Learning the Lingo: The Low Battery Blog

As Day Follows Night

2010-01-27T15:26:00.009+11:00

Here is something I wrote last year, and now that I look back at it, knowing more that I actually did at the time, I am pleasantly surprised in it's ability to actually capture the feelings that I would put across now with more knowledge and experience of the artist in question.

Sarah Blasko As Day Follows Night
Sarah Blasko triumphantly returns with her third album, bringing an ambitious collection of songs together in an enchanted and alluring offering.

Fresh from her turn as composer for the 2008 Bell Shakespeare production of Hamlet, Blasko wrote all of the songs on the album, making a turn from her previous collaboratively written records. Much of the album was written on piano and Blasko shows the versatility of the instrument most effectively by showcasing subtle melodies (Down on Love) as well as sharp, hard hitting tracks (No Turning Back).

Produced, recorded and mixed in Stockholm with Bjorn Yttling (of Peter, Bjorn and John), the album has a uniquely different feel to Blasko’s past two records. The Bjorn influence is made quite apparent with a more acoustic and echo filled sound on tracks such as Is My Baby Yours and Hold On My Heart, reminiscent of Fleet Foxes and Emiliana Torrini, respectively. Lead track All I Want conjures up an eerie, wandering through the woods vibe with a stirring string accompaniment. Notable mention goes to my favourite track We Won’t Run, which has one hell of a catchy chorus.

Down on Love, Is My Baby Yours and I Never Knew reveal deeply personal lyrics, reminiscent of Joni Mitchell’s Blue album. However, this post break-up sound doesn’t play as a melancholic trance, but rather as a deep, self-reflective reverie that is easily a contender for the best release of the year that only gets better which each listen.

2009-11-27T00:35:00.001+11:00

Women Love Vampires Because They Want to Have Sex With Gay Men

2009-10-17T04:05:00.003+11:00

Quite recently an article came out in Esquire stating that the current successes of Twilight, True Blood and the Vampire Diaries owe thanks to women who are enamoured with the phenomeon because they want to have sex with gay men.

Stephen Marche argues that the nature of the vampires and the women who are attracted to them mirror the (often closeted) gay and his beard (cover up girlfriend who is hopelessly in love with him). Using Edward from Twilight as an example Marche states that:

“[Edward is] a sweet, screwed-up high school kid, and at the beginning of his relationship with Bella, she is attracted to him because he is strange, beautiful, and seemingly repulsed by her. This exact scenario happened several times in my high school between straight girls and gay guys who either hadn’t figured out they were gay or were still in the closet.”

These ideas do make sense, despite the arguments tending to be slightly left field. But when you think about it, these vampire "studs" are fairly unattainable, they represent a different type of man who is different to the rest, and in the case of Edward especially, there is an effeminite quality to not only his demeanour, but his physical appearance too.

Some food for thought.

The Twilight Effect

2009-10-15T23:01:00.010+11:00

This has happened to me a few times now. I've been with a girl listening to music, having a chat about this and that, and then suddenly the Iron and Wine song "Flightless Bird, American Mouth" comes on. I've loved this song for yonks, since Samuel Beam (or Iron and Wine as he is more commonly known as) released his The Shepherd's Dog in 2007.

The song becomes recognised by the girl, to which she immediately pipes up with "Oh, I love this song" and starts singing the strange lyrics (Eg: "Now I'm a fat house cat/Cursing my sore blunt tongue") to utter and sheer whimsical delight. Then I pipe up saying "I love this album", the girl becomes slightly bewildered and yet extremely exhilarated and excitedly says "You love the Twilight Soundtrack?!?!" *Crazy fun times end in devasted boy (me) being lost in disappointment.

This situation has happened to me more than once, and that's no exaggeration. In truth, when I be fair to ethical ideals journalism and all that hoo-har, I should not omit that I started liking Iron and Wine from its inclusion on the soundtrack of the 2004 film In Good Company. So there, I've declared potential hypocrisy. But, to be fair, the song "Trapeze Swinger" was only released through the soundtrack.

However, when considering the effects of the Twilight soundtracks on the music industry, popular culture and the public sphere, this hypocrisy can be over looked. Massive indie/punk artists beyond Iron and Wine, such as Muse, Paramore and now Death Cab for Cutie have lost their underground (yet still massive underground) status and now are subjected to pop/rock star status and thus loved by the masses of tweeny-bopper Twilight saga lovers. Sadly, this mass love has led to my slow, dwindling vocal public declaration of such love for these artists. In laments terms, Twilight is destroying my love for music!!! Maybe that's an extreme statement, and one swimming in hyperbole, but it's engrained in truth!

My fear comes armed with feelings of woe and despair with the idea that my beloved Death Cab and other casualties may experience such a significant rise in popularity that they will no longer play in the uber cool venues where you can actually see their face. From this point on they will play in arenas or other similar venues where they become simply a speck of dust on a stage thousands of seats away. Just think of Kings of Leon. Just a few short years ago, they weren't selling out arenas. They weren't even playing arenas. But as the cruel tragic devil of popularity claims life after life, we see these amazing musicans that we idolise, literally move further and further away from us.

So with this on board, I had a look at the listing for the New Moon soundtrack, and I admitedly jizzed in my pants. I mean you've got Death Cab, Muse, Bon Iver with St. Vincent, Thom Yorke, Grizzly Bear and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. Triple Jizz!!!! And then comes the realisation that your 13 year old cousin will soon be bouncing her empty head along to these masters. And that's when the doves cry. Cue Prince.

I Kissed a Girl Gets Covered by Folk Star

2009-10-15T12:10:00.001+11:00

While enjoying beyond current zeitgeist pop sensation wonderment, Katy Perry can now add another title to her resume: a covered artist.

Much like when Bowling for Soup covered Britney Spears’ “Baby, One More Time” in 2003, Perry’s pop-a-di-da tunes have been recently covered by not one artist, but two. First Jordin Sparks released an acoustic cover of number one hit “Hot N Cold” showing nothing that much out of the unusual.

A more recent cover, diverting from his own genre of choice, is folk-indie artist William Fitzsimmons (fresh off his re released 2008 album The Sparrow and the Crow) has brought his own musical stylings to Perry’s number one international controversial “I Kissed a Girl”.

The strange choice of coverings can often lead to many interesting questions. While Mr. Fitzsimmons choices may be questionable, he nonetheless sounds pretty good, if not fairly stoned. It is often the strange choice of covers that can bring an artist back to life. Let us not forget the best cover ever made….Johnny Cash’s “Hurt”.

If you think I’m right, wrong, or totally misguided, then drop a line in that ol’ comment box and let us know what you think the best and/or worst covers are.

Click here to listen to Fitzsimmon's cover

The Best Catfights on Television

2009-06-24T21:42:00.006+10:00

There comes a time in one's life, when the nights get lonely and long. One full proof way to help the night pass is to relive some of the greatest catty moments played out on the big and small screen. I could spend huge amounts of time filling the follow post up with clips from dozens of movies and television shows, but I've managed to make a particular selection with the following clips.

Some of the greatest catfights you'll ever see were on the 80s mega hit series Dynasty. Dynasty is like a cross between Desperate Housewives and The Bold and the Beautiful. And if you don't know any of these shows either, then you have some much needed viewing to do. Thanks to Foxtel, I've been a viewer of Dynasty since I was about 10. The moments that stay with me are, of course, the catfights. And the best ones always seemed to involve Joan Collins' multiple marrying character Alexis Carrington Colby Dexter Rowan. I've provided two of the best Alexis catfights there is. But believe me, there's plenty more where that came from. If the fake slapping and over the top sound effects aren't enough, then enjoy the 80s fashions.

The Alexis/Dominique Catfight

The ULTIMATE Dynasty Catfight

Dynasty helped lead the way for female vs. female catfighting. It's influences spread across many more television shows for many decades since, and for many decades to come. I've chosen some favourite moments showcasing the Dynasty influence. An honourable mention goes to the Molly Shannon-Raquel Welch-Julia Louis Dreyfus catfight in the season 8 Seinfeld episode "Summer of George".

Thanks to the folks at youtube for this beautiful collection of the greatest hits (PUN PUN PUN!!!!!!) from bitch filled super drama Melrose Place

What's better than two women fighting, one asks? When one is a nun. Thank the holy lord!

While being more famously known as a quirky, neurotic stlyised lawyer comedy series, Ally McBeal did feature one marvelous catfight scene in the uni-sex bathroom that racked up a tally of 4 fighters.

A golden movie moment captured from the silver screen adaptation of Jacqueline Susann's best selling novel of the 1960's Valley of the Dolls. (Not a TV moment and it predated Dynasty, but it's irresistible)

Here's an extra tidbit-spoof from the 90s classic sitcom The Nanny

But let's not forget the wonderful verbal catfights, seen best during the Rosie days at The View

And finally, let's take the words "cat-fight" just a bit more seriously for a second:

Burton's Wonderland

2009-06-22T19:06:00.006+10:00

If you haven't heard by now, prolific director Tim Burton has filmed an adaption of Lewis Carrol's famous novel Alice in Wonderland. It's now in the post production stages, and very recently, stills of the film were popped up on the internet.

And now we can enjoy them. Johnny Depp (The Mad Hatter), Helena Bonham Carter (The Queen) and Anne Hathaway (The White Witch) featured below.

Chk Chk Boom - The Album

2009-06-12T15:55:00.000+10:00

According to Sydney Confidential, Clare the bogan (aka girl with the fabricated Kings Cross shooting story a few weeks ago) is heading into the recording studios to make some muzak!

Apparently she's headed in with some songwriters, and some gems are going to be produced, with no doubt many references, perhaps even a song, to the "Chk Chk Boom" slogan that she has become internationally famous for.

Lord help us. But there's a part of me that can't wait!

Jamie Foxx to play Frank Sinatra

2009-05-18T23:37:00.002+10:00

What could be the biggest piece of colour-blind casting in Hollywood history, Oscar winner Jamie Foxx is supposedly tipped to play Frank Sinatra in the upcoming Martin Scorsese helmed biopic, just recently greenlit.

Other actors supposedly up for the highly saught after role include singer turned actor Harry Connick Jr and frequent Scorsese collaborator Leonardo Di Caprio. Foxx, 41, most famoulsy known for his Oscar winning role as music legend Ray Charles, is being called the perfect bit of casting.

Playing Ray Charles might not have been that much of a stretch, but Ol' Blue Eyes? Seriously! Let's get real for a second and acknowledge the elephant in the room. He's black. Sinatra was white. Wow! I'm just dropping truth bombs everywhere, aren't i?!? Perhaps the Robert Downey Jr role in Tropic Thunder had some serious effects on those Hollywood power meetings.

I can only guess who'll be cast as the members of the Rat Pack, and other members of the famous Sinatra clan. I predict here and now that Halle Berry will play Nancy Sinatra, Eminem will play Sammy Davis Jr and Beyonce will play Mia Farrow. With the Foxx casting, it almost credible, if not consistent.

Articles have been surfacing all over the internet within the last couple of days, prompting a gossip-rumour frenzy. "Are we being punk'd?" one site ponders. Is this just another prank? Or is it seemingly legit, just like our friend Joaquin's hip hop career? We'll soon find out.

Britney's Va jay jay Malfunction

2009-05-15T15:01:00.003+10:00

Oops, she did it again!

In a world full of frequent wardrobe malfunctions, troubled pop diva Britney Spears was recently heard uttering the words "My pussy is hanging out" at a concert, which thanks to the wonderfully advanced technologically charged aged world that we live in, was captured on video camera footage.

This brings a timely reminder to the wonderful world of wardrobe malfunctions. Let us remember two important wardrobe malfunction-ees of the last few years:

Axel Whitehead
Former Australian Idol runner up, and current Cleo Bachelor of the Year and Home and Away star, exposed himself at the 2006 ARIA awards, thus prompting his firing from music show Video Hits.

Janet Jackson
One of the famous Jacksons caused what is now referred to as "Nipplegate" at the 2004 Superbowl in the US, which thus prompted FFC regulations to bring in a 7 second delay which would deprive us of more similar moments. Jackson claimed to be unaware of what was going on, but later admitted to be responsible for the slippage of boobage.

And now for the clip of the moment: (The gold moment occurs around the 33 second mark.)

Scarlet Johansson Dumped

2009-05-05T17:38:00.003+10:00

Scarlett Johansson's directorial debut has been axed from the upcoming feature film New York, I Love You, a follow up to the 2006 collection of short films Paris je't aime (Paris, I Love You.) A variety of directors and actors had made little short segments for the upcoming film (including Zack Braft, Natalie Portman, Brett Ratner and Shekhar Kapur.) The segment, starring Kevin Bacon, was apparently not fitting for the rest of the film, and will now only be included as a DVD extra.

Now this is not the first career failure Scarlett has endured. Let us not forget her 2008 debut album of Tom Waits covers Anywhere I Lay My Head. If you haven't seen it, or need reminding, check out this clip. I'll let the music (or for lack of a better word) speak for itself.

Julia Roberts and her F*&? filled Tom Hanks speech

2009-04-29T13:33:00.004+10:00

This just in!

Julia Roberts gives an expletive filled speech at a tribute to Tom Hanks in New York on Monday night (New York time, obviously).

