100 Movies in 2013
Past movie totals:
127/100 movies in 2012
115/100 movies in 2011
125/100 movies in 2010
79/100 movies in 2009
95/100 movies in 2008
2013
1. Django Unchained ........ A
Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Leonardo DiCaprio
January 1, 2013
I may be somewhat sick, but this movie made me feel absolutely giddy. I loved it. The premise is so totally ridiculous and so celebratory of that fact. Christoph Waltz is obviously a great pairing with Tarantino. He's almost as delightful in the role of the (granted somewhat twisted) good guy as he was as the villain of Inglourious Basterds. DiCaprio is fabulous as well in this installment's villain. And as much as his thunder is being stolen, I very much appreciated Jamie Foxx's performance as well. It was a bit more subtle, but I felt the slow shift from the frightened submissiveness of slavery to the brutal vigilante was very well done. There are many little elements that add to the movie as well, I really enjoyed the opening credits paying homage to Westerns of the 60s.
2. Ruby Sparks ........ A-
Paul Dano, Zoe Kazan
January 2, 2013
I really enjoyed this film. The somewhat absurd premise is accepted very readily and it becomes what felt to me like a very realistic portrayal of what might happen if one person was truly capable of changing another, and if it would be possible to restrain oneself from using this power. The ending ruined it a bit for me and I didn't feel like it was really in the spirit of the rest of the film, but otherwise I thought it was fantastic.
3. Jack Reacher ........ B-
Tom Cruise, Rosamund Pike
January 4, 2013
An entertaining action flick, although probably should be taken a bit less seriously than it's aiming for. There are a few believability issues with the early plot, but once it gets going I found it to be quite engaging.
4. Lincoln ........ B
Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field, David Strathairn
January 7, 2013
There are a lot of great things about this movie. The attention to historical detail is very obvious. Daniel Day-Lewis gives a great performance as do many of the supporting players. I actually think David Strathairn is being robbed of the supporting credit he deserves by Tommy Lee Jones (who is enjoyable, but it's not hard to steal scenes when you have every single good line in the movie!) It's not nearly as "America rah rah" as I was expecting given the subject matter. I did come away feeling like I had really learned some history, which is great. The only real problem is that the subject matter is very dry and it is presented as such. In some ways kudos to the filmmakers for deciding that it didn't need to be spiced up, but the end result is that it does feel very over-long, and there were quite a few scenes, especially near the beginning, where I completely zoned out.
5. Gangster Squad ........ B
Josh Brolin, Sean Penn, Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone
January 9, 2013
Really stylish, really beautifully shot, great cast. I was a bit hesitant about Emma Stone as the femme fatale but she does a wonderful job. You really do get what you pay for with this movie. If you feel like you've already seen the whole story from the trailer, you're not far off. There are a lot of great things about it, but it's missing some sort of spark in terms of the story telling that would make it outstanding.
6. Beasts of the Southern Wild ........ B-
Quvenzhané Wallis, Dwight Henry
January 15, 2013
This is a very strange and very unique little film. I'm not sure I would go as far as to say I enjoyed it, but nor am I sorry I sat through it. The cast is phenomenal, especially considering that it is made up of non-actors. The narrative arc could have been far smoother. I felt that the theme of showing the mystical aurochs interspersed with the real world was ineffective and distracting. I would have liked the film considerably more without it. I did come away feeling quite interested, and immersed in a very different style of life. But on the flip-side, I also found myself glancing at the clock multiple times and wondering how much longer until it was over, which is not so much a good sign.
7. Les Misérables ........ B+
Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway
January 17, 2013
I felt that this film was extremely well done in almost every way possible, and yet, I can't say I really enjoyed watching it much. And not because of the depressing subject matter either. I found that because this is the sort of musical where every line is sung (as opposed to musical numbers being surrounded by spoken dialogue) it was actually a bit hard for me to take the story seriously. It also felt really long. In an "oh my god is there an intermission??" kind of way. I was pleased when it ended. But on to the positives. The whole cast is phenomenal. Anne Hathaway in particular. To make such an impact with minimal screen time is impressive. I was blown away by her slow breakdown during "I Dreamed A Dream". I was a little sceptical about the early buzz, but she absolutely deserves the Oscar for this role. Hugh Jackman was also amazing, as was most of the supporting cast. I didn't actually think that Russell Crowe was bad, but definitely miscast. His voice is just not suited to this type of music. The decision to film the singing live added huge amounts to the emotional weight of the performances. But on the other hand, definitely took away a bit in terms of the actual vocals. A mix might have worked a bit better. I also really appreciated the cinematography and art direction. In particular the shots of furniture flying out of windows were wonderful. So overall, in a lot of ways this is an A film, but I personally just can't put that stamp on it because I truly felt like I sat through it rather than watched it.
8. George Carlin....It's Bad For Ya! ........ B-
George Carlin
January 19, 2013
IMDB categorizes this as a movie, so I guess I will too! I found this special to be a little dry as far as George Carlin goes. There is some good commentary on society and religion, as well as a nice section explaining to parents why no one cares about their children, but it is interspersed with some fairly boring filler about ending boring conversations and the perks of aging.
9. The Invisible War ........ A-
January 20, 2013
A very effective and alarming look at sexual assault in the US military and how it goes largely ignored by the people in power. The filmmakers are wise to use no dramatic reenactments and rely only on the power of the women telling their stories.
10. Zero Dark Thirty ........ A-
Jessica Chastain, Jason Clarke, Mark Strong
January 22, 2013
Kathryn Bigelow sure does know how to put together a good war movie. She always manages to capture my interest in one of my very least favourite genres. I will grant you that this film is definitely too long, and parts in the middle seem to drag, but the excitement of the final sequence makes up for it. I can absolutely understand why the film has been criticized as being pro-torture. I do believe that the aim was for the film to be factual rather than to take a stance, and in order to appropriately represent the people working on this issue, their frustration at the ban on those sorts of tactics would certainly be accurate. So inevitably it does come across as a bit pro-torture. Speaking of which, the violence in this film is really well executed. It's just graphic enough to be horrifying and effective, but not graphic enough to be in any way gratuitous or emotionally scarring for the viewer. I also really appreciated that the patriotism is kept to an absolute minimum and the story really focuses on one person's decade-long struggle.
11. 56 Up ........ B
Michael Apted
January 25, 2013
A very interesting and very well made documentary about an ongoing study of a group of British children who have been interviewed every seven years since they were seven years old. I really enjoyed watching it and think it's such an incredible ongoing project, but I have to say, it would have worked much better as an extended mini series than it did as a documentary. The film is two and a half hours long, and it starts to drag immensely in the middle. Although most of the stories are interesting, they all have similar elements so become repetitive. At the same time, with ten or fifteen minutes devoted to each participant, you don't really get a true sense of their lives and almost need to have seen the previous films to know the back story. So it becomes a strange combination of the overall product feeling endless, and each individual story being too brief. Hopefully a series of episodes will seem more reasonable for the 63 Up installment.
12. Quartet ........ B-
Maggie Smith, Tom Courtenay, Billy Connolly, Pauline Collins
January 27, 2013
This is a very enjoyable, sweet little movie, but it's got basically no substance. It's the sort of film you look back on and realize that it barely had any plot or story arc whatsoever. Although granted this isn't really something you notice while watching. It's really a showcase of the immense talent of elderly musicians who were cast in small roles, and while the main quartet is enjoyable and the need to have a few big name actors to draw an audience is understandable, it still feels like a huge cop out when the final performance can't occur.
13. This Is 40 ........ A-
Paul Rudd, Leslie Mann
January 28, 2013
I was really surprised by how much I enjoyed this movie. Definitely my favourite Apatow movie since The 40 Year Old Virgin. I was especially impressed by how relatable and reasonably human the characters seemed in this movie considering how one dimensional and ridiculous they were in Knocked Up. The movie is quite funny throughout. There is a surprisingly minimal amount of bodily function humour, and where it does appear, it's mostly well placed and genuinely funny.
14. To Rome With Love ........ C+
Woody Allen, Jesse Eisenberg, Alec Baldwin, Roberto Benigni
January 31, 2013
Woody Allen is very hit or miss with me, and this one was definitely a miss. The stories are all over the place, and only two of them are really all that interesting. Allen tries to play around with too many themes. The idea of the absurdity of fame floats around, but is not actually used throughout and becomes a very subtle statement. There is also the usual problem of some cast members not being able to adequately handle the dialogue, although in this case it's mostly the bit players. It would have been a much stronger script if the stories had tied together in some way.
15. Stories We Tell ........ B
Sarah Polley
February 3, 2013
This documentary by Sarah Polley, about her gradual discovery that her biological father was someone other than the man she'd grown up with, is very interesting to watch. It feels almost voyeuristic and definitely conveys how interesting the relatively normal stories of others' lives are. It does strike me as a little strange that she felt the need to make this film at all though. It feels a bit uncomfortable that such a personal story is being presented to the world in documentary form. Sarah Polley herself isn't even particularly showcased. Instead the film mostly focuses on her family. There is a point in the film where in a voiceover, Sarah reads from an email she sent to her father where she says something along the lines of, "I don't honestly know why I feel the need to expose my family like this. It's quite embarrassing actually." I found it rather difficult to disagree with this statement. There is a brief examination in the film of its reason for being. Polley gives a garbled explanation about the film being about the discrepancies between her family members' accounts, and about how people tell stories rather than the story itself. As engaging as the end product is, if that was the goal, it was definitely not achieved.
16. The Impossible ........ B+
Naomi Watts, Ewan McGregor
February 5, 2013
This is an incredibly intense film. Despite knowing that it will turn out alright, it's a white knuckle viewing experience throughout. The filmmakers do not shy away at all from showing the tsunami from the perspective of the victims and it's totally horrifying. The injuries are graphic enough to be effective a really hard to look at, but not graphic enough to be gratuitous. I did find a couple of the scenes a bit melodramatic, which was really unnecessary given the extreme drama of the whole situation. I also found it a bit ridiculous that the family had to be re-imagined as Caucasian for the Hollywood audience. Still a very good movie.
17. The Queen of Versailles ........ A
February 8, 2013
One of the best documentaries I've seen in a long time. Great for provoking conversation. It may not be the talent of the filmmakers so much as the gold mine they stumbled upon when they started filming this wealthy family right before the economic collapse. The first half of the movie is mind boggling in the excess, the second half is equally boggling in the family's incapability of dealing with being "poor" (which in this case means not even necessarily normal so much as "wealthier than almost everyone, but not as obscenely"). Well worth a look!
18. Ping Pong ........ A-
February 9, 2013
This documentary about the World Championship of senior citizens table tennis is delightful and inspiring. The competitors that the film follows are an assortment of enjoyably kooky characters, and their skill at the game at advanced ages (the eldest being 100!) is impressive.
19. The Color of Money ........ B-
Paul Newman, Tom Cruise
February 11, 2013
I appreciated aspects of this film, including the increasingly creative array of artistically pleasing shots of pool balls flying into pockets, but parts of the story were a bit unclear. In particular character motivation and consistently overly dramatic reactions to things with very little provocation.
20. A Good Day To Die Hard ........ D+
Bruce Willis, Jai Courtney
February 13, 2013
The fifth installment of the Die Hard franchise is joyless and tedious. Which is especially disappointing given how unexpectedly fun the fourth one was. Even the excessive destruction in this one feels forced, as do the supposedly funny one liners.
21. Warm Bodies ........ B-
Nicholas Hoult, Teresa Palmer, John Malkovich
February 14, 2013
If taken as a cute, funny and fluffy-light teen rom com, this is a pretty decent movie. If taken as a zombie movie, or in any way seriously at all, it's quite awful. I enjoyed watching it, but no aspect of the plot or character motivation holds up to any kind of scrutiny whatsoever. The make up is impressive and it's got a great soundtrack that really plays its own role. Nicholas Hoult is emerging impressively for me. I appreciated the subtlety of his transformation in this movie, as well as his physical comedy.Teresa Palmer overdoes every line and plays the role as amazingly cavalier despite the situations the character finds herself in. Overall makes for a fun watch, but with appropriately low expectations.
