Now Playing: Nightcrawler, Before I Go To Sleep, Saw

Nightcrawler

Official Synopsis:
A pulse-pounding thriller set in the nocturnal underbelly of contemporary Los Angeles. Lou Bloom, a driven young man desperate for work who discovers the high-speed world of L.A. crime journalism. Finding a group of freelance camera crews who film crashes, fires, murder and other mayhem, Lou muscles into the cut-throat, dangerous realm of nightcrawling -- where each police siren wail equals a possible windfall and victims are converted into dollars and cents. Aided by Nina, a veteran of the blood-sport that is local TV news, Lou thrives. In the breakneck, ceaseless search for footage, he becomes the star of his own story.

North's Thoughts:
Yes, yes, a thousand times, yes.
I have long been a Jake Gyllenhaal fan and this looks like it could be his best yet.
Last year he was transcendent in Prisoners, which was absolutely under-seen and underrated.
It made my Top 5 of the year and showed me that Gyllenhaal's talents have no ceiling.
This looks creepy, topical and dark.
Perfect for Halloween weekend.


Before I Go To Sleep

Official Synopsis:
This psychological thriller is based on the worldwide best-selling novel about a woman who wakes up every day remembering nothing - the result of a traumatic accident in her past - until one day, new terrifying truths emerge that force her to question everyone around her...

North's Thoughts:
Usually I am big fan of films with memory-loss/altered memory plots.
Memento, Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind and Inception (pun-intended) come to mind.
I am not counting The Butterfly Effect which is complete trash.
Like most thrillers, you don't want to know too much going in, so stay off Wikipedia and check it out.


Saw 10th Anniversary

Official Synopsis:
With a dead body lying between them, two men wake up in the secure lair of a serial killer who's been nicknamed "Jigsaw". The men must follow various rules and objectives if they wish to survive and win the deadly game set for them.

North's Thoughts:
Saw is a solid film and definitely a fun one to see in the theater, on the big screen.
I saw it in New Orleans when I was in college and the audience was way into the film.
Screams, people jumping out of there seats, gasps and one person shouting at a crucial moment:
"Damn, that boy pale!"
If you've seen the film you probably know what part I'm referencing.
So forget the DVD and head to the theater quick because this is a one week only engagement.


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The Bill Murray Lists

Over the years he's played many roles, but one thing in Bill Murray's career never changed:

His ability to light up the screen.

No matter how big the part, drama, comedy or dramedy, he brings something special to a film.

His latest film, St. Vincent, opens today to positive reviews.

It will be placed in a diverse filmography that makes you laugh, cry and realize the definition of charisma.

So without further ado North/South presents . . .

The Bill Murray Lists

Dan's List

5. Groundhog Day / What About Bob?

The early 1990s were a beautiful time for light comedies.

They didn't have to be grossout, slapstick or R-Rated, they could just be enjoyable.

Groundhog Day and What About Bob? are both highly rewatchable Saturday TV movies.

If you come across them on cable, you are definitely going to watch most, or all of them.

I'd love to have Stripes in this spot, but it has not aged well and nostalgia factor doesn't get you on the list!

4. Where The Buffalo Roam

Murray killed it as my favorite writer, Hunter S. Thompson.

Most people associate Johnny Depp with Thompson, but that was Depp as Thompson as Raoul Duke.

Got it?

Murray's portrayal is much closer to the genuine article. 

Plus, it gave us one of the great courtroom scenes in film history.

3. Ghostbusters

Like many people, my first memories of Bill Murray come from Ghostbusters.

I can specifically point to the introduction of Peter Venkman as the point I thought, "Hey, I like this guy".

Venkman is the quintessential Murray character: Witty and charming, but with a slight edge.

2. Caddyshack

The Dalai Lama Story alone would warrant a place on the list. 

Carl Spackler is an absolute mad man and this was a huge part of Murray's boom.

Amazingly, Meatballs outgrossed Caddyshack.

A huge surprise considering Caddyshack was one of the most quotable films ever.

1. The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou  

This film and character were made for the talents of Bill Murray.

There is no way I can fathom Life Aquatic with another actor in the Zissou role.

It doesn't matter how many times I watch it, the submarine scene always make me misty.

When he drops, "That was my favorite age.", cue the waterworks.

                                

Chris's List 

5 - Kingpin

"Call me Ernie, or Big Ern." One of the greatest comedy supervillains. 

4 - Caddyshack/Stripes

Quintessential, classic Murray. Carl Spackler is the best part of Cadyshack (Cinderella Story, Dalai Lama, etc). And even though Stripes falls apart in the second half, the first part is comedy gold from Murray/Ramis. 

