In A Dream

In A Dream (Jeremiah Zagar, 2008)

Click here for the basics

Rating: DOCQ=8, DOCP=8 / It's All Scribbly To Me

Scale K=3, Scale L=2, Scale M=1, Scale N=1

Documentary, Biopic, Art, Complex Relationships

This is the story of Isaiah Zagar, the renowned mosaic artist. The film is focused on identity and love and the complexity that relationships entail when an artist has a family. Strangely enough, the story didn't engage me as I had hoped. Perhaps the non-linear and artistic editing that makes the film interesting and beautiful didn't work as a narrative. I found myself being drawn away.

--Don't understand the ratings? Click here

Get On Up

Get On Up (Tate Taylor, 2014)

Click here for the basics

Rating: Q=7, P=5 / Can't Get Enough

Scale 1=4, Scale 2=3, Scale 3=3, Scale 4=2

Biopic, James Brown, Music, Drama

A fantastic journey through the life and career of the legendary James Brown. I enjoyed the interweaving narratives of Brown's childhood and pivotal moments in his career, the imaginative camerawork, and playful use of "asides" to the audience. You get a real sense of who James Brown was, how his upbringing and society during the 1930s and 1940s defined him, and why the many defense mechanisms he needed overpowered him in his later life. Great music, fun watch.

--Don't understand the ratings? Click here

Broadchurch Seasons 1 & 2

Broadchurch Seasons 1 & 2 (Chris Chibnall, 2013-2015)

Click here for the basics

Season 1 Rating: DSQ=10, SP=4 / Sweet Treat

Scale A=3, Scale B=4, Scale C=3, Scale D=2, Scale E=2

Season 2 Rating: DSQ=9, SP=4 / Average Snack
Scale A=3, Scale B=3, Scale C=3, Scale D=2, Scale E=2

Television Series, Drama, Crime, Investigation, Complex Relationships, Mystery, Thriller

A great detective series from the BBC. Interesting and well-developed characters, inventive artistry, and excellent narrative. While I enjoyed the story line of season 1 more, I was intrigued by the way the writers wove together plots and backstories in season 2. Many of the episodes are brutal and emotionally heavy, but that's to be expected in a crime show. Marvelous performances by David Tennant and Olivia Colman.

--Don't understand the ratings? Click here

Fed Up

Fed Up (Stephanie Soechtig, 2014)

Click here for the basics

Rating: DOCQ=8, DOCP=8 / Genius

Scale K=3, Scale L=4, Scale M=4, Scale N=3

Documentary, Food, Obesity, Politics, Health

It's frustrating and deeply disheartening to live in a society where industry is better looked after than people, where money for a few always seems to be valued more highly than health and happiness. My views about this serious food and health crisis in our culture haven't changed after watching Fed Up but they certainly have been enhanced. I, of course, have gotten more upset and angrier.

You owe it to yourself to watch this film if you have kids. You should watch this if you intend to buy groceries from a store. Seriously, folks, education is the only way to any meaningful change.

--Don't understand the ratings? Click here

Inside Out

Inside Out (Pete Docter & Ronnie Del Carmen, 2015)

Click here for the basics

Rating: Q=7, P=7 / Obsession

Scale 1=4, Scale 2=3, Scale 3=4, Scale 4=3

Animation, Coming of Age, Psychology, Tearjerker

My sister sent me more than a few messages to see this movie from the time it came out in theaters. "Have you seen it yet???" she'd text on a random evening. "Go see it!!" the next morning. Well, I finally did and was so thoroughly pleased. I usually have mixed feelings about Pixar movies. Sometimes the animators try to hard to make their characters look like the voice actors (which irritates me, somehow). Sometimes the narratives get cliche or the jokes are totally unfunny. But in this case everything worked. It was a perfectly imagined inside view of the human mind, the emotional workings of the brain.

We can't have just a few emotions and succeed in the world. Our strongest memories aren't just happy ones. New environments, new people and challenges will breakdown the old you and pave the way to a new one, with much more complex feelings and thoughts. Inside Out really makes the "growing up" concept understandable. And so importantly it shows the sadness is integral to life. I cried many tears at the end of this one.

--Don't understand the ratings? Click here

I Am Big Bird: The Caroll Spinney Story

I Am Big Bird: The Caroll Spinney Story (Dave LaMattina & Chad N. Walker, 2014)

Click here for the basics

Rating: DOCQ=6, DOCP=7 / First Rate

Scale K=3, Scale L=3, Scale M=4, Scale N=3

Documentary, Biopic, Puppeteer, Children's Education, Tearjerker

Puppets hold a very important place in my heart. I remember running home from elementary school every day and watching Mister Rogers followed by one glorious hour of Sesame Street. While Big Bird wasn't my favorite character (I liked Telly and Ernie) he is undeniably the icon of the show. It's wonderful to watch the behind-the-scenes of the truly great entertainers/storytellers that puppeteers are. They are magicians with big hearts. And the love they have for children is sincere and ceaseless. Caroll Spinney is an amazing person and you if you ever watched Sesame Street you definitely need to know who he is. Watch this.

