Thursday, June 11, 2015

PINNLAND EMPIRE'S PERSONAL FAVORITE SCENES OF THE DECADE SO FAR: PART NINE

Lists used to be a regular thing here at PINNLAND EMPIRE, but for whatever reason I gave them a rest in favor of writing longer articles that most of you probably don't even finish reading once you start. It recently hit me that although its way too early to start deciding what the defining movies of the decade are, there's already quite a few isolated moments from the last 4+ years that are either so visually striking, prolific, heartbreaking, frightening, hilarious or a combination of everything that they deserve to be mentioned.

So, as part of a new ongoing series, we're going to list my personal favorite movie moments of the decade so far.
I put an emphasis on the word; "personal" because its just that. My own personal opinion. This list in no way speaks for anyone else. And please keep in mind that this is ongoing. So if you don't see something listed that you feel should be, give it some time. It may show up eventually. There's no order or hierarchy in what gets listed either.

Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Part Four
Part Five
Part Six
Part Seven
Part Eight

Here's part nine, enjoy...


THE OPENING CREDITS FROM BERBERIAN SOUND STUDIO
Much like the begining of Enter The Void, the opening title sequence for this surreal noir got my undivided attention right out of the gate (...and also much like Enter The Void, Berberbian Sound Studio started to drag midway though to a somewhat messy finish). 



THE CLOSING CREDITS FROM DJANGO UNCHAINED
I hated this movie very much (like all post-Kill Bill 1 Tarantino movies) and I was glad when it ended. After the second (unnecessary) shoot out scene I was convinced this piece of shit movie was never going to end. But when these credits finally flashed across the screen I said to myself; "Finally!" and shut my DVD player off disappointed in myself for wasting over two hours of my life. Seriously, this movie is terrible and I don't understand why so many people like it. Yes I'm not a Quentin Tarantino fan, but it's because his movies (like Django) aren't good anymore.



FRANCES GOES TO PARIS (FRANCES HA)
Hey I don't know about you all but I've been to Europe a few times in my life and have been a lazy piece of shit for a few days at a time. I remember some people complaining about this sequence going; "who goes to Europe and sleeps the entire time?" Well...I have. This is a great example of how to make an underwhelming/boring sequence of events come off as entertaining.



VAL KILMER IN MACGRUBER
No matter how much of a disappointment MacGruber was (to me at least) Val Kilmer's performance as "Dieter Von Cunth" stands as one of his all-time greatest performances right up there with Real Genius & Top Secret. I can't really think of one isolated scene but his ability to maintain the persona of a super villain in such a silly movie is commendable and his chemistry with Will Forte was amazing.




BOLTIE'S DEATH (SUPER)
This was a heartbreaking moment that I honestly didn't see coming. Not only had I grown attached to The Crimson Bolt's trusty sidekick but I also didn't think James Gunn had the guts to kill off a young/cute character in such a gruesome way.



THE FINAL MOMENTS OF THE HUNT
The stigma of an accusation can stick with you whether you're innocent or not (especially when you're an adult male accused of pedophilia). The final moments of The Hunt reminded me of what I missed so much about Celebration era-Vinterberg (apparently there was an even darker alternate ending in mind that he chose to scrap).
For more insight in to this excellent film, check out John Cribb's review over at the pink smoke...



THE GIRLS FINALLY PERFORM (WE ARE THE BEST)

I can't think of a better way to end such an excellent film. Forgive me for what I'm about to write but...it was very "punk rock". Normally that's the kind of thing I'd role my eyes at but that is the spirit of this film and our three main characters stayed true to that by putting on a truly disastrous performance that incited a small riot. I cant think of too many things more "punk" than that.



MALE BONDING (PRINCE AVALANCHE)
Paul Rudd & Emile Hirsch's chemistry in Prince Avalanche is pretty similar to Rogen & Franco in Green's Pineapple Express - the grumpy cynic (Rogen/Rudd) constantly fussing at the dopey idiot (Franco/Hirsch) which is a relationship that dates back to the first comedic duos. There's an exchange of dialogue between Rudd & Hirsch in Prince Avalanche that reminds us all how immature men can be with each other no matter how old we are...

Lance (Emile Hirsch): At least I don't go around thinking I'm a great dancer when I actually stink at dancing
Alvin (Paul Rudd): You've never even seen me dance
Lance: I've seen you do a lot of things when you don't think I'm looking
-Prince Avalanche

Tip (Shea Whigham): No, we ain't friends no more! ...YOU AIN'T EVEN IN MY TOP 10!
-All The Real Girls

Its like David Gordon Green knows there's this level of immaturity that men will never lose no matter how much they age. When I watch how grown men interact with one another in Green's work I'm sometimes reminded of John Cassavetes, Peter Falk & Ben Gazzara in Husbands. It was nice to see these two characters finally let their guard down and bond with each other and "bro-out".



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