Film Journal 2012
* after title indicates
film was seen on dvd/video
^ after title indicates film was unfinished.
Title in italic indicates that I had previously seen the film
Title in Blue is TV.
001. (Jan 01) MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - GHOST PROTOCOL (2011, Brad Bird) 63
Saw this on digital IMAX which is not a proper substitute for actual IMAX prints. Parking garage sequence is prime Bird/Pixar animated action translated to live action and gives you the feel of being inside a machine of moving parts, it's incredibly impressive action choreography.
002. (Jan 01) WE BOUGHT A ZOO (2011, Cameron Crowe) 55
003. (Jan 01) SENNA (2011, Asif Kapadia)* 71
004. (Jan 02) VIDEODROME (1983, David Cronenberg)* 63
005. (Jan 02) CARNAGE (2011, Roman Polanski) 61
006. (Jan 04) TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY (2011, Tomas Alfredson) 60
007. (Jan 06) MISS BALA (2011, Gerardo Naranjo) 69
008. (Jan 12) WEEKEND (2011, Andrew Haigh)* 59
009. (Jan 12) TUESDAY, AFTER CHRISTMAS (2010, Radu Muntean)* 75
010. (Jan 13) WARRIOR (2011, Gavin O'Connor)* 47
011. (Jan 16) SHIT YEAR (2010, Cam Archer)* 49
012. (Jan 25) MONEYBALL (2011, Bennett Miller)* 80
013. (Jan 27) YOUNG ADULT (2011, Jason Reitman)* 66
014. (Jan 29) MARGARET (2011, Kenneth Lonergan) 81
015. (Jan 30) PUTTY HILL (2010, Matthew Porterfield)* 54
016. (Feb 16) CRAZY, STUPID, LOVE. (2011, Glenn Ficarra & John Requa)* 51
W/O. (Feb 19) MONSTERS (2010, Gareth Edwards)*
017. (Feb 20) ELITE SQUAD: THE ENEMY WITHIN (2010, Jose Padilha)* 64
W/O. (Feb 22) KILLER ELITE (2011, Gary McKendry)*
018. (Feb 23) THE IDES OF MARCH (2011, George Clooney)* 58
019. (Feb 26) THE BIG BIRD CAGE (1972, Jack Hill)* 39
020. (Mar 01) FOUR NIGHTS OF A DREAMER (1971, Robert Bresson) 77
Second viewing, lowered from 83 (first viewing was a shitty bootleg).
021. (Mar 11) BETTER THAN SOMETHING: JAY REATARD (2011, Alex Hammond & Ian Markiewicz) 65
022. (Mar 13) GAME CHANGE (2012, Jay Roach)* 51
023. (Mar 18) L.A. CONFIDENTIAL (1997, Curtis Hanson)* 85
024. (Apr 09) THE DEEP BLUE SEA (2011, Terence Davies) 74
025. (Apr 13) THE RAID (2011, Gareth Evans) 65
Flat visually & dramatically but it still plays like gangbusters. TIFF Midnight Madness must've gone insane for it.
026. (Apr 15) INTO THE ABYSS (2011, Werner Herzog)* 50
I have no idea why Werner Herzog wanted to make this film I don't think he knew either.
027. (Apr 22) CABIN IN THE WOODS (2011, Drew Goddard) 64
028. (Apr 25) DAMSELS IN DISTRESS (2011, Whit Stillman) 67
029. (May 20) THE AVENGERS (2012, Joss Whedon) 56
030. (May 28) MOONRISE KINGDOM (2012, Wes Anderson) 77
031. (May 28) THE GREY (2011, Joe Carnahan) 48
032. (Jun 24) PROMETHEUS (2012, Ridley Scott) 57
033. (Jul 01) PRIMAL FEAR (1996, Gregory Hoblit)* 58
034. (Jul 17) MARGARET: EXTENDED CUT (2011, Kenneth Lonergan)* 83
035. (Jul 18) BERNIE (2011, Richard Linklater) 70
036. (Jul 19) TO ROME WITH LOVE (2011, Woody Allen) 51
037. (Jul 20) SNEAKERS (1992, Phil Alden Robinson)* 58
038. (Jul 22) THE WAY OF THE GUN (2000, Christopher McQuarrie)* 67
039. (Jul 24) SAFE HOUSE (2012, Daniel Espinosa)* 38
040. (Jul 25) LOCKOUT (2012, James Mather & Stephen St. Leger)* 54
041. (Jul 26) THE DARK KNIGHT RISES (2012, Christopher Nolan) 63
The darkest of the three, a series that has felt more of its time with each new film entry in the series. I don't think the plot would hold up to much scrutiny and I don't really think all of Nolan's themes gel with the plot in a way that I completely bought. I mostly just love that this kind of blockbuster exists. I really hope Nolan finds a sense of humor at some point though, I'm pretty sure that's critical if he's ever going to become a great filmmaker.
