Movies Watched In 2005 By Rank

Submitted by greenmind on Thu, 03/09/2006 - 03:53
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  1. The Straight Story (1999) [92/A] - A heartwarming story of a time and place gone by.
  2. Reefer Madness: The Musical (2005) [91/A] - Most rocking rock musical since "Hedwig." And a great anti-censorship movie to boot!
  3. The Mothman Prophecies (2002) [89/A-] - "Donnie Darko" for grownups which even Richard Gere can't ruin.
  4. Baadassss! (2004) [88/A-] - Touching and yet hard-edged at the same time, this movie just feels real from start to finish.
  5. Trekkies (1999) [88/A-] - Could have been used to make fun of Star Trek fans but turned out to be quite balanced and even touching.
  6. Twin Falls Idaho (1999) [88/A-] - Just wish it ended a little differently.
  7. The Jacket (2005) [88/A-] - Draws you in asking, why? why? why? I'm still not sure I totally understand it.
  8. The Life Of David Gale (2003) [87/A-] - Saw all the twists coming but it was still shocking movie.
  9. Battle Royale (2001) [87/A-] - The story is so tight, complex, and violent it will make your head spin.
  10. Orwell Rolls In His Grave (2004) [87/A-] - Like "What Liberal Media?" in movie form. An amazing documentary.
  11. Vera Drake (2004) [87/A-] - A highly politically charged movie that doesn't play sides.
  12. The King Of Comedy (1983) [87/A-] - Brilliant, deep film making. Understated and yet disturbing.
  13. The Manchurian Candidate (2004) [86/A-] - More disturbing than the original because it leaves less to the imagination.
  14. Assault On Precinct 13 (2005) [86/A-] - The real action happens outside the gunfights - perfect character v. character.
  15. Bush's Brain (2004) [86/A-] - After watching this movie, I have concluded Karl Rove is the devil.
  16. Family Guy Presents: Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story (2005) [86/A-] - Like the three best Family Guy episodes ever turned into a flowing movie.
  17. Interview With The Assassin (2002) [86/A-] - Conspiracy movie of the highest order done on a small scale.
  18. Tycoon: A New Russian (2002) [85/A-] - What "Once Upon A Time In America" could have been - call it "Once Upon A Time In Russia!
  19. Coach Carter (2005) [85/A-] - I've seen this movie about 1000 times before but it is at least modern and not condescending.
  20. Hoop Dreams (1994) [85/A-] - Just didn't shake me to the core like a five star movie would. But I really appreciate its honesty.
  21. Existenz (1999) [85/A-] - Like a ride at Disney World gone crazy. A simpler "Matrix" without the quasi-religious overtones.
  22. National Treasure (2004) [85/A-] - Like "Angels & Demons" but taking place in the United States.
  23. Pieces Of April (2003) [84/A-] - I fell asleep during this movie on an airplane. I rented it again and it was great. Maybe boring but very emotional.
  24. House Of Sand And Fog (2003) [84/A-] - A movie adaptation that remains literary. The only weakness is the ending.
  25. Spanglish (2004) [84/A-] - Not even slightly what I expected. Adam Sandler's most meaningful work. Not very funny but very moving.
  26. What's Cooking (2000) [84/A-] - One of the best slice-of-life pieces around.
  27. The Edukators (2005) [84/A-] - Well balanced exploration of left-wing movements and growing out of them.
  28. Advise And Consent (1962) [84/A-] - The only problem in this otherwise flawless film is too much foreshadowing and civics handholding.
  29. Crash (2005) [83/B+] - Tell it like it is! Take no prisoners! Tie it up in a bow!
  30. Team America: World Police (2004) [83/B+] - Funny as crap (which is so tastefully represented in the movie)! And equal opportunity offending!
  31. Napoleon Dynamite (2004) [83/B+] - Extremely funny and random. A sweet film that doesn't feel overly syrupy or sappy.
  32. The Englishman Who Went Up A Hill And Came Down A Mountain (1995) [83/B+] - A simple but magical movie, felt very Irish instead of Welsh.
  33. Fever Pitch (2005) [83/B+] - I'm not sure if I was crying because it's still the greatest story even Americanized or over the Red Sox victory.
  34. Kinsey (2004) [83/B+] - Still disturbingly real to this day. A fun biopic on a subject that could have been heavy handed.
  35. Hotel Rwanda (2005) [82/B+] - Absolutely overwhealming.
  36. The Corporation (2004) [82/B+] - Revealed things that even me, who's seen it left-wing all didn't know or had forgotten.
  37. The Incredibles (2004) [82/B+] - Realism in both story and, scarily, in animation quality. At times it felt non-animated.
  38. The Ref (1994) [82/B+] - Wow! I had always avoided this movie due to some bad reviews I'd seen. But damn, it's underrated. A Christmas classic!
  39. Closer (1982) [82/B+] - A deeply troubling movie that at times is too melodramatic but sometimes a deep expose.
