Introduction
My quest to watch 100 films I've never seen before by the end of 2007 continues toward the halfway point. However, this week I've hit an exact average of three films per week -- if that were to continue I'd easily pass 150 films by the end of the year! It's really beginning to seem that 100 is a rather easy mark to cross, while 150 would be more realistic... though only if I kept this rate up, and I slipped I would fail. That's never fun.
So, my indecisiveness shall continue. Probably until I actually reach 100 and decide if there's enough time to see another 50 films. Oh well, they say gambling's bad anyway.
Week Fourteen
As noted last week (and above), week fourteen means we're now over a quarter of the way through the year, and so on the path to the halfway point (which, by-the-way, would be about July 1st, which is the Sunday at the end of week twenty-six). I'm also still on holiday, so once again I've seen a fair few films this week, and six of them new to me. Here they are:
36) Ladies in Lavender (2004, Charles Dance, DVD) 4/5
Judi Dench puts in her fourth appearance in this list (far and away the most represented actor, I should think) in Charles Dance's first film as writer and director. Dench and her long-time friend Maggie Smith play believable sisters in a beautiful Cornish setting who discover a young Pole washed up on their beach. The story progresses from there in a gentle but engrossing fashion, and the cast of experienced Brits are as excellent as ever.
37) The New World (2005, Terrence Malick, DVD) 4/5
Slowly paced and beautifully photographed, this is about as far from Disney's telling of the story (in Pocahontas, of course) as you could get. This is not a bad thing, as the pace and photography combine to make for a serene unravelling of story and mood. It only begins to wear a little thin around the time Christian Bale's character turns up -- sticking to the facts of a story, and in the process damaging the film, is sadly a regular flaw in real-life tales such as this. I also loved the sound design, imbued as it was with the small sounds of nature, all creaking timber and rustling grass.
38) The Devil Wears Prada (2006, David Frankel, DVD) 4/5
Emily Blunt steals every scene, which is impressive alongside an Oscar-nominated Meryl Streep (that being the now-customary acting-nominee-from-a-blockbuster, est. 2004 by Mr Depp). Anne Hathaway provides the plot/emotional through-line against these performances, which is somewhat impressive when playing a lead character who morally sells out (albeit into a lifestyle that is undoubtedly desirable to the film's intended audience). The plot and character arcs may be pretty predictable, but it's an above-average example of a film of this type.
39) Three Colours Blue (1993, Krzysztof Kieslowski, DVD) 4/5
The first in Kieslowski's thematic trilogy based around the French flag and the values it represents. Here it's liberté/freedom, in this case brought about by the death of Julie's husband and daughter in a car accident. In the lead role Juliette Binoche is the film and she carries it admirably, taking her character through a range of phases and emotions. It takes a little time to get going but is worth it in the end (speaking of the end, it appears to have been an inspiration to films such as Donnie Darko and Magnolia...)
40) Happy Feet (2006, George Miller, DVD) 4/5
While it might not be in quite the same league as The Incredibles or Finding Nemo, this year's Animated Oscar-winner does have a few things going for it. There are a couple of enjoyable songs, a few exciting action sequences, and even some bits that actually make you laugh. Couple this with a positive (if improbable) pro-environment message, and an even better anti-religious one that's only half-hidden, and you have an entertaining film for kids that grown-ups will find something in too.
41) Three Colours White (1994, Krzysztof Kieslowski, DVD) 4/5
The second in the trilogy (see #40) features the idea of égalité/equality. The lead character is a Polish immigrant who, at the start, is divorced by his French wife and, in a roundabout way, forced to return to Poland. The narrative follows an odd path toward an odd resolution; it's also odd that a film about a basic French value is set mostly in Poland. While it has its moments and is certainly intriguing, White comes out as inferior to Blue. I'm looking forward to what Red has in store.
Monday, 9 April 2007
Monday, 2 April 2007
Weeks 12-13
Introduction
I knew I should have posted the not-too-short-really week twelve by itself, as week thirteen has seen a veritable mass of films viewed toward the end. But it's done now, so on with the show!
The end of the second week here marks the exact quarter-way point of my filmic quest (in time terms anyway) and so it seems an appropriate point to reflect a little on my quest so far. So here are some numbers, all totalled up to the end of week thirteen:
Statistics
I have seen a total of 36 films.
Of those, 1 was released in the 1910s, 2 in the 1920s, 1 in the 1940s, 2 in the 1950s, 4 in the 1980s, 3 in the 1990s, and 23 in the 2000s. That means there's nothing from the 1930s, 1960s or 1970s.
I have seen 27 on DVD, 6 at the cinema, 2 on VHS, and just 1 on TV.
The only directors to turn up multiple times are John Glen (twice) and F.W. Murnau (twice). As it turns out, a fair few actors turn up at least twice, mainly thanks to films like Hot Fuzz, Boogie Nights and Crash. It was only Roger Moore who managed several appearances when I first started putting these stats together!
I have awarded 4 films 5/5, 17 films 4/5, 10 films 3/5, 4 films 2/5, and 1 film 1/5. This makes the average score 3.5/5. Either I see lots of pretty good films or I need to adjust my scoring downward slightly. For anyone interested, the five-star films were Hot Fuzz, United 93, Crash and Trainspotting, whilst the one-star was Flight 93.
My weekly average is now 2.8 per week, which means I'm on course to see about 145 films this year. Maybe I should adjust that aim...
Weeks Twelve and Thirteen
Anyway, it's time to get on. Here are the films I watched between March 19th and April 1st...
