The Decameron by Giovanni Boccaccio : Introduction

I love how classic literature prepares the reader, either with in-depth descriptions of the setting or clearly explaining the purpose before embarking upon the work; as if it's a scholarly approach, not leaving any detail of context to question. In this particular case Boccaccio spent most of the introduction describing the face of the plague. The details are grim and more graphic than what I was expecting. For some reason I assumed a writer from this era was going to present the ravaging sickness with a sort of distant optimistic view, but Boccaccio cut right through to the nerve, first illustrating the gory symptoms of the plague then going into depth on the response. He describes for instance the beginning of the sickness when two priests would knock on the door of those afflicted and carry the dead out one by one, to several priests and servants being dispatched to not only go to the houses reported but be prepared for any other dead they happened upon, to the ultimate depravity of mass death, mass graves, covered with a thin layer of soil; entire towns wiped out, all worldly possessions abandoned.

Then Boccaccio describes the survivors, the few who watched society crumble around them. He introduces a small group of them individually, ten in all, and it becomes obvious that these are the people that are going to act as the driving force of the work. After doling out responsibilities to sustain them for the next ten days, Boccaccio constructs a machine of storytelling. Each evening all characters are to narrate a story based on a certain theme, except for the first night, which is open to each narrators discretion.

The Decameron by Giovanni Boccaccio

I stumbled upon this while searching for inspiration to write some music. I was specifically looking for literature from the plague era about the plague era and quickly realized there isn't a whole lot to be found except for a handful of iconic works, this being the supposed most influential work of that time. From what I've read about the Decameron, it's influence might extend far beyond the European Renaissance. The work is presented as a series of 100 Novellas grouped into 10 days, each having a particular theme. It's going to take me a while to get through considering my inexperience with Renaissance literature but I'll be posting updates along the way with some commentary, and possible thoughts for how the story could fit into a musical context.

Oil Spill

When asked to describe the massive mile long underwater oil plumes now lurking in the Gulf, Samantha Joye, an expedition leader from the University of Georgia responded with this:

It's an infusion of oil and gas unlike anything else that has ever been seen anywhere, certainly in human history.

Bacteria are breaking down the oil's hydrocarbons in a massive, microorganism feeding frenzy that has sent oxygen levels plunging close to what is considered "dead zone" conditions, at which most marine life are smothered for a lack of dissolved oxygen.

I generally don't post about current events, but that description struck me as important, also horrifying.

Here's a link to make a donation:

http://www.nwf.org/Wildlife/Wildlife-Conservation/Threats-to-Wildlife/Oil-Spill.aspx

Also Here: http://www.healthygulf.org/

Debate: Is God Great? Christopher Hitchens v. John Lennox

I've seen a few other debates on whether or not a god exists and whether or not it's good for society to believe in something beyond themselves. And the more I watch and the more I read about this subject the more it seems like a useless effort.

It is my understanding that once a person decides to believe in a god wholeheartedly, no statement can be made to disprove their belief. When someone chooses to accept anything upon faith, they are assuming the existence of something without any physical evidence. And that assumption leads to the conclusion that it is possible for anything to exist. They effectively open their arms to the supernatural. To combat this ideology the only avenue for the faithless is to disprove, individually, the things that the believer has taken to be true based on faith.

Now the faithless may make an honest effort toward this end, but human imagination is infinite. If you prove a fact based on evidence that was previously explained with faith, you haven't disproved God. All you've done is shed light on a small corner of reality that was previously shrouded in darkness. To expand on this image, to disprove God the faithless would have to shed light on the universe, the infinite universe, every aspect of it. We would need to see everything that exists and be able to explain why it exists. The very definition of the infinite universe makes this impossible.

So... What are we fighting for? Hitchens is under the impression that the believers are dangerous because they use their faith to justify evil and gives myriad examples to support his opinion. He thinks that abolishing religion world-wide would cause people to be more enlightened and generally less-violent, less deceitful.

