Seriously, Oscars? Would you like your balls back.

Did watch the Dark Knight? Rachel Getting Married? The Wrestler? I mean, did you really watch them or were they just on while you were doing a rail of coke of some model's body.
Travesty!

Ranking the Coens - The 5 Best Coen Movies

5) The Man who Wasn't There

4) Raising Arizona

3) Fargo

2) The Big Lebowski

1) No Country for Old Men

Honorable Mentions: Miller's Crossing, O Brother, Where art thou?, Barton Fink,

SNIKT!

I'm cautiously optimistic about the new "Wolverine" movie (trailer below). I just hope it's more like the first two X-Men movies and less like the craptastic Brett Ratner third one.

X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE HD



Also, I think Hugh Jackman works out. Wait what? I mean, I love women!!!

John Cazale: The Best Resume in Film History

To call John Cazale a selective actor would be a gross understatement. The brilliant actor made only five films in his career that spanned the 1970's but he sure did know to pick 'em:

The Godfather (1972)

The Conversation (1974)

The Godfather Part II (1974)

Dog Day Afternoon (1975)

The Deer Hunter (1978)

Every film Cazale acted in was nominated for the Best Picture Oscar.

Cazale's career was cut short by bone cancer in 1978 before he could marry his fiance, Meryl Streep. His work in these five films speaks for itself. His finest work is probably in "The Godfather Part II" where Cazale reprises his role as the doomed and troubled Fredo Corleone starring opposite his childhood friend Al Pacino. Cazale proves the cliche: quality over quantity.

Cazale's most famous scene, "The kiss of death":

Two Thumbs Down

It's pretty much the end of an era in film criticism, Roger Ebert & Richard Roeper have severed ties with Disney and their Ebert & Roeper show. Two other film critics are going to take over. I assume they'll want to change the title.

Some Men Just Want to Watch the World Burn

"The Dark Knight," the second installment of Christopher Nolan's Batman reboot is the best superhero movie ever made. In fact, the sequel to "Batman Begins" is the best film I have seen this year. It is closer to a crime epic than a superhero film. The audience is launched into a Gotham City on the brink of collapse. It has been brought to this point by the self-described "agent of chaos," The Joker played by Heath Ledger. In a film full of spectacular performances, especially by Christian Bale and Aaron Eckhart, Ledger's Joker stands out as a classic villain performance. Constantly licking his lips and walking with an animalistic hitch in his step, the Joker emerges fully formed with no back story or motive. He asks, "Do I look like someone who has a plan?" and mocks average citizens who try to make meaning out of their existence, "I'm a dog chasing cars. I don't have plans. I just do things. I'm not a schemer." He is pure id, pure anarchy. What is particularly interesting is the suggestion that it is Batman who is complicit in the escalation of Gotham's violence. The Joker tells him as much, "You've changed things... forever. There's no going back." The symbiotic relationship between the Joker and Batman transforms "The Dark Knight" from a standard superhero film into an existential meditation. We see the toll Bruce Wayne's personal mission has taken on him and his loved ones. Batman is Gotham's Dark Knight. Aaron Eckhart plays its White Knight as Harvey Dent, a courageous District Attorney who is the symbol Gotham needs because he can inspire good. Unlike Batman, who only inspires fear and a string of incompetent copycats. Nolan does an exceptional job of maintaining tension and strikes the right emotional note at every turn. The film's moral ambivalence and downbeat ending does not come at the expense of the action which is worthy of a Batman film. Gary Oldman, Michael Caine, and Maggie Gyllenhaal all turn in excellent supporting performances. See "The Dark Knight" and see it in Imax.

"Why don't we cut you up into little pieces and feed you to your pooches? Hmm? And then we'll see how loyal a hungry dog really is. It's not about money. It's about sending a message."
~The Joker

Who Will Watch the Watchmen?

The trailer for Zack Snyder's film version of "The Watchmen" hit the ol' series of tubes today. "The Watchmen" is the the best graphic novel of all time and the one of the best books ever, period. The trailer is beautifully crafted but I remain unconvinced that the director of "300" can capture the complexity of "The Watchmen." The good news is that I have until 2009 ti worry about it.

Hellboy II is a good time

Hellboy's popularity stems from the fact that it doesn't take itself too seriously. You won't find a bigger Batman fan than me but, truth be told, the guy is a tad on the morose side. Hellboy's exasberated sarcasm and vulnerability make him very likable. After all, he just wants to belong in a world he is apparently destined to destroy. Who hasn't been there? I saw "Hellboy II: The Golden Army" last week and quite enjoyed it. Visually, it is stunning. "Pan's Labyrinth" director Guillermo Del Toro does not disappoint in that deparment. Nor does his script which features many quips and a credible villain. Also, he fights lots of monsters.

