38. Michael Clayton (2007)
Other Means
There have been a few movies about corporate intrigue and what they will do around a large lawsuit to get past the case, but where as most movies get you to know the victims of the corporations and then the monolithic evil corporation comes in and is just evil. This movie takes the point of view of one of the lawyers who works for the firm representing the monolithic corporation, but not one that is on the front-line so we get some perspective on the issues taking place. I don't really want to say any more about the plot but seeing this movie, I can say that getting a Best Picture Nomination was not undeserved.
02/09/2008
37. There Will Be Blood (2007)
In Theaters
There isn't really anything else that I can say that has been written about elsewhere already. So I'll just say that I've always been a Paul Thomas Anderson fan, I've loved all his movies (yes, ALL of them) and this one continues that streak. This is really the first one of his movies that is such centrally located around one character, I really like this approach and his next film might be more like this instead of the sprawling lead parts that have inhabited his films of past. Highest Recommendation
02/08/2008
35. Dragon Wars: D-War (2007)
Other Means
Wow. Now this movie is a case in bad screen writing. The movie tries to give you all the exposition at the top of the movie but it goes on for twenty minutes in a flashback inside a flashback and when it's over you've forgotten what movie you were even watching. Never-mind there are huge plot holes also, such as how does a giant snake the size of a 747 jet get around L.A. without being spotted? Still, this movie has more laughs a minute (unintentional ones still count) than quite a few comedies that I've seen in the last couple years. Enjoyable Watch
36. The Walker (2007)
Other Means
Woody Harrelson has a great leading part in the movie, it's been awhile since I've seen Woody with a film on his shoulders and he handles it well. We're set up in a world of Washinton D.C. socialites and then some stuff goes down and it turns into a murder mystery but the socialite thread of the story is never lost and the mystery never takes over the movie entirely. Above Average Watch.
02/06/2008
34. The Brothers Solomon (2007)
Other Means
While I count myself in the camp of Will Arnett fans, I had low expectations for this movie because the trailers gave me nothing to be excited about. But to my surprise this movie was nearly as awful as I expected, the two brothers are actually given some life and are pretty well written for who there characters are. Worth watching if your a Will Arnett/Forte fan.
02/05/2008
30. Cinderella Liberty (1973)
Off DVR, Shown on Fox Movie Channel (widescreen, uncut)
Vintage James Caan. The plot is that Caan tries to turn a ho into a housewife, which I've been advised against. But the movie is deeper than that off course and definitely worth a look for the screenwriting alone. This could be compared in terms of subject matter to Pretty Woman, but where as Pretty Woman is the essence of making a story "Hollywood" (a.k.a fantasy) this one is realistic and there are real people here, making the movie more grey in terms of morality than the black and white morality presented in "Hollywood" films. Enjoyable Watch
31. The Day They Robbed the Bank of England (1960)
Off DVR, Shown on Turner Classic Movies (widescreen)
This heist movie is pretty much by the numbers but it moves along at a good pace and we get a supporting role done by a pre-Lawrence of Arabia Peter O' Toole. Average Watch
32. Persepolis (2007)
Other Means
This autobiographical story told through animation is intoxicatingly watch-able. The style of animation really adds to the story as it has more a unique feel, like this is a unique journey. Highly Recommended
33. I'm Not There. (2007)
Other Means
This movie is really unique and I really wouldn't have expected anything else from Todd Haynes. Cate Blanchett really disappears into her performance as Dylan, you really forget that she's a woman while watching her. I wouldn't mind a spin-off of this movie and have a fictional scenario taking place in the 60's where Blancett plays Dylan for the entire movie. There is some top notch screen writing going on here. Highly Recommended Viewing
02/04/2008
29. Flawless (2007)
Other Means
Telling me that Michael Caine is in a heist movie that takes places in 1960's London is enough to guarantee a viewing. Caine plays second fiddle to Demi Moore who is the main focus of the film. Moore is a woman in a man's world who has reached the glass ceiling at the male-centric diamond corporation she works at. She actually looks her age here and owns the part, this is the first Demi Moore movie that I've watched in years that was good, but she was actually one of the reasons that it's good. Slightly above average watch, not as much suspense though as I would have expected in a heist movie.
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