I heard the news mid-day today on a trusted music forum that Peter Steele had died of heart failure. He was 48 years old and still very much involved in a musical career that had given birth to many classics of the gothic metal (Type O Negative) and crusty hardcore (Carnivore) variety. Standing 6'7" and making use of a bass-baritone voice, Steele was one of the most recognizable frontmen of all time. He frequented music news articles with shenanigans including posing for a centerfold in playgirl and faking his death in 2005, creating an identity that stood out among myriad other musicians.
According to a few sources he was an atheist up until quite recently. Apparently some personal event had caused him to reflect on his mortality and he took up the beliefs of the roman catholic church. This was a surprise to me, because the most prominent theme in his music is futility. With songs like "Everything Dies" and "Love you to Death" and "Bloody Kisses (A Death in the Family)" it seemed like Steele understood that death is the ultimate end with no hope of anything to look forward to. This change of heart reveals a very human quality of a man i had often regarded as above the weakness of humanity, so far beyond weakness he laughed in the face of it and welcomed his own demise. My perception was ultimately false, but i don't respect him any less. I'm glad he chose to look beyond his own existence and see something to look forward to. And, i hope that whatever he pictured during his last breath was enough for him to go peacefully and calmly.
I'll be listening to a lot of Type O Negative for the next few weeks and hope that anyone reading this takes the time to seek out a couple tracks and show respect for a brilliant musician who will be missed and remembered for years to come.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Movie: Down by Law
Another Jim Jarmusch film (i'm quickly running out) featuring Tom Waits, Roberto Benigni and John Lurie (from Stranger than Paradise). I've been searching for this one for a long time and finally found it. What sparked my interest, outside of Jarmusch being my favorite film maker, was the presence of Tom Waits as a main character. I've only seen him play such short rolls before and it was worth the wait to see what he can do center stage.
The movie is about three men, a pimp, a radio host, and an Italian who has a very loose grasp of the English language, who get arrested and spend time getting to know each other in a jail cell. Two men are set up for unknown reasons and are ultimately innocent for the crimes they're convicted for, but the third (the Italian and most harmless of the three) is brought in on murder charges.
As with all Jarmusch films, there's hardly any story to speak of, very little is explained, the plot is incredibly simple, and there are only four or five sets in the entire movie. The focus is on the characters. Not who they were, not how they got to where they are, not where they're going in the future, but who they are and how they interact with other characters now. Jim Jarmusch seems to love how complex individuals are, sometimes achieving a level of complexity that makes them unable to exist outside of their places of comfort, unable to interact with anyone outside of their close group of friends. The three actors exhibit this complexity perfectly.
What makes Jarmusch my favorite film maker is the conversations he constructs between characters. He fills dialog with awkward pauses, confused looks, sometimes complete silence and it feels real. If you look at an average movie, there's always something happening and the dialog always has a purpose. Jarmusch wants to portray reality, where hardly anything happens, memorable moments are based on only a few seconds in an expanse of time and people sometimes can't even come up with the words to correctly express themselves which at times might explain more than words ever could.
It's hard to recommend any Jarmusch movie to anyone, however, because film making like this is commonly perceived as boring. They would be wrong, but different people, different tastes, as always.
5/5
The movie is about three men, a pimp, a radio host, and an Italian who has a very loose grasp of the English language, who get arrested and spend time getting to know each other in a jail cell. Two men are set up for unknown reasons and are ultimately innocent for the crimes they're convicted for, but the third (the Italian and most harmless of the three) is brought in on murder charges.
As with all Jarmusch films, there's hardly any story to speak of, very little is explained, the plot is incredibly simple, and there are only four or five sets in the entire movie. The focus is on the characters. Not who they were, not how they got to where they are, not where they're going in the future, but who they are and how they interact with other characters now. Jim Jarmusch seems to love how complex individuals are, sometimes achieving a level of complexity that makes them unable to exist outside of their places of comfort, unable to interact with anyone outside of their close group of friends. The three actors exhibit this complexity perfectly.
What makes Jarmusch my favorite film maker is the conversations he constructs between characters. He fills dialog with awkward pauses, confused looks, sometimes complete silence and it feels real. If you look at an average movie, there's always something happening and the dialog always has a purpose. Jarmusch wants to portray reality, where hardly anything happens, memorable moments are based on only a few seconds in an expanse of time and people sometimes can't even come up with the words to correctly express themselves which at times might explain more than words ever could.
It's hard to recommend any Jarmusch movie to anyone, however, because film making like this is commonly perceived as boring. They would be wrong, but different people, different tastes, as always.
5/5
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Book: 2666 by Roberto Bolaño
After months of turning each page with patience and as much attention as i could devote to such a complex and detailed work; i'm finished. I can comfortably say that no other book has had such an emotional effect on me. No other book has made me feel disappointed that i can't keep turning the pages and dig a little deeper into the black hole that is the premise of this novel. I don't know what else to say about it.
