When undertaking the task of translating the life of a famous historical figure for the purpose of cinema, discounting adventurous "left field" attempts such as Todd Haynes's Bob Dylan biopic I'm Not There, there are basically two approaches to take: the micro and the macro. The micro approach selects a defining moment in the said protagonist's life and puts it under close scrutiny, so that we … [Read more...]
I may not have liked Inception quite as much as a lot of people, but I have to admit (as I have been known to say frequently) I would rather see people try to do something great and fail (or not quite get there), than sit through yet another example of trying to do something mindlessly aimed at the lowest common denominator and succeed brilliantly. While I think Nolan ultimately ran away with … [Read more...]
Win a copy of the Acclaimed Groundbreaking Films that Debut On Blu-ray Disc October 19, Featuring New High-Definition Transfers From The Original Camera Negative Supervised By Director Baz Luhrmann, Brand New Content And Never-Before-Seen Material. Two of famed director Baz Luhrmann’s unconventional, poetic and mesmerizing films get the star treatment October 19, when Twentieth Century Fox … [Read more...]
For most purposes, the words "complicated" and "complex" are synonyms. When you dig around a little though, there is a big difference between the two concepts, at least, if you ask a lot of philosophers and thinkers. Generally, a thing is as complex as it is, but it isn't too complex, or not complex enough. At the same time, it makes sense to think of some things as simple and complex. Things can … [Read more...]
Shutter Island, reviewed by me here, is coming to stores on June 8th, with surprisingly little in the way of bonus material. Starring three-time Academy Award® nominee Leonardo DiCaprio (The Departed), the film features an outstanding ensemble cast including Mark Ruffalo (Zodiac), Oscar® winner Sir Ben Kingsley (Gandhi), Max von Sydow (Minority Report), Michelle Williams (Brokeback Mountain) … [Read more...]
My father once gave me some very interesting advice. He told me to practice wearing a suit. He even relayed his own adventures to me of semi-regularly setting out for such practice to what cultural hot spots were available to a young man in the bustle that was Crosby, Minnesota circa 1950-ish. It may not sound like much, but it is advice that I have translated to nearly everything in life, and it … [Read more...]
An artist stares longingly at a blank canvas. A parent stares lovingly at their newborn child. There is a difference between these two events, though they are extremely similar. In both cases, the mind is filled with infinite potential, the incredible power of the existence of something with limitless possibilities, and because nothing has happened yet, nothing has gone wrong. The … [Read more...]
