Movie Listed: 15 Standouts

I keep a list of every movie I see. Yes, I know this may seem weird to most people. When I first started doing it, it felt weird to me, too. After a short amount of time though, it became a habit. If you're a movie-lover or a film professional, keeping a movie list of some sort makes total sense. Most of the films I see are new to me, but I bust out my favorites ever so often, too.

The best part about having a list, is that I can look at it at the end of the year and know how many films I've experienced for curiosity's sake. I'm also reminded of the standouts-- the movies that truly made a difference for me... or the ones I'll remember for years to come.

Here are 15 standouts for me from the last couple of years (in no particular order.) Some of the films were released in 2010, but not all. None of them were in 3-D. Thank you very much. Additionally, some 2010 favorites like 'Black Swan' and 'True Grit' are excluded from this list since I viewed them... in 2011.

*FROST/NIXON (Dir: Ron Howard) / 2008
A drama. Historical. Political. Sure, doesn't sound particularly interesting on paper, but believe me, it's oddly compelling and the acting is superb.

*INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS (Dir: Quentin Tarantino) / 2009
When I first saw the preview, I had no desire to see this. Luckily, I didn't skip it because it proved to be one of my favorites-- in fact, I dare say, one of Tarantino's best.

*BOB AND CAROL AND TED AND ALICE (Dir: Paul Mazursky) / 1969
How open-minded are you when it comes to marriage? An interesting romp from the tail end of the '60s.

*AN EDUCATION (Dir: Lone Scherfig) / 2008
A beautiful coming-of-age story. I can't imagine anyone being better cast than Carey Mulligan. She deserves every ounce of recognition she got from this role!

*THE LOVELY BONES (Dir: Peter Jackson) / 2009
Some die-hards panned this movie. In fact, I didn't see it for a long time because I was a huge fan of the book. But a book is not a movie. Stanley Tucci's performance was fearless and Saoirise Ronan's was hauntingly beautiful. The kaleidoscope of Susie's depictions of heaven are downright gorgeous and I'll admit: I cried.

*CRAZY HEART (Dir: Scott Cooper) / 2009
A good ol' story about a down-and-out country star who's seen his better days and a woman reporter who makes him examine himself from the inside out until he is motivated to become a better man.

*WHIP IT (Dir: Drew Barrymore) / 2009
A surprisingly well-done directorial debut for Drew Barrymore. The sense of girl power and the motto of "Be Your Own Hero" are both things I can get behind when they're done well, as they are here.

*CYRUS (Dirs: Jack and Mark Duplass) / 2010
There are times I squirmed because the moments were so awkward and so funny because they were awkward. Very well-written and a good turning point for Jonah Hill. He should do more like this.

*EASY A (Dir: Will Gluck) / 2010
Emma Stone owns this role! This film could easily be slighted because it appears to be a high school flick about a girl's tarnished reputation, but it is so much more than that!

*THE LAST STATION (Dir: Michael Hoffman) / 2009
I knew nothing about Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy and I was fine with that, until this film made me care. An exploration of the tension and struggles between Tolstoy and his wife in his final years.

*IT MIGHT GET LOUD (Dir: Davis Guggenheim) / 2008
A jam session and open discussion between guitarists Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin, The Edge from U2, and Jack White of the White Stripes.

*SEARCHING FOR DEBRA WINGER (Dir: Rosanna Arquette) / 2002
An intimate discussion with actresses of a certain age and the challenges they continue to face in Hollywood.

*SMILEY FACE (Dir: Gregg Araki) / 2007
OK, not a great movie by any stretch of the imagination. Anna Faris though? She rocks it into absolute hilarity with her portrayal of a chick that is so high on life that she can barely hold it together.

*WONDERFUL WORLD (Dir: Josh Goldin) / 2009
Few people probably saw this. In fact, it may not have even had a theatrical release. The unlikely blossoming of a relationship between Ben Singer (Matthew Broderick) and his roommate's Senegalese sister proves that opening yourself up to other cultures and ideas can truly alter your life in amazing ways.

