Here it is! The annual WIZEGUY BESTest…agree? disagree? Sound off in the comments below.
Movies:
Gravity
Every now and then a film comes along that makes you pull a Neo-like ‘Whoa’ when the lights go up. Gravity was like that for me, a modern classic in every sense of the term. A spectacle that is not to be missed (must see in theaters). Jaw dropping wonder, nerve racking vertigo, nail biting tension, spin tingling shots and visceral fear.
Upstream Color
Upstream Color is a film written, directed and produced by Shane Carruth. It is also possibly one of the most visually imagined films that I have ever seen. EVER. If Carruths other film, Primer, left you scratching your head than UC will get under your skin. It is a mind melt of intellectual mystery, philosophical science fantasy, astonishing original think piece and it is beautifully shot. Even if you don’t know exactly what’s going on, you really doubt that Carruth knows exactly what he’s doing.
The Worlds End
Edgar Wright has a chaotic style. He refuses to rest on mere genre convention. For some, It rubs them the wrong way, I think with The Worlds End he is as brilliant as ever. It is a meticulous crafted film, filled with offhand hipness, it’s anarchy vs conformity and bittersweet in its depiction of male arrested development. With a ton of heart, sentimentality, and a huge emphasis on friendship, The Worlds End puts a spin on the imperfections all humans have and delivers a film that is near perfect because of it.
Before Midnight
There is a scene in Before Midnight where director Richard Linklater basically eve drops on a convo between the leads (Hawke and Delpy) done in a single take, goes on for what seems like over ten minutes where they just talk and talk. However, the thing is…it’s all fascinating. Smart dialogue that never feels forced, excellent performances that transport the viewers into the moment and an authentic aura that debunks the notions of fairy tale endings.
Pacific Rim
Pacific Rim transports you into a world that could have been conceived by a 12-year-old boy. This movie is a total kick ass nerdfest that has nothing but love for the material it’s tackling. In many ways this is the best giant monster film ever made. And in many ways it should have been better. However…Del Toro is reveling in blockbuster clichés at the same time he’s pounding them into the pavement, and somehow that self-consciousness lets us all in on the joke. Pacific Rim tickles every Godzilla and Neon Genesis Evangelion loving fiber in your body.
Honorable Mention(s): Sound City & Dallas Buyers Club.
Comics/Trades:
Mind MGMT Vol 1
(Matt Kindt, Dark Horse)
In another medium, Mind MGMT would be referred to as a ‘High Concept’ story. What if the US government had a secret program with weaponized mind control specialists?
In its particulars, Mind MGMT is the story of Meru, a successful author of a debut true-crime book, is the main character but she has amnesia that goes back two years, when her memories start, and hasn’t written a word since. This is the character we follow throughout the book as we meet many more strange and mysterious people she becomes wrapped up in the secret, dangerous world of the organization called Mind Management. Her investigation throws her into a spy story with psychics, immortal assassins, and former government operatives. It is a roller coaster of a ride which reads an awful lot like a spy thriller in the vein of the Bourne Identity with the added strangeness of the unknown and special powers of the agents. A perfect read for fans of Lost or those who don’t mind an X-Files element in their thrillers. A fun bonus at the end of the book is three short stories which take place prior to the events of book, giving the reader some background information on characters and plot. And Kindt’s watercolor artwork is too gorgeous not to call special attention to as well.
Saga Volume 2
(Bryan K Vaughn/Fiona Staples, Image Comics)
Saga volume 2 collects issues #7-12 and picks up right where volume 1 left off. Vaughan continues to write this series with everything he can throw at it and still succeeds immensely. The theme of volume 2 is more personal then volume 1, where it had every character doing something to create a massive world building book. Volume 2 has it where it slows the pace a little bit and focuses more on the family building between Marko’s parents coming into the fold (so don’t let the graphic, blood soaked Marko on the cover give you the wrong ideas). Their prejudice against Alana, Marko’s decision and lifestyle choices, and being grandparents (and parents themselves to Marko) evolve and play out wonderful, as well as emotionally organic over the course of the book. The theme that all parents want what’s best for their children is utterly prevalent. And further examination of how Alana and Marko first met and ended up with each other is also touching, humorous, and very Romeo and Juliet-like.
And of course art duties are by Fiona Staples, who again, continues to draw some of the most exquisite, colorful, organic/alien looking book on the market. She still stays strong with Vaughans scripts of human emotion and expressions, while giving touches of wit, organic plant life, and alien sci-fi to the pages. Even more the risqué art form that was in volume 1 is still here and will still surprise/shock you when you see it.
Much like volume 1, I have really no complaints here, but it still is a mature rated book. F-bombs, sexual depiction, innuendos, blood, violence, and some of the weirdest forms of imagery a person can imagine a alien universe are here in full glory. But if you read volume 1 and had no problems with Staples imagery, then you know what to expect. It’s still explicit and rough and pushing all kinds of boundaries, but Vaughan’s taking time to properly deal with things previously established instead of always rushing headlong into the next “oh my god” moment.
East Of West Vol 1: The Promise
(Jonathan Hickman/Nick Dragotta, Image Comics)
Jonathan Hickman has become a reasonably well known writer the past few years thanks to his work on Fantastic Four. The man has a knack for big and ambitious concepts that pay off over time, mixed in with some metafiction and surrealism. So most of Hickman’s work is all about building a story up, then at the very end, it all comes together. It can be long and grueling to sit through, but if you are patient, the wait is worth it.
East of West is a very condensed read in setting up this apocalyptic sci-fi western that is equal parts futuristic and mythological in scope. There are numerous characters set into play aside from Death and his two witches that accompany him, each of the Seven Nations of America representatives all have agendas in play, and even the Three Horsemen have their own roles on completing their goals. This makes for a strong character and world building book, with some action and emotions plays here and there. The sequences and placement of time and vague information can get jarring. Most of the plot is loosely explained within the first 3 issues, which might make the read confusing. But again, the motivations and back story start making sense by the end, with some revelations, more questions to come, and clearer motives.
The art by Nick Dragotta is well done, having a mixture of clean and detailed splash pages of desert fields and scrapping cyber cities, to graphic violence, and strong character expressions. Dragotta’s art is wonderful to see when he and Hickman did Fantastic Four together, thankfully it carries over well here for this series.
Honorable Mention(s): The Private Eye issues one through four (Bryan K Vaughn/Marcos Martin/Munsta Vicente, Panel Syndicate)& Batman Vol 3: Death of The Family (Scott Snyder/Greg Capullo, DC Comics).