(50) The Reader

Directed by Stephen Daldry
Rated R
2008
124 minutes

***

I'm not going to lie, when I saw this as the fifth film nominated for Best Picture this year, I was livid. There seemed to be so many more deserving films; WALL-E, The Dark Knight, The Wrestler, etc. To be fair, however, I hadn't seen it. And while I still don't think it's even close to one of the five best films of the year, it is (behind Slumdog Millionaire and The Wrestler and ahead of Frost/Nixon and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) the third best of the nominees. The main problem with this film is that, for a film about Nazi's, none of the characters really elicited any sympathy from me. Winslet is brilliant, certainly deserving of the Oscar (though I wouldn't guarantee she'll win), but everyone else just seems to be coasting along for two hours. Still, I can recommend this film on Winslet's peformance alone.

(49) Amusement

Directed by John Simpson
Rated R
2009
85 minutes

1/2 *

I remember, back in November 2007, seeing a trailer for this film at the 8 Films to Die For Horrorfest. After seeing it before all eight films, I decided it looked like it could be a fun, scary, blood-spattering mess. Unfortunately, 14 months later, when it has bypassed a theatrical release and come straight to DVD, only the last word in that description applies. There are so many things wrong with this film writing about them in the general way would take up too much space, so i'll just list a few:

• The film begins with about an hour of backstory on the three main characters, then proceeds to begin the actual film itself at about the 65 minute mark.
• A character is introduced, then killed off, within about five minutes. No explanation is given to how this character got where they were, and they are never discussed again.
• The film seems to make apologies for it's brutally sadistic villain in the final v.o. monologue of the film.
• Jessica Lucas, so good in Cloverfield, is absolutely wasted. Instead, we get Katheryn Winnick and Laura Breckenridge, who are serviceable at best, awful at worst.

There are a ton more problems (not very scary, bad acting, etc. etc.), but I don't think it's fair to go into anymore of them. Just stay the hell away from this.

(48) The Lost Weekend

Directed by Billy Wilder
Not Rated
1945
101 minutes

*****

Billy Wilder's The Lost Weekend seems to have become one of his lesser known films, despite the fact that it won the Oscar for Best Picture in 1945. This is understandable when your filmography includes classics like Some Like It Hot, Double Indemnity, The Apartment, Sunset Boulevard, etc. Regardless, this absolutely deserves inclusion in the list of his greatest films. Ray Milland is captivating as Don Birnam, a failed New York writer who spends a weekend more or less drinking himself to the brink of death. It's all you can do to gape at the screen when he lets loose one of his drunken monologues to bartender Nat (Howard Da Silva, as a perfect foil to Don). A beautiful Jane Wyman as Don's girlfriend Helen is also great. This is one of the true brilliant but mostly forgotten gems of the 40s (of which there are an infinite number).

(47) Diarios de motocicleta

Directed by Walter Salles
Rated R
2004
126 minutes

****

Gael Garcia Bernal is fantastic as a young Che Guevera traveleing across South America with his friend Alberto Granado. The film follows them all across the continent, leading to a leper colony where the help out as doctors, which certainly gives some insight into Guevera's transformation into a revolutionary later. The direction and cinematography is fantastic, with Salles and his cinematographer Eric Gautier capturing the natural beauty of the South American landscape in every shot.

(46) Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore

Directed by Martin Scorsese
Rated PG
1974
112 minutes

*** 1/2

The film that inspired the tv series Alice won Ellen Burstyn an Oscar as a newly widowed woman who moves to Phoenix en route to Monterey with her son in tow, trying to become a singer. Suffice to say she gets caught up along the way. Burstyn is absolutely fantastic in a film that now seems radically uncharacteristic for Scorsese. Drags on a bit long, but the incredible dynamic between Burstyn and kid is well worth watching.

(45) 13 Tzameti

Directed by Géla Babluani
Rated R
2005
86 minutes

****

A day-laborer inadvertently gets mixed up in a deadly game of Russian Roulette. This is an 86 minute thrill ride that literally never lets go of you until the last credits roll. Some people may call it more of an exercise in style than substance, but I loved it.

