The Dark Knight Rises

There are very few directors like Christopher Nolan in my personal opinion. There are not many directors that get me so pumped for a film like Nolan does. Unlike people like Almodóvar or Wes Anderson who bring out the film analyzer in me, Nolan brings out the true fanboy in me. With stuff like Memento and Inception, Nolan has become an icon among film lovers and one of my all time favorites, I've even begun saying "In Nolan We Trust". Nolan also is notable for doing something unlike any other director I have seen in my life time. Nolan was able to combine the film fanatic fan boys with the mainstream crowd to create a franchise that brings together just about anyone that has been to a theater to enjoy a film all together. It all started with Batman Begins and then followed up with The Dark Knight which is probably one of the greatest movies ever made. When I learned that Nolan would be back to finish the trilogy I was excited but nervous. How could Nolan possibly follow up The Dark Knight and Heath Ledger's legendary performance? Even for Nolan it seemed far from possible. Still pieces started to fall together, Tom Hardy, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and even Anne Hathaway were announced to be casted and the new villain would be Bane. I was still skeptical but was very interested to see what Nolan was up to. "In Nolan We Trust". Then after years of waiting, we got to see the first trailer for The Dark Knight Rises. I was awe struck as the images in front of me confirmed my hopes, could Nolan possibly pull it off? Could he possibly make a film that was worthy of following up The Dark Knight? Well I made sure to get a front seat to the IMAX midnight premiere and after meeting and talking with some fellow movie maniacs, the lights went down, the previews played, and I got to sit back and watch The Dark Knight Rises. Read on to see what I thought of the finale to the epic trilogy from Christopher Nolan...

The Dark Knight Rises starts a few years after the last film ended. Harvey Dent's death has caused a new act to passed which helps the cops keep criminals in jail and a annual Harvey Dent day is held in his honor. Bruce Wayne has gone into isolation in his mansion with Alfred by his side. Little does Bruce know, a new villain is on the rise in Bane who has set his sights on Gotham. Bane, slowly but surely, lets his plan come together with his army of followers. Bruce decides its about time to come out of hiding, as the man and the bat, but quickly learns that things has changed since the last time he was out. Bruce must find a way to rise and protect Gotham from Bane while also getting his life back together. Will Bruce be able to protect Gotham as Batman or will Bane overpower him? Go see the movie to find out!!!!

The Skin I Live In

As a "movie maniac" I try to watch all kinds of movies for loads of different reasons. Sometimes I want to watch a classic in film history to understand its place and history and have a better appreciation for films today. Other times I want to watch a film to just have fun and enjoy myself. Then I have two reasons that are the main motivations for choosing a movie to watch. The first is directors that are either challenging or doing stuff different than everyone else. Directors who do this are Wong Kar-Wai or Wes Anderson who are very unique in their filmmaking and do stuff other don't dare do. Then I like to focus on international directors to see the stories that are being told all around the world. I would dare say that international film beats American cinema on any day. While some might disagree I think there wouldn't be filmmakers like Martin Scorsese or Christopher Nolan without German or Italian cinema to lead the way. So with that said we come to one of my all time favorite filmmakers Pedro Almodóvar who has made such films as All About My Mother and Broken Embraces. When The Skin I Live in was announced I was very excited to learn that he was going to be working with Antonio Banderas. When trailer came out I knew we were in for another fantastic ride from Almodóvar's brilliant mind. Then I finally got to see it after months and months and waiting and what did I think? Read on to see my thoughts...

The Skin I Live In stars Antonio Banderas, Elena Anaya, and Marisa Paredes in an erotic thriller directed by Pedro Almodóvar. The film follows Doctor Robert Ledgard who after some depressing events in his life is on a search to create an artificial skin that would be impervious to fire, mosquito bites, and more in order to help others. Though more is under the surface of Dr. Ledgard as we soon learn that he is keeping a woman hostage, one in a weird tan suit that smokes opium all day. Needless to say there is something going on that we need to discover. As the film continues we learn more about this mysterious woman and the doctor with the horrible past.

Lars And The Real Girl

Tolerance. Tolerance has always been an interesting subject in my opinion. There are so many different ways to look at it. For one there is the big issue of not judging others for skin color, ethnicities, or what makes us different. Tolerance is a vital virtue for the world to have for us to survive. We need to have people that are willing to accept others with open arms. Then we can look at it as an individual issue. When it comes to family and friends, how far are we willing to go to accept others for who they are? What faults do people have that we look over because we love each other. So then we come across one of my all time favorite movies, Lars And The Real Girl. In my opinion a great movie that everyone should watch and talk about. One of the movies that really hits home for me because I think its message is incredibly important for the world. It was an early experience with Ryan Gosling and an interesting one at that. It is certainly one of the most unique movies you will ever see, but also one of the most challenging, at least if you see it like I do.

Lars And The Real Girl stars Ryan Gosling as Lars, a social awkward man, who has ordered a realistic sex doll, Bianca, as his girlfriend. Using the doll as i gateway to the real world, Lars creates a delusion and the people around him must decide to either put up with it or reject him from the community. Lars' brother Gus has trouble not only understanding but dealing with Bianca while his wife works hard to accept Lars for who he is. Lars must learn how to interact in the real world while at the same time the real world learns to deal with Lars.

