R.I.P. Sydney Pollack

Dammit.
Actor/Director
Spot on in Michael Clayton, Eyes Wide Shut and damn near everything else...
Directed a movie that actual changed the course of my life: "Absence of Malice".
That wasn't hyperbole -- that film ended my budding journalism career. Track that one down, it is still relevant today!
We lost a powerful talent today. Reflect for a moment.

Revolver

Two stylized blue pics in a row...must be birthday weekend! Actually I wanted Liotta's mouth open, and the hot chick lounging next to him in the frame..but oddly enough, I didn't get the press kit!
"Revolver" is a couple years old, just now hitting DVD. It was directed by Guy Ritchie, and Luc Besson appears in the credits. This movie was maligned by the press -- Ebert wanted the film burned as for him it was insultingly bad. Wow. Marrying Madonna does have its perks!
I enjoyed the film immensely, but it should be clear that saturated colors, bass driven soundtracks and Chess as a motif are headshots for this reviewer. Toss in a slice of anime in tribute to Tarantino's tribute and all you would need to completely satisfy me would be a gorgeous female assassin. Oh wait, there is one of those too!
I mention Besson, because this film, billed as "thinking man's action", dovetails very nicely with "Angel A", Besson's psych piece, (also maligned, by the hipper than thou, fwiw). Both of these films take different routes to understanding and undoing the self-destructive tendencies of their protagonist. The commentary track pulls the curtain back entirely, stating that the movie is all about "transcending the conceptual self."
Their is plenty of action, not too much torture(for these desensitized and pro-torture times[what, you thing being human gets you something if you are not a citizen? Damn liberal!]) a smattering of gratuitous nudity, and some superfine silk robes. What's not to like?
Recommended.

Sonny Rollins Saxophone Colossus

A jazz classic. With Rollins blowin', Max Roach on the drums, Tommy Flanagan playing piano and Doug Watkins on bass, it is absolutely magic listening. I have owned this disc before, but lost it long before moving out here to Kansas. A good friend sent me this, as my "real soon" migration to Costa Rica brought the opening track, "St Thomas," to mind for her.
She was right, it fits.More Rollins!

Bullet and Brain

How different would my life be if I had not stumbled across Anthony Wong's soulful performance in "Beast Cops" so many years ago? I most certainly would still have had Chow Yun Fat, Tony Leung, Maggie Chung and Michelle Yeoh, but Anthony Wong can make nearly anything watchable. Thankfully "Bullet and Brain" has plenty of other redeeming qualities.
Bullet and Brain are the trade names of a legendary pair of hit men. They have retired, but also left some "get out of jail free" cards -- and the hot granddaughter of the dead Triad boss is calling them in for protection.
Throw in the stiff rookie cop with kung fu chops, the 3 days to retirement police chief and the blonde, ambitious, disrespectful lieutenant in the Triad and there you have it: HK Action! Make no mistake all of those elements are there -- like horses and cowboys in westerns I suppose -- and this is an enjoyable 1.5 hours of genre action, with a side of Anthony Wong.
Recommended

Speed Racer

At brunch just prior to viewing I was reminiscing about "Speed Racer", one of the cartoons I watched as a sprout, and mentioned the ultrafast race around hairpin turns up a mountain in the rain. It was in there. The jump sound was in there. Racer X -- who used to make your heart stop every time he hit the screen -- is finally unmasked!
The one doubt I had was the kid and the monkey and they were fine.
This movie is 2+ hours of head spinnin' color and sound, like the end of 2001 except in color. Bright color.
I like serious movies, I do. This one wasn't, it was just the most fun I've had a live action animated film for kids since "Spy Kids". You adult types? Stay home.
Please compare and contrast Christina Ricci's roles in "Speed Racer" and "Black Snake Moan", 5 page minimum, single-spaced.
Recommended

Dynamite Warrior

Thai action comedy. "Tears of a Black Tiger" Anyone? This is one each kick ass crazy mystical rocket riding martial arts film. It is a slice of another culture. Watched this on DVD and, like "Ong Bak" before it, I was blown away.
Slapstick humor pervades the film, black slapstick humor. Great action sequences, rockets and virgin menstrual blood mix together to right wrong, defeat evil and unleash the buffalo.
This movie has food I want to eat, clothes I want to wear and a whole host of peeps that can stand on one foot, solid as Sears, for as long as they have to. Camera movement is good, editing good, but the budget --enormous for Thailand no doubt-- is thin far as film stock and processing go. Those of us watching these films over the years can see through this, but "Fearless" and "SPL" have spoiled us with bright clear pictures and dynamic sound. The humor is not as postmod as "Tears", but the fighting is absolutely authentic, and the guns are few and far between.
This is fast paced fun.
Recommended

"Is that enough human justice for you?"

