Over the last few weeks, I've been noticing a bit of a trend.
It all begins with an obvious statement that has been talked about quite a bit in recent weeks: This summer has disappointed at the movies. With few exceptions, the big guns have failed to capture audiences' imagination, and very few blockbusters seem to have any staying power. If you want to hear five movie geeks discuss it further, tune in to this week's Lambcast.
So with precious little making me plan double-feature nights at the cinema, I've turned back to dvd. In doing so, I've found myself falling hard for some recent rentals; namely SUNSHINE and 28 WEEKS LATER. What do these two films have in common (besides a loose Danny Boyle connection)? Simple - they were both summer releases. Both from the same summer as it happens.
At the time they were largely dismissed by audiences, and not exactly hailed by critics. But looking back on them now, they're amazingly engaging, thoughtful, and stunning. I haven't been able to shake them since the credits rolled, and they have been what few other movies that summer - or this summer - were: exciting and memorable.
Thinking back, it seems that every year there are half a dozen films like this. Movies next to nobody saw in theatres. Movies next to nobody could find in theatres. But movies that would invariably stick with us and become hailed in the years that pass.
I'm thinking THE HURT LOCKER...BEFORE SUNSET...IN THE LOOP...ONCE...MOON...
Months and years later we will watch these movies and love everything about them, but if/when we have the chance to give them our admission dollars, we choose instead to waste our time with something based on a video game.
Again, I realize not everyone has this luxury, but what I'm trying to say is that if we try a little harder, and dig a little deeper, it is possible even in dreadful summers like this to find some amazing movies. Odds are they're indie, foreign, or a documentary, and odds are they're ones that you'll be trying to chase down in the coming months and years on dvd. Why not chase them down now, be a step or two ahead of the curve, and talk 'em up to your friends...rather than waste two hours of your life that you won't get back on a wickedly forgettable blockbuster?
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Try a Little Harder
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One of the best parts of blogging is that much of the legwork is done for you from people in bigger cities, where the opportunities to see such movies are more readily available. For me, it's all about finding the time, and finding the venue. Now that I've done the latter, time to kick in with the former :)
Good post, man. I'm really trying to dig deep thanks to this being such an awful year for movies so far (with the exception of Winter's Bone) and all this drudge that folks are wasting their money on is just making me write that much more. It's nothing short of shocking the kind of "quality" that gets greenlit nowadays and with ticket prices the way they are, I'm with you, I'm tackling those DVDs on my shelf that have been staring at me for ages. And btw, Sunshine is out of sight, one of the best of that year, one of the most visually stunning theater-going experiences I've ever come across, no idea why so many overlooked it. Long live Danny Boyle.
True. There are always laurels to be found if you look deep enough. The thing is, unlike staunch movie fans like us who seek out something worthwhile the average audience member just accepts what's there...which is a shame.
Great post Hatter.
Let me defend this year. True we haven’t had a great film but last year the only really great films for me were Let the right one in and The Hurt Locker, both of which are actually 2008 movies that only saw the light of day last year. That only leaves Inglourious Basterds.
I have started star rankings out of five this year and of the fifty movies I have seen, I have given twenty have four starts. Unfortunately no five star movies yet this year.
Smaller or less well known films I have seen this year that I would call exciting and memorable are:
Whip It
The Disappearance of Alice Creed
4.3.2.1
Micmacs
Cemetery Junction
All released in the UK this year, not sure when you got (or will get them).
Aiden - fair point, Sunshine is incredible and, for what its worth, I did pay for that on the initial release. I have a feeling it was released a little earlier in the year though in the UK.
I think you are right though - and i think it is worth going further. Recently on the SlashFilm Cast, they were discussing how 'A-Team' and 'Karate Kid', though shameless money-by-the-numbers movies, were actually, for what its worth, not too bad. Personally, I think screw that (I should write into Slash Film actually!). The simple fact that it doesn't aim to change or challenge film viewers is a shame. Remakes of films that don't need to be remade we must NOT watch otherwise it simply feeds the hollywood machine that makes the bad remakes due to this. The fact that millions of pounds that is given to a-team and karate-kid gives u a mediocre movie still, in my opinion, isn't good enough. Remember Easy Rider and Five Easy Pieces - $1m per movie and complete creative control. a $200m movie could be 200 (so-o-o-o many) smaller movies and, inevitably, at least one would hit the motherload and the creative freedom of countless others would inspipre the future. With $200m, studios don't want to take risks (karate-kid rather than kung-fu, JUST IN CASE it matters...), when $1m - or even $2m per movie would be a lot more sensible so that if it goes belly end up, it wouldn't make too much difference, and if it is incredible then the return would be immense.
We need a hollywood renaissance...
[could've had a whole post to itself!]
Simon
www.screeinsight.com
I completed a huge big-ass post answer to this and ... its GONE!!!
I can't write it again as it took ages! suffice to say, i completely agree and we have to stop paying to watch the rubbish movies - or movie we are aware are simply cash-ins.
