ROGER AND ME (1989), HOTEL TERMINUS: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF KLAUS BARBIE (1988, FRANCE)

Evictions from Michael Moore's Roger and Me

"I'm just doing my job. Nothing personal."

Roger and Me was documentary filmmaker Michael Moore's first film. It depicts Moore's quixotic quest to interview GM president Roger Smith and get his reaction to the closing of the GM plant in Flint, Michigan. Moore is often criticized for creative editing to slant his point of view. Maybe...and he does put himself in the middle of his movies (quite a contrast to documentarians like Frederick Wiseman). However, he does let many people who you know disagree with Moore have their say and they more often than not put their foot in their mouths at best and come across as mostly lying assholes.

I say: Keep up the good work, Michael! And thanks for speaking for those who often have no one else to speak for them.

Michael Moore interviews the infamous

"Bunny skinning lady" in Roger and Me

 Klaus Barbie on trial
in Hotel Terminus: The Life and Times of Klaus Barbie

Marcel Ophuls is also a documentarian who doesn't mind putting himself in the middle of his film. He is probably best know for his film about the French Resistance The Sorrow and the Pity from 1972. Hotel Terminus is his 1988 film is about infamous Nazi war criminal, Klaus Barbie. Ophuls tried to talk to just about everyone still alive at the time who knew or had anything to do with Barbie. Some of the better moments in the film are watching some of the interviewees start to squirm when they are trying to defend themselves and Ophuls is not afraid to twist the knife when they are doing so. The whole film is a lot to take in (and quite lengthy) and is anything but casual viewing. Hotel Termimus is an admirable venture and serves as a pretty important historical document.

Klaus Barbie in handcuffs
in Hotel Terminus: The Life and Times of Klaus Barbie

THE PIANIST (2002), BOWLING FOR COLUMBINE (2002)

2002

The Pianist surveys the devastation

The Pianist is the story of Szpilman, a Jewish pianist in Poland and his struggle to survive during the Holocaust. It was a hard film for me to ever get motivated to watch (This is a first viewing) but a hard film to take my eyes away from once I did. Every struggle, including watching his family go to a concentration camp, his having to perform slave labor and his final connection with a German officer who helps him are detailed and emotional to sit through. Szpilman's playing of Chopin for the German officer is probably my favorite moment from the film. Adrien Brody won an Oscar for his portrayal, as did director Roman Polanski.

Michael Moore takes some shooting survivors to Kmart
in Bowling for Columbine

I like Michael Moore, He's a passionate guy and has plenty of fans and seemingly just as many detractors. Bowling for Columbine was his documentary about gun control after the Columbine shooting in 1999. Moore tries to figure out through his interviews why the United States seems so obsessed with guns and why we feel the need to use them on each other so often. Moore's taking some of the shooting survivors to Kmart to have them seek a refund for the bullets lodged in them was brutal but effective. His interview with a clearly sickly Charlton Heston doesn't come off so well.
Despite the subject matter, the film does display Moore's trademark sense of humor and his editing is always creative. His interview with Marilyn Manson is also a rather surprising highlight of the film.

Here are some other movies released in 2002 that I have seen that didn't make the 1001 movie cut.

About Schmidt
I like this film with Jack Nicholson as a widowed everyman trying to find himself. And who wouldn't want to get into a hot tub with Kathy Bates?

About Schmidt

Bloodwork
I thought this Clint Eastwood crime procedural was a bit by the numbers from what I remember.

Bloodwork

Two Weeks Notice

Is it still okay to call a movie a chick flick? And why does everything Hugh Grant says seem so damn witty?

Two Weeks Notice

Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood
Is it really still okay to call a movie a chick flick? It did have funny moments from what I remember and it did have Ashley Judd.

Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood

High Crimes
Speaking of Ashley Judd...It's official that I admit to getting all these Morgan Freeman/Ashley Judd movies mixed up now! And Freeman isn't even Alex Cross this time!

 High Crimes

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
The second of the Harry Potter films and the last one my wife says has the "real" Dumbledore (Richard Harris). Can I get at least a little love for Michael Gambon?