The Amazing Spiderman

I remember when I was about 10 years old and I got to see the trailer for Sam Raimi's Spider-Man. It was a great heist scene at a bank but as the burglars tried to escape in a helicopter they get caught in a gigantic web between two buildings (fun film fact that trailer was shot before 9/11 and afterwards the teaser was pulled). Nevertheless I was so excited and stoked to finally see my favorite comic book character on the big screen! Then it finally came out! and it was AMAZING! I LOVED it! Green Goblin was awesome, Spider-Man was badass and hilarious, and Franco and Dunst didn't do a half bad job. I was so happy with the output and watched it 4 times in theaters. Then we got a sequel and just when I thought things couldn't get better, Spider-Man 2 blew my expectations by being even better! Doc Ock was INCREDIBLE! The story great and the film the best so far. Then we got the 3rd one and it was awful, I mean horrible. There was no excuse but I blame the studio's pressure and control on the film for that one. It seemed that hope was lost and the ride was over. Then Amazing Spider-Man was announced and while I did have my doubts it did seem possible. Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone seemed perfect casting and I was a HUGE fan of (500) Days Of Summer so I had faith in Marc Webb. While I wasn't excited for The Lizard or the fact that it was a reboot but I still hoped that it was going to be at least somewhat decent. So what did I think of The Amazing Spider-Man? Read on to find out...

The Amazing Spider-Man stars Andrew Garfield as Peter Parker, a teenage nerd living with aunt and uncle after his parents disappeared at an early age, who is trying to reconnect with the mysteries connected with his parent's life. This trail brings him to Oscorp where he meets Curt Conners, one of his father's co-workers. While at Oscorp Peter does some sneaking on his own and accidentally gets bitten by a spider. This is no ordinary spider though as Peter immediately begins to feel the changes inside of him as he gains the powers of a spider. As Peter tries to get a grip on his new power while also trying to balance his life, his Uncle Ben is shot by a burglar. Peter goes out to seek the murderer for justice and along the way dons the costume and names himself Spider-Man. At the same time Curt Conners is being cut off by Oscorp and in a desperate move injects himself with a new serum, thanks to the help of Peter, and changes into the gigantic Lizard. All the while Gwen Stacy has come into Peter's life as a love interest. So Peter must find a way to accept his new role of protector all while stopping the Lizard before he can harm any more people.

Battle Royale

Violent movies always seem to be a touchy issue for audiences for some apparent reason. Moms and parents will come out from everywhere to bash films for being too violent and being impressionable on kids. We have seen films that have had this backlash like Tarantino's Kill Bill Volume One and Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange. As a fan of cinema I feel as if these complaints of extreme violence is a little over the top. One of the points of movies is to take us places that we never go, or sometimes places we don't want to go. As for its impression on kids? That's ridiculous because all it takes is a parent to sit down with their children and talk to them about violence. That's it...a talk. So is violence in movies bad? Of course not! They are some of my favorite parts of movies! Think of Seven Samurai, Ichi The Killer, and Oldboy where the movie literally wouldn't be the same without the violence. So we come across Battle Royale. The film that caused controversy but nevertheless is one of the most popular movies in Japan and growing in the United States. I recently got to see it again while showing it the first time to some of my friends and wanted to share my thoughts on this film. Read on to see what I thought...

Battle Royale is a 2000 Japanese action film based on the novel of the same name which surrounds one class of high school students on a school trip. Not everything is as it seems and things quickly turn dark as the students realize that they have been chosen for the Battle Royale Act. The Act, passed after young adults became more dangerous and a menace to society, forces one class of students every year to fight each other to the death using weapons on a deserted island. As the games begin friends become enemies, little fights at school become reasons for death, and nobody will ever be the same. Who Will Survive the Battle Royale?

Prometheus

Ahh Ridley Scott you are one of the most interesting directors I have ever seen. At his greatest (Alien, Blade Runner) he is unstoppable but when he is off his game he can get tiresome (Legend, Robin Hood). Still he deserves to be considered the greats for his complete works but I vehemently adore what he did with Alien. Perfectly combining science fiction with horror and giving us cinephiles one of greatest movies of all time! So now we come to Prometheus as the creator returns to the world he made 33 years ago. I certainly was excited and the trailer that followed made my head explode a few times. Needless to say my expectations were high and I was hoping to see Scott in his top form once again. With a stellar cast including Michael Fassbender, Charlize Theron, and Idris Elba I thought that just maybe my expectations would become a reality. So how did Prometheus turn out? Read on to see my thoughts...

Prometheus follows a space crew headed to a newly discovered planet that has shown signs that it can support life. The crew features two explores that have found ancient civilizations drawings that seem to be an invitation to this planet and hope to search the planet to find the great answers to life's big questions. As the crew lands, some of the members seemingly less trustworthy than others, they find an huge complex full of mysterious jars and unknown languages. As the search becomes deeper and the mystery starts to unravel, the danger increases putting everyone on the mission in severe danger. Will the crew of the Prometheus be able to survive? Will the answers be found? Go see the movie and then read my review to find out...

