Cinephiliosis: The 18 best films I've seen in the last 250. part 1

New-to-me movies seen since Mar 2011 in reverse order. Rated out of 4.

The Tempest (2010): 4
Saw 5 (2008): 2
Beetlejuice (1988): 2.5
Breathless (1960): 4
Zombieland (2009): 3.5
30 Days of Night (2007): 2.5
Drag Me to Hell (2009): 4
Love in the Afternoon (1957): 4.1
Diary of the Dead (2007): 3
Fright Night (1985): 2.5
The Rocking Horse Winner (1949): 3
A Bucket of Blood (1959): 3.5
Babylon A.D. (2008): 1
Across the Pacific (1942): 3.5
Grand Illusion (1937): 4.1
Walkabout (1971): 4.1
Julius Caesar (1953): 4
Drive (2011): 4.1
Henry V (1989): 3
The Tall Target (1951): 3
Danielson - A Family Movie (2006): 3
Derailed (2005): 2
Certified Copy (2010): 4.1
Wrecked (2010): 2
Unknown (2011): 1.5
Dinner for Schmucks (2010): 3.5
My Brother Talks to Horses (1946): 2.5
Tree of Life (2011): 4.1
Sucker Punch (2011): 1
Horrible Bosses (2011): 3.5
A Face in the Crowd (1957): 4.1
Grown Ups (2010): 0
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part Two (2011): 4
Party Monster (2003): 4
Super 8 (2011): 3.5
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010): 4.1
The Mechanic (2010): 2
Public Enemies (2009): 1.5
He's just not that into You (2009): 3
The Hangover part II (2011): 0.5
I Love You Man (2009): 3.5
Zack & Miri Make a Porno (2008): 2
Termination Point (2007): 0
Titus (1999): 3
The Road (2010): 4
Black Narcissus (1947): 4.1
Rango (2011): 4
Sanjuro (1962): 4.1
Yojimbo (1961): 4.1
Platinum Blonde (1931): 4.1
Tangled (2010): 3
Morning Glory (2010): 2.5
The Rules of the Game (1939): 4.1
The Bank Job (2008): 1.5
In Vanda's Room (2000): 3
I Live in Fear (1955): 4
Sherlock Holmes (2010): 3.5
Scandal (1950): 2.5
The Interpreter (2005): 3
California Split (1974): 4
Stray Dog (1949): 4.1
Another Year (2010): 4