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Infernal Affairs
Comparing Infernal Affairs to The Departed (Which was a remake of Infernal Affairs)
I watched these films back to back and it is interesting to notice the differences. The Departed is about an hour longer than Infernal Affairs, so it does have more time to flesh out the characters. Infernal Affairs doesn't go into nearly the details of the origin story and practically avoids the romantic sub-plot we see in The Departed all together. But it is interesting to compare the scenes taken from the original and placed in the Scorsese film: two hoods talking about how to spot a cop, a sting that goes wrong because of the mole warning the crime boss ahead of time, confessions to the lady psychiatrist and both the rooftop scenes. There also is no real equivalent of Mark Wahlberg's Dingham character in Infernal Affairs.

Infernal Affairs

Lilo and Stitch
Disney film that did have a most original not-so-cuddly alien creature in Stitch.

Lilo and Stitch

Minority Report
Top-notch futuristic thriller from Steven Spielberg. 

Minority Report

Panic Room
We all need a panic room sometimes.

Panic Room

Pokémon 4Ever
I love my son. The fact that I took him to see all these Pokemon movies proves this.

Pokémon 4Ever

Punch-Druck Love
It is funny that whenever Adam Sandler tries to make a good movie, it doesn't do too well with audiences.

Punch-Druck Love

Red Dragon
Manhunter or Red Dragon? I still think I'd go with Manhunter.

Red Dragon 2002

Manhunter 1986

The Ring
The Ring or Ringu? I still think I'd go with Ringu.

The Ring 2002

Ringu 1998

The Time Machine
The Time Machine (1960) or The Time Machine (2002). I still think I'd go with 1960.

The Time Machine 2002

The Time Machine 1960

Road to Perdition
Excellent prohibition crime drama.
https://1001afilmodyssey.blogspot.com/2012/06/road-to-perdition-2002.html

Road to Perdition

Scooby Doo
Did we really need a live action Scooby Doo? I guess if you're just dying to know what would Freddie Prinze Jr.'s interpretation of Fred be like, I guess.

Scooby Doo

Secretary
Kinky and weird...I'm still not sure if this is compelling or just an exploitative mess.

Secretary

Signs
I like M. Night Shyamalan films for the most part, though people seem to want to rag on them.

Signs

Spider-Man
I also like the Spidey movies with Tobey Maguire. I haven't seen any Spider-Man movie since 
Spider-Man 3. 

Spider-Man

Springtime in a Small Town
A remake of the Chinese classic
https://1001afilmodyssey.blogspot.com/2018/04/spring-in-small-town-1948-china.html

Springtime in a Small Town

Spring in a Small Town

Star Trek: Nemesis
I am a fan of The Next Generation, but I think we all needed a break from the franchise after this one.

Star Trek: Nemesis

Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
I am a fan of Star Wars, but I think we all needed a break from the franchise after this one...but I guess they had one more to go before closing shop for awhile. I like the recent Star Wars movies much more than these prequels, if that isn't stating the obvious too much.

Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones

Tuck Everlasting
Popular book. Took the kids to see this. I'll get back to you on what the plot was again.

Tuck Everlasting

The Wild Thornberrys Movie
Yes, they really made a movie about the Nicktoons series. Apparently, it did well., so I shouldn't scoff.

The Wild Thornberrys Movie


And Robin Williams 2.002

Robin Williams and Al Pacino

in Insomnia

Insomnia
Insomnia was a film first made in Norway in 1997. This Christopher Nolan remake\features Al Pacino (Dormer) as an LA cop in Alaska seeking a killer. He encounters several problems in Alaska: he becomes aware of an investigation against him, he can't get any sleep and he accidentally shoots his partner. It's a really great role for Pacino, but what about his target? Robin Williams (Walter Finch) plays the killer here. A writer-a complex, emotional guy who always seems to be a step ahead of Dormer, even after he is discovered. You see, Walter knows about Dormer shooting his partner.

I always liked when Robin tried to do different things and get out of his manic comedic pigeon hole. He is effective here and a good contrast to Pacino. But he had one other role from this year that got him out of this pigeon hole even further.

Robin Williams in One Hour Photo

I think Robin Williams is good in Insomnia, but I could still never quite get out of my head that that guy on the screen is Robin Williams. In Robin's other 2002 film, One Hour Photo, I only see him as Sy, the troubled photo technician.

In this film, Robin not only doesn't look anything like we're used to him looking, but his manner is understated and totally different from anything else I can remember seeing him in. Sy is overly anal about everything going perfect at his job at the photo lab. He also becomes attached to a family that brings their photos for developing on a regular basis. Why Sy is the way he is and why he becomes obsessed with this family is something we find out as we go along. I think it's a great performance which is at times heartbreaking.