It pretty much speaks for itself. It's a bit of a roast and less a toast (i.e. raise your glasses for the bride and the groom), which is always refreshing when you're dealing with someone with the star level magnitude of Tom Hanks. So sit back and enjoy this foul mouthed tirade! And a suggestion for Roberts. I think she needs to give another heartfelt impassioned speech to someone else on a similar A list high power level. And that person might be Oprah.

Lightning Strikes Martha Stewart

2009-04-22T12:39:00.003+10:00

Not only is she a self proclaimed domestic goddess, but now she's a triple time lightning strike survivor. She really can do it all!

Martha Stewart, 67, claims to have been electrocuted three times recently, during electrical storms, while being inside and completing (of course) some domestic chores. It's like reading that Martha Stewart was killed when 10 carpet rolls fell on her while she was undertaking a summer project in the Hamptons. If she's going to be killed, it will be while being Martha Stewart to the nth degree.

Now Martha claims that she was doing the dishes and got struck in the stomach. And then was struck two more times while being on the phone and holding a metal rod. Now, I've heard of lightning striking twice, but three times?!?!

If you've seen The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, then you may recall the man who was struck by lightning seven times. Perhaps Martha is on this path. But for now, here's some videos of lightning, striking!

2009-04-21T15:49:00.001+10:00

*Okay, so this is not exactly new news. And there has already been an article written on this at the vine (click here to read it). However, I felt I needed to write about it with a bigger Lynchian emphasis.

If you're a David Lynch fan, then you will understand how fitting it is that he has directed the new Moby music video "A Shot in the Back of the Head". From reading the title of the song, it is clear that a magical collaborative dream team effort has occurred. There's Lynch, with his fascination with the head and it being smashed, kicked, shot, cutting its ears off, etc. and then there's Moby, specifically with this disjointed, dark tune. And put together in this clip, is just a visual feast for the (dark) eyes and a treat for all of the Lynch fans out there.

Even if you're not a fan of David Lynch's movies (Blue Velvet, Mulholland Drive and TV show Twin Peaks) you will be able to realise that watching this clip is a similar experience to watching Lynch's work. His dream like images are felt on a different level here. In "Shot in the Back of the Head" it feels like you are watching a labyrinthine disjointed tale of love, loss and murder, all through the shots of a dark, messed up set of animated shots and distorted images.

I could go on for hours about everything Lynch, but for now, here is the Moby clip again for your enjoyment!

Barrymore shines in Grey Gardens

2009-04-15T20:48:00.009+10:00

Movie adaptations are always tricky. Whether you're adapting from a book, poem, song, short story, or remaking a classic film, there lies certain problems within the undertaking that can cause irreparable damage within the final product. Over six months ago, when I heard about the HBO remake/adaptation film of one of my favourite films of all time, I got skittish. But now after a sneak peak, I can rest assured that this could be one of the TV events of the year.

In 1975, the Maysles Brothers (Albert and David, of previous Rolling Stones-fan dying at concert documentary-Gimme Shelter fame) released a groundbreaking, fly on the wall style documentary (also known as Cinéma vérité for all you cinephiles and cinephile wannabes out there!)

The doco was about the pairing of an eccentric mother and daughter, living in an old, dilapidated mansion called Grey Gardens. But the pull was that this mother and daughter pairing were the great Aunt and cousin of former First Lady, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis (or the original Jackie O!) These former women of high class New York society had been living in squalor. And when press caught wind of it, a flurrying sensation was caused and Jackie herself came to help clean up the mess. A few years later, the Maysles came to film them, still living in their festering squalor with roughly 20 feral random cats wondering the premises, just "doing what they do". And henceforth the film Grey Gardens was born.

These two ladies were the original crazy old cat ladies you always heard about. And just to add to Little Edie's (the daughter) eccentricities, she donned a head scarf at all times to hide her hair that had previously fallen out, thus creating the unforgettable image of Little Edie (seen to the left) and the one of the woman that lies behind Grey Gardens.

But enough about the old, and in with the new. Some time ago, I heard that a film version was being made of Grey Gardens. Already a successful Tony award winning musical had been made. However this film is not an adaptation of the musical, it's a movie of the whole story of the Beales, spanning 40 years.

The first thing that I noticed was the casting choices. The brilliant Jessica Lange was to play Big Edie, which seemed like a very apt choice, as Lange is simple put, amazing. But then I read that Drew Barrymore had been cast as the one-of-a-kind Little Edie. This seemed like a risky choice for both the studio and Barrymore to make. Well, luckily, I have to say that my faith has been restored. If you check out the following clips you will see Barrymore as you've never seen her before. Over a years worth of vocal training, and much preparation has lead to what shall hopefully be a masterful performance. To judge for yourself, take a sneak peak at the trailer embedded below.

As a fan of the original cult doco, all I can say is that I'm relieved and beyond excited to see this hopefully magnificent adaptation of a truly unique and amazing story.

Originally slated for a theatrical release, HBO will be premiering Grey Gardens this Sunday night in the US. Who knows when we'll get it. I pray as soon as humanly possible, but with the past track records of getting anything decent on our screens, this could prove a more difficult task.

Fit for an iQueen

2009-04-03T12:21:00.004+11:00

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama recently landed in London for the G20 summits. And while in town, the Obama's had a little meeting with Her Royal Highness, Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Phillip. But what present would be given? Of late, the Obama's have been giving some interesting, if not unusual presents, most noticeably a collection of 25 American Classic Films to UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown. So, what were we expecting from the hip, cool and trendy, Blackberry obsessed US Prez?

When I heard that young Lizzy received an iPod from the Obama's as her official present, I couldn't help but wonder, what was on it? And then what would she likely to add, presuming her was as uber cool as Obama.

Naturally, little jokes such as Dancing Queen, and Queen's Greatest Hits come to mind, but According to the Associated Press, the iPod had a collection of popular Broadway musicals hits from such shows as "Funny Girl", "Dreamgirls", "Rent", "My Fair Lady" and "The King and I" among many others.

As when Brown received his collection of American classic films, I wondered, if I was Obama, what would I put on the iPod for the Queen. Perhaps I'd thrown in some Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell, classics in my book, maybe some Greenday, and some local chaps called The Beatles, and some of their contemporaries. As I pop forth this question to myself, I pop it forward to you: If you could put anything on the Queen's iPod, what would you choose?

Animal Sex Interests Rossellini

2009-04-03T00:54:00.002+11:00

Some people like to knit or yarn. Others take up gardening. Well, it seems veteran actress Isabella Rossellini (daughter of Hollywood legends - actress Ingrid Bergman and director Roberto Rossellini) is interested in the mating rituals of animals. And why not, I say. The fascination of reproduction is one not to be shy of, and yet everywhere I turn on the internet this past day, all I read it "Rossellini fascinated by animal fornication" as if it were a shameful thing. Naturally, intrigue got the better of me and within minutes I was reading about Rossellini's new pet project.

"Green Porno" is a set of documentary shorts based on the coital habits of different animals. And these series of shorts sees, Rossellini, not shy of her own famous sexuality (see Blue Velvet and Death Becomes Her if you don't know what I'm talking about) diverting off to another set of species. Rossellini says "I'm not interested in people sex, just animal sex! More scandalous!”

Her shorts feature an array of "interesting" animals such as insects and sea creatures. I, personally, would have been more fascinated by the larger animals mating rituals (like the elephants, lions, etc, but I guess you can see that on any David Attenborough special) Rossellini most importantly notes about her little creatures that "they can do it everywhere. They can reproduce sexually, like us, but they can also do it asexually. They're so freaky, I love them! It''s fascinating," she added.

Let's bring it on, Isabella. Bring it on!

Top 10 Recut Movie Trailers

2009-03-24T18:41:00.003+11:00

Counting backwards, here are some of the best re-imagined, recut movie trailers. It seems to successfully make a recut trailer, you need to switch the original genre to its polar opposite (children to horror, romance to thriller, etc...) Key elements that will be very noticable shall be: music, voice over, and the text appearing between shots. So let's get started:

10) Mary Poppins

9) My Girl

8) You've Got Mail

7) Sleepless in Seattle

6) Mrs Doubtfire

5) Dumb and Dumber

4) When Harry Met Sally

3) Toy Story/Requiem for a Dream

2) Top Gun

1) The Shining

Miley Cyrus' So Called Life

2009-03-13T00:48:00.005+11:00

There is a time in an artists life when they will release a retrospective piece that speaks over their (hopefully) interesting career. Sometimes we find artists who are not exactly worthy of releasing retrospective pieces, doing just this same thing. Artists will oftne release a greatest hits compilation album after decades of studio albums, or a countless array of hits. Then there are the artists who compile a "greatest hits" collection, after only releasing a couple of albums. This leaves me wondering how easy is it to be considered worthy of a career retrospective. And I'm talking the Aaron Carter, Keith Urban, Hilary Duff Collections here.

The same can be said with celebrity autobiographies. More often than not, a celebrity, whether it be an actor, musician, sportsperson, or whoever, will generally produce a work of non fiction/autobiography at the end of either their career, or during a retirement, or a quiet time in their professional life; a reflection period. However, much like pre-emptive greatest hit compilations, we see sometimes see the pre-emptive autobiography.

Miley Cyrus, the teenage bucktoothed sensation is my Exhibit A. An example of a career that has only begun within the last few years. Not even last decade. Despite this lack of experience in the industry, little Smiley Miley has come up with "her story". It's sad when you know that there is an audience for this hogwahed filled piece of mediocrity.

Miley, also know to millions of 'tweens' as Hannah Montana is a bit of the media mogul. Despite only JUST turning 17, little Miley (daughter of 80s country Achy Breaky Heart one hit wonder Billy Ray Cyrus) has already starred in a television program, released CD's, her own clothing line, and now the autobiography, ironically titled "Miles To Go" (Ironic for me, as I feel that's where I stand with her synergising ways...It's only just begun!?!?!) I can only assume that the perfume and energy drinks products are just around the corner.

It is important to note that Miley is not the first young celebrity to pen her story. Back in the day, Drew Barrymore wrote "Little Girl Lost", an autobiography in 1991 about her turbulent childhood and drug addictions at age 14. Now we take in hand that Drew had been through quite a journey in this short space of time. In comparion, Miley suffered some "serious" bullying, and had a "serious" two year relationship that is worthy of a marriage comparison to Jonas Brother Nick Jonas (Another Disney tween sensation.)

Recently I saw a clip of Miley on The View, a popular US daytime television talk show. When asked out what she would like to say to the girls who bullied her in high school, she replied, "Hahaha!" And not only that, but she also said that the popular girls who bullied her were always the ones being cast in lead roles in school productions and she was not, but now she has a show and they don’t. Now, to me, this seems suggests less of a rags to riches story, and more of a revenge driven reality.

Apparent the Disney company payed Cyrus a 7 figure sum to write the autobiography and there is already talks of a movie based on the book. Is this going to be a similar situation to Patty Duke starring in the Patty Duke story? Or the Joan Rivers/Melissa Rivers story, starring Joan and Melissa Rivers? Miley Cyrus stars as Miley Cyrus in the Miley Cyrus story.

Give me a break!

First stop: Myspace, Then onto: Facebook, Get off at Twitter. I'm on the cyber-networking express

2009-03-09T20:11:00.003+11:00

There's a new thing in town. It's all the rage. And now I've jumped on it.

In the past I have reported on my crippling addiction to Facebook. I'm a recovering addict and each day is another struggle. However, to combat an addiction, one addict will often find another addiction to harbor in doom with. And so, in the style of former alcoholics becoming over-eaters, I have jumped on the Twitter bandwagon.

What is Twitter you ask? It is a site that allows you to create a profile that allows you to update on what you're doing, and keep updated on other peoples lives. Twitter has been around for a while, but, as far as I'm concerned, Twitter is a new thing. It has only been within the last couple of weeks that I've first heard of this new social networking site. At first I didn't get it. It seems just like the update status feature on Facebook. But as I've been studying it a bit more, I think I'm getting the gist of it. It is all about what you're doing. And while I could have just been content with Facebook, joining Twitter proves a valuable exercise in my attempt to be rid of the Facebook addiction.

What has been the bane of my Facebook problem is that I was sick of constantly checking my home page to see if I was getting any love. The joy about Twitter: it's all about what you're doing, and what other people are doing, and less about the interaction between both. Not that you can't interact, but it doesn't seem to be the point of it all. Perhaps this is a godsend from heaven.

So as I ponder the existence of Twitter-dom, I will keep you updated. Is this just another step into the dark abyss of inner torment and hell or, is it a step up to Jesus, in his holy multi-media wonderment?

The joys of...

2009-03-06T22:21:00.005+11:00

...Watching Television on DVD

It's a new technological age, and so it seems that there are certain changes that are taking shape and now becoming quite obvious to the techno-savvy eye. One thing that has specifically changed within the last 10 years is how television shows are accessed and digested. With DVD technology becoming less expensive, the consumption of our favourite television shows, and more notably, television shows we've yet to discover, have become cheaper and more accessible than ever before. This has lead to people watching the television shows on DVD as opposed to watching them live on television, and in some cases, television shows being altered in favour of DVD audiences.

Writers of Family Guy can be heard on many DVD commentaries noting which parts of an episode have been specifically written for the DVD and were cut from original airing on the FOX television network. This suggests that not only is there an auidence for DVD TV but that the creators of the shows are catering specifically for this audience and perhaps moving away from the traditional forms of exhibition.

