The Station Agent

I really enjoyed this film. The acting is great, the script is sweet and the visuals are nice and quiet. Peter Dinklage is charming as the dwarf who just wants to be left alone. Bobby Cannavale and Patricia Clarkson are very enjoyable, one for the highs and one for the lows. It felt at times like a realistic version of a Hal Hartley film. It’s a first time effort by a longtime actor named Thomas McCarthy. Guys like him are great to see in recurring character roles, and now it’s awesome to see the character and charm he crafted in this film.
Favorite moment: The look Fin gives to the grocer when she takes his picture.
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Lord of War

This is one lame movie. It’s a big shame too because Andrew Niccol’s first film was the fantastic “Gattaca.” This film has high production values and lots of location shooting but the plot is trite and lecturing while having no substance. The film tries to be a morality tale about the world-wide gun trade but it is told in too sweeping a fashion. Nick Cage easily moves all over the globe having transformed himself from aimless son of an immigrant restaurant owner into an international arms dealer. Boy that was easy! Nick Cage is Nick Cage… ugh. The film is made a little more palatable with the presence of Ian Holm and Ethan Hawk but their appearances are few and far between. The truth is that this film really exposes the immorality of filmmakers who dress their movies up with “messages” and cheat filmgoers on entertainment. See “The Constant Gardner” for a film with message and entertainment.
Favorite moment: The dismantling of the transport plane.
47

The Chumscrubber

This is a very interesting film that seems descended from “Quadrophenia,” “Over the Edge” and “River's Edge.” It has an amazing cast that includes Jamie Bell, Glenn Close, Ralph Fiennes, Allison Janney, John Heard, Rita Wilson, Jason Isaacs and William Fichtner. It’s the second feature from a relatively new director and it is an impressive showing. The story runs between a satire of suburbia and its dark reality. I really enjoyed seeing Jamie Bell. “King Kong” was the first time I had seen him since his performance as “Billy Elliot” and it’s obvious that he was not a flash in the pan. He will probably have as successful a career as Christian Bale having made the same successful transition from child actor.
Favorite moment: Glenn Close’s silent scream.
46

Inside Man

Love Spike! Always have and always will. “Do the Right Thing” is one of my all time favorite films and though “Inside Man” is not a classic like DRT, it is a great tribute to films made in and about NYC during the seventies. It has a great primary cast (Denzel, Willem, Clive, Jodie, and Christopher “Edelweiss” Plummer) in addition to an entertaining supporting cast. There is a nice sense of direction and a wonderful quietness between actors despite the film being about a bank robbery. Under a different director they would all be blasting each other instead of listening and responding. Denzel and Jodie have a surprising chemistry that made me want to see more of the two together. Also loved seeing Willem Dafoe as a normal run of the guy… it’s been a while! Spike is an American Master Film Maker and "Inside Man" is a nice addition to his body of work.
Favorite moment: Eating pizza in the vault.
45

V for Vendetta

I was very much looking forward to this film based on the spectacle shown in the trailers. Never read the graphic novel so I didn’t have any preconceptions about I was about to see. I was surprised when the bulk of the story turned out to be a police procedural with Stephen Rea as our lead detective. The film itself was ok but the performances by Natalie Portman, Hugo Weaving, Stephen Fry, Rupert Graves, John Hurt, Tim Pigott-Smith and Rea are why I stayed. It’s tough to emote when you have to wear a fixed mask all the time, but Weaving makes V very likeable and threatening. A good basic effort overall but nothing earth-shattering.
Favorite moment: V making eggs.
44

Domino

Love the way Tony Scott films look. “Man on Fire” had just the right balance for me. This one was a bit too much on hyper-drive. But I guess that was the point since it was less bio-pic and more fantasy riff on a life. Great staggered cuts, quick jumps and lovely greens and golds. Especially the scene in the Stratosphere with Dabney Coleman. Surprising Tom Waits cameo as the deus ex machina.
Favorite moment: Jerry Springer and the Multi-Racial Flow Chart
43

Love, Liza

Didn’t know it when I watched it, but this was directed by the guy who played Dick in “High Fidelity.” Interesting… well not really. And neither is the film. Goes on a bit too long and though Phillip Seymour Hoffman is, of course, very good in the role I couldn’t care less what happened to his character after awhile. The supporting peeps are good though Kathy Bates was given very little to do. More Kathy and Phillip interaction might have spruced this one up. Interesting basic idea but the wife kills-self husband-gets distraught story had more weight in the “Solaris” remake than it does here.
Favorite moment: Denny trying to tell Wilson what the right and wrong atmospheres would be for the opening of his wife’s suicide letter. He recommends candles in the room.
42

Old Boy

This is one fucked up movie. So stylish and visually compelling that it has to be watched but a plot so cruel it shouldn’t be watched. And it gets cruel! No westerner would ever make this film and that’s one of the things that makes it so compelling. Asian sensibilities and story-rules are so different that films like this feel new and not regurgitated to a dopey American like me. The opening and closing rain/snow shots from above remind me of the great visuals Gore Verbinski creates but this film is so much better than most everything he has done. All of his films so far have been B or C movies. It’s as if his evil (and more talented) twin brother made this one. Sorry Gore, but it’s true! Way to go Chan-wook Park – you rock you evil bastard.
Favorite moment: The fight scene in the hallway of the prison where the cut-away of the hall becomes the film’s frame.
41

Never Been Thawed

I was worried that this film did not qualify under the Rules of Faithful Film Watching, but technically it did show on at least one big screen once. It is a funny film about the intersections of uber-nerd collectors of frozen dinners, zealous born-again Christians and rock and roll. Though this film feels a lot like sketch comedy scenes strung together it does work as a whole and has some big laughs. I loved the whole idea of an entrepreneur opening a chain of coffee shops called the “No Choice Café” near abortion clinics so he could capture the business of abortion protestors while they protested. It made me laugh and I even liked it better than “Saved” which follows some of the same themes and had a higher budget.
Favorite moment: The abortion protestor hassling visitors to the clinic while he eats on the terrace of the “No Choice Cafe.”
40

Saved!

