List: 10 Cinematic LGBT Chemistries that Scorched the Screen
02 Jul 2011 Leave a Comment
in List Tags: 1931, 1987, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2005, 2008, 2010, Bound, Brian Slade, Brokeback Mountain, Curt Wilde, Dakota Fanning, Dorothea Weick, Ennis del Mar, Ewan McGregor, Film list, Gay Cinema, German Cinema, Gina Gershon, Heath Ledger, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Hertha Thiele, Hottest Gay Chemistry, Hugh Grant, I Love You Phillip Morris, Jack Twist, Jake Gyllenhaal, James Franco, James Wilby, Jennifer Tilly, Jim Carrey, John Cameron Mitchell, Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, Kristen Stewart, Laura Elena Harring, LGBT, LGBT Film Chemistry, Madchen in Uniform, Maurice, Michael Pitt, Milk, Mulholland Drive, Naomi Watts, Queer Cinema, Scorching Chemistry, Sean Penn, Sexiest Chemistry, Steven Jay Russell, The Runaways, Velvet Goldmine
Like all my film lists, this remains a subjective account of the LGBT couplings I find have the most palpable chemistry. Palpable is the key word here; you have to feel it. It has to make an impact. It has to be powerful enough to draw the viewer so closely into the intimate moments between two characters that we, subsequently, feel as if we are a part of something we aren’t. Nothing overtly sexual has to happen between the two; that is not what this is necessarily about. Reasons for inclusion can involve simply the strength of the two actors and how well they fuse together. It could equally involve the characters they play as well as the context of the situation they’re in. For this list, being a couple is not a requirement. There does however, have to be definitive inarguable romantic or sexual interest from at least one of the characters for the other.
Anyone expecting a really diverse list is going to be sorely disappointed. I have seen more than my fair share of LGBT films, but a great deal of them I saw so long ago, it was difficult to recall many of the films in question. Jeffrey, Lost and Delirious, Better than Chocolate, Show Me Love, The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant, Killer Condom (are there any eligible couples in this film even? I can’t remember despite loving it), The Dying Gaul, The Killing of Sister George, Bedrooms and Hallways, Broken Hearts Club, The Children’s Hour, The Crying Game and The Living End are some examples of LGBT films I have seen but cannot recall enough to seriously consider. Then there are the ones that did not make the cut that I did remember well enough, but there was a limited number of spots.
But most importantly, there are the inordinate amount of LGBT films I have not seen. The number is many, and while I hope to rectify that at some point (by seeing such films as Bent, Beautiful Thing, Big Eden and more), for now I made the list to the best of my ability. And for now, the best of my ability means that I had to largely draw from films I have seen more recently or films I simply recall more vividly for one reason or another. If my reasons do not seem to go much into the actual chemistry between the two actors it is because it goes without saying that each pairing has sexual chemistry that melts off the screen.
Without further ado;
10. Jim Carrey as Steven Jay Russell and Ewan McGregor as Phillip Morris in I Love You Phillip Morris (2010)
There is a layer of genuine sincerity at the center of this romance that is really quite sweet. Especially when taking into account that Carrey’s Russell is anything but sincere in his scheming endeavors. McGregor is able to pull off a boy-like overeager charm with a touch of naivete better than any other actor. He has portrayed this air to equal effect in Moulin Rouge! and Big Fish. When he makes another appearance on this list, not a trace of that boyishness can be found. What makes the material between these two so engrossing is that the film is told, and played, with a fairy-tale like sensibility. This draws out a dreamy feel of old-school romance and the actors make us feel the love between the two.
9. John Cameron Mitchell as Hedwig and Michael Pitt as Tommy in Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2001)
The scenes between Hedwig and Tommy are my favorites in the film. What starts out as a familiar relationship of experience/inexperience turns into betrayal and desertion made more complicated by Hedwig’s anatomical state; “it’s what I have to work with”.
8. Sean Penn as Harvey Milk and James Franco as Scott Smith in Milk (2008)
Penn and Franco make us feel the familiarity, history and comfort that these two men have together. Their scenes are conducted by Van Sant with love and warmth, all lending further depth to their sexual chemistry, which is already overflowing before the aforementioned elements are brought into play.
7. Naomi Watts as Betty Elms/Diane Selwyn and Laura Elena Harring as Rita/Camilla Rhodes in Mulholland Drive (2001)
The work coming from Watts and Harring in Mulholland Drive has so much to do with the careful stylization within the performances and the planning that goes into the contrast between Rita/Camilla and Betty/Diane. Each has to play antithetical emotions and dynamics within entirely different representations of their characters. The brilliance of the two performances is that they are able to instill the innocent and sudden blossoming of love in one scenario and the toxic and disturbing levels of hate and self-destruction in the other. Add to this two sex scenes that have considerable impact (one is my favorite in all of film; the only sex scene that consistently has the ability to move me to tears) and there is nothing more to be said.
6. Dakota Fanning as Cherie Currie and Kristen Stewart as Joan Jett in The Runaways (2010)
That Stewart and Fanning are able to make what they do of the mediocre material in front of them is impressive. Luckily director Sigismondi knows how milk every bit of tension between the two through cinematography (by the unbearably talented Benoît Debie) and visual flair that extrapolates what the two have together. In turn, the two actresses are able to make up for the underwhelming script (also by Sigismondi) through their performances and their chemistry together. They are able to portray the curiosity within teenage sexual exploration and it feels especially authentic. I proclaimed the “I Wanna Be Your Dog” scene the sexiest of 2010 film and I continue to stand by that claim.
5. Jennifer Tilly as Violet and Gina Gershon as Corky in Bound (1996)
Despite reasonable assumptions, Tilly and Gershon do not have a great deal of screen time together in the Wachowskis debut directorial feature. Before the film turns into a constantly twisty and suspenseful take on neo-noir, its first half hour is a delightfully self-aware campy excursion into lesbian seduction. The filmmakers and actresses are aware of the sleazy expectations people must have had going into this film. They embrace that, complete with line readings that feel at times parodic, but by throwing in unexpected earnestness, it manages to be fun, sexy and genuine. Their big sex scene is beautifully choreographed in one long swooping take that focuses on the minutiae of bodily expression . Instead of it being just a sex scene, it smartly details the physicality of love-making.
4. Heath Ledger as Ennis del Mar and Jake Gyllenhaal as Jack Twist in Brokeback Mountain (2005)
What makes this story as remarkable as it is, is that every aspect of it is executed with unmatchable tact and grace. What Ledger and Gyllenhaal bring to the proceedings, besides two incredible individual performances, is an epic quality that their pairing lends both the film and the story it is telling. The film is quiet and closely observed and Lee allows the emotions of the actors play themselves out unfettered and raw. It is justifiably one for the ages.
