The Filmcake

March 7th – March 13

Never Let Me Go – A very solid film from director Mark Romanek. With a screenplay by Alex Garland (Sunshine) based on the Kazuo Ishiguro novel, the movie touches on some interesting themes. I think its real strength lies in its cast. Carey Mulligan is very strong as Kathy. She has followed up her breakthrough performance in An Education with another truly captivating role. Mulligan reminds me a bit of Michelle Williams, who is probably my favorite actress of the moment. I also think Andrew Garfield and Keira Knightley are well cast. They’re all three young and beautiful but with a little something unique about their physical being that really makes their characters all the much stronger for it.

The themes explored are quite interesting as well. Through this dystopian sci-fi story we begin to examine what it really means to live and what it means to hope for something else after death. Since we have no control over what may come (if we even take that leap to begin with), all we can really do is to concentrate on the one life before us. We have to embrace life and love and art right now. The movie embraces this kind of selfishness. We have to take care of ourselves first. Only by being self-interested can we truly live life and truly care for others.

January 24th – February 13th

As a result of a new promotion, I’ve had less time to get to my weekly posts. I’ve still managed to watch a few things, just never seem to find the time to write about them. What follows is a complete, but altogether too brief, recap of the last three weeks.

Buried — Surprisingly well-executed considering it takes place entirely within a wooden coffin.

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World — Playful diversion from Edgar Wright that ultimately lacked any emotional core to make it great.

The Last Exorcism — Good concept that starts out rather nicely only to fall very flat in the last scenes.

Jack Goes Boating — Not a bad movie at all. But one I could definitely see living much more comfortably in its former incarnation as a stage play.

Blue Valentine — Just a really solid film. Great performances from Michelle Williams (I could look at her all day) and Ryan Gosling (he’s growing on me). The story seems both well examined and comfortably lived in such that a real honesty emerges. The camera maintains a perfect distance that is intimate yet unobtrusive. Even the Grizzly Bear score seems to fit perfectly.

The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp — While it clocks in at nearly three hours, this first film in our Michael Powell Marathon really engaged me. It seemed quite subversive for what I expected. It seemed to both show a sympathetic German solider (during the heat of WWII) as well as criticism of imperial England (asking, in a sense, how is what the Nazi’s are doing that much different from the worst of imperialism). It’d probably help if I remembered my British history a little better though. I know Powell is praised for his use of Technicolor. But, my god, this looked beautiful. I was genuinely surprised. I was expecting B&W. Definitely better use of color than I was expecting for a 1943 film. And how about Roger Livesey. I literally looked him up on IMDB after the movie to see if it was just him or if there were three separate actors that played Candy. He was just that good.

Letters to God, Left Behind: World at War, MST3K: Laserblast — A trio of movies best viewed with good alcohol and/or good friends. Luckily I had both.

January 17th – January 23rd

The Town — Director Ben Affleck’s sophomore effort isn’t as good as Gone Baby Gone, but still not too bad. Good cast and a decent action-filled script make for a solid movie. And even though the “love story” at the center of the film has no right to work at all, I actually somehow found it convincing.

Catfish — In the year of documentaries and features that play with the truth, Catfish was one of the first out of the gate. The “other Facebook movie,” this film directed by Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman follows Nev’s (Ariel’s brother) odd relationship with a family in Michigan that started on the social networking site. It’s nothing brilliant, and parts may or may have not been staged, but the twist (or why people in certain situations do the things they do) provides much to ponder.

Dogtooth — One of the most WTF movies of 2010 came out of Greece from director Giorgos Lanthimos. At times it is absolutely hilarious and at others it is hair-raisingly creepy. Perhaps a commentary on parenting, religion, or no commentary at all, the movie would make an excellent double-feature with Harmony Korine’s Trash Humpers. They’ll both leave you shaking your head and wondering what the fuck is going on but such that you don’t want to turn your eyes away.

Salt — Angelina Jolie is a certifiable action hero. Not an actress play-acting an action hero, but a woman embodying the type ever as much as a Bruce Willis, Matt Damon, or Tom Cruise (for whom this was apparently intended). This one, directed by Phillip Noyce, is ridiculous in its logic but an absolute blast in its thrill ride. After Girl, Interrupted I didn’t take Jolie seriously in her roles, probably as a result of the tabloid fodder that was created in her wake. But with A Mighty Heart and now this, I can certainly see her appeal and her talent. And if there’s a Salt 2, I’ll certainly be there as well.