(44) Man on Wire

Directed by James Marsh
Rated PG-13
2008
90 minutes

*****

The third best film of 2008, behind Slumdog Millionaire and WALL-E. Read my full review here.

(43) Helvetica

Directed by Gary Hustwit
Rated R
2007
80 minutes

***

About as interesting as a film about a FONT could possibly be. Which is not very. Manages to pick up the pace a little in the middle when they start talking about the "Helvetica backlash." Other than that, though, you'd have to be a graphic designer to really not be bored by this film.

(42) Manda Bala

Directed by Jason Kohn
Rated R
2007
85 minutes

*** 1/2

A fascinating look at one of the most crime-ridden countries in the world, Brazil, and how certain people manage to survive there. Most interesting characters are the plastic surgeon who gets the majority of his business from reconstructing lopped off ears, and the mysterious "Mr. M" who sells bulletproof cars. Sometimes goes too far (particularly in the surgery scenes), but still absolutely worth a look.

(41) In the Realms of the Unreal

Directed by Jessica Yu
Not Rated
2004
81 minutes

*** 1/2

A documentary on the life of outsider artist/author Henry Darger, who, throughout his life, wrote a 15,000+ page novel (unofficially considered the longest book ever written) about the "Vivian Girls." The story of Darger and the mystery surrounding his life and unglamorous death is actually more interesting than the film itself, though it was a very clever choice by Yu to have Dakota Fanning do the narration.

(40) Vals Im Bashir

Directed by Ari Folman
Rated R
2008
90 minutes

****

Ari Folman's Waltz with Bashir is a documentary, but you would never guess by watching it. It's shot in fantastic animation, and really plays more like a war/history film (about the director's efforts to remember his part in the events leading up to and including the Sabra and Shatila massacre) that grabs you by it's enchanting visuals and then hooks you completely with it's unbelivable story.

(39) Ghost Town

(38) Moartea domnului Lăzărescu

Directed by Cristi Puiu
Rated R
2005
153 minutes

**** 1/2

Much like the films of the Dardenne brothers, 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days or United 93, The Death of Mr. Lazarescu, about an old man being pushed carelessly from hospital to hospital on a rainy Romanian night, doesn't create drama. It simply lets it's story unfold, and if drama should happen to come about, then it captures it. Otherwise, this is a brilliantly frank story of the problems with Romania's health-care system, and the cruelness some of its doctors can exhibit under stress.

(37) Ne le dis à personne

Directed by Guillaume Canet
Rated R
2006
125 minutes

**** 1/2

A modern French thriller that harkens back to the days of "don't let anyone in the theater after the first five minutes of the film" filmmaking, there are so many twists in this film I wouldn't dare ruin any of them for you. Add to that a brilliant performance by a man I hope will soon become commonplace (Francois Cluzet) and an assortment of characters you'd probably expect more in an American thriller than a French one, and you have proof that France is capable of making a lot more than just arthouse features.

(36) Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room

Directed by Alex Gibney
Rated R
2005
109 minutes

**** 1/2

Anyone who was maybe too young to get the enormity of the Enron scandal should check out this film. I had always been under the impression that the scandal was caused by just two or three main guys, but when you realize the amount of people who were doing things that were, at the very least unethical, it's really a shock. Gibney adds his own personal touches that have now become commonplace in his film (clever chapter titles, pop songs, "salty" language) that makes this rise above the standard PBS documentary.

(35) The Order of Myths

Directed by Margaret Brown
Not Rated
2008
79 minutes

****

A fascinating look into Mobile, Alabama's Mardi Gras celebration, the last segregated event of its kind left in the United States. Brown never takes sides, and actually presents valid points for both integrating and keeping it the way it is. It's up to you to decide what's best.

(34) Il y a longtemps que je t'aime

Directed by Philippe Claudel
Rated PG-13
2008
115 minutes

****

Juliette (Kristin Scott Thomas) is released from prison after a fifteen year sentence for killing her son. She moves in with her sister (played beautifully by Elsa Zylberstein) and they attempt to rebuild their relationship as Juliette tries to rebuild her life, a process made difficult by the stigma of her past. Scott Thomas and Zylberstein both give Oscar caliber performances in a film that never attempts to make the story of Juliet's past the focal point, but instead focuses on the present.

