Film 2011: Superlatives

Best Poster

DRIVE

THE IDES OF MARCH

SHAME

TAKE SHELTER

WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN


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Worst Poster

A DANGEROUS METHOD

EXTREMELY LOUD & INCREDIBLY CLOSE

MELANCHOLIA

Yes, director Lars von Trier has his own character poster, and it’s complete with his Cannes ‘Persona Non Grata’ stamp of approval…

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Top Ten Films

TAKE SHELTER

DRIVE

THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO

HUGO

MONEYBALL

THE DESCENDANTS

SUPER 8

SHAME

WIN WIN

50/50

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Best Director

Nicolas Winding Refn, DRIVE

David Fincher, THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO

Martin Scorsese, HUGO

Jeff Nichols, TAKE SHELTER

J.J. Abrams, SUPER 8

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Best Actor

Michael Shannon, TAKE SHELTER

Ryan Gosling, DRIVE

Michael Fassbender, SHAME

Asa Butterfield, HUGO

Paul Giamatti, WIN WIN

Brad Pitt, MONEYBALL

Joseph Gordon-Leavitt, 50/50

Joseph Gordon-Leavitt, HESHER

Steve Carrell, CRAZY, STUPID, LOVE.

Mel Gibson, THE BEAVER

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Best Actress

Rooney Mara, THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO

Charlize Theron, YOUNG ADULT

Brit Marling, ANOTHER EARTH

Tilda Swinton, WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN

Mélissa Désormeaux-Poulin, INCENDIES

Miranda July, THE FUTURE

Sophia Rois, 3

Kristen Wiig, BRIDESMAIDS

Saorise Ronan, HANNA

Viola Davis, THE HELP

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Best Supporting Actor

Rainn Wilson, HESHER

Ben Kingsley, HUGO

Kyle Chandler, SUPER 8

Brad Pitt, THE TREE OF LIFE

Bobby Cannavale, WIN WIN

Patton Oswalt, YOUNG ADULT

Jonah Hill, MONEYBALL

Alex Shaffer, WIN WIN

Philip Seymour Hoffman, THE IDES OF MARCH

Kiefer Sutherland, MELANCHOLIA

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Best Supporting Actress

Jessica Chastain, TAKE SHELTER

Evan Rachel Wood, THE IDES OF MARCH

Melissa McCarthy, BRIDESMAIDS

Anjelica Huston, 50/50

Cate Blanchett, HANNA

Octavia Spencer, THE HELP

Amy Ryan, WIN WIN

Helen McCrory, HUGO

Charlotte Gainsborough, MELANCHOLIA

Analeigh Tipton, CRAZY, STUPID, LOVE.

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Adapted Screenplay

Aaron Sorkin & Steven Zallian, MONEYBALL

Hossein Amini, DRIVE

John Logan, HUGO

Lynne Ramsay & Rory Kinnear, WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN

Steven Zallian, THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO

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Original Screenplay

Jeff Nichols, TAKE SHELTER

Dan Fogelman, CRAZY, STUPID, LOVE.

Diablo Cody, YOUNG ADULT

Thomas McCarthy, WIN WIN

Miranda July, THE FUTURE

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Cinematography

Newton Thomas Sigel, DRIVE

Jeff Cronenweth, THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO

Alwin Kuchler, HANNA

Adam Stone, TAKE SHELTER

Emmanuel Luzbeski, THE TREE OF LIFE

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Visual Effects

THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO

THE TREE OF LIFE  

SUPER 8  

ANOTHER EARTH

HUGO

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Art Direction

SUPER 8  

DRIVE

HUGO  

RANGO

WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN

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Editing

THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO

DRIVE  

CONTAGION 

MONEYBALL  

SHAME  

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Sound Editing/Mixing

THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO

TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY

TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON

TAKE SHELTER

DRIVE  

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Costumes

HUGO  

THE HELP  

SUPER 8 

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Makeup

HUGO  

TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY  

CONTAGION  

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Score

David Wingo, TAKE SHELTER

Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross, THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO

Michael Giacchino, SUPER 8

Cliff Martinez, DRIVE

The Chemical Brothers, HANNA

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Original Song  

“Shelter” (Ben Nichols), TAKE SHELTER

“Marcy’s Song” (John Hawkes), MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE

“Pictures In My Head”, THE MUPPETS

“Man Or Muppet”, THE MUPPETS

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Foreign Language Film

 

INCENDIES  

IN A BETTER WORLD  

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Animated Feature

RANGO  

RIO

CARS 2 

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Best Ensemble Cast

 THE IDES OF MARCH

(Runner-up: CONTAGION)

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Best Directorial Debut

Mike Cahill (II), ANOTHER EARTH 

Spencer Susser, HESHER

Dana Adam Shapiro, MONOGAMY

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Best Acting Debut

Brit Marling (Rhoda Williams), ANOTHER EARTH

Alex Shaffer (Kyle), WIN WIN

Anna Jacoby-Heron (Jory Emhoff), CONTAGION

Best Hero 

The Driver (Ryan Gosling), DRIVE

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Best Villain

Min-sik Choi (Kyung-chul), I SAW THE DEVIL

(Runner-up: Patrick Dempsey (Dylan), TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON)

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Most Unlikable Character

Rachel McAdams (Inez), MIDNIGHT IN PARIS

(Runner-up: Woody Harrelson (Dave Brown), RAMPART)

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Best Cries

50/50

SUPER 8 

HESHER  

THE DESCENDANTS

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Best Laughs

HORRIBLE BOSSES  

30 MINUTES OR LESS  

CRAZY, STUPID, LOVE  

CEDAR RAPIDS

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Best Scene

TAKE SHELTER (The one in the bunker)

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Best Action Sequence

HANNA (The one in the subway)

(Runner-up: HANNA (The one in the holding cell))

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Best Title Sequence

THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO (Possibly the best 2 & 1/2 minutes on screen this year)

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Best Title (Derived from the movie’s premise)

CONTAGION

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Worst Title (Derived from the movie’s premise)

THE ARTIST

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Best Trailer

THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO

(Runner-up: DRIVE)

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Best Soundtrack

DRIVE

(Runner-up: CRAZY, STUPID, LOVE)

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Best Use of a Non-Original Song

“Space Oddity” (David Bowie), 3

“A Real Hero” (College feat. Electric Youth), DRIVE

“The Concept” (Teenage Fanclub), YOUNG ADULT

“Immigrant Song” (Karen O), THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO

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Most Ambitious Film

THE TREE OF LIFE

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Most Surprising Film

SUPER 8

HANNA

THE BEAVER

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Most Disappointing Film

THE TREE OF LIFE

(Runner-up: MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE)

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Most Overrated Film

MELANCHOLIA 

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Most Underrated Film

WIN WIN

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Best Performance in a Bad Film

Ben Foster, THE MECHANIC 

(Runner-up: Patrick Dempsey, TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON)

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Worst Performance in a Good Film

Jennifer Lawrence, THE BEAVER

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Worst Film

KABOOM

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Biggest Gross Out Moment

LIMITLESS (The scene where, well… if you saw it, you know what scene)

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“The Happening” Award

(Presented to an unequivocally hilarious flick for which you had the most fun in a theater all year)

TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON

The Best Films of 2011

I don’t sit in while you’re running it down; I don’t carry a gun… I rank movies.


The Bottom Ten (Worst to Less Worse)

KABOOM (This incensed me), THE MECHANIC (Simon West, please remind yourself that you directed Con Air), TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON (Best of the series), MELANCHOLIA (I’m not on board with the love), MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE (Nice try, Sean Durkin, but you can’t craft a sense of paranoia worth a damn), MR. POPPER’S PENGUINS (Cute, but empty), LIKE CRAZY (I loved it as much as they loved each other), CARS 2 (I like Rango!), LIMITLESS (Shitty book, shitty movie), A DANGEROUS METHOD (Yawnnn)


The ‘Nothing to Write Home Abouts’

TROLLHUNTER - Interesting premise, not interesting execution

BEGINNERS - This film is incredibly boring; McGregor & Laurent are made of cardboard. Christopher Plummer is stuck in bad movie here… he’s great.

TINKER, TAILOR, SOLDIER, SPY - Also incredibly boring… I think I’m about 40 years away from the target demographic for Le Carre adaptations. Gary Oldman has put on much better performances.

MIDNIGHT IN PARIS - It’s cute, and it’s entertaining, but I couldn’t help thinking that the great cast was squandered; I found most of the acting to be quite wooden.

RED STATE - It held my attention, and I really enjoyed John Goodman’s role. Other than, nothing here to see.

IN A BETTER WORLD - One of the weaker films in Bier’s catalogue… a great exploration of the feud, big or small, but ultimately uninteresting.

I SAW THE DEVIL - A needlessly brutal revenge flick from the land of cinematic revenge, South Korea. Soon, Jee-woon Kim will be up there with Chan-wook & Joon-ho.

MONOGAMY - Saw this at one of Oscilloscope’s Circle of Trust screenings… a cool little program. It plods along and blows itself wide upon in the third act… lots of mediocre stuff going on wrapped up in a really hard to understand bundle. Good ideas that are not fleshed out to their full potential… great imagery, great improv, so-so direction and editing. I’m keeping an eye on directorial newcomer Dana Adam Shaprio, for sure.

THE TREE OF LIFE - The most pretentious and plot-less film of 2011, possibly of the decade. Gorgeous, alienating, seductive and ultimately disappointing on the whole.

THE MUPPETS - Cute & fun… I loved the tongue-and-cheek adaptation feature these classic characters.

RIO - Loved every minute of it… a fun distraction with lots of colors.

RUBBER - This one’s a ‘you gotta see it to believe it’ type of movie… it falls flat in the last twenty minutes, but it’s pretty funny and shot surprisingly well. I’m definitely on the lookout for Quintin Dipeux’s next film, Wrong, which debuts at Sundance this month.

