Castaway: I liked it. There’s not much else to say about this movie. Either Zemeckis got to you by dumping an uncalled-for amount of sap on towards the end, or he didn’t. And he got me.
MI2: Pretty Lame. I think that’s all I have to say about this one. Yep, it is.
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: So good. Everyone in the world has already said it, but this was soooo good. I dragged a friend along who had been convinced by the trailers that it would be way too sappy, and in a way, it was towards the end, but I still liked it, and so did he. I still don’t quite understand that part where those three guys meet Jade Fox at midnight, and for some reason, one of them is tied to a tree, but I guess I’ll just let that go. And also: Better than the Matrix.
The Grinch: #1 in my worst movie of all time column (Also features Doom Generation, Bebe’s Kids, and Cabin Boy, in no particular order, and for different reasons. Incidentally, did anyone else read that interview with Steve Malkmus where he said that one of the songs on his forthcoming solo album was wholly inspired by Cabin Boy? That should be quite a song…). Jim Carrey is guilty of the tremendous ‘overplaying’ that he’d been hiding quite well of late. I think I sat through it without laughing once. It might have been because I just wasn’t in the holiday spirit this year, but I really don’t think that was it. Then I thought about how this is the first exposure to the ‘Grinch’ story (Which was unnecessarily altered in several parts of the movie) that some kids are going to have, and I got kinda pissed.
Chuck & Buck: A pretty disturbing movie. Until about half way through it, it seems like the most innocent movie of all time, but then it takes a pretty dark turn when you least expect it. Dangerous to watch around indie dorks, because Joey Waronker (Who was interviewed in last week’s Onion) scored it, and his indie rock cohorts (Members of That Dog, The Rentals, Beck’s back up band) pop up in various roles throughout. Also, all the vocals on the soundtrack were handled by Waronker’s sister, Anna (also of That Dog fame). If you’re still not sold, the lyrics to the main reprise are: ‘Oodilly Oodilly Oodilly Oodilly Oodilly Oodilly Fun Fun Fun.’
Snatch: Another great movie to come out in the last few weeks. Features a lot of criminals and almost no females at all. Brad Pitt is able to pull off an engaging role without ever uttering anything too intelligible. Whoever Guy Ritchie’s got as a film editor should be given a big fat gold star.
What’s Eating Gilbert Grape: An old movie that I’ve rewatched twice now in as many months. So many good actors in this movie: John C. Rielly, Johnny Depp, Juliette Lewis, Leo DiCaprio, Crispin Glover, etc. Good actors, sappy story: sold!
Sixteen Candles: Another golden oldie that I started but haven’t finished yet.