A Sea Change

As accurately predicted this past week was much too full of other forms of time wasting for me to view any movies. I feel slightly dirty for this. Let it not be said that I don't prioritize my time. I even managed to get some studying done. Goodness!

There's one movie I saw, though I've seen it many many many many many times before. Many.

The last time was probably when I was twelve.

1/30 Hook (1991) DVD, 5/5 stars, RT: 22%

Okay this is totally a case of looking through rose tinted glasses. It's impossible for me to be objective here. I've already made pretty clear that I've seen this movie dozens of times growing up. Thinking about it now I'm not sure that it was Robin Williams, Dustin Hoffman, or the story that so enthralled me. It was most likely the Lost Boys. Every scene with the orphans is a picture perfect example of what you wanted to do as a kid but never could. This is what is appealing about Never Never Land and the entire Peter Pan story, but Hook shows the kids skateboarding while playing basketball, getting into food fights with what looks like rainbow-food-colored mash potatoes, and utterly destroying pirates with eggs, marbles, paint guns, and other myriad inspired childlike contraptions. If you're ten years old you're going to love this. Now I have to be the grumpy grown up and comment on everything in the movie that doesn't hold up with my nostalgia. I remember Captain Hook himself being much more terrifying. Dustin Hoffman has grown on me as an actor as I've matured, even as I've realized that most of his roles are fairly standard fluff. He just completely lives inside his characters. It's interesting that he's next to Robin Williams as Peter Pan here since they're similar actors yet Williams is always seen as the oddball goof and Hoffman is considered a serious performer. This view might just be my own skewed angle on the way things are, but it's worth noting because I honestly didn't even realize before this viewing that it was Hoffman playing the titular role here (I also forgot that this was a Steven Spielberg joint). I always remember being bored at points when I was a kid (it's a long movie), but now I pick up on a lot of puns and references I never understood as a youngster. Yet the movie also seems like it might be muddling for a new viewer. If I hadn't known each scene and line before it occurred I'm not sure that I would have enjoyed the pacing. I'm nitpicking, though. I'm going to stop being a critic since I've demonstrated that I'm grasping to find fault with this because of my disclosed bias. I watched Hook with friends that seemed to share my love for the film, and this is really the best way to see old favorites. The movie isn't in my top ten favorites but I'll certainly have more fond memories watching this than any other movie. Bangorang!

I've noticed these getting longer. I'm either making up for not watching as many films this time around, getting a big head as no one's knocked me down yet, or just enjoying this much more than I thought I would when I started. Probably a bit of each. I'll work on being concise. And on watching something new next week.

Until then, friends: to the second star to the right and straight on 'til morning (I can't believe I associated this solely with Star Trek before last night).

And the Hits Just Keep On Coming

It's not been a great week. Mr. O'Brien pleaded that us young folks shouldn't be cynical and I'm trying my best! Honestly, there's only one thing I'm worried about. It concerns one person and he knows who he is. I hope you get better, my friend.

For now, onward with the healing powers of scheduled lists.

1/18 Medicine for Melancholy (2008) DVD, 4/5 stars, RT: 88%

I have a soft spot for small movies that deal with the entwined lives of a pair of lovers. Okay, it's trite for me to say I have a soft spot for any sort of movie, since doing this entire thing proves that I have a soft spot for almost all movies. It's true though. I can almost nail down when I first became slightly unhinged for the world of film: Richard Linklater's Before Sunrise. I bring this up because both of these movies are very similar in their take on new romance. The focus is still only on two characters but in the case of Medicine for Melancholy it's the attempts of the characters to come to terms with their one night stand rather than the evolution of a slowly budding relationship. The film itself is art here, low saturated and beautiful. I can't get enough of it. Let it be said that the acting by both leads is not only great, it's almost the only other reason to watch the film. They make up for some slightly stilted writing, though I do like that the film dealt with real people (skeletons in closets included). The prime reason I wanted to see this film was Wyatt Cynac, hilarious comedian-correspondent on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, but I actually found his character less likable than Tracy Heggins' role. This isn't his fault, he plays a fairly needy egomaniac. Heggins' character Jo is more levelheaded, but she's also betraying a boyfriend by spending time with the character of Micah. Neither of them are angels. I've come to learn a lot about San Fransisco lately, and if there's a third character here it's the city. You don't see a ton of it, and it's filtered through the eyes of minority characters. Though they're both middle class, Micah has a huge problem with race in the city. In the end, this is what makes the relationship both real and a disaster, and left me feeling slightly lost emotionally. My final thoughts about my experience with the film, the city, and the characters can be summed up by Micah's most important line: "Nah, I love the city. I hate the city but I love the city. San Fransisco is beautiful, but you shouldn't have to be upper-middle class to be a part of that."

