Favorite Films Released in 2011
10. Melancholia (Von Trier)
9. Cave of Forgotten Dreams (Herzog)
8. the Skin I Live In (Almodovar)
7. Take Shelter (Nichols)
6. Incendies (Villeneuve)
5. Tree of Life (Malick)
4. Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives (Weerasethkakul)
3. Heartbeats (Dolan)
2. Drive (Refn)
1. Meek's Cutoff (Reichardt)
HMs: Weekend, Somewhere, Blue Valentine, Tabloid
5-Star Books Read in 2011 alphabetical order
Bonsai - Zambra
Ghostwritten - Mitchell
Log of the S.S. the Mrs. Unguentine - Crawford
Negative Space - Farber
the Shell Collector - Doerr
Sixty Stories - Barthelme
St. Lucy's Home for Girls Raised by Wolves - Russell
Stories of Breece DJ Pancake - Pancake
Subculture: the Meaning of Style - Hebidge
We're in Trouble - Coake
Best Albums
Unfortunately I think 2011 was a pretty meh year for music. I legitimately really liked Kurt Vile's Smoke Ring For My Halo and the Weeknd's mixtapes, in particular House of Balloons. Besides that, the chillwave albums by Toro y Moi (Underneath the Pines) and Washed Out (Within and Without) made the rotation from time to time. Here's hoping that next year is better, or I'll just continue my bingeing on 80s indie rock.
Singles
"Future Crimes" - Wild Flag
"Till the World Ends" - Britney Spears
"How Deep is Your Love?" - the Rapture
"212" - Azealia Banks
"Midnight City" - M83
Misc. TOP TEN
10. Grizzly Island sunset hike
9. Acoustic chillwave/Kate Bush car sing-alongs
8. Canoes/not rowboats
7. Eating Meat (feeling awake)
6. summertime DEBASER
5. Dance Central
4. Strawberry Canyon Pool
3. Roman & Corinne's Wedding
2. Family Bath
1. New Job
HM: Dominos: the game, the Whistle Stop
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Friday, December 30, 2011
Art Garfunkel Memorial Reading List (July - December 2011)
2.) Orientation - Orozco (7/7)
3.) the Yiddish Policemen's Union - Chabon (7/10)
4.) You Don't Love Me Yet - Lethem (7/12)
5.) Everything Matters! - Currie (7/20)
6.) Visit From the Goon Squad - Egan (7/22)
7.) Crash - Ballard (7/27)
8.) the Boat - Le (7/28)
9.) Log of the SS the Mrs Unguentine - Crawford (7/29)
10.) Subculture: the Meaning of Style - Hebidge (7/30)
11.) the Tiger's Wife - Obrecht (8/3)
12.) All the Living - Morgan (8/9)
13.) the Ask - Lipsyte (8/20)
14.) the Secret History - Tartt (9/5)
15.) Starman Omnibus, Vol. 1- Robinson (9/9)
16.) Locos - Alfau (9/17)
17.) C - McCarthy (9/27)
18.) Anagrams - Moore (10/2)
19.) Invisible Cities - Calvino (10/4)
20.) Q Road - Campbell (10/7)
21.) Selected Works of T.S. Spivet - Larsen (10/18)
22.) Black Hole - Burns (10/19)
23.) Girl with the Curious Hair - Wallace (10/20)
24.) Transparent Things - Nabokov (11/1)
25.) Both Ways is the Only Way I Want It - Meloy (11/14)
26.) Retromania - Reynolds (11/15)
27.) the Tenant - Topor (11/20)
28.) I Would Have Saved Them If I Could - Michaels (11/26)
29.) Notable American Women - Marcus (12/5)
30.) We're in Trouble - Coake (12/18)
Test Pattern #10
America's Next Top Model (Cycle 17) - Oh boy! The first All-Star season, so we see the return of Allison (probably my favorite contestant of all-time) and sweet country Laura from the short season. Without giving anything away, there was also a huge surprise ending where one finalist may have leaked something online before the end of the season was aired, causing all kinds of internet controversy and speculation.
Boardwalk Empire (Season 2) - This season improves on an already impressive debut. Jimmy is setting himself up to challenge Nucky's authority, turning even brothers against each other. Michael Shannon's character is losing his mind even more. Margaret faces all kinds of trials, and finds herself seeking forgiveness from her Irish family and absolution from the Catholic Church.
Bored to Death (Season 3) - Sadly this was the last season of the adventures of Jonathan (Jason Schwartzmann), Ray (Zach Galifinakis), and George (Ted Danson). Really nothing different from the previous two seasons...still lots of white wine and weed, and bumbling but usually successful detective work. Jonathan learns that his father is not his biological father and that he is the product of a sperm bank. George has to deal with his daughter's engagement to a man nearly his age. Ray continues to struggle with Leah, but enjoys his baby.
Dexter (Season 6) - For most of this season, I was pretty thrilled to learn that there will probably only be two more seasons. The formula has gotten quite tedious, and this season had some serious WTF moments. The first part of the season has Dexter exploring religion with his Reverend friend played by Mos Def. Simultaneously, the Doomsday Killer develops with a Professor of Religion (Edward James Olmos) and his former student (Colin Hanks) putting together tableaus from Revelations to bring on the "End of Times". The last moment of the season is a serious cliffhanger, so I am actually excited about the next season, despite the rest of this horrible plot.
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (Seasons 1-3, 7) - I had previously seen most of Season 6, and enjoyed Season 7 enough to warrant going back to watch the earlier episodes that I had never seen. The Gang is twins Dennis & Dee, and their friends Mac and Charlie. Danny DeVito joins the cast as Frank for Season 2. In general the episodes are not serialized, but there are jokes or characters that are returned to periodically to the delight of a regular viewer, but not crucial to the storyline. The humor is dark and pretty much a 20 minute episode will feature one or more character behaving badly. Highlights for me are "Charlie Got Molested", "Sweet Dee's Dating a Retarded Person", and the more recent "The Gang Goes to the Jersey Shore."
Skins (UK) (Season 4) - This season features the conclusion of the group that hangs with Effy. Effy herself becomes even more vapid and unsympathetic, despite her mental illness issues. The love triangle between her, Cook, and Freddie is also finally resolved. Emily and her girlfriend Naomi have major drama all season. JJ dates a girl with a kid. Katie and Thomas mostly bumble around all season, but have a little affair between them...which is still better than Pandora because I barely remember her from the season.
the Voice (Season 1) - So I'm realizing that I can stomach certain kinds of reality shows, but there definitely needs to be a competition element. What sets the Voice apart from the other singing competitions is that it has a lot more heart. The judges may tease each other, but they genuinely seem to like one another and they refrain from talking much shit to the contestants. I like the opening episodes of the "blind auditions", but I also enjoyed the showier performances that happen later in the season. I'm looking forward to Season 2 to hopefully watch with some friends.