25) Doom (2005, Andrzej Bartkowiak, DVD) 2/5
Doom is quite flawed in many ways. I don't say this because I inherently dislike mindless action films (while I am perfectly aware they are not usually Great Films, I enjoy them as entertainment); I say this because Doom doesn't really succeed at being one. It takes too long to get anywhere -- I think someone thought it was building suspense, when really it's just nothing happening. When it does kick off it's brief and only vaguelly entertaining. And the much-discussed first-person sequence is far too much like watching someone play a video game.
26) Flight 93 (2006, Peter Markle, DVD) 1/5
Oh dear. The Other Film About United 93 is just that. With poor acting, pedestrian direction, dreadful effects, and a young child in every single scene involving a relative, this film is infinitely inferior to Paul Greengrass' United 93. Where that was subtle, realistic and moving, this is over-worked, cheesy and laughable -- yes, laughable; we spent half the running time taking the piss out of it! Not good for a film about a tragedy. Some have called this a worthy companion piece to United 93. It's not. United 93 is essential; Flight 93 you can take or, preferably, leave.
27) Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (2002, George Clooney, TV) 4/5
George Clooney's directorial debut is part biopic, part comedy and part spy thriller. It's the last part that works best, but perhaps that's just because I have a predilection for spy thrillers; that said, the filmmakers would seem to agree as, after a late appearance in the plot, it comes to dominate its climax. It's also nicely shot, especially the excursions to Europe. I would recommend it (though not quite as heartily as Clooney's second film, the excellent Good Night, and Good Luck).
27a) Crash: Director's Cut (2004, Paul Haggis, DVD) 5/5
OK, I must confess, this one is something of a cheat -- I've seen Crash before, and whilst some 'director's cuts' can be vastly different this one is only around two minutes longer. But I'll take any chance I can get to go on about how this is a much better and more Oscar-deserving piece than a certain overrated film about gay cowboys. In my opinion this is a film that should be seen, not necessarily for its message but for its quality in terms of performance, direction, etc.
28) The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada (2005, Tommy Lee Jones, DVD) 3/5
Empire gave this film one of their rare five-star reviews, immediately making me want to see it. Shame they overrated it then. A confused first act (which jumps about in chronology for no discernible reason) gives way to a more linear second two that, while more pleasing, seem to do away with major characters for no reason other than the plot ran out of things for them to do. The film has its moments, and some pretty views, but five-star it ain't.
29) Trainspotting (1996, Danny Boyle, DVD) 5/5
Choose great direction. Choose iconic images. Choose a great soundtrack. Choose a brilliant cast. Choose a career-making performance from Ewan McGregor. Choose a witty script. Choose realism. Choose drugs. Choose sex. Choose a condom, for the first time on screen. Choose swearing. Choose violence. Choose drink. Choose Scotland. Choose Trainspotting.
30) Little Miss Sunshine (2006, Jonathan Dayton & Valerie Faris, DVD) 4/5
People will tell you this is a comedy, when really it's a comedy-drama. A TV critic once said, not wrongly, that a comedy-drama is something that isn't especially funny nor especially dramatic so tries to do both. Luckily, Little Miss Sunshine is frequently laugh-out-loud hilarious, from the opening dinner scene to the send-up of inherently paedophilic beauty pageants at the climax (so hilarious it almost single-handedly pushed my mark up to a five). There's also some competent drama threaded through to make that side worthwhile. And I suspect that lovable little Abigail Breslin was more deserving of the Oscar than that irritating Jennifer Hudson.
31) Mrs Henderson Presents (2005, Stephen Frears, DVD) 4/5
Judi Dench is clearly having a whale of a time in this 1930s-set comedy about a 70-year-old widow who starts up a nude revue. It begins as light comedy with a gently risque edge (rather in-keeping with its subject matter!), but things get a tad serious when the war hits. Luckily the film finds its lightness again in time for the ending, which is much more suited to the general tone. All told it's simply a bit of fun, but its overall quality just about nudges it into a four.
32) Chocolat (2000, Lasse Hallstrom, DVD) 4/5
Although not the lead character this time, Judi Dench once again revels in playing an old lady who can say what she likes, in this pleasant adaptation of Joanne Harris' novel. It's a neat little story about acceptance that doesn't suffer from an occasionally episodic plot or a sometimes quaint depiction of French small-town life. (I was occasionally distracted spotting the sci-fi/fantasy credentials of the cast. But that's just me.)
33) American Dreamz (2006, Paul Weitz, DVD) 3/5
This loosely satirical comedy from the director of such diverse fare as American Pie and About a Boy sees Dennis Quaid's Bush-growing-a-brain President agree to be a guest judge on Hugh Grant's Simon-Cowell-with-looks TV talent show that features Mandy Moore's moral-less wannabe and Sam Golzari's Iraqi potential-suicide-bomber as contestants. It's pretty much as loopy as that sounds, though not as clever as it thinks it is. It starts well, the quality dips as it takes too long to get to the actual contest, but the ending manages to redeem things.
34) Secretary (2002, Steven Shainberg, DVD) 3/5
I seem to recall reading that Secretary attempts to depict a realistic and sympathetic dominant/submissive relationship. Unfortunately this seems to come a bit unstuck with the feeling that the relationship is initially based in an emotionally (and physically) abusive act against a clearly vulnerable character, leaving the following events and mutually loving resolution tinged with a hint of something akin to Stockholm Syndrome, in my opinion. Well acted and all, but fundamentally flawed.
