Shooting Fish (1997)

Shooting Fish

I'm not a huge fan of Kate's haircut, but there's no doubt she was as beautiful back then as she remains today. Charming as ever, and that's also much of this movie's allure. It's charming, some of the schemes are both creative and with a certain class, and there's something to be said about the feel of it as well.

Still. There's also a lot to be said about predictability, easy solutions and slow progress during the story. Co-writer and director Stefan Schwartz was definitely on to something, but lacked the vision, and possibly also experience, to pull it all of in style.

The Social Network (2010)

The Social Network

Of all the reasons I had to watch this movie, Aaron Sorkin was the most interesting one despite my love for the man's work came from TV-series The West Wing, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip and Sports Night. If there's thing Sorkin is especially great at, it's the work flow. And he gets to get it well in here as well.

Fincher in the chair is rarely disappointing, and if it wasn't for the hype I wouldn't have been this time either. Still. There's not a lot of interesting things to be said about this movie and its story. It's a now thing, as hyped by the company and it's hold on people, as by anything the movie stands for it self. Big whoop.

Eisenberg and Garfield are however great, and that Timberlake dude doesn't really ruin anything at all. He doesn't add much, but it seems like he might have some talent.

Sorkin didn't really get to use all his potential, but then again which college kids can be portrayed realistic in a Sorkin well-run dialogue?

Well. Now I've seen it, and thanks to the hype I'll take my frustration out on Zuckerberg. I won't log into Facebook in at least 2 days. Top 250 on IMDB? National Review Board? Come on. Log off Facebook for a minute and appreciate the art of movies which came before. Fincher have done better, Sorkin have done better and something tells me Garfield is going to do even better in the future.

Flipped (2010)

Flipped

Never seen anything from Madeline Carroll before, but it would surprise me a lot if that's not a name most of us will be very used to in time. The girl might still be young, but she's nothing short of great as Juli Baker. Sadly McAuliffe, in the other lead, isn't close to her abilities. The support is however nicely cast.

For a while there it seemed like Reiner was about to hit home again, but the two-sided narration lost its charm, the story became to predictably molded in cliches and that McAuliffe had both acting and character problems to deal with.

Most of the reasons to survive came from both the more interesting life of Juli, the acting of Carroll and some degree of charm. In ten years I'll probably anyway just remember it for opening my eyes to another actress.

Make Way for Tomorrow (1937)

Make Way for Tomorrow

Perfection.

I'll be surprised if I'll ever be able to start a review with that word again. Pleasantly so I might add, but very surprised none the less.

As overlooked when it arrived as it still is today. Only 1343 votes at IMDB tells all about how forgotten it is. Director Leo McCarey made another movie in 1937, The Awful Truth, igniting Cary Grant's launch to superstar fame. Unlike Make Way for Tomorrow, The Awful Truth was nominated for several Oscars and actually also won McCarey his first one. It was even the 'Best Director' category, and the story goes McCarey stood up saying:

"You gave it to me for the wrong picture."

That speaks of McCarey thoughts of this movie. Looking at how little fame it have received since, I can only wonder what he must have felt as years past by.

I have very few problems understanding his reaction on the Oscar ceremony, as there's really not a single misplaced step in this one. The direction is spot on throughout, the acting is first rate, the story is timeless and as important 73 years later, and the subject and characters are handled with respect, love and an eye for details. I could go on speaking of this movie for hours, but there's really very little left worth saying after my first word so I'll rather make an appeal.

While there's never a bad time to watch this masterpiece, we're coming up at the Christmas holiday now. It's the absolute perfect time to watch it, whether it's for the very first time or as a revisited reminder of the important stuff we so easily forget even at this time a year. It's a disgracefully overlooked gem, and my hope is that everyone goes into this holiday touched by McCarey's forgotten masterpiece.

