2012 in Review!

So it wasn't the end of the world after all...

Favorite Films Released in 2012
10. Django Unchained (Tarantino)
9. Magic Mike (Soderbergh)
8. the Loneliest Planet (Loktev)
7. the Master (P.T. Anderson)
6. A Separation (Farhadi)
5. Moonrise Kingdom (W. Anderson)
4. the Kid With a Bike (Dardenne)
3. Holy Motors (Carax)
2. Looper (Johnson)
1. Beasts of the Southern Wild (Zeitlin)

HMs: Argo, Perfect Sense, Haywire

Favorite Films 1st Seen in 2012 (alphabetical)
Another Earth (Cahill) 2011
the Arbor (Barnard) 2011
the Brood (Cronenberg) 1979
A Face in the Crowd (Kazan) 1957
House (Obayashi) 1977
Paper Moon (Bogdanovich) 1973
Phenomena (Argento) 1985
Red Balloon/White Mane (Lamorisse) 1956/1953
Santa Sangre (Jodorowsky) 1989

5-Star Books Read in 2012 (alphabetical)
Birds of America - Moore
Can't Stop Won't Stop: A History of the Hip Hop Generation - Chang
the Devil All the Time - Pollock
the Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven - Alexie
Pulphead: Essays - Sullivan
Self-Help - Moore
Slouching Towards Bethlehem: Essays - Didion
Suddenly, A Knock on the Door: Stories - Keret
This Is How You Lose Her - Diaz

Best Singles
"I Love It" - Icona Pop
"Sulk" - TRUST
"Wild Desire/Bad Thing" - King Tuff
"We Found Love" - Rihanna
"Give Out" - Sharon Van Etten
"Slow Down" - the Team
"Baby's Wearing Blue Jeans" - Mac DeMarco
"Baby" - Ariel Pink
"You Know You Like It" - AlunaGeorge
"Girls" - Royal Headache
"Know Me" - Frankie Rose
"Millions" - Eternal Summers
"Feel So Close" - Calvin Harris
"Jumanji" - Azaelia Banks
"Call Me Maybe" - Carly Rae Jepsen

Favorite Albums
Cloud Nothings - Attack On Memory
Frank Ocean - Channel Orange
Ty Segall - Slaughterhouse
Grimes - Visions
the Babies - Our House on the Hill

Misc. Top 10
10. New car, new glasses, new hair/30 is pretty all right
9. Warehouse Cafe - Port Costa, CA 
8. Canadian trip w/my sis (even if Canadians don't know how to party)
7. 4th of July kiddie pool
6. Don Pepe's + Fresno Wedding ("Sex Family")
5. Year-round hiking club. Special shout out to Point Reyes
4. Oliver learning my name
3. New additions to Oakland, whether by relocation or birth
2. RETURN to LASSEN
1. Caribbean waterfalls & too much rum punch

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Art Garfunkel Memorial Reading List (July - December 2012)

1.) Too Loud a Solitude - Hrabal (7/1)
2.) Ice at the Bottom of the World - Richard (7/7)
3.) Monstress - Tenorio (7/16)
4.) Herzog on Herzog - Cronin (7/18)
5.) Bastard Out of Carolina - Allison (7/22)
6.) Pedro Paramo - Rulfo (7/23)
7.) Slouching Towards Bethlehem - Didion (7/25)
8.) Self Help - Moore (7/26)
9.) Translations - Friel (7/27)
10.) Art of Cruelty: A Reckoning - Nelson (8/1)
11.) Devil in the White City - Larson (8/10)
12.) Babel: Collected Stories (8/16)
13.) Hero With a Thousand Faces - Campbell (8/22)
14.) Kitchen Confidential - Bourdain (8/26)
15.) the Rings of Saturn - Sebald (9/2)
16.) What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank - Englander (9/6)
17.) Little Disturbances of Man - Paley (9/12)
18.) Suddenly, A Knock on the Door - Keret (9/16)
19.) Columbine - Cullen (9/22)
20.) Telegraph Avenue - Chabon (9/30)
21.) Stay Awake - Chaon (10/3)
22.) Pork - Freddi (10/8)
23.) A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again - Wallace (10/15)
24.) the Collected Stories of Peter Taylor (10/23)
25.) This is How You Lose Her - Diaz (10/26)
26.) Conversation in the Cathedral - Vargas Llosa (11/7)
27.) Farming of Bones - Danticat (11/12)
28.) Who Will Run the Frog Hospital? - Moore (11/14)
29.) Our Band Could Be Your Life - Azerrad (11/23)
30.) Gimpel the Fool - Singer (11/28)
31.) the Map and the Territory - Houellebecq (12/3)
32.) Habibi - Thompson (12/5)
33.) Can't Stop Won't Stop: A History of the Hip Hop Generation - Chang (12/13)
34.) Tell Me a Riddle - Olsen (12/17)
35.) the Lime Works - Bernhard (12/21)
36.) Room - Donoghue (12/24)
37.) Knockemstiff - Pollock (12/30)

Celluloid #162

In Theaters

Killing Them Softly (2012) Dominik - This is the follow-up to the beautiful and compelling the Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford. Some amateur criminals stick up a card game, causing more professional mobster hitman to get involved. The setting seems to be Detroit or a similarly destitute place, and the place looks haunting. Annoyingly, Dominik decided to intersperse the violent plot with speeches from Obama in his pre-presidential days to make a clumsy political/economic  connection. Also, I found the music to be much too on the nose, creating an overall heavy-handed effect. 6/10

In Home

Breakin 2: Electric Boogaloo (1984) Firstenberg - Super ridiculous, but fun sequel where the breakdancers must work together to save the local community center. Also, Turbo tries to win over a girl, and Kelly sacrifices ballet opportunities in France to help out her friends. The best! 8/10

Dark Horse (2012) Solondz - A loser 30-something works and lives with his parents. His younger brother is significantly more handsome and successful, leaving Abe to be the "dark horse" in the family.  He starts an unlikely relationship with a woman that he meets at a wedding, and almost immediately proposes marriage to her. Things continue to get weirder and darker as the film progresses, all though I don't know why you would expect anything different from Solondz. 6/10

In Time (2011) Niccol - A Logan's Run-styled theme from a director that I know most fondly for my adolescent favorite Gattaca. You can tell that it's the same guy for the look of the film, the obsession with class differences in a future setting, and yet another pivotal nude ocean swim. In the future, time becomes our currency. They stop aging at 25, but only get to continue living if they earn more time by working, gambling, or stealing. Will Salas gets a century from a man trying to commit suicide. After leaving the ghetto, he gets involved with an heiress, and the two go on a Robin Hood-type spree. 7/10

Snowtown Murders (2012) Kurzel - A true story about a series of murders in Australia, unique because the killer was charismatic enough to get other people to help him. This film is really depressing, and takes more than a while to get going. Initially, we see three young boys getting taken advantage of by a neighborhood pedophile. The oldest boy is 16 and understandably wants some sort of revenge - an opportunity that becomes available through his mother's boyfriend, the killer. Just overall, this film doesn't add up to much of anything. 5/10

Celluloid #161

In Theaters

Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 2 (2012) Condon - Well, I'm glad it's over. The first scene immediately reminded me how cringey this series has been, but that also there's a lot of unintentional humor. Renesmee looks like a creep for the first part of the movie. Apparently her existence is a problem in the world of vampires because they fear vampire babies ("immortal children") for their lack of self-control. However, Resnesmee is only half vampire and wasn't bit. Whatever. At least this movie features a battle scene that is really satisfying until it is totally undermined. ??/10

In Home

Being Elmo (2011) Marks - So unfortunate how Kevin Clash has been disgraced in the news lately, because this documentary paints him as a pretty nice guy. Clash started making puppets an putting on local shows when he was 10. By the time he was finishing up high school, he was working for a local television show, and then shortly after, started working on the Captain Kangaroo show. Clash became the first black puppeteer to work for Jim Henson, and until recently, still ran the puppet workshop for Sesame Street and touring around the world with his character, Elmo. 7/10

Body Double (1984) De Palma - An actor catches his wife cheating and gets fired from his job all in the same day. He finally thinks he catches a break when another actor offers to let him apartment-sit. In addition to free rent, there's an impromptu nightly striptease show courtesy of a neighbor woman that's visible through a telescope. One night, the actor sees the neighbor get into some trouble with an intruder, and he tries to follow her the next day to warn her. This all spirals into a bigger conspiracy involving the porn industry - typically good De Palma. 8/10

Bonsai (2012) Jimenez - Adaptation of a pretty great novella intertwining the course of a romantic relationship with the process of writing. The movie is not nearly as successful as the book, but for reasons I cannot pinpoint. 6/10

God Bless America (2012) Goldthwait - Dark satire about America's obsession with reality television. One man gets fed up with how stupid people have become. In particular, he's upset about how people cannot have real conversations or interactions, but can only relate through inane pop culture. To top it off, his own young daughter is turning into a spoiled monster. After contemplating suicide, he teams up with a similarly jaded teen and goes on a killing spree. 5/10

Jeff, Who Lives at Home (2012) Duplass - So yeah, Jeff is 30, a stoner, and lives with his mom. His older seemingly more successful brother is having his own problems with his marriage; namely being worried that his wife is cheating. Jeff keeps following these "signs" about a person named Kevin all ver town while trying to help his brother. Pretty enjoyable to watch, even if the plot sounds like a ridiculous mess. 7/10

the Lady (2012) Besson - So sad! A story is recent history that I had no knowledge about. Since the 1970s (probably earlier), Burma has been under military rule. Movements developed to pursue democracy, but early on one leader was executed and essentially turned into a martyr for that cause. The martyr's daughter is the focus of this biopic. Aung San Suu Kyi moves to England after her father's death. There she grows up, marries, and has children. When her mother has a stroke, she returns to Burma where professors convince her to pick up her father's legacy. Despite her election success, she undergoes 15 years of house arrest. An unusual film for Luc Besson's typically action-packed filmography. 7/10

Celluloid #160

In Theaters

Holy Motors (2012) Carax - I really cannot begin to explain what this film is about, but I loved it. A man goes on a series of "appointment" throughout the day, working as some sort of existential actor fulfilling emotional scenarios in others' lives. These appointments involve elaborate disguises and range from heartfelt to absurd. There's motion capture fucking, a song by Kylie Minogue, a naked dwarf who kidnaps Eva Mendes, murders, grief, etc. This film has plenty of ecstatic imagery to spare. 9/10

In Home

the Deep Blue Sea (2012) Davies - Hester is having an affair with Freddie. Her husband is just a little too rulesy and seems to be under his mother's thumb despite his advanced age. Freddie is not necessarily much of a prize given his mood swings and violent temper, but even so, they have extreme passion and lust for one another. Hester is unlucky to live in a time that won't grant her freedom. This is maybe the best that I've ever seen Rachel Weisz (not that she's a particular favorite of mine), but the non-linear structure of the film undercuts much of the weight that I assume is associated with certain emotional scenes. 6/10

Goodbye First Love (2012) Hansen-Love - Camille is 15 and in love with 19 year-old Sullivan. They have a lot of sex and possess the naivete monopolized by adolescents. Sullivan struggles to know what to do with himself in life and is planning a trip to South America with some friends. Camille is devastated even though the trip is only supposed to be for ten months. Her fears are confirmed when Sullivan fails to return for many years beyond that and the two lose touch. Camille tries to move on with her life and even falls for one of her professors, but when Sullivan reenters her life, the chemistry just cannot be denied. 7/10

Keyhole (2012) Maddin - Guy Maddin's version of a ghost story? Ulysses is a gangster who ends up in a haunted house version of his previous home. He vows to win back his wife. There are plenty of disturbing things going on in the rooms - the wife has her naked father chained to the bed, Ulysses' son Manners is trying to revive his drowned sweetheart, and other family dysfunction. Features typical Maddin style and obsession with silent film era-style. This film is also notable for featuring one of the "Kids in the Hall" raping a ghost. 8/10

Perfect Sense (2012) Mackenzie  An interesting little indie sci-fi where the apocalypse is experience as a series of epidemics attacking one of the five senses. It starts when people begin losing their sense of smell, but after a few months, everyone gets used to this way of life and copes well until another syndrome strikes, leaving people without their sense of taste. Amidst these calamities, Susan (an epidemiologist) and Michael (a chef) strike up a precarious romance. 8/10

Trishna (2012) Winterbottom - I've never read Tess of D'Urbervilles but apparently this is a modern version of that story set in India. Trishna is the oldest daughter in a poor family and is given an opportunity to make a lot of money when a tourist offers her a job in his father's hotel. The son, Jay, also finds Trishna very beautiful and the two fall in love despite their different classes. However, the power dynamics quickly take their toll and it's clear this romance is doomed early on.. 7/10

Tyrannosaur (2011) Considine - An old drunk is maybe at the lowest point of his downward spiral. He has killed his dog during a drunken fit and has gotten into a brawl with some local hoodlums when he seeks refuge in a charity store run by a middle-aged Christian woman. She responds to his obvious distress by praying for him. Joseph visits Hannah several more times, sometimes to harass her, but soon the two develop a friendship when it becomes clear the Hannah's seemingly easy life is actually full of a lot of darkness and struggle. 7/10

Celluloid #159

In Theaters

This Must Be the Place (2012) Sorrentino - Sean Penn plays an aging rockstar who looks remarkably similar to Robert Smith, and has the strangest soft voice. Cheyenne is pretty bored with his cozy life in Ireland, but all that changes when his estranged father dies. He flies to New York for the funeral and discovers that his father spent the majority of his life searching for the Nazi responsible for torturing him in the concentration camps. Cheyenne decides to adopt this cause as his own, taking him all over the country. Also, David Byrne plays himself in the film. 7/10

In Home

Margaret (2011) Lonergan - Lisa is partially responsible for causing a bus accident that results in a woman getting run over and killed. Lisa's also a teenager so we see her at school, having sex, and fighting with her mother in that particular way that daughters and mothers do. In general she emotionally manipulates everyone around her. She also gets it in her head that the bus driver should be fired despite the fact that she initially lied to the police to cover up for him. Lisa is not a particularly likable person, but that's perhaps what makes this film so compelling for its long run time. Lisa is played by a pre-True Blood Anna Paquin. 8/10

Miss Bala (2011) Naranjo - A young woman named Laura is trying out for a beauty pageant gets sucked into the dangerous world of drugs and violence in Tijuana just for being at the wrong place at the wrong time. She tries to escape several time, but the drug guys always find her. Not wanting her family to be involved, she endures multiple indignities to protect them. This film makes Laura suffer so much - I guess to show the world how rough things are in Tijuana, but this shouldn't be news to anyone. 6/10

Monsieur Lazhar (2012) Falardeau - A teacher at a private Montreal middle school hangs herself in her classroom. The students take her death very hard and the administration hires an older Algerian immigrant to take her place, since they don't have a lot of options. Monsieur Lazhar's methods are much more strict and old-school compared to the other teachers. We also find out that he is grieving for his own family and struggling to be allowed to stay in the country. 7/10

Celluloid #158

In Theaters

Cloud Atlas (2012) Wachowskis & Tykwer - Adaptation of a beloved recent novel, but scraps many of the strengths of the book, namely the structure, to present a chaotic, jumbled film full of cheesiness, voiceovers, and heavy-handed messaging about how we are all connected. There are six distinct settings and sets of characters ranging from the 1800s to a post-apocalyptic time. I wouldn't say that I was ever bored for the nearly 3 hour run time, but probably best left in text form. 6/10

the Loneliest Planet (2012) Loktev - A couple is travelling around the Georgian Caucuses with a guide. Minimal plot, but incredible scenery - almost like watching something from National Geographic (and I'm guessing the title is a play on the Lonely Planet travel guide series). Not much happens until a group of men show up with guns and start speaking aggressively in a foreign language to the couple. Then something kinda small happens, but it changes the mood for the rest of the film, and undermines this seemingly ideal relationship. 8/10

the Sessions (2012) Lewin - This is the story of a man suffering from polio who has spent the vast majority of his life in an iron lung. In his later 30s, he gets a gig interviewing subjects to write an article about people with disabilities and their experiences with sex. This prompts Mark to start thinking about losing his own virginity. He gets in touch with a sex surrogate that provides him with his first sexual experiences, and maybe even falls for him. Crowd-pleasing, but a little too tidy-inspirational for my tastes. 7/10

