Thursday, March 21, 2013
New Elephant Stomp Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUskC2HyVAI Click the link to see Elephant Stomp's latest video.
Thursday, February 21, 2013
A Year in Netflix - "Premium Rush"
Let's just jump right into this.
There IS a story amongst all the bicycle riding. I swear. A day in the life of a NYC bicycle carrier. Well, sort of. A package of great importance must get from one area in New York to another area by 7 P.M. The bike boy tries his best to maneuver through the mean streets of New York while also trying to stay clear of a dirty cop who wants that package for himself. That's basically it.
I really had no interest in seeing this movie. There were really only 2 reasons I put this in my Netflix Queue at all. Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Michael Shannon. Good ol' Joe (500 Days of Summer, The Dark Knight Rises, Looper) plays the bike messenger. And he's good at his job. Because he loves his job. He weaves through the city streets like a machine (there are instances where he sees a choice and the outcome before he makes the decision, which leads me to believe he is a robot) and has crazy moves like jumping over gates, hopping on cars, somehow ducking under trucks. ALL WHILE ON HIS BIKE. I love Mr. Gordon-Levitt in everything he is in. Even this. Yes, it's ridiculous. Yes, it's silly. Yes, there is barely a story. But, damn it, Joe is so watchable. He is a fantastic actor. And let's not forget about Michael Shannon. Michael Shannon! Fucking Zod! (Michael Shannon plays Zod in the upcoming Superman movie "Man of Steel") Words can't even begin to tell you how high I hold this man. He is AMAZING. I think it's unforgivable that he was looked over for Best Actor for his role in Take Shelter. He wasn't even nominated. For shame, Academy. He was a powerhouse in that flick. But this isn't about Take Shelter. It's about Premium Rush. And he is really good in this. He plays the dirty cop who is after the package. But he isn't a villain, which was surprising to me. He's just a guy who is in way over his head in gambling debt. You kind of feel for him at one point. Well, I certainly did.
I also think David Koepp deserves some credit. He's the director and one of the writers. Honestly, going into this flick, I thought to myself, "Ok, David. WOW me. You've got a lot of making up to do for Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull!" (I won't go into that here.) And while this movie isn't great, it is still A LOT of fun. Not the kind of "fun" Michael Bay thinks he is making with the Transformers movies. You actually are having a good time watching this movie. It's mostly told in real time, showing us where everyone is at one point and showing us how they get there. I wonder if they thought of calling this "Google Maps: the Movie" at one point? It does play with flashbacks a few times, but only to serve the story. Feeding us info as we need it. And the action is very well done. I've never been more concerned for bike riders and I hate those hipster dicks.
All in all, Premium Rush was a surprisingly enjoyable movie. A bit silly at times with a bare bones story, but still fun. B.
There IS a story amongst all the bicycle riding. I swear. A day in the life of a NYC bicycle carrier. Well, sort of. A package of great importance must get from one area in New York to another area by 7 P.M. The bike boy tries his best to maneuver through the mean streets of New York while also trying to stay clear of a dirty cop who wants that package for himself. That's basically it.
I really had no interest in seeing this movie. There were really only 2 reasons I put this in my Netflix Queue at all. Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Michael Shannon. Good ol' Joe (500 Days of Summer, The Dark Knight Rises, Looper) plays the bike messenger. And he's good at his job. Because he loves his job. He weaves through the city streets like a machine (there are instances where he sees a choice and the outcome before he makes the decision, which leads me to believe he is a robot) and has crazy moves like jumping over gates, hopping on cars, somehow ducking under trucks. ALL WHILE ON HIS BIKE. I love Mr. Gordon-Levitt in everything he is in. Even this. Yes, it's ridiculous. Yes, it's silly. Yes, there is barely a story. But, damn it, Joe is so watchable. He is a fantastic actor. And let's not forget about Michael Shannon. Michael Shannon! Fucking Zod! (Michael Shannon plays Zod in the upcoming Superman movie "Man of Steel") Words can't even begin to tell you how high I hold this man. He is AMAZING. I think it's unforgivable that he was looked over for Best Actor for his role in Take Shelter. He wasn't even nominated. For shame, Academy. He was a powerhouse in that flick. But this isn't about Take Shelter. It's about Premium Rush. And he is really good in this. He plays the dirty cop who is after the package. But he isn't a villain, which was surprising to me. He's just a guy who is in way over his head in gambling debt. You kind of feel for him at one point. Well, I certainly did.
I also think David Koepp deserves some credit. He's the director and one of the writers. Honestly, going into this flick, I thought to myself, "Ok, David. WOW me. You've got a lot of making up to do for Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull!" (I won't go into that here.) And while this movie isn't great, it is still A LOT of fun. Not the kind of "fun" Michael Bay thinks he is making with the Transformers movies. You actually are having a good time watching this movie. It's mostly told in real time, showing us where everyone is at one point and showing us how they get there. I wonder if they thought of calling this "Google Maps: the Movie" at one point? It does play with flashbacks a few times, but only to serve the story. Feeding us info as we need it. And the action is very well done. I've never been more concerned for bike riders and I hate those hipster dicks.
All in all, Premium Rush was a surprisingly enjoyable movie. A bit silly at times with a bare bones story, but still fun. B.
Saturday, February 16, 2013
A Year in Netflix - "Your Sister's Sister"
Hello, everyone! Good morning. Good afternoon. Good evening. Depends on when you're reading this, really. A while back, I posted an entry about movies that motivate me. It was kind of a review of films and it was one of the most enjoyable things I've written. The reason being I'm so passionate about films. It's weird being so passionate about something so silly. I could talk about films, actors, directors, writers, production companies, composers, and everything in between for days. Weeks, even. Does that make me a nerd? Yes. A nerd is someone passionate about something. The reason I say it's weird is because films ultimately don't amount to much. It's not like being passionate about politics or people struggling in Haiti or something like that. But I'm getting off topic. Let's get back on track.
