It's been a lot of DVD watching the last few months thanks to the Austin Public Library. I don't do cable, never have. I used to buy DVDs, but I am cutting back on my spending and not everything is worth owning. You get to be a certain age and you realize you can't watch everything you have more than once. There is just so much new stuff that I am still trying to see just so I can say I did. Thanks to the libraries I can do that.
I watched the first season of The Handmaid's Tale and all I could say was WOW! My first thought was, "Is this what started the Me Too Movement?"
Margaret Atwood wrote the book in 1985 which is essentially when it all began, but it seem to take on more steam when MGM and Hulu introduced the series.
Ever since I saw Mad Men I have been following some of the actors and actresses in their post performances. Elizabeth Moss played Peggy and she was one of my favorite characters. In The Handmaids's Tale she plays Offred, meaning of Fred as who she belongs too. All of the women are given the of and first name of their male head of the house.
The women are used for breeding purposes as well as other things.
This is definitely a series that makes you think. I now want to read the book. Margaret has written a sequel and I'm curious to see if it goes in the direction of season 2 or will the sequel set up for season 3 or perhaps 4.
I started reading Less Than Zero the book by Bret Easton Ellis because I recently found out their may be a television series coming soon. I am not sure if it will continue where the movie left off or if it will be based solely on the book.
When I first read the book I found it very interesting. When the movie came out I was a bit disappointed because the characters had been changed. Although I enjoyed the movie and it is in my top 50, the characters were just different from their descriptions. I do feel Robert Downey's performance as Julian was one of the best performances he had given to that point and was Oscar worthy, but he wasn't nominated. His Oscar was deserving for his performance as Chaplin and I also thought he was great in Tropic Thunder although today their would be some controversy because he is portraying a person of color in the movie.
Satire is one of those touchy subjects in this modern age.
I'll probably have to wait and get it from the library if it does become a series. I doubt if it would be on regular TV because of the subject matter.
Thanks for stopping by; keep an open mind and do come back again.
Sunday, December 9, 2018
Wednesday, October 31, 2018
Movies, movies and more movies 2018
The majority of my free time is spent watching movies. In between that time I try to stay busy around the house and work on some art. It's been so hot that I don't want to chance getting out into the yard and have a heat stroke.
In the last few weeks I've seen several movies from my collection and that I found at the library.
I watched a documentary on Annie Leibovitz the famed photographer which I found very interesting. There was another on the films of Ken Russell I've watched Elgar about the composer, The Debussy Film based on the famed composer Claude Debussy and Any Given Sunday about the painter Henri Rousseau. All are quite interesting in their depiction of the subjects and the artistry. Actors portray the subjects, but in The Debussy Film is a movie within a film telling the story of the composer. They are all shot in black and white.
I have to do some research because I think there is another film maker named Ken Russell and I don't think they are the same person. (I just checked Independent Movie Data Base and it is the same person.) You know how you don't expect people to look a certain way because of the work that they put out? That's what happened here. I have three more of his documentary/movies to watch. I did complete all of the movies on the DVD.
I watched the series American Horror Story: Freak Show and I was absolutely engulfed in the season. I definitely want to watch it again before I return it to the library. It's hard for most people to see the beauty in people who are different than they are. We make assumptions without asking questions. If you watch this season you would be amazed to find out that there are actually actors who are disabled. The actors are really good and I hope to see them in something else. Even those that had never acted before are doing an incredible job.
I tried to watch Asylum, but the DVD wasn't playing properly. It seems interesting, but I have noticed I do have an issue with movies and television shows that poke fun at the catholic church sometimes.
October is the month that is dedicated to horror movies. I've been trying to see movies I've not seen before or in many years as opposed to the same movies over and over. I started at the end of September watching The Walking Dead which is a television series on AMC. I then watched A film by Alfred Hitchcock called Murder. It was filmed in black and white and it reminded me of some of his later work which I've recently scene. There's was a little of Rear Window, Vertigo and Psycho all rolled into one with the theatre as the backdrop.
I watched Rosemary's Baby which I haven't seen in quite some time. I usually watch it on VHS, but the library had a copy on DVD. I always like watching the making of sections on the DVDs or Blu rays because it fills in the blanks sometimes as to why a movie is the way it is. There were a few clashes on the set between Roman Polanski and John Cassavetes since they were both directors. John also liked to ad lib and Roman likes to stick to the script. Mia Farrow was the youngest person on the set and Ruth Gordon was more of a method actress and stayed to herself. It was fun to learn that Mia Farrow and Sharon Tate were friends. The Hollywood connection was quite interesting back then. I didn't realize that Mia Farrow was getting a divorce during the filming because he really wanted her to do a film with him. But really in the entertainment business you have to be able to deal with the fact that sometimes one career is up and the other is down and the ego has to be stroked just right to make a relationship work.
28 Days Later - I don't recall when I saw my first zombie movie, but the idea of being scared is something I enjoy, but there is a thresh hold of how intense a movie can get. I don't particularly care for the horror movies that tack on jokes unless its realistic. There are certain things in real life that we may laugh at to not show that we are scared. Cillian Murphy, Naomi Harris and Christopher Eccleston star.
28 Weeks Later - Robert Carlyle stars in the sequel to the above movie which is just as exciting. The movie also stars Jeremy Renner, and Harold Perrineau. The zombies move at a faster pace which keeps you on the edge of your seat.
World War Z - starring Brad Pitt and David Morse some of this movie was filmed in New Orleans as have been many movies since Katrina. Once again the zombies move at a faster pace and seem to still have some brain matter because they are able to figure out if they stand on top of each other they can climb over the wall or any other obstacle.
Only Lover's Left Alive - This is an art film by Jim Jarmusch released in 2013, about vampires, music, science and love. It stars Tilda Swinton, Tom Hiddleton, Anton Yelchin, Mia Wasikowska, John Hurt and Jeffrey Wright. It's a very slow moving film that allows you to really get to know the characters in my opinion.
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (remake)- starring Jessica Biel, Johnathan Tucker and Eric Balfour
Dawn of the Dead (remake)- starring Sarah Polley, Ving Rhames, Jake Weber,, Mehki Phifer, Michael Kelly and Ty Burrell
Halloween - The original movie by John Carpenter is a classic. And like Alfred Hitchcock John does a great job creating suspense. There's not a lot of gore and it set the bar for a new generation of film makers. The opening sequence took us to a place we never saw coming. Most horror films have a few inconsistencies, and so they try to tie those up in a sequel.
I've often had trouble with the timeline of Halloween, but it's set in a town I'm not familiar with.
I always thought perhaps the kids got out of school around 3 PM because when I was in elementary school that was the time the school bell rang to go home.
By the time Jamie Lee Curtis' character gets home from High School, the kids in the neighborhood are already trick or treating and it's still daylight. We always went out when the street lights came on.
So once it does get dark you figure it's around 6 PM pr 7 PM and they are watching scary movies on TV. The Thing is the first feature it's about two hours on television. So it would have been about 9 PM or 9:30 PM when it went off. Then once Jamie Lee's character thinks something is wrong that takes about 30 to 40 minutes. But none of this means anything until the sequel in which we find out what time it is when Ben Trammer is killed when they mistake him for Michael Meyers. It's about 11:30 PM when that takes place.
In the last few weeks I've seen several movies from my collection and that I found at the library.
I watched a documentary on Annie Leibovitz the famed photographer which I found very interesting. There was another on the films of Ken Russell I've watched Elgar about the composer, The Debussy Film based on the famed composer Claude Debussy and Any Given Sunday about the painter Henri Rousseau. All are quite interesting in their depiction of the subjects and the artistry. Actors portray the subjects, but in The Debussy Film is a movie within a film telling the story of the composer. They are all shot in black and white.
I have to do some research because I think there is another film maker named Ken Russell and I don't think they are the same person. (I just checked Independent Movie Data Base and it is the same person.) You know how you don't expect people to look a certain way because of the work that they put out? That's what happened here. I have three more of his documentary/movies to watch. I did complete all of the movies on the DVD.
I watched the series American Horror Story: Freak Show and I was absolutely engulfed in the season. I definitely want to watch it again before I return it to the library. It's hard for most people to see the beauty in people who are different than they are. We make assumptions without asking questions. If you watch this season you would be amazed to find out that there are actually actors who are disabled. The actors are really good and I hope to see them in something else. Even those that had never acted before are doing an incredible job.
