Day 73- Movie 59. Red Riding Trilogy: 1974 (2009)

I just thought I'd start this out by saying I'm feeling unwell and exhausted, so don't expect this to be a masterpiece. That being said, I do want to convey how much I enjoyed Red Riding Trilogy: 1974 (not sure what the "official" title is as I've seen it about five different ways, but I am going with this because it is short and simple).

The film is loosely based on a series of child murders that shocked northern England in the 1970s. The film focuses on a young, ambitious reporter and his investigation of the murders. The movie weaves serial killers, cops, and reporters together in a complex, winding, interesting film. The film is oftentimes difficult to watch as we're dealing with some pretty horrific events. However, the gruesomeness all serves a very important purpose- this movie is supposed to make you feel uncomfortable, to a certain extent.

The best aspect of this film has to be the performance of Andrew Garfield. I liked him quite a bit in The Social Network, and he completely won me over in this film. I'm very excited for him to be taking over as the new Spider-Man. Garfield is a very good actor, and he has a meaty, exciting part here. The film revolves around Garfield's character, and he does such a terrific job in the lead role. He's going to be a huge movie star soon, and for good reason.

This film is a British production that I believe was made for television. It occasionally does feel like a made-for-TV movie, but is certainly better than 95% of the TV movies made in the United States. It was released theatrically here, although it made very little money in theaters. The movie holds up a solid, entertaining, challenging, memorable film. I really enjoyed it. I'd give this film a 7.5/10.

I'm sure I could come up with other things to say, but my brain is beyond fuzzy. I'm shutting down for the night. If you like movies about serial killers, cops, and reporters, I'd give this movie a chance. The film is sometimes difficult to follow because of the thick English accents, but the effort is worth it. The movie is really quite interesting and has a pretty controversial, unforgettable ending. I'm excited to see the second two films in the trilogy (interestingly, both were also released in 2009).

Back tomorrow with more films- if I want to hit 100 in 100, I'm going to need to pull off the rare 4 movie Saturday.

Day 73- Movie 58. Below (2002)

I thoroughly enjoyed the Darren Aronofsky-written Below. It is a movie that takes a number of familiar themes, yet mixes them together in a unique package. This is certainly a movie that you haven't seen before. While the movie does occasionally rely on some pretty cheap thrills, overall, it is a suspenseful, thrilling, entertaining film. I'm not sure why it's taken me so long to see it.

The movie is basically a light horror movie set aboard an American submarine in World War II. I wouldn't call this film a "true" horror movie, as it is a deft blend of horror, mystery, and thriller. It combines the best aspects of those different films to create a unique experience. The story follows the crew of an American submarine who pick up the three remaining survivors of a British ship that was sunk by a German U-boat. As soon as the survivors get aboard, strange events start to occur on the ship, leaving some to believe they are cursed, others to believe the submarine is haunted. It's all quite interesting.

The film works because it does a terrific job of leveraging the strengths of the script. Submarine movies are always fun because they provide an intense, claustrophobic setting. There's something so unsettling about watching people standing perfectly still, trying to remain quiet, while an enemy ship with the capacity to destroy them floats close by. Below does a great job of portraying this suspenseful aspect of submarine movies, while also giving us some of the better scares that come with your typical horror film. This blend is what makes the movie original. It's so refreshing to watch something that you haven't seen dozens of times before.

I liked that this film was more of a psychological thriller. Sure, there are some good visual scares and intense, suspenseful moments, but so much of the tension hits us on an intellectual level. I'm sure much of that came from Aronofsky's script. While I loved the original script, I'm also glad Aronofsky chose not to direct this (he went with Requiem for a Dream instead). While I like Aronofsky, his movies always polarize the audience, sometimes for no good reason other than to do it. Below works better as a more straightforward film, aiming first to entertain.

This film does have some shortcomings- there are too many attempts at cheap scares (i.e., people turning their heads quickly to see- Nothing! Followed by the sudden appearance of another character, which scares them and- supposedly- us). The film does require you to suspend your disbelief a bit, and it does get somewhat messy towards the end. These small flaws prevent it from being a great movie, but they do not hurt it significantly.