OUR IDIOT BROTHER - Cute and funny, but it gets a little slight as it drags on. I honestly thought Parkey Posey was Elizabeth Banks the entire time, too.

SOURCE CODE - A perfect action movie for April… pretty much as average as Duncan Jones’ first feature Moon.

30 MINUTES OR LESS - Laughed my ass off! That was about it…

BRIDESMAIDS - It’s very unique, very funny, and it took risks script-wise, but in the end, it was just a romantic comedy where the woman has to be rescued from a shitty life by a man with power. Never ends.

HORRIBLE BOSSES  - This was my favorite movie of the year for a good couple of months… it’s really funny and really genuine. Sudekis, Bateman and Charlie Day are such a good crew.

CEDAR RAPIDS - Glad I caught this late in the year… it’s underdog doing-the-right thing story is a little tried and true, but this movie is FUNNY. I was a big fan of Artera’s Youth In Revolt last year when no one else was, and it seems to the case with Rapids again. John C. Reilly is damn hilarious; he’s had a banner year.

THE ARTIST - I feel bad putting this so far down on the list, because of the fact that it’s a 90 minute film that has no dialogue and it kept my attention. It’s this far down because, while being a silent black and white film, it has a very weak story. I don’t care that it’s an homage to the age of cinema where talkies took over… I don’t see where all of the love is coming from, but I understand why it’s coming in. It’s a love letter to the simpler times of cinema, and if it wins big on Oscar night, I won’t be upset.



The Top 25



25. THE HELP

Tate Taylor / 8.10.11 / Buena Vista

It’s a heart-breaking story… awesome performances throughout. Hopefully it gets some Oscar love!

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24. HANNA

Joe Wright / 4.8.11 / Focus Features

I did not think this would pop for me as much as it did… it’s incredibly simple, and light in story, but it makes up in the style department. It plays like a revenge fable. Extra kudos on the lensing and the awesome score by The Chemical Brothers.

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23. THE FUTURE

Miranda July / 7.29.11 / Roadside Attractions

A really sweet, sincere movie about post-adulthood… it’s not too hipstery/I wanna kill myself, but Miranda July is slowly becoming an indie favorite of mine. I liked where it was going, story-wise, but it kind of lost itself in the final act. Still loved it, though…

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22. THE BEAVER

Jodie Foster / 5.6.11 / Summit

I also did not expect for this to be awesome. When this was in development with Steve Carrell in the lead role, I figured it would be a gut-busting comedy… but, apparently it’s not, and it was a wonderful story with a heart-breaking, everything-doesn’t-always-work-out ending. I loved it, but it’s this far down because of an unnecessary romantic sub-plot with Anton Yelchin and Jennifer Lawrence as well as a slight lack of polish.

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21. INCENDIES

Denis Villenevue / 4.22.11 / Sony Pictures Classics

This definitely should have taken best foreign language film last year (Bier’s In A Better World won that). But damn it’s a doozy… most films with a twist ending like to rub your face in it, but in Incendies case, the whole film turns itself on end very secretly; it’s very well done. I like to think of this as a ‘foreign movie for people who don’t like foreign films.’ It has a very accessible story, and the characters are very relatable. 

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20. EXTREMELY LOUD & INCREDIBLY CLOSE

Stephen Daldry / 12.25.11 / Warner Bros.

Not that it’s a competition, but EL&IC made good and respectful use of it’s 9/11 subject matter, unlike a cheese-fest like World Trade Center. I liked this a lot more than I thought I would, and I’m glad I saw it. It’s a great tribute to 9/11, and it’s colossal tale of loss and recovery in the face of tragedy. Thomas Horn is awesome… he’s funny and his performance was really real; can’t wait to see him more in the future. Stephen Daldry has an uncanny ability to make good movies, but also make them seem really unlikable. I remember feeling the same way about The Reader in ‘08, but also ended up liking it more than I thought it would.  

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19. CONTAGION

Steven Soderbergh / 9.9.11 / Warner Bros.

It’s not as epic as it lets on (‘member when it was gonna be 3D?), but Soderbergh and master-stroke writer Scott Z. Burns craft a believable, relatively scary and thrilling ‘virus move.’ Some characters are wasted, as are their actors’ talents, but it’s a film in the field of films that Soderbergh does best…

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18. ANOTHER EARTH

Another Earth / 7.22.11 / Fox Searchlight

An entrancing tale of regret, love, desire and repentance set against that background of an enticing framing device: a duplicate Earth where our mistakes on this Earth might not be the same mistakes our duplicate selves have made… cool.

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17. RANGO

Gore Verbinski / 3.4.11 / Paramount

A really in-depth, violent, thinking man’s children’s movie. Really loved the existentialist themes and the countless references to countless westerns (and Fear and Loathing, obviously). An impressive piece of work by a relatively new team of animators, and Gore Verbinski. Congrats, you’re gonna beat Pixar this year! 

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16. WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN

Lynne Ramsay / 12.9.11 / Oscilloscope

Lionel Shirver’s 2003 novel of the same name serves as the source material for this mother’s horror story. For lovers of the book, myself included, it’s heart-wrenching to watch how much material was cut out of the story for the final film product. It’s also baffling to think how anyone who didn’t read the book would have an idea what’s happening in the entire film. I realize certain lines of dialogue and scenes are left out to make sure the film isn’t constant exposition, but even I was thinking to myself ‘what the hell part of the book was this?’ It’s a gorgeous movie with beautiful, muted cinematography, but Kevin and Eva, as characters, were criminally under-explored. After seeing what Swinton is capable of in films like Julia and Michael Clayton, I can say that her performance here is all but understated, considering the scope and sheer attitude of the Eva in the novel. Nevertheless, she is perfect for the role (and Ezra Miller, for that matter). Another knock is the music choices… totally not a right fit for the atmosphere that was crafted, and knowing what Jonny Greenwood is capable of from There Will Be Blood, his score was underwhelming. Taking all this into consideration, I can see myself watching this again and again for years to come… it just has that quality to it. I can totally see a Criterion release coming down the line.

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15. YOUNG ADULT

Jason Reitman / 12.9.11 / Paramount

I absolutely despised Diablo Cody’s Jason Reitman-helmed Juno back in 2007, but I had high hopes that this would not be as annoying, stupid, full of “hip” dialogue, etc. And that was the case… Cody and Reitman have crafted an honest, funny, real story about a woman scorned. Everybody knows that dumb bitch that they can relate to, but here, Mavis Gary has a reason to be scorned, and I believe her final act redemption definitely gets her character some sympathy from the audience (contrary to most critical opinion). Loved all the characters, loved the music, loved the resolution; my favorite Reitman movie since Thank You For Smoking.

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14. HESHER

Spencer Susser / 5.13.11 / Wrekin Hill

Also one of those cases where I cried more than I expected to… after being bounced around the schedule a bunch and after a distribution company had to be created in order for this to reach screens, I was skeptical of it being any good. But it was! I never thought JGL could be such a badass, and Rainn Wilson is still my number one favorite performance of a supporting actor in 2011. It’s really got something for everyone… a tear-jerking final act, grandma smokin’ pot, you name it.

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13. CRAZY, STUPID, LOVE.

Glenn Ficarra & John Requa / 7.29.11 / Warner Bros.

When critics and moviegoers were claiming this to be the best romantic comedy of, like, the last ten years… that’s a big claim; and it’s substantiated. It goes in so many different directions and still ends up converging on an amazingly funny scene that’s too good to even describe. Pretty much the best assortment of today’s bona-fide movie stars all in one movie, and a huge improvement on Ficarra & Requa’s I Love You Philip Morris.

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12. THE IDES OF MARCH

George Clooney / 10.7.11 / Sony

I’m surprised by how much I like movies about politics, because I hate politics in real life. Ides is arguably a scene by scene rehash of Mike Nichol’s 1998 film Primary Colors, a thinly-veiled take on Clinton’s road to the White House… it’s based on a play called Farragut North, which is supposedly some sort of take on Howard Dean’s presidential campaign (though I don’t remember Howard Dean doing a lot of the things George Clooney’s Mike Morris does in this film, do you)? Regardless, it’s a great film filled with 2011’s BEST ensemble of actors you could ever put together. And any film that features my favorite actress, Evan Rachel Wood, as a seductress who tempts The Gos is fine by me… 

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11. 3

Tom Tykwer / 9.16.11 / Strand Releasing

Some argue that this film only exists only so that the image on this image on the domestic poster could have a film to go with it… and that’s a pretty could argument. Just thinking about the logistics of a menage-a-trois relationship spins heads, and the logistics of trying to work it out in make for good film fodder. It’s good to see Tykwer return to foreign language (The International was kind of disappointing)… he’s crafted quite a film here.

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10. 50/50

Jonathan Levine / 9.30.11 / Summit

Jonathan Levine’s body of work, thus far, is widely unknown, and I implore anyone to check out All The Boys Love Mandy Lane and especially, The Wackness. 50/50 is good too! I 100% guarantee anyone will like this movie. Twenty minutes in you’re thinking to yourself “this is a Seth Rogen movie and nobody’s smoking pot yet!?” But then, people smoke pot, and it’s funny. But all pot, aside, this film has a great message, and the 50/50 thing means you’ll be laughing half of the time and crying half of the time, seriously. And see The Wackness

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9. WIN WIN

Thomas McCarthy / 3.18.11 / Fox Searchlight

Fox Searchlight was full of wonderful surprises this year (as well as wonderful disappointments, Tree & Martha). Win Win definitely factors in as a surprise… not that I wouldn’t expect a good movie from Thomas McCarthy (The Station Agent, The Visitor), but I didn’t necessarily expect a movie about a wrestling coach in debt to be any good… but it’s so good. Probably McCarthy’s best. We see Giamatti in a role that was pretty much built for him (why haven’t these guys worked together before), newcomer Alex Shaffer is awesome, and Bobby Cannavale is still in my top five of supporting performances of the year… the guy’s hilarious. Another one of those movies that anyone can get into and relate to.

