Thursday, September 4, 2008
Paranoid Park
Last night I watched this 2007 film written and directed by Gus Van Sant. It was outstanding. This one definitely flew under the radar but was so good that I put it in my top ten list at 9th. The movie revolves around the life of a teenage skateboarder named Alex (Gabe Nevins). One of the true joys of watching this movie is seeing the story unfold, so that is as much as I will tell you about it. Definitely a must see though. 5 of 5.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Pineapple Express
People who were adults in the 60s, or responsible members of society in the late 60s through the 70s, will more than likely not like Pineapple Express. Reaganites probably will not like it either unless they, like me, mellowed out dramatically in the 90s.
Following are my comments:
Seth Rogen acted well, as well as he acted in Knocked Up and Superbad. Seth's character, Dale Denton, smokes marijuana regularly and develops a friendship with his dealer Saul (James Franco). Saul is a perfect side kick. Red (Danny McBride), Saul's supplier, performed superbly, at times playing a prototypical drug supplier "to a Tee," at times going way off the beaten path.
The contrasts of this movie were tremendous: almost like "Dazed and Confused" meets "Pulp Fiction." Furthermore, Dale Denton's girlfriend was beautiful, which always helps a movie out. The fact that she still attended high school creates yet another contrast and provides both laughs and musings.
The story included a few subtle messages regarding gun violence and the irresponsibility of excessive drug use. The story also provided moments of extreme action and of reflection.
All in all, although some will hate it, and others will tolerate it, I liked it a lot. 4 of 5. Joe
Following are my comments:
Seth Rogen acted well, as well as he acted in Knocked Up and Superbad. Seth's character, Dale Denton, smokes marijuana regularly and develops a friendship with his dealer Saul (James Franco). Saul is a perfect side kick. Red (Danny McBride), Saul's supplier, performed superbly, at times playing a prototypical drug supplier "to a Tee," at times going way off the beaten path.
The contrasts of this movie were tremendous: almost like "Dazed and Confused" meets "Pulp Fiction." Furthermore, Dale Denton's girlfriend was beautiful, which always helps a movie out. The fact that she still attended high school creates yet another contrast and provides both laughs and musings.
The story included a few subtle messages regarding gun violence and the irresponsibility of excessive drug use. The story also provided moments of extreme action and of reflection.
All in all, although some will hate it, and others will tolerate it, I liked it a lot. 4 of 5. Joe
Harold's comments about The Dark Knight's Best Picture chances
This week, The Dark Knight has officially become too big to ignore.
To not nominate it for Best Picture at this rate would undermine the process of having a Best Picture race in the first place; if you don’t honor a film this big you really do a dishonor to those who drive the entire business: the ticket buyers. If you look at the top five all-time highest grossing films only one hasn’t been nominated for Best Picture and that was an animated film, Shrek 2.
If The Dark Knight had topped out at $400 million, it probably wouldn’t be in consideration for Best Picture. But for those who remember an Academy that nominated E.T. and Star Wars and Jaws, ushering in the mega blockbuster, it’s impossible to imagine them snubbing this film, whether you adjust for inflation or not. Finally, the industry and the Oscars need films like The Dark Knight - big, beautiful, artful, political - to redefine the blockbuster genre itself, to take it back from the tired, lazy sequels that have been served up as overpriced crap for the last two decades. An Oscar nomination for The Dark Knight would bring much-needed attention to the Academy, and its telecast would ultimately bridge the ever-widening gap between the general public and the kinds of films that enter the Oscar race.
Watching Oscars involves having an open mind just as it requires you know a little bit about Oscar history. When you hear yourself saying “no way” can THIS happen, that is exactly when you should imagine it could or it will. Now, with The Dark Knight showing no signs of slowing down, and if it does, it’s going to be somewhere at number 2 or 3 in the coming weeks, and will sail past Star Wars. It will edge as close to Titanic as any film ever has.
To not nominate it for Best Picture at this rate would undermine the process of having a Best Picture race in the first place; if you don’t honor a film this big you really do a dishonor to those who drive the entire business: the ticket buyers. If you look at the top five all-time highest grossing films only one hasn’t been nominated for Best Picture and that was an animated film, Shrek 2.
