Ghost World

For all of you desperately wondering what my Five Favorite Films of All Time are, I present them here:

1. Happy Together
2. Hoop Dreams
3. All the Real Girls
4. Ghost World
5. In the Mood for Love
5a. Traffic

I know you, reader of this very passage, have been dying to see this list yourselves. Well, here it is. Nit-pickers might point out that there are six films in my Five Favorite Films of All Time, but I can only say to them that "they just don't get it."

Anyway, Ghost World is one of the finest films I've ever seen. It attempts, in its own way, to puncture the bubble of cynicism, irony, and sarcasm that engulfs suburban America. The central scene of the film, in my estimation, occurs when our main character, Enid, receives her first exposure to personal, beautiful, non-ironic artistic expression when she hears Skip James cry with all his soul in "Devil Got My Woman." The realization that there are other people who feel the same as she does, and who find profound ways to express an important personal feeling, begins her search for a new way of living.

This film, then, becomes the same thing as Skip James' beautiful music. It becomes a piece of art that means an awful lot to me -- a reflection of many of the same troubles and feelings that I wish at some point to express myself. I say with no irony or sarcasm whatsoever that this film inspires me.

Gosford Park

Robert Altman is absolutely one of my favorite directors for one, if only one, peculiarity: he actively tries to bring to life numerous characters in his films, forcing his viewers to recognize that every character -- minor or major -- has their own complex story to tell. When one views an Altman film, one must become aware that there is more than one narrative worthy of being told at any given moment. Eventually Altman must select one story to stick with, but he'll be certain to remind you that there are others you may be missing along the way.

This theme is particularly critical to me, because it's an active reaction against the all too prevalent self-involvement that most Americans suffer from. Yes, our individual lives are important -- especially to ourselves, of course -- but we shouldn't forget that every person we see probably has that same feeling. The person I stand in line with at the supermarket suffers just as many daily troubles as me. The person tailgating me on the way to work has his own story to tell. The person making my hamburger is just as afraid of death as I am. There is something profound about this to me, and I sincerely believe that more people could benefit from wrapping their head around the concept on a more regular basis. (Myself included).

Which brings us to Gosford Park, where in two hours we meet an actor and producer from Hollywood, a WWI deserter, a pair of sisters with one dead and one orphaned child, a neglected wife who was married for fortune, a socialite's daughter dissatisfied with parlour games, a British movie star that his own family can't endure, and many, many others. It's amazing how he's able to breathe life into all these characters simultaneously.

And although there is a mystery to drive the plot, if you ask me the film is hardly about that at all. It is a brilliant class critique and amazing period piece. The cast is stellar and the setting is beautiful. I've watched the movie numerous times knowing full well the outcome and I remain completely drawn in.

So in the end I love Bob Altman for the films he creates. They are singular and amazing.

Deadwood: Season One

It's pretty fun to rent HBO series and just go on a marathon of viewing. 12 episodes in 3 days means I've watched all of it they deem fit to show me on DVD. It's a good series, set on the frontier. For all the anarchists out there, I bid them study periods and places such as this, where there was no legalized government. Violence, sex, corruption, and greed run rampant, and somehow in the end people's lives are lived and countries eventually formed. Anyway, because it's 12 episodes, it's difficult to sum up whole thing. Perhaps one major constant is the prevalence of the word 'cocksucker', which is used roughly 30-40 times an episode, I reckon. Anyway, if you have the time watch it. The first episode is a little slow, but it picks up, and I've been thinking about growing a mustache.

Kung Fu Hustle

Shaolin Soccer is one of the funniest films I've seen in some time. So I was rather excited to be able to view the new film from writer / director Stephen Chow. I missed it in theatres, despite a strong urge to go and see it. But anyway, obviously the universe corrected myself and I was finally able to watch this film. It is something of a disappointment following Shaolin Soccer, because it's just not as funny. Not to say it's a bad film, but I just couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. In the end, though, there's some crazy-cool fight sequences and some funny characters. If you like kung fu, I recommend you watch it.

Cruel Intentions

I can't tell you what hurts me more -- this film, or the fact that it spawned two sequels. No matter which hurst most, they both hurt very deeply, in a way that will never truly heal.

I was originally thinking that I should adopt a 'say something good about your rivals' approach to this post, where I would find something positive to say about this film despite its numerous flaws. Unfortunately, there is absolutely nothing positive whatsoever. I can't even fake it. If I'm not mistaken, the final sequence attempts some kind of Usual Suspects-esque ending, but it's not entirely clear what is implying due to the overwhelming cloud of shit hanging over the rest of the entire film. If I don't watch a good film soon, I might lose all hope. Seriously.

Ryan 'I actually can act, just not here' Phillipe: "E-mail is for geeks and pedophiles."

Eurotrip

My summer movie watching thread continues knotting itself together as I watch the second film in a row with an absinthe drinking scene. The Green Fairy teases me, yet will most likely remain elusive for some time. Is absinthe legal in Canada? Because if it is I'll have to organize a trip soon. Many of America's greatest men were heavy absinthe drinkers, and due to draconian alcohol and drug laws, we'll never know if the green tincture is what I'm missing. I might have written the Great American Novel if only I could imbibe some wormwood. I might have started and ended World War III if it wasn't for those prudes back in the '20s. I suppose we'll just chalk it up as yet another reason to move to Europe - perfectly legal hallucinogenic alcohol. And - oh yeah - the movie was horrible.

Matt 'What the Fuck Are You Doing in This Film?' Damon: "Scotty doesn't know!"

Alfie

I particularly enjoy when my random sequence of movie watching provides fruitful counter-balance. After watching Guess Who? which annoyed me with its rather overt man-hating, I unintentionally chose to follow it with one of the more female-unfriendly films I've seen in a while. How can Jude Law's fiancee be upset about him sleeping with the nanny when she's most likely seen this film? The guy is a player and he has no remorse. Oh yeah, the movie does try to predictably show us that Jude Law learns that the womanizing is not really the path to happiness, but its hollow and forced. The film enjoys itself the most when Jude is appraising women's physical features and decrying the dangers of committed relationships. There are some clever sequences and interesting photography in parts, but it's mainly just a Jude Law womanizing marathon. Best viewed when one is angry at women in general.

Jude 'Alfie' Law: "I myself subscribe more to the European philosphy of life, my priorities leaning towards wine, women and... well that's about it."

Guess Who?

I find that in my dogged determination to watch as many films as possible, I invariably end up watching one that I just regret. This picture is one of those. I just want the time I spent watching it back. It takes the default tilt toward the feminine perspective found in most romances and increases it ten-fold. The women are never expected to say they are sorry, and it is explicitly stated and repeated that they are always right, and men are always wrong. I might have to declare it my life's mission to make a romantic comedy where the woman pulls some BS, and the guy fucking dump's her stupid ass. If being in love means never saying you're sorry, we have the clearest indication that I did not love this film, because I'm fucking sorry I watched it.