#48: Million Dollar Arm (2014)

Full disclosure: I'm a huge Mad Men fan. The main reason why I was interested in seeing this movie was because of Jon Hamm. I think Jon is a great actor that deserves a shot at movie stardom. Not sure this film is going to do that for him, but it's a step in the right direction. It's a sweet film about a sports agent that desperately needs to sign a major athlete in order to keep his business. After talking to his colleague, he comes up with the idea of creating a reality show-like competition in India to recruit two cricket players to play baseball in the US. It's funny, touching, and very sweet. I love the two actors that play the Indian athletes. The story is perfectly balanced. It's Disney so of course there's a happy ending, but I like how it gets there.

#47: 20 Feet from Stardom (2013)

God I love this documentary. It amazes me sometimes how many stories there are out there that have yet to be told, really interesting stories. This is one (really several). The untold true story of the backup singers that are behind some of the greatest hooks in popular music. These mostly black women should be stars on their own. They most certainly have the talent. But as they explain in this beautiful film, sometimes talent is not enough. There are many variables that factor into becoming a successful singer. I have no idea why people like Merry Clayton and Darlene Love are not famous. It's a travesty really. I'm happy that they were given their props in this film though.

#46: The Birth of a Nation (1915)

I mostly watched this for it's historic technical contributions to the art of filmmaking. Unfortunately the story it tells makes the time spent watching it worthless. It depicts the Northerners (viewed as carpetbaggers) as buffoons, the KKK as valiant heroes, and blacks... ay yi yi... where to begin. Black people are given every stereotype you can imagine. There is a scene depicting former slaves turned state representatives in the state capital at their benches laid back barefoot, eating fried chicken, and drinking alcohol. That was probably the most kind depiction. There is another scene where a random black man (really a white man in blackface) stalks, attempts to rape, and ultimately kills a young white girl in the woods. The film acts as though the institution of slavery was the only thing keeping black folks from acting like crazed animals. It's beyond racist and insulting. Not to mention that it's crazy long for a silent film. There's a title card that pops up right before the story dives into the mud that tries to explain away the horrendous nature of the rest of film. The version I saw also contains an interview (with sound!) of someone whom I assume is D.W. Griffith talking about how the movie does not reflect his opinions or the opinions of all white people. Clearly that mess was added some time after its initial release when people protested. Whatever.

#45: The African Queen (1951)

The title of this film often confused me. A movie with the title The African Queen starring Katherine Hepburn? Now I get it. The queen was the boat. OK. Bogey's always great, and I love seeing him play a dirty, unkempt regular schmo as opposed to a slick wiseguy. Katherine is a little to affected for my tastes but she does a good job overall. I'm not sure what was up with filmmakers in the 1950s making films that took place in Africa but centered around white people. This movie is about two British expats fighting the Germans for Mother England... in Africa. Why Africa?

#44: Blazing Saddles (1974)

I was first introduced to Mel Brooks as a kid watching Spaceballs. I could watch Robin Hood: Men In Tights a hundred times, and it would never get old. I love his humor, even if it is a bit too silly at times. I had seen Blazing Saddles in pieces many times on cable, but this was my first time watching it from beginning to end. It's classic Mel Brooks storytelling - heavy on the jokes, light on the plot. I'm sure all of the racial stuff was groundbreaking at the time. It's definitely a classic, more ambitious and controversial than his later stuff, but not all of the humor ages as well.

#43: Drinking Buddies (2013)

This movie makes me think of a millennial hipster version of Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice. One of those stories where couples try to resolve their issues by trading partners. It's interesting, kinda. It's more of a character study than a story.

#42: Frozen (2013)

The downside of being childless is that you don't get to see as many animated films in the theatre, at least I don't. This is one that I had been meaning to see for awhile. I finally got my chance when I went over to a friend's apartment to visit her three year old little girl. Unfortunately, my friend's daughter wasn't as into the film as I was (she wandered off somewhere around the 20 minute mark). It's very Disney. Very cute. I enjoyed it thoroughly. I loved the twist at the end.

