From: Sam
To: Adam, Eric, (Readers)
Subject: Alexander Payne, Todd Solondz, more LISTS
I’ll take up Eric’s Alexander Payne/Todd Solondz challenge briefly. “Happiness” remains one of the most distinctive movies I have ever seen. It’s inappropriate to say that it’s one of my “favorite” movies, because I can’t imagine under what circumstances I would revisit the movie; but I was very impressed and even moved by it. I thought it was smart and funny and brave. (But only brave because of how smart and funny it was; if it was merely “shocking” I’m not sure I would have finished it). That said, “Storytelling” didn’t do anything for me. I’m not sure who it was on the Slate Movie Club who mentioned it, but he/she took note of the tired subject matter of the film. I agree. It’s not that the film wasn’t funny -- it was, occasionally -- it’s that it wasn’t relevant. Fiction versus fact. The whole thing struck me as unoriginal and too-broadly written. And then it struck me as misanthropic. But only after I had lost interest in the story. I don’t think Payne hates people -- like Solondz seems to at times; I think he finds people absurd. Their routines; their passions; their relationships with one another. This occasionally slips into mean-spiritedness, but less so, I think, than some people accuse him of. As I’ve said, “About Schmidt” isn’t a perfect movie, but I think it’s very keenly written.
Inspired by the obscure, international flavor of Eric’s top-ten list, I want to mention one film that would have been in my top-ten, but I removed it because I saw it at the Chicago International Film Festival and it won’t make it into theatres until February: “The Dancer Upstairs.” Directed by John Malkovich, the movie takes place in an unnamed South American country that is under siege by a Marxist guerrilla group. Heavy stuff. Malkovich adds some absurd touches (which largely work), and the movie is fascinating, and features one of the best performances I saw all year -- Javier Bardem, who plays the determined cop who goes after the group’s leader. I don’t think this movie was pre-released in New York and L.A. to make it eligible for Oscar time, but I don’t know why. It’s terrific.
My Cinemascoped Awards:
Movies that would have made my top-ten list if, God forbid, I hadn’t seen any of the movies that actually made my top-ten list (in order, from “really good” to “inoffensive fun”): Bowling for Columbine, Full Frontal, CQ, Minority Report, Changing Lanes, Monsoon Wedding, Human Nature, Panic Room, Spider Man, My Big Fat Greek Wedding.
Basically, the above are movies that I liked more than I disliked. Below is a list of prestige misses. Movies that I wanted to like or was told I would like and that I did not like. Or disappointed me. I’m listing them below as a way of saying “Yes, I saw them; they’re not in my top-ten list (or any other list) because I didn’t like them.” These also appear in order; from “disappointing; but decent” to “pretentious and boring as hell.”
Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, Secretary, The Good Girl, Solaris, Far From Heaven, Tully, 8 Mile, Insomnia, Road to Perdition.
Worst films of the year: 1) XXX. Truly, epically bad. Offensively bad. I was taken hostage by the promotional siege that preceded this film and when it was all over, I just felt dirty. And also bored. 2) The Adventures of Pluto Nash. No, I wasn’t even on an airplane when I saw this. In fact, up until last week, I had completely forgotten the experience. Just a waste of everyone’s time. Alec Baldwin’s un-credited cameo keeps this from being even worse than “XXX.” 3) Lovely and Amazing. We’ve talked this one to death. Incompetent filmmaking. 4) 13 Conversations About One Thing. Only good in comparison to “Lovely and Amazing.” Pretentious and lazy. Some decent acting. 5) Hollywood Ending. The worst Woody Allen movie I’ve ever seen. Not funny at all. Avoid at all costs. Everyone involved should be embarrassed. Especially the Wood-man. Tea Leoni is the exception only because she is one of the most attractive women currently living.
Best performances (female): Meryl Streep (Adaptation), Maribel Verdu (Y Tu Mama Tambien), Emily Watson (Punch Drunk Love), Renee Zelwegger (Chicago), Cate Blanchett (Heaven), Franka Potente (The Bourne Identity), Cameron Diaz (Gangs of New York), Toni Collette (About a Boy).
Best performances (male): Daniel Day-Lewis (Gangs of New York), Nicolas Cage (Adaptation), Campbell Scott (Roger Dodger), Javier Bardem (The Dancer Upstairs), Gael Garcia Bernal (Y Tu Mama Tambien), Samuel L. Jackson (Changing Lanes), Chris Cooper (Adaptation), Ryhs Ifans (Human Nature), Richard Gere (Chicago), Hugh Grant (About a Boy), Nicholas Hoult (About a Boy), Nicky Katt (Full Frontal).
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