Synecdoche, New York

It is safe for me to say that I am a big fan of Charlie Kaufman and his work in cinema. His writing and ideas has provided some of the best movies of this century and some of the most creative films unlike anything else audiences have seen. These films include Being John Malkovich, Adaptation, and Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind. Plus did you know he was a script supervisor for Kung Fu Panda 2? You learn something everyday. Anyways I was certainly excited to see Charlie behind the camera for once and to once again watch another unique story from his brilliant mind. The only question is would this directional debut be with the greats (Donnie Darko, Mean Streets, Citizen Kane) or would it fall short? Read on to see my thoughts...

Synecdoche, New York follows Caden, a middle aged writer, as he tries to be a successful theater director while balancing his personal life with his wife and kids. As his career becomes a critical success, his personal life starts to unravel. While he is being awarded the MacArthur Fellowship his wife is leaving to Berlin with his only daughter. As Caden flows through different women and relationships all while trying to get back his daughter, he decides to create a brutally honest play that will mimic real life. He gathers a large ensemble of actors to play out characters from real life, many from Caden's own life. As Caden's ex-wife's career starts booming, Caden's play grows in scope as he slowly becomes more obsessed and insane. Making plays within plays, Caden's life is in a downward spiral all while trying to reconcile with the women in his life.

Bellflower

What is Love? No do not worry I am not quoting the epic song by Haddaway but I am really questioning the concept of love. Some of my all time favorite movies have attempted to explore this question and theme: Blue Valentine, In The Mood For Love, Casablanca, and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. These are some of the greatest movies ever made and explore deep human and real emotions that everyone goes through. Then we come across Bellflower which made a big hit at 2011's Sundance and SXSW film festivals. The film became known for its unique story and the fact that the filmmakers made their own camera for the film made out of vintage camera parts, bellows, Russian lenses, and a SI-2K digital cinema camera from Silicon Imaging. I was definitely interested in the film because of what I heard and to see the cinematography from this unique camera. Not only that but the fact that Evan Glodell wrote, produced, edited, acted, and directed the movie pulled me in even more as I love seeing a passion project on screen. So what did I think about this indie hit? Read on to find out...

Bellflower follows two best friends: Woodrow and Aiden. The two friends are on a mission in Los Angeles to create a flame thrower, a Max Mad car, and more weird creations in preparation for the Apocalypse. One night at bar, Woodrow meets Milly and its love at first sight. As the two travel to and spend time together, they grow closer and they seem perfect together and life is good. As the film progresses things turn out to be completely the opposite. People are betrayed, hearts broken, relationships ruined and no one will ever be the same again. The unexpected becomes reality and everyone's life becomes a literal apocalypse.

Chungking Express

There are very few directors like Wong Kar-wai whose style really takes over their story telling. While his story telling is not bad (its great actually) his direction, music, editing, and slow motion combine to create a unique out look on the world and the creation of his story. His films are visual and emotional-invoking and loved by critics from In The Mood For Love and Happy Together. The best directors are those who dare to do what no one else is doing, its


The film was made back in 1994 in Hong Kong and follows two stories that are connected by one restaurant. In the first story we follow a cop who is obsessed with the girl he has just been dumped by. As the story continues he looks for love at a bar at meets a woman in a blonde wig, she is a drug smuggler trying to get revenge for being set up. The second story follows another cop who is also dealing with a break up who meets Faye who works ar a restaurant. Faye becomes obsessed with the cop, breaking into his apartment even, as she tries to get his love in return. 

The Believer

What makes a person who they are? Is it what they are born into or is it what they make themselves into? Do we define ourselves? These are some of the many questions that The Believer tries to explore in its exploration of character Daniel Balint, a raised orthodox Jew who becomes a Neo-Nazi. I took a course recently, Theologians Under Hitler, where we explored the culture and religion behind the Nazi movement so I was very interested in the subject matter. It is a subject that need careful handling and cannot just be used loosely or else it will come across as an insult; like Life Is Beautiful came across. This was not the only reason I wanted to watch this indie flick from Henry Bean, it was also one of the earliest performances from the astonishing Ryan Gosling. I am a huge fan of his with some of his best performances that include Blue Valentine, Crazy Stupid Love, Half Nelson, Lars and the Real Girl, and of course Drive. I always enjoy seeing great actors and actresses roots and see what made them into the superstars that they are; see also Michael Fassbender and Hunger. So read on if you want to see my thoughts on The Believer...

The Believer follows the tale of Daniel Balint, a passionate Neo-Nazi who is vocal and physical about his beliefs. What makes Daniel stands out from most Neo-Nazis is that he is born Jewish and was raised in a Yeshiva yet still is one of the most anti-semitic characters on film. From the beginning as Daniel physically assaults a Jewish male he sees on the subway, to raising to power in a Fascist organization in hope to being it to America.  While Daniel rises, his inner struggle between his people and his beliefs becomes harder and tougher to deal with. Will Daniel be able to live with his beliefs and his heritage? Will the Fascist organization rise to any power or will Daniel sympathize with his Jewish people?

