Gummo
A film does not always need a linear plot line, protagonists and antagonists, and a carefully fitted genre to convey something authentic. Authenticity can be achieved by something much less ascribable. Harmony Korine achieves this in Gummo with a huge number of characters, an indescribable story, and cinematography that jumps back and forth from home video to music video. The film intermingles vignettes about children growing up in small town Xenia, Ohio. There are many things about these children that are arguably unrealistic. At times it seems like your are listening to children stumble over the dialogue of adults. The slew of social issues the children encounter such as prostitution, violence, poverty, death, and sexual molestation, just to name a few, seem to be way to plentiful for a town of only a few thousand. What Korine is able to impress is a mood that conveys the significance and the weight of what it means to be young and already lost. Most of these children are going no where and they already know it.
Archive for the 'Asides' Category
Gummo
A film does not always need a linear plot line, protagonists and antagonists, and a carefully fitted genre to convey something authentic. Authenticity can be achieved by something much less ascribable. Harmony Korine achieves this in Gummo with a huge number of characters, an indescribable story, and cinematography that jumps back and forth from home video to music video. The film intermingles vignettes about children growing up in small town Xenia, Ohio. There are many things about these children that are arguably unrealistic. At times it seems like your are listening to children stumble over the dialogue of adults. The slew of social issues the children encounter such as prostitution, violence, poverty, death, and sexual molestation, just to name a few, seem to be way to plentiful for a town of only a few thousand. What Korine is able to impress is a mood that conveys the significance and the weight of what it means to be young and already lost. Most of these children are going no where and they already know it.
Masks of the Illuminati
Masks of the Illuminati, a novel by Robert Anton Wilson’s (co-author of the Illuminatus Trilogy), is a work of fiction that is as luminous and intricate as it sets out to be. Wilson weaves a captivating fiction of the occult around fantastic real life historical characters. Sir John, a young English gentleman, tells the story of his initiation into the Argenteum Astrum and the torment he suffers at the hands of the mysterious Aleister Crowley to Albert Einstein and James Joyce. Together, the poet and the scientist, both matchless artists in their respective areas, set out to solve the mystery behind the enigmatic phenomena that bring Sir John to their door. Wilson uses the beautiful and mysterious lexicon of the occult and the imagery provided by such a subject to pull his us into a tale that is at the same time surreal and historical, tangible and intangible. This fiction weaves together legends that mystify all (Loch Ness monster) and narratives that have been around since childhood (Alice in Wonderland, Old Mother Hubbard) to take us on a haunting journey through dreams and reality. Wilson pulls the veil over our eyes then takes our breath away by showing us how he did it.
(0)Masks of the Illuminati
Masks of the Illuminati, a novel by Robert Anton Wilson’s (co-author of the Illuminatus Trilogy), is a work of fiction that is as luminous and intricate as it sets out to be. Wilson weaves a captivating fiction of the occult around fantastic real life historical characters. Sir John, a young English gentleman, tells the story of his initiation into the Argenteum Astrum and the torment he suffers at the hands of the mysterious Aleister Crowley to Albert Einstein and James Joyce. Together, the poet and the scientist, both matchless artists in their respective areas, set out to solve the mystery behind the enigmatic phenomena that bring Sir John to their door. Wilson uses the beautiful and mysterious lexicon of the occult and the imagery provided by such a subject to pull his us into a tale that is at the same time surreal and historical, tangible and intangible. This fiction weaves together legends that mystify all (Loch Ness monster) and narratives that have been around since childhood (Alice in Wonderland, Old Mother Hubbard) to take us on a haunting journey through dreams and reality. Wilson pulls the veil over our eyes then takes our breath away by showing us how he did it.
(0)Religulous
Religulous, a documentary that features comedian Bill Maher scrutinizing religious fundamentalism under a liberal microscope, delivers a strong message on the limitations of religion. Skillfully executed juxtaposition of pop-culture religious images and ideas aid Maher in proving his critical stance on religion. As far as he is concerned, and as the title of the film makes apparent, it’s down right ridiculous. Hopefully though, while Maher succeeds in pointing out the hypocrisies of religion, the audience remembers to turn this critical eye on the filmmaker himself. I couldn’t agree more with Maher’s stance on religion, but he only shows one tiny part of the picture. Maher covers only three of the worlds hundreds of religions in the film, Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. Also, His pursuit is hindered by his need to have the spotlight always shinning on him. The majority of his interviews with various religious zealots consist of his opinion being expressed, be it in the form of a long-winded question, a lecture, or him interrupting and talking over who ever he is interviewing. Over all though, the film does have surprising moments that merit good laughter and demonstrate those outrageous elements of religion that can make believing seem like a real leap of faith.
