Coffee and Cigarettes

2003. Written and directed by Jim Jarmusch. Starring Cate Blanchett, Alfred Molina, Tom Waits, Bill Murray, Steve Buscemi, Steven Wright, Roberto Benigni, Joseph Rigano, Steve Coogan, RZA, Joie Lee, Jack White, Meg White, Iggy Pop.

Coffee and Cigarettes is a mildly amusing series of vignettes of people meeting over coffee and cigarettes. Each actor, playing a variation of their self, appears for their ten minute (or so) segment and then is gone. Most, if not all, of the meetings are the awkward conversations of new or mild friendships, relationships withered through the years, or the appearance of a waiter who tries to spark conversation with usually less than interested customers. All segments are good, none are exceptional. Though Cate Blanchett does amazing work in a dual role, playing both herself and her cousin - I didn't even figure out she was also playing the cousin until watching the interview with Taylor Mead on the bonus features. I enjoyed the film, and if you are a Jarmusch fan or interested in those awkward moments where people try to get by with polite conversation when they'd really rather not be there in the first place, then you should check it out. Otherwise, you'll be fine without.

My grade: B-

Brokeback Mountain

2005. Directed by Ang Lee. Screenplay by Larry McMurtry and Diana Ossana, based on a short story by E. Annie Proulx. Starring Heath Ledger, Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Williams, Anne Hathaway, Randy Quaid.

"I wish I knew how to quit you."

Brokeback Mountain starts off somewhat slowly, draws you in completely, and leaves you devastated at its conclusion. I’m sure a lot of people, who aren’t downright disgusted at the very mention, wonder how they could possibly relate to a ‘gay cowboy movie.’ But anyone with a mind open even a sliver should easily relate to the feelings in this film. It is about wanting something you can’t have. Not only can they not have a relationship, but the little time they are able to share together has to be hidden and lied about. They discover the best part of their lives, the person that compliments them most completely and makes them feel fully alive, is something they can't share, can't reveal, and can't be. Not only would the discovery of their desires be unaccepted, but it could ruin everything they have - their families, their jobs, and much more. It is a heartbreaking story that is beautifully told, superbly performed, and expertly written and directed. The story will not easily leave your head, but linger for you to think and ache over.

My grade: A

(My Top Ten of 2005 has been updated to include Brokeback at #1.)

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart: Indecision 2004: Disc 1: Democratic National Convention: The Race From the White House

This disc contains four episodes devoted to the Democratic National Convention (with the Rebuplican National Convention taking up the next disc in this four disc set). Episode one is no better than the average Daily Show you could catch most nights, which is to say its still pretty decent. The highlight of this episode is Stephen Colbert's Primemory Lane, where he looks at what the other nine initial Democratic candidates lacked. Episodes two and four are also about average entries in this terrific show. Lewis Black's Back in Black segment is the best part of episode four, while shockingly the interview with Senator Joe Biden (D-Del) is the highlight of episode two. Normally, the interviews are the least exciting part of the show, but Biden gives a hilarious interview that you should check out even if you skip the rest of the show. Episode three, however, is a prime example of when the Daily Show goes from being good to being brilliant. Here you will find the best segment of the whole disc as the Daily Show presents their alternate version to the biographical film that was shown before Kerry's acceptance of the nomination. All four shows are worthwhile, but the fourth one blows the others away.

My grade: B+

(I'll review the other three discs of this set as I watch them)

Wedding Crashers

2005. Directed by Dave Dobkin. Written by Steve Faber and Bob Fisher. Starring Owen Wilson, Vince Vaughn, Rachel McAdams, Christopher Walken, Jane Seymour, Henry Gibson.

