I tend to get lost with too many men acting in a piece, but not if they are unique enough. It was not a problem here. Still, (after "Eastern Promises") another load of violence (which the Coen bros generally do well) was probably not the best strategy.
eh... it was ok. The first half kept my interest, and Javier Bardem's performance was quite intriguing (visual association: 1, 2). But I did not see how his character followed some sort of "greater code", and I totally spaced out in boredom during Tommy Lee Jones' final monologue that was supposed to be the point (title) of the film... *yawn*
and Woody's character served no function... a quietly-paced film can't handle that much deadweight.
Rated 4+.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Interior Desecrations, James Lileks
Oh, the joy to find a book that had been on my wish list (you know I'll never buy anything on it when I still have a bookshelf of stuff yet to be read) new for $3. I haven't checked out his hilarious website in many moons, but it is always a laugh. With wisdom teeth being removed, I needed some levity. Taking about thirty minutes to read, this fit the ticket. I dig modern design, and I love to laugh with someone else at the horrific ways in which it can go.
And yet I found myself saying... "that room is absurd, but that lamp? nice."
(...and I swear my uncle still owns that bedspread featured with the matching wall...)
Rated 4.
And yet I found myself saying... "that room is absurd, but that lamp? nice."
(...and I swear my uncle still owns that bedspread featured with the matching wall...)
Rated 4.
Lost, Gregory Maguire
His books keep falling in my lap. And while none has lived up to the brilliance of "Wicked", they entertain. I am not an afficionado of ghost stories, but this wasn't very ghosty.
On the down side, it takes many chapters of trodding through alternate-type text interspersed with the real story until you understand what's going on, and the resolution is pretty weak.
On the upside, much of it is a fun romp, and it's full of lovely wordage. And it is obviously quite diligently researched. I like some smarts in my books. Rated 4.
On the down side, it takes many chapters of trodding through alternate-type text interspersed with the real story until you understand what's going on, and the resolution is pretty weak.
On the upside, much of it is a fun romp, and it's full of lovely wordage. And it is obviously quite diligently researched. I like some smarts in my books. Rated 4.
Lost Season 4, Episodes 1-5
JJ Abrams seems to have a pattern of creating an intriguing television series, masterfully presented in a brilliant first season... and then letting it all fall downhill. The second season is still better-than-average, but some cracks appear in the facade. By the third season, it seems that the writers have all jumped ship, and the contradictions become so great that you begin to wonder if the new writers have even watched the first season. Yet you keep watching, waiting for the original promise of genius. Ratings sag, they eventually put an end date on the project, and you end up masochistically anticipating and wading through the rest of the muck to reach a final resolution. ...the answer to the great secret will be revealed in a brief two years!
So it was with "Alias", and so it seems to be with "Lost".
In "Alias", they replaced the excitement of story with on-again, off-again filial piety, and in "Lost" it's this wishy-washy love triangle, replete with a nauseating swelling soundtrack. bleagh. (New drinking game: take a shot every time one of the three changes his/her mind if s/he loves the other. You'll be able to forget how you're wasting another hour.) Same goes for the love/hate for Locke or Kevin Spacey - I mean Henry Gale, I mean "Ben". It's "can we trust Sloane? Even though he just tried to push his daughter off a building five minutes ago? Of course, he's repented!" all over again...
(Do they have any continuity of direction? I work with directors, and the good ones know the back-story on every last major and minor character. Every obscure detail and character trait, even those not referenced in any script. Ladies and gentlemen, consistency just left the building.)
...but then there's this fifth episode, which is not like the others. It's great! Why? Because they ripped off the plot from Star Trek. That's why.
If there's not some payout in the end to make up for the latent misogyny and extremist portrayals of "faith", I'll be very upset. But if "Alias" is any predictor, I expect that these will be some of many issues left unaddressed, originally introduced to boost ratings.
I rant and rave, but I guess it's not really worse than the average dreck on the telly. It's just such a waste of potential. So I'll rate it a 5.
And, of course, I'll end up watching it to the end.
Stupid Hope.
So it was with "Alias", and so it seems to be with "Lost".
In "Alias", they replaced the excitement of story with on-again, off-again filial piety, and in "Lost" it's this wishy-washy love triangle, replete with a nauseating swelling soundtrack. bleagh. (New drinking game: take a shot every time one of the three changes his/her mind if s/he loves the other. You'll be able to forget how you're wasting another hour.) Same goes for the love/hate for Locke or Kevin Spacey - I mean Henry Gale, I mean "Ben". It's "can we trust Sloane? Even though he just tried to push his daughter off a building five minutes ago? Of course, he's repented!" all over again...
(Do they have any continuity of direction? I work with directors, and the good ones know the back-story on every last major and minor character. Every obscure detail and character trait, even those not referenced in any script. Ladies and gentlemen, consistency just left the building.)