New-to-me movies seen since Feb 08 in reverse order. Rated out of 4

The Drunken Angel (1948): 4.1
Arthur (1981): 1
The Fighter (2010): 3
The Kids are Alright (2010): 3
Splice (2010): 3
Winter's Bone (2010): 4.1
Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975): 4
Close-Up (1989): 4.1
Yes Man (2008): 3
Paris, Texas (1984): 3.5
Global Metal (2008): 3.5
Rock n Rolla (2008): 3.5
P.S. I Love You (2007): 4
127 Hours (2010): 4.1
Crazy Heart (2009): 4.1
The Virgin Spring (1960): 3.5
Conflict (1945): 4.1
Ministry of Fear (1944): 4
High and Low (1962): 4.1
Steel Toes (2006): 2.5
Scarface (1932): 3
Barney's Version (2010): 1.5
What! No Beer? (1933): 2
Parlor, Bedroom and Bath (1931): 3
Tyson (2008): 3
Free and Easy (1930): 2
Dough Boys (1930): 2.5
The Red Balloon (1956): 2
The River (1951): 3
Spite Marriage (1929): 4
The Big Store (1941): 3.5
Room Service (1938): 4
Missing (1982): 3
Kiss Me, Stupid (1964): 2.5
Lakeview Terrace (2008): 1.5
Jigoku (1960): 2
The Pilgrim (1923): 4
The Circus (1928): 4.1
Three Ages (1923): 3.5
Beauty and the Beast (1946): 2
Tron: Legacy (2010): 2
Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008): 1.5
Go West (1940): 4
Sixteen Candles (1984): 3.5
The King's Speech (2010): 4
Black Swan (2010): 4
True Romance (1993): 1
True Grit (2010): 3
The Ghost Writer (2010): 4
True Grit (1969): 2.5
Shadows (1959): 3.5
Tron (1982): 2
Santa Clause Conquers the Martians (1964): 1
The Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call - New Orleans (2009): 4
Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962): 3
Safety Last (1923): 4
How to Train Your Dragon (2010): 3.5
Hot Tub Time Machine (2010): 1.5
Capitalism: A Love Story (2009): 4.1
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1 (2010): 4
The Corporation (2003): 3.5
The Take (2004): 4.1
Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired (2008): 4
The Bad Sleep Well (1960): 4.1
The Damned United (2009): 2.5
Primer (2004): 4
Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009): 4
The Lower Depths (1957): 3.5
The Social Network (2010): 4.1
Battle in Seattle (2007): 3
Food Inc. (2008): 4.1
Repo Man (1984): 3.5
A Perfect Getaway (2009): 4.1
Body Heat (1981): 3
Shake Hands with the Devil (2005): 4.1
The Idiot (1951): 4
Smash His Camera (2010): 3
Hold that Line (1952): 1.5
Cornered (1945): 3
The Town (2010): 3.5
Inland Empire (2006): 2.5
The Hidden Fortress (1958): 3
500 Days of Summer (2009): 4
The Hoax (2007): 2
To Be or Not to Be (1942): 4.1
Toy Story 3 (2010): 4
Gun Crazy (1949): 2.5
An Education (2009): 2
Cry Danger (1951): 2
Inception (2010): 3
The Men Who Tread on the Tiger's Tail (1945): 1
The Most Beautiful (1944): 0.5
Shutter Island (2010): 4
Throne of Blood (1957): 4
Around the World in 80 Days (1956): 2
The Snake Pit (1948): 4.1
Ikiru (1952): 4.1
Letter from an Unknown Woman (1948): 4.1
Dirty Harry (1971): 4
Jacques Cousteau, The First 75 Years (1985): 4
For a Few Dollars More (1965): 4.1
Iron Man 2 (2010): 2.5
Paranormal Activity (2009): 1
The Young Victoria (2009): 3
Johnny O'Clock (1947): 2
I Am Legend (2007): 2
Mon Oncle (1958): 4.1
Mr. Hulot's Holiday (1954): 3.5
Osama (2003): 4
The Major and the Minor (1942): 4
Cover Girl (1944): 3.5
Fort Apache (1948): 4.1
Grass (1999): 1.5
Fistful of Dollars (1964): 4
She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949): 3.5
Duck Soup (1933): 3
Five Graves to Cairo (1943): 3.5
Lola Montes (1955): 4.1
Love Me or Leave Me (1955): 4
At the Circus (1939): 3
Precious (2009): 3.5
Ball of Fire (1941): 3.5
Horse Feathers (1932): 3
Monkey Business (1931): 4.1
Lady for a Day (1933): 4.1
The Navigator (1924): 4
Lust for Life (1956): 3
Our Hospitality (1923): 4.1
The More the Merrier (1943): 4.1
Libeled Lady (1936): 4.1
Downhill Racer (1969): 3.5
State of the Union (1948): 4
Hail the Conquering Hero (1944): 4
A City of Sadness (1989): 3
The Last Angry Man (1959): 2.5
The Sea Wolf (1941): 3.5
Seconds (1966): 4
Them! (1954): 3
Little Caesar (1931): 4
Repulsion (1965): 4
Gomorrah (2008): 4.1
The Killers (1946): 3.5
Buck Privates (1941): 3
The Brothers Warner (2008): 3
The Good Earth (1937): 3
The Naked City (1948): 2.5
The Public Enemy (1931): 4
The Broadway Melody (1929): 1.5
The Informant! (2009): 4
All the King's Men (1949): 4
Forbidden Planet (1956): 4.1
Animal Crackers (1930): 4.1
Ninotchka (1939): 4
Pygmalion (1938): 3.5
Lady in the Lake (1946): 1.5
Rio Grande (1950): 4.1
Battleground (1949): 2.5
A Taste of Cherry (1997): 4.1
Point Blank (1967): 3
Last Year at Marienbad (1961): 4.1
The Blackboard Jungle (1955): 3.5