  40. The Amityville Horror (2005) [82/B+] - Pretty damn scary although there were too many unncessary things put in for fear's sake.
  41. Ringu (1998) [82/B+] - Better than the Hollywood version due to understated fear as opposed to grusome death scenes.
  42. Finding Neverland (2004) [81/B+] - A very sad movie for the mind, but the heart wasn't always there.
  43. Wicker Park (2004) [81/B+] - The story is beautifully writen and mostly well executed. Don't believe the hype.
  44. Uprising (2001) [81/B+] - Likeable characters and it's sad even if you don't know the ending.
  45. Million Dollar Baby (2004) [81/B+] - Chock full of terrible stereotypes but moving just the same.
  46. The 40-Year Old Virgin (2005) [81/B+] - Really funny. The first time I've laughed out loud in a long time. But I didn't like the morality play overtones.
  47. Monsoon Wedding (2001) [81/B+] - A lot left me longing for real Bollywood, but it gets better as it progresses.
  48. Sideways (2004) [81/B+] - Once the talk about wine stops and the actual living begins, it's a really moving picture of a life gone awry.
  49. Stone Reader (2002) [80/B+] - Were I not a writer, I would have found it boring - as it is it's a great study on why people write or stop writing.
  50. Sweet Sweetback's Baadassss Song (1978) [80/B+] - A somewhat spotty film with a lot to say politically.
  51. Control Room (2004) [80/B+] - A great neutral documentary turning "the media" into individuals.
  52. Carlito's Way (1993) [80/B+] - Love the philosophy of the gangster this movie has.
  53. The Woodsman (2004) [79/B] - Unsettling at every turn but a little too simple.
  54. To Sir, With Love (1966) [79/B] - There were some subplots that seemed to simply evaporate but I cried like a little kid so in the end it's close to four.
  55. The Sea Inside (2004) [79/B] - Sad and yet somehow a little bit too sparce.
  56. The Machinist (2004) [78/B] - Jolts you to the point where you can't tell what's real and what's not - which is what it's supposed to do.
  57. Life As A House (2001) [78/B] - Brilliant, real dialogue but a sometimes contrived tear jerker.
  58. The Hours (2002) [78/B] - Merryl Streep is too melodramatic for this movie to reach its ultimate potential.
  59. Saw (2004) [78/B] - Amazing jealousy inducing story construction but overdramatic acting ruins it.
  60. Sling Blade (1996) [78/B] - Amazing at parts, just uncomfortable in others.
  61. Downfall (2004) [78/B] - An interesting chapter of history rarely seen. Gripping and shocking.
  62. Saints And Soldiers (2004) [78/B] - There were some moving stories. But in the end I feel like I was tricked into going to a Michael W. Smith concert.
  63. The Astronaut's Wife (1999) [78/B] - An incredibly thrilling movie, but the filmmakers never explain the whys.
  64. Runaway Jury (2003) [78/B] - Too many complicated storylines that never seemed to be completed. Still, a great suspenseful ride.
  65. After Hours (1985) [78/B] - A really good dark comedy (especially if you love New York). It just takes forever to hit its stride.
  66. Super Size Me (2004) [78/B] - Not much new information, but it was very entertaining.
  67. Angels With Dirty Faces (1938) [78/B] - The "Dead End Kids" were so annoying, I can't watch this movie again (usually my 4-star criteria).
  68. The Motorcycle Diaries (2004) [77/B] - Makes you want to go to South America right away but the plot isn't there.
  69. Harvey (1950) [77/B] - Pretty messed up stuff for 1950. The end was a little too happy.
  70. Anchorman (2004) [77/B] - Extremely funny. There's just nothing really to the story.
  71. The Longest Yard (2005) [77/B] - Too Sandlerized at points but in general funny.
  72. Taking Sides (2002) [76/B] - The central story was brilliantly thought provoking, the minor stories serve no purpose and meander endlessly.
  73. Lathe Of Heaven (2002) [76/B] - Definitely felt like a TV movie, but a good TV movie I'd want to watch.
  74. The Grudge (2004) [76/B] - An amazing scare. The plot leaves too many questions but the fear factor overcomes that.
  75. American Beer (2004) [76/B] - Wish it had focused more on the guys and less on the beer.
  76. About A Boy (2002) [76/B] - Hugh Grant plays himself very well. But overall the weakest film made out of a Hornby book.
  77. Buffalo '66 (1998) [75/B] - Somehow just slightly too sparse though the story was beautiful even if not complex.
  78. Not Another Teen Movie (2001) [75/B] - This movie is really smart for a gross-out comedy. Dead on parody.
  79. Metallica: Some Kind Of Monster (2004) [75/B] - Sheds a brilliant amount of light on Metallica and why they all have issues.
  80. Club Dread (2004) [75/B] - A pretty gripping mystery with naked ladies.
  81. The Filth And The Fury: A Sex Pistols Film (2000) [75/B] - Information I never knew about the Sex Pistols which actually made me respect them more.
