The summer movie season has come and gone. In this edition of 10 Questions, I look back at this summer’s movie season along with a look to the fall movie season. To help me preview and look back, I’m joined with fellow Film Arcaders Kelsey and the head of Film Arcade.net, Mr. Tony DeFrancisco.
1) First question, what was your favorite movie of the summer?
Tony D: I really don't want to say "Wall-E"… but… "Wall-E." It's not only my favorite film of the summer, and it's much more than just my favorite film of the year. It is one of the best movies ever made. It's Pixar's smartest work. It is the best romantic movie since "Casablanca." Aside from "Wall-E," I really enjoyed "Wanted," "Kung Fu Panda," and "Hamlet 2."
Kelsey: Same as the favorite of most I am sure: The Dark Knight. It is really amazing that even though so much hype and high expectations were surrounded by it, it still was able to beat those and give us something of an even higher quality. The Dark Knight had the classic good vs. evil themes like in any superhero story, but it did so much with this, putting it forth to the context of our society. It is obvious that evil is surrounding us in this world. The Dark Knight questions whether it is simply too much to overcome and suggests one day we will be the spitting image of the darkness that we frown upon today. Visually, the film does wonders as this darkness is shown through the city of Gotham and all of the corruption surrounding it. Not to mention there was a lot explored with characters many of us know but are going through entirely new revelations here. The performances, most noteably Heath Ledger's and Aaron Eckhart's were incredible and compared the pure demented insanity and killer instinct to the extreme desire and passion to do good. The dialogue was interesting, funny, and chilling at the same time. The Dark Knight really had everything, the love triangle done right with 3 people we are able to truly care about, the action alongside some brutal deaths, comedy, in a mostly ironic, sick and twisted way, and the suspense, and pessimistic moral thinking. For a summer movie, this is about as good as you can ever hope to get.
Anthony: I would say “The Dark Knight” but since this would be the popular choice, there was a little film from IFC films that really touched me in a film-going way and that was “In Search of a Midnight Kiss”. The film was very good in the way it captures Los Angeles. It felt like a character in the film. The film also has great performance from Scoot McNairy and Sara Simmonds. These two had great chemistry with each other, which helped make film special.
2) There were a lot of good performances this summer, which was you favorite performance and why?
Tony D: I'm going to stay away from the Heath Ledger, the Robert Downey, Jr., and the Aaron Eckhart and go with James McAvoy in "Wanted." Some people can say that "anyone" could play this role, but define anyone. Mike Myers? Shia LaBeouf? Emile Hirsch? How about Jason Statham? Yeah, I thought not. And he was too uber-badass come the end of the movie. "Wanted" was the bomb.
Kelsey: Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight hands down. This is the best performance in awhile and the best rebirth of a character ever. As a fan of Ledger for many years, I am proud that he was able to bring so much life to the character of The Joker. This is partially because of make-up, but it is hard to really even tell that it is Ledger behind this demented man. He has created something so far from himself and done it with such perfection. The dark humor is exerted pleasantly disturbingly by Ledger. The one liners and the creepy mentality that he gives them, make nearly everything that comes out of his mouth hilarious. He uses a fictional politeness that is really just sarcasm and a way to get under the skin of everyone around him. At the same time his motives make him all the more evil. He has no selfish reasons for torturing innocent lives the way he does like many in the crime business. He wants to be in control through his mind and through his strength, creating these elaborate and hopeless vicious traps. Killing wasn't enough for him, he had to influence others to be as sadistic and cold hearted as he was since he believed this was the future for all mankind anyway. It made you smile and laugh constantly, just the image of him was so invigorating and intriguing yet dark, unsettling, and creepy.
Anthony: This one I would have to go with the obvious pick, and that’s Heath Ledger’s performance as The Joker in “The Dark Knight. His performance ranks up there with some of the best villainous performances ever.
3) Which movie kind of surprised you this summer in either box office number or the overall film?
Tony D: "The Dark Knight" when it broke box office records, obviously, but I kind of saw that coming opening weekend. "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" has left theaters now, and what has happened at the box-office was all said and done, but I'm glad to see it made more money than I expected. I would have liked to see a higher box office gross for "Speed Racer," "Death Race," and "Star Wars: The Clone Wars," but what can you do?
Kelsey: Well The Dark Knight had the most impressive box office numbers as it made history with the opening weekend as well as how long it stayed at number one. The extent of the success was surprising, but for me the real surprise of the summer was The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2. I enjoyed the first one a lot and was somewhat interested in this one, but the previews really didn't give me insight on just what I was about to experience. It is a great movie that explored a pivotal time in every person's life. It explored the four main character's lives very well going through everything from independence, their futures, pregnancy, love, trust issues, family, and death. It centered on them all going away to different schools far away from each other. I think this is something that everyone can either look back on and relate to, are dealing with it now, or will in the near future. The questions of how to keep those who are close to you while still never hesitating and going after your dreams is there and something that most of us deal with. Life can be a balancing act sometimes and the film portrayed wonderfully that sometimes you fall and crash before you can have that balance. Most importantly, it surprised me how much of an emotional experience this was for me. I cried several times at different storylines in the movie. I could relate or feel for the characters and what they were going through. These things were made very real for me and stayed with me for quite some time after I left the theater. In my eyes, if a film can make you feel and can get through your senses and have an impact on you on that, than it is a success
Anthony: I would have to say Get Smart, from a movie-going stand-point and a box office stand because I had little expectation going into that film, but I found myself enjoying it a lot more that I expected, as it was funny and Steve Carell really played Maxwell Smart very well. I honestly didn’t think that he could pull it off, but he does very well. Also I was a little surprised that the film did 129 million at the box office especially with it’s opening weekend at 39.1 million. I thought it would be one of the summer’s major disappointments, as it had all the makings, but thankfully I was wrong.
