no.122 A Very Long Engagement
Loved nearly everything about this film. It's got the quirky Amelie Jean-Pierre Jeunet stamp all over it. Granted, it's no Alien Resurrection, thank god! It's all about the details, the little side notes and graphics are what make this movie. The cinematography is breathtaking, in battle or at the lighthouse. I love Audrey Tautou and Marion Cotillard as black and white portrayals of women who are desperate in seeking answers or vengeance for their lovers.
MMM - truly a very long engagement when you realize these two characters were made for one another from the age of six. Twenty years is more than enough to wait?
Friday, July 31, 2009
beowulf
no.121 Beowulf
I know this is my almighty, put him on a pedestal Neil Gaiman, but this sucked. The graphics were more annoying than inventive, do we need to see a naked Angelina Jolie, I mean, she's amazingly gorgeous, but it's just gratuitous and they did it because of the medium. There was so much "story" to flesh out the actions of the original work and took a great deal of imagination, research, etc, but I was totally unimpressed.
There you go, Todd. I'm putting down a Gaiman work; I know you're gloating.
I know this is my almighty, put him on a pedestal Neil Gaiman, but this sucked. The graphics were more annoying than inventive, do we need to see a naked Angelina Jolie, I mean, she's amazingly gorgeous, but it's just gratuitous and they did it because of the medium. There was so much "story" to flesh out the actions of the original work and took a great deal of imagination, research, etc, but I was totally unimpressed.
There you go, Todd. I'm putting down a Gaiman work; I know you're gloating.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
q & ichi
Takaski Miike...although these are two totally separate films, I really feel that I've got to make a comment on transgressive fiction as parlayed into film.
Transgress: 1) to violate a command or law, 2) to go beyond a boundary or limit.
When we talk about transgressive fiction or art, we're talking about characters and actions that push the boundaries of what we deem as normal in our society. Depending on your bent, you might see Weeds as transgressive, which I consider only mildly. I enjoy stories about people rebelling against the norm, knowing that they do not need to fall in line with the man, although it can reach pretty far and go to really dark places. This is where I think some of Miike's work falls. Granted, he's terribly prolific, he's even done kids films, but in regards to the following, he really pushes the limit. It begs to question whether he's pushing the boundary because he can, whether he's being shocking just because he can, if he's creating art in the sense of making the audience feel uncomfortable or just putting it out there because no one else is.
What makes Transgressive art/film/literature interesting and thrilling to me can be qualified by our friend, Kevin Smith via Seth Rogen in Zack and Miri: "...but I always wish I had and that's what porno is! It's fantasy, it's taking the normal and making it abnormal by fucking it!" (oh, that poor little dog.) Horrible actions, addictions, afflictions, while alone may be unspeakable, when put into a different environment, tied together by a narrative with tongue in cheek, witty dialogue with a comedic bent, voila, you've got something that you can't help but howl at, roll on the floor laughter. You may feel wicked for laughing, but you can't help it. Sometimes things are so ridiculous, there's nothing left to do but laugh at it's wrongness. It's about the sum of the parts.
no. 119 Visitor Q
The film starts out by asking, "Have you ever done it with your Dad?" WHOA. There is very little dialogue to accompany what can only be described as disturbing images that certainly made me feel uncomfortable, which mind you, is a feat in and of itself. We're asked questions then visually shown that scenario, although, while we are going through these steps, we have no idea that these people will inhabit the same home, as a unit, I wouldn't really call a family, but a family none the less. Are these acts meant to shock? In the end, what made this gel and ultimately work for me was the addition of a cohesive narrative and dialogue. If not, this could have just been a string of videos someone recorded on their phones and uploaded to YouTube. By the time we've hit the bathrooms scene, I'm laughing my ass off. The string of seeming random (although with each piece you put the people and actions together) and mostly horrific acts become an image, much like the mother's puzzle, you're able to appreciate, and I use that word sparingly, what Miike has tried to accomplish.
