Singin' in the Rain

The first time I saw Singin' in the Rain (1952) was in a small corner of my computer screen as I kept busy with other work. Needless to say, the movie soon drew me in and I ended up putting off the work to finish the film.

The movie keeps a very interesting story for a musical. I find that sometimes either the story gets lost in the songs (Nine) or the songs get lost in the story (Dreamgirls.) Singin' in the Rain is one of those rare musicals that balance both perfectly. The story is a complicated drama of old cinema where silent film stars had trouble transitioning to talking films. The songs are classic tunes that were weaved into the storyline and serve as a break for the storytelling in the film. The performances are spot on for the most part and the movie is entertaining as a whole. My only problem is Gene Kelly's showboating throughout the film. If he's not the focus of a scene, he finds the quickest way to make himself the focus - even by adding a ludicrous and unnecessary extended dance number near the end of the film that doesn't further the story by even one second by the time it's done.

Overall, a very enjoyable film, but Kelly brings it down a notch from what it could have been with a little creative editing. (9.0/10)

Last Tango in Paris

I put off watching Last Tango in Paris (1972) for years because I didn't feel I was old enough to appreciate it. I'm glad I waited because there are so many things in this movie meant for an adult mind to process, that I probably wouldn't have enjoyed it as much when I was a teenager.

The movie is as much about love as it is about fleeting romance. Two people meet, they talk, they become physically close, but through the whole movie they do not become mentally close. You see them share moments together that do not fill their potential because though they may show love for one another, they are not in love. This theme is played through to the end when they finally share a moment that feels real and genuine, only to leave the film as an open-ended romance. I think this movie represents so much, but for me it's the only film to question the uncertainty of love and whether it's possible/necessary at all to live your life with that emotion.

Really an extraordinary movie in its frank portrayal of the relationship between the main characters. (7.8/10)

Meet the Spartans

While looking over previous posts I've realized that even though I've reviewed some movies I didn't like, I never reviewed an absolutely terrible movie. That's where Meet the Spartans (2008) comes in.

Even though it was universally panned when it was released, I got suckered into watching it for myself. And I couldn't believe what I was seeing. The story made barely any sense, as though it were just a thin line of ideas to string pop culture references together. I could picture people in the audience going "haha, Paris Hilton is totally like that" or "wow, that was a spot on Britney Spears impression." It was the same filth from the same people who killed the once-great MadTV and I can't say enough terrible things about it. The only redeeming factor was the eye candy that is Sean McGuire. Beyond that I couldn't take watching the movie.

A 0.0/10 film gets a slight bump up for including a hot guy. I guess I'm just that shallow. (1.5/10)

Harold and Maude

For years I had heard of a quirky older comedy named Harold and Maude (1971) and I finally decided to rent it to see what I'd been missing out on. I soon found out that I wasn't missing out on much. The story itself was okay, but they really needed a better musical supervisor for the film.

The story follows a young boy named Harold as he lives day to day thinking about death and the meaning of life. His family is unimpressed with is antics and he doesn't have any friends to speak of. That is, until he meets Maude while they both attend a random funeral in town. The eccentric pair play together and try to establish meaning in each other's worlds. It's a very cute idea that doesn't quite work. I do love Ruth Gordon in the movie, but she's about it. And the music is horrible. I know a lot of people love the Cat Stevens songs in the film, but they are repeated to death and almost made me turn the movie off.

A nice enough idea for a movie that wasn't pulled off particularly well. (6.7/10)

Rosemary's Baby

I absolutely love Rosemary's Baby (1968) and I think it is one of the most perfectly executed horror films of all time. There are so few movies that keep you at the pace of their main characters, where you don't know what's going to happen next, that it makes this stand out even more.

Rosemary Woodhouse is a newlywed, married to an up and coming actor in New York City. They move into a new apartment and are immediately welcomed by the neighbors after a tragedy puts them in the same place at the same time. But is this fate? Strange things soon begin to happen to Rosemary and she soon starts to question who around her is on her side and who is out to hurt her. In the end she discovers the truth, something truly chilling and terrifying with an ending that blows the viewer's mind.

