I just watched My Sister's Keeper. Every woman I know claims that this movie, and the book it was based on, are masterpieces. LOL women I guess. The movie was boring, predictable and an overall pile of turds.

2/10

Malle's Elevator to the Gallows is an assured early work (for some reason, IMDB lists it as Frantic). It also features a great improvised score by Miles Davis. I also like Atlantic City quite a bit, mostly for Burt Lancaster.

Showed Hitchcock's Vertigo to my film class last night, and much to my surprise, they loved it.

I was unimpressed by My Sisters Keeper, and by the Boy in the Striped Pajamas as well. Neither evoked the feelings from me I thought they were going for.

Saw Scott Pilgrim vs The World last night ... for what it was, it was almost a perfect movie ... I had no idea what to expect before seeing it, and I'm definitely not a comic book guy ( I thought Kick Ass and The Watchmen were awful )

With a 1/2 hour to go in the movie I actually thought to myself "Wow, they're going to pull it off, they're not going to F it up" ... and then, not to say they F'ed it up, but the fighting scenes just went on too long

9/10 for sure ... and this movie rekindled my crush on Anna Kendrick ... plus will obviously be seeking out more movies with Ramona in it

The American

Liked it a hell of a lot, which was a pleasant surprise. It is very old fashioned and very graceful.

I've seen some idiotic reviews that suggest the slowness and silences are meant to denote "depth", leaving the reviewer open to attack the movie on the basis of pretension. Which is such a Philistine's take on it that it makes my balls hurt. The movie is about surfaces. It's very 60/70's in that regard. It reminded me of a slow-motion Day of the Jackel. Or perhaps even Ronin with 99% of the action taken out. The American has a similar flatness of story (not a criticism) that unfolds quietly and simply, with the viewer left to fill in whatever gaps they like behind the wonderful, understated performances of Clooney and his excellent supporting cast. It also looks absolutely beautiful - I'm not sure there is a bad shot in the movie.

And oh my good God, Violante Placido. If you don't know who this is - which I didn't before watching this - she is worth watching the movie for on her own. A quite spectacular beauty who spends so much time with her clothes off in the movie that it is almost becomes a religious experience at times. I almost fancy her as much as I fancy Clooney, for whom I have a boundless man crush.

Watched a few random movies

Over the Edge - Teens rebel, Matt Dillon wears a small shirt. 7/10

How to Draw a Bunny - This Ray Johnson fella was pretty weird. 7/10

Wrong Turn 2 - Can I unwatch this? 1/10

A Man for All Seasons - Captivating and brilliant, curious why I never hear about it when people talk about some of the best movies. 10/10

nice review...I liked this a lot, too.

don't forget Susan Sarandon in a wife-beater squeezing lemons

That would not be possible.

bah i saw A Man for All Seasons not too long ago and didnt see what all the fuss is about. pretty decent movie, but the main guy was just too stubborn. could have use more orson welles and much less running time. 2 hours was too much.

i think that was the point

Atlantic City is a gem.

Vertigo is sitting on my coffee table right now. I have never actually seen it, so I am pretty excited.

WTF? I expect this from me. But from you? Shocking.

Just watched Chinatown. Great movie. I especially enjoyed Doyle Brunson's performance as Noah Cross.

we had to read man for all seasons in my senior year hs religion class (catholic).

the priest/teacher LOVED man for all seasons and basically referred to it in every lesson after

lol. definitely one of my favorite movies of all time

chinatown also has a sweet ending, as far as noirs go

Robert Towne (Chinatown screenwriter) famously hated the ending. That was all Polanski. In the original version of the script, Noah Cross is apprehended and punished -- Justice Served!

Forget it, Jake. It's Chinatown....

She utters one of my favorite lines ever to Burt Lancaster: "Teach me stuff."

Lancaster is so good in Atlantic City.

I'm shocked by this, too, Rushmore. Some people don't care for it, but I think it's just about perfect. It's such a strange movie--and that it would appear in 1958 is even stranger. If you haven't seen it, you need to watch La Jetee after Vertigo.

Don't know if anyone has seen it yet, but the new version of Metropolis is playing this weekend near me. It includes twenty-five minutes of additional footage previously undiscovered until recently.

No offense to Mr. Lang, but I dunno if I can handle 25 more minutes of Metropolis. Maybe if I start tokin again.

Added Atlantic City to my queue