Week in review: Netflix, movies, telly

You know, I wish Netflix kept the last 5 movies you rented somewhere coz I tend to forget what the hell I've rented. But here's what I remember:

Who Killed the Electric Car?
Well this was a cool doc that I had known about, but admittedly didn't know much about the issues involved. The only electric cars we have in the East are hybrids to my knowledge, so the idea that electric cars were built, were a success, then taken away and destroyed was ridiculous to me. And to the filmmakers as well. Now, the graphics were lame and the editing was much to quick in that in between sentences from different people there were no breaths. It was push slapped together and it got irritating as the movie went along but seemed to slow down a bit the more you were into the movie. Or possibly I got used to it. Hard to say. Also, Martin Sheen as narrator? Meh. And I love Martin Sheen.

Tristan and Isolde.
Ok, ok, I knew this movie was supposed to blow. But I am a COMPLETE SUCKER for period films. Hook, line and sinker sucker. And that's what Netflix is for- guilty pleasures! So yeah, it was not fabulous. The costumes ever weren't that great. ADR was a huge issue in the beginning, but worked itself out. I hate films with shitty ARD (Gilliam?!). So thumbs down on this one. Eh.

Match Point.
I wanted to like this, really I did. But it had the same problem that I had with The Talented Mister Ripley- complete lack of sympathy for the characters. Scarlett Jo was gorgeous as usual, but, uh, yeah, that's it.

RANDOM MOVIES
Grave of the Fireflies.
This is a gut punch of an anime if there ever was one. I've never seen a cartoon that dared to tread on such a serious subject in such a heartbreaking way. It's haunting, it's a bit over the top, but it makes you think twice about what animation can accomplish in the Disney age.

Remains of the Day.
I actually own this but it was on the telly the other night, so I watched it again. This is one of my all time favorite movies. The pure ANGST of the film is mesmerizing. Oh the British and their closeted feelings! Who among us can't identify with Ms. Kenton and Mr. Stephens on some level? Guh. Ishiguro is my hero.

United 93.
I bought this on DVD because it's the one movie that, to me, comes closest to what everyone went through that day, on the ground. That feeling of utter disbelief, shock and reluctant acceptance is so believable in this film, and what makes it more impressive is that there are a ton of non-actors in the film. These are everyday people reliving one of the worst moments in our history. I listened to the director's track and was interested to find out that all the scenarios- on the ground and in the "air" were run in real time takes- ie- one take would go for an hour or so. The situations would run sans interruption and 2 cameras would revolve around hte action. The 2 film cameras were loaded at different times so they could keep reloading the mags and keep rolling. I had wondered how Paul Greengrass managed to capture the immediateness of the moment, so there you go.

IN THE THEATER
The Fountain
All the critics are undecided on Aronofsky- genius or moron? Who cares I say. The Fountain is breathtakingly beautiful and unlike anything seen in theaters this year (that I've seen). My hat is off to him and directors of his ilk (Michel Gondry comes to mind) who toy with the idea of what parts a proper movie should contain and challenge the traditional 3 act story arc. Did I mention the movie was beautiful?

So I'm procrastinating on editing my own documentary. Perhaps I shall do that now... sigh!

Netflix week in review: The Aristocrats

It's not every movie that can clear a room, but I'm sure the Aristocrats managed this. After probably the 18th mention of "cock" my roommate leaves the room. The Aristocrats is not for the weak at heart. And if you're easily offended, well, fuck you, watch the movie!

The Aristocrats is very simple- there's a joke by the same name that most people have never heard. Why? Because it's so rude, crude and socially unacceptable that it cannot be told on a stage (generally). There are only 2 lines that are required of the joke, and the entire middle is adlibbed. Every comedian who tells the joke adds his own je ne said quoi to the whole thing, and therefore it's never the same thing twice. Most of the time there's fucking and sucking and shitting involved. Sometimes bleeding and puking and things in orifices that you might not imagine. The dirty is required. Shock and awe must occur. And all comedians try to up one another.

Now, anyone who knows me knows that I swear like a sailor. I will swear to the cows come home. Fuck is practically every other word out of my mouth when I get on a roll. But I'm rarely crude. And this movie is crude. It's a study in crude and what offends and it revels in that which offends. The joke usually focuses on sexual humor, but some note that the sexual humor is no longer the most offensive thing out there- it's race. And some of them take it there. And after you get over the shock value, it's pretty fun and interesting to watch.

And best of all, Steven Wright is in it. How I love Steven Wright, well, my writing does no justice. He's the man. Not even Lewis Black can top him. (Uh, well, what they do in the privacy of their own homes...) So yeah, Steven Wright.

It's also a bit of a treat to see some of your favorite comedians being absolutely raunchy- Saget, Carey, etc. Hilarious to see what comes out of their mouths really.

Anyway, very much worthy of a rental. Now I shall sleep :P