1 DIVING BELL AND BUTTERFLY — One of the most transcendental experiences I have ever had at the movies. Julian Schnabel may be a pompous asshole, but his genius as a visual artist (both moving and still) cannot be denied.
2 AWAY FROM HER — Sarah Polley’s debut reveals an intelligence well beyond her years; I can’t think of another movie made that is so respectful of maturity and wisdom, particularly in our youth-worshiping culture.
3 NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN - Watch for the Javier Bardem bowl haircut Halloween costume next year.
4 BILLY THE KID - Okay, I associate produced it. But I did that for a reason. I love this film. and Billy.
5 RED ROAD - Andrea Arnold’s film is a taut, perfectly crafted work of suspense and tragedy.
6 INTO THE WILD - At times cheesy and overwraught but in total, a beautiful meditation on a fascinating character.
7 MANDA BALA - Eroll Morris’s alleged prodigy crafts a film worthy of the master.
8 RESCUE DAWN - Yes, it is Werner Herzog at the reigns, but it is the stellar acting by Christian Bale, Steve Zahn, and Jeremy Davies that carries this excellent movie.
9 DAY NIGHT DAY NIGHT - An utterly enigmatic, brilliant, and tight film that is almost silent. Like a mute assassin.
10 KNOCKED UP - Although I have many problems with this film in retrospect (and yes, I do think it is sexist as all hell!), it made me laugh my ass off and intelligent comedies are hard to come by. That said, it was no 40 YEAR OLD VIRGIN.

So I know we usually write about Independent Films. Well, except Bennie, who prefers to write about highly-questionable studio projects. (Don’t worry, we love you anyway!) But I feel impelled to discuss Robert Zemeckis’ Beowulf, which I caught in it’s stupendous 3-D Imax format at the Lincoln Square theater earlier this week.

Put aside the writing and some of the half-human performances - you’ve got to assume a bit of over-flowerification, glorification, speechification, and badass-ification in a Studio film based on what is essentially civilization’s earliest monster story. But on to the important thing, the treatment of the 3-D.

I confess to not being a 3-D aficionado. The last 3-D flick I caught was one of the Nightmare on Elm Street movies. I think it was Freddy’s Dead, the first supposed last film in a series that still continues today in a myriad of iterations. That was back in 1991, long before motion capture animation was a gleam in gollum’s eye. And my expectations for that seminal work were so abysmally low that a letdown was nigh on impossible. Even though Freddy’s 3-D experience lasted only for the final fifteen minutes of the film. And included highlights such as three dimensional sticks and twigs.

So with all that said, I admit I am in no way a 3-D expert. There’s probably a dozen awesome 3-D flicks that could be just as good. But the work they did on Beowulf was phenomenal. I was blown away before the movie even opened. IMAX is overwhelming as it is, but with enormous words shooting by you in all directions, paired with ear-rocking sound, dragons flying all up in your business…it reminded me of childhood theatrical experiences. E.T., Indiana Jones, Superman, all that is good about big screen spectacle when you can leave your cynicism at the door and just hop on board. And Angelina…Though Michael Tully did make a good point in his blog from December 3rd, I can’t think of anyone better to play a heartless, ancient demon. You see her in reality and she’s almost too striking to be human. It wasn’t even a small leap to buy her as the mother of a deformed cave creature. And that voice…

All I can say is go check it out. If only for the scene where buckets of 3-D blood cascade with drowning ferocity from what seems like directly over your head. And bring snacks you don’t have to look at to eat, ’cause your eyes will be busy.

Since you’ve got nothing better to do…
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