An elderly couple at evening tea sets the stage for the book Afterglow. The book turns out to be as dreadful as the movies Francis Davis and Pauline Kael discuss. It might be the fact that Kael denounces not only Silence of the Lambs, Seinfield, and the Sopranos, but also Adam Sandler, and Chris Farley that her opinion is put in line behind your blind great aunt. Afterglow chronicles the life of one of films original critics that has a true passion for the art but a taste that does not line up.
Furthermore, Davis does a distractingly awful job at interviewing Kael and failed to capture incite into her life, instead listed sixty years of movies, a boar to read. What was the word she used oh, filmic. Assuming Davis wanted to relay feelings about Kael gives basis for the book, a structure or some idea might have been a nice back up. Little background knowledge is given to Kael’s life and much is left obscure. Wait, Kael had a daughter by a gay man?
Most books have a climax, a peak of interest that shocks or stuns the reader, Afterglow talked about Pennies from Heaven twelve times. Afterglow came as a true distress to read, as Pauline Kael seems genuinely interesting yet off key in opinion. The only thing worse were the questions presented by Davis. Maybe they can take a lesson from Seinfeld, when you write something about nothing at least try to make it funny!
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Monday, January 28, 2008
Broken Hearted Hoover Fixer Sucker Guy
Wah, wah, wah, are typical lyrics for an emo-screamo boy band struggling with a complicated life. This is the opening impression from the film Once, a dark horse candidate in movie ratings. Once unfolds pinching the mind with its non-fairytale romantically dramatic story line, genuine onscreen chemistry, and incredible soundtrack capturing art with an average family camcorder.
Once a 2006 Irish musical directed by John Carney, stars two musicians, Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, in the only film roles they plan to see in their lives. Their devoid acting resumes were of no consequence as their genuine chemistry developed a romantic friendship onscreen. Once symbolizes a significant real life memory, a typical start to a daydream. Roller coasting through a developing friendship, answers to love’s complexities are searched for within the complimentary pair’s songs.
Low budget, amateur actors, and a wobbly camera showed the headlining movie industries that a regression back is sometimes needed to capture real feeling. From heroin inhabited street corners to Irish Atlantic coastline, the beauty and disparity of life was compared in both setting and plot. As the film unfolds a “Girl,” Marketa Irglova, finds “Guy,” Glen Hansard, with a musical passion similar to her own. From a fantasy-like motorcycle ride, questions of love arise between the two yet problems presist with the girl’s husband and infant daughter. Hansard’s emotional heart broken songs stem from an unfaithful ex-girlfriend who has moved to London. The two find refugee in the release that music brings them while falling for one another.
Raw emotion and intimate filming really did the movie its justice. A brilliant example came in a scene with the girl tugging a Hoover vacuum cleaner down Irish streets, next to her newly acquainted Guy friend, following the deliverance of their first song in a public music shop. Realistic yet novelistic the much under budget filming truly captures an everyday sense of human life with unexpected encounters that only happen once. Embarrassing as the Girl first appears giving only a dime to Guy, her character is inevitably believable. A quick mental search targets her as an acquaintance known back in younger more vulnerable years.
Trumping the rest is the soundtrack to the movie. Incorporation of Irish rock band The Frames, the lead singer playing Guy, gave a new age feel to the musical. Director John Carney still utilized music for character development in songs like "Broken Hearted Hoover Fixer Sucker Guy" yet branched out allowing emotion and feeling to take a forefront in the songs like "Once" and "Falling Slowly." "When Your Mind's Made Up," promoted the soundtracks nomination for Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for Motion Picture, and Best Song Written for Motion Picture in the Grammy Awards. Once plastered the walls with awards and heads the top ten lists of numerous prestigious critics’ lists for films in 2007.
A slow beginning gave rise to a very mindfully artistic film that hit the triple threat for emotional, intellectual, and acoustic uniqueness. A film that took a different path in producing a musical that, possibly serendipitously, ended in nothing short of success. Hope persists that future films will follow the path pointing the sinking boat back home, the lyric still turning over in the subconscious.
Once a 2006 Irish musical directed by John Carney, stars two musicians, Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, in the only film roles they plan to see in their lives. Their devoid acting resumes were of no consequence as their genuine chemistry developed a romantic friendship onscreen. Once symbolizes a significant real life memory, a typical start to a daydream. Roller coasting through a developing friendship, answers to love’s complexities are searched for within the complimentary pair’s songs.
Low budget, amateur actors, and a wobbly camera showed the headlining movie industries that a regression back is sometimes needed to capture real feeling. From heroin inhabited street corners to Irish Atlantic coastline, the beauty and disparity of life was compared in both setting and plot. As the film unfolds a “Girl,” Marketa Irglova, finds “Guy,” Glen Hansard, with a musical passion similar to her own. From a fantasy-like motorcycle ride, questions of love arise between the two yet problems presist with the girl’s husband and infant daughter. Hansard’s emotional heart broken songs stem from an unfaithful ex-girlfriend who has moved to London. The two find refugee in the release that music brings them while falling for one another.
