Alternative Sources

I suppose it's possible that some of you might not get anything out of the list I made earlier, being as some of you have different tastes in movies than I. However, you might get more out of a different list. In light of that, here are two additional movie lists from two quality movie reviewers. You're welcome.

From the Balcony
Guys named Bill Clark can be found at various places on this here internet and a couple of them are even the same Bill Clark who runs From the Balcony. Bill's perspective is probably similar to most movie watchers. He doesn't review movies for a living and doesn't have time to see every movie released. Consequently, Bill's Top 10 list consists mainly of movies that tend to be more mainstream (not that Bill doesn't appreciate quality smaller films). If you're looking for good movies that you've actually heard of, here's a good place to look. He's also been so kind as to share a Bottom 10 list. If a movie you were thinking about renting shows up on that list, you might want to think again. Even though he's never been published on rogerebert.com, Bill's website is still worth a look. Bill appreciates the brilliance that is Tom Wilkinson and that's reason enough to read him.

Roger Ebert
Everyone knows Roger Ebert. He's the preeminent film critic in the US so it's not suprising that he has the be-all and end-all of movie lists. He provides a traditional Top 10, along with a host of additional movies that he finds worthy of a mention. As much as I try to see a variety of films, I've got nothing on Ebert. He doesn't see everything, but he sees more movies than any other reviewer out there. If you're looking for high-quality movies that range from major studio productions to the smallest indie films, this list is a great resource.

Okay, I've now provided you with three sources of information for finding great movies. Being as most of the films on these lists can be found on DVD it should be very easy for you to see them. So go ahead and add them to you NetFlix queue now and you can enjoy them without ever having to leave your home. Again, you're welcome.

The Best Films of 2005

Yeah, so this is very delayed, but I figured I would go ahead and share anyway. I'm going to guess that most of you haven't seen but two or maybe three of these movies. If you've seen them all, then 100 cool points to you. These are, in my opinion, the 10 best movies that I saw in 2005. Okay, I saw a couple of them in 2006, but that's what happens when movies don't make it to theaters where I live until a month or two after they're released.

1. Junebug

Junebug is a small movie. (It played on fewer than 150 screens in the US). However, it's the most truthful portrayal of life in smaller towns that I've ever seen. The movie deftly and subtly displays the differeneces between traditional big city and small town mentalities. Furthermore, it brings to light how behavior varies from one situation to the next. The characters have depth and the reasonings behind their actions are not explicitly explained. Isn't that true of most of our actions in real life? In the end, you're left with the feeling that you know so much about these characters, but that you also might not know anything at all. Amy Adams shines as Ashley, delivering the best performance in any movie this year. Junebug is the best film of 2005.

Buy Junebug on DVD

2. Crash

If you live in the US, then I'm sure you've heard of Crash. It was released way back in May and it still has people talking. I think that says something about the movie's power. The easiest way to describe Crash is to say it is a movie about racial issues that takes place over about 36 hours in Los Angeles. However, that doesn't convey just how far-reaching this movie is. It is a 2-hour parable. Crash presents you with one point of view and just when you think you have it figured out, it turns everything on its head and makes you think again. Crash will make you examine yourself and your own prejudices, which you probably didn't even know were there.

Buy Crash on DVD

3. Oldboy

Oldboy is an incredibly violent movie, or at least you think it is after you're finished watching it. In reality, much of the violence is off-camera and only a few characters actually die onscreen. The implied violence is brutal at times, which is reason enough to remember the movie, but it's the underlying reasons for the violence that make the movie so memorable. Director Chan-Wook Park tells a tale of a man who is locked up for 15 years, by who and for what reason, he does not know. The bulk of the story is about this man's search for answers. At its peak, Oldboy played on 28 screens in the US, so it's no surprise that very few had the opportunity to see it. That's a shame. Oldboy is not for the faint of heart, but it's an ingenius story told masterfully.

Buy Oldboy on DVD

4. Capote

Capote is a movie that I think validates me (and my friend Ricky) and our appreciation for the incredible talent of Philip Seymour Hoffman. Capote tells the story of real-life author Truman Capote and his attempt to write a book based on a murder in Kansas. Hoffman has rightfully receieved critical acclaim for his performance in the movie and without him I'm sure the movie would be far less powerful. However, we musn't ignore the story. The story of Capote's attempt to write his book is compelling and Hoffman portrays brilliantly a man torn between his desire to finish his story and his affection for the killers that form the subject of the book. I think Hoffman deserved an Oscar for his performance in Owning Mahowny so it's nice to finally see him getting the recognition he deserves.

