Scream 4

SCREAM 4 (2011)

directed by Wes Craven

[Red Eye (2005), Scream 3 (2000), Scream 2 (1997), Scream (1996), New Nightmare (1994), A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984), The Hills Have Eyes (1977), The Last House on the Left (1972)] 

written by Kevin Williamson

["The Vampire Diaries" (2009-2011), The Faculty (1998), Scream 2 (1997), Scream (1996)]

starring Neve Campbell, Courtney Cox, David Arquette, Emma Roberts, Hayden Panettiere, Rory Culkin, Adam Brody, Anthony Anderson, and Mary McDonnell (yes, the Mary McDonnel from Dances with Wolves 

ENJOYMENT: ***** (out of 5)

"Loved it"

Academy Award Predictions 2011

Oscar Predictions 2011:

Best Picture:

The Social Network

Best Actor:

Colin Firth - The King's Speech

Best Actress:

Natalie Portman - Black Swan

Best Supporting Actor:

Christian Bale - The Fighter

Best Supporting Actress:

Melissa Leo - The Fighter

Best Director:

David Fincher - The Social Network

Best Original Screenplay:

David Seidler - The King's Speech

Best Adapted Screenplay:

Aaron Sorkin - The Social Network

Best Animated Feature:

Toy Story 3

Best Editing:

Kirk Baxter and Angus Wall - The Social Network

The Social Network (2nd Viewing)

 THE SOCIAL NETWORK (2010)

directed by David Fincher

[filmography: The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (2011), The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008), Zodiac (2007), Panic Room (2002), Fight Club (1999), The Game (1997), Se7en (1995), Alien 3 (1992)]

written for the screen by Aaron Sorkin

[filmography: Charlie Wilson's War (2007), "The West Wing" (1999-2006), The American President (1995), A Few Good Men (1992)]

starring Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Joseph Mazzello, Max Minghella, and Justin Timberlake

   
ENJOYMENT: ***** (out of 5)

"The best movie of the year"

    I loved this movie, from the opening scene to the closing credits.  Its velocity is unmatched.  Its witty dialogues, narrative, score, and editing are unlike most films I have seen.  It's inspirational, but not in a cheesy way.  It's relevant.  It's the greatest film of the year.

The Town (on DVD)

THE TOWN (2010)

directed by Ben Affleck

[director filmography: Gone Baby Gone (2007)]

written for the screen by Peter Craig [writing debut], Ben Affleck [Academy Award winning co-writer of Good Will Hunting (1997), and Gone Baby Gone (2007)], and Aaron Stockard [Gone Baby Gone (2007)]

based on the novel The Prince of Thieves by Chuck Hogan  

starring Ben Affleck, Rebecca Hall [Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)], Jeremy Renner [The Hurt Locker (2009)], Jon Hamm [Don Draper on "Mad Men" (2007-2010)], and Chris Cooper [Adaptation. (2002), American Beauty (1999)] 

ENJOYMENT: ***** (out of 5)

"One of the top films in its genre, and second favorite film of the year."  

     The Town received enormous critical claim, and surprised a lot of its viewers with an astonishing follow-up to Ben Affleck's directorial debut three years earlier, Gone Baby Gone.  Now, I have told a lot of people about my love and admiration for this movie, both as an acheivement for the cast, and Ben Affleck, but also for being a contender as one of the great action films.  The Town is on par with Heat as far as ruthless violence and action goes, as well as the creativity of its high tension heist and car chase scenes.  Then, it has an element of Shawshank Redemption, or Bonnie and Clyde, as you begin to root for the ruthless killers falling in love, and doing all that "movie stuff".  All in all, The Town is definitely worth seeing.  If you loved The Departed, if you loved Gone Baby Gone, or if you just love high tension, action-filled, bloody, creative, great acting, movies that are filmed in Boston.  

Somewhere

 

SOMEWHERE (2010)

written and directed by Sofia Coppola 

[filmography: Marie Antoinette (2006), Lost in Translation (2003), The Virgin Suicides (1999)]

starring Stephen Dorff, Elle Fanning, and Chris Pontius

ENJOYMENT: ***** (out of 5)

"Loved it"

I was not expecting to love Somewhere.  I was merely seeing it because I appreciate Sofia Copolla's style of filmmaking.  I love her slow-moving, almost monotonous scenes, where nothing really happens to the naked eye, but a message is still being conveyed.  Now, personally, I loved Lost in Translation.  In fact, it's one of my favorite films of all time.  However, Marie Antoinette was sort of a let down as far as overall quality of the film is concerned, despite having some of the most amazing hair and costume design ever in a film (as far as I'm concerned).  But Somewhere is a little different.  Its style is a lot like Copolla's previous films, if not more Sofia-esque than even the predecessors, but for some reason, I cared a lot about this story.  It's truly heartfelt, and conveys its message extremely well.  And Elle Fanning is a doll.  All in all, Somewhere is a contender for my top 10 for last year, though I know not a lot of others will feel the same.  Screw it, I can love films that not everyone loves. 

