The Killing Joke

This Reflection is basically my top list of films. Let’s get straight into it. I’ll start from number Ten to number One.

The Shining. Directed by Stanley Kubrick. (10)

Probably the only horror film that I regard highly. Horror films nowadays tend to intensify more on gore, which I hate personally. A horror film should be creepy because of the story it presents not because of the gore or the ghosts/monsters. Though to me The Shining is more psychological than horror. It makes you scared because of the creepy isolation the hotel brings. Jack Nicholson’s breakdown to insanity was very memorable as his performance is really psychological terror to me. The film also had great imagery throughout. I think read somewhere that it is probably the scariest movie ever made second only to The Exorcist.

The Prestige. Directed by Christopher Nolan. (9)

Directed by my favourite director, its hard not to include it in my top ten. I love it when Mr. Nolan works with a small cast. He manages to bring out the intensity of the rivalry between Borden and Angier. Although the movie had some fantastical elements, I cannot hide my admiration how he managed to make it very realistic. The movie is also a reflection of Nolan himself. The tagline for the movie “Are you watching closely?” basically sums up Nolan. We can expect the unexpected in his movies. And a line from Borden in the film, “Never show anyone, even if they’ll beg you. As soon as you give it up, you’ll be nothing to them” also reflects Nolan. He isn’t a fan of marketing, as he believes a film should only be presented at a premiere when the audience knows nothing. The Prestige is a great form of storytelling, as it was told through three different people. It also has a complex character study and is an example how obsession can destroy the closest of allies.

The Departed. Directed by Martin Scorsese. (8)

I felt that this film had a great cast throughout. I am used to seeing Matt Damon playing a good guy that I was blown apart when I saw his portrayal in this film. He does what a good villain should do, make the audience hate his guts. I’ve always felt that Leonardo DeCaprio was a credible actor and he showed that in this film. He played a character that had the guts to do the right thing. Again Jack Nicholson was great. He was excellent as the mob boss. The man is just a great villain. This film from start to finish intrigued me. It was refreshing to see a reversal of roles. The good guy is an upper class working for the mob as disguise and the bad guy from a working-class being a cop to protect the mob. It is a great example of opposing backgrounds. Add in the lies, betrayal and sacrifice. It is the perfect action/thriller to me.

American Psycho. Directed by Mary Harron. (7)

The movie really shows that there’s a Patrick Bateman in all of us. From what I conclude from the movie, everything that really happens is in Bateman’s head. He probably never commits any of the violent acts. But it is just what he wished to do. Anyone is capable to reach such a violent state deep inside and the film explored that to me. Christian Bale was great in the role of Patrick Bateman. Reading what he had to do to prepare himself for the role, really showed how much of a devoted actor Bale was. His role in this movie made a lot of fanboys see the potential of a great Bruce Wayne/Batman. And then as they say the rest is history.

The Usual Suspect. Directed by Bryan Singer. (6)

Film starts with a cliffhanger, which keeps us on the edge of our seat throughout. It is really a big puzzle. As an audience I was trying to solve the mystery of Keyser Soze countless times. But the ending was worth the wait. It had a great plot twist. A simple plot twist yet the most effective one yet. The film also had a fast pace and endless excitement to it. And I believe this is the movie that really makes Kevin Spacey a star. His transition at the every end from crippled to a great mastermind in that walking sequence was exquisite. The film’s sense of mystery made the final reveal even more satisfying. This film gave Bryan Singer the tag “the Spielberg of his generation”.

Heat. Directed by Michael Mann. (5)

Heat focused on two very intense lead characters, played by Al Pacino and Robert DeNiro, with one main event in the film – the heist. What more can you ask from two very great actors playing characters from opposite sides of the law? It really focused on the lives of a cop and a robber. It also showed how two great minds from the opposite sides of the law faced off. The gunfight scene during the climax was very memorable and intense. Great suspense and action. Films that want to use a bank heist as a storyline should look to Heat, for inspiration.