Movie Night again at Mike and Angie's. This time we rented Wedding Crashers. I had about the same expectations going into this as I did with Office Space. I expected both to be B movies with some really funny parts, nothing spectacular but at least solid. As much as I was delighted by how good Office Space was, I was disappointed with how mediocre Wedding Crashers was. There are moments of good humor, but there is so much dead space in between and so many jokes that I didn't find terribly funny. Even the best jokes here aren't all-out hilarious. As sweet as Rachel McAdams comes across, I still couldn't get involved in the story as more than a series of jokes, many not that impressive.

My grade: C

Office Space

1999. Written and Directed by Mike Judge.

We're over at Mike and Angie's for the weekend and when they realized I had never seen Office Space, they decided we should watch it after the kids went to bed. I had interest in the movie, and my sister had recently shown me several clips from the film, but never got around to watching it. They were right, I did need to see it. I had a great time. It follows a guy who hates his job so much that each new day he has to work constantly replaces the worst day of his life, until he decides not to care about his job anymore. And not just to not care by doing as little as possible to get by, but to only show up when he feels like it or bring his newly caught fish into work to clean and gut. It is not a perfect film as there are stretches of mediocrity, but it can be absolutely hilarious. The jokes often hit home with that shared pain of reality as we recognize the very situations and frustrations from our own lives, both in and out of the office. My favorite character is Michael Bolton (played by David Herman), though Stephen Root's Milton is a close second. It is a cult film that has developed quite a following and I see why. I could certainly enjoy it tremendously through multiple viewings.

One of my favorite exchanges:
Samir: No one in this country can ever pronounce my name right. It's not that hard: Samir Na-gheen-an-a-jar. Nagheenanajar.
Michael Bolton: Yeah, well at least your name isn't Michael Bolton.
Samir: You know there's nothing wrong with that name.
Michael Bolton: There was nothing wrong with it... until I was about 12 years old and that no-talent ass clown became famous and started winning Grammys.
Samir: Hmm... well why don't you just go by Mike instead of Michael?
Michael Bolton: No way. Why should I change? He's the one who sucks.

That right there might tell you if you should see the film. If you don't go for movies that use phrases such as "ass clown," then you'll want to avoid. If it sounds funny, there's a lot more just as funny as what's above.

My Grade: A-

The Best Films of 2005

This has turned into quite a year, so I'm going to turn this into a top twenty list.

Keith's Top Twenty Films of 2005:

20. Walk the Line. The terrific performances, chemistry, and singing of Reese Witherspoon and Joaquin Phoenix bring the songs and souls of Johnny and June Carter Cash to life.

19. Cinderella Man. Old fashioned story-telling done very well. Terrific performances by Russell Crowe and the amazing Paul Giamatti.

18. Syriana. Complicated story that would likely benefit from repeated viewing. Powerful, but also kept me at a distance as it spreads the story over so many characters that you never really get attached to any of them.

17. Sin City. Stunning visually as it captures the graphic comic style of Frank Miller. Good characters and dialogue.

16. Batman Begins. An exciting and very well done superhero movie that sets itself up perfectly as the beginning of the Batman story. Well cast and acted.

15. Broken Flowers. One of Jim Jarmusch's best films delivers a terrific performance by Bill Murray as a man who seeks out past flings to search for the truth about a grown child he may have fathered. Jeffrey Wright is a delight as his amateur detective neighbor. It's funny in a quiet, odd, sad, interesting way.

14. Wallace and Gromitt in the Curse of the Were-Rabbit. Fits in wonderfully next to the three terrific short films that you have hopefully already seen. Clever and inventive and a whole lot of fun.

13. Good Night, and Good Luck. It actually feels too short, but what is there is terrific. Following Edward R. Murrow and his decision and need to not let the actions of Senator Joseph McCarthy go unquestioned. David Strathairn is very good as Murrow and clips of McCarthy himself are interspersed.

12. Murderball. This documentary following Team USA quadriplegic Rugby players is exciting, fun, and very honest. It will shatter your expectations about a movie dealing with paralysis. The two main characters come off initially as jerks, though vibrant and engrossing, but I grew to find things about both flawed men that I liked and respected.

11. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. It is an exciting adventure into a land of surprise and delight. The four children are very good, Jim Broadbent is a pleasure as the professor, and Tilda Swinton is perfect as the White Witch. It's not on par with The Lord of the Rings, but it brings you some of those same feelings.

10. The 40 Year Old Virgin. A crude, touching, and absolutely hilarious film. Steve Carell's geek to beat all geeks is not just laughed at but loved.

9. The Constant Gardener. Upon learning that his activist wife has been killed, a man begins to explore the depths of corruption in a pharmaceutical scandal putting his life at risk. The brilliant direction of Fernando Meirelles, excellent acting by Ralph Fiennes and Rachel Weisz, and a terrific script make this a smart, challenging thriller that won't easily leave your head.

8. Tim Burton's Corpse Bride. I had heard much praise for the visuals, and indeed the stop-motion animation is amazing, but the reviews I had read indicated the story was weak or perhaps even boring. Alas, the story is sweet, clever, fun, and very inventive. It is a sheer delight - even my three-year old, to my surprise, loved it when he woke up from a nap and decided he wanted to watch it.

7. Crash. Not since Do the Right Thing has a movie so acurately and powerfully tackled the subject of racism without reducing it to a two sided issue. It follows a vast array of characters, and you become attached to almost all of them. It can be touching and it can be harsh, but it feels honest. It is a powerful, engrossing, superbly made film.

6. A History of Violence. David Cronenberg's latest film is a gripping and powerful study of character and consequences. It offers plenty for the viewer to contemplate both in film and life, while remaining fascinating throughout.

5. Match Point. Woody Allen's latest is his best since 1989's Crimes and Misdemeanors. It is a serious and fascinating look at passion and deception with brilliant dialogue and terrific performances.

4. Howl's Moving Castle. Animation doesn't get any more stunning or dazzling than this. Simply gorgeous. If it isn't quite as good as Spirited Away, Hayao Miyazaki's brilliant 2002 film, it isn't behind by much.

3. Capote. Featuring the brilliant performance of Philip Seymour Hoffman, Capote is a devasting film about the destruction of the body and the soul.

2. Brokeback Mountain. An emotionally powerful film that really gets into these two characters and how they struggle with wanting what they can't have. Excellent acting, direction, and script.

1. Munich. A challenging and devastating film that is not only an edge of your seat thriller but it gives your mind things to contemplate for days. It examines the past, while showing its relevance to today. A rare film with a large, grand scope that exists mostly on an intimate level.

The Best Films of the Current Decade

In November, I compiled a list of my choices for the top fifty films of the first half of the decade. It was an email to friends, but now that I have a blog, it will become my first post. (There have been a couple changes since the original list.)


I had planned on looking back and doing an updated "top ten" list of films for each year since 2000. Instead of five lists, I’ve decided to combine them and compile one list for the current decade. With this years’ highest quality films just starting to arrive in theatres in time for the 2005 Oscar race, it seems like a good time to take a look back at the first five years of the decade and the best films it has brought us.

I’ve selected fifty films (equal to the number on five top ten lists), while ranking and discussing the top twenty. Fifty films may seem like a lot to some of you, but I’m stunned that I can’t find room for Chicken Run (2000), Closer (2004), Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004), The Man Who Wasn’t There (2001), and Ray (2004) on my list. So, in alphabetical order, here are thirty films from 2000-2004 that begin my choices for the best fifty films so far this decade.

About Schmidt (2002), All or Nothing (2002), Bad Education (2004), Before Sunset (2004), Capturing the Friedmans (2003), Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (2002), Collateral (2004), Control Room (2004), Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000), Finding Nemo (2003), The Fog of War (2003), Gangs of New York (2002), Gosford Park (2001), Hero (2004), High Fidelity (2000), Hotel Rwanda (2004), The Incredibles (2004), Kill Bill (Volume 1: 2003, Volume 2: 2004), Lost in Translation (2003), Maria Full of Grace (2004), Mystic River (2003), Shrek (2001), Spiderman 2 (2004), The Station Agent (2003), 21 Grams (2003), 25th Hour (2002), Vera Drake (2004), Waking Life (2001), Y Tu Mama Tambien (2002), You Can Count on Me (2000).

