Long Live Civility

M. Gustave: You see, there are still faint glimmers of civilization left in this barbaric slaughterhouse that was once known as humanity. Indeed that’s what we provide in our own modest, humble, insignificant… oh, fuck it.-The Grand Budapest Hotel

Today I had a Twitter conversation with a fellow follower. He made the mistake of reading the comments section of an Internet article. I too choose to often do so because well, people love to look at car crashes. Of course in that case car crashes are accidental-terrible racist, homophobic and or sexist comments are not. So much for the 21st century.

Still I’m reminded of the scene in The Grand Budapest Hotel where Ralph Fiennes mediates upon civility in a barbaric and hostile world. His end response of “Fuck it” is a feeling that many exasperated people have when they venture into the Internet and read certain posts. I mean who the hell are these people? I’ll admit I curse way too much and I often fail to use proper grammar yet these idiots are the toilet bowl scum of the online world.

It’s really quite depressing and honestly I don’t have a solution to the problem. I’ll try and encourage those who behave as if they were not raised to be buffoons, yet online anonymity encourages terrible behavior. The sad thing is that not even having their actual name attached to their posts is enough to detour them from making comments that are insanely cringe worthy. A pessimistic individual would note this as the human race being doomed. I think I would go with hoping the sane end up prevailing.

Best of 2014

The list so far:

1. Interstellar (100, Christopher Nolan)
2. The Guest (100, Adam Wingard)
3. Birdman (98, Alejandro González Iñárritu )
4. Whiplash (98, Damien Chazelle)
5. The Grand Budapest Hotel (97, Wes Anderson)
6. Godzilla (97, Gareth Edwards)
7. Only Lovers Left Alive (95, Jim Jarmusch)
8. Selma (95, Ava DuVernay)
9. Blue Ruin (95, Jeremy Saulnier)
10. Cold In July (95, Jim Mickle)

2014 Viewing Log In Review: The Best First Films Viewed

A bit late due to not having a working laptop but still its happening anyways. The best films viewed from last year were (Top 20 out of 169 total films, out a score of 100, the 100s are in blue, 99-96 are in green, 95s are red):

1. The Life and Death of Colone Blimp (1943, Powell and Pressburger)
2. Rashomon (1950, Kurosawa)
3. Sherlock Jr. (1924, Keaton)
4. 8 1/2 (1963, Fellini)
5. Wall Street (1987, Stone)
6. The Crying Game (1992, Jordan)
7. The Wolf of Wall Street (2013, Scorsese)
8. Amadeus (1984, Forman)
9. Birdman (2014, Iñárritu)
10. Night On Earth (1991, Jarmusch)
11. Let The Fire Burn (2013, Osder)
12. Oldboy (2003, Park)
13. The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014, Anderson)
14. Edge of Darkness (1985, Campbell)
15. Godzilla (2014, Edwards)
16. Strange Days (1995, Bigelow)
17. Insomnia (1997, Skjoldbjærg)
18. Laura (1944, Preminger)
19. The Innocents (1961, Clayton)
20. Bad Company (1972, Benton)

Top 5 Worst Films Viewed In 2014 (No zeros, all scores 10-1 out of 100-yeah they suck):

1. Monstrosity: The Atomic Brain (1964, Mascelli)
2. The Incredibly Strange Creatures Who Stopped Living and Became Mixed-Up Zombies!!? (1964, Steckler)
3. The Touch of Satan (1971, Henderson)
4. Soultaker (1990, Rissi)
5. Warrior of the Lost World (1983, Worth)

Director Spotlight: Wes Anderson

When I was an even younger man years ago I stumbled onto a movie by a director named Wes Anderson. The film was named Rushmore, and it came out in 1998, although I saw it a couple of years after its release. The movie had a large impact on my life, as I was in high school at the time and therefore related to the tale of a young man who lusts after a gorgeous teacher at his school. This was also one of my first experiences with Bill Murray, who at the time I only knew of through comedic works such as Groundhog’s Day and later on Ghostbusters and Caddeyshack, among other famous movies that he’s been a star of.

