Favorite Movies
Deciding on one movie over another is extremely difficult because of all the little things that go into making a movie good and the uniqueness of each individual film. However, I have tried my hardest to compile a list that orders my favorite movies and gives a (sometimes brief, sometimes rather long) explanation as to why I chose them.
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- DirectorQuentin TarantinoStarsJohn TravoltaUma ThurmanSamuel L. JacksonThe lives of two mob hitmen, a boxer, a gangster and his wife, and a pair of diner bandits intertwine in four tales of violence and redemption.Insanely well written. The characters and dialogue are the most compelling in any film, but if you gave the same screenplay and the same actors to any director that isn't Tarantino, it would be awful and deathly boring. Somehow he makes a movie that's almost about nothing more entertaining than anything.
- DirectorStanley KubrickStarsJack NicholsonShelley DuvallDanny LloydA family heads to an isolated hotel for the winter where a sinister presence influences the father into violence, while his psychic son sees horrific forebodings from both past and future.Disturbing, confusing, and chilling. It's also beautifully shot and so well acted you'll worry for your life every time Nicholson is on the screen.
- DirectorStanley KubrickStarsKeir DulleaGary LockwoodWilliam SylvesterAfter uncovering a mysterious artifact buried beneath the Lunar surface, a spacecraft is sent to Jupiter to find its origins: a spacecraft manned by two men and the supercomputer HAL 9000.This film shook me to the core. The reaction I had to this film was one of the most powerful out of any movie I've ever seen, but I can't quite place my finger on why. And I'm sure that's just how Kubrick would want it. It raises questions I can't even put into words and shrouds the answers in its beautiful, but unsettling imagery. Oh, and the cinematography and use of practical effects are insanely well done. I don't even understand how something like this could be made in the 60s. I previously believed "Blade Runner" to be miles ahead of any other sci-fi movie, but after seeing this I realized the movies are at the very least equals and I now personally believe this to be superior. This is just further evidence that Kubrick was a master director--if not the best. This is the movie that made him my all time favorite director.
- DirectorQuentin TarantinoStarsUma ThurmanDavid CarradineDaryl HannahAfter awakening from a four-year coma, a former assassin wreaks vengeance on the team of assassins who betrayed her.Insanely stylish revenge flick that is more about the beauty of cinema (particularly samurai and spaghetti western cinema) than anything else.
- DirectorSofia CoppolaStarsBill MurrayScarlett JohanssonGiovanni RibisiA faded movie star and a neglected young woman form an unlikely bond after crossing paths in Tokyo.The master-level performances from Murray and Johansson elevate this minimalist romance to dizzying heights. It's quiet, sad, and sometimes very funny and it gets its viewers to think hard about love and life. Like many relationships, this movie thrives because of what isn't said. It's not a melodrama, it's more of a snapshot from two peoples' lives as they cross paths to wonder together about what love is supposed to look like and how it's supposed to work. You can see the sadness of the world in both of their eyes even as they make snappy little jokes to one another or sing their heart out during karaoke night. Apparently the only thing the romance genre needed was some metaphysics. It's so simple and so perfect. One of the most emotionally impactful movies I've ever seen.
- DirectorFrancis Ford CoppolaStarsMartin SheenMarlon BrandoRobert DuvallA U.S. Army officer serving in Vietnam is tasked with assassinating a renegade Special Forces Colonel who sees himself as a god.The cinematography is ridiculously good and the super-imposed shots are probably the best in any movie. Bothersome because of its ambiguity, but that's what makes it shine.
- DirectorRidley ScottStarsHarrison FordRutger HauerSean YoungA blade runner must pursue and terminate four replicants who stole a ship in space and have returned to Earth to find their creator.Possibly the most thought provoking sci-fi film ever created. And most definitely one of the best, alongside "2001: A Space Odyssey".
- DirectorDavid LynchStarsNaomi WattsLaura HarringJustin TherouxAfter a car wreck on Mulholland Drive renders a woman amnesiac, she and a Hollywood-hopeful search for clues and answers across Los Angeles in a twisting venture beyond dreams and reality.I remember when I though "Inception" was confusing and ambiguous. This is the "Citizen Kane" of the sub-genre that has recently been coined mind-F. I personally believe it to be about the slow decay of dreams and a painful loss of innocence, but it could be taken so many different ways. It's a dark, mysterious, perverse world of secret societies, murder, and maybe even black magic. This is possibly the most confusing movie I've ever seen, but it makes the imagination run wild and it's so easy to willingly soak up every second of it even though it's rarely interpretable. Impossible to fully understand and impossible to dismiss--this just might be Lynch's masterpiece.
- DirectorIngmar BergmanStarsBertil GuvePernilla AllwinKristina AdolphsonTwo young Swedish children in the 1900s experience the many comedies and tragedies of their lively and affectionate theatrical family, the Ekdahls.Another masterpiece by Ingmar Bergman. After watching the 5 hour cut, I'm most impressed by Ingmar Bergman's seemingly infinite grasp of the human condition. The dialogue and scenes play out not only as imitations of real life, but artful replications. This is life viewed through an artistic lens. It explores most of what a person will go through in their lifetime--childhood, adulthood, old age, death, sex, sorrow, joy, belonging, alienation, isolation, confusion, oppression, freedom, family, art, business, religion and everything in between. It's a five hour journey through life seen mostly through the eyes of Alexander, a little boy, and it can be sweetly heartwarming or gut-wrenchingly sorrowful. There was one hard to watch scene in particular that was the most raw depiction of grief I've seen in a movie. Some of the events and imagery are mysterious, particularly towards the end, but this only serves to further catalyze intense thought and reflection on the viewer's part. Also the cinematography was absolutely enthralling. Ingmar Bergman shoots the interior of cluttered houses like Francis Ford Coppola shoots the lush jungle in "Apocalypse Now." There's so much in the shot that it should most definitely be too busy to be aesthetically pleasing, and yet Bergman finds the perfect way to show it to the audience. Beautiful. And his use of lighting only accentuates his mastering of the camera, especially when windows are around. And the acting is also magnificent. I can't even think of a performance to point out since they were all air-tight, and a large portion of the Ekdahl family is given even screen time. I'll probably be thinking about this movie for the rest of my life. True, blissful cinema.
- DirectorMartin McDonaghStarsColin FarrellBrendan GleesonCiarán HindsAfter a job gone wrong, hitman Ray and his partner await orders from their ruthless boss in Bruges, Belgium, the last place in the world Ray wants to be.This movie is incredible. It's marketed as a sort of buddy film comedy to draw in an audience, but the actual film is shockingly deep and emotional--I loved it. The action and witty comedy is really just a front for a beautiful philosophical film heavily centered around morality and suicide. And Colin Farrell's performance is just incredible and surprisingly touching.
