George Washington (2000)

George Washington

I loved D.G. Green's All the Real Girls, but this debut was all over the place. The narration often feels flat and wannabe. The story aim for authentic snaps, failing to bring life to screen, writing to interest or interest to viewer. Some of the dialogue is brought to us the same way weak comedians ask for the laughter, rather than focus on the punchline. That's no way to bring authenticity to screen.

I'm well aware many praises this one, but of Green's work I'll take All the Real Girls any day of the week.

The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (2006)

Toki o kakeru shôjo

A combination of animated SciFi and harsh coming of age lessons, but it doesn't quite get where it could have gone.

The protagonist is just a little to annoying to ever manage the attachment needed with me as viewer, the setting isn't quite interesting enough and the story never manage to get its heart to shine through.

I did enjoy it, but this is one of those rare instances where you actually can sense the masterpiece it could have been if they had focused a little better on their foundation. It's easy to feel a little cheated when the potential is so great.

Tangled (2010)

Tangled

This was predictable, old-fashioned and with severe lacks in every aspect like the missing charm, depth and quality songs.

I do love Mandy Moore, but she didn't have much to work with in this Disney production; once again proving they haven't kept in touch with the development within the genre.

A couple of scenes and songs manage to keep this from being a complete waste, but I can't for the life of me figure out how nineteen thousand people have managed an averaged 8.0 rating at imdb thus far.

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984)

Kaze no tani no Naushika

One of Hayao Miyazaki's earlier movies, but to me this one stands out as the one he manage to fulfill throughout. There's no doubt this might be one of his movies where his environmental message shines through even more than usual, but the story never suffers from this message.

Nausicaä might be one of the finest characters ever portrayed, and the people of The Valley of the Wind helps build her up.

The animations doesn't come close to what we've later seen from Studio Ghibli, but we got to keep in mind it's 26 years since he made this one. Never the less. The details are quite stunning here as well, especially in the background both in the Valley of the Wind and in the Sea of Decay.

So far my favorite animated movie, and these days that's actually beginning to say something as I keep exploring the masterpieces of the past.

Three Colors: White (1994)

Trzy kolory: Bialy

In the second movie of Kieslowksi's Color-trilogy we follow a Polish immigrant in France, and the turns his life takes when his wife divorces him for being unable to please her in bed.

This is the first Kieslowski movie I've seen, that doesn't feel like no-one else could have made it. The theme is a classic one, and the Eastern European mindset shines through like we've seen in so many other movies, but he still delivers a well prepared dish for us. It's got more depth than we usually see in these kind of movies, but it's never close to the depth he showed in the first movie of the trilogy, Three Colors: Blue.

Zamachowski is good in the lead, but not quite great. The support cast is however great, whether we speak of Delpy, Stuhr or Gajos.

The Third Man (1949)

The Third Man

I didn't quite buy lead actor Joseph Cotten in all his scenes, but that's the only non-spoiler objection. The rest of my objections keeping it from a top score, I'll keep to myself to ensure not ruining what still is a remarkably great movie.

Vienna post WWII is truly a stunning scenery for this movie. The bombed architecture, the four parts of town controlled by different country's forces and the language problems. What's more; director Carol Reed knows how to use it to its fullest effect. He also spends a lot of time achieving magic with the use of shadows, whether it's scenes where people are running or hiding.

The dialogues are great, and I love the way it uses German often enough by native Vienna people, rather than making it unrealistic by everyone speaking English. The supporting cast is great, also those you really can't understand if you don't speak German, as their tone and body language gets it through.

The Third Man is no doubt a must see movie experience everyone should enjoy.

Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005)

Mr. & Mrs. Smith

A rom-com action movie barely stands any chance of hitting all the right cords to make for a complete cinematic experience. The balance is just too hard to hit.

Well. They don't succeed here either. The movie is too long, it's not funny enough (though not for the lack of trying) and the action sequences aren't able to engage.

Still. It's light entertainment, and it does manage to do so sometimes between all those parts you easily find to object about.

My Neighbor Totoro (1988)

Tonari no Totoro

Whatever it lacks in depth of story, it more than makes up for in with its enchanting and heartwarming ways. While I've previous given Miyazaki credit for his incredible way of taking you into his stories, he's more than equally able to enchant you by letting you become familiar with his characters; and that's exactly how he reels you in with this movie.

While I've previously slashed ratings for movies because of their less than subtle morale, Miyazaki have the quality to bring his moral in without feeding you spoonfuls upon each other.

Satsuki and Mei are unresistingly charming characters, and Miyazaki plays to his strengths throughout the movie.

Adore it, love it, enjoy it, and raise your children and grandchildren within Hayao Miyazaki's magic universes.

Chungking Express (1994)

Chung Hing sam lam

How many people do you brush past every day in a busy big city? How often do you make a connection with any of them?

Chungking Express is a love letter to the purest of love, without the Hollywood mushiness, grand gestures and even unrequited at times.

We follow two Hong Kong cops love lives, taking us through many different states of love in a stylish and musically accompanied way. It sucks you in, intoxicates you and leave you with a feeling you've never really seen anything quite like it. Still. It reminds you of other great directors taking you into the loneliness, obsession or anticipation.

Kar Wai Wong have both written and directed this shining pearl, and I add his name to those I'll be looking deeper into filmographies of in the future.

The Awful Truth (1937)

The Awful Truth

It's nice to be remembered there actually was a time when movies labeled 'comedy' could make you laugh, and The Awful Truth sure achieves laughter. What's more is the fact it's charming and sparkles with life as well, which is something you rarely see these days.

It won an Oscar for 'Best Director', while also being nominated for 'Best Picture', 'Best Lead Actress', Best Support Actor', 'Best Editing' and 'Best Writing Screenplay'. As I mentioned when reviewing Make Way for Tomorrow, director McCarey felt he won that Oscar for the wrong movie that year. While there's no doubt I agree with him, simply because that's still the best movie I've ever seen, there's neither no doubt 1937 was a great year for McCarey.

The chemistry between Irene Dunne and Cary Grant is excellent, and especially Dunne is brilliant. Also worth a mention is Cecil Cunningham's performance as Aunt Patsy and Asta as Mr. Smith, the latter being a dog.

There's a couple of scenes that doesn't quite work as well as they probably hoped, but most of them thankfully helps establishing the characters and their chemistry. Overall a delightful divorce, as I guess I might as well mention the plot with half a sentence at least.