Every year I like to take a look at what movies are in the pipeline for the following year and make a list of my most anticipated movies, if for no other reason than it's fun to go back and see if I was right or way off base on whether something would be good. As you'll see in my 2013 list, some of the movies didn't even get released and may even be on the 2014 list as well. We'll start with my 2013 list and what I ended up thinking of them (barring the ones that haven't been released yet, of course):
1. THE COUNSELOR (Ridley Scott)
2. BEFORE MIDNIGHT (Richard Linklater)
3. TWELVE YEARS A SLAVE (Steve McQueen)
4. THE MONUMENTS MEN (George Clooney)
5. THE WORLD'S END (Edgar Wright)
6. GRAVITY (Alfonso Cuaron)
7. TO THE WONDER/KNIGHT OF CUPS/VOYAGE OF TIME/UNTITLED (Terrence Malick)
8. OUT OF THE FURNACE (Scott Cooper)
9. MUD (Jeff Nichols)
10. CALVARY (John Michael McDonagh)
11. ONLY GOD FORGIVES (Nicolas Winding Refn)
12. THE PLACE BEYOND THE PINES (Derek Cianfrance)
13. THE WOLF OF WALL STREET (Martin Scorsese)
14. A MOST WANTED MAN (Anton Corbijn)
15. INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS (Joel & Ethan Coen)
16. THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG (Peter Jackson)
17. SIDE EFFECTS (Steven Soderbergh)
18. CAPTAIN PHILLIPS (Paul Greengrass)
19. THE ZERO THEOREM (Terry Gilliam)
20. TRANCE (Danny Boyle)
Of this list, several were not released in 2013 (THE MONUMENTS MEN was pushed to February, 3 of the 4 Malick movies don't even have release dates yet, and thus won't be on my 2014 list, not making that mistake twice, CALVARY will premiere at Sundance 2014, as will A MOST WANTED MAN, and I have no idea when we'll see THE ZERO THEOREM stateside).
So here's what's left:
1. THE COUNSELOR - B-
2. BEFORE MIDNIGHT - A+
3. TWELVE YEARS A SLAVE - A
5. THE WORLD'S END - C+
6. GRAVITY - B-
7. TO THE WONDER - C-
8. OUT OF THE FURNACE - A+
9. MUD - B
11. ONLY GOD FORGIVES - A
12. THE PLACE BEYOND THE PINES - B
13. THE WOLF OF WALL STREET - B
15. INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS - A+
16. THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG - B+
17. SIDE EFFECTS - B
18. CAPTAIN PHILLIPS - A
20. TRANCE - B-
Just like last year with THE DARK KNIGHT RISES, my #1 pick kinda let me down this year, as did many of the other high ranked movies on this list, but overall 2013 wasn't a great year for me, very few movies really blew me away, unlike last year.
As with any upcoming year, making a list of 20 movies I'm highly anticipating is pretty easy for me, hopefully these 20 will live up to my expectations a little more than 2013's list.
1. THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL (Wes Anderson)
2. INHERENT VICE (Paul Thomas Anderson)
3. FOXCATCHER (Bennett Miller)
4. THE MONUMENTS MEN (George Clooney)
5. CALVARY (John Michael McDonagh)
6. NIGHT MOVES (Kelly Reichardt)
7. INTERSTELLAR (Christopher Nolan)
8. MIDNIGHT SPECIAL (Jeff Nichols)
9. A MOST WANTED MAN (Anton Corbijn)
10. NYMPHOMANIAC (Lars von Trier)
11. ENEMY (Denis Villeneuve)
12. MOJAVE (William Monahan)
13. ANIMAL RESCUE (Michael R. Roskam)
14. THE DOUBLE (Richard Ayoade)
15. UNDER THE SKIN (Jonathan Glazer)
16. 99 HOMES (Ramin Bahrani)
17. THE HOBBIT: THERE AND BACK AGAIN (Peter Jackson)
18. X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST (Bryan Singer)
19. ONLY LOVERS LEFT ALIVE (Jim Jarmusch)
20. TUSK (Kevin Smith)
Sunday, December 29, 2013
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
My Favorite TV: 2012-2013
Since the Emmy nominations come out tomorrow morning, here are my personal awards for the best TV of the past year (shows eligible only if vast majority of season takes place between July 2012 and June 2013):
BEST ACTOR: Louis C.K. as Louie, LOUIE
BEST ACTRESS: Lena Dunham as Hannah Horvath, GIRLS
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: Karl Pilkington as Dougie, DEREK
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Joanna Scanlan as Terri Coverley, THE THICK OF IT
BEST GUEST ACTOR: David Lynch as Jack Dall, LOUIE
BEST GUEST ACTRESS: Nora Zehetner as Jen, MARON
DRAMA:
1. BREAKING BAD
2. HANNIBAL
3. MAD MEN
4. BOARDWALK EMPIRE
5. JUSTIFIED
BEST ACTOR: Mads Mikkelsen as Hannibal Lecter, HANNIBAL
BEST ACTRESS: Elisabeth Moss as Peggy Olson, MAD MEN
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: Bobby Canavale as Gyp Rosetti, BOARDWALK EMPIRE
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Anna Gunn as Skyler White, BREAKING BAD
COMEDY:
