Revolutionary Road

This film was the perfect hybrid of "American Beauty" and "Far From Heaven". That said, we have already seen this before. Yes, the characters are different, but the story and series of events are quite similar. That being said, Winslet and DiCaprio are phenomenal and the main reason to see this movie. Winslet is amazingly devastating as a wife and mother who feels trapped in a life she seems to have slided in to. Her April is simultaneously heartbreaking and pityful. In addition, DiCaprio gives great performance as an indisicive young father and husband who cannot decide to follow his (and his wife's) dream of moving away and making a new life for himself, or remaining in a safe yet decidedly boring lifestyle in which he currently finds himself. The end of the movie provides the audience with its say on what course of action Frank should have taken. Other highlights from the film include solid supporting turns from Bates and Shannon, great cinematography and a perfect score. This film will undoubtedly receive a few tech nominations at the Oscars, but hopefully the Academy does not forget the leads.

Grade: B-

The Best of the Rest

Ok, so I've posted my favorite films, but what about performances (and writing and directing)? Here we go...

Actor:
7. Robert Downey Jr., Iron Man
6. Brad Pitt, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
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5. Dev Patel, Slumdog Millionaire
4. Leonardo DiCaprio, Revolutionary Road
3. Clint Eastwood, Gran Torino
2. Frank Langella, Frost/Nixon
1. Sean Penn, Milk

Actress:
5.
4. Cate Blanchett, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
3. Meryl Streep, Doubt
2. Kate Winslet, Revolutionary Road
1. Kate Winslet, The Reader

Supporting Actor:
6. Gary Oldman, The Dark Knight
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5. Ralph Fiennes, The Reader
4. Josh Brolin, Milk
3. Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Doubt
2. Robert Downey Jr., Tropic Thunder
1. Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight

Supporting Actress:
5.
4.
3. Taraji P. Henson, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
2. Viola Davis, Doubt
1. Amy Adams, Doubt

Screenplay:
5. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
4. Milk
3. Doubt
2. Slumdog Millionaire
1. Wall-E

Director:
5. Gus Van Sant, Milk
4. Ron Howard, Frost/Nixon
3. David Fincher, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
2. Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire
1. Christopher Nolan, The Dark Knight

Film Season 2008

Well I have not written anything here in a while, so here is a year update...

This year has been decried by some as a misfire as far as film quality is concerned. I would quickly disagree with that description. There were quite a few good films this year; they just all come out at the same time. It seems this year (more than usual) the Oscar-baity films came out simultaneously. Sure, there were some good flicks that premiered in the summer (we will come back to this), but this was a rareity. Anyway, without further ado, here are my picks for the best of 2008.

There were quite a few films that I thoroughly enjoyed this year, but my favorite was definitely The Dark Knight. My review follows:

In what is one of the top movies of the year, this latest installment of the Batman series was damn near perfect. Writer/director Nolan creates another film that expertly combines comic book hero with graceful storytelling. His direction here is almost "Hitchcockian" in its attention to detail and creation of suspense. As others have concluded, this will go down as one of the best sequels in movie history, surpassing its predecessor both at the box office and in its execution. Bale gives another solid turn as Batman, this time grapling with who Batman really is. Supporting turns from Eckhart, Freeman, and Caine were all very good. Replacing Katie Holmes here is Gyllenhaal, who plays love interest Rachel very one-note. Whether it is more the fault of the screenplay or her performance, though, is somewhat unclear to me. However, as everyone who has seen this movie will undoubtedly say, Ledger's final performance will be remembered not only as a personal highlight, but as one of the best villains ever portrayed on screen. From his delivery down to small personality characteristics and ticks, Ledger created a layered character rarely seen in superhero movies. In addition to the film's thematic timeliness and spot-on direction, Ledger's performance is what elevates this film from its predecessor. It was one of the best performances I have seen in a long time and should make him a shoe-in for an Oscar nomination (and maybe even a win). A must see.

Grade: A

Here are my other favorite films in descending order starting with my second favorite.

2. Wall-E
One of the better Pixar efforts to date (which is saying something because they rarely disappoint), this story was great and very inventive. It is difficult to keep an audience interested in extended periods without dialogue (see "There Will Be Blood"). However, the writers and director do a fantastic job here. The story itself was very cute, instilling human emotions into the non-human main characters. Speaking of humans, the manner in which humans of the future were portrayed was absolutely hilarious. The movie had quite the "2001: A Space Odyssey" feel to it, except for its lighter mood. Overall, it was a fantastic movie and rivals "The Incredibles" and "The Sword in the Stone" as my favorite animated film. Pixar has one dream production team. Here's to hoping that they continue to produce features as well made and entertaining as "Wall-E" .

