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6 quick movie reviews and my favorite 20 films of 2011

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  1. skeeze666 skeeze666 is offline

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    Jan 11th, 2012 (1/11/2012 3:10pm)

    *Note: All work is my own with links as reference only

    Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol (2011)

    Pretty much the best popcorn adventure movie I saw all year, though I don't see many of them, but I did see a few including the awful Pirates 4 and Captain America, so at least I have something off which to base my opinions. Tom Cruise is good here as the lead and his supporting cast gets the job done. Obviously you have to suspend reality to watch this type of movie, but my major complaint comes from the absurdly over-the-top sequences when people get hit int he head multiple times by concrete and metal and seemingly never have so much as a headache. I am willing to enjoy an action movie for what it is, but when a guy drops 40 feet off a moving car parking machine and slams into a substance that looks harder than diamond and gets up and keeps fighting, it is slightly off putting.

    **** out of 5

    Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011)

    Gary Oldman is simply awesome as an aging MI6 agent forced out of his position only to be called back, unofficially a year later to help dig up info about a potential mole at the top of The Circus working for the Russians. A bit difficult to follow at times but beautifully shot and one not to be missed.

    **** and 1/2 out of 5

    War Horse (2011)

    I suppose if you are a girl of any age or a sentimentally prone to crying guy you'll enjoy this over the top Spielberg production. I contend this film was shot specifically to pull at your heart strings and see if you will fall in love with the story of a boy and his horse, as preposterous as the story can be and as long winded and plot-lessly defined as it is... Try not to fall asleep because the cinematography is actually amazing!

    ** out of 5

    The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (2011)

    David Fincher remakes a Swedish film from 2 years ago based on a series of popular novels and doesn't quite make as good a production of it as the original, but he comes close. A trippy opening sequence is worth the price of admission as Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross give us a very cool score throughout. Daniel Craig doesn't quite work for me as Michael Blomkvist and Roony Mara is no Noomi Rapace from the original, but Fincher is a gifted director and he is able to make this a solid experience.

    **** out of 5

    The Artist (2011)

    How many silent films have you seen? I suggest you make this your first, then. It takes about 15 minutes to adjust your brain but once you fall in line you'll find a truly wonderful picture which will certainly win awards this year, even though it is obvious Oscar bait, and that's ok, because the performances in here are far and away top notch. You'll laugh, you'll cry, and you'll do it all while trying to be silent so as not to disturb those around you.

    ***** out of 5

    Take Shelter (2011)

    Michael Shannon is amazing. He really is one of the best actors of our generation and I love that he takes on so many smaller projects. Take Shelter is the story of a man slipping into madness, but trying to keep it together and keep his family together. In small town mid-America the impending doom of storms haunts this man, whether real or imagined, and in building out a storm shelter in the back yard he pushes his career and his family to the brink of insanity. A truly remarkable performance in a very realistic setting, this is one of the very best films of the year.

    ***** out of 5


    My 20 favorites for 2011, by release date – I think I saw just under 50 2011 releases either in theater or on netflix/redbox – and since I tend to avoid most films I know wouldn’t interest me I’d say that really liking about 40% of what I see is a decent percentage.

    Cave of Forgotten Dreams
    Jane Eyre
    Midnight In Paris
    The Tree of Life
    Another Earth
    Harry Potter
    The Guard
    Drive
    Moneyball
    The Debt
    Contagion
    The Descendants
    Margin Call
    Martha Marcy May Marlene
    Shame
    Hugo
    Take Shelter
    Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
    Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
    The Artist
  2. Unforseen Unforseen is offline

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    Jan 11th, 2012 (1/11/2012 3:22pm) in reply to skeeze666

    happy Margin Call made your top 20. More and more of my non-finance friends have watched it and love it.

    I need to go watch Mission Impossible
  3. mdshack14 mdshack14 is offline

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    Jan 11th, 2012 (1/11/2012 3:34pm) in reply to Unforseen

    Love reading your reviews and I'm looking forward to reading more in 2012.
     
