Paul’s Blog

My Last 20 Reviews

Food, Inc.

SUMMARY: This is an important movie, but it should only be seen by bleeding heart, tree-hugging liberals such as myself.
WHY: If you have a healthy love and respect for nature and our mother earth, and if you are not stupidly naive about the dark corrupting influence of power, you might find yourself fighting more battles than is really healthy (especially if you live in the Bible belt). This movie does more than wave a giant finger of blame, it points the way to Zion, and a potentially better future. I found it very uplifting in some ways, as an expose of heroes who have and continue to make courageous choices. The ending was particularly warm and nice, and left me with a good feeling about a serious and important set of issues.

Ali G Indahouse

There are some genuinely comedic scenes in this. I was born 1970, so the sound-track ROCKS! (NWA Straight outta compton!, and even better, Planet Rock). This was a few years before Borat. I think that Borat was funnier than this, but also had some utterly disgusting and really immoral themes and visuals (I have yet to see Bruno).

One Day Like Rain

CAVEAT: Only made it into about the first 30 mins, then gave up
THE GOOD: Decent acting, a valiant effort for a low-budget
THE BAD: Nobody appears to be smart enough to make their character as cool as they want them to be
THE UGLY: Sadly, 2 out of 3 was enough for me to give up before finding out if number 3 (the writing) was ultimately as mediocre as 1 & 2.

Ikiru

– RAVING: Kurosawa was (without exaggerating) decades ahead of his time. His sensitivity to the depth and subtleties of human suffering, convenient illusions, and cultural idols is astonishing.
– EXAMPLES: When the protagonist walks out of the doctors office, onto the walkway, just before zooming out of the closeup, theres a few moments of utter silence. Its that shocking twilight zone that we enter, when we are in disbelief and all the world is turning upside down on its head. I have NEVER seen a movie which precedes Ingmar Bergman, betray the lies of thin moralities, those sacred delusions about the parent-child bond, and other myths that tumble next to the importance of honor, authenticity, courage, virtue. Watch for his shock, when he sees the real man who is his son, rather than the small child he remembers (when he tries to tell his son of his condition). Yet, he is still the fool, as even the most noble and virtuous person can be.
– THE DOWN SIDE: Kurosawa was mortal. I think that the caricature facial expressions was a matter of contextualized style, from current convention. Today, they merely appear to be over-acting. Additionally, there were many Japanese taboos that would have shocked 1950s Japanese audiences and are giveaways from the sound-track or other clues, but are almost imperceptible to our irreverent and western tastes now.
—MAIN THEME (warning, read no further if you would rather gleam the theme on your own): this is really about the purpose of life and our existence here on earth. Some imagine life is its own purpose, in that enjoying life, hedonism, simple living, or other basic foci on the operational business of living life, are fulfillment enough. I think the writer and director of this film feel that regardless of your philosophy, you need to have a sense of purpose and mission in this world, to feel a deep sense of satisfaction and contentment when you reach the end of this life.

Bigger, Stronger, Faster

REMEMBER THIS PART: Where do you think he got them mom? YOUR BROTHER!!
~~~NEXT: Remember this part… the freak gnawing on the steak at the table, giving the thumbs up above table, and the middle finger below the table.
~~~HOW ARE THEY CONNECTED?: Most people prefer to imagine that what they see above the table is all that there really is. They pretend that what is below the table doesnt exist. Yes, everybody has lied at some point, and yes sometimes telling the truth is the easiest way out of something. DO IT ANYWAY! Tell the truth, ask for the truth, seek the truth, live with the truth. If you cant handle the truth, youre just a waste of flesh, a mindless goat eating whatever is shoved in front of you.

Shotgun Stories

~~~THE GOOD: Well made. Very accurate and realistic in character development, acting, and directing. Stays true to the way that things are in rural American culture. This is glorious white trash whitey in all his great pride and ignorance. The film is very well made, and stoles the virtue of blood and family and protecting yer own.
~~~THE BAD: Not much deep truth, not much to learn here. Other than a tiny bit of violence, not much to really make the movie all that interesting.

God on Trial

~~~THE BAD: Low budget, less than desirable soundtrack, and really not much action or plot (this movie is almost all about dialogue and ideas).
~~~THE GOOD: Based on a TRUE story, the TALENT in this movie is absolutely bar none the best. Beyond all the fabulous actors, the script was really unique. If youve studied philosophy from many different perspectives over the years, this will be interesting and refreshing. Its told from the perspective of devout Jewish men, who were all brought up in strict observance of the Hebrew religion. In other words, they do not cover most of the major arguments against religion and god, typical from atheistic perspectives. Instead, they approach the whole question from WITHIN the Jewish faith. Very interesting approach.

