Archive for November, 2007
no country for old men »
Saturday, November 24th, 2007
Depressing. In one word, that’s what I’d say to sum this film up. It’s a violent drama depicting the disintegration of our society. It’s bleak. It’s intense. And it’s a great film (though most films based on popular books are). It took me quite awhile to concede that I liked it as much as I do. It’s twisted.
The Coen brothers are known for their off-beat and complex films. Their writing is unique in our time, or ever. I admit, I’m a fan. I like what they’ve done in the way of the man who wasn’t there, O Brother, Where art thou?, and Fargo. I loved what they did with the big lebowski. I was curious, because this was a book adaptation, how this film would reflect their style. It was surprisingly similar. They seem to have found a book they could identify with as far as writing.
Basically, the film centers around a few characters that are confused opportunists and an assassin. There’s a fog of uncertainty obscuring the lines of right and wrong. The sheriff (Tommy Lee Jones), over the course of the film, becomes more and more disconcerted with the state of things around him. He’s disoriented in the wave of modern violence and longs for the days when sheriffs were respected. He sees nothing but death around him, and as we are taken along a violent struggle between an assassin and an opportunistic Vietnam veteran who comes upon a horrific scene, it only gets worse.
The directing is spot on. It’s almost a dreary film, with little visual contrast. The story toggles between the sheriff’s investigation and the assassin’s pursuit and the opportunist’s desperate attempts to escape with his bounty. The scenery is stark and the sets are drab. The mood, translated through the lens, is heavy, almost oppressive.
The acting is great in its subtlety. The characters are ordinary people, put in an extraordinary position. The only exception being the assassin, played by Javier Bardem (the sea inside). He is cold, calculating, and his voice is transfixing. There is no reaction to any of his many kills, and there is no remorse or afterthought shown in his eyes. Tommy Lee’s performance is impressive. You can almost feel the weariness with him.
I hadn’t read the book, so the story was surprising. It was unpredictable and spliced together very well. The pace kept me at the edge of my seat, but eased up when necessary. I’d recommend this to almost anyone, but it may leave you uneasy.
***** (upon further review, this is easily worth five)
3:10 to yuma »
Saturday, November 24th, 2007
I have yet to see the first version. The remake is the one starring Christian Bale and Russell Crowe. It’s a western. It has a lot of violence and a clear distinction between good and evil, at least to begin with. It’s a solid film. It’s entertaining, thought provoking, and has more character development than anyone born in my generation is used to.
The acting, as anyone who’s seen a movie in the last six years would assume, is top notch. Bale is great, Crowe is subtle in his brilliance. The remaining characters are played fairly well, some impressively. Bale’s eldest son, played by Logan Lerman, does a pretty good job for someone only fifteen. I very much enjoy Ben Foster. The kid plays insane like no one else. I hadn’t heard of him before alphadog, but that one brought him out as crazy quite well. From the look in his eyes, he could snap at any moment.
The story is smart, deep, and intriguing. The characters are ambiguous, their intentions are vague, and their orientation to good or evil is constantly in question. Films generally spark character development with events, but in this one, the characters mature with interaction between each other. The directing wasn’t really astounding. I saw it a few weeks ago, so specific examples are hard to recall. The scenery plays a large role in the film, giving a sense of place and distance that helps further the time line.
There’s an intensity that’s lacking in most films of recent release. The film is driven by dialog more than action. The characters aren’t necessarily driven by a sense of something to do, but more a sense of purpose. It’s a different sort of film.
I never was much for westerns, but this one is a modernized version of what made the genre so great. It’s the basic storyline of good versus evil. Some of the westerns are modern tragedies. This one doesn’t disappoint along the lines of a battle between just and corrupt, but it’s more a journey where the pushing and pulling from both sides takes the place of the duel at noon.
I don’t know how it compares to the original, but this one is worth watching. The acting, the directing, the story, are all far above average and good for a night in.
**** 1/2
serenity »
Saturday, November 24th, 2007
This film is based on the series, created by Joss Whedon, called Firefly. From what I gather, it’s not a bad show, but I’ve never personally taken part in its viewing audience. I dig sci-fi though. It was around my parents’ house and I thought I’d take a look. Once you get into the suspension of belief—a zone I live in quite easily—it’s an interesting film.
The acting is adequate. The story is entertaining and is paced well. The effects are pretty good and the production value is higher than I expected. The writing is fun and smart-assed, which is a Whedon trademark, and keeps it interesting. The directing is decent enough. The action sequences and fight scenes are too obvious, but it’s forgivable. There was no attempt to deepen the characters, but I figure that’s because they had a season or two of the series to do just that. They alluded to other sides of their personalities, but kept to the facets that were key to this particular story.
I ended up liking it more than I thought, but I think that’s more because of its symbolic references to my own personal beliefs than for actual film merit. To look at it at face value, it’s just a sci-fi action film with smart-assed remarks and odd costumes. It’s superficial and overtly dramatic. Even the undercurrents are simplified to the point of dim. The plot comes too easy and the heroes are never really challenged. There’s no emotional toll that comes from watching it. Relating to the film is hard enough with all of the sets and effects, but the characters never develop. The subtle nuances of their characters are too subtle or ignored completely.
That said, the metaphor of an oppressive regime trying to control covertly its population is one I identify with. The assumed subversive storyline kept the surface story entertaining more than it would have been otherwise. It’s sort of like v for vendetta in space.