I disagree with this opinion by equating faith to ignorance. (as an atheist i can do that :p) In a society you inevitably have varying degrees of enlightenment. When one person understands something clearly that another person does not, that information can be used as a weapon. Information can be distorted and presented in such ways as to reinforce the intentions of the enlightened, whether they be good or evil. An atheist is no more honest than a believer. The terrible aspects of humanity will always be present, greed, selfishness, bigotry, the lot of it. There has never been a society in the history of the world that was devoid of these problems and I doubt there ever will be. Therefore religion is no more dangerous than the existence of privileged information. Evil men will do evil things with whatever tools they have at their disposal.

You also have the nasty problem of death. Any atheist who is appreciating their life is not going to want to die. He is going to be terrified of the thought. It is very likely that during their final breath surrounded by loved ones, his eyes will go wide with frightful anticipation, with horror as the darkness comes into sight, as the light around him grows dim and even though biologically we're engineered to feel euphoria in the moment, as long as his mind is operating normally he is going to be fully aware of what is about to happen.

To contrast this, the religious have no fear of death, or at least they shouldn't, because the after life exists and death is just the beginning to an eternity of existence. Any religious person who fears death needs to reevaluate their faith immediately. I see this as a distinct advantage because death then takes on the identity of "the next step." I would argue that a society who believes this is going to be more prepared to die, is going to be less desperate when faced with it, less willing to commit atrocities out of blind fear and aggression when death is imminent.

But again you can immediately say that because of this, the religious might place less value in our life on this planet and may be more willing to commit atrocities even when death is not imminent. On and on.

It's easy to say which side of the argument is more enlightened. It's difficult to say which side of the argument is better.

So the conclusion I always arrive at is, why are we wasting our time trying to convince the other side? The thinkers should be busy thinking, finding new ways to uncover the universe and the believers should be busy imagining what could be waiting for them beyond the universe. Whichever side gives you more peace in your personal existence is the side you should be on, but there's no reason why it has to be a competition.

Ronnie James Dio, 1942-2010

"Today my heart is broken, Ronnie passed away at 7:45am 16th May. Many, many friends and family were able to say their private good-byes before he peacefully passed away. Ronnie knew how much he was loved by all. We so appreciate the love and support that you have all given us. Please give us a few days of privacy to deal with this terrible loss. Please know he loved you all and his music will live on forever."

- Wendy Dio

First Pete, now Dio...

Worst year for metal ever...

Book: Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World by Haruki Murakami

This was exactly what I needed after 2666. It is very unlike me to go into a novel without knowing anything about it, but I find myself appreciating surprises more and more these days. Needless to say after reading a couple other Murakami's I had an idea of what I was in for: Surreal dream-like excursions grounded by the self-reflection of interesting characters. Lucky for me, within this short description a lot can happen and Hard-Boiled certainly had enough surprises to keep me interested.

The plot develops around one character, (a name is never given) who makes a living organizing the data of scientific experiments in his mind; known as a calcutec. This skill, one he was trained for with various brain surgeries, comes at a very high risk because the setting is a world in which information is fought over constantly. The ability of being able to absorb a seemingly infinite amount of data and organize it into a usable form would obviously be very valuable to either side of these data wars.

From that description, this might seem like a sci-fi novel that would fit nicely between Asimov and Dick, but not quite because this is only one of the two stories introduced in this novel.

The second is set in a town completely isolated from the outside world by a giant wall. In this town there is a gate keeper who removes the soul of anyone entering the town and watches over beasts that roam within the town, a dream reader who absorbs dreams from the skulls of dead beasts, a librarian who minds the library and assists the dream reader in his duties, and a retired colonel who keeps the dream reader company at home with words of wisdom and games of chess. Next to the town, but still within the limits of the wall, is a forest which is forbidden to the townspeople and would cause harm to them if they passed through it. Within this forest are people forbidden from the town for having refused to give their soul to the gate keeper.

Right?! Wow...

The two stories alternate with each chapter of the novel. At first they seem completely unrelated as if you were reading two different novels, but with each chapter another parallel is formed that bridges the gap between them. The subtlety and patience used doing this is unbelievable. There were so many times during this book when I'd be reading along not paying any attention to the alternate reality, but during a pause to take in all the detail, images from the alternate reality would come rushing to me as if from my subconscious, which was the obvious intent of the author; to blur the gap between conscious and subconscious minds and show that one can be lost in either.

