Blindness (2008)

This movie is f*cked up. 

I honestly wish I hadn't watched it.  Not to say in any respect that the movie is bad.  Quite the contrary, it succeeds in what I believe are all the points it's trying to hit.  It's very well shot and masterfully acted by a great cast of characters, some of which underused.  I've become a great fan of the pairing of Julianna Moore and Mark Ruffalo.  The pacing is spot on.  At no point did I feel that the two hours were squandered.  Am I going to read the book after seeing this? Probably.  

My gripe is not with the film-making or the story-telling.  It's with the truth portrayed.  The depths of humanity that we can't bear to acknowledge but are so accurately showcased, unapologetic, in this movie that made my sick to my stomach and angry that I was made to watch it.  The glimpse inside myself to make me question which side of the coin on which I fall.    There are taboos that are not broken in modern media.  Scenarios in which we are have become accustomed to the Dues Ex Machina swooping in the save the day that we don't give it a second thought.  On the rare occasion that a director or story-teller does not turn away the lens and shows what is unjust and rotten; what actually happens in the real world, we become scandalized.  It's this unflinching camera that has earned my disdain.

I make it a point not to read reviews before I contribute my 2 cents and I'm shaking with anticipation to see what's been said about this film.  But regardless of what's been said, regardless of what I've said, I will defend this work.  As allegories go it's not the most original of the lot but it is well put and it will demand your attention.

7.5/10

Revolver (2005)

I got home the other night, content to watch old episodes of Frasier on YouTube, as I often do, until I'd have fallen asleep.  To my delight I found that one of my favorite movies had returned to Netflix instant.  Guy Ritchie's 'Revolver'.

I originally came across this movie, via Netflix, probably around 2007 and I've loved it ever since.  I watched it maybe 3 or 4 times.  Since discovering it's return to Instant this week I've watched it another 3 times.
As far as Guy Ritchie movies go, this one gets pretty universally panned.  On Metacritic it scores only .3 higher than that shitstorm he did with his then-wife, Madonna.  I personally think he's one of the best gangster-shoot-em-up directors out there.  I loved Snatch and I hold Lock Stock and 2 Smoking Barrels in very high regard.  But I don't think either can hold a candle to Revolver.   It has everything that makes those movies great: A flawed protagonist, warring factions with varying characters all with their endearing qualities, and almost vaudvillian stumbling blocks placed in each other's way akin to 1963's It's A Mad Mad Mad Mad World;  but what makes this film greater, and what unfortunately leads to the distaste left in the mouths of most of it's viewers, is that it's very deep.

Take a look at the end credits but only if you don't plan on watching the movie.  Slight spoiler. 

And I know Deep is a vacuous word that's lost all meaning but let me differentiate. His movies have always been smart.  Very clever.  Revolver, however, for the first 70% of the film plays out most superficially.  It's not until midway into the 3rd act that you start to realize that something else is at play here.  Atop that there are also moments of misdirection.  For a while you think he's playing one of the more common plot twists which has become popularized by movies like Fight Club and The Sixth Sense (which he may be...).  And even after the movie is finished you're not left with a solid answer wrapped in a bow which we've become accustomed to.  Thusly we have our low ratings and bad reviews.

Ray Liotta shines brilliantly in this flick and more than makes up for Andre 3000's less than great, but well within his range, performance.  Good thing they never had to face off on screen.  I'm not a big Jason Statham fan but he also does a stand up job.  You end up loving a number of the dozens of characters that you'll be introduced to through the course of the 2 hours.  Even if you just want to skim along the top of this hearty study you'll still get a great deal of enjoyment from this movie.

9.0/10

And on a related note you can revisit this post.

Black Orpheus

By 2016 I will be somewhere in Brasil lying about my age.
In preparation for this I've resolved to learn Portuguese.  I got the alphabet under my belt tonight so I figured that qualified me to stream a bunch of Brazilian and Portuguese language movies on Netflix which I'll probably be doing for some time to come.

I started with the 2008 documentary 'Only When I Dance'.

It was enjoyable.  I'm not too terribly interested in classical and ballet dance and I was a bit mad at myself upon starting it up and finding that it was a documentary (I have a tendency to not read things before I commit to them) when I wasn't really in a documentary mood, but it proved to be relatively painless. 
I just wished it had focused less on Irlan who, with his unquestionable talent, is certain to go far and have a happy ending, but instead use the opportunity to shed a bit more light on nearly impossible standards that a dancer has to live up to which, in Isabela's case, proved to be the unraveling of her dream. 
I do know, of course, that would have made the film a completely different beast and not as heartwarming.  But I felt bad for feeling so heart-warmed by the successes of Irlan when only moments ago I saw Isabela's family devastated, both financially and emotionally.  It didn't make it any better when after Google searching to check up on the young protagonists, on all the red carpets at all the events, Irlan was in every photo but poor Isabela was nowhere to be found.
That being a major gripe, like I said, I did enjoy the movie.  Really beautiful moments accomponied by a really great soundtrack.  Very Brazilian down to it's core.  The filmmakers did a very good job of that.  It's very visceral and at only about 80 minutes this film is a good one for when you want to be transported elsewhere.  

