Tom & Alissa

Installment #2 of What We Watched. As always, keep in mind that we are a filmmaker and film critic and don’t always watch what other people would want to watch.

That said, it’s been a very amusing month.

January 21
Venus - the new Peter O’Toole movie. I really wanted to like this movie - I loved the trailer. The ick factor was a bit too high. However, it was superbly acted, and it’s a movie full of roles for the elderly, which you don’t see much in cinema. I think that if you’re getting up there yourself, you might appreciate this movie more, as it is, in the end, a meditation on the “winter years”.

January 22
Starter for 10 - I saw this at a press screening so technically I can’t say too much, but I recommend it to people who like good, entertaining romantic comedies. It stars James McAvoy (The Last King of Scotland, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe) and Rebecca Hall (The Prestige), and though the plot was a bit predictable, it also took some non-smarmy twists and was hysterically funny in parts. I guess I haven’t seen that many press screenings of comedies, but the whole room was laughing - hard - and jaded critics can be hard to impress. So, if you like romcoms, give it a shot.

January 24
The Devil Wears Prada - This is a re-watch for me, and it’s a film Tom has yet to see. The fact that it’s so much better than the book is enough for me to overlook some of the questionable fashion - it’s a good story and most people can relate. Meryl Streep is tres magnifique.

January 26
Dirty Pretty Things - Finally got around to watching this, partially because I recently spoke with the writer, Steve Knight, for another article I was doing, and partially because the director, Stephen Frears, also directed The Queen. I liked it. I didn’t think it was the most brilliant thing I’ve ever seen, but I think it had a compelling story and great acting.

January 31
Shopgirl - Tom did not like this at all (he didn’t even finish watching it). I think I liked the way it was shot best; the colors are very saturated and deliberate in an Amelie-like fashion. The story dragged, though, and I was ticked at everyone by the end of it, though I understood a bit better in the very last scene. I think I should read the novella.

February 3
Old Joy - We finally saw this at Film Forum. At its most basic, it’s the story of two old friends who go camping overnight in the forest. Warning: if you don’t like slow movies, don’t go see this one. However, we both liked it. There’s very little dialogue and you’re left not quite sure where it was driving, but you know there was something profound about it. The scenery is lovely, too.

February 3
V for Vendetta - Ok, so, I don’t understand a lot of reviewers’ comments on this. However, Tom hated it, and I sort of liked it. Sort of. We’d both read the graphic novel on which it’s based (note that the author was so disgusted with the film that he asked to have his name taken off) - I really disliked the graphic novel, and Tom really liked it, so maybe that’s half the problem. At any rate, I don’t think I agree with the movie, but I also don’t really see what the fuss was.

February 5
City of God - Great, wonderful film, and if I could write something, I’d love to have it be this style. Think Shortcuts meets Tsotsi, but with a better plot and cooler characters; we follow the gang wars in a ghetto town and see how one boy perceives everything. It’s bloody, but not too disgusting.

February 8
The Last King of Scotland - If you can handle two scenes of gore/torture (and they are relatively brief, but still completely revolting), then you should not miss this movie. I don’t know anything about the history behind it, but the writing, story, and acting is great. Forest Whittaker definitely deserves his nomination. And Africa is a beautiful character in the film.

February 11
We decided to have “bad movie night” over a bottle of red wine and some dark chocolate.
Constantine - This was bad movie #1. I’m disappointed, because it had a lot of potential, a great plot, and interesting spiritual implications. I think its problems were a) Keanu Reeves, in general and b) lack of direction. Some really cool effects. As entertainment goes, isn’t a bad movie. (Caveat: A handful of disturbing scenes of demon possession. However, I, who had nightmares from The Exorcism of Emily Rose, wasn’t affected by this one. I think it was enough of a comic-book movie so as to not stick in my brain.)

Get Rich or Die Tryin’ - Bad movie #2, and truly the worse of the two. This is the 50 Cent movie. I should have to say more, but oh wow, don’t waste your time. (Although, did you know the director is Irish?)

February 12
Flags of Our Fathers - We’d decided to see this before we see Letters from Iwo Jima, which we’ll probably see next week. It wasn’t bad, but it jumped around a lot and I think that was ultimately the problem. It’s an engaging story, but I think it’s a hard story to tell on film. Still, it makes me want to see Letters, which is supposed to be fantastic (and is nominated for Best Picture).

We also have been chugging through season 2 of The Wire when we’re not watching a movie, and I watched season 1 and the first disc of season 2 of The Office (American) and I’m loving it. Very recommended.