Earlier this week I saw The Hunger Games and I must admit, before it was released that Jennifer Lawrence would play Katniss, I had never heard of her before. Once she was announced, I read up on her and saw that she was in this movie, which received all kinds of nominations. Since then, it has been on my radar and tonight I finally took the plunge.
#9 Winter's Bone (2010, drama)
What I did not like:
- There were too many characters for my poor little head to keep track of. Maybe there was an appropriate number of characters and they were all too similar.
- I had a hard time getting into the story. While I understand it was an artistic choice, the In Media Res did not work for me here. I found myself asking too many questions about how this family got into such dire circumstances. I was left with an inability to care about what wound up happening to her father.
- It ended way too abruptly for me!
What I really DID like:
- Jennifer Lawrence is SUPER great in this. I can really see her doing some wonderful things as her career progresses.
- The other actors are very decent as well -- but as I said before, they all kind of blurred together for me.
- I can read this as a sort of update of Ethan Frome in a way. And that was really likeable.
- There was some GREAT music.
Final Grade: C+
On another day, it might have gotten a B-, but I'm still reeling from seeing Bully yesterday and this one left me kind of cold, emotionally.
Saturday, April 14, 2012
#8, Turn Me On, Dammit
For part 2 of my double feature at the Angelika, I checked out a Norwegian flick I'd just read a review for:
#8: Turn Me On, Dammit (2011, comedy)
Just like the reviewer in this NPR review, I found myself freq
uently remembering the 1998 film from Sweden that any young lesbian well remembers: Show Me Love.
This movie follows Alma -- a nearly-16-year-old girl who is, like most of her peers, obsessed with sex. Alma has a vivid imagination and spends a lot of time imagining herself in sexual encounters with just about everyone she comes across -- most notably Artur (who looks eerily like my junior-year-of-high-school boyfriend). I remember this time like it was yesterday -- knowing that sex was about to become a really important part of your life, but not having the experience/knowledge to know how to address it. Through an unfortunate event involving a penis-jab and mean girl jealousy (intrigued yet?), Alma winds up an outcast with the hilarious nickname "Dick Alma."
More than anything, this is a script full of deadpan humor... but there is something really, really awkward about it. I have not yet decided if this is good awkward or bad awkward, but I do know that it was just ... off somehow. There were scenes that seemed unnecessary and that served no real purpose (either in character or plot development). Moreover, while the actor who plays Alma is certainly a skilled artist (I can't wait to see what she does next!), she is way too attractive for me to believe that she'd have trouble finding a willing sex partner.
Final Grade: B+
Though there was something really weird about it, this was a totally pleasant way to spend 86 minutes of my life.
#8: Turn Me On, Dammit (2011, comedy)
Just like the reviewer in this NPR review, I found myself freq
uently remembering the 1998 film from Sweden that any young lesbian well remembers: Show Me Love. This movie follows Alma -- a nearly-16-year-old girl who is, like most of her peers, obsessed with sex. Alma has a vivid imagination and spends a lot of time imagining herself in sexual encounters with just about everyone she comes across -- most notably Artur (who looks eerily like my junior-year-of-high-school boyfriend). I remember this time like it was yesterday -- knowing that sex was about to become a really important part of your life, but not having the experience/knowledge to know how to address it. Through an unfortunate event involving a penis-jab and mean girl jealousy (intrigued yet?), Alma winds up an outcast with the hilarious nickname "Dick Alma."
More than anything, this is a script full of deadpan humor... but there is something really, really awkward about it. I have not yet decided if this is good awkward or bad awkward, but I do know that it was just ... off somehow. There were scenes that seemed unnecessary and that served no real purpose (either in character or plot development). Moreover, while the actor who plays Alma is certainly a skilled artist (I can't wait to see what she does next!), she is way too attractive for me to believe that she'd have trouble finding a willing sex partner.
Final Grade: B+
Though there was something really weird about it, this was a totally pleasant way to spend 86 minutes of my life.
#7, Bully
So to celebrate the final weekday of my Spring Break, I checked out what was playing at the Angelika and wound up treating myself to a little double feature. For my first film of the day, I selected one that I had already heard about:
#7: Bully (2011, documentary)
I first heard about this movie when I got e-mails from organizations like Change.org petitioning its R rating, which essentially barred one of the biggest, most important target audiences from seeing it. And yet, at the same time, I think that this rating made way more of a statement than a film or a person ever could:
What these 10-16-year-olds are subjected to, on a daily basis, is not appropriate for children and young teens to see or hear.
