Argo - 2012

Chandler - 3/4/13

I saw this movie in the theater last year, but now that it won Best Picture, I imagine they'll add it to The List in the next revision.

Argo was OK. Ben Affleck did a great job as director and a mediocre job as the lead character. The problem with this movie is they didn't have much to work with. It's an excellent real-life story that is better fit for a History Channel special. Almost every interesting aspect (outside the initial embassy raid) was stretching the true events of the operation. You know how this movie ends, and the way they show it is overly desperate for some drama that didn't exist. It made me roll my eyes.

John Goodman and Alan Arkin are excellent, and really save the film.

But if you want to watch historical non-fiction about Muslims kidnapping white people... watch Munich. It's a much better story with actual conflict. Argo is a poor man's Munich.

Rating - 2

Platoon - 1986

Chandler - 12/24/12

Remember when Charlie Sheen wasn't a mockery of himself? When he was actually on pace to be a good actor, following in his father's footsteps? Well that all came crashing down after he starred in Major League. But before then... there was Platoon.

Platoon has a pretty good cast, although most of the actors weren't famous yet: Sheen, Tom Berenger, Willem Dafoe, Kevin Dillon, Johnny Depp, Forest Whitaker... etc etc. It's pretty much your basic Vietnam movie with an emphasis on realism, and a nod to the My Lai Massacre. The film highlights the clusterfuck-ness of guerrilla warfare and the disconnect between officers and infantrymen during the war. Platoon is not nearly as epic as Full Metal Jacket or Apocalypse Now, but it's worth a watch if you like war movies.

Rating - 3

The Artist - 2011

 Chandler - 12/17/12

The Artist is a very artsy and self-aware film. It's a silent picture that tells the story of the downfall of silent pictures. Huh? Very clever, Warner Brothers (France). Anyway, when "talkies" became popular, famous silent actors went through a lot of shit. They were holding on to the past and not always able to embrace change. It's a good story and is very well executed. But a lot of people will find this film boring (as I did from time to time). Basically, it's the best silent film anyone could make in 2011. And that doesn't translate to you needing to watch it.

Rating - 2

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 Geoff - 12/20/12

I completely agree with Chandler! It's the best silent film you could make in 2011. That's why we gave it 3's... wait, Chandler gave it a 2?

The artist is a fun movie about a time in movie history that most people don't know a lot about. I've seen some of the old silent movies and most of them wouldn't hold the attention of today's moviegoers. The Artist manages to be engaging, fun, and even at times sad. I thought it was an excellent movie that makes up for in entertainment value, what it lacks in dialogue.

Rating - 3