Brace yourselves. I am about to commit film-discussion suicide, admitting to something that may lose me the respect of some film-junkie friends and have me forcibly removed from movie-geek circles the world over.
Here goes….I LIKED JUNO.
I realize this admission is equivalent to saying, “I eat babies” to some people. Sure, Juno has its loyal fans, but it also has its fervent haters; those people who go into a rage when it gets brought up and get all sweaty and tense when they talk about how much they despise the film. Hell hath no fury as a film geeks scorn for Juno.
I don’t know where it all went wrong for Jason Reitman’s 2007 sleeper hit. My memory of it was a sharp and funny little film with some great characters, dealing with some serious issues in a unique way. The cast was incredible: Ellen Page, Jason Bateman, J.K Simmons, Michael Cera. All fantastic. I can understand that Diablo Cody’s hip, smarmy dialogue may have sat awkwardly with some people. Heck, even I felt some of it ridiculous. Honest to blog! But did it really warrant such vitriol from those that found it so annoying?
Christ knows there are so many films spitting forth some seriously atrocious dialogue these days, can Cody’s hip Gen Y quips in Juno really be worse than some of the nonsense served up in say, the last Transformers movie?
I think there may have been more going on than just this anger at Cody’s dialogue. Personally, I think some people were threatened by Ellen Page’s forthright, intelligent, and resourceful young female character. I do wonder if the reaction would have been so harsh if the same words were spoken by a male lead. But hey, let’s save that loaded discussion for another day.
I digress…..for we are gathered here today to talk about Reitman’s followup to Juno, the quite splendid Up in the Air. This time, it is Reitman himself, along with fellow writer Sheldon Turner who takes charge of the dialogue and you can rest assured that Juno haters will find it a welcome relief.
Up In The Air is a film of its time, dealing with pertinent issues; company layoffs, big business downsizing, technology, and perhaps most importantly of all, human disconnection.
George Clooney, Vera Farmiga and Anna Kendrick are all in their best roles to date, with Clooney especially looking like he was born to play the part of the headstrong, smarmy, yet ultimately alienated traveling businessman. Clooney’s usual self assured swagger is chipped away for the first time on film, with a character that allows the actor to show some vulnerability instead of the finger-clicking Mr Slick type of Clooney character we are used to him playing. The results confirm what we all suspected to be true; this dude is a powerhouse actor.
Reitman gives us a portrait of real life without any forced manipulation, offering up a simple but important message with a gentle nudge instead of a dramatic slap in the face. He did the same thing in both Juno and his other film, Thank You For Smoking, balancing humor with some fairly serious subjects, serving up what looks like a token movie romance plot for example, but making it feel more genuine by mixing it with real-life relationship issues. Damn, that’s a rare treat in a film these days. It’s still a Hollywood film, which is fine, but it at least tries to pull reins on the schmaltz and artificial gloss.
This is an entertaining flick that doesn’t talk down to you. Dare I say, a dignified Hollywood film with its heart in the right place.
Highly recommended.
THE REASON: A killer premise, amazing performances and a knockout script combine to make Oldboy one of the most original and mind blowing cinematic events in recent memory. Even those who knew the story outline going into the movie could never have predicted the wild ride Chan-Wook Park takes them on. Oldboy was a powerhouse that left me speechless.
THE REASON: It was hard to keep the almighty trilogy away from the number one spot, and even harder to choose a favorite between them, hence they are combined as one (no way am I wasting three spaces on my list!). If I had to choose, I would nominate The Two Towers as the superior entry. Fellowship set up the story nicely and Return of the King was great, but suffered from a few too many endings. When all is said and done though, Peter Jackson served us up three killer epics that will be hard to top.
THE REASON:I was shocked at the backlash this film received. It may have taken some serious coin at the box office, but many people called it too dark and grim. To those people I simply say, “Um, yeah?…So?”
THE REASON:Nobody really saw a zombie comedy/spoof coming, and even when details of Shaun of the Dead were released, many expected a silly “Scary Movie” type film with dumb gags and cheesy pratfalls. Instead we were given an ingeniously clever and deliciously cool zombie film that not only had us rolling in the aisles, but charmed us with great characters and a kick-arse horror story.
