Ironically, although I love movies it seems like I rarely get around to actually watching them. A Netflix subscription has helped, but in general I'm still rather shoddy at keeping up with the cinematic world. However, if there's one good thing to come of the writers' strike it's my gigantic increase in movie consumption, which became self-evident when the list of Oscar nominations was released and - lo and behold - I discovered I had already seen three of the five noms for Best Picture. Even on a good year, my batting average is never that high.
And so - seeing that I have this bloggity thing-a-ma-jig - I thought I'd tell ya about some of 'em. You don't mind, right? Fantastic....
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Recommended for: people who enjoy improbable and spontaneous operatic singing, cannibalism, and heavy, heavy eye makeup.
Tim Burton+Johnny Depp+Stephen Sondheim=Right Up My Alley, so this was an obvious choice. Although I wouldn't recommend it for people who blanketly claim to despise musicals, I would contend that Sweeney Todd makes the short list of "musicals for people who hate musicals." Johnny Depp's vocals were surprisingly capable of the insanely difficult role, Burton's dark and dreary London was a perfect backdrop, and the boy who played Toby was amazing. Sure, there were moments that fell a bit flat (Depp's rendition of "My Friends" immediately comes to mind), but it was a highly enjoyable movie, albeit not for the squeamish.
My Grade: B+
Atonement
Recommended for: fans of The Great Gatsby, people who like gorgeous, sweeping and epic period pieces, and those who find Keira Knightley and James McAvoy terribly attractive (i.e. - people who aren't blind).
Although I didn't love Atonement, I did like it quite a bit. I couldn't help but compare this to Pride and Prejudice and in the shadow of that film Atonement felt like it had a bit less chemistry and heart, but it was excellent even still. I don't particularly want to see it win Best Picture, but Joe Wright and Paul Webste sure do make some pretty movies together. (And by the way, add the little girl who played Briony to the list of celebrities I'd like to fight.)
My Grade: A-
No Country for Old Men
Recommended for: fatalists, people who like don't mind the occasional bath in a pool of misery, and those who understand that some journeys don't always end the way we'd like them to.
I won't mince words,
No Country... is a hard movie to watch. It's violent, slow, and terribly oppressive; however, it's also very, very good.
Javier Bardem scared the living bejeezus out of me (which isn't an easy thing to do), I was on the edge of my seat the entire time, and unlike the book, the film contained moments of unexpected humor. Which was nice. Kept me from slitting my wrists.
My Grade: A
There Will Be Blood
Recommended for: fans of P.T. Anderson, Upton Sinclair, and scenes that start out funny but then take a terrible, terrible turn.
I'll just come out and say it - There Will Be Blood was brilliant. I saw it three days ago, and I still cannot get it out of my head. Daniel Day-Lewis was predictably incredible, but Paul Dano (Little Miss Sunshine) blew me away. It was perfectly directed, the soundtrack thoroughly nerve-wracking, and the final act was equal parts terrifying, comical and bizarre. I loved it.
My Grade: A+
And a Bonus DVD Rental Thrown in at the Last Minute For Kicks:
Waitress Recommended for: people who enjoy sweetness, light, and pies.
Everyone said I should see
Waitress, but I kept ignoring them because it looked like such a easily dismissible romantic comedy, and I'm not generally drawn to that sort of thing. Fortunately, I ignored my stubborn resistance and just rented it already, and I'm so glad I did because I absolutely adored this movie. In fact, it even made me break one of my
New Year's Resolutions! (No, not the one about murdering people. The one about crying, silly.) If you haven't seen it yet, you really, really should.
My Grade: A
Labels: movies