Raging Bull

03.30.10
Raging Bull
(1980)
Starring: Joe Pesci, Robert De Niro


This year, i've been attempting to watch the entirety of Martin Scorcese's films, this is yet another one of his many celebrated accomplishments. Although i have the utmost respect for Scorcese and his creative counterpart of De Niro, i wasn't terribly impressed with this film. Raging Bull was a very realistic film, done in a similar style to Mean Streets, but my impression was that it was unnecessarily vulgar in language. Sibling Rivalry dragged on incessently and the unavoidable torment that was inflicted on anyone in the presence of Jake LaMotta became tiresome as the plot wore on. The use of black and white film to create a timely experience was used quite effectively, but overall the viewing of this film was not enjoyable or something i'd watch again.

Brick

03.28.10
Brick
(2005)
Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Noah Segan, Lukas Haas, Nora Zehetener


Brick is brilliantly executed film that delivers lines in a snappy, stylised manner and creates a "Maltese Falcon" style ambiance about a highschool drug kingpin and a missing brick of cocaine. One of my favorite films out of the many i've seen, i don't only love it, i own it. I've watched it an inordinate amount of times and it never ceases to get old. Each of the characters is brillinatly crafted into an even more conceptualised plot. This is the first film of the director that went on to create the Brothers Bloom, another fantastic narrative. It does seem slow, and has alot of quiet moments, but, in my opinion never drags. The ingeniuty behind crafting something so unique with such a limited budget for set and musical score speaks for itself. Put this on your "watch" list, immediately, you won't regret it.

The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus

03.26.10
The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus
(2010)
Starring: Heath Ledger, Lily Cole, Johnny Depp, Christopher Plummer

The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus was the equivalent of a mental roller coaster ride on acid, continually plunging into darkness and showing light only briefly enough to blind you before you dive back into the darkness. Going into the film i had no idea what to expect, and that was the perfect way to enter this film. Its' magic lay in it's secretive narrative nature. The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus is a traveling group who, from the streets-eye view is nothing but a shabby theatrical sham, but through the curtained door lies a world full of nightmares and dreams. I was utterly impressed and completely enthralled with the story line of this film. It is a very abstract storyline, and I don't wish to say more, in order to avoid spoiling someones first encounter with the film. But i would urge anyone with an active imagination, or even an imagination that needs a facelift, that this will be the perfect electrical shock that will spark back to life any dead,dull, and lifeless creative impulse.

Ponyo

03.25.10
Ponyo
(2010)
Starring: Liam Neeson, Tina Fey, Matt Damon, Cate Blanchett


Ponyo, can be hailed as none other than a purely magical film of epic proportions. Miyazaki has done it again, created an animated film so inspired and radically different than any other child's animated film. It is a beautiful thing that Miyazaki can make film after film, so distinct from each other, yet manage to maintain a very particular identity to every silver-screen creation and Ponyo is no exception. Ponyo is the story of a little fish-creature, daughter of the sea who wishes nothing more than to become a little girl and live forever with her little-boy-love named Sosuke. We travel along in an adventure with the girl as she breaks free from the constraints of the sea and momentarily turns the whole spin of the earth on end in her effort to be reunited with Sosuke. Miyazaki's films always have a very strong emphasis on the natural world and it's importance to the daily life of people. Ponyo brings the importance of the livelihood of the sea forefront. In conclusion, a beautiful film that will mystify any adult as equally as it will fascinate any children, invoking the imagination in an extreme and profound way.

The Hangover

03.23.10
The Hangover
(2009)
Starring: Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, Justin Bartha

The first time that i saw this film in theatres, my experience was completely destroyed by a crying baby, an overweight couple loudly munching popcorn & quoting lines, and last but not least, a fellow snort-laughing every five minutes on cue. Thankfully, I chose to give the Hangover another try. The Hangover is a hilarious narrative of three dysfunctional friends with equally disfunctional lives and the mentally challenged, soon-to-be-brother-in-law character played by Zach Galifianakis. The film follows the shenanigans of this motley crue through the treacherous moral territory of "sin city." This film never drags, not once, every single scene presents a new twist and another character's laughable attempt to come out on top. Overall, a movie that doesn't really rise above the typical male-fantasy-experience-comedy that typically is birthed from Hollywood , but one that made me laugh without fail.