I tried to watch Asylum, but the DVD wasn't playing properly. It seems interesting, but I have noticed I do have an issue with movies and television shows that poke fun at the catholic church sometimes.
October is the month that is dedicated to horror movies. I've been trying to see movies I've not seen before or in many years as opposed to the same movies over and over. I started at the end of September watching The Walking Dead which is a television series on AMC. I then watched A film by Alfred Hitchcock called Murder. It was filmed in black and white and it reminded me of some of his later work which I've recently scene. There's was a little of Rear Window, Vertigo and Psycho all rolled into one with the theatre as the backdrop.
I watched Rosemary's Baby which I haven't seen in quite some time. I usually watch it on VHS, but the library had a copy on DVD. I always like watching the making of sections on the DVDs or Blu rays because it fills in the blanks sometimes as to why a movie is the way it is. There were a few clashes on the set between Roman Polanski and John Cassavetes since they were both directors. John also liked to ad lib and Roman likes to stick to the script. Mia Farrow was the youngest person on the set and Ruth Gordon was more of a method actress and stayed to herself. It was fun to learn that Mia Farrow and Sharon Tate were friends. The Hollywood connection was quite interesting back then. I didn't realize that Mia Farrow was getting a divorce during the filming because he really wanted her to do a film with him. But really in the entertainment business you have to be able to deal with the fact that sometimes one career is up and the other is down and the ego has to be stroked just right to make a relationship work.
28 Days Later - I don't recall when I saw my first zombie movie, but the idea of being scared is something I enjoy, but there is a thresh hold of how intense a movie can get. I don't particularly care for the horror movies that tack on jokes unless its realistic. There are certain things in real life that we may laugh at to not show that we are scared. Cillian Murphy, Naomi Harris and Christopher Eccleston star.
28 Weeks Later - Robert Carlyle stars in the sequel to the above movie which is just as exciting. The movie also stars Jeremy Renner, and Harold Perrineau. The zombies move at a faster pace which keeps you on the edge of your seat.
World War Z - starring Brad Pitt and David Morse some of this movie was filmed in New Orleans as have been many movies since Katrina. Once again the zombies move at a faster pace and seem to still have some brain matter because they are able to figure out if they stand on top of each other they can climb over the wall or any other obstacle.
Only Lover's Left Alive - This is an art film by Jim Jarmusch released in 2013, about vampires, music, science and love. It stars Tilda Swinton, Tom Hiddleton, Anton Yelchin, Mia Wasikowska, John Hurt and Jeffrey Wright. It's a very slow moving film that allows you to really get to know the characters in my opinion.
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (remake)- starring Jessica Biel, Johnathan Tucker and Eric Balfour
Dawn of the Dead (remake)- starring Sarah Polley, Ving Rhames, Jake Weber,, Mehki Phifer, Michael Kelly and Ty Burrell
Halloween - The original movie by John Carpenter is a classic. And like Alfred Hitchcock John does a great job creating suspense. There's not a lot of gore and it set the bar for a new generation of film makers. The opening sequence took us to a place we never saw coming. Most horror films have a few inconsistencies, and so they try to tie those up in a sequel.
I've often had trouble with the timeline of Halloween, but it's set in a town I'm not familiar with.
I always thought perhaps the kids got out of school around 3 PM because when I was in elementary school that was the time the school bell rang to go home.
By the time Jamie Lee Curtis' character gets home from High School, the kids in the neighborhood are already trick or treating and it's still daylight. We always went out when the street lights came on.
So once it does get dark you figure it's around 6 PM pr 7 PM and they are watching scary movies on TV. The Thing is the first feature it's about two hours on television. So it would have been about 9 PM or 9:30 PM when it went off. Then once Jamie Lee's character thinks something is wrong that takes about 30 to 40 minutes. But none of this means anything until the sequel in which we find out what time it is when Ben Trammer is killed when they mistake him for Michael Meyers. It's about 11:30 PM when that takes place.
Saturday, August 25, 2018
10 Films/Movies in 10 Days
I participated in this 10 Films/Movies in 10 Days on facebook. Actually I named it films/movies because of the podcast that I had been doing.
They are in no particular order. I had a list in mind when I decided to do this, but like everything else when it came time to post I had changed my mind and I wanted to watch the films and movies that I would post.
The films and movies that are in my collection are there for many different reasons. It has to do with the actors or the subject matter.
The first movie I decided to watch was Sparkle. The reason I chose this one because Aretha Franklin had just passed and she did some of the vocals for the movie. Curtis Mayfield composed the music that created some hits.
The movie starred Phillip Michael Thomas, Lonette McKee, Dorian Harewood, Irene Cara and Mary Alice. It was one of the first depictions of a black female singing group with a black cast.
The second movie I decided to watch was The Skulls. I hadn't seen this one in a very long time. Hill Harper has a small, but pivital role. The movie is based on a secret society that politicians and men of power belong too.
The third movie was Meatballs, a fun story about a summer camp of underdogs. The movie starred Bill Murray from Saturday Night Live and introduced us to Chris Makepeace as Rudy Gardner.
The fourth movie was Set It Off one of my favorite movies. It's an original story with some very talented actors. The movie stars Queen Latifah, Jada Pinkett, Viveca Fox, Blair Underwood, Ella Joyce and John McGinley.
The fifth movie was Living Out Loud, another movie that featured Queen Latifah. I really like this movie for it's uniqueness. If we could all just live out loud... life would be even more interesting. The movie stars Holly Hunter and Danny Devito.
The sixth was the film Chain of Desire by Temistecoles Lopez. I had just watched Alfred Hitchcock's film Rear Window for the first time and it made me think of a scene from Chain of Desire so I decided to watch the movie. The film stars Linda Fiorentino and Malcolm McDowell. It was a film that connected several characters, but without them meeting each other. It was probably the first time I had seen a film go full circle. Starting with one character and then coming back to that character.
The seventh was the film Full Metal Jacket by Stanley Kubrick. The film gave us an inside view of the training, head games and mental stability that the soldiers went through during the Vietnam war. The film stars Mathew Modine, Vincent D'onofrio, Arliss Howard, Dorian Harewood, Adam Baldwin and Emrey.
The eight was the German film, Das Boot (The Boat), directed by Wolfgang Peterson, starring Jurgen Prochnow and Erwin Leder. It's based on the true story of German soldiers, who are only boys, on a submarine sent out to destroy the enemy. The experience changes those that do survive.
The visuals and editing for the film are incredible. It's as if you are on the sub with the other men.
The ninth was The Pillow Book, a film by Peter Greenaway. This film is the artistry at its best. The visuals inside of a story about love, obsession, the art of writing, the art of sex, fetishism and so much more.
The tenth movie was Forth Apache The Bronx, starring and directed by Paul Newman. No list would be complete without at least once movie in which Pam Grier is featured. She has a small, but pivotol role as a drugged out hooker/serial killer. Paul Newman didn't want Pam Grier for the role, but she pulled a Dorothy Dandridge and got the part. For those of you not familar with that, Otto Preminger didn't want Dorothy for the role of Carmen. He wanted her to play Cindy Lou. Dorothy dressed up as Carmen and went in and Otto new she was right for the part. Pam did the same thing, going into his office as the hooker. She lost a lot of weight for this role and Paul Newman couldn't resist.
There were other films and movies that I watched, but that was going beyond the number. Those others were the film Fame about the High School for performing arts in New York which starred Irene Cara, Barry Miller, Paul McCrane and the late Gene Anthony Ray. Holland Taylor appears in the film along with Debbie Allen, Ann Meara and fashion designer Isaac Mizrahi when he was a student at the school.
I also watched the movie The Temptations and the psychological film Headless Body in a Topless bar created from a newspaper article. It's a disturbing film in parts. It has some humor, but it's not for everyone.
The podcast is now up on podbean, itunes and stitcher it's call Films Versus Movies. Check it out and follow me(Dlonzo on Twitter) or Tony (TDoug on Twitter) You can also listen to the podcast on Youtube.
here are the links for the podcasts - https://tdoug.podbean.com/
https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/tony-douglas-presents-take-five
https://itunes.apple.com/om/podcast/tdoug-podcast-network/id804851372?mt=2
Copy and past the links if you are interested in my other blogs and interests.
www.dlonzo-OpenYourMind.blogspot.com
www.ArtbyDlonzo.blogspot.com
www.filmlover4pg@blogspot.com
http://psychedmaster.org
Thanks for stopping by; keep an open mind. Do return to see where the journey leads.