(33) Peur(s) du noir

Directed by Blutch, Charles Burns, Marie Caillou, Lorenzo Mattotti, Richard McGuire, and Pierre di Sciullo
Not Rated
2008
79 minutes

****

If I was reading the scripts for these four/five short French horror films, none of them would elicit much fear like, say, a Stephen King story would. However, paired with the animation and artwork of some of today's most gifted graphic artists, this was the most disturbing film I saw of 2008. Recommended for both horror buffs and cinephiles.

(32) L'Argent

Directed by Robert Bresson
Not Rated
1983
80 minutes

****

I'm not even going to begin to pretend that I understood the majority of this film. The characters motivations were, for the most part, a complete mystery to me. So for now i'm going to stick it with a four-star review (I know I liked it that much) and attempt to watch it at least once more at a later date. I will say, however, that if you are someone who has ever said even once that movies are "entertainment, not art," then stay THE HELL away from this film. You will despise it.

(31) Paper Moon

Directed by Peter Bogdanovich
Rated PG
1973
102 minutes

*****

Peter Bogdanovich's Depression-era story of a con man who begins an unlikely partnership with a fast-talking 9-year old girl on a trip to Missouri was one of those rare occasions where both brilliant filmmaking and a crowd pleasing story came together to form one of the best comedies of the 1970s. Tatum O'Neal is absolutely perfect as Addie, and her Oscar was well-deserved. Her father, Ryan O'Neal, and Madeline Kahn are both good as well.

(30) How to Lose Friends & Alienate People

Directed by Robert B. Weide
Rated R
2008
110 minutes

**

For a movie that seems to preach the message "be different, don't subscribe to the formula of society," it ends up being one of the most formulaic films i've ever seen. Pegg proves once again he can be a good leading man, and I liked all the film references, but honestly, this is nothing new under the sun.

(29) The Rainmaker

Directed by Francis Ford Coppola
Rated PG-13
1997
135 minutes

****

Coppola's adaptation of a Grisham novel about an idealistic young lawyer who leaves his seedy first law firm and starts a new one with his partner (Danny Devito) to try and sue an insurance company that refused to pay out a Leukemia claim. Everyone is cast perfectly here, particularly Jon Voight as the ruthless defense lawyer and Mickey Rourke as Damon's first boss. Very formulaic, and the entire storyline with Claire Danes' character seemed unnecessary (and incomplete, at that; I would bet the relationship is much more developed in the novel), but I certainly found myself wrapped up in this when the verdict came in.

(28) Persepolis

Directed by Marjane Satrapi and Vincent Paronnaud
Rated PG-13
2007
96 minutes

****

Satrapi's incredible story of growing up in Tehran during the Islamic Revolution really looks incredible in the black and white animation. Don't listen to the other reviews though; there's very little comedy to be found in this film.

(27) The Fall

Directed by Tarsem Singh
Rated R
2006
117 minutes

*** 1/2

Yes folks, I finally got around to watching what i've heard called "the most beautifully shot film ever made." And I don't believe you can argue with that statement. It is absolutely gorgeous, and what Blu-Ray was made for. And the performance of Catinca Untaru (who, from what I understand, believed Pace was actually a parapalegic during shooting) is nothing short of incredible. But the story left me oddly unmoved. I'll certainly recommend seeing it for the beautiful look though.

(26) Youth Without Youth

Directed by Francis Ford Coppola
Rated R
2007
121 minutes

**

I respect Francis Ford Coppola immensely as a director, and I will almost certainly see any film that he directs, no matter how ridiculous it sounds. However, after viewing this mess of a film, I certainly won't expect brilliance anymore. If someone would care to explain to me ANYTHING that happens in this, I would greatly appreciate it. I am someone who loves a movie that leaves you thinking, but this is just ridiculous.

