Is it the end of Summer already? Where on Earth did the time go? Certainly some it was wasted in the dark watching movies and eating popcorn. Here’s my final Summer round-up:
THE ARISTOCRATS
The movie I looked forward to most this year was certainly one the funniest, most entertaining, and thougtful. If you like funny people and you like to tell jokes and you’re interested in jazz, then this is the movie for you. And the added bonus: It is filthy, filthy, filthy.
THE 40 YEAR OLD VIRGIN
Why were all the best movies this summer funny movies? This movie was funny, raunchy, and actually very sweet. Catherine Keener was terrific, and the improvised dialogue between his buddies (“I know you’re gay because…”) was classic. This and WEDDING CRASHERS were certainly the best movies of the summer.
RED EYE
A terrific, HITCHCOCK-like little thriller that did everything just right. It’s nice to see a movie where a little thought has actually gone into the scenario. Though, to add my two cents: If someone held me at gunpoint and said they were holding my loved one hostage and I just had to do this one thing and then they would let me go free and release my loved ones unharmed, I would not believe them, and just expect that my family was dead and I would not cooperate. Screw them, man! Added bonus: Some very sudden, intense violence with no punches pulled.
BROKEN FLOWERS
Who doen’t love the new Bill Murray? Who isn’t a fan of Jim Jarmusch and the Ozu-like misc-en-scene. But look, I gotta tell ya… I prefer my catharsis a little more, well, cathartic… Great acting, some nice moments, but give me Wes Anderson’s Bill, or even HAMLET 2000..
THE MAN
It’s my own fault going to see this thing. The reviews were terrible. All of them. But some movies with terrible reviewx (like, say, ISHTAR), are swell. This is not one of them. Next time I hope Sam Jackson calls me up and asks me for $9.00. It would be less painful.
THE FIVE OBSTRUCTIONS
Hands-down the most interesting and thought-provoking movie I’ve seen this year. Danish filmmaker/provacateur Lars Von Triers invites his filmmaking buddy Jorgen Leth to reamke his movie THE PERFECT HUMAN five different times, each time setting a series of obstacles to success (“You must film this version in Cuba, and every edit must be exactly twelve frames long, and you can’t use a set”). Each version is moving and beautiful, and the documentary around the films is fascinating and full of life, such as a scene where Leth is trying to find his room in the hotel, and accidetally goes down a hall where he can hear a couple haing some pretty enthusiastic sex. Who could plan this? Best of all is the original movie, THE PERFECT HUMAN, which is David Lynch before Lynch was even born. This movie is on The Sundance channel, and is available on DVD, and I would urge you to seek it out.
Fall movies Brad s looking forward to: A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE, KISS KISS BANG BANG, MATCH POINT, and, of course, HOSTEL. Dim the lights!
