My Favorite Movies

Easily one of the finest examples of film-making I've ever seen, Oldboy is not only stylish and brutal, but stylish and brutal for the purpose of the story. I cannot begin to express how deeply affecting this movie is- a tragedy on an epic scale. Absolutely gorgeous, perfectly paced and so much human depth, this is a movie like none that I've ever seen. I came away from it in a daze.

Lynch at his finest. Horrific, dark, surreal, and experimental. Industrial wastelands and awkward interactions. An amazing film.

The perfect Cronenberg movie and a unique take on the horror genre. Jeff Goldblum is amazing as Seth Brundle, capturing his awkward nerdiness while dousing him in a thick layer of humanity. And of course, because Cronenberg wrote it, there is a deep tragedy played out as Seth's body is perverted by his own ignorant decision and his soul and humanity suffer for it. Geena Davis is great and the whole thing just reeks of icy darkness, cold and distant and still deeply affecting- a classic.

Magnificent, trippy and gorgeous. Sunshine is all the crazy shit I ever imagined would happen in space put into one epic film. Cillian Murphy is amazing, as always. In fact, the whole cast is great. Don't expect a light hearted journey to the sun here- Sunshine is a brutal, unforgiving place for its characters. This movie made me giggle and get a little teary-eyed more than once. Can't recommend it to fans of the genre more.

Of special note is the soundtrack, which pretty much puts the film from good into amazing.

Juno is absolute genius. I've tried to figure out a way to put it for a while, and I've come to that conclusion. At first, I really hated the dialogue that spewed from ellen page...but as the characters develop, they are lovable. Completely. Michael Cera is amazing, a totally captivating actor whose characters I identify with and he embodies well. Very well written, very well paced. Saw this one at a screening and then a second time. One of my favorite comedies, up there with Waitress and Knocked Up.

Let me start by saying that Waitress is perhaps the funniest movie I've seen since Borat. At least, I haven't laughed as much during a movie since Borat. I'm a sucker for dry humor, and this movie has it in spades. Every character is lovable, the settings are colorful but not overbearing, the writing is smart and filled with humanity. Keri Russell is stellar in the lead, and Adrienne Shelly gives a fine performance in what has become, unfortunately, her last role as actress, writer, and director. Also of note is Jeremy Sisto's Earl, a despicable waste of life that evoked feelings in me generally reserved for the nastiest of movie villains; and Andy Griffith as the lovable grumpy old guy.

I am usually not a fan of romantic comedies. Did I like Waitress? Hell yes. Waitress is easily one of the best movies of the year, and one of the best comedies I've ever seen. If you have a limited release theater in your area, you have no excuse- go see it.

This is one helluva monster movie. Blending genres as most Korean films I've seen do, The Host is not just a monster movie- it's a dysfunctional family movie, a government conspiracy movie, a disaster movie, and a creature flick all wrapped up in a nice tight blanket of humanity. Sad and touching while wildly entertaining. Repeat viewings are very rewarding.

Avalon is a masterpiece of well-executed cinematography, and is nothing short of spectacular to watch again and again.

Spectacular. More to come.

Dark, twisted, disgusting and utterly mind-fucking, this movie is for anyone interested in creative surrealism and the potential consequences of 'simulated reality.' eXistenZ takes its generic-sounding plot and throws preconceived notions out the window. The ending was brilliant, the acting top-notch, and definitely a different role for Jude Law. Highly recommended to any fan of Cronenberg's squishy effects and his unique directing style.

A true work of art. Amazing direction. Every scene looks more like a beautiful photo than a movie scene. Slow pacing may hamper viewers hoping for excitement and action.

If I ruled the world, everyone would see this movie- not because the content is necessarily your kind of thing but because it's presented so artistically it would be hard to not enjoy. It could also make for a rousing game of "name the movies this movie has influenced."

"The things you do wrong...they haunt you."

Propelled by great use of color and incredible performances by Patrick Wilson and Ellen Page, this is a cold, impersonal look at the consequences of anonymous communication in the digital age. Ellen Page plays Haley flawlessly- sadistic and loving it, Haley is the personification of repressed rage and anger resulting from the self-loathing felt by the molested, the raped, the abused. Her background is never revealed, thus reinforcing that idea. Moral dilemmas will hit you in the gut as you watch- we all know that Geoff is a manipulative bastard (and one of the best villains I've ever seen), but does he deserve the level of retribution exacted on him by Haley? There are no easy answers.

This is a challenging movie, but definitely worthwhile if you want more to your movies than just entertainment.

A dystopian thriller in a world where females are infertile, filmed in the style of a modern war movie, like Saving Private Ryan. Intense, personal, and amazing.

What if we combined our love of televised violence and the increasingly popular (and utterly retarded) reality-TV genre? You'd have The Contenders.

This is a brilliant and scathing commentary on our fascination with violence on television as well as the current trend in "reality" TV. All of it is there- the shaky camera work, the dramatic confrontations and confessions, the prodding and intrusive cameramen, the cheesy monologues and ridiculous soundtrack. It's mean, violent and disturbing, and features some very convincing acting.

This is definitely intended for those of us who dislike the notion of wasting our lives away in front of the TV screen. It's for those of us that laugh in the faces of people who believe "reality" TV is, well, real. It's for people who get out and live life instead of drinking beer in front of the tube every night. So, if you are sick of Survivor, hated The Real World or scoff every time you hear someone talking about the latest episode of The Bachelor, then this is a must-see.

A spoof on zombie horror that manages to be side-splittingly funny while retaining the gore and intensity of a zombie thriller.

An experiment in existentialism. Trippy and thought-provoking, highly original. Highly recommended.

Despite its reputation as being the "cool movie to love", Donnie Darko possesses a profound depth I hardly see any movies these days. The Director's Cut is my personal favorite. If you get past the tweenies obsessed with the film and wildly missing the point, you'll find an artistic look at an alternate universe theory and the chaos that results within it.

One of Miyazaki's best. Surreal and well-paced, with a well developed world. Memorable characters and little touches of detail make this move come alive.

A crazy trip through existentialist ideas and one man's psyche.

A harsh portrayal of addiction and how it affects the lives of four people. Amazing acting and a realistic portrayal of the extremes one can sink to in defense of a drug.

A hallucinogenic film about psychosis, the nature of reality and perception, and being pushed over the edge.

Lynch's dark foreboding style and a mystery in the air. Surreal, hypnotic and wonderful.

If any of you are a fan of David Lynch's films, you may be turned off by the G-rating slapped on this one. Don't let it fool you- as far as good, clean human drama goes, it's a wonderful movie. He reeled himself in a lot for this one, but if you look closely, you'll see a lot of Lynchian elements in the presentation of this touching and heartwarming tale.

A very hallucinatory journey through the life and memories of a delusional and very disturbed man. Very well done, the ending was top-notch.

Emotional and affecting, this is a captivating film.

Surreal look at "losing it all" when one has everything. Mind-blowing ending.

Except for one moment of cheesiness that made me cringe, silent hill is a great adaptation of one of my favorite game series.

The second best PG-13 horror movie I've seen. Very trippy and surreal. Don't be fooled though- outside of the actual disaster that takes place, it was based on a book, not "real" events.

The classic post-apocalyptic anime. Highly entertaining.