Joel's Top 50 Films Of All Time: 45 - 41

DISCLAIMER: Joel's 'Top 50 Films Of All Time' is a subjective list. This list can change at any time and is not set in concrete. As Joel watches films on a weekly basis, this list is a living organism. This current incarnation of the list is also only as of the time of creating it. Thank you for reading and enjoy! (I do expect some backlash from my decisions.)

On this list, you will find instances where more than one film is listed. This is because either there was a tie or the films somehow tie in with each other and make one selection in my mind. At each occurance, I will do my best to explain the reasoning behind my decision.

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# 45: 'Barfly'

Charles Bukowski is my 2nd favorite author to ever have lived. Sadly, he is no longer with us.... but he left an amazing legacy of brilliant books behind. During his lifetime, he wrote a film that is somewhat based on his life. Mickey Rourke was cast as Henry Chinaski, the on screen alter ego of Charles Bukowski. The end result of this was a sadly beautiful story of an everyman. This film may not be nearly as good as one of Charles Bukowski's books, but it's the closest thing to bringing one of them to life that you could get. 'Barfly' tells the story of a man who spends his days drinking in a little dive of a bar and ends up getting in fights and writing in his 'spare' time. He eventually meets a rather disturbed woman and they start a relationship of sorts. Soon after that, he is 'discovered' by another woman. The rest of the flim deals with his change in life after a little taste of fame or his lack of change in life.

I love this flim. It's a dirty little slice of life that reeks of realism. The characters are far from perfect, as a matter of fact.... they're completely flawed. There's nothing shiny or pretty about this story. It is gritty.... that doesn't make it any less poetic. Charles Bukowski was a poet of the streets.... of the gutters of human tragedy. He turned the ugly into the beautiful. He lived what he wrote, it was just that simple. This film is a 5 out of 5 star piece of poetry. Sadly, it's not easy to find on DVD or VHS. I'm not sure why that is, but I dream of the day when I can add it to my collection. Unitl then, I have Charles's books to keep me warm at night. Thank you Mr. Bukowski, wherever you are. And thank you Mr. Rourke for bringing a man to life that not everyone would have known without your talents.

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# 44: 'Gangs Of New York'

This film was not originally in this position on the list. I made a last minute decision to change where it was located after re-watching it. I still think it's an amazing film and I still believe that Daniel Day-Lewis gave the most amazing perforamce of his career. He may have even given the greatest performance by an actor, ever. This film had problems though. The ending still bugs me to this day. It's like it was an after thought. I also have trouble with Cameron Diaz's character and Leonardo DiCaprio's character. I think they're both fine actors in their own right, I am just not sure that this was the right vehicle for them. Something just feels off about it all, like they were miscast in these roles. Despite all that, this film is epic in scope. It tells a story about the birth of our nation and makes it entertaining to modern audiences. Everyone in this film seems to want to be involved and they all put forth their best efforts. I think a little time might have been shaved off of this to make it a little tighter, but that may just be me. It's still impressive, none the less.

'Gangs Of New York' tells the story of all of the rival gangs in New York back in the day. How they all compeated with each other and how they all ruled over the streets.... even over the law. The main story focuses on Bill the Butcher and his former enemies son, Amsterdam. Bill doesn't realize who Amsterdam is and takes him under his wing. Soon, Amsterdam is his right hand man and things are going well.... until the weight of everything brings it all crashing down and the two must confront each other to finish off old rivalries. I gave this 5 out of 5 stars, mostly because of Daniel Day-Lewis's performance as Bill the Butcher. He was so amazing that I even had dreams about the character. (not anything really strange, just him in character) This film, despite its flaws, still deserves to be seen and deserves a place on the 'Top' lists of film reviewers. It's a unique film and a great film. A masterpiece in its own right.

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# 43: the 'Die Hard' series

What action movie lover doesn't have a soft spot in their heart for John McClane? He represents the 'everyman' of the action genre. In the original 'Die Hard' film, he was just a cop put in a bad situation where he has to become the action hero to save the day. Despite his heroics, he's still just a guy who's not indestructable and he proves that over and over again in the original film. As a matter of fact, he gets the living crap beat out of him for almost the entire film. It's a wonder he didn't die or just give up. But I think that's why everyone loves him, he's not a superhero. Granted, in the films that followed, he became more and more superhuman, but he could still get his ass kicked. I personally love these films because they blend action, humor and Bruce Willis's charm into a nice big bowl of coolness. I could watch any of these films anytime and love them no matter what. The original 'Die Hard' is a holiday staple. It is a fantastic Christmas film. Now you're asking me, "Why in the hell did you pick the other three films in the series too?" Let me explain. I believe that 'Die Hard 2: Die Harder' is a perfect example of how to make the ideal sequel. You take your hero, throw him into a similar situation, kick the action off within the fist 5 minutes, make everything bigger and VIOLA! instant success. "What about part 3?" Once again, they made the perfect follow up to the over the top sequel.... you take all of the original elements and put them into a new environment. Everything feels fresh again, even if it takes place in the summer and you add a silly sidekick. It's like a reboot of the entire franchise. "Okay. Good points. What about part 4?" Well, you take your main character, add elements from the past and give him a hip young partner for the young folks and once again you have a practical reboot of the franchise. Can this semi-reinvention continue onto a 5th film? I can honestly say that I don't know, but I'd like to find out.

After all is said and done, I gave all 4 of these films 5 out of 5 stars. Are they going to change the world as we know it? No. But sometimes a film isn't just about having something important to say. Sometimes it's just about checking your brain at the door and having a good time with old friends for a couple of hours. These 4 films accomplished that every single time. They are 4 seperate films with the same lead character and the same basic premise, however, each one is independent of the other. You don't have to watch them all, you can just watch one and feel satisfied that you saw a great little action film. I would love to see them make a 5th one, just to see where that film would end up taking us. But until that happens, if it does, I just have to say, "Yippie Ky Yay" Well, you know the rest.

(fan made tribute trailer to all 4 films)

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# 42: 'Shaun Of The Dead'/ 'Hot Fuzz'

Edgar Wright, Nick Frost and Simon Pegg are geniuses.... need I say more? You could write just that one sentence as a review for these films and that would be enough to put asses in seats. These three men have created two of the most perfect comedy films ever made. They nailed both the zombie and buddy cop films so well that no one ever needs to make another attempt at it, these cannot be topped. From the music to the script to the cinematography to the characters to the.... well, everything. They are both spot on perfection. I kind of wonder if these should have ended up higher on my list, but I think that them just being on this list is probably enough. They should be on everyone's list of films that you must see before you die. It helps if you're a fan of zombie films and buddy cop films, but you can still watch either one of these without the previous knowledge of their base films and still love them. I don't know how these three guys ended up together, but I kind of think it was a perfect storm created by the film gods. It is so rare to have something like this happen, so you really have to hold on tight when they do. I own both of these films and watch them fairly often. They never grow old, I always find something new in them when I watch them and I always laugh. Pitch perfect films.

'Shaun of the Dead' revolves around two 'slackers' who are a little slow in realizing that a zombie outbreak has occured and that most of the world is now the walking dead. It's a film about them trying to keep the few of their loved ones that are still alive, together. But to also keep their lives as normal as they used to be. 'Hot Fuzz' is about a "super"cop who is basically driven out of his job because he's too good at it. He is transferred to a little town where not much happens. He struggles to find his place, but soon realizes that there is something more going on and he sets out to uncover a massive conspiracy. Hilarity ensues in both films. By now, I am guessing that you have already come to the conclusion that I gave them 5 out of 5 stars each.... well, you're right. How could I not? I only hope that when they're next project emerges that it can stand up to these. It has to be a hard thing to make lightning strike 3 times in the same spot, but if anyone can do it.... I am pretty sure that they can.

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# 41: 'Seven' aka 'Se7en'

Up to this point, 'The Silence of the Lambs' had set the standard for what a serial killer film should be. As a matter of fact, it was so good that it was brought into the mainstream and even included in the Oscar's.... and won. I don't know that anyone ever saw the possiblity of another serial killer film ever taking a shot at 'The Silence of the Lambs' title, but in 1995.... an up and coming director named David Fincher, took a shot at the championship belt. He took an established genre and put it on its ear. He used a somewhat unknown actor for his primary character of the killer. He put A-list actors in the lead roles as the two detectives on the case. He didn't give up the identity of the killer until almost the end and he created an ending that not only satisfied the audience, but left them wanting more. Maybe 'Seven' didn't earn the awards that 'The Lambs' did, but that didn't make it any less of an amazing film. It's a disturbing masterpiece that you can't really say you love.... because then you feel 'icky', but instead you say that you think it's incredible and original. I know that when I left the theater after seeing it, I felt like I'd seen a shift in film. A shift in the genre. A shift in what the audience wanted to see. This was a new page in the lexicon of crime thrillers.

