Dispatches from the Popcorn Stadium: 100 Films of 2014 (35-21)

We're almost 2/3 of the way through the list, as we count down the next fifteen films. There's a lot of variety here, from two wonderful sci-fi films of completely opposite sizes, a lovely animated film, and a film where a person turns into a sparrow. First off is the first of two MCU entries on this list.

Dispatches from the Popcorn Stadium: Snowpiercer

Note: The bulk of this post will be fashioned after one of my favorite scenes from the film. It won't really be a spoiler per se, but it might be too close for comfort for some people. Also, it might make very little sense to you. Therefore, the first paragraph will be a very boring but concise review of the film.

In short, Snowpiercer is one of my favorite experiences at a movie theater ever. The action is taut and exciting, the sharp contrast in colors between the rebelling people from the end of the train and the vibrant colors displayed by those farther up the train is impressive. The story is fairly crisp and fun to follow. Best of all are the performances. Chris Evans, John Hurt, Octavia Spencer, Song Kang-ho, Go Ah-sung, Jamie Bell, and others do a wonderful job in their roles. Tilda Swinton is great as the "Great Engineer" Wilford's chief stooge, and Allison Pill damn near steals the show. See this film, preferably in a theater if you can.

OK NOW ON TO THE "REAL POST". DON'T CONTINUE UNLESS YOU HAVE SEEN THE MOVIE, OR AREN'T BOTHERED BY KNOWING DETAILS ABOUT WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN IN A MOVIE.

The DVD Case Pantheon: Burn After Reading

When trying to categorize the Coen Brothers films, two distinct categories emerge. The first group are movies that are primarily dramatic, such as Miller's Crossing, Barton Fink, No Country for Old Men, and The Man Who Wasn't There. The second group tend to be straight up comedies, such as Raising Arizona, The Hudsucker Proxy, The Big Lebowski, and O Brother Where Art Thou?. Granted, none of there movies are without some humor (even No Country for Old Men), and even the lightest of their comedies includes (imminent) hangings, suicides, and bounty hunters getting blown up by their own grenades. Arguably their greatest (and one of my favorites), Fargo, deftly straddles the line between the two groups, often coming down on the comedy side, while being far too violent to completely live there.