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8. SHAME

Steve McQueen / 12.2.11 / Fox Searchlight

In a year where Michael Fassbender really made a name for himself, Shame is his crowning achievement, and hopefully a harbinger for greatness ahead. After you get past Carey Mulligan’s 25-minute rendition of New York, New York, Shame delves into the deepest depths of the horror of sex addiction; it’s not as fun as it sounds. Shame is probably, and I hate using the term, the most visceral film of the year, in terms of how real things get and how the in your face the story and cinematography develop the soul of Brandon. Not for the faint of heart of butt.

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7. SUPER 8

J.J. Abrams / 6.8.11 / Paramount

I saw this at a bargain theater for $1.50 in August because I figured it would be a great way to fuck the afternoon away. Little did I know it would make me laugh (a lot), and cry (a lot). Two 14-or-so-year-old boys and I were the only ones in the theater, and I was probably mumbled to myself  ’great, 14-year-old boys.’ Walking out, I was wiping my tears away, and they shot me a look like ‘yeah man, I know, right?’ It was great moment. Needless to say, J.J. Abrams has made his own little E.T. here (it’s definitely not a carbon-copy) featuring some of the best performances from children I’ve seen in years, as well as an amazing performance by Kyle Chandler. It’s a film for all ages, and especially a film for those who love film. 

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6. THE DESCENDANTS

Alexander Payne / 11.16.11 / Fox Searchlight

After The Descendants took the Golden Globe for best drama recently, I was kind of a weird moment… it’s definitely not the best drama 2011 had to offer, but it was nice to see it get the only big recognition it’s going to get as the season closes out. He’ll never top his role as Danny Ocean, but this role was built for Clooney, and he really knocks it out of the park. I don’t understand all of the awards love for Woodley, but she is great in this, as are a wealth of supporting characters that come out of nowhere. It’s nice to see a film that has a not so happy ending play out in a happy way, as well as have its characters be built out in the most detailed way in under two hours. Congratulations, Alexander Payne, your body of work continues to be outstanding. 

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5. MONEYBALL

Bennett Miller / 9.23.11 / Sony

I don’t really like watching baseball, that I will admit too. What I admit to less is my dislike for baseball culture, and sports culture in general, like people getting upset when their team loses, fans having animosity for another team’s fans, and the like. Onto Moneyball, a film seemingly crafted for baseball people. Originally set up with Steven Soderbergh at the helm, I’ve been pretty amped for Moneyball over the years, even when Capote’s Bennett Miller took over (Capote’s good!). I just never thought I’d actually like it as much as I did. It’s not just a film about having faith in your team (because it proves faith ain’t worth shit without the right players), but about having faith in yourself and others… it’s just perfectly framed over Billy Beane’s struggles with the A’s. And to boot, it’s not a classic underdog movie… idiot spoiler alert, but the A’s lose, a lot, and Billy Beane gets upset. It’s my favorite movie of the year featuring an Ocean’s Eleven cast member playing a single father, too (others include Matt Damon, Contagion AND We Bought A Zoo & George Clooney, The Descendants).

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4. HUGO

Martin Scorsese / 11.23.11 / Paramount

I saw this on a Saturday afternoon in a theater FULL of children… and they were silent and enthralled by this piece of cinema about cinema. Not to spoil anything, but the movie’s about a lot more than a boy in a train station looking for a key… it’s almost not about that at all. Which is the best part… not that it tricks you, but how the story goes to great lengths to be interesting. Hugo (Butterfield) says near the end of the film, I see that world as a big machine, and everyone here is a part that has a purpose, or something like that; it’s sweet. Asa Butterfield gives a performance that some grown men in the business wouldn’t be able to put on, he’s amazing. And Ben Kingsley is ready to be taken seriously again, in a big way. Throughout the film’s development, no one was on board with Scorsese directing a children’s film… though it’s not a GoodFellas or a Departed, it’s also not a children’s film. It’s really a film for anyone. 

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3. THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO

David Fincher / 12.21.11 / Sony

Fincher’s The Social Network was my favorite film of the year, just last year, so expectations for this were pretty high, also considering the he’s my favorite director. I knew this wouldn’t be as good as that, and it’s not. My obligatory response to ‘is it better than the Swedish one?’ is yes, it is better. Oplev’s adaption of the Larsson novel is a pulpy revenge/detective flick that has middle of the range production values. In the hands of Fincher, it’s still a pulpy flick, but it’s got additional layers that make you feel for the characters a hell of a lot more. In the end, it becomes a tale of a young girl scorned, which is way different than the ‘That’s Lisbeth!’ ending in the other one. Big big praise for the slick title sequence, set to the thumping re-do of Zepplin’s ‘Immigrant Song’ by Karen O (from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs). One word I’d like to assign to this film: it THROBS. From the incredible Reznor/Ross score (probably better than their previous Fincher score), to the fast cut-aways, to Jeff Cronenweth’s dark, dingy shots, it throbs. Also, props to the creative team for not ‘Americanizing’ another foreign property (like Matt Reeves’ moving Let The Right One In from Sweden to New Mexico (in Let Me In)). If you’re gonna adapt Swedish literature, you film it in Sweden, dammit.

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2. DRIVE

Nicolas Winding Refn / 9.16.11 / FilmDistrict

I hated Bronson, Refn’s 2009 feature starring Tom Hardy. It offered no implication that Refn (yes, pronounced “ref-in”) was a talented director; boring, spineless, and exploitative. Then comes Drive… a project where Ryan Gosling hand-picked Refn for the job of bringing The Driver to life on the big screen. And the rest is history, written in pink, gothic script. The film is a vehicle for Gosling’s star power, a film in which he, for the first time, is a movie star… but it’s more than that. It’s got a lot of style to spare, and features the best film representation of ‘seedy L.A. crime underbelly’ since Heat; seriously. I’m not crazy about Albert Brooks’ crime boss character (though he’s probably going to win an Oscar for it), or Carey Mulligan (better in Shame), but the feeling I got when the credits played just felt right. It’s more of a crime fairy tale, an amazing story of a hero who throws caution to wind to protect what he loves. Best soundtrack of ‘11, too, by far. Definitely the most quoteable movie of 2011, too.

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1. TAKE SHELTER

Jeff Nichols / 9.30.11 / Sony Pictures Classics

It’s tough to sum up how I feel about this film, and how perfectly it blew away my expectations. I liked Nichols’ first feature, Shotgun Stories, and expected to like this just as much, if not a little more. But what Nichols has created this time around captures paranoia, dread and the paternal instinct better than any film I’ve seen in years. Michael Shannon gives an incredible performance, my favorite of the year by far, and Jessica Chastain, my favorite for supporting performance, plays through all kinds of emotions, but ultimately channels the benefit of the doubt like no other. One of the final scenes got me the most for its effortless ability to hold the tension through almost ten minutes of high-wire paranoia. Then as soon as you think it ends, it pulls out an epilogue that turns everything on its head. One thing that pulls it all together is David Wingo’s plinky, haunting score. ‘Haunting’ is a word thrown around a lot when talking music, but his music is, and it gives me chills on it’s own. Props also to Nichols’ own brother, Jeff Nichols, for crafting the original song ‘Shelter’ that plays over the credits. I won’t get too excited for Nichols’ next feature, Mud, with Matthew McConaughey in the lead role, but the guy is definitely one to watch… 

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Films I’ve yet to see (that I care to eventually):

Carnage, Albert Nobbs, Warrior

2011 Oscar Nominations… Some Predictions

Best Picture

The Artist (WINNER)

War Horse

The Descendants

Hugo

The Help

Midnight In Paris

The Tree Of Life

Should Be Here (But Won’t Be): Take Shelter

Could Be Here (But Won’t Be): Drive

Should Win (From What Will Be There): Hugo

Best Director

Michael Hazanavicius, The Artist (WINNER)

Steven Spielberg, War Horse

Martin Scorsese, Hugo

Alexander Payne, The Descendants

Woody Allen, Midnight In Paris

Should Be Here (But Won’t Be): Nicolas Winding Refn, Drive

Could Be Here (But Won’t Be): Terrence Malick, The Tree Of Life

Should Win (From What Will Be There): Martin Scorsese, Hugo

Best Actor

George Clooney, The Descendants (WINNER)

Jean Dujardin, The Artist

Brad Pitt, Moneyball

Gary Oldman, Tinker Tailor Solider Spy

Michael Fassbender, Shame

Should Be Here (But Won’t Be): Michael Shannon, Take Shelter

Could Be Here (But Won’t Be): Ryan Gosling, Drive

Should Win (From What Will Be There): Michael Shannon, Take Shelter

Best Actress

Michelle Williams, My Week With Marilyn

Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady

Viola Davis, The Help (WINNER)

Tilda Swinton, We Need To Talk About Kevin

Glenn Close, Albert Nobbs

Should Be Here (But Won’t Be): Rooney Mara, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

Could Be Here (But Won’t Be): Elizabeth Olsen, Martha Marcy May Marlene

Should Win (From What Will Be There): Tilda Swinton, We Need To Talk About Kevin

Best Supporting Actor

Albert Brooks, Drive (WINNER)

Christopher Plummer, Beginners

Kenneth Branagh, My Week With Marilyn

Max Von Sydow, Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close

Nick Nolte, Warrior

Should Be Here (But Won’t Be): Rainn Wilson, Hesher

Could Be Here (But Won’t Be): Patton Oswalt, Young Adult

Should Win (From What Will Be There): Christopher Plummer, Beginners

Best Supporting Actress

Octavia Spencer, The Help (WINNER)

