Friday, January 3, 2014
What Richard Did
IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes
A very slow paced drama but a good showcase for the young cast who all equip themselves ver well. The story is so slight though, It's a film that really just takes its time and lets the actors improvise and be natural in scenes together. They create a realistic atmosphere but most of the scenes didn't add to the story or build tension or get me invested in any way, they just felt like filler.
Jack Reynor is the titular Richard. I've already seen him pop up in Delivery Man and I'm guessing that won't be the last of him I see in movies this year. This is his film and when things finally get going he's great. Also very easy on the eye.
It's beautifully shot, the editing feels sparse and the story more focused on character study than plot. So probably not the best film to watch at 1am but I liked it for what it was.
Thursday, January 2, 2014
Dinosaur
IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes
This washed out the bad taste Walking With Dinosaurs 3D left in my mouth. I haven't seen this in such a long time and I can't believe it's 14 years old. Feeling my age...
Well the films hit many of the same story beats but everything (except the dated computer graphics) is just better here. So Walking With Dinosaurs has bounce lighting and sub surface scattering, better fur simulation and better compositing in general. What it lacks is some kind of developed characters, a good sense of humor and any sort of tension or pathos. I.e. anything to make you care about what's happening.
There's some pretty scary stuff in this one actually, I remember a big deal being made about it being rated PG at the time. That meteor hit is still pretty spectacular even though I can tell all the compositing elements they probably used now. Must have been tricky at the time though. It doesn't look it now but this was the most expensive film of 2000.
What really helps this film soar is James Newton Howard's magnificent score. I can still hum that theme tune.
So great to catch up with this one. Despite its age and the dated graphics it's still great.
Walking with Dinosaurs 3D
IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Michael
This one skews very very young. It's a real chore to get through with some excruciatingly annoying celebrity voice overs from duelling narrators John Leguizamo and Justin Long. Absolutely terrible script that even the kids at our screening didn't get any laughs from. And very odd post-modern speech and use of modern songs in the soundtrack. I have no idea why they felt it necessary to bookend it with a modern day scenes of two kids and Karl Urban. It only adds more confusion to the structure that constantly jumps between story and narrated educational film.
It really made me miss the Disney film Dinosaur that, although made 14 years ago at least had the sense to tell a good story without the need to reference modern culture. And if you're going to have the dinosaurs talk you may as well do what that film did and lip-sync them so you don't get confused as to who is talking or which parts are narration and which parts are actually in the scene taking place.
Because they are so focused on marketing this to kids, any moments that might be dramatic or scary are immediately undercut with bad humor to diffuse tension. Those moment are few and far between and don't last long either, so great for 3 year olds but very boring for anyone else.
Now the 3D was fine, and the landscapes and creatures look great, I'll give them that. There's quite a bit of repeated animation and a few blatant repeated shots and bits of 2d stock footage, probably to save time and money, but the visuals were the best thing about the film.
Unless you have kids obsessed with dinosaurs that are very forgiving on quality (let's face it, most of them are) avoid this at all costs. Even then, I'd stick to Dinosaur from 2000. Actually I might rewatch it soon just for comparison.
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
Akira
IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: No
Watched With: Cicely
Write Up.
Such an epic film. With all those rumblings that a live action version is still in development at Warner Bros. I watch it now imagining fleshing out the characters a little, making the dialogue more natural and what it would be like to play those parts. There are some really juicy parts there. But it's really just no feasible is it? The amount of money you'd have to spend to do it justice could never be returned by the niche audience that would go see it. Still there's part of me that wants to see it. Or at least re-script the english voice adaptation a little. Should probably just watch it in Japanese with subtitles from now on. If I want live action I can settle for Chronicle.
August: Osage County
IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Tyler, Shane
A fine way to start off the year. The 3rd film Tracy Letts has adapted based on one of his stage plays but this is a completely different beast to either Bug or Killer Joe, both films I absolutely adore. This is a far more user friendly story although not without a bite of its own. And quite a cast that gleefully sink their teeth into these less than pleasant characters.
It's not without some great moments of black comedy and despite reading about minor changes made to the ending, it's still hardly a feel good movie. Nowhere near as dark or hard hitting as his other two films but still very enjoyable, if only to bask in the beautiful filmic golden landscapes and the actors that populate it with such a variety of characters.
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Film List 2013
It's been a busy year. I only saw 517 movies this year, the least I've ever seen since I began keeping records. Other work has sadly taken over my life. BUT this year was also the most new films I've ever seen in a year (301) and the most I've ever been to the cinema in a year (219, probably in no small part due to the need to see Gravity on the big screen in 3D as many times as possible). So for everyone that joined me or followed along on the blog, a big thanks. As usual there were so many films I have not managed to find the time to squeeze in and a handful that didn't bother me that I missed (...Grown Ups 2, Scary Movie 5) but here's a very vaguely ordered list of the new release films I saw this year.
Super Duper Awesome Must See Movies:
Movies I really loved:
Movies that were great:
Movies that were pretty good:
Movies that were alright I suppose:
Movies that were mostly okay but didn't really do much for me:
Movies that were lacking a certain something:
Movies I just didn't care for:
Movies that actively made me hurt:
I must say, the terribly movies this year aren't nearly as bad as terrible movies from previous years. Likewise some of my favourite movies this year would not be equal to favourites from previous years. But some really great discoveries this year.
Last year it appears I was correct in my assumption that Gravity would make it to the top of my list. There's no film I'm aware of that really stands out for next year so I'll be excited to see how things shake out.
So let me know what you think, where I'm completely wrong, what films I should see that I've missed out on, what your favourites are etc. And hopefully I'll see you all at the movies next year.
Simon Killer
IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes
Holy moly that's an uncomfortable film. In a good way though I suppose, it's certainly effective. I only recently saw Antonio Campos' last feature Afterschool and his latest has a similar slow pacing and elusive main character. I found this less distancing than his first effort though. Brady Corbet is just amazing.
Not an easy watch first thing in the morning but I wanted to try and get it in before the end of the year after seeing it pop up on a few other peoples lists. I think it's a little long, the story is very simple but there's a very strange vibe that gradually creeps in and then just overwhelms the last act. Interesting stuff.
Monday, December 30, 2013
The Conspiracy
IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes
A fun found footage/mockumentary thriller type thing. All constructed as a documentary but basically the conspiracy stuff is just a set up for an eyes wide shut style secret society infiltration that manages to get some real good tension going. Quite enjoyed this little number even though the characters had to take a few unbelievable leaps of logic to get to where the film needs them to go.
Wrong Cops
IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes
Quentin Dupieux has another film out within the year. This one seems much more loose, which is saying something considering his last two absurdist and tangental narratives. This film barely has a narrative and is more like a series of sketches of his bizarre abstract style of humor. Certainly not for everyone. I must admit I didn't enjoy this film as much as his previous two, it has its moments but just doesn't hold together as well. But Marilyn Manson sure surprised me with one of my favourite performances.
Sunday, December 29, 2013
Disconnect
IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes
A solid drama of sprawling but interconnected stories about how people are disconnecting from each other through technology that is meant to bring people closer together. Nice cast and many uncomfortable moments.
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
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