropic Thunder, Shallow Hal)
Kyle Gass (Elf, Shallow Hal)
YesNoSoso: 1
The TV show on HBO was awesome but this movie is not. It contains some nice inside jokes for fans of the TV show, but not enough to satisfy true D fans' desires and too many for someone not familiar with the show. Its not overly funny but still entertaining. Look for Dave Grohl of Nirvana and Foo Fighters fame as the Devil.
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Casino Royale (2006)
Director: Martin Campbell (GoldenEye, Vertical Limit)
Stars: Daniel Craig (Road to Perdition, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider)
Judi Dench (Shakespeare in Love, Chronicles of Riddick)
YesNoSoso: 2
There have been some awesome James Bond movies (GoldenEye, Dr. No) and there have been some awful ones (Die Another Day, Her Majesty's Secret Service). This is hands down my favorite. Creating a hero that is otherworldly and yet believable is a difficult task, truly and successfully done only a handful of times. Bond in Casino Royale is one of them.
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Stars: Daniel Craig (Road to Perdition, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider)
Judi Dench (Shakespeare in Love, Chronicles of Riddick)
YesNoSoso: 2
There have been some awesome James Bond movies (GoldenEye, Dr. No) and there have been some awful ones (Die Another Day, Her Majesty's Secret Service). This is hands down my favorite. Creating a hero that is otherworldly and yet believable is a difficult task, truly and successfully done only a handful of times. Bond in Casino Royale is one of them.
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Modern Times (1936)
Director: Charles Chaplin (City Lights, The Gold Rush)
Stars: Charles Chaplin (City Lights, The Gold Rush)
Paulette Goddard (The Great Dictator, Sins of Jezebel)
YesNoSoso: 1
The 1 YesNoSoso rating is generous. In my opinion, this is Charlie Chaplin's best film, but thats not saying much. You will not be enthralled, you will probably not even be mildly entertained, but everyone should see a Chaplin film and if you're limiting yourself to one, this should be it. Chaplin made this one after the development of "talkies" but chose to stay silent because he felt it was a more refined movie experience. Judging by other movies I've seen from this time period he may have been right. The only talking happens when someone is speaking through a machine or by actual machines. A nice touch and you know my hard-on for gimmicks. Also there are times when it actually made me laugh, albeit briefly and softly. But overall, its just boring. I appreciate it for the leaps it made in the artform, but its incomplete and antiquated.
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Stars: Charles Chaplin (City Lights, The Gold Rush)
Paulette Goddard (The Great Dictator, Sins of Jezebel)
YesNoSoso: 1
The 1 YesNoSoso rating is generous. In my opinion, this is Charlie Chaplin's best film, but thats not saying much. You will not be enthralled, you will probably not even be mildly entertained, but everyone should see a Chaplin film and if you're limiting yourself to one, this should be it. Chaplin made this one after the development of "talkies" but chose to stay silent because he felt it was a more refined movie experience. Judging by other movies I've seen from this time period he may have been right. The only talking happens when someone is speaking through a machine or by actual machines. A nice touch and you know my hard-on for gimmicks. Also there are times when it actually made me laugh, albeit briefly and softly. But overall, its just boring. I appreciate it for the leaps it made in the artform, but its incomplete and antiquated.
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Babel (2006)
Director: Alejandro Gonzalez Inirritu (21 Grams, Amores Perros)
Stars: Brad Pitt (Fight Club, Ocean's Twelve)
Cate Blanchett (Lord of the Rings, Bandits)
YesNoSoso: 2
Again, both movies listed next to Inirritu are great, he just really hasn't done anything else. Slightly convoluted, Babel follows four interwoven plot lines running all over the world. Exceptionally fine acting jobs from veterans Pitt and Blanchett but also from random Moroccan kids Inirritu found on location. If you don't mind actually using your mind this is an excellent movie.
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Stars: Brad Pitt (Fight Club, Ocean's Twelve)
Cate Blanchett (Lord of the Rings, Bandits)
YesNoSoso: 2
Again, both movies listed next to Inirritu are great, he just really hasn't done anything else. Slightly convoluted, Babel follows four interwoven plot lines running all over the world. Exceptionally fine acting jobs from veterans Pitt and Blanchett but also from random Moroccan kids Inirritu found on location. If you don't mind actually using your mind this is an excellent movie.
