MsMaxwell

There's a lot to like in this movie: the design, the pies, the waitresses, the pies, Andy Griffith, the pies, but what I don't like cancels out what I did like, which is why I only gave the film three stars. Jenna's (Kerri Russell) husband Earl (Jeremy Sisto) is the flattest character I have ever seen. I had childhood paperdolls more rebust than this guy. Why is he so clingy? Why, in the name of everything that's good, did she marry the bastard? At one point, on a phone conversation, Jenna mentions that Earl changed since their nuptuals, but that's all we see. This was such an obvious flaw, I felt a little dumb not turning the movie off, but those pies... Thus inspired, I baked an apple tart the next day, so it's a somehow a significant film, even if just to inspire a patiserrie.

 

I've always liked the Incredible Hulk, but the CGI in this movie was just too much and I got really bored. (I saw it in the theatre, too.) Sometimes, I find the old-fashioned use of makeup and cinematic skill a better way to tell a story than to drug it up with CGI. it looks like cheating. But if you do like the Hulk, watch this movie. The ending is great.

In 1994 when RENT first opened, it challenged the old-fashioned, sentimental Broadway musical through its protrayal of characters with AIDS, cross-dressers, and same-sex relationships. But since then, RENT has not aged well. Viewing the film today is like watching a string of mediocre music videos held loosely together by poor characters and titilating lifestyle choices and suggestions. (Trisexuality, anyone?) Can we please not romanticize living in poverty anymore?

I was thinking: it would be really fun for someone to make a list or group lists about films referenced in The Simpsons. You could do it by season and specify which episode referenced what film. How does this sound? Any takers?

I watched this last night. It is a beautiful, sad film about the realities of small towns. What I've been thinking about the most is how this film destroys all romanticized ideas one may have of 1950's Americana. These characters are not rejoicing in their freedom--they're trapped and sad in a landscape of scrub grass, dust, and decrepit store fronts.

What's hopeful are Sonny's relationship with Sam the Lion and Billy--but before the end, both of these characters have died and Sonny is left in the kitchen with Ruth, the coach's wife with whom he's had an affair.

Nevertheless, the cinematography is beautiful. I love the choice to film in black and white; it's as if the audience enters the 1950's and participates in reality, not some glitzy, full-skirted, shiny appliance world.

Warning: spoilers ahead. If you like surprise, watch The McPassion first. Then, read this. (A lot of the discussion on that site is interesting, too.) You can download The McPassion for free during Lent. After that, I'm quite unsure what will happen.

The McPassion is a four-minute short film (or long SNL-style mock-advertisement) about Passion-themed McDonald's Happy Meals. It was written Rik Swartzwelder and directed by Benjamin Hershleder. In an interview with Christianity Today, Swartzwelder described his frustration with from-the-pulpit marketing of films with specifically Christian themes--especially The Passion of the Christ in 2004 and The Chronicles of Narnia last year. The McPassion is a satire, an extreme situation of "going all the way" marketing-style, and allowing McDonalds to help pitch a film Christians claim as their own.

It's funny in a disturbing, "I-can't-believe-I'm-laughing-outloud" sort of way. Some of the most disturbing parts are the eucharist-themed meal where kids can dip the potato cakes (or whatever they are) in ketchup. "It's just like weal blood!" a little boy comments to the camera. Then, there's the cat-of-nine-tails prize. "It's safe!" a dad exclaims while his children whip each other in the background.

So, the question remains: is this commentary or blasphemy? Or both?

Personally, it takes a lot for me to label something as blasphemous because I think true blasphemy is subtle. It's easy to get sucked in, but then later you realize how disturbing/wrong/questionable something is. The McPassion is not subtle. It's ridiculous. It's prophetic. And by prophetic, I don't mean telling the future, but truth-telling in the present.

Swartzwelder is a brave man. If you read the discussions/blog comments posted on the website, there are a lot of people who are upset. I read quite a few that alluded to his need--and their willingness--to pray for him. (If he would have made an "inspirational" film would people have been praying for him in droves like this? I doubt it.) But who else is going to say it? Who else is going to say that the Christian community in North America has literally bought into the hype, thrill and excitement of Hollywood marketing?

I think we are the ones who have been fooled. I think we're the ones cheering for the king in his new clothes when in actuality he's completely naked. Swartzwelder is the child calling out from the crowd of eager onlookers, "But he doesn't have any clothes on!" And he doesn't, but he does have on a paper crown of thorns from a McDonald's Happy Meal.