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Celluloid #137
the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011) Fincher - When I saw the original Swedish film last year, I had extremely low expectations, but was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the rape-revenge mystery-thriller. I think remakes (especially from foreign to English-speaking) are often incredibly unnecessary, but the only reason I decided to partake in this one was because of David Fincher's attachment to it. The movie is fine, but rarely even strays stylistically from the original except to tone down the more graphic scenes. 3/5
Shame (2011) McQueen - Brandon is struggling with sex addiction when his troubled younger sister comes to stay with him unexpectedly. I really liked the visual style and Michael Fassbender continues to be an actor to watch, however, the story is pretty medium. I don't mind having two main characters that are both incredibly unsympathetic, but we really don't know much about them at all, so there isn't really a clear "in" in this film anyway. I'm still interested in what McQueen will offer in the future, but this was a bit of a disappointment for his sophomore showing. 3.5/5
In Home
Escape From New York (1981) Carpenter - Totally campy, but fun film about a criminal, the notorious Snake Plissken. He is asked to rescue the President of the US from New York City. In the future, New York has been sectioned off from the rest of the country and criminals are sent there to fend for themselves. Isaac Hayes makes an appearance as "The Duke" (a ridiculous-looking villain), and Harry Dean Stanton plays "Brain". I enjoy watching films that imagine the future, especially when that future has already passed (1997 in this case). 3.5/5
Heat (1995) Mann - Ace Detective vs. Skilled Criminal in this extensive film by Michael Mann. Al Pacino plays the cop whose personal life is falling apart because he dedicates so much time to his job. Robert De Niro plays the successful mastermind who is a bit of a loner until he meets a young woman in a diner. At some point the two sit down and have a cup of coffee, but everything is leading up until the time when they will actually have to confront one another despite their mutual respect. 4/5
Jumper (2008) Liman - Dumb movie about David, a young man who can essentially beam himself anywhere in the world just by thinking about it. Samuel L. Jackson plays a really silly-looking villain who tries to capture and kill "jumpers" because they are unnatural. Meanwhile, David visits his hometown and reconnects with a childhood crush (Rachel Bilson) who he promptly whisks away to Rome, but tries to keep his ability a secret. Overall, everything about this is too cheesy. 2/5
Submarine (2011) Ayoade - Oliver is a teenager growing up in Wales. For the first part of the movie, we are witness to the awkward wooing of the angsty and sometimes cruel Jordana. After they get together, Oliver wants to share with Jordana about his parents' apparent imminent separation. However, Jordana reveals that her mom has brain cancer, which trumps Oliver's family drama. Oliver decides he needs to handle his issues on his own. Very twee, but often charming film. 3.5/5
Toy Story 3 (2010) Unkrich - I saw this on television while visiting my parents for the holidays, and it really hit a nerve about growing up and mortality. (Something that I'm typically sensitive about, but more amplified when I'm at home). The toys are taken to a local daycare, but are manhandled by the toddlers, so they try to return home to Andy before he leaves for college. Really recommended even for those who care little about cartoons...so many tears! 4.5/5
Warrior (2011) O'Connor - This has to be the fastest 2 1/2 hour film I have ever watched. You have the Dark Horse vs. the Underdog in this story about estranged brothers competing in a mixed-martial arts tournament with the toughest men in the world for a prize of 5 million dollars. Nick Nolte does a good job playing a struggling alcoholic father and Tom Hardy & Joel Edgerton are also a treat for their acting and fighting sequences. Pretty straightforward and perhaps formulaic, but really worked for me. 4/5
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Celluloid #136
My Week with Marilyn (2011) Curtis - This movie was pretty medium overall. It told the story of Colin Clark working his first job as a 3rd Assistant Director on the set of the Sleeping Prince with Laurence Olivier. During the shoot, he meets Marilyn Monroe who was already a huge star. Nothing new in the depiction of Marilyn as a tragic figure, but who also wields some control over her life by using her sex appeal as a means of manipulating the men around her. The tone of the movie is charming, but pretty insubstantial. That being said, Michelle Williams is amazing; so magnetic and does an incredible job of playing such an icon. 3.75/5
In Home
Cold Weather (2011) Katz - Indie mystery that takes place in Portland (the film's primary asset in my opinion). A guy and his sister live together and he finds a job at an ice factory - the only source of employment he can find despite his education in forensic science. His ex-girlfriend shows up in town. The hang out a few times before she goes missing. It comes to light that she works as an escort, and then many other complexities get revealed. 3.5/5
In a Better World (2011) Bier - Two boys at the center of the story, Christian whose mom has recently died from cancer and Elias whose dad and mom are separated. His dad also works as a doctor in third world countries. Elias gets picked on at school until Christian teaches the bully a "lesson" by beating him with a bike pump. The violence continues when a man at the park slaps Elias' dad and Christian thinks the boys should get revenge on the man despite the dad's insistence that being the bigger person is more important. 4/5
Machete Maidens Unleashed! (2011) Hartley - Documentary about the exploitation films made in the Philippines between the 1960s and 1980s. Notably, Roger Corman made use of the Philippines for his "women in prison" films. The Philippines also had a tradition of really gory low-budget horror films. This relationship between the U.S. and the Philippines began after WW2, when the Philippines was the only country on friendly terms. 3.5/5
Win Win (2011) McCarthy - Mike has a failing law practice and coaches a losing wrestling team at the local high school. He's running out of money, so when one of his clients goes on trial, he offers to become his guardian, primarily for the $1500 a month paid by the state for care. Shortly after this shady decision, the grandson shows up out of the blue. Kyle's mom is in rehab or just checked out in general, so he stays with Mike and his family. Kyle turns out to be a great wrestler, turning the team around, as well as Mike's life on the whole. 4/5
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Celluloid #135
Twilight: Breaking Dawn, Part 1 (2011) Condon - Bella and Edward finally get married, and big surprise, she gets pregnant instantly. The rest of the film could have been 45 minutes, but we are privy to at least three tame sex scenes and the length of the pregnancy. The tension is that this human-vampire hybrid could kill Bella in childbirth, and if it is born, the wolves will want to kill it. Jacob takes his shirt off within the first minute of the film and proceeds to get angsty and breaks away from his pack. It's still weird that everyone likes Bella, the music is still bad, and the dialogue still clunky as ever, but I really do think this is the weakest of the franchise so far. ??/5
In Home
Another Year (2010) Leigh - Tom and Geri are a nice old couple who seem to have carved out a nice simple life for themselves. They love each other and their adult son, have satisfying but unglamorous jobs, like to garden, cook for each other, and have friends over sometimes. Each season is a chapter in the film and centers on a visitor drinking too much and lamenting about aging in one form or another. These visitors may be grating, but they are relatable in ways that one would probably want to avoid (desperate, sad, lonely). 4/5
Ginger Snaps (2000) Fawcett - The quality of this film is too shitty. It turns out that the story isn't much better. Two sisters are really close and into doing creepy things together, and maybe have a death pact. Their relationship begins to fall apart when Ginger gets her first period, but Bridget believes that she was really bitten by a werewolf, causing to Ginger to act crazed and grow a tail. I would have been into a genre exploration of female adolescence, but I guess we already get that in Carrie and this film is just too embarrassingly bad. 2/5
To Die Like a Man (2009) Rodrigues - Our protagonist is Tonia, a pre-op MTF. She works as a dancer and has a spoiled young junkie for a boyfriend. Basically what ensues is a lot of cliched melodrama, but this film is unique in that we never hear any character speak. They appear to talk to each other sometimes, but while we can hear the diegetic noise, no dialogue. However, we see subtitles, so what is communicated isn't a mystery. 3.5/5
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Celluloid #134
Into the Abyss (2011) Herzog - In Herzog's latest documentary, he explores capital punishment. He interviews Michael James Perry, his accomplice Jason, their families, the families of the victims, and other residents in the town of Conroe, TX. It's 8 days before Michael's scheduled execution. While the topic seems full of interesting angles, I found myself often thinking of Errol Morris and wishing that he was at the helm instead. Herzog comes off as out of touch with the poor, uneducated people in the town. At times he puts words in their mouths, and they very clearly do not understand him. While I often enjoy Herzog's bizarre monologues and his presence in his documentaries, there simply weren't enough Herzogian moments that worked. The main thing that comes across in this film is that it is awful to to live in the middle of nowhere without work, education, or anything to do...leaving poverty and generations in prison. 2.5/5
Le Havre (2011) Kaurismaki - Charming film full of old people and immigrants. Marcel befriends a young escaped African immigrant. Idrissa stays with Marcel who feeds and shelters him, and also investigates how to get Idrissa to his mother in London. Meanwhile, Marcel's wife Arletty is diagnosed with terminal cancer, but keep the information from Marcel for fear of him not being able to cope with her impending death. Feels like a colorful contemporary fairy tale. 4/5
Melancholia (2011) Von Trier - It's the end of the world. A planet named Melancholia has been hiding behind the sun, but now it is set on a collision course with Earth. Meanwhile, Justine is getting married, but also suffering from debilitating depression. Her sister Claire is also a person prone to anxiety, but feels obligated to let Justine stay with her family while trying to get better. This movie is bookended by some really interestingly strange/beautiful images. At times it seems a little reminiscent of Tree of Life. This film is also unique in its portrayal of depression (and equation with the melodramatic ceasing of existence). Fascinating that Justine only finds relief when basking in the glow of the fatal planet. 4/5
