Inequities Of Inequities=Nagging

Chris Rock: "If Jennifer Lawrence were black, she’d really have something to complain about"

If I were Brad Pitt, I'd be a good looking bazillionaire.

Hollywood is never fair. Neither is life. My DNA makes me a short guy. I gotta' go with that. The inequities of pay aren't color based, unless it's green. If they can pay you less, they will. I would say to Jennifer...get new management if you aren't feeling you are getting paid what you're worth.

Not that she doesn't have the right to complain. We all bitch about not getting paid much money for what we don. Shit, I complain about credit being handed out to nudnicks who did NOTHING on a movie. Credit and appreciation mean much more than money. I'm being serious here. Tell a person how much they mean to you, money is secondary.

That's why my friend is planning on leaving our company. He's taken for granted. And given that he's a very intelligent person, the minute he threatens to leave, they will offer more money. By then, it will be too late.

I learned that from Dale Carnegie.

2016

Happy New Year, mooks.
2015 has been fun. I got a lot done. Made a few short films. In process of making a few more. It's been a ride. It's always weird to take stock in a year of work. It's like trying to pinpoint a Boys II Men song, which I'm certain was an 80's tune when in reality it was early 90's. It all becomes a blur.

The older I get the less I care about new year. Again, it's a blob. I just keep doing what I do. There is a certain shock of goodwill energy that is lost after a holiday. As slowly as it comes in, it gets yanked from you. I was lucky enough to buy a ton of xmas lights before they mothballed those for the next year. Great deals to be had there, I guess.

So, I say, drink up and be happy. It should remind us that our lives aren't marked by time, but by accomplishments. It's going to be a very creative year for me. I've got big plans. And I hope you all do too.

Carrie Fisher: Age Shaming

I think she aged well, considering the insanity her life has gotten since being in a slave girl outfit. How can we hate Jabba over that?

Anyway, she took to social media to bust people for debating whether she aged well or not. In a movie. About space. Really? She is the person who she is...just older. Who cares? I love that she e en returned. After massive success as a screenwriter. I will say it is an indictment of growing up in the spotlight of two famous people. But, I think she really did well for herself.

I wouldn't want anything to do with being judged by my looks. I'd be fucked. In fact, at work...I constantly defend my disheveled look by admitting how poor I am. Who cares? I care more about spending money on cool shit. Appearances mean a lot to people. I would say, back in 1983 when "Return Of The Jedi" was made, there was no social media. We can only assume in our heads what people thought. Now, you can read a blog like this and really know. I guess. I could be lying.

I love Carried Fisher. She's witty, acidic and cantankerous. What she's really saying is, people shouldn't deal with good or bad how she's aged. I know a bunch of us support her no matter what. I've always known her more as a writer than an actress. Since the roles she got as an actress were somewhat...dismissive. She's done so much script doctoring no one knows about. And I guess it's why she is paid what she's paid.

Is there a debate as to whether she aged well? It's a passing conversation if anything. We can't change that in our nature. It's weird to think you can.

Anyway, much love to her return to Star Wars universe. I got misty when I saw her and Harrison Ford together. Call me a sap.

Waiting For Things To Render

I finally got my completed timeline back and waiting for some rendering out before I cough up a copy for the sound mixer. It's been a long and somewhat muddy road. Mostly due to my own laziness. Or coordinating. I often think about these guys with big dollars having others to do this with. It's a tough one, since I have to do everything myself. In terms of getting material in the hands of the right people. It's good to have taken a break though. My perspective of the project was skewed. Some content issues, but nothing that can be fixed at this point. It's in the writing...so it's all on me. Pacing is a big one. Again, hard to tell. Hell, I really liked "Joy" others felt it muddled, so can kinda' guess my second guessing, but whatever, I'm proud of "Nick's Van" and excited for others to finally see it. ESPECIALLY on a massive screen.

Well, back to my closet to render more.
Cheers!

Shootings At Year's End

I was waiting for my car to be repaired, and they had CNN on.
Interesting thoughts:
956 people killed by police this year
25% they figured had mental illness. Does that seem like a lot? Considering the numbers of murders that didn't involve police.
Maybe.
Maybe holding the boys in blue to higher standards than our dumbass selves, is the logic. I'm not sure. I only know I wouldn't want to be a cop. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.
Recently, Tamir Rice, the kid who was waving around a gun in that Cleveland neighborhood that was shot and killed, the city isn't pressing charges against the cop...who leaped out of the car and started shooting.
The debate is to whether or not having waved a toy gun around would've got him killed. I would HOPE cops had the brain cells rubbed together that no one was running, ducking and hiding. You didn't hear pop sounds. And it's just some dumb kid. So for this kid's stupidity, he is unnecessarily killed. Fuck if they couldn't bust down drug mules and "accidentally" kill them. Or gang bangers or...anyone but a damn kid standing in a playground. Also, the proximity of the kid to the officer once the officer leaped out of the cruiser, it's impossible for me to think he didn't see the kid just standing nonchalantly pointing it around. It must've come as a shock, I'd say that real guns were drawn on him.

Again, I'm not sure what lesson is to be learned here, but you can bet the Mother will most likely sue toy company and blah blah blah. It's all a mess.

I don't know what's changed. We talked about this with the other people getting their cars fixed. My theory is that we just are taking who we can get, in terms of police officers. We don't care what their background is. And the ones who get complaints against, they just move them.
Fun stuff. Wonder what 2016 will bring.

Hollywood Hustle: Holiday Edition

Hope y’all had a great Christmas. A safe and happy one.

It’s really the strong push of Hollywood to get their movies into award season. All these people kissing, hugging, happy to just be nominated. Crock of shit.

First, women gripe because they’re not paid enough. Here’s where it gets fuzzy. This year, there are massive movies about women for women by women. Don’t let that smoke screen fool you, because it’s about throwing a dog a bone. Yes, I was blogging earlier about women need to stop complaining about not getting enough roles and so forth. What I really meant was, women have to stop griping about the money if they get the juicy roles. See the bait and switch. Sure, we’ll give you more roles, if you take less money. Oh, you want more money? Be a girlfriend of the action hero then.

That’s one. The second thing is…whatever small town you come from, consider that there were other people who came from small towns. And they’ve been here for say…ten years. They’ve toiled and danced with trying to break into the movie industry. Now you decision to come out to this town to make it…well, you may just crack it right out of the gate. What are the odds of that? Since you’ll be filtered by that guy who has been spending years toiling. What if it isn’t that one guy? Thousands who you have to get through gone through the same thing. It is not in their best interest to promote you in any way. In fact, it’s a risk if anything. High pressure moments in that world require only one bad decision to get knocked back into the mailroom. The guy who schedules us…is a glorified secretary. You can literally pull a random college student  out of school and plop him into this guy’s job. Because essentially that’s what they did. Guy was in client services, which means he was a waitress. He’s a schmoozer. He spends more time on the phone then actually physically working. A real worker bee sees this. And he takes screen credit before anyone who actually worked on a movie. That’s ballsy. Does he care? No. He wants to feel important, as he’s derailed his dreams (in his 50’s now) and unable to grow. This is the guy you have to filter through. So the longer you’re here, the more you see more despicable jerks like the one mentioned above. They’re something no one ever mentions because we thrive on the perception of dreams…they are the first line of defense between your initial survival in Hollywood.

