The Month in Movies - March 2007

[Adam J. Hakari]

Like a rash that just won't go away, I'm back with the March edition of the Month in Movies column. Rated as always on a **** scale, here are my movie viewings for the past month...

Number of Movies Seen This Month: 49
Number of Movies Seen This Year (so far): 148

THE BRILLIANT

(none)

THE GREAT

Zodiac - *** 1/2
300 - *** 1/2
Black Snake Moan - *** 1/2
Winchell - *** 1/2
Network - *** 1/2
A Midsummer Night’s Sex Comedy - *** 1/2
F for Fake - *** 1/2

THE PURTY GOOD

Breach - ***
Meet the Robinsons - ***
Fast Food Nation - ***
On the Road - ***
Shortbus - ***
Interiors - ***
Bloody Reunion - ***
Green for Danger - ***
Going to Pieces: The Rise and Fall of the Slasher Film - ***
The U.S. vs. John Lennon - ***
The Number 23 - ***

THE O.K.

TMNT - ** 1/2
This So-Called Disaster - ** 1/2
Deconstructing Harry - ** 1/2
The Last Mimzy - ** 1/2
Dead Silence (2007) - ** 1/2
Being Julia - ** 1/2
Pumpkinhead - ** 1/2
The Fugitive (1963) - ** 1/2
Premonition (2007) - ** 1/2

THE SO-SO

A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints - **
Color Me Kubrick - **
Sketches of Frank Gehry - **
Day of Wrath - **
Let’s Go to Prison - **
Shooter - **
Reign Over Me - **
Wild Hogs - **
Calling Dr. Death - **
I Think I Love My Wife - **

THE SUCKY

Weird Woman - * 1/2
The Hills Have Eyes 2 - * 1/2
Tideland - * 1/2
The Abandoned - * 1/2
Sublime - * 1/2
Penny Dreadful - * 1/2
Performance - * 1/2
Flight of Fury - * 1/2

THE REALLY SUCKY

Catch and Release - *
Sheitan - *
Return of the Living Dead: Rave to the Grave - *

No rating:

Masters of Horror: “Pro-Life”

First Movie I Saw This Month: FLIGHT OF FURY
Last Movie I Saw This Month: F FOR FAKE

THE BEST:

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/B00005JPG1.01._SS500_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

THE WORST:

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/B000M9BPFI.01._SS500_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

Best Actor: Chris Cooper, BREACH
Best Actress: Annette Bening, BEING JULIA
Best Supporting Actor: Chazz Palminteri, A GUIDE TO RECOGNIZING YOUR SAINTS
Best Supporting Actress: Lena Headey, 300
Best Director: David Fincher, ZODIAC
Best Original Screenplay: Craig Brewer, BLACK SNAKE MOAN
Best Adapted Screenplay: James Vanderbilt, ZODIAC
Biggest Surprise: BLOODY REUNION
Biggest Disappointment: TIDELAND
Most Fucked-Up Movie: SHEITAN
“I’m Pretty Damn Sure No One Else Has Seen This”: THIS SO-CALLED DISASTER
Person/Character I Never Want to Meet: Joseph (Vincent Cassel), SHEITAN
“Why Is He/She Still in Movies?”: Steven Seagal, FLIGHT OF FURY
Ultimate WTF? Moment: The last twenty minutes, SHEITAN
Best Line: “Television is not the truth. Television is a goddamned amusement park.” - Howard Beale (Peter Finch), NETWORK
Best Scene: Graysmith in the second Zodiac suspect's basement, ZODIAC
Movie I Finally Got to Friggin’ See: NETWORK
Coolest Title: BLACK SNAKE MOAN
Hottest Lady: Sheila Tousey, THIS SO-CALLED DISASTER

[ilovemovies]

1. Zodica - 8/10
2. Copland - 8/10*
3. The Rookie - 8/10*
4. The Negotiator - 7/10*
5. Breach - 7/10
6. Unknown - 7/10
7. Night at the Museum - 7/10
8. The Astronaut Farmer - 7/10
9. G.I. Jane - 7/10
10. Antitrust - 7/10*
11. Shooter - 7/10
12. From Dusk Till Dawn - 7/10*
13. I Think I Love My Wife - 7/10
14. Wild Hogs - 7/10
15. The Hills Have Eyes II - 7/10
16. Premonition - 7/10
17. The Number 23 - 6/10
18. Dead Silence - 6/10
19. Sour Grapes - 5/10
20. Because I Said So - 3/10


* = REWATCHES


FOR NEWBIES ONLY:

BEST FILM: Zodiac
WORST FILM: Because I Said So
BEST ACTOR: Chris Cooper - Breach
BEST ACTRESS: Sandra Bullock - Premonition
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: Robin Williams - Night at the Museum
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Virginia Madsen - The Number 23
BEST SCREENPLAY: Zodiac
BEST DIRECTOR: David Fincher - Zodiac
BIGGEST SUPRISE: I Think I Love My Wife
BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT: Because I Said So
Person/Character I Never Want to Meet: Arthur Leigh Allen (John Carroll Lynch) in Zodiac
COOLEST TITLE: The Astronaut Farmer
5 HOTTEST LADIES:

1. Mandy Moore
2. Sandra Bullock
3. Carla Gugino
4. Kerry Washington
5. Kate Mara

Runner-ups: Virginia Madsen, Rhona Mitra, Bridget Moynahan, Piper Perabo & Marissa Tomei.