Now for my top twenty films from 2000-2004:

20. Talk to Her (2002). A quiet, introspective Pedro Almodovar film?! It turns out that’s a good thing. We follow a nurse and his creepy obsession with a comatose woman who comes under his care. It is an extremely touching and engrossing film even as it addresses uncomfortable truths.

19. The Royal Tenenbaums (2001). Kent Jones wrote in Film Comment, "Simply stated, Wes Anderson is the most original presence in American film comedy since Preston Sturges." Anderson and his co-writer Owen Wilson have a unique style that delights in details. They find humor in the odd and then find the compassion within the oddity. Gene Hackman nails the lead performance. This film is hilarious the first time and gets better each time.

18. Far From Heaven (2002). Frank and Cathy Whitaker are the epitome of a perfect couple with a happy home in the 1950’s but upon further examination, the façade is completely cracked. Julianne Moore gives one of her greatest performances. Set against what may be the most beautiful use of lighting and cinematography of the decade is an emotionally devastating film.

17. Monster’s Ball (2001). This movie exposes us to the sort of people and a kind of love not normally seen on screen. The people and the love they share are more brutal, more raw, and far less perfect than movies often show. Monster’s Ball is a fascinating examination of two vastly flawed individuals who find brief comfort in each other. It is driven by spectacular performances by Halle Berry and Billy Bob Thornton.

16. Minority Report (2002). Vastly underrated, I think this is Steven Spielberg’s best film since Schindler’s List. It is a startling exciting film with a great set-up and terrific visuals. It is one of those edge-of-your seat thrillers with a brain from the man behind Raiders of the Lost Ark.

15. The Aviator (2004). This is the Martin Scorsese that I love. A brilliant, bold, and captivating film that follows a soul tortured by his own demons. Leonardo DiCaprio is magnificent as Howard Hughes and Cate Blanchett is terrific as Katharine Hepburn.

14. Adaptation (2002). This movie is about the writer of the movie trying to adapt a film from the book upon which it is based. If you are not familiar with Charlie Kaufman (a shame, really), then this likely makes no sense at all. The mind behind Being John Malkovich, one of the greatest films of our time, again teams up with director Spike Jonze to create a brilliantly bizarre film unlike any other. With remarkable performances by Nicolas Cage, Chris Cooper, and Meryl Streep.

13. American Splendor (2003). "Ordinary life is pretty complex stuff." American Splendor examines the life of file clerk turned comic book writer Harvey Pekar through a fascinating mix of styles. Paul Giamatti, completely robbed of an Oscar nomination for the first of two consecutive years, and Hope Davis play Pekar and his wife, but the real Harvey and Joyce also show up, as do animated comic book creations of them.

12. Spirited Away (2002). Japan’s Hayao Miyazaki has no equal in hand-drawn animation. There is amazing detail and immense imagination in every corner of the screen. The story, following a young girl who finds herself in a magical land where humans are out of place, is beautiful, charming, frightening, and unpredictable.

11. Dancer in the Dark (2000). Lars von Trier’s haunting film is daring and unique, a work of great originality. Selma escapes into her mind when faced with boredom, stress, or pain and envisions everything around her as a musical ("because in a musical, nothing dreadful ever happens"). Bjork sinks completely into her character giving an unforgettable performance while providing one of the best soundtracks in a long time.

10. Amores Perros (2000). This is a film, as powerful as it is initially, that becomes better with each viewing. It is divided into three segments, all of which link back to the violent car crash that starts the film. It is intense and intimate, graphic and brutal, and a stunning achievement in film.

