The Intouchables (2011)

IMDb plot summary: After he becomes a quadriplegic from a paragliding accident, an aristocrat hires a young man from the projects to be his caregiver.
Directed by Olivier Nakache and Eric Toledano. Starring François Cluzet, Omar Sy, Anne Le Ny, and Audrey Fleurot.

Much of the time, inspirational movies based on true stories are really NOT my favorite, but this is a surprisingly engaging film. The characters are what drive it home for me -- they are vivid and likable and feel like real people. The interactions between the two leads are especially entertaining, with a pervading sense of humor that makes the whole movie feel friendly and light. Even when dramatic things happen, they're not particularly worrisome. It's not a particularly weighty screenplay, especially given what I expected, and it's great fun to watch.

3.5 stars.

Flickchart: #697 out of 2295, below Godzilla and above Signs.

Laurence Anyways (2012)

IMDb plot summary: A drama that charts ten years in the relationship of a male-to-female transsexual's relationship with her lover.
Directed by Xavier Dolan. Starring Melvil Poupaud, Suzanne Clément, Nathalie Baye, and Monia Chokri.

(Some mild spoilers about the ending.)

There's obviously something very special about this movie. Some of the scenes are hauntingly beautiful and by the end I found myself captivated by the story. As it ends the movie showing how Laurence and Fred first met, it was such a lovely, perfect ending that it took my breath away a little.

That being said, it was a bit of a rocky journey to get there. This movie is nearly 3 hours long (and it feels it), and there were bits of surrealism scattered throughout that were very jarring. They were infrequent enough that they felt out-of-place and just... wrong.

There were probably fewer great moments overall, but the ones that were there saved the movie. So while it's not perfect, there was enough to redeem it for me. I suspect most people will either like it a lot more or a lot less than I did.

3.5 stars.

Flickchart: #686 out of 2294, below Ninotchka and above Celeste and Jesse Forever.

Phantom of the Paradise (1974)

IMDb plot summary: A disfigured composer sells his soul for the woman he loves so that she will perform his music. However, an evil record tycoon betrays him and steals his music to open his rock palace, The Paradise.
Directed by Brian De Palma. Starring William Finley, Paul Williams, Jessica Harper, and Gerrit Graham.

I think I like the idea of this movie more than sitting through the actual movie. This *should* work much better than it does -- a campy horror musical loosely based on Phantom of the Opera? How would I NOT like that? I'm not entirely sure why it doesn't quite gel for me, but something's missing. Maybe I need to rewatch it in a few years when I know what to expect but have enough distance that I'm not holding onto my current perception. Anyway, the humorous elements didn't quite mesh for me, and while the music was fun, it wasn't great. I didn't *dislike* it, but it was just kind of... meh.

3 stars.

Flickchart: #860 out of 2293, below Jonah and above The Recruit.

You Can Count on Me (2000)

IMDb plot summary: A single mother's life is thrown into turmoil after her struggling, rarely-seen younger brother returns to town.
Directed by Kenneth Lonergan. Starring Laura Linney, Mark Ruffalo, Matthew Broderick, and Rory Culkin.

This is a good movie, no doubt about that, but it's one of those movies that is solid throughout and doesn't leave much of an impression on me afterward, so I'm not sure how much I'll remember about this in a year. That being said, though, it *is* well-done. It's the only time I've thought Mark Ruffalo could maybe act, for one thing. He really embodies the character in a way that makes him very interesting to watch. I'm with the crew who is a little surprised he didn't get an Oscar nod for this. Laura Linney did, and she is, of course, also very good, but then she always is. This is also the first time Matthew Broderick has impressed me in a LONG time. The interactions between the characters are fascinating to watch, thanks to their acting and a good script. I'm not sure there are any standout moments for me, but it's definitely worth watching and I'm glad I saw it.

3.5 stars.

Flickchart: #663 out of 2292, below The Thief of Bagdad and above La jetee.

Nativity! (2009)

IMDb plot summary: An improvised comedy based around a school nativity play.
Directed by Debbie Isitt. Starring Martin Freeman, Marc Wootton, Jason Watkins, and Ashley Jensen.

Well, this movie was ever so silly but charming and adorable. About ten minutes in, I was pretty sure I was going to love it, and I just kept liking it all the way through. I'm not sure it would have worked quite as well if someone other than Martin Freeman were in the lead role, as he plays a terrifically likable and relatable main character, as well as offering some of the most entertaining lines throughout. Jason Watkins as the antagonistic director of the rival school's nativity play is also really funny. The supporting cast is less amazing, but it all comes together as a very sweet, very silly holiday musical for families. Apparently there's a sequel with David Tennant, who I love even more than Martin Freeman, so I'm mildly interested to see that one as well, because if it's anywhere near as fun as this one, I'll definitely enjoy it. (There's also a third, but no one I really care about is in it, so that one gets a pass.) This was a delightful surprise and a great way to kick off Joseph's movie week.

4 stars.

Flickchart: #430 out of 2291, below The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall and above Big Hero 6.

The 'Burbs (1989)

IMDb plot summary: An overstressed suburbanite and his paramilitaric neighbor struggle to prove their paranoid theory that the new family in town is a front for a cannibalistic cult.
Directed by Joe Dante. Starring Tom Hanks, Bruce Dern, Carrie Fisher, and Rick Ducommun.

This is another one of those movies that is not great or terrible, it just... sits somewhere in the middle. I feel like I should like it more than I do, but there just aren't a lot of big laughs for me, and the horror subplot wasn't as much as I'd hoped. Sometimes comedies hit just to the left or the right of where my sense of humor is, and this is one of them. Fine, but forgettable.

3 stars.

Flickchart: #1042 out of 2290, below Koyaanisqatsi and above Monster.

Punchline (1988)

IMDb plot summary (truncated): Steven Gold is a stand-up comedian who is flat broke and has recently dropped out of medical school. Lilah Krytsick is housewife with an ambition to be a stand-up comedian, however she doesnt seem to have the talent. Steven takes her under his wings and teaches her the art of comedy and humour.
Directed by David Seltzer. Starring Sally Field, Tom Hanks, John Goodman, and Mark Rydell.

Dang. This is a great movie.

Granted, there are a few more scenes than I'd care for of everyone actually doing their acts, given that I hardly ever find stand-up funny in the first place, but the heart of this story is the characters, not the jokes. Sally Field is very likable as a housewife who wants to be a comedienne against her husband's wishes, and Tom Hanks' charming-but-immature college dropout is also a great character. The most memorable scenes in the film are when he is emotionally falling apart (I'm thinking especially of his father's appearance at his gig and his Singin' in the Rain routine).

The interactions between Field and Hanks, as well as Field and her husband (John Goodman), are real and fascinating to watch. The characters are all so easy to root for, and I found myself getting *really* sucked into the story. The ending is beautifully done and very moving. Overall, it's just a really great flick, and one that I'd definitely like to watch again someday.

4 stars.

Flickchart: #438 out of 2289, below Repulsion and above The Great Race.