A couple of interesting links of note:
For political junkies, The American Research Group has daily tracking polls posted for the New Hampshire primary. In the last couple days, Clark is now poised to become the anti-Dean candidate by overtaking Kerry in New Hampshire and gaining momentum for a strong second finish. Of course, wacky results from the Iowa caucus, which will be held a week before New Hampshire, might shake NH up. (Late addition!: Kerry is (shockingly) surging in Iowa, which would turn the NH race upside down.) But if we assume Dean or Gephart wins a close race, the dynamic will remain constant. And right now, we're heading towards a Dean/Clark showdown. Why? There are three crucial elements to winning the nomination: (1) money; (2) organization; (3) momentum. Only Clark can compete with Dean on the first two. And momentum depends on largely on "expectatations" (read: media-determined conventional wisdom). If there's any crack in the "inevitability" armor of Dean's, you can bet the media will capitalize on it to shake up the race (if to generate excitement). For the media, who better to annoint as the savior of the Democrats from the Dean Disaster than the Clinton-supported General, who is clearly finding his voice and gaining ground among the grass-roots. All that's needed is an opening. If Clark breaks 23% or so in NH, the media will open a big hole for him to run through.
This year's Movie Club (a discussion of critics run by David Edelstein on Slate) has been quite fun, though not quite as contentious as some years, when Jonathan Rosenbaum would throw bombs at the media establishment. Manohla tries for provocation, but she doesn't have J-Ro's self-righteousness. Anyway, I especially like the sober intellectualism of A.O. Scott, whose hiring by the NY Times a couple years back I had derided on a movie nerd discussion group.
* Got a lot of drafts in the queue, but haven't had time to finish 'em. Included will be a review of SECRET THINGS, a long piece on Howard Dean, and diaries of my trip to Shanghai and Taipei. But between work pile-up and new personal developments, all of this will be dribbling out pretty slowly, I'm sure.
Thursday, January 08, 2004
Wednesday, December 24, 2003
Village Voice Critics' Poll
So the Village Voice Movie Poll is out, and I've got to say, it's a bit of a surprise, perhaps because I've been following film criticism less closely this year than the last five or so years. First, demonlover (a review of which will be out before Miramax releases Hero, I promise!) at #3? I missed the love for that troubling, incoherent and brilliant picture. And even Lost in Translation at #1 was a little strange, considering the terrain the Voice critics generally chart. The participants selected by Voice film editor Dennis Lim run to the high-end of the brow-meter. These are guys that go for the oblique and rigorous -- Beau Travail and Werckmeister Harmonies , and this year, The Son and Unknown Pleasures . I know Sofia's gotten plenty of love from the mainstream crits, but I thought the highbrows met her moving but facile exercise in hipster cool with polite applause, not a thunderous ovation. Lost in Translation is really quite good, but it still stuns me that so many would select that well-crafted if flawed chamber mood piece over the similar but magnificent Friday Night. It's like seeing the Pazz & Jop go for "Pieces of You" instead of "Exile in Guyville." But I digress.
Great to see Maddin's Dracula: Pages from a Virgin's Diary and Kaurismaki's The Man Without A Past , two relatively unsung but awesome films, get acknowledged. Also, deserved props to Murray and Skarsgaard and Turning Gate and Brown Bunny in the Undistributed Poll.
Lastly, how many attempted bon mots did Jim Ridley and Steve "The Unit" Erickson send in to land that many published blurbs? Good job, though, guys.
Great to see Maddin's Dracula: Pages from a Virgin's Diary and Kaurismaki's The Man Without A Past , two relatively unsung but awesome films, get acknowledged. Also, deserved props to Murray and Skarsgaard and Turning Gate and Brown Bunny in the Undistributed Poll.
Lastly, how many attempted bon mots did Jim Ridley and Steve "The Unit" Erickson send in to land that many published blurbs? Good job, though, guys.