(25) Nóż w wodzie

Directed by Roman Polanski
Not Rated
1962
94 minutes

*****

Roman Polanski's debut film is a master's class on cinematography all by itself. I found myself continually marveling at the difficulty and complexity of some of the shots he manages to capture. The story feels like it was written more as a necessity than to engage an audience, but I was still fascinated the entire time. A masterpiece.

(24) Dinner at Eight

Directed by George Cukor
Not Rated
1933
113 minutes

*** 1/2

Haven't been as surprised by the way a film went based on my expectations since I saw The Break-Up. Marketed as a screwball comedy, this is actually a relatively serious drama about the effects of the Great Depression even on the highest members of society. Marie Dressler is just fantastic.

(23) Tropic Thunder

Directed by Ben Stiller
Rated R
2008

*** 1/2

Ben Stiller's epic "war" comedy actually works best in it's smaller moments. Jay Baruchel discussing the HD-DVD/BluRay war to RDJ, or RDJ explaining to Stiller why (if you want to win an Oscar) you NEVER go full retard. Probably goes on too long, and the action scenes are big but pretty boring, but still a solid effort from Stiller and the gang.

(22) Le Couple témoin

Directed by William Klein
Not Rated
1977
101 minutes

**** 1/2

Of the three "Delirious Fictions of William Klein," The Model Couple is the film where he finally got everything right. Simultaneously satirizing both American consumerism (in a French-language film, no less) and the power of television to create celebrity (scarily prescient, no?), Klein created a near masterpiece that follows a couple who wins a contest to live as "science experiments" for six months as the most perfect definition of an average Parisian couple. With the barrage of reality shows we face today, the film may actually be more relevant now than it was then.

(21) The Godfather Part III

Directed by Francis Ford Coppola
Rated R
1990
170 minutes

**

For some reason, even though i'd never considered it to be close to the brilliance of the first two films, whenever I would hear people talking about how bad it was, I would try to point out that while it may be vastly inferior to the first two films, it was still good. However, after a recent viewing, i've come to the realization that it's just, well, not. The problems with the film are numerous, from the uninteresting plot (where'd the Mafia go?) to the completely out of place score (Nina Rota, we miss you) to the horribly miscast Sofia Coppola as Michael's daughter Mary (I still love the films you make, Sofia!). It really was a film that, plain and simple, didn't need to and shouldn't have been made.

(20) Mr. Freedom

Directed by William Klein
Not Rated
1969
95 minutes

***

William Klein's 1969 "Americanism" satire Mr. Freedom could've been a lot better than it was. Instead of wittily satirizing the big guns lovin', country music listenin', every other race hatin' "real America" (as Sarah Palin would put it), the film is just too obvious with it's satire. If it had been made today, I honestly think people would lump it in with the drudge that Friedberg and Seltzer put out (though God knows it's nowhere near that bad). Still, worth watching if you're a liberal, as it is still William Klein, and the satire does still hit sometimes (particularly in the "Mr. Freeddom"(sic) song).

(19) Qui êtes-vous, Polly Maggoo?

Directed by William Klein
Not Rated
1966
102 minutes

****

1960s photographer/filmmaker William Klein's brilliant satire of the world of fashion and everything that comes with it doesn't always work, it certainly doesn't always make sense, and it goes on about 20 minutes too long, but it is still one crazy headtrip and an experience I hope everyone gets to have once.

(18) Clerks.

Directed by Kevin Smith
Rated R
1994
92 minutes

****

Kevin Smith's debut film is, plain and simple, an ultra low budget marvel. The seemingly normal day in the lives of two convenience store clerks is peppered with Smith's trademark great writing, with plenty of gross-out humor to satisfy the Adam Sandler fan in us all (who were born after 1980). Though the low budget has taken its toll on the film over the years, and he actually would outdo this with Clerks II 12 years later, it's great to go back and look at the first film of a man who was one of independent films in the 1990s true pioneers.

