Review of Being Julia (2004) by Jason Y — 05 Feb 2005

[i]Being Julia[/i] - A very good performance in a somewhat perfunctory film. Predictable, but well-acted. It's definitely a Bening vehicle, and she carries the film very well. I don't think that it's an award-worthy performance, but I'm not a fan of histrionic roles in the first place. It took some effort on the movie's part to get me to enjoy such a character, and that I did. Not sure if it will stand up to rewatches.

[i]Blood Simple[/i] - Takes what could've been a very simple (pardon the pun) premise, with plenty of spindling plot twists to keep it engaging. Well-acted, especially by Frances McDormand and Emmet Walsh. I can see some being put off by the slow pacing, but that's not a problem for me. The main piano theme is unforgettable. Rightfully classified as a neo-noir. A great debut from the Coen brothers.

[i].

The Third Man[/i] - Rightfully an all-time classic. A tight, twisting plot that keeps you engaged, wonderful camerawork and cinematography, and terrifc acting by all involved. I also agree that this has one of the best character introductions of all-time, as well as several terrifc monologues. Its portrayal of post-war Vienna and the atmosphere within provides a rich historical context for the characters' actions. Wonderful.

[i]Mulholland Dr.[/i] - I could best describe it was an emotionally engrossing look into an emotionally tortured character. I don't want to give the plot away; while at first it seems confusing, the shards come together in the end. There's many unforgettable sequences with an audacious use of imagery and point of view, with plenty up to the viewer's interpretation. Due credit should be given to Angelo Badalamenti for his transcendent score, and David Lynch for transforming a dead-in-the-water TV project into a neo-noir classic.

[i]American Beauty[/i] - Poignant, about being yourself, honesty, focusing on more important things than stuff. Beautifully shot; Conrad Hall rightfully won an Oscar for Cinematography. The Kevin Spacey character, Lester, I love how he's written. I forget where I read it, but he was a shell of a person, who became a human being. That's the best way to describe it. I definitely didn't see the ending coming! I can't accurately describe the movie for you. Just see it.