Tusk

Kevin Smith and I are fucking done professionally. Literally one of the worst things I've seen in a while. Ugh. 1/5

Tusk on Netflix

Perfect Sisters

Great acting in an overall average film with a fascinating real life story behind it. Good, not great. 3/5

Perfect Sisters on Netflix

The One I Love

Duplass & Moss put in brilliantly nuanced performances in this thought-provoking drama with a twist. Loved! 4.5/5

The One I Love on Netflix

Pontypool

This is brilliant. Don't read anything about this or watch a trailer. Go into this knowing nothing & be amazed. 4/5

Pontypool on Netflix

Jeff Dunham's Very Special Christmas Special

Not one of his best, but still very funny. Peanut kills me every time. 3/5

Jeff Dunham's Very Special Christmas Special on Netflix

Haunter

A totally awesome take on a familiar story, very original & suspenseful. Breslin was great as well. Well done! 4/5

Haunted on Netflix

Visioneers

This is a dry dark comedy set in a dystopian future that feels much like "Joe vs The Volcano" - nicely done. 3.5/5

Visioneers on Netflix

$ellebrity

This documentary about the advent of paparazzi is rich in information & context. Informative & well done. 4/5

$ellebirty on Netflix

Into the Storm

This is just a modern version of "Twister" with incredible effects, just don't think about the lost cameras. 4/5

Into the Storm on Netflix

A Promise

I didn't see the last third of this period drama coming which was a plus, but otherwise it was rather neatly done 3/5

The Promise on Netflix

Are You Here

Matthew Weiner's first film is a complex drama with a phenomenal performance from Galifianakis. Compelling. 4/5

Are You Here on Netflix

Good People

The acting was wooden & the plot totally transparent in this lackluster thriller - Franco & Hudson were just bad. 2/5

Good People on Netflix

Elaine Stritch: Shoot Me

What a brave & unflinching look at the twilight years of a true legend! Rest in peace Elaine. 4/5

Elaine Stritch: Shoot Me on Netflix

Welcome to the Punch

McAvoy is making great film choices lately and this smart & stylish suspense thriller is no exception. 3.5/5

Welcome to the Punch on Netflix

Enter the Void

Let me be clear at the start - I am a fan of Gaspar Noe. I loved "I Stand Alone" and found it groundbreaking. I adored "Irreversible" and think it was a game-changer for modern cinema. And yes, I felt ill during parts of "Irreversible" but understood that to be a function of the film. The content is so disturbing that it's only right that you should feel physically ill while watching it, and so I appreciated the camerawork in it, knowing it's purpose. But here, in "Enter the Void", the cinematography is so motion-sickness inducing with the lurching camera and the near constant strobing that I found it impossible to finish. I made it - just barely mind you - to about the 90 minute mark before I had to give up. And what's worse is that, editing aside, because boy does it need some, I was captivated by it. I really wanted to see where it went, which is the only reason I didn't turn it off a half hour in. I've waited a long time to watch this film and I'm sad that I will never finish it. Such a shame. 2/5

Enter the Void on Netflix

Tammy

I'm not a big Melissa McCarthy fan but she was wonderful in this funny, dark & witty comedy - better than expected. 4/5

Tammy on Netflix

Serving Life

This poignant documentary is heartbreaking at times & gives a raw and unfiltered look at dying. Very moving. 4.5/5

Serving Life on Netflix

Trap for Cinderella

I really liked this smart & stylish thriller and didn't guess a thing until the end. Well plotted. 4/5

Trap for Cinderella on Netflix

Authors Anonymous

This was a cute movie with good acting but the lack of directorial consistency was annoying as hell. 3/5

Authors Anonymous on Netflix

Monster Thursday

This Norwegian drama about love was a bit too subtle for me - I missed the larger allegory it was going for. 3/5

Monster Thursday on Netflix

Headhunters

This Norwegian thriller is just spectacular. The plot is perfect & impossible to predict & the acting superb. 5/5

Headhunters on Netflix

Sin City: A Dame to Kill For

This sequel was long on style but short on substance - the story I loved from the first was lost. 3/5

Sin City: A Dame to Kill For on Netflix

The Giver

This is one in a line of similarly themed movies of late, but this might be the best version of this story I've seen. 4/5

The Giver on Netflix

Hal Sparks: Charmageddon

This was truly LOL worthy & the type of edgy comedy Dane Cook thinks he's doing but isn't. Bravo! 4.5/5

Hal Sparks: Charmageddon on Netflix

I'm a Cyborg, but That's Okay

One of the most stunningly original movies I've ever seen - Park Chan-Wook is a genius. Amazing. 5/5

I'm a Cyborg, but That's Okay on Netflix

Inhale

What was with the ridiculously unbelievable ending to this terribly average thriller? I didn't buy that at all. 2.5/5

Inhale on Netflix

Chef

Favreau gets everything right in this wonderful feel-good comedy about life, love & great food. I'm so hungry right now. 4/5

Chef on Netflix

Tell No One

This engrossing French thriller should go down in history as one of the finest to emerge from that county. Amazing. 5/5

Tell No One on Netflix

22 Jump Street

I admit it, I laughed out loud for a lot of this, I found it well acted & really funny. Good sequel. 4/5

22 Jump Street on Netflix

Life of a King

Cuba Gooding Jr. gives a solid performance in the feel-good drama that needed a more solid script to be exceptional. 3/5

Life of a King on Netflix

Ushpizin

This Hebrew dramedy is warm & lovely with just the right amount of laughter in the seriousness. Wonderful acting. 4/5

Ushpizin on Netflix

Man of Tai Chi

Keanu's directorial debut was great & would have scored a full star higher were it not for the ridiculous end. 3/5

Man of Tai Chi on Netflix

About Alex

This generation's version of "The Big Chill" gets points for effort & a decent cast, it was a valiant effort. 3.5/5

About Alex on Netflix

A Most Wanted Man

I wanted to love this but I felt the casting was off & the pace faltered far too often to hold my interest. 3/5

A Most Wanted Man on Netflix

So Much, So Fast

An extraordinary documentary about an extraordinary family & a good message for all of us on bravery. 4/5

So Much, So Fast on Netflix

Operation Filmmaker

This documentary explores it's subject with relentless aplomb & gets a juicy story for its trouble. 4/5

Operation Filmmaker on Netflix

Godzilla

OH MY GOD SO GOOD. The people who panned this have no clue why things are scary, and this was definitely scary. Easily one of the best action movies I've seen in recent history, no quick edits, no jump shots, relentless pace. AWESOME. 5/5

Godzilla on Netflix

13 Sins

This film had a good premise, albeit nothing new, but would have been so much better if they kept the alternate end. 3/5

13 Sins on Netflix

Mother

Hye-ja Kim is amazing in Bong Joon-Ho's South Korean thriller which was packed with suspense, if a little long at times. 4/5

Mother on Netflix

Blue Ruin

Wow, this tautly written revenge thriller is beautifully done & trusts the viewer to follow along. Very nice. 4/5

Blue Ruin on Netflix

Beer Wars

An interesting subject with great information was bogged down by bad presentation & Moore-style film making. 3/5

Beer Wars on Netflix

First Person

Haggis does it again with a wonderfully poignant & delicate interlocking story that is beautifully written. 4/5

First Person on Netflix

The Art of the Steal

This heist comedy was particularly well plotted & kept me guessing through the whole movie. Excellent! 4/5

The Art of the Steal on Netflix

Begin Again

This romantic drama is utterly sweet with tremendous music & an ending that defied Holly wood convention. Bravo! 4/5

Begin Again on Netflix

Life of Crime

An very average drama with above average acting but not enough originality to make me interested. Just good. 3/5

Life of Crime on Netflix

Crave

This thriller had an interesting premise but it was brought down by mediocre execution and poor acting. Shame. 3/5

Crave on Netflix

Broken

What a terribly and tragically beautiful film this is, blending beauty & heartbreak so seamlessly. Just divine. 4.5/5

Broken on Netflix

The Signal

This is an incredibly well plotted sci-ci thriller - it kept me guessing right to the end. Well directed & acted. 4/5

The Signal on Netflix

The Unknown Known

Errol Morris does it again with this fascinating portrait of Rumsfeld, who proves to be a formidable subject. 5/5

The Unknown Known on Netflix

Snowpiercer

This was AMAZING. The South Korean direction blended with top-notch American/English acting was sublime. Perfect. 5/5

Snowpiercer on Netflix

Venus in Fur

This was an incredibly clever drama with a wonderful rich story & great characters. I'm surprised how good it was. 4/5

Venus in Fur on Netflix

Fed Up

There's nothing new in this documentary but I did like the way it was broken down & analyzed. Not bad at all. 4/5

Fed Up on Netflix

Bad Words

I'm shocked at how good this incredibly black comedy was. Fantastic pacing, great plot, wonderful acting. Wow. 4/5

Bad Words on Netflix

Ida

This Polish drama is simple & quiet, beautifully shot & lovingly edited, and packs a strong emotional statement. Lovely. 4/5

Ida on Netflix

Whitey: The United States vs. James J. Bulger

This fascinating documentary about James Bulger breaks down a tremendous amount of information & is still entertaining. 4/5

Whitey: The United States vs. James J. Bulger on Netflix

The Woman

Wow, this is just bad on every level. It made very little sense & the ending was just bizarre. Not good. 2/5

The Woman on Netflix

Cafe de Flore

I will never ever forget this movie as long as I love. Unbelievable powerful, emotionally devastating. Loved it. 5/5

Cafe de Flore on Netflix

Extracted

Another smart & stylish thriller with an original plot & wonderful execution - many good thrillers out these days. 4/5

Extracted on Netflix

Observe and Report

This older Rogen comedy is lackluster in every respect, it just didn't make a lot of sense. Disappointing. 2/5

Observe and Report on Netflix

Assault on Wall Street

There was nothing ostensibly wrong with this, but I didn't believe a word of it, they didn't sell me. 2.5/5

Assault on Wall Street on Netflix

Dark Tourist

This thriller is one of the best I've seen in a while with masterful direction & acting. Brilliantly nuanced. 5/5

Dark Tourist on Netflix

Obvious Child

This is a bold, dark, & groundbreaking comedy superbly acted by Jenny Slate. Very daring, I liked it a lot. 4/5

Obvious Child on Netflix

The Rolling Stones: Gimme Shelter

I wasn't as blown away by this as many seem to be, but the glimpse at what happened at Altamont was disturbing. 3/5

The Rolling Stones: Gimme Shelter on Netflix

Jamesy Boy

This drama is sold by wonderful acting from young Spencer Lofranco & a great parallel non-linear story. 3.5/5

Jamesy Boy on Netflix

I'll Follow You Down

This drama about time-travel is compelling & well acted throughout - I especially liked the end. 3.5/5

I'll Follow You Down on Netflix

Lucky Them

What could have been a great story with a stellar cast instead felt mediocre & bland - could have used more color. 3/5

Lucky Them on Netflix

Hellion

There was some wonderful child acting in this film which featured slick writing & a great performance by Aaron Paul. 3.5/5

Hellion on Netflix

Lone Survivor

Amazing & so powerful to watch - one of the best movies about the Afghan war I've seen. Totally astonishing. 5/5

Lone Survivor on Netflix

The Secret Lives of Dorks

Teen angst has certainly been done much better than this shallow & shabbily done rom-com. Not good. 2/5

The Secret Lives of Dorks on Netflix

Very Good Girls

The acting by Fanning & Olson in this was perfection & the story was delicately & wonderfully told. 4/5

Very Good Girls on Netflix

The Devil and Daniel Johnston

I have no idea what I just watched, why it was good, why this artist is thought of as good. WTF? 2/5

The Devil and Daniel Johnston on Netflix

Wake in Fright

How have I never seen this movie before? Truly disturbing on a primal level & daring as hell for 1971. Wow. 4/5

Wake in Fright on Netflix

After the Dark

This film has an intriguing premise - can you use logic to decide who lives and dies in an apocalypse? What if you were a class of 21 with 1 teacher and only had 10 places in a bunker. How would you determine who lives and who dies? It's an ambitious theme, and the beauty of the Indonesian setting paired with gorgeous direction certainly makes the film luscious to watch. The first hour is wonderful... and then the troubled third act begins. I don't know what I think about the last third of this film yet, particularly the last ten minutes. I think I'll debate this for a while in my head before I determine if this film succeeds of fails by the end. And the fact that I will think about it and remember it for some time, well, I guess that speaks for itself, doesn't it? For now this is a three, but I reserve the right to change my mind later. 3/5

After the Dark on Netflix

The Rover

Pierce & Pattinson are magnetic in this post-apocalyptic thriller that is tensely written & beautifully shot. 4/5

The Rover on Netflix

Conventioneers

Another bad rom-com about bad people behaving badly - I really don't get this trend in this genre. Shame. 2/5