In Home

Bernie (2012) Linklater - Bernie is a well-loved assistant funeral director in a small Eastern Texas town. He gets involved in a scandal when one widow develops a particularly close relationship with him. However, the widow soon becomes very toxic, jealous, and extremely possessive of Bernie, to the point that it's not surprising that he would feel smothered. Anyway, when she turns up missing, and Bernie is the primary suspect, the town refuses to believe that he had anything to do with it, or if he did, she most certainly deserved it - so deep is their affection for him. 7/10

Oslo, August 31st (2012) Trier - A man is finishing up a stint in rehab after struggling with drug addiction. His friends no longer know how to treat him, and he seems to struggle to find meaning in any human interaction. Trier is great with party scenes (see the "Deceptacon" sequence in his last film Reprise), but everyone should know this is a huge bummer of a movie...not that I have a problem with that. 7/10

We Need to Talk About Kevin (2012) Ramsay - Eva maybe always felt a little ambivalent about having a child, and Kevin fulfilled her biggest fears. Manipulative, even as an infant, Kevin cries constantly unless his father is around. He refuses to speak or potty-train long past appropriate ages. It's clear from the beginning of the film that Kevin has committed some Columbine-styled atrocity, and we are left to sort of the blame with Eva. 8/10

Celluloid #157

And for October's viewings:

Phenomena (1985) Argento - 9/10 : A girl has a special connection with insects; a quality that comes in handy when she withstands a series of attacks.

the Brood (1979) Cronenberg - 9/10: Psychotherapy and homicidal mutant children will ruin your life!

Tetsuo: the Iron Man (1989) Tsukamoto - 8/10: I don't claim to know really what is going on here, but a man with a metal fetish becomes turning into a metal machine to hilarious and often disturbing effect.

Argo (2012) Affleck - 8/10: Political thriller about getting 6 Americans out of Iran by using the guise of a sci-fi film production team.

Christine (1983) Carpenter - 8/10: A nerdy boy loves his car so much. And apparently the car loves him back and won't let anyone get between them.

Bless Their Little Hearts (1984) Woodberry - 8/10: LA Rebellion film about underemployment and the effects on self-worth and relationships.

Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012) Chbosky - 8/10: 90s coming-of-age story dealing with depression, homophobia, molestation, and general feelings of being an outcast.

Pet Sematary (1989) Lambert - 8/10: A family moves to Maine, next to a busy road and a cemetery that has powers to bring the dead back to life - just not the same as they were.

A Tale of Two Sisters (2004) Kim - 7/10: Two girls return home from a mental institute only to be tormented by their stepmothers and some ghosts.

Cabin in the Woods (2012) Goodard - 7/10: Meta horror movie where a group of friends who fit the archetypes (The Slut, The Jock, The Fool, The Nerd, & the Virgin) are unknowingly placed in a scenario where they have to fend for their lives.

Once Upon a Time in Anatolia (2012) Ceylan - 7/10: A group of men go searching for bodies around the countryside, and along the way discuss matters of getting older.

Ballerina (2009) Normand - 7/10: Documentary about 5 Russian ballerinas working at the Kirov.

Taken 2 (2012) Megaton - 7/10: Liam Neeson has to kick so much ass again, when his family is taken yet again...

Deathdream (1974) Clark - 7/10: A young man comes back from Vietnam - as a zombie!

the Paperboy (2012) Daniels - 6/10: Campy white trash mystery-thriller. Maybe trying too hard to achieve camp factor that it doesn't work...

the Innkeepers (2012) West - 6/10: Disappointing follow-up to House of the Devil. These ghosts are slow and boring.

Wuthering Heights (2012) Arnold - 6/10: Depressing love story of two adolescents in the English moors. He's black, and her brother drives him away. As adults, Heathcliff gets his revenge.

Pontypool (2008) McDonald - 2/10: Movies based on radio performances = so boring! I couldn't finish it, and it is a rare occasion when I turn a film off.

Celluloid #156

I've gotten so far behind in reviews that I considered just giving this up all together, but after 5 years, it seems a little sad to just stop. I'm hoping to resume writing regularly after the new year, but in the meantime, here's a ranking of everything I saw in September (picking up after the last entry):

House (1977) Obayashi - 10/10: A bunch of Japanese girls visit an aunt's house that is controlled/haunted by an evil cat who takes them out one by one. Ridiculous & bonkers in the best way!

Santa Sangre (1989) Jodorowsky - 10/10: Bizarro love story of sorts. Cults based on armless heroines. Circuses. Inappropriate parent/child relationships.

Looper (2012) Johnson - 9/10: Smart time travel movie where the main character has to face killing his future self, but can also have a hand in preventing future world tragedy.

the Master (2012) Anderson - 8/10: PTA! Vaguely about Scientology, specifically about the master/disciple relationship, and a lot of sex.

God's Country (1985) Malle - 8/10: Documentary about the economic changes in Middle America after Reagan took office.

Au Hasard Balthazar (1966) Bresson - 8/10: Sad tale from the viewpoint of a donkey.

What Time Is It There? (2001) Tsai - 7/10: Taiwanese (aka slow) where a street vendor who sells his watch to a girl leaving for Paris, can't stop thinking about her

Bachelorette (2012) Headland - 7/10: Bridesmaids + Mean Girls.

Celluloid #155

In Theaters

Cosmopolis (2012) Cronenberg - The dialogue is so cold and stiff in this film that initially I hated it. However, after a while I settled into its cadences and decided to view the film more how I treat "cult movies" than as a serious endeavor. Eric spends most of his day in a limo travelling across town to get a haircut. Along the way he eats a couple meals with his wife, has sex with basically every woman who ends up in the car, gets stuck in the middle of a protest involving rats as currency, and even has a prostate exam. 2.5/5

Killer Joe (2012) Friedkin - Quite possibly the blackest black comedy I have ever seen, and the movie that I am most grateful to have gone alone without accompaniment for the screening. Joe is a detective, but works on the side as a killer for hire. This idiot drug dealer, Chris, has his drugs stolen by his mom, and his solution to the problem is that she needs to die in order for him to collect the insurance money to pay off the suppliers. Unfortunately, without the money upfront, Chris is forced to offer up his virginal sister to Joe as a retainer. A total white trash noir full of violence and super depraved sex. 3.5/5

Lawless (2012) Hillcoat - Three brothers live in Franklin County, Virginia during Prohibition. They make a pretty nice living distributing moonshine, benefitting from a local legend that their family is invincible. However, the two older brothers are seemingly tough from birth, while Jack the youngest just doesn't have the same violent streak. The cozy arrangement they have with local law enforcement gets unsettled when a new evil official from Chicago is brought in. He immediately sets his sights on taking the brothers out. There's an annoying voiceover at the beginning and end, but otherwise I really liked this film. 4/5

In Home

the Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) - An alien lands on Earth, but he looks surprisingly human, so he's able to blend in. People at a boarding house take him in. He becomes close with one woman and her son, and also tries to track down a scientist who may be able to help him get back. The main message is that Earthlings need to start making better decisions to avoid war or else they will destroy the entire planet - something definitely on the minds of many in the 1950s. Also, very charming special effects. 3.5/5