Fortunate for me, I sidestepped that, since I don’t answer to him. Though he tries vainly in a passive aggressive way to maintain his authority (which is laughable). I secretly help those who keep working on film. Because it means something. Because, it seems, the people who shoot on film have dreams that CAN be realized. Being a small part in someone else’s climb to fame while you’re doing your own thing is the goal…I would think. I think many become so derailed with so many disappointments, they aren’t willing to be so supportive. I find that to be the saddest person in town. Because they are the ones who rely on the perception of their position rather than the reality of their goals. You don’t move this way. You just keep spinning your wheels. So, if you ever get in a position where you can be helpful, forget the toiling anger that got you to just midlevel. It’s okay to shoulder someone to the next level. Even if it means they ignore you while they’re in the limelight. You didn’t do this for them, you did it for you.

"Age Of Adaline" (2015)

On paper this movie should’ve been good. And it does hold your interest, in concept only. A few things that make this laugh out loud silly.

1)   For a girl her age to suddenly stop aging, they never showed how much fun it could be. Instead, it was always at the mercy of people chasing her down. I doubt for the first 10 years it would be that difficult to really have some fun with it. Also, did her brain seems stunted too. Which would mean she’d still have the capacity of a 20-something year old. In which case, living in a library remembering the past is odd. Though, they hinted at her random adventures, it seemed she always went back to mulling around like an old lady. Presumably since she’d have to explain her condition.  ‘Aint a woman in the audience who would sympathize with her condition. Never aging? This movie really has no clue to vanity.

2)   Thank God she looked like Blake Lively and not…say, Rosie O’Donnell. Can you imagine being rejected for decades. Now THAT I could believe would lead to a very resentful life. In fact, I would’ve liked to have seen a darker moment where a guy preferred Adeline over her daughter who would look the same age and that would lead to some REAL awkwardness. As it is, there’s enough after the credits roll that will need deep therapy to clean up. It’s just too messy. A cleaner ending would’ve been a sadder one. The one they’re left with is corny and dumb.

3)   Nitrate film will burn. And the film she runs in the beginning was from the early 1900’s. I suspect they were okay with sticking it to film nerds, like myself, but there is no way those newsreels would’ve been preserved the way they did it.

4)   For someone attempting to disguise her past, the simple solution is to really disappear. It’s not that hard. There also isn’t a point to continually refresh your identity. Furthermore, I know this is a fable, but did it have to be a COMPLETELY sheer coincidence of the background of her new love.

5)   Did the boyfriend have to be secretly rich? Maybe. He could’ve easily just been an artist. Instead, he’s a tech rich bohemian that makes Adeline feel…like he made something of himself. Where the fuck do they go from here besides socialites? Boring weirdos, with stories to tell, I guess. I guess since it gains access to better locations, and that she falls for him before she knows his background. Or…fuck if I know. The guy is corny. Which really plays into more of her vanity. It couldn’t be a joke that she prefers older men?

6)   If it’s so tough being an anomaly, it’s not far fetched to jump off a bridge to your death. Golden Gate is within reach.

7)   She’s banged a ton of dudes from different eras. How the Hell did she survive the 70’s.

8)   I’m not sure this is so good for the old ladies of this time. I had a girlfriend who spoke like she spoke. Because she was trying to be classy. It bugged the fuck out of me, because I bugged the shit out of her for being so…unrefined. This dude she meets is bohemian…it’s so confusing as to what he found so much of interest in her, other than she looked like Blake Lively. Did you know Blake Lively is the niece of Robyn Lively. The pretty girl from “Not Just Another Teen”? They could be sisters.

9)   I feel bad for Harrison Ford. He’s kind of the odd man out here. For no other reason than he traveled and crossed paths with this witch.

10)                   If I’d known an ex-girlfriend came back, one I was determine to marry but then disappeared, but came back looking EXACTLY the same, I’d jam a stake into her heart. How come no one ever mentions the witchcraft aspect of this oddity? From her perspective, I would maybe want to know how being struck by lighting may have caused this phenomenon. This cheap, dumb, lazy, device to explain it. Well, I guess it worked for Frankenstein.

There are just too many questions to address. But I understand it’s suppose to be a love story. I get that it’s aimed towards women. But I suspect it’s really going to piss them off. Because she’s got everything, looks, money, dudes..but is still mopey.

"The Big Short" (2015)

Good God are we dumb.
I'm sure a lot of this is going to be dense for people not read up on mortgage loans. But they simplify it by allowing cameos to instruct you like a hygiene film back when I was a kid. It's comical in that it's told to hold your interest on the insanely ridiculous way the government sold the American dream and then...allowed the banks to dick us. If you believed in those types of things. Because the victims are watching the movie, slowly fuming, while the real people out there who fleeced us...well, they keep living.

This movie should be required watching to anyone who trusts people in suits too much. Hard work and earning a plot of land is a perfect way for these wolf in sheep's clothing to sell you. Worse, when they are your neighbor. Now the interesting thing about this movie, is that we are watching the hunter watching the wolves watching the sheep. Yep, it's that dense. And I am sickened at the very thought that there...well, I won't give it away only that it's eye opening, sobering system of capitalism, that you can believe or not. I think it happens. I've seen some of my friends who've bought into the system, only to have a ghost town pop up where there was once hope. It's a haunted house story at one point. The remnants of dreams are far scarier than any murder. Because, the system runs deeper than we realize. How do you plug a dam after the hole has exploded? Why grab some buckets in start baling? Fuck no. Continue the path that we've set out. All to get richer. You know what that is? Morally bankrupt people. The movie does a great job in fleshing out the groups of people who did cash out on the insanity. But, they aren't proud of themselves. They are just as brutalized when some conclude the resolution didn't adjust the moral fiber of the American Dream. We sold ourselves way too short, in essence, when we wanted something for nothing. I blame our easy to gain mind numbing pop culture that has sold us wants, instead of remind us of needs.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this movie. And is a must to see when the holidays die down. It is very sobering to the holidays, and is a shame it will probably lose out to...well, ironically the movies that keep us in the fog. I don't mind the fog. I prefer the fog. The fog is where life is happier.

Please go see this movie.

Right Place, Right Time

I've been watching a lot of amateur movies lately, shot by people who are trying to break into the movie business. It's impressive. People are so visually sophisticated these days. There's no way in Hell, back in my day we could just pick up a camcorder and compete with the guys who had the experience to shoot on film. Nowadays, the lines are pretty thin as to who is a pro and who isn't.

What surprised me was that there were so many with so few credits to their name. Sure they made a solid short movie, or even a feature, but even at this level, they're still hustling for an opportunity to do a bigger movie. If I were an exec, I'd give them a chance. Shit, they show what they could do with so little. But the powers that be, sift through thousands if not hundreds of thousands of media to find that one that has what it takes.

So it's probably not going to be all that popular for me to tell you that a lot of it has to be right place, right time. I got my opportunity to do things, simply for being in the right place at the right time. The key to that opportunity is to make the most of it. These very talented young filmmakers are going to bash themselves up with rejection knowing they have the skill, just not the name or connections to break through. I sincerely wish I could tell the new people in town this simple fact...talent means nothing without connection. And the connection isn't just who is in front of you, it's who's next to you.