Shutter Island

03.18.10
Shutter Island
{2010}
Starring: Mark Ruffalo, Leonardo DiCaprio, Ben Kingsley


Martin Scorsese has the midas touch of film, a moniker i use sparingly, but one that is deserved here nontheless. Scorsese cannot touch a movie without seeping his brilliant craftsmanship into the marrow of the film and Shutter Island was no exception. Shutter Island is a masterpiece of the pshychological thriller and horror film genre. Rarely in a movie am i completely left in the dark about the nature of the main player's character or at least a hint of a clue as to the resolution of the plot, but i was completely at a loss to figure out this mental puzzle till the solution was handed to me in a neat little package at the finale. Even then, doubts still remain as to the conclusion and validity of my perceptions. Shutter Island is so visually stimulating and striking, and the score definitely brings the "creepy" factor to the table. Lightening flashes, hurricane-power rainfall, and empty corridors are all strategically designed to make your skin crawl. Never once did this film conjur up any feelings of cheesiness or disbelief in me as a viewer. I was enthralled the whole film. Leonardo DiCaprio was brilliant as usual {not a Scorsese film regular for no reason} and Mark Ruffalo never ceases to impress me with the wide range of roles he can play. Ben Kingsley, as the head pshychiatrist, was the perfect professional addition to the scenery of the insane asylum. Overall, i cannot give this film enough praise. Shutter Island is a must see, preferably on the big screen in order to preserve that "larger-than-life" sound and charm that enables the film to suck you into another world for two hours. Who knows, you may question your own sanity by the end of this film. {evil laugh}

Seven Years in Tibet

03.18.10
Seven Years in Tibet
(1997)
Starring: Brad Pitt, David Thewlis, B.D. Wong


Seven Years in Tibet is a fascinating story that stretches across many landscapes and crosses many different cultural paths. The scenery is beautiful enough to captivate the viewer alone, but the plot is what really holds the story together. The storyline of Seven Years in Tibet was constructed in a very strategic way, that introduces the viewers to just enough political background information so as to not confuse and overwhelm, but to properly engage the audience into the political turmoil of the story at hand. This film deals primarily with the invasion of China into the peaceful Tibetan country, but also discusses the ramifications of the war in Germany reaching its' ugly fingers into the beautiful and seemingly untouched parts of the Asian hemisphere.Brad Pitt plays the olympic and nationally hailed climber that, at the request of the Nazi government, decides to scale the Himalayan mountains. Amidst injury and avalanches the German climbing crew is forced to retreat and is subsequently captured and imprisoned by the British Army as POW's. The story is just beginning at this point, later Brad Pitt begins a very close relationship with the Dalai Llama. This friendship between the two men of completely different life experiences and beliefs is the guiding principle behind the last half of the film. Despite the much critisized running time of the film, I thought that it was neccesary for the brevity and sheer volume of information covered in the film's time span. Seven Years in Tibet is a beautiful movie that consistently held my attention and is something i would highly reccomend.

Carriers

03.16.10
Carriers
(2009)
Starring: Chris Pine, Emily VanCamp, Lou Taylor Pucci


"Don't judge a book by it's cover" generally is a principle that also applies to film cover art as well, but sadly in both cases a poor cover almost always indicates a lacking film. The cover of Carriers seemed to imply a cheesy, end of the world, disease film that would be entertaining and on a similar level to a "Scream" movie quality, I was quite wrong. Carriers was an intense, knuckle clenching, fingernail biting, roller coaster ride. This film is about a fatal disease that is wiping out earths' entire population, it is carried by air and touch, so the four main characters we meet are constantly wearing masks and bleaching everything they touch. Carriers starts right into the middle of the action with the four characters driving along a main highway and suddenly running into a large suv blocking the road. This suv contains a small girl and a father {both infected} who are trying to get gas from ongoing vehicles. Needless to say, the lack of main staples, such as gas and food, become the primary struggles of the protagonists. Without giving away too much about the final verdict of the plot, many lives are lost along the way to the disease and the fear surrounding the contagion. Family members and lovers turn against eachother for survival, typical human consideration is thrown out the window. Carriers is definitely a pshycological thriller that deserves recognition.

Zombieland

03.15.10
Zombieland
(2009)
Starring: Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone, Abigail Breslin


Zombieland is a bizarre, entertaining take on the (as some would purport) the impending doom of the zombie apocalypse. Each of the four main characters we meet along the way maintains an alias of a city where they are from or planning on heading to. Jesse Eisenberg plays the role of Columbus, the typically awkward Michael Cera role that he's monotonously typecasted as. Woody Harrelson plays the Cadillac-driving-Twinkies-obsessed-gun-slinging-cowboy that really carries the film along. Later we meet Emma Stone and Abigail Breslin, who go as Wichita and Little Rock, two sisters who have conned their way to safety since the infection. The movie creatively uses text on screen to integrate Columbus' rules on how to avoid being murdered by zombies. The movie was incredibly gory, and even though it's expected some of it really grossed me out, maybe I'm just a wimp. But overall, Zombieland, most especially Bill Murray's cameo, was extremely entertaining.

