THE DANMAN CAN

Gomorrah  (2008) is recommended if you want to watch teenage boys in their underwear firing machine guns in marshlands, various actors that slightly resemble Stanley Tucci , and/or if toxic waste is your thing.

I saw Gangs Of New York  (2002) three times during its original theatrical run. Three times . I can't say that about many films. I can think of a few films that I've seen twice in the theater -  Eyes Wide Shut  (1999), There Will Be Blood  (2007) (another fantastic DDL  starrer), Sin City (2005), Batman Begins  (2005) all spring to mind - but not three. Daniel Day Lewis ' performance is still the best part of this film. I used to think the weakest part of this film was the casting of Cameron Diaz . Upon this, I believe my sixth (!) viewing of this film, she doesn't bother me so much. But the film as a whole just doesn't grab me like it used to. 9 years ago I probably would have given GONY four stars. It still earns its three, but doesn't quite deserve another 1/2 star. There's much to appreciate here, but Marty has made many masterpieces and this isn't one of them.

Ocean's Thirteen   (2007) is my least favorite of the trilogy. Still a fun "romp".  Pacino & Barkin were inspired additions and the film features a typical snazzy score from David Holmes .

I'm in the minority here, but Ocean's Twelve  (2004) is my favorite of the trilogy. I don't know why most people hate this one. I think it's more fun than the first film . Couple of good cameos. Best score/soundtrack of the three films. Plus, how can you beat the inclusion of the dashingly charming Vincent Cassel and the absurdly beautiful Catherine Zeta-Jones ?

Argento 's output was still consistently good at this point, but Phenomena  (1985) is nowhere near as good as Deep Red  (1975), Suspiria  (1977) or Inferno   (1980). I'd say that even Tenebre  (1982) has more replay value for me. But Phenomena has some great moments. Starring a virtually unknown  Jennifer Connelly , a somewhat typecast but appropriate Donald Pleasence , a chimpanzee, and lots of insects, Phenomena has a fantastic score/soundtrack (2/3 ethereal & 1/3 heavy metal), a few superb kills, and overall is enjoyable. Some of the dialogue is pretty bad, but that's standard fare for an Argento film. The Blu-ray from UK company Arrow is typical—a beautiful package featuring exclusive special features, 4-panel reversible cover art, a slip cover, booklet, and 2-sided poster, but a less-than-stellar transfer.

Ocean's Eleven (2001) is fun and entertaining with a great cast, dialogue,  director  and  score/soundtrack . What more can you ask for in this type of film? P.S. - I've yet to see the original .

This is a blues album. And I love that most of the songs don't necessarily rely on the "standard blues guitar riff". "Do I Move You?" has more swagger than most musicians would know what to do with. "My Man's Gone Now" (from the Gershwin  opera Porgy & Bess ), somewhat of a jazz/blues hybrid, has so much effortless heart and soul that it puts so many saccharine, forced, wannabe "blues" songs to shame. "I Want A Little Sugar In My Bowl" (based on a Bessie Smith  tune) is the perfect song for sitting in the shade on a hot lazy summer day. "Since I Fell For You" is sexy, languid and sublime. The sped-up version of the folk standard "The House Of The Rising Sun" peps up the album a bit. I can never get enough Nina . *Thanks to Iris for encouraging me to buy  After Hours   (1995), thus beginning my love for Simone .

Let Me In (2010) really is a competent and well made remake/revision/whatever. Necessary? Not entirely.  The original film is hard to beat. But I'd rather see Matt Reeves make films like this than Cloverfield  (2008). The bad CGI cat attack scene from Let The Right One In  (2008) was wisely ditched. The leads aren't as weird and creepy, which gives this film a different feel.  Elias Koteas  is an underused actor so I'm always happy to see him in a film. The car crash scene was really cool.