3 - Lost in Translation

I unabashedly love this film, even though many have soured on it in subsequent years. Older, wiser, but still hilariously sarcastic Murray is on full display here perfectly effectively portraying a mid-life crisis. 

2 - Rushmore (Life Aquatic & other Wes Anderson films)

Wes Anderson and Bill Murray are a prefect match for one another. The director helped revive and reinvigorate Murray's career with Rushmore, his best performance in an Anderson film (followed closely by Zissou, which I knew would be Dan's #1). Bit parts in Tenenbaums, Moonrise Kingdom, and Fantastic Mr. Fox are all great too.

1 - Ghostbusters
Do I really need to explain why this is at #1? I am ashamed Dan has it at #3 (are we even friends?). Ghostbusters, Back to the Future, and Indiana Jones are my childhood. Murray's true comedic genius film. 

Honorable Mention:

He's great in a bit part in Ed Wood. He's the best part of Wild Things (yes, really). He has one of the greatest cameos of all-time playing himself in Zombieland. Plus, he's also great in indie films that few people ever saw, like Get Low and Broken Flowers. 

Basically, Bill Murray is the man! 

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Follow Us On Twitter For Movie News and Links: @NorthSouthFilm

And Check Out Our Other Best Of Lists:

Brad Pitt - Robert Downey Jr. -  Denzel Washington - Robin Williams 
Christian Bale - Matt Damon - Johnny Depp – Jamie Foxx
David Fincher - Wes Anderson - Ron Howard – Tony Scott – Michael Bay – Stanley Kubrick 
Badass Ladies – Movie Lawyers – Movie Bars – Concert Movies - Airplane Movies - War Movies
Baseball Movies – Films From 2000-Now – Movie/Video Game Combos - Kill Bill

Now Playing: St. Vincent, John Wick, Ouija

St. Vincent
                           
Official Synopsis:
Maggie and her adopted 12-year-old son, Oliver, move next door to war veteran Vincent, but when Oliver gets locked out after school one day, Vincent allows him to stay at his house until his mom gets home. Because he has bills up to the ceiling and is desperate for cash, he tells Maggie he will babysit Oliver everyday after school. Vincent then introduces Oliver to his lifestyle, including gambling, drinking and his relationship with a Russian prostitute.

North's Thoughts:
The synopsis should have just read:
"Bill Murray and Melissa McCarthy"
Throw in Naomi Watts and some questionable judgement and you can count me in!
Murray is just the absolute best.
Can't recall a time I saw him and was not wowed.
Be sure to check out our Best Of Bill Murray Lists tomorrow.

John Wick
                                                    
Official Synopsis:
An ex-hitman comes out of retirement to track down the gangsters that took everything from him with New York City as his bullet-riddled playground.

North's Thoughts:
Can hitmen ever retire in peace?

They always have unfinished business.

Get ready for some zen-like actions from Keanu and a whole lot of revenge.
Above is loading screen at JohnWickTheMovie.com.
Stunning.

Ouija

Official Synopsis:

After a friend is brutally killed in an accident, by a dark spirit, a group of close teenage friends must confront their most evil and demonic fears when they awaken the dark powers of an ancient spirit board by attempting to contact their friend. They soon realize that the Ouija Board is not just a game; it's real life.

North's Thoughts:

This has the potential to be the 2nd best board game movie ever. 

I don't see a way it will unseat Clue, but it could definitely be better than Battleship. 

Why have they never made a Candyland movie? 

Or better yet an Uncle Wiggily movie.

That would be dope.

Next Week: Nightcrawler, Before I Go To Sleep, Saw 10th Anniversary

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The Brad Pitt and War Movies Lists

With FURY blasting its way into cinemas this weekend, we couldn't decide between doing The Brad Pitt Lists or The War Movie Lists. So we doubled up and did both! Here are our quick thoughts and links on the stellar career of one of Hollywood's most beloved actors and one of its richest genres . . .

               The Brad Pitt and War Movies Lists

Dan's Lists

Brad Pitt

5. True Romance- "Don't con-den-scend me man . . ."

4. Moneyball- Aaron Sorkin is just awesome. Will watch anything he writes.

3. Spy Game- So underrated. The training montage and the score? Super dope.

2. Inglourious Basterds- "More like chewed out. I've been chewed out before."

1. Snatch- Mickey doesn't lose. Ever.

Honorable Mention:
Fight Club, Seven, The Ocean's Series and Burn After Reading

                  

War Movies

5. The Last Of The Mohicans- The French and Indian War just got awesome.

4. Apocalypse Now- I enjoy the "making of" stories as much as the actual film. 

3. Full Metal Jacket- "We're Jolly Green Giants, walking the Earth with guns."

2. The Deer Hunter- Mao!

1. Saving Private Ryan- I hate you Upham!

Honorable Mention:
The Bridge On The River Kwai, Black Hawk Down and The Guns Of Navarone

                                           

Chris's Lists

Brad Pitt

5 - Twelve Monkeys - La Jetee. That''s all I'm saying. La Jetée.
4 - Ocean's Eleven - Just such a fun movie. You can't not like Clooney, Pitt, & Co.
3 - Seven - Covered in our David Fincher list a few weeks back. Just a great, grimy, and stylish noir.
2 - Inglourious Basterds - "I am the di-rect descendant of the mountain man Jim Bridger, which means I've got a 'lil injun in me..."
1 - The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford - No contest. My favorite film.