1. LOUIE
2. IT'S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA
3. COMEDY BANG! BANG!
4. KEY & PEELE
5. THE THICK OF IT
BEST ACTOR: Louis C.K. as Louie, LOUIE
BEST ACTRESS: Lena Dunham as Hannah Horvath, GIRLS
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: Karl Pilkington as Dougie, DEREK
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Joanna Scanlan as Terri Coverley, THE THICK OF IT
BEST GUEST ACTOR: David Lynch as Jack Dall, LOUIE
BEST GUEST ACTRESS: Nora Zehetner as Jen, MARON
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Top 10 Movies of 2012
Ok, I know I dragged this end of year thing into a bunch of posts, but this is the last one. Here's my top 10 of 2012:
10. BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD
Of my top 10, Benh Zeitlin is the only new director to have a film make the list. I found this film to be so uplifting and triumphant that I knew it had to be included. Zeitlin shows real talent working with non-professional actors like Quvenzhane Wallis and Dwight Henry, and apparently took input on just about everything from just about everyone who worked on the film, and the result feels like it perfectly captures the struggling Louisiana area, while also delivering an engaging fantasy story.
9. JACK REACHER
I've always been an unabashed Tom Cruise fan, but lately his movies have left me wanting more. Working with a writer/director like Christopher McQuarrie who not only is a talented writer of dialogue but is also a master of staging action sequences, Cruise is given free reign to create one of the most badass action heroes of recent memory. Jack Reacher is my favorite pure-entertainment movie of the year.
8. KILLER JOE
The ludicrous violence and sexuality of this movie is decidedly not for everyone, but I can honestly say I was not expecting how darkly funny this movie would be. Emile Hirsch does an excellent job as an incredibly stupid redneck, and Juno Temple does her best work to date, but the movie is really made by Matthew McConaughey, who uses his reputation as the romantic lead in so many crappy romantic comedies to create something exactly the opposite, using his endless charisma to repulse rather than attract. The final 15 minutes are so jaw-dropping in their insanity that you'll be thinking about this one for months afterwards.
7. SEVEN PSYCHOPATHS
Martin McDonagh had a lot to live up to, and while Psychopaths may not be as good as In Bruges, it is certainly not a sophomore slump. The dialogue remains crude yet profound, and he is always sure to tell these crazy gangster stories in such a way that character always comes first. Even the most psychopathic of the psychopaths demands our sympathy at one point or another. Add onto all of this an excellent performance by Christopher Walken who is given several long scenes to really shine, and isn't just required to play himself and get laughs that way.
6. KILLING THEM SOFTLY
Many have had issues with the lack of subtlety in the film's themes, but a film that is about anger and frustration almost requires that it be as unsublte as possible. The allegory of the gangster world filling in for the current political and economical climate is an inspired choice by Andrew Dominik, who saw that potential from a much pulpier novel. The film is about the spin, red tape, and stupidity that goes into making any sort of important decision these days, and highlights how frustrating that can be by really accentuating the ugliest moments, whether it be a man being beat up in the rain, a slow motion assassination sequence, or just a drug addict getting high. The performances are some of the best of the year, particularly from Pitt, James Gandolfini, and Scoot McNairy (also seen in Argo and Promised Land this year, and I'm sure we'll be seeing a lot more from him). It also doesn't hurt that the best scene in the movie is also its last.
5. DJANGO UNCHAINED
If I were to make this list after seeing each film 5 more times over the next 5 years, I think this might just creep up to the top of the list based purely on rewatch value alone. Every performance is riveting, and the film, like Inglourious Basterds, keeps you on the edge of your seat, keeps you laughing, and keeps you thinking for the entire running length of almost 3 hours. With his last two films, I think Tarantino has finally found a way to perfectly meld his love of genre films with his own unique style, creating two back-to-back masterpieces that are sure to go down as classics on the level of anything else he's made. He's probably the filmmaker right now whose next film I most want to see as soon as possible. I'll also single out Christoph Waltz, who delivers Tarantino dialogue better than any other actor ever has.
4. LINCOLN
That a film based on passing an Amendment through Congress is this riveting is a credit to Steven Spielberg, Tony Kushner, and Daniel Day-Lewis, who deliver old-style movie magic like no other. The script is the best of the year, playing out like some sort of flashback long form episode of The West Wing, and Day-Lewis's performance is my favorite of the year as well, paying tribute to the undeniable legend but choosing to focus on the man, flaws and all. It moves like no other historical drama I've ever seen, and the supporting cast features more recognizable faces than a high school reunion.
3. THE MASTER
This film is an enigma. The story is as undissectable as it is fascinating, choosing to focus more on the personal effects of war and religion on man than some sort of personal attack on Scientology. Joaquin Phoenix and Phillip Seymour Hoffman are perfect choices for their roles, and their on-screen chemistry is beyond electric. This is a really difficult movie to wrap your head around, but one that I feel will exist to be analyzed for decades to come.
2. MOONRISE KINGDOM
A perfect combination of heartfelt drama and uproarious comedy. The adult cast, led by Bruce Willis and Edward Norton, are all fantastic, but the two young stars (Jared Gilman and Kara Hayward) are excellent as well. The production design is meticulous and flawless, and I love how it's basically a war movie crossed with a kids movie.
1. LOOPER
Rian Johnson's first film Brick was my favorite movie of 2006, and 6 years later he tops the list again. Joseph Gordon-Levitt is a terrific actor who seems at his best when working with Johnson, and Bruce Willis (who has big roles in my top 2 favorite movies of 2012, whodathunk) is willing to surrender his image more than people give him credit for. The film takes its cues from masterworks such as Blade Runner and Witness, but Johnson still manages to create a wholly unique science fiction world where the future is not sunny and bright but rundown and low-tech. Time travel has rarely been done better, and the human element of the story that really takes hold in the second half of the film adds an emotional element that's too often missing from genre films. Themes about parenthood, nature vs. nurture, and responsibility for your actions are prevalent, but never overpower the enormously entertaining ride the movie takes you on. Looper is first and foremost an incredible action film, but by focusing first on character and story and letting the action grow organically from there, Looper is elevated from a traditional genre piece into my favorite movie of 2012.
10. BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD
Of my top 10, Benh Zeitlin is the only new director to have a film make the list. I found this film to be so uplifting and triumphant that I knew it had to be included. Zeitlin shows real talent working with non-professional actors like Quvenzhane Wallis and Dwight Henry, and apparently took input on just about everything from just about everyone who worked on the film, and the result feels like it perfectly captures the struggling Louisiana area, while also delivering an engaging fantasy story.
9. JACK REACHER
I've always been an unabashed Tom Cruise fan, but lately his movies have left me wanting more. Working with a writer/director like Christopher McQuarrie who not only is a talented writer of dialogue but is also a master of staging action sequences, Cruise is given free reign to create one of the most badass action heroes of recent memory. Jack Reacher is my favorite pure-entertainment movie of the year.
8. KILLER JOE
The ludicrous violence and sexuality of this movie is decidedly not for everyone, but I can honestly say I was not expecting how darkly funny this movie would be. Emile Hirsch does an excellent job as an incredibly stupid redneck, and Juno Temple does her best work to date, but the movie is really made by Matthew McConaughey, who uses his reputation as the romantic lead in so many crappy romantic comedies to create something exactly the opposite, using his endless charisma to repulse rather than attract. The final 15 minutes are so jaw-dropping in their insanity that you'll be thinking about this one for months afterwards.
7. SEVEN PSYCHOPATHS
Martin McDonagh had a lot to live up to, and while Psychopaths may not be as good as In Bruges, it is certainly not a sophomore slump. The dialogue remains crude yet profound, and he is always sure to tell these crazy gangster stories in such a way that character always comes first. Even the most psychopathic of the psychopaths demands our sympathy at one point or another. Add onto all of this an excellent performance by Christopher Walken who is given several long scenes to really shine, and isn't just required to play himself and get laughs that way.
6. KILLING THEM SOFTLY
5. DJANGO UNCHAINED
If I were to make this list after seeing each film 5 more times over the next 5 years, I think this might just creep up to the top of the list based purely on rewatch value alone. Every performance is riveting, and the film, like Inglourious Basterds, keeps you on the edge of your seat, keeps you laughing, and keeps you thinking for the entire running length of almost 3 hours. With his last two films, I think Tarantino has finally found a way to perfectly meld his love of genre films with his own unique style, creating two back-to-back masterpieces that are sure to go down as classics on the level of anything else he's made. He's probably the filmmaker right now whose next film I most want to see as soon as possible. I'll also single out Christoph Waltz, who delivers Tarantino dialogue better than any other actor ever has.
4. LINCOLN
That a film based on passing an Amendment through Congress is this riveting is a credit to Steven Spielberg, Tony Kushner, and Daniel Day-Lewis, who deliver old-style movie magic like no other. The script is the best of the year, playing out like some sort of flashback long form episode of The West Wing, and Day-Lewis's performance is my favorite of the year as well, paying tribute to the undeniable legend but choosing to focus on the man, flaws and all. It moves like no other historical drama I've ever seen, and the supporting cast features more recognizable faces than a high school reunion.
3. THE MASTER
This film is an enigma. The story is as undissectable as it is fascinating, choosing to focus more on the personal effects of war and religion on man than some sort of personal attack on Scientology. Joaquin Phoenix and Phillip Seymour Hoffman are perfect choices for their roles, and their on-screen chemistry is beyond electric. This is a really difficult movie to wrap your head around, but one that I feel will exist to be analyzed for decades to come.
2. MOONRISE KINGDOM
A perfect combination of heartfelt drama and uproarious comedy. The adult cast, led by Bruce Willis and Edward Norton, are all fantastic, but the two young stars (Jared Gilman and Kara Hayward) are excellent as well. The production design is meticulous and flawless, and I love how it's basically a war movie crossed with a kids movie.
1. LOOPER
Friday, February 22, 2013
Favorite Movies of 2012 - Honorable Mentions
Well here's the start of my list of my favorite films of 2012, and (hopefully brief) thoughts on each. First, we'll start with 10 honorable mentions (in alphabetical order):
21 JUMP STREET
Channing Tatum really came into his own this year with this, Magic Mike, and another movie to be featured later on this year's list. His chemistry with Jonah Hill is great, and the movie is flat out hilarious (a good reminder that the brilliance of Scott Pilgrim was as much a contribution of its co-screenwriter Michael Bacall, who wrote this alone). This is on the list as a reminder a great comedy is sometimes just one that makes you laugh really hard.
ANNA KARENINA
Joe Wright seems to be on the top of his game making period pieces with Keira Knightley. I've always respected his other work but didn't enjoy it as much, but this completes a sort of unofficial trilogy with Knightley (along with Pride & Prejudice and one of my all-time favorites Atonement). The choice to set most of it inside an old theatre is an inspired choice that always kept my interest, and the cinematography is breathtaking. Wright found a way to breathe new life into this classic story.
ARBITRAGE
A simple thematic undercurrent of the rich "getting away with murder" so to speak may feel on the nose to some, but I thought it necessarily hit the point hard (something I'll bring up later with another film). Richard Gere is in top form, adding a lot of pathos to a character that shouldn't at first seem sympathetic, and the script really kept me guessing. I was particularly interested in how he isn't one man trying to figure it out, but he basically has a small team of people helping him through this situation, his most trusted advisors. Tim Roth's character may stumble a bit at the end, but it doesn's top the film from ending strong.
COMPLIANCE
A series of events so unbelievable that it would have to be based on a real events to be made into a film. Luckily, the movie fleshes it out where necessary in order to subtly ask what it is in our nature to allow us to do these unspeakable things. A perfect example of how most people will do just about anything as long as they don't ultimately feel responsible for their actions. Pat Healy's performance is chilling, and I hope this is the role he needs to get much more recognition in the indie world, and Ann Dowd really should've been nominated for an Oscar, if only for the final scene of the film alone.
HAYWIRE
One of Steven Soderbergh's seemingly last feature films is a raw, gritty, stripped down action film, almost like a female Jason Bourne mixed with 3 Days of the Condor. The action is expertly filmed, and Soderbergh uses his name to attract an unbelievable cast to fill out the film in supporting roles, most notably Michael Fassbender as a rival assassin who makes the mistake of underestimating our heroine, played more than adequately by the MMA fighter Gina Carano. This is also another example of how Channing Tatum is not so slowly becoming an actor to watch.
THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY
A welcome return to Middle Earth, and even if it doesn't feel as important as the original trilogy, this is still a fun adventure film with some incredibly fun moments. The troll sequence is everything it should be, and the interaction between Bilbo and Gollum ranks among my favorite scenes of the year. Sure, the CG orcs are kinda crappy and there's way too much bad exposition in the first hour, but what works is really great, and if you can give me moments like the dwarves all singing in Bag End, then turn that into a roaring theme for the rest of the film, I'll take that over The Avengers any day.
NOT FADE AWAY
I've still only seen the first 3 episodes of The Sopranos, but David Chase's first feature about the 1960's music scene certainly makes me want to keep going. An excellent analysis of the motivations and inspirations of perhaps the greatest music period in history told as a microcosm of one fictional, unsuccessful band.
PROMETHEUS
Stunning practical effects work reigns here, in addition to excellent performances, especially Michael Fassbender as David, and an interesting thematic exploration of evolution vs intelligent design by way of Alien. I won't even call myself an apologist here, I think this movie got really unfairly panned by horror and sci-fi fans. Lindelof writes the kind science fiction that I want to see, one primarily rooted in mystery, theme, and character, and always leaves room for interpretation and ambiguity. I'm really interested to see what they can do with a sequel, even if Lindelof won't be writing it.
SKYFALL
Terrific action, and a much better realization of the washed up action hero trope than The Dark Knight Rises. Daniel Craig, Judi Dench, Ralph Fiennes, Ben Whishaw, and Javier Bardem give the Bond series perhaps its best cast to date, and the film works perfectly as a 50 year anniversary film, complete with homages to some of the series' best moments, but also works on its own as a tremendous action film. Oh yeah, and Roger Deakins' cinematograpy is amazing, practically begging the Academy to give him his well deserved first Oscar. Hopefully he gets it.
