Exotica

I had a really nice sleepy, lazy day today - lazed around eating guacamole and chips, and salad, watching TV and sleeping. It was pretty much awesome. After a lot of bumming around I decided to watch my film for the day, which I was less than enthused about. It was one that I had trouble finding to rent, so I purchased a used copy for really cheap. The disc arrived I was so irritated - not only does it look sleazy and sick, the whole front of my disc was stained and scratched. Then, I took it out to check for other damage and the back of the disc was in perfect condition. It is a mystery. I don't know why I didn't want to watch the movie - it sounded sort of lazily perverse and boring, and I everything I read about it was confusing and made no sense.

Of course, since I'm telling you how much I thought I'd hate the movie, I ended up loving it. It was one of the coolest, most interesting character dramas I've ever seen, and I loved everything about it. The way the story unfolds is just genius, and I'm so glad that I own it!

The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser

Sorry this post is so late and so short - I watched this movie earlier in the day, but then I had family and friends over, so I didn't get around to posting or anything like that. I really liked today's movie - The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser, directed by Werner Herzog in 1974. It stars Bruno S, the strange fellow who was also in Stroszeck. It's a great movie, and one that I've meant to see for a long time. It's been on my Netflix queue for forever, I just never ended up watching it for whatever reason. I'm really glad that I did now.

The film is based on  a true story, but in typical Herzog fashion, he's not really concerned with the facts. He's just fascinated by people, and loves to focus on anyone who is different, strange, or interesting. Some people, I imagine, would be annoyed that he doesn't always tell the truth, but I like it. I guess I feel like I share his gaze, sometimes. I went to see Cave of Forgotten Dreams when that came out, and there is a scene where a guy dresses up in furs and plays a flute for no apparent reason. The way Herzog lingered on him felt like it mimicked my interest in that guy - he didn't really make sense or have anything to do with the plot, but he was part of what Herzog experienced in making the movie, and what he was interested in. I love that he's so interested in people and weirdness.

El Topo

I don't know if I can write this post. It's really late and I finished watching the movie a while ago. I've just been sitting and staring, trying to think of something I can write about. I'm not sure that I can. Not because I'm tired or whiny or sick, but because I seriously don't know what to say about this movie. I love it - I've seen it before and I just instantly fell in love, but that certainly doesn't give me words to explain why I like it.

Today I watched El Topo, directed by and starring Alejandro Jodorowsky in 1970. The film is credited with starting the Midnight Movies phenomenon, after it was distributed across the US by the manager of the Beatles. I can see why people probably really liked the movie in the 70s, with all the strange symbols and journeys. Why do I like it, though? How can you watch a movie and not know why you love it? How frustrating! "What should I say?" I keep complaining. "It's El Topo, that's what you should say," Anthony told me. "But that's not really a post!" I whined. "Maybe you should just keep this one short," he said. At least I'm not the only one speechless about the film!

El Norte

I was sort of not looking forward to today's movie, just based on the simple fact that it's really long - 2. 5 hours. I kept putting off watching it and didn't start it until it was late, but the movie was so good that I was totally interested and engaged the whole time. Seriously, it was good enough that it's currently 3am and I still want to be awake and writing about it, because I'm too excited about it to go to bed like a rational person and just post in the morning.

Today I watched El Norte, directed by Gregory Nava in 1983. I never really heard of the film before, and was mostly just displeased by anything I read about it online before I watched it. The word "epic" was thrown around, both to describe the plot and the length. Tired from work and with some sort of repetitive strain injury from hole punching over 500 little hang tags, I really wasn't in the mood for anything long in story or in actual running time. I was so shocked by how unexpectedly awesome the movie ended up being! I started it so late that I sort of assumed I'd be too tired to really care about it, but I got so into it as soon as I started watching. I felt so awake and focused on the plot - it was so great!