  82. North Dallas Forty (1979) [75/B] - The locker room and football scenes are great. The love story is inane. It takes place in one week people!
  83. Charlie And The Chocolate Factory (2005) [74/B-] - Funny enough and different enough from the original to be likeable. I liked the new wrinkles.
  84. The Assassination Of Richard Nixon (2004) [74/B-] - Sean Penn again doesn't stay sane. The manifesto insets are good but the general flow of the movie is lacking.
  85. I, Robot (2004) [74/B-] - Either the dumbest smart movie or smartest dumb movie ever.
  86. Max (2002) [74/B-] - Great dialogue but some strange detours.
  87. Trekkies 2 (2004) [74/B-] - Not as good as the original since it's just redundant. The scenes in Serbia are great though.
  88. Black Caesar (1973) [74/B-] - Liked the mixture of mafia and blaxsploitation.
  89. I'm Not Scared (2003) [74/B-] - Wanted to know more of the whys. But the hows were pretty cool.
  90. 2009 Lost Memories (2002) [73/B-] - Why ruin a perfectly amazing alternate history with time travel and explosions?
  91. Troy (2003) [73/B-] - Much better than the critics give it credit for. Revisionist history but awesome revisionist history.
  92. Phone (2004) [73/B-] - Disconcerting on both a real and supernatural level.
  93. House Of Fools (2002) [73/B-] - I have no clue what went on in this movie, but some of it was so touching that I liked it.
  94. Stiff Upper Lips (2000) [73/B-] - So raunchy and yet so classy at the same time.
  95. The Longest Yard (1974) [72/B-] - I hate movies from the 70s that throw in cheesy, unnecessary cross dressing cheerleaders. Other than that, awesome!
  96. American Pie Presents: Band Camp (2005) [72/B-] - Nearly a return to form. Better than "American Wedding."
  97. Love And A .45 (1994) [72/B-] - Fun. An interesting take on the mind of criminals.
  98. The Yes Men (2004) [72/B-] - Funny but not exciting or informative. Not enough background.
  99. Ringers: Lord Of The Fans (2005) [72/B-] - A bit too much of a fluff piece. Felt like an extra on "Return Of The King" as opposed to a documentary on its own.
  100. Mean Girls (2004) [71/B-] - A unique take on the typical high school movie. The beginning is inane but it gets better.
  101. Europa Europa (1990) [71/B-] - The end of the movie moves far too quickly. But the scene in the orphanage is one of the best scenes ever.
  102. Birth (2004) [71/B-] - This is the most understated sick movie ever. Truly perverse but it never feels gross.
  103. Johnny English (2003) [68/C+] - Predicatable and slightly cliche but a very funny send-up of overblown spy movies.
  104. White Noise (2005) [68/C+] - Scary jumpy but plotty jumpy as well (and a confusing ending). I would be pissed if I were into EVP.
  105. Letter To The President (2004) [68/C+] - Fascinating premise but at times it adds nothing to the discussion.
  106. Sidewalks Of New York (2000) [67/C+] - A likeable psuedo documentary. Great dialogue but lacking something.
  107. The Believer (2001) [66/C+] - Edge of your seat and informative but I'm just not sure.
  108. The Black Hole (1979) [66/C+] - It's delightfully cheesy yet with a really good plot (even though the graphics don't hold up). The ending is weird.
  109. The Brown Bunny (2004) [65/C+] - Most of it is just a love letter to Vincent Gallo from himself but the end makes it all worthwhile.
  110. Pirates Of Silicon Valley (1999) [65/C+] - Insanely interesting and totally forgettable. Typical TV movie.
  111. Dead Birds (2005) [64/C] - There are some unique elements to the presentation and others seen 1000 times before.
  112. The Polar Express (2004) [64/C] - The elves were creepy and the songs sucked. But yeah there was a little magic there.
  113. Intermission (2004) [64/C] - Not enough of the crime story but enough laughs to make it worthwhile.
  114. Around The World In 80 Days (1956) [64/C] - Funny enough, but a little too long and the end is too choppy.
  115. Varsity Blues (1994) [64/C] - A really good story with a lot of unncessary stuff thrown in for the kids.
  116. FahrenHYPE 9/11 (2004) [64/C] - When it's directly refuting Moore it's good but its hyper patriotism shows through.
  117. A Bronx Tale (1993) [63/C] - Really tight but didn't make me stand up and shout "hey that's a great movie!"
  118. Imaginary Heroes (2004) [63/C] - Pure character piece. A lot of deep thoughts and some funny moments. Just not very exciting.
  119. Central Station (1998) [63/C] - The ending saves a pretty average movie and makes it watchable.
  120. Wilbur Wants To Kill Himself (2002) [63/C] - Surprisingly uplifting despite the title.
  121. Madhouse (2004) [63/C] - The pacing sucks but it keeps you confused - good or bad.
  122. Corvette Summer (1978) [63/C] - Shockingly shlocky (even for the late 70s) but shockingly interesting too.
  123. Frailty (2002) [63/C] - Great idea for a movie, told in nearly the worst possible way.