Simon
www.screeninsight.com
With the summer market being so bad I've had the opportunity to go back and see some DVDs I haven't made time for previously.
Just the last three weeks:
Treasure of the Sierra Madre
I Love You, Man
The Quiet Man
Time Crimes
Big fan of Timecrimes.
It's funny you should choose 28 Weeks and Sunshine to discuss, because I thought both of those were 3/4 of a great movie ... but the 1/4 that weren't great sort of killed them. The 1/4 of each has to do with zombies who are able to stalk individual humans and serial killers in space.
I'm dying to see Winter's Bone. Perhaps it's the disconnect about seeing a movie with that title in the summer.
Moon was my favorite of last year.
Hear! Hear! This is exactly why I decided to be all about DVD's rather than first run movies with Film Cynics stuff. The hype machine blows way too much smoke these days to get any kind of perspective on what's worth watching and what isn't. That problem will only get worse over time too.
I'm also a firm believer in digging through the past. The giant pile of material that Hollywood has wrought only gets bigger every day, yet most of it is considered disposable and never looked at again. People totally need to look over their shoulders more as far as what's out there, and maybe be a little more realistic about Hollywood's ability to deliver on their "promise" of nothing but quality entertainment.
Wow, this one got people's attention...
@ Univarn... Glad to know what I'm doing isn't in vain. For my end, I turn to people in foreign countries, and people who go to festivals to tip me off so I can turn around and spread the good news.
(Wow that sounded churchy)
@ Aiden... (That bullseye feeling heavy yet?) I wouldn't say this year has been so bad. Reaching back a bit further, I also got knocked out by THE SECRET IN THEIR EYES, KICK ASS, THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO, FISH TANK, and A SINGLE MAN. Not to mention half a dozen amazing docs! I think the point is that it's often there ion theatres for the taking...we just have to dig a little deeper, and maybe go to a better theatre.
@ Andrew... Well said. Admittedly, the optimist in me was hoping that the lacklustre box office we were seeing through may and June was audiences speaking with their apathy. Guess that's too much to hope for.
@ Fandango... Three of the five you mention haven't hit Toronto yet, but I am indeed looking forward to seeing them.
@ Simon... (Also) well said! As evidenced y my enthusiasm for THE A-TEAM, I am not above a cinematic Big Mac once in a while. But that's the whole thing...I have them once in a while. More and more these days, the mainstream movies are boring me. Some of them might be harmless and a little fun, but I never talk them up as much as I do the smaller stuff. I figure the buzz machine does that enough, they sure don't need my help!
Funny thing about The Slashfilmcast though. How often do you hear them *not* recommend a film when they get to the end of their review?
@ Fitz... Me too!! Isn't it awesome? We've both seen some stellar films and not had to endure a moment of Kutcher, Shymalan, or Cruise!!
@ vance... I loved 'em both all the way through, and wasn't put off by their oddball finales. Funny though that an odd finale can put one off falling for a movie? Part of wonders if that's what holds SPLICE back for a lot of fine folks.
Can't wait to read your take on WINTER'S BONE.
@ Cynics... Indeed, I love the way that your show brings people's attention to new stuff that's had a chance to settle, and all those amazing goodies in The Vault. I know that down the road my new release coverage might lapse, but I'm not afraid of when that point comes, because I know that I'll be able to watch and write for ages on all those amazing lesser-knowns that people like you recommend to me.
Wow, this one got people's attention...
@ Univarn... Glad to know what I'm doing isn't in vain. For my end, I turn to people in foreign countries, and people who go to festivals to tip me off so I can turn around and spread the good news.
(Wow that sounded churchy)
@ Aiden... (That bullseye feeling heavy yet?) I wouldn't say this year has been so bad. Reaching back a bit further, I also got knocked out by THE SECRET IN THEIR EYES, KICK ASS, THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO, FISH TANK, and A SINGLE MAN. Not to mention half a dozen amazing docs! I think the point is that it's often there ion theatres for the taking...we just have to dig a little deeper, and maybe go to a better theatre.
@ Andrew... Well said. Admittedly, the optimist in me was hoping that the lacklustre box office we were seeing through may and June was audiences speaking with their apathy. Guess that's too much to hope for.
@ Fandango... Three of the five you mention haven't hit Toronto yet, but I am indeed looking forward to seeing them.
@ Simon... (Also) well said! As evidenced y my enthusiasm for THE A-TEAM, I am not above a cinematic Big Mac once in a while. But that's the whole thing...I have them once in a while. More and more these days, the mainstream movies are boring me. Some of them might be harmless and a little fun, but I never talk them up as much as I do the smaller stuff. I figure the buzz machine does that enough, they sure don't need my help!
Funny thing about The Slashfilmcast though. How often do you hear them *not* recommend a film when they get to the end of their review?