- DirectorSergio LeoneStarsRobert De NiroJames WoodsElizabeth McGovernA former Prohibition-era Jewish gangster returns to the Lower East Side of Manhattan 35 years later, where he must once again confront the ghosts and regrets of his old life.This movie is on par with "Goodfellas" and "The Godfather," debatabely better. This is the most complex, epic movie I've seen that remains feeling cohesive and purposeful. Almost without fail, when a movie of this sheer magnitude will fall apart by the end and will leave its viewers unsatisfied, but that is definitely not the case in this film. Within it is the king of all anti-heroes. A despicable bastard that commits cruel acts for which exist no excuse and yet, by the end of the film, he succeeds in winning profound sympathy. The film is a myriad of images that span from his childhood as a poor boy who's looking for sex and money, to his days as an elderly man who's looking for closure and maybe even forgiveness. The scenes of his childhood play out like "The Sandlot" if group of boys went around killing, robbing, and screwing people instead of playing baseball. Thanks to very impressive writing, the film manages to show this tight-knit group of five childhood friends grow up together and develop very believable relationships that are filled with jealousy and resentment, but also a deep sense of loyalty and belonging. These are complex characters in very VERY complex situations. The crimes and diabolical plans that play out in the movie involve details and characters that span fifty years, and every bit of dialogue matters. In fact, some of the mysteries are never solved, and there are questions that linger in my mind still that are almost as bothersome as the ending of "The Shining." I mean that in the best possible way, though. The unanswered questions--and they're actually relatively few--only add to the semi-surreal ambiance of the entire movie. There are very hard to watch scenes in this movie. Like I said, the protagonist can be a true scoundrel, but his heinous acts always serve to add to his character, who's probably just as complex as DeNiro's Travis Bickle. As he looks back on his life in remorse the audience is forced to wonder if he's simply a product of his environment; if he's only a result of his absent-parented upbringing in a city that thrived on crime. It parallels the boys' swift corruption with that of America itself and this adds an entirely new layer to the story. This is a thorough exploration of crime and its many faces and what it can do to a person. It's a non-chronological misadventure through time and its loaded with familiar faces and impactful events. I love "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly," but this may well be Sergio Leone's masterpiece. Also, it contains my favorite last words from a movie character; "Noodles, I slipped!" Haunting. It's shocking, disgusting, and disturbing, but also thought-provoking, constantly interesting, and totally immersive. A close to perfect movie about a far from perfect man.
- DirectorOliver StoneStarsWoody HarrelsonJuliette LewisTom SizemoreTwo victims of traumatized childhoods become lovers and psychopathic serial murderers irresponsibly glorified by the mass media.One of the most powerful films I have ever seen and my favorite satire. This movie is profoundly disturbing and explicit in almost every way. Does that make it pornographic? No. It only pushes the envelope just a bit past what popular television allows in order to expose the hypocritical, human-suffering-exploiting, violence peddling, soft-core porn, industry that is modern television. People are entertained by murders everyday, the news is basically a compilation of snuff films with Coke ads in-between, and there's entire shows dedicated to glorifying serial killers. This movie takes that TV violence model that skirts around censorship laws and ramps it up in order to show what modern TV audiences have become--sadists. And this wasn't something I felt strongly about before I saw the movie, but for months after I saw it, the message really ate away at me. That's the mark of a good satire.
And strictly in terms of cinematic quality, this movie is revolutionary. The insane, schizophrenic quick cutting and subliminal shots force you into the world of the film and the subconscious of multiple characters at once. The layers build and build and by the finale, it's intoxicating. Its use of various film formats and styles to fit the tone of what's on screen totally works and it serves to drive the themes home even further. (The mock sitcom segment is one of the most dangerous scenes in cinema history. And art should always be dangerous.) Frankly put, it's a masterpiece and one of the most comprehensive and well articulated analyses of modern culture ever made. It's a miracle of cinema. - DirectorStanley KubrickStarsMalcolm McDowellPatrick MageeMichael BatesIn the future, a sadistic gang leader is imprisoned and volunteers for a conduct-aversion experiment, but it doesn't go as planned.
- DirectorDavid FincherStarsBrad PittEdward NortonMeat LoafAn insomniac office worker and a devil-may-care soap maker form an underground fight club that evolves into much more.Thoroughly entertaining and thought provoking at the same time. Very relevant message about American consumerism that is worth reflecting on.
- DirectorMartin ScorseseStarsRobert De NiroJodie FosterCybill ShepherdA mentally unstable veteran works as a nighttime taxi driver in New York City, where the perceived decadence and sleaze fuels his urge for violent action.De Niro's character, Travis Bickle, is the most interesting character in a movie to date. The entire movie revolves around him and since he delivers such a stunning performance, that makes it one of the best movies of all time.
- DirectorF.W. MurnauStarsGeorge O'BrienJanet GaynorMargaret LivingstonA sophisticated city woman seduces a farmer and convinces him to murder his wife and join her in the city, but he ends up rekindling his romance with his wife when he changes his mind at the last moment.This is the best romance ever made and one of the best films in general. Before I saw this movie, I thought it was ridiculous that some people truly believed "talkies" were just a fad and that silent films would be the norm forever. Now I can see why they thought that. This film delivers such a wide array of emotions that it's overwhelming. When it's sad it's devastating, when it's happy it's joy-inspiring, and when it's tense it's unbearably stressful. Also, the cinematography is surprisingly good. Filming some of the movement-filled scenes must have been so extremely complex without the use of a Steadicam, but it was worth it--it's beautiful. It also utilizes double exposure shots about as well as "Apocalypse Now." If you're one of those people that normally doesn't watch "old movies," get over yourself and give this a go--it will either change your opinion or you're not human.
- DirectorIngmar BergmanStarsVictor SjöströmBibi AnderssonIngrid ThulinAfter living a life marked by coldness, an aging professor is forced to confront the emptiness of his existence.It's a fairly different film, focusing on the optimistic view of life instead of Persona's dark and disorienting lens, but Ingrid Bergman handles them both with equal expertise. It's simply an emotional journey--literally and metaphorically--through an aging man's memories and the different philosophies people use to explain life. It's basically perfect. There isn't a single shot that isn't visually stunning and not a single word of dialogue goes to waste.
- DirectorPeter JacksonStarsElijah WoodIan McKellenViggo MortensenWhile Frodo and Sam edge closer to Mordor with the help of the shifty Gollum, the divided fellowship makes a stand against Sauron's new ally, Saruman, and his hordes of Isengard.A solid film all around. It's precious.
- DirectorPaul Thomas AndersonStarsMark WahlbergJulianne MooreBurt ReynoldsBack when sex was safe, pleasure was a business and business was booming, an idealistic porn producer aspires to elevate his craft to an art when he discovers a hot young talent.
- DirectorMartin ScorseseStarsRobert De NiroRay LiottaJoe PesciThe story of Henry Hill and his life in the mafia, covering his relationship with his wife Karen and his mob partners Jimmy Conway and Tommy DeVito.It's like a louder, funnier, and more brutal version of "The Godfather". Seriously entertaining.