Devdas

          I had little to almost none interaction with Indian Cinema before this class. I was aware of its style, songs, and typically approach to film but this class was the first time I got to see legitimate Indian film. We started with Devdas, a 2002 Bollywood film by director Sanjay Leela Bhansali that really blew me away. Everything from the visuals, songs, choreography, story, and casting was something that rivaled even the greatest films of the 2000s.

The thing I was most worried about was the musical side of the film, which is a big and important aspect to a majority of Indian films. Their culture just loves the songs and dances and I was nervous that it wasn’t going to be my style. Luckily Devdas is able to capture the spectacular and magnetic energy that makes Indian Cinema so unique. All the songs are very catchy and memorable, even though it is in a different language! I found it hard to keep myself from singing the tunes from this film. This is the highlight of the film, where it really shines. The songs are incredible and amazingly choreographed! What makes it stand out is that it is something very unique to India, not many other countries embrace musicals this much, and Devdas is an example of the pinnacle that Indian cinema can reach. Not only that but the choreography is awe inspiring from the mind blowing dances move and the mass extras in the film who add depth to the dance scenes. This really is thanks to the incredible direction by Bhansali by creating the perfect combination of dancing, music, actors, characters, set pieces, costumes, and atmosphere that gives a true one of a kind experience. It also needs to be said that the colors are dazzling to look at and the film just feels like a vibrant painting come to life.

            More than just a musical, the movie’s story also proved to be surprisingly deep and mature which surprised me. The story has a rather unfortunate and sad ending, which explores the consequences of planned marriages and lost love. It’s depressing and a rather left turn from what the rest of the film feels like. I felt that it was very daring and it paid off, taking this film to higher levels than I ever expected it to go to. It explores some pretty deep themes like alcoholism, true love, class systems, planned marriages, and gender that I did not expect from a musical! Also the casting for the film is spectacular, as I have said Aishwarya Rai might be the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. Overall Devdas is a great output from India and a great example of the where the country’s creativity is. Indian cinema deserves respect and study that any other country gets. What gives me great hope is that this film is fairly recent and it excites me to see where Indian film is headed. Without a doubt I suggest this movie to film lovers, the musical may not be everyone's favorite genre but trust me and give this a chance. 

Paul Thomas Anderson: Family, Religion, and some analysis

Very few people can consider themselves a master of cinema; even less can call themselves good at it. Very few directors are able to put themselves above the rest by being innovative, imaginative, and powerful with a film camera. Enter Paul Thomas Anderson who by the age of 41 has written and directed five movies, four of which have gathered universal critical proclaim, been nominated for five Academy Awards, won the Golden Bear, and won the Best Director award at the Cannes film festival. A master of the long take and being able to craft epics that focus on multiple characters, Paul Thomas Anderson is a one of a kind filmmaker unlike anyone else before him. As Entertainment Weekly put it, Anderson is “one of the most dynamic directors to emerge in the last 20 years” with movies that “crackle with energy and typically showcase volcanic performances” (EW Staff). What makes Paul Thomas Anderson so great? He explores deep themes like family as he explores the ideas of surrogate fathers and creations of new families. He also analyzes religion in his films by comparing it with consumerism and letting Exodus and liberation play a big theme in Magnolia. In this paper I will attempt to explore the story behind Paul Thomas Anderson by analyzing his autobiography and how his life is seen through his films, then explore the themes of family through all of his films, and religion in Magnolia and Boogie Nights.

The Avengers

It all started back in 2008, when a young man in a theater sat patiently during the credits of Iron Man in hopes of seeing something special. Little did he know what he was in for as he watched Nick Fury step from the shadows and say the words we all have waited for “Avengers Initiative.” Then The Incredible Hulk came out and it was then Tony Stark who stepped out from the shadows to discuss this Initiative to General Ross. The Iron Man 2 promised us the emergence of another superhero, this time of Norse mythology. Thor arrived on the scene and this time things got serious and Loki and Hawkeye came unto the scene along with the all-powerful Cosmic Cube (called the Tesseract in the film). The next obvious step was Captain America and we are getting eager as Nick Fury tempts Rogers to help him save the world. Then, after years of waiting and contemplating, The Avengers is announced. Not only that but the studio has trusted it in the hands of Joss Whedon, one of the best decisions by Marvel Studios. The cast is back (Mark Ruffalo replacing Edward Norton as Banner) and Loki its villain. Now trailers are released and every frame is debated and discussed as we await the premiere of hopefully the greatest superhero movie ever. SO…would The Avengers be able to meet the epic expectations and step up the bar for Marvel superhero films?  Read on to find out…

Building on the previous Marvel films, The Avengers is the epic climax of the long building storyline of Loki’s quest for dominance. This time Loki is on the hunt for the Tesseract (Cosmic Cube) in exchange for helping his conquest of Earth. With new powers and abilities, Loki starts brainwashing hundreds of people to bend them to his will. With the Tesseract stolen, Nick Fury has no choice but to call in the team. Captain America, Tony Stark, Black Widow, Hawkeye, Bruce Banner, and Thor (after a few misunderstandings) come aboard to unite against the rise threat of war. With Loki and his army approaching, The Avengers must get over the problems and challenges to come together and save the day for New York and the World.

