C. S. Schneider Accounts

Living Outloud in London

2006-10-17T08:35:00.000-07:00

Hi all, C.S. Schneider here with the lastest news from my life in London.

I'm moved into a very nice and decent size apartment. There's room for my bro and I and we have a private Bathroom, a luxury in downtown London I'm told.

I've seen 2 films while here. Firstly The Departed. It was good but not as good as I had hoped, considering that both asian versions were very good, this is just decent. I felt Jack was a bit over the top, but the film works fine, it just didn't rivet me to my seat. Grade B

Second I saw Children of Men, an excellent film. Curon continues to solidify himself as a modern master conquering every genre he's given. An effective and emotional film, Children of Men was really chilling, and even in a few scenes that are a bit over the top, the film makes some really stirring commitments. Grade A-

Something I discovered today, after I sat through more than 15 commercials (or adverts as they say here) is that on the times sheet and ticket theygive you the show start time, followed by the estimated start time of the trailers, followed by the actual starting time of the film itself. Good to know for the future, since I could feasibly get there and skip roughly 20 adverts. Especially annoying when you're already paying 9.50 pounds which is roughly $19 US Dollars for a ticket. SHEESH!

Also an interesting thing is that you are given an assigned seat. You can pick it at the boxoffice, then the row letter and seat number are printed on your ticket. Some people movedaround when the show didn't fill up, but they never strayed too far from their given seat.

Packing Blues

2006-09-26T16:26:00.002-07:00

Time is nearly expired on my stay in North Carolina. If all goes well, meaning I get my Visa on time, I leave Friday evening and arrive in the early hours of Saturday in a nation I have loved from afar and vicariously through centuries of media.

My brother and I make the move, and my parents are going with us to help with the settling in process. My mom was given a rather thoughtful gift by a friend from work that coincides nicely with this trip. Its a deck of large flash cards that are all walking tours of London. Easy and short trips that take you past historic landmarks, eateries, and other assorted fun little ways to indulge an afternoon in London. It'll be fun to see some of the things on the cards, and they'll be a great source of ideas when I'm alone for the next three months, as my brother begins school on Oct. 6th and I'll be without his company over 10 hours a day, 6 days a week. Kinda nice, isn't it.

I have plans to seek out Sherlock Holmes' fabled abode, a Post Office I'm told, in order to send a photo to my grandfather. I'm excited about doing early Christmas shopping on Charring Crossroads in and among the old book shops.

Living in one of the world's most prominant cities will prove a challenge and a character building change of life. I hope to enjoy myself and make no waves as I don't see the British or their country as a nvelty, rather I respect and long to be apart of such an important culture.

Cheers, as they say, and see you soon.

Packing Blues

2006-09-26T16:26:00.001-07:00

Packing Blues

2006-09-26T16:26:00.000-07:00

Savage Steve Holland

2006-09-20T19:11:00.000-07:00

Today marks a momentus occasion. I completed the Savage Steve Holland Collection of Feature Films. While maybe not an amazing feet to some, I found Holland's last feature How I Got Into College for $4.99. WHAT A DEAL! Its apparently a bit rare but worthless. Most people know Steve Holland as an animator, and my own generation would recognize his style as that which brought EEK! THE CAT to life every Saturday morning.

Savage Steve Holland holds a higher place in my mind than just EEK and the Thunder Lizards spin off. I attribute my sense of humor, love for random out of context jokes, gags and incites to his film ONE CRAZY SUMMER. Its one of the funniest films ever made.

Previous to this film, Holland wrote a directed one of the 1980s most favored cult films, BETTER OFF DEAD. Both this and ONE CRAZY SUMMER feature John Cusak as the leads in world filled with weirdos and psychos. I want my two dollars back indeed.

Savage Steve also directed the highly influencial kids TV series Encyclopedia Brown Boy Detective, based on the popular children's mystery novels. He brought his signature charm to this project and I think him.

I tip my hat to you Savage Steve, and heres hoping one of these days you make me roll with laugher again by making another film.

The Male Romantic Comedy

2006-09-17T06:02:00.000-07:00

There are so few of these, movies that are by definition Romantic Comedies or Romantic Dramas but feature men as the leads and deal largely with the male point of view. These are some that I've really enjoyed. As you'll notice The Last Kiss will be on the list, that's because it spawned this list.

1. The Graduate
2. Beautiful Girls
3. Annie Hall
4. Garden State
5. The Last Kiss

Anyone have recommendations?

The Last Kiss

2006-09-15T11:40:00.000-07:00

The Last Kiss

Directed by:Tony Goldwyn
Written By: Paul Haggis
Starring:
Zach Braff
Jacinda Barrett
Casey Affleck
Rachel Bilson

Awake at a bright and early hour, 7 AM to be exact. I was anxious to see The Last Kiss. I was able for the first time in a while to avoid reading a ton of reviews and material and decided that I was going not because someone else told me it was good or not, but because of my faith in Zach Braff. After watching 3 seasons of Scrubs on DVD and loving Garden State Braff entered the realm of artist in my mind, one I trust to go above an beyond the idea of entertaining me. Garden State showed a maturity for a young filmmaker who makes his living performing pratfalls and the trailer for The Last Kiss showed a continued march into elevated subject matter.

The film is a bit of a quandary to me. I can’t remember a time when I was so conflicted about a film. To be clear The Last Kiss is a terrific film. My inner conflict comes in several parts I’m going to try and sift through and figure out here. I’ll start with the easy parts.

I like the film, immensely; I want to see it again, soon if not immediately to see if it holds up. My level of enjoyment is part of the problem. This is a hard film to sit through, not to ruin anything but the film is about infidelity and responsibility. I think here in lays my first problem.

I was excited to see this film. The trailer showed a fun romantic comedy, one with Zach Braff playing a lovable and goofy guy conflicted with settling down. He meets a younger girl and finds a youthfulness that has been lacking. This is what gets me. I don’t know why I thought a film with this subject matter was going to be cute or funny. It has moments like that, but truthfully the film is devastating, heartbreaking, and frustrating. The approach is blunt rather than casual. Cheating on a loved one only hurts everyone around you and yourself. It is wasted effort.

As a movie The Last Kiss has some problems. Several of the subplots are wasted. Why this doesn’t hurt the overall film looking back I really just wanted more resolution for those characters. At this point many of them just seem to have made choices to convenience a movie plot. Braff’s storyline is only part of a whole. The film is at its center about taking responsibility, being a proverbial man. But it is not about taking one on the chin rather doing what is right for you and everyone else, which is why I wish the other characters were given a bit more.

The stand out for me was Casey Affleck. He really pulls off an incredibly sympathetic character. Generally speaking I hate the guys who run out on their wives because “its too hard”. But here, this character seems to be better developed and motivated than Braff’s. Affleck has something here and I can’t wait to see him in something else. In fact, I might run out and get Lonesome Jim this evening.

Rachel Bilson is really cute. I've only ever seen one episode of the O.C., but here she does a good job of acting like the girls I met in college its scary. She really does become kind of frightening in that sexy young entrapment way.

Zach Braff does shine, and bright. This is a bold step. He has chosen a script and played a character that is despicable. While he does manage to win you back a little by the end, he is hardly triumphant and we can still question his future. I was happy that the movie didn't end fully resolved, that instead of telling you the secret to renewing a stricken relationship it leaves you to find your own way and answers. Honestly I believe that all things will get reconciled for the main characters, but nothing will be the same again. And how could it.

I really loved this film. I just wish Paul Haggis should get out of his own way when writing. Some of the dialogue sounds written, by Haggis no less. Its too cute and too preplanned. People don’t talk like that, not even in movies. But at least those signature Haggis lines are few.