Seven. Directed by David Fincher. (4)

John Doe, played by Kevin Spacey, is a remarkable character to me. John Doe fits the bill perfectly when I describe a villain as He.Just.Is. A deranged serial killer. We have very little information about him. And his motives are refreshing, not because he wants to rob banks or vengeance, but because he wants to bring across a point. His point, the seven deadly sins. The chilling scenes where the victims are murdered are stuck in your head after viewing movie. I prefer a movie that has a small cast and focuses solely on the main event of the film. Seven achieves that. It contrasts the difference between the two detectives in the pursuit of their relentless killer. I am especially fond of the ending. It really showed the mind of a sociopath. John Doe dies yet he wins as he manages to bring his mind across. I would LOVE a Batman story to have a rough outline following this movie. A very personal and crime solving story instead of an action packed film.

A Clockwork Orange. Directed by Stanley Kubrick. (3)

Watching this film I felt it was art. I thought the music combined with the setting makes it beautiful. We saw the film through the eyes of a psychopath. While a scene was dark and disturbing, the music was jovial. It really fits the character of Alex DeLarge perfectly. His actions and eyes were pure evil. He lived in his own world. Alex DeLarge was a manic and joyful delinquent. He found joy in other’s tragedy. I felt like I was in the mind of a psychopathic monster watching this film. Enjoying the music while watching a terrible act. The most memorable scene was when Alex was beating a man and then raping his wife, this while singing the song Singing in the Rain. It shows how much depth this character had. It was pure Joker to me. Imagined how glad I was when Heath Ledger said that Nolan had asked him to use A Clockwork Orange as an inspiration for The Joker in The Dark Knight.

Memento. Directed by Christopher Nolan. (2)

Nolan’s best work by far. The film left me speechless at after watching it. Again Nolan used a great form of storytelling. The use of flashbacks in this film was captivating. Again, a small cast is used in this film. Nolan works best when he really focuses on a particular character. Guy Pearce does a great job, throughout I felt sympathetic for his character as he tries to figure out his past. The film is intriguing from start to finish. From the moment it started, where we watch the reversal of the gunshot, I never let my eyes of the screen. It felt like I was part of the film as an audience we discovered slowly the information just as Lenny did. Nolan used a real condition that is not really taken seriously, and made a film that shows how dangerous the condition is. It is truly one of the most original films ever made. The film was structured so magnificently. The colour sequence and the black white sequence were different narration of the film, which then converges at the film’s end. The purpose of this is to create confusion for the viewer, just as confused as Lenny is. The film is basically a masterpiece.

Fight Club. Directed by David Fincher. (1)

I don’t know why, but I just feel this film tops Memento slightly because it had a personal effect on me. The film had a great tone to it. It was surreal throughout. It was dark yet it wasn’t sinister. In fact it had a comedic nature about it despite the grim tone. It is special in a way because of that. Again a story starts with a cliffhanger, which I prefer. It will make you seat throughout wondering what led to that scene. The story is basically a narration by the lead actor, who is supposed to be nameless, as we see how his life unfolds as he seeks more. I thought the reveal of the plot twist was great. I was stuck wondering why are they calling the lead actor Tyler. I never had thought it was because of dual personality. Which was why the movie has a personal effect on me. I believe that all of us talk to ourselves. And in this movie, it showed that the imagination of yourself can actually control your actions. We can actually do the things we think is impossible. It is not impossible because deep inside there is a character that is your demon. And if you let this demon control you, you can achieve the impossible. I love characters, which has this depth of duality. Which is why Batman is so intriguing to me. Combine all the above with the fascinating fight scenes, Fight Club is number one in my top ten films.

Just so you all know, this is a list of all the great films I’ve watched. Not the greatest films of all time.

Anyway, the TDK’s marketing has gone public. Tell me this magazine covers aren’t awesome!

The Joker on the Cover of Wizard Magazine.

The Joker picture released via EmpireOnline for their Jan issue.

Okay, so that’s it for my Reflections for Week 7.