Tuesday, June 19, 2018
Ocean's 8
(The Artist Fashionably casual)Ocean's 8, I decided to go to the movies to treat myself. I chose Ocean's 8 because of its fashion connection. The focus of the film is the Met Gala, the most sort after event that Anna Wintor, editor of Vogue magazine puts together once a year. The film stars Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Sarah Paulson, Helena Bonham Carter, Rhianna, Akwafina, Anne Hathaway and Mindy
Elliot Gould and James Cordon make appearances in the film which are actually good.
The opening sequence is Sandra Bullock talking to the parole board which I found very funny. Sandra tells the parole board that she has been reformed and won't get back into a life of crime like her family.
I was laughing a lot in the first 15 minutes.
Cate Blanchett is the best friend on board for whatever as long as they stick to the plan. We go back and forth from the present to the past to see how the women got away with the crime and how they got to this point.
Helena Bonham Carter is a fashion designer that has a reputation of breaking the rules. I loved the fashion show of the models looking like stewardesses and the use of the escaltor as the run way. Of course the critics in the film don't like her collection. The plan is to get Anne Hathaway's character to want to wear one of Helena's characters gowns to the Met Gala. Then they persuade Cartier to lend out a diamond necklace worth millions.
With the help of modern technology, the women are able to create a duplicate of the diamond with a 3D printer. Mindy plays a jeweler and Rhianna is a computer hacker who also gets a little help from her sister.
I wondered if the film was written or directed by a woman and I saw in the credits it was written by a woman as well as a man. In this age of the Me Too movement, its important that women have a role in the way that they are portrayed in movies.
If you like any of the women listed you will enjoy this movie. If you love fashion and art you will like this movie. So I do recommend it for a great escape. We're moving in a direction with art where women are now seen doing things that we would only see men doing. I think its a great to see the change in dynamic. Men are becoming more sensitive even if they are shooting up people or kicking butt.
Check out the pod cast Films Versus Movies where Tony and I discuss more details of the movie.
Thanks for stopping by.
The podcast is now up on podbean, itunes and stitcher it's call Films Versus Movies. Check it out and follow me(Dlonzo on Twitter) or Tony (TDoug on Twitter) You can also listen to the podcast on Youtube.
here are the links for the podcasts - https://tdoug.podbean.com/
https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/tony-douglas-presents-take-five
https://itunes.apple.com/om/podcast/tdoug-podcast-network/id804851372?mt=2
Copy and past the links if you are interested in my other blogs and interests.
www.dlonzo-OpenYourMind.blogspot.com
www.ArtbyDlonzo.blogspot.com
www.filmlover4pg@blogspot.com
http://psychedmaster.org
Monday, May 7, 2018
The Ramblings of an Artist Pt 3
(Two years ago ZACH did an interactive production of Alice in Wonderland. It was part of the family series, but adults enjoyed it as well. It's great to acct like a kid from time to time)The reason for me doing a blog was to just see how it would go. Then it became a way to try to pass along information that maybe one person could use. Now it is a way for people to get to know me a little more.
There is always a lot going on in my life. I treat my blog just like my regular journal. Once I release it I rarely talk about it again. It all depends on my mood.
This past weekend I sort of binged watched the remainder of the James Bond movies starring Sean Connery and I ended with The Jason Bourne movies with Matt Damon. The reason I had become interested in the Bourne movies was because I had read the book, but like most movies that are based on a book they take some creative license. I did enjoy the movies, lots of action. I did however realize a concept that I have would seem similar so I will have to look at how I lay that out. Of course the idea behind my story is different.
I try not to be influenced by the things I watch which is one of the reasons when I am writing I don't watch any movies or television. It should be obvious that I'm not doing much writing other than my blogs and my journal.
As I've mentioned before, I'm trying to get my life back on track. There are things that I would like to do, but with the fears I have I've been putting them on the back burner. The fear if you are wondering has nothing to do with the project itself. It just has to do with me driving back to New Orleans.
That in itself, would make a great story. (Katrina did a number on me and it comes and goes.) There was a time when I had no problem driving back and forth, but now with all the disasters happening around the U. S. and the world it is affecting me again.
Just this weekend I saw that Mount Kilauea is spewing all over the Big Island. Now this is not news to me because the volcano has been active for many years. It does bring up a memory from my second trip to the Big Island. I had decided I would stay for two months. I was trying to acclimate myself and see what it would be like to be away from my family and friends. Could I just do nothing but chill? Of course I had been doing that since 2001, but most of my life I have taken a relaxed approach to things. It's the Southern way. I've never really told this story in detail. Sort of like the Katrina story I have yet to tell from start to finish, but soon, I hope.
So in October of 2006, I woke and started to get washed up when the bungalow began to shake. Now the year I spent in LA I never really experienced an earthquake, but living in Inglewood close to the airport, every time a plan took off... I thought it was a quake.
I didn't know how strong of a quake it was. My friend thought it was a 3.4 or some lower magnitude, but we would later find out it was the largest quake the Big Island had seen. It was rather scary, but I didn't freak out after that. About 15 minutes later the bungalow began to shake again. We were still thinking about our plans for the day as if nothing had happened. I recalled us trying to see if there was any information online about the quake.
The thing that never crossed my mind, but I would hear about a couple of hours later was if there would be an evacuation because of a Tsunami. We were really high up on the island on the Kona side which is mostly the dry side. Lots of sunshine that just made me feel relaxed and happy.
So, the plan for the day was to go to the Volcano. Now it's obvious neither of us was thinking but it was still something I needed to know. There were no warnings for people to stay home, but they were asking people to stay off of their cell phones. I wondered if my family had heard about the quake, but not knowing that things that happen on the Big Island usually stay on the Big Island if it doesn't affect any other regions.
As we began our road trip to the Hilo side of the Big Island which is known as the wet side. We heard reports on the radio, but nothing seemed to be severe. At some point we did here that the quake reached as far as Honolulu. Once we arrived at the Volcano we got a bit of a history lesson which is exactly what I needed.
It seems earthquakes happen all the time. Sometimes the shift goes unnoticed. It explained why sometimes when we are walking and there are no cracks or uneven spots in the pavement that we might stumble. It's because of the slight shift. So we aren't always losing our sense of balance.
The lava flow is what makes the Big Island continue to grow. There is another island forming that at that time it was estimated it would take 153 years before it will be visible.
We found out that the quake was a 6.5 on the Richter scale. I had gotten a copy of the seismograph to show the actual movements. It was such a cool thing at the time. It was also the largest quake on the Big Island at the time. The Big Island is the 75th largest island. It takes about 8 hours to drive all the way around the Big Island at a speed of 60 mph. So after the education lesson we took the designated path to walk up to the top. Looking at large craters and seeing the gases seeping through. As the evening turned into night, we only had our flashlights to guide us along. There were signs indicating that if you got off of the path you were at your own risk.
(I always think of that scene in Rocker Horror Picture Show when the sign pops up and everyone shouts, "Take the risk!")
So we got off the path and walked toward the spewing lava. I had a small digital camera, of good quality, but the zoom was not that great. The sight of the lava and the sounds were just incredible. It's one of those things that is hard to describe, you have to experience it first hand. We were the only two people at times walking toward the sound of the ocean and the sparks.
I then remember something I had learned earlier in the day. At any moment the side of the volcano or shelf as it is called could fall off into the ocean.
As much as I wanted to get close enough to get a great shot, I didn't want to take that big of a risk.
The entire day is an experience I won't forget. It was enlightening, a bit disturbing, but definitely something to write about.
I had hoped to return to the Big Island and take pictures of the volcano, but I don't think that will happen. The plan was to go early in the day that way I could see where I was going and then by night fall have a spot to take pictures.
Since I am not on my laptop I don't have any images of the volcano to post. The previous year I had taken pictures and video inside of the lava tubes. There are so many terms that are a part of the volcano. Lava, earthquakes. toxic gas, magma, fissures and sacred offerings.
The islanders see the volcano as a sacred thing. I remember hearing or reading that a person is not supposed to remove the volcano rocks. I of course being a tourist in 2005, always collected rocks from different places, had brought a few rocks back to NOLA. In my subconscious I thought maybe that had something to do with Katrina. One will never know.
Since my friend had moved back to Seattle, I had forgotten I even knew anyone on the Big Island and then I remembered my friends who's condo I stayed in that second month while I was there. I kept thinking good thing I was not there when this happened and there wasn't a tsunami because I definitely would have freaked out.
