MCN Top Ten: The Big Chart
I bit overwhelming, but you can just look at the top 10 or so to see generally what is thought of as the best of 2007.
Friday, January 11, 2008
Once (2006) - 5/5
Once (2006)
Wow. What an incredible movie. Have I build it up enough? This movie has so many aspects that really appeal to me. It's very original and I didn't know much about it going in so it was so great to just watch it unfold.
They call it a "modern musical" and it's pretty subtle in that sense. It has some similarities to "The Committments" which I loved. Not only b/c it's in Ireland and is about music, but it's about passion in music too.
It doesn't get cliche in the "love" story or the music or "success" or anything. It feels very real. I watched some of the bonus features and started watching the commentary and they talked about how they approached it and that was very cool and independent.
The two leads are musicians. The lead "the guy" leads a band the director used to be in and "the girl" is a real-life friend of the guy lead. The director said he'd rather have musicians that cd half-way act than actors who cd have way play/sing.
It really makes the music powerful. During the first duet, I literally started bawling. It wasn't sad at all, but so emotional and that's how it came out. It blew me away. I ride the exercise bike while I watch movies and I was lost in the song but looked down and realized I was pedaling really fast.
I started getting really worked up and then just started bawling. I cdn't figure it out, but it was really great. I thought it wd stop when I realized how odd it was and it did die down a bit until the chorus started up again. Really strange, but very cool.
Anyway, I just loved how the rest of the movie played out and I think it might be my favorite movie of the year. The filmspotting.net podcast is great and has some awesome 'top five' lists.
Another note, I wondered a few times in the movie "What are their names?" Very cool.
Side note: I just finished this movie this morning and more thoughts may come to me so I might update this later.
Also, I'm about to watch a series of Glen Keane animated movies FYI.
SPOILERS
The director in the commentary talks about the title: "Once." He says there's a lot of guys he knows/has met, especially in Ireland, that talk about "Once I get my X deal..." or "Once I record this..." or "Once I open my shop..." and how they really cd be great, but don't have the motivation.
Haiku Summary
Songwriter meets girl.
Awesome chemistry in song.
They record. The End.
Wow. What an incredible movie. Have I build it up enough? This movie has so many aspects that really appeal to me. It's very original and I didn't know much about it going in so it was so great to just watch it unfold.
They call it a "modern musical" and it's pretty subtle in that sense. It has some similarities to "The Committments" which I loved. Not only b/c it's in Ireland and is about music, but it's about passion in music too.
It doesn't get cliche in the "love" story or the music or "success" or anything. It feels very real. I watched some of the bonus features and started watching the commentary and they talked about how they approached it and that was very cool and independent.
The two leads are musicians. The lead "the guy" leads a band the director used to be in and "the girl" is a real-life friend of the guy lead. The director said he'd rather have musicians that cd half-way act than actors who cd have way play/sing.
It really makes the music powerful. During the first duet, I literally started bawling. It wasn't sad at all, but so emotional and that's how it came out. It blew me away. I ride the exercise bike while I watch movies and I was lost in the song but looked down and realized I was pedaling really fast.
I started getting really worked up and then just started bawling. I cdn't figure it out, but it was really great. I thought it wd stop when I realized how odd it was and it did die down a bit until the chorus started up again. Really strange, but very cool.
Anyway, I just loved how the rest of the movie played out and I think it might be my favorite movie of the year. The filmspotting.net podcast is great and has some awesome 'top five' lists.
Another note, I wondered a few times in the movie "What are their names?" Very cool.
Side note: I just finished this movie this morning and more thoughts may come to me so I might update this later.
Also, I'm about to watch a series of Glen Keane animated movies FYI.
SPOILERS
The director in the commentary talks about the title: "Once." He says there's a lot of guys he knows/has met, especially in Ireland, that talk about "Once I get my X deal..." or "Once I record this..." or "Once I open my shop..." and how they really cd be great, but don't have the motivation.
Haiku Summary
Songwriter meets girl.
Awesome chemistry in song.
They record. The End.
Frank and Ollie (1995) - 5/5
Frank and Ollie (1995)
This is a documentary about two of the great Disney animators; two of the "nine old men." These guys started out in school together and wound up sharing an apartment and then building houses next to each other where they lived the rest of their lives (Frank died in 2004, but I believe Ollie is still alive).
It's a great look at what they did and their motivations, humility, skills and general approach to animation.
I've been listening to the AnimationPodcast.com and they talk a lot about Frank and Ollie. So getting to see them and learn about them was a lot of fun.
Haiku Summary
Two animators
for Disney tell their story.
Great insight for us.
This is a documentary about two of the great Disney animators; two of the "nine old men." These guys started out in school together and wound up sharing an apartment and then building houses next to each other where they lived the rest of their lives (Frank died in 2004, but I believe Ollie is still alive).
It's a great look at what they did and their motivations, humility, skills and general approach to animation.
I've been listening to the AnimationPodcast.com and they talk a lot about Frank and Ollie. So getting to see them and learn about them was a lot of fun.
Haiku Summary
Two animators
for Disney tell their story.
Great insight for us.
Sunday, January 06, 2008
Maquinista, El (2004) - 3.5/5
Maquinista, El (2004)
I really liked the bulk of this movie except for the end. I cdn't believe Christian Bale's weight. I read he lost a record 80lbs for this movie. It hurts to look at him.
This movie built a lot of promise for most of it and then didn't deliver.
SPOILERS
The felt the "reveal" was a let down. All of the mystery was just him being psycho. I know that's a bit belittling, but I was hoping for something more sensational. They really did it well, but it just didn't have it IMO.
Haiku Summary
Crazy man doesn't
sleep. Who is after him? Is
it Ivan? No, himself.
I really liked the bulk of this movie except for the end. I cdn't believe Christian Bale's weight. I read he lost a record 80lbs for this movie. It hurts to look at him.
This movie built a lot of promise for most of it and then didn't deliver.
SPOILERS
The felt the "reveal" was a let down. All of the mystery was just him being psycho. I know that's a bit belittling, but I was hoping for something more sensational. They really did it well, but it just didn't have it IMO.
Haiku Summary
Crazy man doesn't
sleep. Who is after him? Is
it Ivan? No, himself.
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