#41: Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)

I didn't grow up reading comic books. I know most of the characters through osmosis - friends and relatives who were comic geeks. So I'm usually not all that excited about these movies. I do love good stories though, and I'm very happy that Marvel Studios is finally into story. Winter Soldier has a great story with great characters. It's called Captain America, but he's only one piece of the puzzle. Chris Evans has a mighty supporting cast in Scarlett Johansson, Samuel L. Jackson, Anthony Mackie, and Robert Redford. Everyone pulls their weight.

Pro Tip: Stay until the very end. There are two teasers for future films - one in the middle of the credits and one at the very end.

#40: Sabotage (2014)

This is a fun flick. It's crazy and absolutely ridiculous at times, but I really liked it. With one big exception, the cast was great. I knew Arnold wasn't a great actor, but I never realized how not great he was. It's all in comparison. When he's amongst top talent like the actors in this movie, he looks really out of place. Thankfully, even though he's the lead, it's really an ensemble piece. Never a boring moment.

#39: Mitt (2014)

I never thought Mitt Romney was a bad guy. There was a point in the 2012 campaign when he became the Republican nominee where I was relieved. The idea of any of those other yahoos possibly running the country scared the crap out of me. So I never thought he was bad. I just didn't think he would make the best President. This movie didn't change my mind.

#38: Draft Day (2014)

I can't remember the last time I was so bored at the movies. I saw this on a evening that was super windy and there was a point when the power actually went out in the theatre. Part of me didn't want it to come back on. I was ready to leave. I'm sure there is an interesting story to tell about NFL Draft Day, but this is not it. If watching Kevin Costner as a football general manager fielding phone calls for two hours in between yelling at his coach and exchanging knowing stares with his girlfriend sounds interesting to you, this is your movie. It's not mine.

#37: Bad Words (2014)

I love Jason Bateman. I actually had a crush on him way back when he played Eric on Silver Spoons. He's one of those actors that can make you love him even when he's playing a complete ass. Thank God for that! Otherwise this movie might have been unbearable. The story is OK. It's one of those movies where you're supposed to be trying to figure out why the protagonist is doing what they're doing. There's a bit of a mystery. Except, at a certain point, you kind of stop caring. Guy Trilby might as well be acting like a jerk and robbing little kids of their dreams of Spelling Bee victory just 'cause for all we care by the end. There are definitely a lot of laugh out loud moments in the film, but the racist jokes just rubbed me the wrong way. Call me overly sensitive, whatever. I don't like listening to a grown white man continuously rib a little Indian boy with jokes about him smelling like curry, etc. Eck!

#36: The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)

Some filmmakers just get it right every time and Wes Anderson is most certainly one of them. This movie is delightful. That's the most appropriate description I can think of. Ralph Fiennes and Tony Revolori lead us on a wild adventure. It's worth every penny spent at the box office.

#35: Dog Days (2013)

This is a great documentary about the underworld of street vending in DC. Not only was this film entertaining but very educational. I love it when I get to learn new stuff about my city. National politics is usually the focus of the news around Washington, DC. It's interesting to learn some of the local politics of the District, particularly in the food industry. It's also interesting to see the lives of recent immigrants and how the system can take advantage of them.

#34: Nothing But A Man (1964)

The last film in my black history month series, Nothing But A Man is a perfect ending at that. This is a very brave film, especially considering the year in which it was made. The films director, Michael Roemer, was a documentarian at the time who was supposedly determined to make a serious film about African-Americans. This is a movie about a black man's struggles with life as a laborer in the segregated South and love of a preacher's daughter in an upper class. I was surprised at how many of the issues in the film - his issues with his father, his issues as the father of a son he conceived with a woman out of wedlock, his issues with marrying a woman with a higher education and more means - resonate today. This is definitely an important film.

#33: Election (1999)

I absolutely love Alexander Payne's films, and this movie is right in his wheelhouse. It's about regular people at a Midwestern small town high school. The people are odd but interesting, disturbing but fun. All of the characters feel like people I know in real life. The story itself is creepily hilarious. The relationship between teachers and students is often a little weird. Tracy Flick is the kind of character you'll swear you knew in high school. I probably knew her troubled government teacher, Mr. McAllister, too. I just didn't know that I knew him. The movie is a satire about an election for student government with Tracy running for president. It's not a teen movie though. We see Tracy mostly through the eyes of Mr. McAllister, who has had more than enough of her manipulative ways and recruits the proverbial popular dimwit jock to run against her in an attempt to stop her from winning. What is Tracy Flick's platform? That she should win simply because she's the school's self-appointed winner. When the jock's anarchist lesbian sister jumps into the race in order to piss off the girl who rejected her (her brother's campaign manager), we're really off to the races. Ultimately, this is a parable about elections in general - in which the voters have to choose from among the kinds of people who have been running for office ever since high school.

