Searching for Debra Winger

This documentary is nothing but pretentious self-indulgent crap - what a waste of time honestly. 1.5/5

Searching for Debra Winger on Netflix

Bitter Feast

James Le Gros is marvelous & Joshua Leonard is transcendent in this gripping thriller that only lacked an end. 3.5/5

Bitter Feast on Netflix

Another Day in Paradise

This was billed as a twisty thriller but I saw every moment from the start - well acted but that's it. 2/5

Another Day in Paradise on Netflix

Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey

Given recent events parts of this are difficult to watch but the story is fascinating & I can't blame the filmmakers. This is a tough one - I can't imagine what the filmmakers think now. Really tough.  I don't feel comfortable rating this - as a movie is great, but in actuality it's a film about a lying pedophile, so... 4/5?

Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey on Netflix

Savages

This was surprisingly good & entertaining save for the completely weak ending. Well directed & acted throughout. 3.5/5

Savages on Netflix

Lawless

The second of Nick Cave's features is also very gritty, seedy, dark, & explores morality in an interesting way. Well done. Incidentally, Cave's first film, "The Proposition", remains one of my very favorite films in in the last decade, which is very high praise indeed. 3.5/5

Lawless on Netflix

Hope Springs

What an amazing movie this is! Poignant, thoughtful, truthful, inspiring, and very real. Really well done. 4.5/5

Hope Springs on Netflix

Premium Rush

This fast-paced bike movie is loads of fun, but don't think I don't see the "Quicksilver" comparisons. 4/5

Premium Rush on Netflix

The Good Doctor

Orlando Bloom was superb in this subtle, understated & cerebral drama with a great ending. Very well done. 4/5

The Good Doctor on Netflix

Girlfriend

This indie is very poignant & difficult to watch at times - absolutely stellar lead performance by Evan Sneider 3.5/5

Girlfriend on Netflix

Romantics Anonymous

This French romcom is utterly charming & sweet, a perfect little slice of wonderful. Lovely! 4/5

Romantics Anonymous on Netflix

Your Sister's Sister

 I love the realism of this & the incredible acting but the ending was the thing that made it special. 4/5

Your Sister's Sister on Netflix

Ken Park

I didn't find this nearly as disturbing as Kids or Bully yet this is the Clark film that can't get distribution? Maybe I'm just jaded but I never had the gut-hitch I usually get from his films. Just mediocre. 2.5/5

Ken Park on Netflix (not currently available)

Mansome

This is better than most of Spurlock's latest but that's due to extremal influence - I found this interesting & fun. 4/5

Mansome on Netflix

The Watch

This is painfully bad & poorly written throughout - I found myself tuning out the whole film. Just so not good. 2/5

The Watch on Netflix

Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead

This is essentially a 90 minute infomercial, not a documentary, but it is pretty inspirational. 3/5

Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead on Netflix

Eye of God

Tim Blake Nelson's fantastic indie is a slow-build of tension & drama with a powerful message. Well done. 3.5/5

Eye of God on Netflix

Scenes from a Marriage

This Bergman masterpiece is so riveting throughout that you never notice the length. Just brilliant. 5/5

Scenes from a Marriage on Netflix

One Last Dance

This really is abysmally bad-  even Swayze forgot how to act - but the last 20 minutes of dancing is remarkable 2/5

One Last Dance on Netflix

Tyrannosaur

Paddy Considine has created an utterly heartbreaking film that is superbly acted by both leads - I wept at the end. This film also has the single best character introduction in movie history IMHO. What an amazing film, it's a must-see. 5/5

Tyrannosaur on Netflix

Detachment

This film is dark, tragic, beautiful, cerebral, open-ended & perfectly acted. I love finding rare gems like these. 5/5

Detachment on Netflix

Rock of Ages

Tom Cruise is transcendent in this perfectly casted but oddly edited adaption of the hit musical. So much fun. 4/5

Rock of Ages on Netflix

Brave

I really enjoyed this Pixar film, better than "Up" for me I think. Kelly MacDonald was terrific - I smiled throughout. 4.5/5

Brave on Netflix

Ruby Sparks

Zoe Kazan's wonderful script takes risks & dark turns & is worth every moment. She & Dano are magical in this. I continue to maintain that Paul Dano is the most underrated actor of his generation - far too few realize how talented he is. 4/5

Ruby Sparks on Netflix

Friends with Kids

I am utterly shocked at how good this was - realistic, dramatic, witty, & really well written. This is up there with "The Freebie" as one on the biggest surprise winners on the year for me. Did not expect. Dayum! 4.5/5

Friends with Kids on Netflix

The Butcher Boy

This film was plenty dark but somehow I expected something more nihilistic & dramatic, not sure why. 3/5

The Butcher Boy on Netflix

Step Up: Revolution

The plot is barely a 2, but one doesn't watch this for the plot. The dancing is a 5 - really amazing. 4/5

Step Up: Revolution on Netflix

Love N' Dancing

This movie is cheesy as all hell but the fun dancing boosted it a half star. Not quite "Dance With Me". 2.5/5

Love N' Dancing on Netflix

DiG!

I admit to not being familiar with either band but I was quite impressed with both the music and the film - well done. 4/5

DiG! on Netflix

Seeking a Friend for the End of the World

The premise is unbelievable but Carrell & Knightly sell it quite well - love the end 3/5

Seeking a Friend for the End of the World on Netflix

The Queen of Versailles

This documentary is just fascinating and the people very engaging - I want to know what happened. 4/5

The Queen of Versailles on Netflix

John Carter

Without knowing the source material I just found this to be silly but harmless fun - i had no problems with it. 3/5

John Carter on Netflix

Around the Bend

This indie drama is so bland and banal it bored me - with this cast it should have been electric. Bah. 2.5/5

Around the Bend on Netflix

Dark Horse

Sorry Solondz but you lost me about half way through and never got me back. This film made no sense at all. 2/5

Dark Horse on Netflix

Natural Selection

Rachel Harris gives a phenomenal break-through performance in this heart-warming dramedy - spectacular. Sometimes I find movies in my queue & have no idea how they got there. This was one of those, but I'm so glad I got it. Loved it. 4/5

Natural Selection on Netflix

Cyberbully

This is so vanilla & saccharine it's hard to watch - didn't know it was an ABC Family movie when I rented it. 2/5

Cyberbully on Netflix

I Stand Alone

Easily the most nihilistic movie I've ever seen & one of the most disturbing - Woyzeck seems tame right now. 4/5

I Stand Alone on Netflix

360

I love interconnected storyline films and this was exceptionally well written. Plus no one plays creepy like Ben Foster. 4/5

360 on Netflix

Moonrise Kingdom

I'm so very tired of Wes Anderson's schtick. I was bored by the end of the credits. Just so not good for me. 2/5

Moonrise Kingdom on Netflix

The Raven

The script of this thriller is surprisingly consistent & engaging with decent acting but it was a bit by-the-numbers 3/5

The Raven on Netflix

TiMER

The premise of this rom-com is fundamentally flawed and yet I was engaged throughout - the good acting helped. 3/5

TiMER on Netflix

First Position

Absolutely amazing, inspiring & incredible. These kids can dance like I've never seen - Gaya became my favorite. 5/5

First Position on Netflix

Secret Smile

Tennant is deliciously evil in this thriller with excellent writing - the only thing missing was better writing. 4/5

Secret Smile on Netflix

Rites of Passage

Wow, this was just abysmally awful in every way, not even sure why I finished it. Salva, what happened? 1.5/5

Rites of Passage on Netflix

The Iron Giant

What an absolutely marvelous movie this is! Wonderful writing with a lot of heart & soul, I really loved it. 5/5

The Iron Giant on Netflix

Fetching Cody

This script for this sci-fi indie is surprisingly clever & Baruchel is amazing as ever. Refreshingly good! 3.5/5

Fetching Cody on Netflix

Take Thsi Waltz

No one does longing like Polley & this lush, poignant drama is no exception. Absolutely beautiful & amazing. 4.5/5

