I LOVED The Wave. First German film I'd seen, and I loved it. It managed everything- realistic, poignant, engaging, tragic.
And it didn't have the slighty irritating tang some based on true story films have.
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The day the earth stood still. 8/10. Keanu Reeves acting style really suited this movie. The movie has something to say about the human race and the way we treat the plant and each other. It is really worth seeing and the bonus of course is Keanu Reeves.
Man On Wire --- documentary about French guy who walked across a tightrope strung across the World Trade Center towers. Great flick.
Also, Exterminating Angels, a French film. If you don't like nudity and that, don't watch it, or it you do and you like it happy you. ;)
Eyes wide shut -- 9/10. It was an amazing film, but the first hour or so was very slow and tedious.
Natural Born Killers -- 7.5/10. Generally, it was a good satire, but I felt like I was being hit over the head too many times with the message. Not much subtlety or technique apparent.
Jackie Brown -- 9.5/10. Quentin Tarantino is the only director who can make a really good action/thriller movie that's over-the-top, yet believable. Every scene was entertaining and suspenseful, as all action flicks should be.
Death Race -- 3/10. Not much to say. No character development evident, and the action was so generic.
The pilot film of "The battlestar gallactica" series and it was great :D
Doctor Zhivago - 8/10
Twilight. I give it a 7/10. Not a bad movie. Just not excellent.
I was wondering what has happened to this thread since i couldn't find it lately. Probably I just haven't seen it :lol:
Yesterday I finally saw "Vicky Cristina Barcelona". It deserves at least 8/10, may be even 9/10. Actually it isn't something remarkable or really special, but it is a really beautiful movie. The atmosphere and the acting were great.
After I saw it, I started thinking this one isn't actually like the other Woody Allen's films. Judging by the others I've seen (which aren't as much as I want to) there definitely is some difference. This one seems somewhat more serious and may be more realistic.
As I mentioned the acting was great. When I watch a movie I always keep in mind who the actors are, but this time they made me forget who they are. On the screen were the characters not Javier Bardem or Penélope Cruz.
The other great thing about that movie is the music, it is exactly what I enjoy most :)
Today I went to see "Rachel Getting Married."I would have to give it a 9/10. It is both beautiful and incredible. It is a perfect storm of a movie. The screenwriter got it right. The director got it right. The actors got it right. I would almost think they had come from the same dysfunctional home: The wayward child who sucks all the attention like a black hole. The sibling who is perfect on the outside and devastatingly lonely on the inside, and who is so tired of watching havoc wreaked-again. The loving parent dancing helplessly on the sidelines. The other parent who is emotionally absent, who, with everyone's permission, is just going to slip away, and who refuses to see her part in the burned and sere countryside of her family's hearts. Perhaps this family is one that I recognize, with people who are stumbling and groping toward some sort of redemption and emotional health that will allow them to live, and not just survive. Perhaps it's one that you'll recognize, too.
I watched The Curious Case of Benjamin Button last night and give it 7/10. I found the frame story contrived and Pitt's performance a variation on his Meet Joe Black Character. I found some of the mind/body logic off, but Fincher, the editor and the cinematographer did a amazing job. I thought David Lynch would be the man to eventually discover a non-crude aesthetic for the digital medium, but Fincher, with Zodiac and now Ben, and Soderbergh with Che!, which I give and 8 1/2 out of 10, have made that achievement. Although both Soderbergh and Fincher replicate celluloid aesthetic, so there is still hope for Lynch.
Still my favorite Kubrick film.:thumbs_up
Hi Alexei, interesting comments. I like Woody Allen films, even some that the critics trashed. I still find merit in them. I recall liking "Hannah and Her Sisters", but have not seen it in years; maybe since I have two sisters so I could relate. "Husbands and Wives" was very good and I liked "Annie Hall", of course; I own that one. I only own that and "Celebrity" - the last one, basically because I like Ken Branagh and he stars in it. That is one that did get trashed by critics, but I still enjoy it and laugh so hard at some parts - love the high school class reunion scene. I have been to them in middle-age, and I know how that goes. You know, it has been awhile now, since I was a serious Woody Allen fan, so I can't recall all the films I have seen. I will try looking some up for you. Glad he is still making films and now I will have to check out the one you suggested. Sounds really fine. I like Bardem and Cruz in most of their work. I should like this film very much. I like fine acting, too. I know what you mean when you don't see the actor but the character only - a sign of a very good actor when they can so convince us of the authenticity.
The Bourne Ultimatum on HBO last night. 9/10
Hi, Janine, I've been wondering what have happened to you :) Your post is a bit intimidating, all this knowledge :D To be honest I haven't even heard some of the titles you mentioned. As I said I haven't seen most of the things I wanted. I think I'll pay special attention to these :) I have the impression we have quite similar tastes ;)
I remember watching "Husbands and Wives" and liking it very much, but it was a few years ago.Sadly, I don't remember much of it and I think I have to see it once again.
As for the critics I am not sure they like his new works. I can't say about USA, but here they avoid mentioning him which is rather sad. I've been rereading some info on his works on the net lately and it turned out I've missed some of his movies in the last two years because I simply didn't hear about them. Funny, isn't it?
I recommend you "Vicky Cristina Barcelona", as I said it's very good :D I think you will find some real changes in Allen's work and it's worth it only for this.
For now -
Alexei, here are two sites his biography and filmography, etc. Believe me there are plenty I have not seen either. Wow, didn't realise just how long the list would be. For someone not popular, he sure won a lot of awards. See second link. I will get back to you later and let you know the ones I did see. I just saw "Casandra's Dream" a week or so ago. I didn't even realise that was directed by Allen. How funny. You are right; the style is quite different than his earlier work.
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000095/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woody_Allen