A Year of Movies

Week 1: Jan 1, 2010 to Jan 7, 2010.
Total number of movies watched: 12

1. The Usual Suspects -- I love this movie. I've watched it a number of times and I think Kevin Spacey is impressive as Verbal Kint. A great way to start off the new year.

2. Four Christmases -- My wife wanted this movie for Christmas (she likes movies just not as much as me). In general, I liked this movie, though I thought Vince Vaughn was basically playing another Vince Vaughn character. Has he ever played a character that wasn't a smooth-fast-talking funny guy? I'll have to check imdb... Anyway, it was a decent enough movie with some funny parts.

3. Jennifer's Body -- Okay movie. I'm a big fan of Juno, and was probably expecting a bit more from this movie, but it was what it was--a movie to show off Megan Fox. Wasn't sure if I was supposed to be scared...or laugh...or...?

4. The Wrestler -- Great movie even if mildly depressing. Mickey Rourke did an amazing job. I won't spoil the ending, but it totally fit with the rest of the movie. It's good to see Mickey again. I liked him in Sin City and Once Upon a Time in Mexico (will have to watch both of them again this year sometime), but in this movie, he was the star.

5. Ghosts of Girlfriend's Past -- Another movie my wife wanted for Christmas. Matthew being his normal charming self and Jennifer Garner being someone I can't help but watch. She lights up the screen--big or small. Loved her in Alias, and 13 Going on 30. Was surprised by the scene between Matthew's character and his brother. I wasn't expecting the emotional bond between the two of them in this film.

6. Frost/Nixon -- Excellent movie. It was like watching a verbal boxing match. Really great performances by the two main lead actors.

7. Ed Wood -- A friend suggested this movie to me. I've seen quite a few Johnny Depp movies, but I'd never seen this one. So many times, Depp disappears into his roles. He's an amazing actor. Good film.

8. Mars Attacks! -- A nice homage to cheesy '50s sci-fi (or is it SYFY now?) movies. I'd seen this on TV off and on over the years but I think this was the first time I saw it on DVD. Better on DVD.

9. The Ring -- Another suggestion by a friend. I'd never seen it before. Had watched Paranormal Activity at the end of December and thought it was pretty good (though I didn't think it was the scariest movie ever). This movie was scarier. (Yes, I know, it also had a budget!) Creepy movie. Eerie from start to finish.

10. 1408 -- Another good horror movie. John Cusack is really great in this movie (he's really good in so many movies...Grosse Pointe Blank, Identity, High Fidelity, American Sweethearts). Dark. Depressing. Entertaining.

11. Star Trek -- I had wanted to see the Star Trek movie when it came out in the theater last year, but I never had the chance. And though I am typically a fantasy/sci-fi (SYFY) fan, I never really got into the original Star Trek series (it came out before my time). Perhaps it is blasphemy to say this, but I actually tend to like both Star Wars and Star Trek fairly equally...(hmmm...will this be the beginning of 'the hate'?). As for this movie, I generally liked it quite a bit. It had lots of good action, a good story, and with one simple twist at the beginning, a way for J.J. Abrams to completely reboot the original characters' history.

12. Touch of Evil -- Another friend's suggestion. I hadn't watched many Orson Welles movies, and I wasn't sure what to expect. I was able to watch a director's cut or at least a version that was supposed to be closer to what Welles intended. I liked the movie. Welles and Heston were really good in this.

Overall, a pretty good week. I can't really pick a single favorite out of these twelve. The Usual Suspects, The Wrestler, and Star Trek would be near the top.