93 - La Vie En Rose

Just simply outstanding. I now understand why everyone has pretty much given an automatic award nomination for Marion Cotillard. Both she and Olivier Dahan deserve a lot of credit for creating such a powerful film about Edith Piaf.

I have to say that after watching this film, I was a bit of an emotional wreck and......just simply devastated. It really felt like Edith Piaf was carrying a cross throughout her life.

92 - Waitress

In a way, I'm really glad that Adrienne Shelley was able to complete this film before her death. The film was a personal statement and beautifully written with so many great messages.

I personally enjoyed Andy Griffith's character. His echoing message was at the heart of the story: start fresh.

91 - Eastern Promises

Ah yes, what better way to start the year than watch Viggo Mortensen fight two angry brothers in a bath house with nothing more than the tattoos on his skin :). He certainly did his homework and was a very believable Russian character. Armin Mueller-Stahl may be too tame for his role, but it didn't take away anything from the film.

2007 year marker

53 movies...that's the stat for 07.....about a 15% or so increase from last year.

This year also marked somewhat a beginning of obsessive stalking of director work...most notably Jim Jarmusch. I saw five of his films as recorded here (Stranger than Paradise, Down by Law, Permanent Vacation, Night on Earth, and Mystery Train), but I've also been watching on-and-off of netflix movies by Akira Kurosawa, Stanley Kubrick, and films based on Philip K. Dick's work, with A Scanner Darkly being a personal favorite (besides Blade Runner, of course).

As I was weeding through the films and trimming the list, there were individual performances that really stood out and worthy of praise:

• Mia Kirshner in her role as Elizabeth Short in The Black Dahlia
  
• Daniel Craig for playing a more agent-worthy portrayal in Casino Royale
  
• Michael Caine's hippee as can be in Children of Men (pull my finger :))

This year's "classic" honor belongs to Dr. Strangelove. Like all of Stanley Kubrick's movies, it is timeless and so masterfully done that you can watch it repeatedly without degradation.

Le Honor Roll :)

1. Breach
2. Black Snake Moan
3. A Scanner Darkly
4. Fast Food Nation
5. Little Miss Sunshine
6. Red Road
7. Dr Strangelove
8. Stranger than Paradise
9. Down by Law
10. Permanent Vacation
11. Night on Earth
12. Mystery Train

90 - Salvador

It certainly did feel like Salvador was the first attempt for Oliver Stone before Platoon, but it certainly has its merits. For one, James Woods maintains the persistent, manipulative, and foul-mouthed character that he easily brings to a lot of his characters. John Savage also makes a more courageous turn as a seasoned war photographer (and Bob Capa fan :) ).

While I am pleased to see the Canon F-1 on the cover, I have to admit that Nikon was the dominant gear at the time. John Savage even uses a rangefinder (a Leica most likely) in quite a number of scenes. I'm not sure what he meant when he said his 120 was busted...I didn't see him carrying a Rolleiflex or something....anyway ;)

89 - Mystery Train

I remember Jim mentioning in one of his documentaries how he watches foreign movies with no subtitles and from there be able to discover how good the film has been made. That was the case for how I watched the first segment of Mystery Train. Just watch the facial expressions of Masatoshi Nagase and Youki Kudoh and you can't miss the emotion or context of what they were saying, despite the language barrier. In it's own weird way, it felt like watching R2D2 and C-3PO :)

It's great to have the gang back.....with Tom Waits on the radio, Nicoletta Braschi (from Down by Law), and John Lurie's background music. It was great to watch Steve Buscemi as well....anything he does with the Coen Brothers and Jim Jarmusch just can't go wrong.

88 - Night on Earth

Back on the Jim Jarmusch track :)

Wonderful slices of life....and truly are slices of stories and it doesn't really matter where it starts. Jim is just able to keep you watching and if you watch the extras, you appreciate how he creates his films on instinct. Choosing a taxi cab as a setting, this might have been a pre-cursor to those HBO taxicab confessions series.

Winona Ryder, Gena Rowlands, Giancarlo Esposito

I loved the episodes by Giancarlo Esposito, Armin Mueller Stahl, and of course, Roberto Benigni! I enjoyed Jim describing working with Roberto as being so easy you just have to point a camera at his face and let him do his thing :)

And Isaach De Bankolé!......I really didn't recoginze him until Jim mentions him in the extras (he was the ice cream man in Ghost Dog!)

