new life in the big city

Just moved to the big apple and a whole new chapter of my life is starting! I start school at NYU next week for my Masters and I can't wait. I'm finally getting to live the life I've wanted and getting an opportunity to pursue an education and a career in the world of film.
I saw Inception a few weeks ago-BRILLIANT. I've been having this debate with friends and family-who is the greatest actor of the past 25 years. My vote was initially for Tom Hanks. After movies like Philadelphia, Forrest Gump (this is the movie that I think solidified the title for me), Apollo 13, The Green Mile and Saving Private Ryan--I just couldn't think of anyone who came close. But this movie has forced me to take Leonardo DiCaprio as a more serious contender for the award. Very rarely do you see an Oscar caliber performance out of a blockbuster hit of a movie. And to be honest he hasn't made very many bad movies. Dating back to What's Eating Gilbert Grape-he's made very smart career choices. With the exception of The Beach-I can't really think of any disastrous performance on his part. The Aviator, Gangs of New York, The Departed and now Inception-he's an amazingly versatile actor who is proving to be one of the best, if not the best, of his generation. Inception was one of those rare gems of a film that genuinely makes you sit up and pay attention and stays with you even after you leave the theater. It's a completely mind blowing experience and let's be honest-how many movies are made today that you can really label as an "experience" when you watch them. Christopher Nolan is an amazing director with a true vision for the world of film. With every project he takes on, he creates an elaborate new world full of the kinds of complexities and minor details that very few directors have the ability to translate into film. It's a near perfect film in all honesty.
I also saw Piranha 3D...and it was AWESOME. It's a completely campy self-aware horror film that blends the best of the horror genre with great comedy. I don't think there has been a horror film like this one since Scream really (and Scream no matter what anyone says...is one of the best horror movies ever made). But Piranha, like Scream, makes fun of itself throughout the entirety of the movie while still providing the gore, the shreeks, and the bloody mess a more like this promises to deliver. The story is solid enough to keep your attention without trying to be too overly serious. The cameo from Richard Dreyfuss at the beginning singing the same song he did in JAWS is PRICELESS. It really is a fun movie to watch as long as you're willing not to take it too seriously.

I'm hoping the next movie will be The Last Exorcism. Can't waittttttt.

First Post!

Since I have chosen to dedicate the majority of this blog to my love of film, that's what I'll make this very first post about! My favorite genre is horror and at this very moment I'm watching one of my favorites...JAWS. It's amazing what a small film that faces to many issues being made has accomplished in over 20 years. To this day it still gives me chills every time I watch it. Steven Spielberg is, and probably always will be my favorite director. With the exception of A.I., his films are fantastic and his work makes up a huge chunk of my top ten films of all time. Jurassic Park being one of the contenders for number one...although that spot changes ownership just about every day. It's far too difficult to choose between that, Gone With the Wind, and Interview with the Vampire. But anyways, back to Jaws...this movie is brilliant. The music sends a chill up your spine and genuinely makes you think twice every time you step foot in the ocean. I think a major part of what makes this movie so great as a horror film is that is plays with the whole fear of that which we can't really see. Let's face it, for the brief moment that we actually see the shark...it looks so fake that it's almost hard to take it seriously. But the site of that fin coming out from under the water and swimming rapidly toward a helpless child or a terrified fisherman...its a perfect combination of music and playing with point of view...it never gets old! This movie essentially created the "summer blockbusters" which we have become so affectionate of today and look forward to every year. I love this movie! I think it would be extremely difficult to ever recreate the magic that a young Spielberg created here and if Hollywood ever decides this is one of the movies in need of a "remake", I'll boycott the studio that makes it. It's a classic gem that should be protected from any urge to ever try to recreate it-cause no matter what-it will never be as good as the original. <3