They should call this movie "Jessica's Cleavage." How do you exactly take anyone with that much top tit showing seriously? You do if it's to distract you from the millions you just lost.
The story starts with the arrest of Molly Bloom. Pretty much the only name that wasn't changed. She is a hostess for poker parties that have high rollers. Yes, millions. The thing is...as a hostess, she can't take a "rake." Which I think means any percentages from the gambling. She is now destitute living with her mother. Driven to excel by a very emotionally absent father played by Kevin Costner, Molly comes from a tight knit family. Because it's all a facade. Her father is a psychologist who tapes her and her brothers on her birthday to gauge their self-reflective progress in life. Talk about weird.
When a sidetrack from her initial goal goes awry, she reinvents herself into this person who becomes one of the largest high rolling poker dens in the world.
First time LONG TIME writer Aaron Sorkin loves the witty banter. And it fits coming out of the mouth of high-rise attorney Idris Elba who decides to take on her case against the United States. Here I have to interject with...
...what the fuck story is this? And who the fuck cares?
Seems she unwillingly gets tied into unsavory characters that are determined to take their cut...or else.
The story isn't about that either. It's actually a touching father/daughter story.
Sorkin nails what is at the core of the story. Where does someone this frigid yet determined come from? Whereas most people are derailed by poor treatment, she seems to thrive. I've met women like her. Frozen out of her emotions. Because that is when they can hurt you the most.
Molly isn't a likable person in the least. There is no way in Hell I'd want anyone to be friends with her. And quite honestly...I doubt she wants any friends either. She is deeply broken. I'd guess bi-polar or borderline disordered. Whatever feelings she has, she sees as "what can this person do for me, and how well can we function before they're unnecessary?" Molly seems to be autistic in that sense. That the facts are laid out like things to conquer. In the end...even her explanation or reasoning for her decision seems...we just want to strangle her because we know this person doesn't deserve the chances she has in life.
This movie moves fast. And it's great to hear snap come from people. The lines are funny and are reminiscent of "A Few Good Men." Molly is a hot shot and skates around emotional attachments. If Costner was in another movie, I'd say he was training her to be an assassin. But in this game, Molly seems to have not only figured out the rules, but begins to make them.
A solid movie.
Sunday, December 31, 2017
10 Best Movies Of 2017 (In my opinion)
Ah these lists of the best movies.
What makes mine any different? Because I don't buy into the garbage that critics have been salivating over. Shit such as "The Shape of Water," "Lady Bird" or "Three Billboards..." I rank movie based on what is watchable and has reason to be. No high-fallutin' actin' shit either. Because, let's face it actor vote on this shit and things like "Moonlight" win over entertainment. There are obviously darker movies to choose but I had to whittle it down to 10 so forgive me for cramming some in, because it's been an awful year. Also, sorry for you assholes who attempted to slide a movie just for Oscar consideration and were too pussy to put up against "The Last Jedi." "Phantom Thread" and "The Post" come to mind.
10. "Wait For Your Laugh"
dir. Jason Wise
While it's true I was involved in the making of this movie, here is a story of a working entertainer that EVERYONE who works in this business should watch. It is about...working. And the reason Hollywood didn't embrace this is because they're phony garbage people who say they want to celebrate strong women, then ignore them. Here is Rose Marie, a woman who started BEFORE Shirley Temple and not only outlived her in life but in career as well. Every one working in entertainment should be so lucky.
9. "Dunkirk"
dir. Christopher Nolan
The story of victory in defeat is a slow slog. That is life. While many will not appreciate this sentiment, other movies and stories from this point on have stolen from it including..uh..every fucking "Star Wars" movie. It's well made, and hypnotic. Obviously it's not going to wow you like "Saving Private Ryan" with its violence, but it still remains a testament to filmmaking in the traditional sense.
8. "I,Tonya"
dir. Craig Gillespie
This movie is brilliant in the re-telling of over-sensationalized trash. The type of shit we can't not figure out. Though it rests on Margot Robbie's brilliance as Tonya to really get to the vulnerability of someone who is as huggable as a cactus. If Allison Janey doesn't get Best Supporting Actress Oscar, this business can suck my dick. Right, Tonya?
7. "Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle"
dir. Jake Kasdan
This movie is fun. Fuck you. Its musical score WILL remind you of Alan Silvestri, and the Universal movies (even though this was Sony) of the mid-80's. Everyone is charming in the flick.
6. "The Florida Project"
dir. Sean Baker
Let's be honest, the only actor in this movie was Willem Dafoe, and MAN is he good. I felt such enormous pity for a man who just wanted to get through his day. These feral kids eat him up and yet...the citizens of the extended stay motel are so ungrateful. Is it easy to watch? No. There is great darkness in the land of sunshine. But a movie that is about getting through the day and embracing childhood hope is engaging. VERY engaging.
5. "Wonder Woman"
dir. Patty Jenkins
Sorry, I can watch Gal Gadot read a phone book in Jerusalem. You KNOW I dig her. "Wonder Woman" is a machine movie. But they did it so well, you forget it's been done and overdone. The acting is...rough. They tend to declare things. And Gadot as Diane is pretty damn corny. But so was "Superman" (1978). Can they please just say "Truth, Justice and the American" way so at least the redneck women have a hero as well?
4. "Murder On The Orient Express"
dir. Kenneth Brannagh
Okay, if you know the story you know the story. So what..the murder isn't the fun part, it's the journey. And the frankness that world famous detective Poiret is. Shot in massive framed 65mm film, this feels like the epic should be. The days of "Lawrence of Arabia". If you love cinema, this is the movie you should watch.
3. "Hostiles"
dir. Scott Cooper
Yes folks, they combine a road movie and a western and wide open beautiful spaces with painful angry hate and reseentment. Can an ordinary trip fix the history of pain lead by a war-broken person?
"Hostiles" goes a bit long but just when it thinks you are no longer involved, it throws in some other people who this fractured party has to endure. It's mentally brutal to the participants. And sometimes illogical. But it is the frontier, that in small doses is far more toxic than a grand party. The fact that you can have this much leathery faces without Tom Hardy is a testament to the material. Also, these are the faces you're looking for over that dumb costume party Leo DiCaprio in "The Revenant." That guy couldn't get out of the Hotel Marmont with a Cheyenne guide.
2. "Get Out"
dir. Jordan Peele
Wow was this a shocker. I mean...it wasn't the spoof of a movie or anything. It creeps slowly on you then delivers a message you think about for a week. Then you want to tell a bunch of people but don't want to ruin it. Director Peele outdid M. Night Shamalan in the same vein as "The Sixth Sense" It's creepier because it grounds itself in THIS world. It works as a non-political statement as well. Because it's not preachy but allows our own prejudices to stew or a while. It's an amazing blend of all the great things about 70's horror. It's all psychological. And isn't our society attempting these things now. Wonderful movie that I still think about now and shudder.
1. "Coco"
dir. Lee Unkrich an Adrian Molina
Family. Without going into too much more detail. It's all you need to know. The push and pull of us against our family's best interest. You can replace Miguel's musical drive with our filmmaking drive and still come up with similar conclusions. That is, following your own spirit will lead you to your own history as long as you remember the blood that you share with the past. I love this film because it is a lighter touch to today's Trump mean world. Both sides deeply hate each other for views that probably don't exist unless one wants to punish the other. In "Coco" it isn't political at all. It's about your own individual path and the path made for you. It's lovely heart-swelling movie we all need now. And it's REALLY entertaining.
So that's it. I really wanted to put "The Killing Of A Sacred Deer" in this list because it is pretty damn amazing the movie even got made. Only lingering a little longer on it did I see the artistry in enduring a meandering frustrating film. It's sweaty and itchy and...oh shit it made you actually sense things rather than feel something. Director Yorgos Lathimos transcended Smell-O-Vision without using anything physical at all. He really broke the code Stanley Kubrick tried. But it's not entertaining in the least. So there's that.
Happy New Year!
What makes mine any different? Because I don't buy into the garbage that critics have been salivating over. Shit such as "The Shape of Water," "Lady Bird" or "Three Billboards..." I rank movie based on what is watchable and has reason to be. No high-fallutin' actin' shit either. Because, let's face it actor vote on this shit and things like "Moonlight" win over entertainment. There are obviously darker movies to choose but I had to whittle it down to 10 so forgive me for cramming some in, because it's been an awful year. Also, sorry for you assholes who attempted to slide a movie just for Oscar consideration and were too pussy to put up against "The Last Jedi." "Phantom Thread" and "The Post" come to mind.
10. "Wait For Your Laugh"
dir. Jason Wise
While it's true I was involved in the making of this movie, here is a story of a working entertainer that EVERYONE who works in this business should watch. It is about...working. And the reason Hollywood didn't embrace this is because they're phony garbage people who say they want to celebrate strong women, then ignore them. Here is Rose Marie, a woman who started BEFORE Shirley Temple and not only outlived her in life but in career as well. Every one working in entertainment should be so lucky.
9. "Dunkirk"
dir. Christopher Nolan
The story of victory in defeat is a slow slog. That is life. While many will not appreciate this sentiment, other movies and stories from this point on have stolen from it including..uh..every fucking "Star Wars" movie. It's well made, and hypnotic. Obviously it's not going to wow you like "Saving Private Ryan" with its violence, but it still remains a testament to filmmaking in the traditional sense.
8. "I,Tonya"
dir. Craig Gillespie
This movie is brilliant in the re-telling of over-sensationalized trash. The type of shit we can't not figure out. Though it rests on Margot Robbie's brilliance as Tonya to really get to the vulnerability of someone who is as huggable as a cactus. If Allison Janey doesn't get Best Supporting Actress Oscar, this business can suck my dick. Right, Tonya?
7. "Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle"
dir. Jake Kasdan
This movie is fun. Fuck you. Its musical score WILL remind you of Alan Silvestri, and the Universal movies (even though this was Sony) of the mid-80's. Everyone is charming in the flick.
6. "The Florida Project"
dir. Sean Baker
Let's be honest, the only actor in this movie was Willem Dafoe, and MAN is he good. I felt such enormous pity for a man who just wanted to get through his day. These feral kids eat him up and yet...the citizens of the extended stay motel are so ungrateful. Is it easy to watch? No. There is great darkness in the land of sunshine. But a movie that is about getting through the day and embracing childhood hope is engaging. VERY engaging.
5. "Wonder Woman"
dir. Patty Jenkins
Sorry, I can watch Gal Gadot read a phone book in Jerusalem. You KNOW I dig her. "Wonder Woman" is a machine movie. But they did it so well, you forget it's been done and overdone. The acting is...rough. They tend to declare things. And Gadot as Diane is pretty damn corny. But so was "Superman" (1978). Can they please just say "Truth, Justice and the American" way so at least the redneck women have a hero as well?
4. "Murder On The Orient Express"
dir. Kenneth Brannagh
Okay, if you know the story you know the story. So what..the murder isn't the fun part, it's the journey. And the frankness that world famous detective Poiret is. Shot in massive framed 65mm film, this feels like the epic should be. The days of "Lawrence of Arabia". If you love cinema, this is the movie you should watch.
3. "Hostiles"
dir. Scott Cooper
Yes folks, they combine a road movie and a western and wide open beautiful spaces with painful angry hate and reseentment. Can an ordinary trip fix the history of pain lead by a war-broken person?
"Hostiles" goes a bit long but just when it thinks you are no longer involved, it throws in some other people who this fractured party has to endure. It's mentally brutal to the participants. And sometimes illogical. But it is the frontier, that in small doses is far more toxic than a grand party. The fact that you can have this much leathery faces without Tom Hardy is a testament to the material. Also, these are the faces you're looking for over that dumb costume party Leo DiCaprio in "The Revenant." That guy couldn't get out of the Hotel Marmont with a Cheyenne guide.
2. "Get Out"
dir. Jordan Peele
Wow was this a shocker. I mean...it wasn't the spoof of a movie or anything. It creeps slowly on you then delivers a message you think about for a week. Then you want to tell a bunch of people but don't want to ruin it. Director Peele outdid M. Night Shamalan in the same vein as "The Sixth Sense" It's creepier because it grounds itself in THIS world. It works as a non-political statement as well. Because it's not preachy but allows our own prejudices to stew or a while. It's an amazing blend of all the great things about 70's horror. It's all psychological. And isn't our society attempting these things now. Wonderful movie that I still think about now and shudder.
1. "Coco"
dir. Lee Unkrich an Adrian Molina
Family. Without going into too much more detail. It's all you need to know. The push and pull of us against our family's best interest. You can replace Miguel's musical drive with our filmmaking drive and still come up with similar conclusions. That is, following your own spirit will lead you to your own history as long as you remember the blood that you share with the past. I love this film because it is a lighter touch to today's Trump mean world. Both sides deeply hate each other for views that probably don't exist unless one wants to punish the other. In "Coco" it isn't political at all. It's about your own individual path and the path made for you. It's lovely heart-swelling movie we all need now. And it's REALLY entertaining.
So that's it. I really wanted to put "The Killing Of A Sacred Deer" in this list because it is pretty damn amazing the movie even got made. Only lingering a little longer on it did I see the artistry in enduring a meandering frustrating film. It's sweaty and itchy and...oh shit it made you actually sense things rather than feel something. Director Yorgos Lathimos transcended Smell-O-Vision without using anything physical at all. He really broke the code Stanley Kubrick tried. But it's not entertaining in the least. So there's that.
Happy New Year!
Saturday, December 30, 2017
Circumventing Hollywood
"Hey man, check this out"
My friend who is a director showed me a still from a 3D animation he wants to do. The composition and lighting were rough, but that's because it wasn't fully rendered. He doesn't have the hardware to fully do the job, unless he takes a week to render out...45 seconds. And it still doesn't look smooth. Photo-realistic...sure.
Before I point out this numbskullery, let me preface this by saying...I tried that once. And it's not to say he will not be successful, it's just the reasoning is within the same as my own...working with actors you want and their schedule and their reasons is frustrating.
Not so much for me now, because I am patient with both my resources and whom I want to deal with. My friend is a little more specific to his projects. Due to budget constraints. He had cast a guy who later told him he is against the project for religious reasons (a fact that wasn't brought up prior, and he did have a copy of script). An older actor decided not to do his project because his girlfriend thinks it's bad for his career to play villains (I don't buy it. I think he's lying to not spend his resources to be in the project). And so forth. You get the frustration.
Aside from that. It's also a budgetary thing. Renting locations, props, buying film, and so forth. It's not that he's giving up on that. It's that he's limiting his window to do the project in the way he wants to do them.
I get that.
I do that to an extent, because we have to. I tend to write with the locations I can acquire conveniently and economically.
So we both bend to the wills of our art.
To him though, it seems to have reached a crossroads of frustration.
I recall being in Sherman Oaks with an animation program thinking to myself "with this, I can toss away the actors and location fees and...success!" That didn't work. What I suspect will happen to him is what happened to me. You start chasing the technology a little and realize you will be constantly throwing good money after bad. It's already happening. His focus isn't on writing, it's on how to beat the system. I can attempt to convince him this is folly, because I think what he wants is complete autonomy. He won't openly admit that this town has fucked him up in terms of getting shit down. I openly do. Because everyone is so savvy here. And not many places to hide to shoot. To maverick filmmakers this is such garbage, because "the industry" made it so that no one can pursue their stories unless they permit you to do so (and I get the safety issue, but let's exercise some common sense). In middle America, you can hide out for weeks and just shoot. There is no choice for me, simply because motion picture film is here. I don't pursue digital movie making so it's not an option (too bad for me). I've come to terms with that.
I know a lot of people here are like "if you are this passionate about your vision and dream, you find a way." No shit, Sherlock. I've been finding my own ways. Doesn't mean I can't vent as to the dumb ways I have to go through in order to get what an ordinary walk on a sidewalk requires. Seriously.
How about the next time someone brings up the "suffer for your dream" speech I counter with "I got an idea, why don't you pick up that pencil with your tongue and do accounting." Oh wait that isn't your dream? Then you failed at life.
My friend who is a director showed me a still from a 3D animation he wants to do. The composition and lighting were rough, but that's because it wasn't fully rendered. He doesn't have the hardware to fully do the job, unless he takes a week to render out...45 seconds. And it still doesn't look smooth. Photo-realistic...sure.
Before I point out this numbskullery, let me preface this by saying...I tried that once. And it's not to say he will not be successful, it's just the reasoning is within the same as my own...working with actors you want and their schedule and their reasons is frustrating.
Not so much for me now, because I am patient with both my resources and whom I want to deal with. My friend is a little more specific to his projects. Due to budget constraints. He had cast a guy who later told him he is against the project for religious reasons (a fact that wasn't brought up prior, and he did have a copy of script). An older actor decided not to do his project because his girlfriend thinks it's bad for his career to play villains (I don't buy it. I think he's lying to not spend his resources to be in the project). And so forth. You get the frustration.
Aside from that. It's also a budgetary thing. Renting locations, props, buying film, and so forth. It's not that he's giving up on that. It's that he's limiting his window to do the project in the way he wants to do them.
