A Few More of My Favorite Things
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- CreatorAdam ReedStarsH. Jon BenjaminJudy GreerAmber NashCovert black ops and espionage take a back seat to zany personalities and relationships between secret agents and drones.Picking up where I left off in my original A Few of My Favorite Things list, this is clearly what happened to the writers of Arrested Development - there are too many parallels to mention here.
I like this even more than Arrested Development, not just because the jokes are even more over the top and adult-oriented but also because the use of animation has freed the writers and actors from the constraints of real-world continuity, allowing them to perfect their comedic timing. - DirectorAlfred HitchcockStarsCary GrantGrace KellyJessie Royce LandisA retired jewel thief sets out to prove his innocence after being suspected of returning to his former occupation.Weird to think that Hitchcock would pay homage to the quintessential Lubitsch film. Well, sorta. The other half is the same old Hitchcock plot-heavy plod. In my book, Hitchcock's greatest strength was sparkling banter.
- DirectorVincente MinnelliCharles WaltersStarsLeslie CaronMaurice ChevalierLouis JourdanWeary of the conventions of Parisian society, a rich playboy and a youthful courtesan-in-training enjoy a platonic friendship which may not stay platonic for long.While the songs and sets are what get the most praise (and Oscars), for me it's the performances that sell this lighter-than-air bit of fluff - even Eva Gabor digs in with gusto.
- DirectorPaul WendkosStarsSandra DeeJames DarrenCliff RobertsonA young girl discovers surfing and love (in that order) during one transitive summer.Although I've loved both for over a decade, it wasn't until I made this list that I realized how much in common Gigi and Gidget have. Gigi is the more accomplished movie in terms of the acting, songs, and every technical aspect, but in terms of Sandra Dee's enormous appeal and the infinite superiority of Malibu to Deauville, Gidget is the Big Kahuna.
- DirectorGeorge MillerGeorge OgilvieStarsMel GibsonTina TurnerBruce SpenceAfter being exiled from the most advanced town in post-apocalyptic Australia, a drifter travels with a group of abandoned children to rebel against the town's queen.By far my favorite Mad Max, this shares the quirky world building of Fury Road, but concentrates on Max (as great as Tom Hardy is, he's no Mel Gibson - and I think Miller recognized this), then throws in some cute kids with funny accents to care about.
And I may be alone in thinking this but Tina Turner was a brilliant choice. - DirectorHayao MiyazakiStarsKirsten DunstMinami TakayamaRei SakumaA young witch, on her mandatory year of independent life, finds fitting into a new community difficult while she supports herself by running an air courier service.This comes closer than any other Miyazaki film to realizing his frustrated attempts to make a Pippi Longstocking film - Kiki's town is partly modeled on Visby, the setting of the Astrid Lindgren Pippi TV series. It's no Pippi ripoff, but Kiki is spiritually akin - and even more enjoyable.
- DirectorGary TrousdaleKirk WiseStarsPaige O'HaraRobby BensonJesse CortiA prince cursed to spend his days as a hideous monster sets out to regain his humanity by earning a young woman's love.Watching this movie makes me cringe. Thinking about the plot makes me wince. Listening to it, though - pure joy.
- DirectorChris BuckKevin LimaStarsTony GoldwynMinnie DriverBrian BlessedA man raised by gorillas must decide where he really belongs when he discovers he is a human.Surprisingly, Phil Collins is responsible for one of my favorite Disney soundtracks, but, besides having one of the better Disney stories, what really puts this one over the top for me is Minnie Driver's spirited voice acting - I love her voice.
- DirectorMartin CampbellStarsDaniel CraigEva GreenJudi DenchAfter earning a licence to kill, secret agent James Bond sets out on his first mission as 007. Bond must defeat a private banker funding terrorists in a high-stakes game of poker at Casino Royale, in Montenegro.Far superior to every other James Bond film, this almost perfectly blends the Bond mythos with a modern Bourne sensibility. Favorite scene: I'm the money.
- DirectorZack SnyderStarsGerard ButlerLena HeadeyDavid WenhamIn the ancient battle of Thermopylae, King Leonidas and 300 Spartans fight against Xerxes and his massive Persian army. They face insurmountable odds when they are betrayed by a Spartan reject.The greatest (only good?) pro-war film.
- DirectorJames MangoldStarsRussell CroweChristian BaleBen FosterA small-time rancher agrees to hold a captured outlaw who's awaiting a train to go to court in Yuma. A battle of wills ensues as the outlaw tries to psych out the rancher.Two consummate action stars flirt with each other manly-style.
