All posts tagged top of the month

Kick-Ass by Matthew Vaughn

Top of the month April 2010: Kick-Ass

You didn’t see that coming, did you?

Why should you go see Kick-Ass by Matthew Vaughn, right now?

– Because Nicolas ‘Big Daddy’ Cage can be in a good movie at last and gives one of his best performance in a long time.
– Because of the revelation of Chloë ‘Hit Girl’ Moretz having great screen presence and stealing the show.
– Because heroes don’t have to fly, to see through walls or to be radioactive to be super. With no power comes no responsibility!

Runners up :The Countess by Julie Delpy and Green Zone by Paul Greengrass.
(not to mention Gardiens de l’ordre by Nicolas Boukhrief)

How to Train Your Dragon by DreamWorks

Top of the month March 2010: How to Train Your Dragon

Barbecue party with Night Fury!

Why should you go see How to Train Your Dragon by DreamWorks, right now?

– Because everything we know about dragons is wrong.
– Because you will want a pet dragon in your garden.
– Because if you never got into the previous DreamWorks Animation films then this one is for you, their best production so far.

Runners up :The Ghost-Writer by Roman Polanski and Crazy Heart by Scott Cooper.
(not to mention The Men Who Stare at Goats by Grant Heslov and Bad Lieutenant : Port of Call New Orleans by Werner Herzog)

Shutter Island by Martin Scorsese

Top of the month February 2010: Shutter Island

Madness…? This is Ashecliffe!

Why should you go see Shutter Island by Martin Scorsese, right now?

– Because of the sound of the double bass that follows the main characters from the fog to the gates of the detention facility.
– Because it’s not only a film noir homage but a highly elaborate graphic universe.
– Because the island of Doctor Scorsese is more than a set, a character on its own (Lost anyone?).

Runners up :Fantastic Mr. Fox by Wes Anderson and I Love You Phillip Morris by Glenn Ficarra & John Requa.
(not to mention Brothers by Jim Sheridan, Lovely Bones by Peter Jackson and Sherlock Holmes by Guy Ritchie)

Agora by Alejandro Amenábar

Top of the month January 2010: Agora

Violent memories of ancient times.

Why should you go see Agora by Alejandro Amenábar, right now?

– Because of the performance of Rachel Weisz, playing the part of philosopher and scientist Hypatia of Alexandria.
– Because if two things are equal to a third thing then they are all equal to each other (good old Euclid’s first rule).
– Because it’s a great reminder that in the fourth century, the bearded men were not Taliban but Christian.

Runners up :Invictus by Clint Eastwood and Gainsbourg – (vie héroïque) by Joann Sfar.
(not to mention Mr Nobody by Jaco van Dormael, Up in the Air by Jason ‘thanks for smoking’ Reitman and The Book of Eli by the Hughes brothers)

Top of the year 2009

Previously on… the Top of the year, season 2009: 12 months, 12 movies

– January 2009 : Slumdog Millionaire by Danny Boyle
Jai Hoooooo!

– February 2009 : The Curious Case of Benjamin Button by David Fincher
We are all going to die.


Continue Reading →

Avatar by James Cameron

Top of the month December 2009: Avatar

Pandora’s blue box.

Why should you go see Avatar by James Cameron, right now?

– Because even if the movie is not the expected ‘revolution’, it’s still a fine piece of work with a perfect narrative structure from the start to the end, leaving a deep pessimism regarding the human race.
– Because the 3D immersion is a brilliant experience and you will want to go back to the world of Pandora.
– Because James Cameron meets Terrence Malick who meets Hayao Miyazaki who meets David Lean who meets James Cameron.

Runners up :The Road by John Hillcoat and Where The Wild Things Are by Spike Jonze.

Zombieland by Ruben Fleischer

Top of the month November 2009: Zombieland

This place is so dead.

Why should you go see Zombieland by Ruben Fleischer, right now?

– Because of the opening title sequence shot in slow motion, playing Metallica’s « For Whom the Bell Tolls » out loud.
– Because of the survival rules (and their reasons) and the hunt for the last Twinkies on Earth.
– Because of the best cameo appearance ever!

Runners up :A l’origine by Xavier Giannoli and The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus by Terry Gilliam.
(not to mention Rapt by Lucas Belvaux, The Box by Richard ‘Donnie Darko’ Kelly and The Private Lives of Pippa Lee by Rebecca Miller)

Das Weiße Band (The White Ribbon) by Michael Haneke

Top of the month October 2009: Das Weiße Band (The White Ribbon)

Grow up evil, children!

Why should you go see The White Ribbon by Michael Haneke, right now?

– Because of the sumptuous black & white and aesthetic photography.
– Because of the frightening children as if they were coming from an episode of The Twilight zone or Village of the Damned… without an once of fantastic.
– Because it’s one of the best screenplay pointing out the link between education and growth of terrorism of any kind, and the consequences that (may) follow.

Runners up :Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs by Phil Lord & Chris Miller and Funny People by Judd Apatow.
(not to mention Le Syndrome du Titanic by Nicolas Hulot & Jean-Albert Lièvre and Mademoiselle Chambon by Stéphane Brizé)

District 9 by Neill Blomkamp

Top of the month September 2009: District 9

Best prawn movie ever!

Why should you go see District 9 by Neill Blomkamp, right now?

– Because you will have empathy for christopher, a fully CGI character!
– Because for once this is a truly original sci-fi concept and it’s not happening in the USA!
– Because it’s a great reminder of the history of South Africa – apartheid (District Six) AND post-apartheid (Zimbabwean immigrants).

Runners up :Mary and Max by Adam Elliot and (500) Days of Summer by Marc Webb.
(not to mention The Hurt Locker by Kathryn Bigelow & L’Affaire Farewell by Christian Carion)

Un Prophete by Jacques Audiard

Top of the month August 2009: Un prophète

Social climbing in prison.

Why should you go see Un prophète by Jacques Audiard, right now?

– Because of the acting: Tahar ‘Malik‘ Rahim, THE revelation, present in (almost) all the scenes and Niels ‘Luciani‘ Arestrup, scariest Corsican ever! :]
– Because it’s the best film of director Jacques Audiard who already has a perfect filmography!
– Because it’s an instant classic (in the prison genre).

Runners up :Inglourious Basterds by Quentin Tarantino and Les Derniers jours du monde by Jean-Marie Larrieu & Arnaud Larrieu.
(not to mention The Brothers Bloom by Rian Johnson & Staten Island by James De Monaco)