4) Which of the summer films was the most disappointing?
Tony D: "Mamma Mia" definitely. But then there are films like "Henry Poole is Here" and "The Love Guru" that are just so terrible. "Journey to the Center of the Earth" was only made so it could make money off of the 3-D and "Hancock" was good until the second half came along. "The Happening" was laughably bad and it put me on a trip through all of Shyamalan's movies. "What Happens in Vegas" was completely terrible and "Indiana Jones IV"… yeah, what the fuck about that movie?
Kelsey: The one that the biggest let down for me was Mamma Mia. I still enjoyed the movie and had a lot of fun with certain parts too. It was really just a shame, because the movie could have been a lot better than what it was. I really like upbeat, fun musicals and since it had the very talented Amanda Seyfriend alongside Meryl Streep in it, I was hoping this would deliver. First of all, the ending was terrible, it was your classic "we don't have a solution to the problem so we are using a lack of a solution as the answer" ploy. This was just frustrating since we waited throughout the whole movie for this and it really just took us in circles. Meryl Streep was wonderful and Amanda Seyfried was simply glowing throughout the entire film. While this did increase the likeability and care we had for their characters, the male leads and even the characters themselves really weren't able to keep up with them. Also, most of the film seemed like the same thing and it lingered towards the end. Some of the musical numbers were a lot of fun, while others were a bit more bland. I did like how they dealt with youth, but overall the film fell short of what it could have been.
Anthony: I’ll answer that question on what the fuck happened on “Indiana Jones”, Tony. I wouldn’t say to any director to go away but man, I wish that George Lucas would disappear, as everything he touches nowadays turn into disappointing and dull material. I was very disappointed with “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull”. To me it didn’t feel like an “Indiana Jones" film, it felt like a sci-fi film instead. There were a few good moments but Indiana Jones and aliens, just doesn’t work for me. The screenplay was very dull and the action was boring and uninteresting, especially when you have the main villain be so lifeless. Also the beginning of the film set the toured tone of the film, as nothing made sense for most of the film. Lucas and Spielberg should have left the franchise alone, as it ended perfectly in the last film.
5) Out of all the summer films that came, which was the most underrated film of the summer?
Tony D: The most underrated film of the summer must be a tossup between "Death Race" and "Speed Racer." Both films were an enormous amount of fun that you don't need to go into thinking all intelligent and shit. They're two summer blockbusters that define that word "exciting."
Kelsey: Who knows, maybe it is just my fondness of Anna Farris, but The House Bunny seems to be the movie that I loved that most other people were not quite so fond of. Anna Farris’ comedy really registers brilliantly with me. This and Smiley Face, a somewhat awkward but completely hilarious movie based mostly one all of the crazy little things, had me laughing harder than I have in awhile. I will even admit I wasn’t laughing through out all of The House Bunny, but when I was laughing it was so hard that it actually made me start to cry. Anna Farris is lively, energetic, and very funny, mostly from the abstract way she sees the world. I was thrilled with how well Emma Stone worked alongside her, she played a dork very well and I was happy that she was able to make her character believable although she hasn’t played this type of a role before. Stone always gives very solid performances even when the movie she is in isn’t perfect and I think we can expect to be seeing more of her in the future. It seemed that a lot of people didn’t even bother seeing this and those that did didn’t think it was more than average. Anna Farris’ sense of comedy that is completely wacky, silly, and out there, seems to be underappreciated by most people, which is a shame since she is such a talented actress that holds nothing back and is able to make me have a great time anytime I am watching a movie with her, but especially when it is one she has the control to work her magic. Aside from The Dark Knight, The House Bunny is the movie I had the most fun with this summer and I hope others will be able to find a similar appeal in it.
Anthony: “In Search of a Midnight Kiss”, see question #1
6) Now onto the Fall, We’ll go month by month. Which three films are you looking forward in September and why?
Tony D: 1. "Miracle at St. Anna" – Spike Lee is one of the greatest filmmakers ever, and this (really long) war film should be one of his greatest works. And I also think that this film will be good since Joseph Gordon-Levitt stars.
2. "Choke" – I read the book a while back and I LOVED it. Now I really can't wait to see it.
3. "The Lucky Ones" – I'm sure we're all in war-overdrive right now, but I think this one can promise. I mean, it can't be worse than "Lions for Lambs," right?