Jessica Chastain, The Help 

Shailene Woodley, The Descendants

Melissa McCarthy, Bridesmaids

Janet McTeer, Albert Nobbs

Should Be Here (But Won’t Be): Jessica Chastain, Take Shelter

Could Be Here (But Won’t Be): Vanessa Redgrave, Coriolanus

Should Win (From What Will Be There): Octavia Spencer, The Help

Adapted Screenplay

The Descendants 

Moneyball (WINNER)

The Help 

Hugo

War Horse

Original Screenplay

Midnight In Paris

The Artist (WINNER)

50/50

Bridesmaids

The Tree Of Life

Golden Globe Predictions, Just Because…

Best Picture, Drama - Hugo

Best Picture, Comedy/Musical - The Artist

Best Director - Michael Hazanavicius, The Artist

Best Actor, Drama - Brad Pitt, Moneyball

Best Actress, Drama - Viola Davis, The Help

Best Actor, Comedy/Musical - Jean DujardinThe Artist

Best Actress, Comedy/Musical - Michelle Williams, My Week With Marilyn

Best Supporting Actor - Christopher Plummer, Beginners

Best Supporting Actress - Octavia Spencer, The Help

Best Animated Feature - Rango

Best Foreign Film - A Separation

Best Screenplay - Stan Chervin/Aaron Sorkin/Steven Zaillian, Moneyball

Best Original Score - Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

Best Original Song - Mary J. Blige, “The Living Proof”, The Help

50 Films To See In 2012



The Dark Knight Rises, Christopher Nolan, July 20



The Master, Paul Thomas Anderson, TBA



Looper, Rian Johnson, September 28



Moonrise Kingdom, Wes Anderson, May 25



Cogan’s Trade, Andrew Dominik, March

-

Gravity, Alfonso Cuaron, November 21

The Place Beyond The Pines, Derek Cianfrance, TBA

Only God Forgives, Nicolas Winding Refn, TBA

Django Unchained, Quentin Tarantino , December 25

Cloud Atlas, Tom Tykwer, Larry Wachowski, Lana Wachowski, October

The Wettest County, John Hillcoat, August 31

Seven Psychopaths, Martin McDonagh, TBA

Love, Michael Haneke, TBA

Ted, Seth McFarlane, July 13

All You Need Is Love, Susanne Bier, July 11

Skyfall, Sam Mendes, November 9

Stoker, Park Chan Wook, TBA

Prometheus, Ridley Scott, June 8

The Silver Linings Playbook, David O. Russell, November 21

Cosmopolis, David Cronenberg, TBA

Gangster Squad, Ruben Fleischer, October 19

Argo, Ben Affleck, September 14

Savages, Oliver Stone, September 28

Haywire, Steven Soderbergh, January 20

Wrong, Quentin Dupieux, TBA

This Is Forty, Judd Apatow, December 21

Tim and Eric’s Billion Dollar Movie, Tim Heidecker & Eric Wareheim, March 2

The Surrogate, Ben Lewin, TBA

Brave, Mark Andrews, June 22

Magic Mike, Steven Soderbergh, June 29

Red Hook Summer, Spike Lee, TBA

Celeste And Jesse Forever, Lee Toland Krieger, TBA

The Burial, Terrence Malick, TBA

Imogene, Sherri Springer Berman & Robert Pulcini, TBA

The Company You Keep, Robert Redford, TBA

He Loves Me, Jonathan Dayton, TBA

Extraterrestrials, Nacho Vigolando, TBA

Hello I Must Be Going, Todd Louiso, TBA

Dark Horse, Todd Solondz, TBA

Dog Fight, Jay Roach, TBA

While We’re Young, Noah Baumbach, TBA

God Bless America, Bobcat Goldthwaite, TBA

Jeff Who Lives At Home, Mark & Jay Duplass, March 16

The Amazing Spider-Man, Marc Webb, July 3

Snow White And The Huntsmen, Rupert Sanders, June 1

Sound of My Voice, Zal Batmanglij, TBA

The Paperboy, Lee Daniels, TBA

Alps, Yorgos Lanthimos, TBA

Nero Fiddled, Woody Allen, October 19

Warm Bodies, Jonathan Levine, August 10

The Last 37 Films I’ve Seen…

Presented in Rotten Tomatoes-style consensuses…

The Brothers Bloom has a lot of heart, exceptional performances (especially from Rachel Weisz, my favorite of hers), and a brilliant setting filled with intentional anachronisms, but it’s ultimately too ambitious and should have ended before its unnecessary third act.” [Film, 3.5 Stars]

Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen… a Transformer has balls, so… yeah.” [Abomination, 0.5 Stars]

“Steven Soderbergh’s sixth effort,Schizopolis, is the definition experimential cinema; even still, it’s hilarious, even though its third act drops off.” [Film, 4 Stars]

The Last Of The Mohicans i exactly what I expected it would be; Indians with guns and little character development. My least favorite of Mann’s body of work.” [Movie, 2.5 Stars]

“Turning the tables to go into full biopic mode, Michael Mann delivers a true, but rather unambitious film, in Ali.” Also, its good to see someone other than Denzel Washington play a black icon.[Film, 3.5 Stars]

“Going in, I groaned at the thought of Sam Mendes doing a quirky, under-the-radar flick starring two television stars. Coming out, I declared Away We Go a heartfelt, moving, funny, downright exceptional summertime gem; no less than a five star film.” [Film, 5 Stars]

Michael Mann’s Public Enemies is essentially Heat set in the 1930s, resulting in the best live-action film of the summer, Mann’s fourth-best effort, and a gangster film that will get even better with age.” [4.5 Stars, Film]

Tape, an experimental one-room drama with only three characters, is unique because of that, but plain when it comes to the hackneyed script and story.” [Film, 4 Stars]

Faye Dunaway has her sexiest role ever here, but unfortunately, The Arrangement is a hackneyed, underwritten nothing that changes styles more than (insert clever metaphor). It sucks, but it’s good to see Faye.” [Movie, 2 Stars]

Donkey Punch tries to be an original and unique slasher film. But, when you’re making a slasher film, it is a SLASHER FILM, and with that, there’s not much room to change things up. Kudos, though, for segueing into straight-up pornography for the ‘donkey punch’ scene.” [Flick, 1.5 Stars]

“Soderbergh’s fourth effort, Underneath, is a taut and rather original thriller, with classic Soderbergh fast-cut editing and a story that jumps around. Unfortunately, the bottom drops out towards the end.” [Moviefilm, 3.5 Stars]

Swimming Pool is a thrilling film with many twists and turns (in terms of style and story direction). Charlotte Rampling cannot do not wrong, and her foxy co-star, the French equivalent of Ashley Tisdale, ain’t too shabby neither. I can’t stress enough the fact that what you expect to happen most assuredly does not in this mixed-language, sexy thriller.

“One of Soderbergh’s experimental entries, Bubble, is an exceptional tale of small town angst and small town crime. Can’t he just direct movies like this?” [Film, 4.5 Stars]

“Director Duncan Jones must watch ‘Lost.’ His first feature, Moon, is good (it’s not great).” But, you can’t be too picky when it comes to sci-fi.” [Moviefilm, 3.5 Stars]

“At an alarming 67 minutes, Kubrick’s second film, Killer’s Kiss, breezes at a barely noticeable pace. That being said, it’s absolutely perfect.” [Film, 4 Stars]

Blood, Guts, Bullets & Octane is truly a film that does not live up to its name. STAY AWAY AT ALL COSTS. Bottom three.” [Abomination, 0.5 Stars]

“Alfonso Cuaron’s first landmark achievement, Y Tu Mama Tambien, is subtle, powerful, and brilliantly focused. Welcome to the top sixty.” [Film, 4.5 Stars]

Special could have been better, but Michael Rapaport’s performance heightens this otherwise bland indie effort.” [Moviefilm, 3 Stars]

Going in, I was scepticle of how good an actor Larry David really was, how good a screenplay written in the 70’s would be today, and how insufferable the film would be. Well, the screenplay showed it’s age, and the very beginning and very end were insufferable, but the bulk of Whatever Works was a downright hilarious film, my favorite of Allen’s body of work. Also, a socko (and purely enjoyable) performance from Wood, who is still my favorite actress.” [Moviefilm, 4 Stars]

In The Mood For Love was not for me. Too slow, too pointless, and too repetitive. It was like watching just the flashbacks from a Jin & Sun-centric episode of ‘Lost.’” [Moviefilm, 2 Stars]

Electionis a flawless, hilarious tale about high school rivalries at all levels. Alexander Payne’s best film; welcome to the top seventy (or so). [Film, 4.5 Stars]

The King, directed by James Marsh of 2008’s Best Documetary Oscar Man On Wire, is Gael Garcia Bernal’s best film, as well as a tender, slow-moving tale of a man gone insane for love. Welcome to the top forty.” [Film, 4 Stars]

What Doesn’t Kill You, directed by Brian Goodman, who is played by Mark Ruffalo, is a semi-autobiographical tale about Goodman’s scary Boston life. So, supposedly his life had a lame twist. The audience is also treated to the cheesiest, lamest pre-credits epilogue ever.” [Movie, 3 Stars]

Wild Things is hilarious, campy fun; the most twists you’ll ever see in a movie ever. But then I wondered if that wasn’t the goal, and it made it more hilarious.” [Flick, 2 Stars]

Visioneers, starring a then-unknown Zach Galafinakis and directed by first-timer Jared Drake could have been good. It had its moments. [Movie, 3 Stars]

The Parallax View is a boring, 70’s political paranoia flick this is immediately forgettable.” [Flick, 2 Stars]

Eros is a chore to watch. The Hand by Wong Kar-Wai was bearable (and more enjoyable than In The Mood For Love), but Soderbergh’s Equilibrium was way too WTF and Antonioni’s The Dangerous Thread Of Things might just possibly be the worst 40 minutes of foreign cinema I’ve ever seen.” [Flick, 1.5 Stars]

4 Months, 3 Weeks, 2 Days is powerhouse cinema. No music, no frills; it just sucks you in straight from the start and tells you a dark, unflinching tale.

