Wednesday, November 30, 2011

The Natural (1984)


Roy Hobbs (Robert Redford) has a magical bat named "Wonderboy" and is really really really good at playing baseball.

*      *      *

I hate sports. I especially hate baseball. It's so slow. I mean at least with soccer they're constantly moving ya know? Anyway...Even though I hate baseball with a passion, I cannot help but love The Natural. It's one of those movies that sucks you in when you come across it while flipping channels. Yes it's formulaic and sure it traffics in archetypes, but so what? So what if everyone who's ever gone to film-school knows these story beats? If making a movie this good was as simple as connecting some dots, everyone would be doing it. Only the real naturals are capable of knocking one out of the park.

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Home Alone (1990)




Home Alone is a classic for anyone of a certain age...my age, actually. We grew up with it. The first bad word I ever used was "ass" because I heard it in this movie. And now, as an adult, it seems I've committed the price of the pizza in the beginning of the film to memory. Kinda sad, no?

The plot, for those of you who don't know, centers around eight year-old Kevin McCallister (Macauley Culkin) who is accidentally left home alone when his family flies to Paris for their Christmas vacation. Two robbers (Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern) are determined to break into his house whether or not he's home, and he fights back (and how!).

This movie is great because of the unbelievably creative ways Kevin finds to fool and hurt the burglars. I have summarized it in this song.

"On the twelfth day of Christmas Kevin McCallister gave to them...
12 ornaments a-crunching
11 matchbox cars a-sliding
10 feathers a-flying
9 icy steps a-slipping
8 firecrackers a-popping
7 feet of rope a-swinging
6 mannequins a-dancing
5 golden teeth! (except really just one, oops)
4 black eyes
3 (rd) degree burns
2 paint cans
and a tarantula crawling on your faaaace!"

Thank you.

Also a big shout out to the awesome score! John Williams rocks my world, and I especially like the "Somewhere In My Memory" song which gives this movie real heart. This movie IS Christmas to me (among many others, but we'll get to those, haha). Might be worth a revisit this holiday season!

Monday, November 28, 2011

Die Hard (1988)


New York cop John McClane (Bruce Willis) travels to Los Angeles to reconcile with his estranged wife (Bonnie Bedelia) and finds himself in the middle of an international hostage situation.

*      *      *

Remember when John McClane was just a guy? You know, back before he could maneuver a careening car into taking out a helicopter? I miss those days. I mean yeah I enjoyed Live Free Or Die Hard as an action film, but that sure as shit wasn't John McClane crawling around on top of a jet fighter. Or maybe it is. Maybe after three run-ins with terrorist masterminds God automatically upgrades you to Übermensch! Who knows? What I do know is that the original film still holds up as a true masterpiece of action cinema. And it's also one heck of a Christmas movie too! YIPPEE KI-YAY MOTHERFUCKER!

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Friday, November 25, 2011

Miracle on 34th Street (1947)


Disclaimer: I wrote this a few years ago on my other blog, but I'm sharing it here because it's a holiday weekend and I don't want to do any real writing, haha!

This is probably my favorite and most beloved Christmas movie from my childhood. If you've seen it, I think you'll agree that this movie is pretty special.

When the Macy's Santa gets good and soused before the big Thanksgiving Day Parade, Mrs. Walker (Maureen O'Hara), the no-nonsense chick in charge, grabs the next best thing: Santa Claus himself! Or so he claims...

The new Santa is a huge hit, and he's offered a spot as the in-store Santa during the holidays. But when his mental health is questioned, he has to prove to everyone, Mr. Macy, the psycho shrink, Mrs. Walker and her daughter Susan and everyone else, that he really is Santa Claus and that it's important to believe in other people.

Whoever was in charge of casting this film got it spot-on...Edmund Gwenn IS Kris Kringle. I can't imagine a more perfect Santa! He looks the part, he's sweet, he's just absolutely perfect! A young Natalie Wood plays Mrs. Walker's skeptical daughter Susan, who never believes in fairy tales or Santa Claus or fantasies of any kind. John Payne plays Fred Gailey, Mrs. Walker's neighbor and friend, who ends up being Kris Kringle's lawyer and hero in trying to legally prove that Kris Kringle is the one and ONLY Santa Claus!

