When Quentin Tarantino calls out his own film as his masterpiece in the final words of "Inglourious Basterds," it should be intolerable, but the son-of-a-bitch is probably right. Tarantino's psycho World War II fairy tale may be lacking in historical accuracy, but everything else in the film is cinematic bliss, from the unbearably tense suspense sequences to what is surely the best screen villain since the Joker in Col. Hans Landa. If you've only seen it once, see it again - you'll need multiple viewings to fully appreciate the intricacies of this radically structured, morally complex and brilliantly written film.
-Raj Ranade '10
Showing posts with label UFO Film. Show all posts
Showing posts with label UFO Film. Show all posts
Thursday, December 3, 2009
UFO Film for the Weekend of Dec. 3: Inglourious Basterds
Thursday, November 19, 2009
UFO Film for the weekend of November 19: "District 9"
The first half of "District 9" does such a good job setting up clever allegorical situations - this time, the humans oppress the aliens! - and lovingly sketching out an alternate universe that it feels like a missed opportunity when the film's second half turns into a conventional chase thriller. That said, first-time director Neill Blomkamp stages his action with the giddy glee of producer Peter Jackson's early horror movies, and the special effects are superior to those in blockbusters with 10 times this film's shoestring budget.
-Raj Ranade '10
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
UFO Film for the Weekend of Nov. 12: A Serious Man
Forget the movie - the trailer for "A Serious Man" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iggyFPls4w) alone outclasses most of the film schlock released this year. Using rhythmic editing, a carefully assembled collage of sound, and the repetition of vividly surreal images, the trailer puts together the story of a man's life falling apart and tops it off with a killer punchline. The movie only expands on this quality - Joel and Ethan Coen's new film is an impeccably shot, acted, and directed look at a man hopelessly struggling with the universe's toughest questions. It's also hilarious - you won't be able to forget the punchline that is the final shot of the film either.
-Raj Ranade '10
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
This weekend's UFO films: Rocky Horror, Shaun of the Dead
UFO’s theme of the week: Halloween! That’s right, no recently released movies of debatable quality (cough, 'Transformers,' cough), just two Halloween classics to get the end-of-midterms extravaganza going. First up on Thursday night we’ve got the cult black comedy “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” whose outlandish costume design should show up everyone in the theater — unless that is, you’re into cross-dressing! Then on Friday night the Garden will be screening the British zombie comedy (zom-com? Is that a phrase? Well now it is.) “Shaun of the Dead,” which treads the line between very funny and very gruesome with an amazing dexterity. If you haven’t already left campus, it’s worth seeing; after all, it’s free! And there’s popcorn, too.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
This weekend's UFO Film: "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince"
Harry Potter needs no introduction. Practically everyone in the Western world has heard of him, and nearly everyone between the age of 15 and 25 has read about him. Those unfamiliar with Harry should experience him for the first time, and mega-fans should relive the magic. Harry Potter is a sign of our times. And for what it’s worth, the sixth installment is one heck of a movie, too.
-Sean Wu '13
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
UFO Film for the Weekend of Oct. 15: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
There was a minor media uproar this summer when it emerged that Megan
Fox scored her role in "Transformers" by shooting an audition tape washing Michael Bay’s Ferrari at his house. This seemed hypocritical to me because "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" is essentially that plus robots. It's not worth getting too mad at "Transformers" because everyone will watch it anyway, and it'll be fun enough if you're (very) drunk. But in terms of movie intoxication, if, say, "Star Trek" is like a nice glass of wine, "Transformers" is like huffing paint thinner.
-Raj Ranade '10
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
UFO Film for the weekend of October 8: "The Hangover"
If there could only be one LOL movie from this summer, it would have to be “The Hangover,” an outrageously over-the-top comedy about four guys who go to Vegas for their bachelor party, only to wake up the next morning with no memory of the previous night and one of them missing. As the triad attempt to retrace their steps, they encounter a series of wacky surprises, as well as “discovering themselves,” or whatever. But don’t get the impression the movie’s all that deep, because it’s not. Still, if you’re looking for some great laughs, “The Hangover” is a must-see.
-Sean Wu ‘13
Friday, October 2, 2009
UFO film for the weekend of Oct. 1: The Proposal
"The Devil Wears Prada" with a twist; this She-Devil has an expired visa and may be shipped back to her native Canada if she can't get hitched to her groveling assistant first. "The Proposal," starring an ever annoying Ryan Reynolds and a hard-but-eventually-soft Sandra Bullock, is yet another romantic comedy that makes its audience squirm. You may laugh at some of the lines, and the scenery (set mainly in Alaska) is actually very beautiful, but don't expect to be surprised by the dull and extremely predictable plot.
Friday, September 25, 2009
UFO Film for the weekend of Sept. 24: Up
“Up” probably peaks within the first 15 minutes, but those minutes are unforgettable — the wordless sketching of the arc of a loving marriage, done in a way that is guaranteed to make you cry. The rest of the film is up (pun intended) to the gold standard of quality we’ve come to expect from Pixar. It’s a surprisingly dark and moving look at issues of mortality, loss and the meaning of a good life, but if that sounds too depressing, you should also know it contains the funniest talking animal jokes that I’ve ever seen.
--- Raj Ranade
Thursday, September 17, 2009
UFO Film for the Weekend of Sept. 17: 'Star Trek'
J.J. Abrams' terrific “Star Trek” reboot takes up residence at the Garden Theatre this weekend, giving a ferociously energetic jump start to a franchise that was positively drowning in dandruff. With a witty script, charismatic ensemble cast and truly exceptional special effects --- even by today’s standards --- this is a sci-fi movie that pretty much has it all. I mean, even Winona Ryder pops in for a few short minutes. Worth seeing on the big screen too; intergalactic space battles just don’t look as cool on a damn laptop.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
UFO Film for the week of April 20: "Revolutionary Road"
This weekend UFO transports us to Kate Winslet-land, a strange and bewildering place where everyone cries all the time and even the little kids are addicted to drugs. That's right - it's "Revolutionary Road," the movie that takes the highly novel approach of portraying 1950s suburban America as a kind of unfriendly place. Doubt that one's been done before. But seriously, "Revolutionary Road" is the worst kind of Oscar-pandering movie-making, dressed up in all the accoutrements of an art film but with none of the substance. Kate and Leo shout a lot, the costumes are pretty, and there's a terrific supporting turn from Michael Shannon as the "wise fool" of the piece, but the movie never transcends its function as an Oscar-magnet. A New York Times review brilliantly described director Sam Mendes as filming 1950s America "like it was a foreign country." Couldn't have said it better myself.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
UFO Film for the week of April 13: "Slumdog Millionaire"
“Who wants to be … a MILLENAIRE!” Yes, this week UFO’s getting imaginative with its movie — as if three bloody months at the Garden Theatre wasn’t enough, “Slumdog Millionaire” is back, so that students who still haven’t seen the Oscar-winning phenomenon can get their fill. (Where were you?! On a semester abroad on MARS??). Word to those select few: Despite its day-glo soundtrack and euphoric trailer, “Slumdog Millionaire” is neither a comedy nor a kid’s movie, and no, it’s not a musical either. It’s actually pretty harrowing stuff, with a lot of death and poverty and sadness. A friend of mine went to see it high, thinking it would make the movie even funnier. He was wrong.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
UFO Film for the week of April 6: "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"
I would pretend I'm excited for this week's UFO film, but it's very difficult - I don't think I've heard a single nice thing said about director David Fincher's extended love letter to Brad Pitt's face. Even Pitt fans admitted to being stupendously bored, waiting not only for little Pitty to actually look like himself but also for some vague semblance of a plot to kick in. Apparently watching someone aging backwards just isn't all that much fun. As Street's review of the film concisely put it: "Benjamin sits around and listens to people, walks around and waits for people, and basically does absolutely nothing." So if you're up for a whopping two-and-a-half hours of nothing, then this looks like the movie for you.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
UFO Film for the week of March 30: "The Last Temptation of Christ"
This weekend’s UFO film is a little bit different from the norm: It’s not a crummy action movie, it’s not a fluffy chick flick, and by no means is it a vaguely recent release. Nope. This weekend’s film, which is supposedly meant to alleviate seniors in their time of greatest need, is Martin Scorsese’s controversial portrayal of Christ’s final days and hours, “The Last Temptation of Christ.” In perhaps the most unlikely piece of casting since Woody Allen was cast as Jimmy Bond in 1967’s “Casino Royale,” Willem Dafoe plays Christ as he faces a number of sinful temptations. The controversial part? He gives into them, fantasizing about sex, and dealing with such distinctly human emotions as lust, depression and doubt. Scandal aside, the film has actually become regarded as something of a cult classic, with its powerful direction and evocative score (written by Peter Gabriel). So, a little bit different from last week’s “Nick and Norah,” but should make for a highly memorable study break.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
UFO Film for the week of March 23rd: "Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist"
UFO this weekend comes with a difference: It’s free! So for all you stingy penny-savers out there, maybe this is the weekend to hit up the movie theater. The film this week is “Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist,” which I could describe as a ‘clever and hilarious coming-of-age comedy about love, life, and friendship.’ I won’t though, because really it’s a Michael Cera vehicle, and hopefully that should say it all. I saw the movie on a plane once. Well, on the screen of the person sitting next to me. It looked a little bit like “Superbad.” You know: geeky boys, hot girls, and extreme awkwardness. Oh, and let's not forget a strong dose of quirk thrown in there for good measure.
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