tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post698473932840173721..comments2024-03-28T06:14:54.076-04:00Comments on And So It Begins...: Top 10 Films of 2013Alex Withrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comBlogger110125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-32830866236935666542014-12-29T15:48:10.077-05:002014-12-29T15:48:10.077-05:00Ahh but most of those aren't guilty pleasures ...Ahh but most of those aren't guilty pleasures to me. Most of those are actually really good films. I loved Adore.Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-57708126214029229882014-12-29T15:47:28.845-05:002014-12-29T15:47:28.845-05:00I need to watch Hot Fuzz again. I love how Pegg pl...I need to watch Hot Fuzz again. I love how Pegg plays against type in that movie. Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-61002919947220695842014-12-26T07:45:16.916-05:002014-12-26T07:45:16.916-05:00No I think that your Top 10 Best “Rotten” Films of...No I think that your Top 10 Best “Rotten” Films of 2013 describes better which are your guilty pleasure films.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00059813680559966539noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-33636082665730076802014-12-18T20:13:33.031-05:002014-12-18T20:13:33.031-05:00Hmm, I guess mine'd be: The Purge, The Last St...Hmm, I guess mine'd be: The Purge, The Last Stand, This Is the End, The Canyons, and, of course, Sharknado.Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-11589231789351497222014-12-18T16:28:14.674-05:002014-12-18T16:28:14.674-05:00My most guilty pleasure films of 2013:
Honorable M...My most guilty pleasure films of 2013:<br />Honorable Mention: Star Trek Into Darkness<br />10.World War Z<br />9.Oz the Great and Powerful<br />8.Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa<br />7.Pacific Rim<br />6.Fast & Furious 6<br />5.The Hunger Games: Catching Fire<br />4.Man of Steel<br />3.Iron Man Three<br />2.Thor: The Dark World<br />1.The Hobbit: The Desolation of SmaugAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00059813680559966539noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-57058329902984510082014-12-15T15:15:46.370-05:002014-12-15T15:15:46.370-05:00Interstellar is much, much better, certainly. Grav...Interstellar is much, much better, certainly. Gravity was a good sugar high movie. Meaning, it's so thrilling and sensational in the moment, that when you leave, you're like WOW, that's so good. But I haven't seen it since the theater, and have no real interest in doing so. Whereas I can't wait to see Interstellar again asap.Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-54217813722601836712014-12-15T14:23:54.242-05:002014-12-15T14:23:54.242-05:00I facking dislike Gravity. I don't hate it and...I facking dislike Gravity. I don't hate it and I why people love it but I just don't see it as great. Yes it's sci-fi, but I<3Sci-Fi. But I have too many issues with the film: <br />1.Sandra Bullock isn't a good actress and it's a little miscast;<br />2.Not enough George Clooney;<br />3.It scientific well;<br />4.It's a misstep for Alfonso Cuarón from Children of Men;<br />5.I saw it on DVD so no 3D effects;<br />6.It's a little racist;<br />7.Interstellar is much more better.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00059813680559966539noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-62271524557919200242014-12-04T14:15:13.844-05:002014-12-04T14:15:13.844-05:00Great performances, solid movie. Not Best Of mater...Great performances, solid movie. Not Best Of material for me.Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-56131043960888401082014-12-04T12:38:38.266-05:002014-12-04T12:38:38.266-05:00Blue Jasmine?Blue Jasmine?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09332012499555292021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-77533914325523156742014-12-03T11:47:30.677-05:002014-12-03T11:47:30.677-05:00I liked it more than I thought I would. But not on...I liked it more than I thought I would. But not one of the best of the year to me.Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-7372512403257055352014-12-02T22:56:00.223-05:002014-12-02T22:56:00.223-05:00Rush? by Ron Howard?Rush? by Ron Howard?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00059813680559966539noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-53314003156294829472014-12-02T22:55:32.471-05:002014-12-02T22:55:32.471-05:00The World's End is still hilarious. It worked,...The World's End is still hilarious. It worked, for me, because its sci-fi.<br />I didn't like Shaun of the Dead so much. It's just too dark humor.<br />Hot Fuzz is the best of the trilogy. A great satire of action gendre.<br />Shaun of the Dead: A; Hot Fuzz: A+; The World's End: A-.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00059813680559966539noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-27689271418996581832014-11-17T15:23:18.163-05:002014-11-17T15:23:18.163-05:00It'd definitely rank higher than 7 for me now....It'd definitely rank higher than 7 for me now. Love that film.Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-36061260868434365462014-11-16T10:34:07.455-05:002014-11-16T10:34:07.455-05:00American Psycho+Wall Street*Pulp Fiction=...American Psycho+Wall Street*Pulp Fiction=...Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00059813680559966539noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-10058725180527555062014-11-10T12:04:43.937-05:002014-11-10T12:04:43.937-05:00Not really for me. I loved Shaun of the Dead and H...Not really for me. I loved Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, but I couldn't get into The World's End.Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-15221439911477251862014-11-08T04:54:00.515-05:002014-11-08T04:54:00.515-05:00The World's End? It's hilarious!The World's End? It's hilarious!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00059813680559966539noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-25762484782887562142014-06-15T14:18:57.803-04:002014-06-15T14:18:57.803-04:00Thanks! You're so right about the fact that, i...Thanks! You're so right about the fact that, in any given year, any one of these films could take the top spot. I was really impressed with '13 as a whole. Can't wait to hear what you think about Upstream Color. That one still floors me. <br /><br />As for your list, I love that we have so many films in common. Great to see Spring Breakers crack the Top 10!Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-24887374860962509762014-06-15T04:25:59.158-04:002014-06-15T04:25:59.158-04:00Fantastic list! I love the variety of your choices...Fantastic list! I love the variety of your choices, and the fact that they are all brilliant films (excluding Upstream Colour, Adore and The Hunt, all of which I will try to watch as soon as possible!). What I like most about your list is that in almost any other year, they would all be in consideration for the number one spot. Here is my own Top 10:<br /><br />1. Gravity<br />2. Before Midnight<br />3. Her<br />4. Inside Llewyn Davis<br />5. The Wolf of Wall Street<br />6. 12 Years a Slave<br />7. Spring Breakers<br />8. Blue is the Warmest Colour<br />9. Nebraska<br />10. The Bling Ring<br /><br />And for the heck of it, here's my 11-20:<br /><br />11. The Place Beyond the Pines<br />12. Prisoners<br />13. Fruitvale Station<br />14. Mud<br />15. The Past<br />16. The Act of Killing<br />17. The Past<br />18. Stories We Tell<br />19. The Spectacular Now<br />20. The Wind RisesAditya Bnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-20829834505005090192014-04-30T11:49:16.955-04:002014-04-30T11:49:16.955-04:00Wow, Stergios, thanks so much for watching the fil...Wow, Stergios, thanks so much for watching the film and leaving such a kind comment. Really, words like yours make it all worth it. Genuinely. I'll pass your kind words on to Catherine, I know she'll appreciate them. Thanks again man!Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-57076528393187862212014-04-29T21:06:31.453-04:002014-04-29T21:06:31.453-04:00Damn man, you're amazing. "Earrings"...Damn man, you're amazing. "Earrings" literally blew my mind. My expectations were not only met, they were exceeded. This is a work of tremendous emotional power and I must say I loved every second of it. I'm extremely drawn to films about women in duress and and this film is just hauntingly beautiful. The direction and cinematography were superb and Catherine Warner's performance was nothing short of breathtaking. Thanks so much for recommending this magnificent short film to me - easily one of the best I've seen in a very long time. I can't wait to see your future work.Stergiosnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-11536132383974638112014-04-29T11:54:13.542-04:002014-04-29T11:54:13.542-04:00Wow man, I love your passion for this film. It hon...Wow man, I love your passion for this film. It honestly makes me appreciate the entire movie even more. I agree that a pleasant shift did occur within me concerning Cera’s character. A shift I didn’t see coming, and really welcomed. He too started going off the rails there a bit, and I so appreciated Cera trying something new. I suppose it was the early scenes, the ones requiring him to be funny, that slightly missed the mark for me. But still, a commendable performance for sure.<br /><br />I had no idea you were so drawn to films about women in duress. Noting that, if you’ll allow me, I’d like to recommend my short film to you, Earrings. It’s about a young woman who has experienced something awful, and is handling it rather destructively. It’s a purposefully slow film, but one that, I hope, allows the audience to invest in the rotting psyche of this tortured woman. Anyway, if you have a free half hour, I’d be honored for you to give it a watch. If you’re not interested, no big deal. It’s all good! Either way, thanks so much for recommending Magic Magic. It was a trippy little film that I really enjoyed.<br /><br />You can watch Earrings here: <a href="http://vimeo.com/46372044" rel="nofollow">http://vimeo.com/46372044</a>Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-14479105183572945822014-04-28T19:29:58.391-04:002014-04-28T19:29:58.391-04:00So happy you liked it, man. I really love these &q...So happy you liked it, man. I really love these "let's watch someone goes nuts" movies, especially if the central character is a woman (because, you know, a woman's fractured psyche is always quite an intriguing theme). Therefore, films like Roman Polanski's "Repulsion" and Darren Aronofsky's "Black swan" are among my all time favorites. This is also one of the reasons I adore Michelle Pfeiffer's portrayal of Selina Kyle/Catwoman in Tim Burton's "Batman Returns" (which is something we had talked about through the comments section on your "Top 10 Female Performances of All Time" post). This touch of insanity that she put in her performance was so damn thrilling, so psychotically