I Watch Movies (2016)
For fun, I'm keeping track of all the movies I watch this year. (In order)
www.MIKEandLEEwatchMOVIES.com
www.MIKEandLEEwatchMOVIES.com
List activity
1.3K views
• 0 this weekCreate a new list
List your movie, TV & celebrity picks.
241 titles
- DirectorSteve McQueenStarsMichael FassbenderLiam CunninghamStuart GrahamIrish republican Bobby Sands leads the inmates of a Northern Irish prison in a hunger strike.B+
The minimal dialogue, beautiful camerawork, a specific scene that was all dialogue with no cuts, and Michael Fassbender's raw discipline made this viewing experience a stimulating one. - DirectorSteve CollinsStarsCourtney DavisJohn MerrimanMacon BlairGretchen has bigger problems than abysmal fashion sense: She's 17, painfully awkward and stuck in the most unforgiving place on earth - high school. When her obsession with school bad boy Ricky gets out of hand, her mother sends her to an emotional treatment center to recover. She has to travel elsewhere, however, to truly begin to understand why she fixates on the wrong kind of guy.D
Nope. I wanted to see this because the main actor from Blue Ruin is in it. Gretchen just tried too hard to recapture the magical wit Napoleon Dynamite and Welcome to the Dollhouse had, but all the awkwardness failed to be humorous and the comedy was damn-near nonexistent. Might have played well as a student film project for a talented filmmaker still trying to hone his skills. - DirectorFabrice du WelzStarsLaurent LucasBrigitte LahaieGigi CoursignyMarc, a traveling entertainer, is on his way home for Christmas when his van breaks down in the middle of a jerkwater town with some strange inhabitants.C
Not sure what the director was trying to say with this one. Not very disturbing, but still pretty strange and transgressive. One really awesome scene. Rad title cards. Unfortunately, everything seemed stolen from better movies. - DirectorRobert BressonStarsAnne WiazemskyWalter GreenFrançois LafargeThe story of a mistreated donkey and the people around him. A study on saintliness and a sister piece to Bresson's Mouchette.B+
"It's so ugly here. This is a place to die in. With no regrets." - DirectorErik SkjoldbjærgStarsStellan SkarsgårdSverre Anker OusdalMaria MathiesenIn a Norwegian city with a 24-hour daylight cycle a Swedish murder investigator has been brought in on a special case. Sleep deprived, he makes a horrible mistake which is discovered by the killer he has been hunting.B-
Clearly more resourceful and unsavory than the remake, but less polished with lazy edits and silly sound mixing (punches that sound like you're putting air in your tires). I even caught the boom mic in one shot. Ultimately, still very entertaining and smart enough for Christopher Nolan to take a crack at it. - DirectorUlrich SeidlStarsMargarete TieselPeter KazunguInge MauxTeresa, a fifty-year-old Austrian mother, travels to the paradise of the beaches of Kenya, seeking out love from African boys. But she must confront the hard truth that on the beaches of Kenya, love is a business.C+
I was constantly embarrassed for these woman, but I was constantly smiling because the whole movie was genuinely, humanly, awkwardly uncomfortable. This is the kind of movie that's hard to believe it's not more of a documentary than a movie with actors reading off a script. But sadly, it was mostly just boring. An average moviegoer wouldn't have lasted 10 minutes. Points for me for enduring old boobs and black wieners! - DirectorAdam McKayStarsChristian BaleSteve CarellRyan GoslingIn 2006-2007 a group of investors bet against the United States mortgage market. In their research, they discover how flawed and corrupt the market is.A
WOW. - DirectorTodd SolondzStarsShirley HendersonAllison JanneyAlly SheedyFriends, family, and lovers struggle to find love, forgiveness, and meaning in an almost war-torn world riddled with comedy and pathos.C+
My least favorite film from Solondz thus far. It was pretty cool spending time with the "Happiness" characters again, just not sure why he felt his fans would want a sequel, or why he felt the need to express it in this way. - DirectorDamián SzifronStarsDarío GrandinettiMaría MarullMónica VillaSix short stories that explore the extremities of human behavior involving people in distress.B
Highly entertaining, dramatic and never frustrating. A seriously refreshing change of pace when it comes to features that are a compilation of shorts. - DirectorHayao MiyazakiStarsSumi ShimamotoMahito TsujimuraHisako KyôdaWarrior and pacifist Princess Nausicaä desperately struggles to prevent two warring nations from destroying themselves and their dying planet.A
I've never been so moved by an anime in my life. - DirectorDuke JohnsonCharlie KaufmanStarsDavid ThewlisJennifer Jason LeighTom NoonanA man crippled by the mundanity of his life experiences something out of the ordinary.B
Wasn't the masterpiece I was hoping for, but short, sweet and humbly thought-provoking, regardless. - DirectorMarielle HellerStarsBel PowleyAlexander SkarsgårdKristen WiigA teen artist living in 1970s San Francisco enters into an affair with her mother's boyfriend.B