That said, the rating was bogus, totally missed the point of the film and I'm glad it was reduced to PG-13.
Onto my experience watching the film, well ... this review says it a lot better than I ever could. The narrative bounces from character to character with no real rhyme or reason. It doesn't flow well like a documentary should and this does impact its emotional viability.
Maybe I should be grateful for that, because I was a wreck while watching this, crappy flow and all. I agree with the above-linked article again that Kelby, a 16-year-old lesbian from a small Oklahoma town, and her parents share one of the most compelling stories. It is fascinating to hear them describe their evolution from selective biblical literalist Sunday School teachers to parents who defend and attempt to protect their daughter.
Without a doubt, the most gut-wrenching story belongs to Alex and the adults who have failed him every step of the way.
I'm going to venture that Alex's experience reflects what most bullying looks like: largely psychological (when he says things like "You're my buddy ... right?" he receives answers like "I'm not your buddy. I will fuck you up."), not "seriously" physical (he is never left bloody) and often shrugged off as "kids will be kids."
As a teacher, the most heartbreaking, upsetting thing was watching the administrators at his school be so utterly useless to stop what is happening. Here's the thing about administrators: they have A LOT of discretion regarding discipline. I believe, without a doubt, that Alex was visibly bullied in and around school and that the administration did nothing about it. This happens for all kinds of reasons -- from a desire to have cleaner disciplinary records to a simple lack of time or energy to deal with nonphysical incidents. It's really wrong, though. I think we're at a point where we've seen enough proof that bullying causes serious, lasting emotional damage and needs to be addressed IMMEDIATELY.
Alex never shared what was going on with his parents, having learned early on that if you simply shut off your emotions, the tough stuff becomes a lot more bearable. He explains some of this here (you should also watch this because Anderson Cooper is a beautiful human). While his mother seemed fairly certain that there was some pretty serious stuff going on, without him telling her she was powerless to do anything. His father, however, was clearly of the mindset that if only Alex would stand up for himself, his problems would be solved.
Finally, the bullying escalated to the point that the documentary crew had to share footage with both Alex's parents and school administration, out of fear for his safety. This lead to two big things:
1. There was an amazing scene between his parents, where his mother expresses deep grief, feeling like a horrible, negligent parent. While she recognizes that there wasn't much she could do because Alex NEVER expressed the extent of the problem, she still feels heartbroken on behalf of her son. She then explains to her husband that the only thing worse for Alex than enduring that at school/on the bus must be having to tell his father. It is kind of intoned that if his father would be more emotional, Alex might be able to open up more at home. It was a great, great moment ... and it made me forget my earlier anger with the father.
2. The parents immediately came to school. The AP they talked to doled out some of the foulest CYA politician BULLSHIT I have ever seen. While to satiate Alex's family (and, I'm sure, the film crew) they did track down some of the worst offenders and make threats about what would happen if they bothered Alex again, the administration took ZERO responsibility for the school culture they created. Here is the bottom line: if you create a school culture in which bullying is not only punished by staff, but in which it is not accepted by students ... then you've got your job done for you. The message that this incompetent administration has given students is: DON'T GET CAUGHT BULLYING. And that is why it continues. Kids are smart enough to know the differences.
I watched the same administrator deal with several other students and she always seemed to blame the victim because it was easier. While I'm sure my view is skewed and only partial, I want that lady fired.
Final Grade: B
#7: Bully (2011, documentary)
I first heard about this movie when I got e-mails from organizations like Change.org petitioning its R rating, which essentially barred one of the biggest, most important target audiences from seeing it. And yet, at the same time, I think that this rating made way more of a statement than a film or a person ever could:
What these 10-16-year-olds are subjected to, on a daily basis, is not appropriate for children and young teens to see or hear.
That said, the rating was bogus, totally missed the point of the film and I'm glad it was reduced to PG-13.
Onto my experience watching the film, well ... this review says it a lot better than I ever could. The narrative bounces from character to character with no real rhyme or reason. It doesn't flow well like a documentary should and this does impact its emotional viability.
Maybe I should be grateful for that, because I was a wreck while watching this, crappy flow and all. I agree with the above-linked article again that Kelby, a 16-year-old lesbian from a small Oklahoma town, and her parents share one of the most compelling stories. It is fascinating to hear them describe their evolution from selective biblical literalist Sunday School teachers to parents who defend and attempt to protect their daughter.