Animal Factory, directed by Steve Buscemi of all people, is a failure of a prison movie; it paints the clink as a magical candyland, it’s not gritty and dark whatsoever (it featured a smooth jazz soundtrack), and seems to go through the motions; riots, race wars, rape, escape, you’re done. Thanks for watching.” [Flick, 2 Stars]

“Jim Jarmusch’s Broken Flowers is a tender yet uneventful exploration into the life of a serial bachelor who just wants to know; too subtle for my taste.” [Moviefilm, 3 Stars]

“After completed Bradbury’s groundbreaking novel, I was pleased to a film adaptation existed, and I promptly watched it. Unfortunately, I wasn’t pleased to see Francois Truffaut’s Fahrenheit 451. Unnecessary changes abound, the film barely does the book justice.” [Movie, 2.5 Stars]

“The deep, dark secrets of Francis Coppola’s masterpiece Apocalyspe Now come alive inHearts Of Darkness: A Filmmaker’s Apocalyspe. Also, a vision of the future of cinema provided by Coppola in the documentary is painfully coming true.” [Film, 4 Stars]

Food, Inc. is an extremely eye-opening journey into the unknown world of corporate control of America’s food system. Instead of giving a ‘shit happens’ scenario like most documentaries of the same caliber, Food literally provided feasible options for the audience to take part in to actually make a difference.” [Film, 4.5 Stars]

“Going in, I knew nothing about Oliver Assayas’ French-language filmSummer Hours. Coming out, I was thoroughly touched by its simple story and how it mirrored some of my own experiences.” [4.5 Stars]

Rocket Science is way too quirky for its own good and drags a little bit,but it’s pretty funny and its heartfelt story and message shines through.” [Moviefilm, 3.5 Stars]

“It could have done without the endless onslaught of ball/cock/Jew jokes, butFunny People is a hilarious. heartfelt drama; Apatow’s best work yet. I was thoroughly engaged in the story and characters throughout it’s insanely long running time (for a ‘comedy’). Also, it’s probably Adam Sandler’s second best work.” [Film, 4 Stars]

“Though it put me to sleep twice, My Dinner With Andre is a thoughtful exposition on reality, existence, and living presented in a unique, even if it is two guys sitting there for two hours. It’s way inside baseball, but it made me think (and sleep).” [Film, 3.5 Stars]

It’s been a while since I’ve reviewed, and I’ve careened through about twenty or so flicks since then. I’ll start with the worst, and lead up to the best. I proudly welcomed a new entry to the Bottom 50 list, taking the number five spot; Vincenzo Natali’s Cypher (0.5 stars, Flick). After watching Cube, which is awesome (though slighty less awesome now that I’ve finished Natali’s filmography), I knew I had to check out more of the director’s work. Instead, I continued with the Cube trilogy; Cube 2: Hypercube and Cube Zero currently inhabit the number two andthirty-two spots on the Bottom 50 list, respectively. Natali’s making of Cypher is a perfect example of having an awesome idea in your head, but having absolutely no technical or intellectual prowess to convey into a film. Which leads me to Nothing, Natali’s third feature (2 stars, Flick). Slightly better than Cypher, but nowhere near Cube, Nothing is just as it sounds. Two butt-buddy best friends wish all their worries would go away, but instead, the world literally disappears around their house, leaving a white, bouncy void of nothing. The stars of the film wrote it with Natali, and you can tell it was one of those ‘hey, I have a crazy idea for a movie!’-type deals that snowballed way too much. It demonstrates such a poor understanding or emotion, narrative structure, and morals. And for a supposed guy movie, it’s pretty gay and has a complete lack of women. On a lighter note, Natali directed a 17-minute short in ‘96 called Elevated, which features three people in a trapped in an elevator by an unknown, outside threat. Hands down, the best live-action short film I’ve ever seen (Geri’s Game still takes the whole cake).  

	Speaking of shorts, Partly Cloudy, the pre-Up short, is an impressive entry into the Pixar Shorts collection. Probably number three behind Geri and Presto. Speaking of Up (5 stars, Film), my take-two (complete with 3D), was even more amazing; I was reduced to even more tears (and started tearing up just by knowing what was coming). I can envision at least one more stop to see that before the summer’s out. The 3D isn’t there for spectacle, it’s just there to make an amazing film even more layered; not for pop-outs.

	Back to the bad, we have Crash (2004, Moviefilm), the ‘Best Picture’ winner of 2005 (2 stars). Straight-up, some ‘ole bullshit. People don’t think/talk/act like that. You can’t expose and comment on the nature of racism by being straight-up racist. The high-tension emotional moments were laughable, and the morals were childish. Does a Best Picture Oscar mean anything any more? Next, we have David Cronenberg’s Videodrome (2.5 stars, Flick), his 1983 morality tale about violence on television. It’s sort of autobiographical; James Woods plays a TV-exec trying to get the most violent and pornographic programming on his TV network for the public to see. Kind of like Cronenberg himself during the time. Some effects were cool and innovative (a living, breathing VHS tape, a VCR in your stomach), but some were laughable and cheap (a bubbling television). It’s message gets muddled and it’s dialogue is painfully un-‘there,’ so see it just for the passable effects. Up next is Mike Judge’s 2006 dystopian comedy Idiocracy (2.5 stars, Movie). I read somewhere that someone said ‘it’s sad that Judge is probably more right than Kubrick, Orwell, and Huxley at predicting the future;’ a world full of retards is already what we’ve become, so he’s pretty much right. Some contrived humor, but overall a good watch. Some lol moments, but most of the draw was the film’s release woes.

	Next we have Michael Haneke’s original 1997 German-language film Funny Games (3 stars, Film); if you’re a fan of the remake, you don’t really need to watch the exact same movie… a trap I obviously fell into. Trust me, there’s nothing new to be gotten from it. I completed a much anticipated watch with David Gordon Green’s 2000 debut feature George Washington (3 stars, Film), the stories of some interconnected youths in an unnamed southern U.S. shithole town. I love how DDG makes shithole towns look like beautiful, artful landscapes of emotional discovery. Something about it didn’t fully click for me, but I know look at All The Real Girls in a new, more welcoming light; the kinks I found in GW are worked out and some of the same themes are presented better. Next is Robert Altman’s 1984 experimental piece Secret Honor (3.5 stars, Film), starring only Philip Baker Hall as Dick Nixon. It’s kind of boring, but for any president/PBH nut, it’s a must see. Just him getting drunk and trying to set his story straight; completely fictional, but completely heartfelt and pro-Nixon. Ocean’s Eleven (3.5 stars, Moviefilm), the 1960 Lewis Milestone (great name) rat-pack feature is a fun Vegas romp that lets you know the roots of your favorite heist franchise. In this one, they rob 5 casinos at once. I wouldn’t say it’s good, but I’d definitely say it’s fun, enjoyable, quick, and interesting.

	Moving into 4 stars territory, we have Alejandro Jodorowsky’s 1973 epic The Holy Mountain (4 stars, Film). I’ll explain it using a few things featured in the film: immersible human feces bong, latino parapalegic, cheetah heads for breasts (on a man), and a shrine of testicle jars. Interested? It has a great plot, actual characters, and a great message. Probably the most ‘out there’ and ‘different’ film I’ve ever seen (and I’ve seen Salo). Definitely recommended if you like films that create extremely dense visuals and push the envelope all the way (a rarity). Next we have Roman Polanski’s 1965 creation Repulsion (4 stars, Film), a chronicle of a young schizophrenic woman who traps herself in an apartment physically, and starts to imagine seen and unseen horrors. It’s slow going, but it’s the start of great style for Polanski (and the start of his ‘apartment trilogy’). Overall, it’s worth it. I’ve Loved You So Long (4 stars, Film), the debut feature from French director Phillipe Claudel heralds the start of a great career. Kristen Scott Thomas, awesome, blah blah blah; it’s great. Lacked the extreme emotional punch I really wanted, but it’s effective nonetheless. The International (4 stars, Film), Tykwer’s first film since Perfume, is a solid entry into his heavily-stylized filmography; it delivers on all levels of action and suspense, but lacks a little on emotional bravada and characterization. Better than any Bourne film; the Guggenheim-replica shootout scene is aaaammmazing. Check it out if just for that. Next we have Norman Jewison’s 1968 original version of The Thomas Crown Affair (4 stars, Moviefilm); while extremely underplotted and undercharacterized, we get a visually astounding heist feature with none other than Faye Dunaway and Steve McQueen to lubricate our senses. It’s pretty much all show, and it works like a charm. With Paths Of Glory (4.5 stars, Film), Kubrick strikes again with this beautifully crafted French/German war film set in the 1910s. The atrocities of war are laid bare, and they are foul. Fun fact: there’s only one woman in the entire film, and she’s on screen for, at most, two minutes. And Stanley Kubrick married her. A top thirty film for me.

