274-250

Two blogs in two days? Can it be?

274. Stargate (1994) D: Roland Emmerich

Trashy action pic which raises some interesting points about the origins of the pyramids. I won't lie and say that Egypt has always fascinated me, but I will say that I am intrigued by extra-terrestrial theories regarding the sophistication of ancient cultures.

Performance to Savor: None
Memorable Moment: None

273. Garden State (2004) D: Zach Braff

The movie for "our" generation. "Our" meaning disaffected, drugged out, psychologically damaged, and emotionally unengaged youths. A fine first effort for young director Mr. Braff, and some genuinely touching scenes. I look forward to his maturation as an auteur with the hope that he will embue his future characters with some distinguishing qualities.

Performance to Savor: Peter Sarsgaard
Memorable Moment: None

272. He Got Game (1998) D: Spike Lee

Nowadays Jesus would just go pro.

Performance to Savor: Ray Allen
Memorable Moment: None

271. Erin Brockovich (2000) D: Steven Soderbergh

I feel that if I applaud Julia Roberts' performance, it will be percieved that I am only doing so because she displayed her *ahem* assets. Whatever, she did win an Acadamy Award (nomination deserved, award not...should've gone to Ellen Burstyn), and Albert Finney is his usual solid self.

Performance to Savor: Julia Roberts
Memorable Moment: None

270. Point Break (1991) D: Kathryn Bigelow

This movie is so underrated. Its got Patrick Swayze in his prime, Keanu Reeves just starting to get popular, and a super-grizzled Gary Busey. Set in the world of surfing bank-robbers, why don't more people talk about it? Pure adreneline and fun. Johnny Utah.

Performance to Savor: Patrick Swayze
Memorable Moment: Skydiving

269. Election (1999) D: Alexander Payne

Payne's best quality as a director is his ability to direct dialogue. He's able to make conversations seem as real as possible, without approaching documentary hyper-realism. That's pretty much all I wanted to say. Too bad he decided to cast Oz.

Performance to Savor: Reese Witherspoon
Memorable Moment: None

268. Kids (1995) D: Larry Clark

Not quite shock-for-shock's-sake...but close. Brian tells me this isn't how kids for jersey act. Thank God.

Performance to Savor: Leo Fitzpatrick
Memorable Moment: None

267. Office Space (1999) D: Mike Judge

A hated this movie when I first saw it. Mostly because I was an enormouse fan of Beavis and Butthead, and that's what I was expecting from Judge. When I didn't get it, I rebelled. But, this movie has a strong re-watchability factor, and once I stepped out from under B&B's large shadow, I enjoyed this comedy for what it is: A searing look at dreams, happiness, relationships, and work. That was vague and general.

Performance to Savor: David Herman
Memorable Moment: Beating up the printer

266. eXistenZ (1999) D: David Cronenberg

This was billed as "the next Matrix!", which obviously its not. I don't recall it having much of a theatrical run, and I myself only saw it on video. Nonetheless, it is quite the clever tale with a bit of a good twist. Check it out if you're in the mood for some a good sci-fi.

Performance to Savor: None
Memorable Moment: None

265. Rob Roy (1995) D: Michael Caton-Jones

Worthy of the drink! (wait, is that good or bad?)

Performance to Savor: Tim Roth
Memorable Moment: The final duel

264. The Naked Gun (1991) D: David Zucker

Far and away the best of the Naked Gun series, long before Leslie Nielson wore out his spoofical welcome.

Performance to Savor: Leslie Nielson
Memorable Moment: None

263. Carrie (1976) D: Brian De Palma

The way that a Stephen King book adaption should be done. Most of the time, movies get too obsessed with including too much of King's books (which is easy to do), that they ultimately lose King's sense of impending horror. Here, De Palma rightly decides to strip the book to its bare bones, and sets the viewer on a collision course with its shocking finale. Truly disturbing...especially for anyone in high school who ever felt picked on.