captivating. As you can see, I wanted to watch "Magic magic" from the very first time I heard about it and I was so excited with the film being that uncompromising and wildly ambiguous. Yes, the ending isn't going to be everyone's cup of tea (I know it left many people who have seen the film and I talked to frustrated), but personally I loved it. It had a poetic vibe that fit so well with the mood and the tone of the film. It was actually one of the most chilling, heartbreaking and disturbing endings I've seen in a movie in quite a long time. As for Michael Cera, I never liked him much as an actor either, but his performance here was a true revelation to me. At first glance, Brink is undoubtedly the most annoying character of the film: Loud, juvenile, irritating and menacingly sadistic, with his attention seeking behavior and his constant flamboyance making him even more annoying. Gradually, you come to realize that he is also the most fascinating character of the film, with his own questionable mental state, his social aggression and his confused sexual identity, providing you with much to think about him after the credits roll. Cera deserves kudos for adding an offbeat humour and a depth that makes his character extremely complex. Of course, the real standout is Juno Temple, as I had told you in the first place. She gives an unforgettable performance and if there was any justice in this world we live in, she would have earned at least an Oscar nomination for her brilliant portrayal of Alicia (and don't even get me started on her work in "Cracks", "Killer Joe" or last year's "Afternoon delight" - God, the girl is a force of nature). Your brief analysis of Alicia's character is so spot on, buddy. It just goes to show once again the intelligence of your writing. I believe that special mention is due to Christopher Doyle’s gorgeous cinematography and Sebastián Silva’s capacity to create images of tremendous emotional impact. The film is certainly not without its flaws (Barbara and Agustín's characters are a little one-note, although both Catalina Sandino Moreno and director’s brother Agustín Silva totally make up for it – I’m glad you love Moreno so much, because I also think she’s extraordinary and anyone who hasn’t seen "Maria full of grace" should watch it immediately), but it's a tense, hypnotizing and surprisingly compelling little movie that burrows into your mind and refuses to leave (I doubt I will ever hear Cab Calloway's "Minnie the Moocher" in the same way again). You know I always respect the hell out of your opinion, man and I'm really glad you enjoyed the film on the whole. I haven't watched "The Maid" and I want to watch it so badly, so great to hear you watched it, let alone at Sundance. Stergiosnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-1411943190911449292014-04-25T19:29:07.737-04:002014-04-25T19:29:07.737-04:00Okay, so I watched Magic Magic two nights ago, and...Okay, so I watched Magic Magic two nights ago, and I really liked it. I had virtually no idea what it was about, so I was pleased to find that it was really nothing more than a young woman having an extended mental breakdown (which are movies that I <i>love</i>).<br /><br />Juno Temple crushed it. Easily some of the finest work she’s ever done. If not THE finest. I believed her every move, even if I didn’t really understand it. But that was the point: <i>no one</i> understood it. That’s what made it so compelling. The film really handled the balance of theme well. Once Sara was out of the picture, I assumed Brink, Barbara and Agustin were going to turn out to be creeps or something. But it very skillfully avoided that perception. Really well done.<br /><br />The bad news. First, Michael Cera. I’ve never been able to get into him. I can never take him seriously (in comedy or drama), and, as much as I hate saying this about any artist, I do not think he is a good actor. I know he and the director had just come off making Crystal Fairy & the Magical Cactus together (which I haven’t seen), so it probably seemed like a good idea to roll over to another film together. But he didn’t work for me. Another, more skilled actor could <i>killed</i> that role. Lastly, the ending felt cheap to me. I’m all about ambiguity in films, but this was a tad too much. <br /><br />The good news: I mentioned Temple and the story line, so in addition to those… Catalina Sandino Moreno, I love her. In everything. I really wish she was in more films. She played a perfect bitch here. The sound design of the film was flawless – it really helped trap the audience into Alicia’s mind. Great work.<br /><br />Finally, I actually saw Sebastián Silva’s The Maid at Sundance, and I absolutely adored it. I was so bummed when that film didn’t get a major release, because it is such a good character study. It used to be on Netflix Instant, but it looks like it has since been taken down. Damn shame.<br /><br />Thanks again for recommending Magic Magic to me. Despite my minor qualms, I really did enjoy it!Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-29723481819327463772014-04-19T12:35:28.476-04:002014-04-19T12:35:28.476-04:00Great, man! I hope you'll like it!Great, man! I hope you'll like it!Stergiosnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-45836270263675602932014-04-14T12:48:11.043-04:002014-04-14T12:48:11.043-04:00I will definitely report back here after I watch i...I will definitely report back here after I watch it!Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.com