In 'Seven', we focus on a seasoned detective about to end his career and a young detective just trying to get his started. Of course, they butt heads. Despite that, they start working on a case where a killer is using the 7 deadly sins as a roadmap to kill people. It's a race against time to find him before he completes his masterpiece. One of the things that's subtle, but very effective about this film is the use of rain. It rains for the entire film, until our killer is captured and it doesn't rain again for the rest of the story after that. It is a great use of the environment to reflect what we see on the screen. It's like using color to alter moods. I couldn't help but give this 5 out of 5 stars and it sealed the deal on my love for David Fincher films, Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman and for the amazing talents of Kevin Spacey. If you only see two serial killer films in your lifetime, you must see 'The Silence of the Lambs' and 'Seven'. They are the stick against all other films are measured in this genre.

Joel's Top 50 Films Of All Time: 50 - 46

DISCLAIMER: Joel's 'Top 50 Films Of All Time' is a subjective list. This list can change at any time and is not set in concrete. As Joel watches films on a weekly basis, this list is a living organism. This current incarnation of the list is also only as of the time of creating it. Thank you for reading and enjoy! (I do expect some backlash from my decisions.)

On this list, you will find instances where more than one film is listed. This is because either there was a tie or the films somehow tie in with each other and make one selection in my mind. At each occurance, I will do my best to explain the reasoning behind my decision.

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# 50: 'Irréversible'

I know this choice is bound to get a lot of funny looks from everyone, but this film packs an incredible punch that you will not forget. It is hard to watch, literally. Gaspar Noé, the director, used a low frequency sound during the opening 20 - 30 minutes of the film to disorient and make the audience feel ill. It worked so well that upon release in 2002, this film had people leaving the theater. It may partialy be due to the sound or to the fact that the camera never stops moving. During this entire film, the camera is constantly shifting, turning and spinning. The only time that it stops is during the 9 minute long rape scene. For those 9 minutes, it is completely still on a tripod and is locked solid. It makes the scene that much more powerul because you are finally able to rest your eyes and brain, but what you see is more horrific than anything up to that point. It proves that cinema is art. Gaspar Noé makes use of technology to create a visual representation of what a person might feel in real life. Myself having been held at gunpoint and beaten, can attest to the fact that the whole world just stops during moments like these. It is not unlinke a film and I think Gaspar Noé captured that feeling in real time. Plain and simple.

I intially hated this film. Over time and research and gaining some perspective, I realized what his vision was.... right or wrong. I understood the importance of this film and, although I don't recommend it to people, I do explain to them why this film is necessary and hope they will keep an open mind. It earned a 4 out of 5 star rating from me and cemented my respect for Vincent Cassel and Monica Bellucci and extended my horizon's into French cinema. If you decide to take on this film, be aware that it is not an easy thing to get through. You will feel sick, you will be disgusted by what you see and you will feel dirty when it's over.... that much I can guarentee. However, if you have an open mind and watch it for all it has to offer, you may just be surprised at what you take away from it when it's over. I know I was and look at where this film has ended up now.

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# 49: 'Robocop'/ 'Starship Troopers'

This is a set of films that will raise a few eyebrows as well and I will be the first to admit that I do not like Paul Verhoeven's films, as a rule. It kills me to have, not one, but two of his films in my 'Top 50' list.... but I will admit that these are truly his masterpieces. "Why are these even here?", you might ask? Let's look at them from a couple of different angles. As action, sci-fi films they are above par. They really hold up well after long periods of time and set a standard for other sci-fi/ action films to follow. They're fun, kick-ass, original and have a lot going for them. The other angle is that they're biting satire in film form. Paul Verhoeven was making his own commentaries on society hidden within an entertaining venue. When you watch these films, you may or may not have caught onto what he was trying to say or do, but it was still implanted in your head regardless. I'm not even sure that I understand them fully, but I challenge you to watch them again and to watch them with your thinking cap on instead of your entertainment hat. Trust me, he's not very subtle about things.

After years of watching these films, I have settled on a 4 out of 5 star rating for 'Robocop' and 5 out of 5 star rating for 'Starship Troopers'. What I find funny about both of these films, is that they spawned such horrible sequels and each one got progressively worse. Also, they both spawned cartoons and toys for children, despite the fact that both films were originally rated a VERY hard 'R'. (almost an 'X' rating for each of them.) I remember seeing the 'Robocop' commercials when I was younger and really wanting to see them and I can understand why the big wigs wanted to make them more accessible for kids. Hell, I was sold on them when I was a kid. And with 'Starship Troopers', I did not want to see it when it came out. I was forced into going with a group of other people.... and when I left that theater, I was 100% in love with it and couldn't wait to see it again. Funny how things work out, eh?

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# 48: 'That Thing You Do!'

It took me a long time to come around to being a Tom Hanks fan After his days on television, it was hard for me to take him serious as an actor, writer, director or producer. However, over the years, he has proven himself over and over again as a jack of all trades and a damn fine actor. He is the new ideal of what a leading man should be. He's well liked and respected in the Hollywood system and I can see why. 'That Thing You Do!' is his baby. He had his hand in every part of the making of this film. EVERY part. This is the fruit of all of his years of labor. What he ended up with, is nothing short of entertainment in its most pure form. It's like drinking the syrup of Coca-Cola before it's mixed with the carbonation. It's almost too much entertainment to handle. It has comedy, drama, romance, music and is damn well done over all. The cast is spot on. The music by Fountains of Wayne is/was the only choice for this film. The script is well paced and never boring. I just can't say enough good things about 'That Thing You Do!'. It's a film about a one hit wonder group in the 60's. It covers their history from being a garage band to an overnight sensation. It deals with a lesser known side-effect of the music scene back then, when a group may have only had one chance at success. They wouldn't always record a full album, they might only get that one 45 rpm record and that was it. Not every band was the Beatles, you know?

Although many of the stars of this film didn't ever really get as far as I thought they should, they still left a legacy. This is a 5 out of 5 star film that, I don't think, ever got the praise and respect it deserved. It has so much to offer the audience and never asks for anything in return. Tom Hanks put all of his love into this and I think you can feel it when you're watching it. He's finally making another film where he's 100% involved in the whole process, it's due out soon and I can't wait to see how it turns out. No matter what happens though, this will last as a testament to a great man who is what Hollywood should be and a film that reminds us why we go to the movies in the first place.

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# 47: 'Before Sunrise'/ 'Before Sunset'

Before I start this review, let me give you a little known fact: when I went to flim school.... I wasn't there to write, produce or direct horror, action or sci-fi.... I was there to write comedy based romantic dramas. In fact, the only script that was ever 100% completed by me, was just that. I'm extremely proud of it and it has all of the Joel earmarks in it. Despite being a romantic comedy-drama, it still has its strangeness and obscure music and movie references. Just because I wrote something based around a love story, doesn't mean it couldn't be its own kind of monster, right? Anyway.... I have a soft spot for these kinds of films and I am surprised that more of them didn't make it into the 'Top 50'. These films concreted my love of both Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke. I first saw Julie Delpy in 'Killing Zoe' (which is in my 'Top 200') and Ethan Hawke in 'Reality Bites' (which is also in my 'Top 200'). I have since followed both of their careers and even read both of the books he's written. (they are REALLY good too!) These films are both directed by Richard Linklater, a man who his hit and miss with his films. I have seen a good chunk of his catatlog and only like a few of them. Despite my opinions, he is considered an artist in his field. Either way, he made a masterpiece of a storyline that bookends each other perfectly. These are the films that I aspired to write. To be able to capture an emotion on screen is something to be proud of and somehow he captured lightning in a bottle, twice.

The two films are 5 out 5 stars and, in my opinion, are classics. The story centers around two characters who happen to meet and spend only 1 day with each other before parting ways. What transpires in that time is magical. It almost seems like a whole lifetime is lived in that short span of time. It captures all of those wonderful feelings that we get when we're first getting to know someone and falling in love with them. The story then continues 10 years later when the two meet again. We get the rare chance to see what happens with those characters in love stories, after the love story ends and the credits roll. I don't think that Mr. Linklater pulls any punches here and although it's still a romantic comedy-drama, it still has a ring of truth to it. I am so thankful to him for making this into a satisfying set of films that will stand the test of time and created two icons of what I could only hope to have created in my lifetime. Wouldn't you want the chance to be either one of them in the situation that they were placed in? I think that's why these films earned a spot in my 'Top 50' and will always remain there.

