Flicks I've Seen In March
Mean Streets (1973)
Great Scorcese flick that gives DeNiro a rare chance to be the 'jumping on tables and calling you a jerk off' type that normally goes to Pesci, while Keitel gets to grips with the more typically DeNiro role. Not one of the more essential DeNiro/Scorcese collabs, but a great flick by any other measure.
Ocean's Eleven (2001)
Way more fun than it has any rights to be. Starts out great and doesn't let up.
From Dusk Till Dawn (1996)
I've always enjoyed FDTD, but now I'm taking a stand and proclaiming it one of the greatest films of all time. Roll on Grindhouse, guys. *Cautious but over-flowing enthusiasm*.
On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)
Hell of a theme, Hell of an ending, and never less than enjoyable. Nontheless, a large part of the joy of '60s Bond is just watching Connery. George does a fine job, but doesn't hold a candle.
Hot Fuzz (2007)
I've always read Hot Fuzz referred to as an action-comedy. Always. Really, to me, it seems much more to be another horror-comedy. It has some big action sequences tucked right in at the end - but then, so did Shaun Of The Dead. The references might be all Point Break and Bad Boys II, but Hot Fuzz is much closer to The Wicker Man. But whatever. I digress. It's pretty darn funny, which is the point, pretty much.
Diamonds Are Forever (1971)
Connery is back! Bond is back! A five-star outing for 007 with that Kanye West-sampled theme tune, those wacky homosexual murderers (that is murderers who are homosexuals, as opposed to murderers who kill homosexuals), Blofeld and his clones and oh man. Finest '70s Bond flick by a mile.
Live And Let Die (1973)
The key difference between Connery and Moore - for my money - is that, while Bond films were always ridiculous Connery managed to anchor the whole thing into some kind of reality. Whereas Moore was happy to let Bond float away with the leprechauns. Or in this case, evil black people. Moore doesn't compete with Connery, for my money - and he's not helped with an opening scene of sub-Carry On escapades (Bond hiding a female agent from M in his closet? Would Connery have needed to do such a thing?). But he has his own slant on Bond, and if you can go with it you're in for one kick-ass ride with the stunts, the Baron Samedi, the craziness. Not without its flaws, but a Hell of a debut.
The Apartment (1960)
Very funny and touching assault on capitalism and shit.
Borat (2006)
Comedy gold. One of the funniest films ever.
Kiki's Delivery Service (1989)
Packs a fair share of cute, but sub-par for a Miyazaki film. I kind of felt the wheels fell off when the kitty stopped talking to Kiki. Dud of the month I'm afraid, kids.
The Man With The Golden Gun (1974)
Fucking great film. Christopher Lee provides an all-time great Bond villain, and Moore ups his game accordingly. Their scenes together sizzle. And Nik-Nak, hurrah!
The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)
Another great Bond film - this time with Jaws!
The Game (1997)
Another brilliant David Fincher film. Gem of the month*, and whatnot.
Annie Hall (1977)
Top-class neuroses-explorer with post-modern technique and laughs galore.
300 (2007)
A really great balls-to-the-walls anything-goes over-the-top blood-spilling war flick. Zack Snyder is shaping up to have quite the career in front of him.
*I reserve my 'gem of the month' monicker for a film that I hadn't previously seen. This may be a little confusing, but who cares?
Great Scorcese flick that gives DeNiro a rare chance to be the 'jumping on tables and calling you a jerk off' type that normally goes to Pesci, while Keitel gets to grips with the more typically DeNiro role. Not one of the more essential DeNiro/Scorcese collabs, but a great flick by any other measure.
Ocean's Eleven (2001)
Way more fun than it has any rights to be. Starts out great and doesn't let up.
From Dusk Till Dawn (1996)
I've always enjoyed FDTD, but now I'm taking a stand and proclaiming it one of the greatest films of all time. Roll on Grindhouse, guys. *Cautious but over-flowing enthusiasm*.
On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)
Hell of a theme, Hell of an ending, and never less than enjoyable. Nontheless, a large part of the joy of '60s Bond is just watching Connery. George does a fine job, but doesn't hold a candle.
Hot Fuzz (2007)
I've always read Hot Fuzz referred to as an action-comedy. Always. Really, to me, it seems much more to be another horror-comedy. It has some big action sequences tucked right in at the end - but then, so did Shaun Of The Dead. The references might be all Point Break and Bad Boys II, but Hot Fuzz is much closer to The Wicker Man. But whatever. I digress. It's pretty darn funny, which is the point, pretty much.
Diamonds Are Forever (1971)
Connery is back! Bond is back! A five-star outing for 007 with that Kanye West-sampled theme tune, those wacky homosexual murderers (that is murderers who are homosexuals, as opposed to murderers who kill homosexuals), Blofeld and his clones and oh man. Finest '70s Bond flick by a mile.
Live And Let Die (1973)
The key difference between Connery and Moore - for my money - is that, while Bond films were always ridiculous Connery managed to anchor the whole thing into some kind of reality. Whereas Moore was happy to let Bond float away with the leprechauns. Or in this case, evil black people. Moore doesn't compete with Connery, for my money - and he's not helped with an opening scene of sub-Carry On escapades (Bond hiding a female agent from M in his closet? Would Connery have needed to do such a thing?). But he has his own slant on Bond, and if you can go with it you're in for one kick-ass ride with the stunts, the Baron Samedi, the craziness. Not without its flaws, but a Hell of a debut.
The Apartment (1960)
Very funny and touching assault on capitalism and shit.
Borat (2006)
Comedy gold. One of the funniest films ever.
Kiki's Delivery Service (1989)
Packs a fair share of cute, but sub-par for a Miyazaki film. I kind of felt the wheels fell off when the kitty stopped talking to Kiki. Dud of the month I'm afraid, kids.
The Man With The Golden Gun (1974)
Fucking great film. Christopher Lee provides an all-time great Bond villain, and Moore ups his game accordingly. Their scenes together sizzle. And Nik-Nak, hurrah!
The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)
Another great Bond film - this time with Jaws!
The Game (1997)
Another brilliant David Fincher film. Gem of the month*, and whatnot.
Annie Hall (1977)
Top-class neuroses-explorer with post-modern technique and laughs galore.
300 (2007)
A really great balls-to-the-walls anything-goes over-the-top blood-spilling war flick. Zack Snyder is shaping up to have quite the career in front of him.
*I reserve my 'gem of the month' monicker for a film that I hadn't previously seen. This may be a little confusing, but who cares?