Sexy Beast (2000)

Director: Jonathon Glazer (this was his first film, he has since directed something called Birth, which I haven't seen)
Stars: Ray Winstone (The Departed, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull)
Ben Kingsley (The Wackness, The Love Guru)
YesNoSoso: 1

This movie was entirely different than I was expecting. I suppose its a lack of sample size or plain old American naivity, but when I hear English gangster movie I think quick cuts, non-linear storylines and comic book like characters. Sexy Beast contains some amazingly in depth characters (Ben Kingsley was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar) but they are developed through good old fashion conflict and dialogue (mind you, I have NOTHING against the gimmicky style of, say, Guy Ritchie). Ray Winstone plays Gal, a former safe-cracker retired with his wife in Spain. Ben Kingsley plays a recruiter from the London underworld come to sign Gal up for one last job. A surprising amount of the movie centers around Kingsley's character trying to recruit Gal. Some of the best dialogue and scenes in the movie take place just as Kingsley asks him to do the job and Gal refusing.
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The Tao of Steve (2000)

Director: Jenniphr Goodwin (hasn't directed anything else)
Stars: Donal Logue (Zodiac, Runaway Bride)
Greer Goodman (nothing really else)
YesNoSoso: 1

Tao of Steve is on the surface a cookie cutter rom com. Womanizing man with low moral compass falls for a woman uninterested in his player ways, reforms and lives happily ever after with once disinterested woman. But Tao of Steve has some very witty dialogue and Donal Logue creates a truly complex character that you honestly care about. It has its funny moments and is definitely an enjoyable 2 hours.
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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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