22. Ouwehoeren (Meet The Fokkens) ........ B-
Louise Fokkens, Martine Fokkens
February 16, 2013
Although many parts are very interesting, considering this is a documentary about 69-year-old twin prostitutes, featuring scenes that are actually pornographic, the filmmakers sure do manage to let it drag in places. The filmmakers seem to be more interested in focusing on the novelty of senior citizen sexuality; spending time in the red light district waiting for tricks, and also the sisters sitting around and talking about men. Which is not to say that these parts of the movie are bad, but the fact that people are still sexual in their golden years seems like a wasted focus when so little time is spent exploring what led these sisters to a life of prostitution and various challenges faced over the course of their careers.
23. Frankenweenie ........ B
Catherine O'Hara, Martin Short, Charlie Tahan
February 20, 2013
I liked this movie a lot. The animation was great. I appreciated the creepiness, and the fact that it's a bit dark for its age group. The ending is very strange though, and left me with a couple of raised eyebrows. Definitely not written by a cat lover!
24. Identity Thief ........ B-
Jason Bateman, Melissa McCarthy
February 21, 2013
You get exactly what you pay for with this one. Pretty much a throwaway comedy. Considering it was rated R in the states, the humour is extremely tame. The stars are endearing enough to elevate this to reasonably entertaining popcorn fare.
25. Amour ........ A
Jean-Louis Trintignant, Emmanuelle Riva, Isabelle Huppert
February 23, 2013
This is a very powerful film which is difficult to watch. The performances are phenomenal. I wish Emmanuelle Riva had won Best Actress for this role, as it was thoroughly deserved. The film takes place almost entirely in an apartment, and has almost no music to speak of. The stark result is very effective. Many scenes are almost excruciating to watch, as they show the challenges of aging in real time. The camera holds on the couple, as the husband ever so slowly guides his wife as she attempts to walk down a hallway while half paralyzed, or while he attempts to feed her, or get her to the bathroom. The viewer desperately longs for a scene change, but the film refuses to supply it until the task is done, adding tremendous amounts of realism. This is the type of truly challenging film that everyone should see. As unpleasant as the subject matter is, I found it not nearly as depressing as I had been expecting, simply because the love between this couple and the happy life they've led is so obvious despite the awful circumstance.
26. Searching for Sugar Man ........ B-
Rodriguez
February 24, 2013
A great, uplifting documentary about South African fans searching for a legend who never realized he had made it big anywhere. The film does an excellent job of building suspense, but the interviews and filming at the very beginning feel so amateurish, you wonder what you're getting yourself into. I really enjoyed the film, but am a bit surprised by the Oscar, and all of the critical acclaim. I wonder if it's more for the subject than for the actual filmmaking.
27. Blood Pressure ........ A-
Michelle Giroux, Judah Katz, Jonas Chernick
February 27, 2013
I was really impressed with this film, especially given that it's a Canadian project with basically no budget whatsoever. There are definitely a couple of plot holes, but I really enjoyed it. Michelle Giroux is really fantastic in the lead role. I thought it did a great job of maintaining the twisty thriller feel, while giving a very accurate portrayal of the ennui of every day life.
28. Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters ........ C+
Jeremy Renner, Gemma Arterton
March 7, 2013
This movie is completely and totally ridiculous, and well aware of that fact. The story is really weak, the script is awful, the acting is wooden, and yet it's still a lot of fun to watch. It's also hilarious that Jeremy Renner is cast as the twin (or very close in age sibling anyway) to Gemma Arterton who is 15 years his junior.
29. Jack the Giant Slayer ........ B-
Nicholas Hoult, Stanley Tucci, Ewan McGregor
March 12, 2013
This is a fun fairy movie, which may appeal a bit more to kids than to adults despite the violence. The original is worked into the plot well enough, and a super entertaining supporting cast takes it up a notch. In the end though, the story is not really much deeper than the original fairy tale.
30. Tiny Furniture ........ B
Lena Dunham, Laurie Simmons
March 15, 2013
This is a really enjoyable indie comedy from the very young mind of Lena Dunham. Although it's a little hard to watch as something other than the prequel to "Girls" if one is familiar with the series, as the characters and basic set up are near identical. It's easy to see why Judd Apatow found this film to be a refreshing expression of her talent and was led to offer her the series opportunity.
31. Oz the Great and Powerful ........ B-
James Franco, Michelle Williams, Mila Kunis, Rachel Weisz
March 17, 2013
I found this film to be very visually pleasing, although wish I hadn't seen it in 3D. The effects are wonderful. The story however is pretty weak. Although I did appreciate some visual homage to the original film. James Franco and Mila Kunis both deliver extremely wooden performances which are at the same time overdone to the point of being theatrical. I really enjoyed Rachel Weisz's enjoyably wicked portrayal, and Michelle Williams' beautifully earnest Glinda, a role that could have been unbearable in another's hands.
32. La piel que habito (The Skin I Live In) ........ A-
Antonio Banderas, Elena Anaya, Jan Cornet
March 18, 2013
Although this film is definitely slow to start, I ended up thoroughly enjoying its dark, twisty plot, and all around great performances. The film does leave you in the dark for the first half, but gives you the opportunity to catch on ahead of time. The end product is truly strange and a bit demented.
33. The Incredible Burt Wonderstone ........ B+
Steve Carell, Steve Buscemi, Jim Carrey
March 19, 2013
Perhaps in part to my low expectations, I really enjoyed this very stupid comedy. The humour is surprisingly PG despite the cast which is known for much darker stuff. But the end product is funny, if predictable and a bit formulaic. It gives a bit of commentary on the state of modern, reality based entertainment as well. I particularly loved Jim Carrey's role as a Jack Ass-esque rival magician.
34. 37°2 le matin (Betty Blue) ........ B-
Jean-Hugues Anglade, Béatrice Dalle
Started March 15, 2013. Finished March 20, 2013
I'm not sure of my opinion on this film. I liked it in many ways. I appreciated the honest sexuality. I thought that the insanity of Betty herself was unbelievable and overplayed. It's also incredibly slow and there's no reason for it to be three hours. I watched it in three separate instalments. It certainly did hold my attention to the point that I kept going back to it though! I feel like it could have been really fantastic with a more ruthless editor.
35. Admission ........ B+
Tina Fey, Paul Rudd
March 29, 2013
The script here isn't particularly innovative, but it's a new spin on the traditional formula. The major twist is seen coming like a freight train from miles away. Tina Fey and Paul Rudd are so endearing though that it hardly matters. It's also got a very entertaining if under-used supporting cast. An entertaining romantic comedy for sure!
36. Spring Breakers ........ A-
James Franco, Selena Gomez
April 3, 2013
I really enjoyed this weirdly gritty, arty, campy, depiction of an absolutely insane spring break. Partly a realistic commentary on "kids these days", and partly a totally off the wall pulp piece, I was riveted from start to finish. James Franco did a tremendous job as the ultra creepy drug dealer who bails the girls out of jail and makes no secret of his expectations for what will follow. The only really negative aspect was a tendency toward extremely repetitive, drawling, voiceover, the point of which escaped me and the effect of which was general annoyance.
37. West of Memphis ........ A-
April 6, 2013
A really well done documentary about a horrific abuse of justice. Thought provoking and conversation spurring. Definitely felt a bit long, but none of the information felt superfluous.
38. The Host ........ C
Saiorse Ronan, Max Irons, Diane Kruger
April 7, 2013
As appallingly bad and unintentionally hilarious as its 10% rating on rottentomatoes would imply, I am really saddened for Stephenie Meyer that this is her "adult" material. A talented cast and production team elevate this from a total garbagey attempted love story. And although this is more a criticism of the novel than the film, what a total waste of a potentially intriguing premise!
39. 42 ........ B+
Chadwick Boseman, Harrison Ford, Nicole Beharie
April 12, 2013
This film plays like a very classic sports hero movie. The dramatic conflict is all in the game, and the racism that Robinson endures. As a character he is portrayed as near-angelic. I think that the filmmakers actually did a tremendous job of portraying the horrors of the racism, while maintaining the tone of a family film. In reality, the racism is glossed over a huge amount (for instance in reality Robinson's own teammates convert to his cause with relative ease), but the message certainly comes across.
40. The Place Beyond the Pines ........ B
Ryan Gosling, Eva Mendes, Bradley Cooper, Dane DeHaan
April 14, 2013
This is a really interesting and wide-ranging piece. I really enjoyed most of the performances, especially Ryan Gosling. On the whole though, it didn't quite work. I felt that the whole project was a bit over-ambitious. The story would have worked much better as a novel. It actually felt like a decent but imperfect adaptation, so I was surprised to learn that it was written as an original screenplay. Also unclear on why everyone deserved aging make up except for Bradley Cooper, who apparently doesn't age in life or on screen.
41. Iron Man 3 ........ B+
Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Guy Pearce
May 1, 2013
Thank goodness this third installment of the Iron Man franchise blows the second one right out of the water! Though it doesn't quite achieve the fun and freshness of the first one, I was thoroughly satisfied with the experience. The plot is clever, and makes some subtle and interesting social commentary regarding the face of terrorism, and the role of television and media in North American society. I saw the movie in 3D, and I have to say it was probably the best I've ever seen in terms of not making my head spin, or interfere with my viewing experience. Although at the same time, it certainly didn't add anything to the movie.
42. Breaking Dawn - Part 2 ........ D+
Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson
May 3, 2013
I'm surprised that it's even possible, but this is truly the worst instalment of the Twilight franchise. This is what happens when money-grubbing executives slice a novel in which absolutely nothing happens into two movies. There is so little plot to work with that a half hour of screen time as to be filled in with an action sequence that didn't exist on the page. I will grant you that I enjoyed the "alternative ending" in this film MUCH more than the one in Meyer's novel. The overall product is sub-par even for the series though. I have no idea why they still have no special effects budget given how much cash the previous movies have made, and the performances are getting even worse as the actors desperately look forward to the day when they no longer have to work on this garbage. Thankfully for them, and viewers, this is the end.
43. Soul Man ........ D+
C. Thomas Howell, Rae Dawn Chong, Arye Gross
May 4, 2013
It is totally mind-boggling to me that this film got made in the late 80s. Perhaps we were less racially sensitive and didn't realize how hideously offensive many parts of it are. Aside from that though, it's a pretty throwaway, silly, romantic 80s comedy.
44. Rise of the Guardians ........ B-
Chris Pine, Alec Baldwin, Jude Law
May 5, 2013
This is a really sweet little movie, with some beautiful animation. Parts of the premise are a little weak, but the end product is reasonably satisfying, if formulaic. It is definitely very much geared toward children though. Adults watching will be vaguely entertained, but won't find much content that they can truly appreciate.
45. Union Square ........ C
Mira Sorvino, Tammy Blanchard
May 5, 2013
I'm of mixed feelings with this one. It's a bit hard to get through, but it's an interesting portrayal of a messed up family. I appreciated the brief vision of the lives of these characters over the course of a couple of days. The problem is though, that the underlying issues between the siblings are only vaguely hinted at at best. The viewer expects to find out what caused the original separation, and perhaps why the main character has decided to break the silence, but receives no pay off. Mira Sorvino is brilliant as the obnoxious sister, but very difficult to watch for the same reason. I can appreciate the thought and effort behind this film, but the end product falls really flat.