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Akira Kurosawa's Dreams (1990)
Director: Akira Kurosawa (The Seven Samurai, Rashomon)
Stars: Some Asian actors you've never heard of
Martin Scorsese (Taxi Driver, Bringing out the Dead)
YesNoSoso: 0
First off, both of those movies listed next to Kurosawa above are awesome so don't email me with wildly misplaced disgust and wrath. This is literally the only movie my Kurosawa that I've seen that I didn't like. Considered one of the best director's ever, Akira's movies have been remade into forms you are VERY familiar with. Next time you see George Lucas, ask him where the plot to Star Wars originated. But this movie sucks. Horribly. Pretentious art shots with English dialogue awkwardly written by Kurosawa. The only redeeming moment is watching Martin Scorsese (who considers Kurosawa one of his hero's) playing Vincient Van Gogh. Why Scorsese chose to read Kurosawa's dialogue without rewriting it in discernable English is one of life's great mysteries.
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Stars: Some Asian actors you've never heard of
Martin Scorsese (Taxi Driver, Bringing out the Dead)
YesNoSoso: 0
First off, both of those movies listed next to Kurosawa above are awesome so don't email me with wildly misplaced disgust and wrath. This is literally the only movie my Kurosawa that I've seen that I didn't like. Considered one of the best director's ever, Akira's movies have been remade into forms you are VERY familiar with. Next time you see George Lucas, ask him where the plot to Star Wars originated. But this movie sucks. Horribly. Pretentious art shots with English dialogue awkwardly written by Kurosawa. The only redeeming moment is watching Martin Scorsese (who considers Kurosawa one of his hero's) playing Vincient Van Gogh. Why Scorsese chose to read Kurosawa's dialogue without rewriting it in discernable English is one of life's great mysteries.
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Flags of Our Fathers (2006)
Director: Clint Eastwood (Unforgiven, Space Cowboys)
Stars: Ryan Phillippe (Crash, Antitrust)
Adam Beach (Law and Order: SVU, Mystery, Alaska)
YesNoSoso: 1
Before perusing Clint Eastwood's IMDB page, I would've said he's a great director. I still do love alot of the movies he's directed (Mystic River, Unforgiven, Million Dollar Baby) but I was unaware of how many terrible movies he's helmed (Space Cowboys, Blood Work, Firefox). This movie isn't horrible, its just boring. I've never seen, but heard very good things about the companion peice to Flags, Sands of Iwo Jima, but this one was, as I said, boring. Like if The French Connection was about the paperwork Popeye Doyle had to do after the drug bust, instead of the actual crime.
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Stars: Ryan Phillippe (Crash, Antitrust)
Adam Beach (Law and Order: SVU, Mystery, Alaska)
YesNoSoso: 1
Before perusing Clint Eastwood's IMDB page, I would've said he's a great director. I still do love alot of the movies he's directed (Mystic River, Unforgiven, Million Dollar Baby) but I was unaware of how many terrible movies he's helmed (Space Cowboys, Blood Work, Firefox). This movie isn't horrible, its just boring. I've never seen, but heard very good things about the companion peice to Flags, Sands of Iwo Jima, but this one was, as I said, boring. Like if The French Connection was about the paperwork Popeye Doyle had to do after the drug bust, instead of the actual crime.
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9/25/08
Magnolia (1999)
Director: Paul Thomas Anderson (Boogie Nights, Punch-Drunk Love)
Stars: Tom Cruise (Top Gun, Cocktail)
John C. Reilly (Boogie Nights, Never Been Kissed)
YesNoSoso: 2
Yes, I know. The ending is weird. But this movie is awesome. As evidenced by incredibly long uncut shots and immense casts of complex characters, Paul Thomas Anderson is one of today's elite director's. There are 9+ main character story lines, all seemingly separate but seamlessly connected by the end. Play Where's Waldo with the numbers 8 and 2. The story loosely follows that of Exodus 8:2 from that really famous book whose name is escaping me...