- DirectorRoman PolanskiStarsJack NicholsonFaye DunawayJohn HustonA private detective hired to expose an adulterer in 1930s Los Angeles finds himself caught up in a web of deceit, corruption, and murder.This is on par with "The Third Man" and debatabley better. My favorite film noir. The screenplay is air tight--basically perfect--and the actors do a great job of bringing it to life, especially Nicholson who proves here that he can do a good job acting characters that aren't completely insane. The visuals in this movie are also very unique. It has the purposeful and pronounced lighting of a black and white noir movie, but the addition of color is also effectively used to catch the viewers eye. The mystery of the movie's plot unravels at just the right pace and isn't too ridiculous. It's never unbelievable and it keeps you guessing until the last second. And that last second is one of the best movie endings of all time.
- DirectorChristopher NolanStarsLeonardo DiCaprioJoseph Gordon-LevittElliot PageA thief who steals corporate secrets through the use of dream-sharing technology is given the inverse task of planting an idea into the mind of a C.E.O., but his tragic past may doom the project and his team to disaster.A fantastic journey through a dream world. So consistently engaging that you want to watch it again the second it's over.
- DirectorWes AndersonStarsRalph FiennesF. Murray AbrahamMathieu AmalricA writer encounters the owner of an aging high-class hotel, who tells him of his early years serving as a lobby boy in the hotel's glorious years under an exceptional concierge.The best Wes Anderson movie out there and that's saying a whole lot. This movie is exaggerative cinematic ecstasy and it's tremendously enjoyable from start to finish. First off, the cinematography is preposterously good. Watching the characters move across the screen is like watching a beautiful painting come to life. It is filmed with so much precision, that even if this movie were 2 hours of still images, it would still be worth seeing. Luckily for us, though, that's not the case. The story is rather complex and the characters are larger than life. Events like these could never exist in the real world, but that's the glory of this movie. It knows it's a movie and it uses everything in the cinematic arsenal to deliver a thoroughly enjoyable experience to its views--aesthetic beauty, a star studded cast, mystery, romance, humor, shock, and a few scenes of impressive tension. I'm writing this review after the third time seeing it in theaters and, despite the ridiculous cost of movie tickets and popcorn, repeated viewings were absolutely worth it. I'll probably see it a few more times before it comes to DVD. A masterpiece by Wes Anderson that sets his status as a genius of cinema in stone.
- DirectorJoel CoenEthan CoenStarsWilliam H. MacyFrances McDormandSteve BuscemiMinnesota car salesman Jerry Lundegaard's inept crime falls apart due to his and his henchmen's bungling and the persistent police work of the quite pregnant Marge Gunderson.The best dark comedy I've ever seen. It sort of just pulls from different genres as it sees fit and it always seems natural. The cinematography is also jarringly beautiful at times and it only reaffirms that the Coen brothers know what they're doing. It's my personal favorite movie made by them.
- DirectorIngmar BergmanStarsBibi AnderssonLiv UllmannMargaretha KrookA nurse is put in charge of a mute actress and finds that their personae are melding together.One of the strangest movies I've ever seen, but also one of the most effective. This one lingered with me for a long time and much of that is due to the questions it raises. Not only about life itself, but about what really happened in the film. This level of film-making is on par with Kubrick, maybe even better in some aspects (and that's saying a tremendous amount). Both actresses do a perfect job portraying their troubled characters, and the director includes many shots that focus solely on their faces and their emotions. The whole thing works quite perfectly. I might never fully understand it, but I love it nonetheless.
- DirectorFrancis Ford CoppolaStarsMarlon BrandoAl PacinoJames CaanThe aging patriarch of an organized crime dynasty transfers control of his clandestine empire to his reluctant son.Ridiculously far ahead of its time.
- DirectorQuentin TarantinoStarsBrad PittDiane KrugerEli RothIn Nazi-occupied France during World War II, a plan to assassinate Nazi leaders by a group of Jewish U.S. soldiers coincides with a theatre owner's vengeful plans for the same.When I first saw this movie I honestly didn't like it, but for some reason it just gets better every time I see it. By now I love it. Maybe it's because I was initially too distracted by the ultra-violence (it is quite graphic) to realize that the characters were beautifully written and that its message is profound and unique. Not Tarantino's best, but still better than most movies made in the last ten years.
- DirectorAlejandro G. IñárrituStarsMichael KeatonZach GalifianakisEdward NortonA washed-up superhero actor attempts to revive his fading career by writing, directing, and starring in a Broadway production.
- DirectorSergio LeoneStarsClint EastwoodEli WallachLee Van CleefA bounty hunting scam joins two men in an uneasy alliance against a third in a race to find a fortune in gold buried in a remote cemetery.The best spaghetti western out there. Clint Eastwood's sneer just doesn't get old and the way the story is told through the eyes of three different characters makes it very interesting and entertaining. Also solid writing. It's a Tarantino movie before there was Tarantino.
- DirectorJohn Michael McDonaghStarsBrendan GleesonChris O'DowdKelly ReillyAfter he is threatened during a confession, a good-natured priest must battle the dark forces closing in around him.
- DirectorGuillermo del ToroStarsIvana BaqueroAriadna GilSergi LópezIn the Falangist Spain of 1944, the bookish young stepdaughter of a sadistic army officer escapes into an eerie but captivating fantasy world.A movie about the importance of storytelling and imagination. It's extremely unique and visually captivating-watch it.
- DirectorSpike JonzeStarsNicolas CageMeryl StreepChris CooperA lovelorn screenwriter becomes desperate as he tries and fails to adapt 'The Orchid Thief' by Susan Orlean for the screen.An amazingly original movie about trying to write an amazingly original movie. It gets inside the head of the screenwriter himself to offer a very personal commentary on the writing process, the adaptation process, and how artists mirror and influence each other. It also has a lot to say about art films versus mainstream cinema and it handles that in a way that's entertaining while being really insightful. On top of all of that, there's a few scenes that are extremely emotionally touching scattered throughout. It's the work of a mad genius. If you like movies in any capacity, you owe it to yourself to watch this. You may not see something more unique for a long while.
- DirectorEthan CoenJoel CoenStarsTommy Lee JonesJavier BardemJosh BrolinViolence and mayhem ensue after a hunter stumbles upon the aftermath of a drug deal gone wrong and over two million dollars in cash near the Rio Grande.Imagine any monster horror movie and replace the monster with a huge pissed off Mexican with a shotgun. And then add masterful tension, cinematography, and exploration of deeper themes and you've got No Country for Old Men.
- DirectorTarsem SinghStarsLee PaceCatinca UntaruJustine WaddellIn 1920s Los Angeles, a bedridden patient in a hospital captivates a young girl with a fantastic tale of heroes, myths, and villains on a desert island.
- DirectorNicolas Winding RefnStarsRyan GoslingCarey MulliganBryan CranstonA mysterious Hollywood action film stuntman gets in trouble with gangsters when he tries to help his neighbor's husband rob a pawn shop while serving as his getaway driver.This is quite a unique movie that's definitely worth seeing. Many people don't like this movie because the director seconds dialogue to visuals, but this is not at all a fault, it even enhances the experience in multiple scenes which rely completely on actors' expressions instead of words.
- DirectorMichael PowellEmeric PressburgerStarsAnton WalbrookMarius GoringMoira ShearerA young ballet dancer is torn between the man she loves and her pursuit to become a prima ballerina.An incredible film about how total dedication to art can take away from a person's life, and the sacrifices individuals are willing to make for it. The whole film plays out as an intense study of that theme--every main character shares that common struggle as they navigate the art scene, constantly being watched by massive audiences expecting more. A few times the point of view switches to being subjective and that's when the camerawork, practical effects, and beautiful use of technicolor really shine.
