I'm feeling a little whimsical today. First off, I would like to apologize for not writing any reviews recently; I have been to the theater several times, but have not had the time (until today) to write reviews of what I have seen. In addition, I've been wanting to make another "Top 10" list for a while now. So, I thought why not combine the two things I want to do? Here is my personal list of the best movies I have seen over the past few weeks. I will also catch up on my reviews, so, (partially inspired by my #5 pick) I will write three micro-reviews on one post. These movies were watched in their entirety, and I did include films that I caught on TV (otherwise, the list would include Iron Man and Pulp Fiction). Call it Flashback Friday on steroids, playing catch up, or simply just having a fun film conversation, but here it is: The Top 10 Movies I've Seen Recently.
10. The Fifth Estate (Condon, 2013)
(Ok, so this isn't exactly a fair inclusion on a "Top 10" list, because I actually didn't like this movie. But since it's a new film that I haven't had the time to review, I'm including it on the list. It had to replace The Bicycle Thief on the Top 10, but I decided that particular film deserves a post of it's own.)
Despite having a story catered for the cinema, The Fifth Estate is a garbled mess of a movie. It's clunky, uninteresting, and tediously long. Benedict Cumberbatch plays a convincing Julian Assange, but the character remains annoying throughout the picture. The rest of the ensemble, Daniel Bruhl especially, is poorly cast and cumbersome. Instead of focusing on the story's more interesting tidbits, The Fifth Estate dabbles in cliche moral ethics, drowning itself it's own vanity without actually proving a point. Condon's choice of cinematography is uninspired, frequently switching to some out-of-this-dimension-real-life-computer-world-thing that is never explained well. The film is boring and a waste of a perfectly good news story. One and a half out of five stars.
9. The Accused (Kaplan, 1988)
Jodie Foster may best be remembered for her iconic portrayal of Clarice Starling in The Silence of the Lambs, but she actually won an Oscar before that film. In The Accused, she delves into the role of a gang-rape victim in Academy Award-winning glory. Every breath and every step she takes in the picture seems confident, but has a hint of emotional trauma. She steals every scene she is in with a heavy drama that captivates the viewer. Of course, Kelly McGillis is not so bad herself; as Foster's attorney, she comes up with a landmark defense strategy: going after the men who cheered on the bar rape. The courtroom scenes are breathtakingly devastating, right up until you see the actual brutal incident itself in the film's final moments. Jodie Foster's work in The Accused may arguably be the actress' greatest triumph to date.
8. Prisoners (Villeneuve, 2013)
No, despite what the ads say, Prisoners is not the best crime thriller since Se7en. However, it does remain a fine piece of cinematic mystery. Prisoners benefits from great actors playing smartly written characters, and despite the somewhat abrupt ending, the direction is expertly well done. There are a lot of characters in this film, and each one at some point gets their due. The movie builds on parallels and labyrinths within the story, and the contrast between Hugh Jackman's extremist father and Terrence Howard's much more passive way of coping is fascinating to watch. The acting is the highlight of the film, but the direction from Denis Villenueve and the screenplay by Aaron Guzikowski remains wonderful. Be forewarned: the film runs over 150 minutes, and the story will be very intense for certain viewers. But if you can stomach it, Prisoners is a heck of a fun maze to run through. Three and a half out of five stars.
7. Misery (Reiner, 1990)
Another Best Actress winner, Kathy Bates radiates "cock-a-doodie" insanity in this horror film. To get you ready for her upcoming TV role in the anthology series American Horror Story: Coven, a lot of comparisons will be drawn to her breakout role as Annie Wilkes, a nut-job nurse who rescues her favorite author (James Caan) from a car crash. The character, ranked among AFI's top 20 movie villains, tortures Caan when she learns that he kills off her favorite heroine. A Stephen King thriller with sharp plot developments, it's easily the most faithful adaptation of one of the horror king's novels, and certainly one of the most memorable. A lot of people are still "number one fans" of this film.
6. Don Jon (Gordon-Levitt, 2013)
Don Jon is a smart, very modern romantic comedy that may come across as a little bit of a vanity project for writer-director-star Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Nevertheless, the actor's directorial debut is an excellent one, and could springboard a whole new set of potential winners from this entertainer. He makes his Jon a likable lead, not an easy task considering the daily life of the "Don". A porn addict who can't seem to find true love, he finally meets the girl of his dreams (Scarlett Johansson), who has her own higher-than-life ideals for dating. Julianne Moore co-stars as a fellow student in Jon's night classes, and there are several hilarious cameos throughout the film. Don Jon will strike a cord because of the sheer modernity of the picture; porn is a very real outlet for men, and in this modern age, it's surprising it took this long to make a clever, funny film dealing with that (for lack of a better word) "media outlet". Gordon-Levitt makes it work, however, and only includes footage when absolutely necessary (which apparently is a lot). This may be the best romantic comedy of the year, and one that both men and women can enjoy. Four out of five stars.