I get that.
I do that to an extent, because we have to. I tend to write with the locations I can acquire conveniently and economically.
So we both bend to the wills of our art.
To him though, it seems to have reached a crossroads of frustration.
I recall being in Sherman Oaks with an animation program thinking to myself "with this, I can toss away the actors and location fees and...success!" That didn't work. What I suspect will happen to him is what happened to me. You start chasing the technology a little and realize you will be constantly throwing good money after bad. It's already happening. His focus isn't on writing, it's on how to beat the system. I can attempt to convince him this is folly, because I think what he wants is complete autonomy. He won't openly admit that this town has fucked him up in terms of getting shit down. I openly do. Because everyone is so savvy here. And not many places to hide to shoot. To maverick filmmakers this is such garbage, because "the industry" made it so that no one can pursue their stories unless they permit you to do so (and I get the safety issue, but let's exercise some common sense). In middle America, you can hide out for weeks and just shoot. There is no choice for me, simply because motion picture film is here. I don't pursue digital movie making so it's not an option (too bad for me). I've come to terms with that.
I know a lot of people here are like "if you are this passionate about your vision and dream, you find a way." No shit, Sherlock. I've been finding my own ways. Doesn't mean I can't vent as to the dumb ways I have to go through in order to get what an ordinary walk on a sidewalk requires. Seriously.
How about the next time someone brings up the "suffer for your dream" speech I counter with "I got an idea, why don't you pick up that pencil with your tongue and do accounting." Oh wait that isn't your dream? Then you failed at life.
Friday, December 29, 2017
"Hostiles" (2017)
The year is 1892 and mean sonuvabitch Captain Joseph J. Blocker (Christian Bale) has to drag an Indian he hates, Chief Yellow Hawk and his family to the Montana territory that belongs to the Indians under order of THE President of The United States (fucking William Henry Harrison...Obama). And he is ordered by mean sonuvabitch Colonel Abraham Biggs (Stephen Lang). They should've just called this movie "Mean Sonuvabitches" because none of these assholes are going to the heaven described by God. Despite the good deeds that comes over Blocker and his unit.
This is...sort of a road trip movie with "The Defiant Ones" Each person has suffered great anger and lost at the hands of the other. And along the way they pick up a prairie woman whose lost to the harsh reality of unprotected frontier. Rosamund Pike plays Rosalie Quaid, a woman who is a flower that quickly becomes an ivy. Toughen by the terrain, we get the sense no one survey all that long west of Wyoming.
Suffice it to say, the tropes of working together are there. No surprises. And the people who suffer, suffer the way you think they would. And their teeth are too good for the wilderness. That said, man is this movie brutal. I felt the grime of the wilderness. Tough faces meeting tough faces. Directed Scott Cooper seems to see deep miserable pain. And it is a reluctant adventure. I did enjoy the ride here. It's not that Indians are bad or good and White men suck, it's that given any circumstances, we are brutal towards one another. And with the soldiers in the Middle East returning soon, can these broken people find peace in their enemy. Some die at the hands of guilt. The ugliness of violence that shreds a man's sole is always wrapped up in quiet. That quiet is awful when the sun sets and you have to wake up to the pain you inflicted on others.
Without giving too much away, there are moments when death isn't exactly addressed with the gravity I think it deserved. Some are dismissed rather quickly. And not that we needed to linger on it, since in reality, Blocker has seen worse. And I wonder if tough guys would stand around in the dark and share these ugly death stories with one another (I think they do...many soldiers have felt the brotherhood of cheating death).
This is a worthy movie to tell. A frontier story that is also so very very beautiful. The landscape of untouched land in brutal circumstances is always heartbreaking to me.
This is...sort of a road trip movie with "The Defiant Ones" Each person has suffered great anger and lost at the hands of the other. And along the way they pick up a prairie woman whose lost to the harsh reality of unprotected frontier. Rosamund Pike plays Rosalie Quaid, a woman who is a flower that quickly becomes an ivy. Toughen by the terrain, we get the sense no one survey all that long west of Wyoming.
Suffice it to say, the tropes of working together are there. No surprises. And the people who suffer, suffer the way you think they would. And their teeth are too good for the wilderness. That said, man is this movie brutal. I felt the grime of the wilderness. Tough faces meeting tough faces. Directed Scott Cooper seems to see deep miserable pain. And it is a reluctant adventure. I did enjoy the ride here. It's not that Indians are bad or good and White men suck, it's that given any circumstances, we are brutal towards one another. And with the soldiers in the Middle East returning soon, can these broken people find peace in their enemy. Some die at the hands of guilt. The ugliness of violence that shreds a man's sole is always wrapped up in quiet. That quiet is awful when the sun sets and you have to wake up to the pain you inflicted on others.
Without giving too much away, there are moments when death isn't exactly addressed with the gravity I think it deserved. Some are dismissed rather quickly. And not that we needed to linger on it, since in reality, Blocker has seen worse. And I wonder if tough guys would stand around in the dark and share these ugly death stories with one another (I think they do...many soldiers have felt the brotherhood of cheating death).
This is a worthy movie to tell. A frontier story that is also so very very beautiful. The landscape of untouched land in brutal circumstances is always heartbreaking to me.
Thursday, December 28, 2017
"All The Money In The World" (2017)
A lot was said about Kevin Spacey and being dumped from this project. More should've been spoken about WHY they didn't even cast an old wretched guy to begin with. Christopher Plummer takes over the role of J. Paul Getty, the richest man (up until that point) in the world and history.
His grandson is kidnapped and 1971 and thus begins the back and forth between kidnappers and the mother of the grandson Abigail Getty (Michelle Williams). She is aided by Fletcher Chase (Mark Wahlberg) a man who typically negotiates deals for Getty in regards to business but never really about lives. This is the same to the miser that is Getty. He is a ruthless dealer who won't ever capitulate when it comes to business. A battle won will be a war later on.
The thing that director Ridley Scott adamantly wants you to know is..being rich is actually not all that much fun. Having the means and the wealth means nothing without...contentment. That you can be wealthy and not expect much more. Getty wasn't that person. At the core of a man that driven is bitterness to a deeper sense. My own Mom has these tendencies sometimes. I believe it comes from being a poor farmer. If you make life too easy for your children they will inevitably throw it away which is what Getty's son does and also his grandson (history has proven this to be true). Wealth at the end destroyed the people it was meant to support. And...so the phrase continues "all the money in the world, won't buy you happiness" In this case, it was literally freedom. As the young Getty is kidnapped the question being...did the kidnappers ever take into account this theory?
The film is a nice buoyant flick on whether or not they get the boy back and in how many pieces. It is a little sterile (this is typical of most Ridley Scott flicks). It wants you to sympathize with the Abigail, but I thought her character was a bit two dimensional. Not much to work with when you're constantly suppose to play worried. In the end, being stinking rich does start to feel like a curse according to this movie.
I do wonder why this movie was even made though. What message do we gleam from it. Are the wealthy sometimes more bitter and ugly. We knew that. Are we saying the poor will do what it takes to be rich? Meh. Some choose the latter. Does money destroy families? Kind of. I think at the core, this is what is missing. Why was this movie even made? (Kevin Spacey or not).
His grandson is kidnapped and 1971 and thus begins the back and forth between kidnappers and the mother of the grandson Abigail Getty (Michelle Williams). She is aided by Fletcher Chase (Mark Wahlberg) a man who typically negotiates deals for Getty in regards to business but never really about lives. This is the same to the miser that is Getty. He is a ruthless dealer who won't ever capitulate when it comes to business. A battle won will be a war later on.
The thing that director Ridley Scott adamantly wants you to know is..being rich is actually not all that much fun. Having the means and the wealth means nothing without...contentment. That you can be wealthy and not expect much more. Getty wasn't that person. At the core of a man that driven is bitterness to a deeper sense. My own Mom has these tendencies sometimes. I believe it comes from being a poor farmer. If you make life too easy for your children they will inevitably throw it away which is what Getty's son does and also his grandson (history has proven this to be true). Wealth at the end destroyed the people it was meant to support. And...so the phrase continues "all the money in the world, won't buy you happiness" In this case, it was literally freedom. As the young Getty is kidnapped the question being...did the kidnappers ever take into account this theory?
The film is a nice buoyant flick on whether or not they get the boy back and in how many pieces. It is a little sterile (this is typical of most Ridley Scott flicks). It wants you to sympathize with the Abigail, but I thought her character was a bit two dimensional. Not much to work with when you're constantly suppose to play worried. In the end, being stinking rich does start to feel like a curse according to this movie.
I do wonder why this movie was even made though. What message do we gleam from it. Are the wealthy sometimes more bitter and ugly. We knew that. Are we saying the poor will do what it takes to be rich? Meh. Some choose the latter. Does money destroy families? Kind of. I think at the core, this is what is missing. Why was this movie even made? (Kevin Spacey or not).
Wednesday, December 27, 2017
"I, Tonya" (2017)
I just want to hug Tonya Harding and tell her that not everyone will abuse you. But, I doubt she would appreciate my pity, and I'm sure she'd take my words and cram them up my ass.]
I was at an age when the scandal of Tonya Harding went down. So I wasn't all that interested in it, because, fuck...it was figure skating.
As a movie...holy fucking shit. This is a powerhouse slap in the face that looks like it was directed by Martin Scorsese.
Australian beauty Margot Robbie plays tomboy Tonya Harding to the most brutal, sad story of inspired talent that, by all rights should not have been bestowed on an Oregon redneck. While Harding wore her trash on her sleeve the rest of figure skating jammed it so far down their own sport they knew they wouldn't reward a girl who didn't personify femininity of the 1990's. Funny that exist to this day.
The story is of a girl who grew to be a rabid pitbull simply because she was reacting to a mother who was as cruel as she was honest. In the darkest reaches of trash, Allison Janney plays the awful, but mesmerizing LaVona Golden. Devoid of any womanhood, or the nurturing power of motherhood, she blasts Tonya whenever possible. Reacts to sentiment as weakness, and one wonders why she even had children. She is bitter and angry and spends her time toughing up Tonya to defend herself from the world as well. This is not a woman to deal with. Unless your daughter happens to have talent.
It's no surprise then she hooks up with an oddball named Jeff Gillooly (Sebastian Stan). Jeff is an abuser. Physical and mental. The film portrays him as a simpleton whose main focus was Tonya. Somewhat of a surrogate of Tonya's mother. They admit it. Their wedding was white trash, as was existing together. As told in a tabloid-ish interview style, Tonya admits marrying Jeff was the biggest mistake she ever made. It was simply to get away from the abusive mother.
Without going into too much more, this movie is captivating. It was literally impossible NOT to look at the screen. I laughed a lot more than I thought I would. Learned new things about the incident. And, this movie clearly knows it knows what type of person who would want to see this type of movie. They address it plenty of times. Director Craig Gillespie is a filmmaker. He breaks the fourth wall repeatedly to have us understand we are getting their perspective. The title "I, Tonya" isn't just a title. It is a confession and a sign off on it.
This film rises above the simple biopic by making it a fascinating story about...well, it could be anyone. It still would be interesting if it wasn't Tonya. This is a woman whose sole strength was survival. Which, knowing her history...we know she will endure.
I love this film. It reminded me of some of my Ohio friends. They nailed that flavor of sub-par ambition. Those people who live up to the standard of just breathing. Delusional in a part of life that if they faced, but be too crushing to go on. What we can say about Tonya Harding is, her undoing wasn't completely a result of a moment with Nancy Kerrigan (in fact it plays very little in the movie itself). But that she still is making attempts to move forward. For someone who first landed a triple axel in competition and even to this day very few can do this, I would say...that's a story worth telling.
I was at an age when the scandal of Tonya Harding went down. So I wasn't all that interested in it, because, fuck...it was figure skating.
As a movie...holy fucking shit. This is a powerhouse slap in the face that looks like it was directed by Martin Scorsese.
Australian beauty Margot Robbie plays tomboy Tonya Harding to the most brutal, sad story of inspired talent that, by all rights should not have been bestowed on an Oregon redneck. While Harding wore her trash on her sleeve the rest of figure skating jammed it so far down their own sport they knew they wouldn't reward a girl who didn't personify femininity of the 1990's. Funny that exist to this day.
The story is of a girl who grew to be a rabid pitbull simply because she was reacting to a mother who was as cruel as she was honest. In the darkest reaches of trash, Allison Janney plays the awful, but mesmerizing LaVona Golden. Devoid of any womanhood, or the nurturing power of motherhood, she blasts Tonya whenever possible. Reacts to sentiment as weakness, and one wonders why she even had children. She is bitter and angry and spends her time toughing up Tonya to defend herself from the world as well. This is not a woman to deal with. Unless your daughter happens to have talent.
It's no surprise then she hooks up with an oddball named Jeff Gillooly (Sebastian Stan). Jeff is an abuser. Physical and mental. The film portrays him as a simpleton whose main focus was Tonya. Somewhat of a surrogate of Tonya's mother. They admit it. Their wedding was white trash, as was existing together. As told in a tabloid-ish interview style, Tonya admits marrying Jeff was the biggest mistake she ever made. It was simply to get away from the abusive mother.
Without going into too much more, this movie is captivating. It was literally impossible NOT to look at the screen. I laughed a lot more than I thought I would. Learned new things about the incident. And, this movie clearly knows it knows what type of person who would want to see this type of movie. They address it plenty of times. Director Craig Gillespie is a filmmaker. He breaks the fourth wall repeatedly to have us understand we are getting their perspective. The title "I, Tonya" isn't just a title. It is a confession and a sign off on it.
This film rises above the simple biopic by making it a fascinating story about...well, it could be anyone. It still would be interesting if it wasn't Tonya. This is a woman whose sole strength was survival. Which, knowing her history...we know she will endure.
I love this film. It reminded me of some of my Ohio friends. They nailed that flavor of sub-par ambition. Those people who live up to the standard of just breathing. Delusional in a part of life that if they faced, but be too crushing to go on. What we can say about Tonya Harding is, her undoing wasn't completely a result of a moment with Nancy Kerrigan (in fact it plays very little in the movie itself). But that she still is making attempts to move forward. For someone who first landed a triple axel in competition and even to this day very few can do this, I would say...that's a story worth telling.
Hallmark Cards
Having artistic friends, I never get Hallmark cards anymore. That's a shame. It seems they are still the barometer of last minute card-giving moments.
Browsing through the holiday cards are hilarious because Hallmark does provide a leveled sentiment that says what you can't in real life. That is the purpose of cards, yes? Because we can't express the kindness in words to someone without sounding goofy. Try it...I recall telling a girl I loved her, and it was echoing in my skull for weeks. Learned my lesson.
It's hard for me to say those things, so a Hallmark card is perfect. The other thing...it is from a third party corporation, so if the sentiment fails, it doesn't feel like YOU failed. Only your last minute choice.
Handmade cards are the bomb. Do NOT get me wrong. A Hallmark card seems nicer, because I know the person probably had hundreds of duplicates that they send to everyone. I don't want people spending their precious time coming up with the perfect sentiment.
Besides, the best cards have big breasted women on them. And if you aren't that, doesn't really matter does it?
Browsing through the holiday cards are hilarious because Hallmark does provide a leveled sentiment that says what you can't in real life. That is the purpose of cards, yes? Because we can't express the kindness in words to someone without sounding goofy. Try it...I recall telling a girl I loved her, and it was echoing in my skull for weeks. Learned my lesson.
It's hard for me to say those things, so a Hallmark card is perfect. The other thing...it is from a third party corporation, so if the sentiment fails, it doesn't feel like YOU failed. Only your last minute choice.
Handmade cards are the bomb. Do NOT get me wrong. A Hallmark card seems nicer, because I know the person probably had hundreds of duplicates that they send to everyone. I don't want people spending their precious time coming up with the perfect sentiment.
Besides, the best cards have big breasted women on them. And if you aren't that, doesn't really matter does it?
Merrrrry Kwanzaa!
Hope you all had a great Christmas.
I sat around watching old 80's Christmas sitcom episodes. It sucks because I was moving around so much I didn't have time to really immerse myself into the usual Christmas spirit. So it came and went and now...yeah, it was a bummer. It is really my fault.
I should've gone home this year, but I feel nauseous lately. So I figured traveling would make it worse. I get dizzy, and anxious. I can't imagine taking a bus to the airport to fly. It's rough to know you constantly feel like you wanna puke, because I really did want to spend it with family. But being immobile until I can figure out what's causing it made more sense.
I did watch all the classics though. Even took a friend to see "Miracle On 34th Street" on film...for his first time. Yeah. Dude has never seen it. Wild, right?
It was odd because this year REALLY didn't feel like Christmas. And I was listening to Bill Burr's podcast where he was saying how being alone and NOT caring is the the Hall of Fame of loners. Ha!
He's got my number.
Merry Christmas though. I hope you guys spent it in good spirits!
I sat around watching old 80's Christmas sitcom episodes. It sucks because I was moving around so much I didn't have time to really immerse myself into the usual Christmas spirit. So it came and went and now...yeah, it was a bummer. It is really my fault.
