| Name | Chris M |
|---|---|
| Gender | Male |
| I'm From | Newfoundland |
| Member For | 774 days |
| Last Login | Fri. Jul 25 |
| Profile Views | 1696 |
| Age | 21 |
| MCT Score |
| Movie: | Ikiru, Aguirre: The Wrath of God, 2001: A Space Oddysey, Magnolia |
|---|---|
| Actor: | Robert De Niro, Jack Nicholson, Tom Cruise, Vincent D'Onofrio |
| Director: | Stanley Kubrick, Martin Scorsese, David Lynch, Paul Thomas Anderson |
| Quote: | "This happens. This is something that happens." - Magnolia |
| I'm a university student and part-time actor and writer from Canada, and I'm a huge film geek. |
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Chris' Recent Reviews
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Transylvania
Unrated
The only reason I sought out this film was due to it starring Birol Ünel, who I fell completely in love with in 2004's Head-On. And while that fact remains Transylvania's most redeeming factor for me, I'm still glad to have seen it as its a pretty good film on its own. The central character of the film is Zingarina (played by Asia Argento, daughter of legendary horror director Dario Argento), a French woman who travels to Transylvania to track down Milan, her boyfriend who she thought had been deported suddenly. I've never seen Asia in a role of any real substance before, so this was a pleasant surprise, as she does an excellent job. She plays the woman driven to the brink by love as being racked with a controlled chaos, which is well conveyed in the tragic defiance that seems to emit naturally from her beautiful face. I'm pretty sure I could watch Birol Ünel just standing in a field smoking a cigarette for two hours and I'd love it, but he's also good here. Unfortunately, the film loses any sense of focus from about half-way through. While this is somewhat appropriate due to the fact that the two main characters clearly don't follow any set life path, it is still the film's chief flaw. However, this is somewhat redeemed by the fact that, despite this, the film continues to breed some great moments and remains brimming with beautiful imagery. The whole thing is also continually shrouded in mysticism and Transylvanian Gypsy culture and that makes it always an interesting watch, at the very least. Despite its flaws, this is a film worth checking out.
Miller's Crossing
R
There are always films in which I find it amazing how long it takes for me to see them. This is one of those. Miller's Crossing is undoubtedly one of the best films put together by the Coen brothers, I would put it right behind films like No Country For Old Men or Fargo. Set in the 1920s, Miller's Crossing is purely a gangster film. The plot is a little difficult to summarize, but it stars the awesome Gabriel Byrne (The Usual Suspects) as a well-estasblished Irish gangster who has a falling out with his boss over a woman. Typical of the Coen brothers, they gather a fabulous cast. From the aforementioned Byrne to his boss played by the legendary Albert Finney to Marcia Gay Harden to Coen-film standbys John Turturro and Steve Buscemi, the cast is entirely astounding, and inhabit the very cool world of the film like few others could. One thing I found most remarkable about this film is the way in which it was shot. They utilize some really interesting, different shots and the cinematography is exceptional and very interesting - and this results in several brilliant, totally memorable scenes. This is a must-see for Coen fans and anyone really, and will especially be popular among lovers of gangster/prohibition-era flicks.
Control
R
I've been anticipating the release of this film since I heard of its conception, and I'm proud to report that Control is an almost perfect music biopic. The whole Ian Curtis story is very close to me; being a longtime fan of Joy Division and just being very affected by the tragedy and its connection with the music. Unknown British actor Sam Riley takes on the massive responsibility of portraying Ian Curtis. This is a sensitive issue, being as Curtis was already almost a legend by the time he died at 23, and continues to have a lasting impact on the music industry and a massive following. Luckily, Riley handles the pressure very well and, in the process, delivers an astounding and completely truthful and honest performance. Riley will absolutely have a great future in the film industry; in my opinion, seeing how well he handled this loaded role, he should be able to handle much of anything (it doesn't hurt that he bears a striking resemblance to Curtis, either). In the tradition of many recent biopics, most of the music is re-recorded and performed by the actors themselves, all of which learned to play the songs for this film on their own. This is dangerous territory to enter considering the fanbase of Joy Division, but thankfully they do an excellent job and all the songs sound very fresh and worthy of their original counterparts. This is a first time directing a feature film for Anton Corbijn (being a music video director before) and he does a great job - the movie looks and sounds and feels fantastic. the black and white was a good choice, and Corbijn pulls some really interesting, striking shots out of his hat, and constructs an extremely solid film in the process. My hope is this film will serve not only to please the current Joy Division fanbase (as it did me), but will also introduce a new generation of music fans to the darkly beautiful and wonderfully bleak world of Joy Division, helmed by the iconic tragic figure of Ian Curtis.
