Blogcritics

2008 at the Movies: Looking Back on the First Half

Chris Beaumont — Wed, 2 Jul 2008 09:06:30 EDT

The very best and the very worst of the past six months.
Wow, the months sure do slip away, don't they? It's hard to believe we are already halfway through the 2008 campaign. It feels like only yesterday that I was sitting down to see Cloverfield, wondering just what we were all in store for. Wasn't it just last week that I was catching up on late 2007 releases like There Will Be Blood, The...

Oscars 2008: A Post-Mortem

Chris Beaumont — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 06:44:24 EST

A look back on the highlights, moments, and my bad choices.
Well, it's all over. The 80th Academy Awards ceremony has come and gone, although I suspect there are parties still raging as I type this. Everyone who walked away with a statuette should be proud; you accomplished something. You made a film that a large group of people truly enjoyed and was deemed strong enough to be considered one of the...

My Oscar Predictions: 2008 Edition

Chris Beaumont — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 07:33:32 EST

My picks for this year's awards -- how close will I be?
Each year the Academy gathers and votes on the best films of the year. Sometimes they are right, sometimes they are wrong, and sometimes the best films aren't even nominated! Of course, awards in general are mere marketing tools. Yes, the nominated films are all worthy of being there (more or less), but whether or not they can be considered the...

2007 at the Movies, Part IV: Behind the Camera

Chris Beaumont — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 19:50:21 EST

A look at those who don't appear on camera.
Welcome to the fourth part of my reflections on the films delivered during 2007 (be sure to read parts one, two, and three). So far we have gone through the best and worst films, as well as the best performances of the year. The only thing left is to recognize those who work tirelessly behind the camera to create these fantastic films. Without...

2007 at the Movies, Part III: In Front of the Camera

Chris Beaumont — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 07:44:10 EST

Recognizing the best performances of the past year.
If you have read parts one and two of my look back at the movies of 2007, you will know that the year has had its share of good and bad movies. However, if you look at the year as a whole, it was most definitely a good year for the cinema. Anytime that the alternates to the top ten list reaches twenty, you have to believe it was a good year. The...

2007 at the Movies, Part II: The Worst of the Year

Chris Beaumont — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 09:56:19 EST

Let's take a closer look at the cinematrocities of 2007.
Welcome to the second part of my 2007 retrospective. Part one took a look at what made 2007 an excellent year for the movies. While it is true 2007 was a good year for movies, it was not without its share of stinkers; what year is? Not only that, there were a decent amount of big screen disappointments that may not be outright bad movies, but they...

2007 at the Movies, Part I: The Best of the Year

Chris Beaumont — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 21:28:10 EST

The long awaited list. Go on, see who won.
2008 is here. That means we are deep into the "Best Of" list season. Be it music, movies, books, or something entirely different, everyone is putting out lists of what they think was the best of the recently concluded year. I love checking out these lists; it's always interesting to get a glimpse into others' thoughts of the...

Announcement: Short-content feeds

Phillip Winn — Sun, 26 Aug 2007 12:00:00 EDT

Sunday, August 26, 2007, marks the switch of all Blogcritics.org article feeds from full-content to short-content. This is the result of several converging factors, and is unfortunately a permanent decision (as permanent as any decision can be on the web, that is). We are aware of all of the reasons that this is a Bad Idea, and we are aware that some of you will be quite upset about having to click on something to read the free content, and we're sorry. Unfortunately, despite great effort, full-content feeds are not currently economically viable. Two other factors are involved: full-content feeds have resulted in an unprecedented level of content theft, with BC content appearing on many websites, usually spam sites, without attribution or permission. This duplicate content causes a cascading set of problems, not the least of which is that search engines generally aren't favorable to duplicate content, and don't always guess correctly. Finally, our RSS advertising partner is strongly in favor of short-content feeds. We hope that you'll continue to subscribe to BC via RSS, and when an article grabs your eye, it's only a click away, still free on the BC website. Thank you for your understanding.