Highly recommended for those who like sci-fi, those who like fantasy, and those who just like to think.

5/5

Fairwell to Beer

It's time to accept reality. I am allergic to beer...

After all the Imperial Stouts, the Hefeweizens, the rich Porters, it's time for me to say goodbye.

I conducted a test to confirm this horrible conclusion. Last night, a night like any other, I sat down to a movie with a few Sam Adams Summer Ales and with each sip I experienced the inevitable truth; the pounding headache, the eventual nausea; symptoms I've been feeling for years but have refused to recognize.

Tonight, to confirm that it was indeed the beer and not alcohol in general, I bought myself a liter of Jack and had a few servings mixed with coke (probably 6 or 7 shots worth) leaving me in my current state, which is drunk, but with no headache, no turning of the stomach, no feeling of impending doom.

Granted this change in my body chemistry was gradual. Some times were obvious, other times would instill a feeling of hope that there was some other cause to my ailments.

But, no. This is definitive. This is my goodbye to beer, a hobby that kept me guessing, kept me interested, but became too painful to endure.

The Circle of Fifths

There is a fifth interval between each of the following notes:
C, G, D, A, E, B, F#(Gb), Db, Ab, Eb, Bb, F, C

This string of notes can be thought of as a circle.

Each note represents a Major Scale.

In ascending order from C to F#, the number of Sharps in each scale is incremented by 1, with C Major having 0 sharps and F# Major having 6.

When F# is reached to continue in order you must understand that F# Major is the same scale as Gb Major, and going forward you count the number of flats in each scale.

In ascending order from Gb to C, the number of Flats in each scale is decremented by 1, with Gb Major having 6 flats and C Major having 0.

To identify the specific accidentals (sharps or flats) for each scale there are two methods.

First method:

Starting at C and ascending to F#, the note to become sharp in each scale is going to be the seventh degree of that scale. For example G Major has one sharp which is it's seventh degree, F#. And these accidentals are kept as you ascend. For example A Major has 3 sharps, G#, C#, F#, with G# being the seventh degree of A Major.

Once the scale of F# Major is reached you must stop and begin at the final C and descend.

Starting at C and descending to Gb, the note to become flat in each scale is going to be the fourth degree of that scale. For example F Major has one flat which is it's fourth degree, Bb. And these accidentals are kept as you descend. For example Eb Major has 3 flats, Ab, Eb, Bb, with Ab being the fourth degree of Eb Major.

Second Method:

Starting at C and ascending to F#, the note to become sharp in each scale is going to be the fourth degree of the previous scale. For example G Major has one sharp, F#, with F being the fourth degree of C Major. And these accidentals are kept as you ascend. For example A Major has 3 sharps, G#, C#, F#, with G being the fourth degree of D Major.

Once the scale of F# Major is reached you must stop and begin at the final C and descend.

Starting at C and descending to Gb, the note to become flat in each scale is going to be the seventh degree of the previous scale. For example F Major has one flat, Bb, with B being the seventh degree of C Major. And these accidentals are kept as you descend. For example Eb Major has 3 flats, Ab, Eb, Bb, with A being the seventh degree of Bb Major.

FML

Movie: XXY

It's always good to sit down with a foreign film after spending a long time without seeing one. The actors in this were amazing and the reason is so incredibly simple: They spoke more with their eyes than with their mouths. This is still something American film makers just can't do, save for maybe Jarmusch. The script in this one is thin and that's putting it lightly. I don't think there was a single conversation that had more than two or so sentences of dialog, but there wasn't a moment of confusion as to what was going on and what each character was feeling and it was very easy to feel empathy for them.

The story revolved around the difficulties of sexuality, the complications, the confusion, and the judgment in modern society. Modern society is a difficult term to use, however, because there's nothing modern about our current perception of what gender and sexuality are. That seemed to be the purpose of this film. It's hard enough to grow up as either male or female but to grow up not knowing, to be forced by those around you to assume some identity and to be judged harshly for simply existing. That was the conflict of the main character and the young actress expressed it beautifully, with a sense of innocence and charm. If this is the norm for Argentinian films, I'll have to seek out a few more.

