Skyfall Review

Skyfall is quite the film. I loved Casino Royale, it was just this perfect telling of James Bond’s first mission and I couldn’t help but think I’d never see a better Bond film. It was that good. I’m also one of the few who loved Quantum of Solace. Was it Casino Royale? No, and it wasn’t trying to be. It was Quantum of Solace, a fast-paced and precisely devised action film that continued the real and raw drama that began in Casino Royale. Skyfall was something completely new and not only is it the greatest 007 movie I’ve seen, it’s one of the greatest films ever made.

The film opens with a black and blurry silhouette of a man. The man walks towards us eventually having his eyes illuminated revealing the pearly blues of the greatest James Bond in 50 years and 23 films. The film jumps right into it with a thrilling chase sequence, the kind of action you have to expect from the Daniel Craig versions of the character. The scene is a better action sequence than any of the previous Craig movies and there were even better action sequences still to come. If one were to look at the film for its action elements it’s one of the best ever crafted, but action plays second tear in this epic of characters, emotion and the ways of old and new.

While no Bond film has ever cut deeper with such powerful themes, the true center of this film is James Bond. It’s his show and in this perfect 007 movie James Bond may go on his most spectacular mission yet, but that’s not all. Director Sam Mendes actually takes his time and asks questions about this character who has been going on missions for the past 50 years. For example, what makes James Bond James Bond? But more importantly he asks, how much longer can this man be doing this? In Skyfall, the greatest secret agent of all time must prove himself against the most formidable and sinister adversary he’ll ever face.

Raoul Silva (formerly Tiago Rodriguez) is a malevolent mastermind not bent on world domination mind you. No, he’s much more concerned with revenge against the person who means most to Bond in this world. A good villain usually makes for a good movie and Silva is one of the greatest villains in film. In the beginning, there is a mystery that is the villain of Skyfall, with only whispers of some evil menace plotting in the backdrop. Then Silva makes his grand entrance almost halfway through the film, his audience being a captive 007. Silva is a theatrical and confident man with a single agenda, he’s a former MI6 agent and now he’s a betrayer dedicated and bent on vengeance against M. James Bond is dedicated to his duty and in this case it’s very personal; the protection of M.

Judi Dench is given much more territory with M this time around and she excels with it. Bérénice Marlohe and Naomie Harris are great. Ben Whishaw is a real delight to watch as Q, a new school tech guy who juxtaposes extraordinarily with Daniel Craig’s seasoned veteran. The Skyfall interpretation of James Bond and Raoul Silva are simply two of the greatest characters in film. Daniel Craig and Javier Bardem have their unique characters realized down to a “T” both giving tremendous performances.

Skyfall is a film that is very derivative of Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Legend (or The Dark Knight Trilogy if that tastes better going down). Sam Mendes has openly stated that he was inspired by Nolan’s work with Batman. I can’t fault Mendes for being inspired by the best. Skyfall is a different film and it was made to perfection. It utilized an icon to delve into broader motifs and darker territory. This is a James Bond film made by people and for people who appreciate the beautiful art form that is film.

Skyfall is one of the greatest films I’ve ever had the pleasure to see. It’s a film that looks and feels beautiful. It emotes so much depth and artistry, while masquerading as a simple action piece. This is just an example of a film getting every single finite detail perfectly, whether that be a character arc, the film’s extraordinary structure or even something as simple as a one-liner. Skyfall is nothing short of a masterpiece of the highest caliber.

Grade: A+

Top Ten Coen Characters

In the universe of the greatest directors known to man, The Coen Brothers, there’s always a lot going on. Most of it unorthodox and all of it enjoyable. These feats are made possible through the amazing characters they develop or sometimes just randomly throw in there for a bit of fun.

In each Coen film there’s always some type of entertainment that can be brought from almost every character. Maybe its because of his/her sick and twisted humor they crack at random moments, maybe its because of their affection and kindness towards even the rudest person, or maybe its because their penchant for laziness. Either way, there’s so many different ones to choose from, these are my favorites.

10. Loren Visser (Blood Simple)

Out of the Coen Brothers first movie comes one of the sleaziest dirt bags known to film, Loren Visser. Everything he does is unethical and everything he says is made somehow disturbing. There’s not much he won’t do to bring in a quick buck. He’s the ultimate dirt ball you’d absolutely never want to meet. Not to mention he has one of the greatest maniacal laughs ever put on screen.