35) The King and I (1956, Walter Lang, DVD) 3/5
To be fair to The King and I, I was a little sleepy through most of it, and, thanks to some slightly cheesy bits at the start, my mind was occasionally locked in a spoofing mode. However, there are some recognisable songs and an Oscar-winning performance from Yul Brynner, as well as truly sumptuous sets and costumes.
I knew I should have posted the not-too-short-really week twelve by itself, as week thirteen has seen a veritable mass of films viewed toward the end. But it's done now, so on with the show!
The end of the second week here marks the exact quarter-way point of my filmic quest (in time terms anyway) and so it seems an appropriate point to reflect a little on my quest so far. So here are some numbers, all totalled up to the end of week thirteen:
Statistics
I have seen a total of 36 films.
Of those, 1 was released in the 1910s, 2 in the 1920s, 1 in the 1940s, 2 in the 1950s, 4 in the 1980s, 3 in the 1990s, and 23 in the 2000s. That means there's nothing from the 1930s, 1960s or 1970s.
I have seen 27 on DVD, 6 at the cinema, 2 on VHS, and just 1 on TV.
The only directors to turn up multiple times are John Glen (twice) and F.W. Murnau (twice). As it turns out, a fair few actors turn up at least twice, mainly thanks to films like Hot Fuzz, Boogie Nights and Crash. It was only Roger Moore who managed several appearances when I first started putting these stats together!
I have awarded 4 films 5/5, 17 films 4/5, 10 films 3/5, 4 films 2/5, and 1 film 1/5. This makes the average score 3.5/5. Either I see lots of pretty good films or I need to adjust my scoring downward slightly. For anyone interested, the five-star films were Hot Fuzz, United 93, Crash and Trainspotting, whilst the one-star was Flight 93.
My weekly average is now 2.8 per week, which means I'm on course to see about 145 films this year. Maybe I should adjust that aim...
Weeks Twelve and Thirteen
Anyway, it's time to get on. Here are the films I watched between March 19th and April 1st...
25) Doom (2005, Andrzej Bartkowiak, DVD) 2/5
Doom is quite flawed in many ways. I don't say this because I inherently dislike mindless action films (while I am perfectly aware they are not usually Great Films, I enjoy them as entertainment); I say this because Doom doesn't really succeed at being one. It takes too long to get anywhere -- I think someone thought it was building suspense, when really it's just nothing happening. When it does kick off it's brief and only vaguelly entertaining. And the much-discussed first-person sequence is far too much like watching someone play a video game.
26) Flight 93 (2006, Peter Markle, DVD) 1/5
Oh dear. The Other Film About United 93 is just that. With poor acting, pedestrian direction, dreadful effects, and a young child in every single scene involving a relative, this film is infinitely inferior to Paul Greengrass' United 93. Where that was subtle, realistic and moving, this is over-worked, cheesy and laughable -- yes, laughable; we spent half the running time taking the piss out of it! Not good for a film about a tragedy. Some have called this a worthy companion piece to United 93. It's not. United 93 is essential; Flight 93 you can take or, preferably, leave.
27) Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (2002, George Clooney, TV) 4/5
George Clooney's directorial debut is part biopic, part comedy and part spy thriller. It's the last part that works best, but perhaps that's just because I have a predilection for spy thrillers; that said, the filmmakers would seem to agree as, after a late appearance in the plot, it comes to dominate its climax. It's also nicely shot, especially the excursions to Europe. I would recommend it (though not quite as heartily as Clooney's second film, the excellent Good Night, and Good Luck).
27a) Crash: Director's Cut (2004, Paul Haggis, DVD) 5/5
OK, I must confess, this one is something of a cheat -- I've seen Crash before, and whilst some 'director's cuts' can be vastly different this one is only around two minutes longer. But I'll take any chance I can get to go on about how this is a much better and more Oscar-deserving piece than a certain overrated film about gay cowboys. In my opinion this is a film that should be seen, not necessarily for its message but for its quality in terms of performance, direction, etc.
28) The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada (2005, Tommy Lee Jones, DVD) 3/5
Empire gave this film one of their rare five-star reviews, immediately making me want to see it. Shame they overrated it then. A confused first act (which jumps about in chronology for no discernible reason) gives way to a more linear second two that, while more pleasing, seem to do away with major characters for no reason other than the plot ran out of things for them to do. The film has its moments, and some pretty views, but five-star it ain't.
29) Trainspotting (1996, Danny Boyle, DVD) 5/5
Choose great direction. Choose iconic images. Choose a great soundtrack. Choose a brilliant cast. Choose a career-making performance from Ewan McGregor. Choose a witty script. Choose realism. Choose drugs. Choose sex. Choose a condom, for the first time on screen. Choose swearing. Choose violence. Choose drink. Choose Scotland. Choose Trainspotting.
30) Little Miss Sunshine (2006, Jonathan Dayton & Valerie Faris, DVD) 4/5
People will tell you this is a comedy, when really it's a comedy-drama. A TV critic once said, not wrongly, that a comedy-drama is something that isn't especially funny nor especially dramatic so tries to do both. Luckily, Little Miss Sunshine is frequently laugh-out-loud hilarious, from the opening dinner scene to the send-up of inherently paedophilic beauty pageants at the climax (so hilarious it almost single-handedly pushed my mark up to a five). There's also some competent drama threaded through to make that side worthwhile. And I suspect that lovable little Abigail Breslin was more deserving of the Oscar than that irritating Jennifer Hudson.
