Celluloid #154

In Home

Calendar (1993) Egoyan - Strange little film where most of the time we follow a photographer in Armenia with his wife and a tour guide, taking pictures of historical monuments for a brochure. These scenes are interspersed with evidently present-day scenes where the photographer is on a bunch of dates with various women. All the dates take place at his house, and every time he pours the wine, this becomes the cue for the women to ask to use the phone. Their calls are always in a foreign language (probably Armenian?) and seem to be erotic in content. Once the calls begin, the photographer takes out a notepad and begins writing. 3/5

3-Iron (2004) Kim - We meet a young man who breaks  into peoples' homes while they are on vacation, but instead of robbing them, he cleans things up, maybe takes a bath, looks at photo albums, or masturbates. At one house, it turns out that the wife is still there. It also turns out that she is abused by her husband, and finds herself strangely attracted to this intruder. The young man gets sent to jail, but the connection has already been made. 4/5

Wages of Fear (1953) Clouzot - Some town in Central America is suffering from extreme poverty. A fire breaks out at an oil field where many people have died. A reward is offered to the first truck that can deliver a shipment of nitroglycerin. It's an extremely dangerous job that requires two people per team. The liquid is very flammable and cannot be shaken around too much or it will explode and kill everyone around. Some poor men from the town and a couple of has-been gangsters take the job...but I think you know how this saying ends. 3.5/5

Celluloid #153

In Theaters


the Dark Knight Rises (2012) Nolan - I've always liked this franchise, but I don't love it. I go for the spectacle, and this delivered on that front. Batman is getting old, and doesn't want to help out Gotham anymore, however, once Bane comes on the scene, someone must put a stop to it so he limps out of retirement. I like Tom Hardy a lot in films like Warrior, Inception, and Bronson, but here he has to wear a ridiculous mask and have a voice that is somehow reminiscent of the giant turtle mountain from the Neverending Story. I think the most welcome addition was Anne Hathaway as Cat Woman. Anyway, I would think you would know by now whether this is your kind of deal. 3.5/5

In Home


Bad Boy Bubby (1993) de Heer - Bubby is 35 and has been locked up in an apartment with his mother for his entire life. She abuses him in the worst ways. Besides never allowing him to leave the house, go to school, or even become a little socialized, she also engages in incest and beats him occasionally. Then she reconnects with Bubby's father and essentially kicks Bubby out. Alone on the streets, people surprisingly take good care of the weirdo. He eats a lot of pizza, ends up singing in a band, and has a fair amount of sex for a gross-looking idiot. 3.5/5

Broken English (2007) Cassavetes - Parker Posey's recent appearance on Louie and my recent viewing of Party Girl made me want to seek out more of her work. She plays Nora, a 30 something who cannot get it together when it comes to relationships. Everyone else in her life is coupled up, but she just keeps meeting the wrong guys. Then she meets a younger French guy at a party, and the two hit it off. The relationship hits a snag when he decides he has to move back to France. He asks her to come with, but she's too afraid, and doesn't feel like they know each other well enough. After more time passes, she takes a huge longshot and tries to find him in Paris. The movie and tone are all quite fine, but why does Nora wear the worst clothes?? 3.5/5

Imitation of Life (1959) Sirk - A struggling actress takes in a black woman, Annie, and her daughter Sarah Jane, even though she doesn't really have money to pay them. Sarah Jane can pass for white and struggles throughout the movie to distance herself from her mother and her black identity. Meanwhile, Lora does become famous and almost gets involved in a love triangle with her daughter and a man - Thankfully we don't get into some Mildred Pierce territory. Tragedy is the only logical ending for this very melodramatic (not in a bad way!) film. 4/5

the Red Balloon/the White Mane (1953-1956) Lamorisse - These two short French films are incredibly charming, and I think would be ideal to show children (and adults) to introduce them to world cinema because there's barely any dialogue, and instead you get a series of beautiful and memorable images. I think I probably liked the Red Balloon a little more - a young boy starts getting followed around by a balloon. Other boys get jealous and try to steal it and later to destroy it, but the balloon and the boy keep getting reunited as he walks around the city. In the White Mane, a wild horse escapes capture by a bunch of French cowboys, but gets nabbed by a young boy. Both are worth 30 minutes of your time. 4.5/5

