Movie #122- "Go" (1999)

"Pulp Fiction" really changed the landscape of film.  It's cool dialogue, stylish violence, and non-linear story telling seemed to open a world of possibilities for young directors.  Many took notice, using that film as a springboard to try different things as how a story unfolds.  Unfortunately, others got trapped in the idea and were doomed into making copies without adding an original stamp.  For me, "Go!" fit snugly into the former, an exciting thrill ride that shares some of the Fiction DNA, yet pushing it different directions.
"Go!" was directed by Doug Liman, following in the success of "Swingers", a film that traveled at a lighter pace.  Liman was able to ensemble an incredible cast of young actors and familiar faces to realize his vision.  The plot follows several characters through one evening, with three separate stories.  The major players of each story intersect at a grocery store early in the evening, although all the characters do not necessarily cross paths (Ronna, a store cashier, is a common bond).  The stories take us on a drug run/techno rave, a trip to Vegas and an attempted drug bust, which happens to build off the first story before going off on a crazy tangent of it's own (then re-joining the first story a second time).
The list of known actors involved with the film is impressive and all provide energy to the saga.  Sarah Polley, Jay Mohr, Scott Wolfe, and Taye Diggs along with brief appearances by Jane Krakowski and Melissa McCarthy and Katie Holmes in quite possibly her least offensive film role (I've liked movies she's been in, just not her appearances).  Worthy of a special mention are Timothy Oliphant as Todd Gaines, a drug dealer who is tough and scary, yet with a seemingly sensible code and William Fichter as a cop with a secret that gave me one of the biggest laughs in the movie. 
The title of the film is really an apt description as "Go!" continually hurdles forward, barely taking any time for a breath.  I also felt that was part of it's undoing as it stumbles over it's own stylish attitude.  If it doesn't have a cult following, it should.

Rating: 6/10
Movies I've previously seen: 6
First time viewings: 116

Movie #121- "My Left Foot" (1989)

Is Daniel Day-Lewis the best actor currently working in film?  I would probably put him in the top five mainly as there are several of his performance I haven't seen.  In looking at his filmography, counting "My Left Foot", I have seen five of his film performances, three of which Day-Lewis won an Oscar.  Of the remaining two, he was nominated for one ("Gangs of New York") while receiving a nomination for a Golden Globe in the other ("Nine").  Hard to compile a list when you've only seen the best of his work.  However, he also doesn't churn out an endless string of films as he's only appeared in 9 films over the last 20 years.
What I've noticed is that Day-Lewis brings a dramatic intensity that is rarely seen with such consistency (again, I know a five film sample is small).  His talent provides the strength to elevate a movie.  I point to "There Will Be Blood" as an example.  While I found that film to be long and sometimes plodding, you still could not take your eyes away from what he poured into the screen.  His character of Daniel Plainview was larger than the movie itself, sweeping the viewer into his world.  His approach to Lincoln was similar, although in that case, he had a better supporting cast and a greater conflict.
Christy Brown may not dominate the screen in the same fashion, but that does not diminish the performance.  However, unlike "There Will Be Blood", "My Left Foot" provides a balance for Day-Lewis in the character of his mother, played with care by Brenda Fricker.  The film not only examines the difficulties Brown faced with cerebral palsy, it also focuses on the love of family, especially Brown's mother.  She's a woman who takes special care of her child, worrying about how he's treated by others while believing in his ability even when he is a less than pleasant person.
This is one of the few films I wish had been longer as it locks in at a tidy 103 minutes.  The relationship between Brown and his mother was tender and touching, yet I would have liked to have learned more about the rest of the family including his tough and stern father.  And while I shine accolades on Day-Lewis, Hugh O'Conor should also receive notice for his portrayal of the young Christy Brown.
A powerful movie that shows the triumph of the human spirit and some of the frailties that can befall us, disabled or not.

Rating: 9/10
Movies I've previously seen: 6
First time viewings: 115

Movie #120- "Texas Chainsaw" (2013)

Exhibit A as to why I'm not a big fan of the slasher genre.  The basic premise is take a group of people, put them in an eerie surrounding, then drop in a maniac with access to an unending supply of sharp implements and an inability to die.  With "Texas Chainsaw", the added bonus is that the producers have hitched their wagon to a known franchise.  Blood is splattered, bodies are mutilated, and yes, there are chainsaws.
SPOILER ALERTS AHEAD:  This story picks up after the conclusion of the original.  Vigilantes from the town head to the Sawyer residence, burning down the house, and they assume killing everyone inside.  Flash forward nearly forty years when a young woman discovers she is a descendant of the Sawyer family and goes to claim her inheritance with her "friends" along for the ride (need a body count after all).  This creates a strange time frame issue when it's revealed that she had escaped the earlier fire.  The lead looks to be in her mid-20s, yet the story would put her closer to 40 (or she has an incredible beauty regimen).  Naturally, mayhem ensues when Leatherface appears, and in a weird shift toward the end of the film, the antagonist becomes a sympathetic protagonist.  It becomes a bizarre family reunion.
One element that I caught on the message boards was the surprising lack of nudity, which I always thought was a slasher film staple.  "Texas Chainsaw" teases you with potential nudity, then ripping it away as though it's ashamed by the notion.
So, senseless, bloody violence... check.  Possibility of the sequel... check.  Nudity... nope.  Most of what you would expect from this sort of film.  Just nothing too inventive. 

