list dunedonkey's Recent Activity - Spout http://www.spout.com/ dunedonkey's Recent Activity - Spout Copyright 2005-9 Spout, LLC Spout RSS http://www.spout.com/images/SpoutLogoRSS.jpg dunedonkey's Recent Activity - Spout http://www.spout.com/ 136 30 Spout Group:Spout Customer Care - Get answers to your questions here! http://www.spout.com/groups/Spout_Customer_Care/420/default.aspx Group Name: Spout Customer Care - Get answers to your questions here!
Group Description:

Have a general question? Need help with some thing on the site? Have a bug you would like to report? Well then, you have come to the right place. No matter what you are having trouble with, we would like to help you find a solution. And maybe, through your own experience with the site, you will want to help other users too. That's what communities are all about. 


Created: 8/1/2007
Number of Members: 79
Number of discussion posts: 513
]]>Mon, 31 Aug 2009 12:47:00 GMTSpout Customer CareWed, 01 Aug 2007 09:06:04 GMT790513Group Spout Group:HORROR MOVIES 101 - FOR ALL WHO LOVE HORROR MOVIES http://www.spout.com/groups/HORROR_MOVIES_101/222/default.aspx Group Name: HORROR MOVIES 101 - FOR ALL WHO LOVE HORROR MOVIES
Group Description:    " I bid you welcome...  Enter freely and of your own will..."
Created: 12/17/2006
Number of Members: 414
Number of Lists: 6
Number of discussion posts: 2333
]]>Sun, 30 Aug 2009 00:53:17 GMTHORROR MOVIES 101Sun, 17 Dec 2006 01:20:09 GMT41462333Group Spout Group:foureyedmonsters - Talk to Susan & Arin about the movie and those addictive podcasts. http://www.spout.com/groups/foureyedmonsters/338/endorsed.aspx Group Name: foureyedmonsters - Talk to Susan & Arin about the movie and those addictive podcasts.
Created: 6/4/2007
Number of Members: 322
Number of discussion posts: 56
]]>Fri, 28 Aug 2009 05:42:31 GMTfoureyedmonstersMon, 04 Jun 2007 15:28:43 GMT322056Group Spout Group:Weekly Theme - "Fighting off boredom with the Iron Fist of Variety" http://www.spout.com/groups/Weekly_Theme/625/default.aspx Group Name: Weekly Theme - "Fighting off boredom with the Iron Fist of Variety"
Created: 6/30/2008
Number of Members: 52
Number of Lists: 12
Number of discussion posts: 701
]]>Thu, 27 Aug 2009 20:20:23 GMTWeekly ThemeMon, 30 Jun 2008 15:13:45 GMT5212701Group Spout Group:Spout Mavens - Spout's best movie reviewers. Membership is limited. http://www.spout.com/groups/Spout_Mavens/366/default.aspx Group Name: Spout Mavens - Spout's best movie reviewers. Membership is limited.
Group Description:

A group of Spout's best reviewers.
Read the requirements.


Created: 6/20/2007
Number of Members: 36
Number of Lists: 9
Number of discussion posts: 451
]]>Wed, 26 Aug 2009 20:10:52 GMTSpout MavensWed, 20 Jun 2007 10:13:29 GMT369451Group Spout Group:missing a film - we'll help you find a film http://www.spout.com/groups/missing_a_film/263/default.aspx Group Name: missing a film - we'll help you find a film
Created: 3/5/2007
Number of Members: 131
Number of Lists: 1
Number of discussion posts: 234
]]>Wed, 26 Aug 2009 11:30:05 GMTmissing a filmMon, 05 Mar 2007 16:37:43 GMT1311234Group Spout Group:Friends of Foreign Flicks - Discussions of all films not American. http://www.spout.com/groups/Friends_of_Foreign_Flicks/591/default.aspx Group Name: Friends of Foreign Flicks - Discussions of all films not American.
Group Description:

At some point you just want more than what's right in front of you.


Created: 4/24/2008
Number of Members: 30
Number of Lists: 1
Number of discussion posts: 92
]]>Wed, 26 Aug 2009 04:05:26 GMTFriends of Foreign FlicksThu, 24 Apr 2008 11:44:11 GMT30192Group Spout Group:The Documentary - A place to talk about the much overlooked genre of the Documentary. http://www.spout.com/groups/The_Documentary/79/default.aspx Group Name: The Documentary - A place to talk about the much overlooked genre of the Documentary.
Created: 4/2/2006
Number of Members: 49
Number of Lists: 4
Number of discussion posts: 53
]]>Tue, 25 Aug 2009 21:05:39 GMTThe DocumentarySun, 02 Apr 2006 00:58:55 GMT49453Group Spout Group:Sound on Sight - Podcasts, movie reviews, interviews, news and more. http://www.spout.com/groups/Sound_on_Sight/529/default.aspx Group Name: Sound on Sight - Podcasts, movie reviews, interviews, news and more.
Group Description:

Sound on Sight proudly brings you two podcasts each week. Voted best podcast in 2008, these hard working hosts cover everything from mainstream Hollywood films to noir, horror, science fiction, cult cinema, documentary film making and more. Look out for a new show added every Tuesday and Thursday morning.

http://www.soundonsight.org/

 

 


Created: 1/6/2008
Number of Members: 104
Number of discussion posts: 150
]]>Tue, 25 Aug 2009 21:03:03 GMTSound on SightSun, 06 Jan 2008 21:24:34 GMT1040150Group Spout Group:Worst Movie Ever - The Group is dedicated to uncovering the bombs, so you don't have too. http://www.spout.com/groups/Worst_Movie_Ever/104/default.aspx Group Name: Worst Movie Ever - The Group is dedicated to uncovering the bombs, so you don't have too.
Created: 5/5/2006
Number of Members: 200
Number of Lists: 10
Number of discussion posts: 412
]]>Tue, 25 Aug 2009 16:43:26 GMTWorst Movie EverFri, 05 May 2006 20:20:45 GMT20010412Group Spout Group:Movie Polls - Vote in weekly polls and discuss http://www.spout.com/groups/Movie_Polls/657/default.aspx Group Name: Movie Polls - Vote in weekly polls and discuss
Group Description:

Each week I will post a new poll.  Please vote in the poll and reply to the discussion thread to discuss the question.  Please do not vote more than once.


Created: 11/25/2008
Number of Members: 66
Number of discussion posts: 414
]]>Tue, 25 Aug 2009 02:42:29 GMTMovie PollsTue, 25 Nov 2008 16:54:38 GMT660414Group Spout Group:Zombie Obsession - Zombie Lovers, Unite! http://www.spout.com/groups/Zombie_Obsession/329/default.aspx Group Name: Zombie Obsession - Zombie Lovers, Unite!
Group Description:

Join us to discuss your favorite or most horrifying Zombie Movies or just your most memorable Zombie Moments.  From Funny to Scary to Gory to Bizarre...

 


Created: 5/28/2007
Number of Members: 104
Number of Lists: 1
Number of discussion posts: 594
]]>Mon, 24 Aug 2009 17:29:56 GMTZombie ObsessionMon, 28 May 2007 02:04:45 GMT1041594Group Spout Group:A World of MSTies - Thank You, Won't We? http://www.spout.com/groups/A_World_of_MSTies/590/default.aspx Group Name: A World of MSTies - Thank You, Won't We?
Group Description:

Glorify the best show ever (MST3K) with wit, wisdom and downright wackiness!


Created: 4/23/2008
Number of Members: 10
Number of Lists: 2
Number of discussion posts: 23
]]>Mon, 24 Aug 2009 17:25:25 GMTA World of MSTiesWed, 23 Apr 2008 20:21:48 GMT10223Group Spout Group:It's a Wonderful Night for Oscar! - Devoted to everything nominated or snubbed by the Academy of Golden Guys http://www.spout.com/groups/It_s_a_Wonderful_Night_for_Oscar/46/default.aspx Group Name: It's a Wonderful Night for Oscar! - Devoted to everything nominated or snubbed by the Academy of Golden Guys
Group Description: Year after year, movie lovers and non movie lovers alike discuss ad nauseum the fate of films nominated for the utmost honor, the Academy Award. Some people watch it for the fashion. Some people watch for the haute couture. Some people watch for their fill of celebrity sightings. If you are a member of this group, you love everything about the Super Bowl of movies, especially the movies themselves! You love to make predictions, guess at the politics, discuss and dissect who should have been nominated and who should have won...or, you're just an avid movie lover that likes to pay attention. Come join the group!
Created: 3/4/2006
Number of Members: 41
Number of Lists: 58
Number of discussion posts: 226
]]>Mon, 24 Aug 2009 11:11:33 GMTIt's a Wonderful Night for Oscar!Sat, 04 Mar 2006 15:24:32 GMT4158226Group Spout Group:Movie Marathons http://www.spout.com/groups/Movie_Marathons/693/default.aspx Group Name: Movie Marathons
Group Description:

This is a group for members to start and organize movie marathons. Its primary purpose is to get more people exposed to more film. And to watch these films and discuss them as a group.

