FILM 2011: THE BEST

NOTE: Before they announce the Oscar nominations this morning we wanted to post our list of Top Movies of the Year. We just saw “The Artist” (good but not great) and can’t find “A Dangerous Method” or “Shame” anywhere (and that’s a shame) and if we get a chance to catch those and some others soon we will update. But as it stands now…

Erie Entertainment’s Best Movies of 2011

By: John C. Lyons

THE TREE OF LIFE (10) - Terrence Malick’s latest is mind-blowing.  Awe-inspiring.  Epic.  A cerebral, spiritual, and metaphysical experience unlike any other. It blew me away. There are popcorn entertainments and then there are films like The Tree of Life. The Blu-ray is sitting on my shelf at home and easy access to transcendent art like this makes me a very happy guy.

DRIVE (9) - A slow burn to a bloody strong finale. Actor Ryan Gosling had a great year and director Nicolas Winding Refn has been put on the map after this one. The Edinboro Film Series is showing Drive next week and I’m very excited to catch it again on a big screen. I’ve been listening to the soundtrack at least once a week since its release. It’s safe to say this one stuck with me. Full review.

HUGO (9) – Put a tool like 3D into the hands of talented filmmakers and you get a movie like Hugo. Not a gimmick, but an experience. A love-letter to film and film preservation. This one was an odd match for Martin Scorsese to direct (the trailer wasn’t that great). Then I saw the movie and now I can’t imagine anyone else telling this story. Its not perfect, and I’m not certain if it will work as well for me without the full-immersion of the 3D theater experience (similar to Avatar which I haven’t been interested to re-watch at home), but in the moment I was loving this one.

THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO (9) – I saw the original Swedish film starring Noomi Rapace and Michael Nyqvist and thought it was really good. It made my list of Noteworthy films in 2010 (AKA the runner-up list). The Swedish sequels that followed it though…not so much. So I felt an amazing director like David Fincher really had an opportunity to improve on the originals. Fincher’s adaptation starring Rooney Mara and Daniel Craig manages to edge out the first Swedish film in terms of overall quality and execution. His cold perfection puts some viewers off, but its the welcome glue that makes for a more complete work in my opinion. Mara deserves a lot of the credit though. The chemistry between the leads plays out slightly differently as well, dare I say more “playfully”, and I side with the idea to focus more on them than the failing publication. That being said I will gladly own the inevitable “director’s cut” in hopes of more Robin Wright.

13 ASSASSINS (9) – My favorite foreign film of the year comes from Audition director Takashi Miike. I rented this one, intrigued by the director tackling the samurai world, and was absolutely blown away. 13 Assassins feels like a much younger brother to The Seven Samurai. I always expect something notable from Miike, but I was really happily surprised with how well-developed each samurai was – no easy task. And that great, long-running action finale — awesome. I’m looking forward to watching this one again soon as I recently learned there is a lot of cultural symbolism going on I wasn’t aware of on first viewing. You can stream or Blu-ray on Netflix and I highly recommend you do!

PEARL JAM TWENTY (9) – Whether you equate their output quality with album sales numbers or not rock music fans know Pearl Jam is the best live rock band in the last twenty years. OK, so I am a little biased, but one cannot deny the unparalleled access to the behind the scenes footage of this megaband from the first days they played together is. It’s amazing some of the footage director Cameron Crowe got a hold of here to tell the story of their rise (and fall) to fame. Apparently someone knew they were about to create a piece of rock history back in the early 90′s and we all get to reap the benefits here because of it. It’s no secret we love this band at EEc and this was one of the best gifts given in 2011. Best music doc of the year.

MIDNIGHT IN PARIS (8.5) - The surprise of the summer. Woody Allen does it again. A writer in love with a city. A man in love with the illusions of the past. A dreaming artist. This film is a real treat and my favorite romance of the year. And what a stellar cast! The script is tight and the performances are top-notch. Welcome back Owen Wilson. Full review.

YOUNG ADULT (8.5) - I really enjoyed Charlize Theron’s performance here. This character is ugly and unlikable and she puts it all out there. We’ve all met people like Mavis (Theron) and it’s hard not to imagine we’re creating more of them with programs like the Kardashians and Kendra as a constant source of “entertainment”. We see so many man-child stories, it’s nice to see some tackle women. A great dark comedy. Full review.

ATTACK THE BLOCK (8.5) – This English-import was on my radar since its early 2011 debut at SXSW and the good amount of internet buzz that came with it. I really enjoyed the energy and style on display. Director Joe Cornish takes the viewer and drops them right into the action on the streets of South London with a teenage lead cast of unknowns. A great monster movie with a contemporary twist. This movie is a whole lot of fun.

