On the Ropes

Salutations! Let's dive right in!
2016 gave us some of the best films in recent years. Films like:
The Wailing
Right Now, Wrong Then
The Handmaiden
Green Room
The Witch
Moonlight
Under the Shadow
Arrival
Zinnia Flower
Born to Be Blue
The Neon Demon
(think I hear the Academy "play off" music) and many others have reinvigorated my love of cinema and discussion of it. As such, I'll be relaying to you, dear readers, my thoughts on the best films of 2016. Expect thoughts on the aforementioned films, as well as a host of others collecting dust as I type.
Until then...

Best of 2013...

2013 ended up being one of the best years for cinema in quite some time. Usually, when I pick the 10 best films of any given year, two or three are actually the best, and the remainder of films are the best of the rest. For 2013, nearly all of my top 10 are worthy of being the absolute best of the year. In no particular order: my picks for the best films of 2013:



Hong Sangsoo's Our Sunhi

Noah Baumbach’s Frances Ha

David O. Russell’s American Hustler

Wong Kar Wai's The Grandmaster

Johnnie To’s Drug War

Joss Whedon’s Much Ado About Nothing

James Wan’s The Conjuring

Richard Linklater’s Before Midnight

Hong Sangsoo’s Nobody’s Daughter Haewon

Spike Jonze’s her

Best of 2012

I had a difficult time picking ten films that I felt were the absolute best in 2012, which was probably because the top pick was so damn good, and the rest of the top five really knocked it out of the park. Anyway, my picks for the best films of 2012:

David O. Russell’s Silver Lining’s Playbook

Ben Affleck’s Argo

Kathryn Bigelow’s Zero Dark Thirty

Sarah Polley’s Stories We Tell

Hong Sangsoo’s In Another Country

Pang Ho Cheung’s Love in the Buff

James Wan’s Sinister

Judd Apatow’s This is 40

Ridley Scott’s Prometheus

Rian Johnson’s Looper

Best of 2011

Getting ready for my Best of '13 list, I'm going back and listing my picks for 2011 and 2012. Here's 2011:

Lee Yoon-ki's Come Rain, Come Shine

Nicolas Winding Refn's Drive

Manoel de Oliviera's The Strange Case of Angelica

Jiang Wen's Let the Bullets Fly

Johnnie To's Life Without Principle

Hong Sangsoo's The Day He Arrives

Mike Mills's Beginners

Peter Chan's Wu Xia

Ryoo Seung-won's The Unjust

Richard Ayoade's Submarine

Kinda Fuzzy...

Films: Yes! Expect an actual post about film by Monday.

Wonderful, Glorious

Before Midnight

Directed by Richard Linklater, starring Ethan Hawke & Julie Delpy.

Many moons ago, the above trio joined together to make Before Sunrise, a film about Jesse and Celine. The former, a young American (Hawke) on holiday in Europe, the latter a young Frenchwoman (Delpy) that he would be forever linked to. Before Sunrise tells the tale of their first meeting, which was followed up nearly a decade later with the sequel Before Sunset, and chronicled their reunion. In the second sequel, Before Midnight, we learn of the duo's life together as grownups.

Much like the first two films in the series, Before Midnight focuses primarily on Jesse and Celine. However, this time around, auxiliary characters are given screen time which serves to update the audience on the lives of the main characters without voice over or heavy handed exposition. Once that is accomplished, it is Jesse and Celine, once again. Though the film is made up of characters doing things that are far from exciting or extraordinary, the dialogue between Jesse and Celine is exciting and feels familiar both for the characters and real life.

For the uninitiated, Before Midnight is a nice little film. For those who have seen the prior films, its one of those magical experiences where a fan thinks, "I'd like to know what happened to the characters," and were treated to a film that shows it.



Next time: An film that explains why man is a giddy thing...

The Turnaround

Salutations!

I've been thinking of returning to my old ways of watching films and blogging about them for some time now. Taking a little over a year off has been wonderful, and I'm falling in love with the cinema again. I'd like to share that feeling.

Expect posts about Before Midnight, Joss Whedon's Much Ado About Nothing, and many more films, soon.

Goodbye

Our time is at an end.

Over the past couple of years this blog has gone through stagnant periods, and reinvention, in an effort to keep my opinion on film easily accessible. While it used to be quite fun, my days of all night film viewings and full length reviews are done. For now, at least.

Frankly, my interest in film has declined in recent years, and forcing myself to watch films more often isn't going to change that. I'm still going to hold a monthly film club and update Facebook and Twitter on my film viewing. I'll also continue to see and rave about Hong Sangsoo films, so much so that it will almost seem like nothing has changed. However, I am looking forward to the possibility of going a week or two without watching a movie, and being okay with it.

Thank you for reading.

