2010: My 10 Favorite Films
Thursday, December 30, 2010 at 10:46PM I want to say this was a hard decision, but in reality it was pretty easy.
Alamar, Pedro González-Rubio : I saw Alamar in Rochester at a quaint film festival. It was freezing outside and the movie was a true escape to the ocean. I've rarely felt such raw emotion from a film. I'm tempted to say this was my favorite film of last year but I'm tempted with all in this list. The quietness and extremely sparse dialogue was a backdrop to the father-son relationship that so beautifully played out before my eyes.
35 Shots of Rum, Claire Denis: I was in NYC for a meer 24 hours, partially to see this film at the Film Forum. I loved Claire Denis before but this film made me a follower for life. I would love to be a fly on the wall during her process to see how she creates such beautiful and complex relationships.
Cold Weather, Aaron Katz: The Sarasota Film Festival never fails to show amazing independent films way before they are released and Cold Weather is a perfect example. It was like a character-study turned mystery and it was unlike any film I've seen recently. Cold Weather takes place around Oregon and I loved every minute of it. I can't wait til I can see it again as well as the director's first two films.
Let The Right One In, Tomas Alfredson: I have to admit, I'm not much of a horror fan. I'm trying people but it's been a bit tough. I had this film on my Netflix queue forever and finally one night, snow falling out the window, I went for it. It's a beautiful film about teenage love and one teenager is a vampire but not by choice. I haven't seen the American version, but this film is gorgeous.
A Serious Man, Coen Brothers: I saw this at 10:30am in NYC on a rainy day. It was more than everything I knew it would be. This is my favorite Coen Brothers movie since Fargo, and I haven't seen it again since because I don't want it to become second hand too fast.
Exit Through The Gift Shop, Banksy: Knowing this documentary was a semi-hoax makes it even better in my mind. Banksy is the sneakiest of artists and created an enrapturing story with an incredible main character that blurred the reality lines. I had a blast watching this film.
Cyrus, Jay and Mark Duplass: It's been so fun watching the Duplass Brothers evolve and Cyrus is my favorite film of theirs yet. John C Reilly was born to work with them because his acting can be so precise. I saw the film after interviewing the brothers (read it here!) during SXSW and my love for it was confirmed after seeing it a second time without the festival sheen. I can't wait to see their new film, Jeff Who Lives At Home.
Four Lions, Christopher Morris: I had my doubts that a comedy about suicide bombers would be funny but after it got purchased by the Alamo Drafthouse I figured it must be good. I saw this film twice, once in NY and once at the Alamo. For me, I needed a second screening. Maybe it was the exhaustion or the British accents but the second screening I couldn't stop laughing. The film is sad and hilarious and poignant and so so unique.
Daddy Longlegs, Joshua and Ben Safdie: The Safdie brothers have an amazing way of making me feel so enjoyably uncomfortable. I wanted to kill the scatter-brained father one minute and hug him the next. This film is the best film about being a parent I've seen in awhile.
Greenberg, Noah Baumbach: I loved this film even though it confused me, maybe that's why I liked it. I've never seen Ben Stiller in such a weirdly great character and Greta Gerwig equally surprised me. I wish I would have caught it on the big screen but even on the small screen it was powerful.
Movies I haven't seen yet, but have a feeling would be on this list:
Next Year Can't Waits:
Blue Valentine, Derek Cianfrance
Rabbit Hole, John Cameron Mitchell
Overall I thought it was a great year for film. I can't wait to see what 2011 will bring. (including the completion of my feature screenplay!) Happy New Year to all.
Monday, October 18, 2010 at 01:11PM I remember watching Benh Zeitlin's short Glory At Sea a couple years ago and immediately knowing that the films he will make in his life are going to give me that feeling. The one I rarely get when watching a film, but when I do, it's changes my life a little bit. His first feature should come out soon and I literally can't wait.
IFC is doing coverage on young icons and Benh is unsurprisingly one. The best part is that they have his short film EGG streaming. Watch it, it's surreal, crafty and unbelivably entertaining.
Also, when you have a free 25 minutes, you can watch Glory At Sea in it's entirety HERE.
C-ya Summer
Thursday, September 23, 2010 at 11:53PM Besides the dumbest decision ever to cancel Party Down, I'm loving some television like I never ever have before. Well...maybe rivaled only by my Nick at Nite obsessed kid self. Besides finally getting on board with Mad Men - did you see Treme? And how about Eastbound and Down (the 2nd season premieres Sunday AND I recently found out that Marilyn Manson is obsessed with the main character! The day that happens because of one of my characters will be the day I experience success.) I recently saw the first episode of Boardwalk Empire. Steve Buscemi is finally in a killer lead role, I can't wait to see the rest of the season (Michael K Williams!!!). I've also been loving late night doses of the Louis C.K. Show and Delocated.
Ok, I can't resisit. Here's the clip!
Very few cool things happen in Syracuse. it's true. But the other night the dudes from Paper Rad showed up at this quaint and vacant gallery. They showed us random youtubes for the first hour (probably my favorite part) then put on an interesting show. So nice to have something wacky and visually nutso for a night.
One of the best youtubes was this amazing animation called the "story of srebrenica"
For a late late birthday present we went to Ithaca for a night. Waterfalls and Wine and late night dinners were the perfect refill. Here are waterfall pictures. The one of me is right after I soaked my only shoes for the weekend in the water. But look! It doesn't matter because that waterfall was just too pretty to be sad.
(what waterfalls looked like in "hip" times)
I almost forgot - the Ithaca Farmer's Market was the most enjoyable breakfast/lunch fest I've had in forever. Now if Syracuse has one awesome thing, it's the Farmer's Market. Three giant sheds filled with fresh veggies and fruits, I love it. But it's completely utilitarian. Ithaca Farmer's Market is an experience. Surrounded by a Finger Lake, it's one long beautiful old wood open market filled with half fresh produce and half prepared foods! We had incredible breakfast burritos with fresh organic sausage and squash, and Cambodian food (see this amazing pancake below!) We got our food and grabbed a bench overlooking the lake. Perfection.
This hot sauce was AMAZING...and hot.
Lake!
On the script front - I've had a three week break. Now is revision time.