So do you want our recs? Or just discuss those movies you put out here? And is your rating system 1-4? 1-5? You have a movie you describe as "overrated" as 4, and a movie you call "excellent" a 3.5, I'm not sure I get the system. However I love the thread idea, am an avid film watcher and a professional filmmaker, and love talking about movies with people. TP for getting this started, I'll be sure to check in...
1. In Bruges - 4 Stars
Colin Farrell. When I hear the name I cringe. I feel he is one of the most overrated actors in the history of film. Luckily in the movie "In Bruges" Colin did not have to do a lot of acting. He did not have to change his accent which he never seems to be able to hide in other roles. He did not have to seem intelligent, he did not have to watch his language. This film was made for Colin Farrell. Brendan Gleeson and Ralph Fiennes played their roles tremendously as I expected them to. I believe this was the first real "dark comedy" I had ever seen and I am now in love with the genre. I don't want to go to much into the plot of the movie but the director and cinematographer accomplished an amazing feat by turning such a drab town into a circus. I believe this movie should have won the Academy Award for Best Picture of the year.
Colin Farrell is a talentless hack 99% of the time, but check out "Tigerland" if you'd like to see him rock a role as a soldier preparing to be shipped out to Vietnam, and he has an extremely good Texas accent the whole film. He can pull good stuff out of his butt under certain circumstances. Not that I'm recommending the film, but he really carries it...
4. Doubt - 3.5 Stars
In my opinion Colin Farrell is to actor as Meryl Streep is to actress. I just don't see it, and I'm not saying I'm right. However, this film is a perfect fit for her as well. Amy Adams is perfect in her role, I don't know a lot about her work so I don't know if that was to be expected. Last but not least, Philip Seymour Hoffman was outstanding. This guy is one of my favorite actors, he steals movies and it is amazing to watch. The pace was very slow, but for some reason I loved it.
Really, you don't see Meryl Streep at all? Really? Have you seen her some of her greatest stuff? I mean she's one of the most legendary, acclaimed actresses of all time. She's not some Julia Roberts type that is limited to certain roles. Right off the bat, "Kramer vs. Kramer," "Sofie's Choice," "The Bridges of Madison County," hell she's even magnificent in "Adaptation."
Agree to disagree on that one I guess
5. Burn After Reading - 3.5 Stars
Where was this? This movie was hiding during all of the award ceremonies. I compare it to "In Bruges", another dark comedy with naive characters. Like "In Bruges" the movie relies on excellent dialogue one minute and complete silence the next. The movie starts slow, as it must to introduce a huge cast, and suddenly it speeds up and then it's over. Things that don't make you laugh in the beginning will make you laugh at the end when everything comes together. Excellent film.
Haven't seen it, but it was directed by the best contemporary filmmakers alive, Coen Brothers are flat out money in the bank...
Honorable Mentions:
Revolutionary Road - 3.5 Stars
The Reader - 3 Stars
Milk - 3.5 Stars
Forgetting Sarah Marshall - 4 Stars (a 4 star comedy doesn't beat a 3.5 star drama IMO)
The Dark Knight - 3 Stars
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - 3 Stars
Thanks for mentioning FSM and rating it a 4. Not that I would give it a 4 out of 4, but I was dragged kicking and screaming to that film, ended up loving it. Just so much better than anyone will ever believe until they watch it cause it has awful curb appeal.
A 4 star comedy is worth twice as much as 4 star dramas IMO, if you look at anyone's "Top 100" movies of all time, it will be 90% dramas. In my mind a great comedy is literally an endangered species, I like lightening but I like it in a bottle more...