It's been so long since I've written a review I can't really remember how to do these. This film, it's great. It's pretty simple. Russell Crowe is intensely good at what he does. I've seen it many years ago but I was reminded of the plot twists early on in the film, and I have to say it took away from the experience. I was also very aware of some the stylistic choices that make the film slightly cheesy at times. Ron Howard made some aesthetic choices that if you have any inclination of what's happening, it becomes all too obvious, if you know what I mean. It's hard to describe without spoiling the film.
8/10
Film#111 - Gladiator, 2000, dir. Ridley Scott
This movie kicks ass, but far more than just the battle sequences. Russell Crowe, again, is such a good actor and gives so much intensity to his character it's unbelievable. What makes this film truly amazing is its flow and its revival of the historical epic. A genre long since forgotten except on those Easter Sundays when The Ten Commandments comes on TV.
9/10
Film#112 - There Will Be Blood, 2007, dir. Paul Thomas Anderson
If you've read any of my other reviews for Paul Thomas Anderson, you'll know I love what this man does. This film is probably one of my favourite bits of cinematic glory I've ever seen. With a running time of over two and a half hours, and yet when it finished I just wanted to play it again. I could literally watch this over and over and never get sick of it. Daniel Day-Lewis is absolutely enthralling as Daniel Plainview. This may be the very best example of how character development should work on screen. Please do not let the title fool you, this is not some gory film. It's a masterful story with such a visually appealing aesthetic that every frame could be a painting. The soundtrack, it really makes me wonder how in the list of Oscars this was nominated for it wasn't up for best original score. It's so original and overpowering, it's the perfect companion to such great writing, acting, cinematography and directing. See this, and invite me over.
10/10
Film#113 - Year One, 2009, dir. Harold Ramis
This was horrendous. Seriously just a horrid film to try and get through. There were maybe 2 good jokes in the entire thing. Jack Black should stop 'acting', he just plays himself. He's completely depthless, butchering his way through the dialogue. Do not see this. Ever.
2/10
Film#114 - Annie Hall, 1997, dir. Woody Allen
This as not at all what I expected, on many levels. I thought it would be a, well, typical love story. It's not. It also kind of let me down the way they showed Allen and Keaton's romantic relationship; I can't say I felt the connection. Woody is however, hilarious. He has so many great lines it blew me away. This may be the only comedy I've ever seen that won best picture. I also felt the film left off a bit too abrupt. However, the way it breaks the fourth wall, the incredible wit and comedic delivery and the originality of the whole thing make it a great film.
8/10
Film#115 - Capitalism: A Love Story, 2009, dir. Michael Moore
I've just about seen all of Michael Moore's work and I have to say I've liked it all. This was maybe his most difficult to follow, which isn't to say it was THAT difficult to follow. But still, it just jumped right into the meat of it all and was at times rapidly paced, leaving you to really try to keep up if you don't already know these concepts. It was incredibly informative, but of course I realize it's highly constructed and is intended to show on side of the issues. What I have to question is in this argument that documentaries should be objective and tell the 'truth', the unbiased facts, well, I have to ask if that's ever possible? Any film will ultimately have to show certain things and cut others with it's time constraints. It will have to place us at a single viewpoint from the camera. And for the sake of making things interesting, I have to argue it has to take a stance. People need to remember this isn't a journalistic film, it's a film trying to tell a story, to expose social issues in an extreme way in order to get people to pay attention. And I have to say it does so fabulously. It's also incredibly witty and at times down right hilarious. I actually went over several parts a few times just because of how funny they were (namely a certain dubbing of Jesus Christ). Check this out.
8/10
Film#116 - The 40 Year Old Virgin, 2005, dir. Judd Apatow
I've seen this a handful of times before. It's one of these films I would put under the category of comfort movies, things that are well done, really no discernible faults but it's definitely not going to win any major awards. It's funny, and you don't need to worry about sudden unexpected plot twists. It's just an enjoyable couple of hours. A comedy classic.
8/10
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