It's old, it's coasting a bit now but it's still good... The Wheel of Carpet Samples... HOLIDAY EDITION!
Nothing says, "Merry Christmas" to me more than The Wheel of Carpet Samples.
I still get chills every time they announce the Mystery Sample.
Friday, December 7, 2012
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Drinkinstein
I'd like to think that my blog can, in some ways, be educational. And so it's extremely tempting to explain the following clip and place it in the proper context. But I will resist that temptation.
Great art stands on its own terms. It should be presented to the viewer unfiltered. It stands above any ability of mine to add or detract.
The observer comes to each piece with their own set of views and experiences, and great art simultaneously reflects and transcends those views and those experiences. The back and forth between the viewer supplying their input and the piece feeding back its own interpretation forms the intimate relationship between the observer and the observed. What kind of a person would I be to try to insert myself into such a relationship?
And so, without further ado, I present to you "Drinkinstein":
Great art stands on its own terms. It should be presented to the viewer unfiltered. It stands above any ability of mine to add or detract.
The observer comes to each piece with their own set of views and experiences, and great art simultaneously reflects and transcends those views and those experiences. The back and forth between the viewer supplying their input and the piece feeding back its own interpretation forms the intimate relationship between the observer and the observed. What kind of a person would I be to try to insert myself into such a relationship?
And so, without further ado, I present to you "Drinkinstein":
Saturday, December 1, 2012
IMDB 250 8.4 - In the Name of the Father (1993)
In the Name of the Father (1993)
It is the seventies. MAN, is it the seventies, man. This movie is determined to establish THE HELL out of the fact that it is, indeed, the seventies - by any means necessary. In Ireland, the IRA is waging a war against the British government through riots and bombings. Gerard Conlon (Daniel Day-Lewis) is a, sort of, hippy drifter with little allegiance to either side. But after the bombing of two pub in England, he finds himself and his friends and family accused of creating and planting the bombs.
Under pressure from the government, the police suppress inconvenient evidence and obtain confessions through psychological torture. Several people including Gerard Conlon and his dad are sentenced to rot in prison for years until the case builds that the convictions should be appealed.
Based on a true story, this movie is part courtroom drama, part prison movie and part other courtroom drama. And when Gerard and his dad go to the same prison - even becoming cellmates - it adds a father-son plot-line.
Daniel Day-Lewis is (obviously) extremely good and the script has the gravity of a true story but there's something missing. Every single element of the movie is something we've already seen before in other movies. The police are corrupt baddies, the trial is a mockery of justice, life in prison is cruel and the lawyer who wants the case reopened sure is full of pluck and moxy.
It's a horrible injustice that really happened, and in modern times but, as cinema, it's a real problem when every aspect of a movie is a movie cliche. Drama turns to melodrama and its heavy-handedness in drawing out outrage from the viewer sometimes feels like a Lifetime movie of the week.
5/10.
Total Top "250" Movies Seen: 365.
It is the seventies. MAN, is it the seventies, man. This movie is determined to establish THE HELL out of the fact that it is, indeed, the seventies - by any means necessary. In Ireland, the IRA is waging a war against the British government through riots and bombings. Gerard Conlon (Daniel Day-Lewis) is a, sort of, hippy drifter with little allegiance to either side. But after the bombing of two pub in England, he finds himself and his friends and family accused of creating and planting the bombs.
Under pressure from the government, the police suppress inconvenient evidence and obtain confessions through psychological torture. Several people including Gerard Conlon and his dad are sentenced to rot in prison for years until the case builds that the convictions should be appealed.
Based on a true story, this movie is part courtroom drama, part prison movie and part other courtroom drama. And when Gerard and his dad go to the same prison - even becoming cellmates - it adds a father-son plot-line.
Daniel Day-Lewis is (obviously) extremely good and the script has the gravity of a true story but there's something missing. Every single element of the movie is something we've already seen before in other movies. The police are corrupt baddies, the trial is a mockery of justice, life in prison is cruel and the lawyer who wants the case reopened sure is full of pluck and moxy.
It's a horrible injustice that really happened, and in modern times but, as cinema, it's a real problem when every aspect of a movie is a movie cliche. Drama turns to melodrama and its heavy-handedness in drawing out outrage from the viewer sometimes feels like a Lifetime movie of the week.
5/10.
Total Top "250" Movies Seen: 365.
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Nutria Fallout
"The best laid schemes of mice and men often go awry."
-- Begin Transmission --
Day 52 since The Event and supplies are wearing thin. Today I thought I saw a mouse in my house. I scoured the entire structure and found no entry points or traces of activity. I must now face two possible realities: 1) I have a mouse in my house to threaten my already dwindling supplies. 2) I've begun to hallucinate. Neither possibility is particularly encouraging. I will continue to monitor the situation if I continue to survive.
-- End Transmission --
-- Begin Transmission --
Day 53 since The Event. No activity around the mouse traps and no sign otherwise. Could it really be a hallucination? Thought about running the radio for one minute. Reconsidered.
-- End Transmission --
-- Begin Transmission
Day 54 since The Event. I definitely have a mouse. I woke up in the middle of the night to a decidedly metallic sound - like a spoon on a bowl. In the morning I checked my dishes and found mouse droppings in my drinking cup. The mouse defecated inside the cup from which I drink. It's not just a definitive sign that what I saw was real, he's sent a message. Thought about throwing away my paper towel roll telescope. Thought I might need it later.
-- End Transmission --
-- Begin Transmission --
Day 55 since The Event. Cleaned all dishes, counters and put away all trash. Eliminated all possible food sources for the mouse intruder. Checked my mouse traps. The bait had been eaten and the trap hadn't sprung. I replaced the bait. I'm basically feeding it as a pet at this point. Worse, I may be in a bad cartoon.
-- End Transmission --
Monday, November 26, 2012
Serious Jibber-Jabber - Judd Apatow
It's the second edition of "Serious Jibber-Jabber". At 70 minutes long, it's quite a commitment. But if you have any interest in the process of creating comedy or film-making, it's very interesting.
Monday, November 19, 2012
Conan Reviews Video Games - Hitman
In the latest installment of "Clueless Gamer", Conan reviews the yet-to-be-released "Hitman : Absolution". It's probably the most fun he's had with any game. He is also very tidy.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