3. Hertha Thiele as Manuela von Meinhardis and Dorothea Wieck as Governess Fräulein von Bernburg in Mädchen in Uniform (1931)
This seminal German LGBT film made in 1931 is far more outright and honest about its lesbian story as anything that can be found during the entirety of Hollywood’s studio era (not surprising, but the point remains). And yet, only allowed to be forthright to a point, so much of the sexual chemistry between the two comes from the need to be discreet within the confines of 1930′s cinema. Let us not forget to take into consideration the Prussian authoritative school system the characters inhabit, (which is of equal interest to the storyteller’s motives) and that the love story is one between student and teacher. The two actresses are bursting in their mutual admiration for one another; Manuela is desperate for von Bernburg’s attention. A heavy reliance is put on both actresses ability to express their desire through facial expression, and it is impossible not to feel their yearning. The most is also made of small moments between the two that really make the most of the censorship placed on the filmmakers.
2. James Wilby as Maurice and Hugh Grant as Clive in Maurice (1987)
Not even taking into consideration how refreshingly complex and ever-changing the relationship between Maurice and Clive is, Wilby and Grant lend repressed sensuality in their realistic portrayal of homosexual men living in the early 20th century. This repressed sensuality threatens to boil over in nearly every scene they share together. They are given different reasons for their purposeful suppression; Clive’s desire to ‘not ruin’ what they have and Maurice’s unwanted compliance to follow Clive’s chaste rule. This makes the tension between the two even more dynamic.
1. Jonathan Rhys-Meyers as Brian Slade and Ewan McGregor as Curt Wilde in Velvet Goldmine (1998)
At this point I know Velvet Goldmine like the back of my hand (I’ve seen it at least fifty times), so I have had adequate time to throw myself without reserve into the countless moments between these two actors that are nothing less than astonishing in their sexual power. Using Brian Eno’s “Baby’s on Fire” during a certain orgy scene, intercut with pretend-fellatio between the two in an onstage moment, is not exactly a coincidental song choice. I have never seen two people portray the kind of explosive chemistry Meyers and McGregor have together here. So much of their power is through the mutual exchange of glances between the two throughout. They both immediately know what the other has in mind and that understanding makes everything even sexier. The tumultuous relationship allows the two to play a variety of different moments with each other, always with a healthy dose of unbearable lust.
Weekly Screening Log: June 3rd-9th
10 Jun 2011 Leave a Comment
in Uncategorized, 2011, Weekly Screening Log Tags: cinenthusiast, Cinema Enthusiast, 2010, blog, Kaneto Shindo, 1964, 1966, 2002, 2011, Weekly Screening Log, X-Men: First Class, Kiyoshi Kurosawa, Japanese Cinema, 2001, Matthew Vaughn, Cure, Confessions, Tetsuya Nakashima, Japanese New Wave, Sword of Doom, Kihachi Okamoto, jidaigeki, Tatsuya Nakadai, 1997, Intentions of Murder, Shohei Imamura, Kuroneko, 1968, Pale Flower, Masahiro Shinoda, Russian Ark, Russian Cinema, Alexander Sokurov, Wet Hot American Summer, David Wain, Michael Showalter
186. X-Men: First Class (2011, Vaughn): B+
187. Wet Hot American Summer (2001, Wain): A-
188. Russian Ark (2002, Sokurov): A
189. Pale Flower (1964, Shinoda): B+
190. Kuroneko (1968, Shindo): B+
191. Intentions of Murder (1964, Imamura): A
192. The Sword of Doom (1966, Okamoto): A-
193. Confessions (2010, Nakashima): A
194. Cure (1997, Kurosawa): B+
2011 Academy Award Dream Ballot
26 Feb 2011 1 Comment
in 2011, Awards Season, List Tags: 2010, 2011, Academy Awards, Cinema Enthusiast, cinenthusiast, Dream Ballot, Oscar, Oscars
The fun part; what I would have nominated. Keep in mind, I am paying no attention to what was actually submitted this year. If it came out in the States in 2010, it qualifies for consideration, regardless of whether or not it was in competition.Some categories I am not doing due to not having seen enough or not being able to judge with any capacity what might have been the ‘best’ in those fields (best being arbitrary of course)
Best Picture:
Animal Kingdom
Another Year
Black Swan
Dogtooth
Exit Through the Gift Shop
Fish Tank
I Am Love
Last Train Home
The Social Network
Toy Story 3
Best Director:
Darren Aronofsky – Black Swan
Andrea Arnold – Fish Tank
David Fincher – The Social Network
Georgos Lanthimos – Dogtooth
Mike Leigh – Another Year
Best Actor:
Jim Broadbent – Another Year
Lars Eidinger – Everyone Else
Jesse Eisenberg – The Social Network
Colin Firth – The King’s Speech
Ryan Gosling – Blue Valentine
Best Actress: (this category is more packed than any other this year. Hence the absence of Portman and so many other incredible performances)
Isabelle Huppert – White Material
Jeon Do-yeon – Secret Sunshine
Catherine Keener – Please Give
Birgit Minichmayr – Everyone Else
Tilda Swinton – I Am Love
Best Supporting Actor:
Niles Arestrup – A Prophet
Christian Bale – The Fighter
Andrew Garfield – Never Let Me Go
John Hawkes – Winter’s Bone
Ben Mendelsohn – Animal Kingdom
Best Supporting Actress:
Dale Dickey – Winter’s Bone
Rebecca Hall – Please Give
Lesley Manville – Another Year
Hailee Steinfeld – True Grit
Kiersten Waring – Fish Tank
Best Original Screenplay:
Another Year
Dogtooth
Everyone Else
Fish Tank
Greenberg
Best Adapted Screenplay:
Never Let Me Go
The Social Network
Toy Story 3
True Grit
White Material
Best Original Score:
The Ghost Writer
I Am Love
Inception
The Social Network
White Material
Best Art Direction:
Everyone Else
The Ghost Writer
The King’s Speech
Shutter Island
Winter’s Bone
Best Cinematography:
Black Swan
Enter the Void
Fish Tank
The Social Network
White Material
Best Costume Design:
Coco Chanel and Igor Stravinsky
I Am Love
The King’s Speech
The Runaways
True Grit
Best Editing:
Another Year
Black Swan
Blue Valentine
I Am Love
The Social Network
Best Visual Effects:
Enter the Void
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1
Inception
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World
Splice
Oscar Predictions 2011
26 Feb 2011 2 Comments
in 2011, Awards Season, Predictions Tags: 2010, 2011, Academy Award Predictions, Academy Awards, Oscar, Oscar Predictions, Oscars, Picks, Predictions
For the record, this year is harder than most. I won’t even tell you how long it took to come up with these. I’m not very happy with them, but it’s hard to feel confident with all the back and forth going around this year. I only put what I want to win for the categories in which I saw the majority of the nominees. In the case of the Sound categories, I don’t feel like I know enough to pick what I want wih accuracy. That being said, if there is one thing I want to happen tomorrow, it is a win for Dogtooth. Considering the reaction it had to screenings for the Academy though, to say it is impossible is an understatement. Coming up…my long overdue Dream Ballot.