Good stuff. Not that this is a bad thing at all, but I think I probably would have liked it a lot more if I were a younger female. - DirectorAndrew HaighStarsCharlotte RamplingTom CourtenayGeraldine JamesA married couple preparing to celebrate their wedding anniversary receives shattering news that promises to forever change the course of their lives.A-
Charlotte Rampling eyes are the focal point within this entire film, which carry as much depth as almost the whole spectrum of human emotion. Even when it's not so clear that she's feeling the most intense ones, we can almost look right through them to understand that all she is doing is masking the pain. The acting in 45 Years is painfully realistic and the direction by Andrew Haigh is damn admirable to say the least. I really wanted to A+ this movie, but grading it as a whole, some of the scenes that seemed to dwell on the mundane rendered it a flawed masterpiece. - DirectorTom McCarthyStarsMark RuffaloMichael KeatonRachel McAdamsThe true story of how the Boston Globe uncovered the massive scandal of child molestation and cover-up within the local Catholic Archdiocese, shaking the entire Catholic Church to its core.B+
High five to Mark Ruffalo and high five to Howard Shore for his kick-ass score! - DirectorDenis VilleneuveStarsEmily BluntJosh BrolinBenicio Del ToroAn idealistic FBI agent is enlisted by a government task force to aid in the escalating war against drugs at the border area between the U.S. and Mexico.A
Cerebral misery. Crime/drama/thriller with splashes of Haneke, Gordon Green, Chandor, Refn. Brutal and beautiful. RESPECT. - DirectorSeth MacFarlaneStarsMark WahlbergSeth MacFarlaneAmanda SeyfriedNewlywed couple Ted and Tami-Lynn want to have a baby, but in order to qualify to be a parent, Ted will have to prove he's a person in a court of law.C+
Stupid but hilarious. - DirectorLenny AbrahamsonStarsBrie LarsonJacob TremblaySean BridgersA little boy is held captive in a room with his mother since his birth, so he has never known the world outside.B
What an amazing story! That's why I was so bummed out the director made went with so many overused choices. I got goosebumps and choked up during one scene, then I was desperately trying to recapture that feeling like a drug of choice. There should have been more love, more crying, more screaming, more tenderness, less dialogue at points, more dialogue at points, more forgiveness, more Macy..but the director made the movie his way and it was still very impressive. - DirectorJohn CrowleyStarsSaoirse RonanEmory CohenDomhnall GleesonAn Irish immigrant lands in 1950s Brooklyn, where she quickly falls into a romance with a local. When her past catches up with her, however, she must choose between two countries and the lives that exist within.B-
A pleasant and kindhearted movie :) - DirectorAlejandro G. IñárrituStarsLeonardo DiCaprioTom HardyWill PoulterA frontiersman on a fur trading expedition in the 1820s fights for survival after being mauled by a bear and left for dead by members of his own hunting team.A+
I haven't felt so punched in the gut while watching a movie in the theater since Requiem For A Dream. - DirectorTodd SolondzStarsJordan GelberSelma BlairChristopher WalkenRomance blooms between two tricenarians in arrested development: an avid toy collector who is the dark horse of his family and a depressed woman on the rebound.B
Similar humor, but tamed and much less taboo. However, I found myself realizing near the end that Solondz was making me think deeper than I ever have with him before, probably because I wasn't laughing and I wasn't squirming. Still, I was focused, and the last shot gave me that trippy-type-feeling relief. - DirectorJean-Luc GodardStarsAnna KarinaSady RebbotAndré S. LabartheTwelve episodic tales in the life of a Parisian woman and her slow descent into prostitution.B+
Amazing to look at, amazing to listen to. I felt ten times cooler while watching it. Seriously smart compositions and editing choices. - DirectorJames PonsoldtStarsJason SegelJesse EisenbergAnna ChlumskyThe story of the five-day interview between Rolling Stone reporter David Lipsky and acclaimed novelist David Foster Wallace, which took place right after the 1996 publication of Wallace's groundbreaking epic novel, 'Infinite Jest.'A-
I just love the feeling this movie gave me. I liked both of the characters a lot, and knowing the end result before the fact made me really respect and want to know more of Jason Segel's character. And the last 20 minutes kept getting me chocked up. But why? Nothing sad was happening on the screen. It was probably the brilliant character development and the very beautiful score..let alone the somewhat relatable subject matter. - DirectorJason HowdenStarsMilo CawthorneJames Joshua BlakeKimberley CrossmanTwo teenage boys unwittingly summon an ancient evil entity known as The Blind One by delving into black magic while trying to escape their mundane lives.C+
I tried so hard to like this movie more. Not bad at all, pretty well made, gory, rad soundtrack, but the jokes just didn't stick. I did laugh a few times though. - DirectorDanny BoyleStarsMichael FassbenderKate WinsletSeth RogenSteve Jobs takes us behind the scenes of the digital revolution, to paint a portrait of the man at its epicenter. The story unfolds backstage at three iconic product launches, ending in 1998 with the unveiling of the iMac.B+