A Face in the Crowd (1957) Kazan - Andy Griffith as you've never seen him before! After spending a night in jail for drunken behavior, Lonesome Rhodes gets interviewed and recorded for a local radio station. He gains popularity and eventually becomes a star. However, the fame gets to his head and starts giving up the values that made him popular in the first place, and develops a personality more sinister and pathetic. 4.5/5

Outside the Law (2010) Bouchareb - Three brothers from Algeria are forced to move to France. One is jailed for political unrest. One comes back from the army and starts a family. The youngest makes his living through providing vices - namely prostitutes. The brothers end up at each others' throats based on where they place their identity (French or Algerian). All together this story is fine, but a little too close to a message movie. 3/5

Celluloid #154

In Home

Calendar (1993) Egoyan - Strange little film where most of the time we follow a photographer in Armenia with his wife and a tour guide, taking pictures of historical monuments for a brochure. These scenes are interspersed with evidently present-day scenes where the photographer is on a bunch of dates with various women. All the dates take place at his house, and every time he pours the wine, this becomes the cue for the women to ask to use the phone. Their calls are always in a foreign language (probably Armenian?) and seem to be erotic in content. Once the calls begin, the photographer takes out a notepad and begins writing. 3/5

3-Iron (2004) Kim - We meet a young man who breaks  into peoples' homes while they are on vacation, but instead of robbing them, he cleans things up, maybe takes a bath, looks at photo albums, or masturbates. At one house, it turns out that the wife is still there. It also turns out that she is abused by her husband, and finds herself strangely attracted to this intruder. The young man gets sent to jail, but the connection has already been made. 4/5

Wages of Fear (1953) Clouzot - Some town in Central America is suffering from extreme poverty. A fire breaks out at an oil field where many people have died. A reward is offered to the first truck that can deliver a shipment of nitroglycerin. It's an extremely dangerous job that requires two people per team. The liquid is very flammable and cannot be shaken around too much or it will explode and kill everyone around. Some poor men from the town and a couple of has-been gangsters take the job...but I think you know how this saying ends. 3.5/5

Celluloid #153

In Theaters


the Dark Knight Rises (2012) Nolan - I've always liked this franchise, but I don't love it. I go for the spectacle, and this delivered on that front. Batman is getting old, and doesn't want to help out Gotham anymore, however, once Bane comes on the scene, someone must put a stop to it so he limps out of retirement. I like Tom Hardy a lot in films like Warrior, Inception, and Bronson, but here he has to wear a ridiculous mask and have a voice that is somehow reminiscent of the giant turtle mountain from the Neverending Story. I think the most welcome addition was Anne Hathaway as Cat Woman. Anyway, I would think you would know by now whether this is your kind of deal. 3.5/5

In Home


Bad Boy Bubby (1993) de Heer - Bubby is 35 and has been locked up in an apartment with his mother for his entire life. She abuses him in the worst ways. Besides never allowing him to leave the house, go to school, or even become a little socialized, she also engages in incest and beats him occasionally. Then she reconnects with Bubby's father and essentially kicks Bubby out. Alone on the streets, people surprisingly take good care of the weirdo. He eats a lot of pizza, ends up singing in a band, and has a fair amount of sex for a gross-looking idiot. 3.5/5

Broken English (2007) Cassavetes - Parker Posey's recent appearance on Louie and my recent viewing of Party Girl made me want to seek out more of her work. She plays Nora, a 30 something who cannot get it together when it comes to relationships. Everyone else in her life is coupled up, but she just keeps meeting the wrong guys. Then she meets a younger French guy at a party, and the two hit it off. The relationship hits a snag when he decides he has to move back to France. He asks her to come with, but she's too afraid, and doesn't feel like they know each other well enough. After more time passes, she takes a huge longshot and tries to find him in Paris. The movie and tone are all quite fine, but why does Nora wear the worst clothes?? 3.5/5

Imitation of Life (1959) Sirk - A struggling actress takes in a black woman, Annie, and her daughter Sarah Jane, even though she doesn't really have money to pay them. Sarah Jane can pass for white and struggles throughout the movie to distance herself from her mother and her black identity. Meanwhile, Lora does become famous and almost gets involved in a love triangle with her daughter and a man - Thankfully we don't get into some Mildred Pierce territory. Tragedy is the only logical ending for this very melodramatic (not in a bad way!) film. 4/5

the Red Balloon/the White Mane (1953-1956) Lamorisse - These two short French films are incredibly charming, and I think would be ideal to show children (and adults) to introduce them to world cinema because there's barely any dialogue, and instead you get a series of beautiful and memorable images. I think I probably liked the Red Balloon a little more - a young boy starts getting followed around by a balloon. Other boys get jealous and try to steal it and later to destroy it, but the balloon and the boy keep getting reunited as he walks around the city. In the White Mane, a wild horse escapes capture by a bunch of French cowboys, but gets nabbed by a young boy. Both are worth 30 minutes of your time. 4.5/5

Celluloid #152

In Theaters

Beasts of the Southern Wild (2012) Zeitlin - You should see this film first and foremost for the memorable visuals. This is the story of Hushpuppy and her dad who live on an island off the coast of Louisiana. A storm of Katrina-caliber hits, destroying the makeshift life that they had made for themselves. Hushpuppy narrates this film and injects the right amount of child perspective and imagination without things getting anywhere close to being sappy. This film feel so "American" with its history of poor blacks, white trash, Southern Gothic, hard-drinking, firework sensibilities. My only complaint is that the music is too overpowering at times, but otherwise I loved it. 4.5/5

Safety Not Guaranteed (2012) Trevorrow - Enjoyable enough movie about three reporters working on a story about a Craigslist ad seeking a partner for time travel. Initially the three think Kenneth might just be a paranoid nut, but as Darius (Aubrey Plaza) gets to know him, it seems as though he just wants to connect to a simpler, happier time, and she begins to fall for him. Then things get a little wacky as they gather supplies for the time machine and try to shake some government officials. 3.5/5

Take This Waltz (2012) Polley - I still love Michelle Williams, but this movie is pretty bad, and it does make me question whether Sarah Polley is a total weirdo. Margot is married to Lou, a chef writing a cookbook about chicken. While on a writing assignment, Margot meets Daniel and the two have instant chemistry. Things get complicated when Margot realizes that Daniel lives right across the street. She struggles with whether she should start an affair, or stay loyal to her loving but bland husband. The characters are all pretty off (the gross babytalk meets gore, all of Daniel's outfits, his job, and his lame art), but mostly what bothered me was the horrible dialogue. People are constantly saying things in this film that no real person would ever say. 2/5

In Home

Domain (2009) Chiha - A young man and his aunt seem uncomfortably close. She is a mathematician and an alcoholic, but seems to enjoy keeping Pierre around as company. He finds her fascinating and original until she makes a desperate move on him despite the fact that he is gay. This film doesn't really do much of anything, but I do appreciate some of the more atmospheric scenes, especially the slow-motion dancing in the nightclub. 3/5

Harakiri (1962) Kobayashi - Poverty-stricken samurais begin turning up asking for a place to commit harakiri, but in reality just want a handout. One house decides to put an end to this behavior by using one such samurai as an example. However, this samurai did not have real blades on his sword, so was forced to disembowel himself with the bamboo replacements. At the time, the lords believe that the lack of blades only proves how much of a weasel and fake this samurai was, and feel justified in their actions. Years later, another samurai shows up at this house making the same request, but before he commits his ritual, he reveals that the first samurai was his son-in-law who just really loved his daughter and needed a doctor for her and their dying baby. 4/5

Party Girl (1995) Von Scherler Mayer - Mary is a total party girl, but needs to start making some real money. Her godmother gives her a position as a library clerk. After criticizing Mary for not being serious enough, Mary pulls an all-nighter learning the Dewey Decimal System (this film is a total love letter to library science), and she becomes a model librarian. There's also a romance with a Lebanese food vendor and plenty of silly dancing. 4/5

Celluloid #151 (Rapid Fire Edition)

I have gotten so far behind, that I'm just going to spit out all of the movies that I've watched in the last month with even shorter synopses than usual...in hopes that I'll be able to get it together to get back on track soon!

