1SO vs. the 00s: Best of the Decade Marathon

[1SO]

Hello, Operator?

I think Todd Haynes hijacked my marathon.

*by the way, Moore is better in Haynes' Safe.

[oneaprilday]

Nice write-up on DPT, ISO! It's a film I like a lot, and it was my introduction to Ejiofor, who is, indeed, fantastic in it.

[1SO]

Best of the Decade Marathon Update

112. X2: X-Men United - I remember people being rabid about the high quality of this sequel, and I do like it a lot.  It does an excellent job setting up the epic scale of the X-Men universe.  However, I prefer the lean pacing of the original which had a much more consistent balance of action and story.  This one has more dry stretches with necessary breaks for fight scenes Bryan Singer doesn't seem very interested in.  (Unfortunately, the best part of this film is the opening.)  Mind reading in movies is rarely exciting, and this film proves it.  Other than that though, it's a great film.



111. Versus

I'm a big fan of genre, and this is a stylish clever tale of Gangsters vs. Zombies.  It launched the career of Ryűhei Kitamura, who has Sam Raimi's sense of flashy camera style and fun.  The sound design really helps make this film a high-octane kick and all of the action is super duper cool.  (The dialogue scenes... eh, not so much).  Like the Evil Dead trilogy, this is a film made on an obviously low budget and with very low aims.  But there's tremendous skill behind the lens.  Versus is a great guilty pleasure.




110. Zoolander

I was really expecting to not like this film so much, having not seen it since 2001 when it was in theaters.  I was wrong.  I think it may be Ben Stiller's best film as a director.  Few movies succeed at being both completely stupid yet utter genius at the same time.  The walk off is one of my favorite scenes of the year (at least until the underwear finale, which is just stupid.)  Stiller, the director, is exceptional at setting up his gags and paying them off later in sometimes unexpected ways. The jokes come fast and frequently, and here's a film where the endless supply of celebrity cameos works within the story as well as being funny on their own.  Also, this might be my favorite Will Ferrell.  Don't know if that's because he's supporting or because the character doesn't fit neatly into one of Ferrell's stock types.


So the list stands at...

109. Dirty Pretty Things [climbing above today's 3]
110. Zoolander
111. Versus
112. X2: X-Men United

Next up for a watch, 2004's Touching The Void

[ferris]

Best of the Decade Marathon Update

Next up for a watch, 2004's Touching The Void

Goodie! 

[Clovis8]

Best of the Decade Marathon Update

Next up for a watch, 2004's Touching The Void

Goodie! 

cant wait to hear your opinion. it's in my top 100.

[smirnoff]

Wow, I'm in agreement with you on every film so far. Though you probably liked Versus just a little bit more than me. And Touching the Void is up next! Exciting!

[1SO]

Best of the Decade Marathon Update


Touching The Void

Another film I haven't watched since its theatrical release.  Let me stress that just because a film doesn't make my Top 100 doesn't mean it's not a really good film.  I definitely recommend Touching The Void.  Filmed with what must have been considerable difficulty, it's a gripping and exciting true adventure of a mountain climbing expedition that nearly turned fatal.  Director Kevin MacDonald - who went on to helm The Last King of Scotland - filmed the mountain climbers telling their tale (along with a 3rd person who waited below for their return).  He then intercuts this with a very cinematic recreation of events.  Great approach, this is probably the most involved I've been in an activity I care little about.  Perhaps that's why this won't be making my Top 100, it's just not a subject I have great interest in, even though the human interest factor couldn't be higher.  Some decisions are made that just made my heart sink into my stomach.  I hope I'm never put to such a test.



INTERSTELLA 5555

One of the great undiscovered gems of the 00s.  I understand why this film played in Cannes in '03 and why it never got a proper theatrical release.  A feature length Japanese Anime adaptation of Daft Punk's Discovery is going to appeal to a very limited audience.  Unfortunately, this banquet for the eyes and ears was meant to be experienced on the biggest, loudest possible screen.  Even on a television, the effect is damn near hypnotic.

The film follows the track sequence of Discovery faithfully, telling the story of the abduction and rescue of an interstellar pop band.  There's no dialogue and minimal sound effects.  This is not simply a lengthy music video, but a great sci-fi adventure that's also a satire on the way pop stars are processed for mass consumption. There's also a nice little love story in the mix.  I don't think Discovery is a perfect CD, and the couple of weak tracks make for lesser film sequences, (including the lengthy finale) but overall this is bold, spirited and bracingly original.  I can guarantee this will make my Top 100.

So the list stands at...

107. Interstella 5555 [but this will climb much higher]
108. Dirty Pretty Things
109. Zoolander
110. Versus
111. X2: X-Men United

Next on my list are a bunch of films I own, so I hope to view them in quick succession.  Alphabetically, they are...
Blade II
Drumline
The 40-Year-Old Virgin
O Brother, Where Art Thou
School of Rock
Whale Rider

After that, I finally break into my Top 100 with a fresh look at J.S.A.: Joint Security Area the directorial debut of Park Chan-Wook.

[1SO]

Best of the Decade Marathon Update

I am having such a great time with this marathon.  How wonderful to relive the experience of watching so many wonderful movies.  Right now, it's hard to imagine there are much greater films to come.


O Brother, Where Art Thou?