--Don't understand the ratings? Click here

Spellbound

Spellbound (Alfred Hitchcock, 1945)

Click here for the basics

Rating: Q=8, P=6 / Can't Get Enough

Scale 1=4, Scale 2=4, Scale 3=3, Scale 4=3

Thriller, Psychological, Suspense, Romance

One of Hitchcock's most marvelous films. Ingrid Bergman and Gregory Peck deliver wonderful performances but the real star, in my opinion, is the artistry and camerawork. Symbolism takes center stage as it leaps from the mis-en-scene into the narrative, too. So much texture and detail fill each frame. There's even a Salvador Dali dream-sequence. Complete with eyes on the curtains! If you like mysteries, I guarantee you'll like this one.

--Don't understand the ratings? Click here

It's A Beautiful Day

*Sorry for the lack of posts during October and November. I've been very busy at work and have re-watching favorites during this time.

It's A Beautiful Day (Don Hertzfeldt, 2012)

Click here for the basics

Rating: Q=6, P=4 / Average OJ

Scale 1=3, Scale 2=3, Scale 3=2, Scale 4=2

Animated, Drama, Philosophical, Coping

A very poignant collection of stories about coping with life, illness, the depressing realities we all face, the haunting past, the uncertain future. I found it both sad and uplifting, quiet and very heavy. A good reminder of how fragile and complex each person's existence is.

--Don't understand the ratings? Click here

Touch of Evil

Touch of Evil (Orson Welles, 1958)

Click here for the basics

Rating: Q=6, P=5 / Average OJ

Scale 1=3, Scale 2=3, Scale 3=3, Scale 4=2

Film Noir, Crime, Suspense, Thriller

Stories about corruption have been part of the film canon for decades. Orson Welles captures the sordid and gritty side of the law so marvelously it's scary. The artistry is so immaculate and precise I'm sure that every frame could make a meaningful still-life. And Welles' portrayal of Quinlan is one of the most memorable ever. Classic film, perfect for Halloween-time.

--Don't understand the ratings? Click here

Mulholland Drive

Mulholland Drive (David Lynch, 2001)

Click here for the basics

Rating: Q=7, P=6 / Can't Get Enough

Scale 1=3, Scale 2=4, Scale 3=3, Scale 4=3

Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Crime, Psychological

Undoubtedly, one of the most interesting and thought-provoking films ever made. The narrative is so loose and disjointed and surreal, the music is strange and disconcerting, and the acting is wonderful. What is reality and what is dream? Are they that different? Which comes first? How do we make sense of anything in this life? With those kinds of questions, it's hard not to stay focused when you watch this masterpiece.

--Don't understand the ratings? Click here

The Magnificent Ambersons

The Magnificent Ambersons (Orson Welles, 1942)

Click here for the basics

Rating: Q=7, P=5 / Can't Get Enough

Scale 1=4, Scale 2=3, Scale 3=3, Scale 4=2

Drama, Based on Book, Class, Philosophical

Such an intricate film full of wonderful artistry and cinematic flourishes. Orson Welles really liked to experiment with the set, the angles and lighting, the art as an extension of the narrative. The Magnificent Ambersons really feels like a movie, an escape, a complete entity. I've always liked that about films made during the late 1930s and early 1940s. They somehow manage to lift me up by their form alone...almost as if because it is a film, it will make me feel good. These classics leave me with a warm feeling for a long time after, even the ones with tragic figures or depressing endings.

Georgie is a bratty, irritating character, the kind of person we strive not to be. But he is not evil and neither are his parents or his friends. An interesting critique on class and upbringing.

--Don't understand the ratings? Click here

Topper Returns

Topper Returns (Roy Del Ruth, 1941)

Click here for the basics

Rating: Q=5, P=3 / Thanks But No Thanks

Scale 1=2, Scale 2=3, Scale 3=2, Scale 4=1

Comedy, Slapstick, Mystery

Sometimes I like to watch a silly, frivolous movie--nothing special, just average writing and acting and artistry. The Topper films are just that. This one is a lot of ridiculous, over-the-top moments but that's about it. Not a waste of time, but I won't watch again.

--Don't understand the ratings? Click here

A Walk In The Woods

A Walk In The Woods (Ken Kwapis, 2015)

Click here for the basics

Rating: Q=6, P=7 / Comfy Old Standard

Scale 1=3, Scale 2=3, Scale 3=3, Scale 4=4

Comedy, Based on Book, Travel, Aging, Friendship

I've read all of Bill Bryson's books and A Walk In The Woods several times, so I was anxious to see the film--the first adaptation of any of his books, incidentally--since I heard it was finally being made. And I wasn't really worried that it was going to leave out parts of the story and embellish others. Robert Redford is a true fan and so I knew he would stay true to the essence of the hilarious adventure.

I laughed loudly many many times. I cried once or twice, too, and not just from laughter. It was uplifting and fun. The scenery was stunning. The acting was spot-on (well done, Nick Nolte!). Even the music...I was pleasantly surprised.

This isn't just a film about a middle-aged man trying to reconnect with his homeland or an old friend, like IMDb's description states. This is a film about living, values and valuing, and about rediscovering yourself. That's what adventuring, traveling, and writing are all about.

