Two articles at WORLD today: Be Kind Rewind and The Year of the Hollywood Outsiders.
Last year I started doing “what we watched” capsule reviews, but I got bogged down and forgot about it after about a month and a half. We watched over 150 movies last year, so I think I’m justified; however, it had been a big hit, so I’m going to try and keep up this year.
The Lives of Others
A re-watch. One of the best films of the last few years.
The Page Turner
Wonderfully nerve-wracking film; think a French version of The Talented Mr. Ripley. Deborah Francois is fabulously blank.
Charlie Wilson’s War
See review here. We really enjoyed this film.
La Vie en Rose
It jumped around chronologically far too much, which made it confusing. Following two parallel tracks might have made for a stronger story. However, it is fabulously acted and really lovely to look at, and Marion Cotillard is sensational.
Also, Tom’s been working, so I’ve watched a couple of movies on my own (something I rarely do). Here they are:
Run, Fat Boy, Run
David Schwimmer’s directorial debut, which is a male-driven British romantic comedy starring Simon Pegg, Hank Azaria, and Thandie Newton. Not earth-shattering but still a lot of fun. My review will be in Paste.
Sleepwalking
A much less cheery film; Charlize Theron is great, but there’s some holes in the plot. I plan to review it when it gets closer to its release.
The Business of Being Born
Reviewed this for WORLD.
Chocolat
Somewhere I’d gotten the wrong idea about this film. Despite a handful of small flaws, it was lovely, sweet, well-told, and beautifully acted. An interesting parable on Pharaseeism, forgiveness, grace, being human, and joie de vivre.
U2 3D
I mentioned this here. If you’re a U2 fan, you’ll love it.
Tom has been watching a load of Westerns in his free time (from the silent era to more recent work), and maybe if you’re terribly lucky, he’ll share a few when he’s all Westerned-out.
My review of Charlie Wilson’s War, which we really did enjoy.
If you’re interested: my review of Persepolis.
On Saturday, we saw I Am Legend (as apparently everyone else did). We thought it was great, and pretty scary. Also, the providential element? Interesting. It was crazy to see such an intimate view of our city in a post-apocalyptic world. (The house Will Smith lives in is actually an NYU building; I’m pretty sure I added it to the wireless map at work on Friday.) Certainly one of the better action films we’ve seen this year.
We then headed off to a Christmas party that involved many cookies and twinkly lights and conversations late into the night. I made lemon butter cookies from the Chocolate & Zucchini cookbook that were well-received. Easy to put together, simple but elegant ingredients. Delicious.
I had incredible stomach pain for no apparent reason when I woke up on Sunday; I took some Mylanta and it went away, but not in time to go to church. So we stayed home and rested, and later in the day, watched I Heart Huckabees. What fun. I love Charlie Kaufman-esque movies.
“Have you ever transcended space and time?”
“Yes. No. Uh, time, not space . . . No, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
We went out to our friend Carey’s Christmas party in the evening. Carey has a real gift for bringing together a wide variety of people over excellent food, and this was no different. Topics of discussion included historical archival, the Westminster Catechism, Paul Potts, and upstate New York. And much more.
I finished What Is The What over the weekend (excellent and important) and started The Mysteries of Pittsburgh today, since I read that the film will be at Sundance. Michael Chabon in his early days.
I started sharing Google Reader items with my GTalk friends over the weekend and I like it. You can add me if you want. I’m alissamwilkinson on Gmail.
Tonight we are going to The Psalms: A Conversation with Robert Alter and Marilynne Robinson at the 92nd Street Y. As you know, Marilynne Robinson is one of our very favorite authors and one of my personal heroes. Very, very excited.
My reviews of Coeurs (English: Private Fears in Public Places) and Paris, je t’aime (a new favorite and totally worth seeing) are up at Relevant.