Take This Waltz on Netflix

Life During Wartime

Todd Solondz's sequel to Happiness is just as dark & twisted as it should be but lacked a bit of flair. 3.5/5

Life During Wartime on Netflix

Elling

This Norwegian comedy is quirky, tender & witty and quite well acted - I enjoyed it but was not overwhelmed by it. 3/5

Elling on Netflix

Sound of My Voice

This thriller is fascinating & well-acted throughout but it was the end that kicked it up half a star. 3.5/5

Sound of My Voice on Netflix

Safety Not Guaranteed

This indie gem is just marvelous - great script, great acting, perfect flow. I loved the ending so much. 4/5

Safety Not Guaranteed on Netflix

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

An absolutely superb British ensemble cast brings this beautiful sunset drama to life. Bravo! 4/5

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel on Netflix

A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas

With the exception of the brief NPH appearance, this installment was especially bad. Blech. 2/5

A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas on Netflix

Elvis & Anabelle

This quirky romantic drama is cute & well acted esp. by Lively but didn't really spark me. Good, not great. 3/5

Elvis & Anabelle on Netflix

The Arbor

The single most original documentary I've ever seen - compelling, gripping, powerful & visually amazing. Loved it. 5/5

The Arbor on Netflix

Girl In Progress

I've been spoiled by "Hick" and "Dirty Girl" - this was extremely average for me with not enough bite to it. 3/5

Girl In Progress on Netflix

21 Jump Street

I think I would have liked this better with a different name - it was funny with decent action & good acting. 3/5

21 Jump Street on Netflix

Joint Security Area

Park Chan-Wook's early drama is masterfully written, suspenseful, & perfectly acted. What a wonderful film 5/5

Joint Security Area on Netflix

Tangled

This family animated film was terribly sweet & well voiced - I loved Donna Murphy in particular. It made me smile. 4/5

Tangled on Netflix

Swinging with the Finkels

A really piss-poor attempt at lightening up The Freebie & making it rompy - didn't work at all. 2.5/5

Swinging with the Finkels on Netflix

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World

Given how I dislike Cera, I am utterly shocked at how much I liked this - it was great fun. 4/5

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World on Netflix

The Apartment

This classic romcom is just heavenly - MacLaine & Lemmon are magical together. I was surprised by this, truly. 4/5

The Apartment on Netflix

The Do-Deca-Pentathlon

No one does sibling rivalry like the Duplass brothers - this was witty, biting & yet tender.  I don't know when or why I became such a Duplass brothers fan but they've really got me. Love this stuff. Well done. 4/5

The Do-Deca-Pentathlon on Netflix

Defendor

There's nothing wrong with this film but nothing that stood out either, particularly with so many of this type out. 3/5

Defendor on Netflix

Bad Guy

Kim Ki-Duk's disturbing & very rapey drama is also surprisingly tender & sweet - I do love his silent characters. 4/5

Bad Guy on Netflix

Rosewood Lane

This new Victor Salva thriller is barely watchable & WTF happened to Rose McGowan's face? Terribly bad. 2/5

Rosewood Lane on Netflix

Lola Versus

I had much hope for this indie romcom but, once again, it was just people behaving badly. I miss Meg Ryan about now 2/5

Lola Versus on Netflix

The Lie

A solid film with a good premise and great acting - I love Joshua Leonard & it did make me laugh in a twisted way.  3/5

The Lie on Netflix

Wilbur Wants to Kill Himself

This Scottish indie is more tender drama than dark comedy - very poignant & heartfelt. 3.5/5

Wilbur Wants to Kill Himself on Netflix

The Cabin in the Woods

OMG HOLY SNOT BALLS horror genre forever redefined. Thank you world for not spoiling this! Awesome! 5/5

The Cabin in the Woods on Netflix

Hello Lonesome

This is NOT a comedy but a beautiful, poignant, heart wrenching indie drama that hits all the right notes. Bravo! 5/5

Hello Lonesome on Netflix

Blue Like Jazz

This is a perfectly serviceable film but it really didn't grab me or get my attention with it's point. Meh. 3/5

Blue Like Jazz on Netflix

The Bow

The 12th film by Kim Ki-Duk is quite creepy with an odd ending but still strangely compelling. Very fascinating. 3/5

The Bow on Netflix

We Were Here

We must never forget how easy it is to lose everything & how hard we must fight to regain it. Powerful & sobering. 4/5

We Were Here on Netflix

Red Lights

Yes the ending was remarkable & I hadn't seen it coming, but I'm not sure it was worth the hour forty wait for it. 3/5

Red Lights on Netflix

Chukc & Buck

It takes a lot for a movie to inspire me to write more than a tweet or two, but this film deserves more. For me it is a very rare film that forces me to completely redefine of everything I think I know or understand about its plot or characters. It is rarer still that I believe in each and every moment of such a perception shift, and Chuck & Buck did all of that and more. This film is as low budget as a film gets, and yet the two leads are simply extraordinary. Mike White as Buck is simply a revelation, breathtaking in every moment on screen. I was utterly captivated and could not take my eyes off the screen. This is not the simple of goofy film it appears to be, but is instead a radical examination of humanity, of what is past, and of self. If you can stand low budget film and this sounds at all appealing, you need to watch this film. I'm amazed. 5/5

Chuck & Buck on Netflix 

A Bag of Hammers

What an astonishing movie this was - powerfully written & acted. What a surprise & not at all as described. Honestly everything about this little indie film was better than The Avenger which I was earlier tonight. A revelation. 4.5/5

A Bag of Hammers on Netflix

Days of Being Wild

For Wong Kar-Wai this was muddy & confusing - I couldn't connect with any of the characters. Weak stuff. 2/5

Days of Being Wild on Netflix

Hop

The animated parts of this Easter comedy are far better than the live action counterparts with wonderful voice acting. 3/5

Hop on Netflix

Crossing the Line

An absorbing documentary about an American defector to North Korea - I really wonder what the truth of it is 4/5

Crossing the Line on Netflix

Time

Kim Ki-Duk paints a marvelous picture of self-annihilation in this twisted thriller/drama with wonderful acting. 4/5

Time on Netflix

The Wave

This dissection of fascism is fascinating & extremely well written - very brave to set it in Germany as well. Bravo! 4.5/5

The Wave on Netflix

I Do & I Don't

This comedy is abysmally bad on every level, totally nonsensical & full of holes. Don't bother, not worth it. 2/5

I Do & I Don't on Netflix

Hysteria

A thoroughly enjoyable and well-acted comedy that totally made me want to have a wank. What more could you ask for? 4/5

Hysteria on Netflix

Neo Ned

The setting of this indie was so unrealistic it just put me off - not even Renner's awesomeness could save it for me 2.5/5

Neo Ned on Netflix

Katy Perry: Part of Me

Rented entirely to see Russell Brand, I have to admit I did find this both interesting & entertaining. 3/5

Katy Perry: Part of Me on Netflix

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring

A beautiful, ephemeral allegory about the nature of existence, gorgeous & simple. 4/5

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring on Netflix

Vidal Sassoon: The Movie

This is a fascinating documentary about an inspiring & revolutionary man - entertaining & informative. 4/5

Vidal Sassoon: The Movie on Netflix

How To Train Your Dragon

Possibly the most awesomely uplifting & happiest movie I've ever seen. I loved it, truly, so special. 5/5

How To Train Your Dragon on Netflix

The Maltese Falcon

Something about this noir classic didn't connect with me - I couldn't identify with any of the characters. 3/5

The Maltese Falcon on Netflix

96 Minutes

This gritty indie is extremely compelling & well acted on all fronts - the non-linear style is very effective. 4/5

96 Minutes on Netflix

Lucky

Ari Graynor is exceptional in this black comedy that was better than expected but still a little stale on the edges. 3/5

Lucky on Netflix

3-Iron

This is possibly the best magical realist films I've ever seen - haunting & utterly unforgettable. Thank you Hal for the recommendation! 5/5

3-Iron on Netflix

The Decoy Bride

This is a perfectly servicable rom-com - Tennant & MacDonald are quite lovely & no one behaves badly. Sweet. 3/5