Raw emotion and intimate filming really did the movie its justice. A brilliant example came in a scene with the girl tugging a Hoover vacuum cleaner down Irish streets, next to her newly acquainted Guy friend, following the deliverance of their first song in a public music shop. Realistic yet novelistic the much under budget filming truly captures an everyday sense of human life with unexpected encounters that only happen once. Embarrassing as the Girl first appears giving only a dime to Guy, her character is inevitably believable. A quick mental search targets her as an acquaintance known back in younger more vulnerable years.
Trumping the rest is the soundtrack to the movie. Incorporation of Irish rock band The Frames, the lead singer playing Guy, gave a new age feel to the musical. Director John Carney still utilized music for character development in songs like "Broken Hearted Hoover Fixer Sucker Guy" yet branched out allowing emotion and feeling to take a forefront in the songs like "Once" and "Falling Slowly." "When Your Mind's Made Up," promoted the soundtracks nomination for Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for Motion Picture, and Best Song Written for Motion Picture in the Grammy Awards. Once plastered the walls with awards and heads the top ten lists of numerous prestigious critics’ lists for films in 2007.
A slow beginning gave rise to a very mindfully artistic film that hit the triple threat for emotional, intellectual, and acoustic uniqueness. A film that took a different path in producing a musical that, possibly serendipitously, ended in nothing short of success. Hope persists that future films will follow the path pointing the sinking boat back home, the lyric still turning over in the subconscious.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
What a Kicker
What a Kicker
A rush of wonder ran through the veins as Gloria Steinem ended her political women’s rights essay stating, “I’m supporting her because she’ll be a great president and because she’s a woman.” Why in ending an essay on the inopportunity and social inequities of women would she put the second clause “…and because she is a woman.”
Women Are Never Front Runners was a generally well written piece conveying the author’s views well. It is understood that Steinem would vote and volunteer for any democratic candidate and holds legitimate bias towards Senator Clinton. However in the kicker of the article “and because she is a women” leaves too much to thought. What message was actually conveyed? What is worrisome here is trying to decipher weather Steinem just placed Cliniton atop Obama because of sex. The first clause to her kicker would have ended the article perfectly. The message sent home was ill received. Does Steinem hope that more women will vote for Senator Clinton to break the past inequalities faced by women? If this is the true message of the article then she is to blame for gender inequality still faced today. The sex of the candidate should not matter the goals and methods of the presidential candidate should. As Steinem almost stated a candidate should be supported because he/she will make a great president.
Let's Give'em Something to Talk About
Provoking Conversation or War!
Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is the genetic code for all multicultural life and core to the central dogma of biology. Agents for DNA manipulation and its subsequent degradation provoke Autism. Autism has recently been questioned as having basis in vaccines, specifically mercury(II) vaccines.
A new television show on ABC pulls the topic into a commercial filled one hour clueless must see drama line up. Really looking forward to what the network does with evolution and cloning topics. ABC’s “Eli Stone” is the newest wave of wannabe “Law and Order.” With setting and direction from Mr. Marc Guggenheim a previous lawyer nothing was overlooked. Oh except scientific study of the vaccine, note the Mr. Director not Dr. Director. As the director quotes, “We want to keep the conversation going after people turn off the television.” Agreeably the American public needs to talk more on science, but a faulty lie is nowhere to start the ball rolling. In private studies a mercury(II) vaccine originally thought to produce autism has been disproven. ABC however continues to run a show that wins a court case against the vaccine company.
Maybe the American public will look into their vaccines more carefully or inquire what a vaccine actually is? Doubtable, most likely Americans will hear the word mercury in the doctor’s office and refuse the shot.
Chemistry of Drugs
Using chemistry for it’s accuracy and precision in drug making is the only main avenue for wealth in the field. In the same pursuit as other chemist, Walt White turns his chemistry degree towards drugs opening a methamphetamine lab in suburbia.
Scientist played by Bran Cranston (Walt White) in the seven part series “Breaking Bad” on AMC takes a close look at just how to wipe the smirk off the Jones’s faces. Walt a chemistry teacher with debt hopes his methamphetamine lab will be the means to halt the madness. As a lower middle class man with a family, Walt is struggling to keep up to pace, working two jobs and waking at 5 am. “Breaking Bad” spotlights the growing hardships of middle class Americans and provides a release with comical ingenuity that seems forgotten.
Created by Vince Gilligan, executive producer of the “X-Files,” “Breaking Bad” begins as a Nobel Prize contribution in chemistry that turns criminal. Walt with good intensions began his road of hardships that leads him now to something that would disgrace his mother.