Thanks for stopping by; keep an open mind and do come back again.
Wednesday, May 2, 2018
James Bond
I then looked at the date of this movie and wondered who took me to see the movie? I was only 7 years old when the movie was released. I figure it had to be my brother-in-law as I remembered my nephew and I saw a lot of movies with him. So, looking back and seeing the other movies, I realize Sean Connery also had a charm and rugged side. He screwed up a few times and got beat up as well. There are three more movies in which Sean Connery starred that I will be watching in the next few days.
I am hoping the weather will hold up and I can get out to see The Avengers, Infinity Wars. I mainly want to see it for the special effects and because some of the cast from The Black Panther also appear in this movie.
Tony and I taped another episode of Films Versus Movies that should be up on the podcast soon. It's pretty much impromtu on my part as I wanted the feel to be just the way it is when we discuss films and movies when we have a break.
I have also been watching some movies of espionage that I haven't soon or it's been a while. For some reason I thought Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy was an old movie. It was actually made in 2011 with a large cast. It's about Russian spies and figuring out who did what... How did the operation go wrong?
Gary Oldman stars along with Benedict Cumberbatch, Toby Jones, John Hurt, Colin Firth, Tom Hardy and Mark Strong. The movie is based on John le Carre's novel that made people see the spy thriller in a new way. If you love mysteries and spy thrillers this is definitely that. Not a lot of things blowing up, but there is intrigue just like the symbol of the chess pieces. This movie takes time and concentration to see what it going on.
I also watched The Kingsman : The Secret Service for the second time. I really like this movie, but the sequel is not as interesting. It takes a comedic turn and I really don't know the purpose of Elton John. Was he being a caricature of himself? I feel it was a waste of talent for a few people. It's a fun movie, just not as entertaining for me as the first one was.
The podcast is now up on podbean, itunes and stitcher it's call Films Versus Movies. Check it out and follow me(Dlonzo on Twitter) or Tony (TDoug on Twitter) on social media.
here are the links for the podcasts - https://tdoug.podbean.com/
https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/tony-douglas-presents-take-five
https://itunes.apple.com/om/podcast/tdoug-podcast-network/id804851372?mt=2
Copy and past the links if you are interested in my other blogs and interests.
www.dlonzo-OpenYourMind.blogspot.com
www.ArtbyDlonzo.blogspot.com
www.filmlover4pg@blogspot.com
http://psychedmaster.org
Thanks for stopping by; keep an open mind. Do return to see where the journey leads.
Tuesday, March 20, 2018
SXSW 2018
(Some of the cast and producers of the movie Outside In.)SXSW, One of the many big events that takes place in Austin every year. Since I've been working I don't really do any of the free stuff. Of course last year they didn't do the free wristbands. Things change in Austin often. I guess it's part of that whole Keep Austin Weird mantra.
(Ruben Blades and Director Abner Benaim)I did manage to catch a few of the features. I wasn't sure how that would work out. I also wasn't sure if I'd get to take any pictures. Edie Falco had shown up for a movie Outside In and I went in during the Q & A, but I only had my cell phone. I thought the premise for the film was interesting, but it wasn't really a new idea.
Sorry to Bother You- I really was interested in seeing this film mainly for the lead actor, Lakeith Stanfield. He had appeared in a small role in the film Get Out. I felt he should have had the lead in that film, but in Sorry to Bother You, directed by Boots Riley, Lakeith gets to shine. I had made some comparisons to the film Get Out, but after the Q & A found out this film was written long before Get Out. It's a visual movie with many social and economic observations.
( Director Boots Riley in the long coat, Jermaine Fowler in the red jacket, Steven Yeun in the dark shirt and jean and Armie Hammer in the dark crew neck and brown pants)The film deals with stereotypes and the perceptions people have of one another.
There were many actors I was surprised to see were a part of this film including Steven Yeun from The Walking Dead and Jermaine Fowler who appears in the comedy series Superior Donuts opposite Judd Hirsch.
Actors are constantly looking to evolve and I think we see that in Steven Yeun and Jermaine Fowler trying to leave behind the characters we have come accept them as each week.
( Some of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders with director Dana Adam Shapiro)Daughters of The Sexual Revolutions: The Story of the Untold story Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders- The story is about Suzanne Mitchell who was like the surrogate mother to these beautiful young women that became the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. During the sexual revolution there were many that felt the women were being exploited. I learned a lot from this documentary. I remembered some of the controvery with the adult film Debbie Does Dallas and the scandal with the images in Playboy Magazine. The Cheerleaders are very iconic and became celebrities in their own rite. I'm sure this will pop up on PBS at some point and everyone should see it. It was directed by Dana Adam Shapiro.
American Animals- I really liked this movie. It seemed like it was going to be a documentary, but that was not the case. The actual actors who the story is based on actually appear in the movie as themselves. The movie is directed by Bart Layton and stars Evan Peters, Barry Keoghan, Blake Jenner, Jared Abrahamson, Ann Dowd and Udo Kier. For a twist, young guys pretend to be old guys to pull off a heist of some art books at a Library. The movie plays homage to such classics as The Gettaway and The Heist among others.
Eight Grade - Directed by Bo Burnham, and starring Elsie Fisher, it's a movie about those awkward moments for most in 8th grade. It was done from a females perspective. It has moments as it is set in the time of cell phones, texting and sexting.
6 Balloons- I liked the premise for this movie and I was curious as to what Dave Franco would bring to the table. Prior to this I no idea that he was James Franco's brother. It's a film about family, drug addiction and what has more power and sometimes what that power can do to a person. The movie also stars Abbi Jacobson and an appearance by Tim Matheson. The movie is directed by Marja-Lewis Ryan.
I noticed a lot of films featured at this years SXSW were directed by women.
Ruben Blades is not my name- I did not see this documentary, but I had recognized the name, but wasn't sure... then I found out he would be in attendance. I caught the Q & A. I knew he was an actor, but I didn't know he was a musician as well as an activist and politician. He had a lot of stories to tell. The documentary was directed by Abner Benaim.
Elvis Presley The Search (Film 1)- I grew up listening to Elvis on the record player and seeing him on television. I wouldn't say I was a fan, but there was some interest in the movies he made. This documentary was directed by Thom Zimny. It begins from the beginning with Elvis' life in Tupelo Mississippi. What I found interesting was the people talking never appeared on the screen. Only their name and what they did. Prescilla said she aggreed to the project as long as they wouldn't use what she calls the talking heads. She wanted Elvis to tell the story. I thought it was very well put together. She also mentioned that HBO wanted to do a 6 part series, but she didn't want that. There will be a (Film 2) in the near future. Prescilla Presley and David Porter were in attendance.
The Texas High School Shorts- I came in on the short about the gymnist, but I don't think I missed any of the other shorts. I was trying to take notes, but just going by the titles, some of the shorts don't match up and the titles of the films didn't always appear before each movie started or there were no credits. After the films there was a Q&A, but perhaps a lot was said at the beginning of the films, but I came in after the program had begun. I made a comment that perhaps non of them wanted to be film makers since when asked no one responded.
What It Takes- This is a documentary film I walked in on about 3 gymnast and their thought process. It's interesting no matter what you do you always run into someone that doesn't respect what you do. One of the gymnast remarks about others not considering it a sport. I wish I could have been able to do back flips. I related to this because it was the same way guys look at dance. It is also somewhat of a sport. It takes a lot of discipline for anything to be done right, but everyone sees things differently. There are no flashy costumes for gymnast and no musical routines. It's just strength, balance and agility. I really enjoyed this one.
Silent Fist- Influenced by Kung Fu movies I'm sure, we find a young buddisht who's prayer is interupted by the thumping noise from the boxing ring next door. There is some bullying and then a challenge by the boxer. The buddisht channels his inner strenth and the boxer learns to pray.
The Art of War- It is said Art and War are the only realms where rules are broken. The imagery of an artist and a soldier are mixed to bring us a beautiful painting at the end of this short.
The Risk for Freedom- The film maker learns about his grandmother's struggles in Vietnam and making her way to the U.S. Through many channels. It told with compassion and humor as it follows her story from the Japanese occupation, saving her family from hunger and proverty. Arriving in the U.S. in the 1980's.
Pursuit of a Dream- This is an interesting short which of course we've seen in countless films, but it still works well. A man has to make a decision as to keep is job or get rid of part of his past to pursue his future. I can definitely relate to this. Even more so as I write this.
