200 Items Or Less: The Bad Seed (1956)

A few thoughts: What would you do if you had reason to believe your daughter was a killer? Luckily I don't have to answer that, but how well this movie poses that question is enough to make anyone uncomfortable. Perhaps the first great "evil child" movies, The Bad Seed has a simple premise executed in a simple way, but manages to work thanks to some great performances and pacing. It establishes certain truths early on, slowly revealing more and more as it goes along. Posing questions of nature over nurture, there is a bit of half-cocked pseudoscience to play here, but it all works within the context of the story. I like how 90% of the movie takes place within one building, allowing the dialogue and interplay to tell the story. For a movie that's almost entirely dialogue, I was particularly impressed at how detailed the descriptions are, conjuring up images far more disturbing than anything they could have actually shown. Patty McCormack is wonderfully evil, and Nancy Kelly is tremendous as a mother at the end of her emotional tether. Sick, twisted, and excellent.

Top 50 Favorite Movies, Part 8 (#15-11)

When last we met, I talked about a thrilling music drama, a ridiculous stuntman comedy, a dystopian comedy about paperwork, a futuristic action satire, and one of the greatest sci-fi/horror homages around. Now let's look at the next five.

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15. Almost Famous, 2000
dir. Cameron Crowe
Drama/Comedy

I approach 90% of all coming-of-age movies with caution, as I generally don't find the generic uplifting parental and romantic drama to be even remotely engaging or original, but this movie has stuck with me and continues to be one of my favorites in spite of just how much like those others it really is. Patrick Fugit isn't a very good actor, but that really doesn't matter much here. Filled with wonderful little moments and scenes (the

200 Items Or Less: Let Me In (2010)

A few thoughts: I first watched this movie when it came out, and now 7 years have passed and I've decided to give it another shot. And yep, it's still not very good. When an English-language remake of an already modern foreign film comes out, it's nearly impossible to separate the two. And when the original is as close to flawless as 'Let The Right One In' is, that remake has a whole lot it has to accomplish in order to justify even existing in the first place. This movie doesn't justify its existence, and merely comes across as a dumbed down version of the 2008 original in every way. All subtlety is thrown out the window, the acting isn't nuanced (just boring), and the music feels like if Danny Elfman suddenly lost all sense of excitement. I can see people enjoying this movie alright if they'd never watched the original, but seriously do yourself a huge favor and watch that version instead. Reading movies isn't so bad, stop being lazy. I don't have much else to say other than that this movie is totally unnecessary and dull.

TV Alley: The Shield

The Shield

Created by Shawn Ryan
2002 - 2008

A violent and corrupt cop heads a somewhat experimental and incredibly controversial strike team that uses any means necessary to take crime off the streets. And pocket some extra money on the side. And orchestrate drug busts where they pocket some drugs on the side. And set up and frame people. And kill cops who they see as a threat... Okay, so maybe they don't

Top 10 Patrick Stewart performances

It wasn't until the past couple years that I really started to have a greater appreciation for Stewart as an actor. Much like with his friend Ian McKellen, there is a certain likeable quality to him, and that often translates into likeable characters. But that doesn't mean he is limited in his range. To be totally fair, I don't care much for his Shakespearean works, so don't expect to find those here. But there was still plenty more to choose from, making this a very difficult like to put together. Here's what I came up with.


10. Frasier (2003)

200 Items Or Less: All The Colors Of The Dark (1972)

A few thoughts: It's come to my attention that while I'm relatively indifferent towards most Giallos (Italian slasher/crime movies, essentially), Italian horror is still definitely in my wheelhouse. Man, what a trip this movie was. Usually when I'm watching movies about people going insane, there's never any question to me if the things happening are real or not, but this one had me seriously questioning myself every 5 minutes until it was finally over. Thanks to some funky edits, tons of crazy and violent moments that seemed to reset only moments later, a genuinely frazzled lead character, and a plot about a bunch of cultists invading her dreams and trying to recruit her, there was never a dull moment, nor a single scene that went by without me being forced to second-guess myself every time I felt I had put all the pieces together. It's challenging, visually bizarre (even by Italian horror standards), and packed full of cool twists and unsettling scenes that leave you feeling very uncomfortable. I really liked this one, in a very specific sort of way.

