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Monday, January 31, 2011
Monday, January 24, 2011
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Best Imports of 2010
The following are my favorite foreign films from this past year. I am aware that some of these had their original overseas release in 2008 or 2009, but I am basing my list on those that landed Stateside in 2010. Please comment and let me know if you have other suggestions!
10. Enter the Void (Dir: Gaspar Noé)
It is occasionally difficult to watch, not unlike Noé’s other films, but it is also thought-provoking and visually interesting. It follows a young man who moves to Japan and becomes a junkie. His lifestyle gets him killed, and what follows is presumably him seeing his life “flash” before his eyes, and then him watching over his sister and friends from the afterlife. It is a slow-moving film, and may make you reach for the fast-forward button once in a while. Hell, if you can make it through the opening credits without having a seizure, consider yourself prepared. In terms of length and pacing, Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey comes to mind. But like that movie, it is a wild visual ride and makes you think.
9. Animal Kingdom (Dir: David Michôd)
A gritty Australian crime drama about a young man trapped in a dangerous family of criminals. As the police close in on busting the family, young “J” has no choice but to talk to the cops, which puts him in the crosshairs of his unstable Uncle “Pope.” The film has some incredible performances, especially Jackie Weaver as the methodical grandmother figure, “Smurf.” The way she can kiss you as easily as kill you is downright scary throughout. She will go to any length to protect her sons, embracing the criminal lifestyle like it’s nothing. The film can be a bit slow, but when it gets moving, it is tense and powerful.
8. Red Hill (Dir: Patrick Hughes)
Another bleak Aussie thriller, this time largely inspired by American westerns. Ryan Kwanten plays Constable Shane Cooper who is moved from the city to a small one-horse (literally) town. Almost as soon as he arrives, infamous criminal Jimmy Conway escapes from prison and rides into town seeking vengeance on the cops who put him away. Cooper finds himself in the middle of a firestorm as Jimmy indeed wreaks havoc on the small town and unveils some of its dark history along the way. The script may use some familiar western clichés, but it is taut, well-written, and steeped in Australian history. The cinematography is beautiful, and all the performances are great. I hope the rumor is true that this is only the first film of a trilogy.
7. Mother (Dir: Joon-ho Bong)
Mother is the story of a quiet, old Korean woman who lives with her grown, but mentally slow son. When a young girl is brutally murdered in town, the woman’s son is connected to the crime. She sets out to prove her boy is innocent, and to find the person who is framing him. This murder mystery is engaging and full of twists and turns. It is a sad, powerful film, but it is not without its own dark sense of humor. As the titular mother, Hye-ja Kim is fantastic. Director Joon-ho Bong (The Host) continues to impress.
6. Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale (Dir: Jalmari Helander)
This is a strange little Christmas movie, but it could definitely become a holiday classic if only it could reach a larger audience. A team of researchers unearths something in a Finnish mountain. The young protagonist Pietari believes it to be Santa Clause but not the jolly Old Saint Nick we all know. This Santa is one of lore, where he has horns and kills naughty children. As children in the town begin to disappear, Pietari and his father unintentionally capture a creepy old stranger who may or may not be the infamous Santa Clause. Rare Exports has the feel of a 80s kid-centric adventure such as The Goonies, only scarier and a bit gorier. It lost me a bit toward the end, and I think they could have done more with the concept, but it is still one of the better holiday flicks to come out in years.
5. [Rec] 2 (Dir: Jaume Balagueró, Paco Plaza)
The original [Rec] was an incredible horror film, which was surprising because it fell right in the middle of that annoying first-person-camera trend. So my expectations were even lower for the sequel. Well, I was wrong. [Rec] 2 is a faithful sequel and a good stand-alone horror film. In this one, the apartment is still under quarantine and a team of SWAT is being sent in, along with a Department of Health official to collect specimens for an antidote. Yes, the story is a bit Aliens-esque but not overtly so. The sequel extends the themes of the first film but also takes the story in a very different direction. The scares are still great and the filmmakers get very creative with their use of the POV camera so it never gets boring.
4. Micmacs (Dir: Jean-Pierre Jeunet)
With Micmacs, Jeunet delivers his usual quirkiness and charm. This one is about a man who survives a bullet to his brain, but is rendered homeless and jobless. He joins up with a group of misfits, who ultimately help him take down the weapons companies responsible for his predicament. What follows is a lighthearted heist flick unlike any other. The characters are as eccentric and colorful as the visuals, just as we have come to expect and love from this filmmaker. The story is solid, too – it is uplifting and fun despite its dark subject matter.
3. The Square (Dir: Nash Edgerton)
Yes, another Australian crime thriller. What can I say, they are good at what they do. This one is a bit of a noir, as well, and strongly recalls a Coen Brothers flick. Raymond Yale engages in an extramarital affair with Carla, who herself is married to a dangerous criminal. One day, she sees her husband bring home a bag of money and decides she is going to take it and run away with Raymond. To cover their tracks, they hire an arsonist to burn the place down but inevitably the plan backfires. As the situation spirals out of control, Raymond goes to extreme lengths to keep his secret. Written by brothers Nash and Joel Edgerton (who also co-stars), the script is very strong and suspenseful. If you like films like Blood Simple or Fargo, this is a must-see.
2. Four Lions (Dir: Christopher Morris)
This one is from the writers of last year’s brilliant political comedy, In The Loop. This film takes it to the next level with a story about would-be Islamic terrorists plotting a London attack. And it’s a comedy - seriously. Some surprisingly hilarious situations arise from the efforts of these wannabe terrorists. At the same time, the film parodies both religious extremism and prejudice against Muslims. It has a bold, brilliant script, great performances, and will keep you laughing until the end (even when you feel like you shouldn’t be laughing). There is even a surprising amount of genuine emotion mixed in. Terrorism is not an easy topic to tackle, but Morris and the screenwriters handle it with tact and fairness, while never sacrificing honesty or humor.
