Netflix rentals

Terri: Really surprising story line--I kept thinking I could predict what would happen next, but I was wrong. Weird and a little creepy at times, but in a good way. 3/4

Martha Marcy May Marlene: Waited forever to finally see this super-hyped (or at least super-hyped to me) movie. It did not disappoint! Creeped me out in just the right amount. I thought the lead performance (by Elizabeth Olsen) was pretty good too. 3/4

Good movies seen in the past few months (off the top of my head):

• Le Grande Illusion (4 out of 4 stars! AMAZING!)
• The Battle of Algiers
• Never Let Me Go
• Your Sister's Sister
• Attenberg
• Pina 

Decent movies:

• Bernie (with Jack Black)
• A Fistful of Dollars
• Beasts of the Southern Wild (watched yesterday) 
• The Long Day Closes

Since I've been home, I've been watching a lot of Louie (Louis C.K.). And that show is great.

A Separation (1/12/11)

A powerful and ultimately quite unsettling Iranian film about...a lot of things. Mainly relationships, and the love for family, and the way that we hurt others by trying to do what's best for them. Definitely recommended.

3.5/4

Movies watched during winter break

The Descendants (12/11): Cobble Hill Cinema, 2/4 stars
-Definitely a let-down from Alexander Payne.

The Gold Rush (12/11): Film Forum, 4/4 stars
-I forgot how WONDERFUL Charlie Chaplin is! Want to re-watch some more of his films

Of Gods and Men (12/11): Netflix rental watched in San Clemente, 3/4 stars
-very powerful, never want to watch it again

In the Loop (12/11): Netflix rental watched in Monrovia, 2.5/4 stars
-witty yet somewhat tiresome by the end

Senna (1/12): Netflix rental watched in Monrovia, 2.5/4 stars
-depressing yet interesting look at Formula One racing and the legend that is Senna

Pina (1/12): IFC Center, 3.5/4
-Although boring and weird at times, ultimately a very unique and at times amazing experience of watching 3D dancers "breathing" right before my eyes.

Laura (1/12): Film Forum, 2.5/4 stars
-Preminger's great classic whodunit/noir. A lot of fun watching it in a packed house at FF.

Margaret (1/12): Cinema Village, 1.5/4 stars
-two-and-a-half-hour movie with about 20 different plotlines and lots of yelling. Nevertheless, I could appreciate this movie and was actually willing to sit all the way through (unlike Ari, who sat through it fairly unwillingly).

Weekend (1/12): Netflix streaming watched in Brooklyn, 2.5/4 stars
-Very sweet yet perhaps forgettable (?) look at a weekend two gay men fall in love. Felt very honest and I definitely cared about the characters.

Mid-August Lunch (12/10/11)

It's a cliche, but this was a delicious little Italian film. Only 1 hour and 9 minutes long, it tells the story of how a bachelor living with his elderly mother has to suddenly take in three more old ladies and make them all happy.

Although the plot was a little ridiculous, I enjoyed that about it. And watching the son prepare all this delicious Italian food made me wish I hadn't chosen to make teriyaki stir fry for dinner!

The Searchers (9/13/11)

Finally watched the Western that seems to be referenced the most as one of "the greatest westerns of all time" (not sure who called it that, but I'm sure it has been called that).

It was pretty good. I suppose it was quite good compared to the vast majority of westerns out there (I've only seen a handful), and if they'd just cut a bunch of the corny music and melodramatic acting out, I suppose it would have been really quite good.  But as it was, I found it fairly enjoyable.

I have to admit I did feel kind of like an idiot. During the whole second half of the film I kept thinking, "who's the actress? I recognize her from something!" and I was really proud for at least recognizing an actress from an old film. Then I looked her up and it was...Natalie Wood. The fact that I didn't recognize HER is a little embarrassing.

Ah well.

Rating: 3/4 stars

Band of Outsiders (9/12/11)

Saw Godard's Band of Outsiders at Film Forum today. So good! I was a little worried it would be rambling and plotless and pointless. But no, charmingly rambling and sweet and so fresh. "Fresh" is a cliched term to use to describe film, but really, that is the word that came to my mind at the end. I mean, it came out in 1964, but feels so much more youthful and exciting and funny than so many Hollywood movies you'd see today.
But I guess that's not saying anything surprising, really. 

Highlights:

• Old man vaguely fondling the English teacher's butt (and the English teacher not seeming to care at all).
• Dancing at the bar, with Anna Karina talking at the end and it looking very unscripted
• The flashing of all the actors' faces at the beginning title sequence
• Odile "French kissing" Arthur
• Running through the Louvre

Rating: 3.5/4

Also: I felt the girl in this film, Odile (Anna Karina) was totally an iconic hipster in terms of both her personality and her style.