Mar
7
2010
Academy Award Winners, 2010
The Academy Award Winners are …
To see a list of the rest of the winners please go to the Hollywood Reporter website.
Until next year!
Mar
5
2010
The 2010 Academy Awards Contest!
Welcome to the 2010 FilmFracture Academy Awards Contest!
Here is how it works:
Listed below are the nine (9) major categories for the awards. Pick six (6) of the nine (9) categories and post your predictions as to who will win below in the comments section. You can choose any six you want. The person with the most right, and who is first based on time/date of post, wins! Pretty simple, right?
What do you win? A night at the movies of course for you and a friend. Plus other prizes that are super secret and can only be revealed to the winner.
Let the contest begin and good luck!
Mar
1
2010
Who will take Oscar home? Who should? by Russell Espinosa
The 82nd Academy Awards is now less than two weeks away. Here are my predictions as to who will take Oscar home.
Best Picture:
Winner: The Hurt Locker
Avatar may be the top grossing film of all time, but with the exception of the Globes, “The Hurt Locker”, has won almost every other award out there. With the support of the WGA, DGA, and PGA, “The Hurt Locker” will beat out “Avatar” just as “Annie Hall” beat out “Star Wars” in 1977.
Who Should Win: The Hurt Locker
The first film about the current war in Iraq that people actually want to see truly deserves all of the accolades. The movie is a complex character study of some of our country’s bravest men as well as an entertaining piece of filmmaking.
Possible Upset: Avatar
Best Director:
Winner: Kathryn Bigelow for The Hurt Locker
James Cameron may have revolutionized the medium for years to come, but Bigelow has been everyone’s favorite the entire year.
Who Should Win: Kathryn Bigelow for The Hurt Locker
Including Bigelow, the Academy has only nominated 4 women directors in its entire history. Kathryn Bigelow will be the first woman to actually win it and it’s about time.
Possible Upset: Quentin Tarantino for Inglourious
Basterds
Best Actor:
Winner: Jeff Bridges for Crazy Heart
With four previous nominations, the Academy will finally give Bridges his due.
Who Should Win: Jeff Bridges for Crazy Heart
As a washed out, alcoholic country singer, struggling to make it back to the top, Jeff Bridges fully inhabits the role. And come on, he’s “The Dude”.
Possible Upset: Colin Firth for A Single Man
Best Actress:
Winner: Meryl Streep for Julie & Julia
The actress has a record 16 nominations, but she hasn’t actually won since 1982’s “Sophie’s Choice”. Almost 30 years later, the Academy will finally award Streep with her third statue.
Who Should Win: Carey Mulligan for An Education
Mulligan plays every moment of 16-year-old Jenny with utmost sincerity and the translation is one miraculous moment followed by another. We believe the young and naive Jenny at the beginning of the film, the wiser Jenny at the end, and all the other Jennys in between.
Possible Upset: Gabby Sidibe for Precious
Best Supporting Actor:
Winner: Christoph Waltz for Inglourious Basterds
He’s won absolutely every award up to this point. It would be an upsetting shock for everyone if he lost.
Who Should Win: Christoph Waltz for Inglourious Basterds
With his blend of charm and menace, Waltz as Col. Hans Landa, aka “The Jew Hunter”, can make even the toughest French Farmer crack. With him speaking multiple languages flawlessly including French, German, and Italian, Waltz’s performance was the most impressive I saw all year.
Possible Upset: Woody Harrelson for The Messenger
Best Supporting Actress:
Winner: Mo’ Nique for Precious
Like Christoph Waltz, a sure thing.
Who Should Win: Mo’ Nique for Precious.
Although I absolutely loved Anna Kendrick in “Up in the Air”, Mo’ Nique deserves the win for her disturbing portrayal of an abusive mother. She’s truly a monster for the majority of the film, but one particular scene in a welfare office reminds us she’s also human. It takes guts and sheer talent to pull off a performance this bold and Mo’ Nique proves she has more than enough of both.