So, why should you watch a TV show on DVD as opposed to watching it in real time on your own television? Well, firsly, everything is on your own time. You are your own programmer. You decide what shows are worthy of being broadcast in primetime hours, and not only that, but you can decide how many episodes you wish to view at the one time. You can have your own marathon if you choose. It's all up to you. And another benefit of owning your own TV series, is that you can repeat, pause, add subtitles and fast forward as much as your hearts desire.

In an article written in The Age (click here if you want to read more), creator of The Wire David Simon notes how the trend is turning with television shows being made in a different televisual world, where everything will turn into On Demand viewing, instead of viewers having to curb their lives around television programming.

I have been a fan of this new trend. I have discovered many gems that were many a time unavailable on normal network television. And even having the added bonus of cable does not ensure you will see the show you so called desire, unless you have some kind of electronic recording device. But still, owning DVD TV is the ultimate convienence of television consumption. Television shows like The Wire and Family Guy are finding their audiences within the DVD market, and not via network programming.

Of course this does not spell the end for television broadcasting. Nonetheless, television broadcasting will undoubtably change within the next 5-10 years. And this could very well allow for much easier consumption of television shows, much similar to DVD TV. I personally cannot wait! While the good ol' days of turning on your box at 8.30 on a Sunday night may become a thing of the past, hopefully we'll be able embrace the new age of technological television broadcasting.

10 reasons why you need to watch...30 ROCK

2009-02-26T12:00:00.006+11:00

*Disclaimer, as I write this, I have only seen the first two seasons of 30 rock. I could go and watch it online, but I just cannot manage to do so. I cannot watch crappy quality youtube style videos of movies and television shows, not to put down those who do, it just personally does not work for me. But soon, I will have seen more and perhaps write an updated post of why you need to watch 30 rock.

10) Some have described 30 Rock as to be in the same style as Arrested Development. In some parts this is true; both have random subplots, and are shot as a single camera sitcom minus the laugh track. And both have received huge critical acclaim, with less than stellar ratings (audiences). However, I think 30 Rock is it's own show. It features it's own idiosyncratic characters, and has a style of it's own. I also get the feeling that 30 Rock may be lucky enough to go those few steps further than Arrested Development.

9) It's filmed in New York. So often we see these sitcoms based and shot on boring sets within the backdrop of boring Beverly Hills and Los Angeles. Bring on the much more interesting Big Apple.

8) Not only a feast for the eyes, but good entertainment for the brain, with a delightful play on words. For example: Jenna's indie movie The Rural Juror, Dr Spaceman (pronounced Spa-chem-an), Tracy Morgan's character Tracy Jordan goes by the alias of Stacy Morgan while on the run from the Black Crusaders. Hysterical.

7) The use of extraneous multimedia, such as using blatant product placement while claiming not to be at that level (*wink* I love Snapple!) Jenna's song Muffin Top, a hit in Israel and Belgium (hysterical lyrics here) and Tracy's movies - Fat Bitch & Honky Grandma Be Trippin'. And not to mention the countless movie references, including many an ode to Star Wars, and my personal favourite Godfather moment in 1x20 (Cleveland)

6) The Guest stars. I'm not going to even name drop. I want it to be a surprise. However, expect a lot of SNLalumni and as the show keeps going, the bigger the names get. (And a small hint, somebody resembling God even appears...*whispers* Oprah!) N.B. Carrie Fisher has been my favourite guest star so far in the hysterically funny episode "Rosemary's Baby".

5) Jenna Maloney, as played by Jane Krakowski (maybe you remember her as Elaine from Ally McBeal.) Poor Jenna is a bit of a stereotype here. Actress. Blonde. Dumb. Attention seeker. Vain. Egocentric. Desperate to be taken seriously. Never will be.

4) Alec Baldwin is hysterically funny as Network Exectuive Jack Donaghy. So entertaining to see Baldwin play the polar opposite of his famous political views. A staunch democrat playing a guilt ridden Catholic Republican. Just great!

3) 30 Rock is loosely based upon Tina Fey's (star, producer, writer and creator) real life job as first female head writer of variety comedy sketch show Saturday Night Live. If you've seen SNL then you'll want to see more, like a fly on the wall!

2) It's the writing. Each written line is gold, and its a collaborative effort between cast and the writers, but its just comedy gold that is being produced. And it's also fascinating to watch a show about writers and actors working together. Just watch!

1) See the genius of one of the most famous women in America, not to mention the funniest, smartiest, prettiest, super brainiest, poltical impersonating, starry eyed, dream girl. TINA FEY!!!!

A Year of Films.

2009-02-25T16:18:00.019+11:00

Well, since the last posting back on boxing day, I've seen quite a lot of films in the award season buzz months. I always try and see as much as humanly possibly so I feel I can have a fair enough view of what should and shouldn't be up for awards. It's always fun, but now I start to wonder, what were my favourites of the 2008 films. Instead of making my judgements on the films that were released specifically in Australia in 2008, I'll make the judgements based on what I've seen within the last 12 months as my own version of the Oscars, which coincidentally features the same films that were eligible in Hollywood la la Land for all the important awards.

The competitors in contention (in alphabetical order) are (also known as all the 2008 films I saw):

Australia, Baby Mama, Body of Lies, Burn After Reading, Changeling, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspien, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, The Dark Knight, Doubt, Frozen River, Get Smart, The Happening, Happy-Go-Lucky, A History of my Sexual Failures, In Bruges, In Seach of a Midnight Kiss, Iron Man, Kung Fu Panda, The Love Guru, Madagascar 2, Mamma Mia, Milk, Rachel Getting Married, The Reader, Revolutionary Road, Role Models, Quantum of Solace, Savage Grace, Sex and the City, Shutter, Slumdog Millionaire, Then She Found Me, Tropic Thunder, Trumbo, Twilight, Vicky Christina Barcelona, The Visitor, Wall-e, The Wrestler.

Best Film
As if I could just pick one. So it's a three way tie:
Doubt, Milk, and Vicky Christina Barcelona.
Best Male Actor
Sean Penn in Milk. Amazing performance. Such a versolite actor.
Best Female Actor
Meryl Streep in Doubt. Probably favouritism here, both for Streep and for nuns, but I loved her Sister Aloysius.
Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role
Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight. I hate that I'm cliche and agreeing with everyone else, but I cannot think of another contender.
Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role
Rosemarie DeWitt in Rachel Getting Married. Absolutely stunning performance.
Best Director
Jonathan Demme for Rachel Getting Married. Such an unusual film, but Demme made something quite different and ultimately special.
Worst Film
The Happening. What the hell M. Night Shyamalan? Dishonourable mentions go to Mamma Mia and Body of Lies.
Most Disappointing Film
Twilight. I was expecting this to be my guilty pleasure film of the year. Not even. Quite disappointed.
Best Screenplay
Woody Allen for Vicky Christina Barcelona. He's back, but mind you, he never left.
Best Film from a New Filmmaker
In Search for a Midnight Kiss. So indie. So promising.
Most Overrated Film
Slumdog Millionaire. I'm not saying it wasn't a good film, I really liked it, but I'm so over hearing about it.
Most Overrated Performance
Robert Downey Jr. in Tropic Thunder. Good comedic performance, but nothing worthy of award attention.
Most Underrated Film
In Bruges. What an amazing script with unforgettable performances.
Most Underrated Performance
Sally Hawkins in Happy-Go-Lucky. How was she snubbed for this performance? WTF?
Best Song used in a Film
Bruce Springsteen - The Wrestler in The Wrestler. As crucial to Rourke's performance in the film. Just amazing. As for why it got snubbed from Oscars...well, who knows!?!
Best Male Comeback
Mickey Rourke in The Wrestler. Hands down. Hard choice between him and Penn for best male performance of the year. He is the movie.
Best Female Comeback
Debra Winger in Rachel Getting Married. She's back and she shows why she should be. I want more!
Most Disturbing Film
Revolutionary Road. Not for the faint hearted...
Best Guilty Pleasure Film
The Dark Knight. For me, it's a guilty pleasure film, because I tend to liken the more dramatic stories, and less for the action films, but this one was just something else.

I'm back!

2009-02-25T12:54:00.011+11:00

Hello there bloggers.

Happy 2009! It has been almost two months since my last blog. It's shameful really. I've had a lot of time off, and while the creative juices should have been following, I've been suffering from writer's anxiety and block instead. I wish I could have said that I've been holidaying in Hawaii instead, but the plain simple truth is that something took a hold of my writing. I even got a laptop in the process, which should have made it easier to write more frequently, but NO. So throwing caution to the wind and everything else aside, I am going to try and write everyday, or as close to as I can bare. What will result from this daily eventful blogging? I don't know. Perhaps I shall write about movies again, perhaps other things will come out. Right now, I cannot say if I can be bothered trying to sound the slightest bit professional or journalistic, but here goes nothing. And enjoy the new look!

I do slightly lie when I say I wrote nothing. So here is something I wrote at the start of the year.

Friday 16th January, 2.37am

There is something about the new calendar year that makes everything fresh. A new year has started and therefore so can a new life. Divorcees and heartbroken sad cases everywhere hold onto the idea that this will be the time where everything will get better and fall into place. But when you think about it, it's just another day. And what a difference a day can make, so it seems.

Everywhere I look, I hear '2009 will be the year' and 'change is on my side in 09' and more endless and similar expressions that keep me wondering, is 2009 really the year of change? At the start of each new calendar year there is a three week period (sometimes extending longer) where people can freely make these statements without seeming too crazy or pathetic.

However, these hopeful optimists everywhere (especially those who have gone through a particular crappy year) are living either one of two possible realities. Option A is that these hopeful optimists actually believe that the new year will bring happiness, prosperity and love, all because of the turning of time. Or, the more likely of these options is Option B, where desperation can become so helpless that any idea of the prospect of happiness, prosperity and love coming to fruition will do.

I have become a frequent visitor of Option A, but it seems that I am residing in the residence of Option B for the time being. I would like to believe that simply because the calendar year has passed over, inner contentment will follow and that mystically everything is on my side. However, I find it unreasonable and illogical to believe that this reality is solely a result of the stars. This is what I'm pertaining to, with the whole 'it's predetermined by some kind of unseeable force.'

But don't get me wrong, I am a kind of spiritual guy. And in fact, I even bought a book of how to master the art of happiness by the Dali Lama. As a result of the purchase, I would go as far as saying that simply by rubbing the book, I feel the effects immediately. Despite all of these proclamations and affirmations, I cannot stop hearing the little cynical voice that rears its ugly head and says "what if this is all bull?"

And maybe it is all bull. But there is that wonderful three week period that allows for the window of opportunity and hope, where all the past mistakes and failures of the previous year and wiped away, leaving a clean palate to start with. And maybe this year will be the year of change, god knows I need it. And so as the three week window comes to a close, I will try to see the glass as half full and hope for the best. I figure that will work until around January 22.

A Curious Case of...

2008-12-26T21:17:00.004+11:00

Well, after attending a preview screening over a week ago, I shall now write a post about the recent release "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button". I warn you now that there could be spoilers within this article, so perhaps go and see the film before you read ahead. I am not a fan of the reviewers who go out there and spoil little details about a film. But I am not a fan of film reviewers in general. A puzzling statement? Perhaps, as I am indeed doing something similar, but its the "I hate this film and consquently you will too" film reviews, and the whole snobbery that goes along with it. Oh well, thats out of the system. And now for some hypocritical writings:

Months before its release, Ben Button has been touted as one of the years best (and by some critics) one of the decades best. So let's just say that this film is a tad beyond anticipated. Immediate award season buzz can often disappoint audiences when the eyes actually hit the screen, however, I can only say that Ben Button is truly one heartbreakingly beautiful story.

The main gist of Ben Button is that Brad Pitt is born an old man and ages backwards, meeting Cate Blanchett as a young girl, and then again later on "meeting in the middle", thus creating an unusual situation of Brad Pitt getting younger as Cate Blanchett grows older. I've heard that apparently half of the budget was spent of the CGI aging effects. And lets just say that to this film, these effects have the utmost significance, adding slight plausibility to the unbelieveable story. Roger Ebert, gave the film a little 2 1/2 stars out of the usual 4 that most Oscar bound films receive. He went on about the impracticle idea of how someone could age backwards. Now, we do know that Mr. Ebert has been in and out of hospital lately, and so perhaps this could be a fair reason for such a comment. Because it's not like films and stories are a creation of fiction. According to Mr. Ebert, films must be heavily plausible. So, I guess according to Mr. Ebert, there would be a lot of film that must be baloney. Perhaps every Disney movie ever made.

Ben Button was originally a short story written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, yonks ago, and that's just the start of the amazing crew behind this film. You've got an adaptation by Eric Roth (Forrest Gump, co writer of Munich), David Fincher as director (Fight Club, Zodiac) and a wonderful score by Alexandre Desplat (The Queen). Acting snaps go to the quite wonderful cast of Brad Pitt (he has an innocent, boyish romantic charm about him in this), Cate Blanchett (wonderful by default as always) Taraji P. Henson (absolute scene stealer!) Tilda Swinton (what is it about this woman that makes her fascinating?) and Julia Ormond (that girl from the remake of Sabrina...where the hell did she go?).

Watching this 3 hour epic, which did not feeling that long, was a feast for the romantic at heart. The story was so beautiful, and piecing together the pieces make you realise how well this film was made. Snaps go to the cinematographer and Fincher, and just everyone in general. This highly successful collaborative effort is an example of what happens when everything goes right.