Conventioneers on Netflix

Aziz Ansari: Intimate Moments for a Sensual Evening

I've heard sketchy things about Ansari's stand up but I cackled like a hyena through everything. 5/5

Aziz Ansari: Intimate Moments for a Sensual Evening on Netflix

Finding Vivian Maier

This intriguing documentary raises great questions about the life of Maier & gives no easy answers. Bravo! 5/5

Finding Vivian Maier on Netflix

Free Ride

A stunningly average film about truly interesting true events. Good acting but the script was lacking in detail. 3/5

Free Ride on Netflix

Afflicted

A pretty decent found-footage horror film that has some really great moments along with a passel of weaknesses. 3/5

Afflicted on Netflix

A Fighting Man

An innovative drama that employs a shifting chronology to great effect. I don't think I've seen one like it. 3.5/5

A Fighting Man on Netflix

The Cartel

This amazing documentary on the public school system is the best I've seen on the subject, required viewing. 5/5

The Cartel on Netflix

The Man from Earth

Such an interesting thought experiment. Is it truth or fiction? And does the end reveal the answer? 3.5/5

The Man from Earth on Netflix

God's Pocket

Slattery directs PSH in his last film - a gritty, no nonsense drama with a great pace & strong acting. 3.5/5

God's Pocket on Netflix

The Normal Heart

I can't believe I'm saying this, but this would have been near perfect if a gay actor had replaced Ruffalo in the lead. I normally never feel that way, especially with an actor as talented as Ruffalo is, but his performance rang false to me, and I found myself frequently thinking that I wished someone else led this movie. There were so many strong performances that it just stuck out to me. He wasn't bad, not at all, just... not right. 4/5

The Normal Heart on Netflix

Yellowbrickroad

This horror flick did unsettle me greatly but there's no substance to it, certainly no character development. I have to give it a star for creeping me out so much, but ultimately I don't know what I saw or why I saw it. Disappointing. 2/5

Yellowbrickroad on Netflix

The Crash Reel

An astounding documentary that pulls you through so many emotions & opinions. A must see for all film fans. 5/5

The Crash Reel on Netflix

Need for Speed

This is action perfection - it looks & feels exactly like the game did & Aaron Paul was note-perfect. Loved it! 5/5

Need for Speed on Netflix

Struck by Lightning

Chris Colfer's adaptation of this book left much to be desired for me - it felt flat & dull throughout. 3/5

Struck by Lightning on Netflix

Parts Per Billion

This existential tale set against the end of the world is well plotted & executed - I won't forget it. 3.5/5

Parts Per Billion on Netflix

Daughter for Danang: American Experience

An absolutely fascinating & unexpected study of how culture shapes our world view. Wonderfully done. 4/5

Daughter from Danang: American Experience on Netflix

Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues

I hated this with a fiery passion. It was awful & trite & had none of the original's magic. 1.5/5

Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues on Netflix

The Double

Ayoade's fantastical & sensory-rich black dramedy is unique & so refreshing. I adored everything about this. 4.5/5

The Double on Netflix

RoboCop

HORRIBLE remake that has none of the sense or message of the original. This was painful to watch, utter useless. 2/5

RoboCop on Netflix

The Age of Uprising: The Legend of Michael Kohlkaas

This sweeping epic badly needed a score to highlight the emotion but Mikkelsen does a great job as usual. 3/5

 The Age of Uprising: The Legend of Michael Kohlkaas on Netflix

Someday This Pain Will Be Useful To You

This script was strong with some great lines and overall the acting was solid, but the lead, Toby Regbo, didn't have enough emotional depth to carry this. Good, not great. 3/5

Someday This Pain Will Be Useful To You on Netflix

Only Lovers Left Alive

This was just pretension for pretension sake, but the acting was quite good in spite of the weak plot. 3/5

Only Lovers Left Alive on Netflix

The Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete

This touching drama feature truly extraordinary acting from its young stars Skylan Brooks and Ethan Dizon. It reminded me of "Treeless Mountain" and "Nobody Knows" - gritty and dark yet redemptive. 4/5

The Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete on Netflix

Cropsey

This documentary asks good questions but fails to deliver enough information for the viewer to truly know the answers. 3/5

Cropsey on Netflix

The Sacrament

This thriller was good but lost impact with me because I'm so familiar with Jonestown. Good, not great. 3/5

The Sacrament on Netflix

Tango

Ugh, I almost died of boredom watching this - too many aching long dance scenes that I ended up fast forwarding. LONG. 2/5

Tango on Netflix

High School Musical

I bet if I were 14 I'd love this. Interesting to see where "Glee" came from - a feel-good film for sure. 3/5

High School Musical on Netflix

Frankie & Alice

Halle Berry is wonderful but the script a bit strained & barren in this drama about multiple personalities. For the record, the modernization of terms and understanding of the disorder really threw me out of the picture. Sloppy. 3/5

Frankie & Alice on Netflix

The Railway Man

Firth is wonderful in this disquieting drama about the power of forgiveness. I cried at the end - moving. 3.5/5

The Railway Man on Netflix

Filth

If McAvoy doesn't win an Oscar for this there is no justice. Brilliantly blindingly amazing - I loved this so hard, 4.5/5

Filth on Netflix

Locke

A brilliant, seamless, & innovative drama with a stunning performance from Tom Hardy. I've not seen anything like it. 5/5

Locke on Netflix

I Think We're Alone Now

When I was 18, I watched an older friend develop schizophrenia. She developed an intense obsession with a rock star that we both knew in passing. She believed it was her supernatural destiny to marry him, that they were communicating telepathically, that I was the daughter of Satan because I stood in her way. She made pilgrimages to his house, plastered her home with pictures of him, and endangered his family. I know what unhealthy obsession looks like, and what I saw in this film chilled me to the bone. But I have to give tremendous kudos to the filmmaker for not trying to portray his subjects as crazy stalkers, but rather as real people who struggled with mental illness. This film is deeply unsettling to watch, but perhaps more so for me as I've seen this thing up close and personally. Highly recommended, especially since it's only an hour long. 4.5/5

I Think We're Alone Now on Netflix

The Story of Luke

Lou Taylor Pucci was wonderful but the script a bit weak in this drama about autism & "normalcy". 3.5/5

The Story of Luke on Netflix

Best Worst Movie

I've never seen Troll 2 & I admit I'm curious after this documentary which doesn't quite tell me enough. 3/5

