Ç June 2007 | Main | August 2007 È
July 31, 2007
THIS IS RANDOM . . .
. . . But I've decided I really like Bob Barker. And not on a kitschy, ironic level, the way homosexuals like cereal boxes. As I was watching THE PRICE IS RIGHT on the EFX Machine with the sound off*, it made me realize that Mr. Barker likes things that a large percentage of people don't like, which are:
A) Other People
B) Giving Away Money
C) Seeing Salt of the Earth Types Be Really Happy
We tend to criticize Game Show Hosts easily, and its mostly because they're smarmy, slick, mustachioed jackasses with impeccable teeth. We tend to condemn the guy in the fourth grade who lies a lot and is ingenuine to a future as a game show host.
But something about Barker transcends this stereotype. He seems like a genuinely nice person. He has been a public support of neutering animals, not exactly a cause celebre. You never see him pandering or picking on his lovely blonde models. He's also willing to make fun of himself in ways that most celebrities won't go near - not just in his hilarious appearance in HAPPY GILMORE, but also on several occasions on Letterman where he joked about his apparent effeminacy.
Mostly, when I think of Barker, I think of how excited he gets whenever one of the price-guessers gets the EXACT price and the alarm goes off. And when he announces it, and gives away 100 dollars, usually some large woman who is obviously in the middle of the greatest day of her life comes up and affectionately pecks him on the cheek.
And Barker loves every second of it. There have been better people in the world, but I can't think of one who brings a level of unironic joy to such a seemingly inane profession. There's some message here, I'm just not sure what it is.
---
Here is a good article by the AV Club Editor on appreciating Foreign Movies. I feel the same way as he does about Fellini and Resnais, but have always really liked Bergman.
* - Misplaced Modifiers, gotta love em
Posted by Andytown at 11:43 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
July 30, 2007
R.I.P. INGMAR, TOM
R.I.P.s OF NOTE:
INGMAR BERGMAN died last night. Many would argue that he is the greatest film director who ever lived, though not the "Greatest Living Director" (a term I used fleetingly in my last post), as his last "Great" film was 1982's FANNY AND ALEXANDER. Bergman continued to quietly make films that only Bergman scholars wanted to see. His movies were slow and difficult, but often full of the type of grand philosophical statements that movie-makers are afraid to make, or make pretentious through onscreen mouthpieces. Bergman instead chose finely-drawn characters struggling with the immensity of faith, communication, love, and their identities. THE SEVENTH SEAL is a justifiable (though difficult) masterpiece. WILD STRAWBERRIES is my personal favorite, though I'm also very fond of the elegant, understated, and sad WINTER LIGHT. There is a good obituary by the New York Times here.
TOM SNIDER died this morning. In the days before I learned to like Conan, Snider was my post-Letterman choice. I didn't even have to flip the channel. He asked interesting celebrities interesting questions, and they seemed to like him. In particular, he was the only person who I ever saw interview James Garner, one of my all time favorites. It's depressing that the torch has been passed, apparently, from Snider to the likes of Carson Daly. Daly is a typical celebrity panderer, while Snider had a genuine interest in who they were and what they were doing.
--
On a happier note, I give THE SIMPSONS MOVIE a big thumbs-up. It's not as good as some of the early-season masterpieces, but it's definitely better than the fluffy episodes they put out now. I think a SIMPSONS fan of any generation will be pleased.
Posted by Andytown at 01:15 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 27, 2007
RESCUE DAWN . . .
. . . is pretty much the best movie I've seen in theaters since CHILDREN OF MEN. I was attracted to film because of its director, the German legend/fanatic Werner Herzog. Herzog has made some of the most amazing, mind-boggling movies I've ever seen - he always sets the bar too high and somehow always ends up ankle deep in a Peruvian swamp holding a camera and swatting away black flies. The stories of the making of his masterpieces FITZCARRALDO and AGUIRRE: WRATH OF GOD, starring Klaus Kinski, are just as fascinating as the movies themselves. His best films involve man's (often failed) struggle against nature, which is depicted as, well, natural. RESCUE DAWN is no different.
