Film/Digital

If you can't tell the difference, you can't be helped...

EJ DeVaughn Got Into Harvard!

Yippee, great! Hooray!

Because he's a Black kid from Compton!
Oh Hell yeah!!!

Nope. You stupid fucking media people are feeding the patronizing drum of idiocy.

A great national news ISN'T Black kid from Compton, California does something...every other teen in my high school went to Ivy.

The story is how many. And THAT is the problem of this whole fucking society. You are drawing light to a person who is doing what you SHOULD be doing. Is that the message? Than it's as racist as any slur you can imagine. Because you don't think Blacks from Compton can ever be anything but gangbangers.

Because you're basically saying it's an anomaly that this happens. That it's an albino alligator. You are celebrating the fact that he wasn't killed because his neighborhood is shit? Really? This is news worthy? There are millions of Chinese and Indian who live in far worse poverty that have gotten into better schools, and America decides we have to honor this. Great for DeVaughn, but, tragic for where we are a society.
I'm sure he's a great kid and very nice of him to do something with his life...but....

This is like giving a cripple kid a medal because he tried out for the Summer Olympics and finished.

Dog People Are Out of Their Minds

I love dogs. I had one when I was a kid and when it died, I refused to get another one. Even to this day. But I still love dogs. But...this world we live in seem to love their fucking dogs over people. I understand, people can be garbage human beings...

"The suicide of an Army veteran charged with shooting her service dog as she laughed. Fayetteville Police Lt. Todd Joyce said Sunday investigators believe that 23-year-old Marinna Rollins killed herself. Joyce declined to explain what evidence detectives found. He says police were called to her apartment early Sunday after her body was found by friends. Rollins and 25-year-old Jarren Heng were charged last month with cruelty to animals after investigators say they tied the dog to a tree and shot it multiple times with a rifle."

At first I was like...GOOD! Bitch gotsta' go.
But then...
This is a person who obviously had post traumatic stress disorder. Yet, society wants this person to be tied to the same tree and shot. Why is it that we're okay with a soldier coming home and blasting away his family when he has PTSD but then turnaround and say awful things to the same person who was suffering. This isn't going to be the last.

You know who is at the forefront of these outrages? The same people who want free universal health care. Go figure.

"Giant" (1956)

I got the privilege of watching this movie at The New Beverly Theater in Los Angeles on 35mm. WOW! What a difference. The last time I'd watched this was on VHS with a college girlfriend. She liked Elizabeth Taylor was from Maryland (as she was) trying to wrangle down a rough cattle man while keeping at bay, the advances of a rebel with a cause.

James Dean was ahead of his time. This movie was released after his death and you wonder the career he would've had. I suspect, maybe like Brando, an oddball who chose darker stuff.

"Giant" directed by George Stevens, based on a novel by Edna Ferber with a screenplay by Fred Guiol and Ivan Moffat is really relevant today, and tells the story of the development of Texas as first a wasteland of cattle farming to the massive oil barons that is now the wealth of the state today. Pride, racism and...history.

The epic story starts with Jordan "Bick" Benedict played by Rock Hudson. A idealistic baby-faced man who meets Leslie (Elizabeth Taylor), a fiery east coaster who studies whatever she determines she needs to conquer. He's there just to buy one of their horses, discovers her bright mind gets under the skin of Bick. Of course, sparks fly and he ends up marrying her.

They arrive at a dustbowl of land in Benedict, so aptly named for the family that owned 569,000 square miles of land. Yep...that much land.

Early Texas women were hard people, it doesn't take long for Leslie to acclimate herself to the rigors of ranch life. Along the way she meets Jett Rink, played by James Dean. He works for Bick's sister at the ranch doing odd jobs. It's not clear he is an orphan or not, but we sense something tragic in his life landed him in the same economical standing as the Mexicans. Sound familiar?

Speaking of which...there is a LOT of bigotry in this movie. Although decades later, this movie really hits that note hard. With some very uncomfortable accusations of Texans (which may or may not be unfounded).

Bick and Leslie have three children. Each who grow to be very interesting offspring. Dennis Hopper plays Jordan Benedict III. Who, is somewhat a Mama's boy and wants to go into medicine.  Carroll Baker plays Luz Benedict II. And Fran Bennett plays Judy Benedict. They are all headstrong characters who challenge the Bick and his legacy while Leslie looks on with the life she chose.