*SOCIAL NETWORK (Dir: David Fincher) / 2010
How do you make a Facebook movie? Make it about a guy with an immense, almost hypnotically determined desire to succeed. Add conflict, tension, intense success and shitloads of money beyond anyone's wildest imagination and explore how that strains all the relationships in a guy's life. Make it all talk and fast-paced. Cast great actors. Done.

©2011 by KLiedle

From The Big Screen To The Palm Of My Hand

The magazine rack is where I noticed him first. He was in his sixties, bearded, a bit scraggly, thumbing through a Hollywood Reporter.

"This the Awards edition?" he asked me.

"Not exactly," I told him. It's the new format of The Hollywood Reporter." [Slick and glossy. Nestled next to People Magazine's announcement of the newest baby bump and a bunch of US Weekly knock-offs.]
He seemed displeased.

"You know how hard this was to find? There' s no newstands anymore. There isn't even a bookstore in this mall. Remember Rolling Stone? The large format? A buddy of mine was a journalist at Rolling Stone. There aren't journalists anymore. Remember LIFE? You're too young to remember, but..."

"I remember Life!" I protested. "I'm not too old for that," I assured him. Then, I backed away slowly to extract myself from a conversation I knew would go on for far too long.

I do remember life. Life when 3-D was just a matter of walking outside and experiencing the world. Life was when the feature presentation of a movie presented itself in 35mm on the big screen and you were happy to share this experience with other people. Laugh when they laughed. Cry when they cried. The floor might've been sticky and the popcorn might've been stale, but you were having this shared experience with strangers.

A couple weeks ago, when I went to see True Grit in Hollywood, the theatre manager apologized as he told us they were having problems with the digital format of the film. Instead, they'd thread up the 35mm print.

35mm. In the Cinerama Dome. For a modern take on the old-fashioned western by none other than the Coen Brothers. I couldn't think of anything better. Indeed, the 35mm print was richer and more layered than even the crispest digital print could've been.

I enjoy seeing films on the big screen. I also enjoy seeing them at home. Like most people, I've embraced most of the newest entertainment viewing options. DVDs, Netflix, even streaming on my Wii. To each advance, there is a loss that is never completely re-gained.
For instance, how do I deal with subtitles on a streaming movie? Sometimes there's no option to turn them on and other times, they're rendered useless when they are cut off at the bottom of the frame. If the film's been re-formatted to fit my screen, I can't help wondering what's going on along the edges I can't see. Streaming films don't offer the director's commentary and other extras that DVDs typically offer either.

Recently, I read [in the print version of The Los Angeles Times] that during this awards season, Fox was experimenting with allowing SAG members to download award screeners from Itunes. In many ways this makes sense, saves money, and levels the playing field for films to be viewed to the wider audiences of award-voting guilds.

I think voting members would feel somewhat obligated to view the contenders in their respective categories. But who has the time? Downloading the movie to your ipod/pad/laptop/fingertips allows you to do your "homework" on a transcontinental flight, bring it with you while you're hiking, or heck, bring it into the bathroom with you while you're also brushing your teeth. It's called multi-tasking. Why not?

I just worry about what's lost when a film meant for the big screen gets shrunk down to something the size of my palm. Could I, in good faith, judge its art direction or sound editing? Would the wide-screen cinematography be as breathtaking? Would I get swept away with the story? Would I be as immersed in the time and place or as invested in the characters? I don't think I would be. How can something as special as a film seem bigger than life if I can hold it in the palm of my hand?

I agree wholeheartedly that the various entertainment guilds need to look at different ways to get their members to screen award contenders. I also think that those members have to consciously think about how they are viewing and judging films... and if their viewing habits are doing justice to the filmmakers and entertainment professionals that put it all together.