I could keep going deconstructing this film, but the bottom line is I loved it and want to see it again.

Grade: A-

2006-09-12T18:52:00.000-07:00

Richard Kelly invaded my love for film in a very specific, frightening, and mind-blowing way. My sophmore year of film school while watching random movies with my friend Sean our evening came to a close. Sean wanted to watch Donnie Darko but was too tired, so he lent me his copy. I was hooked immediately. Incredible song choices, fluid and mature camera moves, intelligent screenwriting were just the tip of the iceburg as the movie was only moments in. But when I heard Frank's "Wake Up Donnie." i nearly jumped through the roof. At that moment I realized that this film was going to be a trip and a half and I would need all my wits to survive it.

Since that vewing I have maintained that Donnie Darko is one of the most important films of the last Decade. Why? Because I've now seen it over ten times, with multiple groups of people and each viewing stimulates intense discussion about physics, time and time travel, phylosophy, religion, and responibility. Not to mention film aestetics and theory. I feel that a film that can stimulate such deep and thoughtful discourse deserves to be called important.

I have since my Darko days been waiting for Kelly's next project. I read every hint of info I could, navigated through the puzzle that was the Donnie Darko website, all in hopes of decoding Kelly's next move. I even sat through the film Domino hoping to see a trace of an artist's thumb print since Kelly penned the screenplay. When Southland Tales was announced I followed it through Canne's abismal screening, and now its indefinate postponement. But, I still had the Graphic Novels to look forward to.

Today I bought the first installment of the Southland Tales Graphics. I just finished reading it and let me tell you, I found it pretty amazing. Little is divulged in this volume, but the tone and the stage are set for one twisted Scifi/phylosophy film. Kelly is a strong voice for a new age of layered and textured science fiction. Its bold and original, something that is hard to find these days.

I know I've rambled a bit here, but after hearing the awful news from Canne I wish I could just see the film because if this Graphic does anything it makes me think that Kelly is on the same wave length I like to travel on and I want to see more of it. Let the nay-sayers say nay, I'll be happy to revel in high brow scifi. At least Richard Kelly is attempting to challenge his audience. I'd rather watch a failed attempt at something interesting and challenging than sit through another dismally shallow Pirates film.

Check out the Southland Tales graphic novels, especially if you liked Donnie Darko. It seems Kelly is looking to expand on the Phylosophy of Time Travel ideas. A worthy effort no doubt.

Originally posted in the Filmspotting forums 13 of August 2006.

Scott, Pilgrim

2006-09-08T14:26:00.000-07:00

You don't really know how much you missed someone until they are back in your life. This has been happening a lot to me. I've reaquainted myself with several people from my past, childhood and adolescence.

Firstly, my great friend Scott returned to town on Wednesday. Immediately we fell back into trading music, driving around Winston, and visiting old haunts. By old, I mean the places we went to before he left for summer.

Scott also was nice enough to lend me volumes 1 and 2 of the indi comic Scott Pilgrim. I cannot say enough about these books, and at the $11.95 cover price you won't find a more entertaining deal in town (that is of course if you can land a used copy or something). The comic follows this average slacker, Scott Pilgrim. He is 23 and dating a 17 year old high school girl much to the chagrin of his friends. Then a new flame enters his life, Ramona. She's cool, cute, and Scott's age. But before he can win her heart he has to fight and defeat her seven eveil ex-boyfriends. Yeah, then that happens. Pop culture references abound and only make this gem that much more fun to read. Do yourself a favor and support this book. Not enough indi comics actually are successful in their light hearted endeavors at social commentary and entertainment. Here is one of the few exceptions.

Also a fantastic readdition to my life is my high school Literature teacher, Mrs. Cella. It might be weird to consider a teacher a friend, but its also strange to have a teacher who genuinly liked having discussions with me. She also suffered my love for cinema, and poor spelling ability. So that's cool.

Oh, and to my valiant readers, Alex was right, check out the Postal Service remix of Mushaboom. Its sweet.

2006-08-29T08:33:00.000-07:00

Death Cab for Cutie
“Directions”

The “Directions” DVD is described as a visual companion to the album Plans by Death Cab For Cutie. A number of filmmakers and visual artists were given the chance to make short films inspired by a song from the album. An interesting venture to be sure, but does this DVD become a successful flirtation with artistic merit or does it fail?

Firstly I have to admit, that while there are many music videos that I adore, I do not watch the medium regularly. The music video realm is a fascinating one, but much of the time I feel the videos are boring or pretentious. Below are some videos I feel are successful in selling the bands or artists for which they’re made as well as manifest the song in a likable fashion.

Eisley: Marvelous Things
This is one of the best music videos I've ever seen.

Daft Punk: Around the World

Jem: They

My own love of Death Cab is growing. I enjoy their music immensely, but I consider myself a much large fan of the Postal Service (another of Ben Gibbard’s bands). But it is clear that Death Cab is a huge success having crossed from and indi music label to the big time.

“Directions” though is not a typical collection of music videos. No, these are meant to be short films inspired by a song.

Below are individual reviews of each film on the DVD. I did not review the numerous extra features, just the videos.

Marching Bands of Manhattan
Its hard to judge this film on its aesthetics without heavily relating the song. This first film has me fearing for the rest. Its hard to do something like this. The exercise is by definition a pretentious affair. The video of one man viewing the world and his love through a paper bag is a poorly crafted film. With post induced slow-motion effects applied to the video a strobe effect is actually achieved. This is a limitation of video and in film would be called step processing. It’s a look that I hate in nearly everything that uses it. From its overtly 80s watermark on a film like Chronos to the bloated 2005 King Kong. It’s a bad choice but is by no means the worst thing here. The video is poorly edited for such a short piece and conveys nothing of the song to me the viewer. I don’t feel any connection to the character, his surrounding, or to the story that barely hugs the surface of an idea.

Song: A-
Video: D

Soul Meets Body
Thankfully this short film recovers from the loss of the previous one. An interesting blend of 8mm home movies and original material makes for eye-catching visuals with great texture and vivid nostalgia. I love 8mm for several reasons. It is film, which for a purist like myself makes me happy. Secondly 8mm has a built in nostalgic quality. Immediately when I see 8mm footage I feel like I’m witnessing the memories of another individual. There is a surreal quality inherit in 8mm created by the akward way in which it records motion.

The editing is fine, it relies heavily on the numerous short bursts of imagery. Apparently this is also supposed to take place on Thanksgiving. Family and turkey abound doing a solid job of creating false impressions of nostalgia. I particularly loved all the winter images. The snow looked wonderfully desolate and depressing in the graveyard. Add to that the novelty of a singing mounted deer’s head and you have a fun little video. I stress video because so far after two of these I do not see them as individual films, they are music videos, visual representations of the music.

Song:B+
Video: B-

Summer Skin
Excellent. Finally a really good “visual companion”. I found the imagery very powerful. Children dressed as little office workers whose playground is an open-air work-a-day office. The playground rings are handholds for a make shift subway, wide open spaces are conference rooms. It’s a fantastically realized video. The photography is powerful with the very cold look of an over cast sky. A great use of shallow depth of field creates isolation in the working environment. The idea that these kids are seeking connection in a playground turned office is just neat to me. This video made the purchase worthwhile, as it is the first successful of the bunch with a story, emotion, and stark beauty.

Song: B+
Video: B+

Different Names for the Same Thing
An excellent song but the visuals of the short film aren’t. The idea of a high school band playing a Death Cab song is not only a trite concept for a music video but this one just isn’t interesting. The photography is competent but not remarkable. The only thing worth mentioning aside from the song is the little girl lip-syncing the song. Her enthusiasm is great and makes it almost worth another look. Its unfortunate that her efforts don’t salvage a rather bland concept.