1. Terribly Happy (Dir: Henrik Ruben Genz)
Here is another Coen-esque drama/noir, this one from Denmark. Robert is a cop who makes a mistake and gets transferred from Copenhagen to small rural town. He is dismissed as an outsider but soon begins to notice something is rotten in Denmark, so to speak (har har). He falls for a local woman and is drawn deeper into the town’s secrets and lies. The film is well-written, beautifully shot, and has a dark, quirky sense of humor. There are great performances, especially from Jakob Cedergren as Robert and Kim Bodnia as the abusive husband of Robert’s love interest. Director Genz is joining the ranks of other great Danish filmmakers (i.e., Bornedal; Refn) and I cannot wait to see his next effort.
Runner-Up: The Loved Ones (Dir: Sean Byrne)
I did not have room for this one on the list but I wanted to mention it, as it is one of the better horror films I have seen in a while. Another Aussie entry, this one is about a teenage boy with a tragic past who gets kidnapped by a psycho girl who has a crush on him. With the help of her equally insane father, the girl throws her own twisted prom in her house. Robin McLeavy portrays the crazy chick, and she is hilariously nuts. The movie is gory, funny, and although it recalls films like The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, it does not feel derivative.
10. Enter the Void (Dir: Gaspar Noé)
It is occasionally difficult to watch, not unlike Noé’s other films, but it is also thought-provoking and visually interesting. It follows a young man who moves to Japan and becomes a junkie. His lifestyle gets him killed, and what follows is presumably him seeing his life “flash” before his eyes, and then him watching over his sister and friends from the afterlife. It is a slow-moving film, and may make you reach for the fast-forward button once in a while. Hell, if you can make it through the opening credits without having a seizure, consider yourself prepared. In terms of length and pacing, Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey comes to mind. But like that movie, it is a wild visual ride and makes you think.
9. Animal Kingdom (Dir: David Michôd)
A gritty Australian crime drama about a young man trapped in a dangerous family of criminals. As the police close in on busting the family, young “J” has no choice but to talk to the cops, which puts him in the crosshairs of his unstable Uncle “Pope.” The film has some incredible performances, especially Jackie Weaver as the methodical grandmother figure, “Smurf.” The way she can kiss you as easily as kill you is downright scary throughout. She will go to any length to protect her sons, embracing the criminal lifestyle like it’s nothing. The film can be a bit slow, but when it gets moving, it is tense and powerful.
8. Red Hill (Dir: Patrick Hughes)
Another bleak Aussie thriller, this time largely inspired by American westerns. Ryan Kwanten plays Constable Shane Cooper who is moved from the city to a small one-horse (literally) town. Almost as soon as he arrives, infamous criminal Jimmy Conway escapes from prison and rides into town seeking vengeance on the cops who put him away. Cooper finds himself in the middle of a firestorm as Jimmy indeed wreaks havoc on the small town and unveils some of its dark history along the way. The script may use some familiar western clichés, but it is taut, well-written, and steeped in Australian history. The cinematography is beautiful, and all the performances are great. I hope the rumor is true that this is only the first film of a trilogy.
7. Mother (Dir: Joon-ho Bong)
Mother is the story of a quiet, old Korean woman who lives with her grown, but mentally slow son. When a young girl is brutally murdered in town, the woman’s son is connected to the crime. She sets out to prove her boy is innocent, and to find the person who is framing him. This murder mystery is engaging and full of twists and turns. It is a sad, powerful film, but it is not without its own dark sense of humor. As the titular mother, Hye-ja Kim is fantastic. Director Joon-ho Bong (The Host) continues to impress.
6. Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale (Dir: Jalmari Helander)
This is a strange little Christmas movie, but it could definitely become a holiday classic if only it could reach a larger audience. A team of researchers unearths something in a Finnish mountain. The young protagonist Pietari believes it to be Santa Clause but not the jolly Old Saint Nick we all know. This Santa is one of lore, where he has horns and kills naughty children. As children in the town begin to disappear, Pietari and his father unintentionally capture a creepy old stranger who may or may not be the infamous Santa Clause. Rare Exports has the feel of a 80s kid-centric adventure such as The Goonies, only scarier and a bit gorier. It lost me a bit toward the end, and I think they could have done more with the concept, but it is still one of the better holiday flicks to come out in years.
5. [Rec] 2 (Dir: Jaume Balagueró, Paco Plaza)
The original [Rec] was an incredible horror film, which was surprising because it fell right in the middle of that annoying first-person-camera trend. So my expectations were even lower for the sequel. Well, I was wrong. [Rec] 2 is a faithful sequel and a good stand-alone horror film. In this one, the apartment is still under quarantine and a team of SWAT is being sent in, along with a Department of Health official to collect specimens for an antidote. Yes, the story is a bit Aliens-esque but not overtly so. The sequel extends the themes of the first film but also takes the story in a very different direction. The scares are still great and the filmmakers get very creative with their use of the POV camera so it never gets boring.
4. Micmacs (Dir: Jean-Pierre Jeunet)
With Micmacs, Jeunet delivers his usual quirkiness and charm. This one is about a man who survives a bullet to his brain, but is rendered homeless and jobless. He joins up with a group of misfits, who ultimately help him take down the weapons companies responsible for his predicament. What follows is a lighthearted heist flick unlike any other. The characters are as eccentric and colorful as the visuals, just as we have come to expect and love from this filmmaker. The story is solid, too – it is uplifting and fun despite its dark subject matter.
3. The Square (Dir: Nash Edgerton)
Yes, another Australian crime thriller. What can I say, they are good at what they do. This one is a bit of a noir, as well, and strongly recalls a Coen Brothers flick. Raymond Yale engages in an extramarital affair with Carla, who herself is married to a dangerous criminal. One day, she sees her husband bring home a bag of money and decides she is going to take it and run away with Raymond. To cover their tracks, they hire an arsonist to burn the place down but inevitably the plan backfires. As the situation spirals out of control, Raymond goes to extreme lengths to keep his secret. Written by brothers Nash and Joel Edgerton (who also co-stars), the script is very strong and suspenseful. If you like films like Blood Simple or Fargo, this is a must-see.
2. Four Lions (Dir: Christopher Morris)
This one is from the writers of last year’s brilliant political comedy, In The Loop. This film takes it to the next level with a story about would-be Islamic terrorists plotting a London attack. And it’s a comedy - seriously. Some surprisingly hilarious situations arise from the efforts of these wannabe terrorists. At the same time, the film parodies both religious extremism and prejudice against Muslims. It has a bold, brilliant script, great performances, and will keep you laughing until the end (even when you feel like you shouldn’t be laughing). There is even a surprising amount of genuine emotion mixed in. Terrorism is not an easy topic to tackle, but Morris and the screenwriters handle it with tact and fairness, while never sacrificing honesty or humor.