--Don't understand the ratings? Click here

Sunrise

Sunrise (F.W. Murnau, 1927)

Click here for the basics

Rating: Q=6, P=7 / Comfy Old Standard

Scale 1=3, Scale 2=3, Scale 3=4, Scale 4=3

Silent, 1920s, Complex Relationships, Suspense/Thriller

"The more you consider "Sunrise" the deeper it becomes -- not because the story grows any more subtle, but because you realize the real subject is the horror beneath the surface." -Roger Ebert

While the majority of modern audiences might find silent films tedious, it is hard to feel that way about this one. This film is a classic--it was one of the first films to employ the use of so many artistic film techniques, it is truly beautiful to watch, and the story is timeless. There are moments that will make your heart beat fast and make you hold your breath. Loved it.

--Don't understand the ratings? Click here

Broken

Broken (Rufus Norris, 2012)

Click here for the basics

Rating: Q=6, P=6 / Average OJ

Scale 1=3, Scale 2=3, Scale 3=3, Scale 4=3

Coming of Age, Complex Relationships, Drama,

This film is a little gem. I enjoyed the complexity of the narrative, the quirky characters, the subtle artistry, and the superb acting. Well done Eloise Laurence! It has some pretty rough subject matter that stays with you, as all good coming of age stories do, but it is also incredibly heart-warming. You'll want to hug your children and your parents and your best friends after this.

--Don't understand the ratings? Click here

Dog Day Afternoon

Dog Day Afternoon (Sidney Lumet, 1975)

Click here for the basics

Rating: Q=5, P=4 / Average OJ

Scale 1=2, Scale 2=3, Scale 3=2, Scale 4=2

True Story, Bank Robbery, Hostage, Crime, Complex Relationships

The incredibly bizarre story of the bank robbery that actually happened in Brooklyn 40 years ago (really, that long?) is still as interesting, tense, and uncomfortable to watch today. I had to get up more than a few times just because all the yelling and sweaty-ness was getting to me. Al Pacino is phenomenal, undoubtedly due to the superb directing of Sidney Lumet.

Humans are prone to get in too deep, to not think things through. They become torn between self-interest and "the right thing to do" and get carried away in schemes, lies, and dreams. And we will watch them in fascination because...well, it's us.

--Don't understand the ratings? Click here

Once Upon A Time In The West

Once Upon A Time In The West (Sergio Leone, 1968)

Click here for the basics

Rating: Q=8, P=6 / Can't Get Enough

Scale 1=4, Scale 2=4, Scale 3=3, Scale 4=3

Western, Complex Relationships, Drama

Spaghetti westerns have always felt so slow, to me, but if you can get passed that, they are absolutely marvelous gems. This one is classic--quiet and eerie with artistic long takes and strange angles, beautiful score, and interesting faces to watch. Charles Bronson is fantastic. When you watch you really feel like you are in the movie, sweating and listening carefully to every creak of a windmill or shuffle of a foot. This is astonishing film making.

--Don't understand the ratings? Click here

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (John Ford, 1962)

Click here for the basics

Rating: Q=6, P=7 / Can't Get Enough

Scale 1=3, Scale 2=3, Scale 3=4, Scale 4=3

Western, Politics, Drama,

"When the legend becomes fact, print the legend." Oh, what truth in this statement. This is as "western" as you can get--desert, gunslingers, romance, pride, masculinity. What does it mean to be a man? A good man? An honest man? Reputation is everything, it seems...perhaps this is still true...A gorgeous John Ford film told in a flashback narrative. Brilliant performances by all actors, especially Lee Marvin.

--Don't understand the ratings? Click here

Imitation of Life

Imitation of Life (John M. Stahl, 1934)

Click here for the basics

Rating: Q=6, P=6 / Average OJ

Scale 1=3, Scale 2=3, Scale 3=3, Scale 4=3

Race, Drama, Complex Relationships

A beautifully stirring and important film about race that is still as compelling and moving as it was back in 1934. I urge you to watch this--the acting, dialogue, and striking images force every viewer to confront the truths about race in this country.

--Don't understand the ratings? Click here

The Hundred-Foot Journey

The Hundred-Foot Journey (Lasse Hallstrom, 2014)

Click here for the basics

Rating: Q=7, P=6 / Can't Get Enough

Scale 1=3, Scale 2=4, Scale 3=3, Scale 4=3

Food, Family, Culture, Globalization, Fairy Tale

Another gem from Lasse Hallstrom--much in the same vein as Chocolat, in my opinion. A beautiful, light-hearted film about the love of food and cooking, the love of family, and the often surprising rewards that come from curiosity, determination, and sharing. I needed to eat Indian food after watching this film and really wanted to stroll through the markets of a small French village, too. Thoroughly enjoyable story.

--Don't understand the ratings? Click here

Breakfast on Pluto

Breakfast on Pluto (Neil Jordan, 2005)

Click here for the basics

Rating: Q=6, P=5 / Average OJ

Scale 1=3, Scale 2=3, Scale 3=3, Scale 4=2

Gender/Sexuality, Whimsical, Philosophical, Identity, Ireland, Political

I knew that Cillian Murphy went above and beyond in this performance, but wow. A serious film that doesn't feel serious at all, appropriately matching the story's main character. Identity is a very important concept that has only become more topical in the ten years since this film was released. The feeling of belonging and feeling that you are valued may be the essential thing for survival in this world.

