Unless you’re lucky enough to get paid to see and write about 10-12 films per week, there’s just not enough time to see everything in any given year. Here’s an off-the-top-of-my-head list of the notable 2009 releases that I missed theatrically which I’ll have to catch up on DVD, with the exception of a few, which have still yet to find a release in my area.
The Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans
A Single Man
Bright Star
Bronson
Moon
Sherlock Holmes
The Lovely Bones
Crazy Heart
The Fantastic Mr. Fox
Zombieland
Paranormal Activity
Big Fan
Precious
Me and Orson Welles
In the Loop
Taking Woodstock
Women in Trouble
Capitalism: A Love Story
Antichrist
Mammoth
Tetro
The Box
The White Ribbon
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Saturday, January 2, 2010
GREAT START TO THE NEW YEAR
Technically, neither Up in the Air or Avatar are 2010 releases, but they are the first two films I've seen this new decade, and they were both fantastic in their own ways.
Up in the Air is as timely a movie as I've ever seen, a dramatic comedy with both visual and narrative wit, three tremendously appealing lead performances, and an on-point, sharp-as-a-tack screenplay that hits some surprisingly dark notes. It's a wonderful movie and a film that I look forward to wathching again for all its nuances and subtle moments of sly, perceptive humor and smarts. Jason Reitman is 3 for 3 (though I still think Juno is a tad overrated, solid and fun, but overrated).
Avatar is nothing less than a glimpse into the future of what cinematic technology holds. The film, for me, was like The New World set in Iraq with a lot of uber-fancy special effects. And God bless us were those special effects special; simply put, you've never seen anything like the sights in Avatar until you finally see Avatar. And see it you should. Even sci-fi resistant folks will enjoy this film. It's a classic Hollywood story (it could've been called Dances with the Na'vi) made exhiliratingly fresh by up-to-the-moment 3-D technology. Leave it to Jim Cameron to set the bar once again. Does Avatar re-invent cinema? For me, no. But it's a dazzling piece of action filmmaking and a work that demands to be seen on the big screen.
I'll have more in depth reviews of both of these films, along with more on The Road, in the next few days.
I'll also be posting my final Best of 2009 list, along with a run-down of the movies from 2009 that I missed in the theaters and don't appear on my Best of the Year list. I'm also close to having my Best of the Decade list completed; that'll be up in the next few weeks.
Up in the Air is as timely a movie as I've ever seen, a dramatic comedy with both visual and narrative wit, three tremendously appealing lead performances, and an on-point, sharp-as-a-tack screenplay that hits some surprisingly dark notes. It's a wonderful movie and a film that I look forward to wathching again for all its nuances and subtle moments of sly, perceptive humor and smarts. Jason Reitman is 3 for 3 (though I still think Juno is a tad overrated, solid and fun, but overrated).
Avatar is nothing less than a glimpse into the future of what cinematic technology holds. The film, for me, was like The New World set in Iraq with a lot of uber-fancy special effects. And God bless us were those special effects special; simply put, you've never seen anything like the sights in Avatar until you finally see Avatar. And see it you should. Even sci-fi resistant folks will enjoy this film. It's a classic Hollywood story (it could've been called Dances with the Na'vi) made exhiliratingly fresh by up-to-the-moment 3-D technology. Leave it to Jim Cameron to set the bar once again. Does Avatar re-invent cinema? For me, no. But it's a dazzling piece of action filmmaking and a work that demands to be seen on the big screen.
I'll have more in depth reviews of both of these films, along with more on The Road, in the next few days.
I'll also be posting my final Best of 2009 list, along with a run-down of the movies from 2009 that I missed in the theaters and don't appear on my Best of the Year list. I'm also close to having my Best of the Decade list completed; that'll be up in the next few weeks.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
QUICKLY
The Road is the best film I've seen in 2009 thus far. Ever since I saw it last weekened it's been impossible not to go back to it in my head. A riveting experience, it's a film that's not likely to be loved by all viewers, but I found it to be a masterpiece on pretty much every level. The inevitable snubbing of the film in all categories at the Oscars will be predictably despicable; it's a crime that the film got dumped the way it did by the Weinstein company, and it's mind boggling that more than one esteemed "critic" didn't see the brilliance of this film. I'll have a more detailed take on John Hillcoat's masterful piece of apocalyptic fiction, but for now, I'll say that it's a helluva film, and one that I cannot wait to watch again and again. That may sound strange as the film is quite dark and bleak, but I sort of see it as a companion piece (in some respects) to Children of Men, another film about the end of civilization that has stayed in the memory banks for a long time.
Nine was very enjoyable. It's pure style; it's really a show for cinematographer Dion Beebe and editor Claire Simpson. The cast is solid all around, but it's Daniel Day Lewis who (predictably) owns the screen. Marion Cotillard is fast becoming my favorite working actress, Penelope Cruz should think about becoming a full-time Victoria's Secret model (kidding...but not really...), and for the first time, I didn't want to strangle Kate Hudson on screen. It's not a groundbreaking movie like 8 1/2, one of its inspirations, but it's a classy, jazzy, snazzy, big-screen musical with lots of visual razzle dazzle. Rob Marshall knows what's up with this sort of thing.
I'll be seeing Up in the Air tomorrow.
I've got tickets for Avatar in 3-D IMAX for Saturday.
Might check out It's Complicated on Sunday.
That leaves only The Lovely Bones, Crazy Heart, A Single Man, and Sherlock Holmes as the last few major releases for 2009. I'll have to catch up with Invictus, Fantastic Mr. Fox, and An Education on Blu Ray.
Recent DVD viewings have included the hysterical bro-mance Humpday (looooved it), G-Force (very amusing), Dedication (it was only a'ight but Billy Crudup was terrific), Ballast (solid but overrated), Monsters Inc. (lovable and tons of fun), and Love, Etc. (disappointing).
I'll be posting my best of the decade list soon, so keep an eye out.
Happy New Year to all!
Nine was very enjoyable. It's pure style; it's really a show for cinematographer Dion Beebe and editor Claire Simpson. The cast is solid all around, but it's Daniel Day Lewis who (predictably) owns the screen. Marion Cotillard is fast becoming my favorite working actress, Penelope Cruz should think about becoming a full-time Victoria's Secret model (kidding...but not really...), and for the first time, I didn't want to strangle Kate Hudson on screen. It's not a groundbreaking movie like 8 1/2, one of its inspirations, but it's a classy, jazzy, snazzy, big-screen musical with lots of visual razzle dazzle. Rob Marshall knows what's up with this sort of thing.
I'll be seeing Up in the Air tomorrow.
I've got tickets for Avatar in 3-D IMAX for Saturday.
Might check out It's Complicated on Sunday.
That leaves only The Lovely Bones, Crazy Heart, A Single Man, and Sherlock Holmes as the last few major releases for 2009. I'll have to catch up with Invictus, Fantastic Mr. Fox, and An Education on Blu Ray.
Recent DVD viewings have included the hysterical bro-mance Humpday (looooved it), G-Force (very amusing), Dedication (it was only a'ight but Billy Crudup was terrific), Ballast (solid but overrated), Monsters Inc. (lovable and tons of fun), and Love, Etc. (disappointing).
I'll be posting my best of the decade list soon, so keep an eye out.
Happy New Year to all!
Friday, December 25, 2009
MOVIES FOR THE WEEEKEND
I got a surprise gift this holiday weekend -- The Road is playing (only two showings per day however) in my area, so tomorrow night, my plan is to check it out. I am very excited.
Nine on Sunday.
Up in the Air on New Year's day.
Avatar next Saturday.
Sherlock Holmes and It's Complicated soon.
MERRY XMAS INDEED
The fam/wife hooked it up for Christmas this year -- the bounty:
Gladiator Blu
Fight Club Blu
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia Xmas Special Blu
Bruno Blu
2001 Blu
North by Northwest Blu
The Dark Knight Blu
Who Framed Roger Rabbit Vista Series
Homicide: Criterion
The Muppet Movie
Heist
Richard Pryor: Live & Smokin'
Sunday, December 20, 2009
LOVE THE TWO OF THEM...
...but this film has been directed by ultra-hack extraordinaire, Shawn Levy.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
