tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2277517906937132352024-03-18T14:47:21.408-04:00Dell on MoviesDell slaves over a hot Blu-ray player for the good of mankind.Dellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05634519605152190304noreply@blogger.comBlogger1957125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227751790693713235.post-7826382946361992482022-07-20T00:00:00.002-04:002022-07-20T00:00:00.245-04:00The 100 Project: The Top 25 Movies of 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmqaKRbHYRxKxHaLQp6Uq0o-Q8wXqCpR7gHGDCd8S6OtJIv6wtrt8cZEBiwujjcNpm5YpJVqQjh-Mczfmhm3mfcdg2cV47QySTwkGvrUyTaV2c1tVHD_OFspLYoE8hTReIvs_1jNTbuxvhthFo3flhCP1Ir315i4xnuFoiHb0VufcATso71gFY8-VL/s913/100%20project%202012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="513" data-original-width="913" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmqaKRbHYRxKxHaLQp6Uq0o-Q8wXqCpR7gHGDCd8S6OtJIv6wtrt8cZEBiwujjcNpm5YpJVqQjh-Mczfmhm3mfcdg2cV47QySTwkGvrUyTaV2c1tVHD_OFspLYoE8hTReIvs_1jNTbuxvhthFo3flhCP1Ir315i4xnuFoiHb0VufcATso71gFY8-VL/w640-h360/100%20project%202012.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a>During most years in human history, something happens to make us think, "Uh-oh, this is it. The end of the world is upon us." In 2012 that feeling was amplified because of the Mayans. If you've forgotten, ancient Mayans made a calendar that ran out in 2012. Of course, a bunch of folks took that as a prediction for Armageddon. Alas, we're still here, though seemingly hanging on by a string, and we wound up with lots of movies to talk about. To see what I initially thought of this year's crop of movies, click here. My feelings have changed, somewhat. Here they are.<p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">My Top 25 Movies of 2012</span></b></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>According to my Letterboxd account I've seen 156 movies that were released in 2012</li><li>I saw movies in theater, 2 make the top 25</li><li>I've seen all 9 movies nominated for Best Picture. 4 make the top 25, 4 more are honorable mentions.</li><li>The year of the documentary: 3 docs make the top 10, 3 more make the top 25, while another is a honorable mention.</li><li>4 films with young children in the lead make the top 25. 3 more are have high school students as the main character.</li></ul><p></p><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtJX3Qt9NDuAmIjyQGLaiN12MOVoy9p72JE1j3vTKVfCyTzDM5CHhpUfGGOHKmfgI1TCf8dbb7926rNgPO-tJ5EFzVcotehHQORUhnby0Jk4STmaEAY4VLOZsGNrbUyDbIGl5iAy4IWwUTVs2-OSfeE36QNrXigcWzcIuq-Aqhc8P4cEBA9fCxYxMZ/s650/wreck%20it%20ralph.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="271" data-original-width="650" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtJX3Qt9NDuAmIjyQGLaiN12MOVoy9p72JE1j3vTKVfCyTzDM5CHhpUfGGOHKmfgI1TCf8dbb7926rNgPO-tJ5EFzVcotehHQORUhnby0Jk4STmaEAY4VLOZsGNrbUyDbIGl5iAy4IWwUTVs2-OSfeE36QNrXigcWzcIuq-Aqhc8P4cEBA9fCxYxMZ/w640-h266/wreck%20it%20ralph.gif" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">25. Wreck-it Ralph</span></b></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFrR8VItiJZvCA1vAr-tjoDjmv8fUXN5DBM9ddRFj-_pfUTPpRVRKuP9Uunof4Q03XU91JCrnJs3M_S2S_Mcp-ZfgjW2DOL38TQjYsWXF4eF9fPLwVOqvkynOmID3eFsYfMK9MHCr6nSFmsvSmb8MRqT4hgv4lKP9N5a26l5wRTWi0UCJZjqSm1ISZ/s474/luv.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="316" data-original-width="474" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFrR8VItiJZvCA1vAr-tjoDjmv8fUXN5DBM9ddRFj-_pfUTPpRVRKuP9Uunof4Q03XU91JCrnJs3M_S2S_Mcp-ZfgjW2DOL38TQjYsWXF4eF9fPLwVOqvkynOmID3eFsYfMK9MHCr6nSFmsvSmb8MRqT4hgv4lKP9N5a26l5wRTWi0UCJZjqSm1ISZ/w640-h426/luv.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">24. Luv</span></b></div><div><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj45INYaOM5_Hx-q3cMnDe6FAsVguC4-PRKounBbjDs49RlO2K7nSkP7cUtQ2ijDbMTnpwnPU2_5mrGX1cTu4goFo6-aNRBw_2nB8X2oFo94ysQ8C2VyJlsfOe5lk5RL5130WOh_HQk5LkO3O5dVhMafwV4IjqMYOq5jUu01bYRFM60tOwuBYHQOnk7/s500/21%20jump.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="205" data-original-width="500" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj45INYaOM5_Hx-q3cMnDe6FAsVguC4-PRKounBbjDs49RlO2K7nSkP7cUtQ2ijDbMTnpwnPU2_5mrGX1cTu4goFo6-aNRBw_2nB8X2oFo94ysQ8C2VyJlsfOe5lk5RL5130WOh_HQk5LkO3O5dVhMafwV4IjqMYOq5jUu01bYRFM60tOwuBYHQOnk7/w640-h262/21%20jump.gif" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">23. 21 Jump Street</span></b></div><div><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmA45qE5ILqlJ93OE5z1k-fFZ4foYpG-LCgqBHaBgVRIuJRoB8_qprFd50LRC2i2g7GVfIS3EBbuNB6h3AYnsiNGAiVmoXu4FEZ9ljfbuiWVf29-H-EtnDTMH9tZXOZoXFmyKoG99jG-BRKJS6EB4T9qmEmI1uo3Dpi6tiQTg9veMm3i-QsPdSy3DK/s615/the%20sessions%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="409" data-original-width="615" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmA45qE5ILqlJ93OE5z1k-fFZ4foYpG-LCgqBHaBgVRIuJRoB8_qprFd50LRC2i2g7GVfIS3EBbuNB6h3AYnsiNGAiVmoXu4FEZ9ljfbuiWVf29-H-EtnDTMH9tZXOZoXFmyKoG99jG-BRKJS6EB4T9qmEmI1uo3Dpi6tiQTg9veMm3i-QsPdSy3DK/w640-h426/the%20sessions%20(1).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large; text-align: left;"><b>22. The Sessions</b></span></div><div><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirMs9BVI8P4FPyEetNj9_BHdP1m-qhrMxADYZ82TxPSHdRnl6PIyDEf8MVDPq33MdNRzM8FuOgHqpthIqZ7mBdNdx6Fv_bpcKNzEIahCQtaz4HlFllv3jIIs7zJdGCWUQzOWKy7duc5vExO_u0Q28DErB-jdsMTz4DabQFfvnDpCqfPFJSxioiZLzP/s350/sliver%20linings.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="221" data-original-width="350" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirMs9BVI8P4FPyEetNj9_BHdP1m-qhrMxADYZ82TxPSHdRnl6PIyDEf8MVDPq33MdNRzM8FuOgHqpthIqZ7mBdNdx6Fv_bpcKNzEIahCQtaz4HlFllv3jIIs7zJdGCWUQzOWKy7duc5vExO_u0Q28DErB-jdsMTz4DabQFfvnDpCqfPFJSxioiZLzP/w640-h404/sliver%20linings.gif" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">21. Silver Linings Playbook</span></b></div><div><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2DC4yBPAhxPpXB9rHCz--gRNkOFu9kHYs_cHFmP405Oiqw_uNNHc8YVILPYzEElS-Oh1LHShiHJMffYoQisGJ6OsaszxijqFi4i8pSkBgtVkbmcDDviPm7mnWvxD4euevv7-8rG9wFaxyM8Wu82oMFiRyW80A5DcPL5uC8tnfmqEaJ_Rg7JsjoscY/s500/byzantium.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2DC4yBPAhxPpXB9rHCz--gRNkOFu9kHYs_cHFmP405Oiqw_uNNHc8YVILPYzEElS-Oh1LHShiHJMffYoQisGJ6OsaszxijqFi4i8pSkBgtVkbmcDDviPm7mnWvxD4euevv7-8rG9wFaxyM8Wu82oMFiRyW80A5DcPL5uC8tnfmqEaJ_Rg7JsjoscY/w640-h320/byzantium.gif" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">20. Byzantium</span></b></div><div><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8wZvhHtynd3JIHjmzGbkBeLDEjV2bv3siDASzkgd1v6ZnO-wMxCyVYrL8XKnsXvbofN-JYp5RfbTXiL00Lh60s_x38f-OSbsLw6llB5qLAD4YRfS9iJD8Jcs1-L8ja0Kq0mkKdLyZmS1mx0Pk2TzWRrDtYbU0ahMHkg5nifi8CoXkBQvqMvIfdlC0/s1600/InvisibleWar1-1600x900-c-default.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8wZvhHtynd3JIHjmzGbkBeLDEjV2bv3siDASzkgd1v6ZnO-wMxCyVYrL8XKnsXvbofN-JYp5RfbTXiL00Lh60s_x38f-OSbsLw6llB5qLAD4YRfS9iJD8Jcs1-L8ja0Kq0mkKdLyZmS1mx0Pk2TzWRrDtYbU0ahMHkg5nifi8CoXkBQvqMvIfdlC0/w640-h360/InvisibleWar1-1600x900-c-default.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">19. The Invisible War</span></b></div><div><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge3jjEtAkkktfLo7IhOQodIbxHLdyraG8NIUIOKQnA3eInS5g23sZF_328fhIfgz_SG9bjFNYWn3swd_xpAPzc0LiKPErpUBibi2vdrM-4ECv6QrNpXkDgaCqWJOJSfkPxJfCU6JPxf1FcSjK8_VeB_6NDevz58vPkKphstIP51SIJZRRAidPZvptx/s640/The-We-and-the-I-5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="640" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge3jjEtAkkktfLo7IhOQodIbxHLdyraG8NIUIOKQnA3eInS5g23sZF_328fhIfgz_SG9bjFNYWn3swd_xpAPzc0LiKPErpUBibi2vdrM-4ECv6QrNpXkDgaCqWJOJSfkPxJfCU6JPxf1FcSjK8_VeB_6NDevz58vPkKphstIP51SIJZRRAidPZvptx/w640-h426/The-We-and-the-I-5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">18. The We and the I</span></b></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDvsJrH-texINE9Skax9oT7Hpm87FI7WB_8EwG-9DJzhHqivDcsyFWOTwCctRN-doAAooR5yl2G9l94W5uqwsr4l7b4dNfRe9pDpe4d-8DVRoZCPisIPdx1VPx3LVsvI2breXEQYn8vXZSYNfvccwYsgGWgG-yfThBZ-6M4QNKHNmuKZvGwU1m-LyN/s1440/ai-weiwei-never-sorry.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1440" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDvsJrH-texINE9Skax9oT7Hpm87FI7WB_8EwG-9DJzhHqivDcsyFWOTwCctRN-doAAooR5yl2G9l94W5uqwsr4l7b4dNfRe9pDpe4d-8DVRoZCPisIPdx1VPx3LVsvI2breXEQYn8vXZSYNfvccwYsgGWgG-yfThBZ-6M4QNKHNmuKZvGwU1m-LyN/w640-h334/ai-weiwei-never-sorry.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">17. Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry</span></b></div><div><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb9_tEGyt-igFMltNjgfikn8fNKwUDxK1YTybiEoQ80ePUi2srmlLJPiHy8J2UgajiJSHqewMAq3Pc89fVjezGFucU6-wIJmK0Yz3_mYrUzB2Jlgh4TTxCFExiOxC6YdRBVWX--vkFczyWqdS7uOCxBjRX02_TNRzyzxTK9CDSQ93VT65BFWqXqzgg/s500/chronicle.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="500" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb9_tEGyt-igFMltNjgfikn8fNKwUDxK1YTybiEoQ80ePUi2srmlLJPiHy8J2UgajiJSHqewMAq3Pc89fVjezGFucU6-wIJmK0Yz3_mYrUzB2Jlgh4TTxCFExiOxC6YdRBVWX--vkFczyWqdS7uOCxBjRX02_TNRzyzxTK9CDSQ93VT65BFWqXqzgg/w640-h346/chronicle.gif" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">16. Chronicle</span></b></div><div><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_4u6x02uebroKTWpGwcniTp6JyRm9ohkl_oQSb50zmcLsmHkUdtgm2QWMFHBN4414psdL5RhbYopV9B8EbYp3o_dOetyZp0Q5mA3gJzwgGb59W_PaTs3Y9qizdC6maEIedQ7XifRnvd0gHCjGSTlfjngxPMJo9lpe20WLrN5_CboJrEJb-upOf28k/s500/frankenweenie.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="280" data-original-width="500" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_4u6x02uebroKTWpGwcniTp6JyRm9ohkl_oQSb50zmcLsmHkUdtgm2QWMFHBN4414psdL5RhbYopV9B8EbYp3o_dOetyZp0Q5mA3gJzwgGb59W_PaTs3Y9qizdC6maEIedQ7XifRnvd0gHCjGSTlfjngxPMJo9lpe20WLrN5_CboJrEJb-upOf28k/w640-h358/frankenweenie.gif" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">15. Frankenweenie</span></b></div><div><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJHoM9g0DBlCXXcQpSPS0Rj86qMIe6SOnOD2H0DtqoKeWCD46ca5xIvOmnvpM5lVgqC4hZ90vf0u9ITZn1401tpCJ8EybbxQCxGNsSHyDmIIADgnbt1jVwUC1LNpq9_e2JNakjvY0PyTZRP4vG5LYtQL0PmqG_1GY_MyLpIjfkduUTAjH7m2rhLe9d/s1280/imposter.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="544" data-original-width="1280" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJHoM9g0DBlCXXcQpSPS0Rj86qMIe6SOnOD2H0DtqoKeWCD46ca5xIvOmnvpM5lVgqC4hZ90vf0u9ITZn1401tpCJ8EybbxQCxGNsSHyDmIIADgnbt1jVwUC1LNpq9_e2JNakjvY0PyTZRP4vG5LYtQL0PmqG_1GY_MyLpIjfkduUTAjH7m2rhLe9d/w640-h272/imposter.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">14. The Imposter</span></b></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZtZyj-Ol4UJXAx4t1pGg_zMRB5uNjRv_sPoM-75zuDcXOQ3kSYmTSfzVXjkzMtOj_NLnmmy0PmxNzeAbX86ophz2_F94cqR97_35ZBAcZ5ZVutOnCWtqQzMPMSolj_WWRlXBE3_DnLCASFqUo1Aa4OoO9NalcWPntAdFgW5tEn2T8Jl2WOcpaD3O3/s500/moonrise%20kingdom.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="186" data-original-width="500" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZtZyj-Ol4UJXAx4t1pGg_zMRB5uNjRv_sPoM-75zuDcXOQ3kSYmTSfzVXjkzMtOj_NLnmmy0PmxNzeAbX86ophz2_F94cqR97_35ZBAcZ5ZVutOnCWtqQzMPMSolj_WWRlXBE3_DnLCASFqUo1Aa4OoO9NalcWPntAdFgW5tEn2T8Jl2WOcpaD3O3/w640-h238/moonrise%20kingdom.gif" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">13. Moonrise Kingdom</span></b></div><div><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy_1k5Y228jeEYH30v3tkZXyRytfbn9Rg6wPpjh1ydyDPICWtM6GsAFi3v3gHWagMqTZN6IOhdXrsDH7zGRNXnqKS1iryYZo8lJNxmyOs-Wdzn9XfbxI28eV9mLCONggjll2mVdMouU20aL8YCc4APlYqdlRRIG6gJIFQggpHC8AJqWJBrRuokjZ1E/s500/7%20psychopaths.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="500" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy_1k5Y228jeEYH30v3tkZXyRytfbn9Rg6wPpjh1ydyDPICWtM6GsAFi3v3gHWagMqTZN6IOhdXrsDH7zGRNXnqKS1iryYZo8lJNxmyOs-Wdzn9XfbxI28eV9mLCONggjll2mVdMouU20aL8YCc4APlYqdlRRIG6gJIFQggpHC8AJqWJBrRuokjZ1E/w640-h256/7%20psychopaths.gif" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">12. Seven Psychopaths</span></b></div><div><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQJrOEzMqZBsMeN_HnaNoAWiIBA6i1WbfOSDVK6uXWEqmNUlADdFseLqWHsfs8x7mWnqdeFCoKql-HWTKjy44Mlq_aRl-NnsD1GQ8_ay9NdNim1KyfSJf1lDYJlEqbp019TnjWmGLgz5CXSdtQ6ZyC5knmQsRlOWizStx2LCxIEPkGJwOmw5EIgUkX/s500/life%20of%20pi.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="265" data-original-width="500" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQJrOEzMqZBsMeN_HnaNoAWiIBA6i1WbfOSDVK6uXWEqmNUlADdFseLqWHsfs8x7mWnqdeFCoKql-HWTKjy44Mlq_aRl-NnsD1GQ8_ay9NdNim1KyfSJf1lDYJlEqbp019TnjWmGLgz5CXSdtQ6ZyC5knmQsRlOWizStx2LCxIEPkGJwOmw5EIgUkX/w640-h340/life%20of%20pi.gif" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">11. Life of Pi</span></b></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb6mxGx-eZDmthFqPhmITX0tBEyM7Jnfr-J9QZHdATgD7M-3LOkOrrFoDiVfxXqMM-t0rP8Du28kYgHw6uwBToKlon7p-RDAqmWnhWQ4vkWVYK8rHukXl_IKlrHpkDApX9VU8BnDMlI-h25qbilAtlAmiv3ej8J1-01pDSI10lfz5LA17yUAqxv4rb/s1200/searching-for-sugar-man-2012-film-rcm1200x627u.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="627" data-original-width="1200" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb6mxGx-eZDmthFqPhmITX0tBEyM7Jnfr-J9QZHdATgD7M-3LOkOrrFoDiVfxXqMM-t0rP8Du28kYgHw6uwBToKlon7p-RDAqmWnhWQ4vkWVYK8rHukXl_IKlrHpkDApX9VU8BnDMlI-h25qbilAtlAmiv3ej8J1-01pDSI10lfz5LA17yUAqxv4rb/w743-h388/searching-for-sugar-man-2012-film-rcm1200x627u.jpg" width="743" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">10. Searching for Sugar Man</span></b></div><div>
Lots of documentaries are shocking and disheartening. On this list alone, there are a handful of them that leave feeling worse about the world after you watch them. This one does the opposite. It starts off as a curious mystery and ends up tugging at your heartstrings. A must for fans of folk music.<br /><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWseCrDD1t7JtJvDOQHHmtVt830IaAgA24fbu0ugntUExjPHyp7Z55HkLYRH8boJZjGlcB2hxqIv6UvDhhsJL5De-ZkcF5moeuD9HynZ49LyYG_c8filqK8JClSwdBY6C_673fPHY0Zlrqqy9sIEYVLXtIJkCcPmoQzEWR1Kh7cgOW_gkgAbo-cdVe/s500/looper.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="213" data-original-width="500" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWseCrDD1t7JtJvDOQHHmtVt830IaAgA24fbu0ugntUExjPHyp7Z55HkLYRH8boJZjGlcB2hxqIv6UvDhhsJL5De-ZkcF5moeuD9HynZ49LyYG_c8filqK8JClSwdBY6C_673fPHY0Zlrqqy9sIEYVLXtIJkCcPmoQzEWR1Kh7cgOW_gkgAbo-cdVe/w773-h328/looper.gif" width="773" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">9. Looper</span></b></div><div>
It takes its delicious premise fills it with action and never forgets about the simultaneously internal and external conflict that grabs our attention once the plot is set in motion. Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Bruce Willis literally play two sides of the same coin and shine at it. This is possibly the last really good performance from Willis.<br /><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZpibaSSJ7I-Y__Km3lLSik3SFG3ywtuwRF1b57RzPUEx9bmtzhguCYuqNo1atMR2YoO4GhPo_kEk4rneBXZPm5WhjgCE-XSmOOENkwYxVF_XEhfQTIz1WZ5pP1JSk9ZVnUKShrCJmL3s2wOFiEpL8qb2vtqRLtfPSjmlB6OXw1xTkDMnde4oLqvKZ/s780/Compliance-film-images-9dedd889-0bb3-4ed2-ae74-392909efe25.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="439" data-original-width="780" height="417" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZpibaSSJ7I-Y__Km3lLSik3SFG3ywtuwRF1b57RzPUEx9bmtzhguCYuqNo1atMR2YoO4GhPo_kEk4rneBXZPm5WhjgCE-XSmOOENkwYxVF_XEhfQTIz1WZ5pP1JSk9ZVnUKShrCJmL3s2wOFiEpL8qb2vtqRLtfPSjmlB6OXw1xTkDMnde4oLqvKZ/w741-h417/Compliance-film-images-9dedd889-0bb3-4ed2-ae74-392909efe25.jpg" width="741" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">8. Compliance</span></b></div><div>
Lots of horror flicks have unkillable masked men, ghosts, goblins, demons and devils. I love lots of them. However, the overwhelming majority of them are disposable. Once the psycho hacks up all the teenagers, the ghosts and goblins run the family out the house, or the demons and devils are exorcised I’m off to a restful night of sleep with barely a thought given to what I’ve just watched. Compliance has none of those things. Some people wouldn’t even call it a horror. Yet, this is the movie that got further under my skin than any in 2012. It’s ripped from the headlines plot helps in that regard. What happens here did actually happen, more or less. And could happen again. I have daughters just embarking on adulthood. So yeah, this movie creeped me out. <br /><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt-dBibPUKZ5FGWFLtcCg-ABTkD7X_nc-VU5qOYrQqsU1S4QJ4fbdBj2OkzMCfR1kWUdEgo5oEIkEmWFVezQpK7rn0NKTQ7hoClmd_QGGhoF-VinuavXeNFBeuXvhP7EWAH7Y4pGu644NqxmVi1fs0vopuAvf2aX_GZx-W_8qPL_NFZP7Myh-6H4iI/s500/avengers.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="500" height="467" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt-dBibPUKZ5FGWFLtcCg-ABTkD7X_nc-VU5qOYrQqsU1S4QJ4fbdBj2OkzMCfR1kWUdEgo5oEIkEmWFVezQpK7rn0NKTQ7hoClmd_QGGhoF-VinuavXeNFBeuXvhP7EWAH7Y4pGu644NqxmVi1fs0vopuAvf2aX_GZx-W_8qPL_NFZP7Myh-6H4iI/w729-h467/avengers.gif" width="729" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">7. The Avengers</span></b></div><div>
By now, cinematic superhero team-ups seem commonplace now, but in 2012 everyone wondered if it could work. It had been done in things like Mystery Men, and more seriously, Watchmen. The difference is those were all one-shot deals where we were meeting all the characters as once. For this, these characters had built up in separate movies and carried their own legacies into the film. On top of that, those movies were also connected through various MacGuffins, so their storylines had to come together along with their personalities. It works wonderfully, somehow without being a cluttered mess.<br /><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_GnMoqKxgO7OMmo8TWy-YMhOH7Yihw2F9PCy2-_LyDLqTNQ8_citUANV8XcgJi1vrw1GyXBaW_EFbrtogV0yDJobUFP4xOK7okOj5fOfH9clvhpxvsSwuNZ8K5s2ifxAGxqnOSay6I7HIlYYq5wUetWDJYGyDm58HeNqZIa6yIq00u0_QYn4i9LxC/s500/spring%20breaker.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="500" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_GnMoqKxgO7OMmo8TWy-YMhOH7Yihw2F9PCy2-_LyDLqTNQ8_citUANV8XcgJi1vrw1GyXBaW_EFbrtogV0yDJobUFP4xOK7okOj5fOfH9clvhpxvsSwuNZ8K5s2ifxAGxqnOSay6I7HIlYYq5wUetWDJYGyDm58HeNqZIa6yIq00u0_QYn4i9LxC/w786-h314/spring%20breaker.gif" width="786" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">6. Spring Breakers</span></b></div><div>
More than anything else on this list, Spring Breakers is a love it or hate it kind of movie. Some will find it to be slick social commentary on a generation of attention whores willing to do any and everything to bring themselves fame or infamy. The many directorial flourishes will dazzle their eyes and come off as an infinite amount of style infused with just the right amount substance. Others will find it a sleazy, voyeuristic mess trying to obscure its lack of meaningful insight with flashy camera work, fancy filters, and nudity. I have it pretty high up on this list, so you can guess where I stand. <br /><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR61d3pL4BIBC3fxrDcoMZ1S-EK9nsuxDJjx829mJHETiw3XDDxcAE3sBItTrZXeXYAzxduJ9P2gAP9iYz7hlSXA8okAb0PlfXo_fH1ylyUJO3ouvG8NkXqHx5p45ViP1auV39lqj16QC31V9KVXHqwqi3pWUWDvoXFlolh_EHVEebvggEkoSHdgMu/s650/survive%20a%20plague.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="443" data-original-width="650" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR61d3pL4BIBC3fxrDcoMZ1S-EK9nsuxDJjx829mJHETiw3XDDxcAE3sBItTrZXeXYAzxduJ9P2gAP9iYz7hlSXA8okAb0PlfXo_fH1ylyUJO3ouvG8NkXqHx5p45ViP1auV39lqj16QC31V9KVXHqwqi3pWUWDvoXFlolh_EHVEebvggEkoSHdgMu/w720-h490/survive%20a%20plague.jpg" width="720" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">5. How to Survive a Plague</span></b></div><div>
If you’re old enough, you remember that when AIDS first became a prominent disease in the late 1970s/early 1980s, it was seen as a disease that only affected gay men. Indeed, the vast majority of its victims fit that description. It was also a death sentence, with most people dying within a year or two after being diagnosed. The government didn’t seem particularly pressed about helping them. This doc is about the activists within that community who spearheaded the efforts to speed up the process of funding research and creating medicines to deal with the issue. It’s full of passion, empathy, and unfortunately, death. I don’t mean death in the grisly, horror movie kind of way, but simply people dying while fighting for their cause. It’s an amazing, though not always easy to watch, documentary.<br /><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJC9SXrNw14qqP4TXDuNaTK1m6mPThkZPGxVLB0RiZL6lrcjgrCc7IF5ZwUETZdbk-1q21gwVwsq_ozMDtSp0UXWCqWaXYrr-pRwOaqTIXQb4gs7xS725z29x6svI5lP8ij1poN6sxiQHSDbOyilJwiCC34S3s4D_O1pcTvDfMcspnENMvUayQlWkB/s500/beasts%20southern%20wild.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="274" data-original-width="500" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJC9SXrNw14qqP4TXDuNaTK1m6mPThkZPGxVLB0RiZL6lrcjgrCc7IF5ZwUETZdbk-1q21gwVwsq_ozMDtSp0UXWCqWaXYrr-pRwOaqTIXQb4gs7xS725z29x6svI5lP8ij1poN6sxiQHSDbOyilJwiCC34S3s4D_O1pcTvDfMcspnENMvUayQlWkB/w742-h406/beasts%20southern%20wild.gif" width="742" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">4. Beasts of the Southern Wild</span></b></div><div>
I like stories of survival. I also like films about relationships between a father and their children, particularly if those fathers are Black men. This movie is both. Here, a dad and his daughter live off the coast of Louisiana. Their existence, and that of everyone else around them, is threatened by the coming storm. We dive into their culture, as well as their relationship. I’ve given lots of attention to Dwight … as the dad, because he’s the character most like me. He gives an amazing performance. If I’m being honest, however, the real star of the movie is Q Wallis as his daughter. She melts your heart, is cute as can be, yet still pulls genuine emotion out of her role. Her chemistry with D is fantastic and makes the movie a bittersweet masterpiece.<br /><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM3_G_whHYJ4AeMHJhbFMNI-9uBecrArWLYmb8hr43yojbnEAb7o2M2mdauZWSYaUSG8I7uYH3uPjecweZ1SpBb5JD2S7ozUTXyFrKHzmKOt6EMIgsEnhCnPO2gz-_BdHxx1Lg41uZDC4TJ-0GiyWtCuQ8I7bjIQp7_Pz-p95UcYAvS3lOiAbFKwKP/s640/central-park-five-trailer.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="345" data-original-width="640" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM3_G_whHYJ4AeMHJhbFMNI-9uBecrArWLYmb8hr43yojbnEAb7o2M2mdauZWSYaUSG8I7uYH3uPjecweZ1SpBb5JD2S7ozUTXyFrKHzmKOt6EMIgsEnhCnPO2gz-_BdHxx1Lg41uZDC4TJ-0GiyWtCuQ8I7bjIQp7_Pz-p95UcYAvS3lOiAbFKwKP/w747-h404/central-park-five-trailer.jpg" width="747" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">3. The Central Park Five</span></b></div><div>
As a Black male teenager in late 80s New York, I was already used to other people looking at me and thinking of me in broad stereotypical terms. I was already aware that the actions of one of us meant the public damnation of all of us, even if those actions never actually happened. In this case, five such teens were arrested, and seemingly confessed, to the rape and possible attempted murder, of a woman who came to be known as The Central Park Jogger. The case was in the news for months on end with the entire city, already racially charged before this event, following the proceedings. To many New Yorkers, mostly White, these kids should have been buried as far under the jail as possible. This includes the real estate mogul (?) who went to become president, Donald Trump. To the rest of us, the facts weren’t lining up. That includes me, who read about it every day in the newspaper. This doc examines the case, and gets us inside the lives of these, now grown men, and the journey their lives have been ever since.<br /><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw_S6P-rkCX4zvMX7RHNw0O2Zz8k4xZEFjgGFQfxcrrRZwfAc1TnMauUZxBFeIy9uVAWkn9KInRRFLwNIZfQsKclKpgBMQzIU4oGWFKdIY8kLgv1Gsf-ZQMESBb4LmkwXLsMNJImDcbQp4tkAUMmNfC32G0Uno0IP3NEBy9DWTCG-7gYeP9Lzt2_MC/s625/skyfall.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="625" height="323" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw_S6P-rkCX4zvMX7RHNw0O2Zz8k4xZEFjgGFQfxcrrRZwfAc1TnMauUZxBFeIy9uVAWkn9KInRRFLwNIZfQsKclKpgBMQzIU4oGWFKdIY8kLgv1Gsf-ZQMESBb4LmkwXLsMNJImDcbQp4tkAUMmNfC32G0Uno0IP3NEBy9DWTCG-7gYeP9Lzt2_MC/w785-h323/skyfall.gif" width="785" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">2. Skyfall</span></b></div><div>
Even if you’ve never seen a James Bond, you probably have a pretty good idea of what happens in them. A suave super spy saves the world while bedding lots of women. The brilliance of the Daniel Craig era of the franchise is that it is a deconstruction of that behavior and all the tropes used to create the character. Skyfall is the height of this run of films. In addition to deconstructing the character, it studies where Bond fits in a modern world, both personally and professionally. Therefore, it’s a great character study, it’s self-aware, and still has plenty of great action scenes. For my money, this is the best Bond movie ever made.<br /><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd5ONQfbUimQe53rcHczOiLfQczDIUKwHyExcBEQIFuf_JbxyWvhlyAY9R3gOG9RYut0XKsQiCiA9wN-3hCYhFzpKV5mL224XWKmm97fv4vpgDMd7BZWIHcFL1ud58fGFK-HfOfFFWXVWM187TsalMlnH3i6mfkinWdko8DekSxoxErDrs8rYnMTcp/s320/django%20unchained.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="320" height="717" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd5ONQfbUimQe53rcHczOiLfQczDIUKwHyExcBEQIFuf_JbxyWvhlyAY9R3gOG9RYut0XKsQiCiA9wN-3hCYhFzpKV5mL224XWKmm97fv4vpgDMd7BZWIHcFL1ud58fGFK-HfOfFFWXVWM187TsalMlnH3i6mfkinWdko8DekSxoxErDrs8rYnMTcp/w717-h717/django%20unchained.gif" width="717" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">1. Django Unchained</span></b></div><div>
Quentin Tarantino has achieved godlike status among a certain set of movie fans. He often starts with the genres he loved as a young film buff, puts them in a blender, and drops in lots of witty banter built on pop culture references. When it comes to history, he rewrites it, turning victims into victors. He does the same here, starting with the spaghetti western, adding splashes of blaxploitation, sexploitation, and of course, slavery films. He gets help from an amazing cast, including a never-better Leonardo DiCaprio. Yup, I said never-better. It all comes together phenomenally. I might get some flak for this, but to me, this is the last great Tarantino film.
</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Honorable Mentions</b> (alphabetical): The Act of Killing, American Mary, Amour, Argo, Brave, Cloud Atlas, Dredd, End of Watch, Les Miserable, The Man with the Iron Fists, The Master, Mud, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, The Place Beyond the Pines, Rust and Bone, Ted, Zero Dark Thirty</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>Dellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05634519605152190304noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227751790693713235.post-32229620864798849352022-06-13T00:00:00.003-04:002022-06-13T14:01:44.927-04:00The 100 Project: The Top 25 Movies of 2011<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHcufCopZc-8s5457lH_W1H6nQtnIqZaJ-c3GpjyTlKKStMRd1DR59z9aLKDimLsm3IfhIvSRATcTricsqKm1z_kODM_jS6KgM7-x1F3lhoAParb3aFPU69Vtqdnc14WJjtjWugEoJmTe6k8Jh_v0LDGscZmCgyOqOdRDF_IU1uF40Olz__pxVciwf/s540/100-top%2025%202011.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="540" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHcufCopZc-8s5457lH_W1H6nQtnIqZaJ-c3GpjyTlKKStMRd1DR59z9aLKDimLsm3IfhIvSRATcTricsqKm1z_kODM_jS6KgM7-x1F3lhoAParb3aFPU69Vtqdnc14WJjtjWugEoJmTe6k8Jh_v0LDGscZmCgyOqOdRDF_IU1uF40Olz__pxVciwf/w640-h640/100-top%2025%202011.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a>By 2011, I was into my 2nd year as a "serious" blogger. I posted pretty much every other day, and was under the false pretense that maybe one day I'd make a buck or two off this thing. How stupid I was. Anyhoo, let's talk about movies. I watched a bunch of them from that year. Of course, I made a list of what I think were the best. Check it out here. As I've said before, though, things change, namely my opinions. So no, this is not just a regurgitation of that list. Instead of dilly-dallying any longer, let's just get to it. Oh, first a reminder. For this project, I'm using Letterboxd.com to guide me on the year of release, so you may see some of these movies listed on other sites as 2010 or 2012 releases. Got it? Good.<p></p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">My Top 25 Movies of 2011</span></b></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>According to my Letterboxd account I've seen 147 films released during 2011.</li><li>I only saw 3 movies in theaters, 2 make the top 25.</li><li>I've seen all 9 movies nominated for Best Picture. Only 1 makes my top 25, 1 other is an honorable mention.</li><li>2 Documentaries make my top 10, 2 more in the top 25, and another makes my honorable mentions.</li><li>4 non-English language films make my top 25. 2 more are honorable mentions.</li><li>For the first time since 2002, no animated features make my list.</li></ul><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBw8qVzS9jYCLzkGCGflznrWCKwmSFpZcVrzT7q29CGhSxfHthUZ7otTrrr27Lnot6oJfxpus383SzjR_kf0AHgB7NzGK1tbtWuS4DAjsEMXqMS6kyYuRiJwwJfPDCIICZtGyfOdz-iTSU7KRDb4PUWwKLH1Io84Pj061E067PF0nLiXJF_IgbaUB8/s676/fast%20five.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="676" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBw8qVzS9jYCLzkGCGflznrWCKwmSFpZcVrzT7q29CGhSxfHthUZ7otTrrr27Lnot6oJfxpus383SzjR_kf0AHgB7NzGK1tbtWuS4DAjsEMXqMS6kyYuRiJwwJfPDCIICZtGyfOdz-iTSU7KRDb4PUWwKLH1Io84Pj061E067PF0nLiXJF_IgbaUB8/w640-h320/fast%20five.gif" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">25. Fast Five</span></b></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA6fktX1pluyarSoIoFkW9gYr7JhziIK94xIjTLA894mDH7ehz_5umcWRuIVGnU7jZeZxOgzsHplL0eIOfIfPVGPkNvxO2tM3i-axNfrorUrxT0onbrInoJHNf2vTrHREF1NpMYyMZRYySjLi7SAtNbf6u5JAUzsfcddq1CdX_6gP56bM1vdhYZRqX/s640/first%20class.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="272" data-original-width="640" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA6fktX1pluyarSoIoFkW9gYr7JhziIK94xIjTLA894mDH7ehz_5umcWRuIVGnU7jZeZxOgzsHplL0eIOfIfPVGPkNvxO2tM3i-axNfrorUrxT0onbrInoJHNf2vTrHREF1NpMYyMZRYySjLi7SAtNbf6u5JAUzsfcddq1CdX_6gP56bM1vdhYZRqX/w640-h272/first%20class.gif" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">24. X-Men: First Class</span></b></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfYs7mZtcAef-KI7D0-ZhVkE0XJs1AJs_cY4o363spWOkgCrg6SfS9sZk_gFcYrgihLhFFvPNx8FclpAhsiOBYwW5EeFqbhiY2cXJA-4UawWWymHTfDRjz5-FTusH462X2RhU8ugggmb5WVJF9KCNhHsqA3hX7Tf7pJOFnu7lXEOkL2gJYCJuqlbz4/s500/ghost%20protocol.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="208" data-original-width="500" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfYs7mZtcAef-KI7D0-ZhVkE0XJs1AJs_cY4o363spWOkgCrg6SfS9sZk_gFcYrgihLhFFvPNx8FclpAhsiOBYwW5EeFqbhiY2cXJA-4UawWWymHTfDRjz5-FTusH462X2RhU8ugggmb5WVJF9KCNhHsqA3hX7Tf7pJOFnu7lXEOkL2gJYCJuqlbz4/w640-h266/ghost%20protocol.gif" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">23. Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol</span></b></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigbUijiOsigFPWbP7IgIQtug9J8bWk2Ixtir1fccv5sBYb5lkGUUjZGihelG_L80X_lQrtSYhRsesQn4eIcSIAhcmUlUtyRjc61r_CJXFBqOV04x2bc2TAnuxCSo0dDgLB8CL3nfCXoocc94b5CxXiiX9AyMJ9QvlZilUbNCq7_5Ylct27FdVmSyyq/s498/brad-pitt.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="249" data-original-width="498" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigbUijiOsigFPWbP7IgIQtug9J8bWk2Ixtir1fccv5sBYb5lkGUUjZGihelG_L80X_lQrtSYhRsesQn4eIcSIAhcmUlUtyRjc61r_CJXFBqOV04x2bc2TAnuxCSo0dDgLB8CL3nfCXoocc94b5CxXiiX9AyMJ9QvlZilUbNCq7_5Ylct27FdVmSyyq/w640-h320/brad-pitt.gif" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">22. Moneyball</span></b></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh421FyTBB825vwlnN5bWrX2vyXckJY7psPiTyzzuRxHPTBQOlNc4_kWtUARJpAHMDgMN7OSWgNSbo1LuEiRtqQqt5rn8yvLDYrMLsyCdCVD3EOH-NyYWSz45VWh2DfGqPG9M2HrR1bkLt1e33zMWHf8SFgLQzNAhYfL1otT_1NyGQXx2UpmwhTDZVD/s475/win%20win.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="475" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh421FyTBB825vwlnN5bWrX2vyXckJY7psPiTyzzuRxHPTBQOlNc4_kWtUARJpAHMDgMN7OSWgNSbo1LuEiRtqQqt5rn8yvLDYrMLsyCdCVD3EOH-NyYWSz45VWh2DfGqPG9M2HrR1bkLt1e33zMWHf8SFgLQzNAhYfL1otT_1NyGQXx2UpmwhTDZVD/w640-h370/win%20win.gif" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">21. Win Win</span></b></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKrfLAtDljG7ygr4LMgz2kRkUd6Mm19hbHVdAujJAuV5VL78YR33CCt6UybRLyEC5NOcWGexQ6Shf09j6GsUYBniFStOEjLzI7KGCWQqdHiUe7mhAHWumby7HKK73RCzoFD9N6w_6lR0_1Z3d1Dl0skHOgcpVXCDdwm_-gXBOqbsjDaRHg4BE7craX/s900/louder%20than%20a%20bomb.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="900" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKrfLAtDljG7ygr4LMgz2kRkUd6Mm19hbHVdAujJAuV5VL78YR33CCt6UybRLyEC5NOcWGexQ6Shf09j6GsUYBniFStOEjLzI7KGCWQqdHiUe7mhAHWumby7HKK73RCzoFD9N6w_6lR0_1Z3d1Dl0skHOgcpVXCDdwm_-gXBOqbsjDaRHg4BE7craX/w640-h480/louder%20than%20a%20bomb.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">20. Louder Than a Bomb</span></b></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSQND2T0dTitvMLgvNZG2atk6GAVxVFG4-w2mGGmeuXQC_tjNQtZFw2IYLQ0IaDPKSV1DehxRG8JomSumSDgiZXecDhuBVGhzFVvS3yYgVWYINfMPOXf3eWp37izW-4uvc4kyNAyoYfCdqPx2JhNNjf6PKMt5LqouhKr_18vT2DzZEgIVDT4yV8xBw/s640/cabin-in-the-woods-big-hand.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="272" data-original-width="640" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSQND2T0dTitvMLgvNZG2atk6GAVxVFG4-w2mGGmeuXQC_tjNQtZFw2IYLQ0IaDPKSV1DehxRG8JomSumSDgiZXecDhuBVGhzFVvS3yYgVWYINfMPOXf3eWp37izW-4uvc4kyNAyoYfCdqPx2JhNNjf6PKMt5LqouhKr_18vT2DzZEgIVDT4yV8xBw/w640-h272/cabin-in-the-woods-big-hand.gif" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">19. Cabin in the Woods</span></b></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPvZeD9W254WdgyY2mFFGcF6lmkzyG5TBaq66tO5q2fW34Pi45Yyaa9ZaDDFL9V3QwhY9GVgi8G5oibkY86jhxhjkeoBCWNw03zmxvahe8wTqkzHceFd3ozTqIrsKYg9L7QHNmECJViysVD0WATA6Npd8WnfSQvSaoLjIXbv40zAutA9GAn_KiFzpy/s500/dark%20girls.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="500" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPvZeD9W254WdgyY2mFFGcF6lmkzyG5TBaq66tO5q2fW34Pi45Yyaa9ZaDDFL9V3QwhY9GVgi8G5oibkY86jhxhjkeoBCWNw03zmxvahe8wTqkzHceFd3ozTqIrsKYg9L7QHNmECJViysVD0WATA6Npd8WnfSQvSaoLjIXbv40zAutA9GAn_KiFzpy/w640-h360/dark%20girls.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">18. Dark Girls</span></b></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLguOMtYovEDCJzvI9shel-Cq2coBVL2GNmLRD_g3-I9lHaqnDIB1mXFJwQ8oWBmqaOvSVsh1rIiubqgOaiAvoKczgDUZv4MAwme_PtXeso_EroBSI733CtUl8vCX2XjiX5nsDdzAgBCPj8Oz402KqpIa_9j7cJgaJzhK-ezI7CtlvuRtJXlVHSI1l/s2000/A-Separation_2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1339" data-original-width="2000" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLguOMtYovEDCJzvI9shel-Cq2coBVL2GNmLRD_g3-I9lHaqnDIB1mXFJwQ8oWBmqaOvSVsh1rIiubqgOaiAvoKczgDUZv4MAwme_PtXeso_EroBSI733CtUl8vCX2XjiX5nsDdzAgBCPj8Oz402KqpIa_9j7cJgaJzhK-ezI7CtlvuRtJXlVHSI1l/w640-h428/A-Separation_2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">17. A Separation</span></b></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIN55YWRiqY_5YPukgMP5iPDMSSWLENFEEiIczY3Q1TQj73rHXU2pkS9JxXDyvn9SmnHiH87HAB4VwRqKteiw6E3rArJ8A3mWLrfgzWS-hZfyZQdzRWL0leXaj9s0zZ0ZB8yGO53iIqtsnkyj0OCAwdyibDHTTM5dk1Ko_xdnhqqC4SVAZw2n1c8ri/s720/shame.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="308" data-original-width="720" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIN55YWRiqY_5YPukgMP5iPDMSSWLENFEEiIczY3Q1TQj73rHXU2pkS9JxXDyvn9SmnHiH87HAB4VwRqKteiw6E3rArJ8A3mWLrfgzWS-hZfyZQdzRWL0leXaj9s0zZ0ZB8yGO53iIqtsnkyj0OCAwdyibDHTTM5dk1Ko_xdnhqqC4SVAZw2n1c8ri/w640-h274/shame.gif" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">16. Shame</span></b></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX68Et0_eS5wRQ25hcvnxF1tA8-95oMLwOd2dp3mc_ROO2AMJ4CfkjLkAJeDK4t0Dpx2ERzZyeXGsw-1MXUQWG9r9mBKrUqogI8fodyK3cLoHkJjRHDhhIWQVbV9c69IAzuweCDij8imVvYtIeCVzewiCGAkQeaw_ew3H_UVXej2fdnYMOx4Vf1Nth/s1000/kinyarwanda.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX68Et0_eS5wRQ25hcvnxF1tA8-95oMLwOd2dp3mc_ROO2AMJ4CfkjLkAJeDK4t0Dpx2ERzZyeXGsw-1MXUQWG9r9mBKrUqogI8fodyK3cLoHkJjRHDhhIWQVbV9c69IAzuweCDij8imVvYtIeCVzewiCGAkQeaw_ew3H_UVXej2fdnYMOx4Vf1Nth/w640-h320/kinyarwanda.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">15. Kinyarwanda</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB2NRNEEHfROYEr5ca0VDHr6R98fexS8CaqeeV71QBz_c4jxBy9dLR0E4YQbeBSY3sGorKZpLvBxVYjRMkDfdmGh0hewgnpEbWOYX55Jd5SrdACgJ5nR1XIULh-xOa8sSUVuic9eEneNmryLsmhU3GkcxJcVPQomq0aALhyxAVMth4_FiAJ4qKCuy4/s400/attack-the-block-run.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="166" data-original-width="400" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB2NRNEEHfROYEr5ca0VDHr6R98fexS8CaqeeV71QBz_c4jxBy9dLR0E4YQbeBSY3sGorKZpLvBxVYjRMkDfdmGh0hewgnpEbWOYX55Jd5SrdACgJ5nR1XIULh-xOa8sSUVuic9eEneNmryLsmhU3GkcxJcVPQomq0aALhyxAVMth4_FiAJ4qKCuy4/w640-h266/attack-the-block-run.gif" width="640" /></a></b></div><b><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">14. Attack the Block</span></b></div></b><p></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZZlJ4wiG3dW94Shhz2gE0uoriAphvotED4AQTMcKxATPheWZ3Jvy0_ORfBrG_ufoelJZbxjSE3LJohEJB5mfqn6ZQDJiDgAsUa29eJ6eOdUR5LdtlvZ6N1MWHH4kdOCw45eLfLzJ6eLzx7FOOxrYuxHGmtoWD_WbAQWnpibTprnOWmGNmvkdSOixi/s500/youre%20next.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="248" data-original-width="500" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZZlJ4wiG3dW94Shhz2gE0uoriAphvotED4AQTMcKxATPheWZ3Jvy0_ORfBrG_ufoelJZbxjSE3LJohEJB5mfqn6ZQDJiDgAsUa29eJ6eOdUR5LdtlvZ6N1MWHH4kdOCw45eLfLzJ6eLzx7FOOxrYuxHGmtoWD_WbAQWnpibTprnOWmGNmvkdSOixi/w640-h318/youre%20next.gif" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">13. You're Next</span></b></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiciYtcCB9livn5_jGi_aTVuHz8O6ug-2bsc_bPay0u_WQX0OHvHai7pH7fttdIjGt2AkwJp3Z9L5SlQdk6oCGkJohr2M7ksepMX_rDou6ObV29D-mG4nGsuFOpqlP4FWJMPmmKrEi_8jIzbMRBRyBcWxRNtbTgnLaNmvhFx_ZXYReJyknUhHVYv910/s500/warrior.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="212" data-original-width="500" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiciYtcCB9livn5_jGi_aTVuHz8O6ug-2bsc_bPay0u_WQX0OHvHai7pH7fttdIjGt2AkwJp3Z9L5SlQdk6oCGkJohr2M7ksepMX_rDou6ObV29D-mG4nGsuFOpqlP4FWJMPmmKrEi_8jIzbMRBRyBcWxRNtbTgnLaNmvhFx_ZXYReJyknUhHVYv910/w640-h272/warrior.gif" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">12. Warrior</span></b></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzGJ1hqyHvYhez8M99F3oAc3XVLS1bU3YlYU2sCrlLY9ggw6W2uylyLTdEfdYppAfXtC8QqmZFfCMnkuZhexBf-WNOb3HhJnpOueHOTXm1EAbzpD-MFNP_hX3kN7GI_4yadEdZaI0h3HHTSODTleqYIy3TriDy9Fo4YTC57zM14kIVwsQHKnJNTB-W/s620/killer%20joe.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="620" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzGJ1hqyHvYhez8M99F3oAc3XVLS1bU3YlYU2sCrlLY9ggw6W2uylyLTdEfdYppAfXtC8QqmZFfCMnkuZhexBf-WNOb3HhJnpOueHOTXm1EAbzpD-MFNP_hX3kN7GI_4yadEdZaI0h3HHTSODTleqYIy3TriDy9Fo4YTC57zM14kIVwsQHKnJNTB-W/w640-h412/killer%20joe.gif" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">11. Killer Joe</span></b></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj77HEAZte3RGFenwCoua0Q_UIt7qubakCj2aQM3KixTQdzCf2b8iOia0ilEupO8a_ezW0EnYhAjVwJEWIbBTO2RVJ7qlL1OAH3PSKedpdAuMVuRNYU5xEl4cmQgF8ABCzOV6ub3-RnkTwlJ7Ie4kX2v-kLss8b9kg97pibRbUgtDYCX4L-gTqRTLyF/s500/dragon%20tattoo%202011.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj77HEAZte3RGFenwCoua0Q_UIt7qubakCj2aQM3KixTQdzCf2b8iOia0ilEupO8a_ezW0EnYhAjVwJEWIbBTO2RVJ7qlL1OAH3PSKedpdAuMVuRNYU5xEl4cmQgF8ABCzOV6ub3-RnkTwlJ7Ie4kX2v-kLss8b9kg97pibRbUgtDYCX4L-gTqRTLyF/w640-h256/dragon%20tattoo%202011.gif" width="800" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">10. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;">In the grand scheme of things this American remake of a Swedish film barely two years older is unnecessary. I know, director David Fincher says it's not a remake but another adaptation of the same novel. Whatever he wants to call it, there's little denying he did a great job directing it. His version is as good as the original, possibly better, with a career defining performance from Rooney Mara.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-CpKAjlLWdJ9MbyfyVeQF5wei62AOre4XkANZ_5G8uPSU4Ubbp57BGm9-4AyYO1pxd6yc2_pl0GcAWT_dQ4yNx6N_O1jKt_CdRf57VFG0tM7gP564XY6OwbWSO9w3nOG8wfQmRi1oudbXvjtHJ7PS6ctNk5PRD8aLmPlXSxCifwyq33rY7Aqg6Kwa/s498/ryan-gosling-drive.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="208" data-original-width="498" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-CpKAjlLWdJ9MbyfyVeQF5wei62AOre4XkANZ_5G8uPSU4Ubbp57BGm9-4AyYO1pxd6yc2_pl0GcAWT_dQ4yNx6N_O1jKt_CdRf57VFG0tM7gP564XY6OwbWSO9w3nOG8wfQmRi1oudbXvjtHJ7PS6ctNk5PRD8aLmPlXSxCifwyq33rY7Aqg6Kwa/w640-h268/ryan-gosling-drive.gif" width="800" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">9. Drive</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;">This one is a love it or hate it type of affair. I saw it first on DVD and obviously loved it. The moodiness of it, the way our two main characters communicated through sheepish silence, the interesting people that impacted their world, the way it turns on a dime from contemplative love story to brutal action flick - it all works for me. Afterwards, I called my brother to ask if he'd seen it. He actually went to the theater to do so. He and his girlfriend hated it so much they walked out before it was over. He was expecting something like #25 on this list. <i>Drive</i> ain't that.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVl4iJ9h4sWUltbxfTLUMboVYhtzi8oDhw_ZQQ3cEyDWCeDsebah8AXwKP5kRl1J6HZykGA4ysGBIxsD5m-Ql7WyXyl5L-krWg_ly3u1J-vk-AYbRxWwdhjlP0UNYD3z-qfavk1rhEovvjQpTnSRreEsL0PXtiVRQVCvCZbkir_YKTc2rBYue9t-uI/s450/atcq.