March 8th, 2009

This week: Wendy and Lucy, Rachel Getting Married and Battle in Seattle.

First up, welcome to a new conception of an old blog. I figured that being a video store clerk gives me access to a lot of films, and clearly I'd make the most of said free films. I also go to the theaters quite a bit, and don't really have a canvas for my opinion on them. Well, until now at least. Anyway, enough with intros

Wendy and Lucy
There was a certain amount of hype surrounding this movie, so I went into it thinking i'd stumble upon a gem. It wasn't quite it, but I was happy to have seen it. Michelle Williams has flowered into quite the actress since Dawson's Creek, and I loved her in Synecdoche, New York. Her acting is quiet well done in a film where very little happens, but that's the point. It was interesting though arduous. I was glad that it wasn't one of those slow for art sake films, that relishes too much in itself. It was gritty and bare in such an acute way, which is very rare. Of course, one has to go into this film knowing that its not an entertainment film, but it is still worth a gander. So many horrible things happen to William's character (Wendy) and yet I left the film thinking about roadtriping in a car by myself.
<3.5/5>

Rachel Getting Married
I have to start this off by saying I strongly dislike Anne Hathaway as an actress. Her voice/face annoys me, which I realize is horribly pejorative. That said, I really liked Rachel Getting Married not despite of Ms Hathaway but because of. Play a bitchy, self involved drug addict is an easy route to being annoying no matter who you are. Hathaway's complaining, her constant need for attention and constant personal turmoil that pulls her whole family into the tornado with her leaves an unsettling feeling. I didn't know whether to cheer for her or wish she'd off herself initially, but once I let the film take me in I sat back and watched Jonathan Demme present an interesting and ultimately realistic character exist on screen. By the end, I felt thankful for the privilege.
<4/5>

Battle in Seattle
Rarely do films come out where I actually remember new casts about them happening (save 9/11) so I was interested on seeing a dramatic take on the Battle in Seattle. I watched This Is What Democracy Looks Like a couple weeks before I watched this film and in the end, Battle in Seattle is a completely inflated and overly indulgent movie. It takes individual people, gives them ridiculous story lines and throws them into a protest in an effort to show how dire the situation was. Actually, the only time I really got that were from the documentary clips put into the film. Somehow the movie managed to take away the spirit of unity that was so obviously evident in the footage of the battle in Seattle. Read the wikipedia entry, it's more enlightening.
<1/5>

Added Original Score:
New Metric Leak: http://www.zshare.net/download/566081108fe401ad/

(thanks amanda)

passenger

no, i am not making reference to the Antonioni film, though this is my plug to see it. It's good. Instead, I am references my introduction to Iggy Pop. here's a detailed rundown:

I walk onto set with the Executive Producer (aka my boss). We go inside, through the set which is in an alleyway. She says hi to a bunch of people and then approaches Iggy who is casually sitting in a chair. He smiles, they banter. She says "This is my Intern Casey". He says "Hello nice to meet you". He shakes my hand. We banter as a group about travel. He does his scene. I watch. I commend him on a great job, and he says "Thanks" and smiles politely.

All in all it was very anti-climatic. We talked to his wife a bit about Mexico City, and Gabriella's troubles with shooting Romeo and Juliet (the Danes/DeCaprio joint). I leave for my work Christmas party. It was fun. I am really glad that he is so personable and nice, especially when you consider his influence on punk music and music in general. I guess I was expecting someone more jaded and drugged out. What a pleasant surprise.

little miss pretention

so TIFF was amazing, going to it and volunteering at it. We did catch only two movies which was sort of a bummer but both were really really good, and Canadian haha. We saw Cooper's Camera and Ponypool. Both films are completely different but it was good to have the directors there to speak. ALSO Brian DePalma was in the audience for Pontypool, which was so cool.

It was really interesting to scan passes and see the types of people reviewing movies. The faces of the people contributing to the scope for film through criticism. I felt like I knew a lot about film at some points and nothing at others. A lot of people use their criticism to reinforce their self worth and their knowledge is not of passion at all. It was for them all about making themselves look good, and the actual movie mattered little. This was discouraging initial but once you dig, the ones with passion reveal themselves. It was refreshing.

