SLC Punk

08.15.10

SLC Punk

(1998)

Starring: Matthew Lillard, Michael Goorjian, Annabeth Gish

Stevo: Wait, time out. I just wanted to ask real quick, if I can. You believe in rebellion, freedom and love, right?

Mom: Absolutely, yes.

Dad: Rebellion, freedom, love.

Stevo: You two are divorced. So love failed. Two: Mom, your a New Ager, clinging to every scrap of Eastern religion that may justify why the above said love failed. Three: Dad, you're a slick, corporate, preppy-ass lawyer. I don't really have to say anything else about you do I dad? Four: You move from New York City, the Mecca and hub of the cultural world to Utah! Nowhere! To change nothing! More to perpetuate this cycle of greed, fascism and triviality. Your movement of the people, by and for the people got you... nothing! You just hide behind some lost sense of drugs, sex and rock and roll. Ooooh, Kumbaya! I am the future! I am the future of this great nation which you, father, so arrogantly saved this world for. Look, I have my own agenda. Harvard, out. University of Utah, in. I'm gonna get a 4.0 in damage. I love you guys! Don't get me wrong, it's all about this. But for the first time in my life, I'm 18 and I can say "FUUUUUCK YOU!"

Dad: Steven, I didn't sell out son. I bought in. Keep that in mind. That kid's gonna make a hell of a lawyer, huh?

Mom: Yeah, he takes after his father. He's a son of a bitch.

Dad: Well fuck you dear

S.L.C. punk is the story of two punk kids, played by Lillard and Goorjian, who live in the worst city in America to be a punk, Salt Lake City, Utah in the 1980's. Stevo, played by Lillard, is a die-hard punk who rules the scene and just wants anarchy to ensue and to live a lifestyle that he believes redeems himself from the scummy world he looks in on. Bob, played by Goorjian, is a punk that doesn't do drugs, but he heavily drinks in order to escape the terrible family life he left to live with Stevo. This film documents the day in the life of a punk in S.L.C.: getting in fights, going to parties, going to shows, doing hardcore drugs, but most of all promoting anarchy. The movie takes a seriously unexpected turn at the end, and reality bites hard for all involved. But, SLC punk is a fantastic movie, one i'll watch again and again. A cult classic i'm sad i hadn't watched till just recently.

"I rest my case on this: In a country of lost souls rebellion comes hard. But in a religiously oppressive city, where half it's population isn't even of that religion, it comes like fire" - Stevo

Sleepers

08.12.10

Sleepers

(1996 )

Starring: Robert DeNiro, Brad Pitt, Kevin Bacon, Billy Crudup, Minnie Driver

"This is a true story about friendship that runs deeper than blood. This is my story and that of the only three friends in my life that truely mattered. Two of them were killers who never made it past the age of 30. The other's a non-practicing attorney living with the pain of his past - too afraid to let it go, never confronting its horror. I'm the only one who can speak for them, and the children we were." - Lorenzo {opening lines}

Sleepers is a tragic tale of four best friends who grew up in Hell's Kitchen that fall prey to a boyhood mistake that changes the course of the rest of their lives. This sad narrative chronicles how a similar traumatic life experience can lead men in many different directions. We see the paths that each of the four boys takes, and the men it leaves them 13 years after the fact. Painful at times to watch, the true story {under discrimination as to whether the story based on the book by Lorenzo Carcaterra is actually fact or fiction} of boys in a crooked juvenile detention facility in the early 1960's is beautifully executed. All of the characters in this film are played by talented actors and actresses that portray a very realistic take on the script. Robert DeNiro as the father-figure priest is beyond brilliant. Young Brad Pitt and Billy Crudup make an impressionable debut in this often overlooked title. Also, no one can play a creepier and more revolting prison guard than Kevin Bacon. Bacon's role in this film forever changed my opinion of him as an actor. Overall, Sleepers is a movie that i highly recommend and subsequently own. Not made up of easily digestible subject matter, but something worth mulling over and chewing on, a thought provoking piece that will be in my collection for years to come.

Lorenzo: Mike, are you sure you wanna go this way? I mean we buried this a long time ago.

Michael: You still sleep with the light on

Dig!

7.30.10
Dig!
(2004)
Starring: The Brian Jonestown Massacre & the Dandy Warhols

"The fuckers. The bean-counters, the lawyers, all of these assholes at every label. Those are people that wreck the music business. Not Napster, not some college kid downloading shit. The people without vision." - Anton

A rockumentary about the little known, but genius band called The Brian Jonestown Massacre, Dig! is the sad chronicle of a band who had nothing going for them but the music they made. Anton Newcombe is the mastermind behind the Brian Jonestown Massacre, a musical genius of epic proportion who can't keep his junkie habits and his unbridled temper from ruining his chance at fame. Essentially, the end of this film simply degrades into a constant feed of Anton's antics including bar fights, heroine binges, abusive relationships, and arrests. But the crux of the film is really the interaction between the Brian Jonestown Massacre and the joke of a pop band, The Dandy Warhols. Courtney Taylor and the rest of the "Dandys" practically worship Anton and the Jonestown boys, to an embarassing degree. All of this incriminating action caught on film, denial isn't an option for the puffed up egos of the band who could never hope to be one ounce as brilliant as any half baked creation of Anton's. The Brian Jonestown Massacre is doomed from the get go, because Anton believes signing with a record label is selling out and subsequently always sabatoges the bands shot at making it big time. The rotating entourage of the Brian Jonestown Massacre includes Matt Hollywood, Frankie Emerson, Ricky Maymi, Collin Hegna, Dan Allaire, Rob campanella and last but certianly not least Joel Gion (the tambourine man). This group of performers sticks around as long as they can put up with Anton's madness. Overall, this film will chronicle a band that could have been great, a story of brilliant musicians doomed to oblivion in the overstimulated ears of a generation of ipods filled with music that will never reach the pinnacle of the talent that is channeled through The Brian Jonestown Massacre.