The Last Picture Show (1971)

The Last Picture Show

I didn't remember this was a Larry McMurtry story until the end credits, but it sure made a lot of sense being reminded. For those unfamiliar with Larry, he co-wrote the Brokeback Mountain screenplay not long ago and is the author behind the Lonesome Dove series.

Even when the movie came out in 71, Bogdanovich took us back in time, to the early 50's and the death of movie theatre's as they were known. It must have been at least as wonderful a journey back then as it's now. The mood and atmosphere of the West Texas town Anarene is stunning, and McMurtry and Bogdanovich knew how to treat their small town people.

I sometimes wonder if I weren't born way to late (and on the wrong continent), and after this I'm again left wondering about it. I guess I'm just like the next guy when it comes to sentimental foolery.

Whatever happened to Sonny, Duane, Jacy and the rest, I doubt Texasville would do me nothing more than ruin the memories of this classic.

Vivre sa vie: Film en douze tableaux (1962)

Vivre sa vie: Film en douze tableaux

Almost ashamed I admit this was my first Godard-movie, but afterward I'm not so sure that's something to be ashamed of. Don't get me wrong. There's a lot of interesting things about the movie. The camerawork, Anna Karina and how it demands your thoughts as the best parts.

Still. There's just to much weakness in it for me to understand how this can possibly be so acclaimed. Some of the tableaux's are nothing short of uninteresting and boring, which doesn't do well in a movie coming short of 90 minutes.

In all fairness this is the kind of movie you really have to let sink in and preferably watch twice until you can come with an informed opinion, but the weaker parts makes me quite sure I'll never consider it a classic and I'll not be able to get through it again in quite some time.

The Disappearance of Alice Creed (2009)

The Disappearance of Alice Creed

There's a lot of good to be said about this movie, and most of it to be said about the first quarter of it. In fact I'll go as far as saying there's so much good in it, a lot of it could easily been a brilliant piece of a larger story.

Sadly the movie soon enough turns predictable and ordinary in every way, but the opening is fresh and well worth the entry fee alone. There's a lot to be learned there for other filmmakers. The plotting, the preparation and the cold, rough and professional approach by both the director, the leads and Arterton.

Arterton stands out as great, and so is also Eddie Marsan. I wasn't as impressed by Compston, but two out of three ain't bad. I'll go as far as saying there's just still a far chance Arterton might step into the A-list.

Writer and director Blakeson are onto something, but he really didn't understand how his story should have been interpreted into something larger rather than dragging it out predictably. Still early in his career, and there might come greater things from him as well if he manage to step back and take in the complete picture of what he's trying to tell.

Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987)

Planes, Trains & Automobiles

I'm not a huge fan of Steve Martin, but thankfully there were more subtle humor in this one. While many movies start out good, or even great, most of them have a lousy second half dragging them down. This one starts out quite slow and predictable, but Hughes manages to build it steadily upwards towards several great scenes in the second half.

Charming and heartfelt, it's a great little movie for the holidays.

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 (2008)

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2

The recycled plots are even thinner than first time around. Lively and Ferrera works as bad as the first time around, even if Ferrera's story are slightly more interesting. Still unoriginal as ever. Bledel's part is, like Lively's, a repeat performance of the first one around, so only Tamblyn's have some sauce. Still. Not enough to even cover her quarter as they stretched the movie close to two hours.

At least Lively didn't run much this time. That's something I guess.

Amores perros (2000)

Amores perros

Three intervening stories takes place in Mexico City, time-looping Tarantino's Pulp Fiction-style, involving dogs and love. Thankfully the director have done the rest on his own vision. Ambitious like Tarantino, but heavier, deeper and painful.

No animals were harmed making this movie, and they choose to say so in the opening credits rather than the end ones. Much needed, as animal lovers will be uncomfortable from the very beginning. Still. There's no doubt the director understand what animals can come to be for people.

At two and a half hours, it's a long movie. Even more so considering it'll be with you for a while, and you'll have to collect your thoughts making up your mind. I haven't yet fully done so, but for now I'll say this. It's a really good one.