5. Ocean's Eleven (Soderbergh, 2001)
One of a few remakes that actually improved upon the original, Ocean's Eleven defined the suave, cool look of thieves for the new century. George Clooney is brilliant as Danny Ocean, a crook who puts together a band of misfits to pull off a daring heist- robbing three Las Vegas casinos simultaneously. All of Ocean's Eleven are excellent, and include legends like Carl Reiner and Elliot Gould, modern high-end players like Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, and Don Cheadle, and the late great Bernie Mac. Andy Garcia plays the dangerous villain, while Julia Roberts is Ocean's love interest. The film is great fun, and the heist itself is meticulously executed and thoughtfully planned out. The sequels were so-so, but Ocean's Eleven remains one of the early 2000's greatest achievements.
4. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (Capra, 1939)
The Ted Cruz debacle spurred this one. Jimmy Stewart is one of cinema's all time great nice guys, and he was perfectly personified in this Washington, D.C. political drama. It makes government optimistic, and shows the corrupt side of Congress. Stewart plays a Senator hired to keep his mouth shut while a mob boss runs the show, but no one accounted for Stewart's passion for history and blissful nature. He is overly optimistic about what can get done, and quickly becomes a favorite throughout the country- except for the members of Congress, of course. When they attempt to pass a bill that will hurt the environment, Stewart leaps in to filibuster his goals. It's a Hollywood classic with a lot of heart, and should be required viewing for all government officials. This is how things should get done.
3. Airplane! (Abrahams, Zucker, and Zucker, 1980)
By far the stupidest, most ridiculous, most looney, most hilarious film ever captured on celluloid. From puns and innuendos, to every offensive joke imaginable, they just don't make 'em like they used to. Airplane! is pure comedy, without a shred of seriousness about it. It is by far one of the most quotable movies ever made, and is so much fun you'll die of hysterics each and every viewing. The whole film can be summed up with one line: "Surely you can't be serious." "I am serious, and don't call me Shirley." Definitely check this movie out if you haven't seen it.
2. The Paper (Howard, 1994)
Ok, so this movie isn't a classic as much as Mr. Smith Goes to Washington or Airplane!, and isn't even as entertaining as Ocean's Eleven or Don Jon. But each "Top 10" list should include a "propaganda" choice, a film that normally wouldn't be on the list, but the writer feels it necessary to promote the movie. Well, The Paper is my propaganda selection; and as for this list, it is one of the most enjoyable movie-watching experiences I have seen "recently", so it earns the #2 spot on this particular Top 10. I think I liked it so much because it came out of nowhere; the movie popped up on my Netflix suggestions, and I saw that it was about a day-in-the-life of a newspaper company. It starred some actors that I liked, like Michael Keaton, Glenn Close, and Robert Duvall, so I decided to give the film a chance. Did you know that Ron Howard directed it? It's a wonderful motion picture, one that has more heart and emotion that most movies today even dream of. The Paper is a fascinating look into newspaper culture, and while it's a little dated, the film is just as refreshing as I'm sure it was in 1994. For an entertaining, educational, and passionate film, look no further than your local Netflix. Oh, and read a newspaper. You would not believe the work that goes into them.
1. The Wizard of Oz (Fleming, 1939)
If you haven't seen this movie, stop reading this post and watch it immediately. In fact, I'm a little ashamed that you didn't see it for the first time on the silver screen. A group of people spent years improving the quality of the film negatives, so that it could be re-released in IMAX 3-D a few weeks ago, for the film's 70th Anniversary. I jumped at the opportunity to see it in theaters, as I have said earlier that it is the way movies should be seen, and absolutely loved it. When Dorothy (Judy Garland) opens her Kansas door and looks out into the beauty of Oz, I got chills staring in wonder along with her. Hearing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" (often considered to be cinema's best song) in a theater surround sound was incredible, and the Wicked Witch of the West is even more horrifying. Even the special effects look amazing for 1939. No other movie has captured the imagination of more viewers than this timeless classic, and I relished the opportunity to see it again in a movie theater. It easily is the best movie that I have seen recently.
Well, there you have it. I hope you've enjoyed reading the Top 10 Movies I've Seen Recently, and that it has inspired you to check out a movie or not, in the case of The Fifth Estate (seriously, don't see it). Enjoy your viewing time!
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