But after writing this, I wonder what substance does it add? I criticise reviews, and consequently make some myself. Hypocrisy leads to guilt, but I just needed to get this out there. If you can get anything from reading this, I hope it is to see THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON

Reviews

2008-11-22T18:38:00.005+11:00

Now, you see, I could be really smart and conscientious and write a really professional looking review. However, I cannot be bothered. And so, in its place comes....

BODY OF LIES As a cinema student, I find it hard to switch off from theories and ideas and such that circulate in class. Bad habit or good habit? Who knows, but let's just say that the words Post Apocalyptic Cinema kept ringing through my ears during this film. I could go on to explain why this was the case, (i.e. giving you a brief synopsis). However, I will not waste the time. I went into this film without seeing a trailer and without hearing much word about it, which can often be the best way to go into a film. Instead, I went into this film with the hopes of another good Russell Crowe/Ridley Scott collaboration with the added bonus of Leo DiCarprio. Well, perhaps that was too much to expect. Gladiator was amazing, but was I honestly expecting more gold. And it failed to deliver. I'm not going to go into heavy detail with plot criticisms or even any other criticisms. But this was not my film. The ideas were too complicated and confusing. Dialogue was derivative and simple. Acting was fine, but the first ten minutes should have the tagline of "watch Leonardo wear a fake beard and pretend to be Fidel Castro." I just trailed off, so much to the point where I did fall asleep. So, unless you enjoy complicated and nonsensical stories with a tiny bit of terrorism, co-ercion and themes of betrayal and trust, etc., stay away from BODY OF LIES.

QUANTUM OF SOLACE The same night, after seeing Body of Lies, I went and saw the new Bond. Going in, I was pretty sure that Bond would look good at best compared to Body of Lies, and I was not disappointed. In fact, I will go as far to say that I loved it. Perhaps even more than Casino Royale. Which is a big statement, and one that would require another viewing of each film, but to me, it was perfect. The only exception being that it was a tad too long, but that can be forgiven. It was just the perfect Bond film. It has all you need. The enenemy, the hero (still, with a bit of edge, but less edgy than in the previous), the helper (M), the sultry Bond girl and a fast paced script with well handled direction. One thing that I've almost forgotten about was the Bond song. I was looking forward to what the Jack White/Alicia Keys collaboration would sound like, and let's just say that I was sitting there, quite sadden and disappointed in the Bond opening titles. So many times now, we have seen such classic songs with such classic artists. Live and Let Die, Goldfinger, GoldenEye. It's not easy to get the Bond song right, but when it works, oh boy, does it work. And it did not in Quantum of Solace. And what does Quantum of Solace even mean? I understand that oil and water played a part of the film, but it still escapes me. However, despite the crappy song, I was pleased to see the names of Paul Haggis (co-writer) and Marc Forster (director) in the opening. They did a wonderful job, as did Craig himself. I won't go on much more, but this was the perfect popcorn action film for me, who is not a huge action afficiendao. And that is saying something!

Pre-emptive reviews are back!!

2008-11-11T22:06:00.005+11:00

As some of you may know, I often will write a few sentence reviews on films that are screening currently that I either have seen, want to see, or want to avoid and hate like the plague. So here it comes again!

AMERICAN TEEN Okay, I've never heard of this. Got no fudging idea what its about, but the title almost puts me off. The synopsis that hoyts.com.au gives us is "A documentary on seniors at a high school in a small Indiana town and their various cliques." Gee, that sounds like every fucking teenage aimed film under the earth. NEXT!

BEVERLY HILLS CHIHUAHUA The catchy little song on the ads hooked me in for about 3 seconds. Interest gone.

BODY OF LIES Fuck yeah! Ridley Scott, Leonardo, Russ. I kinda cream myself here. I have no idea why I haven't seen this yet. Maybe it's because I've been a hermit living in an iso-tank?

BRIDESHEAD REVISITED Maybe the only reason why I would see this would be for Emma Thompson. And thats still a maybe!

BURN AFTER READING Give me time and I will give this justice. Just one more week!

CENTRE STAGE 2 As if.

CHOKE Okay. I may be more excited about this one than Burn After Reading and Body of Lies put together, for many, many reasons. The main being Angelica Huston. She is a goddess and I bow down to her, my queen of all things shiny.

DEATH RACE Am I the only person on the face of the planet who couldn't give a flying fuck about Jason Stratham? The one public sex scene in Crank was about all I could take.

DISASTER MOVIE Scary Movie 2 was about the last funny one of these parody movies. And even that's pushing it. Wanna see real parody? Hire some Mel Brooks films. And Flying High. True genius!

THE DUCHESS Does Sofia Coppolla's Marie Antoinette ring a bell? Not that I've seen this, but perhaps I'd go for the sex scene that it promises. Thats all.

DYING BREED Heard good things about this little Aussie horror film.

EAGLE EYE I think the synopsis says it all: "A young slacker returns home when his overachieving twin brother dies mysteriously. Both he and a single mother find they have been framed as terrorists. Forced to become members of a cell that has plans to carry out a political assassination, they must work together to extricate themselves." Yeah, I think not...

HOUSE BUNNY I've actually heard that Anna Faris isn't too bad in it. But thats about it....

HOW TO LOSE FRIENDS AND ALIENATE PEOPLE There are so many things that should make this look appealing. But alas, I do not wish to get closer. I dunno...

IN BRUGES So far the only thing I've heard about this film is that Colin Farrell is not his usual crap self. Well, after seeing A Home at the End of the World, I don't know if I can go near him ever again. Actually, Miami Vice was far worse!

JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH Remember that time when Brendan Fraser was cool? No? Well, there was a small window. I mean he was George of the Jungle! But now....

MAX PAYNE Nah. And it's now that I realise that I don't want to see the majority of these films. HAHAHAHA

MIRRORS It looks like a nice little shitty thriller. Like Shutter. That was a nice little shitty thriller.

MUMMY: TOMB OF THE DRAGON EMPEROR From what I heard, this should have been a straight to DVD release. And that is probably where I will view it.

MY BEST FRIEND'S GIRL Hmmm....maybe a drunken guilty pleasure film? I mean, it has Alec Baldwin. Alec Baldwin! He has such a close proximity to Tina Fey right now! TINA FEY I TELLS YA!!!!!

NIGHTS IN RODANTHE Now, how in the hell do you say this title? Every time I see it all I can think of is rhododendron. Therefore this film to me is called Nights in Rhododendron. Thats catchy!

ROCKNROLLA Now, I do deserve to be shot for this, but I have yet to experience a Guy Ritchie film. I know, shoot me know. One day soon the cherry will be popped!

SAW 5 Shit that was fast. Once again, I have catching up to do....

SEX DRIVE Well, it's a catchy title for me, but I naturally know that there will not be anywhere near the amount of sex that this film should require. Therefore. BUHLUHHHHH (Rasberry sounds)

STEP BROTHERS Maybe, but Will Ferrell is starting to loose his edge. At least this one isn't another sport themed one. And John C. Reilly is cool!

WALL-E So fudgingly cute! But as discussed with a fellow cinema buff, it has a little agenda. But nothing wrong with that. WALLLLL-EEEEEE! A must see.

WILD CHILD Julia Robert's niece. That's all.

THE WOMEN Another "why would you do this?" I'm a big fan of Annette Bening and pre fucked up nose Meg Ryan (yes, I even liked In the Cut) but no. You don't do this. See the original. Yes. Yes. Yes.

ACADEMIC POSTING: Media Monsters: the shadow

2008-11-10T22:23:00.001+11:00

How is the personal shadow and the collective shadow represented in the television show Dexter - about a fictional serial killer Dexter Morgan – and within the case of real life convicted serial killer Myra Hindley?

There is much public fascination behind serial killers and the sport of their choosing. Crime related serialized television shows and special interest documentaries have been seen to dominate the small screen within the last few years, as seen with the lage amount of programs such NCIS (2003- ), Border Security (2004- ), Bones (2005- ), and the franchises of C.S.I. and Law and Order which populate the airwaves. In early 2008, Dexter (2006- ), a Showtime Network American series premiered on the Australian free to air network Channel Ten. Based on the novel Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay, Dexter focuses around the world of serial killer Dexter Morgan and his rationale for committing his crimes. The idea of Carl Gustav Jung’s shadow appears heavily in this text, not only within the character of Dexter, but through the audience’s projections of their own feelings towards the serial killing character. Within this essay I will deconstruct the ideas of the personal and collective shadows in relation to Dexter, in the purposes of understanding what the shadow means to the audience as active participants engaging in a text. How do audiences deal with seeing the shadow? Do they indulge in it and see their own faults or do they subvert the shadow and cast Dexter away as evil. I will also use the case of Myra Hindley as an example of a woman that the repressed collective shadow of a society chose to classify as pure evil and subhuman, thus choosing to ignore the shadow’s potential within themselves.

The shadow within Dexter Morgan

From an early age Dexter Morgan had a particular fondness for killing. His father, seeing that nothing could stop the insatiable urge of Dexter’s, chose to train him into killing those who deserved to be killed. From the very beginning of Dexter’s life there is a moral ambiguity. What constitutes whether something deserves to live or die? These are questions that only Dexter can answer, and the audience is left to watch and judge. Within the pilot episode of Dexter, the victims of Dexter’s compulsions are shown as bad, evil serial killers (one being a choir director killing young boys, the other being a snuff film star and director.) In comparison, Dexter is a charming, good boyfriend who has a reputable job in which he is an expert (blood splatter analyst.) He seems like a normal guy. However, Dexter is a sociopath. He is incapable of feelings. Michael C. Hall, who portrays Dexter notes that he is a character “that claimed to be without fundamental human traits.”[1] His sociopathic tendencies allow him to commit such acts of murder as “sociopathic behaviour is simply human behaviour minus that certain something – soul, heart, - that separates us not from the animals but from the robots”[2] Despite this sociopath status, Dexter does seem to know what is seen as right and wrong. When describing the acts that he commits “Dexter describes being “half sick with the thrill, the complete wrongness,” when the “dark passenger” inside him takes command.”[3] Here, the personal shadow has been identified.

The shadow is a side of a person’s inner being that can show the darker side of their personality where “all the feelings and capacities that are rejected by the ego [are] exiled into the shadow [and] contribute to the hidden power of the dark side of human nature.”[4] The personal shadow shows all kinds of potentials and is “part of the unconscious that is complementary to the ego and represents those characteristics that the conscious personality does not wish to acknowledge and therefore neglects, forgets, and buries”[5] Dexter’s urges could be seen as the urges that exist within the shadow. One could almost argue that Dexter’s indulgences in his urges are a healthy form of expression. But at the same time, the shadow is seen as the unconscious feelings, and expressing them could be just as bad as not acknowledging them. Once again, another question comes to the surface of the viewer. Is it better to act on what the id and the shadow feel, or to repress them? The answer is neither. The shadow must be understood, but not necessarily exercised. If not, the shadow becomes repressed and then psychological damage can be caused and a lack of understanding can occur when considering whether people such as Dexter Morgan and Myra Hindley are pure evil. Part of the confrontational thematic aspect behind Dexter is that it allows people to see Dexter’s personal shadow and perhaps subconsciously their own. Sara Colleton, executive producer of Dexter subtly mentions that “deep down, there’s an id that, if left unchecked, could lead people to behave in a way that’s very similar to Dexter.”[6]

The shadow that Dexter exposes in its audience

Within Dexter’s world, he sees a lot of heinous crimes. Working within the Miami Police Department sees “normal life [as] portrayed as so demented that a serial killer’s personality is not very much different from anyone else’s.”[7] It is perhaps only in this murder soaked world that we can see Dexter as normal. But Dexter is not the traditional hero. In fact, Dexter is not really a hero at all, but an antihero and viewers like to see an antihero. Weeds (2005- ) is another Showtime series where the protagonist has a questionable moral rationale as she (Nancy) is a pot-dealing suburban mother. Weeds’ creator Jenji Kohan notes in Joshua Alston’s Newsweek article:

Heroes show us how we’d like to be…antiheroes show us how we actually are. There’s so much social pressure on people to portray this perfect image, and most people are failing because the standards are so high. It’s sort of a relief to see someone who isn’t living up to that standard but is doing their best and having moments of triumph. It’s very relatable.[8]

However, anti heroes usually have a redeeming feature. Syracuse University’s Robert Thompson sees that “there is a glint of hope that Dexter could redeem himself, a key component of a successful antihero.”[9] It is this redeeming aspect that keeps Dexter relatable and not subhuman. Part of Dexter’s redeemable features is that from the outside Dexter Morgan appears to be normal. However, it is the inside, secret and private world of Dexter Morgan that is different. But if a seemingly normal man can commit such atrocities, then perhaps every other normal looking person is capable of such acts. It is the ordinary, normal day life that Dexter tries to expose as just as abnormal. In one episode Dexter says, “Want a real glimpse of human nature? Stand in the way of someone’s mocha latte.”[10] It is the collective shadow that the creators of Dexter are trying to highlight. The potential of every persons shadow can be released as “the beast in us is very much alive-just caged most of the time.”[11]

Despite this shadow that is somewhat uncontrollable, Dexter is very much in control of everything that he does. He manages to resist the urge to kill his girlfriend’s ex-boyfriend as he “vile but not a murderer”[12] Sara Colleton mentions the irony of Dexter’s character by saying that “he does live his life by a very strict code that he carefully adheres to, and viewers can respect that.” While Dexter is proving that serial killers can be likable and just as normal as your next-door neighbour, the case of convicted child killer Myra Hindley proved a little different in the public sphere.