Song: B+
Video: C

I Will Follow You into the Dark
Amazing. This is not only a fantastic song but the visuals actually feel inspired by the music. More than someone being filmed singing the song, the stop-motion style gives weight to an already heavy track.

The images of a sketchbook/journal feel intimate and storybook like. I loved it so much I rewatched it immediately after because I couldn’t believe how choked up I felt. This was largely due to the images. With each page turn it becomes evident that what seems like random sketches are actually telling a story. That’s a great sign of a successful film or artistic endeavor, if you feel something, some emotion. I felt a great rainbow of emotions in the span of two maybe three minutes. This is just a beautiful film.

The first of these “films” to be able to stand on its own, “I Will Follow…” has a strong resonating poignancy. If they published the story depicted in this film I would rush out to buy it. I want to own a sketch from this artist, Monkmus, who did all the artwork as well as direct the video. He apparently prides himself on his “heart” and it is highly evident in this video.

I would also like to mention that the formal aspects, the animation, the choice of song, the artwork, and the over all style are enhanced greatly by the sparse but pointed use of color and a lighting gag of sorts. This moving texture of shadows, soft and organic, makes up the lighting trick. It gives a great sense of the passage of time, almost as if decades are passing by in seconds. I am truly impressed by this piece and cannot wait to share it with the world.

Song: A-
Video: A

(At the point I’m slightly afraid to go on since the last video was so good I don’t want to spoil the emotional high I’m on, but alas I press onward.)

Your Heart is and Empty Room
I don’t have much to say here. The song is great. The visuals are interesting. Its an animated video. I guess I didn’t feel much of anything, just a whole lot of nothing. Its not bad, its not good. It feels stilted. Which is a shame considering how beautiful the song is.

Song: A-
Video: C+

Someday You Will Be Loved
Well executed stop motion animation makes for a most morbid and dark video. I’m sure every emo kid in America will love this, but I don’t like dwelling on pain and heartbreak. I don’t sit in corners and cry.

To be fair, the animation is inspired. Its very intricate and does manage to tell a story that is easy to follow even in this morbid fashion.

Song: B-
Video: C

Crooked Teeth
What would make Death Cab a cooler band? If they were composed of a treasure less pirate with a hook that plays bass, a lovesick dragon on drums, and depressed robot chased from his home leading the band on guitar and vocals. This is a really fun and well-designed video. Excellent effects and puppetry make for one of the stronger elements on this DVD. I love robots, especially when they sing.

This is a style I’ve seen a few times before and I find it effective. A world is created using cardboard crafted into 3D objects and puppets. These are improved with CGI and other effects. It gives great scope to the storytelling but keeps costs at a minimum. Highly original, the concept is easy to recognize but different enough to stave off criticism of copying other music videos or projects.

Song: B+
Video: B+

What Sarah Said
What did I say about pretension? I’m sorry, but the artist versus artist’s girlfriend thing is tired. If anyone reading this thinks they’ve got a great idea for a film or video and it involves a painter and his girlfriend in a fight then stop, just stop. I’m sick of it and I lose interest in this faster than you could imagine. Which is a shame because this video ends in an interesting fashion. It has a trick to it and I like that, but the rest of the video is useless to me. I don’t feel anything but boredom. Too much angst for me.

Song: B
Video: C

Brothers on a Hotel Bed
I like Baraka, I like Chronos, I like this. Time-lapse photography is really cool, especially when you see star fields rotate, clouds fly by, and light move. This is a really effective video and I can only explain it further thusly; while watching it I audibly said “This is great, but it would be better if it had snow.” And then there it was, snow. Snow falling, snow in time lapse, snow covered streets. When you as an artist can create such a desire subconsciously in such a specific way you’ve won me over. This is abstract. Its visual poetry, not storytelling and I loved it.

Song: B+
Video: A-

Stable Song
This was interesting. Post-Apocalyptic bunker life made poignant by Death Cab’s music. It’s pretty cool. I found it effective because it made me at that moment appreciate what I had as far as my life and my parents. Its bitter sweet and sure it’s a little ostentatious but it works.

Song: B+
Video: B

Bonus Tracks

Jealousy Rides With Me
This is another successful short. Great effects and photography make for a jealous moon of he sun. Its cute. All the visuals of people “playing” with the sun and forced perspective is really neat. Its just a clever little video.

Song: B
Video: B+

Talking Like Turnstiles
This was kinda cool? I can’t tell if its fake or real. Whatever. Its about a guy with a video camera that gets on stage during a Death Cab concert and gets chased by the security. I guess its fake. But its interesting.

Song: B+
Video: C

Something I got out of this experience is an even greater love of Death Cab For Cutie and for Ben Gibbard. He is such a prolific songwriter. He does tend to live in the dark sometimes, but when he emerges it is into sun drenched pop bliss. His songs are filled with tenderness and intense imagery. Keep and eye on him and his numerous bands and projects.

Over all this is a successful effort by many of the artists involved. I am very happy to own this and cannot wait to share this with others. It seems that while a few of the films fail miserably others are soaring triumphs. Particularly I Will Follow You Into the Dark. This is the finest piece on the entire DVD and it alone is worth the $12.99 I paid for the disc. It is the best video I’ve seen in a few months, and really made me feel a strong dynamic of emotional resonance all at once. That’s hard for any kind of art to accomplish, especially in the span of less than 5 minutes.

I recommend this DVD highly for its efforts and because it is a great work of art. I think everyone can find something to like on it, and I also believe it will be a great source of conversation in the future.

Hopefully we will see more of this sort of thing in the future. If any other bands wanted to do this I would be interested in participating; namely for Postal Service and Eisley.

If you do like this sort of thing, I strongly recommend getting a subscription to the magazine Paste. Each issue comes with both a mix CD of new music and a DVD of music videos, film clips, concert clips, and short films.

Grade:

Album: Death Cab For Cutie Plans A-
DVD: Directions B+

The Wicker Man

2006-08-27T07:22:00.000-07:00

Thanks to my buddy Paul I finally got to see the genre classic the Wicker Man. I enjoyed it quite a lot. It is not at all anything I expected it to be. For one thing its barely a Horror film. There is an overwhelming sense of dread the accompanies the film but other than that much of the standard genre motifs are absent. Filling those holes are musical numbers. Yes, the film is a musical. At first I was taken aback by the sudden shift from standard movie to muscially choreographed song and dance. But the feeling I had also was that of a loss of control. I no longer had a grasp on what the film was going to do and that began to scare me.

The film also deals with some very complex themes. Namely religion and a highly sexual society. On the island that the story unfolds, Christianity has been usurped for the "old gods", Celtic gods of nature and the harvest. While we the audience get schooled in the significance if the May Pole, our hero police officer is dilligently praying for the souls of those he is meant to protect and serve. An interesting dynamic.

The Wicker Man does have a few hole in its plot that aren't delt with which only bothered me after the film had ended. But I did notice them or wasn't cncerned with them because I was tightly wound around the mystery, its feeling of dread, and I was caught in the hopes for resolution. When things are resloved, they're too terrifying to believe.

Grade: B+

Life Comes At You Hard

2006-08-25T21:52:00.000-07:00

Today was, well, another day. Nothing special I'm playing the waiting game. I'm slowly packing up my belongings (meaning I think about packing everyday). With London less than 5 weeks away its hard to narrow my life down to a few boxes and suitcases. An now that I can't take my Ipod with me on the plane, that flight is looking less and less fun.