[Adam J. Hakari]

Dammit, I forgot to update the number of movies I saw this month and the "this year so far" total. Updated.

[powersauce]

movie rentals:

Hollywood Video
Bull Duraham - 8/10
Bridget Jones' Diary - 6.5/10
Redbox (via local grocery store)
Lucky Number Slevin 4.5/10
Children of Men - I'm half way through.
Netflix
Team America: World Police 8/10
Closer - 7.5/10
Igby Goes Down - I'm halfway through.
Unfaithful 6/10
Married To The Mob 7.5/10
Babel 7.5/10
Old School (unrated) - 8/10
I Love You To Death - 7/10
Tenacious D In The Pick Of Destiny - 8/10
Used Cars - 8/10
Adaptation 7.5/10
Midnight Run 8/10
Addicted To Love 6/10
Idiocracy 6.5/10

movie theater:

Zodiac - 8/10
300 8/10
Reign Over Me 7/10
Blades Of Glory 6.5/10

rewatched (and all owned on DVD) movies:

Earth Girls Are Easy 8/10
Grosse Point Blank 8/10
American Beauty 10/10
*Untouchables 8.5/10
*Risky Business 7/10
Valley Girl - I'm halfway through and it's the director commentary.

biggest surprise (good) - Old School: I didn't know it would be THAT funny.
surprise (bad) - Slevin (way too many plot twists),Reign (I liked it but I was really looking forward to it for awhile.)
old school hotties: Pfeiffer (Mob),Davis (EGAE - She was my 1st actress crush because of this movie when it came out.),Susan "shares my birthday" Sarandon (Durham,Igby),DeMornay (Risky),Lane (Unfaithful),Ryan (Addicted),Deborah Foreman (Valley),Moore (CoM)
current hotties: Suvari (AB),Tyler/Burrows (Reign),Fischer (Blades - I'm now in love with her as of today. *sigh*),Portman (Closer),Renee (Bridget),Cate (Babel),Igby (Danes,Peet)

* = 1st time viewed in widescreen format

[Fergus]

Best to Worst:

East of Eden - 10
Boogie Nights - 9/10
The Ninth Configuration - 8.5/10
Whisper of the Heart - 8/10
Videodrome - 8/10
Black Snake Moan - 8/10
Zodiac - 8/10
Scanners - 8/10
Talk Radio - 8/10

Escape from L.A. - 7/10
Army of Darkness - 7/10
Blades of Glory - 7/10
The Lookout - 7/10
Porco Rosso - 7/10
Excalibur - 7/10

300 - 6/10
The Last Mimzy - 6/10
Meet the Robinsons - 6/10
the 'burbs - 6/10
New Jack City - 6/10
Reign Over Me - 6/10
Pride - 6/10
Amazing Grace - 6/10

TMNT - 5/10
Wild Hogs - 5/10
Reno 911!: Miami - 5/10
Premonition - 5/10
The Number 23 - 4/10
My Side of the Mountain - 3/10

Eraserhead - No Rating (I find this movie to be the kind that belongs in its own category, an unrate-able kind of movie).

Rewatches:
Castle in the Sky - 10
Princess Mononoke - 9/10
Suspiria - 8/10

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT: 300
POTENTIAL to BE A BETTER MOVIE - The Last Mimzy
BIGGEST SURPRISE - Whisper of the Heart
MOST ENTERTAINING - Escape from L.A.
Movies I Finally Got to Watch: Boogie Nights, Escape from L.A., the 'burbs.

[Lazy Boy]

New Movies Seen This Month: 19

The Host - 9/10
Fires on the Plain - 9/10
The Heiress - 9/10
Requiem - 9/10
Zodiac - 8/10
Black Snake Moan - 7/10
The Namesake - 7/10
Dog Soldiers - 6/10
Shortbus - 6/10
The Lookout - 6/10
300 - 5/10
Shooter - 5/10
The Lives of Others - 5/10
Roman - 5/10
The Magic Flute - 4/10
Epic Movie - 2/10
Dead Silence - 2/10
Total Eclipse - 2/10
The Number 23 - 2/10

Best: The Host
Worst: The Number 23
Best Actor: Eiji Funakoshi - Fires On the Plain
Best Actress: Sandra Huller - Requiem
Best Supporting Actor: Irfan Khan - The Namesake
Best Supporting Actress: Lindsay Beamish - Shortbus
Best Director: Bong Joon-ho - The Host
Best Original Screenplay: Fires on the Plain
Best Adapted Screenplay: The Heiress
Biggest Surprise: The Host
Biggest Disappointment: Roman
Most Fucked-Up Movie: Black Snake Moan
Person/Character I Never Want to Meet: The Zodiac killer - Zodiac
Ultimate WTF? Moment: guy giving himself a blowjob - Shortbus

[Terror Australis]

My Month In Movies - March

Number of Movies Seen This Month: 50
Number of Movies Seen This Year (so far): 144

5/5 - Excellent
Children Of Men
Bobby

4.5/5 - Really Great
Hot Fuzz
Fear & Loathing In Las Vegas
The Club

4/5 - Great
Sunday Too Far Away
Bugsy
Ironweed
Puberty Blues
Suburban Mayhem
Mozart And The Whale

3.5/5 - Really Good
The Last King Of Scotland
Joyeux Noel (a.k.a. Merry Christmas)
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
A Civil Action
Dumplings
Imaginary Heroes
The Wrong Man (2006) (a.k.a. Lucky Number Slevin)
Monty Python Live At The Hollywood Bowl
Gridiron Gang
Macbeth (2006)
Grimm Love
Thumbsucker