(0)Religulous
Religulous, a documentary that features comedian Bill Maher scrutinizing religious fundamentalism under a liberal microscope, delivers a strong message on the limitations of religion. Skillfully executed juxtaposition of pop-culture religious images and ideas aid Maher in proving his critical stance on religion. As far as he is concerned, and as the title of the film makes apparent, it’s down right ridiculous. Hopefully though, while Maher succeeds in pointing out the hypocrisies of religion, the audience remembers to turn this critical eye on the filmmaker himself. I couldn’t agree more with Maher’s stance on religion, but he only shows one tiny part of the picture. Maher covers only three of the worlds hundreds of religions in the film, Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. Also, His pursuit is hindered by his need to have the spotlight always shinning on him. The majority of his interviews with various religious zealots consist of his opinion being expressed, be it in the form of a long-winded question, a lecture, or him interrupting and talking over who ever he is interviewing. Over all though, the film does have surprising moments that merit good laughter and demonstrate those outrageous elements of religion that can make believing seem like a real leap of faith.
(0)Videodrome
David Cronenberg’s film Videodrome is considered his most important work. In an age that television has reverted to pornography to stimulate a desensitize audience, Max Renn, president of CIVIC-TV, comes across a snuff film. Staged or real, he has no idea, but he wants it. On his eternal quest to find the next big seller, Max finds himself lost on a beautifully surreal journey that mixes hallucination and cognitive action, reality and fantasy. Videodrome addresses the notion that technology has altered our perception of fantasy and reality. Cronenberg breaths life into everything, it is the living, breathing, threatening quality of technology in this film that makes it an excellent horror.
(0)Videodrome
David Cronenberg’s film Videodrome is considered his most important work. In an age that television has reverted to pornography to stimulate a desensitize audience, Max Renn, president of CIVIC-TV, comes across a snuff film. Staged or real, he has no idea, but he wants it. On his eternal quest to find the next big seller, Max finds himself lost on a beautifully surreal journey that mixes hallucination and cognitive action, reality and fantasy. Videodrome addresses the notion that technology has altered our perception of fantasy and reality. Cronenberg breaths life into everything, it is the living, breathing, threatening quality of technology in this film that makes it an excellent horror.
(0)Noise
Henry Bean’s film staring Tim Robins turns out to be a complete wash. The story centers around a middle aged man driven to extremes by the car alarms outside his NY flat that ruin his sex life, and keep him up at night. David Owen (Tim Robbins) creates a pseudonym, “The Rectifier”, and single handedly takes on those absolutely devilish car alarms with a baseball bat and a petition. The filmmaking is nothing to be impressed about and as the story unravels it seems to be no more than a middle-aged mans wet dream about fighting for a cause in order to awaken his dormant masculinity. The film, and the cause, is just a big waste of space.**
Noise
Henry Bean’s film staring Tim Robins turns out to be a complete wash. The story centers around a middle aged man driven to extremes by the car alarms outside his NY flat that ruin his sex life, and keep him up at night. David Owen (Tim Robbins) creates a pseudonym, “The Rectifier”, and single handedly takes on those absolutely devilish car alarms with a baseball bat and a petition. The filmmaking is nothing to be impressed about and as the story unravels it seems to be no more than a middle-aged mans wet dream about fighting for a cause in order to awaken his dormant masculinity. The film, and the cause, is just a big waste of space.**
Stranger Than Fiction
This film is a creative, original, gem. It’s nature is reminiscent of Princess Bride and High Fidelity and is loved by the masses for that reason. Though, I am distracted from justly reviewing the film because of its ulterior effect on me. While utterly lovable, perfect, and confident, it is just that that makes the one-dimensionality of Maggie Gyllenhaal’s character feel like an assault on women. Rather than the typical unachievable desirability through the perfect body that we see in Hollywood’s female stars, degradation and oppression of women instead wears the mask of confidence. I say mask because such degradation could be glossed over by the argument that the character is portrayed as an eccentric, deviant, less than perfect woman who is loved because of these qualities. Yet, she also brandishes the asset of unachievable confidence as the ultimate attractive quality. Unwavering confidence is just as impossible to achieve as a flawless figure and as we see one replace the other the just portrayal of women by the media gains no ground.
(0)Stranger Than Fiction
This film is a creative, original, gem. It’s nature is reminiscent of Princess Bride and High Fidelity and is loved by the masses for that reason. Though, I am distracted from justly reviewing the film because of its ulterior effect on me. While utterly lovable, perfect, and confident, it is just that that makes the one-dimensionality of Maggie Gyllenhaal’s character feel like an assault on women. Rather than the typical unachievable desirability through the perfect body that we see in Hollywood’s female stars, degradation and oppression of women instead wears the mask of confidence. I say mask because such degradation could be glossed over by the argument that the character is portrayed as an eccentric, deviant, less than perfect woman who is loved because of these qualities. Yet, she also brandishes the asset of unachievable confidence as the ultimate attractive quality. Unwavering confidence is just as impossible to achieve as a flawless figure and as we see one replace the other the just portrayal of women by the media gains no ground.
