This past week, Q-line asked: What was the most memorable film of the year? Be candid and just for fun throw in your pick for least memorable movie as well.
Here are your responses: “I REALLY SHOULDN’T BE RESPONDING to this question, as I gave up on the sophomoric, pornographic junk Hollywood churns out long ago. And I won’t begin to mention the so called actors and actresses on ego trips with no real talent. Rent some good old movies from the past and see some real talent.”
“WELL, THERE’S SOME PRETTY GOOD movies out this year: ‘Pirates of the Caribbean,’ ‘1408,’ ‘Ratatouille.’ Of course, Pixar is not really capable of making a lousy movie. Like that remake of the ‘Invasion of the Body Snatchers,’ I made it a point to not see that. And fortunately it bombed. Of course the best movie this year has to be ‘The Simpsons Movie,’ because it’s based from the best TV show.”
“THE BEST MOVIE OF THE YEAR THAT I saw is ‘Into the WIld.’ It was shown at the NuWilshire which is now closed. I was fortunate to see it on the very last day the theater was open. So sad and poignant that movie, and the fact that the theater was closing made it even more heavy — the fact that we know we will no longer have the NuWilshire. Into the WIld is well acted, well directed, well executed, and leaves you with a lump in your throat. The worst movie of the year is ‘Dreamgirls.’ Finding a vehicle for Beyonce is a tired old routine. Some people just need to go away like Jane Seymour, Marie Osmond, and Beyonce Knowles. ‘Dreamgirls’ did a bad thing for the legend of Mr. Gordy, and the retelling of the story was glossed over and pumped up and faked. So, that gets my worst movie of the year. Beyonce— take your large rump and just go away.”
“EXCELLENT MOTION PICTURES STIR emotion. Tears of sadness, tears of joy, also chuckles of laughter. When Brett told Scarlet that he did not give a damn, I thought it was about time. When Judy Garland danced up the yellow brick road, I was tap dancing along side her. Today’s films are entertaining, but lack substance and are bi-products of trick photography. The epics are gone forever.”
“RATHER THAN ONE MEMORABLE FILM this year I have two. The first one was ‘Waitress,’ starring Keri Russell. The second one is ‘Lars and the Real Girl,’ starring Ryan Gosling. Both films were funny, entertaining and enjoyable. They were well written, superbly directed and all of the actors were outstanding. The award nominations should be plentiful. All other movies I have seen this year were less memorable for me.” “‘LA VIE EN ROSE,’ WAS THE MOST memorable movie I saw this year. It’s everything wrapped up in one. It’ll make you sing, laugh, and cry. It’s hard to believe that all of these things happened to one person (Edith Piaf, the beloved French singer), but it did. Her life was both blessed and cursed. Marion Cotillard’s performance, as Piaf, was amazing and should earn her an Oscar nomination here.”
“THE MOST MEMORABLE MOVIE OF the year was ‘The Darjeeling Limited,’ Wes Anderson’s newest film. It was really funny, with great symbolism. Owen WIlson is great!”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on December 15, 2007. Read the original PDF.