A Flood of Sunshine

Someday I’ll follow you.

Sun, 11 Sep 2011 19:58:17 -0500

Someday I’ll follow you.

All day.

Sun, 07 Aug 2011 15:04:22 -0500

All day.

My goal is to find and post things I find in my daily goings on...

Wed, 09 Mar 2011 04:31:45 -0600

My goal is to find and post things I find in my daily goings on in Chicago. First up, fancy fixtures under a bridge. Enjoy.

Totally obsessed with the four (4) songs New York wonder duo,...

Wed, 20 Oct 2010 19:52:21 -0500

Totally obsessed with the four (4) songs New York wonder duo, Cults, have had floating around the internet for some time now and realized that I’ve not been sharing. Here you go all.

Monday Afternoon Movie Review.

Mon, 18 Oct 2010 14:52:20 -0500

So Sunday Morning Movie Reviews will be back on the 24th of October but I had to get this one out there, so here it is. This weeks movie is an import from our French-Canadian friends just a touch north of us. Les Sept Jours du Talion, or Seven Days here in the states is the type of movie that I have been waiting to see for some time now. A film that takes all the right risks at just the right times and demands that its viewer be fully engaged and feel something in every frame projected.

The plot on paper is your standard revenge flick, but once in motion things happen that will floor most viewers. Claude Legault plays Dr. Bruno Hamel, a man terribly wronged when a serial child rapist/murderer makes the good doctor’s daughter Jasmine his next (and last) victim. Dr. Hamel takes it upon himself to exact his own brand of justice by way of a week of methodical torture that will culminate with the killer’s own death on what would have been Jasmine’s 9th birthday; sick and touching all at once isn’t it.

Now the knee-jerk reaction here is to root for Dr. Hamel unconditionally a la any number of recent revenge movies, Death Sentence comes to mind right off the bat. But unlike Death Sentence or Death Wish or either Kill Bill volume, Dr. Hamel is not taking on gangs of thugs or moderately comical “super villains”, there is a very intimate conflict between two men attempting to figure out which of the two is less human. Seven Days is definitely more Straw Dogs than it is Taken, one man’s journey to the brink of morality, devotion & humanity in an attempt to do what he feels is right.

In terms of construction Seven Days is like nothing I’ve seen before. Tight close ups dominate the film and more often then not our focal point is not set at center stage. The effect this has is one that makes the viewer feel as if they are peering into someones life/tragedy and not just watching a movie. We are made to feel uneasy by the way the camera offset most of the time and it works perfectly. There are beautiful panning shots of the doctor and his wife sitting silently in their now too large home and when the camera does move it is in ways that are hypnotic and always add to the overall atmosphere of the film. No cheap shaky cam or camera tricks are present. The screen is awash in grays or unrelentingly vivid colours depending on the the setting and there is no music to speak of the entire time. You read correctly, not one single NOTE of music accompanies the picture and it leaves you breathless.

Music is a great way to dictate the way a viewer should be feeling as things progress but removing it altogether demands us as viewers to be much more engaged with the characters we are viewing. If a bombastic soundtrack does not accompany Dr. Hamel as he presses the barrel of a shotgun against the exposed genitalia of his daughter’s killer, making up our minds as to whether or not this is right is a harder conclusion to draw and it also makes things much harder to watch. The absence of music makes every emotion feel very real, as Dr. Hamel’s wife cries alone in their home violins are not necessary to project to the viewer how distraught she is about her loss and her husbands actions. The emotional conclusions we draw are therefore not swayed by musical cues and I actually found myself feeling ways at times that I did not expect.

The lack of music also adds to the shocking nature of the violence in the film. Let it be known, this is not a movie for the squeamish. It is violent, plain and simple. Soundtracks also remind us that we are in fact watching a movie and as Dr. Hamel beats his version of the devil with a giant iron chain as he’s strung up naked in a cabin, there is nothing to muffle the sound of heavy metal tearing soft, moist flesh. I could go on for pages upon pages about how the lack of music or enhanced sound effects of any kind was a revelation but at the end of the day will be something you must experience for yourself to grasp fully.