January 10th – January 16th

The Walking Dead (comic series/TV series) — Just finished the first 13 volumes of the comic book series (which encompasses the first 78 issues). I’ve really enjoyed the series a lot. I like the extended form the series plays within. It’s slow and steady. Sure there is zombie action. Plenty of shocking cliffhangers, blood, and gore. But the comic turns out to not be about zombies at all. It’s about how people (the non-zombies) deal with their new reality and, more importantly, with each other. When the zombie apocalypse comes, it’ll be the un-bitten that you really need to watch out for.

With that being said, I was quite disappointed with the AMC TV series based on the comic series. I don’t care that the television show is different. Of course it’s going to be different. But what a TV series can do right–what AMC has done perfectly with Mad Men–is to introduce you to characters that you really care about. Sure the first season of The Walking Dead was only 6 episodes long, but if Mad Men (and from what I hear, Breaking Bad) is able to do so much with character in even less time, then it makes me disappointed at the lack of real character development in this series. By the last couple episodes, it looked like they were just trying to get through with it. Nevertheless, I do eagerly anticipate the second season (13 episodes are planned) if only because it looks like they’re bringing on new writers.

Cyrus — Better than I expected it to be. On first glance, the movie should turn you off and send you running. John C. Reilly gets the girl who just happens to be the gorgeous Marisa Tomei. Jonah Hill plays another man-child. The Duplass brothers fill the screen with incomprehensible and off-putting zooms. You should, by all sensible standards, get up and walk out. But somehow the movie draws you in. Tomei’s relationship with Reilly, despite the unbelievable make-cute meeting, actually becomes somewhat convincing. If only because all of her previous male suitors are scared off by her creepy son. You get a real sense that lonely, desperate people might take those steps that the rest of us would find unsafe. And Hill plays Cyrus so well. At once, creepy and seemingly mentally unbalanced. And then as conniving and jealous. And finally as somewhat sympathetic. In the end, there’s enough that’s genuine that instead of walking out, we the audience (and John) decide that it may be worth sticking around for.

Sweetgrass — Such a beautiful piece of work. And proof that beauty still exists independent of the HD format. The documentary, captured by Lucien Castaing-Taylor, follows a group of cowboys as they lead sheep to warmer locations. Basically, it’s Brokeback Mountain without the man-love. What has been captured has been brilliantly edited into a film that has many moments of visual splendor.

The Square — A very solid Australian-noir from Nash Edgerton. The first thing I saw of Edgerton was his short film from a couple of years ago, Spider. I really loved that one. This one is just as promising. Plenty of unexpected turns to keep one very interested. It also makes me really want to see Animal Kingdom, another Aussie film getting lots of critical praise, which also stars Nash’s brother Joel.

Bronson — A really weird film. Violent and artsy. Tom Hardy, for those who were introduced to him via Inception, will find him remarkably unrecognizable. He puts on a truly strange and wonderful performance as Britain’s most violent prisoner. And because he’s doing something strange and interesting, I’m curious about more of director Nicolas Winding Refn’s filmography.

A Town Called Panic — This French animated feature was entertaining in all of its stop-motion glory. But it was a little much. I can see how it would be quite entertaining in 5-minute episodes (as the original series was structured). But here, still at only 75 minutes, seemed to try my patience.

January 3rd – January 9th

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo — Now after getting through the first two books in the Millennium trilogy, I decided to give the Swedish films a shot. The first one is okay. There’s nothing spectacular about it. Noomi Rapace, as Lisbeth Salander, is quite compelling. Otherwise, it seems like a middle-of-the-road thriller. And a bit long. I do look forward to David Fincher’s take on the film. I think his use of integrating CGI could benefit the film. I’m also curious about Rooney Mara’s Salander.

My Dog Tulip — A beautiful animated film about a man and his dog. Based on the book by J. R. Ackerley, the movie relates through pen and watercolors the friendship between an aging man and his German Shepherd. Sex, death, vomit. All of life’s riches. The movie doesn’t shy away from illustrating some of Ackerley’s distaste for women. Ultimately, it’s not that problematic. It’s clear that Ackerley has found it difficult to cultivate friendships, or even respectful relationships, and even those type of people deserve the wonders of a pet dog.