"I'll just say what I got to say. I'm here to destroy this fucked up system. I will do it. That's why I got the job. I said let it be me; I said use my hands. I will use our strength. Let's fuckin' burn it to the ground! " - Anton

"Let the song sing itself" - Anton

Before Sunrise

07.22.10
Before Sunrise
(1995)
Starring: Ethan Hawke & Judy Delpy

Before Sunrise, the prequel to Before Sunset is full of youthful hope and vitality. A young couple, an american and a french girl, meet on a train and decide to spend a day together before the young man (ethan hawke) has to catch his flight back to America. I actually watched this film after i had first watched Before Sunset, and the movies worked almost better that way for me. Although, i understand, as a filmmaker how the films couldn't have been created in that order. All of the beauty of Before Sunset is because it draws on all the memories and rich emotional connection that was built between Ethan Hawke and Judy Delpy in this film, Before Sunrise. Before Sunrise was directed by Richard Linklater, one of my very favorite writers and directors, and his beautifully written script is the main character in this film. The dialogue is so rich and thought provoking. Despite my partiality to it's predecessor, i could never write off the beautiful chemistry Linklater cultivates and captures in Before Sunrise.

"Isn't everything we do in life a way to be loved a little more?" - Celine {Judy Delpy}

The Fantastic Mr. Fox

7.20.10
Fantastic Mr. Fox
(2009)
Starring: George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray, William Dafoe, Owen Wilson, Wes Anderson

Mrs. Fox: You know, you really are... fantastic.

Mr. Fox: I try.

The Fantastic Mr. Fox is a whimsical movie from Wes Anderson. Very typical to Anderson's eclectic style, but set apart from his other work because of the digitally animated characters used to personify his quirky creations. The amazingly star studded cast (listed above) really made the Movie for me. None can discount Wes Andersons' talent, but this was not my favorite film of his, because it was a little too contrived and scripted. Anderson's typical character interaction is stilted, that's part of the humor in it, but the problem is that type of comedic style doesn't translate well through an animated characters face. The prevailing charm in any Anderson film is the rich non-verbal communication between characters, such as the circle scene in the Darjeeling limited where all the brothers and Anjelica Huston are grieving for their father. Much of the heart and soul was lost through the animation, but it also lent it a cute child-like whimsy that couldn't have been achieved through his normal medium. I would recommend this movie, but i wouldn't lead anyone to believe that they would be floored by it's production.

"They say all foxes are slightly allergic to linoleum, but it's cool to the paw - try it. They say my tail needs to be dry cleaned twice a month, but now it's fully detachable - see? They say our tree may never grow back, but one day, something will. Yes, these crackles are made of synthetic goose and these giblets come from artificial squab and even these apples look fake - but at least they've got stars on them. I guess my point is, we'll eat tonight, and we'll eat together. And even in this not particularly flattering light, you are without a doubt the five and a half most wonderful wild animals I've ever met in my life. So let's raise our boxes - to our survival." - Mr. Fox

Death At A Funeral

07.16.10

Death At A Funeral

(2007)

Starring: Matthew Macfadyen, Andy Nyman, Ewen Bremner

Jane: Would you like a cup of tea, Sandra?
Sandra: Tea can do many things, Jane, but it can't bring back the dead.

Not yet this year have i watched a film that made me laugh so hard i cried. Hilarious is the only word i can use to describe this witty British comedy. The dynamic between all of the characters was beyond brilliant. The humor from the cast is contagious and the viewer feels as if they've been hurled into the eye of a hazardous family storm. One unfortunate event after another marks a day in the life of Matthew Macfadyen's Fathers funeral. Accidental psychedelic drug episodes, crabby old men, sibling rivalry, and dissatisfied gay-lovers are only a tip of the catastrophic iceberg that make up Death at A Funeral.

New Moon: Twilight

07.08.10

Twilight: New Moon

(2010)

Starring: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner

As a whole, i haven't really jumped on the whole Twilight bandwagon, but was somehow corralled into watching the teenage vampire crazed movie. Compared to the first film of the series this was far superior in the special effects department and even the story construction. I'm under the impression that the two werewolves fighting was where much of the special effects budget was spent and it was well worth it! The story would not have made much sense to a viewer who had missed out on the prequel, it was constructed almost like a giant inside joke that anyone missed the first film would have felt extremely left out of. The acting was moderate to poor and not even the attractive Rob Pattinson and Taylor Lautener could outshine that fact. Overall, I was entertained, but the two hour viewing time did begin to drag about an hour and fifteen minutes in. Not a movie i'd recommend or speak highly of, but it was exactly what it was intended to be, a film for the generation who missed out on Harry Potter.

Gummo

07.03.10
Gummo
(1997)
Directed & Written by Harmony Korine

"Life is beautiful. Really, it is. Full of beauty and illusions. Life is great. Without it, you'd be dead"- Solomon


I don't know where to begin. Gummo is a movie, who's haunting images will be burned forever into the back of my eyelids. Harmony Korine created a world for the big screen not often given any thought in the star studded Hollywood world, the extremely poverty stricken middle America family. The scene is set in a small town by the name of Xenia, Ohio before it's destruction by a tornado in the early 1970's. Poor teens shooting cats to get money to huff glue, hidden sexuality, the rotting stench of machine-hindered death, family proctered prostitution, and many other harsh realities are overwhelming. Gummo is so realistic you can almost smell the aroma of the scene, a fact which caused me to feel physically sick during the film. All of these things are artfully couched in innuendo, and many of the atrocities are left to the imagination, which makes them all the more potent. Harmony, in an interview for the film stated that he didn't want any one story or main character, he simply wished to create bits and pieces of life, a goal he most effectively achieved. Only five of people in the entire cast of Gummo were professional actors, the rest made up of locals. The heartbreaking stories that come floating to the grimy surface of Gummo will do nothing less than leave a deep marking impression on your mind. A must see.

Before Sunset

06.27.10

Before Sunset

(2004)

Starring: Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy

"You can never replace anyone because everyone is made up of such beautiful specific details." - Celine

For some strange reason {or too many reasons to concisely wrap up with a neat little bow} ] Richard Linklater entrances and violently plucks at the strings of my heart and imagination like no other director or filmmaker I've ever been witness too. Before Sunset is a beautiful film that is extremely definitive in his career, the characters played by Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy play a consistently important role through three of his films: in Before Sunrise (the prequel to Before Sunset) and also in a short in Waking Life (my favorite film). You feel as if you've been granted the power of invisibility and have stumbled across one of the most interesting, life changing conversations going on in the world at that moment in time. But the beauty of Linklater is that he can create that sense of awe and simultaneously cultivate the thought in the viewers mind that it is just a fleeting moment that could be being had by someone else. The culminating moments of peoples lives; "Life is more than the sum of it's parts kiddo" you can almost hear him whispering.