I got completely sucked into the dialogue with this one! Super cool contrast between the beginning and end too. - DirectorRidley ScottStarsMatt DamonJessica ChastainKristen WiigAn astronaut becomes stranded on Mars after his team assume him dead, and must rely on his ingenuity to find a way to signal to Earth that he is alive and can survive until a potential rescue.C+
If I have to watch another American Space Movie where hundreds of people are high-fiving each other in one of those dispatch control room area thingies, I'm going to strengthen my foreign movie diet. However, The Martian did have a good positive message and stuff, but to me, it's a forgettable movie. I will also say that it's made very well, technically, but so are a lot if other hackneyed movies. - DirectorAsif KapadiaStarsAmy WinehouseMitch WinehouseMark RonsonArchival footage and personal testimonials present an intimate portrait of the life and career of British singer/songwriter Amy Winehouse.B
I'm now a Amy Winehouse fan. - DirectorTakashi MiikeStarsTadanobu AsanoNao ÔmoriShin'ya TsukamotoAs sadomasochistic yakuza enforcer Kakihara searches for his missing boss he comes across Ichi, a repressed and psychotic killer who may be able to inflict levels of pain that Kakihara has only dreamed of achieving.A
My girlfriend had never seen it, so we had a date night. - DirectorSteve McQueenStarsMichael FassbenderCarey MulliganJames Badge DaleA sex addict's carefully cultivated private life falls apart after his sister arrives for an indefinite stay.A
A couple sequences so powerful that my goosebumps got goosebumps. - DirectorEli CraigStarsTyler LabineAlan TudykKatrina BowdenAffable hillbillies Tucker and Dale are on vacation at their dilapidated mountain cabin when they are mistaken for murderers by a group of preppy college students.B
Points for seriously clever and funny originality. - DirectorJosh SafdieStarsBat 'Batman' BaxterAlex BilligWayne ChinA curious and lost Eleonore looks for something everywhere, even in the bags of strangers who find themselves sadly smiling only well after she's left their lives. They owe her their thanks.D
I wanted everybody in this movie to just shut-up. - DirectorSean BakerStarsKitana Kiki RodriguezMya TaylorKarren KaragulianA hooker tears through Tinseltown on Christmas Eve searching for the pimp who broke her heart.A-
This movie progressively got better and better until I literally clapped during the credits...by myself, alone in my apartment. - DirectorNoah BaumbachStarsGreta GerwigLola KirkeShana DowdeswellA lonely college freshman's life is turned upside-down by her impetuous, adventurous stepsister-to-be.C+
Quirky, snappy Juno-esque type dialogue with play-it-safe material seems to be Baumbach's new shtick. Not really a fan of any of it. - DirectorRyan CooglerStarsMichael B. JordanSylvester StalloneTessa ThompsonThe former World Heavyweight Champion Rocky Balboa serves as a trainer and mentor to Adonis Johnson, the son of his late friend and former rival Apollo Creed.Beginning: B+
Ending: B+
Originality: C
Realism: B+
Writing: B+
Acting: B+
Editing: B+
Cinematography: B+
Directing: B
Final Grade: B - DirectorTerrence MalickStarsChristian BaleCate BlanchettNatalie PortmanA writer indulging in all that Los Angeles and Las Vegas have to offer, undertakes a search for love and self via a series of adventures with six different women.Beginning: C-
Ending: C
Originality: D
Realism: B-
Writing: D
Acting: B
Editing: B
Cinematography: B
Directing: F
Final Grade: C- - DirectorFrançois SimardAnouk WhissellYoann-Karl WhissellStarsMunro ChambersLaurence LeboeufMichael IronsideIn a post-apocalyptic wasteland in 1997, a comic book fan adopts the persona of his favourite hero to save his enthusiastic friend and fight a tyrannical overlord.Beginning: C
Ending: B-
Originality: B
Realism: B-
Writing: B-
Acting: B-
Editing: B+
Cinematography: B+
Directing: B+
Final Grade: B- - DirectorUli EdelStarsJennifer Jason LeighStephen LangBurt YoungSet in Brooklyn during the 1950s against a backdrop of union corruption and violence. A prostitute falls in love with one of her customers. Also a disturbed man discovers that he is homosexual.Beginning: B+
Ending: A
Originality: B+
Realism: A-
Writing: A
Acting: A-
Editing: B+
Cinematography: B
Directing: A
Final Grade: B+
WHY HAS IT TAKEN ME SO LONG TO WATCH THIS??? BRILLIANT!!! - DirectorJames PonsoldtStarsMary Elizabeth WinsteadAaron PaulNick OffermanA married couple whose bond is built on a mutual love of alcohol gets their relationship put to the test when the wife decides to get sober.Beginning: A
Ending: B+
Originality: B
Believability: B+
Writing: B+
Acting: B+
Editing: B
Cinematography: C+
Directing: B
Final Grade: B
