Everyone who knows me knows that I’m a movie-in-the-theatre addict. Seeing films on a big screen, hopefully with lots of other people around, is my idea of a good time.
Work and family obligations meant that in the month or so leading up to the Holidays I didn’t make it to the theatre but once or twice. Finally, with the Holidays in full swing, I was able to make up for lost time.
This Holiday season at the movies, with the Oscar contenders coming out right and left, seemed to me a little stronger than the last few…at least when it came to cinematic story-telling and strong performances. However, noticeably, the movies I made it to were all ‘smaller.’
No “Lord of the Rings” spectacles this year. I was one of the folks who liked the latest installment of Harry Potter, but “Deathly Hallows Part 1” was, in many ways, despite the high production price tag, the most intimate of the HP tales on screen. But have you noticed that with the occasional exception…like “Avatar”…the big movies of the year are rarely the best movies of the year?
One thing about Hollywood and the movie industry in the days before 600 channels and Netflix and narrowcasting: there was room for big-budget, thoughtful, intelligent movies that had wide appeal. Now, thoughtful and intelligent generally means Indie films consigned to the art house, and it often means that most of the Best Picture nominees have been seen by a relative handful of people…think of “The Hurt Locker” last year.
Oh well. Enough ruminating. Holiday movies still in theatres well worth the price of admission, in my humble opinion:
“The King’s Speech.” No, this is not PBS for the big screen. Yes, there’s some history here (that you probably didn’t know), and the main characters include Kings and Queens of England…but you’ll find a surprising, engrossing, moving drama with comedy. Colin Firth has the early lead for the acting awards.
“Black Swan.” Director Darren Aronofsky knows how to get under your skin, and Natalie Portman’s, in a creepy, memorable psycho thriller set in the world of ballet. Loved his use of medium shots throughout…
“True Grit.” Boy, is this better than The Duke’s version of the 60’s. Those Coen boys sure now how to make movies.
“127 Hours.” Not close to being my favorite Danny Boyle movie, but watch a few of his movies, and the Coen Brothers, and Aronofsky…and when your relatives say, “But what does a director do?” and you might be able to answer them. James Franco is terrific, btw.
“The Fighter.” Ok, maybe this one is a rental…but amazing performances by Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale and Melissa Leo are best appreciated on the big screen. And the set piece where Bale, as Mark’s older, screwed up brother, tries to make some money (illegally) while the rest of the family is at a restaurant, is one of the best sequences in movies this year.
OK, OK, blog posts shouldn’t be this long. But, if you’ve made it this far, don’t hesitate to send me a comment via email.
Happy New Year!
-Greg