Pocahontas OWNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNS.
=]

She's been my favorite since I was 4.
So BOO YAH!

Fairly predictable night.

Although how the bloody hell Tilda Swinton won Best Supporting Actress I'll never know.

I actually didn't mind her winning - I think she is quite the master of subtlety, something I don't think I could say of most actresses. Not to mention, it isn't like any of the female roles were really fantastic this year.

I figured There Will Be Blood wouldn't win best picture (simply because of how blasphemous and ambiguous it was). No Country, that's alright. I like seeing the Cohen brothers with awards.

I'm pissed about Juno being nominated for anything in the first place, but I was really f**king pissed for it winning original script (I'm sure they could have found something, f**king something, better than that "too cool for school" shit).

P.S. Really happy that Once got original song.

I have to admit, while Juno yeah, had a ..well unique script, I thought it worked well with the setting. I mean, it was kind of witty. I laughed my ass off I know that.

I think they were trying too hard to fill a void left by Little Miss Sunshine, and so they went with the next best feel good yet wholly depressing comedy.

Granted, Michael Clayton was the shit, if it weren't Juno for original screenplay, I'd go with that.

As for Tilda, yeah, I dunno, she just didn't pop with me. I was thinking that Cate would get it, or at the very lease Amy Ryan.

Cate never wins anything...terribly sad.

And that chick's name is Amy Adams. If she won, I'd be terribly sad.

Uh no, Amy Ryan from Gone Baby Gone.

Amy Adams wasnt nominated for anything.

Amy Ryan was deserving as well, as Disturbing and Terrifying as Gone Baby Gone was, Amy Ryan's acting is excellent. Tilda Swinton should not have won FOR Clayton. I do think she has been snubbed in the past especially for her role in Adaptation. Clayton was a great movie, but not because of her. Tom Wilkinson should have been nominated as well. I called almost all the awards, except for Bourne Ultimatum, that was definitely the shock of the night. 3 Cheers for Diablo Cody, she deserved that award. I was happy for the Coen Bros. it was definitely there night to shine.

----

I was looking at my list, and I have noticed that my films are my favorites BECAUSE of my major. I have recently gone back and watched several of my top 20 list, and while I love every single one of those movies there are several that have been left out. Regardless of whether or not I am accepted into this club, I would gladly discuss any of my new yet more controversial top 10.

1.) Mean Creek
2.) Gummo
3.) A Guide to Recognizing your Saints
4.) The Machinist
5.) The Hole
6.) United States of Leland
7.) Bully
8.) Kids
9.) Hard Candy
10.)Paranoid Park

and one guilty pleasure (in the sense of casting, not storyline).
**Alpha Dog **

Once again don't consider this my reapplication, its more just a list of my own of films I deem worthy of my standards. No they don't exceed in camera angles, or have million dollar budget's. They suceed on story alone, and in my book thats enough.



If anyone actually though Enchanted was going to win... they were sadly mistaken. Once had it in the bag and they knew it. They also deserved it. Besides, Alan Menken has way to many awards anyways. :)



As you can see the ones I left above quoted I do feel deserve there spot in someone's top 20. While Ghost is a more shocking decision for me, its nice to see that some romantic drama's are worth of being in someone's list, and let's face it, Ghost was a good movie.



While I do agree that Fight Club is a highly overrated movie , after reading Chuck P's novel, THEN seeing the movie, the ridiculousness, the absurdities and common errors are all quite relevant to the story and movie. I do think the movie tries to appeal to a "younger" tweenage who only wants to see if for Brad Pitt but on a more adult note the movie does achieve what I wanted it to for an adaptation, surprisingly I enjoyed this adaptation more so then I did Atonement's, while Ian M's book is very short of an amazing read, and while the movie was spot on with it's accuracies, it just didn't live up to the books dramatic tension and passionate words. Where as both book and film of Fight Club made me blink twice.

------------

I miss conversing with you guys...something about East Texas film knowledge and my job at a local video store...really make me question what common America finds enjoyable..I am not sure if everyone agrees...but do we really need another Larry the Cable Guy movie?