46. Pain & Gain ........ B-
Mark Wahlberg, Dwayne Johnson, Anthony Mackie
May 7, 2013
I was surprised by how entertained I was by this movie. Although the decision to make a black comedy out of a really horrific true life event was probably not very appropriate, I didn't feel like it came across as badly as it could have. I found myself marvelling and the audacity of the main characters, and was amused by their bumbling, but was never really rooting for them. This is probably the best film Michael Bay has ever made. Which is not saying much, but is certainly saying something.
47. The Great Gatsby ........ B+
Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, Carey Mulligan
May 11, 2013
I'm very surprised by the critical drubbing that this beautiful film is taking. The gorgeous, exuberant, spectacle of it is such a perfect embodiment of the roaring 20s and what the super rich would have been aiming for. I found it to be absolutely fitting. Whether you like Baz Luhrmann's style of infusing the visual spectacle with modern music is another thing. The cast was excellent. The constant voiceover and sections from the actual novel were a very fitting tribute to it. Personally I always found the novel to be a bit overrated, and I'm not sure that the inclusion of so much of the text was very beneficial to the film when taken as a film alone, but it did feel almost necessary when adapting such a beloved, classic work.
48. The Master ........ B
Joaquin Phoenix, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams
May 14, 2013
This is a very interesting film full of fantastic performances. Phillip Seymour Hoffman in particular really deserved awards. I did find it to be rather slow moving and unnecessarily long though. I found it difficult to remain focused at times. For this reason I'm not sure the end product will stay very memorable, but I am still very glad I saw it.
49. Killer Joe ........ A-
Matthew McConaughey, Emile Hirsch, Juno Temple
May 19, 2013
So dark, twisted and awesome! I really enjoyed the uncharacteristically dark performances from the whole cast. This is also a fantastic example of play being properly adapted into a screenplay, without feeling stagey at all.
50. The Sapphires ........ B-
Chris O'Dowd, Deborah Mailman, Jessica Mauboy
May 20, 2013
A fluffy, feel-good movie. Not a whole lot of substance despite the seemingly heavy subject matter of this true story which involves both war and racism, but still worth watching. Especially for the highly enjoyable music.
51. A Late Quartet ........ B+
Catherine Keener, Christopher Walken, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Mark Ivanir
May 20, 2013
An interesting examination of the inner dynamics of string quartet once one member's departure is imminent. Great performances all around, and a story that's quite believable. It is slow moving at times, but still a good film; especially if one is a classical music fan.
52. The Hangover Part III ........ B
Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis
May 22, 2013
This is a pretty decent finale to the Hangover franchise, although it really would have been better if the original Hangover had been left as a stand-alone film. The tone of the third part is interesting. On one hand, it was definitely wise of them to take a different approach with this instalment after the criticism that the second one followed the exact same formula, and as a result this is definitely a better film. It's far darker than first two, but also not nearly as funny. It is fun to revisit the characters, but without the jaw-dropping humour it does lose some of the appeal. Make sure to stay for one of the best scenes, which is in the middle of the credits.
53. Behind the Candelabra ........ B
Matt Damon, Michael Douglas
May 26, 2013
A really interesting, although slow-moving, biopic about Liberace. One doesn't really need any background to appreciate it. Matt Damon and Michael Douglas are both phenomenal, as is is the make up crew who worked on this film. It did really drag in places though, and in the story felt a bit too one-sided.
54. Judas Kiss ........ B-
Carla Gugino, Simon Baker, Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman
May 27, 2013
This film was quite enjoyable, although it's quite dated. The score especially is very cheesy. And whoever cast Alan Rickman to do a Southern American accent has clearly lost their mind!! This in and of itself is very entertaining though. (Emma Thompson's on the other hand is very convincing.) The story itself is pretty clever and well executed. A fun watch.
55. Arbitrage ........ A-
Richard Gere, Tim Roth
June 12, 2013
A very subtle, character-driven thriller featuring a fantastic performance from Richard Gere. Some of the plot points are a bit eyebrow-raising, but overall a very good movie.
56. Now You See Me ........ B
Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Mark Ruffalo
June 14, 2013
This is the sort of film that you just wish was written better. It is so engaging, fast-paced and clever for the first three quarters, but the big reveal is both disappointing and ridiculous, and there are plot holes everywhere. Without giving anything away, there are two main motivations for the entire series of events in this film and it would have been SO much better if they had just stuck with one of them. I thoroughly enjoyed watching most of this film, and must confess I also thoroughly enjoyed picking apart all of the plot holes immediately after viewing. It's the sort of movie that I would be very happy to watch again, but just wish had been as good as its potential.
57. This Is The End ........ A-
Seth Rogen, Jay Baruchel, James Franco
June 15, 2013
The idea of getting a group of celebrities together to play extreme, douchey versions of themselves as the world ends is genius. The movie is absolutely ridiculous while at the same time sort of clever, and always thoroughly entertaining.
58. Star Trek Into Darkness ........ B-
Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Benedict Cumberbatch
June 19, 2013
Much like the original Star Trek movie, the mass appeal of this one just goes a bit over my head. The special effects are admittedly impressive and the 3D is properly used (granted, still unnecessary), but to me the characters are one dimensional, and the story is a bit weak. It's not the sort of movie I can get lost in. I did enjoy Benedict Cumberbatch as the villain. Not a bad movie, but popcorn fluff with a strange reputation of being more.
59. The Lone Ranger ........ B-
Johnny Depp, Armie Hammer
June 20, 2013
Speaking of popcorn fluff, "The Lone Ranger" is such, but very self-aware. It's light, entertaining, and pays good homage to the TV series while at the same time acknowledging how ridiculous it was. Its two and a half hour runtime is quite excessive though. It could have been considerably pared down, as some side plots are not particularly necessary or relevant. Also, the script struck me as a little odd in places. The choice of a narrator is a bit baffling and distracting from the main story.
60. Parker ........ D
Jason Statham, Jennifer Lopez
Started June 17, finished June 20, 2013
This movie is just awful. The acting is wooden and the plot is nonsensical. There is absolutely no character development whatsoever. On the plus side, some of the choreographed fight scenes are pretty cool. None of this is to say that I didn't enjoy watching this terrible movie. But it's truly terrible.
61. The Bling Ring ........ B
Katie Chang, Israel Broussard, Emma Watson
June 21, 2013
I will start out by saying that I have never been a Sophia Coppola fan, but this is definitely my favourite of her films. It is far more watchable and interesting than her previous work. It does still lack some structure, and simply tells the story rather than making any sort of statement about the events. This leaves the film feeling, much like its subjects, a bit shallow.
62. The Guilt Trip ........ B-
Barbra Streisand, Seth Rogen
June 25, 2013
This movie was not nearly as bad as I was expecting! Although it is full of the expected cliches, there are a surprising number of scenes that feel genuine and relatable to anyone who has an amusingly frustrating parent.
63. Before Midnight ........ A-
Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy
June 28, 2013
Yet another fantastic instalment in the lives of Celine and Jesse. This is a very believable look at a couple who are trying to recover the early spark of their relationship, and at some times trying to remember what attracted them to each other in the first place. It's easy to fill in the blanks of the past nine years worth of story and fully engaging throughout.
64. Much Ado About Nothing ........ B
Amy Acker, Alexis Denisof
June 29, 2013
I was a little nervous about going to see this one because I really don't like Shakespeare, and especially not Shakespearean language, but I ended up enjoying it much more than expected. The first few scenes are very confusing and don't lend themselves well to the present day update, but beyond that the film is very funny, well acted and well put together. It's fun to get to see the various locations of Joss Whedon's house too. The only really strange decision in the update is the very direct implication that Benedick and Beatrice have slept together, whereas the dramatic tension of the story involves the horror of discovering that Hero may not be a "maiden". Nathan Fillion is genius in his brief role.
65. World War Z ........ B+
Brad Pitt, Mireille Enos
July 4, 2013
I thought this film was quite well done. It does not cheaply create horror, but allows the situation itself to provide the horror. There are very few cheap "jump out at you" moments and the score is very sparse, letting vague background noise set the intensity of the mood. Brad Pitt and the whole supporting cast are fantastic. I thought that the effects on the zombies were impressive too. The script does have a couple of excessively convenient coincidences pushing it forward, and the characters are definitely missing a bit of depth, but the overall product is quite enjoyable. I felt that the military and scientific reaction to the zombie pandemic was fairly realistic as well.
66. White House Down ........ B-
Channing Tatum, Jamie Foxx, Joey King
July 9, 2013
This is a surprisingly light and fun action movie. It's not as overly patriotic as I was expecting given the subject matter. It is a little bit hard to swallow the message of peace, and the very left-wing president (although I definitely did appreciate this character!) when juxtaposed with every scene full of machine guns, missiles, rocket launchers, grenades, etc. The message is apparently that peace is great, except that violence will save you? There are also a couple of painfully cheesy moments at the end. But overall I was pleased that I saw it. The cast is highly entertaining, and the film is certainly not attempting to be deep or profound, just a fun summer blockbuster.
67. The Mummy ........ C+
Brendan Fraser, Rachel Weisz
July 10, 2013
It's really hard to say if I would have appreciated this film more at the time it came out. It certainly hasn't aged well. The humour is just too silly, and the plot is too ridiculous with no attempts to back itself up. The acting is also a bit over the top and almost theatrical. It is still quite fun to watch though! And the special effects have held up pretty well over time.
68. Pineapple Express ........ B-
Seth Rogen, James Franco
July 12, 2013
As far as stoner movies go, this is a pretty entertaining adventure. As far as the cleverness of the humour goes though, it doesn't measure up to many projects done by the same group.
69. Red 2 ........ B+
Bruce Willis, John Malkovich John Malkovich, Mary-Louise Parker
July 17, 2013
A sequel that's well thought out, true to the characters, very entertaining, and nearly as good as the original. A rarity these days.
70. Flight ........ A-
Denzel Washington, Kelly Reilly
July 20, 2013
This film is mostly really well done and features a fantastic performance from Denzel Washington. The plane crash sequence near the beginning is horrifying and feels extremely realistic. Probably a film to avoid for anyone who really fears air travel. This is a very dramatic story which elegantly weaves in a few scenes of pure comedy without them feeling out of place. My only real complaint was with the ending, which to me felt forced and untrue to the characters. I learned in Blu-Ray extras that the final scenes were added on long after the original screenplay was complete, which is really obvious in retrospect.
71. R.I.P.D. ........ C-
Jeff Bridges, Ryan Reynolds, Kevin Bacon
July 23, 2013
This movie is trying so hard to be the Men in Black of summer 2013, but it's neither as fun nor as clever, and it falls incredibly short of the mark. It does have its moments for sure, but the script is mostly really flat. Ryan Reynolds does not help anyone out here, dialing in his performance. Jeff Bridges at least seems to be having a lot of fun. The two really don't have the chemistry needed to sustain this sort of ridiculous buddy movie. And it's really too bad, there are some great ideas to work with. The basic set up is really good, but there are a lot of comedic opportunities that are just not capitalized on.
72. Beautiful Creatures ........ B
Alden Ehrenreich, Alice Englert
July 29, 2013
This is the kind of story Twilight would be if Twilight were decent. The teenagers are believably snarky, and the story, while silly, is engaging. The supporting cast is fantastic and obviously having a very good time with the light fare.
73. We're The Millers ........ B
Jennifer Aniston, Jason Sudeikis
August 1, 2013
This film is quite entertaining, but it doesn't take sufficient advantage of its R rating. There are definitely a couple of awesome and jaw-dropping moments, but for the most part it plays things pretty safe, especially considering its two main characters are a drug dealer and a stripper. Speaking of which, although Jennifer Aniston and Jason Sudekis are both really charismatic and charming in the movie, they have absolutely no sexual chemistry together whatsoever. It also doesn't help that both actors are more believable and seem more comfortable in their suburban costumes than as supposed delinquents.
