Movies I Watched Instead of Writing Part 12

Brokeback Mountain [2005] -- Finally decided to check out what all the fuss was about. While it was very pretty and well acted, I have to admit it didn't really do that much for me. The fact that I was bloated from too much Chinese food couldn't have helped, but I found the story too simple to really move me in any significant way. I'm still trying to figure out why Syrianna wasn't nominated for best picture...

The Weatherman [2005] -- Really well made, beautifully shot, acted and written movie about mediocrity that goes... nowhere. I sort of enjoyed the non-ending, and Nick Cage & Michael Caine were really funny, but my God, couldn't anything good happen in this movie? I really liked it and I'm glad it was made, but I understand why it didn't make a red cent. Who wants to spend $12+ to sit through 2 hours of someone else's crappy life? I'll recomend it, but be warned, it's a downer.

My Wife is a Gangster [2001]-- Not nearly as goofy as I'd feared, it's more a comedy of manners in a lot of ways. At least, that's when it seemed to work best for me. Eun-Kyung Shin is excellent as the reluctant bride and her sense of movement and deadpan delivery make what could have been another tedious wacky Korean comedy suprisingly entertaining. I kept thinking about what an American remake would be like and the only word I could come up with is "awful". What was a charming dissection of gender roles in a country that's still getting used to the idea of women in the work force would be reduced to a lame vanity piece for a washed up starlet and whatever Hollywood Roadkill was still hanging around.

Criminal Woman: Killing Melody [1973] -- Predictably plotted, but well paced entry into the "Female Boss" subgenre of Pinky Violence that doesn't lack blood or boobies. It also opens and closes with a Reiko Ike/Miki Sugimoto cat fight, which frankly sold me right away. Reiko Ike is at her bitchy best, and while Miki is mostly relegated to pouting and looking hot with a full back dragon tattoo, seeing the two of them together in something that makes more sense than Sukeban Guerilla was a perfect birthday treat. And Ryoji Hayama from Bloody Territories is in it too!

Of Movies and Men

So, a couple of years ago the Washington Post posted an article about the enduring legacy of the movie Sixteen Candles and the character of Jake Ryan in particular. I found this very amusing since, while I never really did understand why so many women would obsess over Mr. Ryan, my sister was a big fan of Sixteen Candles and could be counted amongst their ranks (to the point where I had to get her this t-shirt when I found it in L.A.)

Well, this year they posted a companion piece, this time about a movie crush I could relate to: Say Anything's Lloyd Dobbler. Now, while my sister can also count Mr. Dobbler amongst her fantasy crushes, I think the fact that I just don't get the whole Jake Ryan thing brings up some interesting points about what these sorts of things say about our personalities.

The protagonist of Sixteen Candles, Samantha Baker (Molly Ringwald), basically spends the entire movie complaining about how no one ever notices her and how her whole family managed to forget her sixteenth birthday. My sister, being the middle child, can no doubt relate and for many years honestly believed that bad things were destined to happen on her birthday (it also didn't help that bad things did have a habit of happening on her birthday, but that also depends on you definition of "bad things").

The protagonist of Say Anything, Diane Court (Ione Skye),is a bookish golden girl who has a hard time believing guys find her attractive. Now, while I don't suppose myself to be nearly as smart and gifted as Diane Court, I certainly was a bit of a nerd in highschool.

Jake Ryan (Michael Schoeffling) is, to borrow a phrase, "perfect" (personally I find him boring as hell, but that's me). He's rich, good looking, is kind to those lower than him on the social ladder and he drives a bithin' car. My sister's boyfriends, in general, have come from good families, been good dressers and almost all had cars that they could drive her around in.

Lloyd Dobbler (John Cusack) is aimless, neurotic, and totally devoted to Diane. My boyfriends, in general, have been loyal and awkward, with a penchant for wearing hightops and or trenchcoats.

I'm not really sure where I was going with any of this, but I guess what I'm getting at is that all this pop culture crap that we latch onto really does have a bearing on our personalities. Whether the crap shapes those personalities, or whether our choices in crap are influenced by pre-existing predilictions is hard to say as both films were a part of our formative years. But it matters none the less.

So, out of curiousity, where do you stand? Jake or Lloyd? (Boys can comment too...)

Videomatica's Alternative Oscars

So, every year the videostore I used to work at held a promotion they called the "Alternative Oscars". Basically the staff nominated movies or people they thought had been ignored by the Academy and then customers got to vote on our nominies. Everyone who voted was entered into a draw. Well it's that time of year again, and while I may not work there anymore, I figured it was worth a little post and a link:
Alternative Oscars

Been Busy

Sorry for the lack of regular posting, but life's kinda been all over the place for me lately. However, I do seem to be closer to getting into a groove, and I've got a few posts saved up so the next little while should yield some fun stuff.

More importantly, blim has informed me that there will be another Evil Film School night!



Thursday March 30th: Skidoo & BJ Lang Presents

Refreshments highly recommended.

For info: check the Evil Film School website

Skinemaxtastic!!

Have you seen the "promo reel" for Basic Instinct 2: Risk Addiction (!) that got posted on the web yesterday?!
What? You didn't even know they were making a sequel? Oh. My. God. Do yourself a favour & check it out RIGHT NOW!!!
I have not laughed that hard in a long time. What the hell is Charlotte Rampling doing in this movie?!

So. Much. Humping.
::Giggle::

Cool Shit in VanCity

Cinema Sewer launch party this Friday (Feb 10)!
7:30 -9(:30).
BYOB

For more details go to Robin's LiveJournal

Pardon My Meme

Best. Blonde Joke. Ever.

Foods For Thoughts

Insightful article from the BFI publication Sight & Sound about the current renaissance in Korean film and the inability of mainstream North American critics to get past the ultra-violence. With particular attention paid to Park Chan-wook (Oldboy, Lady Vengeance), Kim Jee-woon (Tale of Two Sisters, A Bittersweet Life) & the generalized Korean distrust of authority. Also check out the interviews with Park Chan-wook & Kim Jee-woon.

Need a Giggle?

I know I do.

Dancing Jesus

Sure I'll Join Your Cult...

But that doesn't mean I'll be your friend.

So, a couple of weeks ago Theron finally talked me into joining MySpace. I had considered joining a while ago, since apparently I know lots of people on there, but I just got kind of a skeezy hook-up vibe and chickened out. But, since a friend had invited me to join, I figured it couldn't be that bad. And for the most part I'm sure it isn't. However, other than Theron and my buddy Roman (and Bess & Katie), the only other people who've offered to add me as a friend have been sleazy DJ types with 1008 friends, most of them women in halter tops. Which I'm sure is fine for them, but I have no idea how I fit into that scene.

So, if you're my friend and you're on MySpace, please add me as your friend so I don't have to be friends with sleazy DJs.

My Profile

Update

I don't know who's heard what, but I just wanted to let you know that I'm doing okay. Your support is appreaciated, and while the next little while won't be easy, I'm confident that we can get through it.

Thanks. Now back to our regularly scheduled posts about nothing.