#Refugees Welcome- A woman who does all the right things has her world changed when a bomb goes off in a market place. She is forced to leave the country, her home, family and religion to survive. She goes through a series of events to arrive in the U.S.
Molly and Me- A young teen falls in love. This 5 minute short is pulled together quite nicely. This has potential to be made into a feature length film.
Escape- This 5 minute short is a history of how and young man's grandmother came to America from Vietnam and ended up in Austin. It's a very compassionate movie.
Hunned Effort- This was a 3 minute animated short that was very interesting. A music video shot by Nicholas Luna for Alan Lawson's song of the title of this short.
Keopcke- An experimental animation of abstract stop motion. A 17 year old girl's experience in 1971. A true, but forgotten story. There wasn't a lot of information on this short. It didn't stick in my mind.
CCISD Strong- This 5 minute short was about the efforts of students coming together to help those devested by hurricane Harvey. It's focus was on community and people showing support when they themselves had to deal with the effects of the hurricane, but from a different perspective.
Puzzle Pieces: Living Life on The Spectrum- A young girl talks about living with Austism and others who really have a lot to offer if we just give them a chance. That is life in general. So many people want to connect, but we ignore them for many reasons. They don't look, act or seem to be on our level.
Take A Chance - This was a music video signifying, insecurities as the title suggests you allow the world to see you as you are. It's a piece of art that asks us to identify with them.
How You See Us- This video was created out of anger, as the young film maker said after the screening and in the synopsis. She had gone to DC with her choir for the inauguration of President Donald Trump. The video expresses her feelings on misogyny. The mix of Donald Trump's own words with the music and visuals I thought was very well done. It made me enjoy the piece, but at the same time felt a bit uncomfortable as we all shift to understanding our roles in this new world of being politically correct.
The Texas shorts that I was able to see include:
Maude- a funny short about a 30 something who has several jobs to survive. She stumbles upon a baby sitting gig with the mom of one of her friends who is a designer of sports wear. The story has many twists and turns. I could definitely see this as a feature or even a televisions series.
The podcast is now up on podbean, itunes and stitcher it's call Films Versus Movies. Check it out and follow me(Dlonzo on Twitter) or Tony (TDoug on Twitter) on social media.
here are the links for the podcasts - https://tdoug.podbean.com/
https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/tony-douglas-presents-take-five
https://itunes.apple.com/om/podcast/tdoug-podcast-network/id804851372?mt=2
www.dlonzo-OpenYourMind.blogspot.com
www.ArtbyDlonzo.blogspot.com
www.filmlover4pg@blogspot.com
http://psychedmaster.org
Thanks for stopping by; keep an open mind. Do return to see where the journey leads.
Saturday, March 10, 2018
Blade Runner 2049
Blade Runner 2049 is the sequel to the classic film Blade Runner based on the book Do Androids Dream of Elecric Sheep by Phillip K. Dick.
I can understand why Ryan Gosling and Jared Leto may have signed on to do this film. It was the opportunity to work with Harrison Ford. All I could think is that Harrison Ford was offered a lot of money to get on board.
I must say the Oscar was well deserving for Cinematography and Visual Effects. The story is slow moving, but visually its is really good. Blade RUnner 2049 is brighter than Blade Runner.
The story is much slower and there are many similarities to Blade Runner. The scenes in the market place were identical. There are more digital billboards. The movie was also nominated for Production design and Sound mixing, but they didn't take either of those awards home.
I thought the fight sequences were slow moving. I was attributing it to Harrison Ford being older, but even the scenes with one of the women felt slow. There were a few very interesting sequences, but I found the story a little confusing. It could have been intentional, but I found it a bit frustrating. Normally I don't have this problem, but I think with the slow pace of the film and characters being introduced sparingly... just as soon as I thought I knew what was going on there was a switch and then you'd go back to the original idea because the characters would make you think something else.
I did like seeing some of the familiar faces from the first film. Edward James Olmos, but I wasn't sure if Sean Young was cgi or not. The magic of film... I almost didn't recognize Robin Wright. I met and photographed Robin Wright back in 1999 when she was Robin Wright-Penn.
I was somewhat disappointed, but there were some interesting moments. If you are a fan of Ryan Gosling or Harrison Ford it's definitely worth a look.
The podcast is now up on podbean, itunes and stitcher it's call Films Versus Movies. Check it out and follow me(Dlonzo on Twitter) or Tony (TDoug on Twitter) on social media.
here are the links for the podcasts - https://tdoug.podbean.com/
https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/tony-douglas-presents-take-five
https://itunes.apple.com/om/podcast/tdoug-podcast-network/id804851372?mt=2
www.dlonzo-OpenYourMind.blogspot.com
www.ArtbyDlonzo.blogspot.com
www.filmlover4pg@blogspot.com
http://psychedmaster.org
Thanks for stopping by; keep an open mind. Do return to see where the journey leads.
Wednesday, March 7, 2018
Today we taped the audio podcast of our picks and reasons behind our selections for the Oscars. I think everything went well since we were both in the same location. Hopefully everything went well and Tony can edit it out and get it posted. I didn't feel there were any pauses, but there were a few people in and out of the building while we were taping.
The podcast is now up on podbean, itunes and stitcher it's call Films Versus Movies. Check it out and follow me or Tony on social media.
here are the links for the podcasts - https://tdoug.podbean.com/
https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/tony-douglas-presents-take-five
https://itunes.apple.com/om/podcast/tdoug-podcast-network/id804851372?mt=2
We are not 6 days into the third month of the year. In a few days we'll be going through daylight saving time. The grass has grown back into the yard almost overnight and I'm going to have to use my time off to try to get it under control. There are so many things I need to do, but I haven't made the time to do that.
I feel as if I've written this before and don't want to be a broken record.
I was thinking about my situation and how so many people don't take responsibility for their choices. They always want to blame someone else. I can't blame anyone nor would I. Life is a constant journey filled with many learning experiences. I have to take things slow, one day at a time.
I want to create a schedule to work on my writing and do some reading. I need to create some greeting cards and there are a few other art projects I want to work on. I just have to stay focused.
SXSW is about to converge on Austin. It all starts Friday at ZACH, but before then there are events for the education sector with guest speakers. Spike Lee and Jordan Peele are both schedule to be a part of a panel. I'm not sure who will trickle over to ZACH. There is usually one or two red carpets.
As in the past whether I get to take pictures or see movies depends on when my shift ends and what is going on.
I've watched a lot of movies in the last few weeks so I'm taking it easy for a bit.
I've been a fan of This Is Us since the first episode. It's a show that everyone should be able to relate to. There is so much realism.
Tonight I got a surprise, Pam Grier is on the show in a small role. I was just talking about her at work. We were talking about favorite films by Quentin Tarrentino and of course Jackie Brown came up for someone.
It is no secret I am a very big fan of Pam Grier. Tonights episode deals with foster care. For some kids it can be a great thing, but there are some where life is not a bowl of cherries.
Having a family, a support system or a community of some sort is important. Families go through cycles. Some good some bad.
www.dlonzo-OpenYourMind.blogspot.com
www.ArtbyDlonzo.blogspot.com
www.filmlover4pg@blogspot.com
http://psychedmaster.org
Thanks for stopping by; keep an open mind. Do return to see where the journey leads.
Saturday, March 3, 2018
90th Academy Award Oscar predictions
I hate when I write something and then it disappears because I hit a wrong key. So let me try this again.
As of Wednesday afternoon I thought I had my Oscar predictions locked in. Thursday I went to the Regal Metropolitan 14 theater to see Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. It had been many years since I've been back to this theater.
I was impressed so much with this film. I wasn't sure if I was going to like it, but I wanted to see all of the Oscar nominated films so I could make my selections. Everyone in this film gives a great performance. It starts off slow and picks up speed. The ending leaves us to make a decision of our own, but it works. I woud have liked to have seen what they decided. I like the film because the characters are very believable and we see why they are that way. Woody Harrelson, Frances McDormand and Sam Rockwell all deserved their nominations.
Today I went to the Alamo Drafthouse on Slaughter Lane to see The Shape of Water. This is the first time I've gone to this location, in fact the only Alamo I've been to is on S. Lamar. This theater is newer, but it has a similar layout. Lots of vintage movie posters and a wall of film canisters. There are tables instead of a bar in front of the seats so its more spacious. Before the film there were some clips from Creature from the Black Lagoon. There was also the history of the gilman and all of the movies or television shows that the monster has appeared on. From the sequels to The Munsters and Johnny Quest.
