Singin' In the Rain (1952)

Rating: * * * * * (Out of 5)

One of my very favorite films of all time. What more can I say about this film? I think we have run out of superlatives. Everytime I watch it, I have a silly grin on my face for the entire two hours.

The picture quality on the special edition DVD is absoultely brilliant.

I wrote quite a long review, you can read it here: http://www.amateurmoviereviews.com/2006/10/singin-in-rain-1952.html

Friends With Money (2006)

Rating: * * * 1/2 (Out of 5)

Well, I like any film with Catherine Keener.

The film is enjoyable and the four female leads are all excellent, but it feels lightweight. There are some discerning observations of the conflict of money and friendship, yet the depiction of the characters seem on the surface, especially the Jennifer Aniston character.

Little Miss Sunshine (2006)

Rating: * * * * 1/2 (Out of 5)

A thoroughly delightful film!

Little Olive is the nucleus of the film that binds all the characters together, and she steals the show. 10 year old Abigail Breslin displays the kind of innocence and charm that makes your heart melt. Oh, and the final scene is an absolute hoot.

The Weather Man (2005)

Rating: * * * (out of 5)

Gore Verbiniski, the man who made The Pirates of the Caribbean films, directed this rather downbeat drama of a weather man facing an existential crisis. There are moments of insight, but in the end, the character and his problems just seem too inconsequential for me to really care about.

A Prairie Home Companion (2006)

Rating: * * * * (Out of 5)

It is a sweet, heartwarming adaptation of a long running radio show to the screen. The expert handling of the ensemble cast is pure Altman, and the actors are all excellent as expected. The small moments in the film are actually the most precious. It seems like Altman actually loves his characters, which you cannot really say for most of his other films, and that makes the film so enjoyable to watch.

United 93 (2006)

Rating: * * * * * (Out of 5)

I was skeptical of the film when it first came out, I guess because the trailer kind of made it look like a conventional thriller. The film is anything but. It is one of the most powerful films I have seen in recent years.



You can read my review of the film here: http://www.amateurmoviereviews.com/2006/10/united-93-2006.html

Thank You for Smoking (2005)

Rating: * * * * (Out of 5)

I was entertained throughout Thank You for Smoking, but when I thought about it afterwards, I wished it was more. It is a good comedy, but it just does not have the bite to be considered a good satire.

You can read my review of the film here: http://www.amateurmoviereviews.com/2006/10/thank-you-for-smoking-2005.html

What's New Pussycat (1965)

Rating: * * * 1/2 (Out of 5)

The humor may be a bit dated, but it is still a lot of fun. You've got to love a film with both Peter Sellers and Woody Allen... The car chase at the end is just crazy!

What's new pussycat? Woah, Woah
What's new pussycat? Woah, Woah

Top Hat (1935)

Rating: * * * * * (Out of 5)

What a delightful film! I think this, along with Swing Time, are the two best Astaire/Rogers films ever made. The "Isn't This a Lovely Day" number rivals the "Pick Yourself Up" number in Swing Time, which is no easy feat.

And by the way, I think men should still wear top hats, tuxedoes, and carry canes... then we would all be stylish like Mr. Peanut.

You can read my review of the film here: http://www.amateurmoviereviews.com/2006/10/top-hat-1935_116172740916340103.html

Ellie Parker (2005)

Rating: * * * 1/2 (Out of 5)

I really like Naomi Watts, and I applaud her for taking on roles in small, low budget films like Ellie Parker.

The film is interesting as we get to take a look at a day in the life of a struggling actress. Shot in the style of a documentary on digital video, Scott Coffey's film attempts to blend fiction and reality, and it often succeeds, in no small part due to Ms. Watts' entertaining perfomance.

Café Lumière (2003)

Rating: * * * * * (Out of 5)

It is amazing that one of the very best directors in the world is so little known in the US. Only one of his films (Millenium Mambo) has ever been picked up for distribution here.

In this homage to Yasujiro Ozu, Hou Hsiao-Hsien seems to be even more Ozu than Ozu. The sparse narrative offers quiet images and keenly observed details. The tranquil pillow shots of trains give a nod to the old master. The character's travel mirrors the director's own metaphysical journey to immerse himself in the cinematic influence of his spiritual mentor.

In our culture of extravagant visuals and rapid cutting tailored for the attention deficits, Mr. Hou has turned back the clock to a era of simple moving images. Images that are more enchanting and more captivating because of their simplicity. I love this picture!

Absolute Beginners (1986)

Rating: * * * (Out of 5)

I remember really wanting to see this film when it first came out in 1986, mainly because of Patsy Kensit, and of course David Bowie.

The cinematography is simply breathtaking in this Julien Temple musical. Long tracking shots (especially the opening scene) with brilliant colors. Bowie has one scene but a good one (so Bowie!). Patsy Kensit was so young and was so sexy in her wild African Jazz fashion catwalk dance number.

But ultimately, the heavy subject matter of racism weighs down the film. I just don't think a muscial should take itself so seriously.

Free Zone (2005)

Rating: * * 1/2 (Out of 5)

I saw this film in France, which means that I had to read French subtitles for the Hebrew and Arabic portions of the film. Fortunately, most of the film was in English.

The opening of Amos Gitai's film has nothing but a close-up of Natalie Portman crying against a Hebrew song about animals brutally killing other animals... for almost 10mins straight! The point would soon become obvious and it was a powerful scene. The three women represent three different countries' roles in the middle east. However, even with some interesting (and rather old school) visual maniuplating, the film does not have enough substance to fully build on the opening 10 mins. The metaphor wears thin after a while, and it becomes a fairly stolid road movie.

Shadows (1959)

Rating: * * * 1/2 (out of 5)

The grand-daddy of American indie films. Cassavetes' film is not so much a great film as a great breakthrough.

One thing that I really like about the film is the almost excessive use of close-ups. I have to marvel at the number of different angles Cassavetes came up with to frame the actors' faces, in close-up, of course.

You can read my review here: http://www.amateurmoviereviews.com/2006/10/shadows-1959.html

La Jetée (1962)

Rating: * * * * * (Out of 5)

I have seen this film many times on VHS, but the picture quality was always poor. In the restored DVD version, I notice little things that I didn't notice before. Like the scene where the woman is in bed, the poor print quality on the VHS did not show her blinking her eyes at all. I am grateful for the improved picture quality of the restored version, because it is such a beautiful moment.

You can read my review of the film here: http://www.amateurmoviereviews.com/2006/10/la-jetee-1962.html

Millions (2004)

Rating: * * * (Out of 5)

I really admire Danny Boyle's stylish visuals. The film is sweet and charming but it's a bit too "feel good" for my taste. Who would have thought the guy who made Trainspotting and 28 Days Later could make such a family film? I suppose I like his grittier films better.

Toni Takitani (2004)

Rating: * * * * 1/2 (Out of 5)

Adpated from a Haruki Murakami short story of the same name, Jun Ichikawa's elegant film captures the novelist's essence perfectly. Its unhurried pace might be too slow for some, but the mood it creates is what makes it so poetic. It is also good to see the beautiful Rie Miyazawa again, if nothing other than to feel nostalgic.

L'homme du Train (English title: Man on the Train) (2002)

Rating: * * * * (Out of 5)

I am a big fan of director Patrice Leconte's. A very simple film without any unnecessary drama, L'homme du Train tells the story of a thief who wants to live a simple life and a retired teacher who wants to experience the thrill of a bank robbery. Unlike many of Leconte's other films, there is not much attention grabbing visuals here. He wisely stepped back and let the unlikely relationship between the two men develop at a gentle pace.

The Lake House (2006)

Rating: * * * 1/2 (Out of 5)

Kristina thought it was a stupid movie, and she made her point by taking a nap about half way into the movie.

I was skeptical too before I watched it, but I actually liked the film. If you can look past some of the implausibilites, the film has it's charm. The post-Speed Keanu Reeves (still prefer him as Ted "Theodore" Logan)and Sandra Bullock (she has never looked so good) have enough chemistry to carry the film on their own. The ending might be predictable but the journey there is more scenic than I expected.

Now I want to see the original Korean film, "Il Mare".

Me and You and Everyone We Know (2005)

Rating: * * * * (out of 5)

I love the characters in this film! It is truly an indie film. The scene where Richard and Christine walk together on the sidewalk and pretend that it is their lives together is one of the most romantic scenes in recent memories. Of course, what follows is slightly creepy, but that's why this Miranda July film such a pleasure to watch.

L'idole (2002)

Rating: * * 1/2 (Out of 5)

A hard to find film in the US, with Leelee Sobieski in a French speaking role about a young Australian woman's friendship/romance with her much older Chinese neighbor.

