list solafekxela's Recent Activity - Spout http://www.spout.com/ solafekxela's Recent Activity - Spout Copyright 2005-9 Spout, LLC Spout RSS http://www.spout.com/images/SpoutLogoRSS.jpg solafekxela'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!
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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. 


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


Created: 6/20/2007
Number of Members: 36
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]]>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
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]]>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.
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At some point you just want more than what's right in front of you.


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


Created: 4/23/2008
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]]>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
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]]>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
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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
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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: Re:Wondrous Oblivion http://www.spout.com/groups/Spout_Mavens/Re_Wondrous_Oblivion/366/27245/1/ShowPost.aspxPost By: solafekxela
Post To: Spout Mavens
Post Date: 4/12/2008 12:42:36 PM
Body: My review of Wondrous Oblivion
]]>Sat, 12 Apr 2008 16:42:36 GMTsolafekxelaSpout Mavens4/12/2008 12:42:36 PMMy review of Wondrous Oblivion Spout Post: Oblivious, I Remain http://www.spout.com/blogs/solafekxela/archive/2008/4/12/27244.aspx Post By: solafekxela
Post To: solafekxela Blog
Post Date: 4/12/2008 12:38:50 PM
Body: British filmmaker Paul Morrison hasn’t been working in the industry for long, but his first feature film, Solomon and Gaenor, was well received and earned an Oscar nomination for best foreign film in 2000. Both this and his latest effort, Wondrous Oblivion, deal with the culture clashes faced by Jewish people in post-World War II society. Whereas his debut was a tragic and heartfelt love story, Wondrous Oblivion is a more lighthearted portrayal of a young child desperately seeking his place in the world.Eleven-year-old David Wiseman wants nothing more than to be the next great cricket player. His passion, displayed relatively quickly in the film through his adoration for the figures pictured on his many trading cards, is undeniable. However, like many ambitious young athletes, he’s, well, not very good. This, a problem faced by many prepubescent boys, is probably the most relatable aspect of an otherwise distant film.1960s London provides the backdrop for the tale of this young lad seeking the approval of his friends and parents. The neighborhood the Wiseman family inhabits is filled with hateful, prejudiced people who condemn any sort of interracial interaction. When an exuberant Jamaican family moves in next door, David is delighted to find them to be helpful cricket experts. His parents (particularly his father), however, are quite hesitant to allow their son to grow too close to these foreign people.Clearly, there are two central dilemmas at the heart of the film. The first is David’s struggle to channel his natural talent and become a respectable cricket player. The second, far less nuanced and interesting, is whether or not the family should break the racial barriers of the neighborhood and try to welcome the Samuels family. When, early on, the captain for David’s cricket team is announced, the boy is saddened by the selection of one of his classmates. His father’s reaction, in particular, is notable, asking “why aren’t you the captain?”. David knows the answer is quite simple - he’s not good enough. This moment feels so truthful to the sort of pressure parents ignorantly force upon their young athletes that I really wanted to appreciate what the entire film had to say. However, it isn’t long before it becomes a predictable, overly polished retelling of clichéd stories that have overstayed their due in the film industry.The excitement of David’s growing success at cricket is overshadowed by the racial stereotypes that plague the interactions between the two families. It’s obvious that Morrison is trying to break down these societal, cultural barriers, but he paints both families with such broad strokes that it’s hard to find anything new to learn about these important issues.The visual style is another matter that really drags down any potential for nuance. He keeps almost everything in the frame in focus, uses vibrant colors to accentuate the cultural celebration he aims for, and fills many shots with obvious metaphors of the racial clashes he depicts. Every frame is so polished, so on-the-nose that it is hard to believe there is any subtlety lurking beneath the surface.While actors like Delroy Lindo as Dennis Samuels and Emily Woof as Ruth are solid in their roles, they aren’t given much to do by the derivative script. I do admire the way Morrison seems to be quite passionate about the particular issues he explores in his films, but I was disappointed to discover that Wondrous Oblivion had nothing new to offer me about the plight of Jewish people in modern society and the way they clash with other cultures.
]]>Sat, 12 Apr 2008 16:38:50 GMTsolafekxelasolafekxela Blog4/12/2008 12:38:50 PMBritish filmmaker Paul Morrison hasn’t been working in the industry for long, but his first feature film, Solomon and Gaenor, was well received and earned an Oscar nomination for best foreign film in 2000. Both this and his latest effort, Wondrous Oblivion, deal with the culture clashes faced by Jewish people in post-World War II society. Whereas his debut was a tragic and heartfelt love story, Wondrous Oblivion is a more lighthearted portrayal of a young child desperately seeking his place in the world.Eleven-year-old David Wiseman wants nothing more than to be the next great cricket player. His passion, displayed relatively quickly in the film through his adoration for the figures pictured on his many trading cards, is undeniable. However, like many ambitious young athletes, he’s, well, not very good. This, a problem faced by many prepubescent boys, is probably the most relatable aspect of an otherwise distant film.1960s London provides the backdrop for the tale of this young lad seeking the approval of his friends and parents. The neighborhood the Wiseman family inhabits is filled with hateful, prejudiced people who condemn any sort of interracial interaction. When an exuberant Jamaican family moves in next door, David is delighted to find them to be helpful cricket experts. His parents (particularly his father), however, are quite hesitant to allow their son to grow too close to these foreign people.Clearly, there are two central dilemmas at the heart of the film. The first is David’s struggle to channel his natural talent and become a respectable cricket player. The second, far less nuanced and interesting, is whether or not the family should break the racial barriers of the neighborhood and try to welcome the Samuels family. When, early on, the captain for David’s cricket team is announced, the boy is saddened by the selection of one of his classmates. His father’s reaction, in particular, is notable, asking “why aren’t you the captain?”. David knows the answer is quite simple - he’s not good enough. This moment feels so truthful to the sort of pressure parents ignorantly force upon their young athletes that I really wanted to appreciate what the entire film had to say. However, it isn’t long before it becomes a predictable, overly polished retelling of clichéd stories that have overstayed their due in the film industry.The excitement of David’s growing success at cricket is overshadowed by the racial stereotypes that plague the interactions between the two families. It’s obvious that Morrison is trying to break down these societal, cultural barriers, but he paints both families with such broad strokes that it’s hard to find anything new to learn about these important issues.The visual style is another matter that really drags down any potential for nuance. He keeps almost everything in the frame in focus, uses vibrant colors to accentuate the cultural celebration he aims for, and fills many shots with obvious metaphors of the racial clashes he depicts. Every frame is so polished, so on-the-nose that it is hard to believe there is any subtlety lurking beneath the surface.While actors like Delroy Lindo as Dennis Samuels and Emily Woof as Ruth are solid in their roles, they aren’t given much to do by the derivative script. I do admire the way Morrison seems to be quite passionate about the particular issues he explores in his films, but I was disappointed to discover that Wondrous Oblivion had nothing new to offer me about the plight of Jewish people in modern society and the way they clash with other cultures. Spout Post: Re:Africa Unite http://www.spout.com/groups/Spout_Mavens/Re_Africa_Unite/366/26150/1/ShowPost.aspxPost By: solafekxela
