This thread is for the posting of your lists. The format has been posted below. Any announcements or discussion should be posted in the other "Ultimate Movie Mayhem III".

Format For Lists:

1. (date) -- (movie title) -- (grade) (home or theatre) (Bonus List Name)
review: (Be brief, paragraph or less)

Example:

1. 2/1/2009 -- Paul Blart: Mall Cop - 9/10 (A) (Theatre)
Loved it. Best thing ever.

2. 2/1/2009 -- Bring It On - 7/10 (C) (Home)
Kinda silly but has it's charn.

Please remember to submit your lists in the manner shown on page one, using the "Edit" button to add to your list, rather then posting new lists continually.

Use this thread as guide: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=48872

001. 02.02.2009 - Vicky Christina Barcelona - ***½ (Home)
A really, really lovely film. Works both on its own terms as a complicated, humorous travelogue comedy, and as another odd look into the mind of latter-day Woody Allen. I don't quite get the Cruz praise, but Rebecca Hall is wonderful.

002. 02.04.2009 - Happy-Go-Lucky - ***½ (Perfectly Legal Online Viewing)
Even though it took me a while to watch the whole thing, a very rewarding film. Hawkins and Marsan deliver two of the best performances of last year, and were seriously robbed of nominations.

003. 02.06.2009 - The Pirate - ***½ (Home)
An incredibly entertaining Gene Kelly comedy-musical, with an excellent performance from Kelly himself and decent performance by Judy Garland. The "Nina" number is a major highlight.

004. 02.07.2009 - Let the Right One In - **** (Theater)
Unsettling, beautiful, darkly humorous, haunting, moving, frickin' excellent. The cinematography is truly top notch, and the story is just so expertly handled. I greatly fear next year's remake.

005. 02.10.2009 - City of God - **** (Club Screening)
Visually mindblowing, thematically engaging, all around excellent. Just a completely stellar film that gives a compelling look into a rarely seen world.

006. 02.11.2009 - Love Songs - *** (Home)
Enjoyable, overlooked modern day French musical full of sexy-sad bisexual goodiness and pretty decent songs, particularly "Je N'Aime Que Toi" and the one during the gay love scene.

007. 02.14.2009 - Mr. Smith Goes to Washington - *** (Home) (Best Director nominee 1930-1949 #1)
Heavy-handed classic that works a lot better than it probably should, considering how ridiculous it gets at moments (The events in his home state near the end, especially). James Stewart and Claude Rains are quite excellent though.

008. 02.16.2009 - My Man Godfrey - ***½ (Home) (Best Director nominee 1930-1949 #2)
My second viewing of the comedy classic. Just about as funny as the first time and somewhat more poignant. All four acting nominations were deserved.

009. 02.17.2009 - Last Year at Marienbad - **** (Home) (Cinelitist: Part I)
I am perplexed, yet transfixed, and therefore I love it. What crazy shit.

010. 02.18.2009 - Frozen River - *** (Home)
Excellent performance by Leo and exceptional screenplay not undeserving of its surprise nom. It's a promising debut, t the very least.

011. 02.19.2009 - It Happened One Night - *** (Home) (Best Director nominee 1930-1949 #3)
My second viewing of the RomCom that started every RomCom cliche to follow. This tampers its enjoyment a bit, and the humor is hit and miss now, but I can't deny its place in film history. And Gable and Colbert have such an oddly transfixing chemistry.

012. 02.20.2009 - Citizen Kane - **** (Home) (Best Director nominee 1930-1949 #4)
I'm always amazed after watching this just how truly close it comes to its status as the greatest movie ever made. Truly a perfect film.

013. 02.20.2009 - Changeling - *** (Home)
Better than my low, low expectations, though it could've used some tightening up in the screenplay, it was still surprisingly compelling/depressing, bordering on misery porn. At least the techs, actual murder plot and Jolie's performance were pretty good.

014. 02.21.2009 - The Treasure of Sierra Madre - **** (Home) (BEST DIRECTOR NOMINEE 1930-1949 #5)
Dark, intense and a lot odder than one would expect from a major 1940s Hollywood production. Certainly deserving of the Oscars it won (Particularly Walter Huston's), though the Bogart snub is pretty bad.

015. 02.24.2009 - Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon - ***½ (Club Screening)
A brilliant idea with decent execution. It's probably a little more predictable than it should be, but it kinda works into it weird, low-budget charm.

016. 02.26.2009 - The Wrestler - **** (Theater)
I'm not sure there was a single thing really wrong with this. Tight screenplay, restrained but effective direction, and Mickey fucking Rourke (Tomei was also really good).

017. 02.28.2009 - The Saddest Music in the World - **** (Home)
Sibling rivalries, love pentagons, glass legs filled with beer, all in '30s-style B&W with random color sequences. How can one not love this?

018. 03.01.2009 - Adam's Rib - *** (Home)
Unfortunately dated battle of the sexes, though it has its laughs, and Tracy and Hepburn have wondrous chemistry.

019. 03.06.2009 - Watchmen - ** (Theater)
"Eh" pretty much describes my general feelings towards the film. Though Jackie Earle Haley was adequately badass.

020. 03.07.2009 - Au Hasard Balthazar - ***½ (Home) (Cinelitist: Part II)
I need this one to sit a little longer...it's a tedious viewing experience, though one that slowly grows.

021. 03.08.2009 - 42nd Street - *** (Home)
A delight of a film. Kinda slow at times (I might have just been tired from other events of the day), but the numbers, god damn.

022. 03.09.2009 - Freaky Friday - *** (Home)
Okay family film elevated to good by Jamie Lee Curtis' BRILLIANT performance. Seriously, she completely makes this movie.

023. 03.14.2009 - Ninotchka - *** (Home)
Charming old school RomCom, though it doesn't really get going until Garbo shows up. The ending is also not as funny, but it's still pretty romantic.

024. 03.15.2009 - Viridiana - ***½ (Home)
My first Luis Buñuel film, and a damn good one to start with. Not quite ha ha funny, but still a bizarrely entertaining, irreverent romp. The "dinner party" scene did not disappoint.

025. 03.16.2009 - 4 Months, 3 Weeks, 2 Days - **** (Home)
Captivating and intense, with an excellent lead performance and two very good supporting turns. Mungiu will be a very interesting talent to follow.

026. 03.17.2009 - You Can Count on Me - **** (Home)
With the exception of some stuff involving Broderick's character, this works wonderfully. The chemistry between Linney, Ruffalo and Rory Culkin makes it work all the more.

027. 03.20.2009 - Thank You for Smoking - *** (Party)
My second viewing. Not as amazing as some seem to believe (It's basically Libertarianism 098), but nonetheless it still has some really funny moments, and an excellent lead performance by Eckhart.

028. 03.20.2009 - Army of Darkness - *** (Party)
Groovy.

029. 03.25.2009 - Best in Show - **** (Netflix Instant Viewing)
A slow-building but ultimately hilarious mockumentary from Christopher Guest with a near-flawless ensemble. I really need to see Waiting for Guffman and A Mighty Wind now.

030. 03.27.2009 - How Green Was My Valley - **½ (Home) (High Five, John Ford Film #1)
Not necessarily boring, but so little was ever truly engaging most of time, that it leads mostly to indifference. Kinda pretty though.

031. 03.27.2009 - Stagecoach - **** (Home) (High Five, John Ford Film #2)
A far better and more entertaining John Ford film. A lot more of an ensemble than I expected, and luckily it's an engaging one. Thomas Mitchell's Oscar? 100% deserved.

032. 03.28.2009 - Synecdoche, New York - **** (Home)
I think this might be the best film of 2008. I'll need to think about it.

033. 03.30.2009 - Clerks - *** (Home)
Alright, though not totally amazing like some seem to feel. Dogma (The only other Smith film I've seen) was better and funnier.

034. 03.31.2009 - A Mighty Wind - ***½ (Home)
Not quite as funny as funny as Best in Show, though it's actually almost touching at times, and still pretty funny. And the songs are so fun!

035. 04.01.2009 - The Matrix - **** (Home) (Party Like It's 1999 Part II )
Missed the 10-year anniversary by one day, but still totally badass after all these years. The final 30 are just... total badassery.

036. 04.02.2009 - The Grapes of Wrath - **** (Library) (High Five, John Ford Film #3)
I'm not sure I expected to like this as much as I did. It almost surprising how unapologetic it is in its socialist stance on poverty and hard times, and I appreciated that. And the ensemble is excellent, especially Fonda and Carradine.

037. 04.02.2009 - Confessions of a Superhero - **½ (Hulu)
I'm not sure the subject matter was really enough for a complete feature film, though it's at least fairly watchable, and it's kinda cool that this docu has found new life thanks to hulu.

038. 04.05.2009 - The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance - **** (Home) (High Five, John Ford Film #4)
Pretty excellent Western, with Stewart and Wayne in an interesting clash of lawful ideals and battle for the love of a woman.

039. 04.05.2009 - My Darling Clementine - *** (Netflix Instant Viewing) (High Five, John Ford Film #5)
Quieter than your average western, but still a very charming one, thanks especially to Fonda.

040. 04.08.2009 - The Blue Angel - ***½ (Home)
I'm beginning to think that Pre-WWII Germany is one of the best eras for film ever. Such a fun, crazed melodrama with fine performances from Jannings and Dietrich.

041. 04.08.2009 - Grand Illusion - **** (Home)
Starts a little slow, but slowly builds into a very interesting look at WWI Germany through the eyes of French POWs.

042. 04.09.2009 - The Exterminating Angel - **** (Home)
Oh Luis Buñuel, you crazed master. It takes damned good skills to make such madness so casual and hilarious.

043. 04.09.2009 - Undiscovered - Zero Stars (Hulu)
I'm not sure I've ever seen a movie so effortlessly horrible. It really goes to show how hard it is to make a good movie, and how easy it can be to make something so, so bad.

044. 04.10.2009 - Monty Python's Life of Brian - **** (Home)
Great Good Friday viewing. It presents n excellent, accurate viewpoint on religion without as much cockiness as say, South Park or Family Guy. And it's damned hilarious.

045. 04.11.2009 - The Fast and the Furious - ** (Home)
This was rather unfortunately "eh". The plot is cliched, and a lot of the car chases/races aren't as adrenaline-pumping as they should be.

046. 04.13.2009 - I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang - *** (Home)
Simplistic but engaging look at the corrupt chain gang system near the beginning of the century. It's as raw as its pre-code origins should suggest - not overly so, but effective enough.

047. 04.14.2009 - Mean Streets - **** (Home)
This... affected me a lot more than I thought it would. It almost felt like music, because while I didn't comprehend all of the plot, I think I really got the feeling of it. It was really good.

048. 04.16.2009 - City Lights - **** (Home)
Yep, still in my all time Top 3, maybe #1. Happy b-day, Chaplin!

049. 04.17.2009 - You Can't Take It With You - ***½ (Home)
Not entirely sure why this is usually disregarded among Capra's work, as I found it a lot more enjoyable than say, It Happened One Night, and more thematically interesting than Mr. Smith. An amazing ensemble, too!

050. 04.17.2009 - Airplane! - **** (Home)
Funniest movie ever? Probably.

051. 04.18.2009 - Mean Streets - **** (Home)
A second viewing really does this good. It's such a human portrayal of gangster life, it can really hurt at times, yet it also has some great moments of humor (The fight scene set to "Mr. Postman", hee).

052. 04.19.2009 - Crank: High Voltage - ***½ (Theater)
I'm not sure words can properly convey how insane and don't-give-a-shit this was. It's almost avant-garde in the directions it goes. Impressive.

053. 04.20.2009 - Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street - **** (Home)
This works impressively well on repeat viewing. So very dark, yet the music is so fine. Depp is also pretty good, though he somehow manages to be the least deserving Best Actor nominee of 2007 (How does that happen?).

054. 04.21.2009 - Living In Oblivion - *** (Club Screening)
A nice, very independent indie film (Not in the bad way, luckily), with a strong ensemble. It never tops the first section though.

055. 04.24.2009 - Begging Naked - **** (Roger Ebert Film Festival)
This was...awe inspiring. Devastating. Reaffirming. I really hope this gets a proper release. Just...amazing.

056. 04.24.2009 - The Last Command - *** (Roger Ebert Film Festival)
Begging Naked was still with me when I was watching this, but it's still good in its own right. It doesn't get really going though until the final section in Hollywood. Jannings makes a decent first Best Actor winner.

057. 04.24.2009 - American Graffiti - ***½ (Home)
Fun!

1. 02.03.09 -- Behind Locked Doors (1948) / Budd Boetticher -- *** -- home
Taut low budget thriller about a private investigator who enters a sanitarium as a patient to investigate some misdoings. For Ed Wood and Z-movie fans it has the added value of a supporting part by Tor Johnson.

2. 02.05.09 - Bolero (1934) / Wesley Ruggles - **1/2 -- home
Old fashioned but entertaining film about the fall and rise of a dancer played by George Raft, surprisingly for once not playing a gangster.

3. 02.05.09 - Autumn Sonata [Höstsonaten] (1978) / Ingmar Bergman - no stars -- home
Paint drying is infinitely more entertaining than this sleeping pill of a movie where Ullmann and Bergman talk about stuff no one cares for 90 minutes. No wonder the suicide rate in Sweden is so high.

4. 02.06.09 - Bangkok Dangerous (2008) / Danny & Oxide Pang - ** -- home
By the numbers actioner with a lethargic Cage. Some ok scenes and scenery, but rapidly forgettable.

5. 02.06.09 - Wicker Park (2004) / Paul McGuigan - ** -- home
Would have been better movie with less twists. In fact, some of them don't make really much of a sense.

6. 02.07.09 - Autumn Afternoon [Sanma No Aji] (1962) / Yasujiro Ozu - **1/2 -- home
Not the best Ozu, but a good example of the themes that he usually handled in his movies like the troubles and tribulations of everyday life. An interesting view in Japanese culture in the 50s/60s.

7. 02.07.09 - Broken Flowers (2005) / Jim Jarmusch - *1/2 -- home
Yes Bill Murray! We get it! You can play serious roles! And you don't need to move a facial muscle! Now go back to comedies!

8. 02.07.09 - The Incredible Hulk (2008) / Louis Leterrier - **1/2 -- home
Much better adaptation of the Hulk comics than Ang Lee's film (no father-son issues here). Feels a bit rushed towards the end, but overall pretty entertaining.

001. 02/02 - Nattvardsgästerna [Winter Light] (Ingmar Bergman, 1962) - Nearly there (home)
Rather cold and detached, but that only makes it more affecting. Still, I would've liked some more warmth.

002. 02/02 - The Lady from Shanghai (Orson Welles, 1948) - Pretty good (home)
Rather conventional noir elevated by some intricate plotting and a brilliant finale in a hall of mirrors. Even so, Welles has done better.

003. 02/03 - The Gunfighter (Henry King, 1950) - Nearly there (home)
Fascinating Western starring Gregory Peck as a fatigued gunmen trying to escape the pressures of fame. Pretty revolutionary, foreshadowing both High Noon and Unforgiven, despite some storytelling flaws.

004. 02/04 - The Big Heat (Fritz Lang, 1953) - Masterful (school)
Terrific noir with a brilliant undertone of atomic paranoia. Probably Lang's best work.

005. 02/04 - Bend of the River (Anthony Mann, 1952) - Pretty good (home)
A pretty dark Western with some interesting anti-capitalist ideas and a decidedly left political slant. Jimmy Stewart is good, as always.

006. 02/05 - Tystnaden [The Silence] (Ingmar Bergman, 1963) - Better than sex (school)
Bergman finally grows up and does away with his dialogue-heavy obsession with God. As much Marienbad as anything else, and I loved it.

007. 02/05 - Vicky Cristina Barcelona (Woody Allen, 2008) - Nearly there (home)
My first Woody! yoshue should be happy. I really enjoyed it.

008. 02/06 - Sarajevo Film Festival Film (Johan van der Keuken, 1993) - Pretty good (school)
A nearly unheard of short film about the first ever Sarajevo Film Festival, and why people would be watching movies while bombs are dropping.

009. 02/06 - I ♥ $ (Johan van der Keuken, 1986) - Just ok (school)
Way overlong, and rather meandering, but still a rather interesting look at the world economy of the 1980s.

010. 02/06 - My Left Foot (Jim Sheridan, 1989) - Just ok (home)
DDL outshines the movie, as he often does.

011. 02/07 - Happy-Go-Lucky (Mike Leigh, 2008) - Nearly there (home)
Could've been an annoying, insufferable disaster, but really isn't. Manages to stay meaningful amongst all the quirky goings-on, quite the opposite of Poppy herself.

012. 02/07 - The Postman Always Rings Twice (Tay Garnett, 1946) - Just ok (home)
Rather ridiculous, which is never good for this type of film. Never fails to be riveting, but never fails to be sensible, either.

013. 02/07 - Zack and Miri Make a Porno (Kevin Smith, 2008) - Kinda lame (home)
Not really all that funny, though the romance mostly works. Except for Seth Rogen being god awful ugly. How does this guy get chicks?

014. 02/08 - The Naked Spur (Anthony Mann, 1953) - Pretty good (home)
Rather fascinating, though totally sexist and socialist. Not that that's necessarily a bad thing, though.

015. 02/08 - Milk (Gus Van Sant, 2008) - Nearly there (home)
Really good, and not at all conventional. It's more like a documentary than anything, with its inclusion of archival footage and verite-esque cinematography.
Best Editing - 2000-08

016. 02/10 - Vals Im Bashir [Waltz with Bashir] (Ari Folman, 2008) - Better than sex (home)
Holy amazing.

017. 02/11 - Dead Reckoning (John Cromwell, 1947) - Just ok (school)
Totally convoluted and confusing, but Bogie makes it worth it.

018. 02/12 - Persona (Ingmar Bergman, 1966) - Better than sex (school)
Berzilliant.

019. 02/12 - The Big Sleep (Howard Hawks, 1946) - Nearly there (home)
Terrifically entertaining, and faithful to the novel to boot, but I've seen better noirs.