74. Donnie Brasco ........ C
Johnny Depp, Al Pacino
August 5, 2013
I don't know if the appeal of this film went straight over my head, or if it's simply become very dated, but I found it to be slow almost to the point of tedium. Visually and performance-wise, it's very well done, but it simply did not hold my attention, which is a bit surprising given the subject matter.
75. Quigley Down Under ........ B-
Tom Selleck, Laura San Giacomo, Alan Rickman
August 6, 2013
This movie is a bit strange tone-wise. It's full of the deliberate cheesiness and camp of most 90s action movies, but it doesn't mesh well alongside a story featuring pretty dark elements (the attempted genocide of Australian aborigines for instance!!) Still, the end product is enjoyable and entertaining. Alan Rickman is essentially playing The Sheriff of Nottingham in a cowboy hat, but it's hard to complain.
76. The Heat ........ B-
Sandra Bullock, Melissa McCarthy
August 7, 2013
The Heat is a pretty typical buddy cop movie. Unsurprisingly most of the best gags are in the trailer. Sandra Bullock's character is a bit hard to buy as a successful and polished FBI agent, who is apparently somehow also bumbling and clueless in an unfamiliar situation. However Bullock and McCarthy have such charming chemistry, it really makes up for plot holes. This movie also could have made much more elaborate use of its R rating, which seems to be mostly due to F-Bombs rather than anything really raunchy or over the top in the plot.
77. Walk All Over Me ........ D+
Leelee Sobieski, Tricia Helfer, Lothaire Bluteau
August 8, 2013
You really have to wonder how movies like this ever get green-lit. The script is terrible, and the story totally ridiculous. It's advertised as being an S&M-laden thriller, when really the fact that two of the characters are dominatrixes is almost irrelevant to the main plot, which in the end doesn't even make much sense. Also it's quite hilarious how a story set in Vancouver contains several references to "the" mall, and "the" food court. Most major cities only have one of those, naturally.
78. The Wolverine ........ B+
Hugh Jackman, Tao Okamoto, Rila Fukushima
August 15, 2013
A darker, bleaker and very welcome look at the Wolverine character. The art direction in this film is beautiful and the action sequences are fantastic; particularly one on top of a bullet train that's unlike anything I've ever seen. I did have some issues with the climax of the movie. There's insufficient justification for a couple of characters' actions, and entire changes of motivation and basic personality.
79. Elysium ........ A-
Matt Damon, Jodie Foster, Alice Braga
August 16, 2013
Really beautifully filmed and featuring many great performances. The current social commentary is perhaps glaringly obvious but hard to argue it's not relevant.
80. Blue Jasmine ........ A-
Cate Blanchett, Alec Baldwin, Sally Hawkins
August 19, 2013
One of the best Woody Allen films in my opinion. The whole cast is fantastic, in particular Cate Blanchett. It's the sort of rare story that remains very compelling despite all of the characters being extremely unlikeable.
81. The Way Way Back ........ B
Liam James, Steve Carell, Toni Collette, Sam Rockwell
August 20, 2013
There are some great performances in this film, and it does a wonderful job of capturing the sort of ennui and discontent of teenaged life, especially when forced into uncomfortable adult situations. However I don't think that it quite found its tone. The drama and comedy are not really very well balanced. Also the overall story is lacking in any real depth. I did appreciate the effort to keep the Steve Carell character's douchiness to an understandable level, rather than descending into the sort of "evil stepfather" stereotypes that are so common.
82. Savage Grace ........ B-
Julianne Moore, Eddie Redmayne, Stephen Dillane
August 28, 2013
Great performances and a very interesting film that will not be to everyone's tastes. The script doesn't shy away from some very strange and delicate subject matter.
83. The World's End ........ B+
Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Martin Freeman
August 31, 2013
Landing somewhere in the middle of the Simon Pegg/Nick Frost vehicles in terms of quality, this one doesn't disappoint in laughs or ridiculousness.
84. Safe Haven ........ D+
Julianne Hough, Josh Duhamel, Cobie Smulders
September 1, 2013
This film is pretty painful from the start. The set up is awkward and the plot twists are predictable (except the very end, which is so terrible it's unintentionally hilarious). The actors seem like they're not even trying to be convincing and know full well how bad the material is. Clearly the filmmakers know that these Nicholas Sparks adaptations have a built in audience, and they are no longer going to put any sort of effort into them.
85. The Paperboy ........ C-
Matthew McConaughey, Nicole Kidman, Zac Efron
September 1, 2013
This film makes complete waste of some really great performances. The script is uneven, and the story almost doesn't work as a film. The direction and camera work is a bit strange, and overall just doesn't work. The end product is a mess that feels like it should have been much better.
86. Hodejegerne (Headhunters) ........ B+
Aksel Hennie, Synnøve Macody Lund, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau
September 8, 2013
I really enjoyed this darkly comedic thriller. I was especially impressed with the brilliance of the ending, and how neatly it tied in to the beginning of the film.
87. Prisoners ........ A-
Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal
September 18, 2013
This is a really excellent thriller. Well paced, intense, well written and great performances. I enjoyed how ambiguous the morality presented was. The characters are all very human and believable.
88. Stand Up Guys ........ B+
Al Pacino, Christopher Walken
September 19, 2013
This flick is as entertaining as it is goofy. Definitely not to be taken seriously. Still, I found that the film did a better job with character development, particularly of the friendship between the two main characters, than much more dramatic fare often accomplishes.
89. The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones ........ C-
Lily Collins, Jamie Campbell Bower
September 21, 2013
As with most young adult novel adaptations, this one falls extremely flat in equal part by reducing minor characters to such bit roles that plot altering actions on their part make little to no sense, and by stuffing most of the book's magic and action in without any sort of explanation. Unsurpringly the script also seriously cops out of the one controversial part of the teen romance that separates it from the rest of the genre. The poor adaptation makes waste of a very decent cast, although they definitely make the film watchable. Viewers familiar with the books will not be satisfied with the mangling of the story, and the source material itself is probably too campy and ridiculous to attract many new viewers. It's entertaining enough though, with great special effects, pretty young people, and full of unintentional comedy.
90. Don Jon ........ A-
Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Scarlett Johansson, Julianne Moore
October 9, 2013
I found this to be a really refreshing take on a romantic comedy. It's a very interesting exploration of how pornography and Hollywood warp our expectations for real life and relationships (although I felt that a bit more could have been done to explore the latter). Although the two main characters are themselves fairly blatant stereotypes, I found the Julianne Moore character to be a breath of fresh air. Particularly for a female character. I appreciated that her sexual appetite and pursuing of a younger man as a distraction were given no judgment whatsoever in the film. The ending I also found super refreshing. There was certainly some more depth to be explored, and I'm not sure JGL totally achieved the vision he was going for, but overall a very impressive directorial debut.
91. Runner, Runner ........ C-
Justin Timberlake, Ben Affleck
October 10, 2013
This script is really a mess. Justin Timberlake sounds like he's running (running) lines in a high school play for the whole movie. Ben Affleck acts circles around him, and seems to be having a genuinely good time playing the villain. He's definitely the best part of the movie. The story is weak to begin with, and just spirals out of control into an ending which is as predictable as it is poorly set up and implausible.
92. The Family ........ B-
Robert De Niro, Michelle Pfeiffer, Dianna Agron
October 11, 2013
This movie was a lot more enjoyable than I had been expecting. It's also a bit tonally confused. For the most part it's a silly comedy, which then all of a sudden turns into a super intense and dark thrill ride for the final fifteen or so minutes. This is absolutely the best chunk of the movie, and features Michelle Pfeiffer giving a jarring performance, eons above what this script deserves.
93. Crazy Kind of Love ........ D-
Virginia Madsen, Graham Rogers, Amanda Crew
October 12, 2013
Rented this movie with friends entirely for Sam Trammell (whose role is thoroughly pointless) expecting it to be bad, and wow did it not disappoint. The premise is baffling and for the most part the performances are so bad they're funny. Not really sure how this one got made.
94. On The Road ........ C-
Sam Riley, Garrett Hedlund
October 12, 2013
There are many good things about this film. The art direction is beautiful, and the feeling of the era is really captured and conveyed. Also, there are some hot threesomes. Otherwise, this film is surprisingly tedious. It's two hours long and at least a half hour of "transitional" (to no purpose) shots of Sal travelling or working could be shaved off. I'm not familiar with the Kerouac novel, but I wonder if potential for a good movie was lost in an effort to be too faithful to material that didn't translate well on screen?
95. Enough Said ........ A
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, James Gandolfini
October 14, 2013
Although the basic premise of this film is a little silly, it otherwise feels like watching real, flawed people dealing with real, and awkward, situations. James Gandolfini and Julia Louis-Dreyfus are so perfect and endearing in these roles. This should serve as a model of what a romantic movie should look like. I really loved it.
96. Mud ........ A-
Matthew McConaughey, Tye Sheridan, Jacob Lofland
October 15, 2013
Matthew McConaughey is brilliant in this film. Many different notes are achieved here. It's a beautifully sad portrayal of the Deep South, a character piece about two deeply damaged adults, and at the same time weirdly nostalgic for an innocent phase at the end of childhood. Tye Sheridan and Jacob Lofland also give fantastic performances.
97. Gravity ........ B+
Sandra Bullock, George Clooney
October 19, 2013
This film is a huge achievement in terms of both acting and special effects. It really does immerse you and make you feel as though you're lost in space. It's definitely an edge of your seat experience. My only issue is with the character development. Sandra Bullock's character is supposed to have recently lost her young child in a tragic accident. Knowing this in advance, I expected the film to be much heavier emotionally than it was. I felt that her backstory and grief needed to be much better developed and demonstrated. My viewing companion felt that her story and vague descriptions of grief were distracting and unnecessary for actual story and should have been removed entirely. We agreed that either method would have greatly improved the overall product.
98. Side Effects ........ C+
Jude Law, Rooney Mara
October 23, 2013
It feels a bit unfair rating this film so poorly, as the first three quarters are really very good. There is a lot to be said about this one. First of all, the trailer is one of the most misleading I've ever seen. I was expecting a really intense thriller, possibly with elements of horror. I thought the plot would be based around what exactly the medication was causing Rooney Mara to do. Although I can see how this was a tough movie to sell, the marketers did a really poor job of it. At its best parts, this film is actually a slow moving character drama, and a study of many of the tough questions surrounding mental illness and medication. Who should be held accountable when terrible things happen? I wish the film had continued in this vein, but it truly felt as though a test audience had not been satisfied with the ending, and another one had been filmed in a frantic re-write. The plot spins itself into a poorly executed and totally ridiculous conspiracy thriller. The gaping plot holes are totally ignored. Character motivation is thrown completely out the window. It is a complete and epic mess. I'm not sure I've ever seen a movie that took such a dramatic nose-dive in terms of quality part way through. It honestly felt as though it was written by two different people. As much as I actually enjoyed the whole thing (if on two completely different levels) it's a really disappointing final product for a film that could have been very interesting.
99. Captain Phillips ........ B+
Tom Hanks, Barkhad Abdi, Barkhad Abdirahman
October 24, 2013
This is a really great movie with beautifully built up intensity, and fantastic performances. That being said, it never feels particularly fresh or ground-breaking. At its core, it's just another everyday American hero movie, if one of unusually high quality.
100. 12 Years a Slave ........ A-
Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, Lupita Nyong'o
November 11, 2013
This is a really important film that everyone, especially Americans, should see. It's difficult to watch, but never gratuitous. It's interesting to me that so many are offended by the "gruesome" violence which doesn't even approach most gritty action movies. It's just that this violence is so real, horrifying and close to home. Most of the cast is phenomenal, with a couple of glaring exceptions. I hope that the Academy is not too put off by the subject matter to reward this film.
Looks like this post is finally too big for LJ. Here be Part 2!