2011 Academy Award Predictions:
Best Actor:
Think: Colin Firth – The King’s Speech
Want: Colin Firth – The King’s Speech
Best Actress:
Think: Natalie Portman – Black Swan
Want: Natalie Portman – Black Swan
Best Adapted Screenplay:
Think: The Social Network – Aaron Sorkin
Want: The Social Network – Aaron Sorkin
Best Animated Film:
Think: Toy Story 3
Want: Toy Story 3
Best Animated Short:
Madagascar: A Journey Diary
Best Art Direction:
Think: The King’s Speech
Want: The King’s Speech
Best Cinematography:
Think: Roger Deakins – True Grit
Want: Roger Deakins – True Grit
Best Costume Design:
Think: Jenny Beavan, The King’s Speech
Want: Antonella Cannarozzi, I Am Love
Best Director:
Think: David Fincher – The Social Network
Want: Darren Aronofsky – Black Swan
Best Documentary:
Think: Inside Job
Want: Exit Through the Gift Shop
Best Documentary Short:
Think: Poster Girl
Best Editing:
Think: Kirk Baxter, Angus Wall – The Social Network
Want: Andrew Weisblum, Black Swan
Best Foreign Language Film:
Think: In a Better World
Best Live-Action Short:
Think: Wish 143
Best Makeup:
Think: The Wolfman
Best Original Score:
Think: Alexandre Desplat – The King’s Speech
Want: Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross – The Social Network (by a hair. It’s hard to pass up the Inception score and the brilliance of Johnny Marr’s guitar)
Best Original Screenplay:
Think: David Seidler – The King’s Speech
Want: Mike Leigh – Another Year
Best Original Song:
Think: “We Belong Together” – Randy Newman – Toy Story 3
Want: “We Belong Together” – Randy Newman – Toy Story 3
Best Picture:
Think: The King’s Speech
Want: The Social Network
Best Sound Editing:
Think: Inception
Best Sound Mixing:
Think: Inception
Best Supporting Actor:
Think: Christian Bale – The Fighter
Want: John Hawkes – Winter’s Bone
Best Supporting Actress:
Think: Melissa Leo – The Fighter
Want: Hailee Steinfeld – True Grit
Best Visual Effects:
Think: Inception
Want: Inception
Top 30 Films of 2010 (#15-1)
01 Feb 2011 2 Comments
in 2010 list, List Tags: 2010, Animal Kingdom, Best Films of 2010, Best Movies of 2010, Black Swan, blog, Blue Valentine, Cinema Enthusiast, cinenthusiast, Dogtooth, Everyone Else, Favorite Films of 2010, Favorite Movies of 2010, Fish Tank, Four Lions, Greenberg, I Am Love, Inception, Last Train Home, List, Never Let Me Go, The Kids Are All Right, The Social Network, Top Films of 2010, Toy Story 3
My final 2010 Film Post! Finally! My goal was to have these up by the end of January. I just barely made it. For my introduction to this list, you can go to the Top 30 Films of 2010 (#30-16) post. Again, keep in mind films such as Inside Job, The Illusionist, The Way Back, Made in Dagenham, Another Year, Tiny Furniture and plenty others were not taken into consideration because I have not seen them. Also, a list of the films seen this year will be at the end of the post so that anyone interested can see all the work that was taken into consideration.
15. The Kids Are All Right
The very definition of a Sundance hit, Lisa Cholodenko’s film is a delight that manages to address issues of family and marriage with sincerity without being overly heavy. Bening and Moore have pitch-perfect chemistry and their marriage never feels anything but authentic. Some have criticized the film for the way it treats the Ruffalo character at the end. Despite feeling terrible for Ruffalo’s Paul, having Jules and Nic resolve their issues does not represent a definitive lack of sympathy towards Paul on the part of the film. The film discards him because that’s how Jules and Nic decide to handle the situation. We may not agree with it, but it’s ultimately their story and not Paul’s. Seriously though; poor Paul.
14. Inception
An essential film going experience of 2010, Inception is fully engrossing from start to finish. It manages to entertain and engage like few other films do. This is a film I definitely had issues with, (characters that solely function as archetypes, lack of complex characterization, not as much depth as others think, etc) but these complaints are all balanced out and more than made up for through the triumph of structural storytelling that Nolan displays and the complexity of the world he creates. Inception redefines what the blockbuster can be. It is made for repeat viewings and more than holds up from them. Nolan is one of the best working storytellers in English language filmmaking.
13. Blue Valentine
Derek Cianfrance’s hard work paid off with Blue Valentine, the story of a relationship shown in two time periods; the blossoming romance and the hopelessness of their marriage years later. Not having the middle of the story filled in for the audience smartly engages us in assessing where Dean and Cindy are in their lives as opposed to where they were. Forgetting the why and concentrating on what it is we are being shown, makes for a devastating portrait of what time and circumstance can do to a relationship, and is championed by its two captivating lead performances by Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams.
12. Never Let Me Go
This film about the inevitability of death largely split audiences, with some being profoundly moved, and others being left coldly unaffected. Count me in with the profoundly moved crowd. Based on Kazuo Ishiguro’s novel of the same name, Never Let Me Go takes a sci-fi concept and turns it into a somber and muted drama. Kathy, Tommy and Ruth almost blindly drift towards their fate just as we drift towards ours. Mark Romanek has created a beautiful and understated visual aesthetic and captures stunning performances from Mulligan, Garfield and Knightley. This is a film that I feel will slowly gain more appreciation as years go on.
11. Four Lions
An outrageously funny comedy from the UK, Four Lions is a satire on bumbling Jihadi Islamic terrorists from England. A film that could have miscalculated every step of the way ended up hitting all the right notes. Chris Morris keeps the film loose without ever having it lose its focus and even manages to be oddly touching. Filled with hilarious performances and offensive but never misguided moments, Four Lions is the best comedy of the year and more than worth seeking out.
10. Everyone Else
This exhaustive look at the slowly changing dynamic between a couple is insightful and fascinating. Led by two remarkable performances (Lars Eidinger and Birgit Minichmayr) that function as two halves of a whole, this is easily one of the best films to ever closely examine a relationship. It has complex and frustrating characters that slowly change and affect the behavior of the other. The result is a unique and layered film that has two of the most complex characters from a film this past year.
9. The Social Network
The result of all the right elements coming together perfectly, The Social Network is a stinging piece of filmmaking marked by Fincher’s clean and even cold precision, Sorkin’s biting wit and cynicism and Eisenberg’s insecure, arrogant interpretation of a genius. This is a film brimming with confidence and perfectly paced. What started as an overstatement of the film’s relevance has now backtracked to being an understatement. I do think the film has some of the relevance critics at first claimed. The film to define a generation? No. A film with a lot to say both about its characters and the broad societal implications of their actions? Absolutely.