Post To: Spout Mavens
Post Date: 3/12/2008 8:15:45 PM
Body: My review of Africa Unite: http://www.spout.com/blogs/solafekxela/archive/2008/3/12/26149.aspx
]]>Thu, 13 Mar 2008 00:15:45 GMTsolafekxelaSpout Mavens3/12/2008 8:15:45 PMMy review of Africa Unite: http://www.spout.com/blogs/solafekxela/archive/2008/3/12/26149.aspx Spout Post: What Did You Say? Africa Should Unite? http://www.spout.com/blogs/solafekxela/archive/2008/3/12/26149.aspx Post By: solafekxela
Post To: solafekxela Blog
Post Date: 3/12/2008 8:12:55 PM
Body: Africa Unite: A Celebration of Bob Marley’s Vision is a film with a very surprising and insightful message. It’s all about how Africa should, er, unite. Secondarily, it is a concert film about the Marley family’s voyage to Ethiopia in 2005. For a total of twelve hours, the family led a musical celebration about the late Bob’s dream for the continent. Though their musical talent is undeniable, director Stephanie Black fails to do them justice in her well-intentioned but flawed depiction of struggles past and present in Africa. Firstly, I must declaim that I have had little to do with Bob Marley’s music until now. As familiar as all the songs performed in the film sounded, I was still awed by their intoxicating rhythm and charming sincerity. The first and last few minutes of the documentary are devoted to the performances of the Marley family and those who join them on stage, but the entire film is underscored by the beats and lyrics of Bob Marley’s music. If nothing else, Black forced me to cherish every moment the concert was actually shown on screen by largely relegating it to the background. There are few moments more captivating than watching the performers’ brilliance and passion. Where the film missteps is in the time spent off-stage, as is the case with most concert films and musical biopics. I hesitate to blame the Marleys or any of the activists portrayed for the simplicity of their message, since I am quite certain they have much more to say than “Africa unite”. Sadly, Black assumes that all the information we can handle is contained in that two-word chant. She also assumes that since she was so fortunate to obtain the valuable concert footage, we will be won over by the power of the music and won’t really care about Bob Marley’s specific vision for the continent. In doing so, she leaves us wanting both more music and more insight. Even in handling the archival material and her access to the concert, she is unable to visually communicate the inspirational message of those depicted. For one, the film is shot almost entirely in a cinema verité, overly-gritty style. This technique works for a lot of films, particularly those of Paul Greengrass. However, in this case, the only impression is that the filmmakers are simply trying too hard to be real, uncompromising, and genuine. It reminds me a lot of the way Ben Affleck as director of Gone Baby Gone came off as an outsider because he so excessively tried to portray Boston as a rough town. Another part of the problem here is that Black disobeys the ‘show don’t tell’ guideline, which is particularly important for documentary filmmaking. In one instance, she shows a group of young Africans walking down a path overlaid by the text ‘African student delegates begin three day dialogue sessions’. First of all, I’m not really sure why that is important to the audience, since she never really shows us what they are trying to accomplish or how they are attempting to carry out Bob Marley’s vision. Secondly, wouldn’t it be doubly effective to get rid of the title card and spend an extra fifteen seconds showing their ‘dialogue sessions’ so we have some idea what they are talking about? Such is the way much of the film is constructed, beyond the concert footage of course. Everything from clips of Danny Glover speaking about the need for a united Africa to archival footage of famous speeches in the continent’s history feels disingenuous, overly simplified, and insincere. While I respect the effort of Black and the other filmmakers involved, I wish they would have put their access to this historic event to better use with a more comprehensive look at the vision and passion of Bob Marley.
]]>Thu, 13 Mar 2008 00:12:55 GMTsolafekxelasolafekxela Blog3/12/2008 8:12:55 PM Africa Unite: A Celebration of Bob Marley’s Vision is a film with a very surprising and insightful message. It’s all about how Africa should, er, unite. Secondarily, it is a concert film about the Marley family’s voyage to Ethiopia in 2005. For a total of twelve hours, the family led a musical celebration about the late Bob’s dream for the continent. Though their musical talent is undeniable, director Stephanie Black fails to do them justice in her well-intentioned but flawed depiction of struggles past and present in Africa. Firstly, I must declaim that I have had little to do with Bob Marley’s music until now. As familiar as all the songs performed in the film sounded, I was still awed by their intoxicating rhythm and charming sincerity. The first and last few minutes of the documentary are devoted to the performances of the Marley family and those who join them on stage, but the entire film is underscored by the beats and lyrics of Bob Marley’s music. If nothing else, Black forced me to cherish every moment the concert was actually shown on screen by largely relegating it to the background. There are few moments more captivating than watching the performers’ brilliance and passion. Where the film missteps is in the time spent off-stage, as is the case with most concert films and musical biopics. I hesitate to blame the Marleys or any of the activists portrayed for the simplicity of their message, since I am quite certain they have much more to say than “Africa unite”. Sadly, Black assumes that all the information we can handle is contained in that two-word chant. She also assumes that since she was so fortunate to obtain the valuable concert footage, we will be won over by the power of the music and won’t really care about Bob Marley’s specific vision for the continent. In doing so, she leaves us wanting both more music and more insight. Even in handling the archival material and her access to the concert, she is unable to visually communicate the inspirational message of those depicted. For one, the film is shot almost entirely in a cinema verité, overly-gritty style. This technique works for a lot of films, particularly those of Paul Greengrass. However, in this case, the only impression is that the filmmakers are simply trying too hard to be real, uncompromising, and genuine. It reminds me a lot of the way Ben Affleck as director of Gone Baby Gone came off as an outsider because he so excessively tried to portray Boston as a rough town. Another part of the problem here is that Black disobeys the ‘show don’t tell’ guideline, which is particularly important for documentary filmmaking. In one instance, she shows a group of young Africans walking down a path overlaid by the text ‘African student delegates begin three day dialogue sessions’. First of all, I’m not really sure why that is important to the audience, since she never really shows us what they are trying to accomplish or how they are attempting to carry out Bob Marley’s vision. Secondly, wouldn’t it be doubly effective to get rid of the title card and spend an extra fifteen seconds showing their ‘dialogue sessions’ so we have some idea what they are talking about? Such is the way much of the film is constructed, beyond the concert footage of course. Everything from clips of Danny Glover speaking about the need for a united Africa to archival footage of famous speeches in the continent’s history feels disingenuous, overly simplified, and insincere. While I respect the effort of Black and the other filmmakers involved, I wish they would have put their access to this historic event to better use with a more comprehensive look at the vision and passion of Bob Marley. Spout Post: Re:Leading Men: Josh Lucas http://www.spout.com/groups/Movies_101/Re_Leading_Men_Josh_Lucas/513/25269/1/ShowPost.aspxPost By: solafekxela
Post To: Movies 101
Post Date: 2/18/2008 12:53:16 PM
Body: Next is Josh Lucas, who can aptly be described as a poor man’s McConaughey. Comparing him to Clooney in terms of acting skills and personality is like comparing Martin Scorsese to Michael Bay. One is very personal and involved in his projects; the other is a complete sell-out. Thankfully, the interview is salvaged by Lucas’ own admission that he is by no means one of the greatest working actors. The discussion of his work in films like Poseidon and Glory Road just doesn’t have the same weight as that of the other actors on the disc. Though he is able to discuss with some intelligence his own philosophy on films and the meaning of those in which he has acted, the interview only highlights his own pomposity, since all the discussion is more about him than his acting. The line that best summarizes his incompetence is the following, “I don’t know how method-y I am.” I’m not sure Lucas knows what method acting is.
