As we previously explained, every now and then we here at Collider host sponsored content in order to pay for things that make the site even better for our readers (like full-scale Comic-Con coverage). The MSN FilmFan video series is one of those sponsored content articles.
We’re promoting the series for four weeks. Every Thursday or Friday, there will be a new video featured here. For most of the installments, host Sami Jarroush pits two films opening that weekend head-to-head, weighing the pros and cons of each before giving his recommendation as to which one you should go see. This week, Jarroush is joined by Chief Film Critic for MSN Movies Glenn Kenny. The two give a rundown of the best and worst films of the year so far. Hit the jump to check it out.
Kenny’s analysis of the year so far is pretty spot-on. While I would agree that it hasn’t exactly been a spectacular year, with much of the superhero/sequel fare falling short of expectations, we did have some nice surprises in the Judd Apatow-produced comedy Bridesmaids and Kenny mentions Woody Allen’s Midnight in Paris, which was splendid.
Terrence Malick’s The Tree of Life is definitely the biggest serious drama/awards film to hit theaters so far, but it’s most likely too weird and non-traditional for Oscar’s Best Picture. Expect it to be more of a presence in the technical categories (Cinematography, Score, etc.)
*This is a sponsored content article that is a part of the MSN FilmFan blogger program.
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The movies Glen liked are the movies that I have liked as well, XMFC, Tree of Life, Midnight in Paris. I’m surprised he didn’t mention Super 8 which most critics tripped over themselves rushing to praise. The films I’m looking forward to, for the rest of the summer are Cowboys & Aliens as well as Captain America and for a guilty pleasure Conan the Barbarian; as far as awards season goes, along with Drive and A Dangerous Method I include Machine Gun Preacher, Coriolanus, Carnage and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. The list of films I’m just plain dying to see is too long for this space (Sherlock Holmes 2, Killer Elite, War Horse, Tin Tin…)
“I REALLY didn’t like Thor because of this one stupid detail.”
“I REALLY liked X-Men, even though there were several stupid details about it.”
Fuck that guy.
Yeah that guy is an idiot!
Thor was just as good as X-Men… if not better. X-Men was only saved by Fassbender and Bacon.
I really like X-Men: First Class. I liked it a lot. As a Marvel fanboy I was panning that flick like crazy before it came out due to its obvious deviations from the comics. But, the film was good enough, that afterwards, I didn’t care. Thor, I also enjoyed. But, not near as much. It was good, yes, probably about as good as it reasonably could be. But, it wasn’t as good as First Class. Of course, that in no way means that it was one of the worst films of the year, or even bad. Just not as good by comparison.
wait im sorry…. “summer is winding down now and were going to start hitting up Fall”?! its JULY 8th you dumb shit…. we still have 4 more July weekends and all of August… how about you preview that before we jump into the irrelevant Sept/Oct months for movies…. also, I thought Super 8 deserved some sort of acknowledgment
Sorry Thor was lame, super lame. The romance was a forced fed full on bore. When Thor was ragin out all 5 min it was awesome. Super 8 was the worst poor excuse of a masturabotory rehash I have ever seen, talk about a letdown, why was it so hush hush, JJ is a hack. For me I loved Tree of Life, X:FC, Cave of Forgotten Dreams, Hannah, and Unknown.
CAVE OF FORGOTTEN DREAMS was a crazy, fascinating ride.
“A guy winked in Thor, thumbs down. Tree of like was really inaccessible, thumbs up.” Guys a sucker for token “Artsy” films. WHat a Tool.
What about BEGINNERS? I thought that was a great film. One worthy of award consideration. Plus, for me X-MEN has been by far the best big tentpole movie of the summer so far. All the others let me down…
I also loved BEGINNERS. Ewan McGregor should at least get some nomination recognition come award time. MIDNIGHT IN PARIS has been my surprise of the year so far.