After I wrote that post, I decided to do that more often. Reviews on films. It's just so much fun. I don't know if it's fun to read, but it is certainly fun to write. So that's what I'm going to do. Review films. Now know this, I'm not a critic. I'm not even a professional writer. I'm a just a guy who is passionate about films.
Yesterday, I decided to start a project on Facebook. I have Netflix, instant and DVD in mail, and thought "I should do one of those 'Photo a Day' type things". But instead of a photo a day, I'll take a picture of my Netflix DVDs. Every DVD for a year. Starting today. Starting with Your Sister's Sister. And with each picture, I'll write a little review on my blog. So, here it goes.
Your Sister's Sister is a small movie. Meaning that there are 3 characters in the entire thing. But boy, do those 3 people keep your attention. The plot is fairly simple. It's been a year since Jack's brother died and he still hasn't really gotten over it. His life is sort of in shambles. You don't know the specifics, but it doesn't matter. You just need to know he's kind of a wreck. His best friend, Iris, decides the best medicine is for him to get away. So she sends him to her childhood home on this little island you need to take a ferry to get to. So he goes. When he gets there, he finds he's not alone. Iris' older sister, Hannah, is there. We learn that she is there because she too needed to get away. She just got out of a 7 year relationship. Jack and Hannah drink together that first night and some things happen. The next morning, Iris comes to surprise Jack with groceries and such and is surprised herself to find Iris there. Jack decides that keeping the drunken hookup a secret from Iris is the best thing. What follows is a study on Iris and Hannah's relationship, Iris and Jack's relationship, and all the complications brought on by them.
This could have easily veered into Soap Opera territory. It's sort of a romantic-comedy-drama with plenty of melodrama, but it never feels like a play caught on film. Most, if not all, of the credit belongs to the actors. I am always in awe of Mark Duplass. He plays Jack. He's most famous for playing Pete on FX's The League. But he is also a terrific filmmaker himself. Not only that, he's also a fantastic actor. He does the drama so well while also bringing comedy into it effortlessly. This doesn't get seen on something like The League. Emily Blunt, who plays Iris, knocks it out of the park. But seriously, when does she not? She brought life into the sluggish third act of Looper. Rosemarie DeWitt also gets huge props from me. It's amazing how much chemistry Emily and Rosemarie have. The thing you've got to know is, Rosemarie came on board only a few days prior to filming. The part of Hannah originally was going to be Rachael Weisz, but she had to bow out due to scheduling conflicts. The chemistry is never more astonishing than in one particular scene where Emily and Rosemarie are laying in bed and talking. All in one shot. It's such a pure moment when Iris is confessing her love for Jack, and the pain Hannah is feeling when she realizes "Shit. I slept with this guy that my sister loves. Shit". And the complications just keep piling up. It's not a "twist" kind of movie, but there are moments where you go "oh my god."
Admittedly, the third act kind of drags, as with most films, but the first 2 make up for that. You're invested in these people. They feel real. You care about the outcome. This is a terrific little film that I can't recommend enough. Seek it out! Do it. Especially if you dig emotional comedy/drama between real people. If not, go watch Battleship. I feel sorry for you if you do.
Your Sister's Sister: A.
After I wrote that post, I decided to do that more often. Reviews on films. It's just so much fun. I don't know if it's fun to read, but it is certainly fun to write. So that's what I'm going to do. Review films. Now know this, I'm not a critic. I'm not even a professional writer. I'm a just a guy who is passionate about films.
Yesterday, I decided to start a project on Facebook. I have Netflix, instant and DVD in mail, and thought "I should do one of those 'Photo a Day' type things". But instead of a photo a day, I'll take a picture of my Netflix DVDs. Every DVD for a year. Starting today. Starting with Your Sister's Sister. And with each picture, I'll write a little review on my blog. So, here it goes.
Your Sister's Sister is a small movie. Meaning that there are 3 characters in the entire thing. But boy, do those 3 people keep your attention. The plot is fairly simple. It's been a year since Jack's brother died and he still hasn't really gotten over it. His life is sort of in shambles. You don't know the specifics, but it doesn't matter. You just need to know he's kind of a wreck. His best friend, Iris, decides the best medicine is for him to get away. So she sends him to her childhood home on this little island you need to take a ferry to get to. So he goes. When he gets there, he finds he's not alone. Iris' older sister, Hannah, is there. We learn that she is there because she too needed to get away. She just got out of a 7 year relationship. Jack and Hannah drink together that first night and some things happen. The next morning, Iris comes to surprise Jack with groceries and such and is surprised herself to find Iris there. Jack decides that keeping the drunken hookup a secret from Iris is the best thing. What follows is a study on Iris and Hannah's relationship, Iris and Jack's relationship, and all the complications brought on by them.
This could have easily veered into Soap Opera territory. It's sort of a romantic-comedy-drama with plenty of melodrama, but it never feels like a play caught on film. Most, if not all, of the credit belongs to the actors. I am always in awe of Mark Duplass. He plays Jack. He's most famous for playing Pete on FX's The League. But he is also a terrific filmmaker himself. Not only that, he's also a fantastic actor. He does the drama so well while also bringing comedy into it effortlessly. This doesn't get seen on something like The League. Emily Blunt, who plays Iris, knocks it out of the park. But seriously, when does she not? She brought life into the sluggish third act of Looper. Rosemarie DeWitt also gets huge props from me. It's amazing how much chemistry Emily and Rosemarie have. The thing you've got to know is, Rosemarie came on board only a few days prior to filming. The part of Hannah originally was going to be Rachael Weisz, but she had to bow out due to scheduling conflicts. The chemistry is never more astonishing than in one particular scene where Emily and Rosemarie are laying in bed and talking. All in one shot. It's such a pure moment when Iris is confessing her love for Jack, and the pain Hannah is feeling when she realizes "Shit. I slept with this guy that my sister loves. Shit". And the complications just keep piling up. It's not a "twist" kind of movie, but there are moments where you go "oh my god."