/Au hasard, Balthazar/ (Bresson, 1966): A
This movie stars a donkey. In the beginning, the donkey would frolic with the nymphet Marie, and all is joyful. Then shit starts happening to Marie's dad. The donkey gets sold and is treated badly. Marie is also treated badly, especially by a prick named Gerard. Gerard loves to torture the donkey. Also, he steals. Also, he is a punk who wears uncomfortably tight jeans. The donkey gets taken in by a drunk then a miserable miser. Through it all, the donkey remains implacable. His eyes are clear but sad. When Marie caresses him near the end of this donkey picture you feel just like when Kate and Leo reunited in the afterlife. Very bittersweet. Then the donkey eats it. The end.
This donkey picture is considered one of the greatest pictures ever made. I agree with this. Manohla Dargis and J. Hoberman also agree (I think both esteemed critics have this movie on their all-time top ten). First of all, it is true I have never seen a better donkey picture. I especially like the close-up shots of the donkey's eyes, and the shots of Marie's hands. And also the last shot. The movie feels so pure, like nothing has been wasted. The director, the "transcendental" master Robert Bresson, does not lard his movies with a hundred cutaways of ticking clocks or dress up everybody in red. His filmmaking is simple but concise. That is why it is awesome that this frog Bresson has become the fashionable Artiste of the Serious Cinema rather than the dour overrated Swede Bergman and the Russian Tarkovsky, though the Ruskie is making a comeback. (Solaris is awesome, by the way.) If anyone wants to check out more of this frog Bresson, I highly recommend A Man Escapes and Pickpocket, though I also like most of the others too. Still, this donkey movie is Bresson's masterpiece, and it should be seen in this beautiful print rather than a Nth generation PAL dub, which is how I first saw it.
Also, notice how this donkey film is not about the donkey per se but about the cruelty of man's utter indifference (and intentional cruelty) to other beings. Bresson's focus on the donkey speaks to a greater theme, the effect of callous human actions. In that way, this donkey movie is utterly unlike the awful robot movie about the robot kid programmed to love.
This donkey picture is considered one of the greatest pictures ever made. I agree with this. Manohla Dargis and J. Hoberman also agree (I think both esteemed critics have this movie on their all-time top ten). First of all, it is true I have never seen a better donkey picture. I especially like the close-up shots of the donkey's eyes, and the shots of Marie's hands. And also the last shot. The movie feels so pure, like nothing has been wasted. The director, the "transcendental" master Robert Bresson, does not lard his movies with a hundred cutaways of ticking clocks or dress up everybody in red. His filmmaking is simple but concise. That is why it is awesome that this frog Bresson has become the fashionable Artiste of the Serious Cinema rather than the dour overrated Swede Bergman and the Russian Tarkovsky, though the Ruskie is making a comeback. (Solaris is awesome, by the way.) If anyone wants to check out more of this frog Bresson, I highly recommend A Man Escapes and Pickpocket, though I also like most of the others too. Still, this donkey movie is Bresson's masterpiece, and it should be seen in this beautiful print rather than a Nth generation PAL dub, which is how I first saw it.
Also, notice how this donkey film is not about the donkey per se but about the cruelty of man's utter indifference (and intentional cruelty) to other beings. Bresson's focus on the donkey speaks to a greater theme, the effect of callous human actions. In that way, this donkey movie is utterly unlike the awful robot movie about the robot kid programmed to love.
Top 5 Karaoke Hits
Okay, I've been in Asia for the last two weeks and haven't had time to blog. In the meantime, some random, 5-minute posts.
The trick in picking out a karaoke repertoire is to sing cheesy, fun songs that aren't also ultra-grating (for that, most of you will be glad that you were never within a five mile radius of my rendition of "Sweet Child O' Mine." For those with awful vocal range, songs preferably with a rich low timbre and low range works best. Also, shtick is good.