Little Marie Loboda, one year older here than she was in La Repetition, looked even more like Emmanuelle Beart.

You can read my review here: http://www.amateurmoviereviews.com/2006/10/lidole-english-title-idol-2002.html

Faster Pussycat Kill! Kill! (1966)

Rating: * * * * (Out of 5)

Thank you Hillary for alerting me to watch this on TCM. What an awesome film! This Russ Meyer cult classic is so straightfaced that you have no choice but to take it seriously. Yes, there are big breasted women; and yes, they shower and get their clothes wet a lot, and they catfight too; and yes, almost every frame is focused on either the women's breasts or their behinds, but it is more than just a sexploitation. Meyer's direction elevated it to something more. The breasts and the butts actually mean something (love it!), and the way the women flaunt them to intimate the men is priceless. Tura Santana scares me more than Glenn Close does in Fatal Attraction. Oh, and the 60's trash music by the Bostweeds is supercool.

Shall We Dance (1937)

Rating: * * * * 1/2 (Out of 5)

Almost as good as Swing Time. The Gershwin written music is the main draw. The plot gets real complicated but it's all in good fun. Like martial arts movies, the plots in musicals are there simply to string the action/dance sequences together. The dance numbers in Shall We Dance are all enjoyable, but none comes close to the chemistry and charm of the "Pick Yourself Up" number in Swing Time. After seeing that, I think I am judging all other dance numbers with unrealistic standards.

Swing Time (1936)

Raitng: * * * * * (Out of 5)

I am in some kind of Musicals phase right now. In Swing Time, the "Pick Yourself Up" number has got to be the most glorious dance sequences in the history of cinema. I can't imagine anything better than that. It certainly is the crowning moment of Ginger Rogers' career. On top of that, Fred Astaire gives a virtuoso performance in the "Bojangles of Harlem" sequence. This is probably my favorite Fred and Ginger movie, which is saying a lot.

La Repetition (2001)

Rating: * * * 1/2 (Out of 5)

The first time I watch any Emmanuelle Beart film, I tend to stare at her beautiful, beautiful face and lose track of the film...

This film is kind of a Frecnh version of Single White Female. Although I like the obsessive, love/hate relationship of the two main characters, it gets to a point that it is a bit too repetitve. I know that's the point, hence the title, but director Catherine Corsini does not offer enough new elements or surprises in each repetition to hold our interest.

One thing of note, the young girl who plays the young Nathalie in the film, Marie Loboda, really does look a lot like Emmanuelle Beart. I know she also played a young Emmanuelle Beart in another, more recent film, L'enfer. Not the Claude Chabrol one (also with Emmanuelle Beart), but the one written by Kieslowski, which I am really looking forward to seeing.

Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989)

Rating: * * * * (Out of 5)

"Be excellent to each other..."

It makes me laugh every time Ted "Theodore" Logan says, "Come on! So Crates!"


You can read my review of the fim here: http://www.amateurmoviereviews.com/2006/10/bill-and-teds-excellent-adventure-1989.html

Goal! The Dream Begins (2005)

Rating: * * 1/2 (Out of 5)

I so wanted to see this in France last year, but Corinne wouldn't go with me. Then other assistants from England (for some reasosns, there were so many from Newcastle) all told me they loved it. The film itself is nothing special, but I am thrilled that football is finally getting some attention on the big screen.

You can read my review here: http://www.amateurmoviereviews.com/2006/10/goal-dream-begins-2005.html

Personal Velocity (2002)

Rating: * * * * 1/2 (Out of 5)

Kristina wanted to watch this, and I am glad we rented it. Kristina's new thing is to take a nap midway through a movie. And surely, about 50mins into the film, I noticed that she got really quiet. I imagine working 12 hours a day does that to you, but of course I wouldn't know for sure since I have never worked 12 hours a day in my life.

You can read my review here: http://www.amateurmoviereviews.com/2006/10/personal-velocity-2002.html

My Summer of Love (2005)

Raing: * * * * (Out of 5)

Mr. Buscombe recommended this film.

You can read my review here :http://www.amateurmoviereviews.com/2006/10/my-summer-of-love-2005.html

The Station Agent (2003)

Raing: * * * * (out of 5)

I have been wanting to see this film for a long time, but it was not until I saw a Hillary's netflix rating on this film that prompted me to rent it.

You can read my review here: http://www.amateurmoviereviews.com/2006/10/station-agent-2003.html