Rushmore though witnessed Murray showing a different side, a dramatic and tragic aspect of his acting that most, perhaps even himself included, didn’t know he was capable of doing. However the film’s star is fresh-faced, pimples and braces included, Jason Schwartzman, who became famous and who’s character Max Fischer is one of those Anderson character types that have become typical of his films. Only after seeing Rushmore did I finally watch Bottle Rocket, which was his first movie, and thus like some of his films I went forwards first and then backwards, then forwards again.

Although many of his films are non-linear, Anderson primarily chooses to divide many of his films into book chapters, something that Quentin Tarentino has also done along with many other famous directors. To me Bottle Rocket was a rather fine debut, a first film that I eagerly revisited after purchasing it on Criterion a couple of years back. Own Wilson and Luke Wilson may have slummed it through some awful movies in their time, but their work with Anderson has been nothing but excellent and Own has properly assisted him at times in the writing and screenplay departments.

Although quite raw due to being Anderson’s earliest work, Bottle Rocket properly establishes many of his themes and showcases also his ability to expertly work in classic rock populated soundtracks. It’s also one of the handful of movies of his that is set in the present, although even in his modern-day films there are old devices and mediations upon the effects time has on us all.

Which brings me to The Royal Tenenbaums, one of his masterpieces. Gene Hackman is the centerpiece of a movie about a family that crumbles apart only to slowly piece itself back together. Anjelica Huston is marvelous as Royal’s poor wife, a strong woman who has put up with Royal’s lies and bumbling for far too long. I’m not sure which movie sports the better Luke Wilson performance: Bottle Rocket or Tenenbaums, yet he is excellent in both films. By this point Anderson had mastered the art of bringing together amazing and rather huge casts, as this film has everyone in it from Danny Glover to Ben Stiller-two actors by the way that I wish had been in another of his films.

In Tenenbaums Anderson also reveals his obsession and mediation upon wealth and power, ambition and fame, family and problems lurking beneath the surface. Class is an important aspect of all of his movies, and standing both social and imagined is noted by the characters in his films. Yet his next two movies take the viewer even further down his own special version of the rabbit hole, peering into new avenues and enlarging his own universe.

Some days I regard The Life Aquatic as his best film, other times I think its Rushmore. Featuring arguably Bill Muarry’s best performance (out of the ones I’ve seen, anyways) and also featuring the wonderful Willem Dafoe and the properly grumpy Michael Gambon, among many distinguished others, The Life Aquatic is Anderson taking his drama-comedy style and adding action/adventure to the mix. Steve Zissou, the film’s tragic protagonist, is wary and put upon, having sadly become a punch line even among his own people. The quest to destroy a shark is really Zissou having one last grand voyage before he is forced to hang it up for good, done in by time, lack of funding, and a diminished ability to create anything worthy of note.

This is Anderson going meta, and in the process the fact that it has a rotten rating under 60% on the Rotten Tomatoes Tomotemeter is fitting and ironic considering what The Life Aquatic is about. I remember Roger Ebert’s thumbs down review and after seeing this  movie I think most of those critics missed the point, or they got the point and didn’t like it. I love this movie: its one of his funniest, most entertaining, and delightful films.

Which brings me to a movie that at first I was not a huge fan of at first, yet a recent second viewing thanks to Criterion caused me to re-evaluate my opinion: The Darjeeling Limited is a difficult movie to consume and examine, particularly since I cannot thankfully relate to losing a parent. However the magnificent trio of Adrian Brody, Own Wilson, and Jason Schwartzman (naturally like all self-styled auteurs Anderson uses the same people in most of his movies) make this film a rather very good, almost near great, picture, one that I enjoy. At the same time I think its one of his lesser works, although I do love the soundtrack and the ending is rather fitting. Out of all of Anderson’s movies I feel this one is dead set on moving on from the past and striving toward the future, which is interesting considering the next film he chose to make.

Even though I think its his weakest film, The Fantastic Mr. Fox is still really good and quite enjoyable. Considering how quirky and weird many of his movies are I’m a little surprised that Anderson did not direct an animated movie sooner; I suspect given the right material he will make another one in the future. I loved George Clooney and Meryl Streep in this, as they work well together and form the movie’s emotional center. Also this film has one of Anderson’s best soundtracks, which adds to the movie’s mood and underlines the brilliant animation-I loved the waterfall shot, which was beyond gorgeous.

