Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)

In light of Meryl Streep's third Oscar win on Sunday, I thought I'd review the film she won her first Oscar for: 1979's Kramer vs. Kramer.

Ted Kramer (Dustin Hoffman) is a workaholic and not-so-attentive father and husband. His wife Joanna (Streep), unhappy with her marriage and her life, decides to leave. Ted doesn't have a clue how to raise their son, but eventually comes to cherish the role of fatherhood. Fifteen months later, Joanna returns and wants her son.

This film is so emotional, raw and real. Hoffman and Streep are phenomenal, and Justin Henry as their son is cute and believable. While watching this I sympathize with both Ted and Joanna, and get so involved in their story and attached to the outcome of their custody battle. It's funny, it's sad, it's real, just like life. I even shed a tear or two (okay, so I cry at absolutely every movie ever, but these tears were earned!). This movie won five Oscars (including Best Picture) for a reason.

As of this writing, the movie is available on instant watch on Netflix. Give it a go, or revisit it if it's been a while. It's always nice to take time to appreciate some truly fine acting, don't you think? Enjoy!

Drive (2011)

When an un-named getaway driver (Ryan Gosling) falls for a kind young mother (Carey Mulligan), things get complicated and blood gets spilled.

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Normally I prefer pop music in film to be used ironically. Stuff like, Neo-Nazi Bikers dancing around to "Party Lights" and Leo DiCaprio kicking the shit out of someone to "Nobody But Me". I hate it when the music is sooooo on the nose. Like Jim Carrey testing out his new God powers to this song. Yet for some reason I don't mind the spot-on cues in Drive. I think it has something to do with how stoic the character of Driver is. He's a man of few words, so the music has to speak for him. He doesn't eat. He doesn't sleep. He does nothing but think of her. Come to think of it, that song itself is ironic. As sweet as the the sentiment is, the scenario it describes is kind of stalker-esque. But then again, a lot of pop songs have obsessive undercurrents. Maybe that's what director Nicolas Winding Refn was trying to say with this film! Or maybe I'm just over-thinking all of this. Do I really need a reason to hate Bruce Almighty?

Oscars 2012

I sort of HAVE to comment on the Oscars, don't I? They weren't full of surprises, necessarily, but I enjoyed having Billy Crystal back to host and thought they put on a nice show. We watched the show pigging out and surrounded by friends and family, and we all enjoyed it. From what I've read, enjoying the Oscars seems to put us in the minority, but WHATEVS.

Highlights:
*Octavia Spencer's emotional speech after winning Best Supporting Actress. Aw, I teared up a little!
*Cirque du Soleil's cinematic-themed performance, that made me feel a) lazy, and b) sorry for the guy who lost his balance on the person chair! Don't worry, I'm sure the beheading you will get for your crimes will be quick.
*Seeing Bob Balaban, Fred Willard, Catherine O'Hara, Christopher Guest, Eugene Levy and Jennifer Coolidge in a fake focus group for "The Wizard of Oz"..."We're always arguing about whether or not monkeys can fly, and this proves it!"
*Robert Downey Jr, Emma Stone, and the Bridesmaids taking full advantage of being presenters!
*Christopher Plummer winning Best Supporting Actor, being 82, and suave as hell at that. Take note, men of Hollywood!
*Jim Rash mocking the awkward way Angelina Jolie was standing just before presenting him with an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay for The Descendants.
*Best Original Song goes to "Man or Muppet"? Hilarious.
*Hugo!!

Wah Wahhhh....
*The utter predictability of it all. Although, after having tied for first in the Oscar bets at our party, I shouldn't complain...
*Um, how did Harry Potter not win for makeup? The GOBLINS, people!

Aaah!
*Don't. Get. Me. Started. On. The Artist.

Oh, and for the fashionistas out there, I have to give a shout-out to my favorite fashion blog Tom and Lorenzo for all things red carpet!

Say what you will about the Oscars, but they're my Super Bowl and I'll be damned if I ever miss it!

Double Bill: Cinematic Revolutions

I Am Cuba and The Battle Of Algiers

The Bad Sleep Well (1960)

A vengeful man (Toshirô Mifune) seeks to bring down the corporation responsible for his father's death, from the inside.

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It makes perfect sense that this film was remade for Japanese television in 2010. 50 years later the story is still relevant. The "bad" continue to "sleep well". I kind of wish this film was in English so that more people would see it. Perhaps a remake with George Clooney? Too similar to Michael Clayton? Ok, how about Matt Damon? I don't know, I'm just spit-balling here. But this could totally work, because at it's core, this is a revenge story. And who doesn't love a good revenge story? It doesn't matter if you're eating it with a fork or chopsticks, so long as it's served cold.

Action!