Miracle on 34th Street is a very special movie with a lot of special moments...Kris Kringle picking bubblegum out of his beard, Kringle singing in Dutch with a little girl who can't speak English, the pile of letters to Santa on the judge's desk, little Susan finding her dream house...oh, and keep an eye out for Thelma Ritter in a small role as a cranky mom trying to do some Christmas shopping!

Happy Holidays! They're upon us!

Thursday, November 24, 2011

The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across The 8th Dimension (1984)



It's up to rockstar/surgeon/test-pilot Buckaroo Banzai (Peter Weller) to save the earth from inter-dimensional aliens and a mad scientist (John Lithgow).

*      *      *

Buckaroo Banzai is the type of film you use to, "audition" a new friend. If they don't, "get it" then they are not worth associating with. This film is flat-out AWESOME! It has everything one could want in a movie: action, comedy, music, romance, aliens and watermelons. A lot of thought was put into this film and the universe it takes place in is so fleshed out that you could live in it. The DVD even comes with a caption track that adds to the story-line and character development. It's truly an obsessive's wet dream!





Post Script:
I have realized that there are probably about 10 on this planet who will respond to the, "selling points" I put forth in this review. Of those 10, I would say probably 9 have already seen this film. To the rest of the world I guess I'll say: It's kind-of/sort-of like The Fifth Element...but set in New Jersey.

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

The Graduate (1967)




What can you say about The Graduate? Craig suggested I write about this film after we rewatched it with a friend on Monday, and I'll admit I got nervous. The Graduate is such an important movie, and I didn't want to cheapen it with my rambling about how great it is

I remember the first time I saw it in my film history class. It kinda blew my mind. And the guy I sat next to in class brought me a CD of the soundtrack and told me I was "pretty in a refreshing way" but that's another story, haha. I remember how funny it was, but it also left me feeling melancholy...it perfectly captures that moment when you realize that life is really starting now and you have to make something of yourself or drift aimlessly.

Let's backtrack to the plot. Recent college graduate Benjamin Braddock (Dustin Hoffman), has returned home and unsure about what to do next. He begins an affair with Mrs. Robinson (Anne Bancroft, who's absolutely phenomenal), a friend of his parents, and eventually falls in love with her daughter Elaine (Katharine Ross). The movie definitely has laughs, but it's also very sad. The moment that stays with me most is when Mrs. Robinson, when asked what she majored in, sadly replies "Art," after previous claiming to know nothing about art. How much of our identities are we giving up to "grow up"? Are we going to like who we are at the end of our lives?

This film was a game-changer. The world of cinema was evolving, and by the late 60s and the end of the Hays Code, things were ready to get yanked into new territory. Watching The Graduate is an exciting and thought-provoking experience, and one that I highly recommend.

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Mystery Train (1989)


A trio of stories following various eccentric characters around Memphis Tennessee, culminating in one particularly wild night.

*      *      *
Often times artists are not the best at defining/explaining their own work. That's what we critics are for. But in the case of Jim Jarmusch, everything I have to say is redundant in light of the following statement:
Nothing is original. Steal from anywhere that resonates with inspiration or fuels your imagination. Devour old films, new films, music, books, paintings, photographs, poems, dreams, random conversations, architecture, bridges, street signs, trees, clouds, bodies of water, light and shadows. Select only things to steal from that speak directly to your soul. If you do this, your work (and theft) will be authentic. Authenticity is invaluable; originality is nonexistent. And don’t bother concealing your thievery—celebrate it if you feel like it. In any case, always remember what Jean-Luc Godard said: “It’s not where you take things from—it’s where you take them to.” Jim Jarmusch  (2004) 

Monday, November 21, 2011

Double Bill: il Duce

The Conformist and Salo or: The 120 Days of Sodom

Friday, November 18, 2011

The Darjeeling Limited (2007)


After the death of their father, three brothers (Owen Wilson, Adiren Brody, Jason Schwartzman) take a train trip through India in hopes of forcing some sort of spiritual awakening. They end up bickering - a lot.


