3 December Goodies

My Week wth Marilyn is a must see primarily because of Michelle Williams' captivating yet subtle performance. If she doesn't get an Oscar nod, I'll eat my car. Like Crazy is one of the best love stories I've ever seen on film with an ending that struck my wife and me in two opposite ways. Now The Artist is truly something else. I resisted this movie for more than the first half, but then I got drawn in, and by the end of the film, I was thoroughly enraptured.

Michael Shannon, Melancholia and Werner Herzog

I know now what Michael Shannon was so afraid of in Take Shelter- the planet, Melanancholia! Don't miss the movie, Melancholia, for the extended wedding party, but the rest of the movie isn''t worth it. Werner Herzog has another special movie out there, Into the Abyss, which examines 2 killers on death row and their families and friends. It is very bleak, but compelling nevertheless. Not as good or interesting as some of his other work, including the little acclaimed but very imaginative, My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done (see 3/7/10 post on this blog). starring Michael Shannon. If you're not watching the tv series, Boardwalk Empire, you should be. Michael Shannon has a key role in the series and is one weird character. That's the nitch this guy is carving for himself and these are all fascinating performances.