The Wizard — The last in our 80’s Movies We Loved in Our Childhoods marathon. Featuring a very precocious Fred Savage and young Jenny Lewis (Rilo Kiley), the movie did manage to get some things right. While aimed at the young, it still looked at what works in other movies (hustling, cross-country chases, etc.). It still managed to be entertaining–much more than I had expected. Plus it introduced Super Mario Brothers 3!

Splice — Not a perfect a sci-fi/horror film, but a pretty damn good one. It’s basically a modern B-movie or a modern monster movie. Adrien Brody and Sarah Polley are fully aware of the movie they are in and act accordingly. While two of the creatures (Fred & Ginger) are too CGI-ish, the main creature (Dren) makes a wonderful transition from infant to adult (where she is played, with enhancements, by Delphine Chanéac). The film, directed by Vincenzo Natali (isn’t that fun to say?), is promising but seems just shy of being wonderful. It does some interesting things, but feels just short of doing what needs to be done. Still, I would definitely recommend it to the sci-fi/horror fans.

Frozen — Wow. Just wow. All I can say is that I’m glad that I didn’t wait to watch this when our heat went out yesterday (when the temperature outside dropped well below freezing). This one, by Adam Green, scared the shit out of me. The premise is pretty straightforward. Three friends get accidentally left behind on a ski lift. I didn’t expect that premise could be executed so adeptly, but Green certainly pulled it off. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. It’ll definitely make me think twice before ever getting on a ski lift.

Everyone Else — This one was a bit of a surprise. I’ve been thinking about it ever since. It has apparently been described as the movie that Blue Valentine (Ryan Gosling, Michelle Williams) wants to be. While I haven’t seen that one, I can definitely get behind Everyone Else. Directed by Maren Ade, the film follows a young couple as they vacation in Italy. She gets at what we expect out of other people, what we expect out of others and ourselves, and how very tough it is to keep a great relationship running smoothly. I think this one is pretty much pitch perfect.

December 27th – January 2nd

Cold Souls — A more boring and less funny version of Being John Malkovich. When you have Paul Giamatti (who I really like) instead of Malkovich, there is going to be a sizable drop in inherent excitement. This wasn’t a bad movie so much as it seemed incomplete. It lacked something–maybe a fully realized premise, more comedy elements, or a more political bent (I would’ve liked to have seen the human trafficking angle explored more). Still, I’ve spent much of the week hypothesizing what the souls of my various pets would look like (chickpea? cotton candy? cat turd?).

I’m Still Here — Both better than expected as well as somewhat of a let down. On the one hand, it did have something interesting to say about celebrity (and celebrity-ness) and all of its perks and pressures. And Joaquin Phoenix’s performance was certainly compelling. But on the other hand, once director Casey Affleck came out and admitted that it was a hoax, the power of the thing was instantly diminished. It’s obviously not a pure documentary. It’s a performance for sure. But admitting that fact only destroys the hard work in getting there.

Troll 2 — In preparation for watching Best Worst Movie we had to see the original piece of cinematic magic. Despite numerous problems with Netflix Instant Viewing, we finally made our way through it all. It’s bad. Really bad. And earnestly bad. I still think, when it comes to such bad movies, that my allegiance lies with Tommy Wiseau’s The Room.

Best Worst Movie — A documentary from Michael Paul Stephenson who played the son in the cult classic movie Troll 2. I really enjoyed the documentary. I think it was an elegant example of the power of film. There are the fans. Even if the movie is horrible, it has brought so much joy to its fans lives. It’s an excuse to get together and have a good time. And there are the actors. George Hardy, who plays the father Michael Waits in the movie, appears to accept his cult status positively and gratefully. You can also sense his longing to get back into acting and reclaim that spotlight. For some of the others, acting seems like their solitary connection to the world. Then there is the director. Claudio Fragasso seems painfully out of step with the cult status his film has achieved. Whereas Troll 2 fans across the world revel in its badness, he continues to claim its greatness. It’s a little sad to see someone who just doesn’t get it, although its understandable that an artist would be disappointed to learn his movie is regarded as epically awful. Nevertheless, I find it admirable that this man made a feature film when so many people never do much of anything. You have to respect that.