The Shadow within the case of Myra Hindley

Myra Hindley became one of the most infamous names in female serial killers. However, it was her gender, rather than her actual crimes, while still disturbing and horrifying, that led to her conviction by the public as pure evil. It was her femininity that Helen Birch mentions that “unleashed from its traditional bonds of goodness, tenderness, nurturance [and] strikes at the heart of our fears about unruly women, about criminality, and about the way gender is constructed.”[13] However, there is also a tendency for a society to brand something that they do not wish to understand or accept (the shadow) as subhuman, a monster and pure evil. Connie Zweig and Jeremiah Abrams note,

While most individuals and groups live out the socially acceptable side of life, others seem to live out primarily the socially disowned parts. When they become the object of negative group projections, the collective shadow takes the form of scapegoating, racism, or enemy making.[14]

It is the idea of a woman, who is supposed to be the protecting maternal figure and not the killer that stirred up the collective shadow within society. People chose not to admit that perhaps each person may have a darker side, and that perhaps a normal person is capable of committing these kinds of crimes. This repression of the shadow led to Myra Hindley being branded evil. And despite the fact that she was an accomplice to her boyfriend’s desires, she still received more attention than he did, and this relates to gender and the shadow.

Dexter Morgan and Myra Hindley are closely related, despite one being real, and one being a creation of fiction. It is the shadow that they have in common and the reaction that their actions cause within the audiences that digest their stories. Questions of morality are raised in the case of Dexter. Is Dexter a good man doing bad things or a bad man doing good things? While there can be no denying of the crimes that these two figures have undertaken, it is the reactions of the audiences that we can learn from in an attempt to understand what the shadow is, and how it affects not only ourselves, but the people around us. While we can be distanced from Myra Hindley and the crimes she committed, we are also related to her in that we are reminded of our own potential for ‘evil.’[15] The shadow cannot be ignored.

Bibliography

Alston, Joshua. "Sympathy for the Devil; Homicidal? Yes. Charming? Absolutely. Meet Showtime's Dexter, TV's latest, and perhaps most twisted, antihero." Newsweek (Oct 30, 2006): 61.

Birch, Helen. ‘Myra Hindley and the Iconography of Evil.’ In Moving Targets: Women, Murder and Representation, edited by Helen Birch, 32-61. London: Virago Press, 1993.

Tyree, J.M. "Spatter pattern." Film Quarterly 62.1 (Fall 2008): 82-5.

Zweig, Connie, and Jeremiah Abrams. Meeting the Shadow: The Hidden Power of the Dark Side of Human Nature. New York: Putnam Publishing Group, 1991.

[1] Joshua Alston, "Sympathy for the Devil; Homicidal? Yes. Charming? Absolutely. Meet Showtime's Dexter, TV's latest, and perhaps most twisted, antihero," Newsweek (Oct 30, 2006): 61.

[2] J.M. Tyree, “Spatter pattern,” Film Quarterly 62.1 (Fall 2008): 85.

[3] Ibid.

[4] Connie Zweig and Jeremiah Abrams, Meeting the Shadow: The Hidden Power of the Dark Side of Hunan Nature (New York: Putnam Publishing Group, 1991), 17.

[5] Ibid, 18.

[6] Alston, 61.

[7] Tyree, 83.

[8] Alston, 61.

[9] Ibid, 61.

[10] Tyree, 85.

[11] Zweig and Abrams, 21.

[12] Tyree, 82.

[13] Helen Birch, “Myra Hindley and the Iconography of Evil” in Moving Targets: Women, Murder and Representation, ed. by Helen Birch (London: Virago Press, 1993), 32.

[14] Zweig and Abrams, 20.

[15] Birch, 53.

Stupid NBC

2008-11-10T21:59:00.003+11:00

Yeah, NBC just took off all the Tina Fey-Sarah Palin clips. Why would you do that?!?!??!?!?!?!?!!?

Well, i'm sure you can do a youtube search for them. Classic gold!

John McCain and Sarah Palin on QVC (SNL)

2008-11-06T15:37:00.002+11:00

SNL: Palin Visits

2008-10-21T23:25:00.001+11:00

ACADEMIC POSTING: Soap Opera versus Action Series: The active male meets the passive female

2008-10-21T22:47:00.010+11:00

Within the world of television, certain genres of shows are created that are seen to appeal to a particular gender and therefore geared towards that gender. The daytime or primetime soap opera or serial are made for a female audience. The action series are made for a male audience. But of course, this does not mean that the desired audiences are the only ones who consume the texts. To say that only women watch soap operas and only men watch action shows would be beyond a generalization, but also ignoring an audience that is representative of not only one gender (as men constitute one third of the soap opera audience[1]), but of age, race, class and sexuality. While there are some quite obvious differences in the styles of soap operas and action series, there are also a huge number of similarities. Within the action series, these similarities are subtly coded to some, and obviously coded to others, but regardless, there are coded elements of melodrama that occur within the text. The purpose of this essay is to identify the melodramatic elements that occur within both soap opera and the action series by using examples of the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE, formerly WWF) wrestling and primetime series such as 24 (2001-), Dynasty and Desperate Housewives (2004-) in order to establish the differences and similarities of the two types of shows. (1981-89)

What is melodrama?

Over the last thirty years, the term melodrama has evolved into a genre that was quite different from its original meaning. Melodrama and its conventions had been seen to be typified by the idea of ‘the woman’s film’ where a lot of crying occurs under very hyperbolic and melancholic music. Ben Singer notes that the term ‘melodrama’ in its current day stance refers to “a set of subgenres that remain close to the heart and hearth and emphasize a register of heightened emotionalism and sentimentality.”[2] But what about the meaning of melodrama in the past? John Mercer and Martin Shingler notice melodramas earlier origins in film (circa 1910 to 1970) were related to “thrillers with face paced narratives, episodic story-lines featuring violence, suspense and death-defying stunts. Dastardly villains, heroines in peril and daring adventurous heroes.”[3] However, over time these elements became less known to the genre of the melodrama. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, feminist film scholars identified melodrama in relation to ‘the woman’s film’. However, it is Steve Neale’s reconstruction of the term in the 1990s which identified the key components of melodrama:

(i) conflict of good and evil (ii) eventual triumph of good over evil (iii) hero, heroine and villain as principal types (iv) demonstrative and hyperbolic aesthetic (v) episodic, formulaic and action-packed plots with fate, coincidence and chance playing a major role (vi) ‘situations’ forming moments of dramatic revelation or display.[4]

It is these components that were central to the melodrama and were present within both the thrillers and gangster films and ‘the woman’s film’ and we can see these components existing in such action series as 24 as well as in primetime soap operas like Desperate Housewives.

As well as seeing the evolution of the melodrama genre, it is also important to note the importance that the audience plays within making or recreating a text (or in this case, a genre). Across time, audiences have played a part in making certain genres popular, as ultimately, audiences are the ones who the texts are made for, and they are the ones who consume the texts, therefore they must enjoy the text for it to continue being produced. Mercer and Shingler talk about the important role that an audience has in determining the success of a genre where “the development of a specific genre or ‘film cycle’ requires a consistently positive audience response to its style and content, its associated stars, directors, plots, props and settings.”[5] The enjoyment within melodrama not only sees the audiences having excessive visceral responses (whether it be crying in a drama or being thrilled in a suspense), but also allows for the spectator become agitated from seeing extreme moral injustices and “being profoundly disturbed or outraged when [seeing] vicious power victimizing the weak, usually involving some kind of bodily violence.”[6] These reactions help the audience get caught up in the storm of what is known as the masculine melodrama.

Masculine Melodrama

Henry Jenkins talks about the masculine melodrama of the WWE in relation to melodramatic coding. However, it is important to note the presumed elements of the action series before we identify the melodrama within the text that changes the traditional idea of an action series. The most structurally noticeable part of an action series is that most of the story is contained to one episode. The Law and Order franchises are good examples of a contained episode where the narrative story is resolved at the end with one big climatic scene, thus closure is achieve. However, with my two case studies, closure is not always reached at the end of each episode, especially within 24, where each episode usually ends on a cliffhanger. It is these elements of an open ending, multiple characters and disjointed time sequences that are usually attributed to a female based soap opera. 24 and WWE are not simply the traditional action series, but comment on much more than this. 24 sees Federal Agent Jack Bauer fighting against terrorism, trying to save the world, all within the time period of one day. There are 24 episodes per season and each episode is seen to be a consecutive real life hour in the one day. While the character of Jack Bauer is a man’s man fighting the global scum threatening to erase the democracy of the United States, he is also a very troubled man. In the first season, while killing all of the necessary people to save the world, Jack’s wife and daughter are kidnapped, and his wife is then killed towards the end of the first season. Jack is seen holding his wife Teri while crying. While he is the typical action hero that we see in such 1980s action series as Miami Vice, his breaking down over his wife’s death is an uncharacteristic moment within the idea of a typical action series. Thus the new style of action series is born where the traditional heroes have internalized anguish that inhibits them from being completely immune to any type of pain whether it be physical or emotional.

Within the WWE world, the spectacle element of an action series is played upon very strongly. Jenkins interestingly makes note of the traditional ideas of sport versus melodrama, where sport is linked to the male affect to “physical prowess, competition and mastery” and melodrama is linked to female affect to “domesticity, sentimentality, and vulnerability”.[7] Jenkins also makes note of sports soliciting aggressive and noisy externalized emotion through shouting, cheering and booing, compared to the passive and quiet internalized emotions of crying that is featured within melodrama.[8] But despite these rather noticeable differences, there is a lot of melodrama featured within WWE wrestling.

Jenkins notes the ideas of WWE wrestling as the “ageless struggle between the “perfect bastard” and the suffering hero.”[9] These ideas relate back to Steve Neale’s idea of good versus evil within melodrama where there is a hero and a villain, as is the case within WWE. However, one difference between melodramatic soap opera and melodramatic wrestling is that there is much more of a spectacle within the narrative as the “externaliz[ing] emotion map[s] the combatants’ bodies and transform[s] their physical competition into a search for moral order.”[10]

The narrative, similar to 24, is one of the many melodramatic elements that turn “televised wrestling into a form of serial fiction for men.”[11] The open ended narrative featured within WWE wrestling allows for stories to continue over many months, allowing for the fights and disputes to follow through to big matches where the viewer is ultimately rewarded for following the conflicts and melodramatic tension between certain players, therefore resolving the narrative and providing closure to the consumers, (and subscribers; this being a central reason for marketing and money making schemes). One reason that Jenkins sees for the success of the WWE wrestling is that it rebels against the traditional ideas of the male, setting up an “alternative means of releasing and managing masculine emotion while preserving the myth of the stoic male”, allowing men to engage in serialized melodrama while at the same time engaging in a sporting spectacle.[12]

The Melodrama in the Soap Opera

The melodrama seen within soap operas are much less coded than in action series and rely on the knowledge that the show is a soap opera to escape true ridicule, as in the world of the soaps, nothing is ever close to the truth. Jenkins notes that “melodrama explores the concerns of the private sphere, sports those of the public. Melodrama announces its fictional status, while sports claims for itself the status of reality.”[13] These ideas all relate back to ideas of passivity of the female and the activeness of the male. Some shows such as Desperate Housewives highlight the vulnerability of suburban housewives and mothers who seem to be lost in their own desperation, and also adhere to the ideas of melodrama relating to domesticity. But then there are soaps such as Dynasty and even The Bold and the Beautiful (1987-) where women hold high corporate positions and are just as concerned about their careers as they are about their lovers.

Even soaps hold high gender distinctions as usually the women are thin and beautiful, and the men are strong, tall and muscular. But despite this, the men also break down and cry and become as vulnerable and passive as the women do when confronted with an emotional situation. The elements of the soap opera that relate to the passive female must be noticed. The melodramatic soap opera is played out in the private sphere, another difference from the WWE wrestling, where everything is out in the open. The idea of the incessant crying thus relates back to the passive female, internalizing emotions. Along with these stylistic elements, the narrative conventions see soaps as episodic, featuring many characters, having an open ended narrative that continues gradually throughout the show where closure is not achieve at the end of an episode, and cuts back and forth between these characters stories, as opposed to the so called few characters and single plot lines that the action series traditionally adheres to.

It is the multi strand narratives of the action shows like 24 and the WWE wrestling shows that see a similarity in the style of soap operas and action series. While some television shows still adhere to the traditional male-action series and female-soap opera series, there are both action series and soap operas that feature multi-narrative strands with open ended narratives, many characters and disrupted time sequences. The two forms of television shows blend into one another, as 24 and the WWE wrestling illustrate. Despite this, melodrama does not seem to take anything from their masculinity. Similar to the Rambo’s and Terminator characters within the Reaganite 1980s, the characters of WWE “have made themselves so spectacular that they…verge on comic representations of themselves”[14] while at the same time still holding potency as strong, muscular heroes that have internalized anguish which will sometimes result in a breakdown, whether it be over a lost match (as in WWE), or the death of another character (as in 24). What we understand of melodrama is that it can take many forms and it manages to permeate through television shows in some form or another, whether it is in a gangster film, in a televised wrestling match or in a soap opera featuring predominately women.