It is hard to stay pissed at a show this good.

Slippery Slope

More politics, rather than reviews. I am well aware that I have very limited access to the truth with regard to "official" anything. The overt manipulation of the media by this administration is poo-pooed and dismissed by my conservative friends with a "you think it started with Bush?" offhand response.
The NYT column I am linking to here discusses things that will never come fully into the light, just like much of our history. Bob Herbert's OP-ED "Seeds of Destruction" deserves a few minutes of contemplation before you rush out to see "Iron Man" again.
The United States cannot lead the planet to a more civilized place without first getting itself in order. That starts with a sense of decency and fairness that belies "survival of the fittest" and "winner takes all". I think that teaching the pitfalls and fallacy of applying Darwin to everyday decisions might go along way towards reaching the goal of a compassionate sustainable existence.

Iron Man

Bravo!
Okay, need to go a little deeper than that.
Robert Downey Jr and Director John Favreau get it right. Soundtrack, in spite of Carmike Cinema's best efforts to destroy the viewing experience, was pop good. If Spiderman ushered Superheroes back in, the restart of Batman sealed the deal. Comic book movies are here to stay.
There are enough "geeks" in the mainstream to sustain this kind of entertainment. The times are so fantastically scary a good vs evil show with tech at the center becomes a triumphant feel good for a country just waiting for a regime change.
By the way, in case that is interpreted by a hyperpower as a cry for regime change? Please let me state now that I have no gold tub for your soldiers to bath in after their mission is accomplished.
I might use this space to talk about the cinema schizophrenia that demands absolute realism from it's historical fantasies (10,000BC) but lets the most improbable Iron Man stunts (and these bastards) off scot-free..
There is a "perhaps" involved I think.
Next viewing: 5 hours. Please assume that I will be once again asking management why AC-DC sounds louder from inside my car on the streets of St George than it did at the all digital, 1/2hr of TV commercials, second ticket price hike in six monthes -- oh wait! Hard Drives are made of corn.
I'm not saying the gun sounds were as weak as Halo 3's, I'm saying the sound was sculpted nearly as carefully as ILM made the suit, and deserves to be heard.
Recommended (in spite of this insanity) and even this.

An Empress and the Warriors

Epic in scope, this is a simple tale of unrequited love, palace intrigue and several large scale battles..and yes, Donnie Yen does take on an entire army with a sword. Ok, so there is all the synopsis you are going to get..
Swords, arrows and cool armor bathe this cross and double cross in blood rather than speeches. There is one speech, given by a "pharmacist" that decides the course of a nation. Apparently back in the day people actually listened to their pharmacist.
It helped a little that this pharmacist was the sole survivor of a fierce warrior tribe...
Not sure I need to say more, but this is a love story, and a heartbreaker to boot. You could watch it for Donnie Yen alone and not be disappointed, but there is nothing wrong with the double treat of being able to bring the other half to a kung-fu movie and having her like it..
Recommended

Like a Dragon

The picture above is for the video-game that this movie is based on..but do not let that deter you, the director is Takeshi Miike! His movies are nearly comic books in the best sense of the word -- picture driven, graphic, lightning fast. I'm prettty sure the whole "storyboarding" business has more than passing commonalities..
I'm not sure Japanese Schoolgirls without socks would be labeled an innovation, but certainly the young foil in this film begs the question! "Like a Dragon" no doubt references Bruce Lee's "Enter the Dragon," and, as such has a lot of kung-fu on display, sans Yuen Woo Ping. How many other choreographers can I name? Have you not read my review of "City of Violence?!"
One of my favorite recent Yakuza Characters was "Big D" from Johnnie To's outstanding "Election". Big D tore up the screen with his flamboyance, boasting, and a sadistic streak on full display via brutal acts of ultraviolence. He didn't have Majima's bat! Majima is the pirate patch wearing over the top crazy bastard..and Miike spells over the top with 2 eyes!
Kazuma is the good guy here, and quite a fighter. These sequences fall under the new term, mixed martial arts..though I can't seem to recall the Japanese Character for "shotgun".
All this being said, this is a gentler Miike film than even "Blue's Harp", and might be a good intro film, perhaps better than "City of Lost Souls".
Recommended

Southland Tales

What do you do after "Donnie Darko?" You have managed to capture the minds of smart girls like no other movie this side of "Edward Scissorhands" and had one of the coolest songs ever, "Mad World", on the soundtrack, so what's next? I suppose you might hire the Rock and make a sci-fi satire of today..
I was sold when the backup for the cop named Taverner said "Flow My Tears..."
Yes, this is that kind of movie. Be prepared to connect the dots, and, like "Bladerunner" I suppose, be prepared to ignore the narrator.
This is a tale of an alternate near future, soaked in Hollywood, and served cold. Hippies and Republicans are skewered equally, as are the rest of us in this diamond hard, teeth clenched during the laughter film.
Recommended

I Read the News Today..

