Greetings again from the darkness. The BEST OF 2010 has posted! As always, it includes not just my favorites, but also some special features … “Best of the Rest” and “Oldie but Goodie“. You can access all Best of lists since 2004 on the site, or you can click on the link below and it will take you directly to 2010. Let me know what you think!
https://moviereviewsfromthedark.wordpress.com/annual-bests-2/best-of-2010/
Greetings again from the darkness. Below is the just released tribute video from Turner Classic Movies for those who passed away in 2010 after leaving their mark in the entertainment business. My friend Robert wanted it noted that the recent passing of John Leslie is not included … evidently he was one of Robert’s favorite “performers”.
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Posted by David Ferguson
Woody Allen turned 75 today. Some have already stopped reading. Others can’t wait to read the rest. Such is the life of one of the most prolific filmmakers in cinematic history. Some of us love his films. Others express such sentiments as “not another Woody Allen movie”! Many from both camps have little regard for how his personal life has played out. Here, I only want to talk about movies.
He began writing jokes for the newspaper and talk shows when he was 15, but it wasn’t until the early 1960’s that his career really began to take hold … as a stand-up comedian. His first foray into movie directing was in 1966 with What’s Up Tiger Lily? In reality, that was the first “Mystery Science Theatre” because he took a Japanese spy film and re-wrote the dialog for comedic effect. Since 1966, Woody Allen the director, has consistently cranked out an average of almost one movie every year. 43 films total, not counting the one he is currently working on.
The first phase of his filmmaking is now known as “the early, funny ones”. I am a little fuzzy on exactly how long this phase lasted, but I assume it concluded about the same time as his relationship with Diane Keaton. History leads us to believe things changed for him in 1977 with the instant classic Annie Hall. Adored by critics and filmgoers, the film won him his first and only (so far) Academy Award. In 1979, he released my personal favorite, and he claims, his least favorite, Manhattan.
During the “Mia Farrow” phase, his pace of one per year continued with some more successful than others. Hannah and Her Sisters, Crimes and Misdemeanors and Bullets Over Broadway all performed well enough at the box office, while also achieving the critical success he claimed to care so little about.
Many of his harshest critics claimed his movies always centered around the same three themes:
The rebuttal from his supporters stated these topics were fascinating when Mr. Allen explored them through his writing and filmmaking. What is extremely clear is that he was one of the few filmmakers who had control and the power to make the films he wanted to make, despite the fact that none were blockbusters and a few never turned a profit.
His current phase began with the startlingly good Match Point, which was also the first Woody Allen film not based in his beloved New York. He states the financial restrictions of Hollywood forced him to film overseas. He has worked overseas since and his 2008 gem Vicky Cristina Barcelona even included some Spanish dialogue.
So while I have no intention of changing anyone’s mind about the films of Woody Allen, his 75th birthday seemed the perfect time to stop and take notice of a remarkable career. So many films from a man who cared so little for a headline or compliment, yet the line of high-profile actors wanting to work with him was never-ending. He could actually be considered a blue-collar artist – a guy who spends his work hours writing and filming, and consistently meets his deadlines and produces solid work … sometimes even brilliant work. Do that for 44 years in the movie world, and they tend to remember you.
Which leads me to my favorite Woody Allen quote: “I don’t want to achieve immortality through my work. I want to achieve it by not dying”.
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Posted by David Ferguson
Greetings again from the darkness. Just a quick explanation to let everyone know that no miraculous cure for my movie addiction has been discovered. Instead, the 2010 Texas Rangers baseball team is on a historic playoff run. Of course, so far, “historic” is limited to this particular franchise, but the recent series win over the Tampa Bay Rays has generated excitement and hope in what has traditionally, in this area, been a time of year that belongs to the Dallas Cowboys.