Mozart and the Whale

03.12.10
Mozart and the Whale
(2005)
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Radha Mitchell



A rather forgettable story of two people with Aspergers that fall in love. One of the few redeeming qualities of this mediocre film is the expansive coverage of many Spokane tourist attractions. Josh Hartnett and Radha Mitchell spend lots of time in Riverpark Square and the park, so the film will automatically appeal to any Spokanite. Although i must give credit to Josh Hartnett for his well played role, the character played by Radha Mitchell was over the top and not very relatable. The choppy plot is so disjointed and uncohesive that it may as well have been stuck together with duct tape. It appears that the director wanted to use the well known, handsome face of Josh Hartnett and rely on the sympathetic nature of the audience to be sufficiently enthralled and distracted away from the films many flaws. In conclusion, if you live in Spokane, Mozart and the Whale is a film worth watching simply for the local sightseeing and extras, but otherwise it falls short of any recognition or praiseworthy attributes.

Wristcutters: A Love Story

03.09.10
Wristcutters: A Love Story
(2007)
Starring: Patrick Fugit, Shannyn Sossaman


Wristcutters is dark comedy with no smiles, a story about life found in lost life. A brilliant narrative about the afterlife of suicide victims based on the novel "Knellers Happy Campers." As the opening credits role we watch the last actions of a man who has given himself the death sentence. As the last name flashes across the screen we see Zia, the broken hearted hero of our story, laying on the ground of his newly cleaned apartment bleeding out from his self inflicted cut wrists in a puddle of blood. Next scene is Zia apparently alive and well in a new world. We find that this new world is a world wherin every person that lives in it has "offed" themselves and in doing so is unintentionally damned to a life with no stars in the night sky, no smiles, no enjoyment, and perpetual unbearable heat. Along the way we meet many different characters, including the oddity of Tom Waits, and lose many pairs of sunglasses into a black hole in the passenger seat of Zia's roadtrip vehicle. Wristcutters is an intriguing, well executed story and a film i'd love to own.

Conversations With Other Women

03.04.10
Conversations With Other Women
(2005)
Starring: Helena Bonham Carter, Aaron Eckhart


Since the release of Conversations with Other Women in 2005 i have been constantly picking it up at the movie store, only to put it back when i chose something else over it. After i finally got around to watching this film i realised that my aversion had been a discernment well founded. This was a disappointing film for me. Although, the technical style of the dual screen film was fascinating and groundbreaking, it could not save the film from the disheartening plot that it was built around. Conversations With Other Women is a film about two people that the viewer is lead to believe are meeting for the first time and then engage in adulterous activity with each other. We later find out that the couple had been once married and now live on separate ends of the globe and are both either married or attached to other parties. This is a sad film about the lives of two unhappy people who seemingly will never find the elixir to cure their deep rooted relationship depression. Aaron Eckhart and Helena Bonham Carter are both, in their own respects, brilliant actors and actresses, but their is no chemistry between the two and neither of their true talents are able to shine through the stilted scripting of this film.

The Killing Fields

03.02.10
The Killing Fields
(1984)
Starring: John Malkovich, Sam Waterston, Haing S. Ngor


To be honest, I'm not sure quite where to begin on describing in a short synopsis the impact that this film has had on me as a viewer.The Killing Fields is one of the most moving films i have ever been exposed to. I have seen many disturbing films: realistic, biographical, and fictional alike and The Killng Fields stands at the forefront of my mind above them all. Simply Thinking about this film and the lives of the real people that it depicts, brings tears to my eyes and causes my stomach to churn. This film can be compared only to the likes of Steven Spielberg's "Schindlers List." The most upsetting aspect of comparing the two, is that the plight of the Nazi Genocide is well known and recognised, but the unimaginable horrors suffered by the Cambodian people barely even register on the social injustice radar of the average American. The Killing Fields introduce, in a very personal and impactful manner, a historical event that is sadly ignored by most of modern day Society. The horrors that took place in Cambodia during the reign of Pol Pot are looked over by most public school education historical curriculum and in turn have ultimately gone unnoticed by my generation and many others. This ignorance is an abominable social injustie, and "The Killing Fields" seeks to bring a personal look at the mass genocide that took place in Cambodia in the 1ate 1970's. The Khmer Rouge sought to destroy all knowledge of the past and to brainwash young converts into only thinking of the future from "Year Zero" on. What had first caused me to watch this film was an article i had read about the Khmer Rouge genocide and the thing that blew my mind is that when this film was being made that Pol Pot was still running Cambodia when the film was being made in neighboring Thailand. The makers of the film sought to bring national attention to the atrocity that had taken place, almost completely unnoticed by the western world, and to help bring aid to the emotionally, spiritually, and physically ravaged country of Cambodia. I cannot stress enough the importance of viewing this incredible film, it will change your life and hopefully to inspire you to learn more and honor the death of thousands of Pol Pot's innocent victims.