The Decoy Bride on Netflix

The Freebie

This indie drama is raw, honest, utterly real, blisteringly poignant, & amazingly acted. I'm shocked but happy. 4.5/5

The Freebie on Netflix

Restless

Van Sant's indies always feel hollow, as if their heart were missing. Despite great acting, this is no exception. 2.5/5

Restless on Netflix

Memories of Murder

This South Korean thriller based on actual events is taut, suspenseful & gives nothing away. Well done. 3.5/5

Memories of Murder on Netflix

Another Happy Day

This is a brilliant and blistering look at family dysfunction that's expertly acted across the board. Wow. 4.5/5

Another Happy Day on Netflix

ReGeneration

 Hooboy... had I understood what this documentary really was I would not have rented it. Didn't even finish. 1/5

ReGeneration on Netflix

Hick

This movie is SO much darker & sinister than I expected - brilliant acting & a tense plot. I wasn't expecting this at all 4/5

Hick on Netflix

The Double Feature Weekly Wrap-Up, 9/2/12

Welcome to this week's edition of  the Double Feature Weekly Wrap-up! Really difficult pairings with some lackluster films this week - these were some difficult pairings Here are my self-imposed rules taken from my first edition:

1. No pairing of sequels. Obviously Watching Iron Man 2 with Iron Man would  be a good double feature, but that's so obvious I don't think it should count. Same with pairing it with another film in the Avengers series.
2. No pairing remakes with originals. Yes, it's tempting to pair the new Arthur with the original, but again that's too obvious.
3. No pairings with the same director or lead actor unless a REALLY persuasive case can be made.

So, without further ado, here are my double-feature pairings for the week:

• Dane Cook: ISolated INcident - In a word, this was just bad. Dane Cook may be a decent actor but a good comic he is not. Plus, it struck me he was just liberally stealing material from a number of other comics, including Russell Brand. For that reason, I suggest Russell Brand In New York City as a good pairing - see how it's really done as opposed to this weak-sauce version. Bah.
• In My Sleep - This thriller had a semi-decent plot but just ghastly acting. I wish it had tried to either be more twisty with its plot devices or to just use a bit more subterfuge in execuating them. IT reminded me in tone of Gothika, better thriller with much better acting that got a little closer to the desired effect.
• Jesus Henry Christ - This dramedy had a lot going for it - great cast, solid plot, and good direction. I couldn't tell you why I just didn't connect with it as much as I should have - I think if it had taken it's subject a bit more seriously it would have helped. The perfect pairing for this is Jodie Foster's Little Man Tate, a movie that deals with a very similar plot in a more serious and infectious light.
• Proof - Another film this week where I feel the jury is still out. I'll remember it for Hugo Weaving and Russell Crowe, but the plot was clumsy and got in its own way far too often. I think the director was shooting for a darker, more sinister vibe which she just didn't achieve. I kept being reminded of Stephen Frears' earlier work, in particular Dirty Pretty Things. Frears' noir drama hits the notes to which Proof was aiming and hits them to perfection. I think the pair would make a great double feature night.
• Half Broken Things - This British low-key drama/thriller was creepy and odd but failed to deliver the suspenseful punch that was intended. Better direction and much better acting would have done it I think. I thought for a while about what to pair this with. I feel like there was a tonal quality missing that would have brought out the best in this script. South Korea's The Housemaid has that missing quality - haunting direction and ephemeral characters that leave you captivated and questioning. However, the plot of The Housemaid isn't nearly as solid or intriguing as that of Half Broken Things. I think watching these two as a double feature would highlight what each is missing and provide a more complete viewing experience.
• The Art of Getting By - Once again this week a movie just fails to deliver for me. This drama had a decent plot but Freddie Highmore just didn't have the impact for the lead role. I felt like he was doing a bad Anton Yelchin impression for most of the film, leading me to suggest Like Crazy as my double feature pairing. Yelchin and Jones are just magnificent in Like Crazy and it hit every note to perfection.

Happy movie watching!

The Art of Getting By

Freddie Highmore just didn't connect with me & thus this felt awfully flat. I don't know, it's okay. 3/5

The Art of Getting By on Netflix

Half Broken Things

The plot of this drama was interesting but it needed better acting & a few more dollars to make it work. 3/5

Half Broken Things on Netflix

Proof

This dramedy had good acting but really needed to be edgier & dirtier to be effective. Think Stephen Frears but... less. 3/5

Proof on Netflix

Jesus Henry Christ

This dramedy is well acted I would have benefited from a little more seriousness. Good, not great. 3/5 3/5

Jesus Henry Christ on Netflix

In My Sleep

This suspense thriller was badly in need of decent actors & a stronger plot - I saw everything a mile away. Meh. 2.5/5

In My Sleep on Netflix

Dane Cook: ISolated INcident

Dear god, no, just no, and could he maybe not steal jokes? The man should stick to acting. Yikes. 2/5

Dane Cook: ISolated INcident on Netflix

The Double Feature Weekly Wrap-Up, 8/26/12

Welcome to this week's edition of  the Double Feature Weekly Wrap-up! Very interesting movie week with some hard pairings - hope I did a good job! Here are my self-imposed rules taken from my first edition:

1. No pairing of sequels. Obviously Watching Iron Man 2 with Iron Man would  be a good double feature, but that's so obvious I don't think it should count. Same with pairing it with another film in the Avengers series.
2. No pairing remakes with originals. Yes, it's tempting to pair the new Arthur with the original, but again that's too obvious.
3. No pairings with the same director or lead actor unless a REALLY persuasive case can be made.

So, without further ado, here's my double-feature pairings for the week:

• Lockout - I'm almost ashamed to admit that I really liked this film. It was fun, well acted, compelling, and well directed... and really, what more can you ask from a popcorn action film? Pair this with Death Race, another popcorn action flick that was just dead fun to watch, regardless of how silly it was.
• Virginia - Jennifer Connelly was excellent in this drama but I kept feeling the film should be taking itself more seriously. The subject matter was compelling, as was the character of Virginia, and I felt making it too light stole the shine from what could have been a very impactful film. This reminded me of Jolene, which was Jessica Chastain's first major role. The trailers for Jolene were light but the film itself was quite heavy and dark at times and really brought the reality of the situations at hand home. Virginia could have learned from this handling I think.
• Silent House - Usually movies like this scare me to death, but Silent House was an empty promise. Elizabeth Olsen was utterly amazing (as usual) but she was given nothing to work with. Simply put, the viewer is given no reason to join in Olsen's fear and thus the movie fails. Pair this with Jim Carrey's wonderful performance in The Number 23, a taut thriller that really had me... .up until the last 10 minutes that is. The Number 23 does what Silent House tried to do but failed - it takes the improbable and makes you afraid of it.
• Bernie - Throw away everything you know about Jack Black because he will just blow you away in this black comedy. I like Jack Black and I was just astounded at his performance in this - totally different than anything he's done before. The whole format of this was fun and well-designed - it reminded me across the board of To Die For , the Nicole Kidman film from a few years back that had a similar format and feel to it, even a similar type of plot.
• Perfect Sense - This sci-fi thriller was nothing I expected - hell, I didn't even know it wass a sci-fi thriller! However, it was everything I wanted - taut, well-paced, wonderfully acted and really intense. Really well done across the board. Pair this with Another Earth , another sci-fi film set in an ordinary world that will get you thinking about things in a different way.
• Hot Coffee - This documentary about tort reform was interesting and persuasive, but I found it a little preachy at times. Pair this with Food Inc., another social interest documentary that gives good information but at times tips a little much into preaching territory.

That's it for this week - happy movie watching!

