The Prettiness of Grimm

I have been a busy little bee, watching great films, documentaries, jammin’ to ma music, and reading interesting things. For some reason, I have been heavily in to the dark, contemplative, British, gruesome, cinematographically intriguing type fare. Before I list my wondrous new loves in film/music/lit-RA-ture, let me just say that my taste has tended to the pretty and yet, grim. Sidenote: Before I give my suggestions, I must comment on the fail that is my Youtube account. I started a channel to make a few videos that deal with things from my everyday life to movies and TV I love. So far, I have come to realize it is hard to make concise, effective videos that really convey your passion for, well, your passions. I think channels like “videoclerks” and “StupidforMovies” are much better at conveying their cinematic love.

http://www.youtube.com/user/videoclerks

http://www.youtube.com/user/StupidForMovies

And this way of communicating through the Internet kind of reaches a new level on Youtube. It is personal and impersonal at the same time. While I thoroughly enjoy Youtube vids of all kinds, I think it takes a certain kind of person to make these videos, to be all over Twitter, to update Tumblr, etc. Because ultimately, we are missing the ”angst and ambiguity that real communication brings” (NPR). Can I really communicate through the Internet? Is this blog really saying something to you, my few and far between readers? In the end, I LOVE, LOVE the works of art that are films and TV shows and music, and I get the greatest joy from writing and/or talking about this love. If my blog (and maybe my Youtube account) can spread this love, then even better!

ANYWAY, I finally got around to watching several interesting movies and TV, including the mindblowing AMC show “The Walking Dead”, the rich film “Fish Tank”, the twisty, clever, and epically entertaining documentary “Exit Through the Gift Shop”, and revisited some lush songs.

Fish Tank

Jarvis's character and her love of hip-hop dance

Many people have heard of this unexpectedly craftful and well-acted family/teen/urban/subtle 2009 British drama, with the now movie-star Michael Fassbender and previous unknown (and not even previously an actress) Katie Jarvis. The story itself is simple; a troubled British teen living with her mean mother and younger sister becomes intrigued with her mother’s new boyfriend, who is seductive and likable yet somehow untrustworthy. As I watched the “plot” of this movie unfold, I was really surprised by the movie’s tone and focus. I was expecting a gnarly look at urban British life along the lines of Precious, but it was really not like that at all. It was actually a VERY subtle, lush look at the relationship of sorts that forms between Jarvis and Fassbender’s characters. The wonderful thing about Jarvis being untrained and naturally talented is that her performance is completely naturalistic. She is angry and vulnerable and tight-lipped, but in ways only a teen could be. Even at their worst, you can’t help liking all the characters. The film is also gorgeously shot. It is really a  hazy, lush, and gritty “interaction” piece. The mother is awful but human, and the younger sister is delightful foul-mouthed. The reoccuring themes of the chained white horse along the road that Mia keeps trying to free, and her love for hip-hop dance, both add to her desire for freedom and beauty in her life, yet the often futile attempts to get it. At the end, these “metaphors” are not heavy handed, and this movie is not hopelessly depressing. Mia herself provides all the hope you need in the end. (a note on the few sex scenes in this movie-one of the few films where sex scenes added to characterization, were not unnecessary, and were realistic)

Exit Through the Gift Shop

The deliciously mysterious street artist Banksy

Let me just say, if you love art in anyway you will LOVE this movie. And if you don’t really care for art, you will STILL LOVE this movie. This doc is definitely hard to accurately describe. It is basically about this crazy French guy who was obsessed with videotaping anything, so he stumbles open a “community” of street artists the stretch across the world. He eventually meets the super famous street artist/genius Banksy, who eventually realizes the documentary of sorts French guy is making is shit, so he turns the documentary into a film about the French guy (THIERRY, I remember), and how Thierry somehow becomes a street artist himself. Ignore the seeming convolution. This documentary is a mind-fuck in the best kind of way. It is a funny as hell, exciting, shocking, awe-inspiring look at street art today and it endless possibilities and dizzying heights. Banksy is a genius for turning this project into an Oscar nominated doc. While you watch this doc, you will be smiling and gasping with the ludriciousness of Thierry’s journey and the fact that this wondrous world of street art actually exists. And with Thierry’s rise to fame as a “street artist”, you will suddenly question the very meaning and definition of art itself. WHAT IS ART? IS THE JOKE ON US? IF THERE A JOKE? brillianttttttt.

By the mothe uckin way, I realize NOW I took a picture of street art while in Paris. In the tunnel under the road to get to the Arc de Triomphe, I think!

I took this mother uckin picture in PARIS

The Walking Dead

What has happened?

A stylized and yet realistic look at a zombie mad world. Great for zombie and non-zombie fans alike. Let me keep it brief. The show is stunning, will make your heart pound with suspense, will scare the crap out of you, will make you tear up, and will be satisfying gory. And at the same time, it is a drama on par with its Mad Men, Breaking Bad AMC counterparts. And the lead, played by the guy-who-was-in-love-with-Kiera-Knightley-in-Love-Actually, is a damn fine actor. The pilot IS thrilling, moving, gut-wrenching, quiet perfection.

Books—Wait, I read? Hell Yuh. Things I have read since my last book update: White Horses by Alice Hoffman, Walk on Water by Michael Ruhlman (gripping non-fic tale of pediatric heart surgeons), Unknown Soldier-Easy Kill, Maurice by E.M. Forster, The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold and more David Sedaris with Me Talk Pretty One Day.

