#76 - Sex, Lies, And Videotape

Directed by Steven Soderbergh
1989 Drama
Rated R

*****

Steven Soderbergh's debut film is a fascinating study into voyeurism. James Spader gives the performance of his career, strangely enough playing both the least creepy AND the most creepy character he ever has. A small masterpiece.

#75 - My Own Private Idaho

Directed by Gus Van Sant
1991 Drama
Rated R

*** 1/2

#74 - Mala Noche

Directed by Gus Van Sant
1985 Drama
Rated R

*** 1/2

Shot in sometimes gorgeous, sometimes overbearing black and white (clearly for cost and not artistic reasons, however), Gus Van Sant's debut 1985 film had to have been about as controversial as it could get at the time; Walt, a convenience store clerk, falls in love/lust with Johnny, a YOUNG (read: under 18) Mexican immigrant, and tries to show him. While the acting in the film certainly leaves something to be desired (the best performance comes from Tim Streeter as Walt), it was enjoyable to see the penchant Van Sant had for filmmaking, even from his first film; it seemed he was already headed for a style all his own from the first time he picked up a camera. Recommendable for fans of the director.

#73 - Leatherheads

Directed by George Clooney
2008 Slapstick Comedy
Rated PG-13

***

George Clooney's newest film, while certainly not living up to the brilliance of his previous two (Confessions of a Dangerous Mind and Good Night, and Good Luck.), is a more than acceptable way to waste two hours. Clooney clearly loves the time period, as can be seen by his penchant for imitating not just Cary Grant here (who he is endlessly compared with), but Clark Gable as well. In this story of a football player (Clooney) in 1925 who recruits a star college player (The Office's John Krasinski) and war hero(?) to keep his team from folding, and the reporter who tries to get the scoop on the whole deal (Renee Zelwegger), the best scenes always seem to be between Clooney and someone else. When Clooney and Zelwegger are having a conversation after meeting for the first time in a hotel, I felt like I was watching Rosalind Russell and Cary Grant go at each other in His Girl Friday. When Clooney and a drunk Krasinski are getting ready to fight, it kind of felt like a deleted scene from The Philadelphia Story. But when Clooney's not on-screen, the story falters. Add to that the movie is about 25 minutes too long, and the script (co-written by sportswriter Rick Reilly) gets a little preachy near the end. However, this is a more than acceptable date movie that is sure to have a little bit for everyone.

#72 - Annie Hall*

Directed by Woody Allen
1977 Romantic Comedy
Rated PG

*****

#71 - The Hudsucker Proxy

Directed by Joel and Ethan Coen
1994 Screwball Comedy
Rated PG

****

#70 - Iklimler

Directed by Nuri Bilge Ceylan
2006 Drama
Not Rated

****

Some of the most beautiful photography I have ever seen. The director (not surprisingly a professional photographer before he was a filmmaker) knows exactly how to use light, shadows, colors, blurriness, etc. to his full advantage. Although the film drags in a couple of spots, and a rape/sex scene was extremely difficult to watch, this is a great examination of a broken relationship and the attempts of both sides to put it back together.

#69 - Sunshine

Directed by Danny Boyle
2007 Science Fiction Thriller
Rated R

**** 1/2

#68 - Drugstore Cowboy

Directed by Gus Van Sant
1989 Drama
Rated R

**** 1/2

#67 - American Pie 2*

Directed by J.B. Rogers
2001 Comedy
Rated R

*** 1/2

#66 - 21*

Directed by Robert Luketic
2008 Drama
Rated PG-13

*

"Mr. Luketic, what you've just made is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever watched. At no point in your rambling, incoherent film were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this theater is now dumber for having watched it. I award you one star, and may God have mercy on your soul."

#65 - Kicking And Screaming

Directed by Noah Baumbach
1995 Comedy/Drama
Rated R

*** 1/2


Kicking And Screaming, Noah Baumbach's (The Squid And The Whale, Margot At The Wedding) first film, shows a director whose head is full of ideas, but isn't completely sure how to go about them. It tells the story of a group of friends, recent college graduates, who, instead of going off to respective careers, decide to stay and live on campus. The script is (unsurprisingly) the best part of the film. Baumbach shows his knack for writing clever dialogue and memorable lines ("Oh, i've BEEN to Prague," "Is that a pajama top?"); this script is weaker than the Squid and the Whale's overall, because it is full more of funny bits and scenes than being an overall great script, but it's still very rewatchable and quotable. As far as the acting, the cast is like a who's who of mid-90's actors who should've blown up, but didn't. Olivia d'Abo, Josh Hamilton, Chris Eigeman, Eric Stoltz. They turn in uniformly good performances (the best being Eigeman; the worst Jason Wiles (Skippy)). The relationship between Hamilton's Grover and d'Abo's Jane seems very real; no more than in the flashback sequences when we see the beginnings of their relationship (ignore the cheesy transitions to the flashbacks). There's no real clever filming here like there is in the Squid and the Whale; really, this is a pretty basic post-college movie with a good script and good performances. If you're a fan of quotable movies, check this one out.

#64 - Reds

Directed by Warren Beatty
1981 Historical Drama
Rated PG

*****

Warren Beatty's forgotten epic Communism masterpiece.

#63 - Night On Earth

Directed by Jim Jarmusch
1991 Comedy/Drama
Rated R

***