Anyone can start a marathon and marathons can be organized in many different ways to showcase the films of a director, actor, genre, theme etc...

Check the Guidlines and Suggestions discussion for ideas.


Created: 7/22/2009
Number of Members: 15
Number of discussion posts: 22
]]>Sat, 22 Aug 2009 16:33:02 GMTMovie MarathonsWed, 22 Jul 2009 01:35:58 GMT15022Group Spout Group:Movies we do not want to see - Try to convince us to see these movies! http://www.spout.com/groups/Movies_we_do_not_want_to_see/70/default.aspx Group Name: Movies we do not want to see - Try to convince us to see these movies!
Group Description: Want to be a member? Send me a message with a list of at least 5 movies that you do not want to see. There are many movies that I do not want to see. I'm not sure if its right of me to decide never to see a movie without seeing it. You know...like when a kid says they hate mushrooms even though they admit never trying them. So maybe this is a good spot for people to display movies they don't think they want to see, and see if anyone can convince us to try them out.
Created: 3/22/2006
Number of Members: 20
Number of Lists: 3
Number of discussion posts: 190
]]>Wed, 19 Aug 2009 00:31:56 GMTMovies we do not want to seeWed, 22 Mar 2006 14:27:50 GMT203190Group Spout Post: Ugh...enough Web 2.0! It makes me want to vomit on myself! http://www.spout.com/blogs/dunedonkey/archive/2008/5/8/28343.aspxPost By: dunedonkey
Post To: film phlegm
Post Date: 5/8/2008 1:01:04 AM
Body: There’s no doubt I am officially done with Web 2.0. However, every time I think I’m done, a new, fun, and amazing site appears out of nowhere…so below is my attempt to categorize my current favorite Web 2.0 sites (with links to my profiles in case you feel so compelled to follow/add/fan/stalk me). I will update this list periodically as I get tired of certain sites and ejaculate over others. Web 2.0 List (Version 1.0) Facebook (Profile) - Still the champion of Web 2.0 sites, Facebook is using its strength in sheer size, breadth, and numbers to allow other Web 2.0 sites to plug in, which is a compelling proposition since people are sick and tired of having profiles on a bajillion sites and having to log into each to burn inordinate amounts of valuable time doing nothing. Luckily, all the sites I mention below have Facebook applications which allow me to, if not update, then at least view activity on them in one single place. Facebook is also the first Web 2.0 site on which a good majority of my friends, even the technophobes from the middle of Kansas, reside. Twitter (Feed) - The most brilliant and simple concept to hit Web 2.0 since this whole disgusting phenomenon started. It’s essentially a personal RSS feed of my status/random thought/rant at any point in time, easily updatable from a cell phone. Considered by those in the industry a “microblog”, Twitter boasts an update field that is limited to only 140 characters, so you literally can’t write more than 15 words. I think it’s badass…and it plugs directly into my Facebook status message which is ideal.  UPDATE: I use Twitter so much now, I’m sure it’s annoying the crap out of my Facebook friends…so I pulled it from Facebook. GoodReads (Profile) - This site is allowing me to give away all my real books when I’m done reading them. I used to have a sentimental attachment to them, but what I realized is that attachment was purely a display of egotism and self-worth to others. When friends visited my apartment, I wanted them to physically see what I had read and I wanted to be proud of my literary accomplishments. Well, isn’t that what Web 2.0 is about anyway? Everyone claims to keep their books so they can reread them. I call bullshit, asshole. You keep them so you can feel smart around people you’re trying to impress. With GoodReads, I can just point my friends to my profile and they can see how fucking smart I am. It’s also a good place for reviewing the books you’ve read, connecting with your friends and getting their recommendations and providing them with your own. The UI isn’t great, but it’s still the best book review site out there. Yelp (Profile) - Ugh yes I opened a new account with Yelp after deleting my first one. Ugh it’s sucking up my life again. And no, I have not become more reserved the second time around. I’m just as obnoxious and incoherent as I always was. There are many levels on which Yelp succeeds. Unfortunately, as a local review site, which is its primary purpose, it’s not as successful. However, Yelp is a big reason why I’m in this Web 2.0 space and why I’m somewhat enjoying it (I think). It does a great job of providing a local San Francisco venue where I can converse with like-minded intellectuals. I’ve managed to make some amazingly close friends over the past two years and I thank Yelp for that. Unfortunately, it’s been matched by an equal amount of time-sucking frustration. My reviews have become far more useful, and I am enjoying conversing with my closer friends the second time around. If you want to see my frustrations with Yelp, check out my review of it. Tumblr (Blog) - It’s blogging at its simplest. No frills, no crap. It’s a step above the microblogging that is Twitter, but it’s not the rich blogging that you see on Blogger or TypePad. Personally, when I want to jot down a few thoughts and get all philosophical, this is where I like to do it. It’s good for the casual blogger like me. And as we’ve seen in Web 2.0 over and over again, it’s “the simpler, the better” that succeeds. Spout (Filmblog) - Honestly, the UI is total crap. You can tell this site was not created in Silicon Valley. It would drown. Some asshole could come up with a better site from their living room on a weekend (like Pierre Omidyar did with eBay back in 1995). In fact, this site even looks as janky as eBay. But that said, there is NO GOOD WEB 2.0 site for film reviews (one that’s completely user-generated content I mean). So Spout is the best thing we’ve got and I don’t mind it. The conversation threads are fun and interesting. Get that many film buffs in a room and it’s bound to. As a Spout Maven, I’m a part of this elite crew of film buffs that gets a FREE MOVIE every month on DVD which I need to review on the site. They’re lesser known films by smaller, independent production companies which makes it even more fun. For that reason alone, they get a huge thumbs up. I think it’s a brilliant idea. Originally posted on:phlegm.
]]>Thu, 08 May 2008 05:01:04 GMTdunedonkeyfilm phlegm5/8/2008 1:01:04 AMThere’s no doubt I am officially done with Web 2.0. However, every time I think I’m done, a new, fun, and amazing site appears out of nowhere…so below is my attempt to categorize my current favorite Web 2.0 sites (with links to my profiles in case you feel so compelled to follow/add/fan/stalk me). I will update this list periodically as I get tired of certain sites and ejaculate over others. Web 2.0 List (Version 1.0) Facebook (Profile) - Still the champion of Web 2.0 sites, Facebook is using its strength in sheer size, breadth, and numbers to allow other Web 2.0 sites to plug in, which is a compelling proposition since people are sick and tired of having profiles on a bajillion sites and having to log into each to burn inordinate amounts of valuable time doing nothing. Luckily, all the sites I mention below have Facebook applications which allow me to, if not update, then at least view activity on them in one single place. Facebook is also the first Web 2.0 site on which a good majority of my friends, even the technophobes from the middle of Kansas, reside. Twitter (Feed) - The most brilliant and simple concept to hit Web 2.0 since this whole disgusting phenomenon started. It’s essentially a personal RSS feed of my status/random thought/rant at any point in time, easily updatable from a cell phone. Considered by those in the industry a “microblog”, Twitter boasts an update field that is limited to only 140 characters, so you literally can’t write more than 15 words. I think it’s badass…and it plugs directly into my Facebook status message which is ideal.  