Grade: A

3. Slumdog Millionaire
This story of two poor Indian brothers who manage to make it to adulthood was awesome. There is a lot of praise to give, but I will start with the direction. Boyle does a great job helming this rather non-traditionally structured film. The manner in which he cut scenes from Jamal's childhood and related them to questions from "Millionaire" was very effective. While I have not read the book ("Q&A"), that move was a stroke of genius. I see an Oscar nomination for him. Next, the story itself; it was simultaneously hilarious, wrenching, and introspective. It provides a view of many social problems India currently faces, yet allows the viewer to escape sheer depression by including a redeeming love story. In addition, I enjoyed how the TV show integrated the movie. It was very creative. At the heart of this story was a great performance by Patel. He was extremely convincing and powerful as a "slumdog' who achieves a great feat. I hope he gets some recognition for his role come award time (although he is the lead, not a supporting player, as some groups have placed him). Overall, this movie has a great shot at some Oscar love come February. It has a great story, direction, and performances. I would highly recommend this movie to anyone.

Grade: A

4. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Overall, this was a very good movie, anchored by an intriguing story about a man that ages backwards. Director David Fincher does a great job throughout the majority of the film, balancing Benjamin's story with the narrative from Daisy (Blanchett). However, therein lies the biggest question of the film: why use this uneven story telling? Using hurricane Katrina as a symbol of Button's calculated demise, while inventive, was unnecessary. I would have prefered a more linear story structure. Other than that, I really have no qualms with the film. Pitt gives a fantastic, understated performance as the title character who learns to accept who he is while he observes those around him. Blanchett also does a great job as Button's love interest whose paths do eventually cross, but ultimately cannot remain together. Why she has not been nominated for much of anything is surprising. The supporting cast is also fantastic, anchored by a great performance from Henson as Button's adoptive mother. While this film is a bit long, I did not realize how quickly the time had past. This story reminded me of Forrest Gump in its story. Like that movie, Benjamin Button is a great piece of filmmaking that everyone should enjoy.

Grade: A-

5. Frost/Nixon
I enjoyed the structure of this film, portraying the interviews between the two title characters as rounds of a boxing match. This is a testament to Howard's solid direction. He does a very good job in this latest film about a series of crucial interviews Nixon gave post-Watergate. The performances in this film were fantastic, as well. Kevin Bacon gives a great performance as one of Nixon's most trustworthy allies. However, it is the two title characters who captivate. While Sheen's performance as British talk-show host David Frost is spot-on, it is Langella that steals the show. His facial expressions during the final interview are amazing. Langella totally emersed himself in the role and succeeds in spades. Other aspects of note for me was the score, which I thought, while simple, was very effective. Overall, this was one of the best stage to screen adaptations I have seen, especially recently (much better than Rent, The Producers, etc.). I would definitely reccommend this film.

Grade: A-

6. Iron Man
The movie was great. Robert Downey Jr. did a great job as the title superhero. He played it up very well. The script and story were great, utilizing current events as a means to drive the story. It was also very humorous. Favreau did a good job combining action-packed scenes with more personal ones. A must see, especially on the big screen.

Grade: A-

7. Tropic Thunder

This film from writer/director/star Ben Stiller seemed to be one of those love-it-or-hate-it types. I, obviously, fall in the love it category. I thought the story was absolutely hilarious. The conclusion of this film is one of the best of the year; I was rolling. This is a true testament to Stiller, who crafted and helmed a great insiders view into movie production (I say as if I have any insiders perspective of filmmaking). It reminded me of "The Player" in its tongue-in-cheek execution. In addition to the writing and direction, the performances were fantastic. Another great decision by Stiller the director was to allow Stiller the actor to be outperformed by his supporting cast. This includes a great turn from a usually annoying Jack Black and newcomer Brandon T. Jackson. However, the show stoppers were Cruise and Downey Jr. Cruise's performance is great in that he finally accepted a role in which he was likeable again. After his devastating appearance on Oprah and subsequent quotes, his Hollywood appeal plummeted. This rejuvenated his career and made him someone I could respect again. Then there is Downey. He stole the film with his hilarious take as an Austrailian actor portraying a black man. His certainly deserves an Oscar nomination for this golden performance. I loved this film and rate it as the best comedy of 2008.