Possible Upset: Anna Kendrick for Up in the Air
Best Original Screenplay:
Winner: Quentin Tarantino for Inglourious Basterds
Inglourious Basterds may not be the type of film the Academy awards Best Picture, but they definitely approve of Tarantino’s original writing skills as it can be seen by his win for 1994s “Pulp Fiction.”
Who Should Win: Quentin Tarantino for Inglourious Basterds
Usually known for his genre pastiche films, whether it be Blaxploitation, Kung Fu, or Grindhouse Horror, Tarantino creates something completely original this time around: A World War II film as only Quentin Tarantino can see it. Keeping his dialogue heavy signature style in tact across multiple languages is also a remarkable feat.
Possible Upset: Mark Boal for The Hurt Locker.
Best Adapted Screenplay:
Winner: Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner for Up in the Air
Not being able to award the well-received film in any other category, the Academy will do so here.
Who Should Win: Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner for
Up in the Air.
My personal favorite film of 2009, the movie is devastatingly touching as it is extremely relevant to our country’s current economic climate. And yet some how the movie remains a classy, light-hearted comedy for most of its duration.
Possible Upset: Geoffrey Fletcher for Precious.
Best Animated Feature:
Winner: Up
Being only the 2nd animated feature to ever be nominated for Best Picture, Up will easily win here.
Who Should Win: Up.
Pixar does it again with this truly touching piece of filmmaking. Any animated film that can make grown men cry within 15 minutes is bound for Oscar glory.
Possible Upset: The Fantastic Mr. Fox.
As for the rest of the categories…we will see what happens on Oscar night.
Feb
9
2010
Color as Language in Broken Embraces, by Priscilla Liang
I walked out of the theater after Pedro Almodovar’s Broken Embraces and my eyes refused to adjust back from the brilliant and colorful world of the film; the real world paled in comparison. Even as I shut them now, the vibrant reds, moody blues, and roaring yellows still swim against my eyelids. Almodovar does not just use color, he speaks with color. He allows the film to move solely through colors, which results in a visual journey that remains beautiful as it carries the viewer through difficult relationship trauma. The irony: all this magnificent color for a tale about a blind man and his emotional scars.
Broken Embraces is the story of an unexpectedly nuclear family that is tossed among the waves of torrid love affairs, greed, death and betrayal that spans over a decade. The protagonist of the film introduces himself as Harry Caine (Lluis Homar), which is a pseudonym he used to publish his work under. Mateo Blanco is his given name, but so much trauma and pain is attached to this name that he refuses to be known by it anymore. In 1994, he was a virile and passionate filmmaker, and it was then that he began his intense love affair with Lena (Penelope Cruz), but the repercussions of that relationship continue to cling to him. When Blanco first became involved with Lena, she was still in a relationship with an older multi-millionaire mogul, Martel. Martel was obsessed with Lena, but for her, the relationship only served a functional purpose; her father was sick and she needed the financial support of Martel to pay for his hospital bills. Lena meets Mateo and their affair begins almost instantaneously; their love is driven by an unsinkable passion. Martel’s radical obsession of Lena becomes problematic to say the least and Martel hires his son Ray X, an aspiring filmmaker in his own right, to spy on Lena and Mateo and to capture their relationship on tape. After the truth is revealed to Martel, he is infuriated. Never a man who would take no for an answer, Martel does everything in his power to separate the two lovers; unflinchingly resorting to extreme measures. Now, in 2008, Blanco is blind and alone; he is a screenwriter who depends on the support of his agent and confidante, Judit, and her son to make his living. Blanco discovers that Martel has died and this finally allows him to let go of the past. The film moves methodically between the two time periods, 1994 and 2008, in order to show in tandem the painful occurrences and the resulting scars. His blindness is a physical representation of the trauma he has been forced to endure. It is evident that the 2008 Blanco continues to be haunted by the events of the past but, throughout the film, he gradually learns to accept the support of his new family which consists of Judit and her son.