127/100 movies in 2012
115/100 movies in 2011
125/100 movies in 2010
79/100 movies in 2009
95/100 movies in 2008
2013
1. Django Unchained ........ A
Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Leonardo DiCaprio
January 1, 2013
I may be somewhat sick, but this movie made me feel absolutely giddy. I loved it. The premise is so totally ridiculous and so celebratory of that fact. Christoph Waltz is obviously a great pairing with Tarantino. He's almost as delightful in the role of the (granted somewhat twisted) good guy as he was as the villain of Inglourious Basterds. DiCaprio is fabulous as well in this installment's villain. And as much as his thunder is being stolen, I very much appreciated Jamie Foxx's performance as well. It was a bit more subtle, but I felt the slow shift from the frightened submissiveness of slavery to the brutal vigilante was very well done. There are many little elements that add to the movie as well, I really enjoyed the opening credits paying homage to Westerns of the 60s.
2. Ruby Sparks ........ A-
Paul Dano, Zoe Kazan
January 2, 2013
I really enjoyed this film. The somewhat absurd premise is accepted very readily and it becomes what felt to me like a very realistic portrayal of what might happen if one person was truly capable of changing another, and if it would be possible to restrain oneself from using this power. The ending ruined it a bit for me and I didn't feel like it was really in the spirit of the rest of the film, but otherwise I thought it was fantastic.
3. Jack Reacher ........ B-
Tom Cruise, Rosamund Pike
January 4, 2013
An entertaining action flick, although probably should be taken a bit less seriously than it's aiming for. There are a few believability issues with the early plot, but once it gets going I found it to be quite engaging.
4. Lincoln ........ B
Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field, David Strathairn
January 7, 2013
There are a lot of great things about this movie. The attention to historical detail is very obvious. Daniel Day-Lewis gives a great performance as do many of the supporting players. I actually think David Strathairn is being robbed of the supporting credit he deserves by Tommy Lee Jones (who is enjoyable, but it's not hard to steal scenes when you have every single good line in the movie!) It's not nearly as "America rah rah" as I was expecting given the subject matter. I did come away feeling like I had really learned some history, which is great. The only real problem is that the subject matter is very dry and it is presented as such. In some ways kudos to the filmmakers for deciding that it didn't need to be spiced up, but the end result is that it does feel very over-long, and there were quite a few scenes, especially near the beginning, where I completely zoned out.
5. Gangster Squad ........ B
Josh Brolin, Sean Penn, Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone
January 9, 2013
Really stylish, really beautifully shot, great cast. I was a bit hesitant about Emma Stone as the femme fatale but she does a wonderful job. You really do get what you pay for with this movie. If you feel like you've already seen the whole story from the trailer, you're not far off. There are a lot of great things about it, but it's missing some sort of spark in terms of the story telling that would make it outstanding.
6. Beasts of the Southern Wild ........ B-
Quvenzhané Wallis, Dwight Henry
January 15, 2013
This is a very strange and very unique little film. I'm not sure I would go as far as to say I enjoyed it, but nor am I sorry I sat through it. The cast is phenomenal, especially considering that it is made up of non-actors. The narrative arc could have been far smoother. I felt that the theme of showing the mystical aurochs interspersed with the real world was ineffective and distracting. I would have liked the film considerably more without it. I did come away feeling quite interested, and immersed in a very different style of life. But on the flip-side, I also found myself glancing at the clock multiple times and wondering how much longer until it was over, which is not so much a good sign.
7. Les Misérables ........ B+
Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway
January 17, 2013
I felt that this film was extremely well done in almost every way possible, and yet, I can't say I really enjoyed watching it much. And not because of the depressing subject matter either. I found that because this is the sort of musical where every line is sung (as opposed to musical numbers being surrounded by spoken dialogue) it was actually a bit hard for me to take the story seriously. It also felt really long. In an "oh my god is there an intermission??" kind of way. I was pleased when it ended. But on to the positives. The whole cast is phenomenal. Anne Hathaway in particular. To make such an impact with minimal screen time is impressive. I was blown away by her slow breakdown during "I Dreamed A Dream". I was a little sceptical about the early buzz, but she absolutely deserves the Oscar for this role. Hugh Jackman was also amazing, as was most of the supporting cast. I didn't actually think that Russell Crowe was bad, but definitely miscast. His voice is just not suited to this type of music. The decision to film the singing live added huge amounts to the emotional weight of the performances. But on the other hand, definitely took away a bit in terms of the actual vocals. A mix might have worked a bit better. I also really appreciated the cinematography and art direction. In particular the shots of furniture flying out of windows were wonderful. So overall, in a lot of ways this is an A film, but I personally just can't put that stamp on it because I truly felt like I sat through it rather than watched it.
8. George Carlin....It's Bad For Ya! ........ B-
George Carlin
January 19, 2013
IMDB categorizes this as a movie, so I guess I will too! I found this special to be a little dry as far as George Carlin goes. There is some good commentary on society and religion, as well as a nice section explaining to parents why no one cares about their children, but it is interspersed with some fairly boring filler about ending boring conversations and the perks of aging.
9. The Invisible War ........ A-
January 20, 2013
A very effective and alarming look at sexual assault in the US military and how it goes largely ignored by the people in power. The filmmakers are wise to use no dramatic reenactments and rely only on the power of the women telling their stories.
10. Zero Dark Thirty ........ A-
Jessica Chastain, Jason Clarke, Mark Strong
January 22, 2013
Kathryn Bigelow sure does know how to put together a good war movie. She always manages to capture my interest in one of my very least favourite genres. I will grant you that this film is definitely too long, and parts in the middle seem to drag, but the excitement of the final sequence makes up for it. I can absolutely understand why the film has been criticized as being pro-torture. I do believe that the aim was for the film to be factual rather than to take a stance, and in order to appropriately represent the people working on this issue, their frustration at the ban on those sorts of tactics would certainly be accurate. So inevitably it does come across as a bit pro-torture. Speaking of which, the violence in this film is really well executed. It's just graphic enough to be horrifying and effective, but not graphic enough to be in any way gratuitous or emotionally scarring for the viewer. I also really appreciated that the patriotism is kept to an absolute minimum and the story really focuses on one person's decade-long struggle.
11. 56 Up ........ B
Michael Apted
January 25, 2013
A very interesting and very well made documentary about an ongoing study of a group of British children who have been interviewed every seven years since they were seven years old. I really enjoyed watching it and think it's such an incredible ongoing project, but I have to say, it would have worked much better as an extended mini series than it did as a documentary. The film is two and a half hours long, and it starts to drag immensely in the middle. Although most of the stories are interesting, they all have similar elements so become repetitive. At the same time, with ten or fifteen minutes devoted to each participant, you don't really get a true sense of their lives and almost need to have seen the previous films to know the back story. So it becomes a strange combination of the overall product feeling endless, and each individual story being too brief. Hopefully a series of episodes will seem more reasonable for the 63 Up installment.
12. Quartet ........ B-
Maggie Smith, Tom Courtenay, Billy Connolly, Pauline Collins
January 27, 2013
This is a very enjoyable, sweet little movie, but it's got basically no substance. It's the sort of film you look back on and realize that it barely had any plot or story arc whatsoever. Although granted this isn't really something you notice while watching. It's really a showcase of the immense talent of elderly musicians who were cast in small roles, and while the main quartet is enjoyable and the need to have a few big name actors to draw an audience is understandable, it still feels like a huge cop out when the final performance can't occur.
13. This Is 40 ........ A-
Paul Rudd, Leslie Mann
January 28, 2013
I was really surprised by how much I enjoyed this movie. Definitely my favourite Apatow movie since The 40 Year Old Virgin. I was especially impressed by how relatable and reasonably human the characters seemed in this movie considering how one dimensional and ridiculous they were in Knocked Up. The movie is quite funny throughout. There is a surprisingly minimal amount of bodily function humour, and where it does appear, it's mostly well placed and genuinely funny.
14. To Rome With Love ........ C+
Woody Allen, Jesse Eisenberg, Alec Baldwin, Roberto Benigni
January 31, 2013
Woody Allen is very hit or miss with me, and this one was definitely a miss. The stories are all over the place, and only two of them are really all that interesting. Allen tries to play around with too many themes. The idea of the absurdity of fame floats around, but is not actually used throughout and becomes a very subtle statement. There is also the usual problem of some cast members not being able to adequately handle the dialogue, although in this case it's mostly the bit players. It would have been a much stronger script if the stories had tied together in some way.
15. Stories We Tell ........ B
Sarah Polley
February 3, 2013
This documentary by Sarah Polley, about her gradual discovery that her biological father was someone other than the man she'd grown up with, is very interesting to watch. It feels almost voyeuristic and definitely conveys how interesting the relatively normal stories of others' lives are. It does strike me as a little strange that she felt the need to make this film at all though. It feels a bit uncomfortable that such a personal story is being presented to the world in documentary form. Sarah Polley herself isn't even particularly showcased. Instead the film mostly focuses on her family. There is a point in the film where in a voiceover, Sarah reads from an email she sent to her father where she says something along the lines of, "I don't honestly know why I feel the need to expose my family like this. It's quite embarrassing actually." I found it rather difficult to disagree with this statement. There is a brief examination in the film of its reason for being. Polley gives a garbled explanation about the film being about the discrepancies between her family members' accounts, and about how people tell stories rather than the story itself. As engaging as the end product is, if that was the goal, it was definitely not achieved.
16. The Impossible ........ B+
Naomi Watts, Ewan McGregor
February 5, 2013
This is an incredibly intense film. Despite knowing that it will turn out alright, it's a white knuckle viewing experience throughout. The filmmakers do not shy away at all from showing the tsunami from the perspective of the victims and it's totally horrifying. The injuries are graphic enough to be effective a really hard to look at, but not graphic enough to be gratuitous. I did find a couple of the scenes a bit melodramatic, which was really unnecessary given the extreme drama of the whole situation. I also found it a bit ridiculous that the family had to be re-imagined as Caucasian for the Hollywood audience. Still a very good movie.
17. The Queen of Versailles ........ A
February 8, 2013
One of the best documentaries I've seen in a long time. Great for provoking conversation. It may not be the talent of the filmmakers so much as the gold mine they stumbled upon when they started filming this wealthy family right before the economic collapse. The first half of the movie is mind boggling in the excess, the second half is equally boggling in the family's incapability of dealing with being "poor" (which in this case means not even necessarily normal so much as "wealthier than almost everyone, but not as obscenely"). Well worth a look!
18. Ping Pong ........ A-
February 9, 2013
This documentary about the World Championship of senior citizens table tennis is delightful and inspiring. The competitors that the film follows are an assortment of enjoyably kooky characters, and their skill at the game at advanced ages (the eldest being 100!) is impressive.
19. The Color of Money ........ B-
Paul Newman, Tom Cruise
February 11, 2013
I appreciated aspects of this film, including the increasingly creative array of artistically pleasing shots of pool balls flying into pockets, but parts of the story were a bit unclear. In particular character motivation and consistently overly dramatic reactions to things with very little provocation.
20. A Good Day To Die Hard ........ D+
Bruce Willis, Jai Courtney
February 13, 2013
The fifth installment of the Die Hard franchise is joyless and tedious. Which is especially disappointing given how unexpectedly fun the fourth one was. Even the excessive destruction in this one feels forced, as do the supposedly funny one liners.
21. Warm Bodies ........ B-
Nicholas Hoult, Teresa Palmer, John Malkovich
February 14, 2013
If taken as a cute, funny and fluffy-light teen rom com, this is a pretty decent movie. If taken as a zombie movie, or in any way seriously at all, it's quite awful. I enjoyed watching it, but no aspect of the plot or character motivation holds up to any kind of scrutiny whatsoever. The make up is impressive and it's got a great soundtrack that really plays its own role. Nicholas Hoult is emerging impressively for me. I appreciated the subtlety of his transformation in this movie, as well as his physical comedy.Teresa Palmer overdoes every line and plays the role as amazingly cavalier despite the situations the character finds herself in. Overall makes for a fun watch, but with appropriately low expectations.