©2011 by KLiedle
Photo credits:
Library Of Congress/Commons

Santa says "He's Just Too Into You"

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

I haven't had a chance to post much this month since I've been crazy busy. Alas, all the hours of last-minute editing before Christmas has been worth it!

We are proud to announce, "He's Just Too Into You," the latest episode of the web series, It's Always Smoggy In L.A. Now available for viewing on Funny Or Die. [ If you enjoy this episode or any others, please VOTE on Funny Or Die!]

It's Always Smoggy In L.A. - "He's Just Too Into You" - watch more funny videos

©2010 by KLiedle/ It's Always Smoggy In L.A.

He's Just Too Into You
Starring Julianne Dowler, Mat Lageman, Bunita Tilley, and Bethany Therese.

When The Four Quadrants Fall Flat

I've never been into math or numbers or anything of the sort. The X-Y axis, the quadratic formula, the pythagorean theorem... are all terms from my past that I have subsequently avoided [rather easily] in my adult life. 'Four Quadrants' may not mean anything to you. It doesn't have much to do with mathematics, per se, but lots to do with numbers and money--lots and lots of 'box office' money.

In Hollywood, the rise of the 'Four Quadrant Picture' is most evident during the summer months and the holidays when the movie-going public is most likely to be on the prowl. To Hollywood, the four quadrants represent distinct demographic segments according to age: under 25, over 25, and gender: male, female. These are the blockbusters, the popcorn movies, the ones that bring in the bucks; Movies you can see with Grandpa as well as your little cousin. Some of them are obvious and begin with Marvel: i.e. Spiderman, Ironman... and Disney, such as the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. Pixar has had its share, too-- even though at first glance, an animated movie like Wall-E or The Incredibles doesn't appear to be a 'four quad film,' it is, and a highly successful one at that. The goldmine is to greenlight a film with such broad appeal that everyone and his mother goes to see it [more than once] and buys the merchandising associated with the film as stocking stuffers. This is great and all, but--

The problem is that not every movie is a 'four quadrant' movie. And many of them still try. I just saw one-- it had the potential to be a great film. All the elements were there, but ultimately I felt it didn't succeed because it was trying to do too much, to be everything for everyone. Instead I came away thinking of it as a bit of an unfortunate, meandering and unbalanced mishmash. It was about such-and-such and then once I'd become invested in that storyline or those characters, it became something else entirely. Sometimes [as the above example] it's the execution that doesn't jive right. Other times, the 'P&A' [publicity and advertising] is to blame. When films are misrepresented in marketing to appeal to the widest audience possible it only succeeds in pissing certain 'quadrants' off as they realize they've been duped.

Filmmakers are always making compromises: some good, some bad, some consciously, some unconsciously, in an attempt to get financing, to secure cast, and ultimately to get audiences to buy tickets so they can support themselves and continue making films.

Filmmakers: If you know your characters inside and out and you know what your story is and what you're trying to say, you will have a focus and your movie will find a connection with its intended audience. Don't throw in misfit scenes, lines, jokes, or extraneous characters that have no purpose other than to appease one segment of your audience because there's another segment of your audience that's going to notice: "That's not genuine, that's not real. He wouldn't do that or say that or be there" and deep in your heart, you know they're right.

When we pass on, we can count our films.
They will count their money.
~Hal Ashby
[on the difficulties of Hollywood politics]

©2010 by KLiedle

Women Of Great Vitality: Hollywood

Every year I look forward to ELLE Magazine's 'Women In Hollywood' issue. I was pleased that, although they devoted attention to A-lister actresses in Hollywood, attention was also drawn to womens' contributions in acting, writing and directing. Women and womens' stories are a vital part of the Hollywood fabric, but through the years, we've missed a few stitches.

ELLE's coverage of currently successful women in Hollywood, as well as female up-and-comers on the writing/directing front inspired me to watch Searching For Debra Winger, a film by Rosanna Arquette. Although, it was released in 2002, this film is no less important today. If you haven't seen it, it's a surprisingly informal, yet moving portrait of the pressure and frustrations that women face in the entertainment industry-- especially women over the age of 40.

