Archive for January, 2008
there will be blood »
Monday, January 14th, 2008
First, this is the one-hundredth film discussed here. Feel free to peruse the archives to see if I’ve mentioned one of your favorites.
As the credits rolled on this one, a guy behind me on the right stood up and expressed his assurance that the film is “ripping apart capitalism.” Just after that, the man behind me on the left, who had been analyzing the previews and impressing his date with his breakdown of three different movies, pronounced that he had “no idea” and would look back on it and “laugh his ass off.”
There are two ways to measure a great film. Either everyone likes it because it touches a nerve, or no one has a clue what it’s about because it touches a nerve. This one, obviously falls into the latter category. It’s complex, twisted, emotional, and stunning, but the original intent is not easily understood. I’m not going to waste your time trying to analyze what Paul Thomas Anderson had in mind, because I don’t know, and it’s more important that you decide for yourself. As with all others before this, here’s what I think:
This one is packed with wrenching emotion, helped by an incredible score and fantastic performances, and depicts the treachery of humanity like few movies before it. The two main characters struggle for dominance in a small town. One through oil wealth, the other through religion. The direction amplifies the abrasive characters with bold shots and aggressive cutting. Daniel Plainview, played by Day-Lewis (gangs of new york), is cold, calculating, and chilling. He dominates any character interaction and you can feel his determination through the screen.
The performances are outstanding. Day-Lewis, always amazing, plays Plainview with such intensity that he steals the screen. Dano’s (little miss sunshine, the girl next door) performance as Eli and Paul Sunday is underrated. He had only four days to prepare, but he has fantastic range. From one second to the next, he switches from a powerful, defiant minister to a weak, confused child. You can almost taste the competition in their scenes together. To simplify this, Day-Lewis portrays Plainview as completely evil and Dano twists his greed and corruption dichotomously.
The setting is fantastic. There’s a profound sense of isolation. Anderson uses wide shots well. The score works in bold contrast. It’s almost a secondary character as plot progresses. It builds to its greatest intensity with the most tranquil shots. I found myself on edge for most of the film.
I haven’t read the book, yet (of course), but the story here is top-notch. It’s a commentary on the fallibility of man. Both main characters, and many of the lesser players, strive for greatness at the expense of others. The goals of Plainview strangely match well with the goals of Sunday. Sunday, who aims at virtuosity, is really just as greedy as his oil-man counterpart. The message seems to be, “do the opposite of what I say and do.” The characters collide often and their interaction is transfixing. Both are manipulative and corrupt in their own ways and both have to eventually come to terms with their own cruelty.
I liked it. I liked it a lot. I think this was one of the best movies of the year, but not as haunting as No country. It’s strength rests on the performances, the score, and the intensity that builds until the very end. The end is impressive and fitting. I recommend it to anyone looking for a great movie, but I can’t imagine it’s a very good date movie or something to do on a lazy Saturday afternoon. It’s complex and incredible. Maybe you’ll come away thinking it’s a commentary on capitalism. Maybe you’ll hate it and look back on it laughing. Maybe you’ll enjoy it even if you’re confused to your core about what happened. In any case, you’ll feel like you’ve seen something well-crafted and intense.
*****
auto-related awesome »
Friday, January 11th, 2008
Show of hands, how many of you have had your car in the shop within the past year? Ok, that’s one… two… well, it’s enough of you. You’ll at least sympathize. My water pump was rattling like something they used to give kids before video games or something given to middle-aged drunks on new years apparently there’s a bearing in there that keeps such things from happening, who knew? and I could see through my timing belt, which, from what I’m told, isn’t desired.
With that unexpected seven hundred dollar drop of my savings balance, thoughts of a new car crept onto the neurons. I won’t, but what if? Looking at me, saturated in rugged handsomeness, you’d assume I’m a pick-up man. My perfectly proportioned frame would look magnificent perched on the high seats of a Silverado or F150 or even a Tundra apparently these things are indestructible until you’re finding an excuse to go to the Toyota year-end event; then they crumble like aluminum foil; odd. If you know me and my generous nature, you’re probably thinking along the lines of an S.U.V. where I’d have room for as many co-travelers as possible.
Though you’re right in your assessments on both counts, your vehicle associations are quite wrong. My car currently disemboweled in a shop off 50th is a coupe hatchback. It’s like the automobile equivalent to “douchebag.” There’s one way to get comfortable in the back seat if you can get into it and if you’re over six foot, you may as well straddle the hood. I personally dig the hell out of it, but I may have outgrown it. I want to carry more than three passengers without taking shots of crude oil with my vitamin water. What the hell is vitamin water anyway? I’m not kidding. Someone justify its existence in the comments. Please. I have issues with the mythical American dream and all the poor people that have to die in order to achieve it, so I’m thinking hybrid. It’s the responsible choice right?
