THE ROAD (John Hillcoat, 2009)


One of my favourite films so far this year. It's relentlessly gray (in theme as well as visuals). It also might be the first film to have had an actual physically affect on me (besides, like, crying). It made me feel weary and cold and depressed and it made me forget about the world outside the movie theater. I hate to sound cheesy, but that's the kind of power you hope a movie will have on you and basically never does. It allowed me to empathize with the characters more and invest more in the story. The acting ranges from brilliant to pretty decent. Viggo Mortensen gives what I think is his best performance as the father. There are really only two characters we spend alot of time with and the film is nearly two hours long, so being stuck with an actor who was less then perfect would've been unfortunate. Fortunately Mortensen more then carries the movie. He shows us a character who is strong, determined, loving, and in a way that's one of the bright sports in the movie. That amongst all of the evil and destruction he exists. Charlize Theron is very good, but she doesn't have alot to do. Robert Duvall is very good, but he has even less to do. Kodi Smit-McPhee is definitely the weakest link but he still gave a better performance than most child actors (Maybe I'm just spoiled after seeing Max Records). I like how the story doesn't unfold in traditional fashion. In fact, I think the most tense, "climactic" scenes took place towards the beginning. The characters are so strong and the film so good in basically every respect that I didn't need a traditional ending for three-act structure or anythnig like that. An excellent, dark, terrifying, thought-provoking movie. I want to see it again this weekend.


P.S. Just fyi, I haven't read the book. Maybe that's why I'm so impressed with it while so many others aren't?

P.S.S The only real problem with the film was the product placement of beverages. It's not just the Coke (which was apparently in the book). Mott's Juice boxes, Jim Beam, and Vitamin Water are all featured. If it was a comedy or somethnig it wouldn't seem so out of place but it just seems jarring in this one.

JULIE & JULIA: My Review

A delightful film (almost) from start to finish. Meryl Streep NAILS the role of Julia Child, perhaps the most significant person in the world of cooking. That might sound trite, but she's changed the way millions of people eat. She changed an industry. And she makes fucking delicious food. My mother got her book from her mother and I've grown up with some of the recipes. Absolutely delicious. Ok, Maybe I'm getting a bit tangent-y, but seeing this woman's journey and the way she lived was fascinating a delightful. Her and her husband Paul Child, played with much charisma by the always suburb Stanley Tucci, are definitely candidates in the most adorably loving couple ever award. The scenes of her discovering her passion for "The Art of French Cooking" were often hilarious and always interesting.

Slightly less interesting but still a good time was the other half of the film, which dealt with Julie, a lowly cubicle worker living above a Pizzeria in Queens with her husband, blogging her way through all the 500+ recipes in Julia Child's book, The Art of French Cooking over the course of a year. Most of this is entertaining (and mouthwatering) as well, though her part of the story does have the melodramatic three-act structure that's so over employed in films these days. It got just a bit tedious, but not enough to significantly alter my opinion and immense enjoyment at watching the film. Amy Adams as Julie Powell and Chris Messina as her incredibly nice husband are both very good.

Overall, Julie & Julia is a joyful film about cooking and two women who loved it so much, they followed it right into fame and fortune. An excellent film. And I am 100% confident Meryl Streep will get, at the very least, an Oscar Nomination!

9/10

VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA

“VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA” (Woody Allen, 2008)

When Scarlett Johansson, Javier Bardem, Penelope Cruz, Rebecca Hall and Patricia Clarkson are all cast together, you know it will be One To Watch. And you’d be absolutely correct.

The film, set in the beautiful Spanish city of Barcelona, follows Vicky and Cristina, two young American tourists as they fall for the same charming Spaniard (Bardem).

Both girls discover more about themselves and about life, but for all the wisdom imparted and absorbed, the film is still fun and joyous.

It’s filled with sunlight, good wine, art, beautiful Spanish architecture and music and to top it off, some incredible performances and writing.

Cruz is Oscar worthy as the insane artistic genius, Marie Elena. Johansson, Hall and Bardem don’t have such juicy roles, but nevertheless show of their tremendous talent, aided by Woody Allen’s humorous and intelligent writing. For those seeking something different from your average summer fare, “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” es que no puede perderse!

9.5/10

Ranking PIXAR

A new year, a new film from the folks at Pixar. In celebration of this week’s new Disney-Pixar release, ‘UP’, I’ve decided to rank the entire Pixar library. Here goes:

10. “Cars“ isn’t a bad film, but when you compare it to other Pixar masterpieces, it’s just not in the same league. The goofy dialogue, the celebrity cast and the, well, plot all reek of Dreamworks influence. The overall product is somewhat entertaining, but nothing to write home about. 6/10

09. “A Bugs Life“ isn’t a bad film, either. The plot is original (Or it was, when the film came out. Now it’s been copied with bugs, ants, etc. way too many times) but the animation isn’t quite as striking and it’s somewhat lacking in the intelligent humor department. I’ve seen it once or twice. It’s good for a rainy day, but not much else. 7/10

08. I seem to be one of the few who does not consider “Monster’s Inc.“ to be one of Pixar’s best efforts. It’s funny, it’s handsomely animated, but it’s not got that “wow” factor. Still good, and definitely worth a look. 7/10

07. “Up“. I’m kind of mixed on this one. It starts out BRILLIANTLY and then goes downhill. The lead characters are charming, the animation is lovely, and the story, amazingly, works. However, the film is hampered by a week villain who seems thrown in just to disrupt the brilliance with some cheesy action. Overall, it doesn’t quite have the magic of better Pixar films but it’’s still well worth the price of a 2D admission ticket. I do plan on re-watching it to see how it holds up. 7.5/10

06. I may just be the only person in existence that doesn’t prefer “Toy Story“ to it’s sequel. It’s alot of fun, it’s has clever dialogue and it introduces some of animated cinema’s best characters, but I just feel like the sequel does everything a little bit better. 9.5/10

05. “Toy Story 2“ takes the brilliance of it’s predecessor and bumps it up a notch. It’s more heartfelt, the characters are explored more fully, there are more impressive action sequences, great new characters, and I personally find it a bit funnier. 10/10

04. “Finding Nemo“. Funny, heart-warming, clever, and magnificently animated. On a side note, Ellen DeGeneres is the best casting decisions in Pixar history. In movie history, really. 10/10

03. “Ratatouille“ is funny, GORGEOUSLY animated, clever, has a sufficiently cute story, and involves both Paris and cooking, two of my favourite things. The clever jabs at critics and fast-food are hilarious and not over-done. Perhaps the best thing about the film is how well it stands up with repeated viewings. Each time I see it (Which is over 10 times, by now) I notice something new. Wonderful film. 10/10

02. “Wall-E“. I have nothing to say about this except that it is a brilliant social commentary, it’s a perfect blend of serious and silly, and it’s , well, to be incredibly cheesy, out-of-this-world in every way. 10/10

01. “The Incredibles“ works on so many levels. As a comedy, as an action film, as a satire, as a superhero film, as a kids movie, as an adult movie, as mindless entertainment, and as brainy Oscar-baity fare. It’s literally a perfect movie. One of the best, animated or otherwise, films I have ever and probably will ever see. 100/10

How do YOU rank them?