January 2014 Breakdown

Alrighty, basically split this and the previous post in two. Like I said in the last post, I am making my way to 4000... here are some highlights from the many, many, many, many movies I saw this last month (I won't get into many of the 2013 releases that I commented on the last entry)... So all the movies in the lists and categories are from this month's viewing of new movies.... new to me that is.


Best Foreign Language Film of January: Rust and Bone
          This was a pretty great movie. Nothing was lost in translation here, you got everything. Good story that keeps your attention and never feels like it drags. Marion Cotillard is usually in the "George/Leo group" (I just don't like them). But in this she totally made up for having the worst death ever in The Dark Knight Rises. She plays a whale trainer in France that is a victim of an accident. The beast of a dude from Bullhead (Matthias Schoenaerts) was the other have of the title. The dude is a beast and some of the boxing fights will show it. He plays a father who is somewhat a wanderer and ends up with his sister in a town (south France?). For certain reasons, these two are brought together while dealing with there tough situations. PS... may have been the only foreign language movie I saw this month.


 Black and White Films of January:

1. Nebraska
2. Some Like It Hot- Jack Lemmon is just great
3. The Apartment
4. Mr. Deeds Goes To Town
5. Raging Bull -  DeNiro was good, but the movie itself was just dull to me.
6. Frances Ha
7. Manhattan - You'll always see Woody Allen movies towards the bottom of my lists.

Best Chick Flick of The Month: Safe Haven

          Yes, I watch Chick-flicks from time to time... and you know what, sometimes they're good. Case in point - Safe Haven. Now, not saying this was an A+ movie, but it was enjoyable and held my attention. I know that's not a glowing review, but oh well. I really could have done without the cop story line. And for another aspect of the movie (you'll know if you saw it) I TOTALLY GUESSED IT WAAAAAAYYYYYYY EARLY (just ask Nate). 

Australian Movies from this month:

1. Wake In Fright
2. 33 Postcards
3. The Rat Tamer (This may have been a TV movie or something, but it was on a disc at the rental store... so I guess a movie. Might be Hugh Jackman's first role)

Watch This, Not That:

This is a category Doug Benson does (or at least used to) on his Doug Loves Movies Podcast... figured I try it out here with some categories. Tried to make them somewhat equal to each other or at least relevant. Again, these are all pulled from the movies that I watched this last month. 

Bio-Pic Category

Chaplin Vs Morrison... I like The Doors, but I do believe they are overrated in the long run. I think Kilmer did a great job as Morrison (That year Anthony Hopkins won leading actor, which was deserved. I think though he should have gotten nominated over a few of the other guys). Chaplin, you always smile, if not laugh, when you see a clip of the Tramp. Downey did a great job as well as portraying the lead character... could have watch a movie of him just during Chaplin's early life.

Watch CHAPLIN, don't watch THE DOORS

Animation Category

Yeah, I still enjoy an animated movie... it's the kid inside me I guess. Not surprised I hadn't seen The Princess and the Frog yet... I was surprised I didn't see The Prince of Egypt until now. I thought it was great. I liked the animation in it... they didn't draw it in a fairy-tale fashion that most of the Disney movie are done in. Nothing wrong with that, it was just a nice change of pace. Princess and the Frog's story was lacking, the prince was annoying, deserved to get caught and turned into a plate of frog legs. It's too bad too, because I love New Orleans (probably my favorite aspect of that movie).

Watch EGYPT, don't watch FROG

Lifeguard Category... yup, I saw two different movies with lifeguards this month.

This one is pretty simple. The To Do List was funny, The Lifeguard wasn't. Bill Hader is always hilarious, Kristen Bell having a mid-life crises at 30 is not hilarious. 

Watch TO DO LIST, don't watch LIFEGUARD

Jodi Foster

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA... don't worry, I'm not laughing at The Accused. 100% laughing at Nell. OMG!!! How in the world hasn't How Did This Get Made? covered this movie? This is pure gold to get ripped on.

Definitely watch NELL... only because it is that crazy.

