elling silence. Enough said.  Everyone said this movie was political because of the people being fat, did you watch the movie? They were blobs not obsese. Their phyiscal appearance had nothing to do with consumption alone. They were in space and gravity over a long period took its toll, which is proven in science and NASA research would occur, hence, no scheduled trips to Mars anytime soon. I don't go any further into the complaints of viewers and the film's activist statements. It is a fun, heart felt movie with a dash of hope for a world that is heavy in our lack of face to face communication, I am most likely a blob writing this blog in a bunker secluded from the outside world.
Human rights has never been presented with such energy and joy. Even with all the heartache that accompanies the joy in Harvet Milk's life, the tragedy felt always uplifted by his extreme and quirky optimism. I've heard complaints of this film being 'not subtle enough' well duh. Harvey Milk wasn't a subtle man and everything can't be told subtly. I loved the cinenmatography, the colors were as apprasive as the material and the odd choice of head space added an element of Harvey's doom always lingering throughout. Wonderful cast. I forgive Emile Hirsch for Speed Racer after what he gave here. and Josh Brolin hits another out of the park.
Why has Colin Ferrell been hiding behind terrible performances? He finally shows off his gusto in this far from cliché film about two hitmen hiding out. The first movie I loved in 2008. The writing is sharp, funny, bittersweet and harsh. Dark comedy has never been better. Martin McDonagh created deeply simple relationships in a world that is rotten with characters that smell of overdone gangster types found in student film work. The relationships were excuted by master craftsmen Brenden Gleason, Ralph Fiennes and newer comer Colin Ferrell...I call him a newcomer because the actor here isn't present in any previous work, that I know of yet.
The first scene is intense and is relentless for the entire film. Silence is a killer in the shadows. Even when the lead characters are shouting it takes the ease off the silence. A devasting portrait of the suburban way of life in an era of surmountable change occuring and no one really knowing what they wanted next and unspoken agendas drowning people in their moments of silence and solitude. Kate Winslet should have been nominated Oscar for this role. I am happy that Michael Shannon was nodded because I loved his performance.
Darren Aronofsky is the newest of the underappreciated directors; with Hitchcock, Kubrick and Scorsese-his statue was a pity play for one of his lesser achievements-among others. What current director can change gears and style so drastically and still succeed? I am bias because he did homage Kurosawa's Ikiru in The Fountain, and Kurosawa is tops with me. This a slice of life film that never bores with its ambiguity, only intrigues with each little snippet of story, especially the grandiose ending. Aronosky might be a crazy, difficult director but that dedication shows in his work. Mickey Rourke is the comeback kid with a powreful and frighteningly personal performance; this is his story as much as it is Randy the Ram's Marisa Tomei is hot and a great actor, double threat!
Some will protest and ask why isn't it higher. Chill out fan boys. The Dark Knight is the best comic book movie as of yet. However, we shouldn't make it more than it is. One question, once Batman comes face to face with Joker in the Sonar sequence, why doesn't he turn it off? He is Batman; trained and heightened, skilled senses, stop using the sonar especially when it cuts out, push a button to extract the lenses. Never got that. Still love the movie, absolutely wonderful. Nolan brought the Batman I love to the screen. Heath Ledger will forever be the The Joker on the silver screen and I do wish though Heath's universal praise didn't overshadow, Aaron Eckhart's Harvey Dent-Two Face. It was a solid character played truthfully through the arc and to his demise.
First off, I am a western fan and a good western cannot even be ruined by Renee Zellweger's creepy squished face and squinted eyes as though the sun is always in her eyeline. She actually fits the role perfectly as a desperate and unattractive praire woman that would only receive empty love from wild west hoodlums and an equally cold lawman. This a solid western that explores the friendship of two lawman which forged on the western desert. It has some of my favorite dialogue following a great shoot out. Viggo: That went quick. Ed: Everyone could shoot. Awesome! Viggo is a badass gunman and just his fancy, military dueling stance has me loving this western.
I can't deny that much of Charlie Kaufman's symbols and metaphors and philosohy alludes me, however, he has a gift to make the odd, strange and obscure mesh among the mundane, ordinary and typical. This explores life's deepest fear, an existence without meaning; to live a meaningless life. I love all the ideas driving this forward. When I didn't fully understand something, it was always surrounded and accompanied by ideas that were rooted in reality and hit close to go home on a fundamental level of living. The layers of duplicate characters and environments is astounding and perplexing. This film is an extrodinary experiment by one the most unique minds in filmmaking. The cast only improves on Kaufman's vast and haunting world within worlds within worlds.
This vampire film transcends others by reintroducing us to what really makes us scared; the unknown. This tensely slow paced film has us uneasy because of its quiet ambiguity that drips and crusts over like the blood that Eli extracts from her victims. What emotion out does fear? Loneliness. Oscar's urge to have a friend/love in his life makes his fear of the unknown a fearless void. A hauntingly bittersweet romantic tale of how two individuals must rely on each other to survive in the world that wasn't built for their idiosyncrasies that hinder their social development and abilities. However, the cat attack scene did break the great pacing of the film, wish they could have done that a little differently, perhaps.
This favorites list is limited by the fact that I can only see what I see and it never seems to all that I want to see.
This New Zealand band is one of my 2008 favorites, there poppy music makes you move and forces a smile on your face. Although I do have one discrepancy with the show, it was the moment where they stopped and dedicated the next song to a musician that inspires them, I was thrilled to hear who gave them the surge to make music, my heart was stunned when the dedication was revealed...PHIL COLLINS! What? Really? Blazer, tennis shoes and headset drummer from Genesis, the one behind that horrible Disney's Tarzan soundtrack? Why? Your music has such a better sound, light and flowery without being sappy or tacky like modern jazz or new age. Regardless of The Ruby Suns' source of inspiration the show was great and it would be fun to see them again.
you must go to Hot Dougs. When I arrived Rita had one of their buffalo dogs waiting for me, what a sweetheart and the dog was a tasty tasty meal. One dog isn't enough, later in the week, we went back and I had another buffalo dog plus a classic Chicago dog, there is nothing like a Chicago dog, the relish and tomato combination that the create is simply delicious delight.
Another homegrown meal that I had when in the windy city was real deep dish pizza. I don't think I will ever have Chicago deep dish again, too heavy too much for my small body to handle, the deep dish there is merely a quiche with pizza toppings. Sorry Chicago natives, I don't think I will be having that again unless I befriend one of you and that is your choice for your birthday dinner.
If all the Tourists are doing it, I'm doing it too.
They need a permit to pester me for cash.
Seriously? Playfully splashing around in hundreds of gallons of spit is fun?
The Chicago Museum, I don't remember which museum-it's name, I just no it wasn't the modern one. It was awesome that they had the original painting from the 1945 film of The Picture of Dorian Gray byIvan Albright, his other works were as gruesome and more depressingly dark as the Dorian portrait. Thumbs up for movies and art.
Here is the full creepy painting that reflects Dorian's true image and the 1945 movie poster, The film just recently was released on DVD this past year.
My first eastern storm. This was insane. I thought I had walked into a sound studio and foley artist and special effects masters were creating the booms and flashes that blasted through the walls and windows. It was reported that night that tornados were planting in the city only blocks away from her house.
BEST DAMN SUSHI DEAL!
All YOU CAN EAT, $5...I only made it through two full rolls and here there are regulations and rules about eating it all or else everyone plays extra at the table.
Great live music at The Hideout. Never heard a steel guitar or a washboard played with such gusto and passion. If your going to Chicago mark it on your must go list.
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