1. Terribly Happy (Dir: Henrik Ruben Genz)
Here is another Coen-esque drama/noir, this one from Denmark. Robert is a cop who makes a mistake and gets transferred from Copenhagen to small rural town. He is dismissed as an outsider but soon begins to notice something is rotten in Denmark, so to speak (har har). He falls for a local woman and is drawn deeper into the town’s secrets and lies. The film is well-written, beautifully shot, and has a dark, quirky sense of humor. There are great performances, especially from Jakob Cedergren as Robert and Kim Bodnia as the abusive husband of Robert’s love interest. Director Genz is joining the ranks of other great Danish filmmakers (i.e., Bornedal; Refn) and I cannot wait to see his next effort.
Runner-Up: The Loved Ones (Dir: Sean Byrne)
I did not have room for this one on the list but I wanted to mention it, as it is one of the better horror films I have seen in a while. Another Aussie entry, this one is about a teenage boy with a tragic past who gets kidnapped by a psycho girl who has a crush on him. With the help of her equally insane father, the girl throws her own twisted prom in her house. Robin McLeavy portrays the crazy chick, and she is hilariously nuts. The movie is gory, funny, and although it recalls films like The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, it does not feel derivative.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Best Films of 2010
Here are my picks for the best films of 2010. Feel free to comment and discuss, but keep in mind I really liked all of these films and ordering them was incredibly difficult. So please don’t nit-pick the order too much, as some of it is fairly arbitrary. Also, this list focuses on the domestic releases that will be more familiar to most people. Another list of foreign films is soon to follow.
15. Let Me In (Dir: Matt Reeves)
The only thing holding this film back is Let the Right One In, which is so damn good that Matt Reeves' adaptation of the book never stood a real chance. If you can look past the Swedish movie, Let Me In is quite good. The cinematography is gorgeous, the violence is striking, and the performances are spot-on. Casting Richard Jenkins was a brilliant choice, and I may even like him more than Per Ragnar in the same role. The young leads are good also, and I am confident that you couldn't find two better child actors out there right now. Unfortunately, this film repeats much of what we already saw in Tomas Alfredson's adaptation. I do like the new stuff Reeves added, though, especially the car scene. I also wish Reeves had gone a little further and dared to tackle the stuff in the book that the Swedish film would not. Still, Let Me In deserves more credit than it gets. Despite what some people believe, it is not just another worthless American remake. Reeves did the absolute best anyone could up against some unfair but inevitable comparisons.
Full review: http://sweethenrietta.blogspot.com/2010/10/let-me-in.html
14. The Fighter (Dir: David O. Russell)
It may follow the standard cliches of an inspirational sports film, but The Fighter excels thanks to great performances, well-written characters, and a unique style. The story is not so much about Micky Ward's comeback as a boxer, but about his self-destructive family and their influence upon him. Boxing is merely the template for this heartfelt story about family and redemption. Christian Bale steals the film as Micky's older brother, Dicky, a crack-addicted, washed-up boxer. Melissa Leo also turns in a great performance as the boys' mother. Micky is your standard boxer-seeking-a-second-chance archetype, but the story works because he is surrounded by fascinating, dysfunctional characters. Most people can relate to Micky's predicament of having to choose between saving himself and being loyal to his family. David O. Russell's slightly-eccentric style and choice of 80s-era music also helps give the film a unique voice.
13. 127 Hours (Dir: Danny Boyle)
This adventure-drama tells the true story of Aron Ralston, whose incredible survival story made him famous a few years back. Rather than simply tell that story like a news article would, Danny Boyle tells us about Aron Ralston the man, not just the incident that defined him. As Aron is trapped beneath a boulder, miles from any possible help, he reflects upon his life and his regrets. Despite impossible odds, he is driven to survive. As Ralston, James Franco delivers the best performance of his career. The audience spends 90% of the movie with him alone. We see every emotion from confidence to desperation to madness to joy - and Franco nails them all. As usual, Boyle provides a wild, unique style, accompanied by music from A.R. Rahman. The feel of the film comes across a bit too much like Slumdog Millionaire, but that is forgivable since the movie is a fitting tribute to an incredible man and his inspiration story.
Full review: http://sweethenrietta.blogspot.com/2010/11/127-hours.html
12. Shutter Island (Dir: Martin Scorsese)
This is one of my favorite Leonardo DiCaprio performances to date. He portrays Teddy Daniels, one of two U.S. Marshalls (along with the ever-fabulous Mark Ruffalo) sent to an island asylum to find a missing inmate. Once there, strange events occur and Teddy starts to hallucinate about his dead wife. Visually, the film reminds me of Stanley Kubrick's The Shining. It is haunting and beautiful, and you cannot believe everything you see. I love the look, I love the music, and I love all the creepy performances (special shout-out for Ted Levine's perplexing but wonderfully eerie role). The ending may be a bit predictable, but that does not dampen the rest of the film. Scorsese definitely has a way with atmospheric horror, and he should make it more often.
11. Buried (Dir: Rodrigo Cortés)
Like a more extreme version of 127 Hours, this thriller takes place entirely inside one small location with only one actor. Ryan Reynolds plays an American trucking contractor who is kidnapped in Afghanistan and buried alive inside a coffin with only his lighter and his cell phone. For the entire duration of the film, it feels as though you the viewer are trapped inside the coffin with him as he struggles to breathe, let alone call for help. Cortés gets very creative with the sources of light and he manages to keep the tension high at all times. His use of music and sound is perfect. The fear is driven by darkness and claustrophobia rather than gore or jump-scares. The film has a classic Hitchcockian feel to it - a style of thriller rarely seen anymore.