Admittedly, the third act kind of drags, as with most films, but the first 2 make up for that. You're invested in these people. They feel real. You care about the outcome. This is a terrific little film that I can't recommend enough. Seek it out! Do it. Especially if you dig emotional comedy/drama between real people. If not, go watch Battleship. I feel sorry for you if you do.
Your Sister's Sister: A.
Monday, October 29, 2012
Films That Inspire Me
For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to tell stories. Most people who know me know I want to make films. I haven't always wanted to be a filmmaker, however. When I graduated from high school, I received a letter from my first grade teacher telling me who I was when I first started my life as a student. I was shocked when she said that I would write stories just for fun. I had forgotten all about that. See, back when I was 5, I wanted to be an author. Mainly because that was the only way I knew how to get my stories out there. I didn't know what a screenwriter/director/filmmaker was. All I knew were authors. I didn't realize until I was about 14 years old that I wanted to be a filmmaker. Authors can only do so much. It's up to the reader to come up with the world of the book inside their head. Movies present everything for you. It's a combination of colors, visuals, music, emotions, etc. When you get all that just right, it leaves a lasting impression.
What follows is a list of films that inspire me. They make me want to be a filmmaker. Films that make me say out loud, "My god! I want to do that!" Keep in mind, these are not my favorite films of all time. That's not what this list is. Some of these movies might make that list, most of these movies don't. These are movies that inspire me to pick up a camera and shoot. Some might be surprising. Some might be obvious. Here we go (in no particular order).
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.
One of the most original films I've ever seen. And Jim Carey's best work (right next to The Truman Show). I'm not a big fan of his comedic roles, but I LOVE him in dramatic roles. Save for the stinker that is The Number 23. ESotSM takes place mostly in Jim's mind. And it's told mostly in flashbacks, showing the ups and downs of his relationship with a girl named Clementine, played by the ALWAYS fantastic Kate Winslet. At the beginning, we learn that Jim and Kate break up and that she has removed any and all memories of him and their relationship. After learning this, HE wants to same procedure done. The procedure requires that you remember, or "relive", each and every memory so it can be deleted. This starts out fine since he first remembers the lousy memories, but when he starts getting to the good memories, he changes his mind about getting the procedure done, but can't do a thing about it. There is nothing about this flick I dislike. From the great cast, amazing screenplay by Charlie Kaufman, and fantastic direction by Michel Gondry, this is one that EVERYONE should check out.
Stranger Than Fiction.
Another film that feature a famous comedic actor in a dramatic role. Will Ferrell. Will Ferrell is so outside of his usual shtick, he's almost unrecognizable. That's not to say he's not funny in this, just not what a Will Ferrell fan would expect. In this, he plays an IRS auditor who lives a mundane life where nothing, and I mean NOTHING, exciting or interesting happens to him. That is until he hears a voice. A voice that is narrating his life. One day, the voice says that he is going to die. Soon. This causes several changes in his life as he searches for answers. Whose voice is that? Is he going crazy? Is he a character in some one's novel and if so, can he track down the author before he is killed? It's hard not to smile while watching this movie. Will's performance is just so good! This could have easily been one of those over-the-top comedies but it's played straight right down the line.
The Apartment.
Ok, this is one that makes my "Favorites of All Time" list. Made in 1960, it holds up amazingly well today. Even with it being in black and white, there is virtually nothing that dates this flick, aside from the "Elevator Girls". People couldn't push their own buttons back then? This is the story of C.C. Baxter, an insurance clerk climbing the corporate ladder by "loaning" his apartment out to his cheating bosses. He has a schedule written out in advance. This superior gets the key Monday night, this one on Wednesday, this boss gets the place Thursday, and so on. Because of this, he is in line for a promotion, which he really doesn't deserve. Everything is going great, until he learns that the girl he fancies has been visiting his apartment with the big boss. She is similarly distressed when she learns the big boss is also seeing other girls. This causes her to try to kill herself. Baxter finds her, aids her back to health, and tries to turn things around. How does he keep his job, his apartment, and the girl? Billy Wilder (the director) is a well established filmmaker, having made many fantastic films. But this is the one I call my favorite. That's a tall order considering he also made Some Like It Hot, Sunset Boulevard, The Fortune Cookie, and so on. I could go on, but won't, mainly because many of you don't know what these are, which makes me sad. The Apartment starts out as a comedy with Jack Lemmon doing some great physical bits, as well as some hilarious dialogue. But as we get further into the flick, layers are shed as it becomes darker and darker. Not to say it's a hard movie to watch. It keeps an optimism about it, thanks to the wonderful Shirley MacLaine. She remains cheerful even after trying to off herself and even while she and Jack exchange heartbreak stories and shared thoughts of suicide. Wow, that sounds depressing. It's not. It's a wonderful romantic comedy. I swear.
Up in the Air.
George Clooney. How did he NOT win the Oscar with this? Good ol' George plays a man who flies around the country and fires people for bosses who are too cowardly to do it themselves. He thrives on this life. He has no real connections, even with his own family. He goes place to place, hotel to hotel, and he loves it. Staying in one place, his actually apartment, is the worst. He hates being grounded. When the company he works for takes on a new girl, a girl with big ideas that will change the way people are fired, he is a little angry. The idea is that people don't have to travel anymore. No more face to face layoffs. All this can be done over Skype, essentially. So, as a last ditch effort to keep his life traveling, George takes the new girl on the road, showing her just what it is he does. There's a "comfort" in being told you are fired when you are told face to face with someone. Along the way, he begins a relationship with a fellow traveler that starts out as just sexual but becomes something more when he brings her to his sister's wedding. This is writer/director Jason Reitman's 3rd film, and his best. He hasn't made a bad movie, which is hard to believe. First was Thank You for Smoking, a hilarious satire about big tobacco. Next was Juno, which is essentially a love it or hate it movie. I'm one who loves it. Next is this, then followed by Young Adult, which is also fantastic! But this is about Up in the Air. It's about connections. Why they are bad news, but also why they are essential to one's existence. Without any real connection, you are just floating through life. But connections also weigh you down, slowly killing you. Ok, that's a little harsh. But this film makes a case for both sides. And George is absolutely perfect in this! He showed us he can be a serious actor and not just a face with Michael Clayton, and with this he shows us the range, the emotions he can bring. Dear Academy members, what the hell?!
Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist.
REALLY!? Yes. I admit, it isn't a great movie, but it got me, man. Simple story. Nick (Michael Cera) and Norah (Kat Dennings) drive around New York City, looking for a secret show this AMAZING band is playing at while also searching for their drunk friend who ran away from the group. Like I said, simple. This is a hipster movie, no doubt about it. It feature indie bands, bands hipsters knew about BEFORE they were cool, little slices of heaven in restaurants and clubs only known about by locals, and soundtrack music only known by hip people. The movie itself isn't why it's on this list, but the way the movie made me feel. It feels like a journey, it makes you fall in love with movies in general. It's an experience. The performances are top notch as well. With everyone. The leads, secondary characters, and even cameo appearances are first rate. Especially Ari Graynor as the drunk girl. She steals every scene she is in. "Why do you have no pants on, alter boy?" And also, New York City serves as an important character in the story. It wouldn't be the same if it took place in Chicago or LA or anywhere else. Some movies have magical powers. This reminds you of that.
The Social Network.
This movie shouldn't have worked. The creation of Facebook. Terrible idea for a movie, right? Wrong! At the beginning, it was mocked as "The Facebook Movie", but when it came out, it blew every one's minds. Including mine. This is drama at it's finest. Most, if not all, is due to Aaron Sorkin's script. Virtually, nothing happens on screen. Yes, some visuals take place, but this is a movie about dialogue. The dialogue is what drives it. People sitting around, talking. The best scene is the very first one. The one that takes place before the opening credits. A guy and a girl, sitting at a crowded bar, talking. Talking about everything and nothing. Right off the bat, we know our main character, Mark Zukerberg (played perfectly by Jesse Eisenberg), is not a good guy. He's not a bad guy either. He's just an asshole. Or, he's trying so hard to be. Who doesn't know someone like that? I can't just give him props though. Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake, Armie Hammer, Rooney Mara (who has about 8 minutes of screentime) are all fantastic. This is a film that can be watched many times, each showing what each person brings to their roles. I mean it, watch the movie and only focus on one character. Then, watch it again but look at a different character. I think director David Fincher deserves the credit here. He is notorious for doing upwards of 100 takes per scene. Also, the music in the film is unbelievable. Who knew the guy from Nine Inch Nails can compose the fuck out of a movie? The Oscar was his, uncontested. Same SHOULD HAVE BEEN for the movie. Really, Academy voters? The King's Speech over The Social Network? Can recounts be done with the Oscars?
Midnight in Paris.
Nostalgia. This is basically what the movie is about. And that's breaking it down into the dumbest possible way. A writer (Owen Wilson) and his wife (Rachael McAdams) are vacationing in Paris. Owen writes screenplays for movies which he hates and is trying to free his mind so he can write his novel. Upon strolling the streets at night, he is somehow transported back in time to the 1920's. This is his favorite era. He meets F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, Pablo Picasso, and many other significant players from that time. The next day, he wakes up in his own time, wondering if the whole thing was a dream. But when he takes another midnight stroll and winds up back in the 20's, he realizes this isn't a dream. He's wining and dining with the greats and also falls head over heels with a woman who shares his love for the past. This is a lovely movie. I'm quite a nostalgic person, some thing you'd gather after taking one look around my apartment, and found this movie pulling the strings of my heart. It tells you how great the past was, but also how you can't live in the past. The present is the greatest time in history. No matter when it is, the time you live in right now is the most important. I was surprised at how much I love this movie. I really like Woody Allen (the writer/director) but I don't love him. Yes, he's made some great flicks. Annie Hall, Manhattan, Purple Rose of Cairo, Match Point. All amazing. But he's also made a lot of duds. I won't go into naming them because he's made SO many. The man makes a movie every year. Seriously. But every once in a while, he hits big. This is the case with Midnight in Paris, which audiences agree. This is his highest grossing movie to date and it's easy to see why. I love that there is no explanation for time travel here. Because there doesn't need to be an explanation. It's a wonderful romantic comedy fantasy. One that would warm even the coldest of hearts.
Back to the Future.
Another movie about time travel. I probably quote this movie at least 11 times during the day. Friends and acquaintances can tell you that. Also another movie about nostalgia. This time, the 50's. I won't go too much into this since EVERYONE knows this movie.
Brick.
A modern film noir. What is that? A genre popular back in the day. The black and white day. Detective films. Whodunit films. Only this one has a twist. It's about high school students. A loner finds his ex, dead outside a tunnel to a storm drain. What follows is a search to find out who killed her. But more importantly, why. This movie is unbelievably good. I actually stumbled onto this while randomly looking through a video store. You know, those things that had movies you could physically rent. Before the days of streaming and Netfilx and Redbox. The dialogue is a little hard to follow if you aren't used to it, but the story isn't even with it's many twists and turns. My high school experiences weren't this intense. Teenage drug dealers, kingpins, and prostitutes. Boy, did I grow up in the wrong town. It's even more impressive that this is the debut for first time filmmaker Rian Johnson. Oh, you know. The guy who did Looper. He spent a long time on this script, and it shows. There isn't a bad thing I can say about this movie. This is what a debut film should be. Clever, engaging, and original but also pays respect to films before it.
Honorable mentions: Drive, Into the Wild, Ghostbusters, (500) Days of Summer, Moon, Reservoir Dogs, Taxi Driver, The Thing (1982), An American Werewolf in London, The Beach, Hugo, Close Encounters of the Third Kind.