Struck by short captions from the NYT, here they are, and why:
1. "European countries plan to use coal, generally the dirtiest fuel on earth, in new power plants." Well, I live in Kansas, not a particular hotbed of environmental action, where 2 new coal plants were shot down by a courageous politician: she was overridden, naturally. Anyone remember the Clamshell Alliance?
2. "The U.S. has less than 5 percent of the world’s population but almost a quarter of its prisoners." Land of the Free. Land of the Wiretap. Land where we came up with "Enemy Combatants" and began deciding that we don't really hold any truths to be self-evident if there is a no-bid contract involved.
3. " It is past time for Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton to acknowledge that the campaign’s negativity, for which she is mostly responsible, does nothing but harm to her, her opponent, her party and the 2008 election." To say nothing of the country that has been mired in a foreign occupation its populace doesn't understand but finally gets the picture that we truly messed up looking for revenge. For the 3 misguided conservatives that thought Saddam had to go, I suggest you look at our history, namely the Shah of Iran and General Pinochet.
and finally:
"The Supreme Court has repeatedly ignored the barbaric history of the death penalty."
Barbarians. A civilization is measured by its compassion -- where is the clause in Intelligent Design that allows us to stop moving towards it?

Forbidden Kingdom

"Forbidden Kingdom" is a great movie for 8-13 year old kids. I mean that in the same sense that the late 60's early 70's Tarzan films helped cultivate a sense of wonder in yours truly...
The things we know:
This is a Hollywood Film
Jackie Chan and Jet Li are the pull
The adolescent American boy is the viewer connection
Every die hard Fan Boy will be disappointed, as they haven't been 8-13 for at least a decade, and take this stuff way too seriously -- stick to your Tarantino filters guys!
This movie also has the guy who guarded the Oracle in Matrix 2, Collin Chou as the "sinister immortal tyrant".
There is terrific wire action throughout courtesy of Woo Ping Yuen, and even an explicit homage to the "Bride with White Hair".
My belated review of this does see the film as being accepted by the mainstream if not the critics, which I can only hope translates to more Kung Fu films making it in alongside the deluge of "Male Chick Flick" comedy-romances. It appears that acceptance is all about the subtitles, or lack thereof.
On a side note, it is great to see the foreign stars, in addition to being in top physical shape, learn English. It is a darn shame to read mean reviews by critics here in the United States making fun of Jackie Chan and Jet Li's accents. Nationalism is ugly wherever it rears its head, and the ugliness of English Only needs to go away.
During my time in the military I had a Dutch friend who translated German for me, which means he spoke Dutch, German and English, at least. The closest we get seems to be JFK calling himself a Berliner.

Recommended

Black Book

"Black Book" is Verhoeven's "Lust, Caution", but this review is not going to be a side by side comparison! Suffice to say you must see them both, if only for the differences in geography..
"Black Book" is on the surface an espionage thriller set in WWII. Underneath that is a desire to see people as they can be under duress, and the ugliness of human shortsightedness. Somehow I can see Nicole Kidman's character in that Lars Von Trier meta-movie in the tenacity of the female lead in this film. Both actresses throw their all into the roll and I am not talking just about the bodice shedding without body-doubles.
"Schindler's List" shared some of this movies narrative, in a darker more bleak style..so here we are, talking about Spielberg, Ang Lee and Paul "Robocop" Verhoeven in the same review. All three directors took chances with their respective films, all three succeeded artistically if not commercially for their efforts. We win too.
Recommended.

Appleseed Ex Machina

Appleseed Ex Machina is apparently part 3 of the Appleseed Saga...but I don't think it is necessary to start at the beginning on this one. John Woo was one of the producers on this, so you can bet it is a slow, languid float down a river of sadness...
Or you can watch cyborg on cyborg gun ballet with some cool matrixized camera not because they have to, but because they can!
The story is another post apocalypse that hasn't decayed infrastructure-wise but is suffering the moral rot that seems to grip even the cyborg and genetically enhanced citizens of this computer controlled city.
Akufen is on the soundtrack again, who would have guessed glitch was the music of action?
Recommended!