Bibliography

Bernstein, Alina. ‘Representation, Identity and the Media.’ In The Media Book, edited by Chris Boyd, Oliver Boyd-Barrett and Hilde Van Den Bulck, 259-299. London: Arnold, 2002.

Jefford, Susan. ‘Terminal Masculinity: Men in the Early 90s.’ In Hard Bodies: Hollywood, Masculinity in The Reagan Era. Rutgers, N.J.: Rutgers University Press, 1994. 193-206.

Jenkins, Henry. ‘Never trust a Snake: WWF Wrestling as Masculine Melodrama.’ In Sports, Media and the Politics of Identity, edited by Aaron Baker and Todd Boyde, 48-78. Bloomington, Indianapolis: Indiana University Press, 1997.

Mercer, John and Martin Shingler. Melodrama: Genre, Style, Sensibility. London and New York: Wallflower Press, 2004.

Singer, Ben. Melodrama and Modernity: Early Sensational Cinema and Its Contexts. New York: Columbia University Press, 2001.

[1] Alina Bernstein, ‘Representation, Identity and the Media’ in The Media Book, ed. by Chris Boyd, Oliver Boyd-Barrett and Hilde Van Den Bulck (London: Arnold, 2002), 272.

[2] Ben Singer, Melodrama and Modernity: Early Sensational Cinema and Its Contexts. (New York: Columbia University Press, 2001), 37.

[3] John Mercer and Martin Shingler, Melodrama: Genre, Style, Sensibility. (London and New York: Wallflower Press, 2004), 6.

[4] Mercer and Shingler, 30.

[5] Mercer and Shingler, 5.

[6] Singer, 40.

[7] Henry Jenkins, ‘Never Trust a Snake: WWF Wrestling as Masculine Melodrama’ in Sports, Media and the Politics of Identity, ed. by Aaron Baker and Todd Boyde (Bloomington, Indianapolis: Indiana University Press, 1997), 53.

[8] Ibid.

[9] Jenkins, 48.

[10] Ibid.

[11] Jenkins, 50.

[12] Ibid.

[13] Jenkins, 53.

[14] Jeffords, 176.

The Debate

2008-10-07T12:10:00.001+11:00

Here it comes again

2008-09-30T22:46:00.003+10:00

Hey all!

No new posts in a while. Perhaps it's writer's block. Or laziness. Or stressful essays at uni, but more will come when the time is right.

But until then. Here's some more Tina Fey as Sarah Palin with Amy Poehler as Katie Couric.

Sarah Palin & Hillary Clinton on SNL

2008-09-16T12:08:00.005+10:00

Here in this video we see Tina Fey return to Saturday Night Live as Sarah Palin, and what a match! Also notice Amy Poehler as Hillary Clinton (I don't know how you could not). Just purely hysterical. I attempted to write a blog about Sarah Palin a little while ago, and perhaps I still will, but right now, the small window of timely commentary has passed, and I'm waiting for something new to happen so I can write something that seems fresh and not repeated.

But until then enjoy the beautiful comedic genius of SNL

White Lady Funerals

2008-08-29T13:30:00.000+10:00

The following blog must be partially taken as a joke. It is not written to purposefully offend "White Lady Funerals" and any claims of racial bias or bad taste are purely of the opinion of the blogger.

Some of you bloggers out there may have seen a particular type of funeral ads by the "White Lady Funeral" company that has been circulating the television sphere. Now, perhaps it's because I've been watching a lot of Six Feet Under lately (which is worthy of a blog in itself) but I took particular notice to this one funeral company that was offering it's services.

Their mission statement (as seen on their website, click here to see more) is as follows: "Our aim is to provide excellent funeral service to families of every race and religion. We are a dedicated team of women who offer the assurance of absolute support and professional attention with genuine care. We are committed to the training of our staff in all areas of funeral service with the vision of providing the best service available in this honourable profession. Because our families are our highest priority, our mission is to provide this service with honesty, care and respect."

From their advertisements on television, the services offered are that of white ladies being grief counselors, funeral directors and pallbearer's while wearing all white and disgustingly ugly hats. Now the first thing that comes to my mind when I see this ad is that it is offensive. I understand it is called "White Lady Funerals" because they are women dressed in white. But let's get a little beneath the surface here. While it may have been no intention to be racially prejudicial, (as they claim in their mission statement, they serve "every race and religion") the idea of a black family sending out invitations for a family member's funeral to be held a "White Lady Funerals" seems beyond comical and quite unlikely.

It's interesting when you include colour representation into the mix. It is accepted that most people generally wear black to a funeral. These "White Lady Funeral" staff members are in all white. The colour black usually symbolises darkness, death, unhappiness, evil. White is the colour of purity, peace, innocence and good. So, the idea of "White Lady Funerals" inadvertently says that the colour of their uniform symbolically combats against the evil of death (black) and will bring peace to the grieving process.

The idea of women wearing white may seem innocent enough, as does the point of the business in providing a service that is done best by women (as seen in their view), but how you would feel if you weren't either white nor a woman. It's the name that is the problem here. It goes back to such archaic and racist ideas, mostly segregation. The name implies that it is ONLY white women who can provide this service, and perhaps the only gender and race it will provide for. I'm sure that the services of the "White Lady Funerals" are quite sufficient, but I think they may need to seriously rethink their name if they want to represent and serve a wider base and come into the 21st century, where we have apparently come so far when it comes to civil rights.

So while it may seem like I'm calling "White Lady Funerals" white supremacists, think about the reaction it creates in you, or people you know. Are you offended? Have you been to a "White Lady Funeral"? Is this a fair reaction or an unfair and exaggerated one?

Would the real Jackie O please stand up

2008-08-21T21:24:00.006+10:00

Now, I know this may sound condescending to some, but television and radio personality Jackie O (Of the Kyle and Jackie radio program, and host of several horrible shows including Big Brother) did not originate the name "Jackie O".

It is startling, but I do wonder how many people (mainly of the internet savvy generation) are aware of the original Jackie O. That is Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. See the picture to your left. Thats here. Widow of one of the most popular American Presidents ever John F. Kennedy. Was with him as he was assassinated. Then 5 years later married billionaire Greek shipping tycoon Aristotle Onassis.

The Jackie O of Australia (born Jacqueline Ellen Last, first married name O'Neill, second married name Henderson) chose to adopt the name that is synonymous with class, grace and very chic fashion for what ever reasons, but the idea stuck. When young whipper snappers are bobbing along to their groovy tunes at the local happening and the name Jackie O pops up, surely the first picture that will pop into their young, wacky, zany heads will be of the host of Australian Princess. And in my humble opinion, that is very sad. Long may the real Jackie O rest in peace.

R.I.P. the REAL Jackie O (Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis)
1929-1994

And naturally, of course, I am interested to know how many of you out there had heard of the original Jackie O, or did you think that she was the originator? (like the terminator!)

I want to be an artist...

2008-08-18T21:16:00.004+10:00

Well, the truth is that I'm settling down into the idea of being a writer. That seems to be my current calling. Mind you, it's quite hard trying to work out what you want to do for a living. Luckily I have a bit more time to make up my mind, and so until then, I will ponder meaningless ideas, such as....

I want to be a bohemian artist, who is surrounded by nymphs and gypsies. The kind of people who just seem to move around in packs, with a lot of wine, cheese, art, canvasses, smoke, incense, and Spanish music playing in the background. All the while producing art, whether it be on a canvass or a piece of writing, that has depth, beauty, a lot of secret coding, and lots of meaning and is extremely important and influential and will be remembered for all time. Just a few prerequisites.

Perhaps I need to find some website that will inform me on how to be an bohemian artist. Not that I necessarily want to be a painter, or anything like that. It would be cool, but unrealistic. But I would love to be surrounded by other bohemian artists.

This being said, I see the following things as necessary to become apart of a bohemian revolution, and will possibly take them into consideration in my efforts to become one:

Move to Paris
Become friends with gypsies, nymphs, artists
Take lots of weird drugs
Drink a lot of absinthe
Have a lot of 'high' sexual experiences
Spend a lot of time in art supply shops and studio lofts
Change my name to something much more stylish and artsy
Find a cause to fight for, none of this war and climate change bullshit. Let's fight for something a little more original and less pussy-ish. Like the rights for smokers! (Well, something along those lines)
Let the art flow....

Is anything sacred?

2008-08-11T19:13:00.006+10:00

(full story here)

Poor Bill. At least that's what they're calling him. The Google car caught him at his most vulnerable. Bill attended the funeral of his friend, got pissed and passed out in the gutter. And Google cam caught the results.

Privacy? It's almost like CCTV, broadcast on the internet. I know of people who are in these Google images, including my own grandmother. (For anyone who doesn't know, Google went around taking 360 degree angle photographs of every street and then uploaded these photos to Google maps. I bet you want to check out your street now.)

Everything is out there now. I bet you'll catch a lot of cars in places where they aren't supposed to be...and possibly more scandalous things. What rights to we have as citizens now in this new technological age? I start to wonder.... It's a mad, mad, mad world!

Provocative Prize

2008-08-09T23:37:00.011+10:00

What you see to your left is an entry/nominee by Sydney photographer Dean Sewell for this year's Blake prize, the prestigious award for religious art.

I have to say that I fell in love with this picture as soon as I saw it. It just so beautifully captures and articulates the modern day savior that the media turned party boy Corey into. I say savior in only a Christ-like-imagery type of way, leaving all moral and ethical judgments aside. This is not about whether Corey is Christ or the devil.

For those who don't know about Corey...well, there's not much to say. A 15-year-old Victorian threw a big party, got on the news, and the media decided to make a huge deal out of it that only ended up providing too much time and money for one hardly interesting, party throwing teen. It is interesting to wonder why Corey did become such a sensation. Were all of the interviews just another type of freak show in which we (the audience) look at society's outcasts to generally feel better about ourselves?

The picture speaks to the current zeitgeist of celebrity, showing how the media, and I guess how society too, ends up inadvertently holding a celebrity to such a Christ like position by simply looking too long. Not that I am saying that every person saw Corey as a modern day Jesus Christ (in fact, quite the opposite), but the picture encapsulates how the "15 minutes of fame" can so vehemently tune in a public's gaze.

I just love it. But perhaps you disagree. Let me know what you think...

Lost in Translation

2008-08-08T12:46:00.006+10:00

*Picked up from an article written for USA Today (read more here)

Movies that have an interesting foreign title (if not hilarious)

THE DARK KNIGHT

The Knight of the Night (Mexico)

GET SMART

Max the Menace (France)
Agent Smart: Casino Totale (Italy)
Is the Spy Capable or Not? (Taiwan)
Confused Spy (China)
Super Agent 86 (Mexico)

KNOCKED UP

Slightly Pregnant (Roman Catholic Peru)
One Night, Big Belly (China)

Miley and Billy Ray, sitting in a tree...

2008-08-05T16:38:00.011+10:00

I shall make a clear disclaimer before I proceed. I have not really watched any of the television shows that I may mention, and have only seen Miley Cyrus in limited interviews and such. I do not fall into the demographic of what her fan base is. What I shall say may be offensive to some, but is purely opinion, not fact.

The photos surrounding this blog show the bucktoothed teenage sensation Miley Cyrus. Don't know her? Perhaps the name Billy Ray Cyrus rings a bell. If not, then Acky-Breaky-Heart and the mullet of the 90s should ring some bells (look left). Well, as everyone seems to know, Billy Ray has a bucktoothed singing teenage superstar of a daughter, star of the Disney hit show Hannah Montana.

Now there has been much controversy over several things with Miley, but most famously has been the photo shoot with legendary photographer Annie Leibovitz. What I found so interesting was that there was such a hubbub about a 15-year-old with a sheet wrapped around what seems to be her tiny bony frame, and yet hardly any mention of what I would call a controversial photo. Of course I understand where the cries of concern come from regarding the "topless-sheet" photograph, but enough has been said about that. Let's check out the one with her father (look below). Now, how many girls would you see posing in their father's groin. EWWWWW!!!!!!!!!

Not I'm not suggesting anything incestuous (a la 60 minutes' father daughter couple from Adelaide style) but I see this as a highly sexualized photograph. Perhaps I am looking too far, but I find that if such a cry is made over the first picture, then why ignore the sexualized second picture. It's also interesting that the Billy Ray/Miley picture has not been as criticized. For some reason the media went with the scoop that they went with. Adding to the controversy and pandemonium was the Cyrus family claiming to be unaware that they were conscious during the photo shoot. They were not happy with the results. This prompted several questions such as "Well, why did you let the photo be taken?"

Regardless, I find neither offensive. But plenty did, and especially Disney. Can't be overtly sexual at Disney, which many applaud as affirmative action in regards to positive female role models. But what was the point of these photographs, I wonder. Was it Leibovitz's intention to be overtly sexual (at least with the first picture, the second is just a dirty mystery to me) or to show something else, perhaps the opposite; innocence, or a conundrum or paradox of both? I do not know, and by suggesting what is sexual or non sexual really just gets into the philosophical debate over what art is and the whole "art is in the eye of the beholder" and "it's all relative" arguments.

However, let's just closely look at the Billy Ray/Miley photo, and ask most daughters and most fathers if they would be keen to reenact this photo. I can imagine the answer.

NOW SHOWING

2008-07-26T10:56:00.001+10:00

These two seem to be about the only two that I haven't done a pre-review on. So this will be a small one.