Boudu Saved From Drowning (1932): 4.1
The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes (1970): 4
The Bad News Bears (1976): 4
The Informer (1935): 4.1
Never Give a Sucker an Even Break (1941): 3
Husbands (1970): 4.1
In Cold Blood (1967): 4.1
Deliverance (1972): 4.1
Knock On Any Door (1949): 4.1
Flying Leathernecks (1951): 4
College (1927): 4.1
Caravaggio (1986): 4
Here Comes Mr. Jordan (1941): 3.5
The Heiress (1949): 4
Hobson's Choice (1954): 4.1
Vivacious Lady (1938): 3.5
The Man Who Came to Dinner (1942): 3.5
Up in the Air (2009): 4.1
Passage to Marseilles (1944): 4.1
Alice Adams (1935): 2
Deadline USA (1952): 4.1
The Harder They Fall (1956): 4
Dead Reckoning (1947): 3.5
Man Hunt (1941): 4.1
Ordet (1955): 4.1
Lost Horizon (1937): 4.1
Saboteur (1942): 2.5
Bedazzled (1967): 3
Where the Wild Things Are (2009): 3
Black Orpheus (1958): 4
American Madness (1932): 4.1
Curse of the Demon (1958): 3.5
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966): 4.1
Dead End (1937): 4.1
The Left Hand of God (1955): 2.5
It's a Gift (1934): 4.1
The Man on the Train (2002): 4
Woman of the Year (1942): 3.5
Orpheus (1949): 4.1
Sounder (1972): 3.5
The Cameraman (1928): 4.1
Gentleman's Agreement (1947): 3
Avatar (2009): 4
Mediterraneo (1991): 4.1
Silver Streak (1976): 2.5
Christmas in July (1940): 4
Remember the Night (1940): 3
The Roaring Twenties (1939): 4
The Shop Around the Corner (1940): 3
The Entertainer (1960): 4
The Mouse on the Moon (1963): 3
Stripes (1981): 3.5
My Fair Lady (1964): 3.5
When We Were Kings (1996): 4.1
A Place in the Sun (1951): 4
How Green Was My Valley (1941): 4
The Sound of Music (1965): 4
The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys (2002): 3
The Mouse That Roared (1959): 4
The Hitch-Hiker (1953): 3.5
Stir Crazy (1980): 2
The Barefoot Contessa (1954): 4
Night Must Fall (1937): 3.5
The Petrified Forest (1936): 3
A Man For All Seasons (1966): 4.1
Three on a Match (1932): 4
Isle of Fury (1936): 2.5
The Painted Veil (1934): 3
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1941): 1.5
The Naked Spur (1953): 3.5
The Picture of Dorian Gray (1945): 3
On the Town (1949): 4.1
Imitation General (1958): 3
Army of Shadows (1969): 4.1
The Wrath of God (1972): 2.5
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1932): 2
The Times of Harvey Milk (1984): 2.5
The Best Years of our Lives (1946): 4.1
The Earrings of Madame de... (1954): 2.5
Paper Moon (1973): 3
Inherit the Wind (1960): 3.5
Steamboat Bill Jr. (1928): 4
Vampyr (1932): 4.1
Violent Saturday (1955): 4
2012 (2009): 2.5
The Innocents (1961): 3.5
Bad Day at Black Rock (1954): 3.5
Dodsworth (1936): 4.1
The Thief of Bagdad (1940): 3.5
Hallelujah, I'm a Bum (1933): 2.5
Shack out on 101 (1955): 3.5
The King and I (1956): 3
The Narrow Margin (1952): 4
Sherlock Jr. (1924): 4
Where the Buffalo Roam (1980): 2.5
To Catch a Thief (1955): 3.5
The Story of Louis Pasteur (1936): 3.5
Escape from L.A. (1996): 1.5
The Country Girl (1954): 4
The Life of Emile Zola (1937): 3.5
I am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang (1932): 4.1
Soylent Green (1973): 2.5
Doomsday (2008): 3
A Thousand Clowns (1965): 4.1
Targets (1968): 3
Kes (1970): 4.1
Murder, My Sweet (1944): 4.1
Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House (1948): 4
Meet Me in St. Louis (1944): 2
Vacancy (2007): 2
Dracula (1979): 3
Nothing Sacred (1937): 2.5
High Sierra (1941): 3.5
A Serious Man (2009): 4.1
48 Hrs. (1982): 1.5
Tom Jones (1963): X
The Lusty Men (1952): 4
Brief Encounter (1945): 4.1
Dark Victory (1939): 1
Ghostbusters: 1.5
Elevator to the Gallows, aka: Frantic (1958): 3.5
A Slight Case of Murder (1938): 4.1
3:10 To Yuma: 3
Nickelodeon (1976): 3
The Spy Who Came in From the Cold: 4.1
Murder By Death: 4
Rio Bravo: 4.1
They Drive By Night: 3
Gaslight: 3.5
Cool Hand Luke: 4
The War of the Worlds (1953): 2
Fighting Man of the Plains: 3.5
The Natural: 3.5
Futurama Bender's Game: 3
Futureworld: 1.5
Westworld: 3
Nosferatu (1922): 4
The Candidate (1972): 3.5
La Ronde: 4.1
Empire of the Sun: 4
Hunger (2008): 4
Futurama TBWABB: 4
Cremaster 2: 3.5
The Longest Day: 4
Gilda: 4.1
Birdman of Alcatraz: 2.5
The Big Heat: 4
The Bride Wore Black: 3.5
The Story of G.I. Joe (1945): 4
Inglourious Basterds: 4
My Winnipeg: 4
The Racket (1951): 3
District 9: 2.5
Fury (1936): 4.1
A Cry in the Dark: 3
Julie and Julia: 2
K-19 The Widowmaker: 3.5
Star Trek (2009): 4
Caddyshack: 1.5
Paths of Glory: 4.1
Ruggles of Red Gap: 3
The Gazebo: 4
Convicted (1950): 3.5
Stairway to Heaven, aka: A Matter of Life and Death (1946): 3.5