THE REASON:Enough has been said about the genius of Charlie Kaufman, but I wasn’t sure whether another film could capture the surrealistic nature of his scripts as well as Being John Malkovich. Eternal Sunshine not only matched the brilliance of that film, but surpassed it by injecting elements of romance, heartbreak and grief. A one of a kind movie where all the elements melded together perfectly to create something both wildly unique and unashamedly touching.
THE REASON:The Host is more than just a monster movie, it’s an all encompassing thrill-ride with great special effects, a tight story and some hilariously cheeky humor. Most of all though, The Host was just so damn entertaining.
THE REASON:Fans of cinema had their fingers crossed that Richard Kelly would became a director to be reckoned with after leaving us gobsmacked with Donnie Darko. Unfortunately, both Southland Tales and The Box disappointed, and the fear that Donnie could have been a one-off has become more and more clear. Alarm bells rang for me when the much anticipated director’s cut of Donnie Darko was released and somehow managed to diminish the impact of the original film. Regardless of all this negativity, Donnie Darko, in its original form is a masterpiece. A rare and risky film that shouldn’t have worked but somehow did.
THE REASON:To call Memento a cinematic mindfuck is the decades biggest understatement. This back-to-front thriller is captivating from the very first frame and holds the audience in a vice-like grip until the credits roll. Christopher Nolan proved himself to be a master director later in the decade, but even after his dalliances with the caped crusader, Memento still stands as his most compelling work.
THE REASON: I still can’t believe that Children of Men wasn’t a box office smash and an Oscar favorite. You won’t find a more intelligent and provoking science fiction film. Beyond that though, Children of Men was also technically impressive, with top notch cinematography and brilliant set design that created a dystopian world that felt all too real.
THE REASON:Part fantasy, part historical war drama and fully original, Pans Labyrinth was a breath of fresh air when it was released in 2006. What looked to be an innocent childrens fairytale on the surface turned out to be anything but, with some truly dark themes and brutal violence mixed in with a spectacular visual flair from the always interesting director, Guillermo del Toro.
THE REASON:Just as vampires were becoming the hula-hoops of the noughties thanks to the Twilight phenomenon, an unassuming little film comes out of Sweden and knocks the bloodsucking-immortal myth out of the park. Let the Right One In came from nowhere, blew our minds and left us frazzled, wondering what the hell just hit us. Quite possibly the best vampire film of all time and no doubt a film that may improve with age, prompting me to kick myself for not putting it higher on this list.
THE REASON:Anyone in the mood for one of the most harrowing and depressing films ever made? Requiem for a Dream is nothing if not original. A dark and desolate ride through the horrors of drug addiction that is not only one of the most compelling films of the decade, but perhaps also one of the most difficult to watch. Brilliant and brutal, but a work of art that is unmissable.
THE REASON:A masterpiece from the Coen’s that hits all the right notes. Javier Bardem creates one the greatest villains put to celluloid, but he’s surrounded by an equally impressive cast with Josh Brolin, Tommy Lee Jones and even Woody Harrelson doing some of their best work. One of the most deserved Best Picture Oscar winners of the decade.
THE REASON: It’s always difficult including a recently released film in a “Best Of” list like this, as it’s hard to tell if its impact will wear off over time, but District 9 was such an entertaining cinema experience that I just had to include it in the top 20. I rate Sharlto Copley’s performance as one of the best I’ve seen of late and if there was any justice in the world, he’d be at least nominated for a little gold statue come Oscar time. Overall though, this is my pick for the best film of 2009 and time will tell, but it could even rate very high on my list of all time favorites.
THE REASON:I’ve never been much of an Adam Sandler fan. I always felt his brand of humor was pretty one-note, but after watching him in Punch Drunk Love I gained a ton of respect for the guy. His portrayal of small business owner Barry Egan was spot-on and added just the right touch to Paul Thomas Anderson’s most underrated film. This is a story with real heart and honesty, and one that stayed with me well after the credits rolled. Yet another that I felt was criminally overlooked by many.
THE REASON:It took me more than one sitting to realize the genius of Amores Perros. While it is not the most easily digestible film, it is undoubtedly a powerful and ultimately unforgettable experience. Great characters and 150 minutes of riveting storytelling. 
THE REASON:I’m biased towards any movie about music, but Almost Famous is more than just that, it’s a film with alot of heart that has the ability to give me that warm glow inside every time I watch it. Sure, there’s some cheesy moments, but there’s also some very human ones that make up for them.