	For new releases, we have The Hangover (4.5 stars, Moviefilm), a perfect guy movie with a perfect cast and a perfect story; you have to see it to believe how ridiculously funny and awesome it is. Best live action film of 2009, so far. Also from 2009, we have Soderbergh’s quiet little experiment, The Girlfriend Experience (4.5 stars, Film), starring porn star Sasha Grey as a high-class prostitute in NYC trying to navigate through her job and personal life. It’s probably one of the most simple character studies I’ve ever seen, but Grey proves she can do more than porn, and assuredly astounds. #4 for 2009. The most important film I need to talk about is 2006’s controversial 9/11 film, United 93 (4.5 stars, Motion Picture). I was so against World Trade Center (2006) and this for the longest time because I thought they were made to profit off of tragedy and marr an otherwise sacred event. I gave in, and in turn, was given one of the most heart-wrenching and glorious tales of heroism, triumph, and miscommunication; no matter if it’s true or not. A top twenty-five film for me. Taking the cake, though, is a small Norwegian gem from ‘06, Den brysomme mannen (The Bothersome Man) (5 stars, Film). It’s open for quite a bit of interpretation, but we follow a man in a purgatory-hell-like city where no emotion is exhibited, and nothing tastes. It appealed 100% to my ‘not everything is as it appears to be’ and ‘unfamiliar dystopia’ benchmarks, taking the #3 spot in the top one-hundred. Highly recommended, if you want a heady, fantastic, Norsk journey into an unknown world.

	In progress on: Edtv, Get Carter, Irreversible, Natural Born Killers, Solaris (1972), Spartan, Stereo, The Ninth Configuration, The Dead Zone, and many others. Up next?: Schindler’s List (need a good, solid watch in a non-classroom environment), Das Experiment, and Spider. Coming soon: Reviews for Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen, The Brothers Bloom and Paranoid Park.

It’s been a while since I’ve reviewed, and I’ve careened through about twenty or so flicks since then. I’ll start with the worst, and lead up to the best. I proudly welcomed a new entry to the Bottom 50 list, taking the number five spot; Vincenzo Natali’s Cypher (0.5 stars, Flick). After watching Cube, which is awesome (though slighty less awesome now that I’ve finished Natali’s filmography), I knew I had to check out more of the director’s work. Instead, I continued with the Cube trilogy; Cube 2: Hypercube and Cube Zero currently inhabit the number two andthirty-two spots on the Bottom 50 list, respectively. Natali’s making of Cypher is a perfect example of having an awesome idea in your head, but having absolutely no technical or intellectual prowess to convey into a film. Which leads me to Nothing, Natali’s third feature (2 stars, Flick). Slightly better than Cypher, but nowhere near Cube, Nothing is just as it sounds. Two butt-buddy best friends wish all their worries would go away, but instead, the world literally disappears around their house, leaving a white, bouncy void of nothing. The stars of the film wrote it with Natali, and you can tell it was one of those ‘hey, I have a crazy idea for a movie!’-type deals that snowballed way too much. It demonstrates such a poor understanding or emotion, narrative structure, and morals. And for a supposed guy movie, it’s pretty gay and has a complete lack of women. On a lighter note, Natali directed a 17-minute short in ‘96 called Elevated, which features three people in a trapped in an elevator by an unknown, outside threat. Hands down, the best live-action short film I’ve ever seen (Geri’s Game still takes the whole cake).

Speaking of shorts, Partly Cloudy, the pre-Up short, is an impressive entry into the Pixar Shorts collection. Probably number three behind Geri and Presto. Speaking of Up (5 stars, Film), my take-two (complete with 3D), was even more amazing; I was reduced to even more tears (and started tearing up just by knowing what was coming). I can envision at least one more stop to see that before the summer’s out. The 3D isn’t there for spectacle, it’s just there to make an amazing film even more layered; not for pop-outs.

Back to the bad, we have Crash (2004, Moviefilm), the ‘Best Picture’ winner of 2005 (2 stars). Straight-up, some ‘ole bullshit. People don’t think/talk/act like that. You can’t expose and comment on the nature of racism by being straight-up racist. The high-tension emotional moments were laughable, and the morals were childish. Does a Best Picture Oscar mean anything any more? Next, we have David Cronenberg’s Videodrome (2.5 stars, Flick), his 1983 morality tale about violence on television. It’s sort of autobiographical; James Woods plays a TV-exec trying to get the most violent and pornographic programming on his TV network for the public to see. Kind of like Cronenberg himself during the time. Some effects were cool and innovative (a living, breathing VHS tape, a VCR in your stomach), but some were laughable and cheap (a bubbling television). It’s message gets muddled and it’s dialogue is painfully un-‘there,’ so see it just for the passable effects. Up next is Mike Judge’s 2006 dystopian comedy Idiocracy (2.5 stars, Movie). I read somewhere that someone said ‘it’s sad that Judge is probably more right than Kubrick, Orwell, and Huxley at predicting the future;’ a world full of retards is already what we’ve become, so he’s pretty much right. Some contrived humor, but overall a good watch. Some lol moments, but most of the draw was the film’s release woes.

Next we have Michael Haneke’s original 1997 German-language film Funny Games (3 stars, Film); if you’re a fan of the remake, you don’t really need to watch the exact same movie… a trap I obviously fell into. Trust me, there’s nothing new to be gotten from it. I completed a much anticipated watch with David Gordon Green’s 2000 debut feature George Washington (3 stars, Film), the stories of some interconnected youths in an unnamed southern U.S. shithole town. I love how DDG makes shithole towns look like beautiful, artful landscapes of emotional discovery. Something about it didn’t fully click for me, but I know look at All The Real Girls in a new, more welcoming light; the kinks I found in GW are worked out and some of the same themes are presented better. Next is Robert Altman’s 1984 experimental piece Secret Honor (3.5 stars, Film), starring only Philip Baker Hall as Dick Nixon. It’s kind of boring, but for any president/PBH nut, it’s a must see. Just him getting drunk and trying to set his story straight; completely fictional, but completely heartfelt and pro-Nixon. Ocean’s Eleven (3.5 stars, Moviefilm), the 1960 Lewis Milestone (great name) rat-pack feature is a fun Vegas romp that lets you know the roots of your favorite heist franchise. In this one, they rob 5 casinos at once. I wouldn’t say it’s good, but I’d definitely say it’s fun, enjoyable, quick, and interesting.

Moving into 4 stars territory, we have Alejandro Jodorowsky’s 1973 epic The Holy Mountain (4 stars, Film). I’ll explain it using a few things featured in the film: immersible human feces bong, latino parapalegic, cheetah heads for breasts (on a man), and a shrine of testicle jars. Interested? It has a great plot, actual characters, and a great message. Probably the most ‘out there’ and ‘different’ film I’ve ever seen (and I’ve seen Salo). Definitely recommended if you like films that create extremely dense visuals and push the envelope all the way (a rarity). Next we have Roman Polanski’s 1965 creation Repulsion (4 stars, Film), a chronicle of a young schizophrenic woman who traps herself in an apartment physically, and starts to imagine seen and unseen horrors. It’s slow going, but it’s the start of great style for Polanski (and the start of his ‘apartment trilogy’). Overall, it’s worth it. I’ve Loved You So Long (4 stars, Film), the debut feature from French director Phillipe Claudel heralds the start of a great career. Kristen Scott Thomas, awesome, blah blah blah; it’s great. Lacked the extreme emotional punch I really wanted, but it’s effective nonetheless. The International (4 stars, Film), Tykwer’s first film since Perfume, is a solid entry into his heavily-stylized filmography; it delivers on all levels of action and suspense, but lacks a little on emotional bravada and characterization. Better than any Bourne film; the Guggenheim-replica shootout scene is aaaammmazing. Check it out if just for that. Next we have Norman Jewison’s 1968 original version of The Thomas Crown Affair (4 stars, Moviefilm); while extremely underplotted and undercharacterized, we get a visually astounding heist feature with none other than Faye Dunaway and Steve McQueen to lubricate our senses. It’s pretty much all show, and it works like a charm. With Paths Of Glory (4.5 stars, Film), Kubrick strikes again with this beautifully crafted French/German war film set in the 1910s. The atrocities of war are laid bare, and they are foul. Fun fact: there’s only one woman in the entire film, and she’s on screen for, at most, two minutes. And Stanley Kubrick married her. A top thirty film for me.

For new releases, we have The Hangover (4.5 stars, Moviefilm), a perfect guy movie with a perfect cast and a perfect story; you have to see it to believe how ridiculously funny and awesome it is. Best live action film of 2009, so far. Also from 2009, we have Soderbergh’s quiet little experiment, The Girlfriend Experience (4.5 stars, Film), starring porn star Sasha Grey as a high-class prostitute in NYC trying to navigate through her job and personal life. It’s probably one of the most simple character studies I’ve ever seen, but Grey proves she can do more than porn, and assuredly astounds. #4 for 2009. The most important film I need to talk about is 2006’s controversial 9/11 film, United 93 (4.5 stars, Motion Picture). I was so against World Trade Center (2006) and this for the longest time because I thought they were made to profit off of tragedy and marr an otherwise sacred event. I gave in, and in turn, was given one of the most heart-wrenching and glorious tales of heroism, triumph, and miscommunication; no matter if it’s true or not. A top twenty-five film for me. Taking the cake, though, is a small Norwegian gem from ‘06, Den brysomme mannen (The Bothersome Man) (5 stars, Film). It’s open for quite a bit of interpretation, but we follow a man in a purgatory-hell-like city where no emotion is exhibited, and nothing tastes. It appealed 100% to my ‘not everything is as it appears to be’ and ‘unfamiliar dystopia’ benchmarks, taking the #3 spot in the top one-hundred. Highly recommended, if you want a heady, fantastic, Norsk journey into an unknown world.

In progress on: Edtv, Get Carter, Irreversible, Natural Born Killers, Solaris (1972), Spartan, Stereo, The Ninth Configuration, The Dead Zone, and many others. Up next?: Schindler’s List (need a good, solid watch in a non-classroom environment), Das Experiment, and Spider. Coming soon: Reviews for Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen, The Brothers Bloom and Paranoid Park.

