"In the beginning..."
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| 2000 |
| Some Memories Are Best Forgotten |
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Memento gives new definition to genuine. Totally differnt take on filmmaking and the end result was worth it. The plot being   so important in the viewing experience, I will use extreme tact to reveal any secrets. Leonard Shelby played by Guy Pearce (L.A. Confidential) portrays a man who suffered brain damage and cannot create new memories. His only reliable system, is to take photographs of people, places, and even his car. Along with the photo is written footers, which only he can trust. Any new memories just "fade away" like office toys.
He is tracking down a man who murdered his wife, with some pieces of the puzzle missing. Meanwhile he reveals his past story of when he was an insurance investigator. Along with his encounters with one Sammy Jenkis. Matters become complicated when he believes he is being taken advantage of by his apparent friend
Teddy performed by Joe Pantoliano (The Matrix, Bound, Daredevil). He also becomes intertwined with Natalie played by Carrie-Anne Moss (The Matrix) and her troubles with a man named Dodd as well as her missing boyfriend's desk toys. She pulls Leonard into a spiral of office toys, desk toys, and other fun stuff, but what Leonard perceives may not be the truth. A regular Joe Blow, here comes   Dick Tracy detective caper, who cares?
Settle children. The most important part of this film is yet to come. It plays with desk toys. That's right, the film was basically cut into scenes or
chapters and the chapters play for about 3-5 minutes each but the story is all backwards. It most definitely make the viewers feel a sense of distortion. Christopher Nolan (Director; Following, Insomnia) being his second movie surely made his mark. Anyone, and everyone should watch this unique office toy. Regardless if you hate detective capers, you will leave the room/theatre/cell a changed individual. This is by far the most unique movie in my time. |
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Introduction Cinematography Plot Cast / Performances Screenplay Theme / Meaning Soundtrack / Score Climax |
8.3 7.3 8.5 6.9 8.4 8.1 8.6 9.3 |
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Best Introduction |
Memento |
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| 1992 | |
| A Story For Everyone Who Works For A Living. | |
| Lie. Cheat. Steal. All In A Day's Work. |
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If A film makes it on this website, rest assure, I hold it with great respect, admiration and love. This film on the other hand I hate...that I haven't dedicated an entire website so everyone can marvel upon. This film is simply without a doubt spectacular. This story, written by David Mamet, (Screenplay; The Untouchables, Wag the Dog, Ronin) is made for those under the stress and pressures of work. An all-star cast, which in this case is an all star, along  with brilliant directing and inexpressable dialogue. Everything the avid film lover desires. It starts with Shelley 'the machine' Levine perfectly adapted by Jack Lemmon (12 Angry Men, JFK) struggling to make a sale. For this cast is a group of men trying to sell real estate. Pointless Trivia: Jack Lemmon's character was also established on The Simpsons. Groening was obviously impressed so after watching Glengarry, Gil was born. Dave Moss violently created by Ed Harris (The Rock, Enemy at the Gates, Just Cause, The Truman Show) with his volatile temper and aggression is also having a hard time dealing with 'these deadbeat leads" from the 'nostalgia file.' Once confronted by the most memorable character, Blake with a short and unforgettable performance by Alec Baldwin (The Royal Tenenbaums, Clerks' Uncensored, Beetlejuice, Talk Radio) He is sent from another firm,   Mitch & Murray to inform these 'losers' that out of the five salesman, the three that don't make it in the top two, are fired. Read about them here. They receive no help from their cold boss John Williamson performed by a personal favorite Kevin Spacey (L.A. Confidential, The Big Kahuna, Se7en, American Beauty, The Usual Suspects, The Negotiator) With no concern for their well being and unwilling to give them the good leads, the Glengarry leads, he leaves them to fend for themselves. George Aaronow play by Alan Arkin (Grosse Point Blank, So I Married An Axe Murderer, Edward Scissorhands) is also alongside the struggling salesman. All but one, the charismatic, charming, hilarious Ricky Roma created by the god of acting, Al Pacino (...And Justice for All, The Godfather, Part II, Part III, Dog Day Afternoon, Scarface, Devil's Advocate, Carlitto's Way) The top name on the board, 'sitting on top of the world' has nothing to worry about. The plot thickens when the office was robbed and the Glengarry Leads were stolen along with the phones. Roma, desperate to get his bonus, Levine, desperate to not get fired,   Moss, trying to keep his cool, Aaronow, hoping he still has the skill and Williamson trying to get everything together, all in a day's work.