Kelsey: 1. Burn After Reading- I haven't seen the film yet, but the trailer looks pretty amusing. I like the concept of these average guys having something very valuable in more ways than one, and most will screw things up at some point or another. Not to mention it has a great cast: Brad Pitt, John Malkovich, George Clooney, J.K. Simmons. Also, The Coen brothers are talented directors that have shown us time and time again that they know what they are doing. Between the direction of them and the gifted actors in the film alongside a story that has a lot of possibilities, I think we can expect a quality film.
2. Hound Dog- Although, certain aspects of Elvis are bound to be dealt with in this film, it seems to be much more about his music and the effect it has had on others, which can be a very powerful thing. I also see a lot of moral implications and discovery of some of the mindsets that may be enduring far more troubling questioning than you would expect. The lifestyle shown in 1950's, partially in response to Elvis' music, is shown in country life and how it is alive to one little girl, even when other parts of her life aren't quite as appealing as the music she uses as her salvation . Personally, I have been a fan of Dakota Fanning since her performance in, I am Sam, and she continues to give very dedicated performances. From the looks of this material, this may be the most adult and intense role she may has played yet since sexual measures may be a price her character has to pay to get where she is trying to go.
3. The Lucky Ones- Yes, there have been plenty Iraq and post-Iraq war films already. Many of these haven't been a success. Although, this one seems to deal with consequences of the war it does this on a personal and individual context, making it seem like less of a political scolding. Of course, Rachel McAdams draws me to this and she seems very charming and authentic here. Also, Michael Peña, who gave a moving and very emotional performance in Crash plays one of the main characters. Really what interests me in The Lucky Ones is that it seems to be a real character piece that takes us on a journey with a few very interesting characters, all who have revelations and their own personal journey to go through.
Anthony: 1) Burn After Reading – Saw it and reviewed it already. See my review at: http://www.filmarcade.net/2008/09/burn-after-reading-review-written-by.html
2) Ghost Town – I’m a big fan of Ricky Gervias, as I liked him in Extras and The Office, and also starring Greg Kinner, who I think is an underated actor after being in such good films like “Little Miss Sunshine” and the little seen but very suspenseful “Unknown”. It’s seems interesting, as it might be a good film with Gervis taking center stage.
3) "Miracle at St. Anna" – This film interests me because this is the first time that Spike Lee is directing a war film. Also the film has an interesting cast that includes Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Stop-Loss, The Lookout), John Turturro (O Brother Where Art Thou, Transformers), Derek Lee (Catch A Fire, Friday Night Lights) and John Leguizamo (The Happening, Tv’s “The Kill Point”).
7) Which three films are you looking forward in October and why?
Tony D: 1. Zach and Miri Make A Porno – This is an obvious choice for me because I'm a huge Kevin Smith fan and I love everything the guy does, including "Jersey Girl." So "Zach and Miri" automatically has to be number one. And I hear that Craig Robinson steals the show in this one, which is good. The motherfucker needs to be recognized
2. "RocknRolla" – The more positive buzz I hear about the film, the more excited I get. This is Guy Ritchie's most positively reviewed film since "Snatch," and after "Swing Away" and "Revolver," he really needs a good movie. I also heard that he is writing a sequel for this. Quick, BUY INTO THIS ONE!
3. Tie – "Blindness," "Appaloosa," and "Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist" – I couldn't choose between any of these three movies. All three are very different ("Blindness" is a suspense drama, "Appaloosa" is a Western, and "Nick and Norah" is a romantic comedy), but I became enticed into all of these films by their trailers. If any of these films are half as good as their trailers are, they will be receiving at least a three out of four from me
Kelsey: 1. Saw V- I am mostly curious as to what they will do with this one. I am actually a fan of Saw IV and thought it was the best one since the original. I really enjoyed that they concentrated on Jigsaw the man, and how he became such a cynic of mankind: developing the mind of a disturbingly intelligent killer. This put some great insight in to the character and the series as a whole. I felt it brought us back to the first film where this horrible torture was masked by a dark and creative mind. I am curious to see Saw V and if they can continue with the smart direction Saw IV put the series in rather than reverting back to some of the sequels that relied much more heavily on attempting to out do the massive amounts of gore of the previous one. Based on storyline alone, this will have to go in a different direction. Jigsaw and his demented yet still interesting ways he sees humans and the world was always the element that I enjoyed the most from the movies. I don't want a Jigsaw Jr., but I would also like to see it follow the same mentalities that made the first film so good. It really needs to find a way to stay true to the original concept of the film, while bringing it in a new direction, perhaps giving us new perspectives and complicated questioning of whether what we are seeing is as concretely evil without reason as we would like to think. More than anything, I am looking forward to Saw V so I can see how the new turn and our new villain play out and to see whether it is taking a step back or giving the series entirely new possibilities.
2. Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist- I am not expecting this to be one of the best comedies of the year, but I think it will be a very enjoyable, slightly off beat film that gives us some drama, comedy, and romance as our characters are nursing their heartbreaks with one another. I really look forward to seeing Michael Cera and Kat Dennings working together as it seems that the chemistry will really be there. They seem to really be able to capture characters that are individualistic, quirky, yet immensely likeable. They have a very relatable quality to them and both do well with comedy as well as very human emotions and teenage struggles. Seeing the two of them together is enough reason alone to see this movie. Also, Aaron Yoo (Disturbia, 21), plays one of Cera's band mates. He always gives a great energy to whatever he is in and offers us a refreshing personality that I am sure will play well of off Cera's.