2007 at the Movies: The First Half

Chris Beaumont — Mon, 2 Jul 2007 13:12:09 EDT

The month of June has just ended, marking the completion of the first half of the year. With six months down, it seems like a good time to take a look back at the year so far. Like every year, it has had its ups and downs. Looking back at the films that have already come and gone, it looks like the year has had more ups than downs, and with Oscar season still to come, not to mention a few big summer movies yet to come, things have nowhere to go but up -- I hope! Read on for my best, and worst, of the year so far.Top 5 MoviesKnocked Up. Judd Apatow really knocked this one out of the park, delivering a raunchy comedy with genuine heart. It is much like he did with 40 Year Old Virgin, but this one takes a big step forward, delivering a very real environment. There is something that really hits home -- the situation, the dialogue, everything hits just the right notes.Ratatouille. Brad Bird and Pixar's latest outing is a triumph in animation and in storytelling. It works on many levels, delivering laughs and characters with plenty for children and adults to enjoy.300. Zack Snyder hits it big with this surprise hit. The movie is the basis of legend, showing how legend begins. It is also very stylish, hyper-violent, and just all around one of the best action films to truly deliver in a while.Hot Fuzz. Pure brilliance. Edgar Wright, with Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, delivers a film that parodies action at the same time it pays tribute to the genre. It is smart, clever, and doesn't skimp on the bullets.Black Snake Moan. Here is a film that offers a lot of depth beneath its exploitative surface. It features strong direction, and fearless performances from its two leads that carries its tale of redemption further than one would expect.Bottom 5 MoviesEpic Movie. This is an easy pick, but it points to all the problems with spoofs these days. It is rare that we get one that works, more likely they are like this with a string of unfunny replicas from other films. (See Hot Fuzz for one done right.)Norbit. Another easy pick; this was flat out not funny. The performances are flat, the jokes are borderline offensive. It was not a happy day at the theater.Happily N'Ever After. Another fractured fairy tale, but one that doesn't work. The idea was there, but the execution faltered at every turn. The animation was poor, the voice acting dull. This is a good cure for insomnia.Blood & Chocolate. Didn't we already see this story as An American Werewolf in Paris? That wasn't a great movie, but it is worlds better than this thing.Perfect Stranger. Ugh. Poor acting, poor story, and an ending that treats the audience like they're idiots. Not a good outing for Halle.Top 5 Disappointments.Spider-Man 3. Yes, I enjoyed the spectacle, the effects were good, and I walked out with something resembling a smile, but it had a poor story, and characterizations that betray what came in the first two films. So much promise, such a disappointment.Shrek the Third. Yes, it had a couple of laugh out loud moments, but it was slow, the story was dumb, and it lost track of its fractured fairy tale roots.Next. A great concept, a basis from a Philip K. Dick story, yet so poor in execution. The story did not amount to anything, not to mention the poor performances and the jagged story telling.The Number 23. I wanted to like this. I think Carrey can do drama, I think the thriller had potential, but it just did not entertain.Pathfinder. The wait for a good Viking movie continues. Sure, some of the action was good, but it could have been so much better.Top 5 ActorsSamuel L. Jackson (Black Snake Moan). As the bluesman looking to redeem himself, Jackson put himself out there, selling the role and showing just how good an actor he can be.Michael Shannon (Bug). I did not care for Shannon's role in last year's World Trade Center, but here he takes his portrayal to the edge as the uber-creepy Peter, the man with the conspiracy tales. He is very good in this role.Adam Sandler (Reign Over Me). Sandler put me through an emotional wringer as a man who lost his family in 9/11 and is attempting to regain his life with the help of Don Cheadle. Joseph Gordon Levitt (The Lookout). Levitt is fast becoming one of the best up and coming actors of his generation. Following Mysterious Skin and Brick, this is another great performance. He is definitely an actor to keep an eye on.Gerard Butler (300). Butler steps up his game and anchors the big, in your face style that this movie delivers. Top 5 ActressesAshley Judd (Bug). Judd disappears into her character, slowly going insane and going right to the edge of