Really effective stuff. It got the struggle of new sobriety right, and the rewards and gratitude that come along with it down the road. I just wish they focused more on the detox process of alcoholism. When you drink that much for that long, your body doesn't let you just get up and go once you decide to stop; your body hurts, and you shake intensely, and you vomit, and it feels like your body is rapidly shutting down. - DirectorTom FordStarsColin FirthJulianne MooreMatthew GoodeAn English professor, one year after the sudden death of his boyfriend, is unable to cope with his typical days in 1960s Los Angeles.Beginning: A
Ending: B+
Originality: B+
Believability: C
Writing: B+
Acting: B+
Editing: A
Cinematography: A
Directing: A
Final Grade: B+
This movie is polished so perfectly that I salute the filmmaker's ambition, yet stay slightly unconvinced of the "real" world these characters live in. - DirectorCary Joji FukunagaStarsAbraham AttahEmmanuel AffadziRicky AdelayitorA drama based on the experiences of Agu, a child soldier fighting in the civil war of an unnamed African country.Beginning: A
Ending: A-
Originality: B
Believability: A
Writing: A
Acting: A
Editing: A
Cinematography: A
Directing: A
Final Grade: A-
Inconceivably good. - DirectorEmad BurnatGuy DavidiStarsEmad BurnatSoraya BurnatMohammed BurnatA documentary on a Palestinian farmer's chronicle of his nonviolent resistance to the actions of the Israeli army.A
I am so proud of Emad Burnat for his accomplishment. Few documentaries have this level of grit and fearlessness. - DirectorKevin MacdonaldStarsSaoirse RonanTom HollandGeorge MacKayAn American girl, sent to the English countryside to stay with relatives, finds love and purpose while fighting for her survival as war envelops the world around her.B-
On a technical standpoint, this movie thrives. And on acting and directing standpoints, it's without a doubt a very hearty meal. However, the "stretch of the imagination" this movie asked of me didn't really seem fair. - DirectorAndrew HornStarsKlaus NomiAnn MagnusonDavid BowieHaving failed to break into professional opera in his native Germany (where, as an usher in West Berlin's Deutsche Oper, he would serenade the staff after the real performances were over) the diminutive Klaus Nomi headed for NYC in 1972. The vibrant New Wave/avant-garde gestalt of the mid/late '70's East Village proved to be fertile ground for the development of his unique talents. Working by day as a high-end pastry chef, Nomi began to stage his outlandish performances, first launching himself upon an unsuspecting public at the New Wave Vaudeville in 1978. The hip and cynical young audience was stunned by this weird combination of falsetto arias, booming classical orchestration, Kraftwerk-style electronica, futuristic costumes and outer space imagery. An odd assortment of artists, choreographers, designers, songwriters and musicians jumped on to the Nomi bandwagon and the phenomenon began to take off - first attracting thousands to South Manhattan events (including performances at the legendary Max's Kansas City) and culminating in a recording contract with the French division of RCA. With the release 'Klaus Nomi' in 1981 and 'Simple Man' in 1982, it looked as if Nomi was on the verge of superstardom. Having established himself in Europe, he made a triumphant return to New York City. But Nomi's moment of glory proved to be his swansong. Within only a few months Nomi had succumbed to the ravages of AIDS. One of the first celebrities to be killed by this mysterious new disease, Nomi died a lonely death, largely abandoned by those who had seen him as a passport to their own success. Today, the otherworldliness of 'The Cold Song' and 'Dido's Lament' is like an ethereal voice calling from beyond the grave.B
Learn something new everyday. - DirectorStephen FrearsStarsJudi DenchSteve CooganSophie Kennedy ClarkA world-weary political journalist picks up the story of a woman's search for her son, who was taken away from her decades ago after she became pregnant and was forced to live in a convent.A
For the past couple of years I thought Philomena was gonna be a silly generational gap road movie with the two main characters bickering at each other for 2-hours. But it turns out that this movie has the emotional range, and the unconditional depth of a most beautiful song or a most nostalgic memory. If you haven't, give this movie a go. Your heart and smiles will thank you for it. - DirectorGlenn FicarraJohn RequaStarsJim CarreyEwan McGregorLeslie MannA cop turns con man once he comes out of the closet. Once imprisoned, he meets the second love of his life, whom he'll stop at nothing to be with.C+
The laughs were there, but I lost track of them once the storm of plot holes came a comin'. - DirectorJim StrouseStarsJemaine ClementRegina HallJessica WilliamsWill Henry is a newly single graphic novelist balancing parenting his young twin daughters and a classroom full of students while exploring and navigating the rich complexities of new love and letting go of the woman who left him.C
This director found something he liked from the Miranda Julys, the Woody Allens and the Lena Dunhams of the world, but failed to give us something from himself, accept this stale recycled misuse of a movie. To be honest, it was really funny at times, but dude.. try not to check off everything you read from the "How to make a really cool independent movie that people will totally think is cool" book next time. - DirectorBenjamin StatlerStarsDaniel RoebuckSarah ScottAugust EmersonTom Grant, a private investigator once hired by Courtney Love, reveals his take on the death of Kurt Cobain.C