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="252" data-original-width="450" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVl4iJ9h4sWUltbxfTLUMboVYhtzi8oDhw_ZQQ3cEyDWCeDsebah8AXwKP5kRl1J6HZykGA4ysGBIxsD5m-Ql7WyXyl5L-krWg_ly3u1J-vk-AYbRxWwdhjlP0UNYD3z-qfavk1rhEovvjQpTnSRreEsL0PXtiVRQVCvCZbkir_YKTc2rBYue9t-uI/w640-h358/atcq.gif" width="800" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">8. Beats, Rhymes and Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span>A Tribe Called Quest is one of my all-time favorite groups. This doc is a look at the both their history and their then-present. The years long feuding between two of the three members (Q-Tip and Phife Dawg) was well-known, but became fleshed out on both sides of it. Of course, it's not all bickering as we get to relive many of the moments that made them one of hip hop's most beloved crews. RIP to Phife Dawg who passed away in 2016 due to complications from diabetes.</span></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLrxnlR_cfM5qiFHurtjsHt9Gjpxjc5EY4RLRdqVmB2SXSxBVTd4YEnF7i-IRGbAS1ewQRXqq1ejATE2g60a9M99RZarUH1CPz7gPgpE8WyzC50MLYWQiQYuJNc6dP87B2xv1U0_p__CRCYyZgK-oWUtzGvYnNXuhO0i-qJfXM8weBNfKF_wm_-63Z/s498/contagion-virus.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="294" data-original-width="498" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLrxnlR_cfM5qiFHurtjsHt9Gjpxjc5EY4RLRdqVmB2SXSxBVTd4YEnF7i-IRGbAS1ewQRXqq1ejATE2g60a9M99RZarUH1CPz7gPgpE8WyzC50MLYWQiQYuJNc6dP87B2xv1U0_p__CRCYyZgK-oWUtzGvYnNXuhO0i-qJfXM8weBNfKF_wm_-63Z/w640-h378/contagion-virus.gif" width="800" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">7. Contagion</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span>When I first saw this in either 2011 or 2012, it horrified me. It's about a worldwide pandemic spreading around the world, killing people by the millions, through seemingly innocuous human contact. The way it was presented, somberly and with focus on a quickly deteriorating society and a need for isolation, made it feel like it could really happen. Then it did.</span></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVXG8HEDtXcUg-R1GlyHmY3AAk68B_3w9EYZvzWMmdu9HqZrxHaPFQCA3W46CkGi6ymJDGhe81lQW5YlQV7J1UNJmgV0aM9c6KjNAMpMnN_0ViVsdxMud5Rk-OLLqnL88h7VasYuP1N2eIf0VNPeuFc4PQGn7nItZv9qC9jIXqw-6Zb9UZ8V395xW8/s474/FirsthandMerryApatosaur-size_restricted.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="474" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVXG8HEDtXcUg-R1GlyHmY3AAk68B_3w9EYZvzWMmdu9HqZrxHaPFQCA3W46CkGi6ymJDGhe81lQW5YlQV7J1UNJmgV0aM9c6KjNAMpMnN_0ViVsdxMud5Rk-OLLqnL88h7VasYuP1N2eIf0VNPeuFc4PQGn7nItZv9qC9jIXqw-6Zb9UZ8V395xW8/w640-h338/FirsthandMerryApatosaur-size_restricted.gif" width="800" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">6. Martha Marcy May Marlene</span></b></span></p><p>Before getting absorbed by the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Elizabeth Olsen, was emerging from the shadows of her famous sisters (twins Mary Kate and Ashley) and building a resume as an actress to be reckoned with. Her performance here is her finest, heartbreaking and gut wrenching, she makes us feel every bit of her characters confusion and justifiable paranoia. To drive it all home, John Hawkes is perfectly charismatic and terrifying as a cult leader.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFAghciYWP9re7pI8sB1fCoYRCiARSxpG6coGxrIN_M2JAKgaSjodSYrk7rYYXQwaPtQsr4luogN999KCcc0Y9uTer-o20WmalyMNQ-PAkYe00DhGqbm0LVrIn_gdoZOUHDU1C_hyW7ij78H89ACZRzz_W-XCVdExlP9B7fdRYsQVkg2tBKjrOh1TK/s480/pariah.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="480" height="417" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFAghciYWP9re7pI8sB1fCoYRCiARSxpG6coGxrIN_M2JAKgaSjodSYrk7rYYXQwaPtQsr4luogN999KCcc0Y9uTer-o20WmalyMNQ-PAkYe00DhGqbm0LVrIn_gdoZOUHDU1C_hyW7ij78H89ACZRzz_W-XCVdExlP9B7fdRYsQVkg2tBKjrOh1TK/w640-h334/pariah.gif" width="800" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">5. Pariah</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span>Years before Moonlight, there was this portrait of African American teen sexuality. Our main character is fully aware she is a lesbian, but hasn't come out to her family, particularly her mom who holds staunch religious beliefs and is fully against homosexuality. Previously untested as an actress despite numerous movie roles, Kim Wayans provides us a great lightning rod of a character as the mother. </span></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZyAQdRWOAGfXIWh4-iBCH2NlIimzmBN4yaTkVTvohQdVKXhfT0VQjqnh1HhvPus5JjGJX1WxbPro4xDqxyJXQTaSCPmlci7dzTLhPcR6f7aqUH6s62fLFeflEDU01MkIGar8-N32DSW2ZgY2LT24OkBB4ZYZaV6JUq_EF1tFlFOb4-MnXamYnOS4R/s500/skin%20i%20live%20in.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="500" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZyAQdRWOAGfXIWh4-iBCH2NlIimzmBN4yaTkVTvohQdVKXhfT0VQjqnh1HhvPus5JjGJX1WxbPro4xDqxyJXQTaSCPmlci7dzTLhPcR6f7aqUH6s62fLFeflEDU01MkIGar8-N32DSW2ZgY2LT24OkBB4ZYZaV6JUq_EF1tFlFOb4-MnXamYnOS4R/w640-h280/skin%20i%20live%20in.gif" width="800" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">4. The Skin I Live In</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;">I wasn't quite sure what to expect going into this. I only knew it would be a lot to process, based on my previous knowledge of the director, Pedro Almodovar. It was that, and then some. Dark and disturbing on many levels, it eventually reaches a soul-churning conclusion. This is one of the most unique explorations gender identity and sexuality I've ever seen.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL87FI-27BQeC1L8UjeFAHPkyLQM04_fHD60arVGeWaLNOksfYmuDK10ZyKlVbTHWQy5lAMm_uj0rOS-N9SV2cPIyHWjuKA0Tu_3HzeUjQ9kLRRTiI9ENCJG-zQXH_USvy9YtNBmDI0gM3LPYuhpAzRZpz6Jp_qQ01MqZKsjKbp0nQ4zDndmMp0ogV/s1280/tyrannosaur.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="532" data-original-width="1280" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL87FI-27BQeC1L8UjeFAHPkyLQM04_fHD60arVGeWaLNOksfYmuDK10ZyKlVbTHWQy5lAMm_uj0rOS-N9SV2cPIyHWjuKA0Tu_3HzeUjQ9kLRRTiI9ENCJG-zQXH_USvy9YtNBmDI0gM3LPYuhpAzRZpz6Jp_qQ01MqZKsjKbp0nQ4zDndmMp0ogV/w640-h266/tyrannosaur.jpg" width="800" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">3. Tyrannosaur</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;">This one is disturbing on a realistic level, which is always worse. In the end, it reveals itself to be a love story, but it's not one filled with meet-cutes and romantic gestures. This is all hard livin' and circumstances. Last time I did this, I had it as my number one. That it fell a couple spots has more to do with me not having watched it quite some time and the ascension of the other movies than my opinion of it lessening.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg1FLVIwMwfuCWvvTylqMM-SaTTCByBGnT6_jCb-QyLc6FDlZDoPOHdqTWIxuGkVcdTYyEHgBndp6zvjIJNaAaX_pmaWBGiJP220BCAiIMfDyv8zO9bZOUmjipUtj3-0if8HLcj9_tEpNbaEBKLoYZmXOVVLHtMDCtoF6yRVMfHElNd7OfAXgV5YUl/s1440/bpmixtape.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="1440" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg1FLVIwMwfuCWvvTylqMM-SaTTCByBGnT6_jCb-QyLc6FDlZDoPOHdqTWIxuGkVcdTYyEHgBndp6zvjIJNaAaX_pmaWBGiJP220BCAiIMfDyv8zO9bZOUmjipUtj3-0if8HLcj9_tEpNbaEBKLoYZmXOVVLHtMDCtoF6yRVMfHElNd7OfAXgV5YUl/w640-h222/bpmixtape.jpg" width="800" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">2. The Black Power Mixtape, 1967-1975</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;">This doc takes a look at the Civil Rights Movement, post Dr. King, from a unique perspective. It was made by Swedish filmmakers using lots of footage that had never been seen before. It’s fascinating, insightful, and frustrating. That last emotion coming from the disheartening fact that a lot of what we’re seeing and hearing is still both prevalent and relevant.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK_IcOf1LTSqrbti0XP6Os6M4uzwKvQ6zvkXvMHc8TcWdcV2sThzlr_OXNPRESBDrwcSdx2dUtYoPyw3mrWU5Aaunnx92il5gDMfhTFxr0jae126BxSjT_PBHxchAN6oEwkHwuAGMs1dVd70p1sibLPljgjA0tkly8EcUSLb0zZJfMLwtroBjWcQEz/s498/the-raid-the-raid-redemption.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="280" data-original-width="450" height="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK_IcOf1LTSqrbti0XP6Os6M4uzwKvQ6zvkXvMHc8TcWdcV2sThzlr_OXNPRESBDrwcSdx2dUtYoPyw3mrWU5Aaunnx92il5gDMfhTFxr0jae126BxSjT_PBHxchAN6oEwkHwuAGMs1dVd70p1sibLPljgjA0tkly8EcUSLb0zZJfMLwtroBjWcQEz/w640-h360/the-raid-the-raid-redemption.gif" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">1. The Raid: Redemption</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span>I fell in love with it when I first saw it, way back in 2011. There is just enough story to hang a bunch of fight scenes on. However, these are probably the best choreographed fight scenes of all-time. As a result I’ve spent a lot of hours with this film. I’ve rewatched it several times, and I’ve lost count of how many YouTubers I’ve watched react to it. Every so often I will purposely search for more reactions. And yeah, I’m about to watch it for myself again. When it comes to this movie, I just can’t help myself..</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span><br /></span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Honorable Mentions (alphabetically): </b>Bernie, Bridesmaids, The Descendants, Elena, Goon, Hanna, Haywire, Hobo with a Shotgun, Jiro Dreams of Sushi, Kung Fu Panda 2, Lovely Molly, Rango, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Super 8, Take This Waltz, Undefeated, Young Adult</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>Dellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05634519605152190304noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227751790693713235.post-85969869123394847362022-06-09T00:00:00.002-04:002022-06-09T00:00:00.245-04:00Top Gun Double Feature<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOIKTzU4ntxkdOrY1_qYQ2h1rME8d6xagRbb96Bhd4b75XBbUztPkDuaPtbnlhPwIdy2MW0VcMWPfsFv8i0qDBKpPEfSYVA7zsoMbkEdCBbP9ydQGVzHm6BErpitbA5yAkFCFFd2VO3ageQsuVHrIRi6kQO0SlrpI6Z-gjVEPgu6Jx93soelTS7LHs/s747/tg%20v%20tg2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="391" data-original-width="747" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOIKTzU4ntxkdOrY1_qYQ2h1rME8d6xagRbb96Bhd4b75XBbUztPkDuaPtbnlhPwIdy2MW0VcMWPfsFv8i0qDBKpPEfSYVA7zsoMbkEdCBbP9ydQGVzHm6BErpitbA5yAkFCFFd2VO3ageQsuVHrIRi6kQO0SlrpI6Z-gjVEPgu6Jx93soelTS7LHs/w640-h334/tg%20v%20tg2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span><p><span><span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><span> </span>Even though my formative years as a cinephile took place during the 1980s AND I was an action-flick junkie back then, I somehow never saw the original Top Gun. Everyon told me how great it was, but I just never sat down to watch it. Years went by, and not seeing it became a badge of honor of sorts. It was a factoid I could use to shock people who know about my lifelong love affair with cinema. About ten years ago, I told myself that unless they make a sequel, I'll willingly go to my grave never having seen it. How cool and contrarian would it have been for me to always be able to tell someone that I felt no need to see a movie many people think is one of the coolest things ever committed to film. Welp, over thirty years after Tom Cruise's catapult into both superstar and action hero they not only made a sequel, brought him back for it. I mean, he's gotta be 132 years old by now, right? Anyway, and here's the funny part, I strolled over to my movie collection and popped it in the player because I had tickets to see the new one the next day. Yeah, I've actually owned it on blu-ray for several years. Think of it like testing my own restraint. Could I have it in my possession to watch at any moment and still skip over it every time I'm looking for a movie? Damn right I could! I was going great. I was reveling in my defiance. Then Hollywood happened. Damn you, Hollywood.<p></p></span><p></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfe4hZuVZr2Dj5OykzJ5Gweqb-3dUWOHfR4mkn2LgxDM93bSGPYQXIOJsFupWfsn1Dc4PkSsSahlPuxf32YLjPpv5wReblXMYMSi4pyhw3B6_rSTZJyrvwsS0KzFQZmH2P5Y4v9kAicXQL2mcC67m2hq7bnExfyb4jVjnU2TaNtKv8LUdCTXC9kzD7/s500/top%20gun.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="500" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfe4hZuVZr2Dj5OykzJ5Gweqb-3dUWOHfR4mkn2LgxDM93bSGPYQXIOJsFupWfsn1Dc4PkSsSahlPuxf32YLjPpv5wReblXMYMSi4pyhw3B6_rSTZJyrvwsS0KzFQZmH2P5Y4v9kAicXQL2mcC67m2hq7bnExfyb4jVjnU2TaNtKv8LUdCTXC9kzD7/w640-h360/top%20gun.gif" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Top Gun</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Directed by Tony Scott.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>1986. Rated PG, 110 minutes.</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Cast: Tom Cruise, Kelly McGillis, Anthony Edwards, Val Kilmer, Tim Robbins, Tom Skerritt, Michael Ironside, John Stockwell, Clarence Gilyard Jr.</i></p><p><span> </span>Pete Mitchell, aka Maverick (Cruise) has been selected for <i>Top Gun</i>, a school for the U.S. Navy's very best pilots to be further trained in combat flying. The goal here is to finish first in the class, and everyone has an ego that beats them into the room. Everyone doesn't apply to Maverick's tech-guy Goose (Edwards) who exists for two reasons. The first is to kiss Maverick's ass. The second, well, he wants nothing more than to get home to his wife and kids. Back to the first reason. Goose knows what we know: Mav is an immensely talented flyboy, but a loose cannon who can't seem to get out of his own way, so he stays in trouble. Add in Charlie (McGillis), the lady instructor Mav has the hots for, and you know all you need to about <i>Top Gun</i>.</p><p><span> Did I like it? Yes.</span><br /></p><p><span><span> Did I love it? No.</span><br /></span></p><p><span><span><span> I like it because it does a number of things well. First and foremost, the aerial acrobatics are a blast to watch. It's damn near impossible not to get caught up in our hero flying a fighter plane upside down just a few feet from the bad guy's plane, or performing some insane maneuver, or even just the roar of the engines as the planes take off from the air carriers. It also gives us a number of memorable scenes, even if they're beyond cheesy. Everyone talks about the homoerotic volleyball scene (by scene I mean the entire movie). There's also the romantic scenes that simultaneously drown out our nausea and create more on the strength of power ballads, and all that damn singing in bars.</span><br /></span></span></p><p><span><span><span><span> I don't love it because it never makes me feel any tension. Pretty early on, we buy in to the idea that Maverick is best pilot to ever climb into a cockpit. We're never given a villain of any sort. I was led to believe Ice Man (Kilmer) filled that role, but he doesn't. He's barely in the movie and is merely a sensible guy who doesn't care for Mav's anything-goes approach to flying. On top of that, it's clear Mav is much more dangerous to the people on his team than to himself. The people they eventually fight for the finale are literally faceless enemies. I can't even remember what country they're supposed to be from. They are just guys in planes. In fact, everyone else in the movie is just a guy, or girl. Not one of them is remotely interesting. Charlie is just "love interesting." Ice is just "other great pilot." The rest are either other pilots who kinda sorta pick at him or his superiors who keep telling him, "You're great, but reign it in," in a variety of ways. So, the entire movie is in Maverick's head. I don't mean that in the "it's all a dream sense," but in a "this is a full-blown existential crisis" way. Since he's not an interesting enough character to build that type of movie around, I was never fully on his side. He's just another in a long line of talented idiots.</span><br /></span></span></span></p><p><span> With these thoughts in mind, I walked into a movie theater.</span><br /></p><p><span><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTJVdLl9Yw7yT_J1kMSqQGxq25Z-YyXCCTuR9Wn3lLsGN-rjOqI3oCwRZs551tv26tKRp8DkFqG_D5SEmcFjjcr0UUPfzWAxDYt9eQ6VmgAT4hv3DzJjwgwCZroiNXtYfl7GuhU38ESyolHo6b_hHAn7FWeSzYOSwr0yDF3_SSROhF_qKwZUfK93KQ/s480/top%20gun%20maverick.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="480" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTJVdLl9Yw7yT_J1kMSqQGxq25Z-YyXCCTuR9Wn3lLsGN-rjOqI3oCwRZs551tv26tKRp8DkFqG_D5SEmcFjjcr0UUPfzWAxDYt9eQ6VmgAT4hv3DzJjwgwCZroiNXtYfl7GuhU38ESyolHo6b_hHAn7FWeSzYOSwr0yDF3_SSROhF_qKwZUfK93KQ/w640-h360/top%20gun%20maverick.gif" width="640" /></a></div><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Top Gun: Maverick</span></b></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Directed by Joseph Kosinski.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>2022. Rated PG-13, 130 minutes.</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Cast: Tom Cruise, Jennifer Connelly, Miles Teller, Jon Hamm, Charles Parnell, Val Kilmer, Bashir Salahuddin, Monica Barbaro, Lewis Pullman. </i></p><p><span> </span>Decades after the events of the first film, Maverick (still Cruise) is a Naval test pilot and as loose a canon as ever. After running afoul of the powers that be, yet again, his superiors are about to make sure he never flies again. Lo and behold, an old friend of his has made a few phone calls and Maverick is reassigned to his old stomping grounds, Top Gun, where he will be an instructor. When he gets there he finds out they want him to train the latest batch of hotshot pilots to fly what seems to be a suicide mission to take out a critical target. Of course, Maverick has to do things his way, pissing off all the top brass, except for his one very important friend.</p><p><span><span><span> </span></span></span>When the credits started rolling, I turned to my wife and asked if she liked it better than the original, since she watched it with me the night before. She said she did. When I asked why, she said it was because this one had more danger. That’s it in a nutshell. It feels like Maverick might have found a challenge too great. He’s still a pilot of unparalleled talent. Can he get everyone else up to his level and what will it cost? That shift in focus from his ability to the ability of others is enough to create far more tension and get us more invested in the story than its predecessor.</p><p><span> </span>To go along with the added tension, we get another dive into Maverick’s psyche. He’s older and a bit more complex than in 1986, so even though much of the same ground is tread, it remains interesting. The flip side is that most other characters are cardboard cutouts. Lots of time is given to Mav’s relationship with Rooster (Teller), but Rooster himself is one-note. He just gets more screentime to play that note. The writing makes it effective, so we don’t mind.</p><span> </span>The real stars of this movie, however, are the aerial scenes. Watching the planes zip around and do their thing is exhilarating. It helps that there is just enough jargon about the different types of planes used to properly set our expectations and get the correct response from us when the film meets or subverts them. Villains are still faceless, but the difficulty of the task at hand makes up for it. Overall, it’s a fun and more engaging experience than the original.
<div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Dellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05634519605152190304noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227751790693713235.post-68092424479612078212022-03-28T11:17:00.009-04:002022-03-28T12:03:57.177-04:00The Batman<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiwOz2Hg8MPDDvhyOSwFDjoU97w3X96kZEzHEP-v-DN-kFoqW--u7l0kmBzYuC-y6Fc6KtjjEyaSpF_5Ahqb_EJpujBcnfqY4c_rk2xUCNbtniBYneKAPH8HR5GhNAsTNfMvqfqzhFTPXDgh68AXEmVPI-sCJRNEB-Z1JFPlIzIjZ8_NWKxoBh6drB/s1400/the%20batman.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="1400" height="675" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiwOz2Hg8MPDDvhyOSwFDjoU97w3X96kZEzHEP-v-DN-kFoqW--u7l0kmBzYuC-y6Fc6KtjjEyaSpF_5Ahqb_EJpujBcnfqY4c_rk2xUCNbtniBYneKAPH8HR5GhNAsTNfMvqfqzhFTPXDgh68AXEmVPI-sCJRNEB-Z1JFPlIzIjZ8_NWKxoBh6drB/w640-h480/the%20batman.jpg" width="900" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span><a name='more'></a></span>Directed by Matt Reeves.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>2022. Rated PG-13,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Cast: Robert Pattinson, Zoe Kravitz, Jeffrey Wright, Paul Dano, Colin Farrell, John Turturro, Andy Serkis, Jayme Lawson, Peter Sarsgaard, Alex Ferns.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><span> Gotham City is as grimy as it's ever been. Therefore, it's only fitting that it's mayor gets murdered on Halloween night. The killer leaves a calling card of sorts, calling himself The Riddler, and a note for the most famous vigilante of all-time, The Batman. True to his name, the note contains a riddle. In this iteration, Batman is still fairly new to the crime-fighting game, but has been around long enough to have struck an uneasy relationship with the Gotham City Police Department, thanks to the mutual trust he shares with Lieutenant James Gordon (Wright). </span>This starts our hero's investigation, one which takes him to every nook and cranny of Gotham's seedy underworld.</div><div> One of the complaints diehard Batman fans have long had about the live action films featuring the character is that he doesn't live up to one of his many taglines: The World's Greatest Detective. Some would go so far as to say he's not much of a detective at all. This version definitely seeks to atone for the sins of its predecessors, having us spend lots of time with Batman, and often Gordon, trying to figure things out. To make sure we know this is serious business, the film channel's David Fincher's <i>Se7en</i> in tone, and somewhat in execution. It employs the same mixture of neo-noir and horror. The former ensures we keep our thinking caps firmly in place throughout the duration of the movie. The latter draws us to the edge of our seats and unsettles us. The difference between <i>Se7en</i>, other Batman films, and this one is that occasionally, the good guy is the one we should be afraid of. Tim Burton's <i>Batman</i> toys with the idea of Batman coming off as a horrifying mythical figure to the criminals of Gotham during early scenes. Christopher Nolan's <i>Batman Begins</i> leans heavily on the idea. In fact, it's built around it. Reeves's version, however, is the first to really put the audience in the shoes of the crooks. Nolan's shows it to us in an effective style. The way this Batman reveals himself to, and deals with them is pure horror. We get to experience a bit of the same dread they do as he menacingly emerges from the shadows. To drive further down the horror road, many of The Riddler's scenes are even more grim. If not for the film's title and the titular character's costume, one would be hard pressed to classify this as a superhero flick.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi72YYouGqfb339P27sigXUZRAn_lu2xF4VRyyHUOxWcsvXoL4m62LuCfriZ9KxLhOP3FF3u0Dcf_kTOYs9ZJCJcXMnoFlM43DPAEqXkWOsGfV5SpjDbrYNv9FCzS-2iumqhwzlICaTnyIvIafk8i32VIPpClRHVM6ZHv2aRvMBZmveMwtj-4FEtO2B/s640/the-batman.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="268" data-original-width="640" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi72YYouGqfb339P27sigXUZRAn_lu2xF4VRyyHUOxWcsvXoL4m62LuCfriZ9KxLhOP3FF3u0Dcf_kTOYs9ZJCJcXMnoFlM43DPAEqXkWOsGfV5SpjDbrYNv9FCzS-2iumqhwzlICaTnyIvIafk8i32VIPpClRHVM6ZHv2aRvMBZmveMwtj-4FEtO2B/w640-h268/the-batman.gif" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div> The tone, and the accompanying imagery, are a double-edged sword. On one hand, they rattle the nerves in a satisfying manner. On the other, they're so pervasive they render <i>The Batman</i> a one-note composition. With almost nothing light in the offering, we sometimes feel the weight of its three-hour runtime bearing down on us. A few snicker inducing lines of dialogue pop up here and there, but there are not many scenes for the audience to exhale. Visually, the light of day is scarcely seen. Thematically, this gives Batman and his foe the gothic, even vampiric quality the film seems to be going for. Aesthetically, it's occasionally hard to see. Watching Batman move about in a black costume against black backgrounds with other drably dressed individuals can be a bit tough to make out. The flashes of red help, but it's still murky, and not always in a good way. The thought did cross my mind, however, that this has a chance to look leaps and bounds better at home on my 4K television where each figure could be more clearly defined. Maybe that's just my old man eyes speaking, but a fella can dream, can't he?</div><div><span><span> Like with every new version of Batman, fans worry how some newcomer will do in the cape and cowl. Fandom anxieties were especially high when Robert Pattinson was announced as the lead. My brother summed it up during a recent conversation before the movie came out when he said, "All I see is the sparkly vampire guy." Ironically, Pattinson's version of Batman is more vampire than Edward Cullen ever was. That's more a function of the writing than anything the actor does. He takes that writing and plays it as well as possible. His Batman is very clearly a violent sociopath barely clinging the last shred of restraint that keeps him from being a supervillain, himself. He has not only committed to being Batman, he's completely given up on being Bruce Wayne. To see him as Bruce is seeing a man uncomfortably wearing the costume polite society wishes upon him. To see him in full crime-fighting regalia is to see him as he sees himself. For some, this will be a point of contention. Traditionally, part of the character's fabric is his internal struggle to maintain the billionaire playboy facade while dealing with lifelong grief and guilt about the death of his parents. Here, he has no interest in the former, leaving only the latter. In a film nearly three hours long, he appears as Wayne for only a handful of those minutes. He is all pain and grief, and ready to unleash it on anyone he deems a bad guy. His famous rule about not killing anyone appears to be the only thing keeping him from becoming the very thing he is fighting against.</span><br /></span></div><div><span><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheS1tTRcq5SX0e8UphfZqj0V682ZUJeu1W6-7q9XlGNXq4F_BSfpR8tTOAuaDow5UwCIvnv8qpAazdWmaRH6-1aL5V4kxP4kilI_qZKKEbuukkjqxHdpM_rC9GwsWhUHmHLSuWBi3YVQvWRBCp4CYBktJT_fKBcJygkhduXS52jHGogRyp7UvTaIpo/s498/i-have-the-duct-tape-paul-dano.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="280" data-original-width="498" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheS1tTRcq5SX0e8UphfZqj0V682ZUJeu1W6-7q9XlGNXq4F_BSfpR8tTOAuaDow5UwCIvnv8qpAazdWmaRH6-1aL5V4kxP4kilI_qZKKEbuukkjqxHdpM_rC9GwsWhUHmHLSuWBi3YVQvWRBCp4CYBktJT_fKBcJygkhduXS52jHGogRyp7UvTaIpo/w640-h360/i-have-the-duct-tape-paul-dano.gif" width="640" /></a></div><div><span><br /></span></div> In this case, that thing is the Riddler. In much of Batman canon, he's a goofier and lesser version of Joker. Here, he's clearly more influenced by the last decade's worth of hyper-realistic Bat-fare along with the self-righteous baddies of your favorited crime/horror thrillers. While he's demonstrably unhinged, his exploits are no laughing matter. Eventually, the film uses him to offer up some commentary on the cross section of incels, their social media accounts, and the transference of their online personas to the real world. Though he is another man who wants to watch the world burn, he is his own thing. During the film's last act, he does display some of the zaniness the character is known for, and it is out of place. The saving grace is that we've spent so much time watching him do scary things that our laughs are uneasy. It plays into both the figurative and literal darkness of the movie.</span></div><div><span><span><span><span> With Dano's performance settling on being unsettling, and Pattinson's being slightly less so, it's up to the rest of the cast to give us dimensions and layers. The most notable of these is an unrecognizable Colin Farrell doing some of his best work as the Penguin. More slime-ball than supervillain, he steals every scene he's in and delivers about half the film's comic relief. The other half is handled by Jeffrey Wright as James Gordon. He's not just cracking a bunch of jokes. He simply comments on the situations he finds himself in. It's pretty effective. Andy Serkis gives us a far different Alfred than any other live-action Batman. One of the shortcomings of the film is that we don't know more about him. Finally, of course, our hero has to have a love interest. The old reliable Catwoman is brought out once more, in the guise of Zoe Kravitz. She conveys the idea that she and Batman are kindred spirits more subtly than any of her predecessors. When necessary, she can indeed turn on the swag, but that's not the crux of her performance. She's the polar opposite of Batman in her approach to life. She's far more Selina Kyle than Catwoman, and it works.</span><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifYrpBj7C1BnWXkIHzd_1y4vXlVBTvta3pYp-9jKIjhWpypYHEIlsfVzn-VrLdi8EY_SwDpXcKwbf1xbbYcf8KkOWDnS7Sny7YIBCJxAY1-22aTzzMpod9yaQa799V-bp68rZUkh2WQjm3xjo8ssVGQ4WheifPUxjxVIYRwoWA1CiPKYo23-ZLtlE7/s480/catwoman%20kravitz.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="480" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifYrpBj7C1BnWXkIHzd_1y4vXlVBTvta3pYp-9jKIjhWpypYHEIlsfVzn-VrLdi8EY_SwDpXcKwbf1xbbYcf8KkOWDnS7Sny7YIBCJxAY1-22aTzzMpod9yaQa799V-bp68rZUkh2WQjm3xjo8ssVGQ4WheifPUxjxVIYRwoWA1CiPKYo23-ZLtlE7/w640-h360/catwoman%20kravitz.gif" width="640" /></a></div><div><span><span><span><br /></span></span></span></div> One of the film's more remarkable feats is fitting in so many characters from Batman's canon without ever feeling cluttered. Part of the reason it's able to do this is that runtime. It allows for patient storytelling where most of the characters get their moment to shine without imposing on each other. Through it all, however, it never feels like it's anyone's movie other than Batman's. Even some of the best Batflicks are ones where our hero takes a backseat to the shenanigans of his foe. That doesn't happen here. Another point in the film's favor is the way it blurs the lines between genres. As mentioned above, it really flirts with being a full blown horror movie. Director Matt Reeves is very capable of handling this, having previously helmed <i>Cloverfield</i> and <i>Let Me In</i>. Here, he shows the same sure direction that made those films successful. It helps his movie stand apart from other Batman movies. Whether it's the best of the lot or not is up for debate. Personally, I don't think it is, but I don't think it's far off, either. Regardless, it's to be commended for managing to be it's own thing in a franchise with narrowing expectations.</span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://dellonmovies.blogspot.com/search/label/Batman">Click here for more Bat-posts!!!</a></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div>Dellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05634519605152190304noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227751790693713235.post-80731686149958542442022-02-28T19:55:00.002-05:002022-02-28T19:55:16.920-05:00So Bad It's Good Blogathon: Single Black Female<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhBS_L7nA8uUPCGxQQdiyrBPtm096CcSxSFh4nHmWxMpgmW-o-6xWmYR4VE15CYRTdmYKhNWcG1nX17KxmVlcKUVCenqdUdpDXqOUM8Csxsm8F1qhKc905jce8V4LOG2huh-wCA8fG1ugATeJFPAMvJXqTEEgH9UthJNtJbhp5_pndiFpizXKqag7Nh=s646" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="365" data-original-width="646" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhBS_L7nA8uUPCGxQQdiyrBPtm096CcSxSFh4nHmWxMpgmW-o-6xWmYR4VE15CYRTdmYKhNWcG1nX17KxmVlcKUVCenqdUdpDXqOUM8Csxsm8F1qhKc905jce8V4LOG2huh-wCA8fG1ugATeJFPAMvJXqTEEgH9UthJNtJbhp5_pndiFpizXKqag7Nh=w640-h362" width="640" /></a></div><span><a name='more'></a></span> A while back, I was invited via tweet to participate in the So Bad It's Good Blogathon hosted by Rebecca at <a href="https://takinguproom.wordpress.com/2021/11/17/announcing-the-fourth-so-bad-its-good-blogathon/?wref=tp">Taking Up Room</a>. I said I was going to join as soon as I saw the announcement a couple months ago. How could I not? It’s right up my alley. Besides that, she was kind enough to join my last blogathon. The first thing I had to was figure out what movie to write about. I didn’t make that decision right away, so of course, it drifted away on the wind and wasn’t thought about by me until a day or two ago. Someone else’s post showed up on my Twitter timeline and I was like, “Oh shit! I forgot about that!” Luckily, the <a href="http://dellonmovies.blogspot.com/search/label/Proof%20of%20a%20Movie%20God">Movie God</a> was looking out for me and compelled the good people at Lifetime to make a movie right up my alley.<p></p><div><span> </span>I’m a sucker for a <i>Fatal Attraction</i> rip-off. If you haven’t seen <i>Fatal Attraction</i>, I’m talking psycho stalker/friend/lover movie. No matter how rotten they are, I love them. <i>The Hand That Rocks the Cradle, Poison Ivy, Obsessed, The Boy Next Door, Tyler Perry’s Acrimony</i>, all varying degrees of terrible, but I love them nonetheless. One of my favorites? 1992’s <i>Single White Female</i> is a genre classic. Imagine my excitement when I saw an ad for Lifetime’s unabashed race-swap, <i>Single Black Female</i>. And as I said, it had the Lifetime label on it. If that’s not a sign you’re going to watch pure excrement, I don’t know what is. So, yeah, my heart filled with glee.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgT1repn8qHc6b3fvPy8ljyOaJicDOm3j74H6iV5xXEKQRgBA9OUx-KGfVlTEQGG-MzCGbkA4OIZ75wrzfseyZn3EqK1B7BRLrz7d2awBqAc25a4WNy1SvD_TY5FmB0Ner7xi_vLBJs7thAP2Wu76xHaag2f10yHwmGt36mkGilwcPOF20mOkGVNlQx=s900" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="492" data-original-width="900" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgT1repn8qHc6b3fvPy8ljyOaJicDOm3j74H6iV5xXEKQRgBA9OUx-KGfVlTEQGG-MzCGbkA4OIZ75wrzfseyZn3EqK1B7BRLrz7d2awBqAc25a4WNy1SvD_TY5FmB0Ner7xi_vLBJs7thAP2Wu76xHaag2f10yHwmGt36mkGilwcPOF20mOkGVNlQx=w640-h350" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><div><span> </span>Glee is the only word I could use to describe my emotion because our psycho stalker is played by <i>Glee</i> alum Amber Riley. Raven Goodwin mans the role of stalkee. It’s rather intentional casting, to say the least. I’ll get into why that seems to be the case in a bit. Goodwin’s character is named Monica, a media personality angling for her own afternoon talk show. She’s in competition with Elodie (Ownbey), who fits the typical TV host mold - thin, white, blonde. Monica is the opposite of all that, but still gets the job, much to Elodie’s chagrin. Amber Riley’s Simon is hired to be Monica’s assistant. As other characters remark, the two share some physical likeness. Here's where that casting comes in. They tried to one up the original by having the two leads already resemble each other. We've no time to watch our resident psycho completely make herself over to look like the heroine. We gotta shorthand that shit. This also helps us get to the key difference between the two pretty quickly. Simone is crazy. No, Simone is kuh-ray-zee!</div><div><br /></div><div><span> </span>Pretty soon, Simone is inserting herself in Monica’s personal life. She starts wearing Monica’s clothes and chasing after Monica’s man, just like Jennifer Jason Leigh did to Bridget Fonda in <i>Single White Female</i>. Whatever you think of that movie, please understand that it’s cranked up to 11. It also moves at breakneck speed. That speed is key to the Lifetime formula for horribleness. Just about every movie they make is a race to the ending. When you know your flick has to pause every so often for commercial breaks you have to keep things popping so viewers will stick around rather than flipping away to something that’s not playing a tampon ad. Therefore, nearly every scene of this thing is packed with maximum nuttiness. Their insanity becomes ours. “Oh my gosh, these people are stupid!” “Can’t you see what she’s up to?” “Beat that bitch’s ass!” If you’re not screaming some variation of these terms at the screen during a Lifetime “Original” while rolling your eyes and/or audibly sighing, you’re not watching it right.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjk0po5Is2HvjkMjqki0RIc_d0lJVNznkV--15tuB_J5wm2wOd66qNtll_MCaKo9-tncXCr5-J4TigEjJ9iDPtiiHxHQk7E04A-srSdRhR97vx9Z0hov-pUvmytdSea9Rai4noYNw3_7x7aV_pxiiIRLnGMKqyty9nEpKXMcfhn1ynGyMu1AHoPHFXC=s1920" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjk0po5Is2HvjkMjqki0RIc_d0lJVNznkV--15tuB_J5wm2wOd66qNtll_MCaKo9-tncXCr5-J4TigEjJ9iDPtiiHxHQk7E04A-srSdRhR97vx9Z0hov-pUvmytdSea9Rai4noYNw3_7x7aV_pxiiIRLnGMKqyty9nEpKXMcfhn1ynGyMu1AHoPHFXC=w640-h360" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span> </span>You want smart storytelling that engages you on an intellectual level? Turn. There’s nothing here but stupidity and sleaze.</div><div><br /></div><div><span> </span>You want an auteur to pull you into the story with the help of an ace cinematographer, a resonating score, and slick editing. Nope. You get stock shots, cheesy music, and a rushed plot slapped together by whatever crew they pulled off their assembly line.</div><div><br /></div><div><span> </span>You desire top-notch acting by performers subtly conveying emotion and drawing out your empathy? Nah, take this over-the-top, reality TV-esque divaliciousness or get the hell out! To hell with just wire hangers. No more wire hangers, plastic hangers, hanging up pictures, hangin’ with Mr. Cooper – just don’t hang nothin’, periodt! No typos, that ‘t’ is for emphasis, and it must be said in full throat while rolling your eyes, head, and shoulders. Yes, you must do it this way, too, regardless of your ethnicity or sexual orientation.</div><div><br /></div><div><span> </span>Single Black Female isn’t as much a movie as it is a delightfully shameless turd embracing itself and reveling in its crappiness. Normally, turds are no laughing matter. However, in this case it’s an endless supply of chuckles. I’ve no choice but to be amused by something this terrible. The best part is that, like most turds, it’s doesn’t know that’s what it is. It’s shit that thinks it’s shinola. This is how we get that thing that makes movies like this amazing – unintentional humor. I laughed harder at this than I have almost any comedy released in the last decade. It’s THAT funny. And it doesn’t even know it! Think about the people in your life who make you laugh when they don’t mean to. Most of us say, or think, “Bless your heart,” and love them for who they are.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh3eRVUGhiawtYHzuw88sTxeF3YEXGFk5ByE8lf6sVDIOSV05itusmvobelmFD9EeHd-2p_aSurHaCLqPbJ-Wp-rxlkZ4dikcg6PSvzHyhGQQgkw6MHNOvciaEDfPriwrZ4mUV0rfCG5IiB42DIMqwIvzUcSKhiMEUTP-zs7KAJsjUBxW4lwcQ1otWx=s2246" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1188" data-original-width="2246" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh3eRVUGhiawtYHzuw88sTxeF3YEXGFk5ByE8lf6sVDIOSV05itusmvobelmFD9EeHd-2p_aSurHaCLqPbJ-Wp-rxlkZ4dikcg6PSvzHyhGQQgkw6MHNOvciaEDfPriwrZ4mUV0rfCG5IiB42DIMqwIvzUcSKhiMEUTP-zs7KAJsjUBxW4lwcQ1otWx=w640-h338" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span> </span>Bless your heart, <i>Single Black Female</i>. I love you.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>Please head over to <a href="https://takinguproom.wordpress.com/">Rebecca's blog</a> and check out other entries in this blogathon. While you're there, check out he whole site.</div><div><br /></div>Dellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05634519605152190304noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227751790693713235.post-71531946521151448622022-02-07T00:46:00.007-05:002022-02-07T00:46:53.675-05:00Ranking the 2021 Superhero Movies<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhIJSxgNpN0dECfE20vkwLa1vCqdCDLxBJorqxsjxhGMx-7IIq1vZr03j9q-ropMJ5gZRC2rbVGbNTP8ZbpOFia5CSdkdD5GZuNGJsuJ3ObxvarKDHQgKvcROyay0jYnBdUMgTw5q8lTukX33TSHL-6Lz13g2rvNazpU-KsjoeYIw6gWQU-rkGGRQbw=s1280" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="565" data-original-width="1280" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhIJSxgNpN0dECfE20vkwLa1vCqdCDLxBJorqxsjxhGMx-7IIq1vZr03j9q-ropMJ5gZRC2rbVGbNTP8ZbpOFia5CSdkdD5GZuNGJsuJ3ObxvarKDHQgKvcROyay0jYnBdUMgTw5q8lTukX33TSHL-6Lz13g2rvNazpU-KsjoeYIw6gWQU-rkGGRQbw=w640-h282" width="640" /></a></div><span><p><span><span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><span> </span>Recently, I posted a full-length review of <i>Spider-Man: No Way Home</i>. That got me to thinking about how many superhero flicks that were released, and that I watched throughout 2021. Despite the lack of reviews on this blog, lately, I have seen 12 of them. The line of demarcation is at number 10. The bottom two are the only ones I don't like. The rest are a grand time, at least for me. I mean, I'm a superhero guy, so take my opinion with a grain of krypton. Anyhoo, here's how I rank 'em.<p></p></span><p></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhjhVYSkm6z0rcTH5xOQp2v3A6HaYtfsJzphsrTEaSRUiIRRwDZHtvUAjbEwN_Bdk6Aw8CUm-KT24hpZA9rVa2L0jOTt4gWRAFotx6RZDSYm0nXGWjOEGcsWnEi2yRhVKXygWMQvVmxPgyMHnjOoWOiF4kSlufKW1sYGiyh1_hOZ2u4kxHIgPsaBJWg=s540" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="540" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhjhVYSkm6z0rcTH5xOQp2v3A6HaYtfsJzphsrTEaSRUiIRRwDZHtvUAjbEwN_Bdk6Aw8CUm-KT24hpZA9rVa2L0jOTt4gWRAFotx6RZDSYm0nXGWjOEGcsWnEi2yRhVKXygWMQvVmxPgyMHnjOoWOiF4kSlufKW1sYGiyh1_hOZ2u4kxHIgPsaBJWg=w640-h296" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">12. Thunder Force</span></b></p><p>My very basic theory on the very talented Melissa McCarthy is this: if she's in a movie directed by her husband, Ben Falcone, it's probably garbage. If someone else directs her, there's a chance it's pretty good. This is directed by Mr. Falcone, and it doesn't prove me wrong. The premise is actually a good one. The world is overrun with supervillains so Oktavia Spencer's character invents a device to give herself superpowers. Through some shenanigans, both her and McCarthy's character wind up with powers, and away we go. The problem is in the execution. Falcone is a poor storyteller. The root of it seems to be the rose colored glasses through which he views his wife. Love is blind, I get it. But, he refuses to put any restraints on her. He just points the camera at her and lets her go. The result, as always, is a bunch of gags that go on far too long. Even ones that are initially funny are wrung dry by being dragged out for no good narrative reason other than Falcone wanting to include every single one of McCarthy's antics until she tires of doing them. Ones that aren't funny at all are made worse because she generally resorts to trying to force laughter by throwing her body around. In the hands of capable directors she's proven to be an amazing performer in both comedic and dramatic roles. When the director is putty in hers, things don't go so well, and that's the case here.