(17) The Godfather Part II

Directed by Francis Ford Coppola
Rated R
1974
200 minutes

*****

How do you follow up one of the greatest American films ever made? If you're Francis Ford Coppola, you follow it with another of the greatest American films ever made. Actually better than the original, The Godfather Part II continues the tale of the Corleone family, mainly examining the arrival to and rise in America of Vito Corleone, juxtaposed with the rise of Michael Corleone from the initially resistant college boy/war hero to the leader of the Corleone family. Brilliant acting, writing, music, cinematography and direction all come together to form easily the greatest sequel ever made.

(16) The Godfather

Directed by Francis Ford Coppola
Rated R
1972
175 minutes

*****

Honestly, if you need a review of The Godfather to know whether you should watch it or not, we've got problems. Because that means you haven't seen it yet. And if you haven't seen The Godfather, there's not a lot I can do for you.

(15) You've Got Mail

Directed by Nora Ephron
Rated PG-13
1998
119 minutes

****

A remake of The Shop Around the Corner for the computer age, the film works fantastically for two reasons; the incredible chemistry between its two stars, and the strength of the fantastic supporting cast: Steve Zahn, Greg Kinnear, Parker Posey, Dave Chappelle, Jean Stapleton, Dabney Coleman are all fantastic, and manage to keep any scene where Joe (Tom Hanks) or Kathleen (Meg Ryan) aren't the main focus very entertaining. A surprisingly sharp script by the director (and her sister) rounds out one of the most entertaining romantic comedies of the 90s.

(14) The Shop Around the Corner

Directed by Ernst Lubitsch
Not Rated
1940
99 minutes

*** 1/2

Fantastic little romantic comedy about two co-workers, with an intense dislike for each other, who don't realize they are pen pals. A little more serious at times than most rom-com's were at that time, but the script is razor sharp and very fast. Though I will admit I enjoy the 1998 remake more.

(13) The Taking of Pelham One Two Three

Directed by Joseph Sargent
Rated R
1974
104 minutes

*** 1/2

A fantastic 70s heist flick, anchored by Shaw and Matthau's terrific performances. Some of the characters (particularly the two "other" gunmen) feel a little one-dimensional, and the ending isn't quite as satisfying as I was hoping it would be. Overall, however, it balances the thrills and comedy quite well, and I was certainly interested the entire time.

(12) High School Musical 3: Senior Year

Directed by Kenny Ortega
Rated G
2008
112 minutes

***

Lost half a point for the needless introduction of a few new characters, but gained half a point back for the fantastic dance sequences the feature film budget allowed for. Everything else is more or less the same.

(11) High School Musical 2

Directed by Kenny Ortega
Rated G
2007
111 minutes

***

Basically, you can read my review of the first one to know what I think about this. Gets slightly higher marks for actually developing a couple characters past their cardboard cutout personalities from the first film. Songs are better, too.

(10) High School Musical

Directed by Kenny Ortega
Rated G
2006
94 minutes

** 1/2

I decided I had no right to be ripping on this series without having seen them first. So now that I have, what's the verdict? Honestly, they're not THAT bad. The actors are all perfectly capable (at least the six stars are), the choreography is very good, and the songs are catchy as balls. Still, the story is about as generic as it can get, beating it's message into your head as hard as it can, and everyone not in the main cast is average at best. Still, it's not nearly as bad as I thought it'd be.

(9) Brick

Directed by Rian Johnson
Rated PG-13
2005
109 minutes

*****

Very close to making into my desert island, all-time top 10, Brick is one of the most wildly imaginative, original, engaging films to come out in the past twenty years. A film noir set in a modern day high school is an idea that could've gone terribly wrong, but fortunately, it went so, so right.

(8) Accepted

Directed by Steve Pink
Rated PG-13
2006
92 minutes

***

An interesting amalgam of Animal House and Old School that manages to work more than it doesn't, due in large part to the strengths of Justin Long and Jonah Hill. Don't think to hard about the reality, though, or you'll hurt your head.

(7) Out Cold

Directed by The Malloy Brothers
Rated PG-13
2001
89 minutes

** 1/2

No, there's really nothing of substance here. Most of the jokes are stupid, and the directors never seem sure if they want to stick with the Casablanca references or not. Still, Galifianakis and Koechner are hilarious in every scene they're in. If you like STUPID comedies (and those caps are absolutely necessary), i'm sure you'll like this one.