See, most come from all over the country to attempt to break in this industry. With enough chutzpah, it happens, but in baby steps. I think talented people will find this to be very frustrating. Since, you will see people move up past you. All you can do is to focus on what you do well. This tends to be the MOST difficult part, since when you start to starve and face rejection, the pain does start to get to you. I wouldn't go back and re-do my first 5 years in Hollywood. It was a ton of talk.  Conversely though, a lot of people will just jump right in. Their attitude and personality will carry them far. This town is surprisingly small, and their name gets batted around. Networking does work, if you work hard to do it. At this point though, I couldn't tell you how it's done. It's much different now. I suspect you get less than 3 minutes to dazzle someone, before they flip open their phone and pretend to be important. This is the obstacle you must endure.

Being in the right place, at the right time requires that you are prepared when that time comes. But that time rarely comes unless you place yourself in some of the right places. I recommend you don't fart around with the "party scene" and learn your craft. People do find people who put in the work, when they come calling.

"The Martian" (2015)

zzzzzzz...
should've just ended my review here.
Yet

It’s so well crafted I’m certain people are mistaking it for a good movie. But it’s fucking dull. Yes, it’s smart. But it lacks…something. Perhaps because to jeopardize gazillions of dollars and other lives in order to rescue someone, it’s downright silly.

The story is of a Mars mission that goes awry. They do an emergency evacuation of the area only to have left one person behind. Apparently, this causes a shockwave of interest with…the entire world. Bullshit. That’s corny on a level of which I can’t describe. What IS interesting is how he does manage to survive and perhaps lead us to a blueprint of how to colonize a far off planet. Maybe. Unlikely in my lifetime. These movies of survival are cool, if done right. And discovery is natural. This is no “Castaway.” Logic of primitive items dictates that he uses what is at hand to continue living. In this movie, Matt Damon has no concrete reason to live, only…that he must. Dumb. And then we have to spend the rest of our time waiting for the inevitable. Which is excruciating, since the process will take a while.

Perhaps this is not my cup of tea. It’s heavy in science. The human element seems just too convenient for the story. For instance, the ones that left him behind have far greater reasons to let him perish on Mars. So they risk everything for…what amounts to a few sentences. These characters FAR outweigh Damon. His humor in this movie seems so misplaced. Not that it wasn’t appreciated, since the rest of the movie would’ve collapse under the boredom, but it’s not that much fun.

It’s gotten a ton of critical praise lately. We are starved for…maybe smartly crafted movie. Or people want to sound smart by liking this movie? In terms of…doing the homework we don’t want to do. As a movie, it bored me to tears. Having gone in and out of consciousness during this movie, I would have to say a big pass on it. I feel a lot of people who watch it after the theaters will feel bamboozled by the ones who recommended it. It will be forgotten in the canon of Ridley Scott movies.

I Miss Van Damme & "Time Cop"

You know, in the 90’s, Jean Claude Van Damme was convinced there was never enough of him in movies. I would say he’s the first to ever have two movies where there are two of him on screen. “Double Impact” & “Time Cop.” The latter is a bit of a cheat, because it’s old Van Damme vs. new Van Damme, and then there’s an intermediate Van Damme that sort of in between two different timelines. Which means, the overlap makes it THREE Van Dammes. Let’s not count the infinite universes that would produce more.

The main issue I have with time travel movies, is…we do have to remain in the present to maintain logic. For instance, the main story has to keep in pace with what’s going on in the now. In “Time Cop” in order for Max (yep, that’s his name in the movie) to remain sullen and angry, his present physical being cannot be altered, even though we see that the present more angrier, broken up Max is still grizzled. His memories don’t carry over from…the resolution of the film. It won’t make any sense any more when you get to the end either. Because when he returns from that bizarr-o world, he should carry the memory of his younger self. But he seems confused about how it changed back to the normal state, sans bad guy (it’s not a spoiler, since you should’ve already seen this gem). What I DON’T care about is these massive logic flaws because Van Damme does the splits twice in this one. For no reason really. One to dodge a stun gun hitting water, the other to prevent a purse snatcher. You could argue the purse snatcher-boot-to-the-face-stretch was to illustrate his ability for the splits later on, I say…put in another split, because I find it impressive for any man to be that flexible.

“Time Cop” is that type of movie where you don’t care. You just have fun. Thinking too much at that point is deadly, because it is about a concept of stopping people from going back in time to make ripples to our history. You could say “Looper” fleshed out the details better, but it’s not as fun as “Time Cop.” Which I think should’ve been a franchise. So many options here. And when was the last time you saw Ron Silver as the villain. I’m sure casting people saw what the rest of the world saw…there’s something really rodent-like with his face. Not sure what it is, other than he could be Ellis’ (from “Die Hard”) brother. He was cold, snakey in “Blue Steel” too. But, at least he got to bang Jamie Lee Curtis. Also, Mia Sara is unbelievably hot in this movie. I didn't think she was that way in "Ferris Bueller..." Annoying actually, but in "Time Cop" you finally get to see tits, which is perfect for this movie.

What can I say about this movie that hasn’t been said over two decades ago? It stands the test of time. Thankfully, they didn’t hop on the grunge wagon (as “The Crow” did…ugh). And, it really set the standard for graphic novel movies in terms of cartoonish villain type world domination type stuff. Incidentally, Ron Silver wanted to be president. So he uses technology to get funding through nefarious means. Though the government pays someone to develop this technology and decides it can get into the wrong hands and now must police it. Consider that that is the core of The Avengers storylines circa 2015. And they wave it around like it was an original thought.

Enough Fucking Around

Alright, I got some time coming up, in terms of holiday vacation...so I vow, to sit my fucking dumbass down and LOCK DOWN MUSIC! Just solidify a decision.

Having a full time job really burns the energy required to seriously focus. More like the traffic in L.A. just makes you want to plop down on your couch after getting home and eat Fritos. Fuck that. Now is the time to finally make firm decisions.

"Avengers: Age of Ultron" (2015)

I love Joss Whedon. He's incapable of not wising off. Even in the most serious dire situations everyone has a quip. Which is taxing to...reality. But we're not in reality. This is a different type of origin story. A few actually. Ultron and another dude, Jarvis. Both from the tactile mind of Tony Stark. There is just a TON of philosophical views on...war, and what it means to be at peace.

There are too many things going on to be something of a movie, and it's exhausting. I think, being a fan of Marvel, you will enjoy it, and this isn't about character development, it's moving on like a rocket ship, and...like the rest of the Avengers, you better hang on.

The physics of this movie are irritating. It's a video game...on speed. Computer generated whip pans and camera moving through 3D space is thrilling, but the entire movie? It looks weird. Neo in "Matrix: Reloaded" weird. Everyone is plastic-y. And the texture of the Hulk is REALLY wrong. Sure, it's no Lou Ferregno, but does it have to be 8 bit Sega?

Also, everyone seems to have something important to say...then leave a room leaving the other person room to think about what's just been said. They sort of make light of it, as when Thor has his moments of...declaration. It's silly, and Whedon knows it. So why not draw light to it. Ultron toggles between, goofy super villain and...wise-acre'ing alas his creator Tony Stark. Though at this point, Robert Downey seems done with it. He's slick but still, something darker pokes through. People speed through this world, and I'm trying to make sense of everyone's relationship. But not really enough time to really digest it before it moves onto another physically impossible camera move. It's swirling and at the end...confusing. And it seems Jarvis's presence (while well done by Paul Bettany) seems to be setting us up for more in the future. I really hate that these are all commercials for the next installment.