- DirectorAlfred HitchcockStarsAnthony PerkinsJanet LeighVera MilesA Phoenix secretary embezzles $40,000 from her employer's client, goes on the run and checks into a remote motel run by a young man under the domination of his mother.It's truly remarkable that this movie was made in 1960. Hitchcock really is the master of suspense.
- DirectorRichard LinklaterStarsEllar ColtranePatricia ArquetteEthan HawkeThe life of Mason, from early childhood to his arrival at college.Every once in a while, a movie will come along that simply tries to capture the experience of life without trying to explain it. And when you get down to it, that's what art is all about--imitating life. This is that kind of movie and it does it flawlessly. It follows the life of Mason as he grows up in this modern world and it depicts a smattering of events--some obviously monumental and some seemingly insignificant--that will combine to form a young man with his own personality and ideas about the world by the end of the movie. Ellar Coltrane (Mason) is actually the same age as me and so the mastery of Richard Linklater's snapshot of growing up in the 2000s was made even more obvious. This is simply life--the good and the bad--and it's shot beautifully, filled with extremely well written, realistic, memorable characters, and hugely emotionally impactful. It's one of the only movies of the 2000s so far that I can say for sure is a masterpiece and will be remembered as a classic.
- DirectorPark Chan-wookStarsChoi Min-sikYoo Ji-taeKang Hye-jeongAfter being kidnapped and imprisoned for fifteen years, Oh Dae-Su is released, only to find that he must track down his captor in five days.The writer is a Korean Shakespeare reincarnate. Incredible. The only movie that has made me feel physically ill. Possibly the most disturbing film I've ever seen, but also one of the best and it's my personal favorite film about revenge and there are a heck of a lot of those.
- DirectorDamien ChazelleStarsMiles TellerJ.K. SimmonsMelissa BenoistA promising young drummer enrolls at a cut-throat music conservatory where his dreams of greatness are mentored by an instructor who will stop at nothing to realize a student's potential.
- DirectorRidley ScottStarsSigourney WeaverTom SkerrittJohn HurtThe crew of a commercial spacecraft encounters a deadly lifeform after investigating a mysterious transmission of unknown origin.What makes this movie stand out is Ridley Scott's ability to make his audience feel completely isolated and vulnerable. Even if you watch it with friends, those extended sequences of the lifeless ship will make you feel completely alone. Also, the Xenomorph is possibly the greatest movie monster in existence.
- 19641h 35mPG8.4 (519K)97MetascoreDirectorStanley KubrickStarsPeter SellersGeorge C. ScottSterling HaydenAn unhinged American general orders a bombing attack on the Soviet Union, triggering a path to nuclear holocaust that a war room full of politicians and generals frantically tries to stop.One of the best comedies I've seen, maybe the best. It utilizes stupid humor without compromising the flow of its intelligent plot-line.
- DirectorTerrence MalickStarsBrad PittSean PennJessica ChastainThe story of a family in Waco, Texas in 1956. The eldest son witnesses the loss of innocence and struggles with his parents' conflicting teachings.This is a love it or hate it movie and I definitely loved it. It's similar to "2001: A Space Odyssey" in a lot of ways, but it's more hyper-focused. Instead of raising questions about existence and the universe it focuses more on family life.
- DirectorFernando MeirellesKátia LundStarsAlexandre RodriguesLeandro FirminoMatheus NachtergaeleIn the slums of Rio, two kids' paths diverge as one struggles to become a photographer and the other a kingpin.Amazing true story about the irrational violence in the City of God. It borrows countless cinematography techniques from other movies and seamlessly blends them together to stay constantly visually interesting. The story is also ingeniously told out of chronological order.
- DirectorMichael HanekeStarsJean-Louis TrintignantEmmanuelle RivaIsabelle HuppertGeorges and Anne are an octogenarian couple. They are cultivated, retired music teachers. Their daughter, also a musician, lives in Britain with her family. One day, Anne has a stroke, and the couple's bond of love is severely tested.
- DirectorChristopher NolanStarsChristian BaleHeath LedgerAaron EckhartWhen the menace known as the Joker wreaks havoc and chaos on the people of Gotham, Batman must accept one of the greatest psychological and physical tests of his ability to fight injustice.The best superhero movie of all time.
- DirectorWes AndersonStarsJared GilmanKara HaywardBruce WillisTwo 12-year-olds, who live on an island, fall in love with each other and elope into the wilderness. While people set out on a search mission, a violent storm approaching them catches their attention.the cinematography looks like it was done by God himself.
- DirectorCharlie KaufmanStarsPhilip Seymour HoffmanSamantha MortonMichelle WilliamsA theatre director struggles with his work, and the women in his life, as he creates a life-size replica of New York City inside a warehouse as part of his new play.
- DirectorBenh ZeitlinStarsQuvenzhané WallisDwight HenryLevy EasterlyFaced with both her hot-tempered father's fading health and melting ice-caps that flood her ramshackle bayou community and unleash ancient aurochs, six-year-old Hushpuppy must learn the ways of courage and love.This is a movie that speaks to the heart instead of the brain. Seriously, it made no sense half the time, but the emotional impact was still substantial, more so than any movie I've ever seen I think. To me it was about a small girl learning to cope with the inevitability of death, but it could mean different things to different people. Just watch it and figure that out for yourself.
- DirectorAlan ParkerStarsBob GeldofChristine HargreavesJames LaurensonA confined but troubled rock star descends into madness in the midst of his physical and social isolation from everyone.It's incredibly difficult to discuss what makes this film good since it's so incredibly unique that it's impossible to judge against other movies. I'll start off with a quality that's easily perceivable--the music. I'm not the biggest Pink Floyd fan in the world, but the music is perfectly used and it increases the impact of the scenes on screen ten-fold. It's also shot extremely well and it mixes in psychedelic animation every once in a while to keep things fresh. It's about isolation, insanity, fascism, the confines of society, innocence, corruption, and insanity again. This movie is freaking crazy. It delivers a message about society and the human condition that is decently understandable, but it does it using almost no spoken dialogue, only lyrics and intense, confusing, and disturbing imagery. If you watch it, you won't regret it (in the long run at least).
Edit: It's funny to look back at where I wrote "I'm not the biggest Pink Floyd fan in the world..." because at this point, they're my favorite band. This movie served as a great introduction to they're music and now I can't get enough of it. I would debate that Roger Waters is the greatest musical artist of the last century. - DirectorStanley DonenGene KellyStarsGene KellyDonald O'ConnorDebbie ReynoldsA silent film star falls for a chorus girl just as he and his delusionally jealous screen partner are trying to make the difficult transition to talking pictures in 1920s Hollywood.The best example of old-school, optimistic, adventurous, happy-go-lucky Hollywood. Usually I'm not the biggest fan of these kinds of movies (this is the kind of movie that "Mulholland Drive" swallows whole), but its charms are irresistible and it never misses a beat. It's my personal favorite musical--it just never stops being fun watch. Even though you know none of the main characters are ever in any kind of real physical or emotional danger because of the nature of the film, it's a great ride and that's part of its magic. It also has one scene that takes place in the wildly ambitious mind of its protagonist that's bordering on surreal and is visually enchanting. That sequence alone makes it worth the watch.