I'd recommend 2666 to anyone who likes to read, but as with a lot of the subject matter i tend to drift toward, this is dark. It sucks the light out of existence. It describes futility in detail and you can certainly bet there isn't going to be a happy ending, or an ending at all for that matter because once the pages stop turning you can be assured the images won't fade nearly as quickly.
5/5
I'd recommend 2666 to anyone who likes to read, but as with a lot of the subject matter i tend to drift toward, this is dark. It sucks the light out of existence. It describes futility in detail and you can certainly bet there isn't going to be a happy ending, or an ending at all for that matter because once the pages stop turning you can be assured the images won't fade nearly as quickly.
5/5
TV Show: The Mighty Boosh
The Mighty Boosh is the name chosen to identify a pair of comedians, Noel Fielding and Julian Barratt. They've performed as a team in several mediums; live, radio broadcast and a tv show of the same name. The tv show was my first exposure to the comedic pair and i'm glad i stumbled upon it. The setting for the first season is a zoo called the Zooniverse in which the comedians play the characters Howard Moon (a straight laced jazz aficionado) and Vince Noir (a cockney mod who prefers electro-pop and has the ability to speak to animals) who work as zookeepers.
The first thought when watching the first season was how in the world did they get enough of a budget to bring so many ridiculous ideas to life. The question answers itself in time when you realize there are only 5 or so actors in the entire show; 5 actors who play about 20 recurring characters, mostly done by Noel and Julian. One might think that would be a bit ambitious for just two men, but each character is brilliant, seriously. It's really astounding the amount of material these two guys were able to come up with for the first season alone.
The second season introduced a character that actually became an internet meme for a short while by the name of Old Gregg. To give a picture of the detail in each character i'll use him as an example and describe. Old Gregg is half man half fish with seaweed for hair and a vagina, which emits light and is referred to as a "mangina" or "downstairs mixup." He also wears a tutu and is looking for the love of another man adding to the sexual ambiguity. He is an avid painter, mostly self portraits. His favorite drink is Bailey's Irish Cream, preferably served from a shoe. He only appears at night under a fool moon. And, he has a reputation for killing sailors that venture out onto his lake, black lake, but only after they deny his love. Youtube Old Gregg for the visuals.
It was odd when the youtube videos gained popularity and i had a chance to talk to a few people about it. They had no idea where the videos originated from nor cared, which was a shame because the show is literally filled with that level of ridiculousness.
All three seasons are great and worth seeking out.
5/5
The first thought when watching the first season was how in the world did they get enough of a budget to bring so many ridiculous ideas to life. The question answers itself in time when you realize there are only 5 or so actors in the entire show; 5 actors who play about 20 recurring characters, mostly done by Noel and Julian. One might think that would be a bit ambitious for just two men, but each character is brilliant, seriously. It's really astounding the amount of material these two guys were able to come up with for the first season alone.
The second season introduced a character that actually became an internet meme for a short while by the name of Old Gregg. To give a picture of the detail in each character i'll use him as an example and describe. Old Gregg is half man half fish with seaweed for hair and a vagina, which emits light and is referred to as a "mangina" or "downstairs mixup." He also wears a tutu and is looking for the love of another man adding to the sexual ambiguity. He is an avid painter, mostly self portraits. His favorite drink is Bailey's Irish Cream, preferably served from a shoe. He only appears at night under a fool moon. And, he has a reputation for killing sailors that venture out onto his lake, black lake, but only after they deny his love. Youtube Old Gregg for the visuals.
It was odd when the youtube videos gained popularity and i had a chance to talk to a few people about it. They had no idea where the videos originated from nor cared, which was a shame because the show is literally filled with that level of ridiculousness.
All three seasons are great and worth seeking out.
5/5
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Movie: Ex Drummer
Yet another intensely graphic cult film; this one standing out from the previous few because of its more recent date of creation and European origin.
The movie has a cinematographic style comparable to high-intensity films like Trainspotting and Spun, but i'd say it had more symbolic purpose and patience than those two films. Instead of a non-stop roller coaster there are many moments where the viewer can take a breath and focus on the detail of a room or follow a character along a very clear path taking note of all of his surroundings. I'd suggest a second viewing to pick up on all the details. My second time through i tried to focus on where the subject was in the frame and there were many moments of purposeful confusion between what was the subject and other possible points of focus. This is definitely one of those movies that you can expect to see new things every time through.
Dries, the main character is easily one of my favorite characters of any film. He had an infinite amount of charm, but was at heart a narcissist, not having any emotional investment in any of the supporting characters or conflicts. One moment describes this notion perfectly. In the battle of the bands scene, the camera cuts from a high intensity performance on stage to a slow motion capture washed in red and black. Dries is walking slowly through the violent moshpit as it parts around him. His stride is confident and unquestioning until he reaches the center of the mosh and everyone around him falls to the ground in convulsions while he takes a long drag on a cigarette. The scene is surreal and powerful and shows Dries as a god, which is his ultimate role. He toys with the supporting characters, teases them, judges them, ultimately forsakes them, but not directly. He simply manufacturers the plot of their own self-destruction.
