A couple of notes on the TV front--
Parenthood came on mid-seasonand is on our viewing list. Sure it can be campy at times, and pull on the heart strings a little to tightly. But, it is is a nice mix of humor and drama, that comes from any extended family, and while you know it is a bit campy, you find yourself tearing up anyway. Plus it stars both Peter Krause and Lauren Graham, either one of which is a reason to try a show...both together, Forget about it!
As to V. Loved the first 4 shows, but ever since it has been back it has bored me silly! I find myself wanting to fast forward through the whole show, so after a couple of eps like that, I said no more. It is off my list. I have heard rating are struggling, so it may not be long for TV land anyway.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Movie-Nothing But the Truth
Nothing But the Truth (2008) is a first rate thriller, with strong political and social overtones that really leave asking questions about the freedoms we may no longer enjoy.
Starring Matt Dillon and Kate Beckinsale, the movie shows how the freedoms protected in the Constitution may not be as sacrosanct as we think, and certainly we are not being fully protected.
Beckinsale is reporter Rachel Armstrong, who names an undercover CIA operative in her paper. The plot of this is very much like the Valerie Plame incident, where the operative is about being hung out to dry because of her husband upsetting the current administration. But the plot takes a different turn, not exploring that territory (though there should be a movie about that) but instead follows what happens to the reporter as she is prosecuted by a relentless government prosecutor, played by Dillon.
He forces her to testify to a Grand Jury, and when she refuses to yield the source of her information, goes after her with the fullest force of the government. What I liked about this is it shows how Grand Juries actually work....no lawyer, you have very few legal options or recourse, the normal legal system is circumvented with Grand Juries. And I could not help but think how un-American this use of a Grand Jury seemed to be...reminiscent of the Star Chamber, or a Tsar's court.
Rachel refuses to yield, and is jailed...for years. She loses her husband and child. She almost loses her life in a prison brawl. But still she refuses to give up her source. And the prosecutor does not care one iota...he wants the name. Never mind that the Constitution and case law over the years provides for the freedom of the press...new laws have circumvented that also!
Rachel is finally released by the judge who thinks that it will not do any good to keep her in prison, but Dillon finds another way to re-arrest her and she finally gives in. She tells who told her the identity of the CIA agent. It is a shocking conclusion, and you feel such compassion for Rachel when you find out.
The movie will make you examine the freedoms we say we have, the freedoms you say makes us America....are they still there? Do those freedoms no longer apply to us?
Nothing But the Truth does not answer all these questions, but that it raises them while making an entertaining movie, is an pretty nice piece of work. The acting, production values are all top notch, but the script and the underlying social commentary is what makes this movie excellent.
Starring Matt Dillon and Kate Beckinsale, the movie shows how the freedoms protected in the Constitution may not be as sacrosanct as we think, and certainly we are not being fully protected.
Beckinsale is reporter Rachel Armstrong, who names an undercover CIA operative in her paper. The plot of this is very much like the Valerie Plame incident, where the operative is about being hung out to dry because of her husband upsetting the current administration. But the plot takes a different turn, not exploring that territory (though there should be a movie about that) but instead follows what happens to the reporter as she is prosecuted by a relentless government prosecutor, played by Dillon.
He forces her to testify to a Grand Jury, and when she refuses to yield the source of her information, goes after her with the fullest force of the government. What I liked about this is it shows how Grand Juries actually work....no lawyer, you have very few legal options or recourse, the normal legal system is circumvented with Grand Juries. And I could not help but think how un-American this use of a Grand Jury seemed to be...reminiscent of the Star Chamber, or a Tsar's court.
Rachel refuses to yield, and is jailed...for years. She loses her husband and child. She almost loses her life in a prison brawl. But still she refuses to give up her source. And the prosecutor does not care one iota...he wants the name. Never mind that the Constitution and case law over the years provides for the freedom of the press...new laws have circumvented that also!