Alrighty then, let's start to wrap this up:

• Wished It Did Better Award, because I liked it: Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit
• Overrated: Brokeback Mountain, The Purge, Ride Along, Rent (so horrible), Badlands
• Disappointing for one reason or another: Martha Marcy May Marlene, Jabberwocky, Touchy Feely (I wanted to like this more than I actually did), 
• Great and/or Surprising: Short Term 12, A.C.O.D., Broadcast News, Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa (I actually enjoyed this on a film level, and not just a long episode of Jackass), 
• "Well, that was different" winner: Violet & Daisy... fyi, different, but I liked it.
• Suggestion of the Month: Best Man Down - This could have gone in the surprising section, but I enjoyed it more than that so I want to single it out. It was a bit emotional for me for a few reasons. Tyler Labine is always funny and  hopefully he gets into the spotlight a bit more if he wants... I would like to see him in more. 
  

and finally... The Piece of Crap Award for January goes to....

Honorable Mention for Piece of Crap Award: I, Frankenstein

If you feel like I got anything wrong, you agree, or whatever, let me know.

Pushing my way to 4000 (UPDATED 2013 LIST)

So this year I will hit 4000 new movies viewed... just not exactly sure when. For a movie milestone like this, I'm trying to time it for a new release I would be excited for... ideally X Men: Days of Future Past (if I don't get to see Colossus in some awesome action scenes, I will be pissed). So, in order to get there, I have been trekking my way through some Netflix instant, Vulcan Video rentals, Alamo Drafthouse, and Regal CinemArt watching. It's looking like I have actually passed my pace that I need to be at... might need to slow it down.

So, I have caught up on some of the major players of 2013... I have quickly inserted them into my original list of 2013. I tried not to think too much, just first instinct when I came to each movie.

1. 12 Years A Slave
2. Dallas Buyers Club
3. The Way, Way Back
4. Captain Phillips – Great Movie. Very Intense. Tom Hanks definitely deserved an Oscar nod for this one… not sure I agree about the nomination for the pirate… more on all that later. My news ignorance living paid off some because I didn’t already know much about this story other than a cargo ship was hijacked… made for an intense viewing.
5. American Hustle
6. Lone Survivor – This was an amazing movie. I’ll echo what people have been saying that it’s the best military movie since Desert Storm. The title gives something away, but that doesn’t matter… the journey to the end is intense and emotional. Myself and at least 8 others were all crying throughout the movie. A MUST SEE!!!
7. The Kings of Summer
8. Saving Mr Banks – I have a special place in my movie-loving-heart for Mary Poppins. I could have done more with the making of and less of the flashbacks. Emma and Tom were both great, but Jason, BJ, and Bradley made it feel even more nostalgic with the tunes.
9. The Sapphires
10. Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
11. Out of the Furnace
12. Mud
    
13. Nebraska- Modern black and white movies always seem to feel pretentious (exception Schindler’s List, and Clerks (which was on black and white because that was all Kevin Smith could afford to shoot on)), but this was perfect. I loved Forte on SNL, but who knew he could also pull out a great dramatic role?! I think the nominations got mixed up on this one for acting… I would understand that some people wouldn’t like this, but I suggest giving it a chance. I think this is one of those films that will surprise you.
14. The World’s End
15. Star Trek Into Darkness
16. Short Term 12 – Great indie drama. I was worried this would be too much of a woe-is-me-hipster drama, but it wasn’t (thank goodness) and I really enjoyed it. The ending was perfect for a full circle conclusion.
17. Prisoners – Dark, gritty, depressing. This is exactly what you’d expect to see in a missing child movie. Surprised it didn’t get more attention… maybe should have been push to a little later in the year. I didn’t understand why Gyllenhaal had a turrets type twitch… anyone?
18. We’re The Millers
19. World War Z
20. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty – Visually wonderful and beautiful
    
    
    