This isn't a light film in any respect, having almost every scene packed with vulgarity and perversity and filth, but if you can honestly say that filth is no less beautiful than anything else, enjoy this one. It's one of my favorites.
5/5
The movie has a cinematographic style comparable to high-intensity films like Trainspotting and Spun, but i'd say it had more symbolic purpose and patience than those two films. Instead of a non-stop roller coaster there are many moments where the viewer can take a breath and focus on the detail of a room or follow a character along a very clear path taking note of all of his surroundings. I'd suggest a second viewing to pick up on all the details. My second time through i tried to focus on where the subject was in the frame and there were many moments of purposeful confusion between what was the subject and other possible points of focus. This is definitely one of those movies that you can expect to see new things every time through.
Dries, the main character is easily one of my favorite characters of any film. He had an infinite amount of charm, but was at heart a narcissist, not having any emotional investment in any of the supporting characters or conflicts. One moment describes this notion perfectly. In the battle of the bands scene, the camera cuts from a high intensity performance on stage to a slow motion capture washed in red and black. Dries is walking slowly through the violent moshpit as it parts around him. His stride is confident and unquestioning until he reaches the center of the mosh and everyone around him falls to the ground in convulsions while he takes a long drag on a cigarette. The scene is surreal and powerful and shows Dries as a god, which is his ultimate role. He toys with the supporting characters, teases them, judges them, ultimately forsakes them, but not directly. He simply manufacturers the plot of their own self-destruction.
This isn't a light film in any respect, having almost every scene packed with vulgarity and perversity and filth, but if you can honestly say that filth is no less beautiful than anything else, enjoy this one. It's one of my favorites.
5/5
Friday, March 12, 2010
Movie: Salò o le 120 giornate di Sodoma
How to make yourself feel wealthy:
Take the money of others
How to make yourself feel independent:
Imprison others
How to make yourself feel clean:
Defecate on others
How to make yourself feel immortal:
Kill others
A list of ways to descend into depravity and the premise of this film.
5/5
Take the money of others
How to make yourself feel independent:
Imprison others
How to make yourself feel clean:
Defecate on others
How to make yourself feel immortal:
Kill others
A list of ways to descend into depravity and the premise of this film.
5/5
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Movie: The Holy Mountain
Watching this film was a bittersweet experience for me, as with any cult classic, because when the credits rolled i knew it would never have as profound an effect on me as the first viewing. The surreal imagery of this film alone would be enough for it to stay at the forefront of my memory for some time. And, that's exactly what i thought the film was about after the first couple scenes. There was no script, no plot from what i could see, just characters bringing to life biblical texts and referencing other historical events while existing well outside of reality. It was really a trip, but then a story emerged out of the chaos and i was hooked for the duration.
The movie is essentially about a group of people who wish to become immortal and to achieve immortality they must go on a journey in which they throw away all qualities that make them human while traversing a path to the summit of the Holy Mountain. Each character faces individual challenges and is ultimately confronted by their deepest fears and obsessions.
From the sparse but meaningful dialog to the complementary and oftentimes unsettling soundtrack this movie is the product of a perfectionist possibly on the edge of his own sanity. There are those who might be upset by the level of perversity and gore, or by the raw and sudden sequencing and scene shifts, but it was all done with purpose down to the very last detail. I'd recommend to anyone with a strong stomach and a taste for interpretation, but i don't expect many people to like it.
5/5
The movie is essentially about a group of people who wish to become immortal and to achieve immortality they must go on a journey in which they throw away all qualities that make them human while traversing a path to the summit of the Holy Mountain. Each character faces individual challenges and is ultimately confronted by their deepest fears and obsessions.
From the sparse but meaningful dialog to the complementary and oftentimes unsettling soundtrack this movie is the product of a perfectionist possibly on the edge of his own sanity. There are those who might be upset by the level of perversity and gore, or by the raw and sudden sequencing and scene shifts, but it was all done with purpose down to the very last detail. I'd recommend to anyone with a strong stomach and a taste for interpretation, but i don't expect many people to like it.
5/5
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Movie: Zack and Miri Make a Porno
I had no doubt this was going to be a winner, with the presence of Kevin Smith at the helm to the incredible cast and the quirky subject matter; it was a guarantee that i could sit down and enjoy without any worry of being disappointed. I should say that i have a pretty big crush on Elizabeth Banks, exposing a small amount of bias toward any movie she's in. Although certainly not a seasoned character actress yet, her charm and boisterous laugh make me weak. The rest of the cast is made up of comedic veterans and familiar faces from Kevin Smith classics, all perfect for their characters. And for a surprise and somewhat risky decision Katie Morgan played the roll of the lead porn star, an actual pornstar who has gotten a ton of recent exposure due to her hosting spot on HBO's Sex Tips series.