042. (Jul 28) CUTTER'S WAY (1981, Ivan Passer)* 87
Even better than I remembered.
043. (Jul 30) 21 JUMP STREET (2012, Phil Lord & Chris Miller)* 55
There's something a little sad about a film constantly pointing out how utterly disposable it is, nobody was clamoring for this film to be made. Underachievers try harder, etc.
044. (Jul 31) PEARL JAM TWENTY (2011, Cameron Crowe)* 62
A lot about the "Grunge" scene, A lot about TEN, a little about VS and then it's mostly ticketmaster and activism, which is pretty much the way it should be. A little more critical distance from the band would have been helpful and it does end up feeling like a bit of a fluff piece but I still enjoyed it.
045. (Aug 01) ACROSS 110TH STREET (1972, Barry Shear)* 73
So glad I was finally able to return to this since I was pretty lukewarm on it the first time I saw it, mostly viewing it as a violent exploitation film (which it is) but it is so much more.
046. (Aug 02) HARA-KIRI: DEATH OF A SAMURAI (2011, Takashi Miike) 70
Much more of a melodrama than I was expecting and a very successful one at that. Clearly doesn't hold a candle to the original and nowhere near as fun as 13 ASSASSINS but quite distinguished and mature filmmaking from Miike, with a great understated use of 3D mostly to emphasize space and atmosphere rather than spectacle.
047. (Aug 03) KILLER JOE (2011, William Friedkin) 53
Black comedy meets sadistic brutality and it just feels like Friedkin and co. are tormenting helpless, stupid animals for our amusement. Enjoyable in some ways until it starts to negotiate some trickier tonal terrain and then it doesn't earn the abuse it seems to wallow in. Great cast, even when thankless or oddly miscast.
048. (Aug 11) F/X (1985, Robert Mandel)* 65
049. (Aug 12) F/X2 (1991, Richard Franklin)* 55
Very familiar with these two films from my childhood and they hold up pretty well. F/X2 barely has any F/X in it though, it's mostly just toys and illusions which is disappointing but Franklin does a good job of disguising his horrible screenplay with some nice Hitchcock by way of De Palma touches.
050. (Aug 13) ROB ROY (1995, Michael Canton-Jones)* 61
Mostly for Tim Roth.
051. (Aug 13) GOD BLESS AMERICA (2011, Bobcat Goldthwait)* 52
I really like Joel Murray's performance and I'm not unsympathetic with Goldthwait's point of view but there's really not much of a film here and IDIOCRACY said much of the same with a lot more wit.
052. (Aug 25) COSMOPOLIS (2012, David Cronenberg)* 58
053. (Aug 26) PREMIUM RUSH (2012, David Koepp)* 40
054. (Sep 05) LAWLESS (2011, John Hillcoat) 60
055. (Sep 14) THE MASTER (2012, Paul Thomas Anderson) 71
056. (Sep 16) TEQUILA SUNRISE (1988, Robert Towne)* 54
057. (Sep 17) THE NIGHT OF THE HUNTER (1955, Charles Laughton)* 65
Second viewing, last seen about 15 years ago. I didn't love it then either.
058. (Sep 17) MAGIC MIKE (2012, Steven Soderbergh)* 49
059. (Sep 17) WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION (1957, Billy Wilder)* 52
060. (Sep 18) ASSAULT ON PRECINCT 13 (1976, John Carpenter)* 89
061. (Sep 24) BEVERLY HILLS COP (1984, Martin Brest)* 64
062. (Sep 29) LOOPER (2012, Rian Johnson) 69
063. (Oct 02) THE LEGEND OF HELL HOUSE (1973, John Hough)* 72
064. (Oct 08) JACK'S BACK (1988, Rowdy Herrington)* 58
065. (Oct 12) SEVEN PSYCHOPATHS (2012, Martin McDonagh) 68
066. (Oct 12) THE AMITYVILLE HORROR (1979, Stuart Rosenberg)* 47
067. (Oct 21) ZODIAC (2007, David Fincher)* 86
I'm probably only holding off the inevitable masterpiece score only to give myself an excuse to revisit it again soon. A pleasure.
068. (Oct 30) BEAUTIFUL GIRLS (1996, Ted Demme)* 68
Upteenth viewing, first in several years. Script feels very immature in a lot of ways that bothered me less when I was younger but does have a wonderful performance by Portman, which also happens to be the only thread that really sings. Hutton and Thurman also have some very nice scenes together. Great soundtrack too, this made me check out the Rolling Stones song "Fool to Cry."
069. (Nov 2) EVERYBODY IN OUR FAMILY (2012, Radu Jude) 57
Very intense middle section but not enough bookending to support it. An interesting stunt.
070. (Nov 2) POST TENEBRAS LUX (2012, Carlos Reygadas) 66
Stunning enough on a moment by moment basis that I don't mind not following everything.
071. (Nov 2) REALITY (2012, Matteo Garrone) 48
Good control of color and design but to bloated to keep handle on fable tone.