THE DARK KNIGHT
One small paragraph will not suffice. I shall post a bigger blog. I've been a little hesitant to do so, but by now, most people have seen it. I want to see it again. Perhaps at the el cheapo $5 cinema in local Croydon...yes....then I will blog about it.

THE X FILES: I WANT TO BELIEVE
I want to believe that this would be worth the presumable $9.50 i would spend on a cheap Tuesday to go and see this. I didn't really watch the X Files when it came out. I've seen an episode or two since, and its looks at least intriguing. Didn't see the first X Files movie, so I don't know if I'm in a position to judge (like that would stop me). Nevertheless, I'm hoping to see this some cheap Tuesday.

Thank you jesus

2008-07-25T15:22:00.002+10:00

Every now and then I am reminded of some funny and shameless things that I have seen. This is from a little show called "America's Next Top Model" Enough said.

Just for fun

2008-07-20T13:48:00.003+10:00

I know it's about a year old, but I think its sheer brilliance! Just take note of the original question, and keep it in mind when the answer is being given...

WEEDS

2008-07-18T13:17:00.004+10:00

It seems there is an abundance of dysfunction within television series and serials these days. Since the days of Married with Children, The Simpsons and Malcolm in the Middle television has been filled with problematic households. Following in the recent tradition of Desperate Housewives, Weeds is a suburban tale of sex, death, the p.t.a., adultery, and pot.

Mary Louise Parker stars as Nancy Botwin, a recently widowed suburban pot dealer, making ends meet in a morally questionable profession. The show's story initially follows the grief that the Botwin family is dealing with, but as this progresses, so does Nancy's dealings along with the help of city councilman Doug Wilson (Kevin Nealon), brother-in-law Andy (Justin Kirk) and suppliers Conrad (Romany Malco) and Heylia (Tonye Patano).

At the heart of Weeds are its relationships within the central characters. Nancy's neighbour and closet thing to a female friend is Celia Hodes, played to perfection by Elizabeth Perkins. Celia deals with her own battles that include infidelity, illness, her eldest daughter's sexuality, and her youngest daughter's weight problems. It is within the character of Celia that we truly begin to question who is more morally sound: Celia or the pot dealing mum Nancy.

Weeds is an addictive and satirical take on the modern day American dream, and what it takes to sustain it. The brilliance of the title of 'Weeds' not only relates to the central conceit of the pot dealing Nancy, but to what is under the surface of all suburbia, the weeds that grow underneath the rose garden, and within time start to appear. Part of the brilliance of Weeds is that as a viewer, even an international viewer (aka us in Oz) can relate to the problems that the characters face, despite the usually suburban decadence of Agrestic (in true American-Desperate Housewives affluent style. It's shows like Roseanne, Malcolm in the Middle and Married with Children were the families do not live in mansions, but modest homes, which is a conceit that seems innovative and rare.)

Weeds deals with not only Nancy's financial problems, but also with the problems she suffers as being a single parent. Her two children Silas and Shane are changing as a result of not only adolescence, but also of knowledge of their own mother's secret dealings.

It is shows like Weeds that makes up appreciate how normal and healthy our lives usually are, but in this case especially, you can use Weeds as a template for your own suburb and wonder what is beneath the surface of your own neighbourhood. Like the age old question that is explicitly addressed in Desperate Housewives: "How much do we really know about our neighbours?"

This review is mainly based on the plot lines of season one. While season two is quite similar to season one in regards to style and plot, the show progresses to an interesting place and is currently screening it's fourth season in the US.

Currently playing....

2008-07-13T23:11:00.002+10:00

MEET DAVE (released 17/6)
I feel ashamed to admit that I actually laugh in some Eddie Murphy films. He doesn't seem to be the popular pop culture figure. But I laughed in Nutty Professors. But I didn't see Norbit and didn't love the Doctor Dolittle films. Boring! However, I shamefully admit that I laughed in the trailer for this film. So, maybe my kind of sense of humour would be easily amused by this film. I am tempted to find out.

MAMMA MIA (released 10/7)
I freely admit to being in the group of young primary school children that became excited with the release of ABBA GOLD (circa 1999). That and we were all fans of Muriel's Wedding. Yes, 10 year olds have loved that film. However, for Mamma Mia, I am more skeptical. The idea and the potential is good. But to me, it seems likely that it won't meet up. But you never know. Despite hearing the soundtrack and loving Meryl Streep to death, I can't see another version of ABBA Gold coming. The look of the film is very white and bad clothes everywhere. Not that I really care that much, but aesthetics are important to the eye. Well, I'll give it a fair chance and an open mind and let you know what I think.

LOVE GURU (released 10/7)
I think every person who loved the Austin Powers trilogy has accepted that anything Mike Myers does afterwards will most likely not hit the mark of the high caliber that the Powers films so happen to exude. However, it could work. Maybe. Maybe I'll find out. Maybe not.

HANCOCK (released 3/7)
Now, I turned the opportunity to see this the other night. I admit it probably would have been entertaining enough. But I have had my Will Smith quota filled for the decade. He is just annoying to me. So over what a hero this guy is. Even when he plays characters down on their luck he ends up getting nominated for an Oscar. Can this guy do no wrong? He has the happy married life as well. What else could go wrong? Nothing. He has the perfect life. And that pisses me off. And I'm tired of his films. However, Men in Black was the peak and the exception for me. That was pure gold. Men in Black 2, not so much. But that first one. Wowza. But despite the good looks of Charlize Theron and the comedy of Jason Bateman being an addition to what is know as the "Will Smith style action film", I still refuse to pay to see this movie.

INCREDIBLE HULK (released 12/6)
Didn't see the first one. People said it was shit. People also say all kinds of crazy BS. However, the general buzz is that this Hulk is much better than its predecessor, which seems to be constantly brought up again and again. So while I didn't see the first one, I will probably not see the new one either. No particular reason. Just not a big fan of the genre that so dominates this time of year. Another reason...Ed Norton (aka new hulk) refused to do any publicity for the film as of creative differences (aka he didn't like the piece of shit). Food for thought...

SPEED RACER (released 12/6)
I keep thinking Cars. Which is probably bad, because isn't it supposed to be real people. I don't even know who is in this. I know Christina Ricci (most famous from The Addams Family movies a decade ago) is in it. And perhaps that guy from Disturbia, Shia LaBeouf. Which I think is the actual spelling. Weird name. I dunno. Maybe....

YOU DON'T MESS WITH THE ZOHAN (released 19/6)
Now, I made a whole blog rant on Adam Sandler movies. So this film belongs to the ambivalent era, where I'm not really sure if I want to see the film or not. I think I'll throw this film into the bag of maybe I'll hire it, but will probably see it on cable for free.

This week's hero....

2008-07-12T18:29:00.005+10:00

...is my beloved Judy Davis. Now, don't make me explain my love for her. It's a strange and wonderful thing, this love for the pasty coloured actress, but nevertheless...

This acclaimed Australian actress recently won a libel suit against the Sydney Daily Telegraph, owned by media mogul Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. It was reported back in 2006 that Davis objected to some plan for lights at a football oval. The minute details aren't too important. What matters is that the newspaper then went on to defame the actress by implying that she was selfish and a hater of children (or at least heartless towards the children.)

So what did Judy do? She sued. And won. I know it may seem like nothing, and she is definately not the first person to sue a newspaper and win, however, it is a nice reminder to know that if you are done wrong by what is supposed to be a fair and accurate institution then you can get some compensation, and have your name reverted back to its original state (well, let's hope so.) While Davis may be a king pin in the acting arena, it is still fantastic to see the little guy stand up to the big conglomerate and win. Here's to the underdog!

Movie updates 11/07

2008-07-09T19:22:00.000+10:00

For some unknown reason I have been to the movies a fair bit lately. So here are some thoughts:

THE HAPPENING
This movie has stayed in my mind for many weeks after I first saw it. The idea of karma being that strong is just amusing. The humans ruin the earth, and so the earth gets back by making everyone kill themselves after being caught in the wind. Amusing, and perhaps I missed the point of the movie, but nevertheless, that thought entertains me through the night. One word of caution though. If you are suicidal, then this may not be the film for you. It pretty much shows many many ways that people can kill themselves. Hmmm...

GET SMART
Now, this is an example of a reinvention similar to Starsky and Hutch, where it works, but you know that the original is so great, that you have to question the filmmakers for even dipping into the cookie jar. Now, Steve Carrell and yes, even Anne Hathaway did not bug the shit out of me like how I thought they were going to. So thats a plus. But it was the predictable light action film that I thought it would be. Bit of a fluff piece. But there's nothing wrong with fluff pieces. So if you want some light entertainment, Get Smart won't disappoint. If you're looking for something with a little more substance, then I suggest that you "get smart". (hahaha...that was purely lame and sheerly witty!)

SHUTTER
Well, can't say this adds anything new to the genre of Japanese horror films being Hollywood-ifed. The whole Grudge, Ring thing has been done, and thensome. But at least you know what to expect. Shutter worked, but wasn't the scariest or smartest film I've ever seen. I could pretty much see it as a paraody as I was watching it. That's what the Scary Movie franchise has done. Thanks boys!

CHRONICLES OF NARNIA
Perhaps you had to have loved the first one, which I didn't. But it seems the general consensus among people I know is: If you loved the first, you won't be disappointed. All you other people may have a different reaction. I didn't mind either one, but it's a typical kids action film without that much dialog, which is probably a blessing, knowing child actors these days. Apart from that its a pretty, Disney action kids film. Go forth and prosper Narnians!

KUNG FU PANDA
This is the kind of animated feature I've needed to see for a while. More adult humour. There seems to be an abundance of animal related animated feature films, and frankly, I can't take anymore. But Kung Fu Panda was a relief. Jack Black added a lot of character. However, I know some people aren't Jack Black people, so maybe it takes something away for those people. But I am not one of them. I am not exactly a Kung Fu fan either. But it all worked!

SEX AND THE CITY
I suppose you have to enjoy the show. But I enjoyed it. And I risk putting that sentence out there. But I know there are closeted fans. And not the gay kinda closeted. It's something hard to admit. But I did enjoy it, as I did the show. However, in retrospect, it could have been funnier and had more sex too. It was also so weird seeing it on the big screen. Really big. Mr Big was big!

Facebook Status Updates

2008-07-05T17:49:00.004+10:00

I know I'm probably most guilty of this, but nevertheless, I have to rant.

What's with all of the completely boring facebook status updates?

Now some actually have potency. Or even a philosophical meaning. But somehow, "(BLANK) is off to wash his car" takes the frickin cake and is a sample of what fills the space of Facebook updates. Why do I really need to know that you're off to wash your car? Or more importantly, why is it a necessity to write that you are bored and doing nothing?

Now, once again, I will reaffirm that I'm sure I've committed this cardinal sin of Facebook Status Updates. So for an experiment I will analyse the last status updates of a rather sexy, funny, talented and completely anonymous over the last month...

"Jamie cannot resist disney sales"
"Jamie didn't go on eastlink today and feels naked"
"Jamie updated his blog! it's back! learningthelingo.blogspot.com
"Jamie went on eastlink again!"
"Jamie spent a fair amount of time on the eastlink today"
"Jamie just saw angus and julia! so freaking good!!!"
"Jamie misses the sun and the sky"
"Jamie: melancholy is today's special"
"Jamie is sad to be sad"
"Jamie wants some action"
"Jamie actually finds it amusing that he hates study and yet rarely does any"
"Jamie hates study and can't wait to be free"
"Jamie wants to feel better"
"Jamie is mourning the death of his red P plate"

So what can we gather from this? Well we have learned that...

Jamie loves to update his Facebook status, no matter how important or frivolous the event
Jamie likes exclamation marks!
Jamie is not afraid to admit his depressed state, no matter how boring it is
Jamie seems to love Eastlink
And Jamie is not afraid of selfless promotion of his blog.

And so what insight does this gain into Jamie's persona?

Nada. Well, maybe a bit more. However, I will conclude with my new notion that it seems that the self indulgent nature of Facebook allows the blogger or what have you to be completely indulged in their own wonder that any simple thing that they write for their update is seen as not only completely fascinating, but absolutely necessary to tell the whole world!

Trailers...recut

2008-07-02T11:30:00.001+10:00

I have found some more. They haven't exactly been mixed with another movie, just recut. Here are some of the finest ones I've found. P.S. These are not the original trailers. They have been edited by some geek on the internet (whom I bow down to) to seem like a completely different movie.

1) Mary Poppins

2) The Sound of Music

3) The Shining

4) Sleepless in Seattle

MORE TO COME

Mix Matches

2008-07-01T18:26:00.002+10:00

These delightful youtube clips enlighten me. The premise? Mix up one movie with another random film, usually from another genre, and viola. There are some good ones here.

1) Toy Story 2 mixed with Requiem for a Dream
I found this one years ago, and it's still hilarious.

2) Finding Nemo mixed with Crash
Just seen it for the first time. Fantastic.

3) Supposed Titanic sequel (Two the Surface) mixed from a lot of movies.
So good. The tagline is the best. Jack is Back.

Revival!

2008-06-30T18:22:00.005+10:00

I am back. It's been a while. I got into the bad headset that my blog failed. And it kinda did. But what can save it? Shameless self promotion and plugs everywhere!!!! I've also changed things around a little. I felt it needed a lift.