If The Dark Knight had topped out at $400 million, it probably wouldn’t be in consideration for Best Picture. But for those who remember an Academy that nominated E.T. and Star Wars and Jaws, ushering in the mega blockbuster, it’s impossible to imagine them snubbing this film, whether you adjust for inflation or not. Finally, the industry and the Oscars need films like The Dark Knight - big, beautiful, artful, political - to redefine the blockbuster genre itself, to take it back from the tired, lazy sequels that have been served up as overpriced crap for the last two decades. An Oscar nomination for The Dark Knight would bring much-needed attention to the Academy, and its telecast would ultimately bridge the ever-widening gap between the general public and the kinds of films that enter the Oscar race.
Watching Oscars involves having an open mind just as it requires you know a little bit about Oscar history. When you hear yourself saying “no way” can THIS happen, that is exactly when you should imagine it could or it will. Now, with The Dark Knight showing no signs of slowing down, and if it does, it’s going to be somewhere at number 2 or 3 in the coming weeks, and will sail past Star Wars. It will edge as close to Titanic as any film ever has.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
The Dark Knight
I have heard the hype before: "American Gangster will be the best movie of the past 25 years!" It was just okay. It barely made my honorable mention list for 2007. Or, what about Spiderman 3? Gag.
So, along comes another Batman movie. The Batman movies began in 1943. The Dark Knight makes the 13th. Compare that to 6 Rocky movies. I had serious doubts about this one.
Harold called the Dark Knight every bit as impactful as Indiana Jones. I rolled my eyes. "You must see it soon," Harold said. "Okay, Okay," I replied. I went and saw it last Tuesday when I had the day off.
I slid into the seat at the Regal theatre thinking "Well at least I have a comfortable seat." As I gnawed on popcorn and drank diet coke, I watched the 12 year old kids skip in. "Geez, I am here with 12 year olds," I thought.
Then the movie started. It had me at hello. Action, intrigue, story line, contrasts, special effects, costumes, Christian Bale, Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, Aaron Eckhart and his face, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and someone named Heath Ledger, aka Ennis Del Mar of Brokeback Mountain.
Oh my. I cannot put into words the greatness of Heath Ledger's acting. His portrayal of a twisted, dark, broken, sociopathic, masochistic, and sadistic Joker was absolutely unbelievable.
Batman completes the Joker. Heath completes this movie and makes it one of the great ones.
5 out of 5. Joe.
So, along comes another Batman movie. The Batman movies began in 1943. The Dark Knight makes the 13th. Compare that to 6 Rocky movies. I had serious doubts about this one.
Harold called the Dark Knight every bit as impactful as Indiana Jones. I rolled my eyes. "You must see it soon," Harold said. "Okay, Okay," I replied. I went and saw it last Tuesday when I had the day off.
I slid into the seat at the Regal theatre thinking "Well at least I have a comfortable seat." As I gnawed on popcorn and drank diet coke, I watched the 12 year old kids skip in. "Geez, I am here with 12 year olds," I thought.
Then the movie started. It had me at hello. Action, intrigue, story line, contrasts, special effects, costumes, Christian Bale, Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, Aaron Eckhart and his face, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and someone named Heath Ledger, aka Ennis Del Mar of Brokeback Mountain.
Oh my. I cannot put into words the greatness of Heath Ledger's acting. His portrayal of a twisted, dark, broken, sociopathic, masochistic, and sadistic Joker was absolutely unbelievable.
Batman completes the Joker. Heath completes this movie and makes it one of the great ones.
5 out of 5. Joe.
Harolds tops in 2008 so far...
7) Married Life
6) The Bank Job
5) Wall-E
4) The Visitor
3) In Bruges
2) The Wackness
1) The Dark Knight
6) The Bank Job
5) Wall-E
4) The Visitor
3) In Bruges
2) The Wackness
1) The Dark Knight
Thursday, May 29, 2008
When it gets Hot and Humid!
