Best movie you saw in the last year

No matter what movie I pick, I'm gonna wanna go "no wait!" in five minutes anyhow. I'm going with Blue Valentine. The acting in this was just amazing and the story was completely real and heartbreaking. Bonus points for Michelle's tap dance to Ryan's ukulele filled croonings.

Oh Thirty Day Movie Challenge, Ima make you my bitch

Day 01- The best movie you saw during the last year
Day 02 – The most underrated movie
Day 03 – A movie that makes you really happy
Day 04 – A movie that makes you sad
Day 05 – Favorite love story in a movie
Day 06 – Favorite made for TV movie
Day 07 – The most surprising plot twist or ending
Day 08 – A movie that you’ve seen countless times
Day 09 – A movie with the best soundtrack
Day 10 – Favorite classic movie
Day 11 – A movie that changed your opinion about something
Day 12 – A movie that you hate
Day 13 – A movie that is a guilty pleasure
Day 14 – A movie that no one would expect you to love
Day 15 – A character who you can relate to the most
Day 16 – A movie that you used to love but now hate
Day 17 – A movie that disappointed you the most
Day 18 – A movie that you wish more people would’ve seen
Day 19 – Favorite movie based on a book/comic/etc.
Day 20 – Favorite movie from your favorite actor/actress
Day 21 – Favorite action movie
Day 22 – Favorite documentary
Day 23 – Favorite animation
Day 24 – That one awesome movie idea that still hasn’t been done yet
Day 25 – The most hilarious movie you’ve ever seen
Day 26 – A movie that you love but everyone else hates
Day 27 – A movie that you wish you had seen in theaters
Day 28 – Favorite movie from your favorite director
Day 29 – A movie from your childhood
Day 30 – Your favorite movie of all time

We could be movers, we could be shakers. If we could just shake something outta the blue we could get off the ride

Yesterday I received a tantalizing offer to see "Sucker Punch" with my pal Ashlee, who was armed with coupons. We got to upgrade to the UltraAVX theater at no cost AND we got a free drink when we bought popcorn. (Contain your jealousy, I'm just getting started here).

I enjoy really good looking movies, even if they lack in plot or talent otherwise. I was absolutely electrified by 300 and I enjoyed the visuals of Watchmen despite the complete bastardization of the comic plot wise. Naturally I was eager to see Director Zack Snyder's latest overture "Sucker Punch".


Firstly I have to say that Emily Browning is ludicrously good looking. Despite what I'm sure was a costly budget spent on C.G and visual effects, Browning is by far the best looking thing in this film.

See?! Eyes, skin, hair, lips, bone structure, this chick has it in SPADES. You almost can't look directly at her lest self loathing set in and you feel compelled to put your head in the oven ASAP.

Here entourage of babes were in no way repulsive either.

Ok, Emily Browning's insane beauty is the easiest aspect of this film to comment upon. Lemme preface the following with the statement that I ENJOYED THIS MOVIE. That being said, I probably wont watch it again or buy it. Here's why...
The plot is loose and awkward. Telling the story of Babydoll who is placed in a mental institution by her greedy and depraved step father. She is suffering from the guilt of having accidentally killed her little sister while trying to protect her from said evil step father. Bad daddy has arranged for Babydoll to be lobotomized in five days time. The institution then becomes a fantasy bordello where Babydoll joins forces with fellow harlots Sweat Pea, Rocket, Blondie and Amber and makes a plan to escape before the "Highroller" comes in five days time to claim Babydolls innocence and virtue. The girls enter another realm of fantasy as they salvage each item needed in their plan to escape. Each item involves a videogame level type adventure where these miltant babes battle steampunk zombie militia, dragons, orc type things and robots. The transition between these fantasies is awkward and sometimes you find yourself thinking "whaaaaa..?" but ultimately the fight scenes are great although maybe a little to reliant upon C.G with some badass explosions, airplane stunts, gunplay and sword fights. The girls are guided through each challenge by a creepy old man that says lame catch phrases like "Don't write cheques with your mouths that your asses can cash" or something like that. The script wasn't especially well written...

