ryan.smith.blog

New Blog

2009-07-06T20:25:00.004-06:00

Head over to www.rspov.wordpress.com for current posts.

Reading

2009-07-03T20:02:00.002-06:00

Reading

2009-06-29T19:11:00.002-06:00

Reading

2009-06-16T12:21:00.001-06:00

Watching

2009-06-15T10:03:00.001-06:00

George Lucas, Then & Now

2009-06-12T09:11:00.001-06:00

Sad.

Passion Pit, "The Reeling"

2009-06-08T09:41:00.001-06:00

Love these guys.

Listening

2009-05-22T13:05:00.001-06:00

Star Trek Promo

2009-05-04T10:04:00.001-06:00

A fun little side project.

Nashville Film Festival

2009-04-08T15:57:00.001-06:00

You can now buy tickets online to see "Devil's Shoestring" at the Nashville Film Festival on April 21st or 23rd. Follow the highlighted links or check out www.nashvillefilmfestival.org for more info.

Listening

2009-04-04T16:07:00.001-06:00

Eclectic, I know.

The Friar

2009-03-25T11:08:00.000-06:00

Everything you would ever want to know (or wouldn't want to know) about my
friend David Kiern (also known as the Friar) can be gleaned from this immortal
photograph:

The Seventh Pernice

2009-03-19T07:18:00.003-06:00

Incredibly excited about "The Seventh Seal" coming out on Blu-ray:

And, during a beautiful drive yesterday afternoon, I remembered how much I love these guys:

Listening/Reading

2009-03-15T10:26:00.001-06:00

Film Festival, New Project

2009-03-13T14:09:00.003-06:00

First of all, my new short, "Devil's Shoestring", made it into the Nashville Film Festival, which I'm pretty excited about. Last year we had "Love At First Sight" as an official selection. It's nice having another Seabourne film on the big screen this year.

Also, I've begun a new writing project. I can't say much about it, other than that it is a feature film with a supernatural/fantasy bent and that I want to shoot it in Franklin. In fact, I'm pretty sure my street will make an appearance in the film.

Music is one of the things that really helps me when I'm writing. But I have to be careful about my music selection, because it can sometimes lead me astray if it doesn't suit the material. Here is my playlist for the new project mentioned above:

"Postcards" - Alexandre Desplat - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
"Gnossiene No. 1" - Erik Satie - The Painted Veil
"The Master's House" - Alexandre Desplat - Girl With a Pearl Earring
"The Lovers" - Alexandre Desplat - The Painted Veil
"Your Hands Are Cold" - Dario Marianelli - Pride and Prejudice
"Meeting Again" - Alexandre Desplat - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
"Liz on the Top of the World" - Dario Marianelli - Pride and Prejudice
"River Waltz (Piano Solo)" - Alexandre Desplat - The Painted Veil
"Darcy's Letter" - Dario Marianelli - Pride and Prejudice
"Kitty's Theme" - Alexandre Desplat - The Painted Veil
"Robbie's Note" - Dario Marianelli - Atonement
"River Waltz" - Alexandre Desplat - The Painted Veil
"The Secret Life of Daydreams" - Dario Marianelli - Pride and Prejudice
"The Living Sculptures of Pemberly" - Dario Marianelli - Produce and Prejudice
"Kitty's Journey" - Alexandre Desplat - The Painted Veil

My New Toy

2009-03-12T10:17:00.001-06:00

Reading

2009-03-10T19:57:00.001-06:00

Reading

2009-03-08T11:13:00.001-06:00

No Line On the Horizon

2009-03-03T14:59:00.001-06:00

Head over to Amazon and pick up U2's stellar new release for an unbelievable $3.99. Click here.

Top 10 Films of 2008

2009-02-27T17:47:00.001-06:00

Here's my top ten films of 2008 (in no particular order), which appears in the latest issue of Southern Exposure Magazine:

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Benjamin Button, director David Fincher's elegiac rumination on life and death, is a sweeping, intoxicating experience. Brad Pitt reminds us that he can still act and Cate Blanchett looks better than ever in this story of a man aging backwards. Shot on the Viper FilmStream camera, Button is the best-looking digital movie I've seen.

Wall-E
Ben Button may be the most beautifully photographed film of the year, but Wall-E is proof that animation is not an inferior medium. Director Andrew Stanton went to great lengths to give his tale of robot romance an organic, filmic look, and the results are stunning. How refreshing to be swept away by such an original, visionary film. It's Pixar's boldest venture yet.

The Fall
It's a shame this film got lost in the mix. Perhaps too avant-garde for the general moviegoing audience, director Tarsem's fantasy epic (shot across the globe over the course of four years) is a wonder to behold. Lee Pace stars as an injured stuntman who befriends a young girl in a hospital in 1920s Hollywood. He tells her an epic tale, and we have the pleasure of watching it unfold in her imagination.

Slumdog Millionaire
When I heard that Danny Boyle was directing a film about a contestant on the Indian Who Wants to be a Millionaire?, I was skeptical. Little did I know that the simple conceit would give way to such a vibrant, energetic film. I dare you not to fall in love with this movie.

Revolutionary Road
The slow dissolution of a marriage is the focus of Sam Mendes's uncompromising film, an adaptation of the novel by Richard Yates. Yes, it's depressing, but it is also impossible to turn away. Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet give two extraordinary performances in a tragic story that questions the American Dream and the lengths we go to protect the illusion of stability.

The Wrestler
Of all the films I've seen this year, I haven't witnessed a more remarkable performance than Mickey Rourke in The Wrestler. His portrayal of Randy 'The Ram' Robinson, a washed up wrestler, is so honest and true that you almost have to remind yourself you're watching a film. It's hard to imagine Darren Aronofsky, who is known for his visual style, directing a film like The Wrestler, but the results are unforgettable.

The Dark Knight
Quite possibly the greatest comic book movie of all time, Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight uses the Batman mythology as a backdrop for a tale of inner demons and the struggle between chaos and order. Never has a movie in this genre packed so much punch.

Iron Man
The Dark Knight may be the best "serious" comic book movie out there, but Jon Favreau's Iron Man is the most fun. Robert Downey, Jr. reclaimed Hollywood territory with his portrayal of Tony Stark, the brilliant, narcissistic inventor turned human weapon, and Gwyneth Paltrow proved that she can have a little fun every once in a while. This is what every popcorn movie should be.

Doubt
John Patrick Shanley's Doubt pits Philip Seymour Hoffman against Meryl Streep, and the results are dynamite. You may find yourself smiling as Hoffman's priest, who may or may not be a pedophile, has a yelling match with Streep's conservative nun. It's hard not to, with such phenomenal actors on screen together, duking it out. If it feels like a play, it's because it's based on one. Try to turn away.

Frost/Nixon
I have to admit, I felt somewhat of an obligation to watch Frost/Nixon. What I didn't expect was just how engaging it would be. Ron Howard hits a home run with this dramatic retelling of David Frost's famous interview with former president Richard Nixon. With a wonderful cast and a tight script by Peter Morgan, this is a must-see film.

The Religion of LOST

2009-02-26T10:13:00.007-06:00

In case you haven't noticed, LOST is a deeply spiritual show. And despite its flirtations with other belief systems, it seems to be particularly interested in Christianity. Last week's episode, titled "316" (John 3:16 is the reference), had Ben telling Locke (who must die a sacrificial death to save his friends) about Thomas the apostle, who unfairly become known for his doubt rather than his faith. I appreciated these comments by Entertainment Weekly's Doc Jenson, whose analysis of the show is consistently stimulating (read more here):

I think Ben's composite picture of Thomas as both believer and skeptic — or rather, moving from believing to unbelieving and back again — captures a universal theme that's swirling through Lost. Thomas is a one-man symbol for mankind's shaken, if not lost, faith in ANYTHING that purports to offer meaning and stability. Religion, science, government, the economy, even family — it's hard for people to completely trust in any of these institutions and the people who represent them anymore, for any number of reasons. This is what the ruins that dot the Island represent to me: They are reminders that we once lived in a world that no longer exists — a world of answers, not ambiguity. A world where God was experienced as a literal presence in everyday life. A world where science and religion were joined at the hip, and not at each other's throats. Now, everything is a mystery, and everything is an argument. Who is right: Jack or Locke? Which is correct: The God-forged cosmology of C.S. Lewis or the God-subtracted physics of Stephen Hawking? I'm not sure that Lost is asking us to pick a side, but I am certain Lost is saying: ''This kind of confusion profoundly sucks.''

