Starring: Edward Norton, Brad Pitt
I fucking loved this movie. Everyone told me to see it, so I finally did, and now I agree with them� there isn�t any god-loving adult that shouldn�t see this movie. It is spectacular, immaculate, breathtaking, and does a great job of fucking up your perspective of the world.
It isn�t a perfect movie (those being so rare) but I don�t think this movie wanted to be anyway. It�s not impeccable, but immaculate, as I described it last night. Strong points are definitely plot and storyline. Character development is good but only to the extent of the main character and his best friend, Tyler. Everything is justified� the omnipresent violence, pain, suffering, and personal struggle; every twist and turn this movie can throw smirking in your gaping face is justified. That�s what shocked and impressed me. Also, it�s very well written, and casting was also rockin�.
It never ONCE, in all its hours of being a film, lost my interest. I never once found my mind wandering or myself wishing the movie would end. Everything was necessary and justified and beautiful and immaculate. Fight Club is one almighty movie.
(1999)
Starring: Franka Potente, Moritz Bleibtreu
It wasn�t what I expected. All I�ve heard is rave reviews for this movie, and it didn�t float my boat as much as Fight Club did. I thought the sheer power of Lola (Franka Potente) was awesome and the soundtrack fit perfectly to the storyline� but as far as storyline, there wasn�t much in the first place. While it is �a stylistic triumph�, some parts of the video aren�t justified. Acting was all right, writing was okay, storyline was� she runs?, shot composure was great, characterization was pretty good (run Lola, you rock star!) but all around, it wasn�t a very strong movie. Hell, Franka Potente is gorgeous and compelling, but she can�t carry a whole, strangely constructed, mildly confusing film.
My favorite part? Her screams. *wink*
(1998)
This film won the Sundance Film Festival Directing Award in the year of 1998, but that�s about all I remember about its stats. I don�t remember any actors� names. However, the movie itself was certainly memorable.
Pi, like Fight Club, totally turns your perspective of the world on its ass. The story is from the point of view of a mentally-unstable (is an understatement) obsessed mathemetician who is convinced that there is one, 216-digit number that holds the key to all the mysteries of universe, and if there�s one thing he�s going to do (before he self destructs), it�s find it. The man is a genius, yes, but his genius is crushing any humanity in him and as a result, the audience, (we of the human nature), have no idea how to take it. I thought it was excellent. That the video is shot in black and white adds a great effect to the twisted, yet structured mind of this tortured individual. The shot composure, running themes (ants and spirals, to name a few), and characterization of all of the people in the film are all very good. It also is quite stylistic, but not to the extent that the great irony and impressive writing are lost on the audience. For all these reasons, and out of admiration for such a film shot on a *cough* noticeably low budget, this film gets my highest rating.
(1998)
Starring: John Cameron Mitchell, Michael Pitt, Miriam Shor
This movie will blow you so out of the water and onto the beach� and you�ll get sand burn and have grains up your crack for weeks afterward.
It is colors, rock music, attitude, funk, glitter personality, humor, heartbreak and a transgendered, East-Berlinese goddess with a heart of gold and an ass of the same (or so she�ll have you believe, sister.)
I do think this movie is flawless. Every scene, every line, every character, every action, every thing has a purpose and is justified, yet the storyline is ANYTHING but traditional. This get-up-and-shake-it rock musical is very focused on characterization; careful character development has made all of the personalities in this video as warped and lovable and antagonistic as possible. Plot is easy to follow and enrapturing. Acting is incredible: John Cameron Mitchell didn�t only conceive the character of Hedwig and direct the movie, he played her! -- And he was really good too! No really! He was right! Miriam Shor and Michael Pitt are equally stunning. Shot composure, use of color!, and excellent music all make this video my top choice to rent on a Saturday night when I just wanna put on some white nylon knee-boots and a wig in a box, and scream all my sorrow and suffering away.
John Cameron Mitchell, you�re my hero.
(1986)
Starring: Matthew Broderick, Alan Ruck, Jennifer Grey
Just like you�ll be madly in love with the character of Hedwig after you see Hedwig & the Angry Inch, you�ll wish you WERE Ferris Bueller after this charming teenage-empowerment John Hughes film of serendipity, spontaneity, good friends and a killer smile. Matthew Broderick stars as teenage icon Ferris Bueller himself, who manages to pull the wool over the collective eyes of both his parents, his sister (he thinks), and even his control-freak republican principal (who�s out for cocky teenage blood) and spend the day with his best friend and girlfriend in the big city of Chicago, trying with unbelievable ease not to get caught in his giant fa�ade.
What stands out in this movie is the writing, the shot composure (fuck yeah!) and the characterization of flawless but modest king of all rambunctious high school seniors, Ferris Bueller and his relentless antagonist, Principal Rooney. Plot is simple and indulgent; smart humor and lack of pretension, as well as giddy suspense and paralleled character activity make this movie leave you grinning like a jackass. I mean a jackal.
Highlights: The FLOAT scene, where Ferris does an audacious rendering of the Beatles� �Twist and Shout� for the whole city of Chicago. Plus, three words: Charlie Sheen cameo.