Unlike The Darjeeling Limited though this movie is more about not being able to escape your past, as Clooney’s Mr. Fox gives in to his base desires and endangers his clan and friends in the process. I like that at this point Anderson uses largely the same actors not so much because he thinks he is an auteur but also because by this point in Anderson’s career this group works incredibly well together. Oh and Clooney and Bill Murray’s interactions in this movie are my favorite parts. “Are you cussing with me?” This is also the first Anderson movie I was able to see in theaters, and it was a delightful experience.

After two lesser movies I thought that Anderson was losing his touch, so when he created Moonrise Kingdom and it was a truly marvelous thing of beauty to watch I was revealed that he was back in a manner of speaking. Unlike his other films he centers this primarily around kids, with the adults taking a backstage. The aptly named Sam and Suzy are running away, embracing their own destiny having fallen in love over the course of a warm New England summer. With the adults in pursuit, the two kids end up going through an outlandish and comedic adventure that is thrilling and engaging. This film is also the Anderson debuts of Edward Norton, Bruce Willis, Tilda Swinton, and Harvey Keitel. The last act is the most action packed out of any of Anderson’s movies save for The Life Aquatic and The Grand Budapest Hotel, and the two young child actors Jared Gilman and Kara Hayward are naturalistic in their performances. It’s a new favorite of mine.

Lastly, The Grand Budapest Hotel sports Ralph Fiennes in his first Anderson movie as M. Gustave, who is the hotel’s concierge and who becomes the mentor a young lobby boy named Zero. Combing elements of 1930s Hitchcock films with elements from his other films, The Grand Budapest Hotel is hilarious, tragic, and beautiful-everything that I’ve come to expect from an Anderson movie. I’m glad that I’ve seen the last three movies of his in theaters, as seeing them on the big screen adds something that watching them on my TV does not. I also think that Hotel has what is arguably his most gigantic and best cast, and I loved F. Murray Abraham as the film’s narrator. Also this is probably the most bittersweet out of all of Anderson’s movies, and thus achieves an odd sort of grand status.

Despite other modern directors being better than Mr. Wes Anderson, I consider him to be one of the finest American auteurs-a true artist in the sense of the word. His movies are entertaining, funny, never boring, and rather colorful. I love the color schemes he chooses for his movies, and his style is rather distinctive. It is interesting how despite never experiencing great awards success his films are mostly well reviewed, which suggests that the Academy either doesn’t understand his work or they fail to appreciate it. Too bad, although many great Hollywood performers over the years have failed to capture a little golden man. When Anderson retires the film world will be a little more empty, and I hope that I never witness the day when he makes a bad or dull film.

Movie Log 2014

Time to do it again:

January:

1. Dressed To Kill (1980, De Palma)-92, Netflix Instant Viewing
2. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013, Jackson)-91, Theater Viewing
3. Hard Eight (1996, Anderson)-93, Netflix Instant Viewing
4. The Wolf of Wall Street (2013, Scorsese)-100, Theater Viewing
5. Frankenstein Created Women (1967, Fisher)-84, Netflix
6. We’re The Millers (2013, Thurber)-76, RedBox
7. The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp (1943, Powell and Pressburger)-100, Criterion
8. Rodan (1956, Honda)-80, Netflix Instant Viewing
9. The Dictator (2012, Charles)-80, Netflix Instant Viewing
10. 48 Hrs. (1982, Hill)-90, Netflix Instant Viewing
11. Down Terrace (2009, Wheatley)-88, Netflix Instant Viewing

Movie Of The Month: The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp (1943, Powell and Pressburger)-100, Criterion

February:

12. Another 48 Hrs. (1990, Hill)-70, Netflix Instant Viewing
13. The Lego Movie (2014, Miller and Lord)-93, Theater
14. Sightseers (2012, Wheatley)- 93, Netflix Instant Viewing
15. Beverly Hills Cop II (1987, Scott)-81, Netflix Instant Viewing
16. The Abominable Snowman (1957, Guest)-60, Netflix
17. Big Fish (2003, Burton)-95, Public Library