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Stars: Tom Cruise (Top Gun, Cocktail)
John C. Reilly (Boogie Nights, Never Been Kissed)
YesNoSoso: 2
Yes, I know. The ending is weird. But this movie is awesome. As evidenced by incredibly long uncut shots and immense casts of complex characters, Paul Thomas Anderson is one of today's elite director's. There are 9+ main character story lines, all seemingly separate but seamlessly connected by the end. Play Where's Waldo with the numbers 8 and 2. The story loosely follows that of Exodus 8:2 from that really famous book whose name is escaping me...
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The Brothers Grimm (2005)
Director: Terry Gilliam (Brazil, The Fisher King)
Stars: Matt Damon (Good Will Hunting, Stuck on You)
Heath Ledger (The Dark Knight, A Knight's Tale)
YesNoSoso: 1
I love Terry Gilliam. Seriously, I want to take him behind the middle school and get him pregnant. He's made two of my all time favorite movies (12 Monkeys and Brazil), was a member of Monty Python and is one of the few truly experimental directors in main stream film. Unfortunatley, with experimentation comes occasional failure and Brothers Grimm is one of those failures. I still found it enjoyable, especially Gilliam's dark take on classic Grimm fairy tales, but as a whole it just misses. The execution just seems kind of haphazard and the story fractured. Oh, and Monica Bellucci is a goddess.
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Stars: Matt Damon (Good Will Hunting, Stuck on You)
Heath Ledger (The Dark Knight, A Knight's Tale)
YesNoSoso: 1
I love Terry Gilliam. Seriously, I want to take him behind the middle school and get him pregnant. He's made two of my all time favorite movies (12 Monkeys and Brazil), was a member of Monty Python and is one of the few truly experimental directors in main stream film. Unfortunatley, with experimentation comes occasional failure and Brothers Grimm is one of those failures. I still found it enjoyable, especially Gilliam's dark take on classic Grimm fairy tales, but as a whole it just misses. The execution just seems kind of haphazard and the story fractured. Oh, and Monica Bellucci is a goddess.
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9/19/08
Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
Director: Jonathan Dayton & Valerie Faris ("Say it Ain't So" Weezer video)
Stars: Greg Kinnear (As Good as it Gets, Blankman)
Toni Collette (The Sixth Sense, Changing Lanes)
YesNoSoso: 1
I just didn't get it. It wasn't bad, I enjoyed watching it, but I didn't see anything special about it at all. Maybe everybody else fawning over it skewed my judgment, but I doubt it. Solid performances all around, and wonderful motif of failure, but that's about it.
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Stars: Greg Kinnear (As Good as it Gets, Blankman)
Toni Collette (The Sixth Sense, Changing Lanes)
YesNoSoso: 1
I just didn't get it. It wasn't bad, I enjoyed watching it, but I didn't see anything special about it at all. Maybe everybody else fawning over it skewed my judgment, but I doubt it. Solid performances all around, and wonderful motif of failure, but that's about it.
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Diner (1982)
Director: Barry Levinson (Rain Man, Envy)
Stars: Steve Guttenberg (Cocoon, Police Academy)
Tim Daly (Superman: the Animated Series, Dr. Jekyll and Ms. Hyde)
YesNoSoso: 2
If I didn't know about Diner and you told me there was a movie directed by Barry Levinson that stars Steve Guttenberg, Tim Daly, Paul Reiser and Daniel Stern I would probably kick you in the balls for informing me that such obvious proof of Satan exists. But this movie is quite good. Its funny and charming. Suprisingly this is due, in part, to the cast's performances. Its not that I don't like these people, I just don't generally like the cookie cutter bullshit they make. Every part in Diner is cast perfectly. Its like the origin of all these actors and every other movie they do is their character in Diner trying to act in another vehicle, with disasterous results.