(0)Charlie Bartlett
Charlie Bartlett, rich with typecasting and cliché and tainted by a predictable story line, almost misses the mark. Bartlett is a rich rebel nerd who, when kicked out of every private school on the list, finds himself thrown into the lawless, immoral, inferno of public school. In order to gain some clout, he exploits the common negligence of wealthy psychiatric practices and opens his own pharmacy in the boys bathroom, selling pharmaceuticals to his adolescents plagued peers. At certain moments the film redeems itself with surprising spot on wit, but then looses all momentum with contrived, overly vivacious, ambiance and character. Ritalin is not ecstasy, it does not cause high school girls to run down the hall topless and turn boring high school dances into raves.
(0)Charlie Bartlett
Charlie Bartlett, rich with typecasting and cliché and tainted by a predictable story line, almost misses the mark. Bartlett is a rich rebel nerd who, when kicked out of every private school on the list, finds himself thrown into the lawless, immoral, inferno of public school. In order to gain some clout, he exploits the common negligence of wealthy psychiatric practices and opens his own pharmacy in the boys bathroom, selling pharmaceuticals to his adolescents plagued peers. At certain moments the film redeems itself with surprising spot on wit, but then looses all momentum with contrived, overly vivacious, ambiance and character. Ritalin is not ecstasy, it does not cause high school girls to run down the hall topless and turn boring high school dances into raves.
(0)The Prophet
A divine poetic guide to the ins and outs of love, possession, sharing, caring, work, devotion and everything human put down by the Lebanese artist, poet, philosopher and theologian Kahlil Gibran in 1923. I’m not religious, but I am spiritual, and this book embodies what that means for me. Perhaps it’s the Lebanese blood coursing through my veins but, in truth, this book is for everyone.
(0)The Prophet
A divine poetic guide to the ins and outs of love, possession, sharing, caring, work, devotion and everything human put down by the Lebanese artist, poet, philosopher and theologian Kahlil Gibran in 1923. I’m not religious, but I am spiritual, and this book embodies what that means for me. Perhaps it’s the Lebanese blood coursing through my veins but, in truth, this book is for everyone.
(0)Snow Crash
Snow Crash is Neil Stephenson’s cyberpunk novel published in 1992. The story takes place in a fictional futuristic L.A where the US government has become defunct and been replaced by franchising, individual sovereignty (anarchy) and the mafia. I can’t recall having ever read a sci-fi novel that mixes satire, dark humor, and academia so expertly. Stephenson’s writing sings with his ability to hone the distinct voices of his characters and titillate his audience with his both sexy and comedic pen.
(0)Snow Crash
Snow Crash is Neil Stephenson’s cyberpunk novel published in 1992. The story takes place in a fictional futuristic L.A where the US government has become defunct and been replaced by franchising, individual sovereignty (anarchy) and the mafia. I can’t recall having ever read a sci-fi novel that mixes satire, dark humor, and academia so expertly. Stephenson’s writing sings with his ability to hone the distinct voices of his characters and titillate his audience with his both sexy and comedic pen.
(0)Show Me Love
I don’t recall how this film made it into my netflix queue but I’m thrilled that it did. This film by swedish director Lukas Moodysson blew me away. Show Me Love is his feature length directorial debut that weaves its story around the sexual maturation of two girls as they fight off the pressures of a labeling society in order to define themselves on their own terms. The film features one of the most literal representations of “coming out of the closet” that I’ve ever seen. It shines in its ability to harmonize the innocence, energy, and relentless passion of youth with the pain that is growing up and trying to fit into the adult shaped cookie cutter provided for us.
(0)Show Me Love
I don’t recall how this film made it into my netflix queue but I’m thrilled that it did. This film by swedish director Lukas Moodysson blew me away. Show Me Love is his feature length directorial debut that weaves its story around the sexual maturation of two girls as they fight off the pressures of a labeling society in order to define themselves on their own terms. The film features one of the most literal representations of “coming out of the closet” that I’ve ever seen. It shines in its ability to harmonize the innocence, energy, and relentless passion of youth with the pain that is growing up and trying to fit into the adult shaped cookie cutter provided for us.
(0)Vicky Christina Barcelona
Woody Allen’s latest is a beautiful film of everything that is great and good about the Europeans: architecture, people, painting, and passion. Watching this film made me feel that simultaneous euphoria and fear that make traveling sacred, whether it be traveling the globe or the human spirit.
(0)Vicky Christina Barcelona
Woody Allen’s latest is a beautiful film of everything that is great and good about the Europeans: architecture, people, painting, and passion. Watching this film made me feel that simultaneous euphoria and fear that make traveling sacred, whether it be traveling the globe or the human spirit.
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