If the film was placed in the shoes of a bored Japanese housewife who started turning tricks to pay for her junk habit which allows her to cope with the physical abuse brought on by her son...and her party trick was lactation, it would be hysterical.
no.120 Ichi the Killer
I was a little fearful that this might be too over the edge and spark what can be an overactive mind. No way, I laughed my ass off throughout the entire film. Violent? Hell yeah. Gory? Well, we see the carnage of the aftermath, but the "violent" actions we see are so campy, it's hardly scary or unsettling. The Yakusa theme tied all the nonsense together.
The real transgression is not in the violent acts, the pleasure found in pain, but in the exploitation of Ichi. He is so scarred and his mind is easily twisted and literally washed out to believe that the bullying he received as a kid was tangled in rape which leads to his utter repulsion and confused sexual repression. It's sad how he's made to believe his actions are tied to vengeance toward the bullies who tortured him, the super hero outfit, while he's being used as a dull object to bluntly (well, sharply) act as a tool to wipe out part of the syndicate.
I nearly pissed myself over the tongue scene; his offering was completely repulsive and scared the shit out of everyone. One who could mutilate himself must be feared. Kakihara is a great character...
I'm going to have to pick up the manga series, although, I have a feeling I won't find it at the Camp Hill library :)
Transgress: 1) to violate a command or law, 2) to go beyond a boundary or limit.
When we talk about transgressive fiction or art, we're talking about characters and actions that push the boundaries of what we deem as normal in our society. Depending on your bent, you might see Weeds as transgressive, which I consider only mildly. I enjoy stories about people rebelling against the norm, knowing that they do not need to fall in line with the man, although it can reach pretty far and go to really dark places. This is where I think some of Miike's work falls. Granted, he's terribly prolific, he's even done kids films, but in regards to the following, he really pushes the limit. It begs to question whether he's pushing the boundary because he can, whether he's being shocking just because he can, if he's creating art in the sense of making the audience feel uncomfortable or just putting it out there because no one else is.
What makes Transgressive art/film/literature interesting and thrilling to me can be qualified by our friend, Kevin Smith via Seth Rogen in Zack and Miri: "...but I always wish I had and that's what porno is! It's fantasy, it's taking the normal and making it abnormal by fucking it!" (oh, that poor little dog.) Horrible actions, addictions, afflictions, while alone may be unspeakable, when put into a different environment, tied together by a narrative with tongue in cheek, witty dialogue with a comedic bent, voila, you've got something that you can't help but howl at, roll on the floor laughter. You may feel wicked for laughing, but you can't help it. Sometimes things are so ridiculous, there's nothing left to do but laugh at it's wrongness. It's about the sum of the parts.
no. 119 Visitor Q
The film starts out by asking, "Have you ever done it with your Dad?" WHOA. There is very little dialogue to accompany what can only be described as disturbing images that certainly made me feel uncomfortable, which mind you, is a feat in and of itself. We're asked questions then visually shown that scenario, although, while we are going through these steps, we have no idea that these people will inhabit the same home, as a unit, I wouldn't really call a family, but a family none the less. Are these acts meant to shock? In the end, what made this gel and ultimately work for me was the addition of a cohesive narrative and dialogue. If not, this could have just been a string of videos someone recorded on their phones and uploaded to YouTube. By the time we've hit the bathrooms scene, I'm laughing my ass off. The string of seeming random (although with each piece you put the people and actions together) and mostly horrific acts become an image, much like the mother's puzzle, you're able to appreciate, and I use that word sparingly, what Miike has tried to accomplish.
If the film was placed in the shoes of a bored Japanese housewife who started turning tricks to pay for her junk habit which allows her to cope with the physical abuse brought on by her son...and her party trick was lactation, it would be hysterical.
no.120 Ichi the Killer
I was a little fearful that this might be too over the edge and spark what can be an overactive mind. No way, I laughed my ass off throughout the entire film. Violent? Hell yeah. Gory? Well, we see the carnage of the aftermath, but the "violent" actions we see are so campy, it's hardly scary or unsettling. The Yakusa theme tied all the nonsense together.