The most likable film the Coen's have made so far.  I feel there's very little I need to say in praise of this film.  The deliberately episodic storytelling leads to a fair amount of self-indulgence (hence the low ranking), and it quickly loses steam before the rousing finale ties everything up nicely.  Lots of quotable lines, and as expected, impeccable technical qualities.  This is my favorite Coen recreation of a time and place.


Whale Rider

So glad I watched this again.  Just a beautiful, beautifully told story.  I couldn't help but think of Werckmeister Harmonies, which I recently watched.  Both films involve a large whale and both contain a hell of an emotional punch in the final half hour.  But Whale Rider is as simple with it's poetic fable as Harmonies is complex with poetic allegory.  And I much prefer the simple story.  I was caught up in the magical mysticism of this film, and loved spending time in this world.  (I admire the Coen's ability to recreate a time and place, but this film steeped me in the culture.)  I do think the pace could have been tighter without losing that organic quality, and a couple of magical moments are clearly telegraphed in advance.  But I'm picking nits.


My Current List...

105. Whale Rider
106. Interstella 5555
107. Dirty Pretty Things
108. O Brother, Where Art Thou?
109. Zoolander
110. Versus
111. X2: X-Men United

Still to come...
Blade II
Drumline
The 40-Year-Old Virgin
School of Rock

After that, I finally break into my Top 100 with a fresh look at J.S.A.: Joint Security Area the directorial debut of Park Chan-Wook.

[smirnoff]

I have found memories of Blade 2. Quite exciting and gory from what I recall. Drumline I am completely unfamiliar with. The other two are solid comedies with actors seemingly tailor made for the roles. Have fun

[ferris]

I like both of your reviews.  I haven't seen Whale Rider since it first came out. I really should revisit it. 

[smirnoff]

Seems like somethings kids could enjoy too eh?

[1SO]

Seems like somethings kids could enjoy too eh?

I thought about that.  I remember some people pushing Whale Rider as a kids film, much like Babe.  It's what made me think of Where The Wild Things Are.  I actually think kids would enjoy more from the zany antics of O Brother.  Whale Rider has a pre-teen strong female role model in the center, but I think the pace will be boring to kids.  And unlike WTWTA, this is not a story that has any parallels to being a kid.  It's a fable.  A thoughtful teenager could enjoy it, but I think it takes grown up who has a grasp of both generations presented to fully enjoy it.

[smirnoff]

All good points.

[1SO]

Best of the Decade Marathon Update

Once again, I picked two films that make for an excellent Double Feature.  Both feature two leads who've been annoying in numerous other films, but are incredibly likable here.  Both films are far better than they have any right to be.


School of Rock
School of Rock is still Jack Black's best role.  He's the only person who could've made the film work, and the material is much stronger than what he's usually given to work with.  Richard Linklater's a talented director, but I would never have guessed he had such strong comedic instincts, or that he works so well with children.  This should have gone wrong about a dozen different ways - and with Linklater's Bad News Bears remake, it did - but almost everything works.  One thing that doesn't is the set-up.  I forgot, the film is merely passable until he takes over the class.  And the subplot with Sarah Silverman is underwritten and overacted.  So while I had a real pleasant experience, this isn't Top 100 material.


Drumline
Drumline is a thinly veiled Top Gun remake.  But the new setting - a college band where the drummers are king - brings a very fresh and original angle to the material.  The direction is spirited, highly creative and there's even a wonderful tension throughout.  The editing so crisp, it deserved an Oscar nomination.  Nick Cannon displays Will Smith levels of star-powered charisma.  (It's amazing that he's been hugely annoying in every film since.)  I also liked the film's theme of musical education vs. entertainment.  And the drumming scenes are as exciting as you will ever see.  (Like the puppetry in Being John Malkovich, I was amazed by how much you could do with the art.)  All of that being said, this is still little more than a well-done version of an age old story.  And while most of the scenes carry more emotional weight than you might expect, there's a few moments where the film could be even stronger.  I'm going to put this at the bottom of my list, just in case too many films fall away.


My Current List...

103. Whale Rider
104. Interstella 5555
105. Dirty Pretty Things
106. O Brother, Where Art Thou?
107. Zoolander
108. Versus
109. X2: X-Men United
110. Drumline

Still to come...
Blade II
The 40-Year-Old Virgin
J.S.A.: Joint Security Area

[Sam the Cinema Snob]

I need to see School of Rock. I saw like the first 20 minutes and it was awesome.

Also, I think you need to add School of Rock to your list 1SO.

[Clovis8]

I need to see School of Rock. I saw like the first 20 minutes and it was awesome.

Also, I think you need to add School of Rock to your list 1SO.

It's really fun.

[1SO]

I'm hoping I don't lose too many films from my Top 100, especially since I only have 10 spares now.  I know a lot of upcoming choices are from their moments in time (like Chicago) and could easily tumble out.

But I might discover a few new films along the way as well.  Still don't know how I feel about Werckmeister Harmonies, which I just saw for the 1st time. And apparently, I might have to give 25th Hour another chance.

[Sam the Cinema Snob]

O yea, Blade II is cool, but hardly best of the decade material. Put in The Devil's Backbone instead.

[1SO]

O yea, Blade II is cool, but hardly best of the decade material. Put in The Devil's Backbone instead.

I'll be watching that one this week too... as part of another project. 

[Sam the Cinema Snob]

O yea, Blade II is cool, but hardly best of the decade material. Put in The Devil's Backbone instead.

I'll be watching that one this week too... as part of another project. 

Cool.