You should go there

Part one?

gothere — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 03:08:29 GMT

The Golden Compass was enertaining and fun to watch. While it seemed to meander and wallow in a kind of self-endulgent way, the film is rich and beautiful. The characters are charming in a Mary Poppins sort of way. I wish however that the film actually had and ending, rather than walking away with the distinct impression that they already have Part 2 almost in the can. Even if they do, a movie should stand on its own. And, was that Kate Bush singing at the end?

Toys as movies, movies as toys

gothere — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 02:48:54 GMT

Okay, I'll admit that I'm a bit too old to have played with transformers, so perhaps some of that nostalgia is lost on me. Still, I was in the mood, and wanted to like it. Who doesn't like special effects like these? Alas, my good mood didn't make up for a movie that lasted too long, and like Twister and too many others, was in desperate need of a plot.

Amazing

gothere — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 02:38:45 GMT

Amazing that I'm watching Four Eyed Monsters on YouTube on Spout. Amazing that two filmmakers with credit cards and a camera and a will to make art can create a movie like this. Amazing that I've been working on Spout for more than two years. Amazing how far we've come, and how far it can go. Amazing that it's becoming a reality.

A gift

gothere — Tue, 15 May 2007 02:11:34 GMT

Blood Diamond is a very good movie and worth your time. First of all, it's a movie where action actually feels like real violence, and that people wielding guns aren't the heros. It depicts things that people in the West don't want to know about or to think about, the blood diamond trade, child soliders, civil unrest caused by our greed. Blood Diamond lays it on your doorstep – not as the flaming turd like some kinds of social commentary. Rather, it's a gift. A story that is gripping and will move you, if not to action, to no longer turn a blind eye to the truth.

Leonardo DiCaprio is coming into his own. Having bulked up for this role and sporting a convincing South African accent, we see him as a man. I remember first seeing him in What's Eating Gilbert Grape? and being genuinely unsure if he was mentally challanged. Titanic aside (actually, I liked that movie despite the hype), DiCaprio continues to be an actor worth watching. Djimon Hounsou continues to bring strength to roles that he plays, though I hope eventually he will grow out of a role that's becoming expected of him. Meantime, he's enjoyable and sincere.

Quiet surprise

gothere — Sun, 06 May 2007 23:14:25 GMT

I'm impressed with just about every role Edward Norton takes on, and his tranformation in Down in the Valley from country boy to dangerous drifter is no exception. This film quietly sneaks up and catches you off gaurd. It's a pleasure to watch, well shot and constructed. Noton pulls off a complex character which is hallmark of his best work, where even at the end of this surprising film, it's hard not to feel compassion for the bad guy.

Cute

gothere — Wed, 02 May 2007 01:31:00 GMT

I turned this movie on as background noise for email and found it surprisingly pleasant. Beside being the obvious romance clichés, The Lake House was relatively quiet and highlighted vaguely nostalgic music that was comforting. Or at least allowed me to follow along while checking email – sort of. The plot had some strange, unexplainable twists any time-bending fiction requires. Still, it was cute, and if you're in the mood for a quiet, romantic film with a 60s-esque soundtrack, give it a try.

Inter arma silent leges

gothere — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 02:26:29 GMT

Why We Fight is an incredible, eye-opening, scary look at the United States of America. It's about who we are, who we've become, and how we got here.

Krumpin'

gothere — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 01:52:37 GMT

When I was in South Central L.A. for a photo shoot on the first year anniversary after the 1992 riots, the tension was palpable. Rize documents a new style of dance, of self expression, of coping. Krumpin' captures the violence and joy and intensity of the life and times of those who live there.

Language is a virus, or something

gothere — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 04:21:00 GMT

William S. Burroughs is known to have said that "language is a virus from outer space", to which performance artist Laurie Anderson adds, "that's why I'd rather hear your name than see your face." Babel was really wonderful, but it was hard to watch.

Though the film is at once beautiful, genius, timely, and important, it's also like emotional nails on chalkboard. As you witness the characters suffer from ignorance and confusion, Babel lets you see just a little more than you want to about how things might unfold. This isn't a bad quality for the film, quite the opposite. It's gripping, but made me want to turn away. Further, I wanted it to lead me somewhere. I can take a lot of salt in the wound if I feel it's doing some good.

I don't need films tied up in a neat little bow any more than I need a happy ending, but Babel left me longing for some meaning. I wanted to learn something more obvious, to understand what Iñárritu is trying to say about language, God, and human experience. Besides that languages and cultures collide and cause pain. But are we to learn something about language? Bad choices? Gun control? Human interconnectedness? I wonder if the film's title is too grandiose and possibly confuses the meaning of the story itself. I wonder if the film had a more Altman-esque, less assuming context, whether it would have appeared to accomplish more.

I like you, do you like me?

gothere — Sat, 14 Apr 2007 17:16:09 GMT

I've been geared up to see Borat for some time. I had gotten somewhat hooked on Da Ali G show on late night HBO a few years ago. Then the hype surrounding the film added to my anticipation.

The Ali G features were not as successful as the TV shorts, and I was not alone when I wondered how this would translate to a feature film. Perhaps it's like SNL or Monty Python, which can work better if you're half drunk or half asleep – ("Did they really just do that...?"). Of course at these moments there can be genius! Timing is everything with skit-based (perhaps all?) comedy. Sometimes the shortest scenes are the best. I'm convinced that the main reason MAD TV succeeds at all is it's rapid-fire promos, which are cut so well that they are often much funnier than the skits themselves.

Indeed, there are moments of genius here, but I'm not sure this movie deserves all the accolades it's recieved. Cohen and crew do a pretty good job of turning random acts into a storyline, an impressive feat. Several moments achieve the same degree of culturally revealing satire that make Da Ali G show popular (and its equivalent in the U.K., as I understand it). Still, at the risk of sounding like other drones out there, satirical skits as a feature-length film can wear you down. Some scenes ended up to be so long that I stopping being in the moment, laughing with Cohen, and feeling sorry for the unwitting extras. Even with their racism, sexism, and bigotry, the film takes advantage of thier politeness. This makes Cohen and film appear less civil overall.

Don't get me wrong. I'm a fan of this film, and Borat, and Bruno, and Ali G, and I want to see more from Cohen. Perhaps Borat the movie will get better for me if I see portions as it reruns on cable, like other movies listed in my Spout group Repeat. For now, as much as it cracks me up, I can't help but wonder when Borat asks, "I like you, do you like me?", whether Cohen is telling the truth.