Thank God for Walkmans
This time of year is great for many reasons, but I especially love it because there are so many good movies… and since it’s awards season there are great copies of them available on the internet. I do pay for movies, don’t think I’m biting the hand that feeds, but I feel the need to see just about every movie that will be up for an oscar, and lord knows I’m not paying $9 for each of them.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is a must see, it’s like Forest Gump 2.0 but really enjoyable and unique. Some of the visual effects were done at a studio that employs some friends, so that doesn’t hurt either. It’s the sort of movie that you could take your parents to, they’ll enjoy it just as much as you.
Valkyrie was alright, for a Hollywood movie it’s pretty accurate and Tom Cruise does a good job. Who ever casted Eddie Izzard as a Nazi is out of their mind though, I spent half the movie just wondering how the hell anyone could have thought he was a good fit. If you didn’t pay attention to any history class ever you’ll be held in suspense… OMG you mean Tom Cruise and an Executive Transvestite killed Hitler?!? But then again if you’re really leaning over to the person next to you to ask if they really did kill Hitler there are a few other movies in theaters that would entertain you.
Revolutionary Road was fantastic, it might just be my favorite movie of the year, although The Visitor is a tough movie to beat. DiCaprio is good but Kate Winslet definitely deserves an oscar for her performance. It’s directed by Sam Mendes, so you know it’s good, he’s the director of Road to Perdition and American Beauty among others.
Frost/Nixon was good, I can’t say that everyone will like it, you do have to be into history. The performances are good, and the Nixon impression looked dead on to me. Although I am twenty four years old and only remember the man’s funeral, so I’m probably not one to ask about that. The actual interviews were released on DVD a few months ago, I’ll have to buy (download) those too.
Gran Torino was a dissapointment. Eastwood is great, but the authentic (inexperienced) actors really brought it down. The plot is only ok, but Eastwood comes though with a great performance as a terrible racist and all around jerk… so it has that going for it. Eastwood’s character does drink a lot of PBR though, and there is some genuinely funny scenes between him and the young male supporting character.
The Wrestler was alright, the performances are the best part. It looks like balls, I don’t understand why directors settle for the look of video. You can shoot on video (which really isn’t much cheaper, that’s a myth) and still have a cinematic feel, there is no reason to just abandon all depth.
Defiance was just a normal movie, I’m not sure why I even downloaded it. Don’t waste your money… netflix it if you’re bored but it’s not really worth the price of admission at most theatres. Not Edward Zwick’s best work.
Slumdog Millionaire I’ve talked about, it was a good time.
The Visitor I’ve also talked about, it’s still my favorite of the year.
Doubt is the last movie I have yet to see that is getting Oscar buzz, there are no screeners so I’ve been trying to get to a theatre to see it, hopefully that’l happen this weekend. From what I’ve read the performances carry it, I’m not expecting to be blown away by the plot.
Go see some movies in the next few weeks, it’s not that expensive and there are some really great films out there.
All in all 2008 was a good year for me. I read an interesting article last week about how for just about anyone under the age of 70, this last year was probably the worst they had ever seen. The writer argued that all of the economic problems of the last twelve months added up to the worst year since 1938. Coupled with social unrest and the amount of violence in the world I might have to agree. I have no idea how most people can even begin to quantify that, but it does bring up and interesting point. I know so many people who are looking for work, those who had far less then the average American are now in an even worse situation and the world isn’t as peaceful as it’s been even in my short lifetime. I am however optimistic about the future, the economy will come back in time, new and more efficient ways can be implemented to help the world’s hungry and ending America’s own conflicts can only help to end others. There was a lot to be thankful for in 2008. I learned a lot at school, and am now in someways comfortable calling myself an artist. I can now support myself with my chosen profession. I no longer fear living alone or being without friends. I found something in a friendship that I never had seen before… I learned a lot about myself and how to deal with heartbreak. I learned that I miss my family more then I thought. I was able to begin to deepen my faith for the first time in a while. I’ve become a stronger, better person in the last year, I’m proud of that.
One of my roommates admitted yesterday that he has no idea what is going on with Isreal and the Palestinians. I shamed him but he didn’t care, I really don’t understand that mentality. We live in a democracy, that means that as a citizen you have to educate yourself to be able to participate in our own government. What’s happening now is the result of a terrible situation but I would really like to see our country take a firm stance against the sort of violence that is taking place. Raining down rockets indiscriminately is wrong, but so is destroying an entire neighborhood to kill one adversary. I’m not linking articles because you should know what I’m talking about. Honestly, if you don’t at least know there has been a rise in violence in the last couple of weeks you really need to shift your priorities, it only takes a few minutes to swing by cnn.com once and a while.
David Hildreth