Wu Xia

Wu Xia

Directed by Peter Chan Ho-sun, starring Donnie Yen, Takeshi Kaneshiro and Tang Wei. Average, everyday father/husband Liu Jinxi (Yen) begins his day like any other, he eats breakfast with his wife (Tang) and two sons before heading to work at the mill. However, this early 20th Century day turns out to be anything but ordinary, when Jinxi happens upon a robbery. After a struggle, the robbers are dead, Jinxi becomes a local hero and catches the interest of a police investigator (Kaneshiro).

The investigator studies the crime scene and eye-witness accounts and determines the robbers could only have been stopped by a fugitive murderer with great skill in martial arts. Jinxi's life is soon turned upside down when the investigator's brand of morals exposes Jinxi's true identity and brings certain death to anyone that stands in the way of his former life. It is then that the two men come to a crossroads; Liu Jinxi must decide who he is, and the investigator must decide what is more important, law, or humanity.

This latest film from Peter Chan Ho-sun is a nice update/homage to the days of old when the Wu Xia Genre of films was Hong Kong's chief export. Hong Kong Cinema fans should delight in the addition of Jimmy Wang, best known as The One-Armed Swordsman, to Wu Xia's already stellar cast. The principal actors, Yen, Takeshi and Tang, all perform exceptionally well, Yen in particular. Known more for his physical attributes (having served as action director as well), Yen's subdued performance is impressive.

Beyond a blockbuster director, an all-star cast and an exciting martial arts genre update, Wu Xia is an intricate and engaging drama. Going from police procedural, to martial arts actioner to thoughtful drama, Wu Xia is complex, but well balanced and paced. To call it one of the top five films from 2011 is am easy thing to do. I highly recommend it.

Life Without Principle

Life Without Principle

Directed by Johnnie To, starring Lau Ching-wan, Richie Ren and Denise Ho.

The lives of three different people, a low level triad (Lau), a police inspector (Ren) and an investment banker (Ho), are the focus of this latest Hong Kong drama from Director Johnnie To. All three find themselves caught in morally murky situations that intertwine during the Greek financial crisis. The meat and potatoes of the film are how they handle their respective situations, and what, if anything, they learn from them. With an intriguing premise, an excellent director and a great cast, Life Without Principle is an engaging drama, and one of the best films of 2011.

FASSBENDER!

Jane Eyre

Directed by , starring Mia W and Michael Fassbender.

Adapted from the classic novel, this latest film version is mightily impressive. There are three reasons to see this Jane Eyre:

1. If one is a fan of the novel.

2. If one is a fan of good film.

3. Fassbender. He's awesome.

That being said, there isn't much for me to comment on, with regard to the film. I found it to be quite good, and one of the better novel adaptations. For one that has already read Jane Eyre, this should be an enjoyable retelling. For those new to the story, I highly recommend giving it a read. However, watching this Jane Eyre, and seeing what it is like first wouldn't be a bad way to go, either.

Outbreak!

Contagion

Directed by Stephen Soderbergh, starring Marion Cottilard, Matt Damon, Cowboy Curtis (a.k.a. Laurence Fishburne), Jude Law, Gwyneth Palthrow, Kate Winslet, Bryan Cranston, Jennifer Ehle, Elliott Gould and Chin Han.

An unknown virus quickly spreads threatening the existence of the Human Race.

The above sentence pretty much covers what happens in Contagion. While it isn't a groundbreaking film, it does present the threat of a global viral outbreak in a serious, believable manner, with an impressive cast. Other than that, there isn't much to say about Contagion. It's good, not great, but better than the average Hollywood blockbuster. For Hong Kong Cinema fans, the Josie Ho cameo is a nice treat.

Check back soon, as I'll be gushing about the newest film adaptation of Jane Eyre.

The Yellow Sea

The Yellow Sea Directed by Na Hong-jin, starring Ha Jung-woo and Kim Yoon-seok.

Ha Jung-woo stars as a man struggling to make a living in the Korean Autonomous Prefecture of Yaniban, on the Chinese side of the border between China-Russia-North Korea. When Kim Yoon-seok's character approaches him with an offer: kill a man in South Korea for him, and he will give him enough money to get out of debt and start a new life. Ha's character agrees, and goes to South Korea to look for his missing wife, as well. While in the process of murder and spousal search, he runs afoul of the police, gangsters and winds up in over his head in every way possible.

The Yellow Sea is the second feature from South Korean Director Na Hong-jin. Na's debut, The Chaser, was one of the most exciting thrillers I've ever seen. So, my expectations for The Yellow Sea we high, to say the least. Thankfully, Na's skill at telling a tense thriller haven't waned since his debut. The Yellow Sea is an extremely tense and exciting film, and it's one of the best released in 2011. I can't wait to see what Na Hong-jin makes next.

