10 Movies I Can Watch Any Time
My favorite movies are The Godfather, 2001: A Space Odyssey, and Psycho. But I’m not always in the mood to watch three hours of the mafia, apes and wormholes, or Janet Leigh getting murdered. There’s a big difference between best movies and favorite movies, and there’s an even bigger difference between favorite movies and most […]
Top 10 Movies of the “Filmspotting Era”
Webster’s Dictionary defines Filmspotting as “a force of good in the universe.” Or maybe that was Rian Johnson. Whatever the case, my favorite film podcast turned 500 this past week, and to celebrate the occasion it held a live event where hosts Adam and Josh counted down their top five favorite films of the “Filmspotting […]
What Else I’m Watching: September 2013
Because you can’t review them all. Sadly, life gets in the way of writing about everything I see, so this space is as much for keeping track of what I’m watching as it is for you to share your thoughts on what are, with any luck, a group of high-quality films. It’s an eclectic bunch […]
Pain and Gain Review
RATING: (3 STARS) It seems like it’d be hard for anyone to hate Pain and Gain if it didn’t seemingly trivialize a pair of brutal murders. It’s more energetic than any film this year. The trio of Mark Wahlberg, Dwayne Johnson, and Anthony Mackie is exceptional (and exceptionally casted). And director Michael Bay‘s insistence on […]
Top 10 Leonardo DiCaprio Performances
It’s kind of amazing that everyone’s favorite heartthrob circa 1997, the guy who gave us Jack Dawson himself, has turned into one of cinema’s most fascinating, exciting, and reliable actors. While a gold statue has still managed to elude him, Leonardo DiCaprio has a resume many actors would kill for. He’s Scorsese’s new golden boy […]
TOP 10: Best Movie Remakes
The good news of the week: Arthur actually wasn’t that bad. The bad news: It unsurprisingly comes nowhere near this list of my 10 favorite film remakes ever. But hell, I can live with that. I’m just glad my $10 didn’t go to waste. But anyway, enjoy the list, and let me know what some […]
The Ten Best Films of 2006
10.) Notes on a Scandal Outstanding acting and a tight story elevate this film above a few cringe-worthy moments related to its conclusion. Cate Blanchett was robbed of a Best Supporting Actress Oscar. 9.) The Prestige Christopher Nolan can do anything, including early-20th century magic thrillers, apparently. The Prestige is a film that’s all story, […]
Ranking the 2000s Best Picture Winners
10.) A Beautiful Mind (2001) It’s just another biopic in my opinion. The film is emotionally involving but not in the least bit challenging or unique. Crowe and Connelly give strong performances, but Best Picture? Really? 9.) Gladiator (2000) This is a great example of summer entertainment. It’s a lot of fun, and the battle […]
The Departed Review
RATING: (4 STARS) “The Departed†is director Martin Scorsese’s best work since “Taxi Driver.†Yeah, I said it. I think this film is better than “Goodfellas†and “Raging Bull.†In fact, for a long time, this film was my standard answer for the dreaded “What’s your favorite movie?†question. I no longer hold it in […]
The Best Films of the 2000s
It’s hard to believe how much has changed for me over ten years. This was my coming-of-age decade. At the change of the millennium, I was in sixth grade. Now, with one semester left in college, I’m about to become a real person. In terms of movies, in 2000, I maybe attended two or three […]
The Best Performances of the 2000s
In descending order: 10.) Hilary Swank (Million Dollar Baby) – Most of Clint Eastwood’s films this decade have featured a lead character who, for better or worse, dominates the screen. Sean Penn in Mystic River, Angelina Jolie and Changeling, and Eastwood himself in Gran Torino all demonstrate this. They might not be captivating figures, but […]
