Decade Of Film

Edge Of Darkness

2010-02-15T00:48:00.003-05:00

Mel Gibson's big return film ends up being almost as weird as he is.

This is a movie that seems to want to be two different films. You have half of it being the traditional Mel Gibson revenge movie and the other half being a government scandal flick. Think Ransom meets Michael Clayton... only nowhere near as good as either film.

I was also disappointed by the lack of decent action sequences. When I saw Martin Campbell (Casino Royale) was directing this, I assumed you would see some great exciting scenes. I was wrong.

I wont give away the ending but it is bizarre, strange and almost funny without intending to be. Don't get me wrong... this movie is not all bad. Mel Gibson and Ray Winstone give nice performances but the schizophrenic nature of the movie along with the way it gets very silly at the end don't do it for me.

Edge Of Darkness: 5.5 (out of 10)

Director Of Decade:
1. The Hughes Brothers, The Book Of Eli (2010)
2. Martin Campbell, Edge Of Darkness (2010)

Actor Of Decade:
1. Denzel Washington, The Book Of Eli (2010)
2. Mel Gibson, Edge Of Darkness (2010)

Actress Of Decade:
1. Mila Kunis, The Book Of Eli (2010)

Supporting Actor Of Decade:
1. Ray Winstone, Edge Of Darkness (2010)
2. Danny Huston, Edge Of Darkness (2010)
3. Gary Oldman, The Book Of Eli (2010)
4. Ray Stevenson, The Book Of Eli (2010)

Supporting Actress Of Decade:
1. Jennifer Beals, The Book Of Eli (2010)
2. Bojana Novakovic, Edge Of Darkness (2010)

The Book Of Eli

2010-01-24T01:44:00.005-05:00

The Book Of Eli is a movie that is about faith and if you believe in things like faith, you just might still buy into this movie when the credits roll. However, if you believe in things like faith this depressing post-apocalyptic probably already bummed you out long before then.

Denzel Washington plays Eli, a quiet loner with almost supernatural fighting abilites. I doubt this movie will be on many year-end top 10 lists but it might crack Top 10 Most Violent Movies of the year. Early in the movie, Denzel chops a guy's hand clean off at the forearm and then kick the hand away from Future Jim Abbott. Eli also kills and eats a cat. This is all in the first 10 minutes.

Is this movie even worth seeing? It depends. If you are a sucker for these kind of movies and have some time to kill, then go. Denzel and Mila Kunis do a nice job (although Gary Oldman is wasted as the leader of a town Denzel wanders into) and seem to take it all seriously enough for you to forget how oddly depressing this all is.

This is the first directing job by The Hughes Brothers in almost 10 years and it's strange to think that what is basically a futuristic Western is what they waited so long to make. I know it seems like I have spent most of this review belittling the movie when it's not a bad movie at all and will make people who find this movie on late night cable in a few years very happy. But one would think if you put Denzel Washington, Gary Oldman, Mila Kunis and The Hughes Brothers in a room together, you'd get something better then this.

The Book Of Eli: 6.5 (out of 10)

Movie Of Decade:
1. The Book Of Eli (2010)

Director Of Decade:
1. The Hughes Brothers, The Book Of Eli (2010)

Actor Of Decade:
1. Denzel Washington, The Book Of Eli (2010)

Actress Of Decade:
1. Mila Kunis, The Book Of Eli (2010)

Supporting Actor Of Decade:
1. Gary Oldman, The Book Of Eli (2010)
2. Ray Stevenson, The Book Of Eli (2010)

Supporting Actress Of Decade:
1. Jennifer Beals, The Book Of Eli (2010)

What Is This Blog About Anyway?

2010-01-24T01:22:00.002-05:00

Hello there.

This is a blog for anyone who loves movies and anyone who loves lists. Especially the movie part. I don't think I want to meet anyone who just loves lists.

What the plan is with this blog is to keep track of every movie I see throughout the decade and keep a running ranking of how they stack up.

I try to see a movie in the theatres every week so this list may take awhile in really getting going. By the end of the decade, one would imagine most movies I see at all would be made in the previous ten years.

Have paitence and fun with the blog. For example, the only movie I have seen that has come out in 2010 has been Book Of Eli. Therefore Book Of Eli is the best movie of the decade! If this winds up still being true in 2019 (or in 2011), I will hang myself. But for now, let's enjoy it's day in the sun.

I will also keep track of Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress and Best Director over this time period as well.

A few personal notes. I live in Southern New Hampshire. This means that I have access to most movies, the ones that only open in the major cities, I don't. Seeing a movie in the theatres every week can lead to some stinkers. Please don't be too harsh in my choices. I do also try to plan what movies I will see ahead of time, but as with life... things can change. Feel free to suggest a movie or to praise (or even insult) my brilliant reviews.

Until then...