I did party at the Park Hyatt, in a dress and heels even. It was an interesting scene, but the rooftop VIP party was so much fun!

Now back to Greek, where in which i will most likely finish the entire 1st season by tonight and then we are hitting up hump day bump at wrong bar. woot woo.

labour of love

labour of love was Sunday night and it was AMAZING.

admittedly, the tickets were very pricey and the line was very long and full of dbags to get in. Johannah and I went with Adam, Ashely and Becky and the hardest part of the whole thing was staying in a group. The venue was the guvernment, and i have never been in a place so big. The min room itself was big, but there were different kinds of bars throughout the whole things, even on the roof. Mstrkrft was in the tent and we caught him, which was pretty sick.

Then the best part of the night for me, Steve Aoki. For the first part we were at the very front dancing it up, and periodically he would jump from the table his DJ set was on and party with the crowd. At one point he fell on some people including Johannah, and then i accidentally groped him....okay well sort of accidentally.

After the epicness of Aoki, it was 5 am and we decided to leave. The party was until 9 but we had seen all we wanted, and all the rockstar/red bulls were starting to wear off. We wondered aimlessly for a bit, overly excited with what we just experienced. Jo and I caught a cab and found the nearest place to eat, which happened to be the Golden Griddle. It was amazing, the whole night. We wondered home and got into bed very happy at 7 am.

dissing the kids on degrassi

Johannah's mom is knitting me a hat. This is pretty much the most exciting thing ever to me right now.

Aside from such epic news, the Faint show was brilliant. They played a solid set, and every single song I wanted to hear, save Symptom Finger. The crowd was really into it too which was good because they are one of those bands that depend on a dancy atmosphere to be entertaining live. The use of video projections was actually really cool too, so much so that i caught myself staring at them instead of the band.

I am gearing up for TIFF which is something I was wanted to do for years. I'll most likely get to see three films with my hectic schedule but they are pretty much free for me AND Jo (im nice like that) for volunteering.

We did go see Hamlet 2 during Ralfie/Rafie/Rafael's visit. it was mediocre, but i had very low expectations. The visit on the other hand was good, we had fun. Raf came for a brief stop over from Brazil and now he is en route to Vancouver. Actually he left yesterday so I am assuming he is there by now.

I should tell you too that you should listen to Delta 5. I was at work and my coworker put it on and I liked it. I've listened to The Slits before, but not this band and I cant stop listening to it. Their debut single "Mind Your Own Business" is savage.

OH and Thania's wedding went over nicely. I am anxious to the sweet video footage I took haha as the videographer. I am glad I now have a tent, because no matter what I will never live in a box. It's like social security. Hahah. just kidding...sort of...

The Great(est)

i haven't updated in a very long time. mostly, i am not sure why i haven't except for the fact that I have been either too lazy or too busy to. I do work a lot, especially on Wednesdays, when my shifts are 13 hrs.

i just watched Paranoid Park, which was a very good film. If you've seen in, than you know what sort of state of mind I am in. Yes, i'll admit, films do have that effect on me.

I've spent most of the past month thinking too much about nothing, and having lots of fun with cool people. Vague, I know. I've been craving more specific and epic adventures but my current position forbids it. Not that I am trapped or things are mundane, in fact i've been feeling the complete opposite of those two. It is just that, instead of necessarily indulging in a brief and gloriously fleeting moment, I can only sit back and enjoy the ride. I am "driving", though, to use a cliche metaphor.

I did see CSS/The Go Team, which was really fun, especially CSS. Loverfoxxx is a very engaging performer, and I appreciated their energy on stage.

I've seen obscene amounts of movies, so I won't even go there.

I will say this, though. Big city living never ceases to amaze me. Mostly because with all of these people, I've never felt so comfortable being myself and being content here. All of the things i've left behind, a short 2 hr drive, have left me completely. The ones that are still around, obviously I miss dearly and still feel a connection to, but I have lost connections with so many things in the best way. Specifically, the negative. If memory is at least a little malleable, then why not shape it positively?

things have been busy stop friend rafael is visitng stop it has been fun stop will fill you in later stop