Introduction
In which I don't see Spider-Man 3, because I don't care enough to brave the huge opening weekend crowds (and it's not meant to be very good anyway). Just one in a list of films I've missed at the cinema this year anyway (300, Sunshine, The Fountain, The Illusionist, Ghost Rider, Shooter, TMNT...), though I do intend to see it there soon. And Zodiac's out now too! And Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End is surprisingly close! And...
Oh, summer. How you sequelise us. Now there's a new word for you.
Also this month, I watch some stuff via free downloads -- legal ones too! Check out LOVEFiLM for those, including proper features such as Super Size Me and The Cooler (as well as many more... if you pay). I'll mention which they are, with a link, as we progress. I'm not getting commission from clicks, by the way. Maybe I ought to be...
Weeks Nineteen and Twenty
In which I come up with a way of listing Extended-Cuts-That-Aren't-Much-Different without adversely affecting my numbering system. (And have retrospectively applied it to Crash and all since.)
I also begin to use the same system to list short films that I watch.
As usual, before we embark on the reviews, I shall inform you that this period covers the middle of May, from the 7th to the 20th.
49) March of the Penguins (2005, Luc Jacquet, DVD) 4/5
One of the most surprising hits at the box office in 2005, as you're probably aware this is a documentary about penguins. Specifically, it's about their mating cycle -- there's little information outside of that. It does manage to touch on the sex, death and violence inherent in most nature things though, albeit in a family-friendly U-rated kind of way. In fact, it's a film very much about the story of the mating cycle, rather than about information-giving. Along with beautiful shots of Antarctica and cute shots of baby penguins, I suspect this is why it was more of a hit than a straight-up informative documentary would have been.
49a) Spider-Man 2.1 (2004/2007, Sam Raimi, DVD) 5/5
Shortly before the release of the new threequel, Spider-Man 2 returns to DVD in this newly extended form. What's there? Not much. There are bits so little you'll think "I don't remember that bit" (and it may just be a bit you've forgotten); there's a new scene with MJ that's OK but not mind-blowing; some added bits to fights; and an alternate version of The Lift Scene that is funny and (very) notably different, but just not as good as the original. It's still a 5-star film because it doesn't ruin the original -- but it's not at all essential. The DVD has new extras, mind, so if that's your thing (like me) it may be worth it.
50) Ray (2004, Taylor Hackford, TV) 4/5
It's easy to see why Walk the Line has been described as "Ray with white people"; but Ray has also been described as being an outstanding performance in an average film, and I'd pretty much agree with this too. Jamie Foxx is indeed an amazingly accurate Ray Charles (based on the little I know of the man, anyway) and deserving of his Oscar. It would be unfair to say such a performance is wasted in this film, but it is true that no other element is quite up to the same level. While Ray is good, I personally thought Walk the Line was a better film.
51) Over the Hedge (2006, Tim Johnson & Karey Kirkpatrick, DVD) 3/5
CGI movies are far too common these days, meaning that the quality is dropping (demonstrated by the fact that the number produced has increased massively but the number of Oscar nominations in that category has remained at three). Over the Hedge is certainly derivative -- its character arc is almost directly lifted from Toy Story, for example -- but it is beautifully animated and does have some laugh-worthy moments, even if they are almost entirely in the last half hour. There are better examples of the genre, but it passes the time entertainingly enough. (Stay with it til the end of the credits for a little bit more, although if you bother you may agree with Hammy's assessment of things.)
52) Hello, Dolly! (1969, Gene Kelly, DVD) 3/5
Comedians Walter Matthau and Michael Crawford (yes, Frank Spencer!) star alongside Barbra Streisand in this comedy musical directed by Gene Kelly (yes, the star of many a musical himself!) which flopped at the box office but did well at the Oscars, and has gained in popularity since. The best bits are the very impressive dancing waiters at Harmonia Gardens, although some of the more amusing songs are worth seeing. It's this tongue-in-cheek, sometimes-silly tone that stops it seeming too dated, although other elements of its style (and the running time) don't help. Surely a must-see for musical fans, though others may not be as engaged.
