I saw the Ladykillers last night and was really impressed, i was expecting it to be a load of crap to tell you the truth. I really didn't wanna see it, but me and my friends were at the theatre and it was playing soon so we just went and im glad we did.

Its kind of a return to form for the Cohen Bros. It was quirky funny, beautifully shot and acted perfectly. I think the main reason i loved it so much was how well made it was, and mainly just watching Tom Hank. He truly made the movie for me, just listening to him speak could keep me entertained for hours, his performance is brilliant and he is accompanied by the old woman (to lazy to look her name up) who gave an equally brilliant performance. Watching those to go head to head was worth my 13.50, and even though the film doesn't really have much to offer and will probably lessen on second viewing, i found it whimsical and quirky enough to engage me, and like I said its beautiful.

Exams start this friday and surprisingly im really not that worried, i think have to much other crap on my plate right now so im to stressed out to even think about them, im to focused on my essay due monday and some stupid university drama i have to overcome....oh and the friend....so in love....i was in this nasty funk and we talked and i felt sooooo much better after talking and it just increased the obsession!

Ive seen a bunch of movies lately so im gonna give yall one sentence reviews of em.

[b]Coldplay Live 03 - ****[/b] - i could watch this over and over and over and over and over...and will; ive had a bad week so I curled up in bed and watched it...its just incredible; i love you Coldplay!

[b]Dawn of the Dead[/b] - *** - Good times all around, gory, campy, gross, its like playing a shoot em up game; i had a blast.

[b]The Dreamers[/b] - *** - an interesting one that I really need to see again, great performances and i loved the film references, its just a little to vague for my liking. P.S is this 2003 or 2004?

[b]Aladdin[/b] - **** - One of my faves, i can watch it over and over and weep thoroughly whenever the genie speaks, Williams is a god in this.

[b]Saving Private Ryan - **** - [/b]billionth viewing, nothigns changed, still amaze.

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[b]Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind[/b] - ****

Absolutely brilliant! Its been sooooo long since i've seen a film this great (ROTK excluded). It absolutely blew me away. I was expecting it to be quirky, and original and funny etc...because it was written by Kaufman, but I didn't think Kaufman was capable of writing a love story this powerful while at the same time fusing it with his insane ideas.

The performances were all amazing, with special kudos going out to of course the two leads, Carrey and Winslet were great, both bringing such life to their characters. With any other actors i think their characters would have melted into the scenery. Their characters could have come second to Kaufmans crazy ideas, but Carrey and Winslet manage to create such amazing and interesting characters that they truly make the film. I'd also like to point out that Elijah Wood was very good as Patrick, the smarmy technician for Laccunna Inc. who tries to steal Joels (carrey) identity throughout the film. Despite having short screen time and very few lines he was great at letting you know how desperate of a man his character was and how self depricating he was.

As usual this film is saturated with the out of this world ideas of screewrite Charlie Kaufman, we have Jim Carrey as a small child being bathed in a sink, Kursten Dunst and Mark Ruffalo dancing over Carrey's comatose body in their underwear etc...

But what I loved about this film, is that it didn't get carried away (like i thought Kaufmans previous efforts were guilty of). Sure its pretty nutty the whole way, but it never forgets about the love between Joel and Clementine.

What makes the love story so intriguing is that it really isn't a love story, you see the two of them meet and make a connection but you never really got the sense that they really loved eachother because their relationship ended so quickly and for such immature reasons. But Kaufman lets you know that its in the small things, the little moments we share that love truly exists. Watching Carrey vainly attempt to salvage some memory of Clementine is truly heartwrenching and when put together with Gondry's beautiful visual style and some of the most subtle special effects and camera techniques ive seen its is truly something to be seen as Joel runs through his memories as they are erased around him.

This easily secures a spot on my top ten of 2004...and i wouldnt doubt if it stayed at the very top all year.

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[b]***1/2 out of ****[/b]

Cant say much now, about to watch [b]Runaway Jury[/b] with the 'rents, but all i have to say is wow! What a movie, so subtly powerful. Its rare to be so immersed in a world like this, the lack of dialogue allows for the world and the imagery to speak for itself. And that waiter was the greatest thing ever put to film....

Anyways, cant say any more..hopefully we can discuss it more in the comment thang...

Oh...talked to the guy and he is gay and wants to talk about it...:)

So as i said i saw The Passion and Dogville recently and thought id let yall know how i think.

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I don't have alot of time right now and i wanna talk more about The Passion, but the gist is that [b]Dogville [/b]is endlessly facinating, original, stunningly acted, and almost a masterpiece...i just need to see it again. Ive never seen a movie create as much tension, drama, and true human emotion with the use of such bare and intriguing techniques. The fact that the film is shot on a soundstage, with chalk outlines for houses and sound effects for doors opening where there are no doors is masterful in itself. At first i thought it was just a stupid novelty thing to attract viewers but it lends itself to the story so much. You really feel how the down of Dogville is a place of its own, seperated from the world, and you can feel the entrapment that its residents live with. Nicole Kidman plays Grace, a fugitive on the fun that the town takes in, and as usual Kidman serves up an amazing understated performance.
Her character is so quiet, so nuanced, she speaks softly, doesnt yell, barely cries or shows any emotion, yet manages to capture your attention at all time. Kidman is truly the finest actress working today, and Dogville just continues her string of amazing movies with amazing performances.

***1/2 out of **** - maybe ****...the ending needs some thinking on.

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As to The Passion...its hard to say how i feel about it. One the one hand i thought is was one of the most well crafted films ive seen in a lonnggg time, but ont he other hand i felt any spirituality or message was sacrificed for shock value. It was almost as if Gibson wanted to shock us into believing in Jesus...like its one big guilt trip. The entire movie is essentially watching Jesus get the crap kicked out of him, and after a while the effect started to wear off (especially in the interminable cross caring scene....how many times can i watch him fall down in slow motion!).
The movie is not without its good points though, like i said the craftmanship is excellent, its beautiful to look at, with a haunting score. Technically the films a marvel, the sets and costumes make it extremely authentic feeling, and Gibson is very sure of himself and his camerawork, never ceasing to amaze me on the new ways to present the same scene to make it seem less repetitive (e.g the lashing scene).
It had some brilliant scenes, like when Mary holds jesus after he is taken off the cross (seen in ads), she stares directly into the camera, placing the blame directly on us, on our sins for what we have witnessed throughout the film. Is that extreme, and kind of offencive in an odd way...sure, but he gets his point across with a punch.
The acting is good considering most of the actors barely say anything...mostly its just the taunts and jeers of onlookers. Jim Caczevial is great...but doesnt really get to do much other than look hurt...which he probably was. The best performance was the lady who played Mary (to lazy to look it up). Her performance of silence and restrain spoke emotional volumes, her performance maeks the film worth seeing.
So as of right now im divided on the film, i myself am a flaming athiest, but can still enjoy a good story, and the story of the sacrifices of Christ is a great story of love and redemption even if I dont believe it. But i cant get over how the film is just a visual representation of violence and gore done to Jesus christ without any real message or content.

*** out of ****