The Movie Review and Discussion Thread

[vega2K]

Originally Posted by Diesel

There's a lot of posts I need to catch up on, but I'm a little pressed for time, so I'll do that tonight after I return from seeing The Fighter.

I will be anxiously waiting for your take. I came away very surprised at the rawness and realism of it and thought it deserved a 5/5 mainly for the acting. Hope you enjoy!

[Lepidopterous]

Natalie Portman gives an engrossing and captivating performance as Nina Sayers in Black Swan. Her portrayal of the reserved white swan hiding behind a façade of perfection is mesmerizing. She truly loses herself in the role, essentially taking up two roles. You can sense the pressure gradually building up inside her at a masterful pace as the tension can be seen across her face and through her actions and movements. Nina slowly approaches the brink of insanity as she undergoes her intoxicating metamorphosis until the breathtaking climax. The film pulls the audience in deeper and deeper until you lose all sense of reality. The experience is only heightened by Mansell's immersive and horrifying orchestral score. It is not as thematically rich as say The Fountain, but every last detail is metaphorically complex. The choreography was simply superb and Portman's ease and skill in dance speaks volumes of her effort and enhances her dramatic performance. The ballet, Swan Lake by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, is twisted yet elegant. Even while witnessing rehearsals throughout the film, the final performance will render you speechless. Prepare to have both questions and answers cleverly delivered to you in a fashion only director Darren Aronofsky can construct. Black Swan is the best psychological thriller I have seen in years, though I am sure I am just starting to scratch its surface.

5/5

[lDlisturb3d]

Im back fellas, and IM at HOME!!!! The first thing i did was played 9 and War of the Worlds. HOLLY CRAP! War of the Worlds has RETARDED LFE!!!!! I WAS BLOWN AWAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[KilloWertz]

Originally Posted by iam1bearcat

haha i was gonna say that for 27 Dresses

but seriously, what is the point of him making a lists of films he hates from someone else's collection? all that's trying to do is rile people up and start some internet fights. nothing more and it's ridiculous.

I own 27 Dresses (and other rom-coms).

[lDlisturb3d]

Wow have you guys seen the Trailer for Tree of Life Pitt's about to get his first oscar watch!!

[Diesel]

The Fighter

Things I knew about this movie going in:

• It was about a fighter.
  
• Based on a true story.
  
• Christian Bale was supposed to be fantastic.

I had no expectations going in because I had seen the first trailer one time and that was pretty much it. So I was a mostly blank slate going in.

From the very beginning of the film when we first see Bale with that "Dicky look" I knew, "This is going to be a very different role for him." And boy was I right...but I'll get back to that later.

I'm not a boxing fan in the slightest, so I didn't know the history behind this movie. I didn't know who Micky Ward was, didn't know what the character would be like, what the family would be portrayed like, or any of that stuff.

That said, I highly enjoyed what I got. I really felt for Wahlberg's Micky character, I felt for Bale's Dicky character. I was angry when the mother would ignore Micky. I was incredibly saddened and shocked

[Show spoiler]when the cop shattered Micky's hand.

I was overjoyed when Dicky

[Show spoiler]left the crack house without going inside or even entertaining the notion on his way to Charlene's house.

Or in other words, I CARED for the characters. I cared for their individual stories and journeys they had to go through to get to the end of the film. It all worked perfectly for me. Not a single tiny complaint.


Now, the acting.

One of the three things I knew going in, "Christian Bale was supposed to be fantastic."
Turns out it was true. He really was fantastic. I've seen 15 of his films now and I have to say that I firmly believe that this is his best performance I have seen (note: I have not seen American Psycho or The Machinist yet). He was incredible. He was just so out there and into the character. But being the character is nothing new to him. What impressed me the most was how incredibly candid and extroverted he was in this film. The man himself is very much an introvert so doing this role must have been some serious work to put himself out there like that. Every other performance is much more subdued and pulled back; and he's wonderful at that. But Dicky was just so over the top, 100%, full speed ahead all the time. I absolutely loved it, every minute of it. My favorite of his performances is still The Prestige but this one is definitely his best work. I'm not an awards guy really, I don't put any stock in a movie being great or a performance being great BECAUSE they have an award; but I do like to see it when something I feel is award worthy is recognized, and I surely hope he gets the recognition he deserves for this performance.

Even as much as I loved Bale's performance, he wasn't overshadowing in the slightest. No one touched him performance wise in my opinion, not even close, but they other main cast was strong as well.

CZAR's boy Wahlberg turned in a great job. As out there as Bale had to play Dicky, Wahlberg had to play Micky the polar opposite of that. He pulled it off superbly in my opinion; a very strong and, I guess you could say, "heartfelt" effort. I got the impression that he REALLY cared about this character.

Amy Adams wasn't as good as those two but she was no slouch either. I was impressed with her work as well. She also worked quite well with Wahlberg I thought. I cheered a little when she

[Show spoiler]starting beating the crap out of one of those sisters!

One thing I loved about how the movie was filmed was how they made sure the coverage of the fights had a different look than the rest of the film. I like when that kind of thing is done. The first thing that came to mind when I saw that was Rocky Balboa and how they shot the final fight at the end with HD cameras to give it that HDTV look. In this case it wasn't anything like that sort of look that looked...how do I put it...less textured I guess. A little more blurry. That older tv look. I loved it.


If you are thinking of seeing this movie, I highly recommend checking it out when and if you can. Great writing and acting all the way. Couldn't have been happier with my two hours in that theater seat.

I've been reevaluating some of my previous 5/5 ratings from the past, and I've dropped some of them down, but in this case, the movie deserves it in my opinion.


Rating - 5/5

[Marcus Wright]

Originally Posted by Diesel

The Fighter

Things I knew about this movie going in:

• It was about a fighter.
  
• Based on a true story.
  
• Christian Bale was supposed to be fantastic.

I

[Show spoiler]had no expectations going in because I had seen the first trailer one time and that was pretty much it. So I was a mostly blank slate going in.

From the very beginning of the film when we first see Bale with that "Dicky look" I knew, "This is going to be a very different role for him." And boy was I right...but I'll get back to that later.

I'm not a boxing fan in the slightest, so I didn't know the history behind this movie. I didn't know who Micky Ward was, didn't know what the character would be like, what the family would be portrayed like, or any of that stuff.

That said, I highly enjoyed what I got. I really felt for Wahlberg's Micky character, I felt for Bale's Dicky character. I was angry when the mother would ignore Micky. I was incredibly saddened and shocked

[Show spoiler]when the cop shattered Micky's hand.

I was overjoyed when Dicky

[Show spoiler]left the crack house without going inside or even entertaining the notion on his way to Charlene's house.

Or in other words, I CARED for the characters. I cared for their individual stories and journeys they had to go through to get to the end of the film. It all worked perfectly for me. Not a single tiny complaint.


Now, the acting.

One of the three things I knew going in, "Christian Bale was supposed to be fantastic."
Turns out it was true. He really was fantastic. I've seen 15 of his films now and I have to say that I firmly believe that this is his best performance I have seen (note: I have not seen American Psycho or The Machinist yet). He was incredible. He was just so out there and into the character. But being the character is nothing new to him. What impressed me the most was how incredibly candid and extroverted he was in this film. The man himself is very much an introvert so doing this role must have been some serious work to put himself out there like that. Every other performance is much more subdued and pulled back; and he's wonderful at that. But Dicky was just so over the top, 100%, full speed ahead all the time. I absolutely loved it, every minute of it. My favorite of his performances is still The Prestige but this one is definitely his best work. I'm not an awards guy really, I don't put any stock in a movie being great or a performance being great BECAUSE they have an award; but I do like to see it when something I feel is award worthy is recognized, and I surely hope he gets the recognition he deserves for this performance.

Even as much as I loved Bale's performance, he wasn't overshadowing in the slightest. No one touched him performance wise in my opinion, not even close, but they other main cast was strong as well.

CZAR's boy Wahlberg turned in a great job. As out there as Bale had to play Dicky, Wahlberg had to play Micky the polar opposite of that. He pulled it off superbly in my opinion; a very strong and, I guess you could say, "heartfelt" effort. I got the impression that he REALLY cared about this character.

Amy Adams wasn't as good as those two but she was no slouch either. I was impressed with her work as well. She also worked quite well with Wahlberg I thought. I cheered a little when she

[Show spoiler]starting beating the crap out of one of those sisters!

One thing I loved about how the movie was filmed was how they made sure the coverage of the fights had a different look than the rest of the film. I like when that kind of thing is done. The first thing that came to mind when I saw that was Rocky Balboa and how they shot the final fight at the end with HD cameras to give it that HDTV look. In this case it wasn't anything like that sort of look that looked...how do I put it...less textured I guess. A little more blurry. That older tv look. I loved it.


If you are thinking of seeing this movie, I highly recommend checking it out when and if you can. Great writing and acting all the way. Couldn't have been happier with my two hours in that theater seat.

I've been reevaluating some of my previous 5/5 ratings from the past, and I've dropped some of them down, but in this case, the movie deserves it in my opinion.

Rating - 5/5

See American Psycho and we will talk about Christian Bales best perfomance.
He was born for that role.

[Diesel]

Originally Posted by Marcus Wright

See American Psycho and we will talk about Christian Bales best perfomance.
He was born for that role.

I've seen SOME of American Psycho, but not the entire thing yet. What I've seen there is pretty good, but this is better. But I can't say it for a fact until I see his entire performance in American Psycho and The Machinist.


Did you see The Fighter yet?

[Marcus Wright]

Originally Posted by Diesel

I've seen SOME of American Psycho, but not the entire thing yet. What I've seen there is pretty good, but this is better. But I can't say it for a fact until I see his entire performance in American Psycho and The Machinist.


Did you see The Fighter yet?

No, but I am planning to as I am a big Bale fan.
Except for the Fighter (which i havent seen yet) I am pretty positive that he was unbeleivable in American Psycho. His personal characteristics make him very beleivable in that role. He did actually look like a psycho.

[KilloWertz]

Originally Posted by Diesel

The Fighter

[Show spoiler]
Things I knew about this movie going in:

• It was about a fighter.
  
• Based on a true story.
  
• Christian Bale was supposed to be fantastic.

I had no expectations going in because I had seen the first trailer one time and that was pretty much it. So I was a mostly blank slate going in.

From the very beginning of the film when we first see Bale with that "Dicky look" I knew, "This is going to be a very different role for him." And boy was I right...but I'll get back to that later.

I'm not a boxing fan in the slightest, so I didn't know the history behind this movie. I didn't know who Micky Ward was, didn't know what the character would be like, what the family would be portrayed like, or any of that stuff.

That said, I highly enjoyed what I got. I really felt for Wahlberg's Micky character, I felt for Bale's Dicky character. I was angry when the mother would ignore Micky. I was incredibly saddened and shocked

[Show spoiler]when the cop shattered Micky's hand.

I was overjoyed when Dicky

[Show spoiler]left the crack house without going inside or even entertaining the notion on his way to Charlene's house.

Or in other words, I CARED for the characters. I cared for their individual stories and journeys they had to go through to get to the end of the film. It all worked perfectly for me. Not a single tiny complaint.


Now, the acting.

One of the three things I knew going in, "Christian Bale was supposed to be fantastic."
Turns out it was true. He really was fantastic. I've seen 15 of his films now and I have to say that I firmly believe that this is his best performance I have seen (note: I have not seen American Psycho or The Machinist yet). He was incredible. He was just so out there and into the character. But being the character is nothing new to him. What impressed me the most was how incredibly candid and extroverted he was in this film. The man himself is very much an introvert so doing this role must have been some serious work to put himself out there like that. Every other performance is much more subdued and pulled back; and he's wonderful at that. But Dicky was just so over the top, 100%, full speed ahead all the time. I absolutely loved it, every minute of it. My favorite of his performances is still The Prestige but this one is definitely his best work. I'm not an awards guy really, I don't put any stock in a movie being great or a performance being great BECAUSE they have an award; but I do like to see it when something I feel is award worthy is recognized, and I surely hope he gets the recognition he deserves for this performance.

Even as much as I loved Bale's performance, he wasn't overshadowing in the slightest. No one touched him performance wise in my opinion, not even close, but they other main cast was strong as well.

CZAR's boy Wahlberg turned in a great job. As out there as Bale had to play Dicky, Wahlberg had to play Micky the polar opposite of that. He pulled it off superbly in my opinion; a very strong and, I guess you could say, "heartfelt" effort. I got the impression that he REALLY cared about this character.

Amy Adams wasn't as good as those two but she was no slouch either. I was impressed with her work as well. She also worked quite well with Wahlberg I thought. I cheered a little when she

[Show spoiler]starting beating the crap out of one of those sisters!

One thing I loved about how the movie was filmed was how they made sure the coverage of the fights had a different look than the rest of the film. I like when that kind of thing is done. The first thing that came to mind when I saw that was Rocky Balboa and how they shot the final fight at the end with HD cameras to give it that HDTV look. In this case it wasn't anything like that sort of look that looked...how do I put it...less textured I guess. A little more blurry. That older tv look. I loved it.


If you are thinking of seeing this movie, I highly recommend checking it out when and if you can. Great writing and acting all the way. Couldn't have been happier with my two hours in that theater seat.

I've been reevaluating some of my previous 5/5 ratings from the past, and I've dropped some of them down, but in this case, the movie deserves it in my opinion.

Rating - 5/5

Now that you've posted your review, the question is... Does The Fighter join the Diesel One and Done Collection, or is it a potential purchase?

[Diesel]

My catch up post:

Originally Posted by iam1bearcat

i was able to at least get to stay on the couch, so it wasn't too bad
i just put out the foot rest and it becomes a small bed

Originally Posted by vega2K

Holy Sh!t! Just came back from watching The Fighter - man that is a good movie. It feels so real and at times more like a documentary because of the acting! Like him or not, Christian Bale is unbelieveable (I like him) - Hard to believe an awesome actor like that is this generation's Batman. For those that say he is the same Bale in every movie he is in, this will show you different - he is like a completely different actor. Amy Adams is by far my favorite female actor - she is not only beautiful, but she is a true actress! Mark Wahlberg - To me he is meh as an actor, but he is real in this movie.

If you are not familiar with the actual events/people, do yourself a favor and don't Google them, instead watch the movie and be surprised that it is based on real people. No explosions, no murders, no car chases, just real stuff.

Highly recommend it! My first 5/5!

Originally Posted by iam1bearcat

my interest level in The Fighter is around 1/5, but i'll see it when it hits the shelves. however, with that said, i'm hesitant to watch it because it's not something i'm super interested in, but since it will get some award noms, it's worth checking out.

Check it out. Don't worry about it being a "boxing movie" because its not. Not even close.

but i HATE Christian Bale (not anything he's done personally, just don't like his performances and something about him just irks me) and i'm not a fan of boxing at all.

[Show spoiler]

[Show spoiler]He's my favorite actor.

but i'm a big Wahlberg fan and Johannson... well, she speaks for herself so the two plusses equal out (almost) the two main negatives i have with the film.

Well then you will be pleased because he did a great job.

And I think you mean Adams

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

I have already tackled that issue with Moon...

Sam Rockwell
Sam Rockwell
Sam Rockwell



You didnt respond to my PDL answers.

Originally Posted by Romulus

127 Hours

[Show spoiler]Had the pleasure of watching this over Thanksgiving.

I'm a huge Danny Boyle fan. He's one of the few working director's today who I feel can do no wrong. Okay, so he did do The Beach which was absolutely terrible, but he has a perfect track record since then. From each film to the next we get a completely different story set in a completely different world. Whether it's from zombie controlled Britain to the surface of the sun or the wild streets of India, Boyle offers a completely unique perspective on the visual medium. Following Aron Ralston's journey in the Utah canyons only continues Boyle's streak.

By now we all know of the heroic story of Aron Ralston and his inspirational story in the canyons of Utah. After spending five days trapped in a boulder he does the unthinkable and cuts his own arm off. 127 Hours does a great job of offering the mental and physical stress that Ralston suffers through. Ralston, played by James Franco, is forced to reevaluate his life when he is pushed to the edge and faces immanent death. This isn't only a film of the ultimate survival, but a study into the human mind on what exactly it takes for us to reevaluate our lives and realize what is the most precious to us.

The show stealer is obviously James Franco. Out of all the films I've seen this year, this is hands down the best performance. Franco doesn't overact, but offers a more subtle approach in which the fear the creeps under your skin. You can see the fear in his eyes as he sits silently and observes the situation at hand.

Obviously the big issue with this film is the graphic portrayal of the amputation scene. I have to come right out and say that while it is pretty intense, I can probably guarantee you that you've seen much worse. I should fairly note that for guys it shouldn't be a problem, if you're taking a date, you might want to second guess. Every girl that I went with ended up covering their eyes. Simply put, I would be pretty surprised if anyone ended up fainting when there is much more gory stuff out there. The amputation scene certainly isn't a disappointment, but I found the reports of people fainting to be a little over the top.

Stylistically this is Boyle's most interesting work to date. He opts for a three panel canvas in which we see a variety of shots on the screen at once. Boyle executes it perfectly without it being an eyesore or feel like it's being shoved down your throat. Some of the transition pieces present remind me of Nicolas Roeg's Walkabout.

[Show spoiler]For those who have seen Walkabout, think about the transition from the city to the wilderness with the brick wall, Boyle offers a very similar transition here that I love.

Overall I would have to say that this may be Boyle's best work yet. There certainly isn't a poor third act and for those who did not like Slumdog Millionaire and want something more gritty, then 127 Hours is right up your ally.

5/5

I really want to see this; will definitely rent it when it comes out.

Originally Posted by CZAR

Stephen Lang really? I absolutely love the film and I dont have many probs at all with it but if I did it would probably be Stephen Lang's sorta over the top cheesiness acting. Again not that I am complaining but since u pointed it out, I would have to say that would be my biggest gripe but again everything else outweighed him so the movie was perfect for me. Got Em!!

Yea man, for some reason I just enjoyed him in this movie. I don't disagree at all that he was over the top, but that's what the character was and he played it very well. I just with the character was a little more bad*** and had less cheesy/awful things to say (Shaved tail Louie, I mean, seriously? Who wrote that?).

Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange

Good man!

Originally Posted by vega2K

I will be anxiously waiting for your take. I came away very surprised at the rawness and realism of it and thought it deserved a 5/5 mainly for the acting. Hope you enjoy!

Look up 5 posts and you will be pleased

Originally Posted by Marcus Wright

No, but I am planning to as I am a big Bale fan.
Except for the Fighter (which i havent seen yet) I am pretty positive that he was unbeleivable in American Psycho. His personal characteristics make him very beleivable in that role. He did actually look like a psycho.

Hopefully the movie as much as I did.

Originally Posted by killowertz

Now that you've posted your review, the question is... Does The Fighter join the Diesel One and Done Collection, or is it a potential purchase?

It's not in the One and Done Collection (by the way, you owe me a quarter now ) but I won't be buying it.

I did love the film, but it wouldn't have that much replay value for me. I'd like to see it at least once more though.

[KilloWertz]

Originally Posted by Diesel

My catch up post:

It's not in the One and Done Collection (by the way, you owe me a quarter now ) but I won't be buying it.

I did love the film, but it wouldn't have that much replay value for me. I'd like to see it at least once more though.

I've used that plenty of times and you didn't mention it before, so you know where you can stick a quarter.

Understandable. I really want to see this when it comes out on Blu-ray/DVD, but I'm not sure I'd buy it either yet. It'll likely be a rental first, but I expect to really like it too.

[Riff Magnum]

Originally Posted by lDlisturb3d

Wow have you guys seen the Trailer for Tree of Life Pitt's about to get his first oscar watch!!

I have a hard time believing any Malick movie would even be considered for a best actor nom. He barely lets his actors speak!!! LOL!!

I agree, the trailer looks mind blowing. There's even a couple photos of Malick himself floating around on the internet. Never even seen the guy before that.

[two40]

Miller's Crossing (1990)

Yojimbo in a trench coat. Those 5 words should be able to serve as a complete review of Miller’s Crossing. Those 5 words should pique your curiosity and make you run out into the streets yelling at anyone that gets in your way as you frantically dash towards your local video store in search of a copy. Even on VHS. Even if you have to buy a VHS player afterwards.

The Coen brothers today are a pair of respected film makers. It took them years of hard work, consistently producing high quality entertainment that shares its table with what can only be described as art. Miller’s Crossing is one of their earlier films, right after Raising Arizona and trailing some of my favourites in Barton Fink, The Hudsucker Proxy, Fargo, and The Big Lebowski. And all of this in just the 1990′s. Sure that might not be a lot of films for a whole decade, but there isn’t a single lemon amongst them.

“I’m talkin’ about friendship. I’m talkin’ about character. I’m talkin’ about – hell. Leo, I ain’t embarrassed to use the word – I’m talkin’ about ethics.” And so the film begins. And so our underlining theme is introduced. The code of ethics plays an important role in the life of mobsters. There are no rules apart from certain ethics involved in guiding their actions. The theme is further explored with the betrayal by our protagonist when he sleeps with his bosses’ woman. Other situations demonstrate the ethics of the variety of characters in this world from the lowly thug, to the mayor and the chief of police.

The first ten minutes sets up the film with efficiency and grace. The opening scene introduces a conflict between two rival mob bosses that is set to drive the whole film. In the middle is the composed and intelligent advisor who has his own demons which make him unpredictable. Throw in a desirable dame to get between our leading men, and enjoy the show.

To demonstrate the efficiency of the first ten minutes, let me tell you about Verna. How much do you think you can tell about a character just by the way she opens the door? In her first 5 seconds on screen, Verna shows us more than a 5 minute exposition does in most other films. Opening the door without asking who it is, she appears casual. A self conscious woman stands at the other end, her shirt unbuttoned and showing her breasts cupped in a see-through bra. She opens the door wider and questions Tommy with her piercing eyes, daring him to talk first. Full of confidence, we meet a woman unlike her stereotypical 20′s counterpart. This woman takes no shit from no one and gets things done for herself alone.

Showcasing the age of the prohibition with elegant beauty, full of grand rooms with high ceilings and warehouses with wooden floors, it has a distinct dark pallet in both light and colour. It’s not your typical mob movie. Refreshingly, it aims for aesthetics as much as storytelling. If anything, and to touch on my opening, this film is a modern remake of a classic in Yojimbo. Our protagonist plays the bad elements against each other for a result he desires. Where the films differ is in the ulterior motives… and the kimonos have been replaced with trench coats.

I’ll leave you with one final note. A question if I may. The protagonist is named Tom Reagan. Everyone calls him Tommy in the film. Was he named Tommy as a bit of an inside joke by the Coens? Was his name an allegory for the Tommy gun made infamous during the prohibition era?

[Riff Magnum]

Originally Posted by two40

Miller's Crossing (1990)

Yojimbo in a trench coat. Those 5 words should be able to serve as a complete review of Miller’s Crossing. Those 5 words should pique your curiosity and make you run out into the streets yelling at anyone that gets in your way as you frantically dash towards your local video store in search of a copy. Even on VHS. Even if you have to buy a VHS player afterwards.

The Coen brothers today are a pair of respected film makers. It took them years of hard work, consistently producing high quality entertainment that shares its table with what can only be described as art. Miller’s Crossing is one of their earlier films, right after Raising Arizona and trailing some of my favourites in Barton Fink, The Hudsucker Proxy, Fargo, and The Big Lebowski. And all of this in just the 1990′s. Sure that might not be a lot of films for a whole decade, but there isn’t a single lemon amongst them.

“I’m talkin’ about friendship. I’m talkin’ about character. I’m talkin’ about – hell. Leo, I ain’t embarrassed to use the word – I’m talkin’ about ethics.” And so the film begins. And so our underlining theme is introduced. The code of ethics plays an important role in the life of mobsters. There are no rules apart from certain ethics involved in guiding their actions. The theme is further explored with the betrayal by our protagonist when he sleeps with his bosses’ woman. Other situations demonstrate the ethics of the variety of characters in this world from the lowly thug, to the mayor and the chief of police.

The first ten minutes sets up the film with efficiency and grace. The opening scene introduces a conflict between two rival mob bosses that is set to drive the whole film. In the middle is the composed and intelligent advisor who has his own demons which make him unpredictable. Throw in a desirable dame to get between our leading men, and enjoy the show.

To demonstrate the efficiency of the first ten minutes, let me tell you about Verna. How much do you think you can tell about a character just by the way she opens the door? In her first 5 seconds on screen, Verna shows us more than a 5 minute exposition does in most other films. Opening the door without asking who it is, she appears casual. A self conscious woman stands at the other end, her shirt unbuttoned and showing her breasts cupped in a see-through bra. She opens the door wider and questions Tommy with her piercing eyes, daring him to talk first. Full of confidence, we meet a woman unlike her stereotypical 20′s counterpart. This woman takes no shit from no one and gets things done for herself alone.

Showcasing the age of the prohibition with elegant beauty, full of grand rooms with high ceilings and warehouses with wooden floors, it has a distinct dark pallet in both light and colour. It’s not your typical mob movie. Refreshingly, it aims for aesthetics as much as storytelling. If anything, and to touch on my opening, this film is a modern remake of a classic in Yojimbo. Our protagonist plays the bad elements against each other for a result he desires. Where the films differ is in the ulterior motives… and the kimonos have been replaced with trench coats.

I’ll leave you with one final note. A question if I may. The protagonist is named Tom Reagan. Everyone calls him Tommy in the film. Was he named Tommy as a bit of an inside joke by the Coens? Was his name an allegory for the Tommy gun made infamous during the prohibition era?

I'll just let everyone know that your actual score is 4/5, since you posted the same review in another thread.

Good review though. I'd rate it a 4/5 as well.

[lDlisturb3d]

Originally Posted by Riff Magnum

I have a hard time believing any Malick movie would even be considered for a best actor nom. He barely lets his actors speak!!! LOL!!

I agree, the trailer looks mind blowing. There's even a couple photos of Malick himself floating around on the internet. Never even seen the guy before that.

i haven't seen any of his films yet. I'll be watch A Thin Red Line coming up shortly. If i enjoy it ill get the rest of his films. Pitt needs at least one damn oscar. One SMH.

[Chaotic]

Originally Posted by lDlisturb3d

Wow have you guys seen the Trailer for Tree of Life Pitt's about to get his first oscar watch!!

ive watched the trailer so many times. my most anticpated movie of 2011.

[Lepidopterous]

I have never been disappointed from a Coen bros. product and Miller's Crossing is no exception. It's full of witty dialogue, an engaging script, and… hats. Yes, hats. They take on a character of their own in this film and I really dug it. The film is basically a war between tough guys, to see who can be tougher. But seriously, it centers on the mob boss's assistant Tom Reagan as he constantly puts himself in danger and leaves you wondering why. Is he smarter than he appears or does he enjoy fanning flames? The dialogue is fast and sharp with that familiar dose of twisted Coen bros. humor. Acting is top notch. Each character is so distinct from one another. It's easy to tell a screenplay is well written when the characters are so fleshed out. We have Albert Finney as the all-powerful but sentimental mob boss Leo, Jon Polito playing the rivaling power hungry Caspar, J.E. Freeman as the ice-cold Eddie Dane, John Turturro as problematic Bernie, Marcia Gay Harden as his protective and smokin' sister Verna, Steve Buscemi as the energetic Mink, and of course, Gabriel Byrne as the reasonable exchanger Tom Reagan. With memorable characters, unforgettable performances, gorgeous costume design, thoroughly engaging scenes, and well done action sequences (the house raid in particular), Miller's Crossing is pure entertainment from start to finish.

4.5/5

[iam1bearcat]

THE TOWN

Film #1

Year: 2010
Director: Ben Affleck
Starring: Ben Affleck, Jeremy Renner, Rebecca Hall and Jon Hamm
Genres: Drama & Crime

What Made Me Want to See This? Ben Affleck, guns, explosions and creepy nun costumes!

THEATRICAL VERSION (119 minutes)
After watching numerous previews of The Town, I was left with the impression that this was a heavy duty action crime film. And to be perfectly honest, The Town couldn’t be almost any farther from that. Is there action? Yes, of course. But over the two hour run time, I’d say about 40 minutes of it is devoted to action. The rest, is a slow burning, characterization of both Doug MacRay (Ben Affleck) and the city of Charlestown where the film takes place. If you like your films filled to the brim with action scenes, The Town will likely leave you disappointed. But if you go with no expectations other than to see a phenomenal film, then you’ll be leaving one happy customer.

I was more than happy with how the film turned out. The first hour in particular is very much fixed on Doug and building a relationship with Claire, who works at the bank that Doug and his crew just robbed. From the opening scene we learn that Doug has an eye for detail and is very good at what he does - setting up and executing robberies. At first I was left wondering why Doug was so nice and adamant about protecting Claire, but that question does get answered later on in the film.

The Town is most certainly about the dangerous volatile history the city is known for, but the scale of the film is surprisingly focused on Doug and a few select others. I personally loved this aspect of it as some films seem to take on too much at once, but The Town didn’t.

I didn’t have any issues really with The Town, and the fact that I was more than happy to watch the Extended Cut with friends a few hours after watching the Theatrical Version earlier in the day speaks volumes about my enjoyment of the film.

All individual aspects of the film are great, but the true standout, to me, was the performance of Jeremy Renner as James Coughlin. Coughlin is Doug’s best friend, and almost complete opposite. He’s hot headed, quick on his feet (but not for all the right reasons) and easily agitated and sometimes blurs the line between “friend” and “foe”. But the performance by Renner is phenomenal. From the accent to his mannerisms, I never felt comfortable with him in any scene. I had no idea when or if he would fly off the handle. It was awesome. I hope he gets a nomination for his role and I hope Affleck gets one for - at least - Best Director, if not a nomination for Best Film since there are 10 selections now available.

Also making a list of awards (Best Female Performances) is Rebecca Hall for her performance as Claire. Much more subtle and withdrawn, but definitely a role that couldn’t just be done by anyone.

One possible surprise for me was how straight forward the film is. No confusing family / “street thug” trees, character connections or anything. Just a standard, simple story. It also isn’t always exactly realistic. I’ve never been involved in a police shoot out in a high crime rate area, but somehow I think some of what happens is a little far fetched. But these are very, very minor nitpicks.

The Town also seemed to get better and better as it went along. For awhile it was almost like an odd romance film with the amount of time spent with Doug and Claire. But as it goes on and we learn about “one last job” the film takes on a more gritty and dangerous feel. The scene that really made me fall in love with the film was when Doug and Coughlin have a conversation in the kitchen about the next job. The writing and acting in that scene are just phenomenal and the film really feels real at that moment. And when one character in particular shows his true colors

[Show spoiler](The Florist)

the film feels like a different beast entirely.

Also, it should be mentioned that the ending is wonderful. It’s also much more touching and emotional than I ever thought it could be for the type of film it is, but while some may find it a bit too… sappy, for the type of film it is, I loved it and thought it was incredibly well done.

So, why doesn’t it get a 5/5? I feel that most (most, not all) films you’ll just know if they deserve a 5/5. When a film ends, either you know right away or maybe after a few hours later when you come back to think about it, you know if it gets a 5/5, and The Town didn’t effect me or feel like it was 5/5 worthy. Of course, 4.5/5 ain’t bad by any means, but just wanted to clarify why / how a film I had no issues with doesn’t get top billing.

Extended Cut (144 minutes) - preferred version to watch
A lot of the additional scenes are spread out through the film and range between 30 seconds and two minutes, and some scenes are actually taking place in different locations with added dialogue than in the theatrical version. Mostly we get more back story on the characters and city the film inhabits. I prefer it just because it’s a great film and the more we see of it, the better.


One question to those who have seen the film:

[Show spoiler]do you think Claire walked to the window in her apartment when talking to Doug on the phone on purpose? Earlier Doug asks to move to their bedroom because his uncle lives across the street and “can see right in here”. So, does she do that so if he’s watching (like he is) he can see that the cops are there so he knows not to go? Or was it just simply that she walked to the window and Doug would know not to go there anyway because he’s smarter than that?

OF MY OWN LISTS
2010 Best Picture Nomination (1/5 spots filled)
2010 Best Director: Ben Affleck (1/5 spots filled)
2010 Best Supporting Actor: Jeremy Renner (1/5 spots filled)
Best Male Performances: Jeremy Renner (unlimited)
Best Female Performances: Rebecca Hall (unlimited)

Favorite Scenes:

[Show spoiler]Doug telling Claire about his mother leaving

Saddest Scenes:

[Show spoiler]The Florist telling Doug what really happened to his mother

Funniest Scenes:

[Show spoiler]when the gang crosses the bridge, gets out of the van and the cop stares at them and then turns away so they can leave

and

[Show spoiler]at the end when Coughlin is hiding behind a mailbox, injured and he reaches down and takes a drink from the soda

Recommendation: Very high

PQ: 4.5/5
AQ: 4.5/5

Technical Score: 4.75/5
Enjoyment Level Score: 4.5/5 (“loved it”)

Final Verdict: 4.5/5

[iam1bearcat]

Originally Posted by DjMethod

Black Swan

[Show spoiler]Natalie Portman gives an engrossing and captivating performance as Nina Sayers in Black Swan. Her portrayal of the reserved white swan hiding behind a façade of perfection is mesmerizing. She truly loses herself in the role, essentially taking up two roles. You can sense the pressure gradually building up inside her at a masterful pace as the tension can be seen across her face and through her actions and movements. Nina slowly approaches the brink of insanity as she undergoes her intoxicating metamorphosis until the breathtaking climax. The film pulls the audience in deeper and deeper until you lose all sense of reality. The experience is only heightened by Mansell's immersive and horrifying orchestral score. It is not as thematically rich as say The Fountain, but every last detail is metaphorically complex. The choreography was simply superb and Portman's ease and skill in dance speaks volumes of her effort and enhances her dramatic performance. The ballet, Swan Lake by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, is twisted yet elegant. Even while witnessing rehearsals throughout the film, the final performance will render you speechless. Prepare to have both questions and answers cleverly delivered to you in a fashion only director Darren Aronofsky can construct. Black Swan is the best psychological thriller I have seen in years, though I am sure I am just starting to scratch its surface.

5/5

DJ can you pleeeeease type the name of the film in the main area for a post and not the top line / box part? when someone quotes you that top part doesn't come with and thus, the title of the film / post gets lost in the shuffle and i'm afraid confusion will ensue if someone quotes you and we don't know what title is being talked about

Originally Posted by Diesel

The Fighter

[Show spoiler]Things I knew about this movie going in:

• It was about a fighter.
  
• Based on a true story.
  
• Christian Bale was supposed to be fantastic.

I had no expectations going in because I had seen the first trailer one time and that was pretty much it. So I was a mostly blank slate going in.

From the very beginning of the film when we first see Bale with that "Dicky look" I knew, "This is going to be a very different role for him." And boy was I right...but I'll get back to that later.

I'm not a boxing fan in the slightest, so I didn't know the history behind this movie. I didn't know who Micky Ward was, didn't know what the character would be like, what the family would be portrayed like, or any of that stuff.

That said, I highly enjoyed what I got. I really felt for Wahlberg's Micky character, I felt for Bale's Dicky character. I was angry when the mother would ignore Micky. I was incredibly saddened and shocked

[Show spoiler]when the cop shattered Micky's hand.

I was overjoyed when Dicky

[Show spoiler]left the crack house without going inside or even entertaining the notion on his way to Charlene's house.

Or in other words, I CARED for the characters. I cared for their individual stories and journeys they had to go through to get to the end of the film. It all worked perfectly for me. Not a single tiny complaint.


Now, the acting.

One of the three things I knew going in, "Christian Bale was supposed to be fantastic."
Turns out it was true. He really was fantastic. I've seen 15 of his films now and I have to say that I firmly believe that this is his best performance I have seen (note: I have not seen American Psycho or The Machinist yet). He was incredible. He was just so out there and into the character. But being the character is nothing new to him. What impressed me the most was how incredibly candid and extroverted he was in this film. The man himself is very much an introvert so doing this role must have been some serious work to put himself out there like that. Every other performance is much more subdued and pulled back; and he's wonderful at that. But Dicky was just so over the top, 100%, full speed ahead all the time. I absolutely loved it, every minute of it. My favorite of his performances is still The Prestige but this one is definitely his best work. I'm not an awards guy really, I don't put any stock in a movie being great or a performance being great BECAUSE they have an award; but I do like to see it when something I feel is award worthy is recognized, and I surely hope he gets the recognition he deserves for this performance.

Even as much as I loved Bale's performance, he wasn't overshadowing in the slightest. No one touched him performance wise in my opinion, not even close, but they other main cast was strong as well.

CZAR's boy Wahlberg turned in a great job. As out there as Bale had to play Dicky, Wahlberg had to play Micky the polar opposite of that. He pulled it off superbly in my opinion; a very strong and, I guess you could say, "heartfelt" effort. I got the impression that he REALLY cared about this character.

Amy Adams wasn't as good as those two but she was no slouch either. I was impressed with her work as well. She also worked quite well with Wahlberg I thought. I cheered a little when she

[Show spoiler]starting beating the crap out of one of those sisters!

One thing I loved about how the movie was filmed was how they made sure the coverage of the fights had a different look than the rest of the film. I like when that kind of thing is done. The first thing that came to mind when I saw that was Rocky Balboa and how they shot the final fight at the end with HD cameras to give it that HDTV look. In this case it wasn't anything like that sort of look that looked...how do I put it...less textured I guess. A little more blurry. That older tv look. I loved it.


If you are thinking of seeing this movie, I highly recommend checking it out when and if you can. Great writing and acting all the way. Couldn't have been happier with my two hours in that theater seat.

I've been reevaluating some of my previous 5/5 ratings from the past, and I've dropped some of them down, but in this case, the movie deserves it in my opinion.

Rating - 5/5

great review Diesel
i'll check it out when it drops on blu

Originally Posted by Diesel

Well then you will be pleased because he did a great job.

And I think you mean Adams

is Scarlett not in this? i could have sworn i saw a preview with her on the side of a boxing ring talking to Wahlberg and in the previews the voice over guy saying "Johansson"

...weird. just looked her up on imdb, and sure enough... not in The Fighter. weird. because Adams definitely doesn't look ANYTHING like her...