1/20 Joint Security Area (2000) DVD, 5/5 stars, RT: 75%

JSA is a Korean drama directed by horror/vengeance god Park Chan-wook about both South and North Korean soldiers stationed at guard houses on either side of the DMZ, specifically at the neutral Joint Security Area. This is where most negations and relations happen between the two countries. Though not completely accurate to the conditions at the DMZ, and slightly dated now because of all the more recent uproar over North Korea's missiles and human rights violations, this movie is still completely relevant. If it wasn't for the specifics, you could set this movie at any militarily contested zone in the world and I'm sure the point that the filmmakers seem to want to convey would still hold up. This movie doesn't really choose sides, since it's almost completely a soldier's story. It's a backwards telling of a horrible shooting and international event that could lead to war, but also the lengths people will go to make friends instead of enemies. Sadly, these same good intentions only lead to tragedy and hatred because of the system the soldiers live in. It's all very powerful and though it might not be on the artistic level of a Schindler's List or Paths of Glory it most certainly has just as much to say as these other similar films about the role of the underprivileged and their pathos in dealing with ensnarement in a fate so out of their hands. It's also more entertaining as a mystery story since it's told through the device of a police procedural type investigation. I'm completely on board for whatever Park Chan-wook does in the future with any genre he wants.

1/23 In the Loop (2009) DVD, 5/5 stars, RT: 93%

High praise for this one. I'm prone to high praise, but I really mean it this time! This movie is hilarious. It doesn't hurt to be a political junkie, but it also appeals anyone that enjoys a creative curse or mass confusion. I've heard this movie compared to Dr. Strangelove but I'd place it more accurately with the recent Burn After Reading. Everyone's an idiot of some sort, and not one single person has even the slightest clue as to what anyone else is doing. The dramatic weight of the entire farce is the relations between the United States and the United Kingdom as they dance around the issue of going to war in the Middle East. In the Loop is completely fictional but obviously inspired by the preceding of the current Iraqi War and one feels, sadly, that the actual pre-war planning was filled with just as much self-serving politics and bumbling idiocy as the movie portrays. Don't let that stop you from having a grand ole time, though. I really want to watch this again because the dialogue is so rapid and I'm positive I'll find something brilliant and new on a second viewing. I'll gush about this movie on command. Or without any prompting. Beware.

1/25 Anvil: The Story of Anvil (2008) DVD, 5/5 stars, RT: 98%

This was a documentary I watched mostly based on a recommendation by my friend Matt. I've read good things but I'm personally not really into metal music, and stories of washed up old rockers never makes me feel that great. These guys aren't washed up. The movie portrays them as honest and lovable down-on-their-luck-but-still-aiming-high dudes. Almost your average Joe the Rocker, but they're hardly normal and their lives are tragic. For me a lot of the heart of movie is that these people are nice guys. They're neurotic, yeah. You'd expect that as 50-year old heavy metal rockers, but they're not at all bad at what they do. There are a lot of stories about bad luck and fate that I've seen lately (hey, the human condition is good material), but this one is real and full of soul. They're pressed down by their luck, but they're still mostly happy people ready to share their joy. I was not prepared at all for how this was going to stick with me for the rest of the day.