Best Worst Movie on Netflix

The Protector 2

Why on earth do you hire Tony Jaa & then use tons of CGI, effects & camera tricks? Epically disappointing. And I say this as a HUGE Jaa fan who loved Ong Bak sequels Jaa directed. Find your roots again, Tony. You CAN do so much better. 2/5

The Protector 2 on Netflix

Atrocious

Why in sweet hell I decided to watch this uber-scary found-footage horror film before bed is beyond me - terrifying. 4/5

Atocious on Netflix

Divergent

This action version of "A Brave New World" is fun to watch but light on plot depth - I wanted more details. 3/5

Divergent on Netflix

Joe

Nic Cage hasn't acted this well in years in this tight, well scripted drama that fits perfectly in the "Mud" vein. 3.5/5

 Joe on Netflix

Knights of Badassdom

This is a funny enough comedy about LARPing - Dinklage is worth the price of admission. Decent stuff. 3/5

Knights of Badassdom on Netflix

The Protector

This movie is abysmally bad & wastes its star with bad direction but I would watch Tony Jaa in anything honestly. 2/5

The Protector on Netflix

Smash & Grab: The Story of The Pink Panthers

An interesting documentary about the Pink Panthers and how some were eventually caught - good film making. 3.5/5

Smash & Grab: The Story of The Pink Panthers on Netflix

Grand Piano

As a former pianist, the unrealistic playing in this choppy plot-holed thriller really took me out of things. 2.5/5

Grand Piano on Netflix

Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai

Miike proves he doesn't need gore to tell a tremendous story with a powerful message. Amazing. 4.5/5

Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai on Netflix

The Kings of Summer

One of the strongest indie comedies I've seen in a while - great script & wonderful acting by all. 4/5

The Kings of Summer on Netflix

The Zombie Diaries

This found-footage horror flick is woefully bad with totally unbelievable acting, very trite. Shame. 2/5

The Zombie Diaries on Netflix

Winter's Tale

I didn't expect to like this so much - a sweetly sentiment tale told with beautiful direction. Lovely. 4/5

Winter's Tale on Netflix

Welcome to the Jungle

I thought this would be silly but still good fun, but no, just really ridiculous & badly acted. Bleh. 2/5

Welcome to the Jungle on Netflix

Enemy

This creepy atmospheric thriller has Gyllenhaal at his best - I don't get all the twists but I was thoroughly intrigued. 4/5

Enemy on Netflix

Inside Llewyn Davis

It's a pretty film with good music & JT was great but this was a non-event for me - it never went anywhere. 3/5

Inside Llewyn Davis on Netflix

The English Teacher

This little romantic dramedy is sweet & funny & well acted by all the leads. A good natured little movie. 3/5

The English Teacher on Netflix

The Face of Love

Maybe it's me, but I really got this, it spoke to me in a special way. Benning & Harris were so lovely. 3.5/5

The Face of Love on Netflix

Under the Skin

Nope. Not having it, especially given all the amazing new sci-fi out there that is INFINITELY better than this. Please, instead of this, watch "Upstream Color", "Antiviral", "Another Earth", "Perfect Sense", or "Bellflower" (which isn't sci-fi but visually similar). Or, really, anything at all by Nicholas Winding Refn. All better than this crap. Ugh. 2/5

Under the Skin on Netflix

Entre Nos

This drama about immigrant families is touching & well acted but a bit heavy handed on the message. Still, good. 3.5/5

Entre Nos on Netflix

Apollo 18

This found-footage sci-fi thriller really hits it out of the park - wonderfully creepy & really well put together. 4/5

Apollo 18 on Netflix

Short Term 12

One of the most unflinchingly honest portraits of child abuse I've ever seen with te3rmendous acting throughout. 4/5

Short Term 12 on Netflix

Side by Side

This documentary about the transition of film to digital is fascinating, informative & full of great opinions. 4/5

Side by Side on Netflix

Adore

This drama is a complex tapestry of human emotions & their failings, beautifully told & acted throughout. Lovely. 4/5

Adore on Netflix

Quartet

A perfectly lovely & charming movie with a quiet plot & wonderful acting & music, but I wanted more depth. 3.5/5

Quartet on Netflix

The Raid 2

There isn't much similarity between this & the 1st Raid, but if you're looking for ultraviolence this is your film. 3/5

The Raid 2 on Netflix

Jodorowsky's Dune

Wow! I wish I could have seen this film, but in a way I have, given how much current cinema was birthed here. 5/5

Jodorowsky's Dune on Netflix

"Five Favorites" - Review of 2014 Best Picture Nominees

Donna: Welcome to this month's edition of "Five Favorites" with Mike Siegel! This month we're abandoning our formula of fives to bring you a review of the nine Best Picture nominees from the 2014 Academy Awards. Now that all nine nominees are available for rental we've both seen them all and will be ranking them in order of how much we liked them, starting with the ones we liked least and moving up to our favorite of the nominees. Before we get going, I'd like to tip my hat to a few films that I feel deserved a place on this list, in particular "Blue Jasmine", "August: Osage County", "Rush", "Kill Your Darlings" and, for my daring outsider pick, "Upstream Color", which should have at least gotten nominations for Best Director and Best Cinematography. I'll know Hollywood has finally caught up to the burgeoning indie scene when films like "Upstream Color" gets the award nods they really should.

Mike: So, in going over the list, I first wanted to mention a few films that got snubbed.  “Rush”, “Before Midnight” and “Fruitvale Station” were all among the best films of 2013 but were not nominated.  And I have yet to see “The Wind Rises” and “Blue is the Warmest Color”, which I suspect might end up on my top films of 2013 list.  Still, the overall Oscar selection was not horrible.  While some of the films were not my cup of tea, I can see why each was nominated and none was a horrible selection.

Onto the nominees!  We both rank them in reverse order of our opinion.

*************************************

Donna's #9: "Nebraska" - I'm just going to start by saying I have no idea how this film made in onto the Best Picture list. Sure, it's a good film, well acted and well scripted. But there's nothing extraordinary about it that makes it jump out at me. I have a hard time remembering details about it, and that alone knocks it out of Best Picture contention in my mind. It's good, but not great, and just not strong or compelling enough to be on this list.

Mike's #9: "The Wolf of Wall Street" - I feel this film was massively over-rated, as Scorsese films tend to be when he returns to his oeuvre of awful people doing awful things.  Dicaprio is great and the film certainly has a lot of energy.  Matthew McConaughey has a wonderful five minutes as a guest star.  But it way way too long, spending far too much time reveling in the supposed excesses of its main character.  And as I wrote in mylong-form review, I am uncomfortable with glorifying a narcissistic convicted financial criminal.