Broken Embraces

2009-02-20T17:09:00.001-06:00

Can't wait.

Dollhouse. It Ain't No Firefly.

2009-02-18T11:08:00.001-06:00

I had high hopes for Joss Whedon's "Dollhouse". Not because of the premise, or because of Eliza "tanktop" Dushku, but because I think Whedon is a genius. His "Firefly" made a genuine fan out of me. It was intelligent, fresh, and emotionally involving. None of that can be said of the pilot episode of "Dollhouse". Whedon seems curiously off his game here. The dialogue feels stock, the acting is stiff and unconvincing, and the plot is derivative. I thought about summarizing the premise, but I got confused. Bad sign. But yes, I'll keep watching, in hopes that the Great Whedon might turn it around. Not looking promising at this point.

Sound Mix Meeting

2009-02-04T13:56:00.000-06:00

I've finally locked my edit for Devil's Shoestring and we're beginning
the post audio process. Exciting stuff.

LA

2009-01-30T00:36:00.000-06:00

I'm in LA. Been a good trip.

My Office

2009-01-25T14:58:00.001-06:00

Oscar Noms

2009-01-22T10:14:00.001-06:00

Oscar nominations are in. Thoughts:

Thrilled that Benjamin Button got so many nominations (13).
The Dark Knight, with 8 nominations, still didn't get a director or a best picture nom. Bummer.
As expected, Milk was nominated for director and picture.
Revolutionary Road was completely snubbed. A great film by a great director with great performances, a great adapted screenplay, and a great score only managed to nab a best supporting actor nom for Michael Shannon (which is well-deserved), and a nom for art direction and costume design.
Why does Slumdog Millionaire have two songs nominated and Springsteen's "The Wrestler" is not?
Wall-E will win animated feature.
Actor will be between Sean Penn and Mickey Rourke.
Supporting actor will go to Heath Ledger.
Kate Winslet will win for The Reader, even though her work in Revolutionary Road should have been acknowledged as well.
Supporting Actress will be between Viola Davis, Taraji P. Henson, and Marisa Tomei.
Wouldn't be surprised if Button wins Best Picture but Danny Boyle wins for directing.

Listening

2009-01-20T14:56:00.001-06:00

Admit It...He's Cute

2009-01-09T18:03:00.000-06:00

Reading/Watching

2009-01-04T05:18:00.000-06:00

Watching

2008-12-28T10:18:00.000-06:00

Merry Christmas

2008-12-25T14:28:00.000-06:00

Pretty stoked about this.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

2008-12-18T10:01:00.001-06:00

I saw an extraordinary film last night. David Fincher's "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" is a great achievement - a haunting, emotional odyssey that is both somber and inspiring. It's a great example of Roger Ebert's maxim, "It's not what a movie's about, but how it's about it". The film, based on F. Scott Fitzgerald's short story, could easily have become another run-of-the-mill tearjerker, and yet it wisely avoids the predictable twists and turns and emerges as something totally unique - a visually stimulating, emotionally resonant experience, of which every frame conveys a genuine love and dedication on Fincher's part. This is his best film, and evidence that he is one of the best directors working today.

The Night of the Hunter

2008-12-17T15:30:00.000-06:00

I just watched Charles Laughton's "The Night of the Hunter" for the first time and my mind is still reeling. This is one of the most unique and engaging films I've ever seen - a darkly comedic film noir fantasy with haunting visuals and an unforgettable performance by Robert Mitchum. I'm anxious to watch again. Consider these images:

Reading

2008-12-16T11:11:00.000-06:00

It's a Wonderful Life

2008-12-12T10:44:00.002-06:00

This article appears in the new issue of Southern Exposure Magazine.

It’s almost a misnomer to label “It’s a Wonderful Life” a Christmas movie. Yes, the story begins and ends with the Christmas season, but like “White Christmas”, most of the narrative is dedicated to other things, in this case an extended flashback chronicling the life of George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart), a man who, despite having a loving family and a decent job, is down on his luck. He’s a good man, but his dream of leaving his small town of Bedford Falls to explore the world has never materialized. What George can’t see is just how lucky a guy he is.

I’m sure you know the story. When George decides to take his own life, he is saved by his guardian angel Clarence (Henry Travers), who proceeds to show him what life would be like if George had never been born. The final act of the film contains some of the most moving moments I’ve ever seen on celluloid. Sixty-two years later it still resonates.

When first released, the film was considered a critical and commercial flop. It was only later, when the film’s copyright expired in the early 1970s and it began to screen on television during the holidays that it became ingrained in the collective subconscious. The film is now considered a classic, with the American Film Institute listing it as #11 of all time.

And for good reason. Honestly, I can’t think of any other film with as many memorable scenes. Consider the dance in the high school gymnasium, when the floor opens up and everyone falls into the pool. Or the scene in which George walks Mary (Donna Reed) home and she loses her bathrobe in the bushes. Or the sequence in which George comes over to Mary’s house and they end up on the same telephone, and eventually in each other’s arms (one of my favorite scenes of all time). Or the scene when they have to give up their honeymoon cash to keep their customers at the Building and Loan. Or the scene where Bert and Ernie, the two cops, convert Mary’s favorite abandoned house into a honeymoon suite for the newlyweds. On and on and on.

What’s so impressive to me is how director Frank Capra doesn’t waste any space. Every scene pushes the story forward. Every line of dialogue is important. And rather than skimping on the supporting characters, he chooses to make them colorful and endearing. Every person on screen, regardless of their role, has value in Capra’s eyes. Perhaps that’s the message he’s trying to get across.

“It’s a Wonderful Life” is what I like to call a miracle movie. It all works, and there’s nothing missing. Roger Ebert describes a great movie as one you can’t the bear the thought of never seeing again. “It’s a Wonderful Life” is one of those films for me.

Reading

2008-12-05T09:23:00.001-06:00

Playing in the Leaves

2008-11-30T22:12:00.001-06:00

Watching

2008-11-26T10:59:00.001-06:00

Lost Down Under

2008-11-25T16:42:00.001-06:00

You can also find this review on the Reviews page.

"Australia", the third film by Aussie auteur Baz Luhrman, is a big, bold, occasionally riveting...failure. It's an experiment in epic drama, with an A-list cast, a massive budget, and a pull-on-the-heartstrings storyline that is comfortable and predictable. I'm not exactly sure what Luhrman was trying to accomplish here. There are wonderful moments, but they don't add up to much. Leaving the theater, I felt that the film was forgettable. Some hours later, I realized that my intuition was right. There are good things about "Australia", specifically newcomer Brandon Walters, who plays an Aboriginal boy, but the parts don't add up to the riveting epic it was intended to be.

The excessive use of green screen is another complaint. For a story that is so much about location, they sure shot a lot on stage, and it shows. There's not one composite shot in the film that doesn't stick out like a sore thumb. I have a feeling that one particular sequence, a suspenseful cattle herding near the edge of a cliff, was created entirely through green screen and CGI. That's not such a good thing when you're trying to evoke the great epics from yesteryear.

Despite its faults, "Australia" has its entertaining moments, but its two hour forty-nine minute running time is a bit overindulgent. Perhaps there's a good film in there somewhere, but Luhrman couldn't bring himself to cut it down to the length it needed to be. Unfortunately, we will never know. That film is lost...somewhere down under.

RIP, Daisies

2008-11-21T09:32:00.002-06:00

ABC has announced that "Pushing Daisies" has been canceled. According to the show's creator, Brian Fuller, the show will most likely end after episode 13, which is a cliffhanger. Fantastic. I'm down to two shows that I watch these days, and they are "Lost" and "Daisies". I guess now I'm down to one. It seems that unless your show is predictable, cliché, or just downright bad, it can't make it on TV anymore.

Which brings to me an idea I have for a new reality show called "Last Ho Standing". You take twenty overweight prostitutes and stick them on a desert island, where they are forced to survive on a steady diet of plantains and coconut juice, while competing for weekly liposuction and botox contests and fending off the natives, who are dishing out free crack. Whoever wins gets a million dollars and a new, state-of-the-art brothel designed to their specifications by Ty Pennington and unveiled in a live televised ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by Elliot Spitzer. God bless America. This show's gonna be huge.

But in all seriousness...a moment of silence for "Pushing Daisies".

(silence)

This was a creative, inspired, funny, and heartwarming show that I will miss very much. RIP.

Quantum of Confusion

2008-11-14T10:27:00.001-06:00

I have to admit, I'm a little disappointed with "Quantum of Solace". It looks wonderful, the story (while a little confusing) is involving, Daniel Craig is great, and it has almost everything you'd expect from a James Bond movie. Except James Bond.

I embraced the idea of a more realistic Bond, as seen in "Casino Royale". It was a fresh start for the franchise, and Craig was just the guy to pull it off. But Bond seems so pissed off now that you can't imagine him having any fun. Where's the suave, wisecracking Bond that we love?

Despite the fact that James is such a surly curmudgeon throughout "Quantum", my biggest problem with the film is the action sequences. It's not that they're poorly choreographed. Or that the locations aren't stunning. It's that you can't tell what the hell is going on at any given moment. Obviously taking a cue from the Bourne movies, director Marc Forster has chosen to cover the action sequences in shaky camera moves and then edit it at the pace of about one shot per second. What results is severe disorientation, to the point where you aren't sure who's who, and that's not a good thing when you're supposed to be rooting for one of them.

I also think the villain is dull this time around, but quibbles aside, I did enjoy a lot of the film. It's never boring, the performances are good, and the scene at the outdoor opera hall is wonderful. I just hope Bond's finally gotten over losing his girlfriend so we can all have some fun next time (and hopefully understand what's going on).

She's a Pixar Kid

2008-11-08T09:57:00.001-06:00

Jamba Juice

2008-11-04T11:37:00.001-06:00

Yum.

Great Things From 2008

2008-10-29T10:22:00.000-06:00

There's much I haven't seen, much I haven't heard, but these are the very best of what I watched and listened to in 2008.

FILM

An overlooked gem with a classic sensibility. They don't make movies like this anymore.

Another overlooked film. It doesn't break any new ground, but it's involving and effective.

Jon Favreau hit a home run. It all works.

A near-masterpiece from visionary director Tarsem ("The Cell"). Pure imagination.

Beautiful, funny, visionary. Maybe my favorite Pixar effort so far.

This is now the comic book movie to beat. Go here to read my full review.

TV

One of the best seasons yet. This show keeps getting better and better. And for those of you who bailed, enjoy your CSI. Go here to watch episodes.

My favorite new show on television. And I'm ignoring those rumors of cancellation. Go here to watch episodes.

MUSIC
I'm not a fan of the iTunes pick and choose approach to music. I think an album should be heard (and bought) as a whole, but I will recommend some key tracks from each of these albums.

Gemma Hayes' best record yet. Not a wasted track here. MUST HEAR: "Home", "At Constant Speed"

More great music from Peter Bradley Adams, formerly of Eastmountainsouth. MUST HEAR: "Los Angeles", "Under My Skin"

Intoxicating. Try to turn it off. MUST HEAR: "Creature Fear", "re:stacks"

It lived up to the hype. MUST HEAR: "Viva la Vida", "42"

The 12 song album is good, but I strongly recommend listening to the EPs as a whole. It's a 24 song odyssey of sin and redemption. MUST HEAR: "Southbound Train", "Your Love is Strong"

In case you can't read the text, this is Robby Hecht's "Late Last Night". Harkens back to the time when it was all about the songs. Download the record for free here. MUST HEAR: "Freight Train Lady", "My Love Was Gold"

Speaking of great songs, this is one of the best singer-songwriter records I've ever heard. Great, great songs. MUST HEAR: "How Precious Life Is", "Desperate Man", "That Guy", "Holy Ground"

Folky alternative bliss. MUST HEAR: "Doubtful", "Grey Weather"

