Month in Review: November 2011

This rainy, dark and gusty November was all about remembrance. It was a journey into the heart of madness, broken thoughts, addiction and demonic possession. Even more troubling, it was a month where I watched both a Jim Carrey and a Halle Berry vehicle.

Shudder.

GeekvsGoth.com is not without its sacrifice.

November was also about compromising long-held principles. I actually forced myself to watch The Notebook . I had sworn that would never, ever, ever happen. It wasn’t as bad as I thought.

Apparently James Garner can even make treacle palatable.

This was a hectic, action-packed November filled with moments I desperately want to remember and bits I long to forget. So here’s is my list of mind-bending, psychotic, where-did-I-put-my-keys? flicks for November 2011: favourites, surprises, disappointments, least-liked, and the only unseen pick from one of Hacker Renders brain-searingly memorable reviews.

Favourite
A Scanner Darkly (2006) on 2011/11/07

* * * *

“Using the same interpolated rotoscope animation technique used in the sublime Waking Life, director Richard Linklater (Dazed and Confused) has yet again created something visceral, affecting, wise and somehow incredibly beautiful. Based on the Philip K. Dick novel of the same name, this animated movie is the pure, undiluted delivery of the gloom, humour, loneliness, drama and attraction of addiction.”

Surprise
The Notebook (2004) on 2011/11/12

* * *

“I swore I would never, ever watch this movie. Ever. In fact, The Notebook was my line in the sand. There were people who would watch The Notebook and like The Notebook. Then there was me. I rest what happened to me during the screening of this film is entirely at James Garner’s feet. I now resent The Notebook for making me cry my own tears.”

Disappointment
The Number 23 (2007) on 2011/11/13

* * *

“While watching The Number 23 – Jim Carrey’s very first suspense thriller (cough) – I kept thinking about the AWESOM-O episode of South Park. Cartman disguised as a talking cardboard robot is asked (for some reason) to generate new, money-making movie ideas to group of idiot film producers. All of AWESOM-O’s pitches involve Adam Sandler. “Okay, how about this: Adam Sandler.. inherits like, a billion dollars, but first, he has to, like, become a …boxer, or something.”

Yes, it’s flawless!”

Least-Liked
Gothika (2003) on 2011/11/19

* *

“Gothika would make a fabulous double bill with The Number 23 – in the Actors Who Single-Handedly Ruined Promising Movies Film Festival.

That is all.”

Show Me
Solaris (2002) on 2011/11/25

* * * *

“Some will call it careful, perhaps even slow. No doubt it’s deliberate and methodical, however its hypnotic spell makes the perfect prism through which to view the elusive, ephemeral subject matter.”