At a certain point, I just lost interest in any one's contribution. They attempted to inject SOME semblance of inner turmoil through a mind manipulator Scarlet Witch (the fuck did Stan Lee get these names?)
It's worth the time, as an Avengers movie. Fans would know best. For me, it's too much like a video game to care.

"Star Wars: The Force Awakens" (2015)

Pretty appropriate title...

After the fiasco of George Lucas’s muddled prequels…we’re back into the future with a push 30 years further. A lot has happened, so the opening crawl says. And we’re now in the midst of something called “The Resistance.” A newer, bigger Death Star type thing has been built and it threatens all the planets. Sound familiar, yep, we’re sort of re-doing “A New Hope.” While not as irritating as “Prometheus” is to the “Alien” world (blatant disregard for…the heart of its characters), this is somewhat familiar and in a little way, sad. Nostalgia isn’t a bad thing. Critics seem to brandish this word as if we’re going to change our history to suit their present lives. I happen to get choked up at seeing all my favorite characters re-introduced to this newer, yet vintage generation. The addition of John Boyega and Daisy Ridley are a godsend. They have…a very naïve, yet sweet thing about them. Our cynical garbage world we live in now seem to dismiss this really fast. But friendship is good enough and welcomed for these people to take over the series. And to see the evolution of their story is going to be wonderful to experience. Since I like them both very much. They’re funny, in that typical Lawrence Kasdan way. Yes, the writer of “Empire Strikes Back” gets another hack at the meat. And it’s nice to feel the balance of dark humor and blatant silliness.

I was never a fan of the 70’s-80’s original. I liked them, the music and the…quaintness of them. But, they seem corny, and the acting really stilted. Great for the time. And I’m not sure what type of lighting in a bottle effect these movies are suppose to have on fans. All I know is the audience I watched it in, black, white, yellow, brown and red…there were fans I wouldn’t think were fans. Is it to mean we’re all nerds deep down inside. I think so. Also, I think there’s something nice about not having to rely on too much of catching up with the present group. You couldn’t watch the prequels now and then the 70’s/80’s and feel consistency. But moving forth, you can. Obviously for age, but also for technology (should’ve stuck to the ‘old’ ways for the prequels, CG will haunt Lucas from those).

I did honestly felt some heart swells in this movie. It touched on a lot of familiarity with these movies. The music, of course, by the great John Williams touches on those days when movies could be that corny and big. And I’m sure you’ve read many reviews that sum it up better than anything I could write, but I will end by saying this…the gist of this movie isn’t just for saps like me who want it to be so good. It’s to remind us…the simpler moments when movies could be adventures. And not some deeper meaning. In this horrid world of internet anger and armchair directors, it is nice to believe in the core of this universe, as director J.J. Abrams has done. He’s gotten a TON of heat for…well, I have no idea what. He’s a very capable director that seems to have stepped away from his comfort zone in order to deliver the goods we so desperately want. He was given the opportunity, where other nerds have only to gripe about the nuance of their beloved Lucas babbling tome. He was able to shed all that detail which was injected in the prequels for God knows what reason, and go for the fun. It does have some heavier, anthropological moments. Which, as just a casual “Star Wars” fan, I did get lost in. But the uber-fan will appreciate (I think). Harrison Ford’s Han Solo gave me goosebumps, as he nailed it pitch perfect of what Han would’ve been now at 70. And Leia…a little thin for Carrie Fisher to haul, but you still see a twinkle of that girl you remembered from years gone by. A soft core, under a battle hardened (now) general.

What can I say? You’ve more than likely already seen it. I’m going to watch it again. I think I would gain some more insight into what’s to come.

"Hot Pursuit" (2015)

I knew this movie when it was first called "Don't Mess With Texas"

It’s not that the movie is a terrible, it’s just your ordinary bad movie. Which…in a strange sense, it is so bad, it’s good. This is a prime example of a movie that overthinks itself. I can almost see the original premise being really fun, and then…they overwrite it until all the nuances and spontaneity was sucked dry. The same buddy road trip formula is applied here, or should I say shoe-horned here to make the most of Reese Witherspoon as a stick in the ass cop named Cooper, assigned to protect a gangster’s wife played by Sofia Vergara.

It starts off fun enough, a montage of Little girl Cooper on the road with her Dad during cop duties. Then flashes forward to her as a very overbearing, straight from the books, evidence locker attendant. All the other cops make fun of her. Especially some macho uber-testosterone’d dink and dunk cop, who are the clichéd “other guys” type. They mock Cooper’s fastidious work, and torment her diligence. A couple of knucklehead veterans who are bullies with a badge.

Inexplicably Cooper is given this assignment to protect Vegara’s character. After their initial encounter, where we learn a) she’s a loud angry Columbia trophy wife b) she has a terrible shoe fetish. After, her husband, and Cooper’s partner are both murdered, these two go on the run.

The question would be…why? Why have they been reported as suspects? They are, by all logic, victims. But, in order to explain why they need to be on the run, they are now on the wanted list by the police. Even more confusing are the different ways they destroy cell phones and the highly contrived reasons as to why a simple phone call doesn’t clear up this fiasco.

Listen, the performances are fine, for the material. Vergara is surprisingly good for the material given. I worked on the dailies, and yes…American colloquialisms trips her up. It’s adorable and sexy at the same time. Speaking of which, why is that even with no nudity in this movie, I feel I’ve seen Vergara naked. There’s something about South American women with curves.

Anyway, it’s a good watch on a slow night. There are some fun moments. Such as when the two have to find new outfits. The banter is fun there. Snappy and somewhat endearing. The running gag of Reese being tiny and Vergara being old actually doesn’t wear out. Even when they’re stature and age pop up in the most random police report. The tacked on ending will piss you off. As will the tonal change between deadly serious and a sudden shift change to antics. I will admit, I am charmed by a female buddy picture. “The Heat” was fun, and in a way, “Spy” was about the same thing as this movie…girls can enjoy the company of other girls without guys having to save the day. I think because I grew up with incredibly strong willed women (both my sisters own their own home before they were 30, and one is raising two kids…I only know a handful of COUPLES that even own their own home, which is with a dual income). This movie is far-fetched but not a complete waste of time.

"Sicario" (2015)

“Sicario” (2015)

Sicario means “hitman”. And this movie isn’t about the first protagonist we see. A girl name Kate working for the United States government who stumbles on a drug war issue that she is in over her head. Keep the title in mind, because it doesn’t mean much until much later.

The major issue I have with this movie is the flat garbage digital look of it. Clean with detail in every crevice of every shadow. Blargh. Like looking at “Cops” in high definition. The fact that Roger Deakins shot this makes my stomach turn, since his next at bat is going through the next “Blade Runner”…in digital. Alright, anger aside, this is directed by Denis Villenuvue, who clearly knows how to linger on shots. Every shot you wonder where the next piece of violence is going to come from. They linger on violence as if we’re suppose to be sicken by it. Yeah, 2003, all the beheadings and dismemberments by drug dealers to “send a message” was tough. Nowadays, you’re being outdone by ISIS. And quite frankly no one cares Juarez, Mexico is imploding. Good, it’s a garbage dump in America’s backyard. And the movie pretends as if we should care. Well, not really. See, their statement is far more insidious then we know. Which, by the way, don’t you hate movies where the main actor is always told “you have no idea what you’re involved in.” Yeah, in this case, there was NO reason for Kate to be involved, other than to be a damsel in distress. In fact, you know LESS about her in the end than you do in the beginning. Which means you don’t really care. And there is a gut wrenching moment at the end, which is corny manipulative for her to decide which part of the line she stands. Here’s something without ruining it for you, it’s obvious which line she is unwilling to cross. The question then being…why?

