The Guard (8/28/11)

Went to see The Guard today with Anja and Ari, as a way to get out the house after being stuck in it all day yesterday due to the hurricane. It was pretty good--Brendan Gleason and Don Cheadle are always solid and reliable actors. The plot was violent, but fairly funny (some parts were a bit cliched). In Bruges was better! (And also had B.G.)

Rating: 3/4

Cedar Rapids (8/24/11)

Sheesh! Four movies in four days. I guess I'm trying to catch as many as possible before school starts in 2 weeks.

Tonight, we watched Cedar Rapids, courtesy of my new free trial Netflix account. A good palate cleanser after the White Ribbon, as it's a short, fast-paced, fun little comedy with good actors (John C. Reilly, always reliable, Ed Helms, and Anne Heche were all solid).

Rating: 3/4 stars

The White Ribbon (8/23/11)

Finally! A movie I really liked. Albeit a disturbing and 2+ hour-long movie. Watched The White Ribbon today on DVD rented from the library.

This is the second time I've rented the DVD; the first time I rented it I couldn't bring myself to watch such a serious, heavy film. But once I started it tonight, I was pretty much enthralled by the story, despite the fact that it is quite deliberately paced. But not boring! Never boring. Michael Haneke, you have impressed me again with your twisted realism. After Funny Games and The Piano Teacher, I have to say this one was more palatable, and I think better overall.

Rating: 3.5/4

Crime d'Amour

Saw a free showing of a "thriller" at the IFC Center yesterday, courtesy of Ari's random membership at the theater.

All I can say is, I'm glad it was free. And that there wasn't really much violence at all, despite a murder taking place. Fairly predictable story line, and as Ari pointed out, Kristin Scott Thomas was really the only interesting character (who eventually gets killed, so...).

Score: 1.5/4 stars

The Wild Bunch (1969)

Saw The Wild Bunch today (8/22) as part of the continuing Robert Ryan retrospective at Film Forum. It's a famous movie, right? Ari and I had definitely heard of the title before. And it got a starred review in TimeOut, so I figured it'd be a safe bet.

Unfortunately, this movie did not hold up so well for me (or Ari). Unless we were missing something. 134 minutes long...lots of shoot outs with lots of ridiculously red fake blood, and lots of people behaving badly. I can only guess perhaps this film was reflective of the uncertain times, with the government, the bounty hunters, and the outlaws all looking pretty bad all the way through. Not really any protagonist to relate to.

So... let's see. 2.5/4 stars.

At Home

Rented Last Days of Disco from the NYPL because I love Chloe Sevigny (from Big Love). And I like watching movies about the glamorous "club scene," I suppose because it lets me live vicariously (as all movies do).

Not so great. Interesting dialogue here and there, but Kate Beckinsdale had trouble controlling her British accent as she tried to play an American. Oddly pointless plot.

But I still love the Sevigny.

Rating: 2/4 stars

Film Forum - 8/14/11

Film Forum Double Feature: Robert Ryan

1. The Naked Spur (Starring Jimmy Stewart and Janet Leigh along with RR)
Psychological Western: 3/4 stars

2. Bad Day at Black Rock (Starring Spencer Tracey)
First Hollywood film to deal with mistreatment of Japanese-Americans: 2.5/4 stars