Croupier: 3
Big Meat Eater: 1.5
Dark Passage: 3.5
La Strada: 2
Elephant Man: 3.5
Tokyo Joe: 3
Moon: 4
Funny People: 3.5
The Hurt Locker: 4
The Counterfeiters: 4
Thunder Road (1958): 3.5
In the Company of Men: 2.5
In a Lonely Place: 4.1
The Devil's Disciple: 4
Harry Potter 6: 4
East of Eden: 3
Fail Safe (1964): 4.1
The Passion of Anna: 3.5
The Wild Child (1970): 4
Persona: 4
The Goodbye Girl: 4.1
The Proposal: 1.5
Up: 4
Duel (1971): 3
The Life & Death of Colonel Blimp: 4.1
The Palm Beach Story (1942): 4
The Hangover: 3
One Week: 2
The Blue Dahlia (1946): 4
Stand & Deliver: 3.5
Marley & Me: 3
Collateral Damage: 3
The Tunnel (1935): 2
Brute Force (1947): 3.5
Bunny Lake is Missing: 4
Terminator Salvation: 3
Johnny Guitar: 3.5
The Bad & the Beautiful: 4.1
Sophie's Choice: 4
My Favorite Wife: 2.5
Crossfire (1947): 2.5
Bell, Book, and Candle: 2.5
Knowing: 2
Avanti: 3
Crank 2 High Voltage: 4.1
The Phantom Tollbooth: 3
Solaris (1972): 3
Observe and Report: 0.5
Saw 4: 1.5
The Watchmen: 4
Gran Torino: 2
The Last Detail: 3
Religulous: 1.5
Midnight Express: 4
The Taking of Pelham 123 (1974): 3
Save the Tiger: 2.5
Bolt: 2
The Changeling: 4
Frozen River: 3
Happy Go Lucky: 4.1
Rachel Getting Married: 4.1
The Wrestler: 3.5
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button: 1.5
Ghost Town: 2.5
The Visitor: 4
The Reader: 3
The Duchess: 1
Vicky Cristina Barcelona: 2.5
Frost/Nixon: 3.5
Doubt: 4.1
Milk: 4.1
The Stranger Beside Me: 3
Slumdog Millionaire: 3.5
Elmer Gantry: 4
Curious George: 3
Kung-Fu Panda: 4
The Diving Bell & the Butterfly: 4
Spellbound (2002): 2
Grand Theft Auto (1977): 1.5
Bringing Up Baby: 4
Tropic Thunder: 2
Out of the Past: 4.1
Blue Velvet: 3
Gremlins 2: 3.5
Gremlins: 3.5
Cat People (1942): 4.1
The Other Boleyn Girl: 2.5
The Savages (2007): 3.5
Quantum of Solace: 3.5
The Time Machine (1960): 1.5
I'm not There: 3
Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium: 3.5
The Rainmaker (1956): 2
Kiss Me Deadly: 3.5
The Slender Thread: 3
Lions for Lambs: 4
Halloween (2007): 1
Synecdoche New York: 4.1
Shrooms: 1.5
Blow-Up: 1.5
I Vitelloni: 4.1
Ride the High Country: 4
Adam's Rib: 4.1
Persepolis: 4
W.: 4
Death at a Funeral: 2.5
You Don't Mess With the Zohan: 1.5
Ocean's 13: 3
Be Kind Rewind: 3.5
Baby Mama: 1.5
Bride of the Monster: 2
Sleeping Beauty: 4
The Terminal: 2.5
Arsenic and Old Lace: 4.1
Burn After Reading: 3.5
Agatha (1979): 3
Black Magic (1949): 2.5
The Front Page (1931): 4.1
Batman: The Movie (1966): 2
The Kingdom (2007): 3.5
Pineapple Express: 3
Funny Games (2007): X
Band Wagon: 2.5
Into the Wild: 4
Plaza Suite: 2.5
Sunshine Boys: 3.5
The Dark Knight: 4.1
Live Free or Die Hard: 3
La Vie En Rose: 3
Hellboy 2: 3.5
Dumb and Dumberer: 1.5
Witness for the Prosecution: 4
Battle for the P.O.T.A: X
In Bruges: 4.1
Conquest of the P.O.T.A: 1
You Can't Take it With You: 4.1
Escape from the P.O.T.A: 2
Hancock: 3
Hair: 2
The Happening: 3
Wall-E: 4.1
The Joy Luck Club: 4
The Day After Tomorrow: 1.5
Brubaker: 3.5
Beneath the P.O.T.A: 2.5
Walk Hard: 3.5
Destry Rides Again: 4.1
Swing Time: 3.5
Waiting for Guffman: 4
The Incredible Hulk: 2.5
The First Men in the Moon: 3
SiCKO: 3.5
28 Weeks Later: 4
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance: 4
Shoot 'Em Up: X
The Adventures of Baron Munchausen: 2.5
Sabrina: 3.5
Gone Baby Gone: 3.5
The Golden Compass: 3.5
Pirates... At World's End: 3.5
The Defiant Ones: 4
My Darling Clementine: 3
Iron Man: 3
The Front Page (1974): 3.5
Kings Row: 4
To Have and Have Not: 2
Across the Universe: 2
Stalag 17: 3
We Own the Night: 2.5
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof: 4
The General: 4
The Fortune Cookie: 3.5
Forces of Nature: 3
The China Syndrome: 4
88 Minutes: 1
Lonely Are the Brave: 3.5
The Professionals (1966): 3
The Battle of Algiers 3.5
The Darjeeling Limited: 3
The Philadelphia Story: 4.1
Ferris Bueller's Day Off: 3.5
The Shootist: 4
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town: 2.5
Bull Durham: 3.5
A Day at the Races: 3
One, Two, Three: 4.1
Battleship Potemkin: 4
Dan in Real Life: 3.5
The Lookout: 2.5
The Omen (1976): 2
Surf's Up: 4
White Heat: 4.1
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: 3
Waydowntown: 4
Once: 4
Away From Her: 4
Vantage Point: 1
The Awful Truth: 3.5
Juliet of the Spirits: 3.5
The Thin Man: 4
The Adventures of Robin Hood: 2.5
Ratatouille: 3.5
Cloverfield: 0.5
Michael Clayton: 1.5
American Gangster: 4
The Greatest Show on Earth: 3
The Caine Mutiny: 4
Mrs. Miniver: 2
There Will Be Blood: 4.1
Atonement: 3.5
Enchanted: 2.5

