I have great respect for the artistic talent of the movie-making Coen brothers. Their latest film, currently in limited theatrical release, is “A Serious Man”.
The film observes an American Jewish community, focusing mainly on the trials and tribulations of one Larry Gopnik. Or then again, maybe it’s a movie about Schrödinger’s cat.
Sounds fascinating, eh? Would it be surprising if I were to report the film is rather mundane? And yet…
“No Country for Old Men” was both deep and accessible (meaning you could watch it and enjoy it without necessarily being a pseudointellectual elitist). Its villain was particularly compelling. There’s something fascinating about evil personified. [click to continue…]
Don’t worry, people. It’s only a fictional show about an alternate reality — and a warped and unbelievable reality at that. Nothing so stupid could ever happen here.
Count me among the fans of Quentin Tarantino. He’s the man that digs up the hackneyed, formulaic clichés from yesterday’s rubbish heap and turns them into vivid art. He’s old and he’s new. He’s a one-man cinematic bridge between the past and the future.
Don’t go to “Inglourious Basterds” expecting simply a war movie. Yes, it’s a war movie on the surface. However, this is at its core an homage to every war movie ever made. It’s as much a real war movie as James Bond is a real spy. To properly “get” the film, it will help if you’re something of a movie fan. (I’m not saying you need to be an encyclopedia.)
There’s nothing political here, so I wouldn’t want to make a political analysis. But I do appreciate the underlying theme of good versus evil. It’s a thing we need to be occasionally reminded of in these muddled and equivocating times. “Basterds” harkens back to a moment in history when Americans knew what had to be done to Nazis. I felt good about that.
Reviews are mostly favorable. “Inglourious Basterds” is rated “R” for graphic violence.
For Los Angeles residents, I urge that you NOT see “Basterds” (or any other film for that matter) at the ArcLight Cinema complex in Hollywood. The problem with the ArcLight is it is so much superior to any other theater in Los Angeles (and perhaps the entire world) that, if you ever see a film there, you’ll never find satisfaction at any other theater. So avoid the ArcLight unless you’re willing to tie yourself to it for life. You have been warned!
Wow, someone finally did an Iraq war film that’s not an anti-war film! That’s not to say it’s a pro-war film; rather it’s a film about people at war. But it’s a good film. If you’ve been sitting out treasonous garbage, here’s the one you waited for.
Watching the movie, I was riveted. Afterwards, I had second thoughts. How realistic is this? It’s a fictional story, and I’m sure many liberties were taken. The drama was contrived, and some sequences were not quite logical. But these are quibbles. The film works.
The focus is on a team that neutralizes bombs and booby traps. Watching from the safety of the theater, you feel very close to the action. A report comes, and the crew rolls to the hot spot. There’s potential for life and death…but from where? Ascertain the situation, set a perimeter, push the gawkers back. It’s the surprises that kill, so keep your eyes open. Stick with your team and stay focused on your task, but be ready for fireworks.
We feel the stress of the mission in our bones. This aspect of the film rings true, regardless of whether the technical details are right or wrong. I came out thinking, among other things, of the dedicated men and women in our military, and the paucity of models of masculinity in modern civilian life. We’re exposed to an endless parade of thugs and pigs on one hand, and self-obsessed metrosexuals on the other; here we see characters that are real men at the core, men who may still have some growing to do, but men nevertheless.
Speaking of real men…I was surprised to note the director was in fact a woman, Kathryn Bigelow. (Call me sexist and shoot me if you must, but the point is interesting.)
Shooting (film shooting, that is) was done in Jordan. The official movie site is here. Reviews are universally positive; Metacritic gave it 93 (on a scale of 100). Rated R for violence and language, this is okay for mature teens.
President Barack Obama said in a report Sunday that he saw the new “Star Trek” film recently — and not just because it was last week’s top-grossing movie.
“Everybody was saying I was Spock,” said the US leader, known to have a wonkish command of the minutiae of policy — not unlike the dispassionate movie Vulcan to whom he has been compared.
Newsweek gushed however that Obama’s version of the character would be “Spock with global sex appeal.”
What deranged moron could possibly make this absurd connection? As an alum of Starfleet Academy myself, I can only respond with this earthy expression that was in common use at my alma mater: WTF?
I could rant for pages, but I’ll spare myself and my readers (if any) and keep it short. The very first thing they teach you when you sign up for Starfleet is the Prime Directive.
As the right of each sentient species to live in accordance with its normal cultural evolution is considered sacred, no Starfleet personnel may interfere with the normal and healthy development of alien life and culture. Such interference includes introducing superior knowledge, strength, or technology to a world whose society is incapable of handling such advantages wisely. Starfleet personnel may not violate this Prime Directive, even to save their lives and/or their ship, unless they are acting to right an earlier violation or an accidental contamination of said culture. This directive takes precedence over any and all other considerations, and carries with it the highest moral obligation.