Dirty Harry: Not necessarily my bag. My main draw to it was it’s satirizing of the Zodiac killings; and it just came out silly. Eastwood is fun to watch, but it’s no decade-defining role by any stretch. [2.5 stars, Moviefilm]
Star Trek: It will do wonders for the Star Trek franchise, but it does nothing for the sci-fi genre as whole. I had never noticed ‘lens flare’ before in any movie, but it was blatantly annoying here; it’s literally in ever scene. What looked to be a competent origin story of the Star Trek crew turned into a hackneyed tale of space/time soup with so many plot getaways, you can’t be in suspense for any moment. There was one breathtaking scene, but my breath was taken away by the visuals. I did love Chris Pine; he’s good. But, the rest of the crew seems to just be playing characitures of firm characters. All in all, a fair yawn, even for IMAX. [3 stars, Moviefilm]
Paris Je T’aime: Fine, no complaints. My favorite was the Juliette Binoche/Willem Dafoe vignette (it made me well up in the 10-15 minute span it had), and my least favorite was the utterly incomprehensible evil hair salon one. [4 stars, Film]
The Ice Storm: Loved the hell out of this. Tobey Maguire’s character spoke to me/mirrored me in so many ways it hurt. Top 70 placement. [4.5 stars, Film]
8 1/2: I wasn’t ready. I ‘got’ most of it, and even enjoyed most of it, but the final few scenes lost me, and I wasn’t able to tie it together. Want those sunglasses, though. [2.5 stars (for now), Film]
Layer Cake: Essentially, a better Snatch. Daniel Craig plays British gangster very well. The title says it all; it’s complex, heady, and layered as hell. And the ending gets you twice.
Strange Days: I actually really enjoyed this. Finally, a feature film that centers around my favorite holiday, New Year’s Eve, and in this case, the turn of the century. And, don’t worry; the final action sequence doesn’t take place in the final seconds the century in some cheesy slow-mo fight to the death. Set in a dystopian world just 4 years after the film’s release (the really stretch LA’s gone-to-shit factor in such a short time), Ralph Fiennes plays a ‘memory dealer,’ selling people black market memories through spider-like membrane caps. It’s heady and they handle it well; sort of a designer drug for the future (which is now the past). I didn’t like how the villian was revealed as an already established character (such a lame plot device), but Bill Fitchner and Vincent D’Onofrio play partnered cops; that’s a fucking force not to be messed with. Dishonorable mention to the fakest fucking gunshots I’ve ever heard in a movie as well. [4 stars, Moviefilm]
Ringu: The Ring is probably my favorite PG-13 level ‘horror’ movie. I hate the genre, but it’s a geniuely scary and well-crafted film. I much as hate saying Gore Verbinski did a fine job, I say with swell certainty his update is the finer film. I don’t know if just the Japanese language that I just can’t take seriously, or the horrendously wooden performances of the actors, but it was just so silly. [1.5 stars, Flick]
Insomnia (1998): Now this is the finer film. As swell as Christopher Nolan’s is (as well as all of the performances in it), this just felt more right, and less like a Lifetime Original Movie. Stellan Skarsgaard plays Pacino’s role, looking less haggard, yes, but pulls off the creepy pederast elements better than Al did. It works better as a film set in Norway, although I like Nolan’s ending better. [4 stars, Film]
The Interpreter: It’s messy, but it’s original and inspired, so kudos to that. It was about time that an international thriller set around the UN be tackled. It’s a tad melodramatic at times, but it pulls it all together in a thrilling climax and all dividends are paid off. Love Sean Penn so muh better when he’s emo, too. [3.5 stars, Moviefilm]
Citizen Kane: Ehh, don’t see what all the hype’s about. I’m sure it set a bunch of standards for cinematography and effects in the 40s, but the story and script could have used work. Some times it’s pure silly, albeit a few good lines of dialogue. I pretended I didn’t know about what Rosebud was, and came to the conclusion that it’s final reveal is a cheap, scammy, lame, M. Night-style twist that completely confounds the lesson that is learned; that we’re not supposed know some people’s secrets. [3 stars, Film]
Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas: Going into it, I was under the impression that it was a modern American classic; a benchmark for recreational drug road-trip comedies. I don’t know where my Johnny Depp agnst came from, but it’s assuredly gone; I loved his performance here. But, not as much as del Toro’s, which is easily his best. I did not stop laughing throughout the whole experience. While Requiem For A Dream will make you not want to do drugs, this, most definitely, makes you want to. I don’t think I’d like to watch it in altered state (it’s already confusing and trippy enough), but it’s a trip nonetheless. Then, I was utterly shocked to find it’s 48% rotten tomatometer (including a 0% cream of the crop!). Sure it’s messy as hell, but it’s fun. And no one makes visuals like Gilliam. [4 stars, Moviefilm]

Dirty Harry: Not necessarily my bag. My main draw to it was it’s satirizing of the Zodiac killings; and it just came out silly. Eastwood is fun to watch, but it’s no decade-defining role by any stretch. [2.5 stars, Moviefilm]

Star Trek: It will do wonders for the Star Trek franchise, but it does nothing for the sci-fi genre as whole. I had never noticed ‘lens flare’ before in any movie, but it was blatantly annoying here; it’s literally in ever scene. What looked to be a competent origin story of the Star Trek crew turned into a hackneyed tale of space/time soup with so many plot getaways, you can’t be in suspense for any moment. There was one breathtaking scene, but my breath was taken away by the visuals. I did love Chris Pine; he’s good. But, the rest of the crew seems to just be playing characitures of firm characters. All in all, a fair yawn, even for IMAX. [3 stars, Moviefilm]

Paris Je T’aime: Fine, no complaints. My favorite was the Juliette Binoche/Willem Dafoe vignette (it made me well up in the 10-15 minute span it had), and my least favorite was the utterly incomprehensible evil hair salon one. [4 stars, Film]

The Ice Storm: Loved the hell out of this. Tobey Maguire’s character spoke to me/mirrored me in so many ways it hurt. Top 70 placement. [4.5 stars, Film]

8 1/2: I wasn’t ready. I ‘got’ most of it, and even enjoyed most of it, but the final few scenes lost me, and I wasn’t able to tie it together. Want those sunglasses, though. [2.5 stars (for now), Film]

Layer Cake: Essentially, a better Snatch. Daniel Craig plays British gangster very well. The title says it all; it’s complex, heady, and layered as hell. And the ending gets you twice.

Strange Days: I actually really enjoyed this. Finally, a feature film that centers around my favorite holiday, New Year’s Eve, and in this case, the turn of the century. And, don’t worry; the final action sequence doesn’t take place in the final seconds the century in some cheesy slow-mo fight to the death. Set in a dystopian world just 4 years after the film’s release (the really stretch LA’s gone-to-shit factor in such a short time), Ralph Fiennes plays a ‘memory dealer,’ selling people black market memories through spider-like membrane caps. It’s heady and they handle it well; sort of a designer drug for the future (which is now the past). I didn’t like how the villian was revealed as an already established character (such a lame plot device), but Bill Fitchner and Vincent D’Onofrio play partnered cops; that’s a fucking force not to be messed with. Dishonorable mention to the fakest fucking gunshots I’ve ever heard in a movie as well. [4 stars, Moviefilm]

Ringu: The Ring is probably my favorite PG-13 level ‘horror’ movie. I hate the genre, but it’s a geniuely scary and well-crafted film. I much as hate saying Gore Verbinski did a fine job, I say with swell certainty his update is the finer film. I don’t know if just the Japanese language that I just can’t take seriously, or the horrendously wooden performances of the actors, but it was just so silly. [1.5 stars, Flick]

Insomnia (1998): Now this is the finer film. As swell as Christopher Nolan’s is (as well as all of the performances in it), this just felt more right, and less like a Lifetime Original Movie. Stellan Skarsgaard plays Pacino’s role, looking less haggard, yes, but pulls off the creepy pederast elements better than Al did. It works better as a film set in Norway, although I like Nolan’s ending better. [4 stars, Film]

The Interpreter: It’s messy, but it’s original and inspired, so kudos to that. It was about time that an international thriller set around the UN be tackled. It’s a tad melodramatic at times, but it pulls it all together in a thrilling climax and all dividends are paid off. Love Sean Penn so muh better when he’s emo, too. [3.5 stars, Moviefilm]

Citizen Kane: Ehh, don’t see what all the hype’s about. I’m sure it set a bunch of standards for cinematography and effects in the 40s, but the story and script could have used work. Some times it’s pure silly, albeit a few good lines of dialogue. I pretended I didn’t know about what Rosebud was, and came to the conclusion that it’s final reveal is a cheap, scammy, lame, M. Night-style twist that completely confounds the lesson that is learned; that we’re not supposed know some people’s secrets. [3 stars, Film]

Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas: Going into it, I was under the impression that it was a modern American classic; a benchmark for recreational drug road-trip comedies. I don’t know where my Johnny Depp agnst came from, but it’s assuredly gone; I loved his performance here. But, not as much as del Toro’s, which is easily his best. I did not stop laughing throughout the whole experience. While Requiem For A Dream will make you not want to do drugs, this, most definitely, makes you want to. I don’t think I’d like to watch it in altered state (it’s already confusing and trippy enough), but it’s a trip nonetheless. Then, I was utterly shocked to find it’s 48% rotten tomatometer (including a 0% cream of the crop!). Sure it’s messy as hell, but it’s fun. And no one makes visuals like Gilliam. [4 stars, Moviefilm]