Full review: http://sweethenrietta.blogspot.com/2010/10/buried.html
10. Tucker & Dale vs Evil (Dir: Eli Craig)
Alan Tudyk and and Tyler Labine play the titular rednecks who just want to enjoy a quiet weekend of fishing, but they have a run-in with some college kids on break, who automatically assume the two hicks are hunting them like in a slasher flick. As the kids panic and try to “defend” themselves, Tucker and Dale fear for their own lives, unaware of the epic misunderstanding going on. This could have easily been another lame horror-comedy among the masses that have been released since Shaun of the Dead. Instead, it is smart, hilarious, and faithful to the horror films it is parodying. In fact, it is the best horror-comedy since Shaun – it is the real thing, not a cheap imitation. This is exactly what horror-comedies should be like.
Full review: http://sweethenrietta.blogspot.com/2010/10/tucker-dale-vs-evil.html
9. Winter's Bone (Dir: Debra Granik)
Winter’s Bone is a bleak and sometimes frightening look at backwoods life. Ree is a teenage girl taking care of her two young siblings and her mentally ill mother. When her junkie father disappears and bail bondsmen threaten to take her house, Ree starts asking around her Ozark town looking for her father. She soon realizes nobody is talking and she encounters numerous threats. Unwilling to give up her home and family, Ree risks life and limb to uncover the truth about her father. Jennifer Lawrence is fantastic in the lead role, as is John Hawkes’ as Ree’s scary but complex uncle. The film is dark and unflinching, much like the community it portrays.
8. Black Swan (Dir: Darren Aronofsky)
This is Darren Aronofsky’s contemporary interpretation of Tchaikovsky’s ballet, Swan Lake. Natalia Portman portrays Nina, an ambitious ballet dancer who craves perfection. When she is given the opportunity to portray the lead role as the Swan Queen, she is pressured into embracing her dark side, or Black Swan. She becomes irrational and paranoid, believing that another dancer (Mila Kunis) is after her part. Her perfection and innocence spiral out of control as the premiere closes in. Her body even begins to manifest bird-like qualities in a Cronenberg-like fashion. The film is dark, haunting, and visually stunning. The cinematography and music are beautiful, and Portman is great in the lead.
7. True Grit (Dir: Joel and Ethan Coen)
Often mistakenly referred to as a remake of the John Wayne flick, this True Grit is an adaptation of Charles Portis’ novel of the same name. The story tells of a little girl who hires a grizzled, old U.S. Marshall to help avenge her father’s death. “Rooster” Cogburn this time around is portrayed by Jeff Bridges who is absolutely perfect in the role. He is believably apathetic and sometimes cruel to the girl, but that “grit” is exactly the reason she seeks his help. As young Mattie, Hailee Steinfeld is great. She is strong, sharp-witted, and stubborn. Aiding and irritating the pair in their quest is a Texas Ranger played by Matt Damon. Rounding out the fine cast are Josh Brolin as their target Chaney, and Barry Pepper, who almost steals the show as an elusive outlaw. The Coens incorporate some of their humor into the tale, but never stray from the harsh tale at hand.
6. Inception (Dir: Christopher Nolan)
This film is not even among my favorite Nolan films, but it still impresses with sheer creativity. Leonardo DiCaprio plays an unconventional thief who is paid to steal thoughts. He is offered a clean slate if he can pull off something called “inception”, whereby ideas are planted in a person’s mind. The film takes us through the process, going deeper and deeper into the human mind. The level of detail used in the film is staggering, though not surprising considering the director. The cinematography is gorgeous and the use of music is great. All the actors are enjoyable, but Marion Cotillard is especially memorable. While not quite as mind-blowing as some people claim, Inception is still a smart, exciting ride unlike any other.
Full review: http://sweethenrietta.blogspot.com/2010/07/inception.html
5. Never Let Me Go (Dir: Mark Romanek)
Based on a novel of the same name by Kazuo Ishiguro, Never Let Me Go is a beautiful but heartbreaking story that blends drama with science fiction. It begins with an English boarding school in an alternate world where cloned children are being raised for the purpose of donating their organs. Young Kathy falls in love with a quiet boy named Tommy, but he is stolen away by a more popular girl named Ruth. The film follows their lives as they grow older and closer to the inevitability of fulfilling their purpose. As Tommy and Ruth, Andrew Garfield and Keira Knightly are both great, but as Kathy, Carey Mulligan is really amazing. The script is just stunning – both an incredible piece of quiet sci-fi and a moving love story.
4. Toy Story 3 (Dir: Lee Unkrich)
I never thought another Pixar film could even come close to the original Toy Story, let alone a sequel. This third installment is just as good as its first predecessor, and possibly even better. It is hilarious, creative, and heartwarming. This time around, Andy is all grown-up and heading to college. His toys are mistakenly thrown away and end up at a daycare center, where things are not as wonderful as they seem on the surface. The film turns into a Great Escape-like adventure. It is all-around fun and full of jokes that appeal to young and old alike. It is also guaranteed to make you shed a few tears and reflect upon your own childhood.
3. The Town (Dir: Ben Affleck)
If Gone Baby Gone left any doubt about Ben Affleck’s skills at a director, The Town surely shattered it. It is an effective heist thriller and a solid drama. It is a bit similar to The Fighter in that the protagonist is torn between loyalty to his roots and his own self-preservation, though this film is far stronger. Affleck’s character falls for a woman that his gang kidnapped, and he yearns to escape his criminal lifestyle with her. However, he is obligated to stay both by threat and out of loyalty to his friends. Affleck is good in the film, and Jeremy Renner is even better. The bank/armored car robbery scenes are incredible and surpass even those of Michael Mann’s Heat. It is rare for a film to be as well-made as it is adrenaline-pumping, but this one nails it.
Full review: http://sweethenrietta.blogspot.com/2010/09/town.html
2. Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (Dir: Edgar Wright)
Adapted from Bryan Lee O’Malley’s series of Scott Pilgrim graphic novels, this film is inventive, funny, and an all-around blast. Edgar Wright faithfully brings to life the story of the titular young bass player who falls in love with Ramona Flowers and must battle her seven evil exes. The movie has a solid cast, exciting fight scenes, and great visual effects. It is the epitome of a living comic book with limitless imagination. It plays like a nonstop caffeine rush, accompanied by nostalgic video game references and a kickass soundtrack (composed largely by Beck). Wright provides his usual artistic flare, but it is quite a different animal from his other films. In fact, it is unlike anything you have ever seen or will ever see.
