Movies and SXSW 2019

I never know if I will get to see any movies during SXSW. It's all based on my schedule and whether I feel like leaving the house if I don't have to work. There were some exceptions, but I was also watching movies that I had gotten from the library.

Captain Phillips - Tom Hanks stars in this true story of a Haitian Pirates taking over a ship. It's intense and very powerful. Great cinematography, made me think of Das Boot a little as some of the film is shot below deck in close quarters.

Her Smell - Elizabeth Moss of Mad Men and The Hand Maid's Tale stars as a singer battling a drug problem. Her Smell is the name of the club where they perform, but it also has a lot to do with why she tries to turn her life around because of her daughter. That was my take away from the movie. There are some unique cinematography techniques that seem to be creating a new trend as far as flash back scenes. The screen gets smaller as if we are watching 8 mm footage for the flashbacks and goes back to full screen for the present scenes.

Boyz in the Wood - This was my absolute favorite. I was just going on a hunch and what I had read on imdb for those of you not familiar, that is the Independent Movie Data Base. Luckily there was a synopsis and it seemed very interesting. The film is set in the Irish hills as four kids who are sort of the misfits are brought to learn about skills of working as a team. The audience has no idea what type of thrill ride they are about to embark on. It is funny, suspenseful, trippy with a great original hip hop sound track. There are some cool visual effects and the scenery in the hills is breath taking. I highly recommend seeing this film if you can.

Extra Ordinary - Another movie set in Ireland that features Will Forte of Last Man on Earth. The movie uses the same technique as Her Smell when we see the flashbacks. It's a comedy about death, witch craft, good and evil. There are many surprises to keep one guessing and laughing. I was also lucky that this was on imdb as well since this was a Buzz Screening which didn't give a title.

Citizen Kane - This is considered a classic. By some it is considered one of the best films ever made. The first time I saw the film I wasn't that impressed. Although now I'm older, I feel its an interesting body of work, but some of it seems dated. The make up isn't the best in some areas. The cinematography is still great. The writing is excellent as well as some good acting for a lot of first timers. It's definitely worth a look for anyone interested in the art of film making.

Jezebel - This movie is based on a true story. You get the impression that you are peeking into someone's life. The story follows two sisters who live in an apartment with a brother and the older sister's boyfriend and daughter. The older sister makes her living via phone sex. Her mother is in the hospital and she passes away leaving everyone to have to seek employment. The younger sister is introduced to the world of Internet sex. Once she is making money she is asked to move out of the small apartment. She seems to enjoy what she is doing especially when she meets a client that is helping her become very popular on the Internet Site. She deals with a few issues that don't become that important. She learns to adjust even though there are some other opportunities that pop up. She manages to get a raise and possibly meet the guy that has really become her meal ticket. Of course we never know how the date goes or if it even happens as the movie ends once she gets dressed.

Thanks for stopping by; keep and open mind and do come back again.

Film Lover For Pam Grier

 (from Pam Griers early days)

It's Pam Grier day. Today the black goddess turns 65. It all began when I was 11 years old and I saw my first Pam Grier film, Coffy. From that point on there was something that connected me to her. I've followed her career as much as possible, but I've never had the opportunity to meet her. I've tried many times, but it just wasn't meant to be.

(One of my many films posters from the actresses career)

I usually watch some of her films on this day, but since I recently watched most of her films I think I'll do an L word marathon. I've not watched the series in a couple of years. Although I don't have every single film she's ever done, (there are a few I just haven't run across, I do have a substantial collection of her work.) Perhaps I'll take some time out to watch Something Wicked This Way Comes. Pam Grier was the first black actress to have a lead role in a Disney film.

(From Scream Blacula Scream)

Pam Grier has appeared in over 100 films, Jaw Breakers, Class of 1999, Mars Attacks, Ghost of Mars, Twilight People, The Big Doll House, The Big Bird Cage, Bucktown, Sheba Baby, Friday Foster and Foxy Brown just to name a few.