#32: Charlie Chan in Shanghai (1935)

Charlie Chan is basically a cross between Shirlock Holmes, Jessica Fletcher, and Confucius. People die whenever he comes to town, he has to solve the mystery, and for some reason (which I'm sure has nothing to do with his race/ethnicity, yeah right), he constantly speaks in aphorisms. Even though I find Chan to be more of an annoying caricature than a true-to-life character, there is something about the story itself that is very entertaining. I love the Agatha Christie-like whodunit mystery it imbues. Some parts of the story are illogical, but for the most part, it captured my attention from the first scene and kept it until the end. And of course, it was easy to watch at a mere 71 minutes. I know there's a saying that a good movie is never too long. I'm not sure I completely agree with that. Sometimes the length effects the quality.

#31: 48 Hrs. (1982)

My favorite Eddie Murphy film is still Beverly Hills Cop with Trading Places and Coming to America tied in second place. This movie, of course, is where it all started for Eddie's Hollywood career. I've been told the scene when he walks into the country and western themed bar and says, "There's a new sheriff in town," became an event in black cinema history because it marked the first time a black character was allowed to do that in a mainstream film. That whole scene was kind of ridiculous to me. I guess early '80s San Francisco is very different from modern day San Francisco because I can't imagine a bar like that anywhere in that city today. I feel for those dudes now. That's probably the worst place to live in the US if you're a redneck. I'm sure they've since moved and settled someplace else. The movie is classic buddy cop stuff - the rogue police detective that hates everyone being forced to work with a smartass convict in order to solve the case. It's very cliche. James Remar is interesting as the bad guy. I mostly know him as Samantha's asshole billionaire boyfriend on Sex and the City. It's a decent movie. Nothing to write home about, but it's the movie that made Eddie Murphy famous. That makes it special to me.

#30: Dead Presidents (1995)

This movie was a serious disappointment. The Hughes Brothers always get me like that. Their movies are never quite as cool as the concepts from which they were created. This feels like a mashup of a lot of different movies: 1) coming of age story; 2) gangster story; 3) fighting a war story; 4) the big heist gone wrong story. Which is it?!! You can pick one, maybe two. But four!!!! Plus, a lot of things these characters did just didn't make sense. I love Chris Tucker as a comic actor, but his dramatic acting is a little weak, especially in a movie where he's cracking jokes and acting a fool in earlier scenes and then later becomes a troubled heroine addict. And why would a Vietnam vet born again Christian preacher ever agree to participate in a bank robbery? Just ludicrous.

#29: Foxy Brown (1974)

Watching this film was mostly a reminder to me of how far we've come as a people (women and minorities), and also how far we still need to go. Supposedly this film depicts a strong woman avenging the wrongful death of her man. However, I see it as mostly exploitation.

My first Pam Grier film was her performance in Quentin Tarantino's 1997 film Jackie Brown. Thank goodness for that because I definitely would've thought of her as a terrible actress if I saw this movie first. I guess you can only do so much with the material you're given. Pam Grier isn't given anything but a stereotype in Foxy Brown.

I know there is a lot of contention about whether or not the term "blaxploitation" is appropriate to describe the action films of the '70s that were made by and starred black people. From what I've seen thus far, I think it's fair. Perhaps there were some that bucked the trend (still haven't seen Gordon Parks' Shaft which has a long wait on Netflix), but most of these films are filled with horrible caricatures that put down more than they uplift the black experience in America. 

Even before Civil Rights in the most downtrodden communities in Black America, we were more than just pimps, drug dealers, and hustlers. Those people exist, yes, but they're not the norm and that's not the typical life of a black person in the US. And if those are the people you choose to focus on, don't make them all into fools. Granted, Jackie Brown was a drug mule for an evil ass man, but she was at least intelligent. She was a fully developed character, and you understood from the beginning that she was doing it as a means of survival. She wasn't going around screwing everybody. If you're going to make a film about that kind of person, at least give them that.