Rachel is finally released by the judge who thinks that it will not do any good to keep her in prison, but Dillon finds another way to re-arrest her and she finally gives in. She tells who told her the identity of the CIA agent. It is a shocking conclusion, and you feel such compassion for Rachel when you find out.
The movie will make you examine the freedoms we say we have, the freedoms you say makes us America....are they still there? Do those freedoms no longer apply to us?
Nothing But the Truth does not answer all these questions, but that it raises them while making an entertaining movie, is an pretty nice piece of work. The acting, production values are all top notch, but the script and the underlying social commentary is what makes this movie excellent.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Movie-The Cove
The Cove was nominated for Best Documentary film, and won that Oscar.
The Cove (2009) is one of the reasons I love documentaries, you learn about things, important things, that you just never knew about before. And in this case, what I learned was so troubling, so sickening, that I don't think I can go back to certain behaviors.
The Cove is about a Japanese town of Taijii, that just loves its dolphins. As you drive through Taijii, there are cute dolphin symbols everywhere...they make the dolphin the town icon. But Taijii is not a town bent on preserving dolphins or studying their behavior, or letting people see them in their natural environment.
No Taijii captures dolphins for use in entertainment. And when you see how they capture these very smart animals it will break your heart. Taijii does this all in the open, attracting tourists to see the roundup. But Taijii does not stop there. Because only a certain number of dolphins are to be taken for that industry. The rest of the animals are rounded up and brought around the corner, to an area not open to any sightseers, or anyone else.
This is the cove, the cove of death. As hundreds of dolphins are brutally murdered, in panic they try to flee, but are so confused by the slaughter around them. The sea water in the cove becomes bright red with the blood of these beautiful, smart, magnificent creatures. But the are stabbed again and again to bring them to death, they scream as they are in so much pain...
Taijii protects these secrets of their industry. With brute force they protect it, using death treats and physical intimidation to stave off any interlopers. The Cove is also about the team that broke these secrets, that created this film. It is about these few people who used spy tactics to find out what takes place in the cove, and show us the brutality of it.
The film also explores the push from the dolphin meat industry to make its product acceptable to the masses...never mind that
dolphin meat contains huge levels of poisons gathered from the species being at the top of the food chain in increasingly poisoned oceans. The levels of mercury alone are alarming and dangerous yet the industry tried to get the meat into school children lunches.
SeaWorld has claimed that what is said in the film, that they buy animals from Taijii, is not true. But I know that I can't go there anymore, not after seeing this movie. I am not advocating anyone else take this course of action, but it is something I can't return to.
The Cove is searing, and you will remember it. It is sad and heart-breaking. And it is a magnificent piece of documentary film.
The Cove (2009) is one of the reasons I love documentaries, you learn about things, important things, that you just never knew about before. And in this case, what I learned was so troubling, so sickening, that I don't think I can go back to certain behaviors.
The Cove is about a Japanese town of Taijii, that just loves its dolphins. As you drive through Taijii, there are cute dolphin symbols everywhere...they make the dolphin the town icon. But Taijii is not a town bent on preserving dolphins or studying their behavior, or letting people see them in their natural environment.
No Taijii captures dolphins for use in entertainment. And when you see how they capture these very smart animals it will break your heart. Taijii does this all in the open, attracting tourists to see the roundup. But Taijii does not stop there. Because only a certain number of dolphins are to be taken for that industry. The rest of the animals are rounded up and brought around the corner, to an area not open to any sightseers, or anyone else.
This is the cove, the cove of death. As hundreds of dolphins are brutally murdered, in panic they try to flee, but are so confused by the slaughter around them. The sea water in the cove becomes bright red with the blood of these beautiful, smart, magnificent creatures. But the are stabbed again and again to bring them to death, they scream as they are in so much pain...