New

As forewarned, a new post is here. Not a whole lot of update this time. I am currently narrowing down my picks for the best films of 2011, and should have those listed quite soon. Along with that list, I'll have a review for each film, so I'm working on those, as well. Until then, keep up with my film viewing on Twitter @monkeytailor.

Woops

I forgot to update, again. Sorry, October. Expect an update this week, as I will be watching Matthew Leutwyler's newest film, The River Why.

Feel free to follow me @monkeytailor on Twitter for more timely film thoughts.

Vroom, vroom

Going for a third viewing of Nicolas Winding Refn's "Drive." I'll post my thoughts on it and a few other films this week.

"Drive Time"

I'm watching a trio of films (Drive, Warrior and Straw Dogs) in theater today. I'll post my thoughts on them later this week. For now, follow my tweets about the films all day @monkeytailor.

Prizefighter

This time, another film I'm looking forward to seeing. Also, I ramble a bit about filmic excitement. Enjoy.


Kim Ki-duk's Amen

Just after having his (then) newest film, Arirang, released, Kim Ki-duk has another new film touring the festival circuit. The synposis for said film, Amen, is as follows: "the bizarre, disturbing journey of a young Korean girl who comes to Europe to search for someone she has to follow to Venice and Avignon. A mysterious character who hides behind a gas mask follows her everywhere and harasses her all the time." It reads like an interesting film, and knowing Kim's previous works, I'm sure it will be intriguing, if nothing else.

Releasing another film hot on the trail of his documentary, Arirang, means Kim is a busy man. Such an incredible director being back at work with a quick succession of films following a self-imposed exile from the world of cinema is exciting.

When I look at this year's releases, with two films (Arirang, Amen) from Kim, a new film (The Day He Arrives) from Hong Sangsoo and a second (untitled) in production, two films (The River Why, Answers to Nothing) being released by Director Matthew Leutwyler, and a bevy of films from many other top directors, I can't help but feel extremely excited. This year and 2012 may be the best years for quality films in...ever.


Kim Ki-duk's Filmography:
Crocodile
Wild Animals
Birdcage Inn
The Isle
Real Fiction
Address Unknown
Bad Guy
The Coast Guard
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter...And Spring
Samaritan Girl
3-iron
The Bow
Time
Breath
Dream
Arirang
Amen

Let the Bullets Fly

As promised, my thoughts on Jiang Wen's Let the Bullets Fly. Enjoy.


Let the Bullets Fly
Directed by Jiang Wen, starring Chow Yun-fat, Jiang Wen, Ge You and Carina Lau.

As a conman (Ge) and his wife (Lau) travel through the countryside, they are attacked by a wanted man (Jiang) and his group of bandits. To save their lives, the couple makes a deal with the bandit leader to allow him in on their next con: pretending to be governor and governess of an affluent town. The bandit agrees to the proposal, provided he plays governor.

Once they arrive at (the supposedly ripe for the taking) Goose Town, they run into a couple of problems. Firstly, most of the town is poor; secondly, the reason for their financial state is local Godfather Huang (Chow). The bandits must play an intricate game of intrigue with Huang and his men in order to secure their goal.

Jiang Wen's Let the Bullets Fly is an Eastern Western. Like an good Western, there is plenty of gunplay, as well as pretty clear cut good and bad guys. For anyone that knows anything about Hong Kong or Chinese cinema, it goes without saying that the acting is excellent. For those that don't know about either of those cinemas, the acting is excellent. So, too, is the direction.

Jiang's film is a great blend of action and comedy, as well as hidden meanings within nearly every line and act that unfolds onscreen. Whether it be a comment on society, his home country, cinema or something else is up for interpretation; however, the underlying meanings never weigh the film down. For discerning film fans, there is plenty to engage, and, for the casual film goer, it's a really exciting film.

So, in case it isn't already obvious, Let the Bullets Fly is something I highly recommend.

Something to Look Forward To-night

This time it is an abbreviated post about a film I'm looking forward to seeing. The film: Jiang Wen's Let the Bullets Fly. I actually have this film sitting at home and will be watching it tonight, so check back for my thoughts on it sometime tomorrow.



Jiang Wen's Let the Bullets Fly
Starring Chow Yun-fat, Jiang Wen, Ge You and Carina Lau.

The newest film from "Sixth Generation" Chinese Director Jiang Wen is an action-comedy. As if the fact that Jiang directed it isn't enough, Let the Bullets Fly stars Jiang, as well as heavyweights from Hong Kong in Chow Yun-fat and Carina Lau, and from China, Ge You. With a talented cast and a top notch director, Let the Bullets Fly is something to be excited about sight-unseen.


Jiang Wen's Filmography:
In the Heat of the Sun
Devils on the Doorstep
The Sun Also Rises
Let the Bullets Fly