I'm just not sure what I believe anymore. But I do know that this doc is pretty damn persuasive. If a viewer doesn't become more of a skeptic of Cobain's suicide after viewing this, I don't know what will. Still, I don't prefer to dwell on his death anymore than I have to. I love his music and my memory of him. Also, the filmmakers did a fine job here. I didn't think I'd like the acted/scripted parts of the movie, but it honestly kinda works..even though they're using some big time editing manipulation here. The director's bias IS strong, no matter how true his aim is. - DirectorDeniz Gamze ErgüvenStarsGünes SensoyDoga Zeynep DogusluTugba SungurogluWhen five orphan girls are seen innocently playing with boys on a beach, their scandalized conservative guardians confine them while forced marriages are arranged.A-
What a great ensemble of actors and what a way to achieve what these young girls are going through on screen. It's an eyeopening watch and a convincing report of bearing personal hardships. One could go on and on in regard of the religious aspect, but it's easier to just root for the good positive things in the movie instead. - DirectorJonathan LevineStarsJoseph Gordon-LevittSeth RogenJillian BellOn Christmas Eve, three lifelong friends spend the night in New York City looking for the Holy Grail of Christmas parties.B-
I'm a fan of this director and I'm a fan of these actors. I had fun and I laughed a lot. Yet something about this movie felt rushed to me. I can't really explain it. But though there was a solid resolution, my head was still tilted in confusing a bit, wondering what those missing pieces were. You WILL laugh though! - DirectorMichael James JohnsonStarsKodi Smit-McPheeVirginia MadsenIsabelle FuhrmanA restless teenager explores the wilderness of his city while struggling with the absence of his father.B
Things seem supernatural, but it's all just coming-of-age.
I loved the look and I loved the story. The execution just needed a little more gravitas. - DirectorRoss PartridgeStarsRoss PartridgeOona LaurenceJess WeixlerWhen a man meets a young girl in a parking lot he attempts to help her avoid a bleak destiny by initiating her into the beauty of the outside world. The journey shakes them in ways neither expects.B+
Such a challenging subject matter to portray truthfully. It's remarkable that got it off the ground and completed. Many unusual feelings were going through me with this viewing and the only problem I had with it was that the director casting himself in the main role. He needed an actor who could really let himself go. But the young girl on the other hand was flat out perfect in this movie. - DirectorWalter SallesStarsGael García BernalRodrigo de la SernaMía MaestroErnesto Guevara de la Serna, popularly known as Che, along with his friend Alberto Granado, decides to take a road trip across South America. His experiences on the journey transform him.B+
I didn't care much about dwelling on the "truth" about who Che once was, and that made me love this movie. Beautiful stuff, wheather it's about accuracy or not. - DirectorTom SixStarsLaurence R. HarveyAshlynn YennieMaddi BlackInspired by the fictional Dr. Heiter, disturbed loner Martin dreams of creating a 12-person centipede and sets out to realize his sick fantasy.C-
I'm giving this movie a passing grade for "going there" and letting the fan boys get their kicks, but I don't think I found anything here that was actually "artistic" enough to stay with me. Irreversible, Ichi, Salo...movies like that will forever stay with me because they gave me much more than just pure exploitation. - DirectorGaspar NoéStarsAomi MuyockKarl GlusmanKlara KristinMurphy is an American living in Paris who enters a highly sexually and emotionally charged relationship with Electra. Unaware of the effect it will have on their relationship, they invite their pretty neighbor into their bed.B+
No words. - DirectorDenis VilleneuveStarsJake GyllenhaalMélanie LaurentSarah GadonA man seeks out his exact look-alike after spotting him in a movie.A-
I fvcking love this director. One of my favorite directors that I've discovered within the last 10 years. I love finding new (to me) filmmakers to follow. - DirectorPier Paolo PasoliniStarsSilvana ManganoTerence StampMassimo GirottiA mysterious young man seduces each member of a bourgeois family. When he suddenly leaves, how will their lives change?B-
I need to watch something normal again. - DirectorJames GunnStarsRainn WilsonElliot PageLiv TylerAfter his wife falls under the influence of a drug dealer, an everyday guy transforms himself into Crimson Bolt, a superhero with the best intentions, but lacking in heroic skills.B-
Watched again with my lady partner. Such a heavy ending for such a raunchy comedy :) - DirectorPaolo SorrentinoStarsMichael CaineHarvey KeitelRachel WeiszA retired orchestra conductor is on vacation with his daughter and his film director best friend in the Alps when he receives an invitation from Queen Elizabeth II to perform for Prince Philip's birthday.A