ZERO DARK THIRTY
Although I'm not sure it rises above just being an excellent procedural, I really appreciated the apolitical approach the film took, choosing to frame it as a great detective story focusing on one brilliant, determined woman who manages to do the impossible in a man's world and find Osama bin Laden almost single handedly. Jessica Chastain's performance is phenominal, as is Jason Clarke's. But if that doesn't sound interesting, hopefully you'll stick it out for the visceral, heart-pumping infiltration sequence that occupies 20-30 minutes at the end of the film. I probably enjoyed The Hurt Locker more, but Zero Dark Thirty is well worth seeing.
21 JUMP STREET
Channing Tatum really came into his own this year with this, Magic Mike, and another movie to be featured later on this year's list. His chemistry with Jonah Hill is great, and the movie is flat out hilarious (a good reminder that the brilliance of Scott Pilgrim was as much a contribution of its co-screenwriter Michael Bacall, who wrote this alone). This is on the list as a reminder a great comedy is sometimes just one that makes you laugh really hard.
ANNA KARENINA
Joe Wright seems to be on the top of his game making period pieces with Keira Knightley. I've always respected his other work but didn't enjoy it as much, but this completes a sort of unofficial trilogy with Knightley (along with Pride & Prejudice and one of my all-time favorites Atonement). The choice to set most of it inside an old theatre is an inspired choice that always kept my interest, and the cinematography is breathtaking. Wright found a way to breathe new life into this classic story.
ARBITRAGE
A simple thematic undercurrent of the rich "getting away with murder" so to speak may feel on the nose to some, but I thought it necessarily hit the point hard (something I'll bring up later with another film). Richard Gere is in top form, adding a lot of pathos to a character that shouldn't at first seem sympathetic, and the script really kept me guessing. I was particularly interested in how he isn't one man trying to figure it out, but he basically has a small team of people helping him through this situation, his most trusted advisors. Tim Roth's character may stumble a bit at the end, but it doesn's top the film from ending strong.
COMPLIANCE
A series of events so unbelievable that it would have to be based on a real events to be made into a film. Luckily, the movie fleshes it out where necessary in order to subtly ask what it is in our nature to allow us to do these unspeakable things. A perfect example of how most people will do just about anything as long as they don't ultimately feel responsible for their actions. Pat Healy's performance is chilling, and I hope this is the role he needs to get much more recognition in the indie world, and Ann Dowd really should've been nominated for an Oscar, if only for the final scene of the film alone.
HAYWIRE
One of Steven Soderbergh's seemingly last feature films is a raw, gritty, stripped down action film, almost like a female Jason Bourne mixed with 3 Days of the Condor. The action is expertly filmed, and Soderbergh uses his name to attract an unbelievable cast to fill out the film in supporting roles, most notably Michael Fassbender as a rival assassin who makes the mistake of underestimating our heroine, played more than adequately by the MMA fighter Gina Carano. This is also another example of how Channing Tatum is not so slowly becoming an actor to watch.
THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY
A welcome return to Middle Earth, and even if it doesn't feel as important as the original trilogy, this is still a fun adventure film with some incredibly fun moments. The troll sequence is everything it should be, and the interaction between Bilbo and Gollum ranks among my favorite scenes of the year. Sure, the CG orcs are kinda crappy and there's way too much bad exposition in the first hour, but what works is really great, and if you can give me moments like the dwarves all singing in Bag End, then turn that into a roaring theme for the rest of the film, I'll take that over The Avengers any day.
NOT FADE AWAY
I've still only seen the first 3 episodes of The Sopranos, but David Chase's first feature about the 1960's music scene certainly makes me want to keep going. An excellent analysis of the motivations and inspirations of perhaps the greatest music period in history told as a microcosm of one fictional, unsuccessful band.
PROMETHEUS
Stunning practical effects work reigns here, in addition to excellent performances, especially Michael Fassbender as David, and an interesting thematic exploration of evolution vs intelligent design by way of Alien. I won't even call myself an apologist here, I think this movie got really unfairly panned by horror and sci-fi fans. Lindelof writes the kind science fiction that I want to see, one primarily rooted in mystery, theme, and character, and always leaves room for interpretation and ambiguity. I'm really interested to see what they can do with a sequel, even if Lindelof won't be writing it.
SKYFALL
Terrific action, and a much better realization of the washed up action hero trope than The Dark Knight Rises. Daniel Craig, Judi Dench, Ralph Fiennes, Ben Whishaw, and Javier Bardem give the Bond series perhaps its best cast to date, and the film works perfectly as a 50 year anniversary film, complete with homages to some of the series' best moments, but also works on its own as a tremendous action film. Oh yeah, and Roger Deakins' cinematograpy is amazing, practically begging the Academy to give him his well deserved first Oscar. Hopefully he gets it.
