#188. Children of Men

"As the sound of the playgrounds faded, the despair set in. Very odd, what happens in a world without children's voices."

Chaos ensues in a future world where women have become devastatingly infertile. In year 2027, protagonist Theo Faron finds himself responsible for the preservation of mankind as he helps transport the only pregnant woman on Earth.

This film in one word? Heavy. Though it had a slow start, it picks up quickly and relentlessly around 30 minutes in and doesn't subside until the end. If you put this movie on knowing nothing about the plot beforehand like I did, prepare to feel your heart being torn out of your chest on multiple occasions. I've seen very few movies that tell a story as blatantly and grippingly as this one does. Blood on the camera, continuous scenes -- this film was designed to pull the viewer in and make them feel a part of the action, like another inhabitant of the apocalypse, desperate to survive.

The characters complimented each other well and all brought something different to the story, from reluctant and conflicted Theo, to composed and suave ex-wife Julian, to Jasper the eccentric hippie. The acting was certainly convincing too. Seasoned actors Clive Owen and Julianne Moore don't disappoint, and Clare Hope Ashitey's performance is impressive in one of her first and most career-defining roles as Kee.

With its enticing characters, brilliant acting, and great soundtrack, this is one film I'll be sure to watch again someday. Because of its heartwrenching plot twists and dismal nature, it probably won't be any time soon. My immediate rating is 7.5.

Characters: 7.8/10

Acting: 7.8/10

Storyline: 7.2/10

Entertainment Value: 7.8/10

Immediate Rating: 7.5/10

Total Score: 38.1/50

#189. The Exorcist

"The demon is a liar. He will lie to confuse us. But he will also mix lies with the truth to attack us. The attack is psychological, Damien, and powerful. So don't listen to him. Remember that - do not listen."

After a mother notices strange behavior coming from her 12 year old daughter, she goes to great lengths to find a cure for her problem. A young priest facing religious doubts and an elderly priest experienced in exorcisms are recruited to cast out the relentless demon from her child.

This was one of the scariest movies I've ever seen. It was borderline traumatizing. I've even procrastinated writing this review because it's just freaked me out so much. I had a couple of people tell me before I watched it that I had nothing to worry about; that the effects are laughable and the concept outdated. I completely disagree. The bloody crucifix, head-spinning, the spider walk down the stairs...all of those scenes terrified me. The effects are also great, especially for that time. Regan/the demon looked especially real.

I have to say, I was impressed by pretty much everything this film had to offer -- acting, plot, characters, it was all great! Even though I was highly entertained during the whole movie, I don't think I'll watch it again. It affected me more than I expected it to. My immediate rating is a 7.5/10.

Characters: 7.3/10

Acting: 7.6/10

Storyline: 7.4/10

Entertainment Value: 8/10

Immediate Rating: 7.5/10

Total Score: 37.8/50

#190. In Bruges

"I grew up in Dublin. I love Dublin. If I grew up on a farm, and was retarded, Bruges might impress me. But I didn't, so it doesn't."

Two Irish hit men are ordered to reside in Bruges, Belgium as they await their next assignment. Little do they know, it is because they are the target of someone else's.

I have been looking forward to seeing this film after a stream of the oldies, and it did not disappoint! Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson are perfect for their roles as the two Irish men in Bruges, and there are so many parts where I laughed out loud. Though I really enjoyed most of this movie, I'm not a fan of gore. Even in the form of black comedy, it was difficult for me to watch all of the gruesome scenes that were shown. There is a blinding, homicide, suicide...most of them delivered in a comedic fashion. I found those particular scenes a bit uncomfortable, as I do in most black comedies, but fortunately, that is my only complaint. The majority of the movie is incredibly witty and entertaining! Its comedic style is similar to that of Shaun of the Dead, another Top 250 movie I love.

Overall, I'm quite glad I got the chance to watch this film! The character personalities, acting, and plot is all so interesting and thoughtfully delivered, and I'll probably watch it again at some point. My immediate rating is 7.8/10.

Characters: 7.5/10

Acting: 7.8/10

Storyline: 8/10

Entertainment Value: 8.2/10

Immediate Rating: 7.8/10

Total Score: 39.3/50

#191. Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans

The Woman from the City tries to convince her lover, the Man, to drown his wife so they can be together, but being close to committing such a drastic act causes the Man to realize how much he truly loves his wife.

Wow, I didn't expect another silent movie to come up on the Top 250 so soon! The actors in Sunrise are not as expressive as those in The Kid, another silent Top 250 movie that I recently watched, but they still do a great job. The music also aids the movie in portraying emotions of characters as well as adding the appropriate ambiance to particular scenes.

After seeing the first thirty minutes of the film, I was confused as to why romance was even one of its listed genres, but I understood after watching it a little bit longer. There are several twists throughout the movie, refreshing the plot whenever it is becoming dull. Despite this, I checked the time far too much to be able to call this movie entertaining. That can likely be attributed to the black and white screen and no dialogue, something that I just can't seem to get used to. Nevertheless, the storyline ends up being incredibly touching, and I found myself smiling on multiple occasions. The film demonstrates how true love is safe and unfading, rather than what the media often portrays as love, which is something reckless and unpredictable. My immediate rating is 6.8/10.

Characters: 6.5/10

Acting: 7.2/10

Storyline: 6.9/10

Entertainment Value: 6/10

Immediate Rating: 6.8/10

Total Score: 33.4/50

#192. The Best Years of Our Lives

"You know, I had a dream. I dreamt I was home. I've had that same dream hundreds of times before. This time, I wanted to find out if it's really true. Am I really home?"

