Ghostbusters (1984) - Something strange in your neighborhood? Go out and see Ghostbusters! It's playing in theaters (still? I don't know, I saw it last week, late to post here). What a fantastic movie! It's been awhile since I last saw it and I'm glad to say it's still great, especially on the big screen. Lots of laughs, lots of fun. A classic. A
In the Loop (2009) - Another very funny film. I'm a big fan of Armando Iannucci's show Veep, and I was pleasantly surprised to find that this movie is almost exactly like that. Pleasant in that I get a kick out of how unpleasant the characters are to each other (I've always thought Veep features the best insults, this is no different. Surprised a bit because the film is rather un-film-like. It definitely works unto itself as a 90 minute or so feature, but I couldn't help but feel it was just a long TV episode. And now I learn this is based off a show? The Thick of It? How have I never heard of this before? Guess I have some watching to do. B
Before Sunrise (1995) - Been meaning to watch the Before trilogy for awhile now. A very good film. Probably the best depiction of two strangers meet and fall in love one night in a faraway place? I think so. It's strange how much I immediately love these characters. It must be because of how genuine they feel. There's a lot of great filmmaking going on here. There are some bits and pieces here and there that are awkward and maybe don't work so well, but, generally, very well done. B+
Before Sunset (2004) - I'm kind of torn on this one. Let me first of all state that I (as a friend told me afterwards) watched these films wrong. I guess I should have waited a bit in-between watches. Instead, I saw this almost right after the first. So maybe it didn't have the impact it should have, of seeing these characters so much later (9 years in there time). Thusly I think I felt the film was largely inconsequential. And how do you judge a film like this? All three are talkies (if I can appropriate the term), but this is the only one that is a single conversation, told in real time. On the one hand I am in awe of the acting, writing, and directing at play here. Not only is the conversation not boring, I actually was more consistently engaged with the film than either of the other two. I feel like I'm almost a part of the conversation. When I finished the film I had the same feeling I had when I just had a great hour plus talk with a good friend. The issue is that now, a few days after I've seen the film, I've forgotten much of what we talked about. There's just not much there. The film's is lacking the emotion of the other two, and it's ultimately not as interesting ("two strangers falling in love" and "the perfect couple having marital issues" vs. "lovebirds meet up again"). And yet, it may be the one of thought about most, which should be obvious based on the length of this. Even if it wasn't the best film it was still a highly enjoyable and innovate entry. B+
Before Midnight (2013) - And now I've come to the end. I had actually wanted to watch this last year when it was Oscar nominated, but I hadn't seen its predecessors. I'm glad I waited to watch them all. What can I say about this one other than that it is fantastic. All the elements of the production have been perfected in the eighteen years since the first installment, and they are a wonder to behold. Maybe just a little too much random talking in the first two thirds but hey, that's what these films are all about, right? And it works, that's what's important. The last third is amazing. A great ending to a highly unconventional, but completely exceptional, trilogy. A-
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010) - What took me so long to watch this? Super awesome kickass funny fun from start to finish. Further proof that Edgar Wright is one of the best in the biz right now. Get this man a Star Wars movie! B+
On the Waterfront (1954) - Not my first watch and certainly not my last. What can be said that hasn't been already? An incredible piece of cinema. A+