Rating: 2/10
Movies I've previously seen: 6
First time viewings: 114

Movie #119- "Mud" (2012)

Matthew McConaughey is craving out a nice career as his choices seem to have improved over the last couple years.  We first met him in 1993 as the quotable Wooderson in "Dazed and Confused."  A surprising variety of film genres followed only to lead to a world of rom-com hell.  Something changed at start of the decade with McConaughey making a step in a different direction, appearing in films with again a varied scope.
"Mud" has been a film I've been recommending although it is for more than just McConaughey.  Here, he takes his slow, laid-back drawl, and adds a touch of menace with a dash of hopeless romantic (not in a rom-com way).  The film is set in Arkansas, on the Mississippi River, where two young boys find a boat wedged in a tree.  They claim the boat, only to find McConaughey (Mud) using it as a home.  Mud is on the run from the law as well as waiting for the woman he loves, played by Reese Witherspoon.  But this a combustible relationship, one in which bad thing happen when they get together.  In Mud's mind, they belong together, even though he is painfully aware of the trouble the relationship brings.
At the center of the film, is Tye Sheridan (Ellis) and Jacob Lofland (Neckbone), the boys who meet Mud and eventually strike a deal with him.  It's a coming of age movie with the boys learning a lesson of love and loyalty.  While the storyline may be different, I felt "Mud" shared some DNA with "Stand by Me."  This is a well-rounded cast, with strong performances by the mentioned male trio and Witherspoon, going against type, as a woman looking for love from anyone that would have her.
A pleasant experience for late summer viewing.


Rating: 8/10
Movies I've previously seen: 6
First time viewings: 113

Movie #118- "Chinatown" (1974)

I have waxed poetically in past entries on movies from the 1970s.  I realize that I've had the ability to cherry pick my selections for this project.  Yeah, I know the decade produced its share of clunkers ("Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" anyone), but I think if you pitted the best of the 1970s against the best of any decade, the 70s would generally win.  I hope this isn't a statement based on nostalgia since I hit my teen years during that decade (although technically, I was too young to see most of the movies listed).  There is just something about the film output from that era that has a special, gritty tone and feel.  
You also notice the performances.  When you look at the recent resumes of actors like Nicholson, DeNiro, Pacino, Hackman, Hoffman... it doesn't quite resonant in the same manner as it did during that decade.  I know DeNiro received an Oscar nod for "Silver Linings Playbook", but did that performance equal those from "The Godfather Pt. 2", "Taxi Driver", or "The Deer Hunter".  Don't get me wrong as they were still producing quality work beyond the 1970s.  It's just that that decade really packed a wallop in terms of the cinematic experience.
"Chinatown" is a complex thriller, one that challenges the viewer as you travel a twisty road.  What appears as a simple crime of passion, turns into government corruption and murder all leading to a whopper of an ending.  Nicholson's J.J. Gettis is a detective not afraid to be knocked around because he knows when that happens, he's on the right trail.  Faye Dunaway is marvelous as the femme fatale with a horrible secret while director Roman Polanski gives us a brilliant ode to the film noir genre, subverting it to give us a product that's even darker and seedier.  And another common trait from 70s films, the good guy may win the battle, but he doesn't necessarily win the war.
I was entirely drawn into the film and understand why it's hailed as a classic.  An amazing piece of work.

Rating: 10/10
Movies I've previously seen: 6
First time viewings: 112

Movie #117- "The Omen" (1976)

