Goodfellas

Many people consider Goodfellas the perfect movie. It isn't. I don't think there is a perfect movie because no one knows what that is. What Goodfellas most definitely is, though, is an epic tale of mod brutality show in classic Scorsese style. From Henry working at the "taxi stand" as a kid to his eventual downward spiral into domestic boredom, Scorsese uses his signature style to keep things interesting, exciting, and true to life. In fact much of the story is true, of course artistic liberties were taken but more is true than you would think.

When Henry first joins the family everything is perfect. One because it is a family, more of a family than Henry had before he joined the mob. Two because literally everything is taken care of for him. Any bills - paid. Any problems - taken care of. Soon he even meets a girl and marries her so he always has someone to come home to. Of course, no one can have their cake and eat it too. Eventually, when Henry takes a lover, gets too caught up in the power of being a made
man, and develops a drug addiction things go downhill fast.

The production values are also stunning. All of the outfits, make-up, sets, cars, and props are spot on. The music is straight out of the 70's and works great.

All in all it's a great mafia tale, spun by the master of mafia movies (FFC not included) the end with Henry running all over town selling coke, dropping off guns, and trying to have dinner ready at a reasonable time gets you just as worked up as Henry is. While obviously the things he is doing are not the most respectable he is just like any of us: things to do, people to see, and places to go.

FFC stands for Francis Ford Coppola

IMDB here

The Shawshank Redemption

Obviously if you haven't seen The Shawshank Redemption you need to rent it right now. Or buy it be because you'll love it. I've never met anyone that didn't feel this way. The Shawshank Redemption is such a stunningly inspirational movie that it begs repeated viewings. Tim Robbins does such an excellent job as Andy Dufresne that he almost becomes Dufresne. It's an incredible performance that really needs to be seen. Any movie fan that calls himself a movie fan must see this movie. It becomes obvious why this is number one on IMDB's top 100 list. Morgan Freeman also does an excellent job (as always) as Red, the guy who can get anything in prison.

This is one of the very, very few movies that gets everything right. The acting, the directing, the pacing, the message behind the story, lighting, costumes, sets, music; literally everything works perfectly together - and that cohesion draws you into the story like few other films can. The Shawshank Redemption is modern film making at it's finest. This is a movie that will be talked about for years now. Most likely the Citizen Cane of our time.

I could go on and on (like I have) about everything The Shawshank Redemption stands for but I believe (like most) that it's a movie about hope. Hope is essential to the human race to survive. Andy endures some of the harshest punishments society has devised. He is framed for a murder he didn't commit, he is continually raped by "The Sisters" in prison, the guards beat him if he steps one toe out of line, he is locked in solitary confinement for weeks at a time.... more than most of us could bear. But Andy does. All because of the hope that one day he will be free on a beach with friends without a care in the world.

This movie will, without a doubt, go down in history as one of the greatest films of all time. You are really doing a disservice to yourself if you have not seen this movie.

IMDB here.

Milk

Milk is something of an opera, much like the opera's Harvey Milk was a fan of. I've always said that historical biopic's that are common knowledge (like the story of Harvey Milk) need to be told in a way that keeps you interested. Just enough drama to keep you interested and just enough true to life fact to be able to say based on a true story. You also need such a charismatic lead actor that he embodies the real person, not just acts like him. Sean Penn is such a convincing Harvey Milk (though I'll admit I've only seen TV interviews and old recordings of Mr. Milk and I was not alive during Harvey Milk's time in office) that he exudes the same appeal I think many gay rights activists saw in the real Harvey Milk. He has such a quiet, calming affect - it's really refreshing to see a lead role that isn't about how macho you can be. Penn nails exactly what he had to nail. It's really hard to explain the feeling he brings to the role. You really believe that he is the leader of this movement. That he really feels the pain of every oppressed individual in the country.

Milk is a multilayered story; a romance, a political satire, a human rights and freedom fighter movie all rolled into one. Through the movie Milk has two lovers. While many people will end there viewing right there, I beg you to continue watching. These characters care about each other. They love each other. James Franco is also a joy to watch as the first of Milk's lovers, Scotty. The sex scenes are not gratuitous or done in poor taste. They are there to show that Harvey is just like anyone else. Human to the very core. I believe Harvey Milk was one of the few people in this world that could truely and completely empathize with someone, anyone if they could at least look at the situation from his point of view.

The politics and Harvey's quest for civil rights for the gay community unfortunately get in the way of his personal life and one of his romances end tragically. This is the price the select few of us must pay for the greater good. I thank God that people like Harvey Milk are put on this earth and actually care enough about other people to make the sacrifice to make the difference.

Danny Elfman does the music and hits the perfect note with the score. Quiet, charming, inspiring, and poetic all at the same time.

Milk is a must watch for anyone interested in the gay rights movement or a civil rights movement in general. It's cute, funny, sad, inspiring, and moving all within the title and the credits. It moved me to tears the first time I saw it and by the third time it was still as moving as ever. A must see for everyone.