22. Ouwehoeren (Meet The Fokkens) ........ B-
Louise Fokkens, Martine Fokkens
February 16, 2013
Although many parts are very interesting, considering this is a documentary about 69-year-old twin prostitutes, featuring scenes that are actually pornographic, the filmmakers sure do manage to let it drag in places. The filmmakers seem to be more interested in focusing on the novelty of senior citizen sexuality; spending time in the red light district waiting for tricks, and also the sisters sitting around and talking about men. Which is not to say that these parts of the movie are bad, but the fact that people are still sexual in their golden years seems like a wasted focus when so little time is spent exploring what led these sisters to a life of prostitution and various challenges faced over the course of their careers.
23. Frankenweenie ........ B
Catherine O'Hara, Martin Short, Charlie Tahan
February 20, 2013
I liked this movie a lot. The animation was great. I appreciated the creepiness, and the fact that it's a bit dark for its age group. The ending is very strange though, and left me with a couple of raised eyebrows. Definitely not written by a cat lover!
24. Identity Thief ........ B-
Jason Bateman, Melissa McCarthy
February 21, 2013
You get exactly what you pay for with this one. Pretty much a throwaway comedy. Considering it was rated R in the states, the humour is extremely tame. The stars are endearing enough to elevate this to reasonably entertaining popcorn fare.
25. Amour ........ A
Jean-Louis Trintignant, Emmanuelle Riva, Isabelle Huppert
February 23, 2013
This is a very powerful film which is difficult to watch. The performances are phenomenal. I wish Emmanuelle Riva had won Best Actress for this role, as it was thoroughly deserved. The film takes place almost entirely in an apartment, and has almost no music to speak of. The stark result is very effective. Many scenes are almost excruciating to watch, as they show the challenges of aging in real time. The camera holds on the couple, as the husband ever so slowly guides his wife as she attempts to walk down a hallway while half paralyzed, or while he attempts to feed her, or get her to the bathroom. The viewer desperately longs for a scene change, but the film refuses to supply it until the task is done, adding tremendous amounts of realism. This is the type of truly challenging film that everyone should see. As unpleasant as the subject matter is, I found it not nearly as depressing as I had been expecting, simply because the love between this couple and the happy life they've led is so obvious despite the awful circumstance.
26. Searching for Sugar Man ........ B-
Rodriguez
February 24, 2013
A great, uplifting documentary about South African fans searching for a legend who never realized he had made it big anywhere. The film does an excellent job of building suspense, but the interviews and filming at the very beginning feel so amateurish, you wonder what you're getting yourself into. I really enjoyed the film, but am a bit surprised by the Oscar, and all of the critical acclaim. I wonder if it's more for the subject than for the actual filmmaking.
27. Blood Pressure ........ A-
Michelle Giroux, Judah Katz, Jonas Chernick
February 27, 2013
I was really impressed with this film, especially given that it's a Canadian project with basically no budget whatsoever. There are definitely a couple of plot holes, but I really enjoyed it. Michelle Giroux is really fantastic in the lead role. I thought it did a great job of maintaining the twisty thriller feel, while giving a very accurate portrayal of the ennui of every day life.
28. Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters ........ C+
Jeremy Renner, Gemma Arterton
March 7, 2013
This movie is completely and totally ridiculous, and well aware of that fact. The story is really weak, the script is awful, the acting is wooden, and yet it's still a lot of fun to watch. It's also hilarious that Jeremy Renner is cast as the twin (or very close in age sibling anyway) to Gemma Arterton who is 15 years his junior.
29. Jack the Giant Slayer ........ B-
Nicholas Hoult, Stanley Tucci, Ewan McGregor
March 12, 2013
This is a fun fairy movie, which may appeal a bit more to kids than to adults despite the violence. The original is worked into the plot well enough, and a super entertaining supporting cast takes it up a notch. In the end though, the story is not really much deeper than the original fairy tale.
30. Tiny Furniture ........ B
Lena Dunham, Laurie Simmons
March 15, 2013
This is a really enjoyable indie comedy from the very young mind of Lena Dunham. Although it's a little hard to watch as something other than the prequel to "Girls" if one is familiar with the series, as the characters and basic set up are near identical. It's easy to see why Judd Apatow found this film to be a refreshing expression of her talent and was led to offer her the series opportunity.
31. Oz the Great and Powerful ........ B-
James Franco, Michelle Williams, Mila Kunis, Rachel Weisz
March 17, 2013
I found this film to be very visually pleasing, although wish I hadn't seen it in 3D. The effects are wonderful. The story however is pretty weak. Although I did appreciate some visual homage to the original film. James Franco and Mila Kunis both deliver extremely wooden performances which are at the same time overdone to the point of being theatrical. I really enjoyed Rachel Weisz's enjoyably wicked portrayal, and Michelle Williams' beautifully earnest Glinda, a role that could have been unbearable in another's hands.
32. La piel que habito (The Skin I Live In) ........ A-
Antonio Banderas, Elena Anaya, Jan Cornet
March 18, 2013
Although this film is definitely slow to start, I ended up thoroughly enjoying its dark, twisty plot, and all around great performances. The film does leave you in the dark for the first half, but gives you the opportunity to catch on ahead of time. The end product is truly strange and a bit demented.
33. The Incredible Burt Wonderstone ........ B+
Steve Carell, Steve Buscemi, Jim Carrey
March 19, 2013
Perhaps in part to my low expectations, I really enjoyed this very stupid comedy. The humour is surprisingly PG despite the cast which is known for much darker stuff. But the end product is funny, if predictable and a bit formulaic. It gives a bit of commentary on the state of modern, reality based entertainment as well. I particularly loved Jim Carrey's role as a Jack Ass-esque rival magician.
34. 37°2 le matin (Betty Blue) ........ B-
Jean-Hugues Anglade, Béatrice Dalle
Started March 15, 2013. Finished March 20, 2013
I'm not sure of my opinion on this film. I liked it in many ways. I appreciated the honest sexuality. I thought that the insanity of Betty herself was unbelievable and overplayed. It's also incredibly slow and there's no reason for it to be three hours. I watched it in three separate instalments. It certainly did hold my attention to the point that I kept going back to it though! I feel like it could have been really fantastic with a more ruthless editor.
35. Admission ........ B+
Tina Fey, Paul Rudd
March 29, 2013
The script here isn't particularly innovative, but it's a new spin on the traditional formula. The major twist is seen coming like a freight train from miles away. Tina Fey and Paul Rudd are so endearing though that it hardly matters. It's also got a very entertaining if under-used supporting cast. An entertaining romantic comedy for sure!
36. Spring Breakers ........ A-
James Franco, Selena Gomez
April 3, 2013
I really enjoyed this weirdly gritty, arty, campy, depiction of an absolutely insane spring break. Partly a realistic commentary on "kids these days", and partly a totally off the wall pulp piece, I was riveted from start to finish. James Franco did a tremendous job as the ultra creepy drug dealer who bails the girls out of jail and makes no secret of his expectations for what will follow. The only really negative aspect was a tendency toward extremely repetitive, drawling, voiceover, the point of which escaped me and the effect of which was general annoyance.
37. West of Memphis ........ A-
April 6, 2013
A really well done documentary about a horrific abuse of justice. Thought provoking and conversation spurring. Definitely felt a bit long, but none of the information felt superfluous.
38. The Host ........ C
Saiorse Ronan, Max Irons, Diane Kruger
April 7, 2013
As appallingly bad and unintentionally hilarious as its 10% rating on rottentomatoes would imply, I am really saddened for Stephenie Meyer that this is her "adult" material. A talented cast and production team elevate this from a total garbagey attempted love story. And although this is more a criticism of the novel than the film, what a total waste of a potentially intriguing premise!
39. 42 ........ B+
Chadwick Boseman, Harrison Ford, Nicole Beharie
April 12, 2013
This film plays like a very classic sports hero movie. The dramatic conflict is all in the game, and the racism that Robinson endures. As a character he is portrayed as near-angelic. I think that the filmmakers actually did a tremendous job of portraying the horrors of the racism, while maintaining the tone of a family film. In reality, the racism is glossed over a huge amount (for instance in reality Robinson's own teammates convert to his cause with relative ease), but the message certainly comes across.
40. The Place Beyond the Pines ........ B
Ryan Gosling, Eva Mendes, Bradley Cooper, Dane DeHaan
April 14, 2013
This is a really interesting and wide-ranging piece. I really enjoyed most of the performances, especially Ryan Gosling. On the whole though, it didn't quite work. I felt that the whole project was a bit over-ambitious. The story would have worked much better as a novel. It actually felt like a decent but imperfect adaptation, so I was surprised to learn that it was written as an original screenplay. Also unclear on why everyone deserved aging make up except for Bradley Cooper, who apparently doesn't age in life or on screen.
41. Iron Man 3 ........ B+
Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Guy Pearce
May 1, 2013
Thank goodness this third installment of the Iron Man franchise blows the second one right out of the water! Though it doesn't quite achieve the fun and freshness of the first one, I was thoroughly satisfied with the experience. The plot is clever, and makes some subtle and interesting social commentary regarding the face of terrorism, and the role of television and media in North American society. I saw the movie in 3D, and I have to say it was probably the best I've ever seen in terms of not making my head spin, or interfere with my viewing experience. Although at the same time, it certainly didn't add anything to the movie.
42. Breaking Dawn - Part 2 ........ D+
Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson
May 3, 2013
I'm surprised that it's even possible, but this is truly the worst instalment of the Twilight franchise. This is what happens when money-grubbing executives slice a novel in which absolutely nothing happens into two movies. There is so little plot to work with that a half hour of screen time as to be filled in with an action sequence that didn't exist on the page. I will grant you that I enjoyed the "alternative ending" in this film MUCH more than the one in Meyer's novel. The overall product is sub-par even for the series though. I have no idea why they still have no special effects budget given how much cash the previous movies have made, and the performances are getting even worse as the actors desperately look forward to the day when they no longer have to work on this garbage. Thankfully for them, and viewers, this is the end.
43. Soul Man ........ D+
C. Thomas Howell, Rae Dawn Chong, Arye Gross
May 4, 2013
It is totally mind-boggling to me that this film got made in the late 80s. Perhaps we were less racially sensitive and didn't realize how hideously offensive many parts of it are. Aside from that though, it's a pretty throwaway, silly, romantic 80s comedy.
44. Rise of the Guardians ........ B-
Chris Pine, Alec Baldwin, Jude Law
May 5, 2013
This is a really sweet little movie, with some beautiful animation. Parts of the premise are a little weak, but the end product is reasonably satisfying, if formulaic. It is definitely very much geared toward children though. Adults watching will be vaguely entertained, but won't find much content that they can truly appreciate.
45. Union Square ........ C
Mira Sorvino, Tammy Blanchard
May 5, 2013
I'm of mixed feelings with this one. It's a bit hard to get through, but it's an interesting portrayal of a messed up family. I appreciated the brief vision of the lives of these characters over the course of a couple of days. The problem is though, that the underlying issues between the siblings are only vaguely hinted at at best. The viewer expects to find out what caused the original separation, and perhaps why the main character has decided to break the silence, but receives no pay off. Mira Sorvino is brilliant as the obnoxious sister, but very difficult to watch for the same reason. I can appreciate the thought and effort behind this film, but the end product falls really flat.
