My Favorite Movies

a film with a very unique structure that skillfully presents parts of the past, present, and future in a surprisingly coherent manner. the flashbacks aren't extensive and the future scenes don't give too much away as to make you ask "how" something happened rather than "what" happened. i was pleasantly taken aback by my first iñárritu film; it sure as hell won't be my last...

This film made "The Illusionist" seem like a cheap card trick...and I actually liked "The Illusionist." Christopher Nolan weaves an intricate curtain of a great plot, excellent character development, and flawless art direction that is then draped over your eyes to blind you into utter amazement. The casting is also flawless, exploiting the great chemistry between such pairs as Christian Bale and Michael Caine from Nolan's "Batman Begins" and Scarlett Johansson and Hugh Jackman from Woody Allen's "Scoop." This tale of bitter rivalry, sabotage, deception, and obsession could very well be Nolan's best film ever...next to the acclaimed "Memento" (which I have yet to see.) Clearly deserves its title with the three stages of a good magic trick being the pledge, the turn, and the dramatic ending...the prestige.

mike nichols adopts a closed-door policy in which he emphasizes the effects of his characters' infidelity rather than the act itself. even so, what isn't seen is even sexier than what is. the tease factor in addition to the graphic, but smart dialogue makes this movie one of my favorite cinematic guilty pleasures.

It is extremely rare to come across a film that you don't get at all yet love it as if you actually do. This was the case with "Mulholland Drive." I mean, if someone explains the ending (or even the entire plot) to me, I would probably end up loving it even more. David Lynch expertly crafts a suspenseful piece following his own style of cryptic cinematography. Naomi Watts is brilliant as always and excellently commands the hypnotic sense of puzzled amazement throughout the film.

natalie portman's performance is amazing. i mean, she did shave off all her hair. the orwellian setting with a futuristic twist makes this movie so revolutionary in many ways.

Sarcastically terrifying..."American Psycho" is the best cinematic portrait of evil that I've seen. Christian Bale is simply amazing with his character's oddly meticulous grooming habits and blood lust easily evoked by the simplest, most superficial things. The ending was a little weak, but the very deranged message the film sends is more than satisfying.

A dramatic exposé of our basic human vices, this film is my second favorite cinematic guilty pleasure. There are no expensive visual effects nor any edge-of-your-seat action sequences, just pure and brilliant writing reinforced by topnotch performances. Jonathan Rhys-Meyers is stunning and his chemistry with the radiant Scarlett Johansson makes this one of the most seductive movies I've ever seen. The pace may be slow for those that aren't used to Woody Allen's style, but isn't delayed satisfaction the best kind of pleasure? A clever and sinful commentary on the status quo with tennis being a metaphor for life and it's many difficult choices: like choosing between love and lust. The soundtrack with its classic operatic scores is chilling and prepares you for the sinister climax.

One of the best nonsequential movies ever next to "21 Grams." Nolan's style is fractured and cerebral and leaves you scratching your head until that feeling of confused fascination subsides into twisted satisfaction. Nolan's best crafted film to date.

Never have I been so moved by a film I originally wrote off. Excellent score and art direction and a truly devastating ending.

this movie is one giant puzzle, and in the beginning, almost none of the scenes make sense. but as the movie progresses, the puzzle pieces slowly meet to make one hell of a movie

David Fincher at his non-serial-killer-based best. Excellent cinematography (as always) and a great cast. Edward Norton and Brad Pitt complement each other's characters perfectly...eerily so. Didn't think it'd be so trippy though. Raw and thought-provoking, this film will easily leave its chemical burn mark on your mind.

Easily THE BEST film I have ever seen! Very "2001: A Space Odyssey"-like, only much better. The theme is more clearly defined so you aren't as confused. The film chronicles the heartbreaking journey of one Hugh Jackman through space and time in an attempt to save his love's life. It exemplifies the eternal, literal and philosophical struggle between life and death. Writer and director Darren Aronofsky is pure genius: he creates a stunning and groundbreaking vision that was executed without the aid of any CGI effects and yet the movie is still visually eloquent. I'm kinda glad that the film was a small, quasi-independent feature that didn't get much hype cause it is this overratedness that kills good movies *cough*cough* "Pirates of the Caribbean." It is so ahead of its time and doesn't underestimate the intelligence of its audience. The acting is superb and the soundtrack is both haunting (like that of "2001: A Space Odyssey") yet moving as well. I have to buy this movie now!!!!!

