So I finally checked Casablanca off my list. The list to which I’m referring is the “dude you’re a filmmaker so you need to see these movies” list. I make no claims that my list is “complete”. I have a strong dislike for pretentious film snobs that the only good movies are the “important films” so I’m sure my list differs from most. That said, I don’t want to be ignorant of some of the more influential movies that have been made.

To be honest, Casablanca was better than I expected. In general I’m not a big fan of older movies. Maybe it’s because the movies I enjoy most stem from the time period that I live in, grew up in or heard a lot about from my parents. Maybe the romance of the stiff acting, soft focus, and harsh lighting is lost on me. Maybe I just find it hard to relate. Whatever the reason is I don’t normally go out of my way to see the old black ‘n’ whites; but this was an exception I was glad I made. The story explains itself enough that you didn’t have to be alive in the 40s to appreciate what was going on. Rick’s character, while uber-cool, was still relatable. The story was interesting with plenty of twists and turns. I actually found my self hurrying back to my chair after a mid-DVD pit stop to find out what was going to happen next. It was a well made film in all respects.

I’m sure that to the die hard fans of Casablanca find my review akin to saying Mozart was good at making pretty sounds. I’m fine with that. If you are a die hard fan of Casablanca then this review isn’t for you anyway. This review is for the average movie watching person like myself who might skip over a good movie it because it looks “old”. Yes it is old but it stands the test of time. If you haven’t seen it yet then toss it into your Netfilx queue and let me know what you think.

Next on the list… Easy Rider.

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It’s hard not to admire the mad genius of Michel Gondry. You probably know him as the director of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind; a personal favorite of mine. He has also directed music videos for the likes of The Chemical Brothers, Bjork, and Massive Attack along with commercials for Levis and HP. (He’s also pretty good with a Rubik’s Cube)

His latest film Be Kind Rewind tells the tale of two guys - Mos Def and Jack Black - that work at a VHS video rental store. Jack’s character’s brain becomes magnetized and erases all of the video tapes. In order to satisfy the store’s most loyal renter, an aging woman with signs of dementia, the two men set out to remake the lost films, which include Back to the Future, The Lion King, and Robocop. Here is the original trailer if you haven’t already seen it.

In typical Gondry style he takes the concept one step further and films himself doing a low budget version of his own trailer.

Genius.

Admittedly, I don’t love everything Gondry has done but I think that is indicative of someone with that broad a range of creativity. He is anything but a one trick pony.

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Two big thumbs up for this movie! Rotten Tomatoes is currently giving Juno a well deserved 93% which passes my “90%+ equals a must see” test for RT. This is how an “indie” movie should be done. You get a great script, attract great actors (some more well know than others), and allow interesting characters the chance to come to life. Juno honestly exceeded my expectations. It didn’t use up all the jokes in the trailer and wasn’t a one-trick-pony of edgy comebacks and quips. Solid performances were given by all of the major cast members; particularly Ellen Page.

The bottom line is if you like the trailer you will like the film.

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I went and saw I Am Legend this weekend at the IMAX. I must say it was a pretty fun ride. Will Smith proved himself as a serious actor in Pursuit of Happiness and he delivers some similar quality performances here as well. There is also plenty of Will Smith “Big Willy Style” charm and humor to keep it from getting too heavy. I like Will Smith in general so I found it to have a good balance. With that said, there were a couple scenes that weren’t firing on all cylinders but they didn’t ruin the movie. It also isn’t the most unpredictable story ever made but the concept was interesting enough to work for the movie. If you are the type of person that goes to a movie trying to figure out ahead of time what is going to happen next then you will probably score 100% at calling the next move. Personally, I don’t spend 10+ dollars to try to “figure out” a movie. I want to be taken for a ride emotionally, visually, or if I’m lucky both.

My final grade is GnG (Good not Great). If you like the trailer then you’ll like the movie. No surprises, just a fun time. I recommend seeing it at the IMAX. I don’t care how big your TV is, you won’t be experiencing the full movie without seeing it on a big screen and they don’t get any bigger than IMAX. As a bonus you’ll get to see a 7 minute trailer for The Dark Night!

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To be perfectly honest the holidays are something I survive more than anything. Maybe that’s why I liked The Ice Harvest so much. It’s dark. It’s gritty. It starts John Cusack. ‘Nuff said. The critics didn’t seem to dig it too much but what do the critics know anyway right? Directed by Harold Ramis, who helmed such films as Caddy Shack and Ghostbusters, it was in my opinion, funny as hell. Granted, the humor is dark so if that’s not your cup of tea then you may want to rent something from Disney instead. Otherwise, throw it in your Netfilx queue and give it a gander.

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