020. 02/13 - The Naked City (Jules Dassin, 1948) - Nearly there (home)
Classic crime tale mixed with kitchen sink realism makes for a compelling film. As much a documentary as a noir.

021. 02/13 - Boulevards du crépuscule [Sunset Boulevards] (Edgardo Cozarinsky, 1992) - Just ok (school)
Kinda boring look at two famous French actors who left their home country to live in Argentina.

022. 02/13 - Citizen Langlois (Edgardo Cozarinsky, 1994) - Pretty good (school)
Rather fascinating account of the man who founded the Cinémathèque Française.

023. 02/13 - Moulin Rouge! (Baz Luhrmann, 2001) - Nearly there (party)
Fantastically enjoyable postmodernist musical.
Best Editing - 2000-08

024. 02/13 - The Dark Knight (Christopher Nolan, 2008) - Masterful (party)
It rocks.
Best Editing - 2000-08

025. 02/14 - Brand Upon the Brain! (Guy Maddin, 2006) - Masterful (theatre)
Maybe not as complete or entertaining as My Winnipeg, but perhaps even more interesting.

026. 02/15 - The Proposition (John Hillcoat, 2005) - Masterful (home)
Beautiful and violent, with some impressive thematic weight. Terrific music, too.

027. 02/15 - The Wrestler (Darren Aronofsky, 2008) - Nearly there (home)
I'm on a roll! This one was pretty great. Grim and gritty and emotionally powerful. Rourke deserves the accolades.

028. 02/16 - Slumdog Millionaire (Danny Boyle, 2008) - Really bad (home)
Ugh. Don't even get me started.
Best Editing - 2000-08

029. 02/17 - Entre les murs [The Class] (Laurent Cantet, 2008) - Pretty good (theatre)
Interesting enough, but feels almost too inconsequential to matter.

030. 02/17 - Doubt (John Patrick Shanley, 2008) - Meh (home)
Neither serious or silly enough. Stuck in the no man's land of filmed stage plays.

031. 02/18 - Stalker (Andrei Tarkovsky, 1979) - Masterful (home)
I have no idea what it's about, but that only makes it more superb.
Cinelitist: Part I

032. 02/18 - Revolutionary Road (Sam Mendes, 2008) - Really bad (theatre)
Kinda ridiculous and totally pointless. Also really badly acted, save for Michael Shannon, who almost saves the film by himself.

033. 02/18 - Frost/Nixon (Ron Howard, 2008) - Meh (home)
Not as compelling as it should be, and kinda unambitious all-around. Langella and Sheen almost make it worth it, though.
Best Editing - 2000-08

034. 02/19 - Gambling, Gods and LSD (Peter Mettler, 2002) - Better than sex (home)
Very obviously from the Chris Marker school of essay-filmmaking, but that's doesn't hurt it. It's still amazing.

035. 02/20 - High Noon (Fred Zinnemann, 1952) - Nearly there (home)
A near-classic Western with a terrific lead performance and a great sense of dread. Superb stuff.

036. 02/21 - Coraline (Henry Selick, 2009) - Pretty good (theatre)
It's no Nightmare Before Christmas, but what is? Still terrifically imaginative.

037. 02/21 - The Reader (Stephen Daldry, 2008) - Meh (home)
booooooooooooooooooooooooring

038. 02/22 - The Big Heat (Fritz Lang, 1953) - Better than sex (home)
Second viewing (with note-taking!) I found it even better. Definitely one of the best noirs.

039. 02/23 - Vargtimmen [Hour of the Wolf] (Ingmar Bergman, 1968) - Masterful (home)
Terrifying and bizarre. Also has some wonderful moments of surrealism.

040. 02/24 - Gun Crazy (Joseph H. Lewis, 1949) - Nearly there (school)
Delicious trash. Superbly shot, with some great (not-so) subtle innuendo. Loads of fun.

041. 02/24 - The Searchers (John Ford, 1956) - Nearly there (school)
Takes some getting into, but once you do, it's a true genre masterpiece.

042. 02/25 - Pickup on South Street (Samuel Fuller, 1953) - Nearly there (school)
Fairly standard noir, though Richard Widmark is the fucking man.

043. 02/25 - The Tall T (Budd Boetticher, 1957) - Just ok (home)
Picks up at the end, but not enough to overcome the rather lame beginning.

044. 02/27 - Chaplin (Richard Attenborough, 1992) - Just ok (home)
Rather lifeless and bland considering the character of its subject. Still, RDJ has never been better.

045. 02/28 - The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (John Ford, 1962) - Masterful (home)
The death of the classic Western. And what a glorious death it is.

046. 03/01 - Picture of Light (Peter Mettler, 1994) - Better than sex (theatre)
Pretty incredible. As beautiful as the Northern Lights it's depicting.

047. 03/01 - Skammen [Shame] (Ingmar Bergman, 1968) - Nearly there (home)
A bit shallow and manipulative, but it still works like a charm. Utterly horrific and hopeless.

048. 03/03 - Rio Bravo (Howard Hawks, 1959) - Just ok (home)
Kinda silly and clunky. It's like the guys decided to have fun in the Old West, and make a movie while they're at it.

049. 03/04 - Kiss Me Deadly (Robert Aldrich, 1995) - Better than sex (home)
Probably my favourite film noir. Also one of the best.

050. 03/05 - En Passion [The Passion of Anna] (Ingmar Bergman, 1969) - Just ok (school)
Oh Bergman, you crazy fellow.

051. 03/06 - Watchmen (Zack Snyder, 2009) - Meh (theatre)
Stick to nihilistic genre remakes, Zackie boy, and leave the graphic novel adaptations to people who know how to do it.

052. 03/06 - Tropic Thunder (Ben Stiller, 2008) - Pretty good (home)
Pretty hilarious, though it doesn't always work. When it does, though, it really does.

053. 03/07 - Ride the High Country (Sam Peckinpah, 1962) - Pretty good (home)
Sorta troubling, but also rather fascinating. It's a kind of swan song for the classic Western and two of its stars - and they go out with a bang.

054. 03/07 - The Goodbye Girl (Herbert Ross, 1977) - Meh (home)
Sharply written and well-acted, but the romance drops out of nowhere and the plot seems to turn on a dime. Dreyfuss' gay Richard III is pretty hilarious though.

055. 03/08 - The Gunfighter (Henry King, 1950) - Pretty good (home)
It's not nearly as fascinating the second time around, mostly because it feels telegraphed and obvious.

056. 03/08 - High Noon (Fred Zinnemann, 1952) - Nearly there (home)
This one held up a bit better a second time around, though I still don't think it's a classic.

057. 03/08 - Martyrs (Pascal Laugier, 2008) - Deeply flawed (home)
So bad I had to create a new grade just for it. Basically unwatchable, though the ending is interesting.

058. 03/09 - Riten [The Rite] (Ingmar Bergman, 1969) - Kinda lame (home)
Far too stagey and talky for my tastes. There's a reason movies are cinematic.

059. 03/09 - Per un pugno di dollari [A Fistful of Dollars] (Sergio Leone, 1964) - Nearly there (home)
It's no The Good, The Bad and The Ugly, but what is? Still stylish and exciting, with Clint as cool as ever.

060. 03/10 - Per qualche dollaro in più [For a Few Dollars More] (Sergio Leone, 1965) - Nearly there (home)
Not quite as good as its predecessor, but still pretty awesome.

061. 03/11 - The Killing (Stanley Kubrick, 1956) - Pretty good (home)
Not really a Kubrick film, despite claims to the contrary. It's quite plain and basic, all things considered.

062. 03/12 - Viskningar och rop [Cries and Whispers] (Ingmar Bergman, 1973) - Nearly there (school)
Technically brilliant and emotionally powerful, and yet... I didn't love it. Something about this feels all too familiar. Bergman has done better.

063. 03/12 - Der Siebente Kontinent [The Seventh Continent] (Michael Haneke, 1989) - Masterful (theatre)
Bleak and uncompromising. Sucks the life out of you and doesn't give it back. A glacial masterpiece.

064. 03/13 - La jetée (Chris Marker, 1963) - Better than sex (home)
One of the seminal works of science fiction, still photography or not.

065. 03/13 - Sans soleil (Chris Marker, 1983) - Better than sex (home)
A kaleidoscopic trip through time and space, thought and memory. I love it.

066. 03/13 - Benny's Video (Michael Haneke, 1992) - Just ok (theatre)
I'll have to watch it again to catch what I missed, but for now, it's far too intimate and personal to work as an effective indictment of media violence.

067. 03/14 - Minority Report (Steven Spielberg, 2002) - Masterful (work)
As extraordinarily close to perfect as you can get. Only the ending ruins it.

068. 03/14 - 71 Fragmente einer Chronologie des Zufalls [71 Fragments of a Chronology of Chance (Michael Haneke, 1994) - Pretty good (theatre)
Too explicitly political, but it still works very well. The way the pieces are maneuvered is just masterful.

069. 03/14 - Funny Games (Michael Haneke, 1997) - Nearly there (theatre)
It's just the same as its remake. No better, no worse.

070. 03/14 - Wild Things (John McNaughton, 1998) - Nearly there (home)
The art of trash. This is what you can do with the bottom of the barrel. I loves it.

071. 03/15 - Histoire(s) du cinéma: Toutes les histoires (Jean-Luc Godard, 1988) - Kinda lame (home)
Ridiculously self-indulgent and fetishistic. It's only worth watching for the film clips. This is not the Godard I fell in love with.

072. 03/15 - JLG/JLG (Jean-Luc Godard, 1995) - Kinda lame (home)
Just as bad as the other Godard essay-film. Does this man make films for anyone but himself anymore? I think not.

073. 03/15 - Liberté et patrie [Liberty and Homeland] (Jean-Luc Godard + Anne-Marie Miéville, 2002) - Kinda lame (home)
I don't even know what this one was about. I just stopped paying attention.

074. 03/15 - The Serpent's Egg (Ingmar Bergman, 1977) - Really bad (home)
Not at all like any of Bergman's other films. It's just a total disaster.

075. 03/16 - The Wild Bunch (Sam Peckinpah, 1969) - Masterful (home)
Fuckin' AWESOME.

076. 03/17 - Le mouton noir [The Black Sheep] (Jacques Godbout, 1992) - Meh (school)
Incredibly, disparagingly long and boring and one-sided. Angered me both as a westerner and a film student. Still, I didn't hate it.

077. 03/17 - Sans soleil (Chris Marker, 1983) - Better than sex (home)
So nice I watched it twice.

078. 03/18 - Touch of Evil (Orson Welles, 1958) - Better than sex (school)
A terrific film and the perfect way to end the film-noir cycle. Welles' best.

079. 03/18 - Ulzana's Raid (Robert Aldrich, 1972) - Just ok (home)
Meh. Kinda racist, and rather generic. This is not the Aldrich of Kiss Me Deadly!

080. 03/19 - Aus dem Leben der Marionetten [From the Life of the Marionettes (Ingmar Bergman, 1980) - Pretty good (school)
A deep-seated psychological deconstruction of a single man, perfectly capturing all of Bergman's fetishes and anxieties. Plus that music is intoxicating!

081. 03/20 - Lumumba: La mort du prophète [Lumumba: Death of a Prophet] (Raoul Peck, 1992) - Pretty good (school)
A fascinating, melancholy account of the life and death of Patrice Lumumba. Reflective and contemplative, quite unlike most portraits of the man.

082. 03/20 - Afrique, je te plumerai [Africa, I Will Fleece You] (Jean-Marie Téno, 1992) - Really bad (school)
Totally the opposite of the other African film. Lecturing, heavy-handed, and poorly staged. Also really, really boring.

083. 03/20 - Tystnaden [The Silence] (Ingmar Bergman, 1963) - Better than sex (home)
I didn't love it quite as much the first time around, but it's still a fantastically modernist work, and among the best in Bergman's career.

084. 03/20 - Collateral (Michael Mann, 2004) - Masterful (home)
Slick and entertaining and deeply psychological. It also captures L.A. like no other film has. Always a great watch.

085. 03/21 - In Bruges (Martin McDonagh, 2008) - Masterful (home)
One of the funniest and darkest films to come along in some time. As hilarious as it is existential.

086. 03/21 - Persona (Ingmar Bergman, 1966) - Better than sex (home)
Even more brilliant upon a repeat viewing. Haters, go fuck yourself. This is filmmaking at its finest.

087. 03/22 - Vargtimmen [Hour of the Wolf] (Ingmar Bergman, 1968) - Masterful (home)
It's often too dull, but the surrealist, expressionistic horror sequences more than make up for that.

088. 03/23 - Little Big Man (Arthur Penn, 1970) - Pretty good (home)
Fairly impressive balance of comedy and tragedy, though it clearly works better as the former. Should've left the Vietnam allegories for another film, guys.

089. 03/25 - High Plains Drifter (Clint Eastwood, 1973) - Nearly there (home)
Supremely creepy and moodily effective Western horror, with some great demonic imagery and a chilling performance by Clint. Western revisionism doesn't get any darker than this.

090. 03/25 - Chinatown (Roman Polanski, 1974) - Masterful (home)
It clearly loses momentum in the last third, when the story abruptly shifts focus on us, but that doesn't stop the entire work from being a terrifically engaging, perversely provocative update of a classic film form. Only this and L.A. Confidential have even measured up to the traditional noirs.

091. 03/27 - Balifilm (Peter Mettler, 1997) - Masterful (home)
A rhythmic, lyrical look at life on the island of Bali, one tempered equally by nature and technology. One of Mettler's better works.

092. 03/27 - Lancalot Freely (Peter Mettler, 1980) - Nearly there (home)
Gritty, profanity-ridden portrait of one of Mettler's childhood friends, capturing the squalid lifestyle with perfect clarity. The moment when he smashes a Raging Bull poster is significant and terrific.

093. 03/27 - Eastern Avenue (Peter Mettler, 1985) - Nearly there (home)
Prefigures Gambling, Gods and LSD in its travelogue format, but isn't quite that brilliant. It's merely an impressive rip-off of Sans soleil.

094. 03/27 - The Top of His Head (Peter Mettler, 1989) - Pretty good (home)
Interesting enough, though Mettler seems hampered by the concerns of a narrative.

095. 03/27 - Tectonic Plates (Peter Mettler, 1992) - Really bad (home)
Pretty much ass.

096. 03/27 - The Outlaw Josey Wales (Clint Eastwood, 1976) - Just ok (home)
Rather conventional and generic, all things considered.

097. 03/28 - Picture of Light (Peter Mettler, 1994) - Better than sex (home)
Seriously one of the best documentaries ever made.

098. 03/28 - Unforgiven (Clint Eastwood, 1992) - Masterful (home)
Doesn't just reverse the myth of the Western; it takes a hammer to it and fucking destroys it. Dark and chilling; a fitting end for the form. Only Clint had the rep to do this.

099. 03/29 - Höstsonaten [Autumn Sonata] (Ingmar Bergman, 1978) - Pretty good (home)
Kinda overacted, especially by Ullmann (who seems to be getting worse and worse as time goes on), but the sheer emotional power and directing prowess is enough to overcome that. Still, I've grown tired of Bergman's chamber dramas.

100. 03/29 - Fanny och Alexander [Fanny and Alexander]: The Television Version (Ingmar Bergman, 1982) - Better than sex (home)
Words escape me. This is an amazing, transcendent film. Bergman's epic fairy tale, by way of Shakespeare, Ibsen, Renoir, and god knows who else. The warmest and the best the Swedish auteur has ever been.

101. 03/30 - Gambling, Gods and LSD (Peter Mettler, 2002) - Better than sex (home)
I think Picture of Light is probably a better film, but this is more amazing. If that makes sense.

102. 04/01 - Blood Simple. (Joel + Ethan Coen, 1985) - Just ok (school)
Really irritates me (even if it's supposed to) and doesn't draw me in, despite its technical brilliance.

103. 04/03 - Kiss Me Deadly (Robert Aldrich, 1955) - Better than sex (home)
I like this one more and more each time I watch it.

104. 04/03 - Mulholland Dr. (David Lynch, 2001) - Better than sex (home)
Bizarre, baffling, frustrating, and utterly intoxicating. Plus lesbian sex!

105. 04/04 - This is Spinal Tap (Rob Reiner, 1984) - Nearly there (home)
It's more clever than laugh-out-loud funny, but it still has its hilarious moments. Like Stonehenge. Or getting lost behind the stage. Or the spontaneously combusting drummers.

106. 04/04 - Silverado (Lawrence Kasdan, 1985) - Pretty good (home)
A good time at the movies. The plot doesn't always make sense, and it's occasionally too dark for such a lighthearted tone, but it's still loads of fun. Costner in particular is terrific.

107. 04/05 - Mulholland Dr. (David Lynch, 2001) - Better than sex (home)
I just had to watch it again.

108. 04/05 - Training Day (Antoine Fuqua, 2001) - Pretty good (home)
Probably Denzel's best performance, if only because he's playing the anti-Denzel.

109. 04/07 - Les glaneurs et la glaneuse [The Gleaners and I] (Agnès Varda, 2000) - Deeply flawed (home)
Pretty much terrible. Basically a collection of Varda's home movies.

110. 04/09 - Il buono, il brutto, il cattivo. [The Good, the Bad and the Ugly] (Sergio Leone, 1966) - Masterful (home)
Probably the best score of all-time, and maybe the best Western, too. Though it barely feels like one at times, what with the war scenes and all that.

111. 04/09 - C'era una volta il West [Once Upon a Time in the West] (Sergio Leone, 1968) - Nearly there (home)
Far more solemn and serious than the Dollars Trilogy, and that makes it less fun; it's also needlessly complicated and not nearly epic enough. Still a pretty great film, though, with some terrific performances and a plethora of movie references.

112. 04/10 - Religulous (Larry Charles, 2008) - Pretty good (home)
Amusing and enjoyable, if not overtly informative. Cleverly edited, and hilariously so, but ends on a major, heavy-handed downer. The apocalyptic rant was probably not the way to go.

