citizenchris movie thoughts

All The Presidents Men

3-23-10

What amazes me most about this film is how it stands the test of time. Even though I know a fair amount about the Watergate scandal and even though I've seen this film a zillion times I can still sit down watch it again and get caught up in the mystery. This is due in large part to how effectively the narrative is constructed and ultimately presented to the audience. Though by all accounts you should be bored by the film about a couple of newspaper reporters investigating a potential political scandal...the film is never dull. In fact it's about as intriguing as something like this can be because for the most part the story is always moving forward at a decent speed. Their is also something to be said for a film that is able to educate an audience while at the same time not come off as silly or insulting to those who are familiar with the subject. Also of not is the films lack of an overt moral/political slant. The reporters aren't self righteous democrats trying to bring down the evil republican president (even though they were acussd as such). On the contrary the characters in the film at least are just guys who are hungry for a big story. My one gripe about the film is its penchant towards split focus shots. I've never been a big fan of this technique and their are quite a few shots that look decent, unfortunately otehrs are rather distractingly bad.

Body Heat

3-19-10

I don't know about you but there are certain things I want from a movie if I'm going to spend any significant amount of time with it. As far as I'm concerned Body Heat has damn near all of those things and wraps 'em up in one of the more expertly crated films I've seen. Cast...how about an absurdly young and amazing William Hurt and Kathleen Turner? They are both out of this world good and I can easily say these two alone are worth the price of admission. Then you have one of the better neo noir type stories that flows along at a perfect speed. I can all but guarantee you won't be bored. Nor will you be able to predict whats coming next...or at least I couldn't. And just when you think you've got it all figured...BAM...you're hit with one of the better twist endings I've seen in a while.

Star Wars

2-22-10

*note: to me this movie is called Star Wars...not episode IV or Star Wars Episode IV A New Hope...just Star Wars. Its also the first in a series of six films....not the fourth regardless of what you want to call it.

It is utterly impossible for me to watch Star Wars and not be reminded of what it was like to be young and in love with this film. Unfortunately there a too few films that have this much of a since of adventure...pure fun adventure. Its astonishing how the film manages to be so simple without feeling generic or overtly"family friendly". True it's rooted in iconic archetypes that seem universal....though if they were universal explain to me why this film still seems so damn unique. I mean seriously as far as fantasy films go there just aren't that many where fun is a higher priority to epic. Where adventure is more important that bloated melodrama.

Jack Ketchum's The Girl Next Door (2007 film)

3-16-10

This film was hard for me to watch. Which is kind of weird as one would think that years of aestheticized violence in horror and action films would have numbed me to the point where I could handle the things depicted here. Quite the contrary as the atrocity on display here was such that I found myself looking away and even in tears by the time the credits rolled. Suffice to say the film is disturbing for a number of reasons not the least of which is the fact that you know this sort of thing happens...and could be happening (as the title implies) to the girl next door. Cinematically the film is pretty appropriately clean cut and lacking an overly polished look. This is arguably a good thing as is lends a great deal of verisimilitude to the proceedings. I also have to mention the films absolutely pitch perfect cast. Rarely have I felt a film was almost completely populated by fantastic actors....now add to that fact that half of them are youngh adult/children and its even more amazing.

Dead Ringers

3-16-10

There are so few films that are this effective at eliciting much of any emotional response let alone one this strong. Suffice to say the films raw portrayal of emotion had quite an effect on me. At first it didn't occur to me how high concept the film really is. I'm watching it wondering what's wrong with these twins? Somethings not quite right about them...they just aren't fully fleshed out characters. Then it dawned on me that this was the point...they're not supposed to be complete characters..emotionally speaking. The film's unique and utterly surreal plot device is that the twin protagonists each represent physical manifestations of complete opposite emotional ways of being. Each twin possessing only half of a single personality. So when one is inevitably separated from the other (via the plot) it leads to tragic results. It all makes for a rather unique character study though I could easily see it being a misunderstood one.