The extras include audio clips of Jim responding to email Q&As....another welcome treat.

One last thing about Roberto......I don't think I'll look at pumpkins and sheep the same way again :)

87 - Paris, je t'aime

With a cast that included Steve Buscemi, Natalie Portman, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Juliette Binoche, Willem Dafoe, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Emily Mortimer, I definitley wanted to try this "buffet" :)

With a string of 20 stories though.....it did feel a little exhausting....even though the whole thing altogether lasted as much as a regular movie. I guess if you think about it....if you watch something from Inarritu (Amores Perros, Babel) or Soderbergh (Traffic), you get really focused on anywhere from 4 to 5 stories or plots......how about 20? Even though it was just a sequence of one after another, the format is probably what I wasn't used to......but hey, I aint complanin' :)

The common thread is the location of Paris, but this collection of stories really explores anything and everything about affection.

86 - Permanent Vacation

Ok ok...back to the Jim Jarmusch track. This movie has the same feel as Stranger Than Paradise...but in color....and like STP, you just can't help but enjoy the "stills" possible with the scenes Jim created for this story. John Lurie only has a small part and I have to admit I've gotten really used to him that I wished he had a bigger role somehow.

Plus....I get to see Barney (Frankie Faison) in a small but critical role :)

85 - Spun

I just can't seem to find the uniqueness in this film. You can certainly do a lot to expose the lives of drug addicts and everything around them, like Requiem for a Dream or Permanent Midnight, but it does not seem to work for me in this one. The only actor who seemed to be able to carry his character was Mickey Rourke....everyone else looked as if they were playing a fantasy.....I mean, unless you can run with the craziness like Benicio Del Toro and Johnny Depp did in Fearing and Loathing in Las Vegas or Ewan McGregor in Trainspotting, you're not really depicting a drug addict (I think). Even all the mixed elements felt stolen (addict spins, animation, 70s cops...)

84 - Down by Law

I've reached a point of addiction and now seeking out all of Jim Jarmusch's work. Down by Law is another excellent piece of work in black and white. Tom Waits' DJ riffs were amazing and John Lurie complemented him really well. And let's not forget the third "stooge": Roberto Benigni! I love how Jim used his struggle with english to amplify subliminal messages.

83 - Stranger than Paradise

Anyone who has an affinity for black and white photogaphy will enjoy watching this film. It's as if Jim Jarmusch had all these photographs and breathed life into them. If you love photography, you will have moments in this film where you will just admire the composition. The contrast is just beautiful.

82 - The Bad Sleep Well

I was curious about Akira Kurosawa's "non-feudal Japan" work and wondered how his approach translated to a modern setting. Seeing his usual cast of actors has really become a welcome treat and I can see why a lot of directors have done the same thing. The story can easily be tied to a Ronin tale, as it is all about patience in revenge. The twist, of course, is that not everything goes as planned all the time. I didn't really notice Toshiro Mifune until maybe halfway into the movie. He's so restrained in this film.

81 - Red Road

Jackie's obsession fueled her courage to not only stalk an ex-con, but drive her to the edge. In the end, closure still found its way.....and like Terrence Stamp's Wilson character (in The Limey), the final face-off, having subdued your enemy, and accomplishing all that had taken so much out of you.......you let go......and find your peace.

80 - Junebug

Sometimes people fall into relationships for very specific reasons....those that can blind pretty much everything else. Amy Adams' and Embeth Davidz' characters live totally different lives, but have the same state or relationship......one that does not stand on completely knowing each other, but sharing one specific event (or moments) that seem to keep the status quo. The insight into a southern family was very interesting.

79 - The Parallax View

This story could have been a prequel to The Manchurian Candidate. It examines the process behind recruiting, conditioning, and execution of potential "candidates" (or drones, if I were to make an analogy). Warren Beatty plays the role of an investigative reporter who, in his efforts to infiltrate the program, is sucked into it.

This is has been a back-to-back run on 60's/70's movies for me (having just seen Antonioni's Blow-Up). I found it quite entertaining just noticing how much has changed over time.

78 - Blow Up

Ok, I confess...I picked this out just so I can watch old photographic equipment in action again :) But there was a fun surprise....the swinging 60's!

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.

73 - Pan's Labyrinth

It was really refreshing to see a production of this level of quality done outside of the United States.

Brilliantly set in the backdrop of war and a distressed family, the fantasy of Ofelia's world blended really well.