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Stars: Steve Guttenberg (Cocoon, Police Academy)
Tim Daly (Superman: the Animated Series, Dr. Jekyll and Ms. Hyde)
YesNoSoso: 2
If I didn't know about Diner and you told me there was a movie directed by Barry Levinson that stars Steve Guttenberg, Tim Daly, Paul Reiser and Daniel Stern I would probably kick you in the balls for informing me that such obvious proof of Satan exists. But this movie is quite good. Its funny and charming. Suprisingly this is due, in part, to the cast's performances. Its not that I don't like these people, I just don't generally like the cookie cutter bullshit they make. Every part in Diner is cast perfectly. Its like the origin of all these actors and every other movie they do is their character in Diner trying to act in another vehicle, with disasterous results.
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The Birth of a Nation (1915)
Director: D.W. Griffith (A bunch of old crap that sucks)
Stars: Lillian Gish (A bunch of old crap that sucks)
Mae Marsh (A bunch of old crap that sucks)
YesNoSoso: 0
This movie sucks so bad and is so long, it literally took me 3 weeks to watch it. I would watch 15 minutes, notice my hand slowly moving sharp objects towards my eyes, and have to turn it off. I don't care if its the first color movie of all time. I don't care if I should appreciate it for the time in which it was made. I don't care if its on the original AFI 100. The "color" is just feces tinted celluloid for three hours and the excrement color is an appropriate representation of the films actual content. Its racist, silent and is unequivocally the most boring thing I've ever seen. Fuck D.W. Griffith. I'm glad he's dead.
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Stars: Lillian Gish (A bunch of old crap that sucks)
Mae Marsh (A bunch of old crap that sucks)
YesNoSoso: 0
This movie sucks so bad and is so long, it literally took me 3 weeks to watch it. I would watch 15 minutes, notice my hand slowly moving sharp objects towards my eyes, and have to turn it off. I don't care if its the first color movie of all time. I don't care if I should appreciate it for the time in which it was made. I don't care if its on the original AFI 100. The "color" is just feces tinted celluloid for three hours and the excrement color is an appropriate representation of the films actual content. Its racist, silent and is unequivocally the most boring thing I've ever seen. Fuck D.W. Griffith. I'm glad he's dead.
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Rocky Balboa (2006)
Director: Sylvester Stallone (Rocky II, Stayin Alive)
Stars: Sylvester Stallone (Rocky, Driven)
Burt Young (Rocky, Back to School)
YesNoSoso: 1
To start off, my love of Rocky almost got a movie as God-awful as Rocky V a 1 rating, so the 1 rating for Rocky Balboa isn't exactly telling of its overall quality. It would have had to be really bad, like Rocky V bad, for it to not receive at least a 1. With that being sad, Rocky Balboa is a decent movie. It certainly doesn't live up to the solid awesomeness of the first one, nor the over the top ridiculousness of 3 and 4, but it is a surprisingly quality flick. Surprising because I, like most, thought it would suck. The theme of an older fighter looking to get "the beast" out was a nice touch and added legitimacy to this sequels forced existence.
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Stars: Sylvester Stallone (Rocky, Driven)
Burt Young (Rocky, Back to School)
YesNoSoso: 1
To start off, my love of Rocky almost got a movie as God-awful as Rocky V a 1 rating, so the 1 rating for Rocky Balboa isn't exactly telling of its overall quality. It would have had to be really bad, like Rocky V bad, for it to not receive at least a 1. With that being sad, Rocky Balboa is a decent movie. It certainly doesn't live up to the solid awesomeness of the first one, nor the over the top ridiculousness of 3 and 4, but it is a surprisingly quality flick. Surprising because I, like most, thought it would suck. The theme of an older fighter looking to get "the beast" out was a nice touch and added legitimacy to this sequels forced existence.
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Clerks II (2006)
Director: Kevin Smith (Clerks, Jersey Girl)
Stars: Brian O'Halloran (Clerks, nothingness)
Jeff Anderson (Clerks, nothingness)
YesNoSoso: 0
I enjoy the works of Kevin Smith, especially "Dogma", "Clerks" and "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back". He is extremely clever, vulgar and usually quite funny, but when his movie's miss, they miss big (Jersey Girl). I don't think I've given a Kevin Smith movie a 1 rating. Its not that this movie isn't funny, it is at some points, but its not as constantly funny as "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back" and that one was barely funny enough to make up for the lack of fundamental film elements. There is barely a plot to this movie, the acting is as expected from a comedy and there is zero novelty of style. The jokes are not even that witty, just shock value humor.