113. 04/11 - Bon Cop, Bad Cop (Erik Canuel, 2006) - Pretty good (party)
It's all about sex and violence and hockey. Which means it's pretty much the most awesome movie ever made. Seriously.

114. 04/12 - Rosemary's Baby (Roman Polanski, 1968) - Masterful (home)
Creepy stuff! Horror without the blood and gore, and even scarier because of it, not in spite of it.

115. 04/13 - The Saddest Music in the World (Guy Maddin, 2003) - Masterful (home)
Maddin's style seems almost at odds with this type of (relatively) conventional narrative, but you can't fault the man's abilities. Dude's got skillz.

116. 04/13 - Choke (Clark Gregg, 2008) - Kinda lame (home)
Blandly directed, poorly acted, and almost never funny. Not really befitting of Palahniuk's subversive vision.

117. 04/14 - Dracula: Pages from a Virgin's Diary (Guy Maddin, 2002) - Nearly there (home)
It's not quite as brilliant as one would expect, but still pretty damned beautiful. No one makes silent films like Guy Maddin.

118. 04/14 - Synecdoche, New York (Charlie Kaufman, 2008) - Deeply flawed (home)
An ugly, incomprehensible, disastrous mess. Kaufman shows no eye for the director's chair, and all of his self-loathing and obsessiveness comes pouring out. All the "ideas" it brings up are completely independent of its quality. It stinks.

119. 04/15 - The Heart of the World (Guy Maddin, 2000) - Masterful (home)
So brilliant, I don't even know what to say.

120. 04/15 - Brand Upon the Brain! (Guy Maddin, 2006) - Masterful (home)
A second viewing didn't do it any favours; still, it's probably second in Maddin's oeuvre.

121. 04/16 - Cowards Bend the Knee (Guy Maddin, 2003) - Just ok (home)
Kinda boring, in all honesty. I'm kinda growing tired of Maddin's style and antics.

122. 04/17 - My Winnipeg (Guy Maddin, 2007) - Better than sex (home)
Luckily, this one is just as brilliant as the first time I watched it.

123. 04/18 - Taxi Driver (Martin Scorsese, 1976) - Better than sex (home)
A brilliant representation of psychological breakdown. My favourite Scorsese, though I'm admittedly poorly versed in the field.

124. 04/19 - Raging Bull (Martin Scorsese, 1980) - Nearly there (home)
Rather blunt and flat, especially in comparison with Taxi Driver, but still remarkably shot and impressively acted. Though de Niro didn't deserve the Oscar for this one.

125. 04/21 - All the Pretty Horses (Billy Bob Thornton, 2000) - Kinda lame (home)
Not really worth anyone's time.

126. 04/23 - One Week (Michael McGowan, 2009) - Just ok (theatre)
Interesting enough, especially for a film like this. Sometimes gives into all its worth instincts regarding Canada and Canadian film (the Stanley Cup scene was surreal in all the wrong ways), but it mostly works. Plus, it has Gord Downie in it!

127. 04/24 - High Fidelity (Stephen Frears, 2000) - Pretty good (party)
Enjoyable enough, but there's really nothing new here. I'd rather see Cusack flail his way through shit like Con Air.

128. 04/24 - Jarhead (Sam Mendes, 2005) - Nearly there (home)
I really, really dig it, for whatever reason. It's just dark and abstract and funny and tragic. Easily the best thing Sam Mendes has ever done, outside of (somehow) scoring Kate Winslet.

My Spot.

001. 02/02/2009 -- Les grandes personnes (d. Anne Novion) [2008] -- 6/10 (theatre)
A fine little movie.

002. 02/03/2009 -- Snijeg (d. Aida Begić) [2008] -- 8/10 (theatre)
Almost a great movie if there wasn't for some inconsistencies and it's a bit too long.

003. 02/10/2009 -- Bikur Ha-Tizmoret (d. Eran Kolirin) [2007] -- 7/10 (theatre)
A fine little movie with a few scenes that are gems, but overall there's something missing here.

004. 02/14/2009 -- Happy-Go-Lucky (d. Mike Leigh) [2008] -- 9/10 (theatre)
Great comedy with instant classic roles from Sally Hawkins and Eddie Marsan.

005. 02/15/2009 -- The Curious Case od Benjamin Button (d. David Fincher) [2008] -- 8/10 (theatre)
Phenomenal movie from the technical standpoint. A bit disappointing in story and acting.

006. 02/15/2009 -- The Fall (d. Tarsem Singh) [2006] -- 6/10 (home)
Visually great. Underdeveloped story undermines the amount of work that went into this movie.

007. 02/16/2009 -- Doubt (d. John Patrick Shanley) [2008] -- 8/10 (theater)
Pretty good movie in every aspect.

008. 02/17/2009 -- Revolutionary Road (d. Sam Mendes) [2008] -- 9/10 (theater)
Kate Winslet is the goddess. Leo is also shows off, and Shannon just makes the already great cast even greater - and also some other people here really make this one of the best ensembles of the year. Mendes made a much better movie about suburbia and couples this time around.

009. 02/18/2009 -- Changeling (d. Clint Eastwood) [2008] -- 7/10 (theater)
The biggest fault of this movie is the way the story is presented. It's really bad. But Clint and Angie did a good job here.

010. 02/19/2009 -- The Wizard of Oz (d. Victor Fleming) [1939] -- 10/10 (home)
Timeless classic.
#1 5 Films Nominated In A Single Category - Art Direction, From 1930-1949

011. 02/19/2009 -- Foreign Correspondent (d. Alfred Hitchcock) [1940] -- 7/10 (home)
Dissapointing Hitchcock. The story is kinda lame.
#2 5 Films Nominated In A Single Category - Art Direction, From 1930-1949

012. 02/20/2009 -- Religulous (d. Larry Charles) [2008] -- 4/10 (home)
Although funny, Maher's approach is insulting to everyone and his behavior singlehandedly makes this movie into an awful and irritating show off of his supposed high intellect.

013. 02/20/2009 -- How Green Was My Valley (d. John Ford) [1941] -- 6/10 (home)
Too schmaltzy and sappy.
#3 5 Films Nominated In A Single Category - Art Direction, From 1930-1949

014. 02/20/2009 -- My Bloody Valentine 3D (d. Patrick Lussier) [2009] -- 5/10 (theater)
OK horror with a blatant use of 3D.

015. 02/22/2009 -- The Thief of Bagdad (d. Ludwig Berger, Michael Powell, Tim Whelan) [1940] -- 6/10 (home)
Interesting fantasy flick with some story issues.
#4 5 Films Nominated In A Single Category - Art Direction, From 1930-1949

016. 02/22/2009 -- Great Expectations (d. David Lean) [1946] -- 8/10 (home)
Pretty good Dickens adaptation...
#5 5 Films Nominated In A Single Category - Art Direction, From 1930-1949

017. 02/23/2009 -- Gomorra (d. Matteo Garrone) [2008] -- 7/10 (theater)
A well filmed mob movie that unfortunately never manages to turn it's characters into something more than cold plot devices.

018. 02/24/2009 -- Confessions of a Shopaholic (d. P.J. Hogan) [2009] -- 5/10 (theater)
Standard chick flick fare with a horrible lead in Isla Fisher.

019. 02/26/2009 -- Bronenosets Potyomkin (d. Sergej Ejzenshtejn) [1925] -- 8/10 (home)
A silent that grabs the attention and never lets go. Until the last chapter that it where it collapses. Still a magnificent movie that comes before that has to be recognized.
Cinelitist: Part II

020. 02/27/2009 -- The Guardian (d. William Friedkin) [1990] -- 4/10 (home)
A trashy horror movie that somehow manages to be fun at times.
When Plants Attack

021. 02/28/2009 -- Madame de... (d. Max Ophüls) [1953] -- 9/10 (home)
Beautiful and poetic.
Cinelitist: Part II

022. 02/28/2009 -- The Day of the Triffids (d. Steve Sekely) [1962] -- 4/10 (home)
If only it was more thought out maybe tis would've been a horror classic. Plot holes, stupid plots completely kill this thing. But still - I enjoyed the people dressed in killer plants. Hilarious.
When Plants Attack

023. 02/28/2009 -- Friday the 13th (d. Marcus Nispel) [2009] -- 4/10 (theater)
It has a few chills, but it never reimagines and reinspires the old classic even though it obviously tries so hard to do.

024. 03/01/2009 -- Les chansons d'amour (d. Christophe Honoré) [2007] -- 8/10 (home)
A beautiful movie about love troubles, love itself that brings a kinda unexpected twist into the mix.
Five Hundred Grand - Watch Any Ten Films From 2008 That Grossed Under $500,000 #1 ($104,567)

025. 03/01/2009 -- Planet B-Boy (d. Benson Lee) [2007] -- 6/10 (home)
It covers all the basics a good docu should cover. But it never achieves more than that.
Five Hundred Grand - Watch Any Ten Films From 2008 That Grossed Under $500,000 #2 ($273,870)

026. 03/02/2009 -- Repo! The Genetic Opera (d. Darren Lynn Bousman) [2008] -- 2/10 (home)
If bleeding ears was the final Boussman's goal he succeeded at that completely. Even though it was nice to watch at times, the musical aspect of this rock opera was too horrid. Pity. The story had potential.
Five Hundred Grand - Watch Any Ten Films From 2008 That Grossed Under $500,000 #3 ($146,750)

027. 03/02/2009 -- L'Âge d'or (d. Luis Buñuel) [1930] -- 6/10 (home)
Disappointing actually. It would've been better if the movie was a love story OR a surreal social commentary. By trying to be both it gets lost.
Cinelitist: Part II

028. 03/02/2009 -- Valkyrie (d. Bryan Singer) [2008] -- 8/10 (theater)
Surprisingly good thriller. The best part of it that they based the finishing momentum on the aftermath of the assassination, not the assassination itself.

029. 03/03/2009 -- Paranoid Park (d. Gus Van Sant) [2007] -- 7/10 (home)
If it only had more substance than pure poetic visual aspect, this movie would have been one of the years best. The topic of (youth) guilt was covered many times. And there was definitely better tries than this.
Five Hundred Grand - Watch Any Ten Films From 2008 That Grossed Under $500,000 #4 ($486,767)

030. 03/03/2009 -- Where In the World Is Osama Bin Laden? [2008] -- 5/10 (home)
Morgan never finds that out. He chickens out and runs to his girlfriend/wife(?). Not all that bad, but has the same amount of good things and bad things.
Five Hundred Grand - Watch Any Ten Films From 2008 That Grossed Under $500,000 #5 ($384,955)

031. 03/04/2009 -- Slumdog Millionaire (d. Danny Boyle) [2008] -- 7/10 (theater)
Fine little movie. But not worthy all the hype (or the Oscars).

032. 03/05/2009 -- The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (d. Stephen Norrington) [2003] -- 3/10 (home)
I tried to finish the Watchmen list. I barely got through LXG. It took me three days to finish this movie. Boring as hell. Good beginning though.

033. 03/05/2009 -- La fille coupée en deux (d. Claude Chabrol) [2007] -- 4/10 (home)
It's no wonder French are obsessed with love/sex. But it's a wonder when a good director and a good cast deliver this kind of a mediocre movie.
Five Hundred Grand - Watch Any Ten Films From 2008 That Grossed Under $500,000 #6 ($409,658)

034. 03/07/2009 -- Constatine's Sword (d. Oren Jacoby) [2007] -- 4/10 (home)
A bit better than Religious in the view that it takes the subject matter seriously and professionally, but has its shortcomings. Picking one of the two main themes would have been a better way as it would allow for a theme to fully present itself and be explored.
Five Hundred Grand - Watch Any Ten Films From 2008 That Grossed Under $500,000 #7 ($179,507)

035. 03/07/2009 -- The Unborn (d. David S. Goyer) [2009] -- 2/10 (home)
Almost an absolute crap.

036. 03/07/2009 -- Choke (d. Clark Gregg) [2008] -- 5/10 (home)
Hilarious at times, but the indie feel of the movie never clicked with me.

037. 03/08/2009 -- Cidade dos homens (d. Paulo Morelli) [2007] -- 8/10 (home)
A good movie bout growing up/finding yourself/life in favelas.
Five Hundred Grand - Watch Any Ten Films From 2008 That Grossed Under $500,000 #8 ($325,131)

038. 03/08/2009 -- Towelhead [2007] (d. Alan Ball) -- 8/10 (home)
A bit better movie about growing up and sexual explorations from a few cultural views.
Five Hundred Grand - Watch Any Ten Films From 2008 That Grossed Under $500,000 #9 ($372,124)

039. 03/08/2009 -- Le graine et le mulet (d. Abdel Kechiche) [2007] -- 9/10 (home)
Wonderful. Formed from banal family situations it manages to be full of life.
Five Hundred Grand - Watch Any Ten Films From 2008 That Grossed Under $500,000 #10 ($86,356)

040. 03/08/2009 -- Frost Nixon (d. Ron Howard) [2008] -- 9/10 (theater)
Exhilarating and thriller like. I never thought a movie about an interview could be like that.

041. 03/11/2009 -- He's Just Not That Into You (d. Ken Kwapis) [2009] -- 3/10 (theater)
Boring as hell and painfully cliche'ed. Some of the worst stereotypical characters I've ever seen.

042. 03/12/2009 -- Dr. Terror's House of Horrors (d. Freddie Francis) [1965] -- 8/10 (home)
A great, funny and charming horror. It's only weakness is that there are a few just good stories between the five ones that are in the movie.
An Occurrence At Owl Creek Bridge...Or Is It?

043. 03/13/2009 -- The Tattooist (d. Peter Burger) [2007] -- 4/10 (home)
Not a terrible movie as all signs pointed. But still it's just another movie derived from the Japanese ghost horror templates.

044. 03/14/2009 -- Carnival of Souls (d. Herk Harvey) [1962] -- 4/10 (home)
Good idea, awful execution.
An Occurrence At Owl Creek Bridge...Or Is It?

045. 03/14/2009 -- Die Ehe der Maria Braun (d. Werner Rainer Fassbinder) [1979] -- 9/10 (theater/vintage viewing)
Phenomenal movie. The career part is a bit too long. Also I don't know if it was the print, but the sound was a bit awkward at times.

046. 03/15/2009 -- The Locals (d. Greg Page) [2003] -- 6/10 (home)
Great Twilight Zone-esque idea ruined by a subpar execution.
An Occurrence At Owl Creek Bridge...Or Is It?

047. 02/16/2009 -- Lola (d. Werner Rainer Fassbinder) [1981] -- 7/10 (theater/vintage viewing)
Not in the same league as Maria Braun.

048. 03/17/2009 -- Der Sehnsucht der Veronika Voss (d. Werner Rainer Fassbinder) [1982] -- 7/10 (theater/vintage viewing)
A departure from the tone set by the first two movies from the trilogy. A shot at classic film noir. The mystery part is a bit of a failure though as it's not mysterious and suspenseful at all. The focus should've been kept on characters. More Sunset Blvd./All About Eve route would've been better.

049. 03/18/2009 -- Yella (d. Christian Petzold) [2007] -- 5/10 (home)
Unnecessary mash of supernatural elements with what's basically a relationship gone bad and finding a new love story.
An Occurrence At Owl Creek Bridge...Or Is It?

050. 03/20/2009 -- Una pura formalitá (d. Giuseppe Tornatore) [1994] -- 5/10 (home)
The cheap Kafka-like twist (which isn't a twist at all as it's obvious from the start) killed this for me. It's stylish though.
An Occurrence At Owl Creek Bridge...Or Is It?

051. 03/21/2009 -- Christiane F. - Wir Kinder vom Bahnhof Zoo (d. Uli Edel) [1981] -- 9/10 (home)
On of the better drug related movie I've seen. On top of everything it's a true story.
Dr. Lecter's "Random Movies You Probably Haven't Seen"

052. 03/21/2009 -- Jeux d'enfants (d. Yann Samuell) [2003] -- 8/10 (home)
Wonderful & quirky.
Dr. Lecter's "Random Movies You Probably Haven't Seen"

053. 03/22/2009 -- Witness for the Prosecution (d. Billy Wilder) [1957] -- 10/10 (home)
Brilliant movie. The twist at the end is partially predictable, but with these performances and directing it's not a big deal.
High Five - Billy Wilder #1

054. 03/24/2009 -- Dead Like Me: Life After Death (d. Stephen Herek) [2009] -- 3/10 (home)
A failed attempt at a sequel to one of the best series I've ever saw.

055. 03/25/2009 -- La chienne (d. Jean Renoir) [1931] -- 7/10 (theater/vintage viewing)
Even though I don't think Scarlett Street is a masterpiece, it's a better movie. Funny, considering it was a remake. But still, La chienne was interesting in the aspect that it was filmed in between he silent and the sound era and the way it was filmed is a mix of the two ways... Interesting.

056. 03/28/2009 -- One, Two, Three (d. Billy Wilder) [1961] -- 9/10 (home)
Phenomenal mixture of genres. Funny and charming.
High Five - Billy Wilder #2

057. 03/28/2009 -- Shutter (d. Masayuki Ochiai) [2008] -- 1/10 (home)
Pathetic and unwatchable.

058. 03/29/2009 -- The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes (d. Billy Wilder) [1970] -- 8/10 (home)
Good take on Sherlock Holmes.
High Five - Billy Wilder #3

059. 03/29/2009 -- La grande illusion (d. Jean Renoir) [1937] -- 10/10 (theater/vintage viewing)
Superb movie.

060. 03/30/2009 -- Watchmen (d. Zack Snyder) [2009] -- 6/10 (theater)
Has a few nice things, but it's mostly a hot all over he place mess.

061. 04/03/2009 -- Duplicity (d. Tony Gilroy)[2009] -- 4/10 (theater)
Snoozefest with some of the most mediocre acting the two leads ever put out.