3/5 - Good
Catch A Fire
200 Cigarettes
It Could Happen To You
Bruiser
New York Stories
Mr. Bean’s Holiday
Population 436
Imagine Me & You
Welcome Home Roxy Carmichael
The Grudge 2

2.5/5 - Okay
The Duellists
The Guardian (2006)
Severed (a.k.a. Clearing)
Ellie Parker
Valiant (2005)
The Last Starfighter
Frostbite

2/5 - So-So
A Good Year
Mo’ Better Blues
Chicken Little
An American Haunting
Marked For Death
The Wicker Man (2006)

1.5/5 - Bad
The Long Weekend (2005)
Big Momma’s House 2

1/5 - Terrible
Brainscan
The Vanishing (1993)

First Movie I Saw This Month: POPULATION 436
Last Movie I Saw This Month: CHILDREN OF MEN

THE BEST
http://www.twitchguru.com/blog/uploaded_images/children_of_men_poster-764466.jpg

THE WORST
http://www.criticsinc.com/photos/posters/v/vanishing.jpg

Best Actor: Jack Nicholson, IRONWEED
Best Actress: Radha Mitchell, MOZART AND THE WHALE
Best Supporting Actor: Robert Duvall, A CIVIL ACTION
Best Supporting Actress: Sharon Stone, BOBBY
Best Director: Alfonso Cuarón, CHILDREN OF MEN
Best Original Screenplay: Emillio Estevez, BOBBY
Best Adapted Screenplay: David Williamson, THE CLUB
Biggest Surprise: IMAGINARY HEROES
Biggest Disappointment: MO' BETTER BLUES
Most Fucked-Up Movie: FEAR & LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS
"I’m Pretty Damn Sure No One Else Has Seen This”: (six way tie) THE CLUB, THE LONG WEEKEND (2005), MACBETH (2006), MOZART AND THE WHALE, SEVERED and SUBURBAN MAYHEM
Person/Character I Never Want to Meet: Katrina (Emily Barclay), SUBURBAN MAYHEM
Why Is He/She Still in Movies?: Martin Lawrence, BIG MOMMA'S HOUSE 2
Recurring Genre: Horror films
Ultimate WTF? Moment: Any scene in it, FEAR & LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS
Best Line: (tie)"Are there any questions?""Is it true that there's a point on a man's head where if you shoot it, it will blow up?" - Nicolas Angel (Simon Pegg) and Danny Butterman (Nick Frost), HOT FUZZ and "AHH!!! MY LEGS!!!" - Edward Malus (Nicholas Cage), THE WICKER MAN (2006):D
Best Scene: The One-Take Baby Rescue, CHILDREN OF MEN
Movie I Finally Got to Friggin’ See: DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS
Coolest Title: THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND
Hottest Lady: Victoria Hill, MACBETH (2006)

[Fisting Ackbar]

Ranked from best to worst:

ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND 10/10 (rewatch)

BREAKING THE WAVES 8/10
HOT FUZZ 8/10
LE SAMOURAI 8/10
49 UP 8/10
300 8/10
SUNSHINE (2007) 8/10

THE WIND THAT SHAKES THE BARLEY 7/10
MANHATTAN 7/10
RED ROAD 7/10

DEATH OF A PRESIDENT (2006) 6/10
ASTERIX IN BRITAIN 6/10

THE SCIENCE OF SLEEP 5/10

HANNIBAL RISING 4/10
THIS IS ENGLAND 4/10


First movie I saw this month: ASTERIX IN BRITAIN
Last movie I saw this month: HANNIBAL RISING

Best Actor: Alain Delon - LE SAMOURAI
Best Actress: Emily Watson - BREAKING THE WAVES
Best Supporting Actor: Padraic Delaney - THE WIND THAT SHAKES THE BARLEY
Best Supporting Actress: Mariel Hemingway - MANHATTAN
Best Director: Lars von Trier - BREAKING THE WAVES
Best Original Screenplay: HOT FUZZ
Biggest Surprise: DEATH OF A PRESIDENT (2006)
Biggest Disappointment: THIS IS ENGLAND
Most Fucked-Up Movie: RED ROAD/300 (tie)
"I'm Pretty Damn Sure No One Else Has Seen This": THE WIND THAT SHAKES THE BARLEY
Person/Character I Never Want to Meet: Combo (Stephen Graham) - THIS IS ENGLAND
Recurring Genre: UK productions
Ultimate WTF? Moment: The guy with the boar's head playing a flute - 300
Best Line: "Forget it Nicholas, it's Sandford." - HOT FUZZ
Best Scene: The Spartans fighting the Immortals - 300
Movie I Finally Got to Friggin' See: MANHATTAN
Coolest Title: HOT FUZZ
Hottest Lady: Kelly Craig - 300

[SAI]

First viewings in red

March
2nd
A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints: CINE 2/5
The Number 23: CINE 2/5

3rd
Barbarella: TV 3/5

4th
The Straight Story: VHS 4/5
The Lakes: Season 1: VHS 4/5
Great Balls of Fire: VHS 3/5