Tapping into old ruins and myths gave the fantasy credibility and Ivana Baquero, the center of it all, came through and had a really outstanding expression of curiosity, wisdom, and courage.

72 - The Eyes of Laura Mars

I remember seeing this movie on afternoon TV a long time ago and was just amused at all the cameras Ms. Mars used......she used a Nikon, Hasselblad, Leica, and even a Polaroid Land Camera. Sadly, the movie really had the feel of an afternoon TV program and the story was weak.

71 - Kicking and Screaming

I really liked The Squid and the Whale and so I was curious to watch Noah Baumbach's other movies. Kicking and Screaming certainly had the same attention to dialogue. I honestly didn't realize the flashbacks until midway through the movie.

Can't miss an independent movie without Parker Posey (she must be in like one in every five!)

70 - The Stars of Star Wars

I have no idea why this landed on my queue :) ...."Honestly, its not mine!".....hahahahha I guess Star Wars still has such a grip on me.

That or I was a victim of a jedi mind trick!

;)

69 - Dr. Strangelove

Stanley Kubrick's insights come through really clear in his work...especially in Dr. Strangelove. It may have been done so many years ago, but the fears can easily be applied today. There appears to be no hope, we are doomed to destroy ourselves. All it takes is one mistake.

All the military procedures give me some memories of The Day After and War Games. How complex everything has become....mechanisms, politics, strategy.

With help somehow from above, I hope we are able to survive.

68 - Black Snake Moan

Let's face it. Christina Ricci was smoking hot in this movie! I had to light up a cigarette after watching it (lol). Seriously though, I liked the way this movie unfolded. There clearly was a connection between Laz and Rae, but the beauty of it was that in the end you realize that it was, in its true form, fatherly love.

67 - Breach

There are lots of stories (and movies) on espionage, but Breach takes a "Donnie Brasco" approach in telling it from the counterintelligence angle. Chris Cooper absolutely delivers on this film, as well as a strong supporting cast that includes Laura Linney, Denis Haysbert, and Kathleen Quinlan.

66 - Smokin Aces

This movie has potential....but I just couldn't appreciate it enough. It had a lot of interesing characters, but maybe too much for the creators...too many storylines...I think a director who is used to his type of treatment could have done it differently....like perhaps Steven Soderbergh or Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu....

65 - The Osterman Weekend

This is one of those "residual movies" in my mind......movies I remember watching several times a long time ago....but never the whole thing. I never did understand what it was about....all that staying in my memory were Rutger Hauer and John Hurt in that last scene (which happened to be the only scene I always saw when I landed on a channel that was showing this movie). So when it finally came up in one my searches, I just had to get to finally put to rest my lingering curiosity.

It seemed like Peckinpah was too fond of slow motion...sometimes it worked...and sometimes it just looked odd, but amusing altogether. Meg Foster's eyes are really scary :)

64 - Champion

This documentary is not as bad as some have described it to be, though a lot of the feedback is mainly for the production...and rightfully so....Danny Trejo is a subject that can really stand by itself. In fact, even without the fancy production, just following Danny, ala reality show, and letting him speak would probably have worked as well.

Danny has always been fun to watch on film. And hearing more about the person behind the actor is very interesting and admirable.

Steve Buscemi, Val Kilmer, and Robert Rodriguez offer funny stories and remarks.

63 - The Good German

I enjoyed watching this movie in its black and white format, but honestly, the only person who really blended in or was clearly fit for the medium was Cate Blanchett. I know I'm biased, but her scenes were the only ones that transported me to that era.

62 - The Good Shepherd

It's the stillness that makes Matt Damon's character so cold. You just can't tell what he's feeling or what's on his mind...pretty much like a great poker player. His performance reminds me of Gene Hackman in The Conversation.

As expected, great supporting roles by John Turturro and Alec Baldwin.

61 - Children of Men

This is a scary proposition on what the decay of human society can bring upon all of us. And this really goes beyond the story. The dvd inlcudes a documentary with several statements by historians, sociologists, and other experts on how close to reality we are to the dangers pointed out in the movie. This is a really crucial time for the human race.

One has to note Michael Caine's terrific performance as a hippie......pull my finger :)

60 - A Scanner Darkly

Paranoia.
It takes all shapes and forms.
The mind is a powerful thing.
Use it well, and it serves you well.
Abuse it, and it abuses you.
Reality?
Be careful.

59 - The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys

Jodie Foster and Vincent D'Onofrio took some rather odd turns as members of the clergy in this coming-of-age movie. Kieran Culkin has really done a better job with his career (compared to Macaulay). He is able to channel emotions really well, showing a range that will no doubt be developed in time.

The fascination with comics and superheroes is a dominant part of adolescent life and cleverly used in this film to present all the mixed emotions and experiences that come with the age. It was explained convincingly in the dvd documentaries, where the animation was intended to not give life to drawings but the thoughts left unexpressed in real life.

58 - Notes on a Scandal

Judi Dench was terrifyingly effective. Her performance reminds me of Ellen Burstyn's performance in Requiem for a Dream. I confess that I was as infatuated as her character as she narrated through the early parts of the story, admiring Sheba. Cate Blanchett is intoxicating and Bill Nighy's supporting character was impressive.

57 - Sleeping Dogs Lie

Bobcat Goldthwait wrote and directly a really honest and insightful film. Everyone's got secrets. And a lot of them really will stay hidden because they are probably the most outrageous and embarassing acts or thoughts known to...well, you :). And what about all the typical advice people give 'ya?...Honesty is the best policy, true relationships are build on complete trust, the truth shall set you free...? This film will make you ponder about it. Want some music to help you out? How about Hall and Oats' "Some things are better left unsaid"?

56 - Fast Food Nation

I'm not sure I can ever look at a fast food burger the same way again. This film exposes the industry for what it is, and I think that's what makes it very effective. It gives you enough to think about, and the life stories certainly give you a lot of points for reflection. Catalina Moreno, Wilmer Valderrama, and Ana Talancon really delivered.

The bit parts by Luis Guzman and Bruce Willis were equaly as good. Kris Kristofferson's narrative voice is just plain respectable and solid.

It's a film that's also filled with transformation. Following Greg Kinnear's character from the upbeat executive to the defeated trasient in the end is perhaps the end goal for this movie. It will make you reconsider, and be affected by it.

In one of the films most powerful moments, Catalina Moreno is forced to work in the kill floor of the meat plant. What she witnesses is terrifying and I would definitely have reacted the same way...tear up uncontrollably, trying to come to grips with all the different emotions and realizations of the moment.

55 - Prozac Nation

The story is predictable, but the abrasive character Christina Ricci brings to the picture is impressive, with the exception of the scenes where she had to shed a tear. It really looks like she's trying hard to be a normal person and cry just like everyone else, when she really doesn't have to...hopefully in the future she learns to let go and express the sadness in her own way.

54 - Female Prisoner 701

Knowing that this film was part of Quentin's list of inspirations for Kill Bill, I was on the lookout for familiar elements (other than revenge, of course). The use of the glass floor and the color changes in the faces of the victims (once the revenge started) were clear reminders.

Meiko Kaji has really piercing eyes...a true lady snowblood :)

The film was probably done during a softcore-porn era as there were lots of gratuitous sexuality. Lotsa tits, panties, and even a lesbian sexual encounter. Hey.....I ain't complainin' :) One thing that was funny though, during the prison riot when a number of guards were kept hostage, they were terrified when confronted by a gang of naked women who were prepared to rape them.....kinda hard to believe....if you were a man....this wouldn't necessarily terrify you, right? :)

53 - Casino Royale

Daniel Craig has successfully brought to the franchise what Pierce Brosnan did when he first took over with Goldeneye: a spark. The selection of Eva Green was a good one. The dialogue between Bond and Lynd in the plane...now that's a conversation!

52 - Babel

Like Amores Perros, this movie has nicely interwoven stories. It's a great lesson on what is true and honest in what's both good and bad altogether.

It doesn't matter if you're a victim of a tragedy, compelled to fulfill a promise, or be limited physically, emotionally, or otherwise. We are all responsible for our actions. We are accountable. We are all left to deal with loss, gain, understanding, compassion, love, prejudice, or hate.

51 - Shortbus

All the sex in this film can really distract you, but if you can just be patient enough to finish the film it reveals the metaphors that represent the different levels of survival in human interaction and identity.

One name that really stood out in my opinion was Severin...a name (according to the web ;) ) based on a story of a man infatuated with a woman he requests to be treated as her slave. How do you see this character's symbolism?

50 - Havoc

This movie really had a history with all the different production people and actors switching but when it finally came out it was casted with a number of young ones that at first you just get a little annoyed at the overacting and attempts at character, when suddenly you begin to rationalize that the characters are supposed to be teenagers right smack in the middle of adolesence, trying to find their identity, making impressions on everyone around them...and then you wonder if this was intentionally brought forth by the creators...if so, smart move.

And like so many lessons in teenage life, it really takes an incident to shake you up.

Ain't that the truth?

49 - The Science of Sleep

It took me a couple of days to finish watching this movie. I don't know if I was just so busy and exhausted or just plain lost in Michel Gondry's twisted story. There were moments when the dialogue felt boring, and you try to rationalize the meaning behind the alternate universe, but still get confused in distinguishing dream, reality, or character. But maybe that's how it was supposed to be.

48 - Blood Simple

I picked this one not only because of the Coen brothers, but because of Dan Hedaya. He, along with M. Emett Walsh shine in this movie.

It's the perfect story of miscommunication and false assumptions. But when you're in a world of betrayal, confrontation, frame-ups, and an incinerator...well, what do you expect? :) :)

Also, I've never seen Frances McDormand so young ;).

47 - Running with Scissors

What an outstanding cast!

• Brian Cox played the looney psychiatrist perfectly.
  
• Jill Clayburgh reminded me of Allison Janney's character in American Beauty (though a more vocal one in this movie).
  
• Alec Baldwin had a small role but he came through with such precision that it's one of his many short but memorable performances (like his turn in Glengary Glen Ross).
  
• Evan Rachel Wood, Gwyneth Paltrow, Joseph Cross, and Joseph Fiennes make up such a crazy bunch and yet clearly represent what I really believe is normal.
  
• Oh, and let's not forget Annette Bening. Damn, she really knows how to breakdown in front of a camera...(but Ellen Burstyn's performance in Requiem for a Dream is still the performance to beat when it comes to self-destruction).
  

It's a dark comedy that really delivers the realities of life and I think there's a lot to agree to in this film.

46 - Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

It's happened to most of us, having our heart broken by a relationship we'd rather forget. But really, as time goes on we really don't intend to want to forget everything. All relationships have good and bad memories, and even though we all deny it most of the time, we do indulge ourselves sometimes of the good memories. And why not? It's just like picking a tape or disc from your shelf and playing it for a while...to relive a scene. And once you've had your fill, you place it back in the shelf and go on with your life. Sadly, some people are unable to do that, and the scene continues to play in their head...and soon enough their life is consumed by it. Can you imagine how it would be if the chosen memory was a bad one?

I really hated Elijah Wood's character in the first few scenes that revealed he was capitalizing on Jim Carrey's character and memories to woo Clementine. But alas, life will set things right, and the effort turns out to be a losing one. We have the ability to play other people, but we are only as good as who we are...so as Fi would say...keep with yourself.

Jim Carrey's performance was really good and it's sad to see him be continuously underrated despite his efforts in this film (though some critics have finally taken notice).

The premise of this movie reminds me of a scene from one of the Star Trek movies where Captain Kirk (William Shatner) confronts Spock's half-brother-turned-charismatic-cult-leader who has the ability to release people from their emotional pains. Being the next target for his cause, Kirk fights back, "No! Pain is what makes us who we are! I need my pain!"

The pressure of pain. How does it affect us? Remember in The Devil's Advocate, where Al Pacino's character stressed the effect on Keanu Reeves, "...pressure...some people fold...some focus...."

How does the pressure of pain affect you?

Would you really pay to get some memories removed? Isn't your brain already capable of doing a similar task? I enjoyed Tom Wilkinson's explanation of the procedure when Jim Carrey's Joel Barish asked if it might give him brain damage."Well, the procedure really is some form of brain damage, but rather similar to the effects of a heavy dose of drinking."

45 - Sherrybaby

Sherrybaby is one of those films that you hate to watch because you truly agree with its reality. Maggie Gyllenhaal projected the same intensity she brought to Secretary. She can be frail and emotional on one end and then suddenly burst out like Ellen Ripley when she has to, clearly molded to some extent by the justice system. Danny Trejo played a really good role for a change as somewhat of a cross between a friend and lover to Maggie's character.

44 - Factotum

Midway through this movie I started to recognize the story and sure enough I realized that it was the same story done a long time ago by Mickey Rourke in Barfly. Matt Dillon and Lili Taylor play having a hangover really well....but if you really want to see a drunk....Barfly, my friend :).