3. Zach and Miri Make a Porno- First of all, it is a Kevin Smith film. I don't think I have even seen a film of his that I haven't had a great time watching. His upcoming horror film, Red State, will be the test of that. Even if that ends up being his failure, I will still have an immense amount of respect for him for trying something different. I am pretty sure Zach and Miri Make a Porno will be a safe bet, since getting comedy out of sexual circumstances is really Smith's area of expertise. Also the two leads, Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks work wonderfully together. Even before they had direct contact in The 40-Year-Old Virgin, they both gave off hilarious vibes and talked about each other in comedic ways. They both had an almost overpowering sexual drive in the film and you really need look no further then their spoof video, "I'm Fucking Seth Rogen", when wondering about the abilities to deliver in a film together about creating an amateur porno. I love everyone on the Apatow team and they have given me very many laughs over the last couple of years, but I am happy to see Rogen particularly working with someone outside of the group of actors and those involved with Apatow productions that he always seems to have another movie with. The story has been done before but it is the comedy and performances that I expect to make the film a lot of fun.
Anthony: 1) Quarantine – Yes I know it’s a remake of REC, but I’ve been wanting to see REC, ever since reading the reviews and seeing the trailer for it. This is closest to seeing that film, but if Quarantine looks anything like the trailer, this may be a film that I might talking about at the end of this year.
2)Synecdoche, New York- This film I’m very interested in seeing since this is the directorial debut of Charlie Kaufman, who wrote two of the most surrealist films that I’ve ever seen, Enternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Being John Malkovich. The film also stars Philip Seymour Hoffman. Love to see this film, but it's one of those limited release films that probably won’t play in my area. So, it might be a wait for DVD for me.
3) Zack and Mimi Makes a Porno – Hot women and Kevin Smith directing, enough said.
8) Which three films are you looking forward in November and why?
Tony D: 1. "Repo: The Genetic Opera" – I first heard about this movie the week that "Saw IV" opened, almost a year ago. That was when it was supposed to open in April. Since then it was pushed back so it could be worked on a bit more. Darren Lynn Bousman obviously put his heart and soul through this project, and hopefully it will show.
2. "Milk" – And the award for best trailer of the year goes to… "MILK!" I don't think any trailer drawn me into such interest than this trailer did. This could be a lock for Sean Penn, but could Gus Van Sant get his career situated with this film?
3. "Slumdog Millionaire" – I've heard nothing but good things from this film since its premiere at the Telluride Film Festival. Since then it won the highest honor at the Toronto International, which only raises my expectations more. It has since been moved up a week to November 21. That should be an interesting week – Emo vampires, a talking dog, a movie in vein of "August Rush," and this flick. It should be good.
Kelsey: 1.Twilight is really the movie I am most excited for right now. I quickly fell in love with the books and right now Twilight is like an addiction for me. Just as I am finishing the series, the promise of a movie coming soon is more than enough to trigger my excitement. As a big fan of horror and romance this is the perfect film since the story of it intertwines the two together so beautifully. Also, I currently have a minor obsession with vampires, which was no doubt exceeded by my fondness for the books. I will be the first to admit that most vampire films aren't the greatest, but this is just because the truly intriguing ideas and themes haven't been played with like they should. Themes of eternity, capability to love, and a primitive blood thirsting nature. The Kiss, an independent horror romance, has come the closest to hitting on these themes, but as long as the books are remained true to and the movie is able to express the devoted minds and forever continuous difficulties of the characters than I see no reason why Twilight can't be the best vampire and the best love story in quite some time. My one worry is that no doubt I will be holding the film to the highest of standards to bring life to the completely captivating and mesmerizing relationship and conflicts that the book deals with. Also, Edward is basically described as a beautiful walking god, unlike any sight you will ever see, so the biggest test is if they can actually get a normal person to bring everything that he is to life.
2. Milk- I always enjoy character films of real life figures, and this one centers on Harvey Milk, San Francisco's first openly gay supervisor in 1977. This can bring a very real situation to the eyes of the masses and in a context where homo-sexuality, that is still fighting for some sense of understanding and equality today, was put through great turmoil in a time that was far less tolerant than the wavering society of today. There also seems to be some interesting relationships explored after all we have Sean Penn and James Franco playing lovers, two immensely talented actors. With Emile Hirsh in the cast as well, it will really be a joy just to watch them and how they bring out their characters and work with one another. Without a doubt, this will be a story of struggle surrounded by a lot of bad, making it more interesting and appealing.