1. The Social Network (Dir: David Fincher)
Whenever self-proclaimed movie snobs dismiss this film as “that Facebook movie,” their ignorance truly shows. This is not a movie about a website; rather it is a classic story about ambition, jealousy, and regret. Whether or not all the events in it actually happened is irrelevant. Facebook is simply used as a template to tell this story - like the contemporary equivalent of Charles Foster Kane’s newspaper. Like Kane, the protagonist in this film, Mark Zuckerberg, is never happy despite all his success. He is obsessed with his past mistakes and with what he can never have. The entire cast is great, David Fincher’s style is perfect, and the soundtrack by Trent Reznor is surprisingly fitting. Even if Facebook is forgotten someday, this film transcends the time period in which it was made. The characters and themes are universal, so while Facebook may only be an icon of this generation, The Social Network will always be relevant and engaging.
Full review: http://sweethenrietta.blogspot.com/2010/10/social-network.html
15. Let Me In (Dir: Matt Reeves)
The only thing holding this film back is Let the Right One In, which is so damn good that Matt Reeves' adaptation of the book never stood a real chance. If you can look past the Swedish movie, Let Me In is quite good. The cinematography is gorgeous, the violence is striking, and the performances are spot-on. Casting Richard Jenkins was a brilliant choice, and I may even like him more than Per Ragnar in the same role. The young leads are good also, and I am confident that you couldn't find two better child actors out there right now. Unfortunately, this film repeats much of what we already saw in Tomas Alfredson's adaptation. I do like the new stuff Reeves added, though, especially the car scene. I also wish Reeves had gone a little further and dared to tackle the stuff in the book that the Swedish film would not. Still, Let Me In deserves more credit than it gets. Despite what some people believe, it is not just another worthless American remake. Reeves did the absolute best anyone could up against some unfair but inevitable comparisons.
Full review: http://sweethenrietta.blogspot.com/2010/10/let-me-in.html
14. The Fighter (Dir: David O. Russell)
It may follow the standard cliches of an inspirational sports film, but The Fighter excels thanks to great performances, well-written characters, and a unique style. The story is not so much about Micky Ward's comeback as a boxer, but about his self-destructive family and their influence upon him. Boxing is merely the template for this heartfelt story about family and redemption. Christian Bale steals the film as Micky's older brother, Dicky, a crack-addicted, washed-up boxer. Melissa Leo also turns in a great performance as the boys' mother. Micky is your standard boxer-seeking-a-second-chance archetype, but the story works because he is surrounded by fascinating, dysfunctional characters. Most people can relate to Micky's predicament of having to choose between saving himself and being loyal to his family. David O. Russell's slightly-eccentric style and choice of 80s-era music also helps give the film a unique voice.
13. 127 Hours (Dir: Danny Boyle)
This adventure-drama tells the true story of Aron Ralston, whose incredible survival story made him famous a few years back. Rather than simply tell that story like a news article would, Danny Boyle tells us about Aron Ralston the man, not just the incident that defined him. As Aron is trapped beneath a boulder, miles from any possible help, he reflects upon his life and his regrets. Despite impossible odds, he is driven to survive. As Ralston, James Franco delivers the best performance of his career. The audience spends 90% of the movie with him alone. We see every emotion from confidence to desperation to madness to joy - and Franco nails them all. As usual, Boyle provides a wild, unique style, accompanied by music from A.R. Rahman. The feel of the film comes across a bit too much like Slumdog Millionaire, but that is forgivable since the movie is a fitting tribute to an incredible man and his inspiration story.
Full review: http://sweethenrietta.blogspot.com/2010/11/127-hours.html
12. Shutter Island (Dir: Martin Scorsese)
This is one of my favorite Leonardo DiCaprio performances to date. He portrays Teddy Daniels, one of two U.S. Marshalls (along with the ever-fabulous Mark Ruffalo) sent to an island asylum to find a missing inmate. Once there, strange events occur and Teddy starts to hallucinate about his dead wife. Visually, the film reminds me of Stanley Kubrick's The Shining. It is haunting and beautiful, and you cannot believe everything you see. I love the look, I love the music, and I love all the creepy performances (special shout-out for Ted Levine's perplexing but wonderfully eerie role). The ending may be a bit predictable, but that does not dampen the rest of the film. Scorsese definitely has a way with atmospheric horror, and he should make it more often.
11. Buried (Dir: Rodrigo Cortés)
Like a more extreme version of 127 Hours, this thriller takes place entirely inside one small location with only one actor. Ryan Reynolds plays an American trucking contractor who is kidnapped in Afghanistan and buried alive inside a coffin with only his lighter and his cell phone. For the entire duration of the film, it feels as though you the viewer are trapped inside the coffin with him as he struggles to breathe, let alone call for help. Cortés gets very creative with the sources of light and he manages to keep the tension high at all times. His use of music and sound is perfect. The fear is driven by darkness and claustrophobia rather than gore or jump-scares. The film has a classic Hitchcockian feel to it - a style of thriller rarely seen anymore.
Full review: http://sweethenrietta.blogspot.com/2010/10/buried.html
10. Tucker & Dale vs Evil (Dir: Eli Craig)
Alan Tudyk and and Tyler Labine play the titular rednecks who just want to enjoy a quiet weekend of fishing, but they have a run-in with some college kids on break, who automatically assume the two hicks are hunting them like in a slasher flick. As the kids panic and try to “defend” themselves, Tucker and Dale fear for their own lives, unaware of the epic misunderstanding going on. This could have easily been another lame horror-comedy among the masses that have been released since Shaun of the Dead. Instead, it is smart, hilarious, and faithful to the horror films it is parodying. In fact, it is the best horror-comedy since Shaun – it is the real thing, not a cheap imitation. This is exactly what horror-comedies should be like.
Full review: http://sweethenrietta.blogspot.com/2010/10/tucker-dale-vs-evil.html
9. Winter's Bone (Dir: Debra Granik)
Winter’s Bone is a bleak and sometimes frightening look at backwoods life. Ree is a teenage girl taking care of her two young siblings and her mentally ill mother. When her junkie father disappears and bail bondsmen threaten to take her house, Ree starts asking around her Ozark town looking for her father. She soon realizes nobody is talking and she encounters numerous threats. Unwilling to give up her home and family, Ree risks life and limb to uncover the truth about her father. Jennifer Lawrence is fantastic in the lead role, as is John Hawkes’ as Ree’s scary but complex uncle. The film is dark and unflinching, much like the community it portrays.