Movie of the Month: Big Fish (2003, Burton)-95, Public Library

March:

18. Beverly Hills Cop III (1994, Landis)-70, Netflix Instant Viewing
19. Edge of Darkness (1985, Campbell)-97, Public Library
20. Laura (1944, Preminger)-95, Public Library
21. Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me (1992, Lynch)-94, Netflix
22. Clay Pigeons (1998, Dobkin)-81, Netflix Instant Viewing
23. The United States of Leland (2003, Ryan Hoge)-93, Netflix Instant Viewing
24. Heathers (1989, Lehmann)-92, Netflix Instant Viewing
25. Night Creatures (1962, Graham Scott)-77, Netflix
26. The Evil of Frankenstein (1964, Francis)-61, Netflix
27. The Seven-Per-Cent Solution (1976, Ross)-95, Public Library
28. Wall Street (1987, Stone)-100, DVD
29. Parker (2013, Hackford)-65, Netflix Instant Viewing
30. Night On Earth (1991, Jarmusch)-98, Criterion, Public Library
31. The Revenge of Frankenstein (1958, Fisher)-93, Netflix
32. American Hustle (2013, Russell)-95, RedBox

Movie of the Month: Wall Street (1987, Stone)-100, DVD

April:

33. The Stranglers of Bombay (1959, Fisher)-82, Netflix
34. The Terror of the Tongs (1961, Bushell)-62, Netflix
35. Stand Up Guys (2013, Fisher)-84, Netflix Instant Viewing
36. The Man Who Could Cheat Death (1959, Fisher)-83, Netflix
37. The Phantom of the Opera (1962, Fisher)-75, Netlix
38. Paranoiac (1963, Francis)-70, Netflix
39. Bad Company (1972, Benton)-95, Netflix Instant Viewing
40. All The Boys Love Mandy Lane (2006, Levine)-88, Netflix Instant Viewing
41. 8½ (1963, Fellini)-100, Criterion
42. The Snorkel (1958, Green)-45, Netflix
43. Maniac (1963, Carreras)-87, Netflix
44. The Lair Of The White Worm (1988, Russell)-91, Netflix Instant Viewing
45. Midnight Run (1988, Brest)-92, Public Library
46. The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014, Anderson))-97, Theater Viewing

Movie of the Month: 8½ (1963, Fellini)-100, Criterion

May:

47. The Curse of the Mummy’s Tomb (1964, Carreras)-83, Netflix
48. Rashomon (1950, Kurosawa)-100, Public Library/Criterion
49. The Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll (1960, Fisher)-85, Netflix
50. Argo (2012, Affleck)-94, Public Library
51. Amadeus (1984, Forman)-99, Public Library
52. Youth of the Beast (1963, Suzuki)-93, Public Library
53. Godzilla Raids Again (1955, Oda)-45, Netflix Instant Viewing
54. Godzilla vs Mothra (1964, Honda)-85, Netflix Instant Viewing
55. Attack of the Puppet People (1958, Gordon)-60, YouTube
56. X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014, Singer)-93, Theater

Movie of the Month: Rashomon (1950, Kurosawa)-100, Public Library/Criterion

June:

57. Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster (1964, Honda)-83, Netflix Instant Viewing
58. Time Bandits (1981, Gilliam)-87, Public Library
59. The Reptile (1966, Gilling)-75, Netflix
60. Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014, Russo Brothers)-94, Theater Viewing
61. Insomnia (1997, Skjoldbjærg)-95, Public Library/Criterion
62. The Earth Dies Screaming (1965, Fisher)-80, Netflix
63. The Way of the Dragon (1972, Lee)-87, Netflix Instant Viewing
64. Felicia’s Journey (1999, Egoyan)-90, Public Library

Movie of the Month: Insomnia (1997, Skjoldbjærg)-95, Public Library/Criterion

July:

65. Johnny Mnemonic (1995, Longo)-84, Netflix Instant Viewing
66. Heavy Metal (1981, Potterton, Murakami)-90, Netflix Instant Viewing
67. Swashbuckler (1976, Goldstone)-70, Netflix Instant Viewing
68. Godzilla (2014, Edwards)-97, Theater Viewing
69. The Witches (1966, Frankel)-60, Netflix
70. The Stand (1994, Garris)-80, Netflix Instant Viewing
71. Nick of Time (1995, Badham)-52, CW TV
72. Oldboy (2003, Park)-98, Netflix Instant Viewing
73. Trigun: Badlands Rumble (2010, Nishimura)-90, Netflix Instant Viewing
74. The Mummy’s Shroud (1967, Gilling)-81, Netflix
75. Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters (2013, Wirkola)-55, Netflix Instant Viewing
76. Dracula Has Risen From The Grave (1968, Francis)-84, Netflix
77. Zombie (1979, Fulci)-93, Public Library
78. Phantasm II (1988, Coscarelli)-90, Public Library

Movie of the Month: Oldboy (2003, Park)-98, Netflix Instant Viewing

August:

79. Edge of Tomorrow (2014, Liman)-91, Theater Viewing
80. Gamera: The Giant Monster (1965, Yuasa)-30, Netflix Instant Viewing
81. The Touch of Satan (1971, Henderson)-9, Netflix Instant Viewing
82. Soultaker (1990, Rissi)-9, Netflix Instant Viewing
83. Godzilla vs. Monster Zero (1965, Honda)-70, Netflix Instant Viewing
84. A Field In England (2013, Wheatley)-94, Public Library
85. Phantoms (1998, Chappelle)-80, Netflix Instant Viewing
86. The Birdcage (1996, Nichols)-91, Netflix Instant Viewing
87. Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed (1969, Fisher)-87, Netflix
88. Tales From The Crypt (1972, Francis)-88, Public Library
89. The Vault of Horror (1973, Baker)-84, Public Library
90. Taste The Blood of Dracula (1970, Sasdy)-54, Public Library
91. A Nightmare On Elm Street 5: The Dream Child (1989, Hopkins)-78, Public Library
92. Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare (1991, Talalay)-30, Public Library
93. Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014, Bay)-79, Theater Viewing
94. Wes Craven’s New Nightmare (1994, Craven)-87, Public Library
Movie of the Month: A Field In England (2013, Wheatley)-94, Public Library

September:

95. Body Bags (1993, Carpenter, Hooper, Sulkis)-86, Public Library
96. The Ninth Gate (1999, Polanski)-80, Netflix Instant Viewing
97. Red State (2011, Smith)-87, Netflix Instant Viewing
98. Crimewave (1985, Raimi)-84, Public Library
99. V/H/S/2 (2013, Sánchez, Barrett, Eisener, Hale)-88, Netflix Instant Viewing
100. Perfect Blue (1998, Kon)-95, Public Library
101. Ravenous (1999, Griffin)-87, Netflix Instant Viewing
102. Opera (1987, Argento)-90, YouTube
103. Phenomena (1985, Argento)-87, YouTube
104. Hard Rain (1998, Salomon)-78, Netflix Instant Viewing

Movie of the Month: Perfect Blue (1998, Kon)-95, Public Library

October:

105. Night Of The Demons (1988, Tenney)-78, Public Library
106. Below (2002, Twohy)-82, Netflix Instant Viewing
107. Big Ass Spider (2013, Mendez)-65, Netflix Instant Viewing
108. Dead Heat (1988, Black)-75, Netflix Instant Viewing
109. Bad Lieutenant (1992, Ferrera)-93, Netflix
110. Orca: The Killer Whale (1977, Anderson)-50, Netflix Instant Viewing
111. The Innocents (1961, Clayton)-95, Netflix
112. Grabbers (2012, Wright)-90, Netflix Instant Viewing
113. Wishmaster (1997, Kurtzman)-75, Netflix Instant Viewing
114. Nightmare City (1980, Lenzi)-88, Netflix Instant Viewing
115. Child’s Play (1988, Holland)-90, Netflix
116. Candyman (1992, Rose)-93, Netflix Instant Viewing
117. Humanoids of the Deep (1980, Peters)-67, Netflix Instant Viewing
118. Dust Devil (1992, Stanley)-90, Netflix Instant Viewing
119. Prom Night (1980, Lynch)-84, Netflix
120. The Incredibly Strange Creatures Who Stopped Living and Became Mixed-Up Zombies!!? (1964, Steckler)-6, Netflix Instant Viewing
121. Black Sabbath (1963, Bava)-92, Netflix Instant Viewing
122. Visiting Hours (1982, Lord)-64, Netflix Instant Viewing
123. The Wicker Man (1973, Hardy)-95, Netflix
124. Halloween: Resurrection (2002, Rosenthal)-70, Netflix Instant Viewing
125. Event Horizon (1997, Anderson)-90, Netflix Instant Viewing

