Welcome to another year and another entry of MOVIES WE WATCHED! Over the break, we hope you were busy like us going to the cinema for the end of year glut, or having a DVD come especially in the main just for you. Indeed, here are some of the films the contributors around these parts were viewing during the closing days of 2008 and the opening of 2009. Click the icon off to the right for the full list of movies that didn’t necessarily have a full post devoted to them, or browse the select micro-capsules below:
Shotgun Stories (2007) 4/5
Jeff Nichols’ story of two sets of brothers pitted against each other feels very much in the vein of producer David Gordon Green’s work: quiet, controlled and featuring gorgeous cinematography. Add in a brilliant film stealing performance from Michael Shannon and you have a must-see film. -MARINA
Rabbit-Proof Fence (2002) 4.5/5
Phillip Noyce’s film is spectacular. This beautiful story of three girls making their way home along the rabbit proof fence makes Baz’s attempt at telling the story of the “Stolen Generation” look like kid’s play. Beautifully shot and wonderfully acted, it’s hard to believe it took me this long to see it. Don’t make the same mistake. -MARINA
Used Cars (1980) 3.5/5
A goofy satirical romp through the world of used cars, dirty salesman, hanging judges and politicians that is actually a sly and deadly commentary on the gullibility of the average consumer in capitalist America and how sleazy people take advantage of this. Hard to believe that Bob Gale and Robert Zemekis had drunk the Kool-Ade and gone all mushy only 14 years later with Forrest Gump. Used Cars may be silly at times, but it has aged remarkably well (down the road, so to speak) when the consumer is probably even dumber. Props to Kurt Russell who once again shows his talent (here making the transition from Disney TV to film and Pre-Thing) and also to Jack Warden who gives a dual performance worthy of any of the Coen’s farcical crime flicks. Oh, and comedian cameos out the wazoo are an added treat. -KURT
Doubt (2008) 4.5/5
I would not be shocked to see Hoffman, Streep and Adams all nominated for Actor, Actress and Supporting Actress at this upcoming Oscars. The conflict between the characters is believable and never once feels forced. Doubt does feel a bit more like a play than a movie but this in no way takes away from the how powerful the performances are. -JOHN
Traitor (2008) 2.5/5
I had hoped that a film starring Don Cheadle and Guy Pearce would be worthwhile even if the story was re-hashed and familiar but unfortunately, that isn’t the case. Though it’s only been a few days since I caught up with “Traitor”, I’m having a hard time remembering any specifics of the film other than the fact that both of these actors are in it. Sadly, that’s not enough to recommend this. -MARINA
Valkyrie (2008) 3/5
Director Bryan Singer does a good job building tension but I found the movie was solely concerned with the procedural and by the end I felt very little attachment to most of the characters. The movie also suffers by attempting to mention everyone involved and at the end. Not being sure who a few of the people even were when they were listed what happened to everyone is not a good sign. -JOHN
So Michael Shannon is in Shotgun Stories too, sounds like he is having a damn fine year. His stint in Revolutionary Road is killer, and I thank God that Mendes did not try and shoehorn creepy neighbor plot points into this one, the second I saw Shannon I was thinking oh shit, this is going to get American Beauty-esque but what pans out is far more poignant. Just think what occurs during the scene when April is left alone with Shep, the story plays with expectations perfectly.
Another podcaster I listen to highly recommended Shotgun Stories as well, so I am interested in checking it out. I am assuming it is on dvd now?
Widely available. Yes. Question Rot: Have you seen Bug yet? Probably the most pure demonstration of Shannon’s abilities.
I watched New York, New York.
I’ve never disliked a Scorsese film before. it’s finally happened. It’s not that there’s a lack of effort here, its all in DeNiro’s character in this movie. He’s supposed to just be a kooky unpredictable person, but he’s just an asshole and frightening, like Travis Bickle was supposed to be in an earnest romantic film..
and its fucking 3 hours, and not much happens. Scorsese had a vision with this film, but DeNiro’s character tramples it dead.
You know, I’ve had New York New York in my possession for over a year now and I still haven’t watched it. I don’t have a valid reasoning either. I really should, since its one of the very few Scorsese films I haven’t seen, but your comment, Goon, certainly hasn’t motivated me any more to pop it in the DVD player. Heh.
Bug is a film I have been meaning to see but never get to. Its in the bargain bins so eventually I will get around to it.
Added Shotgun Stories to my to see list, I’m up for another Michael Shannon film. Ditto what Rot said re: Revolutionary Road, he give a fantastic performance.
Bug bored me to death, I’m not sure what anyone sees in it.
I have to admit I always had a soft spot for Used Cars. I remember watching it when it was first on HBO, back when dinosaurs walked the earth! I still think it is pretty funny, even it if its humour isn’t always intelligent.
I’m a SNL apologist of the highest order. I bought a documentary produced for TV they made a year or two ago about the 80s run of SNL and the challenges they faced. It’s a great doc, especially for TV, and it has all the major clips everyone remembers.
Even better though, is a bonus ‘feature’ that is an hour long that continues the same way as the TV doc, that covers things they couldn’t get to – issues of race, issues of gender, homophobia, and more – It was chock full of all these extra stories and so many clips I’d never ever seen before, even on reruns.
If you are an SNL fan, even if only of how things ‘used to be’ (as if its any better or worse now than its ever been), I highly recommend sitting through this thing. Watched it with friends and we laughed more often within the 2 and a half hour total running time of the disc than we have at anything else in recent memory.