52a) The End (2002, Tim Clayton & Rob Crowther, download) 2/5
A very brief film with a slightly silly, slightly amusing idea at its core. It doesn't outstay its welcome, but it does lose something in that you can see the end coming almost from the start. Currently available for free at LOVEFiLM.
52b) Bus Stop (2004, Matt Abbiss, download) 2/5
An animated, somewhat bizarre short about two people waiting at a bus stop. Done in a very simple style with sparse sound, but it's competently executed and often effective. It has some amusing moments. Not bad, but mainly for people who like this kind of thing anyway. Currently available for free at LOVEFiLM.
52c) Park (2005, Andy Pearson, download) 3/5
"Some humans in a park act like dogs" is essentially the premise of this film. It's a decent enough concept for a short really, and is well executed with some nice little moments. Prettily shot in the Autumn, too. Currently available for free at LOVEFiLM.
52d) Nine 1/2 Minutes (2002, Josh Appignanesi & Misha Manson-Smith, download) 4/5
David Tennant (yes, David Tennant!) and Zoe Telford (she's been in a variety of TV stuff) star in this comedic short about two people on an uncomfortable blind date that lasts just about as long as you might suspect. Genuinely funny for the most part, and easily the most professionally executed of these four shorts, but it does have a somewhat confounding conclusion. Currently available for free at LOVEFiLM.
Monday, 21 May 2007
Tuesday, 8 May 2007
Weeks 15-18
Introduction
After a glut of movies during the middle of the holiday things have slowed down a tad again. I say "a tad" -- you can see how much by the sheer volume of weeks included in this entry and the relatively sparse number of films! (To be technical, the average-films-per-week in this entry is 1.75, compared to 2.72 overall and 6 (yes, 6!) last time.)
Nonetheless, things are progressing, and overall I'm still on track to make it well past the 100 mark. That's from the overall average mind, not from the one for this period. From that I'll make it to about 90. Maybe I should worry... except that summer movie season is on the way! Plenty of new films there. Plus all the ones I've recently missed out on DVD.
Well, that sure is shiny.
Weeks Fifteen to Eighteen
In which I break my self-imposed rule about the length of reviews to witter on about Hidden for double the time. I also didn't watch a single new film in week sixteen (Three Colours Red fell right at the end of week fifteen, Hidden a little way into week seventeen!) And I've nearly hit the halfway point, a third of the way through the year. Oh my!
For anyone who may be trying to keep track, this period covers nearly all of April -- from the 9th to the 30th, in fact -- plus pretty much the first week of May (up to the 6th). That's basically a month. Well well well...
42) Three Colours Red (1994, Krzysztof Kieslowski, DVD) 5/5
The final film in the trilogy takes on the theme of fraternité/brotherhood, in a relatively obvious way: Irene Jacob befriends a lonesome old man who spies on his neighbour's telephone calls. There's much more to it than that, all on broadly the same theme, but I'm sure to say too much would be to ruin what is an excellent film. Best of all, in my mind, is the intriguing and oddly satisfying conclusion to the trilogy as a whole. I'm sure it's not for everyone, but I still recommend it.
43) Hidden (2005, Michael Haneke, DVD) 4/5
Empire's 15th best film of 2006 is very European. How so, you may ask. Well, firstly, it is French (and its original title is Caché, by the by); but it certainly feels it: it takes a very good concept/plot for a thriller and then stretches it out a little thin, with a notably slow pace, and a concentration on the dramatic impact on characters rather than plot movements. Not necessarily bad things, and it walks a fine line somewhere between them working and them failing (that is to say, it's not wholly successful). There's an irritating apparent lack of resolution, though reading one theory in an online review has suggested maybe I missed (or misinterpreted) it. The performances also deserve mention -- as with everything else they teeter between excellent (mostly) and a bit unbelievable (see: the rather muted 'arguments', or the unusual order of reactions to the son going missing). Some also might argue the direction is flat, with many long shots and relatively few cuts. You could argue this reflects the theme/plot, but on the other hand it is somewhat symptomatic of some areas of European cinema.