UPDATE: I use Twitter so much now, I’m sure it’s annoying the crap out of my Facebook friends…so I pulled it from Facebook. GoodReads (Profile) - This site is allowing me to give away all my real books when I’m done reading them. I used to have a sentimental attachment to them, but what I realized is that attachment was purely a display of egotism and self-worth to others. When friends visited my apartment, I wanted them to physically see what I had read and I wanted to be proud of my literary accomplishments. Well, isn’t that what Web 2.0 is about anyway? Everyone claims to keep their books so they can reread them. I call bullshit, asshole. You keep them so you can feel smart around people you’re trying to impress. With GoodReads, I can just point my friends to my profile and they can see how fucking smart I am. It’s also a good place for reviewing the books you’ve read, connecting with your friends and getting their recommendations and providing them with your own. The UI isn’t great, but it’s still the best book review site out there. Yelp (Profile) - Ugh yes I opened a new account with Yelp after deleting my first one. Ugh it’s sucking up my life again. And no, I have not become more reserved the second time around. I’m just as obnoxious and incoherent as I always was. There are many levels on which Yelp succeeds. Unfortunately, as a local review site, which is its primary purpose, it’s not as successful. However, Yelp is a big reason why I’m in this Web 2.0 space and why I’m somewhat enjoying it (I think). It does a great job of providing a local San Francisco venue where I can converse with like-minded intellectuals. I’ve managed to make some amazingly close friends over the past two years and I thank Yelp for that. Unfortunately, it’s been matched by an equal amount of time-sucking frustration. My reviews have become far more useful, and I am enjoying conversing with my closer friends the second time around. If you want to see my frustrations with Yelp, check out my review of it. Tumblr (Blog) - It’s blogging at its simplest. No frills, no crap. It’s a step above the microblogging that is Twitter, but it’s not the rich blogging that you see on Blogger or TypePad. Personally, when I want to jot down a few thoughts and get all philosophical, this is where I like to do it. It’s good for the casual blogger like me. And as we’ve seen in Web 2.0 over and over again, it’s “the simpler, the better” that succeeds. Spout (Filmblog) - Honestly, the UI is total crap. You can tell this site was not created in Silicon Valley. It would drown. Some asshole could come up with a better site from their living room on a weekend (like Pierre Omidyar did with eBay back in 1995). In fact, this site even looks as janky as eBay. But that said, there is NO GOOD WEB 2.0 site for film reviews (one that’s completely user-generated content I mean). So Spout is the best thing we’ve got and I don’t mind it. The conversation threads are fun and interesting. Get that many film buffs in a room and it’s bound to. As a Spout Maven, I’m a part of this elite crew of film buffs that gets a FREE MOVIE every month on DVD which I need to review on the site. They’re lesser known films by smaller, independent production companies which makes it even more fun. For that reason alone, they get a huge thumbs up. I think it’s a brilliant idea. Originally posted on:phlegm. Spout Post: Yet another beautiful and well-executed French drama http://www.spout.com/blogs/dunedonkey/archive/2008/5/8/28338.aspxPost By: dunedonkey
Post To: film phlegm
Post Date: 5/8/2008 12:00:42 AM
Body: Ok...I developed a huge crush on Mia Hansen-Løve last night. If she really is still engaged to Olivier Assayas, I might as well just go throw myself off a cliff. I saw All is Forgiven at the San Francisco International Film Festival last night. Hansen-Løve took a story which isn't extraordinary isn't even all that compelling, and she personalized it. She turned into a beautiful story. It was a very well-made grass roots debut. Reasons why I have a crush on Mia Hansen-Løve: Her eye for casting is unbelievable. With the exception of Marie-Christine Friedrich, the rest of the cast was made up of virtual unknowns. In fact, as she stated in Q&A, she found Constance Rousseau on the street and brought her whole family into the film...and she was unbelievable. Her taste in music was awesome. She clearly stated that she did not appreciate film scores, that she preferred to take traditional songs as the backdrop for her film. She made a very unique choice by picking two Irish songs and two Scottish songs for the film's music, and they fit so appropriately, even though the film was Franco-German in language. She is an artist of conviction and principles. Every choice she made was a deliberate one, and it shined through in every shot of the film. During the Q&A she very explicitly stated that every decision was made for a reason and she made no apologies for them. It was then that I knew I was in love. :) The story follows a man and woman who have a child together (a story based on Hansen-Løve's real-life uncle). The man, a writer, played by Paul Blain struggles with his eccentricity as a creative mind and turns to drugs. The drugs take a toll on his relationship with his Austrian wife, Annette, played by Marie-Christine Friedrich. A catalyctic event takes place and she is forced to leave him with their child, Pamela. Fast forward 12 years, and we see Pamela as a beautiful, young woman. She's given the opportunity to reunite with her father... The story was well-told. The French have an uncanny knack of making the most seemingly plain story so beautiful, through the use of subtle but very profound acting, simple film technique, and beautiful scripts, and All is Forgiven is no exception. Paul Blain was so amazing that he really made an impression on me. I hope to see him do more films. Hansen-Løve's ability to manage the camera and to use it to pull the most of the characters on the screen was awesome. She used close-ups, silences, and it made the film flow so smoothly. It's obvious that Hansen-Løve's experience working for Cahiers du Cinema gave her a good grounding and allowed her, as a critic, to put her money where her mouth is by producing a brilliantly made film. I look forward to so much more from her.
]]>Thu, 08 May 2008 04:00:42 GMTdunedonkeyfilm phlegm5/8/2008 12:00:42 AMOk...I developed a huge crush on Mia Hansen-Løve last night. If she really is still engaged to Olivier Assayas, I might as well just go throw myself off a cliff. I saw All is Forgiven at the San Francisco International Film Festival last night. Hansen-Løve took a story which isn't extraordinary isn't even all that compelling, and she personalized it. She turned into a beautiful story. It was a very well-made grass roots debut. Reasons why I have a crush on Mia Hansen-Løve: Her eye for casting is unbelievable. With the exception of Marie-Christine Friedrich, the rest of the cast was made up of virtual unknowns. In fact, as she stated in Q&A, she found Constance Rousseau on the street and brought her whole family into the film...and she was unbelievable. Her taste in music was awesome. She clearly stated that she did not appreciate film scores, that she preferred to take traditional songs as the backdrop for her film. She made a very unique choice by picking two Irish songs and two Scottish songs for the film's music, and they fit so appropriately, even though the film was Franco-German in language. She is an artist of conviction and principles. Every choice she made was a deliberate one, and it shined through in every shot of the film. During the Q&A she very explicitly stated that every decision was made for a reason and she made no apologies for them. It was then that I knew I was in love. :) The story follows a man and woman who have a child together (a story based on Hansen-Løve's real-life uncle). The man, a writer, played by Paul Blain struggles with his eccentricity as a creative mind and turns to drugs. The drugs take a toll on his relationship with his Austrian wife, Annette, played by Marie-Christine Friedrich. A catalyctic event takes place and she is forced to leave him with their child, Pamela. Fast forward 12 years, and we see Pamela as a beautiful, young woman. She's given the opportunity to reunite with her father... The story was well-told. The French have an uncanny knack of making the most seemingly plain story so beautiful, through the use of subtle but very profound acting, simple film technique, and beautiful scripts, and All is Forgiven is no exception. Paul Blain was so amazing that he really made an impression on me. I hope to see him do more films. Hansen-Løve's ability to manage the camera and to use it to pull the most of the characters on the screen was awesome. She used close-ups, silences, and it made the film flow so smoothly. It's obvious that Hansen-Løve's experience working for Cahiers du Cinema gave her a good grounding and allowed her, as a critic, to put her money where her mouth is by producing a brilliantly made film. I look forward to so much more from her. Spout Post: It reminded me how much I hated high school... http://www.spout.com/blogs/dunedonkey/archive/2008/5/7/28335.aspx Post By: dunedonkey
Post To: film phlegm
Post Date: 5/7/2008 11:09:58 PM
Body: Have you ever been catapulted head first into a brick wall at 150 mph? Now imagine that brick wall was high school, and imagine that catapult was American Teen. Last night, I was instantly transported back 13 years to my high school days. The nervous tick came back. The pain pulled from the very depths of my innermost, repressed soul came shooting to the surface. I was reminded of my own high school experiences, the same experiences that molded me, the tough love I received from my peers, and the thick skin I developed as a result. But I was also reminded of how unhealthy an environment adolescence can be in the US for those living it. Nanette Burstein documented the lives of Warsaw, Indiana high school students, immaculately picking out what almost seemed like caricatures of the different types of students we all knew in high school. We follow four main students: the jock, the popular girl, the artsy girl, and the band geek. We become intimately involved in all aspects their high school lives; the pressures they face from their peers, their parents, and their futures. However, these students weren’t caricatures, they were real, dealing with the reality that has become the disgusting state of American teen culture taken from American pop culture and exploited in the worst manner ever in our public schools. What this film made very clear, is that the state of parenting, of education, of adolescence, of human values is so amazingly warped, that American families have completely lost touch with reality. The things that matter most are the things that should matter least and vice versa. We’ve led such sheltered lives that we forgot what it means to be human, and American Teen documents this reality very well. I realized that high school was no longer about getting a scholastic education, rather high school has taken on a far larger role of parenting - forcing our kids into the harshest of environments into a sort of “baptism by fire”. Parents have forgotten how to raise kids, and teachers have forgotten how to teach them. The best education a kid is getting in high school is from other kids. I could pontificate on the deplorable state of American families and American education, but all you need to do is watch this film to realize how scary a state it’s in. That said, Nanette Burstein did a fantastic job of filming American Teen. There were warmer moments throughout the film, but the dark undercurrent of each of these moments was never swept under the rug, and lingered uncomfortably among the viewers. I feel like this film is like taking medicine, it’s something you hate to do, but you know you have to…if for no other reason than to educate and remind yourself what it means to be young, to be human, to be a parent, and to influence the fragile and vulnerable lives of those around you.
