BIRDMAN (2014)

FILMS FROM THE 21st CENTURY

(Post 1 of 50)

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

Birdman is the story of an actor who made a name for himself playing a superhero, but has long wanted to shed that image and take on more serious acting roles. Or work he perceives as serious, like directing and starring in a Raymond Carver play. I found the whole thing fascinating and well done, but it's uncommericial nature made it a surprise best picture winner to me.

And it made me want to pick up some Raymond Carver.

AMORES PERROS (2000, MEXICO)

MILLENNIUM MONTH (MM): MOVIES FROM THE YEAR 2000...

AND IN MEMORIAM

(Post 10 of 11)

This one was hard for me to watch. I actually started it a couple of times and couldn't get through much of it. A movie about people that fight dogs is really tough for a dog lover like me to take. But I finally did watch it and have to admit it's a very good film. I'd even say it's an excellent film. Director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu later received praise for Babel, but I think Amores Perros is even better. The first hour is also a little difficult because the characters are mostly unsympathetic, but I admit this multi-layered, multi-character drama became a pretty riveting piece by the second half of the film and should definitely be on the 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die List. You just might not want to see it twice.


Obituary of person with 1001 movie connection: Ring Lardner Jr.(1915-2000) was a screenwriter who came to Hollywood during the 40's and won an Academy Award for Woman of the Year in 1942. He was later blacklisted by the House Un-American Activities Commission and was unemployable in Hollywood for many years. He finally achieved the recognition he deserved for another Academy Award for his adaptation of Richard Hooker's novel for the movie MASH. Of course, this was a Robert Altman film which means Lardner's dialogue was often changed or sometimes removed altogether. Regardless, Lardner has still got to be considered an important part in the success of that film.

Screenplay by Ring Lardner Jr. credit
on one of the great movie posters of all-time.

BABEL (2006)

Catching up on some recent 1001 listings

(Film 7 of 12)

Babel-One of those multi-layered/intersecting story movies, which I must admit that I usually like. And I like this film too, though not as much Magnolia or Short Cuts.

In Babel, we have an American couple in distress in Morocco, their children’s nanny in distress in Mexico, a deaf Japanese teenager going through growing pains in Japan and a poor family in crisis in Morocco. Oh, what’s life without a little conflict?