Red Without Blue

~~~THE GOOD: This could potentially be a really great series of insights for anyone who has a family member or sibling undergoing sexual/gender reassignment surgery. Buy it, or otherwise get a copy to those in your family who are having trouble dealing with it.
~~~THE BAD: It’s too bad that these twins did drugs, and seemed to feel they were not well adjusted. From my perspective, they are both solidly grounded young adults who seem to both be headed in a positive direction in life. They mentioned doing coke at an early age though, which is strange given their seemingly quite stable home life (despite a distant father and mother, and their divorce) — relative to the crack mother and incestuous father that typically guarantees a screwed up life.
~~~CONCLUSION: This movie will appeal to both gay and straight people who are emotionally mature, because it doesn’t resort to ‘provocateur’ tactics, and there is very little sexuality explored. Mostly it’s about family acceptance, being socially different (and growing up ostracized), and our basic human needs for intimacy and emotional support.

The Proposition

~~~THE GOOD: Super smart cast, including one of my all-time favs Guy Pearce (a genius). Every detail, every line, every moment, is an exquisite and superb display of perfection, attention to detail, and artistic vision. The portrait of the lone fool, unable to share his understanding of morality with the blood-thirsty mass of animals in the small town, was captivating. The power of his devotion to the artificial world he wanted to keep his wife in, was a reflection of some real truth that continues for many today.
~~~THE BAD; Why arent more movies of this quality made today? Why cant there be sci-fi movies like this, regularly made? (the last sci-fi I remember of this stature, was Solaris).

Penn & Teller: Bullsh*t!: Season 6

—-CRITICISM: This episode is particularly childish. I can understand the need for entertainment, but intentionally targeting an audience who needs to vent anger, is not a socially or morally responsible strategy. Penn rants as usual, but in this episode, he is particularly insulting and mean. He doesnt merely debunk, he actively and viciously ridicules.

—-PRAISE: Although he used alot of money, and far more time than was needed, he did have some good points.

Hubert Selby Jr.: It’ll Be Better Tomorrow

—–THE GOOD: Well made, well narrated, and fairly balanced.
—–THE BAD: This is almost a memoir and ballad to the glory and greatness of a person who certainly must have used and hurt people during his life, as do all serious drug addicts. They just sort of left all that stuff out, I guess to be nice since the guy died.

—–FLUFF: When I saw Requiem for a Dream (freagin bad-azz move, and even more kick azz website, based on his book) it was late at night, BUT it was only the start of a late f-in A, I got to find out more about this evening. There were many things about that movie, and about the relationship of the lead male character (Harry) with my own life and my own relationship with my mother, who has been on heavy psychotropic drugs for over 2 decades now. I cried when I saw that movie, and I think I got it in a way that happens only when you have been there and done that, in the heart.

This man certainly did have a very unique and esoteric knowledge, and yet, he chose to focus on his shared humanity with others, instead of his differences. In a way, whereas he railed on the thinly veiled devaluation of being a real feeling human creature (as in Leave it to Beavor), he also reached out to others in the most authentic way.

Inside Deep Throat

WARNING: This documentary actually shows fellatio. Of course, there are also a few full frontals.

CRITICISM: As usual, there were no research scientists, nobody from the Kinsey Institute, etc. Dr. Ruth and a few other popular characters appear, mostly main stream media celebrities. As a result, the focus is strictly political correctness, changing cultural values, freedom of speech, yada yada yada.

PRAISE: One real redeeming value, is for xxx buffs, who have a historical interest in this time period. However, for the more liberal professor of cinema (and subdisciplines) or perhaps sexology classes, this could be a unique view on an important turning point in both legislative and popular paradigms.

POSTSCRIPT: Quality really could have been better, considering this was released in 2005. Post-production editing was sloppy, and apparently very little attention was given to the audio engineering. On a par with documentaries you might expect from early 1990s, rather than the digital age of sophisticated ultra-reality seeking audiences.

First Snow

PRAISE: Excellent casting, script, directing, acting.

CRITICISM: Guy Pearce has apparently starved himself into a permanent state of lethargy. Hes one very smart cookie, no doubt, and thus will bring all the depth and authenticity of a real human being to whatever character hes given, as long as he isnt required to be energetic or loud and sappy. This story was a bit weak — plot was about as complex as, well, little red riding hood. Also, there just wasnt enough philosophical conflict, no paradox or problems to wrestle with (other than, stop being selfish, and think of others, and maybe dont screw people over).

Id call this average. Not crap, but definitely not mind-blowing.

Private Practices: The Story of a Sex Surrogate

CONS: Very little science in this documentary. In addition, its rather old (early to mid 1980s). Certainly there is absolutely nothing erotic or visually exciting stimulation within this flick. There were also no philosophical or other intellectually deep ideas.