One thing is for sure, Almodovar is the master of arranging and presenting color in a frame; the cinematography is almost obscenely beautiful. What I mean is that the film is so beautiful, it takes away from the primacy of the narrative. The narrative is absolutely driven by color; color is used to define, reveal secret desires of, and draw connections between characters. Color in this film is key in heating up these emotional scenes to a boiling point but also in drawing out subtle changes in character relations. Color is used with such precision as to allow the viewer visual guides into the inner condition of the characters. The composition and placing of color within a scene is not only impeccably balanced and gorgeous, it also serves to evoke specific emotional reactions from the spectator. Whether the mise-en-scene is overwhelmingly white with a touch of red or tantalizingly red with hints of sea green, the color composition in the frame always produces a different emotional response. Therefore, the film takes you on more than spectacular a visual journey but an emotional one as well. The film begins with earthy washes of blue, gray and brown and as the film progresses, the colors begin to warm and quite suddenly, the entire frame is enveloped in melodramatic reds and melancholic yellows and there, the drama unfolds.
The color red is especially important in relation to Lena’s (Penelope Cruz) costuming. At the start of the film, Lena is seen wearing a dreary gray secretarial outfit, but underneath her blazer jacket, a tiny slip of red fabric is visible. Gradually the character moves on to wear red cardigans and red shoes; towards the end, it escalates to red dresses and shawls. The color red constantly changes meaning throughout the film. Sometimes it signals Lena as a vampiric femme fatale who sucks the life out of those she loves; at others, it represents her intense passion, love and care for Mateo. For example, in Lena’s relationship with Martel, the lack of red in her costuming can often depict how closed off she is to him; while as the wearing of red in conjunction with Martel can reveal her fiery, volatile nature. When Lena is with Mateo, the hot reds represent seduction and passion while as softer pinks and less intense reds bring across Lena’s genuine care for Mateo and her desire for intimacy. Other characters also have similar color motifs that surround them, (Judit’s inner condition is often depicted in a range of greens; Mateo’s in different shades of blues and browns) but Lena’s is the most striking.
Beyond revealing the internal condition of characters, color is also important in set design and shot composition. For instance, when Lena makes love for the first time with Mateo, the entire mise-en-scene is filled with hot reds and dark browns. The two are seen in a medium close-up with jump cuts and canted angles to really emphasize the passion and the heat between them. In contrast, when Lena is in the bedroom with her septuagenarian partner, Martel, everything in the frame is white and they are seen in a long shot. Lena and Martel are completely covered by a white sheet and the camera remains relatively static throughout, representing the banal nature of their relationship. In the very back of the room they are in, red curtains are visible symbolizing Lena’s passion for another man. Color in the set basically adds another layer to the narrative, further enriching our viewing experience.
In this film, Penelope Cruz is the very definition of beauty; she has an ethereal quality about her that permeates the barrier between the real world and the filmic world. She does a fantastic job of creating nuanced levels for the character of Lena. All the relationships in the film are multi-layered and Cruz is able to traverse these differences quite beautifully. In Lena’s relationship with Martel, although she wants to leave him, she still has a great deal of affection for him and Cruz was able to accurately portray this duality. Lluis Homar gave a very balanced performance of Mateo Blanco. The film depicts Blanco at two junctures in his life and Homar is able to capture the subtle and not so subtle changes within his character. All the supporting characters were quite strong, yet Ray X/Martel Jr. (Rub√©n Ochandiano) was so strongly caricatured that his character became comic relief rather than menacing. Ray X, the son of Lena’s partner Martel, has the potential to be very disturbing, but something about his costuming and very blatant gestures makes the character lack any depth. In Ochandiano’s performance, we lose a lot of a the rich textures that should have been attached to the character Ray X. In 1994, Ray X is an over the top square with his perfectly parted hair, his large thick-rimmed glasses and his high-pitched squeaky voice. Then, in 2008, Ray X becomes the polar opposite: a sophisticated homosexual with an overly dramatic flair. There were no levels to either of the performances, both were very one note. Ochandiano aside, the performances given were often heartbreakingly believable and moving.