31) Mrs Henderson Presents (2005, Stephen Frears, DVD) 4/5
Judi Dench is clearly having a whale of a time in this 1930s-set comedy about a 70-year-old widow who starts up a nude revue. It begins as light comedy with a gently risque edge (rather in-keeping with its subject matter!), but things get a tad serious when the war hits. Luckily the film finds its lightness again in time for the ending, which is much more suited to the general tone. All told it's simply a bit of fun, but its overall quality just about nudges it into a four.
32) Chocolat (2000, Lasse Hallstrom, DVD) 4/5
Although not the lead character this time, Judi Dench once again revels in playing an old lady who can say what she likes, in this pleasant adaptation of Joanne Harris' novel. It's a neat little story about acceptance that doesn't suffer from an occasionally episodic plot or a sometimes quaint depiction of French small-town life. (I was occasionally distracted spotting the sci-fi/fantasy credentials of the cast. But that's just me.)
33) American Dreamz (2006, Paul Weitz, DVD) 3/5
This loosely satirical comedy from the director of such diverse fare as American Pie and About a Boy sees Dennis Quaid's Bush-growing-a-brain President agree to be a guest judge on Hugh Grant's Simon-Cowell-with-looks TV talent show that features Mandy Moore's moral-less wannabe and Sam Golzari's Iraqi potential-suicide-bomber as contestants. It's pretty much as loopy as that sounds, though not as clever as it thinks it is. It starts well, the quality dips as it takes too long to get to the actual contest, but the ending manages to redeem things.
34) Secretary (2002, Steven Shainberg, DVD) 3/5
I seem to recall reading that Secretary attempts to depict a realistic and sympathetic dominant/submissive relationship. Unfortunately this seems to come a bit unstuck with the feeling that the relationship is initially based in an emotionally (and physically) abusive act against a clearly vulnerable character, leaving the following events and mutually loving resolution tinged with a hint of something akin to Stockholm Syndrome, in my opinion. Well acted and all, but fundamentally flawed.
35) The King and I (1956, Walter Lang, DVD) 3/5
To be fair to The King and I, I was a little sleepy through most of it, and, thanks to some slightly cheesy bits at the start, my mind was occasionally locked in a spoofing mode. However, there are some recognisable songs and an Oscar-winning performance from Yul Brynner, as well as truly sumptuous sets and costumes.
Wednesday, 21 March 2007
Weeks 9-11
Introduction
My aim is to see 100 films I've never seen before by the end of 2007. Simple concept, innit. If you want to see how it's been going so far, check out the end of this entry.
Week 8 seems to have been a high point so far, in terms of film viewing. I mean, I saw six films that week! Compared to an average of just over two films per week at the start and barely two per week now. So much for weekly entries, eh. But I'm not doing too badly -- not yet a quarter of the way through the year and I've passed the quarter point in my total. There is hope yet!
Weeks Nine to Eleven
For anyone keeping track, this period covers February 26th to March 18th. I didn't see many films in week nine (the first, and only, was on Friday!), or week ten (the first, and only new one, was on Wednesday!), so I decided to put these three together. And here is what I saw...
22) United 93 (2006, Paul Greengrass, DVD) 5/5
It's very hard to find what to say about this film. It's a shame the Oscars were too cowardly to nominate it for much; Greengrass probably deserved Best Director for this more than Scorsese did for The Departed (he is, all round, a talented and excellent director); at least the BAFTAs were brave enough to give it to him (cos British is best 'n' all). But the film itself: it is above all affecting; it feels real and true; it is hard to imagine a more competent and respectful film being made about 9/11; it is impossible to imagine one being made about flight 93. This is filmmaking of the highest order. Perhaps most importantly of all, the families want you to see it. Absolutely essential.
23) Fargo (1996, Joel Coen, DVD) 4/5
Fargo is the latest film to have been inducted into the United States National Film Registry, donchaknow. It's also 105th on the IMDb Top 250 Movies, and the 21st film from the 1990s. So it's pretty much a modern classic then. It is indeed very good; the only thing holding me off giving it 5 is a lack of that Something which leads me to rate so highly after one viewing. Maybe it will go up in time.
24) The Reckless Moment (1949, Max Ophuls, DVD) 4/5
Ophuls' film noir about a mother who covers up the death of her daughter's much older boyfriend. I think I'm perhaps erring on the side of generosity with the rating, but it is still quite a good film. Certainly it allowed me to play one of my favourite games: what would I change if I remade it? I had a few quite good ideas, actually. I'm tempted to start writing...
My aim is to see 100 films I've never seen before by the end of 2007. Simple concept, innit. If you want to see how it's been going so far, check out the end of this entry.
Week 8 seems to have been a high point so far, in terms of film viewing. I mean, I saw six films that week! Compared to an average of just over two films per week at the start and barely two per week now. So much for weekly entries, eh. But I'm not doing too badly -- not yet a quarter of the way through the year and I've passed the quarter point in my total. There is hope yet!
Weeks Nine to Eleven
For anyone keeping track, this period covers February 26th to March 18th. I didn't see many films in week nine (the first, and only, was on Friday!), or week ten (the first, and only new one, was on Wednesday!), so I decided to put these three together. And here is what I saw...
22) United 93 (2006, Paul Greengrass, DVD) 5/5
It's very hard to find what to say about this film. It's a shame the Oscars were too cowardly to nominate it for much; Greengrass probably deserved Best Director for this more than Scorsese did for The Departed (he is, all round, a talented and excellent director); at least the BAFTAs were brave enough to give it to him (cos British is best 'n' all). But the film itself: it is above all affecting; it feels real and true; it is hard to imagine a more competent and respectful film being made about 9/11; it is impossible to imagine one being made about flight 93. This is filmmaking of the highest order. Perhaps most importantly of all, the families want you to see it. Absolutely essential.