It's difficult for me to say specifically what i liked about this movie because i immediately think: everything. I really enjoyed every minute, every joke, every sex scene, the setting of a small freezing town contrasted by the warming coffee shop and the intimate nature of porn. Forcing myself to pick something, the idea of porn being fun is always a nice thing to fantacize about. The world of actual porn is seedy and disrespectful and actresses and actors are hardly ever charming, hardly ever funny, and although it's getting better with alternative corporations like Kink and Girlfriend Films getting more attention it's still pretty ugly and the average close-minded american scoffs at the idea of the industry being anything other than an underground perversion. This movie introduced porn in a way that was fun and respectful and open to actual emotional vulnerability. I think my favorite scene keeping this theme in mind is when Craig Robinson's character interviews the first porn star. He's all nervous and makes sure she's comfortable and that she knows he's married before sheepishly asking to see what she brings to the table. Picturing this happening in reality is laughable, but certainly a nice thought for the movie to portray.
The only fault i could attribute to the film is the cookie cutter nature of the plot with obvious conflicts followed by convenient resolutions, but this is a light heart-warming comedy after all so a simple story with a comforting structure is welcome.
5/5
It's difficult for me to say specifically what i liked about this movie because i immediately think: everything. I really enjoyed every minute, every joke, every sex scene, the setting of a small freezing town contrasted by the warming coffee shop and the intimate nature of porn. Forcing myself to pick something, the idea of porn being fun is always a nice thing to fantacize about. The world of actual porn is seedy and disrespectful and actresses and actors are hardly ever charming, hardly ever funny, and although it's getting better with alternative corporations like Kink and Girlfriend Films getting more attention it's still pretty ugly and the average close-minded american scoffs at the idea of the industry being anything other than an underground perversion. This movie introduced porn in a way that was fun and respectful and open to actual emotional vulnerability. I think my favorite scene keeping this theme in mind is when Craig Robinson's character interviews the first porn star. He's all nervous and makes sure she's comfortable and that she knows he's married before sheepishly asking to see what she brings to the table. Picturing this happening in reality is laughable, but certainly a nice thought for the movie to portray.
The only fault i could attribute to the film is the cookie cutter nature of the plot with obvious conflicts followed by convenient resolutions, but this is a light heart-warming comedy after all so a simple story with a comforting structure is welcome.
5/5
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Movie: Angel Heart
There are a few different contexts in which the devil shows up in pop culture. One, which as of late seems to have been forgotten by the movie industry, is in the Louisiana Voodoo context in which Satan has a southern drawl and is surrounded by acts of sacrifice, hexes and shrines with animal bones etc. Angel Heart, a Robert De Niro classic, capitalizes on this sort of Satanic representation and does so with a noirish approach following a private detective played by Mickey Rourke. Rourke is initially sent to investigate a debt long overdue, but in time realizes what he's chasing is his own identity guided by none other than the dark lord himself.
I'll admit that the voodoo approach rarely instills the feeling of horror i crave from a satanic premise, but horror wasn't the focus of Angel Heart. I never felt the feeling of loss that horror movies take advantage of because we were always under the watchful protection of Rourke's charming character. The way he interacted with people, and the way he went about his investigation was comforting, giving us the sense that he was always in control. This feeling of trust was reinforced in every aspect of the storyline until the ultimate conflict, which was simply the question of whether his actions were of his own choosing or at the will of Satan.
Highly recommended for those who appreciate darkness.
4/5
I'll admit that the voodoo approach rarely instills the feeling of horror i crave from a satanic premise, but horror wasn't the focus of Angel Heart. I never felt the feeling of loss that horror movies take advantage of because we were always under the watchful protection of Rourke's charming character. The way he interacted with people, and the way he went about his investigation was comforting, giving us the sense that he was always in control. This feeling of trust was reinforced in every aspect of the storyline until the ultimate conflict, which was simply the question of whether his actions were of his own choosing or at the will of Satan.
Highly recommended for those who appreciate darkness.
4/5
Monday, February 22, 2010
TV Series: Kings
A few weeks ago I discovered the browse shows option on Hulu and found a few shows cancelled in their first season that should've gotten at least a second chance. The first i happened upon was Kings. It wasn't the concept that attracted me to this show rather the presence of Ian McShane as the primary character. After watching the HBO Deadwood series McShane has my full attention with anything he chooses to do.The characters he portrays are unbelievably good, full of passion and charm, but with the ability to cut your throat without hesitation.
The show's premise is simple: Modern society under the rule of a monarchy with challenges as large as battling the current war with a neighboring nation and as small as family disputes between the King and his wife and children. The show initially comes off a little soap opera-esque, but the linear storyline definitely keeps you interested with plot twists coming often and unexpectedly. My favorite aspect of the show was the strong theme of fate and it's hold on reality. There were many times in the storyline that a "sign" was revealed to lead a particular character through a conflict. It's a very attractive and unique concept when contrasted to the directionless reality we inhabit.