I thoroughly enjoyed this film- it is one of the most suspenseful, entertaining, memorable films I've seen in a while. I do wish they had relied less on the cheap thrills, but overall, this is a very solid, entertaining movie. I give Below a very strong 7.5/10.

I'd like to write some more, but it's getting late, and I need to try to get another movie in. I haven't felt good at all the last few days, and I wasted two hours sleeping when I got home from work because I felt so bad. I could have gotten a movie in then, so now I've got to stay up late to try to squeeze one more in. Hopefully I can stay awake...

Day 72- Movie 57. The American (2010)

I really appreciate that George Clooney balances out his bigger, more commercial Hollywood films with small, more intimate, less commercial fare like The American. This is certainly not the movie most people would expect when they hear "George Clooney- assassin." There is very little action, dialogue, or much of anything in this film. It's fascinating how this film feels so empty- and yet, full- at the same time.

The story is almost nonexistent. George Clooney plays an assassin hiding out in a small town, doing one last job. Very little actually happens in the film. It unfolds extremely, extremely slowly. The deliberately slow pace may be hard for some to watch, but it is amazing how much can be conveyed during those quiet moments. I was surprised with how little dialogue is in this film. Long stretches occur where there is no talking at all. I'm sure that will drive some people crazy, but it was a nice break from typical Hollywood movies. I liked the quietness of the film.

Without any CGI, big action scenes, or witty dialogue, the movie rests almost completely on the shoulders of Clooney. Few would argue that Clooney is one of the biggest movie stars in the world, and yet, even this must have been a daunting challenge. With little dialogue, Clooney had a great deal of time to fill. He accomplishes that through a powerful performance. He really lets you feel his emotions and connect with him as a character, even though he doesn't say much. The film is filled with good performances, but the movie is truly about Clooney.

Watching The American certainly requires a great deal of patience. There are many beautiful landscape shots, but so many of these dwell much longer than is comfortable. The film is occasionally maddeningly slow. It's amazing how slow the pace is here. And yet, that is important, because this film isn't meant to be the typical Hollywood movie. This is a film that puts art above entertainment. Yes, that long, long lingering shot might be hard to watch, but it's certainly beautiful in an art sense, isn't it?

While I admit there are moments I wish more would have happened or at least had the pace quicken a bit, I still enjoyed this film. Yes, the movie suffers from some cliches, but it still tells a pretty interesting story that I feel will stick with me for quite a while. I enjoyed this film, and would give it a respectable 7/10.

Enough for me. I'm tired and don't feel very good. Out.

Day 72- Movie 56. Commando (1985)

I have seen many parts of Commando over the years, but I've never seen the entire film from beginning to end. This is one of those action movies that you have to be willing to suspend your disbelief if you're going to enjoy it. There are so many absurd, ridiculous moments throughout this film- and yet, none of that really mattered. This is a film that embraces those silly moments for the sake of entertainment, and I was more than willing to go along for the ride.

In recent years, there have been a number of successful films around a trained killer going to extreme lengths to save a younger female from death. Denzel Washington did it beautifully in the excellent Man on Fire, and Liam Neeson scored a hit doing the same thing in Taken. Arnold Schwarzenegger made that movie in the mid 80s, and it's every bit as entertaining. He is an ex-commando who reluctantly gets back to his killing ways after his daughter (Alyssa Milano) is kidnapped by a South American dictator. The plot is pretty ridiculous, and it's sole purpose is to set up a scenario where Schwarzenegger can just go on a bloody, deadly rampage.

And rampage he does- in this film, Schwarzenegger kills over 80 people. That's a stunningly high amount, considering the film is only 90 minutes. That is almost averaging one person killed a minute for the duration of the film. So many of these kills are absurd, but it doesn't matter. There is something so entertaining about watching a character go to extreme lengths to save someone close to him. Schwarzenegger was absolutely jacked in this film, and it's extremely entertaining watching him demolish the bad guys. He also has a number of his trademark one-liners. What more could you ask for?

Now, I am completely sympathetic to someone who hates this movie. I definitely understand it. At one point, Schwarzenegger leaps from the wheels of a flying airplane into a swamp, only to emerge unscathed. At another, he literally throws a massive pipe through someone's chest. At one point, he has to kill 30-35 people with barely a scratch taken himself. It's absurd, ridiculous, and far-fetched. I can see how people would scoff at this film and call it terrible.