"Memories are wonderful things, if you don't have to deal with the past."

Bananaz

6.25.10
Bananaz
(2008)
Starring: The Creators of the Gorillaz

Bananaz is a documentary about the cartoon band the Gorillaz. 2-D, Noodle, Russel, and Murdoc are animated characters birthed from the creative insanity of Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett. The goal of the Gorillaz was to annihilate the boring mantra of British pop bands and invade the world with a new concept of a faceless band. This film does nothing better than showcase the utterly off-the-wall personalities of the two creators. Bananaz is a rather haphazard splicing together of the many different scenes and issues that ultimately bring about the well known reputation of the band today. Almost irritating at some points are the childish tendencies of Albarn and Hewlett, but ultimately a very informative and entertaining documentation of the band and it's cartoon antics.

Stay

06.10.10
Stay
(2005)
Starring: Ewan McGregor, Naomi Watts, Ryan Gosling

"Do you know the Tristan Rêveur quote about bad art? It's "bad art is more tragically beautiful than good art 'cause it documents human failure." - Henry Letham

Twisted and gnarled like a tangled barbed-wire fence, Stay pricks at the emotions while the viewer is trying to unfurl the complicated web of events that make up the stories of Sam Foster and Henry Letham. Henry Letham (ryan gosling) is the unlikely psychology patient of Sam Foster (Ewan McGregor) who shows up and threatens that he will kill himself within three days of their impromptu pshych evaluation. The rest is the intertwining of strange events that begin to piece together as the story leads on. Stay never leaves the viewer with a concrete answer, but allows the story to live on in the imaginations of the viewers- a powerful narrative expression that leaves a lasting impression.


Sam Foster: What's this?
Henry Letham: I burned myself.
Sam Foster: You burned yourself? Why?
Henry Letham: Practicing for hell.

Taking Woodstock

6.09.10
Taking Woodstock
(2009)
Starring: Liev Schrieber, Emile Hirsch, Dmitri Martin



"Everyone with their little perspective. Perspective shuts out the universe, it keeps the love out" - Carol

Fringe Vests, Interpretive Dancing, "Brownies", Acid, Psychedelic Painted Vans, Free Love, and Peace; Just a couple things that embody the true spirit of the festival of Woodstock. Taking Woodstock is a film that sought to cover a different aspect of the festival that isn't normally captured in the documentary style films, it wanted to bring to light the action behind the event. All the beautiful, behind the scenes, human interactions and drama that enabled the concert that would change the face of music for the rest of time. Taking Woodstock, although a bit hodge-podge in it's plot construction, was quite enjoyable. The special features on the dvd were extremely enlightening and ALL of the historical research that went into the film deserves beyond respect. Anyone who appreciates history and the essence of the 1960's music scene will be thoroughly entertained.

The real michael lang
(Ang Lee did such a phenomenal job casting Jonathan Groff for Michael Lang )

Dead Man

05.30.10
Dead Man
(1995)
Starring: Iggy Pop, Johnny Depp, Gary Farmer

"That weapon will replace your tongue. You will learn to speak through it. And your poetry will now be written with blood" - Nobody

Dead Man, another weirdly fascinating masterpiece from the genius of Jim Jarmusch, takes the old west scene in glorious Black and White. Johnny Depp plays the down-and -out cowboy who travels to the town of Machine to fill a position that, after spending all his money on train fare, is already filled. Through a series of unfortunate events William Blake becomes implicated in the towns most infamous murder. Running from the crooked form of Law in the town of Machine, his fate becomes intertwined with the confused Indian guide named "nobody." Nobody is full of faux-wisdom for William Blake, because he believes him to be the dead ghost of the ancient poet, thus sending him on a vengeful apparition's killing spree. Overall this movie is so visually enthralling and the phenomenal soundtrack written by Neil Young transports the viewer into the very essence of the twisted-classic wild west epic. Although Jarmusch's style is difficult for a beginning film viewer to appreciate, the avid watchers eye will never be bored.

Water

05.18.10
Water
(2005)

"To talk about the truth is easy but to live by it is not."

Water was a film being shown at a Foreign Film Festival in Spokane, so i was pleasantly able to view this film on the big screen. It is a story of the plight of Indian widows under the religious repression of Hindu culture. Widows in the time before the revolution of Gandhi were considered "half dead," when their husband dies they must go into hiding till the end of their days. Water is about a small nine year old girl named Chuyia, who although she cannot even remember her husband, must live in constant grief of his death in separation from society. Chuyia meets many interesting people along the way, one of these being a wealthy man and follower of Gandhi who wishes to wed one of the widows that lives with Chuyia. The struggle of men and women trying to overcome religious constraints in order to live a happier healthier life is the focal point of this movie. The end scene, although heart wrenching, is leading the viewer to a hopeful belief in a better life for the survivors of the system.

Burn After Reading

05.15.10
Burn After Reading
(2008)
Starring: John Malkovich, Tilda Swinton, George Clooney, Brad Pitt

"Oh, yes. You see, you're one of the morons I've been fighting my whole life. My whole fucking life. But guess what... Today, I win."
-John Malkovich as Osbourne Cox

This concludes the third time I've watched this film and my sentiments have changed dramatically since my first encounter with the chaos of Burn After Reading.The first time i walked out of the theatre I felt like i wanted to stand in the middle of a large crowd of people, throw my hands in the air, and scream profanities at the top of my lungs. Second viewing left me feeling more annoyed then anxious. The Third time just so happens to be the charm, i was quite amused this run around. The Cohen brothers are fascinated with the concept of "the man": the common man who thinks that no one could possibly know anymore than him. Burn After Reading is no different from the rest of their films, the idiot wins. The Cohen brothers are the masters of the cynical cinema, mocking the very people that frequent their films. Perhaps i had such a difficult time watching this movie the first two times, because I'm not very good at getting past the individual characters, but once you can throw individuality into the background, the humor of the story takes foreground and it becomes the tragically humorous comedy it was always intended to be.

