Movie #332 - American Psycho

American Psycho
2000 - Rated NC-17 - 1 hr 42 min
Director: Mary Harron
Starring: Christian Bale, Justin Therouz, Josh Lucas, Chloe Sevigny, Reese Witherspoon, Samantha Mathis, Jared Leto, Willem Dafoe

I must be some kind of sicko, because I think this movie is freaking genius.  And the gore is amazing.  Weird, right?  (SPOILER ALERT)

If you can watch this movie in the way the filmmaker intended you too, however, it has so much to say.  The general gratuitousness of the 1980's lifestyle, the dark secluded recesses of our minds that most of us don't indulge, the two-sidedness of the human condition, and the corruptness and idleness at the top of the corporate chain... Bateman's fantasies are blended seamlessly into the true scenes of the movie, so your experience is the way he'd like to tell it to you. He believes he's done these things, and by the end of the movie, you'll be confused about it yourself.

In fact, the "did he or didn't he" conversation happens nearly every time we watch the movie.  They never explain it in the film, but his friends' refusal to believe him and the whole "his victims are still alive" thing clears it up pretty well.  But as I said, the murder scenes are depicted so realistically, I can see where the confusion comes in.

Anyway. I love this movie, even if that does make me a little sick.

Movie #313 - Inside Man

Inside Man
2006 - Rated R - 2 hr 9 min
Director: Spike Lee
Starring: Denzel Washington, Clive Owen, Jodie Foster, Christopher Plummer, Willem Dafoe

A bank robbery where the money stays in the vault? Something's up.  The premise behind this movie is heavy on the intrigue.  Denzel vs Clive is an interesting battle to watch, with Jodie Foster interfering at all the wrong (or right?) moments.

This one's nothing extraordinary, but it's always nice to a see a movie with a predictable premise (i.e. a bank robbery with hostages) take a different route.  That said, I don't think anyone here gives a standout performance nor is this a must-see.  It's entertaining and intriguing, but a lot of the middle just drags.  It could be great but to me it seems a bit unbalanced.  Overall though, a good one to watch for something a little different.

Movie #204 - Finding Nemo

Finding Nemo
2003 - Rated G - 1 hr 40 min
Director: Andrew Stanton, Lee Unkrich
Starring: Albert Brooks, Ellen DeGeneres, Alexander Gould, Willem Dafoe, Brad Garrett, Allison Janney, Stephen Root, Vicki Lewis, Geoffrey Rush, Elizabeth Perkins

Another great movie and one I know most people love.  Possibly one of Disney/Pixar's finest achievements, this little cartoon is entertaining for just about anyone.  It's a very basic plotline - a father searches for his lost son - but it's done so well and with the perfect blend of humor and emotion that you can't help but get sucked in.  You'll be rooting for these little fishes before you know it.

And Ellen DeGeneres is just priceless.  Her percentage of quotable lines is high, for both kids and adults. 

I was happy to sit down and watch this one with Ellie for the first time.  And I think she loves Nemo as much as any kid does.

Movie #191 - eXistenZ

eXistenZ
1999 - Rated R - 1 hr 37 min
Director: David Cronenberg
Starring: Jude Law, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Ian Holm, Willem Dafoe, Christopher Eccleston, Sarah Polley

Last of the E's and it's a good one too! It's been a good six or so years since I've sat down to watch this classic mind-twist movie. Then game-within-a-game-within-a-game that goes on to an Inception-level of intricacy.  Jennifer Jason Leigh is fantastic as Allegra Gellar, the "game designer" (or is she?) And Jude Law is so young, it's adorable.

I can't say too much without giving this plot away. But gaming has gone to an all-new level in this futuristic movie.  You "port in" through a "bio-port" directly into your spine. The concept makes me shiver just thinking about it.  But that's how you play the game, so everyone has a bio-port and people don't do any real activities anymore, since you can now simulate just about everything in your mind.  Cool concept. Possibly a real prediction of our future. I guess we'll have to see.