La Jetée

You know you haven’t studied International Cinema without visiting the Chris Marker classic La Jetée. Made in 1962 the film follows the aftermath of World War III as the surviving humans start testing time travel on prisoners in order to send them back to save the world from destruction. What makes this film stand out from the rest of cinema is that it is shot through black and white still images. While this is not the first movie to do this it still is in such a unique style and flair that it is revered as a masterpiece and rightfully so.

            The film has a very dark and gritty feel to it which perfectly matches the aftermath of any war; here the aftermath of the war to end all wars. We see the destruction of ruins of the world, Marker using pictures from World War II, and then we move underground where the surviving humans are (supposedly to escape radiation). We learn quickly that scientists are conducting experiments on humans and the film shot by shot brings our protagonist through he whole experience. Where Chris Marker works his magic is in two fold: the lighting and the fluidity of the film.

            The lighting is amazingly shot here making great use of shadows, darkness, and faces to create an eerie and trapped feeling. From just looking at shots individually we can tell the horror that has happened in the world and the hopelessness of their situation. Then the fluidity of the film is quite impressive. Even though the whole film is shot by photographs edited together, the audience slowly but surely begins to feel like the characters are moving. The editing and sound is combined with the pictures to create the feeling of movement in our minds. We forget that we are watching pictures for a while.

            Though the overall themes are what carry this film: The dangers of tyranny and the inescapable past. As we reach the end of the film, our protagonist getting a better control of time travel, he has fallen in love with a woman and wishes to be with her. As people from the future time travellers contact him offering him freedom, he only asks to be with his love. He then appears at the airport he remembers as a child, a vivid memory that has been in his mind for years. As he runs to the end of the jetty he notices an agent from the scientists that have been experimenting him and is shot. The man he saw shot as a kid was himself. It is a great twist that you never really see coming and fits into the inescapable past idea. Our protagonist will never be able to escape the scientists that have trapped him. The world will never be able to escape World War III and that your fate is set and locked. Nothing you can do will change it. A little pessimistic but a great theme that is worth exploring.

            Overall I adore the look and feel of this film. The soundtrack, narration, and even little whispers all play their part in the film. The story is brilliant and it is beautifully told. Enjoy the Vertigo reference in it as well as realizing that 12 Monkeys is based entirely on this.

4/4

Bande à part (Band Of Outsiders)

Any good lover of film knows the name Jean-Luc Godard. One of the most famous French filmmakers of all time, Godard is known for his influence on the French New Wave movement that dominated 1960s French cinema. Godard is known for his unique filmmaking style and for his films to reference other films. One of Godard’s most famous works, and most approachable, is Bande à part. This 1964 film was an adaptation of Dolores Hitchens’ Fool’s Gold. The film is a clear and obvious influence on filmmakers everywhere including today and one of Godard’s best.

The film’s plot is simple. Two guys like one girl and they all want to rob the girl’s aunt. The film follows the trio as they go on misadventures and plan to make the robbery that is the film’s climax. While the plot is simple, it is the filmmaking that is outstanding to watch. Godard’s films have a specific and creative feel to them that makes them exclusively Godard. The cinematography and camerawork are fluid and still to this day unique and stand out from the majority of films that come out. The different camera styles, the looks into the camera, and even the subtle glances and looks throughout the  film stand out. In fact one of the funniest, and coolest, parts of the film comes at the end as it promises a sequel in Brazil; this sequel was never made and its obviously a joke played by Godard.

What makes Bande à part stand out from the lot of Godard’s films are three specific scenes that have been referenced to and have influenced film for all time. The first and my personal favorite is the dance scene titled “the Madison dance.” The group gets up in a café and starts doing a little organized dance to the music in the café. It comes out of no where but its absolutely delightful. The biggest influence of this dance lands on Quentin Tarantino who used similar random dance scenes in Pulp Fiction and Reservoir Dogs. The nest scene is the moment of silence, which happens right before the dance scene. The trio is just sitting in the café and decides to have a moment of silence. When they start the sound of the film goes silent and the audience can literally hear nothing. A clear style that reflects the New Wave moments but I really enjoyed it when the film came to that point. The last scene is the Louvre scene where the trio races through the Louvre to beat the world record.

Overall these three scenes and the spectacular filmmaking by Godard make this an instant classic. A highly enjoyable film and any respectable film lover should watch it as they will see its imprint on cinema easily.
4/4

Le Samouraï

Every once in a while you will come across a film that from beginning to end you know you are watching a masterpiece. Once again we come across Jean-Pierre Melville but this time I am reflecting on his 1967 classic Le Samouraï. The film came out in 1967 in France starring Alain Delon based on Joan McLeod’s novel The Ronin.

The film opens up with slow, patient Hitchcock zoom while our protagonist smokes in his bed and an empty apartment besides a tweeting bird and big windows. You can tell this man is organized, professional, and most of all efficient. The cinematography right off the bat is gorgeous and you can feel the sensation that your about to go an a cinematic thrill ride. With an amazing performance from Alain Delon, we follow the hit man as he goes on a job at a nightclub. The music and sound is very specific and makes us focus in more on every movement and noise. After his hit we start seeing the police investigation as Costello (Delon) he goes through a police line up and investigation. The police continue to try to convict him by bugging his room, following him, even threatening those few close to him. All of them fail, but something more interesting has happened, the people who hired him have almost killed Costello. Now everything is spiraling, Costello must survive the police and his enemies in enough time to get revenge and learn about why he was betrayed.

