Over-estimated, Under-estimated

While we are waiting on the slate of summer blockbusters to get cranked up, Kate and I thought we would go back a few years and watch a movie that appears on many lists as one of the Best Movies Ever.  IMDB has it ranked 65^th, right up there with some real classics.  Words like powerful, spectacular, and landmark have all been used to describe it. I’m speaking of the 1971 Stanley Kubrick film A Clockwork Orange.

Let me just get right to the point. We watched 20 minutes of it. We couldn’t stand it any longer, so we hit ‘eject’ and watched Food Network instead.  Some would say, “You just didn’t get it.” Others might say, “You’re obviously too shallow to fully grasp its message.” I would say, “You’re stupid, and so is A Clockwork Orange.”

Kubrick’s “classic” waste-of-time did get me thinking, however, about a couple of films from this past year of which I seem to also have a differing opinion.  Lincoln and End of Watch.

Let’s start with our 16^th President. Lincoln may have been a good leader, but this movie is boring. I’m sorry to have to say it, but I disliked this film. And it almost won Best Picture! Now, like many of you, I often disagree with the Academy when it comes to film.  Too many times, it feels like “real” movie critics think they are smarter or more refined than us.  And so what if they are! They can be smarter and more refined and continue to watch boring films.

And by the way, not liking the movie is not the same as not liking the President.  Am I the only one who feels like I’m being judged as slightly racist because I fell asleep in my popcorn?? 

Now don’t get me wrong.  Lincoln was solid in many areas.   Daniel Day Lewis was indeed good. Not as mesmerizing as he was as Bill the Butcher in Gangs of New York, but good.  The supporting cast, costuming, production values, and cinematography were all top-notch, but the overall pacing of the story left me wanting much more.

The Academy certainly got it right by giving Best Picture to Argo instead of Lincoln, but missed an opportunity to validate a true powerhouse when they forgot, or ignored, End of Watch.

This ultra-gritty police drama throttles you from start to finish. The occasional injection of humor is a welcome reprieve from the emotionally powerful and visceral action.  Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Pena lead a terrific ensemble of characters who demand and deserve your attention.

End of Watch is written and directed by David Ayer, the man behind Training Day.  This was my favorite film of 2012 and I was honestly shocked it got no love at Oscar time.  Let me warn you…this movie is not for everyone!  It is at times surprisingly funny, raw and unnerving, brutally violent, terribly sad, and incredibly emotional.  I thought it was fantastic.

This is why I love movies. We connect with so many different things and for so many different reasons.  Some we like, some we don’t.  And at the end of every week, there’s always something new.  See you at the theater!