3. Role Models- Well I have much higher expectations for the previous two I mentioned that I am looking forward to in November, but I am sure there will be some enjoyment to be had with Role Models. At least, Seann William Scott is doing something that looks a little smarter than Mr. Woodcock, which was just such a waste of the many talented actors involved. Luckily, he is working aside of Paul Rudd, who always gives a bright and charismatic performance even when he is in an undeserving film like in the case of Over Her Dead Body. Also, we have McLovin himself, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, playing a geek once again, but the problem of his new mentor now. Also, we have the lovely Elizabeth Banks, who seems to be an abundance of films lately, and the always hilarious, Jane Lynch. David Wain, as the director of the very unconventional, daring, and very funny, Wet Hot American Summer and more recently, The Ten, hopefully will be able to give this a fun and out there twist that we aren't seeing from every other comedy.
Anthony: 1) Repo: The Genetic Opera – This looks like a great horror film from the director of Saw II – IV, as already heard a couple of songs from the film and I’m hooked on them. But, the main question is will this film get a decent theatrical release. The rumors that I’ve been hearing is that Lionsgate is ready to shit on this film like it did with Midnight Meat Train, by releasing it in limited release. If the rumors are true then a profanity laced rant might be coming against these fucking clowns, as I’m getting sick of the way that Lionsgate is abandoning their horror films for crap like a watered down Punisher sequel, Tyler Perry films and that My Bloody Valentine remake in 3D. You can read my passionate plea at: http://www.filmarcade.net/2008/09/open-letter-to-lionsgate-president-joe.html
2) The Soloist – The reason for wanting to see this is the fact that it stars Robert Downey Jr. That’s reason enough for me, as I’ll watch almost anything he’s in. This is also the fourth film that he’s starred in this year (Charlie Bartlet, Iron Man, Tropic Thunder). The film also co stars Jamie Fox (Ray, Collateral) and Catherine Keener.
3) Milk – This is Gus Van Sant’s second film to be released this year, as “Paranoid Park” was released back in March. I think that this might be the film that gets him back to being noticed again one of Hollywood’s great directors, as he hasn’t done anything really noteworthy since “Good Will Hunting". Also this is a political film, and that’s one of my favorite subgenres.
9) Which three films are you looking forward in December and why?
Tony D: 1. "The Wrestler" – From what I hear, this is Mickey Rourke (and Darren Aronofsky's) return to form. I loved Rourke in his last comeback role in "Sin City" (in which he is one of the main reasons why it is my favorite movie of all-time), and from what I hear, I'll be leaving the theater saying Mickey Rourke and "Oscar nomination" in the same sentence. Darren Aronofsky hasn't been respected as much as he should be since he made "The Fountain," but I must say that this film is really interesting me.
2. "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" – I think Kelsey says it perfectly. I don't need to say much more.
3. Tossup between "Valkyrie" and "Defiance" – Both films are WWII films (as is "Miracle at St. Anna), but they all look very interesting. I'm glad to see that "Valkyrie" moved up for some good ol' Oscar competition, but I don't know how far that's going to get this year.
NOTE: Some of you are going to be noticing where "The Spirit" is on this little list. I'm still looking forward to it, but not nearly as much as I was before. Still, I'm hoping that I get a little bit out of it.
Kelsey: 1. Bitch Slap- I have heard great interviews with the leading cast and their enthusiasm on the movie has had me anticipating this one. The film is a throwback to the films of the 70's and sounds similar to Grindhouse. None of our main characters are very "good", between the stripper, the drug dealing killer, and power broker. There is no guarantee that we will even like these characters, but it is these complications that will make the movie interesting. Perhaps, we will be brought in to a world where no one is very likeable, and these immoral flaws are simply what you have to use as a defense. Either way it seems clear that the movie will have plenty of style. The movie just seems like a lot of fun and I think whether it is a great film or not, it will be an enjoyable theater experience, especially with the counter marketing it is aiming at with its' expected Christmas release.
2. Crossing Over- The film centers around immigration through several different characters and storylines and although this has been done before it seems like this movie could be interesting. As Director, Wayne Kramer, is a naturalized citizen, I can expect that he would put a lot of himself in to the script and would direct this in search of a piece of truth. If anyone was going to direct this story I would want it to be someone like Kramer. The film looks as if it will give us some desperate situations and interesting characters, all with dire reasons why they need to migrate. I am not expecting this to be anything revolutionary, but still think it could be a worthwhile film. With Sean Penn, Harrison Ford, and Ashley Judd headlining it, I am sure a thing or two can be done with the journey the characters are traveling physically and within themselves.
3. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button- The story of a man who ages in opposition: from old to young, surely gives plenty of room for conflict growing young in a world that is designed to work completely the opposite of you. Not only does this leave room for some very deep psychological thinking, as well as hardships with forming relationships that are bound to break, but it will also give us a vitalizing visual world of fantasy. I have never read the 1922 short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald, which this is based on, but the premise does sound promising, especially headlined with David Fincher directing. Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, and Tilda Swinton should be able to bring this all to life. Brad Pitt is in similar surrounding as he has recently worked with Swinton and has repeatedly worked with Fincher, which has resulted in great films, hopefully this will be no exception.
Anthony: 1) The Spirit – Frank Miller is in the directing chair for this one. From the film’s trailer, it has a “Sin City” feel with nourish type story and the shot like that film and 300. I will be definitely in line to see this one before year’s end.