Performance to Savor: Sissy Spacek
Memorable Moment: Covered in blood

262. Batman (1989) D: Tim Burton

Before Burton decided to out-Burton himself by making the hyper Burton-y "Batman Returns", there was this flick, where Burton amplified the atmosphere, rather than suffocating it. It remains to be seen what Christian Bale does with "Batman Begins", but so far, Keaton has done the best job with balancing Batman/Bruce Wayne, and keeping them seperate characters.

Performance to Savor: Jack Nicholson
Memorable Moment: None

261. Pleasantville (1998) D: Gary Ross

A truly unique idea, beatifully shot by Ross and gorgeously brought to the silver screen. Excellent use of visuals to communicate some social commentary about censorship and values.

Performance to Savor: Joan Allen
Memorable Moment: With the Ice Cream Man

260. Basic Instinct (1992) D: Paul Verhoeven

Before I start: they're making a sequel. So dumb. This movie is infamous for its interrogation scene, and for Verhoeven's filmography. But, it actually is quite the thriller, with enough pacing and suspense to keep you interested in the story, not just looking at Sharon Stone. Which is saying something. Kind of pusses out at the end.

Performance to Savor: Sharon Stone
Memorable Moment: The interrogation

259. The Goonies (1985) D: Richard Donner

They're making a sequel to this as well. So dumb. Filmed in Oregon. One of my friends in high school had a band named "The Fertellies".

Performance to Savor: None
Memorable Moment: None

258. Nell (1994) D: Michael Apted

Shah-nay. Nay-sh-sh-sh-hay-a-nay-hay. Nay-a-shnay-sh-nay.

Performance to Savor: Jodie Foster
Memorable Moment: None

257. Say Anything (1989) D: Cameron Crowe

Ione Skye. Damn.

Performance to Savor: John Cusack

256. Shine (1996) D: Scott Hicks

You may not know it from looking at me, but I was once a serious piano student. And pretty good too. But, as with most males that age, I didn't think it was important, and gave it up in favor of more fleeting interests ( student government, parties, etc...) I wish I hadn't, and would like to some day continue my studies. That said, I have studied some Rachmaninoff, and his musical genius is surpassed only by his necessity to make everything he writes as hard to play as possible. The Rach 4 truly is the hardest piano piece ever written. Only 4 or 5 pianists have ever played it in concert. Others can play it, of course, but not consistantly well enough to do so on stage. Remarkable story about a man driven crazy by his obsession with this piece, and his ultimate redemption by it.

Performance to Savor: Geoffrey Rush
Memorable Moment: Conquering the Rach 4

255. The People v. Larry Flynt (1996) D: Milos Forman

Nothin' really to say. Its a good movie.

Performance to Savor: Woody Harrelson
Memorable Moment: None

254. Shadow of the Vampire (2000) D. E. Elias Merhige

When Grace came to Madras the summer after freshman year, we were, one night, looking to rent a movie. Usually this is a long and drawn out process ending only when one of us concedes. Remarkably, we stumbled upon this, which we both wanted to see, and were both happy to see right then. It was like the planets aligning.

Performance to Savor: Willem Dafoe
Memorable Moment: None

253. The Arrival (1996) D: David Twohy

Another diamond in the rough. Inexplicably starring an inexplicably good Charlie Sheen wearing an inexplicable goatee.

Performance to Savor: Charlie Sheen
Memorable Moment: None

252. Billy Budd (1962) D: Peter Ustinov

Terrence Stamp's first movie as the young angelic Billy Budd. I once wrote an entire paper analyzing this movie, but I won't bore you with that now. Mostly its about the loss of innocence and role of corporeal punishment.

Performance to Savor: Robert Ryan
Memorable Moment: None

251. The Secret of Roan Inish (1994) D: John Sayles

Magical.

Performance to Savor: Jeni Courteny
Memorable Moment: None

250. Waterworld (1995) D: Kevin Reynolds

Not all that great, mostly relative to budget and Costner's inability to succesfully execute an epic not called "Dances With Wolves". But, everytime its on TV I find myself watching it, and can't, in good faith deny that I enjoy it.

Performance to Savor: None
Memorable Moment: Bungee jump