Why I Love Film - #2 (nsfw)

Another slow news day - which means I get to sit back for a moment and remember why it is I do this in the first place, what it is that drives this passion of mine, and how exactly all this came to be.

Doug protects his family, at all costs.

I've always been a fan of justice in film. Fathers going on war paths to protect their families, men standing up to do the right thing, people truly getting what it is they deserve - and, in 2006, I fell in love with the idea all over again. Alexandre Aja's too underseen, and sorely underrated, The Hills Have Eyes remake touched me on a deep personal level.

More, and some spoilers, after the cut --

Catwoman and Saddam - A Match Made in Casting Heaven

Every now and then, a casting director and their team wind up making brilliant decisions that wind up leaving us with devastating and altering performances. From Al Pacino in The Godfather, to Natalie Portman in Black Swan, we've been given the gift of transcendence several times. And, next year, in 2012, we're most likely going to get it again.

More after the cut --

In Theaters This Weekend

Reason #412 why I hate Ashton Kutcher

Two wide releases (The Company Men and No Strings Attached), and a "wider" release of Peter Weir's The Way Back hit cinemas this weekend. Which are you going to see? 

A closer look at all three after the cut --

Blue Valentine

Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams make beautiful noise.

2010 has been a magnificent year for film. We've received films from some of cinemas most important directors, new directors have laid claim to their spots as current heavyweights, and we've been given performances that will stand the test of time.

More after the cut --

Takers, Buried, and Others on DVD Today

The screenplay credit for this movie always makes me laugh.
I refuse to believe this movie has a screenplay.

Takers represents the greatest irony in cinema last year - it's a heist film, right? Bank robbers, cops, but it's a heist film for the BET generation. But, the film is presented as acceptable, even notable, escapism. In that, we have our irony: the film's greatest heist has nothing to do with the story. It has to do with the near $60 million gross for the film. We, as a country, were taken.

More after the cut --

The 68th Annual Golden Globe Awards

He honestly doesn't give a damn.

After the disappointing failure of a live feed of the awards show on this blog, I gave up the stress and had a chance to truly enjoy the show as it was meant to be seen. On good ol' fashioned television. Ricky Gervais hosted the party and most of the expected winners won. All in all, it was a normal night, but thanks to Gervais' extraordinarily nonchalant sense of humor, it was definitely a night to remember.

More, plus a list of winners after the cut --

Season of the Witch - Part I.

Nicolas Cage, realizing which movie he's in.

There's a lot to be said about Season of the Witch. Whether or not any of it is good... you'll have to decide that for yourself. After nearly 90 minutes of American actors doing impressions of British actors doing American accents (think... Kevin Costner in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves), my decision was pretty much made for me as to what I could say. 

More after the cut --