As 2010 draws to a close it is time for the obligatory top ten movie list. Without further ado I give you the best of year in movies.
10. Alice in Wonderland
How can you go wrong with Tim Burton directing and Johnny Depp playing the Mad Hatter? Not so much a remake as a re-imagining/sequel, this movie really delivered. Great performances by Depp as the Mad Hatter, Helena Bonham Carter as the Red Queen, and newcomer Mia Wasikowska as Alice made this a splendid trip down the rabbit hole. It didn't hurt that the art work was some of the most imaginative I have ever seen. If nothing else, you have to give Tim Burton credit for making some of the most visually astonishing films out there.
9. Secretariat
Despite being a fairly-predictable story, this really was a pleasant surprise. While the racing scenes are not bad to look at, they were not as impressive as Seabiscuit. But Secretariat, despite the title, was just as much if not more about Secretariat's owner Penny Chenery, who defied gender barriers in the horse racing world. Diane Lane really brought the spirit of Chenery to life in a stellar performance. And John Malkovich made for a very convincing Lucien Laurin.
8. Morning Glory
These days it seems the hardest things to come by at the multiplex are good comedies and good horror films. Well, Morning Glory was one of the sharpest comedies I have seen in some time. It was a really sharp, funny, and a great look at what life is like in the broadcasting world. Special credit to Rachel McAdams as the spunky protagonist and Harrison Ford as a crotchety old-school reporter.
7. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part I
Harry Potter seems to be one of those rare cases like Lord of the Rings where the transition from page to screen has been fairly successful. No, the movies are never going to replace the books. But with the first part of the seventh film Harry Potter the franchise took another step in becoming one of the best film/book sagas of all time. Yes this installment was darker, a little slower, and an emotional roller coaster, but the same can be said of the books. I was already looking forward to part two but that ending made me all the more anxious.
6. How to Train Your Dragon
A film about literally how to train dragons could have been really corny and stupid, but thankfully it wasn't. Great animation and an inventive story about how misunderstood dragons are was one of the most enjoyable experiences of 2010.
5.Black Swan
Black Swan was exciting, creepy, dramatic, and... one of the most original films of 2010! A great performance by Natalie Portman carries this story about an obsessed ballet dancer. This was a return to form for it's director after the disaster that was "The Wrestler." This one belongs alongside "Requiem for a Dream." It's that good!
4. Toy Story 3
Pixar always seems to make at least one film on my ten best list every year. 2010 was no different. The Toy Story franchise is the rare exception to the rule of sequels usually being inferior. Quite the contrary. Toy Story was exciting and groundbreaking, Toy Story 2 was poignant, and Toy Story 3 was all of those things and more.
3. Green Zone
Even though the subject matter about falsified intelligence regarding WMDs in Iraq is not news anymore, Green Zone proved to be an exciting as well as highly-intelligent thriller. Paul Greengrass and Matt Damon who teamed up for the Bourne movies here deliver another winner.
2. Waiting for Superman
Few things are more important than a good education. Sadly the school system in the USA is in a real state of disrepair. If you don't believe me check out this documentary. And afterwords you'll have a whole new appreciation for teachers.
1. Inception
I know this film drove some people crazy because it was so complicated. I relished that. In a year with sequels, remakes, and just outright idiotic movies, this was the cream of the crop. If you want a movie that's imaginative, exciting, and has tour de force performances by the likes of Leonardo DiCaprio and Ellen Page then this is the movie for you. Thank you Christopher Nolan for being one of the best and brightest directors in Hollywood. Inception somehow managed to be delightful and challenging all at the same time. Don't plan on watching this movie casually, you can't take your eyes off it or you will miss something important. No wasted screen time is to be found here.
Friday, December 31, 2010
Monday, December 27, 2010
In Review: Black Swan
Usually I have a hard time understanding why someone dislikes I movie that I love. "Black Swan" may be the exception to that rule. More on my disclaimer later. I found it completely engrossing and a return to form for its director Darren Aronofsky. I consider his "Requiem for a Dream" to be one of the most powerful examples of cinematic art while his last outing "The Wrestler" I found vapid and a complete waste of time and the talents involved.
"Black Swan" centers around a ballerina named Nina (Natalie Portman) who lives to dance and nothing more. She is completely consumed by her craft. The plot? Nina's ballet company is putting on a production of Swan Lake and she wants to be the swan queen. The problem is that the director (Vincent Cassel) doesn't think she can pull off the role. He doesn't buy her as both the black swan and the white swan. Perhaps I should back it up and explain in a nutshell the plot of Swan Lake. A princess is turned into a swan and can only be turned back into a human by the love of a prince. But the prince is seduced by the black swan so the white swan kills herself.
What unfolds in "Black Swan" is life imitating art. What's holding Nina back, at least according to the director, is that she doesn't lose herself in her dancing. She is technically splendid but struggles at making it look effortless. As the story unfolds, we see Nina go from a talented, driven dancer to an ultra-competitive psychotic dancer.
"Black Swan" takes us into the physical and psychological demands of being a professional dancer. The dance company is a team to be sure, but the animosity is on full display. The central example is the rivalry between Nina and Lily (Mila Kunis). Lily just fits right in with the company and Nina feels threatened by her natural talent. When Nina is cast as the swan queen the gloves are off. Nina starts to lose it in a variety of ways. Nina's struggle to completely nail her part is a descent into complete psychosis. Just like in "Requiem for a Dream," Aronofsky shows here how to convey on film a person's descent into madness. The way Nina starts to lose touch with reality is reminiscent of how Aronofsky showed the reality of people on drugs in "Requiem."
It's fascinating to see how the main character in "Black Swan" experiences the plot of Swan Lake in real life. The story had me on the edge of my seat and not bored for one second. Not too many movies can do that lately it seems.
The movie is a triumph, especially for it's star, Natalie Portman. With "Black Swan" she has finally been given the star vehicle she has more than earned. It's only fair for the actress who gave credibility to the Star Wars prequels because, let's be honest, the acting was not the strong point of those movies. She could easily have phoned it in because she was in Star Wars after all and everyone would be more interested in the special effects. Instead she used it as learning experience and she got noticed. Then came "Garden State," one of the last great romantic comedies, "V for Vendetta," and now "Black Swan." In addition to pulling off the dialogue she also had to be a convincing dancer. Boy is she ever! Without that the movie would have sunk. This is her best performance to date and I do believe it will garner her a well-deserved Oscar nomination. Hopefully she makes many more movies because she is one of the finest actresses in Hollywood.
It must also be mentioned that the rest of the cast is stellar as well, especially Mila Kunis as her rival Lily and Barbra Hershey as her controlling mother. Kudos all around!
Now, back to my disclaimer. I for one loved "Black Swan," but I will completely understand if some people hate it. If you're not into ballet and all the work it takes to be in that profession, you will be bored. The other thing that may turn people off is the intense psychological and physical torture Nina goes through and the way her psychosis manifests itself. People may find it over the top, but I did not. If I were to summarize this movie in one sentence I would describe it as a cross between "The Turning Point" and "Jacob's Ladder." For me this was one of the best films of 2010. I urge you to see it and make your own conclusions.
Side note: The more movies about dance I see the more I appreciate what it takes to be a great dancer. If this movie gets you more interested in dancing I would recommend checking out "The Company," one of Robert Altman's last films about a ballet company and all the work that goes into putting on a show.
"Black Swan" centers around a ballerina named Nina (Natalie Portman) who lives to dance and nothing more. She is completely consumed by her craft. The plot? Nina's ballet company is putting on a production of Swan Lake and she wants to be the swan queen. The problem is that the director (Vincent Cassel) doesn't think she can pull off the role. He doesn't buy her as both the black swan and the white swan. Perhaps I should back it up and explain in a nutshell the plot of Swan Lake. A princess is turned into a swan and can only be turned back into a human by the love of a prince. But the prince is seduced by the black swan so the white swan kills herself.