Honorable Mention: 
True Romance, Moneyball, and the highly underrated Killing Them Softly 

War Movies

5 - Platoon - Back when Stone was great. Such a killer '80s cast. Ham-fisted at times, but great.
4 - MASH - So funny and completely surprising. Altman's amazingly unique style on full display.
3 - Apocalypse Now - Masterful editing. Poetic imagery. Copolla, Brando, Duvall, and Sheen.
2 - Paths of Glory - Kirk Douglas. Early Kubrick. One of the very few great WWI films.
1 - Saving Private Ryan - The opening scene, the brotherhood, the stories they shared. All great.

Honorable Mention:
The Thin Red Line. Black Hawk Down, The Dirty Dozen, Kelly's Heroes, and the satire Starship Troopers

Thanks For Reading!

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And Check Out Our Other Best Of Lists:

Robert Downey Jr. -  Denzel Washington - Robin Williams 
Christian Bale - Matt Damon - Johnny Depp – Jamie Foxx
David Fincher - Wes Anderson - Ron Howard – Tony Scott – Michael Bay – Stanley Kubrick 
Badass Ladies – Movie Lawyers – Movie Bars – Concert Movies - Airplane Movies
Baseball Movies – Films From 2000-Now – Movie/Video Game Combos - Kill Bill

Past Ebert: HOOP DREAMS

William Gates.
Arthur Agee.
They may not be household names, but that depends on your household.
In my house and in some others, these names are a part of basketball and film history.

In the 1994 documentary, HOOP DREAMS, we see these two Chicago teenagers' sports dreams and nightmares play out over a three hour film that has stood up over the last 20 years as one of the greatest pieces of American filmmaking. The human drama that took place over the five plus years of filming is so compelling that it could not possibly have been scripted. The film documents much more than two kids who want to play professional basketball. It delves into the structure of our country in terms of race, economics and the institutions we prioritize and idolize.

I could write all day about the beauty and sadness of HOOP DREAMS. From the crushed dreams of William's older brother Curtis, to Arthur's father Bo, basically selling drugs on camera, to the triumph of Marshall High School going "down state". From Shannon, to TUSS on the sneakers, to Earl Smith, to Sheila Agee. This film is an absolute treasure and an incredible thing to experience.

The man who truly propelled this film into the American consciousness was none other than our hero, Roger Ebert. In an unprecedented move, Roger and Gene Siskel reviewed the film on their television show before the film even had a distributor. When HOOP DREAMS was not nominated for a Best Documentary Academy Award, Mr. Ebert let everyone know the snub was an absolute travesty.

Below are links to writings on HOOP DREAMS that I've complied from RogerEbert.com.
They are in chronological order, from Ebert's first thoughts about the film, to a recent interview with filmmaker Steve James, who made HOOP DREAMS and the documentary about Roger Ebert, LIFE ITSELF. Read through the links to see the profound impact this documentary made on Mr. Ebert and countless others.

And oh yeah, "It's Raining, Bo!"

Original Thoughts - 2/13/1994

Jounal Entry - 10/6/1994

Original Review - 10/21/1994

On The Academy Awards Snub - 2/26/1995

10 Best Movies Of The 1990s - 2/23/2000

Entry From "The Great Movies" - 7/8/2001

Final Journal Entry - 11/5/2009

Steve James Interview - 7/2/2014


From North/South Film: The Past Ebert Archive

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Chris's Review: ‘Dracula Untold’ removes everything that makes the legend great

Whether a direct adaptation of Bram Stoker’s classic novel, F.W. Murnau’s not-so-sly variation (or Werner Herzog’s remake of that variation), Béla Lugosi or Christopher Lee’s legendary turns, Mel Brooks’ spoof, or horror legend Dario Argento’s recent 3-D disaster, the story of Dracula has been told countless times throughout cinema history. More often than not (probably?), that story has found an origin in the legendary real life figure of Vlad the Impaler, a fascinating character regardless of who is telling the story.