A wide array of actresses make appearances including, but not limited to, Jane Fonda, Laura Dern, Teri Garr, Martha Plimpton, Whoopi Goldberg, Sharon Stone, and Meg Ryan. Some of the interviews are one-on-one with Rosanna Arquette and others are staged as informal round table discussions amongst these Hollywood actresses that have survived the meat-grinder of the industry or nearly abandoned it-- like Debra Winger. These women become united in their desire to clear the pathway for themselves and other women to further their successes in Hollywood.

So much of Hollywood is cutthroat and competitive, petty and fickle, hot and cold. You're young, you're old. There is no middle age. For women in the general population, aging is difficult, yet unavoidable unless you die; for women in the entertainment industry, aging is death. You're the girlfriend, then the mom, then you...disappear...FADE OUT. Next, please.

If you're a female director, you better have a damn good reel [and even then, there's no guarantee that a studio will foot the bill so you can tell your story.] If you have a script with a female protagonist, she better be hot, dressed like Wonderwoman, or a badass that can hold her own with the men that audiences really care about. Men as the subject. Women as the object. Is that really how it is-- or is that how Hollywood thinks it is? Women can, and should, have their voices heard and their stories told.

Things are changing slowly, but well-rounded female characters and/or female oriented stories are still hard to come by. Regarding the lack of three-dimensionality in written female characters and the sexism that still exists in Hollywood, this is what Martha Plimpton had to say in Searching For Debra Winger:

Martha Plimpton: Humor. Intelligence. Talent. Imagination. Bravery. Skill. When you eliminate all those things, what have you got?
Ally Sheedy: Fuckability.
Martha Plimpton: That's it. So you can't blame these people for resorting to that kind of standard when they've annihilated all their other options. At least for men, there are options, character roles, you know what I'm saying?

People often forget that women were at the forefront of Hollywood in its early days-- until it was discovered that serious money could be made. We've been trying to catch up ever since, but we're making bigger strides all the time. I'm glad that ELLE was able to highlight some of them.

© 2010 by KLiedle
Photo: In the director's chair, Helen Twelvetrees--circa 1936, considered to be one of the top screen stars in Hollywood in the early days of sound.

"The Beautiful Truth" : I Am Not The Juiceman

There are certain moments in movies that you never forget. For instance, remember that scene in Steel Magnolias when Shelby (Julia Roberts) has a hypoglycemic attack and is forced to drink a glass of orange juice to up her blood sugar? Of course you do. It's a poignant moment in a classic film that reminds everyone of Shelby's health situation... But when I see her choking down that orange juice and I watch it dribble down her chin, I just think "Ewwww, bleck..."

See, I'm not a fan of juice-- orange juice in particular. It's so super-tart sweet and there's something about the way it feels thick and hairy as it clings its way down my throat. It's as though it's trying to escape the digestive process. Not only do I not like juices, but it's the idea of juice. Such a waste, it seems. A drink, a gulp... it's GONE. No fiber, no chewing, no real sense that you did much of anything, really.

Recently, I saw this film called Beautiful Truth which was a semi-investigation of what's called Gerson Therapy-- touted as a naturalistic alternative therapy to curing cancer. There are some truths to it. The levels of environmental toxins that we unknowingly ingest every day has to have some effect on our systems. The rise of cancer across the board is not just a coincidence. Coffee enemas aside, the main thrust (no pun intended) of Gerson therapy is daily juicing.