After seeing a story on the film and how they water was created in some scenes, I had to see it. I'm surprised that the film was not nominated for Visual effects. Making light look like water is definitely an effect. This was part mystery, espionage, love story and sci fi. I was impressed. I'm surprised Michael Shannon was not nominated for an Oscar. He has a nice body of work, but this is the first time I've seen him really have a bigger part. Usually he is on screen for a few minutes and then gone. At first I didn't think Octavia Spencer should win an Oscar, although when she first appears on the screen its typical of the role from The Help, but as the film goes on she has a meatier role this time. She really gets to sink her teeth into this character. I hope she'll get a lead more along the lines of this character and we can see if she can carry a film.
I will list my selection for the 90th Academy Awards and what films may actually go home with the 24 Oscars. The Shape of Water has 13 nominations.
Best Actor- Originally Timothee Chalamet was my pick for best actor, but after seeing Darkest Hour I think the award should go to Gary Oldman.
Best Actress- Frances McDormand is my pick for this one. She's plays one of those characters that we feel for her, but at the same time she is a little annoying. She just does an excellent job with bringing the character to life.
Best Supporting Actor- In the best supporting role I was going for Willem Dafoe because I like his performances although there is only two scenes where I really felt there was some acting involved. After I saw Three Billboards I changed my mind and I'm going with Sam Rockwell. He definitely deserves an Oscar. The last time I saw him in anything this good was The Confessions of a Dangerous Mind which was based on the experiences of Gong Show Host Chuck Barris.
Best Supporting Actress- Everyone in the supporting actress category is good, but I think Allison Janey will walk away with the Oscar.
Animated Feature- The only animated feature I had seen was Coco so I'm going with that one. Loving Vincent had an interesting concept, there's something about family that is more relatable.
Cinematography- Initially I had selected Dunkirk for Cinematography and it'll probably take home the Oscar, but The Shape of Water and Darkest Hour definitely deserved their nominations.
Costume Design- My pick for is Darkest Hour, but it could go to Phantom Thread. Period films are always a difficult one to judge. Both films had some spectacular costumes.
Directing- I'm going with Paul Thomas Anderson for Phantom Thread in this category. He has never won an Oscar and I don't think Get Out was that great. It had an original idea, but that was about it for me.
Documentary feature- I did not see any of the documentary features, but Faces Places is my selection, but it could also go to Last Men In Aleppo.
Documentary short- I did not see any of the documentaries, but Heroin(E) is a subject that has been in the news a lot the last couple of years.
Film Editing- Film editing will probably go to Dunkirk, but I really enjoyed Baby Driver. Editing is sort of a hard category to judge because its all about the flow of the film or movie. The editing in Three Billboards was also very good. War movies just always have these big scenes and so they tend to get the award.
Foreign Language Film- I've selected A Fantastic Woman in this category because its another subject that many people have been talking about for the last several years. It's sort of like the Crying Game, that was a film made back in the 90's I believe. I don't want to spoil anything...
Makeup and Hair Styling- For this category I am going with the Darkest Hour. Gary Oldman's transformation into Winston Churchill made me forget that Gary Oldman was on the screen. He really is a great actor and has a body of work to prove that point.
Music score- I am hoping Jonny Greenwood walks away with this one for Phantom Thread. Hans Zimmer and John Williams have both won so many Oscars, they are like the Meryl Streep of film scores. Let's give someone else a chance.
Original song- Original Song I was going with Remember Me, but I feel just so Mary J. Blige doesn't go home empty handed they will give her an Oscar for the song Mighty River. I have not heard the song, but I just feel the politics of it all will be this end result.
Best Picture- Call Me By Your Name was my pick for Best Picture, but now I'm going with Three Billboards. If Get Out gets it then its another polical move on the academy to make up for Oscars being so white. I really just feel we have to accept how we ourselves look at films and movies. Just because we like something we can't judge it without seeing all of the other works next to it. My issue with Get Out was more that it didn't seem Jordan knew what he wanted the film to be. Was it supposed to be a dark comedy? A horror comedy? or A film making a statement and who was the statement for?
Production Design- The Shape of Water is my selection for this category. Initially I had selected Blade Runner 2049, but Darkest Hour was also interesting.
Short film animated- I don't have a selection for this category. I will make my selection based on the snipets I see right before the Oscar is read.
Short film live action- The same with this category I will make my selection right before the Oscar is read.
Sound Editing- This has always been a difficult category to judge. It depends on the theater in which you see the film. Just because there is a lot going on in Dunkirk I'm going to go with that one. The Shape of Water I think the spectacular visuals over shadowed any nuances of particular sounds. I don't recall the sound of water or the rain. I was so ingulfed in what was actually going on.
Sound Mixing- Again with the mixing of sound, do things sound the way we would perceive them? Again I'm going to go with Dunkirk.
Visual Effects- I am surprised that The Shape of Water was not nominated for this category. You don't get a better visual effect than creating water out of light. The bathroom scene alone should have made this film be nominated. I'm just going to go out on a limb and select Blade Runner 2049.
Writing adapted screenplay- Call Me By Your Name gets my vote here. I really did like this movie after at first not sure I even wanted to see it. It reminded me of other films I had issues with.
Original screenplay- The Oscar has to go to Jordan Peele for this one. It was the most original thing out there.
In the film The Shape of Water, there are three billboards, but in Three Billboards there is no water, but there is some fire.
Films Versus Movies will have another series of podcasts discussing the Oscars. Stay tuned.
The podcast is now up on podbean it's call Films Versus Movies. It'll soon be on itunes and stitcher soon. Check it out and follow me on social media. It's still a work in progress as I am not in the studio when we record. So that's the reason my voice may fade in and out.
www.dlonzo-OpenYourMind.blogspot.com
www.ArtbyDlonzo.blogspot.com
www.filmlover4pg@blogspot.com
http://psychedmaster.org
Thanks for stopping by; keep an open mind. Do return to see where the journey leads.
As of Wednesday afternoon I thought I had my Oscar predictions locked in. Thursday I went to the Regal Metropolitan 14 theater to see Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. It had been many years since I've been back to this theater.
I was impressed so much with this film. I wasn't sure if I was going to like it, but I wanted to see all of the Oscar nominated films so I could make my selections. Everyone in this film gives a great performance. It starts off slow and picks up speed. The ending leaves us to make a decision of our own, but it works. I woud have liked to have seen what they decided. I like the film because the characters are very believable and we see why they are that way. Woody Harrelson, Frances McDormand and Sam Rockwell all deserved their nominations.
Today I went to the Alamo Drafthouse on Slaughter Lane to see The Shape of Water. This is the first time I've gone to this location, in fact the only Alamo I've been to is on S. Lamar. This theater is newer, but it has a similar layout. Lots of vintage movie posters and a wall of film canisters. There are tables instead of a bar in front of the seats so its more spacious. Before the film there were some clips from Creature from the Black Lagoon. There was also the history of the gilman and all of the movies or television shows that the monster has appeared on. From the sequels to The Munsters and Johnny Quest.
After seeing a story on the film and how they water was created in some scenes, I had to see it. I'm surprised that the film was not nominated for Visual effects. Making light look like water is definitely an effect. This was part mystery, espionage, love story and sci fi. I was impressed. I'm surprised Michael Shannon was not nominated for an Oscar. He has a nice body of work, but this is the first time I've seen him really have a bigger part. Usually he is on screen for a few minutes and then gone. At first I didn't think Octavia Spencer should win an Oscar, although when she first appears on the screen its typical of the role from The Help, but as the film goes on she has a meatier role this time. She really gets to sink her teeth into this character. I hope she'll get a lead more along the lines of this character and we can see if she can carry a film.
I will list my selection for the 90th Academy Awards and what films may actually go home with the 24 Oscars. The Shape of Water has 13 nominations.
Best Actor- Originally Timothee Chalamet was my pick for best actor, but after seeing Darkest Hour I think the award should go to Gary Oldman.
Best Actress- Frances McDormand is my pick for this one. She's plays one of those characters that we feel for her, but at the same time she is a little annoying. She just does an excellent job with bringing the character to life.
Best Supporting Actor- In the best supporting role I was going for Willem Dafoe because I like his performances although there is only two scenes where I really felt there was some acting involved. After I saw Three Billboards I changed my mind and I'm going with Sam Rockwell. He definitely deserves an Oscar. The last time I saw him in anything this good was The Confessions of a Dangerous Mind which was based on the experiences of Gong Show Host Chuck Barris.