This bad ass

So when Universal Pictures decided to reboot their legendary horror movie monsters (Dracula, Wolf Man, The Mummy, etc.), they chose none other than the immortal vampire, the most famous and resilient of the motley crew, to kick things off. With that, Universal promised a new take on the classic Vlad-becomes-Dracula story with Dracula Untold, the dreaded “dark re-imagining” that Hollywood (and apparently movie-going audiences everywhere are obsessed with these days).

The Robert Downey Jr. Lists

Beloved by many, hated by few, the sometimes controversial, but always stellar Robert Downey Jr. has done just about everything an actor in Hollywood can hope to accomplish. He has conquered the box-office with multiple franchises, been nominated for two Academy Awards, won three Golden Globe Awards and turned in a ton of great work in the last three decades.

His latest film, The Judge, hits theaters today. Simple math will tell you: Downey plus Robert Duvall plus courtroom drama equals a must-see film. So it's time to revisit the career of one of the best around with . . .

The Robert Downey Jr. Lists

Dan's List

5. Sherlock Holmes
I really enjoy both of his Sherlock films.
Downey is the perfect blend of witty and mercurial, and easily ranks among the best Sherlocks ever.
It's been 3 years since he's solved mysteries with Dr. Watson, however a third Sherlock film has been announced so pack up the pipes and learn your olde-timey alchemy because Sherlock is coming for you!

4. Tropic Thunder
I still don't love this movie, but RDJ is amazing in it. Kirk Lazarus is one of those characters that could only be played by a master actor, in lesser hands it could be a career killer. If you watch this more than once it is because of Downey, not the Tom Cruise dance routine. It got him an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor and gave us one of the great Commentary Tracks of all-time.

3. Less Than Zero
Downey's descent into drug hell is one of the great 80s angst roles.
Julian's is a cautionary tale and the scariest part about him: his life is even worse in the book.
Yikes.

2. Chaplin
In another year Downey may have won the Oscar for Best Actor, but he had to settle for a nomination after Al Pacino Hooah-ed his way to a big win. This career altering performance proved he could carry a film and launched him into the big time. This is a biopic that should definitely be seen and enjoyed.

1. Iron Man
I went into the theater expecting to laugh at attempt by Marvel to launch a lesser comic book franchise, but forgot that RDJ is the man and that Tony Stark is the perfect character for someone with his bravado.
After two more Iron Man films, The Avengers and cameos in other Marvel movies it is safe to say that Tony Stark will define Downey's career and cemented him as one of the biggest draws in Hollywood.

Chris's List 

5 – Natural Born Killers
This movie. This freakin' movie. Oliver Stone's highly controversial, throw-everything-at-the-audience bastardization of an early Tarantino script. I almost hate that I love this so much. Almost. Downey, as an over-the-top, narcissistic tabloid reporter, is one of many fascinating supporting characters that make this film so bizarrely watchable. And it was a great preview of that spot-on Australian accent moviegoers will see from him again later.

4 – Iron Man / The Avengers
Studio blockbuster casting just does not get any better than this. A perfect match of actor and character. And just think, the now insanely popular and profitable Marvel Cinematic Universe completely hinged on this first film and eventually culminated in the Avengers crossover.

3 – Tropic Thunder
For my money, Downey's best performance, hands down. As hilarious as it is controversial, Downey as Kirk Lazarus elevated this movie to comedic and satirical greatness.

2 – Zodiac
I already professed my love for this film on our David Fincher Lists last week, but I am more than happy to reiterate it here. As the alcoholic, increasingly disillusioned and paranoid Paul Avery, Downey shines in just one of many terrific performances in this fantastically moody and atmospheric film. 

1 – Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
I love this movie. It is so damn funny and clever. It is no surprise Iron Man 3 was a big success after Downey and writer/director Shane Black proved they were a great team with this film nearly a decade earlier.

And finally, I can’t not mention Wonder Boys and Less Than Zero because they are adapted from two books I really, really like and Downey is great in them. Also, special shout-outs to Weird Science, which is ridiculous '80s movie, but I remember it fondly, and Sherlock Holmes, which I didn’t care for at first, but now have to watch every time it comes on TV (which is quite often), mainly because Downey is the man.

Thanks For Reading!

Follow Us On Twitter For Movie News and Links: @NorthSouthFilm

And Check Out Our Other Best Of Lists:

Denzel Washington - Robin Williams - Christian Bale – Matt Damon – Johnny Depp – Jamie Foxx
David Fincher - Wes Anderson - Ron Howard – Tony Scott – Michael Bay – Stanley Kubrick 
Badass Ladies – Movie Lawyers – Movie Bars – Concert Movies - Airplane Movies
Baseball Movies – Films From 2000-Now – Movie/Video Game Combos - Kill Bill