But the title of this BLOG entry is "Life Comes At You Hard". I bought the brand new Criterion DVD of Noah Baumbach's film Kicking and Screaming today. I had never seen it, but heard how great it was and figured the hefty Criterion price was worth it (I had a discount at Borders as well). The film is terrific. Centering on the post graduation lives of a group of friends, it does a very exacting job replicating my current life to the screen. I still live in the town of my college. I still hang out with my closest friends from said college. Heck, I even worked at the school for my first post-undergrad year.

But the movie really reminded me of how I'm getting older and not accompishing much. I mean, Orson Wells wrote and directed Citizen Kane when he was my age. The greatest movie ever made! By a kid.

I'm not trying to sound self loathing or depressed. Actually it just shows how much I can still accomplish, how young I am, and how London is a clean, fresh slate for me to start anew. And I can't wait, cause those Brits don't have a clue what they're in for.

By the way, everyone should get Kicking and Screaming. In fact, they should make it mandatory that all students who want to graduate college must watch it as part of their requirements.

Top Ten of the First Half

2006-08-23T16:42:00.000-07:00

Its been a real let down of a year. But we are a little more than half way through 2006 and here are my current 10 favorite films. I had to dig deep, My first go 'round yielded only 8 films.

1.Superman Returns (A)

2.The Descent (A-)

3.Mission: Impossible III (B)

4.The Proposition (B)

5.Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (B)

6.Hostel (B)

7. Cars (B)

8.Brick (B)

9.Night Watch (B)

10.Block Party (B)

Let make make a bit of a clarification, I never got to see District B13, Flight 93, Silent Hill, Lonesome Jim, Slither, Hard Candy, An Inconvenient Truth, or 13. Those are 8 films I feel could have made the list.

How 'Bout Them Cowboys?

2006-08-21T19:58:00.000-07:00

With controversies weighing heavy on training camp for the Cowboys they approached a team full of hope and dynamite. Hope in a rebuilding process for their home town as well as their team. Dynamite in the form of rookie savant Reggie Bush.
All the talk though focused on the whereabouts of troubled widereceiver Terrel Owens and on the possibility of second string quarterback Tony Romo usurping veteran Drew Bledsoe.

The Dallas Cowboys showed intense poise as they rolled over the inept defense of the New Orleans Saints. With the final score Cowboys 30, Saints 7 Drew Bledsoe seems to have locked his job as the Cowboys starter leading them on three drives for points. Out of the 8 possessions Dallas had 6 yield scores. An impressive day that also showcased a mammoth defense waiting in the wings. The Doomsday Defense as it was once called seemed to have been possessing Dallas as they repeatedly stonewalled phenom Reggie Bush and provided two 4th and goal stands.

I know I'm bragging about a preseason game, but its nice to finally see a rootin' tootin' Cowboy Game.

"HOW 'BOUT THEM COWBOYS!"

From Great to This...

2006-08-19T17:28:00.000-07:00

The other day I posted a pretty hefty deconstruction of my favorite Graphic and Illustrated novels. I’ve got one here that I advise you steer clear of.

Tupelo: The World’s Forgotten Boy

I read the back cover and decided to take a chance. An indi comic about a super power endowed simpleton of the punk rock era. BIG MISTAKE. The book is really hard to follow. It also glorifies killing wealthy people since they are the cause of the problems of a degenerate society. Punk rock might have hated the yuppies but look where all the genre’s legends ended up; dead or rich.

Being an artist I meet all sorts of people, but the ones I hate are the mindless “destroy the establishment” types. If you want to rail on someone, be sure its more than your hatred of their cloths and money clip.

This graphic reads like the poetry I’ve heard read downtown in performance spaces. Its self important, childish, and hardly motivated.

Tupelo does come with a cd of music to go along with the scene in which the story unfolds, but its about as good as the book.

Grade: D

The Best Graphic Novels

2006-08-17T18:44:00.000-07:00

My friend Scott got(unfortunate rhyme) me back into reading comics a few months ago. The past few years I would read roughly 5 a year, but now I read a lot. I devour them because they are a quick and ultimately fulfilling read, they deal with science fiction much of the time, when they are about everyday life I find them more relevant than actual books, they deal with basic morality and mythology.

Next are the best of the best, the finest reads I've discovered (with the help of my friends Scott and Travis, and my own amblings through the shelves of my local comic shops.)

Blankets:

At just over 600 pages this is a mammoth of a comic. But this is more than a comic, this is a memoir of adolescence the likes of which John Hughs would be proud of. Based largely on the teen years of indi-comic writer/illustrator Craig Thompson Blankets deals with some harsh issues. Scary parents, religious fervor and then doubt, first loves, and sexual awakening. Like many people I dismissed the comic medium as schlock or pure escapist entertainment. Blankets was the first "comic" I ever read that transcended those near sighted judgments. This is literature, pure, deep, and true. When people called Clint Eastwood's film Million Dollar Baby "truthful" and "honest" I was annoyed because I didn't really know what that meant. I went back and reread Blankets to discover that meaning was held within its illustrated pages. This is honesty at its boldest and most meaningful. Yeah its angsty, but so are the days of a teenager.

Grade: A+

Superman For All Seasons

Told in four parts (each of the year's seasons) and from a different person in Superman's life perspective comes a really touching rendering of the Man of Steel. Superman is dissected by his adopted father, the love of his life, his greatest enemy, and the love of his adolescence.

Each depiction shows a man distant from those he loves, weighted with the world's problems, inwardly seeking answers to questions no could could ever imagine. "What does it mean that I can fly?" "How can I best serve mankind?" "Who do I love?" And from his onlookers, "What motivates the Man of Tomorrow, and why am I infatuated with him?"

This is a deep book and a perfect companion to Superman Returns and Richard Donner's original film. I picked it up because a quote on the back cover called it something to the effect of "John Ford meets Superman". No truer words could have been chosen. Set in a lushly imagined widescreen landscape of Smallville and the crowded skyscrapers of Metropolis this is Superman in scope.

Grade: A+

The Walking Dead (All Volumes)

What happens after the zombie movie ends? Does everyone live happily ever after? Not here. The Zombie Apocalypse has come and well, it sure hasn't gone. The survivors are doing just that, surviving, and no one is coming to rescue them. They huttle together in RVs, homes, and anywhere shelter can be afforded. No one is safe, not even the comic's "stars". If a zombie takeover did happen it would probably play out exactly as this comic is written. I can't put it down when I'm reading it, and I just want to devour the pages as if I were a zombie and each book was a fresh corpse. Violent, dark, and unrelenting, everyone is at stake in each panel.

Grade: A+

Maus

The Holocaust written as a comic. Jews are mice and Nazis are cats. The cartoonish way this tale is spun is no less terrifying and tragic. The cartoons lend an otherworldly feel where such atrocious acts are magnified by their absurdity of context.

Grade: A

Red

Warren Ellis is a god in the comics world, here is a short but fabulous way to acquaint yourself. Red is an ex-secret agent, black ops. His work was the unspeakable kind, the kind the government does then never in a million years takes responsibility for. Now, Red is old, tired, and according to the new head of the FBI a hazard to keep alive. Written in three fast paced and action packed issues, Red comes to grips with his choices, his life, and the government who won't take responsibility for him. Amazing stuff for only a few pages and a truly excellent way to meet Warren Ellis.

Grade: A+

Planetary (Series)

What if Sherlock Holmes, Tarzan, and all the other fictional characters you love were real. And what if a secret society of super power endowed archeologists studied and reported on these characters a'la the X-Files. Then you'd have Planetary, Warren Ellis' greatest achievement. At times its so detailed and sneaky that it goes over my head, others are just jaw-droppingly brilliant. When Mr. Snow enters Frankenstein's castle in search of a secret map it sent me back to my Monster Squad days. Ellis prays on your sense of nostalgia and throws mystical clues to the history of such amazing creations as Godzilla, Tarzan, and hundreds of other fictitious romantics. My favorite issue deals with Batman, and every iteration Batman has.

