Rio Bravo (Howard Hawks, 1959)
Ranks really high in some of the notorious lists on the internet (they shoot pictures). I can see why but at the same time some elements here are not that good, some are even bad. The love interest of John Wayne isn't a brilliant actress and there is hardly any chemistry between them. The plot is as thick as an episode of the A-team but boy is it fun. Not a masterpiece but way too entertaining and funny too miss. 7.5/10
Mallrats (Kevin Smith, 1995)
Saw this film years ago, so its always a good indication of how my taste may have changed. To be honest, it didn't change much for as far as this movie goes. Funnier than most films, but definitely not the best or funniest film from Kevin Smith, who I still consider to be one of the funniest guys in Hollywood. 6.5/10
Fail-Safe (Sidney Lumet, 1964)
"These are Marxist fanatics, not normal people. They do not reason the way you reason, General Black. They're not motivated by human emotions such as rage and pity. They are calculating machines. They will look at the balance sheet, and they will see they cannot win." 7.5/10
This Must Be the Place (Paolo Sorrentino, 2011)
Sean Penn as a retired lethargic rockstar (inspired by Robert Smith and Ozzy Osbourne, I believe) who wants to track down the nazi who humiliated his father in WW II. Sorrentino manages to incorporate some of his trademarks making this a very poetic and humanistically interesting film. Sean Penn is great and I am surprised this film didn't get more attention because it deserves it. 8/10
Zabriskie Point (Michelangelo Antonioni, 1970)
One of Antonioni's American films. This one clearly against the consumer society. I like Antonioni. I like his cinematography but this film is not his best in this respect. Has a couple of great scenes (the love-making in the desert, the explosions) but not my favorite by the director. 7/10
The Counselor (Ridley Scott, 2013)
Scott reaches a low in his respectable oeuvre with this film. Despite an impressive cast, the script is crappy and Scott never manages to elevate this. Forgettable, tedious dialogue and lacks focus. 4/10
Time Bandits (Terry Gilliam, 1981)
Welcome to the ever wonderful and original world of Terry Gilliam. Through the eyes of a child we travel through history with a team of dwarfs called 'Time Bandits'. I would have loved this film as a child, as an adult it's still amusing. 7/10
Predator (John McTiernan, 1987)
One of the action classics that slipped my mind when I was consuming a lot from the genre. I can see why this is considered a classic. Schwarzenegger shows his 'Commando' skills in the first half hour. When the Predator comes into play the film actually feels quite serious. This works for a bit but the ending lacks suspense. Proves that not showing the danger works much better than showing it, especially when it looks a bit ridiculous. 6.5/10
Sombre (Phillipe Grandrieux, 1998)
Ok, I believe Grandrieux is talented. Inspired by film makers like Lynch he manages to enter the darkest corners of humanity and portray them in very original manner. The beginning feels promising, the middle does and then....nothing. Keeps repeating itself instead of going in depth of the why and motivations of the twisted protagonist. Boring. 3.5/10
Ranks really high in some of the notorious lists on the internet (they shoot pictures). I can see why but at the same time some elements here are not that good, some are even bad. The love interest of John Wayne isn't a brilliant actress and there is hardly any chemistry between them. The plot is as thick as an episode of the A-team but boy is it fun. Not a masterpiece but way too entertaining and funny too miss. 7.5/10
Mallrats (Kevin Smith, 1995)
Saw this film years ago, so its always a good indication of how my taste may have changed. To be honest, it didn't change much for as far as this movie goes. Funnier than most films, but definitely not the best or funniest film from Kevin Smith, who I still consider to be one of the funniest guys in Hollywood. 6.5/10
Fail-Safe (Sidney Lumet, 1964)
"These are Marxist fanatics, not normal people. They do not reason the way you reason, General Black. They're not motivated by human emotions such as rage and pity. They are calculating machines. They will look at the balance sheet, and they will see they cannot win." 7.5/10
This Must Be the Place (Paolo Sorrentino, 2011)
Sean Penn as a retired lethargic rockstar (inspired by Robert Smith and Ozzy Osbourne, I believe) who wants to track down the nazi who humiliated his father in WW II. Sorrentino manages to incorporate some of his trademarks making this a very poetic and humanistically interesting film. Sean Penn is great and I am surprised this film didn't get more attention because it deserves it. 8/10
Zabriskie Point (Michelangelo Antonioni, 1970)
One of Antonioni's American films. This one clearly against the consumer society. I like Antonioni. I like his cinematography but this film is not his best in this respect. Has a couple of great scenes (the love-making in the desert, the explosions) but not my favorite by the director. 7/10
The Counselor (Ridley Scott, 2013)
Scott reaches a low in his respectable oeuvre with this film. Despite an impressive cast, the script is crappy and Scott never manages to elevate this. Forgettable, tedious dialogue and lacks focus. 4/10
Time Bandits (Terry Gilliam, 1981)
Welcome to the ever wonderful and original world of Terry Gilliam. Through the eyes of a child we travel through history with a team of dwarfs called 'Time Bandits'. I would have loved this film as a child, as an adult it's still amusing. 7/10
Predator (John McTiernan, 1987)
One of the action classics that slipped my mind when I was consuming a lot from the genre. I can see why this is considered a classic. Schwarzenegger shows his 'Commando' skills in the first half hour. When the Predator comes into play the film actually feels quite serious. This works for a bit but the ending lacks suspense. Proves that not showing the danger works much better than showing it, especially when it looks a bit ridiculous. 6.5/10
Sombre (Phillipe Grandrieux, 1998)
Ok, I believe Grandrieux is talented. Inspired by film makers like Lynch he manages to enter the darkest corners of humanity and portray them in very original manner. The beginning feels promising, the middle does and then....nothing. Keeps repeating itself instead of going in depth of the why and motivations of the twisted protagonist. Boring. 3.5/10