5th
Ghost Rider: CINE 2/5
The Science of Sleep: CINE 5/5

6th
Ilsa - The Wicked Warden: DVD 2/5

7th
The West Wing: Season 6: DVD 5/5

9th
Inland Empire: CINE 4/5
Zombie Lake: DVD 1/5

10th
Prime Suspect: The Last Witness : DVD 3/5

11th
Rambling Rose: VHS 4/5

12th
Jurassic Park: DVD 5/5
October Sky: DVD 4/5

13th
This Girl's Life: DVD 3/5
Kiss of Life: DVD 4/5
Loving Annabelle: ONLINE 2/5

14th
The Transporter: DVD 1/5

15th
Shatter Dead: DVD 2/5

16th
Sleeping Dogs: CINE 3/5
Factory Girl: CINE 2/5
Inland Empire: CINE 5/5

17th
Flight 93: DVD 3/5

19th
The Stand: DVD 3/5

20th
Go Now: VHS 3/5
Mr Deeds: DVD 1/5
Keeping the Faith: VHS 3/5

21st
Glengarry Glen Ross: VHS 4/5

22nd
Looney Tunes: Back in Action: DVD 3/5
300: CINE 3/5

23rd
The Last Seduction: Director's Cut: DVD 4/5
Casino Royale: DVD 4/5

25th
The Assassination of Richard Nixon: DVD 3/5
Crazy/Beautiful: VHS 2/5
Best Laid Plans: VHS 3/5

26th
Hour of the Wolf: DVD 2/5

27th
One Day in September: DVD 4/5
Lucas: VHS 4/5

28th
Prime Suspect: Inner Circles: DVD 2/5

30th
Se7en: DVD 5/5
Daddy and Them: DVD 4/5


BEST FILM: CINEMA
INLAND EMPIRE (5/5)
http://www.gayattitude.com/photo/p/h/pheel/20061004-29824410945239ef707497.jpg

WORST FILM: CINEMA
A GUIDE TO RECOGNIZING YOUR SAINTS (2/5)
http://indieflix.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/guide_to_recognizing_your_s.jpg

BEST FILM: HOME
DADDY AND THEM (4/5)
http://us.movies1.yimg.com/movies.yahoo.com/images/hv/photo/movie_pix/miramax_films/daddy_and_them/_group_photos/billy_bob_thornton2.jpg

WORST FILM: HOME
MR DEEDS (1/5)
http://us.movies1.yimg.com/movies.yahoo.com/images/hv/photo/movie_pix/columbia_pictures/mr__deeds/_group_photos/adam_sandler2.jpg

Best Actor: Jack Lemmon: GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS
Best Actress: Laura Dern: INLAND EMPIRE [and DADDY AND THEM, RAMBLING ROSE]
Best Supporting Actor: Kevin Spacey: GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS
Best Supporting Actress: Kerri Green: LUCAS
Best Director: David Lynch: INLAND EMPIRE
Biggest Surprise: DADDY AND THEM
Biggest Disappointment: HOUR OF THE WOLF
Most Fucked-Up Movie: INLAND EMPIRE
“I’m Pretty Damn Sure No One Else Has Seen This”: GO NOW / KISS OF LIFE
“Why Is He/She Still in Movies?”: Adam Sandler: MR DEEDS
Ultimate WTF? Moment: All of: INLAND EMPIRE
Best Line: Nikki: When the ambulance men came and they asked what happened, I told them "He's reaping what he's been sowing, that's what." They said "Fucker been sowing some pretty heavy shit. INLAND EMPIRE
Movie I Finally Got to Friggin’ See: GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS
Coolest Title: HOUR OF THE WOLF
Hottest Lady: Ingeborga Dapkunaite: KISS OF LIFE
http://www.longines.com/eng/img_longines/Ambassadors/Ingeborga_Dapkunaite/v_ingeborga.jpg

[Hannibal21]

First viewings:

La Notte (1961) - 9/10
The Cranes Are Flying (1957) - 9/10
La Cérémonie (1995) - 9/10
The Fallen Idol (1948) - 9/10

Last Year in Marienbed (1961) - 8.5/10
Millenium Mambo (2001) - 8.5/10
Days of Being Wild (1991) - 8.5/10

Fallen Angels (1995) - 8/10
Black Snake Moan (2007) - 8/10
The Cement Garden (1993) - 8/10
The Host (2006) - 8/10
Suzhou River (2000) - 8/10

Zodiac (2007) - 7.5/10

Tenebre (1982) - 7/10
Experiment in Terror (1962) - 7/10
I'll Be Seeing You (1945) - 7/10
Shortbus (2006) - 7/10
Breach (2007) - 7/10

TMNT (2007) - 6/10

Reign Over Me (2007) - 5/10

Tideland (2006) - 2/10

BEST MOVIE:

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/B00005AA9S.01._SS500_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

Worst Movie: Tideland
Best Actor: Samuel L. Jackson - Black Snake Moan
Best Actress: Jeanne Moreau - La Notte/Tatyana Samojlova - The Cranes Are Flying
Best Supporting Actor: Ross Martin - Experiment in Terror
Best Supporting Actress: Karen Mok - Fallen Angels
Best Director: Michelangelo Antonioni - La Notte
Best Screenplay: The Fallen Idol
Biggest Surprise: Black Snake Moan
Biggest Disappointment: Tideland
Most Fucked-Up Movie: Tideland
Person/Character I Never Want to Meet: Garland Humphrey 'Red' Lynch (Ross Martin) - Experiment in Terror
“Why Is He/She Still in Movies?”: Jennifer Tilly - Tideland
Ultimate WTF? Moment: Dear God I don't even know where to begin with Tideland
Movie I Finally Got to Friggin’ See: La Notte
Coolest Title: Black Snake Moan
Hottest Lady: Charlotte Gainsbourg - The Cement Garden