Currently, this is my repertoire, with room for random Carpenters or popular alternative rock songs (read: "Wonderwall" and "Creep"). Keep in mind most karaoke joints are not gonna be stocking Neutral Milk Hotel or anything.
1. "Paint It Black", Rolling Stones. The droning verse is so awesome.
2. "Kissing a Fool", George Michael. Should I be copping to this in a public forum?
3. "I've Got You Under My Skin", Frank Sinatra. Or "Fly Me to the Moon", but that's a hard one.
4. "Your Song", Elton John. Cheese city.
5. "Suspicious Minds", Elvis. Though I think "Now or Never" might be the better Elvis choice.
New fave: "Perfect Day", Lou Reed. You can chainsmoke Camel nonfilters and still dust off some Papa Reed no prob.
Clear the room: "Zombie", The Cranberries.
5 Songs I wished those damn K-town noraebahns would stock:
1. "Sexy Sadie", The Beatles. Keeping with the White Album, "Happiness is a Warm Gun" would also be awesome.
2. "Tame", The Pixies. Or "Debaser" or "Here Comes Your Man".
3. "Low", R.E.M. I just want to sing this ridiculous song just once.
4. "Bring the Noise", Public Enemy. Bass, how low can you go?
5. "When I'm with You", Sheriff. Okay, they probably have this insanely awesome Eighties power ballad somewhere, I've just never bothered to look for it.
Also: "New Slang", The Shins; "Stephanie Says"/"Caroline Says"/"Who Loves the Sun", The Velvets; "Dirty Boots", Sonic Youth; "Spanish Bombs", The Clash; "The Blowers Daughter", Damien Rice; "It's a Man's Man's Man's World", James Brown; "Sour Times", Portishead.
I'm sure I'm missing a bunch.
The trick in picking out a karaoke repertoire is to sing cheesy, fun songs that aren't also ultra-grating (for that, most of you will be glad that you were never within a five mile radius of my rendition of "Sweet Child O' Mine." For those with awful vocal range, songs preferably with a rich low timbre and low range works best. Also, shtick is good.
Currently, this is my repertoire, with room for random Carpenters or popular alternative rock songs (read: "Wonderwall" and "Creep"). Keep in mind most karaoke joints are not gonna be stocking Neutral Milk Hotel or anything.
1. "Paint It Black", Rolling Stones. The droning verse is so awesome.
2. "Kissing a Fool", George Michael. Should I be copping to this in a public forum?
3. "I've Got You Under My Skin", Frank Sinatra. Or "Fly Me to the Moon", but that's a hard one.
4. "Your Song", Elton John. Cheese city.
5. "Suspicious Minds", Elvis. Though I think "Now or Never" might be the better Elvis choice.
New fave: "Perfect Day", Lou Reed. You can chainsmoke Camel nonfilters and still dust off some Papa Reed no prob.
Clear the room: "Zombie", The Cranberries.
5 Songs I wished those damn K-town noraebahns would stock:
1. "Sexy Sadie", The Beatles. Keeping with the White Album, "Happiness is a Warm Gun" would also be awesome.
2. "Tame", The Pixies. Or "Debaser" or "Here Comes Your Man".
3. "Low", R.E.M. I just want to sing this ridiculous song just once.
4. "Bring the Noise", Public Enemy. Bass, how low can you go?
5. "When I'm with You", Sheriff. Okay, they probably have this insanely awesome Eighties power ballad somewhere, I've just never bothered to look for it.
Also: "New Slang", The Shins; "Stephanie Says"/"Caroline Says"/"Who Loves the Sun", The Velvets; "Dirty Boots", Sonic Youth; "Spanish Bombs", The Clash; "The Blowers Daughter", Damien Rice; "It's a Man's Man's Man's World", James Brown; "Sour Times", Portishead.
I'm sure I'm missing a bunch.
