November 2004
NetFlix Mania
The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys, 2002
It would seem that I would have liked this movie, but I didn't bother
watching all of it. I think I was making dinner or something, and
then didn't feel like rewatching what I had mostly missed. I like
the premise of this film, though, with some kids 30 or so years
ago drawing their own comic books for their own amusement. But like
I said, I was distracted. Oh, also, it's worth mentioning that this
movie is supposed to take place in Savannah, but is fairly clearly
filmed in Charleston. Why it didn't just take place in Charleston
is beyond me, as I don't think the location was integral to the
story.
Waking the Dead, 1999
I liked this movie tremendously. It's the story of a young man,
played by Billy Crudup, with political ambitions in the 80's running
for congress while having trouble coping with the memory of the
love of his life's death ten years prior. The girlfriend is portrayed
by Jennifer Connelly. The first great thing about this movie is
the story. It's very touching watching these two fall in love and
then lose each other. Oh, and then maybe Crudup's character goes
crazy, it's hard to say. The other great thing is that these two
can act circles around most people. So it was a very enjoyable movie
to watch, if you like a good downer every now and then.
Bend It Like Beckham, 2002
I like soccer. I like girls. So I watched the much ballyhooed Bend
It Like Beckham, about a English girl whose parents had immigrated
from India. This is an enjoyable movie, no doubt. It's good for
a laugh or two with a rather sweet story. And it effectively demonstrated
the frustration of somebody stuck between two cultures. I know I
was unbelievably irritated with the girl's parents who wouldn't
let her play soccer because it wasn't proper and talked to her nonstop
about marrying a nice Indian boy and so forth.
Devil's Playground, 2002
Now I hate the Amish. This is about the Amish pratice of sending
their children into the world at 16 before they decide to join the
church. I think it's a wonderful tenet of faith to not baptize children,
but to allow them to accept the faith as adults. However, I think
it's a crying shame to deny an education past 8th grade because
"education encourages pride" (like that's not an inherently
prideful statement- pride in humility is no humility at all), then
forcing them to join the workforce. These kids spend a few years
woodworking and so forth, then at 16 are sent out into the world
to decide what to do with themselves. I think it's a tragedy that
they are letting these kids run loose with an 8th grade education.
What 16 year old kid, denied most of the things we take for granted,
is going to put themselves into school a few grades behind and buckle
down? What happens is that thee are huge parties and enough of these
kids develop drug problems. Between the lack of real options and
pressure from family, over 90% of Amish kids end up joining the
church, as it's really the only choice they are given. Watch this
documentary!
Being There, 1979
I love this movie. It was recommended by a friend of mine who I
trust. So I got it and loved it. The main character is played by
Peter Sellers, a comic genius if there ever was one. The film takes
place in DC in the early 80's and is about a man who is a complete
simpleton who is mainly interested in watching TV. As this pretty
much describes my life (except for the decade), I completely identified
with the character. At any rate, this guy is real dumb. Can't read
or write or hold much of a conversation beyond yes or no, repeating
what is said, or talking about gardening. The character is a gardener,
who is out on the street when his old employer passes away. He is
then involved in a minor accident with the limo of a dying billionaire's
wife, played by Shirley MacLaine. He is taken back to the estate
to be checked out (and presumably to discourage a lawsuit). Long
story short, the billionaire, his wife, the president, the media,
they all end up mistaking the gardener's gross deficiencies as cryptic
brilliance. This misunderstanding turns out to be hilarious, if
you can deal with humor that isn't immediately obvious. Oh, also,
it's possible that the gardener turns out to be Jesus. Who knows?
The Office Special,
2001
Not as funny as the first two seasons, but still funny nonetheless.
David Brent is one of the most obnoxious characters ever created.
Frida, 2002
This is definitely worth watching. Salma Hayek did a great job with
this. This movie is well produced, casted, directed, and conceived.
The story is nothing special, but is very well acted, primarily
by Hayek and Alfred Molena. But the whole visual texture of the
movie is lush and very much represents the artistic vision of Frida
Kahlo. In fact, many of her paintings are incorporated into the
visual structure of the film itself to great effect. Also, Salma
Hayek is totally naked and making out with another lady in one part
if you're into that kind of thing.
Monument Ave., 1998
Very much what you'd expect from Dennis Leary in a movie about a
bunch of working class thugs and criminals in South Boston, or wherever.
Not bad, but a thoroughly predictable indie flick.
Ali G Indahouse, 2002
Funny. Fake British rapper Ali-G gets elected to parliament and
gets the UK government to "keep it real" manages to be
funny with an utterly predictable and trite plot. My favorite part
is where Ali-G, in an initial debate, accuses his opponent off sucking
off a horse. It turns out this is true and the candidate is disgraced.
Grandpa and I have long maintained that the governor of Maryland,
Bob Ehrlich, is a long-time enthusiast of sucking of horses (this
is why he wants to "save the horse racing industry" using
legalized slots so desperately).