ZERO DARK THIRTY
Although I'm not sure it rises above just being an excellent procedural, I really appreciated the apolitical approach the film took, choosing to frame it as a great detective story focusing on one brilliant, determined woman who manages to do the impossible in a man's world and find Osama bin Laden almost single handedly. Jessica Chastain's performance is phenominal, as is Jason Clarke's. But if that doesn't sound interesting, hopefully you'll stick it out for the visceral, heart-pumping infiltration sequence that occupies 20-30 minutes at the end of the film. I probably enjoyed The Hurt Locker more, but Zero Dark Thirty is well worth seeing.
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Top Ten Old Movies I Saw for the First Time in 2012
Just a short piece on my favorite movies that aren't from 2012 but I saw for the first time.
10. BLACK NARCISSUS (Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger)
9. SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS (Alexander Mackendrick)
8. BIGGER THAN LIFE (Nicholas Ray)
7. THE RED SHOES (Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger)
6. THE LAST EMPEROR (Bernardo Bertolucci)
5. CACHE (Michael Haneke)
4. GRIZZLY MAN (Werner Herzog)
3. BLOW OUT (Brian DePalma)
2. DOWN BY LAW (Jim Jarmusch)
1. NAKED (Mike Leigh)
10. BLACK NARCISSUS (Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger)
9. SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS (Alexander Mackendrick)
8. BIGGER THAN LIFE (Nicholas Ray)
7. THE RED SHOES (Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger)
6. THE LAST EMPEROR (Bernardo Bertolucci)
5. CACHE (Michael Haneke)
4. GRIZZLY MAN (Werner Herzog)
3. BLOW OUT (Brian DePalma)
2. DOWN BY LAW (Jim Jarmusch)
1. NAKED (Mike Leigh)
Sunday, February 10, 2013
2012 Awards
Here's the start of my end of 2012 movie lists. If I were submitting a ballot to the Oscars, these would be my nominees (*'s next to those I would pick to win):
BEST DIRECTOR
*Paul Thomas Anderson, THE MASTER
Wes Anderson, MOONRISE KINGDOM
Rian Johnson, LOOPER
Steven Spielberg, LINCOLN
Quentin Tarantino, DJANGO UNCHAINED
BEST ACTOR
*Daniel Day-Lewis as Abraham Lincoln, LINCOLN
Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins, THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY
Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Joe, LOOPER
Matthew McConaughey as Joe Cooper, KILLER JOE
Joaquin Phoenix as Freddie Quell, THE MASTER
BEST ACTRESS
*Jessica Chastain as Maya, ZERO DARK THIRTY
Keira Knightley as Anna Karenina, ANNA KARENINA
Sara Paxton as Claire, THE INNKEEPERS
Alicia Vikander as Caroline Mathilde, A ROYAL AFFAIR
Quvenzhane Wallis as Hushpuppy, BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Leonardo DiCaprio as Calvin Candie, DJANGO UNCHAINED
Phillip Seymour Hoffman as Lancaster Dodd, THE MASTER
Scoot McNairy as Frankie, KILLING THEM SOFTLY
*Christopher Walken, SEVEN PSYCHOPATHS
Christoph Waltz, DJANGO UNCHAINED
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Amy Adams as Peggy Dodd, THE MASTER
Emily Blunt as Sara, LOOPER
Ann Dowd as Sandra, COMPLIANCE
*Anne Hathaway as Fantine, LES MISERABLES
Juno Temple as Dottie Smith, KILLER JOE
BEST SCREENPLAY
Quentin Tarantino, DJANGO UNCHAINED
*Tony Kushner, LINCOLN
Rian Johnson, LOOPER
Wes Anderson & Roman Coppola, MOONRISE KINGDOM
Martin McDonagh, SEVEN PSYCHOPATHS
BEST DOCUMENTARY
THE AMERICAN SCREAM
BEAUTY IS EMBARRASSING
HEAD GAMES
INDIE GAME: THE MOVIE
THE INVISIBLE WAR
LAST DAY AT LAMBEAU
THE QUEEN OF VERSAILLES
SIDE BY SIDE
STEP UP TO THE PLATE
*UNDEFEATED
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
*HOLY MOTORS
THE KID WITH A BIKE
ONCE UPON A TIME IN ANATOLIA
OSLO, AUGUST 31
A ROYAL AFFAIR
BEST MUSIC
*BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD
THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY
LINCOLN
LOOPER
THE MASTER
BEST SOUND
DJANGO UNCHAINED
HAYWIRE
KILLING THEM SOFTLY
*LOOPER
ZERO DARK THIRTY
BEST MAKEUP
DJANGO UNCHAINED
THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY
*HOLY MOTORS
LINCOLN
LOOPER
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
THE DARK KNIGHT RISES
THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY
LIFE OF PI
LOOPER
*PROMETHEUS
BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
*BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD
DJANGO UNCHAINED