Hot Coffee

An interesting documentary that may not have persuaded me but will certainly make me think more about tort reform. 4/5

Hot Coffee on Netflix

Perfect Sense

A sci-fi thriller in a non-sci-fi world, this darkly emotional film lives in a disturbing place. Incredible. 4/5

Perfect Sense on Netflix

Bernie

Put away your perceptions of Jack Black - he is amazing in this witty black comedy with everything done right. 4.5/5

Bernie on Netflix

Silent House

Olsen is marvelous but as a horror film this fails as we the viewers are never given a reason to be afraid. 2.5/5

Silent House on Netflix

Virginia

The drama couldn't decided how seriously to take it subject matter so I found it wishy-washy with good acting. 3/5

Virginia on Netflix

The Double Feature Weekly Wrap-Up, 8/19/12

Welcome to this week's edition of  the Double Feature Weekly Wrap-up! This is coming in late this week so I'm going to have to make this shorter than usual. More really superb movies this week - I hope I do them justice with my double feature picks. Here are my self-imposed rules taken from my first edition:

1. No pairing of sequels. Obviously Watching Iron Man 2 with Iron Man would  be a good double feature, but that's so obvious I don't think it should count. Same with pairing it with another film in the Avengers series.
2. No pairing remakes with originals. Yes, it's tempting to pair the new Arthur with the original, but again that's too obvious.
3. No pairings with the same director or lead actor unless a REALLY persuasive case can be made.

So, without further ado, here's my double-feature pairings for the week:

• Man on the Train - Johnny Hallyday came to my attention in the spectacular film Vengenace, which was about as close to a perfect movie as one can hope for. In Man on the Train, Hallyday captured the weary, reluctant criminal better than nearly anyone - he's a wonderful actor. It reminded me very much of Leon: The Professional, where Jean Reno delivered a similarly toned performance in another wonderful film.
• African Cats - This nature documentary was a distilled version of the show Big Cat Diary, of which I am a huge fan. I believe it was even shot in the same place. It's a must see for nature documentary lover, as is Planet Earth: The Complete Series , the double feature series with which I would pair this film.
• Pariah - This coming-of-age sexual identity film was good but not great - it felt rather surface-level to me. It's a shame as I was really interested in the subject matter and thought the acting was quite good. Pair this with Latter Days, a similar film also dealing with sexual identity in the face of a religious family.
• Puncture - Chris Evans was just wonderful in this legal thriller based on actual events. This film was taut and really well paced and written - wuite good. Pair it with Travolta's A Civil Action  , another legal drama based on real events of the same tenor and feel.
• A Girl Walks Into a Bar - I really wanted to like this a lot as I'm a big fan of Guitterez's previous films. They all have a very particular feel to them that I've not felt with any other filmmaker. This was good, but Guitterez' previous film Women in Trouble is much better and will give you a true impression of this style.
  Kimjongilia - This is a powerful and unflinching look at North Korea - it's almost painful to watch. This absolutely must be paired with A State of Mind, another strong documentary about the strange culture of this country.

Happy movie watching!

Lockout

This is a perfectly serviceable popcorn action thriller - far better than I expected actually with decent acting. 3/5

Lockout on Netflix

Kimjongilia

A powerful, unflinching & brave documentary that exposes the horrors of North Korean life like few others films. 4/5

Kimjongilia on Netflix

A Girl Walks Into A Bar

This is a decent comedy with great acting but it left me colder than Guiterrez's previous efforts. 3/5

A Girl Walks Into A Bar on Netflix

Puncture

Chris Evans is wonderful & the plot engaging in this well directed legal drama inspired by real events. 3.5/5

Puncture on Netflix

Pariah

This indie drama about sexual identity is powerful in its message but I felt could have gone deeper into character. 3/5

Pariah on Netflix

African Cats

This gorgeous documentary was like a shortened version of "Big Cat Diary" - such amazing animals! Beautiful. 4/5

African Cats on Netflix

Man on the Train

I adore Johnny Hallyday in everything, but his delicacy & grace were just perfect in this role - wonderful. 4/5

Man on the Train on Netflix

The Double Feature Weekly Wrap-Up, 8/12/12

Welcome to this week's edition of  the Double Feature Weekly Wrap-up! I had some great movies this week - I hope I do them justice with my double feature picks. Here are my self-imposed rules taken from my first edition:

1. No pairing of sequels. Obviously Watching Iron Man 2 with Iron Man would  be a good double feature, but that's so obvious I don't think it should count. Same with pairing it with another film in the Avengers series.
2. No pairing remakes with originals. Yes, it's tempting to pair the new Arthur with the original, but again that's too obvious.
3. No pairings with the same director or lead actor unless a REALLY persuasive case can be made.

So, without further ado, here's my double-feature pairings for the week:

• Purple Noon - This original French adaptation of The Talented Mr. Ripley left me quite cold. I found it choppy, uneven, and full of holes. For a better thriller with a similar tone try the much better Perfume: The Story of a Murderer which is resplendent with wonderful acting and a sumptuous story. Trust me, you'll like it better.
• Interview - Buscemi and Miller really nailed this dramedy - the writing in ia was so smart and quick and their chemistry was spot on. It reminded me of a much better version My Dinner With Andre, a cult classic that I just didn't get but many really love. If you liked Andre you'll love Interview I think.
• Bel Ami - Oh, Pattison is just so unbelievably amazing in this I simply don't have words. No, seriously... this kid can act. Although I know this character was meant to evoke Valmont I instead would recommend Vanity Fair with Reece Witherspoon as a better double feature. The stories are much more similar and the main character story arcs relate so nicely.
• Being Flynn - What a marvelous film this was on every level! Paul Dano gave the performance of his life and De Niro was better than he's been in years. Everything about this was amazing - I've no complaints. For a good double feature pair this with It's Kind of a Funny Story, a raw, believable, and powerful story with the best acting you'll probably ever see from Zach Galifianakis.
• Fantastic Mr. Fox - I've kind of been done with Wes Anderson for a while but this animated film reminded me why I was a fan in the first place. Really marvelous all around. I'm slightly at a loss for a double feature pick as I don't' watch many animated films. The best idea I can come up with is Ratatouille , a joyful film that strikes the same notes.
• Take Me Home Tonight - I didn't expect to like this nearly as much as I did. The acting was spot on, the writing witty and the plot engaging. It reminded me very much of The Wedding Singer which remains my favorite 80's period comedy ever.
• The Man with the Movie Camera - This 1929 silent film is honestly one of the finest and most astonishing films I've ever seen, bar none. I am simploy stunned at how many films found there origins here int his brave, revolutionary work. I can't think of a single double feature recommendation for this because nothing can honestly compare. Watch this one on it's own - it deserves nothing less.

There you go, my recommendations for the week. Happy movie watching!

The Man with the Movie Camera

This film is absolutely genius in every way & I cannot believe it was made in 1929! Beyond amazing! 5/5

The Man with the Movie Camera on Netflix

Take Me Home Tonight

This 80's comedy was surprisingly well written and acted - it never felt false to me. Color me shocked! 4/5

Take Me Home Tonight on Netflix

Fantastic Mr. Fox

Wes Anderson delivers in this whimsical & morally ambiguous tale - very witty & well acted. Well done! 4.5

Fantastic  Mr. Fox on Netflix

Being Flynn

De Niro is magnificent but Paul Dano is just stellar in this dark, tragic, & very bittersweet drama. Amazing. 4.5/5

Being Flynn on Netflix

Bel Ami

Pattinson is AMAZING in this perfect period drama that reminded me of "Vanity Fair" and "Dangerous Liasons". Seriously, I cannot state enough how astonishing Pattinson was in this. He blew my mind and that's not easy to do. Wow. Wonderful! 4.5/5

Bel Ami on Netflix

Interview

Buscemi's dramedy is quick, witty, & *really* well acted by both parties - "My Dinner with Andre" only way better. 4/5

Interview on Netflix

Purple Noon

I was never a "Talented Mr. Ripley" fan but that was far superior to this muddy French original - very scattered. 2.5/5

Purple Noon on Netflix

The Double Feature Weekly Wrap-Up, 8/5/12

Welcome to this week's edition of  the Double Feature Weekly Wrap-up! Tough ones this week - none of these were easy to pair up but I'm happy with my final selections. Here are my self-imposed rules taken from my first edition:

1. No pairing of sequels. Obviously Watching Iron Man 2 with Iron Man would  be a good double feature, but that's so obvious I don't think it should count. Same with pairing it with another film in the Avengers series.
2. No pairing remakes with originals. Yes, it's tempting to pair the new Arthur with the original, but again that's too obvious.
3. No pairings with the same director or lead actor unless a REALLY persuasive case can be made.