Grade: A-

8. Milk
This movie was a good biopic. However, there was nothing too special about it. Director Van Sant does a great job splicing older images and utilizing a hand-held camera throughout most of the film. Supporting players were all capable, especially Brolin and Franco, who give great, subtle performances. However, it is Penn that steals the show. He gives an amazing performance as the title character. He certainly deserves the Best Actor Oscar (at least from what I've seen so far). He was the part. This was the best performance I have seen from him in a while (even better than in "Mystic River"). However, the pic overall was rather formulaic. There was not much structurally that surprised or awed me. What really got me was the timeliness of the film, with California recently rejecting allowing gay marriage and Obama's historic election, there are a few parallels between this film and our current political landscape. It was a quality pic overall.

Grade: B+

9. The Reader
I was and still seem to be a little confused about the overall point of this film. Is it a psychological portrait of a woman whose fate unfortunately leads her to working as an SS guard and, furthermore, are we supposed to feel sorry for her? If that is the case, then I'm even more befuddled by this film. Is it attempting to manipulate us into feeling sorry for a woman who was responsible for hundreds of deaths and then even grant her absolution at the end? Or was it more a testament to how one person can have such an impact on the life of another, however brief the encounter may be. Either way, the film is an intriguing piece of work. Winslet gives a stellar performance as the prideful former SS guard. While her German accent was wobbly at times, her expressions and mannerism were great. However, she is not a supporting player in this movie. I would guess that she has the same amount of screen time as Ganz. Speaking of Ganz, this newcomer also gave a fantastic, brave portrayal as the young man whose life changes forever as the result of his encounter with Hanna. His scenes in law school were particularly interesting and well done. In addition, it seems that Fiennes has provided a few good performances this year (here and in The Dutchess), so a nomination for him would not be surprising here as the older Michael who still grapples with the romance and his decision to remain quiet about Hanna's illiteracy. The main problem I have with the film is its length. It lagged in the middle and some editing would have been much deserved. I would recommend this movie for its themes and also Winslet.

Grade: B+

10. Gran Torino

Some have criticized this film's heavy sentimentality and directorial manipulation. While these are credible criticisms, I quickly overcame any sense of judgment about halfway through the film. If you are looking for usual awards seasons fare, this may not be the film for you. However, if you are searching for a well-made film with a good message that does not have muliple themes running around, this one's for you. Again, Eastwood gives a classic Eastwood performace, this time as an old codger who refuses to move from his "transitioning" neighborhood and befriends a family of Hmong who move in next door. While characterizing Walt Kowalski as an older Harry Callahan is not all together far fetched, Harry would have never done what Walt did at the end of the movie. Maybe this is a wink from Eastwood, portraying an older Harry who has mellowed a little from his younger days, or maybe not. Whatever he attempted to do, he was great; simultaneously funny, brooding, and sentimental. Other than his, the story is nothing special, although the ending was a little unexpected. See this for Clint and a glimpse of Harry the geriatric.

Grade: B+

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11. Doubt

I thought this was a solid film. Obviously, the two aspects that make this film work are the script and the acting. Shanley, although a good director, crafted a fascinating script. It was daring and I very much enjoyed how he ended it. In addition, the acting was superb. Adams gives a great turn as a conflicted, soft-spoken nun who has doubts about the priest's guilt. Davis gives another great performance as a conflicted mother who seems willing to do whatever it takes to get her son away from the family into a life of his own. Her short yet powerful performance was fantastic. In addition, Hoffman gives another Oscar-worthy performance as a priest accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a young male student. Then, of course, there is Streep, who proves time and time again that she is and will always be relavant and powerful. She gives one of the best leading female performance I have seen this year as a nun out to take down a mysterious priest. Some have accused this film's actors of over-acting, as if this were still on stage. While the argument between Hoffman and Streep did remind me of a stage production, the overall acting was on par and fittingly powerful. As I said previously, I like that the end of the film was ambiguous. It allows the audience, indeed much like the some of the characters, to make up their own minds about what happened in the rectory.