Best Supporting Actress- Everyone in the supporting actress category is good, but I think Allison Janey will walk away with the Oscar.
Animated Feature- The only animated feature I had seen was Coco so I'm going with that one. Loving Vincent had an interesting concept, there's something about family that is more relatable.
Cinematography- Initially I had selected Dunkirk for Cinematography and it'll probably take home the Oscar, but The Shape of Water and Darkest Hour definitely deserved their nominations.
Costume Design- My pick for is Darkest Hour, but it could go to Phantom Thread. Period films are always a difficult one to judge. Both films had some spectacular costumes.
Directing- I'm going with Paul Thomas Anderson for Phantom Thread in this category. He has never won an Oscar and I don't think Get Out was that great. It had an original idea, but that was about it for me.
Documentary feature- I did not see any of the documentary features, but Faces Places is my selection, but it could also go to Last Men In Aleppo.
Documentary short- I did not see any of the documentaries, but Heroin(E) is a subject that has been in the news a lot the last couple of years.
Film Editing- Film editing will probably go to Dunkirk, but I really enjoyed Baby Driver. Editing is sort of a hard category to judge because its all about the flow of the film or movie. The editing in Three Billboards was also very good. War movies just always have these big scenes and so they tend to get the award.
Foreign Language Film- I've selected A Fantastic Woman in this category because its another subject that many people have been talking about for the last several years. It's sort of like the Crying Game, that was a film made back in the 90's I believe. I don't want to spoil anything...
Makeup and Hair Styling- For this category I am going with the Darkest Hour. Gary Oldman's transformation into Winston Churchill made me forget that Gary Oldman was on the screen. He really is a great actor and has a body of work to prove that point.
Music score- I am hoping Jonny Greenwood walks away with this one for Phantom Thread. Hans Zimmer and John Williams have both won so many Oscars, they are like the Meryl Streep of film scores. Let's give someone else a chance.
Original song- Original Song I was going with Remember Me, but I feel just so Mary J. Blige doesn't go home empty handed they will give her an Oscar for the song Mighty River. I have not heard the song, but I just feel the politics of it all will be this end result.
Best Picture- Call Me By Your Name was my pick for Best Picture, but now I'm going with Three Billboards. If Get Out gets it then its another polical move on the academy to make up for Oscars being so white. I really just feel we have to accept how we ourselves look at films and movies. Just because we like something we can't judge it without seeing all of the other works next to it. My issue with Get Out was more that it didn't seem Jordan knew what he wanted the film to be. Was it supposed to be a dark comedy? A horror comedy? or A film making a statement and who was the statement for?
Production Design- The Shape of Water is my selection for this category. Initially I had selected Blade Runner 2049, but Darkest Hour was also interesting.
Short film animated- I don't have a selection for this category. I will make my selection based on the snipets I see right before the Oscar is read.
Short film live action- The same with this category I will make my selection right before the Oscar is read.
Sound Editing- This has always been a difficult category to judge. It depends on the theater in which you see the film. Just because there is a lot going on in Dunkirk I'm going to go with that one. The Shape of Water I think the spectacular visuals over shadowed any nuances of particular sounds. I don't recall the sound of water or the rain. I was so ingulfed in what was actually going on.
Sound Mixing- Again with the mixing of sound, do things sound the way we would perceive them? Again I'm going to go with Dunkirk.
Visual Effects- I am surprised that The Shape of Water was not nominated for this category. You don't get a better visual effect than creating water out of light. The bathroom scene alone should have made this film be nominated. I'm just going to go out on a limb and select Blade Runner 2049.
Writing adapted screenplay- Call Me By Your Name gets my vote here. I really did like this movie after at first not sure I even wanted to see it. It reminded me of other films I had issues with.
Original screenplay- The Oscar has to go to Jordan Peele for this one. It was the most original thing out there.
In the film The Shape of Water, there are three billboards, but in Three Billboards there is no water, but there is some fire.
Films Versus Movies will have another series of podcasts discussing the Oscars. Stay tuned.
The podcast is now up on podbean it's call Films Versus Movies. It'll soon be on itunes and stitcher soon. Check it out and follow me on social media. It's still a work in progress as I am not in the studio when we record. So that's the reason my voice may fade in and out.
www.dlonzo-OpenYourMind.blogspot.com
www.ArtbyDlonzo.blogspot.com
www.filmlover4pg@blogspot.com
http://psychedmaster.org
Thanks for stopping by; keep an open mind. Do return to see where the journey leads.
Sunday, February 25, 2018
Darkest Hour
The podcast is now up on podbean it's call Films Versus Movies. It'll soon be on itunes and stitcher soon. Check it out and follow me on social media. It's still a work in progress as I am not in the studio when we record. So that's the reason my voice may fade in and out.
I had pretty much decided that Timothee Chalamet would walk away with the Oscar even before I saw the film Call Me By Your Name. I saw Darkest Hour and now I am rethinking my decision. Gart Oldman's performance as Winston Churchill is great. There are several times I forgot I was watching Gary Oldman. The film should definitely win for best makeup.
I am sure I had seen Gary Oldman in a few films, but it wasn't until he did the film The Professional aka Leon that I was hooked. Of course like most actors his choices weren't always appealing so I didn't see them or add them to my collection.
Kirsten Scott Thomas plays Churchill's wife Clementine. I hadn't seen her in anything for quite some time. I think she should have been nominated for her role in the film. It was brought to my attention that Darkest Hour is the prelude to Dunkirk. Getting inside the head of a historical figure is always interesting. Churchill was not very well liked because he wasn't afraid to speak his mind.
"Success is not final. Failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts." -Winston Churchill from the film Darkest Hour.
I'm going to try to see Dunkirk. There are still quite a few movies that I haven't seen, but eventually I'll get around to them. Maybe I'll find them at the library once they are released on DVD or Blu Ray.
Most of the people I talk to regarding films and movies are having mixed opinions as well so I'm not alone.
I'm trying to see if I'll be able to see Dunkirk and Three Billboards before next Sunday.
www.dlonzo-OpenYourMind.blogspot.com
www.ArtbyDlonzo.blogspot.com
www.filmlover4pg@blogspot.com
http://psychedmaster.org
Thanks for stopping by; keep an open mind. Do return to see where the journey leads.
Saturday, February 24, 2018
Call Me By Your Name
Call Me By Your Name
Today I had another movie theater experience. I went to the Alamo Drafthouse on S. Lamar. For anyone not familiar with this chain, it's movies with food and drinks. There is a ledge big enough to hold food and beverages. This is the second time I've been to this location. The first time I went with co workers to see the original Ghostbusters. It was a very different experience.
This time I realized like the experience I had a week ago. The screens are too big for the theater. I find sitting on the last row is still too close. Perhaps its just me, but my neck was hurting and I definitely can't go longer than two and a half hours. The seats weren't as comfortable as those at the Regal and they didn't recline.
I will try one more time to see if perhaps another theater may have different seats. I'm using up gift cards I had received.
Call Me By Your Name is a film about love, being young, self discovery and experimentation. Although I had a few issues with this film I still love the story. It's set somewhere in the northern part of Italy. There was a scene that reminded me of Slovania and Treviso. Timothee Chalamet plays Elio and is really great in this film and the Oscar nomination is well deserved. He plays the role of Elio with such conviction, the innocence and reactions are so believable. Army Hammer plays Oliver, a teacher and research assistant to Elio's father.
Although the majority of the film is set in the summer, I see the shorter boxer short trunks as a big deal for 2018. Levi jeans never go out of style, but I see younger people wanted vintage Levi. The black and white shirt at the end of the film is also very cool. I had a similar shirt in the 80's.
Before even seeing the film I had sort of compared the film to A Death in Venice and For A Lost Soldier. Both are foreign films that deal with older men falling for younger boys. I have an issue with older people seducing younger people even when they are aware of their sexuality. That first time is something that can never be gained. Being hurt at a young age is something that stays with a person for the rest of their life. Sometimes it can be put away, but there is a good chance something will trigger that memory.
I wasn't sure how the film was going to play out. I don't want to give anything away, but it didn't happen the way I thought it might. There are many subtle things that could give one some insight into the character Elio. There is an image of Robert Mapplethorpe on the wall. There are lots of books and we find out that Elio is highly intelligent. Which is another factor that plays into trying to fit in when one can't really fit in when they can't be themselves. People at any age are capable of doubting themselves even when everyone tells them how good they are.