The Deer Hunter

05.13.10
The Deer Hunter
(1978)
Starring: Christopher Walken, Robert De Niro, Meryl Streep



The Deer Hunter was a phenomenal movie, a classic that will forever remain burned in my memory. The brilliant acting of a young Christopher Walken, Meryl Streep, and Robert De Niro create a very accurate depiction of the impact that Vietnam caused in the lives of people all around the world. The Deer Hunter won five Oscars in the year of it's release; Best Actor in a Supporting Role played by Christopher Walken, Best Director- Michael Cimino, Best Film Editing, Best Picture, & Best Sound. One of the many reasons that this film is so emotionally taxing is because it shows the small untouched hometown of the men that where sent to Vietnam to fight and then of their rag tag return to a world so mentally disturbed by loss that it can never again regain normalcy. A neccessary film for any film critic and anyone who needs reminder of the horror caused by the American involvement in the pacific.

21 Grams

05.11.10
21 Grams
(2003)
Starring: Naomi Watts, Sean Penn, Benicio Del Toro



"There are so many things that have to happen for two people to meet."

21 Grams left me feeling unsatisfied, confused, and empty. Hopelessness prevailed in this narrative of three people thrown together by the cruel mistress of chance. Sean Penn plays a man with a failing heart. Naomi Watts is the upper-middle-substance-abusing-trainwreck of a mother. Benicio Del Toro is an emotionally tortured ex-convict trying to reestablish his existence through faith. In Requiem-for-a-Dream fashion we will see all of these characters spiraling down into the endless pit of loss and despair. The film is set up in brief glimpses of each life forcing the viewer to piece together the story in a haphazard manner while simultaneously watching the characters try to sort out their broken shards of life. Overall, I could appreciate the superb acting, editing, and direction of the film, but i wouldn't willingly watch it again and would think twice before recommending it to anyone.

Coco Chanel

05.07.10
Coco Avant Chanel
2009
Starring: Audrey Tautou

Coco before Chanel was a very well executed biographical film of Coco Chanel. The musical score and cinematography were absolutely beautiful and the costuming was, obviously, the focal point of the movie. Overall, i did not really enjoy this viewing experience, it dragged on despite it's meager 105 min. runtime. The character development, for any other role besides Coco's, was shabbily strung together and there was a shocking lack of "chemistry" between Coco and her various love interests. Sadly, the ever-impressive acting of the beautiful Audrey Tautou and the parade of Chanel's historically pivotal wardrobe at the end of the film were the only redeeming aspects of this film.

Exit Through The Gift Shop

04.25.10
Exit Through The Gift Shop
2010
Starring: Banksey, Shepard Fairey, Theirry Guetta


"I have no interest in ever coming out. I figure there are enough self-opinionated assholes trying to get their ugly little faces in front of you as it is. You ask a lot of kids today what they want to be when they grow up, and they say, “I want to be famous.” You ask them for what reason and they don’t know or care"-Banksy


At the Sundance screening of Exit Through the Gift Shop Banksy delivered a letter to be read at the beginning of the film. “Trying to make a movie which truly conveys the raw thrill and expressive power of art is very difficult. So we haven't bothered. Instead, this is simply an everyday tale of life, longing, and mindless vandalism. Everything you are about to see is true, especially the bit where we all lie.” Banksy has always been about creating a discord between average thought and art, he wants to move and shake peoples ideas through a faceless persona. Although I must confess the movie left me an anxiety-ridden-knotted-stomach-fist-clenching mess, it did its job. Banksy said, “I used to encourage everyone to make art, I don’t do that anymore.” This movie left me so upset because the very persona and idea of Banksy was cheapened and distorted by the semi-successful attempt at a hollow-motive driven fame seeker, Thierry. But after giving the film much thought, I realized that Banksy wanted to bring to light the issue that imitation is the highest form of flattery does not always apply, especially when the imitation turns out to just be a cheap-one dimensional copy of the original masterpiece. Although Banksy says that he wasn’t trying to make a movie that “conveys the raw thrill and expressive power of art” he shows exactly what sucks the raw thrill and expressive power out of art, perhaps that’s the more powerful statement. Who’s the joke on? Guess we’ll have to see.

My Left Foot

04.20.10
My Left Foot: The Story of Christy Brown
(1989)
Starring: Daniel Day Lewis


My Left Foot is none other than an inspirational story of epic proportion. Daniel Day Lewis plays the true-life role of Christy Brown, a talented man trapped in a body that is crippled with Cerebral Palsy. The narrative of this story is moving in its unassuming nature; It does not seek to put Christy Brown on a platform for his disability, but to enlighten the audience to the many obstacles that he overcame to seek a "normal" existence, that was anything but. Much of the subject matter of this film is very gritty and realistic, bordering on painful to watch. At many points in this film i remember clenching my hands and gritting my teeth as you watched Christy labor to do something as simple as writing "mother" on the floor in chalk. I would suggest watching this film alone, because it more deeply permeates your mind in it's journey of this man and his devoted family. My Left Foot should be praised for it's refusal to glorify the ugly parts of Christy Browns character, it portrayed him just as he was, a man living life.

The Fall

4.13.10
The Fall
(2006)
Starring: Lee Pace, Catinca Untaru


The Fall is a diamond in the rough, a movie that has gone unnoticed in my film search until now. I was extremely impressed and fascinated by the expansive imagery in the film. A wash of starkly contrasting colors and sweeping landscapes, The Fall seeks to blur the line between dreams and reality. The story is birthed as an escapism effort by the emotionally and physically wounded man who spins the "tall tale" that morphs into more of a heroic epic than a fairytale. This story is fraught with symbolism that serves as an allegory to the painful existence of the man creating the mystery. We see it unfold from the eyes of a little girl avidly soaking up the story, as well as being introdued to the true facts that translate into the beautiful fiction. Some parts of this film were overly theatrical and came off a bit cheesy, but any criticisms are quelled by the impeccable visuals. Overall, a movie i would highly recommend.

Kurosawas Dream's

04.05.10
Kurosawa's Dreams
(1990)
Starring:Martin Scorcese (cameo as Vincent Van Gogh) & various Japanese actors/actresses


Kurosawa's Dreams is a collection of beautiful short films. In formal Japanese style, the movie moves at a slow and traditional pace, but it does not disappoint. The amazing visual aspects and incredible vision of the legendary director translate perfectly into the, primarily visual, narrative. It is the equivalent of a moving painting, breaching the physical and spiritual world through the bridge of imagination. It's rather a coffee-table movie, that would not lose its charm if strict attention wasn't practiced, but i believe that it will captivate and demand any seasoned-foreign-film-viewers full attention.