Celluloid #152

In Theaters

Beasts of the Southern Wild (2012) Zeitlin - You should see this film first and foremost for the memorable visuals. This is the story of Hushpuppy and her dad who live on an island off the coast of Louisiana. A storm of Katrina-caliber hits, destroying the makeshift life that they had made for themselves. Hushpuppy narrates this film and injects the right amount of child perspective and imagination without things getting anywhere close to being sappy. This film feel so "American" with its history of poor blacks, white trash, Southern Gothic, hard-drinking, firework sensibilities. My only complaint is that the music is too overpowering at times, but otherwise I loved it. 4.5/5

Safety Not Guaranteed (2012) Trevorrow - Enjoyable enough movie about three reporters working on a story about a Craigslist ad seeking a partner for time travel. Initially the three think Kenneth might just be a paranoid nut, but as Darius (Aubrey Plaza) gets to know him, it seems as though he just wants to connect to a simpler, happier time, and she begins to fall for him. Then things get a little wacky as they gather supplies for the time machine and try to shake some government officials. 3.5/5

Take This Waltz (2012) Polley - I still love Michelle Williams, but this movie is pretty bad, and it does make me question whether Sarah Polley is a total weirdo. Margot is married to Lou, a chef writing a cookbook about chicken. While on a writing assignment, Margot meets Daniel and the two have instant chemistry. Things get complicated when Margot realizes that Daniel lives right across the street. She struggles with whether she should start an affair, or stay loyal to her loving but bland husband. The characters are all pretty off (the gross babytalk meets gore, all of Daniel's outfits, his job, and his lame art), but mostly what bothered me was the horrible dialogue. People are constantly saying things in this film that no real person would ever say. 2/5

In Home

Domain (2009) Chiha - A young man and his aunt seem uncomfortably close. She is a mathematician and an alcoholic, but seems to enjoy keeping Pierre around as company. He finds her fascinating and original until she makes a desperate move on him despite the fact that he is gay. This film doesn't really do much of anything, but I do appreciate some of the more atmospheric scenes, especially the slow-motion dancing in the nightclub. 3/5

Harakiri (1962) Kobayashi - Poverty-stricken samurais begin turning up asking for a place to commit harakiri, but in reality just want a handout. One house decides to put an end to this behavior by using one such samurai as an example. However, this samurai did not have real blades on his sword, so was forced to disembowel himself with the bamboo replacements. At the time, the lords believe that the lack of blades only proves how much of a weasel and fake this samurai was, and feel justified in their actions. Years later, another samurai shows up at this house making the same request, but before he commits his ritual, he reveals that the first samurai was his son-in-law who just really loved his daughter and needed a doctor for her and their dying baby. 4/5

Party Girl (1995) Von Scherler Mayer - Mary is a total party girl, but needs to start making some real money. Her godmother gives her a position as a library clerk. After criticizing Mary for not being serious enough, Mary pulls an all-nighter learning the Dewey Decimal System (this film is a total love letter to library science), and she becomes a model librarian. There's also a romance with a Lebanese food vendor and plenty of silly dancing. 4/5

Celluloid #151 (Rapid Fire Edition)

I have gotten so far behind, that I'm just going to spit out all of the movies that I've watched in the last month with even shorter synopses than usual...in hopes that I'll be able to get it together to get back on track soon!

In Theaters


Alps (2012) Lanthimos - Follow-up by the director of Dogtooth. Centers around a group of people who  offer to "act" as replacements for the recently deceased to help their families grieve. However, their own identities become quite muddled. Absurd, extremely dark humor. 3.5/5

First Position (2012) Kargman - Documentary about ballet dancers competing in the Youth America Grand Prix. 3.5/5

Lola Versus (2012) Wein - Lola has been dumped by her fiance three weeks before her wedding. She copes by sleeping with her ex's best friend, trying to date around, moping around the with a message I support, but played too on the nose for my taste. 2/5

Magic Mike (2012) Soderbergh - Mike is a construction worker by day and a male stripper by night. Alex is a dumb 19 year-old who can't keep it together at the construction site, so Mike decides to take him under his wing and introduce him to his other professional life. I could care less about all the beefcake, but Channing Tatum's dancing is great and all together this movie made me smile. 4/5

Moonrise Kingdom (2012) Anderson - New Wes Anderson about two pre-teens who fall in love and runaway together causing the community to band together to find them. 4/5

Prometheus (2012) Scott - Unnecessary prequel to Alien. A group of scientists go searching for the origins of life and receive a violent welcome upon their arrival. 3.5/5

To Die For (1995) Van Sant - It's been a long time since I've seen this classic Van Sant...PFA was doing a screening. Suzanne is ambitious about working her way into television. She has a small gig as the weathergirl for a local channel, and starts taking on investigative projects, particularly examining the lives' of adolescents. She begins to feel that her marriage is holding her back, so she convinces some of her subjects to do some dirty work for her. 4.5/5