The Man Who Wasn't There

3-15-10

This film more than anything is an example that its not the story told but rather how its told that is the most important thing. How said story is told can make the difference in that one movie forgotten or a personal favorite. In the case of The Man Who Wasn't There the story is primarily told by the films protagonist Ed Crane as performed by the remarkable Billy Bob Thorton.Crane is a decidedly dispassionate man and tells the story in a rather cold and precise manor. As such the film itself can seem rather cold as well. Though of course its not at all cold, on the contrary I find it to be sad and funny and ultimately having quite a bit to say about life as an average Joe. As Ed would say "I'm no expert" though I think the film makes some rather poignant existential observations on the modern condition. Though I could be wrong...who knows. Maybe I just like the gorgeous black and white cinematography, great performances and a fun noir story.

Shaun of the Dead

2-8-10

Here we have a film that seemed to arrive almost pre-packeged as one of my favorite films. It has nearly everything an awesome movie should have. Old school zombies that hobble not run..check. Simon Pegg/Nick Frosh and the cute receptionist from The Office....check. Well yeah...thats just about all you need isn't it? Seriously though Simon Pegg is great here and so much of what makes the film fun is his performance as Shaun. I love that we get to spend a day with him before the zombie (zed word) outbreak. So many films (zombie/horror or other wise) seem to be in a rush to get that inciting incident out of the way sometimes at the expense of the characters. Also of note is the films pitch perfect fusion of horror/comedy and romance and family drama. What's even more astonishing is that none of these elements is done at the expense of the other.

House of the Devil

3-11-10

My opinion of this film probably should be ignored by most people. I understand that most people don't want to see girls covered in blood running for their lives from some maniac devil cult. If you don't like that sort of thing then House of the Devil isn't for you. I on the other hand have this stupid love for just this kind of movie. Movies with a female protagonist that you know from the opening moments is in a world of trouble. It's not her fault the devil cult needs a sacrifice...but it sure is fun watching her try to get away. Seriously though this is a great flick that seems to get what it takes to build tension...time. That if you're going to spend most of the film building said tension it better pay off in an awesome way. Oh and did I mention Tom Noonan is in this and is awesome as usual?

Where The Wild Things Are

Where The Wild Things Are (2009 film)

3-11-10

I can honestly say I've never seen a film quite like WTWTA. Here we have a film about a child who runs away to some kind of fantasy land filled with giant furry animals...but I can't honestly say I think this is a kids movie. Its not patronizing the way most films geared towards younger audiences are. I could sit here and describe how emotional the film is, how there is this almost palpable sadness coming from its characters. Then I would have to remind you (again) this is the movie about the kid and the giant furry animals and you would kind of get an idea why this film is so unique. Its strange to think that some of the most raw and emotional characterizations I've seen on film in a long time came from the titular Wild Things.

The Informant!

The Informant!

3-9-10

What I loved the most about The Informant was not knowing what to believe out of tidal wave of bullshit constantly spewing from the films protagonist. Most of the time we are just as dumb founded at Whitacre's lies as the people he's constantly lying to. Ultimately a great deal of the comedy for me came at those moments when you think he's finally getting real only to find out...oop gotcha he's lying again. There is an ambiguity to Whitacre's actions that is equal parts amusing and frustrating. We never really know why it is he's lies constantly as the lies never stop. You want to feel bad for him as this all could be some mental condition..but then again that could be bullshit too.

The Box

The Box

3-8-10

It was kind of sad watching what began as such a good film fall apart before my eyes. The first half of the film was equal parts charming and eerie with a narrative that flowed creepily along at a nice pace. The main characters are presented with a puzzling moral quandary. Part of the fun of this first half is that we as the audience can't help but ask ourselves what would we do if we were presented with the titular box. Though one has to wonder was this concept enough to sustain a feature length film? The film had me asking this question throughout its second half as it was somewhere around the halfway point the film just completely falls apart. The overall tone of the second half shifts to exceedingly weird and eventually to stupid. I was so baffled at how stupid the film was fast becoming that I seriously considered turning it off. I kind of wish I had.

Three Kings

Three Kings

2-18-10

What a mix of desperate elements Three Kings is. It has elements of dark comedy...much of said comedy is at the expense of the U.S. Government/Military and its said policies. Suffice to say the film is extremely critical of U.S. foreign policy. As such it's also a moral film almost to the point of coming off righteous. There are also quite a few well orchestrated action scenes. Add on top of all that extremely stylized cinematography (there was actually a disclaimer on my 2001 edition DVD regarding said cinematography) and you end up with a film that could easily polarize audiences. The fact is that to my way of thinking all of the afore mentioned elements come together quite nicely to form what is ultimately a rather singular and entertaining film that makes you think.