  124. Embedded/Live (2005) [63/C] - When it actually had focus, it hit a home run. When it meandered, it struck out.
  125. The Punisher (2004) [62/C] - So refreshing to see a comic book movie with a R-rating. Pure beautiful carnage!
  126. Code 46 (2004) [62/C] - A smart movie that refuses to give any answers. A little bit anticlimactic but a decent ride.
  127. Fantastic Four (2005) [62/C] - Very entertaining and tongue-in-cheek.
  128. The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy (2005) [62/C] - The guide itself is the best part. Entertaining but not very funny.
  129. Bride And Prejudice (2004) [62/C] - Good attempt at a mixture of paradigms. Cheesy and silly but somewhat cute and endearing.
  130. Resident Evil: Apocolypse (2004) [62/C] - The zombie scenes are lame but the back story is very interesting. This is not a horror film but action and adventure.
  131. Bucktown (1975) [62/C] - Deeper than most blaxploitation films. It felt like a political statement more than, "we'll take this back."
  132. The Fast And The Furious (2001) [61/C] - There's so much in there that I didn't expect (an actual plot?). Kind of like a gearhead "Rounders" but not as good.
  133. Carlito's Way: Rise To Power (2005) [61/C] - Um, Carlito started out in the 50s, not in 1969. The movie was also preachy at points but decently watchable.
  134. Tupac: Resurrection (2003) [61/C] - Nothing new even with the new footage though the extras are deep.
  135. Anacondas (2004) [60/C] - When the snake isn't on screen and the story concentrates on the psychology it's a good movie.
  136. The Warriors (1979) [59/C-] - Like watching a really bad video game in live action.
  137. Once Upon A Time In The Midlands (2002) [59/C-] - It's a sweet movie but the characters and actions are too predictable. Felt like a British remake of an American film.
  138. Confessions Of An American Girl (2004) [59/C-] - Amateurish but the ending is decent.
  139. The Devil's Rejects (2005) [58/C-] - The last 20 minutes almost save the movie in a blaze of glory. Captain Spaulding is still the greatest character ever!
  140. Jersey Girl (2004) [58/C-] - An extremely contrived movie. A ruination of Kevin Smith's creative, outside-the-box legacy.
  141. Hollywood Shuffle (1987) [58/C-] - Choppy. Can't decide if it's a comedy or a melodrama. Fails somewhat at both.
  142. Pauly Shore Is Dead (2003) [58/C-] - A pointed, decently funny satire of Hollywood. Where it falls apart is when Shore attempts drama.
  143. Comedian (2002) [58/C-] - A nice competition between Orly Adams and Jerry Seinfeld to see who's the bigger ass.
  144. Hell Up In Harlem (1973) [58/C-] - Some great jokes but mostly tedious fights and the soundtrack that tells you what's happening in the scene.
  145. The Ninth Gate (1999) [58/C-] - Starts out tolerable and then gets silly. Some day a good satanist movie will be made.
  146. Alien Vs. Predator (2004) [57/C-] - Loved the back story and a couple of the fight scenes, but fell into the realm of cheese too much.
  147. Around The World In 80 Days (2004) [57/C-] - Would be much better if Disney production didn't hold back the humor. Still a lot of fun.
  148. I'll Sleep When I'm Dead (2003) [57/C-] - And now we know the rest of the vengeful brother shoot 'em up film. Still a relatively pointless film.
  149. Constantine (2005) [57/C-] - The back story seems promising but the story itself is muddled beyond belief.
  150. Bad Education (2004) [56/C-] - Just because a movie is in Spanish doesn't give it the right to be nothing but scenery.
  151. Hide And Seek (2005) [56/C-] - Hey look it's a supernatural movie. No it's not, fooled you. Yes I did. Wanna play hide and seek?
  152. The Alamo (2004) [56/C-] - A great movie to bore students with in history class. Worst historic piece since "1492."
  153. Lair Of The White Worm (1988) [56/C-] - It probably wasn't as boring as the original Bram Stoker, that's something.
  154. Layer Cake (2004) [55/C-] - Truly a let down after the hype. Colm Meaney made a mistake being in this crap!
  155. Primer (2004) [55/C-] - The movie itself is a paradox. It's a film so smart that it's stupid.
  156. Taking Lives (2004) [55/C-] - Took time from my life for sure.
  157. Howard Zinn: You Can't Be Neutral On A Moving Train (2004) [54/C-] - Provides nothing new. It's just a fluff piece to Zinn.
  158. Bollywood And Vine (2005) [54/D+] - Interesting idea with as little follow through as I've seen.
  159. Powder (1995) [54/C-] - Found a way to take every underdog movie cliche and make them even less interesting than in other films.
  160. The Exorcism Of Emily Rose (2005) [53/C-] - One of the most boring courtroom dramas ever. Though it's a little bit smart.
  161. Kung Fu Hustle (2004) [53/C-] - I would brawl with Stephen Chow if he didn't know kung fu!
  162. With God On Our Side: George W. Bush And The Rise Of The Religious Right In America (2004) [53/C-] - Too neutral and just a bunch of religious talking heads.
  163. Bridget Jones: The Edge Of Reason (2004) [53/C-] - I just wanted to smack Bridget around and tell her to stop being a twit!
  164. March Of The Penguins (2004) [52/D+] - Maybe I'm just unsentimental but that was boring and stupid.
  165. Weapons Of Mass Distraction (1997) [52/D+] - A cheap made for cable movie it is shows through at every point.
  166. DiG! (2004) [52/D+] - Did its job if it's job was to make me hate the BJM more than I already did and to make the DWs seem like jerks.
  167. Mafia! (1998) [51/D+] - So disappointing. It starts out funny and runs out of steam.
  168. The Ring Two (2005) [51/D+] - Lost all of the great originality and psychological fear of the first film and not even scary to replace what's lost.
  169. The Island (2005) [49/D+] - Only Michael Bay can take a deep philosophical debate and make it into a stupid action picture.
  170. Dungeons And Dragons (2000) [49/D+] - The typical Hollywood fantasy movie stripped bare. It uses even more formulas and pointless fights than most.
  171. King Arthur (2004) [48/D+] - Loved the new idea of the legend, hated the new telling of it.
  172. The Brothers Grimm (2005) [48/D+] - Too busy trying to incorporate "gotcha, I know that Grimm story" moments in.
  173. Starsky & Hutch (2004) [48/D+] - Too much dependence on 70s schlock and not enough universal humor.
  174. Gay Republicans (2004) [47/D+] - Does well in presenting all sides but still seemed to have heroes and villains in the gay marriage debate.
  175. Shakes The Clown (1992) [46/D+] - Loved the alternate clown universe but the jokes just weren't funny.
  176. Spartan (2004) [46/D+] - This movie flat out sucks. Too much foreshadowing and silly killing that made me giggle.
  177. 9 Songs (2004) [45/D+] - Between the sex scenes, it's a good movie. Unfortunately, it's almost all sex scenes.
  178. National Lampoon's Van Wilder (2004) [44/D+] - A disgrace to the National Lampoon name. Not really that funny.
  179. Thunderbirds (2004) [43/D] - Possibly the worst made movie of 2004 visually but somewhat fun in a campy way.
  180. Dias De Futbol (2003) [43/D] - Too muddled and the situations are too stock.
  181. Sky Captain And The World Of Tomorrow (2004) [43/D] - The dialogue is insulting, Patrow is annoying, and Jolie's accent sucks!
  182. What The #$*! Do We Know !? (2004) [42/D] - Feels like a self-help book mixed with a Discovery Channel documentary.
  183. Superbabies: Baby Geniuses 2 (2004) [42/D] - So awful that the viewer is able to laught at it, although not with it.
  184. Shaolin Soccer (2001) [38/D] - The worst Hollywood sports movie cliches mixed with overused special effects. This movie is crap!
  185. New York Minute (2004) [38/D] - The somewhat funny moments are destroyed by how offensive this movie is with its sterotypes and archetypes both.
  186. White Chicks (2004) [38/D] - A few funny lines but most miss the mark.
  187. Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974) [37/D] - One of the most annoying kids in movie history with a crap straight narrative around it.
  188. Prozac Nation (2003) [35/D-] - Bad TV quality movie that does no justice to the book at all. Worthless if you haven't read the novel.
  189. Day Of The Dead (1985) [35/D-] - The most boring zombie film ever. Too much exploration of the zombies and bad human characters.
  190. Jason And The Argonauts (1963) [35/D-] - It made me laugh with its dated animation and lack of storytelling.
  191. Coffee And Cigarettes (2003) [34/D-] - Two funny vignettes and five that had me wanting to stab my eyes out - poorly written.
  192. Reality Kills (2002) [33/D-] - This movie is not scary and poorly acted. But man there's this one hot chick.
  193. Alexander (2004) [31/D-] - Every bit as bad as you've heard. Especially the scene that fits better in 'The Doors.'
  194. Monster Dog (1985) [31/D-] - B-horror gives it too much credit because it's not even scary.
  195. Scooby Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed (2004) [27/D-] - Takes the worst of every other bad movie and puts it in one place.
  196. The Worst Horror Movie Ever Made (2005) [26/D-] - Actually starts out really funny but then gets really stupid.
  197. Catwoman (2004) [24/F] - Thankfully it knew how bad it was and was relatively short.
  198. Children Of The Corn (1984) [24/F] - One of the worst movies ever. Who cares if it makes fun of relgion.
  199. Friday After Next (2002) [22/F] - Cube ran out of jokes or something. This was one of the worst movies ever!
  200. Garfield (2004) [21/F] - A worse taking animal picture than Kangaroo Jack. How desperate was Jennifer Love Hewitt for work?
  201. Nude For Satan (1974) [17/F] - A movie so bad that even though it's basically a lesbian porno, I kept waiting for it to end.
Author Comments: 

