This February has been a month of getting geared up for things. University is back into play here in Australia, and I hate it as much as I ever have, but it's also the first time in over a year where I've set myself a full-time schedule there. Getting this degree done and just moving on with my life to create and achieve bigger and better things is a goal. There's this oddness of been feeling, and I can't describe any other way than that I feel like I'm getting on track on a road that doesn't seem to have any clear goal.
Without carrying on with something needlessly dramatic or existential, I'll get into the movies. 29 days for February and 29 movies. Additionally, I finished two seasons of a TV show and started a new season for another show, though I won't be discussing that here.
1. The Slumber Party Massacre (1982) – 8/10
A schoolgirl left alone for the night by her parents
arranges a slumber party with her best friends, only to end up being stalked by
an escaped murderer with a love for power tools. This is a great 80s slasher movie.
While it lacks many important qualities in the making of a genuinely great
horror film, it knows exactly why people go to see these kinds of movies. It
doesn’t waste time and just gets to the bloodbath as soon as it can. Though
some stronger build-up and imagination for its villain would certainly help,
it’s nevertheless a very fast and fun ride.
2. Jerry Maguire (1996) – 8/10
A sports agent publishes a mission statement regarding
his view on life in the industry he works in and is disgraced by his superiors
only to put his new philosophy on the business into practice with the help of a
select few who choose to follow him. Mixing a theme of personal independence
and professional integrity with Hollywood norms. “Jerry Maguire” does
occasionally step into standard clichés, but when it does do something
original, it does it very well. Tom Cruise is fantastic in a very first-person
role and is complimented by Renee Zellweger and Cuba Gooding Jr’s support.
3. Ilsa: She Wolf Of The SS (1975) – 7.5/10
A Nazi concentration camp specializing in medical science
is operated by Ilsa. She is a sadistic warden feared by prisoners and other
German officials alike. While she conducts experiments to determine if women
are suitable for the war, her attraction to an inmate blinds her to a revolt.
This is the way I introduced myself to the Nazisploitation genre, with what
many consider the key example. Its violence is disturbingly over-the-top and
merged with sexuality that’s barely restricted. Though its characters are
fictional, this exploitation movie paints a vivid image of real Nazi
atrocities.
4. The Tunnel (2001) – 9/10
A champion swimmer in East Berlin defects to the West and
arranges to dig a tunnel under the Wall as it goes under construction to get
his family out whilst avoiding the suspicious Stasi. “The Tunnel” is by far one
of the best Cold War dramas I’ve ever seen, and certainly among my new
favourite movies to come out of Europe. Aside
from boasting strong character-focused drama and incredibly intense scenes in
the third act, the contrasts of the different systems in East and West Germany
are both evident and paint a better picture than any history book. Amazing that
this modern cinematic achievement was made for TV only.
5. Clueless (1995) – 7/10
A rich high school girl uses her popularity to boost the
status of a new pupil at the expense of appearing superficial and not pursuing
the relations with others that she wants. As a fan of teen films, I do
recognize that the genre has a tendency to be very polarized. “Clueless” is
noticeably flawed, but not without enjoyment. Alicia Silverstone’s performance
in the first-person role of Cher highlights a flawed personality that’s very
indicative of the ways of thinking of teenagers. The film does go on tangents
however with results that can be underwhelming, and the real story is realized
too little too late.
6. Come And See (1985) – 8.5/10
In 1943, a Belarusian farmboy digs up an old hunting
rifle and is conscripted into the Red Army to fight off the invading German
forces, and in doing so loses his sanity and innocence. “Come And See” is
anything but the war movie you’d expect. It’s neither a big budget
Hollywood-style epic with grand battles, nor a propaganda film aimed at
glorifying the heroism of the Soviet army. It’s an uncompromisingly grim film
that shows the horrors of war from the POV of a child and its effect on his
psyche. Elem Klimov’s direction perfectly juxtaposes beautiful cinematography
and nightmarish images of the Wehrmacht’s cruelty. Potentially the best Soviet
movie I’ve ever seen.
7. Jack Frost (1998) – 6.5/10
A musician father with difficulty keeping promises to his
family is killed in a car accident, only to be reincarnated a year later as a
snowman to make things right with his son before he’s gone forever. This seems
to have divided audiences. On one side, you have those viewing it as a
heart-warming family film while the other side sees it as incredibly misguided.
Its sentimentality is on the rare moment quite effective, but often gets
sidetracked by irrelevant humour brought about by a premise that isn’t always
taken seriously.