Movie of the Month: The Innocents (1961, Clayton)-95, Netflix

November:

126. You’re Next (2013, Wingard)-93, Netflix Instant Viewing
127. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014, Gunn)-93, Theater Viewing
128. Silver Linings Playbook (2012, Russell)-92, Netflix Instant Viewing
129. Gamera vs. Guiron (1969, Yuasa)-53, Netflix Instant Viewing
130. Tombstone (1993, Cosmantos)-95, Netflix Instant Viewing
131. Out of the Furnace (2013, Cooper)-88, Netflix Instant Viewing
132. The Beginning of the End (1957, Gordon)-30, Netflix Instant Viewing
133. Blue Ruin (2013, Saulnier)-95, Netflix Instant Viewing, Netflix Instant Viewing
134. Strange Days (1995, Bigelow)-96, Netflix Instant Viewing
135. Godzilla’s Revenge (1969, Honda)-48, Netflix Instant Viewing
136. Terror of MechaGodzilla (1975, Honda)-81, Netflix Instant Viewing
137. Devil Fish (1984, Bava)-35, Netflix Instant Viewing
138. Horrible Bosses 2 (2014, Anders)-85, Theater
139. Sex Tape (2014, Kasdan)-73, DVD
140. Police Academy (1984, Wilson)-87, DVD

Movie of the Month: Strange Days (1995, Bigelow)-96, Netflix Instant Viewing

December:

141. Birdman (2014, Iñárritu)-98, Theater
142. Blood From The Mummy’s Tomb (1971, Holt)-54, Netflix
143. Dracula A.D. 1972 (1972, Gibson)-77, Netflix
144. The Toxic Avenger (1984, Kaufman)-90, DVD
145. Gone Girl (2014, Fincher)-93, Theater
146. The Yards (2000, Gray)-88, Netflix Instant Viewing
147. The Visitor (1979, Paradisi)-73, DVD
148. My Darling Clementine (1946, Ford)-95, Criterion DVD
149. Warrior of the Lost World (1983, Worth)-10, Netlix Instant Viewing
150. Safety Last (1924)-90, Criterion
151. Gamera vs Baurgon (1966)-35, Netflix Instant Viewing
152. Little Odessa (1994, Gray)-90, Netflix Instant Viewing
153. The Atomic Brain (1964)
154. Manhattan Murder Mystery (1993, Allen)-93, Public Library
155. Thief (1981, Mann)-94, Netflix Instant Viewing
156. Sherlock Jr. (1924, Keaton)-100, Netflix Instant Viewing
157. Seven Chances (1925, Keaton)-93, Netflix Instant Viewing
158. Batman Forever (1995, Schumacher)-75, Netflix Instant Viewing
159. The Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires (1974, Baker)-77, Netflix
160. The Iceman (2012, Vromen)-84, Netflix Instant Viewing
161. The Crying Game (1992, Jordan)-100, Netflix Instant Viewing
162. The Internship (2013, Levy)-83, DVD
163. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002, Columbus)-50, ABC Family
164. The Hobbit Part 3: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014, Jackson)-85, Theater
165. Jubal (1956, Daves)-92, Criterion
166. Judex (1963, Franju)-90, Criterion
167. Two-Lane Blacktop (1971, Hellman)-93, Criterion
168. Wild (2014)-95, Theater
169. Let The Fire Burn (2013)-98, Netflix Instant Viewing

Movie of the Month: Sherlock Jr. (1924, Keaton)-100, Netflix Instant Viewing