Without a doubt, the most gut-wrenching story belongs to Alex and the adults who have failed him every step of the way.
I'm going to venture that Alex's experience reflects what most bullying looks like: largely psychological (when he says things like "You're my buddy ... right?" he receives answers like "I'm not your buddy. I will fuck you up."), not "seriously" physical (he is never left bloody) and often shrugged off as "kids will be kids."As a teacher, the most heartbreaking, upsetting thing was watching the administrators at his school be so utterly useless to stop what is happening. Here's the thing about administrators: they have A LOT of discretion regarding discipline. I believe, without a doubt, that Alex was visibly bullied in and around school and that the administration did nothing about it. This happens for all kinds of reasons -- from a desire to have cleaner disciplinary records to a simple lack of time or energy to deal with nonphysical incidents. It's really wrong, though. I think we're at a point where we've seen enough proof that bullying causes serious, lasting emotional damage and needs to be addressed IMMEDIATELY.
Alex never shared what was going on with his parents, having learned early on that if you simply shut off your emotions, the tough stuff becomes a lot more bearable. He explains some of this here (you should also watch this because Anderson Cooper is a beautiful human). While his mother seemed fairly certain that there was some pretty serious stuff going on, without him telling her she was powerless to do anything. His father, however, was clearly of the mindset that if only Alex would stand up for himself, his problems would be solved.
Finally, the bullying escalated to the point that the documentary crew had to share footage with both Alex's parents and school administration, out of fear for his safety. This lead to two big things:
1. There was an amazing scene between his parents, where his mother expresses deep grief, feeling like a horrible, negligent parent. While she recognizes that there wasn't much she could do because Alex NEVER expressed the extent of the problem, she still feels heartbroken on behalf of her son. She then explains to her husband that the only thing worse for Alex than enduring that at school/on the bus must be having to tell his father. It is kind of intoned that if his father would be more emotional, Alex might be able to open up more at home. It was a great, great moment ... and it made me forget my earlier anger with the father.
2. The parents immediately came to school. The AP they talked to doled out some of the foulest CYA politician BULLSHIT I have ever seen. While to satiate Alex's family (and, I'm sure, the film crew) they did track down some of the worst offenders and make threats about what would happen if they bothered Alex again, the administration took ZERO responsibility for the school culture they created. Here is the bottom line: if you create a school culture in which bullying is not only punished by staff, but in which it is not accepted by students ... then you've got your job done for you. The message that this incompetent administration has given students is: DON'T GET CAUGHT BULLYING. And that is why it continues. Kids are smart enough to know the differences.
I watched the same administrator deal with several other students and she always seemed to blame the victim because it was easier. While I'm sure my view is skewed and only partial, I want that lady fired.
Final Grade: B
Thursday, April 12, 2012
#6, The Hunger Games
#6: The Hunger Games (2012, drama)
I liked it, but am left with an overall "enh." I wasn't disappointed by it or anything -- quite the contrary -- but it didn't really do anything to enhance my enjoyment of the novel.
Love:
Katniss, Cinna, Caesar Flickerman, Rue, Haymitch, Effie
The Capitol, the field (what is it even called?) looked EXACTLY as I imagined it would, Katniss' costumes,
Not So Much:
Snow, Peeta
Cinematography, no history of the mockingjay
Final Grade: A
Totally adequate -- didn't quite go the distance, though.
I heard lots of complaints about the length of the movie
I liked it, but am left with an overall "enh." I wasn't disappointed by it or anything -- quite the contrary -- but it didn't really do anything to enhance my enjoyment of the novel.
Love:
Katniss, Cinna, Caesar Flickerman, Rue, Haymitch, Effie
The Capitol, the field (what is it even called?) looked EXACTLY as I imagined it would, Katniss' costumes,
Not So Much:
Snow, Peeta
Cinematography, no history of the mockingjay
Final Grade: A
Totally adequate -- didn't quite go the distance, though.
I heard lots of complaints about the length of the movie
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
#5, Waste Land
#5, Waste Land (2010, documentary)
These are just placeholding notes.
- love: concept
- love: Muniz
- love: what responsibility does the artist know the people he exalts? lingering impact?
- love: proud does not mean happy; it's important to look closer
Final Grade: A
#4, Harold and Maude
My favorite thing about being on the wagon as far as this project goes is that when I'm focused on watching NEW movies, I finally pay attention to all the stuff that I constantly flip past on my Netflix queue in favor of My So-Called Life episodes that I've already seen 500 times. I have had movie #4 in my queue since the very early days of even having said queue, but it has actually been on my radar ever since 1998, when it was alluded to in the classic gross-out comedy, There's Something About Mary. Ladies and gentlemen, may I present:
#4, Harold and Maude (1971, comedy)
This movie is really, really funny. It took a while to get ahold of the particular darkness of this brand of comedy -- but once I did, I was hooked!