What follows is a list of films that inspire me. They make me want to be a filmmaker. Films that make me say out loud, "My god! I want to do that!" Keep in mind, these are not my favorite films of all time. That's not what this list is. Some of these movies might make that list, most of these movies don't. These are movies that inspire me to pick up a camera and shoot. Some might be surprising. Some might be obvious. Here we go (in no particular order).
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.
One of the most original films I've ever seen. And Jim Carey's best work (right next to The Truman Show). I'm not a big fan of his comedic roles, but I LOVE him in dramatic roles. Save for the stinker that is The Number 23. ESotSM takes place mostly in Jim's mind. And it's told mostly in flashbacks, showing the ups and downs of his relationship with a girl named Clementine, played by the ALWAYS fantastic Kate Winslet. At the beginning, we learn that Jim and Kate break up and that she has removed any and all memories of him and their relationship. After learning this, HE wants to same procedure done. The procedure requires that you remember, or "relive", each and every memory so it can be deleted. This starts out fine since he first remembers the lousy memories, but when he starts getting to the good memories, he changes his mind about getting the procedure done, but can't do a thing about it. There is nothing about this flick I dislike. From the great cast, amazing screenplay by Charlie Kaufman, and fantastic direction by Michel Gondry, this is one that EVERYONE should check out.
Stranger Than Fiction.
Another film that feature a famous comedic actor in a dramatic role. Will Ferrell. Will Ferrell is so outside of his usual shtick, he's almost unrecognizable. That's not to say he's not funny in this, just not what a Will Ferrell fan would expect. In this, he plays an IRS auditor who lives a mundane life where nothing, and I mean NOTHING, exciting or interesting happens to him. That is until he hears a voice. A voice that is narrating his life. One day, the voice says that he is going to die. Soon. This causes several changes in his life as he searches for answers. Whose voice is that? Is he going crazy? Is he a character in some one's novel and if so, can he track down the author before he is killed? It's hard not to smile while watching this movie. Will's performance is just so good! This could have easily been one of those over-the-top comedies but it's played straight right down the line.
The Apartment.
Ok, this is one that makes my "Favorites of All Time" list. Made in 1960, it holds up amazingly well today. Even with it being in black and white, there is virtually nothing that dates this flick, aside from the "Elevator Girls". People couldn't push their own buttons back then? This is the story of C.C. Baxter, an insurance clerk climbing the corporate ladder by "loaning" his apartment out to his cheating bosses. He has a schedule written out in advance. This superior gets the key Monday night, this one on Wednesday, this boss gets the place Thursday, and so on. Because of this, he is in line for a promotion, which he really doesn't deserve. Everything is going great, until he learns that the girl he fancies has been visiting his apartment with the big boss. She is similarly distressed when she learns the big boss is also seeing other girls. This causes her to try to kill herself. Baxter finds her, aids her back to health, and tries to turn things around. How does he keep his job, his apartment, and the girl? Billy Wilder (the director) is a well established filmmaker, having made many fantastic films. But this is the one I call my favorite. That's a tall order considering he also made Some Like It Hot, Sunset Boulevard, The Fortune Cookie, and so on. I could go on, but won't, mainly because many of you don't know what these are, which makes me sad. The Apartment starts out as a comedy with Jack Lemmon doing some great physical bits, as well as some hilarious dialogue. But as we get further into the flick, layers are shed as it becomes darker and darker. Not to say it's a hard movie to watch. It keeps an optimism about it, thanks to the wonderful Shirley MacLaine. She remains cheerful even after trying to off herself and even while she and Jack exchange heartbreak stories and shared thoughts of suicide. Wow, that sounds depressing. It's not. It's a wonderful romantic comedy. I swear.
Up in the Air.
George Clooney. How did he NOT win the Oscar with this? Good ol' George plays a man who flies around the country and fires people for bosses who are too cowardly to do it themselves. He thrives on this life. He has no real connections, even with his own family. He goes place to place, hotel to hotel, and he loves it. Staying in one place, his actually apartment, is the worst. He hates being grounded. When the company he works for takes on a new girl, a girl with big ideas that will change the way people are fired, he is a little angry. The idea is that people don't have to travel anymore. No more face to face layoffs. All this can be done over Skype, essentially. So, as a last ditch effort to keep his life traveling, George takes the new girl on the road, showing her just what it is he does. There's a "comfort" in being told you are fired when you are told face to face with someone. Along the way, he begins a relationship with a fellow traveler that starts out as just sexual but becomes something more when he brings her to his sister's wedding. This is writer/director Jason Reitman's 3rd film, and his best. He hasn't made a bad movie, which is hard to believe. First was Thank You for Smoking, a hilarious satire about big tobacco. Next was Juno, which is essentially a love it or hate it movie. I'm one who loves it. Next is this, then followed by Young Adult, which is also fantastic! But this is about Up in the Air. It's about connections. Why they are bad news, but also why they are essential to one's existence. Without any real connection, you are just floating through life. But connections also weigh you down, slowly killing you. Ok, that's a little harsh. But this film makes a case for both sides. And George is absolutely perfect in this! He showed us he can be a serious actor and not just a face with Michael Clayton, and with this he shows us the range, the emotions he can bring. Dear Academy members, what the hell?!
Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist.
REALLY!? Yes. I admit, it isn't a great movie, but it got me, man. Simple story. Nick (Michael Cera) and Norah (Kat Dennings) drive around New York City, looking for a secret show this AMAZING band is playing at while also searching for their drunk friend who ran away from the group. Like I said, simple. This is a hipster movie, no doubt about it. It feature indie bands, bands hipsters knew about BEFORE they were cool, little slices of heaven in restaurants and clubs only known about by locals, and soundtrack music only known by hip people. The movie itself isn't why it's on this list, but the way the movie made me feel. It feels like a journey, it makes you fall in love with movies in general. It's an experience. The performances are top notch as well. With everyone. The leads, secondary characters, and even cameo appearances are first rate. Especially Ari Graynor as the drunk girl. She steals every scene she is in. "Why do you have no pants on, alter boy?" And also, New York City serves as an important character in the story. It wouldn't be the same if it took place in Chicago or LA or anywhere else. Some movies have magical powers. This reminds you of that.
