Little Manhattan

2005

Director: Mark Levin, Jennifer Flackett

Distributor: 20^th Century Fox

Key Elements: Story –Characters –Concept

Review:

This is a very cute movie. I clearly remember when I first started to notice girls, and so much of this movie resonates with my experience. I even remember the debates about whether or not girls mature faster than boys.

It’s a fun watch, but I think the ending is the best part.

Also, I love that New York City itself is like a character of the story.

[Spoiler Warning:]

Gabe explains that this is a love story, but it’s not until the end that you realize the love isn’t his and Rosemary’s – It’s his parents. After fighting and threatening divorce through the whole movie, they finally get back together.

I think it illustrates that no problem can be too difficult to fix in a relationship if both people are willing. What I love is that I think the crucial moment comes in a conversation Gabe has with his dad. Gabe asks why all love has to end. And his dad’s face shows that he realizes the wrong message he’s been sending his son. And I love that, like a good dad, he takes steps to correct it.

Trailer:

Quotes:

• I really had no room for a woman in my life.
• Okay, what's going on here? What the heck is this? Oh my God. What's this feeling in the pit of my stomach? Who is this - this amazing creature before me? I looked at Rosemary and just felt so, um, confused. She's a girl. I'm supposed to despise girls, not feel nervous talking to one, not feel tongue-tied. I mean this was Rosemary Telesco, I knew her since Kindergarten!
• Does she like like me?
• Never had I been so keenly aware of the ability of palm to manufacture sweat, but I was determined to hold that girl's hand for every single second.
• This much I know firsthand - love hurts.
• Look at them all. Rats in their cages, their lives destroyed by love. I'm done with it. I won't be like them. The fools.
• See, this is just like I told you. Same thing I knew getting into this whole mess - love ends.
• But it wasn't that easy. I guess love never is.

Stills:

The Social Network

2010

Director: David Fincher

Distributor: Columbia Pictures

Key Elements: Story – Lines – Characters – Music

Review:

When I heard they were making a movie about Facebook, I rolled my eyes. How could that be worth watching?

But this is one of the best written movies I’ve seen in years. The dialogue alone is brilliant, but the story pacing and character delvelopment are also perfect.

I was blown away. Great movie.

Trailer:

Quotes:

• People wanna go online and check out their friends, so why not build a website that offers that. I'm talking about taking the entire social experience of college and putting it online.
• As if every thought that tumbles through your head was so clever it would be a crime for it not to be shared.
• We lived in farms, then we lived in cities, and now we're gonna live on the internet!
• If you guys were the inventors of Facebook, you'd have invented Facebook.
• The internet's not written in pencil, Mark. It's written in ink.
• I like standing next to you, Sean... it makes me look so tough.
• You're not an asshole, Mark. You're just trying so hard to be.
• As for the charges: I believe I deserve some recognition from this board.

Stills:

Inception

2010

Director: Christopher Nolan

Distributor: Warner Brothers Pictures

Key Elements: Story – Concept - Music – Visual

Review:

This movie is fantatic. Completely.

In a time where every movie is a sequel or a remake or simply another take at a tired formual – here, finally, is something new.

The visuals are astounding – but they’re matched by the story! All around an amazing film.

Trailer:

Quotes:

• I can access your mind through your dreams.
• Dreams feel real while we're in them. It's only when we wake up that we realize something was actually strange.
• You're asking me for Inception. I hope you do understand the gravity of that request.
• The seed that we planted in this man's mind may change everything.
• I think positive emotion trumps negative emotion every time.
• Wait, whose subconscious are we going through exactly?
• She locked away a secret, deep inside herself, something she once knew to be true... but chose to forget.
• Your world is not real!
• I'll tell you a riddle. You're waiting for a train, a train that will take you far away. You know where you hope this train will take you, but you don't know for sure. But it doesn't matter…

Stills:

Coraline

2009

Director: Henry Selick

Distributor: Focus Features

Key Elements: Story – Message – Concept - Symbolism – Music – Visual

Review:

Based on the novel by Neil Gaiman, Coraline tells the story of a girl bored and lonely and disappointed with the turn her life was taken. But then, she finds a mysterious door and, following it, finds herself in an exciting, fawning excessive parallel life. But the wonderful new place may not be as wonderful as it seems.