This movie is a great family story. An "Our Town" type set up with a massive scale. The family dynamic is so real and true. Your children don't necessarily grow to who you want them to be. And people do grow apart. There is also Jett...a loner who got a parcel of land that lands him wealth beyond imagination. He becomes a miserable alcoholic though desperately trying to gain the love of Leslie who chose responsibility over girl crushes. Whenever Leslie and Jett are on screen, the attraction is powerful. Even to this day, you sense something big. But reality is that they grew up in too different of worlds to ever have it work. When he comes up into their world, it is tragically...too late.

If you can, watch this movie on film...it's amazing.

"Road Hard" (2015)

He’s whiny but he’s not. Adam Carolla’s movie, which was funded by roughly 14,000 people giving him a little over 1 million dollars is the subject of a movie about a standup comedian who is forced to step backwards in life AFTER a super successful career in television as the co-host of a show called “The Bro Show.”

Sound familiar? Yep, it’s his real life. And Jay Mohr plays the guy who shoots up solo into Jay Leno territory while he spins his wheels back as a standup comedian. He is transparently Jimmy Kimmel. And though Adam has denied his resentment towards his friend (and I truly believe this) he paints this version of him to be brutal prick of a network yes man. Most likely written to tear at his pride.

It’s not enough to say, Adam gives himself a phony TERRIBLE moniker as Bruce Madsen. Why not Moose Carmichael? Or Danny McGucci? Nope, an innocuously bland name. In his life, he has earned some success as a funny man,  but has ostracized his ex-wife to a point where he lives in the garage of the house he pays for. His ex, played by a clearly bored Illeana Douglas, is a shrew of a woman. Very much resembles his real wife in looks. They both have an (inexplicable) adoptive Asian daughter who is 18 and contemplating college. A soft spoken good girl. Yet…no history exists between them. I think, also, it gets uncomfortable, since Carolla is trying his best to show any level of warmth. It is painfully false.

Bruce also has a group of friends he grouse’s about his terrible fortune. Which…David Alan Grier is simply the best thing about this movie. He is doing his best not to unleash the manic energy of D.A.G. but is uncontrollably funny. Bruce is whiny and shitty towards…everyone. Which is the same schtick as Louis C.K. which, at a certain point I wasn’t sure if I was watching that show OR “Curb Your Enthusiasm” with as many moments in an airplane.

Airplane travel jokes…are an extension of his podcast which he complains about. Which, I wholeheartedly agree with. There was no way it wouldn’t make this movie. And, in small batches, I guess you can plow through it, but it is a constant beating of that drum which starts to irritate.

Along the way, he befriends Diane Farr. A widow who has been slowly following Bruce’s career. For what reason? It’s beyond comprehension. Because he’s funny? Because he’s available? Because he blew off her friend by labeling her a fat backpack? That may be the truth, but it’s not going to win over people. Maybe she sees a broken person, similar to a stray animal. Most likely not. Their chemistry is non-existent, worse…Adam getting romantic with a girl while he’s been THIS lethargic just seems…off. It feels like when Marty McFly kisses his mom. You groan.

Bruce claims to be a loser at life but lives in a great home, raised a dutiful daughter and surrounds himself with people who desperately cheer for him. Perhaps I see my future in him, and it’s annoying. His agent, Babydoll (which is a real person) is played by Larry Miller. And the material he is given is painful. He’s suppose to be a shitbag agent with a heart of gold, but he seems just to be a phony.

If you like Adam Carolla, you will enjoy this romp. It’s not completely unwatchable. Some funny stuff at places. Personally, if he didn’t direct, produce, write and act in it, this probably would’ve been better. Especially the acting.

"Where To Invade Next" (2015)

Bloated muckrakin’ Michael Moore has always been a “do what I say, not as I do” guy. He’s a wealthy movie maker who’s first documentary got me crackin’ up. “Roger and Me” was the best sarcastic response to an auto company that attempted to screw over American union auto workers. And they did. And Detroit, Flint or whatever in Michigan goes on to suffer. Did we listen? Nope. They screwed that water up like the auto industry and wonder why, if Americans are THIS clueless about their government…the government doesn’t take full advantage. Which they have.