No, please no. I can't believe he's making movies. I mean, the last one HAD to tank!

Kudos on A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints, one of my favorites. But you just can't lose with Shia, Robert Downey Jr., and of course Channing Tatum, who I believe acts far better than the movies he generally is in. Step Up? More like a step down.

Yea..I am thoroughly disaapointed with whatever company actually thinks of this movies...Witless Protection...srsly?

I think A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints is definitely one of the best performances Channing Tatum has been in. The movie is raw, passionate and the acting follows all the tension and dramatic dialogue perfectly. I saw Step Up, I saw She's the Man... its just sad that he has to do movies like that, when this movie could have made him a bigger star. I Do agree that the amatuer directing is definitely where the movie meets its flaws, but honestly with such a new director I didn't expect more then a great story, and for it to be based on his life was extremely impressive. The simplistic camera shots and art direction are shot brilliantly, and while its not a blockbuster hit, it suceeds in its portrayal of teenage urban society.

Kids?! Haha, oh man...I've never seen it, but I've heard some people talking about it, and I'm gonna guess that you're gonna get a talking to for that one.

lol you make it sound like I am going to go to time out for watching or even enjoying it. I am a fan of Larry Clark's photography and directing styles, I enjoy the raw honesty of the movie. No its not a blockbuster hit, or even a B movie, but its indie style art direction appeals to me. Plus I like Chloë Sevigny and Rosario Dawson, so I can't help to be a little partial towards my critique. I like movies that aren't afraid to say things, regardless of how little those things really are. :)

Yo. I completely disagree. I thought that screenplay was rubbish. The dialogue was so obviously over-written, and, unfortunately, by a thirty something ex-stripper hell-shit-bent on still being a teenager. The story, to me, was overly simplified and moralized, which bored me. The characters, aside from maybe the yuppie couple and Juno herself, were all placeholders. And, worst of all, over the entire run time, I didn't laugh a single time. Aren't comedies supposed to be funny? I mean, it's teenage pregnancy! Funny right?! Not to mention quirky and so totally awesome indie. But, so funny!

Ahhhh crock of shit!

Yeah, I don't really like Juno.



Out of the five movies I've seen here, I only like one of them (Gummo). Larry Clark sort of pisses me off, although I did enjoy Ken Park. Bully is alright, and most certainly better than Kids (which I despise with an unyielding passion), but I still can't really rejoice in seeing it on any top anything list. The Machinist was just a wannabe twilight zone episode without any real feeling or captured social commentary (also just a sorry attempt at a similar personal failure, i.e. Session 9). Sure, Christian Bale was great, but that's it. I don't even want to talk about Hard Candy, cause I just never understood what everyone was shitting bricks about. However, Gummo is a mother f**king masterpiece - now there is one beautiful f**king poem (Julien Donkey-Boy is also quite nice).

As goes the others, unfortunately, I haven't seen them. However, I'm sure I will eventually (excluding only Paranoid Park, cause I hate Gus Van Sant).

However, in this shorter supplementary list, I can definitely see a lot more of your character. I don't love your taste, but, at least now, I can see it.



Larry the Cable Guy? Oh f**k no.



Here is some sarcasm for you:
Oh, shit yeah. Kids is so f**king brave. Like, you're going to get AIDS brave! Like, kids swearing and talking about sex brave! And, it just feels so much more real cause it's all handy-cam. Wow, that a-hole really knows what it's like on the mean streets as a kid. Like, you're going to get AIDS! Don't touch her, she's not consenting! Karmic retribution! Awesome!

Alright. More seriously:
I like Rosario Dawson a lot.

Also, I like you. And, I think you're very knowledgeable and have a lot of coherent and worthwhile things to say. I think you should be part of our club, if not only because you're one of the best contributors here - it would be stupid not to have you (seriously). So, would you be so kind as to grace us with your membership?


P.S. Innocence (2004) is a perfect little metaphor that makes me wish I were a girl. I think I want to take some women's studies courses one day.