Fiction
Gilead - Marilynne Robinson
Who Will Run the Frog Hospital? - Lorrie Moore
Wise Blood - Flannery O’Connor
The Space Trilogy - C.S. Lewis
Non-Fiction
Preparing for Marriage - Doug Wilson
Total Truth - Nancy Pearcy
Poetry
The Art of the Lathe - B.H. Fairchild
Several caveats:
1. This list in no way reflects Tom’s preferences or choices.
2. I’ve not seen every movie so it’s wildly unbalanced.
3. I haven’t even bothered to rate anything television-related because I haven’t watched television since I was about eleven.
4. I steadfastly refuse to waste my time watching Borat for several reasons I don’t feel like listing here and don’t have to because frankly, this is my blog.
That said, here’s my picks (in bold) and snarks regarding the recent Golden Globe nominees (go here to see them all - I’ve eliminated all television categories).
1. BEST MOTION PICTURE - DRAMA
1. BABEL
2. BOBBY
3. THE DEPARTED
4. LITTLE CHILDREN - a tough decision, but this is the most flawless film I’ve seen all year.
5. THE QUEEN
2. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE - DRAMA
1. PENELOPE CRUZ — VOLVER - Note: I love this movie and Penelope is brilliant in it.
2. JUDI DENCH — NOTES ON A SCANDAL
3. MAGGIE GYLLENHAAL — SHERRYBABY
4. HELEN MIRREN — THE QUEEN
5. KATE WINSLET — LITTLE CHILDREN - It was a toss-up between Kate and Helen, but Kate stunned me.
3. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE - DRAMA
1. LEONARDO DICAPRIO — BLOOD DIAMOND
2. LEONARDO DICAPRIO — THE DEPARTED - I haven’t seen the others. If Forest Whitaker is as good as I’ve heard, I’ll gladly change my vote. Leo was awesome in this movie, but he’s not even my favorite actor in it.
3. PETER O’TOOLE — VENUS - This looks quite good and I can’t wait to see it.
4. WILL SMITH — THE PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS
5. FOREST WHITAKER — THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND
4. BEST MOTION PICTURE - COMEDY OR MUSICAL
1. BORAT: CULTURAL LEARNINGS OF AMERICA FOR MAKE BENEFIT GLORIOUS NATION OF KAZAKHSTAN
2. THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA
3. DREAMGIRLS
4. LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE - I’ve only seen one other in this category (Devil Wears Prada), but I’d nominate this for Best Picture if I could. Next to Little Children, it’s my favorite movie this year.
5. THANK YOU FOR SMOKING
5. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE - COMEDY OR MUSICAL
1. ANNETTE BENING — RUNNING WITH SCISSORS
2. TONI COLLETTE — LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE
3. BEYONCE — KNOWLES
4. MERYL STREEP — THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA - So, she wasn’t exactly *funny*, but she was GREAT.
5. RENEE ZELLWEGER — MISS POTTER
6. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE - COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Note: I’m disappointed to not see Alan Arkin or Steve Carrell in here for Little Miss Sunshine.
1. SACHA BARON COHEN — BORAT: CULTURAL LEARNINGS OF AMERICA FOR MAKE BENEFIT GLORIOUS NATION OF KAZAKHSTAN
2. JOHNNY DEPP — PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN’S CHEST - Johnny Depp was and continues to be the best thing this movie has.
3. AARON ECKHART — THANK YOU FOR SMOKING
4. CHIWETEL EJIOFOR — KINKY BOOTS
5. WILL FERRELL — STRANGER THAN FICTION
7. BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
1. CARS - Well, I haven’t seen the others. This was fun, but not my favorite Pixar film.
2. HAPPY FEET
3. MONSTER HOUSE
8. BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
Rather disappointed that Cache didn’t make the list; Tom will probably disagree with me.