#28: The New Black (2013)

This documentary made me cry. It masterfully depicts the intersection between the black community, the black church, and LGBT rights in America. The story focuses on the historical fight to win marriage equality in the state of Maryland in 2012 after California passed Proposition 8 in 2008 and the impact that black voters had on both of those votes. Being a resident of Washington, DC during the 2012 election, I am very familiar with Question 6 having seen ads on local t.v. stations for both sides of the issue as Prince George's County, just outside of DC, was a major battleground. It's always remarkable to me that, with all black folks have gone through in this country, many of us fail to recognize that universal truth that we as a human race are all interdependent. To take away rights from one man, is to take away freedom from us all. As Dr. Martin Luther King said, "I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be." Amen.

#27: The Notebook (2004)

I'll admit it. I'm a sucker for these kinds of films. I watched this one the morning after Valentine's Day while on vacation. Yes, it's sappy and sentimental as all get out. Yes, there are a lot of cliches and the ending is a little too convenient. It's still a beautiful love story. The film effectively recreates the world of 1940s America. Rachel McAdams, James Garner, and Gena Rowlands totally own their roles. Ryan Gosling is hot as ever. This is definitely one of the most romantic films I've ever seen. Cheesy? Maybe, but I loved it.

#26: Clockers (1995)

Like all Spike Lee films, this movie has style. It's like a Shakespearean version of a street tale. It's a solid film. The actors are great. The story is compelling. It's beautifully shot. I feel like the cinematic way in which this story is told may overshadow the narrative. Definitely one of Spike Lee's best though.

#25: Super Fly (1972)

OMG! This is a movie that I thought I wouldn't be able to appreciate but I totally dig it, baby. Sometimes you have to appreciate things simply for what they are. Ron O'Neal as Priest is the black man's John Wayne. Yes, he's a hustler and a drug dealer, but in his world, that's what you have to do to survive. He's trying to do better though. One last big deal and he's out of the drug game. I mean, who can hate on a movie with lines like...

"You're going to give all of this up - 8 track stereo and a color TV in every room? That's the American dream, nigga!"

Stupendous! I get why this movie was a hit. This movie came out at the beginning of the '70s which was just as the Civil Rights Movement was winding down in America. Black people had gone through a lot and needed a movie where the man got what was coming to him. Priest's story is cathartic. And the soundtrack? Wow! Curtis Mayfield is amazing. His music tells a story all unto itself.

That last line of dialogue... "Can you dig it?" Yeah, man. I can dig it.

#24: This is 40 (2012)

I don't really like serious Judd Apatow. Just Plain Funny Judd Apatow (40 Year Old Virgin, Knocked Up) is fantastic. Serious Judd Apatow (Funny People, this movie) is just sad and way too self-obsessed. This movie reminded me of that '80s t.v. show thirtysomething, which makes me feel old that I even remember that. It's just middle-aged people upset that they're middle-aged. I feel like I'm watching Judd Apatow's mid-life crisis dramatized, and it's not particularly interesting.

#23: To Sir, With Love (1967)

This is my second Sidney Poitier film. My first was Guess Who's Coming to Dinner? Both are just okay. I'll reserve judgement until I see my third. I love the mod 'dos and duds though.

#22: Soul Plane (2004)

I really have nothing to say about this movie. I simply watched it because it was written and directed by black people and stars black people (click here for an explanation) and it was available via Netflix instant streaming. However, this is one of those movies that I knew when I first saw the trailer in the theatre that it wasn't for me, and I was correct.

'Nough said.

#21: Argo (2012)

I've been a fan of Ben Affleck The Actor since my college roommate introduced me to the movie Chasing Amy on VHS (yes, I'm old) our sophomore year. I've been a fan of Ben Affleck The Writer since seeing Good Will Hunting with one of my friends during the winter break of my freshman year of college. I remember renting Gone Baby Gone and having very low expectations. This was after the whole Bennifer mess and my fandom had waned. All I knew of Casey Affleck was that he was Ben's brother and I had seen him in small roles in movies like To Die For. I was blown away. I was shocked that I was blown away, and with each subsequent film, Ben has impressed me more and more as a director. In fact, I'm not sure I care so much about Ben Affleck The Actor or Ben Affleck The Writer anymore.  Ben Affleck The Director is way more talented than those other two. I actually think he's one of the most talented directors out there right now. He's possibly the best director of his generation.