Besides the fact that I can't watch stone emoting (Chloë Sevigny), Kids is a terrible film. I was introduced to Kids when I was pregnant (haha) from someone who swore up and down that I would wet myself when I saw it. I still refuse to talk to him.

A film like Kids feels like it's trying far too hard to be avant garde. The contents of the film isn't anything new. It's basically a smooshed together After School Special with a bunch of unnecessary f**ks, drugs and ooooooo *gasp* Aids added to the mix. The whole thing just seems miserably contrived and forced. Chloë Sevigny makes me cringe, although I do agree that Rosario Dawson brought a smidgen of dignity to the film.

She has that magic.

I would be glad to be apart of the film club. I sometimes feel my taste in movies and even music and books (mostly graphic novels...NO not manga..ugh) is sometimes out of the norm. Without even being a member, I still would converse with you guys, its actually one of the only places people DONT agree with me, but instead of just saying its stupid, they give reason. Its nice to have mature conversations about
movies that may or may not be liked by others, but still it opens a broad range of discussion and interesting topics.

But if you'll excuse me, I need to get back to my bath






(lets see how many people caught the oscar reference above...oh renee zellweger)

I absolutely loved Mean Creek..I thought the acting and storyline were just great.
I REALLY want to see The Machinist and United States of Leland (Ryan Gosling )
I also really liked Hard Candy..I haven't seen Juno yet, but Ellen Page was wonderful in it.

I'm glad.

P.S. You should all be reading this page (http://esotikafilm.com/). There are some fantastic reviews, and the short introduction to Eurotrash (under articles, entitled The Aesthetics of Eurotrash or a Primer to Watching European Genre Cinema), despite it's matter of fact-ness, really inspired my when I first read it, and it still echoes into my entire conception of film theory.


Venus In Furs (Jess Franco, 1969)

Oh! Here are some of my favorites, in NO particular order:

1.) The Green Mile
2.) American History X
3.) The Painted Veil
4.) Goodfellas
5.) Wag the Dog
6.) The Outsiders
7.) Mystic River
8.) Equilibrium
9.) Silence of the Lambs
10.) Little Miss Sunshine

I just watched Garden State for the 4th time. And I must say that every time I watch it I fall in love with Natalie Portman's character, Sam. I have a lot of friends who are becoming Film Majors because of that movie, and I have to disagree with them. I think the movie is excellent but it succeeds with its Script, even Zach Braff's acting isn't that realistic. There wasn't a lot of unique camera shots, and barely any scene changes. I will say that the screenplay is brilliant. Anyone else seen it?

I did see Garden State, wasn't a fan. Maybe I need to watch it again.

Like I said its not really an "impressive" movie. But I couldn't help but feeling good after it was over. Something about Natalie Portman's character just made me want to keep smiling, its definitely one of those movies to watch on a rainy day.

----

I am sooo excited about Michael Haneke's remake of Funny Games. I saw the 1997 French Version, and I am excited about the US remake of it! Its unique for a director to do the same film twice, I am already predicting a classic hit. Here is the trailer if you haven't seen it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ec-70W_K77U

I am also a little excited about Tropic Thunder.
http://www.tropicthunder.com/

1. Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amelie Poulain(Jean-Pierre Jeunet, 2001)
2. The Royal Tenenbaums (Wes Anderson,2001)
3. The Science of Sleep (Michel Gondry, 2006)
4. Gone With the Wind (Victor Fleming, 1941)
5. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (Michael Gondry, 2004)
6. The Princess Bride (Rob Reiner, 1987)
7. Young Frankenstein (Mel Brooks, 1974)
8. Wet Hot American Summer (David Wain, 2001)
9. Heathers (Michael Lehmann, 1989)
10. Paris Je T'aime (Various, 2006)
11. Lost in Translation (Sofia Coppola, 2003)
12. Dogma (Kevin Smith, 1999)
13. Chocolat (Lasse Halstrom, 2000)
14. Breakfast At Tiffany's (Blake Edwardsm 1961)
15. Ils se marièrent et eurent beaucoup d'enfants - Happily Ever After (Yann Attal, 2004)
16. 2 Days in Paris (Julie Delpy, 2007)
17. American Beauty (Sam Mendes, 1999)
18. Casablanca (Michael Curtiz, 1942)
19. Love Actually (Richard Curtis, 2003)
20. Donnie Darko (Richard Kelly, 2001)

I know, but I like Donnie Darko. My list is probably fail. But I'll always have my music snobbery...