]]>Mon, 18 Feb 2008 17:53:16 GMTsolafekxelaMovies 1012/18/2008 12:53:16 PMNext is Josh Lucas, who can aptly be described as a poor man’s McConaughey. Comparing him to Clooney in terms of acting skills and personality is like comparing Martin Scorsese to Michael Bay. One is very personal and involved in his projects; the other is a complete sell-out. Thankfully, the interview is salvaged by Lucas’ own admission that he is by no means one of the greatest working actors. The discussion of his work in films like Poseidon and Glory Road just doesn’t have the same weight as that of the other actors on the disc. Though he is able to discuss with some intelligence his own philosophy on films and the meaning of those in which he has acted, the interview only highlights his own pomposity, since all the discussion is more about him than his acting. The line that best summarizes his incompetence is the following, “I don’t know how method-y I am.” I’m not sure Lucas knows what method acting is. Spout Post: Re:Leading Men: Daniel Day-Lewis http://www.spout.com/groups/Movies_101/Re_Leading_Men_Daniel_Day_Lewis/513/25268/1/ShowPost.aspxPost By: solafekxela
Post To: Movies 101
Post Date: 2/18/2008 12:52:48 PM
Body: Following Lucas is heavyweight Daniel Day-Lewis, whose recent performance in There Will Be Blood proved him the greatest, most daring actor working today. Day-Lewis is quite private, so just the privilege to interview him is an honor and undoubtedly a momentous occasion. The discussion mostly follows his limited but much acclaimed resume, and the talk of his early work is particularly fascinating. He exhibits a personality not often seen in his few available interviews, and their conversation about his experience with the Royal Shakespeare Company is quite engaging. I was most curious to hear about Day-Lewis’ recent work, largely because I am more familiar with it, and the interview provides decent insight. The focus on his relationship with Martin Scorsese is well-covered, as is his rationale for working so infrequently.
]]>Mon, 18 Feb 2008 17:52:48 GMTsolafekxelaMovies 1012/18/2008 12:52:48 PMFollowing Lucas is heavyweight Daniel Day-Lewis, whose recent performance in There Will Be Blood proved him the greatest, most daring actor working today. Day-Lewis is quite private, so just the privilege to interview him is an honor and undoubtedly a momentous occasion. The discussion mostly follows his limited but much acclaimed resume, and the talk of his early work is particularly fascinating. He exhibits a personality not often seen in his few available interviews, and their conversation about his experience with the Royal Shakespeare Company is quite engaging. I was most curious to hear about Day-Lewis’ recent work, largely because I am more familiar with it, and the interview provides decent insight. The focus on his relationship with Martin Scorsese is well-covered, as is his rationale for working so infrequently. Spout Post: Re:Leading Men: George Clooney http://www.spout.com/groups/Movies_101/Re_Leading_Men_George_Clooney/513/25267/1/ShowPost.aspxPost By: solafekxela
Post To: Movies 101
Post Date: 2/18/2008 12:52:25 PM
Body: George Clooney’s hour-long interview is first on the disc, and it is by far one of the most engaging. Clooney is, redundant as this sounds, naturally charming and charismatic. His great sense of humor is often overlooked, but Brown lets him run free, often chuckling at his subject’s one-liners. With this interview in particular, Brown’s knowledge about film really allows him to discuss in-depth the thought process that went into each film of Clooney’s. Now having directed his own films and having started a production company with good friend Steven Soderbergh, Clooney provides profound insight into the way Hollywood works. However, this does, to some degree, prevent him from really diving into the way he works as an actor. Much more time is spent discussing his work as a director, screenwriter, and producer. Perhaps this interview would fit better on a different disc. Still, the new information about Clooney’s childhood as well as his humility in discussing his work and aspirations make this well worth watching.
]]>Mon, 18 Feb 2008 17:52:25 GMTsolafekxelaMovies 1012/18/2008 12:52:25 PMGeorge Clooney’s hour-long interview is first on the disc, and it is by far one of the most engaging. Clooney is, redundant as this sounds, naturally charming and charismatic. His great sense of humor is often overlooked, but Brown lets him run free, often chuckling at his subject’s one-liners. With this interview in particular, Brown’s knowledge about film really allows him to discuss in-depth the thought process that went into each film of Clooney’s. Now having directed his own films and having started a production company with good friend Steven Soderbergh, Clooney provides profound insight into the way Hollywood works. However, this does, to some degree, prevent him from really diving into the way he works as an actor. Much more time is spent discussing his work as a director, screenwriter, and producer. Perhaps this interview would fit better on a different disc. Still, the new information about Clooney’s childhood as well as his humility in discussing his work and aspirations make this well worth watching. Spout Post: Re:Leading Men: Dennis Quaid http://www.spout.com/groups/Movies_101/Re_Leading_Men_Dennis_Quaid/513/25266/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: solafekxela
Post To: Movies 101
Post Date: 2/18/2008 12:51:03 PM
Body: http://www.spout.com/blogs/solafekxela/archive/2008/2/18/25265.aspx I compiled my reviews of all four interviews into 1 post. Hope that's alright! The last interview on the disc is with Dennis Quaid, a largely overlooked but very talented actor. The film discussed in the most depth during the interview is The Right Stuff, undoubtedly one of Quaid’s greatest roles. His comments are candid, genuine, and informative, though he’s not naturally as engaging a speaker as the other interviewees. Some of the stories Quaid shares aren’t as relevant to the discussion as he may think, but they aren’t necessarily uninteresting. Since I’m naturally fascinated with Quaid, his work, and the decisions he has made, I really enjoyed hearing his thoughts as well as Brown’s perspective on his career. This interview is decidedly more focused on Quaid’s life than his specific acting methodology, and it is all the better for it. However, there is a fair amount of talk on Quaid’s early movie experiences, and it is so nostalgia-infused that it proves the most exciting part of the interview.