I love Argo. I've seen this movie at least three times, and it's amazing. What Ben Affleck manages to do with this film - to keep the audience on the edge of their seats when they know what's going to happen in the end - is incredible. I love that the CIA, for once, isn't the bad guy. Sometimes the US government does shitty stuff but they do a lot of good too. It's nice to be reminded of that occasionally. This is not propaganda though. It's about a very specific event in history and how that story unfolded. It's about the heroes that are never seen or publicized, the real people behind the big curtain. As an aspiring writer, it's a lesson in good storytelling.

#20: About Last Night (2014)

This movie is what a romantic comedy should be as far as I'm concerned. It's hilarious. It's frank. It's real. It has three dimensional characters with rich, complex personalities. No one is perfect. No one is pining after someone else. This is not a cute story about a boy meeting a girl. This is a story about how relationships happen in real life. Everything happens for a reason.

The cast is mostly black but this is not a "black" story. It's a universal story that was originally dramatized with a white cast. In fact, screenwriter Leslye Headland wrote an awesome piece in The Hollywood Reporter about adapting the original play and first film into a screenplay for this movie that is a MUST read.

"There was no discussion of changing the characters’ lifestyles or any of the storyline as a result of casting black actors. I had written a script. The studio had decided to go with the strongest cast for that particular script. That cast happened to have black actors, " she writes.

I love it! I love that the movie performed strongly at the box office too. Hopefully Hollywood studios will do what they always do (follow the money) and there will be more films like this to come. Well done!

#19: The Monuments Men (2014)

This is another disappointment from a director that's normally on his game. I loved George Clooney's directorial debut Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, and I've heard his Good Night, and Good Luck is the standard for biographical films on early broadcast journalism (haven't seen it but adding it to the queue). He's also an amazing actor. The Monuments Men isn't a bad film. It's just not a particularly good one. The cast is great. George knows how to get great performances out of top-notch talent. However, the tone of the movie is off. I'm not sure if this film is a comedy or a drama. I guess it's a little of both, but the combination in this case is awkward. It's like... joke, joke, someone dies... joke, joke, Holocaust. It's just strange. Also, there are far too many coincidences. I think the general rule is one coincidence, maybe two, but after that you've lost the audience's confidence. It's war time, and we're canvasing at least four different countries. How are they happening upon the same guy in Germany that stole the statue of the Madonna in Bruges and happen to have dinner in the house of the dude that stole the art from Paris? Not to mention that they not only discover a mass of artwork but the Nazis entire gold stash? Ridiculous. I actually think what really makes this movie just so-so is that this is yet another WWII story, and I think at this point every story that needs to be told from that period has been told. Hitler sucked, yes. Let's move on. Never forget but move on. The events that happen in this story are a nice anecdote, maybe an interesting read, but not really worthy of a movie.

#18: The Jazz Singer (1927)

I have to admit I was a little surprised by this film. This movie is famous for being the catalyst to the talkie revolution - the first feature film to ever use synchronized dialogue. I guess that depends on what your definition of dialogue is. I only observed synchronized singing with a tiny bit of dialogue in a couple scenes before or after Al Jolson sang. The rest of the film is title cards and orchestral music. The story was slightly interesting - a young Jewish cantor runs away to become a jazz singer. Okay? Supposedly it's autobiographical, based on Al Jolson's real-life experience as a performer singing in blackface. Oh, yeah. There's that. I'm going to give Jolson the benefit of the doubt. This movie was filmed in the mid-1920s. This is pre-civil rights America. The practice of blackface performance gained popularity during the 19th century and contributed to the proliferation of stereotypes such as the "happy-go-lucky darky on the plantation" or the "dandified coon". It's definitely offensive by today's standards, but this film takes place during an era before anyone cared about offending black people. Hell, this film was praised by black publications as well as "mainstream" publications. It is what it is.

Black History and Cinema

Okay. So we're 36 days into the new year and I've only seen 17 films thus far. I'm not going to panic. I am going to try to make up for some of my movie viewing laziness this weekend. Hopefully I can watch a couple movies a day and have a nice marathon viewing this weekend to get caught up. I have decided to do something a little different for the month of February. Since it's Black History Month, I'm going to try to watch more films that have either black actors as lead characters, are directed/written by black filmmakers, or tell stories that have some kind of influence or impact on black culture. I've got a bunch of films queued up in Netflix that fit this, but of course, I'll still be watching some films that don't. I'm looking forward to learning a little something about black cinema. Let the history lessons begin...