--Don't understand the ratings? Click here

20 Feet From Stardom

20 Feet From Stardom (Morgan Neville, 2014)

Click here for the basics

Rating: DOCQ=6, DOCP=7 / First Rate

Scale K=3, Scale L=3, Scale M=4, Scale N=3

Documentary, Music, History

As a singer who has never really wanted the baggage that comes from being a "star," I thoroughly enjoyed this film about the singers that have made (and will make) a tremendous impact on music history and our culture. Back-up singers bring the feeling, the soul, the overall style to so many popular songs. Without them, music would be very different. It's sad that so many of them did not get credit for their acheivements, for whatever political or personal reasons. And it is also sad that sometimes they can't overcome the back-up singer status and make it as a solo artist. But sometimes, as many of the musicians in this film state, that's the way it should be. Great, powerful singers are not all hungry for fame. Music is the important thing, and harmonizing in the background--blending and forming the song into something bigger--is a really solid place to live.

I love rock 'n roll history films. They always remind me of my strong opinion that the best way to learn history is by studying popular culture. And also that music history does not so much revolve around solo artists but around studios/labels and regions. Excellent movie.

--Don't understand the ratings? Click here

On The Edge

On The Edge (John Carney, 2001)

Click here for the basics

Rating: Q=5, P=5 / Average OJ

Scale 1=2, Scale 2=3, Scale 3=3, Scale 4=2

Grief, Coping, Complex Relationships

Suicide, depression, and overpowering grief are not easy subjects to discuss well in film, but lots of films try. On The Edge does a good job, I think, of capturing everyone's need for friendship and someone who wants to listen. Recovery is not really an endpoint, it is a constantly evolving process. Cillian Murphy gives a semi-early, fabulous performance. Great soundtrack, too.

--Don't understand the ratings? Click here

Hunger

Hunger (Steve McQueen, 2008)

Click here for the basics

Rating: Q=6, P=5 / Average OJ

Scale 1=3, Scale 2=3, Scale 3=3, Scale 4=2

Northern Ireland, Crime, Political, Ethics/Philosophy, Hunger Strike

I found this film disturbing, gut-wrenching, and painful to watch. It's an important film because it shows a story that really happened, that happens time and time again, and one from which we should learn. There are few people like Bobby Sands and his comrades who have/had principles and beliefs so strong they would sacrifice their own lives in order to maybe bring change to a nation or the world. There are films about prison life, about political corruption, about dissension--but this one is different. This one is slow and quiet and excruciating, echoing the malnourished body of the protagonist. It is a film of visuals with little dialogue--beautiful and provocative. I can't recommend everyone to watch because it is quite upsetting.

--Don't understand the ratings? Click here

Stripped

Stripped (Dave Kellett and Frederick Schroeder, 2014)

Click here for the basics

Rating: DOCQ=7, DOCP=6 / Honors

Scale K=4, Scale L=3, Scale M=3, Scale N=3

Documentary, Comics, Cartoons, Social Commentary, Technology

I've have fond memories of reading the Sunday comics with my parents, laughing at the drawings and silly jokes. My favorites were For Better For Worse, Calvin and Hobbes, Foxtrot, and later Cul de Sac. This is a great documentary that shows the behind the scenes life of cartoonists, the pros and cons of the digital age, and offers thoughts about the future of comics.

--Don't understand the ratings? Click here

Still Alice

Still Alice (Richard Glatzer & Wash Westmoreland, 2014)

Click here for the basics

Rating: Q=5, P=5 / Average OJ

Scale 1=2, Scale 2=3, Scale 3=3, Scale 4=2

Alzheimer's, Grief/Coping, Complex Relationships, Philosophical, Drama

My friend recommended that I read the book this film is based on. I really enjoyed the read and found it interesting how the author put herself into the mind of woman slowly losing her intellect and memories. I was skeptical how this would work in a film, but the directors did a fairly good job. It has a very different tone, though, because the audience does not feel what Alice is going through, like in the book. Instead, they relate more to the children and husband of Alice, watching her rapidly change right in front of their eyes. But it still has a powerful message of awareness and tolerance. Julianne Moore gives an inspiring performance.

--Don't understand the ratings? Click here

Resistance

Resistance (Michael Graziano, 2015)

Click here for the basics

Rating: DOCQ=7, DOCP=7 / Genius

Scale K=3, Scale L=4, Scale M=4, Scale N=3

Documentary, Health, Disease, Antibiotics

Do you eat food? Do you breathe air? Do you buy things from the store? Do you live somewhere? Watch this film.

--Don't understand the ratings? Click here

Oliver Twist

Oliver Twist (Roman Polanski, 2005)

Click here for the basics

Rating: Q=7, P=6 / Can't Get Enough

Scale 1=4, Scale 2=3, Scale 3=3, Scale 4=3

Drama, 19th Century, London, Crime, Adaptation, Orphan

I've seen many versions of Dickens' classic tale and I thoroughly enjoyed this one. The art direction is superb, casting spot on--Ben Kingsley as Fagin? Brilliant!--and Rachel Portman's score is beautiful and fitting. No film version of any Dickens tale has ever truly the intricacies of his characters and plots, in my opinion, but this one comes close.

--Don't understand the ratings? Click here

All Quiet On The Western Front

All Quiet on the Western Front (Lewis Milestone, 1930)

Click here for the basics

Rating: Q=6, P=5 / Average OJ

Scale 1=3, Scale 2=3, Scale 3=3, Scale 4=2

War, Philosophical, Drama

The psychological trauma that faces all people who go to war is real, often total, and unchanging for most of our many centuries of civilization. This film is one of the most important ever made and quite possibly the best anti-war film produced. It is brilliant because it shows instead of telling, it shows that no matter which side of the war (this film follows the Germans) the soldiers are on, they usually have no idea why they are fighting. And they are usually young, keen to experience everything life can offer. This energy is quickly extinguished--long before they are killed by bombs or guns. My takeaway: As long as we have leaders who are hungry for power and--and this is key--people who can be persuaded to fight for them, war will remain.