the precipice and then diving in. Brave performance, she dives in without fear.Angelina Jolie (A Mighty Heart). There has been much controversy surrounding her playing Mariane Pearl, but there is no denying that her performance was first rate, she convinced me, losing the star image and playing the role.Tabu (The Namesake). As the matriarch of the Ganguli family, Tabu really owned the role, and anchored the movie with her sensitive portrayal.Keri Russell (Waitress). This movie was as sweet as the pies that it features, and Russell added to the sweetness while also grounded the picture with her matter-of-factness.Christina Ricci (Black Snake Moan). Much like Ashley Judd, Ricci took her performance to the brink, and then dove in with no sign of fear. As the troubled youth, Ricci was captivating.Top 5 DirectorsJudd Apatow (Knocked Up). Apatow is establishing himself as the premiere comedy director. He recognizes that you need to have more than big laughs to make a movie, and his direction here of his cast is perfectly timed. Strong work.Zack Snyder (300). Snyder flexed his stylish and creative muscle, making the most of the opportunity, thereby establishing himself as a director on the rise.Brad Bird (Ratatouille). Can he do no wrong? His first film since The Incredibles is a brilliant blend of story, comedy, and character.Edgar Wright (Hot Fuzz). The follow up to Shawn of the Dead is a masterful tribute/parody of the action genre. It offers great laughs and big actionDavid Fincher (Zodiac). Fincher is a masterful director, completely immersing us in the sixties and seventies as the search for a killer progresses. Top 5 WritersJudd Apatow (Knocked Up). A wonderful script that has that perfect blend of raunchy comedy and heartfelt moments that work together. It hits on a lot of real issues and deals with them in a nice manner.Craig Brewer (Black Snake Moan). A risky project that Brewer deals with wonderfully. Blending great music, an exploitation veneer, and a story of hope, the screenplay doesn't pull its punches, and delivers the goods.Brad Bird (Ratatouille). A delightful script that tells a nice story, offers laughs and nicely defined characters. It is much better than I had expected.Tracy Letts (Bug). Letts adapts his own stage play to the big screen, which is a strong piece of paranoia-building that works. It is creepy and edgy, and different from what usually arrives on the big screen.Jeff Stockwell and David Paterson (Bridge to Terabithia). So much more than the Narnia 2 it was marketed as, this was a beautifully written coming of age story that tugs at the heartstrings.Of course, these lists can change at any time, for any reason, or no reason at all. Writing a list is always a tricky proposition, and lists are apt to be fluid based on any number of factors. Hopefully, this gives an idea of where I was while watching these movies of the first half of the year.This year has been good, more often than not. It has offered up many good films, some of which are not represented above, but could be in contention come the end of the year. In particular, this year has been particularly good on the horror front, in my opinion, delivering films such as The Abandoned, 28 Weeks Later, Vacancy, Bug, 1408, Dead Silence, Hostel Part II, Grindhouse, and even The Hills Have Eyes II. It feels like years since there has been as good a selection of horror on the big screen. We have also gotten a couple of the best family films of recent memory in Bridge to Terabithia and Ratatouille. While the year has had a lot of good and surprisingly good films, it has not been all roses. Spider-Man and Shrek sequels failed to deliver he goods, Evan Almighty failed to give up the laughs, and we have also gotten lackluster films featuring Demi Moore, Jim Carrey, Lindsay Lohan, Nicolas Cage, Halle Berry, Hillary Swank, and Eddie Murphy.Looking forward, the summer still has a lot left to offer. Looking into the near future we have Transformers, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, The Simpsons Movie, and The Bourne Ultimatum to look forward to. To a lesser degree, I am looking forward to Sunshine, Talk to Me, Captivity, Rush Hour 3, The Invasion, Superbad, and Halloween. That is just for the summer. Moving into the fall, the potential quality doesn't disappear with a whole slew of films to look forward to. Among them are The Brave One, Shoot 'Em Up, Eastern Promises, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, 3:10 to Yuma, Across the Universe, Hitman, 30 Days of Night, Bee Movie, Saw IV, Fred Klaus, and the list goes on.I am very happy so far with what we have gotten. Hopefully that will continue as we continue our march towards Oscar season.