In honor of my 20th, I present my Top 200, because 200 isn’t too much.
1                   Truman Show, The
2                   Children Of Men
3                   Departed, The
4                   Apocalypse Now Redux
5                   Run Lola Run
6                   American Beauty
7                   Primer
8                   Big Lebowski, The
9                   A Clockwork Orange
10                 Goodfellas
11                 Perfume: The Story Of A Murderer
13                 Network
12                 Game, The
14                 Matchstick Men
16                 Adaptation.
31                 Liar Liar
15                 Killing, The
17                 Inside Man
18                 2001: A Space Odyssey
26                 Office Space
19                 Zodiac
24                 Bonnie and Clyde
20                 Eyes Wide Shut
29                 Pulp Fiction
21                 Happiness
22                 Curious Case Of Benjamin Button, The
51                 Dogville
25                 Boogie Nights
23                 Synecdoche, New York
27                 Fight Club
28                 One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest
30                 Being John Malkovich
32                 Road To Perdition
33                 Anatomy Of A Murder
34                 Dark Knight, The
52                 Shawshank Redemption, The
53                 12 Angry Men
35                 Barton Fink
36                 One Hour Photo
37                 Heat
39                 Machinist, The
44                 King Kong
46                 Verdict, The
40                 Out Of Sight
54                 Gattaca
43                 Man Who Wasn’t There, The
28                 Gone Baby Gone
41                 American History X
42                 Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead
45                 Godfather, The
47                 Meet Joe Black
48                 21 Grams
50                 Se7en
55                 Godfather: Part II, The
49                 Nine Lives
59                 Casino
60                 Rear Window
58                 Prestige, The
56                 No Country For Old Men
57                 Punch-Drunk Love
66                 Orange County
61                 Limey, The
62                 Lolita (1997)
63                 Panic Room
64                 Reservoir Dogs
65                 Die Hard
67                 Fargo
68                 Identity
69                 Memento
70                 Green Mile, The
71                 City Of God
72                 Ice Storm, The
73                 S1m0ne
81                 Catch Me If You Can
74                 Lucky Number Slevin
75                 Fast Times At Ridgemont High
89                 Signs
76                 Dog Day Afternoon
82                 Saving Private Ryan
77                 Sunshine
78                 Bottle Rocket
79                 What About Bob?
80                 Syriana
83                 Lookout, The
84                 Hard Candy
85                 Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford, The
86                 In The Bedroom
87                 13 Tzameti
88                 Godfather: Part III, The
90                 Love Liza
91                 Smokin’ Aces
92                 A Mighty Wind
93                 Bringing Out The Dead
99                 Jacob’s Ladder
94                 Little Miss Sunshine
95                 Best In Show
96                 Layer Cake
97                 Raising Arizona
98                 Sydney (Hard Eight)
101               In Bruges
100               Thank You For Smoking
102               Pretty Persuasion
103               Wackness, The
104               Your Friends & Neighbors
105               Collateral
106               Rosemary’s Baby
107               Amores Perros
108               Taxi Driver
109               Assassination of Richard Nixon, The
110               All The Real Girls
111               Platoon
112               Toy Story
113               Toy Story 2
114               25th Hour, The
115               Blood Simple
116               Babel
117               WALL-E
118               Cell, The
119               Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind
120               Up
121               Thirteen
122               Little Children
123               Ocean’s Eleven
124               Miami Vice
125               Insomnia
126               Sexy Beast
127               Three Kings
128               Mosquito Coast, The
129               Diving Bell And The Butterfly, The
130               Manhunter
131               Cloverfield
132               This Is Spinal Tap
133               After Hours
134               Bad Lieutenant
135               Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)
136               Eastern Promises
137               In The Company Of Men
138               Insomnia (1998)
139               Quiz Show
140               All The President’s Men
141               Vertigo
142               Fisher King, The
143               Crash (1997)
144               Snow Angels
145               Funny Games
146               About Schmidt
147               King of California, The
148               Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
149               Happy Accidents
150               Pianist, The
151               Secretary
152               Nothing But The Truth
153               Third Man, The
154               Chinatown
155               Mist, The
156               Ocean’s Thirteen
157               Snatch
158               Bad Santa
159               Strange Days
160               Good Will Hunting
161               Teeth
162               Ice Harvest, The
163               Brick
164               Airplane II: The Sequel
165               Jackie Brown
166               Cube
167               Talented Mr. Ripley, The
168               Grand, The
169               All The Boys Love Mandy Lane
170               Darjeeling Limited, The
171               Raging Bull
172               Wet Hot American Summer
173               Aviator, The
174               Into The Wild
175               King of Comedy, The
176               Risky Business
177               Silence of the Lambs
178               Blindness
179               Princess And The Warrior, The
180               Dead Ringers
181               Heaven
182               Sideways
183               Science Of Sleep, The
184               Illusionist, The
185               Ratatouille
186               Fracture
187               Ladykillers, The
188               Erin Brokovich
189               Burn After Reading
190               Full Metal Jacket
191               Astronaut Farmer, The
192               Running Scared
193               A Scanner Darkly
194               Superbad
195               Lion King, The
196               Adventureland
197               Bicentennial Man
198               Ring, The
199               Hudsucker Proxy, The
200               Death Sentence

In honor of my 20th, I present my Top 200, because 200 isn’t too much.

1                   Truman Show, The

2                   Children Of Men

3                   Departed, The

4                   Apocalypse Now Redux

5                   Run Lola Run

6                   American Beauty

7                   Primer

8                   Big Lebowski, The

9                   A Clockwork Orange

10                 Goodfellas

11                 Perfume: The Story Of A Murderer

13                 Network

12                 Game, The

14                 Matchstick Men

16                 Adaptation.

31                 Liar Liar

15                 Killing, The

17                 Inside Man

18                 2001: A Space Odyssey

26                 Office Space

19                 Zodiac

24                 Bonnie and Clyde

20                 Eyes Wide Shut

29                 Pulp Fiction

21                 Happiness

22                 Curious Case Of Benjamin Button, The

51                 Dogville

25                 Boogie Nights

23                 Synecdoche, New York

27                 Fight Club

28                 One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest

30                 Being John Malkovich

32                 Road To Perdition

33                 Anatomy Of A Murder

34                 Dark Knight, The

52                 Shawshank Redemption, The

53                 12 Angry Men

35                 Barton Fink

36                 One Hour Photo

37                 Heat

39                 Machinist, The

44                 King Kong

46                 Verdict, The

40                 Out Of Sight

54                 Gattaca

43                 Man Who Wasn’t There, The

28                 Gone Baby Gone

41                 American History X

42                 Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead

45                 Godfather, The

47                 Meet Joe Black

48                 21 Grams

50                 Se7en

55                 Godfather: Part II, The

49                 Nine Lives

59                 Casino

60                 Rear Window

58                 Prestige, The

56                 No Country For Old Men

57                 Punch-Drunk Love

66                 Orange County

61                 Limey, The

62                 Lolita (1997)

63                 Panic Room

64                 Reservoir Dogs

65                 Die Hard

67                 Fargo

68                 Identity

69                 Memento

70                 Green Mile, The

71                 City Of God

72                 Ice Storm, The

73                 S1m0ne

81                 Catch Me If You Can

74                 Lucky Number Slevin

75                 Fast Times At Ridgemont High

89                 Signs

76                 Dog Day Afternoon

82                 Saving Private Ryan

77                 Sunshine

78                 Bottle Rocket

79                 What About Bob?

80                 Syriana

83                 Lookout, The

84                 Hard Candy

85                 Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford, The

86                 In The Bedroom

87                 13 Tzameti

88                 Godfather: Part III, The

90                 Love Liza

91                 Smokin’ Aces

92                 A Mighty Wind

93                 Bringing Out The Dead

99                 Jacob’s Ladder

94                 Little Miss Sunshine

95                 Best In Show

96                 Layer Cake

97                 Raising Arizona

98                 Sydney (Hard Eight)

101               In Bruges

100               Thank You For Smoking

102               Pretty Persuasion

103               Wackness, The

104               Your Friends & Neighbors

105               Collateral

106               Rosemary’s Baby

107               Amores Perros

108               Taxi Driver

109               Assassination of Richard Nixon, The

110               All The Real Girls

111               Platoon

112               Toy Story

113               Toy Story 2

114               25th Hour, The

115               Blood Simple

116               Babel

117               WALL-E

118               Cell, The

119               Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind

120               Up

121               Thirteen

122               Little Children

123               Ocean’s Eleven

124               Miami Vice

125               Insomnia

126               Sexy Beast

127               Three Kings

128               Mosquito Coast, The

129               Diving Bell And The Butterfly, The

130               Manhunter

131               Cloverfield

132               This Is Spinal Tap

133               After Hours

134               Bad Lieutenant

135               Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)

136               Eastern Promises

137               In The Company Of Men

138               Insomnia (1998)

139               Quiz Show

140               All The President’s Men

141               Vertigo

142               Fisher King, The

143               Crash (1997)

144               Snow Angels

145               Funny Games

146               About Schmidt

147               King of California, The

148               Kiss Kiss Bang Bang

149               Happy Accidents

150               Pianist, The

151               Secretary

152               Nothing But The Truth

153               Third Man, The

154               Chinatown

155               Mist, The

156               Ocean’s Thirteen

157               Snatch

158               Bad Santa

159               Strange Days

160               Good Will Hunting

161               Teeth

162               Ice Harvest, The

163               Brick

164               Airplane II: The Sequel

165               Jackie Brown

166               Cube

167               Talented Mr. Ripley, The

168               Grand, The

169               All The Boys Love Mandy Lane

170               Darjeeling Limited, The

171               Raging Bull

172               Wet Hot American Summer

173               Aviator, The

174               Into The Wild

175               King of Comedy, The

176               Risky Business

177               Silence of the Lambs

178               Blindness

179               Princess And The Warrior, The

180               Dead Ringers

181               Heaven

182               Sideways

183               Science Of Sleep, The

184               Illusionist, The

185               Ratatouille

186               Fracture

187               Ladykillers, The

188               Erin Brokovich

189               Burn After Reading

190               Full Metal Jacket

191               Astronaut Farmer, The

192               Running Scared

193               A Scanner Darkly

194               Superbad

195               Lion King, The

196               Adventureland

197               Bicentennial Man

198               Ring, The

199               Hudsucker Proxy, The

200               Death Sentence