Taijii protects these secrets of their industry. With brute force they protect it, using death treats and physical intimidation to stave off any interlopers. The Cove is also about the team that broke these secrets, that created this film. It is about these few people who used spy tactics to find out what takes place in the cove, and show us the brutality of it.
The film also explores the push from the dolphin meat industry to make its product acceptable to the masses...never mind that
dolphin meat contains huge levels of poisons gathered from the species being at the top of the food chain in increasingly poisoned oceans. The levels of mercury alone are alarming and dangerous yet the industry tried to get the meat into school children lunches.
SeaWorld has claimed that what is said in the film, that they buy animals from Taijii, is not true. But I know that I can't go there anymore, not after seeing this movie. I am not advocating anyone else take this course of action, but it is something I can't return to.
The Cove is searing, and you will remember it. It is sad and heart-breaking. And it is a magnificent piece of documentary film.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Movie- The Hurt Locker
The Hurt Locker was nominated for several Oscars and won two big ones, Best Director for Kathryn Bigelow and Best Picture, among others.
When I was a teenager I watched a PBS series called Danger UXB (and later rewatched it on Netflix). It was set in Britain in WWII and as bombs rained down on London, not all exploded. A team would come and disarm the bomb, the UneXploded Bomb (hence the title). It was a risky job.
The Hurt Locker (2009) takes that concept even further, because the bombs being disarmed are in enemy territory, where anyone could be shooting at you as you disarm it. The story takes place in Iraq, with a team that takes apart roadside bombs. It is intense, and highly charged, and watching it is nail-biting and tense.
In the first scene, a major character is killed, and the risk becomes very apparent. But Bigelow also paints this picture as one that frays on the nerves of the soldiers who do this job...the daily risks tear apart their psyches, leaving room for little more than shells, trying hard to hold onto their humanity. But each job, each bomb safely disposed of, seems to take more of them bit by bit.
The Hurt Locker was a very moving movie amidst all the tension. But I did not think it was as good as some critics. There seemed to be a bit more emphasis on visual style than was really needed. The story itself was tension filled enough, and the filming style added to it, but sometimes overshadowed the story.
The acting was terrific, all the men showing the tensions and loss of self that would come out of putting yourself in this peril.
The Hurt Locker was a really good movie, but I think it missed "great" by the tiniest of margins.
When I was a teenager I watched a PBS series called Danger UXB (and later rewatched it on Netflix). It was set in Britain in WWII and as bombs rained down on London, not all exploded. A team would come and disarm the bomb, the UneXploded Bomb (hence the title). It was a risky job.
The Hurt Locker (2009) takes that concept even further, because the bombs being disarmed are in enemy territory, where anyone could be shooting at you as you disarm it. The story takes place in Iraq, with a team that takes apart roadside bombs. It is intense, and highly charged, and watching it is nail-biting and tense.
In the first scene, a major character is killed, and the risk becomes very apparent. But Bigelow also paints this picture as one that frays on the nerves of the soldiers who do this job...the daily risks tear apart their psyches, leaving room for little more than shells, trying hard to hold onto their humanity. But each job, each bomb safely disposed of, seems to take more of them bit by bit.
The Hurt Locker was a very moving movie amidst all the tension. But I did not think it was as good as some critics. There seemed to be a bit more emphasis on visual style than was really needed. The story itself was tension filled enough, and the filming style added to it, but sometimes overshadowed the story.
The acting was terrific, all the men showing the tensions and loss of self that would come out of putting yourself in this peril.
The Hurt Locker was a really good movie, but I think it missed "great" by the tiniest of margins.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Some Thoughts
I am going to start making some observations about life, politics, issues, random pet peeves, in my Some Thoughts sections.
There were a lot of people who were mightily upset about Floatopia a month or so ago, the floating liquor fest that skirted the beach booze ban by floating rafts and drinking in the water.
Besides the issue of the beach booze ban being pretty much a crock of shit anyway, these people complained that Floatopia found a loophole in the law and was exploiting it. No duh!