Christopher Beaumont spends much of his time writing about entertainment when he isn't sitting in a movie theater. He is known around the office as the "Movie Guy" and is always ready to talk about his favorite form of entertainment and offer up recommendations. Interests include science fiction, horror, and metal music. His writings can be found at Draven99's Musings, as well as Film School Rejects.

2006 at the Movies Part V: Revisits and Revisions

Chris Beaumont — Wed, 7 Feb 2007 12:25:35 EST

After sitting with my lists for a little while and seeing a few more 2006 films, I have gone back and made a few revisions to the list. Among the affected lists are Best Score, Best Supporting Actor, Best Actress, and Best Picture. What you are about to read are my previously issued lists, revised to include the new entrants, along with notes of what the changes were. The comments for the films and performers that are still on the list are the same as before, but it is worth refreshing yourself with some of the year's best. Read on.1. Children of Men. The most recent film that I saw for the year is also the greatest. Watching this was a transcendent experience. Alfonso Cuaron has crafted a film of high technical achievement that brings religious and political concepts together in a drama that is gripping and involving on a visceral and emotional level. It is a science fiction film that is not confined by the genre, less occupied with explaining the situation as it is with letting the situation speak for itself and deliver characters that are mired within its confines. This is a powerful movie that delivers the goods and hits all the right notes -- from the performances, to the cinematography, to the script, to the score, everything is just right. 2. Pan's Labyrinth. Guillermo del Toro's fantasy film is absolutely amazing. He masterfully intertwines a young girl's fantasy and reality into one beautiful yet deadly tapestry. It is the story of Ofelia, a girl who needs to be protector to her pregnant mother in the face of her sadistic stepfather, who is the captain of a garrison whose purpose is to wipe out the remaining rebels at the end of the Spanish Civil War. This is a truly original and completely breathtaking vision that pays off visually and narratively. It is open to interpretation and can be taken a number of different ways. 3. The Departed. Martin Scorsese’s latest masterpiece is a remake, and an expansion on, the Hong Kong film Infernal Affairs. The original film is a thrilling game of cat and mouse, a game which Scorsese has taken, with screenwriter William Monahan, and upped the ante in its conversion to a tale of the mob in Boston, a film that is alternately hilarious and edge-of-your-seat thrilling. The ensemble cast carries the drama of the setup, with Jack Nicholson chewing scenery as the larger than life crime boss. This is another movie that delivers deadly serious entertainment in a fast paced and involving way. This could possibly lead to Scorsese’s first Best Director Oscar.4. Brick. Here is a film that caught me off guard. I went in expecting a good movie, you know, what every movie-goer is hoping for. What I got was a mash-up of genres that was engrossing and fascinating, without creating any type of connection between the audience and the characters. Take the high school drama and cross it with film noir, and you get a start towards what this movie is. Joseph Gordon-Levitt stars as a high schooler looking to stir up some trouble towards the end of uncovering the mystery of his estranged girlfriend’s murder. This is a great movie that is not easily defined, yet completely engrossing.5. The Prestige. This is movie magic. This is one of the reasons that people go to the movies. Christopher Nolan has crafted an intricate mystery that has a story that is involving, a cast that is highly talented, and an ending that is satisfying, yet leaves you thinking about what you just saw. On the surface it is a story of rival magicians, but the mystery runs much deeper than that as the competition is much more personal and all consuming.6. Letters from Iwo Jima. The second half of Eastwood's visionary experiment in film. From the American perspective of Flags of Our Fathers to the Japanese vision depicted here, Clint has delivered a film of epic scope with personal implications. It is a film that draws you in until the final frame and features the wonderful performance of Ken Watanabe as General Kuribayashi.7. United 93. Amidst cries of “Too soon!” director Paul Greengrass moved forward with his filmed tribute to those brave souls who lost their lives on 9/11. With the approval of the families, he created a gripping drama that puts you right in the middle of the day. It is a film that makes the audience a fly on the wall, watching, helplessly as the fateful events of the day unfold in front of you. It is free of the trappings of Hollywood cliches, and is a strong, potent, emotional journey. 