THE ARTIST (2011)

Catching up on some recent 1001 listings
(Film 12 of 12)

I think it's safe to assume that I will not nearly be finished going through all of the 1001+ film listings by the time the next edition comes out. I also think it's safe to assume The Artist will be in the next edtion so its pretty safe to list it here.

I thought it was remarkable that a black and white silent film could not only get made in this jaded day and age, but also gather enough critical momentum to win the 2011 Best Picture.

I agree with the critic that said that the film received so many accolades, that there seemed to be a bit of a backlash against it. Some began calling it pretentious or gimmicky. That's too bad, really. Removing all the awards and accolades it received and judging it by its own merits, it's creative, enjoyable and you gotta love that dog! It will be a welcome addition to the next edition of the book.

(If for some reason the editiors of 1001 Films You Must See Before You Die decide not to include The Artist, you need to give my a call.)

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THE WHITE RIBBON (2009, GERMANY)

Catching up on some recent 1001 listings
(Film 11 of 12)

What can one say about a dark, black and white German drama that raises many questions, but answers few and is very well done but is also at times very frustrating?

How about: The White Ribbon is a dark, black and white German drama that raises many questions, but answers few and is very well done but is also at times very frustrating.

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IN THE LOOP (2009), OF GODS AND MEN (2010, FRANCE)

Catching up on some recent 1001 listings
(Films 9 & 10 of 12)

In the Loop (2009) & Of Gods and Men (2010)-It’s interesting when you go down the 1001 Movie list how you really have to shift gears as you jump from film to film. I didn’t know a lot about either of these films before viewing and they almost couldn’t have been more different from one another in tone and pacing. In the Loop is an extremely fast paced story of the British and American government officials preparing for a war. But it’s a comedy! And a pretty funny one, too. West Wing on steroids with more than a hint of Monty Python thrown in. I watched it twice just to try to catch some of the dialogue that I missed.

I then watched Of Gods and Men, a story about a group of Christian monks in Algeria and their attempts to cope with the realities and dangers of life outside their monastery. Compared to In The Loop, this film seems so slow! That’s not necessarily a bad thing, you can’t rush the scenes with monks praying, after all. Of Gods and Men just paints it canvas with a more subtle brush. A much subtler brush. One thing both of these films do have in common is that they seem stronger with repeated viewings. At least a second viewing, anyway. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to get emotionally prepared for my 1001 movies double feature viewing of Pink Flamingos
and The Sound of Music.

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THERE WILL BE BLOOD (2007)

Catching up on some recent 1001 listings
(Film 8 of 12)
There Will Be Blood

"I drink your milkshake!”

The story of an obsessed and totally unlikable oil man in the early part of the 20th century would have been my choice over No Country for Old Men as the Best Picture of 2007.

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BABEL (2006)

Catching up on some recent 1001 listings
(Film 7 of 12)

Babel-One of those multi-layered/intersecting story movies, which I must admit that I usually like. And I like this film too, though not as much Magnolia or Short Cuts.

In Babel, we have an American couple in distress in Morocco, their children’s nanny in distress in Mexico, a deaf Japanese teenager going through growing pains in Japan and a poor family in crisis in Morocco. Oh, what’s life without a little conflict?

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FISH TANK (2009)

Catching up on some recent 1001 listings
(Film 6 of 12)

Fish Tank-I found the second half of this movie more satisfying than the first half as it took me quite awhile to warm up to the rather unpleasant characters in this film, but I eventually got there.

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MONSTERS (2010)

Catching up on some recent 1001 listings
(Film 5 of 12)

Monsters-Story of a photojournalist who is in charge of transporting his bosses daughter through an infected zone inhabited by alien squid-like monsters may not be for those who prefer more exotic creatures over characterization and plot, (like my wife)-but in my opinion, the plot carries this one (In other words, my wife is wrong).

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BORAT (2006)

Catching up on some recent 1001 listings
(Film 4 of 12)

Borat-Yes, it’s often funny, but after awhile I started feeling sorry for the people that Borat was ridiculing (With the exception of Pamela Anderson, of course.)

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THE HURT LOCKER (2008)

Catching up on some recent 1001 listings
(Film 3 of 12)

The Hurt Locker-2008 Best Picture winner about a team of American soldiers that disable bombs in Iraq. It took me awhile to get into it, but the film gains steam the more it looks into the head of the teams adreneline junkie leader.

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AN EDUCATION (2009)

Catching up on some recent 1001 listings
(Film 2 of 12)

An Education-BBC film about a young girl who becomes smitten with a worldly older man. It’s better than the description I just gave it with especially good scenes with the girl (Cary Mulligan) and her dad (Alfred Molina). My favorite part of the whole movie was the clever opening credits. I'm stil not quite sure this would make my book, but it is worth a viewing.

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FOUR LIONS (2010)

Catching up on some recent 1001 listings
(Film 1 of 12)

Four Lions-I couldn’t figure out what movie this reminded me while I was watching and then it dawned on me that it was This Is Spinal Tap! only featuring terrorists instead of musicians, though I doubt I'm the first to make this observation. Favorite scene: Barry's plan to bomb the mosque. Quite clever and even funnier on a second viewing.

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