[Kucha]

MARCH 2007
Black Snake Moan - 8/10
Wall Street - 6/10
Zodiac - 7/10
One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest - 8/10
The Departed - 8/10
Premonition - 5/10
A Streetcar Named Desire - 8/10
Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price - 5/10
TMNT - 6/10

THE BEST:
ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST

THE WORST:
WAL-MART: THE HIGH COST OF LOW PRICE

Best Actor: Jack Nicholson, ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST
Best Actress: Louise Fletcher, ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST
Best Supporting Actor: Karl Malden, A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE
Best Supporting Actress: Kim Hunter, A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE
Best Director: David Fincher, ZODIAC
Best Original Screenplay: Craig Brewer, BLACK SNAKE MOAN
Best Adapted Screenplay: Tennesse Williams, A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE
Biggest Surprise: BLACK SNAKE MOAN
Biggest Disappointment: PREMONITION I guess?
Most Fucked-Up Movie: BLACK SNAKE MOAN
Person/Character I Never Want to Meet: Nurse Ratched, ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST
Movie I Finally Got to Friggin’ See: ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST
Coolest Title: ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST

[bankholdup]

3/1: The Thomas Crown Affair (1968) – 5.5/10
3/2: Zodiac (2007) – 7.5/10
3/4: Pickpocket (1959) – 8/10
3/5: Steamboat Bill, Jr. (1928) – 7.5/10
3/6: Alexander (2004) – 4/10
3/7: The Full Monty (1997) – 6.5/10
Wild at Heart (1990) – 6/10
3/8: The Number 23 (2007) – 5/10
3/10: The Dirty Dozen (1967) – 8.5/10
The Pursuit of Happyness (2006) – 6/10
3/15: Drop Dead Gorgeous… (2006) – 3/10
Stranger Than Fiction (2006) – 7/10
3/17: Torn Curtain (1966) – 4/10
3/21: Van Wilder: The Rise of Taj (2006) – 3/10
3/22: Lost Highway (1997) – 6.5/10
Copying Beethoven (2006) – 6/10
The Holiday (2006) – 6.5/10
Commando (1985) – 7/10
3/24: Reign Over Me (2007) – 5/10
Blood Diamond (2006) – 8.5/10
3/27: Stardust Memories (1980) – 7.5/10
3/28: Shaft (1971) – 8/10
3/29: Bullets Over Broadway (1994) – 8/10
The Straight Story (1999) – 9/10
3/30: Blood Feast (1963) – 8/10
Two Thousand Maniacs (1964) – 4/10
3/31: Payback (1999) – 5/10
Fear Strikes Out (1957) – 7/10

First Viewings: 28
Average Rating: 6.33/10

Best Picture
http://imagesource.allposters.com/images/MG/204922.jpg

2. Blood Diamond (2006)
3. The Dirty Dozen (1967)
4. Pickpocket (1959)
5. Bullets Over Broadway (1994)
6. Blood Feast (1963)
7. Shaft (1971)
8. Zodiac (2007)
9. Steamboat Bill, Jr. (1928)
10. Stardust Memories (1980)

Best Director
http://us.movies1.yimg.com/movies.yahoo.com/images/hv/photo/movie_pix/warner_brothers/blood_diamond/edward_zwick/blooddiamond1.jpg
Edward Zwick; Blood Diamond (2006)

2. David Lynch; The Straight Story (1999)
3. Robert Aldrich; The Dirty Dozen (1967)
4. Robert Bresson; Pickpocket (1959)
5. David Lynch; Lost Highway (1997)

Best Actor
http://www.follow-me-now.de/assets/images/Straight_Story-2.jpg
Richard Farnsworth; The Straight Story (1999)

2. Leonardo DiCaprio; Blood Diamond (2006)
3. Buster Keaton; Steamboat Bill, Jr. (1928)
4. Martin LaSalle; Pickpocket (1959)
5. Lee Marvin; The Dirty Dozen (1967)

Best Actress
http://www.a-e-m-gmbh.com/wessely/parc-b.jpg
Patricia Arquette; Lost Highway (1997)

Best Supporting Actor
http://www.famousfigures.com/celebs/celebphotos/frank_johncassavetes1.jpg
John Cassavetes; The Dirty Dozen (1967)

2. Eli Wallach; The Holiday (2006)
3. Robert Downey, Jr.; Zodiac (2007)
4. Willem Dafoe; Wild at Heart (1990)
5. Djimon Hounsou; Blood Diamond (2006)

Best Supporting Actress
http://us.movies1.yimg.com/movies.yahoo.com/images/hv/photo/movie_pix/warner_brothers/blood_diamond/jennifer_connelly/blooddiamond1.jpg
Jennifer Connelly; Blood Diamond (2006)

2. Jennifer Tilly; Bullets Over Broadway (1994)
3. Dianne Wiest; Bullets Over Broadway (1994)
4. Maggie Gyllenhaal; Stranger Than Fiction (2006)

Best Screenplay
http://imagesource.art.com/images/-/Bullets-Over-Broadway-Poster-C10107582.jpeg

Lost Highway (1997)
Zodiac (2007)
Stardust Memories (1980)
Stranger Than Fiction (2006)

[Cronos]