8. Earth vs The Flying Saucers (1956) – 7/10
A race of aliens piloting flying saucers contact a
researcher on Earth to announce their plans for an invasion, which gives
humanity time to prepare itself for defence. Those hoping this 1950s alien
invasion flick to depict a mass attack on the likes of Paris, London and Moscow
will be greatly disappointed when it seems these extra-terrestrials confine
their attacks. Numerous images of UFOs destroying iconic landmarks of
Washington, D.C. is thrilling and points out this movie as an obvious precursor
to “Independence Day”. A few concepts are very engaging and show the potential
for further exploration, but the quality of the film is undermined by a very
forgettable cast of characters.
9. Hotel Transylvania (2012) – 8/10
Count Dracula runs a castle resort where monsters can
holiday safely away from the human world. After his teenaged daughter falls in
love with a human in disguise, he does what he can to keep her under his thumb
and out of the influence of the outside world. “Hotel Transylvania” may get
unfair criticisms on ground of it being a horror-themed family film and just
simply for having Adam Sandler as its lead (and he is great in his
Lugosi-inspired voice performance). What it does brilliant however is poke fun
at the Universal horror films of the past and offer a sentimental spin on the
Dracula tale while still keeping to its overall roots. Some musical and
stylistic choices do make it seem as though it’s drifting away from its classical
influences at times.
10. The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014) – 7.5/10
As Peter Parker struggles to balance his life as
Spider-Man alongside his romance with Gwen, he finds himself having to engage a
new villain known as Electro. At the same time, Oscorp is stepping into
treacherous territory as Harry Osborn becomes CEO. The follow-up to the
fantastic reboot of Spider-Man pales in comparison to its predecessor, but in
its own right does exceed in many ways. The B story of Harry Osborn’s
associations with the Oscorp corporation is certainly an interesting change of
direction for these movies. Jamie Foxx’s performance as Electro is likably
cartoonish, and the relationship between Peter and Gwen is approached maturely
(where the earlier trilogy seems to turn it into a repetitive tease).
11. Pocahontas (1995) – 7.5/10
The free-spirited daughter of a Native American chief
finds herself falling for a white colonist during the British invasion of 17th
century Virginia. “Pocahontas” often gets rated at the bottom of the barrel of
the Disney Renaissance, but in that regard it’s comparable to the weakest track
on a masterpiece album. It’s a solid historical musical that educates young
audiences on the issues of racism, and paints a simplistic, yet important picture
of imperialism’s impact on indigenous populations across the world. Though the
title character is very relatable due to her stance, all secondaries are very
flat and forgettable.
12. October: Ten Days That Shook the World (1928) – 6/10
Following the abdication of Czar Nicholas II, the
Provisional government does nothing to appease the working class of Russia,
leading to a proletariat revolt led by the revolutionary Bolshevik party. The
cut I saw seems to be the strongest in that it gets its point across in the
least amount of time and contains enough material glorifying the old Bolsheviks
before the Stalinist machine unleased its censorship on all art. The lack of
central characters and the montage approach do really limit emotional
investment, but it’s nevertheless a great recollection of these historical
events. Inferior to Eisenstein’s “Battleship Potemkin”, but still enjoyable.
13. Say Anything… (1989) – 7.5/10
Following their high school graduation, an underachiever
has a romance with a girl before she leaves the country to study in England.
Remembered positively as one of the all-time great Generation X teen films,
“Say Anything…” is a delightful teen film with an adult touch. The
light-heartedness is regularly served with a side of serious drama over rites
of passage and the troubles that come with the post-high school life. John
Cusack is incredibly likable due to his character’s free-spirited nature and
general rejection of what others feel is the ‘ideal’ way to making something of
yourself.
14. Gattaca (1997) – 8/10
In a future society when status is determined by biology,
a genetically-restrained man assumes the identity of another to enter a program
and live his dream of space travel. A well-remembered science-fiction film of
the 1990s, “Gattaca” is dramatic, thrilling and creative. The able main
character, Vincent, is very identifiable and draws your empathy thanks to his
huge aspirations and the stakes raised against him. The science of genetics is
a compelling subject focus and performances by Ethan Hawke, Uma Thurman and
Jude Law are strong. All positive things said, I did find the romance to be
somewhat half-baked.