- DirectorMichael PowellStarsKarlheinz BöhmAnna MasseyMoira ShearerA young man murders women, using a movie camera to film their dying expressions of terror.
- DirectorLuis BuñuelStarsFernando ReyDelphine SeyrigPaul FrankeurA surreal, virtually plotless series of dreams centered around six middle-class people and their consistently interrupted attempts to have a meal together.Personally, I think this is Bunuel's best film. It follows a group of bourgeoisie-class citizens and their various get togethers. It utilizes the liquid-reality of surrealism in order to reinforce its themes visually and that is its greatest accomplishment. The main focus of the film is to dissect and quite harshly analyze the worth of its characters and their choices. It's simultaneously humorous and depressing, and always thought provoking. If you want to try surrealism out, but you don't think you can handle "Mulholland Drive" (who could blame you?) then definitely give this a shot.
- DirectorPaul Thomas AndersonStarsDaniel Day-LewisPaul DanoCiarán HindsA story of family, religion, hatred, oil and madness, focusing on a turn-of-the-century prospector in the early days of the business.Another depressing one, but it's also a masterpiece. A movie about the destruction of greed and obsession that's visually engaging and so are its characters.
- DirectorCarol ReedStarsOrson WellesJoseph CottenAlida ValliPulp novelist Holly Martins travels to shadowy, postwar Vienna, only to find himself investigating the mysterious death of an old friend, Harry Lime.Very simplistic, expert storytelling with characters defined by their interesting dialog and the cinematography used to film them in the already beautiful city of Vienna.
- DirectorIngmar BergmanStarsHarriet AnderssonLiv UllmannKari SylwanWhen a woman dying of cancer in early twentieth-century Sweden is visited by her two sisters, long-repressed feelings between the siblings rise to the surface.This movie is miles of bleakness with a few feet of hope sprinkled throughout. It's a bummer on a visceral level, but it also has so much to say about life, death, and what it really means to be family during times of need. If you're looking for a feel-good film, keep looking, but for those who can tolerate a healthy dose of Bergman depression, this is perfect.
- DirectorSpike JonzeStarsJoaquin PhoenixAmy AdamsScarlett JohanssonIn a near future, a lonely writer develops an unlikely relationship with an operating system designed to meet his every need.This movie always jumps between being funny, depressing, weird, and enlightening. Probably my favorite film of 2013. The cinematography was simply ridiculous. Almost every shot was amazing, and the director's use of colors was also superb.
- DirectorChristopher NolanStarsMatthew McConaugheyAnne HathawayJessica ChastainWhen Earth becomes uninhabitable in the future, a farmer and ex-NASA pilot, Joseph Cooper, is tasked to pilot a spacecraft, along with a team of researchers, to find a new planet for humans.
- DirectorAlfonso CuarónStarsJulianne MooreClive OwenChiwetel EjioforIn 2027, in a chaotic world in which women have somehow become infertile, a former activist agrees to help transport a miraculously pregnant woman to a sanctuary at sea.Simple, raw, and beautiful. "Children of Men" is easily one of the most interesting action movies I have ever seen.
- DirectorSergio LeoneStarsClint EastwoodLee Van CleefGian Maria VolontèTwo bounty hunters with the same intentions team up to track down a gang of outlaws led by a psychotic Mexican bandit, who is plotting an audacious bank robbery.Movies have been trying to copy the action and epic moments from Sergio Leone's films ever since and not a single one can match them.
- DirectorFrank DarabontStarsTim RobbinsMorgan FreemanBob GuntonOver the course of several years, two convicts form a friendship, seeking consolation and, eventually, redemption through basic compassion.Is this movie overrated? Yes. But that doesn't mean it's not an incredible film. I really don't have to write anything about this--you probably know it already.
- DirectorStanley KubrickStarsTom CruiseNicole KidmanTodd FieldA Manhattan doctor embarks on a bizarre, night-long odyssey after his wife's admission of unfulfilled longing.Stanley Kubrick's last movie and last masterpiece. I almost never enjoy or even watch movies that have sex as the focal point, but this is an exception. The subject matter is definitely lurid, but it's handled maturely. There aren't scenes designed solely to arouse--that's called porn and porn isn't art. Instead, Kubrick strips away all the glamour and fun that society and the media usually associate with sex and presents it like a dangerous predator. It's an intense and in-depth look into the idea of cheating on a spouse and what the ramifications of even thinking of that are. It's incredible. And, aside from its story and characters, the way it looks makes it worth watching alone. The film techniques are totally old-school even though it was made in the same year that "Fight Club" was released. It's almost surreal to watch Tom Cruise navigate his way through the landscape Kubrick paints with excellent dolly shots, exagerative old fashioned lighting, and strict color scheme. The streets of the lust-filled labyrinth are brought to life with soft yellows, deep, velvety reds, and neon blues. Every once in a while I think Kubrick adheres to these old fashioned techniques a bit too much--particularly in a few cheesy feeling quick-zoom shots for added dramatic effect--but that's really only a personal preference. If you're not big on R ratings, this movie might not be for you, but otherwise, it's a must watch. All hail Kubrick.
- DirectorJennifer KentStarsEssie DavisNoah WisemanDaniel HenshallA single mother and her child fall into a deep well of paranoia when an eerie children's book titled "Mister Babadook" manifests in their home.In my opinion, horror films have taken a serious dive in quality in the last couple of decades. And the ones that are good don't do much to forward the genre, they simply imitate films of the 70s very well (i.e., "The Conjuring"--which, don't get me wrong, I love, but I'm just saying the style isn't original at all). "The Babadook" is different. Essie Davis plays Amelia, a woman struggling with the absence of her husband, who was killed in a car accident. Now she's left alone to raise her troubled son, Samuel. When Samuel finds an ominous children's book titled "Mr. Babadook," they begin to be stalked by a supernatural force. Not exactly a hugely original concept, but the terror it delivers feels totally fresh and Essie Davis' performance is Oscar worthy--her character is whipped back and forth from grief, anger, insanity, hopelessness and it's terrifying to watch. Noah Wiseman also does a very good job of playing her son, which is an equally challenging role, especially for a boy so young.
For me, most of the best horror films take something that is found commonly scary--like isolation, death, or loss of sanity--and it portrays it in an uncommon way. And that is what the Babadook does. He's this terrifying, supernatural force that represents so much to both Amelia and Samuel and he's made visible to them, taking the fears they hold in the back of their minds and putting them in front of both of them in an aggressive, physical form. There's plenty of symbolism throughout the movie, but it's pretty hard to think about while watching it since you'll be too busy being scared out of your wits. If you're a horror fan, this one is for you. - DirectorFritz LangStarsPeter LorreEllen WidmannInge LandgutWhen the police in a German city are unable to catch a child-murderer, other criminals join in the manhunt.This movie is outstanding and an I believe it's an improvement on Lang's better known film "Metropolis." To start, the cinematography gets better and more daring as the film goes on and it is exceedingly impressive considering the steadicam was still forty years away when this was made. The "beggar society" shot is the most impressive. Secondly, the movie is either tense or enthralling or both for the entire manhunt and then the ending becomes an extremely thought provoking battle between philosophies. The whole movie is amazing, but it's sort of like a Trojan horse for making its audience think hard about what's right and wrong when a people must punish a sick minded citizen. And the ending is truly perfect.
- DirectorGareth EvansStarsIko UwaisYayan RuhianArifin PutraOnly a short time after the first raid, Rama goes undercover with the thugs of Jakarta and plans to bring down the syndicate and uncover the corruption within his police force.Is this the best action movie ever made? Yes. It starts up only an hour after its predecessor, "The Raid: Redemption" ends and it takes everything that's great about that movie and then multiplies it by 10. It makes me ashamed of modern American action movies, and honestly it even makes "Die Hard" look low budget and quaint. Many many people will hate it because of its shocking, in your face violence. It's the most violent movie I've ever seen, true, but it's an action masterpiece. This movie is a beautiful painting, Gareth Evans is the painter, and the paint is blood and broken bones. The action steadily rises and by the end it's almost overwhelming. Like the first, the action is choreographed magnificentally and it looks completely flawless. Unlike the first, however, the cinematography is crisp and clean. Beautiful shots and action movies don't normally go together, but this movie gets it just right. When you're not seeing someone's head explode or their leg get bent the wrong way, you're watching beautifully framed interior shots that are lit masterfully. I can't stress enough that this is quite literally the greatest action film ever. Ever. After seeing this, you'll either be too repulsed by the violence, or you'll forever look down on other action films. It's not for the squeamish, but if you can handle it, it's as rewarding as hitting a cinematic jackpot.
- DirectorTim BurtonStarsJohnny DeppWinona RyderDianne WiestThe solitary life of an artificial man - who was incompletely constructed and has scissors for hands - is upended when he is taken in by a suburban family.
- DirectorSteve McQueenStarsChiwetel EjioforMichael Kenneth WilliamsMichael FassbenderIn the antebellum United States, Solomon Northup, a free Black man from upstate New York, is abducted and sold into slavery.There are so many movies centered around the cruelties of slavery, but this trumps them all. It has a simple enough plot that's established early on--a free, happy African American from the North is kidnapped and sold into slavery. What the movie becomes is a sampling of overwhelmingly emotionally powerful episodes that show the harsh reality of 1800s America. It holds almost nothing back. This is definitely one of the toughest films to watch that I have ever seen, but it brings past evils that are talked about so numbingly frequently to life in front of its viewers. I think this film will allow a lot of people to view slavery with proper horror instead of the usual detached semi-indifference. There are brief respites from the emotional onslaught, though, in the form of beautiful landscape cinematography that proves the director knows exactly what he's doing. So yes, it's Oscar worthy. Also, the tip-toe hanging scene is one of the most effectively stressful of any movie I've ever watched.
- DirectorDavid LynchStarsJack NanceCharlotte StewartAllen JosephHenry Spencer tries to survive his industrial environment, his angry girlfriend, and the unbearable screams of his newly born mutant child.This is the only film I've seen that made me dry-heave. Doesn't sound like fun to you? In it's own way, it's extremely enjoyable actually. It's pure horror shrouded in a trippy surrealistic landscape and so consistently unsettling that it's almost unbearable. Oh and it's also shot quite well--the strange industrial landscape and dirty, peeling walls of the apartment buildings look so rich in black and white that it's almost worth watching for the visuals alone. But seriously, this is not for the woozy. David Lynch's hideous creation--the deformed baby in this movie--has haunted me ever since I saw it for the first time.
- DirectorBennett MillerStarsSteve CarellChanning TatumMark RuffaloU.S. Olympic wrestling champions and brothers Mark Schultz and Dave Schultz join "Team Foxcatcher", led by eccentric multi-millionaire John du Pont, as they train for the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea, but John's self-destructive behavior threatens to consume them all.
- DirectorFrancis Ford CoppolaStarsGene HackmanJohn CazaleAllen GarfieldA paranoid, secretive surveillance expert has a crisis of conscience when he suspects that the couple he is spying on will be murdered.Since Francis Ford Coppola is responsible for "Apocalypse Now" and "The Godfather," this masterpiece of a movie is often overlooked. It's about a man who works in surveillance who is hired by a large company to record a young couple's seemingly innocent conversation and hand it in to them. As he questions the motives of the company and the true nature of his assignment, paranoia creeps in and the situation begins spiraling out of control. For a movie about a man who is hired to hand in simple, objective recordings, I was amazed by how subjective this movie is--even going so far as to include a dream sequence. At first that seems a little out of place in a thriller, but that's just it--it's so much more than a thriller. It doubles as an extremely interesting character study of a man whose motives and emotions are often obscured. The audience has to work to catch glimpses of his true self and it's wonderfully enjoyable. It's one of those movies that keeps you on the edge of your seat while working on an intellectual level as well. It's brilliant.
- DirectorGareth EvansStarsIko UwaisAnanda GeorgeRay SahetapyA S.W.A.T. team becomes trapped in a tenement run by a ruthless mobster and his army of killers and thugs.This is pure, unadulterated action and it is in a class of its own. Movies like "Die Hard" or "Hard Boiled"--both of which I love by the way--simply don't come close to the adrenaline rush that this movie delivers on a budget barely over $1 million. This is one of the best martial arts movies ever made, and one of the best action movies in general. The fight choreography is as close to perfect as a movie can get. Sure, there's plenty of times when you might think "no one can get punched in the face that many times and keep fighting," but you'll never think "that punch didn't look real." They all look real. Every punch, kick, stab, and shot to the head. The action is tense, overwhelming, and practically flawless, delivering some of the best large scale fistfights, and my personal favorite three person fight scene towards the end. I said earlier that this action is unadulterated, and that also means it's unadulterated by plot. There's enough plot to give an excuse and some kind of a coherent intro to all the madness that ensues, and that's all it needs. This is an action lover's movie, and it's wildly rewarding. Gareth Evans makes typical AAA budget action movies look like trash. He's the most important name in action right now, and he could be the dying, muddled genre's savior.
- DirectorDavid FincherStarsBen AffleckRosamund PikeNeil Patrick HarrisWith his wife's disappearance having become the focus of an intense media circus, a man sees the spotlight turned on him when it's suspected that he may not be innocent.At first glance this might look like just another who-dun-it mystery, thriller with a star-studded cast, but this film stands out proudly from the rest in that typically clichéd genre. The mystery unravels slowly and meticulously, forcing the audience to spend time with characters that they can rarely be sure of. Sympathies shift uneasily from one character to another and from time to time, everyone on-screen seems repulsive, but it's impossible to look away.
It plays out like Hitchcock's "Psycho" or Clouzot's "Diabolique." Like these two films, it starts with a catchy little plot that lets you ease into the world of the film as you prepare to watch a fun little mystery, but then it plunges into depths that you never could have expected. The first hour could have been pulled out into a full-length movie, but it's not content to stop there--it drags its audience into some dark, twisted places, but it never stops being completely immersive and exciting. It pulls all of that off through some subtly beautiful cinematography (as can be expected from Fincher and Jeff Cronenweth, the cinematographer), and very quiet, but intense performances. Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike both do an incredible job at giving the audience brief glimpses at powerful, but buried emotions.
Maybe not the best date movie ever made, but most certainly one of the most effective mysteries of the last few years--"Gone Girl" delivers like you can't believe. My advice is to stop reading reviews and just go experience it for yourself. - DirectorJonathan GlazerStarsScarlett JohanssonJeremy McWilliamsLynsey Taylor MackayA mysterious young woman seduces lonely men in the evening hours in Scotland. However, events lead her to begin a process of self-discovery.One of the best sci-fi, art-house films of the last decade. Seriously weird, but very powerful. It uses aliens, mutants, organ harvesting, kidnapping, and death to deliver an actually quite easily recognizable message about the way society views sex. It accomplishes this using barely any dialogue and really not that much noise at all. Ever. It's quiet yet terrifying like the film's main character.
- DirectorHoward HawksStarsHumphrey BogartLauren BacallJohn RidgelyPrivate detective Philip Marlowe is hired by a wealthy family. Before the complex case is over, he's seen murder, blackmail and what might be love.Yet another masterful film noir. I preferred this to Humphrey Bogart's better known noir role, "The Maltese Falcon." This movie is all about the characters and the filming style of noir. Plot is present, yes, but it's hardly viewed as the most important element by the director. And for this movie, that totally works. There were some sequences where I had no idea what was going through the main character's head, but I enjoyed watching him weave his way through the corrupt labyrinth the film constructs. The movie continuously builds and keeps getting more complicated, but more enjoyable and the finale is cinematic bliss.
- DirectorCharles ChaplinStarsCharles ChaplinVirginia CherrillFlorence LeeWith the aid of a wealthy erratic tippler, a dewy-eyed tramp who has fallen in love with a sightless flower girl accumulates money to be able to help her medically.Probably the best rom-com I've ever seen. This is only the second silent film I've ever watched--the first being "Metropolis"--and it was amazing how much Charlie Chaplin could convey to the audience without words. It simultaneously surprisingly funny and touching. I've never really enjoyed slapstick, but this movie was a different experience. Some scenes are so ridiculous and over the top that you can't help but laugh. These humorous scenes are dispersed throughout a more serious feeling tale of a very poor man risking it all to help a blind woman whom he loves. Charlie Chaplin's fame makes perfect sense after seeing this movie.
- DirectorRob ReinerStarsCary ElwesMandy PatinkinRobin WrightA bedridden boy's grandfather reads him the story of a farmboy-turned-pirate who encounters numerous obstacles, enemies and allies in his quest to be reunited with his true love.This movie is pretty much impossible to describe. Everyone should see it.
- DirectorMilos FormanStarsJack NicholsonLouise FletcherMichael BerrymanIn the Fall of 1963, a Korean War veteran and criminal pleads insanity and is admitted to a mental institution, where he rallies up the scared patients against the tyrannical nurse.Jack Nicholson's acting in this film is outstanding.
- DirectorAlfred HitchcockStarsJames StewartGrace KellyWendell CoreyA wheelchair-bound photographer spies on his neighbors from his Greenwich Village courtyard apartment window and, despite the skepticism of his fashion-model girlfriend, becomes convinced one of them has committed murder.an overwhelmingly well-written mystery that also deals with the simple struggles and joys of being human.
- DirectorFrancis Ford CoppolaStarsAl PacinoRobert De NiroRobert DuvallThe early life and career of Vito Corleone in 1920s New York City is portrayed, while his son, Michael, expands and tightens his grip on the family crime syndicate.
- DirectorMichael HanekeStarsChristian FriedelErnst JacobiLeonie BeneschStrange events happen in a small village in the north of Germany during the years before World War I, which seem to be ritual punishment. Who is responsible?Such a great movie. It centers around the lives of citizens in a German town just before the start of WWI and it presents itself as genuinely as possible. It's their lives, problems, flaws, fears, hopes, connections, relationships, and everything in-between.
- DirectorMichael HanekeStarsDaniel AuteuilJuliette BinocheMaurice BénichouA married couple is terrorized by a series of surveillance videotapes left on their front porch.Wow. A real downer. This movie is so unsettling, disturbing, and depressing, yet there's barely any violence, no music, and no moments of heart pounding tension. It's a slow, painful journey that's extremely profound and has a lot to say about privilege and life in general, but it's not "entertaining" in a traditional sense. This, of course, isn't a bad thing, though, it's just very different from other thrillers. To watch a character be psychologically tormented on screen is usually presented as something "intense" and "exciting," but this movie does away with that and simply delivers raw mental suffering.
- DirectorJonathan DemmeStarsJodie FosterAnthony HopkinsScott GlennA young F.B.I. cadet must receive the help of an incarcerated and manipulative cannibal killer to help catch another serial killer, a madman who skins his victims.Solid thriller. Anthony Hopkins does such an amazing job in this movie. If I saw him in real life I'm pretty sure I'd be terrified of him.
- DirectorWes AndersonStarsJason SchwartzmanBill MurrayOlivia WilliamsA teenager at Rushmore Academy falls for a much older teacher and befriends a middle-aged industrialist. Later, he finds out that his love interest and his friend are having an affair, which prompts him to begin a vendetta.
- DirectorQuentin TarantinoStarsHarvey KeitelTim RothMichael MadsenWhen a simple jewelry heist goes horribly wrong, the surviving criminals begin to suspect that one of them is a police informant.Tarantino's first movie proved that he was bound for greatness. So engaging. The character's are so well written that they feel like real people. Not as good as Pulp Fiction, but an incredible start to a legendary career.
- DirectorDarren AronofskyStarsNatalie PortmanMila KunisVincent CasselNina is a talented but unstable ballerina on the verge of stardom. Pushed to the breaking point by her artistic director and a seductive rival, Nina's grip on reality slips, plunging her into a waking nightmare.
- DirectorCurtis HansonStarsKevin SpaceyRussell CroweGuy PearceAs corruption grows in 1950s Los Angeles, three policemen - one strait-laced, one brutal, and one sleazy - investigate a series of murders with their own brand of justice.An air-tight neo-noir that has a very involving mystery that runs miles deep and is so entertaining to watch as the protagonists unravel it.
- DirectorDavid LeanStarsPeter O'TooleAlec GuinnessAnthony QuinnThe story of T.E. Lawrence, the English officer who successfully united and led the diverse, often warring, Arab tribes during World War I in order to fight the Turks.Like Shawshank, this film is overrated. Again, it's a wonderful movie and an incredible achievement in film, but it's not perfect. Its main character is a very intriguing man, its intro is outstanding, and it conveys this unique, palpable sense of adventure. But alas, it begins to drag on as you get deeper into its running time and there are parts that simply seem extraneous. I don't want to bad-mouth it too much, though, it's fantastic, just not untouchable as some critics seem to think.