Well, what to say at the end of a strange week? It wasn't all bad! I saw a couple of friends that I hadn't seen in some time. I ate some great food. I've come to realize the addictive joy I get out of movies in bad times. Times aren't terrible now, for sure, and having distractions has a lot to do with that. I'm not going to complain. I'm just grateful for the stuff that doesn't stink, I guess. That's not to say I'd be totally okay with more garbage in the future!

One last small note before I head off to bed. My other shameful monkey on the back will be rearing its head next week. The epic RPG video game Mass Effect 2 comes out. I'll remember to shower and eat, cross my heart. Expect less time for movies, though.

Looking Through the Bent Backed Tulips

I'm not going to look for themes every time I write my little list, but after spending a good deal of my time this last week reading up on earthquake relief in Haiti it's easy to see, more than usual, the huge gap between the rich and the poor. In light of all that horror it's a quaint coincidence and also fitting that some of my favorite movies of the last week are about how the other half lives.

1/11 Grey Gardens (1975) Netflix Watch Instantly, 3/5 stars, RT: 100%

Documentaries become dated. I have to judge this one a little harshly because of personal experience. I don't know much about the Beales, the crazy and self-sure cousins of Jackie Onassis, but Grey Gardens' main success was in showing me just how crazy they were. Okay. I'll be real here for a second and explain my subjectiveness. I've spent more time than I'd normally like to admit looking at the worst that the internet has to offer. Social deviants and unconventional lifestyles have to be pretty insane to get past my perverse inoculation if they want to actually startle me. Grey Gardens can't be faulted for this, but it at least explains why I wasn't fully engaged with the work. I'll be clear and fair once more on this point: the Beales are totally nuts, but it's pretty tame. After about eighty minutes I was more interested in the process of the film making than the subjects being presented. The editing of the scenes and the natural camera work I especially enjoyed. I'd still like to see the HBO dramatic adaptation staring Drew Berrymore and Jessica Lange that came out last year.

1/11 City of Men (2007) DVD, 5/5 stars, RT: 75%

I watched this out of order. It's a case of my slight OCD nature battling with itself. I won't bore you with the complete story, but I'll place final blame on Netflix's dubbed stream. Fun fact about me: I can't stand dubs. Despite all that noise I loved this movie. City of Men's real impetus for existing is to catch up with the characters from the Brazilian TV series of the same name (which I've not yet seen), but really traces back to City of God. God completely hit me over the head when I saw it many years ago. It might have been the first truly grim modern film that I had seen. It's a comment on my own tastes and the zeitgeist as a whole that the last decade has seen a lot of critically acclaimed poverty/crime fetish movies and series that I've loved (Slumdog Millionaire, The Wire). I'm not sure that's an inherently good or bad thing. In this case I think the judgement lies with the people of Rio de Janerio. I can't speak for them (or for Mumbai, or for Baltimore, to reuse my previous examples). It's a failure on my part here because I can't nail down any real reason why this is the case, but Men was more uplifting to me than God. It's to the film's credit that I really want to go back and watch the TV series, yet I think I could go without seeing City of God again. Crazy.

1/13 Passing Strange (2009) DVD, 4/5 stars, RT: 100%

Shameful. Shameful that I've only just recently discovered my love for musicals. They've never really been anywhere out of sight, so I have no excuse. Passing Strange is unique from the other musicals I've seen recently because it's the actual filmed final performance of the Broadway play. Rather than getting Hollywood actors, multi-take production, and lip-synced performances you can see the pure product. This probably sounds dull to anyone that turns their nose up at musicals of all forms, but hear me out real quick. This is a rock opera. Okay, I'm losing you again. It's an effin' rock and roll semi-autobiographical story about a young black musician from the 1970's discovering (and losing) himself in Amsterdam and Berlin. I feel bad because that's a terribly oversimplified synopsis. I don't want to oversell this. The final act is blunt and the first half of it is just more of the same from the previous act. If you think you might like musicals but don't know where to start, you can't go wrong with something modern like this. I want to see a lot more. One of my resolutions this year is to see more live plays, in general.

