FILM CHALLENGE: 18) Coraline

18) CoralineDirector: Henry SelickYear: 2009Plot Summary: When Coraline moves to an old house, she feels bored and neglected by her parents. She finds a hidden door with a bricked up passage. During the night, she crosses the passage and finds a parallel...

By Daniel Sarath with 3 comments

FILM CHALLENGE: 17) Bad Lieutenant: Port Of Call - New Orleans

17) Bad Lieutenant: Port Of Call - New OrleansDirector: Werner HerzogYear: 2010Plot Summary: After Katrina, police sergeant Terence McDonagh rescues a prisoner and hurts his back in the process earning a promotion to lieutenant plus an addiction to cocaine...

By Daniel Sarath with 2 comments

FILM CHALLENGE: 16) All About My Mother

16) All About My MotherDirector: Pedro AlmodovarYear: 1999Plot Summary: A single mother in Madrid, Manuela, sees her only son die on his 17th birthday as he runs to seek an actress's autograph. One of his last requests before he died was to know who...

By Daniel Sarath with 1 comment

FILM CHALLENGE: 15) Katalin Varga

15) Katalin VargaDirected by Peter StricklandReleased in 2009Katalin Varga could easily be described as Romania's answer to Kill Bill. In story, the two films share only slight differences; it follows a woman who, after her and her son are kicked out...

By Daniel Sarath with 3 comments

FILM CHALLENGE: 14) 500 Days Of Summer

14) 500 Days Of SummerDirected by Marc WebbReleased in 2009500 Days Of Summer, as the title suggests, takes place over the 500 days in which Tom Hansen knows Summer Finn and it follows the blossoming of their affection for each other right through to...

By Daniel Sarath with 7 comments

FILM CHALLENGE: 13) I'm Not There

13) I'm Not ThereDirected by Todd HaynesReleased in 2007I'm Not There is both incredible and frustrating in equal measures. There are moments when I think Haynes has created a masterpiece and there are moments when I feel utterly drained by the movie.It's...

By Daniel Sarath with 4 comments

FILM CHALLENGE: 12) Days Of Heaven

12) Days Of HeavenDirected by Terrence MalickReleased in 1978Terrence Malick could possibly be my favourite director. I can't think of another film-maker who has created such beautiful and poetic cinema as the notoriously shy 66 year old and Days Of...

By Daniel Sarath with 5 comments

FILM CHALLENGE: 11) Shaun Of The Dead

11) Shaun Of The DeadDirected by Edgar WrightReleased in 2004If any British comedy from this decade will be looked back on in years to come and regarded as a classic, it's undoubtedly going to be Shaun Of The Dead. From the creators of Spaced, the film...

By Daniel Sarath with 2 comments

FILM CHALLENGE: 10) The Back Up Plan

10) The Back Up PlanDirected by Alan PoulReleased in 2010The biggest problem with this challenge is that I do have to include every film I see, even the ones that I'm dragged to kicking and screaming by friends who share an entirely different taste than...

By Daniel Sarath with 10 comments

FILM CHALLENGE: 09) Dr. Strangelove

09) Dr. StrangeloveDirected by Stanley KubrickReleased in 1964There have been a quite a few politically charged comedies over the last few years including In The Loop and Four Lions, but Dr. Strangelove will always be the cream of the crop. It is as...

By Daniel Sarath with 3 comments

FILM CHALLENGE: 08) Inglourious Basterds

08) Inglourious BasterdsDirected by Quentin TarantinoReleased in 2009The first time I watched Inglourious Basterds I remember remarking to my friend that, despite loving the film, it probably wouldn't be as enjoyable after numerous viewings. Tonight,...

By Daniel Sarath with 3 comments

FILM CHALLENGE: 07) The Grapes Of Wrath

07) The Grapes Of WrathDirected by John FordReleased in 1940There are some films that I just can't understand why people call classics. 2001: A Space Odyssey is one of them; it's not a terrible movie by any means but I find it very pretentious and difficult...

By Daniel Sarath with 1 comment

FILM CHALLENGE: 06) In Bruges

06) In Bruges Directed by Martin McDonagh Released in 2008 The best way to review this comedy about two hitmen in hiding would be to simply list the immense number of side-splittingly hilarious moments. For example, Ray's child like excitement when...

By Daniel Sarath with 3 comments

FILM CHALLENGE: 05) Control

05) ControlDirected by Anton CorbijnReleased in 2007Control is the biopic of Joy Division singer Ian Curtis and is one of the most impressive music films in recent years.The film is directed by famous photographer Anton Corbijn, therefore, it's almost...

By Daniel Sarath with 2 comments

FILM CHALLENGE: 04) Dogville

04) DogvilleDirected by Lars Von TrierReleased in 2003Wow. Writing a shot review for Lars Von Trier's examination of American life could be the most challenging aspect of this project. No words could do justice to the disturbing, chilling and yet utterly...

By Daniel Sarath with 3 comments

FILM CHALLENGE: 03) The Ladykillers

03) The LadykillersDirected by Alexander MackendrickReleased in 1955While it's always been regarded as a 'classic' British comedy film, I've never had any intention to watch The Ladykillers before. However, I decided to watch it this morning and it's...

By Daniel Sarath with 2 comments

FILM CHALLENGE: 02) Sherlock Holmes

02) Sherlock HolmesDirected by Guy RichieReleased in 2009As far as popcorn flicks go, it has to be said that Sherlock Holmes is one of the more entertaining releases of the last year or two. By no means is it perfect, but it's got pretty much everything...

By Daniel Sarath with 2 comments

FILM CHALLENGE: 01) Fahrenheit 9/11

01) Fahrenheit 9/11Directed by Michael MooreReleased in 2004I remember watching Fahrenheit 9/11 many years ago having loved Bowling For Columbine, but found it to be very confusing, very heavy-going and ultimately inferior film to Moore's aforementioned...

By Daniel Sarath with 2 comments