]]>Mon, 18 Feb 2008 17:51:03 GMTsolafekxelaMovies 1012/18/2008 12:51:03 PMhttp://www.spout.com/blogs/solafekxela/archive/2008/2/18/25265.aspx I compiled my reviews of all four interviews into 1 post. Hope that's alright! The last interview on the disc is with Dennis Quaid, a largely overlooked but very talented actor. The film discussed in the most depth during the interview is The Right Stuff, undoubtedly one of Quaid’s greatest roles. His comments are candid, genuine, and informative, though he’s not naturally as engaging a speaker as the other interviewees. Some of the stories Quaid shares aren’t as relevant to the discussion as he may think, but they aren’t necessarily uninteresting. Since I’m naturally fascinated with Quaid, his work, and the decisions he has made, I really enjoyed hearing his thoughts as well as Brown’s perspective on his career. This interview is decidedly more focused on Quaid’s life than his specific acting methodology, and it is all the better for it. However, there is a fair amount of talk on Quaid’s early movie experiences, and it is so nostalgia-infused that it proves the most exciting part of the interview. Spout Post: Movies 101: Leading Men http://www.spout.com/blogs/solafekxela/archive/2008/2/18/25265.aspx Post By: solafekxela
Post To: solafekxela Blog
Post Date: 2/18/2008 12:48:41 PM
Body: Movies 101 is the NYU Film Course long moderated by Professor Richard Brown. The “Leading Men” series includes some of the finest working actors, as well as Josh Lucas. Each interview covers nearly every aspect of the actors’ respective careers, from the good, to the bad, to the ugly. This, of course, excludes Lucas, whose interview can only go so far in trying to make the man seem bearably competent. George Clooney’s hour-long interview is first on the disc, and it is by far one of the most engaging. Clooney is, redundant as this sounds, naturally charming and charismatic. His great sense of humor is often overlooked, but Brown lets him run free, often chuckling at his subject’s one-liners. With this interview in particular, Brown’s knowledge about film really allows him to discuss in-depth the thought process that went into each film of Clooney’s. Now having directed his own films and having started a production company with good friend Steven Soderbergh, Clooney provides profound insight into the way Hollywood works. However, this does, to some degree, prevent him from really diving into the way he works as an actor. Much more time is spent discussing his work as a director, screenwriter, and producer. Perhaps this interview would fit better on a different disc. Still, the new information about Clooney’s childhood as well as his humility in discussing his work and aspirations make this well worth watching.Next is Josh Lucas, who can aptly be described as a poor man’s McConaughey. Comparing him to Clooney in terms of acting skills and personality is like comparing Martin Scorsese to Michael Bay. One is very personal and involved in his projects; the other is a complete sell-out. Thankfully, the interview is salvaged by Lucas’ own admission that he is by no means one of the greatest working actors. The discussion of his work in films like Poseidon and Glory Road just doesn’t have the same weight as that of the other actors on the disc. Though he is able to discuss with some intelligence his own philosophy on films and the meaning of those in which he has acted, the interview only highlights his own pomposity, since all the discussion is more about him than his acting. The line that best summarizes his incompetence is the following, “I don’t know how method-y I am.” I’m not sure Lucas knows what method acting is. Following Lucas is heavyweight Daniel Day-Lewis, whose recent performance in There Will Be Blood proved him the greatest, most daring actor working today. Day-Lewis is quite private, so just the privilege to interview him is an honor and undoubtedly a momentous occasion. The discussion mostly follows his limited but much acclaimed resume, and the talk of his early work is particularly fascinating. He exhibits a personality not often seen in his few available interviews, and their conversation about his experience with the Royal Shakespeare Company is quite engaging. I was most curious to hear about Day-Lewis’ recent work, largely because I am more familiar with it, and the interview provides decent insight. The focus on his relationship with Martin Scorsese is well-covered, as is his rationale for working so infrequently.The last interview on the disc is with Dennis Quaid, a largely overlooked but very talented actor. The film discussed in the most depth during the interview is The Right Stuff, undoubtedly one of Quaid’s greatest roles. His comments are candid, genuine, and informative, though he’s not naturally as engaging a speaker as the other interviewees. Some of the stories Quaid shares aren’t as relevant to the discussion as he may think, but they aren’t necessarily uninteresting. Since I’m naturally fascinated with Quaid, his work, and the decisions he has made, I really enjoyed hearing his thoughts as well as Brown’s perspective on his career. This interview is decidedly more focused on Quaid’s life than his specific acting methodology, and it is all the better for it. However, there is a fair amount of talk on Quaid’s early movie experiences, and it is so nostalgia-infused that it proves the most exciting part of the interview.