McShane is certainly the driving force of the show with younger actors following his lead and from my opinion they do a damn fine job. After the 13 episodes of it's first season i wanted there to be much more to delve into, but alas, NBC aborted and the show was lost forever. After doing a little research apparently most of the reason the show was cancelled was due to poor advertising leading up to the premier, which is certainly true from my perspective considering i hadn't heard of Kings until i stumbled upon it now, but i'm certiainly glad i did and would recommend it to anyone.
The show's premise is simple: Modern society under the rule of a monarchy with challenges as large as battling the current war with a neighboring nation and as small as family disputes between the King and his wife and children. The show initially comes off a little soap opera-esque, but the linear storyline definitely keeps you interested with plot twists coming often and unexpectedly. My favorite aspect of the show was the strong theme of fate and it's hold on reality. There were many times in the storyline that a "sign" was revealed to lead a particular character through a conflict. It's a very attractive and unique concept when contrasted to the directionless reality we inhabit.
McShane is certainly the driving force of the show with younger actors following his lead and from my opinion they do a damn fine job. After the 13 episodes of it's first season i wanted there to be much more to delve into, but alas, NBC aborted and the show was lost forever. After doing a little research apparently most of the reason the show was cancelled was due to poor advertising leading up to the premier, which is certainly true from my perspective considering i hadn't heard of Kings until i stumbled upon it now, but i'm certiainly glad i did and would recommend it to anyone.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Movie: Avatar
So... After all the negative opinions surrounding this film, i finally sat down and took it in, trying to be as open and unbiased as possible.
First i'll explain the flaws as i saw them:
1) Poor casting: Namely Giovanni Ribisi and Sigourney Weaver. As Parker Selfridge, the commander of the operation on Pandora, Giovanni had hopes of playing a shallow business man looking at the bottom line of a financial transaction, but with his whiney voice and weak delivery he came off spineless and never posed any threat as the primary villain.
Sigourney had intended to play the harsh but motherly scientist, but this was also lacking because she came off as cold and somewhat detached. Of course this could have been easily avoided with a very simple amount of character development, but alas, such a thing was never attempted.
2) Forced Dialog: There were several moments in this film where a character would say something that was obviously intended to describe them but seemed out of place in natural dialog. Stephen Lang (the colonel) had a few of these moments, where he was saying things that fit the character of a "badass," but with no reason and with little effect on whoever he was talking to.
3) Flexing 3D muscle: Some scenes were obviously only part of the movie because they would look neat in 3D, which in my opinion defeats the purpose. As soon as you notice something like that it removes you from the experience, reminding you that you're just watching an illusion rather than being immersed in the environment.
4) Music: I'm not sure why Cameron would skimp on something that caused great success before. I mean we all remember that god damn Celine Dion song (Titanic) no matter how much we want to forget it. There was nothing even remotely memorable in the score for Avatar and that's a real shame.
Now for the pros:
1) Real human emotion: With Avatar i really think Cameron has combined the basic strengths of two summer movie creators: Michael Bay and Michael Mann. Bay obviously for the effects, but Mann because of the emotion. Although Mann has flopped on his most recent movies i've always thought his presentation of human expression evokes empathy in the viewer on a level not many artists can achieve. Cameron has demonstrated this a few times before, but this is his strongest example. There were moments between the main character and his love interest that i felt what they were feeling, even under all the CG of an alien face which is unbelievably impressive. The technology and creativity they used to capture human expression and convey it through an artificial face must have been astounding. So props; I felt something Cameron.
2) Originality: There were some creative quirks presented that really surprised me. The one that stood out the most was the connection the alien race had with their environment, not only on a spritual level, but on an actual physical level where they would literally plug into their environment and feel what each creature was feeling. This allowed for a really novel presentation of the evidence of actual spirituality and evidence of an afterlife in the form of a large tree that captured the memories of ancestors long dead. Really neat imagery, really beautiful idea.
3) Confirming Zoe Saldana as a fox: I explained before the detail in human expression from these aliens. Well, this girl comes off as down right sexy even though we never see her actual face or body. Just awesome. And she's my nomination for best performance in the film. Her war screams and desperate cries were spot on.
The last thing I'll mention is a really substantial risk Cameron took writing this:
4) Hatred for American culture and the killing of a butt-load of enlisted men as a statement: I understand that this movie was at the heart a social commentary against the slash and burn mentality of the US, but damn did a lot of innocent men die in this film. I had some mixed feelings about this mostly because i was relating to the alien race more than the human race, but i think it was deliberate and constructed to do exactly that; to give the viewers mixed feelings and provoke them to ask questions. A pros list aspect for sure.