THE REASON:About Schmidt had a strong impact on me, not only because it is one of my favorite Jack Nicholson performances, but also because I feel like I know people like Warren Schmidt. This is a sad, funny and ultimately inspiring movie from director-to-watch Alexander Payne, who has delivered other gems like Sideways and Election.
THE REASON:Outright winner of my “Favorite Performance of the Decade” is Ben Kingsley in Sexy Beast. The movie itself is a great little crime thriller, but with Kingsley playing the ferocious and forthright Don Logan, his performance alone rises this film into something special.
THE REASON:Once again, choosing a film I watched only mere months ago is risky, but Tarantino really blew me away with Inglourious Basterds. I didn’t expect to like the film at all, but it turned out to be one of the most engrossing film experiences I’ve had in a long time. A classic in waiting.
THE REASON:I anticipated Kill Bill more than any other film this decade and while it never could have lived up to my huge expectations, it was still an awesome movie experience filled with enough Tarantino-isms to keep any fan satisfied. Don’t bother looking for Volume 2 on my list though, it aint here. I know some people claim it the superior chapter, but it swayed too far into showy self-indulgence for me.
THE REASON:It’s been 10 years since its release, so it’s easy to forget just what an impact Gladiator had on the film world. It’s still a great movie to watch and really set the tone for so many similarly themed, yet inferior films that followed. It may not be my favorite Ridley Scott film of all time, but it’s certainly his best of the decade.
THE REASON:I had a blast watching Battle Royale and refuse to accept the opinions of those that call it a brainless gore-fest. No way! This film has weight and a social conscience to boot. Anyone who didn’t see that on their first viewing is blind. But hey, if you want to look at it as mindless exploitation then go right ahead. Even from that angle it’s a super-cool flick.
THE REASON:Long, slow moving at times, but thoroughly engrossing from start to finish. You can keep that schmaltzy nonsense that was Benjamin Button, I’ll take Brad as the brooding, but charming gunslinger Jesse James any day of the week. Props also to Casey Affleck who was great in this and really came into his own as an actor this decade.
THE REASON:Behind the experimental aesthetics of Richard Linklater’s Waking Life, lies an engrossing meditation on life itself, or at least what it means to be alive. I fully realize that this is not to everyone’s taste, but I couldn’t get enough of this film. I wish there were more like it.
THE REASON:Just when we thought the holocaust film had become exhausted, Roman Polanski comes out with The Pianist and proves what a gifted film maker he truly is. I actually rate this film higher than Schindler’s List and believe it to be the best holocaust film ever made.
THE REASON:If you haven’t watched The Constant Gardener, I strongly suggest you give it a go. For those who may have already seen it and dismissed it, I urge you to try watching it again. This film is extremely powerful, with great performances from both Rachel Wiesz and Ralph Fiennes. It’s a film that drifts from a romance to a gritty thriller without missing a beat. A real creeper that you need to let sink in over time.
THE REASON:Worth seeing for Bill Murray’s performance alone, Lost In Translation is an unique film experience that lingers with you for days. Not many films have captured that feeling of isolation and loneliness as well as this movie does, and served it with such truthful and real dialogue. A modern gem.
THE REASON:It’s true, I’d pay to watch Viggo Mortenson sitting alone and staring at wet paint if I had to and I’d also happily watch David Cronenberg directing traffic. So it came as no surprise that I’d like A History of Violence. What I didn’t expect was how much I’d like it. One of my favorite actors being lead by one of my favorite directors, and both did such an effortlessly brilliant job.
THE REASON:I’ve always had a soft spot for Mickey; Barfly and Angel Heart are two important films in my world, so it was great to see the guy get given a role like this. The magic of it of course, was that the film mirrored the life of its lead actor, which made it an even more potent drama. Aronofsky also proves himself to be one of the great directors going around today. 
THE REASON:It’s fair to say that my list is pretty light on straightforward comedy films, but isn’t it also fair to say that there have been a severe lack of any decent straightforward comedy films in the past decade? Eh, maybe I’m too picky, but there’s simply not many movies that stand out as hilarious for me these days. They all seem to be trying so hard to push the envelope of good taste that it gets boring very quickly. Which is why Christopher Guest’s brilliant mockumentary on the participants of a dog show is head and shoulders above the rest. A classic that is always watchable.