Burn After Reading

2-17-10

What a goof ball movie! I mean for real...every single character is a complete idiot that seems to have little to no clue whats going on half the time. Understand that this is not meant as criticism as said idiocy makes for an extremely entertaining film. I've seen Burn After Reading four times now and will continue to re-visit it again in the future. As few films are so effective at weaving together such a smart/fun story about such moronic people. Mind you this is not a slap-stick film...not in the least. To me it seems to be a parody of spy films...only instead of spies we get idiots who inhabit the world in and around Washington D.C.'s intelligence district. It's a film that seems to say that spies aren't the only ones who lead lives of intrigue..sometimes gym employees can have an espionage adventure too....well sorta.

Los Cronocrímenes (aka Timecrimes)

2-15-10

Here we have a fresh take on two genres (probably a few more but who cares) that turns out to be a mind bending blast and ultimately way more than the sum of its parts. The afore mentioned genres are slasher/stalker and time travel (or rather the growing sub genre of time-loop). The awesome thing about Timecrimes is that you don't have to be particularly fond of either type of film to be completely entertained in the 90 or so minutes you'll spend watching it. I think this is due in large part to the nature of the protagonist (a rather simple minded normal type guy) and the brilliant way the narrative draws you in. There is a brilliance in how the narrative takes us from a seemingly normal situation to the polar opposite inside of just a few minutes. How do you go from chilling on your lawn waiting for the wife to come back w/dinner to running for your life from a blood thirsty stalker in a 90 min time loop? Well if you give this flick a shot you will find out and if I were a betting man I can almost guarantee you will have a lot of fun in the meantime.

Blood Simple

2-15-10

Easily one of my favorite "Murphy's Law" type films. That is to say sit back, relax and watch every single thing each character plans go wrong. The plot here is so intricately orchestrated that its hard not to get sucked in. There is a calm to the narrative flow thats a bit unnerving. Because its not busy rushing in one direction...it can and does go places you don't expect. There is something to be said about how Blood Simple avoids being the kind of movie it sounds like it should be on paper. So someone asks you what "type" of film is it. Literally anything you say won't do the film justice if you ask me. It really is a unique experience that has to be viewed to be understood. I would be remiss if I didn't mention the phenomenal M. Emmet Walsh and Dan Hedaya. Both give truly stand out performances here.

Magnolia

1-30-10

There are no good guys in Magnolia....nor are there any truly bad guys either for that matter. Just people...extremely flawed people. What we get to experience in the three plus hour journey of Magnolia is an exploration of the origin and full implementation of said flaws and how to maybe kinda sorta move past them. Make no mistake this is a character study or rather a lot of character studies. Why it might be kinda hard for some to fully appreciate this film is obvious. These aren't the most likable characters to study. Whats even more striking is that there isn't any cliche'd catharsis in the eleventh hour. So why the hell do I like this film so much? There are many reasons...first of all I like watching actors perform great dialog well. And kid you not you get a bunch of that here. Its not often I speak of enjoying "actors" but here I do. Add to that some great fucking cinematography and wonderful music and you get a film that is quite enjoyable even though on the surface it doesn't seem like it would be

Låt den rätte komma in (aka Let the Right One In)

3-1-10

Let the Right One In would be a peculiar film even if the narrative wasn't about a twelve year old boy befriending a (seemingly) twelve year old androgynous vampire. The film functions in many ways like a silent film as the communication of emotion and narrative relies less on dialog and music and almost solely on images. The shot composition/cinematography is as unusual as it is beautiful. Now we get to the androgynous vampire bit...yeah thats a tough one to crack. I mean I can easily say this is not only unlike any vampire film its arguably the most original "horror" film I've ever seen. Its so unique it makes you realize how pat at formulaic films of this type typically are. I mean even calling it a "vampire film" seems weird....like I'm not doing the film justice. Though its not so contrary to the genre forms as to come off like a pretentious thinking persons vampire film...its really not that either. I'm fascinated by this movie more than anything else...did I like it? Well what the hell does that mean anyways. I mean I want to watch it again...right now. I can't say that about many films to be sure.

