2014 - Gone Girl
Director: David Fincher
Screenplay: Gillian Flynn
Stars: Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike, Carrie Coons
What we have here is a perfect storm. This fresh adaptation of the 2012 bestseller has so many movie elements that I love (David Fincher, suburban drama, complex women, the Ozarks) that it's hard to separate my schoolgirl giddiness from my ability to look at the film objectively. But once you do that, Gone Girl is still tremendous. A deliciously dark tale of love gone wrong, laced with sardonic humor and insights about relationships that will make you squirm. Nick Dunne's quietly failing marriage becomes the center of the universe when his wife, Amy, suddenly vanishes. Police suspect foul play. And once the public gets a look at Nick, they do, too. Rumors, attacks, and accusations fly, all before the unforgiving eyes of the media. I won't get too into the plot, just in case you haven't seen it yet. And if you haven't, I highly recommend watching it with a date. Gone Girl is expertly crafted from start to finish -- from the razor-sharp editing, to the moody-electronic score, to the solid direction and acting, including a blow-y0ur-hair-back performance by the goddess Rosamund Pike. Her portrayal of the ultra-layered Amy Dunne is by turns subtle, fiery, nuanced, and dangerous. (Perhaps, one might argue, a little too dangerous for the Academy.)
Screenplay: Gillian Flynn
Stars: Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike, Carrie Coons
What we have here is a perfect storm. This fresh adaptation of the 2012 bestseller has so many movie elements that I love (David Fincher, suburban drama, complex women, the Ozarks) that it's hard to separate my schoolgirl giddiness from my ability to look at the film objectively. But once you do that, Gone Girl is still tremendous. A deliciously dark tale of love gone wrong, laced with sardonic humor and insights about relationships that will make you squirm. Nick Dunne's quietly failing marriage becomes the center of the universe when his wife, Amy, suddenly vanishes. Police suspect foul play. And once the public gets a look at Nick, they do, too. Rumors, attacks, and accusations fly, all before the unforgiving eyes of the media. I won't get too into the plot, just in case you haven't seen it yet. And if you haven't, I highly recommend watching it with a date. Gone Girl is expertly crafted from start to finish -- from the razor-sharp editing, to the moody-electronic score, to the solid direction and acting, including a blow-y0ur-hair-back performance by the goddess Rosamund Pike. Her portrayal of the ultra-layered Amy Dunne is by turns subtle, fiery, nuanced, and dangerous. (Perhaps, one might argue, a little too dangerous for the Academy.)
2013 - Blackfish
Director: Gabriela Cowperthwaite
Written By: Gabriela Cowperthwaite, Eli Despres, Tim Zimmerman
Stars: Tilikum, John Jett, Jeffrey Ventre
Blackfish made a splash (I know -- I'm sorry) of surprisingly huge proportions after it debuted at Sundance. And once you watch it, it becomes obvious why. Scene after nail-biting scene, Blackfish exemplifies the very idea of "once you see it, you can't un-see it." This visceral muckraker examines SeaWorld's performing killer whales, and delves into the laundry list of reasons why they should not be kept in captivity. If the interviews with former trainers and whale experts don't scare you, not to worry -- there's footage, too. LOTS of it. Not very often will a documentary put you on the edge of your seat. But that's exactly what happens over and over again watching Blackfish, as caged predators bite, drag, and bum rush their trainers, all scrambling out of teal-blue pools as horrified tourists gawk. The unforgettable images of Blackfish speak for themselves. And they managed to convince several performers, business people, prosecutors, and lawmakers that keeping intelligent animals captive can have devastating and deadly consequences. Man alive! I love it when a little bitty movie sneaks into Hollywood and shakes up everything.
Written By: Gabriela Cowperthwaite, Eli Despres, Tim Zimmerman
Stars: Tilikum, John Jett, Jeffrey Ventre
Blackfish made a splash (I know -- I'm sorry) of surprisingly huge proportions after it debuted at Sundance. And once you watch it, it becomes obvious why. Scene after nail-biting scene, Blackfish exemplifies the very idea of "once you see it, you can't un-see it." This visceral muckraker examines SeaWorld's performing killer whales, and delves into the laundry list of reasons why they should not be kept in captivity. If the interviews with former trainers and whale experts don't scare you, not to worry -- there's footage, too. LOTS of it. Not very often will a documentary put you on the edge of your seat. But that's exactly what happens over and over again watching Blackfish, as caged predators bite, drag, and bum rush their trainers, all scrambling out of teal-blue pools as horrified tourists gawk. The unforgettable images of Blackfish speak for themselves. And they managed to convince several performers, business people, prosecutors, and lawmakers that keeping intelligent animals captive can have devastating and deadly consequences. Man alive! I love it when a little bitty movie sneaks into Hollywood and shakes up everything.
2012 - Flight
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Screenplay: John Gatins
Stars: Denzel Washington, Kelly Reilly, Don Cheadle
Flight was probably the most cringeworthy movie of 2012, and yet I have seen it dozens of times. Yet another fine entry into the fascinating filmography of Robert Zemeckis, and definitely one of his darkest movies to date. Flight starts off with a bang, and demands your attention from then on. Longtime pilot Whip Whitaker's skills are put to the test when his passenger plane inexplicably nosedives right out of the air. When Whip executes the most badass emergency landing in recent memory, he's hailed as a hero -- until his drug tests surface. To give away any more details would detract from the tense, cathartic emotional journey that is Flight. Denzel Washington is captivating, tragic, and so believable as a gifted pilot facing the ugly reality of his actions, and his vices. He's flanked by a strong supporting cast including the always-cool Don Cheadle, and the wonderfully vulnerable Kelly Reilly (with a few fabulous appearances by John Goodman). Viewing suggestion: watch this movie with a mixed drink, and take a swig every time there's a reference to God. You're welcome.