So, yes, it had flaws, but i'm tired of pretentious people sticking their nose up at this film, especially those who refuse to see it. It's just a movie, and it's certainly one worth seeing and talking about.
3/5
First i'll explain the flaws as i saw them:
1) Poor casting: Namely Giovanni Ribisi and Sigourney Weaver. As Parker Selfridge, the commander of the operation on Pandora, Giovanni had hopes of playing a shallow business man looking at the bottom line of a financial transaction, but with his whiney voice and weak delivery he came off spineless and never posed any threat as the primary villain.
Sigourney had intended to play the harsh but motherly scientist, but this was also lacking because she came off as cold and somewhat detached. Of course this could have been easily avoided with a very simple amount of character development, but alas, such a thing was never attempted.
2) Forced Dialog: There were several moments in this film where a character would say something that was obviously intended to describe them but seemed out of place in natural dialog. Stephen Lang (the colonel) had a few of these moments, where he was saying things that fit the character of a "badass," but with no reason and with little effect on whoever he was talking to.
3) Flexing 3D muscle: Some scenes were obviously only part of the movie because they would look neat in 3D, which in my opinion defeats the purpose. As soon as you notice something like that it removes you from the experience, reminding you that you're just watching an illusion rather than being immersed in the environment.
4) Music: I'm not sure why Cameron would skimp on something that caused great success before. I mean we all remember that god damn Celine Dion song (Titanic) no matter how much we want to forget it. There was nothing even remotely memorable in the score for Avatar and that's a real shame.
Now for the pros:
1) Real human emotion: With Avatar i really think Cameron has combined the basic strengths of two summer movie creators: Michael Bay and Michael Mann. Bay obviously for the effects, but Mann because of the emotion. Although Mann has flopped on his most recent movies i've always thought his presentation of human expression evokes empathy in the viewer on a level not many artists can achieve. Cameron has demonstrated this a few times before, but this is his strongest example. There were moments between the main character and his love interest that i felt what they were feeling, even under all the CG of an alien face which is unbelievably impressive. The technology and creativity they used to capture human expression and convey it through an artificial face must have been astounding. So props; I felt something Cameron.
2) Originality: There were some creative quirks presented that really surprised me. The one that stood out the most was the connection the alien race had with their environment, not only on a spritual level, but on an actual physical level where they would literally plug into their environment and feel what each creature was feeling. This allowed for a really novel presentation of the evidence of actual spirituality and evidence of an afterlife in the form of a large tree that captured the memories of ancestors long dead. Really neat imagery, really beautiful idea.
3) Confirming Zoe Saldana as a fox: I explained before the detail in human expression from these aliens. Well, this girl comes off as down right sexy even though we never see her actual face or body. Just awesome. And she's my nomination for best performance in the film. Her war screams and desperate cries were spot on.
The last thing I'll mention is a really substantial risk Cameron took writing this:
4) Hatred for American culture and the killing of a butt-load of enlisted men as a statement: I understand that this movie was at the heart a social commentary against the slash and burn mentality of the US, but damn did a lot of innocent men die in this film. I had some mixed feelings about this mostly because i was relating to the alien race more than the human race, but i think it was deliberate and constructed to do exactly that; to give the viewers mixed feelings and provoke them to ask questions. A pros list aspect for sure.
So, yes, it had flaws, but i'm tired of pretentious people sticking their nose up at this film, especially those who refuse to see it. It's just a movie, and it's certainly one worth seeing and talking about.
3/5
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Movie: Thirst
Great choice after getting through Daybreakers. Another vampire movie but with real emotion, real human conflict and an intimate look into Korean culture. It's a ground up movie beginning with the original creation of the vampire, a priest, then following him through denial then acceptance while interacting with characters along the way. The most important supporting character, his love interest, is equal parts charming and psychotic, which is a perfect complement to the priest's somewhat peaceful approach. The priest's inner conlfict takes center stage for most of the movie, but mixed with great acting from the supporting characters, odd, sometimes surreal plot twists and the final scene, this is a focused, balanced instant classic in the vampire movie genre.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Movie: Daybreakers
Spoilers for sure, beware:
I saw a trailer for this a while back and it somewhat piqued my interest. I know the resurgence of vampire movies is getting a little bit overwhelming but being a big fan of the classics (Dracula, Nosferatu) and an advocate of all things dark and bloody, I generally keep an eye on any new entries into the genre of Vampire Movie (except the twilight bullshit, fuck that)
The setting in this one is what sets it apart from the rest. The storyline begins at a point where most of the world is inhabited by vampires and there is only a very small percentage of the human population left for the vampires to feed on. The idea is unique and certainly screams social commentary, but the execution falls somewhat short. I see this scenerio happen to a lot of ambitious films. The premise is new and exciting, but the writer spends too much time explaining the situation and not enough time creating a sense of intimacy with the characters and the plot. Instead of feeling like we're following the characters closely through a series of conflicts, we're forced to take a passive observatory role, not really caring what happens to the characters or being curious of where the plot is going. This is how I felt most of the way through Daybreakers even though Willem Dafoe did all he could to save the weak scripting job.