8. Black Swan (Dir: Darren Aronofsky)
This is Darren Aronofsky’s contemporary interpretation of Tchaikovsky’s ballet, Swan Lake. Natalia Portman portrays Nina, an ambitious ballet dancer who craves perfection. When she is given the opportunity to portray the lead role as the Swan Queen, she is pressured into embracing her dark side, or Black Swan. She becomes irrational and paranoid, believing that another dancer (Mila Kunis) is after her part. Her perfection and innocence spiral out of control as the premiere closes in. Her body even begins to manifest bird-like qualities in a Cronenberg-like fashion. The film is dark, haunting, and visually stunning. The cinematography and music are beautiful, and Portman is great in the lead.
7. True Grit (Dir: Joel and Ethan Coen)
Often mistakenly referred to as a remake of the John Wayne flick, this True Grit is an adaptation of Charles Portis’ novel of the same name. The story tells of a little girl who hires a grizzled, old U.S. Marshall to help avenge her father’s death. “Rooster” Cogburn this time around is portrayed by Jeff Bridges who is absolutely perfect in the role. He is believably apathetic and sometimes cruel to the girl, but that “grit” is exactly the reason she seeks his help. As young Mattie, Hailee Steinfeld is great. She is strong, sharp-witted, and stubborn. Aiding and irritating the pair in their quest is a Texas Ranger played by Matt Damon. Rounding out the fine cast are Josh Brolin as their target Chaney, and Barry Pepper, who almost steals the show as an elusive outlaw. The Coens incorporate some of their humor into the tale, but never stray from the harsh tale at hand.
6. Inception (Dir: Christopher Nolan)
This film is not even among my favorite Nolan films, but it still impresses with sheer creativity. Leonardo DiCaprio plays an unconventional thief who is paid to steal thoughts. He is offered a clean slate if he can pull off something called “inception”, whereby ideas are planted in a person’s mind. The film takes us through the process, going deeper and deeper into the human mind. The level of detail used in the film is staggering, though not surprising considering the director. The cinematography is gorgeous and the use of music is great. All the actors are enjoyable, but Marion Cotillard is especially memorable. While not quite as mind-blowing as some people claim, Inception is still a smart, exciting ride unlike any other.
Full review: http://sweethenrietta.blogspot.com/2010/07/inception.html
5. Never Let Me Go (Dir: Mark Romanek)
Based on a novel of the same name by Kazuo Ishiguro, Never Let Me Go is a beautiful but heartbreaking story that blends drama with science fiction. It begins with an English boarding school in an alternate world where cloned children are being raised for the purpose of donating their organs. Young Kathy falls in love with a quiet boy named Tommy, but he is stolen away by a more popular girl named Ruth. The film follows their lives as they grow older and closer to the inevitability of fulfilling their purpose. As Tommy and Ruth, Andrew Garfield and Keira Knightly are both great, but as Kathy, Carey Mulligan is really amazing. The script is just stunning – both an incredible piece of quiet sci-fi and a moving love story.
4. Toy Story 3 (Dir: Lee Unkrich)
I never thought another Pixar film could even come close to the original Toy Story, let alone a sequel. This third installment is just as good as its first predecessor, and possibly even better. It is hilarious, creative, and heartwarming. This time around, Andy is all grown-up and heading to college. His toys are mistakenly thrown away and end up at a daycare center, where things are not as wonderful as they seem on the surface. The film turns into a Great Escape-like adventure. It is all-around fun and full of jokes that appeal to young and old alike. It is also guaranteed to make you shed a few tears and reflect upon your own childhood.
3. The Town (Dir: Ben Affleck)
If Gone Baby Gone left any doubt about Ben Affleck’s skills at a director, The Town surely shattered it. It is an effective heist thriller and a solid drama. It is a bit similar to The Fighter in that the protagonist is torn between loyalty to his roots and his own self-preservation, though this film is far stronger. Affleck’s character falls for a woman that his gang kidnapped, and he yearns to escape his criminal lifestyle with her. However, he is obligated to stay both by threat and out of loyalty to his friends. Affleck is good in the film, and Jeremy Renner is even better. The bank/armored car robbery scenes are incredible and surpass even those of Michael Mann’s Heat. It is rare for a film to be as well-made as it is adrenaline-pumping, but this one nails it.
Full review: http://sweethenrietta.blogspot.com/2010/09/town.html
2. Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (Dir: Edgar Wright)
Adapted from Bryan Lee O’Malley’s series of Scott Pilgrim graphic novels, this film is inventive, funny, and an all-around blast. Edgar Wright faithfully brings to life the story of the titular young bass player who falls in love with Ramona Flowers and must battle her seven evil exes. The movie has a solid cast, exciting fight scenes, and great visual effects. It is the epitome of a living comic book with limitless imagination. It plays like a nonstop caffeine rush, accompanied by nostalgic video game references and a kickass soundtrack (composed largely by Beck). Wright provides his usual artistic flare, but it is quite a different animal from his other films. In fact, it is unlike anything you have ever seen or will ever see.
1. The Social Network (Dir: David Fincher)
Whenever self-proclaimed movie snobs dismiss this film as “that Facebook movie,” their ignorance truly shows. This is not a movie about a website; rather it is a classic story about ambition, jealousy, and regret. Whether or not all the events in it actually happened is irrelevant. Facebook is simply used as a template to tell this story - like the contemporary equivalent of Charles Foster Kane’s newspaper. Like Kane, the protagonist in this film, Mark Zuckerberg, is never happy despite all his success. He is obsessed with his past mistakes and with what he can never have. The entire cast is great, David Fincher’s style is perfect, and the soundtrack by Trent Reznor is surprisingly fitting. Even if Facebook is forgotten someday, this film transcends the time period in which it was made. The characters and themes are universal, so while Facebook may only be an icon of this generation, The Social Network will always be relevant and engaging.