#17: After Hours (1985)

I love Martin Scorsese. He is the filmmaker behind one of my all-time favorite films - Goodfellas.  He's a genius in many ways. However, I really didn't get this film. This is another one where the director has clearly gone into territory that they aren't well-equipped for. The cast is lead by Griffin Dunne back when Griffin Dunne was the shit and Rosanna Arquette was in everything. It's definitely not my kind of movie though. It's a puzzlement. I do see some of Scorsese's quintessential camera moves. It's just a strange film.

#16: Courage Under Fire (1996)

This is definitely one of my favorite military films of all time. The ending scenes with the napalm death and the accidental friendly fire get me every time. I shed real tears for those characters. Such a touching film about the difficult and tragic things that happen during war.

#15: Labor Day (2013)

Great acting. Silly premise. Unrealistic from beginning to end. How desperate must a woman be to let a convicted felon on the lam stay in her house with her young son for the weekend so she can get some? I will admit the peach pie baking scene was as steamy as it was eye-rolling ridiculous. I have no idea what drew Jason Reitman to this Lifetime drama-esque story. It's so out of his wheelhouse.  I hope his next film is way better.  He's a talented guy and I'd hate to see it all end for him.

#14: Apocalypse Now (1979)

Francis Ford Coppola is a master of style. There are certain directors that just have an approach to cinema that is all their own. This movie is a wild ride.  There are so many famous faces before they were to become even more famous.  Harrison Ford and Laurence Fishburne both have bit parts.  The opening montage with the helicopters flying, the bushes burning, and Martin Sheen lying in bed in psychosis while The Doors This Is the End plays is absolutely amazing. Of course the classic scenes with Robert Duvall and Marlon Brando are cinematic art in and of themselves. I can't say it's my favorite Coppola film (nothing will ever beat The Godfather), but it's a masterpiece.

#13: Ordinary People (1980)

Wow... It's amazing how much a young Timothy Hutton reminds me of a young Jake Gyllenhaal. This was a quiet but beautiful movie. It's also my first time seeing Mary Tyler Moore in a serious role. Donald Sutherland is another guy I always forget was once young. I have to admit I'm surprised this won Best Picture. It's a sweet film about how a family is rocked and torn apart by the death of one of the clan. Today it would definitely be a low budget indie. This was Robert Redford's directorial debut and it's a great one. Although Quiz Show will always be my favorite Redford film.

#12: Sophie's Choice (1982)

There are so many things about the making of this movie that surprise me after having seen it.  This is Kevin Kline's first movie?  Who knew Peter MacNicol (dude from Ally McBeal) was this awesome of an actor?  Meryl Streep had to beg for this role?  The hell?!!  Meryl Streep took home the Oscar for best actress for this picture, and she absolutely deserved it.  She's flawless.  Granted, I saw the story Sophie tells at the end coming.  I mean the term "Sophie's choice" is constantly used now to define a choice between two persons or things that will result in the death or destruction of the person or thing not chosen.  I don't know if that started when the book was published or after this movie was released.  Still, Meryl's reaction shot when they took her daughter was amazing.  The story is pretty much a downer - tragic as tragedy can be.  It's beautiful though.

#11: The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2011)

I love this movie.  I've seen it before but had to watch it again.  It's funny.  It's sweet.  The cast is great.  The plot is simple, yet the characters are rich.  Maggie Smith embodies my favorite character (as always).  There aren't enough movies like this.

#10: Lone Survivor (2013)

Hmm... This is another movie I'm on the fence about.  I thought I would like it more, but it's a bit propaganda-ish.  The title gives away the ending (**SPOILER ALERT** Mark Wahlberg's character survives), but the plot keeps you on the edge of your seat.  It's mostly an homage to the men who died in Afghanistan, and there's nothing wrong with that.  I just think, as a movie, it could've been better.  There's a brief description of the guy that's the enemy and why they have to take him out, and then we're with our guys on top of the mountain fighting for their lives.  I mean we never really meet the bad guys except when they start shooting, and even then, they're just guys with guns.  It's not really clear why what's happening is happening and why we should care beyond not wanting to see our protagonist die.  The real heroes don't show up until the end, and I wish the film focused a little more time on them.  I don't know.  This is an excellent Navy Seals recruitment film or an example of how a military mission can go horribly wrong rather quickly.  That's about it.  I feel for the guys who lost their lives though.

