Film of the Week: The New Tenants (2009)

This Academy Award nominated short film, is among the finest of its kind. This film delivers a blend of black comedy and clever dialogue regarding two men who have just moved into their new apartment building when they meet their new neighbors. This film is a must see for any fans of comedy, or anyone interested in short films.

America's most Popular film

Examining the best films of the decades, one must look at the most popular film made in America. While most hold Citizen Kane to be America's best film, I think the true test of a film's value is in its lasting popularity. While Citizen Kane certainly has high artistic value, it lacks the huge fan base of three other classic American films.

Gone With the Wind is the highest grossing film ever made, with adjustments for inflation. Gone With the Wind is an epic romance, a classic war film, and a celebration of a lost way of life.

Casablanca is another of the most popular films. The most famous romance story ever made, Casablanca chronicles the journey of a man from callousness to sacrifice all in the name of a woman who left him.

The Godfather is an epic tale of a mafia family in post-war America. Celebrated even today by film viewers, the violent murders and family sagas that form the Godfather have stood the test of time.

As people tout new films such as Avatar as the best film ever made in America, I think the important thing to think about when declaring a film to be the best is this: Will be still be watching it in 70 years?

Film of the Week: Oldboy (2004)

A fast paced thriller with a mind bending twist at the end, Oldboy is among the best Korean films ever made. The story follows a man who is trapped in a strange private prison for fifteen years, and is then released and given five days to find out who ordered him to be sent there. Oldboy is full of martial arts fights and some rather gruesome scenes, including a scene of torture in which our protagonist rips a man's teeth out with the nail pulling end of a hammer. Between its violence and strangeness of plot, Oldboy embodies all the things we've come to expect of the modern grindhouse movement. We've talked previously of classic grindhouse films from their genesis in the 1970's, but we haven't discussed where grindhouse films have gone. As violence becomes more socially acceptable, the grindhouse films begin to leave the underground scene and even get more edgier than before. They also start to receive higher budgets and better productions. Oldboy is a great show for anyone interested in modern grindhouse.

Film of the Week: Che (2009)

Ernesto "Che" Guevarra is best known for his work in the Cuban revolution with Fidel Castro. The major difference between Fidel and Che is that Che left Cuba after the revolution to spread the revolution to all of South America. In a stunning two part epic, Steven Soderbergh gives us his monumental vision of Che Guevarra. The first part tells of the Cuban revolution and intertwines Che's trip to the UN. The second part is a dramatization of Che's guerilla campaign in Bolivia, which ended in failure and in death for Che. Benicio Del Toro portays Che in a once in a lifetime performance that won him best actor at the Cannes film festival. While not praising Che is a hero, this film looks more at Che as he was, an icon and the leader of a revolution.

Oscar Predictions

Here are my predictions for the Academy Awards

Best Picture:

Up In the Air

Best Actor:

Jeff Bridges-Crazy Heart

Best Supporting Actor:

Christoph Waltz-Inglourious Basterds

Best Actress:

Carey Mulligan-An Education

Best Supporting Actress:

Mo'Nique-Precious

Best Animated Picture:

Up

Art Direction:

Nine

Cinematography:

The White Ribbon

Costume Design:

Bright Star

Directing:

Jason Reitman-Up In the Air

Documentary:

Food Inc.

Short Documentary:

China's Unnatural Disaster: The tears of Sichuan Province

Film Editing:

The Hurt Locker

Foreign Language Film:

The White Ribbon

Makeup:

Star Trek

Music:

Up

Original Song:

The Weary Kind-Crazy heart

Original Screenplay:

Inglourious Basterds

Adapted Screenplay:

Up In the Air

Visual Effects:

Avatar

Sound Mixing:

The Hurt Locker