A film that many people say is a must see funny comedy. I found it a little boring and over the top. It has some amusing moments and Macaulay Culkin is actually quite good as the paraplegic brother of Mandy Moore but as I watched it I kept wanting the wit of “Election” or even “Never Been Thawed.” Would have been a better skit than full blown film.
Favorite moment: Mandy Moore crashing into the giant Jesus.
39

Essex Boys

Another film in my favorite genre of British gangster films. But this one is a let down despite a great cast (Sean Bean, Tom Wilkinson, Alex Kingston and Charlie Creed-Miles). Some interesting moments but ultimately drags and bores by the end.
Favorite moment: Tom Wilkinson hunting down Charlie Creed-Miles in the marshes. Where’s Magwitch when a boy really needs him?
38

Grey Owl

I love Richard Attenborough’s films. He makes big sweeping films similar to David Lean’s and they have the heart of sweet, sweet soul. He and his brother, nature filmmaker David Attenborough, have contributed more to filmmaking in the late 1900’s than most anyone I can think of. “Grey Owl” is yet another sweeping story but this time told closer to home, in parts of Canada that look and feel like the Adirondacks. It’s an interesting true story of an Indian with a questionable past who helped promote environmental concerns in the 1930’s. Pierce Brosnan is great (as he always is!) as Archie Grey Owl and the visuals are awesome. The pace is quiet and slow but it adds to rather than takes away from the film.
Favorite moment: Archie accepting the beaver kittens.
37

Grey Gardens

This is one scary film. A documentary by the Maysles Brothers (“Gimme Shelter” and “Monterey Pop”) about Jackie O’s cousin and niece who were shut-ins living in the past with no sense of their decaying surroundings. Shot in 1975 it documents the mental and physical deterioration of two strong personalities. This film is a cult classic and is now a musical and soon to be film with Drew Barrymore and Jessica Lange as Little Edie and Big Edie respectively. If you never heard of this story before check out this obituary of Little Edie from the Guardian. Truth is way stranger than fiction.
Favorite moment: Edie’s 1st appearance.
36

Magnificent Seven

I love, love, love this film! I saw it as a kid on and off but seeing it this time sealed the deal. The cast is amazing, the story is thrilling and the music is classic. Yul Brenner and James Coburn are great and Eli Wallach is superb. Love the struggle between bad and badder to help the innocent.
Favorite moment: Calvera’s first appearance (in the film) in the village.
35

American Graffiti

I just never saw this film before… even though it is an American standard. Really had no idea what to expect except for scenes of drag racing. Really enjoyed this snapshot of early 1960’s California life. Richard Dreyfus and Charles Martin Smith were priceless and it was fun seeing Ron Howard play an asshole. Glad I finally caught up with this cornerstone film.
Favorite moment: Richard Dreyfus’ character being accepted by the gang he had offended.
34

Coachella

I was thrilled to have an opportunity to see this film because this is a music festival I desperately want to see some day but quite frankly don’t like the idea of hanging out in the hot desert sun moving from band to band. This seemed like a nice replacement. It gives a nice feel for what type of bands perform there and what type of atmosphere eveolves at Coachella but it’s weak filmmaking. The director made odd choices of songs to present. Think I’ll have to go out West one year and see the real deal for myself.
Favorite moment: Seeing Belle & Sebastian play “live.”
33

Dancing at the Blue Iguana

OK so this film is an indie about strippers. It’s a major downer and a bit raunchy but it also turns out to have some very charming and funny moments. It’s like two different films occupying the same celluloid. Darryl Hannah is priceless as the clueless Angel who just wants to adopt a kid and live happily ever after. The performance is funny and endearing. The rest of the girls’ stories are ok and much more expected. Overall it is an interesting film by Michael Radford who also directed the spectacular “Merchant of Venice” with Al Pacino.
Favorite moment: Almost any with Angel trying to get by in life.
32

Sullivan’s Travels

A classic! Love this 1941 Preston Sturges film about a director who goes out in the world to try and experience the life of the common man. Joel McCrea and Veronica Lake star and are absolutely charming together. The film is fun, romantic and at the end frightening when Sully finally gets taste of the real world. I definitely want to see more Sturges this year.
Favorite moment: The prisoners watching a Disney film and escaping in the laughter.
31

Threesome

This is a cheap but entertaining small film about three college roommates and their intertwined sex-ploits. Cute, but not too memorable. I waited way to long to write about this movie… I can’t remember it. Says a lot about the film.
Favorite moment: Stephen Baldwin ending up as a born again (like in real life).
30

Grizzly Man

This is probably the most powerful film I have seen this year. Imagine a crazy homeless guy with a camcorder and a personality like Rupert Pupkin. Timothy Treadwell, the human star of this film, is almost scarier than his grizzly co-stars. But because he was nuts he ended up filming scenes no sane person would have waited around to capture, including the audio of his own death. He caught nature raw and unrefined. The director Werner Herzog does an amazing job telling the story of a man alienated by civilization and betrayed by the world he thought he belonged in.
Favorite moment: Any scene with the fox.
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