The story here is great but what really stands out here is the amazing, incredible filmmaking going behind the camera. This film has some extraordinary camera movement and cinematography; the look of the film itself reflects our protagonist. There are some awesome sequences as well in the film including when the police try to follow Costello (failing) and the western shootout feel that occurs when another hit man attempts to kill Costello. Another attribute that takes this film to the next level is the overall cool factor that Costello has. Everything that this man wears and does feel immediately bad ass and you want to be just like him. He seems untouchable, able to get away with murder and escape the police right when they have him under their nose. Even the music makes him feel suave and mysterious!

It is just one incredible film! It requires a tad bit of patience but not like 2001: A Space Odyssey patience. It is remarkable shot and made, the framing is extraordinary, and a classic in cinema. It is a highly influential film, just look at The Killer and Drive!  A must see for any fan of film!
4/4

Bob Le Flambeur

John Woo once said that “Melville is God to me”. The man who has made such films as The Killer and Hard Boiled looks at this French director as a main influence on his work and possibly the greatest director of all time. Jean-Pierre Melville is a French director who worked from 1945 to about 1972 making 13 films and a short film. In 1956 he decided to make a French gangster film reflecting his adoration of American gangster films. The films stands as a landmark in cinematic history for multiple reasons and is a highly entertaining film at the same time.

There are multiple factors that make Bob le Flambeur stand out as a film. For one the use of the single jump cut is huge for a film at this time and would stand out as an influence on Jean-Luc Godard’s work. Godard even mentioned that Bob le Flambeur is his favorite Melville work. The film also included the use of handheld camera, something that would also be influential on French cinema. The combination of these make Bob seems as landmark for the French New Wave movement.

Still technique is not the only thing that stands out about the film; it also is a great story to watch. Roger Duchesne puts in a great performance as Bob, the brains behind the operation, as we follow him gather a team to rob the casino. The gathering of the team and the planning of the robbery feel like a huge influence on the Ocean films and interesting to see each piece of the puzzle come together. The film also follows the interesting relationship between the officer and Bob, which Woo later used in The Killer, and a love triangle between Bob, Anne a girl which he is trying to save, and Paolo his protégé.

Though the part of the film that stands out the best to me is the interesting and unexpected ending. As we make it to the end of the story, within 5 minutes we see a favorite character die and Bob end up winning a fortune at the casino. It happens so fast that we barely have time to wrap our minds around it. Roger even gets arrested but its implied that he will be able to buy his way out. So what the whole movie has been building up to can’t be put into action and it turns out Roger didn’t even need to rob the casino at all. The irony that the gambling that was destroying his life at the beginning of the film eventually saves him is clearly seen. Some will hate it but it happen so quickly you barely have time to form an opinion on it while its happening.

Bob le Flameur is an entertaining film and a hugely influential film for French cinema and international cinema. Is Melville God? Maybe not but he certainly was a genius with film and impacted it like few have. Even Stanley Kubrick himself that Bob was the greatest crime film and made him give up doing them himself.

3.5/4

Fantastic Planet

When I was young I had a hard time falling and staying asleep which led me to late nights and early mornings watching TV. Since there was never any good television programs on that late I would just surf the movie channels until I found something good enough to entertain myself. One of those nights I came across a strange, animated film titled Fantastic Planet. I was still young and knew nothing about it. The film came across as a weird and confusing movie so I switched away from it. Now that I am older, I looked up Fantastic Planet and saw that it won the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival. I decided to give it another chance to see if I would enjoy it now that I am older and more mature in my film knowledge. Read on to see my thoughts...

Fantastic Planet is a 1973 animated picture directed by René Laloux who co-wrote it with production designer Roland Topor based on the book Oms en série. The story is set on a futuristic planet where humans are known as Oms and are pets of gigantic blue Draags on the planet Ygam. The follows Terr, an Om whose mother is killed at the beginning, who becomes a pet of the Draag Tiva. Terr eventually escapes and joins the rebel Oms and educates them with a Draag learning device. The Oms have to survive the dangerous planet, creatures, and Draags who want to eliminate them while also figuring out a way to escape. The film won the 1973 Grand Prix at the Cannes Festival.

The Cabin In The Woods

Expectations will either make or break a movie. Sometimes you hear stuff about the movie and go in and find out everything you heard was complete bull...I am looking at you The Orphanage. Then sometimes you go and expectations are met and even beat to beyond our imaginations. This my friends is how I felt after walking out of The Cabin In The Woods which may be my new favorite film of the year! We rarely get to see smart, intelligent, well paced, mature, and unique horror films these days. Unless it is from Japan or Korea and at a time Italy, we generally can expected just slasher horror that can barely entertain an audience. The Cabin In The Woods will hopefully change that, it should be a game changer, that will bring new minds and new perspectives to the horror genre. I have high hopes for where the genre is headed after this film, but for now read on to get my specific thoughts.

