Valentines A-Z #2: Modern

The second list is modern romantic dramas (modern meaning movies released after 1970). I'm sure I will be getting more guff for this list. It's only going to get weirder and more obscure from here. Again, no repeats from the A.V. list.

About a Boy

Before Series (Sunrise, Sunset, Midnight)

Carol

Dirty Dancing

English Patient

500 Days of Summer

Groundhogs Day

Her

Jane Eyre (2011)

Klute

Last Of the Mohicans 

Manhattan

Notebook

Officer and a Gentleman

Princess Bride

Royal Affair

Sense and Sensibility

True Romance

Up in the Air

Vicky, Christina, Barcelona

Valentines List One: the Classics

The A.V. Club recently put out a list of best romantic comedies A to Z, and I have decided to make one of my own. I couldn't choose just one film per letter, so I ended up with four lists. I wanted to do romantic dramas instead, only listing films I've seen, no animation, and no repeats from the A.V. list.
The four lists are Classics, Modern, Foreign, and Misc.
Here are the Classics (films before 1970). Should you want me to expand on, or explain any of these picks, send me a message at op70no1@gmail.com.

An Affair to Remember
Brief Encounter
Charade
La Dolce Vita
Earrings of Madame de...
Faces
Gone With the Wind
His Girl Friday
It's a Wonderful Life
Jules and Jim
Life and Death of Colonel Blimp
My Man Godfrey
Notorious
On the Waterfront
Philadelphia Story
Red Shoes
Splendor in the Grass
That Hamilton Woman
Under the Roofs of Paris
Vertigo
Written on the Wind

Change in direction.

Blogs are, or can be hard. They are for me. I was always amused and surprised when people assumed I was or had talent in being a writer. Now, while my love of all things cinema hasn't waned, my wanting to write about it has. I love talking about movies and turning people on to new films, and I think I found a better way to do that.

As someone who has avidly used Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon for movie and t.v. watching, I was always annoyed by what they recommended for me to watch based on what I've seen. It was maybe 20% accurate, and most of that 20% consisted of films I had already seen.

What I'm proposing is to provide an accurate and personalized list of movies for people based on their interests and favorites filtered through however they watch movies (Netflix etc). I'd also love for this to be a sounding board for discussions on movies.

Here's how this'll start: send me 5-10 films (through facebook, email, or this blog) of any genre or era that you love, and I will give you recommendations based on that. My hope here is to maybe introduce you to something new and expand your world through cinema. Once I get a feel for your taste and interest, I can continue to send you weekly or monthly suggestions.

Will I still blog on the occasional film? Maybe. Until then, list away.

k.

Criterion Top "10"

            I am an avid buyer, watcher, follower, and supporter of the Criterion Collection. What is the Criterion Collection? In short it is a continuing series (now 786 titles) of important classic and contemporary films. Click here for more info. There is an ongoing slew of famous people that stop by the offices to look at the collection and give their top 10 or so favorite Criterion films. The Criterion website is also a great place to just explore the world of cinema.
            I have often wondered how anyone can choose only 10. So using some parameters and upping it to 25, I have finally come up with a list. The parameters: I can only pick the titles I've seen the Criterion version of, so seeing any Wes Anderson film just in the theatre doesn't count. Here is my List in no particular order.
1. Long Good Friday
2. Diabolique
3. Red Shoes
4. Passion of Joan of Ark
5. Brief Encounter
6. L'avventura
7. Throne of Blood
8. Faces
9. Fat Girl
10. Jules and Jim
11. Au hasard Balthazar
12. Battle of Algiers
13. Le Samourai
14. Elevator to the Gallows
15. My Night at Maud's
16. Earrings of Madame de...
17. Repulsion
18. Jeanne Dielman, 23, quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles
19. Last Days of Disco
20. Z
21. Paris, Texas
22. Summer Hours
23. Fish Tank
24. Blue
25. Persona

I will probably want to change half of these when I look at this tomorrow. Now please feel free to leave your comments or questions, and let the listing begin!
Thanks for reading,
k.

T.V. Series: Crime Shows

After a three year hiatus, I've decided to give this blog another go. Having discussed what to blog about specifically with many people, it has come down to two things: television and movies that went under the radar that shouldn't be missed. So, since I just completed a marathon run of Homeland season 3 (thanks to Junior), I'm going to go with television.
Let's talk about crime/police/detective shows. I will do my best not to disclose any cliffhangers and ask anyone who leaves comments to do the same. There are a lot that I really like, but I'm going to narrow it down to eight that have aired within the last ten years.