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Stars: Brian O'Halloran (Clerks, nothingness)
Jeff Anderson (Clerks, nothingness)
YesNoSoso: 0
I enjoy the works of Kevin Smith, especially "Dogma", "Clerks" and "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back". He is extremely clever, vulgar and usually quite funny, but when his movie's miss, they miss big (Jersey Girl). I don't think I've given a Kevin Smith movie a 1 rating. Its not that this movie isn't funny, it is at some points, but its not as constantly funny as "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back" and that one was barely funny enough to make up for the lack of fundamental film elements. There is barely a plot to this movie, the acting is as expected from a comedy and there is zero novelty of style. The jokes are not even that witty, just shock value humor.
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Children of Men (2006)
Director: Alfonso Cuarón (Y Tu Mama Tabien, Great Expectations)
Stars: Clive Owen (Sin City, Shoot 'em Up)
Julianne Moore (Boogie Nights, Evolution)
YesNoSoso: 2
I rarely speak in extremes, hence the blog devoted to rating movies on a 3 point scale, but this was the best movie of 2006 hands down. To tell you anything about it would cheapen its redonkulousness. If you haven't seen this movie, do so immediately. If you have seen this movie and disagree with my assessment of it, commit suicide immediately, you are unworthy of this world.
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Stars: Clive Owen (Sin City, Shoot 'em Up)
Julianne Moore (Boogie Nights, Evolution)
YesNoSoso: 2
I rarely speak in extremes, hence the blog devoted to rating movies on a 3 point scale, but this was the best movie of 2006 hands down. To tell you anything about it would cheapen its redonkulousness. If you haven't seen this movie, do so immediately. If you have seen this movie and disagree with my assessment of it, commit suicide immediately, you are unworthy of this world.
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The Squid and the Whale (2005)
Director: Noah Baumbach (I've never seen anything else by this guy)
Stars: Jeff Daniels (Good Night and Good Luck, Pleasantville)
Laura Linney (Mystic River, Congo)
YesNoSoso: 1
As will always be the case with movies that get a YesNoSoso 1, I don't have a lot to say about The Squid and the Whale. Solid acting performances from "Dumb", as well as the entire cast. The plot is intersting but not wholly original. I was entertained by this family drama but not overwhelmed.
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Stars: Jeff Daniels (Good Night and Good Luck, Pleasantville)
Laura Linney (Mystic River, Congo)
YesNoSoso: 1
As will always be the case with movies that get a YesNoSoso 1, I don't have a lot to say about The Squid and the Whale. Solid acting performances from "Dumb", as well as the entire cast. The plot is intersting but not wholly original. I was entertained by this family drama but not overwhelmed.
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28 Weeks Later (2008)
Director: Juan Carlos Fresnadillo (Intacto)
Stars: Robert Carlyle (Trainspotting, Eragon)
Rose Byrne (Marie Antoinette, Wicker Park)
YesNoSoso: 2
I love a good horror movie, but if forced to give the horror genre as a whole a YesNoSoso ranking it would be an emphatic 0. 99.999% of horror movies are awful. Same goes for sequels (It is the next installment of 28 Days Later). The Washington Generals have a higher success rate than the average horror film and are way more entertaining. That's why I'm so stoked when I come across a truley good one (I can think of very few horror movies or sequels with YesNoSoso 1's and even less 2's). 28 Weeks Later, however, pulls it off. The exploration of life after the virus is both believable and interesting. Many times sequels seem forced (Matrix Revolutions, Spiderman 3, almost every other sequel), but a truly good sequel subconsiously merges the subsequent plot into a encapselating story arc (Godfather II, Spiderman II). 28 Weeks Later accomplishes this rare feat in a very entertaining movie.
