the blog: tag= film

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A moment to breathe

Date
8/12/2008 05:42:00 PM [permalink]
Author
yahooza
Entry
Subversion, our code repository, is currently down, giving yours truly a chance to write some. It's been pretty hectic (in a wonderfully fun kinda way) at Raptr. Lots of work which will soon reveal itself shortly ....

I've wanted to write about the Dark Knight since seeing the stunning film weeks back. I'm a thinker of the 'grey', the cross-section of polarizing entities, that which provokes critical thought, rebuttle and careful listening. It's very easy to embrace the black and white, accepting the firm beliefs of those who stand by "I am such, like my colleagues" rather than putting a conscious effort to understand the debate.

That's where the film made me ponder the hero and villain dynamic: Batman, the vigilante creature who decides to tap the cell phones of all of Gotham (see Bush and his Patriot Act policy) for the greater good or the Joker, the master of chaos who tempts the city's citizens w/ ethical dillemmas, provoking thought and questioning themselves. I loved the Joker, not only for Nolan's portrayal of the infamous villain but because of who is: the anarchist who wished to break the status quo, to question self-being and not just being the arch-criminal, robbing banks, holding politicians hostage and painfully balancing the hero / villain levers. If I had to become a super-villain, I'd model m'self against Nolan's Joker =)

In the end, the Batman understands that Gotham City needed its polar forces and becomes the villain to uphold the upstanding and heroic legacy of the fallen Harvey Dent. It's sad that 2.5 hours of conflict and city upheaval lead back to the same black and white portrait: always a "good", offset by the "bad".

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Finding good things.

Date
6/11/2008 11:57:00 PM [permalink]
Author
yahooza
Entry
I hadn't heard of The Air I Breathe, an emotional, artsy-farsy indie starring the likes of Andy Garcia, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Forest Whitaker, Brendan Fraser and Kevin Bacon (cameos from John Cho and Kelly Hu), written and directed by Jieho Lee.
A drama based on an ancient Chinese proverb that breaks life down into four emotional cornerstones: happiness, pleasure, sorrow and love. A businessman bets his life on a horse race; a gangster sees the future; a pop star (Gellar) falls prey to a crime boss; a doctor must save the love of his life.
I really enjoyed the slow-paced Haggis-esque narrative, delving into four separate, yet interconnected, story arcs. It is intense—even for me—as emotions hit their peaks and ugly dips; however, for me, there was something missing. A lesson or a message in redemption or salvation, that I felt was ignored, especially from this genre film. Nonetheless, it's worth the rental.

I've also been into 100 Bullets, a comic series about the opportunity for retribution. What if you were offered the chance to seek justice, one hundred untraceable slugs—absolute, no-frills vindication— and the path to achieve it? The stories center around the right and wrong, challenging the reader's moral compass, painting life and the world as much grayer than the absolutes that human beings cling by.

The art is very dark and gritty, similar to Frank Miller's Sin City. The narrative, of course, follows suit: lots of four-letter words and violence. That's always a thumbs-up for me ;)

So two good bits to discover, The Air I Breathe and 100 Bullets. Do it, do it =)

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No country for apathy

Date
1/12/2008 11:05:00 PM [permalink]
Author
yahooza
Entry
I can't get No Country for Old Men outta m' head. Super storytelling and fantastic soundtrack— there wasn't any music to augment the tale. Stories seem more realistic w/ out background music. the main gunfight, midway through Michael Mann's movie Heat is another fine example. The medium focuses on the storytelling and is not just a music video of jump shots and pop music.

The bad guy is fuckin' scary, reminiscent of the antagonist from Serenity, the Operative, who dutifully fulfills his job, regardless of ethics. Both characters believed in their principles and their duty for the common goal.

I read somewhere on the interwebs that one of the themes in the Coens' movie is fate and chance, personified by the aforementioned bad guy. That bad guy is the grim repear sans the black robe and sickle, and when you meet him, it's not by coincidence. That's why he qualifies some of his murders, sometimes offering an act of 'chance'—the coin-flipping scene from the trailer—for his soon-to-be victims to escape. His voice, demeanor and choice of weapons makes him the creepiest villain (if he is one) I've seen since Hannibal Lector from Silence of the Lambs.