2) Nixon/Frost – This is the latest film from Ron Howard. The reason that I’m interested is that I’m fascinated with Nixon story and Watergate scandal and yes, the fact that Ron Howard is directing the film. The film stars Frank Langella, Michael Sheen and Kevin Bacon. I’m sure this will be a truly eventful film.
3) The Wrestler – I hope this is the film that puts Darren Aronofsky on the map, because he’s a very talented director. I’ve enjoyed all of his films. The film is getting the most attention for Mickey’s Rourke’s performance, which might be Oscar’s worthy. This is a film that I can’t wait to see but most likely will have to wait to the beginning of next, since the film is limited release
10) Out of all of those film that you’ve selected, which film are you looking forward, the most?
Tony D: Damn… between "Zach and Miri" and "The Wrestler." Both directors did some incredible works in their lives. "Clerks" is one of the smartest movies ever made and Darren Aronofsky made damn sure that I wouldn't go near drugs, especially after watching "Requiem for a Dream." I'm hoping that both films are looked at sometime in January, and this is me who hasn't seen any of them yet.
Kelsey: Twilight without a question. It questions love while still showing a love that is so strong that it causes a vampire to go against his instincts. These are the things that define him and are embodied in his nature. My having such a love for her and having her completely consume his every thought, makes him crave her even more. Yet he continues to go against this because although this is constantly causing him physical pain, the worst most unimaginable pain would be to take even the smallest thing away from the one he loves or let even the slightest thing harm her. There is so much passion and eternal confliction in this story mirrored by constant horror that seems to be hunting their love down at every chance and such physical and emotional beauty that has so much potential in the medium of film.
Anthony: It’s a tough one but I would have go with “The Wrestler” because I really think this is going to be film Darren Aronofsky. I also have “Quarantine” and “The Spirit, not far behind.
I want to thank both TonyD and Kelsey for participating in this roundtable, and hope to be doing this again with best films of 2008 in January.
That’s it for another exciting edition of 10 Questions. In the next edition of 10 Questions, I will be talking Joshua Nelson, writer and star of the new film “Pink Eye”. Until then, my name is Anthony Thurber and that’s 10 Questions.
The Dark Knight
Year: 2008
Director: Christopher Nolen
Stars: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Gary Oldman
MPAA Rating: PG-12
Studio: Warner Brothers Pictures
Running Time: 152 Mins
The Dark Knight is set one year after the events of Batman Begins, where Batman’s (Christian Bale) crusade to rid Gotham City of crime has been going very well, with the help of Lt. James Gordon (Gary Oldman) and the city's newly appointed District Attorney Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart). Everything is fine until a new sadistic villain known as Th
e Joker (Heath Ledger) starts creating chaos in Gotham City. In the amidst of this, his alter-ego Bruce Wayne is caught up in love triangle, as his childhood friend Rachel Dawes (Maggie Gyllenhaal) is in love with Harvey Dent even though he still have feeling for her. Now Bruce Wayne must put side this romantic triangle aside, as his alter ego Batman must use every means necessary to stop the Joker before his reign of terror burns Gotham City down and turns it into a city of chaos. Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman and Eric Roberts also co-star in this film.
Before I go into my review of this film, this is definitely not a film that your seven or eight year old kid should see, as this is very violent and dark, and also the subject matter may frighten them. So take them to go see Wall-E or Space Chimps instead.With that said, I remember watching the review on
Ebert & Roeper that Richard Roeper said that “The Dark Knight” was the best superhero movie ever and a film that should be nominated for Best Picture and that Heath Ledger should be nominated for Best Supporting Actor. I thought at the time that the Oscar talk that Roeper talked about was absolutely so far fetched. Also, when I heard that Health Ledger was cast as the Joker sometime last year, I didn’t think that was good casting. Man, was I totally wrong with both the casting of Ledger and Roeper’s highly praised review of the film. This is definitely a film that we might be talking about during Oscar season.The Dark Knight is truly the year’s best film so far. Director, Christopher Nolan again does a great job again with the direction. I liked how he goes for a more realistic approach with the action to this film. He does that in the way he directs the action scenes and the actors. The action scenes, in this film were so great. The scenes was realistic and includes one the best chase scenes when the cops transport X character (won’t reveal since t
he scene before is a main part of the film) and the Joker is trying to kidnap him and a major chase happens since the shootout in Michael Mann’s Heat. The acting felt top-notch. It felt like something that you would see in an Oscar caliber film. Christen Bale turns in very good performance here again as Bruce Wayne, but the main star of this film is the late Heath Ledger. This is a performance that I would still talk about if he was still living today. His performance as the Joker is up there with Sergi Lopez’s Captain Vidal in Pan’s Labyrinth as the most sinister performance ever. It’s definitely an Oscar-worthy performance, as the performance was terrorizing and frightening. The supporting cast was also good. Aaron Eckhart was very good as Harvey Dent/Two-Face, playing two variations of one character, as the character was likeable one minute and unlikable the next. Morgan Freeman, Gary Oldman and Michael Caine are also back from the first film along with Maggie Gyllenhaal taking over for Katie Holmes role in the first film.The screenplay written Christopher Nolan and his brother Jonathan Nolan was very good. I would even go to the lengths to say that
both of them should get an Oscar nomination for this screenplay. The reason I say that because this film didn’t feel like your average superhero movie. It felt like an epic crime film like “Heat” and “The Departed”. The Nolan Brothers do a very good job in writing the characters here, as each of them were different from one another. They also do a great job with the Joker in this film. He was more sadistic and frightening which makes the character more better than in Tim Burton’s Batman where the character seemed comic-bookish and comes off as a prankster than a heartless villain. The Nolan brothers also do a great job developing the themes and the characters. They do a great job exploring the society of Gotham thro
ugh some of themes that are currently happening today like surveillance, terrorism and the media. It was done effective well here to add to the film’s darkness. Their development of the characters here was very good, as it added to the whole Batman mythology. But what made this film different from Batman Begins was the fact the story had a lot of twists and turns. Those were done very well, as it kept me on the edge of my seat.Please note that this is not the last time you’re going to hear me talk about this film. The Dark Knight is truly the best film of 08 so far and yes, I’ll say it like Richard Roeper did - “It’s the best superhero movie ever.”
