Drive (2011)

This is the year of Ryan Gosling and with director Nichols Winding Refn he delivers a performance that might be his most memorable.  He plays a nameless stunt driver and getaway expert who falls in love with a married neighbor, played by Carey Mulligan.  The sexual tension between these two is on fire and with just looks and pauses makes for a great cinematic experience.  Make no mistake though this is a drama first, action film later, but when the action arrives its very intense.  The soundtrack is ridiculously good and helps give this film an stark beauty.  Carey Mulligan might look a little young for her part at times but I was willing to overlook that for her connection with Gosling.  Grade: A-

Spoilers:  The only aspect to this film that falters is the ending which kind of fizzles. It just doesn't have a clean ending that leaves shivers down my back.  It's not awful it just doesn't live up to the rest of the film.  When I left the theater I was a bit disappointed, wanting a more satisfying last image.  I didn't mind the ambiguity but I needed more than what I got. 

The Friends of Eddie Coyle (1973)

Peter Yates is such a good director and this crime film based on the book by George V. Higgins (he wrote the screenplay) is a great example of his talents.  Here he directs Robert Mitchum in a role that's rich with flaws.  It starts off as a bank robbery film but quickly evolves into a film about a gun runner trying to stay out of prison for a previous stunt.  Steven Keats is memorable as the gun seller that Eddie Coyle buys from.  It has that dated '70s feel but don't mistake that as a drop in quality; this is a forgotten classic. Grade: A-

Star Trek: The Next Generation (Season 1) - Revisited

Gene Roddenbury returns to the Star Trek Universe with a new cast, jumping decades past those days of Captain Kirk and Spock.  I loved this show when it was on and have always wanted to revisit the entire Star Trek Franchise.  So I am.  Season one is a great start for a television show.  The production value mostly still holds up and the writing is quite good.  From the very first show, where they introduce Q you can tell this show is special.  Patrick Stewart is the perfect actor to play a leader completely different than Captain Kirk and Brent Spiner is so good as Data it's no wonder he became as popular as he would.  Really though it's clear that the casting agent for this series earned a bonus; the chemistry between everyone is electric, even as they become more comfortable in their roles.  There are a few weak episodes, like the season finale, but overall it's great television show and a promising first season.  Just as I remembered.  Grade: A-

The Adjustment Bureau (2011)

This is my favorite movie of the year so far.   It has one of the better love stories I've seen in a while with two actors that are in top form.  Matt Damon is the best actor working in the business today and Emily Blunt is always giving an impressive performance.  Together they make a magical pairing.  I believed in their love story and it's their commitment that sells this story.  Based on the Adjustment Team by Philip K. Dick, George Nolfi directs from his own script.  As a first film, Mr. Nolfi can hold his head high, keeping the story fresh and exciting all the way to the end.  What I love about the film is how it illustrates the old freewill verse destiny conflict in a fresh and clever way.  Matt Damon plays a young politician who falls for a young woman, but according to his "Plan" devised by "the Chairman" he's not meant to stay with her.  He refuses to follow the Plan and goes head to head with these mysterious men whose job it is to make sure everyone follows their Plan.  There's a lot here that would be hard to swallow if it weren't done so well.  It'll be interesting to see how long this film stays my favorite.  Grade: A.

The Leopard (1963)

Director Luchino Visconti brings Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa's novel to life with Burt Lancaster in the starring role, playing a Prince watching his country bypass him into a new era.  I watched the Italian version of the film because I felt it was the director's version.  I thought it would be weird seeing Burt Lancaster dubbed over in Italian but it's not, the actor they used doesn't have that distinctive Burt Lancaster voice but it matches the character Mr. Lancaster is playing.  There is a lot to adore about this film.  For one its gorgeous and the acting is remarkable.  I can't believe Lancaster didn't get an Oscar nomination.  If you don't mind long movies made in the sixties then I recommend you check this masterful work out.  Grade: A-

Spoilers:  It's strange that when you really analyze this film nothing ever happens.  No one dies.  The drama is subtle.  The Prince is a very passive character.   So you'd think this movie was boring but I was never bored.  How is that?  My guess is because Burt Lancaster just has the presence to carry any movie.  Bravo!

Qwister? (Commentary)

Netflix, what are you doing?  As a huge Netflix supporter, I've had to watch in horror as you make one blunder after another.  I'm one of the few who agree that you needed to raise your prices.  In order to stay competitive and obtain more content to stream, you had to raise your rates.  I get that.  Sure, you could have eased us into it but it was a necessary growing pain.  I like your service and I'm going to pay for it.  But now that you're going to divide your website into two, with one being called Qwister (awful name by the way), all I can do is laugh.  You're killing yourself!  No one wants to go back and forth between two websites to check on what's on your queue.  I'm loyal so I'll try it out but you're going to lose millions of subscribers and make it hard to compete as more and more companies line up to go head to head with you.  Amazon and Google for example.  Please, Mr. Reed, do the right thing and change your mind about this Qwister business.  I don't want to see my favorite company disappear. 

A Slight Case Of Murder (1938)

Edward G. Robinson stars in a comedy about a gangster that tries to go straight selling awful beer when Prohibition ends.  This is a charming screwball comedy with a host of hilarious character actors from muscle men trying to be the help, a wise ass orphan and a once moll turned devoted wife.  It's fast paced, silly and exactly what I was looking for when I ordered it through Netflix.  I can imagine that Mr. Robinson loved the idea of playing a gangster but in a comedy.  Grade: A-