So if the number of movies being reviewed on my site seems a bit “light”, it’s due to the 38 year frustration of being a Ranger fan – and finally having something to get excited about! As the American League Championship series gets underway this evening in Arlington, we Ranger fans would be most grateful for all the postitive thoughts you can muster. Did I mention we are up against the much hated, over-hyped New York Yankee team. That’s better … now I know you are on our side!
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Posted by David Ferguson
EAT PRAY LOVE 
The Cinematic Battle of Estrogen vs. Testosterone!
This past weekend provided a very interesting sociological battle at the box office or what I like to call … “The Cinematic Battle of Estrogen vs. Testosterone”. The two biggest new releases were Eat Pray Love and The Expendables. The first is based on the best-selling (and Oprah blessed) search-for- enlightenment book by Elizabeth Gilbert. The latter is a Sylvester Stallone labor of love/fun featuring an ensemble cast of some of the most popular action film stars of the past 25 years.
What makes this battle interesting is the clear line of demarcation among movie lovers. Almost no one is interested in seeing both of these movies. You either want to see the no-holds-barred chick flick OR you want to see the full-bore action film. Maybe neither, but not both. Because of the extremes, I thought it would be a hoot to compare the two movies side-by-side.
For the record (and full disclosure), I was more drawn to the action film than the chick flick, but in the interest of art and fun, I decided to keep a (somewhat) open mind and see both. What follows is the categorized comparison of the two movies along with a bit of editorial commentary. Please remember, this is all in good fun and I am by no means making a judgment on which is the stronger sex … even though The Expendables (SLY) did annihilate Eat Pray Love (EPL) at the opening weekend box office!
While this looks like a narrow victory for the BOYS (9 to 8, 5 ties), it’s understandable if your preference remains unaltered. Of course, the battle of the sexes cannot be won in a movie theatre … The choice is yours to make! And if you still aren’t sure … just try an icy stare and a look of disgust – over a plate of pasta and a full glass of Italian Chianti.
By David Fergsuon
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Posted by David Ferguson
Greetings again from the darkness. Inception is the exception. It is very rare for me to feel the need to follow-up on a recent posting … especially one that’s only a couple of weeks old. I feel strongly enough about this film that I want to make sure one thing is clear: if you enjoy dramatic films, you should go see this one. Immediately. At a theatre.
Here are some TIPS/warnings:
1. Be prepared to pay attention.
2. Pay attention.
3. The movie runs just over 2 1/2 hours. Don’t get a large Coke … there is no “down” time for a restroom break. You will miss something of interest if you leave the theatre or don’t pay attention.
4. Listen to the dialogue. The story is kind of like assembling a puzzle. You can’t finish if you don’t have all the pieces.
5. Please refer to Tip #2.
There is no need to be intimated by this film, but it is an intricate story with multiple levels. If you only enjoy fluffy feel-good movies, this one will disappoint you. If you like to think and appreciate films designed to capture your mind, you will probably agree with me that it is terrific and that director Christopher Nolan is a film genius.
I also want to point out, now that I have seen it 3 times, that Marion Cotillard is absolutely amazing as Mal, the wife of Leonardo DiCaprio’s character. Not sure what other performances are coming up in the second half of 2010, but I certainly hope she gets a supporting actress nomination come Oscar time. Also, the hotel scenes get even better with each viewing. Joseph Gordon-Levitt is a physical marvel as he negotiates the environment sans-gravity.
If you missed my initial comments on the film, here is the link:
https://moviereviewsfromthedark.wordpress.com/2010/07/18/inception/
If you are the least bit interested in this film, my strong advice is to go see it at theatre and not wait for DVD/Cable/NetFlix. It is meant to be experienced on a huge screen with huge sound.
