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BrianFromConcentrate: Filmography

02 Mar 13
Undefeated

This documentary was really well done, but without the subjects would have been nothing. The football team and their coach were great to watch. Unlike most documentaries comprising of interview footage, this was edited together in the order it occurred. So, again, I really liked the film but more credit goes to the team than the filmmakers. Watch it and see a very heart warming story.

Undefeated
22 Feb 13
Permanent Midnight

As a dramatic actor, Stiller really does a great job. Upon second viewing, I liked the film much more than when I initially saw it years ago. The story of an addict in Hollywood may not be much of a stretch, but the film was based on a true story. There is nothing about the way it was shot that stands out, but the story was entertaining and like watching a train wreck. Maria Bello was a pleasant surprise.

Permanent Midnight
11 Feb 13
Side Effects

Great social commentary on the country's dependance on medication and the ethics of the doctor and patient relationship. The film was shot with RED cameras and looked great, although Soderbergh's usual color tinted shots were not as overt. Mara and Law did a great job all around. Just as the first act is starting to drag, the movie goes in an entire new direction. Very well written and structured. See this film.

Side Effects
28 Jan 13
West of Memphis

I've seen all three Paradise Lost films and still thoroughly enjoyed this well crafted documentary. The story follows the case from the day of the crime until the final appeal and decision 18 years later. The editing and original soundtrack were done well and the celebrities that support the WM3 all speak their minds on camera. Watch this documentary to learn about mistakes that can be made within the justice system.

West of Memphis
23 Jan 13
Chinatown

Robert Towne and David Fincher recorded a commentary track for the Blu-Ray...how amazing is that?

Chinatown
Omer Syed and Bruno Leal like this

That little girl is so good! The production design and soundtrack were top notch. This is one of those reviews in which I will just tell you to watch the film when you can. You won't be disappointed.

Beasts of the Southern Wild
13 Jan 13
Anna Karenina

I am a huge fan of Joe Wright and he did not disappoint. I loved the style of the film. It was almost as if he was filming a stage play, but it turned into so much more. The costumes were beautiful and the cinematography was superb. Kiera Knightly did a great job with the character. I would suggest this movie if you like the source material or just want an entertaining, visually arresting, complex, love story.

Anna Karenina
11 Jan 13
Hitchcock

I enjoy Anthony Hopkins' Hitchcock more than Toby Jones' in The Girl, but as a film, The Girl was better. The cast in Hitchcock does a great job and the film of Psycho as a backdrop is definitely exiting, but the movie just didn't come together as a whole. I suggest watching it if you like Alfred Hitchcock or if you want to see some great performances from Hellen Mirren and Sir Anthony. I also suggest HBO's The Girl.

Hitchcock
11 Jan 13
Chasing Ice

The beauty and sheer mass of the glaciers is captured perfectly by James Balog and his team. This documentary follows the EIS during their time-lapse photo project and presents the evidence in an irrefutable way. Watch the ice and you will see that climate change is real. If you know someone who doubts the legitimacy of climate change, show them this film. It was shot incredibly well and the imagery is just gorgeous.

Chasing Ice
08 Jan 13
Zero Dark Thirty

The pacing in the first half of the film could have used some work. Otherwise it flowed pretty well. The performances from Chastain and Jason Clarke were my favorites. Chris Pratt brought some comedic relief to a few scenes. I'm not sure if the film is pro-torture, but either way they depict torture in a realistic fashion. I loved the way the compound invasion scene was shot with half night vision. See this film.

Zero Dark Thirty
08 Jan 13
Killing Them Softly

This is the second time I've seen the film and it was better than the first. The scenes with Gandolfini still could have been cut, but I still really enjoyed the rest of the film. A lot of people disliked the movie and I don't see why. Watch it and make up your own mind.

Killing Them Softly
02 Jan 13
Bright Star

It took me a while to finally watch it, but I'm glad I finally did. Definitely enjoyed it quite a bit.

Bright Star
31 Dec 12
Django Unchained

You either like QT or you don't. I like him quite a bit, so after every criticism, I feel a little guilty. That being said, editor Sally Menke's unfortunate absence is noticeable. The dialogue could have been better and the plot structure needed some work. QT made the film he wanted to make and not everyone will enjoy a 3 hour revenge movie. Waltz and DiCaprio stood out the most but Foxx did a great job as Django.

Django Unchained
21 Dec 12
Taken 2

I was impatient and bored halfway through. The entire concept bothers me. If a family went through what happened in the first film, I doubt they would go out of the country again. They try to make the blood feud idea more feasible by including Albania in the film, but it just doest make sense. The bad guys spend money and lose even more men to capture the family. They could have shot and killed Brian at any time.

Taken 2
13 Dec 12
Deadfall

It didn't quite ramp up enough to get the viewer exited. You always knew what was going to happen next. Ruzowitzky's last effort, The Counterfeiters, was much better than this and I image that English not being his first language may have had a hand in the poor construction of Deadfall. There was some great scenery and Bana is always fun to watch. I think if you never saw this movie, you wouldn't be missing much.

