I had heard of this movie for years, never having any interest. Even though I think Daniel Craig was phenomenal in Casino Royale, I still didn't get around to this until now. And I'm glad I did. It had this tremendous flow to it, twisting through the plot rapidly but still keeping you in the loop. It really seem like a precursor to Daniel Craig as James Bond, after all he is going around uncovering a mystery with a 9mm as he does it. However, this film is vastly different, both in content as well as Craig's overall style. He's not the suave Bond character, although it could have easily been played that way. He shows depth, and it works. Also, it had some phenomenally cinematic sequences and edits that left me speechless. A great film.
8.5/10
Film#47 - The Man In The Gray Flannel Suit, 1956, dir. Nunnaly Johnson
After weeks of hype from a certain professor, and reading countless bits about the mythical 'man in the gray flannel suit', I finally see it. Right off the bat, this film is undeniably a massive influence on Madmen. Lead Tom Rath, played by Gregory Peck, is Don Draper. Both are advertising men, both have trouble at home. Both went to war, coming back scarred but trying to hide it, especially from their wives. Both have been unfaithful. It's the same story, just different. Now, this film is over two and a half hours, which by my standards is not a problem at all. Actually, quite the opposite, as most of my favourite films are quite lengthy. However, this one drags out. It feels like a season of Madmen rolled up, and I just couldn't take it. It was boring. The content was okay, sure the style was fair, but it just had an 'essence of bore.' Over acted at times, with some especially ridiculous lines, namely when Tom and wife are in bed, and she asks permission to speak, to which he says "Don't worry, I won't hit you" just SO calmly as if that was expected. It might have been a great film back in its time, and it surely had a deep influence on modern media, but it just doesn't hold up.
6.5/10
Film# 48 - Invictus, 2009, dir. Clint Eastwood
This was an interesting experience. I wasn't very enthusiastic about it, and it proved to be fairly what I thought it might. It didn't wow me. Morgan Freeman, well, where was he in the film? I didn't see him, because looking at the man on screen, you see Nelson Mandela. Despite his phenomenal acting (possibly just that he already resembles Mandela to begin with), I found it hard to stomach the way he spoke. Literally everything that man says is a motivation speech. He can't talk normally; people do not speak like this. Matt Damon on the other hand, he was good, but surely not best actor nominee good. A lot about rugby, with much of the emotional element feeling forced rather than simply flowing. Still, an enjoyable film that has it's own merit.
8/10
Film#49 - The Hurt Locker, 2009, dir. Kathryn Bigelow
I do believe this should be the best picture of the year. I have a feeling it may not be, simply because of Avatar's 'technological achievements' and awe-inspiring mass-appeal, as well as the simple fact that more people have money invested in it winning than anything else. Anyways, this film, was unbelievable. It has such depth and development, such style and enthralling narrative; it's undeniable. Do not expect this to be a kickass movie with explosions and tough guys running around shooting (although these things do happen), but rather this is a film of the role people play in the big picture, as well as the small. It's about finding one's own place, something they can believe in and something for self fulfillment. Jeremy Renner gives such a good performance, giving the character such life. The movie has this set of radically different men all seemingly looking for the same thing, speaking to the nature of humanity. I could go on and on in this pretentious rant but I'd rather encourage you to just see this.
10/10
Film#50 - Precious, 2009, dir. Lee Daniels
I was shocked quite quickly at how 'quirky' this film is, by my standards. For anyone who has seen it, the strange dream-like sequences and the way they flow in and out of reality is something I would consider a quirk. However, this quirks are, different. This movie, although it's undeniably hard-hitting and at least trying to appeal emotionally, oftentimes removed me too much from the drama. I was getting to know the characters just as things got better; their lives generally improve throughout the film, and by the time i was invested in Precious, she was already doing so well. The climax, if you can call it that, was incredible. My problem was that it didn't seem as if life was hanging in the balance; by the time this moment came, the major problems of the film had been resolved, at least in my opinion. Still, a great movie.
8.5/10