9. Chad Feldheimer (Burn After Reading)

Chad is down right stupid and dimwitted. If you really look at his dialogue, your kind of wondering why anyone would find it funny because its almost too forced. Brad Pitt plays it to perfection and I am in stitches every single time he’s on screen. You really couldn’t see it played any other way after seeing Mr. Pitt do it so hilariously. I love Feldheimer to death by the end of it all.

8. Mattie Ross (True Grit)

The quick-witted and persistent 14-year-old who drives the plot of the Coen Bros. masterfully made western is an unquestionable candidate for this list. She’s young but at the same time smart and she’ll stop at nothing to see the avenging of her father through. A truly entertaining character that you can’t stop feeling for based on the way the character is perfectly performed and what the character’s endgame is.

7. Leonard Smalls (Raising Arizona)

Even though I love the Coen Brothers and find basically everthing they make a masterpiece in one way or another, I’m actually not a huge fan of Raising Arizona. Its not that I don’t like the movie, it’s that I don’t believe it stacks up to their other films. I can not, however, deny my love for the motorcyclist from hell, Leonard Smalls. You don’t get to see him much in the film, but when you do, your eyes are wide with appeal, at least mine are.

6. Marge Gunderson (Fargo)

Among a lot of terrible people in the world of the Coen Brothers, Marge Gunderson is by far the most kind hearted. She makes it her duty to not only protect and serve (she’s a pregnant police officer), but to also be incredibly sweet whenever she can, even if its towards someone she knows doesn’t deserve it. Marge has a great husband, a child on the way and an important job she’s committed to. This is Frances McDormand at her best, one of the greatest female performances I’ve seen. Period.

5. Walter Sobchak (The Big Lebowski)

The Dude is of course iconic and one of the greatest characters in film, but not all of the laughs come from Jeff Bridges. John Goodman’s character is definitely a huge part of the puzzle piece. Honestly, every action, every facial gesture, every word he utters or shouts at the top of his lungs, I’m usually laughing uncontrollably or at least chuckling. The vietnam vet Walter Sobchak makes every scene he’s involved in memorable, to say the least.

4. Reuben J. “Rooster” Cogburn (True Grit)

Rooster Cogburn is such a fascinating character to watch develop. At times he’s dark due, in part, to a checkered past, while at other times we know far well that this is the hero of the story. Also, he never fails to draw out a chuckle from time to time. A unique and interesting character in every sense. Jeff Bridges puts every ounce of performance he’s got into Rooster and the result is one of the greatest western heros that a lover of films can ask for.

3. Charlie Meadows (Barton Fink)

It’s hard to top Walter Sobchak and Rooster Cogburn, but Goodman is able to do it with his portrayal as Fink’s hotel neighbor, Charlie Meadows. Charlie has such an unbearable presence in each scene. You just can’t wait until he pops in for a chat the next time. He’s the epitome of the classic neighbor whom you just love sitting back and talking with. Then the character turns in a completely different direction and John Goodman plays it to absolute perfection.

2. Jeff “The Dude” Lebowski (The Big Lebowski)

The Dude is quite possibly the most iconic character The Coen Brothers will ever create. That’s surprising because he doesn’t do much at all. He’s usually just smoking weed, bowling or drinking a white russian. It’s difficult for me to put The Dude at number two because most would have put him at number one. I absolutely love The Dude. The Big Lebowski, the funniest movie of all time, is centered around him and his laziness. The plot is driven by the insane events going on around him and even more so, his insane friends. But no matter what happens you can always expect The Dude to just sit back and ride along. “Fuck it” he might say, but I think he puts it best when he says “The Dude abides”.

1. Anton Chigurh (No Country For Old Men)

By far one of the greatest villains and characters ever put on screen is Anton Chigurh. And he wouldn’t seem as evil if it weren’t for the perfect concoction. I’m speaking of course of the of the original writing by Cormac McCarthy, transfered to the screen by the two of the greatest writers working in film, directed by the aforementioned writers and performed to absolute perfection by Javier Bardem. Through these ingredients, we get one of the darkest presences ever put on screen. What we get is a confident and intelligent killer basically representing death itself. Killing is routine for him, almost to the point of being an art form. The modern day movie villain that lies at the heart of their greatest feat in film is with out a doubt the Coen Brothers’ greatest character.

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Top Ten Movie Villains

!!!THIS LIST WAS REMADE!!!

