I've spotted some other sites doing this lately and I am nothing - nothing! - if not a follower. It is the half point of the year though, give or take, so tis the season for us all to look back on these past six months of 2010 and separate some wheat from some chaff. So here I give you the five best movies I've seen so far this year.
Please Give - I never wrote a review for Nicole Holofcener's sharp comedy but it hasn't left my brain since spying it a couple weeks back. Walking around New York, as I am apt to do since I live here and all, scenes from the film keep leaping back into my brain... mostly Catherine Keener's hilarious and/or cringe-worthy interactions with the less-fortunate (and those she assumes to be less fortunate) on the city's streets.
Micmacs - my review - Since I just wrote up those incredibly brief thoughts earlier this week I haven't really found more to say on the movie. It exists in a place of amusement where the amusement doesn't translate easily into words. At least not words that don't make me doubt my appreciation for the film. Words like "Whimsical!" and "Cute!" and that kind of garbage. But it is whimsical and it is cute, and I like it anyway. And it's whimsical and cute and filled with landmine humor, so that offsets the sweetness enough.
The Ghost Writer - my review - Am I am completely daft fool to be holding out hope that this film or at least Olivia Williams' performance therein could score some awards in the Fall? When it finally comes out on DVD and we get the second round of "It's inappropriate to even watch a Polanski movie!" circus of opinions perhaps it'll give her renewed edge.
Greenberg - my review - I feel as if this one might lose traction as the year goes on; it's already slipped from my mind an awful lot. That's presumably my til-this-movie generalized dislike of Noah Baumbach talking though. Once I see the movie a second time and Greta Gerwig charms me anew I'll probably fall under its sun-dappled spell again.
Fish Tank - my review - Although just below this I'm gonna mention another movie that feels maybe too 2009-ish to be included here, there was no way I was stepping back from my love for Andrea Arnold's movie over such concerns. I really dug this movie the first three times I watched it and although it's been a couple months since it stirs my heart right now thinking back through Mia's precisely-documented story. Say hello to the whales for me!
And I didn't even mention Michael Fassbender!
Oh wait... there I go.
Oh wait... there I go.
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Two films I haven't quite figured out what I'm doing with yet are Todd Solondz's Life During Wartime (my review) and Jacques Audiard's A Prophet.
LDW is actually being released on July 23rd so I guess I'll hold off on it til it's properly released. As for A Prophet it feels so last year to me, even though I didn't see it until this year... I'll have to figure that out when the time comes and apparently I decided that this post is not that time coming, so it sits at the side for now. But it's fantastic! They both are.
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So what's the best movie you've seen so far this year?
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10 comments:
I'm counting A Prophet as 2010 because it wasn't released in the U.S. until then. It's still my #1 so far.
I watched Life During Wartime at TIFF and I loved it! It's no Happiness but it's still great. The only really 'good' films I've watched this year are Please Give, Greenberg and Chloe. And while I liked them tons, I do hope that by the end of the year these still aren't the best I've seen.
Best movie I've see this year? The Ghost Writer. I'm excited to see Greenberg, but I haven't yet.
Well, out of all the movies named, i've only seen Fish Tank and it was pretty great. I wasn't too fond of how it ended, but there was honestly nowhere else to go.
and Fassbender. That man was disturbingly hot. In that um, 'particular' scene with Katie where he asked her two particular questions...well, um.
you know what? i'll stop there.
whoops, just had a thought.
Katie ----> Mia.
Katie Jarvis was the actress. :S
Hmm, I'd have to go with Micmacs, but I haven't seen many really good movies at the theatre so far this year. I'm seeing The White Ribbon tonight and then Fish Tank on Sunday for my birthday, so my choice might have changed by Monday.
I only have a top 2 so far:
Exit through the Gift shop (a must-see documentary if you love arts in general!)
and
Please Give
Disappointments so far: Shutter Island and Ghost Writer Sorry guys, I don't know why people like the movie so much. It's a good adult suspense movie, but I thought there are many problems with it (one of them is I never believe Ewan's character is in danger, and the ending??? )
I am Love, closely followed by Room in Rome...
Ooh I am DYING to see I Am Love, Noecitos! DYING.
Marshall1 - you don't like the ending of The Ghost Writer? I love the last ten minutes or so - LOVE - and think the last shot is just beautifully executed. But what I like most about TGW is probably just what you said, "it's a good adult suspense thriller." I know how you meant that, as it only being good, and for the most part I agree at least in terms of suspense plotting, but I think the acting and the shooting of that stuff elevates it - it's so beautifully shot, so so so - and it also gets a lot of leeway just for being smart and adult, which comes down the pike so rarely that it's like lapping up a hunt of sunlight from the bottom of the forest.
very nice movie choice,
I watch Fish Tank yesterday and love it!
actually it has something in common with The Ghost Writer, they both end with a masterly detail that gives so much sense to the whole movie.
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