Girl and a Gun

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The Matrix (1999)
Directed by The Wachowski Brothers

For breakfast lunch: Sandwiches from Spinelli’s

I remember when this came out, my friend Sandy and I were so excited that we skipped basketball practice (something I had never done) to go see it opening day. During the opening sequence, my jaw dropped, and I don’t think I fully recovered until the credits started to roll. Even though it shared some things with Dark City, which was released one year earlier, The Matrix felt unlike anything I’d ever seen before.

Why did they have to go and ruin it?

Despite the fact that the film has held up quite well over the years, it is forever tainted by the absolute awfulness of the two sequels. I can’t help it. I can’t get the raves, convoluted plot lines, stilted dialogue, or disappointing fights scenes out of my head. Okay, the freeway chase was cool — I’ll give you that. It’s just frustrating that a film can stand so solidly on its own and still fall victim to the Hollywood machine’s insistance on taking it too far.

I still enjoy watching it though, and this latest Blu-ray release makes it look pretty damn spectacular. I’d say I was almost as mesmerized as I was that afternoon 10 years ago

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A Hard Days Night (1964)
Directed by Richard Lester

For breakfast: Orange Danish with slightly overcooked extra crispy bacon

This fun-loving ’60s romp never fails to put a smile on my face. Easily one of the greatest musical films ever made, this comes in second only to The Last Waltz as one of my favorites. It’s hard to beat 90 minutes of Beatles music, zany antics, and satire, all with tongue placed firmly in cheek while giving a big wink to the audience. It’s also hard not to just eat up Richard Lester’s energetic style that is obviously influenced by the French New Wave. If you don’t have fun watching this film, then there’s no helping you.

David Ondaatje’s first feature The Lodger is somewhat of an unfortunate undertaking. Even though it claims to be a modern adaptation of Marie Belloc Lowndes’ novel rather than a remake of the 1927 Hitchcock film, it is still treading on the same ground as the Master of Suspense and because of that there are certain expectations. Expectations that are sadly never met as a suspense film or even a film in general. Instead the story plods along trying to confuse the viewer, but each uninspired camera movement and line of dialogue makes it hard to care about anything that’s happening. 

How big names like Alfred Molina, Hope Davis, and Simon Baker can turn in such boring and stilted performances is almost as baffling as how this film got a theatrical release, but somehow Ondaatje manages to suck all of the life out of his actors. Essentially a modern retelling of Jack the Ripper, Molina pretends to be a detective dealing with the trauma of a murder case that is reopened because he put the wrong man away. The goreless murders continue as the film shifts back and forth between the cops and a mentally unstable housewife that is falling for the mysterious man staying in her guest house. 

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I want to see this movie.

Cloverfield (2008)
Directed by Matt Reeves

For breakfast: Biscuits and Gravy

I love a good monster movie and when one comes around that’s as clever and well-executed as Cloverfield, it’s hard not to be pleasantly surprised. The shaky, 1st person camera is a tough thing to pull off without being obnoxious, see The Blair Witch Project, but I think Cloverfield does a pretty good job of it. Of course it helps that JJ Abrams seems to bring a certain amount of energy to everything he’s involved with and this film definitely has plenty of energy. It’s an intense ride that only occasionally dips its toe into silliness and despite it’s contrivances it keeps the viewer engaged for the swift 80 minute run time. 

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Two of my favorite films from last year.

I meant to post this a really long time ago, heh..

5. The Firm

I’m a sucker for lawyer films and I loved the book…and it’s Sydney Pollack. So, I like The Firm just a little bit. Plus Holly Hunter AND Gene Hackman! Oh, and lots of Tom Cruise running…”you can’t catch me gay thoughts!”

4. Jeremiah Johnson

Western + Robert Redford + Sydney Pollack = teh awesome. 

3. They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?

One of the most exhausting cinematic experiences you will ever have. 

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