Full review: http://sweethenrietta.blogspot.com/2010/10/social-network.html
Saturday, January 01, 2011
Best Movie Trailers of 2010
Here are my top 10 mainstream movie trailers from 2010:
10. A-Team (trailer #2)
Okay, admittedly, this was a guilty pleasure for me. I was excited at the prospect of seeing Sharlto Copley as Murdock, but this trailer got me interested in everything else. It looks over-the-top and fun, just like the tv show upon which it is based. Regardless of what you may think of the film itself, this trailer was exciting. I was addicted to saying, "I'm B.A., and you're gonna be unconscious" for a while. The skyscraper-helicopter stunt at the end is pretty damn cool - much better than the flying tank scene from the first trailer. I only wish they would have incorporated the intro monologue ("If you can find them..." etc.) in this trailer, too.
9. Clash of the Titans (trailer #2)
Yes, another guilty pleasure trailer for a crap movie. This is almost the same as the first trailer, only this time around we get to see the Kraken and hear Liam Neeson utter awesomeness like, "Turn them on each other" and of course, "Release the Kraken!" Also, that god-awful tagline "Titans. Will. Clash" is replaced by "Damn. The. Gods." which is a little better, and always made me and my friends laugh when it seemed like the trailer was simply saying "DAMN" at its own awesomness. Oh, and don't pretend like you don't enjoy those giant scorpions keeping the beat.
8. Tron: Legacy (trailer #1)
Even non-Tron fans must have felt the tingles and jingles when they first saw this trailer. It shows just enough to tease the audience, which is why I like it more than any of the other trailers. The grid, the lightcycles, the costumes, the recognizers, and Jeff Bridges - all look wild. And the trailer music - presumably Daft Punk - kicks ass. Again, regardless of how you feel about this movie, you gotta admit this trailer is worthy of a nerd boner or two.
7. Inception (teaser)
I am especially fond of the teaser because it was incredible at the time. I remember watching this thing and going "What the FUCK is this movie about?!" even though I thought I already knew. The few teasing shots (especially Gordon-Levitt flying down the hallway) combined with that addictive "BRAAAAAAAAHMM" music made for one sweet trailer.
6. The Expendables (Call to Arms trailer)
Even if this self-proclaimed "ultimate action flick" turned out to be a fairly tame disappointment, this was a hilarious trailer. Even the red band screen is funny. The trailer starts by berating men for letting women take over Hollywood, and throws in a Call of Duty reference for good measure. Then it lets loose a montage of non-stop action set to Andrew WK's "I Get Wet" and demands guys come see "the only men you are allowed to love." My favorite part of the trailer is when it says "You will see this movie. Not off your torrents. In a fucking theater." It's a shame the movie wasn't as manly and awesome as this trailer.
5. Black Swan
A beautiful, dark trailer for a beautiful, dark film. The music is haunting and I love the use of black feathers behind the text cards. In two minutes, the trailer sums up Nina's transformation from innocent ballerina into a tormented "black swan." I still get chills at the climax - "What happened to my sweet girl?" "She's GONE!"
4. Battle Los Angeles
I can understand why some people hate this trailer - namely, the choice of music. Personally, I love it. Johann Johannsson's appropriately-titled "The Sun's Gone Dim" is absolutely haunting and fits the footage perfectly. This could have easily been a Michael Bay-esque trailer like Skyline had, but instead it reminds me more of District 9. The haunting music combined with scenes of the Earth being attacked by an extraterrestrial menace and very gritty, realistic battle scenes give me goosebumps for the entire length of the trailer. And that final shot of a soldier's terrified face at 1:53 (set to a bone-chilling muffled scream) is absolutely perfect. This is the kind of trailer where I sorta feel like I just got my ass kicked when it's over. I cannot wait to see this film.
3. Sucker Punch (trailer #1)
And this is the kinda trailer where I feel like I need a cigarette after watching it. So much epic bad-assery in one small video, I can barely handle it. There are ass-kicking girls, giant samurais, robots, dragons, explosions, and every other amazing thing you can think of. Zach Snyder trailers usually deliver and this is no exception. It is raw awesome and pure sexuality, especially the obvious symbolism at 1:12. The accompaniment of Lords of Acid's "Crablouse" is a perfect fit. Yes, the second trailer had Led Zeppelin, but overall it could not touch the visceral impact of this trailer.
2. True Grit (teaser)
A stunningly beautiful trailer for a fine film. The song is what really makes it - "Where No One Stands Alone" by The Peasall Sisters. The lyrics and haunting female vocalists create an ideal atmosphere for the trailer. The heavy bass and roaring thunder in the background help, too. The trailer is brief but I absolutely love it.
I also love the theatrical trailer, so it's worth posting here. Johnny Cash's "God's Gonna Cut You Down" is a perfect song for this movie and it makes for one awesome trailer. Where the teaser is beautiful, this trailer is purely bad-ass.
1. The Social Network
Just when we were all sick of hearing Radiohead's "Creep", this trailer utilized it with incredible results. Using Scala and Kolacny Brothers' choir version of the song over images of Facebook creates something profoundly beautiful and haunting. The themes of the song tie in perfectly with what Facebook has become. I cannot imagine a more perfect song choice. "I don't care if it hurts. I want to have control." And the way the music swells as Mark Zuckerberg's life falls apart in the trailer gives me chills every time. Simply put, this is a perfect trailer.
UPDATE: I forgot about the "Buried" teaser trailer so I wanted to throw it in here. I love the Hitchcockian look and music of this one!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Best Worst Movie Trailers of 2010
Just for fun, here are some of my favorite lesser-known trailers. By no means am I implying that these films will be bad,they are just 2010's best low-budget, B-movie trailers. Here we go, in no particular order:
* Army of Wolves
This looks like a god-awful Dog Soldiers rip-off, but this trailer is hilarious. 1:05 kills me everytime. And is that Seth Rogen at 1:28?
* THEMS
A parody of campy 1950s black-and-white monster films. Just watch it.
* Hobo with a Shotgun
It needs no explanation.
* Roid Rage
One of the better grindhouse-inspired trailers to come out of the woodwork lately. Make sure you watch it until the very end to hear one great tagline.
* Who Killed Captain Alex?
Uganda throws their hat into the action movie ring. ALALALALALALALALALA ACTION!
