No. 45 - "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" (2005)
Robert Downey Jr.
I could leave the entry at that, given Downey Jr.'s mostly must-watch record. He is the protagonist and narrator, kinda dimwitted but strangely capable. He's trying to be a detective with the help of … a gay Val Kilmer. This idea could have been a disaster, but it is Kilmer's best role since he played Doc Holiday perfectly in “Tombstone.” And that's because Kilmer is allowed to be funny, seemingly instructed to stop taking himself seriously. As a result, his character is the intelligence among all the idiocy.
But what the hell is this movie trying to accomplish? A satirical commentary on film noir that is both caustic and sentimental about the classic genre. The film succeeds brilliantly, thanks to daring swipes at “Chinatown,” “L.A. Confidential,” and anything with a narrator. The plot is convoluted to the point of absurdity, and women are used and abused so much you can't help but shake your head (though actress Michelle Monaghan plays a good heroine). “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang” has a funny point. Surprisingly, it's written and directed by Shane Black, the guy who wrote “Lethal Weapon.”
No. 44 - “Brick” (2006)
“Kiss Kiss Bang Bang” is a great modern satire on film noir. “Brick” is just creative modern film noir. Director/writer Rian Johnson's detective story involves high schoolers. The coolest one is the gumshoe, of course, played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who has quietly turned into a damn good actor. While many viewers and critics are dreaming of Shia LeBeouf and Ryan Gosling, Gordon-Levitt is acting very well, and he has screen presence to spare. Hell, I even liked the campy shit he did in “G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra.” If you find me especially nonsober, you might even hear me say I thought he was alright in “10 Things I Hate About You,” right before I commit suicide because of snobby principles. Dear God I've ruined this entry. I'll just end it quickly by saying this movie has its own language, like those Humphrey Bogart pictures, and a cool footchase.
No. 43 - “Team America: World Police” (2004)
Some would consider this a belligerent choice on my part. “Team America” is indeed belligerent itself, but it's also funny and intelligent as hell. Any movie with puppets doing graphic sex scenes and puking their guts out during a dramatic moment deserves a lot of credit. And there's the political commentary one can appreciate in a drunken analogy involving dicks, pussies, and assholes. Alright, I'm a deranged person, and that's why this movie made the list. Before I leave this disgraceful choice behind, the soundtrack is undeniably hilarious with its sledgehammer approach.
No. 42 - “Adaptation” (2002)
Let's get a few things straight. This movie contains the two best performances by Nicholas Cage. That alone is one helluva accomplishment. But look at the other solid performances: Meryl Streep, Brian Cox, Tilda Swinton, and Cara Seymour. Oh yeah, I almost forgot Chris Cooper, who upstages everyone, even Streep. The screenplay by the Kaufman brothers is one that literally juxtaposes the two screenwriters and their styles. Finally, director Spike Jonze makes this weird shit understandable, and the movie doesn't drag ass like Charlie Kaufman's somewhat enjoyable wankfest, “Synedoche, New York.”
I know a question might remain. What's the point? Allow me to share a rule about movie lists I forgot to include in my flawed introduction: Every movie list requires a self-referential, humorous but touching movie about filmmaking (think “8 1/2” by Federico Fellini). So we should just accept that and move on with Our Lives.
No. 41 - “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” (2000)
Chow Yun-Fatt looks awesome sword fighting with one hand behind his back. As much as I would like to leave the entry at that … actually, I think I will.
Nah, I would never betray you, Dear Reader! Ang Lee, known for drama, directs a slew of incredible fight scenes, including a savage duel between Michelle Yeoh and Zhang Ziyi. Story-wise, “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” is a soap opera about a sword, only this soap opera has good actors. I find myself not only waiting for the next battle but for, uh, love stuff. This choice is undoubtedly obvious considering how much praise the film receives, but not everyone talks about the less obvious parts of this movie, like Chang Chen's bandit, that add up to make a satisfying martial arts romance, unless your idea of “satisfying” must include nipples.
I suppose I should address the wire work a lot of people criticize. Lee, like Akira Kurosawa, is interested in melding the theatrical with the cinematic. He's not going for realism. If you don't dig that, there's nothing I can do to convince you that the movie is worthwhile.
1 comment:
Great job so far. I'm interested in seeing how many of your top 20 match up with mine.
Adaptation and Team America are sneaky but inspired choices. They made some noise when they first appeared, but were overshadowed by other things, probably because they were so idiosyncratic, anti-establishment, and incongruous. It says something about you, that you have them back-to-back.....
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