--Don't understand the ratings? Click here

Nim's Island

Nim's Island (Jennifer Flackett and Mark Levin, 2008)

Click here for the basics

Rating: Q=5, P=5 / Average OJ

Scale 1=2, Scale 2=3, Scale 3=3, Scale 4=2

Family, Adventure, Storytelling, Coming of Age, Comedy

This is a fun (and rather ridiculous!) story about embracing life, trying new things, being resourceful, and the power of loyalty. The two main characters are both female, both learning to cope/grow in their own way, and both processing reality in a unique way (a hypochondriac/agoraphobic adult writer who can't function without her main character vs. a brave young girl whose friends are all different species). A great family film, a nice reminder that good storytelling still exists in movies.

--Don't understand the ratings? Click here

The Man Who Came To Dinner

The Man Who Came To Dinner (William Keighley, 1942)

Click here for the basics

Rating: Q=5, P=4 / Average OJ

Scale 1=2, Scale 2=3, Scale 3=2, Scale 4=2

Screwball Comedy, Dialogue, Romance, Based on Play

"Did you ever have the feeling that you wanted to go, and still have the feeling that you wanted to stay?" This line, sung by the incomparable Jimmy Durante, is a great summary of this film and my reaction to it. I liked the sharp wit, the interactions between characters, the comic timing. And while I couldn't stand the excruciating main character, Sheridan Whiteside, I found myself wanting to listen to him insulting his hosts, and interfering with their lives.

The art of the film is nothing special but the dialogue is wonderfully fun and fast-paced, probably what attracted Bette Davis, Anne Sheridan, and Monty Woolley. A fun one.

--Don't understand the ratings? Click here

The Spy Who Came In From The Cold

The Spy Who Came In From The Cold (Martin Ritt, 1965)

Click here for the basics

Rating: Q=7, P=3 / Rubs Me The Wrong Way

Scale 1=4, Scale 2=3, Scale 3=2, Scale 4=1

Cold War, Spy, Intense Dialogue, Suspense, Thriller

Don't get me wrong, I did enjoy this film despite the rating. My trouble is that cold war + spy genre is just not my cup of tea. Something about that combination makes me feel uncomfortable and a little lost. The artistry and editing in The Spy Who Came In From The Cold is tremendous, beautiful, poignant. I loved watching every scene. But the plot feels too dense, often hard to follow. I felt the same way about Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy. Maybe the book would have allowed me more time to soak in the nuances of the scheming.

--Don't understand the ratings? Click here

For No Good Reason

For No Good Reason (Charlie Paul, 2012)

Click here for the basics

Rating: Q=6, P=5 / Quite Legible

Scale K=3, Scale L=3, Scale M=3, Scale N=2

Documentary, Art, Politics, Activism

This is a fun documentary about part of the life of Ralph Steadman. He is the big, main part of why I enjoy the world of Hunter S. Thompson. I would never call myself a Gonzo fanatic, but I love the strange, ugly, bizarre, frightening, grotesque images that Steadman draws. It's fun to see how it all started and how it evolved. To me, and I think most artists, it's all about process as a way of dealing and reacting to the world. I think I could be friends with Ralph Steadman. We share beliefs and philosophies. 

--Don't understand the ratings? Click here

Fantastic Planet

Fantastic Planet (Rene Laloux, 1973)

Click here for the basics

Rating: Q=7, P=7 / Obsession

Scale 1=4, Scale 2=3, Scale 3=4, Scale 4=3

Science Fiction, Animation, Philosophical, Surreal

This is classic science fiction and a masterpiece of animation. And it is a powerful and timeless story that values knowledge, tolerance, and peace. Every moment of the film is like stepping inside a painting by Dali or Bosch. Magical, marvelous, and captivating.

--Don't understand the ratings? Click here

Children of Men

Children of Men (Alfonso Cuarón, 2006)

Click here for the basics

Rating: Q=7, P=4 / Can't Get Enough

Scale 1=4, Scale 2=3, Scale 3=2, Scale 4=2

Science Fiction, Dystopia, Post-Apocalyptic, Based on Novel, Philosophical

This adaptation of P.D. James's novel is gritty, desperate, and scarily believable. Could the effects of globalization and climate change cause mass migration, excessive fear, and all-consuming war? Maybe. And what if the human race could no longer reproduce? Would the absence of new life erase all hope? Deeply compelling. If you rent this, watch the additional features. There is a short documentary with interviews by influential/important scientists and philosophers VERY worth your time.