2001: A Space Odyssey

I am a huge Stanley Kubrick fan. This is one of the most awe inspiring movies I have ever seen. Every image that comes on screen is a masterpiece. Every frame is a work of art. This movie was made in 1968 but has more convincing FX than most of the movies coming out today. In 1968 a huge centrifuge was made so that an actor could hit 17 points at exactly the right time to look as though he could walk all the way around the perimeter. This movie will blow your mind with what Kubrick was able to accomplish is 1968.

The story starts with the dawn of man. According to Kubrick we evolved from apes in the desert when we found a huge rectangular monolith that gave us the knowledge to use tools. After that we have mastered space flight and interplanetary travel by 2001. Going from earth to the moon is as boring as your morning commute. The graphics are awesome, and I would cheapen the achievment by saying "The graphics are awesome for 1968" They are stunning period.

Each shot packs such a powerful punch, it's hard to really describe here. Take this one for example:
Probably the most easily recognized shot of 2001 besides the poster above. Just think for a second what you feel from this picture. Knowing little or nothing about the movie if you haven't seen it, what does the frame evoke?
To me just the loneliness of space is radiating from this picture. Dave Bowman is alone on a path. We can see where he came from but not where he is going. The cold, uncaring atmosphere of the corridor can also mirror the space all around him. It really shows that humans are just a tiny, insignificant speck in the grand scheme of the universe. While our accomplishments are great, we have so much farther to go.
That is what I think of when I look at this picture. Just this single frame. The movie is 148 minutes long - so you can imagine the rest of scenery.

Special note should be made of the use of sound - or lack there of sometimes. The booming classical music captures the essence of the film. Also the silence of space is highlighted in certain points at accentuate the loneliness and emptiness of space, and of Dave's quest. Also the sound of Dave breathing in space is annoying to some, but it consumes you. Every nerve is waiting for that next breath to make sure Dave is OK. Truly the sound/music is a masterpiece in itself.

While it's slow at times and has almost no dialogue in the first and last 25 minutes, it is well worth sticking it out. Hands down the best Sci-Fi movie of all time and rank's very highly in any other category. Well worth a watch or two.

IMDB here.

Fight Club

There are too many reasons to watch Fight Club before you die than I can mention here. For guys I think it brings up a lot of points about our generation - both bad and good - and is such a visceral and hard hitting (pun intended) movie that it's hard to look....and look away. It's hard to specify exactly why you should watch it, so I think bullets would be easier:

1. The story is awesome. This is not your typical beat em up, or stupid "boys will be boys" movie with no consequences to the violence. Ever punch is almost felt on your own face. When a fight goes to far and one of the combatants is left permanently disfigured the audience feels for him. But as the characters say - Fight Club is a release from the stress of a life they can no longer handle. While the violence may be extreme, it is better than suicide or other more harmful acts of aggression.

2. The acting is top notch. Ed Norton is so convincing as "The Narrator" (we never know his real name) that you really wonder if he is losing as much sleep as his character is. Brad Pitt is also excellent as Tyler Durden, a new friend of The Narrator's that is quite an enigma. Pitt brings the in-your-face performance that the role definitely calls for. Pitt nails the guy we've all met, the guy that doesn't care what anyone thinks and really means it. His whole deal isn't to make things easier for anyone - including himself, it's to make people stop and think and question why things are the way they are.

3. The visual style of the film really complements the subject matter very well. The film really feels dirty. Like if you had walked on set - I wouldn't touch anything. The locales that the two fighters visit are all low down dumps, reflecting how they feel on the inside. Really the whole movie is about how men in the 1990's and early 2000's feel about our situation. We're kinda pissed off. The gritty, dirty, and realistic feel of the movie mirrors the frustration many men feel everyday.

Those are the top three reasons to see Fight Club before you die. Once you see it you'll realize there are hundreds more.

IMDB here.

The Hurt Locker

Wow. Just saw The Hurt Locker and it's by far the most gripping war movie I've ever seen. And I've seen them all. Full Metal Jacket, Platoon, Band of Brothers, Saving Private Ryan, The Deer Hunter, Glory, Inglorious Basterds, Flags of our Fathers, Apocalypse Now, and I'm sure more that I can't think of right now. THL is probably in the top 2 for sheer grittiness and engaging story. It's gory, it's violent, it's shocking, and enduring. You really feel the impact of each explosion. And each explosion is actually real. Meaning explosions aren't happening left and right. Each one has a purpose and consequences. Not like most movies where explosions could kill you but probably don't, each one is felt for what it can actually do. THL drives the point home about war - it's horrible. But some people are born for it.

