Film of the Month: April

For April we'll get back to the normal structure I want these monthly posts to take, with a reasonable amount of honorable mentions and a worst of the month. No reason to waste time; if you are reading this you should know what these film of the month posts are about. On with the fun!

Film of the Month: Source Code (2011)

Directed by Duncan Jones.

Starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Monaghan, and Vera Farmiga.

So far in this blog, I've only written a true review of one movie. That movie is Source Code. It's my favorite film of the year so far and I fully expect it to make my top ten of the year at the least. I really could go on and on again about how much I loved it, but since I actually reviewed it, I'll just link it to you to save us both some time. Don't miss Source Code, folks.

Honorable Mentions:

Bonnie and Clyde (1967)

Directed by Arthur Penn.

Starring Warren Beatty, Faye Dunaway, and Gene Hackman.

Bonnie and Clyde are probably the most famous of all the criminals from the 1930s, and the excitement of that story translates wonderfully to the silver screen. Dunaway and Beatty have... let's call it a unique chemistry between them, and it was exciting for me when the two Genes (Hackman and Wilder) showed up unexpectedly.

Four Lions (2010)

Directed by Christopher Morris.

Starring Rizwan Ahmed, Arsher Ali, Nigel Lindsay, and Kayvan Novak.

A film about a group of Muslim terrorists who want to be suicide bombers could very easily have turned into one of the most offensive movies of all time. In spite of this, Four Lions somehow manages to not only be tasteful, but also hilarious and one of the top ten movies of 2010. Don't think that Lions goes out of its way to be unoffensive, though; I think one of the best parts of the film is that the filmmakers were ballsy enough to actually go for the jokes that they did.

M (1931)

Directed by Fritz Lang.

Starring Peter Lorre, Gustaf Grundgens, and Ellen Widmann.

Today, when people talk about M, they usually bring it up because of its many firsts. It was one of the first movies about a serial killer. It was also the first to use a leitmotif, which in this case was the killer whistling. Mostly because of M, whistling in horror or thriller films has now become synonymous with the bad guy. However, M should also be remembered because it is a great film.

Rabbit Hole (2010)

Directed by John Cameron Mitchell.

Starring Nicole Kidman and Aaron Eckhart.

Rabbit Hole is a hard film to watch. It's about a married couple trying to get over the death of their son. The film comes across as very realistic which only intensifies the over depressing tone. Having said that, Rabbit Hole is still one of the better films of 2010 and well worth a watch if you enjoy those types of movies.

Waltz with Bashir (2008)

Directed by Ari Folman.

Before Waltz with Bashir, I'd never seen an animated documentary before. Hell, I'd never even heard of an animated documentary. This format works perfectly for the type of story Folman is telling, though. It's about the 1982 Lebanese Massacre, and the animation is supposed to work as a type of defense mechanism against the terrible things that happened there. This style is gorgeous to watch and the thematic inspiration behind it lead to one hell of a climax.

Worst of the Month:

Once Upon a Time in Mexico (2003)

Directed by Robert Rodriguez.

Starring Antonio Banderas, Johnny Depp, Salma Hayek, and Mickey Rourke.

Once Upon a Time in Mexico was one of the biggest letdowns movie-wise I've experienced this year. I loved the first two films in this loose trilogy (El Mariachi and Desperado), and I am, for the most part, a big fan of Rodriguez (Planet Terror, Sin City). I couldn't even get through all of Mexico, though. It was idiotic. Every word spoken in the film was a one-liner and the characters made no sense in relation to Desperado. I understand that it was just supposed to be a fun movie, but I don't have fun with a movie unless it's good, too. Sorry.

Other (Good) Films from April:

The Asphalt Jungle (1950)

Choke (2008)

Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (2002)

Dr. No (1962)

Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994)

High Noon (1952)

In the Heat of the Night (1967)

Lawrence of Arabia (1962)

Lenny (1974)

Mars Attacks! (1996)

Midnight Cowboy (1969)

Mission Impossible (1996)

Persona (1967)

The Third Man (1949)

Film of the Month: March

Through mid-May, I'd have to say that March has been the best movie-watching month of the year. There were some duds, but nothing really worthy of being called the worst film of the month. Therefore, I'm foregoing a "worst of the month" for this entry only (tentatively) and instead will detail a couple more of the top tier movies I saw. As a warning, though, if you aren't a fan of animated films or documentaries, you'll find little here to interest you: six of the eight entries fit one of those categories. And remember: honorable mentions are in alphabetical order.

