What is the Aughts Project you ask? Well, it all started at the end of last year when everyone and their mother started putting out “Best of the Decade” lists for everything from magazines to reality TV stars to eating trends. Of course, I decided I would put together a top-50 list of my own and throw it out into the ether. But, as much as I like to pretend that my opinions are correct (and that anyone gives a damn what I think), I was curious about what my friends, family, and co-workers considered to be the cream of the Aughts. So, the call went out from Coast to Coast and 13 stalwart film lovers responded. Their lists were entered into the secret Paulies database and scored using the methodology described below.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Friday, March 12, 2010
The 2009 Paulies
Welcome once again to that wonderful post-Oscar tradition known as the Paulies. Unlike the Oscars, this top-10 list will not feature two over the hill movie stars spitting on the corpses of Bob Hope and Bing Crosby, a nonsensical NPH musical production, or Ben Stiller in blue body makeup (though it will hopefully elicit more forced laughter). Also unlike the Oscars, the Paulies will be shorter this year. I am finishing up work on The Aughts Project (a list of the best movies of the decade as voted upon by my friends and family members) and I’d like to get it posted before the next decade ends. So, this year I am going with an illustrative quote from the movie and a couple of (hopefully) pithy lines instead of my usual rambling diatribe. Check back in the next day or so for the Aughts posts…or, better yet, sign up as a follower of The Paulies and get notified whenever there is a new post.
As always, my usual disclaimer applies: I am not a professional critic and I didn’t see everything this year (despite my best efforts). Some notable movies I missed are: Summer Hours, The Blind Side, Sin Nombre, Antichrist, The Road, Julia, The Last Station, Broken Embraces.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
The 2008 Paulies
I know the Paulies are typically put out the day after the Oscars (to the extent that the Paulies are even typically put out anymore) but I hope that you’ll all forgive the extra few days wait. This year, I decided to finally get a blog going to post the Paulies along with occasional movie reviews and commentaries. Its pretty bare right now but I hope to get it touched up soon. I’d also like to get all of the old Paulies lists archived on the site so if anyone has any pre-2006 Paulies lists in their email archives, please send them along to me.
So, in brief, this was a pretty lackluster year for movies. As usual, there were some true gems (Let the Right One In, Synecdoche, NY, The Wrestler, etc.) and a few god awful failures (Revolutionary Road is almost Dogville-esque in its awfulness). But it was the great mediocre middle that seemed to dominate the box office this year. It was disturbing to see rewards once again heaped upon the undifferentiated mass of middle brow Oscar bait that chokes the cineplexes from November to January every year. (see e.g. Revolutionary Road and Benjamin Button…and probably The Reader…but I can’t cast aspersions since I couldn’t even bring myself to go see it) It was only a year ago that challenging, if mainstream films like There Will be Blood, No Country for Old Men, and Eastern Promises were recognized by the Academy. But this year, it was back to business as usual.
So, in brief, this was a pretty lackluster year for movies. As usual, there were some true gems (Let the Right One In, Synecdoche, NY, The Wrestler, etc.) and a few god awful failures (Revolutionary Road is almost Dogville-esque in its awfulness). But it was the great mediocre middle that seemed to dominate the box office this year. It was disturbing to see rewards once again heaped upon the undifferentiated mass of middle brow Oscar bait that chokes the cineplexes from November to January every year. (see e.g. Revolutionary Road and Benjamin Button…and probably The Reader…but I can’t cast aspersions since I couldn’t even bring myself to go see it) It was only a year ago that challenging, if mainstream films like There Will be Blood, No Country for Old Men, and Eastern Promises were recognized by the Academy. But this year, it was back to business as usual.
The 2006 Paulies (Archive)
*For those who haven't seen them, I am trying to get copies of all the old Paulies and post them here. If you have any pre-2006 Paulies lists, please send them to me.*
Idea for a Film: “Several loosely connected stories organized around a central…no, a universal…theme (maybe, oh, cross-cultural communications breakdowns or racism). The interconnected stories should offer the illusion of depth while building towards a suitably cathartic finish that will reinforce the predominantly wealthy, educated, and politically liberal target audience’s existing feelings of smugness and self satisfaction. A multi-racial cast is a must though most of the primary “life lessons” in the film should be learned by white characters with recognizable names as this will allow the audience to relate to the film and, incidentally, help during awards season. Accept major awards. Repeat.”
Ladies and gentlemen, after a brief hiatus, the Paulies have returned (lets just pretend last year never happened) and honestly I don’t think I could have picked a better year…since 2006 was a pretty crappy year for movies and people seem to like to read bad reviews more than good ones. The “blockbuster” output was predictably deplorable with lackluster sequels and computer generated talking animals dominating the box office (that movie starring 5,000 dancing animated penguins voiced by celebrities might be the 387th sign of the apocalypse…shockingly Nicole Kidman was prominently involved). However, the more disturbing trend was the increasingly prosaic output of the supposedly indie arms of the studios. Every year it seems like the end of the year prestige pieces and films purchased from festivals get less edgy and more predictable. However, as always, some good films slipped past the quality control executives at Fox and Paramount and actually hit the dwindling cineplexes for a few weeks or found their way into a few Netflix envelopes.
Idea for a Film: “Several loosely connected stories organized around a central…no, a universal…theme (maybe, oh, cross-cultural communications breakdowns or racism). The interconnected stories should offer the illusion of depth while building towards a suitably cathartic finish that will reinforce the predominantly wealthy, educated, and politically liberal target audience’s existing feelings of smugness and self satisfaction. A multi-racial cast is a must though most of the primary “life lessons” in the film should be learned by white characters with recognizable names as this will allow the audience to relate to the film and, incidentally, help during awards season. Accept major awards. Repeat.”
Ladies and gentlemen, after a brief hiatus, the Paulies have returned (lets just pretend last year never happened) and honestly I don’t think I could have picked a better year…since 2006 was a pretty crappy year for movies and people seem to like to read bad reviews more than good ones. The “blockbuster” output was predictably deplorable with lackluster sequels and computer generated talking animals dominating the box office (that movie starring 5,000 dancing animated penguins voiced by celebrities might be the 387th sign of the apocalypse…shockingly Nicole Kidman was prominently involved). However, the more disturbing trend was the increasingly prosaic output of the supposedly indie arms of the studios. Every year it seems like the end of the year prestige pieces and films purchased from festivals get less edgy and more predictable. However, as always, some good films slipped past the quality control executives at Fox and Paramount and actually hit the dwindling cineplexes for a few weeks or found their way into a few Netflix envelopes.
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