In the mean time, watch this one if you like twists, mind games, and intrigue.  Enjoy!

Movie #88 - The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day

The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day
Sony Pictures Entertainment
2009 - Rated R - 1 hr 58 min
Director: Troy Duffy
Starring: Sean Patrick Flanery, Norman Reedus, Billy Connolly, Julie Benz

Okay.  Let me start by saying that I didn't hate this movie.  I'm not sure I could hate anything with Connor and Murphy in it, seriously.  And ten years later, they revisit these characters with the same fun-loving attitude, though a bit hardened over time.  Sean Patrick Flanery and Norman Reedus are not the problem here.

Neither is Julie Benz, or the trio of cops resuming their roles from the first film, as they struggle to find a way to keep the Saints protected - from each other at first.  Benz does her best at filling Dafoe's shoes, but it's not her fault that Smecker was so freakin' awesome in the first movie.  You just can't touch him, ya know?

I don't even blame the Rocco replacement, this time a crazy Mexican with tangled hair and uncontrollable impulses. We'll call him Rocco Junior.

I think the problem is that you go into this movie expecting it to be bigger and better than the first.  After all, it says II - doesn't that mean it has to be an improvement?  Duffy didn't do a horrible job, but at times he let his desire to please his fans take over.  There's just too many reused jokes and devices from the first movie.  Instead of making new jokes, we're subjected to a handful of recycled materials.  Eh.  It's fun to relive, but that's why we have DVDs of the first movie, Mr. Duffy.

And then there's the ending - which I won't give away if you haven't seen it - but it leaves everything wide open for a third movie.  Is that happening?  It almost has to for closure, thanks to the surprise guest at the end.  What the hell?

So I really want to like this one but I have mixed feelings.  I've decided to just enjoy it as another two hours of hot Irish guys, fun-loving action and crime, and a setting in my favorite city.

Movie #87 - The Boondock Saints

The Boondock Saints
Franchise Pictures
1999 - Rated NC-17 - 1 hr 58 min
Director: Troy Duffy
Starring: Willem Dafoe, Sean Patrick Flanery, Norman Reedus, Billy Connolly

I won't lie, I'm a little nervous to review this one because it's such a fan favorite. Luckily, I don't have anything negative to say. This is one of my all-time favorite movies, and not just because it has two hot Irish guys and takes place in Boston.  Those are perks, for sure, but the accidental vigilante concept and the underlying sense of humor that Troy Duffy has written into his script make this a really unique movie.  Really, what's not to love?

I'd like to point out the rating of this film, which I did not know until I looked it up on IMDB.  Really, an NC-17? Really? Why?  Yeah, blood and gore, naked butts, gay sex after-glow... it's all there.  But I don't think it warrants the rating. 

Now, watching this movie for the hundredth time was fun, onward to the lesser-liked sequel...

Movie #25 - American Dreamz

American Dreamz
Universal Pictures
2006 - Rated PG-13 - 1 hr 47 min
Director: Paul Weitz
Starring: Hugh Grant, Dennis Quaid, Mandy Moore, Willem Dafoe, Chris Klein and Jennifer Coolidge

"Imagine a country where the president never reads the newspaper, where the government goes to war for all the wrong reasons, and where more people vote for a pop idol than their next president."

That's the tagline for this one, and it pretty aptly sums up the premise. On one hand, you have a hugely successful pop idol selection show (sound familiar?) and on the other, you have a bumbling president who suddenly decides to start learning about foreign policy (ahem). Anyway, what happens when these two collide on one night of television? Did I forget to mention the terrorist cell that has a plant on said pop idol selection show?

It sounds overly satirical and too tongue-in-cheek to be funny, but the political undertones are well hidden. Subtle, even. You just get to sit back, relax, and pretend this stuff would never happen in the US. Right?

Good times.