Broken Embraces is an emotionally driven melodrama that uses both very broad strokes of intense feeling and a very delicate familial sensibility to mold the story. As much as this film is about brokenness, it also prioritizes the importance of healing, redemption and restoration. Much of the film is wonderfully developed however, the fulcrum of the film is set on something without much substance. Once this is revealed it makes many character motivations fall flat and certain plot elements less intriguing; ultimately, the underlying plot structure is often not rich or complex enough to compete with the sheer aesthetic beauty of the film. While there are definitely aspects of Embraces that do fall short, what sets it apart and makes it worth praising is the deliberate use of color in costuming and set design, the keen focus on framing and shot composition and the nuanced performances of the actors.
Feb
2
2010
Academy Award Nominations
The Academy Award Nominations are in…
For the complete list go to www.hollywoodreporter.com.
Predictions coming soon
Jan
31
2010
Who will be nominated for the Academy Awards? by Russell Espinosa
On February 2, 2010 the nominations for the Academy Awards will be announced. In anticipation I have compiled a list of who I think will get the nomination come Tuesday in the main categories. Here they are…
That does it for now. Look for our predictions on who will win after the announcements are made.
Jan
17
2010
Golden Globe Winners, January 17, 2010
The Golden Globes winners have been announced. Check them out below and then read the review to see if we agree with the decision. Enjoy!
- Best Picture of the Year – Drama
- Best Picture of the Year – Comedy/Musical
- Best Director of the Year
- Best Foreign Film
- Best Actress – Drama (Film)
- Best Actor – Drama (Film)
- Best Actress – Comedy/Musical (Film)
- Best Actor – Comedy/Musical (Film)
- Best Supporting Actress
- Best Supporting Actor
- Best Screenplay
- Best Animated Film
- Best Original Song
James Cameron, Avatar
Sandra Bullock, The Blind Side
Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart
Meryl Streep, Julie &Julia
Robert Downey Jr., Sherlock Holmes
Mo’Nique, Precious
Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds
Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner, Up In The Air
The Weary Kind, by T-Bone Burnett and Ryan Bingham, from Crazy Heart. Check it out on 
.
To see all of the winners, including those for the Television categories, go to the Hollywood Reporter Website.
Jan
14
2010
The FilmFracture ‘Excellence in Achievement Awards’ 2009 winners.
The votes are in and we have made our decisions as to the best of the best for 2009. We keep it simple and only have four categories: best picture, best screenplay, and best performances by an actor (female and male). Without further ado…
The FilmFracture ‘Excellence in Achievement Awards’ 2009 winners. For contributions to film history that are, and will always be, worth every second of our time.
- Best Film of the Year…The Hurt Locker.
- Best Screenplay of the year…(500) Days of Summer.
- Best Performance by a Female Actor…Mo’Nique as Mary in Precious.
- Best Performance by a Male Actor…Jeff Bridges as Bad Blake in Crazy Heart.
Directed by Kathryn Bigelow.
Screenplay by Mark Boal.
Produced by Kathryn Bigelow, Mark Boal, Nicolas Chartier, and Greg Shapiro.
Starring Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie, Brian Geraghty, Guy Pearce, Ralph Fiennes, and Evangeline Lily.
Screenplay by Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber.
The sincerest of a thank you to all of the above who made the moviegoing experience of 2009 unforgettable for a small moment in time.
