THE HACK: cheap views on pop culture

My Valentine's Day Tradition

Before Sunrise and Before Sunset

I have traditions whenever "holidays" or Hallmark card days come around, and they all involve movies. For Christmas, I watch Love Actually. On Halloween, I watch...John Carpenter's Halloween. On Groundhog Day, it's Groundhog Day. On July 4th, it's Independence Day (actually, I have watched this in the last few years).

On my birthday, I watch two new movies. I've done this for ten years. This year is the anniversary of that first time.

And so, on V-Day, I watch Richard Linklater's Before Sunrise and Before Sunset.

Years before the second film, I saw the first one on cable (more than likely HBO, but I cannot for the life of me remember), and I immediately loved it. This love, I came to discover, was two-fold: I love dialogue-filled movies, and I'm a sucker for romantic flicks. Hell, I'll even put up with the avergae Hollywood-modern-romantic-comedy.

Thankfully, these movies are actually great. I love them, from beginning to end. From the opening shots of Vienna to Celine doing her Nina Simone impression, I love these films so damn much.

The first film is made up of many conversations between the two. It's romantic as hell, and it ends in a cliffhanger made so that cynics and optimists get something out of the movie. I loved it. Even as a tween (long before the word existed), I loved the film. And, I did believe they met six months later.

Within the second film's ten minutes, we learn that SPOILER ALERT they did not meet up. And, here we are, nine years later, and they are meeting for the first time since then.

Before Sunset is made up of one conversation. Jesse has a flight to catch, so the two talk for about seventy minutes. It feels like what it is: a mature sequel to a young, romantic story about young, romantic people. As we grow old, and we live, we change. And, yet, we don't. That's what the movie gets right. Clearly, these two have grown as individuals, but together once again, they fall right into the rhythm of talking. And, talking is what makes them what they are.

Jesse and Celine love one another. We know this because they talk. More than that, we know this because how they talk, and how no matter what (he really needs to catch that flight), they will keep talking. They want to be around each other.

And, that's beautiful to me. And, that's why I watch these movies every February 14th.

Just In Time

Top Ten Films of 2011

This is by no means a complete list. This is simply the best new films I saw in 2011. There are plenty I have yet to see. This explains why you may think this list is horrible. Well, that and my lack of taste.

10. Rise of the Planet of the Apes

Who would've thought that this movie was going to be worth a damn? Well, it was. From Andy Serkis's Oscar-caliber performance as the film's lead Caesar to that "No!" this flick had so much. Hell, who would've thought anyone would be saying "Why cookie rocket?" in the summer of 2011.

9. Bridesmaids

Easily the funniest movie of the year. I was rooting for Melissa McCarthey to get an Oscar nod immediately after walking out of the theater as the credits rolled. Looks like her chances are really high. Oh, and Kristen Wiig. God, I love her.

8. Red State

And, the award for the movie most taken to the shit house be critics? Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked? Nope. Sorry. This title belongs to Kevin Smith's audacious Red State. Shit, I still can't believe Michael Parks is not going to get some love during awards season. Guess awards really don't mean much. Unless, of course, I win. Still, I loved the hell out of this film.

7. We Bought a Zoo

I went to see this movie for New Year's and it was a packed house. Leaving the theater, there was a line of about twenty people ready for the next showing. I'm hoping word-of-mouth helps Cameron Crowe's latest out. Because I'm hopelessly in love with this film. The final scene is one of my favorites from this year.

6. Super 8

I don't give a shit what people said. I felt the human story and the alien story both worked. And, they worked hand-in-hand. J.J. Abrams pulled it off. And, I still get misty-eyed when Joe lets go of the locket.

5. Contagion

Yes, yes - lots of stars in this one. But, the thing is, they act the shit out of this flick. The prom night ending is another favorite scene of my mine from this year. I also loved the scene where Kate Winslet calls her boss to apologize for not finishing. Her tears, man. It got me. Oh, and Jude Law is a son-of-a-bitch in this one. Sign of a good actor. He gets me to like him. And, gets me to hate him. Bravo.

4. Drive

A lot of people have this movie on their best of lists. Some have it on their worst. To each her own. I dug this flick, from the opening "action" scene to the Driver driving off into the sunset. And, let me just say, there's not much that can beat Carey Mulligan walking in slow motion.

3. 50/50

Anna Kendrick. Try watching this movie and see if you can resist falling for her character. Joseph Gordon-Levitt is really good in this, too. Jonathan Levine delivered on the promise made with The Wackness. He's got a good eye and a good ear. This movie's got some great music. I loved this movie.

2. The Tree of Life

And, the award for most ambitious live-action poster for a motion picture goes to. . . Terrence Malick's transcendent film. I get the love for this film. I also completely get the hate. It reminds me of the final episode of Lost. Some got it - and I mean really got it - and others didn't. Some that got it, loved it. Others that got it, didn't.

Wait. Hold up. Isn't that every movie that gets released? Contrary to what anyone has ever said, no one likes, loves, hates, or feels the same about anything and everything. It all truly is in the eye of the beholder. I mean, for the love of God, there are people in this world who truly believe that Jessica Alba is not hot. But, they are entitled to their beliefs and opnions. This list is mine. I loved The Tree of Life, though not as much as Darren Aronofsky's The Fountain.

Finally. . .

1. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2

The second film almost made it into my top ten in 2002. The third film did. As did the fifth and seventh. This one, though - holy shit. What an ending. Though I still prefer the novel, director David Yates, screenwriter Steve Kloves, and everyone involved in this picture pulled it off. Check Rotten Tomatoes. Read the reviews. People loved this movie. It's damn good. And, it's pretty damn moving. From the moment Harry steps into Snape's memories to him dropping the resurrection stone, those twenty minutes are simply great cinematic storytelling.

Together as one movie, I personally feel that Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is the best film of the decade...so far. Obviously. Still, this film is the one that everything I see for the next eight years must measure up to. For some, that may mean the bar is not very high. For me, it's damn near impossible to even see over it. And yet, come Oscar nominations-morning, I doubt we'll see much love for it. And, that may be the biggest shame to come out of this film.

And, that's that.

The Music Diary Project: Day 2

What are the odds that the week the Music Diary Project falls on would be the week where I find precious little time to listen to music. Ah well.

 

Today, I gifted myself the soundtrack to Peter Jackson's adaptation of The Lovely Bones. It's quite something. I'm still listening it to it right now. Briano Eno has some sort of portal into my brain. His tracks "1/1 (Edit)" and "2M1" are majestic. "5M4" brings me right back into the film. A lot of people didn't really dig the flick, but it was my favorite of 2009. In fact, I might pop in the Blu-ray tonight.

"Alice" from Cocteau Twins are always a nice one. Glad it's on the soundtrack.

On the way to work, I found myself checking out the Grateful Dead's pop-hit "Touch of Grey." Always loved the video. Something about a skeleton band - it gets me.

And, God help me, I found myself signing along to Duran Duran's "Ordinary World." It's been used in film before - infamously in Layer Cake. But, I think it could work during a dance scene; something like prom or, hell, a wedding.

Tron:Legacy came out on Blu-ray today and I re-watched it. I still love it. That film is wall-to-wall music, with apparently 100 minutes worth of the stuff within the 125 minute runtime. That's a lot of Daft Punk.

Also, I listened to episode 143 of SModcast, Kevin Smith and Scott Mosier's hilarious podcast. Download it here, but honestly, the episode wasn't the best. Still, after so many, I'm surprised to find myself still interested. I'm also very behind. They're currently on episode 163.