072. (Nov 3) BERBERIAN SOUND STUDIO (2012, Peter Strickland) 23
Completely empty exercise in style.
073. (Nov 3) BEYOND THE HILLS (2012, Cristian Mungiu) 64
074. (Nov 3) HOLY MOTORS (2012, Leos Carax) 73
075. (Nov 4) SOMETHING IN THE AIR (2012, Olivier Assayas) 68
076. (Nov 4) LEVIATHAN (2012, Lucien Castaing-Taylor, Véréna Paravel) 67
077. (Nov 5) THE CENTRAL PARK FIVE (2012, Sarah Burns, Ken Burns & David McMahon) 56
078. (Nov 5) EAT SLEEP DIE (2012, Gabriela Pichler) 64
079. (Nov 5) TABU (2012, Miguel Gomes) 59
080. (Nov 6) LIKE SOMEONE IN LOVE (2012, Abbas Kiarostami) 70
081. (Nov 7) THE ABCS OF DEATH (2012, A Bunch of Dudes) 39
082. (Nov 9) DARK SHADOWS (2012, Tim Burton) 57
083. (Nov 11) SILVER LODE (1954, Allan Dwan) 73
084. (Nov 12) MIMIC (1997, Guillermo del Toro)* 47
085. (Nov 13) THE WEATHER UNDERGROUND (2002, Sam Green & Bill Siegel)* 63
086. (Nov 14) THIS MUST BE THE PLACE (2011, Paolo Sorrentino) 74
0TV. (Nov 19) THE WALKING DEAD: SEASON 1 (2010, A bunch of dudes)* 59
0TV. (Nov 20-24) THE WALKING DEAD: SEASON 2 (2011, A bunch of dudes)* 63
087. (Nov 24) GRIZZLY MAN (2005, Werner Herzog)* 78
088. (Nov 24) THE WAR ROOM (1993, D. A. Pennebaker & Chris Hegedus)* 68
089. (Nov 25) THE TIMES OF HARVEY MILK (1984, Rob Epstein)* 71
090. (Nov 25) LOUIE BLUIE (1985, Terry Zwigoff)* 70
091. (Nov 26) BRUTE FORCE (1947, Jules Dassin)* 62
092. (Nov 27) AMOUR (2012, Michael Haneke) 81
093. (Nov 28) RUST AND BONE (2012, Jacques Audiard) 47
094. (Nov 29) HOLY MOTORS (2012, Leos Carax) 84
095. (Dec 1) BOY MEETS GIRL (1984, Leos Carax) 69
096. (Dec 1) THE DEVIL, PROBABLY (1977, Robert Bresson) 63
097. (Dec 2) MAUVAIS SANG (1986, Leos Carax) 71
098. (Dec 2) LE PONT DU NORD (1981, Jacques Rivette) 75
099. (Dec 3) FACE/OFF (1997, John Woo)* 60
100. (Dec 4) ZERO DARK THIRTY (2012, Kathryn Bigelow) 73
101. (Dec 5) DJANGO UNCHAINED (2012, Quentin Tarantino) 70
102. (Dec 5) DJANGO UNCHAINED (2012, Quentin Tarantino) 70
103. (Dec 6) KILLING THEM SOFTLY (2012, Andrew Dominik) 62
104. (Dec 9) LENINGRAD COWBOYS GO AMERICA (1989, Aki Kaurismäki)* 68
105. (Dec 10) THE MUPPET MOVIE (1979, James Frawley)* 64
106. (Dec 10) TAKE THIS WALTZ (2011, Sarah Polley)* 54
107. (Dec 11) COMPLIANCE (2012, Craig Zobel)* 45
108. (Dec 13) THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY (2012, Peter Jackson) 49
109. (Dec 16) FRANKENWEENIE (2012, Tim Burton)* 60
110. (Dec 18) THE IMPOSTER (2012, Bart Layton)* 73
111. (Dec 19) SKYFALL (2012, Sam Mendes) 71
112. (Dec 20) PROMISED LAND (2012, Gus Van Sant)* 58
113. (Dec 23) DJANGO UNCHAINED (2012, Quentin Tarantino)* 70
114. (Dec 23) THE DARK KNIGHT RISES (2012, Christopher Nolan)* 60
115. (Dec 24) THE HUNGER GAMES (2012, Gary Ross)* 46
116. (Dec 26) THE GAME (1997, David Fincher)* 84
117. (Dec 27) ARGO (2012, Ben Affleck)* 65
118. (Dec 27) THE GETAWAY (1972, Sam Peckinpah)* 57
119. (Dec 29) HITCHCOCK (2012, Sacha Gervasi)* 29
W/O. (Dec 29) TED (2012, Seth MacFarlane)*
120. (Dec 30) ZERO DARK THIRTY (2012, Kathryn Bigelow)* 73
121. (Dec 31) JFK (1991, Oliver Stone)* 88
122. (Dec 31) HOW DO YOU KNOW (2010, James L. Brooks)* 78