100 Movies in 100 Days: COMPLETE

2,000 movies in 10 years. I still remember that warm March day in 2001 when I decided to start keeping track of the movies I watched. I had no clue how that one idea would shape such a significant portion of my life. I still remember being excited when my official count hit "10," "50," and eventually, "100." And now, exactly 10 years later, I hit 2,000.

As I sit on this milestone, I want to briefly look back before looking ahead. Completing 100 movies in 100 days was not easy. Here are a few thoughts about the whole thing:

Looking Back

1. This was significantly harder than expected. When I thought about doing this and writing about it in a blog, I imagined having the time to craft every entry perfectly to create discussion about movies. This quickly got put on the back burner. There were days when it was all I could do to write something fast, and start the next movie. I didn't have the time (or the energy) to write as intentionally as I'd hoped.
2. I got so many great recommendations from people, but I only managed to watch a few of those. I'll definitely see all the movies recommended to me, but sadly, they weren't all able to be part of the 100 in 100.
3. I've been humbled by the response to this. This blog had well over 1,000 page views from 10 countries from around the world (someone even viewed the blog on their iPad, which I think is extremely cool) I've had comments on the blog, comments on facebook, and messages sent in all forms about the various movies I've watched. I want to thank everyone who read or commented or even thought about movies differently because of this. You made this whole thing enjoyable for me.

Looking Ahead

1. 2,000 movies is really just the beginning. I'm stunned at how many great movies I still haven't seen (it's embarrassing). There's no way I can keep this pace up- it'll be well after 2016 before I hit 3,000, but I need to be more intentional about the types of films I see.
2. Here's some of the goals I have for the next thousand movies:
• See every single film to have ever won an Academy Award
• Make this list an accurate count of not only the last 10 years, but of every film I've seen in my life (I have to go back to pre-2001 and rewatch a lot of those movies I've seen, but aren't in the count)
• See every film on all those AFI Top 100 Lists
• Ensure I've seen at least 100 films from every decade (for example, I'm not even close to 100 movies from the 1930s)

Well, I'm not going to belabor this any more. 100 movies down, and I'm officially done. Interestingly, I don't think I'm going to take days or weeks off from watching movies. I'm just going to watch them only when I actually feel like it. In fact, after working 55+ hours this week, I actually think a movie sounds good right about now...

Day 100- Movie 100. Inception (2010)

Before I even start talking about this movie, I have a few things to say first- 1. Somehow, I managed to do it. I successfully watched 100 movies in 100 days. If I had to describe my emotions at this moment, I can only describe it as "relief." 2. I'm going to write a longer entry tomorrow (it will be my last) to reflect a bit on this challenge, as well as the fact that I managed to watch 2,000 different movies in exactly 10 years. So, I'm saving some of the good stuff for tomorrow.

On another note, I was driving back home today (about a 1.5 hour drive), and the whole time, I kept thinking to myself- If I get into a car accident and have to go to the hospital, I'm going to be so pissed I didn't get to finish that last movie. Luckily, I made it home safe, and I was able to conclude this long endeavor.

I thought quite a bit about what movie should be my 100th (and 2,000th). I thought about going for a classic, or an unexpected one, but I ultimately chose Inception for a few reasons. Mainly, because this was my favorite movie of 2010 (I admit I've only seen about 65 films released in 2010, so there's always a chance something could top this). I thought this was an innovative, intelligent, thought-provoking, game-changing movie. I saw it in theaters, but I never got it into my "official" count.

The main reason I loved this movie was because Christopher Nolan managed to create an intelligent, original movie that managed to break out in a big way. So many "blockbusters" rely on the lowest common denominator- trying to appeal to the widest possible audience while not offending or frustrating anyone. That's a cowardly way to make a movie. Nolan took a concept that was extremely complex and created a movie with the belief that the audience was intelligent enough to follow along and not get lost. He didn't pander or simplify the film for the sake of "stupid" American audiences. I love that he did that. Movies can be entertaining while still challenging us, and Inception does a fantastic job of proving that point.

The movie blends that amazing initial premise with an incredible cast and some of the most impressive scenes I've seen in a long, long time. I'll never forget that long, slow-motion fall of the van into the river. The gravity-defying fight scenes of Joseph Gordon-Levitt are among my favorite scenes of all time. They were stunning. The ice fortress battle sequences were amazing in a very James Bond-ish way. And of course, the controversial, brilliant ending. This movie blew me away.