Here's the trailer:

That's Who I Am and You're Nothing!

I have always felt as though Alec Baldwin wasted most of his career as a dramatic leading man when he is so clearly a comedic genius. His work on SNL and 30 Rock prove this. The Onion's A.V. Club recently compiled a list of of the best cameos ever in cinema and it reminded me of Alec Baldwin's memorable turn as the world's biggest asshole in "Glengarry Glenross." He is the living embodiment of capitalism and ego and greed. I can't help but think that Baldwin is so good at playing aggressive assholes because he is one himself but no one can deny the virtuosity in this scene:

Why So Serious?

Full disclosure: I'm an enormous Batman fan. I have been one since I was a child. Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns ranks among one of my favourite books let alone comic books. Of all the superheroes, Batman is the most relatable because of his tortured psyche and absolutist moral code. I was very impressed with Christopher Nolan's revamp of the film series "Batman Begins" and I can't even begin to write how stoked I am about its sequel "The Dark Knight." It features two of my favourite actors in Christian Bale and Michael Caine and, sadly, features the last performance of Heath Ledger as the Joker. I'm looking forward to this movie so much that it can't help but disappoint. Or could it? Rolling Stone has an early review and it is positively glowing. I can't believe I have to wait until July 18th to see it.

Here's the trailer:

Boy Wonder

In the May 28th issue of The New Yorker has a great article on one of my favourite childhood characters, Tintin. Anthony Lane discusses Tintin's creator Hergé (Georges Remi) and how he went about creating the intrepid Belgian reporter as well as his cohorts Captain Haddock, Professor Calculus and, of course, Thomson and Thompson. He also discusses various literary interpretations of the Tinitin. If you're a fan of Tintin I'm sure you'll find this article interesting.

More interesting is the prospect of a Tintin movie. Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson have signed a three-picture deal to bring Tintin to the big screen. After reading the article, I'm tempted to think that a film about Hergé himself wouldn't be too bad either.

I can't wait. Who should play Tintin?

New Dawn Fades

A rough/subtitled trailer for the Anton Corbijn directed Ian Curtis (Joy Division) biopic has surfaced online. It is a difficult story to tell but my interest is piqued. I like the decision to shoot in black and white since whenever I listen to Joy Division it always evokes images of black and white for me.

Power Ranking: Clint the auteur

Clint Eastwood is one of the greatest actors of his generation. He is the archetype of the American male for many people. His roles in Dirty Harry, A Fistful of Dollars, Every Which Way but Loose, and Paint that Wagon has cemented his position as an iconic actor. However, he has most recently received most of his acclaim from directing. So, here is my power ranking of the top 10 Clint Eastwood directed films:

10) Absolute Power

9) High Plains Drifter

8) Play Misty for Me

7) Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil

6) The Outlaw Josey Wales

5) Million Dollar Baby

4) Flags of Our Fathers

3) Letters from Iwo Jima

2) Unforgiven

1) Mystic River

Marvel vs. DC = MAC vs. PC

When I was in 5th grade, comic book giants DC and Marvel had a crossover promotion in which superheroes from the two universes battled for supremacy. For example, Superman fought the Hulk, Batman battled Captain America, Wolverine fought Lobo, Spiderman fought Superboy etc. Needless to say, it was perhaps the greatest moment in my young life. My friends and I actually took bets on who would win. In that vein, and hot off the heels of Spiderman 3 making a bajillion dollars over the weekend, some funny clips have appeared on YouTube pitting action figures from the two brands against each other in arguments for who makes the better movies. They are brilliantly done in they style of the MAC vs. PC ads and you can watch them below:

My Sequel Sense is Tingling!

Ladies and gentlemen, blockbuster season is upon us. Exhibit A: Spiderman 3. I thoroughly enjoyed the first two installments of the Sam Raimi directed franchise but this one has been getting mixed reviews and I must say that I had a mixed reaction to it. First of all, the action is top notch and the special effects are exactly the quality you would expect from a movie with a reported $400 Million price tag. The sequences involving the Sandman (Thomas Hayden Chuch) are particularly eye popping. The movie loses its way, however, because it tries to cram too much into its 2 hours and 20 minutes. As a result, most of the film's storylines remain undeveloped, especially the criminally underused Topher Grace as Eddie Brock/Venom. The "Symbiote" story arc isn't given the seriousness of tone it deserves. In fact, as the alien symbiote enhances Peter Parker's (Tobey Maguire) Spidey abilities it is also supposed to turn him into a jerk. However, in "Spiderman 3," Parker's transformation is symbolized by subtle eyeliner and asymmetrical bangs a la Fall Out Boy. Yes, Spiderman became a self asorbed emo boy for a good portion of the film. While the story and pacing may be unfortunate, there are more good points than bad. For instance, Bryce Dallas Howard is very effective as Gwen Stacey and the audience finally gets a payoff to the Harry Osborne (James Franco) and Peter Parker rivalry. "Spiderman 3" is a bit of a disapointment but don't let that dissuade you from seeing it.