Layers of goodness. Needs to be seen to understand why it stands out so much. - DirectorGeorge MillerStarsTom HardyCharlize TheronNicholas HoultIn a post-apocalyptic wasteland, a woman rebels against a tyrannical ruler in search for her homeland with the aid of a group of female prisoners, a psychotic worshiper and a drifter named Max.A
Bloody extreme cinema explosion of greatness. - DirectorTodd HaynesStarsCate BlanchettRooney MaraSarah PaulsonAn aspiring photographer develops an intimate relationship with an older woman in 1950s New York.B-
Wardrobe and cinematography :) - DirectorBrett HaleyStarsBlythe DannerMartin StarrSam ElliottA widow and former songstress discovers that life can begin anew at any age.A
Not many films feel as if they were made solely as a gift for the audience, but rather something more personal for the director's own benefit. Whether it's an intimate form of expression on their behalf, or a shared family heirloom in a philosophical sense, the gratitude I feel towards the filmmakers will however resonate all the same. - DirectorMatthew HeinemanStarsTim FoleyJosé Manuel 'El Doctor' MirelesPaco ValenciaFilmmaker Matthew Heineman examines the state of the ongoing drug problem along the U.S.-Mexican border.A
Damn near perfect and yet another documentary where I give the director an A+ for bravery. One of the most important films of 2015, if not the most important. - DirectorJay RoachStarsBryan CranstonDiane LaneHelen MirrenIn 1947, Dalton Trumbo was Hollywood's top screenwriter, until he and other artists were jailed and blacklisted for their political beliefs.B
Not bad at all! But, of course, I'm a liberal. - DirectorKyle Patrick AlvarezStarsEzra MillerTye SheridanBilly CrudupIn 1971, twenty-four male students are selected to take on randomly assigned roles of prisoners and guards in a mock prison situated in the basement of the Stanford psychology building.B-
Great performances and attention-grabbing, but not much here is very gratifying, like I wonder if there were any meaningful reasons for why this movie should have been made. - DirectorDavid LeonStarsOliver WoollfordStephen GrahamMichael SmileyBenjamin, a boy bullied for his Jewish faith, takes up boxing as a means of self-defense, alienating himself from his religious community. As an adult caught between two worlds, his desperation to provide for his family becomes the catalyst for a devastating series of events that ensures he may never find the acceptance he has always craved.C
Pretty rad attempt actually, just didn't mesh well. - DirectorSteven SpielbergStarsTom HanksMark RylanceAlan AldaDuring the Cold War, an American lawyer is recruited to defend an arrested Soviet spy in court, and then help the CIA facilitate an exchange of the spy for the Soviet captured American U2 spy plane pilot, Francis Gary Powers.C+
You had me, then you lost me. Spielberg, please stop jerking the viewers off and feeding us ice cream at the end of all your movies. - DirectorDenis VilleneuveStarsLubna AzabalMélissa Désormeaux-PoulinMaxim GaudetteTwins journey to the Middle East to discover their family history and fulfill their mother's last wishes.A
One of the smartest, most creative directors alive today. - DirectorAlejandro G. IñárrituStarsEmilio EchevarríaGael García BernalGoya ToledoAn amateur dog fighter, a supermodel, and a derelict assassin, all separately struggling to find love, find their lives transformed by a devastating car wreck in Mexico City.B
Took too long to finally watch this. Hardly makes sense that I kept letting it slip past me for so many years. - DirectorNobuhiko ÔbayashiStarsKimiko IkegamiMiki JinboKumiko ÔbaA schoolgirl and six of her classmates travel to her aunt's country home, which turns out to be haunted.B-
Second time watching this; I thought it just as good, but more fascinating than funny. - DirectorRamin BahraniStarsAndrew GarfieldMichael ShannonLaura DernA recently unemployed single father struggles to get back his foreclosed home by working for the real estate broker who is the source of his frustration.B+
This movie is bracing and bold. I was angry and let down, glad and uplifted, stoked for being taken aback by such remarkable acting and sincerity from both main actors. - DirectorYaron ZilbermanStarsPhilip Seymour HoffmanChristopher WalkenCatherine KeenerMembers of a world-renowned string quartet struggle to stay together in the face of death, competing egos, and insuppressible lust.A
Emotionally sound. - DirectorWoody AllenStarsElaine StritchDenholm ElliottMia FarrowAt a summer house in Vermont, neighbor Howard falls in love with Lane, who's in a relationship with Peter, who's falling for Stephanie, who's married with children.B+
Woody Allen shot this movie with different actors, then decided during post to just re-shoot the entire movie with new actors. Pretty awesome! I'm surprised this movie isn't respected more by Woody Allen fans. Also, it's one of his "no comedy at all" films. - DirectorNobuo NakagawaStarsShigeru AmachiUtako MitsuyaYôichi NumataA group of sinners involved in interconnected tales of murder, revenge, deceit and adultery all meet at the Gates of Hell.B+