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Stars: Robert Carlyle (Trainspotting, Eragon)
Rose Byrne (Marie Antoinette, Wicker Park)
YesNoSoso: 2
I love a good horror movie, but if forced to give the horror genre as a whole a YesNoSoso ranking it would be an emphatic 0. 99.999% of horror movies are awful. Same goes for sequels (It is the next installment of 28 Days Later). The Washington Generals have a higher success rate than the average horror film and are way more entertaining. That's why I'm so stoked when I come across a truley good one (I can think of very few horror movies or sequels with YesNoSoso 1's and even less 2's). 28 Weeks Later, however, pulls it off. The exploration of life after the virus is both believable and interesting. Many times sequels seem forced (Matrix Revolutions, Spiderman 3, almost every other sequel), but a truly good sequel subconsiously merges the subsequent plot into a encapselating story arc (Godfather II, Spiderman II). 28 Weeks Later accomplishes this rare feat in a very entertaining movie.
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The King of Kong: Fistful of Quarters (2007)
Director: Seth Gordan (I've never seen anything else he's done but he's doing Four Christmases so I'm skeptical on his staying power)
Stars: Steve Wiebe (not an actor)
Billy Mitchell (not an actor, Perfect Pac-man Score)
YesNoSoso: 2
Jesus Tap Dancing Christ this movie was good. It follows impossibly nice, recently laid off Steve Wiebe as he tries to break cocky asshole Billy Mitchell's World Record on Donkey Kong. I spent the entire two hours unsuccessfully trying to figure whether King of Kong was a real Documentary or a Mockumentary in the style of Spinal Tap or Best in Show. Its real folks and even knowing that, the people, and the actions they take in this movie, will still lead you to question its legitimacy. See this movie immediatley.
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Stars: Steve Wiebe (not an actor)
Billy Mitchell (not an actor, Perfect Pac-man Score)
YesNoSoso: 2
Jesus Tap Dancing Christ this movie was good. It follows impossibly nice, recently laid off Steve Wiebe as he tries to break cocky asshole Billy Mitchell's World Record on Donkey Kong. I spent the entire two hours unsuccessfully trying to figure whether King of Kong was a real Documentary or a Mockumentary in the style of Spinal Tap or Best in Show. Its real folks and even knowing that, the people, and the actions they take in this movie, will still lead you to question its legitimacy. See this movie immediatley.
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Cars (2006)
Director: John Lasseter (Toy Story, Toy Story 2)
Stars: Owen Wilson (The Royal Tennebaums, Anaconda)
Paul Newman (Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Message in a Bottle)
YesNoSoso: 2
I love Pixar. Its as simple as that. I like to pride myself on being able to enjoy a good movie despite its genre and children films are no exception. With that said however, Cars is definitely of the bottom tier of Pixar films. I attribute this (fairly or unfairly) to the director. Lasseter's list of Pixar projects (The Toy Story's, A Bug's Life) trend noticably worse then his Pixar collegue Brad Bird (Ratatouille, The Incredibles [although Iron Giant is a YesNoSoso 0]). Despite being vastly overshadowed by Bird's masterpieces, Cars is still a beautiful work of art and very entertaining.
IMDB
Wikipedia
Stars: Owen Wilson (The Royal Tennebaums, Anaconda)
Paul Newman (Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Message in a Bottle)
YesNoSoso: 2
I love Pixar. Its as simple as that. I like to pride myself on being able to enjoy a good movie despite its genre and children films are no exception. With that said however, Cars is definitely of the bottom tier of Pixar films. I attribute this (fairly or unfairly) to the director. Lasseter's list of Pixar projects (The Toy Story's, A Bug's Life) trend noticably worse then his Pixar collegue Brad Bird (Ratatouille, The Incredibles [although Iron Giant is a YesNoSoso 0]). Despite being vastly overshadowed by Bird's masterpieces, Cars is still a beautiful work of art and very entertaining.