Grade: B

12. Forgetting Sarah Marshall

This was another great comedy that premiered early in the year. Writer/director Segal provides a hilarious script and performance as a recently dumped man who goes on vacation in order to get over the break-up only to find that his ex and her new beau are staying at the same resort. I mean, who didn't wince under their laughter as Peter pleads with Sarah to reconsider and the camera cuts to a shot of Peter's naked body, full-frontal, three times! I lost it. Combine Segal with an off-beat yet ultimately satisfying performance from Brand as out-there rock singer Russell Brand, and this movie was comic gold (Jonah Hill's small role as Brand's number 1 fan didn't hurt, either).

Grade: B

Still need to see a few:

• Rachel Getting Married
• The Wrestler
• Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Will update more frequently as Oscar season gets going.

The Oscars

While there will undoubtedly be stories of low ratings (due to low to medium profile films getting the bulk of the nominations), and endless digressions on how Jon Stewart performed as the host, I think this year's Oscars should be considered a success. With the writer's strike only two weeks or so behind us, I think the writers did a good job with what little time they had. Yes, they were a little heavy with montages (what the show would have been had it not been for the end of the strike), but I personally enjoyed seeing past winner film clips throughout the show. After all, it was the eightieth year of the program, quite a milestone. As for the host, I think Stewart performed very well. He seemed more confident than his outing two years ago. His jokes also improved (I especially like his jab at the Vanity Fair party and his "which Democrat you will vote for" dig to liberal Hollywood (somewhat self-deprecating maybe?)

The winners this year were an unusually exciting mix of the expected (Javier Bardem, No Country for Old Men) and the surprising (Tilda Swinton, Marion Cotillard). While I am not averse to sweeps (I was a huge fan of Lord of the Rings: Return of the King and enjoyed watching it win everything that year), it becomes dull when one movie dominates year after year.

Here's hoping 2008 is as good a year for film as 2007 was.

Best Films of the 1990s

Best Movies of the 90s
I have decided to undertake compiling a list of the best movies of the 1990s. Here's what I think...

THE TOP THIRTY:

30. Waking Ned Devine: This small movie about a dead guy who wins the lottery is the type of movie that needs to be made more often. While there may not be a lot of plot points and themes, it is an enjoyable film about friendship and the Irish people.

29. Contact: This Jodie Foster movie about mortality and the afterlife is intriguing how relevant it is today. The movie is based on a Carl Sagan novel of the same name that explores the fine line between science and religion. A fascinating film.

28. A League of Their Own: No crying in baseball. This line is reason enough to put this movie in here. While unfortunately relegated to the "chick flick" genre, this superb movie about the women's baseball league has star turns by Geena Davis, Rosie O'Donnell, Madonna, and, of course, Tom Hanks.

27. A River Runs Through It: This simple morality tale set beautifully in the American Northwest is a great movie to watch when you're in a frantic mood. The acting turns by Brad Pitt and Craig Sheffer are solid, but it is the story told by the scenery that draws the viewer into the film.

26. Clueless: Alicia Silverstone makes this hilarious movie about a valley girl's realization that she is in love with her ex step-brother. Loosely based on the Jane Austen book "Emma", this movie made "as if" a household term.

25. Toy Story: This movie makes the list because of its groundbreaking nature. It was the first computer animated full-length feature. The story and characters don't hurt either, as Woody and Buzz Lightyear race to save themselves and their friends from the threat of new toys and the sadistic neighbor Sid.

24. American History X: Edward Norton's best role comes in this haunting story of a reformed skinhead who attempts to save his brother from repeating his mistakes. The brutal violence still makes me shudder (especially the curbing scene, which I still have not completely seen), but it is the story itself that the viewer comes away with. This story of reform with repercussions is one of those movies in which the theater empties silently.

23. As Good As It Gets: Any movie that stars Jack Nicholson has to be good. Couple that with Helen Hunt, Greg Kinnear and Cuba Gooding Jr., and you have this funny and entertaining dramedy about a waitress, the obsessive-compulsive she waits on, and his gay neighbor. James L. Brooks always writes very good movies, and this is no exception. Both Hunt and Nicholson deserved the Oscars they won for this film.

22. Dances With Wolves: Similar to "A River Runs Through It", this movie's story is elevated by its beautiful scenery. Kevin Costner was in his prime helming this 1990 epic. The story of an American military officer and his experiences with Native Americans is both heart-warming and timeless.

21. The Truman Show: Jim Carey's first dramatic turn is his best to-date in this story of a man whose entire life is broadcast on television. It was creepy how timely this movie was for its time (around the same time reality TV became en vogue). Ed Harris and Laura Linney also give good performances as the "God-like" figure who runs the show and Truman's devoted, yet "on-the-take" wife, respectively. An intriguing story.