For those reasons, I decided to choose this as my 100th movie. Hollywood is a business that copies success. The copies are rarely even close to the original, but they try it anyway. I sincerely hope Inception inspires Hollywood to take more chances on challenging, complex, unconventional films. Playing it safe creates movies like Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son. Movies shouldn't be safe- they should push the boundaries of our thinking. Inception represents why I love going to the movies. I would give this film an 8.5/10.

While I'm going to write much more tomorrow, I do want to spend a few minutes today discussing this whole thing. It was significantly more difficult than I expected. I'm completely relieved this is over. It was fun (and stressful), but I'm looking forward to going back to watching movies ONLY when I feel like it. They say that too much of a good thing is a bad thing, and apparently, that is true for movies, too. Okay, I'm probably going to be a bit long-winded tomorrow, so I don't want to tire you out today. Check back here tomorrow for my FINAL post (and don't worry, after that, I'm done clogging up your facebook news feeds!)

Day 96- Movie 99. Love and Other Drugs (2010)

I was surprised at the depth to Love and Other Drugs. The trailers made this look like a fairly lightweight romantic comedy, when it's really much more of a romantic dramedy. Instead of just a love story, this film also has some powerful commentary on the nature of loving people with incurable diseases and the shadier side of the pharmaceutical industry. This is a romantic movie that was about more than just "will they or won't they?" I appreciated that.

The story follows a pharmaceutical rep (Jake Gyllenhaal) who falls for a strong, determined woman (Anne Hathaway) who challenges him and differs greatly from the other women he's been with. Okay, so that does sound like your typically cliche-filled romantic comedy. However, there's much more to this movie than the storyline. It actually depicts relationships in a very adult, complicated, realistic way. I appreciated the attempt of this film to portray relationships in all their complex glory. No one ever said being in an adult relationship was easy, and that comes across in this film.

I also enjoyed the look at pharmaceutical sales. That isn't the most open, honest business, and it was interesting to watch an insider's view of what it is like. I thought that added an interesting element to this movie. So many romantic movies feature the leads in throwaway careers that seem implausible. This movie put the characters into a real time period, surrounded by actual events. I thought that lent some credibility to the film.

The movie relies greatly on the chemistry between Jake Gyllenhaal and Anne Hathaway. I've always liked Gyllenhaal, back to his Donnie Darko days. I really think he has the talent to become of the biggest movie stars in the world. I thought he gave a good, charismatic performance here. He works well with Hathaway. The two showed some decent chemistry and played off each other quite well. The supporting actors were good, as well, with strong performances from Hank Azaria, Oliver Platt, and Judy Greer.

I suppose I can understand why some people wouldn't like this movie. It does occasionally push the boundaries of realism a bit too far, and certain scenes do appear a bit forced. The sex scenes could be viewed as too much for some, and the ending is a bit trite. However, compared to many other similar films, I thought Love and Other Drugs worked surprisingly well. I enjoyed watching it, and I was able to get into the story and the characters. I'd give this film a 7.5/10.

So, this is my 99th movie. On a positive note, I hit 99 on day 96. That's not bad. Unfortunately, it would have been nice to finish this thing off today. As I've mentioned previously, I'm swamped the next four days. I could easily not have time for a movie, but I'm going to try to ensure that doesn't happen (can you imagine if I missed it by 1 movie?) We'll see what happens, but I'd like to finish this off sooner, rather than later. Stay tuned...

Day 96- Movie 98. Bottle Shock (2008)

I'm actually a big fan of Bottle Shock. It is an interesting little movie about how the California Wine industry challenged the Paris wine industry and in the process, changed the way people thought about good wine. It features a very good cast, strong performances, and is a very entertaining movie. It is a lighthearted, funny film, and I enjoyed it very much.

It was interesting to watch this film, knowing it is based on a true story- specifically, the now famous "Judgment of Paris" wine tasting competition. It's also an underdog tale- how small California wineries went up against the historically superior French wines. In addition, it's a story of some down-on-their-luck individuals and how they overcome the odds to succeed.