9. Bowling for Columbine (2002). I’ve been a huge Michael Moore fan far longer than most people in the general public had any idea who he was. He has excelled as a hilarious social critic in book, television, and film. Bowling for Columbine may be his greatest achievement. It tackles a huge issue, gun violence in America, and finds both humor and insights through the shocking pain of reality. You cannot leave Bowling for Columbine without discussion (even if you are alone, you’d have to talk it out in your head).

8. Chicago (2002). Not only does Chicago outshine and out-dazzle almost any musical during the glory days of the genre, but it was made at a time when musicals were considered box office poison. It is a glorious return to everything that was great about the best musicals of old. There are show-stopping numbers (both vocally and visually), glitter, and excitement. It is one of the most entertaining films you will see, and it even has something to say about celebrity status and how it can be attained.

7. Memento (2001). With a terrific structure that echoes the short-term memory loss of the central character, Memento lets us know as little as our unsympathetic guide as he begins to investigate his wife’s murder. It is a fascinating journey full of suspense and surprises, and it will not let you down when you watch it the second time.

6. Moulin Rouge (2001). Kenneth Turan of the L.A. Times wrote, "You can go with it or resist it, be exhilarated or worn out. But forgetting the experience is not one of your options." Moulin Rouge boldly blends high comedy and high tragedy within a sincere story of true love. There is an honesty and vulnerability to the vocals by Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor as they sing for themselves. The amazing Jim Broadbent gets to sink his teeth into a terrific role and delivers the highlight of the film when he breaks into an unlikely song. It all adds up to a campy, flashy, confident, and dazzling film.

5. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004). From the brilliantly warped and completely original mind of Charlie Kaufman comes another stunning script - this time brought to life with great skill by director Michel Gondry. Jim Carrey, annoying in his mainstream over-the-top comedic performances, excels here in a dramatic performance equal to his great work in Man on the Moon. His is matched by the always wonderful Kate Winslet as the former lover he is literally trying to erase from his mind.

4. Sideways (2004). I’ve talked to several people who have seen the movie but don’t understand the title. Yet, to my mind, the title holds the whole story. Two college roommates left school with great ambitions, one to acting and the other to writing. They didn’t just desire but expected to achieve their goals, to be important and famous in their fields. Now, on the eve of the actor’s marriage, they find themselves middle aged and no closer to their dreams than when they left school. They expected to always be moving forward, to grow nearer and then reach greatness, but they must now admit to themselves that the direction they’ve been moving is not forward but sideways. Director and co-writer Alexander Payne is a distinct and original voice and Sideways is his greatest triumph. It manages to be both hilarious and touching, as it finds humor in its truths. The cast is incredible. It may be a "small" film, but it is perfect.

3. Traffic (2001). Every moment in this searching, captivating drama feels real. The dialogue, both significant and casual, is superb. The interaction between the characters makes you believe that these people have known and worked with each other for years. The cast, led by the amazing Benicio Del Toro as a Mexican police officer, is uniformly excellent. The urgency of Traffic is felt through every brilliant minute.

2. The Pianist (2002). Holocaust survivor Roman Polanski finds the tragedy, truth, and even hope in fellow survivor Wladyslaw Szpilman's story. A specific story that effortlessly works as an example of the whole event. It is very powerful. It is as good, if not better, than Schindler's List.

1. The Lord of the Rings (2001, 2002, 2003). George Lucas wanted to recreate the excitement I found as a child, and still find today, in the original Star Wars trilogy. Well, I was taken to a land of wonder and awe, filled with strange, magnificent creatures. I did find a visually exciting fantasy where the characters had depth and emotions, but it was not Lucas’ new trilogy, it was Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings. This is Star Wars for this generation, a fantastic trilogy that will stay in the minds and hearts of so many throughout their life. Is it cheating to take the trilogy as one entry on this list? Probably, but I’m doing it anyway. It works best as one complete entry, something that should be seen from start to finish (but not in one sitting). I highly recommend the extended versions, especially of The Two Towers, that are available on dvd.