Grade: A+

Torso

Brian Micheal Bendis is one of my most favorite writers. He does incredible two person dialogue and writes excellent crime fiction. His artistic style is fascinating as it uses photos and real images blended with his drawings to create a really surreal paneling. Also, he does a lot of motion. Meaning he almost animates the action to feel like camera moves in a film, highly cinematic in other words.

Torso feels like the movie Se7en. It’s a dark cop versus killer story, but set just after Al Capone’s capture. We follow Capone’s nemesis Elliot Ness, newly crowned Safety Director of Cleveland, Ohio. Ness took a politicians desk job, although a hero for his take down of Capone, Ness wants a quiet life. Cleveland, as you probably suspect affords him none of this as the Torso killer surfaces. Ness is pitted against the mongrel in a political move by himself and the city of Cleveland. It’s an absolute must read for comic fans and crime story lovers made more interesting by the fact its based on the real life unsolved mystery Elliot Ness lived through.

Grade: A+

Jinx

Bendis strikes again. Romance between a bounty hunter (Jinx) and her… bounty (Goldfish). Yeah, very original, but its helped by a heaping dose of The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly’s plot. Its pretty unabashedly stealing from the classic western film, but it does so in such an interesting way I don’t care.

Grade: A

Goldfish

Bendis brings Jinx’s love back to Cleveland for revenge. Goldfish returns after years missing from the Cleveland underbelly. Turns out, an old girlfriend and partner has risen to the tops of Cleveland’s crime syndicate, she is also raising their child, hidden from Goldfish all these years.

Goldfish has a plan, and it involves a gun, and a killing spree. Excellent crime fiction, lots of action, and ruthless women.

Grade: A+

Carnet De Voyage

Craig Thompson is my actual favorite comics writer. His book Blankets is a masterpiece as I’ve already told you, and this book is fascinating in more ways than I can count. This is a journal of Thompson’s trip to Paris on a book signing tour with Blankets, and then a research trip to the Eur-Asia/Middle East. What I thought might be a novelty of a read turned out to be one of the best “comics” I’ve ever read. It is not a comic at all actually. There are no panels, just sketches, doodles, and anecdotes on friends, hotels, experience, and what life is like around the world. Partly responsible for me leaving the country, this book is everything I want my life in Europe to be. Cheers Craig on a triumph.

Grade: A+

I’ll post more someday.

Quick Update

2006-08-15T10:04:00.000-07:00

I still haven't updated the last few films of my marathon yet, so I'm way behind. But, I did watch 2 movies yesterday.

Intermission:

This was a really solid movie, it had some peaks and valleys quality wise, but all the performances are terrific and the film is a lot of fun. It doesn't take itself too seriously which is evident in the first scene. Said scene is one of the best filmic moments I can remember seeing in some time. Its fast paced, exciting, and it just explodes with vitality. The rest of the film isn't up to that scene, but still worth seeing.

Grade: B+

The Princess Blade:

I read some good things about this and thought it would be a fun Japanese sword film. Its really dull, the action isn't well staged or executed, and ends up feeling short changed as much of the gore is held back or offf screen. A big dissapointment.

Grade: D+

Day 4, Part 2

2006-08-05T21:30:00.000-07:00

I slacked off today. But for a good reason. Troy Aikman, one of the greatest men to ever live, and one of the greatest stars of American Football was welcomed into the NFL Hall of Fame in Canton Ohio this afternoon. His moving speach brought tears to my eyes as I remembered the glory days of The Dallas Cowboys. A legend in his time Aikman set many a record for the Cowboys and won three Superbowl Championships in four years. As one of the NFL's most accurate quaterbacks Troy found his place in Dallas and we fans miss his leadership, talent and guidance in these dark times. Congratulations Troy, its well deserved.

This is how we always will remeber Troy, winning Superbowls. We Love ya Troy!

Anyway, back to the marathon...

Once Upon a Time in China II:

I read in Total Movie Magazine roughly six years ago that this was one of the greatest martial arts films ever made. That was and is a great and accurate compliment. The fight scenes are fantastic. Choreographed by master Yen Wo Ping who has become a house hold name these days, the fights are majestic and awe inspiring. The direction by master filmmaker Tsui Hark is great. His camera movement is very western in style, highly informed by both American and Italian Westerns. But instead of guns being weilded we have hands, bamboo, and swords. Great martial arts flair with excellent filmmaking.

Grade: B+

Mona Lisa:

My second Neil Jordan film of the festival, it proves to be a home run shot. I believe that Bob Hoskin's performance is one of the ten or fifteen greatest male performances I've ever seen. Layered with rage, humility, and turn on a dime perfection Hoskins seems more like a student of the Actor's Studio, not the cockney streets of London. The story serves him well and he plays off every actor in a fun and imaginative way. When against Micheal Cane he soars, matching wit and fearosity you sit waiting for the two to really tango. A great performance in a great film.

Grade: A-

Day 5, Part 1

2006-08-05T09:43:00.000-07:00

Two Family House:

This is a truely excellent film. An under appreciated film if I've ever seen one. The story of one man's continued life of failure while searching for success. After returning from the war with high hope of getting a record deal young Buddy Visalo is forced into a deadend marriarge with a woman who's greatest aspiration is staying under the radar. Aftre Buddy buys a two family house with dreams of turning the first floor into a bar things a get a little out of hand. A great story is carried by Micheal Rispoli and Kelly McDonald's screen charisma. Its charming, exceptionally well made, and sweet. High praise all around.

Grade: B+

Day 4

2006-08-05T06:05:00.000-07:00

The Emerald Forest:

John Borman does a "save the Rain Forest" film. I was once told that this film was John Boorman's reaction to the Indiana Jones series. Its not, rather its Boorman making a main stream adventure film with a message.
The story is simple, Powers Boothe moves his family to South America so he can build a dam and a new city. While having a picnic in the jungle his son is kidnapped by natives. He then spends ten years searching for his lost son, who becomes a member of the tribe.
The film features some superb photography and locales, but its not the most interesting of films. It isn't bad, its just kind of there. I watched it out of my respect for Boorman and I'm glad I did, but I don't think I will return to it for some time.

Grade: B-

Brassed Off!:

Mirimax released a number of small and charming films during the 90s and this was one I feel has gone far under the radar. The small Scottish town of Grimly was built in Coal Mining. Now with the mine's closure immanent the members of the Colliery Band are poor, down on their luck, and on their last pound. This sweet film shows how music can bring people together in the face of tradety. Check this out if you like music related cinema and for Ewan McGregor fine performance.

Grade: B+

Human Traffic:

A very fun and kinetic film about a group of friends living in England who's only concern is Friday night, drugs, and rave dancing. Feels a lot like Doug Liman's Go! but doesn't follow in his copying of Pulp Fiction's story telling. It does, however, do some pretentious filmmaking gags, such as talking to the camera or breaking the fourth wall. The film is really high energy and fast paced. My brother ended up loving it a lot, I enjoyed it thoroughly.

Grade: B

Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby

Yes, this counts for my marathon. I've never seen it before and that's all that matters. It was not as good as Anchorman, but it certainly was funny. I laughed a lot and never stopped smiling. The story is barely present and really just strings together moments for Will Ferrel to be funny.

Grade: B

I Am A Fugitive From a Chain Gang:

Films like this show that even in the oppressive Studio System filmmakers could rise above and sneak content and value into their art. This film's highly subversive story did what all art strives to, change the world. After this film's release a wrongly convicted and escaped convict was given a full pardon, the film was based on his writings. It even sparked reform in the penal system with the chain gang.
Basically the film follows a fresh from the war vet who makes a mistake not his own and is sentenced to 10 years of hard labor on the chain gang. Wretched conditions drive him to make a daring and successful escape. A really terrific film I cannot say enough about.