Starring: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart, Gary Oldman, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Michael Cane, Morgan Freeman
Director: Christopher Nolan
Release Date: July 18, 2008
Running Time: 152 min
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Distributor: Warner Bros
I have done my absolute best to keep my expectations in check for The Dark Knight. Considering the fact that the viral marketing for this film started 2 years ago, the very notion of the film succeeding on any level under the weight of its own designed expectation isn’t simply preposterous – it is unimaginable. The truth is, for as overdone as the marketing seemed to be, the greatest prank the campaign pulled was fooling us all into thinking we were prepared for what we were about to experience.
For those who haven’t seen it I will keep it spoiler free but for anyone reading this, you already know enough of the plot to get started – Batman and the Joker battle for supremacy in Gotham. The first thing I noticed about the film that it has a completely different feel to it than any other movie based on a super hero or comic book character. You almost immediately forget you are watching a superhero, or even a Batman movie, as it hits the ground running with a bank heist. Instantly it has the feel of Michael Mann’s Heat. As the movie tears on, you realize that you aren’t watching a comic book movie at all but rather a sophisticated crime drama that happens to be housed in the walls of the superhero genre. That is just one of the many surprises Christopher Nolan has in store.
As a general rule of thumb, comic book/superhero movies stick to a couple basic ground rules: good versus evil where the hero is matched against a villain attempting to inflict peril on an unsuspecting city or group of people. To simply say The Dark Knight is different may be the understatement of the year. Nolan digs so much deeper and gives us a movie that is far more complex than that simple premise. In Batman Begins, we saw the the transformation of Bruce Wayne into Batman. The Dark Knight asks, “What now?” That ‘what now’ is that Wayne has grown weary of his role as Gotham’s savoir after being unjustly labeled a vigilante killer by the very city he has been trying to protect. The timing of the Joker’s introduction only further compounds this dilemma. He is at first, hell-bent on destroying Batman by way of humiliation by repeatedly asking him to reveal his true identity. He continues his murderous rampages while laying the blame at Batman’s feet. And everyone buys into the Joker’s plan. In the meantime, Batman/Bruce Wayne and Gotham have put all their faith in the city’s new District Attorney, Harvey Dent to rid the town of crime once and for all. It’s quite a little love triangle as each man realizes they need one another to fulfill their own agenda. Wayne realizes he needs Dent to help leave the life of Batman behind, the Joker realizes he needs Batman to feed his own anarchistic tendencies, and at one point or another Dent needs them both. The line of morality gets further blurred as we go. What is right and wrong in the name of right and wrong becomes the greater question as we further decent into the darkness of the human soul. It is that exploration that gives this film its bite and sets it apart from anything else before it.
The creation and application of Bruce Wayne’s alter-ego, is contingent on spending his time developing new weapons and armor in an effort to make himself as indestructible as he can because as a superhero without super powers. Batman is merely human and he knows his limitations. Where the Joker succeeds as an adversary is not attacking him physically but in his awareness of what makes Batman the way he is, or has become. Any of his attempted physical attacks are manifested from his understanding of the darkness where Batman exists. His weapon is knowledge and it is with this that he inflicts the most damage to Batman.
For all of this movie’s haunting moral complexities, it would be nothing without the excellent performances from its cast, of which there are many. Where do you start? Heath Ledger gives the performance of a lifetime – his or anyone else’s – as the Joker. His performance will go down as one of the greatest movie villains of all time, right next to Hannibal Lector in Silence of the Lambs, Darth Vader in Star Wars, and Alex DeLarge in A Clockwork Orange. It should come as no surprise that he seemingly pulled inspiration from all three. His Joker is sadistic, nihilistic, shows no empathy and is completely devoid of any character arc. What’s more, Ledger disappears into the role not just in his over the top approach to the character, but in the subtleties; the way he carries himself, the way he licks his lips like a rabid dog in between lines of dialogue, even the Joker’s trademark maniacal laugh has a psychotic tinge to it. As sad as it is that Ledger is not around to see and promote the film, it only fuels the performance that much further. The same way we are not given any explanation as to the Joker’s origin in the movie, we are all left to wonder just how Ledger brought that character to life as he did. It is perfect in every sense of the word and the lack of clarification as to how it happened makes it that much more haunting. It is hard to overlook the impact his death has on the movie but if he wins the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor, like he deserves, it will be because he gave us a brilliant performance, not because he can’t do it again.