44) Casanova (2005, Lasse Hallstrom, DVD) 2/5
As expected, this film pales in comparison to the Russell T Davies-scripted, David Tennant-starring BBC production from the same year. Where that version is witty, clever, entertaining and actually does something with the characters, this film is silly, predictable and only occasionally graced with an amusing moment. Heath Ledger isn't in the same league as Tennant as Casanova-in-his-prime, and obviously few could compare to Peter O'Toole as old Casanova (in the BBC one, that is). Basically: avoid this, but be sure to see the BBC one.
45) Garden State (2004, Zach Braff, DVD) 4/5
Zach Braff of Scrubs fame writes, directs and stars in this coming-of-age-style comedy-drama, his first feature as writer and director. While it's not devoid of predictable elements there are some good scenes and performances along the way, as well as a few laughs (only a handful of them in any way marred by the trailer). It's probably the directing that really stands out, so it'll be interesting to see what his next film (2008's Open Hearts) is like.
46) Breathless (1960, Jean-Luc Godard, download) 4/5
Or A Bout de Souffle, Godard's first and most famous film; part of the beginning of the Nouvelle Vague, a French movement defining a particular youth culture at the time. OK, loose history lesson over. This is definitely what most people would call an 'arthouse' film, though is decidedly less so than the one other Godard film I've seen (1959's Vivre Sa Vie, which goes by various translated titles); this might be down to it drawing inspiration from American movies, most obviously those starring Humphrey Bogart. Undoubtedly not for everyone, but an obvious must for anyone with an interest in art / international cinema.
47) Bonnie and Clyde (1967, Arthur Penn, download) 4/5
"You've heard the story of Jesse James, of how he lived and died; If you're still in need of something to read, here's the story of Bonnie and Clyde". Bonnie and Clyde is a significant film for several reasons, but I'm not going to give another film history lesson! It brings together several well-executed elements to create a compelling whole -- good performances, showcased in at least one key scene for every actor; merging Hollywood feature and New Wave influences; themes of media influence, Robin Hood-esque antiheroism, what family is, and no doubt several more; plus a few exciting action sequences just to round things out.
48) Stormbreaker (2006, Geoffrey Sax, DVD) 4/5
An adaptation of the first in Anthony Horowitz's bestselling series of Alex Rider novels. It does a good job of translating the book, aided by an extensive cast of recognisable Brits (and some Yanks) and some entertaining action sequences. It occasionally lets itself down in its choices of which bits to adapt and which to leave out, especially in the third act -- some of the best action sequences are swapped for lesser ones (quad bikes for a horse in central London? Maybe a good idea on paper, but it doesn't work), and the climax isn't as fulfilling as the apparent one that happens just before it. Not a bad effort, especially for kids.
After a glut of movies during the middle of the holiday things have slowed down a tad again. I say "a tad" -- you can see how much by the sheer volume of weeks included in this entry and the relatively sparse number of films! (To be technical, the average-films-per-week in this entry is 1.75, compared to 2.72 overall and 6 (yes, 6!) last time.)
Nonetheless, things are progressing, and overall I'm still on track to make it well past the 100 mark. That's from the overall average mind, not from the one for this period. From that I'll make it to about 90. Maybe I should worry... except that summer movie season is on the way! Plenty of new films there. Plus all the ones I've recently missed out on DVD.
Well, that sure is shiny.
Weeks Fifteen to Eighteen
In which I break my self-imposed rule about the length of reviews to witter on about Hidden for double the time. I also didn't watch a single new film in week sixteen (Three Colours Red fell right at the end of week fifteen, Hidden a little way into week seventeen!) And I've nearly hit the halfway point, a third of the way through the year. Oh my!
For anyone who may be trying to keep track, this period covers nearly all of April -- from the 9th to the 30th, in fact -- plus pretty much the first week of May (up to the 6th). That's basically a month. Well well well...