In a word: Leave people alone.
The Prime Directive is consistent with a philosophy of minimal government. The angry control freak that needs to poke his enlightened nose into everyone’s business would have been a Starfleet washout faster than Rev. Wright can say “God damn America”.
We all understand that Obama’s mental and ethical supremacy is inarguable. But so what? The whole idea of the Federation is that we can co-exist by letting everyone have their patch of turf and get on with their lives. That’s why peace more-or-less prevails within our sphere of influence: Because we are truly tolerant. Even when we think the other guy is a stupid jerk (which, by the way, he usually is), we let him be. We only step in when that guy is taking pot shots at innocents or otherwise being so aggressively obnoxious that we’d be suicidal to ignore him. This micromanaging central-command-above-all mentality is more suited to Dr. Evil, or maybe The Master Cylinder.
Spock is not Obama. Spock would kick Obama’s ass. So says Maynard.
For further reading, investigate the philosophy of the Führerprinzip, which came out of primitive, savage cultures on Earth.
A thoughtful (i.e., meandering and boring) post by Maynard
Many modern social trends disturb me, but occasionally there’s (in the words of the poet) an ironic point of light. (Bonus credit to anyone that can identify that reference, and my respect for anyone that cares enough to Google (in its original form, it’s plural).)
I’m thinking, in particular, of the coolness of “retro”. Martinis, cigars, fedoras…we’re seeing a revival of such things. There is a sense that something precious has been lost, and, like the cargo cults of primitive cultures (am I still allowed to call other cultures primitive?), we instinctively reach for a comforting façade.
This is well and good; I, too, enjoy picking up such nuances. But these are examples of style rather than substance. What is the underlying thing we let slip away?
One way to look at it: I fear that prosperity has eaten away at our sense of purpose. Without the urgency of a mission, what’s there to do besides indulge our shallow appetites?
We collectively share the ghost of a notion that life has more to offer than gluttony and excess. Thus some of us seek purpose in serving something much larger than ourselves. Perhaps we serve God or perhaps we serve Caesar. Maybe we join the Church or maybe we join the Revolution. Each has its points. But it’s not my purpose here to sort out these details.
I, too, believe in our (undefined) national quest. But, being the disagreeable creature that I am, I tilt away from mortal authority and insist on seeking my own higher mission. I will not unquestioningly accept marching orders from the fools and scoundrels of the political world. Sorry, gentlemen, but you are (to put it gently) unworthy.
How did I get onto this rant? I was trying to talk about Star Trek!
But I’ve again misplaced Trek and am thinking instead of A Clockwork Orange. Who remembers Clockwork Orange? It’s a film about a terrible thug that ends up in jail and then gets “rehabilitated”. It explores the question of humanity and free choice.
In a new movie about the Lewinsky scandal, does that mean we get Keira Knightly to portray Monica? I’m sure at about this point Billy Jeff is wondering why life can’t actually imitate art.
The actress will star opposite Dennis Quaid — who will play Hillary’s husband, ex-U.S. President Bill Clinton — in the movie which will show how Bill’s ‘inappropriate relationship’ with White House intern Monica Lewinsky nearly ended his time in power.
A source said: “This is a big role for both of them. Playing Hillary, a wife who stands by her unfaithful husband, will be something she can get her teeth stuck into.”
Dennis reportedly beat four other leading actors – Russell Crowe, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Alec Baldwin and Tim Robbins – to win the role of Bill.
“Special Relationship” is the closing film of a political trilogy written by Peter Morgan, following “The Deal” — about Tony Blair’s rise to power in the British Labour party – and “The Queen” which focused on the reaction of the British Royal Family to the death of Princess Diana.
“Special Relationship” will be Peter’s directorial debut.
The film will also feature Michael Sheen as former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who will be seen growing frustrated with Bill as his attentions move from politics to his own personal crisis.
“Special Relationship” starts filming in the UK and US in July.
I’m just hoping Monica might get some money out of this. The Clintons have made about $100 million since they left office. I think Monica’s income has been slightly different.
Now at the end of a week with her wake done, funeral upcoming, and as the family of this woman retreat to grieve, I’m still getting emails from people wondering why her death is national news because, in the words of some, they had never heard of her until now.
I suggest, instead of wondering why it’s news because you didn’t know of her, ask yourself why you didn’t know. While many conservative shun Hollywood or popular culture entirely now (for some arguably good reasons), that’s a mistake. We have been betrayed by actors who spout their politics so much they destroy the contract to remain blank-slates so we can ’suspend disbelief’ and escape in a film. Richardson, for the most part and quite unlike her mother Vanessa Redgrave, respected her role as a performer and didn’t thrust herself into the our real and very often dirty political world. There are also actors who are not on TMZ every night, who don’t go clubbing, or show up on Oprah regularly. Richardson was one of them.