And yet, for me, I really enjoyed it. I've always been a fan of Schwarzenegger movies. They are crazy, but they're at least entertaining. Sometimes you're just in the mood to watch destruction and mayhem, and this film is perfect for that. I would give this film a 7.5/10, which is probably more than it deserves, but I really like it regardless.

On another note, I'm not even going to mention how far behind pace I am. I'm screwed at this point, but I'll talk more about it by the end of the weekend. I'm going to try to make some serious progress, and reevaluate where I am Sunday night.

Day 65- Movie 55. Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (2009)

I usually never getting around to watching movies like this. I typically check out the top 2-3 animated films in any given year, but I never seem to find the time to watch the second tier animated films. Besides Pixar and some of the work done by Dreamworks, many animated films are pretty bad. I typically don't think "Must see" when I hear about an animated film from Sony Pictures. And yet, this film proved all that logic wrong.

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs is based on a children's book of the same name, which I've never read. So, I entered this film without any expectations, save for what I remembered from the trailers a year or so ago. I was surprised to find that this was a visually beautiful, funny, entertaining film that left a lasting impression on me. I don't believe this film ranks up with Pixar is doing, but it was still an enjoyable experience.

The film is about a wannabe inventor who has a breakthrough and creates a machine that makes it rain food. This is all great, until the food starts growing larger and larger, finally reaching dangerous levels that threaten to destroy the town. The animation is pretty superb- the town undergoes a pretty visually miraculous transformation, from a gray, dull feel to one full of color and vibrant life as the raining food changes the lives of everyone in town. The animation of the food is pretty spectacular. I especially loved when the food became destruction- it's amazing how this all looks on screen. The spaghetti tornado was breathtaking. I'm not sure why, but it was very entertaining watching a town decimated by giant food.

The film isn't just about visuals. It's really about believing in yourself, especially when others doubt you. It's a story about a son trying to win the approval of his father and a story about a girl trying to feel comfortable with who she really is at the core. These stories present some valuable life lessons for kids, which gives the movie a more powerful, lasting feel to it. This isn't just about watching giant food fall from the sky- there's lessons to be learned here.

The voice cast is impressive- Bill Hader, Anna Faris, James Caan, Andy Samberg, Bruce Campbell, Mr. T (seriously), Benjamin Bratt, Neil Patrick Harris, Al Roker, Will Forte, and others. It's actually a very good voice cast, and they all do impressive work.

While I was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, I have to admit that this film just doesn't compare to the things Pixar is doing right now. Pixar has created some of the most iconic, memorable, incredible animated films of all time. The visuals are amazing and the stories are powerful as well. This movie isn't in the same league as the best Pixar films, but it is surprisingly close. I had a fun time watching this movie. I'd give it a solid 7/10.

On the 100 in 100 front, I thought I'd give a quick update. I did pretty well this week, at least keeping pace. However, I didn't make up any ground, and with 35 days left, I still have 45 movies to go. To make matters worse, it's possible I'll go the next 6 days without watching a movie. That would put me 16 movies behind the pace I need to keep up. I'm certainly going to do my best not to let that happen, but I'll definitely lose more ground over the next week. After that, things should quiet down some- just in time for me to attempt a final push to hit the mark by March 11th. I need to make up some of these movies. The worst case would be for me to try to make up all these movies right near the end- I certainly don't need that added pressure. I need to make it through the next week, and then get busy watching films. Thanks for reading.

Day 64- Movie 54. Exit Through the Gift Shop (2010)

I still don't fully know what to make of this film. Exit Through the Gift Shop is a documentary that has been getting rave reviews from critics, and has recently nabbed an Academy Award nomination for best documentary. It's a fascinating, complex movie that examines the art world. It challenges the mainstream view of art, while also challenging our assumptions about documentaries. The big question is- "Is any of this actually real?" I find it interesting that a "fake" documentary could bring home an Oscar. Or is it fake? Can a documentary about a fake person be a real documentary? My head is hurting just thinking about this.