Sunday, December 14, 2003
Sartorial Battleplan
A very basic tip on date clothing choices for a buddy (and Pigs and Battleships gadfly) who needs it:
(1) 1st three dates: Do not wear the same shoes or the same jacket. Better still: adjust your style so you'll be rocking the high and the low. For guys, this means sporting maybe some vintage sneakers one day with a t-shirt and a casual leather jacket one day, some polished leather kicks and a dress shirt for a nice dinner on another night. For the ladies, miu mius switched up with colorful, stylish sneakers or wacky red shoes with flowers emblazoned on them, purchased in Chiangmai, Thailand. (Though I prefer dates who resist labels.) Also, try to avoid shoes with velcro straps.
(2) 1st five dates: do not repeat the same articles of clothing. Even if all your outfits involve a plain cotton t-shirt inside an open flannel button down, try to change up on the colors. Don't even repeat the same underwear. You never know if someone snuck a peek at your lower back as you were bending over to tie your shoe laces.
(3) Do not dish out your pet (beat-up Wade Boggs) t-shirt from the 9th grade until you're six months into the relationship, and even then make sure you're wearing that while washing your car or something.
(4) Do not wear imitation name brand goods on an initial date, even for ironic effect.
(5) Do not wear garish "dandy" shirts that cause headaches, or shirts that have seam problems. (Just a tip for myself.)
(1) 1st three dates: Do not wear the same shoes or the same jacket. Better still: adjust your style so you'll be rocking the high and the low. For guys, this means sporting maybe some vintage sneakers one day with a t-shirt and a casual leather jacket one day, some polished leather kicks and a dress shirt for a nice dinner on another night. For the ladies, miu mius switched up with colorful, stylish sneakers or wacky red shoes with flowers emblazoned on them, purchased in Chiangmai, Thailand. (Though I prefer dates who resist labels.) Also, try to avoid shoes with velcro straps.
(2) 1st five dates: do not repeat the same articles of clothing. Even if all your outfits involve a plain cotton t-shirt inside an open flannel button down, try to change up on the colors. Don't even repeat the same underwear. You never know if someone snuck a peek at your lower back as you were bending over to tie your shoe laces.
(3) Do not dish out your pet (beat-up Wade Boggs) t-shirt from the 9th grade until you're six months into the relationship, and even then make sure you're wearing that while washing your car or something.
(4) Do not wear imitation name brand goods on an initial date, even for ironic effect.
(5) Do not wear garish "dandy" shirts that cause headaches, or shirts that have seam problems. (Just a tip for myself.)
Tuesday, December 02, 2003
Coming Attractions
If anybody's still paying attention...hello!
Updates soon. A sneak preview of the fun that awaits you:
- Girls with disturbing 12 year-old boy jones, and why they target me!
- Why Russell Crowe rules! (Plus a rundown of the last five movies I've seen, all graded "B+"!)
- How the Sox fanatic message board convinced Curt Schilling to come to the Sox! (The first recorded instance of an internet message board having a real-life effect!)
- Bitches loathed by other women but tolerated by men -- what's up with that!
- The long-awaited Lost in Translation/Demonlover review! (Yeah, right.)
- Electoral map discussion!
- Paean to Carole Lombard, currently honored by LACMA with her own series!
- The real dirt on Jacko!
(Not.)
All to be completed before the end of the year! (I'm really doing this entry to give myself some pressure to update this forsaken thing.)
Updates soon. A sneak preview of the fun that awaits you:
- Girls with disturbing 12 year-old boy jones, and why they target me!
- Why Russell Crowe rules! (Plus a rundown of the last five movies I've seen, all graded "B+"!)
- How the Sox fanatic message board convinced Curt Schilling to come to the Sox! (The first recorded instance of an internet message board having a real-life effect!)
- Bitches loathed by other women but tolerated by men -- what's up with that!
- The long-awaited Lost in Translation/Demonlover review! (Yeah, right.)
- Electoral map discussion!
- Paean to Carole Lombard, currently honored by LACMA with her own series!
- The real dirt on Jacko!