In beginning filmmaking and screenwriting classes, "dialogue" is a dirty word. This is a very smart idea. You force the students to think visually. Rather than explaining everything with tedious exposition, they must find a way to tell their stories with images and through action. "Pure Cinema" as they like to say.

Following this line of logic, it would stand to reason that Action Films would be one of the more exalted genres out there. During a big set-piece, minutes can fly by with nary a line uttered. You are left with only breathtaking images to keep you oriented. Yet sadly, Action is often considered to be a "low" or "base" genre with little to no redeeming value.

To this I say: Their loss, our gain. We didn't need their snobby asses cluttering up our theaters anyway!

Can't Stop The Music (1980)

A highly fictionalized account of the formation of the disco group The Village People.

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Shot at the height of disco's popularity and released in the year of it's demise, Can't Stop The Music was destined for failure. Yet as bad as this movie is, it's not un-watchable. In fact it's actually pretty fun. Where else are you going to see a young Steve Guttenberg grooving around New York on roller-skates? Or a hairy-chested leather-man belt out "Danny Boy"? Oh and did I mention Bruce Jenner's in this thing? It's exactly like a Marx Brother's movie, only instead of Groucho, Harpo and Chico, you have The Village People helping out the struggling artist and the young lovers! Give it a spin. You'll have a gay ol' time!

Top Hat (1935)

I'm an absolute sucker for Fred and Ginger musicals. Top Hat is especially good, as it masterfully combines every element we love about their films: gorgeous sets and costumes, memorable songs (by Irving Berlin!), and some of the best dancing you've ever seen!

The plot (mistaken identity over and over) is kinda nonsensical, as are the plots of many musicals. But it's not about the plot. It's about the song and dance, and the great chemistry that Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers had (arguments about Ginger's famous feather dress notwithstanding). This film sparkles. And did I mention the supporting actors? Edward Everett Horton, Eric Blore, Helen Broderick and Erik Rhodes make this film truly memorable in their hilarious roles as the friends (and enemies!) that keep the chaos and the laughs going.

So pop the popcorn and let Fred and Ginger take you away!

Double Bill: Double Dumbass On Whalers!

The Cove and Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home

Cinema Sound

I first became aware of Sam Smith in 2010. Seemingly out of nowhere, the 1977 Japanese horror film House became a phenomenon on the American art film circuit. And as a result, that damn cat poster was everywhere! Eventually I discovered that this brilliant image was the work of an NYU Cinema Studies grad named Sam Smith and promptly fell in love. It makes perfect sense that the Criterion Collection would make this guy a regular. He has amazing graphic sense as well as a firm grasp on the history of the medium ranging from Saul Bass and Pablo Ferro to the weird world of Polish Movie Posters.

Well as if all that wasn't enough, the man also runs an amazing Tumblr! Do yourself a favor and check out Cinema Sound. What began as a place for him to post weird soundtrack album covers and Youtube clips from obscure scores, has since evolved into some pretty amazing hour-long film score mega mixes! As I type this, I am grooving to his compilation of ambient and electronic scores from 2011. Part 2 is all orchestral! Oh to be talented...

Blazing Saddles (1974)

In order to facilitate a land scheme, a black railroad-worker (Cleavon Little) is installed as sheriff of a small old western town...and hilarity ensues.

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Oh to have been alive in 1974 and to have experience the one-two punch of Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein firsthand! Mel Brooks was really firing on all cylinders. Not only were the films funny, they were well made. In later years, the production values on his films would crumble to barely above television quality, but not here. Shot in Cinemascope on the Warner Brothers back-lot, Saddles bares more than just a passing resemblance to the genre it's spoofing. Though the fancy restorations and re-releases are usually reserved for stuff like Lawrence of Arabia, I would love to have the opportunity to see this film in a crowded theater on a big-screen. Maybe in 2014, when it turns 40 years old!

Tangled (2010)

Okay, okay, I'm on a major Disney kick right now, so forgive me. But! I finally watched "Tangled" and it was a lot better than I expected. I'm kind of a snob about my Disneyness, and haven't seen many Disney animated films since "The Emperor's New Groove." Glad I gave this one a chance, as it was actually pretty damn cute.

It's the story of Rapunzel, kidnapped from her royal parents by an old crone who has discovered that Rapunzel's hair holds the secret to eternal youth. Kept in captivity in a tower, she yearns to escape. Luckily for her, a charming outlaw stumbles upon her hideaway and becomes her guide in the outside world.

This movie isn't high art in any way, and it doesn't need to be. It's sweet, it's funny (there's a horse character in particular that's HILARIOUS), and has some visually beautiful moments. The photo above is from a scene where they watch hundreds of colorful floating lanterns and the effect is breathtaking.

So give this one a go if you're feeling like some sweet Disney fluff, and watch out for that horse!