Donna's #8: "Captain Phillips" - I seem to be in the minority of people who weren't incredibly moved by "Captain Phillips", but I believe I know why. You see, before I saw "Phillips" I watched "A Hijacking", a Swedish film about a strikingly similar true story of pirate capture. I was incredibly moved by "A Hijacking" - I found it poetic, heart breaking, well acted and edited to a devastating conclusion. So when I saw "Phillips" I couldn't help but compare it to "A Hijacking", and I found it lacking in every single aspect. Perhaps if I had seen "Phillips" before "Hijacking" I would feel differently, but as such, knowing a very similar and superior film is out there, I just can't rank "Phillips" any higher than this.

Mike's #8: "Nebraska" - I enjoyed it this film, mainly because of the acting.  It’s a solid film with good characters and some humor (although a bit of it feels forced, especially with Kate).  But while I like almost everything by Alexander Payne, I didn’t see why people *loved* it.  It seems like the critics read a lot more into his films than I see.

Donna's #7: "Dallas Buyers Club" - Let me be clear - as a film, "Dallas Buyers Club" wasn't strong enough to be nominated for Best Picture. Don't get me wrong, it's a solid film, but for me the plot wasn't compelling or drawn well enough to deserve a nod for the best film of the year. The reason "Dallas Buyers Club" is here is because of the incredible acting of Jared Leto and Matthew McConaughey. Both men were absolutely marvelous in their roles, with Leto putting in one of the best performances of the year as Rayon. Both men deserved their Oscar nods for acting, but as far as best picture goes, it wasn't enough for me. Good, but not extraordinary, and thus the low placement on my list.

Mike's #7: "Dallas Buyers Club" - The main reason to watch this was McConaughey, who thoroughly dominated the film.  It also has an appealing anti-establishment story about the buyer’s clubs and provides very strong insight into the early days of the AIDS crisis without being heavy-handed.  Definitely a cut above the first two and worth the investment of time.

Donna's #6: "Philomena" - The impact of this film didn't quite hit me for a few days after I saw it. My initial reaction to "Philomena" was that it was good, but not good enough to make the Best Picture list. But, like all good films, this one sat with me for a long time, and I feel now upon reflection that it really was worthy of this nod. I'm a huge Coogan fan so it was lovely to see him in such fine form, and Dench is always magnificent. Frears really did himself proud with this film - a powerful story indeed.

Mike's #6: "Philomena" - The brutal and cruel history of Ireland’s mother-child homes (and the Magdalene Laundries) cannot get enough attention. The tacked-on confrontation with the nun, which did not happen in real life, was the only real false note.  I was reminded of the equally false and equally flawed scene in Schindler’s List where he breaks down.  That having been said, the film builds itself around two very well-developed characters played perfectly, incorporates its low key humor well and builds its sense of outrage slowly and convincingly.  This may stick with me for a while.

Donna's #5: "Her" - Spike Jonze created something intensely beautiful with this lovely little film. It's another simple story told well, and it's the nuances of the script that make it such a powerful statement on love, lust, and power in relationships. I'm an enormous fan of Phoenix and it was gratifying to see him shine in this film. I was honestly quite shocked he didn't get an Oscar nod for Best Actor for this performance. The only major flaw to this film was its length - it could have easily been about twenty minutes shorter. The story raises so many great questions about the dynamics of love - I feel this film will be talked about for quite some time.

Mike's #5: "American Hustle" - I think the 70’s palette and styles caused this film to be a bit over-rated.  I am not a huge fan of David O. Russell and don’t think Bradley Cooper is that great.  That having been said, the film is very good, with solid dialogue, energy, style and some great performances, particularly the female leads.  Frankly, I would watch a film about Amy Adams and Jennifer Lawrence reading the newspaper.

Donna's #4: "The Wolf of Wall Street" - I actually debated for a while whether this film would wind up above or below "Her" as I liked them both rather equally, but "The Wolf of Wall Street" was compelling enough of a film for it to take the #4 spot. As much as I love McConaughey, I think DiCaprio should have taken the Oscar for his portrayal of the seedy Jordan Belfort, as he was quite amazing in this. I loved the direction of the film as well, although it certainly suffered from about thirty minutes of bloat. A strong film by Scorcese and a worthy contender for Best Picture.

Mike's #4: "Her" - This is a bit long, but is quite a lovely film.  The idea is intriguing even if the plot kind of fumbles around with it a bit.  It takes a much more mature and realistic approach to its ideas than most sci-fi, making the world feel very real and very likely (example: almost all sci-fi films avoid the subject of sex; this one doesn’t).  The two leads are excellent.  Phoenix got all the attention but Johannson’s voice work anchored the emotional threads.  As I’ve said before, if you look beyond the banner franchises, we are getting some very good sci-fi these days and “Her” is a perfect example.

Donna's #3: "American Hustle" - This was easily one of my favorite films of the year for a whole host of reasons. I loved all of the acting in it - Bale, Cooper, Adams and Laurence were all exceptional. The direction and pacing of the film was stylish and flamboyant in all the right ways. The script was quite compelling and kept my attention throughout. Even the music was note-perfect. I truly enjoyed everything about this - it's honestly only a tick below my #2 choice on my list. 

Mike's #3: "Captain Phillips" - This had me on the edge of my seat for two hours.  It features another great “everyman” performance from Hanks but also excellent performances by the Somali cast.  It was so enthralling, I didn’t mind Greengrass’s ridiculous shaky-cam style.

Donna's #2: "Gravity" - To me, there's nothing like a simple story told well, and that's exactly what "Gravity" is - a straightforward tale told with incredible finesse. Cuaron allowed Bullock and Clooney to simply do their jobs, and both acted quite well throughout. But it was the astonishing directing that stole the show here, with the exquisite long opening shot setting the tone for the film (a Cuaron trademark, perhaps, as he did the same in "Children of Men", one of my favorite films of all time). To top it off, given how much bloat most films seem to carry these days, the ninety minute length of it was just perfect. A beautiful film in every way.

Mike's #2: "Gravity" - You know the best thing about “Gravity”?  It’s only an hour and a half long.  That sounds like faint praise or even damnation.  But in an era where seemingly every Oscar nominee could easily be trimmed by 15 minutes to an hour, this is the only major film in recent years that had no fat.  It is tense from beginning to end, the performances are great (Bullock has matured into a first-rate actress) and the filming is simply gorgeous.  The opening unbroken shot is one of the most spectacular sequences in recent memory and I desperately wish I had seen this on the big screen.  The science is bit questionable (orbital dynamics doesn’t work like that) but the film was so good that I didn’t care.

