Since the Oscar nominations came out, I've been quite keen to look back over my filmwatching journal and focus on the films that I found particularly interesting, and catching up with the newly released nominees.
A couple of weeks ago, I saw 127 Hours, which was considerably less grueling than I had anticipated. Despite its restricted setting, Danny Boyle brings his typically kinetic aesthetic sensibility to it and the film benefits significantly from it. I also managed to suck it up and watch Black Swan, which managed to be one of the few Aronofsky films, along with Pi that I would watch again. While it was unsettling and uncomfortable, it managed to not be assaultive and just simply worked well.
There are a few more on the list that I'd like to see, and I'll probalby make time for The King's Speech this week. I'm particularly looking forward to True Grit, though it has been so long since I've seen the original that it may be worth checking that out before I move on to the Coen brothers.
With all that aside, over the last year, no film has managed to top Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World for me. I've seen it multiple times and it manages to stay just as funny and exciting and thrilling as, well, maybe the second time. There's nothing I don't like about the film, and in spite of the double negative, it is a glowing review from me. I won't be as aggressively critical of those who didn't go see it as Guillermo del Toro, but his sentiments are definitely shared. It is a wonderful groundbreaking film, and I think everyone should treat themselves to it.
I was thinking about it this week, and revisited Scott Pilgrim on DVD. This gave me the urge to get out the soundtrack which was in heavy rotation for me at the time of its theatrical release. It is a solid compilation, which has introduced me to some of the Toronto indie bands which I haven't managed to listen to until now. There are also a couple of classic ditties that I've loved for a long time, like "Teenage Dream" by T. Rex and "Under my Thumb" from the Stones, which make nice little splashes throughout.
The real stars for me though are the Sex-Bob-Omb songs written by Beck just for the film. The grimy distorted acoustic guitar sounds with sloppy bass and drums really took me back to Beck's early stuff, particularly "Burnt Orange Peel" off One Foot in the Grave which I honestly have not listened to in almost 15 years, and at the time I only had it on cassette tape, which has since broken.
So I then decided to use a gift card to the local music shop that I got for Christmas to get One Foot in the Grave again, which is apparently now in an expanded edition. I haven't gotten around to the alternate takes and demos, etc. But listening to the album really made me feel like I was back in the 90s, dreading gym class all over again.
That's the bulk of my thoughts this week, but other films I watched include:
Kick-Ass- very impressed, lots of fun
The Mirror Crack'd- Angela Lansbury as Miss Marple with a glittering star studded cast all with knowing winks to their profession made for a delightful evening.
Taken- Had a lot of the old Luc Besson action and pacing though he didn't direct it, but seemed to be a practice in reassurance for insecure middle class white male Americans.
That's about it from me. As always, if you think of anything I might like, feel free to let me know!