Read the book gorramit!

The Lovely Bones is a masterpiece of devastating loss that also manages to awaken you to the blinding beauty of being alive. Don’t have much to add to the acclaim, it is a masterpiece. Which does drag a bit the last hundred pages in terms of pacing. This is the kind of book that is consistently stunning in the actual writing; there are sentences that are so effective and moving you will literally want to cry. I can’t imagine the movie version did it justice. Even though I haven’t seen the movie, I know if it had done it justice it would have gotten every Oscar out there.

Music- I forgot all about you, The Flaming Lips. A fantastic interview on NPR this past weekend reminded to listen to their music again. “Do You Realize” is one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard.

I been missin’ you

Oh blog! I have abandoned you for months! The roughest semester yet, BUT it is finally over. So much has happened since we last spoke…and so little. Now, as a rising senior, I am puzzled by the utter surreallness of life. Seriously, I am already here, in this place, at this point in my life? Boring  seconds somehow became minutes and weeks and then we arrived here.  I love how incomprehensible life is. Random, psychotic, brilliant. And I have so many movies and such to fill you in on. In the psychotic category, we have….Teeth! Finally got the nerve to watch this disturbing and hilarious movie. Jess Weixler is vulnerable, delusional, creepy, innocent, then finally empowered. I never thought her “special” evolutionary trait would be so kick ass. Horrifying, but she gave women a power that they never had before.

In the brilliant category, we have….A Single Man! God, this is one of those movies you watch in awe, transfixed with its beauty and melancholy. I hate that word but, well, it fits. Tom Ford does not simply create pretty hues and atmosphere, he creates a life, a way of seeing things, and sense of someone’s being. Anyone can tell you I love me some Colin Firth, and have seen a lot of his movies. I didn’t even have to think twice about this one; 10 minutes into the movie it was already in my top ten list. It didn’t hurt that so many people I LURVED were in it as well; Julianne Moore (just give her an oscar, stop delaying the inevitable), Matthew Goode (the only one who could have been Jim), and an unreal Nicholas Hoult. Yeah, Hoult does the gorgeous charismatic guy well, but his character here is different from the unbelievable Tony in Skins. Here, Hoult’s character seems to arrive out of some strange and wonderful dream to help Firth’s character. The tension is electric in many scenes in this movie. Firth is self-assured and at the same time utterly inconsolable. Everything in this movie is beautiful. I need more movies like this in my life.

And finally, in the random category…Liberty Heights. Random because no one has really heard of its existence and because I don’t do fifties era movies so often (A Single Man was the 60′s, alright!). I learned quite a few interesting things about the Jewish and Black community in Baltimore, 1954. This movie is often very much about mood, with richly colored cars and Ben Kurtzman god-like appreciation of Frank Sinatra. “You don’t walk out on Frank Sinatra” (one of the better little character bits in this movie). The problem was, this movie could have been much tighter, shorter, and more focused. It manages to immerse the viewer in a racist & anti-semitic city. But with such great actors, the movie just did not have the flow it needed. Had to love Ben Kurtzman (Ben Foster) and Sylvia’s (Rebekah Johnson) cute relationship. It’s a bold look at the intersection of a slightly strange Jewish boy and beautiful & intelligent Black girl, neither of who let society define them. Too bad the actress hasn’t done anything since (other than Latter Days, an above average movie that did nothing to show her considerable charm). And obviously future Oscar winner Adrien Brody did not get enough of a fleshed out character. Additionally, the whole issue of the Black community in Baltimore is not addressed to my satisfaction. Still, this movie is often moving, hilarious, and occasionally edgy. I still recommend this movie, even though it was way too long (kind of like this blog entry!). I plan on writing again very soon. Probably tomorrow, I have nothing better to do. Till then, I’ll be missin’ you!

For extravagant moods…

I have been feeling optimistic lately. It is really weird. Usually, I am in a generally mildly frustrated, stressed state. But this week, I was like screw it. I am going to enjoy life. I haven’t really done anything that differently, other than go to museums in D.C. today. I had never been to the Museum of American Art, and it  was a visceral experience. Oh yeah, I am also still riding a high from deactivating my facebook account.

Anyway,  I think the music and movies I have listened to and watched lately reflect my mood. If you are not into musicals or are mildly to strongly homophobic, you probably won’t like “Were the World Mine”, a indie musical about a gay teenager in an all boy’s school. He is in love with the straight, popular rugby star, and when they both perform in A Midsummer’s Night Dream, reciting of Shakespeare and singing ensue. I started watching this movie thinking, “this should be cute and alternative” . I did not expect the sweet, moving, visual spectacle the movie was. This movie was bold but not in your face, and had amazing music. Seriously amazing. Check out the title track for this little musical that could!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwgOiX48BJs

- In other music news, I have heard a lot about Florence + The Machine, so I was bored and checked out some this band’s music. WOW. Florence + The Machine = a blend of poppy, synthy, foreign, lush, slightly punky (hate that word) that sounds like a unique mosaic of sound. Hard to describe, just listen; also watch some of the band’s very interesting videos. The whole album “Lungs” is worth buying.

“Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up)”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nxO-yPQesA

“Cosmic Love” … epic

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfBY96qxVRQ