Fate. chance. I am in doubt and can't formulate a clear stance about either. I do believe in moments of chance, the "right" time, when pathes cross and opportunity unfolds. A person need to be aware and recognize those happenings and act upon 'em. I'm not talking about a "chance in a lifetime" but rather those weekly or monthly events that can steer one's life towards greener pastures. But what about the times that one cross paths that is a non-win situation? Run. Those aren't opportunities, they are traps. Run.

I'm more of science guy, though I do believe in some mystic spiritualism. Fate and destiny do apply somehow in m' life and I do believe in that shit in some way, though I can't qualify how that can be .... I can understand the two sides, but I can't accept both. Weird.

So, next time, when you see that window, jump into it. You may not get another chance. Unless, of course, you know you're on the 40th floor.

--

Also:
http://cineoctoboo.com/index.php/2007/12/17/no-country/

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Too dark.

Date
1/03/2008 09:52:00 PM [permalink]
Author
yahooza
Entry
Watch Night at the Golden Eagle .... a very dark, ugly film. Zero redemption, no forgiveness .... Vinnie Jone's character is disgusting. Ewww.

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'07 films I gotta watch in '08

Date
1/01/2008 07:46:00 PM [permalink]
Author
yahooza
Entry
Must, must see.
  • Sweeney Todd
  • Lust, Caution
  • Southland Tales
  • There Will Be Blood
  • I'm a Cyborg, but That's OK
  • No Country for Old Men
  • Charlie Wilson's War
  • Michael Clayton
  • Juno

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Topten films that made me question life, its significance and ask "what the hell is going on?"

Date
12/14/2007 11:19:00 AM [permalink]
Author
yahooza
Entry
Not in any particular order, just some good cinema that has made me take a step back to examine the world.
  • Joy Luck Club
  • Running with Scissors
  • American Beauty
  • Fight Club
  • Happiness
  • Requiem for a Dream
  • Garden State
  • Trainspotting
  • Office Space

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The Last Kiss

Date
12/11/2007 08:30:00 PM [permalink]
Author
yahooza
Entry
I'm a big Paul Haggis fan. Million Dollar Baby. Crash. the Black Donnelleys. Obviously, I had to rent The Last Kiss.

Even though a friend dubbed it a chick flick, it's not really one of those. It doesn't follow that same romantic comedy story formula and the plot wasn't predictable at all. In the end, I believe none of the characters fully redeemed themselves.

I enjoy character-driven story arcs (Buffy, Firefly, Carnivale), so it was easy to enjoy and I did very much. The film centers on relationships, their fragility, difficulty, etc. The actors stumble w/ the main problems of most dissolving relationships: trust and communication. You can have one or the other, but to build a solid bond, you gotta have both.

The film examines the step from engagement to marriage (lead characters), just married and parenting an infant and, lastly, surviving a thirty year marriage. Many people focus on the happy in a relationship. Chemistry, good sex, common interests and goals, status, etc. That's fine and dandy, though some mistake marriage as a continuation of that relationship. I agree w/ the film that it's not that simple. It's less sexy, less flowers, less chocolates, compromises, understanding, and most importantly requires lots of trust and communication. Two do become one in the ultimate union of 'em all. Heh heh.

Another theme of the film is the various crisis of life's journey, hitting those age milestones and "how far along you are or where you should be in the grand scheme." I guess we all put markers in all chapters of our lifetime, especially the first two decades.

I wonder too when my day will come. I'm still young, relishing life in my early thirties, but I do yearn for more. Wife, kids, the whole white-picket fences. I do sometimes envy my friends' babies; even all the stories of handling poo and being barfed on =) When the day comes, it will.

And all this comes from a man whose longest relationships have been a matter of months. Meaning: read this w/ a grain of salt or however that goes.

