Talking to some people tonight about movies and whatever, and I just realized how absolutely horrid this year has been for movies so far. I know the year isn't over but we are past the half way point and to me there hasn't been much to be happy about.

 

There are only three films I've seen this year (have not seen Zodiac yet, will very soon) that I could forsee being on my own top 10 list at the end of the year: Grindhouse, The Wind That Shakes The Barley, and The Bridge To Terabithia.

 

I've seen nothing so far this year that I feel would be under consideration for any Academy Awards - be it acting, directing, etc.

 

There are some films that look good to me in the coming months before the end of the year that could save what has been a very dissapointing beginning to the year:

• The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
  
• Superbad
  
• Vantage Point (Only will see this because of Fox)
  
• Shoot 'Em Up
  
• The Other Boleyn Girl
  
• No Country For Old Men
  
• There Will Be Blood
  
• The Kite Runner
  
• An American Crime
  
• 3:10 to Yuma
  
• His Dark Materials: The Golden Compass
  
• Sweeney Todd
  
• American Gangster
  
• The Bucket List (Hello, Academy Awards!)
  
• Charlie Wilson's War
  

A lot of those I've lowered expectations on because of several delays and from reading more about the films but on the other hand a lot of those I am really looking forward to.

 

So, am I just being overly negative? Are there some films I'm overlooking that have been out? Anything else that looks good before the end of the year that I haven't listed?

For me, it's shaping up to be a much better year than last year at this point...I mean, the movies by this point last year were absolutely terrible.

 

I rewatched Breach and Zodiac on a plane a few weeks ago, and they both hold up very well on rewatching. Especially Breach. I liked it when I first saw it, but it was even better the second time around. Very underappreciated film. I also watched Terabithia, which is very solid. Ratatouille and Knocked Up are miles better than anything that came out last summer. I'm very interested to see Resuce Dawn and Sunshine, which both hit wide release next week. I have no interest right now, but the early reviews on Hairspray are great. I'm not sure what else is coming out this year after next week, but the winter period always has the best movies.

For the most part you're right.

 

Movies that could possibly make it into my top 10 from this year are:

 

Knocked Up (9/10)

300 (8/10)

Grindhouse (8/10)

 

I'm looking forward to Rescue Dawn, The Invasion, and Superbad (films released in the next month).

 

I have high expectations for:

 

There Will Be Blood

Sweeney Todd

The Kite Runner

His Dark Materials: The Golden Compass

 

Some interest in:

 

American Gangster

3:10 to Yuma

No Country for Old Men

Reservation Road

For me, it's shaping up to be a much better year than last year at this point...I mean, the movies by this point last year were absolutely terrible.

I'd definitely take '06 over '07 right now for me:

 

'06 had Dave Chappelle's Block Party, Thank You For Smoking, Inside Man, Slither, Cars, Superman Returns, PoTC: DMC, Clerks II, Little Miss Sunshine, and Miami Vice at this point.

 

A lot more depth.

For me, it's shaping up to be a much better year than last year at this point...I mean, the movies by this point last year were absolutely terrible.

I'd definitely take '06 over '07 right now for me:

 

'06 had Dave Chappelle's Block Party, Thank You For Smoking, Inside Man, Slither, Cars, Superman Returns, PoTC: DMC, Clerks II, Little Miss Sunshine, and Miami Vice at this point.

 

A lot more depth.

 

Hmm, well, of the movies you listed, I only really liked Cars and Little Miss Sunshine, though I didn't like LMS as much as most people. I just saw Thank You For Smoking last week, and thought it was pretty good. I didn't see Clerks II, Block Party or Slither. I loathed Miami Vice, was bored by POTC, and was disappointed by Superman. Inside Man was OK.

 

Bottom line: that list of movies you provided basically underscores for me how much I didn't care for 2006. But, you know, different strokes...

I'm already going to predict the Best Actor nominations right now (based on what I've read, intuition, the role):

 

Joaquin Phoenix (Reservation Road)

Jack Nicholson (The Bucket List)

Daniel Day-Lewis (There Will Be Blood)

Johnny Depp (Sweeney Todd)

Khalid Abdalia (The Kite Runner)

 

A big time return after a lackluster group last year outside of two performances.

Damn im i the only one that liked Inside Man?

For me, it's shaping up to be a much better year than last year at this point...I mean, the movies by this point last year were absolutely terrible.

I'd definitely take '06 over '07 right now for me:

 

'06 had Dave Chappelle's Block Party, Thank You For Smoking, Inside Man, Slither, Cars, Superman Returns, PoTC: DMC, Clerks II, Little Miss Sunshine, and Miami Vice at this point.

 

A lot more depth.

All a matter of taste I guess, but Little Miss Sunshine is probably the only decent film of that whole list. Although I can't comment on Thank You For Smoking.

Of course it is, I'm just illustrating how many more entertaining films I saw at this point last year then this year.