- DirectorStanley KubrickStarsKirk DouglasRalph MeekerAdolphe MenjouAfter a failed attack on a German position, a general orders three soldiers, chosen at random, court-martialed for cowardice and their commanding officer must defend them.One of the most depressing movies I have ever seen. This film had such an oppressive sense of injustice that it was hard to watch, even when the visuals were stunning and the shots were perfectly framed, one of the many things Kubrick mastered in his lifetime. The performances were all stellar, even the minor characters. It's short, sweet, and to the point. It's sort of like a filmic persuasive essay against war and it's extremely effective.
- DirectorAlfred HitchcockStarsLaurence OlivierJoan FontaineGeorge SandersA self-conscious woman juggles adjusting to her new role as an aristocrat's wife and avoiding being intimidated by his first wife's spectral presence.Yet again, an amazing film by Hitchcock. It starts as a love story and then morphs into something else entirely as the history of the man's ex-wife begins to be revealed. It could almost be called a character study, but of a character that the audience never sees. And that is why it's amazing. It's like Rebecca is always there, always watching, but only the viewer's imagination can tell what she really looks like.
- DirectorDavid LynchStarsIsabella RosselliniKyle MacLachlanDennis HopperThe discovery of a severed human ear found in a field leads a young man on an investigation related to a beautiful, mysterious nightclub singer and a group of psychopathic criminals who have kidnapped her child.A masterful film that plays with genre cliches to create a false sense of security before tearing them apart and revealing its viscous underbelly and insane depravity. To some it's a commentary on how different human evil is in film than in real life. That's how I took it for the most part, but like almost all Lynch films, it's like watching someone else's nightmare and an objective interpretation simply doesn't exist. It's a bit excessive in its depiction of sexual violence, but I suppose that's the point. Regardless, it's a masterwork and an extremely unique and interesting take on neo-noir, one of my favorite sub-genres.
- DirectorDuncan JonesStarsSam RockwellKevin SpaceyDominique McElligottAstronaut Sam Bell has a quintessentially personal encounter toward the end of his three-year stint on the Moon, where he, working alongside his computer, GERTY, sends back to Earth parcels of a resource that has helped diminish our planet's power problems.Amazing. Truly old school sci-fi .
- DirectorFrank MillerQuentin TarantinoRobert RodriguezStarsMickey RourkeClive OwenBruce WillisAn exploration of the dark and miserable Basin City and three of its residents, all of whom are caught up in violent corruption.Probably as unique as any movie can get while retaining a cohesive plot and characters. Seriously weird and seriously entertaining. Also seriously messed up. Skip this one if you have a weak stomach, but it's worth viewing for the beautiful and incredibly different imagery alone. The intoxicating plot lines are just a bonus.
- DirectorOrson WellesStarsOrson WellesJoseph CottenDorothy ComingoreFollowing the death of publishing tycoon Charles Foster Kane, reporters scramble to uncover the meaning of his final utterance: 'Rosebud.'A movie about life in its entirety and what really matters. A timeless message with shockingly advanced film techniques for such an old film.
- DirectorBilly WilderStarsWilliam HoldenGloria SwansonErich von StroheimA screenwriter develops a dangerous relationship with a faded film star determined to make a triumphant return.
- DirectorBrian De PalmaStarsAl PacinoMichelle PfeifferSteven BauerIn 1980 Miami, a determined Cuban immigrant takes over a drug cartel and succumbs to greed.This is a surprising movie. Everyone's heard the line "Say hello to my lil' friend!" and probably seen the scene that accompanies it, but to see it in context is something completely different. This isn't an Arnold Schwarzenegger-esque action shooter, it's a rather depressing descent into darkness and a slow warping of the main character's morale compass until it is irreversibly broken. It's a bummer, but it's also a great character study and a thoroughly entertaining film.
- DirectorBilly WilderStarsFred MacMurrayBarbara StanwyckEdward G. RobinsonA Los Angeles insurance representative lets an alluring housewife seduce him into a scheme of insurance fraud and murder that arouses the suspicion of his colleague, an insurance investigator.Really good movie, one of my favorite noirs. The femme fatale in this is one of the best in any movies and all the other characters have some kind of depth and they play off each other really well. I preferred this movie to Wilder's other noir, "Sunset Blvd." because the pacing in this one is perfect and the writing for the narration always benefited the events on screen. Since noir is usually heavy on narration, many films end up using this as fancily worded background noise, but this film doesn't fall into that trap.
- DirectorIngmar BergmanStarsIngrid ThulinGunnar BjörnstrandGunnel LindblomA small-town priest struggles with his faith.This one's quite the downer, but it's also debatabley flawless. It's about a priest struggling hard with his faith and most of the movie is between him and various members of his church or people he's close to as he's trying to find meaning to his life. The film offers no answers. Bergman takes the audience on a short, but very tough, barren journey through hard questions that he himself struggled with. His exasperation at trying to find answers is presented clearly and mercilessly. It's a tough watch, but it's classic soul-searching Bergman and it's not to be missed.
- DirectorGeorge LucasStarsMark HamillHarrison FordCarrie FisherLuke Skywalker joins forces with a Jedi Knight, a cocky pilot, a Wookiee and two droids to save the galaxy from the Empire's world-destroying battle station, while also attempting to rescue Princess Leia from the mysterious Darth Vader.The first 3 movies are simply fantastic.
- DirectorStanley KubrickStarsMatthew ModineR. Lee ErmeyVincent D'OnofrioA pragmatic U.S. Marine observes the dehumanizing effects the Vietnam War has on his fellow recruits from their brutal boot camp training to the bloody street fighting in Hue.Highly disturbing portrayal of a highly disturbing war.
- DirectorDan GilroyStarsJake GyllenhaalRene RussoBill PaxtonWhen Louis Bloom, a con man desperate for work, muscles into the world of L.A. crime journalism, he blurs the line between observer and participant to become the star of his own story.I was lucky enough to see an early screening of this movie in Boston that Jake Gyllenhaal made a brief appearance at to introduce it. I got some pictures with Jake (he's a really cool guy in person) and then sat back for what I expected to be a simple, entertaining movie and was very pleasantly surprised by a film that delivered so much more.
Simply based on entertainment value, the movie is fantastic. The acting across the board is fantastic. Jake Gyllenhaal's performance is like Jack Nicholson's in "The Shining"--so terrifying that it puts a grin on your face. The tension is built masterfully and it explodes onto screen in the form of car-chases, shootouts, and heart-pounding, breath-holding scenes of lurking danger. And visually it's pleasing as well. The city streets of LA look fantastic at night, especially when they're scattered with fiery wrecks, and the eerie glow that comes from the protagonist's camera-mounted light makes some of the more gruesome scenes really shine.
All of this I expected. What surprised me was its ability as a satire. GYllenhaal's character basically embodies the sociopathic tendencies of modern news production, so as the movie delves more and more into his disturbingly twisted mind it also establishes a very interesting social commentary. It's highly entertaining and thought-provoking at the same time and isn't that what we go to the movies to see?