Breath of Life - A2P Cinema Blog

20 Favorite Films of 2009 (as of June)

2009-06-22T06:48:00.005-04:00

With the year halfway through I'd like to look back at my favorite films thus far. There are some releases I still need to see. Also some of these films might technically be considered from 2008, but I'm including them if they had a theatrical United States release in 2009....

You can download a PDF of this list here.

1… STILL WALKING
Hirokazu Koreeda, Japan

Hirokazku Koreeda is easily among my favorite current filmmakers mostly in the simplistic ways he captures the little moments. This is probably Koreeda’s best film since his 1998 After Life which I’d consider among my all-time favorite films. Still Walking understands the dynamics of the family, removing the layers to reveal lingering regrets caused from unresolved differences and bitterness. The film is a personal reflection for Koreeda yet the universal qualities make it so touching, funny, and honest. It is more sentimental then Ozu or Naruse but belongs mention in that class, for the gentle and subtle approach that few filmmakers can master with such effortlessness. A masterpiece!

2… CORALINE
Henry Selick, United States

While all the animated and Disney films getting released seem to be using this new 3D technology as a money-making gimmick it is refreshing to see 3D used this beautifully and masterfully. Coraline doesn’t rely on gimmicks but rather visual and character-driven storytelling. This is an animated film for adults first and kids second. There are psychological subtexts and artistry that make the film far more worthy then just a charming “kids cartoon”. Coraline is masterfully directed by Henry Selick proving Nightmare Before Christmas was more then just Tim Burton’s vision. The imagination and wonder of this film (both for its realism and fantasy) establishes Selick among the very top of stop-animation filmmaking, and one of the great visionaries of contemporary cinema. I can not praise this film enough except to say that it is perfect in its own methods. This is the artistic peak of stop-animation filmmaking and really must be seen at a theater in 3D!!

3… UP
Pete Docter, United States

Profound… Pixar has reached a Hayao Miyazaki level of animation cinema! Perhaps more then any other Pixar film its philosophy is not told, rather it is shown through concentrated, precise and poetic images and sounds. As great of an achievement their previous film (Wall E) is I think Up is superior because there are no contrived elements to it (something that I think Wall E slightly falls into in the second half). While Brad Bird is perhaps Pixar’s auteur, John Lasseter its founder, and Andrew Stanton its crowd-pleaser, Pete Docter is probably the best fit and most defining of the studios directors. Beautifully moving and heartwarming from the touching opening sequences to the lovely closing shots.

4… MY DEAR ENEMY
Li Yoon-ki, South Korea

I saw this 2008 Korean release at this years Philadelphia Film Festival. It is wonderfully smart and charming for its compassionate manner. Jean Do-yean follows up her powerful Cannes winning performance from 2007’s Secret Sunshine with another excellent performance sharing pitch perfect chemistry with Ha Jung-woo. There is a sophisticated wit to the humor and the details that give this film an old-fashioned appeal. There is some hilarious moments of humor to the film as well as some insightful subtexts without ever being forced or overdone in any way. Lee Yoon-ki’s previous film (Ad Lib Night) took as similar approach but even for its gentle nature it was a film that felt emotionless and un-involving. Structured over the period of a day, My Dear Enemy is greatly involving as it takes you along with its terrific lead characters.

5… THE SILENCE OF LORNA
Luc and Jean-Pierre Dardenne, France

Released last year in France The Silence of Lorna won Best Screenplay at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival. It marks the seventh feature film from the Dardenne Brothers. Like the Dardenne previous films this one is rooted in the neorealist roots and Robert Bresson style that has defined their highly acclaimed work. This one is getting less praise mostly because this films resorts to some more conventional genre methods, yet I do not see how this negatively impacts this particular film. Instead I find the thriller aspects of the filmmaking give it a greater sense of complexity and emotional involvement. I still find it to be the work of purist filmmakers and I’d maybe consider this my favorite Dardenne film yet.

6… KABEI: OUR MOTHER
Yoji Yamada, Japan

After the completion of his samurai trilogy (which began with the high acclaimed 2002 Twilight Samurai and concluded in 2007 with Love and Honor) 77-year old Japanese filmmaker Yoji Yamada adapted this family drama set during early World War 2 (notably Japan’s invasion in China). The film, based off the childhood memoirs of Teruyo Nogami, uses the war as backdrop to the films primary focus of its effect on the family. The film is powerfully emotional without sentiment. Yamada’s film is deeply humanist lead by delicate performances from the cast (Sayuri Yoshinaga as Kabei is especially great).

7… TWO LOVERS
James Gray, United States

Nothing inventive but Two Lovers is excellent in the way it is directed and performed. A talented young filmmaker, James Gray has made his first great film – one that is personal, detailed and original in its own way. Joaquin Phoenix perfectly taps into the loneliness and longing of his character giving what I would say is the best performance of his career (and whether or not it is his final appearance is yet to be known, but after seeing how terrific he is here I certainly hope he is not done with acting).

8… GOODBYE SOLO
Ramin Bahrani, United States

I'm still not ready to claim Ramin Bahrani the master everyone else has but I always admire his approach and have liked each film more then the next, with this by far my favorite from him. Here Bahrani recalls his Iranian roots using Abbas Kiarostami's 1997 film A Taste of Cherry as a clear source of influence (both poetically and in narrative). The strength of the film is that Bahrani keeps it simple with his trademark minimalist style not allowing for easy manipulation. This is best expressed in Souleymane Sy Savane charming performance.

9… CHE
Steven Soderbergh, United States / Spain / France

This two-part four-plus hour film was released in LA for Oscar contention last December but I’m including among the 2009 films because of the films wide release in January. It marks one of three films in 2009 from the always productive Steven Soderbergh who when not directing is always producing. Che is certainly the most epic of these films and it is almost entirely centered around the amazing lead performance of Benicio Del Toro who gives an embracing performance as the revolutionary. Soderbergh’s gives the film some experimental approaches (such as the shift in aspect ration in the second half) which create a sense of atmosphere but loose some of the emotional attachment. Even for some flaws, this is an interesting and bold achievement with a remarkable lead performance.

