A perfectly spun comedy that had me laughing like a little boy. I imagine this will wear well with repeated viewings as Black’s performance is nuanced genius–much how I felt with Colin Farrell’s performance in ‘In Bruges’. The script tackles theology and calling, humility, pride, and hospitality… amongst the fantastic setting of Mexican semi-pro wrestling. The cast is spot on, and whoever found Jiménez as Black’s sidekick should be the opposite of euthanized. The director’s dedication to setting and style is commendable and had me engrossed in every detail. Odd, I remember hating the trailer which featured Black blowing tortillas onto a salad and flexing his ass in white trousers (not the funniest bits). Thanks to the Broweleits for kindly pestering me to watch this for the last three years. A fan.

My favorite Fincher film and something I seem to crave when the season turns to Fall. It is a perfect story addressing the struggle to fight against the dark verses escaping to apathy.

More Hughes on the brain here and so pleased at how this classic has aged. I vividly recall seeing this in the theater back in 4th grade and loving every minute of it (of course I’ve seen it twenty times since). Nowadays, I see the central arc of the story as Ferris hoping on behalf of his best friend Cameron; giving him a day of such joy and adventure that his fears will no longer dictate his life. Beautiful.

Possibly my favorite sports film and G-rated film. Gene Hackman is ace as the small-town coach who defies the odds by taking his class B high school to the Indiana State Championship. Based on a true story and filmed with class and care.

After the lament of ‘Rob Roy’ this Liam Neeson picture was not high on my list until, of all people, my Little Brother got me this as a present. He has good taste, or his mom does. A perfect film, so perfect that I dare not say why it worked. It’s like saying why you love ‘Ok Computer’, don’t bother, just nod your head and move along like a good boy.

After the original, ‘28 Days Later’, ‘Children Of Men’, ‘District 9′, and others, this may be my new favorite genre: the sci-fi epidemic. Set it in Britain, throw in some snipers, government conspiracy, Martial law, sprinting zombies, dirty photography, and a muted score and I’m in love.

A seemingly simple love triangle that illuminates how we love and how we are loved: we idealize, we let others idealize, we lust, we discount loyalty, we act like fools. If familiarity breeds contempt I now see why my first viewing of this made me squirm–I saw the best and worst of myself in many of the characters’ neurotic, passionate, confused, impulsive actions. Tons of data to analyze in this film for those of you who enjoy such cinematic/relational inquiry. I watched this twice in two nights and still hardly got my nails under it. If I say they don’t make ‘em like this anymore, I sound like a pretentious old soul–they don’t make ‘em like this anymore.

Note: Joaquin plants one of the hottest kisses I’ve seen on film, or was it Shaw’s reaction to the kiss–no matter, worth the price of admission alone. (I sure hope Redbeard Phoenix is just joking about, or taking really bad uppers to get through the winter.)

All apocalyptic films should be shot in London, on dirty film, with raging bloody zombies, helicopters chopping off heads, and a score by John Murphy. Loved it.

The absolutely unthinkable power of music. I am stunned.

Downey Jr. and Kilmer rifle through the script at a manic pace, delivering some fiercely hilarious stuff. You can tell the writer/director spent a lot of time developing this; the scenes and characters are wickedly fresh and peculiar. Best epilogue ever: “To all you good people in the Mid-West, sorry we said fuck so many times”.