  4. rcrane082985 rcrane082985 is offline

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    Jan 12th, 2012 (1/12/2012 1:11pm) in reply to mdshack14

    Contagion was bad IMO..couldve been much better
     
  5. Jsup Jsup is offline

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    Jan 12th, 2012 (1/12/2012 4:19pm) in reply to rcrane082985

    tree of life is the 1st movie ive walked out of since i saw waterworld when i was like 11

    agree about warhorse i thought it was corny as shit but as i was leaving the theatre this nice couple probably in their 80s said something like "what an amazingly beautiful movie" so ya its def for some people

    i really want to see take shelter but its not playing anywhere near me sad face

    gonna watch tinker sometime this week weeee

    oh and rooney mara was amazing as lisbeth imo...obv the book was much better then the movie but i still loved the movie...gotta see the sweedish 1 soon
  6. Glo4m Glo4m is offline Confess to me

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    Jan 12th, 2012 (1/12/2012 4:20pm) in reply to Jsup

    another greet writeup skeeze, I am so behind I have yet to see any of these films, ugh.

    Cave of Forgotten Dreams first on my list, I love Herzog, and it sounds amazing.
  7. skeeze666 skeeze666 is offline

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    Jan 12th, 2012 (1/12/2012 4:42pm) in reply to Jsup

     
    Originally Posted by Jsup View Post

    tree of life is the 1st movie ive walked out of since i saw waterworld when i was like 11

    I understand as much as anyone how some likes/dislikes for movies can be completely different for people... I walked out of The Fifth Element when it was in theaters and to this day people tell me how great it was... thought it sucked donkey balls. Also walked out of Easy A a few years back but thankfully I was only in there after seeing something good. Walked out of J Edgar after sitting through 3/4 and fighting my disgust with it... some people tell me they thought it was excellent.
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  8. Mr Galt Mr Galt is offline sister-in-law's a ho

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    Jan 12th, 2012 (1/12/2012 5:19pm) in reply to skeeze666

    Thanks for the reviews. Always enjoyable.
  9. killingbird killingbird is offline

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    Jan 12th, 2012 (1/12/2012 6:02pm) in reply to Mr Galt

    just watched Another Earth a few nights ago and loved it. Will check out some of these you have listed but have not seen yet. thanks!
     
  10. freeworld777 freeworld777 is offline

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    Jan 12th, 2012 (1/12/2012 6:29pm) in reply to killingbird

    The Fifth Element is the only movie I've ever walked out on.
  11. Lord Supremo Lord Supremo is offline actually a tuvalu lord (sigh)

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    Jan 12th, 2012 (1/12/2012 7:21pm) in reply to freeworld777

     
    Originally Posted by skeeze666

    Roony Mara is no Noomi Rapace from the original

    W
    A
    T

    other posts itt hating on The Fifth Element (which is not actually a good movie, of course, but is thoroughly rapey regardless) are also exploding my head but ^^^^ has me dazed and confused.
  12. Niceguy Niceguy is offline I will find you.

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    Jan 12th, 2012 (1/12/2012 7:35pm) in reply to Lord Supremo

    I say we lynch skeeze for disparaging American Lisbeth.

    Dear good did I pop wood in her nude scenes.
  13. gamma21 gamma21 is offline

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    Jan 12th, 2012 (1/12/2012 7:37pm) in reply to Jsup

     
    Originally Posted by Jsup View Post

    tree of life is the 1st movie ive walked out of since i saw waterworld when i was like 11

    I loved The Tree of Life.
     
  14. skeeze666 skeeze666 is offline

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    Jan 12th, 2012 (1/12/2012 7:40pm) in reply to gamma21

    Yeah, I preferred almost everything about Rapace (right) to Mara (left)

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  15. Lord Supremo Lord Supremo is offline actually a tuvalu lord (sigh)

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    Jan 12th, 2012 (1/12/2012 7:43pm) in reply to skeeze666



    this must be some sort of elaborate level
  16. TheAlbatross TheAlbatross is offline

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    Jan 16th, 2012 (1/16/2012 10:34pm) in reply to Lord Supremo

    I think I like Rapace slightly more than Mara, but the American movie slightly more than the Swedish. Didn't love either movie though the performances were rly good. Didn't object to the ending of Fincher's version either, which I've seen get some grief. Kinda reinforces the shittiness of men theme, for whatever that's worth.

    Glad to see you loved TTSS. I was incredibly disappointed the first time I saw it, but really liked it the second time. One of the quickest turn-arounds for a movie for me in quite awhile. It's slowly paced and the plot is convoluted. First time, I think I got lost trying to keep up with the plot and I really missed out on the film's emotion undercurrent, which I found quite moving the second time I saw it. Fantastic screenplay too, lots of little things I didn't initially pick up on.

    Still rly want to see The Artist and MI4.