Raging Bull

03.30.10
Raging Bull
(1980)
Starring: Joe Pesci, Robert De Niro


This year, i've been attempting to watch the entirety of Martin Scorcese's films, this is yet another one of his many celebrated accomplishments. Although i have the utmost respect for Scorcese and his creative counterpart of De Niro, i wasn't terribly impressed with this film. Raging Bull was a very realistic film, done in a similar style to Mean Streets, but my impression was that it was unnecessarily vulgar in language. Sibling Rivalry dragged on incessently and the unavoidable torment that was inflicted on anyone in the presence of Jake LaMotta became tiresome as the plot wore on. The use of black and white film to create a timely experience was used quite effectively, but overall the viewing of this film was not enjoyable or something i'd watch again.

Brick

03.28.10
Brick
(2005)
Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Noah Segan, Lukas Haas, Nora Zehetener


Brick is brilliantly executed film that delivers lines in a snappy, stylised manner and creates a "Maltese Falcon" style ambiance about a highschool drug kingpin and a missing brick of cocaine. One of my favorite films out of the many i've seen, i don't only love it, i own it. I've watched it an inordinate amount of times and it never ceases to get old. Each of the characters is brillinatly crafted into an even more conceptualised plot. This is the first film of the director that went on to create the Brothers Bloom, another fantastic narrative. It does seem slow, and has alot of quiet moments, but, in my opinion never drags. The ingeniuty behind crafting something so unique with such a limited budget for set and musical score speaks for itself. Put this on your "watch" list, immediately, you won't regret it.

The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus

03.26.10
The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus
(2010)
Starring: Heath Ledger, Lily Cole, Johnny Depp, Christopher Plummer

The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus was the equivalent of a mental roller coaster ride on acid, continually plunging into darkness and showing light only briefly enough to blind you before you dive back into the darkness. Going into the film i had no idea what to expect, and that was the perfect way to enter this film. Its' magic lay in it's secretive narrative nature. The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus is a traveling group who, from the streets-eye view is nothing but a shabby theatrical sham, but through the curtained door lies a world full of nightmares and dreams. I was utterly impressed and completely enthralled with the story line of this film. It is a very abstract storyline, and I don't wish to say more, in order to avoid spoiling someones first encounter with the film. But i would urge anyone with an active imagination, or even an imagination that needs a facelift, that this will be the perfect electrical shock that will spark back to life any dead,dull, and lifeless creative impulse.

Ponyo

03.25.10
Ponyo
(2010)
Starring: Liam Neeson, Tina Fey, Matt Damon, Cate Blanchett


Ponyo, can be hailed as none other than a purely magical film of epic proportions. Miyazaki has done it again, created an animated film so inspired and radically different than any other child's animated film. It is a beautiful thing that Miyazaki can make film after film, so distinct from each other, yet manage to maintain a very particular identity to every silver-screen creation and Ponyo is no exception. Ponyo is the story of a little fish-creature, daughter of the sea who wishes nothing more than to become a little girl and live forever with her little-boy-love named Sosuke. We travel along in an adventure with the girl as she breaks free from the constraints of the sea and momentarily turns the whole spin of the earth on end in her effort to be reunited with Sosuke. Miyazaki's films always have a very strong emphasis on the natural world and it's importance to the daily life of people. Ponyo brings the importance of the livelihood of the sea forefront. In conclusion, a beautiful film that will mystify any adult as equally as it will fascinate any children, invoking the imagination in an extreme and profound way.

The Hangover

03.23.10
The Hangover
(2009)
Starring: Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, Justin Bartha

The first time that i saw this film in theatres, my experience was completely destroyed by a crying baby, an overweight couple loudly munching popcorn & quoting lines, and last but not least, a fellow snort-laughing every five minutes on cue. Thankfully, I chose to give the Hangover another try. The Hangover is a hilarious narrative of three dysfunctional friends with equally disfunctional lives and the mentally challenged, soon-to-be-brother-in-law character played by Zach Galifianakis. The film follows the shenanigans of this motley crue through the treacherous moral territory of "sin city." This film never drags, not once, every single scene presents a new twist and another character's laughable attempt to come out on top. Overall, a movie that doesn't really rise above the typical male-fantasy-experience-comedy that typically is birthed from Hollywood , but one that made me laugh without fail.

Shutter Island

03.18.10
Shutter Island
{2010}
Starring: Mark Ruffalo, Leonardo DiCaprio, Ben Kingsley


Martin Scorsese has the midas touch of film, a moniker i use sparingly, but one that is deserved here nontheless. Scorsese cannot touch a movie without seeping his brilliant craftsmanship into the marrow of the film and Shutter Island was no exception. Shutter Island is a masterpiece of the pshychological thriller and horror film genre. Rarely in a movie am i completely left in the dark about the nature of the main player's character or at least a hint of a clue as to the resolution of the plot, but i was completely at a loss to figure out this mental puzzle till the solution was handed to me in a neat little package at the finale. Even then, doubts still remain as to the conclusion and validity of my perceptions. Shutter Island is so visually stimulating and striking, and the score definitely brings the "creepy" factor to the table. Lightening flashes, hurricane-power rainfall, and empty corridors are all strategically designed to make your skin crawl. Never once did this film conjur up any feelings of cheesiness or disbelief in me as a viewer. I was enthralled the whole film. Leonardo DiCaprio was brilliant as usual {not a Scorsese film regular for no reason} and Mark Ruffalo never ceases to impress me with the wide range of roles he can play. Ben Kingsley, as the head pshychiatrist, was the perfect professional addition to the scenery of the insane asylum. Overall, i cannot give this film enough praise. Shutter Island is a must see, preferably on the big screen in order to preserve that "larger-than-life" sound and charm that enables the film to suck you into another world for two hours. Who knows, you may question your own sanity by the end of this film. {evil laugh}

Seven Years in Tibet

03.18.10
Seven Years in Tibet
(1997)
Starring: Brad Pitt, David Thewlis, B.D. Wong


Seven Years in Tibet is a fascinating story that stretches across many landscapes and crosses many different cultural paths. The scenery is beautiful enough to captivate the viewer alone, but the plot is what really holds the story together. The storyline of Seven Years in Tibet was constructed in a very strategic way, that introduces the viewers to just enough political background information so as to not confuse and overwhelm, but to properly engage the audience into the political turmoil of the story at hand. This film deals primarily with the invasion of China into the peaceful Tibetan country, but also discusses the ramifications of the war in Germany reaching its' ugly fingers into the beautiful and seemingly untouched parts of the Asian hemisphere.Brad Pitt plays the olympic and nationally hailed climber that, at the request of the Nazi government, decides to scale the Himalayan mountains. Amidst injury and avalanches the German climbing crew is forced to retreat and is subsequently captured and imprisoned by the British Army as POW's. The story is just beginning at this point, later Brad Pitt begins a very close relationship with the Dalai Llama. This friendship between the two men of completely different life experiences and beliefs is the guiding principle behind the last half of the film. Despite the much critisized running time of the film, I thought that it was neccesary for the brevity and sheer volume of information covered in the film's time span. Seven Years in Tibet is a beautiful movie that consistently held my attention and is something i would highly reccomend.