Wherever she is I hope she has a blessed birthday and gets to enjoy many more. Raising a glass to Miss Grier on her special day.

Here's a list of some of my favorite Pam Grier films - Coffy, Fort Apache The Bronx, Black Mama White Mama, The Arena, and Scream Blacula Scream.

Thanks for stopping by; keep an open mind and do come back again.

Thank God It's Friday

There are some people that choose to call films that they don't think they should enjoy guilty pleasures. I am not one of them. I love all films. The fact that a person can put something together is quite an achievement and if they succeed in telling a great story that's even better.

There are certain things that are hard to capture on film. Thank God It's Friday attempts to capture what happens in a night at a Disco in California called the Jungle. An up and coming Diva flirts and lies her way into the DJ booth to get her song played. The club owner places a bet to sleep with a first time patron to the Jungle and the DJ's career is on the line as he prepares to go live with the Commodores performing, but their instruments haven't arrived. Love is lost, and found and dreams are shattered and some come true.
The clothing will make you laugh and for those of you who remember the 70's you'll ask yourself why did I ever wear that? What was I thinking?

It's an interesting film and if you don't like it, you'll love the music just the same. The soundtrack includes many songs by Donna Summer including the 1978 Oscar winning song "The Last Dance" and songs by other singers including The Commodores, Patti Brooks, Diana Ross and Paul Jabara. The films Theme song Thank God It's Friday, by Love and Kisses sets the pace for a musical experience.

The film introduced some up and coming stars, Jeff Goldblum, Debra Winger, the Late Raymond Anthony Vitte who plays DJ Bobby Speed. (He passed away at the age of 33.) Singer Paul Jabara also has a part in the film and his song trapped in a stair way plays in the background. There were a number of comedic talents in the film as well as great dancers.

Coming up:  Another letter to the Levee Board, Selling Stuff, It’s all about Survival, What if we’ve seen each other for the last time,  Behind the Photograph (Models) (Go to http://ArtbyDlonzo.blogspot.com)

Thanks for stopping by; keep an open mind. Why not become a follower while you’re here.

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Check back and see where this journey leads. Check out the links below to my videos.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmgUzGZGt98

The above link is a video for an organic flutist in New Orleans.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hciIcHFm3Yw&NR=1

The above is a link of a performance from Oz in New Orleans.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-qcybZsUzc

The above link is for a promo of a DJ in New Orleans.

http://www.myspace.com/darqueleight/music/songs/d-bohemian-31098704

Computer generated music.

New Orleans Mardi Gras & Film

Many films have been made and set in New Orleans. Some of them weren’t the best of films, but we remember them anyway. Well, I do.

Many of the films try to incorporate what New Orleans has come to be known for. There’s the French Quarter, Mardi Gras, The Superdome, Voodoo and the Cemeteries.

The French Quarter and Mardi Gras seem to go hand in hand even though no large parade has gone through the French Quarter since 1972 when the Krewe of Bacchus turned off of N. Rampart onto St. Ann. Their theme that year was The Bacchus Book of Horrors. I’ve never forget it as King Kong strolled down the street. It was a different Kong than the one that has become a staple of the Krewe. A young blonde sat in the palm of Kong’s hand above the crowd screaming her lungs out just as Faye Ray had done. As Kong moved further into the Quarter he got tangled up in some of the electrical wiring and the lights went out.

So when movies show something that hasn’t happened in a long time it just rubs me the wrong way. LOL.

Harry Connick, Jr. in his Krewe Orpheus.

There was a film called Murder at the Mardi Gras. I know, I don’t remember it either. Then there was The Killer Bees. All I remember about this film was that the Superdome was newly built and hadn’t even been used for any event. There was a scene in which they figured to get rid of the bees they would drive them inside of the superdome and freeze them. Sharon Glass was the star of this film as she sat in the yellow Volkswagon. The bees were lured onto her vehicle and she drove slowly down the street inside the superdome. Once the bees were frozen she was able to get out of the car. The End.