Easy Rider

 So ready to Friday tomorrow! I really need a long weekend so I can rest, relax, and finally clean up from my vacation. I still have suitcases laying around and things to unpack and clean up - not even joking. It felt like it was so hard to get back to work that I feel like I really, really need a break. Plus, it's not like the end of my vacation was really relaxing, since I had to wake up at all sorts of early hours so that I could drive home and stuff. Whine whine whine. Sick and tired, tired and sick. Poor me. (not really)

I have seriously just been staring at the screen for a half hour or more, trying to think of what I could possibly say about a movie as famous and influential as Easy Rider. It was written by Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper, and directed by Hopper in 1969. Even if you haven't seen it, if you know film, you know Easy Rider. It's the movie that started the New Hollywood movement in America, and the film that made Jack Nicholson famous. So why can't I think of how I feel about it?

The Double Life of Veronique

I don't want to write for too long tonight, although I think that might be hard to do because I really loved today's movie. I'm not feeling so well - I actually left work early today. I called my doctor to explain my wide range of seemingly unconnected symptoms, and they seemed really concerned about them and wanted me to come in right away. I think there was some worry that I might have had some sort of altitude-related sickness or maybe like, lyme diease or something, who knows. Luckily for me, I have neither - just an extremely bad bacterial infection and a compressed nerve in my leg. I'm glad that I went in, because my doctor said my infection could have gotten a lot worse if it wasn't treated. Although I'm skeptical of these antibiotics which have a huge warning that they can cause sporadic tendon rupture. Eeep! They're making me a little sick to my stomach, and I just want to make sure I get some rest so I can recover from this nastiness.

Blah blah blah. Today I watched The Double Life of Veronique, directed by Krzysztof Kieślowski in 1991. I have truly loved all of his films that I've seen for this project, and I was really excited to see another one of his works. I'm so glad I watched it, because I love this so much as well.

Dog Day Afternoon

So sleepy today. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are night where I'm not home until after 9pm, and it's just such a long day. I'm so beat by the time I put my film on, you know? I know a lot of people have seen this movie already, so I'm not going to go too crazy with it. I watched Dog Day Afternoon tonight, directed by the awesome Sidney Lumet in 1975. I actually own this movie on Blu-ray, even though I never saw it until today. It was one of those things where I knew I was going to have to watch it for the project, and I knew that everyone else I knew loved it, so I figured it was probably worth picking up. I'm so glad that I did! It's a really great film.

I love movies like that, that are just full of the best, natural pacing and great acting. I just feel like Lumet knew how to bring out the best in his actors, and it's so cool to see more of his work.

Diva

Oh my gosh guys do i even know how to blog anymore?
(probably)
I'm so bummed to be back from vacation. We stayed in Colorado, at over 9,000 feet in a tiny cabin hidden away in a forest (not like Antichrist). A week without cell phone service, internet, telephones, TV, and even radio is so....wonderful. Sometimes I'd post some pictures for my family when I would be in town, but it was so nice to just relax in front of mountains and a lake and read. We had tons of hummingbirds at our cabin, and even a friendly deer (who in pictures looks like something out of Antichrist). Anthony and I had a lot of fun - we did everything from hiking followed by sleeping in and cooking out to taking the highest cog railway to Pike's Peak (hey, hiking is hard, ok?). Maybe someday when I have a moment to myself I'll see if I can find a decent picture or two for you kids.

Right now I'm so tired! We drove, which is a two day long drive for us. We drove all day yesterday and then had to get home, unpack, try to cram in some True Blood, and then attempt to sleep. I feel pretty beat, although it is nice to be back down at sea level where I can, yunno, breathe. 

Enough about me. I'm sure you're all crazy excited to hear about my latest movie escapade and not my doofy life. Er, at least a little excited. I hope.

I'll be back in a week!

Currently on my way to a beautiful place...I'll see you guys next week (and start posting again on Monday).

The Dead

It's way past the time that I wanted to be in bed, and I'm just starting my post. I hope you'll understand if it's a little short - getting up at 3am for a trip is not easy.

