My year-end movie list:
1. Little Children (Todd Field): Few movies will entertain you and make you laugh one moment then just punch you in the gut the next, at least not in a way that doesn't seem contrived. I walked out of it sick to my stomach and couldn't stop thinking about this film for days.
2. Half Nelson (Ryan Fleck): At this point I'm sick of the "drugs are bad" and "look at me, I'm struggling with drug addiction, give me an oscar" cliche, but this movie is so different. It's low on the melodrama, the excuses, and the latent glorification found in other films of the genre and simply focuses on a good story about a (mildly inappropriate) relationship between a teacher and a student. It also reminded me a little of the school storyline in this season of The Wire.
3. Volver (Pedro Almodovar): Great comeback from the mildly disappointing Bad Education. Another amazing film by one of my favorite directors. Nobody makes movies like him.
4. The Departed (Martin Scorsese): The Aviator and Gangs of New York were okay, but this is easily Scorsese's best movie since Goodfellas. It's almost as if he needs to do an Age of Innocence or Bringing Out the Dead every few years to remind us how good his gangster films are.
5. Little Miss Sunshine (Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris): "Have I mentioned that I'm the preeminent Proust scholar in the United States?" I love Steve Carrell, Alan Arkin's character is genius, and the final beauty pageant scene is classic.
6. Thank You For Smoking (Jason Reitman): Aaron Eckhart is always so good at playing an asshole. I wonder what he's like in real life?
Yeah, only 6. I'm picky. But...
Movies that could make my list when I get a chance to see them:
Pan's Labyrinth (Guillermo Del Toro): This seems to be on every critic's year-end list. Unfortunately it doesn't come out in San Diego until Jan. 12. I loved the Devil's Backbone and Hellboy so I'm sure this one won't disappoint.
Lady Vengeance (Chan-wook Park): The third of the revenge trilogy that began with Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance and Oldboy. This was only out in San Diego for a 1 week run and I missed it. I loved loved loved Oldboy so I'm excited to see this.
Inland Empire (David Lynch): When the hell is this going to get a wide release. It's playing at the Palm Springs Film Festival next month. I may have to make a special trip.
Children of Men (Alfonso Cuaron): Loved Y Tu Mama Tambien. This one's supposed to be good.
Letters From Iwo Jima (Clint Eastwood): Everyone (Critics, NPR, etc.) keeps talking about how great this film and its sister film are supposed to be. I'm usually disappointed by Eastwood's films though. Mystic River was the biggest pile of crap he's ever directed and Million Dollar Baby was mediocre at best. I like the the idea of these two films though (the retardness of war), so I'll give them a chance.
Jesus Camp: I'm slacking on my documentaries this year. I didn't even see An Inconvenient Truth. This one could either be mildly funny or very scary. I have a feeling it will be the latter.
Casino Royale: A friend with decent taste tells me this is the best Bond film ever. We'll see.
1. Little Children (Todd Field): Few movies will entertain you and make you laugh one moment then just punch you in the gut the next, at least not in a way that doesn't seem contrived. I walked out of it sick to my stomach and couldn't stop thinking about this film for days.
2. Half Nelson (Ryan Fleck): At this point I'm sick of the "drugs are bad" and "look at me, I'm struggling with drug addiction, give me an oscar" cliche, but this movie is so different. It's low on the melodrama, the excuses, and the latent glorification found in other films of the genre and simply focuses on a good story about a (mildly inappropriate) relationship between a teacher and a student. It also reminded me a little of the school storyline in this season of The Wire.
3. Volver (Pedro Almodovar): Great comeback from the mildly disappointing Bad Education. Another amazing film by one of my favorite directors. Nobody makes movies like him.
4. The Departed (Martin Scorsese): The Aviator and Gangs of New York were okay, but this is easily Scorsese's best movie since Goodfellas. It's almost as if he needs to do an Age of Innocence or Bringing Out the Dead every few years to remind us how good his gangster films are.
5. Little Miss Sunshine (Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris): "Have I mentioned that I'm the preeminent Proust scholar in the United States?" I love Steve Carrell, Alan Arkin's character is genius, and the final beauty pageant scene is classic.
6. Thank You For Smoking (Jason Reitman): Aaron Eckhart is always so good at playing an asshole. I wonder what he's like in real life?
Yeah, only 6. I'm picky. But...
Movies that could make my list when I get a chance to see them:
Pan's Labyrinth (Guillermo Del Toro): This seems to be on every critic's year-end list. Unfortunately it doesn't come out in San Diego until Jan. 12. I loved the Devil's Backbone and Hellboy so I'm sure this one won't disappoint.
Lady Vengeance (Chan-wook Park): The third of the revenge trilogy that began with Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance and Oldboy. This was only out in San Diego for a 1 week run and I missed it. I loved loved loved Oldboy so I'm excited to see this.
Inland Empire (David Lynch): When the hell is this going to get a wide release. It's playing at the Palm Springs Film Festival next month. I may have to make a special trip.
Children of Men (Alfonso Cuaron): Loved Y Tu Mama Tambien. This one's supposed to be good.
Letters From Iwo Jima (Clint Eastwood): Everyone (Critics, NPR, etc.) keeps talking about how great this film and its sister film are supposed to be. I'm usually disappointed by Eastwood's films though. Mystic River was the biggest pile of crap he's ever directed and Million Dollar Baby was mediocre at best. I like the the idea of these two films though (the retardness of war), so I'll give them a chance.
Jesus Camp: I'm slacking on my documentaries this year. I didn't even see An Inconvenient Truth. This one could either be mildly funny or very scary. I have a feeling it will be the latter.
Casino Royale: A friend with decent taste tells me this is the best Bond film ever. We'll see.
VIEW 3 of 3 COMMENTS
pucca20:
hey thx for the comment hopefully i will hehehe xx 
bebopbebop:
I did, but I tried to contact her before Thanksgiving and then we fell out of contact, then I tried again before Christmas, but fell out of contact again. Now I'm having trouble contacting her again... 