Then there was Candy Man, Farewell to the Flesh. I happened to be on the set of this film and I knew quite a few people involved in the project. Once again Mardi Gras made an appearance as did a Cemetery and of course the French Quarter.

The Clydesdale horses are a significant part of Mardi Gras and are featured in several parades throughout the season.

Then there was Double Jeopardy which starred Ashley Judd. I’m not sure if there was a Mardi Gras scene, but there was a cemetery scene and lots of scene’s in the French Quarter. What got me in this film was that it was raining and everyone in the French Quarter had these pastel looking umbrellas. First of all there are enough balconies in the Quarter that people rarely carry an umbrella they just walk under the balconies and if its raining too hard they duck into a bar or a restaurant until the rain stops.

Classics

I recently watched two classic films, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and The Hustler. I had never seen either of these films all the way through. I had seen bits and pieces and was familiar with both films, but I was never a big fan of Elizabeth Taylor and a movie about pool… I was still a baby when The Hustler was released and just a kid when Who’s Afraid of Viginia Woolf? was made. It was a very controversial film for its time. Both movies were filmed in black and white.

Who’s Afraid of Viriginia Woolf? Stars Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Sandy Dennis and George Segal. I love the dialogue in this film. Although I had figured out the underlying story which still makes you keep guessing. There’s lots of drinking and a lot of sexual innuendo from all of the characters.

I didn’t really know what to expect when I decided to purchase the film. I wanted to see it since there were so many raves on it after Elizabeth Taylor’s death. I had seen a few of her films because she stars with some actors I liked and I had begun collecting their films. She is exceptional in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and I liked her in A Place in the Sun.
Next on my list would be to see Cleopatra. I’m sure I saw it when I was a kid, but I need to see these films as an adult to get a better appreciation for them. I know the story behind Cleopatra as far as movies go, but I’d like to watch it.

I’m not sure when I became a fan of Paul Newman, but I remember one of the first films I had seen was Cool Hand Luke. I can’t say how many times I had seen it when I was growing up. Once I added it to my collection as an adult I started researching other films he had done and that’s when I had to see Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. The collection began to grow, but The Hustler was never on the list.

Recently I found it at a price that I thought was reasonable and now I have it to watch whenever I like. I love movies and watch them often. The Hustler is an interesting film. Even though it centers around pool, it’s about hustling in general. People hustling people to make money through cons and sex. Whatever it takes to survive. A hustler is like a person that lives from paycheck to paycheck except they can go a period of time when there are no funds coming in.

If you love film as much as I do you’ll enjoy both of these films. It’s great story telling and the cinematography is great. I am a visual person and that along with great editing is what makes a film.



Thanks for stopping by, do come back and become a follower while you’re here.

Coming up: Filming in New Orleans, The Social Network, The Trial, The Fighter




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D's wonderful world of movies!

It’s no secret that I love movies; they are an integral part of my life. I try to see as many new films as I can, but I prefer to buy movies instead of renting them or going to the theater. There are certain films that need to be seen on the big screen and that’s when I make an exception and go to the theater for a different experience. I prefer going to the earliest show possible so I’m not bombarded with the audience participation.

It used to be that the stereo type was that black people talked back to the screen, but now everyone wants to get in on the act. I just like to sit and watch a movie and if it makes me laugh great and if I have to shriek then so be it, but no one is there that knows me. LOL.

I really love movies and have sat through films that most critics will walk out on. I feel anyone who makes a film and gets it released deserves an audience and if I paid my money then I’m going to see it all the way through. Sometimes when you see it from start to finish the film makes sense. If it doesn’t then you share an experience that most people have passed up. I was fortunate to have experienced the film festival experience in Seattle and in New Orleans. You get to see those films that don’t get released. There are still many films I talk about that no one has a clue what I am talking about unless they were at the festival. This past week I watched five films that I had been wanting to see, but didn’t get around to it. They will stay with me, but I don’t think I will add them to my collection. Of course I’ve said that before and then I find a film at a good price and I bring it home with me. LOL.