23) Fargo (1996, Joel Coen, DVD) 4/5
Fargo is the latest film to have been inducted into the United States National Film Registry, donchaknow. It's also 105th on the IMDb Top 250 Movies, and the 21st film from the 1990s. So it's pretty much a modern classic then. It is indeed very good; the only thing holding me off giving it 5 is a lack of that Something which leads me to rate so highly after one viewing. Maybe it will go up in time.
24) The Reckless Moment (1949, Max Ophuls, DVD) 4/5
Ophuls' film noir about a mother who covers up the death of her daughter's much older boyfriend. I think I'm perhaps erring on the side of generosity with the rating, but it is still quite a good film. Certainly it allowed me to play one of my favourite games: what would I change if I remade it? I had a few quite good ideas, actually. I'm tempted to start writing...
Saturday, 3 March 2007
Week 8
Introduction
My quest: to watch 100 films that I have never seen before, by 31st December 2007!
Number of films per week required to achieve this: 1.93
Current average number of films seen per week: 2.63
More than on target. Excellent.
Week Eight
With that information relayed, on to the films that I watched between February 19th and February 25th 2007. Hopefully the format of these entries is self explanatory, but if not then check out the first entry here. They're now firmly in chronological order.
16) Sunrise (1927, F.W. Murnau, DVD) 4/5
Murnau's first film in America, throughout the decades hailed as one of the greatest film ever made. Maybe it is, in some respects; for a film made 80 years ago it certainly stands up very well today. It's helped by being a fable, giving it added resonance for any time period, though probably hindered by being silent (virtually -- as one of the first films with a synchronised soundtrack there are some effects). Certainly recommended to anyone interested in the history of film.
17) Notes on a Scandal (2006, Richard Eyre, cinema) 4/5
I hear that this is displeasing as an adaptation. But I haven't read the novel, so that doesn't cloud my judgement. Judi Dench is brilliant as ever in a rare villainous role (the Oscar would've been hers were it not for Helen Mirren's equally brilliant but more obvious turn in The Queen), Cate Blanchett gets to spar with her as the flawed 'hero', and the rest of the principal cast are very good also. It lacks something towards the end, perhaps because it functions better as a character piece than as a thriller, but is still worth a watch.
18) Nosferatu (1922, F.W. Murnau, DVD) 3/5
One of the earliest and most-referenced horror films, and the first screen adaptation of Bram Stoker's Dracula (faithfully, albeit unofficially). With such a weight bearing down upon it I found it quite hard to watch it objectively, and so was mainly left with the sense that I didn't enjoy it as much as Sunrise and that I'd rather like to see a fully restored version. Perhaps Masters Of Cinema shall treat us to one soon. Whatever one's thoughts on it, it really is a must see for anyone into sci-fi/fantasy, horror, or (again) the history of film.
19) Blood Diamond (2006, Edward Zwick, cinema) 4/5
In some respects this also suffered from hype, though only to a small degree -- Jonathan Ross loved it, which is usually a very good recommendation to me; I 'merely' thought it was very good. Its most impressive achievement is mixing important real-life information with a compelling narrative in a way that does not feel preachy. It also doesn't compromise on its moral messages for the sake of a twist. And it has some great action sequences to boot! It has almost as many endings as Lord of the Rings mind.
20) Hot Fuzz (2007, Edgar Wright, cinema) 5/5
Here come the fuzz! I wasn't hyped enough about this film to pay £10 to see it a week before release, and instead paid just £3.75 to see it in a big screen with just myself and a friend. Now that's entertainment. The brilliance of the situation aside, this is a damn good film. Most of its running time is devoted to high-quality comedy, and then it kicks into a full-blown action movie! Fantastic! I unreservedly recommend this to everyone, and especially to fans of action films and British comedies -- do not miss this.
21) Johnny English (2003, Peter Howitt, DVD) 3/5
Almost the flip-side of Hot Fuzz's coin. Johnny English doesn't quite manage the action sequence thing (though the car chase is quite good), and the humour is a lot gentler. Every joke is sign-posted at least a good few seconds in advance, sometimes several minutes, yet that's half the fun -- you know what's about to go wrong and that nothing can stop English doing it anyway. Not brilliant, then, but an entertaining enough bit of nothing.
My quest: to watch 100 films that I have never seen before, by 31st December 2007!
Number of films per week required to achieve this: 1.93
Current average number of films seen per week: 2.63
More than on target. Excellent.
Week Eight
With that information relayed, on to the films that I watched between February 19th and February 25th 2007. Hopefully the format of these entries is self explanatory, but if not then check out the first entry here. They're now firmly in chronological order.
16) Sunrise (1927, F.W. Murnau, DVD) 4/5
Murnau's first film in America, throughout the decades hailed as one of the greatest film ever made. Maybe it is, in some respects; for a film made 80 years ago it certainly stands up very well today. It's helped by being a fable, giving it added resonance for any time period, though probably hindered by being silent (virtually -- as one of the first films with a synchronised soundtrack there are some effects). Certainly recommended to anyone interested in the history of film.
17) Notes on a Scandal (2006, Richard Eyre, cinema) 4/5
I hear that this is displeasing as an adaptation. But I haven't read the novel, so that doesn't cloud my judgement. Judi Dench is brilliant as ever in a rare villainous role (the Oscar would've been hers were it not for Helen Mirren's equally brilliant but more obvious turn in The Queen), Cate Blanchett gets to spar with her as the flawed 'hero', and the rest of the principal cast are very good also. It lacks something towards the end, perhaps because it functions better as a character piece than as a thriller, but is still worth a watch.
18) Nosferatu (1922, F.W. Murnau, DVD) 3/5
One of the earliest and most-referenced horror films, and the first screen adaptation of Bram Stoker's Dracula (faithfully, albeit unofficially). With such a weight bearing down upon it I found it quite hard to watch it objectively, and so was mainly left with the sense that I didn't enjoy it as much as Sunrise and that I'd rather like to see a fully restored version. Perhaps Masters Of Cinema shall treat us to one soon. Whatever one's thoughts on it, it really is a must see for anyone into sci-fi/fantasy, horror, or (again) the history of film.
19) Blood Diamond (2006, Edward Zwick, cinema) 4/5
In some respects this also suffered from hype, though only to a small degree -- Jonathan Ross loved it, which is usually a very good recommendation to me; I 'merely' thought it was very good. Its most impressive achievement is mixing important real-life information with a compelling narrative in a way that does not feel preachy. It also doesn't compromise on its moral messages for the sake of a twist. And it has some great action sequences to boot! It has almost as many endings as Lord of the Rings mind.
20) Hot Fuzz (2007, Edgar Wright, cinema) 5/5
Here come the fuzz! I wasn't hyped enough about this film to pay £10 to see it a week before release, and instead paid just £3.75 to see it in a big screen with just myself and a friend. Now that's entertainment. The brilliance of the situation aside, this is a damn good film. Most of its running time is devoted to high-quality comedy, and then it kicks into a full-blown action movie! Fantastic! I unreservedly recommend this to everyone, and especially to fans of action films and British comedies -- do not miss this.
21) Johnny English (2003, Peter Howitt, DVD) 3/5
Almost the flip-side of Hot Fuzz's coin. Johnny English doesn't quite manage the action sequence thing (though the car chase is quite good), and the humour is a lot gentler. Every joke is sign-posted at least a good few seconds in advance, sometimes several minutes, yet that's half the fun -- you know what's about to go wrong and that nothing can stop English doing it anyway. Not brilliant, then, but an entertaining enough bit of nothing.
Wednesday, 28 February 2007
Weeks 1-7
Introduction
The aim of the original idea from which this is adapted is to read 50 books this year and list them here. There's no way I'd manage that, to be honest. Yes, I'm an English Lit student -- that doesn't mean I read! So my version is to try to watch 100 films this year and, of course, list them here. This is 100 films I've never seen before mind, so constantly re-watching old favourites won't get me anywhere. Neither will the Bond-in-order thing I have planned for some point, what with me having seen them all before. Oh dear.
Anyway, I shall also be giving the films a rating out of 5 and a review. No doubt these will be of varying lengths -- knowing me they'll start as a single short sentence and progress to 10,000 word essays on each. But we'll see. And various virtually-useless accompanying notes, like where I saw them (e.g. cinema, DVD, TV), the year they were made, and who directed them. Just cos I will.
Weeks One to Seven
So we begin here, covering weeks one to seven of this year. The week beginning 26th February is week nine, for those who don't know -- I'll get to covering week eight soon, and indeed week nine in time also. For these first seven weeks I can't remember the precise order I watched the films in, so they're grouped in a bit of alphabetical order and a bit in what I can remember of their relation to each other. To be honest, I think they're just a bit of a mess now.
1) Eragon (2006, Stefen Fangmeier, cinema) 2/5
The first film I saw in 2007, and I saw it on New Years Day! Eragon wants to be the next Lord of the Rings / Harry Potter / Narnia, especially with its utter lack of resolution at the end, but it just isn't. It has its entertaining moments, but it's also lumbered with huge lumps of bad dialogue, bad acting and fantasy cliches abound. I have no idea how it compares to the book.
2) Thumbsucker (2005, Mike Mills, DVD) 2/5
I had no desire to see this film, for whatever reason, until I saw the trailer two or three (or more) times at my uni's CinSoc, after which I thought it looked like it could be quite funny and cool. So I rented it, and it disappointed me. It's not a new Donnie Darko, as some would have you believe; it's not that funny either, actually, or that quirky, really. It's not the worst thing ever, but by and large it's best avoided.
3) Basil the Great Mouse Detective (1986, Ron Clements, Burny Mattinson, Dave Michener & John Musker, DVD) 4/5
A seriously underrated Disney film, though it does appear to have a substantially large cult following based on it being seriously underrated! If you like your Disneys musical this may be one to avoid, though the couple of songs present are quite decent, but if you're a Sherlock Holmes fan you should definitely catch it.
4) Boogie Nights (1997, Paul Thomas Anderson, DVD) 4/5
I loved Magnolia. I thought Punch-Drunk Love was dire. And this is how I come to Boogie Nights. I didn't fall for it in the same way I did for Magnolia, but it is nonetheless a very good film that shows a step on the path to that more complex and more rewarding picture. One I may get a better feel for when I see it again some day.
5) A Cock and Bull Story (2005, Michael Winterbottom, DVD) 3/5
I forget which British paper described this as "the best film ever, ever, ever". It may've been The Guardian. They're not right, of course, but it has its moments -- most of them courtesy of the excellent Rob Brydon, who far outshines Steve Coogan. It's worth watching for the former alone.