Oh, and if you were wondering, the worst movie I saw this month was Lo (2008). Not great, but not horrible. Now, on with the great ones.

Film of the Month: Rango (2011)

Directed by Gore Verbinski.

Starring Johnny Depp, Abigail Breslin, and Alfred Molina.

I went in to Rango with low expectations. Depp's last few movies have been pretty weak, and basically any animated film not released by Pixar seems to let me down these days. Having said that, Rango completely blew me away. It's the best animated film I've seen since WALL-E. Yes, that includes Fantastic Mr. Fox and Toy Story 3. Very high praise, I know, but hear me out. It's extremely difficult to find a western in modern cinema. On this level, Rango works as well if not better than any recent live-action western. The gunfights are exciting, the characters are rich and colorful, and the music is beautiful. Speaking of beautiful: animation-wise, this may be the best animated film I've ever seen. Rango is gorgeous. The landscapes are wonderfully crafted and the characters are ridiculously detailed. I cannot wait to see this movie on Blu-Ray. On top of those things, Rango is an animated film for adults. Not in a crude South Park type of way (it's rated PG), but in a... children just won't understand what these jokes mean type of way. The entire movie me and the friend that came with me were laughing out loud while all the children around us probably laughed two or three times each. Other than the jokes, Rango is thematically aimed at adults, too. Characters die. Not in an implied way, either: another character walks up to him and states, "He's dead." I'm rambling now, though. Suffice it to say that, as long as you're an adult and as long as you are even remotely interested in animated movies, there are very few out there better than Rango.

Honorable Mentions:

Capturing the Friedmans (2002)

Directed by Andrew Jarecki.

A documentary about the questionable conviction of a father and son for child sexual abuse and the ramifications of that conviction. What could have easily been a one-sided film is eloquently presented as a showcase of both sides of the story with no conclusions drawn. My opinion? They didn't do it.

The Cove (2009)

Directed by Louie Psihoyos.

Speaking of one-sided documentaries! The Cove, about a small town in Japan where many thousands of dolphins are killed for meat every year, paints an extremely black-and-white picture of the situation. And so what if they do? It's one of the most brutal documentaries I've seen and it opened my eyes to something I'd never even thought about.

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (2007)

Directed by Julian Schnabel.

Starring Mathieu Amalric, Emmanuelle Seigner, and Marie-Josee Croze.

So how does a film about a quadriplegic guy who is only able to move his left eye end up being this good? I have absolutely no idea. Actually, that's not true. The flashbacks of Bauby's life before the accident are interesting, as are his interactions with people afterwards. It's an extremely unique film, but one well worth giving a chance.

Inside Job (2010)

Directed by Charles Ferguson.

Inside Job was another film I went into with low expectations. It's about the ongoing financial crisis in America, and that topic has been beaten to death, so how much else can there really be to say? Turns out there's much more than I thought. A very interesting, informative, and well-made documentary.

The Secret of Kells (2009)

Directed by Tomm Moore and Nora Twomey.

Starring Evan McGuire, Christen Mooney, and Brendan Gleeson.

The only negative thing I can say about The Secret of Kells is that I happened to watch it in the same month as Rango so I can't give it as much respect as it deserves. Along with Rango, Kells is one of the most beautiful animated films I've ever seen as well as one of the more original. And, although it's not even my favorite animated film of the month, Kells is one of the best animated films of this millennium.

Stagecoach (1939)

Directed by John Ford.

Starring John Wayne, Claire Trevor, and John Carradine.

Speaking of great westerns! Although I'm not as fluent as I wish I were on very early westerns, Stagecoach is easily the best of those I've seen. It's great to see John Wayne as a young man, and Stagecoach's story is filled with action, shootouts, and even childbirth. It's got something for everyone!

Waking Life (2001)

Directed by Richard Linklater.

Starring Wiley Wiggins.