Here’s the link: —–> https://moviesfilmsmotionpictures.com/2012/07/27/top-ten-movie-villains-2/#comment-1450

I made this same list a couple months ago, but the other day I deleted it and decided to remake it. The list wasn’t perfect and it had to be perfect. Other than a list of my top ten favorite movies of all time, which will be coming soon, this list is the most important post I could possibly create. Villains are the backbone of the industry. Their are almost always the most interesting characters to watch and plots would go absolutely no where with out them. Films need them and I absolutely love ’em.

I’ve decided to remake this list because after re-watching a couple films and even watching a few new ones, I’ve finally decided on what I’ve found to be the perfect order when it comes to film villains. I’ve moved some characters around and I’ve removed a few characters and added a few new ones. The two I removed were Roy Batty from Blade Runner and Jack Torrence from The Shining. Both are incredibly performed characters and are in some aspects more interesting than some of the characters on this list, but they’re evil for different reasons and just don’t match the caliber of villainy that each character on this film is able to reach.

I’ve tried this a couple times now, but I think I’ve finally compiled the perfect list to establish my opinion on this almost impossible conundrum. So with out further review, here’s my top ten favorite cinema villains of all time in order. I hope you enjoy.

10. Alonzo Harris

Denzel Washington received a well deserved oscar for his intense portrayal of the crooked cop, Alonzo Harris. Many films have had officers or detectives on the wrong side of the law, but no actor has ever been able to top the intensity that Washington draws from the character. In my opinion, Alonzo Harris is the most sinister cop ever put on screen.

9. Keyser Soze

When you look at the master scheme of things, Keyser Soze should probably be a bit higher on this list, but I believe with his basically 8 minute screen-time that he’s not able to show the evil the way the others on this list are able to. He’s still a classic villain who pulls the strings behind almost every crime that’s commited. He’s thought of to be legend and he likes it that way. “The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn’t exist.” -Verbal Kint

8. Little Bill Daggett

Unforgiven is in my opinion by far the greatest western I’ve seen, and one of the main reasons its so fantastic is because of Gene Hackman’s Oscar winning performance of Little Bill Dagget. He’s ruthless, brutal, and you never know what to expect, making each of his scenes very suspenseful, and he’s supposed to be the good guy. Bill Dagget is the sheriff of Big Whiskey, Utah, and its his brutal tactics to bring about justice at any cost, that makes him a villain for the books. He just barely missed my top 5.

7. Bill the Butcher

Daniel Day-Lewis is probably the greatest actor in cinema and it’s only fitting that his portrayal as the malicious Butcher; Bill Cutting, known better as Bill the Butcher. Cutting is the ruthless american born tyrant of New York 1800s in Scorsese’s masterfully made period piece. He’s played to absolute perfection by Day-Lewis, because while he is a terrible and ruthless murderer, at times it seems he even has morals. Very few though, of course.

6. Frank

The western gunslinger known only by the name of Frank is a spectacularly menacing villain, but the thing that makes him most interesting to watch is the actor whose playing him. This was an out of the ordinary choice for Henry Fonda, a man’s whose career is full of do-gooders and family men, but in the mix of all those good guys, you’ll find one black hearted fiend and he plays him to perfection. Its his best performance and that my friends is saying something.

5. Amon Goeth

Ralph Fiennes has a long list of fantastic villains and an even longer list of fantastic roles. His greatest role just so happens to be my fifth favorite villain. Amon Goeth is the face of evil behind the classic WWII epic Schindler’s List. He dictates the labor camp where most of the film takes place and Fiennes plays it so disturbingly well. His morning routine consists of getting up, taking a piss and shooting randon jews in the camp with a sniper. He’s sick and degenrate, and if you step out of line it becomes quite evident early on what will happen to you.

4. Hannibal Lecter

It was quite hard to put Hannibal “The Cannibal” Lecter so high on this list. Most would say he deserves the top spot, and when I do see him there on other lists, I’m never disappointed, he does deserve it, I just think there’s a few qualities (for lack of a better word) that I enjoy more in my top 3. Anyways though, Lecter is probably in my opinion “the” classic movie villain. He’s sinister, intelligent and at times even courteous. He hardly ever blinks and never once does he doubt his eventual victory. It’s one of the greatest performances ever put on the silver screen and by far Anthony Hopkins’ best work.