IMDB
Wikipedia
Cape Fear (1991)
Director: Martin Scorsese (Goodfellas, Michael Jackson's "Bad" Video)
Stars: Robert DeNiro (Raging Bull, The Fan)
Nick Nolte (A Thin Red Line, 48 Hrs)
YesNoSoso: 2
I know its sad that I haven't seen this movie until 2008, but it was well worth the wait. Anybody that knows me I'm a sucker for gimmicks and honoring classic works with homages and Cape Fear hooked me from the beginning. From classic Hitchcock/Film Noirish opening credits to the clever and unforced inclusion of the main stars of the original, Cape Fear can be appreciated on a number of levels. These artistic details are smoothly incorporated into a very solid movie displaying an excellent pace (just a side note, I see pace as the most "subconsious" barameter of a movies quality. How well a movie that progresses logically and enthrallingly is very crucial to the overall experience)
IMDB
Wikipedia
Stars: Robert DeNiro (Raging Bull, The Fan)
Nick Nolte (A Thin Red Line, 48 Hrs)
YesNoSoso: 2
I know its sad that I haven't seen this movie until 2008, but it was well worth the wait. Anybody that knows me I'm a sucker for gimmicks and honoring classic works with homages and Cape Fear hooked me from the beginning. From classic Hitchcock/Film Noirish opening credits to the clever and unforced inclusion of the main stars of the original, Cape Fear can be appreciated on a number of levels. These artistic details are smoothly incorporated into a very solid movie displaying an excellent pace (just a side note, I see pace as the most "subconsious" barameter of a movies quality. How well a movie that progresses logically and enthrallingly is very crucial to the overall experience)
IMDB
Wikipedia
9/9/08
Human Nature (2001)
Director: Michael Gondry (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Dave Chappelle's Block Party)
Stars: Patricia Arquette (True Romance, Medium)
Rhys Ifans (The Replacements, Little Nicky [i know they're both terrible])
YesNoSoso: 2
Totally underappreciated movie by one of my favorite directors. Gondry might not always hit with his outlandish ideas, but his movies are always unique and entertaining. Teamed with one of my favorite writers, Charlie Kaufman (Being John Malkovich, Adaptation) This story, of a scientist and a naturalist studying a man they found raised in nature, is actually considerably more "normal" then either the director's or writer's usual work. Human Nature is funny, incredibly intelligent and extremely entertaining.
IMDB
Wikipedia
Stars: Patricia Arquette (True Romance, Medium)
Rhys Ifans (The Replacements, Little Nicky [i know they're both terrible])
YesNoSoso: 2
Totally underappreciated movie by one of my favorite directors. Gondry might not always hit with his outlandish ideas, but his movies are always unique and entertaining. Teamed with one of my favorite writers, Charlie Kaufman (Being John Malkovich, Adaptation) This story, of a scientist and a naturalist studying a man they found raised in nature, is actually considerably more "normal" then either the director's or writer's usual work. Human Nature is funny, incredibly intelligent and extremely entertaining.
IMDB
Wikipedia
9/8/08
Tropic Thunder (2008)
Director (and Star): Ben Stiller (Zoolander, Permanent Midnight)
Stars: Robert Downing Jr. (Iron Man, Back to School)
Jack Black (Tenacious D, Shallow Hal)
YesNoSoso: 2
It's movies like this that make me regret my tertiary rating system. That is especially surprising knowing its a comedy and its main star is Ben Stiller ("I'm such a nice guy, but bad things happen to me!! OOH NO!). It just really is that good. I've heard rave reviews from casual movie goers that loved Starsky and Hutch (ugh) to hard core film geeks. Combine Robert Downing Jr showcasing his incredible acting ability with a genuinely witty commentary on the endless Hollywood bullshit train and you have a great movie that is hilarious, not just a hilarious movie.
IMDB
Wikipedia
Stars: Robert Downing Jr. (Iron Man, Back to School)
Jack Black (Tenacious D, Shallow Hal)
YesNoSoso: 2
It's movies like this that make me regret my tertiary rating system. That is especially surprising knowing its a comedy and its main star is Ben Stiller ("I'm such a nice guy, but bad things happen to me!! OOH NO!). It just really is that good. I've heard rave reviews from casual movie goers that loved Starsky and Hutch (ugh) to hard core film geeks. Combine Robert Downing Jr showcasing his incredible acting ability with a genuinely witty commentary on the endless Hollywood bullshit train and you have a great movie that is hilarious, not just a hilarious movie.