I give you major props for having these on your list.



I've give you props for having balls to put this on your list. :) I personally love the movie, but I'm only 1, several despise it, so watch out :)

I was not a fan of the Royal Tenenbaums. I was recommended to see that, and I borrowed it from the kid. Can't say I liked it. I don't know what it is, considering I love everyone that was in that movie. It had it's funny parts but, I don't know, I just didn't really appreciate it.

Donnie Darko I liked, but I didn't find it to be the masterpiece everyone at my high school made it out to be. It was good, and pretty abstract, but it just wasn't fantastic.

Recently picked up memento on blu Ray. Amazing movie, love love love it.

At least it's not The Godfather.



I've only seen it once, but I enjoyed it (if not just marginally). I thought it had a decent tone, but I'm not so impressed by the way it handled its themes. I would probably have to see it again before ever seriously analyzing it; it's been a while, I'm not so sure I remember the whole thing.

But, altogether, I thought it was a cute little movie.




Eh, I'm not really too interested. It seems sort of needless. Don't get me wrong, I like a re-visioning of a story. But, the same story, the same director, and practically the same script? Haneke himself has said it's just another way to get the movie out to a larger audience... just seems, superficial. I'll see it (if not just because of curiosity and Tim Roth), but I'm not exactly excited.

P.S. It's an Austrian film; not French.




Things I Like: The Royal Tenenbaums (was on one of the earliest top 20's), Lost in Translation, Young Frankenstein, Love Actually, and Heathers.

Things I Don't Like: Dogma (I would have been entirely pleased by Clerks), Casablanca, two Gondry films, Chocolat, and Amelie (the, "I actually don't watch foreign cinema film"), and the total absence of horror.

The rest is either things that could go either way for me or things I haven't seen (six movies). I'll be trying to make an effort to see a few of them, and I'll be thinking up a challenge for you soon. But, right now, my vote is pending. This list, for me, is quite a fence sitter. It's definitely not bad, but, in either case, you're lucky I like you.



I hated the movie when it first came out. A second viewing a year later stole my heart. Give it another chance, seriously. Wes Anderson has a magic of bringing out very real and visceral human emotion from immensely cartoon-ish characters. It's quite endearing, really.



I just think that Donnie Darko is a cute, fun, and hilarious little movie. It's definitely an enjoyable experience, but it isn't terribly brilliant, and to emphasize the sci-fi aspects of the movie, to me, is missing the point. When people struggle to make the movie into a mystery is when it fails - it's a f**king red herring. Love the characters, laugh with them and at them, period.

That's the most I have to say for Donnie Darko. That and Richard Kelly's newest film (Southland Tales) was not good.

I do watch foreign films, though. I just love Amelie. In Italian one day, we were learning how to say whether we like or dislike things, and my friend got French films...she'd never seen one, not even Amelie. I was absolutely horrified, and told her so (heh, well, I do have the snob bit down).

Yeah, you've got me on the horror; not really my thing.

I happened to appreciate the Godfather very much.

there are no words to describe my anger for this film... to even put a promotional spot "From the Director of Donnie Darko" ridiculous utter nonsense... it really makes me question Donnie Darko.. in the sense of how the hell could a director make such a mistake as Southland Tales... UGH.

As do I. That, however, doesn't not mean I get all giddy when I see it on a top 20 list. My point is that The Godfather might be good, but, when I see it on a top 20 list, I can't help but think, "this person hasn't seen many movies... this damn thing shows up on everyone and everybody's list!"

It doesn't tell me anything about anyone's taste.



How about, "f**k!"

Seriously, the movie was a huge disappointment. While there was even a more explicit attempt at comedy here, Donnie Darko still remains far more witty and amusing... I mean, it just, doesn't make any sense (that it isn't that funny), especially given the ensemble cast.