I should've gone home this year, but I feel nauseous lately. So I figured traveling would make it worse. I get dizzy, and anxious. I can't imagine taking a bus to the airport to fly. It's rough to know you constantly feel like you wanna puke, because I really did want to spend it with family. But being immobile until I can figure out what's causing it made more sense.
I did watch all the classics though. Even took a friend to see "Miracle On 34th Street" on film...for his first time. Yeah. Dude has never seen it. Wild, right?
It was odd because this year REALLY didn't feel like Christmas. And I was listening to Bill Burr's podcast where he was saying how being alone and NOT caring is the the Hall of Fame of loners. Ha!
He's got my number.
Merry Christmas though. I hope you guys spent it in good spirits!
Tuesday, December 26, 2017
"Darkest Hour" (2017)
A one man show. Gary Oldman plays Winston Churchill. The steak IS the entree.
Come watch dinner theater.
On the eve of Hitler pushing the Allies into certain doom, the drunk weirdo (cough...cough..resistance) is placed into power after citizens and Parliament has lost faith in Neville Chamberlain (the previous Prime Minister).
As a divisive drunk, cigar chain smoker...Churchill dictates his blustery speeches with some of the same emphasis as his opponent Adolph Hitler.
Not dwelling too much on the war itself, this was about how close the Allies were to losing the war, and some make believe moment where Churchill's flip of faith comes from the hands of...
...subway patrons?
In a "gimme a fucking break" moment...yes it's silly. But being that it is the precursor to a movie like "Dunkirk" (these could be watched side by side), it has a deep gravity to the stakes. When people in the 1940's spoke with such clipped language to make sure you knew they were serious.
Stubborn and forthright, you like to hate Churchill. History is a little kinder to him than I think the reality was. Which, by all rights, looked and acted like W.C. Fields. Oh wait...
"Darkest Hour" is a motivational speech bloated to 2 hours and sort of cheaply diminished by eye-candy scribe Elizabeth Layton (Lily James). In the war, she still looks...fresh.
Okay, so for actors, of course you are going to vote Gary Oldman the statue. Why? He embodies Churchill. Every lip quiver, yelling, snot inducing moment, he knows and feels the weight of the man. The speeches are corny (probably accurate). And there is an unflattering look at his counter-part FDR when their backs were truly against the wall.
Either way...it's a higher production set up than most of these period pieces obviously elevated by Gary Oldman's talent. It sickens me when people consider DiCaprio the embodiment of acting, when Oldman dances circles around him.
Is this an interesting movie otherwise? Ehhhh...it's a slog, but got a great history lesson here and there.
Come watch dinner theater.
On the eve of Hitler pushing the Allies into certain doom, the drunk weirdo (cough...cough..resistance) is placed into power after citizens and Parliament has lost faith in Neville Chamberlain (the previous Prime Minister).
As a divisive drunk, cigar chain smoker...Churchill dictates his blustery speeches with some of the same emphasis as his opponent Adolph Hitler.
Not dwelling too much on the war itself, this was about how close the Allies were to losing the war, and some make believe moment where Churchill's flip of faith comes from the hands of...
...subway patrons?
In a "gimme a fucking break" moment...yes it's silly. But being that it is the precursor to a movie like "Dunkirk" (these could be watched side by side), it has a deep gravity to the stakes. When people in the 1940's spoke with such clipped language to make sure you knew they were serious.
Stubborn and forthright, you like to hate Churchill. History is a little kinder to him than I think the reality was. Which, by all rights, looked and acted like W.C. Fields. Oh wait...
"Darkest Hour" is a motivational speech bloated to 2 hours and sort of cheaply diminished by eye-candy scribe Elizabeth Layton (Lily James). In the war, she still looks...fresh.
Okay, so for actors, of course you are going to vote Gary Oldman the statue. Why? He embodies Churchill. Every lip quiver, yelling, snot inducing moment, he knows and feels the weight of the man. The speeches are corny (probably accurate). And there is an unflattering look at his counter-part FDR when their backs were truly against the wall.
Either way...it's a higher production set up than most of these period pieces obviously elevated by Gary Oldman's talent. It sickens me when people consider DiCaprio the embodiment of acting, when Oldman dances circles around him.
Is this an interesting movie otherwise? Ehhhh...it's a slog, but got a great history lesson here and there.
Saturday, December 23, 2017
"Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle" (2017)
Yes folks, it's fun. A throwback fun even as you hear the chimes of what sounded like an Alan Silvestri 1980's cue of something Universal should've made.
What makes it fun is it is about nostalgia but doesn't hit you over the head with it ("Stranger Things") With the exception of an opening scene (seeing mix tapes in 1996), the story takes it to the next level of board game...uh...video games.
The rules are set up nicely.
Four teenagers are whisked into an adventure that plays within these rules of video games. As a open world gamer, the comedy is pinpoint accurate. The cut-scenes in games versus the rules being laid out. Which is nicely conceived, since we would get the rules exposition scene anyway. The rest is Dwayne Johnson and Karen Gillan playing the avatars of their adventure self as sweet naive teenagers. This is the teenage movie I've loved for a long time. Some are self-absorbed and cruel but it's not that darkness that hovers over something like a Gus Van Sant movie. The comedy is lifted by Kevin Hart who is a genius at obvious humor (pointing out the obvious, like breaking down the fourth wall). The characters they play aren't necessarily how four people in an adventure would play out, but set-up and payoff makes sense. Including the reason for their silly expertise.
It was then no surprise to see Jake Kasdan at the helm. It all made sense. I would put my money that he may gear up for one of the "Star Wars" movies, considering his pop Lawrence Kasdan wrote the best one. This "Jumanji" is un-apologetically sweet and wraps up a little too neatly. But that is what movies are for. It's a true escape. Much like "Cloak and Dagger" (1984) the boy who envisions himself a hero in his own video game and can bring reluctant friends along can conquer the universe.
Go see this movie if you can. It's fun.
What makes it fun is it is about nostalgia but doesn't hit you over the head with it ("Stranger Things") With the exception of an opening scene (seeing mix tapes in 1996), the story takes it to the next level of board game...uh...video games.
The rules are set up nicely.
Four teenagers are whisked into an adventure that plays within these rules of video games. As a open world gamer, the comedy is pinpoint accurate. The cut-scenes in games versus the rules being laid out. Which is nicely conceived, since we would get the rules exposition scene anyway. The rest is Dwayne Johnson and Karen Gillan playing the avatars of their adventure self as sweet naive teenagers. This is the teenage movie I've loved for a long time. Some are self-absorbed and cruel but it's not that darkness that hovers over something like a Gus Van Sant movie. The comedy is lifted by Kevin Hart who is a genius at obvious humor (pointing out the obvious, like breaking down the fourth wall). The characters they play aren't necessarily how four people in an adventure would play out, but set-up and payoff makes sense. Including the reason for their silly expertise.
It was then no surprise to see Jake Kasdan at the helm. It all made sense. I would put my money that he may gear up for one of the "Star Wars" movies, considering his pop Lawrence Kasdan wrote the best one. This "Jumanji" is un-apologetically sweet and wraps up a little too neatly. But that is what movies are for. It's a true escape. Much like "Cloak and Dagger" (1984) the boy who envisions himself a hero in his own video game and can bring reluctant friends along can conquer the universe.
Go see this movie if you can. It's fun.
Friday, December 22, 2017
More "The Last Jedi" Backlash (SPOILERS AGAIN)
Hamill added: “I almost had to think of Luke as another character. Maybe he’s Jake Skywalker, he’s not my Luke Skywalker.”
Still, Hamill’s comments appear to confirm that so-called creative differences were shaking up the galaxy far, far away long before the film’s release.
“I still haven’t accepted it completely, but it’s only a movie,” Hamill said. “I hope people like it. I hope they don’t get upset. And I came to really believe that Rian was the exact man that they needed for this job.”
In other words, Rian Johnson fucked it all up.
And that's cool. Once Disney bought the property, it no longer matters what George Lucas thinks. Even if he thought he was bamboozled. Decades later when we're all dead, maybe Lucas's daughter will re-buy the franchise back and right the ship?
But I think Hamill has a point in his disgust. There's been a massive push to keep linking back to the storyline of how and why the Jedi. He was always portrayed as the optimistic being who disappeared when one of his students went nutty and he had to put a stop to him. This drove Luke to quit and determine that the Jedi are nothing but problems anyway. The lineage of this family (aside from others around the galaxy) always painted Hamill to be "the chosen one." But slowly, they added more that diluted the pool. And more again. Teacher and student and teacher and student. Cycles forever. All while the Jedi's power can ONLY be corrupted. Consider Anakin and Luke and Lei and... well Darth Vader (a.k.a. Anakin) was all about how he could net the power of the universe. The Emperor just figured a guy that driven must be a great asset. Then it skipped a generation, then the offspring of Kylo Ren. I think Hamill's beef was that Luke would never in a million years consider the worse case scenario. Raising a weapon against another (and a family member at that). He saw the future and it made him go darker than usual. It's that question "if you could kill Hitler if you knew he was going to be Hitler, would you do it?" The answer in this movie...there is no answer. In fact, they get their cake and eat it too. Depending on whose story you believe ("Rashomon"). To Hamill, it seems the Luke he wanted always had a shred of...hope. I think they desperately lost out on Rey's training. Luke could remain silent. In fact have the training in complete silence (to offset the yakety sax of Yoda on Dagobah). It could be hilarious (which they attempted to do with a montage of...following?
I don't think Rian Johnson completely understands the feeling of the Star Wars universe. He completely understands the logic. But what Hamill may be implying is that, forget the fact that his mean old man character makes sense for future episodes, does it make emotional sense? The answer for me is no. Logically, yes. But that's what the ones who hated this version of Luke has to come to terms with. That the powers that be went with their heads and not with their hearts. Both avenues yields the same result of dissatisfied audiences. Which, in a strange way, is a good talking point for a movie that means so much. People are willing to lose friends over heated discussions over it. That is amazing, considering the context of a movie that has silly dialogue and puppets.
Still, Hamill’s comments appear to confirm that so-called creative differences were shaking up the galaxy far, far away long before the film’s release.
“I still haven’t accepted it completely, but it’s only a movie,” Hamill said. “I hope people like it. I hope they don’t get upset. And I came to really believe that Rian was the exact man that they needed for this job.”
In other words, Rian Johnson fucked it all up.
And that's cool. Once Disney bought the property, it no longer matters what George Lucas thinks. Even if he thought he was bamboozled. Decades later when we're all dead, maybe Lucas's daughter will re-buy the franchise back and right the ship?
But I think Hamill has a point in his disgust. There's been a massive push to keep linking back to the storyline of how and why the Jedi. He was always portrayed as the optimistic being who disappeared when one of his students went nutty and he had to put a stop to him. This drove Luke to quit and determine that the Jedi are nothing but problems anyway. The lineage of this family (aside from others around the galaxy) always painted Hamill to be "the chosen one." But slowly, they added more that diluted the pool. And more again. Teacher and student and teacher and student. Cycles forever. All while the Jedi's power can ONLY be corrupted. Consider Anakin and Luke and Lei and... well Darth Vader (a.k.a. Anakin) was all about how he could net the power of the universe. The Emperor just figured a guy that driven must be a great asset. Then it skipped a generation, then the offspring of Kylo Ren. I think Hamill's beef was that Luke would never in a million years consider the worse case scenario. Raising a weapon against another (and a family member at that). He saw the future and it made him go darker than usual. It's that question "if you could kill Hitler if you knew he was going to be Hitler, would you do it?" The answer in this movie...there is no answer. In fact, they get their cake and eat it too. Depending on whose story you believe ("Rashomon"). To Hamill, it seems the Luke he wanted always had a shred of...hope. I think they desperately lost out on Rey's training. Luke could remain silent. In fact have the training in complete silence (to offset the yakety sax of Yoda on Dagobah). It could be hilarious (which they attempted to do with a montage of...following?
I don't think Rian Johnson completely understands the feeling of the Star Wars universe. He completely understands the logic. But what Hamill may be implying is that, forget the fact that his mean old man character makes sense for future episodes, does it make emotional sense? The answer for me is no. Logically, yes. But that's what the ones who hated this version of Luke has to come to terms with. That the powers that be went with their heads and not with their hearts. Both avenues yields the same result of dissatisfied audiences. Which, in a strange way, is a good talking point for a movie that means so much. People are willing to lose friends over heated discussions over it. That is amazing, considering the context of a movie that has silly dialogue and puppets.
Thursday, December 21, 2017
I Hate To Love It
"so you're friend hated 'The Last Jedi?"
"oh yeah, he had so many problems with it."
"But you said he's going to go see it again?"
"probably four or five times."
That is the power of The Force.
"Star Wars" is incredibly dumb. I had a chance to absorb all the universe that has been built. And frankly...story wise...it's a children's book. with puppets and drama. Japanese comics have this similar melodrama. Which is where most of "Star Wars" has been stolen from. Even the name is childish and simple. Like a retarded kid looked up into the sky and muttered those two words. Sorry George.
Which gets me to thinking how much overthinking we do in the service of...fantasy (movies)...
We are no longer talking about a movie anymore. We're talking about a cult or a movement. People love to live in worlds that aren't...this. Whatever this is. And I completely understand. The world presented to us have open endings. As do most movies. But they do conclude in some shape or another. There is a finality of stories. Whilst predictable and logic dumb. It does also explain why people like comic book movies. They are an escape of the drudgery of life. Which the stuff you face on a daily basis sucks. Bills, screaming kids, spouses, responsibilities melt away when you are locked into a dark theater. Many people still believe they can stay in their homes with 100" screens and still get that experience. "Natz!" Says I. You are going to somewhere else that can't be interrupted. Which is why I get heated when people go to the movies and talk. These people can't grasp the concept that people go to movies so that they would go away. To be reminded of the outside thoughtlessness of people like this...well, face punching is in order.
"oh yeah, he had so many problems with it."
"But you said he's going to go see it again?"
"probably four or five times."
That is the power of The Force.
"Star Wars" is incredibly dumb. I had a chance to absorb all the universe that has been built. And frankly...story wise...it's a children's book. with puppets and drama. Japanese comics have this similar melodrama. Which is where most of "Star Wars" has been stolen from. Even the name is childish and simple. Like a retarded kid looked up into the sky and muttered those two words. Sorry George.
Which gets me to thinking how much overthinking we do in the service of...fantasy (movies)...
We are no longer talking about a movie anymore. We're talking about a cult or a movement. People love to live in worlds that aren't...this. Whatever this is. And I completely understand. The world presented to us have open endings. As do most movies. But they do conclude in some shape or another. There is a finality of stories. Whilst predictable and logic dumb. It does also explain why people like comic book movies. They are an escape of the drudgery of life. Which the stuff you face on a daily basis sucks. Bills, screaming kids, spouses, responsibilities melt away when you are locked into a dark theater. Many people still believe they can stay in their homes with 100" screens and still get that experience. "Natz!" Says I. You are going to somewhere else that can't be interrupted. Which is why I get heated when people go to the movies and talk. These people can't grasp the concept that people go to movies so that they would go away. To be reminded of the outside thoughtlessness of people like this...well, face punching is in order.
Wednesday, December 20, 2017
Precious Christmas Memories
I'm starting to feel like I've had much more precious Christmas memories than most people. And my Pop is Buddhist!
"I don't like Christmas" said the middle aged man in the sauna. He rubbed his poorly grown five o' clock shadow. Youthful in spirit, seemed a cloud washed over him.
"How the fuck do you not like Christmas?" I prodded.
He hesitated...Then...
"My step-dad loved baseball and was the sport he was good at. When I was 12 I was diagnosed with a lazy eye, so I was forced to wear an eyepatch to make the lazy one stronger. When the day finally came where I didn't have to wear the patch anymore, the step-dad demanded I take up little league. I hated sports. Against me and Mom's protest, he forced me onto the field. Annnnnd he was the baseball coach. Having astigmatism meant I had zero depth perception. The first at bat, I struck out. What could I do? Can't see the thing. He called me every name in the book. And ended it with the word "loser." And by the way, this was in front of everyone. The other kids, the parents in the stands. There was actually another parent who came down from the stands to tell him to lighten up. It was possible he was hung over or still drunk. The next day I quit. And I asked Mom what sport he hated the most. She said it was soccer. That's what I signed up for. And he never showed up to any of my games. Ever. Again. Now this is just any other day, what do you think Christmas was like?"
I sat in the sauna scratching my head, confused how someone could treat anyone this way. Especially when we constantly say that our best resources are our children. It turns out the man's father was the same way. In fact he continued...
"the best day was the one day where we got into some weird fight, and I said he was just like his Dad. He punched me right in the face" he smiled, rubbing his jaw, as if he was still feeling the sting, but then he smiled "because later that night Mom told me he was crying. He'd never cried about anything, and I made him cry. Because the worst thing that he could ever be accused of was being compared to the man who tormented him."
Merry Christmas.