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Posted by David Ferguson
Greetings again from the darkness. Well, it’s July, so 2010 is half over. Of course, as any movie lover knows, the movie year is only about 40% complete and we always have high hopes for the final 6 months. Have received a couple of requests to do a recap of the first half, but before I do, I’ll provide a little insight into the structure of a typical movie year:
JANUARY – APRIL: “Schlock and Seconds”
Those of us not living in NYC or Los Angeles get to play “catch up” on the Oscar contenders that were released just ahead of the deadline the previous year. That’s the good news. The bad news is that we are also subjected to the latest round of low budget horror films, schlock action films, and weak rom-coms. Luckily, there are some interesting foreign, independent and documentaries films that hit during this time as well.
MAY – JULY: “Big Ad Movies”
It’s summer blockbuster season … the season for huge advertising budgets, animation and the newest round of computer generated special effects … these films are designed to WOW you with sensory overload (yes, and make LOTS of money)
AUGUST – mid OCTOBER: “The Lost 10 weeks”
Typically, this is the dead season. Not much going on except for those films with production delays and/or deemed unable to compete with the summer crowd. This is a great time to catch up on any films you missed during the first half … or do something other than go to a movie, though I have no idea what.
Late OCTOBER – DECEMBER: “My movie is Important. No really.”
The serious movie period. The producers of these films tend to believe their films and/or actors are worthy of Oscar consideration. These films are released at year-end because the producer’s believe that most people can’t remember what they had for breakfast, much less what movies they liked in April!
OK, so that provides some perspective to the following recap of the first six months of 2010 films. Please note, none of the films or categories are in any type of order, and if a film deserved to be in two categories, I just picked one. This way I don’t ruin any surprises for the year-end recap.
FIRST HALF RECAP – 2010 Films
BEST SO FAR:
WINTER’S BONE
TOY STORY 3
THE SECRET IN THEIR EYES
THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO
BIGGEST SURPRISES:
CYRUS
PLEASE GIVE
CITY ISLAND
GREENBERG
MOST DISAPPOINTING:
JONAH HEX
ROBIN HOOD
BABIES
WORST SO FAR:
PREDATORS
KNIGHT AND DAY
VALENTINE’S DAY
Here are a few UPCOMING FILMS that are of interest:
INCEPTION: Director Christopher Nolan’s mind-bending twister starring Leonardo Dicaprio
WALL STREET: MONEY NEVER SLEEPS (Wall Street sequel with Michael Douglas, Shia LeBeouf
THE EXPENDABLES (all star action cast led by Sylvester Stallone and friends)
EAT PRAY LOVE – best-selling book, with Julia Roberts and Javier Bardem
PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 2 – sequel to the surprise hit of 2009
MACHETE – for Grindhouse lovers only, by Robert Rodriquez
THE OTHER GUYS – Will Ferrell comedy (you just never know)
JACK GOES BOATING – directorial debut of Philip Seymour Hoffman
THE KILLER INSIDE ME – Winterbottom’s creepy murder-drama
GET LOW – offbeat dramedy with Robert Duvall and Bill Murray
BURIED – claustrophobic thriller with Ryan Reynolds and a casket
Thanks for reading and please pass it along to anyone you think might enjoy.
*** SEE YOU AT THE MOVIES!! ***
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Posted by David Ferguson
Greetings again from … GOTCHA!!! Seriously?? Do you really think I am the target audience for this one? Just wanted to relay what I thought was a pretty funny story in regards to this already extremely popular sequel.
I was sitting in one of the comfy leather chairs in the Angelika foyer as I waited for seating to begin on my second movie of the day (hey, it was a rainy Saturday in Dallas). A line began to form for the next Twilight showing and I had a little chuckle at the sight of 20-30 females of varying ages waiting to see part three. As the doors opened and that group streamed in, I couldn’t help noticing that the wave continued. So many females pouring through one set of doors that I was certain there must be a double feature of Twilight and a fabulous shoe sale!
Regrettably, I didn’t count, but after 70-100 ladies of varying age (6 to 70+) made their way in, I almost fell out of my comfy chair as the final couple entered. It was a 16 or 17 yr old girl literally dragging her date by the hand. This poor fellow had no choice in how to spend his next two hours and his head was hanging as he, with half effort, dug his heels into the carpet on each step. His girlfriend was not deterred. She just kept pulling the disenchanted boy until they were out of sight behind the doors.
