Last week I failed, so here’s a 2 week long edition:

STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS (2013)

“Just like with many second chapters these days the highlight is the villain and Cumberbatch doesn’t disappoint. Every moment he lingers on a screen is a moment we all wish was at least 50% longer when it’s over and for a myriad of reasons. Part of me even wishes he was just playing his version of Sherlock and I’d be happy enough, but this is probably better.” – Read my full review here

BAD EDUCATION (2004)

“The film structurally broke itself in half; just as it does out main character of Ignacio (Nacho Perez). It’s split between the story of the Ignacio as a child being abused and Angel making this movie/Ignacio’s adulthood taking his revenge. This allows for the film to be taken in two separate levels, and at the same time for it to be segmented completely.” – Read my full review here

THE WIND THAT SHAKES THE BARLEY (2006)

It won the Palm d’Or in 2006 and it kind of deserved it. A rough film about the creation of the IRA in the 1920s in order to rebel against the English oppressors the film doesn’t allow you to leave it with any light feelings.

TASTE OF CHERRY (1997)

For the last year or so I’ve been systematically falling head over heels for Kiarostami’s filmmaking and this might be the one that made it official. With this small film of a man seeking assistance in this small task to help him be at peace after committing suicide Kiarostami is able to create an air of mystery and also intrigue into every conversation that plays out like a perfect story in itself.

THE HANGOVER PART III (2013)

Why didn’t I listen to the internet when it told me this was bad. I loved the first Hangover, I liked the second a lot, this movie barely even looks like a Hangover film if I’m being honest. While all the jokes aren’t as much of a retread it plays heavily on Chow and it just falls flat constantly. I just didn’t feel anything throughout the film. It’s boring that’s the worst thing one can say about a comedy.

THE GREAT GATSBY (2013)

“The film’s visual study of class separations is also something that I can’t help but behold. Seeing the separation between George (Jason Clarke) and Tom (Joel Edgerton), Carraway and Gatsby, and eventually Gatsby and Tom create a sense of iconography that this film will be remembered for. This is mainly due to the fact that all these moments are created completely visually. The way that Luhrmann frames George when Tom comes to visit him in the “Valley of Ashes” – a place that seems to exist just for the working ‘constructing’ class – is one that never equates them. When we see Gatsby looking down upon Carraway (a not so lower class individual) from his window; or when Gatsby and Tom finally meet knowingly of both parties we’re finally given an even shot that changes as the film reveals its own mysteries.”  – Read my full review here

ALL ABOUT EVE (1950)

“Even when the film reaches its climax and we’re given this cyclical nod with Eve in her hotel room after having accepted her award with a very Margo-like demeanor; very somber and slightly disgusted with her reality it should be cliche and annoying but it works.” – Read my full review here

REWATCHED

With not much to think about popping in The Departed gave me a lot to look at. I adore this film so much, and I loath it’s original. There’s something about the cat and mouse game of Damon and DiCaprio that I can never get enough of. I’m pleased that there probably will never be a sequel to it.

I was lucky enough to receive a review copy of one of my favourite films by Miyazaki films this past week on blu ray, My Neigbor Totoro. The film remains a visual masterpiece but somehow I felt the narrative lacking this time around. However, it remains a fantastic movie nonetheless.

Something inspired me to have a revisit of Morning Glory and Red Dragon two much maligned films for being just meh… I feel like I’m slowly agreeing with the world. Morning Glory still has enough light-hearted fun to it that I’m willing to be okay with it, but Red Dragon just felt weirdly dull to me, it’s a movie where we get to remember how fun it was to see Anthony Hopkins being a psychopathic character but now I’m just happy I can see Mads Mikelson do that on TV.

Having a TIFF remember night revisiting Cloud Atlas and Seven Psychopaths which I saw last year in Toronto was great. Both films made my Top Ten of 2012 list and they still work so well for me today. I feel I may have understated how much I adore Sam Rockwell in Seven Psychopaths previously, but his scene describing his scripted “final shootout” is just so amazingly great I can’t imagine anyone saying a bad word about this movie.

In preparation for the next chapter of the Furious Franchise (or is it the Fast Franchise?) I revisited The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift and Fast Five. Both directed by Justin Lin reminds me why these succeeded where other Fast films failed, Lin managed to make the driving sequences interesting. Lin creates visual spectacle the way that we generally like for action scenes to be grandiose and a big roller coaster ride.

Also for the sake of podcasting I rewatched Fish Story which all of you should watch.

My count for the year of 2013 is updated to 95 First time watches (24 from 2013); 79 Rewatches; 174 Total Films