Grade: B+

Day 3, Part 2

2006-08-03T19:56:00.000-07:00

Four Weddings and a Funeral:

Another film I've wanted to see for a while but never had the chance was Four Weddings and a Funeral. Well written and quite endearing, Four Weddings is a fun romp in England with a group of friends as they celebrate life and death, happiness and tragedy, and true love. Hugh Grant is charming as ever as the bumbling and handsome single guy that women love. While I don't know if I would have nominated it for Best Picture it sure was worth my time and enjoyment. Another British film for me to revel in. It just made me want to get to London faster.

Grade: B+

Ecks vs. Sever:

A mindless actioner. It started off much stronger than I anticipated and kept the momentum for twenty minutes, then really lost it only to continue a downward spiral to crappy movie-dom. Worth seeing though for the cinematography, which was at times really beautiful While I wouldn't call the film well directed, it was a breath of fresh air to watch an action movie where the action is shot and paced decently, not chopped to hell a'la Michael Bay. Namely the first big action scene, which is worth a second look in itself, the rest of the film is rubbish though.

Grade: C-

Samurai Fiction:

This is another gem I've uncovered. An Art House samurai film with great action for the sword fetish fans, but also a really decent story.

After a clan's prized antique sword is stolen by the rogue samurai hired to protect it, the clan sends a recovery party after it led by the council's son and his two best friends. Following close behind is a second recovery party of two ninjas. Yes, ninjas. The film is loaded with comedic moments that lighten the films hard edge. This blends well with a very stylized black and white presentation with splashes of color and a near pretentious motif of the image going black and red during a death or kill scene. While not everything works it feels like an Indi-Samurai film and that is really cool. The sword fighting is very good, and not at all stylized. The characters are funny and endearing, yet badass when needed to be.
The camera work is good with a few really great shots and a few missed opportunities for better shots. All in all its competently made.
I highly recommend this film for any Japanese Cinema fans or Samurai film fans.

Grade: B+

Day Three, Part 1

2006-08-03T16:15:00.000-07:00

The Summer of '42:

One of the best and most touching coming of age stories I've ever seen. Sweet and realistic, this film greatly embodies the tradition of all male's search for their "first time". The film benefits from exquisite period photography. It really feels like the photos my grandparents have of the 1940s, not at all 1971.

Jennifer O'neill utterly shines as the older object of Gary Grimes' affection. She is sensual and mysterious everything a young man pines for in a lover. And especially in the teen years when women are the new odd and unimaginably baffling sex.

Grade: B+

Onegin:

A beautifully filmed period piece starring Ralph Feinnes and Liv Tyler and set in Russia. The film is fairly boring and treads ground covered by much better period romance films. Only really noteable for probably the second best duel I've seen in a movie (the first being Barry Lyndon). This duel takes place on a long dock on a body of water on a foggy morning with a looming windmill rotating slowly in the background.

Grade: C+

The Butcher Boy:

Neil Jordan is a filmmaker that I battle with. I love The Crying Game, hate hate everything except the last 20 minutes of The Good Theif. Here again is a brave and bold film with a lot to say but is hit or miss with almost every scene. Its worth a look as the film is quite out there and violent. The interesting theme of the film is one's treatment of another. While the main character is most definately mad, in my view Mrs. Nuggent is highly responsible for driving him even further. She fueled his outlandish hatred instead of letting him be. Interesting at the worst.

Grade: C+

The Killer:

John Woo directs gun fights like no other. While the film's story is rocky Woo's staging of the action is impeccable and near flawless. Tons of blood, bullets, and violence let fly every few minutes making this one heck of a fun and crazy film.

Grade: B+

Day 2, Part 3

2006-08-02T21:02:00.000-07:00

Shattered Glass:

I once read the memoirs of an African American writer who's grandmother deplored fiction writing because it was a rationalization of lying. Maybe fiction is a form of lying, but is sure is entertaining.

Accounting for one's own actions can be difficult. As a compulsive liar its even harder. I know, I was one for several years. Not to my friends but to people who knew me better than my friends, my family. You see, the thrill of lying stems from the ability to create something fictional that you can back up with "facts". I use quotes because obviously your facts are other lies. These smaller "factual" lies prove your story. Its the fun part, the creation of a world that only you can back up. Once people realize its only you that can track and account for all you "facts" the fun ends and you look the fool.

Stephen Glass did just that. He wrote articles for reputable publications and backed them with his own notes, his own "facts". For sometime no one challenged his notes because the story slandered fictional people, people who won't refute anything because they can't.

Shattered Glass is what I can only assume is a condensed version of Stephen's reckless self destruction when his lies are all uncovered. The film is quite dark and at times a little too close to home for me. But that's just it, its a well constructed deconstruction of the life of a professional liar. In it Hayden Christiansen shines as Stephen Glass. He's all to likable, all to easy to belive. Surrounded by a plethora of strong young actors (Cloe Sevigny a stand out as Glass's co-worker and confidant) I feel it is Peter Sarsgaard that shines as the young editor who ultimately busts Glass.

The themes the film deals with are easy for me to relate to and challenging to this new world of online "everyone is a journalist" world the internet has created. I highly recommend Shattered Glass to fiction and nonfiction film fans.

Grade: B+

Day 2, Part 2

2006-08-02T13:15:00.000-07:00

My Dinner Wit Andre:

I had wanted to see this for sometime. It was interesting. Its rather long for a two person conversation film and began to feel it after an hour. I still recommend it for the performances and writing.

My biggest problem with the film is that I've known people like Andre. Even in my youth I've met these pompous artistic tyes who travel the world looking for the answers to life's questions. I hate that these people are so self consumed that they leave their families behind in a selfish pursuit of something that doesn't exist. At least Wallace Shawn and I can agree.

Grade: B-

The Replacement Killers:

A 90s actoner with Chow Yun-Fat and Mira Sorvino. Both are fine, its really the action that takes center stage. The story is really shaky but is worth sitting through for some awesome gun fights. Ultimately forgetable, I think I would have benefited from seeing this in its original aspect ratio.

Grade: B

Tape:

Another film I've been really interested in seeing has been this, Linklater's Tape. Set entirely in one motel room, the film is a conversation beween two then three people. They never leave the room and talk for 83 minutes. It is thus far the best film of my marathon. Not only do I highly recommend it but I'm going to want to own this one and revisit time and time again. The writing is solid, especially when dealing with such heavy content. Te performances are spot on with Robert Sean Leonard really shining as the conflicted and remorseful artist. This film is really about this idea of two sides to every story, perception and person accountability.

Grade: A-

Day 2, Part 1

2006-08-02T07:27:00.000-07:00

Oscar and Lucinda:

Here is a film that to my knowledge has gone unnoticed far too long. Adapted from the novel of the same name, Oscar and Lucinda follows the lives of two compulsive gamblers as they weave through the world. Ralph Feins is truely spectacular here. I was moved to the verge of tears when he delivers this facinated speach rationalizing gambling in God's eyes. Truely a hidden gem for all to discover. It is also a film about following one's dreams and living life by one's own standards comprimising for no one even when the world and family are against you. Today be a square peg in a world of round holes.

Grade: B+

Day 1, Part 4

2006-08-01T20:21:00.000-07:00

Jules and Jim

This story of friendship is considered by many the essence of the French New Wave. Probably one of cinema's most influencial films, it is clear to me how the "film school generation" would latch onto it here in America, bringing about New American Cinema or the American New Wave. Its technique is all over the late 60s films and its free spirit embodies what the 1970s were all about.