- DirectorLana WachowskiLilly WachowskiStarsEmile HirschMatthew FoxChristina RicciYoung driver, Speed Racer, aspires to be champion of the racing world with the help of his family and his high-tech Mach 5 automobile.I like cars and Christina Ricci - sue me.
Seriously, though, this movie is much more than that. Combine excellent performances by John Goodman and Susan Sarandon with a pitch-perfect adaptation of the spirit of the original anime, and you have a nearly perfect movie. You just have to be on board with what the Wachowskis are trying to do here; unfortunately, it appears that most people did not buy in. - DirectorJ.J. AbramsStarsChris PineZachary QuintoSimon PeggThe brash James T. Kirk tries to live up to his father's legacy with Mr. Spock keeping him in check as a vengeful Romulan from the future creates black holes to destroy the Federation one planet at a time.The opening sequence brings tears to my eyes every single time. It goes mostly downhill from there - but when you start your base jump from orbit, there's plenty of room to fall without hitting Planet Suck.
- DirectorChristopher NolanStarsLeonardo DiCaprioJoseph Gordon-LevittElliot PageA thief who steals corporate secrets through the use of dream-sharing technology is given the inverse task of planting an idea into the mind of a C.E.O., but his tragic past may doom the project and his team to disaster.The Matrix Infinity.
- DirectorNicolas Winding RefnStarsRyan GoslingCarey MulliganBryan CranstonA mysterious Hollywood action film stuntman gets in trouble with gangsters when he tries to help his neighbor's husband rob a pawn shop while serving as his getaway driver.Gosling Style.
- DirectorGuillermo del ToroStarsIdris ElbaCharlie HunnamRinko KikuchiAs a war between humankind and monstrous sea creatures wages on, a former pilot and a trainee are paired up to drive a seemingly obsolete special weapon in a desperate effort to save the world from the apocalypse.Apparently somewhat polarizing, the litmus test is your reaction to the pulling out of the sword: *groan* or "hell yeah!". Like Speed Racer a true labor of love. I am actually not a particular fan of either the original Speed Racer anime or of kaiju or mecha movies, but one need not be a fan to appreciate the enthusiasm and craftsmanship that went into these two films - and to root for Rinko Kikuchi.
- DirectorJames GunnStarsChris PrattVin DieselBradley CooperA group of intergalactic criminals must pull together to stop a fanatical warrior with plans to purge the universe.I don't even like Marvel movies, and the Marvel Universe parts of this movie feel tacked on and tacky.
What differentiates this from all other Marvel movies is a script that doesn't take itself too seriously yet provides real human touches and the best performances of any superhero movie. A few of my favorites: Chris Pratt singing into a rat, Karen Gillan's slink, Zoe Saldana putting on Chris Pratt's headphones, and the nuances of Vin Diesel's "I am Groot".
But what most keeps me coming back for more is when Peter opens his mom's present - I cannot conceive of a more perfect ending. - DirectorDoug LimanStarsTom CruiseEmily BluntBill PaxtonA soldier fighting aliens gets to relive the same day over and over again, the day restarting every time he dies.Without Liman and Blunt, this is no better than Oblivion. Liman has some fun with the premise, though, and Blunt makes everything she's in watchable.
- DirectorChristopher NolanStarsMatthew McConaugheyAnne HathawayJessica ChastainWhen Earth becomes uninhabitable in the future, a farmer and ex-NASA pilot, Joseph Cooper, is tasked to pilot a spacecraft, along with a team of researchers, to find a new planet for humans.Nolan's take on Contact, with fine performances all around. Favorite character: TARS.
- DirectorPaul Thomas AndersonStarsJoaquin PhoenixJosh BrolinOwen WilsonIn 1970, drug-fueled Los Angeles private investigator Larry "Doc" Sportello investigates the disappearance of a former girlfriend.A somewhat difficult watch the first time through, but gets better with each viewing.
The writing, performances, and direction are all wonderful, but what really makes this possibly P.T. Anderson's greatest film is the remarkable sense of time and place and the rapid-fire absurdist humor. Joaquin Phoenix does a commendable job as the straight man, letting the colorful supporting cast go to town.
Standouts: Joanna Newsom's endearing narration, Katherine Waterston's seduction, Witherspoon and Phoenix together again, every scene with Josh Brolin or Hong Chau.