THE BEST:

http://img518.imageshack.us/img518/9111/threehundredvr5.jpg

THE WORST:

http://img518.imageshack.us/img518/2878/epicmoviegk7.jpg

Best Actor: Cary Grant, ARSENIC AND OLD LACE
Best Actress: Priscilla Lane, ARSENIC AND OLD LACE
Best Supporting Actor: Peter Lorre, ARSENIC AND OLD LACE
Best Supporting Actress: Lena Headey, 300
Best Director: Zack Snyder, 300
Best Original Screenplay: ELIZABETHTOWN
Best Adapted Screenplay: ARSENIC AND OLD LACE
Biggest Surprise: MAN OF THE YEAR
Biggest Disappointment: HIGHLANDER 5: THE SOURCE
Most Fucked-Up Movie: ALL NIGHT LONG 0
“I’m Pretty Damn Sure No One Else Has Seen This”: DOLLA MORTE
Person/Character I Never Want to Meet: Cage's character, VAMPIRE'S KISS
“Why Is He/She Still in Movies?”:
Ultimate WTF? Moment:
Best Line: THIS IS SPARTAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA, 300
Movie I Finally Got to Friggin’ See: THE CRYING GAME
Coolest Title: ARSENIC AND OLD LACE
Hottest Lady: Kirsten Dunst, ELIZABETHTOWN

[Le_Big_Mac]

Number of First Time Viewings: 53
Number of Movie Seen This Year: 148

Best Visual Effects: The Thing
Best Sound Editing: The Thing
Best Make-Up: Land of the Dead
Best Costume Design: Aguirre, der Zorn Gottes
Best Art Direction: 300
Best Original Score: C'era una volta il West
Best Foreign Language Film: Aguirre, der Zorn Gottes

Best Adapted Screenplay

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James Vanderbilt, Zodiac

2. Charles Lederer, The Thing From Another World
3. Graham Greene, The Third Man
4. Hagar Wilde, Bringing Up Baby
5. Dennis Paoli, Re-Animator


Best Original Screenplay

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George A. Romero, Dawn of the Dead (1978)

2. John Carpenter, Assault on Precinct 13 (1976)
3. Robert Rodriguez, El Mariachi
4. Amy Heckerling, Clueless
5. Chul-hyun Baek, Joon-ho Bong and Won-jun Ha, Gwoemul


Best Supporting Actress

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Jane Darwell, The Grapes of Wrath

2. Dianne Baker, Marnie
3. Jane Wyman, The Yearling
4. Ava Gardner, Seven Days in May
5. Margaret Sheridan, The Thing From Another World


Best Supporting Actor

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Orson Welles, The Third Man

2. Robert Downey, Jr., Zodiac
3. Douglas Spencer, The Thing From Another World
4. Phil Silvers, It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World
5. Vince Vaughn, Swingers


Best Actress in a Leading Role

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Katharine Hepburn, Bringing Up Baby

2. Claudia Cardinale, C'era una volta il West
3. Alicia Silverstone, Clueless
4. Arletty, Le Jour se lève
5. Alida Valli, The Third Man


Best Actor in a Leading Role

http://www.student.virginia.edu/~indie/img/stills/f04/aguirre.jpg
Klaus Kinski, Aguirre, der Zorn Gottes

2. Jeffrey Combs, Re-Animator
3. Val Kilmer, Tombstone
4. Cillian Murphy, Red Eye
5. Broderick Crawford, All the King's Men (1949)


Best Director

http://www.movieforum.com/people/makers/johncarpenter/images/behindcamera.jpg
John Carpenter, The Thing

2. Sergio Leone, C'era una volta il West
3. Werner Herzog, Aguirre, der Zorn Gottes
4. Howard Hawks, Sergeant York
5. Joon-ho Bong, Gwoemul


Best Picture

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i156/NewcomerFilms/TheThingPoster.jpg
David Foster and Lawrence Turman, The Thing

2. Ceán Chaffin, Brad Fischer, Mike Medavoy, Arnold Messer and James Vanderbilt, Zodiac
3. Dario Argento and Richard P. Rubinstein, Dawn of the Dead (1978)
4. J. Stein Kaplan, Assault on Precinct 13 (1976)
5. Brian Yuzna, Re-Animator
6. Howard Hawks, The Thing From Another World
7. Howard Hawks, Bringing Up Baby
8. Samuel Goldwyn, Jr., The Proud Rebel
9. Carol Reed, Alexander Korda and David O. Selznick, The Third Man
10. Karl Hardman and Russell Streiner, Night of the Living Dead (1968)


First Movie Seen This Month: RED EYE
Last Movie Seen This Month: THE THING
Biggest Surprise: BEVERLY HILLS COP
Biggest Disappointment: AGUIRRE, DER ZORN GOTTES
Most Fucked-Up Movie: THE HUNGER
“I’m Pretty Damn Sure No One Else Has Seen This”: YELLOW SKY
Person/Character I Never Want to Meet: The Thing (James Arness), THE THING FROM ANOTHER WORLD
“Why Is He/She Still in Movies?”: Rachel McAdams, RED EYE
Ultimate WTF? Moment: the dog kennel scene, THE THING
Best Line: “An intellectual carrot. The mind boggles!” - Scotty (Douglas Spencer), THE THING FROM ANOTHER WORLD
Movie I Finally Got to Friggin’ See: THE THING
Coolest Title: DAWN OF THE DEAD
Hottest Lady: Dianne Baker, MARNIE