]]>Thu, 08 May 2008 03:09:58 GMTdunedonkeyfilm phlegm5/7/2008 11:09:58 PMHave you ever been catapulted head first into a brick wall at 150 mph? Now imagine that brick wall was high school, and imagine that catapult was American Teen. Last night, I was instantly transported back 13 years to my high school days. The nervous tick came back. The pain pulled from the very depths of my innermost, repressed soul came shooting to the surface. I was reminded of my own high school experiences, the same experiences that molded me, the tough love I received from my peers, and the thick skin I developed as a result. But I was also reminded of how unhealthy an environment adolescence can be in the US for those living it. Nanette Burstein documented the lives of Warsaw, Indiana high school students, immaculately picking out what almost seemed like caricatures of the different types of students we all knew in high school. We follow four main students: the jock, the popular girl, the artsy girl, and the band geek. We become intimately involved in all aspects their high school lives; the pressures they face from their peers, their parents, and their futures. However, these students weren’t caricatures, they were real, dealing with the reality that has become the disgusting state of American teen culture taken from American pop culture and exploited in the worst manner ever in our public schools. What this film made very clear, is that the state of parenting, of education, of adolescence, of human values is so amazingly warped, that American families have completely lost touch with reality. The things that matter most are the things that should matter least and vice versa. We’ve led such sheltered lives that we forgot what it means to be human, and American Teen documents this reality very well. I realized that high school was no longer about getting a scholastic education, rather high school has taken on a far larger role of parenting - forcing our kids into the harshest of environments into a sort of “baptism by fire”. Parents have forgotten how to raise kids, and teachers have forgotten how to teach them. The best education a kid is getting in high school is from other kids. I could pontificate on the deplorable state of American families and American education, but all you need to do is watch this film to realize how scary a state it’s in. That said, Nanette Burstein did a fantastic job of filming American Teen. There were warmer moments throughout the film, but the dark undercurrent of each of these moments was never swept under the rug, and lingered uncomfortably among the viewers. I feel like this film is like taking medicine, it’s something you hate to do, but you know you have to…if for no other reason than to educate and remind yourself what it means to be young, to be human, to be a parent, and to influence the fragile and vulnerable lives of those around you. Spout Post: The first great 90s period piece... http://www.spout.com/blogs/dunedonkey/archive/2008/5/4/28153.aspx Post By: dunedonkey
Post To: film phlegm
Post Date: 5/4/2008 9:24:04 AM
Body: I had the opportunity to see The Wackness tonight at the SF International Film Festival. It was great. That may sound trite, but in this case, “great” constitutes “big” and “bold” in same way that an adventure or a road trip is “great”. The Wackness is the first great road trip into what I like to call The Identity-Crysis Decade (that hasn’t been coined yet, has it?), where American teens struggle to identify with anything . Generation Why was a generation thrown out to fend for itself while their Baby Boomer parents struggled to cope with their own mid-life crises. Josh Peck plays a 17 year old kid, a drug dealer, who finishes high school, and missed being a teenager. Never had many friends, never had a girlfriend, never had sex. He wasn’t your typical shallow kid, but a profoundly intimate kid, with legitimate dreams and aspirations. When he and his parents are facing eviction, he's forced to be both the kid trying to grow up and the parent trying to stay young. He's helped through this when he develops a connection with his shrink and client, Dr. Jeffrey Squires (or Geoffrey if you saw his diploma). Dr. Squires is the middle-aged baby boomer, who sees in Shapiro what he simultaneously saw in himself, a kid who didn’t know how to deal with adulthood. They lean on each other and use the opportunity to grow, and to learn about themselves through their relationship. Their adventure is one with ups and downs, with sad realizations, and happy discoveries. In the end growing up is just another part of living, and they both make that very clear. As a debut film, there is no doubt that Jonathan Levine’s intimate, personal memoir of the 1990s, the identity that all Americans tried so desperately to unearth, was perfectly portrayed through the life of a Generation Why teenager and a Baby Boomer adult. The script was well-written, and the acting by veteran Sir Ben Kingsley (who I would never have cast in this role, but I was proven wrong), and an eager young star Josh Peck was equally provocative. The Wackness (unlike Juno, see my review of it) is an example of a film that is independent…in thought - that you can take a period that is so hard to understand and to give it some meaning through the eyes of two people who helped define it. The direction was likewise very well done with great use of lighting and filters, perfectly framed shots, a great soundtrack, and characters who were fresh and exciting. The pop culture references got a little heavy-handed, but they weren't enough to change my opinion of the film. I look forward to tons more great work from the cast and crew of this film. Definitely see it this July!
]]>Sun, 04 May 2008 13:24:04 GMTdunedonkeyfilm phlegm5/4/2008 9:24:04 AMI had the opportunity to see The Wackness tonight at the SF International Film Festival. It was great. That may sound trite, but in this case, “great” constitutes “big” and “bold” in same way that an adventure or a road trip is “great”. The Wackness is the first great road trip into what I like to call The Identity-Crysis Decade (that hasn’t been coined yet, has it?), where American teens struggle to identify with anything . Generation Why was a generation thrown out to fend for itself while their Baby Boomer parents struggled to cope with their own mid-life crises. Josh Peck plays a 17 year old kid, a drug dealer, who finishes high school, and missed being a teenager. Never had many friends, never had a girlfriend, never had sex. He wasn’t your typical shallow kid, but a profoundly intimate kid, with legitimate dreams and aspirations. When he and his parents are facing eviction, he's forced to be both the kid trying to grow up and the parent trying to stay young. He's helped through this when he develops a connection with his shrink and client, Dr. Jeffrey Squires (or Geoffrey if you saw his diploma). Dr. Squires is the middle-aged baby boomer, who sees in Shapiro what he simultaneously saw in himself, a kid who didn’t know how to deal with adulthood. They lean on each other and use the opportunity to grow, and to learn about themselves through their relationship. Their adventure is one with ups and downs, with sad realizations, and happy discoveries. In the end growing up is just another part of living, and they both make that very clear. As a debut film, there is no doubt that Jonathan Levine’s intimate, personal memoir of the 1990s, the identity that all Americans tried so desperately to unearth, was perfectly portrayed through the life of a Generation Why teenager and a Baby Boomer adult. The script was well-written, and the acting by veteran Sir Ben Kingsley (who I would never have cast in this role, but I was proven wrong), and an eager young star Josh Peck was equally provocative. The Wackness (unlike Juno, see my review of it) is an example of a film that is independent…in thought - that you can take a period that is so hard to understand and to give it some meaning through the eyes of two people who helped define it. The direction was likewise very well done with great use of lighting and filters, perfectly framed shots, a great soundtrack, and characters who were fresh and exciting. The pop culture references got a little heavy-handed, but they weren't enough to change my opinion of the film. I look forward to tons more great work from the cast and crew of this film. Definitely see it this July! Spout Post: Brilliant matter-of-fact fillmmaking http://www.spout.com/blogs/dunedonkey/archive/2008/5/2/28099.aspx Post By: dunedonkey
Post To: film phlegm
Post Date: 5/2/2008 11:57:15 AM
Body: To call this film brilliant would be an understatement. Few films come out nowadays which attempt to breach the boundaries of the status quo and explore the idea of radical, new filmmaking. Solitary Fragments is one of those films. And it inspires on so many levels. It is a film which excels in subtlety and uses this subtlety to evoke strong, deep emotion out of its viewers. The plot follows two parallel storylines which share nothing more than a relationship between three characters that live together. The first storyline is that of a woman, Adela, who leaves her small town life to forget her past and to forge a new future in Madrid with her one-year old son. The second is that of Ines and her family and the strong, but tense relationship they all share. Tragedy strikes twice through out the film, once on each storyline, and the characters are forced to pick up the pieces in order to move on with their lives. The film is a feat in storytelling. It prides itself on the ability to set aside acting in favor of true emotion and real dialogue using silence, awkwardness, joy, sadness. I'm not sure I've ever seen a film where I felt like I was sitting in the living room with the characters and sharing their emotions as if I were talking to them directly. Solitary Fragments accomplishes this better than any film I've seen. And the basic storytelling is only a small part of it. It's hard to ignore the many technical innovations the director and editor chose to employ to tell the story further. The use of multiple cameras to film a single scene and to cut them together simultaneously and splitting the screen was really incredible. I've never seen anything like it. There wasn't a single moment of music. Silence was the film's score. Finally, there wasn't a single tracking shot or pan throughout the entire film. The cameras were always stationary (with the exception of the POV shots from within the vehicles, where the vehicles moved, but the camera was still stationary). Every shot was filmed from a stationary camera and the characters moved in and out of the frame. I've never seen anything like it before. It's a film I can only watch once for a myriad of reasons. But it only takes one viewing to fully appreciate the enormity of such a film.
]]>Fri, 02 May 2008 15:57:15 GMTdunedonkeyfilm phlegm5/2/2008 11:57:15 AMTo call this film brilliant would be an understatement. Few films come out nowadays which attempt to breach the boundaries of the status quo and explore the idea of radical, new filmmaking. Solitary Fragments is one of those films. And it inspires on so many levels. It is a film which excels in subtlety and uses this subtlety to evoke strong, deep emotion out of its viewers. The plot follows two parallel storylines which share nothing more than a relationship between three characters that live together. The first storyline is that of a woman, Adela, who leaves her small town life to forget her past and to forge a new future in Madrid with her one-year old son. The second is that of Ines and her family and the strong, but tense relationship they all share. Tragedy strikes twice through out the film, once on each storyline, and the characters are forced to pick up the pieces in order to move on with their lives. The film is a feat in storytelling. It prides itself on the ability to set aside acting in favor of true emotion and real dialogue using silence, awkwardness, joy, sadness. I'm not sure I've ever seen a film where I felt like I was sitting in the living room with the characters and sharing their emotions as if I were talking to them directly. Solitary Fragments accomplishes this better than any film I've seen. And the basic storytelling is only a small part of it. It's hard to ignore the many technical innovations the director and editor chose to employ to tell the story further. The use of multiple cameras to film a single scene and to cut them together simultaneously and splitting the screen was really incredible. I've never seen anything like it. There wasn't a single moment of music. Silence was the film's score. Finally, there wasn't a single tracking shot or pan throughout the entire film. The cameras were always stationary (with the exception of the POV shots from within the vehicles, where the vehicles moved, but the camera was still stationary). Every shot was filmed from a stationary camera and the characters moved in and out of the frame. I've never seen anything like it before. It's a film I can only watch once for a myriad of reasons. But it only takes one viewing to fully appreciate the enormity of such a film. Spout Post: Re:Top 5 Title Sequences http://www.spout.com/groups/Top_5/Re_Top_5_Title_Sequences/190/27302/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: dunedonkey
Post To: Top 5
Post Date: 4/15/2008 10:43:41 AM
Body: I can't believe no one said Star Wars.Hitchcock films and the Bond films deserve mention. As do the Pink Panther films...I need to come up with a list...and get back here.
]]>Tue, 15 Apr 2008 14:43:41 GMTdunedonkeyTop 54/15/2008 10:43:41 AMI can't believe no one said Star Wars.Hitchcock films and the Bond films deserve mention. As do the Pink Panther films...I need to come up with a list...and get back here. Spout Post: Re:Top 5 Most Important American Films Ever Made http://www.spout.com/groups/Top_5/Re_Top_5_Most_Important_American_Films_Ever_Made/190/27135/1/ShowPost.aspxPost By: dunedonkey
Post To: Top 5
Post Date: 4/9/2008 2:31:47 PM
Body: It's billed as both UK and US. Much of it was US made even though it was filmed in Shepperton. [quote user="Risselada"][quote user="chrismorrell"]Hey Rizzo..this seems odd,surely i should not be able to edit your posting ..(?). Not sure if i've come across this before on Spout..(just slap me if it's perfectly normal)...[/quote]You were editing my post, just quoting me.[/quote]
]]>Wed, 09 Apr 2008 18:31:47 GMTdunedonkeyTop 54/9/2008 2:31:47 PMIt's billed as both UK and US. Much of it was US made even though it was filmed in Shepperton. [quote user="Risselada"][quote user="chrismorrell"]Hey Rizzo..this seems odd,surely i should not be able to edit your posting ..(?). Not sure if i've come across this before on Spout..(just slap me if it's perfectly normal)...[/quote]You were editing my post, just quoting me.[/quote] Spout Post: Top 5 Most Important American Films Ever Made http://www.spout.com/groups/Top_5/Top_5_Most_Important_American_Films_Ever_Made/190/27076/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: dunedonkey
Post To: Top 5
Post Date: 4/8/2008 11:21:35 AM
Body: Not my favorite. Not the best...but...The MOST IMPORTANT and WHY WAS IT IMPORTANT?Rules/Guidelines:YOU CAN'T GIVE MORE THAN 5. Five is the absolute limit.IMPORTANT means it had a profound impact on the film industry, on art, on social change, on mankind.My choices:Birth of a Nation (DW Griffith):The first American epic. It was longer than any film and invented the "feature-length" film.The single most controversial American film ever made. Some credit it with reinvigorating the KKK and inspiring a new wave of racism to take hold in the US.It proved that film could be as important a social medium as an entertainment medium.The Godfather (Francis Ford Coppola):No film epitomizes the golden age of American cinema more than this film.This film pioneered the frontier of American epics and changed the face of American filmmaking on an artistic level, giving American film it's first ever unique look and feel.Star Wars: A New Hope (George Lucas):This film redefined the Hollywood genre with groundbreaking special effects, mass appeal. This was the first American blockbuster.For better or for worse, this film sent Hollywood into spiraling into the 80s with summer special effects blockbusters driving much of it's annual revenue.2001: A Space Odyssey (Stanley Kubrick):It was so technologically advanced, it inspired everyone to start looking into their own future with a different light.Few realize that this film kicked NASA into high gear propelling our space program into the forefront of the Cold War.Citizen Kane (Orson Welles):It wasn't just the greatest American film ever made, it was the first American film that proved that film was a legitimate art form and not just an entertainment medium.Orson Welles was 26 when he made it. Seriously. 26.