10… REVANCHE
Gotz Spielmann, Austria

Revanche was nominated for an Academy Award in the Best Foreign Language film category but did not receive a theatrical release in the United States until May. Written and directed by Austrian filmmaker Gotz Spielmann, this is a skillful film that blends genres. The film excels in the way it stays simple and thoughtfully controlled on the characters and the setting, allowing the atmosphere and emotions a chance to grow.

11… HUNGER
Steve McQueen, United Kingdom

In his debut feature British visual artist Steve McQueen shows a bold and skillful filmmaking approach in the unconventional methods of storytelling. Centering around the 1981 hunger strike inside Northern Ireland's Maze Prison the film is very dark, depressing and difficult to watch. However the filmmaking is rather interesting particularly in the different ways McQueen experiments with different visual tricks (highlighted by a stunning 17-minute unbroken shot featuring a conversion between features a conversation between Bobby Sands and a Catholic priest).

12… THE LAST HOUSE OF THE LEFT
Dennis Iliadis, United States

A great modern remake! Dennis Iliadis wisely respects Wes Craven's original vision (as Craven did Ingmar Bergman's Virgin Spring) while giving this his own defining tone and suspense. Iliadis’ film is a bit less poetic then Craven’s but it is also less campy. Here the tense tone seems more connected to the home-invasion horror films of recent cinema but the filmmakers (except for the questionably forced ending shot) have a precise and skillful manner in which they create the tension.

13… ALEXANDER THE LAST
Joe Swanberg, United States

I am not sure how much of this or any of Joe Swanberg films are filmmaking art. They either take you in with feeling and mood or they do not. This certainly did more then any previous Swanberg films have for me, particularly with the films unique opening scene (a pretend wedding between two sisters – played by Jess Weixler and Amy Seimetz). As always Swanberg centers on the freedom of the performances and the cast delivers (Jane Adams gives a notable supporting performance as a stage director). Swanberg is not quite in the class of fellow mumblecore filmmaker Andrew Bujalski, but Alexander the Last is his best film to date.

14… TAKEN
Pierre Morel, France

Taken is silly or improbable for sure, but like a John Woo or Brian De Palma film there is also something poetic and rebellious in its single-minded vision. This is something of a trademark for Luc Besson who co-wrote the screenplay for talented young director Pierre Morel (his second feature). The filmmakers understand there world and the morality of it, giving the viewers a fully engaging film experience that has some insight.

15… CHOCOLATE
Prachya Pinkaew, Thailand

Thai director Prachya Pinkaew cleverly self references his own work in this bizarre revenge martial arts film. Here Pinkaew’s internationally popular 2003 film Ong-Bak is used as a frame of reference, with an autistic young girl watching the film repeatedly to learn martial arts from the Tony Jaa, so she can help her ill mother. While not Tony Jaa, JeeJa Yanin does a fine job as the young understudy and as expected the film is at its best during the high-fling action sequences. The film makes great use of set designs and a cheap budget.

16… AWAY WE GO
Sam Mendes, United States / United Kingdom

Maybe not artistically complex, yet like a great pop song this film is beautiful and charming. There is a smugness to the film that I could see turning some people off but I found it enjoyable because (for the most part) the film avoids falling into some of the “quirky indie” traps. The real surprise is that this is quite a change of pace for director Sam Mendes who is really starting to win me over. His films tend to be forceful and ultimately hollow but I liked what he did with Revolutionary Road and here he simplifies even more with this comedy, relying on the performances and the script (also bonus points for a great use of the wonderful Velvet Underground song ‘Oh Sweet Nuthin’).

17… THE GIRLFRIEND EXPERIENCE
Steven Soderbergh, United States

While I admire much of his work I still say that Steven Soderbergh's films always border on pretentious. This one is no different. Its emotional disconnection is intriguing even if the film does not have the depth of its obvious Antonioni influence. Here casting porn star Sasha Grey, Soderbergh avoids making it gimmicky and Grey delivers a convincing performance. Soderbergh keeps the camera at a distance from Grey taking away any sort of intimacy, instead relying on subtle performance and visual composition and spacing.

18… EXPLICIT ILLS
Mark Webber, United States

28-year old actor Mark Webber makes his debut as writer-director with this socially driven but mostly unforced film dealing with poverty in Philadelphia. Shot entirely in South Philadelphia Webber makes great use of location to capture the spirit and tone of the film. The film does have some flaws toward the climax but there is also some moments of poetic filmmaking here, echoing Charles Burnett’s 1977 masterpiece Killer of Sheep. This is not in that class but it is an impressive debut and a fine collaborative effort from all the filmmakers and cast.

19… DONKEY PUNCH
Oliver Blackburn, United Kingdom

Donkey Punch is nothing new but it succeeds because it understands and even embraces genre formula. The pacing and visuals are designed in two halves. The beautiful and bright images and emotions of the early half soon shift to a more gritty and claustrophobic atmosphere as the tension and chaos builds. Flawed for sure (particularly over the climax) I still found the film engrossing for the effective manner in which it incorporates conventions.

20… NANAYOMACHI
Naomi Kawase, Japan / France

Naomi Kawase made an international name for herself with her previous release the award-winning Mourning Forest. A unique filmmaker known for a seamless blend of personal autobiography, documentary and fiction, here she delves into slightly new territory – shooting outside native Japan instead in Thailand and with a cast of Japanese, French, and Thai actors. The story centers around a 30-year old Japanese woman who leaves for Thailand. Recalling some of the second half of Kawase’s previous film that film centers around the forest and the woman’s spiritual journey within the forest where she meets a monk (Jun Murakami), and then a French student (Gregoire Colin). This might be my least favorite Kawase film to date but there is a very good feeling of atmosphere and beauty to the film.