THE GREAT

Zodiac - *** 1/2
Seven Days in May - *** 1/2
The Third Man - *** 1/2
The Proud Rebel - *** 1/2
Bringing Up Baby - *** 1/2
The Grapes of Wrath - *** 1/2
Night of the Living Dead (1968) - *** 1/2
Dawn of the Dead (1968) - *** 1/2
Assault on Precinct 13 (1976) - *** 1/2
Re-Animator - *** 1/2
The Thing - *** 1/2
11:14 - *** 1/2
The Music Box (short)- *** 1/2

THE PURTY GOOD

Red Eye - ***
Ocean's Eleven (2001) - ***
Beverly Hills Cop - ***
The Yearling - ***
Dr. No - ***
Cause For Alarm - ***
Aguirre, der Zorn Gottes - ***
All the King's Men - ***
C'era una volta il West - ***
Rio Bravo - ***
The Defiant Ones - ***
The Edge - ***
Yellow Sky - ***
Tombstone - ***
Sergeant York - ***
It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World - ***
The Host - ***
The Wanderers - ***
The Bank Dick - ***
Escape From New York - ***
Big Trouble in Little China - ***
Black Hand - ***
Escape From L.A. - ***
Swingers - ***
El Mariachi - ***
The Crow - ***

THE O.K.

The Birds - ** 1/2
300 - ** 1/2
Blue Thunder - ** 1/2
Clueless - ** 1/2
The Alamo (2004) - ** 1/2
Day of the Dead - ** 1/2
Land of the Dead - ** 1/2
Le Jour se lève - ** 1/2
Victory - ** 1/2

THE SO-SO

Millions - **
Marnie - **
Bedhead (short) - **
The Hunger - **

[zeppelin]

1. Zodiac (2007)- *** 1/2
I wasn't even planning on seeing this movie until I just decided to one day while I was at the mall and had a lot of time to kill, figuring it couldn't be that bad given the good reviews it got. Although I liked Seven a lot, this just blows it away, and in fact, I'll even go so far as to say it's the best serial killer movie ever made. It starts off sort of slow, coming off as nothing but another average crime thriller, with David Fincher toning down his usually showy style to let things unfold without any flash or gloss to distract. About an hour into the movie though, I realized just how captivated I was, and from then on, it never let go. The hunt for the Zodiac killer becomes an obsession of Jake Gyllenhaal's character, and I found myself slowly identifying with his hunger to find the killer. At first I was put off by the fact that nearly all of the dialogue related to the Zodiac killer, with little of it left for character development, but as the movie progressed, I realized how subtly the characters were in fact being developed, and how close I came to feel to them. Their personal lives definitely take a back seat to the chase, but that's exactly what's happening to them. The little glimpses we do get of their personal lives are somehow so affecting, even profound in fleeting moments. In this respect, it is not so unlike Oliver Stone's JFK, in which the obsession for obtaining justice completely engulfs the main characters, and in turn, the viewers, even when it turns out that the point isn't even in developing any concrete answers. This is a meticulously crafted, incredibly well acted movie that sets a very high standard for all of the upcoming 2007 releases to live up to.

2. Bridge to Terabithia (2007)- *** 1/2
Another movie I wasn't planning on seeing, but the surprisingly good reviews made me give it a shot. And like Zodiac, it takes a little while for it to really start to take effect, but once it does, it's astounding what happens from there. The middle school life depicted in the movie is never convincing, and the dialogue definitely could have used some tweaking, but ultimately it doesn't bring down the emotional pull of the movie. And let me assure you, it's quite a strong one. This movie is for some reason being advertised as something resembling a kiddie version of Pan's Labyrinth, when in fact, the fantasy elements are hardly the main subject. This is a coming of age movie above all, one that deserves comparison much more to something like E.T. I found it almost difficult to believe that I was witnessing a "kiddie" movie go this deep into such troubling issues.

3. Shine (1996)- ***
Here is the movie that started the Academy's ongoing love of small indie biopics about eccentric personalities. And it's still one of the best of its kind. Despite being a bit uneven and ending with the feeling that something is missing, Shine still manages to be a touching movie that is elevated to something that occasionally touches greatness by its mesmerizing performances. Geoffrey Rush won the Best Actor Oscar for his performance here, his screen debut. And while he is phenomenal, it is Noah Taylor as the younger version of his character that had me more involved. It is during his time playing the role that the character undergoes the most change, and it is when it's the easiest to truly feel for him. Rush may have accomplished something very admirable by making the audience feel like they're actually in the presence of the character, but Taylor transcends even that and makes the audience feel like they are living with the character. Armin Mueller-Stahl is wonderful as well.

4. The Namesake (2007)- ***
Perhaps it tries to cover too long a time period in too short a film length, but The Namesake is regardless a poignant study of an Indian family struggling with issues that are not entirely restricted to just Indian people. The themes here are universal, the most prevalent of which is the clash between tradition and individuality. Although it seems that the baggage brought on by the family members' heritage frustrates them, it is also what ties them together in many ways. The actress Tabu gives the first nomination-worthy performance of 2007 as the mother of the family. There is not a moment she is on screen that she doesn't capture tremendous empathy and respect from the audience. It's such a beautiful performance, completely convincing during the entire time span covered during the movie (which is something close to 30 years).