8. Fish Tank
From here on out, these numbers are essentially arbitrary. This could easily be in my Top 3. A beautifully photographed, raw portrait of a teenage girl, rooted in the British social realism films from the early 60′s. Katie Jarvis is magnetic and a natural performer, supported by equally admirable work from Michael Fassbender and Kierston Wareing. Unpredictable and poignant, this coming of age drama proudly defies yet at times embraces cliche. An unforgettable sophomore effort by Andrea Arnold.
7. Toy Story 3
As I’ve said many times, it was surreal to get a third installment of this franchise which I grew up with. A particularly meaningful end to a story which continues to address the themes that Pixar explores so well. A film that manages to pay tribute to its characters and provide a satisfying and bittersweet end to its story. Most importantly, it does what Pixar does best; it satisfies both the children’s demographic as well as the adults. Pixar continues to set a nearly impossible standard for what the children’s film can be.
6. Animal Kingdom
The crime thriller of the year, this Australian achievement has surprises at every turn. Its characters are distinct and layered from the get go. The family dynamic is thrilling to observe. The performances make up the best ensemble of the year. It tells a familiar story with unprecedented depth and insight. It completely took me by surprise and captivates from the first frame to the last.
5. Greenberg
Noah Baumbach is a treasure who is so acutely aware of how he sees the world and is able to, whether you love it or hate it, place that vision onto the screen with exact precision. Ben Stiller in a career best performance inhabits Roger’s misanthropy with ease. If everyone had liked the film, it wouldn’t have been a success. My admittedly overlong 3,000 word review tended to ramble a lot but the point of it was that it’s the film I connected to the most this year on a personal level and I took a different approach to writing that review. The film fully inhabits Roger’s perspective and is not afraid to sink into the way he sees the world. Greta Gerwig and Rhys Ifans provide excellent support.
4. I Am Love
I Am Love wears its emotions on its sleeves and it has the depth and complexity to back up its dressed up visual aesthetic. The tone aligns itself with Emma’s (Swinton) emotional state. Emma starts out being nearly invisible in a film that feel cold and empty. As she allows herself to experience physical and emotional love for the first time in her life, the film itself opens up and becomes a dramatic and invigorating experience that throws itself into melodrama without drowning in it. Tilda Swinton, who developed and produced the project with writer/director Ludo Guadagnino, continues to prove that she is the pinnacle of film acting.
3. Dogtooth
At once hilarious and unsettling, Dogtooth examines the family unit at its most absurdly twisted and deformed. Yorgos Lathimos; remember that name. Revealing its plot at just the right moments, this Greek film is a work of true originality, likely to elicit all sorts of reactions and emotions from its viewers. It may be number 3 on this list of favorite films of 2010, but if I had to pick a film that I’d call the “best” of the year, it would be this one. The performances have gone unfairly unacknowledged; they are tricky characters to play and their success is essential to why the film itself works. Photographed in amusingly off kilter ways along with just the right unglamorous cinematography, Dogtooth is a complete vision and a masterpiece. It also is unmatched in its use of film reference. I now have new connotations to both Jaws and Rocky.
2. Last Train Home
A documentary that will stick with you long after it ends, Last Train Home uses the tale of one family to represent China’s push and pull between the rural roots it comes from and the industrial present it accommodates. This cinema verite follows one couple as they take part in the world’s largest annual migration; the Spring Festival when millions travel home to see their families only once a year. On the other side of this is Qin, their daughter drifting towards rebellion and against the very values her parents (who she barely knows) tried to hard to instill in her. The result is tragic and surprising, even difficult to watch. It captures the unimaginable chaos within the Spring Festival migration. Even more interesting is the way the climax of the film seems spawned by the very presence of the camera which clearly suffocates certain family members after a while. That the climactic exchange of the film theoretically might not have happened without the camera’s presence, makes for excellent fodder for meaningful discussion about the nature of the documentary. While one family certainly cannot and should not be representative of the complex economical situation of a country, Last Train Home is incomparably moving and affecting.
1. Black Swan
Steeped in high drama and dipping into absurdity, Black Swan still manages to justify how seriously it takes itself. It is an experience, carefully executed and filled with particular repetition and gradual all-consuming menace. Darren Aronofsky knows exactly what he is doing and is unashamed in pouring blatant metaphor down our throats. Stunning in every regard with a powerhouse central performance by Portman, Black Swan is as dramatic as the ballet, and is a sight to behold. Like Inception, it is a bona fide experience at the movies and one that will leave you breathless.
Complete List of 2010 Films Seen:
127 Hours
A Prophet (2010)
After.life (2010)
Alice in Wonderland (2010)
All Good Things (2010)
The American (2010)
American Grindhouse (2010)
Animal Kingdom (2010)
Art of the Steal (2010)
Babies (2010)
Best Worst Movie (2010)
Black Swan (2010)
Bluebeard (2010)
Blue Valentine (2010)
Buried (2010)
Carlos (2010)
Catfish (2010)
Centurion (2010)
Chloe (2010)
Clash of the Titans (2010)
Coco Chanel and Igor Stravinsky (2010)
The Crazies (2010)
Cyrus (2010)
Devil (2010)
The Disappearance of Alice Creed (2010)
Dogtooth (2010)
Easy A (2010)
Enter the Void (2010)
Everyone Else (2010)
Exit Through the Gift Shop (2010)
The Fighter (2010)
Fish Tank (2010)
Four Lions (2010)
Frozen (2010)
Get Him to the Greek (2010)
Get Low (2010)
The Ghost Writer (2010)
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2010)
The Girl who Played with Fire (2010)
The Girl on the Train (2010)
The Good, the Bad, the Weird (2010)
Greenberg (2010)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 (2010)
Holly Rollers (2010)
Hot Tub Time Machine (2010)
Howl (2010)
How to Train Your Dragon (2010)
I Am Love (2010)
I Love You Philip Morris (2010)
Inception (2010)
Iron Man 2 (2010)
Jean-Michel Baquiat: The Radiant Child (2010)
Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work (2010)
Jonah Hex (2010)
Kick-Ass (2010)
The Kids Are All Right (2010)
The Killer Inside Me (2010)
Legion (2010)
Life During Wartime (2010)
The King’s Speech (2010)
The Last Exorcism (2010)
Last Train Home (2010)
Let Me In (2010)
The Lottery (2010)
Machete (2010)
Mademoiselle Chambon (2010)
Mesrine: Killer Instinct (2010)
Mesrine: Public Enemy Number 1 (2010)
Micmacs (2010)
Monsters (2010)
Mother (2010)
Mother and Child (2010)
Never Let Me Go (2010)
A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010)
Ondine (2010)
Peacock (2010)
Piranha 3D (2010)
Please Give (2010)
Rabbit Hole (2010)
Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale (2010)
REC 2 (2010)
RED (2010)
Red Riding Trilogy (2010)
Restrepo (2010)
The Runaways (2010)
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010)
The Secret in Their Eyes (2010)
The Secret of Kells (2010)
Secret Sunshine (2010)
Shrek Forever After (2010)
Shutter Island (2010)
Smash His Camera (2010)
The Social Network (2010)
Solitary Man (2010)
Somewhere (2010)
Soul Kitchen (2010)
The Special Relationship (2010)
Splice (2010)
The Square (2010)