Hmm, I actually enjoyed Godfather II more than I did the first Godfather film. I know, the first film is the "original" and several of the performances were underplayed (which is a good thing, subjectively, in my book) but the second film had a richer storyline and was deeper than the first film. Plus, I thought that Robert Deniro's performance was subtle and the cinematography was beautiful.

Generally I think Godfather II gets a lot more praise than the original, although the first is quote more often, haha.

I loved both of them, but I think Brando just clinches it for me in the first one. The first five minutes I'm sucked in from his words.

Kind of like how I'm sucked in the first 20 minutes of There Will be Blood with no dialog.

Wow.

Ha. Personally, I've experienced the opposite. The first film gets more praise (which probably sheds a little light on the tone of my response).

I definitely enjoy both though. Let's just not mention the third movie that shall not be named.

I liked the third! The death hit me hard, and Andy Garcia was awesome! Not to mention Pacino.

Favorite scene: Vincent is holding one guy, the other guy is holding his girl--

Vincent : Wait a minute, don't do anything, just watch. I'm going to show you something, just watch, OK?

BAM blows the guy's hes holding head off.

Hahaha hilarious.

Hm. I can say with full honesty that I can't watch any of G3, although I can see how one might find some of the scenes humorous.

I find the entire Italian Gangster scene so over rated. I do think some movies hold genuine performances, but honestly I got enough of it in Some Like it Hot and its a freakin comedy. I saw American Gangster last night and it was extremely well made. Ridley Scott is one of my favorite Directors but I thought the movie's script was brilliant. The raw depiction of drug trafficking and abuse was disturbing in the film. I don't agree with Ruby Dee's nomination for it because it wasn't deserved, but I do think that the movie did deserve the praise it got, I am usually not a fan of Russell Crowe but he was surprisingly ok in the movie. I also like how American Gangster plays on the fact that in the 70s only the Italians had underworld power, which is clearly not the case in this true story.

-------------

Is it wrong for me to be so excited about a MTV produced film. Military movies have a personal affect on me for certain reasons but the movie looks really good. I've had to deal with friends being stop-lossed, so I could just be partial to the emotional attachment of the movie. But for a MTV that isn't Orange County or Lions for Lambs I think its an improvement. anyone else?

i totally agree my bf and i are really looking foward to seeing that movie

The difference between a movie like Some Like it Hot and the third Godfather film is that one is intentionally funny and the other is so awful that you can't help but laugh at it.

I haven't seen American Gangster yet but I am mildly curious about it, so I will not be surprised if it ends up in my Netflix queue at one point or another.


I don't think that any film should be judged exclusively on which studio is producing the film. Films should be viewed then evaluated.

LOL well said.



but MTV also has the reputation as a movie studio to appeal to the younger generation even younger then myself. I just don't want that movie to be about the "social" loss of the matter. MTV has a way of telling the same story just in different situations. When I heard that Lions for Lambs was a MTV political movie, I was really shocked and eager to see it..then I saw it and realized why MTV should stick to comedy. I am just hoping that this movie actually delivers.

American Gangster was a great movie. I have to admit though it wasn't the grandeur I was expecting. I was thinking I was gonna get that Godfather feeling again, but alas no. Albeit it was a technically fantastic movie.

I love Russel Crowe. Something about him always gets me. A Beautiful Mind I loved, Cinderella Man, A Good Year, and of course L.A. Confidential. Awesome stuff. I just love his acting and he always makes me feel what the character is feeling.

Dude, what's up?! Horror cinema is a varied, interesting, intelligent, and desperately affecting study. You really should invest some time in learning to appreciate the genre. Otherwise, I'm not so sure I could vote "yes" on your application (with a clean conscience).

I mean, I don't hate your list... definitely not, but, no horror love on your tongue buds?



Doesn't it kind of look like a war propagandist work though? I might have gotten the entirely wrong impression, but, to me, it looked very "rah rah - we love war!"

LET'S TRY THIS (Just for fun):

What are your favorite tracking shots (optional: that can be found on youtube)?

