by Sandy | Jul 31, 2011 | Art, Blogroll, Exhibits, Movies, Museums, Reposted
The Los Angeles County Museum of Art presents a program celebrating the gifted, often bizarre, and controversial director of such movies as “Sweeney Todd”, “The Nightmare Before Christmas”, “Ed Wood” and “The Corpse Bride”. 
The exhibit is “Tim Burton, a major retrospective exploring the full range of Tim Burton’s creative work, both as a director of live-action and animated films, and as an artist, illustrator, photographer, and writer… the exhibition brings together over 700 drawings, paintings, photographs, moving-image works, storyboards, puppets, concept artworks, maquettes, costumes, and cinematic ephemera, including art from a number of unrealized and little-known personal projects.”
Tim Burton * Until October 31, 2011
LACMA/ Los Angeles County Museum of Art
5905 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles
by Bob Martin | Jul 1, 2011 | Art, Directors, Movies, Writers
Carina Nebula
It is the first words spoken that makes this movie understandable and perfect for me. Malick treats the rest of the dialog like the utterance of the universe, important but not understandable. The idea that nature and grace exist for us to choose from is not a religious idea and that following one over another is neither right nor wrong, that in the larger scheme of things it may not matter. There are no understandable answers.
I kept thinking of the first verse of Joni Mitchell’s “The Sire of Sorrow”, and that we seek pain, not satisfaction. Life’s awareness will bring to your knees in pure awe, but that would be too easy.
“Let me speak, let me spit out my bitterness–
Born of grief and nights without sleep and festering flesh
Do you have eyes?
Can you see like mankind sees?
Why have you soured and curdled me?
Oh you tireless watcher! What have I done to you?
That you make everything I dread and everything I fear come true?...joni mitchell
I didn’t find this movie religious or trying to clarify the origins of stuff and can understand why some people would. For me the compelling message is that there is wonder all around us and we spend most of our time focused on ourselves and that what we pay attention is what we get.
If you decide to see this movie go with a group committed to viewing the full movie. Later have a conversation about what you saw or felt about the movie, it all in the experience of seeing “Tree of Life” vs. trying to understand it. All interpretations have value.
Also it will help to see it in a theater that has both exceptional visual and sound equipment. I’ve got to see it again at a different theater. Sorry Hawkins Scottsdale.
by Bob Martin | Jun 21, 2011 | Art, Film, Movies
Woody Allen is one of my film heroes. I’ve enjoyed just about every stage of his career including now. I believe that the talent of an artist is his/her ability to communicate their message as simply and truthfully as possible. I’ve always found Allen’s films truthful and I can always here what I believe to be his voice in the script. Not the way he sounds or way lead actors seem compelled to mimic his cadence, rather how his message and humor are consistent. Allen is a writer, so things to don’t get blown up or shot at, things get spoken.
Midnight in Paris is a funny movie that should not be compared to anything else Allen has done, except, I kept seeing little pieces and stories from some his earlier films.(Hannah and Her Sisters, Everyone Says I love You, Crimes and Misdemeanors,Vicky Cristina Barcelona, and Sweet and Lowdown)
The charm of this film is our mistaken belief that we were born to late , at the wrong time or era. The truth of the films is that we are always where were supposed to be.
by Sandy | Feb 5, 2011 | Arts, Entertainment and Music, Blogroll, Directors, Film, Movies
The 20 year anniversary of Spike Lee’s terrific film, “Do The Right Thing”, is celebrated with a special 2 disc DVD package containing extra footage, interviews, and new commentary by the director.
Director Lee has made so many films since 1989, but, “Do” is his most celebrated film so far – it came in # 96 in the 2007 American Film Institute list of the 100 best movies of all time.
The film tells the story of a hot day in Brooklyn’s Bed’Stuy, when pent up anger and resentment exploded into violence in a matter of minutes. The stellar cast includes Spike Lee, Danny Aiello, Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee, Giancarlo Esposito, Bill Nunn, John Turturro, Rosie Perez, Martin Lawrence (film debuts for both Rosie and Martin).
What was the “right” thing?
“Do the Right Thing” (20th Anniversary Edition)
by Bob Martin | Jan 17, 2011 | Film, Movies
The difference between “12” and the more famous “Twelve Angry Men” is the time spent on the conditions in which a young man grows up. Unlike the original play and movie, there is more to consider in addition to each angry man’s personal short comings and/or heroism. In challenging the evidence in an effort to discover the truth, the complete story remains hidden.
Who really committed the crime and our concern for the well being of the accused is a new element to this storyline, and suggest justice needs to be served in and out of court.
12 which is beautifully acted and directed, is not necessarily better then Twelve Angry Men, which was about a different time and circumstance, 12 is however bigger and a more expansive view of the deliberation of a trial.
by Sandy | Jan 10, 2011 | Art, Arts, Entertainment and Music, Blogroll, Books, Culture, Movies
Shakespeare’s Macbeth is my favorite.
I know, if I wish to impress, I should say – Hamlet, King Lear, etc.
They may be “deeper”, but, they’re not as much fun.
Macbeth has witches (3) it has ghosts (8 plus), (Hamlet only has a flickering dad). The play has a “moving” forest and a man with a questionable birth. This is drama! 
You are grabbed with the first scene and it won’t let you go until that pesky forest starts to inch forward, (I hope I haven’t given too much away)
I’ve seen Macbeth on stage once – the witches were in Japanese white Butoh masks(interesting). I have relied on an occasional reread and film rentals to revisit this story of power and madness. There are several British color versions from the 70’s and 80’s, but, the Orson Welles version is my favorite. He starred in and directed a stark, black & white minimalist film (read low budget with paper-mache sets, and cardboard crowns) in 1948.
Welles, as Macbeth, and Jeanette Nolan, as Lady M, bring the play to life. They, and the rest of the spirited cast, proceed to climb the scenery, without there being much to climb. (The sets are pretty bare). All underlying ambition and greed of the passionate duo is uncovered, They eventually embrace their baser nature with relish and self destruct. Sound familiar?
Wm. Shakespeare’s flawed characters transcend centuries and we can still relate.
Love it.