HANNA (8.5) – Director Joe Wright continues to rise on my list of favorite contemporary filmmakers. He stood out to me at first because of his signature lengthy and graceful single-shot scenes, and his repeat collaborations with one  of my favorite actresses (Kiera Knightley). But now it seems whether he does a period movie or one about a hip teenage assassin, I am always impressed with the results. Star Saoirse Ronan annoyed the hell out of me in Atonement (as she’s supposed to) but here she shows she can hold her own with the likes of Cate Blanchett and Eric Bana. Great Chemical Brothers score too.

ANOTHER EARTH (8.5) – The best true indie of the year. Star Brit Marling got tired of being offered the same roles that most young women in the business get offered (girl getting killed in a horror movie) so she set out to write her own projects and found herself at Sundance a year ago starring in two movies. I  haven’t seen Sound of My Voice yet, but Another Earth is a great combination of drama, romance, and science fiction. She’s definitely on my radar now.

THE WOMAN (8.5) – I had no expectations going into this film other than knowing about the infamous exit of a Sundance attendee at its premiere there. I had seen some of Lucky McKee and Angela Bettis’ previous collaborations and found them to range from uniquely odd to good, but I wasn’t familiar with author Jack Ketchum so I called in Zach Owen handle the review duties (great review here) for EEc. I later checked out the film myself and was pretty blown away. Despite going way over-the-top brutal at its climax the rest of the movie stands strong in making its point. Kudos to McKee and Ketchum in making a feminist movie with such balls.

MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE (8.5) – So the Olsen twins have been hiding a younger sister (Elizabeth Olsen) and based on her fearless performance here she is definitely one to watch. I love the flow of this movie and how it runs the past and present storylines in parallel. It’s a slow burn with an ending that annoys some but made me appreciate it even more. Another great supporting effort from John Hawkes too.

CAVE OF FORGOTTEN DREAMS (8.5) – Directed by Werner Herzog this movie was shot and presented in 3D, but unfortunately never played near Erie. On Blu-ray the effect is still jaw-dropping as Herzog captures the Chauvet caves of Southern France, featuring the oldest known pictorial creations of humankind in their astonishing natural setting. Amazing doc and a must see!

OTHER NOTEWORTHY FILMS FROM 2011: We Need to Talk About Kevin, The Debt, The Artist, Contagion, Bridesmaids,  Moneyball, Super 8, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Melancholia, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Trust, The Ides of March, Jane Eyre, The Descendants, Source Code.

THE ONES WE MISSED: A Dangerous Method, Shame, A Separation, Pina, The Muppets, Take Shelter, Project Nim, 50/50, The Guard.

PEOPLE OF THE YEAR: Michael Fassbender, Jessica Chastain, Ryan Gosling, Rooney Mara, Brit Marling, and Elizabeth Olsen.

BEST INDIE FILMS: Bellflower, Another Earth, Martha Marcy May Marlene, Tucker and Dale vs Evil.

FILM: Edinboro Film Series spring 2012 program

The Edinboro Film Series is proud to announce its film and spotlight event program for Spring 2012. The series returns Thursday February 2^nd with 2011 hit movie “DRIVE” starring Ryan Gosling and Carrey Mulligan. Films are normally shown in the Frank G. Pogue Student Center Multi-Purpose Room on the campus of Edinboro University (unless otherwise noted). $2 General Admission and free for EUP students, staff, and faculty with I.D.

DRIVE (2011) > Thursday, February 2

A Hollywood stunt performer who moonlights as a wheelman discovers that a contract has been put on him after a heist gone wrong. Starring Ryan Gosling and Carrey Mulligan. Rated R. Hosted by Edinboro Film Series Director and Filmmaker John C. Lyons.

DOUBLE BILL:

ONCE (2006) and THE SWELL SEASON (2011) > Thursday, February 16

Start time: 8PM. The Academy Award-winning musical love story followed by the behind the scenes documentary. Rated R. Hosted by Film Society of Northwestern PA President Erika Dauber.

DR. STRANGELOVE OR: HOW I LEARNED TO STOP WORRYING

AND LOVE THE BOMB (1964) > Thursday, March 1

An insane general starts a process to nuclear holocaust that a war room of politicians and generals try to stop. Directed by Stanley Kubrick. Rated PG. Hosted by Filmmaker and Educator Brad Pattullo.

SUSPIRIA (1977) > Thursday, March 22

A newcomer to a fancy ballet academy gradually comes to realize that the staff of the school is a coven of witches bent on chaos and destruction. Directed by Dario Argento. Rated R. Hosted by Eerie Horror Film Festival Vice President David Bostaph.

SPOTLIGHT FILMMAKER:

JAKE MAHAFFY > March 26 and 27

Jake Mahaffy’s films have screened in festivals around the world including Sundance (4 years), Rotterdam (3 years), and SXSW. Filmmaker Magazine named him on of the “New Faces of Independent Film”. We are honored to have Jake as our guest for two days of films and workshops. Rated R. Schedule TBA.