]]>Mon, 18 Feb 2008 17:48:41 GMTsolafekxelasolafekxela Blog2/18/2008 12:48:41 PMMovies 101 is the NYU Film Course long moderated by Professor Richard Brown. The “Leading Men” series includes some of the finest working actors, as well as Josh Lucas. Each interview covers nearly every aspect of the actors’ respective careers, from the good, to the bad, to the ugly. This, of course, excludes Lucas, whose interview can only go so far in trying to make the man seem bearably competent. George Clooney’s hour-long interview is first on the disc, and it is by far one of the most engaging. Clooney is, redundant as this sounds, naturally charming and charismatic. His great sense of humor is often overlooked, but Brown lets him run free, often chuckling at his subject’s one-liners. With this interview in particular, Brown’s knowledge about film really allows him to discuss in-depth the thought process that went into each film of Clooney’s. Now having directed his own films and having started a production company with good friend Steven Soderbergh, Clooney provides profound insight into the way Hollywood works. However, this does, to some degree, prevent him from really diving into the way he works as an actor. Much more time is spent discussing his work as a director, screenwriter, and producer. Perhaps this interview would fit better on a different disc. Still, the new information about Clooney’s childhood as well as his humility in discussing his work and aspirations make this well worth watching.Next is Josh Lucas, who can aptly be described as a poor man’s McConaughey. Comparing him to Clooney in terms of acting skills and personality is like comparing Martin Scorsese to Michael Bay. One is very personal and involved in his projects; the other is a complete sell-out. Thankfully, the interview is salvaged by Lucas’ own admission that he is by no means one of the greatest working actors. The discussion of his work in films like Poseidon and Glory Road just doesn’t have the same weight as that of the other actors on the disc. Though he is able to discuss with some intelligence his own philosophy on films and the meaning of those in which he has acted, the interview only highlights his own pomposity, since all the discussion is more about him than his acting. The line that best summarizes his incompetence is the following, “I don’t know how method-y I am.” I’m not sure Lucas knows what method acting is. Following Lucas is heavyweight Daniel Day-Lewis, whose recent performance in There Will Be Blood proved him the greatest, most daring actor working today. Day-Lewis is quite private, so just the privilege to interview him is an honor and undoubtedly a momentous occasion. The discussion mostly follows his limited but much acclaimed resume, and the talk of his early work is particularly fascinating. He exhibits a personality not often seen in his few available interviews, and their conversation about his experience with the Royal Shakespeare Company is quite engaging. I was most curious to hear about Day-Lewis’ recent work, largely because I am more familiar with it, and the interview provides decent insight. The focus on his relationship with Martin Scorsese is well-covered, as is his rationale for working so infrequently.The last interview on the disc is with Dennis Quaid, a largely overlooked but very talented actor. The film discussed in the most depth during the interview is The Right Stuff, undoubtedly one of Quaid’s greatest roles. His comments are candid, genuine, and informative, though he’s not naturally as engaging a speaker as the other interviewees. Some of the stories Quaid shares aren’t as relevant to the discussion as he may think, but they aren’t necessarily uninteresting. Since I’m naturally fascinated with Quaid, his work, and the decisions he has made, I really enjoyed hearing his thoughts as well as Brown’s perspective on his career. This interview is decidedly more focused on Quaid’s life than his specific acting methodology, and it is all the better for it. However, there is a fair amount of talk on Quaid’s early movie experiences, and it is so nostalgia-infused that it proves the most exciting part of the interview. Spout Post: Re:The Heart is Deceitful Above All Things http://www.spout.com/groups/Spout_Mavens/Re_The_Heart_is_Deceitful_Above_All_Things/366/24087/1/ShowPost.aspxPost By: solafekxela
Post To: Spout Mavens
Post Date: 1/19/2008 7:55:49 PM
Body: Solafekxela's Review
]]>Sun, 20 Jan 2008 00:55:49 GMTsolafekxelaSpout Mavens1/19/2008 7:55:49 PMSolafekxela's Review Spout Post: The Heart is Lifeless, Cold, and Black http://www.spout.com/blogs/solafekxela/archive/2008/1/18/24045.aspx Post By: solafekxela
Post To: solafekxela Blog
Post Date: 1/18/2008 8:14:09 PM
Body: Italian filmmaker Dario Argento is considered the all time great horror maestro, with films like Suspiria and Inferno on his resume. HIs daughter, Asia Argento, is an aspiring young filmmaker and actress with a few films under her belt. Her latest, with a title as agonizingly interminable as the film itself, is a near-shameful entry into the oeuvre of her family. It’s torture porn meets melodrama meets senseless violence meets, well, porn. There is not one image in The Heart is Deceitful Above All Things that did not disturb, annoy, or offend me. Based (loosely, I presume) on a short story by J.T. LeRoy, Argento’s film stars herself as an irresponsible teenage mother and Jimmy Bennett as Jeremiah, her seven-year-old son dragged from the comparatively heavenly foster home and thrust into a world of sexual and physical abuse. No film excites me more than one that sets out to toss countless disturbing images at my face for unidentifiable reasons. Schindler’s List portrays offensive events and images because it’s telling the true story of the Holocaust; Argento is like a kid at a carnival game, aimlessly tossing darts with the hope of finally hitting one emotion-filled baloon. Instead, I was the little specimen of inflatable latex in the corner defiantly refusing to pop. Having said that, it is claimed that LeRoy based the story (again, presumably loosely) on some aspects of his childhood. I pray for his soul. The reason I resort to perhaps unjustified assumptions about the faithfulness of the adaptation is that the way Argento presents the events implies that anyone who endured them would be too emotionally scarred to be able to relive them as catharsis. It’s endlessly painful to watch, and Argento’s motivation for telling such a macabre tale is mystifyingly undefined. The film can be considered a road movie that follows Sarah, the mother, teaching young Jeremiah (Biblical reference explicitly intended) about the evils of the world. How so? Well, her boyfriend rapes him, she introduces him to the magic of drugs and alcohol, and her fanatically religious family leaves the poor child mentally and physically nonplussed. All this sounds like fantastic entertainment, sure, but Argento’s desired end is wholly nebulous. In fact, I’m not entirely sure she has one, other than the conspicuous manipulation found in her many failed attempts to strike a random emotional chord and lyrically suck you into the soulless story. I can see where some would find the alarmingly expressive cinematography enchanting, but I found it distracting and, frankly, meaningless. It’s a series of frame-able images that, had they not been ruined by the shear carelessness of Argento’s storytelling, I may have considered as potential wall decoration. As for the acting, it’s actually tolerably subtle. The one arena in which there are no theatrics, Argento exhibits the kind of experience that can only be accumulated through watching a master work year after year, and the supporting performers, perhaps with the exception of young Bennett who just hasn’t quite developed the chops necessary to endure excessive torture, are generally watchable. It’s most difficult to say what Argento is attempting to achieve; it is less so to declare it a failure in all regards. There is no hope, no life, and no depth or dimension to the torpidly drawn characters. In fact, I was able to find much more comfort in the go-to cinematic depressant Schindler’s List. Perhaps her goal is to suggest that some parents shouldn’t be allowed to parent at all. I submit that some filmmakers shouldn’t be allowed to make films at all, and Argento (the younger) is among them.
