Saturday, January 30, 2010
Bathroom Blues
In response to a marketing email from Sundance:
Rather than attempting (however futile) to sell me overpriced and meaningless Sundance hats, jackets and ball warmers (as an aside, I actually might take one of those), how about a strategic and organized game plan concerning the public restroom situation outside the Eccles? Upon arriving at the theater 40 mins early so that I might have the pleasure of standing in a sweaty and overcrowded line, I was told by not one, but three individuals (ie, one man, one woman, one undecided), that the Eccles was on "lock-down" and unavailable for any and all purposes (which apparently included its restrooms facilities, which as an aside, make that bathroom in Trainspotting look like any shitter at the Four Seasons). Would you mind explaining to me why a theater in the middle of nowhere (ie, Utah) must remain on "lock-down" in between screenings, such that any poor soul who had one drink too many is left with no recourse other than wetting his pants (two layers mind you) or walking a mile to the Marriott (which will certainly leave any right-minded gentleman with no option but option no. 1). Bet if Bob Redford needed to urinate profusely, shit mildly, engage in an upper-decker or take a masturbatory break inside the Eccles bathroom during a lock-down, his request, however illogical, would be honored.
hey mike!
and no one would let you in because it was on "Lockdown"?
Welcome to the Rileys
Welcome to the Rileys is a movie about coping with loss in different
ways. It is a story of a husband and wife who lost the teenage
daughter to a tragic car accident and who in turn cope about the loss
in different ways - the husband, played by James Gandolfini, is in
denial - and the wife played by Melissa Leo, becomes a recluse not
ever leaving her house. Gandolfini has a mistress who we breifly see
until she has a heart attack and dies triggerig Gandolfini to visit
the cemetery where she is burried and subsequently visits his
daughters grave. At the grave site, he notices his wife reserved a
plot adjacent and sees his name alongside hers which causes a
breakdown. He goes the next day for a convention in new orleans where
he meets a teenage runaway stripper, played by Kristin Stewart, and
much to Stewarts chagrin decides he wants to stay and help her - the
audience making the connection that she is a replacement for his dead
daughter. Gandolfini treats her with love and tries to teach her like
a father would. All the while Stewart acts like the victimized runaway
whose only power in life is tied to her sexuality - until that starts
being questioned by abusive johns. Gandolfinis shut In wife ventures
out an takes a road trip to new Orleans because she loves him and
doesn't want to lose him. The thoughts she must have has when finding
out her husband is stayig with a stripper child are quite transparent
when he introduces them. Quickly though both end up being surrogate
parents while trying to make Stewarts character something she is not.
Eventually Stewart is arrested an bailed out only to run away saying
basically "I'm not your daughter you can't raise me like her". The
husband and wife return to their home with new life after realizing
they cannot replace their daughter. This story is a transformative one
for both characters - they each become reborn by the end - and it is
satisfying to see this. This is a repeat movie for me and very
motivating to help someone who cannot help themselves. I highly
recommend this movie and place it in the same realm of excellence as
this yeas Get Low I terms of drama and style. Four stars!
ways. It is a story of a husband and wife who lost the teenage
daughter to a tragic car accident and who in turn cope about the loss
in different ways - the husband, played by James Gandolfini, is in
denial - and the wife played by Melissa Leo, becomes a recluse not
ever leaving her house. Gandolfini has a mistress who we breifly see
until she has a heart attack and dies triggerig Gandolfini to visit
the cemetery where she is burried and subsequently visits his
daughters grave. At the grave site, he notices his wife reserved a
plot adjacent and sees his name alongside hers which causes a
breakdown. He goes the next day for a convention in new orleans where
he meets a teenage runaway stripper, played by Kristin Stewart, and
much to Stewarts chagrin decides he wants to stay and help her - the
audience making the connection that she is a replacement for his dead
daughter. Gandolfini treats her with love and tries to teach her like
a father would. All the while Stewart acts like the victimized runaway
whose only power in life is tied to her sexuality - until that starts
being questioned by abusive johns. Gandolfinis shut In wife ventures
out an takes a road trip to new Orleans because she loves him and
doesn't want to lose him. The thoughts she must have has when finding
out her husband is stayig with a stripper child are quite transparent
when he introduces them. Quickly though both end up being surrogate
parents while trying to make Stewarts character something she is not.
Eventually Stewart is arrested an bailed out only to run away saying
basically "I'm not your daughter you can't raise me like her". The
husband and wife return to their home with new life after realizing
they cannot replace their daughter. This story is a transformative one
for both characters - they each become reborn by the end - and it is
satisfying to see this. This is a repeat movie for me and very
motivating to help someone who cannot help themselves. I highly
recommend this movie and place it in the same realm of excellence as
this yeas Get Low I terms of drama and style. Four stars!
Sent from my iPhone
Sympathy for Delicious
This is an amazing film by Mark Ruffalo and xxxxx. It is a film about
a handicapped Dj living on the streets who is given a gift of healing
touch who is exploited and who exploits himself ultimately finding
peace when he realizes he must use his gift unselfishly. The film has
a high production value not unexpected from the names attached.
Throughout the film things are believable, mainly from the reaction
shots of all the people in each scene and oddly plays fair to the
various religions that are shown in the film. I say odd because it is,
and could have been, so easy to knock on all of them. This film is
definitely a repeat watch, and is even date friendly as you get the
aha moments and warm and fuzzies in a few spots.
a handicapped Dj living on the streets who is given a gift of healing
touch who is exploited and who exploits himself ultimately finding
peace when he realizes he must use his gift unselfishly. The film has
a high production value not unexpected from the names attached.
Throughout the film things are believable, mainly from the reaction
shots of all the people in each scene and oddly plays fair to the
various religions that are shown in the film. I say odd because it is,
and could have been, so easy to knock on all of them. This film is
definitely a repeat watch, and is even date friendly as you get the
aha moments and warm and fuzzies in a few spots.
Sent from my iPhone
Howl
Although not branded as a documentary, this experimental film is a
composition of court transcripts, manuscripts and oral history. Howl
is a poem of the beat generation that tested the countries obsenity
laws at the time which helped send this little known poet into the
spotlight. Ultimately it is about his journey through his young life
coming through in uncommon prose. Various themes are explored here,
homosexuality, sex in general, pushing limits, as well as unrequited
love (between Ginsberg and Keruack). The court case is found favorable
to Ginsberg's publisher (who really was the one on trial) and opened
the doors wider for artistic freedom of expression and press. I am not
sure it was a story that needed to be told but it was well put
together and I gave it 2 out of 4 stars for the audience award.
composition of court transcripts, manuscripts and oral history. Howl
is a poem of the beat generation that tested the countries obsenity
laws at the time which helped send this little known poet into the
spotlight. Ultimately it is about his journey through his young life
coming through in uncommon prose. Various themes are explored here,
homosexuality, sex in general, pushing limits, as well as unrequited
love (between Ginsberg and Keruack). The court case is found favorable
to Ginsberg's publisher (who really was the one on trial) and opened
the doors wider for artistic freedom of expression and press. I am not
sure it was a story that needed to be told but it was well put
together and I gave it 2 out of 4 stars for the audience award.
Sent from my iPhone
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