Sexy Beast

Jonathan Glazer, 2000

3/5

This British crime drama has some raw dialogue, tense moments, and a few really great stylistic shots. Ray Winstone was impressive in his role as a sympathetic, sun burned "Gal Dove". Ben Kingsley's character Don Logan is despicable, unfiltered, unpredictable and intrusive. Kingsley's peformance steals the show for the most part, although I eventually grew tired of him. Perhaps thats the point; the abrasive houseguest who just never leaves even though you REALLY want him to. Overall, I was entertained but not blown away.

Resurrect Dead: The Mystery of the Toynbee Tiles

Jon Foy, 2011

4/5

This documentary follows the relentless pursuit of identifying an unknown artist who has laid ambiguous tile plates throughout the world from Philadelphia to South America. On the plates reads the phrase: “Toynbee Idea in Kubrick’s 2001 Resurrect Dead on Planet Jupiter”. You watch as obsessive fans/cataloguers tirelessly try to track down the mysterious artist. The story is intriguing, and the cinematography is striking. The narration captures the determination and the film is peppered with tenebrous artwork which is a recollection of a manic artist’s pursuit of the elusive Toynbee Tiler.

Casablanca

Michael Curtiz, 1943

4/5

What is immediately evident in this film is the attention to detail in set design, lighting, sound & editing. Beautiful scenery such as the nightclub, or the opening scene in the Casablanca marketplace. The tricks they play with shadows is impressive, and of course the piano playing by Dooley Smith in the background greatly contributed to the romantic feel of the film. Humphrey Bogart is the epitome of cool. Ingrid Bergman is magnetic, and the love between them feels natural.

12 Monkeys

Terry Gilliam, 1995

2/5

I really wanted to like this film, but I couldn't. The beginning of this film had a lot going for it, with very high production value providing rich scenery that reminded me of Alien. As the film progressed, I found Brad Pitt's character Jeffrey Goines to be cartoonish, and Madeleine Stowe's lackluster performance very distracting. By the second act the story wasn't holding me, and I found it convoluted and unnecessarilly complicated.