062. 04/04/2009 -- Double Indemnity (d. Billy Wilder) [1944] -- 8/10 (home)
Pretty good. Not deserving of all the accolades it gets, but it's certainly a movie worth watching.
High Five - Billy Wilder #4

063. 04/05/2009 -- The Apartment (d. Billy Wilder) [1960] -- 9/10 (home)
Great drama disguised as comedy about loneliness and love.
High Five - Billy Wilder #5

064. 04/08/2009 -- The Wrestler (d. Darren Aronofsky) [2008] -- 9/10 (theater)
Wonderful story about (un)fulfilling life.

065. 04/10/2009 -- Mein liebster Feind (d. Werner Herzog) [1999] -- 7/10 (home)
Interesting documentary/confession about Kinski and Herzog himself.
Werner Herzog Is A God

066. 04/10/2009 -- Fast and Furious (d. Justin Lin) [2009] -- 6/10 (theater)
OK popcorn flick. Nothing more and nothing less.

067. 04/11/2009 -- Aguirre, der Zorn Gottes (d. Werner Herzog) [1972] -- 5/10 (home)
This movie was too in love with itself for me to fall in love with it.
Werner Herzog Is A God

068. 04/11/2009 -- Saw V (d. David Hackl) [2008] -- 3/10 (home)
I like Saw franchise. At least they provide mindless and decent torture horror fun. All previous Saw's had at least something to offer - decent twists or intriguing traps. This one fails on all accounts.

069. 04/12/2009 -- The Brøken (d. Sean Ellis) [2009] -- 3/10 (home)
A derivation of Invasion of the Body Snatchers. This time they come out of the mirror to kill and replace you. How or why, I don't really give a damn, but when a movie is uninspired as this and tries to mask itself into deep metaphor and supposedly very meaningful scenes I'd be happy if they provided at least some kind of an explanation just for kicks. Though I must admit that those glimpses behind the mirror look very stylish. Unfortunately that's under 10 seconds of good stuff.

070. 04/12/2009 -- Inkheart (d. Iain Softley)[2009] -- 4/10 (home)
I expected a decent movie. But everything in it is just the opposite of how family fantasy adventure should be done.

071. 04/14/2009 -- Scream (d. Wes Craven) [1996] -- 8/10 (home)
It's the best interlock of parody and horror ever. But for me that's also it's biggest downside. But still it's a really awesome movie with such memorable scenes. The highlight here is probably the smartest script ever written in a horror movie. And it manages to be that without incorporating any hardcore philosophy.
Scream Franchise Bonus

072. 04/14/2009 -- Scream 2 (d. Wes Craven) [1997] -- 8/10 (home)
It's just as smart (if not even smarter) than the first movie. It's rivaling the first movie in every aspect. But then again, while I enjoy these movies so much, I was torn again between the parody and horror aspects. They mesh so well here, but then again there's something wrong I just can't put my finger on it...
Scream Franchise Bonus

073. 04/15/2009 -- Scream 3 (d. Wes Craven) [2000] -- 6/10 (home)
This one is not as good as the previous too. It's fun. That's certain. But it's not sexy smart as part 1 and part 2. The script is just too scrambled to work. Which is a shame as the basics for a great third movie is evident. Kevin Williamson is sorely missed here.
Scream Franchise Bonus

074. 04/17/2009 -- Portal (d. Geoffrey Schaaf) [2008] -- 1/10 (home)
Pathetic piece of shit. A friend of mine found this one. He invited me to watch it with him. The cover was great to him apparently. He said it looked like a great indie horror. Two minutes into the movie it was clear this was such a crap our eyes would probably bleed by the end of it. Nevertheless I made myself and him to watch it completely. I threatened I'll never speak with him again if he doesn't watch it fully so he realizes that before he makes me come to the opposite part of the town to watch a certain movie, he Googles a bit and makes sure I'm not coming to watch shit coming out of the television.

075. 04/18/2009 -- The Mostly Unfabulous Social Life of Ethan Green (d. George Bamber) [2005] -- 3/10 (home)
If gays don't want to be stereotyped then why are the movies I've seen that allegedly cater their community having so stereotypical portraits of them? Still, this is a piss poor attempt at making a movie. Let alone a romantic comedy.

076. 04/18/2009 -- Rescue Dawn (d. Werner Herzog) [2007] -- 6/10 (home)
Why is Herzog obsessed with jungles? He's channeling his inner monkey way too much. The movie is good, but not a single Herzog has been awesome to me.
Werner Herzog Is A God

077. 04/19/2009 -- Fitzcarraldo (d. Werner Herzog) [1982] -- 10/10 (home)
That above was my opinion after watching Rescue Dawn, but the day after I saw Fitzcarraldo. It blew me away. I'll certainly revisit it very soon. When UMM3 ends soon.
Werner Herzog Is A God

078. 04/19/2009 -- Dawn of the Dead (d. Zack Snyder) [2004] -- 5/10 (home)
Eh. Not entertaining, not imaginative, not a really good remake.
Romero's Living Dead

079. 04/19/2009 -- Gran Torino (d. Clint Eastwood) [2008] -- 10/10 (theater)
April 19th 2009 was a very good day as two movies blew me away. I'll forget I watched a mediocre third one. Clint is superb here. And the movie itself is a weird mix of everything, but it works! It's awesome.

080. 04/20/2009 -- Night of the Living Dead (d. Tom Savini) [1990] -- 7/10 (home)
Actually a damn good remake. It was the first Living Dead movie I ever watched. I saw it as a kid and up until a few years ago I thought this was the original. But then I saw the original on TV. I was surprised to see it in black & white. The movie holds up very well and it's one of the best entries in the franchise.
Romero's Living Dead

081. 04/20/2009 -- Night of the Living Dead 3D (d. Jeff Broadstreet) [2006] -- 1/10 (home)
Ewww. At first I was going after The Nightmare on Elm Street series, but I was unable to get hold of the third and fourth movie. I didn't go after the Living Dead series because I thought I won't be able to get this movie. Imagine my surprise when I stumbled upon it in a local store. It was cheap but it wasn't even worth that. I took the 3D glasses halfway during the movie as my head hurt from the colors, but it's not like I missed something because 3D is pathetic here. I did put them back on when there were obvious "big" 3D shots (bullet, smoke, etc.) but the 3D was awful. The rest of the movie (acting, direction, script, ...) is laughably bad.
Romero's Living Dead

082. 04/21/2009 -- Day of the Living Dead (d. George A. Romero) [1985] -- 4/10 (home)
Eh. I never liked this one. The Living Dead series is known for social commentaries (I can't say that I personally read LD series that deep), but Day went almost completely the more action route. The action is preceded by lots and lots of talk. I felt bored at times. And dialogue was really bad at some parts as was the acting.
Romero's Living Dead

083. 04/21/2009 -- Day of the Dead (d. Steve Miner) [2008] -- 1/10 (home)
Another shit entry of a Dead remake.
Romero's Living Dead

084. 04/22/2009 -- Night of the Living Dead (d. George A. Romero) [1968] -- 5/10 (home)
Laughable. At times good. But mostly laughable.
Romero's Living Dead

085. 04/23/2009 -- Diary of the Dead (d. George A. Romero) [2008] -- 4/10 (home)
Eh. Laughable.
Romero's Living Dead

086. 04/23/2009 -- The Uninvited (d. Charles Guard) [2009] -- 3/10 (home)
Almost an awful remake of a super Korean flick. It kinda gets some bonus point for tweaking the plot a bit. It's not the best tweak, but at least they tried to bring something new and not do a scene by scene remake.

087. 04/23/2009 -- Land of the Dead (d. George A. Romero) [2005] -- 7/10 (home)
Probably the part of Romero's Dead series that I like the most. It's not trying to be sophisticated as a social commentary as some previous installments, but thanks to a decent budget, it finally manages to make a really good synergy between the look and the feel of the movie and the ideas behind it. Though I remember this one being slightly better in theater.
Romero's Living Dead

088. 04/23/2009 -- Grizzly Man (d. Werner Herzog) [2005] -- 8/10 (home)
Slightly better upon second viewing.
Werner Herzog Is A God

089. 04/24/2009 -- Encounters at the End of the World (d. Werner Herzog) [2008] -- 7/10 (home)
I maintained my stance on this one. A good movie, but leaves me a bit cold. And that's not because it managed to portray Antarctica that well.
Werner Herzog Is A God

090. 04/24/2009 -- Dawn of the Dead (d. George A. Romero) [1978] -- 6/10 (home)
The third best in Romero's Dead series. A step up from the original movie. Though I never really like this franchise, as I never got into the mix of extreme violence and gore (though in the earlier movies quite laughable at today's times) and more (obvious) comedic/trash elements.
Romero's Living Dead

1. 020109 - Battleship Potemkin [Eisenstein, 1925] (Lifetime Channel Screening Room)
It's Battleship Potemkin.

2. 020109 - Un Chien Andalou [Buñuel, 1929] (Lifetime Channel Screening Room)
Seen it probably half a dozen times, and it has yet to improve. It's only good for me.

3. 020609 - Personal [Bergman, 1966] (Home)
Great, but not blown away like with all the other Bergman's I've seen.

4. 020709 - Lackawanna Blues [Wolfe, 2005] (Brooklyn Museum Screening Room)
lol. I love black people.

5. 020809 - Man with the Movie Camera [Vertov, 1929] (Home)
hmm...I sort of get the feeling that Soviet montage is not suited particularly well for the peripherally distracted computer screen. I felt the energy, but missed the effect of image superimposition.

6. 020909 - M [Lang, 1929] (Lifetime Channel Screening Room!)

7. 021309 - Coraline [Selick, 2009] (Theater...in 3D! extra points!)
good.

8. 021609 - His Girl Friday [Hawks, 1940] (Lifetime Channel Screening Room)
yay!

9. 021709 - Holiday [Cukor, 1938] (Home)
Pretty good. Hep looks more skeletal than usual.

10. 021809 - Double Indemnity [Wilder, 1944] (Home)
substance, style, stanwyck. in the opposite order.

11. 021909 - Grand Illusion [Renoir, 1937] (Home)
oh the humanity!

12. 022109 - Two or Three Things I Know About Her [Godard, 1967] (Film Forum)
if, by chance, you cannot afford LSD, there's always color tv.

13. 022309 - Vertigo [Hitchcock, 1958] (Lifetime Channel Screening Room)
10/10

14. 022409 - It Happened One Night [Capra, 1934] (Home)
<3

15. 022509 - The Earrings of Madame de... [Ophüls, 1953] (Home) Bonus List: Cinelitist #2
10/10

16. 022609 - Lola Montes [Ophüls, 1955] (Film Forum)
10/10

17. 022709 - The Virgin Spring [Bergman, 1959] (Home)

18. 030209 - Bicycle Thieves [de Sica, 1948] (Lifetime Channel Screening Room)

19. 030709 - 2001: A Space Odyssey [Kubrick, 1968] (Home)
10/10

20. 031209 - Letter From an Unknown Woman [Ophüls, 1948] (Home)

21. 031309 - The Lady Vanishes [Hitchcock, 1938] (Home)

22. 031609 - The Silence of the Lambs [Demme, 1991] (Home)

23. 031609 - La Notte [Antonioni, 1961] (Home)
10/10

24. 031709 - Nosferatu [Murnau, 1922] (Home)

25. 031709 - Singin' in the Rain [Donen, 1952] (Home)

26. 031809 - Stalker [Tarkovsky, 1979] (Home)
10/10

27. 031809 - The Umbrellas of Cherbourg [Demy, 1964] (Home)

28. 031909 - In the Mood for Love [Kar Wai Wong, 2000] (Home)

29. 031909 - Suspiria [Argento, 1977] (Home)

30. 031909 - Dark Victory [Goulding, 1939] (Home)

31. 032009 - Dial M for Murder [Hitchcock, 1954] (Home)

32. 032009 - The Muppets Take Manhattan [Oz, 1984] (Home)

33. 032009 - I'm No Angel [Ruggles, 1933] (Home)

34. 032109 - Solyaris [Tarkovsky, 1972] (Home)

35. 032109 - Une femme est une femme [Godard, 1961] (Home)

36. 032209 - Trois Couleurs: Bleu [Kieslowski, 1993] (Home)

37. 032309 - Rashomon [Kurosawa, 1950] (Lifetime Channel Screening Room)

38. 032509 - Z [Costa-Gavras, 1969] (Film Forum NYC)

39. 032609 - His Girl Friday [Hawks, 1940] (MoMA Archives)

40. 032909 - Contempt [Godard, 1963] (Home)

41. 040609 - Hospital [Wiseman, 1970] (Lifetime Channel Screening Room)

42. 040609 - Night and Fog [Resnais, 1955] (Lifetime Channel Screening Room)

43. 041309 - Pierrot le Fou [Godard, 1965]†(Lifetime Channel Screening Room)

44. 041509 - Cabaret [Fosse, 1972] (Home)

45. 041609 - Alphaville [Godard, 1965] (Home)

46. 041709 - The Philadelphia Story [Cukor, 1940] (Home)

47. 041809 - Baby Face [Green, 1933] (Home)

48. 042009 - L'Eclisse [Antonioni, 1962] (Lifetime Channel Screening Room)

49. 042109 - Vivre sa vie [Godard, 1962] (Home)

1. 2.2.09 - The Foot Fist Way (2008) - ** (Home)
There are maybe five good laughs. I hardly chuckled the rest of the time. And yet it's really hard to dislike the film because of Danny McBride. He makes Fred likable. He's just not really funny.

2. 2.3.09 - Cinderella Man (2005) - ***½ (Home) - *Best Supporting Actor Oscar Nomination '05*
The film has two screenwriters - Akiva Goldsman and Cliff Hollingsworth. I don't think I've ever seen a film where it's quite apparent who wrote what. It's clear that Goldsman's job was to handle the stuff outside of the ring while Hollingsworth took care ringside. Goldsman does an adequate (traditional underdog story - wife doubts him, friend dies, etc.) job. Hollingsworth's writing on the other hand is pure gold. The film truly comes to life when we're in the ring with Braddock. On a side note, why is it that Zellweger (who puts on one of the worst Jersey accents in recent acting history) continues to get work while Craig Bierko doesn't?

3. 2.3.09 - Syriana (2005) - ** (Home) - *Best Supporting Actor Oscar Nomination '05 (Win)*
I wish I could've cared about anything that happened in the film, or what the film has to say about corruption and oil, but I didn't. The only two scenes that generated any kind of interest out of me were when Damon's son gets fried and Clooney's nails are plucked out. At least it's well acted.

4. 2.5.09 - Mighty Aphrodite (1995) - *** (Home) - *Best Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen Oscar Nomination '95*
Sorvino's great. Allen is very good. The chorus? Eh, take it or leave it. I get why it's in there and I began to appreciate it half way through the film, but towards the end of the film I just kind of got sick of them. Almost every time they appeared in the third act the film just kind of stopped. I liked F. Murray Abraham though. The only other problem I had with the film was with Helena Bonham Carter. Just picturing Allen and her together was.....

5. 2.5.09 - Tuesday's With Morrie (1999) - ** (School)
If I recalled this aired on ABC or something (I assume ABC because Oprah's face attacked us at the beginning of the movie). It's a shame because it shows. Despite a very good performance by Jack Lemmon and a "meh not bad" performance by Hank Azaria, the film just has too much of a made for TV feel to it. It feels cheap, the script outside of the one-on-one scenes feels amateurish (anything sports related in the film is awful), and it's shot/directed with absolutely no flair. It's worth a look for Lemmon, but this needed a budget and a theatrical release. It didn't need Oprah. The book is great though.

6. 2.6.09 - Meteor (1979) - No Stars (Home) - *Best Sound Oscar Nomination '79*
You know, I was originally going to give it half a star because Connery and Malden were at least the only decent part of this mess and managed to keep things interesting. But then the movie decides that it's going to attack them with a river of shit. Wow. It's not only the worst disaster movie ever made (How is it exciting to have people stare at rockets for most of the second act?) with some of the worst special effects ever made, it's one of the worst movies ever made. And fuck does it look cheap too.

7. 2.6.09 - Braveheart (1995) - ***½ (Home) - *Best Screenplay Written Directly For the Screen Oscar Nomination '95*
First time watching it. Pretty good. It's starts off kind of slow with the typical hero losing a parent storyline, but once the wife's throat is slit the film gets going. The battle sequences are well shot and nice and gory, and I liked the imagery even though in hindsight it's hilarious.

8. 2.7.09 - The Usual Suspects (1995) - ***½ (Home) - *Best Screenplay Written Directly For the Screen Oscar Nomination - '95 (Win)*
Just like with Braveheart this was my first viewing. The only problem is I knew the twist heading into the film. The good news though is that the film still works extremely well even if you know the twist. I was trying to find clues along the way. The only thing I could come up with is that every time Soze's name is mentioned a shot of the actor (I know most people know who it is, but just incase) is usually followed right after. The finale on the boat also gives away some stuff, but I don't think I ever would've picked up on it. And that's what's great about McQuarrie's script. It's structured perfectly. It's a very good film. I just wish I didn't know the twist heading in.

9. 2.7.09 - Taken (2009) - ***½ (Theater)
This was the most fun I've had in a theater while watching a pure action film since the last Die Hard. It was fun to watch an intelligent, older character, kicking ass and taking names. The daughter's kind of a bitch ('Yeah dad. You just saved me from getting raped in the ass by a fat Albanian man by killing dozens of people, but could you take a taxi so I can ride with my stepfather and mom who seemed to couldn't have cared less about me leaving a couple of days ago despite your protests? Thanks. By the way, where's Amanda?", but the actions scenes are so well done and Neeson's character is so damn good, that I was able to overlook some of the film's flaws. I had a blast.

10. 2.8.09 - Gandhi (1982) - *** (Home) - *Best Director Oscar Nomination '82 (Win)*
Kingsley's the film. With any other performance this could've been a complete and bloated disaster. Instead it's just a little bloated. The film covers 55 years of Gandhi's life and it sure as hell feels like it. Is it worth the time? Ultimately yes, but did we really need to see everytime Gandhi had ever been arrested? We get it.