RIP Arthur C Clarke

Childhood's End
Islands In the Sky
2001
Rendezvous with Rama

These are some of his novels that brought joy to my mind way back in the days before things got hectic. More than that they shaped my worldview into something a little more hopeful. Special 2001 showing on movie night this week.
He will be missed.

The Wire

Best show on TV is over. Now we wait for the DVD set to re-watch. I am not in such a hurry this season -- the season seemed rushed and incomplete compared to the sprawling labyrinthine constructs of the 4 prior.
Still strong, still heartfelt, and still staring with bloodshot unblinking eyes that is modern life in the city of Baltimore.

The Bank Job

We all enjoy a good heist, particularly at the expense of the "rich", don't we? This is a terrific Bank Job based on an early '70's robbery. This robbery involved safe deposit boxes, and some of the secrets contained within. Pretty a propos considering that Spitzer cat in NY, n'est-ce pas?
Highly entertaining, well shot, briskly paced. Did I mention based on a true story? It is the Stander of 2008. Go ahead, enjoy the show that "Fun with Dick and Jane" should have been the second time around!
Recommended.
Some may argue that my love of "Crank" (the film kids) has distorted my judgement in re Jason Stratham -- far from the case, let me be the first to reassure thee..

My Blueberry Nights

"Oh that's too easy."
"Seems too simple." As if turmoil and failure are the only options where the modern heart is concerned! Watched this hot off of the NC17 Lust Caution (superb) by Ang Lee, and wow, what a contrast in tone and style from 2 terrific directors. I am of course disqualified from "reviewing" (some would suggest my reviews are hardly) any films by Won Kar Wei as I am in fact a card carrying fanboy. What? Laurie Anderson on a soundtrack (Fallen Angels) wouldn't hook you for life? Who's Laurie Anderson? What! Next you'll be telling me Operation Condor was a James Bond film!
"My Blueberry Nights" is a "road movie" that follows the inevitably appropos Laurie Anderson lyric, "...at the beginning of the movie they knew they had to find each another so they rode off in opposite directions.."
The cauldron of love is a boiling pot and I need a drink.
See it you cynical bastards.

U23D

That widget above provided by National Geographic. Yeah, my work browser crashed too!
No Grendahl, no Joli, and not loud enough for me -- but great 3D regardless!
It is startling to me to think that I have been listening to these guys since 1981. I bought my first U2 Album way back in the day, in Europe, while I was in the Army. I noted then that the cover for their second US release was the cover for the first EU (which was still a concept, as the cold war was on.
MTV playing "Sunday Bloody Sunday" over and over nearly killed my listening as completely as Van Hagar! Then came the Joshua Tree. Oh my. Achtung Baby. Rattle and Hum. Bono picking up where Geldof got ground into the dirt. And now this!
National Geographic presented this show, looks taped live in Buenos Aires. Nate Brent and I got a private show at Carmike, but the 3D crowd was sitting right next to me. Cellphones have replaced lighters. Movies have replaced concerts. iPods have replaced stereos. Home theatre has replaced the movies. MMORPGs and Halo have replaced hanging on them cornas. Plug in, turn on, drop out was never meant for all of us until now. Turn in your weapons first.
U2 3D doesn't outdo Stop Making Sense as a concert film, but man it is good. Not sure how it will translate to 2D on DVD, but at least at home I can crank it.
Recommended.

FreakAngels

We all (mostly) hate camelcaps, but what can you do when the project is as cool as this? Warren Ellis and Paul Duffield have dropped a gift into the intertubes. You follow this far, the pill you are going to take is no longer a choice. You have 10 seconds to comply. Click it! This, darling, is a lot more than a link to a webcomic. Dig deep into the site, marvelous stuff here, including the mix I'm listening to typing this 2 finger style into the big cathode eyed box.
Before you know it you will have found "The Authority". Pity the fool that tries to make a timeline in the Stormwatch Universe. Dig your own hole.