1. APOCALYPTO (USA) - Don’t want to see this after hearing reports of the violence.
2. LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA (USA/JAPAN) - Am curious!
3. THE LIVES OF OTHERS (GERMANY) - Haven’t even heard of this.
4. PAN’S LABYRINTH (MEXICO) - Can’t wait to see it; looks fascinating.
5. VOLVER (SPAIN) - I’m picking this because a) it’s awesome and b) it’s the only one I’ve seen; Pan’s Labyrinth may overtake it once I do see it, but this is hands-down the best Almodovar film ever.
9. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE
1. ADRIANA BARRAZA — BABEL - This was a tough one, but she had me
2. CATE BLANCHETT — NOTES ON A SCANDAL
3. EMILY BLUNT — THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA
4. JENNIFER HUDSON — DREAMGIRLS
5. RINKO KIKUCHI — BABEL
10. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE
1. BEN AFFLECK — HOLLYWOODLAND
2. EDDIE MURPHY — DREAMGIRLS
3. JACK NICHOLSON — THE DEPARTED
4. BRAD PITT — BABEL - Very conflicted; I really loved him in this movie. The scene where he’s on the phone with his son? I don’t cry at movies, but I was pretty close. Still, I have to concede to . . .
5. MARK WAHLBERG — THE DEPARTED - Oh my goodness, he was SO inappropriate but SO good. Not for the faint of heart, eh, Marky Mark?
11. BEST DIRECTOR - MOTION PICTURE
1. CLINT EASTWOOD — FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS
2. CLINT EASTWOOD — LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA
3. STEPHEN FREARS — THE QUEEN
4. ALEJANDRO GONZALEZ INARRITU — BABEL - As much as I loved The Departed, I think this was a tougher movie to pull off.
5. MARTIN SCORSESE — THE DEPARTED
12. BEST SCREENPLAY - MOTION PICTURE
Note: Why is everyone ignoring Brick in this category? It’s a heck of a screenplay.
1. GUILLERMO ARRIAGA — BABEL - I’m tempted.
2. TODD FIELD & TOM PERROTTA — LITTLE CHILDREN - Without a doubt.
3. PATRICK MARBER — NOTES ON A SCANDAL - Want to see this.
4. WILLIAM MONAHAN — THE DEPARTED - And I’m tempted again, especially after seeing the original.
5. PETER MORGAN — THE QUEEN - And again!
13. BEST ORIGINAL SCORE - MOTION PICTURE
1. ALEXANDRE DESPLAT — THE PAINTED VEIL
2. CLINT MANSELL — THE FOUNTAIN - We saw this yesterday and I was stunned by the score; I loved it, and it was performed by the Kronos Quartet. Beautiful.
3. GUSTAVO SANTAOLALLA — BABEL
4. CARLO SILIOTTO — NOMAD
5. HANS ZIMMER — THE DA VINCI CODE
We have been watching lots ‘n lots o’ movies since we got married.
Sadly, the first movie we watched together was Invincible, with Mark Wahlberg. Also sadly, it was a hideous failure of a movie. Happily, however, we saw it at a drive-in theater in Wellfleet, Cape Cod, a new experience for both of us and great fun (not to mention the novelty of driving a car, on loan from the wonderful Charity (and I won’t post her last name in case she isn’t into last names appearing on the internet, though now that I think about it, there wouldn’t be much to be gained by the knowledge of this particular very common last name). Anyhow. In lieu of reviewing them all, I will simply list them with mini-comments:
• Invincible
see above illuminating text
• Back to the Future 1
Classic, and much funnier than I expected.
• Back to the Future 2
Same as before but with the added benefit of a really dark twist.
• Back to the Future 3
Great Scott!
• Forrest Gump
So funny *and* heartwarming! I think this is the first really long movie that I didn’t want to end.
• Boogie Nights
It’s raunchy and scarring, but brilliant.
• 3 Needles
Went to an advanced screening on Tuesday night, and won’t write more in case I cover it in an article.
I say all this because we have another screening tonight, this time for Volver, and it looks good. I’m enjoying this film journalist stuff. I think I may have to make a serious go at it.
If I forgot a film, my other half will undoubtedly fix it soon.