PROS: Is a unique, and very interesting historical record of a practice that has not flourished (although is has grown somewhat). Could be somewhat weird to the average person unfamiliar with the field of sexology.

CRITIQUE: Personally, I am fairly well educated in human psychology, and up until the year 2001 I was concentrating on and doing a lot of research on human sexuality, human sexual diseases, and sexology proper, including some sociological and anthropological work (but still, with primary focus on psychological and physiological). Anyhow, this documentary makes painfully obvious the problems of trying to do open heart surgery without any patient suffering. This should be a last resort for most cultural niches, and only for the most dire cases, where other therapies fail first. I saw quite a bit of harm (and in a few situations, no real benefit) being done to both the surrogate and the patient.

Most conspicuously missing (from the perspective of film theory and best practices) was the absence of interviews of the leading academics, SMEs, or any well known researchers in sexology. All interviews were either the surrogate or the patient (or them talking with others, off-screen). The surrogate was a semi-articulate person, with obvious issues of her own.

The Mutant Chronicles

I think if I was not sleepy, and if I was stoned out of my mind or drunk, and if I was like, somehow had absolutely nothing else to do in the world (so that this wouldnt have been a huge waste of my time), then, just maybe I would have given it 3 stars. But Im me. It sucked. Too many stupid people involved apparently. Flying ships of iron and steel, with giant mechanical controls (rather than touch sensitive, or better yet, psychometrically controlled), and running on the power of COAL??? Good god.

Visioneers

Finally, someone wrote a lighthearted version of 1984. First, please recall that 50% of ALL people are BELOW average intelligence. If you dont consider yourself waaaayyyy ABOVE average intelligence (near genius) then dont you dare write a review of a movie you cannot in all likelihood understand you freaking idiot! Sheessh. If you are actually super-smart, but are still stupidly naive (like, you won the lottery more than once in your life, and stay high 24/7?), then you are excused.

I got a few giggles, but mostly I got some great literary ideas. What else? It felt like a giant pat on the back to all the cynics and near geniuses who have wasted their lives (like me) in totally meaningless pursuits. It was better than a pat on the back. It was a revelation of company in misery to those who have felt oh so alone sinking in a sea of professional distance and office-speak. I may not ever regain my soul, but at least Im not the only one. LOL.

Ok, yeah. It was a tad boring. But you gotta give it up for the creativity displayed (after you watch it, remember this point) in how viciously accurate and yet grotesquely exposed the flaws of society are when mocked by the philosopher who wrote the script.

Severed Ways: The Norse Discovery of America

There are many aspects of the ‘vision’ of this story, which are quite obviously from the mind of a teenage boy who never grew up.

But there are also some truths that come forth with remarkable exposure, considering their more usual subtle and imperceptible nature. These concern the flawed and shallow barriers cultures construct which create fierce conflict when they come in contact with each other for the first time. Secondary themes relate to the even deeper common humanity shared between cultures and ethnicities, both good and evil.

Deliver Us from Evil

Catholics are smarter, better educated, and certainly more sophisticated and civilized than the snake-handling in-bred rednecks of the bible-belt. Does that make them any less likely to be evil? nope. Just like the hillbillies in pickup trucks sportin rebel flags and nitrous injection, these over-grown sissies and their ceaseless golf-obsessing soccor moms are just as driven towards the science and logic killing crack pipe of religion as the neanderthals.

What Would Jesus Buy?

This movie is somewhere between Elmer Gantry and The Apostle
A psychologist or cultural anthropologist should study this preacher.
Id like to try and get inside his mind, to all the places he wont go.
He seems really nice, but not at all boring, and probably a blast!

CRITIQUE:
It is perhaps the strangest movie that I have seen in the last year or so.
Ive yet to meet anyone and know them very well, who was truly like this.
The weirdest part is that Reverend Billy Bob is sincere and a true believer
He is simultaneously a performance artist, a mental case, and a sincere Christian.
I spent most of the movie alternating between chuckles and one raised eyebrow
And yet, there were actually a few statements which rang loud, important, and true.

IMPORTANT IDEAS:
There are fewer public places and sidewalks in America
Most places are either commercial or private now
So you are either shopping or trespassing
Shopocalypse is coming!! Can I get a changealooya!!
Are you people or are you sheeple!?!
In some countries, it is illegal to advertise to children under 12 yrs old
In the USA we spend billions advertising to children under 12 every year
until age 8 children dont know the difference between advertisements and entertainment

Joe Rogan: Live

DRUGS:

The last star I gave on this was a close call. Its unfortunate that Joe Rogan apparently abuses marijuana too often, because I think it affects his performance a little, and definitely his judgment of public perceptions. Like alcohol, moderation is always good for brain cells.

Next in my Queue