ickyptang

"Magnolia" is one of those films that will hopefully be appreciated fully at some point in time, because now is certainly not good enough. Definitely the best film of 1999, "Magnolia" is just one of the best films ever made. It is everything that a movie can be and should be. It follows the rules and makes some of it's own, and it is just marvelous. Completely original, yet familiar at the same time, the story and plot could be found anywhere. It follows ordinary people, who live extraordinary lives without even knowing it. Which can be said of anyone. Life is so vast and strange that it is hard to see what is truly important. But "Magnolia" writer/director Paul Thomas Anderson seems to know. The stories all have something for everyone, something that is funny, sad, cool, enlightening, whatever it may be. As a film-maker, his style is also amazing. His pacing is perfect, taking a whopping three hours and making it feel like one. The movie flows beautifully and stays consistently entertaining. In some ways there are no words to describe how wonderful this movie is, it has to be experienced. Hopefully one day it can receive fully the attention it deserves, and become one of the defining films of the decade, if not ever. A true masterpiece.

Jim Carrey is an enormous star, and is slowly gaining respect as a serious talent. But the "mistake" in his career will always be "The Cable Guy", even though it is possible his best performance to date, and one of the funniest movies ever made. It need not be said that I stand alone in this opinion, for most people thought it was bad. But if people sat down to watch it again, I think they may see something they missed. People expected it to be a wacky "Ace Ventura"-esque comedy, with plenty of poop and sex jokes. But instead they got a smart dark comedy, which threw their minds for a loop. First at the core is the bravura performance by Carrey. For the first time (pre- Truman Show) he created a character. His acting had evolved and he was more than just a big screen version of his "In Living Colour" persona. Don't get me wrong, the first "Ace Ventura" is still very funny, but "The Cable Guy" has such a sharp edge to it that it is a thousand times more hilarious. A common blame is the script, but even if it was a little weak, which really it isn't, Carrey certainly saves it, as does director Ben Stiller. He throws many of his social jabs in the film, ala his television show. Mainly the tv movie in the film based on the twin brothers who had a falling out. One killed the other, and Eric Roberts stars as both characters. That is just a small portion of all the "pop culture" mocking that takes place. Carrey's character "Chip" is loaded with television and movie references, a true product of the American "babysitter" television. Back to Carrey, his "Chip" has so many layers that the viewer can never understand who he truly is, which is the key to the film. He is an amalgam of characters throughout media history, and Carrey takes little bits from so many and creates such a complex man that one can't help but be horrified and heart-broken. He seems truly crazy, but also he's just a lonely guy who needs a little compassion. Most importantly, he's hilarious. Who knows, there probably won't be many people who will watch it again, but they are truly missing something great. It's dark and zany at the same time, and certainly not stupid. Maybe being a product of television I can relate more, or maybe I'm just insane.

Stanely Kubrick's "A Clockwork Orange" is one of the first movies that proved that cinema can be the most enlightening and amazing art form around. Movies have always been a true love for me, but it wasn't until this film challenged me that I fell deeply in love. The first viewing left me speechless, unable to describe how weird and terrible I felt. I thought it was the film that left me in this mood, so of course that was the easy target to blame. It was just a bad movie, overrated and stupid and a waste of time. But upon further thought, I realised the film did exactly what it was supposed to. It showed how the world can be a weird and horrible place, and how this young man who goes around torturing people and being a wicked person ultimately doesn't have to pay for what he does. And it's funny too. So this film brilliantly satirises this world, showcasing pure evil and people who ordinarily do not perform such evil are forced to laugh and observe what we all hate to admit is the truth. It's sick, but at the same time brilliant. And when one gets down to the core, you can't really explain it. It just is what it is. It's real. No one really sees it very often, but it is out there and everyone knows. And no one does anything about it. In essence, "A Clockwork Orange" is the ultimate satire, and one of the ultimate film experiences. It's art, it's life, and in a funky way, it's entertaining.

It doesn't seem fair that when a movie is a classic, people are put down when they don't like it. There are exceptions to the rule like "Citizen Kane" or "Star Wars" or "Breathless", among many others. There are some films that are important, maybe not amazingly good, but still important for what they did for the industry or in the advancement of film. But when a film is a classic because it is apparently just good, one should be able to dislike it. "All About Eve" is just plain boring. It was on AFI's 100 Greatest Films and won multiple Academy Awards, including best picture, but it is one of the hardest movies to sit through. It is supposed to be a satire on the theater world and ultimately acting in general, but it isn't funny. It is slowly paced, which isn't necessarily bad, because "A Man Escaped" is very slowly paced, but it works for the tone. But in a comedy-drama, the pace should be an in-between. Comedies are usually fast paced and dramas are usually slower, but "All About Eve" can't really find it's zone. Which again can be brilliant, as in "Pulp Fiction". Two entirely different films, yes, but similar in that they don't have a distinct genre. Regardless, "Eve" will be forever etched in film history as a wonderful movie and it doesn't matter what anybody really thinks now. But it still seems unfair that there are some movies that people HAVE to like, just because they are staples, and if they don't, there is something wrong with them.

Hailed as one of the best movies of the year and even by some as one of the best in the decade, "Being John Malkovich" feels more like it was barely given any effort at all. The film begins somewhat quirky and almost promising, and the viewer knows it is in for something very different. The premise also has to be given credit for originality, dealing with people being transported into the mind of John Malkovich. But it is all down hill after the first twenty minutes. Ridiculous in it's pace, the film is trying to create a new genre, but fails miserably. It also constantly dares the viewer to accept this bizarre land, and toys with their head. It almost makes the viewer feel they have to like it, because if they don't then they aren't open-minded or intelligent enough to live. When really the script is just stupid. The premise goes nowhere and all the seemingly great ideas proposed fall flat and are dull. Not to spoil, but the idea proposed of what would happen if Malkovich tried to enter his own head is the most disappointing of all. And Jonze's direction is as flat and bland as sugar-less cotton candy. The actor's are all forced to act like idiots, instead of molding and creating a character. All of the stars are talented, but their time is wasted with Jonze who is just trying to be too hip for his own good. So in the end,the viewer is left with a story that went no where and an almost acidic trip into nothingness. It seems today's critics are trying to appear on an elevated level, far more intelligent than the common man, by loving this film. While a dud like "Drop Dead Fred" had more charm than this garbage.

"The Truman Show" was one of the true masterpieces to come out of the late 1990's. One contributing factor being the dynamic performance by Jim Carrey, proving to his critics that he's not just a "rubber-faced goon". But despite Carrey's breakthrough, the film stands on it's own as something truly unique. The script, by Andrew Niccol beautifully satirizes our television and media dominated era, incredibly being cynical and heartwarming at the same time. The viewer is allowed to observe the ridiculous position Carrey's Truman Burbank is put in and at the same time care for the man, much like his millions of adoring "cattle". While laughing at the ignorance of the apathetic world around Truman, one can not help but be fascinated by his story. But the script is not the only genius. Peter Weir's stylishly executes the story at a rapid pace, cramming so much into the film, and at the same time creating an entertaining and hypnotic movie. The camera positions switch back and forth from an "directorial" standpoint to the "hidden cameras" all over Truman's world, giving a multitude of perspectives, and ultimately creating an amalgam of emotions. "The Truman Show" walks the fine line between comedy and drama, even surpassing the typical "dramedy", designing a world all it's own, perfectly capturing the bizarre place Truman is stuck in.