I think I watch too many movies, and I think that dampens my enjoyment of the really good ones. I haven't been to the theater in a while, the last time being the screening of Eagle vs. Shark (complete with q & a with Taika Waititi and the leading lady) because every time I think of it, I guilt myself into "enjoying the weather" instead. Sometime that means sitting in my bedroom with my laptop, watching DVD's.
It's only fitting that Ingmar Bergman just passed away, as I've been watching a lot of movies from the Scannies these days. That's my own term, and I don't mean it to be insulting to my brethern from the Nordic region. I truly enjoy the time I've spent there. I just like the word Scannie.
So I can't give you actual reviews, I'll just give you some statements.
Together (AKA in Swedish: Tillsammans)
I gave this 4 out of 5 stars, just like I did the other two Lukas Moodysson films I've seen (I'm too scared by what I've read to see his most recent.) I don't know. Maybe I just like listening to Swedish. Maybe I just like the geeky teenage crush story. Or maybe I'm sentimental, and like watching these people build their own wacky family from what they've got.
Brothers
Danish - kind of shocking story how war forces two brothers to switch roles. I thought the acting (even the kids - loved the pancake scene) was pretty damn good, and if there's anything I like listening to more than Swedish, it's Danish.
I know, I know, "Danskerne taler med kartofler i munden." But I still think it's hot. Except when your PTSD is manifesting itself in the form of ripping apart your house and trying to kill your wife and kids, then it's as scary as English.
After the Wedding
I tried not to get nostalgic as father and daughter were sitting at one of the Tivoli Restaurants. What's this movie about. Choices, secrets, power, regret. Not sure why I liked it so much, but there's the Danish again. And every character was pretty flawed, so I guess that's kind of real.
The Secret Life of Words
I was loving the quiet quirkyness of life on the rig... just enjoying the movie for what it was and wondering what I could do to get a job cooking on one of those contraptions... then, when Hanna finally starts telling her story, they almost lost me. It was seeming so textbook for a while. But then I realized that what she was saying was so unimaginable, it's never going to seem real. I keep thinking about it, and it's been a few weeks, so it must have been good after all.
Monday, July 30, 2007
Saturday, July 21, 2007
Summer in the City
It seems like there's something to do at every moment.
This morning: 12 mile run
Last night: Awkward (because I wasn't drinking in preparation for said run and didn't know most of the people very well) pre-wedding party for colleague.
Thursday night: Live taping of Wait Wait Don't Tell Me at Millennium Park, followed by dinner at an Armenian restaurant. (Just in case anyone's wondering, this sort of activity would probably meet my expectations for a "perfect date" but it wasn't a date, because there were three of us.)
Wednesday: Self-procalimed holiday of "Decemberists Day." Spent the morning slaving over a stove. Lunch with other hooky-playing friends at Glenn's Diner, followed by picnic and slightly rainy Decemberists show in Millennium Park. A great day, but I was too tired and irritated by the drunk people who weren't listening to the music to really enjoy the show as much as I wanted.
Before that I was in Denver. Tonight I think I might head over to one of Chicago's neighborhood festivals to check out the Redwalls and Poi Dog Pondering. Old and new(er) denizens of Chicago's rock scene? Tomorrow there's talk of going to someone's place to play with the Wii. I hear it's a good time.
This morning: 12 mile run
Last night: Awkward (because I wasn't drinking in preparation for said run and didn't know most of the people very well) pre-wedding party for colleague.
Thursday night: Live taping of Wait Wait Don't Tell Me at Millennium Park, followed by dinner at an Armenian restaurant. (Just in case anyone's wondering, this sort of activity would probably meet my expectations for a "perfect date" but it wasn't a date, because there were three of us.)
Wednesday: Self-procalimed holiday of "Decemberists Day." Spent the morning slaving over a stove. Lunch with other hooky-playing friends at Glenn's Diner, followed by picnic and slightly rainy Decemberists show in Millennium Park. A great day, but I was too tired and irritated by the drunk people who weren't listening to the music to really enjoy the show as much as I wanted.
Before that I was in Denver. Tonight I think I might head over to one of Chicago's neighborhood festivals to check out the Redwalls and Poi Dog Pondering. Old and new(er) denizens of Chicago's rock scene? Tomorrow there's talk of going to someone's place to play with the Wii. I hear it's a good time.
Monday, July 2, 2007
three in one, netflix dvd reviews
fur
loved it. asking/answering the questions about how someone from a prim and proper background ends up documenting the seedy underbelly. the surreal lens, the colors, the fur, hair, sex, etc, were pretty awesome. I could barely stand to watch the shaving scene though. I don't even remember how I used to shave my legs.
gray matters
Piece of crap. Yes, people I know and like enjoyed it but well, I'm convinced that Heather Graham's character will stay single forever. Not that there's anything wrong with that. But see, she thinks it's because she's been chasing the wrong gender all her life... even though she thinks she gay now, she's still got the problem that she's fucking obnoxious.
slc punk
Well, I liked this. Though, I think there were probably a few anachronisms, and there was a clear lack of a plot, it was still a fun little essay of poser/punk coming of age in Salt Lake City. I was drawn to this after spending two weeks there on business recently. I like the actors though, and a did shed a tear when the one dude died.
loved it. asking/answering the questions about how someone from a prim and proper background ends up documenting the seedy underbelly. the surreal lens, the colors, the fur, hair, sex, etc, were pretty awesome. I could barely stand to watch the shaving scene though. I don't even remember how I used to shave my legs.
gray matters
Piece of crap. Yes, people I know and like enjoyed it but well, I'm convinced that Heather Graham's character will stay single forever. Not that there's anything wrong with that. But see, she thinks it's because she's been chasing the wrong gender all her life... even though she thinks she gay now, she's still got the problem that she's fucking obnoxious.
slc punk
Well, I liked this. Though, I think there were probably a few anachronisms, and there was a clear lack of a plot, it was still a fun little essay of poser/punk coming of age in Salt Lake City. I was drawn to this after spending two weeks there on business recently. I like the actors though, and a did shed a tear when the one dude died.
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