Perhaps some of us especially are shocked because she was our age, and stupid accidental deaths aren’t supposed to happen to young, vibrant people. But they do all the time. We’re now reminded of that. It’s also important to reflect, with all the political crap we deal with day after day, to be grateful you’re here; here to be with your family; here to fight; here to win another day.
For those unfamiliar with a performance considered clip of Natasha Richardson’s powerful performance of “Maybe This Time” from her Tony-winning turn in “Cabaret.”
UPDATE: 3/17–There is a report Ms. Richardson is being flown to the United States and may be brain dead. I’ll follow up for direct links and confirmation. Continue your prayers. NY Post is reporting that she is brain dead. Let’s hope they’re wrong. More when I get it.
While I don’t like some of her politics (but certainly not as bad as her mother Vanessa Redgrave) she’s one of the more talented actors of our generation. Reports are she has suffered a severe head injury while skiing. Send good vibes.
The Watchmen movie is coming. It’s based on “Watchmen”, a popular graphic novel (that is, a comic book) from 1986.
I happened to read the graphic novel years ago, and it blew me away. I picked it up again in recent weeks and still found it intriguing. It was a weird noir/sci-fi hybrid, set in an alternate reality, and with elements of an epic soap opera. If it draws you in, you’ll find a surprising depth and subtlety that that carries it above the realm of a simple superhero yarn almost to the point of literature. (Of course, it helps if you like comic books.)
Did you see last year’s Iron Man movie? Probably my favorite film of the year. That movie worked largely because the characters had great chemistry. But the filmmakers also did an impressive job of entangling the players in current world events without degenerating into political cheerleading.
I likewise appreciated the “Watchmen” novel for being relevant but not preachy. I hope Hollywood resisted the temptation to turn it into another “message movie”. And of course it would be nice if they made a good film.
Addendum: Pat S. has pointed out to me that Debbie Schlussel excoriates “Watchmen”: “If you take your kids to see ‘The Watchmen,’ you’re a moron. If you see it yourself, you’re also probably a moron and a vapid, indecent human being.” She has more to say in a follow-up, noting the comic “was originally written–per the author’s own declaration–as an attack on Ronald Reagan.”
First of all, I’m wary of ALL reviews, in that they tend to give away too much about the film. (I try not to do this myself.) So take caution before you click to Debbie’s page.
The Metacritic.com summary of reviews is mixed but tilting positive, with a score of 57. I appreciate the Metacritic site as a way to get a quick overview without spoiling the movie.
Not having seen the film, I’m not in a position to say Debbie is wrong. And, depending upon the “buzz”, I may eventually decide she’s probably right. But in the meantime, I’ll make no assumptions. Life has taught me that taste transcends politics, and the only opinion that counts is mine. And you should remember this too: The only opinion that counts is Maynard’s!
As she then officially offers our terrorist enemies $900 million dollars to “rebuild.” Your tax dollars. B. Hussein wants your money taken from your paycheck to go to terrorists who have murdered American citizens and troops along with hundreds of other innocent people around the world. $900 million to a country run by a death-squad proxy of Iran, a group the U.S. has declared an international terrorist organization. It doesn’t matter who “administers” this money, it’s $900 million less Hamas has to come up with as they continue their worldwide terrorism.
This “aid,” however, must be approved by congress. You know your homework.
In the meantime, taking the lead from Obambi, the Appeaser-in-Chief, “Hollywood” is visiting Iran to do workshops. I wonder if they considered workshops on “How Homos Can Act Straight to Avoid Being Hung By The Crane” or “How Jews Can Act Like Not Jews In Order to Avoid the Bomb.” Hmmm…..
I bet this American reporter and former Miss North Dakota would like a workshop on how to escape being disappeared by the Iranian police. Yeah, she went disappeared after going to Iran for something other than appeasement.
Every now and then, media mogul Ted Turner manages to justify his otherwise miserable existence. Turner gave us “Gods and Generals”, and for this I thank him. Weighing in at 3 hours and 39 minutes (!), it gives an amazing overview of the early period of the Civil War, covering secession in 1861 up until just before Gettysburg in1863. This is the prequel to the previously-released “Gettysburg”; a final film, “The Last Full Measure”, may eventually finish the trilogy. The films are based on the excellent books by Jeff Shaara (see Amazon).
Good stuff. Watch this to pick up some history, and also as a reminder that we’re not the first generation of Americans to face horrendous obstacles.
Maynard at the Movies
A movie note by Maynard
