Archives for category: Movies
Exhausted. Totally exhausted yesterday. Crawled into bed at 3 pm after flying in from out of town. Of the past 31 days, I’ve been out of town for 21 of them and I just needed to lay down on my own cold sheets…and, as it turns out, stream War Games ( ! ) on my laptop. Perfect Tonic. Hadn’t seen the film in years. A Disney version of a thriller, but the storytelling is top, top notch. Other than the hyperbole, the story has no holes. The building of tension ratchets in the right places and takes you on a ride. And while looking at it now, so much of it seems endearingly quaint – you’ll let yourself buy into it because the director deliveres it textbook perfect. I watched it to help me sleep, and it really surprised me.
Only streaming until Oct. 1. (In case you need to turn your mind off for a couple of hours.)
I saw that it was listed on the AFI’s 100 Years…100 Thrills. Here you go….
Hmmmm….interesting….but some of this I just can’t get behind. Fatal Attraction and The Shining are less intense than The Maltese Falcon and Lawrence of Arabia? Come on. Let’s be objective here: no they’re not.
Spike Jonze has written and directed a new short film, “I’m Here.” It’s masterful.
Do yourself a favor and give yourself the time to watch it without hurry.
via Roger Ebert’s Twitter
From today’s Very Short List:
But be sure not to miss Endgame, the fantastically suspenseful movie that chronicles the bizarre circumstances that led to Mandela’s 1990 release from prison (available on DVD 2/9).
Endgame, from British director Pete Travis, centers on the unlikely gatherings that eventually brought South Africa from white minority rule to its first democratic elections, in 1994. The extraordinary situation involved a British businessman who risked his life and his career to broker a series of talks between the president of the African National Congress (superbly played by Chiwetel Ejiofor) and, through an Afrikaner philosophy professor (William Hurt), the National Party. Though many shots feature the frustratingly common “shaky camera” style, the film is worth seeing for its standout performances, crisp dialogue and intimate perspective on an improbable moment in history.
….the Twins….the Twins!
It’s a salad of Tim Burton and Jean-Pierre Jeunet with a touch of Edward Gorey dressing.
Here’s her acceptance speech from last night’s Critic Choice Awards, which she co-won with Meryl Streep.
I’ve been traveling and working so much lately, I didn’t have time to gift wrap this. But I thought you could use a little piece of perfect to get you through the end run of the year. This movie clip is clearly one of my favorites, with pitch-perfect art direction, outstanding casting, and sick-sick dark humor. I love it.
It’s a story from Woody Allen’s dark, self-reflective comedy, “Deconstructing Harry.” Underrated in my book.
Somebody over at Spacesick has created a series of stunning faux novelization covers. They’re called the “I Can Read Movie Series” and they feature Saul Bass-style renditions of supposed books based on movies. These should win some kind of award – I don’t know what other than my ILoveYouILoveYouILoveYou medal. The creases, the faded covers, the smudged dirt, the pitch-perfect design – including the headers and the type….stop it. It’s too good.
Make more.
Behold these samples and find the rest here:
via my favorite person in the world