*      *      *

Wes Anderson's characters are always struggling to project glorified images of themselves. They are impeccably groomed and armor themselves in tailored garments to mask the aching in their souls. The sets and camera angles come to serve as a perfect extension of this immaculate veneer. Yet no facade is perfect. Gradually over the course of the film, we watch that mask get slowly chipped away. Bruises are exposed, clothes get torn and cameras start to wobble. No matter how hard you try to keep something bottled up inside, it's going to get out...and will probably be accompanied by a Kinks song.

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Better Off Dead... (1985)



Lane Meyer (John Cusack) has just been dumped, and he's feeling pretty low, even suicidal. His family is super strange, he's being chased by a paper boy, two Asian men keep trying to get him to race, he has the worst job ever, his best friend (Curtis Armstrong) tries to snort and inhale everything, and he's trying to challenge his high school's ski champ to a run down a treacherous hill. Luckily the cute French exchange student across the street (Diane Franklin) is ready to take his mind off his troubles.

If Better Off Dead sounds ridiculous, that's because it is. But I absolutely love it. It's hilarious and completely absurd. There's Jell-O that crawls off a plate by itself, a singing hamburger (no really), and a cheerleader who dates the entire basketball team. And it has a performance by Elizabeth Daily (AKA Dottie from Pee Wee's Big Adventure, AKA Tommy Pickles) at a school dance. It's so 80s and totally nuts, and I can't get enough of it!

I read somewhere that John Cusack isn't thrilled with this film, and to that I say "Boooo!" It's a super fun and silly movie that all fans of such silliness should see. Did that sentence make sense? Oh well. Go see this movie, and don't forget my TWO DOLLARS!!

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

8 1/2 (1963)



Guido Anselmi (Marcello Mastroianni) is knee-deep in pre-production on his latest films, the only problem is that he has no clue what it's going to be about.

*      *      *

Though they might claim otherwise, all creative people crave success. If for no other reason than the fact that being successful means you get to continue creating. But as we all know, there is also a dark side to success. It creates anticipation and expectation. It attracts hangers-on and provides plentiful distractions that keep you from creating. Often, success can even cause you to lose touch with the very thing which made you want to create in the first place. Throw in some serious Catholic guilt and a king-sized helping of women troubles, and you have Federico Fellini's mental state after the release of La Dolce Vita. Yet rather than allowing it all to break him,  Fellini instead fashioned this "bella confusione" into one of the greatest films ever made. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger.

Ghost World (2001)



After graduating high school, the offbeat Enid (Thora Birch) finds herself adrift, unsure of her future, losing touch with her best friend Rebecca (Scarlett Johansson), and befriending a record-collecting outcast named Seymour (Steve Buscemi). The film is based on the graphic novel by Daniel Clowes.

I first saw Ghost World when I was about to graduate high school, and I greatly identified with Enid's struggle to figure herself out. But! Lest I make this movie seem like a big downer, it actually has a lot of really funny moments...the crazy guy at the local convenience store twirling his nunchucks in the parking lot, the art teacher's creepy video, the "Satanists" that Enid and Rebecca follow around town, the "authentic blues" band screaming into their microphones. And the soundtrack is amazing...early jazz and blues, and a fun Bollywood tune that makes you want to dance with Enid in the film's opening.

Be prepared to laugh and cry...well, maybe not cry, maybe just sigh in a melancholy sort of way. Either way, a film this original with such strong performances will stick in your brain for quite a while. Give it a go and maybe afterwards you can rent "The Flower That Drank The Moon"...I hear it's glorious. ;)

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)





Last week when I posted the trailer for the upcoming PBS documentary about Woody Allen, I came to the realization that I had yet to blog about any of his films. I have now decided to rectify this grave oversight.

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Vicky (Rebecca Hall) and Cristina (Scarlett Johansson) go to Barcelona for the summer where they meet an artist (Javier Bardem) and his estranged wife (Penelope Cruz) who change their lives forever.

*      *      *

A lot of noise has been made in the press over the past few years about the collaboration between Woody Allen and Scarlett Johansson. Countless journalists have made comparisons to Woody’s collaborations with Diane Keaton. Though Johansson isn't half the actor Keaton is, the comparison is somewhat apt. To understand this we'll have to hop into the DeLorean and head all the way back to Annie Hall in 1977...

When she first meets Alvy, Annie is very inhibited and self-conscious. She does not feel secure with herself as a singer/photographer. She sees Alvy as intellectually superior to her. As the film progresses this gradually changes. She becomes more confident. By the end of their relationship, she has no problem expressing her thoughts and feelings. She is also able to embrace her own talent. The dissolution of their relationship is inevitable. Annie is a new person and no longer needs Alvy.

Now let's jump forwards to 2008...

In Vicky Cristina Barcelona Johansson plays a girl who goes to Spain to try and 'find herself'. Through a relationship with two chaotic artists, she is able to discover her own voice. At the end of the film she realizes that she no longer needs the artists and leaves to strike out on her own.

Aside from Manhattan Murder Mystery in the early 90s, Woody and Keaton have not worked together in nearly three decades. Like Annie and Alvy they needed each other for a while, but after a point they had to part ways. They no longer need each other creatively. Judging by Woody and Scarlett's most recent collaboration, history seems set to repeat itself.

Double Bill: Arty Action

Point Blank and Drive

Friday, November 11, 2011

Happy Birthday, Craig!



Happy Birthday to fellow Cinema Nerd Craig Duffy! Although he may not have written his Citizen Kane yet, he makes this she-nerd's heart go pitter-patter and he's tops in my book!

So, how to celebrate Craig Duffy style?

♥ Eat apple pie.
♥ Watch Pulp Fiction (his favorite film)
♥ Take lots of pictures! Mr. Duffy is a total shutterbug.
♥ Kiss your hot wife! Cold-germs be damned!

I'm throwing him a little soiree tonight, so that's why there's no proper review. I'm busy inflating silver balloons, Warhol-style. Woo!

I love you, honeylamb!

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Blue Velvet (1986)


Jeffrey Beaumont (Kyle MacLachlan) returns from school to visit his father who is gravely ill. On his way to the hospital he finds a human ear which leads him to the dark world of nightclub singer (Isabella Rossellini) and her sadistic tormentor (Dennis Hopper).

*      *      *

When David Lynch was an art student in the mid/late 60s he had an idea to make a painting that moved. This  resulted in the mixed-media piece Six Men Getting Sick (Six Times). Apparently he was pleased with the result, because nearly 50 years later he is still cranking out grotesquely mesmerizing motion-paintings. Paintings with unforgettable images and vivid colors. Paintings that are able to rumble and dance to a meticulously designed soundtrack. Paintings simultaneously repugnant and beautiful. And lastly, paintings that move while also being - moving. Not bad for an Eagle Scout from Montana.

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

The Man Who Changed The Movies


My love of Roger Corman has been well documented. So it should go without saying that I am over the moon excited for this upcoming documentary Corman's World: Exploits of a Hollywood Rebel! And guess what?There's even going to be a screening of it tomorrow at LACMA!

Unfortunately I am going to have to miss it due to work. But luckily for you, the fine folks over at Badass Digest are giving away 2 pairs of tickets! So I highly recommend you get your asses in gear and try to win those babies. I on the other hand will have to content myself with watching this trailer on an endless loop...

Cinema Love on the Interwebs!

I have a nasty head cold, and I'm not really feeling up to reviewing a movie. So! I thought I'd link to some of my favorite cinematic time-wasters.




The "How It Should Have Ended" series on Youtube


"The Golden Age of Video" by Ricardo Autobahn


I love a good re-edited trailer!


The famous Marx Bros mirror scene. So amazing!


My Man Godfrey outtakes!


100 Years at the Movies...I've posted this before, but it's still so good!


Sporcle Addiction! Craig and I love to do the movie quizzes on this site...here are a few to get you started.