The cast really makes this movie. I liked Chris Pine in the lead role. I don't think he gave a fantastic performance, but it was a strong showing, and I genuinely liked him in the film. Alan Rickman and Dennis Farina are fantastic. I loved their scenes together. Bill Pullman was a brilliant addition to the cast. I've always liked Pullman, and I think he worked very, very well in the film. I also was glad to see Freddy Rodriguez (he's an underrated actor), Eliza Dushku, and Rachael Taylor. The entire cast works well together, and I had a very fun time watching them all interact.

Bottle Shock is interesting because of how it blends wine, love, drama, and humor together into this wonderful little package. This is a movie that is effortless to enjoy. Unlike many movies, you don't have to work to get inside it. It seems lightweight on the surface, although it has many layers underneath. I do wish the movie moved a bit quicker, and it could have used an even better performance by Pine, but it still does so much right that these flaws are minimized.

It was incredibly hard not to want to drink some wine after seeing this movie. In fact, that's exactly what I did. Upon finishing this film, I went to pick up a bottle (and consequently, some KFC- that scene with Alan Rickman made me want some fried chicken really bad) and I am drinking wine as I type this up. I've never really understood the sophisticated side of wine, but it's fascinating to watch that passion and expertise unfold on screen. There's truly something magical about the process of making great wine, and that comes across extremely well in this film. There's also some absolutely jaw-dropping cinematography of Napa Valley and the beautiful rolling hills of wine country.

Wine enthusiastics should like this movie, but anyone could enjoy the true story and the interesting characters presented in this film. I very much enjoyed this movie, and would give it a 7.5/10.

Well, I am only 2 movies away. That is a huge relief. I'd like to be finished today, but I'm not sure I have the energy to hit up two more movies. I may be able to get one more in, but it looks like I'll have to find time during this upcoming week for that last movie. I'm very relieved this is all coming to an end, and I'm sure people will appreciate when I stop clogging their news feeds with these posts. Four days left and two movies to go!

Day 95- Movie 97. Monsters (2010)

I am extremely impressed with Monsters and what the filmmakers were able to achieve with a far less than $1 million budget. I've read that there were only two crew members and many of the scenes were unscripted. This movie is definitely a very small, independent film, but it feels significantly bigger than that. It is a unique, unforgettable film. This is a monster movie that is mostly about the humans- the "monsters" are important, but certainly are secondary.

The story begins with an explanation that six years ago, a spacecraft returning to Earth with samples to prove alien life existed broke up in the atmosphere. Soon after, new life forms began to appear along the U.S.-Mexico border. The area is bordered off as an Infected Zone. The story follows a photographer (Scoot McNairy) an a tourist (Whitney Able) who are trying to make their way back to the United States. To do so, they have to get dangerously close to the infected area.

The movie focuses mostly on these two characters. In so many monster movies, character development takes a backseat to the special effects. This movie (perhaps due to its budget) focuses almost completely on these two characters, and the alien monsters are really in the background. This works because the characters are interesting, complex, and realistic. You never feel like these are the typical cardboard cutouts that appear in so many movies. Their story alone is interesting and engaging. In some ways, the movie unfolds almost like an adventure film or a travel movie. It's certainly difficult to characterize exactly what kind of movie this is.

Now, the movie isn't only about these two. There are a number of scenes with the alien creatures. The special effects are a bit weak, but considering the budget of this film, they are pretty astounding. I never felt like the effects detracted from the film at all. Sure, with a bigger budget, the creatures would have looked even more amazing, but they are still impressive as-is. I loved how the creatures were portrayed in this film. The scene at the gas station is one of the most powerful, moving, memorable scenes I've watched in a long time.

I enjoyed watching Monsters because it felt refreshingly unique. It is a new twist on a familiar genre. The movie is unlike anything else that's happening right now- it is a character-focused alien/monster movie. I suppose you could make some comparisons to District 9, but this film does enough to differentiate itself. In addition, the ending is pretty spectacular. It is a controversial, debate-inducing conclusion that leaves the film on a high note.

Monsters would have been better with a slightly bigger budget and a little tighter script. However, it's amazing what was achieved considering the limitations of the cast and crew. I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. If you go into this film expecting your typical alien movie, you'll probably be disappointed. On the other hand, approaching this with an open mind will allow you to see the uniqueness of this film. I very much enjoyed it, and will give Monsters a surprisingly strong 7.5/10.