Buy Capote on DVD

5. Proof

Gwyneth Paltrow and Anthony Hopkins headline this small-budget flick that is based on a play. Maybe that's why the dialogue is so well-written. Paltrow stars as the daughter of Hopkins - a brilliant, but literally crazy mathematician. Hopkins shows yet again what a fine actor he is. Solid supporting performances are also turned in by Jake Gyllenhaal and Hope Davis, but this is Paltrow's movie. Paltrow is magnetic even as her character tries to push others away and her simple reading of a piece of paper will break your heart. The bulk of the film is devoted to her character as she tries to make sense of her father as well as her own brilliance and possible insanity.

Buy Proof on DVD

6. The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada

Tommy Lee Jones makes his directorial debut in this tale of friendship on the Texas/Mexico border. The story is unique and powerful. Of course, I would expect nothing less from Guillermo Arriaga, the man who wrote Amores Perros and 21 Grams. Jones stars as a cowboy whose best friend is Melquiades Estrada, an illegal immigrant from Mexico. Melquiades is killed and Jones wants justice. However, this is more than just a revenge movie. The story is one of isolation. All the characters in the film suffer from isolation and loneliness and when Jones loses his best friend he is overcome by it. Jones is outstanding in his portrayal of the old cowboy as is Barry Pepper as a border patrol officer.

Buy The Three Burials on DVD

7. Munich

Munich is the latest offering from acclaimed director Steven Spielberg. Spielberg, perhaps like no other director of my time, is able to skillfully make a wide variety of movies. The same man that made Jurassic Park and E.T. also made Schindler's List, Saving Private Ryan and now Munich. Munich is based on the true-life story of a group of Israeli "soliders" who go about exacting revenge on the Palestinian terrorists who killed 11 Israeli athletes at the 1972 Olympics. Eric Bana plays Avner, the leader of the group, and the man through which we experience the retribution and the consequences of said retribution. The consequences are, of course, on both a personal and societal level and Spielberg is wise to take us but so far before allowing us to figure out the rest for ourselves. Political and religious opinions aren't something that you can be assigned. They are personal and deeply held and how we try to rectify the differences we have with others in those respects is what Munich is all about.

Buy Munich on DVD

8. Sin City

Sin City is the other incredibly violent flick on the list. However, unlike Oldboy, Sin City's violence takes place right in front of the camera. Sin City is essentially a twisted live-action cartoon so instead of red blood, we get white blood. Actors and actresses undergo physical transformations and there is even a character who is completely yellow. Yes, yellow. Of all the movies on this list, Sin City is probably the most well-known and the one that most of you will have seen. The story (or stories, as it were) of the movie is almost inconsequential. This is a movie for Robert Rodriguez to do his thing and he does it well. Sin City is a treat for the eye and imagination and I look forward to the sequel.

Buy Sin City on DVD or Buy it on Super-Duper Special Edition DVD

9. Palindromes

Todd Solondz's latest movie makes you about as uncomfortable as his previous movies. If you've seen any of those, then you pretty much know what to expect here. Palindromes tells the story of a young girl named Aviva. The details of her life can't adequately be explained in one paragraph. Plus, to try and explain what happens in the movie would betray what I think is the point of the movie. The character of Aviva is played by 8 different actresses and 1 actor. Like Crash, Palindromes shows you a point-of-view and convinces you of its correctness only to turn around a few minutes later and show you that a completely different point-of-view might be just as correct. At least that's what I think is happening. It's never easy to tell with Solondz. If you're interested in truly unique movies, then put Palindromes at the top of your list.

Buy Palindromes on DVD

10. The Upside of Anger

I read a column in the Chicago Tribune the other day, which said that this year female roles have basically been relegated to "nurturing friends, neglected wives, pregnant helpmeets, and objects of lust." Clearly the author didn't see The Upside of Anger (or Proof for that matter). The Upside of Anger is all about a strong woman. Joan Allen stars as a mother of 4 daughters (Look, more strong women!) who is abandoned by her husband. How does she deal with this? She gets angry and drinks a lot. She makes friends with a nice man who lives around the corner (Kevin Costner, surprisingly not annoying us) who is also kind of angry and likes to drink a lot. Writer/Director Mike Bender created the movie for Joan Allen and she doesn't let him down. Allen gives us a strong woman who is trying her level best to keep her family together even though she can barely keep herself together. The Upside of Anger edges out Match Point and Me and You and Everyone We Know to round out this year's Top 10 List.

Buy The Upside of Anger on DVD

Insert "Cheney Shoots People" Joke Here

Instead of talking about how Dick Cheney accidently shot someone while hunting, couldn't we find a more important topic? I'm thinking, I dunno, maybe we could talk about people that are purposely shooting other people. Last I checked there was still quite a bit of that stuff going on. Maybe I'm wrong, but isn't that more important than an hunting accident on some ranch?

Pondering the Imponderables

What is the opposite of sandwich?

About a year ago I was approached by an acquaintance and asked a simple question. Actually that's not true. The structure of the question was simple, however the question itself was anything but. I was told it was a question that was meant to make them think and basically stump them. So after thinking about the question for a bit I gave my response. I then inquired as to whether or not my answer was correct.