1/14 Departures (2008) DVD, 5/5 stars, RT: 81%

The Golden Globes are on tonight and it's reminded me of the simple, heartwarming speech that Yōjirō Takita gave when this won Best Foreign Film at last year's Oscars. The movie is pretty simple and heartwarming itself. Daigo, an average cellist, is forced to move back home after his orchestra in Tokyo is dissolved. He applies for a job that requires no previous work experience: preparing the bodies of the recently departed (the help-wanted ad has a typo that mentions departures, leading Daigo to think it's a travel agency). The setting and specific traditions are novel for American audiences, which gets it free points. Departures is completely predictable and full of archetype characters, yet it also plays with that and surprises you. Without giving much away, I'll say that there's actual arcs to the side characters that you don't totally expect. I'll end here with a simple, stereotypical rule that's yet to fail me: French people and movies make me feel melancholic and affectionate, Russian hurt my head, and Japanese consistently just make me happy.

1/17 The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009) Malco Paradiso Theater, 4/5 stars, RT: 66%

In a totally unoriginal move, most of what I'm going to say up front about this movie is about Heath Ledger. He's not really the main character of this movie. I can't really tell you who is. There's a lot of layered messages here about chance and coincidence versus choice and fate. You can't escape the connection between Ledger's real life death and the plot of this movie unless you're watching this thirty years from now and don't know the history of the production. I got most of my surface enjoyment of this movie from that association and I feel slightly profane for that. Tom Waits was marvelous as the Mr. Nick/Satan/whatever. At the end of the movie I got the impression that all his tricks and "evil" actions were more to preserve balance and provide a helpful service. I liked that aspect of the story a lot more than the mechanics of the magic mirror that were the crux of the plot. This unexpected subtext entertained me more than my preconceived perception of what the story was about. From what I've seen of Terry Gilliam (this and Twelve Monkeys) his movies are unique and complex. It bothers me slightly that the films leave you with little to focus on, but they offer up myriad minute moments that please. I am very glad that he is a film maker, as Gilliam is the most literary of any of the big auteurs that I'm familiar with.

I made it to the movie theater this week. It's been about a month since the last time I had a chance. I've been more frugal with my money lately and with Netflix and fairly good home set-up I can afford to wait. But I'm very glad that I went.

I'm not going to apologize for the lack of big name movies this week. If I started that habit now it would become one I'd have to repeat each week. Lastly for now, I've decided to make this a Sunday event. It makes the most sense with my current schedule. See y'all next time!

A Stolen Idea

I can attribute the basic origin of this project to something that happened almost four years ago: I had the love of lists instilled in me by a close friend in college at a time when all my other acquaintances were quickly dropping out of school to play video games. She showed me what I think all Type-A overachievers (something I am most certainly not) know very well: lists are holy. Now that I've spent some amount of time out of that wheelhouse of scheduled classes and deadlines I get the feeling that I'm becoming less of a good person. Less of a list-maker-type. As I currently study for the PRAXIS and look into getting a degree in education I've quickly come to realize that though I've devolved at a later point than those undergrad friends I have still become the slacker ideal. Much of my entire life has been spent in pursuit of instant gratification, but now that I don't have the constant requirement to write I've been left with more time to spend getting head shots in Modern Warfare 2, reading the newest Audrey Niffenegger novel or Joe Hill comic, listening to the leaked Vampire Weekend album, and watching whatever it is that the Criterion Collection tells me I should be watching. That all sounds like harmless, good fun on the surface. I'm frightened of it becoming all that I am.

The final push that lead to the inception of what I'm hoping to do here was a post on the blog of the estimable Jeff Green, Greenspeak. It's only out of guilt and the threat of being caught that I point out that I've in fact lifted this project wholly from his most recent post (pointless footnote: the name I chose for this blog is being used by someone that has not used their address in around three years, which was also the case with Jeff when he started his blog, and is surely a crime).

