by Bob Martin | Jun 6, 2009 | Actors, Art, Film, Movies
Horror, Vampire and Super Hero films are not my thing, but I was totally taken in by “Let the Right One In”. Everthing about this film was different. In stead of frightening, or over the top special effects there is reason,
committment and love. But more importantly there is survival. If you are intriqued by gore and blood there is plenty of that, but it’s different. It is on DVD, see it with the sub-title. Delightful little film even if you don’t like Vampires.
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by Bob Martin | Jun 5, 2009 | Actors, Art, Directors, Film, Movies
Scarlett Johansson and Woody Allen
This 2008 Woody Allen film has all the charm and wit of his older films. Allen had a remarkable run from the early 1980 up until 1999, after which the films that followed did not seem to have the same magic. In Vicky Cristina, Allen makes fun of Americans, plays with our recklessness and the unreasonableness of being in love. For me the magic is back.
by Sandy | May 17, 2009 | Arts, Entertainment and Music, Blogroll, Film, Movies
There has been a lot of bad news in the last few months. In reaction, there seems to be a collective sphincter tightening around the country, whether it’s for real or imaginary reasons. Life is one long running, continuous advent calendar. Each day, you lift a flap and there is that day’s “gift”. Another disaster, another tale of horror – yech!
However, there is a silver lining to all this. “Out of chaos there is opportunity”. People are going to the movies this year in droves – escapist, romantic comedies, 3D!, doesn’t matter. Hollywood is having a great recession. DVDs are also experiencing an uptick. Swine flu outbreaks and lost jobs = “lets rent a movie!”. I get it.
I try to combat all the toxic images/stories that bombard me all day by finding something to smile about. A movie works for me too. I enjoy light fluffy, Fred and Ginger movies – “The Gay Divorcee”, “Swing Time”, “Top Hat”. (These little musical romances supported the spirits of the folks who lived thru the depression we labeled “Great”.)
Other favorites, “Some Like It Hot” 1959– Jack Lemmon, Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis and “Singin’ In the Rain” 1952– Gene Kelly, Donald O’Connor, Debbie Reynolds. Everyone remembers the Gene Kelly singing/splashing in the rain scene, but my favorite is Donald O’Connor tap dancing his way up a wall. Saw this movie the first time at Radio City Music Hall when I was a kid and I couldn’t believe it. I was delighted, couldn’t figure out how he did it, etc. I was impressed then, and I still am. Love it. (Interesting that they take place in the same time period– 20’s to 30’s.)
Of course you can find more current funny movies/ DVDs (Monty Python!) out there. Regardless of what you choose to watch – the intent is to raise the mood so that hopefully the glass looks half full, instead of half empty.
Hooray for Hollywood!
by Sandy | May 9, 2009 | Arts, Entertainment and Music, Blogroll, Culture, Directors, Film, Movies
Director Spike is known for his movies – “Malcom X”, “The 25th Day” , “The Insider” and “Miracle of St. Anna” .
He makes good movies and sometimes great ones, but he also makes documentaries. He takes a risk and will veer from the fictional format that he’s conquered, to much acclaim, ever since his first films, “She’s Gotta Have It” and “Do The Right Thing”. When he tackles real events, the results are supreme.
“When the Levees Broke: Requiem in Four Acts”, originally HBO and now in DVD, was moving to watch because he let the people of New Orleans tell their stories about what happened in September 2005 when water and wind ravaged their city. Not out to ridicule or embarrass (like some recent “documentaries”), no need to fictionalize the tragedy- it is raw, angry, direct, sad.
Mr. Lee’s 1998 documentary – “4 Little Girls” also on DVD, is about the bombing of the 16th street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama in 1963 and the little girls that died in the blast– he allows rage and grief to be expressed in a straight forward way. He also gives some insight into to what the racial climate was like before the tragedy and how the people of Birmingham dealt with the aftermath.
Spike’s films are often terrific. His documentaries have been terrific and powerful, always.
I’m looking forward to see his latest:
* The coming of age musical “Passing Strange”. I saw it on Broadway and was thoroughly charmed and entertained by “Stew”, who wrote the book, lyrics and music along with Heidi Rodewald.
* “Kobe Doin’ Work” about Lakers basketball star Kobe Bryant
by Cybel Martin | May 6, 2009 | Art, Creativity, Culture, Directors, Movies
I went to my friend, & fellow Tisch alumnus, Rod Gailes’ New York Premier of his feature film “Camouflage” last week. It’s a very intriguing, thought provoking visual journey/film shot during the pre-gentrification of Harlem. I believe Rod began production on “Camouflage” close to 15 years ago. One of the many thoughts the film will leave you with is just how much potential, desire and hope was being suffocated in the impoverished circumstances of Harlem.
St. John The Divine, Harlem, NYC by Ronnie Ginnever
Flash forward many years later and we have that potential expressed. One excellent blog, worthy of a RSS feed, is “Harlem World”. Its a pretty content rich blog/magazine centered on Harlem. What caught my attention was just how much is focused on the arts. I just happened on the blog today (late to the party, I know) but greatly enjoyed this article on the “Negritude” exhibit at the Exit Art Gallery.
A taste:
“Harlem resident Greg Tate presents a three-room “Black Mystery Anti-Panopticon,” envisioning Négritude as a “place” for mystery and funk, music and soul. A DJ shrine, created by Tate and the artists Xaviera Simmons and Arthur Jafa, will provide a site for weekly performances; a raised stage outfitted with a drum kit, microphones, and amps will be used for occasional live music; and an exhibition of visionary black artists – including Thornton Dial, Jr., Thornton Dial, Sr., and Lonnie Holley – coupled with laminated pages from the books Souls Grown Deep: African American Vernacular Art, Vols. 1 and 2, will create a “conjuration room where willing spirits can come to get toasted, roasted, and lit the fuck up.”
Harlem World Blog also encourages “citizen journalists” to send interviews, photographs, news stories etc to: hwcontact@yahoo.com
Photo is of course James VanDerZee’s “Couple in Raccoon Coats”, which I believe is at the Studio Museum of Harlem.
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by Bob Martin | Apr 20, 2009 | Art, Culture, Film, Movies
Recently it had been suggested that HBO was off it’s game once the Sopranos and the Wire finished there runs. And yes it took some time to come up with a series that satisfied my taste, but The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency has been well worth the wait. The series is adapted from the books of Alexander McCall Smith, about the adventures of Mma Ramotswe
Jill Scott as Precious Ramotswe
Botswana’s only female private investigator. The story lines avoid the high tech and sci fi babble of CSI or Numbers, rather the deduction work done by Precious Ramotswe reminds me more of Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot. No special effects and gun battles, just good old common sense.
Anika Noni Rose as Grace Makutsi
The charm of the series is how cleverly the complicity of Africa and Africans are revealed in each episode. How Beautiful the land, the people and their customs are, while still exploring and exposing some of the problems that much of the continent still needs to overcome, like Aids, Poverty and Education.
The cast and the stories are delightful, with plenty of humor and information about a culture many of us know little about. This a wonderful hour well spent.
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committment and love. But more importantly there is survival. If you are intriqued by gore and blood there is plenty of that, but it’s different. It is on DVD, see it with the sub-title. Delightful little film even if you don’t like Vampires.
