Introductions are in Order

Tarantino has hit his stride again with the Basterds

Hello all, I’m Grant and I’ll be doing occasional reviews on this site. This introduction should let you know what I like, and what you can expect from me.

Favorite Film Genre

From Double Indemnity to Brick I love a good Film Noir. I enjoy the expansive plots and confusing narratives that leave me as lost as the protagonist. I love the ambiguous intentions of the characters (be it the protagonist or one of those dangerous ladies). Also, over the years I may have become so disenchanted with the ‘Hollywood Endings’ that I see a pessimistic film with a downer ending as a breath of fresh air.

Thoughts on Quentin Tarantino

He is a huge dork, but this only enhances his craft. It is nice to have a writer/director who is more obsessed about the film than I am. Tarantino has an amazing ability to let his soundtracks guide his films. His interesting and comedic dialogs are thought provoking and very quotable. Tarantino is amazingly refreshing because he continually provides creative narratives and long tracking shots to improve his story telling. It won’t always be a success (Deathproof) but Tarantino sacrifices nothing during his filmmaking and I will gladly see anything written and directed by him.

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Review: Public Enemies

Michael Mann is back with a period biopic that chronicles the life of John Dillinger in his glory days as a criminal and the results are superb technically but it is missing that special something to make it an absolutely amazing film.
Now, what is that special something? I don’t know. But as we pick up our film and follow Dillinger from just after his turn in prison and up until his death we never get that twinge that this film is amazing. With that said, it is almost flawless everywhere you turn. The costumes, cinematography, the performances, the direction, the pacing, it is all great and one can’t really find a complaint with the movie, it was just missing something.
Paired with the heists and romance in Dillinger’s life on the run is the pursuit of enemy number one of the depression era U.S. by Melvin Purvis and J. Edgar Hoover and the beginnings of the F.B.I. Divided up about 70-30 between Dillinger and F.B.I. the film is about the larger than life Dillinger at its core. But the looks into the rise of the F.B.I. is just as engaging and compelling, especially since much of the time we follow them we are thrown into the thick of an investigation on the edge of a shoot out. [Read more...]

09 – The Half Way Point

09 The Year So Far…
So how are we doing in the great land of movies in this year now half gone? We have a couple of great movies, quite a few good ones, and even an instant classic on our hands. The summer season is turning out a fairly positive product so far this year with only a couple of duds in the mix. Animation is having a strong year with a couple of end of the year best of contenders and another comic book adaptation will be vying for that top 10 crowd again as well.
While there are only a couple top 5 contenders to come out this year, the level of quality in film is at a higher level than 08 at this point and I think we are on track for a better year in film that last year and maybe even pass the excellent 07 as well. So let’s look at a month by month breakdown and try and figure out the best of the year so far… [Read more...]

Summer Movie Trailer Overload!

Watchmen is out, now these are the next big movies to get excited about!

Duplicity-Tony Gilroy’s follow up to Michael Clayton should be a winner, and it’s Clive
Hunger-acclaimed British film from last year
Wolverine-The trailers make this look an action flick to be dealt with
Star Trek-JJ Abrams has this non-Treckie excited
The Limits of Control-the movie you never heard of
Up-It’s Pixar, so it is instantly movie of the year potential
Terminator Salvation-Bale has been fairly infallible as of late
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen-More Robots! More Fun!
Public Enemies-Depp, Bale, and Micheal Mann greatness to soon hit our faces
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince – Can’t wait!!!
500 Days of Summer-You heard it hear first, the movie that will sneak up on you
The Hangover-Has the talent to be good
Funny People-Apatow back in the directors chair
Inglourious Basterds-Tarantino, WWII, Pitt=Greatness?

Hope you find something new to look forward too!