"I don't like Christmas" said the middle aged man in the sauna. He rubbed his poorly grown five o' clock shadow. Youthful in spirit, seemed a cloud washed over him.
"How the fuck do you not like Christmas?" I prodded.
He hesitated...Then...
"My step-dad loved baseball and was the sport he was good at. When I was 12 I was diagnosed with a lazy eye, so I was forced to wear an eyepatch to make the lazy one stronger. When the day finally came where I didn't have to wear the patch anymore, the step-dad demanded I take up little league. I hated sports. Against me and Mom's protest, he forced me onto the field. Annnnnd he was the baseball coach. Having astigmatism meant I had zero depth perception. The first at bat, I struck out. What could I do? Can't see the thing. He called me every name in the book. And ended it with the word "loser." And by the way, this was in front of everyone. The other kids, the parents in the stands. There was actually another parent who came down from the stands to tell him to lighten up. It was possible he was hung over or still drunk. The next day I quit. And I asked Mom what sport he hated the most. She said it was soccer. That's what I signed up for. And he never showed up to any of my games. Ever. Again. Now this is just any other day, what do you think Christmas was like?"
I sat in the sauna scratching my head, confused how someone could treat anyone this way. Especially when we constantly say that our best resources are our children. It turns out the man's father was the same way. In fact he continued...
"the best day was the one day where we got into some weird fight, and I said he was just like his Dad. He punched me right in the face" he smiled, rubbing his jaw, as if he was still feeling the sting, but then he smiled "because later that night Mom told me he was crying. He'd never cried about anything, and I made him cry. Because the worst thing that he could ever be accused of was being compared to the man who tormented him."
Merry Christmas.
Tuesday, December 19, 2017
"Ocean's 8" And Why It's Going To Fail
This looks like a direct copy of the "Ocean's" movies. Including Sandra Bullock being named Ocean. Then apparently, voodoo doll pin-cushion of the week Matt Damon will be returning too.
I didn't laugh at anything going on in this trailer. And frankly, it's insulting to women. It actually talks down to them. As if they couldn't enjoy a heist movie unless it was linked to a "man's movie." That was the point of the original ones. Frank Sinatra and friends had a gang who were fun loving criminals. The gist of this movie is simply to copy the copy. And it's going to be a disaster. Because men will not go. Trust me, they won't. No matter how good it is. I'm not sure who greenlit this, but I'm sure it was done as a backend deal for all those involved (cheaply made).
What Hollywood hasn't gotten yet...is that women don't identify with women in THIS way. Men love to be the hero of their stories. Women like to be whisked away (explains those fucking awful "Shades Of Gray" movies). That was the point of "Ghostbusters" reboot with women wasn't it? Women don't go around zapping each other with proton packs or shit like that.
But I understand, you just want to keep the stars who are in this happy, so they'll do other movies for you in the future. Call it a wash.
The Downward Spiral Of Boozin'
I got a weird text on Sunday
"Can you talk?"
It was a data manager guy at the place I work. It seemed odd, since he's such a shithead irritating dope.
"Sure" I texted back.
He called.
The gist of it. He had gone out with his girlfriend and they had gotten into a fight. To which he shared with me how alcohol had been the catalyst for this misadventure.
Flashback to the day before. Friday.
I was ambling around with a St. Croix sparkling water drink around. Mocking the Millenials who were working around the office. This dude was mocking me drinking the St. Croix.
"I drank this to get me off the booze. You should try it."
"Why do you say that?"
"'Cause your a degenerate alcoholic."
To which he flinched. Yes, drunks know other drunks.
He clammed up.
Back to the story.
Well, not much more of a story other than I told the guy that everyone sees his problem. He denied it all. No one knows except me. Nope. Here's a few clues.
-Coming in late.
-Having attitude problems
-Calling in sick
-forgetting to do tasks
-doing dumb things at work
He was the checklist of everything that could go wrong with a drunk. Eventually he even passed out on the phone.
He texted me again yesterday. He had called in sick. Uh-huh.
He wanted to chat again. To which I directed him to talk to someone professional. I blasted him with "you are too weak to do this yourself" Most drunks are. I was lucky to have a great deal of hate in my heart for the people trying to kill me (booze makers). Or making booze all that wonderful. You become erratic and weird.
There was an interesting question he asked
"without drinking...what is there then?"
Great question. That is the unknown. Drinking booze shields you from the reality of great deep pain in life. The mysticism of death and lost of love. The partner in crime that doesn't objectively call you the loser that you've become.
I think for the most part, people just need a place to express themselves. If that means writing, making movies or philosophizing with friends who are equally as dimensional, I think these are the people to reach out to. I'm lucky to be surrounded by people who are okay with not partying like we're 20 again. Not that I care what others do. But it would be sad to derail oneself so early in life over something that won't leave an impression.
"Can you talk?"
It was a data manager guy at the place I work. It seemed odd, since he's such a shithead irritating dope.
"Sure" I texted back.
He called.
The gist of it. He had gone out with his girlfriend and they had gotten into a fight. To which he shared with me how alcohol had been the catalyst for this misadventure.
Flashback to the day before. Friday.
I was ambling around with a St. Croix sparkling water drink around. Mocking the Millenials who were working around the office. This dude was mocking me drinking the St. Croix.
"I drank this to get me off the booze. You should try it."
"Why do you say that?"
"'Cause your a degenerate alcoholic."
To which he flinched. Yes, drunks know other drunks.
He clammed up.
Back to the story.
Well, not much more of a story other than I told the guy that everyone sees his problem. He denied it all. No one knows except me. Nope. Here's a few clues.
-Coming in late.
-Having attitude problems
-Calling in sick
-forgetting to do tasks
-doing dumb things at work
He was the checklist of everything that could go wrong with a drunk. Eventually he even passed out on the phone.
He texted me again yesterday. He had called in sick. Uh-huh.
He wanted to chat again. To which I directed him to talk to someone professional. I blasted him with "you are too weak to do this yourself" Most drunks are. I was lucky to have a great deal of hate in my heart for the people trying to kill me (booze makers). Or making booze all that wonderful. You become erratic and weird.
There was an interesting question he asked
"without drinking...what is there then?"
Great question. That is the unknown. Drinking booze shields you from the reality of great deep pain in life. The mysticism of death and lost of love. The partner in crime that doesn't objectively call you the loser that you've become.
I think for the most part, people just need a place to express themselves. If that means writing, making movies or philosophizing with friends who are equally as dimensional, I think these are the people to reach out to. I'm lucky to be surrounded by people who are okay with not partying like we're 20 again. Not that I care what others do. But it would be sad to derail oneself so early in life over something that won't leave an impression.
Monday, December 18, 2017
Rose McGowan Vs. The Golden Globes
In more news as to why Rose McGowan is a hysterical crazy woman (look at Jodie Foster in "The Accused" for this behavior):
Burn.
You know, the more I look at Meryl Streep, the more I think she thinks she's better than me. Well, she is, but she doesn't have to look like it.
She has a smug face most guys in the midwest would backhand. Because her "intelligence" can't beat five across the eyes. Which is how Hilary Clinton loss.
If the Left are wondering how they lost an election, it's because they keep being supported by the intellectual elite. The notion that smarts will outdo brawn. This is super-brushback from pussy Obama. Book learned people tend to support the Left.
From my experience, book learned people lack common sense.
So this will be interesting...a book learned person versus a mentally ill person (I'll let you decide who is who).
The issue is Rose McGowan is right. We let this go on forever. And this idiotic silent protest means nothing. Because the Golden Globes generates revenue they wouldn't stop it. Which is the message Hollywood/Foreign Press continues to spread. Which is, money trumps all. Ideally, they would cancel the Golden Globes this year. Because of all the scandal. This would prove to the world that Hollywood doesn't tolerate it across the board. The people nominated would be forced to concede their nominations because...who wants to be that person who tells people it's wrong to do that. In a strange way McGowan's raped snatch is holding Hollywood hostage. And cracking me up.
They aren't going to stop the show, which now is sending a message that her violation means nothing to the bigger picture. Hollywood painted themselves into a massive corner. And if I were them, I would ask "why are we listening to a person who is mentally ill?" I dare any of these spineless actors/stars to say it. Because we're all thinking it. But...no one has the guts to do it. Because, well, we continue to pretend like we care about people.
McGowan is right. A silent protest of actors wearing black is as effective as eating broccoli to get rid of AIDS.
Marchesa is the brand that Harvey Weinstein's wife created.Actresses, like Meryl Streep, who happily worked for The Pig Monster, are wearing black (at)GoldenGlobes in a silent protest. YOUR SILENCE is THE problem. You’ll accept a fake award breathlessly & affect no real change. I despise your hypocrisy. Maybe you should all wear Marchesa.— rose mcgowan
Burn.
You know, the more I look at Meryl Streep, the more I think she thinks she's better than me. Well, she is, but she doesn't have to look like it.
She has a smug face most guys in the midwest would backhand. Because her "intelligence" can't beat five across the eyes. Which is how Hilary Clinton loss.
If the Left are wondering how they lost an election, it's because they keep being supported by the intellectual elite. The notion that smarts will outdo brawn. This is super-brushback from pussy Obama. Book learned people tend to support the Left.
From my experience, book learned people lack common sense.
So this will be interesting...a book learned person versus a mentally ill person (I'll let you decide who is who).
The issue is Rose McGowan is right. We let this go on forever. And this idiotic silent protest means nothing. Because the Golden Globes generates revenue they wouldn't stop it. Which is the message Hollywood/Foreign Press continues to spread. Which is, money trumps all. Ideally, they would cancel the Golden Globes this year. Because of all the scandal. This would prove to the world that Hollywood doesn't tolerate it across the board. The people nominated would be forced to concede their nominations because...who wants to be that person who tells people it's wrong to do that. In a strange way McGowan's raped snatch is holding Hollywood hostage. And cracking me up.
They aren't going to stop the show, which now is sending a message that her violation means nothing to the bigger picture. Hollywood painted themselves into a massive corner. And if I were them, I would ask "why are we listening to a person who is mentally ill?" I dare any of these spineless actors/stars to say it. Because we're all thinking it. But...no one has the guts to do it. Because, well, we continue to pretend like we care about people.
McGowan is right. A silent protest of actors wearing black is as effective as eating broccoli to get rid of AIDS.
More Thoughts On Why "Star Wars: The Last Jedi"
The fans have turned to an angry mob. About a fictional story that has defined their childhood. Or mood. Or lives. A TON of these nerds spent a long time conjecturing who is who in this phony universe only to have the corporate entity (which will not be named) to essentially tell the fans they can go fuck themselves with Lucas's vision.
In doing so, the movie they created was dumb on its on level. But even so...it's theirs to fuck and un-fuck as necessary. Or use to sell their crap toys to nerds who will go off a cliff with them. Who cares, you fucking nerds, it's a movie. People have spent a lifetime living George Lucas's world, and in this movie, it does sort of tell you to move on with your lives. The music even tells you. As it goes from a sweet John Williams theme to a mean John Williams theme. Even precious Leia, Luke AND Han want you nerds to move on.
Look, I know how it feels. I sold my vintage motorcycle to this zipperheaded Japanese guy in the south bay. I knew this fucking cocksucker was going to modify the shit out of all the original parts of it. I could see him salivating over the goddamn shit he was going to shred on it. I made him promise he was going to keep her original (I knew this was empty). I had to sell the bike and he met my price. Lucas sold the franchise and now...as much as he regrets it and feels betrayed. It will be publicly gutted. And the people who made the franchise what it is...will need to get aboard, or live in the Lucas universe. That's tragic for all my friends who spent so much time idolizing that era.
The nerds who hated this movie and claim it is Disney hating on its fan?...I don't think you're wrong. Or wrong to feel this way. But this era will fade and then the next trilogy will also face the new person who will gut the old guard. I don't watch "The Simpsons" anymore, because I personally don't have a connection anymore with this era. The feeling faded for me. But I can still revisit the past episodes of when I thought it was good. I don't need fresh and new. And I guess, it must've been considered for sure that this was to end it for people like me who liked the simple nature of "Star Wars" when it was...simple.
This new trilogy doesn't belong to those who hold to that ideology. They don't have to follow any Lucas book or stories.
In doing so, the movie they created was dumb on its on level. But even so...it's theirs to fuck and un-fuck as necessary. Or use to sell their crap toys to nerds who will go off a cliff with them. Who cares, you fucking nerds, it's a movie. People have spent a lifetime living George Lucas's world, and in this movie, it does sort of tell you to move on with your lives. The music even tells you. As it goes from a sweet John Williams theme to a mean John Williams theme. Even precious Leia, Luke AND Han want you nerds to move on.
Look, I know how it feels. I sold my vintage motorcycle to this zipperheaded Japanese guy in the south bay. I knew this fucking cocksucker was going to modify the shit out of all the original parts of it. I could see him salivating over the goddamn shit he was going to shred on it. I made him promise he was going to keep her original (I knew this was empty). I had to sell the bike and he met my price. Lucas sold the franchise and now...as much as he regrets it and feels betrayed. It will be publicly gutted. And the people who made the franchise what it is...will need to get aboard, or live in the Lucas universe. That's tragic for all my friends who spent so much time idolizing that era.
The nerds who hated this movie and claim it is Disney hating on its fan?...I don't think you're wrong. Or wrong to feel this way. But this era will fade and then the next trilogy will also face the new person who will gut the old guard. I don't watch "The Simpsons" anymore, because I personally don't have a connection anymore with this era. The feeling faded for me. But I can still revisit the past episodes of when I thought it was good. I don't need fresh and new. And I guess, it must've been considered for sure that this was to end it for people like me who liked the simple nature of "Star Wars" when it was...simple.
This new trilogy doesn't belong to those who hold to that ideology. They don't have to follow any Lucas book or stories.
The NFL Is Rigged
I use to think there was some people who tin foil hats who believed this, but the game is. Refs control the game and that's that (Vegas odds pull it).
The game against the Pittsburgh Steelers and the New England Patriots swung wildly back and forth, up until the second to last play where quarterback Ben Roethlisberger pass to tight end Jesse James was called back due a strange NFL rule about what constitutes a catch. The call could've gone either way. We all thought it looked like a touchdown. It was called back because James did not control the ball, and actually used the ground to secure it. Ticky tack to say the least. But what was most bewildering is...why is this call seen under such a microscope. Even the commentators were confused. Until we saw the play again in slow motion. Perhaps the line judge saw that it did indeed hit the ground. Though...as it crossed the plain..after what was presumably a catch, isn't that a touchdown? Nope. And that is the Brady mystique (odds). He got it with the Tuck Rule and now with this (which has haunted Dez Bryant, Calvin Johnson, Seattle guy, and so on and so on...)
The rigged part isn't necessarily a numbers thing. I mean, c'mon...how did the Patriots allow a 69 yard tear into field goal territory. Or who would've guessed Roethlisberger would attempt to fake spike and toss a slant route that ended in an interception (Seattle folks can stop grinding their teeth). Or that Patriot coach Bill Belicheck is a Jedi master.
But the Steelers often forget that when Bengal fans cried foul for the referees to punish the ever loving shit out of them, it's met with Shitsburgh fans tossing back the fact that we whine about officiating. Refs favor Steelers over Bengals. Refs favor Patriots over Steelers.
Look, there is holding in EVERY single play, or a block to the back, or an illegal use of hands to the face. The refs can decide who to call these on. Obviously the NFL has their internal rules which will never involve us. But that's the price paid for watching...um...entertainment. We know a Pats/Steeler game generates a TON more viewers than Bengals/Pats. Us Bengal fans DO NOT travel at all.
I would say in every city there is a massive contingent of Steeler or Pats fans. So the game is geared towards...where people spend money. IF you don't like these terms, there is always college football. Which is where I think most viewers are headed.
I think most people go to the NFL these days just to do something on a Sunday. The game is inconsequential, except for the 10% that the NFL wants to do well for the viewership (how did Atlanta and Carolina fall so far so fast, oh right...the Super Bowl isn't going to be played there anytime soon).
Okay, so conspiracy theories aside, I'm glad the NFL chose the Pats to win this one. Even with a debilitated Ryan Shazier in the crowd looking like a Make-A-Wish kid.
The game against the Pittsburgh Steelers and the New England Patriots swung wildly back and forth, up until the second to last play where quarterback Ben Roethlisberger pass to tight end Jesse James was called back due a strange NFL rule about what constitutes a catch. The call could've gone either way. We all thought it looked like a touchdown. It was called back because James did not control the ball, and actually used the ground to secure it. Ticky tack to say the least. But what was most bewildering is...why is this call seen under such a microscope. Even the commentators were confused. Until we saw the play again in slow motion. Perhaps the line judge saw that it did indeed hit the ground. Though...as it crossed the plain..after what was presumably a catch, isn't that a touchdown? Nope. And that is the Brady mystique (odds). He got it with the Tuck Rule and now with this (which has haunted Dez Bryant, Calvin Johnson, Seattle guy, and so on and so on...)