Your Sister's Sister (2012) Shelton - Jack is still grieving the death of his brother. His best friend Iris sends him to stay at her family's cabin, but when he arrives, Iris' sister Hannah is already occupying the residence, reeling from her own personal drama. The two hit it off, creating an awkward love triangle. 3/5


In Home


Bronson (2008) Refn - Stylish biopic of England's most violent prisoner. 4/5

Talk to Her (2002) Almodovar - One of the first Almodovar movies I ever saw and still one of my favorites. One man loses his lover in a bullfight. He meets another man who works as a nurse in the hospital, but that man has a creepy love affair with one of the patients in a coma. 5/5

Test Pattern #12

America's Next Top Model (Cycle 18) - Cycle 18 seems to be the death knell for this long running guilty pleasure. The theme this time was "British Invasion" where Tyra pits British models against American girls. Unfortunately, the scale seemed a little tipped because all of the British girls had been on previous cycles of Britain's Top Model, while the Americans had little to no experience. Honestly, all though my picks came in the top three, this season was so boring, with really lame photo shoots. I think it may be time to pull the plug.

Community (Season 3) - This show seems to be particularly divisive amongst my friends - I enjoy the pop culture references and playing with genre conventions, even if the show doesn't really go anywhere with a plot. I think it's a shame that Dan Harmon, the showrunner is no longer attached.

Fringe (Season 4) - Who can even keep straight what is going on in this show anymore? In addition to the two worlds (ours and an alternate) now I believe we are supposed to keep at least two different timelines in mind. It's not that I don't like the show, because I definitely do, but I often have to consult with my roommate to work out logic, characters, plot, etc. because it does seem like the show expects you to have an excellent memory.

Game of Thrones (Season 2) - While not quite as good as the first season, things are still getting exciting in the 7 Kingdoms. Everyone wants Joffrey dead, Daenerys gets her dragons stolen for a time, Theon acts like an idiot, while Tyrion may have found his calling. Oh, and Jon Snow almost loses his virginity and Arya poses as a boy. War has broken out this season, and of course, winter is coming...

Girls (Season 1) - My favorite debut of the year caused quite an uproar online and amongst reviewers. The basic premise is that four girls live in Brooklyn. They are all white, 20-something, fairly educated, and definitely part of the "leisure class." The show gets criticized for its lack of diversity, but I think if you are honest when examining most people's close circle of friends, you will find a lot of homogeneity. I found this show incredibly relatable, being an aimless 20-something myself for a time. The friendships and even the relationships with the guys in the show are really truthful and sadly funny.  I'm glad it'll be back on in the Fall because I can't wait to spend more time with these ladies.
 
In Treatment (Season 2) - Now that Dr. Paul Weston is separated from his wife and being sued by a patient's family, he starts his practice up again in Brooklyn. He treats a middle-aged woman who used to be his patient 20 years earlier and regrets not settling down; a young woman with cancer; a boy whose parents are undergoing a divorce; and old man who starts out the CEO of a big company but stress and guilt force him to step aside; and Paul's own treatment with Gina where he is still dealing with his father issues and acting like quite the asshole in his sessions.

the Killing (Season 2) - When this show first started, it had a lot of promise and perhaps too many Twin Peaks  references, but I found myself attracted to the dynamic between the two detectives. This second season did little to redeem itself after the season 1 finale that left so many people feeling angry. I was willing to go along for the ride, but what was presented was a lot of fairly uninteresting red herrings, and B-plots that I could have done without. I guess they finally wrapped up the case this season, but its conclusion was far from satisfying.

Mad Men (Season 5) - The ladies are growing up, moving on, and getting what they want this season. I felt bad about "Fat Betty" and how much of a villain she has become, but am always interested in life through Sally's eyes, and am looking forward to seeing their mother/daughter relationship evolve. Don seems to have gained a bit of a conscience this season, but I think it's just because he's getting older, and he's starting not to fit in with mainstream society.

the Office (Season 8) - Why do I even keep watching this show? I'm not that into Robert California and found Nellie an even more irritating character. Jim and Pam may as well not exist...I really just want to see Kelly and sometimes Ryan, which is unfortunate, since I don't think either of them will be on the show much anymore.

Parks & Recreation (Season 4) - I think this was a really good season! Leslie running for office makes her even more of a stress case than ever, and I like Ben (Adam Scott) as her boyfriend. Ron and April always bring the straight-faced laughs and the secret hearts of gold. Tom and Ann as a couple is too weird, but I like them both so much individually that I'll allow it if it means they are still vital to the show.