The Social Network.
This movie shouldn't have worked. The creation of Facebook. Terrible idea for a movie, right? Wrong! At the beginning, it was mocked as "The Facebook Movie", but when it came out, it blew every one's minds. Including mine. This is drama at it's finest. Most, if not all, is due to Aaron Sorkin's script. Virtually, nothing happens on screen. Yes, some visuals take place, but this is a movie about dialogue. The dialogue is what drives it. People sitting around, talking. The best scene is the very first one. The one that takes place before the opening credits. A guy and a girl, sitting at a crowded bar, talking. Talking about everything and nothing. Right off the bat, we know our main character, Mark Zukerberg (played perfectly by Jesse Eisenberg), is not a good guy. He's not a bad guy either. He's just an asshole. Or, he's trying so hard to be. Who doesn't know someone like that? I can't just give him props though. Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake, Armie Hammer, Rooney Mara (who has about 8 minutes of screentime) are all fantastic. This is a film that can be watched many times, each showing what each person brings to their roles. I mean it, watch the movie and only focus on one character. Then, watch it again but look at a different character. I think director David Fincher deserves the credit here. He is notorious for doing upwards of 100 takes per scene. Also, the music in the film is unbelievable. Who knew the guy from Nine Inch Nails can compose the fuck out of a movie? The Oscar was his, uncontested. Same SHOULD HAVE BEEN for the movie. Really, Academy voters? The King's Speech over The Social Network? Can recounts be done with the Oscars?
Midnight in Paris.
Nostalgia. This is basically what the movie is about. And that's breaking it down into the dumbest possible way. A writer (Owen Wilson) and his wife (Rachael McAdams) are vacationing in Paris. Owen writes screenplays for movies which he hates and is trying to free his mind so he can write his novel. Upon strolling the streets at night, he is somehow transported back in time to the 1920's. This is his favorite era. He meets F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, Pablo Picasso, and many other significant players from that time. The next day, he wakes up in his own time, wondering if the whole thing was a dream. But when he takes another midnight stroll and winds up back in the 20's, he realizes this isn't a dream. He's wining and dining with the greats and also falls head over heels with a woman who shares his love for the past. This is a lovely movie. I'm quite a nostalgic person, some thing you'd gather after taking one look around my apartment, and found this movie pulling the strings of my heart. It tells you how great the past was, but also how you can't live in the past. The present is the greatest time in history. No matter when it is, the time you live in right now is the most important. I was surprised at how much I love this movie. I really like Woody Allen (the writer/director) but I don't love him. Yes, he's made some great flicks. Annie Hall, Manhattan, Purple Rose of Cairo, Match Point. All amazing. But he's also made a lot of duds. I won't go into naming them because he's made SO many. The man makes a movie every year. Seriously. But every once in a while, he hits big. This is the case with Midnight in Paris, which audiences agree. This is his highest grossing movie to date and it's easy to see why. I love that there is no explanation for time travel here. Because there doesn't need to be an explanation. It's a wonderful romantic comedy fantasy. One that would warm even the coldest of hearts.
Back to the Future.
Another movie about time travel. I probably quote this movie at least 11 times during the day. Friends and acquaintances can tell you that. Also another movie about nostalgia. This time, the 50's. I won't go too much into this since EVERYONE knows this movie.
Brick.
A modern film noir. What is that? A genre popular back in the day. The black and white day. Detective films. Whodunit films. Only this one has a twist. It's about high school students. A loner finds his ex, dead outside a tunnel to a storm drain. What follows is a search to find out who killed her. But more importantly, why. This movie is unbelievably good. I actually stumbled onto this while randomly looking through a video store. You know, those things that had movies you could physically rent. Before the days of streaming and Netfilx and Redbox. The dialogue is a little hard to follow if you aren't used to it, but the story isn't even with it's many twists and turns. My high school experiences weren't this intense. Teenage drug dealers, kingpins, and prostitutes. Boy, did I grow up in the wrong town. It's even more impressive that this is the debut for first time filmmaker Rian Johnson. Oh, you know. The guy who did Looper. He spent a long time on this script, and it shows. There isn't a bad thing I can say about this movie. This is what a debut film should be. Clever, engaging, and original but also pays respect to films before it.
Honorable mentions: Drive, Into the Wild, Ghostbusters, (500) Days of Summer, Moon, Reservoir Dogs, Taxi Driver, The Thing (1982), An American Werewolf in London, The Beach, Hugo, Close Encounters of the Third Kind.
Sunday, May 6, 2012
5 Things I've Learned in my Year of Stand Up
Hello, guys and gals. Whoa, is that right?! My last post was in October? Jeez, I've been slackin'. Hopefully this will make up for it, but I doubt it will.
So, I did it. I hit a milestone. I have been doing stand up for a year. Wow. Has it been a year already? My first stab at stand up was February 2011, which I believe I blogged about, and my latest show was last Tuesday at The House of Comedy. During that year, I have performed a total of 11 or 12 times. 3 shows at Acme, 6 or 7 at HoC, 1 at Comedy Corner Underground, and 1 at Duhb Linn's in Duluth. Since that first performance, I've learned some things.
1. Getting Stage Time is Hard.
After my first killer set at Acme, I posted on Facebook and Twitter "Tonight was amazing! Give me 6 months and I'll be a local celebrity." Boy, was I wrong! Professional comics have gone on record saying the hardest thing about starting out is just getting stage time. Part of this is due to the fact that clubs tend to fill their set lists with people who have NEVER performed before and with the local big dogs who consistently kill it every week. This leaves little room for comics like myself. Another reason why getting stage time is so hard is #2.