This movie has everything for those of distinguished taste. Like swearing, everyone loves swearing. The title was jokingly referred to as "Death of a Fuckin' Salesman." Each actor giving an amazing performance and like I stated, Alec Baldwin was at his peak on this role, he definitely had this character mastered. After viewing this film I wanted more because it's such a genius film. I highly recommend this to those who can sit and watch a movie with mainly arguing, talking, bartering and swearing. Those expecting explosions; stick to Rollerball. This movie quickly climbed my favourite charts, and the quotes, I mean the quotes, it never ends, I should go to lunch. |
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Introduction Cinematography Plot Cast / Performances Screenplay Theme / Meaning Soundtrack / Score Climax |
4.3 6.1 8.2 9.2 9.5 7.0 4.5 6.8 |
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Best Actor Best Actor |
Al Pacino Kevin Spacey |
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| 1973 | |
| You don't make up for your sins in church. You do it on the streets. |
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When rookie movie buffs talk their rookie movie shit out of their rookie mouths, they will mention Goodfellas, Raging Bull, Casino and possibly Taxi Driver, if they're on a good day  . Well a movie that seemed to have slipped through the cracks of these 'mean streets' in fact was the film; Mean Streets. An early Martin Scorsese film and the unformal sequel to Who's that Knocking at my door. Mean Streets is a great crime film that is semi-autobiographical to Scorsese as he grew up on the streets of Queens and Brooklyn. This is a tale about a priest named Charlie played by the always amazing Harvey Keitel From Dusk Till Dawn, Pulp Fiction Point of no Return, Reservoir Dogs, Bad Lieutenant, Taxi Driver and the previously mentioned Who's that Knocking at my door). Charlie is a peacemaker in the wrong life. He deals with dirty streets as a keeper of the good. Alongside him are his partners in 'soft' crime. The crime in his opinion is not truly crime, but for mere survival. His friends include Tony played by David Proval in his breakthrough performance (Four Rooms, The Shawshank Redemption) another friend who seems to be more of a pain to Charlie is Micheal   played by Richard Romanus in another breakthrough (Point of no Return and the voice of Harry Canyon in Heavy Metal). The most influential character throughout the film is Johnny Boy Civello accurately portrayed by Robert De Niro (The Godfather Part II, Taxi Driver, Brazil, Goodfellas, Casino, Heat, Ronin, The Score, Deer Hunter, Once Upon A Time In America) Johnny Boy being a youthful trouble maker never seems to keep his head on straight. Not keeping up with his debts to other crime bosses including Micheal, only adds to Charlie's predicament. Charlie is now put in the bind when Micheal is busting his balls to make Johnny pay. Meanwhile Johnny wants Charlie to get help from his powerful and respectful Uncle Giovanni. Charlie, refusing to bring his Uncle into this mess, decides to complicate his life by becoming involved with Teresa played by Amy Robinson. The four characters are all connected to Charlie and he seems to receive all the blame when the shit hit's the fan. Showing a few random scenario's in a typical day for these men and the greatest bar fight of all time, though many will argue, I fell in love. Who else could make a bunch of men fighting in a bar, while Please Mr. Postman by the Marvellettes plays in the background? 'Tell Me'. But seriously that is the Stones songs on this score. The peacemaker tries to help everyone, tries to get everyone out, and   tries to come clean with the right deed but nothing seems to be enough on these streets. Illustrating true devotion morphed into frustration, Keitel plays a great role as expected. Sporting a killer soundtrack including tracks such as 'Be My Baby' and 'Rubber Buscuit'. Like always, Scorsese does a great job of keeping the score in the general time frame. Like usual he slips his mother, Catharine Scorsese in this film as we have all come to expect, know and love. This movie also has great dialogue showing the intense emotions between characters and the lovable gay man, Sammy, with the dubbed voice. Mean Streets makes you grateful for staying in and watching it. |