Tales from the Script (2010)
Temple Grandin (2010)
The Town (2010)
Toy Story 3 (2010)
True Grit (2010)
Unstoppable (2010)
Valhalla Rising (2010)
Vincere (2010)
Waking Sleeping Beauty (2010)
Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps (2010)
When You’re Strange (2010)
White Material (2010)
The White Stripes: Under the Great Northern Lights (2010)
Who is Harry Nilsson and Why is Everybody Talkin About Him? (2010)
Winnebago Man (2010)
Winter’s Bone (2010)
The Wolfman (2010)
Top 30 Films of 2010 (#30-16)
29 Jan 2011 3 Comments
in 2010 list, Awards Season, List, Uncategorized Tags: 2010, Babies, Best Films of 2010, Best Movies 2010, blog, Bluebeard, Cinema Enthusiast, cinenthusiast, Exit Through the Gift Shop, Favorite Films 2010, Harry Potter, List, Mesrine, Mother, Please Give, Secret Sunshine, Somewhere, Splice, The Fighter, The Ghost Writer, The King's Speech, Top 30 Films of 2010, Top Films of 2010, Top Movies of 2010, True Grit, White Material
Finally, we have reached my final 2010 list. It’s been really fun to dive into the year in film and come up with all sorts of stand out moments. There were many other films that stood out for me this year for a variety of reasons that did not make this list. Top 10 lists generally are not enough for me. It always seems like there is this groupthink that if a certain film fails to make a Top 10 list it’s a. somewhat unworthy in the list maker’s eyes (even if it isn’t) or b. an assumption that the person did not like a film missing from the 10. How many times has a cinephile reacted to a film with “it was really good, but it won’t make my Top 10 for the year”. A dismissal comes with that which I like to avoid. The same goes for this list of 30. Just because it did not make my list, does not mean I did not like it. I have seen 115 films from 2010 and I only disliked about 20 of them. Also, this is subjective. Obviously, I thought all of these films were quality, but it represents my favorites of the year, not what I think were the best. My list of the best would look extremely similar but would be ordered a bit differently. I’ve eliminated having separate favorite and best lists this year for the first time. They are similar enough to function as one. Anyways, I apologize for the at times incoherent and redundant rambling that comes before any list of mine; it’s a trait I cannot shake. Again, I still have not seen Another Year, Biutiful, Inside Job, The Illusionist, Made in Dagenham and more. After posting the final part of the list, I’ll have a list of all the films I saw from 2010. What were your favorite films of 2010?
30. Splice
Being a fan of Vincenzo Natali’s from Cube, this was one of the my more anticipated films of the year. It has aspects of sci-fi in its premise and cautious parable, but is more a character study of a family unit than anything else. Natali takes the time to establish the two leads, their relationship and their interactions with Dren and how it drastically changes over time. While the message of the film is really overt and the last ten minutes significantly detract from the film’s overall effect, Splice is still a refreshing and thoughtful sci-fi film from a gifted writer/director.
29. Mother
Bong Joon-ho’s latest characteristically balances multiple genres and tones with his usual ease. By placing an unlikely character in a situation we’ve often seen others in, the director and lead actress Kim Hye-ja (in a revelatory performance) are able to extract originality and macabre humor as well as touching solemnity from a crime revenge tale.
28. Secret Sunshine
This heartbreaking film about a woman who loses her son is exceptional for its lack of embellishment and sentimentality. The film clocks in at two and a half hours so that we get a real sense of Shin-ae’s relationship with her son as well as a sense of the very different phases she goes through following his death. Song Kang-ho provides dependably excellent support as a lovable goofy, creepy and humble car mechanic. He offsets Jeon Do-yeon’s emotionally naked performance perfectly.
27. Bluebeard
Catherine Breillat gives us a different take on the fairy tale that subverts both the lighthearted adaptations and the misguided but potentially fun trend of fairy tale “reimaginings”. Breillat digs deep at the sexual politics as well as the gruesome implications of Charles Perrault’s “Bluebeard” by coldly presenting the tale for what it is. It is deceptively simple and we are allowed to observe and ponder what is really at the heart of it. Breillat juxtaposes this with a parallel story of two young girls who are reading the tale in the attic which asks questions about the relationship and interpretation between fairy tales and the children who read them.
26. Exit Through the Gift Shop
The documentary that has taken 2010 by storm certainly lives up to its hype. Banksy’s is-it-real-or-fake doc is a hilarious send-up on the modern art world and beyond that, the modern cultural enthusiast of any kind. What starts out as an eccentric character study turns into an elaborate circus as Thierry Guetta misguidedly yet successfully tries to carve out his own identity in the art world. There are a lot of very broad and worthwhile questions being thrown at the viewer. We may not have definitive answers, but they are questions that have rarely been raised in cinema and certainly never in such an entertaining way.
25. True Grit
The Coen Brothers have made yet another winning feature with their adaptation of Charles Portis’ 1968 novel. They continue to write dialogue you can lose yourself in. They have such an exceptional understanding of their craft and the confidence this film exudes is well earned. Headlined by excellent performances, particularly from newcomer Steinfeld, the directors have managed to make a great Western that is surprisingly straight forward without losing their auteur touch.
24. White Material
This is a film I definitely plan on revisiting once it comes out on Criterion. The first Claire Denis film I’ve seen, this hypnotic work is boiling over with complexity and intrigue. It is the type of film that would only increase admiration with repeat viewings. The always enigmatic Isabelle Huppert plays a woman who refuses to acknowledge the civil war going on around her. Abandonment is not an option. In the meantime, her husband and son are facing problems of their own. This is a haunting film that you will not forget. The score by Stuart Staples, is by far one of the best scores of the year. Denis makes her film stunning to look at without ever for a moment making the issues she is exploring artificial.
23. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
Pacing problems aside, this final tale in the Potter universe is filled with plenty of drama, death and hopelessness; and I ate up every second of it. Being a huge Harry Potter fan, it is easy to take for granted what this series has become and how serious it can take itself without ever seeming unjustified. It is giving us fans a well earned end and the art house sensibility that David Yates displays at times makes for refreshing execution. I cannot wait for Part 2, at which point the full extent of how well Part 1 holds up will be revealed.
22. Babies
I don’t plan on having babies. There also are no babies in my extended family right now. Everyone has grown up. So unless I want to be a creepy stranger that stares at babies or watch terrible reality shows where people have them, I don’t really get a chance to observe them. Others may not find the appeal of observing babies for an hour and a half but I certainly do. Getting rid of all the devices used in documentaries and allowing the various infants to the absolute center of attention was the right way to go. By showing us the different environments that children grow up, it becomes all the more clear that the babies themselves still see and interact in the same way, no matter where they are.