IMDB
Wikipedia
Beerfest (2006)
Director: Jay Chandrasekhar (Super Troopers, Dukes of Hazzard)
Stars: Broken Lizard (Super Troopers, Dukes of Hazzard)
Donald Sutherland (Mash, Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
YesNoSoso: 0
A number of people told me to watch this movie claiming that Broken Lizard had gotten back to their Super Troopers roots. They didn't. This movie sucks. I would say something more witty and degrading but I want the true horror of this movie to shine through. Do not see it.
IMDB
Wikipedia
Stars: Broken Lizard (Super Troopers, Dukes of Hazzard)
Donald Sutherland (Mash, Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
YesNoSoso: 0
A number of people told me to watch this movie claiming that Broken Lizard had gotten back to their Super Troopers roots. They didn't. This movie sucks. I would say something more witty and degrading but I want the true horror of this movie to shine through. Do not see it.
IMDB
Wikipedia
American Gangster (2007)
Director: Ridley Scott (Blade Runner, White Squall)
Stars: Denzel Washington (Training Day, Virtuosity)
Russel Crowe (3:10 to Yuma, Fightin 'Round the World)
YesNoSoso: 2
Solid movie driven by solid performances by Denzel and Crowe. Further helped by an incredible supporting cast that included great work by RZA, Common, Josh Brolin, TI and Ruby Dee. Plus Russel Crowe plays a jew.
IMDB
Wikipedia
Stars: Denzel Washington (Training Day, Virtuosity)
Russel Crowe (3:10 to Yuma, Fightin 'Round the World)
YesNoSoso: 2
Solid movie driven by solid performances by Denzel and Crowe. Further helped by an incredible supporting cast that included great work by RZA, Common, Josh Brolin, TI and Ruby Dee. Plus Russel Crowe plays a jew.
IMDB
Wikipedia
Atonement (2007)
Director: Joe Wright (Pride and Prejudice)
Stars: Kiera Knightly (Pirates of the Caribbean, Domino)
James McAvoy (The Last King of Scotland, Wimbledon)
YesNoSoso: 2
I was stunned. I know it was nominated for the Best Picture Oscar, but I expected a campy love story with beautiful cinematography and a cookie cutter plot. It had the cinematography but it was also incredibly entertaining on a number of levels. Great performances from all including youngun Saorise Ronan, interesting storytelling device and an excellent ending. A love story movie that can make me cringe with the gore of war? That's fun for the whole family.
IMDB
Wikipedia
Stars: Kiera Knightly (Pirates of the Caribbean, Domino)
James McAvoy (The Last King of Scotland, Wimbledon)
YesNoSoso: 2
I was stunned. I know it was nominated for the Best Picture Oscar, but I expected a campy love story with beautiful cinematography and a cookie cutter plot. It had the cinematography but it was also incredibly entertaining on a number of levels. Great performances from all including youngun Saorise Ronan, interesting storytelling device and an excellent ending. A love story movie that can make me cringe with the gore of war? That's fun for the whole family.
IMDB
Wikipedia
9/4/08
3:10 to Yuma (2007)
Director: James Mangold (Walk the Line, Kate and Leopold)
Stars: Christian Bale (Batman Begins, Shaft)
Russel Crowe (Gladiator, Mystery, Alaska)
YesNoSoso: 2
If you are a western fan, you should love this movie. Amazing performances from Christian Bale and Russel Crowe (I know shocking). I felt that Bale and Crowe should've switched parts, but that may be because I'm not the biggest Crowe fan and his character was more interesting. I will not lie, the ending comes a bit out of left field, but doesn't hurt the movie enough to warrant a pedestrian 1 rating.
IMDB
Wikipedia
Stars: Christian Bale (Batman Begins, Shaft)
Russel Crowe (Gladiator, Mystery, Alaska)
YesNoSoso: 2
If you are a western fan, you should love this movie. Amazing performances from Christian Bale and Russel Crowe (I know shocking). I felt that Bale and Crowe should've switched parts, but that may be because I'm not the biggest Crowe fan and his character was more interesting. I will not lie, the ending comes a bit out of left field, but doesn't hurt the movie enough to warrant a pedestrian 1 rating.
IMDB
Wikipedia
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