So, without further ado, here's my double-feature pairings for the week:

• The Daytrippers - I realize this is a cult comedy hit. I realize it has a big following of fans. I realize that it makes lists of the best indie comedies around. I didn't see it at all. I found it rather insipid, if I'm being honest, and I really don't get what the fuss was about. What The Daytrippers wants to do  City Island actually does by tightly weaving a comedy script around a group of likeable characters in an witty way.
• Detention - Oh dear god this was truly awful. I mean terribly, horribly awful in a way that cannot be redeemed in any way, shape or form. It wanted to be the next Scream and failed on every level. You want to know my double feature recommendation for this. NOTHING. Because to be a double feature you'd have to watch Detention and I wouldn't wish that upon any of you. Ugh.
• Toast - This film is just charming - it's the best word I can think of to describe it. It's fablesque and fabulously acted across the board. It reminded me very much of Billy Elliot in tone and form - I think they'd make a lovely pairing.
• 49 Up - This was my last UP film for a while, at least until 56 Up hits DVD so I'm slightly in mourning about not having anymore to see. I truly loved every moment of this series and I can't wait to see where our heroes are when next we meet. I'm running out of ideas for pairings for these lovely documentaries so I'm going to go with Shut Up Little Man! An Audio Misadventure for this pick. It's a wild story that spans decades and examines human behavior from different angles. It's an interesting film that I think would pair well with this series.
• The Grey - I fully realize that action thrillers like this usually don't make the bet of sense but this Liam Neeson thriller destroyed any idea of logic very early on and just got worse and worse. Yes, the action was good but I must have rolled my eyes a dozen times - not a good sign. Instead of this watch Adrian Brody in Wrecked, a wonderfully taut, well-written and marvelously acted thriller that will keep you both guessing and at the edge of your seat the whole film.
• I Saw The Devil - I'm a huge fan of Korean revenge thrillers and this one was no exception. While it was on the whole much more graphically violent than most others in this genre it was just gorgeously shot - it was like watching a painting. Strange to find such beauty in the midst of such horror - one of the reasons I love these films. This would pair perfectly with The Man from Nowhere , another Korean revenge thriller with an similar tone and feel. Both are truly excellent - if you like these types of films you'll love both of these.

There you have it, my double feature recommendations for the week. I hope you enjoy them and happy movie watching!

I Saw The Devil

This Korean revenge thriller is perfectly directly and easily the most violent I've yet seen. Disturbing. 4.5/5

I Saw The Devil on Netflix

The Grey

This thriller stopped making any sense at all at the beginning & just went downhill. Just didn't work for me, sorry. 2/5

The Grey on Netflix

49 Up

The last installment for a while in this wonderful series brings so many things round to a perfect waiting spot. 5/5

49 Up on Netflix

Toast

Nigel Slater's biography brought to life is a charming, almost fable-like tale wonderfully acted. Well done. 3.5/5

Toast on Netflix

Detention

Dear god this was just awful. The writers wanted clever & only achieved the purely awful. Please don't rent this! 1/5

Detention on Netflix

The Daytrippers

What a disappointing mess of a "comedy" this cult indie film is - just more people behaving badly to me. Meh. 2/5

The Daytrippers on Netflix

The Double Feature Weekly Wrap-Up, 7/29/12

Welcome to this week's edition of  the Double Feature Weekly Wrap-up!
Here are my self-imposed rules taken from my first edition:

1. No pairing of sequels. Obviously Watching Iron Man 2 with Iron Man would  be a good double feature, but that's so obvious I don't think it should count. Same with pairing it with another film in the Avengers series.
2. No pairing remakes with originals. Yes, it's tempting to pair the new Arthur with the original, but again that's too obvious.
3. No pairings with the same director or lead actor unless a REALLY persuasive case can be made.

So, without further ado, here's my double-feature pairings for the week:

• Nobody Knows - This Japanese drama based on actual events just broke my heart. The slow pacing of this film made it even harder to bear as you could really feel the impact of time throughout the film. I had to think hard to find a film that cold equal the dark tragedy of this and I found it in the Ukraine's Lilya 4-Ever. You know you're watching a seriously tragic film when there are times you wish the protagonists would die not because you dislike them but because death would be a kinder fate than what's happening on screen - Lilya is very much in this camp. Haunting.
•  Bellflower - I really felt this was an awesome movie that just never quite found its way. The story was intriguing but the characters false and plot full of holes. Visually it was a feast for the eyes and I saw what they were trying to do. I Melt With You is the film Bellflower wanted to be - a tortured story of four men dealing with a crucial turning point in their lives. I Melt with You is one of my favorite rentals of late with perhaps my favorite trailer in a LOOONG time.
• Meeting Evil - Again this was a decent idea gone all wrong. The plot was unbelievable from jump and even Sam Jackson flubbed his character in this flimsy thriller. It reminded me of Bill Paxton's Frailty , which suffered from many of the same problems of muddied plot and poorly drawn characters.
• Jiro Dreams of Sushi - I expected this documentary about the king of sushi to be great. I didn't expect to be so well educated by it, nor did I expect the bombshell ending of the story which changed my whole perspective of the story. While lacking the ending twist, Kings of Pastry , a documentary about the ultimate French pastry competition, is a perfect pairing for this. Ah, all the lovely food!
• Attack the Block - I got a huge kick out of this fun and fast action/adventure comedy set in London. The characters were great and the action engaging without sacrificing its edge. Pair this with the similarly toned Tucker & Dale vs. Evil , a hilarious horror/comedy mix starring Alan Tudyk.
• Tinker Tailor Solider Spy - The writing in this spy thriller was magical and the acting superb. Every time I thought I had it all figured out I found out I was mightily wrong which I greatly appreciated.The whole time I was watching this I was reminded of Costner's No Way Out, a spy thriller with a similar edge with an ending that I don't think anyone predicted/
• 42 Up - Apted's series keeps getting better as the characters we now have grown to love keep getting older and wiser. What a wonderful idea for a series so perfectly realized! For a documentary with a similar main idea but completely different approach try Life in a Day , a documentary that tries to capture a feel for the everyday and the extraordinary over the course of one single day in July of 2010.

There you go - my double feature pairings for the week! I hope you enjoy them and happy movie watching! 

42 Up

Suzy is my new hero in this wonderful installment of the UP series which continues to be one of my favorite things. Love! 5/5

42 Up on Netflix

Tinker Tailor Solider Spy

The acting in this spy thriller is fantastic, the direction lush & the plot deftly weaved. Well done! 4/5

Tinker Tailor Solider Spy on Netflix

Attack the Block

What an awesome, fun, well directed and well acted little movie this is! Surprised it didn't get more love. 4/5

Attack the Block on Netflix

Jiro Dreams of Sushi

A riveting documentary about sushi? You bet, with a bombshell at the end that floored me. Excellent. 4.5/5

Jiro Dreams of Sushi on Netflix

Meeting Evil

Why oh why did Sam Jackson agree to star in this idiotic film that makes no f'n sense at all? Beats me! Ugh. 2/5

Meeting Evil on Netflix

The Double Feature Weekly Wrap-Up, 7/22/12

Welcome to this week's edition of  the Double Feature Weekly Wrap-up!
Here are my self-imposed rules taken from my first edition:

1. No pairing of sequels. Obviously Watching Iron Man 2 with Iron Man would  be a good double feature, but that's so obvious I don't think it should count. Same with pairing it with another film in the Avengers series.
2. No pairing remakes with originals. Yes, it's tempting to pair the new Arthur with the original, but again that's too obvious.
3. No pairings with the same director or lead actor unless a REALLY persuasive case can be made.