]]>Tue, 08 Apr 2008 15:21:35 GMTdunedonkeyTop 54/8/2008 11:21:35 AMNot my favorite. Not the best...but...The MOST IMPORTANT and WHY WAS IT IMPORTANT?Rules/Guidelines:YOU CAN'T GIVE MORE THAN 5. Five is the absolute limit.IMPORTANT means it had a profound impact on the film industry, on art, on social change, on mankind.My choices:Birth of a Nation (DW Griffith):The first American epic. It was longer than any film and invented the "feature-length" film.The single most controversial American film ever made. Some credit it with reinvigorating the KKK and inspiring a new wave of racism to take hold in the US.It proved that film could be as important a social medium as an entertainment medium.The Godfather (Francis Ford Coppola):No film epitomizes the golden age of American cinema more than this film.This film pioneered the frontier of American epics and changed the face of American filmmaking on an artistic level, giving American film it's first ever unique look and feel.Star Wars: A New Hope (George Lucas):This film redefined the Hollywood genre with groundbreaking special effects, mass appeal. This was the first American blockbuster.For better or for worse, this film sent Hollywood into spiraling into the 80s with summer special effects blockbusters driving much of it's annual revenue.2001: A Space Odyssey (Stanley Kubrick):It was so technologically advanced, it inspired everyone to start looking into their own future with a different light.Few realize that this film kicked NASA into high gear propelling our space program into the forefront of the Cold War.Citizen Kane (Orson Welles):It wasn't just the greatest American film ever made, it was the first American film that proved that film was a legitimate art form and not just an entertainment medium.Orson Welles was 26 when he made it. Seriously. 26. Spout Post: Re:Recasting THE PRINCESS BRIDE (1987) http://www.spout.com/groups/Filmgaming/Re_Recasting_THE_PRINCESS_BRIDE_1987/563/26987/1/ShowPost.aspxPost By: dunedonkey
Post To: Filmgaming
Post Date: 4/5/2008 3:14:50 PM
Body: Kudos to the Spike Lee remake. That had me ROLLING... Now that I know I can never beat it...here is... Princess Bride: The Indie/Art House Version Ron Livingston ... WestleyLaura Linney ... Buttercup / The Princess BrideJason Schwartzman ... Inigo MontoyaPhillip Seymour Hoffman ... Prince HumperdinckChristopher Guest (reprises his role) ... Count Tyrone Rugen Paul Giamatti (bummed it from above...but I really can't think of anyone more appropriate) ... VizziniJon Favreau ... FezzikMichael Cera (I know...he's a little old...but he still looks like he's eight) ... The GrandsonAlan Arkin ... The Grandfather / NarratorAlan Alda ... The Impressive ClergymanKathy Bates :) ... The AlbinoWoody Allen ... Miracle MaxEllen Page ... ValerieParker Posey ... The QueenJulie Delpy ... The Ancient Booer
]]>Sat, 05 Apr 2008 19:14:50 GMTdunedonkeyFilmgaming4/5/2008 3:14:50 PMKudos to the Spike Lee remake. That had me ROLLING... Now that I know I can never beat it...here is... Princess Bride: The Indie/Art House Version Ron Livingston ... WestleyLaura Linney ... Buttercup / The Princess BrideJason Schwartzman ... Inigo MontoyaPhillip Seymour Hoffman ... Prince HumperdinckChristopher Guest (reprises his role) ... Count Tyrone Rugen Paul Giamatti (bummed it from above...but I really can't think of anyone more appropriate) ... VizziniJon Favreau ... FezzikMichael Cera (I know...he's a little old...but he still looks like he's eight) ... The GrandsonAlan Arkin ... The Grandfather / NarratorAlan Alda ... The Impressive ClergymanKathy Bates :) ... The AlbinoWoody Allen ... Miracle MaxEllen Page ... ValerieParker Posey ... The QueenJulie Delpy ... The Ancient Booer Spout Post: Really blown away... http://www.spout.com/blogs/dunedonkey/archive/2008/4/4/26979.aspx Post By: dunedonkey
Post To: film phlegm
Post Date: 4/4/2008 9:06:04 PM
Body: Planet B-Boy is a fantastic film about the underbelly of the international breakdancing scene. Like in any other artform, what's been exploited and what is known to the public is the crap...the passionless, marketed, undermining crap. When you dig deeper into the underground and figure out what the artform is truly about, you leave refreshed and invigorated and Planet B-Boy does just that. I thought the director did an excellent job in bringing to the surface the intensity and passion of the b-boys. The film wasn't perfect. I think it gets a little too personal and sways from the details of the breakdancing movement, but I do appreciate what Benson Lee was trying to get at with the pressures these teens deal with in trying to prove the credibility of their passion to their parents and their respective societies. I especially love how Lee ventures all around the world to show the different countries and their diverse personalities in how they prepare for what is the World Cup of breakdancing.A must-see for everyone who has an appreciation for a unique underground artform.
]]>Sat, 05 Apr 2008 01:06:04 GMTdunedonkeyfilm phlegm4/4/2008 9:06:04 PMPlanet B-Boy is a fantastic film about the underbelly of the international breakdancing scene. Like in any other artform, what's been exploited and what is known to the public is the crap...the passionless, marketed, undermining crap. When you dig deeper into the underground and figure out what the artform is truly about, you leave refreshed and invigorated and Planet B-Boy does just that. I thought the director did an excellent job in bringing to the surface the intensity and passion of the b-boys. The film wasn't perfect. I think it gets a little too personal and sways from the details of the breakdancing movement, but I do appreciate what Benson Lee was trying to get at with the pressures these teens deal with in trying to prove the credibility of their passion to their parents and their respective societies. I especially love how Lee ventures all around the world to show the different countries and their diverse personalities in how they prepare for what is the World Cup of breakdancing.A must-see for everyone who has an appreciation for a unique underground artform. Spout Post: Top 5 Most Important American Films Ever Made http://www.spout.com/blogs/dunedonkey/archive/2008/4/3/26922.aspx Post By: dunedonkey
Post To: film phlegm
Post Date: 4/3/2008 4:06:08 PM
Body: Not my favorite. Not the best...but...The MOST IMPORTANT and WHY WAS IT IMPORTANT?Rules/Guidelines:YOU CAN'T GIVE MORE THAN 5. Five is the absolute limit.IMPORTANT means it had a profound impact on the film industry, on art, on social change, on mankind.My choices:Birth of a Nation (DW Griffith):The first American epic. It was longer than any film and invented the "feature-length" film.The single most controversial American film ever made. Some credit it with reinvigorating the KKK and inspiring a new wave of racism to take hold in the US.It proved that film could be as important a social medium as an entertainment medium.The Godfather (Francis Ford Coppola):No film epitomizes the golden age of American cinema more than this film.This film pioneered the frontier of American epics and changed the face of American filmmaking on an artistic level, giving American film it's first ever unique look and feel.Star Wars: A New Hope (George Lucas):This film redefined the Hollywood genre with groundbreaking special effects, mass appeal. This was the first American blockbuster.For better or for worse, this film sent Hollywood into spiraling into the 80s with summer special effects blockbusters driving much of it's annual revenue.2001: A Space Odyssey (Stanley Kubrick):It was so technologically advanced, it inspired everyone to start looking into their own future with a different light.Few realize that this film kicked NASA into high gear propelling our space program into the forefront of the Cold War.Citizen Kane (Orson Welles):It wasn't just the greatest American film ever made, it was the first American film that proved that film was a legitimate art form and not just an entertainment medium.Orson Welles was 26 when he made it. Seriously. 26.
]]>Thu, 03 Apr 2008 20:06:08 GMTdunedonkeyfilm phlegm4/3/2008 4:06:08 PMNot my favorite. Not the best...but...The MOST IMPORTANT and WHY WAS IT IMPORTANT?Rules/Guidelines:YOU CAN'T GIVE MORE THAN 5. Five is the absolute limit.IMPORTANT means it had a profound impact on the film industry, on art, on social change, on mankind.My choices:Birth of a Nation (DW Griffith):The first American epic. It was longer than any film and invented the "feature-length" film.The single most controversial American film ever made. Some credit it with reinvigorating the KKK and inspiring a new wave of racism to take hold in the US.It proved that film could be as important a social medium as an entertainment medium.The Godfather (Francis Ford Coppola):No film epitomizes the golden age of American cinema more than this film.This film pioneered the frontier of American epics and changed the face of American filmmaking on an artistic level, giving American film it's first ever unique look and feel.Star Wars: A New Hope (George Lucas):This film redefined the Hollywood genre with groundbreaking special effects, mass appeal. This was the first American blockbuster.For better or for worse, this film sent Hollywood into spiraling into the 80s with summer special effects blockbusters driving much of it's annual revenue.2001: A Space Odyssey (Stanley Kubrick):It was so technologically advanced, it inspired everyone to start looking into their own future with a different light.Few realize that this film kicked NASA into high gear propelling our space program into the forefront of the Cold War.Citizen Kane (Orson Welles):It wasn't just the greatest American film ever made, it was the first American film that proved that film was a legitimate art form and not just an entertainment medium.Orson Welles was 26 when he made it. Seriously. 26. Spout Post: A sad family drama based on the director's life http://www.spout.com/blogs/dunedonkey/archive/2008/3/24/26574.aspxPost By: dunedonkey
Post To: film phlegm
Post Date: 3/24/2008 7:04:27 PM