I guess my expectations for "The Omen" were a little different than what unfolded on screen.  As I've mentioned before, the horror genre isn't exactly a favorite, especially since the onset of the slasher film.  I don't find gore generally scary, but if it's done inventively or with a bit of style (tongue in cheek doesn't hurt), I can get on board.  I enjoy the occasional supernatural thriller, notably if the film messes with your mind.  I had those hopes for "The Omen", which unfortunately failed for me in that aspect.
"The Omen" seems to center around the prospect of a child that may be the Antichrist.  I remember the movie opening in the mid 70s and the creepiness surrounding the child known as Damien.  So I had some excitement to sit and watch this classic horror tale.  But I guess my disappointment came with the fact that Damien, the actual character, isn't really in enough of the movie.  The child (Harvey Stephens) has a very cold demeanor, and he's usually presented with an air of menace.  A perfect example is the tricycle scene, in which Damien hastily rumbles through the house, ready to knock his mother off a ladder, plunging to the floor.  The kid kind of freaks me out (as did the crazy nanny that protects Damien).
Once we become fearful of the dreaded Damien, "The Omen" takes us on a trip through Europe as Gregory Peck attempts to connect the dots between his "son" and the terrible events that have occurred.  And while the film tries to build tension, I found several of the revelations silly, including a scene involving a cemetery and pack of dogs.  There is also a beheading scene I recall being discussed which played better in my mind than what appears.  Some special effects lose their charm over time.
One funny note as I almost made a comment about Hollywood trying to remake this film, totally forgetting that it had been done in 2006.  Apparently that one didn't do well enough to warrant a sequel like the original.

Rating: 5/10
Movies I've previously seen: 6
First time viewings: 111

Movie #116- "Bernie" (2011)

While I like the manic energy Jack Black possesses, especially with Tenacious D, I have a tendency to tire of him in his film roles.  He's had a few occasions where his style has worked to his advantage, but when the project relies too much on Black's energy, the film seemingly suffers.  Robin Williams had a similar issue early in his career when his frantic, ad-lib ability was used to try to connect the dots in a plot.
Black takes a different step, outside his comfort zone, in "Bernie".  I never thought I'd use the word understated when describing Jack Black and yet that fits perfectly here.  "Bernie" is based on the true story of Texas mortician, the title character, who befriends an older woman, then kills her and attempts to hide the crime.  The story may sound macabre with a bit of "Weekend at Bernie's", but it trends more toward a sweet nature.
Bernie is not shown as a deranged killer.  He is a man of the community, helping however he can with the local townspeople in a variety of situations.  Bernie is well regarded in his small Texas town, although some questions do occur when he starts "dating" Shirley MacLaine's Marjorie (there are also questions about his sexuality).  He has such a likeable personality, that even after the murder, most of the community sides with Bernie.
Overall, "Bernie" is a charming film that pokes fun at small town gossip, where everyone knows everybody's business.  Black had the chance to visit with the real Bernie and several residents that knew both Bernie and Marjorie appear in the film.  Matthew McConaughey uses his southern drawl and laid back demeanor as one of the few to be unsympathetic to Bernie.
Black is quite a revelation in "Bernie" and hopefully he's got a few more surprises up his sleeve.  I found myself enjoying this film more than I expected.

Rating: 8/10
Movies I've previously seen: 6
First time viewings: 110

Movie #115- "Swimming with Sharks" (1994)

Have you seen "Horrible Bosses"?  Kevin Spacey plays one of the title characters, a terrible individual who metaphorically dangles Jason Bateman's feet over the fire, making his work life a miserable experience.  While Spacey is evil as Dave Harkin in that role, he is just scratching the surface in comparison to Buddy Ackerman, the horrible boss he plays in "Swimming with Sharks".  Buddy is the kind of guy that would gleefully put Dave through hell before breakfast, then do it again during lunch because it amused him, even if it was briefly.
Enter into Buddy's world Guy, his latest assistant.  Guy has ambition.  Guy has a dream.  Unfortunately Guy also lacks backbone, providing Buddy the perfect target for his seething wrath.  "Swimming With Sharks" opens with Guy holding Buddy hostage and in flashbacks, we see how the events unfold, starting with Guy's first day on the job.
Not only is this a workplace comedy (a dark one at that), it also sharply skewers Hollywood along the way. Buddy is tolerated since he is successful, which breeds success to those who work for him.  The film has fun with the dog-eat-dog world that is the film industry, but it also questions the distance one would go in order to chase their dreams.  Guy begins as a mild-mannered individual with artistic integrity, yet is changed into a ball of rage, torturing his boss due to his foul treatment.
Frank Whaley is nicely cast as Guy, but "Swimming with Sharks" belongs to Spacey.  His yelling, screaming, insult spewing Buddy is the reason to watch, as the character holds your attention.  Even the softer moments don't make you empathize with the insanity that is Buddy.  And the ending is one of debate due to a twist and a shift in character.
Spacey is a joy to watch in "Swimming with Sharks", although you spent the whole movie hating him.
 
Rating: 8/10
Movies I've previously seen: 6
First time viewings: 109

July Update

I am really terrible at the whole blogging aspect of this project.  I kept the pace in movie watching for July, and currently stand at 187 movies in 212 days.  A few classics, several recent films, a couple oddball choices in the mix.  I need to really play catch up over the next couple months.  Maybe I should just stop doing chores around the house because that can really cut into your day.  Lawn mowing?  I'll just tell the neighbors I'm going for a more natural look.  We will see what transpires in August.