8. Apocalypto. Here is the best pure action film of the year. This will have you on the edge of your seat as you watch Jaguar Paw outwit his pursuers. Mel Gibson has taken what seems like a pretty common story thread, translated it to the end times of the Mayan civilization and then turned the pace to eleven. This is a huge spectacle of an action film. Sure, you could pick it apart for deeper meaning, but it is wholly unnecessary, as the action is big enough and exciting enough to sustain interest throughout the runtime. It is vividly shot, plenty violent, and surprisingly funny. This is a film to experience on the big screen, B-movie action elevated by its unique setting.9. Casino Royale. This is the best Bond film in decades, but even better than that is that it is a good movie. Daniel Craig slides effortlessly into the role, replacing Pierce Brosnan, and in doing so has helped bring Bond back to his roots. Director Martin Campbell has crafted a gritty, reality-based film that is filled with intrigue, brutal action, and a great performance from all involved.10. V for Vendetta. I found the film to be fascinating and wonderfully acted. My major question lies in whether this is meant to have a straightforward narrative, or if there are liberties taken within that narrative to express the ideas and concepts at the expense of the plot. Whatever the case is, V for Vendetta is a rare thriller of the modern age to have the concepts and ideas overshadow the action. This is a movie to be seen on the big screen. Hugo Weaving is fantastic in the role of V, successfully conveying a range that I thought impossible when you are unable to see his face.NOTES: Babel and Blood Diamond were knocked off the list in favor of Pan's Labyrinth and Letters from Iwo Jima. United 93 moved from 4 to 6, Apocalypto from 6 to 8, The Departed, Brick, and Casino Royale moved down one each. Children of Men, The Prestige, and V for Vendetta held their position.Best Actress 1. Helen Mirren, The Queen. Much like Forest Whitaker did in The Last King of Scotland, Helen Mirren turned in a great performance as a person from the real world. She brings a touch of emotion to a role that could just as easily have been entirely cold and clinical. 2.Meryl Streep, The Devil Wears Prada. Deliciously evil, Streep gives a wonderful performance here, showing us all that it is possible to mold someone into what they do not wish to be without their knowledge. Quite subversive. 3. Judi Dench, Notes on a Scandal. Rounding out the top three, Judi Dench steps up to the plate and knocks it out of the park. This is one of those performances, along with those of Mirren and Streep, that should be studied. If you want to learn to act, this is a performance that puts on a clinic. She makes it look so easy.4. Annette Bening, Running with Scissors. I cannot claim to really like the movie, but Bening rises above it and literally stole the show out from under everyone else. She plays a mother with a mental disorder that goes through some odd personality changes.5. Penelope Cruz, Volver. The movie on the whole left me wanting more, I wanted to know more of the plot. Still, there is something completely enchanting about Cruz's performance that drew me in. It is easily the best performance I have ever seen from her and shows what she is truly capable of outside of the Hollywood system.NOTES: Gretchen Mol (The Notorious Bettie Page) and Kirsten Dunst (Marie Antoinette) dropped off the list in favor of Judi Dench and Penelope Cruz, and Annette Bening dropped one position.Best Supporting Actor 1. Kazunari Ninomiya, Letters from Iwo Jima. This performance is very involving. Ninomiya is Saigo, a baker who is conscripted into service and taken away from his pregnant wife and forced to fight in a war he wants no part of. His character may not be typical of Japanese soldiers of the time, but the performance and everything around it feels genuine.2. Ben Affleck, Hollywoodland. This is quite possibly the best performance of his career. He perfectly captured the suave, handsome Reeves, and the troubles that he experienced leading to his mysterious, and still unsolved, demise.3. Jack Nicholson, The Departed. Jack in another scene-stealing performance. As the crime boss of Boston, he takes his performance to the edge yet never quite goes over. It is a strong part from a strong actor.4. Djimon Hounsou, Blood Diamond. The role seems to be written slightly to the one-dimensional side, with the father trying to get to his family, but Hounsou is such a great presence on the screen. His high energy performance is downright captivating.5. Eddie Murphy, Dreamgirls. What a surprisingly good performance from Eddie -- not that I didn't think he had it, I just did not expect it. The role really kicked up in the latter portions of the film, he had a really moving character arc that had more impact than I had expected. NOTES: Alan Arkin dropped off the list in favor of Kazunari Ninomiya. Jack Nicholson and Ben Affleck each dropped one spot.Best Supporting Actress1. Jennifer Hudson, Dreamgirls. All I can say is "Wow." Her performance floored me. She carries the entire emotional weight of the film on much more than the strength of her voice (which is considerable). 2. Adriana Barraza, Babel. Speaking of carrying emotional weight, Adriana carries a lot of it in Babel. Her role as the nanny is a strong one, her willingness to give up everything for the sake of the children, despite her mistakes. Quite moving. 