Body: Had the opportunity to see this at the San Francisco Asian-American Film Festival. It probably wouldn't have been my first choice, but a friend who is a big Joan Chen fan really wanted to see it and since I didn't get to see any other films, I went.It's a story about the Tony Ayre's (the director) life in Australia (and Hong Kong) growing up with a mother who moved from man to man, place to place, dragging her children along with her. She's a beautiful woman who gets men to fall in love with her, but depends on them for her and her childrens' income and well-being. This dependency ultimately leads these men to leave her driving her into a state of alcoholism, chronic depression, and attempted suicide leaving her 10ish year old son and 12ish year old daughter to deal with her self-absorbed nonsense.The film takes almost directly from Ayres' life and from what I understood, followed it very closely. In fact, he and his sister make an appearance at the end of the film. It's a sad, sad story and I feel like it's been told so many times before, but the acting was excellent, the music was wonderful, and the film was well made in general. Sometimes a film can be a therapeutic release for an artist, and I give Tony Ayres four stars for telling his story.
]]>Mon, 24 Mar 2008 23:04:27 GMTdunedonkeyfilm phlegm3/24/2008 7:04:27 PMHad the opportunity to see this at the San Francisco Asian-American Film Festival. It probably wouldn't have been my first choice, but a friend who is a big Joan Chen fan really wanted to see it and since I didn't get to see any other films, I went.It's a story about the Tony Ayre's (the director) life in Australia (and Hong Kong) growing up with a mother who moved from man to man, place to place, dragging her children along with her. She's a beautiful woman who gets men to fall in love with her, but depends on them for her and her childrens' income and well-being. This dependency ultimately leads these men to leave her driving her into a state of alcoholism, chronic depression, and attempted suicide leaving her 10ish year old son and 12ish year old daughter to deal with her self-absorbed nonsense.The film takes almost directly from Ayres' life and from what I understood, followed it very closely. In fact, he and his sister make an appearance at the end of the film. It's a sad, sad story and I feel like it's been told so many times before, but the acting was excellent, the music was wonderful, and the film was well made in general. Sometimes a film can be a therapeutic release for an artist, and I give Tony Ayres four stars for telling his story. Spout Post: Better than your average heist film http://www.spout.com/blogs/dunedonkey/archive/2008/3/24/26573.aspx Post By: dunedonkey
Post To: film phlegm
Post Date: 3/24/2008 6:37:17 PM
Body: My expectations were pretty low going in, but I left entertained. I think what intrigued me more about this film is that it was based on a true story. The plot was a little more complex than your average bank heist plot because it's based on the fact that by breaking into the safe deposit vault of this bank the villains (as they were often called throughout the film) opened a Pandora's Box of lies, deceit, treachery, politics-gone-bad, bad cops, porn and all the juicy details of the corrupt lifestyles of the rich and famous.Jason Statham was pretty subdued in this role thankfully. In fact, he's made it to be quite the James Bond character in this film. Charisma. Good Looks. Intelligent. Saffron Burrows was stunning. She did well. But truth be told, I think I was too taken aback by her amazing beauty.It was a well-shot film with a more complex plot. I think there were up to four parties that got incriminated and had a stake in making sure these bank robbers were killed. Technically, it gave a retro feel at points...but didn't stick as consistently close as I would've expected. Jason Statham did not look like a 70s bankrobbing villain. That said...the film does little more than provide filmmaking eye candy, with a light layer of substance on top.
]]>Mon, 24 Mar 2008 22:37:17 GMTdunedonkeyfilm phlegm3/24/2008 6:37:17 PMMy expectations were pretty low going in, but I left entertained. I think what intrigued me more about this film is that it was based on a true story. The plot was a little more complex than your average bank heist plot because it's based on the fact that by breaking into the safe deposit vault of this bank the villains (as they were often called throughout the film) opened a Pandora's Box of lies, deceit, treachery, politics-gone-bad, bad cops, porn and all the juicy details of the corrupt lifestyles of the rich and famous.Jason Statham was pretty subdued in this role thankfully. In fact, he's made it to be quite the James Bond character in this film. Charisma. Good Looks. Intelligent. Saffron Burrows was stunning. She did well. But truth be told, I think I was too taken aback by her amazing beauty.It was a well-shot film with a more complex plot. I think there were up to four parties that got incriminated and had a stake in making sure these bank robbers were killed. Technically, it gave a retro feel at points...but didn't stick as consistently close as I would've expected. Jason Statham did not look like a 70s bankrobbing villain. That said...the film does little more than provide filmmaking eye candy, with a light layer of substance on top. Spout Post: Really well-done corporate conspiracy drama... http://www.spout.com/blogs/dunedonkey/archive/2008/3/24/26569.aspx Post By: dunedonkey
Post To: film phlegm
Post Date: 3/24/2008 3:57:35 PM
Body: Yeah...I was really blown away.I had lowered expectations going in...and left incredibly refreshed. The plot...not all that original. Big corporation is killing people because of some sly, underhanded scheme it's trying to cover up. We've all heard it before (The Constant Gardener, Syriana, The Insider). Blah blah blah. Where this film excels is in its execution. It was phenomenal. The use of silence, camera movement, fluidity, sequencing, and good acting. Tony Gilroy did an outstanding job of pulling it all together. He took all the great elements of filmmaking and made them work together so well, that I see very few flaws with the film. In terms of It might be George Clooney's best performance and I think he deserved the Oscar nomination. I also think Tom Wilkinson did great. But I really don't think Tilda Swinton deserved the nomination or the Oscar...but that's just me.I think this film was cursed to come out in a year of such great films. 2007 really was a year of well-made budget films...and although I hate the Oscars, I do like when a film that actually deserves to win, wins (I suffer from Hollywood hypocrisy like the rest of you). I think that in any other year, Michael Clayton would've been a true contender.
]]>Mon, 24 Mar 2008 19:57:35 GMTdunedonkeyfilm phlegm3/24/2008 3:57:35 PMYeah...I was really blown away.I had lowered expectations going in...and left incredibly refreshed. The plot...not all that original. Big corporation is killing people because of some sly, underhanded scheme it's trying to cover up. We've all heard it before (The Constant Gardener, Syriana, The Insider). Blah blah blah. Where this film excels is in its execution. It was phenomenal. The use of silence, camera movement, fluidity, sequencing, and good acting. Tony Gilroy did an outstanding job of pulling it all together. He took all the great elements of filmmaking and made them work together so well, that I see very few flaws with the film. In terms of It might be George Clooney's best performance and I think he deserved the Oscar nomination. I also think Tom Wilkinson did great. But I really don't think Tilda Swinton deserved the nomination or the Oscar...but that's just me.I think this film was cursed to come out in a year of such great films. 2007 really was a year of well-made budget films...and although I hate the Oscars, I do like when a film that actually deserves to win, wins (I suffer from Hollywood hypocrisy like the rest of you). I think that in any other year, Michael Clayton would've been a true contender. Spout Post: A solid, no frills family drama http://www.spout.com/blogs/dunedonkey/archive/2008/3/24/26568.aspx Post By: dunedonkey
Post To: film phlegm
Post Date: 3/24/2008 3:41:17 PM
Body: Laura Linney can annoy me. Her attempt at playing a blue collar wife in Mystic River fell flat because she's too refined for that. She's doing well in John Adams because she's a very plain and simple actress. However, I really liked her in The Savages because it gave her a chance to push the limits with her personality to make bring to the surface what the average middle-aged, single woman with a dying father would go through.Philip Seymour Hoffman does a fantastic job as usual playing the self-absorbed older brother who doesn't want to deal with anything because he's got his own personality issues.The two of them together generated a great on-scene chemistry as brother and sister because they were both subdued and acting more from the heart without the flare that you might see from them in other bigger budget films. If you were to ask me what made the film, it was this chemistry.The story was rich. I wouldn't say it was terribly original, but Tamara Jenkins does an excellent job on the screenplay as well as the direction. I'm not sure I would see it in the theatre again, as I think independent films, particularly independent family dramas are best enjoyed at home.