Waking Life's story is about a guy who realizes that he is dreaming and then finds out that he can't wake himself up. But really, the story is the least important part of this film. One of the most philosophical films I've ever seen, Waking Life will challenge your view of the world, from your political beliefs to perception itself.

Other (Good) Films From March:

Food, Inc. (2009)

Half Nelson (2006)

The Man Who Wasn't There (2001)

Never Let Me Go (2010)

Rashomon (1951)

Trick 'r Treat (2008)

Unstoppable (2010)

The Vicious Kind (2010)

Film of the Month: February

Just as a reminder: this isn't a list of films released in February, just a project stating my favorite film that I saw that month for the first time. I'll list six honorable mentions this time (I saw more movies in February), the worst film of the month, and some other great ones at the end.

Film of the Month: Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)

Directed by Robert Benton.

Starring Dustin Hoffman, Meryl Streep, and Justin Henry.

It took me a long time to finally get around to watching Kramer vs. Kramer. I guess I was holding a grudge against the film for beating Apocalypse Now for Best Picture, since Apocalypse is one of my favorite movies of all time. That's a long-winded way of saying that I really wish I'd given Kramer a chance long ago, because, although I still think Apocalypse should've won, this film is still the greatest divorce drama I've ever seen. Kramer vs. Kramer follows the split of (duh) the Kramers after the wife walks out, the year-long single-parenting of their son by the father, and the custody battle that follows all of that. Robert Benton did his best to let the viewer sympathize with both parents; by doing this, he paints their son as the victim of the divorce as opposed to victimizing the husband or wife (and rightfully so). This decision allows the film to play much more realistically: every fight has another side to the story and Kramer allows us to see each side. Personally, I definitely sympathized more heavily with the father, but that's probably because I always sympathize with father figures in films. Regardless of which character you end up sympathizing with, Kramer vs. Kramer is a depressing, emotionally exhausting film and a deserving Best Picture winner.

Honorable Mentions:

All About Eve (1950)

Directed by Joseph Mankiewicz.

Starring Bette Davis, Anne Baxter, and George Sanders.

All About Eve's famous quote ("Fasten your seatbelts, it's gonna be a bumpy night") is probably as good of a description of this film as you'll find. Eve Harrington's on-screen metamorphosis from Midwestern wallflower into fame-hungry Broadway diva helped make this one of the greatest films of the 1950s.

Closer (2004)

Directed by Mike Nichols.

Starring Clive Owen, Jude Law, Natalie Portman, and Julia Roberts.

I'm a sucker for romantic comedies, especially when they bring something new and interesting to the table. With Closer, Mike Nichols shows the viewer that honesty in a relationship is more of an idealized concept than a matter-of-fact, and when pure honesty is achieved, relationships crumble.

Groundhog Day (1993)

Directed by Harold Ramis.

Starring Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell.

Groundhog Day is a much more philosophical film than it is given credit for. Murray's character, through his time loop, is allowed to explore almost every facet of the human condition: gluttony, selfishness, altruism, romance, regret, loss, depression... it's all covered here.

Irreversible (2002)

Directed by Gaspar Noe.

Starring Monica Bellucci, Vincent Cassel, and Albert Dupontel.

Irreversible is one of the most gruesome, upsetting films I've ever seen. The story unfolds in reverse (think Memento), allowing us to see the consequences of an event before we see the event itself. This decision turns what could have easily been an exploitive revenge film into a poignant, thought-provoking work.

The Tillman Story (2010)

Directed by Amir Bar-Lev.

The Tillman Story focuses on the death of ex-NFL star and Army officer Pat Tillman, and the US government's attempted cover-up of his cause of death. In a surprisingly deep year for documentaries, The Tillman Story stood above the rest by actually having a story with emotional depth worth telling.

Trainspotting (1996)

Directed by Danny Boyle.

Starring Ewan McGregor, Ewen Bremner, and Kelly Macdonald.

Trainspotting is very similar to Requiem for a Dream if Requiem had a sense of humor. Unlike Requiem, Boyle allows his film to show the positive aspects of drug use so that when the terrible consequences come later, the viewer doesn't have to wonder to themselves why the characters would put themselves through that in the first place.

Worst of the Month:

Waiting for Superman (2010)

Directed by Davis Guggenheim.