No, not just because they're family. These guys are bringing integrity back to the Christian music industry. MUST HEAR: "Opposite Way", "Thief in the Night"

The experience of growing up in the 80s in audible form. There are better albums from 2008, but this one may be the most fun. MUST HEAR: "Kim and Jessie", "Graveyard Girl"

This is a great pop record. Slick production, catchy tunes. MUST HEAR: "Talk You Down", "Fall For Anything"

This stripped-down offering from Sigur Ros is their best effort yet. A soundtrack for cross-country travel. MUST HEAR: "Godan daginn", Ara Batur"

More great music from Sun Kil Moon (aka Mark Kozelek). See this post to hear a track. MUST HEAR: "Lost Verses", "Moorestown"

A melodic, atmospheric journey from the Swedish singer-songwriter. MUST HEAR: "Girl Laying Down", "To Be Gone"

Fantastic debut from the Nashville native. A great listen all the way through. MUST HEAR: "Beaut", "Live for the Sounds", "Colorbloods"

People, Places & Things

2008-10-26T18:56:00.000-06:00

Love this record.

Yum food.

Yum beverage.

Almodovar.

Chesterton.

Swanky's Taco Shop

2008-10-23T22:11:00.000-06:00

Definitely going to be a new hang.

Doctor's Visit

2008-10-17T11:49:00.000-06:00

I Voted

2008-10-16T09:38:00.000-06:00

Listening

2008-10-15T15:26:00.000-06:00

Listening

2008-10-15T14:20:00.000-06:00

Devil's Shoestring Site

2008-09-21T14:19:00.000-06:00

The official site for Devil’s Shoestring is up, along with the teaser trailer. You can check it out here.

That's a Wrap!

2008-09-15T13:17:00.000-06:00

We just wrapped last night. The shoot went incredibly well. I’m really excited about this one. Probably the best thing I’ve ever done.

Devil's Shoestring

2008-09-10T13:15:00.000-06:00

We’re four days into photography on “Devil’s Shoestring” and it couldn’t be going better. The footage looks fantastic and the performances are amazing. Can’t wait to show everyone a finished film.

New Hampshire Film Festival

2008-08-29T13:14:00.000-06:00

Relapse was accepted into the New Hampshire Film Festival today. This is the third festival I’ve made it into, the others being River’s Edge Film Festival and the Tallahassee Film Festival. Exciting stuff.

Talk to Her

2008-08-29T13:12:00.000-06:00

Here is a beautiful, thought-provoking, emotionally stirring film from Spanish auteur Pedro Almodovar. The story deals with two women who are in life-threatening comas and the men taking care of them, but that is just a front for the emotional and psychological ideas that Almodovar wants to explore: role reversal, obsession, voyeurism, and the question of what it means to be a woman. He’s challenging stereotypes here. A female bullfighter, a paralyzed ballerina, one man who cries in a theater performance, another who cares for his patient like only a woman could.

I’ve only seen a couple of Almodovar’s films, but I’m already a big fan. His use of color, his thoughtful compositions, and his ability to transform abstract concepts into visuals reminds me a lot of Bergman’s work. And their endless fascination with women is another obvious binding tie.

“Talk to Her” is not easy. It goes places you might not expect, and presents a truly challenging moral dilemma, but it is all the more powerful for it.

Note: There is some objectionable content in the film, particularly a fantasy sequence that is comical in nature but potentially offensive. Just a friendly warning.

The Time Closet

2008-08-21T13:09:00.000-06:00

My friend Seth is making a movie called “The Time Closet”. He has no money, no professional crew, and no official timeline. But, against all odds, it’s turning out really great. The clips I’ve seen have been funny, energetic, and cinematic. Check out the official blog here. Photo by Clint Alwahab.

Best Score

2008-08-18T13:07:00.000-06:00

Just got word that Relapse won best score and an honorable mention at the River’s Edge Film Festival. Exciting stuff.

Watching

2008-08-16T13:06:00.002-06:00

“The Big Sleep”

Director: Howard Hawks

Cast: Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall

Year: 1946

IMDB Page

Devil's Shoestring Concept Art

2008-08-15T13:03:00.000-06:00

This is a quick poster concept for the new short we’re working on. What do you think?