What unfolds in "Black Swan" is life imitating art. What's holding Nina back, at least according to the director, is that she doesn't lose herself in her dancing. She is technically splendid but struggles at making it look effortless. As the story unfolds, we see Nina go from a talented, driven dancer to an ultra-competitive psychotic dancer.
"Black Swan" takes us into the physical and psychological demands of being a professional dancer. The dance company is a team to be sure, but the animosity is on full display. The central example is the rivalry between Nina and Lily (Mila Kunis). Lily just fits right in with the company and Nina feels threatened by her natural talent. When Nina is cast as the swan queen the gloves are off. Nina starts to lose it in a variety of ways. Nina's struggle to completely nail her part is a descent into complete psychosis. Just like in "Requiem for a Dream," Aronofsky shows here how to convey on film a person's descent into madness. The way Nina starts to lose touch with reality is reminiscent of how Aronofsky showed the reality of people on drugs in "Requiem."
It's fascinating to see how the main character in "Black Swan" experiences the plot of Swan Lake in real life. The story had me on the edge of my seat and not bored for one second. Not too many movies can do that lately it seems.
The movie is a triumph, especially for it's star, Natalie Portman. With "Black Swan" she has finally been given the star vehicle she has more than earned. It's only fair for the actress who gave credibility to the Star Wars prequels because, let's be honest, the acting was not the strong point of those movies. She could easily have phoned it in because she was in Star Wars after all and everyone would be more interested in the special effects. Instead she used it as learning experience and she got noticed. Then came "Garden State," one of the last great romantic comedies, "V for Vendetta," and now "Black Swan." In addition to pulling off the dialogue she also had to be a convincing dancer. Boy is she ever! Without that the movie would have sunk. This is her best performance to date and I do believe it will garner her a well-deserved Oscar nomination. Hopefully she makes many more movies because she is one of the finest actresses in Hollywood.
It must also be mentioned that the rest of the cast is stellar as well, especially Mila Kunis as her rival Lily and Barbra Hershey as her controlling mother. Kudos all around!
Now, back to my disclaimer. I for one loved "Black Swan," but I will completely understand if some people hate it. If you're not into ballet and all the work it takes to be in that profession, you will be bored. The other thing that may turn people off is the intense psychological and physical torture Nina goes through and the way her psychosis manifests itself. People may find it over the top, but I did not. If I were to summarize this movie in one sentence I would describe it as a cross between "The Turning Point" and "Jacob's Ladder." For me this was one of the best films of 2010. I urge you to see it and make your own conclusions.
Side note: The more movies about dance I see the more I appreciate what it takes to be a great dancer. If this movie gets you more interested in dancing I would recommend checking out "The Company," one of Robert Altman's last films about a ballet company and all the work that goes into putting on a show.
Monday, December 13, 2010
Movies That Inspired Us
In the life of every film goer there is a movie that changes how they look at and think about movies. My question for you readers is: what was that movie for you and why? Let me tell you about the movie that changed me forever. Are you ready for this?...
Photo courtesy of: http://www.geekshow.us/wp/wp-content/uploads/image/Raiders_01.jpg
"Raiders of the Lost Ark" was the movie that made a dramatic impact on me. I hear some people saying, "huh?" Yes, you read that correctly. True, I do consider "Casablanca" the greatest movie of all time, but I never would have appreciated it had I not been enthralled by the saga of Indiana Jones.
You know how when you're a kid you can watch things repetitively to the point of obsession? I did that with this movie. My family had a VHS copy (remember VHS?) and I watched it again and again to the point where I wore it out. So why? What was it about this classic blockbuster from the 1980s that made me return to it again and again? There are many reasons.
First, it contained action sequences like I had never seen before. The first time I saw Indiana Jones running from the boulder in the temple, I was hooked. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. The image remained firmly in my mind and I still think back fondly on the first time I saw it.
Second, I had never seen anything so exciting in my life from beginning to end. To borrow a cliche, the movie had me at hello. Even as a kid of nine I was not bored once during this movie. It was so brilliantly written, acted, directed, etc. After the boulder sequence I was on the edge of my seat to see what would happen next. I never thought it would get better after that. But then... there was the escape from the Well of the Souls and of course the truck chase.