I don't want to spoil the ending, but if you've seen this movie, what did you think about the conclusion? You can send me a message if you'd like, because I'm interested in what you thought of it but don't want to give anything anyway.

Day 95- Movie 96. The Secret in Their Eyes (2009)

The Secret in Their Eyes is another movie recommended to me (the recommendations I've had have all been solid, solid movies) and it is a great film. It's a very well deserving 2009 Academy Award winner for Best Foreign Film. The movie is an extremely well made crime drama whose romantic elements play an equal (or larger) role in the final product. This is a movie that doesn't necessarily do much brand new, but it executes beautifully. This is a well crafted and expertly made film.

The story is about a legal counselor (Ricardo Darin) who reflects back on the case that he could never get out of his mind- the rape and murder of a young woman. This is the central thread of the story, but there's so many others that are weaved together beautifully. Perhaps the most powerful is the story of his unrequited love for his superior (Soledad Villamil), who plays a key role in the investigation of the aforementioned crime. This movie expertly blends crime drama, romance, and thriller together in a powerful, memorable package.

What I really enjoyed about this movie is its layers of complexity. This is a movie I imagine could be watched again and again, and you'd pick up on different elements with every viewing. It is a movie full of symbolism and meaning. The story unfolds slowly, but has clear momentum as it builds towards its surprising conclusion. The film does occasionally move too slowly and does feature a few outlandish moments, but for the most part, this is a realistic, enjoyable movie that gives you a great deal to think about. I sometimes complain about movies being too lightweight- you don't have that problem here- The Secret in Their Eyes is a heavy, deep film.

This is a film that was made with great care and intelligence. It deals with thought-provoking, complex, and occasionally disturbing themes. It never panders to the audience as it tells a very film noir type story. It reminded me of the films that were made in the United States in the 40s, of which too few are made today. I really liked this movie a great deal. I will give The Secret in Their Eyes a great 8/10.

Well, I'm now +1 movies. I have 5 days to watch 4 movies, and today isn't over yet. I admit I could easily finish this day off without watching another movie,  but I'd love to go up two today. I'll see if I can muster up enough energy to knock off a third film today. As far as this one, I'll pass the recommendation on- see this movie- you won't be disappointed (as long as you don't hate subtitles)

Day 95- Movie 95. G.I. Jane (1997)

I really believe that G.I. Jane is an underrated movie. I'm not suggesting that it's a great movie, but it is a good one, and I feel like it gets a really bad rap. Demi Moore actually "won" a Razzie Award for Worst Actress, which I think it a bit ridiculous. This movie isn't perfect, but I thoroughly enjoyed it regardless. It is a solid, entertaining movie.

What I like about this movie is it's your classic underdog story. Demi Moore's character is given the opportunity to break the gender barrier in the Navy SEALS, but she has to go through hell to do that. Director Ridley Scott does a terrific job of portraying the intense, miserable training that causes 60% of recruits to drop out. The training is far beyond what most people believe themselves capable of enduring. I myself couldn't imagine the psychological and physical torment that must be overcome to survive the training.

So, we watch Moore as she faces sexism around ever corner, which only adds to the already nearly insurmountable odds against her. It's always fun watching a story about an individual willing to tough it out, no matter the challenges before them. The Navy SEALS training is brutal, and Scott does a terrific job of making this come to life. That aspect of the film is outstanding.

Moore's performance was really not all that bad. Sure, she doesn't have many terrific moments, but the performance is mostly believable. She gets a bad rap for this film. It's impressive how much she bulked up for the role, and even though she used stunt doubles for many of her scenes, she still put forth a great deal of effort, and I appreciate that. Viggo Mortensen is good as the Master Chief, and I liked Anne Bancroft as a U.S. Senator. The cast is really quite good.

I don't know, maybe I should have hated this movie like a lot of people seem to. I simply couldn't do it. It is an impressive story about a woman facing overwhelming odds, and to a certain degree, overcoming them. It offers a vivid portrayal of some of the most intense military training on the planet, and even throws in a real-combat scene as well. This isn't a perfect movie, but Scott keeps the film moving so that it rarely drags, even with a 2+ hours run time. I'd give this film a 7.5/10.

Well, I now have 5 movies left. I knew I was getting close, but it didn't really hit me until this moment. That's not very bad at all. I'll be able to do at least one (and hopefully two) more before the day, so I should actually get very close to the end goal.