279. Saved! (2005)

Why would God make us so different if he wanted us to be the same?

Simply put, the greatest movie dealing with teenage spirituality of all time. We seriously need more of these. Jena Malone and Macaulay Culkin are both absolutely awesome. If you like "Juno" or "Glee", you need to check this out immediately!

278. A Very Long Engagement (2005)

Manech loves Mathilde, Mathilde loves Manech.

Recipe for making a movie simply for Will:
-Reunite director Jean-Pierre Jeunet with adorable sprite Audrey Tautou.
-Set the movie during World War I
-Mix in absolutely beautiful cinematography
-Add in just enough fantasy so that the movie teeters on the edge of believability
-Throw in a storyline of star-crossed lovers separated by war who'll stop at nothing to find each other
-Make it a 2.5 hour epic of a film!

277. Catfish (2010)

And I thank god for the catfish because we would be droll, boring and dull if we didn't have somebody nipping at our fin.

This will probably be the only movie that I add to the blog as I go (I'll figure out something to bump out...). I simply had to bring attention to this film as soon as possible. I really only have two things to say:

1. SEE THIS MOVIE IMMEDIATELY - It'll be a perfect Friday night movie for April 1.
2. DON'T READ ANYTHING ELSE ABOUT THIS MOVIE!!!! In fact stop reading right now and update your Netflix/make a redbox run/insert movie aquisition method of choice!

I will simply say that this is the most moving, tense, and truly real movie I have seen in a VERY long time. I repeat, DO NOT read anything about this movie this includes, but is not limited to, reviews, imdb.com information, news articles, etc.

276. Closer (2004)

Why isn't love enough?

I admit that I don't remember much about my single viewing of this movie seven years ago except for its absolute awesomeness and the song "The Blower's Daughter" by Damien Rice (even if you don't check out this movie, check out this song; pure haunting beauty). Still, if movies were sports this would be an all-star game. A love "square" between Natalie Portman, Jude Law, Julia Roberts, and Clive Owen directed by Mike Nichols (of "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf" and "The Graduate" fame). I really need to rewatch this on a sleepless "world-contemplating" night...

275. Dawn of the Dead (2004)

-Not to #*$( on anyone's riff here, but let me just see if I grasp this concept, ok? You're suggesting that we take some $(#&ing parking shuttles, and reinforce them with some aluminum siding, and then just head on over to the gun store and watch our good friend Andy play some cowboy movie jump-on-the-covered-wagon bull$*#(. Then, we're gonna drive across a ruined city, through a welcome committee of a few hundred thousand dead cannibals, all so that we can sail off into the sunset on this #*@(ing #*$((#*'s boat? And head for some island that for all we know doesn't even exist?
-Yeah.
-Pretty much, yeah.
-Yeah.
-Okay... I'm in.

So, you don't really like horror movies? Yeah, me neither... With that said, I do have quite an affinity for zombie movies, and I have this challenge to my horror-challenged brethren. Watch the first 10 minutes of this movie (at least until Johnny Cash's opening credits song). If you don't dig it, then I understand. No problem, but there is probably a segment of the population who's eyes will be opened to a whole wonderful Romero-world because of this amazing opening sequence.

274. Finding Neverland (2004)

-When I think of your mother, I will always remember how happy she looked, sitting there in the parlor watching a play about her family, about her boys that never grew up. She went to Neverland. And you can visit her any time you like if you just go there yourself.
-How?
-By believing, Peter. Just believe.

It simply doesn't get any better than a true story with a touch of fantasy, Johnny Depp, Kate Winslet, a really talented young actor (Freddie Highmore) and the origin of Peter Pan.

273. Garden State (2004)

-Cause like you said, this is it. This is life. And I'm in love with you... I think that's the only thing I've ever really been sure of in my entire life. And I'm really messed up right now, and I got a whole lot of stuff I have to work out, but I don't want to waste any more of my life without you in it. And I think I can do this. I mean, I want to. I have to, right?
-Yeah. Yes!
-So what do we do? What do we do?

So, you are a young Hollywood up-and-coming actor or actress and you want to write, direct, and star in your very own feature film. All you have to do is follow Zach Braff's quick and easy guide:
1. Write a quirky screenplay that plays off your own life but exaggerates for the sake of fantasy elements (not for the sake of entertainment alone - i.e.: don't listen to the suits and focus groups!).
2. Inject a nice little love story with an absolutely adorable costar (Natalie Portman is preffered)
3. Cast Peter Sarsgaard as one of your close friends regardless of your age. He can pull it off, he is probably the most "chameleon-like" actor of our time.
4. Cast Method Man in a bit part in which he imparts vague wisdom to the main character.
5. Get some of the best little known indie-rock bands to let you use their songs a soundtrack that fits the mood of your film perfectly (The Shins, Imogen Heap, Iron & Wine)
6. Add in just a dash of little-remembered classic music from some combination of Nick Drake, Simon & Garfunkel, or both.
7. Sit back and watch the perfection unfold before you.