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# 46: '28 Days Later'/ '28 Weeks Later'

Back in the day, zombies moved slow.... they shambled. Over the years, that didn't change much. Eventually, Danny Boyle created a new mythos. Granted, what he created were people infected by a virus that made them kill for no reason, but it set a new standard for the virus/zombie film. In his film and ever since then.... the infected run. If you aren't in pretty good shape then you're likely to get killed by the infected. Plain and simple. It's become so ingrained in pop culture that 'Zombieland' even made a point ot making it one of the rules to survive a virus/zombie outbreak, 'Cardio'. Now, Danny Boyle is no slouch. He has, to date, not made a bad film in my opinion. '28 Days Later' is an amazing addition to his already amazing library of work and I fell in love with it after the first time I saw it. Then came '28 Weeks Later', the follow up of what happened after the virus infected the world and the soon to follow aftermath. Juan Carlos Fresnadillo took over the directoral duties for Danny Boyle and he ran away with it. The first 15 minutes of this film are probably the most intense, heart racing minutes ever committed to celluloid. My heart races just thinking about it and every time I see it, it doesn't get any easier to watch. Robert Carlyle embodies the everyman. He is, what I imagine, a father or husband would be in the world after it ended. He doesn't make all the right decisions and doesn't do the right thing everytime, but he does his best to survive. This film is an example of what a sequel could or should be. It shows that you don't have to retain the same principle people to make it work, you just have to have a strong script, a good director and a cast and crew willing to give 100%. I know this won't make every film from here on out as good as this one, but it gives me hope for future films.

Both films earned a solid 5 out of 5 star rating and they both worked really hard to earn them. I have no hesitation in coughing up those ratings either. I love these films, zombies or not, and I have watched them over and over and have never felt any different about them. In case you aren't familiar with the story.... a virus, called 'Rage', is let loose from an animal testing facility and infects London. We see the first 28 days through the eyes of a bike messenger who is just waking up unaware of what's happened. Over that course of time, he learns how to live with his new surroundings and eventually settles into life in the new world. The sequel picks up shortly after the first one ends, we're now following a group of survivors who are splintered after letting another survivor into their safe house. Our main hero makes his way to the safe zone and is reunited with his two kids. Soon, the virus infects the safe zone and all hell breaks loose again. The end of this film leaves it open for another one, maybe not with the same survivors.... but another one with 'Rage' victims none the less. It has been reumored that '28 Months Later' is now in pre-production and that maybe Danny Boyle is back on board, only time will tell. I just hope that they don't compromise quality for the almighty dollar. I'd be just as happy with the two films we have, rather than soil them with a crappy 3rd film. End of story.

So, what do you think so far? 45 - 41 will hopefully be posted tomorrow, all things considered. Please feel free to post your thoughts here or on my Facebook page or the Facebook page for this blog. I'd love to hear from you and where these films rank for you, if at all. This has turned into quite the overwhelming task, but I'm committed to finish and am having fun regardless. Thanks for reading!

UPDATE: the 'Top 50 Films Of All Time'.... my list....

Well, it's pretty much a done deal. Granted, it's all subject to change at any time.... but for now, it's a start. As I sit here and stare at the list, I am perplexed as to what order to put it into. I have ideas on certain films as to where they'll go, however it's such a long list that it's hard to figure out where all of them will go. I mean, who says that "this movie" is number 27, where as "this movie" is number 48.... I just can't seem to overcome that hump. I am going to have to sort it out, because I have wanted to put this list together for a long time. I also have talked it up quite a bit and have built up a payoff, now I need to provide that payoff. How would you go about sorting all of this out? How would you even begin to make sense of all of this data? It's like picking out which of your children is your favorite, it's just not possible. (Now that I'm thinking of it that way.... I don't know if I want to finish this list!) Something else that concerns me is the reaction that I might get from this compliation. I am sure that not all of you will agree with a lot of my choices. I made my decisions based on re-watchability, artistic merit, if it changed me in some way or changed cinema, etc. I've including animated films, horror, comedy, drama, foreign, anything that I felt qualified. But the wonderful thing about cinema is how there is a film/movie for everyone out there. Everyone loves a film/movie for different reasons. Everyone won't like the same thing. It could be something as simple as when they watched it for the first time. Perhaps at that point, they were dealing with some really heavy stuff and the film made it so they were able to get through it all. However, the same film when viewed by someone who isn't having any issues and is in a really good spot, may find that the film is boring or terrible. That's what I love about this artistic format.

I would like to extend the invitation again to all of you.... if you have a list of your own, please submit it. I always love to see where different people's heads are at. I also think it would be fun to share and have an open forum about things. It might also be fun to compare mine with famous reviewers lists. ie: Roger Ebert. Whatever happens once this starts, don't judge.... art is up to the viewer. One mans trash is another mans treasure. Cliche after cliche back up what I'm saying and they can't be wrong, right? Something else about my list that you should know, I have taken the liberty of grouping some things together. It's not just out of laziness, there is a reason for it. I, of course, will explain myself as these things come up. Mostly, it has to do with the fact that sometimes a film/movie has counterparts that will always be linked to them. Because of that, I had to keep them as a pair of films/movies not just one by itself.

Please feel free to comment if something hits you in a good or bad spot. I love to chat about film and all it's wonder and I think this could get some good conversations going. Have you been thinking about your own choices at all? I haven't stopped thinking about it and have even gone back into my DVD library to watch some of my favorites just to see if they still hold up. So far, so good. It's what I would refer to as a 'happy side effect' of compiling this. I know it will keep changing and growing over time, I'm not naive about that. I also know that some films/movies will always be in the top spot and I can't wait to share them with you. Until then, stay thirsty my friends.

(The opening commercial for Captain Spaulding's Murder Ride, from the beginning of 'House of 1000 Corpses'....)

my thoughts on.... 'Sling Blade' and other things....

When I was in film school, I had the privilage of seeing the first 20 minutes of 'Sling Blade' before it ever hit theaters. Our instructor must have pulled some strings to make it happen, I'm not entirely sure, but it was worth it. Regardless, I don't remember any time before that day that I had been so fully involved in a film. I became completely lost in everything I was seeing on the big screen, it was like I was in some sort of trance. To this day, there are very few other film going experiences that I've had where I was this mesmerized. When the film finally hit theaters and I was able to see it in its entirety, I was not let down by what I saw. It had an amazingly strong 1st, 2nd and 3rd acts. It's a rare commodity these days to find a film like that. I eventually bought this on VHS and nearly wore out my copy of it. Years after that, I bought the 10th anniversary special edition DVD and in the number of times I've seen it over the years.... it still packs a mean left hook. Now what is it about this film that gives it such amazing lasting power? Why do the characters leap off the screen and live and breathe on their own? I, personally, think it as a perfect storm of passion, right script, right time, right cast and crew, etc. You can't plan and execute a film like this without some kind of divine intervention. What's kind of interesting is that it started out as a 25 minute short film with JT Walsh, Molly Ringwald and, or course, Billy Bob Thornton. Take a look at where it all began:

You could see the seed of genius in this original piece, but you feel, after watching it, that there is a lot more story to tell and I think that's what lead everyone to want to see more.

For those of you who haven't seen this film yet, let me give you the basic story. As you can see in the original short film, we start off in a home for people with special needs. This is where we first meet Carl. He's a unique man with a unique past. As he's being interviewed about his past, we soon become interested in his future. On his release date, he heads back to live in the town where he grew up. He is obviously a fish out of water and does his best to fit in with everyone else. Soon Carl meets a young boy named Frank. Frank is an independent boy whose mother works to support him and has an on again/off again alcoholic boyfriend. He's abusive, mean and makes no sincere apologies about it. Over time, Carl gets a job fixing lawnmowers, moves in with Frank and his family and slowly starts putting his life back together. Eventually it becames painfully obvious that Carl is possibly doomed to repeat history. Frank's mom and her best friend seem to tolerate the abuse, but Frank is doing his best to put an end to it. Meanwhile, Carl visits his estranged father and confronts him about his mistreatment of him growing up. Soon things begin to come to a slow boil and you can feel that things are going to hit a turning point. What happens in the third act is amazingly well done and is something that you just have to see. I refuse to detail what happens.... trust me, it's worth your time to see this film if you haven't already.

As much as I love this film, there is something about it that always makes it very difficult to watch. The Dwight Yoakam character of Doyle, the abusive, drunk boyfriend, reminds me of my brother. He is about as spot on perfect as you can get for an on screen version of what I dealt with growing up. (minus playing in a band) I, literally, almost had to stop watching the film the first time I saw it because of how realistic it felt to watch Doyle. The way he flips the switch between being a calm, gentle person to suddenly becoming a raging, violent person. He's either extremely bi-polar or really drunk.... or both. The funny thing is that he apologizes for his behavior after the fact. His apologies are anything but remorseful, in fact he makes you feel stupid and like it was your fault in the first place. I thought it was just the way my brother was, but I guess there are other people with that same talent, if you can call it that. In the end, did I feel like justice was served for Doyle? Did I live out some kind of sick fantasy? The answer is that I don't know. I'm not a judge and I don't think I ever would want to take it to the extreme that Carl does. It may have been a passing thought, but not a serious consideration to make it a reality. Everytime I watch this film, I know what I'm getting into and regardless of that, I still think this is one of the most amazing films ever committed to the screen. If the price of that is opening up old wounds, so be it.

I'm currently working on a finalized list of the 'Top 50 Films Of All Time' and this will be in those celebrated ranks. Granted, it may just be my own opinion and perhaps it's a bit skewed because of my past.... but I still think that this is an amazing piece of work. And based on the reviews I've read in the past, I don't think I'm entirely alone in my thinking. I believe that Billy Bob Thornton could pack up and leave Hollywood forever and this film would be his masterpiece, something everyone would remember him by. Like Orson Welles and 'Citizen Kane', this is what he'll be remembered for and will stand as a lasting testament to what he's capable of. It's a 5 out of 5 star film going experience and one that I feel everyone should take at some point. It's a fascinating character study of fictionalized people who seem to live and breathe on their own, outside of the film. That, to me, is a sign of good writing. When the thing that you create takes on a life of its own.... then it's something for the ages. Carl is an iconic character that has branched out beyond the walls of 'Sling Blade' and become a part of American pop culture. I just hope that no one gets the bright idea to make a sequel to this. If Billy Bob Thornton decides to follow this up sometime in the future, like Kevin Smith and 'Clerks 2', perhaps that'll be okay.... I kind of hope he doesn't though. All of that being said, I just have one final thing to say, "Thank you Mr. Thornton and thank you Carl, wherever you are." That is all.

my thoughts on.... 'Zero Day'

I think that we all remember where we were when we heard about the Columbine High School shootings. It was an unfortunate chapter in history that was, sadly, doomed to repeat itself. Over the years that followed, Dylan and Eric left a legacy that had a ripple effect and in its wake were countless other loners and outcasts that used Columbine as a blueprint. Perhaps none of them have had the stigma that Columbine had, but that didn't make them any less tragic. One of the other things that came out of that tragic day, was art. Art comes in all forms and one of them is film. There have been several versions of this story brought to the screen, either in part or in whole. The best example was Gus Van Zants 'Elephant'. It was a film that mixed real high school students and non-actors and had them replay the events leading up to and including the day that Dylan and Eric went on their rampage. Granted, it was fictionalized, but it had an amazing punch to the face. I still remember the feelings that came over me during 'Elephant'. There was 'Duck! The Carbine High Massacre'. Not recommended viewing. 'Bowling For Columbine', which allowed Michael Moore to cash in on the blood of the innocent to further his own cause and had little to no real value as a film. It did, however, use the actual footage from the Columbine High security cameras. That brought chills to my spine to watch them. I don't think Mr. Moore used them in his movie for any other reason, but to sell tickets, however. These are just a few examples, but the most recent example I've seen is 'Zero Day'. Once again, this film used unknown and non-actors to portray a version of the Columbine shootings. It was all shot on video, as though the two main characters, Andre and Cal, were doing it themselves to document their build up to "Zero Day". It created a sense of realism that was similar to that of 'Elephant'. Granted, this was not as well done as that film.... but it is head and shoulders above many of the others.

The story follows the Columbine High School shootings fairly closely. It shows two teens, Andre and Cal, as they prepare to exact some kind of revenge on those who treated them poorly all their lives, those who were over privilaged and anyone who got in their way. They firmly believed that what they were doing had a greater purpose to it. What they chronicle is the planning stages of their two man army war on others. How they obtained guns and explosives, how they decided on what day to carry it out and who they were targeting. You can actually see their twisted minds at work. The third and final act of this film walk you through their final execution of their plans, 'Zero Day'.

I can't imagine how terrible it must have been on the students at school that day, let alone the families of the killers and their victims. 'Zero Day' brings it all home and opens up some old wounds that were probably left untouched. On the flip side of that, it serves as a harsh reminder that we all need to pay attention to the signs of troubled teens. To hear what they have to say and to provide support and understanding during one of the most difficult times in a persons life. High School always seems lame in hindsight, but at the time you're living it.... it can be the worst pain and suffering imaginable. I can remember those times like it was yesterday and I could see where it would be very easy to get wrapped up in the idea of taking your frustrations out on those who've harmed you. That doesn't make this behavior right, it just makes it make more sense. 'Zero Day' is a strong attempt to portray a difficult subject with respect and without gratifying the situation. They walked a very fine line here and did it with grace and ease. The film was entertaining, but not in the typical way. I could honestly feel the pressure building and I became more and more uneasy as time went on. When that final sequence of events start, I found that I couldn't take my eyes off the television.... no matter how hard I tried.

This film deserves a secondary viewing. At the time of this review, I'm only giving it a 3 out of 5 star rating. I think that 'Elephant' overshadows this so much that I can't see my way of giving any higher of a rating than 3 out of 5 stars. Perhaps once I've seen this again, I will raise it to 4 out of 5 stars, but until then.... this is where my review will stand. This film is currently OnDemand on Netflix, so add it to your queue soon, before it's a rental only. My final thoughts on this are that if you do buy the ticket to take the ride, be prepared to feel hollow inside again. It's not a plesant film to watch, but I think it's an important one. One that will always remind us that we can never forget, lest history will repeat itself. (BTW: the ending of 'Zero Day' doesn't do it justict, but it doesn't hurt the film either.)

If you like this, check out: 'Elephant' (it is the BEST retelling of the Columbine High School killings.) I can't honestly recommend any other films

my thoughts on.... 'Who's The Caboose?'

The Netflix OnDemand streaming feature has proven itself to be the next evolution in movie watching. As if Netflix wasn't the greatest invention ever, this just improved upon it that much more. Thanks to OnDemand, I've found a lot of films that I'd have never seen before otherwise. 'Who's The Caboose?' is one of those movies. It's a little indie movie that, I guess, just made its way to DVD recently and Netflix made it an instant streaming movie right away. I found it because of my enjoyment of 'The Sarah Silverman Program'. (Again, thank you Netflix for finding other things for me to check out based on my likes and dislikes.) Now, this isn't the greatest thing since sliced bread or anything, but it's a good way to spend an hour and a half of your evening. It's funny where it needs to be, it's serious where it needs to be and it's clever in all the right places. The cast is a who's who of 90's comedy.... complete with Andy Dick, yes, Andy Dick. Most of the comedians are in the beginning of their careers or at least the earlier stages. Even back then, Sarah Silverman stood out as a comediane on the rise. She shines in every scene and is her usual, odd little self.

The premise of this is based on a documentary crew out to film homeless people in New York suffering from a rare and fatal disease that seems to only effect the homeless. After finding the topic to depressing they duck into a comedy club and find an up and coming comedian instead. Who they find is Sarah Silverman, about to head out to California to try her luck at landing a sitcom pilot. They follow her out along with her boyfriend and what happens next is their lives trying to make it in Hollywood. It's a pretty harsh look at the industry and the different way it treats people. Will she get her wish? Or will she end up back in New York as a struggling comedian? You'll have to watch to find out.... or read more reviews that are willing to give up the ending.

This movie really pulls no punches when it comes to the Hollywood system. I found it to be pretty smartly written and although it's not going to win any awards, it's still a damn good little flick. It's not restricted by it's budget, the film makers use it wisely with its mockumentary style. It was a little distracting in the beginning, but by the end it seemed really natural. It even had a satisfying ending, which a lot of movies can't seem to accomplish these days. It felt like it had a solid first, second and third act. This might not be a movie that I ever see again, but I would be more than happy to recommend it to friends as a worthwhile risk to take. (just make sure you have some interest in Sarah Silverman, if not.... you're going to dislike this one.)

'Who's The Caboose?' is a 'The Little Engine That Could' of indie/pilot season/Sarah Silverman movies. It'll sneak up on you, like a train, and make you feel a little warm and fuzzy inside by the end. I'm not sure that sentence just made sense, but that doesn't matter.... this is a 3 out of 5 star mocumentary with a small possablity of gaining some cult status. I could see that happening for those die hard fans of 90's comedians. David Cross, Kathy Griffin, Andy Dick, Sarah Silverman, H. Jon Benjamin, etc.... They're all here. (Sarah's little sister is even in this one, just like on her sitcom.) If I could change one thing about this movie? I think it's fine the way it is. Simple, silly and smart.

If you like this, check out: 'The Sarah Silverman Program' (TV), 'Freakshow' (animated TV) and anything from the early 90's.

my thoughts on.... 'The Baby's Room aka La habitación del niño'

Here's another installment in my recent Spanish horror film-athon. This particular one was another part of the 'Six Films To Keep You Awake' series. I actually had started this one previously, but turned it off because I wasn't in a good place at the time to watch it. The first, like, 45 minutes are pretty intense.... the rest of it, not so much. I don't know what happened with this that they made the decision to go down the tired and boring route, but they did. This movie had a lot of potential and it's not that the rest of it wasn't original, it just didn't feel like anything new at all. This movie felt like a bad re-run of 'The Twilight Zone', but in Spanish. If it was in black and white, I honestly would have thought it was something from another time. I kept hoping that it would get better and a movie that's just shortly over an hour long, it didn't give it much time to be screwed up. Somehow, the director managed it. Now I just feel like I'm harping on it and to be fair, it had its good points. But before I get to that:

Our story opens on some children playing by an old building. It appears that they're playing hide and seek and one of the kids ends up inside the building. Something terrible happens and when he comes out, he's not the same. Fast forward to the present day and a young family is moving into the aforementioned house. They have a little baby and are still in the early stages of parenthood. The sister of baby's father drops off some gently used baby items, which includes a monitor. During the night, the father hears some breathing besides the baby and after going into the room he becomes paranoid that someone else has been in their home. His solution is to head down to the local baby store and pick up a video monitor. What happens over the next several nights freaked me the 'F' out. A man with glowing eyes keeps appearing on the monitor. The police can't figure out what's going on and so the couple install a security system. Nothing seems to keep the man out of the house and the father slowly begins to descend into maddness. His wife leaves with the baby and the father learns the terrible secret behind the man in the house and what's been happening. The rest is, well.... the rest.

So what's good about this movie? The ambiance, the ghostly appearance of the man in the baby's room and the early part of the story itself. It's very well done and accomplishes exactly what it sets out to do. It creates a sense of fear and dread and it honestly scared me. The idea of your baby being watched at night by a creepy man with glowing eyes is frightening. And add to the fact that no one can figure out how he's getting in the home and how no one is seeing him come or go is even scarier yet. That is the good aspects. What happens in the second and third act of the movie involves time and space, alternate realities and some bullcrap that just doesn't belong in a ghost story. I can't recommend that you watch this movie, there is so many other ghost stories out there that are more effective and better made. Ah well....

This movie, in my book, built up a really strong case in the beginning for a good movie, that I ended up giving it 3 out of 5 stars. Maybe if you just turn it off after the first part of the second act? That way you get all of the good stuff and none of the bad. That's kind of the way it is with a lot of movies being made out there today. It's like the folks in the film industry come up with an idea and then build a movie around it, but leave the script writing to some third grader in order to save costs. So what starts off really strong with that initial idea that got the movie greenlighted in the first place, ends up being ruined by whoever gets their hands on it after the fact. At some point, the audience will rise up and retake control of the industry. It's already started with the rise of cheap, good quality cameras and the internet. So either the movie making machine in Hollywood will listen to the demands of the public or the public will continue to grow it's own Hollywood system and everything will go the way that music is already headed. Either way, the audience will eventually be the winners and I'll have a lot tougher time deciding which movies are the good ones, as they'll all be high quality. That's all I have to say about that.

If you like this, check out: '[REC]', 'To Let aka Para entrar a vivir' and '[REC]2'

(This is the trailer for the '6 Films To Keep You Awake' series, of which.... 'The Baby's Room aka La habitación del niño' is a part of.)

a possible project.... possibly.

I've been thinking about this idea for a long time. I've mentioned it previously in other posts and in some ways, it's always existed.... but in reality, it's just something that I add and remove from but never really have set in stone. What I'm referring to is my imaginary list of the 'Top 50 Films Of All Time'. This list lies somewhere between my 'Top 100 Films Of All Time', 'Top 10 Films Of All Time' and my 'Worst Movies Of All Time'. It's something that is alive and well. It lives and breathes inside my brain, but has never manifested itself for anyone else to see other than myself. I am kind of wondering if it even exists at all or if it should just remain a file hidden in the back of my brain. What do you think? Do you have a similar list? Who's made it onto your collection of films? What are the qualifications of this honor? I wonder these things every time I bring this concept up.

First of all, these would all be films and not movies. Second, they don't have to be something that has re-watchablitiy built into them.... they just have to have made an impression, changed you in some way or proved to be living art on the screen. I'm debating if re-watchability should be included as part of the cirteria, because there are movies that I can watch over and over again.... but I'm not 100% sure that they're films. Does that make them any less worthy of being on this list? I think that this is something that needs to be decided before I start this journey. Or perhaps they're just one in the same thing? I don't know. Maybe this is all just a futile attempt at stroking my own ego or to increase my feeling of film geekiness. Does anyone really care other than me? That's where you all come into play.

What are your thoughts? Would you have any interest in me putting this together? If so, I would love to take the time to do it. It's something I've been meaning to do for a long time. It's just something that has overwhelmed me a bit. I'm a really indecisive guy and I can't imagine all the hemming and hawing that will ensue if I start down this path. I'm sure it's gonna be epic. In the end, I think it's going to produce something that even I'll find surprising. I just don't know if it's anything of any real merit or if I should just stick to posting my thoughts about stuff I see and leave the past in the past. Ya dig?

If you'd like to weigh in on this or would like to submit your own lists to be added to this project (if it happens), post a comment here with your thoughts and if I move forward.... I'll ask you to submit your own lists for everyone else to view. You'll be able to send them to a personal email address to be compiled for the future post. I hope that I'll have the chance to take on this project, I think it'll be fun. It might also shed a bit of light on why I rate things the way I do. Give you some unrequested history lessons on Joel's cinematic backstory. Anyway.... enough of this babbling and carrying on, let's get back to the movie reviews, right? Thanks in advance for sticking it out with me all this time and here's to hoping for a long time together in the future.

(this movie is NOT in my 'Top 50 Films Of All Time' list....)

UPDATE: I went ahead and decided to move forward on this. First issue is trying to decide how to post the 50 films. I think that I would post them in 5 or 10 film sections. That way I could include a DVD cover or still from the film and perhaps the trailer? Second and bigger problem, I started to compile the list.... so far, I have 168 films. That will take a bit of work to shrink it down to only 50. Also, I was wondering if I should include animated films and horror films? Should I break down each list by genre? Or is this supposed to be one all encompasing list of any and all genre's? Thanks for the feedback so far.... it is a work in progress and I'm thinking it'll be interesting once I'm done.

I WON AN AWARD....! i'm not sure i deserve it....

I just found out earlier in the week that I was given an award for my blog. I knew people were reading it on occasion and I get feedback here and there about the posts I put up, but I wouldn't think of it deserving any high praise. Leave it to my co-blogger DocStout, to take the time and effort to award me with The Liebster Award!

He was given the same honor and was asked to pass it along to a few other fellow bloggers that he felt deserved it. Thank you to DocStout for bestowing this on me, it validates all the time and energy put into this little film site. If you'd like to read about his award and the blurb about this site, you can check it out here: http://gettingmyheadonstraight.blogspot.com/2011/04/bonus-post-wednesday-many-thanks.html
I've also recommended that you read his blog, it's a great site and he's a good guy with a lot of stuff to say. If you're a geek and love to let your geek flag fly, he's a great guy to lead the charge and I'm proud to say that I'm a memeber of that community too. Thanks again and look for more posts coming soon!

my thoughts on.... 'Machete' (2010)

It's been awhile since I posted a review, but things have been hectic with school and I've been sick.... possibly more on that in another post. That being said, I continue my 'Grindhouse' film festival with the Robert Rodriguez opus 'Machete'. I think this is the first starring vehicle for Danny Trejo and after watching 'Machete', I can see why he doesn't generally carry a film all by himself. It's not that he's bad in it or un-charasmatic, it's just that he's more of a character actor than a leading man. (sorry Danny.... don't hurt me.) [Side note: If you want to see one of my favorite roles for Danny Trejo, check out his portrayal of the young Michael Myers caretaker in Rob Zombie's 'Halloween'. He is spot on perfect in that role.] He does, however, sell the character of a former federale that has been forced into a situation he doesn't want to be in. He may not be the tallest guy in the world, but what he lacks in size.... he makes up for in attitude. He is such a menacing presance when he wants to be. He is a guy you wouldn't want to meet in a dark ally, especially if he's packing some sort of a weapon. What was a bit of a shame was that the rest of the cast just wasn't as strong as Danny was. Especially Jessica Alba, Steven Seagal and Lindsay Lohan, they were just so dull and uninspired. I don't understand their appeal and no matter how much I tried, they just kept drawing focus away from the movie and not in a good way. On the flip side of that, Don Johnson, Jeff Fahey and Cheech Marin stole the show. I only wish that Cheech couldn've done more double shotgun wielding action throughout the flick, he was pretty badass.

The plot of this shakes out pretty much like the 'faux' trailer from the original 'Grindhouse' film. Robert Rodriguez actually used the original footage to tie it all togther and then, of course, added a whole lot of new stuff. I'd say that he got about 90% of the original actors from the trailer to make the final film. Anyway, Danny plays a man nicknamed 'Machete'. He's a former federale from Mexico who's life was destroyed by a very overweight and akward Steven Seagal. Fast-forward a few years and we find that America is at war with the illegals pouring over the border from Mexico. We establish several characters that will tie in directly with Machete's primary plot. We have Jessica Alba's Mexican girl gone illegal alien hunter. Michelle Rodriguez's taco stand vendor/illegal alien warrior. Don Johnson's over the top border patrol agent gone bad. And of course, Danny's relative and priest Cheech Marin. Danny is hired by Jeff Fahey to kill Robert DeNiro's politician character, but is double crossed. He becomes a man hunted, but he vows to get back at those who wronged him. The rest of the film is an all out, over the top action flick for those who love their films big and silly.

The thing that I love and hate about Robert Rodriguez movies are the fact that he pumps them out so quickly and with such reckless abandon. He does it in such a way that he doesn't have time to second guess if his ideas are original and fun or over the top and stupid. That is left up to the viewer to decide in the end. I know that he's capable of amazing things, we've all seen the 'El Mariaci' trilogy or 'Sin City' right? He has skills. He just gets so wrapped up in trying to make every single idea that he has into a movie that he loses sight of quality vs. quantity. I think he needs to learn that sometimes less is more. Take his movie 'Sharkboy and Lava Girl in 3D', this was a movie that was literally written because of a dream that his kid had. He made an entire movie based on the imagination of a child, no filter. I think this is charming and sweet and could have been something pretty keen, but instead.... he just spit it out at top speed and ended up with a big turd of a movie. A really big turd.

All in all, I think 'Machete' suffered a bit of Rodriguez-itis. It was put out as an after thought to a one off faux trailer that people loved and he felt obligated to make the full feature. With a bit more time, I think he could have tweaked this to be legendary. I still feel it deserves 4 out of 5 stars for it's ridiculous campiness and bloody action. I think he also deserves a lot of credit for calling in a bunch of favors to get a pretty big cast of stars. I also want to thank him for giving a character actor the chance to shine in a leading role and he couldn't have picked a nicer guy to give that chance. Who doesn't love Danny Trejo? So if you're bored and want to check out on real life for an hour and a half, this is THE film to watch. If you're looking for a film with minimal death's caused by lowrider's and fat Steven Seagal portrayal's of Mexican bad guys, than you should probably stay away from 'Machete'. Now let's see if Robert sticks with his promise at the end of this to make 'Machete Kills' and 'Machete Kills Again'. If I know him like I think I know him, he's already dreaming up the storylines and will have them both out before the end of 2013.

If you like this, check out: 'Planet Terror', 'Death Proof' and 'Hobo With A Shotgun'

my thoughts on.... 'To Let aka Para entrar a vivir'

For those of you who read my blog on a regular basis, you'll know that I've been on again, off again with Spanish horror films. Primarily those of Jaume Balagueró. 'To Let aka Para entrar a vivir' is a shorter than average length film from Jaume and is a part of the '6 Films To Keep You Awaker' series. Just because it isn't a full feature length film, doesn't make it any less worthwhile than any of his other films. I came into this with an open mind and was very pleasantly surprised when it was over. Granted, it's not going to be on anyone's top 10 list of all time great horror films, but it has a whole hell of a lot going for it. The story itself is not 100% original, the direction is good, but not fantastic.... what really sells this film is the cinematography of Pablo Rosso. He films his scenes like he was painting on a canvas. It was a beautiful thing to watch each individual frame. I can honestly say that I've never had any film capture the feeling I get watching a rainstorm, but he did it. The sequences that are filmed outside are amazingly well done. You feel like you could get wet if you got too close to the screen. I could've just watched the scenes involving the rain and been perfectly happy, but when you throw in all of the insanity of the storyline behind the rain.... you've got a film worth watching. It's fairly simple, it ends without question of what happened and you become attached to the characters. All good earmarks.

Our story begins with a young couple who are expecting their first child, but want to find a new place to live before the baby is born. They receive an ad in the paper for an apartment that sounds too good to be true. Despite some hesitations, they drive out in the middle of a rainstorm to check it out. As they get closer and closer to the apartment complex, the cityscape begins to become more and more rough. They are obviously headed into the wrong side of town. Even with all of the factors pointing them away from the apartment, they ignore the signs and enter the building. The landlady seems kind enough and the apartment is not too shabby, but they eventually make up their mind to walk away.... the landlady has other ideas. She beats the man in the head and the woman begins to try and make her escape. It's revealed to us at this time that she's got two other apartments filled with other people that were not allowed to leave. From this point on, it's a fight for their lives to try and escape this potential prison. Can they survive?

After several earlier failed attempts at earlier films, Jaume Balagueró seemed to finally hit his stride. After making this, he went on to make '[REC]' and [REC]2', both of which are amazing horror films. Perhaps 'To Let' was a small enough production that it gave him the freedom he needed to find his voice. For example, he comtinues his use of the 'shaky cam' technique that other people have used since.... like Rob Zombie. What the 'shaky cam' technique involves is the camera to be shaken during scenes of extremely intense situations. For example, if our heroes are trying to break into a room to save someone, you'll find that the camera begins to shake furiously. It sounds jarring, and it is, but it is a spot on way to get a physical reaction out of somthing that may not have otherwise caused any reaction at all. Jaume Balagueró uses it quite well here and really well in both '[REC]' films. Rob Zombie used it primarily in his re-imaging of 'Halloween' during the final stand off between Laurie Strode and Michael Myers.

As I stated at the beginning of this review, this film is not groundbreaking. The story comes off feeling like something we've all seen before at one point or another in our lives. That's my only complaint. I think that's why I ended up only giving it a 3 out of 5 star rating. However, I don't know what else they could have done to make it anymore original. I've heard some people complain that this film was too short.... I tend to disagree. If it would have been too much longer, it would have lost its simplistic charms. Not too mantion that I'm not entirely sure that they could have carried out an entire feature with just this premise. If you're still interested in seeing it after all of that, pop it in your Netfilx OnDemand queue and get back to me when you're done. I'll wait.

Other great Spanish horror: '[REC], '[REC]2' and this.

(This is the trailer for the '6 Films To Keep You Awake' series, of which.... 'To Let aka Para entrar a vivir' is a part of.)

my thoughts on.... 'Tangled'

It's not very often that I review kids movies on this blog, but I'm always trying to keep things from just being about horror. Nobody wants to be stagnant and I do watch other things besides horror, it just happens to be my favorite genre. However, yesterday besides seeing 'Hobo With A Shotgun' I aslo saw the Disney movie 'Tangled. I think all of us grew up watching Disney. Whether it was a Mickey Mouse cartoon or a full length feature film, he's left a mark on all of our collective minds. They're part of the fabric of our lives. There was a long stretch of time where Disney was cranking out less than stellar material, but then Pixar came along and stepped up the game. Soon they became a part of Disney and not only did the quality of Disney increase because of Pixar, but they also stepped up their own output of films. Since that time, there have been several examples of the higher quality product that they've decided to put out. 'Tangled', I'm proud to say, has carried on the tradition of old school Disney.... but with the new twist of being computer animated. It's the first time that they've produced a film that takes me back to my childhood without being hand drawn by animators. It was such a refreshing change of pace. It just proved that it can be done. This film had the life lessons, the GIANT musical numbers, the saddness, the joy and of course.... the princess. This is a film that the entire family can enjoy without guilt or regret. Sure it's sappy and sweet, but it's also funny and very smart. Sure it has the typical characters and themes, but it still feels as fresh as 'Beauty and the Beast' did when it first came out. This is a Disney classic already.

These days, it's an expectation that you have several big name stars in your cartoons in order to draw in a larger crowd and to give the film some respect. 'Tangled' has its stars, but they aren't big enough to over power the film itself. Mandy Moore plays Rapunzel and does a wonderful job of capturing her innocence and experience. Zachary Levi plays Flynn, the come-lately hero who has a good heart deep down somewhere. Ron Perlman, Brad Garrett and others round out the cast. There isn't one missed step with the people playing these roles. I never doubted who they were for one second, nor was I distracted by who they were behind the animation. This film also seemed to not be afraid of the GIANT musical numbers complete with melodrama and cheesy goodness. They're un-apologetic about it, as well they should be. This wouldn't have been film that it was without them. This film has not one, but two animal companions that offer comic relief throughout the film. I don't know when it became an expectation to have the comic animal sidekicks, but you can't have a kids movie these days without them. I didn't hate them in this film. Plain and simple. Another cliche that is in this film is the unhappy, happy ending. Some pretty horrific things happen here, but it all works out in the end and in a way it really reminded me of 'The Little Mermaid'. If I had one complaint about this film, it would be the fact that Rapunzel's hair isn't consistant.... but with that much hair, it's kind of hard to keep track of it for the whole film. Overall, that's a pretty minor complaint.

I think we're all pretty familiar with the story of Rapunzel, but for those who aren't.... here's the 'Tangled' version.

The king and queen of a little kingdom are expecting a child. The only problem is that the queen is very ill and the king sends out his best people to find a flower that has the power to cure her. The flower, however, is being guarded by a wicked woman who keeps it to herself to keep herself young and beautiful. The king's men end up finding it by accident and take it back to the king. He gives it to his bride and she is instantly healed. The baby, Rapunzel, is born healthy and happy and with beautiful blond hair that posseses the same power as the flower did. The evil woman tries to take a lock of Rapunzel's hair, but finds out that once it's been cut it no longer has its power anymore. She also discovers that once it's been cut, it will never grow back on Rapunzel's head. So she takes the baby and hides her away in a tower that is a secret to the world. Every year after that, the king and queen send up lighted lanterns with the hope that Rapunzel will find her way back home to them. Flash forward 17 years later, Rapunzel is about to turn 18 and all she wants is to go to the kingdom to see the lanterns. The evil woman will not let her leave. Meanwhile, Flynn steals the crown from the king and queen and ends up being chased into the tower where Rapunzel is. They strike up an uneasy bargin where if he takes her to see the laterns, she'll give the crown back to him. So begins out little adventure.....

If you like your animated films with a touch of the old school charm, then this is the one film you should see this year.... for sure. Pixar films are wonderful and have a charm all their own, but this is pure Disney through and through. I cannot say enough good things about 'Tangled' and I am proud to say that it's already apart of our DVD library. It also has jumped up my list of my all time favorite Disney films, only outshined by 'Aladdin'. I can only hope that this marks a change back to the older ways of making films for Disney. I'm not expecting them to make everything on this scale, but I hope that they at least put one out like this every once in a while. I don't think that's asking too much, is it? This was a no-brainer at 4 out of 5 stars. I am really tempted to push it to the full 5 out of 5 stars, but I think it may take a little more time to possibly earn that rating. This film is highly recommended to you or you and your family. It has something for everyone and will make you feel like a kid again, even if you're middle aged like me. Let's just hope that the fine folks over at Disney animation studios don't go and ruin this picture perfect film by whoring it out for sequels. I know that it's probably going to happen regardless of what I think, but it would be nice for just once to not soil something so pure in the pursuit of the almighty dollar. I don't think I'm alone on this one.... I really don't. I don't think I could handle 'Tangled 3: Rapunzel's European Vaction'.

If you like this, check out the other Disney classics: 'Aladdin', 'The Little Mermaid' and 'Beauty and the Beast'

my thoughts on.... 'Hobo With A Shotgun'

4 years and 3 days ago, a film was released that proved to be one of the best movie going experiences that I've ever had. The film was 'Grindhouse'. It was a fun ride that lasted several hours and the entire audience was involved, not something that is seen too often these days. One of the fun little side effects of that film was the 'faux' trailers that were at the beginning and middle of the films. Robert Rodriguez's trailer for 'Machete' has already been made into a full length movie and released to some pretty good reviews. One of the other trailers was a fan-made one that only played in certain cities.... it was called 'Hobo With A Shotgun'.

It was a sweet little piece of heaven written and directed by a gentleman named, Jason Eisener. Due to the reception of this 2 minute opus, Mr. Eisener was given the greenlight to make a full length version. I had the pleasure of seeing it last night and I have to say, I loved it! I can't think of the last time I saw a Rutger Hauer movie that I enjoyed. I also wasn't sure that this concept could carry a full one and a half hours and still be worthwhile.... I was wrong.

Today it seems like studios are cranking out remakes and reboots and very little original material. And when it is original, it's not always 'original' if you know what I mean? That's what made 'Hobo With A Shotgun' so damn fun! Not only was it original, but it was truly an original concept and one that was so incredibly simple that it was genius. It just proves the point that there are new ideas still out there in Hollywood and you don't have to create the next 'Star Wars' saga to make a good piece of cinema. What I mean is that this is a film, literally, about a hobo with a shotgun. No more, no less. You don't have to find a deeper meaning, although I think there is one here.... you can just sit back, eat some popcorn, root for the vigilante and check your brain at the door. You get as much or as little out of this film as you want. It's not begging for your approval, it just is what it is. It's chock full of blood, guts, gore, violence, comedy, one-liners, 70's style cheese, pretty ladies, nasty villans, gritty cinematography, big guns and a hero for the new age. I may be heaping way too much praise on something so basic, but I had so much fun watching this from the get-go that I can't help but want to pass the joy along to anyone else who'll listen. This film is an example of why I love film and why I love to write about film.

The plot? Read on....

An unamed hobo wanders into town on a railroad car. What he finds is a town in ruins. The law is currupt, criminals are everywhere, money is scarce, people are willing to do anything for a dollar and there is little to no hope of a future. The few people that still have a good heart are forced to do terrible things or are so afraid of the bad guys that they have to hide. Despite all of this depression and gloom, our hero only wants to get enough money to buy a lawnmower and make a decent living cutting peoples grass. After he wittnesses one too many violent crimes, he decides that he's had enough and he has to step in. So while being held up at a pawn shop, he takes down a shotgun off the wall (that he eventually pays for) and proceeds to blow away the three criminals that are robbing the place. From this point forward, he's out to clean up the town one shell at a time. Along the bloody path towards redemption, he meets a good hearted prostitute and she befriends him. Meanwhile, the head villan turns the entire town against him by having them all go out to kill the hobo.... not just the one hobo, but all the hobo's, just in case. Things go from bad to worse as two hired killers get involved and things turn into a bloody battle for justice. What happens in the end? You'll have to find out for yourself! Watch, 'Hobo With A Shotgun'.... Rated R.

If you decided to delve into this film, think 'Mad Max' meets 'Death Wish'. Rutger Hauer turns up the intensity factor in this film.... all the way to 11. As a matter of fact, this entire film is at an 11, the whole time. It starts out with a 5 minute intro that lulls you into a comfortable place, but then all hell breaks loose and it doesn't let up for another hour and a half. I felt exhausted by the time it ended, but in a 'cigarette after sex' kind of way. Something that you may be thinking by the simple plot is that this can't have a good script, you would be wrong. I don't know how Jason was able to pull something so smart out of something so basic, but he does. I also figured that the acting would be sub-par since this is a kind of throwback to a simple time, I was wrong there too. Everyone in this film turns in a quality performance. It's as good as anything that you'll see in a "serious" film. This might just mark the return of Rutger Hauer and the rise of Molly Dunsworth. I can only hope that the critical reviews of this film are as glowing as mine, however I kind of doubt that everyone will see this the way I did. Hell, maybe you won't even agree with me about this. I just hope that if you do watch this little gem, please have an open mind and a clear head.... that's all I ask. Also, make sure you have a strong stomach, this has some VERY graphic content. Lots of blood and things being broken or ripped off of bodies. That's about all I have to say, I guess. Let me just sum this review up by saying that I give this a rare 5 out of 5 star rating. It deserves nothing less than that and I cannot wait to see what Jason Eisener has coming out next. That and I want to see where this takes Rutger Hauer. Even if neither of them do anything else for the rest of their lives after 'Hobo With A Shotgun', this film will stand as a testament to all that is right with filmaking and all that is wrong with the world.

Since there are no other films that I want to relate to this, I'll leave you with the classic speech from this film:
Hobo: [to a group of newborn babies] "I used to be like you. A long time ago. All brand new and perfect. No mistakes, no regrets. People look at you and think of how wonderful your future will be. They want you to be something special, like a doctor, or a lawyer. I hate to tell you this, but if you grow up here, you're more likely to wind up selling your bodies on the streets, or shooting dope from dirty needles in a bus stop. And if you're successful, you'll make money selling junk to crackheads. And don't think twice about killing someone's wife, because you won't even know it's wrong in the first place. Maybe... you'll end up like me. A hobo with a shotgun."

Side note: This film has officially been added to my list as one of my top 50 films of all time. Nuff' said.

my thoughts on.... 'In My Skin aka Dans Ma Peau'

This film is in French, despite the trailer included below. FYI.

'In My Skin aka Dans Ma Peau' is a disturbing trip through one woman's mental collapse and obsession with herself. This film is written, directed and starred in by Marina de Van. I had never heard of her before this, but I know want to pursue her other films. She has a unique quality to her that is both untouchable and very approachable. I can't quite put my finger on it, but she commnands your attention when she's on the screen. Not too mention that she is a very good director, actress and writer. My only complaint about this film was that the ending was a bit ambiguous and lacked closure. If she could have tightened it up a bit, I would be saying that this would be a part of my library some day.... as it stands now, only time will tell. As mentioned above, this is a French film. (You are all aware of my feelings on the French cinema, if you've read my blog before.) The reason this film even showed up on my radar was because of the outstanding reviews I've been reading for a while now. It was listed on several lists including the most disturbing films of recent and the best "horror" films of recent. I think it qualifies on both lists, but not in a traditional sense. What Marina has created here is something beyond horror and beyond a thriller or drama. It's mostly what I would call, a psychological horror. What's disturbing and horrifying about this is not so much what's happening due to outside factors, but what's inside. Her mind is the villan and she is a willing victim. I think that's why it was such a refreshing chance of pace from the usual fare that's out there right now. Thank god for people like Marina who are willing to take risks on screen.

The story here involves a woman who seems to have her life together. She has a good job and is looking at a promotion, she has a good boyfriend and they're relationship is growing and she knows who she is. While at a party with a friend, she wanders off outside and stumbles onto some rubble in the yard. She is injured, but doesn't know to what extent until she realizes she's bleeding all over the house. She quickly heads off to a restroom and finds out she's suffered a rather serious gash to her calf muscles. She hides it and goes to the ER after the party. The doctor finds it odd that she wouldn't have noticed it sooner and that it only hurt several hours after the fact. He fixes her up and she's on her way. Over the next several days something strange starts to happen.... she begins to fixate on the wound. This fascination grows and grows until soon she's cutting herself in other places and re-opening the original wound. Things get worse and soon she's suckling her own blood and eventually eating her own flesh. Each time she does these things to herself, she is almost in a stupor. It's like she's sleeping and doesn't realize what she's done until afterwards. Everything in her life begins to crumble. Until a horrific climax and the semi-unsatisfying ending.

I feel like I've already said about as much as I can about this film. I recommend you check out the trailer below, but it's in English. They avoided any speaking parts from the film and just overdubbed the background voice in English. The film is available to rent from Netflix, but I'm not sure how available it is elsewhere. If you like to take risks with your film going experiences, then I would recommend this film without hesitation. If you like your films safe, easy to comprehend and without those 'icky' moments.... this is NOT the film for you. This is what Andrew Zimmern would call, "The deep end of the pool." I look forward to whatever Marina de Van has to share with us in the future. I think she has the potential to push the barriers of our fears and to delve in the mind in a unique way.

A 4 out of 5 star attempt from our friend across the pond. A frightening journey to take, but one that's worth the effort. I can only wonder if there is anyone out there in the world who's ever ended up in the position she ended up in within the film. What a dark place to live. Afraid of being alone with yourself, unsure of what you're capable of and unsure how far things will go before you either injure yourself beyond repair or injure someone else. My only suggestion to you before watching this is to make sure you're not eating anything that falls into the 'rare' category. Stick with things that are well-done.

If you like this, watch other psychological based horror: 'Spiral', 'The Silence of the Lambs' and 'High Tension aka Haute Tension'

DocStout's brief thoughts on.... 'Scott Pilgrim vs. the World' (2010)

Hello, everyone. Doc here, doing a fill-in guest post for Joel here on “A Momentary Lapse.” I'm taking a break from writing about nerdy, geeky things at my own blog, “What's Next – The Unemployed Geek” to write about a nerdy, geeky movie here.

I wanted to see this movie nearly as soon as I heard about it, even though I was initially unfamiliar with the graphic novel it is based on. Entertainment based on comics and graphic novels has kind of a checkered past. A filmmaker has to balance a lot of elements, as comic fans basically want to see their beloved properties replicated exactly on the screen, the average person watching a movie wants to see something not too far out of their comfort zone, and a filmmaker wants to successfully translate something from one medium to another while putting their own creativity into the project. This delicate juggling act has been attempted many times before, with varying degrees of success.

Successful Adaptation.

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World falls cleanly on the side of “pleasing fans of the comic”, which, to declare my own personal bias, is where I like these things to land. The story follows the life of the geeky guy who never really got over his last ex, plays in a band and complicates his life by dating a “fake asian high school girlfriend” until he meets the woman of his dreams (literally.) After awkwardly wooing her (as any character played by Michael Cera tends to do,) he discovers a bit about her past. Namely, she has 7 evil exes, who he'll have to fight to the death in order to be with her.

...not so much.

A lot of people will initially see a few of the stylistic elements in this movie and make up their minds about it really quickly. There are frequently elements on-screen of things normally only seen in comics or video games that are a part of the reality in this world, and people either buy into those things and grin, or think 'that was stupid' and move on. Personally, when I see comic book “action effects” hanging in the air, or 8-bit Nintendo-style RPG graphics appear to illustrate a concept, I think it is awesome. The characters are into the things that make their presence known in this world, and it gives the setting a distinct “feel” to it.

The fight scenes are awesome, and the casting for most of the roles, even the fairly minor characters feels spot-on, with the only minor doubts coming from the casting and performance of the lead. Michael Cera plays Scott Pilgrim like... well, virtually any other Michael Cera role, and we only know that he is a womanizer with awesome talents because the script and dialogue tells us so. His performance isn't distracting enough to diminish the movie, and there are some scenes with him that are pure gold. (I particularly liked a moment when Scott is asked if he can see a future with Ramona, and he asks confusedly and with apt comic timing... “Like... with jetpacks?”)

This is an example of how faithful to the comic certain parts are.

The pacing of the movie itself has some bumps and bruises along the way, but I don't think it really ever slows down enough where I felt bored, even for a moment, or is so fast that I can't believe in the progression of character development (think Dune). This is a film I can (and have) watch(ed) multiple times, and can appreciate some of the clever bits better the second time through.

This is definitely not for everyone, but if you are a fan of anime, comics, 8-bit videogames and are not immediately turned away by “quirky Michael Cera love story,” it is likely the movie for you. My rating puts it at 4 out of 5 stars, only deducting a star for the feeling that the lead could maybe have been better cast.

One last note, thanks to Joel for lending me his soapbox to stand on and yell for a few, and in case you missed it, here is a link here to his guest spot on my own blog, What's Next – The Unemployed Geek.

my very brief thoughts on.... 'Darkness' (2002)

I don't know that I have that much to say about this movie. I had high hopes as it was written and directed by Jaume Balagueró who also made '[REC]' and '[REC]2'. This movie was NO WHERE close to either or those movies. It wasn't even close to the short movie he made called, 'To Let aka Para entrar a vivir'. Perhaps once he went back to make movies in Spanish and stopped working for the American movie houses, he had the freedom to make things the way he wanted. Granted, 'Darkness' isn't without some glimmers of hope. The shaky cam that he uses in 'To Let aka Para entrar a vivir' are present in this early movie. It's not used as effectively, but it still creates an uneasy feeling and dread. I guess this was just an artist sharpening his skills. I only wish I could have avoided spending 1 and a half hours of my life to come to that conclusion. Well, you live and you learn.

The plot is somewhat along the lines of a house is built, 7 kids have to be killed by people they love during an eclipse to release the darkness. One of the kids escapes, a family moves into the home, weird stuff starts happening and then things get crazy and it ends. Don't bother watching this. Watch his later movies instead. I think he's got some really great stuff yet to come. Perhaps he'll bring the Spanish horror cinema to the level of the French. Either way, I'm going to keep watching the progression and have fun for the whole ride.

I gave this 1 out of 5 stars. The 1 star is for the shaky cam, that's it. I guess now I have to finish watching more of his movies to see if maybe some of the other ones will be better than this. *sigh*

If you like this, you might want to take your meds.... you may have missed your morning doses.