I'm Still Here (And Watching Movies)

I haven't posted in quite a while, and for good reason: I'm back at school at long last.  After two long weeks of training, I am now an RA, and with all my residents moved in and a couple days until classes start, I have a chance to share a bit of my recent movie-watching.  Here's what I've seen lately:

In Theaters


Kisses - A charming Irish romance between two kids who run away together to explore the city.  Interestingly, the accents are so thick that, though they're speaking English, much of the film is subtitled (it helps a lot).  The film has long stretches with little happening, but the surprising grittiness of some scenes, along with the brilliant use of color, adds some depth and gravity to what's a slight but sweet story.

I'm Still Here - The Joaquin Phoenix documentary, two years in the making, is a bit underwhelming, especially in light of the announcement that the whole thing is a hoax (I think Casey Affleck should've announced that a month or so from now, instead of so soon after the film's release).  Phoenix delivers a great performance, and it's fun to see different celebrity reactions (even though word is out now that Letterman was in on the joke).  Because of the nature of how the thing happened, the result isn't as funny or interesting as, say, Borat, but it's still worth seeing.

The Town - Ben Affleck proves himself again with this amazing followup to Gone Baby Gone.  The cast is universally phenomenal, and the action is intense.  Perhaps the best gangster film since The Departed, and hopefully a big awards contender.

Easy A - Emma Stone finally gets the starring role she deserves, and her effortlessly charming performance is a breath of fresh air.  Stone makes intelligent dialogue sound natural, which is no small feat.  It makes one hope that someday Stone gets to take a crack at a Diablo Cody screenplay someday.  Of the impressive supporting cast, Stanley Tucci and Patricia Clarkson especially stand out as Stone's refreshingly honest (and cool) parents.

On DVD


Anchorman - I'm not generally big on Will Ferrell, but Anchorman is one of his finest hours.  It's fun to see the supporting cast populated by such huge names from today, and the comedy is still relevant and hilarious.

Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog - One of my favorite musicals, Dr. Horrible is fantastic.  Joss Whedon is one of my heroes, and the cast is pitch-perfect.  What's more, it's available to watch for free online.  If you're lucky enough to have the DVD, the commentary is an additional musical.