In Home
Candyman (1992) Rose - The Candyman is an urban legend where if you say his name five times in the mirror, you summon him to life. At that point he will slice people in half with his hook. Helen is studying urban legends for her thesis and gets entangled with the myth's version at Cabrini Green Projects. She starts seeing the Candyman herself, but gets framed for a murder while she was blacked out. After being arrested, she has to be locked up because everyone believes her to be crazy, yet she still keeps seeing him and knows she is responsible for summoning him. 3.5/5
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Celluloid #133
Martha Marcy May Marlene (2011) Durkin - We meet Martha just as she escapes the clutches of a cult in upstate New York. Her sister, Lucy, comes to pick her up after their 2-year estrangement. Lucy has been enjoying a wealthy existence with her tony husband; a huge contrast from the anti-materialistic lifestyle of the cult. The fascinating aspect of the film is its mood and deliberate confusion between dreams and memories. So much of this is shot in the "magic hour" only lending to its dreaminess. I think the film is a little too long and that the ending is strange. (I don't mind unresolved endings at all, but this one seems to evoke an unnecessary and probably fake-out element of danger). Also, John Hawkes is really great here - playing a character in the same vein as his Winter's Bone role, more charismatic than scary. Lastly, Elizabeth Olsen has an enviable body and I really didn't mind seeing her naked many times in the course of this movie. 4/5
In Home
Bill Cunningham New York (2011) Press - Bill Cunningham seems like the nicest old man. He's been the photographer for the NYTimes' "On the Street" and "Evening Hours" columns for decades. He is so nonjudgemental giving him the ability to chronicle emerging trends in fashion before most other people. He's also so uninterested in his own fashion (all though his blue smock jumper thing is pretty cute), doesn't care about food, rides a bike all over, and lives in a small apartment full of file cabinets. He always has a broad smile on his face, but has never had much of a love life (the film seems to indicate that he might be gay in this old school way where he doesn't want to pursue that lifestyle...he also goes to church every Sunday). Anyway, it was a pleasure meeting him. 4/5
Fright Night (1985) Holland - Charley and his girlfriend Amy are having problems. He's a little too distracted by horror movies, and this compulsion only gets worse when a likely vampire moves in next door. Of course everyone thinks Charley is crazy. Amy ends up getting seduced by "Jerry" the vampire and Charley gets a local midnight movie host to help rescue her and prove his sanity. Really silly. 3/5
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Celluloid #132
the Skin I Live In (2011) Almodovar - Antonio Banderas plays a crazed plastic surgeon who has had a pretty tragic family life. His wife cheated on him and got in a car crash, leaving her body completely burned. She kills herself rather than look like that. His daughter is traumatized by the event, spends some time in a mental hospital, gets released, gets raped, and then also kills herself. Now our doctor is on a crazy revenge kick. This film is both soap operatic and unpredictable. It's obviously a treat to look at because it's Almodovar and I appreciate his return to the bizarre over the bourgeoisie. 4.5/5
In Home
Basket Case (1982) Henenlotter - Super campy B-horror about Dwayne, a guy who carries around a basket with him to the various seedy motels he inhabits. The basket contains his former siamese twin, Belial, who appears to be made out of whatever faulty genes Dwayne was spared from. Belial looks like a disgusting blob with teeth and gets extremely jealous of any relationships that Dwayne develops. This hit the spot at 1 am after a night of excessive drinking and dancing. 3.5/5
Near Dark (1987) Bigelow - Mae is a pretty girl who also happens to be a vampie. Caleb is a country boy who falls for her before he discovers her identity, and ends up getting turned. They roll around with a rowdy group of vampires always looking for their next kill. Caleb and Mae both have less bloodlusty ambitions about killing...it's necessary for their survival, but unpleasant. Bill Paxton plays a goofy vampire who really enjoys his role. I really liked the Southwest setting and the unique way of getting out of their hellish situation. 4/5
Friday, October 28, 2011
Celluloid #131
Weekend (2011) Haigh - A love story between Glenn and Russell. They meet at a club on a Thursday and go home together. After the awkward morning after, they end up spending the afternoon together as well. Glenn finally reveals that he is leaving for the U.S. (P.S. this film is British) the next day. Glenn is significantly more political while Russell is more reserved and closeted about his sexuality. There are lots of conversations about being gay, and specific issues affecting that community that somehow don't come across as preachy. I also appreciate the fairly realistic portrayal of drug use in this film. Overall an enjoyable indie romance. 4/5
In Home
Evil Dead (1981) Raimi - Five friends rent a cabin in the woods. One of the former tenants happened to be an archaeologist who reproduced some type of Book of the Dead - causing the woods to come alive with evil spirits. Cheryl essentially gets raped by some tree limbs and roots and then one by one the friends all turn into the undead, except for Ash, which isn't very consistent. Gets really gory by the end, but the special effects are ridiculously bad. 3.5/5
Friday the 13th (1980) Cunningham - This summer camp is apparently cursed. Jason was a kid at camp who drowned while his counselors were fucking. Now his mom is out for revenge and trying to prevent the camp from opening. Hilarious to see Kevin Bacon in a small part, but I kept yelling at the "last girl" for being too much of an idiot. 3.5/5
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Celluloid #130
Abduction (2011) Singleton - This could have been a perfectly fine thriller, but just ended up being too dumb. Taylor Lautner can't hold a movie together - he's just a dopey smile and muscles. The dialogue is really dumb and the plot gets super ridiculous (ex. declaration that there is a bomb in the oven seconds before it goes off). I was fine with the premise of a teenager discovering his picture on a "Missing Children's" website, but this delves into weird government secret spy territory. Also, the teenage romance is unwatchable. I wish she would have just gotten left somewhere. 2/5
the Room (2003) Wiseau - What to say about this cult favorite? Worst movie ever? Actually, probably not because the production value is better than I expected. However, this is certainly a great unintentional comedy about a man (Johnny - played by the director) and his fiancee who cheats on him with his best friend. The dialogue is hilariously bad, lending itself to many quotable moments. The sex scenes are also laughably bad (and one sequence is even repeated). I don't know...I feel like you should know what you are getting yourself into with this movie, but it is a "so-bad-it's- good" classic. ??/5
Take Shelter (2011) Nichols - A man keeps having nightmares and daytime hallucinations about a huge apocalyptic storm, followed by a variety of horrific events. Curtis starts expanding his backyard tornado shelter. He knows he's being irrational, but can't shake this feeling that something terrible is about to happen. His wife and young deaf daughter mean everything to him, so he feels the need to protect them at all costs, even though they have real pressing issues. As a viewer, one gets caught up in constant tension about whether Curtis is actually losing his mind. Deliberately paced, with memorable and scary imagery. 4.5/5
In Home
Haunting (1963) Wise - A professor interested in the supernatural comes across Hill House, where stories indicate that it is haunted. He has a few people come stay at the house who have had some connection to the supernatural (ESP, poltergeists, etc). Eleanor's mother has recently died and she feels like she is finally free to live her own life. Up until this point, she feels like nothing has happened and Hill House is the thing that she has always been waiting for. Eleanor is quite sheltered and fears being left out or being alone. The house singles her out for destruction, but she still wants to stay. While not very scary, this film has held up pretty well. 4/5
Interview with the Vampire (1994) Jordan - Starting in present-day San Francisco, Louis is being questioned by a journalist about his life - which happens to have started more than 200 years ago as a vampire. Back in 1700s Louisiana, Lestat becomes Louis' maker after he loses his wife and child. Lestat wants a companion, and Louis wants something other than his tragic life. Lestat is far more bloodthirsty than Louis, who prefers to spare humans when possible. During the Plague, Louis almost kills a girl after her mother dies, but instead Lestat turns her too. In a way, she is like a daughter to them, but even more aggressive than Lestat. I liked seeing Kirsten Dunst as a young thing, but something about this film fell fall for me. 3/5
Rabid (1977) Cronenberg - A woman who gets injured in a motorcycle crash has to undergo an experimental operation. She survives, but develops a need for blood. Her victims develop the same bloodlust. At first the community thinks there is some mutated outbreak of rabies, but in reality victims are turned through a bizarro stab inflicted through Rose's armpit. An early example of Cronenberg's penchant for body horror and a welcome twist on the typical vampire story. 4/5
Scream (1996) Craven - Casey and her boyfriend Steve are killed by a masked murdered obsessed with horror films. After their deaths, the focus is turned on Sidney, whose mother was killed just the year before. In a key scene, the rules of horror are explained (sex=death, vices=death, etc) just as Sidney is having sex with her boyfriend. In another reflexive scene, Randy is yelling "look behind you" while he's about to get stabbed himself. I hate Matthew Lillard, but I like that this film keeps you guessing. 4/5
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Test Pattern #9
Breaking Bad (Season 4) - Season 4 has only solidified Breaking Bad's position as the best show on air. Walt and Jesse are locking horns again, but both afraid of Gus and the power he has over their lives. Hank is recovering from his injuries, but still able to get dangerously close to discovering the meth lab and producer. Skylar is actually pretty down with helping out with money-laundering; a welcome change from her bitchy persona of the last season. I really think this might be the best season yet. It started off with so much great tension, to the point that I was worried that it wouldn't be able to maintain that emotional height throughout the season. Basically, I was wrong...some episodes might be quieter, but it all pays off with the finale. I can't wait for next season already.
