The Best Films of the 2000s and more.
Posts tagged Detectives
Mother (2009)
Aug 21st
Starring: Hye-ja Kim, Bin Won, Ku Jin
Director: Joon-ho Bong
Country: South Korea
Genre: Foreign, Thriller
Joon-ho Bong has quickly become one of the most promising international directors around. In 2003 he made his presence known with a tour de force called Memories of Murder. In 2006 his brilliant take on the all-but-forgotten ‘monster’ genre manifested itself in the form of The Host. And here, returning to the mystery/thriller genre he creates his masterpiece, (surely the first of many,) with Mother.
Do-joon and his mother have a unique bond that extends well beyond her overprotective reach. She attempts to look out for him, but as he’s growing into adulthood (slowly, I might add, due to a mental handicap,) he seems to push her away. But when he’s arrested for the murder of a girl, his mother will ‘stop at nothing’ to prove his innocence – even if he can’t remember the details.
There are so many things that go into making this film great. Naturally part of it is Bong’s visual style and ability to tell a compelling stories through the eyes of intriguing characters. But no amount of praise can overstate the magnificence of Hye-ja Kim’s performance as ‘mother’. Without her raw and natural talent to wear her emotions on her face, (and trust me, they get complex,) Mother could not have been made, at least not in the capacity in which it stands. This is one of those special films that only come around once every ten years or so.
Top 10 Popcorn Flicks of the 2000s
Jul 10th
We all love going to the movies. That’s why you’re here, right? Well, since it’s summer and Blockbusters rule the world at the moment, I thought it would be a great time to put out my Top 10 Popcorn Flicks – those movies that go so well with a bucket-o-popcorn (or Kettlecorn for you sweettooths out there.) There are a lot of great popcorn movies – hell, most movies that are released are made to be viewed over the wide brim of a jumbo bucket, but only a handful are memorable, great, or even the best.
As per usual, these films are listed chronologically and are otherwise not listed in any specific order. Feel free to leave your own top ten popcorn flicks in the comments!
Enjoy!
Snatch. (2000)
Crime doesn’t pay, it steals your dignity. This super stylish crime comedy influenced countless films over the last ten years – few that ever reached the same level of fun.
Rethinking the Mystery Genre
Apr 17th
*Note: there are some spoilers in this article. Please proceed with caution.
Through the years film’s different genres come and go in popularity. Some films have had their heyday (science fiction), some have seen a second coming (horror), and others have thrived by splintered into subgenres (action/superhero flicks.) But since the beginning of cinema there has been one genre that has remained consistently popular: the mystery.
There have been many incarnations of the genre, from the wispy ‘whodunit’s to gritty explorations into human nature. Most mysteries revolve around some sort of act of violence or unknown occurrence, but more times than not they are embedded with dark content (regardless of how it’s depicted.) The interest in the macabre has never waned, and if one were able to tally the number of ‘mystery’ films the amount would be staggering.
But the overuse of these stories has lead cinema (and literature) to a stalemate. It seems that every answer has been explored. The magic of mystery is wearing very thin. At some point in the history of storytelling he’s done it, she’s done it, it’s done it, they’ve done it, no one has done it, we don’t know who has done it, everyone has done it. The killer has been the mother, father, daughter, son, neighbor, stranger. The crime has been deliberate, accidental, a façade for something larger, a cover up for something entirely different. The answer has been that she’s been alive the entire time, he’s been dead all along, he’s really crazy, she’s really sane, it wasn’t real, it was real but there was a conspiracy making it seem fake. The reason behind the culprit has been jealousy, anger, love, passion, greed, necessity. It seems that the answer barrel is dry.
Collateral (2004)
Apr 12th
Starring: Tom Cruise, Jamie Foxx, Jada Pinkett Smith
Director: Michael Mann
Country: USA
Genre: Crime
This is Los Angeles’s Taxi Driver… literally, not comparatively.
Michael Mann’s verité style finally finds its stride in this otherwise typical Hollywood crime thriller. The this-is-happening-now realism is in direct contrast to the over-the-top action sequences, but instead of clashing they work in harmony creating an enhanced intensity. Both Jamie Foxx and Tom Cruise have never been better, Foxx especially. He carries the weight of this film on his back with flawless talent. Despite an unfulfilling third act, the script is unique and fun – creating a character dynamic that goes deeper than their archetypes. There’s a psychology behind Collateral, and while it might not have Freud completely perplexed, it does make the film livelier. There are a number of incredibly well written sequences that will no doubt resonate for years to come. It’s an exciting experience getting in this cab time after time.
Sin City (2005)
Mar 23rd
Starring: Bruce Willis, Clive Owen, Mickey Rourke
Director: Robert Rodriguez, Frank Miller
Country: USA
Genre: Crime
What happens in Sin City… doesn’t really matter because there’s always someone doing something worse than you.
Sin City is one of the most stylized films of the 2000s, and one of the most faithful adaptations. Using Frank Miller’s beautiful black and white graphic novel panels as the storyboards for every shot in this film results in what can only be described as a live action comic book. The casting of the beloved (or behated, is that a word?) characters was handled with tenacity; the choice of Mickey Rourke as the ugly-and-tough-as-sin Marv. Rodriguez’s unique approach to filmmaking provided the perfect atmosphere to appropriately create the world of Sin City in all it’s grittiness. No punches are pulled here, it’s as violent as the books are… and stylized as it may be, it’s not for the squeamish.
I Heart Huckabees (2004)
Mar 14th
Starring: Jason Schwartzman, Jude Law, Lily Tomlin
Director: David O. Russell
Country: USA
Genre: Comedy
I heart I Heart Huckabees.
Despite the infamous on-set battles that David O. Russell seems to get himself into, he has created some of the best character driven films in the last quarter century. I Heart Huckabees boasts one hell of an ensemble, all bringing their A game to the over-the-top characters. The film is an exploration on the question “why are we here?” and the answer seems to be an optimistic one, that is if we have a sense of humor about it all. It’s a zany existential farce. While every aspect of the film plays its part well, the score by Jon Brion is what really brings out the joy, and even sadness. Instead of a typical score, Brion’s music becomes a character itself, sometimes relaying information through a typical pop song, other times commenting on the silliness by evolving into a pseudo silent film score. The film is rude, it’s crude, it’s hilarious, it’s touching, it’s everything that life is.
Batman Begins (2005)
Mar 9th
Starring: Christian Bale, Liam Neeson, Cillian Murphy, Gary Oldman
Director: Christopher Nolan
Country: USA
Genre: Action
I’m the bat, man.
The Dark Knight is obviously herald as the superhero movies to end all superhero movies, but it wouldn’t be half as strong as it is without a firm structure to stand upon. Batman Begins is one hell of a film. It’s the reboot to put all other reboots to shame. The elements really aligned, from a suspiciously talented director to a dream cast that makes the mouth water. Add to it a script that stays faithful to the character while crafting an intriguing and thrilling story, plus cinematography by incredibly skillful up and coming director of photography, and you have a rock solid flick. Christopher Nolan has almost single handedly shown that even superhero movies should be taken seriously in addition to how entertaining they can be.