]]>Sat, 19 Jan 2008 01:14:09 GMTsolafekxelasolafekxela Blog1/18/2008 8:14:09 PMItalian filmmaker Dario Argento is considered the all time great horror maestro, with films like Suspiria and Inferno on his resume. HIs daughter, Asia Argento, is an aspiring young filmmaker and actress with a few films under her belt. Her latest, with a title as agonizingly interminable as the film itself, is a near-shameful entry into the oeuvre of her family. It’s torture porn meets melodrama meets senseless violence meets, well, porn. There is not one image in The Heart is Deceitful Above All Things that did not disturb, annoy, or offend me. Based (loosely, I presume) on a short story by J.T. LeRoy, Argento’s film stars herself as an irresponsible teenage mother and Jimmy Bennett as Jeremiah, her seven-year-old son dragged from the comparatively heavenly foster home and thrust into a world of sexual and physical abuse. No film excites me more than one that sets out to toss countless disturbing images at my face for unidentifiable reasons. Schindler’s List portrays offensive events and images because it’s telling the true story of the Holocaust; Argento is like a kid at a carnival game, aimlessly tossing darts with the hope of finally hitting one emotion-filled baloon. Instead, I was the little specimen of inflatable latex in the corner defiantly refusing to pop. Having said that, it is claimed that LeRoy based the story (again, presumably loosely) on some aspects of his childhood. I pray for his soul. The reason I resort to perhaps unjustified assumptions about the faithfulness of the adaptation is that the way Argento presents the events implies that anyone who endured them would be too emotionally scarred to be able to relive them as catharsis. It’s endlessly painful to watch, and Argento’s motivation for telling such a macabre tale is mystifyingly undefined. The film can be considered a road movie that follows Sarah, the mother, teaching young Jeremiah (Biblical reference explicitly intended) about the evils of the world. How so? Well, her boyfriend rapes him, she introduces him to the magic of drugs and alcohol, and her fanatically religious family leaves the poor child mentally and physically nonplussed. All this sounds like fantastic entertainment, sure, but Argento’s desired end is wholly nebulous. In fact, I’m not entirely sure she has one, other than the conspicuous manipulation found in her many failed attempts to strike a random emotional chord and lyrically suck you into the soulless story. I can see where some would find the alarmingly expressive cinematography enchanting, but I found it distracting and, frankly, meaningless. It’s a series of frame-able images that, had they not been ruined by the shear carelessness of Argento’s storytelling, I may have considered as potential wall decoration. As for the acting, it’s actually tolerably subtle. The one arena in which there are no theatrics, Argento exhibits the kind of experience that can only be accumulated through watching a master work year after year, and the supporting performers, perhaps with the exception of young Bennett who just hasn’t quite developed the chops necessary to endure excessive torture, are generally watchable. It’s most difficult to say what Argento is attempting to achieve; it is less so to declare it a failure in all regards. There is no hope, no life, and no depth or dimension to the torpidly drawn characters. In fact, I was able to find much more comfort in the go-to cinematic depressant Schindler’s List. Perhaps her goal is to suggest that some parents shouldn’t be allowed to parent at all. I submit that some filmmakers shouldn’t be allowed to make films at all, and Argento (the younger) is among them. Spout Post: Re:Carol's Journey http://www.spout.com/groups/Spout_Mavens/Re_Carol_s_Journey/366/22640/1/ShowPost.aspxPost By: solafekxela
Post To: Spout Mavens
Post Date: 12/8/2007 9:01:40 PM
Body: http://www.spout.com/blogs/solafekxela/archive/2007/12/8/22639.aspx
]]>Sun, 09 Dec 2007 02:01:40 GMTsolafekxelaSpout Mavens12/8/2007 9:01:40 PMhttp://www.spout.com/blogs/solafekxela/archive/2007/12/8/22639.aspx Spout Post: A Film By Who? http://www.spout.com/blogs/solafekxela/archive/2007/12/8/22639.aspx Post By: solafekxela
Post To: solafekxela Blog
Post Date: 12/8/2007 8:59:17 PM
Body: Carol’s Journey, pretentiously billed as “A Film By Imanol Urbie” (honestly, are we supposed to know who this guy is) is a surprisingly cold, unimaginative, dull film about a little girl from New York who joins her mother on a trip to Spain at the height of that nation’s Civil War. Though made in 2002, I could have been convinced that Urbie sat down to watch Pan’s Labyrinth, then determined he should make another film. What could it be about? Charming little girl in Spain? Check. Period Piece set in the Civil War? Check. Dysfunctional family? Check. Beautiful cinematography, mind-blowing originality and inventiveness, and devastating ending? Whoops!In all fairness, four years separate the two productions, but that doesn’t make the comparison unhealthy. Pan’s is a film that took the troubles of a girl much similar to Carol and placed them in an exciting, surprising world. Carol’s Journey is a clichéd mess without a head or a heart, an entirely numbing bore. Sadly, what took me out of the film the most, as silly as it sounds, is the actress who plays Carol, Clara Lago. Though I am at this point unable to evaluate her potential for greatness, she, quite simply, looks a little bit like a boy. I am embarrassed to admit that I had such a problem with the appearance of a young actress, but I really could not get past her unisexual haircut and boyish habits. Above all, it made an adolescent romance with young Tomiche disingenuous and incredulous, rendering the emotional core of the film, well, core-less.There is very little to say about the film, because it, itself, has very little to say about life. Carol goes on a journey. Bad stuff happens. Good stuff happens. More bad, more good, more bad. The end. Sure that is the basic premise to every film, but most others don’t drawn attention to their simplicity in the way this film does. It is hard to believe that Uribe has been making films since the golden era of movies (the seventies), since there is nothing masterful or ambitious about this undertaking. He is quoted as saying, “It seemed to me a challenge to make a film with children, in which important and serious things are counted.” I’m pretty sure just about every film fits this criterion. That’s right, every single film. Go ahead and throw one at me, out of the randomizer: Airplane! - ok, so there are kids on the plane, people are going to die if they can’t find someone who can fly a plane and didn’t have fish for dinner - check and check. How about another: Casablanca - well maybe I’m being a bit too figurative, but “Here’s lookin’ at you kid” says it all. It is unfortunate that I must be so harsh on a filmmaker who clearly wanted to tell an exciting, important story. However, next time he should consider that wanting to tell an exciting, important story is the first step in making a pretentious, often eye-roll-inducing film. Placing the weight of a film on the shoulders of two young actors is an admirable undertaking, but the ambition of a film has no effect on its success. A movie as seemingly pointless as Airplane! can be just as successful as Casablanca in terms of what it tried and managed to achieve. Next time, Uribe should consider this loophole of sorts in the medium of film, instead telling an even less purposeful film, perhaps involving adults. This is a feat I sincerely hope he can manage.
]]>Sun, 09 Dec 2007 01:59:17 GMTsolafekxelasolafekxela Blog12/8/2007 8:59:17 PMCarol’s Journey, pretentiously billed as “A Film By Imanol Urbie” (honestly, are we supposed to know who this guy is) is a surprisingly cold, unimaginative, dull film about a little girl from New York who joins her mother on a trip to Spain at the height of that nation’s Civil War. Though made in 2002, I could have been convinced that Urbie sat down to watch Pan’s Labyrinth, then determined he should make another film. What could it be about? Charming little girl in Spain? Check. Period Piece set in the Civil War? Check. Dysfunctional family? Check. Beautiful cinematography, mind-blowing originality and inventiveness, and devastating ending? Whoops!In all fairness, four years separate the two productions, but that doesn’t make the comparison unhealthy. Pan’s is a film that took the troubles of a girl much similar to Carol and placed them in an exciting, surprising world. Carol’s Journey is a clichéd mess without a head or a heart, an entirely numbing bore. Sadly, what took me out of the film the most, as silly as it sounds, is the actress who plays Carol, Clara Lago. Though I am at this point unable to evaluate her potential for greatness, she, quite simply, looks a little bit like a boy. I am embarrassed to admit that I had such a problem with the appearance of a young actress, but I really could not get past her unisexual haircut and boyish habits. Above all, it made an adolescent romance with young Tomiche disingenuous and incredulous, rendering the emotional core of the film, well, core-less.There is very little to say about the film, because it, itself, has very little to say about life. Carol goes on a journey. Bad stuff happens. Good stuff happens. More bad, more good, more bad. The end. Sure that is the basic premise to every film, but most others don’t drawn attention to their simplicity in the way this film does. It is hard to believe that Uribe has been making films since the golden era of movies (the seventies), since there is nothing masterful or ambitious about this undertaking. He is quoted as saying, “It seemed to me a challenge to make a film with children, in which important and serious things are counted.” I’m pretty sure just about every film fits this criterion. That’s right, every single film. Go ahead and throw one at me, out of the randomizer: Airplane! - ok, so there are kids on the plane, people are going to die if they can’t find someone who can fly a plane and didn’t have fish for dinner - check and check. How about another: Casablanca - well maybe I’m being a bit too figurative, but “Here’s lookin’ at you kid” says it all. It is unfortunate that I must be so harsh on a filmmaker who clearly wanted to tell an exciting, important story. However, next time he should consider that wanting to tell an exciting, important story is the first step in making a pretentious, often eye-roll-inducing film. Placing the weight of a film on the shoulders of two young actors is an admirable undertaking, but the ambition of a film has no effect on its success. A movie as seemingly pointless as Airplane! can be just as successful as Casablanca in terms of what it tried and managed to achieve. Next time, Uribe should consider this loophole of sorts in the medium of film, instead telling an even less purposeful film, perhaps involving adults. This is a feat I sincerely hope he can manage. Spout Post: Re:Re:Re:Re: Mavens Feedback http://www.spout.com/groups/Spout_Mavens/Re_Re_Re_Re_Mavens_Feedback/366/22214/1/ShowPost.aspxPost By: solafekxela
Post To: Spout Mavens
Post Date: 11/26/2007 9:25:26 PM
Body: Is it just me or are you guys kinda running out of movies? Any chance that more will be arriving soon?
]]>Tue, 27 Nov 2007 02:25:26 GMTsolafekxelaSpout Mavens11/26/2007 9:25:26 PMIs it just me or are you guys kinda running out of movies? Any chance that more will be arriving soon? Spout Post: Re:The Rocket http://www.spout.com/groups/Spout_Mavens/Re_The_Rocket/366/21577/1/ShowPost.aspxPost By: solafekxela
Post To: Spout Mavens
Post Date: 11/9/2007 8:00:18 PM
Body: http://www.spout.com/blogs/solafekxela/archive/2007/11/9/21576.aspx At long last, my review.
]]>Sat, 10 Nov 2007 01:00:18 GMTsolafekxelaSpout Mavens11/9/2007 8:00:18 PMhttp://www.spout.com/blogs/solafekxela/archive/2007/11/9/21576.aspx At long last, my review. Spout Post: Man on Fire http://www.spout.com/blogs/solafekxela/archive/2007/11/9/21576.aspx Post By: solafekxela
Post To: solafekxela Blog
Post Date: 11/9/2007 7:58:03 PM
Body: Prodigal director Steven Soderbergh is quoted as saying what he hates the most is when every part of a movie looks the same. It is this crime, though, that many times the otherwise original, inventive independent films are guilty of. Ironically, Soderbergh’s career was birthed from this circle, and many of his early films were a bit monotone. It is a great treat, then, when such a film is able to blend imaginative story with inventive visuals. The Rocket, directed by Charles Binamé, is just such a film.Though natively from Belgium, Binamé is a Quebecer director who has a very distinct cinematic eye that should be given a look at broader fare. However, backhanded compliments aside, The Rocket is a superb hockey film, a spectacular sports movie, and all together a really good effort.Playing legendary hockey player Maurice “The Rocket” Richard is Roy Dupuis, who embodies the man with sincerity and precision. Richard may not be as familiar to Americans as Gretzky or Lemieux, but he is almost indisputably the best player to come out of Quebec. However, the film is more than just his story. It tackles the complexities and atrocities of the National Hockey League during the Great Depression (and beyond), as well as the era in general. Though this time period has been handled well in dozens of films, there is much more that allows this film to live up to the legend it replays.For one, the way Binamé shoots the hockey scenes is just marvelous. I’m not sure a sporting event has been captured so majestically since, well, ever. It’s certainly not the best sports film ever made, but it belongs among the ranks of them. The ultimate test for a sports movie is simple: is the game captured in a more exciting way than it is broadcast on television? The answer, in this case, is a defiant yes. I’m a huge hockey fan, but I can assuredly say that I may prefer revisiting this film to watching some live games. Despite the magical quality of much of the film, it is not without its faults. Some scenes feel a little clichéd, such as, early on, when an employer confronts Richard about the financial situation of his family. Also, the film becomes a little redundant in that many of the scenes don’t necessarily say anything new about Richard the man or the environment he inhabited.However, the ending of The Rocket can only be compared to one other sports film, The Natural. Poignant, heart-pounding, and majestic, the ultimate fate of Richard is not what makes the conclusion so perfect. Rather, it is the way Binamé brilliantly captures the brutality of the sport in a way that is true to the story and, particularly, the character himself.The Rocket is an invigorating, enlightening, enthralling film about the culture built around one man and the era he embodied. It leaves little unanswered about his life, and, more significantly, about the state of professional hockey. Extrapolating the conditions expressed in the film, one can imagine just how wonderfully reflective it is of the nature of sports in general. It was money that drove the managers, but resolve that impassioned Richards.