    Actually, I need to see quite a few of your top 20 still - Jane Eyre, Margin Call, MMMM, The Artist, Another Earth, The Guard, The Debt, Shame, Moneyball, and The Descendants.

    Only one I'd really have to quibble with that I've seen is Harry Potter, which I thought was fine, but not the best in the series. Thanks for continuing to post your reviews and thoughts - easily some of my favorite threads in OT!
    Edited By: TheAlbatross Jan 16th, 2012 at 10:35 PM
  17. skeeze666 skeeze666 is offline

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    Jan 16th, 2012 (1/16/2012 10:40pm) in reply to TheAlbatross

    I left the theater feeling let down from TTSS a little - it was so difficult to just enjoy it and not focus on everything so intensely... then after a day or so it really started to hit me how much I liked it. I am going to try and see it again.

    It is possible that Take Shelter may be my favorite of the year.
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  18. TheSilentBob TheSilentBob is offline

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    Jan 17th, 2012 (1/17/2012 12:39am) in reply to skeeze666

    I just loved following the camera in TTSS as the director continued to showcase various set pieces throughout the film. Never really got lost although I had no clue who the mole would be.
  19. mordan mordan is offline

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    Jan 21st, 2012 (1/21/2012 4:47am) in reply to TheSilentBob

    I just watched The Tree of Life.......my mouth is still to floor at how utterly amazing that film is, it is one I will re-watch again and again and find different things I love about it. The best part about it is it wasn't anything like what I was expecting, I had purposely read 0 reviews about it in order to not create a bias. I had a picture in mind though of what it would be like and I couldn't have been further off. Despite all that I am sitting here still trying to comprehend the depth of the movie I just saw. Phenomenal
     
  20. skeeze666 skeeze666 is offline

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    Jan 21st, 2012 (1/21/2012 4:53am) in reply to mordan

    Nice - I need to see it again, but I don't want to watch it on a small screen. Need to figure out a way to re-watch it on at least a projector style or something... My review:

    The Tree of Life (2011)
    Director - Terrence Malick
    PG-13; 138 Min
    Cast
    Brad Pitt - Mr. O'Brien
    Sean Penn - Jack
    Jessica Chastain - Mrs. O'Brien
    Hunter McCracken - Young Jack

    To say I don't quite know how to write about this film is a major understatement. How do I even attempt to describe what can only be seen as an attempt to visually represent what it is to be human? I'm not trying to transcend director Terrence Malick or this movie to some throne or say nothing like it has ever been done, but it truly is an amazing achievement that should leave you with a lot of thinking and a lot of questions you can't possibly answer. I like movies that challenge me to think.

    This film is clearly not going to be liked by a large population of people - it just isn't a 'normal' film and for people who don't enjoy non-tradtional movies it will probably be unwatchable. There is a loose plot but when you get down to it there really isn't a plot at all. The plot is existence itself. The focus is mainly on children yet there is a grown up world with prominence. Part of this existence is the O'Brien family in 1950s America and part of this existence is a grown up O'Brien boy in present day and the other parts encompass everything that has ever happened throughout all of time. How's that for ambitous?

    This movie is all about emotions. How we think about ourselves and our own being and how we interpret watching a movie about these emotions and how we process and revel in the enjoyment of the process. Sitting back and throwing down popcorn isn't going to get you through the 20+ minute stretch with almost no dialogue as we view the entire history of time in a way that really makes us ponder, well, everything. This is one of those magical movies that only grows better with perspective. Leaving the theater I'm not sure how I felt, but I know that a day later I feel exactly what I just wrote.


    ***** out of 5
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  21. Deoxyribo Deoxyribo is offline

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    Jan 21st, 2012 (1/21/2012 4:55am) in reply to skeeze666

    Contagion in your top 20.....

    What. The. Fuck.
     
  22. skeeze666 skeeze666 is offline

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    Jan 21st, 2012 (1/21/2012 5:00am) in reply to Deoxyribo

    It gets a little arbitrary at some point to make a best of list... it wasn't in my top 15, but I liked it enough and it certainly didn't belong in the same grouping as Real Steel and In Time.

