For a movie with a 3 hour running time, I was left wanting more. I had seen this film before and didn't think anything special of it, but that was literally a decade ago. Now this is at the top of my list. Magnolia is such a perfect web of stories it's unbelievable. Each character is so unique and well done, while at the same time drawing on each others troubles as their own. It has so many quirky edits and little tidbits I just can't help but love it even more. Truly a movie that leaves you with an indescribable feeling.
10/10
Film#43 - Punch-Drunk Love, 2002, dir. Paul Thomas Anderson
Of the four (of five total) Anderson films I've seen, this has to be the strangest. I vaguely remember my mother going to see it years back and saying it was okay (which may or may not have actually happened, I'm not sure) which really shocks me. This doesn't seem like anything typical put out today. It seemed to be advertised as much more mainstream than it really is. The plot alone is bizarre enough: Adam Sandler runs a novelty toiletry business, where he finds a sort of mini piano in the street, has 7 sisters who call him Gayboy (despite not being gay), is intensely disturbed emotionally (fits of tears or violence are common) all the while trying to start a relationship with Emily Watson, not to mention he's buying out all the chocolate pudding to get frequent flyer miles. Oh, did I forget that the majority of the film is about a phone sexworker extorting him for money? Yeah. This movie is bizarre, but I liked it. It had this almost constant soundtrack reminiscent of the fantasy sequences in American Beauty, which were sometimes a bit too much. Adam Sandler however, blew me away. I wasn't sure when exactly he was trying to be funny because honestly I don't think he even tried in this. It was all so natural yet so unlike his usual stuff, it really has moved him up in my mind as a serious actor. Overall it was an enjoyable cinematic experience.
8/10
Film#44 - Shaun Of The Dead, 2002, dir. Edgar Wright
I've seen Hot Fuzz many times and as explained in my review, I love it. I had actually never seen all of Shaun Of The Dead and I'm not sure why. Something about a preconception it would be a rather stupid comedy. Instead it's actually very funny. Intensely self-referential and constantly poking jabs at pop culture, it was just fantastic. There wasn't a cheesy line that wasn't recognized as being cheesy for cheesy's sake (if that makes sense). It was actually a rather refreshing film, taking a more serious genre (at least that's how the genre likes to present itself) and putting a comedic spin on it, together with a fantastic cast and a compelling storyline. If anything was lacking however, was I would have liked to have seen a deeper bond between Shaun (Simon Pegg) and best friend Ed (Nick Frost), who also played best friends in Hot Fuzz. My problem here is I feel their bond could have been better developed to get the movie more of a punch and emotional impact. Other than that, it was incredibly witty.
9.5/10
Film#45 - What Ever Happened To Baby Jane?, 1962, dir. Robert Aldrich
This was such a frustrating experience I don't even know where to start ranting. Although I actually really liked the movie, it was sometimes unbearable. The general plot is back in 1917, Blanche and Jane Hudson, two young sisters, are in show business. Jane is the cute one, singing and dancing, but also stuck up. Years later, Jane is a washed up actress while Blanche is widely respected and loved. The problem is the studio has them signed so that for everyone Blanche film, Jane gets to do one too. The film shifts to years later, when sweetie Blanche is in a wheelchair (presumably because her sister put her there) and Jane is horribly bitter. They live together, where Blanche is unable to even go down stairs. Long story short, Jane (Bette Davis) is absolutely nuts, making life a complete nightmare for Blanche while she goes mad with delusions of getting back into the spotlight. The problem comes with Blanche's complete helplessness, which I wouldn't blame on her inability to move but rather, well I just don't know. This is where the frustrations comes in. Blanche tries to get help, as she's now basically a prisoner of her sister, so what does she do? She writes a note asking for help, and throws it out the window to the next door neighbour. Good idea, except it would have been MUCH easier to just yell down, rather than staying silent. Her second problem here is she happens to throw the note onto her own driveway, just as her sister comes home. Of course this only makes things worse. Another moment is where, for whatever reason, she's freaking out that her sister is keeping her captive, so he literally just turns her chair in circles over and over saying "no, no, no". Lastly, probably the most frustrating moment is where she manages to get to the phone, after struggling down the stairs and practically killing herself, she calls her doctor. Not he police, her doctor. Does she tell him she's being starved to death and held captive? No. She mumbles around for 5 minutes and then surprise surprise Jane catches her and the doctor never comes. She almost deserves to be treated like this. The movie does not shine a good light on women in general, as they are all either horrible people, completely helpless, or consumed with gossip. However, it was still amusing to watch, often beautifully shot, and told an actually very engaging story. I just hated the characters.
7/10