--Don't understand the ratings? Click here

The Wind That Shakes The Barley

The Wind That Shakes The Barley (Ken Loach, 2007)

Click here for the basics

Rating: Q=6, P=5 / Average OJ

Scale 1=3, Scale 2=3, Scale 3=3, Scale 4=2

Ireland, 1920s, IRA, Political, Complex Relationships, War, Brothers, Betrayal

I've seen a lot of depressing films that stay with me for days. Ordinary People has always been my #1 Tearjerker/Catharsis movie. There are psychological thrillers, like Memento and Seven, that have messed with my head for weeks, even. The Wind That Shakes The Barley, though, got to me in a very different way. It was heartbreaking and difficult, as war films usually are, but in a way that almost made me feel sick. I'm no expert on Irish history and politics but too much of what I was seeing reminded me of the tensions going on in the world today. Causes are plentiful--some just and others not. But they all have leaders and followers, the followers sometimes not quite understanding what they're doing. And I will never understand --no matter how hard I try-- how good, moralistic, wise human beings can be brainwashed overnight. Or "sell out" and "take the easy way out" for lack of moral strength or intelligence. Unfathomable.

I don't recommend this to everyone because it truly is upsetting. And real. Then and now, unfortunately.

--Don't understand the ratings? Click here

Song of the Sea

Song of the Sea (Tomm Moore, 2014)

Click here for the basics

Rating: Q=8, P=8 / Obsession

Scale 1=4, Scale 2=4, Scale 3=4, Scale 4=4

Animation, Celtic Folklore, Fairy Tale, Coming of Age, Mythology

Unbelievably beautiful movie. A wondrous tale about family, love, and being true to yourself. It's full of bright colors, magic, and irresistible Celtic music. It is an instant animated classic that will inspire children and help them make sense of the complicated world we live in. Each moment makes you want to embrace and cherish the traditions and stories of your culture so they won't fade away. I was smiling from start to finish (with some tears added at the end). Don't ever stop making movies, Tomm Moore!

--Don't understand the ratings? Click here

Sunshine

Sunshine (Danny Boyle, 2007)

Click here for the basics

Rating: Q=7, P=5 / Can't Get Enough

Scale 1=4, Scale 2=3, Scale 3=3, Scale 4=2

Science Fiction, Future, Apocalyptic, Psychological, Spiritual, Thriller

I enjoyed this film more than I expected. How did this film fly under the radar? I never heard about it when it was released. While some of the moments seemed forced and too cliche, Sunshine seems entirely plausible and that is terrifying. While the science is definitely there (thank goodness, more than most recent sci-fi films), this one is also an exploration of the many philosophies of life and existence, human behavior, and ethics. How to improve? Cut back on the action and add more science. But Danny Boyle found a pretty good balance.

--Don't understand the ratings? Click here

Withnail and I

Withnail and I (Bruce Robinson, 1987)

Click here for the basics

Rating: Q=5, P=4 / Average OJ

Scale 1=2, Scale 2=3, Scale 3=2, Scale 4=2

Cult Classic, Travel, Acting, Existential, Philosophical, Comedy, 1960s

This film truly captures how it feels to be alive at the end of an era, especially at the end of a very artistic, expressive, and free era. A melancholy seeps through every line, including the funny and snarky ones, making the whole story hilarious and painful. It is more than just a film about two actors who can't find work, it is about two men who feel out of place and lost in a changing world. 

All you really need to know about this classic is summed up in the last lines, quoted from Shakespeare's Hamlet:

"I have of late, but wherefore I know not, lost all my mirth. And indeed it goes so heavily with my disposition that this goodly frame, the earth, seems to me a sterile promontory. This most excellent canopy, the air, look you, this brave o'er hanging firmament, this majestical roof fretted with golden fire, why, it appeareth nothing to me but a foul and pestilent congregation of vapours. What a piece of work is a man! How noble in reason! How infinite in faculties! How like an angel in apprehension. How like a god! The beauty of the world! The paragon of animals! And yet, to me, what is this quintessence of dust? Man delights not me, no, nor women neither. Nor women neither."

--Don't understand the ratings? Click here

Whiplash

Whiplash (Damien Chazelle, 2014)

Click here for the basics

Rating: Q=6, P=5 / Average OJ

Scale 1=3, Scale 2=3, Scale 3=3, Scale 4=2

Music, Teaching, Will power, Motivation, Psychological

Seriously intense. I was uncomfortable most of the time I was watching. I've known musicians and students who have felt the overpowering need to be the best, to work until their fingers bleed, to lose all sense of self and autonomy...all to win the approval of some authority figure. Is it worth it? When music no longer becomes enjoyable, when you pay no attention to anything else except winning, is that a good thing? Criticism and conflict is essential for all artists, absolutely, but as this film shows, success in the music business is really about grit. And the definition of success is very complicated.

Best part of this film? The last ten minutes. To be really a really great musician you have to own yourself, be yourself, take charge, and forget about what other people think.

--Don't understand the ratings? Click here

They Call It Myanmar: Lifting The Curtain

They Call It Myanmar: Lifting The Curtain (Robert Lieberman, 2012)

Click here for the basics

Rating: DOCQ=5, DOCP=4 / Quite Legible

Scale K=2, Scale L=3, Scale M=2, Scale N=2

Documentary, Social Commentary, Human Condition, Southeast Asia (Burma/Myanmar)

This was a stark film about the resilient and beautiful people living in the truly isolated country of Myanmar. It is about astonishing poverty and shows what happens when a government does not care about people. A land rich with resources and willing/capable citizens but no structure, no welfare, almost no hope. Yet somehow the people still work and are quietly patient for the day things will improve. If only we all could be this strong. This film made my heart break.