Louie (Season 2) - I don't really like stand-up, but something about Louie CK and all of his self-depreciation works for me. I enjoyed Season 1, but I think this past season was even better, and darker. Louie seems to be addressing topics that affect many working in the comedy business (aging with Joan Crawford, joke stealing with Dane Cook, selling out, etc). However, some of the highlight episodes center around surprising laughing because you are uncomfortable moments (the decapitation and the bum bath scored by classical music come to mind). Also, anything with his daughters is pretty much amazing...ONE DUCKLING!
Skins (UK) (Seasons 1-3) - I've been pretty vocal about my love of teenage drama in the past, so it was really only a matter of time before I would succumb to the lure of Skins. The first two season follow a group of 17 year-olds in Bristol. The center of the group is popular Tony. There are some virgins who need to get laid, a romance with a teacher, eating disorders, a love triangle, a stalker, a pregnancy, a death, excess drinking, and fucked up family lives all around. It's really only one step removed from a traditional soap opera, and takes some pretty ridiculous turns, but by the end of the second season, I couldn't help but feel emotional about Jal and Sid and all of their futures. Apparently Skins changes casts every two seasons to introduce a new group of friends. I'm only halfway through the "second generation" that centers around Tony's younger sister Effy. Effy is pretty, but far less charismatic than Tony. Also, this group of friends seems more unlikely than the first group and the main drama focuses on two boys fighting for Effy's affection. In addition, you have girls exploring their sexuality, twin rivalry, Asperger's, growing up sheltered with a super religious mother, a new immigrant from Congo, excessive fucking in nearly every permutation, etc.
Sopranos (Season 2-6) - It's a great show. I cried when several people died, and with the exception of one, I had seen all of those characters commit really awful crimes on-screen. It's powerful how much you get sucked into this world, and Tony's convoluted sense of how life should be lived. Edie Falco as Carmella and Michael Imperioli as Christopher are the main highlights in all of the series. Carmella can be a materialistic bitch, but she has so much inner turmoil that she is probably the most sympathetic. Christopher starts off as the go-to guy for offing enemies, but he morphs into something much more than a cold-blooded killer. The ending was frustrating for me, as I'm sure it was for most people watching it, but I appreciate that this show often defies convention both in story and format.
True Blood (Season 4) - While I would still never recommend this show to anyone, Season 4 was a serious step up from the last couple seasons. The new "supernatural" introduced this time around was all the witches, and I found them easier to go along with than maenads and even the werewolves (all though they are still around, and better in limited doses). Bill and Eric's rivalry over Sookie finally comes to an apex, and then gets really weird. Jessica and Hoyt finally split up, and Sam's brother is thankfully out of the picture. I was glad to see less Tara and more Pam. Whatever happened to that Werepanther storyline? Anyway, it's also possible that this show isn't really getting better, but rather that I am getting used to its bizarro twists and introductions.
Friday, September 30, 2011
Celluloid #129
In Theaters
Restless (2011) Van Sant - Harold and Maude-type boy falls for an Annie Hall-styled manic pixie girl. Annabelle has terminal cancer and only three months to live. Enoch is death-obsessed, as evidenced by his hobby of attending strangers' funerals and chatting with the ghost of a kamikaze. This movie is just off. The pacing is wrong. The outfits are too precious. The soundtrack is too twee. Even the montage of them getting to know each other is too disgustingly cute, and the dialogue too awkward. The only thing I really liked about this movie was the way it looked, and seeing Portland settings. 3/5
In Home
An American Werewolf in London (1981) Landis - David and his friend Jack are backpacking around England. In a northern town, they stop into a pub only to be greeted by strange, unfriendly people. After getting kicked out, they are attacked by a werewolf. Jack dies, but David survives in a coma for a few weeks. Unfortunately, his injuries mean that he will turn into a werewolf himself at the next full moon. The Ghost of Jack informs David that the only way to prevent this catastrophe is to kill himself. A young nurse takes David in, where they have a pretty sexy time, only making it harder for David to accept his fate. This film has actually dated pretty well. 4/5
Bad Teacher (2011) Kasdan - Cameron Diaz takes a turn as the crass female lead. After Elizabeth gets dumped by her rich fiancee, she is forced to return to her teaching job in order to pay for a boob job. Totally unsympathetic and never really manages to redeem herself. Her new co-worker (Justin Timberlake) comes from some old money - setting off a rivalry between Elizabeth and Ms. Squirrel for his affection. Nevermind that he is a huge dry-humping dork. Jason Segel is the secret love interest, but even he deserves better. Just not very funny or all that scandalous, but not exactly the worst. 2.5/5
Foxes (1980) Lyne - Not a lot happens, but instead we get a feel for late 1970s L.A. Drugs, parties, sex through the perspective of four teenage friends. One friend, Annie, has a particularly difficult time dealing with her abusive father, and making poor decisions that make her vulnerable to other men. Janie tries to look out for her other friends, and is the most responsible, probably because her major problems stem from a strained relationship with her single mother. All in all a pretty bleak portrait of life and options for ladies at that time. 3/5
Gremlins (1984) Dante - An inventor comes across a cute creature at a store in Chinatown and decides to get it as a Christmas present for his son. The rules are that it can't get wet and can't eat after midnight. Of course, these rules get broken, causing scary gremlins to take over the town. Most of the film after the set-up and gremlin incubation, is just the gremlins goofing around. They break things, get drunk, skateboard, etc. Maybe that's the appeal for kids, but it gets a little boring. 3/5
Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) Craven - Introduced the world to Freddy Krueger - a child-killer who was burned to death and now attacks young people through their dreams. This film has pretty cool special effects. It also introduced young Johnny Depp as a pretty chill boyfriend to our protagonist Nancy. No one believes her, so she is forced to take matters into her own hands by bringing Freddy out of her nightmare and into the present reality. 4/5
Poison Ivy (1992) Ruben - Drew Barrymore plays a bad girl who befriends a rich but awkward girl. Ivy essentially ends up moving in. The mother is dying of cancer and the father is a creepy alcoholic who finds lvy attractive. What started out as a rebellious friendship, soon morphs into a competition between the girls for the affection of the parents, with deadly results. Really great if you are in the mood for 90s-style erotic thrillers. 3.5/5
Friday, September 23, 2011
Celluloid #128
In Theaters
Drive (2011) Refn - Really stylish film where Ryan Gosling plays a nameless stunt car driver/getaway driver for hire. "The Kid" develops a relationship with his young neighbor and her son. When her husband returns from prison, the driver decides to help him reconcile his debt with a "one last job" situation. Technically this is an action film, all though it can be quite deliberately slow-paced, which only serves to ratchet up the tension. While Gosling's character seems a bit of a Christ-archetype, he also represents the scorpion in the famous fable. A complicated hero, but really the strength of this film is the soundtrack, aesthetic, and attitude. 4.5/5
In Home
Martin (1977) Romero - A weirdo teenager thinks he may be a modern-day vampire. He satisfies his bloodlust by drugging young women, raping them, then cutting them with razor blades and drinking their blood. Then a local housewife takes interest in him and they start an affair. For a time, the presence of these fairly normal sexual encounters curbs his need to commit violence. 3/5
the Ruins (2008) Smith - Last summer, my book club read the book that serves as the basis for this film. Both are very silly tales of four friends on vacation in Mexico that encounter some very bad luck on a hike. Out near some Mayan ruins, a sinister vine grows that can kill and even psychologically torment people. The natives will also kill anyone who tries to leave for fear that the vine will spread. Besides the ridiculous premise of killer plants, this film is really gory, relying on squeamish shots to elicit reactions. 2/5
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Celluloid #127
In Theaters
Circumstance (2011) Keshavarz - Admittedly I do not know enough about Iranian politics or what the Revolution was really about. One outcome that seems certain is that the culture has become increasingly conservative and restrictive - as evidenced by the presence of "morality police." Two high school girls are very close friends, who develop deep feelings for one another that leads to sexual experimentation. They also like to have fun drinking and dancing in clubs, but after getting in trouble, Atie's religious fanatic brother offers Shireen (an orphan) a way out of punishment by marrying him. You can imagine the complications... 4/5
the Interrupters (2011) James - Documentary about the incredibly high homicide rate in Chicago. Most of the violence is not gang-related, but rather interpersonal disputes over seemingly petty things. These initial disputes lead to a long chain of revenge killings, and the targets seem to be getter younger and younger. The "Interrupters" are a group of former gang members and street hustlers that have decided to turn their lives around, and to also do something about preventing or stopping deaths. Ameena, one of the Interrupters, is such an commanding on-screen presence. An appropriate companion piece to James' other documentary Hoop Dreams. 4/5
In Home
From Dusk Till Dawn (1996) Rodriguez - Silly 90s movie that starts out as brother thieves taking a family hostage to escape to Mexico. However, when they arrive at a sleazy club across the border, the vampires start appearing. Most of what happens after that point is a series of ridiculous or gruesome ways to kill a vampire. It's like Tarantino just wrote anything he could think up. Also, so bizarre, but kinda cool that George Clooney is the lead in this B+ film. 3.5/5
Poltergeist (1982) Hooper - A strange paranormal presence is coming from the television or lightning. It causes inanimate objects to move. The tree outside tries to eat one of the children, and another goes missing during a storm. Carol Anne has apparently been sucked into another realm through the television, but can still be heard inside the house. The family has to hire a couple of mediums, and the mom has to go to the other side to get her daughter back. Number one lesson, don't live on top of cemeteries. 4/5
the Thing (1982) Carpenter - A crew of scientists are stationed in Antarctica. Strange things begin happening to a Norwegian crew and one the dogs morphs into a creepy alien creature. Thus creature has the ability to look like any living person or animal it comes into contact with - making it very difficult to be sure of the crew's identities. This film delivers on the physical/visceral end, while providing enough tension and questioning for your brain. 4.5/5
the Wicker Man (1973) Hardy - A girl has gone missing from some remote Scottish islands. The island people all practice some kind of paganism, and all sorts of weird naked hippie things happen. A detective from the mainland comes to investigate the missing girl, and he is a very devout Christian scandalized by the events he sees taking place. This movie is really not scary at all, hasn't dated very well, and includes a Burning Man scene. 3/5
Friday, September 9, 2011
Celluloid #126
Going on a horror binge for the next couple months...
In Home
Carrie (1976) De Palma - So good! Misfit teenager is warped by her religious nut mother. She gets picked on in school for being strange (not to mention telekinetic) and for freaking out about getting her period in the gym shower. Some girls get in trouble for the gym incident and threatened with exclusion from the Prom. One girl has a conscience and convinces her boyfriend to take Carrie to the dance, so that she can have some type of normal experience. However, some of the other girls treat this as an opportunity to play an awful prank. This is a great extreme portrayal of the already horrifying process of adolescence, and mean girls receiving their revenge. 5/5
Children of the Corn (1984) Kiersch - A couple is driving across Nebraska to relocate when they hit a strange boy on the roads surrounded by cornfields. Upon further inspection, they realize that he was already dead due to a slashed throat. They are forced to stop in Gatlin; a small, extremely religious town. Not very populated to begin with, it's even eerier because there are no adults. They've all been killed by a group of culty kids who even sentence their own to death on their 19th birthdays. Campy effects and generally enjoyable creepy story. 4/5
Dawn of the Dead (1978) Romero - Four people get trapped in a mall with zombies. I find both of those things pretty horrifying, and their combination pretty awesome. 4/5
Halloween (1978) Carpenter - The slasher film that created the tropes for all films to follow. Laurie is a brainy teenager who doesn't have much luck with guys. Her two friends, Annie and Linda are sluttier. On Halloween night, Laurie and Annie find themselves babysitting, all though Annie also has plans to hook up with her boyfriend. Meanwhile, the local myth, Michael Myers, has escaped from the mental institute he was locked in 15 years earlier after killing his own babysitter....4.5/5
Onibaba (1966) Shindo - A lady and her daughter-in-law survive war-torn Japan by killing samurais and trading their bodies for grain. Then the son/husband's neighbor returns from war and informs the ladies that their man is dead. The daughter begins an affair with the neighbor. The mother tries to stop them by warning about Hell and demons as punishment for sin. The mother meets a samurai with a demon mask. When he dies, she puts the mask on to really scare the daughter. This movie is really cool looking and totally frantic at times. 4.5/5
Friday, August 26, 2011
Celluloid #125
In Theaters
the Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011) Wyatt - I have never seen any of the "Planet of the Apes" films, but found this one to be entertaining blockbuster fare. Will is a scientist working with chimpanzees to develop a cure for Alzheimer's. The side effect is that the chimps become really intelligent. Funding gets shut down, and Will takes a hidden baby chimp home with him. The baby's mother was one of the test subjects and he inherited the effect. Caesar reminds me so much of Nim from Project Nim, and in a way, their storylines are quite similar Caesar too has to spend some time in a caged center where he becomes increasingly discontent. 3.5/5
In Home
Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead (1991) Herek - When Mom leaves for vacation, 17 year-old Sue Ellen and her younger siblings are left with an elderly babysitter. As the title indicates, she dies early on and the kids decide to fend for themselves rather than call their mom and risk her coming back early. They quickly run out of money and trash the house ("the dishes are done man!"), so Sue Ellen has to get a job. She lands an unbelievable position at a fashion company by lying about her experience. This movie is zany, so 90s, and includes an early David Duchovny. 3.5/5
My Blueberry Nights (2007) Wong - This movie could easily be used as an example of how we often give a pass to films or even idealize them because they are foreign (I often fall prey to this). In reality, the story and aesthetic of this film is not very different from other Wong Kar Wai films, but somehow seeing English-speaking characters makes the dialogue seem cheesy. Elizabeth gets dumped and makes a friend at her local cafe, but shortly leaves town. First to Memphis and then later to Vegas. She meets two characters - an alcoholic who can't get over his wife leaving him and a gambler with daddy issues. I'm not really sure what the point of these characters is, other than to show Elizabeth that her life is far from being a tragedy. 3/5
2 or 3 Things I Know About Her (1967) Godard - Godard is in one of his more absurd moods. The ladies in the film talk directly to the camera, and our main protagonist works as a prostitute sometimes. Other than that, I watched this a little over a week ago, and nothing much has stuck with me. 3/5
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Celluloid #124
In Theaters
Project Nim (2011) Marsh - Normally, I wouldn't have all that much interest in a documentary about a monkey, but this one is by James Marsh, the man who brought you the tear-jerking Man on Wire. This film is nowhere near as great, but still a worthwhile time. It starts in the early 1970s, when Nim Chimpsky is taken away from his biological mother and sent to live with a rich hippie family in Manhattan. Initially, he is raised much like a child and is taught sign language in order to communicate. After several years, this linguistics experiment is determined to be a failure, namely because Nim's internal chimp behaviors keep coming to the surface; the last straw being when he bites the cheek off of one of the teachers. He is sent back to the research facility that he was born in. Despite the tragedy (the scientists should have either never taken him, or committed to keep him in some sort of domestic human environment), this is really a movie about human nature. So many people in this film hook up, and some people even emerge as saviors. 4/5
Tabloid (2011) Morris - A really entertaining look at a huge character. Joyce McKinney started her path to fame through beauty pageants, but becomes notorious for a plot she carried out to "rescue" her boyfriend from the Mormons by kidnapping him for a 3-day sex binge. He's actually in England for his mission, but the "truth" of what exactly went down is never revealed. During her tabloid fame, Joyce goes through a period of exile and costumes after a stint in jail. There are also salacious pictures that emerge, further tarnishing her reputation. AND if the first brush with fame wasn't enough, Joyce gets another 15 minutes decades later when she has her dog cloned. Totally engrossing. 4/5
In Home
Just One of the Guys (1985) Gottlieb - Terry feels she is being cheated out of a journalism internship because she is a girl. To prove her point, she transfers to another school (for a week?) and present herself as a boy. She quickly falls in love with another boy that she befriends and tries to help get a date to prom. Terry finds herself lying to her new friend, and also to her preppy boyfriend, and realizing that maybe her snub had nothing to do with her gender. 3/5
Pink Flamingos (1972) Waters - Classic John Waters - at its core, this is a story about two warring factions competing for the title of "filthiest person alive." Divine's family lives in a trailer where her son engages in sexual acts often incorporating animals, and her mother hangs out in a playpen forever eating eggs. Connie and Ray believe they are the filthiest because they run a "baby farm" where they kidnap ladies, have their servant impregnate them, and get the babies adopted by lesbian couples. Gross and outrageous, but would you expect anything different? 3.5/5
Road House (1989) Herrington - Dalton is a renowned "cooler" known for getting bars into shape, but also rumored to have killed a man. He gets hired to perform his services for a rowdy bar, and after so many jokes about how people thought "he would have been bigger", he finally starts cleaning things up. Unfortunately, he also quickly makes enemies by firing some key staff and ultimately pissing off the wealthy man who has the entire town under his thumb. It doesn't help that Dalton also falls for that guy's ex. Lots of fighting, fires, explosions. It was kinda nice to see a fun action film for a change. 3.5/5
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Celluloid #123
In Theaters
Partner (1968) Bertolucci - In hindsight, there was probably a good reason why I had never heard of this film. Starts off well with the tension and paranoia that seems commonplace in late '60s Italian features. Jacob meets his doppelganger and together they devise a plan for revolution based on experimental theater. There are some memorable scenes, like the foam party, but overall this plays out like a parody of foreign arthouse and is just too goofy for my taste. 3/5
Terri (2011) Jacobs - Terri plays like the sad Sundance version of Angus. Once again you have a fat kid, his small crude sidekick, and the pretty popular girl that he befriends after she is shamed. However, while Melissa in Angus has her eating disorder, here Heather's problem is that she is caught getting fingered in Home Ec. causing the whole school to demonize her. Except for Terri of course, because he already feels like a monster. The other main story is with the well-meaning Assistant Principal (John C. Reilly), who often acts too much like a dude and ultimately fucks up a lot. Besides having more energy and a great soundtrack, Angus is the better film, or at least character. The two leads both demonstrate that they have heart, but Angus at least has a brain, while it's unclear if Terri is just overly naive or actually a little slow. 3/5
the Trip (2011) Winterbottom - Steve Coogan and Rob Bryden go on a trip through Northern England under the pretense of restaurant reviewing. Each man represents a different path of adulthood. Rob is a family-man; mediocre, but with low-brow popularity due to his knack for impressions. Steve is more of a ladies' man with limited success in art house films, capturing critics' hearts, but not a grander audience. While both men an be funny in their ways, I rarely found myself laughing at anything. 3.5/5
In Home
Marwencol (2010) Malberg - Really incredible documentary about a man with a brain injury that uses art as a form of therapy. Mark was the victim of a brutal attack, and when he could no longer receive traditional therapy, he started constructing an extremely detailed town out of dolls to enact stories. The town is set in war ear Belgium, but many of Mark's friends appear in alternate form as characters. Mark himself has an alter ego (which looks like a Nicolas Cage doll), and often these stories end up being at least influenced by events in his life. He also takes photographs of the dolls posed in different scenarios, and I cannot emphasize enough how strangely moving and good these are. Eventually he gets discovered by a photographer and an art magazine editor, and they set up an art show for him. Highly recommended. 4.5/5
Night of the Shooting Stars (1982) Taviani - During the end of WW2, two groups of Italians fight against one another. Our main character is 6 year-old Cecilia, and we see the war essentially through her eyes. Some incredibly tragic events transpire - pregnant women killed in bombings and children being shot point blank. It's not always easy to know who to root for. 3.5/5
Play it Again, Sam (1972) Ross - Allan's wife Nancy wants a divorce to live a more "swinging" lifestyle. Allan's friends try to ease the blow by setting him up on dates. The most awkward dates in history. Of course he falls for the wife of the couple who are trying to help him. Initially this is because he doesn't recognize her as an option and therefore can just be himself. She's also pretty neglected by her husband, leaving the opportunity for their friendship to turn into something more. 3.5/5
Radio Days (1987) Allen - Plays like short stories from the '40s. Most deal with one particular Jewish family living in Brooklyn, but others focus on more peripheral characters, and include War of the Worlds, commercials, and human interest themes. A glimpse of old timey Brooklyn and nostalgic fun, but pretty fluffy. In some ways, people seemed to be more connected to one another because they were all listening to the same thing. 3.5/5
the River (1951) Renoir - Too much voiceover, too much imperialism, too much emphasis on traditional gender roles, and too much cheesy technicolor melodrama. 2/5
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Test Pattern #8
Boardwalk Empire (Season 1) - Exciting drama about Prohibition-era Atlantic City. Corruption and crime abound. Nucky Thompson is played by Steve Buscemi, and he basically runs the town. He starts a romance with a woman involved in the Temperance Club, only after dumping his Ziegfeld Follies dancer, the wonderfully pouty and often naked Paz de la Huerta. Other key characters are Jimmy and his common law wife. Jimmy befriends a youngish Al Capone, but that ultimately cause more trouble than expected.
Bored to Death (Season 2) - Jonathan (Jason Schwartzmann) is still totally adorable and charming. George gets diagnosed with cancer and starts an affair with his doctor, plus has to deal with the ever-changing media landscape making magazines obsolete. Ray gets dumped, but finds a cult following for his comics. This show is like popcorn...or whatever this hipster equivalent of popcorn is...
Eastbound & Down (Season 1 & 2) - A pretty funny series about Kenny Powers, a has-been professional baseball player trying to get back into the Majors. The first season is much stronger, focusing on Kenny's return home (onto his brother's couch) and trying to win back his high school sweetheart. By season 2, we have ended up in Mexico, battling depression and taking the local team for granted. I also could do with seeing less of Stevie in the future.
Game of Thrones (Season 1) - Love this shit! It has all the nudity and sleaze of Rome, but with much more compelling stories about families, feuds, mythical creatures, impending doom, etc. So far most of the drama deals with the Stark family and their rivals the Lannisters. The families were on friendly turns until an incest secret is discovered by a young Stark and the King of the Seven Kingdoms dies. There is also a crazy storyline with the Targaryen siblings seeking to reclaim the kingdom that the believe rightfully belonged to their father. The sister is married off to a savage leader and becomes the Khaleesi, and is probably my favorite character at the moment. However, Peter Dinklage's Tyrian Lannister is also a treat to watch. Dragons! Cannot believe I have to wait to watch more of this.
Sopranos (Season 1) - A huge blind spot in my television watching, especially considering how many other HBO series I have seen. After season 1, I'm hooked. I like Tony as the sorta sensitive mobster, who maybe often fears for his life, but still commits enough heinous crimes to be interesting. His wife Carmela is amazing at not taking shit from anyone. I also really like Christopher and his girlfriend Adrianna. So much tension about who is going to get offed!
Treme (Season 2) - Why do I keep watching this show? Basically nothing really happens and still too much of each episode is taken up by music. In fact, in this season, so many of the plotlines revolve around individuals starting bands or trying to write songs. Janette is still my favorite, but she's mostly in New York this season. Big Chief is depressed. Sofia is being a huge rebellious brat. Some really terrible shit happens to LaDonna. Toni is still working cases. There's another key death this season, but how I wish more things would happen..
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Celluloid #122
In Theaters
Beginners (2011) Mills - Oliver's dad has died. Five years earlier, his mother died, and six months after that Hal (the father) comes out to his son and starts living a pretty active gay life. Oliver naturally has to adjust to this news, but mostly he just appreciates how much his dad is "alive." They have many touching discussions, and I cried repeatedly. The parts that work less for me are Oliver and Anna's relationship and the scenes that are monologues featuring phrases like "this is what the stars looked like in 1955.." The problem with both is that they are just a little too cutesy. It wasn't enough to thoroughly bother me, and I still enjoyed everything else. 3.75/5 [decent +]
In Home
Angus (1995) Johnson - I went on a bit of a nostalgia kick this past Friday, inspired to watch this film probably for the first time in 15 years. The soundtrack is admittedly better than the movie, but I still have a soft spot for the the science-loving fat kid who finally gets to have a moment with his long-desired crush. A young James Van Der Beek plays the dick who makes fun of Angus, and attempts to humiliate him by getting him elected as Winter Ball King. Angus has trouble dancing and has to wear a plum-colored suit because it's the only thing that will fit. All in all, still a really likable teen film. 4/5 [good]
Heathers (1989) Lehman - Continuing the nostalgia kick, and filling in the gaps in my roommate's film-viewing, we sat down to watch Heathers. The most popular girls in school - 3 Heathers and Veronica Sawyer wreak havoc on the school population's self-esteem. Veronica is not totally comfortable with the Heathers' bitchiness, and when she starts dating the loner JD, they jokingly devise a plan to murder the lead Heather. JD is crazed so this joke quickly turns into reality. A string of murders happen, and are all made to look like suicides. This film is so witty, funny, and mean-spirited..but in the best way. Also, it is so clear that this film, no matter how satirical could be made today in this post-Columbine era. 4.5/5 [great]
the Omega Man (1971) Sagal - A plague has descended upon humans, that causes them to turn into zombies in stages. Charlton Heston plays a scientist who has been trying to devise cures for non-existant diseases. He is immune to the plague and eventually meets up with other humans after believing he was the last man on Earth. He hooks up with one and saves another. A fun 70s sci-fi time. 3.5/5 [decent]
Trees Lounge (1996) Buscemi - Tommy is kinda a loser. He spends his afternoons and evenings at the local bar. In fact, his apartment is right above the bar. He tries to get work as a mechanic, but when everyone denies him, the ice cream man dies and Tommy takes over his route. One drunk night, he takes home the teenage daughter of a friend. (A young Chloe Sevigny...so good in this role). Nothing much happens, but an accurate depiction of a life stuck. 4/5 [good]
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Art Garfunkel Memorial Reading List (January - June 2011)
1.) I'm Not Stiller - Frisch (1/4)
2.) Freedom - Franzen (1/10)
3.) the Voice Imitator - Bernhard (1/13)
4.) Super Sad True Love Story - Shteyngart (1/21)
5.) Jesus' Son - Johnson (1/24)
6.) Flowers in the Attic - Andrews (1/30)
7.) Girls to the Front: the True Story of the Riot Grrl Revolution - Marcus (2/2)
8.) the Lover's Dictionary - Levithan (2/4)
9.) the Stories of Breece DJ Pancake - Pancake (2/4)
10.) Ghostwritten - Mitchell (2/11)
11.) We Need to Talk About Kevin - Shriver (2/26)
12.) Our Circus Presents - Teodorovici (3/9)
13.) Moby Dick - Melville (3/11)
14.) Scorch Atlas - Butler (3/15)
15.) the Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks - Skloot (3/22)
16.) Correction - Bernhard (4/3)
17.) Imaginative Qualities of Actual Things - Sorrentino (4/9)
18.) Heart of a Dog - Bulgakov (4/12)
19.) Fugue State - Evenson (4/14)
20.) the End of Vandalism - Drury (4/19)
21.) Sixty Stories - Barthelme (4/20)
22.) the Cannibal - Hawkes (5/3)
23.) Bonsai - Zambra (5/4)
24.) Negative Space - Farber (5/11)
25.) the Film That Changed My Life - Elder (5/17)
26.) the Stain - Ducornet (5/17)
27.) Nobody Move - Johnson (5/18)
28.) Ablutions - DeWitt (5/19)
29.) Teen Movies: American Youth on Screen - Shary (5/22)
30.) the Shell Collector - Doerr (5/24)
31.) the Vagrants - Li (5/25)
32.) Interpreter of Maladies - Lahiri (5/26)
33.) Bossypants - Fey (5/28)
34.) the Empty Family - Toibin (6/2)
35.) the Other City - Ajvaz (6/6)
36.) War Trash - Jin (6/16)
37.) St. Lucy's Home for Girls Raised By Wolves - Russell (6/23)
38.) We - Zamyatin (6/29)
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Celluloid #121
In Home
Flesh for Frankenstein (1973) Morrissey - Totally campy Warhol/Morrissey film where a mad scientists is trying to create a male and a female zombie that will procreate. He selects a human man that he believes to be a quite a ladies' man (when in fact this individual is thinking about becoming a monk). This guy's best friend is the real casanova, but the scientist's wife finds her own personal use for him. Really bloody and hilarious. 3.5/5 [decent]
I Am Curious: Yellow (1967) Sjoman - Starts off with pseudo-documentary stylings, where Lena interviews Swedish citizens about political issues of the day. Lena is also the director's lover/muse, but he loses interest as her sexual experimentation regarding free love becomes more overt. There are some really campy hippy scenes that I hope are meant to be at least a little ironic, considering Lena is often portrayed in a light typical to early 20-somethings where they want a cause to champion. I like that Lena is a little chubby and seems to flaunt her flesh while simultaneously feeling a little self-conscious. 3.5/5 [decent]
Soylent Green (1973) Fleischer - This movie is just one of those great 1970s sci-fi films, where the future being portrayed is essentially right now, but their version is so of its time with the colors and costuming and so delightfully 70s. In the future, there is no more food so citizens eat processed colorful blocks of nutrition that are carefully rationed. These are called "Soylent Red", "Soylent Yellow", etc. Soylent Green is by far the favorite. An investigator uncovers the secret behind Soylent Green and pays dearly for his knowledge. 3.5/5 [decent]
Twilight (2008) Hardwicke/Twilight: New Moon (2009) Weitz/ Twilight: Eclipse (2010) Slade - Okay, so here's the point where I lose basically all credibility for having good taste in film....I have to say that I have enjoyed watching these movies in rapid succession. This is not a huge surprise to me given my predilection for teenage drama, like to keep up on cultural phenomena, and the fact that I enjoy other shows and movies dealing with monsters. Overall the acting is noticeably bad, everyone mumbles, the music is strange, and I can't really feel that great about the ridiculous portrayal of romance setting an unreasonable example to impressionable adolescents. I don't even understand why this vampire and this werewolf are that into Bella - she's boring and stubborn and really not a very good friend. However, during the third film I found myself gasping and yelling "NO!!" at the television...obviously I have been sucked in. My roommate and I even end up talking about how minus the supernatural elements, this is actually a really accurate portrayal of high school. I would say that the first film is the best, the second really not very good, and the third definitely better than the second. I would not recommend this to anyone...I feel like you know who you are if this would appeal to you. That being said, I am pretty thrilled to watch the next installment in November (vampire baby ripping Bella's stomach open!!)...and Team Edward (even if he is a liar and kinda a creep...) ??/5 [N/A]
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Celluloid #120
In Theaters
Super 8 (2011) Abrams - I was really excited to see this film - JJ Abrams doing an homage to ET and Close Encounters + Coach Taylor! For the first 2/3, I was so down. The kids were compelling and actually pretty decent actors, and I liked all of the nostalgic qualities. I easily got sucked into the kids' interpersonal dynamics and their individual family dramas and the film they work on together. Things begin to fall apart for me when the kids have to evacuate town. The plot that ensues goes beyond my ability to suspend disbelief (and I am not referring to anything monster-related, more with discovering and comprehending some secretive research that even the military police couldn't find..). Towards the end, I guess we are supposed to feel sympathetic for this creature and the connection between it and the protagonist kid...I didn't buy it. My heartstrings were untouched for the ending, because I really feel like the film never earns that kind of emotional attachment. Abrams may be channeling Spielberg, but he could have tapped that emotional vein in a much more effective way. 3.5/5 [decent]