According to the film, consuming large (and I mean large) quantities of fruit and vegetable juices can prevent and, in some instances, reverse cancer. This is not exactly revolutionary; most of us are aware that fresh fruits and vegetables are full of nutrients: vitamins, minerals, fiber, antioxidants, and the like. There is, however, a certainly a level of conspiracy to the film. Garrett, the 15-year-old kid from Alaska that is the main character, yet not its narrator, also kind of creeps me out in a Haley Joel Osment sort of way. The filmmakers, along with Charlotte Gerson, say that Gerson Therapy has been suppressed by governments and the medical community alike. As it's suggested, the cure for cancer does exist, but big business doesn't want that information to get out there. I'm not saying that is or is not true, BUT...

CANCER is a scary word and there is certainly money to be made by anyone who claims to have a cure--whether it's the Gerson Institute's alternative therapy, the pharmaceutical companies, the insurance companies, colonic centers and liver cleanse places, or the medical community charging up for radiation, chemo, and traditional medical cancer treatments (that only work temporarily for the most part.)

I came away from the film thinking: "OK, I see some of their point, but it's a little extreme. I'm gonna eat more fruits and vegetables in whole form and buy organic on a case-by-case basis when I can (afford to.)"

I'm no juice convert-- still not a fan. I like to chew. I like to crunch my way into an apple and use my fork to spear asparagus. I like to pop frozen grapes into my mouth and slice up bananas.

In response, however, a friend of mine bought a juicer-- not the nearly $3000 Norwalk Juicer that Gerson recommends, but a juicer nonetheless. Now, it seems like more than half of all our produce gets juiced into a foamy mess of stuff I don't want to drink. We have more trash in the way of vegetable after-products (the fiber "pulp" leftover from juicing) that we can't very well compost since we live in a townhouse with very, very little garden space. (Last time we tried to compost, we got a nasty case of roaches wandering around our patio--- not exactly the friendly earthworms and good soil bacteria I was hoping for.) I'll also mention that there is nothing more rank than the stench of juiced broccoli mixed with beets. Will it kill the cancer lurking somewhere in our cells? Who knows. I may know the 'beautiful truth,' but I think I'm just as safe eating whole, unprocessed foods that I can actually chew and enjoy. And no matter how healthy beets claim to be, I just can't hack 'em. I'd rather drink a glass of orange juice.

For a good critical assessment of The Beautiful Truth and the idea of Gerson Therapy, go to Science Based Medicine. More information about Gerson Therapy, as detailed in the documentary, The Beautiful Truth, can be found at The Gerson Institute. If you want to try your hand at juicing, check out Total Juicing by Elaine LaLanne. Even though it's still not my thing, I will say that juicing is an excellent way to get your nutrients and making your own fresh juice is way better than the sugar and corn syrup-laden juices you'd get at the grocery store.

A good selection of Juicer Recipes can be found here

© 2010 by KLiedle
Photo credit: Arlo Bates/flickr.com

Spin The Sun: Evolution Of A Painting

Not too long ago, I read about a film called The Mystery Of Picasso. In 1955, filmmaker Henri-Georges Clouzot got together with Pablo Picasso to capture the artistry and evolution of several of his paintings. Clouzot brilliantly placed the camera in front of Picasso as he worked. This produced a "mirror image" of each brush stroke and splash of color as the artist created.

In what is said to be one of the great art documentaries ever made-- the screen became Picasso's canvas.

I was fascinated by the idea-- I love Picasso and Clouzet also directed the original Diabolique, one of my favorite films. The Mystery Of Picasso, I haven't had a chance to see yet. Whenever I've searched for it, it's been unavailable. Today, on a lark, I tried again and (Voila!) Netflix has it! Soon, I shall finally be able to explore my curiosity of this film.

With my longstanding fascination of flip books and stop-motion animation, I leave you with a stop-motion animation experimental film that I created. It captures the evolution of a painting a friend of mine recently completed. I'm sure it's nowhere near what the Picasso film will be, but it was fun to create something with a camera while someone else was creating something with a brush on a canvas.

To see more art samples or to inquire about purchase, see Scott's Art Samples

"SUN STOP"
Short Film © 2010 by KLiedle