I am into life.

Into the wild. Sean Penn. Choices and kindness. Makes choices and results come. Start the day and have no idea how it will end. Strangers and meetings will run their course. This movie is about that. Emile Hirsch is great and Sean Penn takes the setting to a complete next level. The movie mesmerizes the audience with grand vistas, but the essence of the movie is that what is inside all of us. Life happens and we are all actors in each others main role. Death happens and life goes on with all its sentiments. Sean Penn shows mastery of this. (2007)

Not grey. Good.

The grey. Joe Carnahan. The grey is a greatly misunderstood movie. The studio cut the trailer as an action packed movie and changed a very important element in the trailer to not scare viewers away. (They changed the wording of the poem from Live AND Die to Live OR Die) However in fact it is a movie about a personal drama and growth versus the backdrop of a very unfriendly and deadly setting. This movie has great actors supporting Liam Neeson in one of his better roles. The problem of the ending is not a problem it is a statement in the spirit of the movie. It also has one of the better plane crash scenes. (2012)

How to insult Alan Moore.

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. Stephen Norrington. This movie was highly anticipated by me when it came out. I remember coming out of the cinema and thought it was crap. I found it on a lost HD and gave it another shot, but I was right the first time. It is in the premier league of crap. It is a true shame, since Alan Moore who made the comic on which this movie is based is an excellent storyteller. But this is just not even funny to watch. Painful in all respects. Interestingly the director had a good start to his career, but I am guessing Hollywood punished him (although it did reasonable at the box office) for this movie since he has not directed anything since. Perhaps the pressure of ruining an Alan Moore story does this to a man.  (2003)

Black School of Acting

Bernie. Richard Linklater. This movie was missed in all cinemas. That was clearly a shame. This movie has two great things. Jack Black and Bernie. Jack’s performance is a sign of actor mastery. The other is Bernie who was quite the remarkable character in real life. Together it makes an entertaining black comedy. The relationships that grow and the supporting cast do a great job for this movie but I think people will enjoy the acting Jack pulls out of his hat. The director and Jack worked together before in another movie (School of Rock) which was a mild success, its a shame Bernie did nothing at the box office. I got high hopes its sleeper movie. (2011)

Dollarman

Batman Begins. Christopher Nolan. After the decay and camp Batman movies earlier, it was clear that with the 21st century upon us, Batman needed a new beginning. It got it with this movie. I liked it but I still think the motivations and character that Batman is, are far fetched. I am wondering why there are not more Batmans on this earth unless it all comes down to the fact if you got cash. He gets the goodies because he got the dollars. Pretty much, like all things in life. Guess this movie is more real than I thought. (2005)

Rio Bravoure

Rio Bravo. Howard Hawks. Watching this movie years after its debut is a tough thing to do. Having read too much about Wayne or heard too much about Rio remakes, makes this movie a tough watch. But you will not be disappointed. A seasoned movie watcher will notice this movie is a modern Greek tragedy that would serve as a blueprint for many movies after it was released. Not a lot wrong with this movie and its proper western at its zenith. (1959)

Wild Debut

Wild Bill. Dexter Fletcher. This is a debut that should mark the career of a future great director. Dexter was/is an actor that has succeeded to make quite a good movie. The actors are spot on and deliver a very believable performance. The story may be one that you have seen before, but the execution is remarkable and noteworthy. Watch this movie if you like believable characters in an English setting (ps. the director acted in Lock, Stock and two smoking barrels in case you want to see him as an actor.). (2012)

1.e4 c5

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. Tomas Alfredson.  This is an underrated spy movie that almost passed my attention completely. Gary Oldman delivers a great, timid performance as George Smiley. The movie is based on a book from John le Carré who is the spy novel writer extraordinaire. Sleep well before you watch this movie because there are many subtle insinuations, connections and second-level clues to follow the movie. I guess you can say, this is a chess game in the form of a movie. Very watchable but make sure you are not distracted while you follow the plot. (2011)

Slapstick horror.

The Three Stooges. Farrelly Brothers. Hilariously I did not even laugh once. Oh wait, I did at the credits. It is the most funny moment when they have two actors pretending to be the directors explaining kids to not do it at home. The movie is a remake from the The Three Stooges era many decades ago. Slapstick just does not work anymore and that is why I failed to laugh once. I resented that since the Farrelly Brothers may have made the most funny movie ever (Dumb and Dumber). I guess these guys wanted to remake it out of melancholy and I am happy for them that they found three actors who ‘got’ The Three Stooges completely. Forgettable and perhaps funny if you are 6 years old. (2012)

 

317 minutes of pain or pleasure.

1900 (Italian: Novecento). Bernardo Bertolucci. This is a difficult movie to rate. I think you should see it simply because there are pieces of brilliance in it. Overall the movie does not rate well compared to other masterpieces. But this movie is an epic masterpiece in my youth alone. The reason is that I was forced to watch it for History lessons in high school and it made my love for movies even bigger. The movie may not be good, but imagine the impact of a 5 hour movie marathon during history lessons…. EPIC. Whatever you do, watch the 317 minute version so you get the full monty. Some classical actors have their young careers started here. (1976)