Deadfall
12 Dec 12
Margin Call

Love this film. Everyone does a great job, but for some reason I really enjoy Simon Baker. You should watch this movie.

Margin Call
10 Dec 12
End of Watch

The opening monologue and chase sequence set the tone and style of the film. This is the best thing Ayer has done since Training Day. The handheld and pov style of shooting really added a lot to the tense vibe of the film. Anna Kendrick is cute as can be and the chemistry between Gyllenhaal and Pena is perfect and comedic. It is obvious the actors spent a lot of time with real officers in preparation for their roles.

End of Watch

The interviews were very good and it was interesting to learn how Danny grew up and about the turmoil and family trauma he went through as a kid. The editing wasn't great. The flow could have been helped by more exiting skate footage or some more footage of Danny talking. All in all I think this documentary is lacking and will probably only be enjoyed by people who admire skateboarding. Rent it if you like skating.

Waiting For Lightning
07 Dec 12
Argo

The production design and art direction were perfect for a 1970's period piece. Affleck managed to round up a perfect cast of known and up and coming actors. Even though I knew what happened, I was on the edge of my seat for the majority of the film. I'm an Affleck fan, so I may be slightly biased, but I thought this film was one of the best this year.

Argo
03 Dec 12
The Art of Flight

They just released a series on Netflix documenting the filming of The Art of Flight. After watching that and the film again, I can definitely say this is the best sports film ever made. Cineflex on a helicopter, mini-cranes and dollies in the backwoods...they sparred no expense and it wasn't easy. I can watch the HD shots of Travis Rice over and over. If you want to see athletes at the top of their game, watch it.

The Art of Flight
01 Dec 12
Killing Them Softly

The trailer doesn't do it justice. Dominik's follow up to The Assassination of Jesse James was worth the 5 year wait. It was shot beautifully and had style bursting out of every frame. It dragged during the scenes with Gandolfini and I could have done without the heavy handed political message, but overall it was well worth the cost of admission. Pitt, McNairy, and Jenkins were the best of the cast. See this film.

Killing Them Softly
LifeofFiction likes this

28 Nov 12
The Imposter

This is one of my favorite documentaries. It's best if you know nothing of the story before watching, so I won't spoil anything. The reenactments were shot well and the editing was especially note worthy. Without such great editing the entire story wouldn't have had such weight when it came to the climax. Who do you choose to believe?

The Imposter

I just re-watched this film and was even more disappointed this time around. I was a fan of the first two installments, but the screenplay for the final episode was horrid. There were plot holes a plenty and cheesy death scenes to satisfy...noone. I don't have room to write all the things that bothered me about the film, but if you look at it critically instead of mindlessly, you will see what I mean.

The Dark Knight Rises
17 Nov 12
Lincoln

Daniel Day Lewis was incredible. The movie is mostly dialogue and very well written. It is slow. A movie about the passing of an amendment can't really be much more exiting than it sounds. Huge amount of great actors filling all the roles. The emotion of his death was absent from the end though, that was probably my biggest problem with the film. Otherwise, it's a great historical drama that isn't that exiting.

Lincoln
lolo341 and Steve Pulaski like this

10 Nov 12
Skyfall

Great cinematography. Everything else was disappointing. The callbacks to Bond movies of the past were not my thing. The fake komodo dragon, fight scene on a train and an old man being idiotic with a flash light are just three things that I didn't like. Javier Bardem was great though. The screenwriter(s) chose to include more drama than action. I need to see it again because I might enjoy it more the second time.

Skyfall
04 Nov 12
Breaking the Waves

One of my favorite of Lars Von Trier's films. If you haven't seen it, rent it ASAP.

Breaking the Waves
03 Nov 12
Holy Motors

What the hell was that? I asked myself this after leaving the theater. I really don't know what I saw, to tell you the truth. It was a mixture of crazy characters and a semi-narrative about an "agency" setting up scenes with different actors driven around in limousines. I liked it, but doubt I'll ever feel like watching it again. I suggest renting it or watching it when it comes out on Netflix.

Holy Motors
31 Oct 12
Hollywoodland

Ohh what it could have been! Great story with a good cast, but it just didn't completely come together. Upon second viewing I enjoyed it more, but I still kept wanting a little more out of every scene. If you are bored and have some time, stream it on Netflix, but don't buy the DVD.

Hollywoodland
30 Oct 12
Cloud Atlas

It is a good film, but not a great one. The message is important and conveyed in an original way. It was visually stunning, but I found that it dragged quite a bit and I wasn't emotionally moved as some were. I suggest seeing the film, but it is a commitment.

Cloud Atlas
30 Oct 12
Badlands

A beautifully shot portrait of a serial killer and his ignorant, young companion.

Badlands