They just don't make horror movies like this anymore, I could watch this film a hundred times. (9.2/10)

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

I went into Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005) I didn't know what to think. The overall atmosphere seemed to be more playful in this version of the story, but I wasn't sure that anything had improved. And, in my mind, why remake a movie unless you're improving on the original?

The story is essentially the same: Charlie finds the elusive golden ticket and is whisked into Willy Wonka's dream of a candy factory. Many of the rooms in the factory are essentially the same and the movie moves at essentially the same pace from place to place. Johnny Depp makes Wonka less outwardly creepy, aiming his creep factor toward adults that wouldn't want him around their kids as opposed to kids that would enjoy his friendly awkwardness. My biggest problem with the remake are the unnecessary and overly long musical numbers all performed by the same person playing hundreds of Oompa Loompas. They are terrible to say the least.

I just can't bring myself to like this movie as much as I wanted to. It's not Tim Burton's worst, but it's far from a good film. (6.5/10)

Jennifer's Body

There's something about Jennifer's Body (2009) that I like, but after two viewings I still can't put my finger on it. I'm not a huge fan of the plot, the acting isn't spectacular, and the way the film is shot leaves something to be desired. But, there's still something about it I like.

The story follows a girl named Needy who has to put up with Jennifer, the best friend from Hell... literally. After a botched virgin sacrifice (because she is not one), Jennifer now has to stay alive by killing people and drinking their blood. It's up to Needy to make sure Jennifer stays in line and stops killing people she knows. The whole thing is kind of stupid, but it come across as a horror film version of Mean Girls. That may be why I like it, there's dark humor and it's enough to keep my interest.

Not a movie I would watch over and over, but definitely a fun movie. (6.9/10)

Showgirls

If I had to make a list of movies that were personal favorites, movies I could watch over and over as opposed to movies that I thought were made well and acted well, I would put Showgirls (1995) in the top five.

From the moment you meet Nomi Malone in the opening scene, you know you're in for a trip. The story follows a female hitchhiker who makes her way to Las Vegas. After being abandoned by her ride she meets the tailor for one of the glitzy, adult Vegas shows. Long story short, Nomi gets into the show and that's when all of her new troubles start. The movie itself is not all that bad. The direction and cinematography are wonderful and most of the acting is above average. The problem comes with the overall feel that things are pushed too far in the wrong directions and with the editing choices including several cuts and scenes that are wholly unnecessary.

Despite its faults, I think Showgirls will come to be seen as a classic and I cross my fingers that one day studios will embrace the NC-17 rating as an open door for creative filmmakers. (8.3/10)

United 93

I don't think there has been a film that has ever been made so soon after a major tragedy depicting it on the big screen. Gone With the Wind was 50 years later, A Night to Remember was about 40 years later, and there were some Vietnam War classics, but those were years and years after the beginning of the war. In the case of September 11, 2001, United 93 (2006) was made less than 5 years later.

The movie itself is pretty basic, but that was really the only way to go about the subject matter. Unknown actors make up the cast of the film and handheld cameras make the viewer feel like they are another passenger in the plane. The story is well known by now as the plane that was thought to be headed for the U.S. capitol building that was brought down by the passengers on the plane before it reached its target. Watching the movie on opening weekend was an intense emotional experience that I will never forget. I don't think there will ever be another movie with the power that this one had just years after something the country experienced together.

This is still a powerful, raw film and I am still shocked that it was not nominated for Best Picture on a year when Little Miss Sunshine and The Queen were up for the prize. (9.1/10)

Sunshine Cleaning

I love movies that are all about the acting and Sunshine Cleaning (2008) is a perfect example of that. Even though the story is interesting, it's really all about character interaction and how the actors choose to portray the parts they play.

The story follows two sisters who, after both being at low places in their lives, begin a cleaning business. This sounds kind of boring until the cleaning turns out to be crime scene clean-up. They run into many troubles along the way, but in the end everything works out all right. The back and forth that occurs between Amy Adams and Emily Blunt is amazing and I can't believe these two hadn't worked together before. There is also some subtlety added to certain scenes by one of my favorite small-time actors Clifton Collins Jr.

Even though this movie won't go down as a classic, or even be remembered a few years from now, I really enjoyed the experience of watching it. (7.6/10)