46. Pain & Gain ........ B-
Mark Wahlberg, Dwayne Johnson, Anthony Mackie
May 7, 2013
I was surprised by how entertained I was by this movie. Although the decision to make a black comedy out of a really horrific true life event was probably not very appropriate, I didn't feel like it came across as badly as it could have. I found myself marvelling and the audacity of the main characters, and was amused by their bumbling, but was never really rooting for them. This is probably the best film Michael Bay has ever made. Which is not saying much, but is certainly saying something.
47. The Great Gatsby ........ B+
Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, Carey Mulligan
May 11, 2013
I'm very surprised by the critical drubbing that this beautiful film is taking. The gorgeous, exuberant, spectacle of it is such a perfect embodiment of the roaring 20s and what the super rich would have been aiming for. I found it to be absolutely fitting. Whether you like Baz Luhrmann's style of infusing the visual spectacle with modern music is another thing. The cast was excellent. The constant voiceover and sections from the actual novel were a very fitting tribute to it. Personally I always found the novel to be a bit overrated, and I'm not sure that the inclusion of so much of the text was very beneficial to the film when taken as a film alone, but it did feel almost necessary when adapting such a beloved, classic work.
48. The Master ........ B
Joaquin Phoenix, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams
May 14, 2013
This is a very interesting film full of fantastic performances. Phillip Seymour Hoffman in particular really deserved awards. I did find it to be rather slow moving and unnecessarily long though. I found it difficult to remain focused at times. For this reason I'm not sure the end product will stay very memorable, but I am still very glad I saw it.
49. Killer Joe ........ A-
Matthew McConaughey, Emile Hirsch, Juno Temple
May 19, 2013
So dark, twisted and awesome! I really enjoyed the uncharacteristically dark performances from the whole cast. This is also a fantastic example of play being properly adapted into a screenplay, without feeling stagey at all.
50. The Sapphires ........ B-
Chris O'Dowd, Deborah Mailman, Jessica Mauboy
May 20, 2013
A fluffy, feel-good movie. Not a whole lot of substance despite the seemingly heavy subject matter of this true story which involves both war and racism, but still worth watching. Especially for the highly enjoyable music.
51. A Late Quartet ........ B+
Catherine Keener, Christopher Walken, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Mark Ivanir
May 20, 2013
An interesting examination of the inner dynamics of string quartet once one member's departure is imminent. Great performances all around, and a story that's quite believable. It is slow moving at times, but still a good film; especially if one is a classical music fan.
52. The Hangover Part III ........ B
Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis
May 22, 2013
This is a pretty decent finale to the Hangover franchise, although it really would have been better if the original Hangover had been left as a stand-alone film. The tone of the third part is interesting. On one hand, it was definitely wise of them to take a different approach with this instalment after the criticism that the second one followed the exact same formula, and as a result this is definitely a better film. It's far darker than first two, but also not nearly as funny. It is fun to revisit the characters, but without the jaw-dropping humour it does lose some of the appeal. Make sure to stay for one of the best scenes, which is in the middle of the credits.
53. Behind the Candelabra ........ B
Matt Damon, Michael Douglas
May 26, 2013
A really interesting, although slow-moving, biopic about Liberace. One doesn't really need any background to appreciate it. Matt Damon and Michael Douglas are both phenomenal, as is is the make up crew who worked on this film. It did really drag in places though, and in the story felt a bit too one-sided.
54. Judas Kiss ........ B-
Carla Gugino, Simon Baker, Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman
May 27, 2013
This film was quite enjoyable, although it's quite dated. The score especially is very cheesy. And whoever cast Alan Rickman to do a Southern American accent has clearly lost their mind!! This in and of itself is very entertaining though. (Emma Thompson's on the other hand is very convincing.) The story itself is pretty clever and well executed. A fun watch.
55. Arbitrage ........ A-
Richard Gere, Tim Roth
June 12, 2013
A very subtle, character-driven thriller featuring a fantastic performance from Richard Gere. Some of the plot points are a bit eyebrow-raising, but overall a very good movie.
56. Now You See Me ........ B
Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Mark Ruffalo
June 14, 2013
This is the sort of film that you just wish was written better. It is so engaging, fast-paced and clever for the first three quarters, but the big reveal is both disappointing and ridiculous, and there are plot holes everywhere. Without giving anything away, there are two main motivations for the entire series of events in this film and it would have been SO much better if they had just stuck with one of them. I thoroughly enjoyed watching most of this film, and must confess I also thoroughly enjoyed picking apart all of the plot holes immediately after viewing. It's the sort of movie that I would be very happy to watch again, but just wish had been as good as its potential.
57. This Is The End ........ A-
Seth Rogen, Jay Baruchel, James Franco
June 15, 2013
The idea of getting a group of celebrities together to play extreme, douchey versions of themselves as the world ends is genius. The movie is absolutely ridiculous while at the same time sort of clever, and always thoroughly entertaining.
58. Star Trek Into Darkness ........ B-
Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Benedict Cumberbatch
June 19, 2013
Much like the original Star Trek movie, the mass appeal of this one just goes a bit over my head. The special effects are admittedly impressive and the 3D is properly used (granted, still unnecessary), but to me the characters are one dimensional, and the story is a bit weak. It's not the sort of movie I can get lost in. I did enjoy Benedict Cumberbatch as the villain. Not a bad movie, but popcorn fluff with a strange reputation of being more.
59. The Lone Ranger ........ B-
Johnny Depp, Armie Hammer
June 20, 2013
Speaking of popcorn fluff, "The Lone Ranger" is such, but very self-aware. It's light, entertaining, and pays good homage to the TV series while at the same time acknowledging how ridiculous it was. Its two and a half hour runtime is quite excessive though. It could have been considerably pared down, as some side plots are not particularly necessary or relevant. Also, the script struck me as a little odd in places. The choice of a narrator is a bit baffling and distracting from the main story.
60. Parker ........ D
Jason Statham, Jennifer Lopez
Started June 17, finished June 20, 2013
This movie is just awful. The acting is wooden and the plot is nonsensical. There is absolutely no character development whatsoever. On the plus side, some of the choreographed fight scenes are pretty cool. None of this is to say that I didn't enjoy watching this terrible movie. But it's truly terrible.
61. The Bling Ring ........ B
Katie Chang, Israel Broussard, Emma Watson
June 21, 2013
I will start out by saying that I have never been a Sophia Coppola fan, but this is definitely my favourite of her films. It is far more watchable and interesting than her previous work. It does still lack some structure, and simply tells the story rather than making any sort of statement about the events. This leaves the film feeling, much like its subjects, a bit shallow.
62. The Guilt Trip ........ B-
Barbra Streisand, Seth Rogen
June 25, 2013
This movie was not nearly as bad as I was expecting! Although it is full of the expected cliches, there are a surprising number of scenes that feel genuine and relatable to anyone who has an amusingly frustrating parent.
63. Before Midnight ........ A-
Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy
June 28, 2013
Yet another fantastic instalment in the lives of Celine and Jesse. This is a very believable look at a couple who are trying to recover the early spark of their relationship, and at some times trying to remember what attracted them to each other in the first place. It's easy to fill in the blanks of the past nine years worth of story and fully engaging throughout.
64. Much Ado About Nothing ........ B
Amy Acker, Alexis Denisof
June 29, 2013
I was a little nervous about going to see this one because I really don't like Shakespeare, and especially not Shakespearean language, but I ended up enjoying it much more than expected. The first few scenes are very confusing and don't lend themselves well to the present day update, but beyond that the film is very funny, well acted and well put together. It's fun to get to see the various locations of Joss Whedon's house too. The only really strange decision in the update is the very direct implication that Benedick and Beatrice have slept together, whereas the dramatic tension of the story involves the horror of discovering that Hero may not be a "maiden". Nathan Fillion is genius in his brief role.
65. World War Z ........ B+
Brad Pitt, Mireille Enos
July 4, 2013
I thought this film was quite well done. It does not cheaply create horror, but allows the situation itself to provide the horror. There are very few cheap "jump out at you" moments and the score is very sparse, letting vague background noise set the intensity of the mood. Brad Pitt and the whole supporting cast are fantastic. I thought that the effects on the zombies were impressive too. The script does have a couple of excessively convenient coincidences pushing it forward, and the characters are definitely missing a bit of depth, but the overall product is quite enjoyable. I felt that the military and scientific reaction to the zombie pandemic was fairly realistic as well.
66. White House Down ........ B-
Channing Tatum, Jamie Foxx, Joey King
July 9, 2013
This is a surprisingly light and fun action movie. It's not as overly patriotic as I was expecting given the subject matter. It is a little bit hard to swallow the message of peace, and the very left-wing president (although I definitely did appreciate this character!) when juxtaposed with every scene full of machine guns, missiles, rocket launchers, grenades, etc. The message is apparently that peace is great, except that violence will save you? There are also a couple of painfully cheesy moments at the end. But overall I was pleased that I saw it. The cast is highly entertaining, and the film is certainly not attempting to be deep or profound, just a fun summer blockbuster.
67. The Mummy ........ C+
Brendan Fraser, Rachel Weisz
July 10, 2013
It's really hard to say if I would have appreciated this film more at the time it came out. It certainly hasn't aged well. The humour is just too silly, and the plot is too ridiculous with no attempts to back itself up. The acting is also a bit over the top and almost theatrical. It is still quite fun to watch though! And the special effects have held up pretty well over time.
68. Pineapple Express ........ B-
Seth Rogen, James Franco
July 12, 2013
As far as stoner movies go, this is a pretty entertaining adventure. As far as the cleverness of the humour goes though, it doesn't measure up to many projects done by the same group.
69. Red 2 ........ B+
Bruce Willis, John Malkovich John Malkovich, Mary-Louise Parker
July 17, 2013
A sequel that's well thought out, true to the characters, very entertaining, and nearly as good as the original. A rarity these days.
70. Flight ........ A-
Denzel Washington, Kelly Reilly
July 20, 2013
This film is mostly really well done and features a fantastic performance from Denzel Washington. The plane crash sequence near the beginning is horrifying and feels extremely realistic. Probably a film to avoid for anyone who really fears air travel. This is a very dramatic story which elegantly weaves in a few scenes of pure comedy without them feeling out of place. My only real complaint was with the ending, which to me felt forced and untrue to the characters. I learned in Blu-Ray extras that the final scenes were added on long after the original screenplay was complete, which is really obvious in retrospect.
71. R.I.P.D. ........ C-
Jeff Bridges, Ryan Reynolds, Kevin Bacon
July 23, 2013
This movie is trying so hard to be the Men in Black of summer 2013, but it's neither as fun nor as clever, and it falls incredibly short of the mark. It does have its moments for sure, but the script is mostly really flat. Ryan Reynolds does not help anyone out here, dialing in his performance. Jeff Bridges at least seems to be having a lot of fun. The two really don't have the chemistry needed to sustain this sort of ridiculous buddy movie. And it's really too bad, there are some great ideas to work with. The basic set up is really good, but there are a lot of comedic opportunities that are just not capitalized on.
72. Beautiful Creatures ........ B
Alden Ehrenreich, Alice Englert
July 29, 2013
This is the kind of story Twilight would be if Twilight were decent. The teenagers are believably snarky, and the story, while silly, is engaging. The supporting cast is fantastic and obviously having a very good time with the light fare.
73. We're The Millers ........ B
Jennifer Aniston, Jason Sudeikis
August 1, 2013
This film is quite entertaining, but it doesn't take sufficient advantage of its R rating. There are definitely a couple of awesome and jaw-dropping moments, but for the most part it plays things pretty safe, especially considering its two main characters are a drug dealer and a stripper. Speaking of which, although Jennifer Aniston and Jason Sudekis are both really charismatic and charming in the movie, they have absolutely no sexual chemistry together whatsoever. It also doesn't help that both actors are more believable and seem more comfortable in their suburban costumes than as supposed delinquents.