As I think of that moment, it strikes me that this was a display of true power. The film has box office power of $162 million in just a few days. The story and cast are a powerful draw for an incredible number of women – mothers and daughters, sisters, friends … and the movie is such a powerful force that even some boyfriends are no match for their on-a-mission girlfriends. Hopefully those few males can take solace in the fact that the release date of The Expendables is right around the corner … and paybacks are hell.
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Posted by David Ferguson
(3-8-10) Greetings again from the darkness. Yes, I watched every moment of last night’s Academy Awards presentation. Mostly because that’s what I do every year at this time. However, this year, there was a bit of anticipation as we had been led to believe that this year’s show would be something unique – a break from the past!
So imagine my surprise when the show opened with a musical number from Neil Patrick Harris! Not taking anything away from Mr. Harris, but this felt oddly familiar to the opening from past years. Then the co-hosts, Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin, came out for their duo-logue. Together, they “worked the room” poking and prodding the key nominees. Some of it worked and some of it didn’t. The two best jokes came from Mr. Martin. He linked Precious to his first movie The Jerk, stating they both got their start as poor black kids. Even better was his exchange with Christoph Waltz who played a Jew hunter in Inglorious Basterds. Martin congratulated Waltz for the mother lode as he encouraged him to look around the room. Pretty funny.
There were some terrific moments and some very odd ones … plus a couple of just painful ones. Kathryn Bigelow became the first woman to win Best Director, and she received it from Barbra Streisand, who always felt she had been slighted for direction of Yentl. But did they really need to accompany Ms. Bigelow with Helen Reddy‘s “I am Woman”? The John Hughes tribute was very well done, but it begged the question of why now and why him? So many Hollywood legends have passed away and they have traditionally been recognized with only a photo or two during a montage on the show. Personally, I like this idea very much, but question why Mr. Hughes is worthy, while so many others have not been. The standing ovation for Lauren Bacall and Roger Corman seemed to underscore my point. Hollywood types long to acknowledge the greats among themselves. Too bad they weren’t allowed onstage.
The Horror Film clips were most welcome, but again it seemed odd, as the Academy historically ignores this genre (Silence of the Lambs, The Exorcist are two exceptions). Speaking of horror, how about the “Kanye West-type” moment during the Documentary Short presentation? The producer jumped on stage and interrupted the director’s thank you speech with a wild, raucous, rambling mess of words. My guess is there is more to this story.
I did find it funny that during Mo’Nique‘s acceptance speech, a quick cut to Samuel L. Jackson in the audience perfectly captured his rolling of the eyes. Much less funny was the less-than-entertaining interpretative dance number for the Original Score nominations. Not sure I am smart enough to connect the 1980’s robot dance moves with the musical score of Up. Maybe I was alone in this disconnect? Can’t let it go without making sure everyone knows Sandra Bullock won her first Oscar the day after she was awarded the Razzie for her work in All About Steve. She becomes the first to win Best and Worst in the same year.
My Oscar predictions were very solid (especially in the key categories), but not perfect.
Correct predictions: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Original Screenplay, Adapted Screenplay, Animated Film, Score and Song.
Incorrect predictions: Foreign Language Film (this was a shocker), Cinematographer, Costume, both Shorts
So, another year in the books. Don’t worry, next year’s show will be much different from this years. If you believe that, you will also believe that James Cameron is really upset for not winning one of the top two awards for Avatar. My guess is that he is quite satisfied in knowing that it is approaching $3 BILLION in worldwide box office. Wow!