TV Alley: Deadwood

Deadwood

Created by David Milch
2004 - 2006

I'm not a huge fan of westerns, but in spite of this shows setting, it's really not the typical Western in a lot of ways. Yes, it's set in the late-1800s, has outlaws and all that, but it doesn't rely on these tropes to tell most of its stories. More focused on characters and the politics then gun fights and showdowns, Deadwood may have been cancelled after three seasons with a huge cliffhanger left to simmer for over a decade now, but even with this detriment, it still stands as one of the most satisfying and fleshed-out TV shows of the 2000s.

Top 50 Favorite Movies, Part 7 (#20-16)

In part 6, I wrote about a game-changing gothic horror, a classic body horror fantasy, an ensemble bottle drama, a highly unconventional western, and a(n underrated) cult classic B-movie. Now for part 7.

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20. Whiplash, 2014
dir. Damien Chazelle
Drama

A movie I became mildly obsessed with when it first came out and I watched about 5 times over the course of just a couple weeks, Whiplash is virtually flawless and features one of the most entertaining and intense characters/performances of the past 20 years in J.K. Simmons' Terence Fletcher. This movie looks great, has incredible editing (both video and audio), and contains some great performances and

200 Items Or Less: The Witches (1966)

A few thoughts: I will usually defend mediocre Hammer productions because there's often some really great aspects to their films. The sets, acting, or overall tone and style generally make up for the ho-hum writing and lack of thrills. But this is a movie I just can't defend. The acting is either dull or over-the-top, the story is bland, and by the time the ridiculous final act comes along I was so disinterested, not even the overt stupidity and exaggerated acting was enough to draw me back in. It went from painfully dull to just plain painful, and in a very short period of time. I didn't have terribly high hopes going in, but with Joan Fontaine in it, I assumed there might be some decent acting in the very least. Nope. Since it's Hammer, I expected there would be some really cool visuals. Nope. Since it's a movie about witchcraft I thought maybe there would be some creative effects or ideas. Nope. This is a bore for about 70 minutes, followed by 20 minutes of stupid. It didn't totally offend my senses, but I can't see myself watching it again willingly.

Top 50 Favorite Movies, Part 6 (#25-21)

Previously, I talked about one of the most shocking horror movies of all time, a disasterpiece of epic proportions, Paul Newman in a chain gang, a classic surveillance thriller, and a deeply emotional revenge drama. Now for the next five.

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25. The Curse Of Frankenstein, 1957
dir. Terence Fisher
Horror/Sci-Fi

The movie that got me into Hammer horror, Terence Fisher, and ultimately led to my love of Peter Cushing. Though I saw Horror Of Dracula first, it was this departure from the Frankenstein story and ingenious reworking of the mad scientist himself that grabbed ahold of me and has left the strongest impression of any of these movies. Not only is it the movie that

Top 10 Alan Rickman performances

A little over 2 years ago, Alan Rickman died of cancer, and ever since then I've been putting off making a top 10 performances list for him. Alan Rickman has been one of my favorites for as long as I've really known actors by name, so I think it's about time I actually put this out there. I don't need to introduce him, but these are my favorites, just based on my own opinion. If I missed any big ones or lesser-known movies you think I should watch or reconsider, you're allowed to comment. The only comments I delete are the ones sent by Nigerian princes. Anyway, here's a little list dedicated to one of my favorite actors.


10. Rasputin: Dark Servant Of Destiny (1996)

TV Alley: Six Feet Under

Six Feet Under

Created by Alan Ball
2001 - 2005

With a dark sense of humor and a cast of characters more self-destructive than a stick of dynamite, Six Feet Under took on its subject matter with seriousness while still finding plenty of time to make light of life and death. Steady appearances by comedic actors like Ed Begley Jr., Rainn Wilson, and Catherine O'Hara playing to their strengths, along with funny and tragic opening segments depicting the deaths of people destined to show up on the slab at Fisher & Sons' funeral home are basically all that's needed to describe the type of show this is. Funny, sad, weird, and oddly engaging.