Some other notable films:

THE BROTHERS BLOOM (Rian Johnson, United States)

PHOEBE IN WONDERLAND (Daniel Barnz, United States)

ACHILLES AND THE TORTOISE (Takeshi Kitano, Japan)

THE UNINVITED (Charles and Thomas Guard, United States/Canada)

THE MAN FROM LONDON (Bela Tarr, Hungary / France)

THE OBJECTIVE (Daniel Myrick, United States/Morocco)

HOTEL FOR DOGS (Thor Freudenthal, United States/Germany)

SONG OF SPARROWS (Majid Majidi, Iran)

ADORATION (Atom Egoyan, Canada)

LEMON TREE (Eran Riklis, Israel/Germany/France)

SAUNA (Antti-Jussi Annila, Finland/Czech Republic)

NOTORIOUS (George Tillman Jr., United States)

EASY VIRTUE (Stephan Elliott, United Kingdom /Canada)

LEFT BANK (Pieter Van Hees, Belgium)

SUMMER HOURS (Olivier Assayas, 2008)

2009-05-17T07:54:00.000-04:00

My favorite film of 2008 and probably among my favorite films of all-time, Summer Hours has FINALLY been theatrically released in the United States. The release is limited but if you get a chance to see this film I highly recommend doing so...

Here is what I wrote about the film after first seeing it last year (I have seen it three times since, including at the Philadelphia Film Festival in April):

Fresh off the globalized B-movie genre film Boarding Gate, Olivier Assayas would seem a strange fit for this simplistic three generations family ensemble. Yet Summer Hours is very much the definitive Assayas film and it may very well be his greatest masterwork. In many ways it might be his greatest film because it seems to be a reflection on all of his films and it is made with the touch of a seasoned master with its skillfully simplistic touch, channeling the minimalist style of his influences (notably Hou Hsiao-Hsien, whom Assayas made a documentary about in 1997). Like Hou, Summer Hours finds an eternal truth through its simplicity, but the beauty is that the film is undoubtedly Assayas' right to the lovely final shot. Surprisingly recalling some of his previous film, Assayas here presents us with the global family as a reflection of a passing time. Summer Hours is a film about life and death, memories and heritage. I can't say I saw a film more perfect then this in 2008 and I would rate Summer Hours among the greatest French films in years or really among the greatest films I have EVER seen!!

Favorite Oscar Winners (Lead Actor and Actress)

2009-02-20T23:07:00.003-05:00

Many of my all-time favorite performances (even in American cinema) did not win the Oscar but here are my top 10 favorites winners...

TOP 10 FAVORITE LEAD ACTOR OSCAR WINNERS

1. Robert Duvall – Tender Mercies (1983)
2. Ernest Borgnine – Marty (1955)
3. Alec Guinness – The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
4. Clark Gable – It Happened One Night (1934)
5. Robert Deniro – Raging Bull (1980)
6. James Cagney – Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942)
7. Peter Finch – Network (1976)
8. Jack Nicholson – One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)
9. Daniel Day Lewis – There Will Be Blood (2007)
10. Gary Cooper - High Noon (1952)

TOP 10 FAVORITE LEAD ACTRESS OSCAR WINNERS

1. Janet Gaynor – Sunrise / Seventh Heaven / Street Angel (1927)
2. Hilary Swank – Million Dollar Baby (2004)
3. Bette Davis – Jezebel (1938)
4. Diane Keaton – Annie Hall (1977)
5. Joan Crawford – Mildred Pierce (1945)
6. Meryl Streep – Sophie’s Choice (1982)
7. Claudette Colbert – It Happened One Night (1934)
8. Frances McDormand – Fargo (1996)
9. Viven Leigh – A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)
10. Holly Hunter – The Piano (1993)

* An upset win by Anne Hathaway (Rachel Getting Married) on Sunday would easily move towards the top of the list... perhaps as high as #2!!!

Six Great Performances Worth Considering

2009-01-17T08:20:00.003-05:00

There are many different awards and prizes handed out leading up to the Oscars in February. When you look over these winners it starts to become repetitive, almost as if all the year-end award circuits try to "predict" the Oscar nominees and winners rather then thinking outside the box and spreading the love for a variety of films.

I saw over 160 films from 2008 and I can honestly say many of them have award potential in some form or another, but when you see the winners during the award season it is as if there were only 5-10 films made every year, and nearly all of them in December.

Why this is I do not understand, but as an alternative to the group thinking I present six performances worth considering as the Oscar nominations get announced this Thursday. Here are six great performances that will be overlooked during the award season but for my money are easily among the best I've seen this year…

CHIWETEL EJIOFOR
Best Leading Actor - Redbelt

Under the skillful direction of writer-director David Mamet, Chiwetel Ejiofor gives one of the very best performances of the year, as Mike Terry, an honorable martial arts instructor whose financial problems force him against his will to fight in a hyped-up TV match. There are no big "Oscar" moments, Ejiofor simply provides a truth to this role that transcends external performance.

MICHELLE WILLIAMS
Best Leading Actress - Wendy and Lucy

Michelle Williams is nothing short of superb as a vulnerable woman caught in the devastating realities of poverty in American society. To see Williams and her joy, hope, sadness, fears, and uncertainty effortlessly converge without sentiment in the final moments is truly a masterful performance in a beautiful and heartbreaking film!

ASIA ARGENTO
Best Leading Actress - The Last Mistress or Boarding Gate

Under the direction of Catherine Breillat in The Last Mistress, Asia Argento was given the freedom to let out her fierce intensity with a dazzlingly wicked performance. With Boarding Gate, Argento found the perfect collaborator in Olivier Assayas who allows her to carry the film. Both performances define Argento strengths as a commanding screen presence, shaping the rhythm and intensity of the films.

PENELOPE CRUZ
Best Leading Actress - Elegy

Penelope Cruz is still overdue the Oscar from her performance in Volver and she may very likely take home the award this year for Best Supporting Actress in Woody Allen's Vicky Christina Barcelona. However, her lead performance in Elegy is far superior, instead relying on complex depth rather then the symbolic character she plays in Vicky Christina Barcelona.

