My Favorite Movies

What can I say, even after all the dust has settled and the backlash has turned on Tarantino and his 'mixmaster' approach to filmmaking, I still absolutely adore this film from start to finish. It exists in the perfect storm of seeing it theatrically with the right friends, in the midst of discovering the indie cinema of the late '80s and early '90s, and the various films that Tarantino's work has been a gateway drug toward discovering.

Highly recommended.

This was a film I absolutely hated upon the first viewing, and decided to give another chance a few years later.

It has since become one of my favorite films of all time. A perfect intro to Vince Vaughn's dry, dead-pan prick style of comedy, and Favreau is great as his put-upon best friend.

Gave this a random re-watch, and I have to say that it's still very much a fun comfort film for me. The convoluted thread of a jewel heist and the various parties involved, both directly and peripherally, it all makes me smile to no end, almost from beginning to end.

Ritchie's stylish direction and use of music is so much fun, I am so happy that he's bounced back from shit like Revolver and has the success of the Sherlock Holmes franchise to take him into the next phase of his career.

Highly recommended.

I absolutely adored this film, from Lillard's frenetic mannerisms to the strangely quirky characters of the punk rock scene that they inhabit, this was a funny, occasionally touching, sometimes vulgar picture of friends growing apart and maturing as well.

The film manages to strike a balance between the humorous beginnings and the rather sobering tone it takes in the latter half, deftly telling a story in out of order snippets that slowly build up your impressions of the characters.

Highly recommended.

Miike's freaky exercise in style and unease like that normally found in the works of David Lynch. A Yakuza is sent to a remote village to execute his partner, only to have the partner disappear and be replaced by a young woman claiming to be the gentleman in question. Nice shocker of an ending.

Gave this one a re-watch awhile back...

Would it be fucked up to call this a comfort movie? Because it's one I've seen dozens of times and will put on for background noise just because it's familiar and can be ignored.

By the same token though, I really enjoy everything about the film, from the story itself to the look and feel of the film and the overall message behind it.

Highly recommended.

Gave this a re-watch on cable for the hell of it, SUCH a great film, definitely one of my favorites, I've found that I can watch it at any time, regardless of when I happen to come in on it, I will sit and finish it out completely.

If ever there was a couple that was meant to be together, it is Mickey and Mallory. Would make for a great double bill with Sid And Nancy.

Highly recommended.

Gave this a re-watch for the Halloween season this year, hadn't seen it in several years.

Still holds up amazingly well, just a beautiful film, rather notable for the genre-bending mixture of style and action, I wish there were more films out there like this.

Highly recommended.

Gave this another look on Blu-ray, and it's every bit as good as I remembered, even if the ending still stands as a real head-scratcher that comes out of left field.

Barker's visions aren't quite a 100% in this film, but it's an admirable first feature and I was surprised by how little screen time the Cenobites actually have, especially considering their enduring popularity. There are some truly inspired visuals, particularly the scenes leading into the Cenobites appearance, the lights traveling up the walls, the mist drifting in, it's all very atmospheric.

Highly recommended.

Film holds up amazingly well on the re-watch and has become something I must watch if I catch even a frame of it on cable.

I haven't been this blown away with a film in quite some time. The performances are subtle, except when they're not, and then the screen fills with palpable tension that has you on the edge of your seat.

Stunning performances all the way around, and the cinematography just feels grimy, as if we're down in the dirt with the characters onscreen.

Tremendous film, Highly recommended.