But it is different, sort of, because Herzog has nothing but great love for his protagonist, Dieter Dengler, so much so that he made a documentary about him in 1997. Dengler crash-landed in the jungle and was subjected to the twin horrors of a prison camp and surviving the jungle. As Dengler, Christian Bale reminds me why he is perhaps the most interesting actor working today. He is capable of doing so many things, and his whole demeanor suggests he's kind of an a-hole, but in RESCUE DAWN he's affable, optimistic, and practically goofy.
For this reason, the film is not nearly as bleak as the aforementioned masterpieces. Dengler does not have the Mephistolean tendencies of the Kinski characters - who Herzog admires for their drive but reviles for the fanaticism (perhaps an aspect of his own self-loathing). Herzog wants to celebrate him, not examine him, and while RESCUE DAWN doesn't sidestep politics, the heroism is moved to the forefront even in the face of unrelenting nature, which Herzog continues to film better than anyone else ever has.
Must see.
I also saw ZODIAC. I have to admit I liked Jake Gyllenhaal, who I've grown fond of making fun of. He has a sort of Redford in ALL THE PRESIDENTS MEN, a quirky workmanlike demeanor. Mark Ruffalo is also great as the cop who, apparently, inspired Bullitt and Dirty Harry. I also liked the look and unique, unshowy re-creation of the period. But the film itself came off as an extended episode of LAW AND ORDER. In its attempt to document procedure, it struggled to be entertaining.
I have yet to blog about TRANSFORMERS and PIRATES OF CARIBBEAN 3, mainly because I don't want to. Let's just say that at no point, in either movie, did I have a damn clue what was going on. Apparently, in TRANSFORMERS, there is a cube that can blow up the earth, and by touching it, it shrinks from gigantic to able to fit in the palm of your hand. A lot of people liked it. I think I saw the wrong movie. I am convinced that Michael Bay thinks that all grown-ups will laugh at increasingly juvenile humor.
But to end on a positive note, see RESCUE DAWN. It's a great film.
Posted by Andytown at 03:43 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 26, 2007
SORRY IF THIS IS TOO SERIOUS
“I have to admit, the terrorists were following their prophet . . . They were willing to do essentially what I did. I see the parallel. But the difference between those guys and me is, they were following a false prophet, and I’m not.” – Dan Lafferty, quoted in Under the Banner of Heaven
One of the biggest questions I have regards whether or not God actually speaks to us directly. There are probably two extreme camps of responses from those who don’t sympathize with my big question: one side thinks I’m bat crazy and ready to drink Jim Jones’ Kool Aid for even contemplating that a man in the sky can communicate with me, while the other, as Darth Vader might say, finds my lack of faith disturbing. And then there are many of my PCA brethren who make convincing arguments about covenants and hermeneutical approaches that the channel is closed.
But it’s still a compelling thought, and one that shouldn’t be dismissed. Any belief in God that is somewhat based on the mystical is one that probably lacks passion. I believe that a human being said He was the Son of God, and actually was the Son of God, and that He was crucified on a cross, and then He came back from the dead. That’s mystical. Sam Harris, Richard Dawkins, and Chuck Klosterman think I’m a f***ing lunatic. C.S. Lewis called it the myth that became fact. My faith is informed by myth, because myth is a story, and my life is a story, and I live as a part of that narrative.
It would follow, then, that the mystic should still occur, perhaps daily. Chesterton tells me that it does but I am too jaded to see it. We live in the light of miracles: the sun rising, a chicken hatching from an egg, the earth somehow holding to its axis and keeping us from rolling off into some other galaxy like a loose tetherball. Piecing together something of a theology of sorts on the subject, I tend to believe that everything is a divine revelation.
