Movies to Study: The Social Network January 17, 2011

In lieu of a review for ‘The Social Network‘, I am adding it to my collection of Movies to Study. As always, there are a good amount of spoilers here to provide thorough analysis.

I intend to say that ‘The Social Network’ is a film driven by its screenplay (by Aaron Sorkin, based on Ben Mezrich’s novel), and that it is very much an achievement in writing more than anything else; however, all aspects of this film are astounding and it makes one complete package that leaves such a lasting impression because it is a situation (Facebook) which is still evolving.

So we begin with Mark (Jesse Eisenberg) talking to Erica (Rooney Mara) at a bar. He thinks fast. He talks fast. We are, as Erica is, slightly baffled. She mentions that he says so many things at once she “doesn’t know which one to aim for.” Yet Mark isn’t one of those geniuses who completely lacks social skills. He can socialize, but the rate at which he spits out his thoughts is overwhelming, yet if they were dissected it’s clear there is a common thread. He’s not speaking just to get rid of air. This scene in its entirety is a wonder in itself. But this also sets the groundwork of what the film is about: relationships.

Of course, this means Mark’s relationships with a few key people: Erica, the Winklevoss twins, Eduardo Saverin, and Sean Parker.

The framework of the film is that two different people are suing Mark over his success with Facebook. The first is the Winklevoss twins, played by Armie Hammer. In a script lush with one-liners, the Winklevosses (“Winklevi”) are comic relief. They are, in essence, the opposite of Mark. They come from money, are 6-foot-5, members of the most prestigious honors clubs, and row crew in the Olympics. They have an idea, but lack any of the real programming talent to make it happen. They just have money and are accustomed to having success. That’s why they bring Mark in. That’s why, when broken down, Mark despises them so much by the time of the lawsuit.

Waiting on 4 Stars January 12, 2010

2009 has closed and I have seen most of the films that I want to see, and almost all of the films I need to see. Being in South Korea has delayed this process a bit, but it has occurred nevertheless.

One thing that I have noticed is that I am still waiting for at least one amazing release for 2009. I don’t think it is too much to ask for just one. Sure, there have been plenty of good films, but they have all lacked that little extra zzingh to make them great. It also doesn’t help that we had a phenomenal and a good year before (2007 had The Savages, Zodiac, No Country for Old Men, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, There Will Be Blood–2008 had WALL-E, Revolutionary Road, Slumdog Millionaire, and In Bruges. All of these are great films).

At least from the list of serious award contenders, let me give a short round-up:

The Hurt Locker: 3.5/4 – Great, but lacking an emotional core.
Avatar: 3.5/4 – Superb entertainment, but a bit too predictable.
Invictus: 3/4 – Means well, but seriously? Yawn.
Up in the Air: 3.5/4 – Good, and Anna Kendrick deserves praise, but lacking the aforementioned zzingh.
Precious: 2/4 – Don’t get me started. This uses every gimmick in the book, is painful to watch, and ends up exactly how you expect.
A Serious Man: 3.5/4 – Love the Coens. This is good, but not their best. They will never best Fargo.
Fantastic Mr. Fox: 3.5/4 – Entertaining. A good flick. Nothing spectacular.
An Education: 3.5/4 – Carey Mulligan deserves every award there is, but the film doesn’t deliver on all the levels it promises.
The Cove: 3.5/4 – Great, and more than anything, important, but a bit lackluster in the middle.
Inglourious Basterds: 3.5/4 – It would be nice if the Basterds were actually in this disorganized movie.
District 9: 3.5/4 – Yet again: Good, but with a predictable outcome and message. I want something unexpected!
500 Days of Summer: 3/4 – Give me a break. Starts good, has some good scenes, but ultimately corny.
Up: 3/4 – Has its moments but hardly up to Pixar quality. Barely places above ‘Cars’.
Star Trek: 3/4 – How is this a serious awards contender? Popcorn flick.
The Hangover: 3.5/4 – Great comedy, but still has a few problems.
Julie & Julia: 3/4 – Meryl is good, but not a good movie at all.
Coraline: 3.5/4 – Very enjoyable.

I realize my comment became more bitter as I got to writing. Oh well.

With all of this said, if I had to pick the best films of the bunch, it would be ‘An Education’, ‘The Hurt Locker’, and ‘Avatar’. I can support any of those three for the win. But is it asking too much to be wowed? I should think not.

Great Movie Scenes of the Decade January 2, 2010

Year-end lists are tough, so naturally decade-end lists are tougher. Instead of a list of my top films for the decade, I’ve compiled notes on 50 51 of my favorite movie scenes from 2000-2009. Please keep in mind a few things:

A) Most of these movies have many great scenes. I simply picked ones that are either my personal favorite or ones I feel encompass the film as a whole in the best way a mere one scene can.
B) I mean the scene in which these events take place, not just the small moment I write about. The leading up to (through foreshadowing), right before, and right after are to be considered as well.
C) These are not my top 50 films of the decade. Do not take this list as such. If I made such a list, I’m sure somewhere between 50-80% of the list would be the same, but that’s a topic for some other time.
D) These are in no particular order, other than the first, which may very well be my favorite.

If you have seen these films, I hope you will enjoy remembering these moments as much as I do. If you have not, I urge you to take the time to do so. There is much to be felt.

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Graysmith looking Arthur Leigh Allen in the eye at the end of ‘Zodiac’

When Jack gives “directions” to some tourists to the “Louvre” in ‘2 Days in Paris’

Battle of Carthage recreation in the Coliseum in ‘Gladiator’

Jake Sully flying through the Floating Mountains on Pandora in ‘Avatar’

Cady meeting the Plastics in ‘Mean Girls’

Climax of ‘Oldboy’ in Woo-jin’s penthouse

The gathering of the crew in ‘Ocean’s 11’

WALL-E playing in space with EVE using the fire extinguisher in ‘WALL-E’

Retro Post: Top 10 of 2007 September 27, 2009

Editor’s note: Taken from my old blog to be posted here. Anachronisms are present to keep the integrity of the piece.

