Chasing Liberty (2004)

Chasing Liberty

One of my guilty pleasure favorites. I adore Mandy Moore here, the story is quite charming and we got to see a few nice locations along the road.

It's light entertainment, pure feelgood and I'll probably watch it again and again. Here is what I wrote last time around.

Lost in Translation (2003)(2nd)

Lost in Translation

It's less than 5 months since I last reviewed this movie here. The only reason I revisited it so early is an upcoming top 10 of the decade list I'm making, and I just had to revisit this one to figure out just how much I love it. There's never been any doubt I love it, but I needed another Coppola fix to nail its deserved place at my list.

I'm not going to say much about this. I really don't have that much to say I didn't say last time around. I probably should mention it was an even better experience this time around, and that wasn't as easy as it would have been for a lot of other movies.

Bill and Scarlett are both amazing. I simply can't praise them enough, so I'll not even try. Sofia Coppola have an extraordinary eye for capturing emotions, and as so many before me I'll add much of its credit to the way she grew up. I feel for what she must have seen and experienced, but the world wouldn't been quite the same if she didn't also have this ability to give us insight into it through this movie.

Bill, Scarlett and Sofia paints a picture without the cheesy conversations, the cheap laughs or the Hallmark wisdom, but they still make you feel like almost no other movie are able to. It's so filled with emotions you're simply unable to fully comprehend it all in one viewing. It's quite simply a masterpiece you should embrace again and again, and yet feel like you haven't fully managed to catch its depth.

A Walk to Remember (2002)(2nd)

A Walk to Remember

Since the last time I reviewed this movie, I've actually got around to read the novel. I'm not going to lie; I wasn't exactly blown away by Sparks' novel. Then again it had to be compared to everything else I've been reading lately, and they've been classics.

Still. Sparks' got one thing right. He knew what had to be the center of the story, and stuck to it despite never really managing to tell the story that was hidden within the idea.

This movie goes the opposite way, and digs deeper into stuff it shouldn't have been so eager to examine. I'd be bold enough to say I can easily spot where both the novel and the movie went wrong, but then again that leaves room to make a better adaptation in the future. How many Pride and Prejudice adaptations did they make until the 1995 TV-miniseries staring Firth and Ehle finally got it spot on?

Mandy Moore is the reason to watch this movie, but this movie's Jaime Sullivan isn't ever close to what was intended. It's still got more heart than most of the genre can dream about, and for that A Walk to Remember will still be one of my personal favorites--even if I downgrade its score now.

A Walk to Remember (2002)

Director: Adam Shankman
Writer: Screenplay: Karen Janszen Novel: Nicholas Sparks
Cast: Mandy Moore, Shane West, Peter Coyote, Daryl Hannah,
Genre: Drama, Romance

A Walk to Remember is one of my long lasting personal favorites within its genre. It's one of the main reasons I got more than a soft eye for Mandy Moore to begin with, as her portrayal of Jaime Sullivan is close to perfect and her voice some of the reasons it elevates way above the usual in the genre. Based on Nicholas Sparks novel (the author also behind The Notebook), we get the story of a classic and not that original teen romance. A choir girl and the troubled rebel. Not exactly copyright material you say? That might very well be the case, but this movie is epic without taking that final step to secure its place along the 150 minute movies you usual say that about. It's a "Dawson's Creek" if "Dawson's Creek" was told in 101 minutes. It's filled with cliches, but once again I quote myself; There's a reason cliches become cliches. They deserve to be!

I'm not going to write a long review defending my view on a movie many probably find naive, banal or something along those lines. I'm just gonna tell you why I think it works without spoilers, and leave for yourself to make up your own mind if you'd like. If not? It's your loss.

Mandy Moore is 70 % of the movie. Not only is her portrayal close to perfect, her voice as beautiful as ever and her characters changes the most important and noticeable ones, but back then she was only 18 but already starting to prove how multi-talented she is. Should you by any chance not like Mandy Moore (shame on you), there's a greater chance you'll not enjoy this that much.

When it comes to Shane West I had my objections about his part early on, but soon enough he manages to prove the casting people right. He's got enough of a rebel within to really show, and the changes he makes as the walk goes is easily noticeable as well. I don't ever expect West to become a star, but he was a good choice for this part. Hannah and especially Coyote does well as the parents, and also the other high school youngsters manage to get their moments enough to make it quite the driven story.