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McLoven

Date
12/10/2007 12:05:00 AM [permalink]
Author
yahooza
Entry
Superbad is super clever. I really liked the direction: no music, not many snap angle shots and lots of mindless banter of four letter words and pop culture references. It's an evolution upwards from the American Pie franchise, as the humor relies on slapstick and dialogue rather than sleeping w/ milfs, peeing on each other and that apple pie.

the moral of the film: life is far more interesting than doodling phalluses. grow up and use yours rather than fantasizing about it on a sheet of paper =D

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Topten Films

Date
10/17/2007 07:01:00 PM [permalink]
Author
yahooza
Entry
  1. Fight Club
  2. Heat
  3. Office Space
  4. Goodfellas
  5. True Romance
  6. Trainspotting
  7. the Crow
  8. Cruel Intentions
  9. Chungking Express
  10. Lock, Stock and Two smokin' barrels

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Pay to watch.

Date
8/24/2007 07:50:00 PM [permalink]
Author
yahooza
Entry
On a Bay Area radio station this morning, the disc jockeys polled their audience as to which film stars they would pay to see, regardless of how bad the movie reviews. Lots of responses, too many too mention.

My fave movie celebrities would include Natalie Portman, Brad Pitt, Ewan McGregor, Christian Bale and Gary Oldman. Besides their fine thespian talents, they choose challenging roles and cool indie flicks. Sure, some have done mainstream, the Hollywood blast-em-ups and such, but very few. Even Portman apologized to Star Wars fans for Episodes I, II and III. That was a nice touch =)

Michael Mann, David Fincher, Wong Kar-wai and Quentin Tarantino are my favorite directors. All style. Great film makers.

It's the weekend, time to unwind .... I'm outta here ....

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Career paths

Date
1/30/2007 09:15:00 PM [permalink]
Author
yahooza
Entry
Sometimes I dream of being in the mob. It's probably less stressful than software development. Of course, I wouldn't have the cajones to kill. They (whoever that may be) say that the act changes the soul, purges morality and I believe it. Taking a life is playing God. That's a big no-no.

Go watch The Departed ('06 movie of the year for yers truly). Listen for the Dropkick Murphys (the bagpipes).

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Miami not so nice.

Date
12/29/2006 12:24:00 AM [permalink]
Author
yahooza
Entry
Michael Mann's silverscreen port of Miami Vice needs a lot of help. I'm a big Mann fan and the film is very disappointing. Sure, there's the Mann blue tint, pan shots, cool tunes and drama, but the story put me to sleeeeeeeep.

Seriously, Colin Farrell and Jamie Foxx as the tough guy leads? After watching Deniro, Pacino, Kilmer, Sizemore, Jon Voight, Henry Rollins and Danny Trejo running wild in Heat, WTF is up with the casting of two pop stars?

Sellin' out, perhaps? For shame ....

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Wassup rockers

Date
12/03/2006 08:45:00 PM [permalink]
Author
yahooza
Entry
Wassup Rockers brought out warm and fuzzy feelings. A group of high school Mexican skaters straight outta South Central cruise into Beverly Hills and funny things happen. They resemble a Latino Ramones.

Larry Clarke wrote and directed. He's famous for his debut film, Kids. Man, that was one fucked up movie. Not a single redeeming character. Ugh, still gives me the heebie-jeebies.

Anyways, Wassup Rockers wasn't as over-the-top or even 'great.' A bit stiff and campy, I reckon. Whatever. I really dug the soundtrack, some ol' school hardcore and punk squeals. It reminded me of college when I first hung out with some "punkers." Were they actually? Heh heh, who cares. =)

Ky and Andy were cool kids. We drank lots of beers, skated in the parking lot and listened to vinyl on a half-working turntable: Face to Face, The Mr. T Experience, Jawbreaker, NOFX.

I still keep in touch with Ky. He's all grown up now, finishing his residency, and married to his high school sweetheart and raising two lovely children, Ella and Elliot (named of the deceased Mr. Smith). We keep in touch via email, exchanging news on what we're listening to and what's fresh (wow, how hip of me to say).

I don't know where Andy plays, but I hope he's well.

So, wassup rockers. Go rent it. Oi.

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