Review of Dillinger (1973) by James H — 17 May 2012

:fresh: 6/10 - Dillinger (1945):

I picked up the Film Noir classic box set vol. 2 yesterday and this was the first one I popped into the ol' DVD player. I gotta say I felt a little gipped. Not that it was bad, but I didn't really feel that it did justice to the story of John Dillinger. Character development was non-existent, the story was choppy, and hell, I just wasn't into it from beginning to end. All that said, it was still an entertaining little noir. See it if you have an interest in the man, John Dillinger, or if you're a noir nut like myself.

:fresh: 7/10 - eXistenZ (1999):

David Cronenberg is one of the best filmmakers working today. Frankly, this isn't his best. In fact, it's far from it, but that aside, it's still one of his most fucked up, and if you're familiar with his work, then you know that's saying something. The story milks its "mystery" for all it's worth, and then, just when any other filmmaker would've rounded it up with a nice, neat ending, Cronenberg sticks his madman cock in your ear and fucks your skull out. Definitely worth the trip.

:fresh: 8/10 - Batman Begins (2005):

Aside from a few qualms I have with the picture, this is the perfect Batman movie. Firstly and lastly - the editing. I know the first few fights were supposed to be "mysterious", and show Batman doing his 'ninja whut' thing, but there were times when it felt like the editors were masturbating with the celluloid and lubing up with a handful of razor blades. Other than that and a couple of plot points I felt stuck out like sore thumbs, I left the the theatre totally satisfied with how the picture turned out. The acting was top notch across the board, the story was sweeping, incredible and strangely believable, and the writing was the best I've ever heard in a "superhero" movie. One of the best of 2005, no question!

:fresh: 9/10 - Rushmore (1997):

Wes Anderson's magnum opus. Which is saying something, because I adored the Life Aquatic and the Royal Tenenbaums. From beginning to end Rushmore is one of the most inventive, quirky and intelligent comedies you're likely to find. Max Fischer, played to perfection by Jason Schwartzman, is the best high school character since Ferris Bueller and Bill Murray, as usual, is perfect as the depressed and self loathing Herman Blume. One of my favorite movies of all time.

:fresh: 10/10 - Lost in Translation (2003):

I was big into the Matrix. Even the sequels. So when the Matrix Revolutions and Lost in Translation, which I didn't have much interest in, came to the cheap, double bill theatre I was amped to go. Lost in Translation was playing first, and I figured I'd probably at least enjoy it. By the end of the night, I'd forgotten what the second movie was. Lost in Translation is one of the most original, funny and heartfelt movies to come out in years. The two leads are spectacular (Can you tell I like Bill Murray?) and Sophia Coppola directs with such passion and spectacular imagery, that she proved to me without a doubt she is her father's daughter. God knows I'm a big Lord of the Rings fan, but Lost in Translation was my favorite movie of 2003.