And why shouldn't they, as ordinary citizens do what corporations and politicians do all the time, not obey the spirit of the law, but use high priced lawyers to find ways around it.
Take health car reform. Now you may not agree with it, I will save that argument for another post. But it passed. And within two weeks, reports came out the insurance companies were finding ways around it, so not to insure kids. So it is a big damn surprise when young people fine a way around the beach booze ban huh?
You think this is unusual? This is status quo!!!! A few years ago, Congress decided to try to regulate cable companies, and passed some laws governing rates. (It seemed a big deal at the time OK). The cable companies immediately started finding ways to increase their rates, skirting the specific language in the law, so they could keep getting the profit margin they had set, out of the consumer.
Really, Floatopia was exploiting loopholes? What an effing surprise...these people see it done every day, by companies and corporations.
And take campaign financing laws. Sure, the politicians say that the system for elections is broken, and pass a law or two to try and look like they are fixing it. But they also build in loopholes into the law so they can just keep on doing business without losing a buck. They may have to term the money they get a bit differently, but they still get it, and we get the short end!
So---why is there any outrage or surprise that people are finding ways around a bad law ( I will discuss that in a future post too)? Because the example they get teaches us all to disobey the spirit of the law any way we can. In fact, it teaches us to get around the law EVERY way we can, just like these leading companies, corporations and politicians.
So save the outrage, grab a beer, swim out to a raft and take a drink. Because that is what THEY do every day...why shouldn't the little guy?!
There were a lot of people who were mightily upset about Floatopia a month or so ago, the floating liquor fest that skirted the beach booze ban by floating rafts and drinking in the water.
Besides the issue of the beach booze ban being pretty much a crock of shit anyway, these people complained that Floatopia found a loophole in the law and was exploiting it. No duh!
And why shouldn't they, as ordinary citizens do what corporations and politicians do all the time, not obey the spirit of the law, but use high priced lawyers to find ways around it.
Take health car reform. Now you may not agree with it, I will save that argument for another post. But it passed. And within two weeks, reports came out the insurance companies were finding ways around it, so not to insure kids. So it is a big damn surprise when young people fine a way around the beach booze ban huh?
You think this is unusual? This is status quo!!!! A few years ago, Congress decided to try to regulate cable companies, and passed some laws governing rates. (It seemed a big deal at the time OK). The cable companies immediately started finding ways to increase their rates, skirting the specific language in the law, so they could keep getting the profit margin they had set, out of the consumer.
Really, Floatopia was exploiting loopholes? What an effing surprise...these people see it done every day, by companies and corporations.
And take campaign financing laws. Sure, the politicians say that the system for elections is broken, and pass a law or two to try and look like they are fixing it. But they also build in loopholes into the law so they can just keep on doing business without losing a buck. They may have to term the money they get a bit differently, but they still get it, and we get the short end!
So---why is there any outrage or surprise that people are finding ways around a bad law ( I will discuss that in a future post too)? Because the example they get teaches us all to disobey the spirit of the law any way we can. In fact, it teaches us to get around the law EVERY way we can, just like these leading companies, corporations and politicians.
So save the outrage, grab a beer, swim out to a raft and take a drink. Because that is what THEY do every day...why shouldn't the little guy?!
Movie- Thunderbolt
Thunderbolt (1995) is an older Jackie Chan movie, one where he actually fights, instead of just defending himself, and I have to admit, I think I preferred those movies to his newer ones. The man had moves!
It is a pretty so-so movie, with stilted dialogue and a ludicrous plot. Buuuuut, the choreographed fights were fun and showed Jackie in fine form.
Again---only so-so---but I have trouble resisting Chan movies.
It is a pretty so-so movie, with stilted dialogue and a ludicrous plot. Buuuuut, the choreographed fights were fun and showed Jackie in fine form.
Again---only so-so---but I have trouble resisting Chan movies.