WALL-E
G
Pixar has done it - that which it was inevitable they would create eventually considering their remarkable filmography, they have created a near masterpiece in WALL-E. An animated science-fiction epic that is more than 2001: A Space Odyssey than Finding Nemo, WALL-E (set in the year 2700) is the story of a little robot of the same name who has been left on Earth to clean up the awful mess we humans have left behind when we jetted off to huge space-cruisers in the stars to fall into a new life on unparalleled laziness and convenience. The adorable little robot's busy existence changes when a sleek female robot called EVE suddenly lands on Earth on a mission of her own. The promotional material for this movie could not have prepared one for the truly amazing, enjoyable, brilliant experience that is WALL-E. Of course, I wanted to see the film based alone on the cute antics of the robot in trailers and that every new Pixar film is something to look out for. But with totally astounding graphics and a story that works very well on multiple levels, it is way more than I expected. The film is very effective as a magical new children's film about a robot that is sure to be all the rage among kids, but it also has very intelligent, well developed themes of anti-consumerism and the environmental awareness that will get the minds of adult viewers working throughout. Also, WALL-E turns out to work also as a romance, and quite a beautiful, pure one, as well. They came close to it recently with Ratatouille, but this summer the awesome minds at Pixar studios have crafted a perfect film that is a joy from beginning to end, as well as an incredibly intelligent and thoughful and artistic film - do not miss this film.
Strangers on a Train
PG
This film is classic Hitchcock. It starts off with an awesome set-up which springboards into a wonder of a film that rests comfortable among the likes the Rear Window & Vertigo as one of Hitchcock's best films. Two men meet on a train, one a bright, young tennis player (Guy Haines, played by Farley Granger), the other a slightly older, mysterious man who says he is a big fan (Bruno Anthony, played by Robert Walker). Bruno begins talking to him about a murder scheme he has thought up where one person takes care of the other's "problem", Guy thinks he is joking, but Bruno has taken Guy's passive agreement very seriously. Thus begins a classic murder tale as only Hitchcock can tell it, filled with his unique imagery and creative choice of shots. It's really one of those untouchably brilliant films that leave the viewer totally taken and enraptured, like other classics from the same era such as Rebel Without A Cause. The great cast and characterization keep the train running smoothly until the riveting conclusion. There is absolutely no reason not to see this film, it is a must-see classic of American cinema.
Hard Eight (Sydney)
R
Philip Baker Hall is my hero. As is Paul Thomas Anderson. And this film, originally titled Sydney but then changed to Hard Eight, was Anderson's feature-film debut. He has since gone on to pad his filmography with some amazing films, including a couple that I consider masterpieces (Magnolia & TWBB). This film is very indicative of the style Anderson goes on to establish more firmly in Boogie Nights. The film, set among the bright and voracious lights of Reno, sets off in a very cool way. We see John (played by John C. Reilly, who rocks in this) sitting outside a diner, in distress over having lost all his money and having to pay for his mother's funeral. He stumbles across a dapper man in a dark suit named Sydney (the indomitable Philip Baker Hall), who offers to help him out. The film is admittedly narrow in its scope, focusing on a few characters in one location, but it doesn't seem to detract. Among all the cigarettes and the cups of coffee, bathed in the constant flitter of the casino lights, emerged an intensely cool film, that is a very fun watch, and not without its dose of pathos. The cast really adds a lot to the film, as does Anderson's unparalleled focus. And if you like any or all of his other films (and why shouldn't you?), this is one to seek out.