Midnight Madness — Another for our 80s Movies We Loved in Our Childhoods Marathon. I don’t remember hearing about this one much less ever seeing it. But I sort of enjoyed it. It’s basically a fictionalized and Disneyfied 80′s take on the current TV show The Amazing Race. A group of teams gets a clue that leads them to another location and clue and so on and so on. The movie does get a bit shrill at moments. Some of the broad stereotypes get taken a tad to far. There were too many participants so many become broad generalizations of actual human beings. That being said a road race game lends itself to an entertaining film…multiple locations, a built in plot, and a clear arc. It’s a movie that practically makes itself. It’s also notable for being Michael J. Fox’s first film and for a bit part by Paul Reubens (aka Pee-wee Herman).

Restrepo — An excellent Afghan war documentary. This one concerns a group of soldiers stationed at outposts in the dangerous Korangal Valley. Very powerful. Directors Sebastian Junger and Tim Hetherington, an American journalist and a British photographer respectively, capture some amazing footage of the harrowing warfare, fraternal camaraderie, and memorable landscape. It’s strange. I found myself admiring the landscape while comparing the countryside to video game maps (doesn’t that village look like that one level on SOCOM?). And then suddenly I was slapped back into reality. There’s a very memorable scene of one soldier’s reaction upon realizing the fate of one of his comrades. And in one of my favorite moments in film from 2010, another shot shows a group of soldiers dancing together in one of their shelters. Lows and highs. Or real life, in a war zone. Highly recommended.

December 20th – December 26th

True Grit — Another really good one from the Coens. While this won’t be my favorite of the year, it might be my most highly recommended. I could recommend it to just about anybody. It has broad appeal and wonderful craftmanship–all reason enough to add up to the brothers biggest opening to date. It’s delightfully dark yet very funny. And while Jeff Bridges as Rooster Cogburn and a haggard looking supporting cast are all solid indeed, it’s newcomer Hailee Steinfeld who truly shines. She’s tough, determined, and very much Bridges’ match. I look forward to seeing the original, but I’m pretty sure I’m not going to be much of John Wayne fan nor like it as much as this one.

Thankskilling — A very bad horror movie we found on Netflix Instant Viewing. Almost so bad it’s just bad. But I still found some entertainment in its awfulness. Its the sort of low budget horror movie that can (maybe) be fun with some booze or a group of friends. It’s juvenile and offensive and stupid…but mostly seems aware of the fact. At the same time, it clearly demonstrates the cinematic mastery of Lloyd Kaufman in comparison because he can also sneak in some satire or competent comedy into his stuff.

Please Give — A good one from Nicole Holofcenter about what we need from, owe to, and get from the people in our lives. I think it smartly and non-judgmentally examines how people deal differently with the stresses of life. Amanda Peet and Rebecca Hall are both wonderful as sisters dealing with their aging (and eventually dying) grandmother, played brilliantly by Ann Guilbert.

Easy A — I loved this movie. For me, it lived up to the really good high school movies of the past…from Sixteen Candles to 10 Things I Hate About You. Sometimes a contemporary movie will reference John Hughes and you’ll soon realize that what is referenced is much better than the movie doing the referencing. Here the filmmakers directly reference Hughes and in my opinion fully live up to their predecessor. This seems like a new classic in the genre. And Emma Stone appears ever more the rising star. I certainly look forward to seeing her in lots more stuff.

Annie — Another in our 80s Movies We Loved in Our Childhoods Marathon. I don’t think I’d ever seen this one all the way through. Surprisingly, I kinda liked it. It’s a musical, so it’s obviously going to be divisive. But the songs are so strong that I think everything else just really falls into place in a good way. Also, as Sarah noted, it seems to be a movie for our current times. While the movie takes place during the Great Depression, one certainly notices its applicability to our present financial difficulties.

December 13th – December 19th

Toy Story 3 – While the story seemed to be a recycle of the second installment, this one may very well have been my favorite based on its take on the prison escape genre. The Pixar people have a way of making this small animated world (full of toys) seem cinematically grand. Also, I think these Pixar films are among the best looking films on an HDTV. Gorgeous. Oh, and the accompanying short Day & Night was spectacular as well.