I was informed that the questioner, in fact, did not know the answer to the question. As I said, the purpose of the question was to stump people and make them think. Although the lack of certainty in the question and its missing answer initially frustrated me, I soon grew to embrace it. I had an answer to the question and I was pretty confident in its correctness. At least, I thought it was clever and about as correct as anyone was going to get. The fact that my inquiring cohort could not tell me whether or not I was actually correct did not matter anymore.

What is self-esteem squared?

Now, just two days ago, I encountered a similar question. This question was not posed to stump its audience, but was posed to make a point. Regardless, it got me thinking. The bottom line was simple. If one is going to raise questions, analyze data (of whatever kind) and draw conclusions, one must be clear in what is actually being studied. If we measure something we must base our conclusions on what we've measured. This was a topic-specific idea, but I think the underlying thesis is applicable to our everyday experiences as well.

At times it is cumbersome, if not impossible, to analyze and draw conclusions from a certain set of observations. In order to counter this, we've developed accepted ways of twisting and transforming our observations to allow for easier analysis. We banish the abstrusity, allowing ourselves to reach some measure of closure. But at this point, after we've twisted and transformed our experiences, how much substance can we actually draw from them? I don't have the answer. I don't think there is an exact answer. I guess that's what makes it an imponderable.

United in Division

Okay, I'm gonna try something different here. Well, it's not really different, as I've seen plenty of other places that do it. However, this is the first time I've done it so it's different for me. Here's an excerpt from the Washington Post.

The party-line vote in the Senate Judiciary Committee to confirm Judge Samuel Alito for the Supreme Court, presaging a similar outcome in the full Senate, certifies the depth of the division between Republicans and Democrats on basic national policy.

That reality shadows the start of this session of Congress and raises doubt about the government's ability to address any of the major challenges facing the country.

David S. Broder

Broder lays it out pretty well. Democrats and Republicans have spent the past year bitterly disagreeing on one matter after another. Yet they almost universally state agreement with those in their own party. A good amount of agreement is to be expected, of course. I mean, politicians aren't randomly assigned to political parties. They choose their affiliation and people vote for them. I think they probably choose their positions too, perhaps too often.

However, there's a reason members of the House and Senate are referred to as representatives. They're supposed to represent their constituents. CNN is saying that only 30 percent of Americans oppose the Senate confirming Samuel Alito. However, the Senate vote is shaping up to fall right down party lines. Sounds like poor representation to me. On the other hand, if one took a sampling of the country and asked their opinions on The Patriot Act or the Iraq War, you're likely to find a big divide. So on some issues it seems the representatives are doing a good job of representing their constituents.

Still, if no one agrees, then what purpose are our representatives serving? Our representatives are supposed to stand up for our interests, but what happens when we all disagree? What should our representatives do now? Maybe they should be working to bring those with differing opinions to a common accord. I mean, if they're just going to be bitterly divided, we could pretty well just scrap the whole thing and do it ourselves.

What about the Home Builders Organization?

No, HBO is never gonna want us.

Many of you have been on the receiving end of my pleadings for Arrested Development. I never ask much; just watch the show and I'll be happy. Some of you have obliged and I appreciate that. Others of you have not, but don't worry there's still time to make up for your poor judgment.

For those who aren't aware, the past couple months have not been good for the show. After renewing the show for a third season in May, FOX decided it wasn't going to order any episodes beyond the initial run of 13. Since that time there have been reports of ABC and Showtime negotiating with Mitch Hurwitz (the man behind the genius of the show) to pick up the show once FOX officially cancels it. (It's still not officially axed yet, though every indication says it will be.)

After pulling the show from its schedule repeatedly, FOX announced that it would aire the final 4 episodes on Friday, February 10 at 8pm EST. We're getting 4 new episodes of Arrested Development in a row? Awesome. (Radical! Tubular!) Oh, but there's a catch.

To those who aren't aware (and I certainly wasn't), the Winter Olympics begin on February 10. Airing Arrested Development against the Olympics isn't exactly a recipe for high viewership. However, there are plenty of sane people in America who don't care about the Olympics, much less the opening ceremonies. So, to all of you who find the opening ceremonies to be boring, overwrought, and just all-around lame here's some counter-programming for you. Yeah, it's a Friday night, but who goes out before 10 anyway?

If you've never seen the show, then you're probably going to be a little lost during the first episode or two. Of course, you could always head over to FOX's page for the show and check out the "In Case You Missed It" link. Even if you don't, after the first 2 episodes you should be okay.

So why should you watch? Although Showtime has reportedly made an offer of 2 seasons for a total of 26 episodes, that offer has yet to be accepted. Plus, how many people do you know that actually have Showtime? It's still possible that the unthinkable happens and we lose Arrested Development from our televisions forever. This may well be your last chance to see what is, in my opinion, the best television comedy of my lifetime.

...and that's why you always leave a note.