]]>Sat, 10 Nov 2007 00:58:03 GMTsolafekxelasolafekxela Blog11/9/2007 7:58:03 PMProdigal director Steven Soderbergh is quoted as saying what he hates the most is when every part of a movie looks the same. It is this crime, though, that many times the otherwise original, inventive independent films are guilty of. Ironically, Soderbergh’s career was birthed from this circle, and many of his early films were a bit monotone. It is a great treat, then, when such a film is able to blend imaginative story with inventive visuals. The Rocket, directed by Charles Binamé, is just such a film.Though natively from Belgium, Binamé is a Quebecer director who has a very distinct cinematic eye that should be given a look at broader fare. However, backhanded compliments aside, The Rocket is a superb hockey film, a spectacular sports movie, and all together a really good effort.Playing legendary hockey player Maurice “The Rocket” Richard is Roy Dupuis, who embodies the man with sincerity and precision. Richard may not be as familiar to Americans as Gretzky or Lemieux, but he is almost indisputably the best player to come out of Quebec. However, the film is more than just his story. It tackles the complexities and atrocities of the National Hockey League during the Great Depression (and beyond), as well as the era in general. Though this time period has been handled well in dozens of films, there is much more that allows this film to live up to the legend it replays.For one, the way Binamé shoots the hockey scenes is just marvelous. I’m not sure a sporting event has been captured so majestically since, well, ever. It’s certainly not the best sports film ever made, but it belongs among the ranks of them. The ultimate test for a sports movie is simple: is the game captured in a more exciting way than it is broadcast on television? The answer, in this case, is a defiant yes. I’m a huge hockey fan, but I can assuredly say that I may prefer revisiting this film to watching some live games. Despite the magical quality of much of the film, it is not without its faults. Some scenes feel a little clichéd, such as, early on, when an employer confronts Richard about the financial situation of his family. Also, the film becomes a little redundant in that many of the scenes don’t necessarily say anything new about Richard the man or the environment he inhabited.However, the ending of The Rocket can only be compared to one other sports film, The Natural. Poignant, heart-pounding, and majestic, the ultimate fate of Richard is not what makes the conclusion so perfect. Rather, it is the way Binamé brilliantly captures the brutality of the sport in a way that is true to the story and, particularly, the character himself.The Rocket is an invigorating, enlightening, enthralling film about the culture built around one man and the era he embodied. It leaves little unanswered about his life, and, more significantly, about the state of professional hockey. Extrapolating the conditions expressed in the film, one can imagine just how wonderfully reflective it is of the nature of sports in general. It was money that drove the managers, but resolve that impassioned Richards. Spout Member:The_MOW - Mickey Micklon http://www.spout.com/members/148616/default.aspx Identity: The_MOW
Name: Mickey Micklon
Interests: movies, sci-fi, professional wrestling
Occupation: Unemployed
Location: Salem, NH
Films listed: 369
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]]>Sun, 30 Aug 2009 04:00:00 GMTThe_MOWMickey Micklon369Uberlister (>100)Sat, 04 Apr 2009 11:50:30 GMTMember Spout Member:horror http://www.spout.com/members/144661/default.aspx Identity: horror
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]]>Sun, 30 Aug 2009 04:00:00 GMThorror1Beginner (<10)Sat, 17 Jan 2009 10:27:41 GMTMember Spout Member:butterknife http://www.spout.com/members/127080/default.aspx Identity: butterknife
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]]>Sun, 30 Aug 2009 04:00:00 GMTbutterknife1Beginner (<10)Wed, 02 Apr 2008 03:18:37 GMTMember Spout Member:rnt2630 http://www.spout.com/members/95208/default.aspx Identity: rnt2630
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]]>Sun, 30 Aug 2009 04:00:00 GMTrnt26300Beginner (<10)Thu, 13 Sep 2007 18:16:00 GMTMember Spout Member:dsalaski http://www.spout.com/members/94482/default.aspx Identity: dsalaski
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]]>Sun, 30 Aug 2009 04:00:00 GMTdsalaski0Beginner (<10)Mon, 10 Sep 2007 16:47:53 GMTMember Spout Member:jennkp http://www.spout.com/members/94443/default.aspx Identity: jennkp
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]]>Sun, 30 Aug 2009 04:00:00 GMTDon02622Beginner (<10)Sun, 09 Sep 2007 15:33:14 GMTMember Spout Member:martinluthar http://www.spout.com/members/93901/default.aspx Identity: martinluthar
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]]>Sun, 30 Aug 2009 04:00:00 GMTnny9210Beginner (<10)Mon, 03 Sep 2007 14:27:22 GMTMember Spout Member:mr_lol http://www.spout.com/members/92275/default.aspx Identity: mr_lol
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]]>Sun, 30 Aug 2009 04:00:00 GMTmr_lol0Beginner (<10)Mon, 03 Sep 2007 14:25:57 GMTMember Spout Member:fire1311 http://www.spout.com/members/91742/default.aspx Identity: fire1311
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]]>Sun, 30 Aug 2009 04:00:00 GMTfire13110Beginner (<10)Sat, 01 Sep 2007 21:48:24 GMTMember Spout Member:Argueta http://www.spout.com/members/91469/default.aspx Identity: Argueta
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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
Year: 2007
Director: Michael Haneke
Times Tagged: 27
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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
Year: 2008
Director: Christopher Nolan
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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
Year: 2009
Director: Rob Zombie
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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
Director: John Erman
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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
Year: 1962
Number of Lists: 2
SpoutRating: 4
]]>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
Director: James Bickert
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]]>Sat, 29 Aug 2009 15:53:10 GMTDumpster BabyJames Bickert1http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/t76920jjhow.jpghttp://www.spout.com/films/Dumpster_Baby/273527/default.aspxFilm Film:Rick http://www.spout.com/films/Rick/235722/default.aspx Title: Rick
Year: 2002
Director: Curtiss Clayton
Times Tagged: 1
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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
Year: 2008
Director: Andy Wachowski, Larry Wachowski
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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
Year: 2007
Director: Ulli Lommel
Number of blog posts: 2
SpoutRating: 1
]]>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
Director: Simon Callow
Number of blog posts: 2
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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
Year: 1977
Director: Martin Scorsese
Times Tagged: 23
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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
Year: 2009
Director: David Lowery
Times Tagged: 3
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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
Year: 2007
Director: M dot Strange
Number of Lists: 3
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SpoutRating: 4
]]>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
Year: 1963
Director: James Landis
Number of Lists: 4
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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
Director: Roy Del Ruth
Number of Lists: 2
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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