So how do you elevate cliches from the usual movies? You make sure it's filled with heart, and if there's something you have to say about A Walk to Remember; it's the fact it's filled with heart. So filled it almost breaks on several occasions, but that's where the high ranking comes from. So much heart you can't help letting it in. So much talent in the lead, you can't stay indifferent. Young love has never been portrayed with so much belief in the heart.

Defendor (2009)(2nd review)

Director: Peter Stebbings
Writer: Peter Stebbings
Cast: Woody Harrelson, Kat Dennings, Sandra Oh, Elias Koteas, Clark Johnson, Alan C. Peterson, Michael Kelly
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Crime, Superhero

It's not more than a few months since I first watched and reviewed Defendor here, but unlike most movies I had to revisit this so early. After watching Kick-Ass I recommended rather watching this, and it's a movie I haven't managed to get out of my head. It's deep, while being shallowly comedic. It's got so much heart in the way it follows both Harrelson's Defendor and Arthur, as well as Denning's Kat.

I really haven't got a lot new I'd like to share about this movie, but I'll happily repeat myself singing its praise and recommending it highly. After second viewing it went from a weak 8/10 to a very solid 8/10 in my book. Peter Stebbings. Take note of the name. Directing his own writing, he's made a splash onto the scene. Hopefully he'll be able to follow up, and hopefully Defendor soon enough will find the audience it truly deserves.

Wimbledon (2004)

Director: Richard Loncraine
Writer: Adam Brooks, Jennifer Flackett, Mark Levin
Cast: Kirsten Dunst, Paul Bettany, Sam Neill, Jon Favreau, Austin Nichols,
Genre: Rom-Com, Sport, Drama

Wimbledon have been a personal candle favorite for quite a while, and I'm not ashamed to say I've seen it several times before. There's just something about Kirsten, there's something about how well this part suits Bettany and there's something charming and almost electric about the way both the movie is told and the chemistry between our main characters.

Lizzie Bradbury (Dunst) is the young American tennis-pro headed for the stars on the back of her amazing talent and her hard work. Peter Colt (Bettany) is the experienced British pro, once ranked 11th, now 119th. He's got a wild card to the national pride, Wimbledon, and it's his last tournament before retiring from tennis to a quiet job at a private club teaching old ladies how to play the game. He's heading into the tournament without ambition, while Lizzie is coming to England to win her first major. Their worlds couldn't have been further apart within the same circus, but then they coincidentally meet.

What Wimbledon lacks in originality, it more than ways up for by it's British charm, it's American attitude and the before mentioned elements of almost magical chemistry. I'm a sucker for the genre in general, but this one in particular I'm very soft about. Both Peter and Lizzie are great characters, the focus on ambition within such a competitive sport is uplifting and the cultural differences are well taken care of, but most of all the way the story is told is a major reason why I like it so much. A personal favorite within the limitations of the genre.

Memento (2000)

Memento was the movie bringing director Christopher Nolan to the public knowledge. A stunning movie who captured audiences with its original storytelling and editing, as well as the original way to tell a mystery crime-drama.

It's got a few limitations, but I'll do the movie injustice to focus on them. The only reason I mention it at all, is the fact I think this movie is perfectly executed within its premises. The reason I rate it nine rather than ten is just the limitations I find within both the story and the created genre.

Like most mystery movies this lose a little on revisits because of your knowledge, but like another classic The Usual Suspects, I find this movie doesn't lose its quality because of it. Some movies would simply be boring or uninteresting on a second viewing after knowing the plot and storyline, but it's a testimony to Nolan's skills when Memento manages to hold on to your attention the second time around.

While the much awaited partnership between Nolan and Leonardo DiCaprio in Inception is making its way towards a theater near me, revisiting Memento and The Prestige have been a treat. I've got to get around to watch Following as well, his feature film low budget debut, but I don't think it'll happen until after his 2010 box office hit.

The Prestige (2006)

The Prestige is a Christopher Nolan project dropped in between the first two Batman movies he made, but also here Christian Bale have one of the leads. The other lead is played by Hugh Jackman, while Scarlett Johansson, Piper Perabo, Rebecca Hall, Andy Serkis, David Bowie and most of all Michael Caine supports. It's a great cast, and they've got a very interesting script to work with.