11. 2.8.09 - Toy Story (1995) - **** (Home) - *Best Screenplay Written Directly For the Screen Oscar Nomination '95
Toy Story and Wall-E share two things in common. They're both tops when it comes to Pixar and both got screwed out of a Best Picture nomination. Nah, instead it won a "Special Achievement" Oscar. Give me a break. It's revolutionary animation, and it still holds up incredibly well today. In addition to the animation though, the reason why the film works so much is because of the characters. It was nominated for best screenplay for a reason. These are characters that are funny and heartfelt and it makes it all the more easy to root for them.

12. 2.8.09 - The Rose (1979) - *** (Home) - *Best Sound Oscar Nomination '79*
Because apparently there wasn't a lot to offer in terms of sound in 1979. No wonder Apocalypse Now won. Anyways, so Bette Midler was once a good actress? Yeah I base a lot of that off of her singing, but you can tell she's really putting in a lot of effort here. And even in the scenes where she's not singing she elevates the otherwise run of the mill material. She's the reason the film is as good as it is. I also liked Alan Bates here. His character isn't much more than just a cardboard villain but he makes it work.

13. 2.9.09 - Tootsie (1982) - **** (Home) - *Best Director Oscar Nomination '82*
The photograph montage is one of the most visually disturbing things ever committed to film. It will haunt my dreams forever. I guess the rest of the film makes up for that one sequence though. It's well written and extremely funny. I think I appreciated it much more with my second viewing here than on my first one. With this, Gandhi, E.T. and (hopefully) The Verdict, 1982 was a pretty solid year.

14. 2.9.09 - A History of Violence (2005) - ***½ (Home) - *Best Supporting Actor Oscar Nomination '05*
Hurt was nominated for eight minutes of work. I think the reason is because of his eyes. Despite his iffy Philly/Jersey accent his eyes are menacing. When you look into his eyes in this film you're looking at pure evil. I'm not sure if that's enough for an Oscar nomination, but he was very good here.

15. 2.9.09 - The Matrix (1999) - **** (School)
I always thought it was somewhat overrated despite it being a great action film. I was wrong. Read some Descartes and the film takes on a whole new meaning. If you know some of the angles the Wachowski's are trying to go after here the film becomes even better. After watching it again I actually think it got short changed out of a Best Original Screenplay Oscar nomination. Has anyone seen or has ever heard of Topsy-Turvy (nothing against the film, I'm sure it's good)? Good call Academy.

16. 2.10.09 - Paul Blart: Mall Cop (2009) - *½ (Theater)
The one thing I didn't want to happen did. I became more interested in trying to find the differences in the two malls they filmed at, both of which are in my neck of the woods. When I paid attention to the film I found most of it to be complete shit. That's a shame coming from Bakay and James. It's just not funny. I laughed a couple of times but they came few and far between.

17. 2.10.09 - E.T. The Extra Terrestrial (1982) - **** (Home) - *Best Director Oscar Nomination '82*
"I'll be right.....here". It's a fucking puppet and I cry like a baby every time.

18. 2.12.09 - Push (2009) - No Stars (Theater)
My god. I can't remember the last time I was so bored at the movies, let alone an action film. It's completely unengaging. The only positive thing that I can say about this film is that it could make for a decent comic book. There you don't have to worry about wooden acting, cheap special effects, and really poorly staged action sequences.

19. 2.12.09 - Hotel Rwanda (2004) - ***½ (School)
Powerful film. I've been trying to debate whether or not it would've been more powerful had it gone the Schindler's List route in terms of showing the violence, but I think the shot of the dead bodies on the road towards the end of the film gets the point across good enough.

20. 2.13.09 - 1941 (1979) - *** (Home) - *Best Sound Oscar Nomination '79*
After watching it for the first time in years (I hadn't noticed before but the DVD transfer is awful) I can understand why it got nominated for best sound. This thing is non stop. It's wall to wall explosions with a few riots thrown in. It's loud for the sake of being loud with the plot being an afterthought. And I had fun. If there is one thing Spielberg knows how to do that's blow shit up, and he does exactly that here.

21. 2.13.09 - Friday the 13th (1980) - * (Home)
With or without the hype it's one of the worst horror films ever made and a cheap Halloween knockoff. And there are two key ingredients missing that made Halloween so good - it was scary and it had likable characters. Friday the 13th did not make me jump once and I wanted all of the characters dead within the first 15 minutes. This is the film that went on to spawn 11 sequels? Why am I not surprised?

22. 2.13.09 - Halloween (1978) - **** (Home)
A breath of fresh air following the shit stink that was Friday the 13th. As I said above Halloween is the best slasher ever made. It's scary and you don't want Laurie to die. I don't understand how most horror film directors have managed to make the mistake (Craven didn't with Nightmare) of not getting us to care about the characters. It's not just about the gore. Gore can be fun, but not without a purpose.

23. 2.14.09 - Nixon (1995) - ***½ (Home) - *Best Screenplay Written Directly For the Screen Oscar Nomination '95*
I watched the Director's Cut. To Stone's credit he manages to keep things interesting for most of the running time, but I'm guess this is a slightly better movie at just over three hours. At almost three and a half hours it's kind of hard to keep up with. And yet it's kind of hard to argue what could've been cut here. Each scene flows smoothly right into the next. Also, I liked Hopkins performance in that he didn't fall into the easy trap of doing Nixon's voice. He did his version of the man with a slight accent. He's very good here. It's a little too long, but it's always interesting.

24. 2.15.09 - Brokeback Mountain (2005) - **½ (Home) - *Best Supporting Actor Oscar Nomination '05*
First time watching it since I got the DVD. I still kind of have the same problem as I did when I first watched it. The first time I saw the film I couldn't really get up to caring about the characters. From beginning to end I didn't really feel the connection between the two that I needed to believe in their love. This time around I still had that problem, but I began to buy into it as the film went on, but not really until the films last legs. That's just not good enough for me to recommend. The film looks great, the scenery is breathtaking, but the film just takes too long to get going.

25. 2.15.09 - Dumb and Dumber (1994) - **** (Home)
It's one of the funniest movies ever made. I don't think I have to elaborate much further than that.

26. 2.16.09 - Crash (2005) - *½ (Home) - *Best Supporting Actor Oscar Nomination '05*
I originally saw it when it came out and I liked it. I had seen it off an on since then in two of my classes at college (yeah.....I know), but never all the way through. Tonight was the first time I watched it all the way through since it came out close to five years ago. I can't remember the last time I've disliked a film so much on a second viewing that I originally liked. I'm not sure why I didn't pick up on it the first time I saw it, but Haggis either hates most of the characters he's writing about here, or he thinks he's writing to a bunch of morons. Racism is bad; we're all connected, yeah gotcha. Thanks! The only part of the film that I really liked was the relationship between the locksmith and his daughter.

27. 2.16.09 - The Verdict (1982) - **** (Home) - *Best Director Oscar Nomination '82*
My only tiny complaint is that Frank didn't pick up the phone at the end and say to Laura, "What, are you expecting sympathy?". It's not needed though. The ending works just as well with the phone ringing. And is there really anything I can say about Lumet, Mamet and Newman that hasn't already been said. To use a cliche, the three are a powerhouse and their in full form here. And the film takes place in Boston. Bonus!

28. 2.16.09 - Nick and Nora's Infinite Playlist (2008) - *** (Home)
Nice little comedy. It's not uproariously hilarious, but it's good for a few laughs, I liked the chemistry between Cera and Dennings and for the most part the music is pretty good.

29. 2.17.09 - Apocalypse Now (1979) - **** (Home) - *Best Sound Oscar Nomination '79 (Win)*
This was my first time watching the theatrical cut. I liked the Redux version, but after watching this it's clear that the theatrical cut is the superior version of the film. It's quick (well as quick as a 153 minute film can be), the tone is constant and the film doesn't feel bogged down (the plantation sequence feels like it's out of another film). I can understand why this won for best sound, but how did this not win for best editing. How do you edit a 298 minute film and get it down to 153 and have it wind up like this? It's a gem of a film.

30. 2.17.09 - The Electric Horseman (1979) - **½ (Home) - *Best Sound Oscar Nomination '79*
If it weren't for Redford this would've been a complete and miserable failure. He however brings credibility to the role. How many other actors could pull off wearing an electrical costume while riding a horse? And why the hell was this nominated for sound? Was their absolutely nothing else that could've been nominated? Then again Meteor was nominated. All this has that could've got it nominated is one car chase. That's it.

31. 2.18.09 - To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) - **** (Home) - *Best Picture Oscar Nomination '62*
Gregory Peck. He's the reason why the film works. He's the reason why the court scene works as well as it does, because to be honest it is slightly underwritten.

32. 2.18.09 - Laura (1944) - *** (Home) - *Best Cinematography (Black & White) Oscar Nomination '44 (Win)*
The movie's called Laura but the most interesting character is Lydecker. The only problem is (and not to ruin it for anyone) is that from the opening of the movie it's clear he's the killer. He's too interested in the detective. He's too interested in talking about Laura. He's too interested in the case. Why he is this way though is what makes his character interesting. It just seemed a little too obvious though that he'd wind up to be the killer.

33. 2.19.09 - Double Indemnity (1944) - *** (Home) - *Best Cinematography (Black & White) Oscar Nomination '44*
I'm still kind of scratching my head over the dialogue deciding whether or not I really liked it. On one hand it's rapid fire and it's got a nice rhythm to it. It's almost like a piece of music. But did every sentence in which Walter is talking with Phyllis have to end with the word baby? But then again you have scenes like the first scene between the two. The rapid fire dialogue with the mixed in double entendres in this scene is damn good stuff.

34. 2.19.09 - The International (2009) - **½ (Theater)
The shootout at the Guggenheim is almost worth the price of admission alone, but I can't fully recommend the film. It's slow in places, the villains are bankers, and it's a little too talky for it's own good. It's not a bad film by any stretch of the imagination, but it will probably play better on DVD.

35. 2.20.09 - Lifeboat (1944) - ***½ (Home) - Best Cinematography (Black & White) Oscar Nomination '44*
My second Hitchcock (Psycho's the other) and its a good one. I'll like any film where characters are stranded and are barely hanging on whether it's from paranoia or desperation. Throw a Nazi in there? It's hard to believe some critics way back when labeled this as a pro Nazi film simply because Willy is smart. I guess they missed the ending.

36. 2.20.09 - Gran Torino (2008) - ***½ (Theater)
Eastwood makes the film work. He's hilarious. As for the rest of the cast I don't think I was offended by the acting as some people might have been - I liked Thao and Sue - but the priest was fucking terrible. But it's Clint's movie from beginning to end and he doesn't miss a beat. Anything involving his immediate family was gold.

37. 2.22.09 - Das Boot (1981) - **** (Home) - *Best Director Oscar Nomination '82*
Certainly the best submarine movie ever made with one of the most memorable endings I've seen. I'm not sure whether to cry or laugh hysterically. I guess the Allies finally woke up.

38. 2.22.09 - Going My Way (1944) - **** (Home) - *Best Cinematography (Black & White) Oscar Nomination '44*
The movie made me happy. It might be a little too sappy for it's own good (the ending with the Father's mother), and some of the kids bugged me (the one with the fake NY gangster accent) but god damnit the film works.

39. 2.22.09 - Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo (1944) - ** (Home) - *Best Cinematography (Black & White) '44*
I can't believe I'm actually about to say this, but Michael Bay got it right in regards to the Doolittle campaign. His version at least isn't dull. This on the other hand takes about 80 minutes to get going and when it finally does it completely slows down again.

40. 2.23.09 - Get Smart (2008) - *** (Home)
It's not as funny as I remember it being when I saw it in theaters, but it still made me laugh quite a bit. I think some of the writing could've been sharpened up a bit to make this Maxwell Smart at least somewhat close to the character he was in the original series, but seeing Steve Carell is almost perfect here in terms of tone, they kind of cancel each other out.

41. 2.23.09 - The Tracey Fragments (2008) - No Stars (Home) - Any 10 Films From '08 That Grossed Under $500k (#1) - $32,645
I was originally going to give this a slightly higher grade because of the editing, but then I realized something. The editing is the only thing this film has. Cutting it up and splicing it into different pieces is the only thing that keeps us distracted from the horrible script. And yet the editing effect quickly begins to wear off and we're just left with a shitty film. It wouldn't have mattered if this were told in a linear narrative or as it is now in a jumbled mess, because a shitty film is a shitty film no matter how you dress it up.

42. 2.26.09 - The Big Chill (1983) - ** (School)
The music (while being good) was annoyingly placed and the characters wore out their welcome about two thirds of the way through. It started off well, but I really couldn't have cared less about how they felt or what they were doing by the end of the film.

43. 2.27.09 - Meet Bill (2008) - *** (Home) - Any 10 Films From '08 That Grossed Under $500k (#2) - $62,597
I didn't exactly warm up to it on my first viewing but I did this time around and I'm not exactly sure why. It's the same film, I just found myself laughing more. I still think the relationship he has with the kid gets a little too creepy at certain points. They shower together, they wake up in their underwear together after having sex with some woman, it's just a little odd. Still, the film works.

44. 2.27.09 - Dan in Real Life (2007) - ***½ (Home)
I'm not sure what it is about the film but each time I see it, it keeps getting better and better. The first time I saw it in theaters I think the thing that bugged me most was the family. They were just too happy. Now I get it.

45. 2.28.09 - Chaos Theory (2008) - ***½ (Home) - Any 10 Films From '08 That Grossed Under $500k (#3) - $240,476
I didn't love it as much as I did the first time around but it's still very good. As I've said before, Reynolds, to my surprise, is becoming somewhat of a good actor.

46. 2.28.09 - Quarantine (2008) - * (Home)
I jumped maybe twice. And since that's the film's only goal, it doesn't work. And it doesn't help that the trailer and the poster gives away what's going to happen. I just wound up being bored.

47. 3.1.09 - Taxi Driver (1976) (Home) - ****
DeNiro gives one of, if not the best, performance of the '70s.

48. 3.1.09 - The Hills Have Eyes (2006) (Home) - ***
One of the few recent horror films that actually works. It's gory and it manages to generate a few jumps. And most importantly, it takes enough time to get us to know and like the characters before they start dispatching them in horrible ways.

49. 3.1.09 - Scream (1996) (Home) - ***
As a comedy it's fantastic. The writing is clever and for the most part sharp. As a horror film on the other hand it's a little weaker. The kills and the gore are pretty good, but in terms of setting up tension it's not.

50. 3.2.09 - Harold (2008) - *** (Home) - Any 10 Films From '08 That Grossed Under $500k (#4) - $13,229
It's a nice little comedy. It takes awhile to warm up to Harold, and a few of the jokes don't work, but I liked it. It's also amazing to see where Cuba Gooding Jr.'s career has taken him. I guess anything is better than Daddy Day Camp though.

51. 3.2.09 - The Hammer (2008) - *** (Home) - Any 10 Films From '08 That Grossed Under $500k (#5) - $443,591
It's a good, standard, underdog sports film. Not too many new ideas are brought to the table, but Corolla is funny and was a pretty decent lead.

52. 3.2.09 - The Grand (2008) - *** (Home) - Any 10 Films From '08 That Grossed Under $500k (#6) - $115,879
It's starts off as a gigantic mess as we're introduced to all of the poker players. We meet about six or seven different players and the film just spends too much time on the setup. Once we get to the tables that's where the film begins take on life. We begin to care about the characters. And because of that the comedy begins to work much better.

53. 3.2.09 - Quid Pro Quo (2008) - **½ (Home) - Any 10 Films From '08 That Grossed Under $500k (#7) - $11,864
Interesting, but ultimately not worth the time. The two twists (one barely is since its not hard to see coming) towards the end of the film kind of ruin it. When we find out how the characters are connected to one another, the psychology (the interesting part of the film) of why Farmiga's character and others want to become paralyzed, goes to shit.

54. 3.2.09 - Mister Foe (2008) - *** (Home) - Any 10 Films From '08 That Grossed Under $500k (#8) - $60,641
Bell somehow manages to make a peeping tom with serious mother issues into a likable character.

55. 3.3.09 - Humboldt County (2008) - ** (Home) - Any 10 Films From '08 That Grossed Under $500k (#9) - $82,357
The film takes way too long to get us to warm up to the characters. It's not until the last third until we begin to like them. I did like Brad Dourif though. As for the lead actor who played Pete, he can emote worth a shit. Outside of a scene where he cries he has the same solid blank look on his face for the entire film. I know his character is supposed to be uptight, but I don't think he's

56. 3.3.09 - The Life Before Her Eyes (2008) - *½ (Home) - Any 10 Films From '08 That Grossed Under $500k (#10) - $303,439
The film gets off to a very chilling start and then it quickly goes to shit. There were just way too many flashbacks to the same scenes so I just stopped caring. By the end of the film we figure out why this is, but I couldn't have cared less.

57. 3.9.09 - How to Lose Friends and Alienate People (2008) - *** (Hotel)
It's good. If there's a problem its that in the last 20 minutes or so the film becomes a little too syrupy sweet. The love story almost feels like it's invading the rest of the film. It works because Pegg and Dunst are good here, but it almost feels a bit too much.

58. 3.13.09 - Slumdog Millionaire (2008) - ***½ (Theater)
Not as good as the first time I saw it, but the film still won me over as most underdog movies do. It's not that hard. Just get a character I can care for and I'll probably like it.

59. 3.21.09 - The Big Lebowksi (1998) - ***½ (Home)
Not quite as great as I once remembered it being, but I love that the Coen's didn't seem to care so much about the plot here. The movie is about the characters and thankfully it was perfectly cast.

60. 3.21.09 - The Express: The Ernie Davis Story (2008) - *** (Home)
It's a decent sports biopic. If there's a problem its that it doesn't really distinguish itself from other sports biopics, but it's well executed.

61. 3.21.09 - Milk (2008) - ***½ (Home)
Penn is great. Luna isn't. There's a chance it was just his character but anytime he appeared the film came to a grinding halt.

62. 3.21.09 - I Love You, Man (2009) - *** (Theater)
We're supposed to believe Paul Rudd has a hard time making friends? Ha. It works though. It starts off strong (Paul Rudd projectile vomiting onto Jon Favreau's chest and face was the hardest I've laughed at something in a movie theater in quite sometime), kind of struggles in the middle, but picks up again at the end.

63. 3.22.09 - Role Models (2008) - *** (Home)
I feel the same way about did back when I first saw it. It's a good comedy with a couple of belly laughs that doesn't try to be anything special until the final twenty minutes.

64. 3.24.09 - Quantum of Solace (2008) - ***½ (Home)
I think I liked it a little bit more than the first time I saw it. If Foster had just taken his time and told the story within the 120 minute range this could've been something special. Instead for some reason he feels the film should be frantic. Maybe he's trying to do some bullshit thing where the film is supposed to be as frantic as Bond's mind is, but who is honestly going to pick up on that? It's a good film with great elements (the opera scene stands out, and I liked how in some scenes Foster drops the sound out - he's at least trying to do something different which is something someone should've told John Glen when he was directing his Bond's in the 80's) but it's just too rushed.

65. 3.24.09 - The French Connection (1971) - **** (Home)
It all goes back to the car chase. I love how Friedkin covered that scene. You rarely see the car on camera. When you do it's either from far away or it's close up smashing into other cars. Putting the camera on the hood of the car for most of the chase was a fantastic choice. Not too many car chases on film actually make you feel like you're driving the car. This is the closest a film has come.

66. 3.26.09 - Knowing (2009) - ***½ (Theater)
The plane crash is one of the most chilling things I've seen in a theater. The odd thing is, while it was going down on screen I couldn't help but look and think about the shaky CGI, but I just couldn't get the feeling of dread out of my stomach. I almost thought it was a little much for a PG-13 film with the burning survivors running around. It was certainly effective, just like the rest of the film from that point on. This is some pretty damn good Sci-Fi. And what's with the recent trend in Sci-Fi with the sun. Two years ago it was Sunshine where the sun was going to destroy us all, now it's Knowing. But come on Proyas. If you're going to set your film around the Boston area, the least you could do is show Boston getting destroyed. Don't cut to NYC like everyone else does.

67. 3.26.09 - Death Takes a Holiday (1934) - * (School)
If you don't buy the relationship between Death and Evelyn, what's the point? And this group are the most gullible motherfuckers I've ever seen in a film. Just because they're staying with someone, why should they believe him when he tells them that the Prince is actually Death? Just to move the plot along? There wasn't even a moment of hesitation. They cut away as soon as he announces it and when the film goes back to the group moments later they've completely bought it.

68. 3.27.09 - Watchmen (2009) - ** (Theater)
An admirable failure. The visuals are the best thing about the film including anything that involved violence, Manhattan and Rorschach. Nothing else really worked though. And Snyder has absolutely no idea on how to film a sex scene.

69. 3.28.09 - Traitor (2008) - **½ (Home)
It's interesting but it almost feels standard at the same time. The last 20 minutes almost make up for it with the bus, but as a whole it's a disappointment.

70. 3.29.09 - Punisher: War Zone (2008) - **½ (Home)
Dumb beyond words, but fun as hell. It puts the 2004 film to shame.

71. 3.30.09 - Chocolat (2000) - *** (Home)
Haven't seen the film since it first came out (although I saw the second half this past week in class and have a paper for it due tomorrow, which is why I'm watching the complete film now). It's good, but it takes about 20 minutes too long to get to its point. The performances make the film.

72. 4.1.09 - The Midnight Meat Train (2008) - **½ (Home)
Pretty good until we find out why "The Butcher" is doing what he's doing. The film just stopped working for me at that point. The big thing this thing has going for it though is the sheer amount of blood that's spilled in this thing. I never saw the theatrical cut, but my god the Unrated cut I saw couldn't have been even close to the one that was in theaters.

73. 4.2.09 - Lolita (1961) - *** (Home) - High Five: Stanley Kubrick
I wish Sellers was in it more. He was the best part of the movie.

74. 4.2.09 - Full Metal Jacket (1987) - *** (Home) - High Five: Stanley Kubrick
The first 45 minutes are brilliant and surprisingly hilarious. I've seen this film a few times now and I completely forgot how funny Ermey is in the training sequences. Once we get to Nam though, the film loses an edge. It's a pretty good war film but it's not as good as it could've been.

75. 4.3.09 - Dr. Strangelove (1964) - **** (Home) - High Five: Stanley Kubrick
Kubrick and Sellers are in fine form here. I think I've watched this film three or four times now and I can't decide which I like more - the ending or Sellers. I'll go with Sellers because of how he was able to flesh out three comedic characters and how he just simply disappears into each of them.

76. 4.3.09 - Eyes Wide Shut (1999) - **** (Home) - High Five: Stanley Kubrick
I now get why people were so disappointed with it the first time it came out. I remember the TV spots and they made the film seem like the audience was going to go on some kind of erotic adventure with Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman. It's not that at all. It's about as far from erotic as one film could be. No, it's a slow and intense journey about one man finding out his wife's dirty little secret and how he copes with it. I never really appreciated it before. I guess I was just too focused on the tits to give a damn.

77. 4.5.09 - Paths of Glory (1957) - **** (Home) - High Five: Stanley Kubrick
Quite possibly the most anti-war film ever made and it's done without much violence. Most films show the violence to depict how war is so awful. Kubrick does it here with one scene at the end of the film with a woman singing. Her singing is like a punch to the stomach.

78. 4.5.09 - Duplicity (2009) - ½* (Theater)
If a film could blow itself the result would be Duplicity. I can't remember the last time I saw a film that was so in love with itself. By the half hour mark I was pretty much disgusted with it. And the overall tone of the film I felt was a colossal miscalculation. I wasn't going in expecting a heist romp like Ocean's Eleven, but when you have serious/thriller music playing over a bunch of people standing around machines that duplicate copies from a building across the street, something is wrong, especially if the building across the street is a company that specializes in soap.

79. 4.6.09 - Stanley Kubrick: A Life in Pictures (2001) - ***½ (Home)
It's about as in-depth as one could expect for a documentary about Stanley Kubrick. If there is one downer though it's that I thought more could've been included about his childhood. Other than that I thought it was as good a documentary as one could make about Kubrick.

80. 4.6.09 - Night of the Living Dead (1990) - * (Home) - Horror Franchises: Romero
A real dumbed down version of the original which is ironic since Romero wrote both versions. The film doesn't have much of a point until the final 10 minutes and it's the same point the first film made. The only thing I really liked about the film is the girl shooting Cooper in the head at the end. That was really the only thing that work. The gore sure as hell didn't. This had none to speak of. What's the point of making a zombie movie if you can't have gore. And it's even more disappointing considering Tom Savini directed this.

81. 4.8.09 - Day of the Dead (2007) - * (Home) - Horror Franchises: Romero
This is a bad movie. My two big problems with the film are Nick Cannon and the zombies themselves. Cannon's trying to hard here to be the "witty action hero" with always something funny to say. None of his lines worked. As for the zombies, they have superhuman strength, they can leap through tall buildings and burst through glass, yet when they come across a glass door where two of the main characters are hiding they can't break through all of a sudden?

82. 4.8.09 - Night of the Living Dead (1968) - **½ (Home) - Horror Franchises: Romero
Nowhere near as good as I remembered it being. Romero has never had the knack for great dialogue in his films and its one of the films downfalls here. Everything just comes across as being wooden. I also hated Barbara. She doesn't speak at all after the cemetery scene for about 40 minutes. I understood that she was shell shocked, but it made her into such an annoying character. Another problem the film has is it's age. It's got an old fashioned score that belongs in the 40s and is way over the top to take much of what's happening seriously. The zombies work for the most part though. Whenever they're in the dark and lurking they're creepy as shit.

83. 4.10.09 - Fast & Furious (2009) - ** (Theater)
Boring. The FBI angle sucks, the Latin drug lord has been done to death, the editing is choppy not allowing us to see the cars in all their glory, and the chases are bland.

84. 4.11.09 - Observe and Report (2009) - ***½ (Theater)
One reviewer described this as being if Scorsese had made Taxi Driver into a comedy and I think that's pretty much spot on. It's also easily going to be the most love/hate comedy all year long. A lot of the humor is subtle and doesn't really care if you laugh or not. I did.

85. 4.12.09 - Deception (2008) - **½ (Home)
To my surprise it's actually not bad. I got caught up in the story. I think it would've been a little more daring (though not original at this point) if that bad guy had gotten away with everything, but I liked how this one ended.

86. 4.13.09 - Dawn of the Dead (1978) - **** (Home) - Horror Franchises: Romero
It's the king of zombie flicks. It's the goriest, it's the most violent, it''s the most well acted (in Romero's group at least), and it's got the best satirical elements.

87. 4.13.09 - Day of the Dead (1985) - ** (Home) - Horror Franchises: Romero
Anything Romero is trying to say here about human nature is immediately thrown out the window by some of the worst acting you're ever going to come across. Everybody is screaming and swearing at one another so much that it takes you right out of the film. Still, it's good to see at least once if you enjoy zombie flicks because the work Tom Savini does here is top notch. The gore is quite effective. It's the only truly effective part of Day of the Dead however.

88. 4.14.09 - Land of the Dead (2005) - *** (Home) - Horror Franchises: Romero
I think the biggest feat of the unrated cut is that Universal allowed the gore to be around the same levels of Day of the Dead. I'm a little surprised a big studio got behind this even in an unrated form. My biggest pet peeve with the film though is one that plagues a lot of action films these days and that's the CGI blood. Romero for the most part stays with practical effects and its beneficial, but why do filmmakers think audiences buy the CGI splatter? In every film I've seen it in it looks phony and its no different here. At least here though its used in a somewhat limited amount.

89. 4.15.09 - Diary of the Dead (2008) - ** (Home) - Horror Franchises: Romero
It just doesn't work. Romero's point is obvious and there's hardly any room for gore. Parts are interesting but it ultimately doesn't add up to very much.

90. 4.16.09 - Night of the Living Dead 3D (2006) - No Stars - Horror Franchises: Romero
Good lord that was one of the biggest pieces of shit I've seen. Many things bugged me about this but let me just quickly cut it down to two things. First is the zombies. These are quite possibly the dumbest zombies. In one scene a character shoots a zombie through a window breaking it (which in itself is probably the dumbest thing you could possibly do to keep the zombies out). Zombies come crashing in. They're killed. The characters never board up the windows (even though they say they're going to). That window stays open for a good 30 minutes before another zombie comes through and I can't even remember if it was the same window. And then at the end of the film the two "heroes" are trapped in the car. The zombies have the car surrounded. Yet they allow one of the heroes who was stuck in a trunk (how he got out I'm not sure) to get out and walk calmly over to let the other person out of the car without attacking them. What the fuck? The other thing that bugged me was that the film barely earned an R-rating. There's some blood and one or two shots of gore, but the most explicit thing in this was a sex scene that one could hardly call specific. And watching this in 2D, I realized that this would've been one lame film in 3D. Nothing ever happens. No characters lunge out at you. No gore is splattered. There were only a couple of distinct moves to the camera and that was it. This just sucked ass.

91. 4.17.09 - Dawn of the Dead (2004) - *** - Horror Franchises: Romero
It remains Snyder's best film. If I have one small complaint though it's that there should've been more zombie feasting. One guy gets it good in the closet and there are a couple of closeup neck bites, but the film had the potential to be much gorier. He's mostly just interested with head shots. Good thing he made up by giving us interesting characters. This and Romero's original are the most well acted films in the series.

-- 4.17.09. - Halloween (1978) - **** - Horror Franchises: Halloween
It works because we care about the characters. That and it's directed perfectly. Carpenter does a great job with the camera movements and with setting up the tension.

92. 4.19.09 - Doubt (2008) - ***½
Probably the most well acted film from last year. The only reason why I wouldn't say it's great though is because it didn't leave too much of an impression on me.

93. 4.21.09 - Halloween (2007) - No Stars - Horror Franchises: Halloween
Random thoughts: Myers is humanized which doesn't make him scary. He's 7'0 tall and that doesn't make him scary. Blood and gore isn't scary. Zombie's treatment of women is pathetic. The acting is horrible. By the time the film goes into the third act I hated all three of the girls so much because of how Zombie had written them that I wanted them to die just as Michael did. I hope Michael kills everyone in the next film. That's the only hope I have for the sequel.

94. 4.21.09 - Halloween II (1981) - *½ - Horror Franchises: Halloween
Hey, guess what happens when John Carpenter doesn't decide to direct his own material? You get Halloween II, a half-ass effort from everyone involved. Carpenter and Hill give a poor effort in terms of the material (giving Laurie almost no dialog was a stroke of genius). And then you've got Rick Rosenthal who couldn't direct a tension filled scene by accident. All of his setups are just painfully orchestrated. There are no scares! And then there's the score. I'm not sure if Carpenter had any involvement with the score (writer and producer), but whoever did should be ashamed. The score was one of the best things about the first film. It sounds horrible here remixed. With a slightly higher tone (which was done to the other parts of the first film) it loses it's punch. This is just a bad film and not as good as I once remembered it being.

95. 4.21.09 - Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982) - **½ - Horror Franchises: Halloween
You can pick apart the logical problems all day with the third act, but the film kind of works, mostly thanks to the ending (although that can be picked apart too - who does Atkins' character call that can somehow control the transmission to the three major networks?). The big problem with the film though is the "III". I understand Carpenter's need to ditch Myers as he was able to recognize that the well had run dry, but this shouldn't have been part of that series. People might have been more willing to accept the film if it weren't for that roman numeral. He's able to have some fun with the franchise though with the numerous references in the film, but this shouldn't be part of the series.

96. 4.21.09 - Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (1988) - *½ - Horror Franchises: Halloween
One thing I can recall from watching these films years ago is that I was never bored. The sequel and this film are just very boring. There's nothing particularly scary about either one of them. Michael stalks when he's on screen, there are a couple of kills, Loomis screams and that's the end of it. At least the last scene is kind of good.

97. 4.21.09 - Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers (1989) - ** - Horror Franchises: Halloween
There are some good scenes here particularly the last 20 or so. I liked the brief moment Jamie and Michael had in the attack. Too many things don't work though. Anything involving the teens and "Johnny Cash" is a complete waste of time. The only thing this has going for it is that it's slightly better than the previous two with Myers.

98. 4.22.09 - Halloween 6: The Curse of Michael Myers (1995) - ** - Horror Franchises: Halloween
It's actually not that bad. If there was more Dr. Loomis, if Jamie hadn't been killed off so quickly, and if there wasn't a shock jock, this could've been decent. Instead we're left with some interesting ideas that lead to a dull conclusion. Oh, it also would've helped if it were suspenseful. No one could seem to get it just right after Carpenter.

99. 4.22.09 - Hallowen: H20 (1998) - *** - Horror Franchises: Halloween
This is the only Halloween sequel worth watching. It's hardly perfect though. We go 50 minutes in between the first kills of the movie and the second kills and before you know it we're at the end of the movie. However, thanks in large part to Jamie Lee Curtis, the film works. It also helps that this has the best cast in terms of skill to probably be in a Halloween. And John Ottman also deserves some credit. All Alan Howarth did as composer in the previous four with Myers was just rehash the themes that Carpenter used. He brought nothing new to the table. Ottman does (and yes I know they used some of the music from Scream). The film has some pacing problems, but it's good. In a couple of hours I'm going to watch Resurrection. Based on what I remember of it, H20 is where the series ends for me.

100. 4.23.09 - Halloween: Resurrection (2002) - No Stars - Horror Franchises: Halloween
Two gigantic problems plague this movie. The first is how they killed off Laurie Strode. That's how you treat a horror icon? You turn her into a complete dumbass? Let's forgive the bullshit excuse the filmmakers give us for Michael still being alive, would Laurie actually think right before she drops Michael that another person dressed as Michael would be up there with her? What are the chances of that? Shame on the writers. Second, I wanted Michael Myers to win. As bad as some of the previous sequels were, I never wanted Michael to win. Here I did. All of the characters bugged the shit out me. And Tyra Banks is in this. This is just a complete piece of shit.

101. 4.23.09 - In the Bedroom (2001) - **½
The rating is unfair and temporary because I saw the film in two halves. I saw the first half about two weeks ago in my Lit course. I watched the second half tonight. Seeing a film like that isn't exactly a good idea. It's extremely well acted, but it didn't leave any sort of impression on me. And the second half is pretty much a buildup to a payoff I wasn't fully satisfied with. Maybe that's the point though since the surviving characters don't seem to be quite satisfied at the end of the film either. I need to give the film a second look to give it a fair shake.

102. 4.23.09 - Saw (2004) - ** - Horror Franchises: Saw
Saw is the kind of film for me where it gets better each time I see it. The first time I saw it, I watched it in theaters with a friend and we laughed it off the screen. The false endings, the overacting (Cary Elwes), it was just too much. Each time I've seen it since then though I've kind of appreciated it more and more from Wan's shooting style, to the fast paced editing, to the infamous score, and to the twist ending. To give the film credit where it is deserved; I don't care who you are there is no way in hell you could guess the ending to this. There are a lot of good elements to the film. If it just weren't for the shitty acting I think I could've liked it.

103. 4.24.09 - Saw II (2005) - *** - Horror Franchises: Saw
Better acting leads to a better and more interesting film. And what makes it better than the previous film and from what I can remember of the later films is that its less concerned with the traps and more interested in the human interactions and the way Jigsaw's game controls everyone. The scenes between Jigsaw and Matthews are especially good. And the twist works so that's a plus.

104. 4.24.09 - Saw III (2006) - *** - Horror Franchises: Saw
A little on the long side but the last 20 minutes make up for the somewhat slow journey to get there. If I have one other problem with the film besides the pace it's with the amount of traps. I think there were five or six contraptions in this. That's just a couple too many. I know people go to see these films for those very contraptions, but the reason why the first sequel worked so well, and the last 20 minutes here worked so well are because of the human interactions. Is a little bit hard to buy what Jeff does to Jigsaw considering the contraption his wife is wearing around her head? Yeah a little. How's he going to take the thing off? It works though.