Third, and this is going to sound trite, but it had one of the coolest heroes on screen. I had never seen or heard of Harrison Ford before, but little did I know between this and "Star Wars" that he was going to be one of the actors I would be appreciating for years to come. The whole movie sinks if the lead character is dull. No chance of that here. Indiana Jones is heroic, but not perfect. He's always in just a little bit over his head, but he's also smart, likable, and not bad to look at. As an aside: my dad bought a fedora when I was a kid. I used to wear it around the house and look for things that looked like artifacts so I could pretend I was Indy. But I digress...
Fourth, how could you not love Karen Allen? Marion was a great female lead. Smart, tough, sexy, she had it all. She stood toe-to-toe with Indy for toughness but then she could also be a great romantic leading lady.
Fifth, script: need I say more? The number of lines I quote from "Raiders"... well let's just say there are a lot of them. My favorite? "Asps, very dangerous. You go first."
Finally, it was the movie that made me appreciate all the hard work that went into movies. Shortly after seeing it for the first time I saw a documentary on the stunts of "Raiders." I couldn't believe people did such a thing for a living. People actually get paid to nearly get themselves killed working on films? And all the work that went into those special effects, such as the aforementioned boulder sequence and the scene at the end with the Ark and those melting faces of Nazis. Plus, I played the cassette tape of the soundtrack over and over. This was the first step in appreciating the genius that was John Williams.
In closing I would like to thank Steven Spielberg for bringing movies into my life. You're throw-back to Saturday matinee serials made me realize what I wanted to do with my life and that was become a film critic. And of course thank you to Harrison Ford for being my first movie crush.
You know how when you're a kid you can watch things repetitively to the point of obsession? I did that with this movie. My family had a VHS copy (remember VHS?) and I watched it again and again to the point where I wore it out. So why? What was it about this classic blockbuster from the 1980s that made me return to it again and again? There are many reasons.
First, it contained action sequences like I had never seen before. The first time I saw Indiana Jones running from the boulder in the temple, I was hooked. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. The image remained firmly in my mind and I still think back fondly on the first time I saw it.
Second, I had never seen anything so exciting in my life from beginning to end. To borrow a cliche, the movie had me at hello. Even as a kid of nine I was not bored once during this movie. It was so brilliantly written, acted, directed, etc. After the boulder sequence I was on the edge of my seat to see what would happen next. I never thought it would get better after that. But then... there was the escape from the Well of the Souls and of course the truck chase.
Third, and this is going to sound trite, but it had one of the coolest heroes on screen. I had never seen or heard of Harrison Ford before, but little did I know between this and "Star Wars" that he was going to be one of the actors I would be appreciating for years to come. The whole movie sinks if the lead character is dull. No chance of that here. Indiana Jones is heroic, but not perfect. He's always in just a little bit over his head, but he's also smart, likable, and not bad to look at. As an aside: my dad bought a fedora when I was a kid. I used to wear it around the house and look for things that looked like artifacts so I could pretend I was Indy. But I digress...
Fourth, how could you not love Karen Allen? Marion was a great female lead. Smart, tough, sexy, she had it all. She stood toe-to-toe with Indy for toughness but then she could also be a great romantic leading lady.
Fifth, script: need I say more? The number of lines I quote from "Raiders"... well let's just say there are a lot of them. My favorite? "Asps, very dangerous. You go first."
Finally, it was the movie that made me appreciate all the hard work that went into movies. Shortly after seeing it for the first time I saw a documentary on the stunts of "Raiders." I couldn't believe people did such a thing for a living. People actually get paid to nearly get themselves killed working on films? And all the work that went into those special effects, such as the aforementioned boulder sequence and the scene at the end with the Ark and those melting faces of Nazis. Plus, I played the cassette tape of the soundtrack over and over. This was the first step in appreciating the genius that was John Williams.
In closing I would like to thank Steven Spielberg for bringing movies into my life. You're throw-back to Saturday matinee serials made me realize what I wanted to do with my life and that was become a film critic. And of course thank you to Harrison Ford for being my first movie crush.
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