6.5/10

My turn to talk about The King Of Limbs

 After my first listen-through of the newest Radiohead release I'd said that it Sounds like a collection of B-sides and remixes of songs that should have been on the album. I still stand by that but not with as much ill-intent behind those words.  After a couple weeks with it I still can't imagine myself listening to it as a cohesive album ever again.  Honestly most of the tracks will collect dust in my iTunes library.  It proves to be a very boring and indifferent listen all together.  Only one song- 'Feral' -caught me on the initial listen and for all intents and purposes, it's an instrumental.  Atop that, I liked it better in 1984 when it was called 'Moments In Love'.* 

 Two other songs managed to grow on me. The first being the opening track 'Bloom' which I'll now go on record touting a brilliant track.  Back during the Kid A/Amnesiac sessions they had a tune on their chalk board of potential songs called 'Fela Kuti' and I can't help but think that this trippy afro-beat groove is what's become of it.  This one made it onto my workout mix and I have to stop myself from singing along with lest the strangers on the ellipticals next to me think I've gone mad.  

 The other song that's grown on me is the single 'Lotus Flower'.  Still not sensational but one of the few multifaceted songs on the album. Thom's falsetto always gets to me and this is a case in which it's the saving grace on what otherwise would be an unremarkable track.  

The rest of the tracks range from bland to mediocre which is most unexpected from a band once described as the most important in rock and roll.  But as I've said, I believe Radiohead will go down like the Stones.  Their discography is going to reach into the dozens and people will debate the merits of each for decades to come.  Nothing can be taken away from them and that's the one thing everyone will agree upon.  The King of Limbs just happens to be the first real valley in a history that now contains BOTH highs and lows. 

5.5/10

*if you're unfamiliar with Art of Noise deduct 6 points from your credibility score and Grooveshark them immediately. 

PJ Harvey - 'Let England Shake'

I hear so much Kate Bush in this album.  I hear quite a bit of Bowie. Even perhaps a bit of Cyndi Lauper? But the one I was initially searching for, Ms. Polly Jean Harvey, I couldn't find.  Not the PJ Harvey that I've grown to know and love.  But she's in there.  Poured over this record, heart and soul, and saturated down to the marrow.
This is the follow-up to 'Stories From the City, Stories From the Sea' that I've been waiting for. 'Uh Huh Her' didn't really do much for me and 'White Chalk', even less.  I was a bit fearful that the avant-garde PJ that I'd loved had  moved on to a more safe and sedated place. This album, however, I've not been able to stay away from.  I'm very cautious of trying to not burn myself out on music that I enjoy so I'll stop listening to it even when I feel I'm not finished with it, that way letting it be a pleasant surprise when it comes up on my shuffle.  Every other day though I find myself queuing up this album in its entirety.

7.5/10

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RPA & The United Nations of Sound

RPA & The United Nations Of Sound

Richard Ashcroft & The United Nations of Sound's 'United Nations of Sound' is going to see a proper US release On March 29th under the moniker of simply Richard Ashcroft.  This, I believe, is a horrible idea and I'll tell you why:

The album is shit.

And I don't mean to say that with any malicious intent.  I've tried to force Richard Ashcroft's solo work onto everyone I know who's got a heavy head.  Most know him as the lead singer of the now thrice disbanded The Verve, but it's songs like 'I Get My Beat' 'XXYY' and 'Science of Silence' that he'd released as a soloist that placed him high among the numbers of my favorite artists.

There is very little of that man found in this latest project.  Richard's song writing and backing vocals seem completely phoned in.  The lyrics are rehashes of previous songs on prior albums.  Songs that were done better the first time.  And what the hell is with that awkward falsetto on 'Life Can Be So Beautiful'?  Why did no one tell him it was a bad idea?  Even still that turns out to be one of the catchier songs.  Granting these set backs Richard's voice is just as good as it's always been.  I don't fault him entirely for the shortcomings of this outing. Primarily I will blame that on the production done, surprisingly, by Chicago native and notable Hip Hop producer No I.D..  I remember No I.D. from back in the mid nineties when he was working with soon-to-be superstar COMMON and mentoring a young Kanye West.  I haven't really followed his career much after that, because I was never really blown away by him but it seems he's kept busy.  He's responsible for Jay Z's 'Death Of Auto-Tune'. So when I read that he'd worked on this album fond memories flooded back to mind.  Those were soon followed by massive apprehensions about how this collaboration would turn out.  All of those fears were confirmed once I got my hands on the album.
Every thing's played in really tight 4/4 arrangements.  Metronomic high hats.  Smooth ass bass lines.  With a couple exceptions, tracks that would seem more fitting for rap verses or spoken word.  I personally prefer the twangy slide guitar of his first album 'Alone With Everybody'.  I used to say the Brits make Country music far better than us Yanks.
Not to say that this is all bad, but it's a departure and that's fine.  My point is that it should be an off-shot side project as opposed to being included in the formal canon of Richard Ashcroft albums.  He's made some truly exceptional music and at moments that potential peaks it's head out on The United Nations of Sound but either it's short lived (i.e. the ending of She Brings me the music when the song just starts to be worth the 3 minute investment right before it abruptly ends) or it's stifled by the ill fitting instrumentation.

4.5 out of 10

Standout songs on The United Nations of Sound are:
Good Lovin'
She Brings Me The Music
Glory
Life Can Be So Beautiful

I'll let you look those up on your own time.  As for now I'll leave you with a few of the Richard Ashcroft songs that I've loved throughout the past decade.