93-100 (A+): One of my favorite movies of all time (usually reserved for second viewings of A and A-s that hold up). [*****]
90-92 (A): A really life changing movie. [****.5]
84-89 (A-): Moving and memorable or roll on the floor, can't breathe funny. [****.5]
80-83 (B+): Memorable, quotably funny, or otherwise separated from the pack of good movies. [****]
75-79 (B): Well made, good movies that will stand the test of time in my mind. [***.5]
71-74 (B-): Better than run of the mill but nothing to really differentiate themselves enough from the pack. Many good but boring movies end up here. [***]
65-69 (C+): Better than average fluff. Usually reserved for flawed movies that have redeeming qualities I enjoyed. [***]
60-64 (C): Most popcorn movies that I enjoy slightly but would never watch again. [**.5].
53-59 (C-): Flawed releases that I didn't enjoy but didn't hate either. [**.5].
44-52 (D+): Crap movies with at least something redeeming about them (like self-effacing humor). [**]
36-43 (D): Movies that left me wondering why they got greenlighted. [*.5]
27-35 (D-): Movies that I wanted to turn off or leave the theater except I make sure to always finish what I start. [*]
0-26 (F): Movies that actually cause me some degree of physical pain or discomfort to watch. [no stars or .5]

Cosgrove03/16/2006

I still find it hard to believe that anyone could find traces of narcissicm or self-love in "The Brown Bunny".