3. Geraldine Hughes, Rocky Balboa. It is a very understated role, but a vital one. Rocky is moving on in his life, and she provides a good portion of the motivation. Watching the relationship develop, it was sweet and each beat rang true. 4. Maribel Verdú, Pan's Labyrinth. Playing something of a double agent, Maribel gives Mercedes a strength that belies her belief in herself. A strong role in an amazing film. 5. Cate Blanchett, Notes on a Scandal. In a role that seems ripped from the headlines, Blanchett plays a teacher who has an illicit liasion with one of her students. She plays the role wonderfully. You can feel her fear of being caught tempered by the feelings she has for the boy. The performance steps above the soapy material and is just fantastic.NOTES: Eva Green slips off in favor of Blanchett. The rest remain the same.Best Director1. Guillermo del Toro, Pan's Labyrinth. One of the year's finest films, helmed by a director fulfilling his potential. I have always been a fan of his work, but often it has been at a level lower than what we have found here. His work has generally risen above similar works in the genre, always hinting at what he could do. This is a film that is magical, it is dark, it has hope, it has violence, and you are not safe. Amazing film from a director at the top of his game. 2. Alfonso Cuaron, Children of Men. This was my favorite theatrical viewing for the year, and Cuaron very nearly took the top spot. His work here is very impressive, he brings us a perfectly realized world that draws you in with each frame. 3. Martin Scorsese, The Departed. As much as I would like to see Marty take home the big prize, he comes in third on my list. He made a completely involving film that actually surpasses its source material. It is quick, funny, thrilling, and suspenseful, and masterfully directed. 4. Christopher Nolan, The Prestige. Nolan has fast come into his own as a first rate director, not having a failure yet. His follow-up to Batman Begins is a suspenseful struggle between two dominant personalities. Of course, he had a couple of great performances to work with, but much credit to the man behind the camera. 5. Clint Eastwood, Letters from Iwo Jima. Eastwood deftly balances the horror of war and the intimate stories of the soldiers enveloped with it. He brings a face to the enemy and draws out some great performances. He is at the top of his game, and he really stepped up on this ambitious project.NOTES: Paul Greengrass is replaced with Clint Eastwood as the anchor of my top 5.Best Cinematography 1. Emmanuel Lubezki, Children of Men. A bleak and fully realized world. For two hours you will be a part of this world, so carefully constructed that you will believe. For some truly amazing scenes, take a look at the battle at the refugee camp.2. Dean Semler, Apocalypto. This is a pure action film, and the cinematography is breathtaking. Running through the jungle has never seemed so real; of course I am not sure the last time I saw anything like this. There are some gorgeously composed shots in this film, the waterfall, for example.3. Vilmos Zsigmond, The Black Dahlia. The film may have been overrated and a little too self-aware, but there is no denying how beautiful some of it looks. The use of angles and colors always offers something to look at while you spend time not becoming invested in the film itself.4. Guillermo Navarro, Pan's Labyrinth. Much like Children of Men, this movie also creates an utterly convincing world, both real and unreal. The drained colors, the dark viciousness -- there is a fantastic visual sense that permeates everything that comes on the screen.5. John Stern, Letters from Iwo Jima. With desaturated colors, punctuated explosions, and some great framing, Stern has created a wonderful look for the island battle. It feels like you are there, surrounded by the grimness of war.NOTES: Dan Laustsen is replaced with John Stern at number 5.Best Score 1. Clint Mansell, The Fountain. Hands down, my favorite score of the year. The film left me scratching my head, in a good way, but the music was beautiful and haunting. The music, performed by Mogwai and the Kronos Quartet, provides a surreal soundscape for the film that is interested in pushing the boundaries and takes chances with the art form.2. Hans Zimmer, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest. This score has the distinction of igniting my interest in movie music (there is always Star Wars, but even non-score fans like it). For better or worse, I love the big bombastic score that Hans Zimmer delivered. From the playful theme for Jack Sparrow to the more menacing strains for Davy Jones and the Kraken, I loved every note of it.3. Philip Glass, Notes on a Scandal. I have not seen the film, but I very much like the beautiful minimal score that Glass has created. I know the name, but I am not familiar with much of his work, but if it is like this or better I am interested in listening.4. David Arnold, Casino Royale. I really enjoyed the score, even without the full use of the classic theme until the end. It has the brassy sound of the old John Barry work, yet doesn't sound derivative; rather it fits the movie well and stands strong on its own.5. Kyle Eastwood and Michael Stevens, Letters from Iwo Jima. A sad, haunting theme dominates this score. It is music that leaves an impression and mirrors the feelings of those who fought on the tiny island.NOTES: Mark Isham (The Black Dahlia) is replaced in the number five hole.That about brings my 2006 lists to a close. I hope you found something to like, if not, there is always 2007!Be sure to check out the original versions of theses lists and the lists that did not change: Part I, Part II, Part III, and Part IV.