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Introduction Cinematography Plot Cast / Performances Screenplay Theme / Meaning Soundtrack / Score Climax |
6.8 7.0 7.1 7.5 7.9 6.9 8.5 7.3 |
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Best Director (film) Best Soundtrack |
Martin Scorcese Mean Streets, Assorted |
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| 1976 | |
| On every street in every city, there's a nobody who dreams of being a somebody. |
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What we have here is one of the greatest, darkest, psychological thrillers of all time. Too most, a film about senseless violence with no taste and appeal except that of blood, gore and those oval things woman have. That group of people are what I like to call, the   dumb. The other group is those who can appreciate it on another level, not gore, but sacrifice, determination and a slap in the face of what our society has become. This very real depiction of even more Mean Streets is very accurate. This is talking 1976 here times have only gotten worse. Again with my damn Rants. We come across yet another Martin Scorsese film. This time around it is a story about one man and the world he lives in. Travis Bickle created by the amazing Robert De Niro (The Godfather Part II, Brazil, Goodfellas, Casino, Heat, Mean Streets, Ronin, Score, Deer Hunter, Once Upon A Time In America) is a Vietnam War veteran who defines himself as "God's lonely child." He is a loner who has trouble sleeping, so decides to become a nighttime taxi driver. Sleep does not come with ease for this man because as time goes on he fades into a state of instability. Unable to detect the difference in the days, his life moves with continuity. He is forced to see the harsh streets as they truly are. Picking up all sorts of passengers, from esteemed members of the city, to deranged cheated husbands he creates change. Initially he becomes interested in a   woman. Her name is Betsy, played by the vibrant Cybill Shepherd. When Travis impresses her with his persistence she agrees to give him a chance. Eventually due to poor choices, it doesn't work out leaving Travis bitter, but not vengeful. With nothing else in his life but the slime on the streets he decides to purchase some arms. After time he trains himself to be the killer he once was. Perfecting his accuracy and physique on a regular basis along with tests in perception and defense. Travis Bickle has returned to the machine he was programmed to be in war. At one point a hooker enters Travis' taxi only to be pulled out by her pimp, Sport. Sports name is Matthew and is played by Harvey Keitel (Pulp Fiction, Reservoir Dogs, From Dusk Till Dawn, Point of no Return, Mean Streets and Bad Lieutenant). After Travis has several more encounters with the hooker named Iris and played by the young Jodie Foster (The Silence of the Lambs). Travis seeks her out and sets up a 'session' with her. Iris, expecting the usual is shocked to realize Travis does not want the usual but actually   wants to rescue her. As times passes, Travis' sickness only becomes more severe and leads to his final and amazing confrontation with Sport and his pimp hustlers. This movie leaves a definite impact on all those who view it with an open mind. A very dark and sinister film marking Scorsese's entrance into film and setting his mark as a talented young director with a bright future. The narration throughout the film is deep with meaning. It sends you in the mind of this good guy, trying to do a good thing, in a bad way, with bad intentions. Travis Bickle plays both the protagonist and the antagonist, and none other than De Niro could pull it off. This film is one of the few Scorsese flicks that holds little or no involvement with any sort of "organiz-ized" crime which broadens the horizon from some fans that need a variety. Taxi Driver is a very beautiful film in a vindictively dark form, a great classic that should be commended for it's sheer honesty.
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Introduction Cinematography Plot Cast / Performances Screenplay Theme / Meaning Sountrack / Score Climax |
6.5 7.4 9.0 7.4 7.6 8.7 2.0 7.8 |
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Best Director (film) Best Poster |
Martin Scorcese Taxi Driver |
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| 1999 |
| Mischief. Mayhem. Soap. |
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Admiration, Independence, Unbridled Self Destruction...