20. Boyz in the Hood: John Singleton's gripping story of Los Angeles' black community in the early 90s is one of the best directed movies of the decade. Along with the story and a solid turn by young lead Cuba Gooding Jr., this movie exposed many to a life they only heard about on TV. While later films have not done this genre justice, Singleton's masterpiece remains relevant today.

19. Tommy Boy: There's not much to say. This first paring of what could have been a long-lasting team of Chris Farlley and David Spade is a gut-busting movie. The scene when they belt out "Superstar" by The Carpenters makes me laugh hysterically every time.

18. Seven: Second only to a later selection on this list, this terrifically terrifying movie about the serial killer performing the seven deadly sins has an ending that made everyone who saw is shudder in terror. Kevin Spacey gives a great, albeit short performance as the serial killer (he was robbed of an Oscar nomination). Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman also give good performances in this great film.

17. Fight Club: In one of the most original stories of the decade, this movie, like the one above, also has a great twist in the end. Brad Pitt gives, in my opinion, his best performance to date as the crazy Tyler Durden. Ed Norton is equally solid as the bewildered main character. This movie was robbed of an Adapted Screenplay nod at the Oscars.

16. Philadelphia: While this movie is obviously made by the stellar performance by Oscar-winner Tom Hanks as the AIDS-struck Andrew Beckett, Denzel Washington also gives a great, though understated performance as the lawyer who represents him in his lawsuit against his former employer. Also important as the first movie dealing with AIDS and homosexuality, director Jonathan Demme does a great job at telling this story.

15. Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls: While sequels do not usually live up to their predecessors, this one meets and surpasses it. Jim Carey gives the best performance of his career as the obnoxious pet detective hired by a rich Englishman to locate a missing white bat. The comedy that ensues is classic. "In the Jungle" will never sound the same to me again.

14. The Crying Game: Talk about a twist ending. While you could kinda tell that Jaye Davidson's character was a little masculine, I bet not many thought the movie would end that way. A great movie about Irish politics (from the best Irish filmmaker today, Jim Sheridan) and relationships in general. The story and acting are all around fantastic.

13. There's Something About Mary: This is one of those movies where you remember where you were when you first saw it. I was at a friend's house and we waited until his parents went to bed and watched it (it was rated 'R' and I was only 12 or so when it came out). Although I did not understand some of the jokes, subsequent viewings have proven why the Farelly Brothers are comic geniuses. I always remember to zip up carefully now.

12. The Sixth Sense: A common theme among the movies I like are suspenseful movies with twist ending. The film had the ultimate twist ending of the 90s. With solid performances by all, especially Haley Joel Osment as the young, frightened boy who "sees dead people", this movie will never grow old.

11. Braveheart: Mel Gibson has never been better than he was in this epic, gory masterpiece about Scotsman William Wallace. The battle scenes are spectacles in themselves, giving the movie the majority of its power. However, the story plays well, too, to make a complete film that entrances the audience.

10. Babe: I do not think family entertainment gets much better than this classic movie about a farmer and his sheep-herding pig. This touching and well-made movie is a family classic.

9. Beauty and the Beast: The best Disney film of the 90s and one of the best ever made (it is the only animated movie to ever garner an Oscar nomination for Best Picture), the classic movie has everything, great songs, a great script (especially for an animated kids movie), and cinematography that rivals any live-action movie I have seen.

8. Goodfellas: Martin Scorsese at his best (although "The Departed is a close second). This is the classic gangster movie from a classic gangster director. Besides the direction, the script is both hardcore and has elements of dark comedy. Then there is the acting. Lorraine Bracco (pre-Sopranos), Robert DeNiro, and Ray Liotta all give great performances, but it is Joe Pesci that steals the show (and won the Oscar). His Tommy DeVito has little-man's syndrome on crack. Classic flick.

7. Fargo: The characters and the writing make this the best dramedy I have ever seen. Lead by Frances McDormand in the best role of her career, and maybe the best female performance of the decade, this film is both witty and wry. I also give it props for being short and to the point (its only a little over and hour-and-a-half long). The Coen Brothers have never been better.

