It got to be a few days and then I figured I'd just wait and collect a third one
#90: Saving Mr. Banks - Author P. L. Travers reflects on her difficult childhood while meeting with filmmaker Walt Disney during production for the adaptation of her novel, Mary Poppins. [imdb]
I expected this to be generally enjoyable, but it was actually much better than that. Largely elevated by Emma Thompson's performance as the impossible Mrs. Travers, the movie presented a more complicated take on the story than I figured they would. I mean, I was hopeful for it, but the expectations were low.
Plus, all the things Disney of it filled me with glee. GLEE, I say.
Everyone in it was great, really, but Thompson was the clear standout. She is so glorious and nuanced, tasked with playing a person who makes it very difficult for anyone to like her. I don't know much about P.L. Travers aside from reading around this movie, and I don't know whether the actual filmmaking process was this personally difficult for her, but regardless, they succeeded in showing her story through its lens.
#91: Her - A lonely writer develops an unlikely relationship with his newly purchased operating system that's designed to meet his every need. [imdb]
THIS MOVIE. YES. Almost assuredly going in my top 10 for 2013. Unlike most of what's come out recently, I didn't mostly love it with some reservations; I actually enjoyed everything about it. I liked that there wasn't a question of whether Samantha was a real AI or not. They just started with that as given and found all kinds of interesting progressions from there.
Joaquin Phoenix was phenomenal, and he's not getting nearly enough recognition for it, especially when you think of how the movie had to be filmed. The script was terrific, and the emotional journey carried everyone in the theatre along, start to finish. I loved all of the ladies: Scarlett Johansson, Amy Adams, and Rooney Mara each brought their own light to the show.
Okay, now that I think of it, there was one thing that bugged me, and that was how other people could hear Samantha. It looked in the double-date scene like they were wearing earpieces, so maybe that, except before, his goddaughter could hear her, too. It wasn't clear whether the hand-held device was broadcasting since he didn't do anything to make it happen and the sound didn't change at all. I am bothered. But not that much.
But really, what a great year this has been for sci-fi and fantasy movies. Her is a great example of what science fiction does best: using future-thinking premises and settings to kick off and round out stories of the human condition.
#92: The Wolf of Wall Street - Based on the true story of Jordan Belfort, from his rise to a wealthy stockbroker living the high life to his fall involving crime, corruption and the federal government. [imdb]
I just made it to this one today -- everything else was higher priority to see -- and I ended up liking it more than I expected to. It's wildly depraved but it has style and humor. That Scorsese guy must know what he's doing.
What we really need to talk about is Leonardo DiCaprio. For once, his over the top intensity didn't distract from the role. He was able to hold back, drawing on the sliminess of his character in Django Unchained without the exaggeration, saving that for the scenes of drugged-out wackitude and hedonism. I felt like whole new sides of his skills got to be on display in this movie.
Also, I expected this to be way more oscar-baity in style, but the direct-to-camera narrative and voiceovers made it more unique and contributed to the ridiculousness. Three hours didn't exactly fly by, but they were all three engaging (*cough*AmericanHustle*cough*).
Downsides: Jonah Hill was uneven, for me. I liked what he was doing a lot of the time, but when he had to carry anything on his own, it didn't work. DiCaprio's Belfort was necessary for any scene to work.
I'm really glad I didn't end up seeing this with my parents over vacation. That would have been whole new levels of discomfort.
I expected this to be generally enjoyable, but it was actually much better than that. Largely elevated by Emma Thompson's performance as the impossible Mrs. Travers, the movie presented a more complicated take on the story than I figured they would. I mean, I was hopeful for it, but the expectations were low.
Plus, all the things Disney of it filled me with glee. GLEE, I say.
Everyone in it was great, really, but Thompson was the clear standout. She is so glorious and nuanced, tasked with playing a person who makes it very difficult for anyone to like her. I don't know much about P.L. Travers aside from reading around this movie, and I don't know whether the actual filmmaking process was this personally difficult for her, but regardless, they succeeded in showing her story through its lens.
#91: Her - A lonely writer develops an unlikely relationship with his newly purchased operating system that's designed to meet his every need. [imdb]
THIS MOVIE. YES. Almost assuredly going in my top 10 for 2013. Unlike most of what's come out recently, I didn't mostly love it with some reservations; I actually enjoyed everything about it. I liked that there wasn't a question of whether Samantha was a real AI or not. They just started with that as given and found all kinds of interesting progressions from there.
Joaquin Phoenix was phenomenal, and he's not getting nearly enough recognition for it, especially when you think of how the movie had to be filmed. The script was terrific, and the emotional journey carried everyone in the theatre along, start to finish. I loved all of the ladies: Scarlett Johansson, Amy Adams, and Rooney Mara each brought their own light to the show.
Okay, now that I think of it, there was one thing that bugged me, and that was how other people could hear Samantha. It looked in the double-date scene like they were wearing earpieces, so maybe that, except before, his goddaughter could hear her, too. It wasn't clear whether the hand-held device was broadcasting since he didn't do anything to make it happen and the sound didn't change at all. I am bothered. But not that much.
But really, what a great year this has been for sci-fi and fantasy movies. Her is a great example of what science fiction does best: using future-thinking premises and settings to kick off and round out stories of the human condition.
#92: The Wolf of Wall Street - Based on the true story of Jordan Belfort, from his rise to a wealthy stockbroker living the high life to his fall involving crime, corruption and the federal government. [imdb]
I just made it to this one today -- everything else was higher priority to see -- and I ended up liking it more than I expected to. It's wildly depraved but it has style and humor. That Scorsese guy must know what he's doing.
What we really need to talk about is Leonardo DiCaprio. For once, his over the top intensity didn't distract from the role. He was able to hold back, drawing on the sliminess of his character in Django Unchained without the exaggeration, saving that for the scenes of drugged-out wackitude and hedonism. I felt like whole new sides of his skills got to be on display in this movie.
Also, I expected this to be way more oscar-baity in style, but the direct-to-camera narrative and voiceovers made it more unique and contributed to the ridiculousness. Three hours didn't exactly fly by, but they were all three engaging (*cough*AmericanHustle*cough*).
Downsides: Jonah Hill was uneven, for me. I liked what he was doing a lot of the time, but when he had to carry anything on his own, it didn't work. DiCaprio's Belfort was necessary for any scene to work.
I'm really glad I didn't end up seeing this with my parents over vacation. That would have been whole new levels of discomfort.