Archive for the 'Movies' Category

Man on Wire

Tuesday, August 12th, 2008

I remember the Butterfly Man telling me this story years ago about a guy who walked across a wire between the Twin Towers. I thought it was bullshit. Later, I looked it up on the internet and it turns out that it really happened.

Lat weekend I saw Man on Wire (★ ★ ★ ★ ★) which is an amazing documentary about Philippe Petit’s wire walk in 1974. The story of how a Philippe and a few friends pulled this off is wonderful and almost unbelievable “coup” is skillfully retold. There’s a surprising amount of footage from the 70’s—even leading up the the event.

This one will hit you on a few different levels. See it just for the bell bottoms!

Movies, Movies, Movies!

Wednesday, June 11th, 2008

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So I’ve been sick with a cold/flu thing for a couple weeks but I’ve still managed to see a few movies.

  • Indiana Jones IV lacked spontaneity but was still pretty good. I’m glad they brought back Karen Allen. Did you know she makes sweaters now? (★ ★ ★)
  • Iron Man was rad. I saw it once but Sheila saw it 3 times! (★ ★ ★ ★ ★)
  • Kung Fu Panda was a well done kids film that adults will enjoy. I got good vibes from it. ( ★ ★ ★ ★)
  • Made of Honor never really got off the ground (★ ★)
  • Speed Racer had heart but didn’t blow my hair back (★ ★)
  • Sex and the City delivered the goods even though they spent a fair amount of time throwing flowers at each other. (★ ★ ★)
  • You Don’t Mess with the Zohan had us laughing all the way through. Also, it had a nice message. (★ ★ ★ ★)
  • What happens in Vegas was run of the mill but had good performances that took it up a notch. (★ ★ ★)
  • Son of Rambow surprised me and was really very clever and sweet. (★ ★ ★ ★)

Run Fatboy Run

Monday, March 31st, 2008

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The guy from Shawn of the Dead made a romantic comedy and David Schwimmer from the TV show “Friends” directed it. It had a couple good laughs and was a fairly harmless movie.

Check out the website.

Hous de Prix (Priceless)

Monday, March 31st, 2008

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A cute and clever romantic comedy from France. It had a lot of twists and turns. I really enjoyed it!

Watch the trailer.

Here’s IM conversation with Jonah (who is French)

Matt Cooper
http://www.apple.com/trailers/independent/priceless/
this was a fun movie I saw this weekend
if you like silly french films
Jonah
god damn she’s in everthing isn’t she
we have like 5 actors
Matt Cooper
hahhaha

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day

Wednesday, March 12th, 2008

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Not a bad film but not great either but still fun to watch but not gonna win any awards but it was better than Penelope. The production design was amazing and the acting was solid so the whole thing was easy on the eyes. Frances McDormand is always great but catch it on cable.

Juno

Monday, December 17th, 2007

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Man, that was good movie. That’s what I said as I walked out of the theater. It’s pretty rare when the whole thing comes together like that. With a script this clever how do you find the right people to act it out? How is it that it could be this smart but not feel like it’s trying to be loved. It’s not Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. You don’t have to suspend your disbelief to enjoy the ride. The moments come and go with sweetness and candor and how that goes together I just can’t explain. You’ll just have to see it for yourself.

Ellen Page is a force of nature who will go on to great things. I saw her first in Hard Candy last year. She owned the film which was horrifying. You can still see her now and say “you knew her when.”

I’ve been rocking the soundtrack. It’s so awesome!

Michael Clayton

Monday, October 15th, 2007

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Robert Redford made great movies like this in the 70’s. Awesome script and great acting. Go see it.

Michael Clayton Official Site

Live Free or Die Hard

Saturday, July 7th, 2007

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Bruce Willis still has it. Bruce Willis is the man. The first Die Hard was the best action movie of the 80s hands down. The fourth installment isnt a nostalgia trip like Terminator 3, it totally stands on its own two feet. Nothing deep here and nothing new really. Just plain ol fun. You won’t be disappointed.

Ratatouille

Sunday, July 1st, 2007

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This is a cartoon about a rat who can cook. It’s also an in depth allegory on finding one’s purpose in life, unconditional love and how it relates to the people close to us, and the eventual disillusion of the ego which leads to total spiritual creaminess. Ratatouille cuts us all a little slack and side steps the traditional origin story. The roots are there but this is so much more than a tired reskin of Star Wars with rodents. There’s a sweetness to the movie that you don’t see much of these days. The 3D and hand-animated characters (no motion capture) create a world you just wish you could live in. It’s a beautiful dreamlike hyper-reality and it’s set in Paris so what more could you want. it’ll take you through the entire spectrum of emotions without leaving you feeling like you were manipulated. It feels familiar but consistently surprises you with its subtleties and stereotypic restraint. It’s just so well thought out and clever.

This film is a masterpiece. Not a single detail was missed right down the the final credits. Go little rat and follow your bliss. Anyone can cook. Anyone can cook.

Battle Royale

Monday, June 18th, 2007

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I’ve never seen so much killing. I mean Die Hard killing is one thing. You can watch 700 people get sprayed with bullets but it doesn’t really register. This is more like murders. Except there’s a kicker, the murderers are 8th graders.

But, with that said it’s really not about killing at all. It’s more about human nature and a handful of other comments on societythrown in haphazardly at the end of the film. It was horribly violent but it was so creative and interesting that I didn’t get wrapped up in it.

So if you haven’t seen it just imagine 40 spoiled Jr. High students trapped on Survivor Island with an assortment of weapons. This is the kind of film Tarrentino unapologetically rips off and calls an homage.

Link