After a hard days walking I decide to treat myself to a couple of slightly better movies. Too much Netflix, not enough intelligence.
The first pick, "Grizzly Man" by Werner Herzog. I love Herzog, but - there's a reason I hadn't seen this one. If you aren't familiar I'll let you do your own research, but the subject of the documentary - "Timothy Treadwell", is too much like a hundred other whack-a-doodles I've met. I want to feel sorry for him - or sympathize with him in some way - but I just can't, and there seems to be too much going on in his head for the documentary to appear to be other than an exploitation of mental illness.
Not a bad movie, merely not at all to my taste.
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- Category: Film
Looking back at the best films of 2020 there were a few that I'd seen, and quite a few I'd never heard of.
That's fine, I could use the inspiration, something to look forward to.
In no particular order:
EMA - YouTube Trailer
Dick Johnson is Dead - YouTube Trailer
David Byrne's American Utopia - YouTube Trailer
Nomadland - YouTube Trailer
Never Rarely Sometimes Always - YouTube Trailer
And, finally - one - or rather, 3, it's apparently a trilogy I've never even heard of but for some reason has great appeal:
Don Hertzfeldt's World of Tomorrow - Episode Three - The Absent Destinations of David Prime - All three trailers (and films) can be watched on his website: http://bitterfilms.com/
So that's it. Some cultural fodder to absorb before once again I find myself living out the back of my jeep!
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- Category: Film
A curious exploration on after-life theories. Of interest, Crisis Apparitions, Deathbed Visitations, the reincarnation episode was compelling (but - how to fact check this with a critical eye?). Others - not so good - signs & omens, hauntings and - remarkably - the medium episodes - 2 and 3. Now - if you want to become an atheist - this is what you need to watch! Episode 3 - the short blonde "medium" channeling "Silver Cloud" and "Little Tommy" - little Tommy - as she squeaks out his high-pitched English accent from the corner of her mouth - well, this is unbelievable. I could not stop laughing. And then the family she's sitting for expressing skepticism...(really? really?!!!)...
Although, I gotta say, she raised the bar for my absurdist ventriloquism sketches.
Start watching this episode at 25.00 minutes in.
Derren Brown - any half professional magician - does it far, far better. In mediumship circles Derren Brown should be a God - only his good conscience forbids (and he makes more as a magician I'm sure...)
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- Category: Film
Supposedly about the life of Herman J. Mankiewicz - writer of Citizen Kane. Beautifully shot, Gary Oldman is amazing, and the film tries to draw some parallels with the influence of Hollywood on Politics (past & present) - but, overall, Meh. Good as a period piece, but the characters and theme deserve better. And I like David Finch.
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- Category: Film