Our weekend movie-going experience covered both ends of the spectrum: A full-blown action-filled blockbuster, and an intimate dialogue-driven indie flick, both of which were excellent, and inevitably in my top 10 of the year. Considering how much potentially good stuff is on the release-horizon, that's saying a hell of lot.

Friday night was X2, which managed to exceed any expectations and thoroughly boot me square in the ass. A pitch-perfect superhero film, well acted (well, except maybe for Cyclops Marsden, but he's at a disadvantage with the whole no-eyes thing), engrossing action sequences, excellent set design, special effects that actually worked in context. While some will complain about the number of characters and the lack of screen time for some, I think they did a great job of balancing little moments for everyone. That's what actually made the film for me... the quieter times, the one-on-one moments between actors. Logan & Bobby in the kitchen, Nightcrawler & Mystique at the campfire, the X-jet scenes with Storm & Nightcrawler, Rogue, Magneto & Mystique, and Magneto & Pyro, the whole scene with Bobby's parents. Lots more. I saw the film fairly spoiler-free, and was often surprised at the turns it took. Compliments to Singer for sticking in tons of geek-out moments and easter eggs for longtime fans, while keeping the whole thing relatively accessible for the rest.



Probably the best superhero film I've ever seen. Spider-Man sits squarely in it's shadow. Granted, the first Superman flick was right up there, but I didn't have as personal a connection with Supes when I saw it. The X-Men have been in my brain for almost 20 years, and to see them finally and fully realized on screen... just, well, wow. A freakin' fanboy dream. I liked the first X-Men movie well-enough (it was the first one that Amie and I ever saw together, when her geek streak first revealed itself me), but I can see now that it was just there to set the stage for this one. Get the introductions out of the way and get on with the story-telling. Let's hope that the inevitable third installment even comes close to measuring up.

To bookend the weekend, Amie and I went to check out the East Coast debut of Bob Odenkirk's film Melvin Goes To Dinner at the now-finished Independent Film Festival of Boston. I had no idea what to expect from this movie, and given my disappointment with Harry Shearer's Teddy Bear's Picnic, my expectations were lowered for a film from a great-comedian-turned-first-time-director. Well, turns out there was no need to lower the bar for this one.

As Bob said in his introduction, "it's nothing like Mr. Show", and it wasn't... although most of the funny bits were right on, especially cameos from Jack Black and David Cross. Bob actually started his intro by looking at the non-existant person to his left and saying "So, David, what's new in the fake news?"... a reference to his absent Mr. Show pardner.

The film seems simple in it's premise... a string of conversation and revelations over a chance dinner between four friends and friends-of-friends, but it is so well executed, so perfectly scripted, and so naturally acted, it seems like you're sitting right there with them. It was actually adapted from a stage play, using the original four primary cast members, and you can tell just how much rehearsal and preparation went into the dialogue, the interaction, the facial expressions. In the Q&A after the film, Odenkirk described the filming... five handheld cameras in order to catch not only the actors' line readings, but every other actor's reaction to them. The filming of the dinner itself took place in just one day, over a 12 hour period, and it flows seemlessly, despite the use of some out-of-sequence moments and non-dinner bits that weren't in the play (those were the scenes that had the added cameos from Jack Black, David Cross, and Maura Tierney. Great stuff.)



Playwright, screenwriter, and principal actor Michael Blieden was perfect as Melvin... the entire main cast was so damn good. Blieden also edited the film, which showed his familiarity with every line, every detail, every tiny nuance of the characters. I just enjoyed the hell out of this thing, as well as the Q&A that both Odenkirk and Blieden took part in afterwards. I can't believe this movie doesn't have distribution yet... it's been very well reviewed at previous festivals, even winning awards at a number of them. At the very least, it deserves a DVD. Hell, I'd be first in line for it.

Check out the website, and if you know anyone who lives near a future festival appearance, let 'em know about it.

Nearing the halfway point, the best films of the year so far ... All the Real Girls, Melvin Goes to Dinner, X2, A Mighty Wind, Laurel Canyon, XX/XY. Hard to believe we've still got both Matrix movies, the Hulk, the Return of the King... not to mention all the under-the-radar indie releases that we're bound to discover. A very good cinematic year indeed.