So, without further ado, here's my double-feature pairings for the week:

• Nothing Personal - This Polish drama set in Ireland was beautifully daring in that it was comfortable in its own silence. There was no backstory given for the characters and none needed - the female lead never even had a name. A truly poignant film worthy of an equally daring and poignant pairing. I would watch this with Breaking the Waves, Lars Von Trier's gorgeous and daring film that also explores complex relationships without over explaining. Tonally the two match well and I think would compliment each other greatly.
• 28 Up - This continuation of the UP series finds our subjects now at 28. Most of the cast returns for this segment with a few great surprises. The thrust of this installment was opportunities, which is why I would pair it with Nursery University, a documentary that tackles the subject of elite nursery schools in Manhattan and the crazy things some parents will do to secure their child a place.
• Man on a Ledge - I'm still mixed on this film. The action was exceptional and the heist portion really well done. It was the whole man-on-a-ledge part that was hollow to me and very unbelivable. This film really wanted to be The Score, the De Niro/Norton/Brando heist film that had all of it's pieces fit tightly together.
• Griff the Invisible - I had such high hopes for this film having seen so many wonderful variants on this theme as of late. This didn't really deliver for me in the way I had hoped it would - I didn't believe it. Of all the "superhero" films I've seen lately this most reminded me of Special, a similarly themed drama starring Michael Rappaport as a young man who can't quite find the line between reality and fantasy any longer.
• Devil's Playground - This documentary about the Amish rite of Rumspringga was fascinating in theory but light on content. I really had wanted to learn more about both these kids and the culture from which they sprang. Pair this with Jesus Camp, a wonderful documentary about the culture of Evangelical Christians in America that passes no judgments.
• Chalet Girl - I love Felicity Jones but this romcom about a former skateboarder turned snowboarder was very average. It took me three days to remember the name of the movie it reminded me of - Blue Crush, a very similar film substituting surfing for snowboarding.
• 35 Up - This installment of the UP series finds us reunited with a cast member we missed in 28 Up but lacking another. Having tracked these subjects for nearly thirty years it's just amazing to see how much of the person really had been there at age seven. Following Sean is the perfect pairing for this - it tracks down a documentary subject first caught on film at age four thirty years later to see how he, and the filmmaker, have changed.

That about does it for this week - happy movie watching!

Bellflower

This confused movie was sumptuously directed but nebulously written & roughly acted. High aspirations not met. 3/5

EDITED TO ADD ON 4/6/13: I actually just ran into this old review and I have to say that "Bellflower" has stayed in my head continuously since I saw it. I cannot forget it - the characters, the direction, the framing... and that car. This movies imagery has haunted me since the night I first saw it, and for that it gets a rating adjustment to a 4/5... maybe even 4.5 honestly. I wouldn't have predicted the long term effect this film had on me, but there you go.

NEW RATING: 4.5/5

Bellflower on Netflix

Nobody Knows

This Japanese drama is both chilling & heartbreaking with phenomenal acting. I can't believe it's a true story. 5/5

Nobody Knows on Netflix

35 Up

This documentary series continues to be the most interesting look at human development I've yet seen, I love it. 4.5/5

35 Up on Netflix

Chalet Girl

Decent enough film with good acting & snowboarding but so thoroughly plastic it didn't stick. I'm meh on this one. 3/5

Chalet Girl on Netflix

Devil's Playground

A fascinating look at the Amish tradition of Rumspringa - I wish it had gone into more details though. 3/5

Devil's Playground on Netflix

Griff the Inivisible

I really felt like this movie could go somewhere with this idea but it felt false to me - good, not great. 3/5

Griff the Invisible on Netflix

Man on a Ledge

A perfectly serviceable heist film with good direction - just utterly predictable & non-believable. Good enough 3/5


Man on a Ledge on Netflix

28 Up

This next installment in the UP series finds both triumph & tragedy in our 14 kids. So amazing to watch it all unfold! 4.5/5

28 Up on Netflix

Nothing Personal

An absolutely gorgeous, lush, understated drama about relationships that dares to be nearly silent. Lovely. 4/5

Nothing Personal on Netflix

The Double Feature Weekly Wrap-up, 7/15/12

Welcome to this week's edition of  the Double Feature Weekly Wrap-up! A couple of tough ones this week but I think I made good choices in the end. Here are my self-imposed rules - rules I admittedly broke this week, but still....

1. No pairing of sequels. Obviously Watching Iron Man 2 with Iron Man would  be a good double feature, but that's so obvious I don't think it should count. Same with pairing it with another film in the Avengers series.
2. No pairing remakes with originals. Yes, it's tempting to pair the new Arthur with the original, but again that's too obvious.
3. No pairings with the same director or lead actor unless a REALLY persuasive case can be made.

So, without further ado, here's my double-feature pairings for the week:

• Safe House - This Ryan Reynolds/Denzel Washington action thriller has great acting and action but it's terribly predictable. All the reviewers at Netflix compared it to The Bourne trilogy, but watching this made me think of Hanna, an action thriller about another unlikely spy-hero against a seemingly unstoppable force.
• Vertigo - This Hitchcock thriller starring James Stewart is just perfect in pretty much every way. I know I said no matches with the same director or star, but this really needs to be watched with Hitchcock's Rear Window. Can you blame me for this? I think not!
• 71 Fragments of a Chronology of Chance - Haneke's experimental film crafts a brilliant story in a non-linear style with unconventional camerawork. Pair this with Look, another experimental film that solely uses shots from surveillance cameras to tell it's story. You'll thank for for this one - I don't think anyone really saw Look and it's truly brilliant. 
• Seven Up/Seven Plus Seven - Michael Apted began this documentary series in 1964, where he began checking in with his fourteen subjects every seven years. This disc has the first two films shot at ages seven and fourteen. Pair this first installment with Babies, a wonderful documentary that tracks the lives of four babies from vastly different geographical areas for the first four years of their lives.
• 21 Up - This second installment of the UP series checks in with Apted's subjects fourteen years from the first film at age twenty-one. This one would pair nicely with Born Rich, Jamie Johnson's documentary about the children of the extremely wealthy.
• Big Nothing - This squalid comedy tells the story of a reluctant criminal who finds himself committing a crime spree almost against his will. At it's core, this is just a poorly told version of Heathers, the cult hit with a similar plot and tone (except SO much better!).

Well, that's it for this week! Happy movie watching!

Big Nothing

A terrible, awful, inane, poorly plotted, weakly acted nonsensical farce that you shouldn't waste your time with. 2/5


Big Nothing on Netflix

21 Up

This documentary follows all the children from 7 up to age 21 - wonderful to see how they're growing up, so fascinating! 5/5

21 Up on Netflix

Seven Up/Seven Plus Seven

This fascinating documentary follows a group of children from age 7 to 14 - I can't wait to see what happens! 5/5

Seven Up/Seven Plus Seven on Netflix

71 Fragments of a Chronology of Chance

Haneke's experimental film is genius in the way it views the world & it's inhabitants. 4/5


71 Fragments of a Chronology of Chance on Netflix

Vertigo

I'm know I've been on a Hitchcock kick, but can you blame me? The man was a genius & this a masterpiece - brilliant! 5/5

Vertigo on Netflix

Safe House

Reynolds & Washington deliver solid performances in this action packed spy thriller with a shaky ending. 3/5

Safe House on Netflix

The Double Feature Weekly Wrap-Up, 7/8/12

Welcome to this week's edition of the Double Feature Weekly Wrap-Up! Rules for match-ups here - let's get started!  