Screenplay: John Gatins
Stars: Denzel Washington, Kelly Reilly, Don Cheadle
Flight was probably the most cringeworthy movie of 2012, and yet I have seen it dozens of times. Yet another fine entry into the fascinating filmography of Robert Zemeckis, and definitely one of his darkest movies to date. Flight starts off with a bang, and demands your attention from then on. Longtime pilot Whip Whitaker's skills are put to the test when his passenger plane inexplicably nosedives right out of the air. When Whip executes the most badass emergency landing in recent memory, he's hailed as a hero -- until his drug tests surface. To give away any more details would detract from the tense, cathartic emotional journey that is Flight. Denzel Washington is captivating, tragic, and so believable as a gifted pilot facing the ugly reality of his actions, and his vices. He's flanked by a strong supporting cast including the always-cool Don Cheadle, and the wonderfully vulnerable Kelly Reilly (with a few fabulous appearances by John Goodman). Viewing suggestion: watch this movie with a mixed drink, and take a swig every time there's a reference to God. You're welcome.
2011 - Midnight in Paris
Director: Woody Allen
Screenplay: Woody Allen
Stars: Owen Wilson, Rachel McAdams, Marion Cotillard
All I have to do is think about this movie and I smile. Ever feel like you were born in the wrong decade? That all the primo fashion, music, writing, and philosophy existed way before your time? If so, Midnight in Paris is the movie for you. It's the ultimate cinematic treat for anyone who daydreams about Bohemian artists, classic lit, and divine period costumes. Owen Wilson is 100% awkward charm as Gil Pender, a big-time Hollywood screenwriter who longs to complete his first novel. He turns to the hypnotizing, timeless world of Paris after dark for inspiration... and ends up finding a lot more than that. It should come as no surprise to any Woody Allen fan that the script is solid gold -- full of meta humor and hilariously neurotic throwaway lines, and punctuated by wonderfully romantic monologues. But it's also the dreamy, sumptuous look of this mysterious city that makes Midnight in Paris feel so good.
Screenplay: Woody Allen
Stars: Owen Wilson, Rachel McAdams, Marion Cotillard
All I have to do is think about this movie and I smile. Ever feel like you were born in the wrong decade? That all the primo fashion, music, writing, and philosophy existed way before your time? If so, Midnight in Paris is the movie for you. It's the ultimate cinematic treat for anyone who daydreams about Bohemian artists, classic lit, and divine period costumes. Owen Wilson is 100% awkward charm as Gil Pender, a big-time Hollywood screenwriter who longs to complete his first novel. He turns to the hypnotizing, timeless world of Paris after dark for inspiration... and ends up finding a lot more than that. It should come as no surprise to any Woody Allen fan that the script is solid gold -- full of meta humor and hilariously neurotic throwaway lines, and punctuated by wonderfully romantic monologues. But it's also the dreamy, sumptuous look of this mysterious city that makes Midnight in Paris feel so good.
2010 - The Social Network
Director: David Fincher
Screenplay: Aaron Sorkin
Stars: Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake
"Private behavior is the relic of a time gone by." Just one of about 400 incredible and insightful quotes from The Social Network. This movie may not be perfect, but it somehow feels flawless. The sexy, stark, true-life tale of a generation on the verge of a social media revolution. At the center of it is Mark Zuckerberg, a genius disguised as a punk-ass who makes friends about as well as Lindsay Lohan made pop music. That is, until he invents Thefacebook, and becomes overnight friends with everyone on the planet. Well, almost. The Social Network chronicles the unstoppable rise of the website, and the moral undoing of the scrawny curmudgeon behind it. It's another feather in the cap of the brilliant David Fincher, who brings his A-game to this movie, as do all of its stars. All three of the leading men give unexpectedly great performances, particularly Jesse Eisenberg, who nabbed an Oscar nom for portraying Mark. The unsung Andrew Garfield breaks your heart as Mark's best friend, conscience, and business partner Eduardo Saverin. And Justin Timberlake turns in a charismatic, convincing performance nobody saw coming, as bad boy wunderkind Sean Parker. Their moves and manipulations are all set to a bracing, Oscar-winning electronic score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. No joke -- it may be the most perfect original soundtrack ever composed for a movie.
Screenplay: Aaron Sorkin
Stars: Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake
"Private behavior is the relic of a time gone by." Just one of about 400 incredible and insightful quotes from The Social Network. This movie may not be perfect, but it somehow feels flawless. The sexy, stark, true-life tale of a generation on the verge of a social media revolution. At the center of it is Mark Zuckerberg, a genius disguised as a punk-ass who makes friends about as well as Lindsay Lohan made pop music. That is, until he invents Thefacebook, and becomes overnight friends with everyone on the planet. Well, almost. The Social Network chronicles the unstoppable rise of the website, and the moral undoing of the scrawny curmudgeon behind it. It's another feather in the cap of the brilliant David Fincher, who brings his A-game to this movie, as do all of its stars. All three of the leading men give unexpectedly great performances, particularly Jesse Eisenberg, who nabbed an Oscar nom for portraying Mark. The unsung Andrew Garfield breaks your heart as Mark's best friend, conscience, and business partner Eduardo Saverin. And Justin Timberlake turns in a charismatic, convincing performance nobody saw coming, as bad boy wunderkind Sean Parker. Their moves and manipulations are all set to a bracing, Oscar-winning electronic score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. No joke -- it may be the most perfect original soundtrack ever composed for a movie.