Mini-Review: I don't love Spike Lee, but once he puts away his racism rant he gets it right. 25th Hour is a succinct and moving film about consequence. The things we do have consequences, both good and bad. Every character has this realization at one moment or another, and its a gripping to see how each unfolds. Some brilliant scenes pepper a finely crafted film with knock out performances from the three leads. Hanging on this film's balls just because of one monologue insults it, by the way.
Mini-Review: Gorgeous and gripping. Drive is perfectly blends a stellar soundtrack, gritty violence, and wonderful photography to give one of the best films of 2011. The crescendos of this film amaze, as the subtly of the majority of the film gives way to brutal acts. I think I need a white scorpion jacket now...
Mini-Review: Insanely visceral and brilliantly suspenseful, Black Swan is less about Nina's artistic pursuit and much more about her obsession with perfection. It is clear from the first scene where Aronofsky is headed, but its how he gets there that is masterful. Portman's walk into psychosis is anything but slow or deliberate, yet it is stunning nonetheless. I suppose third acts is what Arononfsky does best, and he does not disappoint here.
Mini-Review: First Class stands in Stark contrast to other Marvel films (fucking nailed that pun). It is fairly mature and real emotion lies beneath many of the mutants' motives. Fassbender is fantastic, and McAvoy isn't far behind as the two shred any preconceived notion that acting in super-hero flicks is sparse. The rest of cast...eh, not so great. Whatever, this is a step above the recent onslaught in this genre. Solid film. Best mutant? January Jones' boobs.
Mini-Review: Aliens. Shooting. Marines are the shit. Honor. Courage. "Maybe I can help- I'm a veterinarian." Yelling. More honor. More Courage. Michael Pena being a badass. Speech. Another speech. "We already had breakfast, sir." Huuu-rah! The end.
Mini-Review: Ultimately, Sucker Punch works very well as a video game you can masturbate to, but then feel bad about yourself afterward. Its a tough review because Snyder gives a film that has no equal in its originality, but much of it is completely stupid. If he stops writing his films...we will have something worth watching again and again. Scott Glen cracked me up with his one-liner words of wisdom stolen anywhere from Roosevelt to a butchered Top Gun quote.
Mini-Review: TOL is the most literal embodiment of a poem on screen that I've seen. Absolutely Malick's most difficult to grasp and ambitious film to date, but done in a way that just awes again and again. Its common knowledge that he has mastered the art of capturing nature, but the glorious depiction of suburbia in the 50's stands out nearly as much. A difficult film, and, at times, a task to watch, but one that will definitely be remember and celebrated.
Mini-Review: The tone of this film is immaculate. It is dirty, grimy, industrial-looking, but most importantly....it is lonely. The alien is terrifying enough, but Scott, oh so subtly, gives the notion that these people are completely alone and nowhere near any help. The echos and shadows make the ship like nothing I have seen before in film. A true leader in the genre.