The conflict I describe usually comes in the form of an assumed imperative. Christian says, “God told me to be a missionary in Africa” or “God told me to transfer from Ole Miss to Mississippi State” or “God told me to be a pharmacist” or “God told me to ask the head cheerleader to the Prom.” But how can we tell this is God, and not just our own inner stirrings? What if your desire to ask out the head cheerleader is entirely misguided or selfish? When I was in high school, I made an important decision by flipping a coin. I firmly believed that God would guide the coin. I ended up making the wrong decision. Go figure.
Which is why I was struck by a book that I quickly finished, which was sitting on my cousin’s coffee table while I was house-sitting for her:
Krakauer wrote Into Thin Air and Into The Wild; the latter is coming soon to a movie theater near you. Under The Banner of Heaven is ostensibly about the murderous rampage of Dan and Ron Lafferty – Fundamentalist Mormons who believe God told them, among other things, to kill their brother’s wife and child, which they did. But Krakauer is, like me after reading him, astonished at the rich, if violent and shady, history of Mormonism. In order for it succeed, it needed about a hundred variables to come together, and they did.
Dan and Ron Lafferty, the psycho who kidnapped Elizabeth Smart, Joseph Smith and Brigham Young before them, and over 13 million members of the Mormon Church believe that God gives them commands. They believe, without equivocation, that they were right, even when committing cold-blooded murder. Still, I have no doubt that many Mormons have had God tell them that they should dedicate their lives to charitable work, and have done so.
Do you see why this is such a big issue for me?
Krakauer is alarmed at some of the odd beliefs of Mormonism. Polygamy is certain a black mark, as are some of the child-molesting lotharios who practice it. I have always been fascinated by what appears to be a happy adherence to a strict moral code. I wrote about it here when reviewing my favorite documentary of 2006.
It’s a fascinating book, and I’m glad I read it. I have immense respect for Mormons, but I share Krakauer’s alarm at the habits of Fundamentalists. None of them (the Fundamentalists, anyway) refute what seems to be his underlying theme: that Dan and Ron Lafferty were somehow justified in their act. A belief that God marshals orders argues this.
To quote Bunyan:
Then said the Interpreter to Christian, “Hast thou considered all these things?”
“Yes, and they put me in hope and fear.”
Sorry I haven’t written in so long. I’m writing a novel. Chuckle away, kids – I’m on page 60.
THINGS I LIKED:
Bishop Allen’s new CD THE BROKEN STRING
The new HBO series THE FLIGHT OF THE CONCHORDS
Michael Cera’s webisode (sorry I didn’t put the link last time)
RATATOUILLE
THE COMEDIC VALUE OF NUNCHUCKS (Long story)
THINGS I’M OBSESSED WITH:
Neutral Milk Hotel’s IN THE AEROPLANE OVER THE SEA. Seriously, this might be the greatest album ever made.
Jogging. I think in December I may be able to run a 5k without embarrassing myself.
The Onion A.V. Club. Check out this awesome post about Sterling Hayden. And if you aren’t keeping up with MY YEAR OF FLOPS, you should.
Posted by Andytown at 01:08 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
July 07, 2007
Due to increasing accusations of dorky negativity, I’ve decided to dedicate this post to FIVE PEOPLE/THINGS I UNEQUIVOCALLY LOVE. So there won’t be any back handed compliments about how J.J. Abrams has created the best show in the history of network television but can’t get over his tendency for melodramatic indulgence. Also, nothing about writers I like who are writing bad books, or singers making bad CDs, or complaints about chain stores that are poorly managed, or critics who I occasionally agree with, or fat pundits who make one-sided documentaries. This is unequivocal manlove, plain and simple.
HERMAN MELVILLE
From THE CONFIDENCE MAN:
. . . in Arkansas once, a man proved guilty, by law, of murder, but whose condemnation was deemed unjust by the people, so that they rescued him to try him themselves; whereupon, they, as it turned out, found him even guiltier than the court had done, and forthwith proceeded to execution; so that the gallows presented the truly warning spectacle of a man hanged by his friends.