The real transgression is not in the violent acts, the pleasure found in pain, but in the exploitation of Ichi. He is so scarred and his mind is easily twisted and literally washed out to believe that the bullying he received as a kid was tangled in rape which leads to his utter repulsion and confused sexual repression. It's sad how he's made to believe his actions are tied to vengeance toward the bullies who tortured him, the super hero outfit, while he's being used as a dull object to bluntly (well, sharply) act as a tool to wipe out part of the syndicate.
I nearly pissed myself over the tongue scene; his offering was completely repulsive and scared the shit out of everyone. One who could mutilate himself must be feared. Kakihara is a great character...
I'm going to have to pick up the manga series, although, I have a feeling I won't find it at the Camp Hill library :)
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
charlotte gray
no.117 Charlotte Gray
What would our lives be like if war actually came upon American shores? I can't imagine the upheaval in our daily routine, the fear. I don't think Americans could cope, adjust, period. We're too soft. It blows my mind to think about the devastation in Europe during WWII (and Japan), yet alone to see the rebuild.
I enjoyed the film, but it just made me think how we are so not equipped for real war in this country. As always, Cate Blanchett is stunning and a good pair with the gorgeous Billy Crudup.
Oh yeah - totally felt like I was heading to Hogwarts and was looking for the blue Anglia to appear. That and Michael Gambon...
What would our lives be like if war actually came upon American shores? I can't imagine the upheaval in our daily routine, the fear. I don't think Americans could cope, adjust, period. We're too soft. It blows my mind to think about the devastation in Europe during WWII (and Japan), yet alone to see the rebuild.
I enjoyed the film, but it just made me think how we are so not equipped for real war in this country. As always, Cate Blanchett is stunning and a good pair with the gorgeous Billy Crudup.
Oh yeah - totally felt like I was heading to Hogwarts and was looking for the blue Anglia to appear. That and Michael Gambon...
Monday, July 27, 2009
ashes of time redux
no.116 Ashes of Time Redux
Finally, we see Kar Wai Wong with a real narrative structure and dialogue! It took him dedicating himself to a book adaptation to do so and I really enjoyed it. Yes, I love him for his free flow, not knowing where he's going next, but I also know he's been a successful screen and tv writer and I wanted to have the chance to experience that (I'm pretty sure I can't get my hands on a translated or subtitled copies.) Although fully scripted, it still is cut up like WWK films and follows his desire to show the complexities of love.
He compares The Eagle Shooting Heroes to the Lord of the Rings, in it's scope and fantasty. I'm not sure if it's really considered wuxia, it's not as showy as other films that crossed over into Western audiences. There are two really great scenes which lean this way, where Yin/Yang has to sword practice against her/himself in the water which is breathtaking and when Little Tony has gone blind and is taking what should be a group of bandits but what appears to be a whole village.
I loved that in Redux, they chose to put in the seasonal titles, although Doyle's work showed us, with the help of the Chinese Almanac, which the book leans on heavily to push time, we're able to match the narrator with nature's shift with time.
Christopher Doyle, as always, is utterly amazing. I wish, for one day, I could see the world through his eyes, what a day that would be! The locations were so remote into the Chinese desert - the widest lens just couldn't capture it's beauty.
Finally, we see Kar Wai Wong with a real narrative structure and dialogue! It took him dedicating himself to a book adaptation to do so and I really enjoyed it. Yes, I love him for his free flow, not knowing where he's going next, but I also know he's been a successful screen and tv writer and I wanted to have the chance to experience that (I'm pretty sure I can't get my hands on a translated or subtitled copies.) Although fully scripted, it still is cut up like WWK films and follows his desire to show the complexities of love.
He compares The Eagle Shooting Heroes to the Lord of the Rings, in it's scope and fantasty. I'm not sure if it's really considered wuxia, it's not as showy as other films that crossed over into Western audiences. There are two really great scenes which lean this way, where Yin/Yang has to sword practice against her/himself in the water which is breathtaking and when Little Tony has gone blind and is taking what should be a group of bandits but what appears to be a whole village.
I loved that in Redux, they chose to put in the seasonal titles, although Doyle's work showed us, with the help of the Chinese Almanac, which the book leans on heavily to push time, we're able to match the narrator with nature's shift with time.
Christopher Doyle, as always, is utterly amazing. I wish, for one day, I could see the world through his eyes, what a day that would be! The locations were so remote into the Chinese desert - the widest lens just couldn't capture it's beauty.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
the doors
no.115 The Doors
GOD, it's been so long since I've seen this film, which totally captures a period of my teenage years where I was so attached to Jim Morrison. In fact, I was convinced that his death was staged and he was living in Bangor, Maine running a little head shop called the Grasshopper (watch Doors live at the Bowl and you'll find the seed that got germinated during a visit to see the twins in the northern wonderland.)
Although this was inspired by Riders on the Storm, the remaining band members felt that Oliver Stone went too far when portraying Jim as asshole, self centered, etc. Most accounts I have read is that he really was shy, a poet, and needed to gear himself up for being the rock god on stage, drinking into a stupor. I think Val Kilmer was amazing, the fact that all the live singing was actually him, any song as part of the soundtrack was the real recording with Jim's voice. I remember hearing on MTV that Michael Hutchence was actually in the running for the part - the one film he did was shite, but I would have loved to see him pull off the Lizard King.
There are alot of great scenes, classic lines. Meg Ryan is brilliant, tripping her ass off screaming, "you killed my duck!" (I use that all the time.) Kyle MacLachlan is nearly unrecognizable in his depiction of Manzarek.
Dana and I met Robbie Kreiger when we were like 18 - we were so unbelievably excited. I remember them asking if we were of age, which makes me laugh. If I counted the times I've had to ask that in a day's work...
"Teenage death girls want my dick, not my words."
"Come on, let's get some tacos."
GOD, it's been so long since I've seen this film, which totally captures a period of my teenage years where I was so attached to Jim Morrison. In fact, I was convinced that his death was staged and he was living in Bangor, Maine running a little head shop called the Grasshopper (watch Doors live at the Bowl and you'll find the seed that got germinated during a visit to see the twins in the northern wonderland.)
Although this was inspired by Riders on the Storm, the remaining band members felt that Oliver Stone went too far when portraying Jim as asshole, self centered, etc. Most accounts I have read is that he really was shy, a poet, and needed to gear himself up for being the rock god on stage, drinking into a stupor. I think Val Kilmer was amazing, the fact that all the live singing was actually him, any song as part of the soundtrack was the real recording with Jim's voice. I remember hearing on MTV that Michael Hutchence was actually in the running for the part - the one film he did was shite, but I would have loved to see him pull off the Lizard King.
There are alot of great scenes, classic lines. Meg Ryan is brilliant, tripping her ass off screaming, "you killed my duck!" (I use that all the time.) Kyle MacLachlan is nearly unrecognizable in his depiction of Manzarek.
Dana and I met Robbie Kreiger when we were like 18 - we were so unbelievably excited. I remember them asking if we were of age, which makes me laugh. If I counted the times I've had to ask that in a day's work...
"Teenage death girls want my dick, not my words."
"Come on, let's get some tacos."
Saturday, July 25, 2009
caveman's valentine
no. 114 Caveman's Valentine
Is there something about gifted musician and Julliard that makes people want to write about how they lost everything due to mental illness? Seriously, it's old, people.
Samuel L. should have just stayed away from this, although, it plays well and isn't horrible, gave him a chance to act and not the crap he's been doing lately. Anthony Michael Hall is well cast as a vacuous yupppie asshole.
I did like the twist regarding the definition of art as something that should hurt. Loved when we went to the heart of the beast's domain. An interesting juxtaposition of high art mixed with utilitarian design (ie, amazing artwork v. the open barn with exposed beams.)
Is there something about gifted musician and Julliard that makes people want to write about how they lost everything due to mental illness? Seriously, it's old, people.
Samuel L. should have just stayed away from this, although, it plays well and isn't horrible, gave him a chance to act and not the crap he's been doing lately. Anthony Michael Hall is well cast as a vacuous yupppie asshole.
I did like the twist regarding the definition of art as something that should hurt. Loved when we went to the heart of the beast's domain. An interesting juxtaposition of high art mixed with utilitarian design (ie, amazing artwork v. the open barn with exposed beams.)
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