42) Three Colours Red (1994, Krzysztof Kieslowski, DVD) 5/5
The final film in the trilogy takes on the theme of fraternité/brotherhood, in a relatively obvious way: Irene Jacob befriends a lonesome old man who spies on his neighbour's telephone calls. There's much more to it than that, all on broadly the same theme, but I'm sure to say too much would be to ruin what is an excellent film. Best of all, in my mind, is the intriguing and oddly satisfying conclusion to the trilogy as a whole. I'm sure it's not for everyone, but I still recommend it.
43) Hidden (2005, Michael Haneke, DVD) 4/5
Empire's 15th best film of 2006 is very European. How so, you may ask. Well, firstly, it is French (and its original title is Caché, by the by); but it certainly feels it: it takes a very good concept/plot for a thriller and then stretches it out a little thin, with a notably slow pace, and a concentration on the dramatic impact on characters rather than plot movements. Not necessarily bad things, and it walks a fine line somewhere between them working and them failing (that is to say, it's not wholly successful). There's an irritating apparent lack of resolution, though reading one theory in an online review has suggested maybe I missed (or misinterpreted) it. The performances also deserve mention -- as with everything else they teeter between excellent (mostly) and a bit unbelievable (see: the rather muted 'arguments', or the unusual order of reactions to the son going missing). Some also might argue the direction is flat, with many long shots and relatively few cuts. You could argue this reflects the theme/plot, but on the other hand it is somewhat symptomatic of some areas of European cinema.
44) Casanova (2005, Lasse Hallstrom, DVD) 2/5
As expected, this film pales in comparison to the Russell T Davies-scripted, David Tennant-starring BBC production from the same year. Where that version is witty, clever, entertaining and actually does something with the characters, this film is silly, predictable and only occasionally graced with an amusing moment. Heath Ledger isn't in the same league as Tennant as Casanova-in-his-prime, and obviously few could compare to Peter O'Toole as old Casanova (in the BBC one, that is). Basically: avoid this, but be sure to see the BBC one.
45) Garden State (2004, Zach Braff, DVD) 4/5
Zach Braff of Scrubs fame writes, directs and stars in this coming-of-age-style comedy-drama, his first feature as writer and director. While it's not devoid of predictable elements there are some good scenes and performances along the way, as well as a few laughs (only a handful of them in any way marred by the trailer). It's probably the directing that really stands out, so it'll be interesting to see what his next film (2008's Open Hearts) is like.
46) Breathless (1960, Jean-Luc Godard, download) 4/5
Or A Bout de Souffle, Godard's first and most famous film; part of the beginning of the Nouvelle Vague, a French movement defining a particular youth culture at the time. OK, loose history lesson over. This is definitely what most people would call an 'arthouse' film, though is decidedly less so than the one other Godard film I've seen (1959's Vivre Sa Vie, which goes by various translated titles); this might be down to it drawing inspiration from American movies, most obviously those starring Humphrey Bogart. Undoubtedly not for everyone, but an obvious must for anyone with an interest in art / international cinema.
47) Bonnie and Clyde (1967, Arthur Penn, download) 4/5
"You've heard the story of Jesse James, of how he lived and died; If you're still in need of something to read, here's the story of Bonnie and Clyde". Bonnie and Clyde is a significant film for several reasons, but I'm not going to give another film history lesson! It brings together several well-executed elements to create a compelling whole -- good performances, showcased in at least one key scene for every actor; merging Hollywood feature and New Wave influences; themes of media influence, Robin Hood-esque antiheroism, what family is, and no doubt several more; plus a few exciting action sequences just to round things out.
48) Stormbreaker (2006, Geoffrey Sax, DVD) 4/5
An adaptation of the first in Anthony Horowitz's bestselling series of Alex Rider novels. It does a good job of translating the book, aided by an extensive cast of recognisable Brits (and some Yanks) and some entertaining action sequences. It occasionally lets itself down in its choices of which bits to adapt and which to leave out, especially in the third act -- some of the best action sequences are swapped for lesser ones (quad bikes for a horse in central London? Maybe a good idea on paper, but it doesn't work), and the climax isn't as fulfilling as the apparent one that happens just before it. Not a bad effort, especially for kids.
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