AKIRA (1988) > Thursday March 29

A secret military project endangers Neo-Tokyo when it turns a biker gang member into a rampaging psionic psychopath that only two kids and a group of psionics can stop. Rated R. Hosted by TBA.

BRICK (2005) > Thursday April 12

A teenage loner pushes his way into the underworld of a high school crime ring to investigate the strange disappearance of his ex-girlfriend. Starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Rated R. Hosted by TBA.

SPIRIT QUEST FILM FESTIVAL > April 13-15

Our 2^nd year hosting this great festival of short and feature films from across the globe and focusing on the human experience. Films and filmmakers TBA. Hosted by Festival Director Greg Ropp.

REGIONAL FILMMAKER SHOWCASE and

THERE ARE NO GOODBYES (2012) > April 19 and 20

John C. Lyons’ new feature film about choices and finding purpose in one’s life in blue-collar America. Filmed in Erie, Poland, Ireland, and Czech Republic. Cast and crew will be in attendance both nights. In conjunction with the regional premiere event we will be showcasing a collection of work from area filmmakers. Details TBA.

ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND (2004) > Thursday April 26

A couple undergo a procedure to erase each other from their memories when their relationship turns sour, but it is only through the process of loss that they discover what they had to begin with. Starring Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet. Rated R. Hosted by Filmmaker and Educator Olivia Ciummo.

BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA (1986) > Thursday May 10

An All-American trucker gets dragged into a centuries-old mystical battle. Rated R. Starring Kurt Russell. Directed by John Carpenter. Hosted by Filmmaker Len Kabasinski.

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ABOUT EDINBORO FILM SERIES – Our intent is to foster an environment that will attract, stimulate, and educate future filmmakers, actors, artists, and the general public; providing a more comprehensive experience showcasing independent films and their filmmakers; giving those in attendance the opportunity to ask questions and meet the artists. These events are organized by a dedicated committee of students and will build leadership, budgetary, and promotional skills for those involved in the program. All events always FREE to Edinboro students!

FILM: THE DARK KNIGHT RISES PROLOGUE

THE DARK KNIGHT RISES prologue (2011)

Late to the party, but nonetheless extremely impressed.

By: John C. Lyons

This past weekend my wife and I took a trip to Chicago to visit friends and ring in the new year. As film fans in Erie Pennsylvania know, there is only one location in a 3+ hour radius to see The Dark Knight Rises prologue: the Carnegie Science Center in Pittsburgh. And it’s not attached to Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol. So fanatics have to consider a long, tempting haul to see the opening 6-minutes of the upcoming film. Being a huge Batman fan myself (and I find the M:I franchise entertaining), I couldn’t miss out on the opportunity in Chicago, so on our first day in the windy city we headed to the IMAX theater at Navy Pier to see Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol and The Dark Knight Rises prologue.

IMAX is going to be the required method of viewing this movie when it releases this summer. It’s a must. You have to travel, Erie, and hopefully we have more options by the summer. Director Christopher Nolan has said the final cut of the movie may feature in the neighborhood of 50+ minutes of IMAX footage. He has fallen in love with the format, and judging from the scenes displayed in the prologue, it’s easy to see why. Immersion is the first word that comes to mind. My jaw literally dropped several times in the showreel. Similar, yet different, to my experiences with Hugo and Avatar in 3D. You truly feel like you are inserted into the action and the experience is something that can’t be duplicated at home or a regular theater. It’s exhilarating. Whether you think masked heroes and vigilantes are silly, the cinematography on display is incredible. I won’t spoil the plot of these opening moments, but I will say it involves two planes, mid-air, and the sequence is tense and loud. Which leads me to my other comment.

I see everywhere (I’m sure you have too) that Tom Hardy (Inception, Warrior), who plays the infamous villian Bane, is impossible to understand with his strange accent and face-mask/breathing apparatus. While I will agree that his delivery is odd (I; however, find it interesting and unsettling) and muffled I am of the belief that some of the problem is collective audience laziness. And the scene is extremely loud. That’s the point. Ever ride in a plane with the windows shot out? I’m going to guess it’s loud as hell. In other words I don’t have a problem with the accent or the voice (even though today many sources are reporting that Nolan has agreed to tweak the audio mix to bring Bane more to the forefront which will help a lot). Bane is a real odd character in Nolan’s version and I can’t wait to see where he goes with him. This prologue is awesome in IMAX. It completely succeeded in getting me even more excited to see The Dark Knight Rises this summer.