2. There Are More Funny People Out There Than You Realize.
In a small town, there are probably a handful of truly funny people. This is NOT true in a bigger city. It seems like everyone and their brothers want to be comedians. Especially during contests. They come out of the freakin' woodwork during contest season. And a thing to remember, everyone wants to make it as a comic just as much as you do, maybe even more. The ages of comedians vary as well. There are those as young as 18 and some as old as 50 or 60. Seriously. I've seen them. And I'm not just talking about comedians who do this professionally. I mean Open Mic-ers. 50 year olds trying it for the first time. It's crazy.
3. Everybody Bombs at Some Point. EVERYBODY.
If you can get over this fact, then you'll be fine. Bombing (telling jokes that get little or no laughs) is a comic's worst nightmare. Actually, mine is bombing and then getting stabbed as I walk off stage. It's a horrible feeling. Bombing, not the stabbing, although I'm sure that's pretty bad too. You just want to curl up in a ball and die in a dark corner afterwards. But even the best comics bomb. It makes you want to do better for next time.
4. Comedians Often Retell Jokes.
This is something I didn't understand at first. I had gone to a show one week, just as an audience member, then went back the following week and heard most of the same material from the previous week. I thought "They're telling the same jokes! Don't they write new stuff?" Coming up with new material is hard. Coming up with new material that is funny is even harder. Key elements for a comedian: start the show strong and end the show strong. You can only really do this with material that you know will work. And a joke is never really finished anyway. Each time you tell it, you polish it up a bit. Making it better.
5. Every Audience is Different.
A joke that works with one audience may fall flat with another. I can't tell you how many times I've seen this happen. It has happened to the best of them as well as myself. And also, if you lose an audience, it's really hard to get them back, especially in the 3 to 7 minute window Open Mic comics get. For the most part, audiences react pretty strongly to dick jokes, sex jokes, and gay jokes. But try to avoid sizing the audience up. There is no telling what an audience will like. It's mainly about how you feel that night and which jokes YOU want to tell.
So, there you have it. 5 things I've learned. Now, there are more things that I've learned, but these are the 5 I wanted to commit to blog. I may share the rest of my findings at a later date. Maybe. I think I'll leave you with something a fellow comic told me at one of my first shows. "Welcome to the world of stand up. It's a wonderful string of disappointments."
So, I did it. I hit a milestone. I have been doing stand up for a year. Wow. Has it been a year already? My first stab at stand up was February 2011, which I believe I blogged about, and my latest show was last Tuesday at The House of Comedy. During that year, I have performed a total of 11 or 12 times. 3 shows at Acme, 6 or 7 at HoC, 1 at Comedy Corner Underground, and 1 at Duhb Linn's in Duluth. Since that first performance, I've learned some things.
1. Getting Stage Time is Hard.
After my first killer set at Acme, I posted on Facebook and Twitter "Tonight was amazing! Give me 6 months and I'll be a local celebrity." Boy, was I wrong! Professional comics have gone on record saying the hardest thing about starting out is just getting stage time. Part of this is due to the fact that clubs tend to fill their set lists with people who have NEVER performed before and with the local big dogs who consistently kill it every week. This leaves little room for comics like myself. Another reason why getting stage time is so hard is #2.
2. There Are More Funny People Out There Than You Realize.
In a small town, there are probably a handful of truly funny people. This is NOT true in a bigger city. It seems like everyone and their brothers want to be comedians. Especially during contests. They come out of the freakin' woodwork during contest season. And a thing to remember, everyone wants to make it as a comic just as much as you do, maybe even more. The ages of comedians vary as well. There are those as young as 18 and some as old as 50 or 60. Seriously. I've seen them. And I'm not just talking about comedians who do this professionally. I mean Open Mic-ers. 50 year olds trying it for the first time. It's crazy.
3. Everybody Bombs at Some Point. EVERYBODY.
If you can get over this fact, then you'll be fine. Bombing (telling jokes that get little or no laughs) is a comic's worst nightmare. Actually, mine is bombing and then getting stabbed as I walk off stage. It's a horrible feeling. Bombing, not the stabbing, although I'm sure that's pretty bad too. You just want to curl up in a ball and die in a dark corner afterwards. But even the best comics bomb. It makes you want to do better for next time.
4. Comedians Often Retell Jokes.
This is something I didn't understand at first. I had gone to a show one week, just as an audience member, then went back the following week and heard most of the same material from the previous week. I thought "They're telling the same jokes! Don't they write new stuff?" Coming up with new material is hard. Coming up with new material that is funny is even harder. Key elements for a comedian: start the show strong and end the show strong. You can only really do this with material that you know will work. And a joke is never really finished anyway. Each time you tell it, you polish it up a bit. Making it better.
5. Every Audience is Different.
A joke that works with one audience may fall flat with another. I can't tell you how many times I've seen this happen. It has happened to the best of them as well as myself. And also, if you lose an audience, it's really hard to get them back, especially in the 3 to 7 minute window Open Mic comics get. For the most part, audiences react pretty strongly to dick jokes, sex jokes, and gay jokes. But try to avoid sizing the audience up. There is no telling what an audience will like. It's mainly about how you feel that night and which jokes YOU want to tell.
So, there you have it. 5 things I've learned. Now, there are more things that I've learned, but these are the 5 I wanted to commit to blog. I may share the rest of my findings at a later date. Maybe. I think I'll leave you with something a fellow comic told me at one of my first shows. "Welcome to the world of stand up. It's a wonderful string of disappointments."
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Growing Up
Hello, boys and girls. I know. I know. I haven't posted in a while. Sorry. Here's a juicy one that will (hopefully) keep you satisfied.
