There was no way I wasn't going to dislike this film, consider my list of things that make a good film: Zooey Deshanel. Check. Adorably indie rom-com. Check. Non-linear narrative sequence. Check. Lovestruck cute guy (Joseph Gordon-Levitt). Check.
But enough with lists, it had all the ingredients and this film mixed them together so well, into one of the biggest indie hits of 2009. It's amazing that it's taken me this long to actually get round to watching it, but it's definately one that I will give another watch, and that's not something I can say about a lot of films.
Saturday, 2 October 2010
Film 33 - The Hangover
Me and my flatmates watched this average comedy last night, they all seemed to like it, and I was less sure. Yes, it delivered some good laughs but the storyline was pretty poor and a lot of it seemed very clichéd and hackneyed.
It's one of those films that I neither love or hate, but I can't imagine it placing very highly in my ranking of the films I've watched this year.
It's one of those films that I neither love or hate, but I can't imagine it placing very highly in my ranking of the films I've watched this year.
Film 32 - Ace In The Hole
Yesterday the journalism department at my uni (Sheffield) organised a showing of the film for all the first year students in the department, and I'm very glad I was forced to go.
I don't usually like old films (Casablanca aside) but this story of a journalist willing to do anything for a story really resonated with me and I'd just like to C&P the comment I posted on the blog of the department, as it pretty well sums up my view:
It seems a common view these days that journalism is dying and isn't what it used to be, but if what is portrayed in Ace In The Hole is reasonably accurate; journalism has always had its good and bad side. The case can be argued that Chuck Tatum has a lot in common with the protagonists of the News of the World phone-hacking scandal. In both cases the journalist or journalists would do anything they had to, in order to get a story. In many ways the phone-hacking was of a far less serious nature than what Tatum did, blackmailing corrupt officials and getting a man killed, but the general face of journalism hasn't changed, there have always been reporters willing to break the law and act unethically to get a story and there always will be. The only difference seems to be that the methods have changed, and in many ways have got more sophisticated.
I don't usually like old films (Casablanca aside) but this story of a journalist willing to do anything for a story really resonated with me and I'd just like to C&P the comment I posted on the blog of the department, as it pretty well sums up my view:
It seems a common view these days that journalism is dying and isn't what it used to be, but if what is portrayed in Ace In The Hole is reasonably accurate; journalism has always had its good and bad side. The case can be argued that Chuck Tatum has a lot in common with the protagonists of the News of the World phone-hacking scandal. In both cases the journalist or journalists would do anything they had to, in order to get a story. In many ways the phone-hacking was of a far less serious nature than what Tatum did, blackmailing corrupt officials and getting a man killed, but the general face of journalism hasn't changed, there have always been reporters willing to break the law and act unethically to get a story and there always will be. The only difference seems to be that the methods have changed, and in many ways have got more sophisticated.
Tuesday, 28 September 2010
Film 31 - Superbad
Brilliantly funny, just brilliantly funny. I don't care what anyone says, and I'm sure there are people who don't like it, but Superbad is an immense film, and most of its laughs are delivered by Seth and McLovin, two of the funniest comedy characters. Michael Cera is as usual great as the comic foil Evan, and he must be the most appearing character on this blog (Youth In Revolt, Juno,
It's really a modern comic farce, nothing goes right for most of the film but somehow the characters manage to stumble through, make it to the party, and each in their own way get what they want. The unexpected part of the film was the emotional core at the end, making this not just another high school comedy.
(As you might have guessed, I've given up on the 100, and maybe even on the 50. What can I say, I've failed you all)
It's really a modern comic farce, nothing goes right for most of the film but somehow the characters manage to stumble through, make it to the party, and each in their own way get what they want. The unexpected part of the film was the emotional core at the end, making this not just another high school comedy.
(As you might have guessed, I've given up on the 100, and maybe even on the 50. What can I say, I've failed you all)
Thursday, 9 September 2010
Film 30 - Spinal Tap
Frequently named amongst the funniest films ever made, Spinal Tap is a mockumenty rockumentry and side-splittingly satirical masterpiece.
The humour comes mostly from the stupidity but genuine sincerity and belief in their own ability that the band have. The funniest moment may have to be Nigel Tufnel's touching piano piece which he provisionally entitles: Lick My Love Pump, or the moment their new album is shown to them "There's something about this that's so black, it's like how much more black could this be? And the answer is none. None more black." or the films crowning moment, the amps which go up to eleven, which prompts the immortal line from Tufnel: "But these go up to eleven"
Just a complete classic.
The humour comes mostly from the stupidity but genuine sincerity and belief in their own ability that the band have. The funniest moment may have to be Nigel Tufnel's touching piano piece which he provisionally entitles: Lick My Love Pump, or the moment their new album is shown to them "There's something about this that's so black, it's like how much more black could this be? And the answer is none. None more black." or the films crowning moment, the amps which go up to eleven, which prompts the immortal line from Tufnel: "But these go up to eleven"
Just a complete classic.
Monday, 6 September 2010
Film 29 - The Pursuit Of Happyness
One of the few films that has ever reduced me to tears, just brilliant. The story of a single father struggling to bring up his five year old son whilst trying to get a decent job. Will Smith played the father, and was brilliant as an inspiring dad who would do anything for his son.
The saddest moment in the film - and possibly the saddest in any film I've ever seen - was the moment when the father and son had to spend the night sleeping in a subway bathroom. The middle of the film was heartbreaking, as the two of them struggle to find somewhere to sleep each night.
The end however was inspiring, just showing that with hard work anything can be achieved (in retrospect, that's a little corny, but the film was genuinely inspiring).
The saddest moment in the film - and possibly the saddest in any film I've ever seen - was the moment when the father and son had to spend the night sleeping in a subway bathroom. The middle of the film was heartbreaking, as the two of them struggle to find somewhere to sleep each night.
The end however was inspiring, just showing that with hard work anything can be achieved (in retrospect, that's a little corny, but the film was genuinely inspiring).
Saturday, 4 September 2010
Film 28 - Seeker: The Dark Is Rising
A fantasy, slightly Potter-esque fight between good and evil film becomes the 28th film on my list. At the rate I'm going I'm beginning to think that 50 may be a more realistic target for this year. Anyway, back to the film at hand. The critics hated it but I quite liked it.
The whole premise was simple but time-tested, an ultimate fight between good and evil, light and dark. The person who had to lead the fight was a 14 year old boy, the seventh son of a seventh sun (supposedly magical). The film was paced well but ultimately the main flaw was that it was just too simple.
Too many major revelations were telegraphed badly, and it was too easy to keep up with. The whole film didn't have the complexity to move it beyond a decent film to a good or very good one.
The whole premise was simple but time-tested, an ultimate fight between good and evil, light and dark. The person who had to lead the fight was a 14 year old boy, the seventh son of a seventh sun (supposedly magical). The film was paced well but ultimately the main flaw was that it was just too simple.
Too many major revelations were telegraphed badly, and it was too easy to keep up with. The whole film didn't have the complexity to move it beyond a decent film to a good or very good one.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)