Extract

Extract

2-2-10

Extract feels like the pilot to what might have been a great sitcom. That is to say I felt like I needed more time to get to know the characters I met during the brief runtime of the film. This is both a good and bad thing. Good because said characters seemed interesting enough that I wanted more...bad because the time allotted wasn't used to appropriately develop characters. That being said I have to admit I had some fun with this film. There are some funny scenarios/characters here and some certainly have the potential for future classic status (the annoying neighbor is amazing) Though I feel that the movie falls short of its potential. I don't like saying that sort of thing about a film. I don't like it when others talk about what a movie could or should be. So when I start to do that its really a complement to the film in question. A complement because I care enough about what is presented to yearn for something better. Sadly this is the case when I think about Extract.

Sideways

2-21-10

When I think of Sideways I think of two things. One) How awesome are these two leads? I mean seriously....these guys are ten kinds of fantastic. They manage to be equal parts funny and tragic and allays believable in there roles. Two) authentic moments. Ive found few films that seem to convey genuine human emotions the way Sideways does countless times over. The film has so many fantastic moments that go a long way to communicate what these characters are feeling. Some involve genuine monologues (Virginia Madsen steals the show with not one but two) others are mere stolen glances. Whatever the device I felt sincerity coming from these characters...this is something so rare its hard for me to adequately state how much this means to me for a film to be this real. Anyhoo I'm gushing a bit too much. Suffice to say I love love love this movie.

Capturing the Friedmans

1-19-10

Many films of this type (fiction or otherwise) ultimately boil down to a kind of David and Goliath scenario where you root for the little guy and hiss (thats right hiss) at bad guy or rather "the man" (evil cops and or evil corporation aka persecutors). Well our "David" here is a admitted pedophile who confessed to the crimes he says he didn't commit and his son (aka partner in crime if you believe the cops) also confesses to said crimes he says he didn't commit. The cops aren't all that righteous either as it appears they over stepped their bounds and jumped to conclusions in several areas. Though its hard to view them as complete villainous persecutors given the situation. Ultimately for me this film ends up being less about guilt or innocence and more about the nature of truth. Can a man be "innocent" of a crime and confess to said crime? If a man has done bad things in his past does that mean we should immediately assume he's guilty of present day crimes? Its all pretty complicated and the film doesn't pretend to give answers. I could easily see people watching the film and hating the Friedmans or siding with them....thats why this is a good film.

Vikaren (aka The Substitute)

2-15-10

This movie was a blast to watch. I couldn't help but be reminded of several films/books from my childhood that had very similar plots. I haven't see this type of story done this well in a long time and suffice to say I was extremely pleased with the results here. The two aspects that stand out for me are the cinematography...which is breath taking. I mean seriously this is some of the best looking stuff I've seen recently. Though the real strength here is the utterly phenomenal cast. The kids are outstanding as is Paprika Steen the titular Substitute. I was taken aback with how authentic her performance as a teacher was. Then to turn it around a be a genuinely creepy alien.....extremely well done.

Batman Begins

1-25-10

It's rather remarkable that this film is as good as it is. Its a movie about a guy who decides to fight crime dressed up as a bat. I've always adhered to the notion that certain kinds of stories are better told in the medium of cartoons or comic books. Superhero stories for the most part don't work well in live action. You can look at a guy dressed as a bat as illustrated in a comic book and its cool. If you take a real life guy and dress him up in bat costume....that thing that was once cool is now silly. Well this is not the case with Batman Begins....its not silly, its actually dramatically compelling well crafted cinema....imagine that. Batman Begins works because it makes the mythos of the character believable and real to the audience. Its still a fantasy of course but its a bit more tangible.

Primer

2-15-10

I just going to say it...this is probably my favorite "Time Travel" movie. Though I associate it more with what I call the "time-loop" sub genre...you get the point. So why is Primer so damn good...how does it stand out amongst the myriad films of this type? Unlike so many sci-fi films (time travel or otherwise) it manages to come off as authentic and above all else believable. Because at the end of the day its not about tech its about people and its the people (or rather the two leads) that sell this movie. So while on the surface we're dealing with a film about two guys with the ability to travel back in time. What we're actually dealing with is a meditation on trust, ambition and what success/wealth means to you.

