The Movie Line

Newest additions to the collection:
Death Trance
Paprika
Live Free or Die Hard
Apocalypto
Daywatch

I am debating whether or not to purchase Sicko. I saw it in theaters, loved it, and entertained thoughts of moving to France as a result. Call me unpatriotic, but I bet you don't have a body full of deteriorating cartilage. Anyway, Sicko is not my first, or even hundredth choice for repeat viewings. The only reason I have for a purchase is to get other people to see the film.

I get very frustrated with Michael Moore's detractors. Moore has been charged with leaving out important facts, overdramatizing his subjects, and the most intelligent criticism of all, being obese. I agree with these charges, but I don't see him as the mastermind of a devious, liberal conspiracy as many people do. I suppose there could be a conspiracy, if encouraging people to think beyond the CNN news feed is a conspiracy.

Sicko is an emotional portrait of the US's broken healthcare system. Here's the catch. Sicko, almost exclusively, follows citizens who actually have health insurance, and contrasts their experiences with those from countries with universal healthcare. Maybe you have encountered your own problems. Even if you haven't, you may not be so lucky in the future. Sicko doesn't provide absolute solutions, but at least it can help start the conversation leading to one.

Comments 6

daff Dec 15, 2007

The only Moore film I didn't care for was Fahrenheit 911. I thought Bowling for Columbine was really good and I think Sicko is a must see movie.

Suskie Dec 15, 2007

Haven't heard of three of the five movies on your list, but I can tell you that Live Free or Die Hard is one of the more entertaining movies in the series and Apocalypto is one of my favorite films of 2006 (and 2006 was a great year for movies).

Daff basically echoed my thoughts on Sicko and Michael Moore.

pup Blogger Dec 15, 2007

Death Trance - Featuring the action director, Yuji Shimomura, and starring Tak Sakaguchi, both of Versus fame. Versus absolutely floored me, and I would have attributed this to the director, Ryuhei Kitamura, except for the general crappiness of his later films. Here's hoping for the best on this one.

Daywatch - The sequel to the Russian film, Nightwatch. If you haven't seen Nightwatch, it comes highly recommended. You'll have to get past a lot of post-matrix sunglasses-at-night posturing, but once you do, there's a surprisingly emotional and sympathetic story inside that weaves classical mythology alongside modern technology.

Paprika - I have no idea what to expect, but this one comes from one of my favorite Japanese directors, Satoshi Kon. You wouldn't know it by the dramatic complexity, emotional resonance, psychological ramifications of his films that he works in animation. He's like David Lynch with a soul.

Oh yeah, I think I have heard of Daywatch. I always wanted to see Nightwatch but never really got around to it. By the way, isn't it supposed to be a trilogy? And if so, what the hell are they gonna call the third one?

EmP Staff Dec 16, 2007

Nightwatch is now, and always has been, right at the tyop of the 'films I want to see' list. But I never seem to get around to tracking it down. Has an awesome soundtrack on it including the fantastic 'Shatter' by Feeder.

Look a film I think I'll like and a song! I may need to change my naysyer image.

wolfqueen001 Dec 16, 2007

Hm... I wanted to see Sicko... never got around to it...

I think universal health care would be great. Also, socialized education - that'd be great, too.

Anyway, I saw Apocalyptico... and thought it was a truly awesome movie. It was a bit violent, though. >.> But I think it added to the movie in the sense of it made you think a bit more.