Carriers

03.16.10
Carriers
(2009)
Starring: Chris Pine, Emily VanCamp, Lou Taylor Pucci


"Don't judge a book by it's cover" generally is a principle that also applies to film cover art as well, but sadly in both cases a poor cover almost always indicates a lacking film. The cover of Carriers seemed to imply a cheesy, end of the world, disease film that would be entertaining and on a similar level to a "Scream" movie quality, I was quite wrong. Carriers was an intense, knuckle clenching, fingernail biting, roller coaster ride. This film is about a fatal disease that is wiping out earths' entire population, it is carried by air and touch, so the four main characters we meet are constantly wearing masks and bleaching everything they touch. Carriers starts right into the middle of the action with the four characters driving along a main highway and suddenly running into a large suv blocking the road. This suv contains a small girl and a father {both infected} who are trying to get gas from ongoing vehicles. Needless to say, the lack of main staples, such as gas and food, become the primary struggles of the protagonists. Without giving away too much about the final verdict of the plot, many lives are lost along the way to the disease and the fear surrounding the contagion. Family members and lovers turn against eachother for survival, typical human consideration is thrown out the window. Carriers is definitely a pshycological thriller that deserves recognition.

Zombieland

03.15.10
Zombieland
(2009)
Starring: Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone, Abigail Breslin


Zombieland is a bizarre, entertaining take on the (as some would purport) the impending doom of the zombie apocalypse. Each of the four main characters we meet along the way maintains an alias of a city where they are from or planning on heading to. Jesse Eisenberg plays the role of Columbus, the typically awkward Michael Cera role that he's monotonously typecasted as. Woody Harrelson plays the Cadillac-driving-Twinkies-obsessed-gun-slinging-cowboy that really carries the film along. Later we meet Emma Stone and Abigail Breslin, who go as Wichita and Little Rock, two sisters who have conned their way to safety since the infection. The movie creatively uses text on screen to integrate Columbus' rules on how to avoid being murdered by zombies. The movie was incredibly gory, and even though it's expected some of it really grossed me out, maybe I'm just a wimp. But overall, Zombieland, most especially Bill Murray's cameo, was extremely entertaining.

Mozart and the Whale

03.12.10
Mozart and the Whale
(2005)
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Radha Mitchell



A rather forgettable story of two people with Aspergers that fall in love. One of the few redeeming qualities of this mediocre film is the expansive coverage of many Spokane tourist attractions. Josh Hartnett and Radha Mitchell spend lots of time in Riverpark Square and the park, so the film will automatically appeal to any Spokanite. Although i must give credit to Josh Hartnett for his well played role, the character played by Radha Mitchell was over the top and not very relatable. The choppy plot is so disjointed and uncohesive that it may as well have been stuck together with duct tape. It appears that the director wanted to use the well known, handsome face of Josh Hartnett and rely on the sympathetic nature of the audience to be sufficiently enthralled and distracted away from the films many flaws. In conclusion, if you live in Spokane, Mozart and the Whale is a film worth watching simply for the local sightseeing and extras, but otherwise it falls short of any recognition or praiseworthy attributes.

Wristcutters: A Love Story

03.09.10
Wristcutters: A Love Story
(2007)
Starring: Patrick Fugit, Shannyn Sossaman


Wristcutters is dark comedy with no smiles, a story about life found in lost life. A brilliant narrative about the afterlife of suicide victims based on the novel "Knellers Happy Campers." As the opening credits role we watch the last actions of a man who has given himself the death sentence. As the last name flashes across the screen we see Zia, the broken hearted hero of our story, laying on the ground of his newly cleaned apartment bleeding out from his self inflicted cut wrists in a puddle of blood. Next scene is Zia apparently alive and well in a new world. We find that this new world is a world wherin every person that lives in it has "offed" themselves and in doing so is unintentionally damned to a life with no stars in the night sky, no smiles, no enjoyment, and perpetual unbearable heat. Along the way we meet many different characters, including the oddity of Tom Waits, and lose many pairs of sunglasses into a black hole in the passenger seat of Zia's roadtrip vehicle. Wristcutters is an intriguing, well executed story and a film i'd love to own.

Conversations With Other Women

03.04.10
Conversations With Other Women
(2005)
Starring: Helena Bonham Carter, Aaron Eckhart


Since the release of Conversations with Other Women in 2005 i have been constantly picking it up at the movie store, only to put it back when i chose something else over it. After i finally got around to watching this film i realised that my aversion had been a discernment well founded. This was a disappointing film for me. Although, the technical style of the dual screen film was fascinating and groundbreaking, it could not save the film from the disheartening plot that it was built around. Conversations With Other Women is a film about two people that the viewer is lead to believe are meeting for the first time and then engage in adulterous activity with each other. We later find out that the couple had been once married and now live on separate ends of the globe and are both either married or attached to other parties. This is a sad film about the lives of two unhappy people who seemingly will never find the elixir to cure their deep rooted relationship depression. Aaron Eckhart and Helena Bonham Carter are both, in their own respects, brilliant actors and actresses, but their is no chemistry between the two and neither of their true talents are able to shine through the stilted scripting of this film.