Friday, October 23, 2009

The 18 best films I've seen in the last 250. part 1

As of this week, I have been keeping notes on 250 new-to-me movies that I've seen since February 2008. Not all of them got full reviews. In fact some of them were summed up in a mere sentence. The "reviews" I've been posting on this site so far are second drafts of these scribblings. Being a list-obsessed individual, I decided to make a list of the best ones from this time period. After over-analyzing the titles, 18 seems to be the perfect amount...

#18: Paths of Glory (1957)
Stanley Kubrick's war trial film is brilliantly shot, excellently acted (Kirk Douglas in one of his most powerful performances), and emotional, but not forced, in its execution. A timeless war story and a beautiful parable of responsibility and punishment. The walk to the firing squad is tense and glorious.

#17: Cat People (1942)
Fear of the unknown and unseen is the key here. And it couldn't have been tackled better stylistically. Simone Simon's performance is perfectly under-dramatic and Jacques Tourneur's use of feline imagery is subtle and timeless. Hitchcock must have loved this film... and possibly was inspired by it.

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New-to-me movies seen since Mar 2011 in reverse order. Rated out of 4.

New-to-me movies seen since Feb 08 in reverse order. Rated out of 4

Friday, October 23, 2009

The 18 best films I've seen in the last 250. part 1

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