The Tillman Story succeeded as a documentary because it connected the viewer with the subject and told a tight, interesting story. Waiting for Superman, on the other hand, failed on all of these accounts. I felt no connection with the children in question and the story Guggenheim wanted to tell was hidden behind all of his attempts at cinematic camera shots.

Other (Good) Films From February:

Bugsy (1991)

Catfish (2010)

The Color of Money (1986)

The Elephant Man (1980)

The Hustler (1961)

I Love You Phillip Morris (2010)

Maria Full of Grace (2004)

Rain Man (1988)

The Sting (1973)

Film of the Month: January

I realize that this is May and January is a while gone, but I've decided to take up a new film project. Obviously, this is a film of the month project. This isn't meant to be a "best films released in (month)" project, but instead a "best film I saw this month" project. Movies that I'd previously seen are left out unless noted (for example, if I saw the movie as a child but rewatched it recently with a different reaction).

As for structure: I'll list my favorite film of the month, and then four or so honorable mentions (in alphabetical order). I'll also list the worst film I saw that month, and then a literal listing (without commentary) of some other notable films I saw that month. Without further ado, let's begin with January.

Film of the Month: Children of Men (2006)

Directed by Alfonso Cuaron.

Starring Clive Owen, Julianne Moore, and Michael Caine.

Set in a world where women are unable to conceive children and immigrants are treated like prisoners, Children of Men grips you from the start and never lets go. Clive Owen plays Theo, a man attempting to protect the only known pregnant woman in the world from terrorist groups and government coverup. The film is well-known for its two single-shot action scenes. These scenes deserve every sliver of praise that they get. One of these scenes follows Theo for five minutes as he travels through a bombed building during a government raid against the terrorists, trying to find the pregnant woman who was kidnapped earlier on. The diligence it must have taken to film that in one-take is simply impressive. As soon as I finished watching this film, I knew it was one of the best films I'd ever seen. Children of Men is a unique take on a future dystopia as well as a bold statement about the treatment of immigrants in the present time.

Honorable Mentions:

Animal Kingdom (2010)

Directed by David Michod.

Starring James Frecheville, Ben Mendelsohn, Joel Edgerton, and Jacki Weaver.

One of my top ten films of 2010, Animal Kingdom succeeds on nearly every level. Probably a bit slow-moving for some people, but it's well-worth a look if you're even remotely interested in crime or gangster films.

Buried (2010)

Directed by Rodrigo Cortes.

Starring Ryan Reynolds.

Just missing my top ten of 2010 was Buried, one of the more unique entries from last year. Ryan Reynolds gives easily his best performance to date, somehow turning a film set entirely within a wooden coffin into a nail-biting thriller.

Enter the Void (2010)

Directed by Gaspar Noe.

Starring Nathaniel Brown, Paz de la Huerta, and Cyril Roy.

To describe Enter the Void in a two sentence blurb is impossible. It's one of the most psychedelic, absurd, disturbing, and philosophical films that I've ever seen, and many people will be offended by it. To me, though, it's a brilliant film and the defining piece of art in 2010 cinema.

Heat (1995)

Directed by Michael Mann.

Starring Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Val Kilmer, and Jon Voight.

Michael Mann's best work, Heat is mostly remembered for finally bringing Pacino and De Niro, the two most iconic mobster actors of this generation, together on the screen. Although that was awesome, the film itself is damn good, too, filled with tense shootouts, well-rounded characters, and a great climax on an airport runway.

Worst of the Month:

Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps (2010)

Directed by Oliver Stone.

Starring Shia LaBeouf, Michael Douglas, Carey Mulligan, and Josh Brolin.

Man, did Wall Street 2 disappoint me. I loved the original, and I loved every new actor brought in for the sequel (LaBeouf, Mulligan and Brolin). Even with all this talent, the film was still an enormous disappointment. Most of the blame lies with Oliver Stone, who apparently thought all he had to do to make a successful film was draw ties to the recent stock market crash and use as many cheesy camera tricks as he could. Blegh. Just skip this movie, please.

Other (Good) Films from January:

Black Snake Moan (2007)

The King's Speech (2010)

Nowhere Boy (2010)

The Other Guys (2010)

Pee Wee's Big Adventure (1985)

Salt (2010)

What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962)