• Tiny Furniture - Lena Dunham created a lovely indie drama here with smart writing and a bit of bite. It reminded me very much of Slaves of New York in it's tone and humor - a good match for a double feature.
• God Bless America - I'll follow Bobcat Goldthwait almost anywhere, but this black comedy really missed the mark. If you're into this you'd probably love Kevin Smith's Red State which dabbles in a similar area. I didn't like either, but there you have it.
• Dial M for Murder - This Hitchcock classic weaves such a magnificent plot I was mesmerized. For a good film noir night of intrigue pair this with Double Indemnity, a similar noir thriller that will keep you on your toes.
• The Artist - I'm in the minority in that I found this modern silent film gimmicky and a bit stale. My objections mainly lay in that, if you're going to do a "silent talkie" you shouldn't break the illusion you're trying to create, which I felt The Artist did too many times. For reference, pair this with Chaplin's Modern Times, a true silent talkie that does everything right.
• Last Night - This moving drama about infidelity is just heartrendingly honest and beautifully acted. I can't believe more people haven't seen this - it's really wonderful. It would pair beautifully with Blue Valentine, another poignant film that looks at the difficulties in a modern marriage.
• A Thousand Words - This Eddie Murphy film started out with a great idea and just made it cheesier and cheesier throughout the film. You could go two ways with a double feature here. For another film about the power of words go with Ricky Gervais in The Invention of Lying, which I found both hilarious and eerily accurate in it's observations. If you'd rather pair A Thousand Words with a film about a lost man who needs to learn a lesson about life look no further than Groundhog Day.

So there you have it, your double feature recommendations for the week. Happy watching!

A Thousand Words

This comedy had a great idea but just executed it quite poorly. Murphy was pretty great though - shame. 3/5

A Thousand Words on Netflix

Last Night

Possibly the best & most realistic film about infidelity I've yet seen - wonderfully acted & just heartbreaking. 4/5

Last Night on Netflix

The Artist

This movie got in its own way far too often & turned it's hook into a gimmick too often. Very average for me. 3/5

The Artist on Netflix

Dial M for Murder

This is one of my favorite of Hitchcock's films - the plot is brilliant & it's shot so perfectly. Amazing. 5/5

Dial M for Murder on Netflix

God Bless America

Bobcat had a good idea, one I could get behind, but went WAY too overboard in this black comedy. Shame. 2/5

God Bless America on Netflix

Tiny Furniture

Lena Dunham's writing is both sharply witty & incredibly endearing - the acting is wonderful as well. A winner. 4/5

Tiny Furniture on Netflix

The Double Feature Weekly Wrap-Up, 7/1/12

Welcome to the third edition of the Double Feature Weekly Wrap-Up! Boy oh boy were some of these tough to pair up, but I'm proud of the picks I finally made. My self-imposed rules for matching up movies are in my first post here. Let get started with the week's reviews!

• The Tempest - Julie Taymor's adaptation of Shakespeare's final play was luscious if somewhat misguided. I know it seems unfair to pair it with another fusion Shakespeare film, but this is just screaming to be watched alongside Baz Luhrmann's Romeo + Juliet, which, in my opinion, is still the best fusion Shakespeare out there.
• Bal - This moody, understated Turkish drama about a father-son relationship is so arresting and gentle in it's approach it was almost diaphanous. After much thought I decided this really needed to be a triple feature as there are two movies that would enhance and draw out the two different sides to this wonderful film. The first is Australia's Romulus, My Father, which is an understated but complex look at a dysfunctional family. The second is Michael Haneke's The Seventh Continent, a visually arresting look at a family gone all sorts of wrong. Watch Romulus first, Bal second, and end with The Seventh Continent as the final shots of Haneke's film will stay with you forever.
• And Everything Is Going Fine - Soderbergh's posthumous tribute to Spalding Gray is composed entirely of older recordings and pieces of Gray's monologues and interviews. Pair this with Howl, a drama about Ginsberg's long poem composes entirely of snippets of the poem and the obscenity trial about it.
• The Puffy Chair - This early Duplass brother's film about a road journey gone sideways was my biggest challenge of the week. I wanted something that had relationship issues, family issues, and a twist to it all wrapped up in an indie package. I got it with Easier With Practice, a fascinating little film about two brothers on the road and a strange but intriguing anonymous phone call. I admit to a small measure of pride for thinking of this match - it wasn't easy!
• Neds - This film about a troubled teen growing up in the violence of 1970's Scotland pairs perfectly with This Is England, a film about a troubled teen who gets pulled into skinhead extremism in England. Make sure you leave the subtitles on for both of these - the ascents are amazingly thick!
• The Vanishing - The original Dutch version of this thriller is infinitely more chilling and frightening than the American remake. Because the original had a grainy, indie feel to it I really wanted to pair it with something of both similar tone and style. I got that with Peacock, a haunting tale about a man devolving into psychosis with Cillain Murphy in the role of his life.
• The Elephant in the Living Room - This documentary about man's desire to tame the wild pairs perfectly with Grizzly Man, Werner Herzog's documentary about one man's quest to live with grizzly bears in the wild.

So there you go, my double feature recommendations for the week. Enjoy and happy movie watching!

The Elephant in the Living Room

This is a fascinating documentary that doesn't take sides but asks lots of good questions. 4.5/5

The Elephant in the Living Room on Netflix

The Vanishing

This Dutch original has a FAR more powerful ending but the acting was better in the remake. Deeply disturbing.  I can't understand why they changed that ending - it was so devastating. Just... wow. 4/5

The Vanishing on Netflix

Neds

This Scottish coming-of-age indie tracks a young man's descent into violence brilliantly & poignantly. Very powerful. 4/5

Neds on Netflix

The Puffy Chair

This early Duplass brothers film gets the characters dead right but moves a bit slowly for me. Still good though. 3/5

The Puffy Chair on Netflix

And Everything Is Going Fine

The documentary captures Spalding Gray in the best way possible - a posthumous monologue 3.5/

And Everything is Going Fine on Netflix

Bal

This dreamy Turkish drama says so much while speaking very little. That's a lost art in US films these days - lovely. 3.5/5

Bal on Netflix

The Tempest

Julie Taymor missed the mark ever so slightly with this retelling but tremendous acting truly saved it. Djimon Hounsou was perfection as Caliban but Mirren not nearly as evil as she should have been. Interesting take. 3.5/5

The Tempest on Netflix

The Double Feature Weekly Wrap-Up, 6/24/12

Welcome to the second edition of The Double Feature Weekly Wrap-Up at From The Rental Queue! This week's films were definitely more challenging than last weeks but I think I managed alright in the end. My self-imposed rules about matching up films can be found here in last week's post. So, without further ado, this week's double feature recommendations.

• The Myth of the American Sleepover - This coming-of-age drama centered on the last night of summer for a group of teenagers was very sleepy, dreamy, and vapid. I would pair it with Skateland, another dreamy coming-of-age period piece about in a similar vein.
• This Means War - This spy-versus-spy romcom was all show and no substance. It would pair perfectly with Cruise and Diaz's Knight & Day, which I found equally as simple and flashy with a very similar plot and tone.
• St. Trinian's - Okay, this was the toughest of the week. This British cult classic with a star-studded cast combines a farcical collection of characters and evolves into a crazy heist film. There's honestly nothing like it I could put my finger on until I thought of The Maiden Heist - a crazy star-studded farcical film about a crazy heist. Tonally it's very similar and I think they make a quite good match. This was really a tough one though.
• Jeff, Who Lives At Home - Ah, the Duplass brothers really scored with this absolutely lovely evolving tale about finding your purpose. This was another tough one because whatever I picked I wanted it to have the same overall understated, observational feeling. Wes Anderson's Rushmore I think would be marvelous to watch with this - in fact, I may have to do that one night.
• Seeking Justice - This confused revenge thriller missed on nearly all fronts and, since it tried to be so many things it made it really difficult to pair with something. If you want to go straight revenge thriller look no further than Chan-Wook Park's revenge trilogy, of which Oldboy is the best. If you want instead a thriller that focuses on saving a family member you could try Taken or, even better, The Next Three Days. I think though my final call for a double feature here will be The Son of No One, Dito Montiel's odd thriller that combines the two themes far more successfully than Seeking Justice does.
• Rampart - Woody Harrelson gave the performance of his life as a rampaging cop in this beautifully drawn thriller. The logical pairing is Casey Affleck in The Killer Inside Me, an equally provocative (although less nuanced) look at a devolving sociopathic lawman in Texas.

There my list for the week - happy viewing!