There are some sex scenes in the film. Some are natural and others we are not sure what took place, but it is up to us to make that decision. I happen to be sitting between two women who were about my age, maybe older, but they didn't seem to be disturbed by anything. One of them was crying by the end of the film.
I can relate to characters in certain movies and feel something, but I've never cried in a movie theater. We all react to things differently.
Call Me By Your Name will probably be available on DVD and Blu Ray in a couple of weeks.
The music in this film is a mixture of classical and 80's It is beautifully shot and the symbolism of the tree and greenery gives us something to think about. I am a pretty visual person so I pick up on things that most people miss. I will definitely add this film to my collection. I hope that the DVD will have some extra footage. I'd like to know a few things that I've not heard the actors discuss on television.
The podcast is now up on podbean it's call Films Versus Movies. It'll soon be on itunes and stitcher soon. Check it out and follow me on social media.
www.dlonzo-OpenYourMind.blogspot.com
www.ArtbyDlonzo.blogspot.com
www.filmlover4pg@blogspot.com
http://psychedmaster.org
Thanks for stopping by; keep an open mind. Do return to see where the journey leads.
Today I had another movie theater experience. I went to the Alamo Drafthouse on S. Lamar. For anyone not familiar with this chain, it's movies with food and drinks. There is a ledge big enough to hold food and beverages. This is the second time I've been to this location. The first time I went with co workers to see the original Ghostbusters. It was a very different experience.
This time I realized like the experience I had a week ago. The screens are too big for the theater. I find sitting on the last row is still too close. Perhaps its just me, but my neck was hurting and I definitely can't go longer than two and a half hours. The seats weren't as comfortable as those at the Regal and they didn't recline.
I will try one more time to see if perhaps another theater may have different seats. I'm using up gift cards I had received.
Call Me By Your Name is a film about love, being young, self discovery and experimentation. Although I had a few issues with this film I still love the story. It's set somewhere in the northern part of Italy. There was a scene that reminded me of Slovania and Treviso. Timothee Chalamet plays Elio and is really great in this film and the Oscar nomination is well deserved. He plays the role of Elio with such conviction, the innocence and reactions are so believable. Army Hammer plays Oliver, a teacher and research assistant to Elio's father.
Although the majority of the film is set in the summer, I see the shorter boxer short trunks as a big deal for 2018. Levi jeans never go out of style, but I see younger people wanted vintage Levi. The black and white shirt at the end of the film is also very cool. I had a similar shirt in the 80's.
Before even seeing the film I had sort of compared the film to A Death in Venice and For A Lost Soldier. Both are foreign films that deal with older men falling for younger boys. I have an issue with older people seducing younger people even when they are aware of their sexuality. That first time is something that can never be gained. Being hurt at a young age is something that stays with a person for the rest of their life. Sometimes it can be put away, but there is a good chance something will trigger that memory.
I wasn't sure how the film was going to play out. I don't want to give anything away, but it didn't happen the way I thought it might. There are many subtle things that could give one some insight into the character Elio. There is an image of Robert Mapplethorpe on the wall. There are lots of books and we find out that Elio is highly intelligent. Which is another factor that plays into trying to fit in when one can't really fit in when they can't be themselves. People at any age are capable of doubting themselves even when everyone tells them how good they are.
There are some sex scenes in the film. Some are natural and others we are not sure what took place, but it is up to us to make that decision. I happen to be sitting between two women who were about my age, maybe older, but they didn't seem to be disturbed by anything. One of them was crying by the end of the film.
I can relate to characters in certain movies and feel something, but I've never cried in a movie theater. We all react to things differently.
Call Me By Your Name will probably be available on DVD and Blu Ray in a couple of weeks.
The music in this film is a mixture of classical and 80's It is beautifully shot and the symbolism of the tree and greenery gives us something to think about. I am a pretty visual person so I pick up on things that most people miss. I will definitely add this film to my collection. I hope that the DVD will have some extra footage. I'd like to know a few things that I've not heard the actors discuss on television.
The podcast is now up on podbean it's call Films Versus Movies. It'll soon be on itunes and stitcher soon. Check it out and follow me on social media.
www.dlonzo-OpenYourMind.blogspot.com
www.ArtbyDlonzo.blogspot.com
www.filmlover4pg@blogspot.com
http://psychedmaster.org
Thanks for stopping by; keep an open mind. Do return to see where the journey leads.
Thursday, February 22, 2018
Red Tails
(Dlonzo by Artography by Dlonzo, "It's not just a photograph, it's ART!"During the month of February I specifically make a list of films with black actors to watch. Because I can't seem to access this blog from my phone, I pay more attention to my main blog so that I can keep my readers up to date.
Last night I decided to watch the movie Red Tails. The first time I watched this film I was not into it. There are many reasons for this. One I felt the story had been told and I don't like remakes. For some reason I thought some of the same actors were in the film, but it turned out only Cuba Gooding, Jr, was in the original.
Although I still don't think the movie is as good at The Tuskeegee Airmen, I did like some elements of it. The film focuses more on the flying then the politics and prejudices that the men faced.
There are some great actors in this film that I have now had to see in other roles. This may also be one of the reasons why I feel differenly about the movie than I did the first time I viewed it.
The movie stars, Cuba Gooding, Jr, Terrence Howard, David Oyelowo, Nate Parker, Triston Wild,and Michael B. Jordan among others. Sometimes when a movie deals with a lot of special effects, the storyline suffers. There are instances where there are too many stories trying to be told. I think George Lucas tried to make it a Pearl Harbor and there just wasn't as much time. If the film had been longer, but its not always important what the men did outside of the military. There also seemed to be a difference of opinion as to how the men became known as Red Tails.
I recommend if you've seen this film watch The Tuskeegee Airmen and if you haven't seen either, I highly recommend The Tuskeegee Airmen.
That film stars, Laurence Fishburne, Cuba Gooding, Jr, Malcolm Jamal Warner, Courtney B. Vance, Allen Payne and Andre Braugher to name a few.
www.dlonzo-OpenYourMind.blogspot.com
www.ArtbyDlonzo.blogspot.com
www.filmlover4pg@blogspot.com
http://psychedmaster.org
Thanks for stopping by; keep an open mind. Do return to see where the journey leads.
Saturday, January 13, 2018
Pam Grier
I was 12 years of age the first time I saw Pam Grier on the big screen. It was the Circle Theater on St. Bernard Avenue in New Orleans. It was in walking distance from the house; me and my friends would take our allowance and head to the movies. In those days you could see two movies and a cartoon. A Rally's was put on that spot when malls started to become popular with the introduction of multiple screen theaters.
The film (although its a movie, it is iconic)(I see a difference between a film and a movie) we had gone to see was Coffy. I don't know what it was about Pam Grier, but I was captivated. Maybe it was love at first sight. It definitely had a profound impact on me and I wanted to see anything that she was attached too. As I got older it started with magazines, and articles. Back tracking to see what films she had made previously. At the time I was starting my fascination, she had already made 17 films. I had a lot of catching up to do.
Although she would be known as the queen of the Blaxploitation films, she also did a string of B movies with Roger Corman. Other than the costumes, the storyline of Coffy still works. There is still drugs and corruption and no one really seems to be working hard enough. It makes you want to grab a gun and take control. Not many people could walk in Coffy's shoes.
It's been over 40 years since I've seen Coffy on the big screen. I usually watch this film and others by Pam Grier during the month of May to celebrate her birthday. This Monday, Alamo DraftHouse will do a screening in their new series entitled Fist City which will focus on films from the 70's.
If the weather cooperates, I plan to be there.
Coffy is my all time favorite film by the sex goddess. Pam Grier was like the black version of Marilyn Monroe for me. Of all of the movies the actress has done, I think Fort Apache The Bronx is second on my list followed by Black Mama, White Mama and Something Wicked this Way Comes. Pam Grier is the first black actress to have a lead role in a Disney film.
Pam Grier has now done well over 40 films and several television series. She has also written a book of some events in her life. I wish the book had been longer, but it added a lot of insight into a few things I didn't know.
www.dlonzo-OpenYourMind.blogspot.com
www.ArtbyDlonzo.blogspot.com
www.filmlover4pg@blogspot.com
http://psychedmaster.org
Thanks for stopping by; keep an open mind.
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