 

I always make the distinction of seperating what I feel is a simply entertaining film and a well done film.

Damn im i the only one that liked Inside Man?

Did you not see me list it?

Not really, if my point was to list the ammount of films I've been entertained by so far.

 

I guess if I did that for '07 I'd maybe add Knocked Up in but that may be it.

 

All the sequels this year have been sh*t to me. I mean, I even saw one of the handful of movie in my lifetime I was actually upset I spent money to see on this year. That says a lot.

Everyone seems so excited about 3:10 to Yuma, granted I like Christian Bale a lot I have no interest in this movie at all. The original is a classic and did not need to be remade, but that's my take.

 

As I've stated already I absolutely loved 1408. The lookout was great, Grindhouse was excellent, I loved Transformers then it's just a list of movies I liked but wasn't in love with. 300, Ocean's 13, Potter, Breach, Reign over me, and Hot Fuzz.

 

I mean it's not a blow away year but I'm happy. I've got four movies that I really loved and plenty else that kept me entertained. I can't really complain. I haven't watched much indies this year because I have not made many trips to Philly this year so I'll have to wait till they hit DVD although I'm really excited to see the Wind that shakes the Barley.

It's funny how 2006 turned out to be such a great year in movies. I along with everyone else claimed it to be awful, but looking back on it there was really good movies released:

 

Pan's Labyrinth 7/10

Little Miss Sunshine 9/10

The Proposition 9/10

Tsotsi 9.5/10

Thank you for Smoking 7/10

Stranger than Fiction 8.5/10

The Lives of Others 10/10 (one of the best movies I've ever seen. Can't wait till it comes out on DVD)

Harsh Times 8.5/10

The Departed 7/10

 

 

I'm sure I am probably missing some too. I can only hope 07 is as good, and I am sure it will be with the list of strong movies coming out.

For those interested in "No Country for Old Men," here's some clips from the film. http://www.commeaucinema.com/bandes-annonces=76586.html

I think of Reign Over Me was released later in the year, people might be discussing Adam Sandler as a possible nomination. He was really good in that movie, and the academy loves nominating people who have no chance of winning but who do a different role than they normally do.

The only one I actually was the least bit interested in was Ocean's 13 (because horse mouth wasn't in this one).

 

lol

I think of Reign Over Me was released later in the year, people might be discussing Adam Sandler as a possible nomination. He was really good in that movie, and the academy loves nominating people who have no chance of winning but who do a different role than they normally do.

 

Not disagreeing, but if that's the case then the Academy definitely overlooked Sandler in "Punch Drunk Love."

I think of Reign Over Me was released later in the year, people might be discussing Adam Sandler as a possible nomination. He was really good in that movie, and the academy loves nominating people who have no chance of winning but who do a different role than they normally do.

 

Not disagreeing, but if that's the case then the Academy definitely overlooked Sandler in "Punch Drunk Love."

 

I thought he did get nominated for that? I was actually working under that assumption. Now I feel dumb.

I think of Reign Over Me was released later in the year, people might be discussing Adam Sandler as a possible nomination. He was really good in that movie, and the academy loves nominating people who have no chance of winning but who do a different role than they normally do.

 

Not disagreeing, but if that's the case then the Academy definitely overlooked Sandler in "Punch Drunk Love."

 

I thought he did get nominated for that? I was actually working under that assumption. Now I feel dumb.

 

No worries, he got a Golden Globe nod for the role though.

For those mentioning PoTC, there were films released in 2006 and 2007, so that can't really be an arguing point. Especially since At World's End was better than Dead Man's Chest.

That must be what I was thinking of.

 

I still think if they had released Reign Over Me in like November of this year, you'd have people talking about Sandler as possibly being nominated for Best Actor. I thought he was pretty good in the role, and alot better than I expected, but I do think Don Cheadle was probably better, all around. Who would've thought Don Cheadle would supply the comic relief in a movie starring Adam Sandler?

 

That'll probably make my top 10 of the year.

I'm always down on roles that seem to just be created and taken to go oscar nomination digging.

 

Thats why I was irritated that Will Smith got nominated last year. You could smell it from miles away when he took that role and it still worked out for him. Dissapointing.

That was my problem with Training Day. Least deserved Oscar ever, probably.

To be fair, last year's best actor pool was fairly small. IMO, Forest Whitaker and Ryan Gosling were really the only standouts.

I'm always down on roles that seem to just be created and taken to go oscar nomination digging.

 

Crash?

To be fair, last year's best actor pool was fairly small. IMO, Forest Whitaker and Ryan Gosling were really the only standouts.

I guess you didn't see Venus.

To be fair, last year's best actor pool was fairly small. IMO, Forest Whitaker and Ryan Gosling were really the only standouts.

I guess you didn't see Venus.

 

Oh, but I did. O'Toole gave a great performance like always but it just wasn't a standout performance to me. Plus, being a legendary actor, especially one who has never won an oscar for acting, made him very Oscar baity and rightfully so.