Netflix Musings Part 9
This month hasn't given me much time to watch movies, and I've been alternating between my netflix and working through seasons 2 and 3 of Supernatural on the side when I can.
So a relatively short entry list I guess.
The Work of Director Jonathan Glazer
The last of the director's labels in the second release set, I did really like his commercial works. The videos were far ranging in terms of quality but I think there was something in the fact that I wasn't as into the music as I could have been. Visually I wasn't as excited as I was about the actual edits.
American Gangster
This film was certainly well shot, I was continually amazed at how wonderful they made magic hour look. It's incredibly hard to shoot anything well during this weird period of late afternoon/early evening. The actors are all top notch in it and I'm sure the period of time in the film is accurately represented. But the story is somewhat typical of a gang history story, and the archetypes are in full swing. It just didn't do it for me.
Sword of the Stranger
For the studio this comes from alone I was prepared for a visually stunning experience. And BONES does not disappoint. The twists so to speak on the lone wolf and cub story found here aren't particularly innovative. The setting is a little unusual (winter on the coastlines of northern Japan) and they really pay attention to using the wind and snow which I thought was nice. The animation is the jaw dropper. Soundtrack is a little unusual for a film like this and evoked things like the lord of the rings rather than Japanese film.
Hacking Democracy
About the electronic voting machines developed after the 2000 elections and the flaws that even these machines have in accurately counting votes. It's a little conspiracy theory-ish but as so little information is known about these machines and their processes (due to the way they're designed). It showed that electronics have not solved everything.
Slacker Uprising
MAN...this needed to be like 40 minutes shorter than it was. Watching the same thing over and over again, just changing the setting wasn't enough to hold my interest. The musical interludes were not enough variety and the message was somewhat less urgent now that the left so to speak has won. It was not as interesting as it might have been I think. Not a typical Michael Moore film either which is saying a lot.
You Don't Mess With the Zohan
Hey I'll applaud any popular mainstream film that's trying to discuss real and difficult politics even a little. So for that, this is actually a surprising intro to people that have probably never even heard of the Palestine/Israeli conflict. In no way does it really address the complex history and politics of the region, but it at least talks about a region of the world rarely visited by Hollywood. And after that...it went all downhill unfortunately. Why is John Turturro in the lead "bad guy" role playing a Palestinian? They couldn't find anyone else to play this? It was clearly possible for them to find other actors of non-western descent to fill the other rules. So why him? I'm not a huge fan of Adam Sandler and if you've seen one film by him you've kinda seen them all. Too long (could have cut at least 20 minutes from this) and the ending turns formula.
UP
Yeah...best to be going to see this. I'm not married, I probably never will be at the rate I'm going but I ADORED this film. Notch another great film to the Pixar belt, dealing with difficult and adult subject in a kid friendly and funny way. I won't wax poetic...I'll just tell you to get going and see it.
So a relatively short entry list I guess.
The Work of Director Jonathan Glazer
The last of the director's labels in the second release set, I did really like his commercial works. The videos were far ranging in terms of quality but I think there was something in the fact that I wasn't as into the music as I could have been. Visually I wasn't as excited as I was about the actual edits.
American Gangster
This film was certainly well shot, I was continually amazed at how wonderful they made magic hour look. It's incredibly hard to shoot anything well during this weird period of late afternoon/early evening. The actors are all top notch in it and I'm sure the period of time in the film is accurately represented. But the story is somewhat typical of a gang history story, and the archetypes are in full swing. It just didn't do it for me.
Sword of the Stranger
For the studio this comes from alone I was prepared for a visually stunning experience. And BONES does not disappoint. The twists so to speak on the lone wolf and cub story found here aren't particularly innovative. The setting is a little unusual (winter on the coastlines of northern Japan) and they really pay attention to using the wind and snow which I thought was nice. The animation is the jaw dropper. Soundtrack is a little unusual for a film like this and evoked things like the lord of the rings rather than Japanese film.
Hacking Democracy
About the electronic voting machines developed after the 2000 elections and the flaws that even these machines have in accurately counting votes. It's a little conspiracy theory-ish but as so little information is known about these machines and their processes (due to the way they're designed). It showed that electronics have not solved everything.
Slacker Uprising
MAN...this needed to be like 40 minutes shorter than it was. Watching the same thing over and over again, just changing the setting wasn't enough to hold my interest. The musical interludes were not enough variety and the message was somewhat less urgent now that the left so to speak has won. It was not as interesting as it might have been I think. Not a typical Michael Moore film either which is saying a lot.
You Don't Mess With the Zohan
Hey I'll applaud any popular mainstream film that's trying to discuss real and difficult politics even a little. So for that, this is actually a surprising intro to people that have probably never even heard of the Palestine/Israeli conflict. In no way does it really address the complex history and politics of the region, but it at least talks about a region of the world rarely visited by Hollywood. And after that...it went all downhill unfortunately. Why is John Turturro in the lead "bad guy" role playing a Palestinian? They couldn't find anyone else to play this? It was clearly possible for them to find other actors of non-western descent to fill the other rules. So why him? I'm not a huge fan of Adam Sandler and if you've seen one film by him you've kinda seen them all. Too long (could have cut at least 20 minutes from this) and the ending turns formula.
UP
Yeah...best to be going to see this. I'm not married, I probably never will be at the rate I'm going but I ADORED this film. Notch another great film to the Pixar belt, dealing with difficult and adult subject in a kid friendly and funny way. I won't wax poetic...I'll just tell you to get going and see it.