Following (1998) - Christopher Nolan's first film is pretty impressive considering the budget. It's actually a really cool neo-nbir film with a killer twist. There's not a great thematic reason for the non-linear storytelling, but it makes the film all the more interesting and is very well done. Of course this is still a no budget film so acting and production values leaves something to be desired. B+
The Right Stuff (1983) - I can't believe how good this movie is and how long I've gone not seeing it. This is an expertly made film, which keeps your rapt attention even with its three hour plus runtime. A compelling tale of innovation, exploration, boldness, and camaraderie. Exciting stuff. A
Inception (2010) - You know what? I love this movie. Who would have guessed? Seriously, though, this is a fantastic piece of work. It's easy to get caught up in the action and the ending and think that's all there is. But there's so much more. There's a lot of depth here, not just in the plot (literally and metaphorically) but in the themes and meaning of it all. There's a lot of intriguing things mulling around in this, like the meaning of dreams (obviously) but also the true nature of reality and time and space. There's also a really cool overarching metaphor for filmmaking that I really appreciate. What's crazy and what makes this film so good is how intricate it is, in its plot and characters and themes, and yet how simultaneously entertaining everything is. It's a neat trick, and I wish there were more directors out there coming up with complex blockbusters of this type. An all time favorite. A+
2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) - What a strangely beautiful film this is. It's a true testament to Stanley Kubrick's abilities that this film moves at such a slow pace yet I am enthralled throughout. Honestly I find it hard to find fault in this film. It's so unique in its plot and structure and storytelling, and it's a uniqueness that very much fits the story. It's a bizarre and mysterious and breathtaking tale of evolution, the likes of which have never been seen before or since. The deeper meanings of things are perfectly ambiguous, just like life and the universe itself. Surely a masterpiece. A+
Interstellar (2014) - I saw this opening night and have been mulling it over since. If I were to review it in one word I would say incredible. But since I have more words I will say more things than that. If feel like some people might look at me and say I have a bias towards Christopher Nolan. I'd like to just say for the record that's simply not true. I'm actually a really objective film viewer, more than most anyway. I've seen a lot of stuff, stuff from all different genres and all different directors and all different languages. I don't let any preconceived notions get in the way of it. Yes, I do think Nolan's the best director working today, but that doesn't mean I'll blindly follow anything he does. I can point out the flaws in all his films, even Inception. True, yes, I love Nolan's style, so that affects how I view his films. But other than his style, the big budget, and some thematic through lines, Interstellar is almost nothing like anything he's ever done before. It's certainly not a whole lot like Inception. But the differences make it great in it's own way. It's hard to see why others aren't loving it like I did, but that's something I can accept and understand. I'll even admit that Interstellar's not perfect, though it comes close. I have some feelings as to why, though I won't get into that now (and I'd like to see it again to really assess). But, at the end of the day, you have to admit that even if you don't like Interstellar on the whole, there's a lot in it that's impossible not to like. I find the story really interesting and compelling, others might disagree. But no one can argue the sheer filmmaking mastery on display. Visually, this film is perfect, from direction to cinematography to art direction to special effects. Sound wise, it's perfect. Hans Zimmer does the music and I swear it's one of his best scores ever. The acting is fantastic all around, especially from Matthew McConaughey. Most importantly, this is a story with real emotion. It's a powerful experience and if you don't at least get a little choked up (let alone cry) during a few different scenes then you probably have no soul. This is a truly special film. There are movies, and there are films. This is more than even a film. This film transcends mainstream cinema and even most independent cinema in the quality of the experience. And this is an experience, a cinematic experience the type I haven't had in a long time. This is a great film - certainly the best of the year, one of the finest I have ever seen, and perhaps even Nolan's best. A masterpiece. A+