2012 in Film: #110

Aliens (1986) | Directed by James Cameron

Grade: A+

Thoughts: With the sequel, we get a more emotionally complex story (I watched the Director’s Cut), and we get an even better performance from Weaver. It’s scarier, faster paced, and on a grand scale. An absolute essential for horror or sci-fi buffs. The subversive subtext are prevalent here again. 

2012 in Film: #109

Alien (1979) | Directed by Ridley Scott

Grade: A-

Thoughts: A top rate horror sci-fi movie. Sigourney Weaver gives a stellar performance, and this haunted hour movie builds up its tension perfectly. Very scary and very well done.  Filled with subversive commentary on females in a male dominated world. 

2012 in Film: #108

The Cabin in the Woods (2012) | Directed by Drew Goddard

Grade: A

Thoughts: I fucking loved it.  From my review: “Drew Goddard and Joss Whedon have directed and written a meta-masterpiece, capable of being smart without being snarky, scary without being cliché-ridden (not in the same way, at least), and funny without being stupid. The Cabin in the Woods might be, might be, the horror film to end all horror films of the last decade. That last comment is probably hyperbolic on my part, but Cabin is the first film in a very long time to send shivers down my spine, make me laugh hysterically, and exercise my intellectual acumen: all at the same time. The Cabin in the Woods is fun, frightening, and fantastic.”

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2012 in Film: #107

Pierrot le Fou (1965) | Directed by Jean-Luc Godard

Grade: B-

Thoughts: This will probably be the last film of Godard’s I’ll bother trying to like. At times, the film is incredibly romantic and sincere, however, most of it feels like an underdeveloped couple on the run film, that concentrates more on the auteur’s intellectual acumen than having a legitimately coherent and entertaining story to tell. You get the sense that Godard thinks he knows more than his audience and thus tries to talk down to them. While it is a visually beautiful film, even though it tries to mean everything, it ends up meaning almost nothing.  

2012 in Film: #106

Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels (1998) | Directed by Guy Ritchie

Grade: B

Thoughts: I love it when music video directors enter into the world of cinema. And, just like David Fincher, Guy Ritchie makes an immediate impression with this London noir, with some of the most interesting cinematography used for an action/noir hybrid. Hilariously dark dialogue and a wicked sense of humor. 

2012 in Film: #105

Ocean’s Twelve (2004) | Directed by Steven Soderbergh

Grade: B

Thoughts: Everyone hates this entry of Soderbergh’s suave and cool Ocean’s Trilogy, and, while I don’t doubt it is the worst entry in the series, I can’t say that it’s as terrible as everyone claims it to be. It’s actually very entertaining, with an incredibly inventive visual style and very good dialogue. However, its complex plot being negated at the very end is kind of stupid.  

2012 in Film: #104

Killer’s Kiss (1955) | Directed by Stanley Kubrick

Grade: B

Thoughts: A small, proto-typical film noir, but with Kubrick’s unniably recognizable strikes of genius. But it’s not great. It’s an interesting look at the evolution of a director’s style and, really, nothing more than that.  

2012 in Film: #103

The Killing (1956) | Directed by Stanley Kubrick

Grade: A-

Thoughts: The essential heist noir, with dialogue so hard boiled, you could paint it and put it in an Easter basket.  

2012 in Film: #102

Benny and Joon (1993) | Directed by Jeremiah S. Chchik

Grade: B

Thoughts: Travel back in time when indie romances could have quirky and eccentric characters and not make you want to vomit. Mary Stuart Masterson and Johnny Depp are pretty great in this small little romance. Love all the silent film allusions from Depp’s character. 

2012 in Film: #101

The Fly (1986) | Directed by David Cronenberg

Grade: A

Thoughts: Cronenberg tapping into our fears of body modification and disease! Huzzah! That may not be a surprise, but what is a surprise is exactly how disgusting the film is; how superb Jeff Goldblum is; and how moving and romantic it can be. It may be incredibly gross at times, but Cronenberg makes the film incredibly emotional and riveting.  Actually, the ending is quite heartbreaking.