Today I watched The Dead, directed by John Huston. It wasn't really a bad movie, but I couldn't get into it. After finding out it was an adaptation of a James Joyce story, I sort of understood why it fell so flat for me today. I'm not really able to just "read Joyce" - I sort of need to be in the mood for his style. Tonight was not one of those nights. I was fidgety and antsy because I had so much other stuff to do, and I just wasn't able to slow down to really lose myself in the film. I kept drifting off and thinking of other things, and reminding myself of things I still needed to take care of. I would just blame myself, but I watched the movie with my parents and Anthony, and no one really liked it much more than I did.

Dark City

Ok, I need to keep this short since it's too late for my taste and I still have stuff to do! Who knew packing for vacation could be so time consuming and stressful. I started packing clothes and stuff but I feel like I have nothing accomplished. Since we're leaving at like, 4am on Saturday, I want to have as much done as possible today so tomorrow I can just come home, pack some last few things, do my film of the day, eat, and go to bed. Hopefully. :)

Today I watched Dark City, directed by Alex Proyas in 1998. I can't remember why or when I saw this movie last, but I have seen it recently. I really like it. I've only see the director's cut with no voice over - I'm not sure if that matters. I love that it's one of those movies that combines incredible visuals with an awesome plot, but doesn't get bogged down with special effects and stupid like a lot of sci-fi does.

Crumb

Man, it is way harder to do this movie project and get ready for vacation than I thought it would be. I literally have no free time to pack or get anything organized. I really like to leave a clean house, too, so that when I come home it's not so depressing and awful, but I haven't had any time to really do anything. I'm going to be really happy to just have a break for a little while, it's been tough to keep up with the pace I'm at.

Today I watched Crumb, directed in 1994 by Terry Zwigoff. I've had it on my Netflix queue for a while because I knew it was supposed to be good, but I never wanted to watch it. I didn't know who Robert Crumb was, and I never saw any of his work, and so I always felt so enthused about the movie. Why would I want to watch a documentary about a comic artist that I knew nothing about? I was really surprised by this film, though. I was so interested in Robert and his brothers, and even though I knew nothing about them or their art, I was really intrigued and engrossed for the whole film.

Crimes and Misdemeanors

Long day - I'm so sleepy! I was really happy to come home and watch a Woody Allen movie. I'm pretty new to his films, and it's been so fun to see his works through this project. I kept meaning to sit down and work my way through his films, but I never got around to it (of course). I've really grown to love him, though, and his great sense of humor and awesome writing ability.

Today I watched Crimes and Misdemeanors, which he directed in 1989. The plot seems much darker than his other films, but it's great. I love really dark comedy, and this one was fantastic. I was worried when the plot started to turn that it would get awkward or unfunny, but it really never did. It was so well-written and was a great blend of drama, dark comedy, and the normal Woody Allen comedy style that I love so much. The acting was great, too, and the whole movie was just really neat to watch.

Cool Hand Luke

I have to get up early for work tomorrow - I have a class that starts earlier in the morning, so I want to be able to get some rest for it. I'll probably just leave work early, though, since I have a lot of stuff to take care of at home. I leave for my vacation on Saturday at like, 4 a.m, so I have so many little things to take care of. Laundry, packing, getting supplies, cleaning, bleh. Just as a reminder, I won't be blogging while I'm on vacation - I'm going somewhere with no cell phone service, internet, TV, or radio. Sometimes the best part of vacations (for me) is getting away from technology. So don't freak out if I'm not posting, I'll be back!

Today I watched Cool Hand Luke, directed by Stuart Rosenberg in 1967, which I had somehow never seen before. I guess everyone I know loves it, but uh, never shared it with me. It was a one of my grandpa's favorite movies, which makes sense after I saw it.  I really liked it, although I felt like I just read the whole film differently than other people I know. It seemed really weirdly and overtly allegorical, which is...something. I always had the impression that it had funny scenes in it, but I didn't really see any. I could just be over-emotional and actually reading the film totally wrong, though.