Last Life in the Universe
This movie is a potent catalyst for sitting on your couch, looking at colors, and thinking about life.
It's probably just the mood I was in today, but I really liked this movie. The pacing reminds me a little of another film I didn't care for, Lost in Translation. But where LiT was frustrating with its lack of action, I let LLitU wash over me. The slightly surreal plot combined with the impressive soundtrack and the intensely saturated cinematography makes for a viewing experience which feels like you're underwater, and it was exactly what I was looking for in a movie today.
It was shot on video, which I found a little distracting, but not overly so. Looking at IMDB, it seems LiT is actually 10 minutes shorter than the still brief 112 minutes of LLitU, but I remember it feeling like forever.
I have another of this director's films, 6ixtynin9, which I'll have to watch soon.
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Sunday, June 24, 2007
One Sentence Movie Reviews, Dystopian Future Edition
Children of Men
One of the most powerful explorations of mankind's propensity for extremes that I've seen.
Alternate one sentence review:
Half-Life 2 meets Saving Private Ryan meets 28 Days Later.
One of the most powerful explorations of mankind's propensity for extremes that I've seen.
Alternate one sentence review:
Half-Life 2 meets Saving Private Ryan meets 28 Days Later.
Friday, June 22, 2007
One Sentence Movie Reviews: Go Fuck Yourself Edition
The Departed
While it is an excellent film in its own right, I feel it loses much of its moral ambiguity as compared to Infernal Affairs.
Many of the detail changes between the two films seem designed to make the good guys better and the bad guys worse, almost as if the movie has been dumbed down for American audiences. Other alterations contribute to the movie, but seem highly unlikely (Costigan's affair with Sullivan's girlfriend comes to mind). To be fair, both versions have their share of implausibilities, so I'm not sure I can take points away for that. The final product is a movie that is much grittier and feels more real, but which is lacking some of the stylistic flair and philosophical questioning of the original.
Jack Nicholson is insane.
I'm bored, so I made these. I can't decide which I like more. Your thoughts?
The original.
While it is an excellent film in its own right, I feel it loses much of its moral ambiguity as compared to Infernal Affairs.
Many of the detail changes between the two films seem designed to make the good guys better and the bad guys worse, almost as if the movie has been dumbed down for American audiences. Other alterations contribute to the movie, but seem highly unlikely (Costigan's affair with Sullivan's girlfriend comes to mind). To be fair, both versions have their share of implausibilities, so I'm not sure I can take points away for that. The final product is a movie that is much grittier and feels more real, but which is lacking some of the stylistic flair and philosophical questioning of the original.
Jack Nicholson is insane.
I'm bored, so I made these. I can't decide which I like more. Your thoughts?
The original.
One Sentence Movie Reviews: Samurai Western Edition
The Magnificent Seven
Questionable acting by the secondary cast fails to ruin an otherwise excellent movie.
Man, Yul Brynner is awesome. Steve McQueen is awesome. Charles Bronson is awesome. James Coburn is awesome. Everyone in this movie is awesome - as long as they have top billing. Otherwise, it's a mixed bag.
There's one thing I noticed during Casablanca and again during this movie. People getting shot looks hilariously unrealistic. I'm not sure if it's the lack of blood caps or the acting, but something about it seems really off.
Well, now I have to watch The Departed and The Seven Samurai and A Fistful of Dollars and Yojimbo. Better get to it.
Questionable acting by the secondary cast fails to ruin an otherwise excellent movie.
Man, Yul Brynner is awesome. Steve McQueen is awesome. Charles Bronson is awesome. James Coburn is awesome. Everyone in this movie is awesome - as long as they have top billing. Otherwise, it's a mixed bag.
There's one thing I noticed during Casablanca and again during this movie. People getting shot looks hilariously unrealistic. I'm not sure if it's the lack of blood caps or the acting, but something about it seems really off.
Well, now I have to watch The Departed and The Seven Samurai and A Fistful of Dollars and Yojimbo. Better get to it.
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Blasphemies, etc.
Well, it happened. After eight days of movie watching, I skipped a day. I suppose it was inevitable, really. In any case, I'll try to watch one tonight, before my first day of work at Dick's.
That's right, I'm interning for the ghost of Richard M. Nixon.
I leave you now with proof that my nephew is The Best Baby
That's right, I'm interning for the ghost of Richard M. Nixon.
I leave you now with proof that my nephew is The Best Baby
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
One Sentence Movie Reviews, Part what, IIX? Damn.
Casablanca
Hot damn that's a well-constructed movie.
With all the classics, you find yourself wondering sometimes whether they were great at the time, but now seem quaint or outdated. Well, that wasn't the case with Citizen Kane, and that's not the case with Casablanca.
Hot damn that's a well-constructed movie.
With all the classics, you find yourself wondering sometimes whether they were great at the time, but now seem quaint or outdated. Well, that wasn't the case with Citizen Kane, and that's not the case with Casablanca.
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
One Sentence Movie Reviews: Nicholas Cage is People! Edition
Adaptation
A good movie about a guy writing a screenplay about a book about a guy with a woman and there's another guy in there somewhere.
Pulp Fiction
Quentin Tarantino likes it when people talk.
I liked Adaptation, but I think if I saw it again I'd like it more. There seems to be a lot going on that you'd miss if you weren't looking for it. Brian Cox is awesome; I noticed this the first time around.
One thing I missed the first several times I saw Pulp Fiction: Kathy Griffin is in it. Seriously, I never noticed. And yes, it is a 13 year old movie, but I saw it last night at Red Rock Amphitheater, and it was sweet. They even had a surf band playing before it, and they were sweet as well.
Sweetness all around.
A good movie about a guy writing a screenplay about a book about a guy with a woman and there's another guy in there somewhere.
Pulp Fiction
Quentin Tarantino likes it when people talk.
I liked Adaptation, but I think if I saw it again I'd like it more. There seems to be a lot going on that you'd miss if you weren't looking for it. Brian Cox is awesome; I noticed this the first time around.
One thing I missed the first several times I saw Pulp Fiction: Kathy Griffin is in it. Seriously, I never noticed. And yes, it is a 13 year old movie, but I saw it last night at Red Rock Amphitheater, and it was sweet. They even had a surf band playing before it, and they were sweet as well.
Sweetness all around.
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