5. Reversal of Fortune (1990)- ***
Jeremy Irons is charming, repulsive, and sympathetic, often all at once, in the role that won him his Oscar. It's not the type of performance that usually wins an Oscar, because he has no big emotional outbursts and doesn't undergo any sort of big change or revelation throughout the movie. In fact, you could argue that the performance is virtually the same throughout the entire movie, but it's the little subtleties that will have you thinking about it for days after viewing it. It's not a performance that immediately hits you as being great, but once you think about it and allow it to sink in, you'll realize that Irons has crafted an unforgettable character who draws out so many different emotions from the audience by seemingly doing so little. The movie itself is a basic law drama, but a pretty interesting one at that. And I just love the irony (no pun intended on that word...well, okay, maybe a little) of the movie's final scene.

6. The Indian Runner (1991)- ***
Sean Penn's debut as a director is clearly the work of someone who has something to say. The thing is, it doesn't seem like he has quite the vision, or at least not at the time, to say it. The story is based on the Bruce Springsteen song "Highway Patrolman" from the stark, acoustic album Nebraska that many music critics consider to be the Boss's most personal album, while many fans consider it to be his most boring. I, myself, don't think it's his best, but it's certainly a worthwhile album with a couple of really great tracks. "Highway Patrolman," though, has never been a highlight for me, despite its undeniably deep subject matter. The story is of two brothers, one a cop and one a man living life on the edge. Their relationship is what the movie is about, and in a broader sense, it is about the love/hate relationship of siblings in general. The cop is played by David Morse with a sense of dignity and heartbreak, while the outlaw is played by a young Viggo Mortensen. Mortensen is easily the best thing about the movie, giving me one more reason to think he is one of the most consistently captivating and yet criminally overlooked actors working today. This might be his best performance yet, skillfully balancing his character between being a savage monster and a lost soul that it is hard not to feel for. Indeed, the connection I felt to him was one of a little brother figure. Even at his most vile and obscene, I never felt a sense of disgust toward him, but rather a sense of disappointment. I honestly wanted things to work out for him, and was often overcome by a feeling of sadness upon witnessing what his character does instead. There is a scene near the end involving an imagined image from David Morse's character that is particularly affecting. While much of the movie is marred by an overly depressing atmosphere and a general lack of direction, there are enough truly touching moments like that to make the movie well worth seeing, and recommending.

7. Don't Look Now (1973)- ***
I'm still not convinced of Nicolas Roeg's talent, but at least now I know he can make a movie that actually has some reason to become involved, and is not completely self-indulgent. Even though the shocking finale had been spoiled for me long before I saw it, I still wouldn't hesitate to say that it is one of the most haunting scenes in movie history. What precedes this, however, is a slow build-up that is sometimes highly suspenseful, but other times overly dreary. The two central performances are quite good, but I never became invested as it seems I should have given the movie's heavy subject matter (a married couple dealing with the death of their daughter). There is a sex scene early on in the movie that conveys so much tension and raw emotion between the two characters that it is nearly as memorable as the surreal finale. A good portion of the other time, though, feels like a missed opportunity. Particularly when Julie Christie's character leaves Venice, there is little reason to care. But still, it's suspenseful, and I can't stress enough how haunting the ending is. Just don't let anyone spoil it for you like I had done to me. I can't imagine how much more it would have affected me had I not seen the scene out of context before.

[Solomon Grundy]

Number of movies seen this month: 27

(*I viewed Children of Men once previously this year, and it will be ineligible for any nominations/awards this month.)


Best: THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY
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Runner-ups: The Science of Sleep, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints, Zodiac


Worst: JAY AND SILENT BOB STRIKE BACK

First Movie I Saw This Month: THE MATADOR
Last Movie I Saw This Month: LANDSCAPE IN THE MIST

Best Actor: Clint Eastwood, THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY
Best Actress: Kate Winslet, ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND
Best Supporting Actor: Eli Wallach, THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY
Best Supporting Actress: Natalie Portman, BEAUTIFUL GIRLS
Best Director: Sergio Leone, THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY
Best New Director: Dito Montiel, A GUIDE TO RECOGNIZING YOUR SAINTS
Best Original Screenplay: ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND
Best Adapted Screenplay: ZODIAC
Biggest Surprise: A GUIDE TO RECOGNIZING YOUR SAINTS
Biggest Disappointment: TMNT
Most Fucked-Up Movie: 300
Ultimate WTF? Moment: the Persian tent, 300
Person/Character I Never Want to Meet: Xerxes, 300

Best Line: I had a hard time choosing. I just went with this off-hand.

Cricket: Jesus is never mad at us if we live with Him in our hearts!
Tommy Corn: I hate to break it to you, but He is - He most definitely is.

-I Heart Huckabees

Best Scene: Finale, THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY
Movie I Finally Got to Friggin’ See: ANNIE HALL
Coolest Title: THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY
Hottest Lady: Scarlett Johansson, SCOOP

[damien22]

Number of first-time watches this month: 10
Number of first-time watches this year so far: 59

10/10
The Insider

9/10
Man on the Moon
The Fly
Babel
Glengarry Glen Ross
Bridge on the River Kwai

8/10
Rocky
Ghost Dog
Robocop

7/10
300

AVERAGE RATING: 8.6

THE BEST:
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The Insider

THE WORST:
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300 (which I actually kind of liked)

Best Actor: Russel Crowe in The Insider.
Best Actress: Rinko Kikuchi in Babel.
Best Supporting Actor: Al Pacino in Glengarry Glen Ross.
Best Supporting Actress: Adriana Bazzara in Babel.
Best Director: Michael Mann for The Insider.
Biggest Surprise: The Insider
Biggest Disappointment: 300