Blue Valentine

 BLUE VALENTINE (2010)

 directed by Derek Cianfrance

[filmography: directorial debut of a feature film, though has directed many documentaries]  

written by Derek Cianfrance, Cami Delavigne, and Joey Curtis

[all pretty much newbies, or at least unknown to me]

starring Ryan Gosling, Michelle Williams, and Faith Wladyka [as Frankie] 

   
ENJOYMENT: ***** (out of 5)

"Loved it" 

    I thought this film would be a shoe-in for Ryan Gosling at the Academy Awards, and I thought it would get a Best Picture nomination as well.  Michelle Williams got nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role, but this hardly seems justice enough for this film.  In fact, it wasn't really until I had this reaction to Blue Valentine's absence in those two categories that I realized how special the film truly is.  Blue Valentine is my favorite kind of movie, telling the story of real, raw feelings as relevant as aging love.  What happens to two teenagers who have a great couple first dates, become extremely infatuated with one another, and end up getting married?  This scenario must describe many marriages, and has for decades, but, in Blue Valentine, director Derek Cianfrance confronts this issue in a contemporary fashion with an extremely original way of telling it.  Also, to sweeten the pot, Michelle Williams' character gets pregnant within the first two or three dates, so marriage seems like the most reasonable thing to do.  However, later, after shoving divorce way off the table, the two start to realize they really don't get along and splitting up slowly becomes an option.  

    Both actors exceed even their great reputations, creating a relationship and a dichotomous world between loving and loathing each other that makes for an interesting, real-life case study.  The movie takes place between these two worlds, where the main characters, played by Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams, are young and in love, and 8-to-10 years later when the love runs dry.  Anyone who has been in a relationship that started hot and heavy at the beginning, then not too long after began to fizzle, can imagine what it would be like for these characters.  What two people can sacrifice for each other in the way of personal goals and dreams can end up compromising one or both involved, and that bitterness can start to shine through after a while.  This film explores this in a way similar to what Revolutionary Road or Eyes Wide Shut did, depicting love and marriage in a counter-culture sort of way.  Not all of Blue Valentine's moments are so beautiful--in fact, most are not--but the film has a beautiful kind of story to tell: that love must be in a marriage for the long-run, for the sake of everyone involved.  In a most clever way, Blue Valentine exposes this couple's relationship to see what it truly is, getting deeper and deeper into the meat of it.  Its morals and theme are somewhat under-discussed in film, and it is assuring that this may become a popular discussion.  No love is a Jennifer-Aniston- or Hugh-Grant-movie sort of love, and I'm willing to bet most people in relationships have felt more similar to the two characters in this film than most other romance or love stories.  Blue Valentine is one of my favorite films of the year, and is full of heart and heart-wrenching moments that will be some of the most memorable in film in 2010.

   

Greenberg (on DVD)

GREENBERG (2010)

written and directed by Noah Baumbach

[has written and directed: Margot At the Wedding (2007), The Squid and the Whale (2005), Kicking and Screaming (1995)]

[helped write: Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009), and The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004)]   

starring Ben Stiller, Greta Gerwig [pretty much unheard of], Rhys Ifans [The Lizard in the new Spider-Man movie], and Jennifer Jason Leigh [who supposedly helped come up with the story]

   
ENJOYMENT: ***1/2 (out of 5)
"More than just liked it but..." 

    I really enjoy Noah Baumbach films, but for some reason they never stick in my mind as being really important.  I understand he draws a lot of his material from personal experiences, and tries to capture the mundanity and confusion of life, but this sometimes translates to "mundane and confused" movie for me, as a viewer.  In Greenberg, Baumbach, with his soon to be ex-wife Jennifer Jason Leigh, created two characters that you may or may not want to know in real life.  In fact, Ben Stiller's character, Greenberg, may actually be someone you would want to run away from.  Greenberg would definitely serve as a novelty at a party for a minute, at least for those more cynically inclined, as he's filled with pessimistic jokes that could serve as entertainment; however, Baumbach focused an entire movie around him--that guy you would want to run away from.  Despite this, the film sets itself up for a possible interesting story, as Greenberg does serve as a sort of commentary for real life, which everyone may or may not relate with.  He's in his forties, unsuccessful, without any direction or many really friends, and goes to L.A. after being released from a mental hospital to house sit for his wealthy brother and just "take it easy for awhile."  

    At many points in the film, Greenberg is contrasted with his peers who aren't so devastated by life, showing how some people don't complicate the simple things more than they need to.  On the other hand, Greenberg, along with the equally confused Florence (played by Greta Gerwig), stumble their ways through the film as two dubious characters who eventually fall hard for each other.  Greenberg's only friend, Ivan (played by Rhys Ifans), tags along in a crucial supporting role, adding an element to this film that is very pertinent: what is a quality friend.  Greenberg (the movie) explores many other ideas that hit me hard, showing that life direction isn't so obvious, and there are gradients of success and purposeful living--not everyone wants to be rich and famous.  The philosophy in this film is extremely implicit, however, and relies on the patience of its audience to stew over its subtle ideologies.  Nonetheless, Greenberg (the movie) is very good, funny as hell at some points, and would be enjoyed by anyone who has ever felt lost in their journeys through life.