Also, "Nude for Satan" is so awesome. The fake spider: Best. Bad Effect. EVER.

greenmind03/16/2006

I'm not saying that the character Vincent Gallo plays loves himself as that's obviously not the case (he basically tortures himself through the whole movie). However, Vincent Gallo as director, producer, and writer spends the whole movie trying to fulfill his ego. A "here's a shot of me riding my motorcycle across the Utah salt flats for 5 minutes, don't I look awesome?" sort of thing.

And it's pretty obvious that he wrote the scene with Chloe Sevigny just for himself because it's something he's always wanted to happen. There was no point in making it that graphic otherwise.

"Nude For Satan" does have the bad special effects going for it in an almost humorous way. But so much of the movie seemed to take itself seriously that I couldn't give it the benefit of the doubt as schlock.

lbangs03/16/2006

"And it's pretty obvious that he wrote the scene with Chloe Sevigny just for himself because it's something he's always wanted to happen."

Well, she is his ex in real life, so you're assuming an awful lot to say that...

Shalom, y'all!

L. Bangs

greenmind03/16/2006

That's something I had forgotten so I take that one back. Always wanted to happen on film?

Naw, sure that's happened before too. :)

lbangs03/16/2006

Well, if I were a betting man... ;)

Shalom, y'all!

L. Bangs

Cosgrove03/16/2006

I think your point is valid only if you're willing to argue that there's a division between Gallo the actor and Gallo the writer/director, and I don't see that. Bud doesn't much like himself, and spends the entire film tormenting himself (as you said). But the point is that Gallo created him to play him exactly that way. As I see it, he's playing himself, and he doesn't see himself in a very flattering light. The driving/riding shots are self-indulgent, in that Gallo is following his muse and making exactly the film he wants to make. That doesn't make it egoism.

Also, I think the graphic nature of the sex scene works because it's Gallo at his most intimate, not just physically but emotionally. It's the crux of the film's argument. Could it have been filmed non-explicitly? Probably. Would it have the same impact? Probably not.

greenmind03/16/2006

My thought though is that if Vincent Gallo's muse is that much focus on himself it implies some ego.

Perhaps it's that I'm just not fond of Gallo getting in the way.

pianoshootis03/16/2006

Anyone who produces a film he writes, directs, and stars in has to have a huge ego. To go further, anyone who even wants to be a performer has to have some.

I think what makes a lot of people dislike Gallo is how fragile and insecure he is, because he begs so openly for people to like him and gets his back up whenever someone asks him a question. Contrast that with someone like Matthew McConaughey, who gets along with everyone because he loves himself and is confident that everyone else feels the same way.

hinterland03/16/2006

The image you see of Gallo in The Brown Bunny as self-deprecating, he likely sees as flattering. He desperately wants to project this image of himself as some tortured, sensitive artist. This is what he sees himself as and this is what he wants you to think too. This is why people call it self-indulgent; it's Gallo screaming to the world, "Look at how sensitive I am. I can have any of these girls I want, but I only want the one. That's the kind of guy I am."

Personally, I like the fact that he can be so bold about himself, I just wish he would find more interesting ways to express himself. I can drive around depressed listening to Gordon Lightfoot on my own time.

Cosgrove03/16/2006

I can understand that, and if it just were that sort of emo posturing, I'd probably reject it. (Maybe not, who knows.) But characterwise at least, there's more than that -- Gallo's isolation in the film is partly at least because he's a raging dick. It's not something that gets mentioned much, but the film does make a big deal out of his complicity in Chloe Sevigny's death. He could have intervened, but what he saw offended his sense of self. In other words, his beloved would still be alive if he wasn't such a self-involved jerk. That depiction, to me, is the very antithesis of egoism. Gallo's basically saying, "Bud got what he deserved. Doesn't mean it don't hurt any less."

192204/29/2006

Excellent list!

But you're too generous with [i]Scooby-Doo 2[/i]. :D

P.S.: Happy (belated) Birthday! :)

greenmind05/01/2006

I know. But I watched it right after "Garfield" and in comparison it seemed like a priceless work of art. :)

Thanks for the birthday wishes.