X-Men: First Class (2011) Vaughn - I really only saw this film because I was visiting my parents. Not something that I would normally seek out, but I got a little sucked in by the overwhelmingly positive reviews. This movie is fine for summer fare. I always enjoy Michael Fassbender, and without a doubt, he is the most compelling reason to watch this film. There's nothing wrong with this film, but it's just difficult for me to get excited by mutants and their superpowers...even if it is couched in civil rights era rhetoric. 3.5/5 [decent]
In Home
Gran Torino (2008) Eastwood - I really don't know why we are supposed to find an old cranky man's racism charming or sympathetic. I'm not opposed to the basic premise of this film: a man is recently widowed and angry at the world. He begrudgingly befriends a Hmong teenage boy who lives next door. He imparts wisdom to the neighbor through the benefit of his years, and in turn learns from the boy due to his foreign culture. The problem is that the dialogue is bad, and the acting is perhaps even worse...not something that normally bothers me in a film until it it is so egregious that it becomes distracting. 2/5 [bad]
the New World (2005) Malick - After watching Tree of Life last week, I was jumping at the chance to watch the remaining Malick film unseen by me. I'm sure that I originally overlooked this film because of the presence of Colin Farrell, but rest assured, he is far from annoying and Malick is clearly running this slow-paced show. This is the lyrical story of the romance of Pocahontas and John Smith. A glimpse at "wild america" and the tension between the old and new cultures. The young woman who plays Pocahontas is stunning and has such an interesting face. Tree of Life seems like a natural next step after this movie (moving from early history and American myth, to even more personal American myths expanded to the mysteries God and the universe). 4/5 [good]
Zombie (1979) Fulci - The special effects are bad, but sorta charming in their badness. This will hit the spot if you want a zombie film, and even features some elements not normally seen in the genre: voodoo, tropical settings, and most notably - a fight between a zombie and a shark. 3/5 [medium+]
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Celluloid #119
In Theaters
Blank City (2011) Danhier - Documentary about the No Wave scene in New York during the early 1980s. Somewhat about the music, but primarily focusing on the film scene consisting of Jim Jarmusch, Nick Zedd, Richard Kern, and Amos Poe among others. This film paints a picture of a gritty New York with a strong community of poor kids squatting in abandoned buildings and making art with each other. Interviews with Lydia Lunch and James Chance are particularly entertaining. 4/5 [good]
the Tree of Life (2011) Malick - Scenes of outer space, dinosaurs, and evolution are mixed with slightly less abstract dramatic episodes from 1950s Texas. The Texas scenes are still atypical because they consist of mainly nonlinear moments full of lots of whispering and inner monologues. Several of these scenes affected me in an incredibly emotional way, but could be just as simple as a son hugging his father. Overall, as a viewer, you are witnessing some pretty universal turmoil, mainly dealing with the complexities of relationships and the loss of innocence that accompanies the transition out of childhood. I don't know exactly what to make of the inclusion of the dinosaur scenes except to set a certain type of tone, much like I'm not sure what to do with the surreal religious ending. I really wish that the naturey screen saver parts were much shorter, but I loved the Texas parts and how beauty in this film. It really isn't like anything else I have seen, and want more people to watch it, if only to have someone else to talk to about it. 4/5 [good]
In Home
Before the Rain (1994) Manchevski - A young priest tries to save an Albanian girl. In another scenario, a woman finds out that she is pregnant, but is having an affair and wants a divorce. A man returns to his home in Macedonia after 16 years abroad as a photographer. Each of these narratives are connected by a cycle of violence of particular interest for this part of the world during the mid-90s. 4/5 [good]
les Enfants Terribles (1950) Melville - A brother and sister are a little too close. They don't exactly do anything inappropriate but take every opportunity to undermine each other and destroy the other's chances at love. 3/5 [medium]
Zelig (1983) Allen - Fake documentary about Leo Zelig, a man who can transform into different identities and dubbed the "Human Chameleon." Leo wanted to be liked so much that he would distort his image to fit in. He stops transforming once he falls in love with one the therapists who studies him. Then scandals become unearthed as it seems that his various personalities had previously married other women, committed vandalism, etc. He goes from being a beloved icon to a loathed man - not all that different from the cycle of celebrity today. 3.5/5 [decent]
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Test Pattern #7 - Part 2
America's Next Top Model (Cycle 16) - The one good thing about this cycle compared to last, was that there really wasn't a clearcut winner from the beginning (I love Ann from last season, but total lack of tension or surprise). The problem is that I don't feel like anyone was really really strong. One of my favorites won, but overall this will be a forgettable season.
Chicago Code (Season 1) - Really great show that is like a hybrid of Law & Order but heavily influenced by the Wire. The new Chicago police superintendent is trying to crack down on corruption, a widespread epidemic in Chicago's political system. In particular, she is trying to convict one alderman who has his hands in the Irish mob, and pays off people all over the city. However, he is good at what he does, so it's hard to get anything to stick. Meanwhile, there is still everyday crime to deal with in the town. We get to know a handful of the officers and one undercover agent, all the more sad that Fox did not decide to renew this show for another season. I guess, I will just have to watch the show creator's previous project, the Shield.
Community (Season 2) - Community was a really interesting show this season. While there were general plot arcs, mainly it seemed as though the show was more focused on being "meta" about genre and television/film conventions. There's the animated Christmas special, the revisionist Western paintball finales, a Pulp Fiction/My Dinner with Andre tribute, and an episode about making documentaries. I think this show is so fun and smart, and really not like anything else on television.
the Office (Season 7) - the Office is a show that I wish would have ended somewhere around Jim and Pam's wedding, and yet I still have to watch. This was Steve Carell's last season, and the last half of this season seems to focus on saying goodbye in one form or another...really a perfect place to stop, but instead, apparently a new boss is going to take over and the show will continue. I liked having Holly Flack (Amy Ryan) back for a few episodes, and the addition of creepy Gabe was a good call in my opinion (all though it seems like he might be gone now). As usual, I wish the supporting characters would have more developed storylines, since this can be such a funny cast. In particular Kelly Kapoor (Mindy Kaling) should be on screen way more because she is the best. I also always want more Darryl, and occasionally more Creed and Kevin.
30 Rock (Season 5) - This show used to be the highlight of NBC's Thursday night line-up, but this year that honor definitely has been handed over to Parks & Recreation. That isn't to say that this show isn't funny anymore, but when you go back and look at the episodes from Seasons 2 & 3, there just really isn't a comparison. The main problem this year was the disappearance of Tracy Jordan. Also, the show made Kenneth do too many stupid things...I think everyone is fine with him being a naive hillbilly, but he shouldn't be made to look like he suffers from a mental health condition. Alec Baldwin as Jack is great as always, but Elizabeth Banks as Avery just can't possibly live up to some of Jack's old love interests (I'm thinking specifically of Salma Hayek), all though, thank God Julianne Moore and her horrendous Boston accent are no longer around.
Walking Dead (Season 1) - AMC is doing a great job of presenting a variety of quality shows. The first season of Walking Dead does a get job of setting up a group of characters in a really high stakes world. A zombie epidemic has been unleashed, and the apocalyptic tone is fantastic. I didn't realize there were only 6 episodes, and things move along quickly. I feel like everyone knows that the end of the season really sucks...it's like the writers wrote themselves into a corner, but I have faith with the return of producer Frank Darabont, and a more hands-on approach, the story can be salvaged next season.
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