#9: August: Osage County (2013)

This movie makes me happy my mom is not a nut case.  I thought it was a great story.  There seems to be a dramedy trend this year.  Meryl does her thing as always.  With so many great films this past year, I'm not surprised this one didn't get more recognition though.  It's fantastic in every way but, fortunately, there were a lot of fantastic films in 2013.

#8: American Psycho (2000)

Christian Bale has enormous range as an actor.  Patrick Bateman is like a bipolar version of Bale's Bruce Wayne.  This movie is black comedy at its best.  It really isn't about serial killing.  Bateman is a metaphor for our capitalistic society.  He's a bullshit artist.  He appears to have it all but he's empty inside.  It's all a facade.  And he's the most dangerous thing out there.  I love the scene with the homeless guy and when he picks up the prostitute in a dark alley.  They trust him because he's supposed to be the benevolent one - "job creator", the one from whom economics is supposed to "trickle down."  But he's a killer who only cares about himself.  The '80s references are hilarious.  I especially like his crazed sermons on the relevance of random pop music icons.  Ingenious way of showing his utter insanity and vapidness.

#7: Carmen Jones (1954)

I love this movie for what it is - an adequate adaptation of a Broadway musical that was an adaptation of a classic French opera.  It's dated in its portrayal of women.  The actors are spectacular in spite of heavy handed direction.  The music is beautiful but doesn't fit the characters or period.  It's a Greek tragedy at it's most sensationally melodramatic.  All that said, I appreciate it as a national treasure because of how groundbreaking it was at the time and what it did for black cinema.  It was also nice to see a young Harry Belafonte and Pearl Bailey.

#6: Peeples (2013)

I really wanted to like this film.  It had a lot of potential.  I love Kerry Washington on Scandal.  I think she's a great actress and has proven her talent in a lot of films.  Craig Robinson and David Alan Grier are two of the funniest comic actors around.  Grier's role in Boomerang is a classic and, of course, I will always have much love for him from his groundbreaking work on In Living Color.  Craig Robinson is usually a highlight in every film he's in, from Zack and Miri Make a Porno to This Is The End.  S. Epatha Merkerson is also always divine.  So the acting talent is definitely there.  I love the idea of a story about African-Americans that takes place in Sag Harbor as opposed to Harlem.  We are a diverse people and all of our stories deserve to be told.  However, this just doesn't do it for me.  I think I read a review somewhere that described it as a black Meet the Parents.  I hate "black" versions of things.  It's just not necessary to emulate something else.  We are a creative people and I'm sure there are a lot of original stories to tell about us.  Besides, this doesn't even come anywhere close to Meet the Parents.  It's just not that funny.  It's actually pretty boring.  None of these characters are interesting enough to watch for two hours, and not a lot happens that is compelling enough to make me feel anything.  I think boring is worse than bad.  Bad can be entertaining on a certain level.  Boring is just... eh.

#5: Gosford Park (2001)

As a fan of Robert Altman films, quasi Anglophile, and "Upstairs, Downstairs" lover, this movie is perfect for me.  I think this is my favorite Altman film.  I love his style with the roaming camera moving throughout all of the characters in the room while the dialogue comes in-and-out.  It makes you as an audience member feel more like a fly on the wall than most other films.  There's something subversive and sneaky about it.  The actors are all fantastic of course.  I mean there are so many sirs and dames in this movie it's ridiculous.

#4: The Kid (1921)

In an age where two and a half hours is the standard film length, a 50 minute film (even a silent one) is SO refreshing!  Honestly, I really liked this movie.  This is definitely my favorite Chaplin film that I've seen thus far.  The story is so simple yet so well put together.  A destitute woman with no financial means has a child.  She tries to do right by her child by giving him away to a wealthy family, leaving the child in the back seat of their limo.  The limo is stolen.  The thieves find the baby and dump it.  A tramp (using the old-folksy meaning not the modern one) finds the baby and raises it the best he knows how.  High jinks ensues before we get back to the inevitable reuniting of mother and child.  ALL IN UNDER AN HOUR.  I've seen more modern films that can barely tell a third of that in less than two hours.  Plus, Chaplin proves that you don't need sound to tell a great story.  Feature film should be about visuals anyway.  Bottom line... I highly recommend this one.