The Keys to the House stars Kim Rossi Stuart, Andrea Rossi and Charlotte Rampling. It’s an interesting film as we go deep into the world of disabilities. The fears and embarrassment that people go through when dealing with someone that can’t really take care of themselves. It’s a story of compassion and love. It’s a story of self discovery. Sometimes we tell ourselves we can’t do something and then we are put in a situation and we find out yes we can.
This is a foreign language film, but even if you don’t like reading subtitles you can get the gist of the story. It is truly something everyone should see. There are language barriers that all of the characters face which adds to the fact that we can all have a disability at some point in our lives if we are put in a different environment.

Revolutionary Road was not the film I was expecting. I am a big fan of Leonardo DiCarpio and I was psyched about him and Kate Winslet being on the screen together again, but the film fell short of my expectations. Both actors are incredible, but I didn’t feel the film moved at a fast enough pace for me. There were some great moments and Kate Winslet looked stunning in the costumes, but I wanted more. Perhaps I will watch it again. Sometimes when a film doesn’t meet the expectations from the hype you miss out on some things. So I will give it another look just in case I change my mind.

The Reader on the other hand was very interesting. It was not what I was expecting and so I really enjoyed the film. The Reader had a personal and profound effect on me because of a similar experience. It’s funny how people can change our lives and how we view and participate in relationships. Kate Winslet speaks volumes without uttering a word in this beautifully shot film of an illiterate woman who needs stimulation from the mind and the body. The film shows just how erotic reading a book can be. A lot of people miss out on that particular experience. The film also stars, David Kross, Lena Olin and Ralph Fiennes as the grown up reader.

Thanks for stopping by; keep an open mind and do return soon or becomea follower of this blog.

Happy Feet

I watched the film Happy Feet last night. It was by an accidental choice. The room where I normally watch movies were very hot and I didn’t want to turn on the air because I’m trying to save money. Anyway, I decided to watch TV in the guest bedroom which is a lot cooler since the sun had already passed on that side. That room rarely gets a lot of sun which is great. Its also where I make my office. So I decided to watch the movie because I also wanted to see 20/20.
I’ve always said that animation isn’t always for children. The characters are cute, but the adventures and innuendos aren’t for the little ones. I realize now that it’s a good way to get a parent and child to have a conversation. Its not always the conversation that the parent is expecting, but it’s a conversation just the same.

I remember one time I was watching a program with a friend of mine and her young son and the three legged man came out. He wanted to know where the man’s thing was. Well that was an interesting conversation.

Happy Feet is a cute film on many levels. I laughed and I felt sorry for the little creatures. It’s a story about being different and trying to be accepted. It’s a story of humans and nature. We have to make a conscious effort to realize what we are doing to each other. It doesn’t matter if it will help solve global warming or not. We are just hurting ourselves. We rely too much on technology and we don’t do things for ourselves. We have become consumed by stuff. Stuff that we can’t take with us. We are not Egyptians so we are not going to be buried with it.
Think about the people that have gone through major disasters. If you were in that situation, what would you grab first? In some cases you can’t grab anything. Sometimes the frame of mind isn’t thinking about that so you know what is really important.

I knew Happy Feet was going to get serious when the Guru was wearing the plastic device that is used to hold six packs. This was not a fashion statement. For some people not leaving their own backyard they don’t get to see what is around them. There are many people that don’t walk to the park or check out their neighborhoods. If you did then you could see the debris in the street that might go into a drain the minute a strong wind or hard rain comes along. You can see the candy wrappers or water bottles floating in the lake.

Check out the film if you want a few good laughs. It’s great fund despite the heavy message lurking in the ice.

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www.filmloverpg.blogspot.com

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=38275088

www.n4cersworld.com

http://www.whitehouse.gov/agenda/civil_rights/

Check out the above links if you haven’t already. Watch for new links.

Time to get back to reality. Rebuilding my life, one step at a time.
Thanks for stopping by; keep an open mind. What is meant to be…