Moving on to actors, characters and direction. I don’t know any of these people, the director, the protagonist, nobody. I was, however, floored by everything they did. Turns out the directer, Daniel Grou; this is his first major outing and my god did he come out swinging. I wish that i could say more and most likely will in the future when he’s got more movies under his belt but as it stands Grou is definitely someone to watch. The characters felt unnervingly real throughout. Claude Legault (Dr. Hamel) and Martin Debreuil, who plays killer Anthony Lemaire do not have one conversational exchange the entire film. Legault’s Dr. Hamel remains silent while the killer first begs for his life then plays for sympathy and finally taunts his captor. The move to not have Dr. Hamel speak to Lemaire was a stroke of genius. Why would he want to talk to the man who raped and killed his daughter? Too many times, in most genres, the ‘good guy’ and the ‘bad guy’ get caught up in this ongoing dialogue that at times can just feel absurd. This is not the case here, the two main characters maintain the right amount of distance from one another.

So what does it all amount to in the end? One of the best/most engrossing/rewarding/riveting/emotional engaging/difficult to watch yet wonderful movies of the year, if not the last five. Do yourself a favor, if you want to experience a movie that transcends the revenge/torture porn label that people seem to be giving it and drown in the depth of such intense subject matter, watch Seven Days and remember that humans are far more complex than Hollywood has led you to believe. I could say so much more about this movie but I suggest you all just watch it and we’ll talk afterward.

Old School Awesomeness.

Sun, 17 Oct 2010 19:18:47 -0500

Old School Awesomeness.

I forget things...

Sun, 17 Oct 2010 19:11:34 -0500

So, I’ve forgotten about this thing again but it has everything to do with being mad depressed and confused and completely drained emotionally. Its not you tumblr, its totally me. I do however have plans to watch what i hope to be a sweet Sunday movie and I will write up a Monday Morning Movie Review. Till then

Fucking awesome.

Sun, 06 Jun 2010 20:07:35 -0500

Fucking awesome.

Things I learned This Week 5-3 to 5-7

Fri, 07 May 2010 21:34:21 -0500

Lots of things happened this week and there is no better way to make sense of them all but to just go ahead and rattle off a list. Here go’s something…

- No matter how badass you might think it is, a prison tattoo that reads ‘pussy eater’ is not awesome in any kind of way.

- When you think you can beat the rain on your bike, know that you can’t.

- When you carry a 2300 cubic inch bag around while riding, there should always be a dry pair of jeans and a fresh t-shirt in it (and possibly underpants and socks).

- Riding in the rain is both annoying and exhilarating.

- I’ve got a friend who can be pretty flakey and it’s really annoying. However I don’t think that I can ever write her off because when we’re together things are wonderfully on point and we just click.

- The sound of a baby crying in the distance is heart breaking while a baby crying right next to you shreds your ears apart.

- I’m fairly stoked about moving next weekend.

- Work is by and large a rewarding experience.

- I’m not good at Halo anymore.

- MosDef + dub reggae beats = soundtrack for the summer.

All in all it was a great week that had its standard ups and downs. I plan on starting the packing up process tomorrow after work so we’ll see what all gems I unearth. I’m looking forward to it.

Sculptor Adrian Tranquilli’s depiction of some iconic...

Tue, 04 May 2010 11:22:17 -0500

Sculptor Adrian Tranquilli’s depiction of some iconic superheros while vulnerable.

Because I love dinosaurs & The Black Keys and somebody knew...

Mon, 03 May 2010 12:46:41 -0500

Because I love dinosaurs & The Black Keys and somebody knew it.

Sorry internet, I've been neglecting you.