21. The Ghost Writer
A mystery story told with impeccable precision and effect. There’s nothing particularly profound about Polanski’s latest; it’s just entertaining through and through and shows just how well a story can be told. Olivia Williams and Alexandre Desplat’s score are stand outs. The ultimate selling point is the last minute which I won’t spoil, but it’s a doozy.
20. Please Give
This also marks the first film by Nicole Holofcener that I’ve seen. Holofcener knows how to write complex female characters that have original inner conflicts and arcs that are a welcome breath of fresh air. She actually gives her actresses something to do. They are not providing support for the man. They are not the leads in their own mundane and superficial romantic comedy. They are not the “girl”. They are human beings and this is a grossly overlooked and original work, despite the final scene which fails to hit the right notes the way the rest of the film does.
19. Somewhere
Sofia Coppola may not be breaking new ground here, but that does not mean her films are devoid of meaning or thoughtfulness. She has a lot to say and says it in a simple but very meaningful manner. She has impeccable intuition for capturing ennui with the length of her takes and her shot compositions. She can also create many insightful moments that add up to a solid work as opposed to merely being a collection of moments. The final scene is too obvious but it’s a minor complaint in an excellent film.
18. Mesrine: Killer Instinct
This first part of Mesrine headlined by Vincent Cassel is one hell of an entertaining gangster flick. Plenty of great action scenes buoyed by solid character work and hip direction by Jean-Francois Richet, Mesrine is a thrill ride that works well with its standard biopic structure.
17. The Fighter
This is a familiar story that excels from inventive direction, a script that is marvelously tailored to its specified environment and first-rate performances. We may know where it’s going but getting there is still stimulating. I didn’t expect much from this film despite the people involved. I was shocked that how much life David O. Russell injected into the film which directorial choices that stood out but did not distract.
16. The King’s Speech
The trend of ripping apart The King’s Speech for being an “Oscar” film is getting old. This was another film I had zero interest in. The trailer failed to impress me. I knew exactly what I was going to get going into it. When a film with all this going against it succeeds, why isn’t this seen as more of an accomplishment? Screenwriter David Seidler was able to tell two stories; one about a friendship between two men and one about a man tentatively taking his place at the throne. It is everything it wants to be and more. The high point is the chemistry between Firth and Rush which is phenomenal. Seeing their friendship blossom and overcome all is all kinds of life affirming. Tom Hooper is unfairly getting called out lately when his work here is exceptional. I’m simply not ashamed to like a predictable “Oscar” film. It deserves it’s praise and it won me over with its superb, rich and heartfelt storytelling.
Top 20 Film Scenes of 2010
27 Jan 2011 9 Comments
in 2010 list Tags: 2010, Best, Best of 2010 Film, Best Scenes, blog, Blue Valentine, Cinema Enthusiast, cinenthusiast, Dogtooth, Favorite Scenes, Film Scenes, Fish Tank, How to Train Your Dragon, Last Train Home, List, Movie, Scene, Top 20 Film Scenes of 2010
Yes, it’s almost the end of January and yes, I’m still cranking out these lists. I still have to see Another Year, Biutiful, The Illusionist and Inside Job (at least those are the most prominent absenses right now). The scenes that also made the song usage list will not have explanations to them since I already covered them in that list. My classes finally start tomorrow!
20. Kathy and Tommy visit Madame – Never Let Me Go
This is the scene where the overgrown hope that Kathy and Tommy have desperately clung to is shot down. The audience can see it coming but the point is that the characters cannot. Seeing Mulligan and Garfield slowly realize their dream will not happen is crushing and devastating.
19. “Pocket Full of Sunshine” Montage – Easy A
A showcase for Emma Stone’s comedic abilities and instinct, this montage near the beginning of the film is hysterical. The quick transition of Olive hating the song to becoming addicted to the song as well as her lazy weekend comes out of nowhere and is the highlight of the film.
18. Mari’s Temper Tantrum – Babies
Baby Mari from Japan is sitting in her room, playing with a toy. For no reason whatsoever she melodramatically throws her toy into the air, starts sobbing and rolls around on the ground. Then she does the same thing with a book. It is the funniest temper tantrum I’ve ever seen on film or even in real life.
17. Breaking up with Mark – The Social Network
Consistently sited as the standout scene in the film, Erica’s breakup with Mark is an exhaustive doozy of an exchange, setting the tone for the film as well as establishing the presence of Sorkin’s trademark dialogue.
16. Hiccup wins over Toothless – How to Train Your Dragon
John Powell’s Academy Award nominated score enhances this charming sequence which brought me to tears (what can I say? I’m a sap) After much time and effort, Hiccup finally starts to win Toothless over and the bond they establish is truly touching.
15. Prison Breakout – Mesrine: Killer Instinct
Mesrine plans one of his many prison escapes in a seemingly impossible situation. How is he going to pull this off? The answer to that question provides top quality action and suspense in one of the year’s most exciting scenes.
14. Car Accident – Let Me In
A completely new scene featured in last year’s remake in Let the Right One In which shows that horror films can still set up a sequence that pays off in every way. This already has an iconic feel; it’s the kind of scene horror fans will cite 20 years from now as one of the great set piece suspense scenes in recent horror. It’s that good.
13. Malik’s First Murder – A Prophet
In this brutal and essential scene, Malik is forced to follow his first tough order from Cesar. Malik’s fear and nervousness transfers to the audience in this scene which greatly effects the rest of the film and Malik’s psyche.
12. Beginnings and Endings - Blue Valentine (explanation on Song Usage list)
11. Plaster Mask – Somewhere
Sofia Coppola has a talent for knowing how long to keep the camera on her subject. Here, she captivates with a very slow zoom which observes Johnny who in the middle of a face mask fitting. I lost myself in this shot which forces us to wonder what’s going on in Johnny’s head and literally shows how trapped he is.
10. Home? – Inception
The reason this is on the list is Hans Zimmer’s score. It is the perfect accompaniment to the finale which has Cobb returning to the States as Saito keeps his promise. But is it real? That’s up to the viewer to interpret. Zimmer, joined by Johnny Marr on guitar stir up a hell of a number which builds in intensity, managing to be incredibly moving and triumphant yet foreboding underneath the surface. It is my favorite score composition of the year and provides the perfect emotional note for the film to end on.
9. “I Wanna Be Your Dog” – The Runaways (explanation on Song Usage List)
8. “Running with Explosives” – Four Lions - The funniest scene from a film this year (in competition with other scenes from the same film) came from this outrageously funny comedy from the UK. Omar, Waj, Barry and Faisal carry bags of dangerous explosives in their hands and have to get to their destination as quickly as possible without dropping anything. This results in some wonderfully absurd physical comedy that ends in comic tragedy.