6) Octopussy (1983, John Glen, DVD) 4/5
I dislike Roger Moore as Bond, mostly based on the number of piss-poor films he starred in. It seems I may just have been watching the wrong ones. Whereas FYEO (see below) is relatively widely praised, Octopussy is relatively widely panned. I'm not sure why. Yes, there's a crap bit for about 10 minutes in the middle; yes, the clown outfit is a little silly; but, for the most part, it's pretty darn entertaining. Not the franchise's all time high, but far from the worst entry.
7) For Your Eyes Only (1981, John Glen, DVD) 4/5
As you may have gathered from above, I think that both of these films are fine examples of Bond filmmaking. FYEO is probably the better of the two, but not without its faults -- no Moore film would be complete without some moments that threaten to utterly balls it up, and this one has a painful, outdated comedic ending, as well as an unnecessary pre-titles.
8) Ong-Bak (2003, Prachya Pinkaew, DVD) 4/5
This is a tricky film to rate. The plot is pretty inconsequential and drags things out a bit toward the end, but that's not what you come to a film like Ong-Bak for -- it's here for the action. When it comes (the pointless plot machinations hold it off for a while) it delivers pretty well indeed, with some impressive work from star Tony Jaa. I err on the side of generosity with my score.
9) The Last Days of Pompeii (1913, Mario Caserini & Eleuterio Rodolfi, VHS) 2/5
The fact that it's an old silent film will be enough to put most people off. Some of those are worth seeking out, of course, but I would hesitate to recommend this one. The score may be a little unfair as the plot and execution of it aren't too bad, but somehow I can't bring myself to give it any more.
10) It (1927, Clarence G. Badger, VHS) 3/5
Proof if it were needed that the format of the rom-com has gone largely unchanged for at least 80 years! In that respect It makes for a fairly entertaining film, with some story elements that modern audiences might find surprisingly, well, modern. Entertaining but not essential.
11) The Pursuit of Happyness (2006, Gabriele Muccino, cinema) 4/5
Will Smith gives up the comedy act and blockbuster action for the sort of true story that you thought only happened in movies. His relationship with his screen-son is impressive acting, til you realise it's his real-life son too, but even that does little to undermine things. It manages to avoid the sugary sentimentality that you might expect and in the process makes for a fair tale of the underdog succeeding. Cute kid too.
12) South Pacific (1958, Joshua Logan, DVD) 3/5
I like a good musical. I wouldn't say I was a fan of the genre on the whole, but I do enjoy good ones. South Pacific, to my mind, is not one of the very best, but it has its moments (and its songs!) and there are some fair points underlining the plot. If you don't like musicals this one probably won't convert you; if you're a musical fan... well, you've probably already seen it!
13) Romance & Cigarettes (2005, John Turturro, DVD) 3/5
I was attracted to this because it was billed as a modern musical, with an impressive cast. Tsk. Some people are put off by the musical tag -- well, don't be. The characters occasionally sing along to some popular songs (and sometimes to ones you've never heard in your life), and sometimes do fun dance routines. This sits at odds with the gritty-ish melodrama of the plot, but that's the fun. It's worth a punt, but expect to dislike it.
14) The Prestige (2006, Christopher Nolan, cinema) 4/5
The latest effort from the director of Memento and Batman Begins is an intriguing one. A well-handled complex narrative (it again jumps about in time, but never to the audience's confusion), even if the twists are relatively easy to guess. A credit, then, that the film doesn't totally rely on them. I'm a big fan of Nolan's work and definitely continue to be; this may gain that missing point on re-viewing. See it.
15) This is Spinal Tap (1984, Rob Reiner, DVD) 4/5
I think my viewing of Spinal Tap may have suffered from years of hype. In some ways it was exactly what I'd expected; in others, not. There are plenty of funny moments, and the odd hilarious one (Stonehenge), but there were times when I felt a little underwhelmed by it. Maybe you had to be there; maybe it is indeed a victim of hype.
The aim of the original idea from which this is adapted is to read 50 books this year and list them here. There's no way I'd manage that, to be honest. Yes, I'm an English Lit student -- that doesn't mean I read! So my version is to try to watch 100 films this year and, of course, list them here. This is 100 films I've never seen before mind, so constantly re-watching old favourites won't get me anywhere. Neither will the Bond-in-order thing I have planned for some point, what with me having seen them all before. Oh dear.
Anyway, I shall also be giving the films a rating out of 5 and a review. No doubt these will be of varying lengths -- knowing me they'll start as a single short sentence and progress to 10,000 word essays on each. But we'll see. And various virtually-useless accompanying notes, like where I saw them (e.g. cinema, DVD, TV), the year they were made, and who directed them. Just cos I will.
Weeks One to Seven
So we begin here, covering weeks one to seven of this year. The week beginning 26th February is week nine, for those who don't know -- I'll get to covering week eight soon, and indeed week nine in time also. For these first seven weeks I can't remember the precise order I watched the films in, so they're grouped in a bit of alphabetical order and a bit in what I can remember of their relation to each other. To be honest, I think they're just a bit of a mess now.
1) Eragon (2006, Stefen Fangmeier, cinema) 2/5
The first film I saw in 2007, and I saw it on New Years Day! Eragon wants to be the next Lord of the Rings / Harry Potter / Narnia, especially with its utter lack of resolution at the end, but it just isn't. It has its entertaining moments, but it's also lumbered with huge lumps of bad dialogue, bad acting and fantasy cliches abound. I have no idea how it compares to the book.