15. 2010: The Year We Make Contact (1984) – 7/10
Amid growing hostilities, a joint Soviet-US expedition is
sent to Jupiter to find out what happened to the Discovery mission from 9 years
earlier, and what HAL and the Monolith have to do with it. Though it’s not the
masterpiece “2001: A Space Odyssey” is, by all rights it should be judged
differently due to how much it stands out despite being a sequel. While some
recognizable images are seen, this film is more character driven and not as
focused on arousing curiosity and having us provide our own answers. It’s an
atmospheric journey into the unknown with undertones of the 1980s political
climate.
16. Shane (1953) – 8/10
A gunfighter looking to change his ways settles down with
a family he meets through his wanders, and becomes a role model to their son.
However, he finds himself drawn into a conflict between the farming community
and a violent rancher looking to move them off the land. More than 60 years on,
“Shane” proves it’s one of the all-time great western classics. The beautiful
look of 19th century frontier USA is expertly brought about by a
combination of grand photography of the sweeping landscape, decorated sets that
sometimes make use of painted backgrounds and vibrant technicolour. Alan Ladd’s
performance in the title role is incredibly sentimental for a western hero and
makes for a great change from genre norms.
17. Black Hawk Down (2001) – 7.5/10
During the UN’s involvement in the Somali Civil War, a
mission aimed at removing a Mogadishu warlord from power results in the crash
of a helicopter, setting off a chain of events leading to an enormous firefight
between American soldiers and the local militia. Ridley Scott’s film should be
widely praised for its respect to those involved, brutal realism and for
painting a picture of the turmoil that’s still going on in the Horn of Africa
to this day. What it does suffer from is a lack of a close character focus that
results in a feeling that its talented cast are slightly wasted, and your
investment more based on a general sympathy for these soldiers rather than lone
individuals driving the story.
18. The Santa Claus (1994) – 7/10
After a divorced father inadvertently causes the death of
Santa Claus, he’s forced to take the reins himself after being given the
magical powers that come with the role. Though I’m getting into a Christmas
movie two months out of the season, it’s certainly an enjoyable enough movie to
enjoy year round. Tim Allen brings both his usual humour and his heart to the
role of Santa Claus, and embodies the spirit of Christmas as any holiday movie
should. Expect little and you’ll get the right amount of joy that comes from
the charm and heart-warming nature of the genre.
19. Christiane F. (1981) – 8/10
Set in West Berlin in the 1970s, a teenaged girl takes
part in the underground music scene and through the friends she meets there is
drawn into the drug subculture and falls under the control of a vicious heroin
addiction. A fantastic cautionary tale if there ever was one over the
destructive power of hard drugs. The subject alone is a very touchy one, but
what makes the film even more disturbing is the fact that the events depicted
are true and the young age of the main character. Atop of being emotionally
drawing and uncompromisingly realistic, it’ll turn you off trying a drug like
heroin better than any PSA could.
20. Grave of the Fireflies (1988) – 8/10
After their mother is killed in an American air raid, a
Japanese teenager and his little sister struggle to survive on their own in the
last year of WWII. Arguably the best known Studio Ghibli film that wasn’t
directed by Hayao Miyazaki, the company proves again why it’s a master at
blending childlike innocence with adult drama. The bond between Seita and
Setsuko is beautiful and drives the film above all and makes the war and
relations with other civilians appropriately secondary. Don’t forget your
tissues though, as it can be a very heartbreaking experience.
21. The Babadook (2014) – 7/10
A single mother and her son find themselves tormented by
an evil presence in their house, which originates from a short storybook. The
Australian horror film accomplishes a very high production value despite a
budget of only 2 million dollars. Through filters, expert lighting and spooky
imagery, the cinematography is admirable to say the least, and the horror is
very well timed. Though I do have some personal dislikes, namely the seemingly
random appearance of the villainous Babadook into the lives of the mother-son
pair, and a commonly loud and irritating child actor (which is a different kind
of horror in its own right).
22. Drácula (1931) – 8/10
Count Dracula, a Transylvanian vampire aged several
lifetimes makes his way to England and begins to prey on a young woman. The
lesser known-lesser available Spanish version of “Dracula” is a distinctive
experience, despite using the same script, sets and costumes. Though watching
it in Spanish did take me out of my comfort zone for how I’ve always enjoyed
this story, it’s arguably the better version (on an objective level as I do
still prefer the English version). The Spanish creative team’s revision of Tod
Browning’s movie improves its visual style and artistic merit, and even though
there’s a lack of the amazing Bela Lugosi in the title role, Carlos Villarias
gives his all to the character.
23. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1931) – 8/10
The brilliant Dr Jekyll invents a potion aimed at
separating the primal and civilized natures of man, only to unleash an
uncontrollable alternate personality in the animalistic Mr Hyde, who goes on to
commit horrible crimes and takes over Jekyll’s life. Probably the most famous
of the countless adaptations of this story, it’s the Universal horror classic
(like Dracula and Frankenstein) that Universal never made. Fredric March is
incredible in the role of the two characters, and as Hyde, you can hardly move
your eyes from the screen. The film additionally performs well in the use of
film noir-like images and underlying themes of human psychology and science vs
religion.
24. Navajo Joe (1966) – 7/10
After a gang of outlaws massacres a Navajo tribe, the
lone survivor seeks out vengeance against them while defending a small, but
prejudiced town. “Django” director Sergio Corbucci’s spaghetti western
subscribes to genre norms, but what it does to make itself stand out it does
very well. Burt Reynolds delivers a wonderful performance in Joe, a character
that stands out among western protagonists in his giving Native Americans a
hero to look up to. The kickass theme song perfectly complements this character
and the theme of revenge.
25. The Iron Giant (1999) – 8/10
An innocent giant robot from outer space crash lands in a
small Maine town and befriends a local boy, who then becomes burdened by
keeping him hidden from a government agent looking to expose him. “The Iron
Giant” is a unique animated film. Aside from being a compelling anti-war movie
and story of an unlikely beautiful friendship, it’s totally in love with the
era in which it takes place. The 1950s are both celebrated and satirized
through nods to alien invasion movies, depiction of nuclear fears and an
underlying theme over the strive for normalcy.
26. Jacob the Liar (1975) – 6.5/10
In a Jewish ghetto in 1944, a man eavesdrops on a radio
broadcast that informs him of the Russian army closing in nearby. After rumours
spread of him having a radio, he begins a series of lies about the war’s
progress to give the people hope, whilst simultaneously putting them at risk.
The East German-Czechoslovakian Holocaust film isn’t a grim depiction of the
horrors of the time, and is surprisingly restrictive in its anti-Nazi sentiments
unlike many Western examples. While not particularly funny, the humour provides
a light-heartedness not common to the topic in the same vain as “Life Is
Beautiful”. An artful vision can be seen in nice set pieces and strong musical
choices, but the budget deficiencies are quite apparent and hold back a sense
of realism.
27. The Mummy (1999) – 7/10
In 1920s Egypt, a band of diggers inadvertently revive
the cursed mummy of an ancient high priest, unleashing the plagues upon the
land and putting themselves as risk as it tries to fulfil its goal from a past
life. The very loose remake of the 1932 classic pales in comparison to the
great work it’s based on. While the adventure approach is likable and makes way
for some incredible action sequences, I do feel that more horror would improve
investment and suspense. Additionally, the story seems to pull the characters
along rather than allow them to drive it themselves, and some plagiarism of
ideas from other films is highly evident.
28. Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992) – 7/10
After imprisoning a young lawyer in his castle, the
vampire Count Dracula travels to London and begins stalking his wife to free
himself from the woes of the memory of his centuries-long past. The Francis
Ford Coppola take on the classic story steers more closely towards the source
material, and thus away from recognizable versions of the past (my favourites
being 1931 and 1958). Gary Oldman is a fantastic choice due to his skill at
playing both a monster and a tortured soul, alongside his obvious resemblance
to Vlad the Impaler. The film also excels in brilliant gothic-style sets,
spooky images and a very talented (though not always perfect) supporting cast.
That said, I do think that humanizing Dracula isn’t as unsettling as the more
animalistic portrayals of the past.
29. Boyhood (2014) – 8.5/10
The life of Mason is depicted from his early childhood up
until his entry into college, through which he experiences various dilemmas and
comes to discover who he is. Richard Linklater’s ambitious experimental project
filmed over the course of 12 years achieve fantastic results. On top of being a
relatable film about the experience of growing up, Linklater has written in his
own philosophies about life into his characters. The result of all this is a movie
that captures the joys of childhood and blends it with the responsibility of
becoming an adult, whilst still giving that little signal to follow dreams. A
rare experience that somehow ends up being both nostalgic and encouraging. A
real modern achievement.
Top 10 Movies For February
These were some really tough choices. I almost had two ties, but I've settled on something final.
1. The Tunnel
2. Boyhood
3. Come And See
4. Hotel Transylvania
5. Shane
6. Christiane F.
7. The Iron Giant
8. Gattaca
9. Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde
10. Grave of the Fireflies
-large-picture.jpg)
No comments:
Post a Comment