Sun, 02 May 2010 17:39:33 -0500

Dear virtual construct,

It has come to my attention that there is a world outside of you. A world that is unfiltered, inspired and wondrous, just like you, but tangible. Being a Chicagoan from the uptake I hibernate from December through March. The harsh winds and unreasonable drops in temperature beat my body senseless. Commuting via bicycle all winter for the first time was punishing but oh so rewarding. I can now wear with great pride my Chicago Bike Commuter badge, fuck the hipster tag and all those ‘cool kid’ riders who hide their bikes and skinny jeans when the first snow dusts Clark Street. Me and Scarlett Hemingway (my bike), we did just fine. But I digress…

The point is this, I’ve not been ‘round these parts for well over a month, in that time I rolled the odometer to 26, found a new apartment, found a new favourite movie (Kick-Ass), lost weight, gained weight, fell in and out of love and have been in a generally better mood on account of the sun being out regularly. Also Vampire Weekend’s ‘Contra’ has been in heavy rotation and I don’t really know what to say about that. The one thing I haven’t done is write. That changes today/night…

I’ve been spending a great deal of time outside, riding from here to there, stooping & enjoying the general merriment that comes with spring in Chicago. We’re not all pissed because it’s too hot yet and all the pent up energy from another long winter is gleefully unleashed on cracked city streets. The smell of fresh greenery and budding flowers dances in the air with bus exhaust & it’s magical. The changes in season have shaken the rust from my gears and there is no reason to be still anymore. So I say this to you worlds, inspired and re-purposed, I plan do, say and write things that matter now and I’ll share them all.

*Note: My brain is moving so quickly nowadays that thoughts I express will most likely be all over the place, we’ll get through it together.

Sunday Morning Movie

Sun, 18 Apr 2010 10:48:15 -0500

So…Sunday Morning Movie was actually Saturday Early Evening Movie as I rode over to the theatre after work to watch Kick-Ass before heading back to my parents house. I’ll post my review sometime tomorrow as I’m running after my sisters baby for most of the rest of the weekend.

Sunday Morning Movie

Sun, 11 Apr 2010 10:39:36 -0500

This one’s for my good buddy Matty Kolb. The Iron Giant is one of those animated gems that somehow manages to stay under the radar, even today. A fantastic story that is part E.T. with a hint of Terminator 2, The Iron Giant spins a yarn that is undeniably heart warming. Now Brad Bird is one of my more favorite directors, having done two good episodes of the The Simpsons to get his name on the map but its a coin toss as to which is his better work, this or The Incredibles.

The charm of The Iron Giant lives in the wonderfully recreated “Ike era” imagery and old school 50’s science fiction vibe. Slowly spoken alien movies run on the TV’s and A-bomb PSAs are shown in Hogarth’s class. The Giant (voiced by Vin Diesel) looks fantastic, painted in just the right shades of gray & he wears a persistent expression of awe and innocence that taps into the audiences inner child. The interactions between Hogarth and the Giant evoke a level a depth that Michael Bay’s Transformers and the Even Stevens kid should be jealous of.

The plot revolves around Hogarth and the relationship he builds with a 50 foot alien robot that crash lands off the coast of Maine. The idea of a 10 year old boy teaching an alien robot built to destroy how to be more compassionate and ultimately ‘human’ feels very much so like Terminator 2 to me, just more G rated than R. The government catches wind of a possible alien encounter and an annoying agent is sent to pester Hogarth until the truth is revealed. This leads to an inevitable showdown between the Giant and the U.S. army with Hogarth standing in between them. Its a wonderful 87 minutes.

Director Brad Bird does a great job of making the fantastic seem real and creates a world that is believable and relatable. Much the way he did again with The Incredibles some years later, The Iron Giant allows the audience to get completely engulfed in a world that is as innocent as it is treacherous. The slight slapstick and spot on dialogue keep the plot moving & build great characters while the welcome lack of talking animals and song and dance numbers are something all animated features have taken on in the last decade or so.

All in all The Iron Giant is one of my favorite animated movies, it might have something to do with my odd love of misunderstood robots (I might post my Terminator & Me essay to give you all a better understanding), Brad Bird’s direction or the lovely 50’s vibe, but in any event, The Iron Giant is one worth revisiting multiple times. Everything about this movie just seems to work well and its hard not to fall in love with Hogarth and the Giant. If you’ve got 90 minutes to burn sometime soon, check this one out & let me know what you think. Take care all and happy Sunday.

I miss doing coloring books

Sat, 10 Apr 2010 12:20:35 -0500

I miss doing coloring books

If you couldn’t tell how much I’m looking forward to...

Wed, 07 Apr 2010 00:33:56 -0500

If you couldn’t tell how much I’m looking forward to this movie, here is the first clean look at Jackie Earle Haley in full Freddy makeup.

Something I’d never thought I’d think about…

Sun, 04 Apr 2010 14:00:17 -0500

Something I’d never thought I’d think about…

Sunday Morning Movie

Sun, 04 Apr 2010 13:32:47 -0500

Wes Craven ‘reboots’ his own franchise before it was the cool thing to do, kind of. A precursor to Craven’s self aware horror franchise Scream, Wes first penned and directed New Nightmare, a movie that knew its lore was born and existed as, well, a movie franchise. Hell, and for the most part this works pretty well. We’ve got Wes and Robert Englund playing themselves as well as Heather Langenkamp playing bother herself and Nancy, WTF indeed. An ambitious project indeed New Nightmare’s tongue and cheek approach to its own existence was startling refreshing back in ‘94 but doesn’t really stand the test of time and feels silly as the end credits roll.

The idea of the characters playing the real life stars of the characters they played and being drawn into Freddy’s new nightmare works well to a point. Wes is writing a new script that seems to be becoming a reality as he writes it, Heather/Nancy is terrorized by the rebirth of Freddy and the west coast is being rocked by earthquakes. What works well is the feeling that Heather cant seem to grasp what’s going on; her kid is slowly going nuts, terrorizing phone calls are persistent, her husband gets dream killed, and of course no one believes it could possibly be Freddy.

Now I’m the biggest fan of letting your villain lurk in the shadows until the time is right but the lack of Freddy throughout and the overly bright west coast setting don’t really build that real world sense of doom and gloom the way Carpenter did in the original Halloween. Watching Heather lose her shit as the movie rolls is fun enough sure, but this isn’t a character study, its a horror flick, where are the scares? Wes’ attempt to resurrect a villain/franchise that had become derivative is admirable yes, but to what end i guess.

New Nightmare pokes fun at what the franchise had become from the get-go. The opening scene is magic, full of campy blood, screams, mechanical knife hands, and the reveal that Wes would be playing himself in the movie. Heather meets the head of New Line who comments on the five subsequent films that have become progressively worse, and Robert Englund shows up at talk show as himself in full Freddy garb. It sure is something. It made me respect Wes’ vision and laugh at the same time.

All in all, if you admire horror directors to any degree check out Wes’ New Nightmare and watch a man reclaim his property in a way that can be surely be admired but dismissed all too soon. With a young crop of guys at the helm now its hard to figure if the genre is going anywhere worthwhile soon but directors like Ti West give me hope. We’re also getting the original Nightmare ‘reboot’ this month and Wes recently got the greenlight on a new Scream movie and My Soul to Take is done but hasn’t been released yet. I guess we’ll see what happens.

*Awesome side note: Heather’s son is played by Miko Hughes who played the ultra creepy Gage Creed in Pet Cemetary. The kid was great to watch as he freaked his movie mom out from beginning to end.

Why public schools lose funding for the arts is beyond me.

Mon, 29 Mar 2010 22:36:29 -0500

Why public schools lose funding for the arts is beyond me.

Where are women like this nowadays? I’m in love I think.

Sun, 28 Mar 2010 12:21:57 -0500

Where are women like this nowadays? I’m in love I think.