The movie is great at being at once creepy and mesmerizing. The visuals are definitely its strongest element.

But the story also has an important message – the things we think we want aren’t always what they seem – and if we’re not careful, we can become trapped by them.

Trailer:

Quotes:

• You are NOT my mother.
• You know, you could stay forever, if you want to. There's one tiny thing we have to do first...
• Be clever, Miss. Even if you win, she'll never let you go!

Stills:

The Ugly Truth

2009

Director: Robert Luketic

Distributor: Columbia Pictures

Key Elements: Lines – Characters – Concept

Review:

I like this movie. I don’t have good reasons for liking this movie. But I like this movie, and I have fun watching it.

And katherine Heigl is gorgeous.

Trailer:

Quotes:

• OK, that's good. Now, just let him suffer.
• I'm used to women I can figure out in, like, five seconds. I can't do that with you.
• Tell me then, what’s her name? …the woman who screwed you up. She must have been a doosey.

Stills:

Nightmare before Christmas

1993

Director: Henry Selick

Produced: Tim Burton

Distributor: Touchstone Pictures, Walt Disney Pictures

Key Elements: Concept - Music – Gospel - Visual

Review:

Jack is more or less the king of Halloween, but he senses an emptiness in his life. That’s when he stumbles upon Christmas …and tries to claim it as his own. The movie really doesn’t explore this premise much beyond the basic idea, but it unfolds in gorgeous – now iconic – imagery. And the visuals really are the point of this picture.

[Spoiler Warning:]

And I love that the Boogeyman is defeated when he unravels into nothing – To me it makes a great statement about how a lot of our fears really have no substance to them.

Trailer:

Quotes:

• Nice work, Bone Daddy!
• I, Jack, the Pumpkin King, grow tired of the same old thing.
• Just because I cannot see it, doesn't mean I can't believe it!
• You've poisoned me for the last time, you wretched girl!
• This year, Christmas will be - OURS!
• J-J-J-Jack! But they said you were dead. You must be - double dead!
• How dare you treat my friend so shamefully!
• together, now and forever. For it is plain, as anyone can see. We're simply meant to be.

Stills:

His Girl Friday

1940

Director: Howard Hanks

Distributor: Columbia Pictures

Key Elements: Lines - Characters

Review: 

Newspaperman Walter Burns tries to coerce his ex-wife Hildy Johnson to leave her fiancé and return to editing the newspaper.

While the premise is intentionally kind of goofy, the dialogue makes this movie.  In fact it set the mold for the iconic fast-talking reporter, and set a precedent for movies that are driven by quick, witty dialogue a la Juno or The Social Network.

It’s a shame that these days movies driven by good writing like this aren’t more common.

Trailer:

Quotes:
What do you think I am, a crook?
-        Yes.

There's been a lamp burning in the window for ya, honey... here.
-       Oh, I jumped out that window a long time ago.

Walter, you're wonderful, in a loathsome sort of way.

I like him; he's got a lot of charm.
-       Well he comes by it naturally his grandfather was a snake.

Oh, you're losing your arm! You used to be able to pitch better than that.

Look, Hildy, I only acted like any husband that didn't want to see his home broken up.

- What home?
"What home"? Don't you remember the home I promised you?

He treats me like a woman.
-       Oh he does, does he? Mm-hm... how did I treat you? Like a water buffalo?

I wouldn't cover the burning of Rome for you if they were just lighting it up!

Madam, you are a cock-eyed liar!

You've got an old fashioned idea divorce is something that lasts forever...

I thought it would be a novelty to have a face around here a man could look at without shuddering.


Stills: