I’m happy to report that after that after some long deliberation I have selected the inaugural class of films for my Movie Hall of Fame section. Because this is the first class, I have selected 12 All-Time Favorites. Each class there after will be a m
aximum of 6 films. Trying to select ONLY twelve films was so difficult, it pained me to leave certain films off, but they will be highlights of future Hall of Fame classes. As stated on the Hall of Fame page, there is a 10 year wait to be eligible, meaning this year films from 2004 and back are eligible for selection. I don’t want to give too many hints about my selections but I can say there was ONE 2004 1st Ballot selection among the 12 films. My plan is to reveal the Hall of Fame class of 2014 (and each subsequent class) on the eve of Oscar Night, which this year falls on Saturday, March 1st. I hope you’ll stop by and check it out.
MOVIE HALL OF FAME-Update
Life Itself (2014)
Review by-Jarrett Leahy
The live streaming feed of Steve James’ documentary about Roger Ebert has ended almost 50 minutes ago, and I’m sitting here with a page of jumbled thoughts and reactions strewn up and down my Open Office document. It is a chaotic mixture of sentence fragments and rambling streams of thought patiently waiting to be placed in the correct spot. What all these words and thoughts have in common is they are there to help me try to share how touching and befitting a tribute Life Itself is to the world’s most beloved movie critic Roger Ebert.
It was reported that Roger’s wife Chaz had decided not to see the final film until its premiere. By the end of the film I’m not ashamed to admit I had misty eyes, so I can’t imagine the emotions she experienced after seeing what Steve James has lovingly been able to create. Using Roger’s memoir as a template, James combined the perfect balance of clips, personal pictures, home videos and interviews along with excerpts from the book used as narration to respectfully and honestly capture the many layers, both good and bad, of a much admired man. I had spent the last few weeks feverishly trying to finish Life Itself before today’s premiere and found various levels of excitement seeing so many of the people who were prominent subject matter in the book now appearing on screen to share thoughts and memories about their dear friend. I was also surprised to see the film’s creation had been started long before Roger’s death. This led to great deal of moving and insightful footage of Roger in the rehab facility. Some of these images weren’t the easiest to watch, but I came away with an even higher level of respect for the man as you see him remain upbeat and hopeful despite unimaginable daily struggles and frustrations.
Over the next few days as the first run of initial reviews begin trickling out, I’m sure many of the same superlatives will be shared. Please allow me to share a few of my own. Life Itself is yet another testament to the skill Steve James possesses as a documentarian. For me, it is a beautiful film that gracefully celebrates the grand life of a man who brought joy to so many of us over the years through his prolific writing and shared love of cinema. Borrowing a line from the film, I hope this documentary will be a wind of peace for the many fans who still feel his loss every time we watch a film and wonder what Roger would have thought.-JL
Grade: A
Edited by-Michelle Zenor
I am Roger Ebert-Life Itself Backer #514
Thanks, @AmateurCinephile, Backer #514! Your #Ebertreview is THE MECHANIC, from 11/30/1972: http://t.co/UL8AXGRkqq. http://t.co/ZVssi1JgZW
— Life Itself (@EbertMovie) December 8, 2013
Tonight at 5:15pm MST in Park City, Utah the world premiere of the Roger Ebert documentary Life Itself will be held at the Sundance Film Festival. Thanks to their fan funding campaign I have the honor of watching the premiere as well from the comfort of my couch. Can’t express my excitement of this getting to see this film, and have it be my first of 2014.
The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)
Review by: Jarrett Leahy
“Not all good movies are about Good People. I also like movies about
Bad People who have a sense of humor. Orson Welles, who does not
play either of the Good People in The Third Man, has such a winning
way, such witty dialogue, that for a scene or two we almost forgive him
his crimes. Henry Hill, the hero of GoodFellas, is not a good fella, but
he has the ability to be honest with us about why he enjoyed being bad.”
-Roger Ebert, from his memoir Life Itself
There’s little doubt that Jordan Belfort, the ring leader of this circus of depravity, enjoyed being bad and certainly had a sense of humor about it all. I haven’t laughed so hard in a theater in many years. After 50 years in the film business, most legendary directors are either kicked back, living on easy street or have kicked the bucket. Martin Scorsese on the other hand, at age 70, was busy creating his best film since 1995′s Casino. Full of drug induced debauchery and sharp, biting humor, The Wolf of Wall Street is a titanically over the top satire about a sleazeball and his cronies who made piles of money screwing over a lot of unsuspecting people.
Unfortunately, not everyone seems to get the joke, and a swell of backlash has sprung up accusing the film of glorifying the lead character and his deplorable acts. Do I think Scorsese, DiCaprio and rest of the cast and crew condone the actions of the people depicted, of course not. But let’s be honest, when someone comes into a lot of money and combines that with a lot of drugs, that is a recipe for some crazy antics, and Scorsese isn’t going to sugarcoat those antics. Instead, he’s used them to shine a light on Wall Street, an industry filled to this day with hundreds of Jordan Belforts, all trying every sneaky back door deal to fleece their clients of every dollar they can get their hands on. But, like every other controversial Scorsese film, the naysayers will eventually go away leaving just the greatness of the film to remain the lasting image for future cinema fans.
DiCaprio said he’d been eyeing this role for six years, and that personal passion for the project comes across in every scene he’s in. To say he is electric on screen is an understatement, he completely immerses himself into the character, creating a riveting performance that rivals last year’s shocking portrayal of Calvin Candie in Django Unchained. Most years, Leo would be a lock for Best Actor. But this isn’t most years, and I don’t think he can pass Matthew McConaughey (Dallas Buyer’s Club) or Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years A Slave). And I’m OK with that because it means 2013 was one heck of a year for illustrious performances, and that’s all we can ask for as fans of great cinema.
Filled with biting humor, no film in 2013 made me laugh harder than The Wolf of Wall Street, proving yet again Martin Scorsese is still at the top of his game. I fully expect it to join the pantheon of classic Scorsese crime dramas Goodfellas and Casino.-JL
Grade: A+
Edited by-Michelle Zenor
The Act of Killing (2013)
Review by: Jarrett Leahy
Former Indonesian death squad leaders use various cinema genres to reenact the horrific mass killings they perpetrated on thousands of people during the mid-to-late 1960’s. How about that for a synopsis? Trying to come up with a grade for The Act of Killing was difficult. Some called it the most important film of 2013, giving it an A+ and sticking it at the top of end of year lists. I’m not so sure. This film is the type of documentary that requires the viewer to stand back and see the historical importance of what the filmmakers were able to capture on camera for future generations regardless of the personal repugnance that might arise from what is being discussed and recreated. I will never watch The Act of Killing again. This documentary joins the list of films that I can say were impressive for what they brought to the screen, but were in no way enjoyable to watch. The Act of Killing depicts evil men who did evil things and are now, almost 50 years later, giving nonchalant justifications for their evil deeds. This is the type of film that should lead to outcry, justice, and change, and only time can truly be the judge as to its importance. But based on the current “government” system of Indonesia that is depicted in this film, I honestly don’t foresee any positive change coming out of this horrifying film. And if that is truly the case, than what good was it really except to show that pure evil still exists and walks among us-JL
AmateurCinephile.com 