The film is really divided into two halves. The first half is about a documentary filmmaker (Thierry Guetta) and his desire to film the street art movement. This is very interesting, as it pulls back the curtain on a little-known form of art. While it often seemed like graffiti to me, it is apparently this huge art movement with some very dedicated artists devoting their lives to it. It is information, interesting, and entertaining. The first half of the film culminates with Guetta trying to meet Banksy, the enigmatic and perhaps most famous of all the street artists.

The second half of the film flips the camera on Guetta and his effort to become a famous, respected street artist himself. This is the part of the film that becomes very, very ambiguous. I won't go into too much detail, but you can't help but wonder if anything you're watching is real. Is Guetta who he appears to be, or is he simply a character created for the movie? The longer the movie goes on, the more outlandish he becomes. Eventually, the movie reveals itself to be a look at the modern art world, complete with pretty powerful commentary on the typical art buyers.

I don't know much about art myself. I know what I like, and what I don't. I simply don't get most modern art. It looks like crap to me. I'm obviously not sophisticated or informed, but for me, I don't like it much. This film really poses this question- What makes "art" "art"? Is it because famous people say they like it? Because others are willing to pay millions for it? With all the quirks and eccentricities of modern art, how do we know when something is good, and when something is crap? It all gets very confusing, and this movie addresses that problem.

Now, movies focused with commentary on modern art probably don't sound like much fun. However, Exit Through the Gift Shop manages to make this a funny, entertaining, thought-provoking journey. It gives us some larger-than-life characters and trains the camera on them. It is a fascinating film that really holds the audience's attention. It challenges some preconceived notions, and asks some hard questions of the art world. I enjoyed the film very much, and would give it a very respectable 7.5/10.

Who has seen this movie? What's your take on it- is it a real, authentic documentary? Is the second half staged? Does it even matter?

Day 64. Movie 53. Heart and Souls (1993)

This is one of those films that I perhaps shouldn't have enjoyed, but actually did. The film can be considered silly, ridiculous, and easily dismissed. However, I thought there was some real heart to the movie. It had a good, uplifting message, regardless of the package in which it comes. I enjoyed this film, even though parts of my brain told me not to.

The film is about four people (Charles Grodin, Alfre Woodard, Kyra Sedgwick, Tom Sizemore) who die at the same time and are permanently connected to a young boy born at the same minute they died. They serve as his "imaginary" friends during childhood, but decide they need to leave him alone to live his own life. They disappear from his sight, but never leave his side. Years later, he's grown up to be a successful businessman (now Robert Downey Jr.) and they reappear, causing chaos in his life. The story is admittedly a bit absurd, but it's also a fun, harmless story.

The cast is the big reason to watch this film. Downey is very, very good. It's easy to overlook what a strong performance he gives, especially when he takes on the qualities of the spirits surrounding him. He makes it all seem believable, which was not easy to do. Grodin, Woodard, Sedgwick and Sizemore are all good as his ghostly guardian angels, and it's fun watching them cause havoc in his life. The movie even has David Paymer and Elisabeth Shue. The cast is really quite excellent.

The reason I liked this film is that it has a pretty good message. The reason the spirits come back in Downey's life is because they need the opportunity to right the major wrong of their life, before they can move to the other side. Downey is a selfish, egotistical person at this point, and along the way, he learns something about family, friendship, and life. This is all packaged in a comedy, but can be powerful if you're willing to dig a little deeper to uncover the real message of the film.

I watch movies for many different reasons, but once in a while it is nice to see a film that at least tries to touch the heart. This is a film about redemption, forgiveness, friendship, and love- those are all such crucial pieces of the human experience, and it is important to be reminded of them from time to time. Heart and Souls manages to do that at least on some level. It's a funny, entertaining little movie. While this theme has been done before (and done better), this is still an enjoyable movie. I'd give this film a 7/10.

This movie also made me realize that I need to do a better job of watching some of Robert Downey Jr.'s earlier films. He's currently enjoying the greatest success in his career, but he's always been a very good actor (even through the more troubled times). He's been in so many films, especially early on, that are mostly forgotten today. I am willing to bet there are some terrific gems that I simply haven't seen yet.

So- favorite early-career Robert Downey Jr. movie?