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhirtHx7HunlRspFrgyNlxc9IyKu1X3MCaFSnxTUqdV1Jej7wb6VpZ1Aeu57DKbMnbEL59TgXe2GuO78-Xx-kXW7im-S4yrNSCPAQlQed5Y1wQSuvNevzdrIMom1N9isILvtRaCJHDlEZ06yUwNJjEzWQ9WhquABByxM6shaoPmARpbAiFZwCLKsScI=s498" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="280" data-original-width="498" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhirtHx7HunlRspFrgyNlxc9IyKu1X3MCaFSnxTUqdV1Jej7wb6VpZ1Aeu57DKbMnbEL59TgXe2GuO78-Xx-kXW7im-S4yrNSCPAQlQed5Y1wQSuvNevzdrIMom1N9isILvtRaCJHDlEZ06yUwNJjEzWQ9WhquABByxM6shaoPmARpbAiFZwCLKsScI=w640-h360" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>11. Venom: Let There Be Carnage</b></span></p><p>I fully understand people who think superhero movies have gotten too long. However, this one is too short. It runs 90 minutes and feels like all of its connective tissue is lying on the cutting room floor. What's left is an incoherent string of loud, but not so thrilling action sequences, shoddy cgi, and terrible humor. Tom Hardy gives it the ol' college try in the lead, but nearly everything around him is crap, including the normally reliable Woody Harrelson. It's a full-on, no brakes used, trainwreck.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiyFm2lYibfTsK6f6YF0SOs0tOAHc0gcyKOKJ_UtoxW_bUFVLX16fwa19fnHJOsf-JGfyWr0CsmFGko0LtqKYJ7Wrftbit7zkEVx2glq3Cpk9PiFAN4Ym87cUhC8ZXAqE56_scunmUSS617aTNNViSU8usKX7SYWRFGDT31eGkTgSZFUKfo6ETa2s4Y=s600" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="332" data-original-width="600" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiyFm2lYibfTsK6f6YF0SOs0tOAHc0gcyKOKJ_UtoxW_bUFVLX16fwa19fnHJOsf-JGfyWr0CsmFGko0LtqKYJ7Wrftbit7zkEVx2glq3Cpk9PiFAN4Ym87cUhC8ZXAqE56_scunmUSS617aTNNViSU8usKX7SYWRFGDT31eGkTgSZFUKfo6ETa2s4Y=w640-h354" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">10. Batman: The Long Halloween Part 2</span></b></p><p>Part 1 of this animated double-feature gives us a nice setup. Part 2 fumbles the ball a bit. It leans too heavily into the Halloween part of the title and starts injecting as many Bat-villains as it can possibly squeeze into its runtime. And of course, the Joker figures prominently among them. This story could definitely, and probably should have been told without including him. I'm a huge fan of the character, but in this case, he feels like a crutch for an insecure storyteller. Instead of trusting their ideas to do the job on their own, they fall back on bringing in Joker to do Joker things. It's not a bad movie, just one that allows itself to become overstuffed and ultimately plays it too safe.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjuV__ZlrYMD1083iZocv_yXhy6zI1hP-DnxNEElKqR3t6HEEsXkfl_mpHOLa1x9cubhQ1l5Wn-bT3jvYNHR7VBbW576QSMYB01Ty51O395X6mjTvkZT35OKDPso5kEYdYkR2JVMwssB6FwA5bqnNKk5W2xAJ1z-9F-kAoZXIiBhQRYBFpSbmrdaCHF=s720" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="405" data-original-width="720" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjuV__ZlrYMD1083iZocv_yXhy6zI1hP-DnxNEElKqR3t6HEEsXkfl_mpHOLa1x9cubhQ1l5Wn-bT3jvYNHR7VBbW576QSMYB01Ty51O395X6mjTvkZT35OKDPso5kEYdYkR2JVMwssB6FwA5bqnNKk5W2xAJ1z-9F-kAoZXIiBhQRYBFpSbmrdaCHF=w640-h360" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">9. Eternals</span></b></p><p>One of the keys to success for the Marvel Cinematic Universe is that, for the most part, they've handled their origin stories very well. They're fun introductions to characters with whom we may or may not be familiar. They may have bitten off more than they can chew with this one. There are so many characters and so much mythology to be explained that there are long stretches of this film devoted to expository dialogue. Combine that with a more serious tone than the rest of the franchise and the film moseys along at a snail's pace. To make matters worse, it feels as if it adds nothing to the saga Marvel's been building over the last 13 years. I'm sure efforts will be made to increase this film's importance in the MCU, but as of now it doesn't feel needed. Give it kudos for trying to do something different than the rest of the franchise. It just seems like the payoff will come with a less clunky second movie now that we're all up to speed on who these people are.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh6BHhANnIqyHeAQPOCDRRrsL9iAwU8vVveCu6J5DccgS32XJYQCdU0rvtWvcrrwwBCA8MIKvxBBUVg-QMAGCgrkTTXu9V5qoXuCKIRivToK6BxidRoBBafwVNPYIH0Kkm7zqOKUWDPAC4V-ueJFYdL5Oy1--4-KE5_iZcMKhPB54-DGRNh-iBvlSu6=s540" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="390" data-original-width="540" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh6BHhANnIqyHeAQPOCDRRrsL9iAwU8vVveCu6J5DccgS32XJYQCdU0rvtWvcrrwwBCA8MIKvxBBUVg-QMAGCgrkTTXu9V5qoXuCKIRivToK6BxidRoBBafwVNPYIH0Kkm7zqOKUWDPAC4V-ueJFYdL5Oy1--4-KE5_iZcMKhPB54-DGRNh-iBvlSu6=w640-h462" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">8. Black Widow</span></b></p><p>This one is a fun, fast-paced spy flick that liberally borrows from Captain America: The Winter Soldier. The performances from Scarlett Johansson, David Harbour, and especially, Florence Pugh carry the film to the heights it reaches. Some odd narrative choices and a third act that disintegrates right before our eyes keeps it from achieving loftier status. <a href="http://dellonmovies.blogspot.com/2021/11/girl-week-2021-black-widow.html">Click here for my full review</a>.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiKZiQcGhXQNSh7zG5JgwyOasQkwFKrPTmasijX-yqRCQkDW-WH0ghAJLYczVAzJr1XPjto2cQRVXDpLmn1r4rRn5A6lp4NZE52R8WWt6m72XTxW4AUF1VxJp7dkSHMA3t_jg11Kwi7v9jNkP4slNDLUM0MGybp08mnm17JqjT9m9Y2BGE1rS7jy7Xg=s444" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="444" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiKZiQcGhXQNSh7zG5JgwyOasQkwFKrPTmasijX-yqRCQkDW-WH0ghAJLYczVAzJr1XPjto2cQRVXDpLmn1r4rRn5A6lp4NZE52R8WWt6m72XTxW4AUF1VxJp7dkSHMA3t_jg11Kwi7v9jNkP4slNDLUM0MGybp08mnm17JqjT9m9Y2BGE1rS7jy7Xg=w640-h360" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">7. Batman: Soul of the Dragon</span></b></p><p>I'm predisposed to love this movie. Of course, it's a Batman flick. On top of that, it's set in the 1970s and borrows heavily from martial arts cinema, including <i>Enter the Dragon</i>. In fact, one of the main characters looks suspiciously like the iconic Bruce Lee. Lots of hand-to-hand combat and focuses on Bruce Wayne, much more than Batman. The end is a little too easy, but I still had a blast with it. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgDOkdWslI99ZARGdBGtHSddzLODCQgykJu64dDsdtIWZRZP0TScE-4lF6gv05bdNPCOIXNn3jY2VdNimcFj6_APd_OfUHny-UU1NtqX-_7sgJ9qYwljAHU7hhEKggoGn2U2ZYARXOGaTT1W_JkeLOm537K-FcFzB8ygEZJDNPcwJ7KZwp1hk9Eu4SM=s540" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="540" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgDOkdWslI99ZARGdBGtHSddzLODCQgykJu64dDsdtIWZRZP0TScE-4lF6gv05bdNPCOIXNn3jY2VdNimcFj6_APd_OfUHny-UU1NtqX-_7sgJ9qYwljAHU7hhEKggoGn2U2ZYARXOGaTT1W_JkeLOm537K-FcFzB8ygEZJDNPcwJ7KZwp1hk9Eu4SM=w640-h380" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">6. Injustice</span></b></p><p>I started looking around online after watching this one and was shocked that people don't really rock with it. I thought it was pretty amazing. It features Superman becoming unhinged and going full bad guy. That's about as scary a proposition as comic books have to offer. The film handles it really well. Like the movie at number seven, the solution is too easy. That's a common problem for the DC Animated Universe, as they all run less than 90 minutes and have to wrap things up quickly. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjS-7mdB0KABqveZcjJ8u3AHUCNyJ09rXUnFAdTgtQsJVVX4T6FdJLabBlcdOXC3z-0L-A2h2kh1kz7lVAm02S8GGGLOBHrx4zfKt-97FZ_MVcRlK4dCsocnHTKEIhw9XfbeOu--6izDqEOvScVJXberap1sAKHp3_B6AZTvnhwZZrB_Mzi_ThhznBK=s498" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="280" data-original-width="498" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjS-7mdB0KABqveZcjJ8u3AHUCNyJ09rXUnFAdTgtQsJVVX4T6FdJLabBlcdOXC3z-0L-A2h2kh1kz7lVAm02S8GGGLOBHrx4zfKt-97FZ_MVcRlK4dCsocnHTKEIhw9XfbeOu--6izDqEOvScVJXberap1sAKHp3_B6AZTvnhwZZrB_Mzi_ThhznBK=w640-h360" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">5. Batman: The Long Halloween Part 1</span></b></p><p>We focus Bruce Wayne's early years in the cape and cowl and his hunt for a serial killer. It combines this by leaning even more heavily into the film noir style popularized decades ago by Batman: The Animated Series. Watching him learn on the job is intriguing and the mystery he's dealing with is even more so. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgqytsmbuiVFrS_PcUM-wgAmQcQuDM0iuiPabiYOdKPBHKQydtS2mBhbitOeeVjJhcmFOk-xVUaoEhka_EAIeTnbrjBhYbcEGC-FsFgAap4jp2jmsu5BvIWBy3TMretCL7523aDK3p8Jud_czTqB5GFA7V2MyG8lg0wf7wB8zmbYL6NLPxXeXqpG4gO=s480" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="480" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgqytsmbuiVFrS_PcUM-wgAmQcQuDM0iuiPabiYOdKPBHKQydtS2mBhbitOeeVjJhcmFOk-xVUaoEhka_EAIeTnbrjBhYbcEGC-FsFgAap4jp2jmsu5BvIWBy3TMretCL7523aDK3p8Jud_czTqB5GFA7V2MyG8lg0wf7wB8zmbYL6NLPxXeXqpG4gO=w640-h266" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">4. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings</span></b></p><p>I was a yo-yo on this movie's string during the first two acts. The scene on the bus and then the scaffolding scene very much gave me Jackie Chan in the MCU vibes. I was totally here for that. I was a bit annoyed by Awkwafina in the sidekick role, but willing to overlook it. This had a real shot at claiming the top spot on the list. Then the third act happened. That's when it turned into a lame fantasy featuring giant dragon fights. Please, Marvel, for the next Shang-Chi movie give me much more martial arts that incorporate the fighting environment and much less <i>Lord of the Ten Rings</i>.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg3ResUhgyFGYOMumU5c68RaJDA-OCKwcO37ny5u5uTzY32gjRVV2ROTBP-CTFTyuYEcz0UHmi7cZT6AE4XQA4_WPlj-Qr0ac3h4nrzYPpRWlWbhKkC5Lj731gTJWoObVvNOK5HtJfWU9rLcSj3JXDJUB2IAwNfFhoN8T0cKIFHi6xk4-7gS16hx2wa=s720" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="374" data-original-width="720" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg3ResUhgyFGYOMumU5c68RaJDA-OCKwcO37ny5u5uTzY32gjRVV2ROTBP-CTFTyuYEcz0UHmi7cZT6AE4XQA4_WPlj-Qr0ac3h4nrzYPpRWlWbhKkC5Lj731gTJWoObVvNOK5HtJfWU9rLcSj3JXDJUB2IAwNfFhoN8T0cKIFHi6xk4-7gS16hx2wa=w640-h332" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">3. The Suicide Squad</span></b></p><p>I don't hate the first Suicide Squad as much as you. Probably. That said, I know it's not actually good. This one is, even though it has many of the same problems. The difference is that this one is sure of what it is from the very first frame and embraces all the goofiness that comes with that. How else would you make the audience completely buy in to exploding polka dots and giant starfish?</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEizoU6dOH5RDRQiIWFsxQEkqRAXc6EZLMVVZcCYVv3girxHwHr-R1OY4raQW3KB9fO6BcSE73iFJXvhEBUTUGur47Wx0icBfNv_Se_fRaQX_e5rb6Q7X_hLKyko0m1_NPPniCs4a06EIyPOxi0-EH6pJKgkWv5hLz8dxMsRa8r8zBp9VDV45_VD_l__=s480" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEizoU6dOH5RDRQiIWFsxQEkqRAXc6EZLMVVZcCYVv3girxHwHr-R1OY4raQW3KB9fO6BcSE73iFJXvhEBUTUGur47Wx0icBfNv_Se_fRaQX_e5rb6Q7X_hLKyko0m1_NPPniCs4a06EIyPOxi0-EH6pJKgkWv5hLz8dxMsRa8r8zBp9VDV45_VD_l__=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">2. Zack Snyder's Justice League</span></b></p><p>Ahhh...the movie the fans made., or rather, got made. We can talk about how it all came to be another time. Here, the finished product is what's important. And that finished product is superior to the Snyder/Whedon/WB execs mashup version of Justice League that was shoved into theaters a few years back. It ramps up the character development, and tones down the Marvel-esque humor to give us a proper superhero epic. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgcx2-w0xoErj-H68ZoP4LoQc-1SyHk4j1fA737g0OjjZUDqT5wVigmqt6ElpDFUUXnOeXxs4UriKGCdCaBN2n_Hsi7D27hHuy8Gueun3XfuBqMEEbohtwwnhXUqn30Go-TL24p15fkLTqk1kImDXyqh2iaMayE-mlOj48cRaBS-GOu8mnOED9UgCQB=s498" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="278" data-original-width="498" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgcx2-w0xoErj-H68ZoP4LoQc-1SyHk4j1fA737g0OjjZUDqT5wVigmqt6ElpDFUUXnOeXxs4UriKGCdCaBN2n_Hsi7D27hHuy8Gueun3XfuBqMEEbohtwwnhXUqn30Go-TL24p15fkLTqk1kImDXyqh2iaMayE-mlOj48cRaBS-GOu8mnOED9UgCQB=w640-h358" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">1. Spider-Man: No Way Home</span></b></p><p>By now, you've heard all the hype. Even if you haven't seen it, it's quite possible it's been spoiled for you. The reason is because it's so ridiculously fun, people can't help but talk about it. What makes something that sticks with us is Tom Holland giving the very best live-action performance of both Peter Parker and Spider-Man that we've ever seen. </p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://dellonmovies.blogspot.com/p/superhero-corner.html">Click here for more superhero related posts!</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>Dellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05634519605152190304noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227751790693713235.post-57874433539664411842022-01-21T00:00:00.011-05:002022-03-30T19:01:30.743-04:00The 100 Project: The Top 25 Movies of 2010<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiP6YX9aK5m1wMgD_tXYi85RteLzXyInobGGoFhO3LXyTibRITlZ8-FJXLQTSeh2zH_jwJ9VGsKickQVdv9kWPQV-rLhfzdDDAvcdsu4wZElPfdAXE-gnVMXjplf2b5aW9MHeWcMnUFd2gm8vRbN3NvOAeiQ-LCW41o5Gd6i38TqLGFsIj0vtgkThGD=s834" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="377" data-original-width="834" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiP6YX9aK5m1wMgD_tXYi85RteLzXyInobGGoFhO3LXyTibRITlZ8-FJXLQTSeh2zH_jwJ9VGsKickQVdv9kWPQV-rLhfzdDDAvcdsu4wZElPfdAXE-gnVMXjplf2b5aW9MHeWcMnUFd2gm8vRbN3NvOAeiQ-LCW41o5Gd6i38TqLGFsIj0vtgkThGD=w640-h290" width="640" /></a></div><span><span><a name='more'></a></span> </span>At long last, <a href="http://dellonmovies.blogspot.com/p/the-100-project.html">The 100 Project</a> is coming down the stretch. 2010 starts the final full decade that the project will cover. For me, it's interesting to look back at how my feelings have changed about certain movies since the first time I ranked the best movies of this year, which you can see <a href="http://dellonmovies.blogspot.com/2011/12/best-movies-of-2010.html">here</a>. Some movies have moved up, some down, yada yada. Some movies are no longer listed because of the methodology I used for this project. Basically, I trusted Letterboxd to dictate the year of release. Therefore, some movies that were on the prior list are now counted among 2009 or 2011 films. Let's just see how it shakes out. <p></p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">My Top 25 Movies of 2010</span></b></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>According to my Letterboxd account, I've seen 146 films released during 2010.</li><li>I saw 6 movies in theaters, 2 make the top 25.</li><li>4 animated movies make the list.</li><li>I saw all 10 Best Picture nominees. 7 make the top 25.</li></ul><p></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhLYIm3y0Ac2dhnk4AzkiOyOpAgjErseBdqPBvf5w-gr8TGiDl__0vI5FGrYd5_G1sYPH1j8qCBIdh-xC0MtTUG98iclPysgr7VDvOvdy5TMDphT8zhcrZ7UfYSK5aqvQ6OfI3o-w5MudqxAy2E2tob7xcexJLRgq5QQTZDUiiHX8stCmM_BZGmMN9V=s864" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="462" data-original-width="864" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhLYIm3y0Ac2dhnk4AzkiOyOpAgjErseBdqPBvf5w-gr8TGiDl__0vI5FGrYd5_G1sYPH1j8qCBIdh-xC0MtTUG98iclPysgr7VDvOvdy5TMDphT8zhcrZ7UfYSK5aqvQ6OfI3o-w5MudqxAy2E2tob7xcexJLRgq5QQTZDUiiHX8stCmM_BZGmMN9V=w640-h342" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">25. Super</span></b></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg-mb9VWJrJCjXKuNBNhJJYyHlP3J71UZF0FRSSWPbM2BtKEk70mA3XiQtMS74xZG385XQ-I3gNmCPh8xxDcdPnNNuGKp6v6YePrArUyogwYDlnqSeTTMWkWHaz45OIu7AZNj71QSiPABI72peHb0TisBp2ENare-heM-T6n1oWbLV2eB6JS7_QxQqF=s400" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="400" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg-mb9VWJrJCjXKuNBNhJJYyHlP3J71UZF0FRSSWPbM2BtKEk70mA3XiQtMS74xZG385XQ-I3gNmCPh8xxDcdPnNNuGKp6v6YePrArUyogwYDlnqSeTTMWkWHaz45OIu7AZNj71QSiPABI72peHb0TisBp2ENare-heM-T6n1oWbLV2eB6JS7_QxQqF=w640-h268" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">24. Piranha 3D</span></b></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEisxdNWLPN_HrX0Ld6holomlD_dnyMABIp2QH0mWXyzSIf7ZzwFw_LkwnkITdE4FKyYvNJJpoJk6Yrc_HcW3XLEVElmaBMOKAkP0FPVp0s4kQFPNG7ik5mV7GWrUENNgCQFOrTYjPIjQ_-tm20NYvJ6-XWx9IbI-dc9KXeQfi7W8ncpwV-kV5G7Ofz_=s370" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="370" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEisxdNWLPN_HrX0Ld6holomlD_dnyMABIp2QH0mWXyzSIf7ZzwFw_LkwnkITdE4FKyYvNJJpoJk6Yrc_HcW3XLEVElmaBMOKAkP0FPVp0s4kQFPNG7ik5mV7GWrUENNgCQFOrTYjPIjQ_-tm20NYvJ6-XWx9IbI-dc9KXeQfi7W8ncpwV-kV5G7Ofz_=w640-h432" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">23. Exit Through the Gift Shop</span></b></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj-jSJeG3zDhbmBA0UN-47FKH17iTRtWeOCvtu1vhQbZ9if6MjPctgVZ6Cbs_IJ79nZgfci9SFCvde4fBDceXnhDeADmmFaJUMTd2KhRB5Z4xaC0eo8Nq1fOL93USKfdEDcE4OwGYiJJmsIIDlntqiYC4GybLNzQZVKjnvx0_WB-wkqviyonsOB7EXN=s245" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="160" data-original-width="245" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj-jSJeG3zDhbmBA0UN-47FKH17iTRtWeOCvtu1vhQbZ9if6MjPctgVZ6Cbs_IJ79nZgfci9SFCvde4fBDceXnhDeADmmFaJUMTd2KhRB5Z4xaC0eo8Nq1fOL93USKfdEDcE4OwGYiJJmsIIDlntqiYC4GybLNzQZVKjnvx0_WB-wkqviyonsOB7EXN=w640-h418" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">22. Batman: Under the Red Hood</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhe4PuYSjGW0jeNoFLLLfWiE_nl08vJI9PiUWyMOqYSAsj5euBVLD1erYCm_Jp6Lhmx6GaW9JPW6Hry32AG8ep8V8V2l22z7cDMKeZc7t7fh_1ViU1N28-se1hQPqrG6mzKebGwgyGhJn0yvRZwmLaEYv7CnOTr3S6oOzBx0V_DK-dQOmmjtjWzxDyY=s480" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="480" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhe4PuYSjGW0jeNoFLLLfWiE_nl08vJI9PiUWyMOqYSAsj5euBVLD1erYCm_Jp6Lhmx6GaW9JPW6Hry32AG8ep8V8V2l22z7cDMKeZc7t7fh_1ViU1N28-se1hQPqrG6mzKebGwgyGhJn0yvRZwmLaEYv7CnOTr3S6oOzBx0V_DK-dQOmmjtjWzxDyY=w640-h426" width="640" /></span></b></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">21. Machete</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhZ44bZuDKa8US2YgLLY5Hd6IwjhaGPe8g76D8PE2nxGbj0WUwD1_4ZPDPpN6HfoUZI8meRrFOrZhHv3h3-2GBervC6k3cNNh92-Ms40TNcP5xxm7bUgMsu6vGA0sxEb-hDbCgJ2OjSrEHZ_fnyTo2IJq-iFyvj4l6BsO1-fnF5hTkp-5N2SmlIar1D=s497" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="280" data-original-width="497" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhZ44bZuDKa8US2YgLLY5Hd6IwjhaGPe8g76D8PE2nxGbj0WUwD1_4ZPDPpN6HfoUZI8meRrFOrZhHv3h3-2GBervC6k3cNNh92-Ms40TNcP5xxm7bUgMsu6vGA0sxEb-hDbCgJ2OjSrEHZ_fnyTo2IJq-iFyvj4l6BsO1-fnF5hTkp-5N2SmlIar1D=w640-h360" width="640" /></span></b></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">20. Easy A</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhyNmn-yB7-3LdH2Go5GOx_3-YHMvEepB73eC7qXtBxsS_VvBkwyQGEkXZt9iMIFMCgv9sCA4i8ax2AAP7ZeeH1sktK3ww2nQRJUlwzcuN6V8dof-ah487PGxm2H0gfJa2rYpqDtXyv1obWDiU9Nf70o5jcrRCtmQMJoVdlbZ5JY3WF5L2tqtU0Ts0P=s363" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="363" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhyNmn-yB7-3LdH2Go5GOx_3-YHMvEepB73eC7qXtBxsS_VvBkwyQGEkXZt9iMIFMCgv9sCA4i8ax2AAP7ZeeH1sktK3ww2nQRJUlwzcuN6V8dof-ah487PGxm2H0gfJa2rYpqDtXyv1obWDiU9Nf70o5jcrRCtmQMJoVdlbZ5JY3WF5L2tqtU0Ts0P=w640-h352" width="640" /></span></b></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">19. The Social Network</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgCFMBs3Oi5D01qtchtZ0vlOZQeCNSU9lLKKrFnNA63FetB5XkA257KgJ6dBRwTYFA5CGcDZSSCzP77d5IWYR0Xq8GO5ckonV8wX_DqX9z7GeZdDHrFJhGDY-FCVabzE2a7-5UCZ1uD_AoKb4vUiPkgTJJmTsSb3s3lWIwLMAXB9_6jdZTaUtN4hGqh=s400" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="248" data-original-width="400" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgCFMBs3Oi5D01qtchtZ0vlOZQeCNSU9lLKKrFnNA63FetB5XkA257KgJ6dBRwTYFA5CGcDZSSCzP77d5IWYR0Xq8GO5ckonV8wX_DqX9z7GeZdDHrFJhGDY-FCVabzE2a7-5UCZ1uD_AoKb4vUiPkgTJJmTsSb3s3lWIwLMAXB9_6jdZTaUtN4hGqh=w640-h396" width="640" /></span></b></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">18. Megamind</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEheCwf6n76KVrqgcvL3BWVN8cCJwA5TNptGdeOMIiotfDdqtLOOOk51gJJTqM6lXXN2nzQ9TI3OQkq0fCODH45eBO1yBDo8sjjYae0Ol0Hav63BLFNx-_xZq8PmPtm9QMqMRuCyPTcSjqvD1QEH-I_P0MPsX2EpDBD3vUGD1pzWsnG531GNOeV1tqei=s500" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="220" data-original-width="500" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEheCwf6n76KVrqgcvL3BWVN8cCJwA5TNptGdeOMIiotfDdqtLOOOk51gJJTqM6lXXN2nzQ9TI3OQkq0fCODH45eBO1yBDo8sjjYae0Ol0Hav63BLFNx-_xZq8PmPtm9QMqMRuCyPTcSjqvD1QEH-I_P0MPsX2EpDBD3vUGD1pzWsnG531GNOeV1tqei=w640-h282" width="640" /></span></b></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">17. Shutter Island</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiscvoINiQHnvJFHdmnEueVql853_xZwA-j4PQzo7AW0uaPpv1EXuy9QpfUieaXWtrzKIGHxD0K5GS17FLtVe69j_rwGv6GuiYPH8lGzzqovjpYrJ9INasjuqDrPT4tgKRpCKxJFU7Az3KLklBh--60T36xuEWD1hNY0H2s4LS8RWTGBeCTGzVdweKK=s500" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="271" data-original-width="500" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiscvoINiQHnvJFHdmnEueVql853_xZwA-j4PQzo7AW0uaPpv1EXuy9QpfUieaXWtrzKIGHxD0K5GS17FLtVe69j_rwGv6GuiYPH8lGzzqovjpYrJ9INasjuqDrPT4tgKRpCKxJFU7Az3KLklBh--60T36xuEWD1hNY0H2s4LS8RWTGBeCTGzVdweKK=w640-h346" width="640" /></span></b></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">16. Despicable Me</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh2_UTXy3GZtv0nQHzQjBOTr1h-BbCRsraarEbnfCyavYEToB4-c4XZ_CeDWjhL-FkIGXW6H2DcH_s_iC1JDF_qD4VVJ51vlY_PZK22lxsOOBLB2RNjWs_gjck96KK_EMHMadNFRKmNIcpfVjOjWZtl042A4ViEnB6lgPD796Od4PwGbqQj6cBWkkkh=s540" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="540" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh2_UTXy3GZtv0nQHzQjBOTr1h-BbCRsraarEbnfCyavYEToB4-c4XZ_CeDWjhL-FkIGXW6H2DcH_s_iC1JDF_qD4VVJ51vlY_PZK22lxsOOBLB2RNjWs_gjck96KK_EMHMadNFRKmNIcpfVjOjWZtl042A4ViEnB6lgPD796Od4PwGbqQj6cBWkkkh=w640-h284" width="640" /></span></b></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">15. Black Swan</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgQJXE4-9XH7Fo4LpKRYMmGsOZyHdeqY9HViL_YTQOytrAeiMdcozw5iZEGdQaKaylTpmF2jcq3uq0J7XBQUS8wo9OTrWqMqdVdDajqF6izvHDyf6kuhHyTfM2ybEoiOgoS94dFmgUYjCp7nLCkdFg1iKlN3GMfvdCxtwlteIzX5DVD-1ZnbmlvWToQ=s500" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="213" data-original-width="500" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgQJXE4-9XH7Fo4LpKRYMmGsOZyHdeqY9HViL_YTQOytrAeiMdcozw5iZEGdQaKaylTpmF2jcq3uq0J7XBQUS8wo9OTrWqMqdVdDajqF6izvHDyf6kuhHyTfM2ybEoiOgoS94dFmgUYjCp7nLCkdFg1iKlN3GMfvdCxtwlteIzX5DVD-1ZnbmlvWToQ=w640-h272" width="640" /></span></b></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">14. True Grit</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiH9ShLNiEh3xR4lyvpaYTP_GSueLiSvtxGvZRBzu8UWgFZHXiqo8E04Mz5NAHqqqW2ybosB8fiEgtrcv_4Y-TWUDB-I_WCvL7mt41dkMato2UTyKaX9A79_0sXiWoPmcprIR8MdXKNbZSBblhCfL9s2TwA-jRdR1Nnw6van8QZA9aC7fjka2bF-2hX=s500" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="208" data-original-width="500" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiH9ShLNiEh3xR4lyvpaYTP_GSueLiSvtxGvZRBzu8UWgFZHXiqo8E04Mz5NAHqqqW2ybosB8fiEgtrcv_4Y-TWUDB-I_WCvL7mt41dkMato2UTyKaX9A79_0sXiWoPmcprIR8MdXKNbZSBblhCfL9s2TwA-jRdR1Nnw6van8QZA9aC7fjka2bF-2hX=w640-h266" width="640" /></span></b></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">13. The Fighter</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjsrHG7dBRAvUcqRS8cdBClWSmj4pch7PDs5c1E7kkeWAXElrrTn9iLLzhVF9-6zcr3JphHJvGxCJXADoAq3p4p74Lsb0RmhbmU7lrJiYkNNryb6vOzkZWi04lJRSsXSCta8zK0IrUnOwmldMuKp34r6HgPoIs9x6lrbmn1-ViZ11OIMFdgeGIdYpah=s498" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="325" data-original-width="498" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjsrHG7dBRAvUcqRS8cdBClWSmj4pch7PDs5c1E7kkeWAXElrrTn9iLLzhVF9-6zcr3JphHJvGxCJXADoAq3p4p74Lsb0RmhbmU7lrJiYkNNryb6vOzkZWi04lJRSsXSCta8zK0IrUnOwmldMuKp34r6HgPoIs9x6lrbmn1-ViZ11OIMFdgeGIdYpah=w640-h418" width="640" /></span></b></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">12. The Book of Eli</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgvKfd7b97IKbGkgViwFkQ8ftFyZf-01f6dpUdmjhpTlLwCREuN-YMj6hFGydIpTHFBbK2BOBAfM8mlTKOzG-woi-2CSpJGE1yrhwsklnXF4M8sMrW_VhS_N7J5B34uf13Dski3E-cb5N3Rb0W6zVKO3MikJNrz3I4JThzAm1z2R4XtJJUJ59d4tO69=s500" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="500" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgvKfd7b97IKbGkgViwFkQ8ftFyZf-01f6dpUdmjhpTlLwCREuN-YMj6hFGydIpTHFBbK2BOBAfM8mlTKOzG-woi-2CSpJGE1yrhwsklnXF4M8sMrW_VhS_N7J5B34uf13Dski3E-cb5N3Rb0W6zVKO3MikJNrz3I4JThzAm1z2R4XtJJUJ59d4tO69=w640-h360" width="640" /></span></b></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">11. Salt</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhE6ZPZSXJ_E3NfpXTVPoGccjTtoJUpjRvohRYZZBVi9JphOamjRmTcDpNmGqUZ4ULZdeuA_qok8-SmzQduyU6GzBTPVoT16THBY49C5cbPM0turthA4AdsP1JCqUB_r-zbyFCPGKLoeLQZeLEhhyjcUyoRJR_C5bqVWcOZGX03crSLCZbC7BSHjE9u=s500" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="210" data-original-width="500" height="329" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhE6ZPZSXJ_E3NfpXTVPoGccjTtoJUpjRvohRYZZBVi9JphOamjRmTcDpNmGqUZ4ULZdeuA_qok8-SmzQduyU6GzBTPVoT16THBY49C5cbPM0turthA4AdsP1JCqUB_r-zbyFCPGKLoeLQZeLEhhyjcUyoRJR_C5bqVWcOZGX03crSLCZbC7BSHjE9u=w786-h329" width="786" /></span></b></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">10. Let Me In</span></b></p><p>Normally, an American remake of a movie just a few years old is a watered down mess. In this case, it's a film that tells the same story, but does enough of its own thing to more than justify its existence. Some good ol' 80s Americana pumps through its veins, and changing the order of a few key moments gives things a different feel. The result is the year's best straight up horror flick.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhwKX3g4D6V9c9ivfz1qTDbPErvfYGZ7izQmSbFalSg1BgI6A95rqpCC4HnhjWefd8MyqnGiwyjAIi4MpmDY99ncRJqSGxP8JJC0P5i6eZRfCmUwLxVkbXiqqL6kIreBhAQd3w_TCDprB_cQuad4SF0k_iGqwzownJrtHSuBxp5FUNnwoS3IKynLWST=s480" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="204" data-original-width="480" height="329" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhwKX3g4D6V9c9ivfz1qTDbPErvfYGZ7izQmSbFalSg1BgI6A95rqpCC4HnhjWefd8MyqnGiwyjAIi4MpmDY99ncRJqSGxP8JJC0P5i6eZRfCmUwLxVkbXiqqL6kIreBhAQd3w_TCDprB_cQuad4SF0k_iGqwzownJrtHSuBxp5FUNnwoS3IKynLWST=w774-h329" width="774" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">9. How to Train Your Dragon</span></b></p><p>I wasn't expecting much when I put this movie on for the first time. I figured it was just another movie I would watch with my kids and forget about. I'm happy to say that I was completely wrong. My first viewing was a delight. My next made me appreciate it even more and set me up for a wonderful journey through one of the great cinematic animated franchises.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhaa_rxfglDf6lAG5ryWmsC8AtyRy96Ws_5-jZHfovJYbTNTcYTd8nlEEYAtm1qSiSZmRyley-DFN2isIzlt5v_KRm63Rprb4Iu1SAL-jDLVg-Ml8MBaKFqGgMoC2i8O-BaFBrzMQyP2d8q75u1W0gukKBTEngxRBM79Zu6loxidBYr8THPnJ8ecGZt=s500" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="500" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhaa_rxfglDf6lAG5ryWmsC8AtyRy96Ws_5-jZHfovJYbTNTcYTd8nlEEYAtm1qSiSZmRyley-DFN2isIzlt5v_KRm63Rprb4Iu1SAL-jDLVg-Ml8MBaKFqGgMoC2i8O-BaFBrzMQyP2d8q75u1W0gukKBTEngxRBM79Zu6loxidBYr8THPnJ8ecGZt=w743-h418" width="743" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">8. Tucker and Dale vs. Evil</span></b></p><p><i>Let Me In</i> might be the best straight up horror flick 2010 had to offer, but this underseen gem is horror-comedy gold. It takes aim at slasher flicks, particularly those where a group of kids find themselves in the woods with a group of inbred hillbillies, and mines it for every bit of humor it can find. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEirYYS6KoarMbfZByxfSa96DUolwq7u1njqyAvnTZGMgMR9z8AQTUXFMvYlpa376Glzss1ce3dWb5ZvXVZgrYADDmoWcxwaMsBdeFvub6dm2MPqf8E2Y_pdSQQAW4FaaYnJDUxAoHRN--9Os0yaK7ybUYT9nkLxsmCwyG83Xp_2JVrSm8j8at29gnPw=s499" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="265" data-original-width="499" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEirYYS6KoarMbfZByxfSa96DUolwq7u1njqyAvnTZGMgMR9z8AQTUXFMvYlpa376Glzss1ce3dWb5ZvXVZgrYADDmoWcxwaMsBdeFvub6dm2MPqf8E2Y_pdSQQAW4FaaYnJDUxAoHRN--9Os0yaK7ybUYT9nkLxsmCwyG83Xp_2JVrSm8j8at29gnPw=w745-h396" width="745" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">7. I Saw the Devil</span></b></p><p>This is one of the more brutal movies I've ever seen. It's also one of the more unique revenge films I've come across. And like the best movies in the genre, we're not really sure who won when it's all said and done. This one's not for the squeamish.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgpq4Uyb4bHONIpBtu-mqAL6AFmr_iqUqfGpb6OlWf8q0wVKZRmG2LTlidlAlXgmu7qUjQw7oDAamaupv2V5WM3ewHNwtsKt0tVv99ccoTTJaBn3vNTATiaqht44Q1l_L9J6gF8IvwY-m-p20344qc56gz1OdzvH4vt08DBCGXuFXBEJ5Qf7vDjCm-4=s500" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="260" data-original-width="500" height="387" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgpq4Uyb4bHONIpBtu-mqAL6AFmr_iqUqfGpb6OlWf8q0wVKZRmG2LTlidlAlXgmu7qUjQw7oDAamaupv2V5WM3ewHNwtsKt0tVv99ccoTTJaBn3vNTATiaqht44Q1l_L9J6gF8IvwY-m-p20344qc56gz1OdzvH4vt08DBCGXuFXBEJ5Qf7vDjCm-4=w746-h387" width="746" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">6. Winter's Bone</span></b></p><p>The Coen Brothers remake of <i>True Grit</i> is back at #14 on this very list. That means, it's a really good remake. I might even say I like it better than the original. <i>Winter's Bone</i> is actually a better remake than that, though it actually isn't one. It also contains Jennifer Lawrence's best performance.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiyitvztEekxzUtAI-7HJlmsijC0Nqvyuv_o8vaxyAcqRIPZb0o_WiGr_-aAzXmpyRueiYyiqN3mSqSu_Fh-T8bMsQzEu24VugAFZNBfjeiHiLPdM834OfH7k-fhn8LFMnmab2qPByFWjQaEv7vc72qLBYzJqM3J9eoi5ShtovYKG88bhfGwshoszZr=s470" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="470" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiyitvztEekxzUtAI-7HJlmsijC0Nqvyuv_o8vaxyAcqRIPZb0o_WiGr_-aAzXmpyRueiYyiqN3mSqSu_Fh-T8bMsQzEu24VugAFZNBfjeiHiLPdM834OfH7k-fhn8LFMnmab2qPByFWjQaEv7vc72qLBYzJqM3J9eoi5ShtovYKG88bhfGwshoszZr=w936-h398" width="936" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">5. Inception</span></b></p><p>When I first did this list a decade ago, this was my #1 movie. It's slip to this spot is no indication of my opinion on it slipping. It's really that I've come to appreciate the movies above it that much more. This is still a mind-bending epic with visuals that still hold up as spectacular. And yes, that ending.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj-5F0C9dXwXGUaHeSmZoOVnFwXqYN2eqpFLVBcqe7stpI6lPsoa1r_sW1vCtNqIEG-3jCaC5wvPn-fbvkp3dVdHo8_aTVYn43EXr50k1j6hH2moCm9VMyPdkFtqRGzkH6ScD5bEaclqOFUjLsOaKdvoxo-wYCKKk0NJ9hYVDJ5RKLR0Vmcp91J6GFZ=s540" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="405" data-original-width="540" height="632" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj-5F0C9dXwXGUaHeSmZoOVnFwXqYN2eqpFLVBcqe7stpI6lPsoa1r_sW1vCtNqIEG-3jCaC5wvPn-fbvkp3dVdHo8_aTVYn43EXr50k1j6hH2moCm9VMyPdkFtqRGzkH6ScD5bEaclqOFUjLsOaKdvoxo-wYCKKk0NJ9hYVDJ5RKLR0Vmcp91J6GFZ=w843-h632" width="843" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">4. Poetry</span></b></p><p>Speaking of great endings, this movie has one as well. It's in no way ambiguous, but satisfying in a way that we're not so sure we should be satisfied. And that's only part of what makes it beautiful. I wish more people would see this. Maybe, just maybe, you guys will understand when I say Yang is one of the most compelling <strike>female</strike> protagonists of this century.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiSZ1VuJi4Wt_2TelmcU5cmcD1VBaqnCwweyW7HIVRFnZlC1MuryF0TLnydpA25qj1rSrTXH4pdfPY2uE4TvFBBCjmOmf_B0-zdz845wee4WQZkd5nzBMbOvAX8R4kunjyBTqmq4e8F6yR_YZsk44RvA4eSLqCYYTRuG1v23ww79WRVbuakY8HgO_Xq=s550" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="298" data-original-width="550" height="518" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiSZ1VuJi4Wt_2TelmcU5cmcD1VBaqnCwweyW7HIVRFnZlC1MuryF0TLnydpA25qj1rSrTXH4pdfPY2uE4TvFBBCjmOmf_B0-zdz845wee4WQZkd5nzBMbOvAX8R4kunjyBTqmq4e8F6yR_YZsk44RvA4eSLqCYYTRuG1v23ww79WRVbuakY8HgO_Xq=w958-h518" width="958" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">3. Scott Pilgrim vs. the World</span></b></p><p>In my original review of this movie I write "if you can't understand the brilliance behind the pee meter, you'll never get this movie." That still holds true and speaks to why I love it. Everything about it is plucked from some hobby or another that I've had during my life and fleshed out in a big, bright ball of zaniness. The first time I watched it I felt like I was seeing a bunch of in-jokes only between myself and the people who made the movie.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiMLOy6QYybnx7_b7vmWsfykOSAZDAgR7-vHByLFnLAQEuC8astM87-9Qx-dhID-avX-6QTd7Ze1f9mVzUNta4y4Rf4297WSnu30tbHyng-_Ojr6jQFvUMlqmb7duZ0LmmoxfHTVUQfty2Gli3P2mSL4ZOGHihkfigjNmRHzvHg6qrakA8ta9bxb1dy=s498" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="254" data-original-width="498" height="477" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiMLOy6QYybnx7_b7vmWsfykOSAZDAgR7-vHByLFnLAQEuC8astM87-9Qx-dhID-avX-6QTd7Ze1f9mVzUNta4y4Rf4297WSnu30tbHyng-_Ojr6jQFvUMlqmb7duZ0LmmoxfHTVUQfty2Gli3P2mSL4ZOGHihkfigjNmRHzvHg6qrakA8ta9bxb1dy=w936-h477" width="936" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">2. Kick-Ass</span></b></p><p>I knew superheroes before I knew video games. Therefore, take everything I said about Scott Pilgrim speaking to me and multiply it a few times. Like lots of kids I dreamed of being a superhero - vividly. I collected comic books for years. During that time, I became pretty good at drawing. You know what? Most of my drawings were of superheroes. This movie took all of that and put it on the screen, along with lots of warm-hearted spoofing of superhero movies and TV shows. And Nicolas Cage doing Adam West is EVERYTHING.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgS6i-oyZQmFpFrIsFfLKZVQ2qhlhQrizmQ4s5__AkDBpOr35FAqHSHrXzJoEj1fatPmhiXW8pnJmIwTKj1rcyRJ9LpI73vUtvLmpyEdHzewy5Iz0t7I7RHt2M2QeNh1aE5i2urJIHtvZV5H2T-ryT6WR2pQcboxtk93cigw0pIguncF9d9RYx_v88S=s640" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="640" height="534" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgS6i-oyZQmFpFrIsFfLKZVQ2qhlhQrizmQ4s5__AkDBpOr35FAqHSHrXzJoEj1fatPmhiXW8pnJmIwTKj1rcyRJ9LpI73vUtvLmpyEdHzewy5Iz0t7I7RHt2M2QeNh1aE5i2urJIHtvZV5H2T-ryT6WR2pQcboxtk93cigw0pIguncF9d9RYx_v88S=w951-h534" width="951" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">1. Toy Story 3</span></b></p><p>I'm not going to go into some romanticized soliloquy about my toys. I had plenty of toys as a youngster, and played with them often, but I was never that attached to any of them. This gets the top spot because it's damn near perfect. It flawlessly completes the best animated trilogy of all-time. I know there's now a fourth film, which I love, but at the time this was it. It made me laugh. It made me think. It almost made me cry. I've only shed tears over a film once, back when I was eight. In the four-plus decades since, this movie came closest to making it twice. The lump in my throat during the incinerator scene was the size of a golf ball. It left, but returned during the film's last moments. Only the sheer willpower of the last few strands of my toxic masculinity kept the tears at bay. </p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Honorable Mentions</b> (alphabetical): 13 Assassins, 127 Hours, Biutiful, Blue Valentine, Cold Fish, For Colored Girls, Get Him to the Greek, Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work, The Kids Are All Right, Planet Hulk, RED, The Runaways, The Town, Troll Hunter, The Two Escobars</span></p><p><br /></p>Dellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05634519605152190304noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227751790693713235.post-20671627192495786722022-01-19T00:00:00.001-05:002022-01-19T00:00:00.259-05:00The Best and Worst of 2021 (so far) aaaaaannnddd Blog Plans<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgbDVoSIAg6OamEqLkLzhB1C4aEmBFHZaIu0yl9vHI5jlXOgUt0ThrTHn4ODTB5fO_csRbfWS1qQvNWQsC9a7H7cnJX7swE5WRh9g1HnVXMOcD-wMwxoHNVA0GqKUhuZCt8_tzLcR1An2TQfVCNtGi9I5TAgySITJCHQGVRy_5suaAApt2Il_uHUQ6A=s540" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="540" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgbDVoSIAg6OamEqLkLzhB1C4aEmBFHZaIu0yl9vHI5jlXOgUt0ThrTHn4ODTB5fO_csRbfWS1qQvNWQsC9a7H7cnJX7swE5WRh9g1HnVXMOcD-wMwxoHNVA0GqKUhuZCt8_tzLcR1An2TQfVCNtGi9I5TAgySITJCHQGVRy_5suaAApt2Il_uHUQ6A=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></div><span><span><a name='more'></a></span> </span>First, let me say Happy New Year to anyone who happens to be reading this in January. I don't just mean January of 2022, which when I'm writing this, but any January. After all, you could be reading in from somewhere far in my future. You know how the internet works, so let's move on.<p></p><p><span> You might be wondering why this post is (partially) titled "The Best and Worst of 2021 (so far)" if that particular is already over. The simple answer is I haven't seen everything I want to see that was released over the last year. Over the next few months, I'll be getting to those, or at least most of them, and can give you a more definitive answer on the way I feel about the films of 2021. This post is just the obligatory list bloggers and critics like to make at the end of a given year. I'm a list guy, so I rather like doing these. Here are...