2 Magazines
Two Nat Geos to talk about, since I am not getting Playboy anymore...at least for a bit.
The February issue gave me a lot of thought with the lead article about polygamy in America. While I am not personally a fan of polygamy (I mean really, one wife is challenging enough!!! Personally I like strong willed women...more than one would bowl me the hell over!). But why are there laws against it, especially when it is integral to a religion? Would we make law prohibiting lent? Or stopping Jews from being Kosher? Now I don't think that this is a black and white issue. Many of these women are from a culture that does not allow them a lot of independent alternatives, but we don't make laws prohibiting women from other cultures doing as the culture prescribes them to do. The article is fair, and it makes you ask questions. It makes you question the status quo. And that is what good writing does, and why I continue to read Nat Geo.
A couple of other good articles--- New Vision for the Hubble---that Hubble space telescope is simply amazing, breathtaking and awe inspiring. That there is that much space, with countless suns and worlds, in many other millions of galaxies. Well, we are not that significant in the face of all that, are we? And of course the article about the chimps of the Congo...ones that have never seen man before...how closely related we are to them, and yet we rain destruction on primates all over the globe. Their curiosity about us shows them to be intelligent, self-aware beings. We need to preserve that.
The March issue is equally thought-provoking, with an excellent article on wolves, titled Wolf Wars. So many people want these animals dead, for so many reasons. And yet when they come back to their natural habitat, it restores nature, restores the balance. The main reason people want them dead is purely economic...but there has to be some place where money is not the most important issue. It makes me wonder why these cattle men get to make these decisions, why there are not others who can have a say. Again, a provocative article, and thought provoking.
The other two very intriguing articles were about Peru's Nasca Lines...just intense freakiness. No, UFOs did not make them (probably), but the origins of the lines are becoming clearer, and it is fascinating. Also the photo story on carnivorous plants...Whoa...totally cool...the images are so good.
I always learn from nat Geo, am constantly amazed by the world we live on and the universe around us. No one entertains and educates better than Nat Geo.
The February issue gave me a lot of thought with the lead article about polygamy in America. While I am not personally a fan of polygamy (I mean really, one wife is challenging enough!!! Personally I like strong willed women...more than one would bowl me the hell over!). But why are there laws against it, especially when it is integral to a religion? Would we make law prohibiting lent? Or stopping Jews from being Kosher? Now I don't think that this is a black and white issue. Many of these women are from a culture that does not allow them a lot of independent alternatives, but we don't make laws prohibiting women from other cultures doing as the culture prescribes them to do. The article is fair, and it makes you ask questions. It makes you question the status quo. And that is what good writing does, and why I continue to read Nat Geo.
A couple of other good articles--- New Vision for the Hubble---that Hubble space telescope is simply amazing, breathtaking and awe inspiring. That there is that much space, with countless suns and worlds, in many other millions of galaxies. Well, we are not that significant in the face of all that, are we? And of course the article about the chimps of the Congo...ones that have never seen man before...how closely related we are to them, and yet we rain destruction on primates all over the globe. Their curiosity about us shows them to be intelligent, self-aware beings. We need to preserve that.
The March issue is equally thought-provoking, with an excellent article on wolves, titled Wolf Wars. So many people want these animals dead, for so many reasons. And yet when they come back to their natural habitat, it restores nature, restores the balance. The main reason people want them dead is purely economic...but there has to be some place where money is not the most important issue. It makes me wonder why these cattle men get to make these decisions, why there are not others who can have a say. Again, a provocative article, and thought provoking.
The other two very intriguing articles were about Peru's Nasca Lines...just intense freakiness. No, UFOs did not make them (probably), but the origins of the lines are becoming clearer, and it is fascinating. Also the photo story on carnivorous plants...Whoa...totally cool...the images are so good.
I always learn from nat Geo, am constantly amazed by the world we live on and the universe around us. No one entertains and educates better than Nat Geo.
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