6. Forrest Gump: The mid nineties were very good to Tom Hanks, and vice versa. With back-to-back Oscar winning roles, Hanks is amazing as a simple Southern man who observes history as he lives his life. The music and the score alone are reason enough to see this. Director Robert Zemeckis does a great job. Sally Field and Gary Sinise and Robin Wright-Penn give great supporting performances.

5. The Birdcage: The best comedy of the decade, Robin Williams and Nathan Lane are absolutely hilarious in this great movie about a gay couple in Miami preparing to meet their son's fiancee's conservative parents. Mike Nichols, as always, does a great job directing, but this movie belongs to Williams and Lane. Best Line: "Oh, I pierced the toast!"

4. American Beauty: While now some may consider distopian suburbia overdone, in 1999, director Sam Mendes pieced together this fantastic, multiple Oscar-winning portrait of a family falling apart. While different than "Ordinary People" in that it commented on suburbia, this movie has it all, directing, a great score, a great script by Alan Ball (Six Feet Under) and timeless performances . Annette Bening and Oscar winner Kevin Spacey shine as a dysfunctional couple who still love each other, in a way. Equally good, but overlooked is Chris Cooper, as the hard military man with a secret. Great movie.

3. Schindler's List: Numbers two and three couple together to be almost interchangeable, but I had to put one in front of the other, so here it is. There is not a lot to say about Steven Speilberg's masterpiece about the Holocaust. The immense emotion I feel everytime I watch it (especially the scene with the girl in the red coat, even if it is a cheap emotional ploy), is one of the most haunting images in film. Amazing.

2. Silence of the Lambs: The acting and the screenplay make this classic horror/suspense movie tick. Winner of five Oscars in 1991, this movie is in my top five of all time. Anthony Hopkins is amazingly horrific as Hannibal the Cannibal. The audience simultaneously feels sorry for him and hates him. Jodi Foster gives an Oscar-winning performance as Clarice Starling, the FBI trainee sent to talk to Lecter. I could go on with the quotes and the sounds from the movie, but I don't need to since everyone knows them. It doesn't get much better than this...

1. The Shawshank Redemption: except for this. In my opinion the best movie ever made, this movie based on a Stephen King story and directed by Frank Darabont was criminally overlooked in 1994 as overly emotional and mediocre. While now somewhat of a cult classic, this movie is phenomenal. I find it hard to put into words why I love it as much as I do. Maybe it is the the story of a man wrongly-accused who finally escapes. Maybe its because it has Morgan Freeman, who I love. There are many other reasons, but this is just the greatest film of all time.

There Will Be Blood

The best part about this movie was Daniel Day-Lewis' performance as a crazed, self-proclaimed "oil man" who does whatever is necessary to realize his dream of becoming an oil tycoon. Every time Day-Lewis takes on a role, it is better than the last, and this performance is no exception. While I was hoping that Emile Hirsch might slip by to claim the Best Actor trophy (if he gets nominated), I don't see how anyone could surpass Day-Lewis. Anderson does a great job helming this film, utilizing sprawling scenery shots to provide an "epic" feeling within the film while also capturing more personal shots of the characters. Add to this the lively and almost old-time feel of the score, and this movie is great. However, then comes the length. About a half-hour of this film could have been shaved off various scenes (for example, even though I thought the first scene without dialogue was great, it could have been shorter). That, in addition to the odd ending (what was Anderson trying to say; was he commenting on the ineffectiveness of religion, or was he merely following through with the title's promise of blood?) threw me off a little. Regardless, see this film for Day-Lewis' performance alone.

Grade: B

Network

Satire is usually a genre of film that is lost on me. I tend to find it irritating and difficult to understand. However, Lumet's gem of a film forces me to rethink this position. I was never so interested in what a satire attempted to say as I was...(read more) with "Network". The performances were amazing. Peter Finch (who Tom Wilkinson may have looked to for inspiration for his role in "Michael Clayton") and Faye Dunaway both deservedly won Oscars for their portrayals of a newsman gone mad and a self-centered, power hungry network executive, respectively. Duvall, Holden, and Straight also give memorable performances. The direction by Lumet was spot-on. He enabled the viewer to enter the lives of these characters in a manner that was both smooth and effective. Finally, in what I believe was the best aspect of this film, the script by Paddy Chayefsky. From the memorable lines ("I'm mad as hell as I'm not going to take it anymore"), to his timeless message of greed and how money and power corrupt, especially in the business world, he crafted one of the best screenplays I have ever seen on the screen. A definite recommendation, especially for those who appreciate a solid script and story.

Grade: A