The important facts: I want to keep writing but need an excuse; this gives it to me. I'm not going to become a monk and suddenly give up my hobbies but I do want to cut back and refine my habits and at the very least make them more worthwhile. It's no coincidence that this is happening at the start of a new year. My Netflix queue currently sits at over 500 movies and television shows that I have varied interest in seeing and though I haven't done the math on how long it will take, just being confronted with the list (lists!!!) every time I visit the site is daunting. Putting all these facts together, vis-à-vis the stolen idea from Greenspeak, I have decided to chronicle my film watching for the next year by writing my very basic impressions of what I watch. It's the hope that what I'm going to do here will motivate me to be more focused on the act of film watching as well as remembering what I've seen and incentivize me to maybe be more judicious in what I spend my time doing, watching movies or otherwise (making me the well rounded "good catch" for some lucky girl out there, right?). The final argument for movies rather than books, music, or video games for this overly complicated project is that it's the medium in which I've most recently come to adore and so I'll logically become less bored with this versus my other hobbies. There's also an efficiency to movies which will allow me to discuss more of them in a shorter amount of time. Plus there's the fact that my tastes are more likely to be in line with the average when it comes to films, which means more reason for people to read this.

Just to start things off I would like to state that my tastes lately have been for a lot of foreign drama and low budget independent pieces. This hasn't really been the status quo for me at all, and is more of a recent fad. Have no fear, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World and the next Harry Potter are squarely at the top of what I want to see this year. Though you can expect to see more shit you've never heard of discussed here from time to time (is that a bad thing?) do not tremble overmuch kind souls for I love going to the movie theater and "shit you've never heard of" does not often play there.

Posts will be shorter in the future. I promise you. The formula for this might change up, but as it stands now each movie listed will come with links to the IMDB entry, the star rating I gave it on Netflix as well as when and how I watched it (the theater, DVD, etc.), and for comparison the Rotten Tomatoes percentage.

If there's something else you'd like to see done let me know!

1/1 Extract (2009) DVD, 3/5 stars, Rotten Tomatoes critic rating: 63%

Office Space does something simple very well. You can't help but remember the copier scene, the stapler, and the profuse "Yeaaah. . . I'm gonna need ya. . ."s. Mike Judge's newest comedy has a very similar subject and yet lacks almost all of that memorable flavor (doyougetitdoyougetit?! you see extracts are made for flavoring). There's nothing terrible here (minus some strange but forgivable editing and pacing problems, something it does share with Office Space) and it has an adorable cast with J.K. Simmons, Kristen Wiig, and Mila Kunis fronted by Jason Bateman. And yet less than ten days after seeing it I can't recall a single hilarious element. A forgettable movie, but would be perfect for a date at the two dollar theater.

1/3 Che (2008) Netflix Watch Instantly, 5/5 stars, RT: Part 1 (The Argentine): 72%, Part 2 (Guerrilla): 76%, combined movie: 62%

With all the politics and news of cut funding and time I never thought I'd see Steven Soderbergh's epic Ernesto Guevara biopic released in America. I'd heard a lot of crazy stuff about select screenings of film around the world: standing ovations in Havana and protests in Miami. Having seen the movie I can understand both opinions. Che was really filmed as two seperate movies, the first part dealing with Che Guevara's rise to fame in the Cuban revolution, the second with his bumbling and failed attempt in Bolivia. Both parts are scarce on showing the man in much of a bad light, but a lot of that it just how much Benicio Del Toro makes you like his understated portrayal of Che. If you detach it from the politics (which is impossible), this is mostly a depressing war movie. I have a warm place in my heart for those. This one is often slow, but every scene with Del Toro (almost all of them) left me contented with and envious of his ability to present humanity when given such a difficult role. It's worth noting that I saw all four plus hours of this after only sleeping about as many and wasn't personally bored, but it might be more ennui than excitement for most.