Vantage Point

Quaid, Whittaker, Weaver, Fox, and Hurt...how can it be as bad as the critics say? Can we get inside a "critics head"? Is it fair to start from: they have seen more films, spent more time watching than I have? Can we say that all this time spent watching and comparing should have some weight?
What was I hoping for when I went to see AVPR?
Well, I set no expectations for this: "Vantage Point", and got what I expected. 2 hours of exciting entertainment with some terrific actors along for the ride. You could do worse -- and you could have done better with Tony Scott's panned "Deja Vu" which is about ...vantage points!
Harmless, taut, occasional gripping and completely today. I am hoping that terrorists don't become America's Gojira. I am also hoping Dennis Quaid makes some more movies like this and Saviour!
Lightly recommended.

Burnished Abstraction

 

1431 Macro

Detail of door frame, new construction, in stark contrast to the chromed bling Tarkus tile..

4 Eyes 1 Building 2 Pics

Nate and I shot the same building on the same day. Individual shots available on his site and here, just below.

1431 Poyntz

 

New Office Tim Clark Architect

Squint to detect roofline, structure geometry

 

Spaceshuttle Tiles

 

Hood, Detail

 

Steve's apartment!

The Wire

Finally a recording of my favorite version of the opening song. "All the Pieces Matter" is 100% true for the show, and this disc. I will refrain from thinking about this coming out while a season is still showing -- can you say future double dip?
This CD from Nonesuch is yet another terrific release from a label that apparently can do no wrong. This would be as opposed to the heroes and vilains of the Wire who can, apparently, do no right without paying for it.
Being a Wire fan will of course deepen the understanding and enjoyment of this record, but, like having an understanding of any of the worlds at cross-purpose in The Wire will help you say "best show on TV" with even more conviction, it is not necessary.
Blues, soul, rap rock and punk co-exist alongside various pull-quotes in a dense packed CD of terrific material. Thanks Darren, I loves me some Xmas in February!
Recommended.

Mo' Music (I Know, Right?)

Nate brought this CD over on Wire night. We listened to it between episodes. Great from note one. Concept is straight forward enough, Onra went to Viet Nam to visit some relatives. Went to a record shop, bought 30 slabs o' wax. Mix/blend and repeat. Sharp blunt lo-fi goodness..GI Funk with a hip hop edge..recommended!

There I was on Myspace, just browsing. For every 10 loud abrasive obnoxious "page" songs there is a diamond.I have no idea who used "Bonfire Madigan", but cello and female voice together put the Reese cup to shame. I cruised to her site, Bonfire Madigan and bought this 10 year retrospective right from the site. On Saturday. Got here today in a cloth bag..who says small mobile independent is last year? I'm sure you would be pleased if you go to her site, listen to some cuts and do the right thing.
Recommended.

Vladislav Delay - Whistleblower

Music is hardly dead, contrary to RIAA reports. Electronic music is not just for dancing anymore You Want a Piece of Me? just in case you were reading the mainstream press... and just because it ain't 4/4 doesn't mean it is unlistenable!
Here are a couple reviews by those better than I (and perhaps less susceptible to the power of dub):

Pitchfork Review
The Wire Cover Boy
...and of course Sasu Ripatti's (aka Vladislav Delay/Luomo/Uusitalo/Sisto)site.
The astute reader will put together AGF and Mr Delay, and realize I have been a fan for awhile!
Steve and I blasted this one end to the other late last night, at Mark volume, sinking back into the couch and letting the dub unfold. A sublime listening experience was had by all. Actually this was our second teleportation this week, earlier we explored Jon Hassel's superb Power Spot. That album cover is a Navajo Sand Painting, and I am reminded of the spirit-space pioneer "Carlos Castaneda," whose Power Spot novel was a map of psychic places. Hassel's work was done in 1986. Whistleblower, the Delay album, hit the streets this month, Feb 2008. In spite of the end of 8 dark years being in sight this albums beats and blips are informed by the turbulence of our times..but no less enthralling than the kindler, gentler 4th World Musics, and an absolute must hear.

Rescue Dawn

Herzog directs, Bale acts, and no one goes? Well, that may be because no theater showed the film! We didn't get to see a trailer that revealed every detail for 6 months before it came out and Adam Sandler doesn't even guest star. There is precious little stoner humor within, no teen pregnancies and everyone in it probably had sex before they were 30, so there is absolutely no reason anyone from the 18-35 year old demographic would go.
Not showing it any theaters makes it so.
There are far more criminal things happening than not showing this fantastic film going on right now. I wish I could say the public was too busy marching against torture, the shredding of the constitution, or the beating of X by 15 year police veteran Y, but today, while the President waterboards science itself into submission, Britney still pulls the column inches and the big crime is showing the "big game" on a 57 inch TV in the church vestibule.
Rent it. Buy it. But see it.