Jeremy Renner stars as Will James, an IED tech with seemingly nothing to lose. While he does an excellent job in his performance, unfortunately his co-stars were not as excellent. Anthony Mackie and Brian Geraghty do an OK job. Mackie feels a bit forced as the second in command to James. Mackie's character is strictly by the book, rules are rules, and everyone communicates constantly. While his character drives this point home by repeatedly saying this exact thing, Mackie looks as though this is true....without saying it 18 times.

Geraghty also plays the cookie cutter token "guy who can't take it anymore and just needs to get out". Though it's convincing, its convincing because we've seen it a million times before and we already know the part.

The intro to this movie is by far the best part. The tension and excitment in the first ten minutes is palpable. The music is good but also classic cookie cutter war movie. Very good war movie.

IMDB here

Chocolat

Though I'm still wondering why Johnny Depp's picture and name are on the cover, this is a great little movie about how stirring things up can be the best thing for you, or in this case - a town.

Things have always been done the same way in the small village in the French country side. Everyone goes to the same church and those who don't are not spoken to or of. Of course when a drifter and her daughter blow into the village with a strong north wind and open a chocolaterie just in time for Lent, things get a little crazy.

The movie tackle's some tough issues (violence against women among them) but never lets you stop to realize what is actually happening. The movie has a way of presenting the story to you that makes you not worry - everything will be ok, then it wakes you up to the fact that, um, if you start an intentional fire on a boat that has people on it - people could get hurt. Who ever thought of that?

Chocolat is a GREAT date night movie because both parties can have a good time watching it. I highly recommend and thanks to A.K. and U.S. for lending it to me.

IMDB here

Taxi Driver

So I've decided to tell you why an old movie is great instead of a new one this time. Taxi Driver is an awesome movie for a few reasons.

One is the setting, 1970's New York. The way Scorsese shows how the people of this city act and react to some of the most atrocious conditions of living paints a stunning picture. Children prostitutes, blood on the back seat of his cab, gangs dealing drugs in broad daylight...

Two is Robert De Niro, in his prime, young as hell, and exactly perfect for the movie. He plays Travis, a Vietnam vet without much going on in his life. He can't sleep and figures he might as well get a job at night. He becomes a Taxi Driver without any trouble and works his nights away. He slowly sinks into despair however with the aid of "junk food and pills". He see's the horrible filth that fills the streets each night and see's how unhappy the people of New York truly are. He meets a 12 year old prostitute one night and is struck speechless when she is pulled from his cab by her pimp (Harvey Keitel). This is a turning point for Travis.

Around the same time he becomes enamoured with Betsy. She works for a local politician running for office. He sees her as the future. Free of the filth around her. She is pure above all else. Though he hasn't even met her yet. While Betsy is is good in the world, Travis is constantly reminded of the evil in this world by way of multiple run-in's with the young prostitute, Iris. After finally becoming fed up with the world after discovering that even Betsy isn't perfect, Travis takes drastic measures.

This early Scorsese masterpiece about urban decay and a little bit about how we percieve the people around us. The cinematography is excellent, writing is top notch, and the music lends itself to the story. Some people say it is boring but they MUST sit and watch it. It is a very important movie for any film buff to see.

I won't ruin the ending for you but it's evident that the only thing separating saints and sinners is sometimes one decision. I would recommend Taxi Driver to everyone.

IMDB here

Shutter Island

Does that poster not get you excited? First of all, as you know, I am a huge fan of Martin Scorsese. Sorry but he is such a great director. You have to give him credit on how exactly shot his movies are. Everything is so perfectly executed - it would be hard for any aspiring director not to give him credit for some of their style.

Shutter Island is basically Marty and Leo having a ball with a great story and great effects (when needed - unlike Mr. Cameron who can't make a movie without them) and making a movie that THEY want to make. Not really commercial, though this was really promoted by the studio execs. While many of the critics haven't really enjoyed it so far, I'll bet that in the future this will be considered a classic in the psychological thriller category.

Leo plays Teddy Daniels, a U.S. Marshal in 1954 sent to investigate an island that has been converted into a prison- uhh- I mean a hospital for the criminally insane. Aided by his new partner Chuck, Teddy must sort through patients that are too crazy to tell him anything, and a staff that seems to be hiding something...

The sound warrants special mention, especially in the scene where Teddy visits the part of the hospital. Teddy continually must light a match to see because the power is out. It is completely silent other than very quiet talking and the match. Everytime the match bursts into flame it sounds louder and louder, but you realize it's just you hoping Teddy is ok. The match lighting means he is still there and ok. So you listen so intently for that sound, it's engrossing.

The ending is nothing short of the culmination of the artwork that preceded it. When you see it think about this. Who is telling the truth? Is the truth real or fictional? If it is fictional who made it up? I cannot think of another movie that in the last ten minutes has made me think and ponder every minute of the previous two hours searching for clues to those answers.

Shutter Island is a masterpiece of mystery film-making and should be viewed with an open mind by any fan of Scorsese's.

IMDB here