1) Endeavour. Two Birds with one stone. A great detective story and a period piece. This series (third season to come out 2016) is a prequel to the popular BBC series Inspector Morse.
2) Fall. Only one season so far. Gillian Anderson is back on the small screen (as the best ice queen since Patty Hewes) as a detective brought in to help catch a serial killer.
3) Foyle's War. Considered too old to fight in WWII, Foyle has to stay behind and catch the criminals still in England. Seasons 1-7 take place during the war, and season 8 right after. Season 9 (TBA) will delve into the Cold War and I can't wait!!!!
4) Killing. This one stuck with me and probably will for quite a while. The first two seasons are based off a Danish show, and deal with one case: Who killed Rosie Larsen? Seasons 3 and 4 are separate cases with the same detectives. Brutally awesome.
5) Sherlock. Like nos. 1 and 3, this is a Masterpiece Mystery Series. I cannot think of better way to redo these stories, and they way they've brought it into the 21st century is nothing short of genius.
6) Spiral. It's similar to the Wire, but French and way more graphic. By graphic I mean nudity and instead of showing the violent act, they show the results of the violence.  Each season follows one case from all sides. The cast in this is absolutely fantastic.  Four seasons so far.
7) Top of the Lake. This is the result of an amazing film director getting into television. It's only one season that is completely submerged in absolute beauty midst the darkest secrets in a small town.
8) Wire.. This is everything that television has the potential to be. With stories brought to life by excellent writing and unflinching acting, this show has given us a social commentary that cannot be ignored and perhaps the greatest characters of all time. You can ignore and dismiss everything else, but you cannot do so to the Wire.

If you have seen all of these and want more recommendations, I have 10 more I can throw at you. I haven't decided whether or not to do a rating system. Any relevant thoughts or comments are welcome. Thanks for reading.

k.

So it begins,

  I'm excited to announce that Oscar season has begun. This means more films that either mean something, or at least are of a higher quality. More of Phillip Seymore Hoffman, A-list directors, independant gems, and Daniel Day Lewis' moustache. 
  So far there have been two films (both currently out in theatres) that I fully endorse. The first being Drive  Ryan Gosling plays a man of few words that is a mechanic and stunt driver by day, and assissts in robberies at night. It's stylish, slow, and I heard someone call it pretentious, and it is. That aside, I loved this film and everyone in it. It looked great and sounded even better with moments of sweet innocence lapsed with extreme violence. If you liked this film, I highly recommend Nicolas Winding Refn's other two films i've seen: Bronson (which has the greatest soundtrack ever), and Valhalla Rising (the most violent film i've seen).
   The second film is on the complete other side of the spectrum. Ides Of March is a political thriller for the political junkie. This is a moral tale set in a race for the Democratic primary. Directed by and starring George Clooney who loosely adapted it from the play called Farragut North by Beau Willimon. The cast is nothing short of Oscar fodder: Phillip Seymore Hoffman, Marisa Tomei, Evan Rachel Wood, Paul Giamatti, Jeffrey Wright, and the star of the show Ryan Gosling. Ryan, Phillip, and Evan play aides to Georges' canidate for President. If you like politics, or even half this cast, it's a must see.

Goodbye

    I've lived in a variety of places in the U.S.. Some longer than others, but the length of knowing people didn't make saying good-bye any easier.  I've lived in Minneapolis just shy of 6 years and I believe that this was the hardest farewell to date. I first experienced that pang in your heart of seeing somebody you care about go away at a very young age. First with my sisters, then my brothers, then moving to a new school. By then I had become a restless soul doomed to wander the earth. This wandering brought me to Minneapolis, and for the first time since childhood I felt settled.
   I think that's why this move, and the decision to return home, was so bittersweet. So in tribute to all that, here are some of my favorite scenes of departure.
1.  Lost In Translation. The end of random friendship.
2. Almost Famous. One of the greatest gifts we can give each other.
3. The Wizard Of Oz. Saying goodbye to go home.
4. E.T.:The Extra Terrestrial.   Go. Stay. Ouch.
5. For all my fellow Target creatures...Watch.
It's been a pleasure. Stay classy Minneapolis.