#3: The Guilt Trip (2012)

God... What can I say about this movie... other than it was boring...
I love Barbra Streisand. I love Seth Rogen. I don't love this movie. It was basically an hour and half of watching an argument between a mother and her son. Zzzzzz. I feel like the road trip story has been done to death. It's been done every which way and watching people travel cross country really isn't that interesting. The best road trip movies I've ever seen - Easy Rider, National Lampoon's Vacation, Pee Wee's Big Adventure, and Thelma & Louise - are so much more than road trip films. They're all stories that just happen to take place on the road rather than stories about being on the road. This movie just didn't do it for me. Like many real-life road trips I've been on, after 20 minutes, I just wanted out.

#2: An Unmarried Woman (1978)

The topic of divorce must've been really hot in the 1970s. Between Kramer vs. Kramer, Manhattan and this critically acclaimed film, I feel like it must've been somewhat of a storytelling revolution. I love that the protagonist of this story is named Erica (of course). I feel that much closer to her. I love that, after her husband leaves her for a younger woman, she struggles to be her own woman. Even though I thought the part where she finally meets and falls in love with Saul was a bit abrupt (maybe that was the point), their love affair was very believable. Honestly, as a single woman in my thirties, I would be elated if a guy gave me the kind of offer that Saul gives Erica, but I guess times are different. As an independent woman in the 21st century, I have nothing to prove. Erica needs to prove to herself that she can live a life on her own without any assistance. On the downside, Bill Conti's score got on my fucking nerves. That saxophone blaring during every other scene was beyond annoying (and comical at times). It was a decent film though. I feel like it was groundbreaking at the time, but nowadays I prefer Kramer vs. Kramer in how it shows the day-to-day struggle of being a single parent and how divorce can totally disrupt one's life. However, I like how An Unmarried Woman shows divorce from a female perspective.

#1: The General (1926)

So I decided to start my 365 movies with a classic from the beginning of the film age in the early 20th century. I have to admit that watching silent films, particularly early ones, is a bit of a challenge for me. This one was more enjoyable than many I've seen in the past though. This is my first Buster Keaton film, and I get why he is so admired by filmmakers and comedians. I'm not a huge fan of physical comedy, but I give him props for some amazing stunt work. It's interesting that the Union soldiers are the villains in this movie. I'm so used to modern day films where the Confederates are usually the antagonists. Also interesting, the film doesn't address any of the issues that caused the Civil War at all (i.e. slavery). There are a few black actors shown at the train depot in the beginning of the film and that's it. In fact, a comedy that takes place in the antebellum South during the Civil War is also a little odd to me. The overall story was sweet and well executed though. I liked seeing a 1920s take on a mid-1800s love story. There is a point where the action sequences and set pieces get in the way of the real story - a man trying to win the affections of a woman through valiance in military service. I thought it was funny that it was really his true love, his train engine, and the pursuit of it once it was stolen that led to him rescuing "the girl." Nice touch.

365 Movies in 365 Days

So I kind of abandoned this blog for awhile (6 years), but I've decided to start anew.  This year I'm trying to avoid the typical New Year's Resolutions (i.e. lose weight) that never come to fruition.  Instead, I have a goal that is both challenging but easily measurable and attainable.  I'M GOING TO WATCH 365 MOVIES BY DECEMBER 31, 2014.  Yep!  I have 365 days to watch 365 movies.  Ideally, that would mean I'd watch one movie per day, but we're already halfway into day six of 2014 and I've only watched three movies.  Shit happens!  Life happens.  I'm not going to beat myself up about it.  If I have to watch a couple more movies over the weekends to catch up, so be it.  Hopefully I won't be forced to marathon watch movies every weekend in December.  Anyway, I'm excited to become a cinephile of sorts.  I love movies, and I think this will be an excellent education in storytelling and filmmaking.  I'll blog about each movie I watch and maybe some other tidbits that I learn along the way.  Should be good stuff.