Donna's #1: "12 Years a Slave" - Honestly, this wasn't even a contest for me. In  my opinion, "12 Years a Slave" was far and away the best picture of the year for a number of reasons. All of the acting was incredibly solid - not just the leads but all of the supporting actors as well. Fassbender, Dano, Giamatti and Cumberbatch were especially strong, and Chiwetel Ejiofor was a revelation in the lead. The direction by McQueen was unflinching and riveting with good editing that moved the story along. The script was very solid, believable and so gut-wrenching it was impossible not to cry. Outside of Brad Pitt's appearance, which to me felt hammy and overwrought, I can't think of a real flaw in this film. It utterly deserved to win Best Picture and I'm glad it took the top prize this year.

Mike's #1 - "12 Years a Slave" - When I look over an Oscar list, I like to think about which films people will be watching ten, twenty, fifty years from now.  This and maybe “Gravity” are the only ones I think will really last the test of time.  “12 Years a Slave” is transcendent.  Many films have taken on the issues of slavery; few with as much resonance and power as this one.  The performances are excellent all around — Ejiofor, Fassbender, Nyong’o especially (Fassbender is establishing an incredibly broad range; comparing this to his performance in “Prometheus”, you wouldn’t think it was the same actor).  Even the supporting cast are outstanding.  McQueen’s directing shows the brutality of slavery without wallowing in it or being exploitative.  And it keeps the focus on the characters and the situation.  I need to watch this again to confirm my initial thoughts that it might become a classic.  But it was definitely my top film among the Oscar nominees.

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Thanks for joining us for another edition of "Five Favorites" and we'll see you again next month! 

 

The Lunchbox

This Indian romantic drama is delicately lovely, sweetly told & wonderfully acted. The ending was marvelous. 4/5

The Lunchbox on Netflix

Endless Love

Recently I reviewed the "remake" of the original 1981 release of "Endless Love". I say remake in quotes because, to my memory, it was such a bastardization of the original film as to be nearly unwatchable to me. I've been thinking about the original film every since, and tonight I decided to revisit it. My parents, not unlike Jade's in the film, were also rather bohemian and relaxed in their rules. They took me to see this film in its original theatrical release when I was 10. I also saw "Saturday Night Fever", "Fame" and "The Blue Lagoon", all in their original release, so me seeing a film like this so young wasn't strange. But, because of my youth, "Endless Love" left a real impression on me. I took away from it that love is a strange and powerful thing, capable of both great beauty and tragic sadness, sometimes at once. It's interesting to go back and watch something that was so influential on you as a child, and I wasn't disappointed seeing this film again. The acting was far more atrocious than I remembered, but the dark underbelly of the film was as deep and strong as I remembered. It is a powerful film, and everyone involved in that remake should be drawn and quartered for it. I might be being generous with my rating, but it held up to my memories of it, and that's all I could really ask, isn't it? 3.5/5

Endless Love on Netflix

Pacific Rim

This was just an awesome thrill ride - amazing action throughout, although the acting was pretty weak. So fun! 4/5

Pacific Rim on Netflix

The Bag Man

This thriller had enough twists to keep me interested but not enough character development to make it great. 3/5

The Bag Man on Netflix

Harlan County, U.S.A.

This classic documentary about the miner strike paints a straightforward picture without much bias. 3.5/5

Harlan County, U.S.A. on Netflix

A.C.O.D.

This dramedy had tremendous acting & a tightly strung plot that works well & communicated a message. Well done. 4/5

A.C.O.D. on Netflix

The Mist

Not since "Earthquake" or "Treeless Mountain" have I cried this hard at the end of a film, not even "12 Years a Slave". Wow. 4/5

The Mist on Netflix

Map of the Sounds of Tokyo

Maybe it was me but I couldn't sink into this as I needed to - it felt long & slow to me. Meh. 3/5

Map of the Sounds of Tokyo on Netflix

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

Stiller knocked this out of the park with gorgeous direction & a heartfelt story. Lovely. Bonus treat - I don't think Stiller's ever looked this good, not even in "Zoolander". 4/5

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty on Netflix

Bad Country

This hokey thriller had such poor direction it stifled the plot - this would have been a great southern gothic. 2.5/5

Bad Country on Netflix

World War Z

I don't know the book, but the plot was implausible but the action was good in this zombie apocalyptic horror. 3/5

World War Z on Netflix

Before Midnight

I loved "Sunrise" but have strongly disliked most things about "Sunset" & now "Midnight". I don't get the adoration. 3/5

Before Midnight on Netflix

Some Velvet Morning

LaBute is back with this gorgeously twisted drama that features amazing acting by Tucci & Eve. Marvelous. 4/5

Some Velvet Morning on Netflix

EDtv

An extraordinarily average script with extraordinarily amazing actors. An odd dichotomy - the actors deserved more meat. 3/5

EDtv on Netflix

Pompeii

For disaster porn it's adequate but it could have been much more - woeful casting & very light on plot, just okay. 3/5

Pompeii on Netflix

Kick Ass 2

A very solid sequel to the original, which I admit I don't remember well. Good action & fun to watch. For the record, I had no idea that was Jim Carrey until I started to input my review to my site, so DAYUM. 4/5

Kick Ass 2 on Netflix

Dinner for Schmucks

Surprisingly faithful to the French original, this remake is more absurdist with a blah end but still good. 3/5

Dinner for Schmucks on Netflix

Closed Circuit

A solid action/crime thriller with solid acting by Hall and Bana, although the ending was unfulfilling. 3.5/5

Closed Circuit on Netflix

Last Night

This amorphic indie end of the world drama was engaging & interesting but not quite believable. Good concept. 3.5/5

Last Night on Netflix

Milwaukee, Minnesota

This indie dramedy had a good premise but such abysmal acting it was honestly hard to watch. Not good. 2.5/5

Milwaukee, Minnesota on Netflix

Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit

This latest installment of the Ryan franchise was solid action with good acting - enjoyable. 4/5

Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit on Netflix

We Steal Secrets: The Story of Wikileaks

A comprehensive, well directed & reasonably well balanced documentary on Wikileaks, Assange & Manning. 4/5

We Steal Secrets: The Story of Wikileaks on Netflix

August: Osage County

This is a powerhouse of acting, just amazing performances. Should have been nominated for best picture. 4.5/5