AFI Top 100 Films (2007 list) - http://www.sporcle.com/games/g/afitop100
Disney Animated Films - http://www.sporcle.com/games/g/disneyanimatedmovies
Movie Posters - http://www.sporcle.com/games/g/movieposters
Lesser Known Movie Quotes - http://www.sporcle.com/games/burningriver/obscurequotes
Movies by Showdown - http://www.sporcle.com/games/JESUPO/movies-by-great-showdowns-pics

OK, my head's going to blow up now. Blahhh. I'll have something better on Friday, I promise!

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Apocalypse Now (1979)


Captain Willard (Martin Sheen) is sent up river to find and kill Colonel Kurtz (Marlon Brando) while the Vietnam War rages on around them.

*      *      *

The common consensus on Apocalypse Now is that the reason the film is so effective, is because the insanity of the subject matter was mirrored in the actual production of the film. All you have to do is check out the amazing documentary Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse and you will find ample basis for this  opinion. And while it's fun to gossip about who said what and who was or wasn't high, the often glossed over fact is that EVERYONE involved in this film was an artist of the highest order: Francis Ford Coppola, Marlon Brando, Vittorio Storaro, Walter Murch, the list goes on. I don't care how much dope you smoke, film students with video cameras could not have produced a work this brilliant. Only this elite squadron of creative minds could have pulled such beauty from such chaos. I could honestly watch this movie all day on a loop.

Monday, November 7, 2011

Double Bill: L.A. Blue

Heat and Collateral 

Master Woody


Though we haven't seen fit to publish a list like Andrew Sarris, Cinema Nerds definitely has a pantheon of directors who we think are absolutely the bee's knees. One such auteur is Woody Allen.

Needless to say, we here at Nerd HQ are over the moon about the fact that later this month Woody will be the subject of a 3+ hour American Masters documentary on PBS!

Watch Woody Allen: A Documentary on PBS. See more from American Masters.

Part 1 will air November 20th and Part 2 on the 21st, both at 9pm. Not to be missed!

Behind the Burly Q (2010)



Behind the Burly Q is an interesting documentary about the "good ol' days" of classic burlesque. The documentary features lots of veteran strippers (including Tempest Storm!) sharing stories about their introduction to burlesque, their personal lives, and crazy goings-on backstage! Also interviewed is Alan Alda, whose father was a comedian in burlesque, and Lou Costello's daughter Chris (who shares about Abbott and Costello's beginnings in burlesque). They talk about the theatres, the patrons, the scandals, the novelty acts, the big name stars, and the tragedies.

But can we talk about the girls? Oh my god. They're all absolutely gorgeous. The documentary contains lots and lots of beautiful photos of the girls and videos of some of their performances. Some of them reminisce about how beautiful they were...there's even video footage of legendary burlesque icon Lili St. Cyr talking about her fear of losing her looks and growing old.

This film is streamable on Netflix, so if you're a fan of pasties and feathers and tassels and all that good stuff, I suggest you give it a watch!



Friday, November 4, 2011

V For Vendetta (2006)


A young woman (Natalie Portman) finds herself allied with a terrorist known only as V (Hugo Weaving) who is attempting to bring down a brutal totalitarian government.

*      *      *

Not since Fight Club had a film this venomous come out of a major Hollywood studio. From the outside it looks like any other summer action film, but underneath beats a politically subversive heart. When "Street Fighting Man" kicks in over the end credits, there is not a shadow of a doubt: This film is was meant as a call to arms! Yet here we are five years later and not much is different.

Art cannot change the world. Listen to "Imagine" as much as you want. The only way to really change things is for YOU to get out there and DO SOMETHING!