The rigged part isn't necessarily a numbers thing. I mean, c'mon...how did the Patriots allow a 69 yard tear into field goal territory. Or who would've guessed Roethlisberger would attempt to fake spike and toss a slant route that ended in an interception (Seattle folks can stop grinding their teeth). Or that Patriot coach Bill Belicheck is a Jedi master.
But the Steelers often forget that when Bengal fans cried foul for the referees to punish the ever loving shit out of them, it's met with Shitsburgh fans tossing back the fact that we whine about officiating. Refs favor Steelers over Bengals. Refs favor Patriots over Steelers.
Look, there is holding in EVERY single play, or a block to the back, or an illegal use of hands to the face. The refs can decide who to call these on. Obviously the NFL has their internal rules which will never involve us. But that's the price paid for watching...um...entertainment. We know a Pats/Steeler game generates a TON more viewers than Bengals/Pats. Us Bengal fans DO NOT travel at all.
I would say in every city there is a massive contingent of Steeler or Pats fans. So the game is geared towards...where people spend money. IF you don't like these terms, there is always college football. Which is where I think most viewers are headed.
I think most people go to the NFL these days just to do something on a Sunday. The game is inconsequential, except for the 10% that the NFL wants to do well for the viewership (how did Atlanta and Carolina fall so far so fast, oh right...the Super Bowl isn't going to be played there anytime soon).
Okay, so conspiracy theories aside, I'm glad the NFL chose the Pats to win this one. Even with a debilitated Ryan Shazier in the crowd looking like a Make-A-Wish kid.
Sunday, December 17, 2017
"Coco" (2017)
It's funny that when people go searching for Pixar's "Coco" will be met with my "Ballad of Coco" and that makes me happy. I did not make a kid's movie.
Once again, Pixar makes a lovely joyous movie about family.
The story is of Miguel, a young boy who grew up with relatives that passed the thought that music is evil (ever see "Footloose"?) This has nothing to do with anything tragic, but rather a man who had left his family and never returned. Generations later, the ban is still on, and Miguel has music in his heart. In his blood. And no one will deny him.
This movie is about...deep family love. A type of movie I desperately wanted to make in college. It is about deep family history that reaches the depths of our identity. And there are obvious pain that comes out with truth. But this is also a deeper spiritual sense to it.
Hiding their religious predilection (waiting for a Muslim movie), this is about the after life too. When we don't remember our loved ones, would they ever exist anyway? You really need family to remember who you are, and respectfully. Though we always believe we were meant from something bigger, sometimes the truth actually makes more sense.
What is Pixar's game plan in this movie? It is entertaining and paints Mexican as deeply familial. Even though young Miguel overlooks his parents and focuses on a later generation. Which makes perfect sense considering usually grandparents get along much more with their grandkids than their own kids. In this, Miguel just wants to play music. Is it believable he gets so good so fast? Not at all. But that's not the point. He could be chasing after the ghost of an actor rather than a singer. Or a master chef or...I dunno Pixar, I'm sure you figure it out. The point was that it's important not to dismiss the old just to make room for the new.
Love of family is a great message. And maybe this world will be too jaded and cynical for its message. But it is a beautiful movie and a fun adventure.
Once again, Pixar makes a lovely joyous movie about family.
The story is of Miguel, a young boy who grew up with relatives that passed the thought that music is evil (ever see "Footloose"?) This has nothing to do with anything tragic, but rather a man who had left his family and never returned. Generations later, the ban is still on, and Miguel has music in his heart. In his blood. And no one will deny him.
This movie is about...deep family love. A type of movie I desperately wanted to make in college. It is about deep family history that reaches the depths of our identity. And there are obvious pain that comes out with truth. But this is also a deeper spiritual sense to it.
Hiding their religious predilection (waiting for a Muslim movie), this is about the after life too. When we don't remember our loved ones, would they ever exist anyway? You really need family to remember who you are, and respectfully. Though we always believe we were meant from something bigger, sometimes the truth actually makes more sense.
What is Pixar's game plan in this movie? It is entertaining and paints Mexican as deeply familial. Even though young Miguel overlooks his parents and focuses on a later generation. Which makes perfect sense considering usually grandparents get along much more with their grandkids than their own kids. In this, Miguel just wants to play music. Is it believable he gets so good so fast? Not at all. But that's not the point. He could be chasing after the ghost of an actor rather than a singer. Or a master chef or...I dunno Pixar, I'm sure you figure it out. The point was that it's important not to dismiss the old just to make room for the new.
Love of family is a great message. And maybe this world will be too jaded and cynical for its message. But it is a beautiful movie and a fun adventure.
Saturday, December 16, 2017
"The Shape Of Water" (2017)
If you clamor to see a middle aged woman with no tits constantly show...her tits, look no further than this awkward ass movie.
Director Guillermo Del Toro's fish tale. Or..not.
The story is of a mute named Elisa Esposito (Sally Hawkins) who cleans at a top secret facility. She is partnered up with constantly yammering token Black lady Zelda Fuller (Octavia Spencer).
Elisa lives upstairs from a movie theater, so naturally she watches old timey movies and dreams of the romance that follows. When a secret fish like thing enters her facility and her life, suddenly her loneliness and feelings disappear. This is either pants-creaming bait for crazy cat ladies OR shut-in spinsters, because this movie is so fucking awkward.
And yes, you don't think a movie will go there with the girl fucking a fish, but they go there. And to me, it's not sweet. It's pretty gross. And I don't think you can come back from the explanation of how a fishman fucks.
But Sally Hawkins does a great job playing to the material given. It's full of...dumb stuff though. Like the awful human guy is played by Michael Shannon who has a busty wife who doesn't mind fucking him silly (yes, this is NOT a kid's movie). Yet, he feels unfulfilled. You never know his motivation or hate. Just that he's a mean sonuvabitch. And he's really the most fun character. As is Octavia Spencer (as always). The pitfalls of being a mute is that your co-stars get all the cool lines. And they are sweet people, but this movie is too slimy for me to really recommend. I don't feel the love or the romance. And I'm not sure women will either. Definitely don't think dudes will.
I'm not entirely sure what inspired Del Toro to go down this road. Other than maybe when he was a kid he jerked off with a flounder. The fishman isn't even all that interesting. Or cute...in fact, the fucker eats a cat and that's alright.
The highlight of this movie is the production design. It is draw-droppingly good. Too bad they shot digital, because you see the seams and the period stuff (1962) makes it too modern.
You see a lot of Sally Hawkins's tits and that should be repeated as many times as possible. Because it's awkward, when you think they pushed this movie as a fairy tale romance film (lotsa' kids in the theater I saw it in).
Director Guillermo Del Toro's fish tale. Or..not.
The story is of a mute named Elisa Esposito (Sally Hawkins) who cleans at a top secret facility. She is partnered up with constantly yammering token Black lady Zelda Fuller (Octavia Spencer).
Elisa lives upstairs from a movie theater, so naturally she watches old timey movies and dreams of the romance that follows. When a secret fish like thing enters her facility and her life, suddenly her loneliness and feelings disappear. This is either pants-creaming bait for crazy cat ladies OR shut-in spinsters, because this movie is so fucking awkward.
And yes, you don't think a movie will go there with the girl fucking a fish, but they go there. And to me, it's not sweet. It's pretty gross. And I don't think you can come back from the explanation of how a fishman fucks.
But Sally Hawkins does a great job playing to the material given. It's full of...dumb stuff though. Like the awful human guy is played by Michael Shannon who has a busty wife who doesn't mind fucking him silly (yes, this is NOT a kid's movie). Yet, he feels unfulfilled. You never know his motivation or hate. Just that he's a mean sonuvabitch. And he's really the most fun character. As is Octavia Spencer (as always). The pitfalls of being a mute is that your co-stars get all the cool lines. And they are sweet people, but this movie is too slimy for me to really recommend. I don't feel the love or the romance. And I'm not sure women will either. Definitely don't think dudes will.
I'm not entirely sure what inspired Del Toro to go down this road. Other than maybe when he was a kid he jerked off with a flounder. The fishman isn't even all that interesting. Or cute...in fact, the fucker eats a cat and that's alright.
The highlight of this movie is the production design. It is draw-droppingly good. Too bad they shot digital, because you see the seams and the period stuff (1962) makes it too modern.
You see a lot of Sally Hawkins's tits and that should be repeated as many times as possible. Because it's awkward, when you think they pushed this movie as a fairy tale romance film (lotsa' kids in the theater I saw it in).
"Star Wars VIII: The Last Jedi" (2017) SPOILERS!!
The nerds are going crazy over this one. Total hate. The critics, total love. I think that's a good sign, because polarizing views means repeat viewing.
As I sat watching this film, a very dark sadness fell over me. Not that it was 6:30AM and I lacked sleep, but...they went ahead with a movie with Carrie Fisher and we're just all waiting for when the inevitable is going to happen. Well...jokes on you. Not only does it not happen, they fuck with your expectation of it.
I'm also trying to replay many of the scenes in this movie. They are the type of corny of the original three (New Hope, Empire, Jedi). The jokes are silly, like a scene where Poe Dameron fucks with General Hux over radio communication. It's actually parody material. And also...the relationships between all the new characters. The other sadness came from linking them all to people we've already seen. CLEARLY, Benicio Del Toro is the Lando Calrissian character. And it made me feel REALLY old. As did seeing Luke and Leia meet up again. Man, did I feel old then. Not that I was ever a "Star Wars" fan but I was only 3 years old when the first one came out.
Much like the template of "Empire Strikes Back" our heroine Rey goes to a deserted place to train to be a Jedi. There she encounters a reluctant teacher. She doesn't fully get trained and leaves to save her friends...Jesus...I got nostalgic for "Empire.." again. boo hoo me.
I think what's really driving people nuts about this movie is that it treads the modern with the old. The young people hate it, the old people hate it. Attempting to please everyone. Writer/Director Rian Johnson doesn't have a style to speak of. Though I think he is a talented filmmaker, this was somehow...sanitized to an odd degree. The filming of it is really beautiful. Particularly when the camera holds on Fisher's Leia. She just seems at the twilight of her years (as was in real life). And the scenes with Mark Hamill as Luke will conjure up the simple days of being back on Tatooine.
Does this franchise miss the innocence (simple jack) of George Lucas. Yes. No one is innocent and sweet anymore. This is going to force feed social messages ("Better to fight for what you love that kill what you hate"). Or lightsaber safety messages (gun violence). And that sucks. Because long ago in a galaxy far far away... it was a nicer world.
As I sat watching this film, a very dark sadness fell over me. Not that it was 6:30AM and I lacked sleep, but...they went ahead with a movie with Carrie Fisher and we're just all waiting for when the inevitable is going to happen. Well...jokes on you. Not only does it not happen, they fuck with your expectation of it.
I'm also trying to replay many of the scenes in this movie. They are the type of corny of the original three (New Hope, Empire, Jedi). The jokes are silly, like a scene where Poe Dameron fucks with General Hux over radio communication. It's actually parody material. And also...the relationships between all the new characters. The other sadness came from linking them all to people we've already seen. CLEARLY, Benicio Del Toro is the Lando Calrissian character. And it made me feel REALLY old. As did seeing Luke and Leia meet up again. Man, did I feel old then. Not that I was ever a "Star Wars" fan but I was only 3 years old when the first one came out.
Much like the template of "Empire Strikes Back" our heroine Rey goes to a deserted place to train to be a Jedi. There she encounters a reluctant teacher. She doesn't fully get trained and leaves to save her friends...Jesus...I got nostalgic for "Empire.." again. boo hoo me.
I think what's really driving people nuts about this movie is that it treads the modern with the old. The young people hate it, the old people hate it. Attempting to please everyone. Writer/Director Rian Johnson doesn't have a style to speak of. Though I think he is a talented filmmaker, this was somehow...sanitized to an odd degree. The filming of it is really beautiful. Particularly when the camera holds on Fisher's Leia. She just seems at the twilight of her years (as was in real life). And the scenes with Mark Hamill as Luke will conjure up the simple days of being back on Tatooine.
Does this franchise miss the innocence (simple jack) of George Lucas. Yes. No one is innocent and sweet anymore. This is going to force feed social messages ("Better to fight for what you love that kill what you hate"). Or lightsaber safety messages (gun violence). And that sucks. Because long ago in a galaxy far far away... it was a nicer world.
Friday, December 15, 2017
"Star Wars" The New One
I know, clickbait.
I haven't seen this movie, and I'm going to wait until it dies down. Mostly because a crowd in a movie theater is annoying as fuck. People talk all the time now. And I'm not sure why. People have gotten much more annoying unless you go to certain theaters. And even then...
I had this theory that going to a movie theater around old people would quell this talking shit. Actually, the loudest one I went too recently was an old guy who felt it necessary to explain the movie to someone he was sitting next to. When I turned around, he wasn't sitting next to anyone. CREEEEEPY.
The quietest one recently was for that gay flick "Call Me By Your Name."
And yes, it probably was because of the audience, old Filipinos by my judgment that it was just awkward (by the way, this movie sold out in the Phillipines, fucking tells you all you need to know about that country).
They were dead silent. I was even scared to go to the bathroom because these people would think I went to go jerk off to the gayness I just witnessed.
Jokes aside...I'm sure this new "Star' Wars" is going to be fun. I'm sure there are spoilers here and there. I really don't have that much invested in it. Though I appreciate the fandom for sure. I think the older we get the less things blow up our skirts. It's nice to know there is still the staple of space soap operas to keep us diverted.
I haven't seen this movie, and I'm going to wait until it dies down. Mostly because a crowd in a movie theater is annoying as fuck. People talk all the time now. And I'm not sure why. People have gotten much more annoying unless you go to certain theaters. And even then...
I had this theory that going to a movie theater around old people would quell this talking shit. Actually, the loudest one I went too recently was an old guy who felt it necessary to explain the movie to someone he was sitting next to. When I turned around, he wasn't sitting next to anyone. CREEEEEPY.
The quietest one recently was for that gay flick "Call Me By Your Name."
And yes, it probably was because of the audience, old Filipinos by my judgment that it was just awkward (by the way, this movie sold out in the Phillipines, fucking tells you all you need to know about that country).
They were dead silent. I was even scared to go to the bathroom because these people would think I went to go jerk off to the gayness I just witnessed.
Jokes aside...I'm sure this new "Star' Wars" is going to be fun. I'm sure there are spoilers here and there. I really don't have that much invested in it. Though I appreciate the fandom for sure. I think the older we get the less things blow up our skirts. It's nice to know there is still the staple of space soap operas to keep us diverted.
Thursday, December 14, 2017
Homo Hollywood
The Golden Globes nominated "Call Me By Your Name" in the category of Best Picture.
Are you fucking faggots out of your minds?
In this day and age where Kevin Spacey is on the chopping block, they nominated this movie..which is about an older young guy seducing a younger young guy (17) into sex. It's not unwanted advances, but I doubt the rest of America gives a shit. The age of consent in Italy is 14.
As if Roman Polanski couldn't be dug up.
I'll be waiting for Meryl Streep to be fist pumping when it wins. Or not.
This town never learns its lesson.
Are you fucking faggots out of your minds?
In this day and age where Kevin Spacey is on the chopping block, they nominated this movie..which is about an older young guy seducing a younger young guy (17) into sex. It's not unwanted advances, but I doubt the rest of America gives a shit. The age of consent in Italy is 14.
As if Roman Polanski couldn't be dug up.
I'll be waiting for Meryl Streep to be fist pumping when it wins. Or not.
This town never learns its lesson.
Black Women Got Rid Of Roy Moore
98% of Black women who voted in Alabama's senate race voted against Roy Moore.
I'd like to meet the 2% that didn't. Maybe...because of Jesus? Because he thinks abortion is wrong.
I may come off as a conservative douche, but really speaking this is pretty fucking awesome. If you want White folk out and your White folk in, you speak with your votes. Knowing that this man was a scumbag who thought he had it wrapped up.
Doug Jones will do the same dance as all the other politicians. They're shit. Do you hear me?! ALL politicians are garbage people. They're insincere phony garbage. I guess, it doesn't surprise me that most of the Leftist Americans believe this is a win. Because that's how propaganda works. Jones is no different than Moore. He is not for the people of Alabama, he is for his family and friends and that's it. Cynical as that may sound, if your not within 3 feet of the guy, he doesn't hear you.
This is where they start digging dirt on this dude to oust him. Which is SUCH a big waste of time. Just get to fucking work, and do what you can about the state rather than petty shit. I bet if you poll'd the Americans today, they believe their representatives are useless.
I'd like to meet the 2% that didn't. Maybe...because of Jesus? Because he thinks abortion is wrong.
I may come off as a conservative douche, but really speaking this is pretty fucking awesome. If you want White folk out and your White folk in, you speak with your votes. Knowing that this man was a scumbag who thought he had it wrapped up.
Doug Jones will do the same dance as all the other politicians. They're shit. Do you hear me?! ALL politicians are garbage people. They're insincere phony garbage. I guess, it doesn't surprise me that most of the Leftist Americans believe this is a win. Because that's how propaganda works. Jones is no different than Moore. He is not for the people of Alabama, he is for his family and friends and that's it. Cynical as that may sound, if your not within 3 feet of the guy, he doesn't hear you.