STEVE COOGAN
Best Leading Actor - Hamlet 2

Always one of the great comedian actors in British cinema, Steve Coogan really shines in a rare American lead role. The film is kind of silly but completely enthralling because of Coogan's lively performance which carries the entire film. Sadly comedy is not regarded as serious award-worthy but there few better performances this year then Coogan's.

PATRICIA CLARKSON
Best Supporting Actress - Elegy

Patricia Clarkson has long been overdue her respects among the great actresses of contemporary American film. Playing a small supporting role in Elegy, Clarkson is memorable and moving in that she makes her character authentically alive with feelings of pain and betrayal.

The Films of 2008 (part 2)

2009-01-09T22:54:00.003-05:00

Earlier this week I posted a film-by-film summary of the entire Year in Films. Now I’d like to individualize the year in films with my Best of 2008. This will include the usual award categories (Best Director, Best Original Score, etc) as well as some fun alternate categories (such as Best Ensemble Cast, Best Fight, Best Sex Scene, Best Performance by a Dog, among many others).

Please take the time to look it over and feel free to share any comments, questions or recommendations you may have!

>> GO HERE TO VIEW THE BEST OF 2008

The Films of 2008

2009-01-05T22:17:00.005-05:00

Looking over the year of films several trends seem to surface. One of the most prominent (though offered in different forms) was the theme of globalization and its potentially disastrous effects on contemporary society (as in Wall-E or 24 City), nature (The Unforeseen), business (Boarding Gate), economics (Slumdog Millionaire), or even the family (Summer Hours).

One other trend I noticed looking over the year in films was re-imagining. Some films re-imagined genres (Let the Right One In, Pineapple Express, Boarding Gate), others re-imagined films (Flight of the Red Balloon, Love Songs) and some filmmakers re-imagined other filmmakers (Rachel Getting Married) while some did so while also re-imagining themselves (Summer Hours, Tokyo Sonata, Happy-Go-Lucky, Gran Torino, Go Go Tales).

It was an especially great year for female performances (notably Anne Hathaway, Sally Hawkins, Asia Argento, Penelope Cruz, Riko Narumi, Kristen Scott Thomas, Patricia Clarkson, Juliette Binoche, Keira Knightley, Meryl Streep, Rosemary DeWitt, etc) and we saw two great “swan-song” performances by legendary actors of separate generations (Clint Eastwood and Heath Ledger).

2008 may not have had as many great or “masterpiece” films as recent years, but there were plenty to enjoy, and I don’t know if I’ve seen a better French film this decade then Olivier Assayas’ perfect Summer Hours, my favorite film of 2008.

Of course we also saw the refreshing return of Jonathan Demme’s hopeful humanity (Rachel Getting Married), a poetic and touching vampire love story (Let the Right One In), a Zen-like high school film (How To Become Myself), an unforgettable character living life “in the moment” (Sally Hawkins’ Poppy in Happy-Go-Lucky), a meditative journey through America via trains (RR), an irresistible sci-fi love story with robots (Wall-E), a screwball comedy in a strip club (Go Go Tales), another film from the worlds greatest living master (Hou Hsiao-hsien’s Flight of the Red Balloon), more fierce intensity from Asia Argento (in The Last Mistress, Boarding Gate and Go Go Tales), an imaginative celebration of togetherness and creativity (Be Kind Rewind), among many other wonderful joys from another great year in films!!

>>> GO HERE TO SEE THE A2P CINEMA YEAR IN FILMS

Carole Lombard - 100 Years!!

2008-10-06T00:42:00.005-04:00

CAROLE LOMBARD:
MARVELOUS GIRL. CRAZY AS A BEDBUG

The title comes from a quote by the great director Howard Hawks when asked about Carole Lombard. Well known for a foul mouth, playful sprit, and truly generous heart, Lombard earned the nickname “Profane Angel”.

October 6th 2008 will mark the 100th birthday of Carole Lombard. Decades have passed since her tragic death, yet her legacy has stood the test of time to remain as fresh as ever especially for those longing for the old magic of the now lost (or at least less inspiring) screwball comedy genre.

There is something to be said about first encountering one of Lombard’s definitive films, and for my money that would be nearly anything she made from 1934-1946. She was the essential actress of the screwball comedy, and she was without the cynicism or upper-class snobbery most common of the other great actresses of the genre (think Barbara Stanwyck, Jean Arthur, Irene Dunne, Katharine Hepburn, or even the wonderful Kay Francis). Not that Lombard couldn’t pull this off (see 1935’s Hands Across the Table), but it did not fit her perhaps because it was too easy. Lombard had a unique quality. One that made her incomparable. A combination of beauty, zany humor, pitch perfect comedic timing, witty intelligence and lively spirit, Lombard radiated natural and timeless star quality.

Her career reached new heights when Howard Hawks gave Lombard the freedom to shine her wonderful screwball talents in the classic 1934 comedy Twentieth Century. From there she went on to do some of the most memorable comedies of the 1930s, most notably the screwball masterpieces My Man Godfrey (1936) and Nothing Sacred (1937).

Lombard even convinced the “Master of Suspense” himself (Alfred Hitchcock) to direct Mr and Mrs Smith- his first (and only) screwball comedy, which he agreed to only if she would star. Now at the peak of her career, Lombard’s next film (To Be Or Not To Be- for legendary director Ernst Lubitsch) was sadly her last, as she died in a plane crash shortly after filming completed.

That has and never will be another one quite like her. Both as an actress and as a woman Lombard’s lasting memory remains. She was loved and respected by all those that knew her. The quintessential queen off the screwball comedy, Carole Lombard was a genuine persona and truly a genuine star!