7. The Black Swan Emerges – Black Swan
Nina’s eventual emergence of the “black swan” in the premiere of “Swan Lake” is like watching an animal in heat. Portman’s a force of nature here and the camera’s energy gets right in there with her with its almost delirious movements.
6. Qin Cracks – Last Train Home
All of the tension boiling underneath Qin comes to the surface in an explosive scene from this doc. The sacrifices behind China’s capitalism is depicted through one family. The result is tragic and even difficult to watch as the relentless efforts of two parents fails and the justified rebellion of one daughter comes to a head. What makes this scene even more discussion worthy is that it is doubtful (IMO) this explosion would have occured had the cameras not been filming. The presence of the camera clearly exacerbates everything and adds in entirely new layer to this unintentionally disruptive example of “direct cinema”.
5. “Anniversary Dance” – Dogtooth
This scene which shows the physicality of the Eldest’s unraveling mental state is funny and strangely poignant. The fact that it is doubtful she understands her own behavior makes the scene even more enigmatically appealing.The wacky choreography is also very notable.
4. Andy Gives Away his Toys – Toy Story 3 – It’s difficult to explain the impact this had on me; I honestly don’t know if I can. Seeing this happen was surreal and marked an end to an franchise that I grew up with. I was 8 when Toy Story was released. Seeing Andy grow up into the next phase of his life was almost painfully bittersweet. As I said in my review, Toy Story 3 dealt thematically with issues I have a really hard time with. Time passing, growing up, not being a kid, etc. They hit hard; so hard in fact that I don’t know if or when I can watch the film again anytime soon. The only film that I had the same extreme emotional reaction to was Never Let Me Go. Toy Story 3 more than earns this sentimental scene because it is executed to perfection and covered in sincerity, significance and finality.
3. Emma’s Decision - I Am Love
The jump the shark moment for some, this final scene in Luca Guadagnino’s somewhat divisive film revels in the melodrama. For those of us who did love the film, this scene swept us up in its grandeur. The film manages to make us feel how Emma feels in that moment. We are caught up in her decision as if it were our own; a rare accomplishment, in large part thanks to John Adams lush score.
2. Harry Dances with Hermione - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (explanation on Song Usage List)
1. Mia Says Goodbye - Fish Tank (explanation on Song Usage List)
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Academy Award Nomination Predictions
24 Jan 2011 1 Comment
in Awards Season, Predictions Tags: 2010, 2011, Academy Awards, Cinema Enthusiast, cinenthusiast, Nomination Predictions, Nominations, Oscars, Predictions
Here they are folks; my useless Oscar predictions. Every year I manage to pick the wrong things and this year will likely be no different. I’m really hoping for a few shockers on Tuesday morning. A couple of my choices are wishful thinking as well as a few purposeful omissions from categories due to reverse wishful thinking. The inclusion of Dogtooth in Foreign Film is completely unrealistic but I have high hopes for it and refuse to not put it in. I’ll do my Dream Ballot soon enough which is the ultimate wishful thinking activity as I allow everything that came out in 2010 to be eligible, neglecting to edit films that were not submitted (it is a dream ballot after all).What do you think of these? What are your predictions and what are the surprise nominations you wish to see Tuesday morning?
Oscar Predictions:
Best Actor: 4/5
Jeff Bridges – True Grit
Jesse Eisenberg – The Social Network
Ryan Gosling – Blue Valentine
Colin Firth – The King’s Speech
James Franco – 127 Hours
Alternate: Robert Duvall – Get Low
Best Actress: 4.5/5
Annette Bening – The Kids Are All Right
Jennifer Lawrence – Winter’s Bone
Julianne Moore – The Kids Are All Right
Natalie Portman – Black Swan
Michelle Williams – Blue Valentine
Alternate: Nicole Kidman – Rabbit Hole
Best Supporting Actor: 4.5/5
Christian Bale – The Fighter
Andrew Garfield – The Social Network
Jeremy Renner - The Town
Mark Ruffalo – The Kids Are All Right
Geoffrey Rush – The King’s Speech
Alternate: John Hawkes – Winter’s Bone
Best Supporting Actress: 4.5/5
Amy Adams – The Fighter
Helena Bonham-Carter – The King’s Speech
Mila Kunis – Black Swan
Melissa Leo – The Fighter
Hailee Steinfeld – True Grit
Alternate: Jacki Weaver – Animal Kingdom
Best Adapted Screenplay: 5/5
Simon Beaufoy, Danny Boyle – 127 Hours
Aaron Sorkin, The Social Network
Michael Arndt, Toy Story 3
Joel and Ethan Coen, True Grit
Debra Granik, Anne Rosselini, Winter’s Bone
Alternate: Roman Polanski, The Ghost Writer
Best Animated Feature: 3/3
Toy Story 3
The Illusionist
How to Train Your Dragon
Alternate: Tangled
Best Art Direction: 3.5/5
Geoffrey Kirkland, Get Low
Guy Hendrix Dyas, Inception
Eve Stewart, The King’s Speech
Dante Ferretti, Shutter Island
Jess Gonchor, True Grit
Alternate: Stuart Craig, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
Best Cinematography: 5/5
Matthew Libateque, Black Swan
Wally Pfister, Inception
Danny Cohen, The King’s Speech
Jeff Cronenweth, The Social Network
Roger Deakins, ASC, True Grit
Alternate: Robert Richardson, Shutter Island
Best Costume Design: 3.5/5
Colleen Atwood, Alice in Wonderland
Amy Westcott, Black Swan
Michael Kaplan, Burlesque
Jenny Beavan, The King’s Speech
Mary Zophres, True Grit
Alternate: Sandy Powell, The Tempest
Best Director: 4.5/5
Darren Aronofsky – Black Swan
David Fincher – The Social Network
Tom Hooper – The King’s Speech
Christopher Nolan – Inception
David O’ Russell – The Fighter
Alternate: Joel and Ethan Coen – True Grit
Best Documentary: 3/5
Exit Through the Gift Shop
Inside Job
Restrepo
The Tillman Story
Waiting for Superman
Alternate: Client 9
Best Editing: 4/5
Andrew Weisblum, Black Swan
Pamela Martin, The Fighter
Lee Smith, Inception
Tariq Anwar, The King’s Speech
Kirk Baxter, Angus Wall, The Social Network
Alternate: Jim Helton, Ron Patane, Blue Valentine (I fail to see why this is on nobody’s radar)
Best Foreign Language Film: 4/5
Biutiful, Mexico
In a Better World, Denmark
Life, Above All, South Africa
Incendies, Canada
Dogtooth, Greece
Alternate: Confessions, Japan
Best Makeup: 1.5/3
Alice in Wonderland
True Grit
The Wolfman
Alternate: Barney’s Version
Best Original Score: 5/5
AR Rahman, 127 Hours
John Powell, How to Train Your Dragon
Hans Zimmer, Inception
Alexandre Desplat, The King’s Speech
Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, The Social Network
Alternate: Alexandre Desplat, The Ghost Writer
Best Original Song: 3/4
“You Haven’t Seen the Last of Me Yet” – Burlesque
“I See the Light” – Tangled
“If I Rise” – 127 Hours
“We Belong Together” – Toy Story 3
“Shine” Waiting for Superman
Alternate: “Sticks and Stones” – How to Train Your Dragon
Best Original Screenplay: 4.5/5
Mike Leigh, Another Year
Mark Heyman, Andres Heinz, John J. McLaughlin, Black Swan
Christopher Nolan, Inception
Lisa Cholodenko, The Kids Are All Right
David Seidler, The King’s Speech
Alternate: Scott Silver, Paul Tamasy, Eric Johnson, The Fighter
Best Picture: 10/10
127 Hours
