The Best Films of the 2000s and more.
Posts tagged Baby
Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire (2009)
Jun 9th
Starring: Gabourey Sidibe, Mo’Nique, Paula Patton
Director: Lee Daniels
Country: USA
Genre: D-r-a-m-a-a-a-a-a.
The greatness of this film is a surprise of a lifetime.
It’s not unfair to say that this film is targeted for a specific demographic. However, it is a testament to its quality when its reach exceeds and transcends the boundaries of its marketed audience. Sure, it was an award season darling, but make no mistake, its roots are in the festival circuit where the issues of independent films aren’t shied away from or sugarcoated (The Blind Side being the counter piece to this film, and the worst offender of Hollywood dribble.) Here, the performances are so real it’s grating. Mo’Nique creates a villain equal to that of all the Waltz’s, Bardem’s and Ledger’s the Academy has ever seen. Sidibe is an absolute revelation as the twice pregnant abused high schooler. Precious makes Hollywood underdog stories look like children’s books. Lee Daniels really created something special here – something that deserves every ounce of praise it gets.
The Incredibles (2004)
Mar 28th
Starring: (voices) Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Jason Lee
Director: Brad Bird
Country: USA
Genre: Animation, Action
If it’s Pixar, it must be one of the best.
The Incredibles marked numerous deviations for the super giant animation studio Pixar. They had never had a film center around humans before and it marked the first time that they brought in a non-Pixar director to take the reins. Brad Bird (who directed one of my favorites, Iron Giant,) steps in with super strength and successfully crafted not only an awesome superhero movie, but one of the most exciting action flicks of the decade. It pays homage to the superheroes that inspired the film, but effectively create hella characters all their own. The voice acting is spot on, the score is super exciting, the animation is luscious, and the script is smarter than most superhero films actually based on source material. The Incredibles is, in one word, ‘Inrediawesome’.
Revolutionary Road (2008)
Nov 18th
Starring: Kate Winslet, Leonardo DiCaprio
Director: Sam Mendes
Country: USA
Genre: Drama
There’s no place like home. There’s no place like home. There’s no place like home.
There’s an elephant in suburbia’s room that not many people acknowledge. The idea of being trapped in the facade of the American Dream isn’t anything new, but Mendes’s newest descent into the material is even more harrowing than his ’99 effort American Beauty. Though it’s set in the 50s when women’s rights hadn’t yet been fully recognized, the film still rings completely relevant. DiCaprio and Winslet reunite to completely destroy the fantasy love story they created in Titanic, and they have such a strong chemistry, it’s hard not to believe their troublesome woes. Don’t go into this film lightly, as it’s not even just an attack on domestic life, but on all lives who have allowed their dreams to slip through their fingers. It’s not pretty.
Knocked Up (2007)
Nov 10th
Starring: Seth Rogen, Katherine Heigl
Director: Judd Apatow
Country: USA
Genre: Comedy
It’s all fun and games until someone pops a baby out.
After his 2004 gem The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Judd sharpened his hooks to sink into a more mature story with immature characters. Apatow and gang know how to craft a crude yet insightful coming of age comedy that can glide between its main character tripping on mushrooms to the fear that comes from having a child. Few films that attempt their hand at both comedic and dramatic can boast success, but then there definitely aren’t enough that give it their all. Knocked Up does, and there’s no question whether or not it works because it all just feels so natural. Most of the funniest comedies, and even some of the most dramatic films could find here a lesson in genuineness.
In America (2003)
Nov 3rd
Starring: Samantha Morton, Paddy Considine, Sarah & Emma Bolger
Director: Jim Sheridan
Country: Ireland, USA
Genre: Independent, Drama
If you aren’t in tears by the end of this film, leave me your number. I want to congratulate you for not having a soul.
There are children who can act, and there are children that can be. The latter is so rare, and it’s exemplified so well in this touching story of an immigrant Irish family and their struggle to make ends meet, (financially and emotionally.) Quite often with these little independent films we’re given a mosaic of melodrama, a barrage of overwrought sentimentalism. In America certainly isn’t always a happy film, but it doesn’t forget to provide the audience with smiles and hope. Because of this, it makes the emotional scenes not only more organic, but more engaging. There are a few breathtaking scenes, and an all-round amazing cast. Independent dramas don’t get much better than this.
Juno (2007)
Oct 10th
Starring: Ellen Page, Michael Cera, Jennifer Garner, Jason Bateman
Director: Jason Reitman
Country: USA
Genre: Independent, Comedy
Who knew teenage pregnancy could be so funny? Ellen Page shines in Diablo Cody’s sharply written script about teenage angst, rebellion, love, and growing up. Juno constantly has other films compared to it, which generally creates an anti-hype with some circles who are ‘too cool’ to like anything mainstream, but hyped or not one can’t deny how tightly it has its finger on the pulse of the youth of the 21st century. It really is one of a rare few films to show teens in an independent light away from the horrible cliches that usually riddle high school films, (particularly my biggest pet peeve in generic teen bedroom set dressing.) But like any endearing comedy, Juno has heart.
Paris Je T’aime (2007)
Oct 4th
Starring: Natalie Portman, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Steve Buscemi
Director: Various
Country: France
Genre: Romance
There is a part of me that wants to say that this is my favorite film. Then I realize that by saying that I instantly become classified as someone who thinks they know a lot about films because they’ve seen this one partly-obscure arty-esque romance film. But then I watch it again and cry and fall in love and laugh my ass off and realize that this is one of my favorite films. It’s a cycle that continually keeps me from saying it’s one of my favorites. Plus, it’s kind of like saying that a “greatest hits” album is your favorite album of all time. It can’t be. It takes too much from other albums to be considered an album of its own. But I digress. Paris Je T’aime is one of the greatest modern examples of how different filmmakers can tackle the same subject and have the outcome be so incredibly different from one another. It’s essentially 18 short films about different aspects of love set in Paris by 18 directors and 20195801938 actors. The reason why I think I know this film is my [one of my] favorite[s]? I never knew mimes could make me cry [for them.]