A lot of great ideas in this mockumentary. I’m not saying what he’s saying is false. What I’ve gathered is that he hit upon the one thing that made America great AND also tore it apart are these individual ideas that collectively cannot survive. Moore’s biggest problem here is to wave a mirror on us and expect it to take hold. This isn’t going to happen because…honestly…he’s pointing the finger at the wrong people BECAUSE he’s pointing in every direction. It’s rich White old people’s fault. It’s the criminal system’s fault. It’s bankers fault. I completely understand. I wish we could’ve thrown those bankers down a pit and buried them in a hole. Those assholes couldn’t get rich enough. Except here’s the problem..Moore NEVER explained that the mortgage issue was simply…offering these deals to uneducated poor people who couldn’t afford the homes they were essentially given for free. Yes, he blames the collapse of the banks BUT never blames personal accountability which means…not knowing you couldn’t afford a house but buy it anyway.

In the different countries he visits to “invade and take their great ideas” he isn’t giving all the facts. How Europe’s ideology was to pool money and re-distribute. So those Italians enjoying all those vacation days is really taking from other countries that don’t follow that ideology. This is the true reason Greece is broke AND desperate for that collective money. Now that Britain is exiting the alliance, a lot of other countries will be cut off and the real show will begin. Why doesn’t Moore address this? Instead, he goes to countries like Norway, Iceland, Tunisa, Italy, Germany, places SO tiny and so homogenized it’s comical to compare to America which faces double the population and a vastly different culture holes. This isn’t by America’s design. It’s by the cultures which immigrate to America and decide to segregate themselves. The notion of looking out for your neighbor is a two way street to which is never mentioned as well.

He does make an interesting arrow chart correlation between the crackdown on drugs and slowly building the prison population for cheap labor. It’s a bit of a stretch but if one were so inclined to be guided, it is a legitimate slide.

I get what Moore is attempting to do. Draw attention to what made America great. I reminisce a lot about it too. As I’ve said, there was an unspoken respect for one another when I grew up. They had street 4^th of July parades. The liberals most likely put a stop to that. Because that would exclude people who didn’t believe in 4^th of July. Or they find something offensive about it. THIS was the unspoken contract between immigrants that we loved our adoptive country and would go along with the sparklers and fireworks. If only to feel more American. That is respect for the land that accepted you. Today…the entitlement comes from wanting and taking and never giving back. America asks SO very little of you. A simple (boring) allegiance to the country and to each other. It’s not that hard. Instead, people fly their home country’s flag and shit all over America because it’s most likely fashion

"Anthropoid" (2016)

A suck ass title that meant nothing to Americans. Unless you are a war history buff. Or I’m just stupid.

This was the operation name for the assassination of SS General Reinhard Heydrich. Hitler’s 2^nd on command and the dude who was giddy about the exterminating of…pretty much everyone who wasn’t German. The architect of the Final Solution. You almost have to wonder what would happen to the Japanese had they dominated the world.  I get on the Germans for being too pussy, but after all the new stories of carnage I’m learning about WWII, I think I understand why they don’t want to seem like that anymore. Just be passive aggressive).

According to history men would be ordered to parachute into Nazi occupied Czechloslovakia. In this case two men were sent to take down this madman. Jamie Dornan plays Jan Kubis and Cillian Murphy plays Josef Gabcik. Their bravery is documented in their resolution to end war.

BUT, this movie does address a fascinating topic. What is the price of potential loss of lives? Heydrich’s potential death would draw terrible retaliation. The ultimate question of whether or not you could time travel back to assassinate Hitler, would you do it? Is actually addressed in this movie.

In history this attempt was seen as the turning point of the war which they estimated saved millions of lives. The heroism is never in “what could be done” it was listed as “what are you doing today.” Sure, these were direct orders, BUT, they are also human. Which they both found a brief glimpse of love, which shows them a bit of what they’re fighting for.

The performances are strong. It is raw and true, as with most war movies. Director Sean Ellis expertly films war at ground level. And builds the tension of the event with documentary style. It was also shot in Super 16mm which adds just a touch more grittiness to the movie.

Excellent watch!