The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou (2004)

Steve Zissou (Bill Murray) leads a band of explorers and filmmakers on a quest to find and kill the shark that killed a compatriot of theirs.

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I'm pretty sure I've watched this more than any other Wes Anderson film. I'm certain that I've quoted it more than any other Wes Anderson film. Shot in Italy on giant sets and at sea, The Life Aquatic is an insanely ambitious film. It shoots for the moon. Though admittedly it doesn't hit the target, it comes extremely close. It's filled with so many great  moments, images and ideas - they just don't quite come together in the end...just like this review. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go on an overnight drunk, and in 10 days I'm going to set out to find the shark that ate my friend and destroy it. Anyone who wants to tag along is more than welcome.

10 Cutest Disney Couples

Yes, another Disney post! In honor of Valentine's Day, I thought I'd bring out the warm fuzzies and lovey-dovey wonderfulness and count down my top ten favorite and cutest Disney couples. Strictly fluff here, folks!




10. Duchess and O'Malley, The Aristocats
She's prim and proper, and he's a street smart cool cat. Naturally, they hit it off. Disney loves couples from opposite sides of the track, so to speak, and this is no exception. Plus, awww, they're kitty cats!

Whitty

I don't know if you've caught on or not, but this is a pretty personal blog. We aren't a news site so we get to have a biases and we get to play favorites. One such favorite is filmmaker Whit Stillman. In the 90s Stillman banged out an amazing trio of films (Metropolitan, Barcelona and The Last Days of Disco) before going unexpectedly MIA in the last decade. Fortunately this industry imposed exile has ended, and it will be only a few months before the Urban Haute Bourgeoisie are once again gracing movie screens. Mark your calendars for April 6th! In the meantime, enjoy this trailer:

Double Bill: The Evil That Men Do

The Bad Sleep Well and High and Low

Empire Records (1995)

The employees of an indie record shop band together to try and save it from being bought up bey a mega conglomerate.

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It's sad to think that this film will soon be a cultural anachronism. We'll have to explain to our kids that back in olden days people had to go to brick and mortar stores if they wanted to buy things and that music used to come on discs and cassettes. Where are our punks, goths, hipsters, hippies and outcasts supposed to work when all the record shops go the way of the Dodo? Maybe it's time to re-unite the cast and make a movie about trying to stay afloat in a digital world. I would definitely pay to see that. Damn the man! SAVE THE EMPIRE!

Waiting For The End Of The World

What would you do if the world was set to end in a matter of hours, days or weeks? How would you act? What would become important? What would cease to be important? Regardless of  what does or does not happen on December 21st, questions like these are going to be on people's minds this year. We already got to see Lars Von Trier's take on things with last year's Melancholia, now we have the chance to see a slightly lighter (?) take on things with Lorene Scafaria's Seeking a Friend for the End of the World.

Expect a lot of theaters to be screening this film come November/December, along with Last Night, Miracle Mile and the aforementioned Melancholia. Let me also go on the record as predicting that R.E.M.'s "It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)" will top the UK charts for Christmas. If I'm right you all owe me $1,000,000. I mean it's not like you're gonna have any use for that money after we're killed by a solar flare or whatever right?

Craig's 2011 At The Movies

Best of the Best*

Attack the Block                                Beginners                                             Drive                                                The Descendants 

Really Great

Midnight In Paris, The Tree of Life, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, Certified Copy, Bill Cunningham New York, The Artist, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, Senna, We Need To Talk About Kevin, Hugo, The Muppets, Bridesmaids, The Adventures of Tintin, Super, Super 8, 13 Assassins, Woody Allen: A Documentary, Being Elmo, 50/50

Fun

X-Men: First Class, Thor, Captain America, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, Contagion, Red State, We Bought a Zoo, Moneyball

Won’t Be Seeing Again
Bellflower

*List subject to change. I still would like to see The Skin I Live In, Melancholia, Young Adult, Pina, Warrior, Rango, Bullhead, A Separation and A Dangerous Method

Weekend (1967)

Corinne and Roland (Mireille Darc and Jean Yanne) set out on a quiet drive to the countryside. What they find is death, mangled cars, cannibalism and revolution.

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I honestly cannot watch modern Godard. I've tried. God help me I've tried. The visuals are still "perfect" and the ideas are as intriguing as ever, but there is little joy to be found. While his 1960s output never shied away from "serious" subject matter, there were always fun and human moments to break things up a bit: The Madison in Band of Outsiders, "Ploom ploom tra-la-la" in Pierrot Le Fou, "As Tears Go By" in Made in U.S.A., etc. These are the moments that mark the difference between first-rate cinema and the angry rantings of an old man who needs a hug. The latest Godard I can really stomach is 1967's Weekend, which you really have to admire for its commitment to unbridled cynicism and provocation. Everything I've attempted to watch beyond that is a beautifully-shot emotional flat-line. No heartbeat. I guess it makes sense that he ended the film with this title card:

Air Méliès

Watching a silent film with live accompaniment is an experience that should be on the "bucket list" of every film fanatic out ther. Unfortunately such screenings tend to be few and far between. No worries though, thanks to the band AIR, you can now approximate the experience in the comfort of your own home!