--Don't understand the ratings? Click here

SPECIAL: All 87 Best Picture Winners

I thought it would be fun to see a list of all the winning films and contemplate how they compare to one another. How many have you seen? I've seen 53/87. That's only 60% --not too bad.

Some of these are clearly better than others, some won because they were novel or epic but aren't really that spectacular or moving, and some are true masterpieces. Of the ones I have seen, I highlighted ten of my favorites.

2014 - Birdman
2013 - 12 Years A Slave
2012 - Argo
2011 - The Artist
2010 - The King's Speech

2009 - The Hurt Locker
2008 - Slumdog Millionaire
2007 - No Country for Old Men
2006 - The Departed
2005 - Crash
2004 - Million Dollar Baby
2003 - The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2002 - Chicago
2001 - A Beautiful Mind
2000 - Gladiator

1999 - American Beauty
1998 - Shakespeare in Love
1997 - Titanic
1996 - The English Patient
1995 - Braveheart
1994 - Forrest Gump
1993 - Schindler’s List
1992 - Unforgiven
1991 - The Silence of the Lambs
1990 - Dances With Wolves

1989 - Driving Miss Daisy
1988 - Rain Man
1987 - The Last Emperor
1986 - Platoon
1985 - Out of Africa
1984 - Amadeus
1983 - Terms of Endearment
1982 - Gandhi
1981 - Chariots of Fire
1980 - Ordinary People

1979 - Kramer vs. Kramer
1978 - The Deer Hunter
1977 - Annie Hall
1976 - Rocky
1975 - One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest
1974 - The Godfather Part II
1973 - The Sting
1972 - The Godfather
1971 - The French Connection
1970 - Patton

1969 - Midnight Cowboy
1968 - Oliver!
1967 - In the Heat of the Night
1966 - A Man for All Seasons
1965 - The Sound of Music
1964 - My Fair Lady
1963 - Tom Jones
1962 - Lawrence of Arabia
1961 - West Side Story
1960 - The Apartment

1959 - Ben-Hur
1958 - Gigi
1957 - The Bridge on the River Kwai
1956 - Around the World in 80 Days
1955 - Marty
1954 - On the Waterfront
1953 - From Here to Eternity
1952 - The Greatest Show on Earth
1951 - An American in Paris
1950 - All About Eve

1949 - All the Kings Men
1948 - Hamlet
1947 - Gentleman's Agreement
1946 - The Best Years of Our Lives
1945 - The Lost Weekend
1944 - Going My Way
1943 - Casablanca
1942 - Mrs. Miniver
1941 - How Green Was My Valley
1940 - Rebecca

1939 - Gone with the Wind
1938 - You Can't Take It with You
1937 - The Life of Emile Zola
1936 - The Great Ziegfeld
1935 - Mutiny on the Bounty
1934 - It Happened One Night
1933 - Cavalcade
1932 - Grand Hotel
1931 - Cimarron
1930 - All Quiet on the Western Front
1929 - The Broadway Melody
1927 - Wings

Happy watching!

Oscar Dash 2015: The Results

Oscar Dash 2015! It happened. And the winner is...

Birdman or (the Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)

What do I think? Pretty much amazing. I was very happy by all the results!

For all the categories, click here.

The Tale Of The Princess Kaguya

The Tale of the Princess Kaguya (Isao Takahata, 2014)

Click here for the basics

Rating: Q=8, P=8 / Obsession

Scale 1=4, Scale 2=4, Scale 3=4, Scale 4=4

Animation, Japan, Folktale, Whimsical, Philosophical

I love this movie so much! From the gorgeous illustration --and over-cuteness at the beginning--to the enchanting and haunting koto music to the beautiful moral. Perhaps this world is full of imperfections, impurities, selfishness, and materialism. But it is also full of beautiful wilderness, kindness, and love. This story will make you think about happiness and memory. It will make you want to run away into the woods, away from all the false customs and rules of "civilized" life. It will make you want to shed your many robes and dance in the falling blossoms of a cherry tree.

--Don't understand the ratings? Click here

Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)

Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (Alejandro González Iñárritu, 2014)

Click here for the basics

Rating: Q=7, P=8 / Obsession

Scale 1=3, Scale 2=4, Scale 3=4, Scale 4=4

Acting, Fame, Social Commentary, Existential, Surreal, Dark Comedy, Mid-life Crisis

"...You're doing a play based on a book that was written 60 years ago, for a thousand rich old white people whose only real concern is gonna be where they go to have their cake and coffee when it's over. And let's face it, Dad, it's not for the sake of art. It's because you want to feel relevant again. Well, there's a whole world out there where people fight to be relevant every day. And you act like it doesn't even exist! Things are happening in a place that you willfully ignore, a place that has already forgotten you. I mean, who are you? You hate bloggers. You make fun of Twitter. You don't even have a Facebook page. You're the one who doesn't exist. You're doing this because you're scared to death, like the rest of us, that you don't matter. And you know what? You're right. You don't. It's not important. You're not important. Get used to it."

Wow. This film exceeded my already supremely high expectations. I enjoyed every perfect line, every quirky moment, all the intertextuality and playful artistry. Perhaps my favorite part was the cinematography and editing--it feels really different than most films, like one incredibly long take-- but I also fell in love with the entire atmosphere that González Iñárritu created. We humans live in a confining space, a space we all wish we could fly away from. We are all selfish (to varying degrees) and strive for glory, fame, a legacy, something to bring meaning to our seeming insignificance. The desperation can sometimes be pathetic, sometimes hilarious, but always honest.