@ Fitz... Me too!! Isn't it awesome? We've both seen some stellar films and not had to endure a moment of Kutcher, Shymalan, or Cruise!!
@ vance... I loved 'em both all the way through, and wasn't put off by their oddball finales. Funny though that an odd finale can put one off falling for a movie? Part of wonders if that's what holds SPLICE back for a lot of fine folks.
Can't wait to read your take on WINTER'S BONE.
@ Cynics... Indeed, I love the way that your show brings people's attention to new stuff that's had a chance to settle, and all those amazing goodies in The Vault. I know that down the road my new release coverage might lapse, but I'm not afraid of when that point comes, because I know that I'll be able to watch and write for ages on all those amazing lesser-knowns that people like you recommend to me.
Wow, this one got people's attention...
@ Univarn... Glad to know what I'm doing isn't in vain. For my end, I turn to people in foreign countries, and people who go to festivals to tip me off so I can turn around and spread the good news.
(Wow that sounded churchy)
@ Aiden... (That bullseye feeling heavy yet?) I wouldn't say this year has been so bad. Reaching back a bit further, I also got knocked out by THE SECRET IN THEIR EYES, KICK ASS, THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO, FISH TANK, and A SINGLE MAN. Not to mention half a dozen amazing docs! I think the point is that it's often there ion theatres for the taking...we just have to dig a little deeper, and maybe go to a better theatre.
@ Andrew... Well said. Admittedly, the optimist in me was hoping that the lacklustre box office we were seeing through may and June was audiences speaking with their apathy. Guess that's too much to hope for.
@ Fandango... Three of the five you mention haven't hit Toronto yet, but I am indeed looking forward to seeing them.
@ Simon... (Also) well said! As evidenced y my enthusiasm for THE A-TEAM, I am not above a cinematic Big Mac once in a while. But that's the whole thing...I have them once in a while. More and more these days, the mainstream movies are boring me. Some of them might be harmless and a little fun, but I never talk them up as much as I do the smaller stuff. I figure the buzz machine does that enough, they sure don't need my help!
Funny thing about The Slashfilmcast though. How often do you hear them *not* recommend a film when they get to the end of their review?
@ Fitz... Me too!! Isn't it awesome? We've both seen some stellar films and not had to endure a moment of Kutcher, Shymalan, or Cruise!!
@ vance... I loved 'em both all the way through, and wasn't put off by their oddball finales. Funny though that an odd finale can put one off falling for a movie? Part of wonders if that's what holds SPLICE back for a lot of fine folks.
Can't wait to read your take on WINTER'S BONE.
@ Cynics... Indeed, I love the way that your show brings people's attention to new stuff that's had a chance to settle, and all those amazing goodies in The Vault. I know that down the road my new release coverage might lapse, but I'm not afraid of when that point comes, because I know that I'll be able to watch and write for ages on all those amazing lesser-knowns that people like you recommend to me.
think about that budget thing - $200m on one film ... imagine if 200 filmmakers were given $1m ... imagine what that would produce!
This summer has been a ginormous letdown in terms of movies. I enjoyed "Get Him to the Greek" and "Iron Man 2"; honestly, I don't think I can name any others.
Y'see, this is why I actually pay attention to what people are saying about certain movies. I don't like wasting $10 on a movie I'll forget in a week.
As for forgotten summer movies, I can't think of any at the moment.
@ Simon... Problem is, sometimes the money made on the $200M project is what allows the studio to take a flier on a $1M project.
@ Meredith... Really? haven't you seen EXIT THROUGH THE GIFT SHOP, WINTER'S BONE, or MICMACS? Plus CYRUS is supposed to be good, ditto THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE which comes out here this week.
@ Movie Nut... Better that you throw your hard earned money at something deserving. As for forgotten gems, keep thinking - something will come to you.
Nay, I say, nay! I will do no such thing, this looking harder for good movies!
Kidding, of course - I've seen a lot of films I've enjoyed this summer, amongst them: Please Give, City Island, Micmacs, Cyrus, etc. Yet that doesn't excuse the worse-than-usual slate of blockbusters and not-even-blockbusters (mid-range fare, budgetwise) that we've come to expect over the years. There are always good indies and docs out there to be seen - though with that, there's always a much smaller audience - but what's caught the zeitgeist? I'm still waiting for a little movie to catch on and make even $20 million this summer, and the studio fare has been a tremendous letdown.
I love all the love for Sunshine on your blog recently.
That movie is the shit.
@ Fletch... You're halk right. Movies aren't catching The Zeitgeist, but they are making money. Look at SHREK. Widely dissed, yet made a decent amount of loot. Hell even the universally loathed LAST AIRBENDER is up at $100M now.
Nothing is catching our imagination like a SPIDER-MAN, a PIRATES, or a TRANSFORMERS...but the masses are still goin!
I deeply wish they'd throw their loot at more deserving films, but I suppose it will have to remain a vain hope.
@ Blake... I'm alright with being late to the party, when the party is that fuckin' good.
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