"She brought great joy to all who knew her and to millions who knew her only as a great artist. She gave unselfishly of time and talent to serve her government in peace and war. She loved her country. She is and always will be a star, one we shall never forget, nor cease to be grateful to." - Franklin D. Roosevelt

www.ProfaneAngel.com

JUN ICHIKAWA (1948-2008)

2008-09-19T07:27:00.000-04:00

Jun Ichikawa, one of my favorite filmmakers died today at the age of 59. He is responsible for several of my favorite films of the past 10 years (Tokyo Marigold, The Tokyo Siblings, Tony Takitani, and my favorite film of 2008 so far How to Become Myself).

As a filmmaker, Ichikawa had the touch of a Zen master, recalling the genius of Ozu with his minimalist style. He will be greatly missed…

A2P Cinema -- Website Reconstruction

2008-09-01T23:02:00.001-04:00

A2P Cinema has been revamped to a simpler format. For the time being the site will only contain top 10 lists for every year. In time the film summaries and pictures will return, along with the hope of a larger database of films (perhaps 20-30 for each year). Please be patient as the website, much like others within the A2P Cinema network (Ozu-san, Profane Angel, In the Mood for Images), will hopefully improve soon.

Remembering Aaliyah

2008-08-25T00:04:00.000-04:00

Seven years ago (August 25th 2001), Aaliyah Dana Haughton’s life tragically ended at the age of 22. We still miss you Baby Girl…

“Baby girl

Better known as Aaliyah

Give me goose bumps and high hot feet

Make the playa haters believers…”

Cannon of 250 Films - #78-70

2008-08-17T23:59:00.001-04:00

www.a2pcinema.com/canon

78… VENGEANCE IS MINE
1979 - Shohei Imamura - Japan
www.a2pcinema.com/canon/films/78.htm

77… LEAVE HER TO HEAVEN
1945 - John M. Stahl - United States
www.a2pcinema.com/canon/films/77.htm

76… ANNIE HALL
1977 - Woody Allen - United States
www.a2pcinema.com/canon/films/76.htm

75… GREED
1924 - Erich von Stroheim - United States
www.a2pcinema.com/canon/films/75.htm

74… SHOOT THE PIANO PLAYER
1960 - Francois Truffaut - France
www.a2pcinema.com/canon/films/74.htm

73… PICKUP ON SOUTH STREET
1953 - Samuel Fuller - United States
www.a2pcinema.com/canon/films/73.htm

72... PATHER PANCHALI
1955 - Satyajit Ray - India
www.a2pcinema.com/canon/films/72.htm

71... M
1931 - Fritz Lang - Germany
www.a2pcinema.com/canon/films/71.htm

70... DANCER IN THE DARK
2000 - Lars von Trier - Denmark
www.a2pcinema.com/canon/films/70.htm

Cannon of 250 Films - #87-79

2008-08-04T23:27:00.002-04:00

www.a2pcinema.com/canon

87… TWENTY-FOUR EYES
1954 - Keisuke Kinoshita - Japan
www.a2pcinema.com/canon/films/87.htm

86… NIGHT AND THE CITY
1950 - Jules Dassin - United Kingdom
www.a2pcinema.com/canon/films/86.htm

85… WHY HAS BODHI DHARMA LEFT FOR THE EAST?
1989 - Bae Yong Kyun - South Korea
www.a2pcinema.com/canon/films/85.htm

84… THE BICYCLE THIEF
1948 - Vittorio De Sica - Italy
www.a2pcinema.com/canon/films/84.htm

83… BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
1991 - Gary Trousdale / Kirk Wise - United States
www.a2pcinema.com/canon/films/83.htm

82… THE FLOWERS OF ST. FRANCIS
1950 - Roberto Rossellini - Italy
www.a2pcinema.com/canon/films/82.htm

81… THE RULES OF THE GAME
1939 - Jean Renoir - France
www.a2pcinema.com/canon/films/81.htm

80… BELLE DE JOUR
1967 - Luis Bunuel - France/Italy
www.a2pcinema.com/canon/films/80.htm

79… DUMBO
1941 - Ben SharpsteenUnited States
www.a2pcinema.com/canon/films/79.htm

Cannon of 250 Films - #96-88

2008-07-21T23:10:00.000-04:00

www.a2pcinema.com/canon

96… THE CONVERSATION
1974 - Francis Ford Coppola - United States
www.a2pcinema.com/canon/films/96.htm

95… MILLION DOLLAR BABY
2004 - Clint Eastwood - United States
www.a2pcinema.com/canon/films/95.htm

94… THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE
1962 - John Frankenheimer - United States
www.a2pcinema.com/canon/films/94.htm

93… THE CIRCUS
1928 - Charlie Chaplin - United States
www.a2pcinema.com/canon/films/93.htm

92… THE NAKED SPUR
1953 - Anthony Mann - United States
www.a2pcinema.com/canon/films/92.htm

91… INLAND EMPIRE
2006 - David Lynch - France/Poland/United States
www.a2pcinema.com/canon/films/91.htm

90… DIABOLIQUE
1954 - Henri Georges Clouzot - France
www.a2pcinema.com/canon/films/90.htm

89… IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE
1946 - Frank Capra - United States
www.a2pcinema.com/canon/films/89.htm

88… CENTER STAGE aka THE ACTRESS
1992 - Stanley Kwan - Hong Kong
www.a2pcinema.com/canon/films/88.htm

Cannon of 250 Films - #100-97

2008-07-11T23:01:00.001-04:00

>>> I've hit a slight bump in the road with this list, but I'm going to just skip ahead to breaking down the Top 100 (again keeping in mind the list includes only one film per director)...

www.a2pcinema.com/canon

100… CLAIRE'S KNEE
1970 - Eric Rohmer - France
www.a2pcinema.com/canon/films/100.htm

99… BROKEN BLOSSOMS
1919 - DW Griffith - United States
www.a2pcinema.com/canon/films/99.htm

98… THRONE OF BLOOD
1957 - Akira Kurosawa - Japan
www.a2pcinema.com/canon/films/98.htm

97… KILL, BABY...KILL!
1966 - Mario Bava - Italy
www.a2pcinema.com/canon/films/97.htm

CYD CHARISSE (1922-2008)

2008-06-18T08:13:00.003-04:00

I am very saddened by the death of one of my all-time favorite Hollywood actresses, Cyd Charisse. Of course Charisse was well known for her beauty (notably her famous legs) as well as her dancing. But she was also a great actress with memorable performances in classic films such as The Band Wagon, Party Girl, Brigadoon, and Silk Stockings. She also has a brief but unforgettable appearance in Singin’ in the Rain.