2) Thumbsucker (2005, Mike Mills, DVD) 2/5
I had no desire to see this film, for whatever reason, until I saw the trailer two or three (or more) times at my uni's CinSoc, after which I thought it looked like it could be quite funny and cool. So I rented it, and it disappointed me. It's not a new Donnie Darko, as some would have you believe; it's not that funny either, actually, or that quirky, really. It's not the worst thing ever, but by and large it's best avoided.
3) Basil the Great Mouse Detective (1986, Ron Clements, Burny Mattinson, Dave Michener & John Musker, DVD) 4/5
A seriously underrated Disney film, though it does appear to have a substantially large cult following based on it being seriously underrated! If you like your Disneys musical this may be one to avoid, though the couple of songs present are quite decent, but if you're a Sherlock Holmes fan you should definitely catch it.
4) Boogie Nights (1997, Paul Thomas Anderson, DVD) 4/5
I loved Magnolia. I thought Punch-Drunk Love was dire. And this is how I come to Boogie Nights. I didn't fall for it in the same way I did for Magnolia, but it is nonetheless a very good film that shows a step on the path to that more complex and more rewarding picture. One I may get a better feel for when I see it again some day.
5) A Cock and Bull Story (2005, Michael Winterbottom, DVD) 3/5
I forget which British paper described this as "the best film ever, ever, ever". It may've been The Guardian. They're not right, of course, but it has its moments -- most of them courtesy of the excellent Rob Brydon, who far outshines Steve Coogan. It's worth watching for the former alone.
6) Octopussy (1983, John Glen, DVD) 4/5
I dislike Roger Moore as Bond, mostly based on the number of piss-poor films he starred in. It seems I may just have been watching the wrong ones. Whereas FYEO (see below) is relatively widely praised, Octopussy is relatively widely panned. I'm not sure why. Yes, there's a crap bit for about 10 minutes in the middle; yes, the clown outfit is a little silly; but, for the most part, it's pretty darn entertaining. Not the franchise's all time high, but far from the worst entry.
7) For Your Eyes Only (1981, John Glen, DVD) 4/5
As you may have gathered from above, I think that both of these films are fine examples of Bond filmmaking. FYEO is probably the better of the two, but not without its faults -- no Moore film would be complete without some moments that threaten to utterly balls it up, and this one has a painful, outdated comedic ending, as well as an unnecessary pre-titles.
8) Ong-Bak (2003, Prachya Pinkaew, DVD) 4/5
This is a tricky film to rate. The plot is pretty inconsequential and drags things out a bit toward the end, but that's not what you come to a film like Ong-Bak for -- it's here for the action. When it comes (the pointless plot machinations hold it off for a while) it delivers pretty well indeed, with some impressive work from star Tony Jaa. I err on the side of generosity with my score.
9) The Last Days of Pompeii (1913, Mario Caserini & Eleuterio Rodolfi, VHS) 2/5
The fact that it's an old silent film will be enough to put most people off. Some of those are worth seeking out, of course, but I would hesitate to recommend this one. The score may be a little unfair as the plot and execution of it aren't too bad, but somehow I can't bring myself to give it any more.
10) It (1927, Clarence G. Badger, VHS) 3/5
Proof if it were needed that the format of the rom-com has gone largely unchanged for at least 80 years! In that respect It makes for a fairly entertaining film, with some story elements that modern audiences might find surprisingly, well, modern. Entertaining but not essential.
11) The Pursuit of Happyness (2006, Gabriele Muccino, cinema) 4/5
Will Smith gives up the comedy act and blockbuster action for the sort of true story that you thought only happened in movies. His relationship with his screen-son is impressive acting, til you realise it's his real-life son too, but even that does little to undermine things. It manages to avoid the sugary sentimentality that you might expect and in the process makes for a fair tale of the underdog succeeding. Cute kid too.
12) South Pacific (1958, Joshua Logan, DVD) 3/5
I like a good musical. I wouldn't say I was a fan of the genre on the whole, but I do enjoy good ones. South Pacific, to my mind, is not one of the very best, but it has its moments (and its songs!) and there are some fair points underlining the plot. If you don't like musicals this one probably won't convert you; if you're a musical fan... well, you've probably already seen it!
13) Romance & Cigarettes (2005, John Turturro, DVD) 3/5
I was attracted to this because it was billed as a modern musical, with an impressive cast. Tsk. Some people are put off by the musical tag -- well, don't be. The characters occasionally sing along to some popular songs (and sometimes to ones you've never heard in your life), and sometimes do fun dance routines. This sits at odds with the gritty-ish melodrama of the plot, but that's the fun. It's worth a punt, but expect to dislike it.
14) The Prestige (2006, Christopher Nolan, cinema) 4/5
The latest effort from the director of Memento and Batman Begins is an intriguing one. A well-handled complex narrative (it again jumps about in time, but never to the audience's confusion), even if the twists are relatively easy to guess. A credit, then, that the film doesn't totally rely on them. I'm a big fan of Nolan's work and definitely continue to be; this may gain that missing point on re-viewing. See it.
15) This is Spinal Tap (1984, Rob Reiner, DVD) 4/5
I think my viewing of Spinal Tap may have suffered from years of hype. In some ways it was exactly what I'd expected; in others, not. There are plenty of funny moments, and the odd hilarious one (Stonehenge), but there were times when I felt a little underwhelmed by it. Maybe you had to be there; maybe it is indeed a victim of hype.
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