In Theaters


Alps (2012) Lanthimos - Follow-up by the director of Dogtooth. Centers around a group of people who  offer to "act" as replacements for the recently deceased to help their families grieve. However, their own identities become quite muddled. Absurd, extremely dark humor. 3.5/5

First Position (2012) Kargman - Documentary about ballet dancers competing in the Youth America Grand Prix. 3.5/5

Lola Versus (2012) Wein - Lola has been dumped by her fiance three weeks before her wedding. She copes by sleeping with her ex's best friend, trying to date around, moping around the with a message I support, but played too on the nose for my taste. 2/5

Magic Mike (2012) Soderbergh - Mike is a construction worker by day and a male stripper by night. Alex is a dumb 19 year-old who can't keep it together at the construction site, so Mike decides to take him under his wing and introduce him to his other professional life. I could care less about all the beefcake, but Channing Tatum's dancing is great and all together this movie made me smile. 4/5

Moonrise Kingdom (2012) Anderson - New Wes Anderson about two pre-teens who fall in love and runaway together causing the community to band together to find them. 4/5

Prometheus (2012) Scott - Unnecessary prequel to Alien. A group of scientists go searching for the origins of life and receive a violent welcome upon their arrival. 3.5/5

To Die For (1995) Van Sant - It's been a long time since I've seen this classic Van Sant...PFA was doing a screening. Suzanne is ambitious about working her way into television. She has a small gig as the weathergirl for a local channel, and starts taking on investigative projects, particularly examining the lives' of adolescents. She begins to feel that her marriage is holding her back, so she convinces some of her subjects to do some dirty work for her. 4.5/5

Your Sister's Sister (2012) Shelton - Jack is still grieving the death of his brother. His best friend Iris sends him to stay at her family's cabin, but when he arrives, Iris' sister Hannah is already occupying the residence, reeling from her own personal drama. The two hit it off, creating an awkward love triangle. 3/5


In Home


Bronson (2008) Refn - Stylish biopic of England's most violent prisoner. 4/5

Talk to Her (2002) Almodovar - One of the first Almodovar movies I ever saw and still one of my favorites. One man loses his lover in a bullfight. He meets another man who works as a nurse in the hospital, but that man has a creepy love affair with one of the patients in a coma. 5/5

Test Pattern #12

America's Next Top Model (Cycle 18) - Cycle 18 seems to be the death knell for this long running guilty pleasure. The theme this time was "British Invasion" where Tyra pits British models against American girls. Unfortunately, the scale seemed a little tipped because all of the British girls had been on previous cycles of Britain's Top Model, while the Americans had little to no experience. Honestly, all though my picks came in the top three, this season was so boring, with really lame photo shoots. I think it may be time to pull the plug.

Community (Season 3) - This show seems to be particularly divisive amongst my friends - I enjoy the pop culture references and playing with genre conventions, even if the show doesn't really go anywhere with a plot. I think it's a shame that Dan Harmon, the showrunner is no longer attached.

Fringe (Season 4) - Who can even keep straight what is going on in this show anymore? In addition to the two worlds (ours and an alternate) now I believe we are supposed to keep at least two different timelines in mind. It's not that I don't like the show, because I definitely do, but I often have to consult with my roommate to work out logic, characters, plot, etc. because it does seem like the show expects you to have an excellent memory.

Game of Thrones (Season 2) - While not quite as good as the first season, things are still getting exciting in the 7 Kingdoms. Everyone wants Joffrey dead, Daenerys gets her dragons stolen for a time, Theon acts like an idiot, while Tyrion may have found his calling. Oh, and Jon Snow almost loses his virginity and Arya poses as a boy. War has broken out this season, and of course, winter is coming...

Girls (Season 1) - My favorite debut of the year caused quite an uproar online and amongst reviewers. The basic premise is that four girls live in Brooklyn. They are all white, 20-something, fairly educated, and definitely part of the "leisure class." The show gets criticized for its lack of diversity, but I think if you are honest when examining most people's close circle of friends, you will find a lot of homogeneity. I found this show incredibly relatable, being an aimless 20-something myself for a time. The friendships and even the relationships with the guys in the show are really truthful and sadly funny.  I'm glad it'll be back on in the Fall because I can't wait to spend more time with these ladies.
 
In Treatment (Season 2) - Now that Dr. Paul Weston is separated from his wife and being sued by a patient's family, he starts his practice up again in Brooklyn. He treats a middle-aged woman who used to be his patient 20 years earlier and regrets not settling down; a young woman with cancer; a boy whose parents are undergoing a divorce; and old man who starts out the CEO of a big company but stress and guilt force him to step aside; and Paul's own treatment with Gina where he is still dealing with his father issues and acting like quite the asshole in his sessions.

the Killing (Season 2) - When this show first started, it had a lot of promise and perhaps too many Twin Peaks  references, but I found myself attracted to the dynamic between the two detectives. This second season did little to redeem itself after the season 1 finale that left so many people feeling angry. I was willing to go along for the ride, but what was presented was a lot of fairly uninteresting red herrings, and B-plots that I could have done without. I guess they finally wrapped up the case this season, but its conclusion was far from satisfying.

Mad Men (Season 5) - The ladies are growing up, moving on, and getting what they want this season. I felt bad about "Fat Betty" and how much of a villain she has become, but am always interested in life through Sally's eyes, and am looking forward to seeing their mother/daughter relationship evolve. Don seems to have gained a bit of a conscience this season, but I think it's just because he's getting older, and he's starting not to fit in with mainstream society.

the Office (Season 8) - Why do I even keep watching this show? I'm not that into Robert California and found Nellie an even more irritating character. Jim and Pam may as well not exist...I really just want to see Kelly and sometimes Ryan, which is unfortunate, since I don't think either of them will be on the show much anymore.

Parks & Recreation (Season 4) - I think this was a really good season! Leslie running for office makes her even more of a stress case than ever, and I like Ben (Adam Scott) as her boyfriend. Ron and April always bring the straight-faced laughs and the secret hearts of gold. Tom and Ann as a couple is too weird, but I like them both so much individually that I'll allow it if it means they are still vital to the show.

30 Rock (Season 6) - Liz has a boyfriend - weird! Jack has a lot of sexual tension with Avery's mom and then she comes back from Korea. Kenneth is no longer a page - weird! There is not nearly enough Tracy in this season, and while there are certainly some funny episodes or gags, it's probably for the best that there is only one more season.

Veep (Season 1) - Started watching this on HBO streaming as a time killer.  The episodes are really short, but it took a few for it to find its stride. It's nice to see Buster Bluth again and Julia Louis-Dreyfus is a great comedic talent. Worth watching for a few hours.

Art Garfunkel Memorial Reading List (January - June 2012)

1.) JR - Gaddis (1/3)
2. ) My Last Sigh - Bunuel (1/9)
3.) the Instructions - Levin (1/26)
4.) the Marbled Swarm - Cooper (1/28)
5.) Madame Bovary - Flaubert (1/31)
6.) Wide Sargasso Sea - Rhys (2/4)
7.) Will You Please Be Quiet, Please? - Carver (2/7)
8.) Are Prisons Obsolete? - Davis (2/12)
9.) Birds of America - Moore (2/15)
10.) Omeros - Walcott (2/27)
11.) This Shape We're In - Lethem (2/28)
12.) the Lost Books of the Odyssey - Mason (3/3)
13.) Memory Wall - Doerr (3/7)
14.) the Leftovers - Perrotta (3/8)
15.) Ready Player One - Cline (3/16)
16.) American Gay - Murray (3/24)
17.) Collected Stories of Eudora Welty (4/17)
18.) Death on the Installment Plan - Celine (4/24)
19.) the Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven - Alexie (4/26)
20.) the Driver's Guide to Hitting Pedestrians - Prunty (4/30)
21.) the Chronology of Water - Yuknavitch (4/30)
22.) Runaway - Munro (5/3)
23.) Pulphead - Sullivan (5/8)
24.) the Night Circus - Morgenstern (5/18)
25.) Farther Away - Franzen (5/23)
26.) the Stories of John Cheever (5/26)
27.) Hot Pink - Levin (5/30)
28.) Motorman - Ohle (5/31)
29.) the Devil All of the Time - Pollock (6/6)
30.) Matterhorn - Marlantes (6/18)
31.) Black Tickets - Phillips (6/20)
32.) Nog - Wurlitzer (6/30)