]]>Mon, 24 Mar 2008 19:41:17 GMTdunedonkeyfilm phlegm3/24/2008 3:41:17 PMLaura Linney can annoy me. Her attempt at playing a blue collar wife in Mystic River fell flat because she's too refined for that. She's doing well in John Adams because she's a very plain and simple actress. However, I really liked her in The Savages because it gave her a chance to push the limits with her personality to make bring to the surface what the average middle-aged, single woman with a dying father would go through.Philip Seymour Hoffman does a fantastic job as usual playing the self-absorbed older brother who doesn't want to deal with anything because he's got his own personality issues.The two of them together generated a great on-scene chemistry as brother and sister because they were both subdued and acting more from the heart without the flare that you might see from them in other bigger budget films. If you were to ask me what made the film, it was this chemistry.The story was rich. I wouldn't say it was terribly original, but Tamara Jenkins does an excellent job on the screenplay as well as the direction. I'm not sure I would see it in the theatre again, as I think independent films, particularly independent family dramas are best enjoyed at home. Spout Post: Overrated. http://www.spout.com/blogs/dunedonkey/archive/2008/1/25/24365.aspx Post By: dunedonkey
Post To: film phlegm
Post Date: 1/25/2008 6:17:49 PM
Body: It was cute. It was funny. I like it. I would see it again. However...Juno is a great example of a film that tries to pass itself off as an original indie film when in reality, there's nothing "original" or "indie" about it. It's fairly overrated and the default independent Academy Award Best Picture nominee. But to nominate Ellen Page for Best Actress is a big stretch. Especially when she's up against Marion Cotillard in La Vie en Rose. Thank god I hate the Academy Awards. It's the run-of-the-mill, coming-of-age story about a quick-witted girl (Ellen Page), who lets her hormones get the best of her and gets pregnant by a cute guy from school (Michael Cera) and thus ensues the emotional rollercoaster with a little bit of humor sprinkled in between. I saw this movie before. It was called Sideways, Little Miss Sunshine, blah blah blah. Some star value from Jason Bateman and Jennifer Garner don't really add to it. In fact, they probably take away.The screenplay, direction, and plot were hardly original and the only redeeming qualities were the light-hearted humor at points, the cute story, and the great soundtrack.
]]>Fri, 25 Jan 2008 23:17:49 GMTdunedonkeyfilm phlegm1/25/2008 6:17:49 PMIt was cute. It was funny. I like it. I would see it again. However...Juno is a great example of a film that tries to pass itself off as an original indie film when in reality, there's nothing "original" or "indie" about it. It's fairly overrated and the default independent Academy Award Best Picture nominee. But to nominate Ellen Page for Best Actress is a big stretch. Especially when she's up against Marion Cotillard in La Vie en Rose. Thank god I hate the Academy Awards. It's the run-of-the-mill, coming-of-age story about a quick-witted girl (Ellen Page), who lets her hormones get the best of her and gets pregnant by a cute guy from school (Michael Cera) and thus ensues the emotional rollercoaster with a little bit of humor sprinkled in between. I saw this movie before. It was called Sideways, Little Miss Sunshine, blah blah blah. Some star value from Jason Bateman and Jennifer Garner don't really add to it. In fact, they probably take away.The screenplay, direction, and plot were hardly original and the only redeeming qualities were the light-hearted humor at points, the cute story, and the great soundtrack. Spout Member:The_MOW - Mickey Micklon http://www.spout.com/members/148616/default.aspx Identity: The_MOW
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]]>Sun, 30 Aug 2009 04:00:00 GMTArgueta0Beginner (<10)Fri, 31 Aug 2007 20:52:15 GMTMember Film:Funny Games http://www.spout.com/films/Funny_Games/288707/default.aspx Title: Funny Games
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]]>Mon, 31 Aug 2009 12:47:00 GMTFunny Games2007Michael Haneke27Tag Target (>10)241483http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/s288707.jpghttp://www.spout.com/films/Funny_Games/288707/default.aspxFilm Film:The Dark Knight http://www.spout.com/films/The_Dark_Knight/288704/default.aspx Title: The Dark Knight
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]]>Sun, 30 Aug 2009 23:13:34 GMTThe Dark Knight2008Christopher Nolan149Tag Target (>10)98156554http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/s288704.jpghttp://www.spout.com/films/The_Dark_Knight/288704/default.aspxFilm Film:H2 http://www.spout.com/films/H2/397884/default.aspx Title: H2
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]]>Sun, 30 Aug 2009 08:45:58 GMTH22009Rob Zombie111http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/s397884.jpghttp://www.spout.com/films/H2/397884/default.aspxFilm Film:Eleanor: First Lady of the World http://www.spout.com/films/Eleanor_First_Lady_of_the_World/10331/default.aspx Title: Eleanor: First Lady of the World
Year: 1982
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]]>Sun, 30 Aug 2009 02:47:51 GMTEleanor: First Lady of the World1982John Erman1http://www.spout.com/images/no_image.jpghttp://www.spout.com/films/Eleanor_First_Lady_of_the_World/10331/default.aspxFilm Film:Black Test Car http://www.spout.com/films/Black_Test_Car/328181/default.aspx Title: Black Test Car
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]]>Sat, 29 Aug 2009 23:01:54 GMTBlack Test Car196224http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/u37747stl5z.jpghttp://www.spout.com/films/Black_Test_Car/328181/default.aspxFilm Film:Dumpster Baby http://www.spout.com/films/Dumpster_Baby/273527/default.aspx Title: Dumpster Baby
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]]>Sat, 29 Aug 2009 14:32:48 GMTRick2002Curtiss Clayton1Slightly Tagged (1-5)12http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/t51978e8qnf.jpghttp://www.spout.com/films/Rick/235722/default.aspxFilm Film:Speed Racer http://www.spout.com/films/Speed_Racer/297765/default.aspx Title: Speed Racer
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]]>Sat, 29 Aug 2009 14:21:45 GMTSpeed Racer2008Andy Wachowski, Larry Wachowski90Tag Target (>10)1641163http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/s297765.jpghttp://www.spout.com/films/Speed_Racer/297765/default.aspxFilm Film:Speed Racer [Anime Series] http://www.spout.com/films/Speed_Racer_Anime_Series/32330/default.aspx Title: Speed Racer [Anime Series]
Year: 1967
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]]>Sat, 29 Aug 2009 14:20:43 GMTSpeed Racer [Anime Series]19671113http://www.spout.com/images/no_image.jpghttp://www.spout.com/films/Speed_Racer_Anime_Series/32330/default.aspxFilm Film:The Raven http://www.spout.com/films/The_Raven/317289/default.aspx Title: The Raven
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]]>Sat, 29 Aug 2009 04:13:53 GMTThe Raven2007Ulli Lommel21http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/u08974fjkcg.jpghttp://www.spout.com/films/The_Raven/317289/default.aspxFilm Film:The Ballad of the Sad Cafe http://www.spout.com/films/The_Ballad_of_the_Sad_Cafe/2239/default.aspx Title: The Ballad of the Sad Cafe
Year: 1991
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]]>Fri, 28 Aug 2009 19:25:24 GMTThe Ballad of the Sad Cafe1991Simon Callow22http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/t54643em1b1.jpghttp://www.spout.com/films/The_Ballad_of_the_Sad_Cafe/2239/default.aspxFilm Film:New York, New York http://www.spout.com/films/New_York_New_York/24524/default.aspx Title: New York, New York
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]]>Fri, 28 Aug 2009 19:22:40 GMTNew York, New York1977Martin Scorsese23Tag Target (>10)125722http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/u47828gvtpe.jpghttp://www.spout.com/films/New_York_New_York/24524/default.aspxFilm Film:St. Nick http://www.spout.com/films/St_Nick/402616/default.aspx Title: St. Nick
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]]>Fri, 28 Aug 2009 15:01:06 GMTSt. Nick2009David Lowery3Slightly Tagged (1-5)255http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/s402616.jpghttp://www.spout.com/films/St_Nick/402616/default.aspxFilm Film:We Are the Strange http://www.spout.com/films/We_Are_the_Strange/314016/default.aspx Title: We Are the Strange
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]]>Fri, 28 Aug 2009 14:25:52 GMTWe Are the Strange2007M dot Strange334http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/s314016.jpghttp://www.spout.com/films/We_Are_the_Strange/314016/default.aspxFilm Film:The Sadist http://www.spout.com/films/The_Sadist/29811/default.aspx Title: The Sadist
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]]>Fri, 28 Aug 2009 14:08:29 GMTThe Sadist1963James Landis43http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/t27402rl1sl.jpghttp://www.spout.com/films/The_Sadist/29811/default.aspxFilm Film:The Alligator People http://www.spout.com/films/The_Alligator_People/50507/default.aspx Title: The Alligator People
Year: 1959
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]]>Fri, 28 Aug 2009 14:04:19 GMTThe Alligator People1959Roy Del Ruth212http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/t46806zj8ua.jpghttp://www.spout.com/films/The_Alligator_People/50507/default.aspxFilm