2008: #2 "Double Indemnity"

This was the first of a five week series of Noir films playing at a local theater. I plan on seeing a few more in the upcoming weeks. Essentially the plot is as follows: woman in unhappy marriage, suckers insurance agent into falling for her, uses him to murder her husband. It was a decent film. I believe it won a number of Academy awards back in '44. I would say if you are looking to watch a film like this you would be better off to check out the other two I reviewed from the fall Noir Series.
The Big Sleep
Kiss Me Deadly

"Double Indemnity"
Recommended

2008 Presents: #1 "There Will Be Blood"

Well I'm off to a bit of a slow start. My first film of the year is "There Will Be Blood" starring Daniel Day Lewis. It's a spectacular film from beginning to end. I won't be surprised if it dominates the Oscars this year. Personally my favorite part of the film was the soundtrack. Its a mix of eerie off-key strings and percussion. It reminded me a lot of some of the films of the early seventies and late sixties. Most notably "Planet of The Apes."

There Will Be Blood
Highly Recommended

What a year for a new year

Well I made it through 2007 having been to the theaters 41 times, so now it is time for my year-end recap. You can follow the links to my original reviews.

Top 5 Films of 2007. You can follow the links to my original reviews.
#1: "Gone Baby Gone"
#2: "The Mist"
#3: "Lars and The Real Girl"
#4: "Reign Over Me"
#5: "Superbad" (I feel like this movie maybe shouldn't be here, but it was the only movie I went to more than once."

Honorable Mention: "Once"

Worst Movie of 2007:
Going back though the list of 41 I came across a few films that still anger the blood for having been viewed. Horrendous achievements like "300" and "Dreamgirls," but no film was worse than
"Pirates of The Caribbean: At Worlds End." The only film this year that caused a near walk out. So incredible bad that I just want to go out side and burn down the first video store or movie theater I see. Ahh. AHH! I'm just angry writing this. This must stop. it's time for a new year.

Enjoy This New Years Gift: Dan Wilson "What A Year For A New Year"

#41 "Sweeney Todd"

I would like to thank Tim Burton for bringing back The fluorescent red blood of the 1970's. Seriously where did he find that stuff. Perhaps it is to add color to a virtually black and white film. Which leads me to the best scene of he film. About mid-way through the meatpie lady has a dream sequence that takes place out at the beach. It injects every bright color known to man onto the screen causing you to almost enter an epileptic state. It was also cool o see Time Burton bring back the "contraption" scene that used to be in all of his films. It was incredibly cool. I don't normally like musicals. In fact, it would be better to say I hate them. i thought that i could get past that because it was Tim Burton. Which ended up being true, though it was a close one. Lastly Johnny Depp's singing sounds exactly like David Bowie. This statement caused Vonny to laugh out loud in an awkward moment in the theater. I didn't mean it as a joke.

"Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street"
recommended

#40 "Into The Wild"

I was impressed with how well "Into the Wild" played. It is completely watchable without having read the book. There were a few interesting details of the main character's, Chris', childhood that were added to the movie that didn't exist in the book. These details helped add some reason to why Chris left on his travels. I assume that since the film says that the family aided in the making of the film that these are details that have either come to light in the last decade, or that the family was now willing to make them public, and not just Hollywood glorifications. I also realize that little of this is probably Making Sense to you if you haven't read the book. Well then. If you have read the book - see the movie. If you have seen the movie - read the book. If you haven't done either - go do both.

"Into The Wild"
Recommended