74. Donnie Brasco ........ C
Johnny Depp, Al Pacino
August 5, 2013
I don't know if the appeal of this film went straight over my head, or if it's simply become very dated, but I found it to be slow almost to the point of tedium. Visually and performance-wise, it's very well done, but it simply did not hold my attention, which is a bit surprising given the subject matter.
75. Quigley Down Under ........ B-
Tom Selleck, Laura San Giacomo, Alan Rickman
August 6, 2013
This movie is a bit strange tone-wise. It's full of the deliberate cheesiness and camp of most 90s action movies, but it doesn't mesh well alongside a story featuring pretty dark elements (the attempted genocide of Australian aborigines for instance!!) Still, the end product is enjoyable and entertaining. Alan Rickman is essentially playing The Sheriff of Nottingham in a cowboy hat, but it's hard to complain.
76. The Heat ........ B-
Sandra Bullock, Melissa McCarthy
August 7, 2013
The Heat is a pretty typical buddy cop movie. Unsurprisingly most of the best gags are in the trailer. Sandra Bullock's character is a bit hard to buy as a successful and polished FBI agent, who is apparently somehow also bumbling and clueless in an unfamiliar situation. However Bullock and McCarthy have such charming chemistry, it really makes up for plot holes. This movie also could have made much more elaborate use of its R rating, which seems to be mostly due to F-Bombs rather than anything really raunchy or over the top in the plot.
77. Walk All Over Me ........ D+
Leelee Sobieski, Tricia Helfer, Lothaire Bluteau
August 8, 2013
You really have to wonder how movies like this ever get green-lit. The script is terrible, and the story totally ridiculous. It's advertised as being an S&M-laden thriller, when really the fact that two of the characters are dominatrixes is almost irrelevant to the main plot, which in the end doesn't even make much sense. Also it's quite hilarious how a story set in Vancouver contains several references to "the" mall, and "the" food court. Most major cities only have one of those, naturally.
78. The Wolverine ........ B+
Hugh Jackman, Tao Okamoto, Rila Fukushima
August 15, 2013
A darker, bleaker and very welcome look at the Wolverine character. The art direction in this film is beautiful and the action sequences are fantastic; particularly one on top of a bullet train that's unlike anything I've ever seen. I did have some issues with the climax of the movie. There's insufficient justification for a couple of characters' actions, and entire changes of motivation and basic personality.
79. Elysium ........ A-
Matt Damon, Jodie Foster, Alice Braga
August 16, 2013
Really beautifully filmed and featuring many great performances. The current social commentary is perhaps glaringly obvious but hard to argue it's not relevant.
80. Blue Jasmine ........ A-
Cate Blanchett, Alec Baldwin, Sally Hawkins
August 19, 2013
One of the best Woody Allen films in my opinion. The whole cast is fantastic, in particular Cate Blanchett. It's the sort of rare story that remains very compelling despite all of the characters being extremely unlikeable.
81. The Way Way Back ........ B
Liam James, Steve Carell, Toni Collette, Sam Rockwell
August 20, 2013
There are some great performances in this film, and it does a wonderful job of capturing the sort of ennui and discontent of teenaged life, especially when forced into uncomfortable adult situations. However I don't think that it quite found its tone. The drama and comedy are not really very well balanced. Also the overall story is lacking in any real depth. I did appreciate the effort to keep the Steve Carell character's douchiness to an understandable level, rather than descending into the sort of "evil stepfather" stereotypes that are so common.
82. Savage Grace ........ B-
Julianne Moore, Eddie Redmayne, Stephen Dillane
August 28, 2013
Great performances and a very interesting film that will not be to everyone's tastes. The script doesn't shy away from some very strange and delicate subject matter.
83. The World's End ........ B+
Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Martin Freeman
August 31, 2013
Landing somewhere in the middle of the Simon Pegg/Nick Frost vehicles in terms of quality, this one doesn't disappoint in laughs or ridiculousness.
84. Safe Haven ........ D+
Julianne Hough, Josh Duhamel, Cobie Smulders
September 1, 2013
This film is pretty painful from the start. The set up is awkward and the plot twists are predictable (except the very end, which is so terrible it's unintentionally hilarious). The actors seem like they're not even trying to be convincing and know full well how bad the material is. Clearly the filmmakers know that these Nicholas Sparks adaptations have a built in audience, and they are no longer going to put any sort of effort into them.
85. The Paperboy ........ C-
Matthew McConaughey, Nicole Kidman, Zac Efron
September 1, 2013
This film makes complete waste of some really great performances. The script is uneven, and the story almost doesn't work as a film. The direction and camera work is a bit strange, and overall just doesn't work. The end product is a mess that feels like it should have been much better.
86. Hodejegerne (Headhunters) ........ B+
Aksel Hennie, Synnøve Macody Lund, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau
September 8, 2013
I really enjoyed this darkly comedic thriller. I was especially impressed with the brilliance of the ending, and how neatly it tied in to the beginning of the film.
87. Prisoners ........ A-
Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal
September 18, 2013
This is a really excellent thriller. Well paced, intense, well written and great performances. I enjoyed how ambiguous the morality presented was. The characters are all very human and believable.
88. Stand Up Guys ........ B+
Al Pacino, Christopher Walken
September 19, 2013
This flick is as entertaining as it is goofy. Definitely not to be taken seriously. Still, I found that the film did a better job with character development, particularly of the friendship between the two main characters, than much more dramatic fare often accomplishes.
89. The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones ........ C-
Lily Collins, Jamie Campbell Bower
September 21, 2013
As with most young adult novel adaptations, this one falls extremely flat in equal part by reducing minor characters to such bit roles that plot altering actions on their part make little to no sense, and by stuffing most of the book's magic and action in without any sort of explanation. Unsurpringly the script also seriously cops out of the one controversial part of the teen romance that separates it from the rest of the genre. The poor adaptation makes waste of a very decent cast, although they definitely make the film watchable. Viewers familiar with the books will not be satisfied with the mangling of the story, and the source material itself is probably too campy and ridiculous to attract many new viewers. It's entertaining enough though, with great special effects, pretty young people, and full of unintentional comedy.
90. Don Jon ........ A-
Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Scarlett Johansson, Julianne Moore
October 9, 2013
I found this to be a really refreshing take on a romantic comedy. It's a very interesting exploration of how pornography and Hollywood warp our expectations for real life and relationships (although I felt that a bit more could have been done to explore the latter). Although the two main characters are themselves fairly blatant stereotypes, I found the Julianne Moore character to be a breath of fresh air. Particularly for a female character. I appreciated that her sexual appetite and pursuing of a younger man as a distraction were given no judgment whatsoever in the film. The ending I also found super refreshing. There was certainly some more depth to be explored, and I'm not sure JGL totally achieved the vision he was going for, but overall a very impressive directorial debut.
91. Runner, Runner ........ C-
Justin Timberlake, Ben Affleck
October 10, 2013
This script is really a mess. Justin Timberlake sounds like he's running (running) lines in a high school play for the whole movie. Ben Affleck acts circles around him, and seems to be having a genuinely good time playing the villain. He's definitely the best part of the movie. The story is weak to begin with, and just spirals out of control into an ending which is as predictable as it is poorly set up and implausible.
92. The Family ........ B-
Robert De Niro, Michelle Pfeiffer, Dianna Agron
October 11, 2013
This movie was a lot more enjoyable than I had been expecting. It's also a bit tonally confused. For the most part it's a silly comedy, which then all of a sudden turns into a super intense and dark thrill ride for the final fifteen or so minutes. This is absolutely the best chunk of the movie, and features Michelle Pfeiffer giving a jarring performance, eons above what this script deserves.
93. Crazy Kind of Love ........ D-
Virginia Madsen, Graham Rogers, Amanda Crew
October 12, 2013
Rented this movie with friends entirely for Sam Trammell (whose role is thoroughly pointless) expecting it to be bad, and wow did it not disappoint. The premise is baffling and for the most part the performances are so bad they're funny. Not really sure how this one got made.
94. On The Road ........ C-
Sam Riley, Garrett Hedlund
October 12, 2013
There are many good things about this film. The art direction is beautiful, and the feeling of the era is really captured and conveyed. Also, there are some hot threesomes. Otherwise, this film is surprisingly tedious. It's two hours long and at least a half hour of "transitional" (to no purpose) shots of Sal travelling or working could be shaved off. I'm not familiar with the Kerouac novel, but I wonder if potential for a good movie was lost in an effort to be too faithful to material that didn't translate well on screen?
95. Enough Said ........ A
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, James Gandolfini
October 14, 2013
Although the basic premise of this film is a little silly, it otherwise feels like watching real, flawed people dealing with real, and awkward, situations. James Gandolfini and Julia Louis-Dreyfus are so perfect and endearing in these roles. This should serve as a model of what a romantic movie should look like. I really loved it.
96. Mud ........ A-
Matthew McConaughey, Tye Sheridan, Jacob Lofland
October 15, 2013
Matthew McConaughey is brilliant in this film. Many different notes are achieved here. It's a beautifully sad portrayal of the Deep South, a character piece about two deeply damaged adults, and at the same time weirdly nostalgic for an innocent phase at the end of childhood. Tye Sheridan and Jacob Lofland also give fantastic performances.
97. Gravity ........ B+
Sandra Bullock, George Clooney
October 19, 2013
This film is a huge achievement in terms of both acting and special effects. It really does immerse you and make you feel as though you're lost in space. It's definitely an edge of your seat experience. My only issue is with the character development. Sandra Bullock's character is supposed to have recently lost her young child in a tragic accident. Knowing this in advance, I expected the film to be much heavier emotionally than it was. I felt that her backstory and grief needed to be much better developed and demonstrated. My viewing companion felt that her story and vague descriptions of grief were distracting and unnecessary for actual story and should have been removed entirely. We agreed that either method would have greatly improved the overall product.
98. Side Effects ........ C+
Jude Law, Rooney Mara
October 23, 2013
It feels a bit unfair rating this film so poorly, as the first three quarters are really very good. There is a lot to be said about this one. First of all, the trailer is one of the most misleading I've ever seen. I was expecting a really intense thriller, possibly with elements of horror. I thought the plot would be based around what exactly the medication was causing Rooney Mara to do. Although I can see how this was a tough movie to sell, the marketers did a really poor job of it. At its best parts, this film is actually a slow moving character drama, and a study of many of the tough questions surrounding mental illness and medication. Who should be held accountable when terrible things happen? I wish the film had continued in this vein, but it truly felt as though a test audience had not been satisfied with the ending, and another one had been filmed in a frantic re-write. The plot spins itself into a poorly executed and totally ridiculous conspiracy thriller. The gaping plot holes are totally ignored. Character motivation is thrown completely out the window. It is a complete and epic mess. I'm not sure I've ever seen a movie that took such a dramatic nose-dive in terms of quality part way through. It honestly felt as though it was written by two different people. As much as I actually enjoyed the whole thing (if on two completely different levels) it's a really disappointing final product for a film that could have been very interesting.
99. Captain Phillips ........ B+
Tom Hanks, Barkhad Abdi, Barkhad Abdirahman
October 24, 2013
This is a really great movie with beautifully built up intensity, and fantastic performances. That being said, it never feels particularly fresh or ground-breaking. At its core, it's just another everyday American hero movie, if one of unusually high quality.
100. 12 Years a Slave ........ A-
Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, Lupita Nyong'o
November 11, 2013
This is a really important film that everyone, especially Americans, should see. It's difficult to watch, but never gratuitous. It's interesting to me that so many are offended by the "gruesome" violence which doesn't even approach most gritty action movies. It's just that this violence is so real, horrifying and close to home. Most of the cast is phenomenal, with a couple of glaring exceptions. I hope that the Academy is not too put off by the subject matter to reward this film.
Looks like this post is finally too big for LJ. Here be Part 2!