My own feelings are mixed. I did truely enjoy the film, rather I arrived at a gratified respect of the film. I found it to be a sad depiction of love. It also has made me, for the moment, uneasy about women. Having had my heart broken several times this film recalls all that bad blood, specifically with one girl who broke up with me over the phone through her best friend. She then proceeded to call me everyday to talk. I was such a bitch to have taken that and finally got the nerve to tell her to move on and not call anymore. The sad thing is that most men, when faced with beauty, crumple under the desire to have what we cannot. Catherine in Jules and Jim is just a horrible person. Her use of sex as bank is deplorable. But the way Jules and Jim pine after her and allow her to run their lives is just as unconscionable.

Many people speek of this film's vitality. While it is certainly there, it also made me feel dead inside because of the lowness of human nature depicted. What it really did do for me is make me pine for the coming months when I wil be living in Europe. I will strive to embody one who is professionally curious as Jim's teacher told him to become.

I think that I will be earger to revisit this film over the next year, and in years to come. For now, I am happy to turn down my bed covers in anticipation of sleep and a new day of filmic gratification.

Grade: B

And with that day one of my marathon is complete. I'm going to get some sleep, early, so I can start fresh and on time tomorrow. More interesting films await. Hopefully I will be able to surpass my personal record of 6 films in one day which I tied this day.

Good Night, God Bless and Cheers.

Day 1, Part 3

2006-08-01T18:21:00.000-07:00

Sphere:

This film started out strong. And by strong I mean it seamed like it could be a decent viewing experience. That completely evaporated after twenty minutes and just became boring. And it got worse with every minute. After they abandon the communication with "Jerry" I grew uninterested, when they explained "Jerry" I got pissed as it makes very little sense compared to what has transpired. Was it terrible? No. Was it good, not at all. The good I was able to take from this was the lighting and production design. Loved those two aspects. While neither were ground breaking or ultimately original they did give me something to look at and want to steal from.

Grade: C

Day 1, Part 2

2006-08-01T15:10:00.000-07:00

Gosford Park:

What can I say? Wow, a magnificent film. Elegantly executed and just wonderful. God bless Robert Altman. I hate to make this a gush fest but it truely is a great film. It may be a bit slow, but it is so methodical, never boring, always clues being dropped. Was the ending a surprise? Half of it was. I guess one of the killers and the motive, the second was just a great treat. Loved it.

Grade: A-

Schnitzopolis Day 1, Part 1

2006-08-01T13:19:00.000-07:00

Day 1 of Schnitzopolis 2006

I had a late start. Having wanted to start early, around 6ish, to maximize my time with the new TV, I didn’t actually start until almost 10. 4 hours behind schedule I hit another snair. For some reason my copy of Gosford Park’s sound wasn’t working on my living room DVD player. I switched to:

Insomnia:

Recommended several times by more than one friend I enjoyed this film as much as I think one can. Its very dark, twisted, and at times hard to watch Pacino’s rouge detective self-destruct under an oppressive Alaskan sun. Sleep deprived, nerves more than frayed, he staggers through the film giving a strong performance, one of his best in some years. My biggest fear was Robin Williams’ turn as the villain. He manages to be at once creepy, despicable, and yet slightly sympathetic. He’s almost like a child who needs to be hand held through his own life.

Well directed by Christopher Nolan, the film manages to pull off the high concept of sleep deprivation. I spent a third of the film watching from my pacing feet.

Grade: B

Swing Kids:

A fascinating find this was. Few movies show the Germans of Hitler’s rein as much more than faceless aids to Hitler’s desire to cleanse the world of the “Jewish Problem”. This film shows a group that tried to come up against Hitler’s wishes. They used swing music to gather strength and speak against the Nazi way of life. The film isn’t entirely successful, nor is it much of an uplifting story but one worth seeing. The strongest performance is by Frank Whaley. Its big, but controlled. Its interesting and tortured. Also notable for Christian Bale’s and Robert Sean Leonard’s fine performances as conflicted Hitler Youth. IF you can overlook a simplification of such horrific events and an overly sappy ending you’ll find a strong yet hidden gem.

Grade: B-

Darkman:

I like Sam Raimi, I don’t like his Spider-man films. This is a really hockey superhero film. It doesn’t take itself seriously which is because it’s so over the top and poorly written. A few fun moments abound, but it is mostly a waste of time.

Grade: D+

I'll be back later with another update. Gosford Park is currently on my tv and I'm in desperate need of paing attention.

Schnitzopolis 2006

2006-07-30T14:15:00.000-07:00

Official Press Release, Sort Of.

Well preparations are in place for a most interesting and fun Schnitzopolis this year. Formats include DVD and VHS, the normal stuff I guess. I've got an absolutely amazing mix of films prepared. I picked up a few this morning and will gather most of the rest of the week's films tomorrow. I'm not posting a list or program as it will change based on my mood and mental state. You'll just have to check back here for updates on each film I watch. Reviews, comments, and everything will make their way onto this bord and I hope you all enjoy my randomness. Just let me say this, the films are densely varied, following no order or reason other than my own brain. Much of the material will land in the realm of mid-nineties, but I'll be watching a few foreign language titles, documentaries, and animated films. Lets hope my life doesn't interfere with my lack of one.

2006-07-30T14:07:00.000-07:00

Pride & Prejudice

I had the great fortune of seeing this on Thanksgiving day 2005 with one of my dearest friends, Scott Duvall. Since then i have trumpeted the films greatness to all wo would listen. So many people have come up against me, or in favor of the mini-series. I cannot fault the latter as it is a damn fine iterpretation but my heart belongs to Joe Wright's triumphant version. It is injected with such a vibrant and energetic spirit which has drew me in time and again. I have now seen it 5 times and each viewing makes me cry, laugh and just fall in love all over again. It currently occupies the number eight slot on my all-time list, and with each viewing it makes a dash for another climb. It has truely been ages since a film has captured my affections in this way. Wright is once again behind the camera, even as I write this and he has brought back Knightly for another adaptation of literature. This is quite possibly my most anticipated film, well this and Killing on Carnival Row.

As for Pride, I'm going to have to watch it yet again within the next few weeks. I may make it the first film I watch after Schnitzopolis 2006. Who knows.

2006-07-26T11:11:00.000-07:00

Top 5 Coming of Age Films

1.The Graduate - Sex isn't everything and your parents don't hold all the answers and that's alright.

2.Beautiful Girls - Coming of age doesn't always mean turning 13. Here we follow a thirty something group of friends and how they all cope with making adult choices, growing up and moving on all in the face of their 10 Year High School Reunion.

3.Dead Poet's Society - Sometimes the right thing is viewed as wrong and doing it can get you in trouble. Suck the marrow from life and relive this modern classic.

4.Stand By Me - Facing death is always hard, realizing you are mortal is truely baffling esspecially when you are on the cusp of really learning what life is like.

5.American Grafitti - Set against the last night of their respective adolescense a group of friends learn to make their own choices for their own betterment and not to satisfy the adults around them.

Ode to a Western

2006-07-25T12:24:00.000-07:00

Last night I had the opportunity to see the Australian Western The Proposition. While I don't feel everything worked I do feel it is a strong addition to the Western genre. At once sharply violent and meditative the film plays the conflicted outlaw idea well while dealing with human sanity, love, and the need to protect. Gritty and yellow the film really gets in your shoes like sand at a beach. I recommend the film with a solid "B" grade.