The Killing Fields

03.02.10
The Killing Fields
(1984)
Starring: John Malkovich, Sam Waterston, Haing S. Ngor


To be honest, I'm not sure quite where to begin on describing in a short synopsis the impact that this film has had on me as a viewer.The Killing Fields is one of the most moving films i have ever been exposed to. I have seen many disturbing films: realistic, biographical, and fictional alike and The Killng Fields stands at the forefront of my mind above them all. Simply Thinking about this film and the lives of the real people that it depicts, brings tears to my eyes and causes my stomach to churn. This film can be compared only to the likes of Steven Spielberg's "Schindlers List." The most upsetting aspect of comparing the two, is that the plight of the Nazi Genocide is well known and recognised, but the unimaginable horrors suffered by the Cambodian people barely even register on the social injustice radar of the average American. The Killing Fields introduce, in a very personal and impactful manner, a historical event that is sadly ignored by most of modern day Society. The horrors that took place in Cambodia during the reign of Pol Pot are looked over by most public school education historical curriculum and in turn have ultimately gone unnoticed by my generation and many others. This ignorance is an abominable social injustie, and "The Killing Fields" seeks to bring a personal look at the mass genocide that took place in Cambodia in the 1ate 1970's. The Khmer Rouge sought to destroy all knowledge of the past and to brainwash young converts into only thinking of the future from "Year Zero" on. What had first caused me to watch this film was an article i had read about the Khmer Rouge genocide and the thing that blew my mind is that when this film was being made that Pol Pot was still running Cambodia when the film was being made in neighboring Thailand. The makers of the film sought to bring national attention to the atrocity that had taken place, almost completely unnoticed by the western world, and to help bring aid to the emotionally, spiritually, and physically ravaged country of Cambodia. I cannot stress enough the importance of viewing this incredible film, it will change your life and hopefully to inspire you to learn more and honor the death of thousands of Pol Pot's innocent victims.

Dream a Little Dream

02.28.10
Dream a Little Dream
(1989)
Starring: Corey Feldman, Corey Haim



"Dream a little Dream" is the epitome of the Corey Feldman and Corey Haim glory days. A cheesy, but heartwarming and entertaining late eighties movie that deals with new-age mentality and an interesting new look at the coming of age narrative. Corey Feldman and his highschool crush get their minds switched with the minds of an elderly couple living near the high school of the kids. We travel with Feldman on his journey to try and switch back his brains and save himself, his girlfriend, and the old people who's minds are lost in the time-space continuum. "Dream a Little Dream was a mediocre movie that doesn't really stand out above the many other movies of it's genre or time, but it was quite entertaining and is something i would not be opposed to watching again. A great late 1980's bubble gum pop film, that in the light of Corey Haim's recent untimely, drug-related death, might be a great film to commemorate his passing with.

New York, I Love You

02.26.10
New York, I Love You
(2009)
Starring: Rachel Bilson, Ethan Hawke, Anton Yelchin, Chris Cooper, James Caan, and many other notable actors/actresses


New York I love you in comparison to it’s predecessor, Paris J’taime was extremely disappointing. Paris J’Taime was primarily focused on the many different ways love manifests itself and intermingling people’s great love for their city. New York, I Love You seemed to be based primarily on sex, which caused me to lose any respect and interest in the film altogether. It was surface level and uninteresting as a whole. I found the acting in the majority of the scenes to be poor. A few that stood above the rubble of the rest were the scenes with Anton Yelchin, Chris Cooper and his wife, and the scene of the painter and the Chinese herbalist. Overall it was a movie that tried to have heart and was able only to produced a Grinch sized sentimentality. To quote the famous words of Doctor Suess, “ I think that the most likely reason of all may have been that his heart was two sizes too small.”

EVIL

02.26.10
Ondskan/Evil
(2003)
Starring: Andreas Wilson, Henrik Lundström


Evil was a coming of age story presented in a very predictable manner. The mundane and bland construction of some of the characters caused the film to drag slightly. In the beginning we are introduced to Erik Ponti a troubled teenage boy who has run out of "get out of jail free" cards at all of the surrounding schools. In a final desperate attempt his mother sends him to a "posh" boarding school that has become his last hope of graduating highschool. When he arrives he finds he has been flung into a sea of bullies and unfair socio-political aspirations of the school board and students. Some of the pranks pulled by the students are disturbing and violent. Evil is very similair to "The Dead Poets Society," in it's surface level boyhood comraderie storyline. None of the struggles faced by Erik are new or interesting to any seasoned film goer. In conclusion, I would venture to say that, despite the predictable plot, the film still managed to be engaging and to ultimately come to a final point of restoration and equilibrium that left me satisfied as a viewer. Although, i wouldn't reccomend it or view it again.

There's More Than One Way to Shoot Yourself

02.19.10
Overnight
(2003)
Starring: Troy Duffy, Original Boondock Saints Cast members


"There's more than one way to shoot yourself," is the tag line for the documentary Overnight and it couldn't be more telling. Troy Duffy, the writer and director of Boondock Saints, slowly puts a hypothetical noose around his neck, every bitter step he takes and every unacceptable word he speaks only serves to tightens the knot. Troy Duff originally commissioned two of his "friends" to create this film with the purpose of documenting his projected rise to fame. In the end it became a film completely consumed with showing the unacceptable and disgusting behavior of the man who had initially set out with so much promise. It showed the transformation of Duffy into a menace to society with imagined “clout” in the film world I think that the film was well crafted and was not done in a distasteful manner,it simply showed the viewers the creature Duffy really was and still is today. This film expresses facts and opinions in a very realistic way, because all of the horrid insults, cocky posturing, and inane arrogance are all caught on tape with Troy Duffy as the red handed villain. This film begins with a very positive outlook and would appear to be the beginning of a difficult journey with a happy ending, it culminates as nothing of the sort. The two filmmakers obviously realized early on {obviously not early enough} that Troy was a terrible person to work with. This realisation and bitterness that was harbored in the hearts and minds of anyone who had the misfortune of working with Troy is captured here in “Overnight.”Troy is ultimately destroyed, left alone by his brother and anyone who used to be his “friend.” The quote at the end of the movie really did a wonderful job of summing up the documentary and Duffy’s character into one concise thought. “No man is really changed by success. What happens is that success works on the man’s personality like a truth drug, bringing him out of the closet and revealing…what was always inside his head,” written by Albert Goldman and used in the final five minutes of the film to really resonate the theme that became prevalent by the culmination of the documentary

