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:

Shutter Island

2010

Director: Martin Scorsese

Distributor: Paramount Pictures

Key Elements: Concept - Visual

Review:

Based on the novel by Dennis Lehane, this is the story of a Federal Marshal investigating a disappearance at a high-security prison for the criminally insane – shutter island.

As I expected, there was a twist at the end, but it was bigger than I expected. Along the way we’re left guessing while being dazzled by amazing visual poetry.

I continue to be impressed with the projects DiCaprio selects for himself.

Trailer:

Quotes:

• Yeah fine, I just ah, I just can't, can't stomach the water.
• You'll never leave this island.
• There's no moral order at all. There's just this: can my violence conquer yours?
• We gotta get off this rock, Chuck.
• Which would be worse, to live as a monster, or to die as a good man?
• Why are you all wet, baby?

Stills:

The Book of Eli

2010

Director: The Hughes Brothers

Distributor: Warner Brothers Pictures

Key Elements: Concept – Visuals

Review:

Before the cross, Israel carried the hope of the Gospel.  Because they were the only people in the whole world with that honor, they were justified in using violence to protect it.

In this movie, the hope of the Gospel is carried, not by a nation, but by a single man.  And likewise, he uses violence to protect it.  Think Road Warrior with a Bible.

One thing I appreciated about this movie was that it showed how the Bible CAN be used incorrectly.  Not everyone appealing to its authority can be trusted.  That’s a rare message and an important distinction.

Another thing I like is how the twist at the end confirms that, not only is the Bible valuable, but what it says is true – Because God has been helping Eli.

Then there’s what I didn’t like.

[Spoiler]

At the end, Eli gets to a safe house where the Bible can be preserved.  …Right next to a Koran!

That’s right - After parading as a pro-Bible story this movie ends on a Universalistic note.

Lame.

Still… the premise is an interesting concept.

Trailer:

Quotes:

• People had more than they needed. We had no idea what was precious and what wasn't. We threw away things people kill each other for now.
• In all these years I've been carrying it and reading it every day, I got so caught up in keeping it safe that I forgot to live by what I learned from it.
• Thank you lord for a warm bed to sleep on, thank you for the food we are about to eat, thank you for a roof over our heads on cold nights such as this, thank you for companionship in hard times like these, Amen.
• IT'S NOT A FUCKIN' BOOK! IT'S A WEAPON. A weapon aimed right at the hearts and minds of the weak and the desperate. It will give us control of them. If we want to rule more than one small, fuckin' town, we have to have it. People will come from all over, they'll do exactly what I tell 'em if the words are from the book. It's happened before and it'll happen again. All we need is that book.
• Its like he's protected somehow, nothing can touch him
• They say the war tore a hole in the sky

Stills: