Directed by: James Mangold
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Reese Witherspoon, Robert Patrick
Awards: Oscar for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role (2006). Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture-Musical or Comedy, Best Performance by an Actor, Best Performance by an Actress (2006). Grammy for Best Compilation Soundtrack Album (2007).
When I was a teenager and started to [...]
Walk the Line (2005)
Dreams (1990)
Directed by Akira Kurosawa
Starring Akira Terao, Martin Scorsese
Based on the dreams of the accomplished director, Dreams is a stylishly visual film that explores the possibilities of the medium. Haunting and original, Dreams is unlike any of Kurosawa’s previous films but in its essence an art piece.
The film is divided into several vignettes, punctuated by [...]
Braindead/Dead Alive (1992)
Directed by Peter Jackson
Starring Timothy Balme, Diana Peñalver, Elizabeth Moody, Ian Watkin
Still one of my favorite horror films and one of Peter Jackson’s best films, even though low-budget and tongue-in-cheek, Braindead to this day holds the record for the most fake blood ever used in a film (300 liters). Full of gore and [...]
Heathers (1989)
Directed by: Michael Lehmann
Starring: Winona Ryder, Christian Slater, Shannen Doherty, Lisanne Falk, Kim Walker
Awards: Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature (1990) and nominated Grand Jury Prize at Sundance (1989)
The 80’s were a magical time. Big hair, synsthesized music, and let’s not forget shoulder pads. A lot of bad movies also came out of the [...]
Bad Boy Bubby (1993)
Directed by Rolf de Heer
Starring Nicholas Hope
Ok back to the Austrailian theme, gotta warn ya, this is weird one. Rolf de Heer spins a crazy yarn about a schizophrenic shut-in shot by multiple camera operators to convey the disparity in the main character’s perspective. At times it is hilarious, at others, disturbing and poignant, [...]
The Lookout (2007)
Directed by Scott Frank
Starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Jeff Daniels
It’s not an Austrailian film, but I’ll get back to that theme tomorrow. Had to post about this beautiful little film noir I just watched called The Lookout, Scott Frank’s directorial debut, graduating from accomplished script doctor. Starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, fresh off another little indie film noir called [...]
Walkabout (1971)
Directed by Nicolas Roeg
Starring Jenny Agutter, Luc Roeg
Well it looks like it’s going to be Down Under week on My Queue as the slate of films I have planned all come from Austrailia or New Zealand. We’ll start out with one of my favorites, brought to my attention again because it’s scheduled for a [...]
Happiness (1998)
Directed by Todd Solondz
Starring Jane Adams, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Jon Lovitz, Dylan Baker, Lara Flynn Boyle, Justin Elvin, Cynthia Stevenson, Lila Glantzman-Leib, Gerry Becker, Rufus Read, Louise Lasser, Ben Gazzara, Camryn Manheim, Arthur J. Nascarella, Molly Shannon, Ann Harada, Douglas McGrath
This movie might as well be called, “Fucked Up,” cause that’s exactly what it [...]
Delicatessen (1991)
Directed by: Marc Caro and Jean-Pierre Jeunet
Starring: Dominique Pinon, Marie-Laure Dougnac, Jean-Claude Dreyfus, Karin Viard
Awards: Won European Film Award for Best Production Designer (1991) and Cesar for Best Editing, Best First Work, Best Production Design, and Best Writing (1992)
In a post-apocalyptic 1950’s France, food has become so scarce that people have resorted to dire means. [...]
Fargo (1996)
Directed by: Joel and Ethan Coen
Starring: William H. Macy, Frances McDormand, Steve Buscemi, Peter Stormare
Awards: Oscar for Best Actress and Best Writing, Saturn for Best Action/Adventure/Thriller, David Lean Award for Direction, Critics Choice Award for Best Actress and Best Picture, and Best Director Award at Cannes Film Festival, to name a few (1997).
Fargo almost feels [...]