i just luv any movie with scarlett johansson. this movie is two different movies skillfully blended into one: a thought-provoking psychological thriller that questions the ethics of cloning and an action-packed thriller filled with futuristic gadgets and cars that leaves you wanting more.

this movie was great (and i'm not saying this because it won the oscar for best picture)-it WAS truly great! Scorsese commented that this was the first movie he made "with a plot" and boy was it some helluva plot: the dynamic characters immortalized by the amazing acting of an all-star cast truly earned this movie the title of "best picture."

a movie about language...a movie about human connections...a movie about a rifle (i know, not as profound as the first two). I've already seen Inarritu's "21 Grams," but nothing prepared me for "Babel." i've never seen anything like it. a truly international drama in which Inarritu addresses modern political issues like immigration and terrorism in the midst of an amazing and original storyline that spans the globe. Barely in english, the film shows the universal nature of human suffering.

i loved this movie! and it was not just because natalie portman was in it either (though it was the only reason why i originally wanted to see it.) the events in this movie are ridiculously funny yet can also be sincerely emotional as well. i enjoy watching movies that can cleverly work to balance the two out. yet another movie about coming to terms with oneself and taking control (an addition to my carpe diem collection). zach braff doesn't have much on his filmography, but the films that he does have are quality and this movie is among one of those quality films.

Incomprehensible plot twists and turns the first time around but still brilliant nonetheless.

Dios Mio! "The Chronicles of Narnia" pale in comparison to this del Toro masterpiece. This is by no means your typical, children's fairy tale. It is dark and twisted but doesn't shock you to the point of having to look away. Del Toro skillfully conjures up a magical world of fairies, fauns, and other mesmerizing creatures in the backdrop of the Spanish Civil War. Stuck in this world of violence and death, little Ofelia tries to escape and finds herself in the shoes of the long-lost princess of the underworld. The fantastic visual effects and top-notch performances (especially that of little Ivana Baquero) leave you breathless and the ending will have you pondering what is reality and what is fantasy.

this movie touched my stone cold heart. the characters are strange but not too strange as to make the dysfunctional family way out there. issues aside, the members of the family embark on a journey to the little miss sunshine pageant were we learn that winning isn't everything

very entertaining yet the ending was rather predictable. nonetheless, the scenery and period clothing are quite beautiful. artistically shot, the movie pans out as a cinematic sleight-of-hand trick that leaves you aptly satisfied. it serves as a great precursor to what i believe to be an even better movie about illusions..."The Prestige."

this satirical and hilarious take on american "spin" should have earned aaron eckhart a golden globe, then again, it did go to borat (i can't complain)

a very tragic love story full of twists and turns and of course, Zhang Yimou's signature stylized martial arts.

Finally, Will Ferrell in a role that is humorous and not annoying. Very clever and well plotted. Somehow the movie just screams Marc Forster.

overall good movie except for the anime sequences and the fact that there's a volume two

A journalist that makes up his own stories and gets away with it-such an inspiration for all the liars that want to make it big. "Boys Don't Cry"'s Chloe Sevigny and Peter Sarsgaard join Hayden Christensen in what could be his best performance ever.

again, gotta luv that scarlett. she joins her "The Prestige" costar Hugh Jackman in a rather witty comedy about a serial killer.

the best batman film ever. need i say more?

I'm not really a big fan of tennis, so I was originally skeptical of this movie. However, the direction and acting in the film threw me off like a double fault. Paul Bettany and Kirsten Dunst have great chemistry and I actually liked Dunst's performance (usually a rare thing). Furthermore, the aerial tennis court shots combined with up close racket-swinging ball-flying action make the perfect yet unusual setting for romance. If only real tennis was this interesting...

Gwyneth Paltrow redeems herself from the dreadful "Emma" with another british-accented performance. Only this one was rather good: her character actually had substance and the plot had depth. It explores the whimsical possibility of alternate realities of which we are not aware and how the events of both often collide, causing surprising outcomes like chance encounters and falling in love.

Wasn't a big fan of Anne Rice's vampires until this movie. I loved pre-TomKat, pre-scientologist, and pre-creepy Tom Cruise's performance as the sadistic and charming vampire Lestat. Equally note-worthy was Dunst's pre-adolescent performance (what happened to her now?). These two both outshined Pitt with his dull and unconvincing vampire with a conscience act. I saw a new side of vampires through this movie and would love to become one. They can live forever without a single sign of aging and they exude this dark and macabre sexuality (this could just be my neck fetish talking). To sum up: this is my favorite vampire film of all time.