Alessandra Stanley wrote that the show follows the expectations of a middle child. Believing the story line runs at half the speed necessary Stanley calls the show a bore but makes little connection at the bigger picture.“Breaking Bad” makes public the credit burden felt by some lower class Americans that provokes unimaginable choices.
Scientist played by Bran Cranston (Walt White) in the seven part series “Breaking Bad” on AMC takes a close look at just how to wipe the smirk off the Jones’s faces. Walt a chemistry teacher with debt hopes his methamphetamine lab will be the means to halt the madness. As a lower middle class man with a family, Walt is struggling to keep up to pace, working two jobs and waking at 5 am. “Breaking Bad” spotlights the growing hardships of middle class Americans and provides a release with comical ingenuity that seems forgotten.
Created by Vince Gilligan, executive producer of the “X-Files,” “Breaking Bad” begins as a Nobel Prize contribution in chemistry that turns criminal. Walt with good intensions began his road of hardships that leads him now to something that would disgrace his mother.
Alessandra Stanley wrote that the show follows the expectations of a middle child. Believing the story line runs at half the speed necessary Stanley calls the show a bore but makes little connection at the bigger picture.“Breaking Bad” makes public the credit burden felt by some lower class Americans that provokes unimaginable choices.
Monday, January 14, 2008
An undeserving Scarlet Letter
Righting the wrongs sums up Wright’s direction of Ian McEwan’s novel Atonement. Set in the 1930’s Atonement’s English style storyline is Wright’s forte, as he directs a dramatic love story full of suspense that pulls on the heart strings of all. Winning the 2008 Golden Globe for best drama, Atonement is a gem of a find at the cinema. A twisting plotline is lead by Keira Knightley playing Cecilia and James McAvoy as Robbie Turner, a love struck couple that finds love in their out of sync social classes. Their love is quickly troubled by Cecilia’s younger sister Briony played by Saoirse Ronan and later by Vanessa Redgrave. Director Wright’s devious and methodic use of perspective in direction truly grabs the concepts of the movie and brings them full tilt towards the viewer. Atonement has a familiar Pride and Prejudice essence in music, setting, and casting but is quickly lost in the complex suspenseful storyline that keeps you in your seat reaching for popcorn. Direction gave great detail towards the beautiful summer setting of London England that pulled a novel like essence into the film.
A point of weakness for the movie fell on the older character Briony. Vanessa Redgrave did a poor job holding up her end of the deal when playing nurse Briony the remorseful grown up version of a once fantastic youth. Childish attachment followed by quick hate and guilt gave rise to a persona that was much too difficult for Redgrave. A scene in the movie with all three main armature actors/actresses gave witness to Redgrave’s incompetence as a seemingly actress next to two stars. Redgrave owes thanks to Knightley and McAvoy for pulling her through a tough acting role. Whereas, Knightley’s acting painted the screen with heartfelt emotion. Knightley’s petite body is no measure of her acting as she absorbed the anger and love of ten women, giving a true sense for why she was chosen for the role of Cecilia
The movie ends with the same shocking spine suspenseful anecdotes that it started with, leaving the viewer enthralled. Atonement was able to pull on the heart strings while quivering the spine a feat not many films accomplish. Its speed at delivering the plot line was right in key with the flow of the film and allowed a great number of details to be addressed and fully discovered. Claiming the film to have unforeseen twists is an understatement, in an age where most everything has been done on the screen this one truly finds new meaning in the unexpected. Atonement is a movie worth the time. A true suspense filled classic love story with unimaginable entangles that leave you wondering while walking out of the theatre.
A point of weakness for the movie fell on the older character Briony. Vanessa Redgrave did a poor job holding up her end of the deal when playing nurse Briony the remorseful grown up version of a once fantastic youth. Childish attachment followed by quick hate and guilt gave rise to a persona that was much too difficult for Redgrave. A scene in the movie with all three main armature actors/actresses gave witness to Redgrave’s incompetence as a seemingly actress next to two stars. Redgrave owes thanks to Knightley and McAvoy for pulling her through a tough acting role. Whereas, Knightley’s acting painted the screen with heartfelt emotion. Knightley’s petite body is no measure of her acting as she absorbed the anger and love of ten women, giving a true sense for why she was chosen for the role of Cecilia
The movie ends with the same shocking spine suspenseful anecdotes that it started with, leaving the viewer enthralled. Atonement was able to pull on the heart strings while quivering the spine a feat not many films accomplish. Its speed at delivering the plot line was right in key with the flow of the film and allowed a great number of details to be addressed and fully discovered. Claiming the film to have unforeseen twists is an understatement, in an age where most everything has been done on the screen this one truly finds new meaning in the unexpected. Atonement is a movie worth the time. A true suspense filled classic love story with unimaginable entangles that leave you wondering while walking out of the theatre.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)