Netflix Fridays: What Are We Watching Now?

OK - let me say this about Noam Chomsky. He's brilliant, frustrating, thought-provoking, maddening... but he's certainly not succinct! Manufacturing Consent was at times enthralling as well as mind-numbing and at a total running time of 2 hours & 45 minutes, we had to take two nights to complete it... and those two nights were 5 days apart. Ooof! We also finished Bones season 3 this week (great, but the stupid writers strike rushed an already unsatisfying ending). Born into Brothels was amazing and a definite must-see for all of us spoiled Americans who sit in our huge houses, eating our 3-squares a day, watching our cable TV in a house with clean water coming to us through indoor pipes and yet complain about how poor we are (Sean & I included). It's one thing to know that you are still better off than a lot of people, but it's quite another to see it presented so graphically for you. Truly, we are blessed.

So that leaves us with, you guessed it: Battlestar Galactica- Season 4, Disc 3. We always seem to shift this series down to the bottom of the pile. And to add insult to injury, Disc 4 just came in the mail! Yikes! The good news is that I do believe these two discs represent the end of this season and then we need only wait until Season 5 is released to complete the series. Don't get me wrong, we really do enjoy the show, but it always does seem to be a bit of an effort to begin a disc.



We are also expecting The Ultimate Carson Collection, Disc 2. We loved Disc one, which featured the ultimate Ultimate Carson moment: Ed Ames throwing the tomahawk. I have come to revise my opinion of Carson a bit. I grant that he was a master of improvisation and relating to his guests in a natural and spontaneous manner - but I still don't care as much for his scripted jokes or bits. Sue me.

Guest Columnist: Gianna reviews "Up"

Up, Pixar’s 10^th feature film is another fantastic addition to their already impressive canon of films. It follows the late-life adventure of Carl Fredricksen (voiced by Ed Asner), a newly widowed elderly man, who dreamed with his wife of going to live in South America’s Paradise Falls-a jungle wilderness discovered by their childhood hero explorer Charles Muntz (voiced by Christopher Plummer). When the threat of being ejected from his beloved house looms, Carl decides to tie millions of helium balloons to his house and set off for his beloved South American destination. Of course along the way there are a few problems thrown his way; an unwitting stowaway, an electrical storm and his old childhood hero: who has been living in Paradise Falls along with his army of dogs.

Up, strongpoint is Pixar’s always-stellar animation. The storm sequence is particularly stunning animation achievement. The wordless opening piece of Carl’s life with his wife is sweet and touching. Voicework and character design blend seamlessly together, as opposed to other animated films that like to draw attention to their famous voice actors. Especially impressive is the detail and thought done to the animating and execution of the dog army. However, Up is not without its shortcomings. Mainly I felt the some of the story might have been lost to edit it down to a more kid-friendly time of 96 minutes. There’s a lot going on in Up, but we rarely do more than scrape the surface. The character of Charles Muntz suffers greatly from his limited screen-time, not really allowing us to get invested in him as the villain of the film. There are also some issues of improbability, but I guess it’s hard to really argue that as a detraction of a film who’s main plot is flying a house to South America with helium balloons.

In all Up is still a charming, wonderful film. It’s not a masterpiece like Toy Story, Finding Nemo or WALL-E, but it is far better than the mass-produced animation junk that is so prevalent nowadays.

Guest olumnist: Gianna's Top 100 Films Every Film Buff Should See Pt. 6

Here you go - I'm still at 7 for 10!

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Ju-on(2002, Dir: Takashi Shimizu, Wr: Takashi Shimizu)-One of the scariest flicks I’ve seen in the last decade or so; a sublimely creepy ghost story that gets its chills from sound effects and lighting. Awesome!

King of Comedy (1982, Dir: Martin Scorsese, Wr: Paul D. Zimmerman)-Scorsese’s excellent examination of our culture’s obsessession with fame. Robert DeNiro’s performance as Rupert Pupkin is humorous, touching and deeply disturbing.

Kiss Me Kate (1953 Dir: George Sidney, Wr: Dorothy Kingsely)-Another one of the interesting uses of 3D in the 50’s. A great musical in it’s own right, it also features a fantastic dance sequence with Bob Fosse and Carol Haney that explodes off the screen.

Kiss of the Spiderwoman (1985, Dir: Hector Babenco, Wr: Leonard Schrader)-An evocative film of an unlikely friendship between two radically different men. Tour-de-Force performances by two fantastic actors.

Longtime Companion (1990, Dir: Norman Rene, Wr: Craig Lucas)-One of the first films to examine the first decade of the AIDS crisis, it follows the lives of several gay couples from the early outbreaks through to the early 90’s.

Manhunter (1986, Dir: Michael Mann, Wr: Michael Mann)-Before Silence of the Lambs, there was Manhunter, Michael Mann’s much overlooked adaptation of Red Dragon. Gritty and low-budget, Brian Cox delivers a more understated and restrained Hannibal Lector.

Marat/Sade (1967, Dir: Peter Brook, Wr: Adrian Mitchell & Geoffrey Skelton)-An almost literal screen translation of Brook’s fantastic stage production; it has an unusual quality of being highly theatrical and amazingly filmic at the same time.

Metropolis (1927, Dir: Fritz Lang, Wr: Thea von Harbou)-For me Metropolis remains one of the most amazing accomplishments of early cinema. The art direction, effects and acting are quite accomplished and stunning. Bridgette Helms’s portrayal of the robot is one of the most disturbing and creepy performances caught on film.

Metropolitain (1990, Dir: Whit Stillman, Wr: Whit Stillman)-This mid 90’s gem about about over-privileged New Yorkers in the winter deb season is completely charming. Stillman’s strongest film, it features some of the most well-thought out characters put to screen.

Mildred Pierce (1945, Dir: Michael Curtiz, Wr: Randal MacDougall)-It’s a little sad that for most people the mention of Joan Crawford brings up images of Faye Dunaway’s over-the-top portrayal of her, for she really was an accomplished actress. Mildred Pierce is soapy and melodramatic, but Crawford’s portrayal of the mother-who-will-do-anything-for-her-daughter is a relatively anchored and understated performance for its time.

Netflix Fridays: What Are We Watching Now?

Hello everybody! We had to hold off on our Bones Marathon this week s we're waiting on one disc so we've been plowing through our Netflix queue. We finally made it through Disc 2 of BSG. Good, but - as usual - needs more yucks. Wendy & Lucy was very good - nothing bad happened to the dog but it still quite sad. Quantum of Solace wasn't as disappointing as we expected (though I did fall asleep) but it defintely was not as good as Casino Royale. We also watched Happenstance, a french movie staring the lovely Audrey Tatou. We both fell asleep during that one. Enough said.

Here's what we've getting to this week:

Born in Brothels - This should be interesting to watch after seeing "Slumdog Millionaire." It's an Oscar-winning documentary about several children who live in Calcutta's red-light district, where their mothers work as prostitutes. Spurred by the kids' fascination with her camera, Zana Briski, a photographer documenting life in the brothels, decides to teach them photography. As they begin to look at and record their world through new eyes, the kids awaken to their own talents and sense of worth.

It's sure to leave me in tears....

Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky - Funny and provocative, this 1992 documentary explores the political life and ideas of Noam Chomsky, the world-renowned linguist, intellectual and political activist. Chomsky illustrates how the media tacitly manipulates public opinion to further the agendas of the powerful.

It's sure to leave me depressed for weeks.

Battlestar Gallactica: Season 4, Disc 3 - I really wish that we were able to watch this show as it aired originally. It's funny watching it on DVD... I have to really get myself worked up to watching it - and I always enjoy the shows after I've watched them, but each time we get a new disc, I have to almost convince myself I like this show again. It'd be so much easier if it just came on once a week and I had to watch it then. No debates, no procrastination. Oh well... we are enjoying it, it just needs a teensy weensy bit of levity injected into it every once in a while.

Netflix Fridays: What Are We Watching Now?

You'd think with network TV into reruns, we'd have nothing to do but watch all our Netflixes in a row, but that has not been the case this week. As you've no doubt noticed, we actually were released from our house arrest this week and got out to see a movie in the theater! After that, we've been shirking our Netflix duties by cruising through Season 3 of Bones which was lent to us by our good friend Stephanie. Season 3 has my all-time favorite episode, "The Mummy in the Maze" which contains all the elements of any good Bones episode - with some awesome Halloween costumes to boot! So, long story short, we haven't touched Battlestar Gallactica this week. But we do have coming up this weekend:



Quantum of Solace - We've heard this was nowhere near as good as the awesome Casino Royale - and we've had to wait about 3 months for it to become available on Netflix, so I am guessing we're probably going to end up being disappointed a little by it. Still, Daniel Craig and Judi Dench are always worth watching!







Wendy & Lucy - A sad movie about a down on her luck woman with nothing but her dog. I've heard that Michelle Williams gives a heart-breaking performance in this far-from-a-feel-good film. All I have to say is nothing had better happen to that damn dog! I do not do well with sad dog movies - sad human movies, yes. Sad dog movies, no.

Mini Review: Star Trek

Hooray for Grandparents! We have a few days off from parenting and saw our first in-theater movie in a long time! I should start by saying I am not a Start Trek fan. And when I say that, don't think I mean "I'm not a Trekkie" (or is it Treker?) No, I mean I really don't enjoy Star Trek. I watched "The Next Generation" a tiny bit in high school, but that's about it. I was always firmly in the "Star Wars" camp. So imagine my surprise when the second wave of "Star Wars" movies sucked ass while the reboot of "Star Trek" kicked major ass! This movie is everything it should be (and, for me, everything "Star Trek" usually isn't.) It was fast, exciting, funny, and interesting. God bless J.J. Abrams (and producer Damon Lindelof) for knowing exactly what this franchise needed. He assembled a pitch perfect cast (especially the sublime Simon Pegg!), threw in a few winks for the true fans, and crafted a thoroughly enjoyable thrill ride for the masses. No geek-cred required. Simply put, it's the perfect Summer movie.

Guest Columnist: Gianna's Top 100 Movies Every Film Buff Should See, Pt 5

Here's the next10 film recommendations, we're at the half-way point! I'm 7 for 10 again and this list has another of my all-time favorites: Holiday!

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Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2001, Dir: John Cameron Mitchell, Wr: John Cameron Mitchell & Steven Trask) A rock musical, that actually features a great rock score. Cameron Mitchell’s tale of a young East German man’s struggle to find his identity after a botched sex-change operation, is humorous, touching and uplifting.

His Girl Friday (1940, Dir: Howard Hawks, Wr: Charles Lederer)-The great Roslind Russel in yet another amazing comic performance. One of the countless versions of the Front Page-this is my favorite.

Holiday (1938, Dir: George Cuckor, Wr: Donald Ogden Stewart)-Yes, everyone knows Bringing Up Baby and The Philadelphia Story, but I am at a loss as to why this exquisitely charming Hepburn & Grant film is completely neglected.

Hope and Glory (1987, Dir: John Boorman, Wr: John Boorman)-John Boorman’s semi-autobiographical film of early World War II England. Hope and Glory illustrates that even amidst the horrors of wartime, children can find the most joyous aspects of absolute destruction.

House of Games (1987, Dir: David Mamet, Wr: David Mamet & Johnathan Katz)-A thoroughly absorbing mystery/suspense flick. Though you have to endure the always wooden Lindsay Crouse (what can you say, she was married to Mamet at the time) House of Games is a tightly crafted film that keeps you mesmerized until the very end.

The Hudsucker Proxy (1994 Dir: Joel Cohen, Wr: Joel & Ethan Cohen)-Joel & Ethan’s Cohen’s wonderful comedy about the invention of the Hula Hoop. Fantastic performances by Tim Robbins, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Paul Newman, superb art direction and cameo’s from Bruce Campbell and Steve Buscemi make for some fun viewing.

Imitation of Life (1959, Dir: Douglas Sirk, Wr: Eleanor Griffin & Alan S)-Douglas Sirk is too often dismissed as a director. True all his films are over-the-top, highly melodramatic and filled with Bad-Movie-We-Love moments. Still, he is a director that made every effort to push the envelop in tight 50’s production code days. Imitation of Life, with its themes of identity of race and prejudice, is one of my favorites.

Inside Moves (1980, Dir: Richard Donner, Wr: Valerie Curtin)-A totally forgotten film from the early eighties, about patrons of a local bar that caters to the handicapped. Instead of being a hit-you-over-the-head ‘See what we can do’ type of movie; Inside Moves is a small film with a sweet and human tone.

Iron Giant (1999, Dir: Brad Bird, Wr: Tim McCanlies)-Brad Bird’s wonderful animated film is stunning to watch. Utilizing a great 50’s look, this charming and entertaining film is a must for any film library.

Island of Lost Souls (1932, Dir: Erle C. Kenton, Wr: Waldemar Young)-One of the earliest and best adaptations of The Island of Dr. Moreau-there is nothing creepier or scarier than Charles Laughton.