August: Osage County on Netflix

Tim's Vermeer

OH WOW. This movie should be required viewing for all lovers of art. I'd say that was theory proved! 5/5

Tim's Vermeer on Netflix

Her

A perfectly brilliant & poignant film wonderfully acted by Phoenix. It just needed some editing to make it perfect. 4.5/5

Her on Netflix

Small Time

A solid indie drama with good performances & a simple yet strong story, but more detail would have been nice. 3/5

Small Time on Netflix

Zero Charisma

This indie comedy had the potential to get very dark & I wish they had gone for it in the end. Good, not great. 3/5

Zero Charisma on Netflix

Resolution

I don't know how to describe what I just watched. It's billed as a horror film, but it doesn't fit into any part of the horror mold that I can ascertain. I would call it a psych thriller, but that isn't right either. What I know is that it scared the hell out of me, I'm not going to sleep well tonight (or probably tomorrow as well), I have a lot to think about, and the ending of this film is really, really incredible and daring and wonderful. If you like your horror with scares and action and effects, this is not for you. If you want to really know what you saw, this is not for you. If watching two people in a room bores you, this is not for you. But if you want to be challenged, to think for yourself, and to come away from something still unsure of what you saw... RENT THIS FILM. I don't know what I saw, but I know I loved it. 4.5/5

Resolution on Netflix

Gamer

The natural evolution of Running Man, this action flick is smart, stylish & well acted. I don't get the negative reviews. 4/5

Gamer on Netflix

Philomena

This Frears drama is beautiful, poignant & emotional with wonderful acting, but Best Picture worthy it's not. Don't get me wrong - it's a fantastic film. But I expect a level of immortality in a nominee & I don't think Philomena had it. 4/5

Philomena on Netflix

The Motel Life

The acting by Hirsch & Dorff is excellent but the plot thready & uneven - I needed to understand more. 3/5

The Motel Life on Netflix

Becoming Chaz

This insightful documentary pulls no punches in its subject matter & paints a true portrait of its subject. 4/5

Becoming Chaz on Netflix

Black Butterflies

This biopic of Ingrid Jonker is beautifully acted by van Houten but I wished for more details on her life. 3.5/5

Black Butterflies on Netflix

Five Favorites - "Five Most Overrated Films of All Time"

Donna: Welcome to another edition of "Five Favorites" with myself and Mike Siegel! This month we're straying from our favorites format to tackle a different sort of list - what we think are the "Five Most Overrated Films of All Time". We wanted to look at films that are revered or considered truly great cinema, and yet seem to us to be either fundamentally flawed or just plain bad. Our inclusion criteria for this list was that the films in question had to be either on the AFI Top 100 list, a best picture nominee or winner, or on the IMDB top 250. In other words, we only wanted to consider films that have been truly lauded as landmark, important, or extremely popular.

For myself this was a difficult task. Because I haven't seen a lot of classic cinema or recent popular films, I found that I had seen maybe seen fifty percent or less of the movies on each inclusion list. On one hand this made my selection easier as I simply had less to work with, but on the other I feel Mike will have a far more comprehensive list than I will because of my lack of knowledge in this area. I also wanted to make sure I wasn't simply picking movies I didn't like. Quite honestly there are plenty of movies I just don't like on these lists - "2001: A Space Odyssey", "A Few Dollars More" or "V for Vendetta" are good examples. But I can recognize that all those films have true goodness and even genius in them, even if I don't enjoy them. It was important to me to only pick films I felt were either truly flawed or ones that defied my every attempt at understanding why they are so loved. In the end, yes, whether or not I liked a film was part of the equation, but I did my best not to make it a popularity contest.

Mike: My approach was identical, although I’m probably not as versed in classic cinema as Donna likes to think! J I’ve already done a long series of posts on my own site where I went through the Oscar Winners one at a time to see which ones were bad. So I excluded Best Pictures from that list. One tweak I put in was to recommend better movies, when I could think of them. I also, like Donna, left off movies that I think are over-rated but where I can see why people like them, such as “Donnie Darko” or “A Christmas Story” or “Forrest Gump”. I found that a number of my picks were stand-ins for general categories of movies I think are over-rated.  You’ll see what I mean when we get there.

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Donna's #5: "The Green Mile" - At the time of writing, this film was #45 on the IMDB's Top 250 list, and I have never ever understood why this film was so loved. I know I am treading on somewhat sacred ground for putting this on my list, but hear me out. I read "The Green Mile" books when they came out - I think most every fan of King did given that these were his first releases after a long spell of silence. I adored the books and have always thought that the detail of them was their genius - it was possible to live in and fully understand the world Kind created in this tale. Most importantly, there was a "why" for everything. Nothing happened in these books for no reason - King always gave us a "why" for each and every moment. When I saw the film, I was angered beyond belief at it, as was my husband, so much so that we had to keep pausing the film to yell and complain about it. Why? Because all that precious detail, all the "whys" that made the book so believable, was missing from the film. Now, I realize that most book-to-film adaptations suffer from a loss of detail, but in this case I feel that loss is egregious. The "why" for nearly everything that happened in the film was omitted, and without that "why" the film made little to no sense. In the world of the film, there was simply no reason given for most of what took place, and that, for me, destroyed the integrity of the story. I would start a list of examples but honestly I would be here all day. The only reason I felt I could even follow the film was that I was filling in the missing details from my reading of the books. I believe that is why most people don't notice how many things have been stricken from the film - they remember the books too well. Without those books this film would have no context or rationale to it, and that is why I feel it is one of the most overrated films of all time. I could go on, but I won't - I've ranted enough as it is I think.

Mike’s #5: “Rope” – Regarded as a marginal classic, rated #242 on IMDB and praised effusively for inventive technique of using long unbroken takes, I find this film to be over-rated like a lot of Hitch’s early stuff. I haven’t seen it since college, when I reviewed it for the Carletonian. But I found the characters to be wooden, the suspense to be a bit trite and Stewart’s character to a bit of a snotty professor type.  It’s not a bad movie and I would recommend seeing it.  But IMDB gives it an 8.0 and many critics give it four stars.  I’d say it’s a 6 at best.  Stick to the meat of the Hitchcock cannon.