</span></p><p><span><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEinC-YK--ZhiPWRxtio9hsZ8SFxX12PE_L74M27BRCa_-U1ZBdusWJIKMZMJ_8M1jCREtBujLMmN4kUhFcO6C-OSMHAjVdQg5aT3BcEPNLdCHuJmSbo3lAU6oxxlH6g_Y2hMejcnyNNGTWI2P_2dkneZjhpXOKItmylzK1E4scxc3w4YFDnEPVmgiFn=s600" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="600" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEinC-YK--ZhiPWRxtio9hsZ8SFxX12PE_L74M27BRCa_-U1ZBdusWJIKMZMJ_8M1jCREtBujLMmN4kUhFcO6C-OSMHAjVdQg5aT3BcEPNLdCHuJmSbo3lAU6oxxlH6g_Y2hMejcnyNNGTWI2P_2dkneZjhpXOKItmylzK1E4scxc3w4YFDnEPVmgiFn=w400-h330" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>The 10 Worst Movies of 2021 (so far)</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj_YdalOHHEEGXBaAxm2nsBX_FGDC_VvkcaJ70nvq4AAQIRuLAlpEVgiK_bdLxGna_bDSEm5CwSpEtQzFmsL4Eb9Pq4sdDOl5duXrUFutV7fR1vs8_9vngtsrkW5dm_99YjClBY49ocvksI4OzcIV8dT6mkPXYdxFIVMiztl7eDrJgxU7JoDlvGO-Zt=s498" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="496" data-original-width="498" height="638" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj_YdalOHHEEGXBaAxm2nsBX_FGDC_VvkcaJ70nvq4AAQIRuLAlpEVgiK_bdLxGna_bDSEm5CwSpEtQzFmsL4Eb9Pq4sdDOl5duXrUFutV7fR1vs8_9vngtsrkW5dm_99YjClBY49ocvksI4OzcIV8dT6mkPXYdxFIVMiztl7eDrJgxU7JoDlvGO-Zt=w640-h638" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">10. Good on Paper</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjVwdX5gHe-6o_0MZIYLfWehq_3ZPjX13ojvWWx-H-VDj0y4Lm8V9fNYayihKJOAY58pyjQBB0mG3Z2QAu1vuhnlPsqT5wUkCaI5Ij4v_9Rdp43pQZEJe0vPXbp_Q86ofO3XpJt6k4_96QV8ulauN7sGpyMwGMF2rVp3y9clPBc8rN7E7Qi1bieDRLE=s498" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="278" data-original-width="498" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjVwdX5gHe-6o_0MZIYLfWehq_3ZPjX13ojvWWx-H-VDj0y4Lm8V9fNYayihKJOAY58pyjQBB0mG3Z2QAu1vuhnlPsqT5wUkCaI5Ij4v_9Rdp43pQZEJe0vPXbp_Q86ofO3XpJt6k4_96QV8ulauN7sGpyMwGMF2rVp3y9clPBc8rN7E7Qi1bieDRLE=w640-h358" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">9. Coming 2 America</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhGVyTjDap4s-teVqlxKoNAeCRBUjSBq3KEdT-3kDjQp_58s0H5i0mr4tdw59rmCRmVgFPhcGLMg2BbRHYyiMmJvblNaMPQvZoB9pLP59nivLEMITVROlm6aA78AkzVTgdCc408igJnxNutRpem7UTL76PFZgiu-tdS5gHHX5t5RjHYEa0HcfvEB8t4=s540" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="540" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhGVyTjDap4s-teVqlxKoNAeCRBUjSBq3KEdT-3kDjQp_58s0H5i0mr4tdw59rmCRmVgFPhcGLMg2BbRHYyiMmJvblNaMPQvZoB9pLP59nivLEMITVROlm6aA78AkzVTgdCc408igJnxNutRpem7UTL76PFZgiu-tdS5gHHX5t5RjHYEa0HcfvEB8t4=w640-h296" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">8. Thunder Force</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEialGUBk_gPymhjpTXZPb3KFLCBt8v98Z5aCx79qPz86NUKmtwvIlxAqjTzKTyudh8W3X1ST0kUov_WsuJfMzfJhXiK5VdtVyi7Ju3y6-oa9Yn9Glt87pxOelBy7bBzvESElUHpfPhsqTmNUsp_xaQN8Heqm34tunvM26YNVAqxhk_0kCqzNDC1f9xW=s540" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="310" data-original-width="540" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEialGUBk_gPymhjpTXZPb3KFLCBt8v98Z5aCx79qPz86NUKmtwvIlxAqjTzKTyudh8W3X1ST0kUov_WsuJfMzfJhXiK5VdtVyi7Ju3y6-oa9Yn9Glt87pxOelBy7bBzvESElUHpfPhsqTmNUsp_xaQN8Heqm34tunvM26YNVAqxhk_0kCqzNDC1f9xW=w640-h368" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">7. The Manor</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiiDWGYbUIt6flfQ19DUzG8UPd-yQ0p6hQBd-G-QNjyNBkdZXzT6K1dzzTMIj7ypv9DAuJlqwLBcic3lKLEzhe72obTSGWilc9QrYbe7TXIibwhnZEYMDJcWp8oguSmlZVwb7aN0CwDb3gUdd06lvGS0wN6h9SVRUSeFUNf-8D5h6k6GrdHCko0IQGP=s540" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="540" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiiDWGYbUIt6flfQ19DUzG8UPd-yQ0p6hQBd-G-QNjyNBkdZXzT6K1dzzTMIj7ypv9DAuJlqwLBcic3lKLEzhe72obTSGWilc9QrYbe7TXIibwhnZEYMDJcWp8oguSmlZVwb7aN0CwDb3gUdd06lvGS0wN6h9SVRUSeFUNf-8D5h6k6GrdHCko0IQGP=w640-h296" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">6. The Guilty</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgzUhULTe6GdbYz_UDkJWsFdFmFzAbsDKZCuLvu4OI3c0ezWPgCJIP18W9i4nwtySlI4qrjQzc76ahuzD4hn25kYE6D2Ns0cQz9gVV0D8mu8w0RGyKEtRWsKsTNbK0CvViB-qdtyuw5j3AgWtyadbnrQgt8oTkVc2AXmiqXJf0YzjOtpvWZzR9El4LL=s1201" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1201" data-original-width="801" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgzUhULTe6GdbYz_UDkJWsFdFmFzAbsDKZCuLvu4OI3c0ezWPgCJIP18W9i4nwtySlI4qrjQzc76ahuzD4hn25kYE6D2Ns0cQz9gVV0D8mu8w0RGyKEtRWsKsTNbK0CvViB-qdtyuw5j3AgWtyadbnrQgt8oTkVc2AXmiqXJf0YzjOtpvWZzR9El4LL=w426-h640" width="426" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">5. Secret Society</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi9e_8E3aBYF5yxD4_vlI0I_jNYxTmEYm6tMqVJvfl7oNTKqUs2aMgmbTN9xJuHvuCz-WBmZczsP_KkGqMKCWqwMd6gqdz6SFTgMXIEgUyZ5qJH8-oiuK7fEJafP7aacRL-MrqZ78IE6Qn76VTZENOyIAtPkc1uB6lCnsK9yjp85zl7ik7XK_sprkVU=s540" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="291" data-original-width="540" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi9e_8E3aBYF5yxD4_vlI0I_jNYxTmEYm6tMqVJvfl7oNTKqUs2aMgmbTN9xJuHvuCz-WBmZczsP_KkGqMKCWqwMd6gqdz6SFTgMXIEgUyZ5qJH8-oiuK7fEJafP7aacRL-MrqZ78IE6Qn76VTZENOyIAtPkc1uB6lCnsK9yjp85zl7ik7XK_sprkVU=w640-h344" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">4. Tom & Jerry</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjPPKSvNsRZzw7iaWJLsOCpKkuTQ7_VVzyNsiK-FPTbrU9r3zjume9AUBuICu9e5p6wxwvFR1_FMXSF36SY8y3pEPPV9q8FWiFqZZVmXXXdR3ZHKnJI4nXY4ASmAgvZ2Od8-DWMtWct9VwAw7byQvV2a_ozb3je2jtsit5SkugusivRh7qgjHf2V9Ih=s700" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="449" data-original-width="700" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjPPKSvNsRZzw7iaWJLsOCpKkuTQ7_VVzyNsiK-FPTbrU9r3zjume9AUBuICu9e5p6wxwvFR1_FMXSF36SY8y3pEPPV9q8FWiFqZZVmXXXdR3ZHKnJI4nXY4ASmAgvZ2Od8-DWMtWct9VwAw7byQvV2a_ozb3je2jtsit5SkugusivRh7qgjHf2V9Ih=w640-h410" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">3. Vacation Friends</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjr0pM_-APfjwuu7zP-ounMOKO0Ne9q-xBXw6TDhEJijTGuaCdPfCVw8RMywr1YRNwtaye2iVI0-iMRve5G1Tnt35xLBe3f-RIOvKegFGsXMMBR0bmdMykHO4n_82IAj_P7BAQm1iD6lJVDnbjLNB3DreqJxsGcSdaszY_I-3BbCDhYGZGh-9A0Ez7e=s500" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="500" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjr0pM_-APfjwuu7zP-ounMOKO0Ne9q-xBXw6TDhEJijTGuaCdPfCVw8RMywr1YRNwtaye2iVI0-iMRve5G1Tnt35xLBe3f-RIOvKegFGsXMMBR0bmdMykHO4n_82IAj_P7BAQm1iD6lJVDnbjLNB3DreqJxsGcSdaszY_I-3BbCDhYGZGh-9A0Ez7e=w640-h360" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">2. Salt-N-Pepa</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgmFbP9U9j0KPo2oyFXrkmDsJNOTCYxns2oYBalvwTHAOZ_IkXMzgFEdbIw3Lq_eY8tMRV8OQtMMFwmRGS3zxR2wdE0ZsIJQIOiGRJAdP9lUiWydDbzOmBDiqaQ8fRkJGC0HQEBv2aMO5Dh8GwRxv2X1NcdZX7SqtvK3f9PPrjJw-U3mAqZLcQROpSE=s498" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="278" data-original-width="498" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgmFbP9U9j0KPo2oyFXrkmDsJNOTCYxns2oYBalvwTHAOZ_IkXMzgFEdbIw3Lq_eY8tMRV8OQtMMFwmRGS3zxR2wdE0ZsIJQIOiGRJAdP9lUiWydDbzOmBDiqaQ8fRkJGC0HQEBv2aMO5Dh8GwRxv2X1NcdZX7SqtvK3f9PPrjJw-U3mAqZLcQROpSE=w640-h358" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">1. Space Jam: A New Legacy</span></b></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Dishonorable Mention: Back to the Outback, Dune, F9: The Fast Saga, The House Next Door: Meet the Blacks 2, Rogue Hostage, SAS: Red Notice, Sweet Girl, Venom: Let There Be Carnage, Willy's Wonderland</span></p><p><span><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span><br /></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjq7oq1TKiBVqNh0jkp3PCTc-HWKojmBvwTJITpW94GRRQO_kifHpiAyLiySNj0fyW-FjCeTeTh9EV2kRSRFE2z7_ZVgVHP7V4kKNva5kUA5KP0HfUgDK7vWIPFUr28u29q6Jpkh6X_YFYwu0mJJ_wmL-NdNK6_SeblbJBs3fLDdCZzmPA5EnEHNEsf=s1024" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjq7oq1TKiBVqNh0jkp3PCTc-HWKojmBvwTJITpW94GRRQO_kifHpiAyLiySNj0fyW-FjCeTeTh9EV2kRSRFE2z7_ZVgVHP7V4kKNva5kUA5KP0HfUgDK7vWIPFUr28u29q6Jpkh6X_YFYwu0mJJ_wmL-NdNK6_SeblbJBs3fLDdCZzmPA5EnEHNEsf=w400-h400" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>The 10 Best Movies of 2021 (so far)</b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgzyqrFheDSX51IwA2HNqK2biYzLIwunaxC4yTCiwoVhsftg28eJn4bjjkKuEVNnBPm26s02KA7lPMqG3E-ifmHDag5VBPGYUZktBo4HM0Y1taz7qtf5jyPmINqyVgJewoByLOT_165m5qfa9zNZrper0bQKrbZLCmN770Woo2_BmmHW6Clf5lR800_=s640" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="640" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgzyqrFheDSX51IwA2HNqK2biYzLIwunaxC4yTCiwoVhsftg28eJn4bjjkKuEVNnBPm26s02KA7lPMqG3E-ifmHDag5VBPGYUZktBo4HM0Y1taz7qtf5jyPmINqyVgJewoByLOT_165m5qfa9zNZrper0bQKrbZLCmN770Woo2_BmmHW6Clf5lR800_=w640-h360" width="640" /></a></b></div><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">10. Don't Look Up</span></b><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjGloj8yV18BbF9gtpQoyEtsIrrpiMMA0tpjX89l0KqBEf5mvvlqkzAX3T7s_CttnHe-tLEQgjMXKlgIDQKYV_6yllNMK2gVqjV2ZgUMnf2R3E-Ft8S94Lhk7WUdBdziXVJqgVVmiKm4-kvyXAkyzxjzziSxqRVq9qw0WSI2jvjRYVpFIGfAAiROK8H=s485" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="485" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjGloj8yV18BbF9gtpQoyEtsIrrpiMMA0tpjX89l0KqBEf5mvvlqkzAX3T7s_CttnHe-tLEQgjMXKlgIDQKYV_6yllNMK2gVqjV2ZgUMnf2R3E-Ft8S94Lhk7WUdBdziXVJqgVVmiKm4-kvyXAkyzxjzziSxqRVq9qw0WSI2jvjRYVpFIGfAAiROK8H=w640-h264" width="640" /></a></b></div><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">9. Candyman</span></b><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi7LoEayBXrDw6pawFifZK4vJG11HO2DeH_HwBpbmkhJ0E0NqLtcMytwOgC2oiWTlS_uXwCZP3DxIDDWCh516OFo6tC7FlORTPnLkT8nXL6qc83Jvdq4vlXY0o2caHVgXwiGKmKVOfP1ZOPr2xwq_CuQSKfapZuG_mwX_8H1n6Ou7QyL5vnvY76Dy58=s498" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="278" data-original-width="498" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi7LoEayBXrDw6pawFifZK4vJG11HO2DeH_HwBpbmkhJ0E0NqLtcMytwOgC2oiWTlS_uXwCZP3DxIDDWCh516OFo6tC7FlORTPnLkT8nXL6qc83Jvdq4vlXY0o2caHVgXwiGKmKVOfP1ZOPr2xwq_CuQSKfapZuG_mwX_8H1n6Ou7QyL5vnvY76Dy58=w640-h358" width="640" /></a></b></div><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">8. Spider-Man: No Way Home</span></b><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgyTbt3-cM9NAVPP3juE5ujypUnVdh5yTnmfH5Awn5tGA5r72aln5KjYRxCRY_39h0HwbuEiRld5Ya0gWjHnhvMCVTTwjs_HND2zkCPhzvDwnNQqYqWY9Tb6o9775Mc5aTTTmPJHl811eZBFxdf-PFU9SME2sfRIzGEg5se06AzBh2J6yzRQCH_1Hkj=s480" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgyTbt3-cM9NAVPP3juE5ujypUnVdh5yTnmfH5Awn5tGA5r72aln5KjYRxCRY_39h0HwbuEiRld5Ya0gWjHnhvMCVTTwjs_HND2zkCPhzvDwnNQqYqWY9Tb6o9775Mc5aTTTmPJHl811eZBFxdf-PFU9SME2sfRIzGEg5se06AzBh2J6yzRQCH_1Hkj=w640-h320" width="640" /></a></b></div><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">7. Zola</span></b><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhPcd2LP8ZMiVEAVRXS5FwECTMGZ_5szI_Fay3TjOf5fFkWIkZALZusqLmilPu2lJWSa2kXyeNYxFZpGoXRq5Dg1i9mJQqEehAGSKX714CgR_frMWJ2bFv3Agg0V1IjnHl-guMrXMjI2xnQ1mfS5YRzQZTlK00q05mZxGWClsNYSMmLonW9WMqM9b-D=s640" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="340" data-original-width="640" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhPcd2LP8ZMiVEAVRXS5FwECTMGZ_5szI_Fay3TjOf5fFkWIkZALZusqLmilPu2lJWSa2kXyeNYxFZpGoXRq5Dg1i9mJQqEehAGSKX714CgR_frMWJ2bFv3Agg0V1IjnHl-guMrXMjI2xnQ1mfS5YRzQZTlK00q05mZxGWClsNYSMmLonW9WMqM9b-D=w640-h340" width="640" /></a></b></div><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">6. The Mitchells vs. the Machines</span></b><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgMF7sOkQo1QIi5scaWDHvmWBjPIOtDP__v-VyeYb5w5fbi0D-Bc2yOSIYBQm_OBnuRddHxjTwk9aaGhhonUC4DAK5UlcSsrNhjLPUKA0NznxM3TUep6oK9i60WXBPOwuCXJU4oM8JBTtaoPjv3tbSVxCIfFdh3dydeg4BYiINf5puqWzScQkm0zY82=s498" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="322" data-original-width="498" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgMF7sOkQo1QIi5scaWDHvmWBjPIOtDP__v-VyeYb5w5fbi0D-Bc2yOSIYBQm_OBnuRddHxjTwk9aaGhhonUC4DAK5UlcSsrNhjLPUKA0NznxM3TUep6oK9i60WXBPOwuCXJU4oM8JBTtaoPjv3tbSVxCIfFdh3dydeg4BYiINf5puqWzScQkm0zY82=w640-h414" width="640" /></a></b></div><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">5. No Sudden Move</span></b><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiqNUJsqrrXSWbrUkgPVTgWaocfPk8Wt3NYkeZEJVVLVmXdDdX03ubsvV-UbHRJkE2VNw_n6_sMtTGnTJnIT9RyHmR987LnkwiaCEfWwZj2bPvx-jlpUCGCYW3eUA1ktLgRNPTMvde3gZHi6L_FLO6tac5n_DhoXWrsxqoNTlgbc5qEe9Ogo6y6BUwS=s540" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="540" height="522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiqNUJsqrrXSWbrUkgPVTgWaocfPk8Wt3NYkeZEJVVLVmXdDdX03ubsvV-UbHRJkE2VNw_n6_sMtTGnTJnIT9RyHmR987LnkwiaCEfWwZj2bPvx-jlpUCGCYW3eUA1ktLgRNPTMvde3gZHi6L_FLO6tac5n_DhoXWrsxqoNTlgbc5qEe9Ogo6y6BUwS=w640-h522" width="640" /></a></b></div><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">4. Encanto</span></b><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjJf6AptpnZs2pEMZpzk0rijg0p-p3Ku5UsU6eqLPGONv10Ds_trKtou6s9Ni765MQctV0fc0Eah7o9XSMczJEmI8VQ2mqVl1Mk-aeLObyrhPJ9nm13cGR2iXKAybMO5i2a22I8MIqPfkSTeCLwBjrfV2lEclukjgL18FuMYbPlfh7pASbhf2E6442y=s480" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="261" data-original-width="480" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjJf6AptpnZs2pEMZpzk0rijg0p-p3Ku5UsU6eqLPGONv10Ds_trKtou6s9Ni765MQctV0fc0Eah7o9XSMczJEmI8VQ2mqVl1Mk-aeLObyrhPJ9nm13cGR2iXKAybMO5i2a22I8MIqPfkSTeCLwBjrfV2lEclukjgL18FuMYbPlfh7pASbhf2E6442y=w640-h348" width="640" /></a></b></div><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">3. Raya and the Last Dragon</span></b><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi5v3G84zlGJyUhs9qAf1EuBCezmf5cTRojrOKZB4Zv6W_KDr5Vm5HWMa5__JZp--NxkszyA5OEzu23O0vU1zVtGxiKxrX_IGKPdMxFyClClF5yJVYpwVee127Is9yIwCUU3mb5QVG4uRuPnzMB00hdbIFNk5ZKfzT-RrhEO_y_G6LKG_jYTKZzINka=s498" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="280" data-original-width="498" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi5v3G84zlGJyUhs9qAf1EuBCezmf5cTRojrOKZB4Zv6W_KDr5Vm5HWMa5__JZp--NxkszyA5OEzu23O0vU1zVtGxiKxrX_IGKPdMxFyClClF5yJVYpwVee127Is9yIwCUU3mb5QVG4uRuPnzMB00hdbIFNk5ZKfzT-RrhEO_y_G6LKG_jYTKZzINka=w640-h360" width="640" /></a></b></div><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span>2. </span>The Harder They Fall</span></b><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh218Ie2CkMcoj1d9uO71FRBAx_zXoqy4YqS1U5_HJvSbYr0Yr673Y4S8HMT3Dyl5yaFDSXfqISHcohJyo9iUiK82dq4PWNYFtGOl_ZJiqt8eBYaLTZplMAhrYAnzYXz1BvXis_DX3QYB4FMuBP0pin4enbPinEw2wHxQ-r76y2yukhyVESLMkx6fJf=s498" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="196" data-original-width="498" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh218Ie2CkMcoj1d9uO71FRBAx_zXoqy4YqS1U5_HJvSbYr0Yr673Y4S8HMT3Dyl5yaFDSXfqISHcohJyo9iUiK82dq4PWNYFtGOl_ZJiqt8eBYaLTZplMAhrYAnzYXz1BvXis_DX3QYB4FMuBP0pin4enbPinEw2wHxQ-r76y2yukhyVESLMkx6fJf=w640-h252" width="640" /></a></b></div><b style="font-size: xx-large;">1. Judas and the Black Messiah</b><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>Honorable Mention: </span>Fatherhood, Injustice, King Richard, No Time to Die, Plan B, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, The Suicide Squad, Till Death, The United States vs. Billie Holliday, Vivo, Zack Snyder's Justice League</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgX_43wtPvvkdSACK60FDl0IdSYh-efFjiBD2jd2wZ4ZIPg2Tb4oXi9YBPHqk-LG4B6QGhq5JiMic74GIDRyHy505z6uaJkFMCwdhq9XIk4XgT6zMQkaa6uVoJeKG0lWqt8BJA1KAP0QgXoPq3FWRgHTYp_dgDdcFYKBP9D0Vt6u0FXorIDftdEXP1E=s1200" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgX_43wtPvvkdSACK60FDl0IdSYh-efFjiBD2jd2wZ4ZIPg2Tb4oXi9YBPHqk-LG4B6QGhq5JiMic74GIDRyHy505z6uaJkFMCwdhq9XIk4XgT6zMQkaa6uVoJeKG0lWqt8BJA1KAP0QgXoPq3FWRgHTYp_dgDdcFYKBP9D0Vt6u0FXorIDftdEXP1E=w640-h360" width="640" /></a></div><p><span> </span>Since this post includes the phrase "Blog Plans," I feel I have to give you something on that end. The truth is there are very few things in the works. My main goal is to finally finish The 100 Project. It's gone on for an embarrassingly long amount of time. </p><p><span> </span>Aside from that, I plan on still having my two main blogathons, Against the Crowd and The Girl Week Blogathon. I'd also like to complete The Dellies for the last few years. Finally, after completely missing out on it in 2021, I hope to do a proper 31 Days of Horror in October. </p><p><span> From time to time, I'll drop in with the occasional post not related to any of the above, including taking part in bloathons run by others. How often depends on a few factors. The biggest is work. It's just hard finding time to compose my thoughts on movies in written form these days. </span><br /></p><p><span> Wish me luck on these modest goals, and hopefully 2022 will be a year we can actually, and collectively enjoy.</span><br /></p><p><br /></p>Dellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05634519605152190304noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227751790693713235.post-66337042045056719492021-12-27T00:00:00.001-05:002021-12-27T00:00:00.244-05:00The 100 Project: The Top 50 Movies of the 2000s<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg6DThA40LfCUWIF0KvWCSzXbaaQyiUXk_tnjvqWI23Pt3M2Vuc8VRmzp9rB0JftAiqaZq4VTsIZleYCi25dUPoXjU-wkNZFgM5lS6m-SW29Pt0bZ_lP2lI5lqb8UbT8JDFHmcr_AGTOFl5zDEKVW3SeXd5KbcTBssOE5PvhlGSclQo7O4Y58fBZKcn=s798" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="473" data-original-width="798" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg6DThA40LfCUWIF0KvWCSzXbaaQyiUXk_tnjvqWI23Pt3M2Vuc8VRmzp9rB0JftAiqaZq4VTsIZleYCi25dUPoXjU-wkNZFgM5lS6m-SW29Pt0bZ_lP2lI5lqb8UbT8JDFHmcr_AGTOFl5zDEKVW3SeXd5KbcTBssOE5PvhlGSclQo7O4Y58fBZKcn=w640-h380" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><span><a name='more'></a></span>After having gone through every year of the 2000s and writing about every movie that made my top 10 in the year they were released, it was time to compile them into a top 50 for the decade. In case you don't remember, the goal of The 100 Project is to arrive at my top 100 movies of all-time. That will be easier to do with one list for each decade rather than trying to pull from what will be about 40 yearly lists when it's all said and done. However, I'm not going to make you read about them all over again. If you want to do that, click on the tab labeled The 100 Project near the top of the page (or the link at the bottom of this post) then click on the corresponding year. These are just a bunch of numbered pictures I'm passing off as...</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">My Top 50 Movies of the 2000s</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>According to my Letterboxd account, I've seen about 1,200 movies released from the years 2000 through 2009.</li><li>The reign of the superhero begins with 6 making the list, along with several others based on comic books and/or graphic novels.</li><li>Six animated movies make the list</li><li>Ten non-English movies show up</li></ul><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgq9qhQHTDy0jXymFeBl_Pv4H0Gn-INzLdC4ZTZRo0Yg-tFVXksAsnJkNrefoyF-T7EM52TePF5oFbmYr39fJStTRlce-k-wLciqToHUF5Nj5C8v6-HS5mmeHOAwyWGce_BK_Q6VRjSFH6nOXQK0bGshD4tLkZDiGX5PCFfddzVOBg8AV_PVBQPno9U=s400" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="169" data-original-width="400" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgq9qhQHTDy0jXymFeBl_Pv4H0Gn-INzLdC4ZTZRo0Yg-tFVXksAsnJkNrefoyF-T7EM52TePF5oFbmYr39fJStTRlce-k-wLciqToHUF5Nj5C8v6-HS5mmeHOAwyWGce_BK_Q6VRjSFH6nOXQK0bGshD4tLkZDiGX5PCFfddzVOBg8AV_PVBQPno9U=w640-h270" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">50. Zombieland (2009)</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEghhu_aHDnUCnNfBrvibtc8H3CfgaN9mg94OLBPz9danR4BlgMNskjRl7Oe-89TzLiYHH7r0e8MnPnjkMFR1WSJ55QUkjX0wHfiuoneg1Rv_wzHklTbtZXCQ63PvI56gttJLNUnuhXKRTKo4tmCF2N_UIYyo6UyxKjFXOEc5y2Mzq5UXi1TjL0W4s39=s480" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="480" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEghhu_aHDnUCnNfBrvibtc8H3CfgaN9mg94OLBPz9danR4BlgMNskjRl7Oe-89TzLiYHH7r0e8MnPnjkMFR1WSJ55QUkjX0wHfiuoneg1Rv_wzHklTbtZXCQ63PvI56gttJLNUnuhXKRTKo4tmCF2N_UIYyo6UyxKjFXOEc5y2Mzq5UXi1TjL0W4s39=w640-h360" width="640" /></span></b></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">49. Elf (2003)</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhDL9jl7Mi7XCNiB0UGz7XlDsD0MMWldVebVQG-CAhprY3iKF--Izyh6xpbxlD-yBiWWsddmZ5sVCEKAjr74E46C2W4lM-ziRX62TkX3R_chqxodqPFJoKog63T4hzROwt2FjRWDdfnfmubQnBy70deqWKpKt4yAOJei4-oFvWNXFNZRGCBvHvmqhwM=s268" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="136" data-original-width="268" height="325" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhDL9jl7Mi7XCNiB0UGz7XlDsD0MMWldVebVQG-CAhprY3iKF--Izyh6xpbxlD-yBiWWsddmZ5sVCEKAjr74E46C2W4lM-ziRX62TkX3R_chqxodqPFJoKog63T4hzROwt2FjRWDdfnfmubQnBy70deqWKpKt4yAOJei4-oFvWNXFNZRGCBvHvmqhwM=w640-h325" width="640" /></span></b></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">48. Hairspray (2007)</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgHAF56zPNIgFk2oUgH8H7muy1VDD6k5ftFR-76Ve18yt1-U4qYd0Lswp0SUeJbKtTuPzFdT6NRIBrM9vbIz7C2VBcDVQwzm_qzDRiGwRWa0J0KzCobB0QnzLU38r_wf-bGPpCtOHycvkDBVezYoBsjzPPd9iefFK1G_PHrPUtixfb_c22VK1bcY9Qc=s500" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="288" data-original-width="500" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgHAF56zPNIgFk2oUgH8H7muy1VDD6k5ftFR-76Ve18yt1-U4qYd0Lswp0SUeJbKtTuPzFdT6NRIBrM9vbIz7C2VBcDVQwzm_qzDRiGwRWa0J0KzCobB0QnzLU38r_wf-bGPpCtOHycvkDBVezYoBsjzPPd9iefFK1G_PHrPUtixfb_c22VK1bcY9Qc=w640-h368" width="640" /></span></b></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">47. Hustle & Flow (2005)</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh-_LsKWOohAzCjK7YaU-EzjOhOq_Xp69QFmUdvJkx0keSra4k9KrD4EjRzSnTkVAQ8_MqFW1gsjBV5352iipSa4hum4zk5LFD8yp5q_eHyKc2WdYaxyhBgj0p-70aKFGurw8f2pCHxCHfPUH0ZwNxmPNsrmca8j5ZcOTsguaea2r09z9XZYdqC9Rr0=s481" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="190" data-original-width="481" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh-_LsKWOohAzCjK7YaU-EzjOhOq_Xp69QFmUdvJkx0keSra4k9KrD4EjRzSnTkVAQ8_MqFW1gsjBV5352iipSa4hum4zk5LFD8yp5q_eHyKc2WdYaxyhBgj0p-70aKFGurw8f2pCHxCHfPUH0ZwNxmPNsrmca8j5ZcOTsguaea2r09z9XZYdqC9Rr0=w640-h252" width="640" /></span></b></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">46. Memento (2000)</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhZvEXBNIOjRzYeCC1unW7znzknCNJVEZHi4XH44PaOiEcAO7YgWlntzZMbulqRM1bWdOq2mlyv9pBD6r5h0-t0TlfA-4bHx9nR6Tsb0BVWTjc4sq97xP5m4WrWKAmQFYgxpQMAjnS6semZCFrNsRWes5rv8_X9Zce3ls8RtPveYYt4XwE22OPWoUA3=s612" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="251" data-original-width="612" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhZvEXBNIOjRzYeCC1unW7znzknCNJVEZHi4XH44PaOiEcAO7YgWlntzZMbulqRM1bWdOq2mlyv9pBD6r5h0-t0TlfA-4bHx9nR6Tsb0BVWTjc4sq97xP5m4WrWKAmQFYgxpQMAjnS6semZCFrNsRWes5rv8_X9Zce3ls8RtPveYYt4XwE22OPWoUA3=w640-h262" width="640" /></span></b></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">45. Ocean's Eleven (2001)</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhI_mKr6QEHJIEqtdFMl0dMDshRV8R0Qqo5xVJ0a1ye79KsTG5IYiB_zpr-JojuFiQSTTwW1EVAF0yJTsZdtgxCGJpWEfX4K5JHUraAgFozCBGubYmZpyGPFUygcR7Hh0J7hz4LqyY2UBI-aqdM-R9dGGGtC2ljXVVwK2o72sIsWd1f0ymMMoqWp_5U=s498" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="206" data-original-width="498" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhI_mKr6QEHJIEqtdFMl0dMDshRV8R0Qqo5xVJ0a1ye79KsTG5IYiB_zpr-JojuFiQSTTwW1EVAF0yJTsZdtgxCGJpWEfX4K5JHUraAgFozCBGubYmZpyGPFUygcR7Hh0J7hz4LqyY2UBI-aqdM-R9dGGGtC2ljXVVwK2o72sIsWd1f0ymMMoqWp_5U=w640-h264" width="640" /></span></b></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">44. Inglourious Basterds (2009)</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgbGnwm2_0-6sVNb-mulWDLgN08jLoFrTIqL5ajkzp7QzR3xcw9R1CBCZr-zLv540MIFMQyDBIz6LFg5duVkR_H-NDkIfTK0ZAwcm9I5ftIjiz0lR1KSr-u1SiSki_vKn5wdNCEeOAbIPN2f6YIbBKIa-SIit9Y1t6uFkT2p3qQuoDNEc4ddfbopE8_=s444" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="444" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgbGnwm2_0-6sVNb-mulWDLgN08jLoFrTIqL5ajkzp7QzR3xcw9R1CBCZr-zLv540MIFMQyDBIz6LFg5duVkR_H-NDkIfTK0ZAwcm9I5ftIjiz0lR1KSr-u1SiSki_vKn5wdNCEeOAbIPN2f6YIbBKIa-SIit9Y1t6uFkT2p3qQuoDNEc4ddfbopE8_=w640-h360" width="640" /></span></b></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">43. A Tale of Two Sisters (2003)</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgce_yg78uc3GFK1k-HTJU8b2SorLRLWJQsx86Uua_QlxE1pI4-EyClLpnhmyJIjwhl3cXCW3ZBakgmIogDJ3-fhfSQSSmDEtsIbnaEqJlaKOqM3AzwaPe5O29njVuYDhNj7s6LWv0PLDXs_0LuvkDQp5OemGftVy091HCFzesZZBPL2ywdO0fwwStJ=s620" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="263" data-original-width="620" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgce_yg78uc3GFK1k-HTJU8b2SorLRLWJQsx86Uua_QlxE1pI4-EyClLpnhmyJIjwhl3cXCW3ZBakgmIogDJ3-fhfSQSSmDEtsIbnaEqJlaKOqM3AzwaPe5O29njVuYDhNj7s6LWv0PLDXs_0LuvkDQp5OemGftVy091HCFzesZZBPL2ywdO0fwwStJ=w640-h272" width="640" /></span></b></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">42. Underworld (2003)</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgEoINxUtJpFSXlvS2zNk8tITAIqxT-w93uxSsYcQSEgyODnd45JG6qcgKxPP3LfDi623M7x8C6rWEVWbk9CPcdc-wHtD5CJtUXZ245fpijvUYx95u1qMN1vrm6_3HvZ9LAw3S9f1Fa00OVMmujCuZCZqbNaBi4H7OeveHooe4QEzQJ9NrHotVDRoqd=s385" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="385" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgEoINxUtJpFSXlvS2zNk8tITAIqxT-w93uxSsYcQSEgyODnd45JG6qcgKxPP3LfDi623M7x8C6rWEVWbk9CPcdc-wHtD5CJtUXZ245fpijvUYx95u1qMN1vrm6_3HvZ9LAw3S9f1Fa00OVMmujCuZCZqbNaBi4H7OeveHooe4QEzQJ9NrHotVDRoqd=w640-h332" width="640" /></span></b></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">41. Training Day (2001)</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgRdcaiAJL5I0p_Lr1ONc8VGS8OAin7elztDerwX6iFspnWCFGvJr1CKhCrzKvdjqCEe2bbQyZGoPya6Jrs2CNGTm08jgmIsVH1iI8GKTixQ5dR4aJpstxamw6bqqiJGEhKuw3BMP06TIqd_NBXEu1PJYAG3n2Md2dQkQXy2-Ka5bfqBQ3Eq5NAeCCI=s500" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="500" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgRdcaiAJL5I0p_Lr1ONc8VGS8OAin7elztDerwX6iFspnWCFGvJr1CKhCrzKvdjqCEe2bbQyZGoPya6Jrs2CNGTm08jgmIsVH1iI8GKTixQ5dR4aJpstxamw6bqqiJGEhKuw3BMP06TIqd_NBXEu1PJYAG3n2Md2dQkQXy2-Ka5bfqBQ3Eq5NAeCCI=w640-h330" width="640" /></span></b></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">40. Battle Royale (2000)</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhFsAxXfLcJNoksxdQBM9X71LTxxYeeR2Dl60InfJ_RCzzEogCcmqVuNfHFzEhz2t3uMVbRz3XsMnP7XbfDMB3W6n7hG_UvIRAIwkPHzzjG2xcbefenMZgaL7Hw_I1InDpUc2SgFddPfSoNj2hC7HnAcX0INBUeiRg0rWjPBF6UIwxJB8PXHCTW0Ong=s600" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="416" data-original-width="600" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhFsAxXfLcJNoksxdQBM9X71LTxxYeeR2Dl60InfJ_RCzzEogCcmqVuNfHFzEhz2t3uMVbRz3XsMnP7XbfDMB3W6n7hG_UvIRAIwkPHzzjG2xcbefenMZgaL7Hw_I1InDpUc2SgFddPfSoNj2hC7HnAcX0INBUeiRg0rWjPBF6UIwxJB8PXHCTW0Ong=w640-h444" width="640" /></span></b></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">39. Bad Santa (2003)</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEigv_ZIDgyPEyCgByf5Btjtbz3DNJuGfQqtFEeOHYbBBRuehU2pCj3a8syai__JRxC9RhpEmOYcDKmeOazsVMyVYGJEW1Wsz48LE1cey-cZNC1aKKlE1WRog-QZ_XaOc4zBE4vWjKVQ3W9tr1CPM29BNMDoFY_yZD1NJxBWSlnXSqg_j9lJWyD070ma=s398" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="290" data-original-width="398" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEigv_ZIDgyPEyCgByf5Btjtbz3DNJuGfQqtFEeOHYbBBRuehU2pCj3a8syai__JRxC9RhpEmOYcDKmeOazsVMyVYGJEW1Wsz48LE1cey-cZNC1aKKlE1WRog-QZ_XaOc4zBE4vWjKVQ3W9tr1CPM29BNMDoFY_yZD1NJxBWSlnXSqg_j9lJWyD070ma=w640-h466" width="640" /></span></b></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">38. American Psycho (2000)</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgsP-MNgTJLgvw3uoNIPr9LIWQrvmJw6NMwe0e8s7yMDecKtnMDqLDFIXVl2PlwTjR7LjeGq8DxkD0AGJvl4oPNfkcHUpmN1o3GaIe7hDp_l-u26u6372r3Z2Kgx1JURUFd03hzirWONQd_eeI2zOMseBZaEeONbtqmFmdQxJO8u-tJ5KCzpTjPu7aI=s443" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="443" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgsP-MNgTJLgvw3uoNIPr9LIWQrvmJw6NMwe0e8s7yMDecKtnMDqLDFIXVl2PlwTjR7LjeGq8DxkD0AGJvl4oPNfkcHUpmN1o3GaIe7hDp_l-u26u6372r3Z2Kgx1JURUFd03hzirWONQd_eeI2zOMseBZaEeONbtqmFmdQxJO8u-tJ5KCzpTjPu7aI=w640-h362" width="640" /></span></b></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">37. Blade II (2002)</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgVARorYJkZD1FDjJYVMy4788Er754f6MssTENwei7P4eqUYYt1ep_76qG-Z6JqEWIENYoNQAwpKGNCzQ-siQU84bvLOsESswaNc-7NE8TCJjxJ_6KAY98ZLg_-FxDMo6vTy5IMqtxrqtDPDBHcfVzqYf1jG0f2iRiBhmHoZAoYyUqLRdtLYeV6nVgd=s589" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="589" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgVARorYJkZD1FDjJYVMy4788Er754f6MssTENwei7P4eqUYYt1ep_76qG-Z6JqEWIENYoNQAwpKGNCzQ-siQU84bvLOsESswaNc-7NE8TCJjxJ_6KAY98ZLg_-FxDMo6vTy5IMqtxrqtDPDBHcfVzqYf1jG0f2iRiBhmHoZAoYyUqLRdtLYeV6nVgd=w640-h272" width="640" /></span></b></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">36. Road to Perdition (2002)</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEike0Y3lZhOFfvPr4cJy888hNhyrffd37RCi95sEksq6f9V4lrcWexWhHCV3vFHMTIo91-TfGSt4uiD8r1w9nZertTnOBZeZf-OG-IlsXTMGacbaH3EGkeOvXnjELcx6Urk-ErXt8we2yj8fx7YDXC4Pnqb3yWYwmd8-uy2_ci8_-FZgPWjP0LDY-p_=s480" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="204" data-original-width="480" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEike0Y3lZhOFfvPr4cJy888hNhyrffd37RCi95sEksq6f9V4lrcWexWhHCV3vFHMTIo91-TfGSt4uiD8r1w9nZertTnOBZeZf-OG-IlsXTMGacbaH3EGkeOvXnjELcx6Urk-ErXt8we2yj8fx7YDXC4Pnqb3yWYwmd8-uy2_ci8_-FZgPWjP0LDY-p_=w640-h272" width="640" /></span></b></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">35. O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000)</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhoyNGYwAcJQtGD5heo0Hk87ynPwT4zMMJxuNjLeuV5XZxEmeTx1CCTXJ9fSvyMtlvQi03cbKJcaI5L2nairCrUnbT9f7ldQaeYA8WNrZsqGn_CRkPntfOr7R69-ycQ1zPo4lQQgA5xu6pjQXhIS0XGJ8M-VPrGsqBiw6yuhV4_yfhU3o_jtvFGAXJQ=s500" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="282" data-original-width="500" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhoyNGYwAcJQtGD5heo0Hk87ynPwT4zMMJxuNjLeuV5XZxEmeTx1CCTXJ9fSvyMtlvQi03cbKJcaI5L2nairCrUnbT9f7ldQaeYA8WNrZsqGn_CRkPntfOr7R69-ycQ1zPo4lQQgA5xu6pjQXhIS0XGJ8M-VPrGsqBiw6yuhV4_yfhU3o_jtvFGAXJQ=w640-h360" width="640" /></span></b></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">34. Finding Nemo (2003)</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj83-q3tCHYq5Xehk6Jf3HF9buNiXbmPsOO_kbk9CPOsUl_EfgsNalVoioT5oCtO8XAmk5Y6huUiDBHUBw0QShfw--zQjqomfQIpbiWfa2FOt7dBALadta34oGoFF0RclQCMUlDw5nN6RqZfPVqKFMcVScLsUiSvCq8p_exrnP59qvtCQZizR-ATu9S=s498" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="322" data-original-width="498" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj83-q3tCHYq5Xehk6Jf3HF9buNiXbmPsOO_kbk9CPOsUl_EfgsNalVoioT5oCtO8XAmk5Y6huUiDBHUBw0QShfw--zQjqomfQIpbiWfa2FOt7dBALadta34oGoFF0RclQCMUlDw5nN6RqZfPVqKFMcVScLsUiSvCq8p_exrnP59qvtCQZizR-ATu9S=w640-h414" width="640" /></span></b></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">33. Iron Man (2008)</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEihMc0q-hd7J5BMro795GWGyB8v5DUq06wdCJY75VFt967Xqu-PHyVPQ3K-MlGZxJ9L6ANHtYRo_ukCM7DcGBwyS12MhWBh-7x2qjqZ93NFUx17PEpRXQLQWtd-wIFTx1UXISmV_nse30BdfXj1YHgXe81VnIkAFUEYF5e57Qrua7qDPAUX7IMQZa09=s500" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="500" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEihMc0q-hd7J5BMro795GWGyB8v5DUq06wdCJY75VFt967Xqu-PHyVPQ3K-MlGZxJ9L6ANHtYRo_ukCM7DcGBwyS12MhWBh-7x2qjqZ93NFUx17PEpRXQLQWtd-wIFTx1UXISmV_nse30BdfXj1YHgXe81VnIkAFUEYF5e57Qrua7qDPAUX7IMQZa09=w640-h360" width="640" /></span></b></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">32. Requiem for a Dream (2000)</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh8rIxbSPuVcHG5gdZOPCfysC7SQQr0dHtu_kvsq9Dsrgs_oYwMUDZ3uWuLimGjzoSLWjXYUv-P7Vd3bCtWBLnGBM9aWo4ZPZzWzx_SuBCt7Y3I7w7nPWTn_o5_ZvV1CfzUTM-fXAXmEUMQ3pNoEfJh988MEeghFqjInO-_dSUAb2K3XtX73Z1l6qf-=s480" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="204" data-original-width="480" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh8rIxbSPuVcHG5gdZOPCfysC7SQQr0dHtu_kvsq9Dsrgs_oYwMUDZ3uWuLimGjzoSLWjXYUv-P7Vd3bCtWBLnGBM9aWo4ZPZzWzx_SuBCt7Y3I7w7nPWTn_o5_ZvV1CfzUTM-fXAXmEUMQ3pNoEfJh988MEeghFqjInO-_dSUAb2K3XtX73Z1l6qf-=w640-h272" width="640" /></span></b></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">31. The Incredibles (2004)</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgDzSeQR4q8CH2e1FQUGUVWgMNYihSF_IxXPZUnReoFoqAgEcAUITZZHlOb67DYoND5Vna76q559wIglf-BJrRujPWGvA40Wm4yE43GnlP2S8CytB7cVq_ivAsE7HEfP2pkI262BBMsx8HgIFx627L9b4IzE9v-eP8Or7QItleWdw3HQD3ZSs9LBxbo=s400" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="220" data-original-width="400" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgDzSeQR4q8CH2e1FQUGUVWgMNYihSF_IxXPZUnReoFoqAgEcAUITZZHlOb67DYoND5Vna76q559wIglf-BJrRujPWGvA40Wm4yE43GnlP2S8CytB7cVq_ivAsE7HEfP2pkI262BBMsx8HgIFx627L9b4IzE9v-eP8Or7QItleWdw3HQD3ZSs9LBxbo=w640-h352" width="640" /></span></b></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">30. Y Tu Mama Tambien (2001)</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjiWijS_8mlcI6Ur6FxQPjhtvWWwSnTGVSoYnxEgslC49KS_nIy37gW4puqf9GHD7sJXhBFydvDy8oTrqYItdF9HKniBj1_gDZIypi3X6Gf6F4Cz8S_5hKqjYbyG4emioBIDN7VOIBdocoZdLKBCBPaSvswWsxUpk_hS1RmJ4NKuRen79Ym6J0hhWBx=s400" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="215" data-original-width="400" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjiWijS_8mlcI6Ur6FxQPjhtvWWwSnTGVSoYnxEgslC49KS_nIy37gW4puqf9GHD7sJXhBFydvDy8oTrqYItdF9HKniBj1_gDZIypi3X6Gf6F4Cz8S_5hKqjYbyG4emioBIDN7VOIBdocoZdLKBCBPaSvswWsxUpk_hS1RmJ4NKuRen79Ym6J0hhWBx=w640-h344" width="640" /></span></b></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">29. Pan's Labyrinth (2006)</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhTb1TT04kcKvn4MYWpGD4UgHYGOefwoASMSwQuPyvG2lPHK8AVvMXdgArqN_aDjpjcO9GXgGcuRy87kkokFkEI4d6udKWMSMmNniyJV45R15Eq7R3Sce6INgET4ZY5iAsa4kQUL1XMxisQRagUBomF5oSOgsRV8iBhBdivRnmYwwB5VCF6alCwKZyN=s498" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="266" data-original-width="498" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhTb1TT04kcKvn4MYWpGD4UgHYGOefwoASMSwQuPyvG2lPHK8AVvMXdgArqN_aDjpjcO9GXgGcuRy87kkokFkEI4d6udKWMSMmNniyJV45R15Eq7R3Sce6INgET4ZY5iAsa4kQUL1XMxisQRagUBomF5oSOgsRV8iBhBdivRnmYwwB5VCF6alCwKZyN=w640-h342" width="640" /></span></b></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">28. American Gangster (2007)</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgDlttF0gb_qIQP795JQj4kWLp6bbGX50JpdWSvInC7gtHWTSupeVjcpiFFx1Su3nSQRumeUtbJyqBDDIoaOoGvZpTcwPwwOqXpXQjmSO69RmgPI8kTxc2NZTPOOBa7357ptwLhO-I1y_gWA0s61z9k0LcW80HKM0-DuBpjCvRZc9V2wHubeR2vH9KV=s500" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="271" data-original-width="500" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgDlttF0gb_qIQP795JQj4kWLp6bbGX50JpdWSvInC7gtHWTSupeVjcpiFFx1Su3nSQRumeUtbJyqBDDIoaOoGvZpTcwPwwOqXpXQjmSO69RmgPI8kTxc2NZTPOOBa7357ptwLhO-I1y_gWA0s61z9k0LcW80HKM0-DuBpjCvRZc9V2wHubeR2vH9KV=w640-h346" width="640" /></span></b></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">27. Spirited Away (2001)</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjmwJpXxPEaRcN3uLoiiEOW9SZK8yB173_Leyotz4npnh9HX3M4AvXI9VbFz3dYljisSJxW3RHMX8vSj31QiCqzCmUzEFmLAH7THGWR6TXwcHenUStX-BHktP_ukcrZ-OsDdTMBBOhunHuyiWtgKp1Ut7K98mkFUA2BFYMQSkKO-FBPZ_z6_UqEkgTT=s500" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="500" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjmwJpXxPEaRcN3uLoiiEOW9SZK8yB173_Leyotz4npnh9HX3M4AvXI9VbFz3dYljisSJxW3RHMX8vSj31QiCqzCmUzEFmLAH7THGWR6TXwcHenUStX-BHktP_ukcrZ-OsDdTMBBOhunHuyiWtgKp1Ut7K98mkFUA2BFYMQSkKO-FBPZ_z6_UqEkgTT=w640-h256" width="640" /></span></b></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">26. Akeelah and the Bee (2006)</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhG9ovwe7vnQm1BAk0xWKCy2_Sm7L8avgB5V-zWPilwdNkfpzuu93V-lbDU1LM4ShJOUCYNTdi_h47TJWtujHhNWbeL2qUa-MXq5nairfOUuOdfSL8foJNN6RJnkamYHOUQuMkeWD7UTBgxYvbvlw2lW9Wpu5ltF86QXAbjgF_6mrQ1Y16mXKVeLgfV=s500" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="210" data-original-width="500" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhG9ovwe7vnQm1BAk0xWKCy2_Sm7L8avgB5V-zWPilwdNkfpzuu93V-lbDU1LM4ShJOUCYNTdi_h47TJWtujHhNWbeL2qUa-MXq5nairfOUuOdfSL8foJNN6RJnkamYHOUQuMkeWD7UTBgxYvbvlw2lW9Wpu5ltF86QXAbjgF_6mrQ1Y16mXKVeLgfV=w640-h268" width="640" /></span></b></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">25. Gone Baby Gone (2007)</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhSG6xkzsl5sLOV4NNQLfqIOBFFCGfOyj-0NLRRPVFKb6lSxmDE6xDIAdrKBYgCb4Lar9gwHCbQ_HykwI62K9YydYSTXQ7QzeC_DWpES8eLBup_7N-gPNh3RekBq4OFa2dZ7aKsBZhMsdSg2AOI_WX9ZwbTwnGTftXUWN7pC6c-m8qtsVlkithuThln=s498" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="202" data-original-width="498" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhSG6xkzsl5sLOV4NNQLfqIOBFFCGfOyj-0NLRRPVFKb6lSxmDE6xDIAdrKBYgCb4Lar9gwHCbQ_HykwI62K9YydYSTXQ7QzeC_DWpES8eLBup_7N-gPNh3RekBq4OFa2dZ7aKsBZhMsdSg2AOI_WX9ZwbTwnGTftXUWN7pC6c-m8qtsVlkithuThln=w640-h260" width="640" /></span></b></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">24. The Departed (2006)</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi2Z5syJJAJUQGHQsUvRDIXB4YGPSj8Zal_IcvMe4QxE4rgdCKl4eqQc-E9QXruxAQQ9_Agtn1sGiZKyTjmnnMCOcNHOQfKYDY2Gjqg_G5_24E-_41wtpwcC1WVzHvTX-IBNNsi2DXs9IxRTwVGDOhxfRRUzzEgYSC5yvYT3JAZTuQI2q444eJUZTyT=s475" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="475" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi2Z5syJJAJUQGHQsUvRDIXB4YGPSj8Zal_IcvMe4QxE4rgdCKl4eqQc-E9QXruxAQQ9_Agtn1sGiZKyTjmnnMCOcNHOQfKYDY2Gjqg_G5_24E-_41wtpwcC1WVzHvTX-IBNNsi2DXs9IxRTwVGDOhxfRRUzzEgYSC5yvYT3JAZTuQI2q444eJUZTyT=w640-h270" width="640" /></span></b></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">23. The Hangover (2009)</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEickxaRv5DLZa0OnDRmc8JE3lhiTkQmwxrM6SZEvJ2xWnClNB8vQ7dGP6bGlhwddrprNzoKiMaxUmx2pl7BN6ekmGoCYBm7iE6mOXfLmAc2wTE0q54wz5e9WpLA__7Su-9Rx6o9nDXpK2lMMn8H4lun47M2_Je2PhP6CWXhD043SxN1HaAABiM4UFEM=s412" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="412" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEickxaRv5DLZa0OnDRmc8JE3lhiTkQmwxrM6SZEvJ2xWnClNB8vQ7dGP6bGlhwddrprNzoKiMaxUmx2pl7BN6ekmGoCYBm7iE6mOXfLmAc2wTE0q54wz5e9WpLA__7Su-9Rx6o9nDXpK2lMMn8H4lun47M2_Je2PhP6CWXhD043SxN1HaAABiM4UFEM=w640-h310" width="640" /></span></b></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">22. Little Miss Sunshine (2006)</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEitAhFYwtAnpNqfkXJkvGmTqQJgQjxjxIzlknupbPRDYHH4yIgNd9-fiwa5d2DWoiMHFTFBueOTfRf25xQ_QmoaKANLNbU8eBL-TSjqVlt3ybH2gw9lO5z-tCTyxBA3mD9HmNZEllqQ8_8Ytv7qmH5nc3Xs0Rk_xgYrKhMPjicSo-u6tWdHKis2zjqU=s498" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="211" data-original-width="498" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEitAhFYwtAnpNqfkXJkvGmTqQJgQjxjxIzlknupbPRDYHH4yIgNd9-fiwa5d2DWoiMHFTFBueOTfRf25xQ_QmoaKANLNbU8eBL-TSjqVlt3ybH2gw9lO5z-tCTyxBA3mD9HmNZEllqQ8_8Ytv7qmH5nc3Xs0Rk_xgYrKhMPjicSo-u6tWdHKis2zjqU=w640-h272" width="640" /></span></b></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">21. Kung Fu Hustle (2004)</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh9lx5t9R_-6WM4ij9GxFLOqTooIscmgt3vMLHfrovu3cZ4CnjRknKTXu-Sktaoql_kfHFcmLVZ8uib407LUubjkJtFDLl802OFqT0kHPLpkaAFXfBZ3aRgISDNs1gn14twwlZiHx6KKfJMsquxbyN3l3NQFxZDl8fiy1g0nLNr_2ptZTb7V-RzcXtA=s435" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="435" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh9lx5t9R_-6WM4ij9GxFLOqTooIscmgt3vMLHfrovu3cZ4CnjRknKTXu-Sktaoql_kfHFcmLVZ8uib407LUubjkJtFDLl802OFqT0kHPLpkaAFXfBZ3aRgISDNs1gn14twwlZiHx6KKfJMsquxbyN3l3NQFxZDl8fiy1g0nLNr_2ptZTb7V-RzcXtA=w640-h368" width="640" /></span></b></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">20. Shrek (2001)</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgW1OcCv-9ttPK3EM64dwpcSgRhbTmVOJ8mVy2iA0_K-iUGlAg1ldnIomIbBRBhyXp4yO9s0fopAeRvzpnN1rDl9BLw_rCv3jtsYaobngi308Vq2X5EHf_PUHBLUcH1o3C8yMOCuIdvFYrNvD1hfvEb1Putu_Vf270oAtVM5hgYNA7ptCSULJWcConF=s500" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="267" data-original-width="500" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgW1OcCv-9ttPK3EM64dwpcSgRhbTmVOJ8mVy2iA0_K-iUGlAg1ldnIomIbBRBhyXp4yO9s0fopAeRvzpnN1rDl9BLw_rCv3jtsYaobngi308Vq2X5EHf_PUHBLUcH1o3C8yMOCuIdvFYrNvD1hfvEb1Putu_Vf270oAtVM5hgYNA7ptCSULJWcConF=w640-h342" width="640" /></span></b></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">19. Persepolis (2007)</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgTEo_KxMFjvxcjlfQ33CqFkwmRn4NrSQgUAlTucApAkq49_5ttd0IRtLbKZVA1mgD2vWbHRLfNANiXlqMeZdByshH3QHe8zfJigNvLnHOaw6xLe1IEflF8hXLee7aa_4XGvZG1ZFdKJA3Y7MSyCWOtRT0_f7XqZ-DWMWZto2IbdfqhMqhG2llAQxrH=s500" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="205" data-original-width="500" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgTEo_KxMFjvxcjlfQ33CqFkwmRn4NrSQgUAlTucApAkq49_5ttd0IRtLbKZVA1mgD2vWbHRLfNANiXlqMeZdByshH3QHe8zfJigNvLnHOaw6xLe1IEflF8hXLee7aa_4XGvZG1ZFdKJA3Y7MSyCWOtRT0_f7XqZ-DWMWZto2IbdfqhMqhG2llAQxrH=w640-h262" width="640" /></span></b></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">18. Batman Begins (2005)</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjDEazwDACOmTlxU18HN-q1Jg5tDxW-bee56ga9HKzsv6mxx_MWe7Qa9sZMQMlhqmWa1RbjO-foP3B3T-gIwBl7xN-NCwqrc3wPbGRTi7HYDf36p3nHQcsDt2P7cyUOx_gTlluY35CDKG7PrpvEd-1PRmVFluIm7zkRoT4kYHOrGQ5bQl3IyYldJpII=s500" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="500" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjDEazwDACOmTlxU18HN-q1Jg5tDxW-bee56ga9HKzsv6mxx_MWe7Qa9sZMQMlhqmWa1RbjO-foP3B3T-gIwBl7xN-NCwqrc3wPbGRTi7HYDf36p3nHQcsDt2P7cyUOx_gTlluY35CDKG7PrpvEd-1PRmVFluIm7zkRoT4kYHOrGQ5bQl3IyYldJpII=w640-h256" width="640" /></span></b></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">17. Let the Right One In (2008)</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhZzy5J05PkUkNuup0FDmEDcawHfh9Lzmxx-J-kGjY8nyo18Qe0Sh16utNfPK9DuSdoShGYoY2jSAmjngfvD2ql8bZV3Pv6h-yRE_9qprWb31_jkfR96jK8e8LNTU1KjElSwhP3Pu5RtXhMAy92bVBZbcYTK3azaRMSBiayDOIBZmdavgi1Zmf5urya=s480" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhZzy5J05PkUkNuup0FDmEDcawHfh9Lzmxx-J-kGjY8nyo18Qe0Sh16utNfPK9DuSdoShGYoY2jSAmjngfvD2ql8bZV3Pv6h-yRE_9qprWb31_jkfR96jK8e8LNTU1KjElSwhP3Pu5RtXhMAy92bVBZbcYTK3azaRMSBiayDOIBZmdavgi1Zmf5urya=w640-h640" width="640" /></span></b></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">16. Shaun of the Dead (2004)</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEifUbM_7hxNOXivHggOpenXkXPYAQ97-4gn8eYbhKWC0dNoNk4dEt8LsKH88P9mik_oCfOLarEvA1pbBCoIYHuzDxwDcHyN0vhosKNLhaqEchlMJ5BylKm5R51g7zoN87ErqlQusMc7lYNK5ZP3eVfYsfBRBX6039xfo00X1YTpfgylHsfEOnzSgBPz=s370" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="370" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEifUbM_7hxNOXivHggOpenXkXPYAQ97-4gn8eYbhKWC0dNoNk4dEt8LsKH88P9mik_oCfOLarEvA1pbBCoIYHuzDxwDcHyN0vhosKNLhaqEchlMJ5BylKm5R51g7zoN87ErqlQusMc7lYNK5ZP3eVfYsfBRBX6039xfo00X1YTpfgylHsfEOnzSgBPz=w640-h432" width="640" /></span></b></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">15. Spider-Man 2 (2004)</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi7I7H4NKFARGolP8ACv_sabXpre-OcsD0f7M26_MVTibJyUG-NU8UkoXFGbyQbVXlsN1sS6lfS0sujoCr_Dk_nDT6zokjMw1LijRdLo-LS29H9rT42OkjOgmLUci_K-GzArhvfN22jx68VtZ-HjmQxc_llDNM3aowWuuBspwj1NC_HzpcR4cFqn_VJ=s500" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="271" data-original-width="500" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi7I7H4NKFARGolP8ACv_sabXpre-OcsD0f7M26_MVTibJyUG-NU8UkoXFGbyQbVXlsN1sS6lfS0sujoCr_Dk_nDT6zokjMw1LijRdLo-LS29H9rT42OkjOgmLUci_K-GzArhvfN22jx68VtZ-HjmQxc_llDNM3aowWuuBspwj1NC_HzpcR4cFqn_VJ=w640-h346" width="640" /></span></b></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">14. Sin City (2005)</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiynWc7oG5AmvwqcPUKm4jnjvszW5VEe77jKxAbK1K2O3QE75hkfA1fIWxQcaHlVm-6vNOf8dtq9yWeWsIRUalg0UcQ390jNPXTBqO26IAo2GsK7OIcvYVKK__E4wEjpT8DR7irQvsrv2hEuNuQ4VGFsUYd2w7w3RoviHfuB5s_QzBXsZLfI-u-54WF=s540" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="540" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiynWc7oG5AmvwqcPUKm4jnjvszW5VEe77jKxAbK1K2O3QE75hkfA1fIWxQcaHlVm-6vNOf8dtq9yWeWsIRUalg0UcQ390jNPXTBqO26IAo2GsK7OIcvYVKK__E4wEjpT8DR7irQvsrv2hEuNuQ4VGFsUYd2w7w3RoviHfuB5s_QzBXsZLfI-u-54WF=w640-h350" width="640" /></span></b></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">13. City of God (2002)</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjpd4ro2QEi4tom3dn-YRIqX0sWxNi1GK6WKdlb4qE-K6BjZOTtvxRxIDI2bOTpgnBn7ddoh4sqMPYfrOZ87E_10MIY0TnOGEjjCVzB9Y7R3xee6i0Hc9Pby_jDMK0W4adfLE7k8E6-yUXRFv5Z6WXPIHna23vkH6J9ul7uHvFCmedja7pw764faS58=s600" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="330" data-original-width="600" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjpd4ro2QEi4tom3dn-YRIqX0sWxNi1GK6WKdlb4qE-K6BjZOTtvxRxIDI2bOTpgnBn7ddoh4sqMPYfrOZ87E_10MIY0TnOGEjjCVzB9Y7R3xee6i0Hc9Pby_jDMK0W4adfLE7k8E6-yUXRFv5Z6WXPIHna23vkH6J9ul7uHvFCmedja7pw764faS58=w640-h352" width="640" /></span></b></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">12. Bamboozled (2000)</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgFM-4hM6VUIQPVig8098Xqt0AbEeTw9eFzNdhdV_RAunVtfCtzgdxvNPo-2NWKblAGu8qpQN4R23jPWRpA6FFPisDStE0V7_rRWX38TijGEWm-W8eP1DjXtFI9Ojmg6CcMqXUEijyDdLEWg5u9NR4soVfNP924Q_aZfKbtqf8TULUbe-v0LGMxeDXt=s500" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="500" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgFM-4hM6VUIQPVig8098Xqt0AbEeTw9eFzNdhdV_RAunVtfCtzgdxvNPo-2NWKblAGu8qpQN4R23jPWRpA6FFPisDStE0V7_rRWX38TijGEWm-W8eP1DjXtFI9Ojmg6CcMqXUEijyDdLEWg5u9NR4soVfNP924Q_aZfKbtqf8TULUbe-v0LGMxeDXt=w640-h280" width="640" /></span></b></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">11. Thirst (2009)</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh3TNBxqWamcEDcmRppzNAeQozGirsJsGSwr1U4pQWyktjV_-pMh56UeSqK8oInnaYKrN89VPDy2voezSA6Erl35-jgkxyRhMf2gD2hc4bhr9BcePNRckkMuV41vA1q8vgQL2WLbpGb1-YLSQSyKQ5fRb_pUbFxMq_XDtce_yuZxicdBDQfSzykL6EM=s500" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="210" data-original-width="500" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh3TNBxqWamcEDcmRppzNAeQozGirsJsGSwr1U4pQWyktjV_-pMh56UeSqK8oInnaYKrN89VPDy2voezSA6Erl35-jgkxyRhMf2gD2hc4bhr9BcePNRckkMuV41vA1q8vgQL2WLbpGb1-YLSQSyKQ5fRb_pUbFxMq_XDtce_yuZxicdBDQfSzykL6EM=w640-h268" width="640" /></span></b></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">10. No Country for Old Men (2007)</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhypIaJkRkT3uGdzyUxnKhaGecl3JtnOxRuogv5DK_UhI1sBFSEV1J6_ip-Wo55f8_wVq69O6mcY6PGHaNgNP6LM8LzzFZH5eIntGys9Y-9Glwj71uFyTWivtDE-y7NcxwAPTpnPqCfYSS-Xv4JTWwIDB3CO8hYxn6dVx9hntWQv4G6dDIwXG0wd1qC=s500" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="185" data-original-width="500" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhypIaJkRkT3uGdzyUxnKhaGecl3JtnOxRuogv5DK_UhI1sBFSEV1J6_ip-Wo55f8_wVq69O6mcY6PGHaNgNP6LM8LzzFZH5eIntGys9Y-9Glwj71uFyTWivtDE-y7NcxwAPTpnPqCfYSS-Xv4JTWwIDB3CO8hYxn6dVx9hntWQv4G6dDIwXG0wd1qC=w640-h236" width="640" /></span></b></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">9. Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004)</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjuPYuYbnN7VdRppbrgnRnST0cmYyEJSpfVxEEzrXxkHc5Y3oFORxWkCBBALGMre36CKP09H4apG2542rFjA5QQPNdZT8A76X9uK8_uhXb8xc0M_Ny7lyUgXkL_OxAJ7-ca3ejoN_VnMdrQkVrUJ35m68Y-Z57FvWbzcVO8hMWieEAwnVmB3xLeEj1_=s500" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="357" data-original-width="500" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjuPYuYbnN7VdRppbrgnRnST0cmYyEJSpfVxEEzrXxkHc5Y3oFORxWkCBBALGMre36CKP09H4apG2542rFjA5QQPNdZT8A76X9uK8_uhXb8xc0M_Ny7lyUgXkL_OxAJ7-ca3ejoN_VnMdrQkVrUJ35m68Y-Z57FvWbzcVO8hMWieEAwnVmB3xLeEj1_=w640-h456" width="640" /></span></b></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">8. Mary and Max (2009)</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh_c6MLggfhn5WbFl2bMs-836xeA03-BBp-0kY5g8ZjFx4zlsvLkPIpNQ1HYEMdGLY1P51CvUXfk-batJFZwaI-QcRb2eIiAViUFjKTZ_AQ78oRKBu9AAO3WBzkwivGRLcCnRJQbOvllIGefZLUTg31VIovJCcuEPDy_diVi8QJKbX4l84hwBSmuVtD=s480" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="260" data-original-width="480" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh_c6MLggfhn5WbFl2bMs-836xeA03-BBp-0kY5g8ZjFx4zlsvLkPIpNQ1HYEMdGLY1P51CvUXfk-batJFZwaI-QcRb2eIiAViUFjKTZ_AQ78oRKBu9AAO3WBzkwivGRLcCnRJQbOvllIGefZLUTg31VIovJCcuEPDy_diVi8QJKbX4l84hwBSmuVtD=w640-h346" width="640" /></span></b></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">7. Napoleon Dynamite (2004)</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiMS5FHYqzfCh5LdLtgZ0iTmpaujblqOT14QBi29rCPvtzWmEGZ1IY3sOiDPhocgsFZZWe9MqT7aRrfSsgJlxAjvRElENmRZtmU3o1a8TLZ8kxPN2ERDvYwi2De7n_-TDaqPE-t2e0Dm08_QRWfgaYRbQBswdiYsKRQPBbXfJpg6spjdSmBFKam6MDF=s240" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="128" data-original-width="240" height="341" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiMS5FHYqzfCh5LdLtgZ0iTmpaujblqOT14QBi29rCPvtzWmEGZ1IY3sOiDPhocgsFZZWe9MqT7aRrfSsgJlxAjvRElENmRZtmU3o1a8TLZ8kxPN2ERDvYwi2De7n_-TDaqPE-t2e0Dm08_QRWfgaYRbQBswdiYsKRQPBbXfJpg6spjdSmBFKam6MDF=w640-h341" width="640" /></span></b></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">6. Children of Men (2006)</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiEM3S7Nv-Q9NunNrzcDYWO0J0Gu79S14Uo3O69CI5TiibhBBZzasZvV7mqt-CDyfRg22didVVo32RjZep2uqOnkPsH05m8yHunP6h1kutb5gX27k5AZikUJZ1cSdLBW9lE96IEqCkQkzPG5lZL9awBestCQnEXmspa-YONTzcNCGXNq4MpDO2QOACt=s500" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiEM3S7Nv-Q9NunNrzcDYWO0J0Gu79S14Uo3O69CI5TiibhBBZzasZvV7mqt-CDyfRg22didVVo32RjZep2uqOnkPsH05m8yHunP6h1kutb5gX27k5AZikUJZ1cSdLBW9lE96IEqCkQkzPG5lZL9awBestCQnEXmspa-YONTzcNCGXNq4MpDO2QOACt=w640-h480" width="640" /></span></b></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">5. Black Dynamite (2009)</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg00KHACETwbo82jibX5LKZOAxQabDDZqr0U4Vd2BhN_qA6JC62W0Ka5vdU0MjogsAA33FCR-oCtC6wQJDzpmII0cgwNhtytBEmE1Yn-M27XQ1u9y6Ckkz7T6DTAGQugeO8vrBTtGCcdG35XSQZD4LijLo6AS5X6KDzgLYHkJ9OkE2LniP1NxPbqDs-=s900" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="372" data-original-width="900" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg00KHACETwbo82jibX5LKZOAxQabDDZqr0U4Vd2BhN_qA6JC62W0Ka5vdU0MjogsAA33FCR-oCtC6wQJDzpmII0cgwNhtytBEmE1Yn-M27XQ1u9y6Ckkz7T6DTAGQugeO8vrBTtGCcdG35XSQZD4LijLo6AS5X6KDzgLYHkJ9OkE2LniP1NxPbqDs-=w640-h264" width="640" /></span></b></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">4. Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003)</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh3W2eiQgsA_6g7pfvVoBhyw0lzzIFa7FOXM97w02NaqIh3aemvE6UnCHUwXL0CtoCoyKdoXyJQqQSD67x-F5SskdT9KF82o26vSgpdIQG1X_d_t2N1prekGoIkKpJ2jI8R7J83dvYmBeNSvhyoirWcU7DMmX9XSq-teePpKnIJOZBp7iFCLjllE1EA=s500" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="235" data-original-width="500" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh3W2eiQgsA_6g7pfvVoBhyw0lzzIFa7FOXM97w02NaqIh3aemvE6UnCHUwXL0CtoCoyKdoXyJQqQSD67x-F5SskdT9KF82o26vSgpdIQG1X_d_t2N1prekGoIkKpJ2jI8R7J83dvYmBeNSvhyoirWcU7DMmX9XSq-teePpKnIJOZBp7iFCLjllE1EA=w640-h300" width="640" /></span></b></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">3. Love & Basketball (2000)</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj9z3yNR_qGN22hi5z0_Y1zcrPEIS88BwP1pv7pTNFzoCCnikXCn0wghst7fssvJsOnUEHllreiIVxSZrcnQ7r7aXoNBnutHczx0Fk7YeMAEBX6gWW4wfXg7JSw5E1pECP-u3luBBV9ZnfSJ1Hao07BJsUnLjmFAqRnAqanUu4X9O7X01yuqVnBXnBa=s444" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="444" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj9z3yNR_qGN22hi5z0_Y1zcrPEIS88BwP1pv7pTNFzoCCnikXCn0wghst7fssvJsOnUEHllreiIVxSZrcnQ7r7aXoNBnutHczx0Fk7YeMAEBX6gWW4wfXg7JSw5E1pECP-u3luBBV9ZnfSJ1Hao07BJsUnLjmFAqRnAqanUu4X9O7X01yuqVnBXnBa=w640-h360" width="640" /></span></b></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">2. Oldboy (2003)</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg4TFlPIL6LpJ52jEPTpLK6s9fzQcHMQuJKBM1C2YsJtJxwkiub6J9LrryN0gM-uYgC7jkoaJcXjeA-_FEo2M_9xfgTymXrhsXbcwLmXYkZLXI39dHvTz4VVCtpMahzOMNc6uyD3qntvkYpVBdEs7DoiDPBDFwwaLEljYEoUmTfzMTZpyGNRLAVDEG5=s480" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="480" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg4TFlPIL6LpJ52jEPTpLK6s9fzQcHMQuJKBM1C2YsJtJxwkiub6J9LrryN0gM-uYgC7jkoaJcXjeA-_FEo2M_9xfgTymXrhsXbcwLmXYkZLXI39dHvTz4VVCtpMahzOMNc6uyD3qntvkYpVBdEs7DoiDPBDFwwaLEljYEoUmTfzMTZpyGNRLAVDEG5=w640-h360" width="640" /></span></b></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">1. The Dark Knight (2008)</span></b></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14.85px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14.85px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14.85px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><a href="http://dellonmovies.blogspot.com/p/the-100-project.html">Click here for the rest of The 100 Project.</a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><br /></span></div>Dellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05634519605152190304noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227751790693713235.post-24173746935358460872021-12-23T00:00:00.003-05:002021-12-23T00:36:17.541-05:00Spider-Man: No Way Home<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiMehhMUrYMKgx7fHZ1MdmqCsrMnl9-dw7DWRkLX3VR6fXDrpqWxh8sLS2BjT5MmJnbQbfaNp1kVmD8ZyMBXLzHs-cmFr5l1l8W1CFGQP3xnKB1adzcz8bXdrqp4JDrpAOJtOCcz2FZWyMz8s25nyAxf6yEAy5kW9-1FxWLWioYrIwQD1SnNo8Mp8UM=s1600" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiMehhMUrYMKgx7fHZ1MdmqCsrMnl9-dw7DWRkLX3VR6fXDrpqWxh8sLS2BjT5MmJnbQbfaNp1kVmD8ZyMBXLzHs-cmFr5l1l8W1CFGQP3xnKB1adzcz8bXdrqp4JDrpAOJtOCcz2FZWyMz8s25nyAxf6yEAy5kW9-1FxWLWioYrIwQD1SnNo8Mp8UM=w640-h426" width="950" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span><a name='more'></a></span>Directed by Jon Watts.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>2021. Rated PG-13, 148 minutes.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Cast: Tom Holland, Zendaya, Jacob Batalon, Marisa Tomei, Jon Favreau, Benedict Cumberbatch, J.K. Simmons, Benedict Wong, Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield, Alfred Molina, Willem Dafoe, Jamie Foxx, Rhys Ifans, Thomas Haden Church.</i></div><p></p><p><span> </span>Peter Parker (Holland) finds himself in quite the pickle thanks to the events of <i>Spider-Man: Far From Home</i>. Being the smart guy that he is, he thinks of a solution and acts on it. In typical fashion, things don't work out quite the way he wants and makes things at least a thousand times worse. Stuff ensues. Lots of stuff.</p><p> Superhero movies have been more than occasionally guilty of clutter. Spider-Man himself fell victim to this particular faux pas in 2007's <i>Spider-Man 3</i>. There are just too many plotlines and too many characters in that movie fighting for screen time. Throw in some really curious storytelling choices, like Emo-Pete with the ill dance moves, and what could've been an epic finale to a wonderful trilogy turned out to be a messy concoction filled with things that don't mix well. If you've seen the trailer for <i>No Way Home</i>, you know that this one is intentionally biting off a lot. Luckily, it handles this pretty well. It's not perfectly done, but it is done well enough that it doesn't cause confusion and frustration. Of course, having seen a Marvel movie or two, and a Disney Plus Marvel series or two, especially <i>Loki</i>, helps. However, not seeing any of those things may not hinder your enjoyment because, if nothing else, it's a load of fun.<br /></p><p><span> The movie's setup offers up some interesting ideas without feeling pretentious or heavy. It also moves along briskly, even between action scenes. Peter's moral dilemma, exacerbated by his relationships with MJ (Zendaya) and Ned (Batalon), drives the train. It pulls us in and gives us a foundation for what the film tries to do as it reaches a close. Enough time is spent on this that bringing virginal eyes to their interactions is not a detriment. More time is given to the romantic side of things with Peter and MJ, naturally, but you definitely feel the kinship between Peter and Ned, as well. Sadly, the character the movie wants us to feel the most emotion for is one they don't spend quite enough time on. If we don't bring in the adequate amount of emotional baggage from the prior two Spider-Man flicks our empathy may not be up to what the movie wants or not quite properly placed. </span><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi5BQKoM8_R2ccZr7giIbEE-93YkCABqJGY1S1EiiSo_yTcov6OaV9pqD7v1sWT8JW4xFQnfQM3DB7Qc7XXtOdfhtD_fv9Hi4O9Ox7USOs0w78BROSpuM97YZz9OG3WgOFfjqV2HUPsxxeoG1AlJ7M4KgyNnWP7-4WDAe0J0ltpwkKLFDTzvneuCbnV=s500" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="500" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi5BQKoM8_R2ccZr7giIbEE-93YkCABqJGY1S1EiiSo_yTcov6OaV9pqD7v1sWT8JW4xFQnfQM3DB7Qc7XXtOdfhtD_fv9Hi4O9Ox7USOs0w78BROSpuM97YZz9OG3WgOFfjqV2HUPsxxeoG1AlJ7M4KgyNnWP7-4WDAe0J0ltpwkKLFDTzvneuCbnV=w640-h360" width="800" /></a></div><p></p><p> Where some viewers might be a bit lost, or at least, not as enthralled, will be in the nostalgia department. The movie assumes that the viewer has seen, grown up with, and has a soft spot for every live-action Spidey flick that has ever managed to swing its way into theaters. When various characters pop up, you're supposed to have already bonded with them before seeing this film. It takes its cues from the animated <i><a href="http://dellonmovies.blogspot.com/2019/07/into-spider-verse.html">Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse</a></i> and tries to aid new viewers with a good bit of exposition. Many conversations try to simultaneously recount why these characters are beloved, or hated, and try to push the plot forward. It works well enough, though any sympathetic qualities certain characters may have had is left behind in those other movies.<br /></p><p><span> Luckily, Tom Holland remains the glue that holds it all together. He continues to give us the best live-action version of the character. Through all of Peter's trials and tribulations, Holland is always able to maintain a sense of innocence and awe for the situations in which he finds himself. He really appears to be growing up before our eyes. <a href="https://dellonmovies.blogspot.com/search/label/Tobey%20Maguire">Tobey Maguire</a> pulled the same trick in Sam Raimi's original trilogy. Where Holland has him beat is that he's a better Spider-Man. He's just more believable in the suit. In Marc Webb's two Amazing Spider-Man films, <a href="https://dellonmovies.blogspot.com/search/label/Andrew%20Garfield">Andrew Garfield</a> was a better in costume, but never really feels like Peter Parker out of it. Holland's portrayal is the best combination. </span></p><p><span> </span>However, there are problems for all cinematic web slingers that hasn't quite been solved despite many technological advances in visual fx. One of the complaints about the original Spider-Man is that even though our hero swinging around the city looks good, he feels like the weightless set of pixels he often is. Nearly two decades later, it's gotten a bit better, but his actions still lack the impact of a human being. For most of the film, this isn't that big a deal. It becomes a bit more troublesome during the cgi orgy that makes up the film's climax. Granted, this was expected, and executed fairly well. It's just curious to note that this issue is still prevalent. As for the rest of the fx, they work really well. It borrows heavily from <i>Doctor Strange</i>, Marvel's most visually appealing movie, and does it well.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhWRUTYJ1s6iSqECxynvJtA5n57abWxeaJSqh3IuvtY0sidIKCQAP3AN15ka4AYPtBAb2PAPu7nrqDJ38J7ekivFr0HjQib1_t8BdRuvgkYNCY3sW0nlmkv4I0VMINFoNnfWZ9pp96caPcoqD41I1wgZtZv1cqSjBsLrS1sN84sLqn6f3hYVjr0VJDS=s1200" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="1200" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhWRUTYJ1s6iSqECxynvJtA5n57abWxeaJSqh3IuvtY0sidIKCQAP3AN15ka4AYPtBAb2PAPu7nrqDJ38J7ekivFr0HjQib1_t8BdRuvgkYNCY3sW0nlmkv4I0VMINFoNnfWZ9pp96caPcoqD41I1wgZtZv1cqSjBsLrS1sN84sLqn6f3hYVjr0VJDS=w640-h266" width="850" /></a></div><p> Regardless of how good it looks, how great the action is, or how emotionally attached you get to the characters, how much you like <i>No Way Home</i> might depend on how much you're willing to excuse the movie for blatantly creating a plot where there should be none. At the very least, the plot should be a different one. A decision sets things in motion that is clearly too stupid for the character who makes it. Bluntly put, this person should know better. I won't say who, but if you've seen the trailer or the movie you know. It's a complete betrayal of the intelligence and wisdom we know this person to possess. Later, the solution to the problem feels so simplistic, it should have been thought of immediately before anything ever happened. What's worse is that's the second easy fix in the film. That's right, there are two ways the conflict of this film could've been solved. Neither is taken until the film's finale in the name of exploring Peter's existential crisis, and more importantly, furthering the overall plot of this phase of the MCU. If you can't forgive this, you could spend much of the movie rolling your eyes at all the mayhem that was caused. <br /></p><p><span> Among the films of the <a href="http://dellonmovies.blogspot.com/search/label/MCU">Marvel Cinematic Universe</a>, the Spider-Man flicks are probably the most polarizing bunch. Many love them as fun entries in the canon with great performances from Holland and his supporting cast. For many others, the scope is too big for what the character is best known for. These people complain that this set of Spidey flicks have too big a scope and revolve too much around Peter's relationship with Tony Stark. They want a more contained, lower stakes adventure with our hero fighting for the fate of New York City, not the entire universe. They want a film based solely on him, and without a technologically advanced suit. He is your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man, after all. <i>No Way Home</i> isn't going to change the minds of those people. Since most of them fall into the hardcore fanboy category this isn't a major issue. It's good enough just being what it is. It's a fun superhero flick with some great fan service moments and hits enough emotional beats to keep the audience engaged. Of the webhead's three entries in the MCU, this is the best.</span><br /></p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://dellonmovies.blogspot.com/search/label/Spider-Man">Click here for more Spider-Man related posts.</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>Dellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05634519605152190304noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227751790693713235.post-11627584637655097832021-11-29T00:00:00.002-05:002021-11-29T00:01:48.853-05:00Girl Week 2021 Wrap-Up<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV9jPS5b7Swx8SPkpKNrL6AmCmgGgrHKUbgGu6IeC7lbrtLaDLmlTAzeARaEnuY3dXaipMFXR0DvyfNrhzWi37FaV4Yj5UhOqm0at7_Caz5nLzpcL-_neaO_wOhyphenhyphenxgLYWLhvMF3_aL9gA/s498/girl+week+3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="321" data-original-width="498" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV9jPS5b7Swx8SPkpKNrL6AmCmgGgrHKUbgGu6IeC7lbrtLaDLmlTAzeARaEnuY3dXaipMFXR0DvyfNrhzWi37FaV4Yj5UhOqm0at7_Caz5nLzpcL-_neaO_wOhyphenhyphenxgLYWLhvMF3_aL9gA/w640-h412/girl+week+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span><p><span><span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><span> </span>Another year, another Girl Week in the books. Thank you all for making it a success, yet again. If you provided content in the form of your own entry, I truly appreciate it. Year after year, I get surprised with how many quality posts come in. 2021 was no exception. If you're just reading the posts, you are also greatly appreciated. There's just no point in writing if no one else is ever going to see it, right?<p></p></span><p></p><p><span> To help you find all the entries, they're all below. Just click them and go on this wonderful exploration of women in film with us. Please leave a comment to let the bloggers know you read it. Engaging with readers and other bloggers makes what we do infinitely more enjoyable.</span><br /></p><p><span><span> As always, if I missed your post let me know in the comments and I will make sure you get included in this post.</span><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span><span><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Day 1</span></b></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span><span><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://createdbybb.blogspot.com/2021/11/girl-week-2021.html">BB Creations - Way Down East starring Lillian Gish</a></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span><span><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://thevoid99.blogspot.com/2021/11/girl-week-2021-shiva-baby.html">Surrender to the Void - Shiva Baby</a></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span><span><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://justacineast.blogspot.com/2021/11/girl-week-orlando.html">Just a Cineast - Orlando</a></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span><span><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://takinguproom.wordpress.com/2021/11/22/draculas-daughter/">Taking Up Room - Femme Dracula</a></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span><span><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.itwaslikemagic.com/girl-week-2021-favorite-female-leads-in-romantic-comedies/">It Was Like Magic - Favorite Female Leads in Romantic Comedies</a></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://dellonmovies.blogspot.com/2021/11/girl-week-2021-zola.html">Dell on Movies</a></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Day 2</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://weegiemidget.wordpress.com/2021/11/23/tv-hart-to-hart-1979-cop-out-series-1-episode-7/">Realweegiemidget Reviews - TV ... Hart to Hart</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://1001plus.blogspot.com/2021/11/oh-baby.html">1001 Plus - Oh, Baby</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://dellonmovies.blogspot.com/2021/11/girl-week-2021-imitation-of-life-1959.html">Super-Reader Joel - Imitation of Life (1959)</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Day 3</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://ramblingfilm.blogspot.com/2021/11/girl-week-2021-studio-ghibli-edition.html">Rambling Film - Studio Ghibli Edition</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://cinematicdelights.com/2021/11/24/girl-week-2021-celebrating-the-iconic-grace-kelly/">Cinematic Delights - Celebrating the Iconic Grace Kelly</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://createdbybb.blogspot.com/2021/11/girl-week-2021_01820732311.html">BB Creations - The Thin Man with Myrna Loy</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://dellonmovies.blogspot.com/2021/11/girl-week-2021-black-widow.html">Dell on Movies - Black Widow</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Day 4</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://createdbybb.blogspot.com/2021/11/girls-week-2021.html">BB Creations - High Sierra co-starring Ida Lupino</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://ramblingfilm.blogspot.com/2021/11/thursday-movie-picks-tv-edition-mystery.html">Rambling Film - Thursday Movie Picks - TV Edition: Mystery</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://dellonmovies.blogspot.com/2021/11/girl-week-2021-10-gorgeous-movies-shot.html">Dell on Movies - 10 Gorgeous Movies Shot by Women</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Day 5</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://ramblingfilm.blogspot.com/2021/11/girl-week-2021-ranking-kirsten-dunst.html">Rambling Film - Ranking Kirsten Dunst</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://createdbybb.blogspot.com/2021/11/girl-week-2021_0525622882.html">BB Creations - Gaslight with Ingrid Bergman</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://dellonmovies.blogspot.com/2021/11/girl-week-2021-outrageous-fortune-guest.html">Super-Reader Joel - Outrageous Fortune</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Day 6</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://createdbybb.blogspot.com/2021/11/girls-week-2021_041050302.html">BB Creations - Penny Serenade with Irene Dunne</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://ramblingfilm.blogspot.com/2021/11/girl-week-2021-one-of-best-movie-scenes.html">Rambling Film - One of the Best Scenes in 2021</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://flixchatter.net/2021/11/27/double-reviews-passing-the-forty-year-old-version/">FlixChatter - Double Review: Passing and The Forty-Year Old</a></span><a href="https://flixchatter.net/2021/11/27/double-reviews-passing-the-forty-year-old-version/" style="font-size: x-large;"> Version</a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://dellonmovies.blogspot.com/2021/11/girl-week-2021-52-film-challenge.html">Dell on Movies - The 52-Film Challenge</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Day 7</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://createdbybb.blogspot.com/2021/11/girls-week-2021_0634146506.html">BB Creations - Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison with Deborah Kerr</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://ramblingfilm.blogspot.com/2021/11/2021-blind-spot-series-my-fair-lady.html">Rambling Film - 2021 Blind Spot Series: My Fair Lady</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://diaryofamoviemaniac.wordpress.com/2021/11/28/gas-food-lodging-1992/">Diary of a Movie Maniac - Gas Food Lodging</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://dellonmovies.blogspot.com/2021/11/girl-week-2021-passing.html">Dell on Movies - Passing</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwD5NM8Gd0DhVgbFTU0YQK-LmlqWOS5QPv6TwmWb5GyMJ3ek2pkN_MAl1JEG2qPTkPXEwtfMx9TOIYV_aID_RU522rLhmo-Rk7iIIFCbOCpao9Tj2W4OTUALAKym2-RXJtmoKEcaJPv8s/s660/Thank-You-gif-Free.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="660" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwD5NM8Gd0DhVgbFTU0YQK-LmlqWOS5QPv6TwmWb5GyMJ3ek2pkN_MAl1JEG2qPTkPXEwtfMx9TOIYV_aID_RU522rLhmo-Rk7iIIFCbOCpao9Tj2W4OTUALAKym2-RXJtmoKEcaJPv8s/w640-h388/Thank-You-gif-Free.gif" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>Dellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05634519605152190304noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227751790693713235.post-49196532117894578992021-11-28T12:00:00.013-05:002021-12-11T22:31:47.060-05:00Girl Week 2021: Passing<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Xx3HEtjUotPnXLE4U8VlnnBrri9QhuUmUryVWRpPB7TyJXGb389c0Itpo_GR-BnKOzzUOZFhhuGmvPPub6Ogby2gBEKN8B2sgHCoATO3AjckQmsTwOmtc5webtYZSJALyleGf0HXnsQ/s1198/girl+week+passing.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="1198" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Xx3HEtjUotPnXLE4U8VlnnBrri9QhuUmUryVWRpPB7TyJXGb389c0Itpo_GR-BnKOzzUOZFhhuGmvPPub6Ogby2gBEKN8B2sgHCoATO3AjckQmsTwOmtc5webtYZSJALyleGf0HXnsQ/w640-h268/girl+week+passing.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span><span style="font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold;"></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><div style="text-align: left;"><span>Welcome to the 7th and final day of Girl Week 2021. It's been a great ride so far. Hopefully, this is a strong finish from me. If not, no worries. I'll try again next year. Before I totally give up on this year, let's get to it with my last review of the blogathon. I'm taking on a film that, interestingly enough, serves as a companion piece to a film reviewed earlier in the week by Super-Reader Joel, <i>Imitation of Life</i>. Both cover similar ground, albeit from different angles.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirh6DsXRjbgVIOjBCu2QaMHbAFn9ZAktoJ_NRoSF7PKTZPzWLfeH89Q5oRI9oVoTwlqI7CkdqwibzYDujv8TmyeZLGBKT238Shs_l0pnWyQsdShy7pUvdjV5dekoHCVNizQIRINRC6H9k/s1920/netflix-passing.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirh6DsXRjbgVIOjBCu2QaMHbAFn9ZAktoJ_NRoSF7PKTZPzWLfeH89Q5oRI9oVoTwlqI7CkdqwibzYDujv8TmyeZLGBKT238Shs_l0pnWyQsdShy7pUvdjV5dekoHCVNizQIRINRC6H9k/w791-h445/netflix-passing.jpeg" width="900" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Directed by Rebecca Hall.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>2021. Rated R, 99 minutes.</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Cast; Tessa Thompson, Ruth Negga, Andre Holland, Bill Camp, Alexander Skarsgard, Gbenga Akinnagbe.</i></p><p></p><p><span> </span>During the Roaring Twenties, Irene (Thompson) is nervously moving around the white side of town. She soon finds herself in a hotel restaurant, taking in the surroundings. It's clear that no one suspects that she isn't white. That is, until it's clear someone recognizes her. It turns out that it's Clare (Negga), an old friend. As the two reconnect, we find out that Irene is only passing for white as a temporary look at how the other half lives. For Clare, it's a way of life. She's married to John (Skarsgard), a wealthy white man who doesn't know she's Black. We meet John when Irene accompanies Clare back to their hotel room for some more catching up. Not only is John unaware of his wife's ethnicity, he's also racist. When back at home, Irene shares this with her husband, but then puts the encounter behind her. It all comes back when Clare shows up on her doorstep, apparently missing her African-American roots, wanting to hang out. The shock for Clare is that Irene and her husband, though living in Harlem, are actually wealthy. From there, the two become heavily involved in each other's lives.</p><p><span> The relationship of these two women, seen through Irene's eyes, is uncomfortable from the beginning. We get the sense that she pities Clare for having to live a lie, but it doesn't always seem that she likes Clare. Thompson's performance strikes just the right tone to bring this across. We get why Irene tolerates Clare. We don't always get the lengths to which she does, but the wisdom behind her eyes gives us some confidence. On the other hand, we know the situation is precarious, at best. Clare's circumstances dictate as much. Negga's work as Clare is a constant reminder of this. She's so overjoyed to be expressing her true self she's often oblivious to how much she's imposing. She doesn't do so in the over the top comedic way of many movies. She's just living her best life. Negga and Thompson play off each other quite nicely, generating good chemistry despite their characters not always behaving in a warm manner toward one another. </span><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitTy0aMfQRXz6MKjIge5B3iZpF1ZzJjck5h4ttPhRYbAV7ItV2MJvq7YBNwk776LKCiLn0L6GFXfzRqvY3uGs7gFxevnld07FSiuxJUfIi_BJpT5gXSriijsDy02jGd-ACSYuQtVq0DI4/s1423/Passing.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="801" data-original-width="1423" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitTy0aMfQRXz6MKjIge5B3iZpF1ZzJjck5h4ttPhRYbAV7ItV2MJvq7YBNwk776LKCiLn0L6GFXfzRqvY3uGs7gFxevnld07FSiuxJUfIi_BJpT5gXSriijsDy02jGd-ACSYuQtVq0DI4/w807-h454/Passing.jpg" width="807" /></a></div><p> Through the exploits of these two women we get a picture of the anguish caused by continually trying to pass yourself off as something you're not. We feel Clare's relief at just being able to exist without carrying the burden of her facade. Simultaneously, Irene's disdain is palpable, as is her willingness to provide Clare with a safe space, regardless of her own feelings. Irene having the ability to pass, if not the desire to live that way, helps their kinship grow. No matter how many side-eyed looks Irene gives Clare we know there is a fondness there. The way we feel about Clare follows the same pattern. We don't necessarily like her, but we come to understand her. We never fully trust her, but want the best for her. We worry about her.</p><p></p><p><span><span><span> What we don't see, is much in the way of actual passing. Aside from the initial scene in the hotel room, we never see Clare interact with her husband. He's a man who not only hates Black people, but is only half-jokingly afraid his "white" wife will one day wake up Black because he's noticed her skin is gradually getting darker with time. Without his involvement, we don't see much of the inner turmoil she must be dealing with. It's all implied. Normally, I'm perfectly fine with that tactic, but this feels like something that would've benefitted from being more explicitly stated. We would get a look at the simple mechanics of her day-to-day life. It would also give us more time with John and might add more depth to him. As it stands, he's almost an abstract idea of the racist white male. He is here simply for his final actions. This serves the story as is, but avoids some of the tougher questions it could be asking.</span><br /></span></span></p><p><span><span><span></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><span><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzwsOu_NDkWRqUaZUuIRWaWw0ng0DoD_Enp7DEGdkudtDb8Yp-5TnwXnvRcsTAU8akI6FSWIEnqcDRQmjbuib3Hcb3sOI2lPSQIft99na5bA6otYMImjQDHKnG075jvpvzjDDsY7xhli8/s2048/Passing_Sc-08_11.26.19-18r.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="583" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzwsOu_NDkWRqUaZUuIRWaWw0ng0DoD_Enp7DEGdkudtDb8Yp-5TnwXnvRcsTAU8akI6FSWIEnqcDRQmjbuib3Hcb3sOI2lPSQIft99na5bA6otYMImjQDHKnG075jvpvzjDDsY7xhli8/w777-h583/Passing_Sc-08_11.26.19-18r.jpg" width="777" /></a></span></span></span></div><p><span><span><span> <i>Passing</i> is the directorial debut of actress Rebecca Hall. To some, it might seem to be a surprising choice for such an endeavor. The easy criticism of her is that she is trying to tell a story which she doesn't seem to relate to. However, that's probably not the case. If you're like me, you probably didn't know that Hall's own mother is made up of several ethnicities, African-American and Native American among them, and passed for white, herself. Therefore, it's a fitting choice. Hall's film is one that explores identity, including self-hatred. We get pulled into the story, and caught up in the relationship between these two women. We're also invested in Irene's relationship with her husband Brian (Holland), and the affect Clare has on it. This adds to the friction between them. The film seems as much interested in this as it does the eponymous subject. It often feeds into the idea that it would rather skim the surface than do a deep dive. Presumably, Hall made the aesthetic decision to present <i>Passing</i> in black and white. To my eye, this feels like necessity rather than artistic freedom. Though light Negga and Thompson may be, there's never been one second where I thought either was not Black. Part of that might be because I'm Black. Another part might be that I've seen films starring both that depended on them being Black. Shooting in black and white helps masks their race. It works enough for us to buy in. That sums up my assessment of the movie as a whole, too. It's a good film because it works enough for us to buy in.</span></span></span></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Day 6 Wrap-Up</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://createdbybb.blogspot.com/2021/11/girls-week-2021_041050302.html">BB Creations</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://ramblingfilm.blogspot.com/2021/11/girl-week-2021-one-of-best-movie-scenes.html">Rambling Film</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://flixchatter.net/2021/11/27/double-reviews-passing-the-forty-year-old-version/">FlixChatter</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://dellonmovies.blogspot.com/2021/11/girl-week-2021-52-film-challenge.html">Dell on Movies</a></span></p><p>I will be back tomorrow with a post detailing all the entries of this year's Girl Week. Thanks for participating, whether as a contributor or just a reader.</p>Dellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05634519605152190304noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227751790693713235.post-37731853521388123872021-11-27T22:10:00.013-05:002021-12-31T01:09:14.365-05:00Girl Week 2021: The 52-Film Challenge<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTmt2FQugJH9afYfVGEwp_f6-xRg684jMdO1pfNi5mD19BTx8Yr4EuTBg7E0qw14s1UcuAwoGpPCeLhsXJHCesI38lSrXOj8Gyatz08DS289sy-YrEaZYvo_u9GwjHq7Ut438FBgs_aB0/s998/girl+week+directors.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="998" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTmt2FQugJH9afYfVGEwp_f6-xRg684jMdO1pfNi5mD19BTx8Yr4EuTBg7E0qw14s1UcuAwoGpPCeLhsXJHCesI38lSrXOj8Gyatz08DS289sy-YrEaZYvo_u9GwjHq7Ut438FBgs_aB0/w640-h360/girl+week+directors.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a> Welcome to Day 6 of Girl Week 2021. During last year's Girl Week, I posted a list of all the female directed films I watched up to that point in 2020. I noticed I was quite a bit short of where I wanted to be and challenged myself to do what's become known as the 52-Film Challenge, and watch at least 52 films directed by women over the course of a year. The idea is to watch one per week, arriving at that 52 by the end of the year. With life being what it is, of course, there were some weeks I watched none, and by some I mean a lot. There were some weeks I watched 3, 4, or even 5. As of this post, I am still a little behind the pace to reach 52 when the clock strikes midnight in a few weeks and catapults us into 2022. That said, I am well ahead of where I was at this time last year. Besides, I'm a teacher in real life. This means I also have a week right at the end of the year when I will be home watching movies. Therefore, 52 is definitely within reach.<p></p><p></p><p><span> </span>As I did last year, I will list all of the ones I've watched so far, here. My goal in doing so is to give you some titles to check out in case you're on the lookout for such movies yourself. I'm presenting them in chronological order of my viewing.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF2WPv3XDfPNjrU9ln33OFE0ehejJB2QcEttmFuAbjzIArsDkKMLp_dGQtNXjs-hFmjY-JiOV3Y25hO1CcP8VNMxvut_1XDCDCUExI0ZS0UHDUlkWLAJy8k-dnP7n2LwcI8ove3CM6LY0/s493/female-filmmakers_orig.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="299" data-original-width="493" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF2WPv3XDfPNjrU9ln33OFE0ehejJB2QcEttmFuAbjzIArsDkKMLp_dGQtNXjs-hFmjY-JiOV3Y25hO1CcP8VNMxvut_1XDCDCUExI0ZS0UHDUlkWLAJy8k-dnP7n2LwcI8ove3CM6LY0/w640-h388/female-filmmakers_orig.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Quick Key: [A] = Animated [D] = Documentary [X] = Exploitation</p><p>She Dies Tomorrow (2020) - Amy Seimetz</p><p>Rogue (2020) - M. J. Bassett</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJoYBC_rup0BbR8kG_TX7ZYTCTwnT9vlHRB3KxUPk_E1ZyuxSwmdGqSuCabzwOdeHOppwul2gEqZO9hBAcPDgt-uU7qX-qAg-dfpSKiFEyeVTD-EBEmx2rbNVrk6tbUeg5mK-jnB7NuJE/s1280/reginakingonenightinmiami1920-662323-640x360.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJoYBC_rup0BbR8kG_TX7ZYTCTwnT9vlHRB3KxUPk_E1ZyuxSwmdGqSuCabzwOdeHOppwul2gEqZO9hBAcPDgt-uU7qX-qAg-dfpSKiFEyeVTD-EBEmx2rbNVrk6tbUeg5mK-jnB7NuJE/w640-h360/reginakingonenightinmiami1920-662323-640x360.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Regina King</td></tr></tbody></table><p>One Night in Miami (2021) - Regina King</p><p>The Two Killings of Sam Cooke (2019) - Kelly Duane de la Vega [D]</p><p>Lost Girls (2020) - Liz Garbus</p><p>12 Hour Shift (2020) - Brea Grant [X]</p><p>A Love Song for LaTasha (2019) - Sophia Nahli Allison [D]</p><p>A Vigilante (2018) - Sarah Dagger-Nickson</p><p>Flora & Ulysses (2021) - Lena Khan</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkr6ZxQ9AEAN4Qhy3puv1ev323koCVhDIMmh84_ie-3pLUNR38TA8IqEfJWDuQZOODfNneW_chV6dVcTNDxARGps5SKoOOB9URLehmowYQvwNwrCHXaxu4S3yr_HO8XAeJKIMZUll5JdI/s1556/ehrlich+and+reed.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1556" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkr6ZxQ9AEAN4Qhy3puv1ev323koCVhDIMmh84_ie-3pLUNR38TA8IqEfJWDuQZOODfNneW_chV6dVcTNDxARGps5SKoOOB9URLehmowYQvwNwrCHXaxu4S3yr_HO8XAeJKIMZUll5JdI/w640-h444/ehrlich+and+reed.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Phillippa Ehrlich and James Reed</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>My Octopus Teacher (2020) - Phillippa Ehrlich and James Reed [D]</p><p>Promising Young Woman (2020) - Emerald Fennell</p><p>Moxie (2021) - Amy Poehler</p><p>Judy & Punch (2019) - Mirrah Foulkes</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9FAw-cdnySN8o2dTZtLAAAdrtrz93G58G5duzmSodg4T5Ga2NWRm5qEnwYxqnKShbdNjPrUFbhYkqR8t6IRWeePD3aibnR13mExb4LEsRvfjDKRh-7m7JLhL2bOu3DtFs5Cfmphsb-a0/s1500/interviews_mirandajuly.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9FAw-cdnySN8o2dTZtLAAAdrtrz93G58G5duzmSodg4T5Ga2NWRm5qEnwYxqnKShbdNjPrUFbhYkqR8t6IRWeePD3aibnR13mExb4LEsRvfjDKRh-7m7JLhL2bOu3DtFs5Cfmphsb-a0/w640-h426/interviews_mirandajuly.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Miranda July</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Kajillionaire (2020) - Miranda July</p><p>Things Heard & Seen (2021) - Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini</p><p>Mary J. Blige's My Life (2021) - Vanessa Roth [D]</p><p>Captain Marvel (2019) - Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck</p><p>Black Widow (2021) - Cate Shortland</p><p>Fear Street 1994 (2021) - Leigh Janiak</p><p>Secret Society of Second Born Royals (2020) - Anna Mastro</p><p>Fear Street 1978 (2021) - Leigh Janiak</p><p>Fear Street 1666 (2021) - Leigh Janiak</p><p>Untold: Deal with the Devil (2021) - Laura Brownson [D]</p><p>DC Super Hero Girls (2018) - Cecilia Aranovich and Ian Hamilton [A]</p><p>Little Women (2019) - Greta Gerwig</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjILLi1nU_0D5Nwl9rTlrgUEyY2Zg_mP_tW5kKJjRJj8BfVsx7f0lzXLDBKRBmsXhBi4scYqSveFZPa6JbMMwOr4IhN6x8hcC38o4qk7P0JTjyRLGCUg8_ln3W6FbIZtfoY50Ahk_xtpBA/s1000/chloe-zhao-1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjILLi1nU_0D5Nwl9rTlrgUEyY2Zg_mP_tW5kKJjRJj8BfVsx7f0lzXLDBKRBmsXhBi4scYqSveFZPa6JbMMwOr4IhN6x8hcC38o4qk7P0JTjyRLGCUg8_ln3W6FbIZtfoY50Ahk_xtpBA/w640-h360/chloe-zhao-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chloe Zhao</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Nomadland (2020) - Chloe Zhao</p><p>Respect (2021) - Leisl Tommy</p><p>To the Bone (2017) - Marti Noxon</p><p>Candyman (2021) - Nia DaCosta</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPQizB43feNZ-9oaNoitWpDwyGswRAUQbb2pfl-AkWl24-7Q26TNcR2zc1CZgMucDt3KmblP4ig9n-O5fTmMJgDBLwh4KHZc7hMet6NIXozBXWvXrJzY6vtPmgKiTBIBYuy1bZN4JHHUM/s1000/janicza-bravo-zola-director-janicza-bravo_49120622122_o-1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPQizB43feNZ-9oaNoitWpDwyGswRAUQbb2pfl-AkWl24-7Q26TNcR2zc1CZgMucDt3KmblP4ig9n-O5fTmMJgDBLwh4KHZc7hMet6NIXozBXWvXrJzY6vtPmgKiTBIBYuy1bZN4JHHUM/w640-h360/janicza-bravo-zola-director-janicza-bravo_49120622122_o-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Janicsza Bravo</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Zola (2020) - Janicsza Bravo</p><p>Found (2021) - Amanda Lipitz [D]</p><p>The Manor (2021) - Axelle Carolyn</p><p>Eternals (2021) - Chloe Zhao</p><p>Daughters of the Dust (1991) - Julie Dash</p><p>Passing (2021) - Rebecca Hall</p><p>Blue Steel (1990) - Kathryn Bigelow</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPux6NqfOSTCrKLSLZf1MbHpAvnM-yUmUgSRiudJgw07uh0xXx_dgUnc3j_4oSgqKgyOP9LaKfpxqyPyhltMKLoqIAZQ5D-LOdSHI9SogaaghHmDT5v58DQzDBvm1Mr6swxBlBdZX0uN0/s1594/Alice-Wu-landscape.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1084" data-original-width="1594" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPux6NqfOSTCrKLSLZf1MbHpAvnM-yUmUgSRiudJgw07uh0xXx_dgUnc3j_4oSgqKgyOP9LaKfpxqyPyhltMKLoqIAZQ5D-LOdSHI9SogaaghHmDT5v58DQzDBvm1Mr6swxBlBdZX0uN0/w640-h436/Alice-Wu-landscape.