2006 at the Movies Part II: My Bottom Ten

Chris Beaumont — Mon, 8 Jan 2007 14:36:13 EST

Going to the movies can be a painful experience. As much as I hope that everything I go to will be entertaining, there are many, many films that do not have much to offer. 2006 had its share of bad movies. Fortunately, I do not regret seeing any of them. I can take a little pain in order to better serve my faithful readers. I try to remain positive. Every movie has its fans and every movie has something to offer, even if it only serves to show how not to make a movie.What you are about to read is a list of the 10 films that landed unceremoniously at the bottom of my rankings for 2006. I have to say that it was not all that difficult to boil down my stew of films to the essence of bad. Well, the bad doesn't really need all that much introduction. Read on and see what films you can safely avoid, unless you like inflicting your eyes with the potentially pain inducing sights.1. Basic Instinct 2. Simply the worst. Sharon Stone must be getting desperate for a paycheck to do this. There is nothing sexy about it, nothing thrilling, nothing intriguing. This is a sequel that no one needed and no one wanted. What can I say. This was just a dull movie. The story moved on a straight line to a conclusion that was not satisfying. The highly touted eroticism and Stone's full monty was nothing terribly exciting. It was a film that did not get anything right. An obnoxious score, laughable dialogue and poor acting are the highlights. And to think, Sharon is considering directing a second sequel.2. Date Movie. Terrible. There is only one reason to go near this, and that is the lovely Alyson Hannigan. This is just flat out not funny. All they do is mimic scenes from other films and never take them anywhere or connect them in any worthwhile fashion. It is becoming apparent that spoof comedy is losing the creativity and spunk that was exhibited back in the days of Airplane and Naked Gun. This is proof that advertising yourself as two of the six writers of Scary Movie is not necessarily saying all that much. And to think, they have another one coming out this month, Epic Movie. I can't hardly wait.3. The Return. When the PR machine has to tell you that this isn't The Grudge 2, you know you're in for a bad time. Sarah Michelle Gellar stars in this borefest that goes nowhere slowly. It is a story that has characters appear and disappear for no particular reason. There are no scares, no ingenuity. It's just a poor experience all around. Trying to write about it is a chore as the viewer is left with mere scattershot ideas of just what the filmmakers were trying to do. The best thing to do is just skip it altogether. Although it does have an fantastic poster.4. The Covenant. It takes a lot of talent to make a movie this bad. Do not believe those who tell you that people who make bad movies have no talent. It merely takes the right combination of will power and astral alignment to come together for this type of output. This could just as easily have been called Supernatural 90210. If your thing is watching twenty-somethings playing high school kids, walking around with an air of self importance while ultimately doing nothing, then this is the movie for you. I went in with low expectations, and even they were not met.5. Turistas. The posters say "Turistas Go Home." I say "moviegoers stay home." The marketing made it out to be another film in the tradition of Saw and Hostel. It deserved that pedigree, for better or worse. For those looking for splash of the red stuff, it would be best to look elsewhere. For those looking for a good movie, don't even consider this