Chinatown (1974), Fargo (1996), and The Warriors (1979)

Obviously, I did not watch all of these today... I just got a slow start updating the blog.

Chinatown. This movie is on the AFI list, and is also my roommate's uncle's favorite movie. And I can see why. It had me guessing the entire way through. The screenplay was ridiculously intricate and detailed yet easy to understand, and the acting was awesome (duh, Jack Nicholson). There are some moments that are a little jarring for a 20 year old to see (i.e., Nicholson's character repeatedly slapping the female lead in an effort to calm her down). A different time, I guess. But overall, this was an incredible film, exciting right up to the end. It was also my first noir film, and I have to say, I'm hooked. I want to go back and watch the noir classics that preceded Chinatown.

Fargo. Another AFI list movie. I was really excited for this one, as it is a Coen brothers movie as well as the basis for the current hit show Fargo. Somehow, I didn't love it. The acting was amazing throughout, and the story was interesting, I just never felt excited by it. It just kind of seemed... boring. Which I'm sure is sacrilegious in the film community to say about this movie. Maybe I just didn't 'get it.' I understand that Macy's character was a total fish out of water baffoon, and he played that brilliantly, but nothing seemed to click in place, for me, at least. Oh well, at least it was fun watching Steve Buscemi be weird.

The Warriors. This isn't actually on any of the lists, but is a movie I would put under the category of "popular culturally relevant." My goal is to never be left out of a movie conversation and have a working knowledge of film history, and this fits into that. Plus, it was super badass. Sure, I thought the cinematography was lacking and could have been shot better by a fellow Chapman student, but the premise was great and the direction was particularly awesome. With the wrong director, this could have easily felt either campy or too serious, but a good balance was achieved that allows this film to hold up decades later. However, some plot details I didn't love: everyone was sexist, the female roles were weak, and there was a lot of beating on cops. I think this is partly just the product of a different time, but it would have been awesome to see Mercy beat up a gang member for being rapey. Besides the sexism, this movie was awesome, though, very fun, exciting, and probably rewatchable.