3. Col. Hans Landa

Almost all would agree that Colonel Hans Landa of the SS is an amazing villain. Most wouldn’t agree with his high placement on this list so soon after the release of the movie. Well, I’ve seen the movie seven times and I can honestly say that there is only two other villains that I enjoy more than Hans Landa. I want to point out that numbers 3 and 2 are very equally matched on this list. Landa is not your cliche nazi. He’s an intelligent and charming detective whose able to work his way through the threads of past, present and coming events so that he can assure his own gain. Nothing else matters, not even the fuhrer. He always has a plan and focus and doesn’t care who he has to step on to achieve his goals. Christoph Waltz is absolutely breathtaking in every single one of his scenes. He is one of the most evil villains ever put on screen, but its so entertaining to watch every single thing he does, whether that be drinking a glass of milk or strangling a person to death.

2. Anton Chigurh

Silent, creative, intelligent, confident, determined, arrogant (but for good reason), and above all else, evil. These are just a few of the words that can define the ruthless killer that is Anton Chigurh. His weapons of choice include a cattle gun, hand cuffs, and even a sawed off shot gun with a foot long silencer. Chigurh always has an innovative way to get what he wants and he will never stop. At one point, he decides the fate of man’s life by the flip of a coin. He’s not insane as some might call him though, he’s just nothing else, but his own gain. Killing doesn’t phase him at all. He views everyone he meets as a worthless victim. Anton Chigurh is basically the definition of a villain.

1. The Joker

Heath Ledger’s Joker is by far the greatest villain ever put on the silver screen. Not only that though, I believe the Joker is the most entertaining and interesting character ever and the greatest performance by any actor I’ve ever seen. The Joker is bent on creating chaos in a world he believes desperately needs it. He doesn’t want anything else, especially not money. He just wants to watch the world burn and he wants to be the cause. All he really wants is to have a blast. He’s always one step ahead and even if something goes wrong in his plan, he just laughs it off, it just adds to the thrill. There are many times when he has the chance to kill his nemesis Batman, but he doesn’t take them because he’s one of the few villains who release that they need each other, without Batman, the world would just seem dull. Batman won’t kill him either though because it’s wrong and he knows it’s exactly what he wants. When faced with the Batman’s speeding Bat-pod The Joker insists on him to hit him and when The Joker is thrown off a building he laughs hysterically the entire way down. He’s willing to die to show the worlds true colors. The Joker is the epitome of evil.

#5 Anton Chigurh (No Country For Old Men)

He’s silent, deadly, smart and creative. He’ll get the job done no matter what the cost. He enjoys sporting a cattle gun and a shotgun with a foot long silencer. He never says more than he needs to and he’s a genius at his trade, which is unfortunately crime. He is symbolic for pure evil in a way no body else could be. You still fear him even with his funny hair cut.

 

  • Actor: Javier Bardem
  • Quote: “If the road you followed brought you to this, of what use was the road.”
  • Action: Flips a coin to decide the fate of a woman, to keep his word to her dead husband.
  • Clip(s):

Oscar Nominations and Predictions

These are the oscar nominations, I’ve listed the awards in importance to me this year, not every year (least-greatest). I have also put my prediction along with some comments for some awards. The winners will be posted the day of or after the oscar ceremony. Enjoy. Oh and if I put one and didn’t comment on it, I probably haven’t seen any of that category and I just chose a familiar or intriguing name/title.  By the way the actual nominees are in no particular order.PS: We’ll miss ya Mr. Ledger. Documentary Short

  •  Freeheld
  • The Crown
  • Salim Baba
  • Sari’s Mother
Prediction: Freeheld

Live-Action Short 

  •  At Night
  • The Substitute
  • The Mozart of Pickpockets
  • Tanghi Argentini
  • The Tonto Woman
Prediction: The Substitute

Animated Short  

  •  I Met the Walrus
  • Madame Tutli-Putli
  • Even Pigeons Go To Heaven
  • Peter and The Wolf
  • My Love
Prediction: I Met the Walrus

Documentary 

  •  Taxi to the Dark Side
  • War/Dance
  • No End in Sight
  • Sicko
  • Operation Homecoming: Writing the Wartime Experience
Prediction: No End in Sight, Michael Moore lies on some of his statistics.