Trash Humpers — This one was two things. First, it was a slog and a bit of a pain to get through. Second, it was kind of awesome. It almost defies description. There is no real story, although it does have something to say. Sarah described it as “what happens when art school students try to make a Jackass movie…with a little Last House on the Leftthrown in for good measure.” Director Harmony Korine’s “film” plays more like deranged found footage than something intended for any measure of a normal movie-going audience. It’s creepy and hilarious and just the sort of thing movie geeks inflict on one another for sadistic pleasure.

Exit Through the Gift Shop – Loved this one. I’m not sure what percentage of this film is a straight documentary laying out historical facts and how much is an elaborate piece of Banksy-created street art playing out on my TV screen. It doesn’t matter. I have learned, however, that good art is both what you like and what you are told to like. It must always be both. There is no escaping that fact. Never.

Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work — An interesting documentary. And perhaps a bit eye-opening for anyone who thinks that Ms. Rivers is only, and only ever was, someone who berated the red carpet fashion choices on the E Channel.

Cloak & Dagger – My first pick in our 80s Movies We Loved in Our Childhoods Marathon. I still have a fond place for it. But I’ll certainly admit that things begin to drag quite a bit. Nevertheless, it’s notable for taking place, in part, on the Riverwalk in San Antonio. Also of note, the comedian Louie Anderson appears in the film for a couple seconds as a cab driver.

Black Swan – Definitely one of the best of the year. Darren Aronofsky does not disappoint. Here he explores familiar themes–aging, bodily destruction, descent into madness, etc.–on a ballet stage amidst a production of Swan Lake. I’m still working my way through it all. I’m sure I’ll need to watch it again before I truly know how I feel about it. A movie that features a character with deep psychological issues is one with a very unreliable narrator, making any clear picture of what really happens (versus what only happens in her mind) difficult to come by. I do know, without a doubt, that it features some truly amazing casting–Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, Winona Ryder, Barbara Hershey, and Vincent Cassel–with all kinds of meta subtexts interlaced.

December 6th – December 12th

The Kids Are All Right — A very nice family drama/comedy from Lisa Cholodenko (High Art). I hope this movie is a sign of our times. Where a filmmaker can tell an interesting and compelling story about a family, explore the dynamics of a couple’s relationship, and examine the consequence of children meeting a birth parent for the first time, and the fact that the couple at the center of the story are lesbians is almost beside the point. Families are families, and love is love. It’s the same from either side of the fence. The movie is held together by the strong performances by Annette Bening, Julianne Moore, and Mark Ruffalo. The two kids, played by Mia Wasikowska and Josh Hutcherson, certainly hold their own as well.

My So-Called Life (TV) — It’s weird watching a TV show fifteen years later. A show where you were a teenager when it first premiered. A show featuring characters very close in age to you when you first saw it. But now, after the years have passed, seems so much different. Sure, there’s a nostalgia for those times–a reminder of high school life, of the fashion and music of the time. But I find myself also relating to the parents in the series. It leaves me in the awkward position of still having a bit of a crush on Angela Chase (the wonderful Claire Danes), while also very much relating to her dad.

Tiny Furniture — Loved this one. Lena Dunham plays a version of herself, along side her real mom and sister (in their real home), who has returned from college after graduation and finds herself a bit aimless. The movie takes its time, and doesn’t have any sort of roller coaster type of plot, but stays compelling (and even quite funny) throughout. Dunham’s fearlessness in letting the camera (Canon 7D, in virtually all stationary shots) capture her very normal body sort of invites the trust and empathy of the viewer. Much like bloggers who write about themselves, there will be some people who find it an exercise in narcissism and futility while others will feel a sense of familiarity as if there is some exotic language that is uniquely shared. Dunham’s film feels just like that. I look forward to checking out her web series, Delusional Downtown Divas.

The Parking Lot Movie — Another one, like Tiny Furniture, that features people in a state of “post-graduate delirium.” This one, a documentary from Meghan Eckman that I caught on PBS’s Independent Lens, follows current and former attendants at a parking lot near the University of Virginia campus. The doc champions the little guys (in this case, overly educated outsider types) over the establishment (frat boys, sorority girls, and their rich alumni parents). For these attendants, its the opportunity to make their little corner of the world just a little more egalitarian. Yes, a movie about a slab of pavement CAN be interesting indeed.