Celluloid #150

In Theaters


Snow White & the Huntsman (2012) Sanders - Updated feminist take on the classic Snow White story. This time we get more of the evil queen Ravenna's backstory - she is basically taught that her power lies within her beauty, and she ends up supernaturally stealing young girls' beauty to keep surviving. Snow White is her stepdaughter that she keeps locked in a tower. Snow White is not only "fairer," but possesses a kind heart and admiration from the animals. Kristen Stewart is not a very good actress and seems to look scared or weepy all of the time, leaving the viewer confused as to why dudes are always falling for her. Something worth watching on the big screen for its visuals. 3.5/5

In Home


Flesh (1968) Morrissey - Jack works as a hustler when he needs some money. His wife wants him to pay for her girlfriend's abortion. This is typical Morrissey/Warhol with interesting or appealing actors in the department of looks, but weird stilted dialogue. Joe Dallessandro is a pleasure to look at; really no big surprise considering his status as a gay icon of masculinity. 3/5

Office Killer (1997) Sherman - Doreen works in an office where she is often under-appreciated. Initially a couple people die accidentally and Doreen takes them home where she sits them on her couch. Then she starts taking a more direct role in staging the murders. There is goofy, outdated technology and delightful roles played by Molly Ringwald, Michael "Christopher" Imperioli, and Jeanne Tripplehorn. 4/5

Tideland (2005) Gilliam - Jeliza Rose cope with her shitty life by immersing herself in fantasy. Right at the beginning, her mother dies from a drug overdose. She and her dad take off for Texas for fear that CPS would take her away with all of the elicit substances in the house. Once they reach her dead grandmother's home in Texas, her dad O.D.s on the first night. Jeliza seems to ignore this reality by dressing her dad up in wigs and make-up. She also plays with four detached Barbie doll heads to create most of the film's dialogue. She befriends a woman who turns out to be connected to her, and develops an inappropriate crush on a retarded boy. The boy has his own variety of issues and often lives in a fantasy where he is the captain of a submarine, and has plans to blow up the "land-shark" aka the nightly train that passes through town. 3.5/5

Celluloid #149

In Theaters


Polisse (2012) Maiwenn - Watching this felt very much like watching a couple episodes of a French version of "Homicide: Life on the Streets" except these detectives investigate child protective concerns rather than murders. We see a variety of cases - all pretty depressing with many involving some form of molestation. In addition to the cases, we get to see an insight into the detectives' personal lives. Overall, a fairly enjoyable view, and even includes a short dancing sequence, but I really didn't like the ending. 3.5/5

In Home


the Basketball Diaries (1995) Kalvert - Jim's doing heroin. There are many reasons he has gotten to this point - his best friend is dead, his dad isn't around, his mom is a poor nag, his friends huff, and he goes to Catholic school where his coach wouldn't mind touching Jim's dick. The only things that give Jim any reason to live are basketball and writing. The first half is much better than the second. Once Jim has become a total addict, the acting gets a little overwrought and the performance art scenes toward the end made me want to groan. 3/5
 
Nobody Knows (2005) Koreeda - A mother abandons her four kids in an apartment. Already the younger three have to keep their existence secret, and only the 12 year-old attends school. Once the mom leaves, apparently to start a new life with another man, the kids do all right for a while, withdrawing money from the ATM and getting the surplus from a local grocery store. However, as time passes and none of the bills are paid, utilities begin shutting off and they have no way of getting assistance without fear that Child Protective Services will come and split them up. The film emphasizes mood and imagery and depicts childhood in a way not often seen. 4/5

Red Road (2006) Arnold - A woman who works for the city surveillance crew one day sees on camera the man responsible for killing her family in a car crash many years earlier. Since he has already served his prison sentence, she decides to get him into trouble again by staging a rape of herself. 3.5/5

Celluloid #148

In Theaters


the Sound of My Voice (2012) Batmanglij - A journalist (Peter) and his girlfriend (Lorna) are trying to penetrate a cult in order to make an investigative documentary. The cult leader, Maggie, is a young woman who claims to be from the year 2054. She's more of a quiet presence than a big charismatic personality, but her meetings include emotional breakthroughs and puking up apples. This film loves its ambiguity, much to the frustration of some viewers, but I found myself interested the entire time and fine with all of the unanswered questions. 4/5

In Home


Dead Presidents (1995) Hughes Brothers - It's the 1960s and Anthony decides that college isn't for him, so he enlists. After two tours in Vietnam, he returns to meet his daughter and gets sucked into a life of petty crime. Frustrated with the lack of jobs and lack of respect, he gets a crew together for an epic robbery of an armored  vehicle delivering currency to be destroyed. The heist does not go as planned and everyone has to face the consequences. 3/5

the Leopard (1963) Visconti - Old school Italians getting scandalous - love triangles, revolutions, betrayals, etc. Ultimately very forgettable for me despite featuring heartthrob Alain Delon. 3/5

Paper Moon (1973) Bogdanovich - First off - I loved this film. Moze, a 1930s grifter/con man goes to pay his respects at a former lover's funeral. He gets stuck transporting the daughter (presumably his daughter also, all though he denies it) to a relative in another state. Along the way this sassy, cigarette-smoking girl proves herself to be gifted with the skills necessary to con, and the two develop a successful scheme and a surprisingly touching friendship. In addition to the charming story, this film also looks great and I would recommend it to anyone. 5/5

Test Pattern #11

Homeland (Season 1) - The return of Claire Danes to television, and probably the best debut season to come out in a while. Claire plays Carrie, a gifted CIA officer who believes that a returning POW has been turned by enemy forces. That game of cat and mouse is already compelling on its own, but Carrie's a bit more complicated with her sexual habits and her secret mental illness.

In Treatment (Season 1) - A glimpse inside Dr. Paul Weston's psychology practice. The episodes follow one patient's therapy for each day of the work week, including Paul's own therapy with a colleague, for about 6 weeks. Season 1 has Laura and all of her relationship and transference issues, Alex and his PTSD and father issues, Sophie the teen gymnast and her attempted suicide, and Amy & Jake's crumbling marriage. Meanwhile, Paul is dealing with his own family drama, namely that his wife is having an affair.

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (Season 4) - Well the gang continues to act badly. Season 4 doesn't offer up anything particularly different, so I would assume that people have decided if they like this show or not by now. I do have to point out that this season contains one of my least favorites episodes - "Who Pooped the Bed?"

New Girl (Season 1) - I really wanted to not like this show. I've been saying that Zooey Deschanel is totally overrated for years - just a cute girl with her stupid cotton commercials. However, after accidentally watching an early episode, and being prepared to hate it, instead I found myself laughing aloud and relating a lot to the characters. I think the show is smart in addressing Zooey's brand of quirk and how it may be off-putting for some, but I also think it has a lot of heart in the interpersonal relationships between all of the roommates.

RuPaul's Drag Race (Season 4) - I think this season may have had the weakest competition yet. There really wasn't a clear frontrunner until the last few episodes. Also, I think the girls were not required to do as much difficult costume construction...previous episodes have made a big deal about who could sew and who couldn't, but that never really came up. I'm happy with the winner, but even she was a queen that I initially didn't like, but really came around to for her sense of humor throughout the season.