Enter the issue: How to buy a used hybrid? These cars have been popular thanks to automobile propaganda and lobbying dollars for about four years. The people that drive them are so caught up in their own enviro-friendliness, it’d take three days of waterboarding it’s not torture, we can use it however we like; that’s why to get the digital sensor-filled keys out of their soggy grasp. There are six used hybrids within two hundred fifty miles all Priuses. The cheapest is nineteen grand. Consider that factored out.
Next stop, leases. Here the sky’s the limit by “sky,” I mean a very low ceiling painted blue with airbrushed clouds. Most Americans know the joy of monthly payments toward something they can’t keep it’s a right of passage; like the military used to be. As far as actual choices go, I’m limited to a hybrid sedan that doesn’t already smell of pomposity or spoiled children’s vomit. This factors out any pathetic attempt by Ford or Chevy and a Prius the vomit and pomposity are circulated through the interior during manufacturing. I don’t really want a Camry or Corolla, so my search is complete.
The Civic hybrid has all the numbers that match up to Prius I don’t mind them, but no one I know that has one, reads this, so screw Priuses without everyone thinking I have a middle-management position, two kids and the notion I’d fit in at Burning Man.
Maybe next year I’ll be cruising behind the wheel of one of these things for two hundred dollars a month. Friends would hop in their rear doors, throw their bags maybe even two each in the trunk, and we’d head out for some far-away but not too far, with only 12,000 miles per year drinking location getting forty-five miles to each gallon. As I sit here waiting for the call that my silver bullet is reassembled, I find myself wondering what I’d do with my 1.1 inches width and 2.4 inches height more than the Prius. I think I’d buy a thicker coat.
diving bell and the butterfly »
Thursday, January 10th, 2008
Based on the true story of the editor of Elle magazine who had a stroke, only his left eye escaping paralysis, that still managed to write a book. That itself is a powerful story. Having not read the book, because I seem to make a habit of that, I don’t know how visual the text is. The film was good, but slow. It was good because it’s absolutely gorgeous. It’s like a painting in motion.
The cinematography and art direction are fantastic. The scenery, colors, and filters are enough to keep the somewhat bland action entertaining. The direction, using skewed perspectives and interesting cuts, is great. It took a lot to keep a bed-ridden, mute character interesting. sea inside was similar, but he could talk and interact on a normal level.
It’s hard to sympathize with Bauby, played by Mathieu Amalric (munich). Flashes of his life and his interaction with his closest friends or family make it obvious he wasn’t a great man. The acting throughout isn’t stellar, but Amalric does a pretty good job considering the constraints.
The therapy is arduous and intensive. It’s slightly repetitive, but intentionally so. His only means of communication was a person reading an altered alphabet, the letters in order of frequency used, until he blinks. With this slow, tedious process was used to communicate over the phone, to doctors and visitors, and in writing his book. It’s incredible. The journey in his mind is shown through blurred images and flashbacks mixed with symbols and scenery.
The imagery, no matter how masterfully done, is still a thin veil over a slow plot. It’s hard to stay interested. If you’re up for it, rent it. It’s good. It’s a good story of a man’s struggle and realizations. You’ll have to be very much awake, though.
***
haha »
Thursday, January 10th, 2008
woman from office: Why is my computer starting up again, I just shut it down…
woman in cube outside the other’s office: oohhh, maybe you hit restart instead of shutting it down.
office woman: [stomps feet four times in dramatic fashion] I just need a computer that will work for me.
rest of office: sits silently, laughing internally.
How in the shit does something like that go down? Computers are new, compared to say, the car or houses, I realize this. But you don’t exactly have to be Bill Gates or Steve Jobs to you pricks out there to shut down a computer. To start up a computer, you need to plug it in, have a monitor, find the power button, and watch the pretty lights. To shut one down, you have to click a button. A button. All the rest of the stuff, by nature of the computer running already, is sorted. On top of that… stomping? That hasn’t solved anything since I was three I’m pretty sure it was almost always ignored even then.