...but then there's this fifth episode, which is not like the others. It's great! Why? Because they ripped off the plot from Star Trek. That's why.
If there's not some payout in the end to make up for the latent misogyny and extremist portrayals of "faith", I'll be very upset. But if "Alias" is any predictor, I expect that these will be some of many issues left unaddressed, originally introduced to boost ratings.
I rant and rave, but I guess it's not really worse than the average dreck on the telly. It's just such a waste of potential. So I'll rate it a 5.
And, of course, I'll end up watching it to the end.
Stupid Hope.
Monday, March 17, 2008
Eastern Promises
I was interested to see this after listening to an interview with Viggo Mortensen about the role of language (and accent) in his acting process. I wasn't disappointed, but the plot was too similar to the last Cronenberg/Mortensen film I saw: instead of a bad guy pretending to be "good", however, Viggo plays a "good" guy pretending to be bad.
I realize that I am becoming very squeamish in my old age. I can't seem to stomach much violence anymore, and this was Sopranosesque at times. (Makes sense, since it's a mob movie... just a different ethnic diaspora.)
In summary, the acting and directing was good. A good movie, yet still somehow forgettable. Rated 3/4
I realize that I am becoming very squeamish in my old age. I can't seem to stomach much violence anymore, and this was Sopranosesque at times. (Makes sense, since it's a mob movie... just a different ethnic diaspora.)
In summary, the acting and directing was good. A good movie, yet still somehow forgettable. Rated 3/4
Monday, March 10, 2008
The Bourne Ultimatum
uh-oh... it was a few weeks ago I saw this, and already I remember very little. I suppose it was better than average, but that's not a good sign to be so forgettable. I remember being less impressed by the use of more technology (especially cell phones). Seemed a bit "Alias" like that. And to have hopelessly ensnared a mostly-innocent person in his flight seemed very deja vu... Rated 5+.
Sicko
OK, I'm ready to defect to another country.
No, seriously.
My life rocks in recent years. I really have everything to be thankful for, but I have also lived on the other side and know just how lucky I am. How we treat the rabble of uninsured is one issue, but this movie isn't even about the uninsured. It's about those who pay into the system and the American way of life and still end up screwed over/ dead. If you're lucky to have a network of some affluence, you might have some theoretical support on a personal level (if you're not too proud to beg), but we as Americans are by and large simply horrible to each other. But how can we help but be when we have to look after our own interests so closely?
Several days ago, I was listening to a story on Fresh Air (NPR) about a father and son who had written books about the son's battle with drug addiction. In recovery, the son discovered that what he really needed was just anti-depressants, not crystal meth. Apparently, 80% of drug addicts are suspected to be self-medicating for psychological disorders. I wonder if we had nationalized health care, and if we had doctors who earned bonuses based on the quality of attention doted on their patients, if it wouldn't affect the "war on drugs"... It would certainly help stem the feelings of exclusion and hopelessness that lead to violent outbursts , so we could stop being so bloody afraid of each other... (I'd pay an extra 10% in taxes to not have to read about another school shooting, but maybe that's just me...)
...but i digress...
I've lived abroad and already know how much better the quality of life is for folks in other developed countries. Halfway through the film, I found myself looking around the room and seriously asking myself if I could abandon all the great stuff I have (I do like my stuff) to live around other dirty socialists, and I found myself honestly replying: "If the weather is still nice? If I could have an equally awesome job? Absolutely."
No, seriously.
My life rocks in recent years. I really have everything to be thankful for, but I have also lived on the other side and know just how lucky I am. How we treat the rabble of uninsured is one issue, but this movie isn't even about the uninsured. It's about those who pay into the system and the American way of life and still end up screwed over/ dead. If you're lucky to have a network of some affluence, you might have some theoretical support on a personal level (if you're not too proud to beg), but we as Americans are by and large simply horrible to each other. But how can we help but be when we have to look after our own interests so closely?
Several days ago, I was listening to a story on Fresh Air (NPR) about a father and son who had written books about the son's battle with drug addiction. In recovery, the son discovered that what he really needed was just anti-depressants, not crystal meth. Apparently, 80% of drug addicts are suspected to be self-medicating for psychological disorders. I wonder if we had nationalized health care, and if we had doctors who earned bonuses based on the quality of attention doted on their patients, if it wouldn't affect the "war on drugs"... It would certainly help stem the feelings of exclusion and hopelessness that lead to violent outbursts , so we could stop being so bloody afraid of each other... (I'd pay an extra 10% in taxes to not have to read about another school shooting, but maybe that's just me...)
...but i digress...
I've lived abroad and already know how much better the quality of life is for folks in other developed countries. Halfway through the film, I found myself looking around the room and seriously asking myself if I could abandon all the great stuff I have (I do like my stuff) to live around other dirty socialists, and I found myself honestly replying: "If the weather is still nice? If I could have an equally awesome job? Absolutely."
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