This one has potential.

...and it sounds like there will be on demand viewings on their website.



Anyone digging it?

Film Adaptations of Graphic Novels are the new Film Adaptations of Regular Novels: Or, How Hollywood Could Never Be Accused of Reinventing the Wheel

Film makers are constantly looking for new ideas, new inspirations, and new ways of telling stories. I admire that. I think that's what keeps the industry from completely burying the art. But am I the only one that's totally bored with comic book movies?

Overwhelming numbers or not, the Persians
got nuthin' on the abs of Sparta.

Now, before you chastise and berate me, yeah, I get it, it's a graphic novel. Yeah, I know this is a sophisticated, adult genre that isn't accurately conveyed with the childish connotations of comic book. But whether it's Frank Miller or Stan Lee, I'm just not that excited about it any more. I guess this is what happened when Hollywood ran out of Henry James and Jane Austen novels to adapt. Or in slightly less literary terms, the comic book bananza also reminds me of the '90s disaster films: Twister and Independence Day were pretty entertaining, but by the time we got to Brosnan's Dante's Peak and Stallone's Daylight, the fad had run its course. So don't get me wrong on the comic book thing: it's not that I universally dislike the genre. I really liked the first Spiderman. The X-Men films where really fanastic until they got Ratnered. But how long before this trend of comic book adaptations gets old? If you ask me, it was yesterday.

I admit that I haven't seen Sin City, and I'm not going to see 300, so I'm not saying these are bad movies. Clearly I have no idea. The point I'm making is that the very concept of these movies is so boring to me that I'm in no way moved to check them out. I'm sure that the films are really well done and have a fantastic appeal to certain audiences, but I guess that I'm offended at the idea that a little computer graphics and some fiddling with the negatives makes it "new". I dislike films that sell themselves as all style, whether or not (and it's usually not) that's all they actually are. We're hip, graphic novels are hip, come be hip with us. I'm just over it.

Taking the Long Way

I recently saw what I think is one of the best documentary snapshots of the U.S. in the last four years or so. Despite the plethora of offerings that have come since September 11th and Iraq from policy wonks, politicans, and hugely bi-partisan organizations it's a little documentary called Shut up and Sing that won me over. Director Barbara Kopple follows the country/rock/bluegrass (however you want to label them) band The Dixie Chicks from their remarks at a London concert concerning the war and George Bush to the release of their most recent album.

I expected an interesting close examination of what they went through over the last three years dealing with fan and corporate backlash, and indeed that's what I got. However, I think where this documentary has staying power is in how well it captures a huge ideological split in a country that is clearly not comfortable with all of its roots. At one point in the film band member Marty Maguire cannily notes that the reason their comments had such traction in the U.S. is because outwardly they looked like the American heartland. They are young women from Texas who are classified in a musical genre that typically embraces the American ethos--(devoted, rugged, nation loving), and yet their political views in no way meshed with that ideal. It is that very paradox that captures the spirit of the film, and explains so well why their story became so big and ultimately has and will define their future in the music industry. Kopple does a great job of moving back and forth from 2003 to 2005 where they are in the midst of their recording process for their new album. Their fears about how they will be received (and by whom--this actually seems like the key question) lend naturally to revisiting their tour in 2003.

This film also offers a decent amount of new material for people who are already familiar with their story. I thought some of the most interesting parts of the documentary were when we saw band members negotiating their new musical territory with managers, producers, and sponsors. It gives you a great sense of all the little machinations that take place in the music industry in order to produce an album and a tour. The film is clearly interested in how their music is changing, and this is no way divorced from their public evolution. Their shift from country to rock is as much a political choice as an aesthetic one (although the common catch-all term for their music is probably pop) We get little slices of Rick Rubin's calm genius in L.A. as he advises them on their "new sound". The film definitely ends on a bittersweet note with bank members acknowledging what is one of the more burning questions surrounding the trio--how Marty and Emily dealt with the backlash surrounding comments that they didn't make nor encouraged. Their response is both courageous and real, because as unprepared as they were for what would follow those comments they in no way apologized for lead singer Natalie's choice to say them. It's a story that could've easily gone the way of most Behind the Music stories, but instead you're left impressed as hell with the kind of voices that can come out of America.

"To Do a Certain Kind of thing You have to be a Certain Kind of Person"

So, what is this certain thing I did you ask? The mission if I chose to accept it: Make the most out of my Blockbuster movie mailing service. Two weeks, endless titles, and to sweeten the deal I could rent in store, a mere two blocks from my apartment.
The result? Pure movie magic. If I could queue triumphant music and an "emotional" sunset right now I would. Here are the results for your reading pleasure.

• Quinceañera--Somewhat mediocre film with a thin plot and even thinner writing to go with it. It is saved by a good cast, and phenomenal shots of Echo Park. In fact, the subplot of gentrification in L.A. was much more interesting, and seemingly more important to the filmmakers given the care with which it was shot.




• Half Nelson--Brilliant all around here. Goslin and Shareeka Epps gave tight focused performances, and this movie manages to slip out of clichés that the teacher-student relationship could've easily fostered. The bonus--a really great soundtrack.




• The Office Christmas Special--So, technically this is tv but since it's epic in scope and influence, and I hadn't seen it yet I added it to the list. What can I say about this that hasn't already been said? Yeah, I got nothing.




• Tsotsi--Not too impressed with this film although the central character had some flair and thoughtfulness to him. On the whole though the plot suffers from stock figures and too simple a glimpse into gangster life. It has all been done before and more interestingly.




• The Departed--Hugely entertaining. That's about the best and most adequate description I have for this movie. I'm not so bitter that it won Best Picture although it is in NO way a thinking person's film.




• Pan's Labyrinth--This wasn't a rental, but since it was part of my movie fest I thought I would include it on the list. This is really careful precise moviemaking at its best. I really like how fantasy and nightmare meshed here, and how politics are personal--it rang very true to me.




• All About My Mother--Well, I bow down to Almodovar so I'm not sure I can speak to anything he does with an even remotely objective or skeptical eye. This film wasn't nearly as crisp as Bad Education or Volver, but extremely heartfelt with (as usual) some great female characters.




• Extras Season One--This is tv, but given my recent Gervais kick I decided to check it out. It's a lot more subtle and less uncomfortable then the Office but the humor is still plucky. I liked it, and I particularly like his use of movie stars (Ben Stiller was especially funny in the bit I saw).

I've got just one movie left to end my experiment with, and since it's a collection of Michel Gondry's videos it will officially end my movie streak. What can I say about the past two weeks? Movies are a love affair that will never end (unlike my online rental service).