Amazing. At least I don’t move these people’s furniture anymore. Consider my blessings counted.
random five: burgers »
Thursday, January 10th, 2008
I’ve been itching to do one of these unordered top five lists for awhile. I enjoy food and want to share my experiences with you even those not within city limits. Really, these posts are fun for the whole family and a joy to blah blah blah… That’s all bullshit. I went out to Afton last night with girlfriend. My left elbow’s tweaked and my ass bone is bruised enough that sitting takes concentration I did learn how to turn, though… sort of. The slopes were hard-packed near-ice and falling was ill-advised. Add having not seen a Digitots show in awhile and having my car in the shop and I’m not exactly riding a big pile of patience just now.
Not a fan of being here just now. To add insult to injury ha, I haven’t eaten since 3.30p yesterday. All I can think about is food. I had to walk out to my car I forgot I left it by the rail before dropping it off at the shop. Somewhere between 34th and 40th I started thinking about burgers. This is unfortunate, as I don’t have access to burgers until later and even then, don’t want to pay for one. So, as compensation, I’m subjecting you to an all out burger blitz. The list is not in order of favorites.
Sally’s: $2-Tuesdays Burger —
I have nothing against the Sally’s burger. It’s just your average cheeseburger swiss, provolone, cheddar, american, or pepper-jack, but it’s got to be close to a half-pound and tastes better than most. At just $2 with purchase of a drink; $1.50 extra for fries or tots over the low-end potato chips, it’s the best deal in town if you’re into that sort of thing and I so totally am.
Addition: the Sally’s $2 VeggieBurger —
I know what you’re thinking not really. The mentioning of my having chosen this one elicited, “were you dared to, or something?” from a coworker. I, and this is well documented, am not a fan of the vegetables. It was sort of a spur of the moment thing, feeling like I should be healthier than usual. I didn’t necessarily regret it, but I don’t think I’ll be going that direction again. It wasn’t held together well and was sort of mushy in the middle. It didn’t taste all that bad, but it was definitely different. There wasn’t much to it. I mean, if I’m going to put two hundred hard-earned pennies toward something, I want it to be top notch. Because I’m cheap, that’s why.
5·8 Club: Juicy Lucy —
Describing the deliciousness of the Juicy Lucy to someone who has yet to partake is like describing an orgasm to a Ritz cracker. But, as your humble see: not humble servant, I’ll attempt to do just that: Picture a burger, covered in cheddar cheese, nestled in a thick bun. Suddenly, with your first bite, you’re blindsided by a pepper-jack flavor-splosion. It’s edible joy. Along with it come a hearty helping of fries and maybe some reasonably priced brew in a pitcher. It’s the all around experience. If 5·8 came to me and wanted their website redesigned which they should, I’d do it for three hundred bucks and a year of free juicy lucys, s’all I’m saying.
Town Hall: Seven Corners Burger —
Half pound patty of medium-cooked beef covered in provolone. A smart choice. Add some smoked bakon. A fantastic meal with a side of fries. Add Oatmeal Stout B.B.Q. sauce and it’s probably the best thing to hit seven corners since Bullwinkles got Mrs. Pacman. I don’t know how I missed this thing for so long, but after eating it a couple months ago, I felt like I had wasted my entire life even the parts where I didn’t owe money. Town Hall just happens to be one of the best micro-breweries in the city. With a pint of their seasonal or even their always-solid standard brews, this burger is transcendent.
Buster’s on 28th: Juicy Lucy —
This little beefy buddy was pretty good. It was made with blue cheese, and I think asiago, in the center. It was earthy and satisfying, but didn’t match up against the 5·8’s offering. It doesn’t appear on the menus anymore, so maybe they had unfavorable feedback. Their burgers are pretty good and far better than the Lake inn, which it replaced, but I don’t think I’ve gotten a warm batch of fries yet. Buster’s is fun and all, but not for the overpriced food, for the atmosphere. That and it’s the closest bar to the lakehouse that’s not filled with creepy old dudes or seedy townies. That’s saying something considering my unnatural love of dive bars and the typical townies therein.
Park Tavern: Bleu Cheese Burger —
I don’t know what the real name of this one was because the site’s menu is M.I.A., but I replaced the beef patty with a turkey patty. It had bleu cheese and barbecue sauce and came with burnt tots. I imagine eating it is kind of like how death feels. It was messy and the flavor combination was unfortunate. I powered through it purely on the assumption it was edibility. The entire experience was made all the better with terrible service and overpriced everything. They even turned off the game we were watching Kansas vs. Virginia Tech in favor of muted N.F.L. highlights on the N.F.L. network for about five minutes. Classic. In short: avoid. at. all. costs.