Rampart

Woody Harrelson is breathtaking in this dark & intense character portrait of a dangerous man. Deeply mesmerizing. 4/5

Rampart on Netflix

Seeking Justice

An utterly uninspired, unoriginal, poorly acted & bad scripted pile of junk. So very much not good. 2/5

Seeking Justice on Netflix

Jeff, Who Lives At Home

I was completely surprised at how touching, endearing & beautifully told this quirky comedy was. Lovely 4/5

Jeff, Who Lives At Home on Netflix

St. Trinian's

I'm honestly shocked that I enjoyed this rompish farce with a star-studded cast as much as I did - quite funny. 3/5

St. Trinian's on Netflix

This Means War

This two-spies-fighting-for-one-girl romcom is just ridiculous, shallow & petty with no redeeming characters. 2/5

This Means War on Netflix

The Myth of the American Sleepover

This indie coming-of-age flick is boring, predictable with far too many holes in it. 2.5/5

The Myth of the American Sleepover on Netflix

The Double Feature Weekly Wrap-Up, 6/17/12

Over the last weeks while watching my movie-of-the-day I've often found myself thinking "Wow, this would be a great double feature with _____". This thought was especially brought into focus when I happened to watch The Fog of War back to back with Dr. Strangelove - two films that very eerily went together. I started thinking about starting a double-feature post of the week here to pair up whatever movies I'd seen that week with a second film similar in plot, tone, style or substance to another I'd seen in the past. Think of it as you would the Netflix "if you liked this you might like...." suggestion feature. The idea stuck, and so I present to you the From The Rental Queue Double Feature Weekly Wrap-Up!

Here are my self-imposed rules.

1. No pairing of sequels. Obvious Watching Iron Man 2 with Iron Man would  be a good double feature, but that's so obvious I don't think it should count. Same with pairing it with another film in the Avengers series.
2. No pairing remakes with originals. Yes, it's tempting to pair the new Arthur with the original, but again that's too obvious.
3. No pairings with the same director or lead actor unless a REALLY persuasive case can be made.

So, without further ado, here's my double-feature pairings for the week:

• Martha Marcy May Marlene - MMMM is a story that centers around a young woman who has escaped from a cult and the psychological turmoil that follows it. Oddly the movie that stuck out to me as a good companion feature is Shame , the story of a young man searching for himself. The similarity is tonal rather than thematic - both movies leave you with a feeling of living in a dream, of struggling away from an internal abyss.
  Alternate feature - Winter's Bone
• The Fog of War and Dr. Strangelove - I watched these two movies back to back and they are honestly a perfect double feature. The Fog of War discusses the reality of a nuclear war and Dr. Strangelove is the farcical relief. As a bonus the Dr. Strangelove DVD even had an interview with Robert McNamara - awesome!
• Chronicle - A found-footage film of three teenagers who develop superpowers and the hell those powers wreak on their lives. I think Trollhunter, another found-footage film of three teenagers discovering that trolls really do exist is the perfect companion to this - I love them both. 
• Arthur - The classic story of an alcoholic rich boy forced to choose between love and money retold with Russell Brand. As tempting as it would be to pair it with the original, I'm going to go with Everything Must Go, the story of an alcoholic man forced to reevaluate his life after losing his job and wife in one day. Watch Everything Must Go first - it's better and will put you in a better position to accept the actions of Arthur. 
• Shallow Grave - The darkly comedic story of three young people in Scotland, a lot of money, and a dead body. Pair this with Fargo, a dark comedy of a very similar vein and you can't go wrong. 
• The High Cost of Living - A film about two lives intersecting after a tragic accident wonderful acted by the two leads. The whole time I was watching it I told about Another Earth, a similar story with a sci-fi twist. 
• A Little Bit of Heaven - There are two ways to go with this one. If you want to stick with the main character struggling with a terminal cancer diagnosis, go with 50/50. If you want to go with the romantic drama part about a man watching his significant other struggle with illness, watch Love and Other Drugs. But, since A Little Bit of Heaven kind of stank and both 50/50 and Love and Other Drugs were awesome, I'd just watch those two and forget Heaven - you'll be happier.

So there you go, my double feature recommendations for the week. Let me know if you like these kind of posts and I'll keep them up or think of new things to try. Thanks for reading!

A Little Bit of Heaven

This sappy romance trades realism for a hollow plot, shallow characters & no emotional commitment. Sad. 2/5

A Little Bit of Heaven on Netflix

The High Cost of Living

Braff & Blais are amazing in this darkly moving tale that reminded me in tone of "Another Earth". 4/5

The High Cost of Living on Netflix

Shallow Grave

This is an odd duck of a film that lacked the pacing & tension to be great, thus settling for merely good. 3/5

Shallow Grave on Netflix

Arthur

Oh dear, another novel. I need to explain this one much more so than the last. I hated the original Arthur. Despised it really. I found it nearly impossible to sympathize with the characters, particularly Arthur himself who I loathed. And yet, I always recognized that Dudley Moore is nothing short of genius in that role and that it should stand as a classic for all time. When I head it was being remade I said for the record it should never be touched, but, if anyone were to try it, Brand was the only one to attempt it. I said that long before becoming smitten with Brand, which is the only reason I watched this TBH. I had the same problem with the remake as I did the original - the plot & characters are shit. However I was right - Brand gave an honest & emotional portrayal that Dudley would have loved. The weakest part was Gertler who was awful - Mirren however was amazing. So... just not my cup of tea. 3/5

Arthur on Netflix

Chronicle

I feel I need to explain myself a little with this review. Maybe it's because I really love these through-the-eye-of-the-camera films (when done right). Maybe it's because TK is my own power of choice. Maybe it's because I understood, related to, and totally got every character's motivation throughout the film. It's all these things and more. When I rate films I rate on the Netflix scale. 1 star means I hated a film, 2 for didn't like, 3 for just liked. 4 for really liked, and 5 for loved. 5 stars doesn't mean it's a perfect picture, or Best Movie material, or something the AFI needs to score. 5 stars means I really loved watching it, would watch it again, would tell others to watch it and will likely be thinking about it for some time. This is a 5 star movie. WATCH IT. 5/5  

Chronicle on Netflix

Dr. Strangelove or: How I learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb

Sellers was magnificent in what is now easily my favorite Kubrick film - darkly funny & edgy, just great. 4/5

Dr. Strangelove or: How I learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb on Netflix

The Fog Of War

Errol Morris created his masterpiece with this amazing documentary about Robert McNamara - just wonderful. 4.5/5


The Fog of War on Netflix

Martha Marcy May Marlene

An absolutely excellent portrayal of what happens to the psyche of a cult escapee. Brilliant. 4/5

Martha Marcy May Marlene on Netflix

Russell Brand in New York City

It's official, I'm in love. This is the funniest stand-up I've seen in a while - I adore him. No, seriously, total new celebrity crush time. Sorry baby, but he's divine. *flutter* 5/5

Russell Brand in New York City in Netflix

Circumstance

This movie is more complex than the description belies but falls short of where it could have gone. 3/5

Circumstance on Netflix

Albatross

There's nothing wrong with this film - the acting especially is quite good - but nothing grabbed me either. Meh. 3/5

Albatross on Netflix

Goon

This is exactly the movie you expect, no more, no less. The cast is quite good, the plot mediocre, the action solid. 3/5

Goon on Netflix

Gone

Predictable, forgettable & rather pallid, but reasonably acted & directed. This thriller is the definition of average. 3/5

Gone on Netflix

Boy Wonder

Oh wow, this was amazing - Dark, gripping, twisted & complex. The only fault was weak acting in parts. Wonderful. 4/5

Boy Wonder on Netflix

Rope

One of Hitchcock's classics, this film is beautifully shot & full of tension from the first minute to the last. 3.5/5

Rope on Netflix

We Need To Talk About Kevin

This is just amazing & Swinton is exceptional in this dark & haunting tale that chooses no sides. 4/5

We Need To Talk About Kevin on Netflix

Coriolanus

Ralph Fiennes missed the mark with this - by making it so modern he renders it incomprehensible & obsolete. 2.5/5

Coriolanus on Netflix