Nine documentaries in seven days. While researching some of these films I came across a reviewer that gave star ratings based on a curiously original concept:

***** Saturday Night
**** Friday Night
*** Friday Morning
** Sunday Night
* Monday Morning

I like the way the criteria captures the essence of film viewing by putting it in the context of your lifestyle.

Sicko (2007) - Michael Moore's attempt to indict the American healthcare system using his standard bag of tricks by revealing only facts that support his stance. There is an embarrassing lack of balance, many awkward scenes of manipulation, and no real solution offered.   Average

The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters (2007) - This is what happens when compulsive behavior grows into a community, Donkey Kong is added, and rivalry is amplified. The portrayal of Billy Mitchell has made him one of the all time great cinema villains.   Recommended

Operation Homecoming: Writing the Wartime Experience (2007) - A collection of Iraq war experiences - some told through animation, others by film or still photos. There are some great pieces here, and although the whole does not give the fresh insight it might have been hoping for, it does shed light on the soldier experience with integrity.   Recommended

Jesus Camp (2006) - A jawdropping exposé on an evangelical summer camp for kids in Colorado. Knowing what we now know about Ted Haggard makes this all the more disturbing. So many great quotes: "At five I got saved because I just wanted more out of life."   Recommended

Helvetica (2007) - This was a bit of a let down for me. I love typography, but Helvetica loses its direction very quickly and becomes an exercise in self indulgence by not bridging the gap to an audience outside of the design industry.   Average

No End In Sight (2007) - I'm on the verge of Middle East documentary fatigue - but they have all been brilliant and unlike Michael Moore, they seek honesty and truth. This one, narrated by Campbell Scott, traces the decisions and incompetences that have lead to failures in the war against terrorism.   Recommended

Born Into Brothels: Calcutta's Red Light Kids (2004) - The story of Zana Briski's attempt to both document and help some of the children in Calcutta's red light district. I feel bad saying this because everyone was better off for her efforts, but I frequently had the uncomfortable feeling that she was taking advantage of these children.   Average

Taxi to the Dark Side (2007) - Alex Gibney's Oscar winning doco from 2007 takes an up close look at the torture that went on in Afghanistan, and in particular the series of events that lead to an innocent taxi driver killed in 2002.   Recommended

The U.S. vs. John Lennon (2006) - A look at the post-Beatles Lennon as he becomes a New York citizen and antiwar protester. Where this documentary fails is in the selective (read: positive bias) nature of the facts about his life that are revealed. The portrait of the man is less interesting that he backdrop of the vietnam war, but at least the music is first class.   Average

Another week ticks by and I'm hoping to get a bit more time to update the site over the next few months as winter keeps me indoors.

If you like discovering new music, and you're a Mac user, then Muxtape With Coverflow Using Fluid is the greatest thing to happen to the internet in years.

I've knocked a couple more tasks off the 101 List. Yesterday I staggered out of bed at 5am to attend the dawn Anzac ceremony at the Auckland Domain Cenotaph (#61). Also, by watching Atonement last week, I finally completed my first film list - all BAFTA winning films (#48).

In other film news, I observed this week that The Hottie and the Nottie has achieved the status of #1 bottom film on IMDB.

At the opposite end of the spectrum, I thought it would be a good chance to put forward (in no particular order)...

My Top 5 Favourite Films of 2007:

• 4 Months, 3 Weeks & 2 Days
• The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
• Paranoid Park
• No Country for Old Men
• There Will Be Blood

This weekend I'm having a documentary marathon, catching up with some of the big releases from last year and years previous. Expect the findings next week.

And finally, I'll leave you with something to ponder: Life explained.

Tonari no Totoro (My Neighbour Totoro) (1988) - Hayao Miyazaki's family fantasy classic with cute overload. The animation is first class, and not just for 1988.   Recommended

Into The Wild (2007) - With Sean Penn's involvement I was naturally (and justifiably) skeptical that this story could be told without going OTT. But this is a beautiful film shot with sincerity and spirit, and captures the entirety of Chris McCandless's journey to live in the Alaskan wilderness.   Recommended

Definitely, Maybe (2008) - A fluffy romantic comedy that is entirely watchable because it avoids many of the formulaic traps of the genre. However, the ending is surprising in that you expect a surprise, but the obvious still happens. Oh, and my general dislike of Rachel Weisz continues through this film.   Average

The Savages (2007) - A comedy drama about a brother and sister tasked with looking after their ailing father. OK, maybe you have to look hard to find the comedy - lets call it bittersweet. It's a great film that doesn't get bogged down in sentimentality.   Recommended

Passport to Pimlico (1949) - An English classic political satire about a Cockney London neighborhood. I don't find these Ealing Studios comedies to be a endearing as the English clearly did at the time, but they do capture an important period in history and worthwhile for that alone.   Average

Margot at the Wedding (2007) - Noah Baumbach writes and directs another uncomfortable family drama. This time, despite some great scenes, things come off looking like a pretentious film for depressives.   Average

Four days of rain and all I can think about is that one year ago today I was here. But the rain was a welcome opportunity to catch up on some very fine cinema from 2007...

Dan in Real Life (2007) - So many great romantic comedies in 2007. Not everything works here, but the result is still a chick flick that guys can get equal enjoyment from - so this is a rare gem. Juliette Binoche also shows her range in this comedic role.   Recommended


Death at a Funeral (2007) - Not a great year for British ensemble comedies. Here is another example of an unfunny black comedy that falls flat and is nothing more than a couple of amusing situation gags.   Average

Michael Clayton (2007) - Just when you think the class action lawsuit movie genre has been thrashed out, something a little more gritty and compelling turns up. Watch and enjoy. Now, close your eyes ... imagine if Tom Cruise (in Collateral mode) was playing the lead. That's the difference between good and great, and why Clooney will never be enough. (You can open you eyes now).   Recommended

Cassandra's Dream (2007) - As a Woody Allen fan I really wanted to love this film - but the two leads (Colin Farrell and Ewan McGregor) are among my least favourite actors, and in this film they are both terrible. The Philip Glass score was a nice touch, but in all other aspects this is a let down after the great Match Point.   Average

Run Fatboy Run (2007) - Given the (mostly British) talent involved, this is ultimately a wasted effort. The comedy/drama ratio never feels balanced and too often it is reduced to obvious gags and plot cliches.   Average


The Kite Runner (2007) - How can a film so beautifully made carry no emotional weight. Such potential, and yet ends up a bland and manipulative display of Liberal guilt. You know a film has gone too far when you hear the violins playing, rather than feel them.   Average

The Good Night (2007) - Very weak attempt to make something as evocative as Vanilla Sky. This is another waste of talent, and would have been a lot more compelling if Penélope Cruz had just sat in a chair reading the script.   Average

Atonement (2007) - The many comparisons with The English Patient are unfair as this film doesn't quite pull off the same heartfelt bond between leads (Knightley/McAvoy). But in all other aspects this is a film of quality and depth and a big achievement in UK cinema.   Recommended

With daylight savings over it's time to give my DVD player a little more attention. I've got some great films on my viewing schedule over the next few weeks - finally catching up with the best of 2007's offerings. But this week it was a mixture of past and present.

Julia (1977) - Jane Fonda plays an American women trying to help her childhood friend in Nazi Germany. I could not connect with the plight of Fonda's chararcter - seemed a little melodramatic given all the other things going on during the war. Took out the BAFTA in 1979.   Average

Brighton Rock (1947) - Classic Richard Attenborough led gangster thriller. This is British film of a bygone era that shows it is more than capable of keeping up with those of a similar genre in the US.   Recommended

Thursday's Children (1954) - Oscar winning documentary short about a school for deaf children. Very well shot and beautifully captures a life affirming moment in time.   Recommended

Lars and the Real Girl (2007) - Quirky chick-flick drama. I find that male characters clearly written by a woman look like artificial emotional puppets to me. But putting that aside, this is not a bad film and that stupid blow up doll did make me cry.   Recommended

Coming Home (1978) - One of the better anti-war films that captures the post-vietnam malaise. With Oscar winning acting leads, this is a well crafted film dealing with the issue of wounded soldiers and the emotional impact of returning from war.   Recommended

The long weekend over Easter presented the opportunity to head up north for a little camping. Having never been north of Goat Island, I was well overdue to tour the last big chunk of New Zealand I had not seen.

Following the Twin Coast Discovery Highway in a clockwise direction, we seemed to time all the good weather and always managed to have the tent up just in time to watch the sunset, accompanied by a nice wine.

I also managed to cross off more than a few 101 tasks including a visit to Tāne Mahuta and a detour up to Cape Reinga.

Photos are up on Facebook for my connected amigos, but if I get some time, will add some to this post at a later date.

Feux rouges (Red Lights) (2007) - Described by some as a French "Eyes Wide Shut". There is a lot going on psychologically here, and I'm not sure it all computes in my head. The kind of film that has you diving for the IMDB forums for an answer.   Recommended

Shrek the Third (2007) - Even from the start you could tell this was going to be a stale and lazy sequel. What a colossal failure to grasp the wealth of possibilities this material presents.   Avoid

The Reaping (2007) - Every now and then I like to watch a movie that I know will be terrible, just to put my other viewing patterns in perspective. Double Oscar winner, Ms Swank, should be firing her agent over this fiasco.   Avoid