Movies-n-Stuff: Part Deux

I got a pretty good response from the original blog, so I thought I would go for a sequel. Although, everyone knows sequels are never as good. I didn't get to watch a ton this weekend, as Leslee and I spent Saturday making cheese at an awesome dairy farm in Thomasville, GA called Sweetgrass Dairy and we spent Sunday melting under the hot sun working in our yard. But, there's always the night time. I spent the wee hours of Friday night/Saturday morning and Saturday night/ Sunday morning watchin' stuff.

First, there was Backyard/Charleen. Two documentaries by Ross McElwee. If you've never seen his best film, Sherman's March, you should. It's great. Here's a guy who seems intoverted and shy, but really has a HUGE ego. This is obvious, because his films start on a subject and quickly turn into films about his life. I don't think he does this on purpose. Backyard, starts being about his father, who is a surgeon. The movie quickly turns into a movie about his fathers disappointment in him and how his brothers decision to go into medicine makes him the good son and Ross the bad.
Charleen is the closest I've seen him actually stick to a subject. She is an old english teacher of his, who is insane. She is a "poet" who shows up in other films of his and has a totally outrageous personality. She snaps a few times in the movie and these are the "golden moments". I think the reason why he was actually able to stick to his subject is that she probably wouldn't have let him otherwise.
The other thing about Ross Mcelwee is that he is not a good film maker. His films are always out of focus and he has problems with sound and the camera. Which is interesting, because now he teaches film at HARVARD!
The thing about it is, though, is that is what makes his films great. They all have this home movie quality, with this likable, quiet guy doing voice overs, trying to explain what is happening in his films, especially the parts where there are technical screw ups.

Leslee and I have been watching the second season of Deadwood. It's great. The actors have really grown into their charactors this season and the writing is really fantastic. It's really too bad that they've canceled it.

Up next is Ice Harvest. Harold Ramis' crime comedy with John Cusack and Billy Bob thornton. Over all I think this movie is bad. Not all bad, but mostly bad. I do like that they start the movie with the crime caper already caped. They've stolen the money, now they have to try and get out of town. And, of course, everything that can go wrong, does go wrong, and everybody stabs everyone else in the back (literally and figuritively). I really like John Cusack, and his likability is the only thing that saves this movie. Although, I would probably say, don't waste your time.

Then there was Bubble. Steven Soderbergh's experimental film about a small Ohio town's toy factory and it's employees. I loved this movie, but it's not for everyone. If you like Soderbergh's smaller films (Schizopolis, The Limey, Full Frontal), then you will probably like Bubble. If you don't like those movies and you do like his big budget films (Erin Brokovich, Ocean's 11, Out of Sight) then you probably won't like Bubble.
So, the reason why this movie is experimental is Soderburgh shot it in a small town with non-actors from that town and released the film simultaneously in theaters, on Pay-per-view and on DVD all on the same day.
The weird thing is that I read somewhat mixed reviews of the film before it was released, but all anyone ever talked about was the way it was released and how "controversial" it was. But, the actual movie is great. It's amazing how you forget what real life is like when you watch movies. People in real life aren't like people in movies (what a revelation!). Casting non-actors helps with the story, in this instance. I'm not goimg to say much about the plot, but it's pretty simple: follow 2 workers around a fairly creepy doll making factory, add a new employee and watch some sparks fly. The pace of the movie is slow, which I like, and really beautifully shot.

Lastly, my sister asked me what I thought about Matchpoint. I thought Matchpoint was okay. It looked great. Probably one of Woody Allen's best looking movies. But, there were some plot issues I didn't like. Scarlett Johansen's character is really independant, then becomes a blubbering annoyance after Jon Rhys Meyers character would not leave his wife for her. It got a little old. Also, I was deeply annoyed by the idea that you can only get someone pregnant if there is real passion and love between a couple, which is a reacurring theme in the movie, and, is obviously not true, and is kind of a dumb idea, anyway.

Coming up on my Netflix qeue:
Cache (Hidden)
The Dying Gaul
More Deadwood
Townies
Emperor of the North Pole
Cannibal Holocaust (This one should be interesting)

I'm a dork,
Dan

P.S.Under no circumstances should you ever watch the remake of The Bad News Bears. Unless you like crap. Anyway... If you do like crap, you'll love the Bad News Bears remake.