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That awkward space between reality and reality television.
Thursday, August 16, 2007
I have been put on notice: http://www.milesandbrooklynne.com/archives/2007/08/youre_on_notice.html
Let's see what we can do about that.
I changed the name of the blog. I just wanted to see how it looked. The Film Cricket idea, which I really liked at first, didn't stick with me. I'm not convinced that I'll stay with this either, but I wanted to shake things up a bit.
Ok, a few reviews:
Sicko
Director: Michael Moore
Grade: A-
Michael Moore's documentaries have always been ambitious in their advocacy for a change. But looking back at his work, I have a hard time seeing much success. Blue collar jobs, the subject of Roger & Me, are still being lost in America, Bowling for Columbine failed to substantially motivate it's audience to fight for tighter gun regulations, and though it seemed like it might at the time of it's release, Farenheit 911 did not manage to dethrone George W. Bush in 2004.
With that in mind, I'd like to think the nation may be ready to embrace Moore's latest crusade, health care reform. Moore's formula for these documentaries is to welcome audiences in with his offbeat humor, then whack them over the head with harsh reality. In Sicko, he seems to leave more of the laughs behind. While perhaps not as dark as Farenheit 911, there seem to be fewer moments of levity. After the initial laugh from President Bush at the top of the film, the next 90 minutes is pretty depressing.
I don't always agree with Moore's guerrilla tactics, but the film makes an important point: it is not about those who do not have health insurance, it is about those who do. In a time when all serious political candidates, in both parties, are offering some form of health care reform plan, maybe Michael Moore, by highlighting some of the major flaws in the current system, will finally play a role in winning change.
An Unreasonable Man
Director: Steve Skrovan
Grade: B
Very dry documentary, but I'm a nerd. Turns out there was a lot that I didn't know about Ralph Nader. Go figure!
Alpha Dog
Director: Nick Cassavettes
Grade: C
I added this movie to my Netflix list after I had such a fun time watching the trainwreck of a movie, Smokin Aces. Unfortunately, Alpha Dog was not as splendidly terrible, nor was it very good. Justin Timberlake was pretty good.
I'll post reviews of The Simpsons Movie, as well as the two biggest "movies I was surprised I loved" movies in a long time, within the next week.
I'm also very excited to see Superbad this weekend.
Finally, Charles has put up the pictures of our western NC adventure at Courthouse Chaser. Check it out!
Let's see what we can do about that.
I changed the name of the blog. I just wanted to see how it looked. The Film Cricket idea, which I really liked at first, didn't stick with me. I'm not convinced that I'll stay with this either, but I wanted to shake things up a bit.
Ok, a few reviews:
Sicko
Director: Michael Moore
Grade: A-
Michael Moore's documentaries have always been ambitious in their advocacy for a change. But looking back at his work, I have a hard time seeing much success. Blue collar jobs, the subject of Roger & Me, are still being lost in America, Bowling for Columbine failed to substantially motivate it's audience to fight for tighter gun regulations, and though it seemed like it might at the time of it's release, Farenheit 911 did not manage to dethrone George W. Bush in 2004.
With that in mind, I'd like to think the nation may be ready to embrace Moore's latest crusade, health care reform. Moore's formula for these documentaries is to welcome audiences in with his offbeat humor, then whack them over the head with harsh reality. In Sicko, he seems to leave more of the laughs behind. While perhaps not as dark as Farenheit 911, there seem to be fewer moments of levity. After the initial laugh from President Bush at the top of the film, the next 90 minutes is pretty depressing.
I don't always agree with Moore's guerrilla tactics, but the film makes an important point: it is not about those who do not have health insurance, it is about those who do. In a time when all serious political candidates, in both parties, are offering some form of health care reform plan, maybe Michael Moore, by highlighting some of the major flaws in the current system, will finally play a role in winning change.
An Unreasonable Man
Director: Steve Skrovan
Grade: B
Very dry documentary, but I'm a nerd. Turns out there was a lot that I didn't know about Ralph Nader. Go figure!
Alpha Dog
Director: Nick Cassavettes
Grade: C
I added this movie to my Netflix list after I had such a fun time watching the trainwreck of a movie, Smokin Aces. Unfortunately, Alpha Dog was not as splendidly terrible, nor was it very good. Justin Timberlake was pretty good.
I'll post reviews of The Simpsons Movie, as well as the two biggest "movies I was surprised I loved" movies in a long time, within the next week.
I'm also very excited to see Superbad this weekend.
Finally, Charles has put up the pictures of our western NC adventure at Courthouse Chaser. Check it out!
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
I am way behind in posting reviews for the many movies I've seen the past month or two, however, my home computer has been in a coma and I am unsure when/if it will recover.
In the meantime, I have been considering changing the name of this blog. Possum Holler was an appropriate title when it included tales random tales from my day-to-day life. However, since I decided about a year ago that this space would be entirely dedicated to films I think a change is in order.
The other week I caught a rerun of the famous Simpsons episode where Springfield hosts a film festival and Jay Sherman (voiced by Jon Lovitz) from The Critic is the celebrity judge. Most will remember this as the Man Gets Hit in Groin by Football episode. Anyway, at the end, Homer says to Marge, "You know, it's not that hard being a film cricket."
So my proposed new name for this blog is The Film Cricket. I'm not married to this name and would love some feedback in the comments section. I'll try to think of some other options as well.
Also, I'm adding a link on the right to my friend, Charles' blog called NC Courthouse Chaser. I was lucky enough to join him for a courthouse chasing trip in the mountains last weekend. Check it out. Hopefully he will post pictures of our adventure soon.
In the meantime, I have been considering changing the name of this blog. Possum Holler was an appropriate title when it included tales random tales from my day-to-day life. However, since I decided about a year ago that this space would be entirely dedicated to films I think a change is in order.
The other week I caught a rerun of the famous Simpsons episode where Springfield hosts a film festival and Jay Sherman (voiced by Jon Lovitz) from The Critic is the celebrity judge. Most will remember this as the Man Gets Hit in Groin by Football episode. Anyway, at the end, Homer says to Marge, "You know, it's not that hard being a film cricket."
So my proposed new name for this blog is The Film Cricket. I'm not married to this name and would love some feedback in the comments section. I'll try to think of some other options as well.
Also, I'm adding a link on the right to my friend, Charles' blog called NC Courthouse Chaser. I was lucky enough to join him for a courthouse chasing trip in the mountains last weekend. Check it out. Hopefully he will post pictures of our adventure soon.
