JULY:
Modern Times (1936)
OK...this is more like it. The Kid was excellent, but this is actually the sort of Chaplin film where I can begin to understand the icon status. Smart, entertaining sequences and a movie with some real soul. Great to see Chaplin's "Smile" in context. [I wrote more about it here.]
Repulsion (1965)
Chilling and effective. Polanski's soundtrack is what causes the most psychological damage, but the photography is also stunning. Catherine Deneuve gives a fantastic performance that happens largely behind the eyes. [I wrote more about it here.]
Princess Mononoke (1997)
OK...now I get it. As epic as anything in Miyazaki's catalogue, and particularly notable for being such a "hard" film - adults only; kids won't necessarily enjoy the gore and violence. Stunning from beginning to end. [I wrote more about it here.]
Repo Man (1984)
How did Emilio Estevez go from the complete cool-ness of this film to...Mighty Ducks? And more importantly, how did I miss this awesome little number in the 80's?? Truly fun - the soundtrack kills. [I wrote more about it here.]
The Night of the Hunter (1955)
Robert Mitchum absolutely gobbles up the scenery as one of the best villains I've seen. Sort of reminded me of a Cape Fear for kids - great expressionistic photography makes it a real classic!
Fracture (2007)
Solid mousetrap thriller that sees Anthony Hopkins dancing around Ryan Gosling like he's a Harlem Globetrotter. Hopkins in particular seems to have a lot of fun with his role - which is fun for everyone watching. Recommended if you're looking for a sturdy Sat night rental.
Nashville (1975)
There aren't very many movies like Nashville and there weren't many directors like Altman. This movies gets better with age - love that there's something new to find in the soundtrack with each viewing. Terrific cast. [I wrote more about it here.]
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007)
The plot was just ridiculous enough that I lost track of who was zooming who in the last hour, but there was still a lot of great eye candy and enough action to keep the movie fun. Depp has become an icon of his own by now, but it's Geoffrey Rush that steals the show, chewing up dialogue and floating more "Ahrrrs" than fill 100 pirate ships. Good monkey action also.
Diner (1982)
Another nostalgia-tinged 50's movie that transcends the formula by nature of its excellent ensemble cast. Funny that most of these actors are now sort of sidelined to supporting roles (Steve Guttenberg?) Great buddy-buddy film with impressive dynamics. [I wrote more about it here.]
Kickin' It Old Skool (2007)
This might be my guilty pleasure of 2007, because I really sort of enjoyed this. Embarrassing to admit, but the 80's jokes run fast and the 80's music is fun. Michael ("Lex") Rosenbaum was a pleasant surprise, cranking up his performance into full 80's heel mode.
Once (2007)
Brilliant. Perfect. Easily the best film of 2007. [I wrote a lot more about it here.]
Transformers (2007)
I was expecting it to be ridiculous, but I wasn't expecting to be...bored? The worst kind of Michael Bay excess from the blaring score to the countless explosions to the thin, thin characters. Was I supposed to care about the robots too? I didn't.
Superbad (2007)
Super filthy. Super hilarious. Can't remember the last time that I saw a high school movie that was this *hilarious*; Just like 40 Year Old Virgin and Knocked Up, the comedy is raw but the heart is there. Michael Cera is the real superstar here.
The Host (2006)
Good creature feature but to be honest, I was expecting a little more. Monster looked great but the story sagged a little and wasn't always clear. A little disappointing.
Days of Heaven (1978)
Stunning to watch. Story is engaging but the visuals and music are second to none. Love the period detail and the minimalistic dialogue.
The Ex (2007)
Finally a movie that answers the question "what happened to Charles Grodin?" Better than expected. Amanda Peet and Zach Braff have good chemistry and there are some real laugh-out-loud moments in the first half. Loved some of the cameos (hello Paul Rudd!)
A River Runs Through It (1992)
What could be more fun than Young Pitt channelling young Redford in Redford's variation on Legends of the Fall? The movie is a little too episodic to build the momentum it needs, but the photography is spectacular. Should make most people want to fish or at the very least go splashing around in a river.