mess. Unless you are an absolute hardcore fan of the genre or related to one of the actors, this is one you can scratch off the must see list. Turistas is devoid of scares, thrills, and gore. It's merely a stand-in until something better comes along.6. An American Haunting. Avoid this movie unless you are suffering from insomnia. There is no purpose for this story, as it was made. There are nuggets that could have been a good base for a fictional film. The talents of the cast are wasted, and the direction is terribly lackluster. The only reason to even consider this would be the nice looking cinematography. Otherwise, avoid this stinker like the plague. It is based on the true story of the Bell Witch, but I don't feel as if I had learned anything about the actual event.7. Deck the Halls. I really should have known better. Deck the Halls does nothing to spread seasonal cheer. It does not embody the spirit of the holiday. It is a movie that sucks life out and makes a weak attempt to stop the haemorrhaging at the end with a half hearted climax which brings everyone together. This is the kind of movie that makes you loathe the holiday movie season. It is devoid of heart and soul and it grinds the holiday season down to a competition of lights. It presents a story in a town of some alternate universe, probably also inhabited by the Kranks of Christmas with the Kranks (which made last year's worst list), populated with paper thin characters and the superficial clichés of the season.8. When a Stranger Calls. Completely pointless thriller. Director Simon West takes a break from the slick action films he started with to make a side trek into the genre de jour of horror thriller remakes. This isn't exactly a mess so much as it just doesn't matter as a remake or as a story. There is a distinct lack of suspense and logical plot progression. I do like to have some sort of connection between the characters; this flick provides none, so the big reveal at the end is rendered meaningless. Whoops, did I just give it away? Sorry. Well, one less reason for you to bother with it.9. RV. You are about to enter the Twilight Zone: a place where movies have a strange sense of familiarity, but the faces are different. That was how I felt the further into this movie I got. I know I had seen something like this before, but I couldn't quite put my finger on it. Then it dawned on me, this could have been known as Colorado Vacation, or perhaps Vacation Camper. Whichever way you slice it, this is a Vacation movie with a different cast and different names. A movie where Robin Williams has revealed his inner Chevy Chase. The movie was not really offensive. It was just dull. The story plodded on; everyone knew where it was heading so there were no real surprises. Williams seems awfully restrained here. There is very little life to his performance, which is a shame.10. Eragon. Every once in a while a movie comes along that you know is bad, but you don't realize just how completely awful it is until days later. Sometimes you just need some time to think it through and talk it out with some others who have seen it. The movie feels incomplete. Sections of story are mysteriously missing and the flow feels off. It is a half baked retread of what has come before. If you have seen Star Wars or Lord of the Rings, you have seen a better version of this. The effects and sets are good, but not enough to save it.That about wraps it up. Ten movies you would do best to avoid. Hopefully, I have saved at least one of you a few bucks. If you are more discerning with your cinematic dollar, skip all of these movies and take a look at my Top Ten list for better spending avenues.