The Serenity is in desperate need of supplies and resorts to criminal contracts in order to keep everything running. They take on a doctor and his sister, on the run from the Alliance. The sister, River, goes apeshit at the end of a deal and the Alliance comes after her and her protectors. A chase, some murders, some space travel, and a few other plot points go down and the Serenity crew ends up with a secret the Alliance doesn’t want out and all that.
It really doesn’t matter. It’s a fun show, but you have to be into sci-fi-related films to probably see it that way.
**
yah jeans!! »
Tuesday, November 20th, 2007
I work in an office um, duh?. An oft poorly run pile of cubical felt that would give Rick Gervais a headache. It’s hard to describe the planning behind the new website and the associated launch. Think: third grader’s run away from home, but less successful. There’s one woman in particular that has the insight of a small marsupial, but the clout of a C.O. I know, I don’t get it either. I was just about to start thinking this is shitty place to work, when I received an email that completely turned my opinion around.
The subject: Wear jeans starting Monday, Nov 26! Eclamation theirs
I know, right? You’re thinking it’s too good to be true just like I am. All you have to do is pay $2 for a sticker $5 for 3 to wear. With that sticker proudly displayed, you, humble, unappreciated, possibly sociopathic office drone, can wear jeans on any day you wish. Between Nov 26 and Dec 31. Except Nov 28, Dec 12, and Dec 20. Otherwise, you’re free to wear them whenever. If they’re clean and not torn.
I tell you, after reading that short digital memorandum, the freedom is practically overwhelming. Here I am getting all downtrodden about a pending failure and the blame that will rest on the shoulders of those undeserving, and I almost missed it. To think I can purchase the ability to wear denim any of sixteen days including three I’m already on vacation, but not including casual Fridays, which are already denim-friendly.
This is what this country was founded on. This is why we defied an over-stretched and unmotivated British Empire. Emails like this have their origin in the Constitution that is now so emphatically ignored. It’s the reasoning behind entering W.W.I.I. impressively late, after London was nearly destroyed and most of Europe was in ruins. It makes the corruption, espionage, and political overthrow of so many South American nations and the desperate attempt to pillage oil in the Middle East all worth it.
The air in here may be over-circulated and filled with infections yet unseen by my immune system, but more than that, it’s filled with patriotism. I mean jeans. Any day of the week. With just a few dollars. Now that’s America!
This is about as much sarcasm as I can muster. I apologize if it’s not to your standard, but I’ve been sleeping poorly. And no, I didn’t buy any fucking stickers.
an open letter: [WGA] »
Tuesday, November 20th, 2007
Dear Writer’s Guild of America,
First, I know why you’re pulling the whole pace with sign thing. It makes sense. The deal struck almost thirty years ago is unfair and you deserve more. Royalties are through the roof on assets you don’t yet have your hands on. The media machine is banking on your talents without leaving a few bills on the night table afterward. But, you’re fucking me.
I don’t care about the writers for A.B.C. The fat man plus hot wife plus rebellious teenager equals comedy routine is pathetic. Their drama is repetitive and thoughtless. That network deserves to crumble. Any drama writer for Fox could be shot on sight, for all it’s worth to me. M.T.V., E!, and B.E.T. are three reasons the terrorists should win. In fact, as I try to decipher what the shit they’re talking about on B.E.T., watch rich idiots get cut apart or talked about on E!, and gaze into the black nothingness that is any programming on M.T.V., I get it. By the end of a fifteen minute stare down with the Viacom black hole, I’m usually hating myself, so why shouldn’t most of the globe?
Despite the overwhelming tide of inexcusable shit, there are a few shows that entertain. The Office. As my day-to-day starts to resemble its moronic-management storylines, I can relate. How I Met Your Mother has an interesting premise and the writing is relatively smart. Two and a Half Men is just as entertaining. Then there are House and Always Sunny. They’re probably the only programs I’ll miss during your little picket frenzy. Both are near or at the end of their seasons.
Tuesdays are tazer bursts to my soul. Without the dose of assholery that House provides at 8p, the discouragement only grows. His arrogance and douchbaginess remind me that, even surrounded by all the piles of moron, I shouldn’t be affected. The comedy packed into half an episode of Always Sunny could defeat the entire fall lineup of A.B.C. in an arm wrestling match. In lieu of delaying the next season of these two pristine pieces of awesome in a barren dessert of lame, I propose the following:
Admit you’ve been force-feeding us the same tired stories with only slight alterations and almost all of you suck ass. Realize you’re not worth what you think you are. Write letters to that effect. Then transfer all of your royalties from shows like Prison Break, Grey’s Anatomy, or Bionic Woman to the writers of these two works of art. Fade into obscurity or serve me drinks, your choice. With all of you off the list of potential employees, networks will have to look toward a new set. The new contract, given in desperation to this new crop, will factor in the new media.
There is a downside: reality television. This once enlightening idea has been reduced to a puddle of infant drool on a tray covered in a layer of dried spaghetti sauce. More of it will come. The cheap, ignorant, mind-numbing shows will be my exit from the crowd of television viewers. Others will watch and fall into a retarded state, but at least the deserving writers will get theirs.
Sincerely,
Television addict #40872345
Why am I so concerned with television when film is my media of choice? Because this strike will have almost no effect on that side of things. At least in my case. If anything, it’s a welcome reprieve. It could give me time to catch up on movies I’ve been wanting to see, depending on the timing.
98.637% of films are lame. Of the good ones, they have enough written to last six months. That covers this movie season and most of the summer. I’ve about twenty movies on my want-to-see list that are already completed, thirty-two on my blockbuster and library queues already on D.V.D., and over two hundred already in my possession. Even if Iron Man is up for best picture next year, something tells me I won’t be hurting for something to watch when the mood strikes.