30 Rock (Season 6) - Liz has a boyfriend - weird! Jack has a lot of sexual tension with Avery's mom and then she comes back from Korea. Kenneth is no longer a page - weird! There is not nearly enough Tracy in this season, and while there are certainly some funny episodes or gags, it's probably for the best that there is only one more season.

Veep (Season 1) - Started watching this on HBO streaming as a time killer.  The episodes are really short, but it took a few for it to find its stride. It's nice to see Buster Bluth again and Julia Louis-Dreyfus is a great comedic talent. Worth watching for a few hours.

Art Garfunkel Memorial Reading List (January - June 2012)

1.) JR - Gaddis (1/3)
2. ) My Last Sigh - Bunuel (1/9)
3.) the Instructions - Levin (1/26)
4.) the Marbled Swarm - Cooper (1/28)
5.) Madame Bovary - Flaubert (1/31)
6.) Wide Sargasso Sea - Rhys (2/4)
7.) Will You Please Be Quiet, Please? - Carver (2/7)
8.) Are Prisons Obsolete? - Davis (2/12)
9.) Birds of America - Moore (2/15)
10.) Omeros - Walcott (2/27)
11.) This Shape We're In - Lethem (2/28)
12.) the Lost Books of the Odyssey - Mason (3/3)
13.) Memory Wall - Doerr (3/7)
14.) the Leftovers - Perrotta (3/8)
15.) Ready Player One - Cline (3/16)
16.) American Gay - Murray (3/24)
17.) Collected Stories of Eudora Welty (4/17)
18.) Death on the Installment Plan - Celine (4/24)
19.) the Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven - Alexie (4/26)
20.) the Driver's Guide to Hitting Pedestrians - Prunty (4/30)
21.) the Chronology of Water - Yuknavitch (4/30)
22.) Runaway - Munro (5/3)
23.) Pulphead - Sullivan (5/8)
24.) the Night Circus - Morgenstern (5/18)
25.) Farther Away - Franzen (5/23)
26.) the Stories of John Cheever (5/26)
27.) Hot Pink - Levin (5/30)
28.) Motorman - Ohle (5/31)
29.) the Devil All of the Time - Pollock (6/6)
30.) Matterhorn - Marlantes (6/18)
31.) Black Tickets - Phillips (6/20)
32.) Nog - Wurlitzer (6/30)

Celluloid #150

In Theaters


Snow White & the Huntsman (2012) Sanders - Updated feminist take on the classic Snow White story. This time we get more of the evil queen Ravenna's backstory - she is basically taught that her power lies within her beauty, and she ends up supernaturally stealing young girls' beauty to keep surviving. Snow White is her stepdaughter that she keeps locked in a tower. Snow White is not only "fairer," but possesses a kind heart and admiration from the animals. Kristen Stewart is not a very good actress and seems to look scared or weepy all of the time, leaving the viewer confused as to why dudes are always falling for her. Something worth watching on the big screen for its visuals. 3.5/5

In Home


Flesh (1968) Morrissey - Jack works as a hustler when he needs some money. His wife wants him to pay for her girlfriend's abortion. This is typical Morrissey/Warhol with interesting or appealing actors in the department of looks, but weird stilted dialogue. Joe Dallessandro is a pleasure to look at; really no big surprise considering his status as a gay icon of masculinity. 3/5

Office Killer (1997) Sherman - Doreen works in an office where she is often under-appreciated. Initially a couple people die accidentally and Doreen takes them home where she sits them on her couch. Then she starts taking a more direct role in staging the murders. There is goofy, outdated technology and delightful roles played by Molly Ringwald, Michael "Christopher" Imperioli, and Jeanne Tripplehorn. 4/5

Tideland (2005) Gilliam - Jeliza Rose cope with her shitty life by immersing herself in fantasy. Right at the beginning, her mother dies from a drug overdose. She and her dad take off for Texas for fear that CPS would take her away with all of the elicit substances in the house. Once they reach her dead grandmother's home in Texas, her dad O.D.s on the first night. Jeliza seems to ignore this reality by dressing her dad up in wigs and make-up. She also plays with four detached Barbie doll heads to create most of the film's dialogue. She befriends a woman who turns out to be connected to her, and develops an inappropriate crush on a retarded boy. The boy has his own variety of issues and often lives in a fantasy where he is the captain of a submarine, and has plans to blow up the "land-shark" aka the nightly train that passes through town. 3.5/5