The Cabin In The Woods is written by Joss Whedon and co-written and directed by Drew Goddard. The films stars Chris Hemsworth, Kristen Connolly, Anna Hutchison, Richard Jenkins, and Bradley Whitford.  The films follows every horror cliche in the book, we find a group of teenagers on the way to a vacation in a (guess what) cabin in the woods. Still, not everything is as at seems. Random occurrences seem more ordered and planned rather than coincidental. As the story unravels we learn not everything is as it seems and this is not merely some cabin in the woods. I would tell more but the less you know about the film the better.

Quai Des Offevres

France in cinema history has had some of the most interesting films during its run. Their film has had significant impact on American cinema and the rest of the world. One of those directors is Henri-Georges Clouzot who directed Quai des Orfèvres. The film follows Jenny Lamour is want to become famous and a theater star. When she starts making moves on a perverted businessman (Brignon), her husband (Maurice) decides to threaten he businessman with murder. Unfortunately, Jenny goes to meet the businessman secretly and Maurice follows her. That same evening Brignon is murder and it is time for Inspector Antonie to solve the case.

            The best part of the films comes in its second half in the film after the murder of Brignon. The Inspector Antoine is one a stand out as a great character that really carries the film. He is charming and likeable and it is too much fun watching him through the police procedurals. His best stuff comes during the interrogation scenes as we continuously cut between the three citizens the police are holding. It is great editing and marvelous direction at the same time, very noir-ish and its impact on film noir can be clearly seen. There are some great night scenes in the street and also an amazing shot in the jail of blood running from one cell to the other. Though where Clouzot’s magic really shines is in the script where the dialogue is gold! The script is snappy and really explores the struggle of the common man and the criminals that run the streets. Clouzot is also a master of slowly pulling out the story as Inspector Antoine begins to discover the story detail by detail.

            Overall, Quai des Orfèvres is a French classic and a very entertaining story. It’s pace is smooth and fluid, you will never get bored. The story pulls you in and you wait every second to find out how the story will unravel. I know I wasn’t sure how it all was going to end but when it all was over I highly enjoyed it. 
3/4

M

M

Fritz Lang will forever stand as one of the greatest directors of all time. His work spans from Metropolis to The Big Heat and his imprint on cinema can be seen everywhere. M though stands as one of his finest masterpieces and is one of my all time favorite movies. The story follows a serial killer who kills children and follows the town’s reaction. The film’s story is incredibly well done and the direction and cinematography behind it are perfect. It’s every thing you want in a movie takes it to a masterful level.

            The camera work is very fluid and I love the shots in this film. Some of my favorite shots that stand up are the close up of the “M” hand, Hans seeing the child in the mirror, and the shot of Hans Beckert seeing the “M” on his back. There are plenty more shots but those were some of my favorites. As expected with Fritz Lang, there are some great tracking and zoom shots. The whistling motif

            Though what made M so fantastic in my opinion was that the story focused more on the reaction to the serial killings of the public rather than the serial killer himself. The opening scene says it all as we follow the kids singing songs of the child killer to the mother looking for her daughter. Lang lets the visuals tell everything as we cut to the empty seat at the table where the daughter should sit. As the film continues we see how the public’s paranoia reaches dangerous heights even attacking an innocent old man just for talking to a child. At the same time as we see the public’s reaction, Lang also focuses on the police’s actions and how they react to stop the murderer. The comparisons between the two groups adds a whole different layer to an already deep film but it works.

            The best part of the whole film comes at its climax. As the public has captured Hans we see the combination of exploring the mind behind the killer and the anger mob mentality that the towns people take on. Peter Lorre deserves some major credit for giving a wonderful performance as Hans and really pulls sympathy from the audience.

            Overall M is a masterpiece and one of Fritz Lang’s greatest films! It is definitely one of Germany’s best and it also has a huge influence on cinema just like Dr. Caligari.
4/4

The Cabinet Of Dr. Caligari

A masterpiece film, one that be fundamental for centuries, The Cabinet Of Dr. Caligari is one of the greatest and most influential pieces of film history. The 1920 silent film directed for Robert Wiene and screenplay by Hans Janowitz and Carly Mayer has been known for its unique style that would set the precedent for German Expressionism and impact film forever. The weird and jagged sets reflected expressionist paintings at the time and created a tense and horrific tone. Everything feels out of place and the film will make you feel uncomfortable. Along with the sets the film became a huge influence on film noir through its use of shadows and nighttime shooting. The incredible thing is that the shadows were indeed painted in because of lack of resources. The cinematography also plays a huge part into this style, creating the tone and mood that lasts throughout the film. The film includes some fantastic close ups too, including the famous one of Cesare’s awakening. Lastly it is also the actors who did not stick to traditional acting but moved in an unrealistic and moved like the environment around them.

            The film opens up and continues to have a surreal feel to it. The story is told through flashback and we can already tell that something is wrong. This helps the horror aspect of Caligari function so well. As the story progresses we notice one of the major steps Caligari took in film, by making the exterior represent the interior of the characters. In fact one could say the exterior becomes one of the characters in the film. Still the best part of Caligari comes at the end with its twist ending. When we learn that indeed Francis is insane and that he is stuck in an insane asylum, an important theme breaks out that sticks with cinema to this day. The idea of being trapped in time, that our fate is inescapable. Since the film is told through flashback, we know that there is no escape for our protagonist. Everything that is being told has already happened, and nothing will be able to save him from his fate. Francis is indeed trapped.

            Overall Caligari is an incredible film to watch because of its huge influence of cinema. As one of my classmates said, “you can see a part of Caligari in every movie.” The horror is powerful, the cinematography marvelous, and most importantly a great story to boot. It is a film everyone should watch, especially fans of cinema, as it has left its mark on film for ages and will continue to. 
4/4

Magnolia Movie Review

Anyone that knows or follows me knows that I am a huge Paul Thomas Anderson fan. Ever since I saw There Will Be Blood back in 2007 I have been captured and in awe of his cinematic vision and power behind the camera. My father thought I was crazy for enjoying There Will Be Blood and even to this day says it is awful but I know deep in my heart his is in complete denial. So immediately I became a fan and made it my mission to catch the rest of his films. As the years past I eventually saw every single one of his works from Hard Eight to Boogie Night, Magnolia to Punch-Drunk Love I have adored and loved each one of his films. I have never taken the time to sit and write my opinions on his films....until now! So begins my marathon of reviewing each one of Paul Thomas Anderson's masterful work. I will start with Magnolia and from there go to Boogie Nights, Punch-Drunk Love, Hard Eight, and finish with his masterpiece There Will Be Blood. This should be a wonderful experience for myself and hopefully for you readers out there where ever you are. So what did I think of Paul Thomas Andreson and Magnolia (if you can't already tell), read on to find out!

Magnolia is the story about one day in Los Angeles follow multiple unique individuals and the connections they all have with each other. The main story follows two old men who are dying. Philip Baker Hall stars as Jimmy Gator a game show host who has been diagnosed with cancer. The films follows his attempt to reconnect with his drug addicted daughter (Melora Walters) and host his show with child prodigy Stanley Spector (Jeremy Blackman). Jason Robards stars as Earl Partridge, an old man dying with cancer, trying to reconnect with his long lost song Frank T.J. Mackey, author and motivational coach for men on how to "tame" women. The film also features John C. Reilly, a officer in search for love; Philip Seymour Hoffman, a lonely and sympathetic nurse; and Julianne Moore; young wife of Earl Partridge filled with guilt. The films flows the stories of these individuals together as they all search for love, happiness, and meaning in a world full of coincidences.

Dancer In The Dark Movie Review

Lars Von Trier is in my mind a genius. While not every single film that he makes is a masterpiece, in fact the last film I watched by him (Manderlay) I thought was just average; I believe he is one of the smartest filmmakers around in this day and age of cinema. The first film I watched by him was Antichrist and that was a movie that truly blew my mind. It was something that I had never seen before and I loved it. Immediately I had to know more about him, his films, and his mind and since then I have tried to understand this man. I recently saw Melancholia and absolutely loved it and decided to go on a Von Trier binge by watching Dancer In The Dark. I knew very little of this film, only knowing that Bjork was in it and that was very questionable in my mind. Still, just seeing Melancholia, I was willing to give this movie a shot and hopefully one again enjoy this film.

Dancer In The Dark stars Bjork as Selma Jezkova a mother of a young boy and factory worker who just loves American musicals. She loves musicals so much; her days are filled with daydreams of singing and dancing in the factory or even on a train. Unfortunately Selma has a unique disease that is taking away her sight slowly will eventually make her blind. She manages to still work at her factory, fooling a doctor even to get permission, and pins hairpins in unbent cardboard so that she can raise and save money. She saves the money in hopes that one day she will be able to pay for a surgery to save her son from the same disease she has. Unfortunately Selma’s landlord (David Morse) has run into money troubles and cannot afford the rich lifestyle he has lived and continues to ask Selma for a “loan” to help out. I don’t want to give out too much story so this is where I will stop but know that it gets much more interesting as the story goes on.

Melancholia Movie Review

Lars Von Trier has skyrocketed in stock in my personal film opinion. The man might be the most daring filmmaker today, Steve McQueen is up there too, but he certain is one of the smartest. He is a walking genius that has made some of the most brilliant, stunning, emotionally challenging, and visually dominated films that have ever been made. From Dancer In The Dark, which might be the most depressing movie ever made, to Dogville, which is the most challenging film I have ever seen; Von Trier shows no signs of stopping with his next film Melancholia. I had been interested in this film ever since I saw Antichrist, which rocked my world, and I couldn’t wait to finally see this film. Though you have to be careful with expectations because you could end up loving a film just because of expectations and the director even though it is awful. Still, with a stunning cast behind him and an interesting premise, Melancholia hopefully will be another thrill ride. Read on to see my thoughts…

Melancholia is about Justine (Kirsten Dunst) a newlywed who is unfortunately also dealing with severe depression in the most unique of ways. She cannot enjoy her wedding reception or even her husband. Her sister Claire tries to help her out by planning the reception and eventually trying to take care of her during her dark time. Claire is married to John, a rich man who is fascinated by the stars but is somewhat fed up with Justine and her action. The film is split up into two acts: the first following Justine during the wedding and the second following Claire and her family in preparation for the planet Melancholia.