This movie is boss as fvck! Lee, you'd be amazed how ground-breaking this movie is visually. - DirectorJason ReitmanStarsGeorge ClooneyVera FarmigaAnna KendrickRyan's job is to travel around the country firing off people. When his boss hires Natalie, who proposes firing people via video conference, he tries to convince her that her method is a mistake.B
Nice changes near the end. - DirectorJoel CoenEthan CoenStarsJeff BridgesJohn GoodmanJulianne MooreJeff "The Dude" Lebowski, mistaken for a millionaire of the same name, seeks restitution for his ruined rug and enlists his bowling buddies to help get it.B
I'm kinda tired of this movie, but it was nice trying to get something else out of it this time. - DirectorGus Van SantStarsMichael PittLukas HaasAsia ArgentoA Seattle musician's life and career are reminiscent of those of Kurt Cobain.A-
Always a bit tedious, yet always a disciplined and meaningful watch. - DirectorWerner HerzogStarsMichael ShannonWillem DafoeChloë SevignyInspired by a true crime, a man begins to experience mystifying events that lead him to slay his mother with a sword.B+
So out in left field and so damn awkwardly comical. So unconventional and so strangely moving. ART! - DirectorBenny SafdieJosh SafdieStarsArielle HolmesCaleb Landry JonesBuddy DuressA young woman struggles to reconcile her love for her boyfriend and for heroin, as she finds out that suicide is the only way for her boyfriend to forgive her for her misdeed.C+
These brothers are knocking out some serious indie cinema. They're doing well for the cause and this movie had me rethinking my previous annoyance of them. I look forward to seeing some of their other works. Maybe there's something amazing hidden in there somewhere. - DirectorQuentin DupieuxStarsStephen SpinellaRoxane MesquidaWings HauserA homicidal car tire, discovering it has destructive psionic power, sets its sights on a desert town once a mysterious woman becomes its obsession.D-
They wanted to make a reason-less movie, well congratulations, you've succeeded in wasting a lot of film-lover's time. I'm not only mad that this movie wasn't entertaining in the slightest bit, or that it was pointless, but that the filmmakers were pretty much telling us that movies are pointless and that we're stupid for watching them. - DirectorClive BarkerStarsCraig ShefferDavid CronenbergAnne BobbyA troubled young man is drawn to a mythical place called Midian where a variety of friendly monsters are hiding from humanity. Meanwhile, a sadistic serial killer is looking for a patsy.D
I enjoyed the experience, but it just wasn't my cup of tea. I definitely would have liked this movie more if I had seen it when I was younger. Nostalgia movie to the max. - DirectorSam FleischnerStarsJesus Sanchez-VelezAndrea Suarez PazAzul ZorrillaIn this intense, immersive journey, a young boy finds himself lost in the lively, dangerous world of the New York City subway, while his mother fiercely searches for him above ground in a race against the clock as Hurricane Sandy nears.B+
So good that I wished it was better...if that makes sense. - DirectorMichelangelo AntonioniStarsJack NicholsonMaria SchneiderJenny RunacreUnable to find the war he's been asked to cover, a frustrated war correspondent takes the risky path of co-opting the identity of a dead arms-deal acquaintance.B
Inquisitive and diligent. Antonioni can tell a story. - DirectorGötz SpielmannStarsJohannes KrischIrina PotapenkoAndreas LustEx-con Alex plans to flee to the South with his girl after a robbery. But something terrible happens and revenge seems inevitable.B-
Boring as fvck, but thankfully smart as fvck as well :) - DirectorSamantha FutermanRyan MiyamotoStarsSkylar AstinAnaïs BordierJacques BordierAdopted from South Korea, raised on different continents & connected through social media, Samantha & Anaïs believe that they are twin sisters separated at birth.A-
Extremely touching. - DirectorAndrey ZvyagintsevStarsAleksey SerebryakovElena LyadovaRoman MadyanovIn a Russian coastal town, Kolya is forced to fight the corrupt mayor when he is told that his house will be demolished. He recruits a lawyer friend to help, but the man's arrival brings further misfortune for Kolya and his family.B+
I never want to watch this movie ever again. - DirectorJoshua OppenheimerStarsAdi RukunM.Y. BasrunVolker HanischA family that survived the genocide in Indonesia confronts the men who killed one of their brothers.A+
This movie is constructed with grace, patience and poetry, similar to a Gus Van Sant movie. But any other filmmaker probably would have constructed it with anger, hostility and confusion. This is the type of documentary I've been subconsciously waiting for for years. It's an absolute masterpiece. - DirectorJerry SchatzbergStarsAl PacinoKitty WinnAlan VintFollows the lives of heroin addicts who frequent "Needle Park" in New York City.B+
"To set the atmosphere, no music was used in the film, much of which features cinéma vérité-style footage. It is believed to be the first mainstream film to feature actual drug injection."