Another thing that bothered me was an introduction of a few rules of being a vampire, not that i'm against new rules (i'm all for innovation on an old idea) but the over-simplification of them ruined any credibility. The first rule: You can become a human after being a vampire by sitting out in the sun for just the right amount of time before being baked. This one is pretty sketchy considering the point at which the story takes place. You'd think a couple vampires would discover this some time before the entire world was inhabited by them and the idea that a dead organ, your heart, would just start beating again after years of being dead... probably not.
Second rule: Once you become human after being a vampire, your blood will turn any vampire who bites you back into a human. This is just a simple reversal of the original rule of if you're bitten by a vampire you become a vampire, which is a nice thought, but this one just seems like a simple plot device to return the vampire population back into humans.
To sum up, human life is complicated. Vampire life should be just as complicated, so any simple explanations are just hard to believe, even if we're dealing with the most ridiculous of fantasies.
Good atmosphere, a couple good ideas, poor execution.
2/5
I saw a trailer for this a while back and it somewhat piqued my interest. I know the resurgence of vampire movies is getting a little bit overwhelming but being a big fan of the classics (Dracula, Nosferatu) and an advocate of all things dark and bloody, I generally keep an eye on any new entries into the genre of Vampire Movie (except the twilight bullshit, fuck that)
The setting in this one is what sets it apart from the rest. The storyline begins at a point where most of the world is inhabited by vampires and there is only a very small percentage of the human population left for the vampires to feed on. The idea is unique and certainly screams social commentary, but the execution falls somewhat short. I see this scenerio happen to a lot of ambitious films. The premise is new and exciting, but the writer spends too much time explaining the situation and not enough time creating a sense of intimacy with the characters and the plot. Instead of feeling like we're following the characters closely through a series of conflicts, we're forced to take a passive observatory role, not really caring what happens to the characters or being curious of where the plot is going. This is how I felt most of the way through Daybreakers even though Willem Dafoe did all he could to save the weak scripting job.
Another thing that bothered me was an introduction of a few rules of being a vampire, not that i'm against new rules (i'm all for innovation on an old idea) but the over-simplification of them ruined any credibility. The first rule: You can become a human after being a vampire by sitting out in the sun for just the right amount of time before being baked. This one is pretty sketchy considering the point at which the story takes place. You'd think a couple vampires would discover this some time before the entire world was inhabited by them and the idea that a dead organ, your heart, would just start beating again after years of being dead... probably not.
Second rule: Once you become human after being a vampire, your blood will turn any vampire who bites you back into a human. This is just a simple reversal of the original rule of if you're bitten by a vampire you become a vampire, which is a nice thought, but this one just seems like a simple plot device to return the vampire population back into humans.
To sum up, human life is complicated. Vampire life should be just as complicated, so any simple explanations are just hard to believe, even if we're dealing with the most ridiculous of fantasies.
Good atmosphere, a couple good ideas, poor execution.
2/5
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Comedy Performance: Jimmy Carr Telling Jokes
Awesome, the man is a genius. Half of his show was based on audience, based on complete improv and it was like he does that all the time. Carr can make a legitimate joke out of any subject material given to him. And, the final segment of most offensive jokes ever was priceless in the most insanely horrible ways. Please be a fan of this epic comedian with me.
5/5
5/5
Movie: Harry Brown
Fairly respectable vigilante film about an old man seeking revenge against local hoodlums who killed his only friend. I watched this after having seen multiple positive reviews and comments like "Best UK film in years" etc. Statements like this got my hopes up a little too high. The final product was decent, but it didn't have as much depth as i was looking for. And, the plot twist at the end was a little too convenient to be realistic. Michael Caine was perfect for the role and gave a great performance, but i was feeling a little let down by the simplicity of the story when the ending wrapped up to a neat package of justice. So, if you're looking for blood and vengeance against mislead youth, this is the ticket. But if you have a taste for rich story and character drama i'd say to look elsewhere.
3/5
3/5
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Movie: Broken Flowers
I rewatched this movie last night specifically to be able to write a little blurb so i can look back on it in years to come. Broken Flowers is one of the many Jim Jarmusch movies i've enjoyed over the past couple years, although the story is shrouded in controversy. According to an MSNBC article the original script was stolen by some unknown producer and adapted by Jim Jarmusch into what is known as Broken Flowers. It's not that i completely deny this, but i'm skeptical. It's possible that many of the events were taken for basic plot lines but this movie wreaks of Jarmusch, with sparse but meaningful dialog, lots of emotional pauses, twists and underlying themes that create color but never divert focus away from the deep characters. Broken Flowers is one of my favorites from Jarmusch simply because he chose Bill Murray as the lead role. The charm and subtle curiosity in his character was spot on perfect and every other character even though briefly introduced and fleating was surprisingly memorable. I think my favorite moment though was when the pickup truck driven by a couple of bikers pulls up to him blasting Dopesmoker by Sleep which means not only is Jarmusch a brilliant film maker but listens to some badass music. So even though the story may have been unjustly lifted from the hands of the less fortunate, the final product is a perfect example of an indie film done right.