Three World War II veterans return home to Boone City after three years in war. Fred, an airman, has hard luck finding a job to suit his skills and faces marital discord. Soldier Al must restore his relationship with his wife, along with accept the fact that his children have grown older without him. Meanwhile, Homer, a sailor who had lost both hands during the war, finds out if his fiancee still wants to marry him despite his severe disability.

This movie is incredibly interesting! I have never seen a film that depicts the readjustment challenges that veterans face after a war, and I found this one quite eye-opening. All of the stories are so touching, and made me think about how I would cope if any of the instances were to happen in my life. The three main characters are compelling, and all of them give a contrasting yet poignant account of their return. The film also beautifully depicts how underwhelming finally coming back home can feel. Each veteran had an idealized vision of their homecoming, something to look forward to while they were away, but none of these expectations were ultimately met. Their families had changed drastically while they were gone, reiterating the fact that after something as impacting as war, things are never quite the same again. The veterans avoided this new reality by clinging to each other, and holding on to what they had left of war. Fortunately, though I won't spoil anything, each vet finds that there is a way to be happy again, though not in any conventional sense.

I was quite impressed by this film. The acting is excellent and the storyline is both touching and dark, as it makes a bold statement about war and its everlasting effects. I give the movie a rating of 7.6/10.

Characters: 7.7/10

Acting: 7.9/10

Storyline: 7.8/10

Entertainment Value: 7.5/10

Immediate Rating: 7.6/10

Total Score: 38.5/50

#193. The Kid

An unmarried mother leaves behind her newborn baby in hopes someone else could take care of him. When "The Tramp", played by Charlie Chaplin, finds the abandoned child on the side of the street, he takes him in and raises him as his own.

This was the first silent movie I've ever seen. I never thought I would be able to follow the storyline of a silent movie because hand gestures and facial expressions are virtually the movie viewer's only cues, but I didn't have trouble following this film at all. The actors were fantastic, especially Chaplin, who was evidently born to do silent films. I also didn't expect the film to be as entertaining as it was. There were several scenes were I laughed out loud; particularly when the Tramp wears his blanket as clothing (the original Snuggie!) and the "fight" scene. Chaplin's mannerisms are just naturally hilarious. The film also had its sad parts too, making it a well-rounded piece. It was touching to see the great lengths that the Tramp went to for a child that wasn't biologically his, demonstrating the power of unconditional love.

All in all, this movie is really great. Though I would not expect old silent films to be my favorite to watch, this particular one had top-notch acting and an equally enticing storyline with its comedic as well as melancholic undertones. My immediate rating is a 7.4/10.

Characters: 7.4/10

Acting: 8/10

Storyline: 7.4/10

Entertainment Value: 7.3/10

Immediate Rating: 7.4/10

Total Score: 37.5/50

#194. Nights of Cabiria

"Guess there's some justice in the world. You suffer, you go through hell. Then happiness comes along for everyone."

Prostitute Cabiria's only goal is to experience true love and contentment, but her rootless journey does not unfold as conventionally as she had hoped.

This is the second movie I've seen on the Top 250 directed by Federico Fellini and whose main star is  Giulietta Masina. Though this style of film is not nearly my favorite, I still enjoyed it in some ways. For one, Masina is a fantastic actress! Every scene with her in it is poignantly executed, and her emotion seems palpable. The film also holds a variety of interesting characters who give great performances, from curious though naive Cabiria, to the promisingly warm movie star Alberto, to the seemingly too-good-to-be-true Oscar. The nature of these characters all contribute to the movie's objective, and ultimately tie everything together.

One of my favorite aspects of the film is its overall message, which is to persevere despite life's challenges. Cabiria acts as a excellent example for this concept, and her character development is truly inspirational. The last few minutes of the movie, though it took some sinking in for me to come to this conclusion, is a beautiful scene that can strike a chord with anyone who sees it, regardless of one's background or lifestyle. My immediate rating is 6.5/10.

Characters: 7/10

Acting: 7.5/10

Storyline: 6.8/10

Entertainment Value: 4/10

Immediate Rating: 6.5/10

Total Score: 31.8/50

#195. The Hustler

"The pool game is over when Fats says it's over...I came after him and I'm gonna get him. I'm going with him all the way."

Young pool player Eddie Felson will stop at nothing to beat national champion Minnesota Fats. Interestingly, despite his talents, Eddie's destructive behavior toward himself and the people he loves show why he's a natural-born loser.

I have to admit that I wasn't wildly entertained while watching this movie like I felt like I should have been. The plot moved a bit too slow for my taste, and I found myself continuously losing interest. That's not to say I thought this was a bad movie. On paper, it has a lot of things going for it, and and my mission as a critic is to deconstruct it objectively.

In one of the reviews I read of this film, someone referred it as "a movie about pool that isn't a movie about pool". I'd say that's an accurate way to describe it. This film went deeper than I expected regarding the personal issues among its characters and how these issues manifested themselves. As the plot progresses, more and more of Eddie's psychological problems begin to surface. He's a fantastic pool player, but no amount of wins can fill the emptiness within him. He has a lot in common with the character that he gravitates to the most, his girlfriend Sarah. They both self-medicate with alcohol to hide from the past as well as suppress feelings of failure. This is not just the story of a pool player in over his head, but an account of the depression that affects so many people in any time period.

I think I would enjoy The Hustler a lot more if I watched it again. I mentally clocked out after the first thirty minutes of it because I really expected it to be just a movie about pool playing. Even though I wish I enjoyed the movie more while watching it, I appreciate its character development, the great acting, and most of all, the depth of its plot. Paul Newman is also ridiculously good looking. Just thought I'd throw that out there.

Characters: 7.2/10

Acting: 7.4/10

Storyline: 7.5/10

Entertainment Value: 4/10

Immediate Rating: 7/10

Total Score: 33.1/50