THE REASON:A powerful observation on how dreams can so easily slip away, and how life happens while your busy making other plans. I found Sam Mendes’ Revolutionary Road heartbreaking and all too real, with stunning performances from Kate and Leo. 
THE REASON:How can anyone not like a film that opens with Johnny Cash’s “When the Man Comes Around” set to vision of the world falling apart at the seams. Awesome. Sure, it’s a remake, but it’s a rarity amongst its kind; here’s a remake that stands on its own. George Romero’s 1978 classic may never be equaled, but Zack Snyder somehow pulled off the impossible and created a remake that actually feels like a worthy update.
THE REASON:I love nothing more than having the Bejesus scared out of me. The only problem is that being so jaded to a good scare, it’s harder to find a film that can penetrate my thick skin. Every now and then though, a film like REC comes along and knocks my honky-arse to the floor, having me assume the fetal position crying for my mummy. While Quarantine was a decent American remake, there is still something more potent about the Spanish original.
THE REASON:With all the hoopla over The Dark Knight, it’s easy to forget how good a film Batman Begins is. In many ways, it is an easier watch than The Dark Knight, offering up a less intense and relentlessly downbeat experience with some great fight scenes and killer action. Still one of the best origin stories out there too.
THE REASON:I’ve never bought into the backlash that Michael Moore received after Fahrenheit 9/11. I’ve been a big fan of the guy since his TV show, The Ugly Truth. Say what you want about him, right or wrong, good or bad, false or true; he shines a light on subjects we need some light shone on. Bowling for Columbine was a knockout doco from a man just trying to do some good in a crazy world.
THE REASON:Perhaps the only comic book film (or graphic novel) that has actually captured the feeling what it’s like to read comic books. Sin City is one hell of a fun cinema ride that broke new ground in how to adapt a story to screen.
THE REASON:Danny Boyle does it again with a film that made the world sit up and realize what a stunning director this guy actually is. Slumdog is entertaining from start to finish and proves once more that a good, well made story can be a huge success without megastar names and blown-out budgets.
THE REASON:Before it became the punchline to every late night talk show hosts tired homosexual gags, Brokeback Mountain was a simple love story that just happened to be about two males. As time has passed, I think it’s fair to say that Ang Lee’s gentle masterpiece was easily robbed for Best Picture at the Oscar’s, but hey, it isn’t the first film to suffer that fate and it won’t be the last.
THE REASON:If he lived to do so, I get the feeling Kubrick may have made his version alot different, but that can’t take anything away from what Speilberg did with A.I Artificial Intelligence. There’s something unique about this movie. It’s pacing is strange, it “feels” somehow synthetic. Most of all though, it is just plain sad. A sad and beautiful masterpiece.
THE REASON:Best watched without knowing anything about it, A Tale of Two Sisters is an intelligent Korean film that gets under your skin from the first frame. There’s some creepy moments and some nice twists, but unlike other films of its ilk (The Grudge, The Ring, Dark Water) it never takes the cheap way out, offering the viewer something more substantial than just simple scares.
THE REASON:Daniel Day Lewis IS this film. Without his jaw dropping performance, I seriously doubt the film would have been half as good. Not many actors can carry a movie like this guy. With Paul Thomas Anderson behind the camera, There Will Be Blood was always going to be interesting, but the inclusion of Daniel Day Lewis made it unmissable. Props also to Jonny Greenwood’s unique score.
THE REASON:I wasn’t particularly blown away by the first two Bourne movies, but I finally understood what the fuss was about when I sat pinned to my chair throughout The Bourne Ultimatum. You won’t find an action film that is as exciting and well crafted.
THE REASON:A tough, gritty and violent Aussie western that oozes atmosphere. Nick Cave scripted this sleeper that too many people overlooked in 2005. A well-shot, brilliantly acted film that feels somewhat old-fashioned if it wasn’t for the blood and violence. 
THE REASON:One of the first films bold enough to tweak with the idea of the romantic comedy, (500) Days of Summer feels like a breath of fresh air. Well written, with a great little cast, this was one of the surprises of the past year and a film that should grow in status over time.
THE REASON:Elvis and JFK fighting an ancient Mummy in a retirement home? Bruce Campbell? Ossie Davis? Don Coscarelli? What the hell else do I need to say? Bubba Ho-Tep is an absolute blast!