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Posted by David Ferguson
(3-2-10) Greetings again from the darkness. As the great writer Stephen King said, people who “love” movies tend to “like” watching the Academy Awards presentations; and people who love watching the Oscars, tend to like watching movies. Well, as usual, I am a bit different. Of course, I LOVE movies … but watching the Oscars is an annual tradition for me – one that I can’t imagine skipping.
My attraction to the event goes back to my childhood when this gathering of Hollywood’s elite presented a rare glimpse into the world of glamour and celebrity. These days we know WAY TOO MUCH about most actors and the industry of celebrity has somehow eclipsed the art of moviemaking. Even though much of the TV presentation is now committed to the ridiculous red carpet interviews centering around fashion, there remains something magical about watching the actors as real people (or as close as they get).
Below, I have recapped the main categories and offered up my predictions as well as my preferences. I have resisted the urge to comment if my true preference did not even receive a nomination! In reality, I expect very few surprises in the main categories, but then again …
BEST PICTURE – While I am not a fan of going back to the days of TEN nominations, I do understand the reasoning.
PREDICTION: The Hurt Locker – not many of us saw this during its theatrical, but it is an incredibly intense viewing experience.
PREFERENCE: An Education– no chance of a win, but it was my favorite film of 2009
BEST DIRECTOR
PREDICTION: Kathryn Bigelow – the former Mrs. James Cameron seems to be a shoe-in after winning the Director’s Guild Award for The Hurt Locker
PREFERENCE: James Cameron – Realizing Avatar didn’t require traditional directing, this industry changing film should bring a reward to its creative force (in my opinion)
BEST ACTOR
PREDICTION and PREFERENCE: Jeff Bridges (Crazy Heart) – great performance by a great actor who, unbelievably, has never walked away with an Oscar. This will be his first.
BEST ACTRESS
PREDICTION: Sandra Bullock (The Blind Side). Sometimes an actor steps outside of the type of role they are best known for and the industry overreacts. Try and imagine Ms. Bullock playing ANY role that Meryl Streep has ever played.
PREFERENCE: Meryl Streep (Julie & Julia). I am not a huge fan of this film, but Ms. Streep’s performance was so much deeper than an impersonation of Julia Child.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
PREDICTION and PREFERENCE: Christoph Waltz. This may be the only recognition that Inglourious Basterds gets all evening, though I hope it takes a writing award as well. Mr. Waltz was tremendous and is very deserving.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
PREDICTION and PREFERENCE: Mo’Nique. Her performance in Precious terrified me. This is the one sure bet for the evening.
ANIMATED FEATURE
PREDICTION and PREFERENCE: Up. One of the rare animated features that deserved (and received) a Best Picture nomination. There is some sentiment for Fantastic Mr. Fox, but Up has a tremendous story and terrific presentation.
FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
PREDICTION and PREFERENCE: The White Ribbon. Unfortunately, I did not get to see a couple of this year’s nominations, but this German entry would be deserving most years.
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY (my favorite category)
PREDICTION: Mark Boal (The Hurt Locker)
PREFERENCE: Quentin Tarantino (Inglourious Basterds). Not just deserving, but watching him give a speech always livens up any event!
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
PREDICTION: Geoffrey Flethcher (Precious).
PREFERENCE: Nick Hornby (An Education)
CINEMATOGRAPHY
PREDICTION: Avatar
PREFERENCE: The Hurt Locker
COSTUME DESIGN
PREDICTION: Nine
PREFERENCE: The Young Victoria
ANIMATED SHORT FILM (see my comments on the blog)
PREDICTION: A Matter of Loaf and Death
PREFERENCE: Granny O’Grimm’s Sleeping Beauty
LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM (see my comments on the blog)
PREDICTION: The Door
PREFERENCE: Instead of Abracadabra
ORIGINAL SCORE
PREDICTION: Avatar
PREFERENCE: Up
ORIGINAL SONG
PREDICTION and PREFERENCE: “The Weary Kind” (Crazy Heart). Gotta love T Bone Burnett!
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Posted by David Ferguson
