Ip Man (Day 19)
MY OPINION: 6.3 || Great martial arts in the service of a solid, morally serious story. Donnie Yen is wonderful as Master Ip — not only in the terrific kung-fu action but also in… Continue reading
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Nostalgia for the Light (Day 18)
My Opinion: 5.6 || A worthwhile experience about important subjects but very pedestrian filmmaking. The movie has been made with great integrity and sense of purpose, and I wish I could rate it better,… Continue reading
The Intouchables (Day 17)
My Opinion: 6.1 || A hugely popular movie that I enjoyed but didn’t love — very entertaining but too comfortable to achieve real poignancy. On the significant plus-side: It moves briskly, it’s consistently funny,… Continue reading
Ivan’s Childhood (Day 16)
My Opinion: 7.2 || Tarkovsky is uninterested in the mechanics of the war and can barely be bothered with plot — the emphasis here is on subjective emotion, moral struggle, and striking visuals. It’s… Continue reading
Kon-Tiki (Day 15)
MY OPINION: 5.7 || This score seems a little low considering that I did enjoy the movie. It’s a pretty flat beginning that doesn’t do much to illuminate Heyerdal’s character or help us feel… Continue reading
Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior (Day 14)
My Opinion: 3.6 || Really un-good. The martial arts are well choreographed, and Tony Jaa is a joy to watch when he’s in motion. And putting him in motion is pretty much the only… Continue reading
Once Upon a Time in Anatolia (Day 13)
MY OPINION: 6.9 || Such an intriguing movie. It’s like if Andrei Tarkovsky directed a Law & Order episode. From a script by Quentin Tarrantino. Based on a story by Mike Leigh. In Turkish.… Continue reading
Grave of Fireflies (Day 12)
MY OPINION: 7.3 || Not sure I’ve ever seen a sadder film. Sad, not depressing — big difference — because the story is so profoundly tender. This is delicate aesthetic ground to tread, with… Continue reading
Knife In The Water (Day 11)
My Opinion: 4.8 || This was Roman Polanski’s first full-length feature, and there’s great skill on display throughout. However, it’s an emotionally cold movie that doesn’t equal the sum of its parts — succeeding… Continue reading
Nine Queens (Day 10)
My Opinion: 6.4 || An entertaining, intellectually engaging movie about con men who are as busy trying to swindle each other as their mark. All the pleasures of a good fast-talking, fast-moving crime movie… Continue reading