Jan
9
2010
The Movies That Were “Not” Worth Your Time from 2009
by the Reviewers of FilmFracture
With the good there is always the bad. We do believe there is something good in every film. It may be a performance, the production design, a great soundtrack, or even the costumes. The possibilities are endless. At the end of the day people want to know the overall rating. As we call it…Production. So we give you the lowest rated films of the year for Production. Movies that are not worth a single minute of your time and not one penny of your hard earned money. If you saw them I am sorry, if you did not count yourself lucky. Now for the one-clockers (in alphabetical order)…
The Lowest Rated Films for Production, 2009
- A Perfect Getaway
- All About Steve
- Armored
- Bride Wars
- Crank High Voltage
- Did You Hear About The Morgans?
- Duplicity
- Echelon Conspiracy
- Fame
- Fighting
- Fired Up
- Friday the 13th (2009)
- G-Force
- Gamer
- Ghosts of Girlfriends Past
- Gigantic
- Halloween II (2009)
- He’s Just Not That Into You
- I Love You Beth Cooper
- Irene In Time
- Jennifer’s Body
- Land of the Lost
- Love Happens
- Love N’ Dancing
- Observe and Report
- Obsessed
- Shorts
- Surrogates
- The Final Destination
- The International
- The Stepfather
- The Ugly Truth
- The Unborn
- The Uninvited
- The Twilight Saga: New Moon (according to Kathryn Schroeder)
- World’s Greatest Dad
That was fun now wasn’t it. If you have a valid argument as to why any of the above films are actually worth a moment of someones time please feel free to comment. Now everyone say a prayer to the Gods of Hollywood and let us all hope 2010 will be without so much garbage.
Jan
8
2010
It’s Not Just A Movie…The Best Films of the Decade, a list of little or no importance, by Kathryn Schroeder
January 1, 2010 marks the beginning of a new decade in film history. The years 2000 – 2009 gave us many great films to be remembered and cherished for years to come. Some were epic adventures, others romantic comedies, and a select few that melded a variety of genres together to do what only cinema can do over and over again, challenge the viewer to “see” something differently. I do not know if it is really possible to tally a best of list when spanning 10 years. Given the day, the circumstance, and even the company one can come away from watching a film with a very different opinion. Then see it again and realize it was great, or downright awful. With this in mind I took on the task of putting together my favorite films of the decade. I considered shortening my list, and then I considered lengthening it, and then I realized it was a HUGE decade for movies so why would I cheat the readers out of all the greatness that came from it. That would be a grave injustice. So the final count comes out to 75. I know people will disagree. Others will gasp at some of my choices and a small proportion will whole heartedly agree on many mentioned below. Then there will be the ones who want to strangle me for not including certain films. I know of one such film right now. Just be aware this is not a list that is meant to be agreed upon. It should start conversations, debates, and make you want to fill up your Netflix queue with the films you have not seen to judge for yourself if they were worthy of inclusion. What I do hope you will take away from the list is something I strongly believe is important when it comes to movies. It stems from the following line that has been muttered to me time and time again in my lifetime and that which makes me cringe every time…”It’s just a movie”. It is not, and will never be, just a movie. If it was I would not have spent hours compiling this list and you would not be ready it. Point made I believe. Read On…
- Requiem For A Dream (2000) – If you can remember the public service announcements from the 1980s about what drugs will do to your brain you can appreciate how this film should be shown in every high school across the nation. It is complex in its narrative, deeply haunting in its authenticity, and mesmerizing with its raw approach to a subject matter that has become far too melodramatic in other films since. This is not a feel good movie, and that is what makes it a film for the ages. You will never forget the feelings it brings out inside of you or the bitter taste it leaves in your mouth.
- Memento (2000) – Editing. To tell a story from the end to the beginning and make it all make sense to the viewer. Wow. Had it been done this way before? No. Will it ever be done again? I hope not. I think every film lover will cry out in anger if someone even attempts it again. You do not mess with perfection.
- Almost Famous (2000) – For the love of rock n’ roll.
- Traffic (2000) – No comment. It is just a given.