Foreign Film 

  •  Mongol
  • 12
  • Katyn
  • Beaufort
  • The Counterfeiters
Prediction: The Counterfeiters

Music(song) 

  •  Enchanted
  • Once
  • Enchanted
  • Enchanted
  • August Rush
Prediction: Once

Music(score)

  •  The Kite Runner
  • Michael Clayton
  • Atonement
  • Ratatouille
  • 3:10 to Yuma
Prediction: Atonement

Animated Picture 

  •  Surf’s Up
  • Persepolis
  • Ratatouille
Prediction: Ratatouille, this one’s a for sure.

Make Up 

  •  Norbit
  • La Vie En Rose
  • Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End
Prediction: Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End

Sound Mixing 

  •  3:10 to Yuma
  • Transformers
  • No Country For Old Men
  • Ratatouille
  • The Bourne Ultimatum
Prediction: No Country For Old Men

Sound Editing 

  •  There Will Be Blood
  • No Country For Old Men
  • Ratatouille
  • Transformers
  • The Bourne Ultimatum
Prediction:No Country For Old Men

Costumes 

  •  Atonement
  • Across the Universe
  • Elizabeth: The Golden Age
  • La Vie En Rose
  • Sweeney Todd
Prediction: Sweeney Todd

Visual Effects

  •  The Golden Compass
  • Transformers
  • Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End
Prediction: Pirates 3

Art Direction 

  •  American Gangster
  • The Golden Compass
  • Atonement
  • There Will Be Blood
  • Sweeney Todd
Prediction: Sweeney Todd

Editing 

  •  The Diving Bell and The Butterfly
  • Into the Wild
  • No Country For Old Men
  • There Will Be Blood
  • The Bourne Ultimatum
Prediction: No Country For Old Men

Cinematography 

  •  Atonement
  • The Diving Bell and The Butterfly
  • The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
  • No Country For Old Men
  • There Will Be Blood
Prediction: No Country For Old Men

Best Supporting Actress 

  •  Cate Blanchett, I’m Not There
  • Saoirse Ronan, Atonement
  • Tilda Swinton, Michael Clayton
  • Ruby Dee, American Gangster
  • Amy Ryan, Gone Baby Gone
Prediction: Cate Blanchett

Best Actress 

  •  Laura Linney, The Savages
  • Julie Christie, Away From Her
  • Ellen Page, Juno
  • Cate Blanchettt, Elizabeth: The Golden Age
  • Marion Cotillard, La Vie En Rose
Prediction: Julie Christie

Best Actor 

  •  Daniel-Day Lewis, There Will Be Blood
  • George Clooney, Michael Clayton
  • Tommy Lee Jones, In the Valley of Elah
  • Viggo Mortensen, Eastern Promises
  • Johnny Depp, Sweeney Todd
Prediction: Daniel-Day Lewis, 99.9999% chance of winning

Best Supporting Actor 

  •  Hal Holbrook, Into the Wild
  • Tom Wilikinson, Michael Clayton
  • Javier Bardem, No Country For Old Men
  • Philip Seymour Hoffman, Charlie Wilson’s War
  • Casey Affleck, The Assassination of Jesse James by The Coward Robert Ford
Prediction: Javier Bardem, 99.999% chance of winning

Best Screenplay (original)

  •  Michael Clayton
  • Lars and the Real Girl
  • Ratatouille
  • The Savages
  • Juno
Prediction: Michael Clayton 

Best Screenplay (adapted)

  •  Away From Her
  • The Diving Bell and The Butterfly
  • No Country For Old Men
  • Atonement
  • There Will Be Blood
Prediction: There Will Be Blood, it deserves some kind of big award because it was a great movie.

Best Directing

  •  The Diving Bell and The Butterfly
  • Juno
  • There Will Be Blood
  • No Country For Old Men
  • Michael Clayton
Prediction: No Country For Old Men

Best Picture

  •  Juno
  • Atonement
  • No Country For Old Men
  • There Will Be Blood
  • Michael Clayton
Prediction: No Country For Old Men, I’ve seen every single one except for Michael Clayton, and what I know is that No Country For Old Men deserves this award.
 
PS: Why the hell was Juno nominated when Sweeney Todd wasn’t, that’s bull-crap. What Sweeney Todd have a little too much blood for you academy. 

Quotes 5

See if you can get these:

  1.  Ak-47, when you absolutely positively gotta kill every motha fucka in the room, except no substitutes.
  2. I’ll be back faster then you can say, BLAST OFF!
  3. If the road you followed brought you here, what was the point of the road.
Help:
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