Black Swan
Inception
The Kids Are All Right
The King’s Speech
The Fighter
The Social Network
True Grit
Toy Story 3
Winter’s Bone
Alternate: The Town
Best Sound Editing: 3.5/5
127 Hours
How to Train Your Dragon
Inception
Toy Story 3
TRON: Legacy
Alternate: Unstoppable
Best Sound Mixing: 3/5
127 Hours
Black Swan
Inception
The Social Network
TRON: Legacy
Alternate: True Grit
Best Visual Effects: 4/5
Alice in Wonderland
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1
Inception
Iron Man 2
TRON: Legacy
Alternate: Scott Pilgrim vs. the World
The 10 Worst Films of 2010 (that I saw)
22 Jan 2011 6 Comments
in 2010 list, List Tags: 2010, A Nightmare on Elm Street, After.life, Alice in Wonderland, blog, Cinema Enthusiast, cinenthusiast, Clash of the Titans, Jonah Hex, Legion, List, Machete, Monsters, Ondine, The Wolfman, Worst Films of 2010
These represent what I thought were the ten worst films of 2010 that I got to see. There were a lot of films that probably would have made this list had I seen them, but you couldn’t pay me to see the likes of The Bounty Hunter, Grown Up, Life as We Know It or any other rabble of probable schlock that entered the theaters this year. There were other films that were trying to be something and didn’t work for me. An overrated list would include Kick-Ass, The American, Micmacs, RED, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Piranha 3-D and others. There were other films this year though that were a lot worse.
10. Monsters
Probably the most overrated film of the year, Monsters collapses under the weight of its own concept because it does not have interesting characters to support it. The acting is not up to par and the dialogue is flat and stale. The concept is interesting and Edwards is clearly a director with potential. This debut though, is bland and even painful to sit through.
9. The Wolfman
The Wolfman‘s biggest flaw is that it managed to make story of The Wolfman boring. Johnston’s lifeless and hollow direction and an intriguingly miscast del Toro make this a missed and forgettable opportunity.
8. Clash of the Titans
It was all over for Clash of the Titans the moment it decided to take itself seriously. Hitting every single trope of recent big budget fantasy action blockbusters, Clash of the Titans is impossible to take seriously from all the actors phoning it in to Sam Worthington’s game face to the video game structure. Worst of all is Ralph Fiennes who parodies his own Voldemort performance.
7. Machete
Being a huge Grindhouse fan, the idea of seeing this trailer come to life as a full length motion picture was anticipatory. The most disappointing film of the year for me, Machete failed on every level and managed to become laughable once it misguidedly tried to become a message picture. Trejo has the presence but not the chops to be a leading man even in a faux exploitation picture. I am shocked that this got more than decent reviews as it bored me out of my mind.
6. Ondine
Nothing about Neil Jordan’s latest worked for me. Using a modern day fairy tale sensibility as an excuse for existing, this film’s only saving grace is Colin Farrell’s solid performance. The third act is ridiculous and the first two thirds go in endless circles. The daughter character and her interactions with others is forced and hard to care for. Ondine herself is nothing but a damsel in distress for us to oogle at. The great Christopher Doyle’s cinematography was praised but I couldn’t get past it. I couldn’t get past anything in this film.
5. Alice in Wonderland
Tim Burton’s latest inspired a very long review from me as well as an essay for my screenplay class where I had to pick a film with a bad script and explain how I would fix it. There’s no end to the number of things wrong with this take on the Lewis Carroll stories. Burton’s creativity and ability to create new worlds has become diluted and neutered. Adding such a plot heavy ‘Narnia’ feel to it not only takes away anything Carroll originally meant to do but it becomes a rip off of the Narnia films and does not replace Carroll’s intentions with anything that justifies making it plot heavy. Furthermore, Linda Woolverton’s script is entirely built around the idea that the Mad Hatter is a central figure solely so Johnny Depp is front and center.
4. A Nightmare on Elm Street
Another remake that mistakenly took itself too seriously. The decision to not make Freddie Kruger a jokester changes everything about the character and takes away what made him different from other serious minded slasher icons. Then the decision to make him a pedophile adds an unneccesary dynamic to the remake which comes off as a desperate attempt to change things up. Finally, the entire film is essentially the same scene over and over again. It soon becomes obvious exactly where each scene is going and the idea of not knowing what is or isn’t a dream is uncreatively trumped by the endless repetition of the film.
3. After.life
Featuring the worst performance of the year in the form of Christina Ricci, an unsuccessful gimmicky concept and a barely functioning film, After.life is a travesty. Director Agnieska Wojtowicz-Vosloo’s own sense of cleverness destroys all the potential of the film. All of her effort is put into placing clues that will enhance the “is she alive or is she dead” mystery and then placing other clues to purposely throw us off the scent. In the process, she forgot to actually make a film. There is never any reason to care whether or not Ricci is alive and there are significant chunks of time where somehow nothing happens to either push the story forward or enhance any meaning within the film. Vosloo’s self satisfaction is set in stone by the film’s special feature which has her going through the film, discussing each clue she put into place and talking about what we were supposed to take from it, answering the question of whether or not she was actually alive. Thanks Vosloo. Way to let your audience interpret a story their own way.
2. Jonah Hex
The last two films on the list are perhaps redundant choices. They got abominable reviews and this one was one of the biggest flops of the year. That this is atrocious cannot be overstated. At no point does this feel like an actual film. It looks like someone filmed some footage and it was never put together. Then, years later a random passerby finds the footage and decides to splice together some sort of story based on what’s available to him. This is the result. That this is not the case is shocking. Like A Nightmare on Elm Street and Clash of the Titans, the self serious tone is a big problem here. But so is the editing, acting, script and basic story. That’s what makes it so terrible. Every single aspect of it is outrageous. It must be seen to be believed. The only thought that comes to mind was “what were they thinking”?
1. Legion
What can even be said about Legion? One minute in and the stakes are already as high as they can be; the entire world is in danger. It expects us to be invested immediately and we have yet another film that takes itself WAY too seriously. Lighten up people. I don’t know how to convey why I thought this was the worst film of the year. It’s “end of the world” sensibility combined with its laughable group of stereotypical characters and attempts at speechifying were enough for me.