1. Zodiac

David Fincher’s finest film to date, even surpassing ‘Seven’ and ‘Fight Club.’ Here is a movie that is split almost two ways — the first half about the killings, the second half about the obsession. Both halves are amazing and together form this perfect movie. Sadly, the movie came out too early in the year, and will most likely be looked over come Oscar time.

Editor’s note: ‘Zodiac’ is discussed in more detail in the Movies to Study column.

2. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

There are very few movies that I would make everyone see if I possibly could. This would be one of them. The movie is inspired by Jean-Do Bauby’s “locked-in syndrome,” in which he blinks out an entire memoir with only his left eye. He is completely paralyzed and somehow manages to accomplish that. Jean-Do is a witty man (even more-so in the memoir itself), and that helps offset the deeply serious subject matter. Yet, at the same time, the scenes of his family coping with his immobility are overwhelming. It is perfect and innovative the way this story was filmed, and supreme credit goes to the director, cinematographer, and writer. I will write a more lengthy review at a later date.

Editor’s note: The Diving Bell and the Butterfly can be found as a Movie to Study.

3. No Country For Old Men

A movie that will not be overlooked come Oscar time is the Coen Brothers’ latest. Seeing this twice in theaters, the movie is smart, clean, and altogether flawless. People bitch about the ending. The first viewing it caught me off-guard, but when I saw it a second time I liked it a lot better, and think it’s the only way the film could have ended. I feel this movie will be studied for years to come.

4. Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead

Where most movies would falter, ‘Devil’ rises up and becomes that much better. There are no questions of motivation, there are no flaws in pacing, and the acting is completely top-notch. Sidney Lumet is the mastermind behind this picture, but a fabulous script by Kelly Masterson and the always-great Philip Seymour Hoffman take this film out of the standard ‘jewelry store robbery movie’ genre and elevate it to greatness.

5. Juno

You would have to try really hard not to love Juno. The character, specifically — but also the movie. I would try to describe scenes in this movie, but it would lose all effect. But ever since Juno accuses her ~4 year-old sister of puking blue slurpee into the vase, I couldn’t help it. It’s rare when I laugh at parts in a movie that are in the trailer, but I was that guy. It seems like Juno is the female version of any of the characters from ‘Knocked Up’ or ‘Superbad.’ But the real success here, where those movies have good one-liners, it’s the stupid jokes that are endearing. Here, Juno herself is what the movie is about — her quirky personality comes second to the movie as a whole.

6. Atonement

Atonement is a movie that on first glance seems to be all about love, but people forget to factor in ignorance, betrayal, lust, jealousy, and self-loathing. The twisting of this movie is delicate and perfectly executed. Visual art of the highest form, the whole movie is a pleasure to look at and just take in. Gotta love British period pieces.

7. La Vie en Rose

A one-woman show for Marion Cotillard as Edith Piaf, and how great that show is. The music aside, this is pure storytelling in a creative way. Taking the life of a person and re-ordering it for increased effect is risky, but here works extremely well. Perhaps there is a reason Edith Piaf was the pride of France.

8. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Tim Burton is very hit-or-miss for me. On the one hand is Batman and Big Fish, but then there’s also Planet of the Apes and Sleepy Hollow. Here I think is his best work to date, with an eerie movie/musical that lifts well from the source material. Johnny Depp also shines, showing he has more range than most working actors today. A great movie, but not for everyone.

9. Ratatouille

I’ll be honest — I liked the Incredibles, but not so much as everyone else. Here Brad Bird steps up again for Pixar and produces the best animated film in years. A great blend of wit, passion, and cooking detail, the movie could have been twice as long and I still would’ve watched it three times.

10. The Bourne Ultimatum

The third installment in the series, and the best of the bunch (which we all know is rare). The plot is a bit flimsy, but still strong enough to justify the endless action sequences that put many imitators to shame. Believe the hype when they say, “You are glued to the screen.”

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I will not do a ‘honorable mentions’ because that is a cop-out, though in a year like this it would be more than justified. 2007 was a phenomenal year for movies, with so many great flicks. I could have probably made a top 20 and felt strongly about all of them.

And as with all top 10 lists, let me say that I know people will gripe. Really, I just do these so whoever may stumble across the list will feel a tiny bit more inclined to see a few of these, and I know that they will appreciate it. Any time I can get people to see these films instead of ‘Epic Movie’ or ‘The Bucket List’ I am pleased.

And lastly — I stand by these rankings. Isn’t No Country For Old Men a better movie than Zodiac? How can you rank perfect movies that are so different? It’s like judging any kind of art: When you’re stuck in the middle, go with the one that makes you feel something.

Movies to Study: Zodiac July 6, 2009

The newest movie in my Movies to Study column will be the 2007 movie Zodiac. As always, be warned that a decent amount of spoilers will be ahead. But probably not enough to ruin the experience for you, just enough to get my point across.

We shall begin here with the director, David Fincher, who has also directed Fight Club, Seven, and Panic Room, all of which are good, if not great movies. But where Fight Club lacked in motif, and Panic Room lacked in ethos, Zodiac manages to encompass all of these criteria. The movie clocks in at 158 minutes and is split into two very distinctive halves. The first half is spent showing the murders, victims, and suspects, hinting at the identity of the Zodiac. Yet when we arrive at the second half, the story focuses on Graysmith (Jake Gyllenhaal) and his obsession over finding out the identity of the killer. Both halves are imperative to the success of the film.