Two magicians at the end of the Nineteenth Century in London, at a time where magic were the highest form of entertainment. They start out as their fellow mentor's helpers, and we get to follow their lives as friendship become rivalry and new tricks to overshadow the other become the holy grail. It's a story about obsession, jealousy, rivalry, revenge, deceit, trickery and about the lengths you'll have to go to succeed, how dirty you got to get your hands while doing it and the everlasting consequences of your choices, just to mention a little and avoid spoilers as best I can.

More importantly the cast is great as well, never dragging the story down, the time-period is accurately depicted and it's once again a story reminding us it's possible to look both great at the surface as well as underneath it all. You just got to want to make such movies, and Nolan does thankfully do that ever so often. Looking back at the decade we've just passed by, to me Christopher Nolan was the most important and the best director of that, just like Quentin Tarantino was for the 90's. Tarantino ended the 00's with his stunning Inglourious Basterds, making sure we still remember just how good he is. Nolan's Inception is making its way through the cinemas now, making sure he still is one of the most interesting directors as a new decade is upon us.

It's still well worth going back looking at his earlier works, and The Prestige is all the way up there very close to Memento.

The Usual Suspects (1995)

Director: Bryan Singer
Writer: Christopher McQuarrie
Cast: Stephen Baldwin, Gabriel Byrne, Benicio Del Toro, Kevin Pollack, Kevin Spacey, Chazz Palminteri, Pete Postlethwaite
Genre: Crime, Mystery, Thriller

So rare it is to have a script so tightly tied and progressing the story all the way. Christopher McQuarrie's The Usual Suspects script is the superstar in an ensemble cast introducing both him and director Bryan Singer in a movie wallpapered with great acting from a shelf they were never considered belonging prior to the movie.

And how rare it is to have a movie not only demanding your thoughts while the end credits come, but also demanding a second viewing to take in it all in light of your first viewing experience. And it also pays off with repeat viewings. You notice new details, you appreciate new scenes from actors and you pay closer attention to the progression of the story in light of your previous experiences.

Currently ranked 21st on IMDB's top250 list and one of only four movies I at the moment have ranked as a 10, there's little doubt I once again pull out the one line I truly feel also this deserves....

A don't miss classic movie.

Pulp Fiction (1994)

Director: Quentin Tarantino
Writer: Quentin Tarantino (written by & stories), Roger Avery (stories)
Cast: John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Tim Roth, Amanda Plummer, Eric Stoltz, Bruce Willis, Maria de Medeiros, Ving Rhames, Uma Thurman, Harvey Keitel, Rosanna Arquette, Christopher Walken
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller

I'm not going to deny I really admire Quentin Tarantino's early work. The guy is a genius and he's blessed with a unique eye for dialogue, and even monologues, making the movies, rather than spell out the obvious. His second movie Pulp Fiction is his masterpiece bringing him to the masses. I bet there's millions of people who never would have watched Reservoir Dogs if they hadn't seen Pulp Fiction and realized who this director and screenwriter is.

This movie toys with timelines and interactions of stories told, but it never toys with the dialogues place in the timeline for our viewing pleasure. It doesn't get confusing. It gets perfected. It's not for nothing Pulp Fiction is currently holding the 5th spot on IMDB's top250 list.

Tarantino continued his work from his debut, having criminals discussing everyday stuff like everyone else does. If it's the meaning of Madonna's Like A Virgin in Reservoir Dogs or what the french calls a Quarter Pounder with cheese in this one. And he doesn't just spend 3-4 seconds on such conversations. He spend entire scenes on them, giving the audience insight into this characters without ever being lazy about it.

The truth about Pulp Fiction is that it ain't really a story about anything. In bits and pieces several of the characters take life-changing decisions, but overall the movie doesn't really have any or all stories screaming to be told, like most great movies are based on. This is a tale we never would have known we couldn't live on without, if Tarantino hadn't decided to tell it. It's just a masterpiece of dialogue, digressions, details and all neatly intervened without a single unnecessary scene added.

And the true greatness comes from all the little details and remarks you notice the second, third, fourth or fifth time you watch it, raising it just a little bit above the very first time you had the viewing pleasure. Another don't miss classic from Quentin Tarantino.