Melville, by no means conventionally religious, has just given the most vivid allegory for man’s need for grace that I’ve ever seen. This book, which is described as an “incisive scrutiny of American confidence that the theological concept of ‘total depravity’ may safely be abandoned,” is freaking awesome – Melville displays his skepticism for man’s confidence in himself on every page, and it’s a convincing argument because it doesn’t just theological proofs at its core. Melville might be the most well-read American novelist ever, and he picks at so many different sources for his chameleon of a confidence man that each new chapter is a story in itself. Awesome book; awesome writer.
JOSH RITTER
“I became a thin blue stream The smoke between asleep and dreams And in that clear blue undertow I saw Royal City far below Borders soft with refugees Streets a¹swimming with amputees It¹s a Bible or a bullet they put over your heart It¹s getting harder and harder to tell them apart Days are nights and the nights are long Beating hearts blossom into walking bombs And those still looking in the clear blue sky for a sign Get missiles from so high they might as well be divine Now the wolves are howling at our door Singing bout vengeance like it¹s the joy of the Lord Bringing justice to the enemies not the other way round They¹re guilty when killed and they¹re killed where they¹re found If what¹s loosed on earth will be loosed up on high It¹s a Hell of a Heaven we must go to when we die Where even Laurel begs Hardy for vengeance please The fat man is crying on his hands and his knees Back in the peacetime he caught roses on the stage Now he twists indecision takes bourbon for rage Lead pellets peppering aluminum Halcyon, laudanum and Opium Sings kiss thee hardy this poisoned cup His winding sheet is busy winding up In darkness he looks for the light that has died But you need faith for the same reasons that it¹s so hard to find And this whole thing is headed for a terrible wreck And like good tragedy that¹s what we expect” – THE THIN BLUE LINE (off THE ANIMAL YEARS)
I had never really listened to the lyrics of this long, curiously epic song. It’s a tour-de-force of stream-of-consciousness, an unironic attempt at poetry complete with allusion, personification, and alliteration. Some of the strangest symbols I’ve ever seen. In the same verse where he mentions Oliver Hardy’s demise, he can deliver unforced profundity like “you need faith for the same reasons it’s so hard to find.”
Without question, Josh Ritter is my favorite singer/songwriter. I will be following his career until one of us dies. He is Moscow, Idaho’s version of Bruce Springsteen, and unlike Springsteen (whom I love) he doesn’t come with a lot of homespun mythology, which means we can watch him grow organically; we’ll probably never see his BORN IN THE U.S.A. but we’ll also never have to deal with him dealing with his public persona. I predict great things.
MICHAEL CERA
I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again – the kid who played George Michael Bluth on ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT is the best teen actor since Michael J. Fox (who wasn’t, technically, a teen). Cera is 18 years old and his comic timing, his reactions to his funked up family, was one of the secret joys of rewatching ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT. Cera is the reason I will watch SUPERBAD even though it’s part of a genre I don’t enjoy. Currently, I’m enjoying his really funny webisode. The other dude is funny too.
PROTEIN SHAKES
All I eat for lunch now are Protein shakes. I use a cup of fat-free milk, an egg, a scoop of Whey (Banana flavor) and fruit. They fill me up without fattening me up. Hey, there’s a slogan!
MY NEIGHBORHOOD
Shoutout for the Cowden area! Holla! The hidden jewel of East Memphis! Lord I was born to be a tweener! And give it up for Wilcox Avenue, the shadiest street on the block, and to my little green shoebox of a house at the end of the cove and its overgrown lawn.
Seriously, I love this neighborhood.
Posted by Andytown at 02:36 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
July 04, 2007
I H8 MY COMPUTER
I had written almost a page worth about PARADISE LOST and how much I love it when my CPU shut down. I'll try to summarize.
Blah blah blah, working on my paper the last few days, blah blah blah, My teacher is pretty optimistic that I’ll be able to present it at a conference, blah blah blah . . .