    Contagion (2011)
    Director - Steven Soderbergh
    106 Min; PG-13
    Cast
    Matt Damon; Gwyneth Paltrow; Jude Law; Kate Winslet; Laurence Fishburne; John Hawkes; Marion Cotillard

    Note: Spoilers in this review

    When Gwyneth Paltrow travels to Hong Kong for work and seemingly does nothing but drink, gamble and, on her way back, whore it up with an old flame in Chicago, she reminds us all of the reasons we hate Gwyneth Paltrow. Thankfully for all of us, she is one of the first people to die from a new disease which we only pray was actually started because of her, but we also realize it was most likely given to her by someone or something (it was) and that her death would be a starting point for the movie in which we probably can guess the direction it will take but are also pleased with the execution (we do and we are.)

    As with all awful people like Paltrow they hurt the ones they love. In her case, she kills her son and her lover - what an evil bitch. Ok, so she didn't know she would transfer the disease, but she exists and therefore she should have been aware that she would eventually do something horrible. But I digress.

    Her husband Matt Damon is found to be immune to the deadly disease, thus proving once again that Damon made a deal with the devil as far back as School Ties (1992). Their daughter is now his to protect from the soon to be mobs of looters and those passing on the communicable nightmare. This is but one of no less than 5 sub plots involving normal people, CDC workers and their families, WHO workers and their families, scientists working on the vaccine and their families and a slightly improbably, Jude Law as a world famous blogger who garners some 12 million unique views of his video blogs calling out everyone involved for conspiracy theories to hide the truth about the disease and to withhold crucial vaccine information in order for corporations to profit. He may or may not be profiting in the same way.

    All these subplots have managed to destroy other films (think the truly egregious Vantage Point (2008)) but such a strong director, script and actors help make this film a success. Never overly dramatic, though tens of millions are dying, the film is cohesive and keeps us well informed with a visual timeline throughout. At no point was I questioning what was happening or what day or month it was or who was involved in what part of the story - it all truly flowed very well (Though I will say the Cotillard storyline was a tad bit out of sync.)

    There was never a doubt that this was a Soderbergh film. Just look at the scene in a car with Matt Damon on his phone, the camera angled up from the passenger front seat to his face in the back seat - pure Soderbergh. This has the feel of Traffic (2000) stamped all over it in just as good a way.

    I'm not sure at what point I sort of lost any real care for the people involved, but I did, and in the end that leaves me with a slightly less enthusiastic feel of the film than I had at the mid point. With that said, it is definitely one to see.


    **** out of 5
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  23. Cesporz Cesporz is offline

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    Jan 22nd, 2012 (1/22/2012 6:05pm) in reply to skeeze666

    I didn't watch Jane Eyre because I was worried about how good it would be. There are so many other versions of it out there, and many of them not that good, but since it is one of my favorite novels I should give it a chance.

    I also loved Hugo. I thought it was an amazing movie for both adults and kids. I loved all the movie references. The clockwork shots looked amazing in 3D. This was def a movie that used 3D to its full potential and not just as a gimmick. George Melies is one of my favorite directors so I was instantly hooked.

    I am so excited to see The Artist as well.
  24. skeeze666 skeeze666 is offline

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    Jan 22nd, 2012 (1/22/2012 6:13pm) in reply to Cesporz

    I have also seen other versions of Jane Eyre but I really liked everything about this one. Definitely give it a chance.
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  25. BubbaKGB BubbaKGB is offline The Canadian Goose

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    Jan 22nd, 2012 (1/22/2012 7:25pm) in reply to Deoxyribo

     
    Originally Posted by Deoxyribo View Post

    Contagion in your top 20.....

    What. The. Fuck.

    Contagion is my second favourite movie of 2011, not too far behind Hugo. It's a fantastic movie from a great director.
     1
  26. TheAlbatross TheAlbatross is offline

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    Jan 24th, 2012 (1/24/2012 8:52pm) in reply to skeeze666

     
    Originally Posted by skeeze666 View Post

    It is possible that Take Shelter may be my favorite of the year.


    Nice! I liked it a lot too, but the ending threw me a little. Not so sure what to make of it intention-wise given all that came before it.

    Michael Shannon was amazing though. Definitely one of the biggest Oscar snubs
    Edited By: TheAlbatross Jan 24th, 2012 at 08:59 PM
  27. skeeze666 skeeze666 is offline

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    Jan 24th, 2012 (1/24/2012 10:27pm) in reply to TheAlbatross

    I've been fighting the urge to look up what others are saying about the ending because I've wanted to formulate my own opinion, but I have seriously gone over it so much at this point I am going to break down and snoop around for info. I am not sure if I am way off base or somewhat on track... I just loved the entire film and thought he was excellent.
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