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Finally...
Best Fake Trailer: Clown
10. A-Team (trailer #2)
Okay, admittedly, this was a guilty pleasure for me. I was excited at the prospect of seeing Sharlto Copley as Murdock, but this trailer got me interested in everything else. It looks over-the-top and fun, just like the tv show upon which it is based. Regardless of what you may think of the film itself, this trailer was exciting. I was addicted to saying, "I'm B.A., and you're gonna be unconscious" for a while. The skyscraper-helicopter stunt at the end is pretty damn cool - much better than the flying tank scene from the first trailer. I only wish they would have incorporated the intro monologue ("If you can find them..." etc.) in this trailer, too.
9. Clash of the Titans (trailer #2)
Yes, another guilty pleasure trailer for a crap movie. This is almost the same as the first trailer, only this time around we get to see the Kraken and hear Liam Neeson utter awesomeness like, "Turn them on each other" and of course, "Release the Kraken!" Also, that god-awful tagline "Titans. Will. Clash" is replaced by "Damn. The. Gods." which is a little better, and always made me and my friends laugh when it seemed like the trailer was simply saying "DAMN" at its own awesomness. Oh, and don't pretend like you don't enjoy those giant scorpions keeping the beat.
8. Tron: Legacy (trailer #1)
Even non-Tron fans must have felt the tingles and jingles when they first saw this trailer. It shows just enough to tease the audience, which is why I like it more than any of the other trailers. The grid, the lightcycles, the costumes, the recognizers, and Jeff Bridges - all look wild. And the trailer music - presumably Daft Punk - kicks ass. Again, regardless of how you feel about this movie, you gotta admit this trailer is worthy of a nerd boner or two.
7. Inception (teaser)
I am especially fond of the teaser because it was incredible at the time. I remember watching this thing and going "What the FUCK is this movie about?!" even though I thought I already knew. The few teasing shots (especially Gordon-Levitt flying down the hallway) combined with that addictive "BRAAAAAAAAHMM" music made for one sweet trailer.
6. The Expendables (Call to Arms trailer)
Even if this self-proclaimed "ultimate action flick" turned out to be a fairly tame disappointment, this was a hilarious trailer. Even the red band screen is funny. The trailer starts by berating men for letting women take over Hollywood, and throws in a Call of Duty reference for good measure. Then it lets loose a montage of non-stop action set to Andrew WK's "I Get Wet" and demands guys come see "the only men you are allowed to love." My favorite part of the trailer is when it says "You will see this movie. Not off your torrents. In a fucking theater." It's a shame the movie wasn't as manly and awesome as this trailer.
5. Black Swan
A beautiful, dark trailer for a beautiful, dark film. The music is haunting and I love the use of black feathers behind the text cards. In two minutes, the trailer sums up Nina's transformation from innocent ballerina into a tormented "black swan." I still get chills at the climax - "What happened to my sweet girl?" "She's GONE!"
4. Battle Los Angeles
I can understand why some people hate this trailer - namely, the choice of music. Personally, I love it. Johann Johannsson's appropriately-titled "The Sun's Gone Dim" is absolutely haunting and fits the footage perfectly. This could have easily been a Michael Bay-esque trailer like Skyline had, but instead it reminds me more of District 9. The haunting music combined with scenes of the Earth being attacked by an extraterrestrial menace and very gritty, realistic battle scenes give me goosebumps for the entire length of the trailer. And that final shot of a soldier's terrified face at 1:53 (set to a bone-chilling muffled scream) is absolutely perfect. This is the kind of trailer where I sorta feel like I just got my ass kicked when it's over. I cannot wait to see this film.
3. Sucker Punch (trailer #1)
And this is the kinda trailer where I feel like I need a cigarette after watching it. So much epic bad-assery in one small video, I can barely handle it. There are ass-kicking girls, giant samurais, robots, dragons, explosions, and every other amazing thing you can think of. Zach Snyder trailers usually deliver and this is no exception. It is raw awesome and pure sexuality, especially the obvious symbolism at 1:12. The accompaniment of Lords of Acid's "Crablouse" is a perfect fit. Yes, the second trailer had Led Zeppelin, but overall it could not touch the visceral impact of this trailer.
2. True Grit (teaser)
A stunningly beautiful trailer for a fine film. The song is what really makes it - "Where No One Stands Alone" by The Peasall Sisters. The lyrics and haunting female vocalists create an ideal atmosphere for the trailer. The heavy bass and roaring thunder in the background help, too. The trailer is brief but I absolutely love it.
I also love the theatrical trailer, so it's worth posting here. Johnny Cash's "God's Gonna Cut You Down" is a perfect song for this movie and it makes for one awesome trailer. Where the teaser is beautiful, this trailer is purely bad-ass.
1. The Social Network
Just when we were all sick of hearing Radiohead's "Creep", this trailer utilized it with incredible results. Using Scala and Kolacny Brothers' choir version of the song over images of Facebook creates something profoundly beautiful and haunting. The themes of the song tie in perfectly with what Facebook has become. I cannot imagine a more perfect song choice. "I don't care if it hurts. I want to have control." And the way the music swells as Mark Zuckerberg's life falls apart in the trailer gives me chills every time. Simply put, this is a perfect trailer.
UPDATE: I forgot about the "Buried" teaser trailer so I wanted to throw it in here. I love the Hitchcockian look and music of this one!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Best Worst Movie Trailers of 2010
Just for fun, here are some of my favorite lesser-known trailers. By no means am I implying that these films will be bad,they are just 2010's best low-budget, B-movie trailers. Here we go, in no particular order:
* Army of Wolves
This looks like a god-awful Dog Soldiers rip-off, but this trailer is hilarious. 1:05 kills me everytime. And is that Seth Rogen at 1:28?
* THEMS
A parody of campy 1950s black-and-white monster films. Just watch it.
* Hobo with a Shotgun
It needs no explanation.
* Roid Rage
One of the better grindhouse-inspired trailers to come out of the woodwork lately. Make sure you watch it until the very end to hear one great tagline.
* Who Killed Captain Alex?
Uganda throws their hat into the action movie ring. ALALALALALALALALALA ACTION!
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Finally...
Best Fake Trailer: Clown
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