Skins UK (Season 5) - I don't think any generation of the Skins cast will be as compelling as the first one. This time we have Franky, an androgynous girl who experienced a lot of bullying at her last school. Matty and Nick, brothers who struggle with each other, but even more so against their father. Mini the bitchy virgin, Liv the slutty one, and Grace the good girl are all best friends. Grace also gets involved with metal rocker Rich. And then there's weirdo Alo. I think it's fair that this show is getting cancelled.

the Voice (Season 2) - Coaches got have twice as many people on their teams to increase show duration (apparently something that NBC needed badly to boost their ratings). The blind auditions were fun again, but during the battle rounds, I think the judges made some really poor choices. Even after many favorites were gone, I still felt compelled to watch. Some other noticeable trends were that America for a while only seemed like it was going to save the men in the competition. Also, Christina seemed to be on quite the bitchy rampage this year. Where last year Adam and Christina seemed to have a sibling type relationship, this year I felt like she made a point to criticize Adam and his final team member at every chance. She also cannot shut up about herself, even when trying to give someone a compliment. I hope she settles down next season.

the Walking Dead (Season 2) - This season immediately correct the problems with the ending of season 1. For most of the season, the group is staying on a farm. The family that still lives there vacillates between being on good or bad terms with Rick and company. There's also a number of shocking deaths, but I was glad that the show went there. 100% better than the previous season.

Celluloid #147

In Theaters


Damsels in Distress (2012) Stillman - This was my first taste of Wilt Stillman and initially I really didn't like it. This film reminds me very much of another talky white person film called Kicking and Screaming by Noah Baumbach which I hated. However, as this film progressed, I got accustomed to the rhythm of the stilted too-clever dialogue, but still didn't care very much for the story. Some saving graces for me were the dancing scenes - the tap dancing and line dancing in particular. 3/5

the Five-Year Engagement (2012) Stoller - I'm not normally one to go in for romantic comedies, but there's been such a dearth of offerings at the theater that I caved for this one. Unfortunately, this one certainly did not transcend its genre. The movie meanders quite a bit, doesn't have enough charm or laughs, and the characters make bad decisions in a way that doesn't exactly cause you to root for them. It wasn't terrible, but I think will prove to be totally forgettable. 2.5/5

In Home


the Falls (1980) Greenaway - I appreciate Greenaway's sensibilities on full display in this strange mockumentary chronicling a group of people whose last names all start with F-A-L-L. Each person is suffering from disorders related to an apocalyptic event, and these disorder often seem to center around birds in some way. I enjoyed the style and the content, but three hours is two hours too many. 3/5

Sins of the Fleshapoids (1965) Kuchar - the Kuchars reveled in B-cinema glory. This film looks pretty shitty, but in a bizarro campy way, and has an enjoyable story at its heart. In the distant future, humans have human-like servant robots called fleshapoids. Eventually one of these fleshapoids becomes fed up with his role, rebels against his master, causes chaos, and falls in love. 4/5

Celluloid #146

In Theaters


John Carter (2012) Stanton - I know this film was a huge flop, but I really don't think it was too bad for what it is - a PG-13 sci-fi adventure. It conjures up Star Wars, Gladiator/Cleopatra. John Carter is a rogue civil war soldier who get accidentally transported to Mars through a gold cave. While on Mars, he is taken hostage, but he can jump incredible lengths and appears to be much stronger than the martians (I think this is supposed to be as a result of the difference in gravity). He takes interest in a princess and tries to help her save her people from a rival tribe. 3/5

the Hunger Games (2012) Ross - In the future, society will be dealing with a food shortage, but will still be very much into reality television. There are twelve districts that surround a capital who every year hosts "The Hunger Games", a televised fight to the death between 24 teenagers. Each district holds a drawing to see which male and female between the ages of 12 & 18 will represent their district. Katniss is our protagonist, and is the female "tribute" from District 12, the poorest district. She is accompanied by Peeta, a boy who has crushed on her for years. Because she is from the poorest district, she is already quite adept at hunting for survival. I know many people have criticized this film for being too close to Battle Royale, but I have to say that I enjoyed both films, even if I found them both to be a little slight. I have no desire to read the books, but I can safely say that I will see the sequel. 3.5/5

the Kid With a Bike (2011) Dardenne - The Dardenne brothers are always dealing with bleak subjects in a naturalistic way. This film is much less bleak than some of their others - a kid, Cyril, has been dropped off at a home/boarding school full of troubled youth. He finds out that his dad has moved and realizes that his dad has not only sold his beloved bike, but has essentially abandoned him. Fortunately, a hairdresser, Samantha, agrees to let Cyril stay with her on the weekends. Her character is quite amazing to watch. 4.5/5

In Home


Last Night (1998) McKellar - The movie opens with only 6 hours until the end of the world. One guy is trying to fulfill all of his sexual fantasies. Others are looting and overturning cars. Patrick spends part of the evening with his family in a re-enactment of Christmas, but wants to be at his own home when the end happens. He lets a woman looking for her husband use the phone and ends up spending his last hours helping her out. Not everything is explained, and that's perfectly fine by me. 3.5/5

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010) Wright - Pretty silly and gimmicky film where Scott has to battle Ramona's seven ex-boyfriends Street Fighter-style in order to date her. This film is supposed to feel very hyper like a video game. There's enough fun and cleverness to sustain the first half to two-thirds of the film, but by the time we have to deal with Jason Schwartzmann as the villain, I had grown bored. 3/5

Celluloid #145

In Theaters


Wanderlust (2012) Wain - A New York couple finds themselves priced out of the city. Initially, they decide to move in with George's brother in Atlanta, but along the way they stay the night in a B&B that turns out to be a commune. They wake up to a digeridoo and a party, but their initial annoyance turns into enjoyment. There are some funny parts in the movie, but I didn't think it was as good as the other Wain movies I have seen (Wet Hot American Summer, Role Models). I enjoyed seeing Jennifer Aniston and Lauren Ambrose play these comic characters. Other than the lack of some serious laughs, my only complaint is that the ending is way too tidy for my tastes. 3.5/5


In Home


the Invisible Man (1933) Whale - A scientist looks to make a discovery leading to fame.. After years of research, he manages to turn himself invisible. Unfortunately, one side effect seems to be that he becomes quite mad and power crazy. He has little issue with killing anyone who stands in his way. I loved the old school effects. 4/5

Slumber Party Massacre (1982) Jones - Exactly what you would imagine: Some high school girls have a slumber party, engage in various levels of drugs or sex and are soon attacked by a murderer on the loose. 4/5

Celluloid #144

In Home


Andromeda Strain (1971) Wise - Unexpectedly, everyone in a small town in New Mexico dies mysteriously. The only two survivors are a baby and an old drunkard. Scientists are brought in to figure out what kind of virus or organism is causing this level of destruction. The lab is complicated and retro and there's always worry that they will have to self-destruct to prevent further contamination. The best example of 1970s sci-fi. 4/5

Fallen Angels (1995) Wong - One of Wong Kar-Wai's earlier films. Follows three main characters, all of which don't seem to have names. There's the assassin who shoots up businesses. Then his female business    partner who also has unrequited feelings for him. Lastly, the mute guy who has strange after hours activities of taking over businesses while they are closed and forcing potential customers into doing uncomfortable or scary things until they offer him money. He also falls in love and spends time with his elderly father. I don't really understand what this film is all about, but I enjoy watching typical Wong Kar-Wai's colors and aesthetics. 3.5/5

Suzanne's Career (1963) Rohmer - Guillaume and Bertrand are best friends. Guillaume makes a game of going to beds with girls. Bertrand is shy, unlucky in love, and often despises the girls who cave too easily with Guillaume. Suzanne is Guillaume's latest conquest. Guillaume bores of her quickly, but then the boys decide to take advantage of her free-spirit and willingness to spend money on them. Bertrand feels a little bad about it and even falls a little for her. A portrayal of complicated relationships. 3.5/5

Celluloid #143

In Home


the Arbor (2011) Barnard - Experimental documentary about the playwright Andrea Dunbar. She grew up in England's version of the projects and had her first play published at the age of 15. All of her plays were based on autobiography and observations from the neighborhood. Her life was sad and full of poverty. She struggled with alcoholism and mothered three children, each with a different father, none of which she took particularly good care of. This movie is unique for the interview style where actors lip synch the actual recorded interviews of friends and family. Sounds like it could be gimmicky, but actually works quite well in this story. 4.5/5