(6) The Terminal

Directed by Steven Spielberg
Rated PG-13
2004
128 minutes

*** 1/2

Tom Hanks shines in Spielberg's Capra-esque comedy as a man who, due to a military coup in his country, can neither go home nor enter the United States, and thus ends up living in an airport terminal for several months. Catherine Zeta-Jones as the "love interest" seems unnecessary, and the reason Viktor is coming to the United States never really packs the emotional wallop that it should, but otherwise this is a very pleasant way to spend two hours.

(5) Jaws

Directed by Steven Spielberg
Rated PG
1975
124 minutes

**** 1/2

Not much to say about one of the greatest thrillers ever made. The king of the blockbuster gets just about everything right in his first big hit. Scheider, Dreyfuss and especially Shaw are all fantastic. The shark has lost some of it's jaw-dropping terror over the years, but it still scares the crap out of you whenever it comes out of the water (the scene with Hooper in the shark cage is particularly terrifying). Only loses points in the few parts where it drags a bit.

(4) Cloverfield

Directed by Matt Reeves
Rated PG-13
2008
84 minutes

****

Read my review of Cloverfield here.

(3) Serenity

Directed by Joss Whedon
Rated PG-13
2005
119 minutes

**** 1/2

Taking the best elements of Star Wars and combining them with a classic Hollywood western, in my opinion, sounds like a possible disaster. However, Joss Whedon's Serenity (based on his brilliant-but-canceled 2002 Fox series Firefly) ends up being one of the best space adventures since the holy trilogy.

(2) Doubt

Directed by John Patrick Shanley
Rated PG-13
2008
104 minutes

*** 1/2

John Patrick Shanley's Doubt, about a nun at a Catholic school in 1960s Brooklyn who believes (without any proof) that her head priest may have molested a 12 year old boy, is a film that didn't need to be made. It was extremely popular on Broadway, winning several Tonys, and certainly doesn't have much to it to suggest it needed to be made into a film. Alas, it was, and I must say for the most part, it was a good idea. The cast is uniformly good, with Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Amy Adams all turning in performances that will almost certainly land them Oscar nominations. However, the best performance in the film comes from Viola Davis as the mother of the possibly molested boy. Despite appearing in the film for no more than 15 minutes, every second she was on screen I found it impossible to tear my eyes away. Through her performance, I learned more about this mother than I did in 104 minutes of Meryl Streep's nasty, unforgiving Sister Aloysius. I've always been someone who disliked giving an Oscar to someone who really only appears in one scene, i'm willing to make an exception here. As you would expect from a Tony winning play, the writing is fantastic. I haven't seen the play, so I can't tell how much is different, but the majority of the film feels like it could play on a stage, so it must be pretty close. John Patrick Shanley really is a fantastic playwright, and I hope to see more films written by him in the future. His direction, however, is another story. In the hands of someone more accomplished, I feel this could have been one of the best films of the year. However, Shanley always seems concerned that not enough is going on, so he gives us these weird, Hal Hartley-esque tilted shots every few minutes that just disrupt the flow of the story. He also enjoyed tossing in acts of God after important speeches a bit too much (i.e. a character says something "wrong" and a light goes out, a tree branch breaks, etc.). It seems he was to worried that his material wasn't enough for a film, which it was, and he ends up showing his hand as a first-time director. Doubt is one of those films you recommend more for its performances and writing than for the film itself. The story isn't particularly new or interesting, and you more or less know where its going the entire way. And though John Patrick Shanley's shaky (at best) directing skills often get in the way of the film, I can recommend it for the performances of the main cast alone.

(1) Scener ur ett äktenskap

Directed by Ingmar Bergman
Not Rated
1973
295 minutes

*****

Having never been married I can't say for sure, but Ingmar Bergman's landmark 1973 film/mini-series certainly feels like one of the most realistic studies of the dissolution of a seemingly perfect marriage ever put on film. Liv Ullmann and Erland Josephson are spectacular as the couple. A masterpiece.