How did this pairing of band and film not happen sooner? It's tooooo perfect. The music is good enough to be listened to sans movie, but then where's the fun in that? And though the album does come with the film and audio already synced up, isn't it more fun to play them separately and try to match them up like The Wizard of Oz and Dark Side of the Moon? Just a thought. Definitely a "must have" for film fans who love good music. Might even make a good Valentine's Day Gift...

Soundtracks Of My Life: Trainspotting

The fist album I ever bought with my own money was the soundtrack to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 3. And while my tastes have definitely changed since the days of listening to Tarzan Boy on an endless loop, my love of soundtracks has not wavered an inch. A good soundtrack can cause you to relive your favorite cinematic moments, a great soundtrack can become your favorite album.

This is the first entry in what will hopefully become an ongoing (monthly?) series paying tribute to the art of crafting a great soundtrack. And we begin with...

TRAINSPOTTING

Though the book was set in the 80s, director Danny Boyle didn't want to make a period film. But he also didn't want to make a contemporary one either. So he ended up splitting the difference and set it in a nondescript time period where the 70s, 80s and 90s all come crashing together. And as a result he ended up inadvertently setting the film in the future! It's all there: the Holy Trinity of Iggy, Lou and (on volume 2) Bowie, New Wave, Brian Eno, techno, etc. The perfect soundtrack for our post-modern now.

Key Tracks: Lust For Life, Born Slippy, Perfect Day, Temptation

What's your favorite soundtrack?

Screening: Harold and Maude

Don't have Valentine's Day plans yet? Well then spend it with one of the greatest cinematic couples of all time, Harold and Maude! The fine folks over at Mondo Celluloid will be screening the rom-com classic at Long Beach's historic Art Theatre on Tuesday February 14th at 9:30pm! The perfect place to give your film-geek lover their perfect film-geek gift!

Advance tickets are available here.

Valentine's Day Goodies!

Valentine's Day is just around the corner, and there are love vibes and little hearts in the air! In honor of the upcoming holiday, I thought I'd share some cute Etsy products inspired by some of our favorite film couples. Enjoy!





1. As You Wish Princess Bride Print

2. George Lassos the Moon Print

3. Princess Leia/Han Solo Cake Topper

4. Margot and Richie Print

5. "I Like You Maude" Print

6. Frankenstein and his Bride Cameos

The Killing (1956)

A group of men conspire to pull off a daring robbery at a racetrack.

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I have no way of proving it, but I have a strong inkling that this was a very personal film for Stanley Kubrick. Like Sterling Hayden's character Johnny, Stanley was a notorious perfectionist and a meticulous planner. Both  went about their work in a very methodical manner, planning everything out to the smallest detail. There are plans and back-up plans. According to legend, Kubrick would spend weeks shooting simple scenes to make sure they were exactly as he had intended. Unfortunately there are no second takes when it comes to robbing a racetrack. The littlest hiccup starts a domino effect which brings the whole operation crashing down. While most people would identify this as Film Noir, I'm pretty sure Stanley would call this a horror film.

Double Bill: Behind The Makeup

Velvet Goldmine and Hedwig And The Angry Inch

Cinema Nerds 2011-2012

Don't let the headline fool you. As you can see we're still here, just with a new name which we hope better encompasses our fiendish plans for this baby! This is not just a place for film reviews and Netflix recommendations. This is blog for people who eat, sleep and dream cinema. In additions to the features you've already come to expect from us, we have plans to unleash some new ones on you in the near future. As they say: 2nd verse, same as the first, a little bit louder and a little bit worse. So please check back often and never be afraid to chime in with your ¢2, we love a good discussion.

Groundhog Day

Sometimes running a film blog feels a lot like this video. Happy Groundhog Day!

The Ocean's Trilogy (2001-2007)

Danny Ocean (George Clooney) and his friends pull off all sorts of fantastical cons in Las Vegas and Europe, all while looking FABULOUS.

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How do I love these films? Let me count the ways: The actors are charismatic as all-get-out, the dialogue is snappy and the soundtrack is a beautiful groove. Oh and did I mention the visuals? Freeze frames, smash-cuts, slow-mo, etc. I'm pretty sure not a single shot was ever repeated throughout all three films. It might not be high art, but so what? They're fun and they're well made. Are you in?