The Thing

1-26-10

Few films manage to create such a palpable feeling of dread and paranoia within me quite the way that The Thing does. For this reason more than any other it remains one of my favorite films. So I'm watching my brand new blu ray copy of the film...just loving every single moment while at the same time marveling at how rare films like this are these days. First off its a slow build...i mean it takes quite a while for the horror to really kick in. The time spent in the beginning allows for us to get a feel for the characters and there rather unique position in the world. There is a normalcy established that is about to be interrupted by an alien shape shifter. The second thing that struck me was the type of people cast...normal looking guys. If this film were made today most likely we would get an ensemble of beautiful people. Are beautiful people necessarily bad? No, but having normal looking average type guys does lend a sense of authenticity to the otherwise fantastic proceedings about to occur.

Lilo and Stitch

2-2-10

I think anyone would be hard pressed to find a film as fun, funny or charming as this little movie. Nearly every aspect of the film works. Its as funny as a G rated film can be. Its heart warming with out feeling forced or fake like so many other films of this type. The music fits and even the obligatory middle of the film montage works. The style of animation is also extremely unique and well done. The character designs are solid and little Stitch is one of the best "cute" character stars around. Bla Bla Bla its pretty obvious I'm in love with this movie.

A Serious Man

2-15-10

This films central characters are Jewish suburbanites circa the late 60's. Suffice to say all things that are sooo unrelated to my own background that a big part of the "novelty" was how strange everything seemed to me. There is also something to be said for the films unique approach to humor. I say unique because I could easily see someone watching this film and not laughing once. We've collectively become so accustom to traditional comedies and their all too obvious humor. Its as if we are the studio audience of a game show or sit-com waiting for the big flashing applause sign. This is certainly not so with "A Serious Man" as most of the laughs for me were derived from the peculiarity of events and ultimately the afore mentioned unfamiliarity with the culture presented. I'm not going to bother trying to dissect the films oblique and sometimes obvious themes and or messages. Mostly because it seems fairly evident that the point of the film is to avoid reading to much into things...its sorta the "anti-message" message film....you know?

The Karate Kid

2-2-10

This is one of those oft viewed films from my childhood. As such I know that I'm completely biased when I say I love it. Also its hard for me to gauge what younger people might think of the film. Its certainly an 80's film though and through (the title character even proclaims "its the 80's") I have a feeling that as dated as the film might be the story still shines though and is kind of appealing no matter what...at the very least it certainly still holds up to me. All nostalgia aside Pat Morita's performance here is outstanding as it could so easily come off as stereotypical and silly but it doesn't. There are even moments of astonishing sincerity that go a long way in selling the honestly not only of the character but of the entire film.

Lord of the Flies (1963 film)

2-2-10

note: I'm writing here about the film not the novel upon which its based. as such I take the film for what it is and will not compare it to its literary source material.

Though the scenario presented in the film seems largely allegorical its also frighteningly realistic. This is due in large part to the films singular pace that allows for the plot to naturally build to its horrific conclusion. Though its not only the pace that feels natural. Nearly every aspect of the film permeates an organic feel. From the photography to the performances. The child actors come off not as actors but as little boys stranded on a Island...as they should. At no point do you feel they are reciting words given to them. This would be a great complement to any actor of any age. Because of their age though it seems all the more miraculous.

Hearts and Minds

1-28-10

A strange thing occurred to me after viewing Hearts and Minds for the first time. I imagined how difficult a task organizations like P.E.T.A. have to face. I mean think about it for a second. Here is an organization whose purpose is to get people to recognize that animals deserve rights just like the rest of us. Now mind you we live in a world where its hard to convince these same people that ALL human beings deserve basic rights let alone animals. There are moments in this documentary where you see such atrocity that is hard to fathom. Some might say this film is one sided or anti-war propaganda. Well I have to say...whats wrong with that? I've see few films let alone documentaries as well made as this. In my humble opinion this is probably the best documentary I've yet seen. I appreciate the lack of voice over and the fact that it doesn't shy away from stark imagery or allowing both views to be herd.

The Hangover

2-2-10

Some films move you, others can even change your life and then there are just plain fun movies. Movies that are like a good time in a bottle. Pop open said bottle or in this case put little plastic disc in movie player gizmo and have a little bit of fun for 90 minutes or so. Thats exactly what the hangover is to me...a good if not decidedly unremarkable time. Beyond that the only other thing of note here is actor Zach Galifianakis who did a bang up job as the awkward Alan. His character and performance are truly one of the stand out aspects for me.

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