105. 4.24.09 - Saw IV (2007) - *** - Horror Franchises: Saw
It's much better than I remember it being the first time I saw it. The plot structure is much more clever than it had to be and even though I had seen the film before I still wasn't sure where it was going by the time it was over.

106. 4.24.09 - Saw V (2008) - * - Horror Franchises: Saw
It's about as well acted as the first film. The only thing keeping it from reaching that level of mediocrity is that it's just not in any way entertaining. And how many times do we have to see different characters learn the same lesson? Hopefully in the next one there will be a curveball thrown in there somewhere.

Bonus completed
Any 5 Films Nominated In A Single Category From 1990-1999: Best Screenplay Written Directly For the Screen (1995) - 2.14.09
Any 5 Films Nominated In A Single Category From 2000-2008: Best Supporting Actor (2005) - 2.16.09
Any 5 Films Nominated In A Single Category From 1970-1979: Best Sound (1979) - 2.17.09
Any 5 Films Nominated In A Single Category From 1980-1989: Best Director (1982) - 2.22.09
Any 5 Films Nominated In A Single Category From 1930-1949: Best Cinematography (Black & White) (1944) - 2.22.09
Watch Any 10 Films From 2008 That Grossed Under $500,000 - 3.3.09
High Five: Any 5 Films From Stanley Kubrick - 4.5.09
Dr. Lect's Horror Franchises: Romero's Dead films - 4.17.09
Dr. Lect's Horror Franchises: Halloween - 4.23.09
Dr. Lect's Horror Franchises: Saw - 4.24.09

01. 02/06 - My Bloody Valentine: B- (Theater)
Damn local censorship! This would have been better if not for the cuts and would have looked way cooler in 3D. Best part was the grocery store scene.

02. 02/06 - Salaire de la peur, Le: C (Home)
Very overrated "classic" foreign movie. The last 30 mins. were good, but nothing made me involved for the first 2 hours!

03. 02/07 - Back to the Future: A- (Home)
Great stuff, but for me it still doesn't match its sequel which is one of the most entertaining films of all-time.

04. 02/09 - Backdraft: B (Home)
Solid, but they could have handled the plot development better. The fire-fighting scenes were done great.

05. 02/14 - The Heartbreak Kid: B- (Home)
It was okay, but felt like another mediocre rom-com.

06. 02/14 - Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind: A- (Home)
Second viewing on this, just as great as the first. The Academy is fucked for robbing it a BP nom.

07. 02/14 - City Lights: B+ (Home)
I was sort of expecting this was going to be another of those highly overrated 50+ year old films. I was wrong. It's 78 years old and it's damn entertaining and has easily lovable characters. First Chaplin movie I've seen.

08. 02/15 - The Color of Money: B- (Home)
Good, but nothing special. It's possibly Marty's weakest film that I've seen.

09. 02/16 - Valkyrie: B (Theater)
Solid WWII thriller which could have been better, but still worth watching. Nothing extraordinary with Cruise' performance though.

10. 02/20 - Gran Torino: A- (Theater)
I was never really a fan of Clint's films nor Clint himself, but this was a damn involving film. One of last year's best.

11. 02/21 - Dog Day Afternoon: A+ (Home) Nominated for Oscar - Best Actor in a Leading Role: Al Pacino (1975)
Al Pacino's performance here was ground-fucking-breaking, he was better here than in any of the Godfathers. Every second rocks, and I liked how they made The Law appear to be the enemy here. It also has one of the simplest, shortest yet most effective end credits ever.

12. 02/21 - The French Connection: A- (Home) Won Oscar - Best Actor in a Leading Role: Gene Hackman (1971)
Gripping from start to finish, though Clockwork mauls it in any Oscar category it got nominated for in '71.

13. 02/21 - One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest: A- (Home) Won Oscar - Best Actor in a Leading Role: Jack Nicholson (1975)
Got better upon second viewing, but will never reach Dog Day as the best of that year. Every character in the group was easily likeable, I just felt for them althroughout and Fletcher was effective as the bitch that she was.

14. 02/22 - Network: B+ (Home) Won Oscar - Best Actor in a Leading Role: Peter Finch (1976)
Very well done but not the classic Sidney Lumet film. The script is fantastic though.

15. 02/22 - ...And Justice for All (Home) A- Nominated for Oscar - Best Actor in a Leading Role: Al Pacino (1979)
Great! I loved how they included the fun to compensate with the dramatically intense moments here. Another awesome performance for Al Pacino which ended with a 'BANG'!

Bonus List completed: Oscar Bait - Any 5 Films Nominated In A Single Category, From 1970-1979

16. 02/23 - Ronin: B- (Home)
The car chase at the last half was the only part enjoyable in this. Dissapointing that there's not much to care about the characters and everything else considering the two leads.

17. 02/26 - He's Just Not That Into You: B- (Theater)
The characters and their stories were all almost equally likeable despite different levels of emphasis. Problem is, none of them really stood out and got me.

18. 02/28 - In Bruges: A- (Home)
Finally saw it and surpassed my expectations. Original, beautifully shot, well-acted, and has some of the most dramatic, intense sequences in recent years.

19. 03/01 - Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist: B (Home)
Has cute and charming characters and a setting that I'll always love, but I sadly didn't love it as much as I wanted to.

20. 03/02 - Charlie's Angels: B (Home)
It's gooood.

21. 03/06 - Watchmen: B+ (Theater)
Very well done superhero drama for someone who hasn't read the graphic novel. Opening sequence; one of the best in recent years.

22. 03/06 - Excess Baggage: B- (Home)
Likeable enough crime comedy. Del Toro and Silverstone had good chemistry in their roles.

23. 03/07 - Halloween (1978): B- (Home)
Not bad, but seeing the remake, Nightmare and the Friday the 13th movies first consumes its newness.

24. 03/07 - M: B (Home)
Impressive direction and acting considering its age, but the middle part seriously got slow and the film would have been better 30 mins. less. Metropolis was slightly more enjoyable in terms of Fritz Lang's works.

25. 03/08 - Die Hard: A- (Home)
I just saw this for the first time. Bruce Willis was feckin' hilarious, he totally made this. Without him, this would have sucked. And who cared for the hostages? I assume this would come down as my favorite action flicks like everyone else if I saw it a longer time ago.

26. 03/09 - The Bourne Identity: B+ (Home)
Very good start to the franchise. Entertaining from start to finish, but it doesn't go beyond that. First viewing on this as well.

27. 03/13 - The Unborn: D+ (Theater)
I only give like one to three D grades every film year so yeah, it's that bad. The plus for that Cloverfield girl in her panties.

28. 03/13 - Taken: B+ (Theater)
Awesome *gunshot* piece *gunshot* of pure kick-ass *gunshot* entertainment *gunshot*.

29. 03/15 - Little Manhattan: A- (Home) Bonus List - Dr. Lecter's "Random Movies you probably haven't seen"
Simple story and probably B levels in terms of quality, good soundtrack as well. But the film was just

30. 03/15 - Pineapple Express: B+ (Home)
Less enjoyable upon second viewing but still good times.

31. 03/16 - The Bourne Supremacy: B (Home)
Still good, but not as new and interesting as the first one. Also, the fact that you know that he's gonna get away what-fucking-ever the situation is, keeps away the tension. I had problems though when I was watching this, so I'll try to give it a second chance.

32. 03/19 - Memento: A- (Home) Bonus List - Who Am I?
I can say that some Michael Bay movie is more enjoyable than this but this is a film that never ever ever ever keeps away your attention, which only a few films succeed to achieve.

33. 03/20 - Fast Times at Ridgemont High: B (Home)
Not the high school classic that Ferris Bueller's is, but I still liked it.

34. 03/20 - The Invisible Man: B+ (Home)
Impressive enough visual effects, and surprisingly fast-paced taking into account its era. Though it's not terrifying at all, I'd give it the thumbs-up for being constantly entertaining despite being three-fourths of a century old.

35. 03/21 - Trainspotting: B (Home)
It's never got really great yet there was no weak moment either. A funnier and less memorable version of Requiem for a Dream.

36. 03/21 - Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb: C+
(Home) Bonus List - High Five (Stanley Kubrick, #1)
Second viewing on this one and I still feel stupid not liking it. The stuff on the war room was good, but I was completely WTF on the rest. The visuals, music, and the performances is worth mentioning though.

37. 03/22 - The Bourne Ultimatum: A- (Home) Bonus List - Who Am I? (The Bourne Trilogy)
Barely edges out Identity because of the fantastic action, though Identity still is the most original. I also felt it could have used a stronger ending. It was a stupid idea in seeing this in theaters without having seen the first two.

38. 03/26 - The Matrix: A (Home) Bonus List - Party Like It's 1999 Part II
Sci-fi + action can never be this awesome again. On par with Reloaded.

39. 03/27 - Knowing: B+ (Theater)
Surprisingly engaging, a feast for every disaster flick lover.

40. 03/28 - Planet of the Apes (1968): B+ (Home)
Awesome, mind-boggling story but got silly at times and having known the ending affects it a little. Now, I need to see the much hated remake.

41. 03/29 - Barry Lyndon: B+ (Home) Bonus List - High Five (Stanley Kubrick, #2)
Consistently attaching for 3 hours and also beautifully made, though no part in the film really stands out.

42. 03/29 - The Shining: B+ (Home) Bonus List - High Five (Stanley Kubrick, #3)
Also beautifully shot, and the setting/music and all was creepingly effective. However, some of the scares didn't buy me and Jack's performance is overrated.

43. 03/31 - Lola rennt: B+ (Home) Bonus List - Party Like It's 1999 Part I
Not that groundbreaking, but it sets itself apart from others for its innovative storytelling.

44. 04/02 - Fast and Furious: B- (Theater)
Usual shits, and the chases on the previous films were better, but I had fun.

45. 04/03 - Monsters vs. Aliens: B+ (Theater)
I loved Reese' character here. A few jokes didn't click but I believe it's on the same league as KFP overall. Best voice acting goes to the spaceship computer.

46. 04/04 - Eyes Wide Shut: B (Home) Bonus List - High Five (Stanley Kubrick, #4)
Very intruiging, but not the best nor the worst Kubrick film. The mansion scene elevates it to a whole new level.

47. 04/05 - Lolita (1962): B+ (Home) Bonus List - High Five (Stanley Kubrick, #5)
Good, good, good. Possibly better than both The Shining and Barry Lyndon.

48. 04/17 - Friday the 13th (2009): B- (Home) *EDIT* I actually saw this in the theater, my bad. Dr. Lecter's Horror Franchises Bonus
Another horror movie you should enjoy for the hot chicks.

49. 04/18 - The Day After Tomorrow: A (Home)
I saw this for like the 7th time yesterday. Still one of my favorite disaster flicks ever.

50. 04/20 - Slumdog Millionaire: B (Theater)
Works better in the last half, thanks to City of God spoiling its newness.

51. 04/21 - Banlieue 13: B (Home)
Not a bad thing, but I felt it was a little too much on action and doesn't really go beyond the gunshots and chases.

52. 04/21 - Singin' in the Rain: A- (Home)
If you failed to enjoy this in any way, you've completely lost your shit.

53. 04/21 - Superbad: A- (Home)
Vagstastic!

54. 04/21 - March of the Penguins: B+ (Home)
Wondering alone how was this shot will amaze you.

55. 04/21 - 28 Weeks Later: A (Home)
It fucking rocks, every second of it. London was captured beautifully here too. Remains in my Top 40.

56. 04/21 - Serendipity: B+ (Home)
BS in the real world, yet that wedding gift scene still got me.

57. 04/21 - Modern Times: B+ (Home)
Just as adorable as City Lights, maybe even better.

58. 04/21 - Little Miss Sunshine: A- (Home)
Still awesome, every character was very effective in their roles.

59. 04/22 - Cloverfield: A- (Home)
More inventive and probably better than the thousand other movies that show New York blowing up.

60. 04/22 - Encounters at the End of the World: B- (Home) Bonus List - Werner Herzog Is A God
Had eye-opening visuals but was a little off for most of the time. The disoriented penguin may be the most striking moment.

61. 04/22 - Freddy vs. Jason: B (Home) Dr. Lecter's Horror Franchises Bonus
For a non-fan of the franchises, this is surprisingly well-done and entertaining.

62. 04/22 - The Circus: B (Home)
Also fun compared to the others, but I thought the story is quite lacking.

63. 04/22 - The Gold Rush: B (Home)
Like City Lights, the love-story angle was handled great here.

64. 04/22 - Ratatouille: A (Home)
Its animation is pure brilliance, and right up there in the Pixar chart. The way they combined realism and cartooniness so well and the perfect use of lighting is a phenomenal achievement in animation and fuck yes, filmmaking itself.

65. 04/23 - Semi-Pro: B (Home)
Fun times. The jokes were consistently good, and Love Me Sexy became one of my favorite soundtracks of the past year.

66. 04/23 - Friday the 13th (1980): B (Home) Dr. Lecter's Horror Franchises Bonus
Expectedly slower-paced being an original, but a good start to the series.

67. 04/23 - Friday the 13th Part II: B- (Home) Dr. Lecter's Horror Franchises Bonus
More kills and more boobs and there and that as expected for a sequel.

68. 04/23 - Friday the 13th Part III: B- (Home) Dr. Lecter's Horror Franchises Bonus
This was mostly the same as the sequel.

69. 04/23 - Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter: B (Home) Dr. Lecter's Horror Franchises Bonus
Jason delivered one of his first non-stab non-slit non-spear kills here, when he threw the woman out the window. Most nudity so far. And damn, that 10-year old became such an animal!

70. 04/23 - Friday the 13th: A New Beginning: C (Home) Dr. Lecter's Horror Franchises Bonus
This was meh but it sort of revised the series in terms of the setting.

71. 04/23 - Jason Lives: Friday the 13th Part VI: B (Home) Dr. Lecter's Horror Franchises Bonus
An improvement from the previous. The trailer scene was done well, same with Jason's "death". This is also the first nude-free F13 flick, and that's something!

72. 04/23 - Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood: D+ (Home) Dr. Lecter's Horror Franchises Bonus
Couldn't care less, there was nothing interesting besides the telekinesis aspect. I dunno, I may have to see this again.

73. 04/23 - Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan: B+ (Home) Dr. Lecter's Horror Franchises Bonus
Awesome! This totally refreshed the franchise in terms of the setting, though I wish they spent more time in New York.

74. 04/23 - Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday: C (Home) Dr. Lecter's Horror Franchises Bonus
The goriest of the series, but not really a favorite.

75. 04/23 - Jason X: C+ (Home) Dr. Lecter's Horror Franchises Bonus
It is fun enough, as long as you don't use your brain. I mean, they don't have CCTV technology in 2455!

Bonus List completed - Dr. Lecter's Horror Franchises Bonus: Friday the 13th

Marathon/Mega Marathon Viewings - Twenty Five Movies Over 72 Hours

76. 04/24 - Man on Fire: B+ (Home)
Brilliantly shot crime drama which worked excellently in the first hour, but was predictable towards the end. Denzel was the badass here and Fanning was adorable.

77. 04/24 - Independence Day: A- (Home)
One of the ultimate summer blockbuster flicks of the 90s.

1. 2/02/09 North by Northwest A- Home
It does tend to border on ridiculous at many points, but it is hard not to like for its brilliant shots, locations and dialogue .

2 2/2/09 Rope A Home
I realize it isn't a celebrated as much of Hitchcock's work but I love this movie. He can really keep the suspense without it ever feeling suffocating as in other one room pictures Great pun filled dialogue from Laurents.

3 2/2/09 The Rules of the Game A Home
I knew this was the more celebrated of Renoir's work, but I didn't think it could be better than Grand Illusion for me. It was. Beautiful satire on the French elite. (Bonus Cinelitst-25 points_

4 2/3/09 Rear Window A+ Home
I'm always torn between the aforementioned and Vertigo as my favorite Hitchcock film. There's just something wonderful in the little worlds he creates for all of the neighbors that I love.

5 2/4/09 Inherit the Wind B+ Home
Superb acting, wonderful story, and at some points historically accurate.

6 2/7/09 Bridge on the River Kwai A Home
Currently my favorite Lean film, but its been a long time since I went through his anthology.

7 2/7/09 The Man with the Golden Gun B- Home
I'm not proud that I like this movie, I don't know why I do. But alas I find it entertaining.

8 2/7/09 Casablanca A Home
I can't imagine much I could add that would add to the heaps of praise already put on this movie the world over. Simply put, it's great.

9 2/8/09 Spellbound B Home
There are parts where it is exceedingly brilliant. Doors within doors and the dream sequence and it features some Hitch's best camera work. But overall the story and plot itself are rather mundane and formulaic. I believe a lot was lost in the struggle with Selznick, including another 20 minute Dali scene which could have pushed Spellbound into the upper echelon of the masters work.

10 2/9/09 Notorious A- Home
Another great work from Hitch. Excellent noir influences, but above all a romance.

11 2/10/09 Jules and Jim A Home
This is my favorite from Truffaut and I've thought about it a lot. But I guess I'm just a style of substance kind of guy. And thusly I'm a Jules and Jim over The 400 Blows kind of guy.

12 2/13/09 Eight Men Out B+ Home
See Man With the Golden Gun

13 2/14/09 Bowling for Columbine A- Home
Though Moore's showboating does come out in full force here it is probably in his top two. Given the somber subject its amazing he can make an entertaining film that at points is truly funny. And he can follow those up by powerful moments like the K-Mart scenes.

14 2/14/09 To Kill A Mockingbird A- Home
I don't share AFI's levels of infatuation with this movie, but there's no question to its quality. The book is great and the movie is no different.

15 2/15/09 Rebecca A Home
I'm really surprised Hitchcock could get away with such a blatant lesbian in Mrs. Danvers in the time period. I mean he doesn't even really hide it. At all.