Top 5 Westerns

1.The Good the Bad and the Ugly
2.Once Upon a Time in the West
3.Deadwood (TV)
4.Dances with Wolves
5.El Diablo

Music Cues Vol. 1

2006-07-24T12:25:00.000-07:00

I've been really working over time to explore new music, seek out stuff I've been interested for a while, and just charge my life with a new soundtrack. Thanks to my Ipod (thanks Mom and Dad) I can experience music in a vast new way.

Speaking of music, have you heard Ulrich Schnauss? No? Well then what are you waiting for? Imagine an album of Electronica music that sounds like the score to the greatest Romantic Comedy film you'll ever see. Its a visionary album that evokes rain drops on windows, sun beams, and a Garden State like existance while wrapped in its entrancing leaves. Could be the best album I've heard in 6 months, or longer. Fantastic! Check out Ulrich Strauss's album Far Away Trains Passing By. You will not be disapointed.

Looking for a great blend of pop music? Head on over to the Scrubs TV Show web page and check out the music section. It lists every song used in every episode of the series. DL some or buy it and you'll have one of the best mixes of pop music you could imagine having. An exciting blend of comedic choices (99 Red Balloons) to the most beautiful accoustic pop (Colin Hay). Songs to definately get include Colin Hay's Beautiful World, Down Under, Overkill and a number of other things.

Currently Listening to: Far Away Trains Passing By--Ulrich Strauss

2006-07-24T04:21:00.000-07:00

So what's happened since my last post? Well for starters I got accepted to Grad School at the London Film School. Although I applied for the fall 2006 term I was accepted for January 2007. This is fine and will benefit my life in many ways. Firstly, I;ll be leaving in late September. This gives me some time to become acquainted with London. I've also got some work in late September/early October. That and I've already got a contact in Paris. Moving is going to be incredibly interesting, all the new people. All the new life to be living.

I can't help but think that this jorney is me running away from something, but sinec I've wanted this for four years now I think I'm doing the right thing. Anyway, My problems seem to have thinned out since graduating and leaving Mad Girl behind.

I'm going to really try to update this more often now. I've also started with my real journal, my personal bible that I haven't kept in over a year. Its just weird to think back to last summer and the Bigfoot movie which is now being made. Whatever. Apparently it sucks hard and is being shot on Mini-Dv. I hope that Marie does a good job, but other than that I hope the movie sinks like the Titanic metephor it is.

Regards,

ME.

2006-07-12T12:32:00.000-07:00

I realized that I haven’t updated in some time. Well, I’ve been in a bit of a rut lately. There have been some family issues to work out, and thankfully they met a resolved "near" ending. But besides that I have to say 2006 is really one of the weakest years thus far. Granted I have not been able to see everything, but mostly I’ve not been interested in much.

Last Friday I went and saw the new Pirates sequel. The movie bosts some impressive action, the beautiful Keira Knightly, and some of the best CGI I’ve ever seen. Sadly the film is really shoddy. The story was unimpressive, mostly due to a really forced way of jumpstarting the new story, and the fact that its over 2 and a half hours long with little to no continuous plot. We follow the thinnest of strands from one locale to the next, never fully being aware of why or how this furthers the film. The whole movie felt like filler for a more cohesive third installment.

But that seems to common in this year, 2006. Almost all the films I harbored excitement for fell on their faces. Granted I was hyped for Ultraviolet, a film I should have known was going to be a train wreck, but even still it was one of the few true “F” grade films I’ve seen. Anyway, everything else I’ve viewed this year has been equally disappointing, save Superman Returns. Superman was such a breath of fresh air. Action, inventive storytelling, beauty through iconography. Every other film I’ve seen this year I’ve given sub-par grades to, only Superman soared over the “B” grade (the second highest grading I’ve given this year, to roughly 5 films) and land at an A-. I haven’t even given a B+. And with only 1 more film for me to look forward to this summer (Clerks 2) I carry a heavy heart. In all fairness most years are now back loaded with awards worthy fair, but I need something, anything to be worth my time and effort.

Any suggestions?

P.S.

No, I haven’t seen United 93, and YES I want to.

Harrison Ford

2006-06-24T19:24:00.000-07:00

I just finished watching Patriot Games. One of the great 90's thrillers its a film I saw roughly 10 years ago in its entirety and really loved. Watching it again today I realized several things. There seem to be no more action thrillers like the 90s brought us. Those stylish films that were dramatic and talky with splashes of action. Now it seems that everything is mind numbing or "fun". The Bourne films seem to come close, but they are injected with youth as well. I guess I just miss the 90s thriller. Rather, I miss thrillers all together. They seem fewer and fewer these days.

That brings me to my next point. Harrison Ford was once bankable and damn great in these roles. Think about it, Patriot Games, Clear and Present Danger, The fugitive; the man couldn't go wrong. So what the hell happened? I miss the days when I could get excited about a Ford film. While many like Air Force one, I see it as the weakest of his 90s action films, it shows what I think is the beginning of the end of Ford's career. It just felt watered down compared to his other heart stoppers. But I'll even grant him Sabrina, he's quite good in it. Its a cute remake with a fine cast and some nice laughs. But then came 6 Days 7 Nights and the damns burst. Ford became craptastic and hasn't recovered from it. Blunder after blunder Ford finds himself without a hit in over a decade. I guess that's what happens when you chose films like Hollywood Homicide and turn down roles in films like Traffic.

Bottom line is I want more thrillers. I want Ford to make good movies again.

Chronos

2006-06-24T06:05:00.000-07:00

Chronos

Being a filmmaker has been a wild ride. One of the thing’s I’ve really enjoyed is all the traveling I’ve done in the name of cinema. A cross country trip just to visit a friend’s set, another trip from Seattle to Las Vegas in 10 days, and others. But I would have to say Ron Fricke and his crew have traveled for their art like no other.

Starting with the film Chronos Fricke and his crew traveled the world filming massively prominent locations, landmarks, and beauteous moments in the world. Chronos holds a high distinction for me. It’s “sequel” Baraka picks up where Chronos left off. Both films individually or compiled blow my mind. They are religious experiences for me. Medetative and monumental these films cause me to question everything, and foster my belief in the unimaginable.

Shot using IMAX 70mm motion picture cameras designed by Fricke these films are the ultimate in time-lapse photography and motion control. You will not believe your eyes as you witness things only gods have been privy to.

Travel if you will to the ends of terrestrial time and space with Chronos, then tour the world and contemplate geo-political structures in relation to nature and humanism with Baraka, you won’t be sorry.

Being Accountable

2006-06-15T15:37:00.000-07:00

What is C. S. Schneider Accounts?

I’m glad you asked. Its one of the many pointless and self-indulgent blogs being created on a daily basis by nerds and other people in an effort to gain attention.

I am not planning on being edgy or provocative, rather I plan on using this as my journal. I will donate my thoughts and feelings to it. Mostly these comments will have something to do with Pop Culture in some way. Mainly it will focus on movies and media. I’ll throw in some music reviews every once and again, and refresh the minds of my readers with updates on productions, my life, my experiences and whatever else garners my limited attention span long enough to type it up and publish it to the web.

This will also be my journal for my move to London, hopefully. I will post updates about my doings in and around Soho and my experiences in Grad School, if I get in (fingers crossed).

So what am I accounting for?

I'm accounting for my taste in film, music, comics, literature, art, and life. I'll do my best to provide vivid and resolute opinions to anything I discuss. There will be times when I post lists, mostly top tens and the like. If my reasoning isn't given or doesn't satsify you please demand clarity. I will do my best to provide it.

So, for those of you that do read this, I hope you enjoy my ramblings, rants, reviews, and random moments. Please ignore my spelling and grammar as I try hard but mostly fail in both areas. I hope this gives a homey quality and not an unprofessional one.

Cheers,

C. S. Schneider