City Lights (1931)
ere's one that didn't totally live up to the hype; I preferred Modern Times and virtually everything I've seen from Buster Keaton - still, an excellent and thoroughly fault-free classic. The boxing match was the highlight.
Being There (1979)
Peter Sellers makes it look easy, which probably means it isn't. A strange, quirky, wonderful and surprisingly modern little film. [I wrote more about it here.]
Starter for 10 (2007)
A very pleasant surprise - a fun 80's-era comedy with a fantastic vintage soundtrack. James McAvoy is great and clearly on his way to being a star. Recommended.
Nightwatch (2004)
Bah, a textbook example of style over substance: style is chaotic, loud and abrasive and the substance is...well, more than just a little silly. The plot was far easier to follow than I expected but I frankly didn't care about what was happening to the characters. Shame, I really wanted to like this one.
Alpha Dog (2007)
Much better than expected and actually pretty great; JT is excellent and certainly proves he can act, but it's Ben Foster that steals the movie, acting with the conviction of a man on fire. He is insane to watch.
The Last Temptation of Christ (1988)
Um...wow. Simply wow. [I tried my best to write about it here.]
The Conversation (1974)
Only sandwiched between The Godfather and Apocalypse Now could a movie like this feel like a "minor" work - by anyone other than Coppola it would be a career highlight. Hackman gives a restrained and internal performance that stands as a high watermark in his career. Also great to see Harrison Ford pre-blockbuster days...
Key Largo (1948)
Extremely top-level Huston pot-boiler produced in the same year as Sierra Madre; Edward G. Robinson provides a rich counterpart to Bogart's hero and with the two of them facing off, the movie really rocks and rolls; Bacall holds her own. Recommended as a spectacular "thunderstorm" movie - as the raging hurricane becomes a central plot point, there's nothing better than a real rainstorm happening outside. [I wrote more about it here.]
Gaslight (1944)
Gorgeous black and white photography, foggy London exteriors and deep Gothic interiors. A fun noir thriller with a world-class cast; Charles Boyer in particular channels his best 1940's Antonio Banderas. Surprising to see a young, young Angela Lansbury.
Romper Stomper (1992)
Russell Crowe is an animal in this movie and already a supernova on-screen. Racial violence and bleak, black worldview makes the movie one that I won't need to revisit anytime soon, but the one viewing was excellent.
Heathers (1989)
Ah, the anti-Hughes teen comedy classic! All of the sarcasm of 80's teen movies without all of that sweetness and sentimentality; this is still a black-hearted little movie full of good bile. Shame about the ending. [I wrote more about it here.]
Forbidden Planet (1956)
Forget about Lost. Cryptic islands, invisible monsters attacking the camp, mysterious hatches that lead to underground labs, exotic animals displaced in a strange environment (substitute tigers for polar bears!); it's all here! Terribly juicy 50's sci-fi filled with wonderful sets and a truly out-there premise (Monsters of the ID unite!!) Robbie the Robot genuinely rules.
Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon (2007)
A fun and clever twist on the slasher formula done with a solid sense of humour and a reverence for the genre. Nathan Baesel pretty much steals the film as the enthusiastic slasher-in-waiting and his best lines come when he breaks down the elements of the slasher-formula; I'm only disappointed that this was a largely bloodless affair - for a movie that shows this much affection for horror classics, it should have been floor-to-ceiling blood'n'guts in the last 20 minutes.
DOA: Dead or Alive (2007)
It's Mortal Kombat 2007; equally fun and monumentally ridiculous. This time the filmmakers have updated the MK formula with ample helpings of Hero, Charlie's Angels and Maxim magazine. Truly has to be seen to be believed. I'm embarrassed to confess that I'll probably watch it again...
I'm No Angel (1933)
A showpiece for the cartoon character known as Mae West, perhaps the ultimate movie cougar. The movie floats entirely on her charm, at her best when she's oozing come-ons and double entendres. Not for everyone, but a classic for fans of 30s comedies. [I wrote more about it here.]
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