Dirty Harry (1971) Siegel - Harry Callahan is a San Francisco cop trying to stop the Scorpio Killer. This movie is stylish and totally effective as an over-the-top action flicks where we get to see crazy criminals get what's coming to them . There's also a laughable conservative undercurrent, especially obvious when Harry manages to catch Scorpio, only to have him released because he did not follow proper protocol. I think we are supposed to be outraged by liberal concern for due process and civil rights...in any case, while my politics weren't swayed, I was completely into this. 4/5

Rebel Without a Cause (1955) Ray - Classic teenage derelict film, but surprisingly tame. (It's possible that I'm just not calibrating correctly for 1955). Jim is new in town and doesn't have any friends. He drinks some and gets into fights primarily as a form of rebellion against his wealthy parents. He has a crush on the neighbor girl, but her boyfriend is a douchebag and Jim gets into a knife fight with him. Unable to finish their fight, they decide to meet up later for a game of chicken, which ends disastrously for the douche. The girl seems to get over things remarkably fast, and the next thing you know, she's telling Jim she loves him. Pretty silly, but important in the history of "teen" films. 3.5/5

Celluloid #142

In Theaters


the Grey (2012) Carnahan - Liam Neeson vs. wolves. This could have been a fun man vs. nature story, but there were numerous problems: 1) Really bad dialogue. 2) Not nearly enough wolves. 3) Too much serious God-talk. All of the above could have been remedied if the film didn't take itself so seriously. Up the camp, and I would have been in. 2/5

A Separation (2011) Farhadi - The film opens with an Iranian couple filing for divorce. She wants to move to the West to give her daughter a more free life, while he wants to stay to take care of his elderly father. The clerk will not grant the divorce, so she moves into her parents' house. He is forced to hire an in-home care person to look after his father while he's at work. A series of events happen to trigger even more courthouse drama. This film is great primarily for the way each character seems like a real person, and it is easy to sympathize with just about everyone involved. A taut legal and family drama that also manages to shed a lot of light on class differences in Iran. 4/5

In Home


Miral (2010) Schnabel - Pretty forgettable film that traces Palestinian presence in current-day Israel from before and after the influx of Jews. Initially, we see a lady start a school for orphans and I guess we are supposed to see the inherent good in this culture. (PS - what is Willem Dafoe doing in this movie?) Decades pass and we see one student, Miral, grow up and become involved with a revolutionary movement. A big disappointment from a director who made one of my favorite films of 2007 - the Diving Bell and the Butterfly. 2/5

the Wave (2008) Gansel - A teacher with anarchist leanings gets assigned to teach Autocracy. Through class discussions, the students complain about discussing the Third Reich yet again, because Germany is "way beyond that." Mr. Wenger decides to conduct his own social experiment, with the Autocracy class as his guinea pigs. Unfortunately, the outcome is way too obvious, and predictable, and worst of all, preachy. 2/5

Celluloid #141

In Theaters

Haywire (2011) Soderbergh - Steven Soderbergh was impressed watching a MMA match featuring former American Gladiator, Gina Carano, to the point that he decided to make a film around her. She plays Mallory, a government agent whose boss tries to kill her, so in return she tries to kill him and anyone who gets in her way. You watch this film to see her be a badass and to rough up a bunch of dudes. Those scenes are totally delightful. The acting may not always be the best, but who cares! (There are also plenty of feminist messages to take away if interested, but the film never shoves that in your face.) This and Warrior would be a quality MMA-centered double feature. 4/5

In Home


Bellflower (2011) Glodell - This may be the bro-iest film that I have ever watched. Two dudes build flame throwers, get drunk, get in fights, and hang out with blonde girls. Woodrow and Milly meet at a bar while participating in a Fear Factor type activity and the two hit it off. We see their blossoming romance and the eventual dissolution of their relationship, which then touches off an epic downward spiral for every character in the film. This film succeeds at representing an accurate depiction of a certain SoCal subculture of gearheads, however, I don't think it succeeds much as an actual film. It often feels like an amateurish student film, and I feel like so many critics are giving it a pass because the budget was extremely low and the cars and flamethrowers are pretty cool and took forever for the two main guys to build in real-life. The director seems like a sweet guy, but this film does present a pretty low opinion of ladies that is had to shake. No recommended double feature...you should probably just watch Mad Max instead, because that's the film these guys are obviously obsessed with. 2/5

Cold Fish (2010) Sono - The Japanese do not disappoint in bringing together ultraviolence and fetishistic sex as an antidote (or signifier) of repression. Humorously, the two main male characters (Mr. Murata and Syamoto) are both fish store owners. Mr. Murata's store is much fancier and has rarer fish, but we soon find out that his wealth does not originate with the fish, but rather with his yakuza-like lifestyle. He and his wife have made many people disappear and force the timid Syamoto to become an accomplice for fear of retaliation against his bratty teenage daughter or his slutty new young wife. Ironic double feature with Finding Nemo. 3.5/5

Possession (1981) Zulawski - Super crazy film that would have you believe that Anna is demon-possessed, but based on the actions of her husband Mark, you could also make a case for his possession. There's also a gross monster involved. The last third spirals out of control (which is amazing considering how little sanity there was to begin with) into almost sheer incomprehensibility. This totally belongs in the New Cult Canon and would pair nicely with Splice for a double feature. 4/5

Celluloid #140

In Theaters


Pariah (2011) Rees - Alike is a teenager who gets straight As and wants her parents to be proud of her, but she's also a lesbian - something they are in denial about. Alike feels out of place everywhere. At home she is supposed to be a good Christian girly-girl. At the lesbian club, she isn't hard enough. She befriends a girl from church and the two strike up a connection. At every turn, we see someone hurting Alike emotionally, and sometimes physically. My only complaint is that the music and poetry are too cheesy. 4/5

In Home


Fay Grim (2006) Hartley - This is a sequel of sorts to Henry Fool. I hate that this movie is shot at a diagonal. In order to get her brother out of jail, Fay strikes up a deal with the FBI to go on a spy mission. Along the way she also finds out that her husband isn't really dead. This is a slow thriller, artsy beyond belief, and includes Hartley's signature stilted dialogue. I have loved some of his other movies, but this one didn't do it for me. 3/5

the Good Son (1993) Ruben - Mark's mom dies and his father sends him to live with an uncle and cousins for a while. Henry is basically Mark's age and initially the two seem to have a good time roughhousing and breaking windows, but over time, Henry's hijinks seem increasingly sinister. The worst part is that no one believes Mark. Henry skillfully turn the adults against Mark under the guise that he is grieving. Except for the very last two minutes of the movie, this had the best ending ever! 4/5

HappyThankYouMorePlease (2011) Radnor - This is essentially a hipster ensemble romantic comedy. Sam is cute but immature. On the way to talk to his publisher, he gets tangled up with a young black boy escaping his foster home. His friend Annie is bald, falls for the wrong guys, and has a fan in Buster Bluth.   Mary Catherine is Sam's childhood friend and she doesn't want her boyfriend Charlie to move to LA. In between Sam's adventures in babysitting, he also pursues a relationship with a local girl at a bar. He cute-schemes to get her to stay over for three days. Overall, he seems pretty annoying for dating purposes. The movie often comments on the cliches, but I can't decide if the self-reflexivity makes things better or worse. 2.5/5

the Red Shoes (1948) Powell & Pressburger - Victoria Page wants to become a famous ballet dancer. She gets picked up by a famous director, as does a young composer. Victoria gets notice for her role in the ballet called "The Red Shoes." That dance sequence is really interesting - beautiful and cool old-school special effects. Victoria also falls in love with the composer, much to the distaste of the director. He manages to separate them, but she chooses love over fame, at least initially. Tragedy ensues. 4/5