The Band Wagon is one of the greatest musicals in the history of Hollywood and I do not think it would be so without Cyd Charisse. That film remains one of my personal favorites, one that I revisit very often.

Charisse was one of the last living Goddesses of the Hollywood studio era and one of the most iconic figures in movie musicals… she will be missed!!!

Portishead - Third

2008-05-06T23:12:00.001-04:00

PORTISHEAD - THIRD

Now that I’ve listened to the album extensively (i.e. endlessly!!), I wanted to share some brief thoughts.

Looking at the album like I would a great filmmaker/artist who has returned after a 10+ year absence, the first thing that strikes me is the way this album opens and closes. The very opening track begins with the voice of a foreign language, as if to signify either the arrival of a mysterious forgotten band, or perhaps the exotic and experimental sound they have changed into over 10 years. It is certainly (and fittingly) a much different and experimental sound for this band, who transform scratching turntables into a guitar-heavy album.

The beauty lies in its pure originality and refreshingly distinct sound that is essential Portishead. This album demands to be heard as a whole, and to be listened to several times to fully appreciate its originality. I may not be an expert on music, but I can safely say that few bands today have such a distinct original sound as Portishead, and this is again evident with Third, where they prove they can change with the times, and still remain unique from anything else.

The album ends with two brilliantly connected tracks, with the final song (Threads) closing with an alarming sound that seems to be signaling the return of an unforgettable band… one that is for my money, the greatest band of all-time!!!

JULES DASSIN (1911-2008)

2008-03-31T17:42:00.003-04:00

American film noir has lost another icon… last week it was actor Richard Widmark and now director Jules Dassin, who died today at the age of 96.

Widmark and Dassin will forever be connected in my mind for their unforgettable 1950 film Night and the City, one of the greatest film noirs ever made!!

Jules Dassin was #77 on the A2P Cinema Top Filmmakers of the World list that I wrote in 2006. Here is what I said...

American-born Jules Dassin began in Hollywood making films within several genres. His greatest work in America were crime noir thrillers which came at the end of the 1940s with the violent Brute Force (1947), raw and gritty Naked City (1948), and the masterful noir Thieves Highway (1949). Each of these films were groundbreaking in different ways and Naked City is especially influential as it was one of the earliest Hollywood films to be entirely shot outside a studio and on location and it remains a pivotal influence to many documentary-style crime thrillers and television series that followed. Dassin’s last film in Hollywood, Thieves Highway, is one of the most exciting noirs ever made. In 1950, Dassin was forced to depart America as he was blacklisted for associating with the Communist Party. However, his career certainly didn’t end there, and in many respects it grew as Dassin became more beloved in Europe then he ever was in America. Dassin continued to make films in Europe, including: United Kingdom (1950’s Night and the City which to me is a masterpiece and one of the very greatest noirs of all-time), France (1955’s Rififi- his most beloved film which is well known for a long and silent heist sequence), and Greece (1960’s Never on Sunday- which was nominated for five Oscars including two for Dassin as Best Director and Best Screenplay). Dassin turned a bit more “arty” with his post-Rififi films, but he became highly respected in Europe most notably in France. His films prior to the unfortunate blacklisting, stand among the best of its kind in American cinema.

ENCORE CHOICES TO THE BEST PICTURE NOMINEES - There Will Be Blood

2008-02-19T23:16:00.000-05:00

GREED (1924, Erich von Stroheim)
http://imdb.com/title/tt0015881/
Erich von Stroheim’s 1924 silent film Greed is one of the most extraordinary achievements in film history. One that was far ahead of its time and certainly paved the way for modern cinema (and for notable masterworks, such as Orson Welles’ monumental Citizen Kane). Greed succeeds in a blend of complex realism with highly stylized cinematic technique rarely matched. The deep focus of the compositions give the film a timeless visual quality and its emotionally tragic humanism foreshadows that of Jean Renoir (who undoubtedly has been a pivotal influence to both Robert Altman and Paul Thomas Anderson). The core of There Will Be Blood is the battle of capitalism against religion, and greed is the driving force.

CITIZEN KANE (1941, Orson Welles)
http://imdb.com/title/tt0033467/
Many have compared Paul Thomas Anderson’s film to Orson Welles renowned American classic. The most obvious connection of the film lies in the lead characters and the sense of greed and depression they carry. Welles’ newspaper tycoon Charles Foster Kane easily reminds one of Daniel Day-Lewis’ oil man Daniel Plainview, and Anderson’s grandiose filmmaking certainly recalls that of Welles. Channeling Kane’s rise from early modest beginnings to alienated madness, There Will Be Blood may differ only in that the arch of the Plainview characterization doesn’t necessarily change, and the sentiment of a connection to humanity (such as Kane’s Rosebud) is absent. Plainview’s humanity only emerges from his unrelenting (and primitive) determination. I think ultimately they are quite different, but it is interesting comparing these two characters and films, both of which are destined to be placed among the iconic films of American cinema.

BARRY LYNDON (1975, Stanley Kubrick)
http://imdb.com/title/tt0072684/
From the opening image (and accompanying music) There Will Be Blood resonates with thoughts and feelings of Stanley Kubrick, and this continues throughout the film (even all the way through the end credits). Certainly direct comparisons can be made with The Shining, 2001: A Space Odyssey, and A Clockwork Orange. However, I think There Will Be Blood is most comparative with Kubrick’s 1975 masterpiece Barry Lyndon (perhaps his most perfect film overall). There is a similar structure and mood to the way these films operate and as such they are likely to divide audiences. Like There Will Be Blood, Barry Lyndon leaves a cold and empty feeling. Yet emptiness is essential in each film and it is a bold achievement on the part of the filmmakers for their precise vision, unrelenting to convention.