LINCOLN
THE MASTER
MOONRISE KINGDOM
BEST EDITING
KILLING THEM SOFTLY
LINCOLN
LOOPER
MOONRISE KINGDOM
*SEVEN PSYCHOPATHS
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
ANNA KARENINA
BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD
LOOPER
*THE MASTER
SKYFALL
Nominations Count (Wins Count):
10 - LOOPER (1)
7 - THE MASTER (2)
7 - LINCOLN (2)
7 - DJANGO UNCHAINED
4 - BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD (2)
4 - MOONRISE KINGDOM
4 - THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY
3 - SEVEN PSYCHOPATHS (2)
3 - KILLING THEM SOFTLY
2 - HOLY MOTORS (2)
2 - ZERO DARK THIRTY (1)
2 - KILLER JOE
2 - ANNA KARENINA
2 - A ROYAL AFFAIR
1 - LES MISERABLES (1)
1 - PROMETHEUS (1)
1 - THE INNKEEPERS
1 - COMPLIANCE
1 - THE KID WITH A BIKE
1 - ONCE UPON A TIME IN ANATOLIA
1 - OSLO, AUGUST 31
1 - HAYWIRE
1 - THE DARK KNIGHT RISES
1 - LIFE OF PI
1 - SKYFALL
Friday, February 1, 2013
2012: Most Anticipated List Revisited
Here was my list of my most anticipated movies of 2012, that I made back on 12/22/11:
1. THE DARK KNIGHT RISES (Christopher Nolan)
2. THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY (Peter Jackson)
3. DJANGO UNCHAINED (Quentin Tarantino)
4. LOOPER (Rian Johnson)
5. SEVEN PSYCHOPATHS (Martin McDonagh)
6. THE BURIAL (tentatively titled) (Terrence Malick)
7. SKYFALL (Sam Mendes)
8. THE WETTEST COUNTY (John Hillcoat)
9. COGAN'S TRADE (Andrew Dominik)
10. GRAVITY (Alfonso Cuaron)
11. PROMETHEUS (Ridley Scott)
12. MOONRISE KINGDOM (Wes Anderson)
13. ARGO (Ben Affleck)
14. ONLY GOD FORGIVES (Nicolas Winding Refn)
15. THE PLACE BEYOND THE PINES (Derek Cianfrance)
Out of these, several had name changes (The Burial became To the Wonder, The Wettest County became Lawless, Cogan's Trade became Killing Them Softly), and several weren't even released in 2012 theatrically (To the Wonder, Gravity, Only God Forgives, and The Place Beyond the Pines were all pushed to 2013). So of the 11 that were released in 2012, I saw them all, and my ratings were:
1. THE DARK KNIGHT RISES - C-
2. THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY - B+
3. DJANGO UNCHAINED - A+
4. LOOPER - A+
5. SEVEN PSYCHOPATHS - A
7. SKYFALL - B+
8. LAWLESS - C
9. KILLING THEM SOFTLY - A
11. PROMETHEUS - A-
12. MOONRISE KINGDOM - A+
13. ARGO - B
So I think I did a pretty decent job of anticipating (5 of my top 10 are in the above), but it's hard to anticipate movies like Beasts of the Southern Wild because there's not much word about them until they actually get released (or play Sundance in Beasts' case). I also didn't anticipate liking major releases like Lincoln or Jack Reacher nearly as much, and while I was looking forward to seeing Killer Joe, it just didn't register on this list.
The biggest oversight was The Master, which I realized right after making the list that I forgot it, and said in a comment that I thought it would've been around #5 or #6.
So, again, my 2013 most anticipated list is below. We'll see how close I am next year:
1. THE COUNSELOR (Ridley Scott)
2. BEFORE MIDNIGHT (Richard Linklater)
3. TWELVE YEARS A SLAVE (Steve McQueen)
4. THE MONUMENTS MEN (George Clooney)
5. THE WORLD'S END (Edgar Wright)
6. GRAVITY (Alfonso Cuaron)
7. TO THE WONDER/KNIGHT OF CUPS/VOYAGE OF TIME/UNTITLED (Terrence Malick)
8. OUT OF THE FURNACE (Scott Cooper)
9. MUD (Jeff Nichols)
10. CALVARY (John Michael McDonagh)
11. ONLY GOD FORGIVES (Nicolas Winding Refn)
12. THE PLACE BEYOND THE PINES (Derek Cianfrance)
13. THE WOLF OF WALL STREET (Martin Scorsese)
14. A MOST WANTED MAN (Anton Corbijn)
15. INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS (Joel & Ethan Coen)
16. THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG (Peter Jackson)
17. SIDE EFFECTS (Steven Soderbergh)
18. CAPTAIN PHILLIPS (Paul Greengrass)
19. THE ZERO THEOREM (Terry Gilliam)
20. TRANCE (Danny Boyle)
Already I realize I left out a few films that would make the list if I made it today (AIN'T THEM BODIES SAINTS, ONLY LOVERS LEFT ALIVE, NYMPHOMANIAC, and FOXCATCHER would easily replace 17-20 on this list, some would be higher than that), but if I could just edit the list on a whim it wouldn't really mean anything to make the list in the first place, because it's not just fun to see good movies, it's also fun to look back a year afterwards and brag about how right you were about certain movies, right?