I think I established that this blog will be a cinema/movie commentary forum. However, I will add some little pieces that I stumble across through the peaks and valleys of what is my life.

And here is a little example of a thing that I've found that I find humourous.

UPDATE: apparently this blog was not so failed, as it led to at least two people watching SKINS!!

P.S. WATCH SKINS!!!!!!!!!

Disney is possibly the best thing in the world...

2008-06-08T10:34:00.004+10:00

To me, I don't think anything could be better. Let's look at why:

The Lion King
Toy Story
Monsters, Inc.
Aladdin
Peter Pan
101 Dalmatians (the cartoon one, not that 'average' people version where the animals don't talk, I want my Pongo to speak!)

I mean this is just a few out of a giant list that just keeps on going. These films could make my day. They allow me to go back to my childhood (because it was soooo long ago) and yet still live in it. There is nothing better. Except maybe Disney with ice cream and then chocolate and then maybe lots of money and a nice house and a nice car and nice clothes and good sex and a happy life with lots of close friends and a good love life and lots of laughter, joy and fun. But Disney gives you that, so how could I wish for more?

Adam Sandler: Comedic Genius?

2008-06-07T00:03:00.004+10:00

Well, about 10 years ago I would say so. But his body of work since then leaves something to be desired. I think the guy has great talent, but there is something missing within his latest projects. Mind you, I haven't seen them all, but from what I've seen, I've seen enough. Bring back the good ol' days of Adam.

I think Punch Drunk Love (2002) was a potential turning point in his career. It's known to be his break into the potential foray of dramatic roles that eluded him (a la Jim Carrey in The Majestic or The Truman Show or The Man on the Moon) Perhaps it was just me, but it seemed to be a miss, once again, similar to Jim Carrey. I didn't particularly like the film either, which is strange as I usually like P.T. Anderson films. I think I must watch this one again, because it didn't strike me as great, but maybe I needed to pay more attention. While Adam's performance was well received in Punch Drunk Love, a dramatic career in the movies didn't follow. Although, he starred in the drama Reign Over Me in 2007. I have not seen this one, and what I'm gathering from what I'm writing is that if I really wanted to analyse his career, I would need to study his films in great detail, which to me, studying cinema seems quite appealing!

Let's go over his filmography to highlight my points so far:

Firstly you got the good ones...pure gold:
Billy Madison (1995), Happy Gilmore (1996) and The Wedding Singer (1998)

Then there's the questionably good ones:
Little Nicky (1998), The Waterboy (1998) and Big Daddy (1999)

The okay ones:
Mr. Deeds (2002), Punch Drunk Love (2002) and 50 First Dates (2004)

The ones I haven't seen, so can't really comment on:
Anger Management (2003)
The Longest Yard (2005)
Click (2006)
Reign Over Me (2007)
I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry (2007)
You Don't Mess with the Zohan (2008)

And then there's Spanglish (2004)
I usually enjoy James L. Brooks films (Terms of Endearment,
Broadcast News, As Good as it Gets) but this one was a rare miss.

Let's hope that a renaissance is coming soon.

Or do you disagree with me and think that the comedic genius has not vanished and has prevailed all along? Or was there ever any comic genius and is he just an overrated tool?

Let me know

Skins

2008-06-06T15:50:00.004+10:00

Now, I freely admit to only watching the first season of this show. But....I can safely say that I'm addicted to Skins. So much so that I joined a Facebook group. Mind you, I also joined a Facebook group out of being addicted to Facebook. See my "Crippling Addiction to Facebook" blog on that one, coz it's a whole other story.

This show, beyond being a show about teenagers doing a lot of drugs, has the universal themes of loneliness, betrayal, loss, hurt and the usual angst, horney-ness and frustation that comes with being a teenager and growing up. I'd heard Skins had a lot of disturbing drug references in it. Perhaps its only that I've seen the first season, but I didn't really notice anything that unusual or disturbing, or something worthy of its R rating that it has in Australia. Maybe I'm blind, but I saw something that went just beyond drugs.

My favourite character is Cassie. Amazing character. She lives in such a dream. And her reality is so sad. You just want her to find that happiness. And yet you don't want her to change.

One thing I instantly noticed is that one of the main characters Tony (Nicholas Hault) was in About a Boy with Hugh Grant a few years ago. Boy has he changed. He got like three feet taller and lost about half of his width. How puberty can change a person.

I saw all of the episodes of season one within a few days thanks to the miracle of genius that is the DVD box set. So good not having to wait. And in my opinion it help you get addicted quicker, even if you do lose that feeling of suspense or having something to look forward to all week when waiting for the next episode.

I can't wait to see Season 2. And then 3 and then onwards

My Crippling Addiction....

2008-06-05T23:02:00.007+10:00

You know you're addicted to Facebook when you start joining groups called "I'm addicted to Facebook and I need help" or "I'm addicted to Facebook, and I'm in denial about it"

Well, if anyone happened to catch Lesley Stahl's interview with the creator of Facebook on 60 Minutes last Sunday, you would have discovered that there is one thing worst that being addicted to Facebook. And that's being the creator of Facebook.

This guy, Mark Zuckerberg (the Facebook equivalent of the Myspace Tom) may be worth a huge amount of money, and may have turned down a giantic sum of money just to still have creative control over Facebook, but the guy is still a nerd. And I hate him. I hate him for furthering my weak, impressionable, vulnerable, neurotic and paranoid personality with the juggernaut that is Facebook.

It proves that I have no life. When I'm at home alone, I find myself refreshing the Facebook homepage. And for what? No one is messaging me. And the vicious cycle just continues. Then they brought in Facebook chat. Its just like MSN, but worse. And yet, its the best thing ever. Except there is rarely someone good to talk to on it. But thats another sad and lonely story.

For now, I will finish the blog. Go have a milo, turn on my electric blanket and watch some good ol' fashioned tv. And then I will probably check my Facebook again. Why? Because my life is that thrilling, and I just wrote a blog on how crippling a Facebook addiction is.

Released on DVD today

2008-06-05T15:13:00.004+10:00

SWEENEY TODD
The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Yes, that's right! Tim Burton's latest masterpiece was released on DVD this week, and I have to say that the news actually made me happy. Not all films can do that.

When I saw Sweeney, it was in a big, loud cinema, and so naturally I had a good time. However, I seemed to be in on a perhaps not very well known thing: its a musical.

That factor can be overcome by the great amount of blood and gore it has in it, despite its unnaturally red hue.

Nevertheless, Johnny Depp is great. Helena Bonham Carter is okay. Could have sung better, but she's sleeping with the director, so what do you expect? Gold? But she is a fantastic actor, and apparently underwent extensive vocal training. Pity you can't tell. But Depp sings well. The sets and costumes look fantastic and have that Burton-esque dark gothic tone, which I love.

In Current Release

2008-06-05T11:39:00.004+10:00

Then She Found Me

Okay. Let's get this straight. I find the genre of "chick flicks" insulting. It only assumes that women will like these films and therefore in its marketing and promotions, excludes men from even going near it. Well, within my studies of cinema, I aim to shatter all myths and pre-conceptions by going to any damn movie that I want to, without caring who its marketed to.

Helen Hunt's directorial debut is no exception. Part of the attraction to this film was simply the fact that it took Hunt 10 years for the film to be made. She wore the director/co-producer/co-writer and lead character hat and I was interested to see how this would work. That kind of dedication, obvious hard work and persistence (plus a free movie ticket) seemed a good enough reason to see this film.

What resulted is a very subtle and moving performance from Hunt in a movie that is an understated, funny and warm story of betrayal, loss and love. Despite this, I have heard a lot of praise for Hunt's performance simply because she doesn't wear much make up. Since when does not caring about your appearance warrant comments calling you "brave". You don't hear "Helen Hunt was so frickin lazy that she couldn't even be bothered to put on some lippy and some mascara." She's courageous, and a pioneer. Well, maybe thats the case in Hollywood where every second person is a wannabe slut. But most of us live in the real world.

Despite me not minding this film, I do not expect every person (especially male) to have the same opinion. Even though Helen Hunt went without makeup, her performance was good enough for me not to hate her, and there are some funny and nicely played performances from Colin Firth, Matthew Broderick and Bette Midler.

So, this blogger goes out on a limb, not throwing a recommendation down every readers throat, but simply suggesting to see outside the box. You may be surprise what you find.

Something you need to watch:

2008-06-04T23:10:00.003+10:00

THE SOPRANOS
(created by David Chase, 1999-2007)

Best friggin show ever.

No new news hear.

But I've been watching it again. So freakin good!

Everyone is so good. Can't get enough. I need to study this show. Or write a frickin paper on it.

What's not to love with this show? You've got your family moral values mixed in with drugs, sex, violence, the mafia, parental issues, psycho-analytical therapy, James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, Lorraine Bracco, Michael Imperioli, constant references to The Godfather and Scorsese.

Nothing short of brilliant television!

Weekly Screen Update

2008-06-04T23:07:00.002+10:00

New addition for Learning the Lingo: The Weekly Screen Update.

Since this blog is new, I'll do a quick run down of what is out there at the moment. This is not going to be a weekly blog based on what I've seen, as that would be very minimal (I'm a student!). This will be a blog based on what I've heard and the prejudices I hold before even seeing certain films.

Here's a list of the new releases for the cinema week starting 5 June 2008

Sex and the City: The Movie - Review will come soon.
The Chronciles of Narnia: Prince Caspian - well, I guess this relies on the Narnia factor, i.e. have you read the books, or even did you see the first movie. Well, I did. It was pretty good. Will I spend money to see this? Probably closer nay rather than yay.

Here's a list of current releases

21 - looks ok. Casino movies I enjoy.
Be Kind Rewind - I'm getting sick of Jack Black. Hahah. Swap his names around....Black Jack!!!
Deception - haven't heard anything about this. Don't think its got wide release. New thriller with Huge Jackman and Ewan McGregor. Smells bad to me
Edge of Heaven - foreign, won best screenplay at 2007 Cannes. Havent heard much, can't say too much.
Forgetting Sarah Marshall - apparently it's okay. But there seem to be a lot of these Judd Apatow-produced films going around. (Think back to 40 Year Old Virgin, Knocked Up, Superbad. Yes, it wasn't that long ago.)
Goal 2: Living the Dream - can't say I remember hearing about Goal 1. Enough said.
Gone Baby Gone - Ben Affleck's directorial debut. It's weird writing that. Acting is supposed to be great: Amy Ryan (Best Supporting Actress nominee 2008 Academy Awards.)
Horton Hears a Who - looks okay. But also looks like one of those kids films which makes me think that either I have to be a kid to enjoy it, or they aren't making them like they just to.
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull - I will eventually see, but so far I've heard it's not as good as it should be.
Iron Man - I came, I saw, and Iron Man conquered. The flying scenes were nothing short of amazing. Great sexual tension between Downey and Paltrow. And good choice with Downey as well, such a great actor. See Chaplin, Robert at his best!
Lars and the Real Girl - (nominated for Best Original Screenplay - 2008 Academy Awards) really wanted to see this, and probably won't be able to. Ryan Gosling is quite the actor. See Half Nelson.
Leatherheads - Looks crap. Clooney is only okay some of the time, and this looks like a bad example. Add Renee Zelwegger and you've got = Shit Mountain.
Love in the Time of Cholera - I know its based on a classic novel by that Spanish guy who has a cool name, but I find the title extremely funny. But why cholera? Why not herpes?
Made of Honour - Hell no!!!! Worst pun ever
Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day - Hmmm.....no.
Moliere - maybe. But probably not
Nim's Island - Jodie Foster does comedy. Hmmm....I'd rather see her get bashed to a bloody pulp like usual. Typecasting? Maybe, but that's show business kid!
The Orphanage - sounds cheery. Feel good movie of the year, perhaps. Maybe.
The Painted Veil - period piece. Maybe, but on DVD
Shine a Light - ehhh (shudders at the thought). Scorsese's doco about the Stones on tour in 2006. They're great and all, and I admire them for touring at their age, but I don't wanna see Keith Richards face up on a giant screen. Yuk!
Shutter - think the Ring. And you've pretty much got it. Good for getting girls scared and then they end up holding you. Worked for me. Kinda. Don't ask. Kinda scary, kinda not.
The Spiderwick Chronicles - wait til DVD, and it will still probably be shit.
Street Kings - Keanu Reeves. Not a fan. That would stop me seeing this at a cinema. Unless its like Speed. Speed rocks.
Then She Found Me - have seen and will post a review of soon.
What Happens in Vegas... - another one of those Just Married, You Me and Dupree films that you keep seeing these stars and starlets appearing in. Looks very cliche.

Bippity Boppity Boo

2008-06-01T22:32:00.004+10:00

Hello bloggers.

Here's another take at what seems to be a juggernaut in the current zeitgeist of modern day popular culture. I originally tried writing a blog called "The Milo News", which I now see as an ultimately failed aim. The reason that this blog failed was that I realised to write a blog, you have to be consistent. Not an easy feat. Especially when you feel you have nothing to write about.

So what does this blog promise to be? I don't know. But I know what it won't be:

A celebrity bitch fest rag
A personal diary
A snobbish rant of how society is going down the drain

I start this blog now as I have many a lonely hour approaching with my university studies ending for the semester. Rather than spent countless hours on the mother that is Facebook, which I do have an obsession with, I could hone my writing skills and do something that is more creative.

So let the fun begin!