>> There are definitely more films I would say make good encore selections alongside There Will Be Blood including Billy Wilder’s Ace in the Hole (1951), Elia Kazan’s East of Eden (1955), George Stevens Giant (1956), Roman Polanski’s Chinatown (1974), and as previously mentioned anything else from Stanley Kubrick- notably The Shining (1980), 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), and A Clockwork Orange (1971).

ENCORE CHOICES TO THE BEST PICTURE NOMINEES - Atonement

2008-02-14T23:49:00.000-05:00

PORT OF SHADOWS (1938, Marcel Carne)
http://imdb.com/title/tt0030643/
The most obvious comparison between Port of Shadows and Atonement comes in a beautiful sequence at the Dunkirk evacuation, as a silhouette image of Robbie is seen in front of the projection of Port of Shadows. The moment heightens his sense of longing and fate, both of which define the essence of Marcel Carne’s masterwork of poetic realism. Like Atonement, Port of Shadows is stylized and heartbreaking, and I think its placement in the silhouette was more then a simple homage.

BRIEF ENCOUNTER (1945, David Lean)
http://imdb.com/title/tt0037558/
With his early mastery of adapting classic novels to film, British director Joe Wright may be the new generations David Lean. Lean was well regarded for his technical filmmaking craftsmanship and epic vision. His greatest achievement (and as far as I’m concerned one of the greatest achievements in the history of cinema) was his most intimate work Brief Encounter. Like Atonement, Brief Encounter takes on a dreamlike state of romantic longing. All at once it feels so full of loneliness, yearning, sadness, and beauty. Certainly the scenes Robbie and Cecilia share together are reminiscent of those brief longing (fantasy?) moments shared by Alec and Laura. Brief Encounter is one of my all-time favorite films and I can think of no greater compliment to Atonement then to say I was reminded of it.

GOSFORD PARK (2001, Robert Altman)
http://imdb.com/title/tt0280707/
With his wonderful debut film Pride & Prejudice, Joe Wright reminded me of a way Robert Altman might have adapted Jane Austen’s lovely novel. Through long tracking shots, Wright took us beneath the surface and behind the corridors, and made us apart of the Bennett family. Much of that is recaptured in the opening portion of Atonement, which recalls Gosford Park in the way we go in-between the class barriers of the rich family and their workers. The class differential is only slightly observed in Atonement, but it remains a crucial and rather haunting presence as the film unfolds.

KON ICHIKAWA (1915-2008)

2008-02-13T11:32:00.001-05:00

Kon Ichikawa, one of the greatest living Japanese filmmakers, died of pneumonia today at the age of 92.

Ichikawa was one of the key figures to emerge from the postwar Japanese “humanist” era along with celebrated filmmakers such as Akira Kurosawa, Masaki Kobayashi, and Kinosuke Kinoshita. He has directed some of the most significant films in Japanese cinema history, including An Actor’s Revenge (1963), Fires on the Plain (1959), Tokyo Olympiad (1965), and his masterpiece The Burmese Harp (1956), a film that I would consider among the very greatest ever made.

You can view a clip from Ichikawa’s The Burmese Harp that I uploaded on YouTube back in June, here:

ENCORE CHOICES TO THE BEST PICTURE NOMINEES - Michael Clayton

2008-02-12T22:28:00.001-05:00

THE CONVERSATION (1974, Francis Ford Coppola)

http://imdb.com/title/tt0071360/

Like the best of Michael Clayton, The Conversation is a thriller centered on the character and his moral dilemma. Both George Clooney and Gene Hackman expertly capture the essence of their character without an ounce of overacting. Michael Clayton centers itself around a loss of moral focus at the pressure of big business decision making and The Conversation similarly deals with moral responsibility. The Conversation is one of the very best American achievements of the 1970s, so despite being an inferior film Michael Clayton still captures a lot of what it has to offer.

THREE DAYS OF THE CONDOR (1975, Sydney Pollack)

http://imdb.com/title/tt0073802/

Michael Clayton is very much a throwback to the liberal-driven adult character films of the 1970s. Three Days of the Condor is directed by Sydney Pollack, who fittingly plays the head lawyer of Michael Clayton. Both films use conventional genre thriller within the character-driven narrative, feature a great cast, and both have a well-intended liberal messages. These types of films were common for the era, but are rarely made by major Hollywood studios today.

THE CHINA SYNDROME (1979, James Bridges)

http://imdb.com/title/tt0078966/

The China Syndrome is, like Michael Clayton, a tightly made thriller that centers itself around the performances. The star-powered performance of Jane Fonda is not much different then that of George Clooney. Both performances carry an internal moral conscience that is essential to their characters and they each grow and deepen as the film progresses. Also similar are the characters played by Jack Lemmon and Tom Wilkinson, both of whom are crying out their warning. Both films are well paced, and intelligent, liberal-minded character thrillers carried by the performances.

ENCORE CHOICES TO THE BEST PICTURE NOMINEES - No Country for Old Men

2008-02-11T23:33:00.000-05:00

PSYCHO (1960, Alfred Hitchcock)
http://imdb.com/title/tt0054215/
Obvious connections can be made to the plot similarities between Alfred Hitchcock’s classic 1960 film and No Country for Old Men. However, I’m far more interested in its connections of aesthetics, characterization, and execution. Certainly watching No Country for Old Men draws comparisons to Hitchcock both in the detailed way each shot is storyboarded as well as the use of lighting and editing. There is also the strong sense of mystery and suspense. Like in the best Hitchcock films we are the distant spectators and the film plays with us as much as it does its own characters.