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alice Wu</td></tr></tbody></table><p>The Half of It (2020) - Alice Wu</p><p>Worth (2020) - Sara Colangelo</p><p>Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It (2021) - Mariem Perez Riera [D]</p><p>Good on Paper (2021) - Kim Gatewood</p><p>Sleepless in Seattle (1993) - Nora Ephron</p><p>Humanoids From the Deep aka Monster (1980) - Barbara Peeters [X]</p><p>Mark, Mary & Some Other People (2021) - Hannah Marks</p><p>The Bad Batch (2016) - Ana Lily Amirpour</p><p>1 Night in San Diego (2020) - Penelope Lawson</p><p>The Power of the Dog (2021) - Jane Campion</p><p>I'm Your Woman (2020) - Julia Hart</p><p>Bruised (2020) - Halle Berry</p><p>Tallulah (2016) - Sian Heder</p><p>Back to the Outback (2021) - Claire Knight and Harry Cripps</p><p>Mixtape (2021) - Valerie Weiss</p><p>The Matrix Resurrections (2021) - Lana Wachowski</p><p>Plan B (2021) - Natalie Morales</p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Day 5 Wrap-Up</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://ramblingfilm.blogspot.com/2021/11/girl-week-2021-ranking-kirsten-dunst.html">Rambling Film</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://createdbybb.blogspot.com/2021/11/girl-week-2021_0525622882.html">BB Creations</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://dellonmovies.blogspot.com/2021/11/girl-week-2021-outrageous-fortune-guest.html">Super-Reader Joel</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">Addendum: At the time of the original post, I had watched 43 films directed by women during 2021. The last of these was <i>Mark, Mary & Some Other People</i>. I will continue to add to this list as warranted throughout the rest of 2021.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Addendum 2:</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>I MADE IT!!!</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;">I have officially watched 53 movies directed by women during 2021.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>Dellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05634519605152190304noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227751790693713235.post-42520772617277945482021-11-26T00:00:00.136-05:002021-11-26T13:42:24.650-05:00Girl Week 2021: Outrageous Fortune, a Guest Post by Joel<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjre91qb-l15jsbRH_lqHdyKJPApl4FzjVocZmpHcdEPCjM-lLonFu3ptoqeDqoRBh-RnVcTPD0jYRUjVywQEZc8KycBUhDIuKCHjQvYg2yqQJ6hF5BeApYYBzRSJING6sSkKmxjM1dDCE/s1199/girl+week+outrageous.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="723" data-original-width="1199" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjre91qb-l15jsbRH_lqHdyKJPApl4FzjVocZmpHcdEPCjM-lLonFu3ptoqeDqoRBh-RnVcTPD0jYRUjVywQEZc8KycBUhDIuKCHjQvYg2yqQJ6hF5BeApYYBzRSJING6sSkKmxjM1dDCE/w640-h386/girl+week+outrageous.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><span><a name='more'></a></span>Welcome to Day 5 of Girl Week 2021! I hope my fellow Americans are resting and recovering from all the food they ate. Of course, I hope that everyone else is having a great day, too. </div><div><br /></div><div>Today, we are once again blessed with a post from Super-Reader Joel. If you're not familiar with Joel, and why I've dubbed him the Super-Reader, here's a quick back story. Six or seven years ago, he started showing up in the comments section of numerous blogs and almost always gave the most thorough and insightful comments. Bloggers love him because he invites conversation, is extraordinarily knowledgeable about film history without coming off like a snob, and clearly loves engaging others who are passionate about film. He's been a boon for this blog, in particular, by participating in every blogathon I've had since his arrival on the scene through guest posts like this one, his 21st here at Dell on Movies. When you finish reading this post, you can <a href="https://dellonmovies.blogspot.com/search/label/Joel">check out the rest by clicking here</a>. </div><div><br /></div><div>Take it away, Joel.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcH0ppMXZ20-3zpzD-aC9fz-hgFDryelKjNnjdC_8eAdwHJqskl_ntzu5qmwMdxrlYpHvAChJ_XWnEb0tAa9HYOaEXT_nQeCx0HetI1GXBXGhPec9bf7ClHPR4IdtDQC-dIANpoXe1nHM/s640/outrageous+fortune.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="364" data-original-width="640" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcH0ppMXZ20-3zpzD-aC9fz-hgFDryelKjNnjdC_8eAdwHJqskl_ntzu5qmwMdxrlYpHvAChJ_XWnEb0tAa9HYOaEXT_nQeCx0HetI1GXBXGhPec9bf7ClHPR4IdtDQC-dIANpoXe1nHM/w640-h364/outrageous+fortune.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Director by Arthur Hiller.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>1987. Rated R, 100 minutes.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Cast: Bette Midler, Shelley Long, Peter Coyote, Robert Prosky, George Carlin, John Schuck, Anthony Heald, Christopher McDonald.</i></div><div><br /></div>Diametric opposites Lauren Ames (Shelley Long) a refined rich girl cut off by her parents and loud and brash Sandy Brozinsky (Bette Midler) are both struggling aspiring actresses. When both have a chance to study with the great theatre professor Stanislav Korzenowski (Robert Prosky) they develop an instant animus but unknown to each other, they begin dating the same man, Michael Santers (Peter Coyote).<br /><br />When Michael "dies" in a gas explosion at a local store, Lauren and Sandy figure out in a most indelicate way that Michael may have faked his death. Their claims ignored and laughed at by the cops the two women decide to search for the truth together but it’s a bumpy ride. Using a mix of ingenuity, street smarts, subterfuge, feminine intuition and desperation they track Michael down bickering most of the way. Michael however does not want to be found since he’s a double agent for the CIA who has now gone rogue, also working for the KGB, he’s stolen a toxin that could destroy huge areas of nature with just a few drops.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJM4TYgXEW39C6NyJA5A1-BpZhK3OILTRjd_RrFteT4F1Q4HmPfZMfypw1O7jC51ccND-PwA0ZQDQDxKg_u2svQ2POu0pRlzju-4g9S6BxAmuSoY4X792rwMvGDT1U_cST4Onxg23kzaE/s800/outrageous+fortune+coyote.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="800" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJM4TYgXEW39C6NyJA5A1-BpZhK3OILTRjd_RrFteT4F1Q4HmPfZMfypw1O7jC51ccND-PwA0ZQDQDxKg_u2svQ2POu0pRlzju-4g9S6BxAmuSoY4X792rwMvGDT1U_cST4Onxg23kzaE/w640-h346/outrageous+fortune+coyote.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>When Michael tries to kill them the girls run and are rescued by Weldon (Anthony Heald) who was also in Korzenowski’s class. It turns out he’s a CIA agent planted to catch their teacher, a KGB operative passing info to Santers. Little did he know that he is using the women to pass information unbeknownst to them.<br /><br />Now in the government’s sights as suspected spies Sandy and Lauren hotfoot it after the villain with the CIA, Korzenowski and a host of others on their trail. After much travail and slapstick, they find themselves in the rundown New Mexico town Tres Crucus where they meet perpetually stoned tour guide and all around grifter Frank (a delightful George Carlin) who they recruit to help them despite his strong reluctance to get involved.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgclohXxPJDrQsZ7Q-AcpK4fP8jQSgPWlvwPy6ohb6Bu2kL1yN7ZzEZ-8F0clhgwOz1N_7Bz6nrZIKo_iEJr_SEEcM2BWL_Sx-pU2GUmafTcxNt9AdAMJ138DdZP7fyY3Fb80U75eyl4Ag/s1000/outrageous+fortune+carlin.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="677" data-original-width="1000" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgclohXxPJDrQsZ7Q-AcpK4fP8jQSgPWlvwPy6ohb6Bu2kL1yN7ZzEZ-8F0clhgwOz1N_7Bz6nrZIKo_iEJr_SEEcM2BWL_Sx-pU2GUmafTcxNt9AdAMJ138DdZP7fyY3Fb80U75eyl4Ag/w640-h434/outrageous+fortune+carlin.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>Once they manage to gain possession of the biotoxin through another crazy ruse they now must dodge the murderous Santers as well as everyone else. When he takes Lauren hostage Sandy, while once again trying to get self-declared coward Frank to help, finally admits that after being through a bunch of disgusting stuff together the two women have become friends. And we’re off to a wild ride of a climax with lots of action and laughs.<br /><br />Though Shelley and Bette DID NOT get along during the filming their comic chemistry is gold turning what could have been just a throwaway chase film into a frantic gem.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid0Jqe5wedfAe4tQYMqL_udPhiINxZg1PGQGNwnBU-E6EG-Z2lDMJg30P2lK0_itBS9H_CTgkAQl2uNiVU_579Tnc_W7Vtl_F46hlz2Nk2WHcp_7gjT8Mg2goN-C3U0ayUsl41EuJ74qc/s498/girl+week+3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="321" data-original-width="498" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid0Jqe5wedfAe4tQYMqL_udPhiINxZg1PGQGNwnBU-E6EG-Z2lDMJg30P2lK0_itBS9H_CTgkAQl2uNiVU_579Tnc_W7Vtl_F46hlz2Nk2WHcp_7gjT8Mg2goN-C3U0ayUsl41EuJ74qc/w640-h412/girl+week+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Day 4 Wrap-Up</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://createdbybb.blogspot.com/2021/11/girls-week-2021.html">BB Creations</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://ramblingfilm.blogspot.com/2021/11/thursday-movie-picks-tv-edition-mystery.html">Rambling Film</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://dellonmovies.blogspot.com/2021/11/girl-week-2021-10-gorgeous-movies-shot.html">Dell on Movies</a></span></div>Dellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05634519605152190304noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227751790693713235.post-25806094777582161462021-11-25T00:00:00.313-05:002021-11-25T12:46:04.149-05:00Girl Week 2021: 10 Gorgeous Movies Shot by Women<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiufUReq94fH4pPZKuXmHE1dP6o64JcmyMn7OtuY4zyYdXMWjr3AX8DUQdw1DuZylsSdg2RFvVTQh6tQ0rl_dGIDQvG0t5n5rczVQLRuqNb63DqIlkXRLi74Yf3sN9B37kEOhy8TqQ-gec/s1200/girl+week+mulan.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiufUReq94fH4pPZKuXmHE1dP6o64JcmyMn7OtuY4zyYdXMWjr3AX8DUQdw1DuZylsSdg2RFvVTQh6tQ0rl_dGIDQvG0t5n5rczVQLRuqNb63DqIlkXRLi74Yf3sN9B37kEOhy8TqQ-gec/w640-h426/girl+week+mulan.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a>Welcome to Day 4 of Girl Week 2021! As I do every year, I'm really enjoying all of your posts. Hopefully, you're enjoying mine.<p></p><p>If you're in America, like me, you're likely spending the day with family and having a massive feast in celebration of the day known as Thanksgiving. With that in mind, I'm just providing a picture post today to honor women in a field where they have gotten far less attention than those on the other side of their cameras - cinematography. These are shots from 10 movies where the director of photography (DP) is a woman. This isn't a ranking, so they're presented in no particular order.</p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Black Panther </span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">DP: Rachel Morrison</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>(2018)</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNWKiAwOt13H-n4ktHJFbnQ1PIr6vK4pwQT0zRTo1zmBLEwbBN5JcJ7u69SbbytRnLOFVWZjbmrXXi8oknhCNfxupIvB1VbxfVeisf74CftNcVCAJVaeBHGViwMdhwru35WC012DlD7rI/s2048/black+panther+duel.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1366" data-original-width="2048" height="540" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNWKiAwOt13H-n4ktHJFbnQ1PIr6vK4pwQT0zRTo1zmBLEwbBN5JcJ7u69SbbytRnLOFVWZjbmrXXi8oknhCNfxupIvB1VbxfVeisf74CftNcVCAJVaeBHGViwMdhwru35WC012DlD7rI/w811-h540/black+panther+duel.jpg" width="811" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4QSpczYnjThAKvBuEAAuQuprAN58JvGVguQSTMYUSwNCUyHEGaneMZbvccpdHtm9oyetCImST1G_1P74fA2X-syPxauZmBeL0VuJf41HZdCT3hWfuGpTriGrCBjGXEpFdnETGYKHGtV4/s852/black-panther-marvel-hannah-beachler-set-design-feature-interview_dezeen_hero2-852x479.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="479" data-original-width="852" height="455" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4QSpczYnjThAKvBuEAAuQuprAN58JvGVguQSTMYUSwNCUyHEGaneMZbvccpdHtm9oyetCImST1G_1P74fA2X-syPxauZmBeL0VuJf41HZdCT3hWfuGpTriGrCBjGXEpFdnETGYKHGtV4/w808-h455/black-panther-marvel-hannah-beachler-set-design-feature-interview_dezeen_hero2-852x479.jpg" width="808" /></a></div><br /><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSXBdNlc__ZzlHu-XWWvkSr8KVKibBfM6YrtRo-w_JLihy68zjlSBoda41swumA1rnYS5v9YbKgt-1ZswIBoa2pztK8FS_72hz7M4LZWdGLl2P-b3q3maSMj9Zey52eS0dr_ngWIZnOaU/s1366/Dora-Milaje-Black-Panther.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="565" data-original-width="1366" height="347" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSXBdNlc__ZzlHu-XWWvkSr8KVKibBfM6YrtRo-w_JLihy68zjlSBoda41swumA1rnYS5v9YbKgt-1ZswIBoa2pztK8FS_72hz7M4LZWdGLl2P-b3q3maSMj9Zey52eS0dr_ngWIZnOaU/w841-h347/Dora-Milaje-Black-Panther.jpg" width="841" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Be Kind Rewind</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">DP: Ellen Kuras</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>(2008)</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj19DpZX2YtJvS6GKIj3Wdw_qT3BAwJosZjwCYNjrPEX2eG_JVHWahULDanGruYG14L5HtsgriPqhf8mzSJAw41PSEc630bgnsnc6fVx-Tf1hJ6trEOEq-KOfCJaxmX8AET6z2ubBWJRck/s773/be+kind+rewind.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="557" data-original-width="773" height="570" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj19DpZX2YtJvS6GKIj3Wdw_qT3BAwJosZjwCYNjrPEX2eG_JVHWahULDanGruYG14L5HtsgriPqhf8mzSJAw41PSEc630bgnsnc6fVx-Tf1hJ6trEOEq-KOfCJaxmX8AET6z2ubBWJRck/w790-h570/be+kind+rewind.png" width="790" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgF-qBl_NU-F8askqi1D-_4GSiWivyKIBe6HT48kMpk6Wqz996QLKbd4jzObvCc8aXVzdJ1RGmmVO0ZHWb3amlgamLha4cceTG7Bm9jdTRa8W-tkNZf755HYm5j4ST09_k5Kc8C2jjrts/s512/be+kind+store.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="218" data-original-width="512" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgF-qBl_NU-F8askqi1D-_4GSiWivyKIBe6HT48kMpk6Wqz996QLKbd4jzObvCc8aXVzdJ1RGmmVO0ZHWb3amlgamLha4cceTG7Bm9jdTRa8W-tkNZf755HYm5j4ST09_k5Kc8C2jjrts/w834-h354/be+kind+store.jpg" width="834" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcX2FNoEkpkfmQVoJTL8CbA8l4Wd8MeTYcXe0jA1MtxsOBpJPaAZ7iZPwewNglrWzmYLCH8AJbldRUuTh8uu4esmVrrofN_TmSPYFqvEJ4gxTQ62LXxQ4M0e39EXhc6PNcHkuwdnzQj1Q/s512/be+kind+street.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="218" data-original-width="512" height="355" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcX2FNoEkpkfmQVoJTL8CbA8l4Wd8MeTYcXe0jA1MtxsOBpJPaAZ7iZPwewNglrWzmYLCH8AJbldRUuTh8uu4esmVrrofN_TmSPYFqvEJ4gxTQ62LXxQ4M0e39EXhc6PNcHkuwdnzQj1Q/w835-h355/be+kind+street.jpg" width="835" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Deidra & Laney Rob a Train</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">DP: Quyen Tran</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>(2017)</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFkV4yio-S2z1HHW5UOf0FL4GiWF1nMzDb7PnLrWPJnBLaD_l5Zi58VcGjRGeJ4id4dX5STL_msgIDAKG4_c-jdVckQ-TZ5sVqIbuxTCHpCIaVm_X7ZfyDrhmlwncGNpkjiRbQv3acZ7U/s1200/deidra+and+laney+bills.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFkV4yio-S2z1HHW5UOf0FL4GiWF1nMzDb7PnLrWPJnBLaD_l5Zi58VcGjRGeJ4id4dX5STL_msgIDAKG4_c-jdVckQ-TZ5sVqIbuxTCHpCIaVm_X7ZfyDrhmlwncGNpkjiRbQv3acZ7U/w835-h470/deidra+and+laney+bills.jpg" width="835" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbPEidYA32blCHjMAzrEI3fruIJaUu3snwG1Jr4V70JqWjnhBNygPDNxIujvtM6oge3Ca84GnTFJRm3RXVjz_9PaxoZM__oiTDl7RT2Ap_7H9fF4SjNRKpf6h0kdulmJmeC1q38BjVGa8/s2048/deidra+and+laney+tv.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1363" data-original-width="2048" height="555" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbPEidYA32blCHjMAzrEI3fruIJaUu3snwG1Jr4V70JqWjnhBNygPDNxIujvtM6oge3Ca84GnTFJRm3RXVjz_9PaxoZM__oiTDl7RT2Ap_7H9fF4SjNRKpf6h0kdulmJmeC1q38BjVGa8/w833-h555/deidra+and+laney+tv.jpg" width="833" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhls9B1VXFodzI0ULMY_no_bouJnevd6lqVUkVNsp_8sbbU-AJ2PPBuOw2tAIt5csVpR5FJay8RK6BpBtoSlV6YeuovFuIfL0PjEf61GrGEeP6bI53uo0nJvjR8PxBqupG6aiHkSHRucds/s1100/deidra+and+laney+rob+a+train.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="619" data-original-width="1100" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhls9B1VXFodzI0ULMY_no_bouJnevd6lqVUkVNsp_8sbbU-AJ2PPBuOw2tAIt5csVpR5FJay8RK6BpBtoSlV6YeuovFuIfL0PjEf61GrGEeP6bI53uo0nJvjR8PxBqupG6aiHkSHRucds/w831-h468/deidra+and+laney+rob+a+train.jpg" width="831" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Beau Travail</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">DP: Agnes Godard</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>(1999)</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKg9Si0YFfNEKItVtxt_GaYFAOZAMfFrQl3hp1XP4g4dnqb3caAClmQ48Gem4iKqhIy8nLmacJMNUTGlwRP1C7Jbo3SQqm5rY6M8uHerWICwPwg0yRixPWMjhQF_xYwVzQ-GM3EDUdRWs/s505/beau+travail+sleep.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="302" data-original-width="505" height="499" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKg9Si0YFfNEKItVtxt_GaYFAOZAMfFrQl3hp1XP4g4dnqb3caAClmQ48Gem4iKqhIy8nLmacJMNUTGlwRP1C7Jbo3SQqm5rY6M8uHerWICwPwg0yRixPWMjhQF_xYwVzQ-GM3EDUdRWs/w836-h499/beau+travail+sleep.jpg" width="836" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgucFaC4D3RXlKQSYqAEAdWt8Ka15oiVScVBWNtf9cgZxHrecXG6xXJclEvXo3l1M1GmzWrzb4HhIh8Qmj_IK6_Oa_a-BYEreVXrFq_e9ADEfHqDHP702cE2OdxRUhMFM79vitepleGmio/s630/beau+travail.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="472" data-original-width="630" height="627" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgucFaC4D3RXlKQSYqAEAdWt8Ka15oiVScVBWNtf9cgZxHrecXG6xXJclEvXo3l1M1GmzWrzb4HhIh8Qmj_IK6_Oa_a-BYEreVXrFq_e9ADEfHqDHP702cE2OdxRUhMFM79vitepleGmio/w835-h627/beau+travail.jpg" width="835" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipVVJ_lS88BPTLpxwF6pgC9C9aOuxo3gCQ6l4lZE0Sb6eT3MQAOgWlD6TZYcsbDQ8UleCzxjfZoOs_sng3IxAbxkJR16uEWWTA5L60W8A_x89itnkwkxEqNtOnmVLGupzKVT3iVZrMyqg/s1600/beau+travail+trumpet.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="471" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipVVJ_lS88BPTLpxwF6pgC9C9aOuxo3gCQ6l4lZE0Sb6eT3MQAOgWlD6TZYcsbDQ8UleCzxjfZoOs_sng3IxAbxkJR16uEWWTA5L60W8A_x89itnkwkxEqNtOnmVLGupzKVT3iVZrMyqg/w837-h471/beau+travail+trumpet.jpg" width="837" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">A Quiet Place Part II</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">DP: Polly Morgan</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>(2021)</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRkjgp66eBrnxZGwsv9Rq2os-fnYHBkOh8ueNUkXlZR_M-mp1cvYUZP-6rJS99wI26fBhqGjaW94fNZ6mFfFR09815rFr5lB3CPno-jnBr9oCFTyMzIuHgYIjY0nD6sjJqXWS1fCKLa9s/s2048/Brody-AQuietPlaceII.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1366" data-original-width="2048" height="573" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRkjgp66eBrnxZGwsv9Rq2os-fnYHBkOh8ueNUkXlZR_M-mp1cvYUZP-6rJS99wI26fBhqGjaW94fNZ6mFfFR09815rFr5lB3CPno-jnBr9oCFTyMzIuHgYIjY0nD6sjJqXWS1fCKLa9s/w860-h573/Brody-AQuietPlaceII.jpg" width="860" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSSIHJl0Wtin89kvwCD9xjOlOTTpm2YEwpXKJWqaw5uufEwRhhztrf-vvsFEXVQmmnISCAvMop7oPXV8oDDLets9fCfvbFuLjjI2ssi4_fYzaJATpnv3V8qjqLjWnWBOgF7vDMALVWkYQ/s2000/quiet+place+2+daughter.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="573" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSSIHJl0Wtin89kvwCD9xjOlOTTpm2YEwpXKJWqaw5uufEwRhhztrf-vvsFEXVQmmnISCAvMop7oPXV8oDDLets9fCfvbFuLjjI2ssi4_fYzaJATpnv3V8qjqLjWnWBOgF7vDMALVWkYQ/w861-h573/quiet+place+2+daughter.jpg" width="861" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2lDH382OHlOhId3KQwJF2KFspgPwR94TRwdrE2GLrVMa8bVUuN7K-ji_b3v2kPhJ286rCVWMZSz_cGBpM_ahgDdXccdjdfQ4Hjzodno7PMsUr4E0G0F7ZDaxc_z7bM4p5ex7oZ07mtr0/s2048/quiet+place+2+baby.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="574" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2lDH382OHlOhId3KQwJF2KFspgPwR94TRwdrE2GLrVMa8bVUuN7K-ji_b3v2kPhJ286rCVWMZSz_cGBpM_ahgDdXccdjdfQ4Hjzodno7PMsUr4E0G0F7ZDaxc_z7bM4p5ex7oZ07mtr0/w862-h574/quiet+place+2+baby.jpg" width="862" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Honey Boy</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">DP: Natasha Braier</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>(2019)</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBfvo8Ok5dvveRjuxIaaPhL6OaJ_VuX3II8JJgjBQYOfTllbZaExfxPHp_iDPeCCXkx0lKyyCdNI36JPP5JNt8R8SyAspRMosoai0-a2Wld88BzJSaKstJvn9UczUClOrS6_xTsKdtG2U/s1100/honey-boy-sundance.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="619" data-original-width="1100" height="493" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBfvo8Ok5dvveRjuxIaaPhL6OaJ_VuX3II8JJgjBQYOfTllbZaExfxPHp_iDPeCCXkx0lKyyCdNI36JPP5JNt8R8SyAspRMosoai0-a2Wld88BzJSaKstJvn9UczUClOrS6_xTsKdtG2U/w877-h493/honey-boy-sundance.jpg" width="877" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiboVCfZIyqGp76cI-6ZADenkgitP2vbgCdRg96uYXhfjB03mVeiSEOpuM1klG6iTT-60i1-wf1E_DmT_bBFA4M-l6hpnbmyDRdjmOkWDN1h8STarRCqlsmGp-y6f-1jT50zVgfHlNKZkg/s1080/honey+boy+shia.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="453" data-original-width="1080" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiboVCfZIyqGp76cI-6ZADenkgitP2vbgCdRg96uYXhfjB03mVeiSEOpuM1klG6iTT-60i1-wf1E_DmT_bBFA4M-l6hpnbmyDRdjmOkWDN1h8STarRCqlsmGp-y6f-1jT50zVgfHlNKZkg/w879-h368/honey+boy+shia.jpg" width="879" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZexWGWW-qeRRDmahYmbe56kOjOVnsyGhpObdKSLWUSs67t0ZRRuBQmGV8K-YYHlXTmjfLbZZvRP_RATxARZrBAqQrLXfO0ng1uSV0eGdcA2c02Zokt7_yo_gofxuEuFAV2jDKgVLPmqQ/s1000/honey-boy-noah-shia-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZexWGWW-qeRRDmahYmbe56kOjOVnsyGhpObdKSLWUSs67t0ZRRuBQmGV8K-YYHlXTmjfLbZZvRP_RATxARZrBAqQrLXfO0ng1uSV0eGdcA2c02Zokt7_yo_gofxuEuFAV2jDKgVLPmqQ/w878-h494/honey-boy-noah-shia-1.jpg" width="878" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Mulan</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">DP: Mandy Walker</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>(2020)</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-UtZECnhyfec-bpc3SQa35ioqoPxONS7rygmggwESKE123xir2bbAwqPx3ggWRmF4SXBw22tR95yoiHXqpuZwuks76lEIo0-_NgDD7XRLEXDUaMehIjQVd2w7mzfiQjqO1q4hxOMWvpg/s723/mulan-2020-disney-live-action-6-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="353" data-original-width="723" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-UtZECnhyfec-bpc3SQa35ioqoPxONS7rygmggwESKE123xir2bbAwqPx3ggWRmF4SXBw22tR95yoiHXqpuZwuks76lEIo0-_NgDD7XRLEXDUaMehIjQVd2w7mzfiQjqO1q4hxOMWvpg/w882-h430/mulan-2020-disney-live-action-6-1.jpg" width="882" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiooF32aD7TBrxTXfyhmaZNag7ZQglzg99x0eQL-ahYODMnF78WfIg9Vx7zqf9H2vIJu1piXBubxfUl0smHo2ng8jXeI7sK8h7d2Vtzix8q0U-uz88fyJQlVULw-lR_VjJE_Ow1ADVO5Xo/s1170/mulan+balance.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="490" data-original-width="1170" height="369" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiooF32aD7TBrxTXfyhmaZNag7ZQglzg99x0eQL-ahYODMnF78WfIg9Vx7zqf9H2vIJu1piXBubxfUl0smHo2ng8jXeI7sK8h7d2Vtzix8q0U-uz88fyJQlVULw-lR_VjJE_Ow1ADVO5Xo/w882-h369/mulan+balance.jpg" width="882" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRHHC5bjl2js4T2ELAtGVX1YPOdJFeiLKes1Vjgas8jHvQnalma7eqPwLLHDAxM3JwoAVY-IQTQv7kC1Zds-IBjCrle4dNayR-gbaCs_cVhTNi_Q0UqWlrE2hPg8dZUpLSzg5m0hXzwhY/s2276/mulan+mountain.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1076" data-original-width="2276" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRHHC5bjl2js4T2ELAtGVX1YPOdJFeiLKes1Vjgas8jHvQnalma7eqPwLLHDAxM3JwoAVY-IQTQv7kC1Zds-IBjCrle4dNayR-gbaCs_cVhTNi_Q0UqWlrE2hPg8dZUpLSzg5m0hXzwhY/w883-h416/mulan+mountain.jpg" width="883" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">One Night in Miami</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">DP: Tami Reiker</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>(2020)</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHdgSo96zoGjhF-1RaiurVhjJn50ZGrMce2VvMOa91BJAwERuYwxqGYGG2kwp5Y2qNfdW4r00sjIG5bPh6PTxLuGDzfxkkNISWUkVxu5Xs6Iku_2MH_FVx4yHV5UbWE128V6yF2FyOuKQ/s1200/one-night-in-miami-review-2020.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="1200" height="369" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHdgSo96zoGjhF-1RaiurVhjJn50ZGrMce2VvMOa91BJAwERuYwxqGYGG2kwp5Y2qNfdW4r00sjIG5bPh6PTxLuGDzfxkkNISWUkVxu5Xs6Iku_2MH_FVx4yHV5UbWE128V6yF2FyOuKQ/w887-h369/one-night-in-miami-review-2020.jpg" width="887" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmBBVKGcHcqCEl1VSVHgnwOMpfpD0fAXE7xZiTN5oFPMnPvhGu51TDxo4sgzuRNiKAyiV7n-B8sunL-0bfFTinJdzuL1xu1BBqmzR8gOX-3hkE4hdX5C1zaGgSKRR0sMHRSlEj75_PIM8/s1920/one+night+in+miami+hallway.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="499" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmBBVKGcHcqCEl1VSVHgnwOMpfpD0fAXE7xZiTN5oFPMnPvhGu51TDxo4sgzuRNiKAyiV7n-B8sunL-0bfFTinJdzuL1xu1BBqmzR8gOX-3hkE4hdX5C1zaGgSKRR0sMHRSlEj75_PIM8/w888-h499/one+night+in+miami+hallway.jpg" width="888" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5CGgIEfx2LEgWZk5tUps6Kj9JaGclpKdbfyWqoa920WfGzxbGDpRVdC8cx5BHTfR3jlEn6Xlq6dw-_nDiA1wGgy9NCNvUfPIs9EdKS6pMP2KT63HeHQOt_EmGKYggGXGoFBLYXktPe6I/s1200/one+night+in+miami+opposed.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5CGgIEfx2LEgWZk5tUps6Kj9JaGclpKdbfyWqoa920WfGzxbGDpRVdC8cx5BHTfR3jlEn6Xlq6dw-_nDiA1wGgy9NCNvUfPIs9EdKS6pMP2KT63HeHQOt_EmGKYggGXGoFBLYXktPe6I/w889-h500/one+night+in+miami+opposed.jpg" width="889" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">The Wrestler</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">DP: Maryse Alberti</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>(2008)</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-3LzYC2MM0JdlEK3G6DSg8Ajjo7ofR5Trl0-Dld4KfmeaVdQxZu1QRw0YNl9PUHZx9tmWECkFKBloBSRZzk-bd9Xg0emzNd7_Cj2cYLLkknbAawGWiYLO19ioSwIyl1LJxUsDzVFzuZA/s461/wrestler-bfi-00o-0fh.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="346" data-original-width="461" height="654" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-3LzYC2MM0JdlEK3G6DSg8Ajjo7ofR5Trl0-Dld4KfmeaVdQxZu1QRw0YNl9PUHZx9tmWECkFKBloBSRZzk-bd9Xg0emzNd7_Cj2cYLLkknbAawGWiYLO19ioSwIyl1LJxUsDzVFzuZA/w871-h654/wrestler-bfi-00o-0fh.jpg" width="871" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvJ5oAuzDj1nBwINM7jPcg7Mr-oSWX5ZTxqRsUmKB17NKFrz3D8UIO1iXNQVbCCAiAXC6UBEAxO35iEa6XFBnts5XFm7M6qLv5ZnJy_bEiqhSPTBATV87hRHVtYDDs5im_oR9JJo0uw8c/s1296/the_wrestler_-_h_-_2008.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="730" data-original-width="1296" height="501" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvJ5oAuzDj1nBwINM7jPcg7Mr-oSWX5ZTxqRsUmKB17NKFrz3D8UIO1iXNQVbCCAiAXC6UBEAxO35iEa6XFBnts5XFm7M6qLv5ZnJy_bEiqhSPTBATV87hRHVtYDDs5im_oR9JJo0uw8c/w890-h501/the_wrestler_-_h_-_2008.jpg" width="890" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji2qh-q3-udWdB6TGoHiChT0fSA0e-8WkPIIfTJVA2Zo_zAAljv09tdpB3HR8uDymilVK6dqNIcbneKobCx7U6ExLBDMe1EI8Z8Xa8PEj0_d1aWZGLNSvQSlydfrcSG0f92f9yFKiyzuc/s1920/wrestler+triumph.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1278" data-original-width="1920" height="592" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji2qh-q3-udWdB6TGoHiChT0fSA0e-8WkPIIfTJVA2Zo_zAAljv09tdpB3HR8uDymilVK6dqNIcbneKobCx7U6ExLBDMe1EI8Z8Xa8PEj0_d1aWZGLNSvQSlydfrcSG0f92f9yFKiyzuc/w890-h592/wrestler+triumph.jpg" width="890" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">The Miseducation of Cameron Post</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">DP: Ashley Connor</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>(2018)</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5A4UidJTn-AF8ZSMbPwVcUIxnU5O7Y4IvN_Ilyc4dcWPo8PPDz_qCbFXmc3SyhhgzZehDf2zOAHN6UzsJ8U8XION1lnXH-awcCqszWVv-5f-ZHwsbWKmLxShva9FhaD2H6ehI0Xli4Co/s1024/cameron+post.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="551" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5A4UidJTn-AF8ZSMbPwVcUIxnU5O7Y4IvN_Ilyc4dcWPo8PPDz_qCbFXmc3SyhhgzZehDf2zOAHN6UzsJ8U8XION1lnXH-awcCqszWVv-5f-ZHwsbWKmLxShva9FhaD2H6ehI0Xli4Co/w894-h480/cameron+post.jpg" width="894" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7PcT0UdKGR-Mke3VaQClNSj3nCQyHETd2H3rpbIjWkYTLUvZZQj1jWk9rvLaaidhSxr9UCVyiaUNTg14khnpw_tRV3eMOlpLwF4inQbxlK-qpGPAqe_7fOdZago08dsbZEpu2gzdeslI/s1050/03themiseducation-trailerstill-videoSixteenByNine1050.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="591" data-original-width="1050" height="504" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7PcT0UdKGR-Mke3VaQClNSj3nCQyHETd2H3rpbIjWkYTLUvZZQj1jWk9rvLaaidhSxr9UCVyiaUNTg14khnpw_tRV3eMOlpLwF4inQbxlK-qpGPAqe_7fOdZago08dsbZEpu2gzdeslI/w894-h504/03themiseducation-trailerstill-videoSixteenByNine1050.jpg" width="894" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU46zxK4COjmzGYVXE_VogKxHqz3U6cvjCMt0SzTnEEFLQjGKGVHhOGUUhBHxdrZQy3E6xaXvGba13RjEwNhaLGR8PKSZKrGjjRmRG3dhegYM7PV_PNULxM85vRYUzPcG9Vr59qz1SRng/s2048/the-miseducation-of-cameron-post-hi-res1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1272" data-original-width="2048" height="557" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU46zxK4COjmzGYVXE_VogKxHqz3U6cvjCMt0SzTnEEFLQjGKGVHhOGUUhBHxdrZQy3E6xaXvGba13RjEwNhaLGR8PKSZKrGjjRmRG3dhegYM7PV_PNULxM85vRYUzPcG9Vr59qz1SRng/w895-h557/the-miseducation-of-cameron-post-hi-res1.jpg" width="895" /></a></div><br /><p>I did a similar post for Girl Week 2019 featuring ten different films, which you can <a href="https://dellonmovies.blogspot.com/2019/11/girl-week-2019-10-gorgeous-movies-shot.html">check out by clicking here</a>.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9-Pk9nTGSAK3VH4pZN_T96a8OxIOYuYk2Wq7H1cICM7QwsvEkLKfH_BmIF4aUckG9a08f7rKIvLS9meCpChTHzo6nEx4kmYaJ7mXLBcb8oqv3KmIi-FW_V6U8ZeYkH29Vt1c1XXIRu8s/s599/girl+week+1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="524" data-original-width="599" height="560" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9-Pk9nTGSAK3VH4pZN_T96a8OxIOYuYk2Wq7H1cICM7QwsvEkLKfH_BmIF4aUckG9a08f7rKIvLS9meCpChTHzo6nEx4kmYaJ7mXLBcb8oqv3KmIi-FW_V6U8ZeYkH29Vt1c1XXIRu8s/w640-h560/girl+week+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Day 3 Wrap-Up</b></span></p><p>It's not too late to join. We're going to keep this thing rocking until the 28th. I look forward to reading your contributions. Click below to check out the contributions that were made yesterday. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://ramblingfilm.blogspot.com/2021/11/girl-week-2021-studio-ghibli-edition.html">Rambling Film</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://cinematicdelights.com/2021/11/24/girl-week-2021-celebrating-the-iconic-grace-kelly/">Cinematic Delights</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://createdbybb.blogspot.com/2021/11/girl-week-2021_01820732311.html">BB Creations</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://dellonmovies.blogspot.com/2021/11/girl-week-2021-black-widow.html">Dell on Movies</a></span></p><p>Of course, if I missed your post let me know in the comment section and I'll fix it ASAP!</p><p><br /></p></div>Dellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05634519605152190304noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227751790693713235.post-64323245748166229492021-11-24T00:00:00.027-05:002021-11-24T00:18:48.441-05:00Girl Week 2021: Black Widow<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsBQrEU-p2psu14q4HQjqODv2eLqlDsKMGp8P1Oocbi8_Qxxo3Ox0smbLsjdSKvH2Fxl6swSW4hrH3vx3wVI-OujUw_86lV2kq9qwizeanGr0_1gTeOdXFzkMjZrtrCOrzUwxApHPzXKw/s1960/girl+week+black+widow.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="819" data-original-width="1960" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsBQrEU-p2psu14q4HQjqODv2eLqlDsKMGp8P1Oocbi8_Qxxo3Ox0smbLsjdSKvH2Fxl6swSW4hrH3vx3wVI-OujUw_86lV2kq9qwizeanGr0_1gTeOdXFzkMjZrtrCOrzUwxApHPzXKw/w640-h268/girl+week+black+widow.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><span><span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a> Welcome to Day 3 of Girl Week 2021! Thanks again to anyone who has joined me, or will join me, in our annual celebration of women in film. Keep the posts rolling in. You guys are doing a great job, as always. Now, let's get into some superhero stuff.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv3StQlIbGxX-abvvSe98j1oonpcgf32oN4sMbS11VjcagpbyCqDabLftBP2D7wbIR4d4WKQzyAaeNQmFNJciwdGJ-RvzWtQdytRuvys9xkH_nIc3BUwFlAQ5XTHE-MIBNJijHU3GbcLU/s2000/Marvels-Black-Widow.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1271" data-original-width="2000" height="572" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv3StQlIbGxX-abvvSe98j1oonpcgf32oN4sMbS11VjcagpbyCqDabLftBP2D7wbIR4d4WKQzyAaeNQmFNJciwdGJ-RvzWtQdytRuvys9xkH_nIc3BUwFlAQ5XTHE-MIBNJijHU3GbcLU/w640-h406/Marvels-Black-Widow.jpg" width="900" /></a><span style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Directed by Cate Shortland.</span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><i>2021. Rated PG-13, 134 minutes.</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><i>Cast: Scarlett Johansson, Florence Pugh, Rachel Weisz, David Harbour, Ray Winstone, Olga Kurylenko, Ever Anderson, Violet McGraw, William Hurt, O.T. Fabenie, Ryan Kiera Armstrong, Michelle Lee.</i></span></div><p> Way back in <i>Iron Man 2</i>, a character named Natasha, AKA Black Widow, made her debut, played by Scarlett Johansson. She wasn't superpowered or using previously unimaginable tech. She was just an incredibly high level spy with some amazing hand-to-hand combat skills. Owing much to Johansson's appearance, especially when all of it is poured into a sleek, black catsuit, and Marvel's fanbase being full of mouth-breathing, eternally teenage boys, she became an instant fan favorite. If you're offended I'll take it as meaning you're one of said mouth breathers. It's okay. I'm a member of the club. This takes nothing away from Johansson's acting because she's phenomenal in that area, as well. The point is, she became a mainstay of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and one of the few female superheroes for whom people were clamoring to see a solo adventure on the big screen. Thanks to years of backroom shenanigans and a global pandemic, it didn't happen until now, at least five years too late, two if you limit yourself to the events of a certain other film. Things worked themselves out, the shenanigans not the pandemic (yet), and he we are.</p><p><span> Where we are is Ohio in 1995. We meet Natasha, a pre or early teen (then played by Anderson), her younger sister Yelena (McGraw), and their parents Alexei (Harbour) and Melina (Weisz). They seem to be a typical middle-class American family until Dad announces that everything has hit the fan and they gotta go. Now. Soon enough, they've made it to a private air strip and boarded a plane with some dangerous folks in hot pursuit. Narrow escape. Cut to them landing the plane and us finding out that the entire family is made up of Russian operatives who are not actually related. We also find out that Yelena knows nothing of what's going on and that she and Natasha have been forced into this life. To these two it was real, and they consider themselves sisters. Flash forward to somewhere in the MCU timeline between <i>Captain America: Civil War</i> and <i>Avengers: Infinity War</i>. Natasha is an Avenger, but also a fugitive after the events of <i>Civil War</i>. Yelena (now played by Florence Pugh) is a full-fledged Russian spy/assassin known as a Widow. Moments after we catch up with her, she is broken free from the mind control that keeps the Widows in line. Of course, the sisters reunite and try to take down whoever is responsible.</span><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVnTvTu1Y_OvdZYbyoRuRikvpcgVJiKZ80lg_h3odX4d_uR4Dc5ohwZX-sUBvS7KbT2LdWdxacJ2OSZFv2i9qttXpS-fGFaWNTZYyJvI3czhgixmGETd44hCizfuW0m4B9TKeUpjrWEFs/s1280/black+widow+reunited.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="1280" height="355" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVnTvTu1Y_OvdZYbyoRuRikvpcgVJiKZ80lg_h3odX4d_uR4Dc5ohwZX-sUBvS7KbT2LdWdxacJ2OSZFv2i9qttXpS-fGFaWNTZYyJvI3czhgixmGETd44hCizfuW0m4B9TKeUpjrWEFs/w640-h268/black+widow+reunited.jpg" width="850" /></a></div><p></p><p><span> Through its spy flick leanings and heavier reliance on practical fx than most MCU movies, Black Widow invites comparisons to <i>Captain America: Winter Soldier</i>. For several reasons, it doesn't quite get to those heights, but it holds its own against much of this universe. The action is naturally more impactful thanks to our heroine being of flesh and bone at her most powerful, while most others achieve their greatest feats as a collection of pixels. This is most beneficial to fight scenes. Blows actually feel like they cause pain. The drawback is that they are often over-edited with lots of quick cuts and the camera too close. </span>Both Johansson and Pugh have clearly put in the work to make this come across on screen. When the camera pulls back and allows us to see what's happening it appears they don't need to be obscured as much as they are. Johansson, in particular, has previously shown the athleticism necessary to make a believable super spy without relying on cheap tricks. Therefore, what's meant to add to the illusion subtracts from it. </p><p> When the action slows down, the odd family dynamics and/or tight situations the characters find themselves in help keep the story moving along at a good pace. These are the part of the film where David Harbour shines as Alexei. Aside from the opening, he serves up most of the comic relief and does a good job of it. Narratively, this is a bit of an issue because he comes across like a complete moron, and stays that way, but we know that he can't be that simple based on the job he once had. Anyhoo, his shtick keeps us entertained when not a whole lot is happening. Because of this, he winds up being memorable, but not nearly the best among the cast. Those honors go to Johansson and Pugh as a tandem since they share so much screen time. The two play well off each other with Rachel Weisz providing a strong third wheel. At many points, more attention is actually paid to Pugh's character. That's when, like T'Challa in <i>Black Panther</i>, Natasha feels like a side character in her own film. Here's where the Marvel formula bites this film in the rear. All of its movies are made with an eye towards altering or maintaining the overarching direction of the MCU. This means something or someone is always being set up for future installments. This is speculation born of watching every movie in the MCU multiple times, but it seems their philosophy is if the main character has to share the spotlight in order to push the overall narrative, so be it.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB7WdWyhqegh2sdvi0zA50aIAwzaKs83e6zJ6B93sfAlUMy0LdFA3DMUaV2TaMOcK_cry0vmOpW_J-uuPjN24lTh9zxV8ni7jiGDewJb80QwDjqoc-Ql1jEuT4uoUwvtz-LMWbCZo-01s/s1262/blackwidow-taskmaster.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="1262" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB7WdWyhqegh2sdvi0zA50aIAwzaKs83e6zJ6B93sfAlUMy0LdFA3DMUaV2TaMOcK_cry0vmOpW_J-uuPjN24lTh9zxV8ni7jiGDewJb80QwDjqoc-Ql1jEuT4uoUwvtz-LMWbCZo-01s/w640-h330/blackwidow-taskmaster.jpeg" width="800" /></a></div><p> The third act is when things start to fall apart. The movie's biggest sin is that it holds relatively few surprises. We know what's going to happen, and often, how. It doesn't get boring. It's too kinetic for that, but the intrigue is missing. No longer locked in, we start noticing and nit-picking things. We realize that this film has one of the worst villains in all of the MCU. He goes full Bond baddie, including coming up with contrived ways to kill the hero he already has dead to rights. His main henchman is suddenly not as formidable as they were at the beginning of the movie. And if we haven't already had a problem with it, we notice that pixie dust is way too important in this particular slice of make-believe. Finally, all the blows and falls endured by our heroines start to add up in our brain and we think about how many times they could and should be dead. Still, things fly around, smoke, crash, and go boom so hopefully you won't mind too much.</p><p><span><span> It all boils down to how you feel about the MCU and superhero movies, in general. If you're a fan you're more likely to enjoy Black Widow. It's fun, if a bit long, and has lots of good ideas. A weak villain keeps another MCU film from reaching its full potential. Ranking it against the rest of the franchise, I'd say it manages to get into the top half, but not quite top 10. If you're already burned out on superhero flicks, this isn't going to reignite the flame.</span></span></p><p><span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgotoqIMwZop7nuaO4eQ9TkxlF-w1EGEaaCfBEyxO_tXs9YitCNqqeDSrJF6s6SLCZWU3kxtMvkhwY6aejY1w9Eb-Jyf6WnPQQq4KA6VNgW5xmFySCF78URr6fDI_FGwn_HmTaHwa5mei8/s700/girl+week+2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="489" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgotoqIMwZop7nuaO4eQ9TkxlF-w1EGEaaCfBEyxO_tXs9YitCNqqeDSrJF6s6SLCZWU3kxtMvkhwY6aejY1w9Eb-Jyf6WnPQQq4KA6VNgW5xmFySCF78URr6fDI_FGwn_HmTaHwa5mei8/w448-h640/girl+week+2.jpg" width="448" /></a></span></div><span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: xx-large;">Day 2 Wrap-Up</b></div></span><div><span><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span><span>It's not too late to join. We're going to keep this thing rocking until the 28th. I look forward to reading your contributions. Click below to check out the contributions that were made yesterday.</span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://weegiemidget.wordpress.com/2021/11/23/tv-hart-to-hart-1979-cop-out-series-1-episode-7/">Realweegiemidget Reviews</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://1001plus.blogspot.com/2021/11/oh-baby.html">1001 Plus</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://dellonmovies.blogspot.com/2021/11/girl-week-2021-imitation-of-life-1959.html">Super-Reader Joel</a></span></div><div><br /><p></p><p><span><span>Of course, if I missed your post let me know in the comment section and I'll fix it ASAP!</span></span></p><p><span><span><br /></span></span></p></div></div>Dellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05634519605152190304noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227751790693713235.post-74099130181692328872021-11-23T01:03:00.003-05:002021-11-28T23:07:17.264-05:00Girl Week 2021: Imitation of Life (1959), a Guest Post by Joel<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ncSzapg9qJefG-b52j9lhFaJvdm5BHTeK8GU3rhkPM5IP1Q39UH_1oFVtKutMps6kPa5SDtux1JFz4PEjm2aqs8Goy1F6eqpSgaVCnTIBVkBEzmPQB5gzZPVZMHJ8HGo9jbErEL3INk/s598/girl+week+imitation+of+life.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="327" data-original-width="598" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ncSzapg9qJefG-b52j9lhFaJvdm5BHTeK8GU3rhkPM5IP1Q39UH_1oFVtKutMps6kPa5SDtux1JFz4PEjm2aqs8Goy1F6eqpSgaVCnTIBVkBEzmPQB5gzZPVZMHJ8HGo9jbErEL3INk/w640-h350/girl+week+imitation+of+life.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a>Welcome to Day 2 of Girl Week 2021! Day 1 got things off to a great start. And now, Super Reader Joel gets to put in his two cents. Without further adieu, I'll turn things over to him.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8J6p_JIvz3ea7V-DUoTINHb8CrlWMqTQXzB2z8_ZWG2CfHXk332bCkqM4VZF1MN7daxZucu8MHyCs9ostm0NwP-HmTDQAzfKo1NZ8npdYogoFHUKfxppUV-2SIqGmxr3PkH2PnV6JGQc/s1193/imitation+of+life.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="1193" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8J6p_JIvz3ea7V-DUoTINHb8CrlWMqTQXzB2z8_ZWG2CfHXk332bCkqM4VZF1MN7daxZucu8MHyCs9ostm0NwP-HmTDQAzfKo1NZ8npdYogoFHUKfxppUV-2SIqGmxr3PkH2PnV6JGQc/w783-h392/imitation+of+life.jpg" width="783" /></a></div><b style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">Directed by Douglas Sirk. </span></b></p></span></b><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><i>1959. Not Rated, 125 minutes. </i></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Cast:
Lana Turner, Juanita Moore, Susan Kohner, Sandra Dee, John Gavin, Dan O’Herlihy, Robert Alda, Terry Burnham, Karin Dicker </i></div><div><br /></div><div>On a crowded Coney Island beach in the late 40’s widow Lora Meredith (Lana Turner) becomes separated from her young daughter Susie. As she frantically searches photographer Steve Archer (John Gavin) offers his help and they quickly discover Susie safe with single mother Annie Johnson (Juanita Moore) and her daughter Sarah Jane who is Susie’s age.<br /><br />
Lora and Annie become acquainted while the girls, who have quickly formed a bond, play in the sand. During their talk aspiring actress Lora mentions she often feels overwhelmed raising a child alone while trying to build a career and wishes she had help. Annie, unemployed and temporarily homeless, sees a solution to both their problems and offers to come and as she puts it “do for you.” Lora while appreciative of the offer, though she cannot afford to pay her, asks Annie why she would want to leave a job taking care of Sarah Jane and is surprised when Annie, who is black, states that the extremely fair Sarah Jane is her daughter. She explains that Sarah Jane’s father, who had deserted them shortly after her birth, was “practically white” and they had just come from somewhere where Annie’s color had “deviled” her baby. Since then, she had been unable to find work because she refused to be separated from her girl.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii5vGkLZDsZPrNETh4eP7bVF4fiPFUYer56WKHOlFrd35FrvW8Wdb54lKyA-uSI8A3yIb3_Pz6boX3bde-OPT2pP22fNFbOe8-iKPbdBSMm4eAAR2_yYyVVSrKpXWeX1RIzrFxIpMmGTg/s720/imitation_beach.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="384" data-original-width="720" height="399" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii5vGkLZDsZPrNETh4eP7bVF4fiPFUYer56WKHOlFrd35FrvW8Wdb54lKyA-uSI8A3yIb3_Pz6boX3bde-OPT2pP22fNFbOe8-iKPbdBSMm4eAAR2_yYyVVSrKpXWeX1RIzrFxIpMmGTg/w747-h399/imitation_beach.jpg" width="747" /></a></div><div><br />
Lora, grateful and moved by Annie’s story, takes them into her tiny cold water flat for what she at first thinks will be only a brief period but almost immediately realizes that together they are a strong unit. Providing emotional support for each other, companionship for their daughters and the ability for Lora to pursue her career while Annie manages their home life their fortunes quickly turn around but there is trouble brewing. <br /><br />
Just as Lora finally gets a chance for her big break Steve Archer, who has pursued her ever since that meeting on the beach, lands a big job in advertising and proposes marriage. Lora is tempted but there’s a catch. Steve wants her to abandon her dreams of an artistic life to be a housewife. She feels that after all her years of toil and with success within her grasp she cannot give it up. Steve unwilling to see her perspective gives her an ultimatum which goes badly and they part. Enormous success follows shortly after when she becomes the toast of Broadway in a frothy comedy. <br /><br />
But an even larger problem looms. Unknown to all fair skinned Sarah Jane has been passing for white at school. When her mother brings her lunch one day her secret is exposed, and Sarah Jane flees in horror. The immensely kind and understanding Annie draws a line at this and tells her daughter it’s a sin to deny who you are but Sarah Jane, seeing the privileges of being Caucasian in pre-Civil Rights Movement America, is unswayed. When Lora tries to comfort her saying it’s simply a phase Annie, who sees a deeper problem of identity, says she doesn’t think so and asks, “How do you tell a child that she was born to be hurt?”</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAMIxlSBijWaYueqb1-G3AQ2I5jdDYUzvyx5SlX4KxFBiwSpBtiunzwvHb88lBYPZnfL3O5_faxkstzYh2xEc07Nfw-sWJAYFEupOS59S4Tjbz8VCLw81gMhZe2EJpcnSNewjCpR6EB4I/s1600/imitation-of-life-watching-videoSixteenByNineJumbo1600-v2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="1600" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAMIxlSBijWaYueqb1-G3AQ2I5jdDYUzvyx5SlX4KxFBiwSpBtiunzwvHb88lBYPZnfL3O5_faxkstzYh2xEc07Nfw-sWJAYFEupOS59S4Tjbz8VCLw81gMhZe2EJpcnSNewjCpR6EB4I/w741-h418/imitation-of-life-watching-videoSixteenByNineJumbo1600-v2.jpg" width="741" /></a></div><div><br />
As a decade passes Lora, now one of the biggest stars on Broadway moves the family to a lavish home in a tony New York suburb. But though the surroundings have become more plush thorny issues remain. <br /><br />
In pursuit of her successful career Lora has relied on the ever-faithful Annie-homemaker, governess, confidante, and best friend, to be the emotional support for Susie leading to a somewhat strained relationship between mother and daughter. At a party after Lora’s latest stage triumph Steve reenters her life and the two, admitting their feelings for each other have never faded, quickly become serious. However, Lora signs to do a film in Italy and asks Steve to watch over the now-teenaged Susie (Sandra Dee) and she promptly develops an unrequited crush on the dashing older man who remains obliquely unaware. <br /><br />
But the true heartbreak continues to come via Sarah Jane (Susan Kohner) who has tried to establish herself in their new surroundings as a rich white girl. When she takes Susie into her confidence the other girl warns her that neither of their mothers would stand for the deception if they knew but Sarah Jane heedlessly begins dating preppy teen Frankie (Troy Donahue). Hoping for an escape through a quick marriage he instead beats her severely after learning she is black. Crawling home she lashes out at Annie blaming her for telling people she is her daughter. The situation only worsens afterward taking a heavy emotional and physical toll on Annie when Sarah Jane flees leaving no clue to her whereabouts. <br /><br />
Returning from Italy Lora takes charge asking Steve to hire a private detective who quickly finds Sarah Jane working in California as a showgirl under the name of Linda Carroll and still passing. Lora offers to retrieve her but Annie, despite being ill insists on flying there herself. What follows is a heartrending encounter with a beaten down Annie apologizing for selfishly loving her daughter too much to leave her alone without knowing she’s alright and Sarah Jane anguished and torn but determined to lead the life she desperately desires, even if that is an imitation of life. As they share one final embrace Sarah Jane's roommate enters and presumes Annie is the maid, but Annie says that she is the former nanny of "Miss Linda" and leaves. The roommate teases “Linda” saying “Why honeychile you had a Mammy” to which the shattered Sarah Jane tearfully responds “Yes, all my life!”</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqEYiTzc948NZZ9Rr3xVQucZeKX_-40hiIe1cng1CpR7jA0cUDqCZGglDQgCvEDO2x4a4si4cYeUprWtbxp_K1V2clrkAyALjHf0fHGu9tEI0AZP0PLRklArzFPfFVC9CbyZFP8EIQJJc/s400/all+my+life.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="400" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqEYiTzc948NZZ9Rr3xVQucZeKX_-40hiIe1cng1CpR7jA0cUDqCZGglDQgCvEDO2x4a4si4cYeUprWtbxp_K1V2clrkAyALjHf0fHGu9tEI0AZP0PLRklArzFPfFVC9CbyZFP8EIQJJc/w730-h456/all+my+life.jpg" width="730" /></a></div><br />
A broken Annie returns home and with roles reversed the self-involved but loyal Lora looks after her with Susie’s help. But the years have taken a heavy toll on both women and there is still more sorrow ahead for all before a tear-jerking resolution. What remains unchanged through everything though is the two mothers deep and steadfast friendship and unflagging devotion to each other. <br /><br />
What seems on the surface a lush soap opera is thanks to director Douglas Sirk’s bold use of colors, subjective camera angles and lighting as well as his ability to wrap social comment on a variety of subjects (racism, social inequality, casual misogyny, the bonds of female friendships and other of life's vicissitudes) in palatable cinematic language and textures (as well as wardrobe-the jewelry that Lana Turner wears was touted as worth one million dollars!) it becomes a layered indictment of those very themes…. plus, a good cry. Considered his masterpiece exploring the pain and futility of pretending, the fraud of upward mobility, the rejection of a mother's love, and the walking hell of unresolved regret Sirk closed out his career with this film. <br /><br />
It certainly struck a chord with the public becoming a top hit of the year and one of Universal’s most profitable films in its history earning 6.4 million (that’s approximately 70 mil in 2021 dollars) in its first year of release earning both Juanita Moore and Susan Kohner Best Supporting Actress nominations for their powerful performances. Though there was some comment on the fact that Susan Kohner was not biracial-her mother was Mexican film star Lupita Tovar (who lived to 106!) and her father Austrian-American producer Paul Kohner-that was a standard practice at the time and the power of her performance speaks for itself.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>(Editor's Note: Kohner having a white father and a Mexican mother does make her bi-racial, but not in a way relevant to the character, so Joel's point stands)</i><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjlQ988zNwACX1rJRjD8cThdJeBKRpTuYPew8doB4jW6kbKCAsTOY4S3EdYQ02ocSkw3SeVHXZvwjNKqgTJrJMKD8o7OeMZ8TNHGLCr9JkjwceLYM4rr8weOjVFsu2TCG86mPpukfi1gY/s599/imitation+of+life+susan.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="328" data-original-width="599" height="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjlQ988zNwACX1rJRjD8cThdJeBKRpTuYPew8doB4jW6kbKCAsTOY4S3EdYQ02ocSkw3SeVHXZvwjNKqgTJrJMKD8o7OeMZ8TNHGLCr9JkjwceLYM4rr8weOjVFsu2TCG86mPpukfi1gY/w734-h402/imitation+of+life+susan.jpg" width="734" /></a></div><div><br /></div>While much of that can be credited to the power of the picture there are other factors that fed into its success.<br /><br />One was the presence of the rapidly rising Sandra Dee as the teen Susie. She’s sweet in the film but hers is the least demanding role. Just seventeen at this point by the following year she would be a Top Ten box office star (she ranks #6 of all 60’s stars) and remain there from 1960 through 1964 as she starred in a string of hits and had what appeared a fairytale marriage to singer Bobby Darin. Unfortunately, that was mostly an illusion. Though their union did produce a son-Dodd the marriage was plagued by Darin’s ego, insecurities (during their marriage he discovered the woman he thought was his sister was in fact his mother and was devastated) and health issues (frail from birth he had a rheumatic heart which resulted in his death at 37), separations and her own scarifying issues. Pushed into a career by her mother as a child model at 10 and later an actress and sexually molested by her stepfather for years she sought refuge in a secret eating disorder throughout her major star years. After the collapse of her marriage and fading of her career that was exacerbated by alcoholism. Eventually afflicted with extreme agoraphobia and a host of other phobias for some time she was still able to perform (that was work) but unable to endure anything that involved actual social interaction (for instance she was unable to attend her son’s wedding). Ultimately, she became a shut-in dying at 62 from the effects of years of self-punishment.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwHjHnDNdWMZeAx6CX5aeBo4ppUlz3fyPrReF654jeSB2nZR_o-OQR-1L-4SohCtz3ZzKuvnnn_ghBpKalwyaXTSNZsJ88JHX6i-4jqStwmYyixOnaFpqi5OhscC_qy6CaN9xObRCvGSc/s968/imitation+of+life+sandra+dee.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="544" data-original-width="968" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwHjHnDNdWMZeAx6CX5aeBo4ppUlz3fyPrReF654jeSB2nZR_o-OQR-1L-4SohCtz3ZzKuvnnn_ghBpKalwyaXTSNZsJ88JHX6i-4jqStwmYyixOnaFpqi5OhscC_qy6CaN9xObRCvGSc/w704-h396/imitation+of+life+sandra+dee.jpg" width="704" /></a></div><br /><div>But the major draw was the return to the screen of Lana Turner after a headline grabbing scandal. One of the biggest superstars of the 40’s and 50’s Lana was at a crossroads and her private life in tatters. An appallingly poor judge of men, partly it seems because her own father was beaten to death when she was six-the murder never solved-leaving her mother and she impoverished, and she was always seeking the security of a man without weighing the consequences or value of the individual. Her daughter later said that out of her eight marriages to seven different men she had managed only one worthwhile husband (that one man was not her father who she considered a good man but a lousy husband). But her biggest misjudgment was becoming involved with mobster Johnny Stompanato (she was not aware of his mob connections at first). Their relationship was brief but catastrophic. A dangerously violent man he was frequently physically abusive to Lana retaining his hold on her through intimation, but his threats escalated when she chose to attend the Academy Awards (where she was nominated for Best Actress in <i>Peyton Place</i>) without him. A few days afterwards he appeared at her house threatening to first disfigure then kill Lana, her daughter Cheryl, and her mother. Fourteen-year-old Cheryl hearing the altercation went to her mother’s defense grabbing a knife as she passed through the kitchen. Upon entering the room Stompanato lunged at her impaling himself on the blade and bleeding to death. A media circus descended on mother and daughter and though the death was ruled justifiable homicide Lana was treated like toxic waste by most studios, however producer Ross Hunter took a chance on her. Because of the similarities in the script to her life Lana was reluctant to accept but the trial had wiped her out financially and she had little choice settling for 50% percent of the profits rather than salary. That turned out to be a wise move, when the film was a hit she became financially secure for the rest of her life. Her luster restored she maintained a solid film career for another half decade then worked intermittently but did manage to repair her relationship with her daughter before her passing in 1995.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIbpsULT7Mq70jC3iFMOd2yZ72jDoD3WDfLcDfbFtLwMH6zNcfFHpCtKNO5OJLmGBMUHCWOLwncowKGwqGXDhJEmzLgIyB4ucS-LiP5a7TVycBlgGFBZWndynlA27GIZvJJo7yaQ46c0I/s1280/imitation_of_life_1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="393" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIbpsULT7Mq70jC3iFMOd2yZ72jDoD3WDfLcDfbFtLwMH6zNcfFHpCtKNO5OJLmGBMUHCWOLwncowKGwqGXDhJEmzLgIyB4ucS-LiP5a7TVycBlgGFBZWndynlA27GIZvJJo7yaQ46c0I/w699-h393/imitation_of_life_1.jpg" width="699" /></a></div><div><br />Ironically the two performers who had the worst of it in the film Juanita Moore (Annie) and Susan Kohner (Sarah Jane) had much happier lives than their counterparts.<br /><br />While her Oscar nomination didn’t lead to a bigger career as it would today Moore continued to work consistently in film, theatre and television while enjoying a 50-year marriage and living to the age of 99 passing away in 2014.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeUxe2Guo8CiK95IMVKF7qIfSxo8_iLo7PvRqhvSO5j84Gg-uJUS_qPsJ-9TjLyuIOgtvQmeeToJ4vAuieX6Eu_Y0xRkOS4YBiDWjMcO_GQRK_coFB5xop9p-yq3RgXpDUEhtCIynPjPU/s625/juanita+moore%252C+imitation+of+life+2.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="340" data-original-width="625" height="379" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeUxe2Guo8CiK95IMVKF7qIfSxo8_iLo7PvRqhvSO5j84Gg-uJUS_qPsJ-9TjLyuIOgtvQmeeToJ4vAuieX6Eu_Y0xRkOS4YBiDWjMcO_GQRK_coFB5xop9p-yq3RgXpDUEhtCIynPjPU/w697-h379/juanita+moore%252C+imitation+of+life+2.PNG" width="697" /></a></div><br /><div>Susan Kohner on the other hand seemed poised to be a major star but after acting for a few more years she married novelist John Weitz and chose to retire and raise their children. Those children, Chris and Paul Weitz, are the producing/directing team behind the original <i>American Pie, About a Boy, Twilight</i> and many other films. She is the lone surviving member of the cast.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtV1KNMVCNS5bp8IYYV4CEDICu-MrDHjnri83sOHpHUVehyK6cy34cPoIOObuZ3jCa0_aLWe48EVVSHvStMy4TTxrTqMQ8dZQC3zsFZpgcKK5Ch3rfsld5o-qH3EQ0gYVuamkwafNegOM/s385/imitation+susan+kohner.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="385" data-original-width="343" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtV1KNMVCNS5bp8IYYV4CEDICu-MrDHjnri83sOHpHUVehyK6cy34cPoIOObuZ3jCa0_aLWe48EVVSHvStMy4TTxrTqMQ8dZQC3zsFZpgcKK5Ch3rfsld5o-qH3EQ0gYVuamkwafNegOM/w570-h640/imitation+susan+kohner.jpg" width="570" /></a></div><br /><div><i>Imitation of Life</i> based on a Fannie Hurst novel and adapted previously for the screen in 1934 under the same title with Claudette Colbert and Louise Beavers-a good film but missing this one’s emotional resonance-was added to the National Film Registry in 2015 and has been named by multiple critical surveys as one of the fifty greatest American films. It also inspired a book about the making of the film and the issues that swirled around it entitled “<i>Born to be Hurt.</i>”<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHDrLR5RCcSMgL1v_Wp5E68AkZQX4_lxQ-t5CCDQiTPNq3INATAOy1W0zRHjN10Rd7RMS_O9n5N38DWjl7WDECVJ2_-PzyvW9KEiC8VWKOL-P3gW-oSCX9aSMrJCnkTNFyfR3k5pNvEtE/s438/girl+week+4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="316" data-original-width="438" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHDrLR5RCcSMgL1v_Wp5E68AkZQX4_lxQ-t5CCDQiTPNq3INATAOy1W0zRHjN10Rd7RMS_O9n5N38DWjl7WDECVJ2_-PzyvW9KEiC8VWKOL-P3gW-oSCX9aSMrJCnkTNFyfR3k5pNvEtE/w640-h462/girl+week+4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Thanks, Joel! It so happens that I've reviewed this film myself. <a href="https://dellonmovies.blogspot.com/2011/08/imitation-of-life.html">Click here for my thoughts on Imitation of Life</a>.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Day 1 Wrap-Up</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As stated at the beginning of this post, Girl Week 2021 got off to a great start yesterday. Here are the links to the all the posts that came in - an embarrassment of riches.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://createdbybb.blogspot.com/2021/11/girl-week-2021.html">BB Creations</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://thevoid99.blogspot.com/2021/11/girl-week-2021-shiva-baby.html">Surrender to the Void</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://justacineast.blogspot.com/2021/11/girl-week-orlando.html">Just a Cineast</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://takinguproom.wordpress.com/2021/11/22/draculas-daughter/">Taking Up Room</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.itwaslikemagic.com/girl-week-2021-favorite-female-leads-in-romantic-comedies/">It Was Like Magic</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://dellonmovies.blogspot.com/2021/11/girl-week-2021-zola.html">Dell on Movies</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As always, if I missed your post, just let me know in the comments below and I will gladly edit this post to fit you in. Please check out all of these posts that everyone worked very hard on. And of course, keep those entries coming!</div><br /></div>Dellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05634519605152190304noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227751790693713235.post-32704849725966990532021-11-22T00:00:00.013-05:002021-11-22T17:57:38.101-05:00Girl Week 2021: Zola<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMvLOT7234KflE039LjWc5VJRlEVriOOEl3VGvNGxH0zUslIkoBh8-dR1lJMY81dgaExA_kOYUGAwk1PF0BHDqazKCko_bEIUAVd-kc1fg0aMH0dmOGtanagKf_qhhuq2BwlHApNaIDr4/s1030/girl+week+zola.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="580" data-original-width="1030" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMvLOT7234KflE039LjWc5VJRlEVriOOEl3VGvNGxH0zUslIkoBh8-dR1lJMY81dgaExA_kOYUGAwk1PF0BHDqazKCko_bEIUAVd-kc1fg0aMH0dmOGtanagKf_qhhuq2BwlHApNaIDr4/w640-h360/girl+week+zola.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p><span><span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a> Welcome to Day 1 of Girl Week 2021! Thanks in advance to anyone who decides to join me in annual celebration of women in film. I'm excited to see what you guys come up with. In the meantime, let's kick this thing off.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9DCF2j278D1qNtiZyW7KICjbCZYrMkeEtMVOAUi6HtqmYhVOVThVArcSOkSOkmHlfjIS5ZtJsExaYk5h6WYLNznvQfyLtEsey2V3axbaYjeTlOn0JjmcRaBVFQbJbzkjxQMsV-6WKAuM/s720/zola+solo.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="406" data-original-width="720" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9DCF2j278D1qNtiZyW7KICjbCZYrMkeEtMVOAUi6HtqmYhVOVThVArcSOkSOkmHlfjIS5ZtJsExaYk5h6WYLNznvQfyLtEsey2V3axbaYjeTlOn0JjmcRaBVFQbJbzkjxQMsV-6WKAuM/w640-h360/zola+solo.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Directed by Janicza Bravo.</span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><i>2020. Rated R, 86 minutes.</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><i>Cast: Taylour Paige, Riley Keough, Colman Domingo, Nicholas Braun, Ari'el Stachel, Nelcie Souffrant, Jason Mitchell, Nasir Rahim, Ta Madison, Latasha Glenn, Kalesha Johnson, Sophie Hall.</i></span></div><p><span> </span>Right from the beginning, Zola lets you know its going to be a cautionary tale. There's no mistaking it's "don't try this at home" tone, even though it's presented like nothing more than the latest gossip. The eponymous Zola opens the film asking us, "Y'all wanna hear a story about why me and this bitch here fell out?" We've already answered in the affirmative by daring to start watching, so she continues, "It's kind of long, but full of suspense." And away we go. </p><p><span> What I didn't know going in was that those opening sentences were the first lines of a twitter thread started by a real person, Aziah "Zola" Wells, detailing the accounts of a strange and scary weekend she actually experienced. It eventually stretched out to 148 tweets which serve as the framework for the film. If you're an old fart, like me, this makes you roll your eyes and think, "Oh no, what have I gotten myself into?" However, it's much better than its origins sound. It uses those first lines to hook us. We can't help but want to hear the story of how Zola "and this bitch here fell out." And it all begins with a chance meeting.</span></p><p><span><span> Zola (Paige) works as a waitress in Detroit and happens to be serving Stefani (Keough). The two hit it off when Stefani finds out Zola occasionally strips to help make ends meet. Stefani herself is a stripper. They exchange numbers and promise to hit each other up and hang out. Not one to waste time, Stefani contacts Zola the next day and asks Zola to join her on a trip to Tampa, Florida to dance at a club where they could make "thousands" for just a couple nights work. Easy money. Zola agrees. When Stefani arrives to pick her up there are two gentleman along for the ride: Stefani's boyfriend Derrek (Braun) and a much older guy whom Stefani says "takes care of me." Zola then lets us know that in stripper language that means he is her pimp. He is played by the forever underrated Colman Domingo. Even though we know what he is, who he isn't clear because it's a long time before even Zola learns his name. The moment this quartet arrives in Tampa things spiral out of control.</span><br /></span></p><p><span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCaqs0gCv_39EFM064h1j6Zsrr4qxrjubtyp2sfMUk0psrn7CE3qxgnEeNTVAqTU9CRzIE6YBddVzyo783GbtuUph18-gqZarkhVGlvibu_wEfu6ge6TH2iQD8yqzz0Axq0UON1s67Y9A/s760/210629-zola-al-1247.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="416" data-original-width="760" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCaqs0gCv_39EFM064h1j6Zsrr4qxrjubtyp2sfMUk0psrn7CE3qxgnEeNTVAqTU9CRzIE6YBddVzyo783GbtuUph18-gqZarkhVGlvibu_wEfu6ge6TH2iQD8yqzz0Axq0UON1s67Y9A/w640-h350/210629-zola-al-1247.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><p></p><p><span><span><span> Like with other movies I write about, I avoided reviews of it before writing my own. However, I did come across a snippet that said (and I'm paraphrasing) that this movie "gets" the internet. It's true. It gets the internet better than any of those slew of movies we've gotten in the last decade filling up the screen with some character's monitor as they click away and talk with someone on a group call. Its understanding of the way twenty-somethings interact with each other in the digital age is central to its success. The attitudes, conversations, and demeanors all feel genuine. Even their decision making, as questionable as it is from all involved, feels real. Circumstances informs these choices. They also change and escalate throughout the film. </span><br /></span></span></p><p><span><span><span><span> If its understanding of friendship in the age of social media grounds the film, the chemistry between Taylour Paige and Riley Keough gives it wings. Their performances feed off and elevate one another. Though we're immediately set up to distrust Keough's Stefani, we can sense why Paige's Zola quickly gains faith in her, at least enough to go on an impromptu road trip. To aid in this, Keough is able to quickly show us a convincing mask of charm and vulnerability when only Stefani and Zola are in he room. It falls away whenever others are around. Her magic is in being able to reassemble it whenever she needs to. Keough makes Stefani one of those people whom you sense is lying, but you're still compelled to help. On the other hand, Paige's Zola is clearly a smart woman, but she's in over her head and in survival mode. Every decision she makes is based on self-preservation. She tells us as much. However, she maintains a sense of sisterhood with Stefani. It makes her incredulous about her own behavior because she can't keep from trying to get the most out of this situation for Stefani. Whenever she does something beneficial to Stefani, you can hear the disgust in Zola's voice, partially for Stefani and the overall situation, but partially for herself, too. She knows it may come back to bite her.</span><br /></span></span></span></p><p><span><span><span></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><span><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxcl3qeRl_ld23R6ZtYTiYCuj8_Ky4qnJxDS5rVqMM9VA-LNI9WWi_bpS2ry1-syKsVYV-BIi2KzHjrjPqd_deZkCR3YKn-Ftvd0XzumShx-gFY5-bZnoFCA4pyKiSZ3b8Y5dPv8WJsqc/s2048/MCDZOLA_EC004.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxcl3qeRl_ld23R6ZtYTiYCuj8_Ky4qnJxDS5rVqMM9VA-LNI9WWi_bpS2ry1-syKsVYV-BIi2KzHjrjPqd_deZkCR3YKn-Ftvd0XzumShx-gFY5-bZnoFCA4pyKiSZ3b8Y5dPv8WJsqc/w640-h320/MCDZOLA_EC004.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></span></div><p><span><span><span><span><span><span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> What drags <i>Zola</i> back to Earth a bit is it's ending. It's abrupt and leaves us feeling as if things haven't been resolved. It's almost as if it's setting us up for a sequel about a few more days of mayhem. The intent seems to be to keep it ambiguous enough to amplify its status as a cautionary tale. Our questions are supposed to linger as the credits roll. They do. In this case, however, the movie tells us from the beginning this is a one-time thing, and those questions would still linger. They're powerful enough, and brought on by a situation tangibly dangerous enough to draw us in that it didn't need to be snipped and wrapped in such an artificial way.<p></p><p><span><span><span><span> Despite the not quite there finish, <i>Zola</i> is a wild ride that fills the main character and the viewer with plenty of angst. It also urges us to consider the consequence of instant and/or social media friends spilling into our real lives. It does this by dropping us into the middle of a grimy universe and forcing us to sift through it. While there, we find some jewels hidden in the muck, and observe the train wreck that is the tandem of Zola and Stefani. I mean wreck in the best possible way. Not only can't we look away, we don't want to.<br /></span></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzUq5qlaspWnHHfG-ZJVqj89_vTDWjaoRuSktiAG7ZRsBFoftyIRjPsCRqjMHvBAF45dDPm2Id3jIiX_d0L_DOpsqS6eIp8ami_C50Mbyx1ilzOIMfsTZDI4IUtYuHu8MdVLjnZ2GjqS4/s498/girl+week+3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="321" data-original-width="498" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzUq5qlaspWnHHfG-ZJVqj89_vTDWjaoRuSktiAG7ZRsBFoftyIRjPsCRqjMHvBAF45dDPm2Id3jIiX_d0L_DOpsqS6eIp8ami_C50Mbyx1ilzOIMfsTZDI4IUtYuHu8MdVLjnZ2GjqS4/w640-h412/girl+week+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>It's not too late to join. We're going to keep this thing rocking until the 28th. I look forward to reading your contributions.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://dellonmovies.blogspot.com/2021/11/announcement-girl-week-2021.html">Find out how to join!</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p><br /></p>Dellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05634519605152190304noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227751790693713235.post-84663283159631879952021-11-12T00:00:00.004-05:002021-11-12T16:27:12.397-05:00Oldboy - The Distraction Blogathon<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuZEbismeusOFf8qw4yxVpRLfQSbprWd22FalwPS9MAxBTNsaAMyczM1uS27Y8DLsW7CfgOna-qvpshA5_aPjAbj8YH4pjKmU57NyM8PxzWiAK7d5D3yGmOrG6N5x7wgNPGcCUAaf2iIg/s541/distraction+blogathon.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="282" data-original-width="541" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuZEbismeusOFf8qw4yxVpRLfQSbprWd22FalwPS9MAxBTNsaAMyczM1uS27Y8DLsW7CfgOna-qvpshA5_aPjAbj8YH4pjKmU57NyM8PxzWiAK7d5D3yGmOrG6N5x7wgNPGcCUAaf2iIg/w640-h334/distraction+blogathon.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span><a name='more'></a></span> Rebecca at <a href="https://takinguproom.wordpress.com/2021/08/21/announcing-the-distraction-blogathon-marvelous-macguffins-and-rocking-red-herrings/">Taking Up Room</a> came up with a great idea for a blogathon. She's asked her fellow bloggers to write about movies with distractions in them. By distractions, she means red herrings, maguffins, or anything that takes the audiences eyes off the prize - gets us looking in one direction before smacking us from the other. I've watched lots of those movies. Most of us have. Therefore, I knew I wanted to join in on this one. Of course, my biggest problem was deciding what to write about. Before we get into all that, I need to know the rules. And so do you, if you plan on participating. I'll just let Rebecca explain those.<p></p><p></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><i>Pick a movie or a list of movies that have distractions in them, whether it’s a MacGuffin, red herring, dangling carrot, or any other kind of hook. Reviews don’t have to explicitly state what a film’s distraction angle is; if doing so is too big of a spoiler, this can be hinted at or skipped. </i></li><li><i>If anyone is stuck for an idea, examples can be found here, here, and here. </i></li><li><i>The blogathon will take place from November twelfth through November fourteenth. Posts can be sent to Taking Up Room on or around those days via the comment section, my Contact page, my e-mail address (rebeccadeniston@gmail.com), or my Twitter account (@TakingUpRoom). </i></li><li><i>New material only, please, and no more than three entries per blogger. </i></li><li><i>Duplicates are allowed, but more people can look at the same film if it’s approached from a different angle, such as a straight review as opposed to a listicle. </i></li><li><i>Grab a banner and advertise the blogathon!</i></li></ol><p></p><div><br /></div><div><span> </span>Sounds pretty easy, unlike the movie I chose. If you missed the title before you clicked, I've chosen the 2003 Korean classic, <i>Oldboy</i>. The set up says it's a straight forward revenge flick. It's execution says typical is not in its vocabulary.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhciM59Px8p6hpMdemxP23YxPioKGCxkwvwYTYcL80V-EaNfli1oRqyG6pKhyJ18_v7OHkOEvz7roYEAW6DL7JzMOTW0J3rGDY2TmSRiInzF_Nf9lsZ9Yv5Wz4s1vfndVAUnR6LFWfrJ7Q/s1765/oldboy+search.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1765" data-original-width="1186" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhciM59Px8p6hpMdemxP23YxPioKGCxkwvwYTYcL80V-EaNfli1oRqyG6pKhyJ18_v7OHkOEvz7roYEAW6DL7JzMOTW0J3rGDY2TmSRiInzF_Nf9lsZ9Yv5Wz4s1vfndVAUnR6LFWfrJ7Q/w430-h640/oldboy+search.jpg" width="430" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span> </span>If you're not familiar, things start with our protagonist, Dae-su, getting thrown into the drunk tank at the end of an apparently wild night. He gets released, but bada-boom, bada-bing, he wakes up in a hotel room where he is locked in and not let out for 15 years. His captors were nice enough to include a TV in his makeshift prison. Through this, he learns about the murder of his wife and that he is the prime suspect. That means his daughter is left to fend for herself. When he's abruptly released without being given any info on who locked him up or why, his only order of business is finding out those very things, then killing this person.</div><div><span> When watching this movie for the first time, or even the second, third, fourth, or fifth, you get swept up in Dae-su's quest. You can't help but to be invested in his plight, even as he does some questionable and/or grotesque things. You want nothing more than for him to find the person responsible and commit unspeakable acts against them. A funny thing happens on the way to revenge. We realize we're in the midst of watching someone else exact it. The way they go about it is as warped as it gets. And so is their reason for wanting it.</span><br /></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCdMBLQp1sMCII6B-lXfVc4O1IQsu1Z13ztJMVLYnOEBmmKjCC7QmG09j21xAItSLQXIsUbZEGFJRTZmPGMg1jLH8Ww8ko6I8r7-neUYiyuotLT5VcUaWwwTuUzghafPohf06-AVF5pSQ/s960/oldboy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="396" data-original-width="960" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCdMBLQp1sMCII6B-lXfVc4O1IQsu1Z13ztJMVLYnOEBmmKjCC7QmG09j21xAItSLQXIsUbZEGFJRTZmPGMg1jLH8Ww8ko6I8r7-neUYiyuotLT5VcUaWwwTuUzghafPohf06-AVF5pSQ/w640-h264/oldboy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div> I'll go no further because saying anything else would venture into spoiler territory. I get that the movie is eighteen years old as of the day I'm publishing this, but it's a film that deserves your ignorance of its ending. I went in cold on my first watch about sixteen years ago. I haven't stopped thinking about it since.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinaGrB2MLz0SMs5M3jtBYsZVG9nmhSSUM5yEHjsOZO5svP2k-D3faD5J9K_hHjYDyfSit84RLTdFilfXsROSQMkCncXAhYtEg68SQjwPBlYQ4GJm5QyihJ7AeecVBywAxamoqc0Tyvep4/s500/Oldboy-Movie-Review-Banner.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="500" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinaGrB2MLz0SMs5M3jtBYsZVG9nmhSSUM5yEHjsOZO5svP2k-D3faD5J9K_hHjYDyfSit84RLTdFilfXsROSQMkCncXAhYtEg68SQjwPBlYQ4GJm5QyihJ7AeecVBywAxamoqc0Tyvep4/w640-h280/Oldboy-Movie-Review-Banner.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div> Go check out Oldboy, if you haven't, then come back and tell me what you think. And definitely make some time to check out all the posts for Rebecca's blogathon. Maybe even contribute yourself.<br /></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span> And, oh yeah...</span><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://dellonmovies.blogspot.com/2021/11/announcement-girl-week-2021.html?showComment=1636669468332#c4013013365404740792">Girl Week 2021 is coming.</a></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Dellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05634519605152190304noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227751790693713235.post-9360958691735397462021-11-09T00:00:00.002-05:002021-11-09T19:53:28.105-05:00Announcement: Girl Week 2021<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlyukqlt8lREFzc2Bx5cJrsgsWaEs6KJVjJKUZ5t4EhbKm93Vk4rDtKX37HO91B7nfe7uSRUl7xVkA7yMnVOePO-M98wJgmgdxqSmi2TGSujDnn3_SYmyJ5t2Kz73bdKtKaWjif5O08Lo/s599/girl+week+1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="524" data-original-width="599" height="560" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlyukqlt8lREFzc2Bx5cJrsgsWaEs6KJVjJKUZ5t4EhbKm93Vk4rDtKX37HO91B7nfe7uSRUl7xVkA7yMnVOePO-M98wJgmgdxqSmi2TGSujDnn3_SYmyJ5t2Kz73bdKtKaWjif5O08Lo/w640-h560/girl+week+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a>I let 31 Days of Horror slide by me this year. That's mostly a solo endeavor, so I figured no one would miss it. This ... this is a family affair. Of course, by family I mean a bunch of bloggers I'm mooching off to make my site more interesting even though I haven't been blogging very much as of late. I haven't been reading their blogs, either. Yup, I've been a bad blogmate. Yet, here I am, begging again.<p></p><p>But I'm begging for a good reason. Girl Week 2021 is coming.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHBTuep6elbgqUO8QirbUjWUIMw_Nl6W1ULMDPWeMZwA1SID8anmNRiYydVOuIomrha85CYyo33XI7d1npd1sf0F8K1YOJ_2L6zDa7BcOXWpKG8p8-ThlV8bhkppP4hm0Flqx-ENuZCK4/s700/girl+week+2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="489" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHBTuep6elbgqUO8QirbUjWUIMw_Nl6W1ULMDPWeMZwA1SID8anmNRiYydVOuIomrha85CYyo33XI7d1npd1sf0F8K1YOJ_2L6zDa7BcOXWpKG8p8-ThlV8bhkppP4hm0Flqx-ENuZCK4/w448-h640/girl+week+2.jpg" width="448" /></a></div><p>If you're not familiar with Girl Week, it's that time of year when we focus on women in movies. You can join the fun by posting or talking about films with females in the lead, directed by women, or feature women in some other prominent role (cinematography, special fx, etc.) on your own blog or channel or whatever during that week, using any of the banners in this post (or create your own with all the relevant info), or mentioning this blog, and leaving me the link here. You can also send it to me through Twitter or Instagram @dellonmovies. If none of those options work for you, email it to me at dellott@yahoo.com.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7EFaZ2w2J7G-HPkIzlS-KB8THOoAfHvYDwoLKEPmaV5yKvx3TelFiNPCgrH61XrtxL0AXSenv3-ZCFKJtdyn9AHz4fJ5NAxXZ5vTA-9_P9_C47I-6czhKPYc26hJ16hNf0bpfttdEeTU/s498/girl+week+3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="321" data-original-width="498" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7EFaZ2w2J7G-HPkIzlS-KB8THOoAfHvYDwoLKEPmaV5yKvx3TelFiNPCgrH61XrtxL0AXSenv3-ZCFKJtdyn9AHz4fJ5NAxXZ5vTA-9_P9_C47I-6czhKPYc26hJ16hNf0bpfttdEeTU/w640-h412/girl+week+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Post as often as you like from November 22 to November 28, just let me know each time. Personally, I plan on having something posted every day that week. I'll officially wrap things up with a post on Monday, November 29, with links to all of the entries. I look forward to all of your contributions.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoMtVLrUcxwN71IYn5qD-OEXmsSLHjLFe1iRlyM72yj_wf1f7_EE4czH-EmTUeQl-VknCTzNMVmH-Np5izw-naS5uv23APd72g-j9ua6H6JjkUamWnSn0kcc41xprTagdqEQuKIg6ehiU/s438/girl+week+4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="316" data-original-width="438" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoMtVLrUcxwN71IYn5qD-OEXmsSLHjLFe1iRlyM72yj_wf1f7_EE4czH-EmTUeQl-VknCTzNMVmH-Np5izw-naS5uv23APd72g-j9ua6H6JjkUamWnSn0kcc41xprTagdqEQuKIg6ehiU/w640-h462/girl+week+4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>If you're still not sure what to do, and need some inspiration, check out last year's entries...</p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://dellonmovies.blogspot.com/2020/11/girl-week-2020-wrap-up.html">The 2020 Girl Week Wrap-Up</a></span></p><p>And, of course...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5N_wWfUjhXh5zgY8uiSw8vRHdVA2VhSfHs1L6K8c_h8P9b8ouEfsNuVfCrT-Ta5Le-JnECLyQNJcR57ijLsn15M6KWCvVd3Q1FO9Dt_9MH1jTZ4qh0vrdT4SpYfafXSFGThpvbry9XDw/s1024/tia.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5N_wWfUjhXh5zgY8uiSw8vRHdVA2VhSfHs1L6K8c_h8P9b8ouEfsNuVfCrT-Ta5Le-JnECLyQNJcR57ijLsn15M6KWCvVd3Q1FO9Dt_9MH1jTZ4qh0vrdT4SpYfafXSFGThpvbry9XDw/w640-h426/tia.