77 - Inland Empire

This is disappointing, but I have to honestly say that I did not get much of Inland Empire. While I was amazed at Laura Dern's performance, I just couldn't follow the film enough.

My only consolation prize is one of the opening scenes that gave me Seinfeld nostalgia with Grace Zabriskie (Mrs. Ross) and Ian Abercrombie (Mr. Pitt) :)

76 - Funny Ha Ha

I saw Andrew Bujalski's "Mutual Appreciation" on IFC and was curious about this movie as quite a number of references to it is made in discussions on the web. Like MA, Funny Ha Ha uses the same formula and follows the main character and captures a lot of what is really part of real life....awkward conversations, pauses, and senseless dribble....stuff that can easily get cut out in other movies.

75 - Sansho the Bailiff

It's been really rewarding to see all these movies that revolve around the time of the Samurai or feudal Japan. It gives that period depth and that human element that reminds us that there is so much behind all the fighting.

It was really heartbreaking to watch Anju's sacrifice, but that was probably my favorite scene. That long march through the forest, towards the end of the lake, and eventual sacrifice was the saddest point of the movie...but also the most peaceful.

74 - Renaissance

This movie was born out of the media for which it was conceived. In the documentary, the creators shared a lot of enthusiasm for mixing motion capture with traditional and animation-based development. The story came somewhere in the middle. It's easy to see that there was inspiration from Blade Runner (and is mentioned in the featurette).....the plot.....about the quest for immortality....does share a similar desire by the replicants of Blade Runner.

The high contrast does take a bit getting used to....but your eyes eventually adjust.