This is where they start digging dirt on this dude to oust him. Which is SUCH a big waste of time. Just get to fucking work, and do what you can about the state rather than petty shit. I bet if you poll'd the Americans today, they believe their representatives are useless.
Sexual Harassment And Mob Mentality
God I love a good lynching. Especially if it's someone despicable like Harvey Weinstein.
Well, now the mob is everywhere. And women are lapping it up like Drakkar Noir the fragrance by Guy Laroche, in stores for the holidays.
Biologically speaking, women read into EVERYTHING. They are, by nature, suppose to be hysterical about shit. Worried to panic. So it's strange that nowadays when a woman cries assault, the mob moves from one bonfire to the next. Upside? The population is going to go down. Who wants to bang a chick who is going to cry sexual assault later. The downside? Less bangin'.
Again, why are we just listening to crazy people. The model who sells sex outed Al Franken as an aggressor. Really? He was faking honking your fake tits. You ruined his career based on something really fucking stupid. Juvenile, yes, criminal...Jesus no. I guess you could make a case that you photographed her without her consent. But this is the shit that gets the real cases ignored. I think some people have to realize this is the backlash of voting Trump into the presidency. Most, on the Left want to prove they aren't like him. So they swing radically the other way. The pendulum will swing back towards you...eventually. Then who would you blame?
The thing is...no one wants to admit, as a man, they are most like Trump. Aside from the blathering nonsense he spews daily. A man likes looking at pretty women with nice rack. Women have nice racks to be looked at. I'm waiting for that brave woman with a nice pair to speak out that she is fine with guys looking at them. And that she never felt sexually assaulted by looks.
Keep going with this mentality and we're all doomed to...Pornhub (some of us more than others).
Well, now the mob is everywhere. And women are lapping it up like Drakkar Noir the fragrance by Guy Laroche, in stores for the holidays.
Biologically speaking, women read into EVERYTHING. They are, by nature, suppose to be hysterical about shit. Worried to panic. So it's strange that nowadays when a woman cries assault, the mob moves from one bonfire to the next. Upside? The population is going to go down. Who wants to bang a chick who is going to cry sexual assault later. The downside? Less bangin'.
Again, why are we just listening to crazy people. The model who sells sex outed Al Franken as an aggressor. Really? He was faking honking your fake tits. You ruined his career based on something really fucking stupid. Juvenile, yes, criminal...Jesus no. I guess you could make a case that you photographed her without her consent. But this is the shit that gets the real cases ignored. I think some people have to realize this is the backlash of voting Trump into the presidency. Most, on the Left want to prove they aren't like him. So they swing radically the other way. The pendulum will swing back towards you...eventually. Then who would you blame?
The thing is...no one wants to admit, as a man, they are most like Trump. Aside from the blathering nonsense he spews daily. A man likes looking at pretty women with nice rack. Women have nice racks to be looked at. I'm waiting for that brave woman with a nice pair to speak out that she is fine with guys looking at them. And that she never felt sexually assaulted by looks.
Keep going with this mentality and we're all doomed to...Pornhub (some of us more than others).
Wednesday, December 13, 2017
The Trump Thing
If many of you are boggled why this dude Donald Trump is president, you have only filthy scheister laywers to thank. Short answer...people are sick of politicians and lawyers. Trump is a dumbass business man. That is the real reason he continues to say and do what he does without repercussions. Because lawyers have made it intolerable. Because they are wishy-washy with the truth. Obama and Hilary are both wishy-washy with their version of the truth. Trump says what he feels and doesn't back away from it. A lot of Americans may link this to the old days of the gunslinger in the wild west where they didn't give a flying fuck what they said about anyone. Ever. And stood by it. In the Obama years, all he did was bounce back and forth. He's a phony orator like all lawyers are. Lawyers are scum. Trump is scum and he embraces it. Look at that fucking scumbag Roy Moore in Alabama. Jesus Christ was he a scumbag. And was a lawyer.
I know I'm giving Trump WAY too much credit, but has it occurred to anyone he most likely endorsed the shitbag so people would dump him?
Maybe a bit too deep for Trump.
So, look, the more you hate the guy, the more he makes you hate him. There was this annoying guy in high school that did that. He knew he was a shit, and he enjoyed annoying people. He got him attention. But, again...you gotta like this better than listening to a lawyer.
I know I'm giving Trump WAY too much credit, but has it occurred to anyone he most likely endorsed the shitbag so people would dump him?
Maybe a bit too deep for Trump.
So, look, the more you hate the guy, the more he makes you hate him. There was this annoying guy in high school that did that. He knew he was a shit, and he enjoyed annoying people. He got him attention. But, again...you gotta like this better than listening to a lawyer.
Tuesday, December 12, 2017
"Call Me By Your Name" (2017)
First off, congrats to Doug Jones for winning against...a child rapist.
That's like Doug Jones winning against me. Not that I'm a child rapist, but the odds were pretty much in his favor. Or was it?
Let's now hiss at Alabama for the election to be THAT close. I can't stop laughing that a known sex offender was about to take it again. Guys...really?
Anyway, the award for gayest fucking movie ever is "Call Me By Your Name" Here's a few things why I loved this movie:
1) It really unequivocally proves I'm not gay. When one dude was sucking off the other dude...zero boner. When he was banging on a chick for a few seconds, and she was a sweet French doll. Schwing!
2) It really captured that first love experience. I could still smell the stale cigarette smoke of my apartment in Bowling Green, Ohio living passionate love as an early 22 year old. What this movie tells you is that these passions are fleeting and we're lucky to experience it at all. Some never will.
3) I went home and watched PornHub for hours until the gay left. The theater was next to a Red Lobster, which the last time I was at one...man...I should've hooked up with that chick.
The story is of an American who goes and visits Northern Italy in the summer of 1983. Surprisingly, the film stock captures the feel of that era. The late dinners in the outdoors. The smell of summer grass. Swimming at whatever opportunity. No technology. No social media. Just people reading and writing, learning and living a fine life. Armie Hammer plays Oliver, an American who hangs with a family over the summer who had inherited an Italian villa. They have a son played by Golden Globe nominee Timothee Chalamet, whose career has exploded. He plays Elio, a 17 year old who is enamored with the Oliver.
Little plot is involved here other than they have a sort of forbidden tryst between them. Or is it? Europeans are much more accepting. The rest is just the summer of '83. Like the "Summer of '42" some of the passion cannot last. In that sense, director Luca Guadagnino perfectly films the villa and their days and nights there with such patience that you absorb that era.
Is it a fun movie. Fuck no. It's not even a travelogue movie, which I was expecting. It's an insular movie of feelings and regret and...well, I recall meeting a girl in Taiwan in 1988. My cousin had taken me to do his charity work with retarded kids. She was a friend of his, she was 22 and I was 13 at the time. I was so stuck on her. She was beautiful. On our bus ride over, I recall her brushing my cheek and nicknaming me "baby face" which was in her limited English. At the end of the trip we parted ways. I can tell she had the same attraction. But she was an adult and I was a kid. It was bittersweet. I think that is always the sense we want to return to in ALL our romances. This movie captures that sense. Though dull for most people, if you long to return to a simple time and can stand gay shit, this is your type of movie.
That's like Doug Jones winning against me. Not that I'm a child rapist, but the odds were pretty much in his favor. Or was it?
Let's now hiss at Alabama for the election to be THAT close. I can't stop laughing that a known sex offender was about to take it again. Guys...really?
Anyway, the award for gayest fucking movie ever is "Call Me By Your Name" Here's a few things why I loved this movie:
1) It really unequivocally proves I'm not gay. When one dude was sucking off the other dude...zero boner. When he was banging on a chick for a few seconds, and she was a sweet French doll. Schwing!
2) It really captured that first love experience. I could still smell the stale cigarette smoke of my apartment in Bowling Green, Ohio living passionate love as an early 22 year old. What this movie tells you is that these passions are fleeting and we're lucky to experience it at all. Some never will.
3) I went home and watched PornHub for hours until the gay left. The theater was next to a Red Lobster, which the last time I was at one...man...I should've hooked up with that chick.
The story is of an American who goes and visits Northern Italy in the summer of 1983. Surprisingly, the film stock captures the feel of that era. The late dinners in the outdoors. The smell of summer grass. Swimming at whatever opportunity. No technology. No social media. Just people reading and writing, learning and living a fine life. Armie Hammer plays Oliver, an American who hangs with a family over the summer who had inherited an Italian villa. They have a son played by Golden Globe nominee Timothee Chalamet, whose career has exploded. He plays Elio, a 17 year old who is enamored with the Oliver.
Little plot is involved here other than they have a sort of forbidden tryst between them. Or is it? Europeans are much more accepting. The rest is just the summer of '83. Like the "Summer of '42" some of the passion cannot last. In that sense, director Luca Guadagnino perfectly films the villa and their days and nights there with such patience that you absorb that era.
Is it a fun movie. Fuck no. It's not even a travelogue movie, which I was expecting. It's an insular movie of feelings and regret and...well, I recall meeting a girl in Taiwan in 1988. My cousin had taken me to do his charity work with retarded kids. She was a friend of his, she was 22 and I was 13 at the time. I was so stuck on her. She was beautiful. On our bus ride over, I recall her brushing my cheek and nicknaming me "baby face" which was in her limited English. At the end of the trip we parted ways. I can tell she had the same attraction. But she was an adult and I was a kid. It was bittersweet. I think that is always the sense we want to return to in ALL our romances. This movie captures that sense. Though dull for most people, if you long to return to a simple time and can stand gay shit, this is your type of movie.
Jimmy Kimmel
You know, I'm certain if he decided to leave permanently, ABC/Disney would have to understand.
His son, Billy undergone heart surgery and is doing well (good to hear).
I recall a few stars back in the day, when their child suffered, they suffered in silence. Kimmel uses this as a platform to push political agenda. Which is fine, in a March of Dimes sort of way. Might as well, since children are our best resource for...what? I have no idea. But anytime you hear "children" most people answer that dinner bell.
That's going to end soon if this clown doesn't chill the fuck out about his kid. Because, frankly, it's like hearing about every bowel movement you take. It only matters to you. So to press these issues on others, specifically to an educated base of people (these days) is corny and practically constitutes and on-air meltdown. You think Frank Sinatra bawled about his woes to Johnny Carson on air? Or at his shows? Or pushed any political agenda?
My friend made a movie about entertainer Rose Marie. She went on air with Johnny Carson as her husband was dying. And all she did was entertain. This woman was an oak compared to Kimmel.
So, I guess that's where we're at. Perhaps this is the late night host we deserve in 2017. Weak.
His son, Billy undergone heart surgery and is doing well (good to hear).
I recall a few stars back in the day, when their child suffered, they suffered in silence. Kimmel uses this as a platform to push political agenda. Which is fine, in a March of Dimes sort of way. Might as well, since children are our best resource for...what? I have no idea. But anytime you hear "children" most people answer that dinner bell.
That's going to end soon if this clown doesn't chill the fuck out about his kid. Because, frankly, it's like hearing about every bowel movement you take. It only matters to you. So to press these issues on others, specifically to an educated base of people (these days) is corny and practically constitutes and on-air meltdown. You think Frank Sinatra bawled about his woes to Johnny Carson on air? Or at his shows? Or pushed any political agenda?
My friend made a movie about entertainer Rose Marie. She went on air with Johnny Carson as her husband was dying. And all she did was entertain. This woman was an oak compared to Kimmel.
So, I guess that's where we're at. Perhaps this is the late night host we deserve in 2017. Weak.
Monday, December 11, 2017
"The Killing Of A Sacred Deer" (2017)
It probably takes a lot to convince Nicole Kidman to show her nice tits and shaved snatch. This oddball movie most likely convinced her it was performance art over just a middle-ager's excuse to look at her goodies. Or have her administer handjobs.
Depraved cinema is how I would classify Yorgos Lanthimos. In the style of Stanley Kubrick, this story starts out as domestic terrorism and quickly becomes the Greek fable it was based on. It's just unfortunate that fable has deep roots in the Bible.
The story is of a heart surgeon, Steven Murphy played by Collin Ferrell, who after a couple of drinks ends up killing a man during a surgery. Overwrought with guilt he befriends the dead man's son, Martin, played by Barry Keoghan. Martin's mother is played by Alicia Silverstone, in what is her darkest role yet (yes, even darker than the silly "The Crush").
Murphy has two children who meet Martin, and they immediate go into a paralytic state in which their limbs go numb and they are told they will die. Which, in order to save his family, Murphy has to decide which child he has to sacrifice/kill to appease Martin.
Not much of a fable is it?
And that is the real grind with this movie is figuring out what it wants to say.
The performances are that written theatrical language which isn't spoken in movies. The world seems lifeless and soulless. The characters say things to each other as if reading a script. This reminded me of "Eyes Wide Shut." The shots linger and sometimes go completely off, whilst the entire time, no one questions the strangeness of their situation. It's a frustrating movie to watch, as I'm sure Lanthimos wants you to feel it. Though the tone of their lives/home linger, especially to me as it was shot in my hometown of Cincinnati. The mundane suburban life adds to the wretched bland situation of class as well.
This is a true test if you can make it to the end of this film.
Depraved cinema is how I would classify Yorgos Lanthimos. In the style of Stanley Kubrick, this story starts out as domestic terrorism and quickly becomes the Greek fable it was based on. It's just unfortunate that fable has deep roots in the Bible.
The story is of a heart surgeon, Steven Murphy played by Collin Ferrell, who after a couple of drinks ends up killing a man during a surgery. Overwrought with guilt he befriends the dead man's son, Martin, played by Barry Keoghan. Martin's mother is played by Alicia Silverstone, in what is her darkest role yet (yes, even darker than the silly "The Crush").
Murphy has two children who meet Martin, and they immediate go into a paralytic state in which their limbs go numb and they are told they will die. Which, in order to save his family, Murphy has to decide which child he has to sacrifice/kill to appease Martin.
Not much of a fable is it?
And that is the real grind with this movie is figuring out what it wants to say.
The performances are that written theatrical language which isn't spoken in movies. The world seems lifeless and soulless. The characters say things to each other as if reading a script. This reminded me of "Eyes Wide Shut." The shots linger and sometimes go completely off, whilst the entire time, no one questions the strangeness of their situation. It's a frustrating movie to watch, as I'm sure Lanthimos wants you to feel it. Though the tone of their lives/home linger, especially to me as it was shot in my hometown of Cincinnati. The mundane suburban life adds to the wretched bland situation of class as well.
This is a true test if you can make it to the end of this film.
Christopher Plummer Gets Nominated for Golden Globe
This should be an insult to the acting world.
A guy replaces another guy, and within days...kills it in a movie and gets nominated. I don't care if Plummer took over the remake of "Spartacus" and outdid Tony Curtis, this signifies to me, the media doesn't give a flying fuck about talent. Of all the movies they could've pulled from. For instance, Tracy Letts in "Lady Bird" who had the most subtle of performances.
Instead, it's the one that got the most salacious attention since it was under a ton of press that he replaced a lecherous homo.
Here's the rub...you should've cast Plummer to begin with then. Instead of shitty makeup on a younger guy. Give seniors a chance, you self-righteous cocksucking motherfuckers!
Secondly, it's most likely Christopher Plummer being...Christopher Plummer. Why not Max Von Sydow being Max Von Sydow. These are the same people in EVERY fucking movie. They don't change. We think they do because they have great screen presence. Is that acting? I guess in film it is.
I'm almost excited for Sam Rockwell to take the prize. Simply to spite this film. And I hated "Three Billboards..." How's that for politics?
A guy replaces another guy, and within days...kills it in a movie and gets nominated. I don't care if Plummer took over the remake of "Spartacus" and outdid Tony Curtis, this signifies to me, the media doesn't give a flying fuck about talent. Of all the movies they could've pulled from. For instance, Tracy Letts in "Lady Bird" who had the most subtle of performances.
Instead, it's the one that got the most salacious attention since it was under a ton of press that he replaced a lecherous homo.
Here's the rub...you should've cast Plummer to begin with then. Instead of shitty makeup on a younger guy. Give seniors a chance, you self-righteous cocksucking motherfuckers!
Secondly, it's most likely Christopher Plummer being...Christopher Plummer. Why not Max Von Sydow being Max Von Sydow. These are the same people in EVERY fucking movie. They don't change. We think they do because they have great screen presence. Is that acting? I guess in film it is.
I'm almost excited for Sam Rockwell to take the prize. Simply to spite this film. And I hated "Three Billboards..." How's that for politics?
2018 Golden Globe Nominations
In case you care:
Best Motion Picture (Drama)
Call Me by Your Name
Dunkirk
The Post
The Shape of Water
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Best Motion Picture (Musical/Comedy)
The Disaster Artist
Get Out
The Greatest Showman
I, Tonya
Lady Bird
Best Motion Picture (Animated)
The Boss Baby
The Breadwinner
Ferdinand
Coco
Loving Vincent
Best Actor in a Motion Picture (Drama)
Timothée Chalamet, Call Me by Your Name
Daniel Day-Lewis, Phantom Thread
Tom Hanks, The Post
Gary Oldman, Darkest Hour
Denzel Washington, Roman J. Israel, Esq.
Best Actress in a Motion Picture (Drama)
Jessica Chastain, Molly’s Game
Sally Hawkins, The Shape of Water
Frances McDormand, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Meryl Streep, The Post
Michelle Williams, All the Money in the World
Best Actor in a Motion Picture (Musical/Comedy)
Steve Carell, Battle of the Sexes
Ansel Elgort, Baby Driver
James Franco, The Disaster Artist
Hugh Jackman, The Greatest Showman
Daniel Kaluuya, Get Out
Best Actress in a Motion Picture (Musical/Comedy)
Judi Dench, Victoria & Abdul
Margot Robbie, I, Tonya
Saoirse Ronan, Lady Bird
Emma Stone, Battle of the Sexes
Helen Mirren, The Leisure Seeker
Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture
Willem Dafoe, The Florida Project
Armie Hammer, Call Me by Your Name
Richard Jenkins, The Shape of Water
Christopher Plummer, All the Money in the World
Sam Rockwell, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
Mary J. Blige, Mudbound
Hong Chau, Downsizing
Allison Janney, I, Tonya
Laurie Metcalf, Lady Bird
Octavia Spencer, The Shape of Water
Best Director (Motion Picture)
Guillermo del Toro, The Shape of Water
Martin McDonagh, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Christopher Nolan, Dunkirk
Ridley Scott, All The Money in the World
Steven Spielberg, The Post
Best Screenplay (Motion Picture)
The Shape of Water
Lady Bird
The Post
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Molly’s Game
Best Original Score (Motion Picture)
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
The Shape of Water
Phantom Thread
The Post
Dunkirk
Best Foreign Film
A Fantastic Woman
First They Killed My Father
In the Fade
Loveless
The Square
Best Motion Picture (Drama)
Call Me by Your Name
Dunkirk
The Post
The Shape of Water
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Best Motion Picture (Musical/Comedy)
The Disaster Artist
Get Out
The Greatest Showman
I, Tonya
Lady Bird
Best Motion Picture (Animated)
The Boss Baby
The Breadwinner
Ferdinand
Coco
Loving Vincent
Best Actor in a Motion Picture (Drama)
Timothée Chalamet, Call Me by Your Name
Daniel Day-Lewis, Phantom Thread
Tom Hanks, The Post
Gary Oldman, Darkest Hour
Denzel Washington, Roman J. Israel, Esq.
Best Actress in a Motion Picture (Drama)
Jessica Chastain, Molly’s Game
Sally Hawkins, The Shape of Water
Frances McDormand, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Meryl Streep, The Post
Michelle Williams, All the Money in the World
Best Actor in a Motion Picture (Musical/Comedy)
Ansel Elgort, Baby Driver
James Franco, The Disaster Artist
Hugh Jackman, The Greatest Showman
Daniel Kaluuya, Get Out
Best Actress in a Motion Picture (Musical/Comedy)
Judi Dench, Victoria & Abdul
Margot Robbie, I, Tonya
Saoirse Ronan, Lady Bird
Emma Stone, Battle of the Sexes
Helen Mirren, The Leisure Seeker
Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture
Willem Dafoe, The Florida Project
Armie Hammer, Call Me by Your Name
Richard Jenkins, The Shape of Water
Christopher Plummer, All the Money in the World
Sam Rockwell, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
Mary J. Blige, Mudbound
Hong Chau, Downsizing
Allison Janney, I, Tonya
Laurie Metcalf, Lady Bird
Octavia Spencer, The Shape of Water
Guillermo del Toro, The Shape of Water
Martin McDonagh, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Christopher Nolan, Dunkirk
Ridley Scott, All The Money in the World
Steven Spielberg, The Post
Best Screenplay (Motion Picture)
The Shape of Water
Lady Bird
The Post
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Molly’s Game
Best Original Score (Motion Picture)
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
The Shape of Water
Phantom Thread
The Post
Dunkirk
Best Foreign Film
A Fantastic Woman
First They Killed My Father
In the Fade
Loveless
The Square
Akayed Ullah, 27 year old NYC Bomber
NYC keeps getting bombed. And bombed again.
You know who I blame?
Crazy Gideons. That fucker sold cheap electronics. And his prices are explosive.
So these...um...Middle Eastern dudes stockpile the shit out of them, then what?
They got a surplus of wires and ticking shit. So they have to use this shit up.
But let's be serious for a minute. The dipshit had his hands destroyed because his shitty bomb went off before he could do any real damage. New York zoo...do me a favor, you see a Muslim looking dude, assume he's there to blow your ass up. I know it's not politically correct to do such a thing, but either move the fuck away from towel headed jerks or just report it. And towel headed jerks, don't be fucking offended by it. You see how this shit goes down and makes you look bad. IF you're not a terrorist and some asshole moves away from you thinking you are one, suck it up buttercup and move on with your non-terrorist life. It's not that big of a deal. It sucks because women move away from me because I look like some Cambodian rapist. But that's the life I chose to live.
You know who I blame?
Crazy Gideons. That fucker sold cheap electronics. And his prices are explosive.
So these...um...Middle Eastern dudes stockpile the shit out of them, then what?
They got a surplus of wires and ticking shit. So they have to use this shit up.
But let's be serious for a minute. The dipshit had his hands destroyed because his shitty bomb went off before he could do any real damage. New York zoo...do me a favor, you see a Muslim looking dude, assume he's there to blow your ass up. I know it's not politically correct to do such a thing, but either move the fuck away from towel headed jerks or just report it. And towel headed jerks, don't be fucking offended by it. You see how this shit goes down and makes you look bad. IF you're not a terrorist and some asshole moves away from you thinking you are one, suck it up buttercup and move on with your non-terrorist life. It's not that big of a deal. It sucks because women move away from me because I look like some Cambodian rapist. But that's the life I chose to live.
Z.A.Z Are Mad Geniuses And I'm Jealous As Fuck
I will never be this brilliant and it hurts my feelings...because it's so good.
From "Police Squad!"
Sally Decker: Well, when I first heard the shot, and as I turned, Jim fell.
Capt. Ed Hocken: He's the teller, Frank.
Det. Frank Drebin: Jim Fell's the teller?
Sally Decker: No, Jim Johnson.
Det. Frank Drebin: Who's Jim Fell?
Capt. Ed Hocken: He's the auditor, Frank.
Sally Decker: He had the flu, so Jim
[pauses]
Sally Decker: filled in.
Det. Frank Drebin: Phil who?
Capt. Ed Hocken: Phil Din. He's the night watchman.
Sally Decker: [crying] If only Phil had been here!
From "Police Squad!"
Sally Decker: Well, when I first heard the shot, and as I turned, Jim fell.
Capt. Ed Hocken: He's the teller, Frank.
Det. Frank Drebin: Jim Fell's the teller?
Sally Decker: No, Jim Johnson.
Det. Frank Drebin: Who's Jim Fell?
Capt. Ed Hocken: He's the auditor, Frank.
Sally Decker: He had the flu, so Jim
[pauses]
Sally Decker: filled in.
Det. Frank Drebin: Phil who?
Capt. Ed Hocken: Phil Din. He's the night watchman.
Sally Decker: [crying] If only Phil had been here!
Det. Frank Drebin:
Wait a minute, let me get this straight: Twice came in and shot the teller and Jim Fell.
Sally Decker: No, he only shot the teller, Jim Johnson. Fell is ill.
Det. Frank Drebin: Okay, then after he shot the teller, you shot Twice.
Sally Decker: No, I only shot once.
Capt. Ed Hocken: Twice is the hold up man.
Sally Decker: Then I guess I did shoot Twice.
Det. Frank Drebin: Oh, so now you're changing your story.
Sally Decker: No, I shot Twice after Jim fell.
Det. Frank Drebin: You shot twice and Jim Fell?
Sally Decker: No, Jim fell first and then I shot Twice once.
Det. Frank Drebin: Well, who fired twice?
Sally Decker: Once!
Capt. Ed Hocken: He's the owner of the tire company, Frank.
Det. Frank Drebin: [pauses] Okay. Once is the owner of the tire company and he fired Twice. Then Twice shot the teller once.
Sally Decker: Twice.
Det. Frank Drebin: ...and Jim fell and then you fired Twice.
Sally Decker: Once!
Det. Frank Drebin: Okay. All right, that will be all for now, Ms. Decker.
Capt. Ed Hocken: We'll need you to make a formal statement down at the station.
Sally Decker: Oh, of course!
Det. Frank Drebin: You've been very helpful. We think we know how he did it.
Sally Decker: Oh, Howie couldn't have done it. He hasn't been in for weeks.
Det. Frank Drebin: Well.
[pauses]
Det. Frank Drebin: Thank you again, Ms. Decker.
[to Ed]
Det. Frank Drebin: Weeks?
Capt. Ed Hocken: Saul Weeks. He's the comptroller, Frank.
Sally Decker: No, he only shot the teller, Jim Johnson. Fell is ill.
Det. Frank Drebin: Okay, then after he shot the teller, you shot Twice.
Sally Decker: No, I only shot once.
Capt. Ed Hocken: Twice is the hold up man.
Sally Decker: Then I guess I did shoot Twice.
Det. Frank Drebin: Oh, so now you're changing your story.
Sally Decker: No, I shot Twice after Jim fell.
Det. Frank Drebin: You shot twice and Jim Fell?
Sally Decker: No, Jim fell first and then I shot Twice once.
Det. Frank Drebin: Well, who fired twice?
Sally Decker: Once!
Capt. Ed Hocken: He's the owner of the tire company, Frank.
Det. Frank Drebin: [pauses] Okay. Once is the owner of the tire company and he fired Twice. Then Twice shot the teller once.
Sally Decker: Twice.
Det. Frank Drebin: ...and Jim fell and then you fired Twice.
Sally Decker: Once!
Det. Frank Drebin: Okay. All right, that will be all for now, Ms. Decker.
Capt. Ed Hocken: We'll need you to make a formal statement down at the station.
Sally Decker: Oh, of course!
Det. Frank Drebin: You've been very helpful. We think we know how he did it.
Sally Decker: Oh, Howie couldn't have done it. He hasn't been in for weeks.
Det. Frank Drebin: Well.
[pauses]
Det. Frank Drebin: Thank you again, Ms. Decker.
[to Ed]
Det. Frank Drebin: Weeks?
Capt. Ed Hocken: Saul Weeks. He's the comptroller, Frank.
Sunday, December 10, 2017
"Lady Bird" (2017)
This movie is infuriating. Because they got the flavor of an irritating bygone era. And did it so well, you get not wistful but...annoyed how shitty we were.
The year is 2002 and Christine "Lady Bird" McPherson is a senior. All she wants to do is to get out of Sacramento, California. The midwest of California. For what reason? Because it can't harness her wanderlust. She is an average student to which all her advisors in the Catholic school she attends mock her tenacity to attend an east coast Ivy League school even though there is no way in hell this will happen. But her biggest obstacle is a mother who has lived her life stuck in Sacramento Hell. And now is saddled with this annoying girl who sidesteps her outspoken high school history.
The movie is...well, it's blah. If you like "Napoleon Dynamite" this has the same mundane living. The town is painted out to be oppressive to someone as expressive as Lady Bird. It drives her to want to leave. Though it paints a painful family dynamic between everyone involved, the real source of push and pull come from her mother Marion McPherson played wonderfully by Laurie Metcalf. What strikes me so honest about her character is...she doesn't tolerate shit from a daughter who is cunty. She gives a bit back. Which is where we realize where Millenials stem from. They have deep wanderlust but have no ambition. An odd dynamic. Because the frustration happens to also be the solution to their lack of purpose. This will be aggravating for anyone desperate to look for deeper meaning. There is none.
This movie is pretentious version of any 90's high school comedy. As my friend said after watching...he prefers the "American Pie" or "Can't Hardly Wait" after watching this. Simply, it is grim portrayal of high school as...clumsy relationships. Indifference to a point of wanting to shake them.
Former actor turned director Greta Gerwig gives a laser focus accuracy to this new high school while fine tuning the "look" of the era (it wasn't that long ago). She seems to paint living this life practically as if in another era. Where cell phones were introduced. And internet just began, The characters seem small town naive, yet...we're talking about the capital of California. It's the nature of all of us to want to go to what is less familar.
What I have a massive problem is...so what? Yes, the dreaded statement of why show this. The people this is aimed at won't give a flying fuck. The people who lived through it are watching through PTSD eyes. This is not a therapy moment anyone wants to go through. The performances are great, but it's still a question of...what is the purpose of this movie? The well-worn path of female high school confusion and uncertainty is shown at an arms distance since the character is so unlikeable. Maybe NOT unlikeable but there are a TON more complicated issues presented where the solution is wrapped up too pat. To me, this is cheapening a more revelatory moment. Which comes too late.
This is an annoying movie, yet...I still sense, as another friend had said, a worthy first effort.
The year is 2002 and Christine "Lady Bird" McPherson is a senior. All she wants to do is to get out of Sacramento, California. The midwest of California. For what reason? Because it can't harness her wanderlust. She is an average student to which all her advisors in the Catholic school she attends mock her tenacity to attend an east coast Ivy League school even though there is no way in hell this will happen. But her biggest obstacle is a mother who has lived her life stuck in Sacramento Hell. And now is saddled with this annoying girl who sidesteps her outspoken high school history.
The movie is...well, it's blah. If you like "Napoleon Dynamite" this has the same mundane living. The town is painted out to be oppressive to someone as expressive as Lady Bird. It drives her to want to leave. Though it paints a painful family dynamic between everyone involved, the real source of push and pull come from her mother Marion McPherson played wonderfully by Laurie Metcalf. What strikes me so honest about her character is...she doesn't tolerate shit from a daughter who is cunty. She gives a bit back. Which is where we realize where Millenials stem from. They have deep wanderlust but have no ambition. An odd dynamic. Because the frustration happens to also be the solution to their lack of purpose. This will be aggravating for anyone desperate to look for deeper meaning. There is none.
This movie is pretentious version of any 90's high school comedy. As my friend said after watching...he prefers the "American Pie" or "Can't Hardly Wait" after watching this. Simply, it is grim portrayal of high school as...clumsy relationships. Indifference to a point of wanting to shake them.
Former actor turned director Greta Gerwig gives a laser focus accuracy to this new high school while fine tuning the "look" of the era (it wasn't that long ago). She seems to paint living this life practically as if in another era. Where cell phones were introduced. And internet just began, The characters seem small town naive, yet...we're talking about the capital of California. It's the nature of all of us to want to go to what is less familar.
What I have a massive problem is...so what? Yes, the dreaded statement of why show this. The people this is aimed at won't give a flying fuck. The people who lived through it are watching through PTSD eyes. This is not a therapy moment anyone wants to go through. The performances are great, but it's still a question of...what is the purpose of this movie? The well-worn path of female high school confusion and uncertainty is shown at an arms distance since the character is so unlikeable. Maybe NOT unlikeable but there are a TON more complicated issues presented where the solution is wrapped up too pat. To me, this is cheapening a more revelatory moment. Which comes too late.
This is an annoying movie, yet...I still sense, as another friend had said, a worthy first effort.
Friday, December 8, 2017
"Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri" (2017)
As I sat there watching this movie, it occurred to me. The two people who adamantly pressed me to watch this movie have not been raised on these kinds of movies. And believe this to be refreshing new and unique. Nope. This is well worn road.
I am a Robert Benton fan. And Martin McDonagh is no Robert Benton.
For a few reasons.
The words placed in the actors mouths are exactly how they should be. In other words, I saw every word on the page. It's aggravating and trite and...painfully overwritten. Similar to "In Bruges" except, in that case you can hide it in accents. Every line predictable to the silliness of the movie. This movie wants you to think terminal cancer is funny.
The story is of Mildred Hayes, a bitter woman who just lost a daughter to a brutal murder. She's played by Frances McDormand (let's face it, she was born to play these type of roles. And Jesus, don't people ever give her a more modern name?). Distraught with the way the local police chief is handling the case, she buys three billboards to antagonize him into action. What starts off as a battle of wills turns into...fuck if I know. It's not that anymore. In fact, halfway through, the story implodes on itself and you wonder whatever happened to the case to begin with. It, in fact, starts to focus on a deputy named Sam Rockwell. A simple minded and buried deep down full hearted sidekick who is more dumb bulldog than crime-fighter (where have we seen this before, right EVERY FUCKING small town sheriff movie ever made, look up "Nobody's Fool" to see it played better). Mildred continues to antagonize the chief, even though his reasoning is actually sound. To the viewer anyway. She just becomes ridiculously annoying. Supposedly she is an oak and allows no one to push her around. Even though she is physically abused by an ex-husband who is presently dating a 19 year bubble head. Are you laughing yet?
