Some Kind of Mazzaro World

Haven’t written in awhile, but haven’t seen new films in awhile. I’ll be packing them in before the Oscars, and will post a checklist in a short while with what I’ve seen and what I haven’t, with thoughts about the nominees. Below is my review for the new psychological mind blower that is “Shutter Island. Spoiler-free, as always, especially with something this complex.

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Reviewing every film I see for the first time in 2010, spoiler free reviews. Here’s four more:

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25 Things about me.

1. My parents were scared of me as a child. That’s true.

2. I was able to summon water spirits as a child. This might explain the fear.

3. I probably should’ve been born circa 1930, because I like things from the 40’s and 50’s a lot more than stuff from the 80’ and 90’s. But maybe if I was born in 1930, I’d like stuff from 1900 and 1910 better than stuff from the 40’s and 50’s. Maybe we’re all just doomed to be nostalgic for stuff that existed slightly before our times. Maybe we all want to be our parents and grandparents. Suck on that one for a while. I’m gonna be over here adjusting my spats and hoarding war bonds.

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Greetings everyone. I’ll be posting thoughts/reviews of every film I see for the first time in 2010. I’ll try to keep what I write free of spoilers in case you haven’t seen the stuff I’m reviewing. And I’ll use a rating system out of 10, basically what my vote on IMDB would be for the film, but with 1/2 numbers as well.

So let’s get started. Read more…

“Lars Porsenna was a persistent man. Frustrated by Horatius Cocles’ stand at the bridge over the Tiber, he decided to put Rome under siege and starve her into submission. No supplies could pass through his lines into the city. Gaius Mucius, appalled at the idea that Rome might fall to the Etruscans, asked for permission to sneak out of Rome and infiltrate the enemy camp with the intent to kill Porsenna. With a sword hidden in his tunic he slipped into the camp and sought the king.

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Let’s start with a quick recap of what we’ve covered so far.

25. Shaun of the Dead
24. Gladiator
23. Sideways
22. In Bruges
21. Lost in Translation
20. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy
19. Mulholland Drive
18. Gosford Park
17. O Brother Where Art Thou
16. There Will Be Blood
15. Snatch
14. Borat
13. The Dark Knight
12. Spirited Away
11. The Royal Tenenbaums
10. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
9. Memento
8. Wall-E
7. Slumdog Millionaire
6. The Hurt Locker

Before I get to the top five, I wanted to mention a few films that just missed this list. The last 10 years have given us a lot of good to great films, and for that reason there’s a glut of films that are all close to, but not in, my top 25 films of the decade. So here, in no particular order, are some films deserving of acclaim from the last decade: Read more…

This is where we stand, with the top 5 to come next week.

25. Shaun of the Dead

24. Gladiator

23. Sideways

22. In Bruges

21. Lost in Translation

20. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy

19. Mulholland Drive

18. Gosford Park

17. O Brother Where Art Thou

16. There Will Be Blood

15. Snatch

14. Borat

13. The Dark Knight

12. Spirited Away

11. The Royal Tenenbaums

Before I get started, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention a film that won’t be on this list due to timing, but absolutely is one of the top 25 films of the last 10 years. And 15 years. And 20 years. And so on. Read more…

In case you’re just now tuning in:

25. Shaun of the Dead

24. Gladiator

23. Sideways

22. In Bruges

21. Lost in Translation

20. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy

19. Mulholland Drive

18. Gosford Park

17. O Brother Where Art Thou

16. There Will Be Blood

Next Wednesday I’ll continue with numbers 10-6, and then the following Wednesday with 5-1.

Let’s get right to it… Read more…

Ok, here we go continuing with my list of the Top 25 films of the last 10 years.

In case you missed it, here are numbers 25-21

25. Shaun of the Dead

24. Gladiator

23. Sideways

22. In Bruges

21. Lost in Translation.

• If you’re new to the party, what I write is just my thoughts on why I feel each particular film deserves merit and inclusion on this list. Anything I write is essentially spoiler free, so if you haven’t seen the films, feel free to read.
• In case you missed it, my friend Andrew Brenner is counting his list down as well. Give it a look.
• Number 15-11 will be posted next Wednesday, with the top 10 following the two Wednesdays after.

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