Another qualm I have is that all this fantasy sword fighting takes place while Babydoll is entrancing the enemy (bordello club owner, knife wielding chef etc) with her uncannily sexy dance (stiffle that erection, you never actually get to see her move). The girls are continually reminded that they already posses all the weapons they need to survive. NOW, are these "weapons" the girls tits or their minds? If it's their tits, I feel like that's a scummy enough message that the film should actually be a little smutty (disappointingly pg) and if it's their minds then "Hooray" but seriously, at the end of the day they are all just a bunch of bitches waiting to get lobotomized in the looney bin. ALSO if Babydoll is sexy dancing in her fantasy world what is she REALLY doing in the institution. Was it this?

Dear Oscars, it's not me it's you. definitely you...

Oscar,
We've had some good years you and I. I'm pretty sure my dad introduced us and we clicked right away. But gone are the days of absurdly long winded acceptance speeches and hilarious hosts. You've been reduced from your former glory to a three hour long nap. You've cheapened yourself and I believe it shows in your ratings. You've become such a ghost of what you once were that I simply don't care anymore. So I'm breaking it off, next year I will maybe catch your highlights (best actor/ actress, best directing, best picture), I may even just watch them online the next day (gasp!). Pregnant Natalie Portman winning best actress and Mila Kunis amazun dress was mildly entertaining but for the other 3 hours and 53 minutes, I could barely keep my eyes open!

"These two people in the water, trying to hold onto each other, holding on as hard as they can, but in the end it's just too much. "

I celebrated finishing Kazou Ishiguro's "Never Let Me Go" by watching the 2010 film. I'm gonna go ahead and state the obvious, the book is better. It isn't so much better that I sat in face palm for the entire 103 minutes. I felt instead like the film did a good job of capturing the "essence" of the novel while at the same time highlighting some of my favorite moments and scenes. My main complaint would be that the film plods along a little quickly, whereas the book moves slower, revealing the nuances of the plot slowly rather than dropping them mid gait. It's hard to sell someone on this film or book without giving too much away but I'm going to try.

It's a story told by Kathy H. about growing up at Hailsham with Tommy and Ruth. Hailsham is a school and residence for very special students. Essentially Hailsham prepares their students for their future. When the students leave Hailsham as young adults, they become carers before becoming donors. Carers are a sort of care-aid for the donors, and the donors essentially exist for the purpose of periodic organ harvesting for the remainder of their short lives. This bleak fate is not the forefront of the novel or film, its the complicated relationship between Kathy, Ruth and Tommy. The bonds, love etc between these three childhood friends becomes the sacrifice on behalf of medical progress rather than their actual physical bodies. The limited time in which the characters actually have to live is frustrating and heartbreaking, more heartbreaking is the time within that limited frame that they manage to waste and loose. Essentially the film and the book will break your heart, and despite the whole distopian aspect of the plot, it actually feels entirely too close to the finality, truth and reality of life.

Blood in the Meadowlark

Elia Kazan directed some of my absolute favorite old films such as : A Streetcar Named Desire, East of Eden, On the Waterfront and Baby Doll. He was blacklisted in the industry for testifying for the House Un-American Activities Committee and ratting out some of his fellow industry pals. One might argue that he didn't have a ton of choice in the matter. Either way it was this exile that allowed for his friendship with play-write Tennessee Williams to bloom, leading to some of his best work. He was a huge supporter of method acting and was known as an "actor's director" you can thank him for sharing the genius of Marlon Brando with the world.
I am rambling.

I was stoked to discover that Zoe Kazan, my new actress crush, was his granddaughter.  You may remember her from her short bit (nude scene) in Revolutionary Road. She is also in the tv show that I have been dieing to watch, Bored to Death. Im going home to download The Exploding Girl asap.

Snow can wait, I forgot my mittens

Lately I've been feeling as though I have little to look forward to, particularly in a film realm. None of the releases lately have managed to illicit even an eyebrow raise from me. Today I decided that enough is enough and perused the apple trailers for some gooduns. I sorted through all the crap and came out with a few gems that tickled my fancy.
In no particular order...
Jane Eyre- March 2011

I really enjoyed reading Jane Eyre and I thought I was going to be bored out of my mind. Without giving too much away, I enjoyed the creepiness of the book. Essentially I'm referring to the "eeriness" of Mr. Rochester's house and his situation. I also rather like Mia Wishaiodahfoafaosfwhatsherface from Alice in Wonderland(though i detested that movie). I think she may turn out to be somewhat brilliant at acting. Dame Judi Dench is always a treat and I've loved Jamie Bell ever since Billy Elliott.

