March 19, 2010

236. The Philadelphia Story


  • Year of release: 1940
  • Director: George Cukor
  • Genre: Romance
  • IMDB Page

Another Cary Grant picture. The third one so far. I liked the first one I saw, I didn't like the second one, so the third one needs to be a good one for poor old Cary.

The story is very simple (and boring). Girl is going to get married, old and new loves show up on the doorstep and girl changes mind. It's a simple and effective story, unfortunately it's brought very boring and more long winded than it should have been. This movie takes a very slow start and it felt like something grand was going to happen later in the movie. Unfortunately, I was kept waiting on this finale for the entire movie. In fact, I'm still waiting on that finale.

I was also expecting some comedy...

[insert a picture of cary grant slapping a bitch]

In conclusion, this movie didn't deliver, sorry Cary. I wouldn't even recommend to borrow it.

Burn it.

March 07, 2010

237. Mulholland Drive


  • Year of release: 2001
  • Director: David Lynch
  • Genre: Mystery, Drama, Thriller
  • IMDB Page

. . .

So, uh, this movie, uh, hmmmm...

This movie is one of the most confusing movies I've ever seen. Stuff happens without actually happening, or do they? All I know are a few things and I'm not sure if I should share them as they are pretty big spoilers. I won't share them, half the fun in this movie is watching it in confusion.

The acting is superb and never really dull or annoying. The entire cast played awesome even though I guess they didn't know what was happening as well. Of course some scenes are better than other scenes, watch it and you'll see what I mean. :)

This movie thrives off of its symbolism and requires a rather straight head to get the entire movie, but it didn't hinder me in enjoying it and neither should it hinder you.

A definite recommend.

Buy it.

March 02, 2010

238. Barry Lyndon

  • Year of release: 1975
  • Director: Stanley Kubrick
  • Genre: Drama, Romance
  • IMDB Page

It's been some time since I made my last post. In fact, I nearly skipped all of February. Hordes of fans were emailing me about my blog... Not credible? Doesn't matter, on with the review!

Barry Lyndon is about the tale of Redmond Barry, an Irish farmer in the 1700's wanting to ascend into higher social circles. The entire movie revolves around Barry acquiring wealth and luxury and his eventual fall.

And that's the story in brief. There are two big parts in it: his rise to glory and his fall. Despite my sadistic nature I didn't like the second half of the movie. Which is not a good thing, being that this is a three hour movie. Needless to say, I dragged myself to the end of the movie, only to find out it has one hell of a (almost) final scene.

"Come on, guys. The second part didn't suck that much."

Either way, I think this movie is more about its historical and cinematographic values. For the former, I can say that the costumes look amazing and the setting is filled with so much atmosphere that you'd wish you were there. 

As for cinematography, as far as I know, it's very good. I read that the lighting is superb in this movie and I can only nod my head in agreement. One thing I liked as well is the absence of too much dialogue. Some movies feel they need to hold your hand and explain everything in great detail and preferably twice in case the short attention span of the average human was looking at something else (perhaps the cleavages in this movie), but this movie deliberately let's go of too much dialogue and it works.

Also, as for the newly invented cleavage factor, this movie gets 2 "big 'uns".

I'm rather undecided about this movie. There are parts that I like very much and parts that I wouldn't stand to sit through again. So, yeah, I'd say buy it. But on own risk.

Buy it.