Side note: I won’t be formerly reviewing Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol for EEc, but I will say that it’s IMAX scenes were awesome and while the movie went on far too long, and wasn’t my personal favorite in the franchise, I would definitely recommend it for the IMAX action experiences. For someone who is afraid of heights, the immersion of the scenes at the Burj Khalifa building (tallest building in the world) were scary and exciting. I’m between a 7.5 or 8 out of 10 rating. The IMAX stuff definitely distracts from the more silly moments.

FILM: Top Grossing Mainstream Independent Films of 2011

The following is the list of the top 30 grossing indie films, released in a limited release (under 1,000 screens) and by specialty distributors.

1. “Midnight in Paris” (Sony Pictures Classics) – $56,341,186
2. “The Descendants” (Fox Searchlight) – $39,675,000
3.”The Tree of Life” (Fox Searchlight) – $13,303,319
4. “The Conspirator” (Roadside Attractions) – $11,538,204
5. “Jane Eyre” (Focus) – $11,242,660
6. “Win Wi”n (Fox Searchlight) – $10,179,275
7. “My Week With Marilyn” (The Weinstein Company) – $8,964,000
8. “Kevin Hart: Laugh at My Pai”n (Codeblack) – $7,706,436
9. “Sarah’s Key” (The Weinstein Company) – $7,693,187
10. “Cedar Rapids” (Fox Searchlight) – $6,861,102
11. “Beginners” (Focus) – $5,790,894
12. “The Guard” (Sony Pictures Classics) – $5,331,189
13. “Cave of Forgotten Dreams” (Sundance Selects) – $5,256,974
14. “Margin Call” (Roadside Attractions) – $5,195,529
15. “The Artist” (The Weinstein Company) – $5,142,000
16. “Biutiful” (Roadside Attractions) – $5,101,237
17. “Atlas Shrugged, Part I” (Rocky Mountain) – $4,627,375
18. “The Company Men” (The Weinstein Company) – $4,441,272
19. ”Barney’s Version” (Sony Pictures Classics) – $4,439,201
20. “The Way” (PDA) – $4,117,802
21. “Buck” (Sundance Selects) – $4,038,912
22. “Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy” (Focus) – $4,031,000
23. “Of Gods and Men” (Sony Pictures Classics) – $3,954,651
24. “Like Crazy” (Paramount Vantage) – $3,324,718
25. “From Prada To Nada” (Lionsgate) – $3,033,623
26. “The Skin I Live In” (Sony Pictures Classics) – $2,991,663
27. “Martha Marcy May Marlene” (Fox Searchlight) – $2,897,457
28. “Everything Must Go” (Roadside Attractions) – $2,711,643
29. “The Way Back” (Newmarket) – $2,701,859
30. “Melancholia” (Magnolia) – $2,454,418

List provided by The Playlist at Indiewire.com

FILM: YOUNG ADULT

YOUNG ADULT (2011)

The story of the modern woman-child

By: John C. Lyons

Directed by: Jason Reitman

Written by: Diablo Cody

Starring: Charlize Theron, Patton Oswalt, Patrick Wilson

Our Rating: 8.5/10

Mavis Gary (Charlize Theron) is a young adult fiction writer. Actually she’s technically a “ghost writer” and doesn’t get credited for her stories. She’s also recently divorced and self-centered and has one of those little dogs that fits into a purse. Plus she looks like Charlize Theron. On the surface Mavis is confident, in-control, and won’t give most people the time of day. Once you spend some time with her though you see she’s also suffering from prolonged adolescence, alcoholism, and some other issues under her glossy exterior.

I really enjoyed Young Adult and Theron’s performance. It feels like the talented actress has been away for awhile and this was a different role for her. Mavis is a great character. All shallow at the start and increasingly dark and twisted as the story progresses. It takes chops to pull something like this off well without becoming a cartoon. Theron really dives in and plays everything so believably you can’t help but laugh and cringe (oftentimes at once). I’ve met people like Mavis and it’s hard not to imagine we’re creating more of them with programs like the Kardashians and Kendra as a constant source of “entertainment”. We see so many man-child stories, it’s nice to see some tackle women.

That this film was written by Diablo Cody (Juno, United States of Tara) is no surprise either. She really gets contemporary characters. If you weren’t a fan of all the hip dialog in Juno, don’t worry, there’s none of that here. Also of note is Patton Oswalt who does wonderful as well in his supporting role. When Mavis heads back to her hometown to try and steal her ex-boyfriend from his wife, Oswalt’s character provides her with some much-needed perspective and they have some great scenes together. Reitman does a standard job of directing. There isn’t any flash here, but there doesn’t need to be. Definitely recommended.

I saw this film at Cinemark’s Tinseltown 17 Theatres on Peach Street in Erie, PA. Click for showtimes.

Related links: Young Adult official site

MPAA rating: Rated R for language and some sexual content.

Length: 94 minutes