BOYHOOD (2014)

FILMS FROM THE 21st CENTURY

(Post 50 of 50)

Some quick takes on the most relatively recent listings from the
1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die list

A film that took a dozen years or so to make and dramatizes the growing pains of a boy and his family during the course of that time. Unique in approach and may be dismissed by some as gimmicky, Boyhood works for me and the unusual nature of seeing the boy in the title (and his sister, mother and father) grow over the course of the time supplements the narrative instead of overpowers it.  I liked this one enough that it would have been my choice for Best Picture for 2014-not that the Academy asked me.

CITIZENFOUR (2014)

FILMS FROM THE 21st CENTURY

(Post 49 of 50)

Some quick takes on the most relatively recent listings from the
1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die list

Whether or not you think NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden is a hero or a traitor should not interfere with what an interesting documentary Citizenfour is. We the viewer see behind the scenes before the Snowden NSA documents are released thanks to the cabal of director Laura Poitras, journalist Glenn Greenwald and Snowden. And we therefore become privy to all this before the fact and make us feel somewhat complicit just for watching. Seeing Snowden's motivations before they happen does push one toward having more sympathy to him whether or not it really should. The Academy Award winner for Best Documentary.

3-IRON (2004, SOUTH KOREA)

FILMS FROM THE 21st CENTURY

(Post 48 of 50)

Some quick takes on the most relatively recent listings from the
1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die list

"Seen anything good you want to recommend?"

I get that question at the library a lot. I'm not sure I'd give 3-Iron as an answer to this question simply because I'd have to try to answer the next question as to what it was about. But there was one time I did try to promote this offbeat film when I got the "have you seen anything good you want to recommend" question...

"Well, I just saw this movie. It's called 3-Iron. It's Korean. It's about this young guy on a motorbike that goes from house to house to just to sort of hang out and just be. He doesn't steal or cause much damage usually, and he doesn't say anything...In fact, he doesn't say anything for the entire movie! He has a girl that hangs out with him eventually after he beats up her boyfriend by hitting him with a bunch of golf balls. Oh, they do break into one guy's house and it turns out he is dead and they give him a nice burial. The young guy eventually goes to jail for his golf ball assault but escapes and sort of reunites with the girl...at least I think that's what happens, I'm not really sure."

At this point the library patron nodded politely and asked me if we had a copy of the newest Fast and Furious movie. I gave him the video he asked for at knowing that I at least tried.

MOOLAADE (2004, SENEGAL)

FILMS FROM THE 21st CENTURY

(Post 47 of 50)

Some quick takes on the most relatively recent listings from the
1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die list

One of the things I like that movies can do is take you somewhere you've never been before. Though I must admit that a film with the subject of female genital mutilation in Senegal was a topic that I intentionally saved for the back part of this list.

Worth seeing-important topic-unique setting-and one i never would have watched if it weren't for adherence to the 1001 list.