As great as Ledger is, you can’t overlook the performances from the rest of the cast. Aaron Eckhart as the no-nonsense DA Harvey Dent and his eventual transformation into Two-Face is beautifully tragic and he plays both sides to the hilt. Dent balances out the film as he provides the character arc that the Joker could not. Maggie Gyllenhaal makes us all (happily) forget Katie Holmes ever had anything to do with these movies. Michael Caine as Alfred and Morgan Freeman as Lucius Fox provide balance and wisdom in their respective roles. And Gary Oldman gives another understated performance as James Gordon. With a cast as strong as this, you start to gravitate away from the silly notion that seasoned and accomplished actors don’t belong in a genre movie like this.
At the end of it all, you have a swiftly paced 2 ½ hour movie that realizes every bit of ambition and scope that it set out to, and with respect, actually makes all previous Batman films worse by comparison. Nolan has created a masterpiece that will stay with you long after you finish watching it. Superman may have laid the foundation and Spider-Man may have made it a profitable business, but The Dark Knight transcends the genre by raising the bar and turning it into an art form.
And there’s the rub.
**** out of ****
Yesterday, we lost one of the greatest actors of this generation. Heath Ledger was an upcoming star. If he has not already had made himself a name in the past with films like “Brokeback Mountain,” “Ten Things I Hate About You,” and “A Knight’s Tale,” then he would have surely made a name for himself playing The Joker in the new Batman movie “The Dark Knight.” It was sure to be a success, and just looking at the “Why So Serious” posters, I was sure I was looking at a star that would have gotten much more stardom in the future. Unfortunately, the fantastic future ended untimely yesterday, when Ledger was found dead in his home.
I’ll never forget February of 2006. I was the only kid in my town that was rooting for “that gay cowboy movie.” I’ll never forget being made fun at school because I cheered it on. This was before even seeing the film. I knew that it would have been one of the best films of that previous film. When it lost to “Crash,” I was devastated. “Crash” was good, but something was up between the lost of a film where the characters are homosexuals and a film where everyone is almost racist as can be. I finally saw it April of 2006, and the film stayed with me for a long time. There was a three week period in April where there was nothing good that came out on DVD, so I sat and watched “Brokeback Mountain” many times. The gay scenes never bothered me; if I could put up with the ones during “Alexander,” I could put up with the ones in “Brokeback Mountain.”
Ang Lee created a masterpiece in his eyes and in mine. The wonderfully acted film starred Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger as two gay cowboys that had a love affair for many years with their wives. I was surprised when I found out how well acted it was, and for an A-list movie that literally had nothing going for it until the public found out these characters were gay, I think it was quite an achievement. Despite “Scary Movie” star Anna Faris and “Scooby Doo” star Linda Cardellini, it was held pretty well by the two men and Anne Hathaway and Michelle Williams. I still think that after all of the controversy, Ang Lee’s “Brokeback Mountain” remains a classic.
Even if Ledger’s films were terrible, he seemed to always hold the film on his own. “The Brothers Grimm” was one of the most disappointing films of 2005, but Heath Ledger held my interest until the final credits. I’m not that big of a fan of “A Knight’s Tale” and “Ten Things I Hate About You” either, but I can admit that Heath Ledger works every way in those films. “Candy” was a different type of role for the guy – a normal guy that gets hooked onto heroin. The film didn’t work out so well, but next to Jared Leto, Benicio Del Toro, and Ben Foster, he played a drug user great enough that it should have been nominated for an award. I like “Lords of Dogtown” for what it is too.
It’s said that Heath Ledger either killed himself or died on an accidental overdose of over-the-counter sleeping pills. Being that the apartment was in the name of Mary Kate Olson doesn’t surprise me. That place was a death trap to even begin with. But in all seriousness, I never saw a drug overdose coming. The man had a bright future. With “The Dark Knight” on his heels, he would have made himself one of the most famous stars in Hollywood. I began thinking that maybe Ledger wasn’t ready to become a big star. “Brokeback Mountain” made him big enough, but it wasn’t as viewed by many as “The Dark Knight” will be.
Every-time that I see a trailer for “The Dark Knight,” I already get filled with emotion. I really don’t know if I can see the film in theaters when it will be released in theaters. It will be hard to watch Ledger’s last performance and maybe even his best. Of course, “The Dark Knight” will still go on, and all of the filming has finished, but is Ledger had any role in the post production is clearly unknown to me.
My thoughts go out to the family of Heath, which include his ex-wife and two year old daughter (plus his other family members). My thoughts go out to the friends of Heath, and all of the people who worked with him. And my thoughts finally go out to the fans, who are all going through a rough time now. Yes, we lost one of the greatest actors of this generation, but his legacy will march on. May he rest in peace.