Johnny Depp is at the top of his game (as opposed to being at the world's end) in this haunting psychological thriller. He is brilliant as the struggling author out in the middle of nowhere trying to get his thoughts together. The writing is amazing and the direction almost rivals that of the earlier M. Night Shamalan (I know there's a y in there somewhere) films before he drowned himself in "Lady in the Water." John Turturro gives an equally clever yet creepy performance that keeps you riveted on the subplot of the film.

Another Natalie Portman film about a vendetta, only in this one, she's 12-years-old. I believe that this was her first film and she did a phenomenal job. The movie is dark and violent yet also borders on endearing and heartwarming. They should make a sequel with the older Natalie Portman of today...then again, this "summer of sequels" has been pretty crappy, so maybe not.

One of my favorite heist films of all time. Love the smart dialogue and amazing cast.

Ridiculous plot yet utterly hilarious, especially Val Kilmer's unflamboyant,sarcastically cruel, verbally abusive character known as "Gay Perry." Love the comedic film-noir style and the smartass sidenotes in the narration. Extremely clever one-liners and rather interesting turn of events make this one of the funniest overlooked murder-mysteries I've seen. Oddly reminded me of "Scoop" in it's clever writing and homicide-driven plot, only less chick-flick-esque with more violence, nudity, and F-bombs.

Tarantino at his best...why the hell doesn't he make movies like this anymore?! Seriously, I think I have had enough of the gory, senseless, and pointless "Hostel." Okay, you've desensitized us, now bring back the Tarantino of the dynamic/original characters of "Reservoir Dogs" and "Pulp Fiction," the brilliant stories, and the cool soundtracks.

A hilarious and charming film...the classic romantic comedy that took me 3 decades to finally watch (granted, I wasn't born when it was made). Woody Allen and Diane Keaton share true on-screen chemistry as Allen takes us on a Coney Island roller coaster ride through Alvy and Annie's fights, mishaps, and incredibly enjoyable banter.Compared to Allen's work of late ("Scoop" and "Matchpoint"), "Annie Hall" lacks that dark and pessimistic tone and ends the way it begins...with a lighthearted and profound joke.

Dark humour at its best...based on the rather gruesome true story yet comedically adapted in a manner that doesn't mock the real-life victims. The comedy is subtle and clever. Excellent casting: Frances McDormand is hilarious as the small town police chief and her performance made me laugh out loud everytime her character says "oh yah" or "ya know" in that North Dakotan accent. Peter Stormare is as scary as always, Steve Buscemi is scary in that "funny-looking" kind of way, and William H. Macy shows the true meaning of "deep shit."

Grisly yet elegant. Disturbing yet grotesquely erotic. Vile yet sweet..."Perfume" is a thought-provoking piece conjured on the big screen and immortalized through great performances by Dustin Hoffman, Alan Rickman (aka Professor Snape for all you Harry Potheads out there), and Ben Whishaw as the obsessed and tortured soul out to capture the essence of beauty. Beautifully shot, even in the rather macabre scenes, with an ending that is drawn out (felt like a LOTR movie). Came off rather like two endings, like one of them should've been a DVD alternate or something...but they were presented in sequence as to give the audience one final shock in a veritable orgy of climaxes.

A frightening vision of the future, Alfonso Cuaron's documentary style of filming brings you closer into the pulsing political thriller that leaves you stunned with its brutally raw images of conflict, despair, and disenchantment.

Had the lawyer for the DA been anyone but Ryan Gosling, I would've been so bored. This pretty much sums up the movie: nothing too original, yet nothing too trite. It treaded the thin line between an excellent cat-and-mouse thriller and something that has been seen numerous times both on the movie screen and in real life. Hmmmm....a man killing his wife and getting/almost getting away with it? That's unheard of.

See review at www.roastlechon.com

Powerful, funny, sarcastic, bittersweet gold.

I can't believe it took me so long to finally see this mindblowing sci-fi gem.

Fantastic tale about one man's unbelievable life...though I'd typically shy away from Uk actors doing Southern accents (Ewan McGregor in this case, Jude Law in Cold Mountain and All the King's Men...) </