Layers and layers of meaning, very thought-provoking. Michael Keaton was a brilliant choice. I will definitely watch this again.

--Don't understand the ratings? Click here

39 Steps

39 Steps (Alfred Hitchcock, 1935)

Click here for the basics

Rating: Q=6, P=5 / Average OJ

Scale 1=3, Scale 2=3, Scale 3=3, Scale 4=2

Mystery, Spy, Crime, Suspense, Thriller, Film Noir

I studied Hitchcock in college but focused mainly on his works in Hollywood. It feels weird that I haven't seen some of his early, British classics. But last night I finally watched 39 Steps. It is beautiful. Beautiful shots with all the shadows and lines of expressionism. Great acting, especially from Robert Donat. I often forget how brilliant he was. And the plot is perfect, the transitions and dialogue, every revealing moment. You can see how Hitchcock would go on to make some of the best films of all time. If you are in the mood for a classic mystery, this may be it.

--Don't understand the ratings? Click here

In A World

In A World (Lake Bell, 2013)

Click here for the basics

Rating: Q=5, P=5 / Average OJ

Scale 1=2, Scale 2=3, Scale 3=3, Scale 4=2

Comedy, Father/Daughter, Complex Relationships

This is a fun, light-hearted comedy about much more than just voice-over actors. It's about pride, competition, taking risks, and doing what you love. Lake Bell and Dmitri Martin are sweet and hilarious. If you like voice acting, accents, and quirky nerd-stuff, you'll enjoy this.

--Don't understand the ratings? Click here

Tim's Vermeer

Tim's Vermeer (Pen Jillette and Teller, 2013)

Click here for the basics

Rating: DOCQ=8, DOCP=8 / First Rate

Scale K=3, Scale L=3, Scale M=4, Scale N=3

Documentary, Art, Technology, History

Growing up around paintings and drawings, knowing many artists, and being a different kind of artist myself, I've always had an enormous respect for the amount of patience and dedication one must have to create. I fully understand writer's block and have spent many hours playing chord progressions with no results. So, Tim's Vermeer was a treat of a film--Tim says he isn't an artist, yet he creates a near exact replica of Vermeer's studio and then paints a version of a Vermeer in just over four months. He learns to hold a paintbrush, mixes his own paint, grinds his own lens, and then sits for countless hours to observe and paint what he sees. He has ample curiosity to discover how Vermeer worked, he does research and experiments. How is this not an artist? If Vermeer used a lens to paint (which is pretty likely), does this make him less an artist?

One must certainly have talent and imagination to be a good artist, and one must learn skills. But sometimes we underestimate the value and importance of having the right tools. There are plenty of budding geniuses out there who will never know they have talent, never be discovered because they don't have access to paints or canvas or books...This is a wonderful film that really makes you think about definitions and meanings.

--Don't understand the ratings? Click here

The Trip To Italy

The Trip To Italy (Michael Winterbottom, 2014)

Click here for the basics

Rating: Q=6, P=5 / Average OJ

Scale 1=3, Scale 2=3, Scale 3=3, Scale 4=2

British Comedy, Mockumentary, Travel and Food, Being a Comedian

Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon are at it again: traveling, eating food, contemplating life and love as only two 50-year old comedians can. I liked the first film more but this one has somewhat more mouthwatering scenery and meals. Highlight: Rob Brydon having a "conversation" with a once very real man trapped in a box.

--Don't understand the ratings? Click here

Treme Season IV

Treme, Season 4 (Created by Eric Overmyer & David Simon, 2013)

Click here for the basics

Rating: DSQ=9, SP=7 / Sweet Treat

Scale A=3, Scale B=3, Scale C=3, Scale D=4, Scale E=3

New Orleans, Hurricane Katrina aftermath, Music, Race Issues, Socio-Cultural, Mardi-Gras

The final season of Treme is bittersweet. I love these characters and I don't want to stop watching them learn, struggle, dance, play, cry, cook, investigate, love, rebel, and live. This is one of the best shows about culture and music ever made. It is politically and socially relevant and timely. There is so much wit and reality. I'm definitely going to watch again.

--Don't understand the ratings? Click here

200th Post! The Theory of Everything

Hey, this is my 200th post! That's pretty nifty :)

The Theory of Everything (James Marsh, 2014)

Click here for the basics

Rating: Q=7, P=7 / Obsession

Scale 1=3, Scale 2=4, Scale 3=4, Scale 4=3

Biopic, Stephen Hawking, Complex Relationships, Coping, Inspirational, Tear-jerker

"There should be no boundaries to human endeavor. We are all different. However bad life may seem, there is always something you can do, and succeed at. While there's life, there is hope."

Yes, this film has flaws but what film doesn't? Many critics have argued that there should have been more discussion of Hawking's amazing intellectual achievements. Perhaps. But this film has a different agenda: it is a brilliant film about the power of the human spirit. It is about making the most of your life, adapting, and staying positive. We will all face limitations-- minor and severe, self-imposed and beyond our control. Eddie Redmayne delivers an unbelievable performance that will no doubt astonish you. But he is channeling Hawking's incredible mental and emotional strength and THAT will stay with you long after.

--Don't understand the ratings? Click here