    
    . Relatable on many levels, because who doesn’t day dream their day away sometimes. Surprised again that people didn’t love it in the long run. Loved the helicopter/”A Space Oddity” scene.
21. The Heat
22. Oblivion
23. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
24. Iron Man 3
25. Fruitvale Station – WOW!!! I guess my not watching the news got the best of me. Going into this, I knew it was based on a true story and the gist of it, but I don’t recall any specifics of the event (happened 2009 New Year’s Day). Right off the bat, prepare yourself… Jumps right into it, only to pull you back about 30 some hours. It was a great movie, but it was so slow to get to the climax you knew was coming. I figure the reason was they wanted to show a normal guy with normal problems… just do it faster. Moving ending to say the least.
26. Starbuck*
27. Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues
28. Thor: The Dark World
29. Enough Said
30. 42
31. In A World…
32. Her – Is this what the future will look like if hipsters take over?! This was a lot more interesting than entertaining… but still entertaining. Some of the scenes kind of through me for a loop, usually with the dialogue. After a while I did get tired of everything and just wanted it to end. Phoenix was perfect for his role. Johansson was nice because she has a distinct voice; however, I don’t agree with the “up-roar” on wanting her to get a nomination for this role (voice acting isn’t a nominatable role).  Amy Adams doesn’t do anything for me… Olivia Wilde could have been in the movie a bit more, ah thank you.  
33. The Wolverine
34. Stand Up Guys
35. The Wolf of Wall Street – Good. LOOOOONNNNNNNNGGGGG. I love me some epic style long movies… but a long Wall Street movie, no thanks. I don’t want 3 hours of my life back, only 1 hour. I didn’t need to see constant debauchery… after a while, it’s like “WE GET IT, MOVE ON!!!” Leo was Leo. I’m not a fan of his, not to say he’s a bad actor, I just don’t like him. Saying that, this was not his best role… maybe his most over-the-top, but not the best. Kind of sick of hearing people say he should win because of this and all the other roles he has done. You don’t get nominated for your career, but for that specific movie.  (example: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King won in 2004 over Mystic River. Mystic should have won, but many speculated people voted on LOTR based on the whole trilogy. I disagree on this thinking).
36. Identity Thief
37. Drinking Buddies
38. Man of Steel
39. Monsters University
40. Side Effects
41. Quartet
42. Disconnect
43. The Spectacular Now – Thought this was a good story, a bit predictable though. In the “podcast world”, many of the movie podcast had this as a dark horse for the Oscar season (nominations, not actually winning). I don’t see it though, like I said, good (not great). Everyone seems to be all over Shailene Woodley as the next big thing, but I don’t see it. Also, people seem to be liking Miles Teller, but I don’t see it. His acting is like he’s seen only Vince Vaughn movies and he’s just trying to mimic it in a college-age-fashion. The moral of this whole “review”… I just don’t see it. 
44. Gravity
45. The Internship
46. Oz Great and Powerful
47. This Is The End
48. Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs 2
49. Frozen
50. Much Ado About Nothing
51. Kick-Ass 2
52. Fast & Furious 6 – I HATE THIS FRANCHISE!!! But you can’t look away from the screen. It is equal mix of intensity and PURE RIDICULOUSNESS. So absurd, but they know it and embrace it. THIS IS NOT A GOOD MOVIE BUT YOU HAVE TO SEE IT… VIN DIESIL FLIES!!!!!!
53. Delivery Man
54. Byzantium
55. Elysium
56. Warm Bodies
57. 2 Guns
58. Machete Kills
59. Despicable Me 2
60. Pacific Rim
61. A Glimpse Inside The Mind of Charlie Swan III
62. Dead Man Down
63. The Host
64. G.I. Joe: Retaliation
65. Olympus Has Fallen
66. Epic
67. Beautiful Creatures
68. Girl Most Likely
69. Last Vegas
70. Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters
71. John Dies At The End
72. I Declare War – Imaginary war… that shows some of the imagination. Pretty fun, but the story line actually got a bit darker than I (or maybe anyone) expected.
73. Wrong
74. It’s A Disaster
75. Phantom
76. The Incredible Burt Wonderstone
77. Escape From Planet Earth
78. The Croods
79. Red 2
80. Mortal Instruments: City of Bones
81. Broken City
82. Escape Plan
83. Pain and Gain
84. Blue Jasmine – I’m going to apologize to Woody Allen fans. I just don’t really care for his movies. Cate was good, but not great. Actually got annoying.
85. R.I.P.D.
86. Now You See Me
87. Escape Plan
88. Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters
89. Trance
90. The Counselor
91. The Place Beyond The Pines
92. Frances Ha – Annoying. Woody Allen wannabe/rip-off.
93. Grown Ups 2
94. Old Boy
95. Jack The Giant Slayer
96. After Earth
97. White House Down
98. 47 Ronin – Very Disappointing. I didn’t have high hopes to begin with, and those were just shot to ribbons about 10 minutes in. 
99. The Last Stand
100. Bullet to the Head
101. Parker
102. The Lone Ranger
103. Only God Forgives
104. Gangsters Squad
105. A Good Day To Die Hard

I Still Have Yet To See These... (some I will not see for a while).

• Act of Killing
• BlackFish
• Ender’s Game
• Inside Llewyn Davis
• Jobs
• Lee Daniels’ The Butler
• Philomena
• Rush
• Spring Breakers
• The Book Thief
• The Great Gatsby

The Best to Worst 2013 Releases

So this year I have seen some movies... a lot of movies more like it. Here is my list of my top movies released in 2013 (as listed on Boxofficemojo.com). When I put a list like this together, it isn't just my favorites and it isn't how I rank them as a 'film'... it's a bit of a combination, and I have no idea what the percentages are... Well, here you go. (Also, at the end is a list of what I haven't seen yet, so don't get mad if you don't see a certain movie or two in the ranks). I would say around #55'ish is where the movies start to trend noticeably downward.

1. 12 Years A Slave
2. Dallas Buyers Club
3. The Way, Way Back
4. American Hustle
5. The Kings of Summer
6. The Sapphires
7. Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
8. Out of the Furnace
9. Mud
10. The World’s End
11. Star Trek Into Darkness
12. We’re The Millers
13. World War Z
14. The Heat
15. Oblivion
16. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
17. Iron Man 3
18. Starbuck*
19. Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues
20. Thor: The Dark World
21. Enough Said
22. 42
23. In A World…
24. The Wolverine
25. Stand Up Guys
26. Identity Thief
27. Drinking Buddies
28. Man of Steel
29. Monsters University
30. Side Effects
31. Quartet
32. Disconnect
33. Gravity
34. The Internship
35. Oz Great and Powerful
36. This Is The End
37. Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs 2
38. Frozen
39. Much Ado About Nothing
40. Kick-Ass 2
41. Delivery Man
42. Byzantium
43. Elysium
44. Warm Bodies
45. 2 Guns
46. Machete Kills
47. Despicable Me 2
48. Pacific Rim
49. A Glimpse Inside The Mind of Charlie Swan III
50. Dead Man Down
51. The Host
52. G.I. Joe: Retaliation
53. Olympus Has Fallen
54. Epic
55. Beautiful Creatures
56. Girl Most Likely
57. Last Vegas
58. Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters
59. John Dies At The End
60. Wrong
61. It’s A Disaster
62. Phantom
63. The Incredible Burt Wonderstone
64. Escape From Planet Earth
65. The Croods
66. Red 2
67. Mortal Instruments: City of Bones
68. Broken City
69. Escape Plan
70. Pain and Gain
71. R.I.P.D.
72. Now You See Me
73. Escape Plan
74. Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters
75. Trance
76. The Counselor
77. The Place Beyond The Pines
78. Grown Ups 2
79. Old Boy
80. Jack The Giant Slayer
81. After Earth
82. White House Down
83. The Last Stand
84. Bullet To The Head
85. Parker
86. The Lone Ranger
87. Only God Forgives
88. Gangsters Squad
89. A Good Day To Die Hard

Here is what I haven't seen (so far) from 2013. Some will be seen in the next two weeks, others I will have to wait til I have time to rent them, or re-released before the Oscars. I'm also not saying these are all going to be contenders, in fact, I lothe to see some of these... but these are the noticeable movies I missed.

• 47 Ronin
• Act of Killing
• BlackFish
• Blue Jasmine
• Captain Phillips
• Ender’s Game
• Fast & Furious 6
• Frances Ha
• Fruitvale Station
• Her
• I Declare War
• Inside Llewyn Davis
• Jobs
• Lee Daniels’ The Butler
• Nebraska
• Philomena
• Prisoners
• Rush
• Saving Mr Banks
• Short Term 12
• Spring Breakers
• The Book Thief
• The Great Gatsby
• The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
• The Spectacular Now