Performances by Benicio Del Toro and Josh Brolin are fantastic. Mostly Del Toro whose sad sack eyes tell awful stories of his past, through mumbly crumbs of drug war fatigued wisdom. Brolin has come a LONG way from “The Goonies.” Here, he plays a very questionable government agent (which one?) and is the staple “I’m too cool for school” tough guy.

The main issue with this movie I have are the long winded political ambiguity which grate on me. What starts off as an investigation into the deaths of multiple Mexicans on American soil turns into a revenge plot somewhere, and the U.S.’s blame on supporting some, but admonishing others, all so that we feel good about ourselves. It’s grim, and harsh. And the violence isn’t honor among thieves. You feel dirty, because there is collateral damage. And maybe you question yourself as to why you are okay with some hits, while not with others. But, what starts off really taut and finger biting, anxiety inducing street war, turns into a moral story that goes so deep you question the validity of it which serves only the script.

I really think Tony Scott, if he were alive, would’ve made this movie better. His style fit better with the material (as in “Man On Fire”) than this dragged out confessional. In the end, it could’ve been a t.v. movie.

New Life In Film

If it was hipsters that did it, great. Hollywood’s socialist mentality? Fine. The love of film, even better. What I think it came down to…was the simple concept that we will constantly fall back on, which is craft and art trumps commerce.

Kodak Motion Picture division announced today, that with the release of “Star Wars” “Jurassic World” “Spectre” & “Hateful 8” they no longer rely on deals with studios to sustain film in the industry. While it still remains a “niche” market, this is great news for filmmakers who shoot on film (like me). Since it means they will make a profit and grow. Which means others will have an opportunity to continue to tell their stories with film.

I’ve bang the drum incessantly about the benefits of shooting on film. I’ve sent my thoughts to Kodak representatives who appreciated my continued support. What is odd is how much Kodak motion picture film had always been at the fray for me. For different reasons now, but back in the 80’s, I only had access to Super 8mm cameras. I wanted to make the movies that Spielberg made (“Raiders of The Lost Ark”). Or Victor Fleming made (“Gone With The Wind”). This was already inaccessible to a kid in Cincinnati. I didn’t know where to begin. Now, with the internet, it wouldn’t be a problem to seek it out. But back then, I had to search through the paper to find someone who was selling a film camera. I rode two buses to get to a guy who was selling his Super 8mm camera and all this film editing gear. It was so amazing. Frame flipping onto frame, making movement Holding the film. The physical movement in itself was crafted design. I recall the little well of splicing cement to piece the movie together. The first run through the projector was magic. Fuck you and your pity shrug, that’s something most of the this generation won’t have the benefit of experiencing. When pictures moved.

So I’d share a few thoughts here that I didn’t mention as much elsewhere.

Shooting on film isn’t just doing it because it’s cool. It’s a great deal of discipline and crafting that requires a few arts and sciences. In the digital world, you read a lot of scales and color waves to determine if you’re within tolerance of the mid-range. While shooting film, you watch the light. You study the movement of the actors in the light, and you determine if the film can handle that latitude. How much more simple is that? The film gets to the laboratory to which you wait for the outcome. A few factors people never see, is the painstaking balance of temperature, time and tolerance of the chemicals that goes into making sure of consistency. Like a master beer brewer, it is of utmost care nothing delineates from the norm (my company does something called “sweeps” which measures the levels to which that chemistry at that time process the negative. Then they calibrate the Arrilaser (digital file burner to film) to their adjustments. Then the film is sent to the lab at that level. Yeah, mad scientist shit to which I am only an observer. Mistakes costs money.

With shooting on film, EVERY moment matter. For most, we don’t spray a scene and hope we find it in edit. The coverage HAS to make sense. Since you’re burning through money. This saves on a few levels. You don’t tax a star (who is paying more than the entire budget of movie) and you don’t waste your time on what ifs. Because, the honest truth is, the reason people shoot digital isn’t the craft of it, or the art, it’s because of the fear. Because the apprenticeship concept is also dead and gone (despite unions, and because of our newly found entitled movie making youth) everyone starts at the top and works to the middle. Everyone is already a superstar. I could offer training with Vilmos Zigsmond shooting film to someone 20’s and below, and they’d turn me down. Why would they need to know craft and suffer the indignities of cleaning camera cases when they have a digital camera in hand making YouTube videos? It is a discipline.

One of the key things that makes film so important to me, may sound corny and hipster, but to me…it’s all about focus. When people hear film moving there is respect. From every department people feel the permanence of what they’re doing. That they are in the shadow of people who did this before them. There’s too many digital cameras, different brands, and different nuances to solidify a pattern. With film, there is the basic movement of film that moves through a gate. It hasn’t changed in Poland, Italy, China, Germany, or the United States. It is a universal format. And you could ask any film shooter if they’ve ever mastered it? The answer most likely would be “no.” Digital shooting is taking all the joy of making movies out of the hands of skilled people and putting into hands of histogram readers. The science trumped the art. Shooting film, science assists art.

I’m very thankful for Kodak’s existence because of the memories. And that what we do shouldn’t come easy, if we love it, it always haunts us. I guess I’ll finally wear the label of “hopeless romantic of a bygone era” proudly, whereas, it’s no longer just the mechanics and the craft, it’s the past I prefer to protect.

All The Pretty Ladies

Do you ever get weirded out when you see elderly actresses now who when you check online, you see a younger photo of the person and just…marvel at how stunning they were in their hey day?

I think British actresses have that a lot. Or at least most non-Americans. Vanessa Redgrave looks like what Judy Greer looks like now (I love redheads, fuck off).

Julie Christie, Jaqueline Bisset, Dame Judi Dench, basically any of the older women on “Game Of Thrones” like Diana Rigg...

Diana Rigg

American geriatric women seem to just…disappear. Julia Roberts, though hardly granny age, has gone poof, Meg Ryan. It doesn’t seem we value the American older actress more than British. I think, because at that age, having an accent is pretty charming and can fit in with their medieval history. We can only figure out into the Civil War. Which, by the way, we’re due for another cool Civil War movie. I’m a sucker for blondes from the 60’s with raspy voices Sandra Dee, Babara Harris, Joey Heatherton come to mind (just a side remark, nothing to do with the rest of the blog).  

 

Jaqueline Bisset

 

Judi Dench

It’s hard for me to conjure up an older actress in my mind that is American and still working, where with some research see in their day they were hot. Anne Ramsey, Mama Fratelli from “The Goonies” was actually a VERY attractive woman in her youth.

Anne Ramsey

Raquel Welch, which is still in great shape, is at that age where people can look back at her 60’s work and get some spank bank material. Ann Margaret, Angie Dickenson, Jane Fonda, Meryl Streep, Barbara Hershey (as a kid I never thought she was that hot, as an adult, she has…something). If you live long enough as an actress, it more than likely meant you toiled in your youth, and that meant you were doing young women parts. I saw Carrie Fisher on some talk show, after seeing herself in a Princess Leia costume, laugh and say “what happened? This is before and after.” I think it’s hard for an actress to see themselves young and pretty, and be reminded that those days are gone. For some pretty boys back in the day, say…Alec Baldwin, he seems more distinguished. He’s let himself go since the “Hunt For Red October” days. I’m sure he’s reminded of the leading man quality he had in his youth.

Being a successful actress in movies, it’s got to be a constant kick to the ego. A lifetime achievement award recap of their filmography must be like going to the dentist. Like watching an evolution chart in reverse. That is the curse and the gift of making it in this business, when you look back at your career, all you get is what was.

Pete Rose NEVER In The Hall Of Fame

When I went home to Cincinnati...I visited and old friend from way back in high school. In their basement is a shrine to Cincinnati baseball, including a specific area for Pete Rose. I loved Pete Rose as a kid. The guy was a hustler. He went to every base barreling forth like a freight train. I wanted to be like him, just go at everything with that much reckless abandon, all to earn what I got. He's got 4,256 hits beating out Ty Cobb for the most in history. In perspective to 2015, if Derek Jeter would've played 10 more years, with his average, he would catch up.

He was a hometown kid, who made it big. Taking the Reds baseball team to another level. He's been turned down again to be considered for the Hall of Fame and to be reinstated into baseball.

As I was talking to my friend and spewing all the outrage of my position on this matter, which I believe if he's not in the Hall Of Fame, that place is a sham, she sat there quietly listening. Then she softly contended "Pete Rose should never be in the Hall of Fame."

I went ballistic. Screaming this, that and the other. How he changed the game. How his play on the field had NOTHING to do with his personal life outside of it, and that no one knows the full details and fuck everyone for not seeing it this way. Then with as much patience she simply said "but he broke the only rule baseball really had."

I took pause. After my tirade about the level of cheating involved with enhancement drugs, corked bats, philandering, racism, and abuse...the basic rule, and the only rule they really enforce: "don't gamble on baseball" was willingly crossed by someone of his stature.

At this point, as much as I believe in his greatness and that his record will never be broken, I am so compelled to agree with her now. Pete Rose, while being all these things, also really tread on a different level that felt he was above the game. Forget following the rules for a minute, he was instrumental in making the rules. And he still stepped over that line. For what purpose, other than arrogance. Or possibly contempt. No one told Charlie Hustle what to do. To that, it seems right that he never sees his likeness with the people he would hold his contemporaries. I'm not sure what the Hall of Fame expects, which I'm told requires a tighter hold on the moral character of a player. But I'm sure watching people you've outplayed get inducted year in and year out, can't be the best thing for your ego. Perhaps, that's the lesson Pete Rose needs to address. I know I've come to terms with one of my heroes not getting the recognition of his on field life.

Print It!

I know what you are gonna say “here comes crazy ol’ Thom with his crazy ‘good ol’ days’ stories.” Well, fuck you, because this is my ‘good ol’ days philosophy.”

In the old days of movie making, you shot film negative in a chambered roll called a “magazine.” After each take, notes would be taken by the assistant cameraman along with the script supervisor as to which “take” was the best. On the camera reports (and even to this day) there are things called “circled takes.” These are the ones the director instructed were to be printed as he liked everything about it, acting,  lighting, camera moves, what have you. On set, he’d be the one to shout “print that!” and everyone could take a long exhale to move on to the next set up as this indicated he was happy with it.

Printing is expensive. It meant the lab would shuttle through your footage and ONLY give you the specific takes you circled. This would then be strung together and this made up your dailies.

I don’t miss the nerve wracking system this use to be, but I DO miss the psychology in which having something physically made off the negative you just shot means the director is watching. I was at the very edge of when printing takes and telecine was invented.

The early days of telecine is a cumbersome process as well. You use to string up film, and run it through a system that went into a coloring bay. The negative would be turned into a positive and then transferred onto a tape (back then, hard drive now). This meant you got EVERYTHING. Good takes, bad takes, off takes. You saw it all.

I think this is detrimental to movie making. Because seeing everything means everyone has an opinion, and the director’s brain is clogged. Especially if you’re a newbie. What I mean is, a pipeline can handle only so much. In terms of watching takes, believing you go the right moment at the time of the shoot, to later see something else in a different take is…contradicting your instinct. And THAT IS DISASTROUS. I think that’s why our movies are so…odd these days. They’re sifting through a mound of footage hoping they saw what they saw somewhere. I think this undermines the creative mental stage that is created when you just…watch. Observe acting in front of you. As I’ve said in the past, whether you like him or not, Quentin Tarantino sits right under the camera. Not at some video monitor somewhere, right where he can see actors act. THAT is why stars love working with him. And THAT’S why his performances give talent Academy nominations and wins (and in some cases, revived careers).

The ability of knowing which to “print” now is dead and gone. The new generation is too busy-brained to focus. Shooting on film negative focuses you. IF you care. To me, we all fight to get to the shout of “print!” That is was good and we can move on. There are these gentle battles that are won as you move forth in the project. People are so excited and get engaged, far more than just letting a digital camera roll and fishing for a performance. That’s bush league. And that’s what’s clogging the path to a lot of serious filmmakers. Ideally, you could shoot digital in the same efficient way as digital, but as people who choose that medium tend to concern themselves with, has little to do with coverage. It’s quantity. I suggest treating digital like film, if not out of respect for the material and the actors who need someone to be watching.

Bah Hum Cheer

Hello Holiday shoppers

Don’t be fooled this year by those sappy, yet charming, movies about family get- togethers if you’re alone and not planning on attending any party this year. It’s a total ruse. Last night, I skipped out on my company’s annual holiday party, because it’s definitely a place where people revel in…uh…NOT complaining in the office? Who knows. I know back in the day, they gave away a lot of stuff, like TVs and whatnot. Even that is a weird enticement to attend a party. You have to ask yourself, why they would need to dangle anything for you to go? It’s all corny. Especially with the office whore-bag who has to touch you and everyone else. Not a bad thing if you’re hard up for tail, TERRIBLE if she’s a mid-50 year old swinger who wants to hate-fuck you along with a 60 year old I.T. guy.

Speaking of those family get-togethers. Fuck that. It’s all some terrible obligation to show you give a shit about family. In reality, you like to sit at home and watch football. And you know the one guilt laden thing they push on you…”c’mon! It’s only once a year.” Yeah, so is the flu. These holiday movies make it seem like you should give a fuck. The reality is, you look around the people you visit and you wonder how you’re related to these people. That’s why on most holidays, I use to hide out with friends. People who I wanted to hang out with. Seems that’s why bars are packed on Xmas, that’s much more tolerable than living up to the Christmas dream world cooked up by Hollywood. Yeah, it’s cynical and pretty much Grinchy, but I recall being dragged to meet my girlfriend’s (at the time) grandparents. Her mother’s parents. This was someone I was serious about. Apparently serious enough to go this deep into the hive. Strangely enough, they were old West people who dreamed of going back to Santa Fe, New Mexico and were stuck in Maryland for what purpose…I’ve no clue. Lotsa’ other old people in the southwest. Miserable anger and cold in the Chesapeake.  It was so awkward, meeting them at the Red Lobster (yeah, a Red Lobster in Maryland, home of the blue crab). They maybe were being…polite, that I wasn’t banging their granddaughter or something. But they spoke very little. And I was constantly referred to as a “friend” rather than “boyfriend.” Luckily Grandpa made Manhattans (I think he was also a heavy drinker) and we just drank and ate seafood. Another reason to love Red Lobster’s biscuits, you don’t have to talk when you’re eating. This is the type of uncomfortable family stuff most of us will face, if we have to face them. They’re obligations we’d rather not deal with. At least I wouldn’t. It’s not that I didn’t love them, it’s that I think there’s an unspoken pact that we’d see each other again at the funeral. Of course, one of us would be dead.