Week-end (Jean-Luc Godard, 1967)

I'm not ruling it out completely. I wouldn't do that with a genre of music. But I'm not typically drawn to watch horror movies, and those that I have seen were just funny...probably because the people I know who tend to watch them have pretty crap taste. So, any suggestions of where I should start to appreciate horror?

A History of Violence, of course!


And as for all one shot, Serenity. (Technically two shots merged very well)

I love this. Great Idea.


http://youtube.com/watch?v=phrz-Y4SS08

The entire thing isn't a tracking shot, but I just wanted to show the amazing cinematography this movie has.

See these movies, and let me know what you think: Rosemary's Baby, The Shining, The Blair Witch Project, The Wicker Man, Night of the Living Dead, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Suspiria, Day of the Dead, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Black Christmas, Hour of the Wolf, Hellraiser, Equinox, Peeping Tom, The Thing, The Fly, Re-Animator, Phantasm.

(I know that's a bit much, but you should definitely, in the very least, see the first ten listed - they're kind of essential.)



Wow, A History of Violence is really amazingly plain here. It's actually funny, I don't even remember this whole ordeal of an opening - but, I really think it's quite fantastic. I'll have to watch the whole movie again sometime.

Serenity is alright. In either case, that sort of long take (although definitely not tracking) is quite impressive. And given the complexity of the photography, it's only that much more awe inspiring.



Wow, I really want to see Atonement now. That scene was so elaborate and serene... I really wish that shitty music wasn't edited into it. But, yeah, looks nice.

Alright (Here is some more):

Week-end (again - this film really f**ked with my conception of film theory and I'll never forgive it for it. this is an absolutely amazing scene and commentary. the photography adds to the meditative tone and the strangeness of it all is so scrumptious).


Oldboy. (although I don't really care for the film itself, this scene is very impressive)


And, since we also seem to be including just plain old looooooong takes:

Four Rooms (the take begins about a minute into scene and ends about five minutes later, give or take - really funny, either way. stay tuned till the end to catch Bruce Willis' best performance ever).

That shot and the scene where everyone is very determinedly walking somewhere are my favorites in Atonement. Do you guys know which one I'm talking about?

Hahaha Tarantino is one funny motha f**kah.

While we're doing long shots...

For a horrible movie hardly worth watching, this one shot fight scene up a staircase is pretty sweet and pretty well done.
The Protector

I believe you are talking about this one.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=phrz-Y4SS08

disregard the shitty music.

No..that was already posted. I referred to that one as well.

Here we go:

One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest (Milos Forman)
Manhattan (Woody Allen)
Annie Hall (Woody Allen)
Vincent and Theo (Robert Altman)
Requiem for a Dream (Darren Aronofsky)
The Big Sleep (Howard Harks)
A Clockwork Orange (Stanley Kubrick)
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (Terry Gillam) I'm a huge HST fan.
Everything is Illuminated (Liev Schreiber)
Pan's Labyrinth (Guillermo del Toro)
Rushmore (Wes Anderson)
Wristcutters: A Love Story (Goran Ducik)
Trainspotting (Danny Boyle)
Waking Life (Richard Linklater)
The Godfather (Francis Ford Coppola)
Harold and Maude (Hal Ashby)
The Princess Bride (Rob Reiner) Cute stuff. It was my favorite movie when I was little.
Casablanca (Michael Curtiz)
There Will Be Blood (Paul Thomas Anderson), but mostly just for the milkshake scene.
Pi (Darren Aronofsky)
A Beautiful Mind (Ron Howard)
The Right Stuff (Philip Kauffman) soso good. I love Tom Wolfe.
Wilbur Wants to Kill Himself (Lone Scherfig)

Not in any real order...

There was so much more to 1) There Will be Blood than the milkshake scene, and 2) the milkshake scene than the milkshake.

My God that scene just clinched a whole movie full of intensity and ferocity, illuminated an already obvious insanity in Plainview's character.

I wasn't even thinking about him talking about a milkshake, I was shaking from head to toe in sheer amazement.