-from wikipedia - DirectorFabrice du WelzStarsLola DueñasLaurent LucasHéléna NoguerraFervidly dark lovesick horror inspired by the real-life criminal duo, the Lonely Hearts Killers.B-
A lot more focused than "Calvaire" and pretty fvcking gnarly, in a "Benny's Video" meets "Trouble Every Day" sorta way. I'll forever praise one particular scene. Impressive stuff, the director just needs to solidify his method a bit, in my opinion...but who the fvck am I to say anything. - DirectorDon CoscarelliStarsChase WilliamsonRob MayesPaul GiamattiA new street drug that sends its users across time and dimensions has one drawback: some people return no longer human. Can two college drop-outs save humanity from this silent, otherworldly invasion?C+
Cult film status possibly, but my attention was lost a few times. Not a bad movie at all though. - DirectorPatrick BriceStarsAdam ScottTaylor SchillingJason SchwartzmanAlex, Emily, and their son, RJ, are new to Los Angeles. A chance meeting at the park introduces them to the mysterious Kurt, Charlotte, and Max. A family "playdate" becomes increasingly interesting as the night goes on.B
Mumblecore can get annoying, but not this movie! Pleasantly surprised in a big way. Also, the director's previous film "Creep" is one of the coolest movies I've seen within the last year or so. Big big fan. - DirectorJoey SolowayStarsKathryn HahnLink RuizCesar GarciaRachel tries to spice up her marriage with a trip to a strip club. She befriends McKenna, who gave her a lapdance. McKenna moves in with Rachel's family and becomes a nanny for the son.C+
This was Tarantino's favorite film of 2013. Hmmmm... - DirectorJoseph CasteloStarsThomas MannLucy FryLogan HuffmanA student at a private school uses his connections to establish a drug trafficking network there.C
Kinda a mixture of "Blow" and "Kid Cannabis", and nothing really stands outs in it's favor. But I do really like the main actor in this one, he's really good in it. - DirectorRodney AscherStarsNicole BosworthStephen JosephEstrella CristinaA look at a frightening condition that plagues thousands; sleep paralysis.C-
The thought of what these people go through is scary, but this movie doesn't articulate it nearly enough. - DirectorGerard JohnstoneStarsMorgana O'ReillyRima Te WiataGlen-Paul WaruA young woman is forced to return to her childhood home after being placed under house arrest, where she suspects that something evil may be lurking.B
Not as funny or scary as I hoped, but it's just so smart and well crafted that no one can deny why it's so well received. - DirectorJohn MaloofCharlie SiskelStarsVivian MaierJohn MaloofDaniel ArnaudA documentary on the late Vivian Maier, a nanny whose previously unknown cache of 100,000 photographs earned her a posthumous reputation as one of the most accomplished street photographers.B-
A great accomplishment for a new filmmaker, and a very interesting subject matter. - DirectorGregg ArakiStarsBrady CorbetJoseph Gordon-LevittElisabeth ShueTwo pre-adolescent boys both experienced a strange event and later it affects their lives in different ways. One becomes a reckless, sexually adventurous prostitute, while the other retreats into a reclusive fantasy of alien abduction.A
One of my favorite films ever. - DirectorDavid Guy LevyStarsBrittany SnowJune SquibbJeffrey CombsDesperate to help her ailing brother, a young woman unknowingly agrees to compete in a deadly game of "Would You Rather," hosted by a sadistic aristocrat.D-
The Last 10 seconds of this movie finalized my grade from a D to a very sincere D-. It went from unbelievability to bad taste real quick. - DirectorMiranda JulyStarsJohn HawkesMiranda JulyMiles ThompsonA lonely shoe salesman and an eccentric performance artist struggle to connect in this unique take on contemporary life.B+
Netflix and chill enables me to show people movies I like. - DirectorFredrik BondStarsShia LaBeoufEvan Rachel WoodMads MikkelsenWhile travelling abroad, a guy falls for a Romanian beauty whose unreachable heart has its origins in her violent, charismatic ex.B
The only thing I had against this film was Evan Rachel Wood playing a Romanian. It's not that she's a bad actress, but it was just so distracting and not very believable watching her play one. Shia LaBeouf on the other hand killed it! All around a visually endearing with just the right momentum. - DirectorLukas MoodyssonStarsMira BarkhammarMira GrosinLiv LeMoyneThree girls in 1980s Stockholm decide to form a punk band -- despite not having any instruments and being told by everyone that punk is dead.A-
I can't begin to tell you how much I loved the ending. Punk rock, friendship, fun and individuality for life, bitches. - DirectorGeorge RatliffStarsMavis BeslileBruce FriedrichCharles Johnson IIIFunny yet incisive look at the PANTEX Nuclear Weapons Plant, in Amarillo, TX, which was used for nuclear weapons assembly during the Cold War. The plant, which provides most of the jobs for those living in Amarillo, now operates as a disassembly-line where the weapons, which were once built there, are now being taken apart with the plutonium getting stored underground. The film deals with the issues of storing the plutonium and the effects the plant has had (and is having) on the town of Amarillo, as well as how it has affected the way people thought about the Cold War and its aftermath. It does so by taking a look at the lives and activities of the Amarillo residents directly or indirectly associated with, or having strong opinions about the Plant.C-
The dullness outweighs anything of interest.