There were a number of great, and not-so-great films that I saw this past autumnal year. Films that would stay and linger long after the final credits. Only two I paid coin however to see (which were not many): Rise of the Planet of the Apes and Super 8. Apes was a masterfully intelligent reboot of a very bad sci-fi prequel from another era. Super 8 harkened back to Spielberg's early adventure films; most notably E.T., albeit a much less friendly version. I suppose I should add the new Sherlock Holmes sequel, which was like watching a great rock anthem. Each scene played to unabashed hyperbole.
This is by no means a full account. Like many these days the movies I watch are less often at the movies thanks to the great gift of home theater. Here on the comfort of my sofa, with the prerequisite pause button nearby, I was able to watch films I missed at the theater; films I've always wanted to see, and rewatch ones I love. Here's a list of the films (thank you Netflix...although not so much thanks now, but that's another story) that stayed and lingered with me this past year: 8 1/2. Wow. No, I mean WOW. Every frame is meticulously choreographed. Each still frame could be a Seurat or a Renoir or a Manet. This is Federico Fellini at his finest. The Last Picture Show. This has been called by some as the greatest American film in the 30 years following Citizen Cane. It probably is. Annie Hall. Ground-breaking. One of the most inventive dramatic comedies I've ever seen of any era. Nashville. Robert Altman's finest masterpiece, and he made a few. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (I'm talking about the original Swedish version). A mystery thriller that explores really dark places before it gets to the other side. A lot of films exploit our darkness for entertainment's sake. Somehow the shock of this one makes the film all that more powerful. Blue. A powerful depiction of loss and grief. Powerful because it takes something so painful and transforms it into a journey of self-discovery and renewal. A Single Man. Some may see this as a gay film, as it's about a man reeling from the death of his long-time partner. Not so. This experience is universal. And Colin Firth provides us as rich a character as any who've portrayed loss and the meaning of it. The Battle of Algiers. Hailed as one of the most influential political films ever made. To see it, is to understand why. One that's been studied and imitated countless times. All That Jazz. A dazzling display of musical showmanship. Here we see Bob Fosse, the greatest dance choreographer of his day (maybe ever), elevate the genre to its highest artform.
Other notable films I saw this past year were Toy Story 3. Oh my gosh, I can't believe the moving "at-peace-with-dying" scene was actually part of an animated film. How could anyone not be moved by that scene? Dial M for Murder. Well crafted Hitchcock. The payoff comes in the ending. Mystic River. Kudos to Sean Penn. American Splendor. An example of a quirky independent film that's good. Kick-Ass. A refreshing take on the superhero genre. Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. This could've been so bad, and yet it was so good. Funny and inventive in all the right (and risky) places. Winter's Bone. Who would have thought that rural hillbilly white trash would make for compelling drama? If you like this sub-genre, check out the TV series Justified. Z. Follows in the hallowed footsteps of The Battle of Algiers. Tangled. Great Disney film. Can definitely see the Pixar influence. And why not? The new head of Disney Animation is one of the original founders of Pixar. Rebecca. Wait for the twist. This is Hitchcock at his finest. Lust, Caution. Is this beautifully crafted, yet overly explicit, NC-17 film really from Ang Lee? Reds. Now I get why Warren Beatty is so famously associated with the far Left. What I most liked about this film was being exposed to a slice of American history I didn't know about, and that's the point. And, Life is Beautiful. Comedic take on the Holocaust? Oh this could've been so offensive, but instead is so heartwarming. Far from trivializing the unspeakable nature of the holocaust, it affirms how beautiful life is.
As an addendum, one may notice that several of the films I chose are foreign films. While it is true that American cinema has the greatest body of work, it by no means has a monopoly. I know from mentioning foreign films to family or friends that many are put off by having to read sub-titles, but with practice (I know) it is possible to acclimatize oneself to the art of reading dialogue while watching film. To those who are willing to make the effort, there's a whole world (literally) of great cinema out there to behold.
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