Link Dump

So, I mentioned in my Top 10 list of movies from '08 that I hadn't yet seen 'Slumdog Millionaire'. It's quickly ascended to the top of the Oscar candidates, but I haven't even tried to see it, because I've heard a couple of takes on it, and am pretty sure I'd hate it. I know, everybody's raving about it -- it's the feel-good, heartwarming, tear-jerking, blah, blah, blah -- but from the sound of the plot, and a description of the storytelling techniques, I knew it wasn't my cup of tea. That's why I didn't feel bad making my Top 10 list without seeing the movie likely to walk away with "Best Picture".

That original take was only solidified when I read Film Drunk's review today, which basically says everything I'd heard, imagined, and feared about the movie. It outlines some specific issues I already had with the movie, the general feeling of absurdity, cliche, and self-satisfaction I expected, and even a couple more weaknesses I hadn't heard of/imagined. I'll probably see the movie eventually -- I'll be in Boulder soon, without much to do, and have already seen all the good movies coming out across the country this month -- but more out of morbid curiosity than eagerness.

Today, Film Drunk also posted review of 'The Wrestler, making me feel bad I didn't call it the best film of the year, which it just might be. Every time I read another review of it, I'm again amazed to think about how great Mickey Rourke's performance was. If he doesn't win the Oscar, I hope he puts whoever does in a Figure Four Leglock a la Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake.

While were talking about movies and dropping links, here's Rotten Tomatoes' Top 10 Sci-Fi Flicks for the Thinking Man. Some good ones on this list, including a couple you don't hear talked about much -- 'Gattaca' and 'Primer' -- along with the more usual suspects -- 'Children of Men' and 'Blade Runner'.

Lastly, I'm headed off to Boulder early next week, so the posting may not be too regular for a while. We'll see how it goes, but I'll be juggling a job, the completion of the script I'm working on, and my football column (at least through the Super Bowl), all while staying at a friend's place, so it could be spotty at best. Then again, I may have to get online to rant about driving cross-country (well, halfway across anyway), or living in snow, or how nice the people outside of LA are, so you never know.

Right now, the biggest issue is that I can't find my favorite album -- Radiohead's 'The Bends' -- for the road trip. I've uploaded all my other CD's to iTunes (finally joining the 21st century), but can't find it anywhere. Was it stolen? Lost? Taken by CD fairies? Did I loan it to someone? I can't make it 1,000 miles on the open road without it, so if I lent it to you, this is the time to return it. My sanity is at stake.

That's it for now. See you when I see you.

Random List: 10 Best Movies of 2008

Here's my Top 10 films, with a caveat: I have yet to see 'Slumdog Millionaire' which people are raving about (don't you love it when people say that?), and which won a bunch of Golden Globes last night.

1. The Dark Knight -- I'm a traditionalist, and I have to admit, I had a hard time putting this movie in the #1 spot because I don't think of a comic book movie that way. But it was the most fun I had at the movies this year, and there's certainly something to be said for that. Another thing: I loved each of the the movies which follow, but no film this year made me feel like "Best Picture", so why not go with the movie everyone loved? Especially when it had great acting by past Oscar winners and nominees alike (topped by Heath Ledger), was directed by one of the world's best directors (Christopher Nolan), and made some of the best commentary on modern existence, all within what was heretofore a limited, predictable genre. And to think, we thought Tim Burton's 'Batman' -- and Jack Nicholson's The Joker -- was cutting edge 20 years ago.

2. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button -- The visual masterpiece of the year, David Fincher's dark fairy tale about life and death resonated more with me than any other film this year. The only thing that kept it from the top spot is the fact that it didn't raise the pulse, or have me on the edge of my seat, as much as it had me watching in respectful wonder. Great acting, great effects, well-crafted story. One of those Hall of Very Good rather than Hall of Fame types. (My review)

3. The Wrestler -- This was right up there my favorite recent movie-watching experiences. Mickey Rourke's performance (already Golden Globe-winning), was one of the very best in awhile -- a harmonic convergence of actor and character. Directed with remarkable restraint by Darren Aronofsky, the film is a ballad to a man past his prime who's too set in his way to change for the better now. It's funny, real, and heartbreaking. (My review)

4. In Bruges -- The best surprise of the year. A little film with not much fanfare, which delivered laughs, action, and a surprising amount of heart. Colin Farrell is great (he also took home a Golden Globe), as is Brendan Gleeson -- both capturing the humanity with the hitmen they play. The lyrical style employed here by Martin McDonagh, who wrote and directed, is irresistible, and draws you into this light-hearted world of murder-for-hire.

5. Synecdoche, NY -- Most people were too confused by this movie to like it. I wasn't surprised. It isn't for everybody. In fact, this film is only for a thin slice of filmgoers -- ones who like to think a lot, don't mind excessive symbolism and metaphors, or a meandering storyline. It is even more specifically for artists, and especially for writers -- about the creative process, how it affects your life, and how your life affects it. If that sounds boring to you, you're not alone, but for me it was one of the unique pleasures of the year. (My review)

6. The Visitor -- Richard Jenkins' performance as the lead is as good as anyone's this year -- much more subtle than Mickey Rourke's, and not quite as entertaining, but just as solid. A small story about big ideas -- freedom, immigrants, America, love, and the healing power of music. Jenkins allows his character to change greatly over the course of the movie without ever making major changes to his performance. Just the subtle way he allows his body to slowly un-tense as he becomes more comfortable with his new friends and musical instrument speaks volumes.

7. Tropic Thunder -- Not many comedies make this list -- I see it more for achievements, rather than entertainment. But the funniest movie of the year had a couple of the year's best performances -- Robert Downey, Jr., Tom Cruise -- and some of the best sequences -- when the cast is first released into the jungle, when Stiller is captured by Red Dragon, the Asian drug-running gang, when Jack Black's character runs out of heroin. It had a great concept, great cast, and great execution. When you have all that, you can make this list -- even if you're a studio comedy.

8. Milk -- A well-told story, a great performance, and superior supporting cast make this one of the best films of the year. The timeliness of the subject matter didn't hurt, nor did the straight-forward yet loving directorial job by Gus Van Sant, but most of this film's success can be attributed to Sean Penn's performance. It was vivid and colorful, but not over-the-top, or cliche. (My review)

9. Frost/Nixon -- Like 'Milk', this film told a fairly well-known political story in a period piece format, but spends less time examining what happened than why things happened. It introduces us to the personalities and peccadillos behind the great (or not-so-great) men, and allows us to understand the men who shaped the events of their time. I think some more chances could've been taken, but you don't see Ron Howard movies for cutting edge tricks and chance-taking, you see it for well-crafted, populist entertainment. That's exactly what this is. (My review)

10. The Promotion -- Quite possibly, the most underrated movie of the year. Great performances by Sean William Scott and especially John C. Reilly make this film's unpredictable storyline -- is he the hero, and he the villain, or the other way around? -- work, and keeps you rooting for both characters, even though they are usually at each other's throats. That's no small feet. Neither is keeping us guessing how the story will end, which is a rarity when you watch as many movies as I do. Nor making us laugh consistently all the way through, or filling the supporting cast with solid actors giving quirky, funny performances -- Jenna Fisher, Lily Taylor, Gil Bellows.

Near misses: Gran Torino, Defiance, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, 'Vicky Cristina Barcelona'.

Movie Review: 'The Wrestler'

This is the part where I act like an authority on entertainment, and criticize the work of professionals who are, without exception, more successful than I in the industry in which we both work. Some people would say this is proof I have "balls", or "chutzpah" in Jewspeak. Others would say it's proof I'm a "douchebag". To catch up on any old reviews, you can find the link on the right hand side of the page, or just click here.

’The Wrestler’ is one of those films which, when they end, leave you sitting in silence, unable to completely digest what you’ve just seen. If you see it with somebody, you may just sit there as the credits roll, not gathering your things, not making any move to go. That’s the kind of film this is.

I kept thinking about ’The Wrestler’ long after it was over. Not so much the film, but the character -- has-been 80’s wrestler Randy “The Ram” Robinson, personified by Mickey Rourke. And I do mean “personified”, because while Rourke is acting here -- and acting beautifully -- rather than merely playing himself, we can’t deny the obvious. We can’t deny that we think of Robinson and Rourke as one and the same at times during the film. How could we not?

When Randy talks about being on top, and losing it, but not wanting to give up, how can we not imagine that the “sense memory” Rourke, an old school method actor, is using probably has to do with his film career? And in a very dramatic late speech, Rourke could clearly be seen as talking about himself when he talks about why he doesn’t quit wrestling.

But none of this should take away from Rourke’s performance. On the contrary, it adds to the viewer’s enjoyment. And Rourke is clearly working hard here. His body is pumped up to larger than life proportions, making him look the part. And he does his thing in the ring, taking the kind of punishment for his performance most wrestlers have to endure. But Randy has to endure a much heavier price than most wrestler’s.

After a long career, his body and broken and bent, and he requires numerous pills just to keep going. To make matters worse, he’s forced to take some job which require him to take ridiculous amount of punishment. I won’t spoil it here, but let’s just say a staple gun is involved. But Rourke balances this tough, battered exterior with a tender, playful (but also battered) interior. He love to play with the kids in his trailer park, he clearly have a lot of love for his fellow wrestlers. He’s sad, destitute, and damaged, but he has an easy smile, and a playful heart.

Caring is a sneaky little thread throughout ’The Wrestler’. You see it, most surprisingly -- and refreshingly -- between the wrestlers. They obvious have a lot of empathy and respect for each other, playfully choreographing their match and act as enemies in the ring. You see it in Randy’s need for a romantic connection with Cassidy (Marisa Tomei), a stripper who, despite their close relationship, charges him for lap dances. You see it is Randy’s need to ask for forgiveness from his daughter Stephanie (Rachel Evan Wood) for a lifetime of neglect. And you see it between Randy and his fans -- the one relationship Randy hasn’t let whither.

The film doesn’t look or feel like it was drafted by uber-talented director, Darren Aronofsky. His previous work has been much more stylish and impressive visually -- with the possible drawback of being a bit showy. This film is like the Bruce Springsteen song which plays over it’s closing credits -- gritty, bare bones, and straight-forward. It looks like someone’s first film more than a slick Hollywood director, but in a good, purposeful way.

As a matter of fact, Aronofsky reportedly could have had a lot more money for the budget had he accepted Nicholas cage as his star. But Aronofsky fought for Rourke, and I think him for it. Rather than a polished “Look Oscars, vote for this!” feel, it has the soul of a sleeper. Part of that comes from the great script by Robert Siegel. It’s never too melodramatic, but also makes its point. It doesn’t have a big Hollywood ending, nor should it. It tells its story the only way it seeming could. It seems perfect in its smallness.

The cast is also perfect. Marisa Tomei has just the right mix of sweetness and savvy. She likes this big lug, but she wouldn’t be opposed to working him for some cash. She’s almost as desperate as he is, and in just as unforgiving a dead-end profession -- both are made for the young, and they aren’t young anymore. Their situations and relationship seems so real, it’s a little painful to watch. Rachel Evan Wood is able to convey a lifetime of hurt in a short period of time, and turns a small role into a memorable one.

Randy wants to go straight, but there’s something people say about that involving an old dog and some new tricks. Randy’s been trained to live his life a certain way -- an uncompromising way -- and it’s too late to change now. He presents an interesting dichotomy in hos working life -- he wants the respect of having his chosen name on his name tag, but doesn’t want to be recognized for who he is. He’s sorry for a lot of things, but never feels sorry for himself. He just wants to make it through another day, and maybe find someone he cares about to care about him -- just like the rest of us.

’The Wrestler’ is a great film in the tradition of dramas about working class heroes, like ’Rocky’ and ’On the Waterfront’. It may not be a classic, but will earn raves for Rourke, and I’d be shocked if he wasn’t nominated for an Oscar. If I had my way, he’d win.

Using the age-old Hollywood scale of judgment -- HIGHLY RECOMMEND/RECOMMEND/CONSIDER/PASS (circle one) -- I rate 'The Wrestler':

HIGHLY RECOMMEND

Random Video: Happy New Year Edition!

A couple of really random videos today, but first a quick programming note:

I have just one screener left -- 'The Wrestler', which I'll post a review of by the end of the weekend. I seen a couple which I haven't reviewed -- 'What Doesn't Kill You' and 'Nothing But The Truth' (and no, I haven't kept from reviewing them out of a vendetta against movie titles with half of a famous saying in them). They were both somewhat enjoyable, and I may get around to posting reviews of them in the not-too-distant future, but won't make my year-end Top 10 list. 'The Wrestler' might.

Wait, did I say Top 10 list? You bet your goddamn ass I did. Next week, I'll roll out my lists for Top 10 Movies and Top 10 TV Shows of 2008. A nation awaits breathlessly. Or not. Let's get to the clips...

Here is a clip from some BBC documentary about nature. It's from a segment about the Lyre, a bird which mimics noises it hears -- kind of like this guy. The 1:50 mark is where it gets interesting -- the bird imitates different cameras the crew uses, and even a car alarm. It's really pretty amazing.



This next one is tres bizarre -- an Italian ad for Alfa Romeo, who apparently uses a (fake) sloth as its mascot/spokesperson. It this, the sloth goes to the beach, gets drunk, and gets his groove on at a club.



(Hat tip to Film Drunk for the videos)