favorite movie #107 - holiday edition: krampus

Favorite movies that have had an impact on me - #107 - Krampus (2015) - Krampus is that rare film — a horror comedy that actually has a dash of Christmas spirit. It also has a fantastic cast, who commit to the proceedings with enthusiasm and wit: Adam Scott, Toni Collette, Emjay Anthony, David Koechner, Allison Tolman, Conchata Ferrell. It also looks pretty terrific, too.

favorite movie #91 - halloween edition: only lovers left alive

Favorite movies that have had an impact on me - #91 - Only Lovers Left Alive (2013) - I love this beautiful movie. I have written about it at length before. Here is a snippet from that earlier article:

Jim Jarmusch's Only Lovers Left Alive is an extremely romantic film. It has been dubbed his "vampire movie." but it is less a horror film and more a romance that concerns two vampires. Tom Hiddleston and Tilda Swinton are Adam and Eve, a (really) old married couple. They live a world away from each other, he in Detroit, and she in Tangier, Morocco, but are inextricably linked. ...

The film is gorgeous to look at, with cinematography by Yorick Le Saux. The world of the film only exists as night, naturally, and Jarmusch (Night on Earth) is an excellent director to highlight the shadows and mysteries of sunless streets, cities at night. Vampires don't need to do housekeeping or even comb their hair, and the set and costume design renders their dusty and cluttered surfaces and persons in loving detail. The film moves slowly and elegantly, much like its protagonists — that is, until chaos, in the form of Eve's younger "sister" Ava (Mia Wasikowska) turns up. ...

You can read the whole review here.

Happy Halloween!

favorite movie #68 - halloween edition: what we do in the shadows (2014)

Favorite movies that have had an impact on me - #68 - What We Do in the Shadows (2014) - Set up as "Real World" mockumentary, What We Do in the Shadows follows four roommates, who also happen to be vampires. Viago (Taika Waititi) is the "leader" of the group and on the uptight side. Vladislav (Jemaine Clement) is a goth-esque vampire, the strongest of the crew. Deacon (Jonathan Brugh) is the youngest, at age 183. Petyr (Ben Fransham), age 8000, resembles Nosferatu and lives in the basement. Together — what a zany bunch. Set in Wellington, NZ, the film is very funny — and gory — as the roomies have varying success with stalking prey and making new friends, most notably with computer analyst Stu (Stu Rutherford), a human who introduces them to wonders of the modern world, like YouTube.

Our house, in the middle of the street ...

"One day I was selling my wears, and I walked passed this old creepy castle. And I look at it and think, "'very old and creepy". And then this creature... flies at me! It dragged me back to this dark dungeon. And bit into my neck. And just at the point of death; this creature forced me to suck its foul blood. And then it opened it's wings, like this. And hovered above me. Screeching. 'Now you are vampire.' And it was Petyr. And we're still friends today."

Yeah some of our clothes are from victims. You might bite someone and then, you think, 'Oooh, those are some nice pants!'

favorite movie #35: chef

Favorite movies that have had an impact on me - #35 - Chef (2014) - Clearly a labor of love for writer, director, producer, and actor Jon Favreau, Chef is for everyone who loves food and great movies. When Chef Carl (Favreau) loses it with his clueless boss (Dustin Hoffmann, who only wants Carl to play it safe) and a local food critic (Oliver Platt who only wants Carl's food to wow him like it used to) he loses his job. With the help of pal and line cook Martin (John Leguizamo) and his tech-savvy son Percy (Emjay Anthony) Carl spends the summer outfitting and touring the country with his new food truck, El Jefe. Percy, beignets, and Cubanos all help Carl rediscover his love of Cuban food and cooking. It's hard not to salivate along with his wonderful movie. The soundtrack is amazing, too.