The Life Aquatic

Today we ponder at a Wes Anderson film, from 2008. The Life Aquatic is not only the first Wes Anderson film I saw, but the first Criterion Collection I picked up. What influenced me to pick up a movie I've never seen? From a director I'd never heard of? The art work of course, which was created by Wes Anderson's brother, Eric Anderson. This film is a sight to behold, especially if your not familiar with Wes Anderson's directing. We follow Steve Zissou (Bill Murray) with his aquatic expedition on a task to find, and kill, the shark that killed his best friend. I wasn't sure if what I was laughing at was suppose to be funny, or the director was just lazy when it came to dialogue. Turns out, it was suppose to be funny. Wes brings awkward tension into his films through his dialogue, and sometimes through the lack there of. The story is a bit scatterbrained, which is more of a choice then a shortcoming. The soundtrack is truly marvelous, and the cinematography is overly informative. The movie tends to drag on towards the end, but not long enough to prevent me from watching The Life Aquatic multiple times.

If your looking for something truly original, set apart, and hilarious, The Life Aquatic is where you begin. And then you can watch the rest of Wes Anderson's films, because they all fall under those guidelines.

http://www.criterion.com/films/741-the-life-aquatic-with-steve-zissou

Top ten in black and white cinema

For a select few, the lack of color in cinema, does not, in fact diminish the overall effect of the film. As said by the Brothers Quay, Black and white are the two most beautiful colors, This is obviously left to opinion, but one can not deny the aged, nostalgic feel it brings upon the film. The history of modern cinema is found in these films. And the evolution of cinematography is to me, one of the most interesting things to witness in black and white cinema.

Below I have my ten personal favorite black and white films, in ascending order.  Naturally, my opinion of the "best" is derived from both childhood movies I watched, and films I've seen that are unmistakably incredible. Feel free to add your list in the comments.

Bringing up Baby

The Longest Day

The Gold Rush

The Killing

The Phantom Carriage 

Roman Holiday

The Bicycle Thief 

12 Angry Men

The Seventh Seal

The Great Dictator

Alfred Hitchcock

Today I thought it would be enjoyable to gather some videos concerning Alfred Hitchcock. I am a long time fan of Hitchcock, and haven't seen a single film from him that I didn't absolutely love. Hitchcock brought to cinema tension in film only he could create. I spent a small amount of time searching through YouTube and the internet finding some appearances and interviews, so I do hope you enjoy.


Alfred Hitchcock appearing on the television show, What My Line?

Masters of Cinema interview from 1972

Hitchcock's definition of happiness 

Jimmy Stewart salutes Alfred Hitchcock

Cary Grant and friends salute Alfred Hitchcock

Two-Lane Blacktop

I first watched Two-Lane Blacktop after picking it up at my local library, I hardly had a choice, after all, it cried to me from its beat up case and torn out booklet as it rested on the library shelves. So that night I placed the beautiful disk into my DVD player, sat down, and watched the whole thing through (Which is important to note, since I almost never watch an entire movie in one sitting). Two-Lane Blacktop is the bare-boned story directed by Monte Hellman. It's one of those movies with basically no plot line, which in this case is not a bad thing. The characters receive no history, and barely any dialogue, but it didn't bother me in the least. We follow two unnamed characters played by James Taylor (Didn't know he played in a movie? me neither.) and Dennis Wilson (Yes, the one from the beach boys.) And both hold up well for not being actors by trade. They roam the country in a souped up 55' Chevy barely getting by, pick up a young homeless girl, and challenge an older gentleman and his GTO to a cross country race. The winner receives the losers car. But both parties seem rather uninterested in the race, which I personally found somewhat strange. But I guess in the end, this movies not about plot, or character, or action, its about going through life without experiencing the people who inhabit it, that's what it meant to me at least.

Needless to say, I enjoyed this movie, I honestly wish there were more like it. I guess you'll be the first to know when I come across a similar film. Until then, I encourage you to check this out, whether it be beat up from the shelf of your library, or brand new from the video store.

http://www.criterion.com/films/847-two-lane-blacktop

The Criterion Critic

Where can you find a portal to all things cinema? Somewhere you can go to see only the good movies? Where you can filter out all the garbage that seems to be illuminating theaters across the planet? Not limited to any nationality or language? Not glued to any genre or influenced by the media monkeys? Well my friend, your questions are honorable, and inquisition empowering. You have stumbled upon what will be the gold mine of cinema review and news. Learn things you would have never otherwise known about movies you love, watch trailers for upcoming movies you'll actually like. and most of all, find movies that evoke the most powerful of emotions, triggers memories and, gives answers to unanswered questions.

This is Criterion Critic.