All Good Things- Dec 3
My life has been seriously lacking in Kirsten Dunst these past few years and I'm sure many will agree. The Virgin Suicides and Marie Antoinette are two films I adore and watch regularly to get my Dunst on. Also included would be Strike (Alternately titled All I Wanna Do, Interview with the Vampire and Eternal Sunshine). (and when I'm feeling super 13 again, Bring It On and Crazy/Beautiful). Pair this snaggle toothed honey with the ever puppy dog eyed Ryan Gosling and you have yourself a intrigued and slightly aroused Gillian. All perversions aside, this coupling should be just as awesome as the Levitt/Deschanel duo earlier in the year. This movie looks well filmed and riveting. It had me at "Based on true events".

Tron-Dec 17
I don't think I need to explain this one. It's not so much that I WANT to see it, I feel as though I HAVE TO. Too many hours spent watching Tron in high school getting squiffy to not give this next round a go.

Sucker Punch- March 2011

I'm a total sucker for these gritty overly gray HD nerd baiters. You're never quite sure if the depiction of women is supposed to be empowering or completely exploitative, though your always sort of leaning towards the latter. (and when you're really honest with yourself you kinda just don't care). My favorite part of Sin City was the team of badass hookers so I imagine this film sort of being a veritable "Badass Team of Hookers Big Day Out" sort of flick. I also saw copious amounts of dragons, swords, samurais, bewbs, fishnets, guns, explosions, fire and fighter planes so I feel as though my hands are somewhat tied on this one. I'm in, I'm in, I'm so freaking innnnnnnnnnnnnnn.

Biutiful

Another movie from Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, who is kind of a big deal, having directed and produced 21 Grams, Amores Perros and Babel. I can't really explain what makes me want to see this movie, other than my undying love for Javier Bardem (I'm a sucker for a roman nose). I feel like the synopsis on IMDB is sort vague "This is a story of a man in free fall. On the road to redemption, darkness lights his way. Connected with the afterlife, Uxbal is a tragic hero and father of two who's sensing the danger of death. He struggles with a tainted reality and a fate that works against him in order to forgive, for love, and forever." as is the trailer but in all the right ways that make me want to see it. I love those multiple seemingly disconnected plot lines  and I'm especially stoked when they all come together in the end. (Crash 2004, amiright?)


Blue Valentine

I've been eagerly awaiting this movie since it was the talk of Sundance a million years ago (I am prone to exaggeration). Michelle Williams has come a long way since her days on Dawson's Creek, as has Ryan Gosling since his stints on Breaker High and Hercules. (Now if only Jimmy would hit it big) These two have been busting their little acting chops for a while now and they both seem to favor the smaller indie flicks over the blockbusters; I appreciate the actors who don't just choose the path of least resistance.

This is probably the movie I'm most excited for so I wish they would stop teasing me with the freaking COMING SOON at the end of the trailer. WHEN BLUE VALENTINE?? WHEN?!?!?!?

Restless
I love Gus Van Sant. Sometimes he has a tendency to drag on a scene to the point of pretentiousness (Eff yew Last Days) but My Own Private Idaho, Drugstore Cowboy, Good Will Hunting, Elephant and Milk are some of my absolute favorite movies. I didn't love Paranoid Park but I did love this scene of skating the fullpipe.

Anyways, Mia Witiahsiodwhatsherface really is on a role this year, this film looks really awesome, sort of sad and oddly coherent for a van sant movie.


Black Swan

I'm really just sort of interested in seeing Natalie Portman go batshit crazy. It looks confusing, crazy and a little sexy?

Never Let Me Go
I'm not entirely sure what this is about but my cousin Erika told me to watch and I do what she tells me because she is freaking rad. Also I really love Carey Mulligan.

Also Mark Romanek directed One Hour Photo and that film was pretty oddball and awesome so I'm psyched.
Anyways, there you have it. I feel like my life has purpose again.