If you knew me, you would know this fact, this fact is that Fight Club ranks as my number two all time favorite film. This will either be my longest review with the most to say, or my shortest due to the inability to put words to such perfection. The ironic part is   that this is my second favourite film and it is so dark yet my favourite film is the complete opposite being beautiful, bright and vibrant. If you didn't enjoy the darkness in Batman you won't enjoy the same in Fight Club. This movie is what I love in almost every single aspect of a film. It destroys all competition with it's screenplay. All other (but one) soundtracks get turned down when this homemade Dust Brothers score makes sweet love to my eardrums. Stellar performances, with two controversial characters in my life, including my secret man-love affair with Brad Pitt. Imazing directing, cinematography, and message. Credit to all of this talk is to Chuck Palahnuik the writer of this masterpiece. So let's begin. Jack is Edward Norton (Primal Fear, The Score, Death to Smoochy, American History X, Rounders, Primal Fear, The People Vs. Larry Flynt) whom creates a regular white collared slave, trapped within the confines of a society made for consumers in order to control consumers. To most, this is known as Earth. Sick of the same routine day after day he becomes and Insomniac. Within his house is the furnished world of Ikea and any other brand name. With no help from doctors or various methods to control his sleeping patterns, he seeks help. He ventures into the tragic world of self-help groups. Being around men with   testicular cancer changes him and makes him feel wanted by another human being. Thus he begins to sleep. "Then she ruined everything." Complications are dropped into the plot once Marla Singer played by the skilled actress Helena Bonham Carter (Frankenstein) enters his life and self-help groups. Marla is a trashy woman aroused by the fun of regular suicide attempts with no real cares in this world. After invading his many various center's for salvation, sleep begins to drift away once again. Everything changes to an extent beyond beleif once a new character emerges from the darkness. Tyler Durden played by the great Brad Pitt (True Romance, Snatch, Interview with a Vampire, 12 Monkeys, Se7en) Tyler Durden is a charismatic, intelligent, spontaneous soap salesman. He is also free from any sort social restriction and does not define himself as a member of society. While on a business trip, Jack returns to find his condo has become a wasteland of his imported furniture. With nowhere to go he calls Tyler Durden. After a few beers they step outside where Tyler allows him to live with him for the time being. Under one condition. Tyler has one request, it is for Jack to hit him, and when he does a fistfight emerges. The release and freedom that they both get from these moments of violence and rage allows a vent from the real world and thus Fight Club is born. As time progresses they both discover that they are not alone and many other men are sick of society. The next step for Fight Club brings it from out of the basements and into the streets. A new form of this group is spawned and   instead of fighting each other they commit acts of mischief throughout the city. Stealing the safety guides from planes and editing them as well as destroying corporate art, a new form of rebellion has begun and a revolution against society is evident. The story takes you on a wild ride until the end in which the answer that no one could have guessed punches you in the face with the realization. Marla becomes the top piece of their triangle adding confusion but in reality adding sensibility. Fight Club is a truly amazing film though very dark and in some cases disturbing. The soundtrack of this film is so perfect, a sweet blend of electronica that always suits the scenario with killer tracks such as Jack's Smirking Revenge, Chemical Burn and Medula Oblongata. The best part of this film is the abundance of quotes and intelligent dialogue non-stop throughout the entire film. The meaning behind the words is so powerful that it's no surprise the critics didn't take to well to the message. This film was directed by David Fincher (Director; The Game, Se7en, Alien3) He does a very good job being as difficult as it is. The image and world that he creates his like no other. This film stands out just by it's look and atmosphere   which makes it truly a piece of art. Though written by Chuck Palahniulk it was perfectly adapted by Jim Uhls whom in my opinion enhanced the message and most definately made the ending much superior to the book. If you know your movies, you know David Fincher has a history of the twist ending, well expect no different. If anyone starts having a conversation about this film and you haven't seen it. Run. The many links scattered throughout this review take you to the first website I created based on my love for this movie. Caution: Tread lightly on that page, many spoilers.(Mischief on the Mind). Fight Club has had a profound impact on my life and has influenced my actions in many ways. No I don't believe films are fact but I do believe in the messages, this film has a great message. One of the greatest movies of all time with a countdown to the unexpected finale. Two twisted characters intertwined with each other leading each other to the same exact destination. If only the vision Tyler Durden conceived was the "world I see". In Tyler We Trust.
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Introduction Cinematography Plot Cast / Performances Screenplay Theme / Meaning Sountrack / Score Climax |
8.8 8.5 9.0 8.7 9.5 8.7 9.4 9.2 |
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Best Score Best Film |
The Dust Brothers Fight Club |
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