Romeo + Juliet

02.14.10
Romeo + Juliet
(1996)
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Claire Danes


Baz Luhrman's Romeo + Juliet is a bizarre, whimsical, and enchanting film. His innovative perspective as a director somehow managed to successfully integrate modern-day society and the classical verbiage of Shakespeare without making a mockery of the romantic masterpiece. Romeo is played by the handsome up and coming actor (at the time) Leonardo Dicaprio and Juliet by Claire Danes. Luhrman creates a “fair Verona” all of his own by distorting the original story setting like that of an abstract painting. Taking cues from an original work, yet making something distinctly unique. The use of guns instead of swords and the multicultural mix of characters brings an aspect never seen in the Shakespearean version. Baz integrated many of his own visual interpretations of the film, like his multifaceted use of water throughout the story. This is shown through Romeo and Juliet meeting through a fish tank and later falling into the pool. Many of the stylistic themes that appear in this film later surface in Luhrman’s later work of Moulin Rouge. Moulin Rouge uses many of the techniques seen in this film, such as sped up frames and oversaturation of color. Romeo + Juliet is a feat of 1990’s film born from the unique and abstracted vision of a revolutionary filmmaker that will continue to be a cult classic for many generations of Shakespeare lovers to come.

The Savages

01.31.10
The Savages
(2007)
Starring: Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Laura Linney


The Savages was a film that had caught my eye on the Sundance Film Festival list when it debuted in 2007. Laura Linney and Philip Seymour Hoffman are the stereotypical-indie-emotionally-disturbed brother and sister. The premise of this film revolves around the problem of these two siblings having to deal with the uncomfortable issue of finding a suitable nursing home for a once estranged Father. Each of the lives of Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Laura Linney is carefully unfolded through out the film, so as to enhance the realistic nature and in-depth character development. The viewer travels the difficult and painful road of the two protagonists fighting not only to get along, but to deal with long supressed emotional hurt from their once absent "Dad." This pictture was on the list of movies for me to watch for my Women Directors in Cinema portion of my Independent film class. Realising that this film was directed by a woman, gave me a different perspective and a deeper understanding of the form in which The Savages was created. Tamara Jenkins wrote a very sentimental and detail oriented view of old age, death, and ultimately new views on life after closely dealing with the harsh reality of death. I would purport that a male director would not have been able to cultivate such a homegrown and saccharine thread that stiched the film together to a satisfactory end.

A Single Man

01.30.10
A Single Man
(2009)
Starring: Colin Firth, Julianne Moore, Nicholas Hoult


A Single man: words cannot describe how much i enjoyed this film. Rarely am i brought to tears in a film and even more rare are the occasions in which my eyes well up with salty teardrops in the first fifteen minutes. Colin Firth's performance is brilliant beyond words. Firth's emotions wrought with pain are perfectly captured in his facial expressions, maintaining the obvious without losing any of his distant-tortured charm.Nicholas Hoult's character interjected vitality and inspiration into the crisis filled life that Colin Firth was simply floating through. Julianne Moore plays the sentimental drunk who maintains a belief in imaginary importance on past personal blunders. As a whole the film was beautifully crafted by the design savvy hands of the brilliant Tom Ford. Many reviewers have accused Ford of creating an aesthetic feel that spoke more to an advertising campaign than that of a full length film, i would disagree entirely. I think that his design quality was seamlessly integrated with the pace, time period, mise en scene, and overall feel of the film. As far as the controversial nature of the subject that was covered in A Single Man, I found it to be presented in an extremely tasteful and innuendo-laced manner. Tom Ford created a story that ignored the controversy and focused on love and the overall beauty of the film and its' characters. Overall, one of the best films i've seen this year.

The Young Victoria

01.27.10
The Young Victoria
(2009)
Starring: Emily Blunt, Rupert Friend

The Young Victoria was one of the most beautifully crafted period pieces i have seen in quite some time. The set, location, and costumes were meticulously perfect and historically accurate. I have seen several other films, documentary and fiction alike, about Queen Victoria and Prince Albert and this seemed to capture the special sort of relationship that they had in a very inciteful and romantic way. I was shocked by the length of this film. When i left the magic lantern i felt that i had been watching for much longer than the short 105 minute running time, in the best way possible. The characters and historical events were fully developed in perfect tempo with the plot. I believe that the way that this film was constructed will appeal not only to people typically interested in the period piece genre, but many other genre viewers will be intrigued as well and will enjoy it as enthusiastically as i have. In conclusion The Young Victoria was a colorful and intriguing character display of historical figures given life through the wonder of film.

Doubt

01.27.10
Doubt
(2008)
Starring: Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Meryl Streep, Amy Adams

Doubt is an extremely controversial film that rocks that boat shaking popular views on the church, homosexuality, and moral relativism in its wake. Doubt was created originally as a theatrical screenplay, acted out upon stage. This knowledge creates a very interesting viewing experience. Many films, in the historical past, were created under these same circumstances and it gives a totally different up-close feel on the silver screen than viewers are typically used to in Hollywood. Doubt is an extremely ambiguous film that leaves the viewer with doubts festering in their minds far after they have left the theatre. Doubts on their personal views of the actions of all three main characters of the film are all relevant in todays society. The film, though very quiet and rather slow paced, has some extremely intense stomach-churning moments. Meryl Streep and Phillip Seymour Hoffman play their respective parts beautifully and Amy Adams does a wonderful job as an upcoming actress playing alongside some of the most currently decorated acting talent. Doubt is a film not intended for a viewer who does not wish to leave the theatre with heavy questions laying on heart and mind.

Do The Right Thing

01.19.10
Do The Right Thing
(1989)
Starring: Spike Lee, John Turturo, Samuel Jackson

Do The Right Thing is an awesome film by Spike Lee, one of my personal favorites of his. I watched this movie for my Independent film class for my African American Cinema chapter, this is the second time i've had the pleasure of seeing this film. Do The Right Thing is a colorful movie with equally colorful characters. Set in a New York neighborhood on a summer day of a scorching hundred degree heat, controversy reigns supreme. This movie is all about the far-reaching evils of racism and how they eat away at society. Spike Lee did not only just direct this film, but he stars as one of the main roles in the film. Many specific scenes in this film are very poignant and well developed to prove Spike Lee's point about the evil's of racism and reverse racism. Spike Lee does not just focus on the discrimination against African Americans but also of the African Americans discriminating unjustly against the white, korean, and hispanic communities as well. Lee is said to be equally as hard on his own people as other people are on his race. I think that this film is a difficult narrative sewn together only by the talent and vision of Spike Lee into a cohesive urban masterpiece.