Woody Harrelson plays the police chief is called out to do something about the situation. After all the billboard calls him out. Which...I'm not sure what the big deal is. It's a road no one travels on, but gets...television coverage on? (Mildred later on blasts the same news crew...can anyone explain why? That was her ally).
There are movie makers in this world that refuse, absolutely refuse to give you a breath of...optimism. McDonagh is one of them. Which, it's critical reviews says more about the lack of material and foundation of storytelling than the actual movie itself. This movie ISN'T awful, it's just so...bland. Everything is borrowed from every other whimsical look in small town idiosyncrasies. And look, they even threw in a dwarf (Peter Dinklage) who is the brightest thing in this slog of a movie.
Two things truly bother me about this movie (besides the fact that things are done without consequences) 1) Frances McDormand was a far better version of this painfully bitter small town woman in "Olive Kitteridge" which I doubt the general public has seen. 2) there are no redeemable characters, which is perfectly fine, unless you insist that there be closure between the two characters left standing that share a new conquest...for what reason? I'm sure someone would know.
This movie just proved to me how little people actually research past films that could balance this type of "dark humor" properly. Or quaint small town living through a dark event. Which, by the way, no one...and I mean ZIPPO people have sympathy for this family (and how is it, in a one street town, do people not know each other this intimately?)
Now let's all step back and look at the bigger picture of this movie...if someone were standing next to a campfire telling you this tale, would you even give a fuck? My number one anticipation of the entire story would be to know a few resolved threads, that McDonagh refuses to conclude. Remember the type of movie maker he actually is.
I am a Robert Benton fan. And Martin McDonagh is no Robert Benton.
For a few reasons.
The words placed in the actors mouths are exactly how they should be. In other words, I saw every word on the page. It's aggravating and trite and...painfully overwritten. Similar to "In Bruges" except, in that case you can hide it in accents. Every line predictable to the silliness of the movie. This movie wants you to think terminal cancer is funny.
The story is of Mildred Hayes, a bitter woman who just lost a daughter to a brutal murder. She's played by Frances McDormand (let's face it, she was born to play these type of roles. And Jesus, don't people ever give her a more modern name?). Distraught with the way the local police chief is handling the case, she buys three billboards to antagonize him into action. What starts off as a battle of wills turns into...fuck if I know. It's not that anymore. In fact, halfway through, the story implodes on itself and you wonder whatever happened to the case to begin with. It, in fact, starts to focus on a deputy named Sam Rockwell. A simple minded and buried deep down full hearted sidekick who is more dumb bulldog than crime-fighter (where have we seen this before, right EVERY FUCKING small town sheriff movie ever made, look up "Nobody's Fool" to see it played better). Mildred continues to antagonize the chief, even though his reasoning is actually sound. To the viewer anyway. She just becomes ridiculously annoying. Supposedly she is an oak and allows no one to push her around. Even though she is physically abused by an ex-husband who is presently dating a 19 year bubble head. Are you laughing yet?
Woody Harrelson plays the police chief is called out to do something about the situation. After all the billboard calls him out. Which...I'm not sure what the big deal is. It's a road no one travels on, but gets...television coverage on? (Mildred later on blasts the same news crew...can anyone explain why? That was her ally).
There are movie makers in this world that refuse, absolutely refuse to give you a breath of...optimism. McDonagh is one of them. Which, it's critical reviews says more about the lack of material and foundation of storytelling than the actual movie itself. This movie ISN'T awful, it's just so...bland. Everything is borrowed from every other whimsical look in small town idiosyncrasies. And look, they even threw in a dwarf (Peter Dinklage) who is the brightest thing in this slog of a movie.
Two things truly bother me about this movie (besides the fact that things are done without consequences) 1) Frances McDormand was a far better version of this painfully bitter small town woman in "Olive Kitteridge" which I doubt the general public has seen. 2) there are no redeemable characters, which is perfectly fine, unless you insist that there be closure between the two characters left standing that share a new conquest...for what reason? I'm sure someone would know.
This movie just proved to me how little people actually research past films that could balance this type of "dark humor" properly. Or quaint small town living through a dark event. Which, by the way, no one...and I mean ZIPPO people have sympathy for this family (and how is it, in a one street town, do people not know each other this intimately?)
Now let's all step back and look at the bigger picture of this movie...if someone were standing next to a campfire telling you this tale, would you even give a fuck? My number one anticipation of the entire story would be to know a few resolved threads, that McDonagh refuses to conclude. Remember the type of movie maker he actually is.
Equality
Organizations like the ACLU or NAACP call for racial equality.
Hey numbskulls, if you wanted and believed in your cause, you'd be out of business.
But business is good. And they thrive on finding trouble where there isn't any.
Or, in most cases, dig up trouble. Because somewhere out there...life is unfair...to someone.
It often boggles my mind how these organizations call for a change, but then have no real plan or solutions for equity. Because that requires more work than say...being outraged and letting others march. What are the specifics? There are none. Because, again...if they got their people (the people who are upset) to conclude that life is pretty equal, they'd be out of business.
I think most people who hate these groups came to the conclusion that it is all to exploit the people who feel slighted (everyone). Life marginalizes everyone. But to have groups tell you that you deserve better or more because of skin color. Well, there's no solution there.
Once you figure out their agenda, it's really aggravating. Do better things in life.
Hey numbskulls, if you wanted and believed in your cause, you'd be out of business.
But business is good. And they thrive on finding trouble where there isn't any.
Or, in most cases, dig up trouble. Because somewhere out there...life is unfair...to someone.
It often boggles my mind how these organizations call for a change, but then have no real plan or solutions for equity. Because that requires more work than say...being outraged and letting others march. What are the specifics? There are none. Because, again...if they got their people (the people who are upset) to conclude that life is pretty equal, they'd be out of business.
I think most people who hate these groups came to the conclusion that it is all to exploit the people who feel slighted (everyone). Life marginalizes everyone. But to have groups tell you that you deserve better or more because of skin color. Well, there's no solution there.
Once you figure out their agenda, it's really aggravating. Do better things in life.
Al Franken To Resign
The Democrats piled on a essentially forced Al Franken to step down and out.
So what.
Seriously.
Many more Al Frankens.
Roy Moore should leave too.
No one would care.
Trump should resign.
Nothing would change.
People think they can change the dynamics of this country, because they leave. All for pretending to squeeze a Playboy models fake tits.
Nothing will change.
They will make more.
This gesture means nothing.
Al Franken means nothing.
Only amused that he was to leave in disgrace.
As most of these people accused should.
Meanwhile, Bill Clinton is smiling from some rocking chair...
So what.
Seriously.
Many more Al Frankens.
Roy Moore should leave too.
No one would care.
Trump should resign.
Nothing would change.
People think they can change the dynamics of this country, because they leave. All for pretending to squeeze a Playboy models fake tits.
Nothing will change.
They will make more.
This gesture means nothing.
Al Franken means nothing.
Only amused that he was to leave in disgrace.
As most of these people accused should.
Meanwhile, Bill Clinton is smiling from some rocking chair...
Don't Use Your Own Money
This was the edict when you made movies OUTSIDE of film school. NEVER use your own money.
It struck me as strange because you are willing to gamble with others' money to fuel your goals. Devious, if you ask me.
But I understand. It's the same phrase as "don't gamble with your own money." Though, in this case, there are very few choices. You can't necessarily gamble with other people's money unless it's like sports betting. And even then.
Don't lose what you can't afford to lose.
I think about the money I spend on my own small projects. The amount adds up to a brand new car. And it's funny what people decide what to spend their money on. For me, a nickel here and there and pretty soon, it's over the tens of thousands amount. I see very little risk in it, since it's something I want to do. Compelled to do.
The other thing I do, is supplement it by other means. I do work for other people's movies for a small sum which I put into the "film kitty." And when there is enough, I use this dough to make more movies. The trade-off works well, because I'm helping other filmmakers while they fund my projects.
Obviously, this can't go on forever, but I am enjoying the freedom of not having to deal with using other people's money. The thing about that...the more money you take, the more of a beating you take. And I'm too old for that.
Interesting thing about putting anything out into the ether...
someone who had stumbled across my shorts, came up to me afterwards and told me (he worked for The Hallmark Network until they went bust: "you are a real filmmaker. I have no reason to tell you this, or blow smoke up your ass. There are plenty of people who don't have a clue who are making films, but you have it. In five years if you keep doing what you're doing, you'll be beyond them."
That was nice to hear. For our little movies that are funded out of pocket.
It struck me as strange because you are willing to gamble with others' money to fuel your goals. Devious, if you ask me.
But I understand. It's the same phrase as "don't gamble with your own money." Though, in this case, there are very few choices. You can't necessarily gamble with other people's money unless it's like sports betting. And even then.
Don't lose what you can't afford to lose.
I think about the money I spend on my own small projects. The amount adds up to a brand new car. And it's funny what people decide what to spend their money on. For me, a nickel here and there and pretty soon, it's over the tens of thousands amount. I see very little risk in it, since it's something I want to do. Compelled to do.
The other thing I do, is supplement it by other means. I do work for other people's movies for a small sum which I put into the "film kitty." And when there is enough, I use this dough to make more movies. The trade-off works well, because I'm helping other filmmakers while they fund my projects.
Obviously, this can't go on forever, but I am enjoying the freedom of not having to deal with using other people's money. The thing about that...the more money you take, the more of a beating you take. And I'm too old for that.
Interesting thing about putting anything out into the ether...
someone who had stumbled across my shorts, came up to me afterwards and told me (he worked for The Hallmark Network until they went bust: "you are a real filmmaker. I have no reason to tell you this, or blow smoke up your ass. There are plenty of people who don't have a clue who are making films, but you have it. In five years if you keep doing what you're doing, you'll be beyond them."
That was nice to hear. For our little movies that are funded out of pocket.
Thursday, December 7, 2017
Ryan Shazier
In that gruesome AFC North battle between the Schittsburgh Steelers and the Sin-Sin-Nati Bengals, Ryan Shazier attempted to tackle a running back, went helmet first towards him and got leveled. I've never seen anyone reach for their back that fast, because his spine essentially...shattered or collapsed. The thought of that makes me sick. Also, the hit Steeler JuJu "fuckface" Shuster-Smith put on Vontaze Burfict was teeth shattering. Most likely setting him back for a while as well.
When asked about the Vontaze Burfict cheap shot, said Steeler wide receiver Antonio Brown "Karma."
Hey stupid fucking dumb ape... Shazier is done and gone now. And he did it in Paul Brown Stadium. karma isn't about payback. It's about the world righting itself. And because of comments like yours, we'll see you disappear as quickly as Odell Beckham is going to. Your big mouth and talents can be replaced. Concerning yourself with your injured teammate wasn't on the table. It was that Vontaze hurt your feelings. Bitch, wide receivers are a dime-a-dozen, just like fellow Buckeye, Santonio Holmes was. It's a matter of time. So humble your in-house plantation self, before karma does.
I feel for Ryan, only because it's likely his career is over. More that he was a fallen Buckeye than anything else.
When asked about the Vontaze Burfict cheap shot, said Steeler wide receiver Antonio Brown "Karma."
Hey stupid fucking dumb ape... Shazier is done and gone now. And he did it in Paul Brown Stadium. karma isn't about payback. It's about the world righting itself. And because of comments like yours, we'll see you disappear as quickly as Odell Beckham is going to. Your big mouth and talents can be replaced. Concerning yourself with your injured teammate wasn't on the table. It was that Vontaze hurt your feelings. Bitch, wide receivers are a dime-a-dozen, just like fellow Buckeye, Santonio Holmes was. It's a matter of time. So humble your in-house plantation self, before karma does.
I feel for Ryan, only because it's likely his career is over. More that he was a fallen Buckeye than anything else.
Los Angeles Fires
It's always funny when you hear that places like Bel-Air and Holmby Hills is burning down. For us poor folk, it's the rich nuts in the hills that are having all their worldly possessions go up in smoke. It's awful to think about. But fortunately, the way L.A. is conducting evacuations is saving lives.
Don't get me wrong, I am NOT celebrating rich people's miseries. What I'm saying is...don't you think with as much luck they've been given, that it would only be a balance of the cosmic universe taking back. I think about that constantly. We aren't all that different. The homeless or the rich. They are humans who have a level of balance comfortable in their universe. To a homeless person, a bag of cans standing on the side of the road may be like a rich guy having his stock split.
The fire on the 405 freeway is crazy though. It's sliding down the hill and we can feel the heat emanating from it. Fire and water. So awful.
Don't get me wrong, I am NOT celebrating rich people's miseries. What I'm saying is...don't you think with as much luck they've been given, that it would only be a balance of the cosmic universe taking back. I think about that constantly. We aren't all that different. The homeless or the rich. They are humans who have a level of balance comfortable in their universe. To a homeless person, a bag of cans standing on the side of the road may be like a rich guy having his stock split.
The fire on the 405 freeway is crazy though. It's sliding down the hill and we can feel the heat emanating from it. Fire and water. So awful.
Wednesday, December 6, 2017
Time's Person Of The Year
Goes to the hashtag "MeToo" movement that brought down...nothing.
I'm sick and tired of this generation thinking they did something to shed light on sexual harassment when this lady in 1945 blasted these animals long before we were born:
actress Miss Maureen O'Hara:
This is a real bad-ass. Willing to throw her career away because of (gasp) principles!
These actresses now traded...yes I said it...TRADED their sexuality for roles and cry victim when they were accosted. O'Hara was a tough hickory stick who stood alone. In silence. The real hero. Just remember that, you fucking assholes.
I'm sick and tired of this generation thinking they did something to shed light on sexual harassment when this lady in 1945 blasted these animals long before we were born:
actress Miss Maureen O'Hara:
“I am so upset with it that I am ready to quit Hollywood. It’s got so bad I hate to come to work in the morning. I’m a helpless victim of a Hollywood whispering campaign. Because I don’t let the producer and director kiss me every morning or let them paw me they have spread word around town that I am not a woman — that I am a cold piece of marble statuary.”
“I guess Hollywood won’t consider me as anything except a cold hunk of marble until I divorce my husband, give my baby away and get my name and photograph in all the newspapers. If that’s Hollywood’s idea of being a woman I’m ready to quit now.”
This is a real bad-ass. Willing to throw her career away because of (gasp) principles!
These actresses now traded...yes I said it...TRADED their sexuality for roles and cry victim when they were accosted. O'Hara was a tough hickory stick who stood alone. In silence. The real hero. Just remember that, you fucking assholes.
Tuesday, December 5, 2017
Dustin Hoffman
It's not surprising that he would be extra mashy.
As John Oliver ambushed the guy at an anniversary screening of "Wag The Dog."
I think finding an actor who didn't molest a woman is shooting fish in a bucket. Weak and lame and stinky.
As John Oliver ambushed the guy at an anniversary screening of "Wag The Dog."
I think finding an actor who didn't molest a woman is shooting fish in a bucket. Weak and lame and stinky.
“It is reflective of who you were. You’ve given no
evidence to show that it didn’t happen. There was a period of time when
you were creeping around women. It feels like a cop-out to say, ‘Well,
this isn’t me.’ Do you understand how that feels like a dismissal?”
Hoffman replied ‘You weren’t there’, to which Oliver shot back ‘I’m glad’, to gasps from the crowd.
Some in the audience sided with
Oliver, clapping at certain remarks – one woman was said to have shouted
‘thank you for believing women!’ – while some shouted to Oliver to
‘move on!’, while others walked out of the theatre.
“You’ve put me on display here,” a reputedly ‘seething’ Hoffman then told Oliver.
“You have indicted me. That’s not innocent until proven guilty.”
“I get no pleasure from this conversation. But you and I are not the victims here,” replied Olivier.
“The so-called, alleged comments that are made are truth now,” Hoffman went on. “And if you try to defend it, you’re guilty.”
Hoffman has a point. They dump your ass in seconds once you even have a little bit of crap about you. If I were Hoffman, I'd tell the lyme to fuck off. Like he needs a job or money. And then do something lowkey until this shit blows over. Or nothing at all. Just enjoy the rest of your life. Hell, he grabbed young ass and can live to tell about it. Imagine the assgrabbers who still need a job.
Monday, December 4, 2017
College Football Part Two
Man, are Buckeye fans upset.
Because they won their conference and didn't get to the playoffs. Alabama lost theirs and got in. Guess what guys, remember Penn State last year? Buckeyes lost their conference and STILL got in.
This is the plight of very spoiled fans. Never consider that next year, we have a running back (J.K. Dobbins) that is going to demolish all NCAA records and he was a freshman THIS year. And another freshman QB named Dwayne Haskins, who trust me, is going to make pros.
So let this year go and enjoy some great playoff combinations!
Because they won their conference and didn't get to the playoffs. Alabama lost theirs and got in. Guess what guys, remember Penn State last year? Buckeyes lost their conference and STILL got in.
This is the plight of very spoiled fans. Never consider that next year, we have a running back (J.K. Dobbins) that is going to demolish all NCAA records and he was a freshman THIS year. And another freshman QB named Dwayne Haskins, who trust me, is going to make pros.
So let this year go and enjoy some great playoff combinations!
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