There's a great aesthetic to this film -- very, very '70s. I found myself particularly admiring the contrast of Harold's very formal house (and in that tomblike place, it's no wonder that he wound up so death-obsessed) and Maude's crazy-train abode.
Final Grade: A-
#4, Harold and Maude (1971, comedy)
This movie is really, really funny. It took a while to get ahold of the particular darkness of this brand of comedy -- but once I did, I was hooked!
There's a great aesthetic to this film -- very, very '70s. I found myself particularly admiring the contrast of Harold's very formal house (and in that tomblike place, it's no wonder that he wound up so death-obsessed) and Maude's crazy-train abode.
Final Grade: A-
#3, Girl 27
As you might be able to tell, I am on break from work again, which means MOVIES (two of these I actually watched back in February but am just now writing up)! Tomorrow I am finally going to see The Hunger Games, so expect a post from me then! (Who am I talking to, exactly?)
#3: Girl 27 (2007, documentary)
I love the classic Old Hollywood era -- or rather, I love its mystique. I love the glamor and glitz and the world of ladies and gentlemen and high society. Of course, like all beautiful and iconic things, this image takes a lot of work to manage and maintain.
Girl 27 tells the story of what MGM execs were willing to do to preserve that image. In this documentary, extra Patricia Douglas exposes how she and many other young girls trying to break into the industry were tricked into attending an industry event (they believed they were going to a casting call), where she was forced to drink alcohol and ultimately raped. This is obviously an event from which she never recovered -- as she lived out the rest of her life very reclusively. She summoned all of the courage she had to pursue justice and was failed not only by a corrupt legal system but also by the all-powerful MEDIA. She was slandered left and right and ultimately shamed into obscurity.
Not only does the filmmaker paint a complex view of MGM at the height of its power, he also paints a portrait of a woman (and family) destroyed by that very same power. When Whitney Houston died two months ago, Dr. Drew (formerly of Loveline, currently seems to be marketing himself as an addiction specialist) made a lot of talkshow/CNN rounds. The best thing he said was in response to a question about why so many celebrities wind up with serious addictions. He explained how celebrities do not have the same consequences for bad behavior that the rest of us do. That is why Lindsay Lohan continues to flail about. I found myself thinking of this lack of consequences as I digested Girl 27 -- how much wrongdoing people are willing to ignore in the face of celebrity
Final Grade: B
This was very interesting and the story was compelling. At times, the pacing was very slow and I'm not sure when/if I'll ever want to watch it again but I was very emotionally involved as a viewer.
#3: Girl 27 (2007, documentary)
I love the classic Old Hollywood era -- or rather, I love its mystique. I love the glamor and glitz and the world of ladies and gentlemen and high society. Of course, like all beautiful and iconic things, this image takes a lot of work to manage and maintain.Girl 27 tells the story of what MGM execs were willing to do to preserve that image. In this documentary, extra Patricia Douglas exposes how she and many other young girls trying to break into the industry were tricked into attending an industry event (they believed they were going to a casting call), where she was forced to drink alcohol and ultimately raped. This is obviously an event from which she never recovered -- as she lived out the rest of her life very reclusively. She summoned all of the courage she had to pursue justice and was failed not only by a corrupt legal system but also by the all-powerful MEDIA. She was slandered left and right and ultimately shamed into obscurity.
Not only does the filmmaker paint a complex view of MGM at the height of its power, he also paints a portrait of a woman (and family) destroyed by that very same power. When Whitney Houston died two months ago, Dr. Drew (formerly of Loveline, currently seems to be marketing himself as an addiction specialist) made a lot of talkshow/CNN rounds. The best thing he said was in response to a question about why so many celebrities wind up with serious addictions. He explained how celebrities do not have the same consequences for bad behavior that the rest of us do. That is why Lindsay Lohan continues to flail about. I found myself thinking of this lack of consequences as I digested Girl 27 -- how much wrongdoing people are willing to ignore in the face of celebrity
Final Grade: B
This was very interesting and the story was compelling. At times, the pacing was very slow and I'm not sure when/if I'll ever want to watch it again but I was very emotionally involved as a viewer.
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