If you are a Williams fan (I am) and may have skipped seeing One Hour Photo before (I did). I recommend it highly.

The recent biography of Robin Williams by Dave Itzkoff is also recommended for a take on this uniquely talented but troubled soul.

FAHRENHEIT 9/11 (2004), A VERY LONG ENGAGEMENT (2004, FRANCE)

2004

George W. Bush exudes confidence

in Fahrenheit 9/11

In the divisive age of Trump, it almost seems quaint going back and watching Michael Moore's documentary about the political aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, but there you have it. I like Moore, though he has a lot of detractors on both sides of the political spectrum. He was an early critic of the Iraq invasion and turned out to be right about that one. He talks here about the complicity of the media of being more of a cheerleader for the invasion as opposed to being skeptical critics. This still seems to be true of corporate media no matter who is president. Bush comes across as a bit of a dolt who seems to be oblivious to things going around him while his administration runs roughshod over the constitution (The Patriot Act) and illegally enhances their own business ties and relations with foreign countries (Saudi Arabia). I'm so glad things have changed since! (That was sarcasm). Fahrenheit 9/11 became the biggest box office documentary in history, but didn't prevent W. form serving another four years. I guess we will get fooled again.

Audrey Tautou searches for her fiancee

 in A Very Long Engagement

Trying to recount the plot of A Very Long Engagement is very simple-A woman engaged to a missing in action World War I soldier tries to find out if he is alive or dead against all odds. However, this film is anything but simple. Based on a book by Sebastien Japrisot, the viewer is presented with a plot rich and very detail oriented. We also have an innovative filmmaker (Jean-Pierre Jeunet) who puts you right in the middle of the war, as well as the world outside the war for the duration of the film. It is a beautiful to look at and always keeps moving. And how many movies can boast of having Jodie Foster in a bit part speaking French? This one would make my book.

Here are some movies I've seen from 2004 that have never made the 1001 movie list:

13 Going on 30

30 year old woman goes back to when she was 13 in 1987 and listens to music that was popular in 1983. That timeline discrepancy really bugged me.

If they had called it 13 Going on 33 and just

went back to 1983, there would have been no problem

50 First Dates

A pretty good Adam Sandler movie. That isn't something I say often.

Drew Barrymore and Adam Sandler on

one of their 50 First Dates

Alien vs. Predator

Actually not a bad idea to put these two against each other. Spoiler: Predator is a baby face now, but Alien is still a heel.

AVP 
Guess I have to be on team Predator now

Christmas with the Kranks

Critically panned movie based on the John Grisham book that I found amusing enough. I especially liked Dan Aykroyd as the irritating neighbor.

Christmas with the Kranks

Dan Aykroyd on accordion backed by 

Cheech Marin and Tom Poston? Cool!

The Day After Tomorrow
What I remember as a pretty far-fetched disaster movie I suppose could be looked at as a climate change metaphor.

The library is closed until...

The Day After Tomorrow

Dodge Ball

So-so comedy does at least have Rip Torn in it. And I always played Dodge Ball in a circle, so tht fact that they played in a straight line bugged me. (I guess a lot is bugging me today)

/Torn! Dodge Ball! 

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Very original film from the creative if not spotless mind of Charlie Kaufman

Kate Winslet and Jim Carrey explore the

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

The Forgotten

Forgotten is a good word for my recollection of this movie experience. I seem to remember a lot of plot holes involving aliens and wallpaper...

I think Julianne Moore is trying to remember

something long ago Forgotten

Friday Night Lights
I've never seen the popular television series, but I do like the original movie about Texas high school football.

Billy Bob offers coaching advice in

Friday Night Lights

Garfield
My son was a big Garfield fan so I had to take him to see this one. I do like Bill Murray as the voice of Garfield (channeling Lorenzo Music a bit?)

Garfield with Odie

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
The third in the line of Harry Potter films...or was it the fourth? It couldn't have been the fifth?? I know it was the one with Sirius Black. I guess the eternal sunshine of my spotless mind is not functioning at peak capacity right now.

Gary Oldman and the Harry Potter crew in

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Hidalgo
Spotless mind not functioning again. Was this a Western or a Lawrence of Arabia kind of adventure? A bit of both?

