The camerawork and visual style somehow keep the movie realistic and believable in the face of increasingly absurd (and hilarious) gags, many of which are not even seen. Understated genius and life lessons come at the most unexpected times and places, and the script and acting are fantastic. 4.5
Airheads (1994)
Now here’s a film after my own heart. Where else can you find a Lemmy cameo and a Replacements song in the same movie? This rock version of Dog Day Afternoon lacks the performances (though the cast is great) and drama of that film, but its a lot of fun. 3.5
Chronicle
An interesting take on the found footage genre that only stops making sense near the end. It also finds a way around the annoying, traditional shaky camerawork. As for the story, it’s more Icarus than Cloverfield (a good thing), though that makes it easily the least believable found footage movie yet. 3.5
Halloween (1978)
More thriller than slasher flick, with a higher emphasis on suspense than violence. Carpenter keeps the tension high by mocking typical jump timing and delivering the goods when you least expect it. Not too scary at first, but wait until the next time you’re home alone before passing judgement. 4
The Artist
From the moment the opening titles started I was smiling, and I didn’t stop until well after the conclusion. The Artist, like Hugo, is a film for people who love film, and I can only hope that the members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences still do. 4.5
Bonnie and Clyde (1967)
One of the first truly modern American movies, almost everything about Bonnie and Clyde still seems fresh. The action is still exciting, the violence is still extreme and the editing is way edgier than anything you’ll see in theaters today. Thank god it hasn’t been remade yet. 4.5
Metropolis (1927)
50 words are nowhere near enough to describe the greatness of this film. The technical, psychological and emotional heights reached are astounding. Every great science fiction film released since has referenced it. It’s not just one of the most captivating silent films; it’s one of the most captivating films period. 5
NOTE: I watched “The Complete Metropolis”, the newest cut of the film, for this review. It’s worth watching this version even if you’ve seen the older ones, trust me.
Psycho (1960)
This film is over 50 years old. I knew the entire plot and exactly when all the jumps were coming. I was still scared to take a shower or walk up my own staircase the night after I saw it. That’s the mark of a truly legendary film. 5
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
The art direction and cinematography are the most exciting thing about this movie, and that’s partially by design. TTSS does such a good job of creating a faceless, smoke filled and drab universe that it defeats itself. I’m not complaining that it wasn’t exciting, I’m complaining that it wasn’t compelling. 3
South Park – Bigger, Longer and Uncut (1999)
What is once considered cutting edge usually looks dated on hindsight. The constant cultural references mean that the film is forever stuck in the nineties, but some bits (like gay Satan singing a musical number about his partner Saddam Hussein) are truly timeless. 3