- Before Night Falls (2000) – Love is a many complicated thing. Especially when it is forbidden.
- Happy Accidents (2000) – It is fated.
- Tigerland (2000) – For the love of a country?
- Gladiator (2000) – I was entertained.
- Bring It On (2000) – Spirit fingers anyone?
- Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001) – “I like you just the way you are” (cue female hearts melting all around the world).
- Mulholland Drive (2001) – If anyone can explain to me what this movie is about I would really appreciate it. Thank you David Lynch for the confusion and utter fascination you gave me with the two main characters.
- Black Hawk Down (2001) – Can you hear the choppers? Feel the fear/tension/suspense?
- Spy Game (2001) – The government thinks they are so smart.
- Moulin Rouge (2001) – Screenwriting. For a person who is not all that fond of musicals I fell in love with Moulin Rouge on first viewing. The reason being, the entire movie is composed of various contemporary song lyrics. It was not only a feast for my eyes and ears but also the lover of music inside of me.
- The Royal Tenenbaums (2001) – Everyone loves a dysfunctional family.
- Blow (2001) – Be careful what you wish for, you just may get it.
- The Lord of the Rings Trilogy (2001, 2002, 2003) – How upset was I when the first movie just ended on top of the hill? Very angry. How happy was I when I saw the next two installments and realized damn, Peter Jackson did it right. It may be one of the most racist films (because of the books that is) but it is still remarkable.
- 25th Hour (2002) – Powerful.
- 28 Days Later (2002) – Get ready to be hunted.
- Rabbit Proof Fence (2002) – Australia is full of secrets.
- Adaptation (2002) – It is only a flower.
- Secretary (2002) – We can thank this movie for introducing us to Maggie Gyllenhaal. We can also thank it for the raw energy and sheer naughtiness it portrays. America wake up. We know you like a good spanking once in a while.
- Minority Report (2002) – Big Brother is still watching.
- The Bourne Trilogy (2002) – I love a good movie action. I love three even more.
- The Dancer Upstairs (2002) – Intrigue and passion galore.
- My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002) – It is all about the windex. I also happen to come from a huge family like the one in the film so this hit very close to home…in a good way.
- Underworld (2003) – Vampires and Werewolves (Lycans) at war. Kate Beckinsale in spandex wielding a gun. Cool. It also happens to have great lighting and cinematography, with some impressive editing and sound mixing too. In case you were interested.
- Pirates of the Caribbean Trilogy (2003) – I dare you to watch this and not enjoy yourself.
- 21 Grams (2003) – Who does not like a great gut wrenching tragic story?
- Something’s Gotta Give (2003) – Women do not shrivel up and turn into old maids after 50. Thank you Nancy Meyers for telling the world.
- Bad Santa (2003) – Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. I’m sorry.
- Big Fish (2003) – I am still weeping uncontrollably.
- Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) – Who has not ever wished they could erase the memory of someone forever. Then again, is it not our memories that make us who we are? This film made us remember a love story is not always simple, but it can be perfectly complicated and full of kinks.
- Head On (2004) – Riveting.
- Vera Drake (2004) – She was just helping the girls. Imelda Staunton you were amazing.
- Saw (2004) – No one told me it had a clown in it. Not cool. But it made it all the more scarier.
- Primer (2004) – Multiple personalities can be a bad thing. Multiple bodies is even worse.
- Before Sunset (2004) – Watch it for the romance, love it for the last line. It is emblazoned in my memory forever – and I like that.
- Maria Full of Grace (2004) – Desperation makes for great drama.
- A Day Without A Mexican (2004) – Watch, learn, appreciate.
- The Machinist (2004) – Brad Anderson knows how to use color as a symbolic force. Christian Bale is frightening entombed in his tortured soul.
- National Treasure – American History was never this much fun. Even if it is the poor mans Indiana Jones.
- Garden State (2004) – Ahhh. I would not have gotten on the plane. In the real world though, you do get on the plane.
- Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle (2004) – Pure comedy genius.
- The New World (2005) – A movie you could watch on mute and its beauty would be enough to keep you glued to the screen.
- Brokeback Mountain (2005) – When he smells the shirt! Oh my god!
- The Descent (2005) – Your fear of small enclosed spaces just got worse.
- The Constant Gardener (2005) – Conspiracy. Drama. Oh my.
- Conversations with Other Women (2005) – There is always two sides of every story. A wholly imaginative use of script and cinematography bring to life this unlikely romantic drama.
- The Lives of Others (2006) – A beautiful piece of filmmaking.
- Idiocracy (2006) – Social commentary with a very comedic twist. It will make you reevaluate how we (as a society) live our lives, and what we need to do to make sure the future is not one big trash dump.
- Fast Food Nation – Anyone want a fast food hamburger? I sure don’t.
- Borat (2006) – A classic. No doubt.
- This Film Is Not Yet Rated (2006) – Beware of the people you trust to make decisions.
- The US vs. John Lennon (2006) – Who knew a man of music, peace, and love could be hated so very, very much.
- Stranger than Fiction (2006) – Comedy, Drama. Tragic, Uplifting. Serious, Light.
- Sicko (2007) – Michael Moore demonstrated just how backwards and detestable our healthcare system is in the United States.
- No Country for Old Men (2007) – Quite possibly the best Coen Brothers film ever (besides Raising Arizona that is, or Blood Simple).
- Sweeney Todd (2007) – They say it takes blood, sweat, and tears to put on a musical. I do not know about the sweat and tears but I really enjoyed the blood.
- I’m Not There (2007) – Bob Dylan.
- Transformers (2007) – I know, its just a movie about giant robots and stuff blowing up. But was it not a great deal of fun? Especially for those of us who played with the toys as kids?
- There Will Be Blood (2008) – Daniel Day Lewis…enough said. Oh, and the fact that the entire beginning is a silent film and it is more engrossing than most dialogue driven movies that ever come to the cinema. One more reason, the score…it is by Jonny Greenwood of Radiohead. Does it get any better than that these days?
- The Wrestler (2008) – Unforgettable. As a friend of mine pointed out the other day…”She came there for him! How could he…”
- Tropic Thunder (2008) – For those who have watched every action/war movie in the past 30 years you must see the genius in this movie.
- Synechdoche, New York (2008) – Production Design. If you cannot function in the real world why not recreate it inside a massive hanger and call it a play. Life is but a stage, and all the people mere players (or something like that).
- Iron Man (2008) – An intelligent comic book adaptation with a near perfect three-act screenplay. Oh hell, it is perfect. I will just say it.
- The Hurt Locker (2008) – Yes, a woman can direct a war movie. Better than most thank you very much.
- Valentino: The Last Emperor (2008) – A life story full of fashion, love, and joy.
- Rachel Getting Married (2008) – The slap heard round the world.
- Che (2008) – Hate him, love him, worship him, it does not matter. The lack of opinion in this movie finally gives us a clear picture of just who Che Guevera was, or never was, or may have been… you get the picture.
- (500) Days of Summer (2009) – “This is not a love story”. How this movie saved my life you can never fully understand. For anyone who has ever had their heart trampled upon, chewed up and spit out, felt that they would never love again, that the “one” got away, this is the film to watch. I am smiling just thinking about it.
- Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009) – Cussin’ good time.
- The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus (2009): You will need to sober up, or come down, after this one. Seriously.
- District 9 (2009) – Otherness is a frightful concept.
- Avatar (2009) – The best end to a decade ever! It has ushered in a new wave of special effects filmmaking making the 2010’s all the more exciting to look forward too.
- Moon (2009) – Human consciousness can, and will, be manipulated.
There you have it. My list of what films you should have seen in the past decade. I hope it was worth reading all the way to the end. Until 2020…
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