5/5
5/5
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Matt's 2009 Top 10
1. Katatonia - Night is the New Day
2. Ancestors - Of Sound Mind
3. Muse - The Resistance
4. The Bakerton Group - El Rojo
5. Giant Squid - The Ichthyologist
6. Kylesa - Static Tensions
7. The Company Band - The Company Band
8. Russian Circles - Geneva
9. Gorod - Process of a New Decline
10. Sunn O))) - Monoliths & Dimensions
Movie: The Insider
Russel Crowe's best role that i've seen and always nice to see Al Pacino doing his thing with ferocity. The way this story was portrayed was interesting. Instead of focusing on the strength of the public on the issue of tobacco addiction, the writers chose to focus directly on a few major characters and forget about public opinion completely. From this perspective i expected it to lack a certain strength in numbers, but this movie wasn't lacking on emotion. For an issue that would seem aged and uninteresting today this story hit hard with me on an emotional level. I found myself hanging on every conflict overwhelmed with anticipation of the outcome. Superb film all around.
5/5
5/5
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Best of 2009
#1 - Ahab - The Divinity of Oceans
I love concept albums. To take a story from the past and express it musically you are attempting to capture the emotion that was felt while the events actually took place. This abum is based on the whaling ship Essex. I'll describe the story for you: While at sea the crew of the ship was attcked by a freakishly large sperm whale. The whale rammed itself into the side of the ship until it was destroyed and sank into the ocean. The men managed to escape the wreckage by way of three life boats and found an island on which to wait for help to come. Instead of conserving their resources the men gorged themselves on all the island had to offer and within weeks they were starving and seemingly doomed. Two groups ventured back out to sea to increase their chances of being rescued. Three men chose to stay on the island. The situation became more and more dire with starvation taking the first few lives. The men decided to resort to cannibalism feasting on the corpses of their shipmates. After the dead were consumed, the remaining men chose to draw straws to see who would be killed, and from another set of straws, decide who would be the executioner. 95 days after the Essex sank those who survived in the life boats were rescued by the Daughin, another whaling ship. It was said that the men were so dissociative that they didn't even notice the Dauphin alongside them. The men on the island were also eventually rescued moments away from death.
Now imagine the emotion that might have been felt during those 95 days. Ahab took it upon themselves to retell the story in such a way that we might know what happened to the crew of the Essex, that we might feel what it was like to face that level of desperation. This is the album of the year because it provides insight into the unthinkable and does so by redefining the genre of funeral doom. The Divinity of Oceans is expertly composed, perfectly executed, and will remain in my memory as the high point of 2009.
Best of 2009
#2 - YOB - The Great Cessation
I haven't been seeing The Great Cessation on many year end lists and that's sort of surprising. When this first came out i saw all sorts of forums with conversations that went as follows,
"Hey! did you hear the new YOB???"
"Dude, knocked me on my ass, heaviest fucking album of the year"
"I know! god damn beast"
It's possible with time the initial effect wore off and people were left feeling unsatisfied. I was not one of those people. Although not my number 1 pick, it is the album i've listened to most this year with spins comfortably into the double digits. I enjoy this one from start to finish exposing myself to new levels of distortion and surprises of ambient noise with each listen, but there are a few moments that knock me right on my ass. Not much music these days can give me that feeling that rushes up my spine and makes the hair on my neck stand up but for these moments it happens every time. It's the only album that makes me feel like the 800 watt stereo in my car isn't loud enough. At times i think i would willingly sacrifice my inner ear because it makes me feel close enough to transcendence that i can actually feel my worldly existence burning away. So anyone who wants to go on a road trip and maybe transition into the ether with some YOB, call me.
Best of 2009
#3 - Urna - Iter ad Lucem
Urna is a band who's musicians have no interest in the stage or having fans or ever attaining any exposure on a grand scale. They stay strictly in the studio creating music for one environment as described in an interview with Mortem Webzine, "...turning the light of your room off, lying alone in your own bed and then wearing your headphones playing the cd on stereo." This approach might come off as pretentious but i appreciate their decision to remain in obscurity. Iter ad Lucem is a work of art that was only meant to be experienced on a deeply personal level. The passages on this album lead the mind into darkness and loss and places normal people won't explore willingly. With each passing track you become more and more accustomed to the style, but in a way that exposes you, that identifies your weakness and capitalizes on it. If you're already prone to question yourself, listening to Iter ad Lucem isn't going to give you any answers. It's going to emphasize the futility of existence and leave you feeling alone. Listen with caution, but appreciate the profound emotional effect this can potentially evoke.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)