So don’t feel bitter and angry if you are alone this holiday season. I think it’s far better to be angry and alone then angry with people around you. Those people in movies reveling or learning the true meaning of Christmas?…they’re Jewish. And mostly full of yuletide shit. Because, the high stress of making one day shine above all others makes mothers turn old overnight. It’s propaganda that you should care. Don’t fall for it. It’s a great illusion for kids.

Mountain Of Presents

Hey monsters, Merry Christmas.
Or soon to be. Hey did you read this story about a Mother who bought her 3 children 300 gifts, blowing through about $2,000? A few were for her and her husband too. The mountain of gifts is below.

Her name is Emma Tapping:

  

I'm not entirely sure why people are giving her such a hard time over it. Aside from the fact that the top of her eyelids don't touch her pupils (kuuuuhhhh-razy). But, it may be that she's really spreading a bad message about Christmas.

Really?

Fuck, I want a ton of presents that average out to $7 per gift. You know what they could be? A ton of underwear or socks. Then they're all fucked and you get a good laugh. Personally, it's the real spirit of Christmas. A mound of crap you won't ever appreciate again. I think the point is that some homeless person or an orphan may see this and feel bad. Like you give a fuck. But, it is something to consider as the air gets briskier. That you don't overindulge yourself, just because you can. The spirit of Christmas may be to have your kid pick one gift and give it to a needy child. That's not a bad idea, right? Be menschy and shit.

All in all, I happen to find this shit funny. Both what she did, and how people reacted to her.

Fame & Fortune

At a certain point in Hollywood history, most of the major studios Warner Bros., Universal, MGM, Paramount, and 20^th Century Fox were at the precipice of bankruptcy.

Aaaah, the fame and fortune. Fame, yes…fortune, not as much. In fact, 20^th Century became so broke one year (shortly before “Star Wars”) that it actually rented lot space to porn productions. Yep, the same stages used to do big Cinemascope musicals with Jane Russell & Marilyn Monroe, were just for fresh debutantes from, apparently Dallas getting reamed. They had no issue with revenue.

So it goes without saying, we are the business of illusion. I would say, up until and after VHS/DVD/Blu-Ray sales, movies (specifically theatrical releases) are the biggest gamble studios take. In my own business of post production I’ve been told our company sometimes loses money when feature films come through, as we deal with flat rates and crew constantly go into overtime. That overhead costs always eat into the flat rate given. Most post houses will attempt to outbid each other for the project. Eventually, the studios/production will settle on cheap, but not incompetent. In my mind, that just tells me that movies continue to lose money for studios. The biggest sign of these funny money tactics were when you started to see mergers between television and studios (Universal/NBC). Or, in the case of Sony, that’s straight up product running studio. Remember when you saw Coca-Cola under the Columbia logo? That was weird. In the old days, studios just got t.v. money to finance shows they’d air. Now it’s more of a direct pipeline.

In the case of feature films in theaters, studios find creative ways to dodge that pesky monopoly (you can’t own the origination of shooting and the theater, otherwise you could drive up the price of movie tickets and only show your own movies…as if we’re forced to go to the movies). They are allowed to own a few though. Universal has it’s thing going on their own theme park.

You know, when DVD and those other ancillary markets started to dwindle, the studios freaked the fuck out. What was their new outlet? Well, with the internet, they streamed their material. I wouldn’t be surprised now if there were mergers between studios and say…Amazon or Netflix. They have individual by contract series they pay studios to produce, but they haven’t officially merged…yet.

And thus, because people follow the money, very little is spent in movie theater type material and more on an original series online. Why not? The per theater revenue is miniscule with a larger overhead than say…paying a nominal fee to a cable provider to up-sell streaming rates (practically given for free now) so that they can watch television at home. That theater experience is shifting. But the theater closest to my house, has recently upgraded to leather-ish reclining La-Z-Boy style seating with fresh popcorn and real butter. Well calibrated projectors and Atmos Dolby sound. All to wrangle us back to the theater. It’s a little too late. In fact, the other theater I go to are subsidizing the slow days on Tuesday with revival (what amounts) DVD watching. They’re re-showing “Blade Runner,” “Top Gun,” “Unforgiven” and so forth. Had it been film print projection, I’d go see it in a heartbeat. Nope. Blu-Ray discs most likely.

As it is, you’re paying theater prices to watch what amounts to your own t.v. BUT, I do get the angle. You’re also “renting” out theater space to watch your favorite classics with people of like mind on the “big screen.” In essence, believing the experience is answer. And I actually believe it. What I wouldn’t do to go back in time and experience “Mannequinn” (1987) again with complete strangers in the dark.

"Murder On The Orient Express" (1974)

Remember when I talked about craft. Holy shit, this movie is art at its highest form. And not just because of the production design, but because this is cinema you WISH were made again. What a shame that we’re just too impatient and talentless to achieve this marvel. We’re relegated to “Birdman” which is an indictment and sad-sack whine-fest only a handful of Academy voters thought were the Best Picture. It also gave the general public an idea on who really voted for awards. I could randomly ask someone in Ohio if they saw “Birdman,” they’d have no clue. In fact, any flyover state would be hard pressed to know it. “Murder…” is an accessible movie to the movie watching public. This movie would’ve swept if it were made today. Because it does still hold up even if some of the set up is far-fetched, it’s a ton of fun.

The movie is inspired by the kidnapping of the Charles Lindbergh baby, who tragically was murdered shortly after a ransom was paid. They found the culprit, who was tried and put to death. So, this inspires the beginning of the mystery which was written by Agatha Christie. Then turned into a screenplay.

The movie is really smart that it sets up a world renowned detective who, by accident stumbles onto the murder. In which the suspects all come from different places and all seem so…suspicious. Not a one of them seems capable of murder. But, slowly clues emerge. Is it set to misguide you? Maybe. But they do all play out in the end. What I absolutely love about this movie is the tempo and fun it seems to be having. Which is no surprise this became such a fad of murder mystery train trips that emerged (and still function today). Who murdered the man who dodged justice in light of the kidnapping murder of a child?

The other great thing about this movie are the stars in it. My God, how was this even possible. Ingrid Bergman, Sean Connery, (a stunning) Vanessa Redgrave, (sexy) Jaqueline Bisset, Martin Balsam, Anthony Perkins, Lauren Bacall, and the absolutely brilliant Albert Finney as detective Poirot. They do make inside jokes with a few of these characters. For example, as a wink to the audience, Anthony Perkins plays a creepy Mama’s boy, and Lumet REALLY milks the “Psycho” references.