Could I be wrong in overlooking the big tentpoles of the year? Could IRON MAN 3 or MAN OF STEEL end up being amazing? I doubt it, but that'd be cool.
1. THE DARK KNIGHT RISES (Christopher Nolan)
2. THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY (Peter Jackson)
3. DJANGO UNCHAINED (Quentin Tarantino)
4. LOOPER (Rian Johnson)
5. SEVEN PSYCHOPATHS (Martin McDonagh)
6. THE BURIAL (tentatively titled) (Terrence Malick)
7. SKYFALL (Sam Mendes)
8. THE WETTEST COUNTY (John Hillcoat)
9. COGAN'S TRADE (Andrew Dominik)
10. GRAVITY (Alfonso Cuaron)
11. PROMETHEUS (Ridley Scott)
12. MOONRISE KINGDOM (Wes Anderson)
13. ARGO (Ben Affleck)
14. ONLY GOD FORGIVES (Nicolas Winding Refn)
15. THE PLACE BEYOND THE PINES (Derek Cianfrance)
Out of these, several had name changes (The Burial became To the Wonder, The Wettest County became Lawless, Cogan's Trade became Killing Them Softly), and several weren't even released in 2012 theatrically (To the Wonder, Gravity, Only God Forgives, and The Place Beyond the Pines were all pushed to 2013). So of the 11 that were released in 2012, I saw them all, and my ratings were:
1. THE DARK KNIGHT RISES - C-
2. THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY - B+
3. DJANGO UNCHAINED - A+
4. LOOPER - A+
5. SEVEN PSYCHOPATHS - A
7. SKYFALL - B+
8. LAWLESS - C
9. KILLING THEM SOFTLY - A
11. PROMETHEUS - A-
12. MOONRISE KINGDOM - A+
13. ARGO - B
So I think I did a pretty decent job of anticipating (5 of my top 10 are in the above), but it's hard to anticipate movies like Beasts of the Southern Wild because there's not much word about them until they actually get released (or play Sundance in Beasts' case). I also didn't anticipate liking major releases like Lincoln or Jack Reacher nearly as much, and while I was looking forward to seeing Killer Joe, it just didn't register on this list.
The biggest oversight was The Master, which I realized right after making the list that I forgot it, and said in a comment that I thought it would've been around #5 or #6.
So, again, my 2013 most anticipated list is below. We'll see how close I am next year:
1. THE COUNSELOR (Ridley Scott)
2. BEFORE MIDNIGHT (Richard Linklater)
3. TWELVE YEARS A SLAVE (Steve McQueen)
4. THE MONUMENTS MEN (George Clooney)
5. THE WORLD'S END (Edgar Wright)
6. GRAVITY (Alfonso Cuaron)
7. TO THE WONDER/KNIGHT OF CUPS/VOYAGE OF TIME/UNTITLED (Terrence Malick)
8. OUT OF THE FURNACE (Scott Cooper)
9. MUD (Jeff Nichols)
10. CALVARY (John Michael McDonagh)
11. ONLY GOD FORGIVES (Nicolas Winding Refn)
12. THE PLACE BEYOND THE PINES (Derek Cianfrance)
13. THE WOLF OF WALL STREET (Martin Scorsese)
14. A MOST WANTED MAN (Anton Corbijn)
15. INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS (Joel & Ethan Coen)
16. THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG (Peter Jackson)
17. SIDE EFFECTS (Steven Soderbergh)
18. CAPTAIN PHILLIPS (Paul Greengrass)
19. THE ZERO THEOREM (Terry Gilliam)
20. TRANCE (Danny Boyle)
Already I realize I left out a few films that would make the list if I made it today (AIN'T THEM BODIES SAINTS, ONLY LOVERS LEFT ALIVE, NYMPHOMANIAC, and FOXCATCHER would easily replace 17-20 on this list, some would be higher than that), but if I could just edit the list on a whim it wouldn't really mean anything to make the list in the first place, because it's not just fun to see good movies, it's also fun to look back a year afterwards and brag about how right you were about certain movies, right?
Could I be wrong in overlooking the big tentpoles of the year? Could IRON MAN 3 or MAN OF STEEL end up being amazing? I doubt it, but that'd be cool.
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