Sandstorm! Sandstorm!

Hidalgo

A Home at the End of the World
I remember showing this one at the library and liking it, but I'm still trying to get my spotless mind repaired at the moment, so foggy on the details.

Colin Farrell finds

A Home at the End of the World

The Incredibles
I do remember liking this Disney film about a superhero family. I saw the trailer for the sequel recently in which they seem to mostly apologize for not having a sequel sooner. I didn't realize I was waiting for a sequel, but okay!

The Incredibles family

Kinsey
The T. C. Boyle novel The Inner Circle is a great reading companion piece to Kinsey, the film about sex researcher Alfred Kinsey.

 Liam Neeson is Kinsey

The Ladykillers
I seem to be the only one who doesn't think this is the Coen Brothers worst film. It is strange to see Tom Hanks as a roguish villain, I do admit.

The LadyKillers

I know he's Tom Hanks, 

but you still can't trust him!!

The Life and Death of Peter Sellers
Originally told story of Peter Sellers with a wonderful Geoffrey Rush as Sellers. 

Rush as Sellers as Chance the Gardner in

The Life and Death of Peter Sellers

The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou
Fun with Bill Murray as a Jacques Cousteaulike adventurer in this Wes Anderson comedy

Bill Murray (need I say more?)

in The Life Aquatic

Meet the Fockers
More focking going on and it is fun to see Dustin Hoffman and Barbara Striesand as Ben Stiller's parents.

Some funny Fockers in

Meet the Fockers

The Merchant of Venice

http://1001afilmodyssey.blogspot.com/2010/02/merchant-of-vencie-2004.html

Al Pacino is

The Merchant of Venice

Napoleon Dynamite
Really hard not to like this goofy teen movie. Don't forget to vote for Pedro!

Napoleon Dynamite and Pedro

formulating an election strategy

The Polar Express
A computer generated Tom Hanks in The Polar Express was even stranger than the wicked Tom Hanks in The Ladykillers.

Tom Hanks (I think) in The Polar Express

Saw
Effective and gross, though I never felt compelled to see any of the many Saw sequels.

Saw: Cary Elwes realizes he's not in a 

Princess Bride sequel

Secret Window
I guess some liked this Stephen King adaptation, though I thought it was mostly a pastiche of older and better King movies and stories.

Johnny Depp battles writers block in

The Secret Window

Shrek 2
I didn't see where Shrek story had to go after the first movie...but then they brought in the in-laws and that cat and ended up making a really good sequel!

 The Shreks in Shrek 2

Spiderman 2
Yes, the one with Dr. Octopus was my favorite in this series.

Alred Molina offers a hand or two 

in Spiderman 2

The Spongebob Squarepants Movie
2003/2004 was the era to watch Spongebob. For the record, Squidward was always my favorite character.

The residents of Bikini Bottom in

The Spongebob Squarepants Movie

The Stepford Wives
The Stepford Wives 1975 played it straight. The Stepford Wives 2004 never let you forget they were in on the joke. I'm with The Stepford Wives 1975.

Nicole Kidman in 

The Stepford Wives 2004

Supersize Me
Morgan Spurlock's noted documentary about eating at McDonald's for every meal for a month and it almost kills him. Certainly made me hesitant about ever ordering a Big Mac again.

Cheers! Spurlock about to inhale dinner

in Supersize Me.

Team America: World Police
I admit I love Trey Parker and Matt Stone's marionette movie. I also admit to catching myself singing Pearl Harbor Sucked and I'm so Lonely to myself on occasion.

 Team America ready to save freedom even if they have

to destroy it in the process

The Terminal
Okay. We've had the roguish Tom Hanks in Ladykillers, the computer generated Tom Hanks in The Polar Express and now we have him as kind of  variation of Andy Kaufman's Latka from Taxi character in Steven Spielberg's The Terminal. An interesting year for the always likable Mr. Hanks.

Tom Hanks trying to find his way out of The Terminal

The Village
M. Night Shyamalan offers some interesting twists in this one. But doesn't he always?

Something weird is going on in The Village

Welcome to Mooseport
Everybody loved Raymond, but were less enthusiastic about Welcome to Mooseport.

Ray Ramano prepares to battle

Gene Hackman in Welcome to Mooseport

White Chicks
Sometimes really stupid movies will make you laugh despite yourself.

The Wayans as White Chicks