Speaking of Sidney Lumet…had he maybe made flashier movies, I consider him on par with Billy Wilder. I would say he’s my second favorite director of all time. His movies have an eccentricity to them that is both dark and comedic in its darkness. I think he went too shady in “Before The Devil Knows You’re Dead” before his death, but his career has been nothing short of brilliant, but is never mentioned in the canon of Coppola, Scorsese or Spielberg. Lumet is up there, if not surpasses in terms of skill and material. He’s a craftsman that cares about the art (though he’s also stumbled with the remake of “Gloria” & the inexplicable “Stranger Among Us” is really not fun), you still get the sense he is in control of his movies. And it saddens me, because the batch of movies we’re getting now are genre pieces, but so lack in…cinematic scope. My guess is that most are coming from television and shoot for the small screen. I would also go into a rant about how unskilled cinematographers are these days, but you can always read backlogs of my blogs to understand that current disgust.

Anyway, check out this movie if you can. It does take patience to get connected with everyone. And Finney’s accent is hard to decipher, so try watching with subtitles. It doesn’t ruin the experience. A wonderful and fun time.

Making Movies Of Your Past

I’ve been having gut-wrenching nightmares lately. About my days in college. The memories have slipped me and I think it’s my present memory telling my nightmares that these are filed away and never to be recovered again. It’s painful, because those were some of the happiest days of my life. I think for a lot of sports people who go into professional sports afterwards, they share a similar thing. In college there is so much unknown and potential. Once they move into “the real world” all that comes to realization. Good or bad. The paying customer, say at an NFL game, looks and feels different to them at a paid NCAA game (which goes to the school anyway). There is that unconditional love, even through gritted teeth of disappointment. That’s why you see a lot of them on the sidelines of their alma mater. It’s when they felt the most adored. In the professional world, it’s a job. If you don’t do it right, people let you know. There’s a massive coldness to it. Shit, we boo’ed Andy Dalton (QB for the Cincinnati Bengals) at the 2015 All-Star Game (baseball). You think he’d get that at TCU (his alma mater). They’d be proud of him.

The nightmares I get are relatively the same, so…okay, reoccurring. It’s that I go visit my ol' college and everything has changed. I go back to my old apartment, the source of the fondest of memories and it’s occupied by someone else. And I wonder who it is. But don’t have the courage to find out. They would never relate to my story anyway. Then I go to my girlfriend’s house down the street. And the place is gone. It’s a big grass field now. Or the street doesn’t look familiar. Or whatever. Yeah, I get the underlining message, but…it was also the source of the best times through the worst situation. My college girlfriend and I were both sad in Bowling Green, Ohio and needed each other for comfort. This led to deep love. The first love I really experienced where someone entered my life so fully. And was happy to know someone like me existed. I think that’s why when love does go bad, people feel like they are missing a limb. I felt that deeply. I’ve never experienced since, this lost feeling of…contentment. It meant that everything in my world was locked up in that tiny apartment. I guess that’s why people are okay with just having a simple job and raise a family. That contentment is perfectly fine. As these were my pleasant memories. And someone else is living there now.

When I boozed my hardest, I think I lived in that limbo of recalling that memory. Replaying the roles ad nauseum. Remembering every detail of the place. I’m sure going back now, the place will be smaller. And mean less than in a dream. But I think I’d be a little overwhelmed by the impact of that history I may have tried to destroy when moving out to Los Angeles. If you aren’t ready to walk, it’s pretty difficult to start riding a bike.

I think being out in L.A. a lot of people who do have a support system in their hometowns will discover that people out here can’t necessarily articulate why they need to tell their stories. Most of them are based in a deep loss and the attempt to recover it. In a sense, I think a lot of people love pornography for that same reason. To see the sweetest most innocent person succumb to “the world” shows we all can tumble. I do believe the ones that worry me the most, are the ones who do suppress these memories the longest. The ones that can’t come to terms with that deep loss. That may also mean trying to capture what is already gone. These people will crack wise constantly to cover un-surmountable pain.

I don’t think people who work in movies known exactly what it is they’re trying to resolve. That’s the frustrating part. Eventually we all go towards a theme. To me, it’s always about history loss. In my grad thesis project, a young orphaned boy locates his estranged grandfather. The time loss between them is excruciating to consider. That there could’ve been a family dynamic, had it not been for resentment and dysfunction. Instead, the powers that be (government) decides the grandfather isn’t the best candidate to raise an 8 year old. If you don’t make proactive decisions in your life, others will decide for you. And it’s generally not the one you wanted.

I think there is a deep sadness now that I have been out here so long, and in the sense of most people pre-millenium venture to Los Angeles…had a route to make an impact so that people would know their name back home. It seems the ones who enjoy it here the most, have more to run from.

Golden Globes 2015 - Not The Whole Thing, Just Thoughts

Heya movie folks,
Nominations are in...
"Mad Max: Fury Road" for Best Picture in drama? Haha. Good one.
But "Carol" got a massive push, which is great, since it was shot in my hometown in 16mm. Pretty cool. Interesting why "The Hateful Eight" wasn't on the list of Best Picture, except people may have been confused as to what kind of movie it was trying to make. Comedy, western, drama, action? Golden Globes are foreign press.
Actually two heavily women driven projects were shot on film and had the most nods..."American Horror Story" & "Carol." I'm a big fan, since that would mean more projects to be shot on film (yeah, lame transference of hope, but...ya' caught me being biased).

Also, these screenings that people see...I wonder in what capacity they get to view it and vote. On t.v. or at the theater. Makes you wonder.

Box office totally clowned "Jobs" or more accurately, "jobbed" them by yanking it for poor showings. But, this may light a fire under them again...portion of that was shot on film too.

So, anyway, that's my thoughts. Nothing big. Back to the grind.

Protect Your Back

What your mother says is true. Your posture is in direct correlation with back pain. Standing up straight does help, if you suffer from upper back problems.

Lately, I’ve been having massive pain in my upper trapezoidal muscle next to the base of my neck. It’s a pinched nerve, because of the day so of operating a heavy camera that has been front heavy. A few things have attributed to the recent pain. One, I gained a lot of gut weight. Your core supports your back. The more crap you eat, the softer your midsection, the more pain in your back to support your front. Women with big tits have this issue, even without a gut.

This pain has been so bad at times I’ve lost feeling in my arms. And I have to admit, it also has to do with where and how I sleep. I like the couch. It should be a firm bed, but I’m too lazy to get to the bedroom, after writing (which contributes to the gut, ya’, can’t get around it). I looked online about neck stretches and came across a doctor who specialized in neck and back, nerve issues. If you constantly hunch over, eventually you will develop a something called Dawager’s back. Which is basically a humpback. Think Mr. Montgomery Burns from “The Simpson.” That alone should scare you. Anyway, my neck’s been killing me too. Despite stretching in the morning. So this doctor recommended an instant relief stretch. You place a towel behind the top of your head, and you grasp both sides and you push your head back on towel until your chin moves naturally towards your chest. Keep it straight as possible with a small stretch. Essentially you are lining up your ears to your shoulders. THIS is the key to why there is so much upper back pain. The way our lazy asses stand is typically leaned forward (LISTEN to your Ma!). Back straight, chin tucked slightly to your chest. You think you look weird (in my case I’ve had terrible posture throughout my life), in reality, this is good posture. This helps the pain in your spine, neck, shoulders and helps you from looking rounded. That’s that hunched look. Which, if you’re a wider person is going to make you look like Donkey Kong. So try this easy stretch. 5 second hold on each attempt. I swear, the pain in my neck and shoulders subsided a little. Now if I get my posture better, the rest will take care of itself.