Thanks Leo.

5/5

People

There's a Dunkin Donuts in my town. Sometimes i like to drive over and get myself a medium black coffee and a boston creme on days i don't have to go into work. This morning i went early enough to catch the morning rush and was dumbfounded. There was a line of cars extending well out of the property of dunkin donuts, into the street and even into one side street all waiting for the drive-thru. I understand that the establishment is in an odd area that's built up too densely and not planned correctly, so congestion is expected. There's one detail that caught my attention however. THE PARKING LOT WAS EMPTY. And, of course this line of cars was blocking the entrance to it. All someone had to do was say, "This line is ridiculous, how bout i just park, walk inside and order in the store. No. So this is what i did. I noted a car that was waiting in line, a dark green mini-van. I drove across the street and parked in an adjacent gas station. I walked from said gas station to Dunkin. I ordered and walked out. I was able to do all this in the time it took the green mini-van to move two places in line.

Please people, look around. If you notice you're making life harder for other people, adjust your routine. It doesn't take much.

Dear Guitar Center

Remind me again how you explained the benefit of squeezing all of the mom and pop instrument shops out of business. Was it to provide a better service, with more selection and better trained employees? Was that it? Because you failed. If everytime i go to your store i have to order something to be shipped to the store, your existence as a brick and mortar establishment is completely useless. You should save a truckload of money, close your stores, and switch all sales to online. This would allow people actually passionate about music to open a few independent shops that carry some legitimately interesting products outside of the influence of Gibson and Fender.

As a side note, i have nothing against what those two companies have accomplished over the years. There was a time when they made legitimately good products and sold them at honest prices. I do have a problem with their current product line which consists of artificial feeling and sounding shit and equipment that's actually wonderful but priced so high it makes me cringe to peek at the tags.

Music: Kayo Dot - Coyote

2010 has been a rough year for me. My relationship with musical culture has been tested with disappointments for 4 straight months. It is my own fault because after such a strong year for metal, my appetite became insatiable. I was expecting albums of equal or higher calibre than what i saw in 2009 and it just didn't happen. So, i might be taking another break from metal, which leaves me with a question. After all the detours i've taken over the years, what branch of music is most deserving of my attention, of my harsh judgment?

Then i stumbled upon Coyote by Kayo Dot, and the answer became abundantly clear. I've dabbled in Avant-rock and other related progressive genres before but never dove headfirst into the atonal, dissonance before. If Coyote is any indication of the quality of music being produced by these undefinable genres i'm in for an interesting journey.

Kayo Dot has been on the periphery of my attention for a few years, having been a fan of maudlin of the Well way back when i first started getting into heavy music. They began by releasing similar music to what they released under their previous moniker, but gradually travelled into the world of avant-rock with each release since their debut. Coyote seems to be the destination where the tones and composition have settled into something of a distinctive and recognizable style. Previous albums seemed to wander, seemed to question their own existence and what purpose they had in the world of music, but on Coyote it seems the musicians have made a decision of what they want Kayo Dot to be.

The music on Coyote is at times unsettling, at times minimalist, at times chaotic, but it never loses it's sense of balance, which is ultimately why this album is so enjoyable. To picture the composition of the album, the first image that comes to mind is an empty room. The tonal clarity gives such vivid sense of space and every instrument inhabits different locations in that space. Often times each instrument is operating without obvious regard to other instruments until they resolve and that moment is at the same time beautiful and fully satisfying. The pacing of percussion is complex as well, with no discernible tempo or metre, the timing is part of the bigger complex composition and can't be separated into definable parts. Sometimes the album charges forward, sometimes creeps into seemingly unrelated tangents, sometimes comes to a complete stop only to be started again at the will of these talented musicians. After spending so much time with metal, where techniques are so fast the only option is to fit them into simple structures that repeat over and over again, it's incredibly refreshing to encounter a composition that moves like the wind, uncontrolled and unpredictable.

Highly recommended for those who can listen to interpretive music that pays no mind to traditional composition.

5/5

Peter Steele, 1962-2010

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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