Top 50 Favorite Movies, Part 5 (#30-26)

In part 4 (#35-31), I talked about Elvis doing battle with an ancient mummy, Jeffrey Combs bringing back the dead, the first chapter of a fantasy epic, the biggest cult movie of all-time, and a musical about cannibalism. And now for the next 5.

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30. The Exorcist, 1973
dir. William Friedkin
Horror/Drama

I don't think I need to go into what makes this such a special movie, but much like how it helped shape the horror genre for years to come, it was one of the movies that helped shape my love for the genre as a whole. I think I was about 20 when I first watched it, and it still managed to get under my skin to the point I was afraid to look when I walked up the stairs for a solid month after watching it. A shocking, horrifying, and to this day still quite

200 Items Or Less: The Crow (1994)

A few thoughts: It's really hard to separate this movie from two different things. One, the famous untimely death of its star Brandon Lee during filming, and two, the (unintentional) impact it's had on emo/goth teens over the past 20 years. Neither of these are enough to make this film very interesting. I really enjoy Alex Proyas' 'Dark City', but feel like this was little more than a jumping off point for him as a director, as it never feels totally realized. It's corny, lame, full of awful one-liners, bizarre uses of its gothy soundtrack, and honestly not cool looking or exciting enough to make it even feel it's worth watching. I would say "maybe I'd like it better if I was a teen", but when I watched it years back I still thought it kinda sucked. The screenplay lacks depth, the plot is basically I Spit On Your Grave but with slightly less rape, and I am still of the opinion that Brandon Lee was a poor actor and not even close to charming enough to have ever been a real star. I didn't like it, but it seems to have a huge cult following in spite of being pretty bad.

How super cool and edgy are you?

Ever wonder how cool you are based on the movies you like? Well now you don't have to wonder because this simple quiz will give you all the answers you need.

200 Items Or Less: Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels (1998)

A few thoughts: I'm not a big Guy Ritchie fan (then again, how many people really are?) but had he stuck with making low budget action comedies like this I probably would view him in a much more favorable light. Visually very stylish and experimental, Guy Ritchie was clearly at his most creative before he fell into the bigger budget material he's worked on more recently. Pair that with a pretty screwy sense of humor and a pretty great ensemble of then-unknown Brits, and you've got yourself something memorable. A fringe member of a class of late '90s to early '00s movies I put in the "edgy teen playlist", this movie has the look and feel of something that was always bound to become either a surprise box office hit, or a cult classic. As it turns out, it's kind of a bit of both. If you enjoy solid action, funny dialogue, and an overall distinct visual style, this is a good movie for you.

Top 50 Favorite Movies, Part 4 (#35-31)

Last time around (#40-36), I talked about a giant singing man-eating plant, an unstoppable shapeshifting monster, an annual racing bloodsport, a murder mystery told from differing perspectives, and a folk concert tribute. And now for part 4.

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35. Bubba Ho-Tep, 2002
dir. Don Coscarelli
Comedy/Fantasy/Horror

Bruce Campbell is Elvis, Ossie Davis is JFK, and there is a mummy on the loose at their old folks home trying to suck out everyone's souls. A concept like this is basically a coin flip, because it could have been too much and absolutely suck, but obviously I wound up loving it a lot. Campbell's Elvis is wonderful, totally over-the-top, and still incredibly sympathetic and well-rounded as a character. He's the soul of this movie, and the performance

200 Items Or Less: Chillerama (2011)

A few thoughts: Horror anthologies made by too many different directors are really hard to give one rating to, so I'm gonna switch things up and judge each segment accordingly. With the framework of a bunch of people going to a drive-in to watch short horror films, this movie sets up each segment and comes back around to concluding itself as a zombie movie. This portion is very uneven, but has some funny moments and a decent resolution (its over-reliance on movie quotes/references becomes funny in a dumb sort of way). The first film is about a giant killer sperm that terrorizes NYC. It's disgusting and hilariously inappropriate, with some pretty amazing and unique visual effects (props to the Chiodo brothers). Next up is the gay greaser musical about werebears. It had potential, but came up short due to some meh writing and little-to-no effort on the visual production. And the third is about Hitler trying to create a Frankenstein monster. I won't spoil it for you, but it's an absolute blast and stroke of brilliance. This movie is terribly uneven and totally devoid of good taste, but as a whole I enjoyed it quite a bit.