After reading Book 8, where Raphael recounts creation, I thought it was one of the greatest things ever written. Then I read Book 9 where Satan tempts Eve. In retelling the most archetypal scene in the history of the world, Milton makes us feel fear, compassion, anger, and empathy, all while dealing with a serpent tempting a naked woman to eat fruit. He doesn't just lean on the traditional impact of the imagery, he expands it into a metaphysical argument - and the story of Eve's entrapment becomes very familiar to all of us. The scene is so compelling because Eve wants what we all want: “Knowledge Forbidd’n.” Satan wants to give her what he wants and what he thinks is best for man, the ability to share God’s thoughts. It is not just a cosmic revenge ploy, it’s an allegorical interaction of world-views. In Milton’s eyes, this is not just a fruit, he probes “Knowledge of Good and Evil” for everything it’s worth. Like Frederick Buechner, Milton reminds us that these are not just stories for the felt-board; it isn’t material for a Summer Steve Carell vehicle.
But Book 10 might be even better. Adam has a soliloquy where he ponders what it means to be fallen; we’ve all had these thoughts, just not this articulate. He questions how he can stand before a perfect God and be imperfect, and wonders if the thought of this will be enough to undo him. There’s an amazing scene where Satan returns to Hell to announce his victory and watches all his legion transfrom into serpents – it reminded me of that terrifying scene in PINOCCHIO (I’m serious!) where all the kids on Pleasure Island turns into donkeys.
But mostly I was struck by this:
Inseparable must with mee along:
For Death from Sin no power can separate.
But least the difficultie of passing back
Stay his return perhaps over this Gulfe
Impassable, Impervious, let us try
Adventrous work, yet to thy power and mine
Not unagreeable, to found a path
Over this Maine from Hell to that new World
Where Satan now prevailes, a Monument
Of merit high to all th' infernal Host,
Easing thir passage hence, for intercourse,
Or transmigration, as thir lot shall lead.
Nor can I miss the way, so strongly drawn
By this new felt attraction and instinct.
That Milton has God call salvation “adventurous work” is an ironic understatement, but it is consistent with his decision to make the fall an epic. To Milton, everything Biblical is a story that has informed our humanity and is evidence that God imbues himself in his creation. In a scene that is an outstanding theological parallel to Genesis, God decides, immediately after man has disobey his only command, that he is going to love his creation anyway. Just like in Genesis 3, God announces his forthcoming victory over sin, his plan to renew creation, and his decision to guide the very creatures who just shunned him, to “bridge the gulfe.” “Adventrous work” indeed.
Other news:
I watched the film adaptation of THE ROAD TO WELLVILLE and loathed it. A misfire on every level. More on that later, maybe. Michael Moore continues to irk me, but I have some thoughts about that I might give later. I bought John Cale’s VINTAGE VIOLENCE and love it – of all the great 60s Bands who broke up, he might have the solo career I love the most. I liked last week’s ENTOURAGE on a totally base level. I finished watching Season 2 of ED, loved it, and wanted to punch the wretched Dennis Martino in his stupid, smug face, even though I’m still mad that Ed and Carol got together at the end of the show (remember Frankie? Anyone?) I broke a friend’s weedeater and had to buy another one. I'm starting to enjoy FLIGHT OF THE CONCHORDS even though the mercury keeps bursting out the top of my kookiness thermometer.
Questions:
Is TRANSFORMERS good? Because I'm probably not going to see it.
Is the new Ryan Adams good? Is anyone going to the show at GPAC?
Links:
The New Yorker's Anthony Lane on TRANSFORMERS. Pretty funny.
Film Freak Central's Walter Chaw loves the new DIE HARD (and TRANSFORMERS). Good stuff.
A really funny segment on THE DAILY SHOW about the Iphone. This Rob Riggle guy is really funny. The final punchline had me really laughing.
A good article on Slate by an ex-NBA player (and recent book publisher) who explains that Kevin Garnett is a great guy and Kobe Bryant is a virus.
Posted by Andytown at 12:56 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack