As of Right Now...

... my top five favorite films are Road to Perdition, followed by (in no particular order) Beautiful Girls, Children of Men, Good Will Hunting, and Heat.

... I'm reading a book called The Short Screenplay by Dan Gurskis.

... I have yet to convince my hopefully-future roommate to move to Los Angeles NOW.

... the San Diego Padres are undefeated (2-0).

... grooming creme has replaced mousse as my hair product of choice.

... my latest script, Clandestine's Daughter, has yet to go out to my reader, despite my having promised it to her by last December (and I had intended to get it to her last May or so).

... I haven't worked on an actual set in 156 days.

... I am very upset that one of the good-looking girls on American Idol went home instead of that Sanjaya fruitcake.

... I'm really, really hungry.

... I'm officially excited for the new Transformers movie.

... the 15 Britons taken by Iran are on their way home.

... she has a boyfriend.

... ridiculously oversized "bunny slippers" are keeping my feet warm.

... my Boston Terrier/Pointer mix is trying to keep warm by sleeping under my German Shepherd.

... snow still caps the Sierra Nevadas.

... Charger Girl tryouts are underway.

... DC comics generally suck.

... I'm trying to figure out where I'll be tomorrow, next week, next month, and next year.

... I'm bored off of my ass, but not tired enough to go to sleep.

... I could use a backrub... and a pedicure.

... my pickup truck needs an oil change.

... you're probably wondering why the Hell you're reading this.

A Profoundness in Film

Prior to September 11th, 2001, there was always that occasional film that critics would proclaim as an insight into the world, into humanity. Usually, these films would be nominated for an Academy Award or twelve, and they would fade away into the obscurity of a small box office followed by a resurrection of sorts into curricula the world over for film students. But, at least for the moments that belonged to them, those films would make an impact. Maybe lasting, maybe not. Regardless, someone would probably shout out that this film would change the world. Ultimately, however, it wouldn't, but its lingering frames of celluloid relevant vision would remain in the thoughts and imaginations of the next generation of filmmakers, resulting in yet another "temporarily profound" film venture.

After that infamous date, however, it seems that more and more of these films are making their way into the consciousness of the various pop cultures of the world, and, for better or worse, staying there. It has long been held by the intellectual elite of this world that we are mortal. We live, we die, and with the exception of a few great or heinous people, we are forgotten. Lately, though, this mortal perspective has been passed on to our entire planet, our very species. We are dying as an element of the universe; we are killing ourselves.

Terrorism and the environment lead our headlines. We are in a constant situation of, no matter what we do as individuals, our fates lie in the hands of others. As a result, our art, specifically our film, is beginning to reflect that reluctant nihilism that we are all a part of. We can be killed walking down our own streets, working in our own offices. Indeed, we will be killed walking down streets of foreign lands; breathing the air and drinking the water of our future. Our existence is coming to a head and, for whatever reason, be it profit or a genuine sense of love, Hollywood is trying to warn us.

Take a mere slice of the recent films that have graced the silver screen: Babel, Children of Men, even Al Gore's foray into film, An Inconvenient Truth. Warnings all. They make no effort to disguise their intents. We need to change, and change now, or we're all fucked.

It's almost irony that in a world where people are living longer, our lives can change in less time than ever before. In one second, a building can fall. In one second, a species can be erased from history. In one second, a life can begin and end.

Art has long held the key with which people react to their environments. Almost anybody with half an education can name a painting whose inspiration was death and destruction. Monkeys can probably spout the titles of no less than a dozen so-called war songs. Even the theatre has lent its hand, withered hand it is. But politics? How many people know the history of politics? The great decisions in the last century that led us to where we are today? Not many. Pop culture, it seems, is far more important to most citizens, especially of this country, than any other subject. And finally, Hollywood has taken notice.

There was once a time that supposedly incendiary films were squashed, or relegated to the art house circuit. It wasn't too long ago that the original Manchurian Candidate was finally released after being hidden from public view since JFK's assassination. It wasn't too long ago that the filmmakers behind movies such as Brokeback Mountain would have been admonished. But now, there is an overwhelming sense that humanity is running out of time, and every topic the world over is being brought to the forefront, perhaps in vain attempts at vanity, but perhaps due to the necessity that we need to figure out what's really important right now.

We truly are in a strange new world. China is once again, after centuries of absence, a world power. America is no longer the moral leader and savior of the world. The Middle East, thanks to the proliferation of nuclear technology, is no longer a footprint in Imperial plans. Make no mistake, the power struggle for tomorrow's world is more volatile than it has ever been before. Unfortunately, the average yahoo on the street isn't capable of understanding the minutiae involved in running societies, despite the fact that every yahoo has a definitive opinion, however uneducated, of how such actions should be done.

Which leaves us with film. The ultimate art form. No other art form in the world has the ability to be as affective, nor as pervasive, as film. And, thankfully, we're starting to use it as such. A few years ago, nobody, save naturalists, probably even gave a damn about penguins, then March of the Penguins arrives. The drug trade was seen as black and white, then Traffic. Even television shows like Battlestar Galactica are joining the fray, portraying several sides of several arguments in dramatic ways that laymen can comprehend.

I usually hate it when Hollywood decides to rear its head into the political world, primarily because there was always an overt agenda. But, now I see the necessity of it all. The powerful will continue to maintain and gain power; the stupid will continue to become even more stupid. Hollywood can educate, should it want to. And I think it finally wants to.

Let's hope for the best. There doesn't seem to be a whole lot of time.

Immigration, Terrorism, Hollywood

Two hot topics in politics right now are proliferating on the big and small screens, as of late, so I figured I'd fuel whatever fire and review three movies I've seen recently, as well as the season 6 premiere of one of the best shows on television.

Spanglish

James L. Brooks' comedy about an illegal immigrant housekeeper living with an upscale family in Los Angeles came out in 2004. I didn't see it, although I wanted to. Ever since Sex & Lucia, I've had a bit of an infatuation with Paz Vega, but that's beside the point. I bought the DVD in 2005. Strangely, I finally got around to watching it last week.

Spanglish can, loosely, be described as a "cute" movie. However, this doesn't do it justice. It is a very good movie, well put together, and while a comedy, handles its serious themes nicely.

Adam Sandler plays John Clasky, an up-and-coming chef who is about to make his mark on the culinary world. He's a bit anti-confrontational, and this leads to various problems with his wife, co-workers, and (initially) his new housekeeper. Paz Vega plays Flor (pronouced Florrrrr, with vibratto), who wants nothing more than a better life for her daughter.

Anyway, cultures collide, John's high-maintenance wife winds up having an affair, John and Flor wind up falling love (but do nothing about it), and we're left with a satisfying, but open-ended conclusion.

Liberal Slant: Immigrants contribute greatly to our society, this film proves it!

Conservative Slant: Immigrants are home-wreckers and tax our social programs, this film proves it!

Jeff's Slant: Funny movie, romantic movie, and Paz Vegas is insanely gorgeous.

V for Vendetta

A loose adaptation of the Alan Moore's absolutely spectacular comic book, V for Vendetta is a good action film that touches on certain political dangers. While nowhere near as profound as its source material, the film does attempt to place itself in the contemporary mindset, taking volatile political issues such as the Patriot Act head-on. Actually, despite half-hearted attempts throughout, this is really the only political issue that is taken head-on, as the film pays more than a bit of homage to George Orwell's vision of 1984.

While I enjoyed the movie (what can I say, I'm a Natalie Portman fan), it's unfortunate that the film dropped the multiple and far more extreme themes of its source material. The comic series was devoted to depicting the two ultimate political extremes against each other: anarchy versus fascism. In addition, the comic series was notable for remaining explicitly neutral in its own arguments. The film, however, is clearly about liberalism versus conservatism, and blatantly sides with liberalism.

Liberal Slant: Democrats good, Republicans bad.

Conservative Slant: All you art-loving, open-armed preaching idiots are going to get your asses kicked.

Jeff's Slant: Good movie, worth watching, but solely as entertainment (or if you have a Portman fetish). If you want the truly politically-charged version, read the source material.

Children of Men

Wow. This movie is phenomenal. Let me say that again... wow.

In the near future, mankind has lost the ability to procreate. No human child has been born on Earth for over 18 years. As a result, hope and faith break down, the world delves into a series of catastrophic wars, and the surviving governments become rather totalitarian. At face value, the film implies a heavy dose of racism, but under closer scrutiny, this is not the case... the film implies a heavy dose of nationalism. Otherwise known as fascism. There is a rather large emphasis on illegal immigration (albeit in Britain). Keep in mind that the director, Alfonso Cuarón, is Mexican, and the subject matter is likely near and dear to his heart. That being said, had I the talent and vision, I would have made Children of Men the exact same way he made it.

I really don't want to ruin anything about this movie, so I won't. The shock value of the scene in the dairy farm hit me like a ton of bricks, but only because I had no idea it was coming.

In other words, go see this movie. Oh, and by the way, the political messages of this film are far closer to what Alan Moore intended for V for Vendetta.

Liberal Slant: The world is going to Hell unless we start loving each other.

Conservative Slant: That's quite a naïve sentiment, but yes, the world is going to Hell.

Jeff's Slant: Wow. This movie is phenomenal. Let me say that again... wow.

24: Day 6

First of all, let me just say that I love this show. With the possible exception of "Day 3," this series has been one of the few molds of consistency on television.

Okay, on to controversy... apparently, there's a notion running around our government that the terrorist plot on 24 might serve as inspiration to actual terrorists. Right, like they aren't good enough on their own at thinking of ways to kill us. Kudos to 24 for exposing these "plot holes" in our anti-terror systems.

Let me use this as an opportunity to say that our government is clearly getting dumber by the hour. Liberal, conservative, I don't give a shit. They're all officially idiots.

I suddenly became irritated, so that's all I have to say about that. Watch the show, it's great.

Liberal Slant: We're idiots.

Conservative Slant: We're idiots.

Jeff's Slant: They're idiots. Watch the show.

One closing note: Congress is mulling over bringing back the "Fairness Doctrine," which would require news programs to always portray both sides of an issue or topic. Maybe they're not ALL idiots. It's sad that our government would have to enforce "open discussion," but it beats the alternative.

Of course, Rush Limbaugh is trying to claim it's all a conspiracy to shut him up. Hey, Rush... all they're doing is trying to get you to acknowledge the other side. Acknowledge, not agree with. Is that so bad?