Chris' Favorite Movies
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1.
2001: A Space Odyssey
G
An epic by which all others epics must be judged. Stanley Kubrick handles this otherwordly epic with all the grace and skill he has brought to all his pictures. I had the pleasure of seeing it in a theater and it was one of the best experiences of my life.
2.
Aguirre, the Wrath of God
Unrated
A beautiful and brilliant film in every possible way. Herzog's direction is, as usual, masterful and he gets out of Klaus Kinski a wonderfully tormented and astounding performance; in the process creating one of the greatest characters ever put on film. Herzog's guerrilla style of filmmaking is on display here and a true testament to how dedicated a director can be to his art.
3.
Ikiru (Doomed) (Living) (To Live)
PG
Not only Kurosawa's best, but one of the single greatest filmmaking achievements of all time. A classic story and an immense performance by Takashi Shimura make this unmissable.
4.
Magnolia
R
By far one of the most magical and unforgettable movies I have ever seen. A brilliant script compounded by PT Anderson's expert direction and several more than notable performances by the standout cast make this a truly great film.
5.
Mulholland Drive
R
David Lynch has produced his masterwork, and it is Mulholland Drive. The enigmatic director delivers on all fronts, and you may kick yourself trying to figure out certain parts of the movie, but there is do denying it's lingering impact and it's brilliance.
6.
Paris, Texas
R
All I can say right now, its always been one of my favourites, but after watching it tonight I realized it really sits near the top of the list, and is a perfect film. Wenders' greatest triumph, Harry Dean Stanton's greatest role, an amazingly written and shot film, that is almost beyond words. It really has to be seen by everyone.
Chris' Movie Scrapbook
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I recommend you see...
Wizard Of Gore
by Quintoposted 23 hours ago -
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I recommend you see...
Penelope
by QuintoThe fairy-tale angle of the film is pretty cute and entertaining, though the romantic one is certainly uneven. Still, Christina Ricci looks very adorable. I just kept wanting to have eskimo make-out sessions with her. I also really liked the wardrobe and the production.
This isn't an intense, life-changing film - but to everybody who has ever been in love with Christina Ricci, this is the cutest she's ever looked.
posted 2 days ago -
I recommend you see...
*****
posted 2 days ago -
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I recommend you see...
The Bank Job
by QuintoJason Statham steps back from his usual ass-kicking, car-chasing, explosions-surviving persona and lets a good, solid story deliver the thrills and suspense that keeps you glued to the screen.
To every Jason Statham hater, trust me, this is different.
posted 4 days ago -
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I recommend you see...
21
by QuintoEverything looks shiny and brand-new; the cast is dynamic and easy to look at, but the fun comes and goes way too fast and the story doesn't really grab you until the last half hour of it's two-hour running time. Also, the two asian supporting characters were more interesting than its leads and they didn't get enough screen time.
The trailers are more fun and have a better story than the final product.
posted 4 days ago -
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I recommend you see...
***1/2. I like it more than "28 Weeks Later"
posted 5 days ago -
I recommend you see...
The Dark Knight
by MagaliNow this film is just perfect.
The first thing to mention is Heath Ledger performance. Lots of my friends had mentioned this before, saying how great he was and so on an so forth. But I guess that no description can really explain the brilliance of his acting. He's by far, the best joker ever. Just marvellous.
Another one, is.... thanks God!!! Thanks Nolan, or whoever is responsible for that!!! thanks for getting Katie Holmes out!!! Thank you so so much.
And finally.. what can I say? I love Christian Bale as Batman (the best-looking Bruce Wayne in the history). The effects, the action scenes, the funny parts, the script, the visuals in general... everything is nothing but great. Flawless.There's no way you can regret watching this film.
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