• 8Jul 11

  2011 in Films So Far

  We have passed the mid-way point of the year and so like previous years I will post my list of what films I think have been the best or worst so far, followed by who I think put on the best performances, who was the best director and which screenplay I enjoyed most. I will top it all off with a list of the films still to be released in the upcoming months that I'm most excited to see. So let me begin…

  Worst Films So Far:

  
  

  5) X-Men: First Class:This makes the list not because it was a terrible film but because I haven't seen too many films this year and because it was a huge disappointment. It is a subpar attempt at mixing retro aesthetics, action and a bit of camp resulting in a somewhat entertaining but structurally and tonally fractured comic book adaptation with a severe lack of character development where it matters. Given those involved in front of and behind the camera I expected a whole lot more.

  

  4) Paul:Like 'X-Men' this was not a terrible film but made this list because of the lack of low quality films I have watched this year and because of just how disappointing it was. I've come to expect a lot from Nick Frost and Simon Pegg after making two hilarious parodies, 'Shaun of the Dead' and 'Hot Fuzz', so when this fell flat it hurt more than it should have. They really missed the mark and what resulted was an almost laugh less comedy with a slew of uninteresting characters.

  

  3) The Robber:A rather hollow character study that makes no attempt at developing the stories main character and so when it tries to make a statement about the nature of evil and what cause people to be adrenaline seekers it ends up not saying much; and a few intense chase sequences cannot make up for that.

  

  2) Battles: Los Angeles:This film will entertain if you go in with the right mind set, one that involves completely turning your mind off…but that doesn't make up for the fact that it contains incredibly bad acting, writing and a shallow story that is less an alien invasion flick and more a long commercial for the Marines.

  

  1) Hall Pass:An immature and almost never funny comedy with two incredibly unlikeable characters doing nothing but trying to get laid, there really isn't much more to it than that. It is hard to sit through this whole thing without becoming bored or frustrated which certainly wasn't there intention but because it is the case this is easily the worst film I have seen so far this year.

  Best Films So Far:

  
  

  Honorable Mention - Thor:Kenneth Branagh manages to use his Shakespearian background to help blend comic book camp, Norse mythology, action and humor into an incredibly enjoyable and visually spectacular adaptation containing a fantastic performance by Tom Hiddleston as Loki, one of the more interesting and most well developed villains in any superhero film I can remember.

  

  10) Win Win:Once again Thomas McCarthy creates a simple but very human and totally honest depiction of the lives of average people facing difficult but realistic challenges that is light hearted, funny and touching all at once.

  

  9) Bridesmaids:A rare comedy that manages to blend raunchy humor with genuine characters and a lead who isn't a one dimensional moron resulting in a fresh and continuously hilarious 'chick flick' that men and women can enjoy.

  

  8 ) Armadillo:An unnerving documentary following Danish soldiers in Afghanistan. By avoiding the conventional narrative one would expect from a film like this it takes on a very unique and poetic ****that is as beautiful as it is shocking.

  

  7) The Trip:A very fun and even smarter comedy following two friends as they make their way across northern England stopping as various restaurants to review food. Behind the hilarious conversations, bickering and celebrity impressions they do that will keep you laughing non-stop, there is also an examination of a man facing a difficult time in his career and what most would consider a midlife crisis. It is all laughs and fun up until a powerful final scene that really makes you rethink much of what you have just watched, which I did not expect.

  

  6) Another Earth:This is such an admirable drama/sci-fi blend with an ambitious concept but small budget that works so well solely because of the talent of newcomers Mike Cahill (director/co-writer) and Brit Marling (star, co-writer). Some might not find much meaning in the outcome and find the drama heavy handed at times but those who take it all in, open their hearts and look below the surface will find a profound and emotional story.

  

  5) Submarine:This is a fun, imaginative, unique and emotionally honest (below its quirky **** film making for an often touching but equally unsentimental coming of age tale about the romance, teen angst and depression of an offbeat outsider named Oliver Tate.

  

  4) Midnight in Paris:A simple yet charming and funny love letter to Paris, life, art and the past. It says a lot about embracing the present, taking chances, overcoming denial, etc. but no matter the themes it might have been trying to get across I found myself too wrapped up in the exciting atmosphere, situations and characters to care, it really is just a whole lot of fun.

  

  3) Certified Copy:A very unique and ambiguous examination of the relationships we share that plays out in such a meticulous fashion and is constructed with such perfection and beauty by Abbas Kiarostami who gives every frame, character, object, and even sound a meaning. There is some exquisite cinematography with mirrors and reflections; the coloring, stillness and pacing all adding to its beauty. That, along with a phenomenal performance by Juliette Binoche, make it one of the more well-crafted as well as enjoyable films I have seen in some time, that will linger with you long after the credits end.

  

  2) Poetry:A somber film about a woman diagnosed with the early stages of Alzheimers who takes up poetry in an attempt to express in words the beauty she sees in the world before she forgets how. It is not a simple task and she struggles to find some sort or poetic inspiration; but it is not a loss of words that clouds her mind, it is instead the suffering from a dark internal conflict that keeps her from experiencing true beauty. She is faced with many difficult challenges involving family, love, loss and regret but she still manages to pause and embrace nature, ask questions and search for beauty in what we the viewer see as only a hollow world.

  

  1) The Tree of Life:Terrence Malick's fifth feature is a mystifying and contemplative cinematic experience with a focus on the nature of good and evil, grace versus nature, god and his absence, love, grief, innocence, reconciliation and human existence all observed at times at a cosmic scale but mostly with intimate detail.

  Together it is all truly poetry in motion and though it is a term I have used many times before it has never been more fitting. The entire film is unlike any other I have seen, one that will rattle your perspective on the world. Personally, the entire experience challenged me emotionally, mentally and spirituality; I'm not a religious man and I understand the examination of Christian values and Gods part in the story but the spiritualism at play I believe transcended religion or faith and although it looks to god for answers and at times tries to explain his actions, the thematic outcomes are open to so much interpretation that to claim you know the answer would undermine the films intentions. In the end there are no definitive answers; in the bigger picture of things we live but a small moment in time. One of the final scenes depicts what is seen to be 'heaven' but not in a literal sense. God does not show his presence, and it isn't located among the clouds. One does not encounter angels and no answers are given to such complex questions like 'Why are we here?", instead there are only the ones we love as we remember them. Heaven is merely the place within our hearts where we cherish the memories of the past and it is in those memories and through those people we lived them with that we find a meaning and a reason to love and live. It is there where one finds true reconciliation, understanding and peace and by films end that is what Jack and the audience get. It is such a powerful and poignant culmination of everything that comes before it and one cannot help but be moved by it all.

  Best Performances/Director/Screenplay So Far:

  Best Director:

  
  

  1. Terrence Malick (The Tree of Life)
  2. Abbas Kiarostami (Certified Copy)
  3. Richard Ayoade (Submarine)
  4. Woody Allen (Midnight in Paris)
  5. Janus Metz Pedersen (Armadillo)

  Best Screenplay:

  
  

  1. Midnight in Paris (Woody Allen)
  2. The Tree of Life (Terrence Malick)
  3. Submarine (Richard Ayoade)

  Best Actor:

  
  

  1. Brad Pitt (The Tree of Life)
  2. Noah Taylor (Submarine)
  3. Hunter McCracken (The Tree of Life)
  4. Stellan Skarsgard ( A Somewhat Gentle Man)
  5. Paul Giamatti (Win Win)

  Best Actress:

  
  

  1. Juliette Binoche (Certified Copy)
  2. Jeong-hie Yun (Poetry)
  3. Jessica Chastain (The Tree of Life)
  4. Brit Marling (Another Earth)
  5. Sally Hawkins (Submarine)

  Most Anticipated For The Rest of 2011:

  
  

  1. Drive
  2. The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
  3. Take Shelter
  4. Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
  5. Melancholia
  6. Meek's Cutoff
  7. Martha Marcy May Marlene
  8. The Artist
  9. A Dangerous Method
  10. Beginners
  11. Project Nim
  12. Moneyball
  13. The Debt
  14. The Ides of March
  15. Like Crazy
  16. Hugo
  17. The Descendants
  18. We Bought a Zoo
  19. War Horse
  20. The Guard
  21. The Skin I Live In

  
  

  • Posted Jul 8, 2011 12:33 am PT
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• 7Jul 11

  Another Earth Review

  

  So I was lucky enough to attend an early screening of "Another Earth", which gets released on July 22nd, which was followed by a Q&A; with director/co-writer Mike Cahill and star/co-writer Brit Marling. I wasn't sure what to expect from the winner of the Special Jury Prize at Sundance, and I admit my expectations were low but the moment the credits began to roll I knew I was in love.

  "Another Earth" is such an admirable drama/sci-fi blend with an ambitious concept but small budget that works so well solely because of the talent of newcomers Mike Cahill and Brit Marling. Some might not find much meaning in the outcome and find the drama heavy handed at times but those who take it all in, open their hearts and look below the surface will find a profound and emotional story.

  The film begins with a young woman by the name of Rhoda partying with friends. She has just been accepted to MIT where she plans to further explore her passion for astronomy. When the night is over she makes the terrible mistake of driving herself home even though she has had a few drinks. On the way a radio host mentions that a new planet has been discovered close to ours. As she searches the night sky hoping to catch a glimpse the car moves into the other lane. Sadly she is too distracted to notice the car in the intersection, driven by a Yale Professor with his wife and son as passengers. She hits them head on, killing the wife and son instantly and putting the husband in a coma. Rhoda is sent to prison for her actions, completely altering her life forever. When she is released four years later the planet that was once a small blue dot in the sky is now clearly visible, shockingly it is identical to Earth and so nicknamed Earth 2. When Rhoda goes home she decides to work at her old school doing maintenance because it is hands on labor, distracting and helps her to avoid much interaction with others. It is clear that she struggles internally with the pain and regrets of the horrible things she has done. One day she discovers the location of the professor whose life she ruined. Rhoda attempts to confront him but can't get herself to do it. So instead of apologizing she begins to help him with household chores and pretends to be a cleaning service just to get close to him and hopefully help him in any way possible even if just by cleaning or just keeping him company. During this time scientist discover that Earth 2 is populated with humans that mirror those on Earth. In essence, there is another you living out there. Of course just the thought of visiting becomes a popular topic and a contest is held to give one average citizen the chance to go. Rhoda sees it as an opportunity to confront herself in a way that exceeds that of her internal struggle. But at the same time her relationship with the professor grows stronger and so more complicated for he still doesn't know her secret. It all plays out in a very well executed, though sometimes rushed, but still thoughtful manner with a very powerful conclusion.

  The most incredible thing about the film is probably what they did with the micro budget they had. Director Mike Cahill mentioned at the Q&A; that much of it was made with friends and family, the house in the film is his parent's and his mother plays a small part. The effects where done by small studios and the music was by friends and a small band the director knew. None of this shows though, the effects are very realistic, the camera work and visuals are wonderful and the music was great. This is one of the main reasons why I loved it so much. This is a perfect example of real passionate filmmaking, where a small group of talented individuals get together and even though they have little funding they are dedicated enough (Cahill mentioned William Mapother received no pay) to produce something that rivals most main stream dramas and even science fiction films coming out this year in terms of ambition, creativity and the ability to make a small but simple and poignant drama.

  The most touching aspect of the film would have to be Rhoda's journey from the moments after the crash to the final scene. Even though she did a terrible thing she is a very sympathetic character. This is because of her acknowledgement of the mistakes she made and the fact that she isn't looking for forgiveness and is willing to bear the burden of her guilt's. The only thing she ends up caring about is trying to make the professor happy and his life easier in any way possible because she feels like she owes him that. In the process of doing this we see how she begins to reconcile that guilt and come to terms with the life she lost and ultimately makes a heartfelt sacrifice in the end.

  The presence of the second Earth is an interesting one but is really just in the background, figuratively and literally. It mainly serves a purpose of helping to push this idea of 'what if we are not alone?'. We spend so much time interactingwith and juding other people but when it comes to ourselves everything is done internally. What if we could actually face ourselves in person and observe ourselves from the outside? What would we say? Would we judge ourselves as harshly as we do others? It is one of a few interesting questions that arise from the story and concept.

  There are some questionable moments throughout. My biggest problem would have to be a few moments that included voice over from a man who is supposed to be a scientist, mainly because the things he talks about and describes are things that should and are in most cases already apparent within the character of Rhoda. We know what she is thinking, Marling was able to express with a simple stare the same sort of internal monologue and pain the man was talking about and so we didn't need to be told what sorts of things were going on within her mind. I also felt that the relationship between John and Rhoda could have been played out a bit more before they got into more serious moments. It just sorts of slowly builds but then takes one drastic turn, which I suppose had a reason and enough motivation behind it, but still would have liked to see more development between them.

  Still none of those flaws were big enough to get in the way of the fact that for what it was, given the budget and concept, it really is a work of art. Not perfect in any way and will certainly not be appreciated by everyone who sees it, but those willing to believe in the story, characters and understand their hardships and the underlying themes will be in for a treat. Highly recommend, go out and give it a chance when it comes out on July 22.

  • Posted Jul 7, 2011 7:56 pm PT
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• 18Jun 11

  Graduation Day!

  

  (Me and my grandmother at graduation, she'd probably kill me if she knew I posted this picture ...)

  So after 4 years of dealing with classes and the regiment at the Massachusetts Maritime Acadey I finally graduated today with a Bachelors of Science in International Maritime Business. It was a long journey (at least it felt that way) but today it ended and I could not be more happy about that.

  The ceremony was good, luckily it did not rain. Senator John Kerry was there, his speech was long and a bit too political but still very good.

  It is weird, so many people said and I began to believe that once I got the diploma and officially ended my time in the regiment I would feel different...but I don't. Mainly because even though the weight of school has been lifted from my shoulders...an even bigger one replaced it...the real world 'dun dun duuuunn'!

  Decided to take the summer off, much need relaxation and time with friends to make up. In that time I will be trying to decide whether I want to go to graduate school or find a job...would like to get a Masters in Accounting, the field of business I'd prefer to focus on...or I could apply for a bunch of the jobs...but until the end of the summer I'm just going to enjoy the freedom.

  Congratulations to anyone else who graduated this year. Can you believe how fast it all went by?

  • Posted Jun 18, 2011 10:03 pm PT
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