Day #3 - Machete

Work was finally over and I was staring down the barrel of a 3 day weekend.  My girlfriend was on her way to my house, but she was still 3 hours away (an arrangement that may lead to me watching the Drew Barrymore film "Going the Distance").  I had sacked down on the couch and started flipping through the new Entertainment Weekly when I got to Owen Gleiberman's review of Robert Rodriguez's new film Machete.  Now normally I am not a huge fan of Mr. Gleiberman's reviews, and I have become less and less of a fan of Mr Rodriguez's movies.  However the review was generally positive and I loved the Grindhouse experience from a few years back that spawned the Machete trailers as well as 3 other trailers.

I knew that I still had a couple of hours to burn before my lady got here so I quick checked the show times on my phone and realized that if I left at that moment I could barely make it there in time.  I hate being late for a show.  I tried to do an post via text but there was some technical difficulty.

Once the show started I quickly remembered why I was drawn to the Grindhouse double feature.  These glorified "B movies" are a throwback to a simpler time in cinema history.  The early 70's.  Where any guy with a camera, a few thousand dollars and the drive to create could make a film that stood a decent chance to be seen by at least a small audience.  In many ways this period in time is very reflective of our current situation.  The internet, YouTube, and other instant media sources have generated a pathway for artists to get their works seen.

Within the opening 10 minutes at least 3 people had their heads lopped off by a machete (of course), there was a naked woman, and Steven Seagal with a samurai sword.  Unfortunately the movie got bogged down in it's anti-immigration legislation message and lost it's innocence and naivety.  It was no longer a "make it on the fly" fun production.  The cast is stellar, but unfortunately they weren't given much to do.  At one point Lindsey Lohan was dressed up like a nun.  Instead of commenting on that he assumed the absurdity of it alone would provide enough ironly to sufice.  It didn't.  Steven Segal, Don Johnson, Robert De Niro, and Cheech Marin all make up a wonderful second string of players.

One thing I will say for Robert Rodriguez is that he did provide the two female characters strong roles that they took advantage.  Overall this film was a disapointment to me, but it was still worth the last minute rip to the theater.  Now I only have to look forward to the Rob Zombie "Werewolf Women of the SS" feature, and a long weekend with my special lady!

I would give Machete 3/5 stars.  For more check out the trailer on the link below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8rslIZV85U

Day #2 - Naked

Another day of continuing this charade that I will be able to watch a 365 movies in a year.  Kind of funny though, I made it though the film today but got really drowsy during the movie (I worked until 2:00am this morning).  But as soon as the movie was over I got up and started diner and washing dishes and folding laundry.  Once I ate, I sat in the spot I watched the movie and turned the TV on and started flipping.  I wonder if this has something to due with the mindless nature of TV, or did I simply get my second wind after a long day at work and a not exactly riveting, plot driven film.

The boring film I am speaking of is the 1993 Mike Leigh directed "Naked".  And to be honest the film is anything but boring.  It is the story of a wondering, social misfit from Manchester played with ruthless vigor by David Thewils.  As is often the case with Mike Leigh's films which include Secrets & Lies, Topsy-Turvy and last years Happy-Go-Lucky plot takes a back seat to performance.  This character study delves deep into the self importance, self destructive nature of Thewils "Johnny" as he wonders around London interfering with a former girlfriend, her flatmate and various other unsuspecting bystanders.  He rants about the bible, the end of the world, alienation, drugs, sex and any other thing he can get an audience for.


This is not an easy watch for a number of reasons.  First off is the action is character.  Which leads to several scenes of talking and talking and more talking.  I have read that a good deal of the films dialogue was improvised or constructed during rehearsal.  Which, if true, is quite impressive.  Another reason this is a difficult watch is that is is highly sexual in a disturbing nature.  There is a lot of sex in the movie.  Not all of it is consensual or it can not be recognized if consent was given during or before the act.  Rape has never played well for American audiences.  The final reason this can be difficult to sit through is that no one in the movie really gets you to root for them.  All the characters are either a total a-holes, sexual prevents, delusional flunkies, manic control freaks or perhaps the greatest sin...passive bystanders in life.  That might be the message this film is trying to get across.

Overall I did enjoy this film.  It had been in my queue for a long time and I am glad that I have dug deeper into Mr. Leigh's catalogue.  I would give Naked a 3/5 stars.

For more please check out the trailer on YouTube by clicking the link below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WdAPqhnzwQ

Day #1 - Chop Shop

Well, I didn't watch Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.  It was 2.5 hours long and I have been at work all day, and have to go back tonight.  It didn't take long for me to figure out how hard or near impossible this is going to be.  I need to balance a 60+ hour a week job, with the time I want to spend with my children and my girlfriend.  Finding around 14 hours a week to delicate to watching movies and another 7-10 researching and writing this blog is going to be a chore.  I am curious to see how many I can cram into a year though.

Although I didn't see what I was expecting, I did manage to squeeze in a film.  The 2009 movie Chop Shop.  Ramin Bahrani is the director behind the camera and a leading figure in what is being titled as a neo-neo-realism film movement.   This genre and it's practitioners (including Bahrani, Anna Boden, Ryan Fleck, and a host of others) strive to showcase original stories in real life settings generally using non-professional actors.  Most of the camera work in these films is hand held and generally shot digitally.   All in an attempt to capture "the truth".  These films blur the line between fiction and reality.  They could be described and quasi documentary.

In Chop Shop the male lead is a young boy named Alejandro.  He is growing up in the Iron Triangle area of New York.  He spends all day, every day working his butt off at the body shops that populate this region of the town.  He lives in what is basically a large closet above one of the shops.  His older sister is living there also.  Together they are trying to scrounge up enough cash to buy a food truck.  They have dreams and aspirations of getting out of the ghetto and making a better life for themselves.

Unfortunately dreams and aspirations are all they have.  This movie does an excellent job of simply presenting there struggle with making judgments or playing the sentimental card.  It is not in the least bit manipulative.  Bahrani lets his camera roll during the good times, bad times, and everything in between. 

The acting is flawless and completely non self aware.  I have no idea how he got this caliber performances out of non-professional actors.  but maybe that is how.  These young actors aren't coming to these projects with any preconceived notions or egos. 

All in all this is a great film and a wonderful way to start off my 365 days of film.

I need a rating system of some sort.  If I was to borrow Netflix's I would give this a 4/5 stars.  Follow the link below to watch the trailer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fUjusA87QI

My First Post

Hello.  If you are visiting this blog this early then you are mostly likely either a relative or close friend.  I haven't decided on a date to begin this experiment.  I am thinking maybe 9/1/10.  I started getting this blog together at around 11:30 at night so I don't have it looking like what I want it to quite yet.  I should have it totally complete by the end of the week.

I am all set to watch The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo via Netflix online.  I want to get this thing up and going before the Autumn movies start hitting the theaters.  So, wish me luck.

Andrew (walktheearth)