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Dellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05634519605152190304noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227751790693713235.post-68021883336988247492021-09-13T21:41:00.003-04:002021-09-16T20:06:12.983-04:00Against the Crowd 2021: The Grand Finale<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglZG1RtN6rNtW8YlQf2UWhPfEasJ-Stt5NjfLecYDgd8qgttgN-yu4oH_nUqJlFdgSd28UE3o3JI_00ekbJIwmeqQDCqYBR1t3UNSsZHmYL_12-dvGprNCfe_BopFoAn2TGsvnNdz-5zs/s639/atc21-3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="604" data-original-width="639" height="604" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglZG1RtN6rNtW8YlQf2UWhPfEasJ-Stt5NjfLecYDgd8qgttgN-yu4oH_nUqJlFdgSd28UE3o3JI_00ekbJIwmeqQDCqYBR1t3UNSsZHmYL_12-dvGprNCfe_BopFoAn2TGsvnNdz-5zs/w640-h604/atc21-3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a>Against the Crowd 2021 is in the books. Thanks to you for making it a success, even if you just clicked on this page and didn't submit a post. I'm taking success to mean at least one person besides myself posted and every person who submits has one other person aside from themselves read their post. Since I read every one of your posts, that's a win. Everything else is just gravy. This post is designed for everyone to get some gravy. Below are all the posts submitted to this year's AtC. Do yourself a favor and check them all out. Leave comments so they know you were there, and let's have some fun conversations.<p></p><p>By the way, if by chance, you submitted a post that I didn't leave a link for don't hesitate to let me know. I'll be more than happy to add you to this post. My apologies in advance to anyone who this might happen to. </p><p>Happy reading!</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjJdrqEUxPiqbAcL4nrz1ioAlaX92u-nh6VaGKwuB0MtUdWEv_i28KssEGkAB9laLltC7jC4HkEE8LHgGvbWVvEu7_6raSvhPZcaAEsAsXWUw3SdbZq5-EjGF_LjD09b7MomJCw9I0Y_c/s1229/taking+up+room.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="498" data-original-width="1229" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjJdrqEUxPiqbAcL4nrz1ioAlaX92u-nh6VaGKwuB0MtUdWEv_i28KssEGkAB9laLltC7jC4HkEE8LHgGvbWVvEu7_6raSvhPZcaAEsAsXWUw3SdbZq5-EjGF_LjD09b7MomJCw9I0Y_c/w640-h260/taking+up+room.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://takinguproom.wordpress.com/2021/09/12/temple-of-doom-and-the-happening/">Taking Up Room</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF5IubgHSzrPOZx5h9NnawuKGogACZ1hGIY8VEg8RnAKKFXSFBmXlNpTQIiJs2aEwu3VUItfqCQNEQ6j3DASjcS-MU8JydN5KYUmjWTwOA5LknW5jZnjzAZG7IxLDGilCMRkuNv7u9kyw/s775/mettel+ray.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="286" data-original-width="775" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF5IubgHSzrPOZx5h9NnawuKGogACZ1hGIY8VEg8RnAKKFXSFBmXlNpTQIiJs2aEwu3VUItfqCQNEQ6j3DASjcS-MU8JydN5KYUmjWTwOA5LknW5jZnjzAZG7IxLDGilCMRkuNv7u9kyw/w640-h236/mettel+ray.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://mettelray.com/against-the-crowd-blogathon-21/">Mettel Ray</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOrylcKq-khk8259cbxRCwM-Lw8VRKx8S30zsoa18bk2J-9SoAcdmPsmNLTRdRBsfAOAKSbUkjNAnlLYP0B2I6wjwlflPiUQSJojnB0HcwrxLSMkVUZMp7lKd93xSHp4HsezfzX9LiOv0/s1214/rambling+film.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="313" data-original-width="1214" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOrylcKq-khk8259cbxRCwM-Lw8VRKx8S30zsoa18bk2J-9SoAcdmPsmNLTRdRBsfAOAKSbUkjNAnlLYP0B2I6wjwlflPiUQSJojnB0HcwrxLSMkVUZMp7lKd93xSHp4HsezfzX9LiOv0/w640-h166/rambling+film.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://ramblingfilm.blogspot.com/2021/09/against-crowd-sep-12.html">Rambling Film</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZNDeQvF92a-PPphw_14FD3qMUBHxd1UzZwBiRwcZHTEvvsdtp-Kqf8GTbws6J2Kk6hCYndQJ8037aqVbSGJZvH07A4frrJT1RctmQ753meMCVFyxl2REIBS3GHXI3mbJeDhD5Nrqeh60/s1418/it+was+like+magic+blog.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="449" data-original-width="1418" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZNDeQvF92a-PPphw_14FD3qMUBHxd1UzZwBiRwcZHTEvvsdtp-Kqf8GTbws6J2Kk6hCYndQJ8037aqVbSGJZvH07A4frrJT1RctmQ753meMCVFyxl2REIBS3GHXI3mbJeDhD5Nrqeh60/w640-h202/it+was+like+magic+blog.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.itwaslikemagic.com/against-the-crowd-blogathon-2021/">It Was Like Magic</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPn4DDO5SSXVyPzJ3OnqaIE9a6ftMlMTvqlW0rfkgsHCvddqQmdPys4A5C4LMUlimfOtNnFE20ZiNdI7TwZD5drEJH1HUuhcer7sDgPukSjlWSjKsLTS1tfsQbpk8rxTE8NzwySRceKi4/s422/often+off+topic.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="110" data-original-width="422" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPn4DDO5SSXVyPzJ3OnqaIE9a6ftMlMTvqlW0rfkgsHCvddqQmdPys4A5C4LMUlimfOtNnFE20ZiNdI7TwZD5drEJH1HUuhcer7sDgPukSjlWSjKsLTS1tfsQbpk8rxTE8NzwySRceKi4/w640-h166/often+off+topic.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://oftenofftopic.co.uk/2021/09/11/against-the-crowd-blogathon-2021/">Often Off Topic</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAj9tTUuZHoHAFU0MW4MO7jbB4he0Al4z2IG5pyqiX1T9_FSpmpBa4FwCY1Fdyt_T3kofyXN5mxPYUFTS4oaoVu-oVc1Ibdyh4RxWK3U4DZM2Vdy7we67g0_VYrbXEfZ1JqB6nYf2qoUs/s1003/justacineast.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="142" data-original-width="1003" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAj9tTUuZHoHAFU0MW4MO7jbB4he0Al4z2IG5pyqiX1T9_FSpmpBa4FwCY1Fdyt_T3kofyXN5mxPYUFTS4oaoVu-oVc1Ibdyh4RxWK3U4DZM2Vdy7we67g0_VYrbXEfZ1JqB6nYf2qoUs/w640-h139/justacineast.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://justacineast.blogspot.com/2021/09/against-crowd-blogathon-2021.html">Just A Cineast</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ-Yv6qviDpwcgXCFWSKwaiVhNs7iDAR9rV-LBnQtNCFdhCJeC3lR6E_iibXteGgVRF1uhxphwZX9IpMQg3SNLfyihB4vJHHLwFhvCaODZXu0pvaU6BIK2JgnUqPh3NMUKohh2IAIC3uU/s604/surrender+void.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="138" data-original-width="604" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ-Yv6qviDpwcgXCFWSKwaiVhNs7iDAR9rV-LBnQtNCFdhCJeC3lR6E_iibXteGgVRF1uhxphwZX9IpMQg3SNLfyihB4vJHHLwFhvCaODZXu0pvaU6BIK2JgnUqPh3NMUKohh2IAIC3uU/w640-h146/surrender+void.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://thevoid99.blogspot.com/2021/09/against-crowd-blog-thon-2021.html">Surrender to the Void</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzchN7QpxqRSohyphenhyphenz28ENXNb3B77RSfSdAO2TKFkTKLz71MahyphenhyphenEwd3ocpiWTiyQJ-0A3w_i-Pchph6htJvZwrqTxPbfSVk9thhDRfymgQkzwlxmQTftcCCa3bEeRg8fDCvuDJFbP6-IcU0/s965/realweegie.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="543" data-original-width="965" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzchN7QpxqRSohyphenhyphenz28ENXNb3B77RSfSdAO2TKFkTKLz71MahyphenhyphenEwd3ocpiWTiyQJ-0A3w_i-Pchph6htJvZwrqTxPbfSVk9thhDRfymgQkzwlxmQTftcCCa3bEeRg8fDCvuDJFbP6-IcU0/w640-h360/realweegie.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://weegiemidget.wordpress.com/on-films-and-tv/gitterings/rotten-tomatoes-love-hate-movies/">Realweegiemidget Reviews</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0qOViSdje4avz2YlbFxnTMfxzjRZ5ZpYDJDcOam9WIx9AslRQiJ7i4INOUYChSrB54WXAaFBfeYMO5SzUIS3luIuiFUZbD-90t_-SgotW1QlK8w2tfNgGyateCvRooQlEj5lqt604jRI/s1089/super-reader.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="542" data-original-width="1089" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0qOViSdje4avz2YlbFxnTMfxzjRZ5ZpYDJDcOam9WIx9AslRQiJ7i4INOUYChSrB54WXAaFBfeYMO5SzUIS3luIuiFUZbD-90t_-SgotW1QlK8w2tfNgGyateCvRooQlEj5lqt604jRI/w640-h318/super-reader.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://dellonmovies.blogspot.com/2021/09/against-crowd-2021-guest-post-by-joel.html">Super-Reader Joel</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha8U_L1Lh3aBm0Fu_u-pEFai8qbzx-dSJlPYaLErFpvlc1HlaypPq0CxAns7Nxs6umDDGK8c2iWFI7meYYxu-vxsNzdlfDG2cJUxAd8J6EhY5CDEUN0qLq_RyZ5g4v-st_Jlcg2RIdDug/s1258/old+books+movies.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="237" data-original-width="1258" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha8U_L1Lh3aBm0Fu_u-pEFai8qbzx-dSJlPYaLErFpvlc1HlaypPq0CxAns7Nxs6umDDGK8c2iWFI7meYYxu-vxsNzdlfDG2cJUxAd8J6EhY5CDEUN0qLq_RyZ5g4v-st_Jlcg2RIdDug/w640-h120/old+books+movies.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://oldbooksandmovies.blogspot.com/2021/09/against-crowd-blogathon-2021.html">Old Books and Movies</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOLxBf9S-15pFACfiveUSZ1LWqxxYL3_Y_fRF_yc9zRtFGO0Afl2FFeBTvmQ5iPoKHz9LNrBXdoo43Zcl0d2vJSEEjVBcGLgJN0Yqfsh9cHxL0blWJSvcZbndZ_UXf8qJ4NC9p6c9IxuM/s1280/18+cinema+lane.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="444" data-original-width="1280" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOLxBf9S-15pFACfiveUSZ1LWqxxYL3_Y_fRF_yc9zRtFGO0Afl2FFeBTvmQ5iPoKHz9LNrBXdoo43Zcl0d2vJSEEjVBcGLgJN0Yqfsh9cHxL0blWJSvcZbndZ_UXf8qJ4NC9p6c9IxuM/w640-h222/18+cinema+lane.png" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://18cinemalane.com/2021/09/11/twentieth-century-vs-queen-of-the-damned-at-the-against-the-crowd-blogathon/"><span style="font-size: large;">18 Cinema Lane</span></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbW-DhYGrBGIkfddsXEEAw8PonKJQneSgAja-N6jN8F3ev5GlB4aDmsddcxtwiU1OeL_N9JjxzFZZg72FBYvk1tdT0Cvf0Hdo9KaFs8Uf1yATDrOrZzEGdRm2diQNrWd3e6Tb-bhmBFPM/s886/dell+on+movies.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="294" data-original-width="886" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbW-DhYGrBGIkfddsXEEAw8PonKJQneSgAja-N6jN8F3ev5GlB4aDmsddcxtwiU1OeL_N9JjxzFZZg72FBYvk1tdT0Cvf0Hdo9KaFs8Uf1yATDrOrZzEGdRm2diQNrWd3e6Tb-bhmBFPM/w640-h212/dell+on+movies.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://dellonmovies.blogspot.com/2021/09/against-crowd-2021-dells-entry.html">Dell on Movies</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">See ya next year!!!</span></p><p style="text-align: center;">...or sooner. Don't be a stranger.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>Dellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05634519605152190304noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227751790693713235.post-61508636382453557732021-09-13T00:45:00.000-04:002021-09-13T00:45:05.067-04:00Against the Crowd 2021: Dell's Entry<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkBU-93Pu5HLT2B9clbRRupXKOwZKlvAE6pxpDXJ0LJ0JGjKa2hnSrTbR7Nep8qF1ckt09XM5bMz5hvWyU38hmv-MJ87zJzXdoOeiYt0Za2wJYiGudLgeeoLE7s4DVPLb5FbYKapWvSvg/s620/atc21-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="620" height="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkBU-93Pu5HLT2B9clbRRupXKOwZKlvAE6pxpDXJ0LJ0JGjKa2hnSrTbR7Nep8qF1ckt09XM5bMz5hvWyU38hmv-MJ87zJzXdoOeiYt0Za2wJYiGudLgeeoLE7s4DVPLb5FbYKapWvSvg/w640-h550/atc21-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a>On Day 1, Super Reader Joel took aim at a film many of us are quite fond of, myself included, and dropped compliments on something critics thumbed their noses at. He understood the assignment. Needless to say, I'm here to do the same. No more goofing around. Let's just get to it.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk7ZLST5Rid1CL09z_sY48jalihnszTyJ_G30x5ESp5N7ixde4VqBm-E3E_UBGAGojpg0MXGWuTW-M_mn3IQUJVf4Om4lSi8cyNLAZVKpQWfn0Mrer9UoJTudvzrLQtWi0zD_D1ZniSnM/s500/little-women-2.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="259" data-original-width="500" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk7ZLST5Rid1CL09z_sY48jalihnszTyJ_G30x5ESp5N7ixde4VqBm-E3E_UBGAGojpg0MXGWuTW-M_mn3IQUJVf4Om4lSi8cyNLAZVKpQWfn0Mrer9UoJTudvzrLQtWi0zD_D1ZniSnM/w640-h332/little-women-2.gif" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Little Women</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdXWfL5Iyfy_LsD0tiifpTU9gYPO5WOGszQ2oy8zfcHk7w2idnrYW5r6z1qLw0wkJA5Y0j9GoYiqskkT-F1sOHJaJZmGnHRzBgWlX5rt09pX654HFl8MtlrJ6yhaIKzOyLMy-nw-DzDGk/s535/little+women+rt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="202" data-original-width="535" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdXWfL5Iyfy_LsD0tiifpTU9gYPO5WOGszQ2oy8zfcHk7w2idnrYW5r6z1qLw0wkJA5Y0j9GoYiqskkT-F1sOHJaJZmGnHRzBgWlX5rt09pX654HFl8MtlrJ6yhaIKzOyLMy-nw-DzDGk/w640-h242/little+women+rt.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><p>Even if you haven't seen it, if you're reading this, you have some idea how the world feels about this movie. I'll help you if you don't. It garnered six Oscar nominations, including one for Best Picture. I have a question about that. Why?</p><p>To be honest, there was very little chance I was going to like this. I had to read the novel in college, and I was not a fan. There was plenty of forced reading I did enjoy. <i>Little Women</i> by Louisa May Alcott just isn't among them.</p><p>What about the movie?</p><p>Sigh.</p><p>The basic idea is that a group of sisters, and their mom, debate how much of their self-worth is tied up in finding a well-to-do man to marry. Along the way, they have to deal with the financial strain caused by the family patriarch being off fighting the Civil War. So, what's the problem?</p><p>The stakes never feel real to me and the way they speak bothered the hell out of me. I'm not referring to the 19th century jargon. I'm referring to the Sorkin/Tarantino rapid fire hybrid with everyone talking over one another as fast as they possibly can, and worse, being so damn cheerful and polite about it. It often sounded like everybody in the room was talking at once. I just kept wishing it would stop.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjH7ww1oPRQtkkv34LbtntSY4sFyOwo8aB7gVV9fXFD99WXoYff5a4QV8tlomIGkWBrPT-w-c9M1H-jYOYSmBCq34GwqtFyPNone83Wswyzn9uBqpQLKblZpBHjJgFhBPAeXyzsiri5t4/s540/little+women+cake.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="280" data-original-width="540" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjH7ww1oPRQtkkv34LbtntSY4sFyOwo8aB7gVV9fXFD99WXoYff5a4QV8tlomIGkWBrPT-w-c9M1H-jYOYSmBCq34GwqtFyPNone83Wswyzn9uBqpQLKblZpBHjJgFhBPAeXyzsiri5t4/w640-h332/little+women+cake.gif" width="640" /></a></div><p>Let's get back to those stakes.</p><p>Much is made of the family in question being impoverished by their circumstances. In one particular scene, Mom convinces the girls to give up their own breakfast to give it to a family she's become aware of that has nothing of their own to eat. It's meant to be this gut-wrenching moment displaying how their selflessness knows no bounds. However, we quickly find out they're working with a safety net. When they get home, they discover that their millionaire next door neighbor has sent over a veritable feast because he was watching from the window and saw lug their own food away. It soon becomes apparent that whenever there is an issue of any sort, this dude is there to help, and LOVES to help. Therefore, I couldn't buy the idea that they were actually facing consequences for anything that happened in the entire film. I especially didn't care about this whole business whether or not anyone should get married. Either their dude was rich, or Mr. Money Stacks would be there to pick up the pieces.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijumw9dEhbIretvb3GX_C10PawAMssKs9oz-OKVf9sUM_jDZkk6mZD_C3bV1dSPfGg2D1y2xfHIH61hWFnlTN9tTCvavAr0lsnMB0Y8h-gPlrYlJbHjmK1fpdMWEZIyFS8nys_CiyMg84/s220/yawngirl-yawnkid.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="203" data-original-width="220" height="369" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijumw9dEhbIretvb3GX_C10PawAMssKs9oz-OKVf9sUM_jDZkk6mZD_C3bV1dSPfGg2D1y2xfHIH61hWFnlTN9tTCvavAr0lsnMB0Y8h-gPlrYlJbHjmK1fpdMWEZIyFS8nys_CiyMg84/w400-h369/yawngirl-yawnkid.gif" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>How about something I liked.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG-1hpoXYYjdY-t_ca0Vfj7fPf3h440xbtSb4ap0spR_-npPs3TEoM6iia71RtKLXEaq15Pe5REWjVyyl1TrgN0b0wg5BDigKJ4YsMw6erCVVfCizWmHd-zsgSBnorpVDQh_sv_AsmlDo/s431/everly.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="371" data-original-width="431" height="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG-1hpoXYYjdY-t_ca0Vfj7fPf3h440xbtSb4ap0spR_-npPs3TEoM6iia71RtKLXEaq15Pe5REWjVyyl1TrgN0b0wg5BDigKJ4YsMw6erCVVfCizWmHd-zsgSBnorpVDQh_sv_AsmlDo/w640-h550/everly.gif" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Everly</span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNlqUj9-RFmn6wnFG29BJ_zJycAEzq8g_YmPZpJw00rTNAESBf-LIuxQMCMCM7YpIYw9zsjB5e3XI0dGi8_lVGSoiiM-pyB5xDPC9yRAmau1TWS34_wMF7GcbdAcvSaD1wsTaf07gYiCk/s562/everly+rt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="233" data-original-width="562" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNlqUj9-RFmn6wnFG29BJ_zJycAEzq8g_YmPZpJw00rTNAESBf-LIuxQMCMCM7YpIYw9zsjB5e3XI0dGi8_lVGSoiiM-pyB5xDPC9yRAmau1TWS34_wMF7GcbdAcvSaD1wsTaf07gYiCk/w640-h266/everly+rt.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I know. You didn't like it.</div></span></div><p>More accurately, you probably didn't see it.</p><p>You should.</p><p>It starts off with a bang and rarely lets up, for 92 glorious minutes. Everly is a woman who has found herself in rather precarious situation. She gets into a shootout and kills a bunch of rapey gangsters. This is in the first five minutes. Of course, these guys have a boss who is well acquainted with our lead character. He informs her...and everyone else in this particular criminal underworld that he's placed a $50,000 bounty on her head. And the fireworks begin...or continue, more accurately. </p><p>It's incredibly, and graphically violent. Salma Hayek is absolutely amazing in the role. And by the time it ends, you might find that it's a bit deeper than you suspected it could be. If you don't get any depth from it at all, it's still a big, bloody ball of fun. And she doesn't have an ultra rich neighbor to keep her safe.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWzvimgEpUehGzAVMqCuzdjFd-MaU4nxBYX99sJHc6pfHiZ0ICp2vezZoWAW9M-SXcc146BaTwG0xww372fRxljEqvG-8lpjLn7cXFmfYPC2aMu20qOWi9Q1UdxD4smX3MYX3QB_U1sLo/s600/everly-elevator-scene.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="390" data-original-width="600" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWzvimgEpUehGzAVMqCuzdjFd-MaU4nxBYX99sJHc6pfHiZ0ICp2vezZoWAW9M-SXcc146BaTwG0xww372fRxljEqvG-8lpjLn7cXFmfYPC2aMu20qOWi9Q1UdxD4smX3MYX3QB_U1sLo/w640-h416/everly-elevator-scene.gif" width="640" /></a></div><p>It's quite possible this post reveals how shallow I am...or at least how shallow I can be. I'm okay with that. In general, I'm all about taking classic material and updating them to fit in with more modern sensibilities, which is what Little Women tries to do. Unfortunately, it feels pretentious and disingenuous. Everly has no desire to be the same type of sweeping epic as Little Women. It just wants to show us Salma Hayek kicking all sorts of ass, and it's honest about it. And good at it.</p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://dellonmovies.blogspot.com/search/label/Against%20the%20Crowd">Click here for more posts from Against the Crowd!</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>Dellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05634519605152190304noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227751790693713235.post-34518554905089144042021-09-12T12:16:00.016-04:002021-09-12T20:27:49.818-04:00Against the Crowd 2021: Day 2 Wrap-Up<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3pAzxWLv8zhhwVAc7toJY3m9AKGRGGa2RtydumCIjkfIMh_fNonQCJCzH-mZFiDBrIscfrwGdBwokWM-ddYL2u59iJha-1X4PGUR6Gqux264G9w0FykOtyHR843agA5svYIG2rYKC16U/s806/atc21-4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="435" data-original-width="806" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3pAzxWLv8zhhwVAc7toJY3m9AKGRGGa2RtydumCIjkfIMh_fNonQCJCzH-mZFiDBrIscfrwGdBwokWM-ddYL2u59iJha-1X4PGUR6Gqux264G9w0FykOtyHR843agA5svYIG2rYKC16U/w640-h346/atc21-4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a>Day 2 of Against the Crowd 2021 is in the books. Thanks to some wonderful bloggers we got some fantastic entries - one from an ATC rookie and a couple from trusted vets. Sara from It Was Like Magic just let it go and Allie of Often Off Topic, stayed on topic. Just don't call her kid. <span></span>And Ted likes slimy things. Or, at least they look slimy.<p></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiubA1J4xpmziiww_YNCYhvdsIYi4qEU39dnKxt_GB_Q6EpT_L5EaNtUStUYnxDLJ3w4nfiQOzJ21CM3GeOBa3lZV-bVZhCCB29CViCZqbTEfA-76nCEmho5K3OBD-7C6GXkx6HIh29-44/s1418/it+was+like+magic+blog.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="449" data-original-width="1418" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiubA1J4xpmziiww_YNCYhvdsIYi4qEU39dnKxt_GB_Q6EpT_L5EaNtUStUYnxDLJ3w4nfiQOzJ21CM3GeOBa3lZV-bVZhCCB29CViCZqbTEfA-76nCEmho5K3OBD-7C6GXkx6HIh29-44/w640-h202/it+was+like+magic+blog.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.itwaslikemagic.com/against-the-crowd-blogathon-2021/">It Was Like Magic</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5PAsaUMkNOMcLHMd5zpUWxKdHaAbQRwZggSxQKhGbQTN6Vz856qY-tRh2AGcYM9UDFb2mSthVX_-HeWCkzRJcp6Xt7Erui-nEaHuLMrCGEdym8NdYQVQp5LKkr6BzLmxkFl1AEz4PWmQ/s422/often+off+topic.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="110" data-original-width="422" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5PAsaUMkNOMcLHMd5zpUWxKdHaAbQRwZggSxQKhGbQTN6Vz856qY-tRh2AGcYM9UDFb2mSthVX_-HeWCkzRJcp6Xt7Erui-nEaHuLMrCGEdym8NdYQVQp5LKkr6BzLmxkFl1AEz4PWmQ/w640-h166/often+off+topic.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://oftenofftopic.co.uk/2021/09/11/against-the-crowd-blogathon-2021/"><span style="font-size: large;">Often Off Topic</span></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5NMA1Hd5MJUeGz3V-yZ9jxWEhw-R8PicRFGGuOZH_Nq6hh5zH_RdYii0Spq0GVpWKTWw0oPAXNxXBq9TjZumQMf5rZ_57gx12Aujl9aN489aqi2ccif8yKlUgiReMcXW1luTqsvZRs0g/s1003/justacineast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="142" data-original-width="1003" height="90" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5NMA1Hd5MJUeGz3V-yZ9jxWEhw-R8PicRFGGuOZH_Nq6hh5zH_RdYii0Spq0GVpWKTWw0oPAXNxXBq9TjZumQMf5rZ_57gx12Aujl9aN489aqi2ccif8yKlUgiReMcXW1luTqsvZRs0g/w640-h90/justacineast.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://justacineast.blogspot.com/2021/09/against-crowd-blogathon-2021.html">Just a Cineast</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://dellonmovies.blogspot.com/2021/09/against-crowd-day-1-wrap-up.html">Click here to catch up on the action from Day 1.</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>Dellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05634519605152190304noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227751790693713235.post-50331362266822739972021-09-11T01:05:00.000-04:002021-09-11T01:05:01.086-04:00Against the Crowd: Day 1 Wrap-Up<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtgjStTZ8JV_OHnAID3tFJLaCSqVJMBNvcRo9LLKs5LUsP7Y_XHF63H4Ecg17YiI5lbse1YIk-cOP-5GTllbg7oIekFrUjFMmJNg0Lg48jG9FJNszdBqGi6ZJxw3IbkbYNebgVDcdUuPE/s639/atc21-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="604" data-original-width="639" height="604" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtgjStTZ8JV_OHnAID3tFJLaCSqVJMBNvcRo9LLKs5LUsP7Y_XHF63H4Ecg17YiI5lbse1YIk-cOP-5GTllbg7oIekFrUjFMmJNg0Lg48jG9FJNszdBqGi6ZJxw3IbkbYNebgVDcdUuPE/w640-h604/atc21-3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span><a name='more'></a></span> Yesterday was Day 1 of Against the Crowd 2021. And it was a good one. George Clooney got knocked out of the air and Cher hit a sour note. Kurt Russell was crowned the king...of blue suede shoes.<p></p><p><span> I'm gonna stop talking. Just click the links below and enjoy yesterday's offerings.</span><br /></p><p><span><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjICBVI-ZxlY8fpbYwMvZDGyipoiZyueiyphb-f-thzWNeV3hdi8TX0k_Ia98sbMofOFw62PL6kuKxgzpADVuHczWp3PvlyLntbMQ__u307Up14i0HQOd2GrTM2TWZsFLHIPTDO3Pxgfos/s604/surrender+void.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="138" data-original-width="604" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjICBVI-ZxlY8fpbYwMvZDGyipoiZyueiyphb-f-thzWNeV3hdi8TX0k_Ia98sbMofOFw62PL6kuKxgzpADVuHczWp3PvlyLntbMQ__u307Up14i0HQOd2GrTM2TWZsFLHIPTDO3Pxgfos/w640-h146/surrender+void.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><br /></p><span style="font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://thevoid99.blogspot.com/2021/09/against-crowd-blog-thon-2021.html">The Last Waltz vs. 3000 Miles to Graceland</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-a_lY95py97RaWQPYpBr58HB2UwAnfsk6bzhQNVBFVsMY2A1q8LXsx57nRcDPuUryKnCaQ6sKoVlIex-w_D0NxncuMKtn0e5BXMSCSgLhBjapobnBtfA4UKR0_GbX3LSQpDbCkQDihIQ/s965/realweegie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="543" data-original-width="965" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-a_lY95py97RaWQPYpBr58HB2UwAnfsk6bzhQNVBFVsMY2A1q8LXsx57nRcDPuUryKnCaQ6sKoVlIex-w_D0NxncuMKtn0e5BXMSCSgLhBjapobnBtfA4UKR0_GbX3LSQpDbCkQDihIQ/w640-h360/realweegie.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://weegiemidget.wordpress.com/on-films-and-tv/gitterings/rotten-tomatoes-love-hate-movies/">The Vow vs. Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4c61V0r8ozreLsK-ptEE6WAuZ2K7XVaUxgRlMF_7s1rrVSZtatdDq0ZkZNv44y_oOOzu-vuiqe0B2csuNOu6y9Fiz7kBOt1vP9otd-j5slIocewKc7Qth7Z5wPCQIfMY-aFdx0dyWcjc/s1089/super-reader.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="542" data-original-width="1089" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4c61V0r8ozreLsK-ptEE6WAuZ2K7XVaUxgRlMF_7s1rrVSZtatdDq0ZkZNv44y_oOOzu-vuiqe0B2csuNOu6y9Fiz7kBOt1vP9otd-j5slIocewKc7Qth7Z5wPCQIfMY-aFdx0dyWcjc/w640-h318/super-reader.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://dellonmovies.blogspot.com/2021/09/against-crowd-2021-guest-post-by-joel.html">Up in the Air vs. Doctors' Wives</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Check back in tomorrow to see what Day 2 brought us.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><p></p>Dellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05634519605152190304noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227751790693713235.post-55860181523912625402021-09-10T00:39:00.000-04:002021-09-10T00:39:07.013-04:00Against the Crowd 2021: A guest post by Joel<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwm8QSneZnOgDqD8wLTEWHkxYdy_tVJAWXvWADPpgO8jvsKm9zmFdBzV8VbYwsQk5tcjYVOwqe0O5CJSNZJSk44skaUel5afjq8ldlXdlpHx2r6pD8BnO9D2OoQtve5I7kx5VM0yVH3C8/s619/atc21-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="461" data-original-width="619" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwm8QSneZnOgDqD8wLTEWHkxYdy_tVJAWXvWADPpgO8jvsKm9zmFdBzV8VbYwsQk5tcjYVOwqe0O5CJSNZJSk44skaUel5afjq8ldlXdlpHx2r6pD8BnO9D2OoQtve5I7kx5VM0yVH3C8/w640-h476/atc21-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><span><a name='more'></a></span>Here we are, day 1 of year 8 in the Against the Crowd Blogathon. This is the crown jewel of this little ol' blog and I'm proud to polish it off and drag it out once again. I can only do that as long as you, dear readers and/or contributors, continue to engage and have fun with it. To remind me that you do just that, year after year, a number of people contacted me and asked if and when was the 2021 version happening. Well, here it is. And thank you so much for making sure it takes place.</div><div><br /></div><div>With all that, I have a confession to make. Against the Crowd is my blogathon in name only. Super reader Joel is really the ruler of this thing. If you're familiar with Joel, you know he doesn't have his own blog. Every year, he takes over this space for his entry. His entries, all of them, are among the highest viewed posts on this site. Realizing this, I figured I'd relinquish my usual first day slot for him, and get this thing off to a grand start. So, I'm stepping aside and letting him take the reins and give the business to a movie most of us love and sing the praises of one most people who have seen it, dislike. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw_aMcZjojxd80vAvulMM8miu3KQaBV0IGkfoElACLsOFh_pWsoIE0dnzcrKdUQVnPMM9b-tUz25-SXkiStjhz7bk3IqvX-q6S3eFruqshQfJkLvGZJgQgV3QTqEMqbDBuBOiJGrNKCzo/s1089/super-reader.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="542" data-original-width="1089" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw_aMcZjojxd80vAvulMM8miu3KQaBV0IGkfoElACLsOFh_pWsoIE0dnzcrKdUQVnPMM9b-tUz25-SXkiStjhz7bk3IqvX-q6S3eFruqshQfJkLvGZJgQgV3QTqEMqbDBuBOiJGrNKCzo/w640-h318/super-reader.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>All yours, buddy...</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyP6BJLMpIPjb_BEUYlr1aAffVW6VUrm4_LiPXtATDj5J5SFL86tXQkdCc5vHelibpnh_VBNlsl3Hxyq0VYk7zXLpmbJDBO4T3G8MqQg9sMGwir94y8ORVp2go15leVZffX81ExGcURAQ/s500/up+in+the+air.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="263" data-original-width="500" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyP6BJLMpIPjb_BEUYlr1aAffVW6VUrm4_LiPXtATDj5J5SFL86tXQkdCc5vHelibpnh_VBNlsl3Hxyq0VYk7zXLpmbJDBO4T3G8MqQg9sMGwir94y8ORVp2go15leVZffX81ExGcURAQ/w640-h336/up+in+the+air.gif" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtuFk6rn3PaDF17_MDz7Hfq7gTz4LVVqZojzo55reaZ9JQe5SrSMxXvKVPSmpJGzHTM_tcjIBEmnGezX15nmvb3Mgdz2TYBdeA1893KfS0hdqA-Whgyh8M3VqVRtGjIM2iu4GAgKSnFv0/s583/up+in+the+air+rt.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="233" data-original-width="583" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtuFk6rn3PaDF17_MDz7Hfq7gTz4LVVqZojzo55reaZ9JQe5SrSMxXvKVPSmpJGzHTM_tcjIBEmnGezX15nmvb3Mgdz2TYBdeA1893KfS0hdqA-Whgyh8M3VqVRtGjIM2iu4GAgKSnFv0/w640-h256/up+in+the+air+rt.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>Ryan Bingham (George Clooney) is an employment-termination specialist for an independent HR consult company. In other words, he flies around the country firing people for businesses who don’t have the guts to do it themselves. He also gives speeches praising the joys of living without emotional connections or excess material possessions while moving from one faceless hotel room to the next. His only goal in life is to earn ten million frequent flyer miles with American Airlines.</div><div><br />
On one of his routine trips, he meets a woman named Alex (Vera Farmiga), a professional who also flies frequently and they do the horizontal hoorah in various cities as schedules allow. Eventually Bingham is summoned to his company's offices in Omaha to meet new hire Natalie Keener (Anna Kendrick) who has formulated a program conducting layoffs via videoconferencing. Even for someone who spends his days telling people their livelihood is being cut off Bingham senses this is too impersonal and argues that Natalie lacks understanding of the firing process or how to handle emotionally vulnerable people. To illustrate his point Natalie is assigned to accompany Ryan on his next round of terminations and observe the process.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTHjysSEnTfWFWNM-CxGjsofuDNIMmfoBgCedqtIOQNm3Ikzwlwnitxq-ad3b8OQ-EUORtpboLOYF8vu6tOqn5qEqjzEZxD7b4To6KYaesbyd5be6QUyjKQPGuAdaWFaw5Ky-F5nJf7-I/s760/up-in-the-air.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="454" data-original-width="760" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTHjysSEnTfWFWNM-CxGjsofuDNIMmfoBgCedqtIOQNm3Ikzwlwnitxq-ad3b8OQ-EUORtpboLOYF8vu6tOqn5qEqjzEZxD7b4To6KYaesbyd5be6QUyjKQPGuAdaWFaw5Ky-F5nJf7-I/w640-h382/up-in-the-air.gif" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>We now enter the part of the movie where we must watch not one, but two emotionally bankrupt robots fly around the country ruining people’s lives and then do so again during the video program test run which is a total failure resulting in the suicide of a terminated employee. That’s entertainment? <br /><br />
Somewhere during all this Natalie’s unseen boyfriend dumps her by text and Ryan, after we must endure him visiting his family with whom he has zero connection, impulsively flies to Chicago to surprise Alex. In so doing he discovers that she is married with children and has only been slamming him on the side. Then she has the gall to call him and blame him for nearly wrecking her marriage! Um…. maybe if you weren’t banging some guy you barely know on the QT your marriage wouldn’t be threatened you faithless piece of gutter trash!!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1_Jua2aDW9KeBn8Pocdt5y2tfzSDv_4pwdvM7GJRDpUzO5im6V7CwnEPRe56uIrmHjoTpf4yL5YszeHyXPAe-Ey4iYxfNl2dNfMXaSryDscf5y1WB0RFQmyQcy8cFsyx3uWKz1oqouX0/s500/up+in+the+air+farmiga.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="188" data-original-width="500" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1_Jua2aDW9KeBn8Pocdt5y2tfzSDv_4pwdvM7GJRDpUzO5im6V7CwnEPRe56uIrmHjoTpf4yL5YszeHyXPAe-Ey4iYxfNl2dNfMXaSryDscf5y1WB0RFQmyQcy8cFsyx3uWKz1oqouX0/w640-h240/up+in+the+air+farmiga.gif" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>Somehow this is supposed to make us sympathize with this soulless sonofabitch especially when he hits the ten-million-mile mark and when asked where home is can’t come up with an answer. Boo Hoo! Screw You! Get bent!!<br /><br />
A film full of abhorrent characters doing reprehensible things this pile was praised to the skies as a mordant and sharp comedy. I loathed ever second of it and had to swallow the bitter pill that I paid good money to see it!</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMs0RR76u6TsvjtuGxFkFe7QQUmRYOSZ5OUPh59ft5YJf64FLbpEkA1pUTUwbAgX8yHdlTrA9-jFsvqnxj3XLwEhHp8FkE87uCTffuecTA8Pm4uK4Llr9I-JvO1xp60CUwSY7ZZ-CSU_Q/s490/throw+money+away.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="490" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMs0RR76u6TsvjtuGxFkFe7QQUmRYOSZ5OUPh59ft5YJf64FLbpEkA1pUTUwbAgX8yHdlTrA9-jFsvqnxj3XLwEhHp8FkE87uCTffuecTA8Pm4uK4Llr9I-JvO1xp60CUwSY7ZZ-CSU_Q/w400-h164/throw+money+away.gif" width="400" /></a></div><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5t_BKouDDATP810QH3x46HwLZRbALIOznEJ7lLDZSD_O6X1sp4huc-q5SRGBub5NgJRClmBY4s6OYw3ljtAIbqvsyEl9FNq70_-BME3vHuTtt0rKQLpd-0IRI6OBK7SVmb7ZTBe75uu0/s775/doctors+wives.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="468" data-original-width="775" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5t_BKouDDATP810QH3x46HwLZRbALIOznEJ7lLDZSD_O6X1sp4huc-q5SRGBub5NgJRClmBY4s6OYw3ljtAIbqvsyEl9FNq70_-BME3vHuTtt0rKQLpd-0IRI6OBK7SVmb7ZTBe75uu0/w640-h386/doctors+wives.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUx8NaLUQdqtLt_L631TpI5zbx1zAR-IPTuJyAceth3xGss-frCchfMpEq0qp-P7XHFajseAcnvz4dFjlD6tdn-aWG1chOT1OMKQ-jXbahyphenhyphencbnKqfjrUMkBCEDYntmqkxRADjMRSKuJdg/s491/doctors+wives+rt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="215" data-original-width="491" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUx8NaLUQdqtLt_L631TpI5zbx1zAR-IPTuJyAceth3xGss-frCchfMpEq0qp-P7XHFajseAcnvz4dFjlD6tdn-aWG1chOT1OMKQ-jXbahyphenhyphencbnKqfjrUMkBCEDYntmqkxRADjMRSKuJdg/w640-h280/doctors+wives+rt.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>Let’s talk about Holy Grail movies for a minute. You know the ones you want to see more than any other but for various reasons (most often rights issues) you must go on a years long, sometimes fruitless quest to find until one day by dint of exhaustive searching or just plain luck you stumble on one of them and hope it’s been worth all that toil.<br /><br />
Mine fall into two categories. The first are films of favorite performers, usually decades old, to complete their filmographies that once found can lead to jubilation (even if the film is to put it kindly less than stellar) because I’m one step closer to finishing up! The day I finally found my girl Linda Darnell’s final missing movie-Angels of Darkness-I dropped everything and watched it there and then, regardless that it was in Italian (un-subtitled) which I do not speak! Sometimes you have to settle for what you can get; I was just lucky the plot was easy to follow!! <br /><br />
Then there is the other group. Films of somewhat more recent vintage with some notable aspect, usually the cast or director, that makes it seem intriguing but has apparently vanished into the ether for no fathomable reason. That’s the category Doctors’ Wives falls into. <br /><br />
Why I asked myself would a film starring a group of some of the biggest stars of the day, including several Oscar and Emmy nominees and winners, virtually disappear from existence? Well after finally tracking it down last week I have some idea, but I fell for it anyway. <br /><br />
We open on the well-heeled title group sitting around a country club table where one of the doctor’s wives-Lorrie Dellman (Dyan Cannon) a woman so promiscuous rabbits look at her in awe, announces her plan to sleep with all the women’s husbands in order to report back on each man’s sexual failing. Not long after, while putting her plan into action her husband, the unctuous Dr. Dellman (John Colicos) walks in and pumps a couple of slugs into his wife and her current paramour killing her and seriously injuring the hot to trot doc. The trigger happy Dellman then calls and surrenders to the cops as the news blares out far and wide (without naming the victim) causing all the characters to descend in a panic on the private clinic where the surgeons practice.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEippeZpXRjZgsUi8PXARzeyXSblGlHkK_jraleTs6-L6OkrbKOl-8cS57yZ2KX7aenNt13ls4732EsW-jGk4GweujkRO0Yf3SiZxDlOjb2Fkj9nPG_ImjtFnUpCDc43Cm6HPNbZu38m674/s768/doctors+wives+cannon.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="768" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEippeZpXRjZgsUi8PXARzeyXSblGlHkK_jraleTs6-L6OkrbKOl-8cS57yZ2KX7aenNt13ls4732EsW-jGk4GweujkRO0Yf3SiZxDlOjb2Fkj9nPG_ImjtFnUpCDc43Cm6HPNbZu38m674/w640-h480/doctors+wives+cannon.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /> And we’re off on a wild ride of a movie that can’t quite make up its mind what it wants to be. One minute its a wallow in salacious infidelity, the next it’s a story of a wife trying to hide her morphine addiction under the cover of migraines until it’s about a couple trying to patch up their lives after a divorce, but wait now it’s the then controversial story of a love affair between one of the doctors and his head nurse (Richard Crenna & Diana Sands-a fine actress who was felled by cancer at 39 only two years after this film), nah it’s the confessional of a lesbian affair with whichever way the wind blows Lorrie! Until suddenly out of the blue it threatens to become a cop drama…. before turning into a story of blackmail and betrayal!!! Phew! The reason for this dizzying rollercoaster is because what we have here is a deliciously trashy high gloss soap opera straddling two eras.<br /><br />
Made as the death knell of the big studio system was sounding this at times wants to be very edgy and modern including a long, and I do mean lloonngg, surgical episode with graphic footage of a heart operation (that honestly doesn't belong in this type of movie) then at whiplash speed were back delving into libidinous excess in fancy clothes (though some of those clothes are hideous-Janice Rule wears a black and yellow combo that has to be seen to be believed!) Theoretically an independent production it was made in conjunction with Columbia, so the film has that hallmark expensive sheen that was a million miles away from the gritty reality of the coming decade. Everything is color coordinated with the various stars coloring and clothing-even the operating room has blue & white marbleized walls that match the doctor's scrubs!!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0B7KNOOfrq2u2g4A5JPq4JLASmtqGuJcQbxyP7FvffZTDorYMXw-RezyW0uJvfuPcM0XHkOJlU1KWsoZbsQ69PPvij4xnCd6YevI_rV5qFaKi_IULQMY6IaoT-UzkyvW8fSckTfN3gqI/s780/doctors+wives+hackman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="439" data-original-width="780" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0B7KNOOfrq2u2g4A5JPq4JLASmtqGuJcQbxyP7FvffZTDorYMXw-RezyW0uJvfuPcM0XHkOJlU1KWsoZbsQ69PPvij4xnCd6YevI_rV5qFaKi_IULQMY6IaoT-UzkyvW8fSckTfN3gqI/w640-h360/doctors+wives+hackman.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>Making it all the better is that parade of famous faces that populate this piece of cinematic hokum. Along with the aforementioned Dyan Cannon (lively and gone from the picture much too soon), Crenna, Diana Sands and Janice Rule (who made her screen bow in one of my Girl Week picks “Goodbye, My Fancy” but that was many years and about a million cigarettes before this!) there’s Gene Hackman (the same year as he won the Oscar for The French Connection), Carroll O'Connor on hiatus from All in the Family playing a character light years away from Archie Bunker, the gifted but deeply troubled Rachel Roberts working hard to make something of her standard character, Ralph Bellamy (nearly a hundred films but probably best known today as one of the old conmen along with Don Ameche in Trading Places), George Gaynes (of Police Academy, Tootsie and Punky Brewster fame) and a delightful Cara Williams, much needed comic relief as O'Connor's boozy ex though she does add shading to her role. That's not even mentioning the bevy of other notable performers who flit around the edges of the main story. Between them there’s probably over 50 awards and nominations, none won for this particular opus however!!<br /><br />
Critically savaged upon release (as you can see by its score) the film disappeared quickly despite Columbia beating the big drum. Not hard to see why, the gore crowd wouldn’t care about the melodramatics and the crowd that craved the meller aspect were repelled by the grit. Which begs the question…who went to see it? The answer apparently was nobody! <br /><br />
Still though it’s tonally inconsistent, to put it mildly, it is lush, painless (if you fast forward through that operation!) and loaded with star power so watched in the right spirit it can be a fun, forgettable rainy day guilty pleasure. I’d watch it again in a minute if it hadn’t already, as far as I can tell, disappeared into the vapor. And the search continues! <br /><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpd5VNTW4Mjh4D2x5mGXoOyxp3tY4rISFxtI4ccpkK0SE1DB-cvSV5DZAD44JQvtPC9VkXjwWczQgsT9Hj6QrgkBTXfcuDD2MfkUUx3h96torjJtn6TJ9h2qPHiYUYB7l3XDiM6nKc-3A/s500/disappearing.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="378" data-original-width="500" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpd5VNTW4Mjh4D2x5mGXoOyxp3tY4rISFxtI4ccpkK0SE1DB-cvSV5DZAD44JQvtPC9VkXjwWczQgsT9Hj6QrgkBTXfcuDD2MfkUUx3h96torjJtn6TJ9h2qPHiYUYB7l3XDiM6nKc-3A/w640-h484/disappearing.gif" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://dellonmovies.blogspot.com/2021/08/announcement-against-crowd-blogathon.html">Click here to see how to participate.</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Tune in tomorrow for Day 2 of Against the Crowd!</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>Dellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05634519605152190304noreply@blogger.com11