A few of the movies I saw this year that I'd recommend, and my short take on each. Not all are movies made this year, but rather I simply saw then this year (just so we're clear on that).
Without further ado, and in no particular order:
Der Baader Meinhof Komplex
In the 60's & 70's United States, we had the Black Panthers, the Symbionese Liberation Army, and the Weather Underground. Feckin' pussies, the whole lot of them. You want real left-wing proletarian revolution? Look no farther than Germany's Red Army Faction (RAF). When it comes to good old-fashioned hell-raising with the 'Powers That Be', these guys took a back seat to no one. Political kidnappings and executions, hijacked planes, bombings of US military installations in Germany (with resultant loss of life among US servicemen), and even a takeover of the German Embassy in Switzerland. Hell, when the Palestine terror group Black September kidnapped the Israeli athletes at the '72 games in Munich, several members of the RAF were on their list of those who they were demanding to be set free. The RAF talked the talk, and walked the walk. Amazing that they are nearly forgotten in the US. Good film, highly recommended.
Juno
Great movie. Ellen Page is an awesome actress and has quite a future ahead of her.
The Hangover
Seems there's no in-between. Those who saw it either loved it or hated it. Normally I'd avoid movies like this, but I laughed my ass off the whole way through. Well done. :yes:
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
Long and somewhat drawn out, but necessary in order to try and understand the personalities and motivations behind the actions of the main characters. If western folklore interests you at all, it is not to be missed. Casey Affleck turns in his best performance ever, and shows that he's the real talent in the family.
Sunshine
Sci-Fi done wrong. What starts out quite promising turns into a slasher film about 2/3 of the way through. But the visuals are worth the price of admission, which is why I still recommend seeing it. Still, it's a shame. The potential was there for a classic movie in the league of '2001'.
Moon
Sci-Fi done right. A simple premise, a mystery to uncover, and the capability of future technology and the power of corporations to do great good or great harm to the individual. Asimov himself could have written the script...it is that good. A true instant classic, and if you love good sci-fi, you are doing yourself a major disservice by missing this one. Find it, watch it. :yes:
Mongol
The kind of movie Hollywood has forgotten how to make. Excellent, sweeping epic about the early days of Genghis Khan. Supposed to be a follow-up film picking up where this one left off. I hope so...
Alpha Dog
A rather unpleasant true story about youth run amok in SoCal. Bruce Willis, Justin Timberlake, Emile Hirsch. Good cast, horrific story, and makes me recall the 70's movie 'The Onion Field' in some ways. NOT the 'feel good movie of the year'.
Seven Pounds
I like Will Smith, and this is his best work. Gut-wrenching well-told story...thank God this one is fiction.
The Orphanage
If Hitchcock had ever decided to make a straightforward ghost movie, it probably would have looked something like this. Very scary in a 'tell a spooky story around the campfire' sort of way. Damn good flick. :thmbsp:
Up
I love to see what computer animation can do for 'animated' films (which is why I liked Bolt too ). Tack on a good story to boot, and I'll probably like it. 'Up' is a great film, regardless of your age (watch it with the kids, so you'll have an excuse if you think you need one). :tongue:
If I think of more, I'll add them later.
Without further ado, and in no particular order:
Der Baader Meinhof Komplex
In the 60's & 70's United States, we had the Black Panthers, the Symbionese Liberation Army, and the Weather Underground. Feckin' pussies, the whole lot of them. You want real left-wing proletarian revolution? Look no farther than Germany's Red Army Faction (RAF). When it comes to good old-fashioned hell-raising with the 'Powers That Be', these guys took a back seat to no one. Political kidnappings and executions, hijacked planes, bombings of US military installations in Germany (with resultant loss of life among US servicemen), and even a takeover of the German Embassy in Switzerland. Hell, when the Palestine terror group Black September kidnapped the Israeli athletes at the '72 games in Munich, several members of the RAF were on their list of those who they were demanding to be set free. The RAF talked the talk, and walked the walk. Amazing that they are nearly forgotten in the US. Good film, highly recommended.
Juno
Great movie. Ellen Page is an awesome actress and has quite a future ahead of her.
The Hangover
Seems there's no in-between. Those who saw it either loved it or hated it. Normally I'd avoid movies like this, but I laughed my ass off the whole way through. Well done. :yes:
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
Long and somewhat drawn out, but necessary in order to try and understand the personalities and motivations behind the actions of the main characters. If western folklore interests you at all, it is not to be missed. Casey Affleck turns in his best performance ever, and shows that he's the real talent in the family.
Sunshine
Sci-Fi done wrong. What starts out quite promising turns into a slasher film about 2/3 of the way through. But the visuals are worth the price of admission, which is why I still recommend seeing it. Still, it's a shame. The potential was there for a classic movie in the league of '2001'.
Moon
Sci-Fi done right. A simple premise, a mystery to uncover, and the capability of future technology and the power of corporations to do great good or great harm to the individual. Asimov himself could have written the script...it is that good. A true instant classic, and if you love good sci-fi, you are doing yourself a major disservice by missing this one. Find it, watch it. :yes:
Mongol
The kind of movie Hollywood has forgotten how to make. Excellent, sweeping epic about the early days of Genghis Khan. Supposed to be a follow-up film picking up where this one left off. I hope so...
Alpha Dog
A rather unpleasant true story about youth run amok in SoCal. Bruce Willis, Justin Timberlake, Emile Hirsch. Good cast, horrific story, and makes me recall the 70's movie 'The Onion Field' in some ways. NOT the 'feel good movie of the year'.
Seven Pounds
I like Will Smith, and this is his best work. Gut-wrenching well-told story...thank God this one is fiction.
The Orphanage
If Hitchcock had ever decided to make a straightforward ghost movie, it probably would have looked something like this. Very scary in a 'tell a spooky story around the campfire' sort of way. Damn good flick. :thmbsp:
Up
I love to see what computer animation can do for 'animated' films (which is why I liked Bolt too ). Tack on a good story to boot, and I'll probably like it. 'Up' is a great film, regardless of your age (watch it with the kids, so you'll have an excuse if you think you need one). :tongue:
If I think of more, I'll add them later.