Thursday, November 3, 2011

The Wedding Singer (1998)



Robbie Hart (Adam Sandler) is a popular wedding singer who's about to get married to his own lucky lady...until that lady leaves him standing at the altar ("Hey, Linda! You're a bitch!"). Julia Sullivan (Drew Barrymore) is a waitress who befriends the wedding singer, and she's engaged to The Biggest Jerk Ever. I'd imagine that you could figure out the rest. ;)

I love this movie, it's so 80s and cute and fun. I'm sure I'll get rocks thrown at me for saying this, but as fun as Billy Madison and Happy Gilmore are, they're kinda crazy. The Wedding Singer is easily my favorite Adam Sandler movie. He gets to be funny, but he also gets to be sweet, and he and Drew Barrymore have great chemistry together (not so evident in 50 First Dates, sigh). This film also has some memorable supporting characters...Alexis Arquette as a Boy George wannabe (sobbing big fat mascara tears, haha), Steve Buscemi as the drunk best man as one of the weddings, and Ellen Albertini Dow as an adorable old lady who pays Robbie for singing lessons with meatballs.

The Wedding Singer is a date night sort of movie, so if you're in the mood for that, I recommend giving it a watch. See Adam Sandler team up with Billy Idol on a plane! See Sandler sing a bitter and hilarious song about his ex! See Sandler threaten to strangle someone with a microphone cord! And don't take this movie too seriously, it's meant to be fun!

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

A Trip To The Moon (1902)


A group of astronomers decide to take a trip to the moon. Once there they encounter angry creatures called Selenites who attack them. The astronomers must fend off the attack and find their ship if they ever hope to make it back to earth.

*      *      *

OK guys. Here's your chance to get ahead of the curve. At the end of this month, Martin Scorsese is releasing his new film Hugo. Since a good portion of the plot centers around pioneering filmmaker Georges Méliès, now would be the perfect time to familiarize yourself with his work so that you can better appreciate Marty's movie. You can be the cool guy who explains all the references to your friends. We all know that people LOVE that guy.

All kidding aside, I'm really excited for Hugo. Of course I'd be excited for any Scorsese film, but this film in particular. This film has the potential to expose a wide audience to the revolutionary work these early filmmakers were doing. Sure the story is disposable and the shots linger for far too long, but the artistry on display is astonishing. It makes total sense that Méliès was originally a magician, because what he was able to do with such primitive tools, is truly magical.

Part of me thinks Perhaps modern audiences are too cynical to really appreciate this magic, but I think kids are still pure enough to get it. My sincere hope is that Scorsese's film will inspire a whole generation of youngsters to pick up the family video camera (or heck even an iPhone) and start telling stories with images. Something to dream about...

In the meantime, please turn off the "irony" part of your brain and just let the magic take you away! I swear it's only 12 minutes and then you can go back to listening to whatever band I'm not cool enough to know about.



Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Rosemary's Baby (1968)



I know Halloween has come and gone, and I should write something other than a horror film review, but Cinema Nerds actually got a request! Woo! And the request was for none other than one of my favorite horror films, Rosemary's Baby.

Rosemary (Mia Farrow) and Guy Woodhouse (John Cassavetes) are a young couple moving into an old fixer-upper apartment. Guy is a struggling actor and Rosemary desperately wants a baby. They reluctantly befriend the eccentric older couple next door, Minnie and Roman Castevet (Ruth Gordon and Sidney Blackmer). They agree to start trying to conceive, and Rosemary becomes pregnant after a night she doesn't remember, except that she had disturbing nightmares. What should be a happy time in a young woman's life becomes a horrifying experience full of paranoia and terror, and it becomes clear to Rosemary that there is something very wrong about this pregnancy.

This movie FREAKS me out. The idea that almost everyone you know could be involved in a plot against you is truly chilling. The film has so many unforgettable images...a very pregnant Rosemary walking into oncoming traffic, Rosemary's gaunt, almost skeletal face, Minnie Castevet's face through the peephole, Rosemary using Scrabble tiles to figure out the secret behind the book on witchcraft left to her by a friend, Guy Woodhouse pulling away when Rosemary has her feel the baby kicking. Rosemary's Baby proves that sometimes even the quietest moments can be incredibly scary.

Add this one to your to-see list, and don't drink anything with tannis root in it! And don't talk to your neighbors! And...start giving your spouse lie-detector tests! And...and...and...DON'T GET PREGNANT EVER!