Hot Fuzz = Hot Shit

"Hot Fuzz," directed by Edgar Wright and starring Simon Pegg and Nick Frost is a hilariously enjoyable movie especially for those who enjoy the excitement and excesses of the modern day action movie. This film is from the same people who brought us the surprise cult hit "Shaun of the Dead," one of my favourites. "Hot Fuzz" has the same jocular tone as "Shaun of the Dead" as well as the same commitment to cinematic allusions. Pegg and Wright do to action movies in "Hot Fuzz" what they did to Zombie movies in "Shaun of the Dead." However, they do not condescend to the genre. It is obvious that this parody of the buddy action movie genre was written by two guys who legitimately love action movies.

The plot itself centres on a hypercompetent London police officer, Nicholas Angel, who is beginning to make his colleagues look bad so he gets a backhanded "promotion" and is relocated to the sleepy little town of Sandford. Of course, Angel soon realizes that there is more to Sandford than meets the eye (namely: a serial killer). This movie features some very surprising and entertaining cameos. I strongly suggest you check this one out especially if you enjoyed "Shaun of the Dead" (out on DVD) and especially if you spent your adolescence devouring action movies.

Here's the trailer for "Hot Fuzz"


and "Shaun of the Dead"

Is it too late for an end of year list?

Hey everybody,

Here's my much delayed list for the best movies, albums, and songs of 2006. If you disagree... you're wrong.

Top Ten Movies of the Year:

1) Brick

2) Children of Men

3) The Departed

4) The Fountain

5) The Queen

6) Thank You For Smoking

7) Casino Royale

8) Little Miss Sunshine

9) Idiocracy

10) Why We Fight

Guilty Pleasure: Miami Vice

Worst of the Year: The Black Dahlia

Also good: Stranger Than Fiction, Letters from Iwo Jima, Borat, Tristam Shandy

Best Performances: Sacha Baron Cohen (Borat), Leonardo Dicaprio (The Departed), Helen Mirren (The Queen)

Movies I haven’t seen but are probably good: Little Children, United 93, Half Nelson, Pan’s Labyrinth, The Prestige

Top Five Albums of the Year:

1) TV on the Radio: Return to Cookie Mountain

2) Band of Horses: Everything all the Time

3) Belle and Sebastian: The Life Pursuit

4) Cat Power: The Greatest

5) The Hold Steady: Boys and Girls in America

Top Ten Songs of the Year:

1) The Funeral: Band of Horses (Probably one of the Best songs ever written)

2) Nature of the Experiment: Tokyo Public Club

3) Felt Tip: Love is All

4) Smile: Lily Allen

5) Promiscuous: Nelly Furtado

6) ABC 123 XYZ: The Pipettes

7) What You Know: T.I.

8) Wolf Like Me: TV on the Radio

9) We’re in this Together: Ben Lee

10) Free Radicals: Flaming Lips

Other Good Songs: Steady as she Goes (Raconteurs), When the Sun Goes Down (Arctic Monkeys), When You Were Young (The Killers), The Greatest (Cat Power),

Songs I really want out of my head: Crazy (Gnarlz Barkley), That Grey’s Anatomy Song by the Fray.

Will it Suck?

That's the question everyone will be asking:

The first full length trailer for "The Simpsons Movie":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OL50ddCSJmo

I don't know, I just don't know...

Let me know what you think...

For All Who Enjoy Awesomeness...

Hello friends, enemies, co-workers, family members, and pirates,

I recently came across what might be one of the funniest movie trailers I have ever seen. It's for the movie "Knocked Up" starring the great Seth Rogan (40 Year Old Virgin and Freaks and Geeks) and Katherine Heigl (Izzy from Grey's Anatomy). It's directed and written by the same guy who did "40 Year Old Virgin" so that bodes well. Normally I wouldn't post anything as mundane as a major studio trailer but this is too good to pass up. Anyway, watch it - geez.Here's the link:

http://www.lindsayism.com/
2007/02/longer_funnier_.ht
ml

or just type "Knocked Up Trailer" into YouTube.

Enjoy.