a revolution without dancing is a revolution not worth having

Dear V for Vendetta, I liked you. This is a huge complement considering I normally do not fancy pictures of your sort; action/thriller/graphic-novel-turned-film genre. I enjoyed several things in particular about your performance which I will now list:
1. You were not cheesy. I could count on one hand the parts that made me cringe while watching you (and the parts that were you played off better than most). Normally when I watch films in your league I run out of hands and move on to my feet (and then move on to my ribs...)
2. You selected tasteful music. Cat Power? Amazing. And I also thought the Jukebox idea was nice. When compared to other sound tracks you take the cake.
3. Natalie Portman was beautiful and especially cute with a shaved head. I thought the other acting was top notch as well (outstanding, even... for this genre).
4. Your story was very solid, not over climatic or dramatic.
Although, you did have your faults...
1. The knife effects in the end fight scene? Eh...
2. The "V" logo on the TV screen that was dripping blood had the anarchy influence of a 13 year old.
3. I'm not really a fan of the style of the mask... It's based totally from the comic, I know I know... But that doesn't change the fact that it didn't sit well with me.
That is all. 6 dollars well spent. Sincerely, Beth

carnival of souls (1963)

wow, this is a fantastic indie horror film from the 60's. it has the hokey acting of a b film, but is beautifully shot and has a decent story line for a horror film. it was very eerie, which is a quality that i really appreciate in horror films, but rarely find. you really should see this film.

ps: this is another success for me in the criterion collection...so in my mind it cancels out the sin of adding robocop to criterion. however, i don't think anything can compensate for armagedon. ever.

films unworthy of the criterion collection that somehow made it in (a post inspired by beth's comment about armageddon)

so ms. beth corrected me in my rash statement about the critterion collection's library all being fine and important pieces of cinema. so to set the record straight, here are the films that are not worthy of the criterion treatment but somehow received it nonetheless:


robocopooohhh, beth , it looks embossed!



chasing amy

i don't think i will ever get or like kevin smith...
and jay and silent bob should not be on a criterion cover. ever.


beastie boys video anthology



i think the beastie boys are fun and all, but criterion?


the rock

by what criterion are they judging films here?



traffic


a good flick, but again, probably not a classic or important film.


and of course...



armageddon





i'm sure there are probably others, but from what i've seen, films chosen for criterion are great 90% of the time.

the cranes are flying

this is a beautiful russian film from 1957. beautiful music, beautiful cinematography, beautiful lead actress. jean-pierre jeunet borrowed a bit from this film in a very long engagement. it takes place during world war II. boris and veronica (he calls her squirrel!) are in love, but war breaks out and boris signs up so his creepy piano playing cousin won't have to go...at least that's what i gathered. it's a good story and is stunningly shot (some of it on a hand held camera). highly recommended.



may i also say that i am undyingly greatful for the criterion collection...they release amazing films which deserve the royal treatment that they are given. (plus they recognize wes anderson's genius if no one else will give him the respect he deserves) i have no idea how they pick the films, but all i can say is that i have never been disappointed with any of the films from the collection that i have watched. and they always have the best design! if i were rich (or at least making decent money!) i would attempt to collect everything they put out.

em's oscar picks

best picture: brokeback mountain
it was a good story that was subtle, beautifully shot and deeply felt. and suprisingly you weren't overly conscious that you were watching a homosexual love story as much as you were watching a love story, which seems how it should be.

crash was good, but not oscar good. same goes for capote, although i think it was better than crash. didn't see good night and good luck or munich.




best director: ang lee
because of everything i listed above. does anyone else find it funny that george clooney is nominated? i didn't see good night so i'm not saying he doesn't deserve it and i certainly have way more respect for him after after o brother, but still...






best actor: philip seymour hoffman
his performance was the best i saw all year. and i actually saw everyone nominated for this category save david strathairn. but there are a lot of great performances in this category, especially joaquin pheonix. i would be happy if he or heath ledger won (although a brokeback sweep would be boring to watch).



best actress: felicity huffman
i was 100% reese and her sassy portayal of june carter cash...until i saw the trailer for transamerica. yes folks, just the trailer was enough to convince me this was an oscar worthy preformance. i did see the whole film and i was highly impressed. she plays a man who is undergoing hormnone treatment and a week away from having a sex change to be woman. she was incredible. i did love reese witherspoon and was amazed by her singing in walk the line. but as far as an oscar-winning performance, they got to give it to huffman.

note: i think this is the only major category that i go against what who the critics are picking. i did make my picks before i knew who was favored...i promise!



best supporting actor: jake gyllenhaal
he was good...i don't have too much opinion on this category.


best supporting actress: michelle williams
it is a shame that no one saw junebug. amy adams was incredible. trust me. you need to see this film. i would give her the academy award. having said that, i was impressed by almost all of the actresses ( i saw all but north country) and i was really impressed by michelle williams and catherine keener. out of the actresses that have a chance of winning, i would like williams
to win. which is funny because before walk the line and brokeback, i hated reese witherspoon and michele williams, but i really enjoyed them both in the aforementioned films. i did see most of the consant gardener and wasn't overly impressed by rachel weisz. sorry.


other notable categories for me:







best original screenplay: the squid and the whale

this is the only catergory that my favorite films get nominated for. another movie that was great that a lot of people didn't see.


best adapted screenplay: brokeback mountain

yeah...this will probably win...but i think this one should get it...








best animated feature: wallace and gromit: the curse of the were-rabbit

i loved this...