Summer is beginning in Cincinnati and before you know it the temperature will be 90 degrees and the humidity 80%. While driving to work today I thought of 10 memorable movies that I would recommend for those who want to rent a movie and crank up the air:
1) Fargo (1996): One of the best movies of the past 25 years; Fargo, ND is cooler than Cincy in the summer too dontchaknow.
2) 25th Hour (2002). Monty (Edward Norton Jr.) enjoys his last day of freedom before serving a 7 year prison term. Two friends and he celebrate this day by visiting the HOTtest spots in town. It also has a memorable ending.
3) True Romance (1993): Because Alabama is hotter than Cincy in the summer. Besides, stealing, cheating, and killing are always good fodder for movies.
4) Amores Perros (2000): Because Mexico City is also hotter than Cincy in the summer. In addition, it is one of the best international films ever made.
5) Stranger than Paradise (1984): Want to take a vacation? Three characters in this movie show you how.
6) The Good Night (2007): Because it's nice to dream in the summer.
7) Black Snake Moan (2007): You talk about hot....
8) Juno (2007): What shenanigans can you get into if you are watching a movie?
9) Six Degrees of Separation (1993): Because six degrees is cooler than 90 degrees. Also because Will Smith acts tremendously and the art in this movie is outstanding!
10) Once (2007): Great music goes with a nice summer. This film contains great music. It also has a great story, tremendous acting, and one of the most reflective last scenes I have seen (pun intended).
1) Fargo (1996): One of the best movies of the past 25 years; Fargo, ND is cooler than Cincy in the summer too dontchaknow.
2) 25th Hour (2002). Monty (Edward Norton Jr.) enjoys his last day of freedom before serving a 7 year prison term. Two friends and he celebrate this day by visiting the HOTtest spots in town. It also has a memorable ending.
3) True Romance (1993): Because Alabama is hotter than Cincy in the summer. Besides, stealing, cheating, and killing are always good fodder for movies.
4) Amores Perros (2000): Because Mexico City is also hotter than Cincy in the summer. In addition, it is one of the best international films ever made.
5) Stranger than Paradise (1984): Want to take a vacation? Three characters in this movie show you how.
6) The Good Night (2007): Because it's nice to dream in the summer.
7) Black Snake Moan (2007): You talk about hot....
8) Juno (2007): What shenanigans can you get into if you are watching a movie?
9) Six Degrees of Separation (1993): Because six degrees is cooler than 90 degrees. Also because Will Smith acts tremendously and the art in this movie is outstanding!
10) Once (2007): Great music goes with a nice summer. This film contains great music. It also has a great story, tremendous acting, and one of the most reflective last scenes I have seen (pun intended).
Friday, May 16, 2008
Joe's Top Movies of 2007
This is subject to change but pretty well complete...
1) Atonement
2) No Country for Old Men
3) Juno
4) Once
5) There Will Be Blood
6) The Kite Runner
7) Lars and the Real Girl
8) Before the Devil Knows You're Dead
9) Paranoid Park
10) 3:10 to Yuma tied with Michael Clayton
Honorable Mention: Into the Wild; The Good Night; Knocked Up; Eastern Promises; Death Proof (Grindhouse); Black Snake Moan; Gone Baby Gone; Zodiac; American Gangster; Hairspray; Waitress; La Vie en Rose; We Own the Night; Hot Fuzz; Two Days In Paris; Superbad; Mr. Brooks; Hoax; Planet Terror (Grindhouse); Away From Her
1) Atonement
2) No Country for Old Men
3) Juno
4) Once
5) There Will Be Blood
6) The Kite Runner
7) Lars and the Real Girl
8) Before the Devil Knows You're Dead
9) Paranoid Park
10) 3:10 to Yuma tied with Michael Clayton
Honorable Mention: Into the Wild; The Good Night; Knocked Up; Eastern Promises; Death Proof (Grindhouse); Black Snake Moan; Gone Baby Gone; Zodiac; American Gangster; Hairspray; Waitress; La Vie en Rose; We Own the Night; Hot Fuzz; Two Days In Paris; Superbad; Mr. Brooks; Hoax; Planet Terror (Grindhouse); Away From Her
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