I made a big post (linked here) describing my rating system. In short, its more a gauge of how much I enjoyed watching the film than my overall feelings of how 'great' the film is. Rewatches are a little tricky with this format, so again, I might enjoy rewatching movies I like or love that I don't necessarily consider great.
Basically, if you disagree, remember my rankings are arbitrary, and if you agree, my rankings are the product of an uncanny insight into the magical world of movies.
Without further adieu, here are the three and thee and a half star films:
08-21-09: Run Lola Run (1998) 3 stars:
Watched this as the first movie of our new "Film Club." If you read this blog, you are invited to our next screening, who knows when or where that will be, but you are invited. I don't have much to say about it, this is an impressive little indie film with tons of energy and swagger. The biggest thing I noticed this time around was how bad the film looks in some of the interior shots (notably Lola's father and hussy). The outside shots still look beautiful - its amazing how much lighting affects the look of digital (hint hint Michael Mann!).
08-15-09: About a Boy (2002) 3 stars:
This film dropped for me this time around. I still love the music and some scenes, but it hasn't held up as well as I thought it would. My biggest rewatch impression: The Weitz's direction is way, way too overblown in most scenes, specifically all of the camera movements during conversations. There is nothing wrong with shot-reverse shot, you don't need to try and get creative and do the same thing with a panning camera! Also, we don't need you to all of the sudden have an upside down shot flip right-side up to start the final act, we get it, its a turning point in the film. I think a little more subtlety would have helped this movie age much more gracefully.
08-07-09: Can't Hardly Wait (1998) 3 stars:
This is a five star film if you skip every scene involving Jennifer Love Hewitt or Ethan Embry pining for Jennifer Love Hewitt (leave in the scenes with him and Lauren Ambrose because those two have great chemistry). I spotted Jason Segel in a small role this time around, and I will never get tired of Seth Green's Kenny. One of my true guilty pleasure movies.
08-01-09: My Dinner with Andre (1981) 3 stars:
Its damn good, I don't know how "entertaining" I would call it, but its always interesting and its fair to both characters without preaching to the audience. I have heard Wallace Shawn say that, if they did it again, they would play the opposite characters. I would love to see that - it would be 'inconceivable.'
07-30-09: Waltz with Bashir (2008) 3.5 stars:
Three and a half stars? I still don't know, maybe its a four star film, and I am very glad I saw it. I want to defend this movie as one man's personal journey and thoughts on his own memories. I love movies like that, and am usually there strongest defender. However, he is presenting a famous massacre within some terms of "first person authenticity." Does that impose a sense of duty to not mix in personal ideas that, basically, cloud the message of the movie. In other words, did we need his psychiatrist contrasting Ari Folman's involvement with the holocaust? I don't honestly know, it opens a lot of questions, and in many ways I want to defend his choice to keep it in. I think it might have made it a better film, but it made the viewing experience very difficult, because he opens so many doors that he doesn't explore, and it was the exploration of those doors that would have made this movie a masterpiece for me (whether or not those doors should even be in this film).
07-22-09: Role Models (2008) 3 stars:
I laughed, more than I thought I would. Christopher Mintz-Plasse is the real revelation here, as he doesn't just play McLovin part two. The final act LARP scene is what pushed Role Models into 3 star territory, perhaps solely for the line "Now let us gingerly touch our tips."
07-19-09: The Hurt Locker (2008) 3.5 stars:
Maybe this should be rated higher, but I think its a perfect example of a solid three star film. I liked it, I have a few gripes but nothing major. Its one of the most tense films I have ever watched, but I guess there is just something lacking to really push it into four star territory. However, Anthony Mackie is excellent, as always. I'd give this film five stars if it meant he would finally get the leading roles and the attention he deserves. I think he is the best actor of his generation, and its sad to say this, but if he was white I am almost certain he would have multiple Oscar nominations by now. Hopefully this film finally launches him into superstardom and the recognition he deserves.
07-01-09: Grave of the Fireflies (1988) 3 stars:
Heartbreaking, but probably overhyped. I won't ever watch it again, I can't say I recommend it because its one of the saddest films I have ever seen. However, the actress's voice for Saita (the English dub) drove me mad - I wish it had the Japanese track on the DVD I watched.
06-28-09: Bridget Jones's Diary (2001) 3 stars:
Without the final act (street fight and everything after), this is a four star movie. I still enjoy it, but this time around the flaw stuck out a tiny bit more. I wish it was shot on location as the first two-thirds of the film are so realistic, if fanciful. Again, though, this film has one of the worst "drive off a cliff" turns I can think of, because until then its one of the best romantic comedies of the decade.
06-26-09: Tristam Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story (2005) 3 stars:
A good movie that loses its way in the final act. It has some great scenes, but it was a big letdown after 24 Hour Party People. That might be unfair, but oh well. Its still a good, funny movie and highly recommended.
06-18-09: Encounters at the End of the World (2008) 3 stars:
I could listen to Herzog talk for days. There are two amazing scenes in this doc: the penguin scene, which I will not spoil, but is about as perfect a scene for Herzog as you can ever get, and the scene where he talks over the gardener to call him a hippy idiot who wasted his life studying a dead language nobody can speak. God I love Herzog.
There you go. Stay tuned for the next post, which will presumably be the two star films!
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