(Not.)
All to be completed before the end of the year! (I'm really doing this entry to give myself some pressure to update this forsaken thing.)
Thursday, November 06, 2003
Quick hits on recent flicks
Elephant (Van Sant): C+
Gawk! at the beautiful Calvin Klein model high school kids doing mundane things.
Revel! in the exquisitely choreographed tracking shots that contain, in the shot, a kid's entire universe.
Behold! the gay outsiders who love guns and watch shows about Nazis.
Grimace! as this lovingly crafted "tone poem" clunkily shifts into exploitative crap.
To Be and to Have (Philibert): B+/B
It takes a village, or maybe it takes the dedication of an attentive soul with the right touch just to keep these adorable French urchins on track. Shapeless yet so in rich in carefully observed cuteness that you gotta be a Grade-A tin man to resist.
The School of Rock (Linklater): B+
Probably the best Kindergarden Cop-type movie ever made. Jack Black is so awesome, but I bet he'd be pretty obnoxious to have around all the time.
Intolerable Cruelty (Coen): B/B-
An homage to the greatest genre of classic Hollywood, the screwball comedy. The problem with the Coens' scenario is that the spy v. spy set up makes the boy gets girl an anticlimax. (In the best screwball comedies, usually one of the two would-be lovers has a heart.) That CZJ is completely overmatched by a pitch-perfect Clooney doesn't help. Many fine scenes, especially those involving Billy Bob Thorton, make it worthwhile.
Kill Bill, Vol. 1 (Tarantino): B+/B
So fucking cool, except when it's trying too hard to be so fucking cool. Superb use of music, virtuoso filmmaking, and dope references (Lone Wolf and Cub, Tokyo Drifter, Killer Clans, Intimate Confessions of a Chinese Courtesan, Zatoichi, Female Scorpion 41, etc. -- basically, ego-tripping for hardcore movie nerds), all adding up to what, exactly? And, yo, QT: Yuen Wo-ping does not do samurai swordplay. Stick with one-on-one stuff like the schoolgirl/Uma showdown. Now that was awesome.
Gawk! at the beautiful Calvin Klein model high school kids doing mundane things.
Revel! in the exquisitely choreographed tracking shots that contain, in the shot, a kid's entire universe.
Behold! the gay outsiders who love guns and watch shows about Nazis.
Grimace! as this lovingly crafted "tone poem" clunkily shifts into exploitative crap.
To Be and to Have (Philibert): B+/B
It takes a village, or maybe it takes the dedication of an attentive soul with the right touch just to keep these adorable French urchins on track. Shapeless yet so in rich in carefully observed cuteness that you gotta be a Grade-A tin man to resist.
The School of Rock (Linklater): B+
Probably the best Kindergarden Cop-type movie ever made. Jack Black is so awesome, but I bet he'd be pretty obnoxious to have around all the time.
Intolerable Cruelty (Coen): B/B-
An homage to the greatest genre of classic Hollywood, the screwball comedy. The problem with the Coens' scenario is that the spy v. spy set up makes the boy gets girl an anticlimax. (In the best screwball comedies, usually one of the two would-be lovers has a heart.) That CZJ is completely overmatched by a pitch-perfect Clooney doesn't help. Many fine scenes, especially those involving Billy Bob Thorton, make it worthwhile.
Kill Bill, Vol. 1 (Tarantino): B+/B
So fucking cool, except when it's trying too hard to be so fucking cool. Superb use of music, virtuoso filmmaking, and dope references (Lone Wolf and Cub, Tokyo Drifter, Killer Clans, Intimate Confessions of a Chinese Courtesan, Zatoichi, Female Scorpion 41, etc. -- basically, ego-tripping for hardcore movie nerds), all adding up to what, exactly? And, yo, QT: Yuen Wo-ping does not do samurai swordplay. Stick with one-on-one stuff like the schoolgirl/Uma showdown. Now that was awesome.
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