1/3 A Christmas Tale (2008) DVD, 5/5 stars, RT: 86%

I saw this doubly late. It had a limited release in America during the holidays in 2008 and I heard a lot of good things from sources I trust. Unfortunately it didn't hit DVD until December 2009. I didn't receive my copy from Netflix until after the new year, just when all that Christmas flavor becomes tired. So in a pregnant and backwards way this movie was somehow really refreshing. A Christmas Tale is a family drama that I watched alone while my own family out of state on vacation. I liked Mathieu Amalric in the latest James Bond flick and The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (also the beautiful Anne Consigny, present in both French movies) and was excited to see more, but Catherine Deneuve in the role of the plot-axial mother stole all the spotlight. I've not seen anything else with this absolutely legendary French actress, but now I totally want to. I'd only recommend this film to a select few, though. If The Royal Tenenbaums / Death at a Funeral + bourgeois French adult-angst and schadenfreude sounds good to you, give it a shot. Might I suggest Christmas 2010 after you've found a quiet moment away from your family?

1/5 The Seventh Seal (1959) Netflix Watch Instantly, 5/5 stars, RT: 93%

Death comes for a crusading knight who holds him off with a game of chess, hilarity ensues. Obviously the subject of the movie is often poignant and the film is considered historically and critically important for the entire art, but I honestly did not expect this to be so funny. And it's not just gallows humor; it has so much to say about acting, family, love, death, war, the church, faith, and on and on. I'm no Ingmar Bergman scholar (my friend Daniel is probably the closest that I know in this regard), but after watching The Seventh Seal I want to be. I so desperately want to be. Also, props to (500) Days of Summer for making me want to see this even more.

1/5 Trucker (2008) DVD, 4/5 stars, RT: 58%

This was just released on DVD. A very independent affair, complete with cheap DVD menus. Honestly, the only reason I gave this a shot was because it has Nathan Fillion. I feel in love with Michelle Monaghan, though. Now that I think about it, the kid wasn't bad either. I don't feel that I was deceived but it should be said that Trucker was more about motherhood and responsibility than about the life of a semi-trailer truck driver.

1/6 Solaris (2002) DVD, 4/5 stars, RT: 65%

I liked this film. I liked the original Andrei Tarkovsky version more. The subtext about heaven and hell is handled with less grace in Soderbergh's adaptation. I feel that if the idea was for the movie to be made more appealing to American audiences it should have dispensed more with the contemplative pacing and added some actual tension (something present in the 1970's Soviet era film and endemically lacking in the clean and polished years of the early 2000's). If you care at all about the story premise, watch both (and I'm told you should read the book, too).

1/6 I Like Killing Flies (2004) Netflix Watch Instantly, 5/5 stars, RT: 95%

This isn't an insult to New Yorkers, but with all my pretense and vanity I'd either fit right in or get my ass kicked in NYC. I was told to watch this student film-quality documentary if I liked people. I do like people. I saw the words "Jewish, Greenwich Village, comfort food, oddball resturant" and knew that I had to see this.

1/8 Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974) Netflix Watch Instantly, 4/5 stars, RT: 100%

I heard Patton Oswalt talking with Terry Gross on NPR about Martin Scorsese and realized that I hadn't yet seen all of his (Scorsese's) movies. Like a good dealer, Netflix hooked me up instantly with some well aged wine (pretty lame, as far as mixed metaphors go). This is early Scorsese, and before Taxi Driver. The story is that of a mother and a series of failed relationships with mostly abusive men while she attempts to provide for her eleven year old son. Not exactly what I expected in many ways. It's raunchy with language and dialogue (fine for Scorsese, but slightly shocking for the characters at first). The kid isn't very likable at times. Also of note: a twelve year old, hipster Jodi Foster.

1/8 Lorna's Silence (2008) DVD, 5/5 stars, RT: 86%

This is my favorite movie that I've seen this year. We'll see how long it manages to hold on to this spot. I'm not sure I could gush uncontrollably about this movie without giving away a lot of what it has to offer. I wasn't familiar with the directing team behind this, Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne, but I'm going to be watching everything else they create. I've read that they're known for realism within complicated situations, and that holds true here. Finally, I'm pretty level headed these days but I will admit that I found myself looking up Arta Dobroshi pictures on Google Image Search. What am I, fifteen? Maybe what I need right after watching all these depressing family focused dramas is a childish crush.

And so then our noble knight went off to slay more dragons and watch more DVDs. There's mail on Monday and I've got movies to watch before the postman comes. The quest never ends. See you next time!