THE STRAIGHT STORY (1999, David Lynch)
http://imdb.com/title/tt0166896/
The metaphysical core of No Country for Old Men is expressed in its opening voice-over narration, and then later further expressed in the final scene. No Country For Old Men is a film centered around following (or chasing) a path between the past and the future. While certainly a different film, David Lynch’s 1999 The Straight Story has a spiritual and layered feeling that resonates in No Country for Old Men. Both film move at a rhythmic and haunting pace, leaving plenty to reflect on old age and on American living.

THE THREE BURIALS OF MELQUIADES ESTRADA (2006, Tommy Lee Jones)
http://imdb.com/title/tt0419294/
The Three Burials of Melquaidres Estrada similarly uses a modern western with political undertones. It also skillfully plays with dark humor and most notably plays with the splendor of the old-western films. The Three Burials of Melquaidres Estrada is the directorial debut of Tommy Lee Jones who also stars. His presence in No Country for Old Men further connects the two films, and it seems a fitting choice to follow-up his Three Burials character with this role. Three Burials is above all a journey for meaning and for the human body and souls connection with land and with death. Those similar philosophical themes are certainly dealt with in No Country for Old Men, a land where the life or death of a human soul can be decided by a flip of a coin.

ENCORE CHOICES TO THE BEST PICTURE NOMINEES - Juno

2008-02-04T22:27:00.000-05:00

The Oscars are less then a month away (and according to reports it looks as if the WGA is on the verge of ending their long strike)… In anticipation of the upcoming ceremony, I wanted to take a further look at the Best Picture nominees.

I think it is one of the best classes for Best Picture nominees in the Academy’s 80 year history. I enjoyed all 5 of these films, with 3 of them placing in my personal top 10 of the year. One aspect I enjoyed about these films and many others from this year was the way they reimagined old-fashion cinema in a variety of different methods.

I’d like to take a closer look at each nominee by offering a few encore films as possible recommendations. This is not intended to discredit the originality of these nominated films, but instead provide a deeper connection to their place among history.

I will post each of the nominees individually over the next few weeks leading up to the Oscars…

ELENA AND HER MEN (1956, Jean Renoir)
http://imdb.com/title/tt0049177/

The great French filmmaker Jean Renoir was master in (among other things) details. In one of his lightest comedies, Elena and Her Men, Renoir used politics under the surface of a romantic farce. It focuses less on plot details then it does on characters, on visual compositions, and on colors. Details in Renoir films are always very rich, and I think the best of Juno captures some of this both visually and in the characterization.

HAROLD AND MAUDE (1971, Hal Ashby)
http://imdb.com/title/tt0067185/

The world that the great filmmaker Hal Ashby creates is somewhat recaptured here, specifically in tone. Of course the most obvious tonal comparison is the distinct way in which both films use music to set the mood and the characterization. Juno’s use of The Moldy Peaches is not dissimilar to the way Ashby uses Cat Stevens in Harold and Maude, a film that also expressed the beauty of life and of individualism. Bottom line, if you enjoy Juno, the work of Hal Ashby will certainly be worth checking out!

4 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS, AND 2 DAYS (2007, Cristian Mungiu)
http://imdb.com/title/tt1032846/

This gripping Romanian film just reached American theaters in January. It is probably the complete opposite of Juno, but it is an interesting counterpoint both stylistically and thematically. Both films deal with unexpected or unwanted pregnancy in different ways. They each present opposite views but ultimately both films are less focused on the political issues of pro life or pro choice, instead focusing around the way the characters deal with it. The world of these films do not revolve around these characters, instead they simply inhabit them. As lead protagonists Juno’s Ellen Page, and especially 4 Months 3 Weeks and 2 Days Anamaria Marinca, each give phenomenal performances.

HEATH LEDGER (1979-2008)

2008-01-22T17:57:00.000-05:00

I am shocked, angry, and upset at this terrible terrible news... One of the great actors of his generation in the prime of his career... so sad.

When watching his performances, I always truly thought Heath Ledger was the James Dean of our generation and it is truly sad that his life also ends tragically. Watching Brokeback Mountain already brings me to tears and now it will be even more heartbreaking...

I plan to do a tribute article on Ennis Del Mar in honor of Heath, but it will have to wait as at the moment I'm too shocked and confused to think... Prayers go out to his family and his daughter.

FILMS OF 2007

2008-01-07T17:02:00.000-05:00

FILMS OF 2007

http://www.a2pcinema.com/films/2007.htm

2007 marked another great year in film, especially for American films, as many of the generations leading auteurs released new films (most notably being Paul Thomas Anderson and Todd Haynes, both who previously released films came in 2002).

Looking back on the year I think there are two trends that stand out from all the films released in 2007. The first is the way violence is perceived or detailed on film and by the viewer. Really this is a trend that has loomed heavily since David Cronenberg’s masterful 2005 film A History of Violence, and in some form or another it is further examined through a variety of films this year.

The other trend seems to be a re-imagining of old-fashioned filmmaking. Throughout the year we have seen a wide range of films take on influences or conventions from old-style Hollywood filmmaking, and then invent them into something modern and unconventional.

Perhaps one other pattern I personally experienced with the films I am placing in the Top 10, is how challenging they each are. These are films that I really needed to see more then once (and fortunately did with the exception of I’m Not There). It is amazing how each one is challenging in a different way:

Poetically (Away From Her)
Aesthetically (There Will Be Blood)
Spiritually (Into Great Silence)
Ambiguously (Atonement)
Morally (Ratatouille)
Experimentally (Syndromes and a Century)
Mysteriously (No Country For Old Men)
Refreshingly (The Darjeeling Limited)
Intellectually (I’m Not There)
Emotionally (Secret Sunshine)

These ten films further proved the importance of repeat viewings as well as the incredible depth of their art.

Of course, these are just ten of what I believe to be the very best of year. There are many more great films of 2007 and others I still have yet to see. Here is a brief summary of the films I did see ranked from most to least favorite: GO HERE TO VIEW THE COMPLETE LIST