Tag Archives: movies
The 10 Best Films of 2011
George Clooney in ‘The Descendants.’ Photo credit: Fox Searchlight
It’s such a definitive title, isn’t it? And in that way, I have mislead you. I am in no shape to proclaim the 10 best films of 2011, because I missed a ton of likely contenders. On the other hand, for a married guy with a child, I gave it a valiant effort and still saw lots of movies, plus naming this post “my favorite films of 2011″ felt a bit too much like an entry in a twelve-year-old’s diary, so let’s roll with it, shall we?
‘Moneyball’ and the Risks and Rewards of Doing Things Differently
Brad Pitt as Oakland A’s General Manager Billy Beane. Photo Credit: Sony Pictures
There’s a moment early on in Bennett Miller’s impeccably made new film ‘Moneyball,’ in which Oakland A’s General Manager Billy Beane (played by Brad Pitt) realizes that everything must change. His team is losing three major stars to free agency, and he doesn’t have the purchasing power to keep them around or to buy replacements of similar caliber. In a league with no salary cap, Oakland is like David up against The Yankees’ Goliath. Wealthier teams comfortably drop $110 million on players each year while Oakland can only manage to pay less than half of that. Or as Beane explains to the team’s inner circle ”there are rich teams, and there are poor teams. Then there’s 50 feet of crap. And then there’s us.”
Beane knows that the game is geared to favor the rich, and he’s either going to have to get creative, or else watch next year’s team chase the ball around the field. Beane decides that he will assemble a team based on statistical goals rather than star power. He will fill his roster with a bunch of no name players, grabbed at a bargain. The problem is, the scouts and team manager aren’t seeing his revolutionary new vision. They insist on what has always been done. Surely their skill, intuition and coaching are better than a computer filled with metrics and data. A protest spreads through the head offices of the Oakland A’s, and consequences aren’t far behind.
The Best Movies of 2010
Ewan McGregor in The Ghost Writer
Part of the problem with a definitive headline like “the best movies of 2010″ is that it implies I have managed to see all of the contenders. That didn’t exactly happen, for reasons married people with children understand. But let’s say I got close. Having acknowledged that, here are my favorites from the past year:
The Half-Yearly Report: 2010′s Best Movies and TV Shows (So Far)
Ewan McGregor in ‘The Ghost Writer’
by Guest Contributor Brian Robinson
My goodness, here we are again already! It’s June, and we already have 6 months’ worth of entertainment to talk about. And what a year it’s been! Or more accurately, what a CRAPPY year it’s been! Now, I am aware that if you look at the entertainment reports we have done over the life of this blog you will see that the “Crappy Year” theme has been rather prominent. But, man, do they ever make it easy to keep that theme current.
It’s interesting, but ever since moving back to Los Angeles in 2007, I have met and been around more people in the creative part of the entertainment industry. I have met writers, comedians, producers, technicians, actors and even a newscaster. And when we do talk about what the entertainment industry is doing and where it’s headed, they are no more enthusiastic than we consumers of their (collective) product. That should tell us all something: if the creators are not enthused about the creations, then why should we be?
But, let us focus on the positive! Not every release this year has been at the level of a ‘Marmaduke’ or ‘Letters to Juliet.’ There have actually been some things worth seeking out:
Reviewing the Cinematic History of Martin Scorsese
Martin Scorsese on the set of ‘The Departed.’
by Guest Contributor Brian Robinson
Martin Scorsese came to prominence in the early 70s and has steadily become one of the best known and most admired American directors. In addition to his directing career, Scorsese has been very active the past twenty years as a film historian and preservationist. His knowledge of cinema and its history informs every new film he makes; they are full of visual homages to his influences. I’m going to reflect a bit more on this great American talent before reviewing some of his career highlights.
The Inspirational Life (and Film) of Temple Grandin
Photo Credit: HBO Films
by Guest Contributor Brian Robinson
About a week ago I was tooling around on my cable system, and I came upon an HBO movie that I knew about, but really had no interest in specifically. The movie is called ‘Temple Grandin’ starring Claire Danes, and it’s one of those typical biopics that often show up on TV. I am a sucker for biopics. I love to learn something about a person that I have never heard of who is notable for one reason or another, and this movie fits that bill in every way.
The Best Films of the Decade
‘City of God.’ Photo credit: Miramax/Buena Vista International
Guest Contributions by Brian Robinson
Brian: Anyone who knows me well knows that I am really not a nostalgic person. Every year, I abhor the lazy (we-are-really-on-vacation) magazine editions that recount the year. “Remember back in March with this happened?! Wasn’t that something!?” Um, no, and I don’t need you to remind me of it by printing a picture that you used back in March and calling that an issue. Ugh.
Unless you are talking about movies. Now, THIS is a list worth having! Why? Because with movies, unlike ‘moments’ (“Best Celebrity Meltdown”? Really?) you can always go back to watch movies, get a reputable list of them and make your own subjective decisions about how right or wrong the list may be. I really can’t tell you who is at the top of the decade’s top ten list of ‘Corporate Gaffes’, nor do I want to.
So, what follows is my thoughtful guess as to what the top FIVE best movies are of the decade. I can do ten of them, but really, why invite a fight?
Ian: As I’m sure is the same with Brian, these are not what I think are the most Important or Revolutionary (in terms of groundbreaking) films, but rather my favorites, for whatever reason. Another decade, another list. Let’s do this.
The Best Films of 2009
‘Thirst.’ Photo Credit: Focus Features/Universal Pictures
by Guest Contributor Brian Robinson
Well everyone, here we are again at the end of another year of movies. And essentially, it’s deja vu all over again to me; another year of wasted opportunities and half-hearted efforts from our friends in the movie business. Although to be fair, this was the year for all the ‘Strike Baby’ movies to come out. Remember there was a protracted writer’s strike in 2007-2008 that made sure we would all get poorly/quickly written movies delivered to us in 2009… and in that sense they didn’t disappoint. Most movies this year from “Hollywood” felt premature, underdeveloped and better left dead. But, that sure as hell won’t stop me from picking my favorite ten movies for the year, will it? It’s just too much fun to try to identify who went above and beyond every year.
FILM REVIEW: ‘Paranormal Activity’ Goes Bump in the Night
Photo Credit: Paramount Pictures
by Guest Contributor Brian Robinson
Halloween usually leads moviegoers to ask each other the same question every year: “What’s the last really scary movie you saw?” This is the time of year we go looking for that elusive good time shock at the movies, and you can be sure Hollywood is ready to charge us for the opportunity to find it. And, as any showman will tell you there is nothing like a good gimmick. This year’s gimmick is being employed for the movie ‘Paranormal Activity.’ If you haven’t heard of this movie yet, I can guarantee you will.
‘In The Loop’ Review: The Funny Business of Words and War
Photo Credit: IFC Films
by Guest Contributor Brian Robinson
There is a rare, special moment in movies that I have discussed with some friends. That’s when you are watching a movie that has hit a peak of words, visuals, execution, and acting; when it all comes together into that perfect mix that reminds you why you love movies. When it occurs, I get what I have described as a Permagrin where I involuntarily grin like a fool. It’s really satisfying when it happens even once in a movie (see ‘Dangerous Liaisons,’ ‘Silence of the Lambs,’ or ‘Seven’ to see what I mean) and almost unbelievable when it happens twice. It happened about four times during ‘In the Loop,’ and I may have UNDERcounted.
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