So, where do I begin? As you know, I moved out on my own earlier this year. I mean, not COMPLETELY on my own. I had 3 roommates which would later turn into 1 roommate. And that went pretty well for the last 8 months. THEN, my roommate got preggers. That was a super interesting day. She went from hysterical laughter to balling her eys out to laughing again to a state of total calm then back to crying and laughing. So soon after finding this out, she and her boyfriend decided to move in together. Now, when I say this, I don't mean he was moving into our apartment. I mean they were getting an apartment for them to raise a kid in, which left me with the task of finding my own apartment. MY FIRST APARTMENT. No roommates, no parents, no nothing. Just me. A "big boy" apartment, as I like to call it. So after looking at a few, I found one that I LOVE, signed some papers, wrote a check, and got approved. After all this, I thought, "Shit. I'm really out on my own now. I'm growing up." And I became sad a little. I have always said I don't wanna grow up. But I guess everyone grows up at some point whether they want to or not.
Also, I was promoted at work a month or so ago. I am now a Shift Manager at the restaurant I work at. (I can't name the place I work at in blogs, my stand up act, or anything else online. I could get fired if I do...) I never thought I would ever be an authority figure of any kind ever. I mean, I'm immature. The words poop and peepee make me giggle, I make fart and dick jokes, I have Power Ranger bed sheets. Yeah, like I said, immature. And they made ME a manager. Again, another step to growing up.
Lastly, if you know me then you know I love being single. I love girls, plain and simple. I'm always on the look out for the next girl. I can't help it, that's just the way I am. The number of girls I've had sex with may shock you. (I have gotten tested. Yeah, THAT many.) So, needless to say, settling down was the FURTHEST thing from my mind. My last girlfriend was back in 2008. And then SHE walked into my restaurant. Now, I'll be honest, this wasn't a "love at first sight" type of thing. My first thought was "She's good looking. Wonder how long I can get her out of those clothes." Then I kept seeing her every few days. She is a regular at this place and gets the same thing every time. Pad Thai with chicken. So one day, I'm at the Mall of America and I run into her. I'm like "Hey, you come in to my store all the time" and she's like "Yeah, you serve me my food." Not the most romantic of meetings, I know. But we started talking, went on a few dates, and now we're dating. Come on. Me? Dating someone? I know, it's crazy. But I really like her. My eyes don't wander as much when I'm with her. (They still do, just not as much.) Like I said, I'm growing up.
Everyone grows up at some point. I'm not a completely different person, though. I still make fart and dick jokes, I still laugh when I hear poop and peepee, I still have those Power Ranger bed sheets (with matching pillow case). But I'm definitely more grown up than I was a year ago. I have my own 1 bedroom apartment, I'm a Shift Manager at work, I have a girlfriend. Pretty soon I'll start reading newpapers and worry about mortgages and tucking in my shirts. Growing up is a part of life, and I'm embracing it instead of fearing it.
P.S. I'm wearing underwear now. I never use to. Comando was how I rolled, but not anymore. What has happened to me?!
So, where do I begin? As you know, I moved out on my own earlier this year. I mean, not COMPLETELY on my own. I had 3 roommates which would later turn into 1 roommate. And that went pretty well for the last 8 months. THEN, my roommate got preggers. That was a super interesting day. She went from hysterical laughter to balling her eys out to laughing again to a state of total calm then back to crying and laughing. So soon after finding this out, she and her boyfriend decided to move in together. Now, when I say this, I don't mean he was moving into our apartment. I mean they were getting an apartment for them to raise a kid in, which left me with the task of finding my own apartment. MY FIRST APARTMENT. No roommates, no parents, no nothing. Just me. A "big boy" apartment, as I like to call it. So after looking at a few, I found one that I LOVE, signed some papers, wrote a check, and got approved. After all this, I thought, "Shit. I'm really out on my own now. I'm growing up." And I became sad a little. I have always said I don't wanna grow up. But I guess everyone grows up at some point whether they want to or not.
Also, I was promoted at work a month or so ago. I am now a Shift Manager at the restaurant I work at. (I can't name the place I work at in blogs, my stand up act, or anything else online. I could get fired if I do...) I never thought I would ever be an authority figure of any kind ever. I mean, I'm immature. The words poop and peepee make me giggle, I make fart and dick jokes, I have Power Ranger bed sheets. Yeah, like I said, immature. And they made ME a manager. Again, another step to growing up.
Lastly, if you know me then you know I love being single. I love girls, plain and simple. I'm always on the look out for the next girl. I can't help it, that's just the way I am. The number of girls I've had sex with may shock you. (I have gotten tested. Yeah, THAT many.) So, needless to say, settling down was the FURTHEST thing from my mind. My last girlfriend was back in 2008. And then SHE walked into my restaurant. Now, I'll be honest, this wasn't a "love at first sight" type of thing. My first thought was "She's good looking. Wonder how long I can get her out of those clothes." Then I kept seeing her every few days. She is a regular at this place and gets the same thing every time. Pad Thai with chicken. So one day, I'm at the Mall of America and I run into her. I'm like "Hey, you come in to my store all the time" and she's like "Yeah, you serve me my food." Not the most romantic of meetings, I know. But we started talking, went on a few dates, and now we're dating. Come on. Me? Dating someone? I know, it's crazy. But I really like her. My eyes don't wander as much when I'm with her. (They still do, just not as much.) Like I said, I'm growing up.
Everyone grows up at some point. I'm not a completely different person, though. I still make fart and dick jokes, I still laugh when I hear poop and peepee, I still have those Power Ranger bed sheets (with matching pillow case). But I'm definitely more grown up than I was a year ago. I have my own 1 bedroom apartment, I'm a Shift Manager at work, I have a girlfriend. Pretty soon I'll start reading newpapers and worry about mortgages and tucking in my shirts. Growing up is a part of life, and I'm embracing it instead of fearing it.
P.S. I'm wearing underwear now. I never use to. Comando was how I rolled, but not anymore. What has happened to me?!
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