Donna's #4: "Hachi: A Dog's Tale" - At the time of writing, this film was #189 on the IMDB Top 250 list, and this entry on my list probably needs far less explanation than  my last. I mean... seriously? "Hachi"? Sure, it's a cute enough movie. It's sweet and sappy and sentimental and based on a true story, so I get that people enjoy it. But a Top 250 movie? Not a chance. It just isn't good enough in any way. The acting is stiff, the plot overly saccharine, the directing absolutely average. In fact, "average" is probably the best way to describe this film - there is simply nothing extraordinary about it. So why is this film so beloved? It's honestly beyond me. If you want to watch a tearjearker animal move, why not "Black Beauty", "Old Yeller" or "Lassie Comes Home" - they are all superior films and will certainly make you cry. I simply have never understood why this film seems to hit people as hard as it does, and I certainly cannot understand how it wound up on the IMDB Top 250 list, so I am including it as my #4 pick.

Mike’s #4: “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” - This is another pick that isn’t a bad movie, per se. It’s been 20 years since I watched it and I probably should watch it again.  But it’s status as a classic (on the AFI and IMDB lists) is unmerited.  It drags in the later parts and I didn’t care for the characters. This is representative of a class of movies from the 60’s and 70’s that are badly over-rated.  Movies like “Bonnie and Clyde” and “Six Easy Pieces” and “The Graduate” are frequently over-rated because, in their day, they were revolutionary.  Now that the language of cinema has evolved, they’re still good, but not amazing. “Butch Cassidy” is not bad and IMDB gives it a sterling 8.1 rating. I just don’t think it’s that good. I’d give it a 6, maybe. You’d be much better off watching The Man With No Name trilogy, which is truly great.

Donna's #3: "Bringing Up Baby" - This film appears at #88 on the AFI's Top 100 of all time list, and I know I'm not alone in not understanding the appeal of this movie. This film has divided audiences from the start. Some think it a hilarious and side-splitting romp, while others find it contrived, unbelievable, silly and inane. I'm solidly in the latter camp - I disliked this film immensely. I didn't enjoy the comedy, I hated the acting, and I found the whole setup ridiculous and cringe-worthy. I do not understand what about this film is appealing or funny, I really don't. And it's because I, like so many others, just cannot understand the appeal, I have to put this on my list.

Mike’s #3: “Django Unchained” - #51 on IMDB and regarded by many as the best film of 2012, this is really a stand-in for over-rated Quentin Tarantino films in general. “Reservoir Dogs” is good; it’s not a classic. “Pulp Fiction” might be great. “Kill Bill” is a great 150 minute film squeezed into four hours. “Ingorious Basterds” is a great two hour film squeezed into 150 minutes.  And “Django Unchained” is a great two hour film squeezed into 165. It pains me to write this because Tarantino has a very real talent and an extraordinary feel for the language of film. His dialogue is fantastic, his characters memorable and the look of his films is amazing. In every film, there are at least a half dozen shots that make me say, “Wow, that’s great cinema.”  But he badly needs an editor. If his last three films were each about half an hour shorter, I would regard them as classics, rather than bloated. The line between classic and over-rated can often come down to editing.  (There are a lot of recent films you could throw into the pile of “awesome if half an hour shorter”, including both Hobbit movies and the Dark Knight Rises.)

Donna's #2: "Duck Soup" - This film appears at #60 on the AFI Top 100 list, and again I realize I may be ruffling feathers with this pick. But, honestly, I cannot stand this film, nor can I even begin to understand the appeal of it to anyone. When I started trying to watch more classic films I saw how highly this movie was regarded. I has a vague memory of not enjoying the Marx Brothers as a child, but gladly rented this to see what it was all about. I hated it so very much I could barely finish it. It was the single most inane and insufferable film I've ever seen, and that's saying a lot. I seriously do not understand how this film is funny for anyone, I really really don't. I grant I'm not a slapstick, screwball comedy fan, but I can appreciate pretty much anything in one way or another. Not this. Never this. I don't get it and likely never will. I grant that this film is landing at my #2 spot due to a sheer hatred of it more than a quality issue, but that's how strong my dislike for it is.

Mike’s #2: “Birth of a Nation” This was originally on the AFI list but was eventually removed in favor of Griffith’s “Intolerance” likely because the voters became uncomfortable with the racism apparent in the film. It seems odd to compare this to Butch Cassidy above but it’s in a similar boat.  The methods and techniques it invented were revolutionary; but they don’t stun the senses as much almost a century later. What we’re left with is a film that glories the antebellum south and the Klan. Defenders will tell you to put aside the racism and admire the technique.  But it’s difficult to put aside the racism, especially when the technique is no longer that revolutionary. If you want a silent classic, Griffith’s “Intolerance” and “Broken Blossoms” are much better. And “Wings” has all the beauty of a silent epic and the captivating Clara Bow.

Donna's #1: "Easy Rider" - This film appears at #84 on the AFI Top 100 list, and I have long felt this must be the most overrated film of all time. This film is loved and revered by so many and I have never understood why. What happens in this film? What plot actually exists here? If someone knows please tell me as I still have no idea. Fully half of this movie is long shots of Fonda and Hopper riding motorcycles, which simply bored me to tears. The acting was nonexistent, the directing ridiculous, the plot absent. Why is this a cinematic masterpiece? For what reasons? There is nothing here of value in my opinion, and I just don't see how it got included in the AFI list. Considering I generally like films with very little plot you'd think I'd love this, but it just annoys me to no end. Putting this film at the top of my list was a no-brainer to me.

Mike’s #1: “Easy Rider” - Honestly, Donna and I did not coordinate our answers on this!  But I agree with everything she says and then some.  One of the first negative reviews I wrote back in my college days was of Easy Rider.  And it has not improved with age.  It barely has a plot.  The symbolism, such as it is, is obvious (I could see Fonda was the Christ figure about 18 seconds in).  The fates of the characters is not foreshadowed at all but just occurs randomly (and I didn’t care anyway).  It glorifies dim-bulb hippie “culture”.  The LSD sequence set the stage for every incomprehensible drug montage to come.  The film is frequently praised as “revolutionary” and “ground-breaking” – like just about all the films in my list.  But the difference that elevates it to #1 is that the ground it broke was almost everything that went wrong with film for the next ten years.  I really can’t understand why this movie is so well-regarded other than people’s misguided fascination with the lifestyle depicted. (Interestingly, IMDB does not regard this as a classic, giving it a 7.4 rating — good but not great.  I would say even that was over-rating. I’d give it a 4 or a 5.)  The soundtrack is OK, I guess.  But I mostly watched this movie with a look on my face saying, “Really?”

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Thanks for joining us again for another edition of "Five Favorites" and we'll see you all next month!