16 2/15/09 Citizen Kane A Home
Brilliant.

17 2/16/09 Boys Town B+
It's not a brilliant movie, nor a exceedingly brilliant performance from Spencer Tracy but it is good at pulling the heart strings even if it is rather superficial.

18 2/20/09 Double Indemnity A Home
More greatness from Wilder. Once I want to go an entire day talking like Walter Neff.

19 The Producers A- Home
I like the movie on a whole, but the Springtime for Hitler scenes are among Brook's best.
Bonus Lists
The Rules of the Game-25 pts.
Jules and Jim-25 pts.
Any 5 Films Nominated In A Single Category, From 1930-1949 (80 pts. each) (Best Picture) Casablanca (1943), Rebecca (1940), Boys Town (1938), Spellbound (1945), Citizen Kane (1941)

1. 2/2/2009 -- The World in His Arms (Raoul Walsh, 1952) A- (home)
Top-notch adventure filmmaking, and beautiful to look at. Somewhat confusing plotting is the only drawback. Gregory Peck and Anthony Quinn are totally in their element. Great fun.

2. 2/3/2009 -- Only You (Norman Jewison, 1994) B- (home)
Deadly dull first half is saved when they finally introduce Robert Downey Jr.'s character. Someone should have sliced fifteen minutes off this thing. The film is silly, but the romance is sweet, the photography (by Sven Nykvist!) beautiful, and the whole enterprise is delightfully old-fashioned (PG rating!).

3. 2/3/2009 -- Before Sunrise (Richard Linklater, 1995) A- (home)
It's not a great film, but it's a tender, well-observed one. I was reluctant to watch it, but my fears were unfounded.

4. 2/4/2009 -- My Sassy Girl (Yann Samuell, 2008) F (home)
Execrable Direct-to-Video romantic comedy improbably tells a story that mixes Along Came Polly (or any number of similar things) with Hitchcock's Vertigo. Plus, it's directed by a crazy, incompetent Frenchman so the whole thing is filled with nauseating, stupid camera flourishes. Elisha Cuthbert may be the single least interesting actress ever. Still, I'd be lying if I said everyone didn't have a good time heckling this one.

5. 2/5/2009 -- Song of The South (Harve Foster and Wilfred Jackson, 1946) B+ (home) *40s Oscar Nods: Original Song, Score
The flat direction of the live-action scenes and the awful child performances eventually take their toll, but the film is mostly engaging and stunning to look at. Any scene invovling the animation is a home run.

6. 2/6/2009 -- Coraline (Henry Selick, 2009) B+ (Theatre)
Short on story, but long on imagination and fun. Wish we got stop-motion animated films more often.

7. 2/7/2009 -- Twentieth Century (Howard Hawks, 1934) A (home)
One of the screwiest, nastiest comedies ever made. Cruelty and insanity has never been as funny. John Barrymore and Carole Lombard give brilliant, shrieking performances that are completely fearless.

8. 2/9/2009 -- Return to Me (Bonnie Hunt, 2000) C (home)
Refreshingly innocent(it feels like this thing was written in the 40s), but the leads are simply too dull. Bonnie Hunt shows no real directorial aptitude.

9. 2/10/2009 -- The More the Merrier (George Stevens, 1943) B+ (home) *40s Oscar Nods: Picture, Director, Actress, Supporting Actor, Screenplay, Original Story
A great cast frolicks about in this smart war-time romantic comedy that, sadly, loses its way as it reaches the third act. And poor Joel McCrea, who seems to have been directed to play his romantic lead as a zombie. What a waste of a usually delightful, charismatic presence.

10. 2/12/2009 -- Ivanovo detstvo [Ivan's Childhood] (Andrei Tarkovsky, 1962) A (home)
One of the most visually dynamic films I've ever seen. Wartime Russia as a post-apocalyptic wasteland. The ending packs a punch.

11. 2/17/2009 -- Before Sunset (Richard Linklater, 2004) A- (home) *00s Oscar Nods: Adapted Screenplay
Thought this was one was even better- richer, tighter- than the first.

12. 2/17/2009 -- El Orfanato [The Orphanage] (Juan Antonio Bayona, 2007) C (home)
One or two sequences aside, it's a silly, muddled disappointment.

13. 2/17/2009 -- Chicago (Rob Marshall, 2002) A- (home) 00s Oscar Nods: Picture, Director, Actress, Supp Actress (2), Supp Actor, Adapted Screenplay, Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction, Costume Design, Original Song, Sound
Oscar winners become easy targets, but Chicago doesn't deserve that; it's a sharp, funny, grand entertainment, and still (in 2009) the best Hollywood musical since the 70s.

14. 2/18/2009 -- Splendor in the Grass (Eliz Kazan, 1961) A (home)
To my surprise, this was a great, great film. Stunningly progressive in its sexual politics, it's a story of sexual repression and the dangers of the sexism inherent in our puritanical values. Plus, it's simply a touching story of the disappearance of youth and promise. Kazan rocks; I think I'm gonna finally pull out that Baby Doll DVD and see what the fuss is about.

15. 02/19/2009 -- The Reader (Stephen Daldry, 2008) C- (home)
Mostly unfathomable.

16. 02/20/2009 -- Wall-E (Andrew Stanton, 2008) A (home)
Sorry, hipster douchebags: Wall-E is clearly the best film of 2008.

17. 2/21/2009 -- Frost/Nixon (Ron Howard, 2008) C (theater)
There is nothing remotely cinematic about Frost/Nixon. I'm tempted to call this the single most inconsequential film ever made, if only because its phony air of importance is so nauseating. And what the fuck is with the talking heads underlining all the obvious stuff for us? Jesus, Ron Howard still thinks we're all stupid.

18. 2/22/2009 -- American Splendor (Robert Pulcini and Shari Springer Berman, 2003) A (home)
I feel bad it took me this long to see it, because American Splendor is kind of a great movie. It's rare to feel like you've seen something original or exciting, but Splendor's mix of the real people, actors and animated segments is thrilling. And unlike Zwigoff's overrated Ghost World, Berman and Pulcini don't confuse a movie about a misanthrope with a misanthropic film. Splendor's got a big heart, but is never sickeningly sentimental. Loved it.

Completed Bonus List: 5 Adapted Screenplay nominees from 00s. Reader, Frost/Nixon, American Splendor, Chicago, Before Sunset

19. 2/23/2009 -- The Verdict (Sidney Lumet, 1982) A (home)
Top-notch thriller that doesn't feel like the scads of imitators; wisely, the film remains a character piece right to the last shot, and the trial is most important in how it reflects on Newman. The awful Lindsay Crouse shows up near the end to try and ruin the fun, but when even Lindsay Crouse can't stop the momentum, you know it's a good film.

20. 2/24/2009 -- Ostre sledovane vlaky [Closely Watched Trains] (Jiri Menzel, 1966) B+ (home)
Oddball little movie, with a unique look and feel. Still, drags in the middle.

21. 2/25/2009 -- Millions (Danny Boyle, 2004) B+ (home)
As usual, Danny Boyle is too obsessed with unnecessary flights of visual whimsy, but he's got a strong script and warm performances to carry the day before some real third act problems start mucking everything up.

22. 2/25/2009 -- Trois Colours: Bleu [Blue] (Krzyszlof Kieslowski, 1993) A- (home)
A stunningly internal bit of moviemaking. It demands your attention.

23. 2/27/2009 -- Under the Volcano (John Huston, 1984) B+ (home)
A great Albert Finney performance highlights Huston's pretty good adaptation.

24. 2/27/2009 -- Carnival of Souls (Herk Harvey, 1962) C (home)
Cult classic is, to my great surprise, smartly shot and composed considering the lack of experince behind the camera. Unfortunately, the movie is pretty dull most of the time.

25. 2/28/2009 -- The Simpsons Movie (David Silverman, 2007) C (home)
I didn't like it any better this time around. There's good gags at the start, but it just keeps getting worse and worse as it goes along. The film is also terribly pedestrian, and takes no advantage of the silver screen.

26. 2/28/2009 -- Kiss of the Spider Woman (Hector Babenco, 1985) B+ (home)
Solid work. Raul Julia is always a very welcome presence.

27. 2/28/2009 -- Sweet Smell of Success (Alexander Mackendrick, 1957) A (home)
Classic that cuts like a knife. Next time I watch, I think I'll have a notebook on my lap to write down all the chilling, bitter, and perfectly composed dialogue.

28. 2/28/2009 -- Fat City (John Huston, 1972) C+ (home)
Competent and respectable, but the film doesn't seem to about anything except how much life and (particularly) women suck. It's draining.

29. 2/28/2009 -- The Time of Their Lives (Charles Barton, 1946) A- (home)
One of the very best of the Abbott and Costello movies. Kind of a bridge between Topper and Beetlejuice, the movie is filled with great special effects and charming performances. One assumes Abbott and Costello were at a low in their personal relationship (after the first ten minutes, they directly interact a total of ZERO times), but the result is a film that would have been delightful with anyone in these roles. In other words, it's like a real movie!

30. 03/01/2009 -- The Good Fairy (William Wyler, 1935) B (home)
Solid, but considering the cast and the Preston Sturges script, it doesn't float like it should. Blame Wyler, perhaps.

31. 03/02/2009 -- Hold That Ghost (Arthur Lubin, 1941) B+ (home)
Another of the best Abbott and Costello films. The set-up is absurdly labored and convoluted; it's all part of the fun.

32. 03/02/2009 -- Sea of Love (Harold Becker, 1989) B+ (home)
Becker is not a good filmmaker, and the solution to the mystery is a cheat, but the film is engrossing and surprisingly funny. Swift and enjoyable.

33. 03/03/2009 -- El angel exterminador [The Exterminating Angel] (Luis Bunuel, 1962) B- (home)
Apparently I don't really like Luis Bunuel.

34. 03/03/2009 -- Popeye (Robert Altman, 1980) F (home)
Quite possibly the worst movie I have ever seen.

35. 03/03/2009 -- Entre les Murs [The Class] (Laurent Cantet, 2008) A (theater)
Cantet's pessimistic look at education and the fleeting promise of youth is terrific. I can't wait to watch it again.

36. 03/04/2009 -- To Die For (Gus Van Sant, 1995) B+ (home)
Sly and very funny, but the satire often feels unfocused.

37. 03/04/2009 -- Coming To America (John Landis, 1988) B+ (home)
The film is frequently very funny, but where is really works and disarms you is in the all-consuming sweetness of the picture. Vulgarity aside, it's a warm fish-out-of-water romance with imaginary royals from imaginary countries finding love. Gasp! Like Lubitsch used to make!

38. 03/06/2009 -- Breach (Billy Ray, 2007) C+ (home)
Starts well-enough, but there's not enough story here to sustain the runtime. And I absolutely hated the cinematography, with everything shot in the same stale wintry blues and grays. My eyes wanted to scream.

39. 03/06/2009 -- That's Entertainment! (Jack Haley Jr, 1974) A (home)
As a simple collection of classic musical scenes the film would be entertaining. What makes it essential is the collection of intros filmed in and around the classic MGM backlots right before they were all bulldozed to the ground. Fred Astaire wandering that old, dusty, dilapidated train set, to name but one example, packs a punch.

40. 03/07/2009 -- Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (Martin Scorsese, 1974) A- (home)
Not the film I was expecting. This is not a bad thing. It's perfectly cast up and down, and I need to stop being surprised when Scorsese movies feel like Scorsese movies. The man defines auteur.

41. 03/08/2009 -- Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters (Paul Schrader, 1985) A- (home)
A wonder of sights and sounds; to watch this, you'd think Schrader was a major visionary, which he clearly is not. Not sure where he pulled this movie from, but I'm glad he did. Only complaint: the text of those Mishima plays, which make up a third of the film, are dreadful. But, hey, they sure do look pretty.

42. 03/08/2009 -- Watchmen (Zack Snyder, 2009) D- (theatre)
Silly and overlong and silly. Snyder's obsessive devotion to the original page completely robs the film of any relevance it could possibly have. Dire.

43. 03/09/2009 -- The Station Agent (Thomas McCarthy, 2003) B+ (home)
Before losing its way a bit in the last 30 minutes, it's an ingratiating, delightful little picture.

44. 03/10/2009 -- The Caine Mutiny (Edward Dymytrk, 1954) A- (home)
Well-acted by a terrific cast and very entertaining, but there's one or two tacked-on subplots too many. The final scene is a headscratcher.

45. 03/11/2009 -- The Court Jester (Melvin Frank and Norman Panama, 1955) A (home)
I loved this soooo much. Perhaps the best musical I've seen from Paramount. Danny Kaye's a rockstar. Small complaint: half of the climax is similar to that of Hook, and it didn't work there, either.

46. 03/11/2009 -- Låt den rätte komma in [Let the Right One In] (Tomas Alfredson, 2008) A- (home)
To my surprise, it was a creepy, original take on a tired genre. Liked it quite a bit.

47. 03/12/2009 -- The Cooler (Wayne Kramer, 2003) B- (home)
Starts off really well, but Kramer is not a talented man and the movie mostly perplexes. One of the worst musical scores ever? Still, Bello and Baldwin carry it through the (very) rough patches so I guess I liked it more than I didn't. I suppose.

48. 03/13/2009 -- Revolutionary Road (Sam Mendes, 2008) C- (theatre)
Ouch. The whole thing is completely one-dimensional and confused, although at least it made abortions funny again.

49. 03/14/2009 -- The Great Mouse Detective (Ron Clements and Bunny Mattinson and Dave Michener and John Musker, 1986) B- (home)
Fun idea gives way to a brisk, entertaining watch, but it's indifferently animated and I'm hard pressed to think of a Disney animated film aimed at as young an audience as this one. My B- may be somewhat generous.

50. 03/14/2009 -- To Be or Not to Be (Ernst Lubitsch, 1942) A (home)
Lubitsch's masterpiece never fails to blow my mind.

1. 2/2/09 -- Deliverance -- ** (home) [70's Editing]
-5 star system here. This movie was dreadfully boring at times. I completely lost interest at least twice. Burt Reynolds being Rambo was the highlight.

2. 2/6/09 -- The Bank Job -- ***1/2 (home)
-I like bank heist movies. This was less about the heist, more about everything that went wrong after. It's amazing that they fit so many plot lines and characters in the less than two hour run time.

3. 2/7/09 -- Coraline -- ***1/2 (theater)
-Drove all the way out to some obscure crappy theater which said it had in in 3D, but they lied!Still a pretty good movie. Channels 80s fantasy.

4. 2/10/09 -- Fantastic Voyage -- *** (home) [60's Editing]
-I really liked how they used the parts of the body as antagonists. I also loved the opening credits, some of the best I've ever seen. Good effects, but could have used a bit more character depth. Especially in the saboteur storyline, which was painfully obvious from the start. I never suspected anyone else.

5. 2/12/09 -- X-Men -- **** (home)
-Fun times.

6. 2/13/09 -- Millions -- **** (home)
-Really great use of color here. Almost every shot could be paused and stared at for a little while.

7. 2/13/09 -- The Hot Rock -- ***1/2 (home) [70's Editing]
-Another great heist movie. Redford takes on a museum, prison, a police station, and then a bank all in one movie. The jazzy soundtrack also adds a fun touch to the film.

8. 2/14/09 -- Vicky Christina Barcelona -- ***1/2 (home) [00's Supporting Actress]
-So definitely liked Vicky more than Christina, even though ScarJo was super hot as always. The lighting makes it very warm, and easy to watch. My favorite Allen pic of the new century for sure.

9. 2/15/09 -- Kramer vs Kramer -- ***1/2 (home) [70's Editing]
-Really great performance by Dustin Hoffman here. He carries the film, even though Streep and the rest of the cast are good too. I was afraid I was gonna be pissed off at the ending. Turns out it ended about as well as it could. "Terrific" I would say.

10. 2/15/09 -- Two-Minute Warning -- *** (home) [70's Editing]
-This began and ended very well, but I'll leave the middle parts off my sandwich next time. I really liked the use of first person POV in the opening minutes.

11. 2/15/09 -- Shriek If You Know What I Did Last Halloween -- **1/2 (home)
-I like how it's a self aware parody. They spoof Scream way better than anyone else in that way, but the rest is too silly.

12. 2/15/09 -- Friday The 13th (2009) -- **** (theater)
-Badass to the maxass. This had everything: titties, weed, and people getting slashed to bits. The slasher is back!

13. 2/18/09 -- The Mummy 3 -- *1/2 (school)
-Not a lot of good here. I guess some of the shots in mountains were nice. Jet Li had a badass mustache at the beginning. I think there was a funny line in there somewhere too. That's about it.

14. 2/21/09 -- Prom Night (2008) -- 1/2* (home)
-I was unfortunately too far out of the target demo to enjoy this at all.

15. 2/22/09 -- Blazing Saddles -- ****1/2 (home) [70's editing complete]
-Where all the white women at?

16. 2/25/09 -- Into The Wild Green Yonder -- **** (home)
-My favorite Futurama movie yet. I have enjoyed all of them though. I don't want it to become like Family Guy, but I'd rather it didn't end here. The ending leaves it open for either one.

17. 3/4/09 -- Battlefield Earth -- *1/2 (home)
-Had to be one of my favorite terrible movies. Travolta is so funny! Tempting them with rats, how ridiculous.

18. 3/6/09 -- Watchmen -- ****1/2 (theater)
-A little bit is missing but it's all cool.

19. 3/7/09 -- Watchmen -- ****1/2 (theater)
-So cool that I saw it again.

20. 3/8/09 -- Into The Wild Green Yonder -- **** (home)
-Can watch Futurama all day.

21. 3/10/09 -- Forgetting Sarah Marshall -- **** (home)
-Even though she's a total bitch in this movie, I still love Kristen Bell more than anyone.

22. 3/13/09 -- Slumdog Millionaire -- ****1/2 (home)
-Truly deserving of it's best picture win. JAI HO!

23. 3/20/09 -- I Love You Man -- **** (theater)
-Totally dug it no surprises.