The New World

2008-08-14T13:01:00.000-06:00

Somehow I never saw Terrence Malick’s “The New World” until last night. Not surprisingly, it’s amazing. I’ve been a huge Malick fan since I saw “The Thin Red Line” when I was fifteen. Released a few months after the intense “Saving Private Ryan”, Malick’s war film was, like most of his films, slow-paced, poetic, and more about environment and atmosphere than about plot. I remember standing up at the end of the film and saying, “Brilliant”. I think I was the only person in our group that enjoyed it at all. That was the moment I became a Terrence Malick fan.

In reference to the films of Andrei Tarkovsky (who makes Malick look like McG), Roger Ebert says, “He uses length and depth to slow us down, to edge us out of the velocity of our lives, to enter a zone of reverie and meditation. When he allows a sequence to continue for what seems like an unreasonable length, we have a choice. We can be bored, or we can use the interlude as an opportunity to consolidate what has gone before, and process it in terms of our own reflections.”

This can also be said of Malick’s films. They are slow, yes, but they are also beautiful. They slow us down and encourage us to observe, to reflect, and to consider. There aren’t many films where I forget about the cinematography when I am watching. In Malick’s films, I do. Not because it’s not breathtaking (it is), but because it feels real. Because it feels like it is actually happening.

The enigmatic director has been in the film business for nearly forty years and has made only four films. They are all wonderful. His new film, “Tree of Life”, is slated for a 2009 release. It’s his shortest turnaround ever. One can only hope that will not be a detriment.

The Dark Knight Review

2008-08-12T10:02:00.002-06:00

You can read this review in the new issue of Southern Exposure Magazine:

"The Dark Knight"
by Ryan Smith

Comic book movies have been on a roller-coaster for the last ten years. “X-Men” was just ok, “X2” was good, “X-Men: The Last Stand” was forgettable. “Spider-Man” was decent, “Spider-Man 2” was fantastic, “Spider-Man 3” was average. “Superman Returns” was visually stimulating but narratively crippled. “Hulk” was better than people gave it credit for (haven’t seen the new one), “Hellboy” was great, “Hellboy II” was fun but not as good as the first, “300” was a two-hour music video, “Iron Man” was wonderful, “V For Vendetta” was better than expected, “Sin City” was nice to look at but gave me a stomach ache, and I hear “Daredevil”, “Fantastic Four”, “Catwoman”, and “The Punisher” aren’t worth my time.

So what about “Batman Begins”? Well, if you ask me, I think it’s towards the top of the list, easily one of the best comic book movies of all time. Director Christopher Nolan took a campy concept and turned it into an epic gothic drama that made you believe a grown man might just put on tights and fight crime (given the appropriate motivation).

But now “The Dark Knight” comes along and not only surpasses the first film, but manages to rise above every other comic book movie I can think of. I’ve been racking my brain and I just can’t come up with another that compares in terms of action, characters, narrative structure, and expectations. This is a truly satisfying movie.

Be warned though; the title is appropriate. This is one dark affair. Heath Ledger’s Joker is one of the most frightening movie villains in quite some time and Harvey Dent’s transformation into Two-Face is quite disturbing as well (just because Wal Mart carries Batman action figures doesn’t mean you should take your kids to this one). But for fans of the first film, you certainly won’t be disappointed here.

As I mentioned, Ledger (who is a shoe-in for a posthumous Oscar) is truly chilling. Forget the Joker you know, the one who wants to take over the world. Ledger’s Joker just wants to watch the world burn. A genuine anarchist, this skinny freak creates chaos not in the name of a particular creed, but for the sake of chaos itself. From the first scene, we know the clown in the purple suit isn’t one to mess with. And he proves to be a bona fide threat to Christian Bale’s Batman, who has been shunned by the city he strives to protect.

Unlike many films in the genre, “The Dark Knight” manages to dig deep into the human condition, dealing with authentic emotions such as loneliness and despair, and conflicting ideologies such as choice vs. chance and chaos vs. order. Like the first film, “The Dark Knight” makes it clear that it is our choices that define us.

This isn’t the best comic book movie of the year. “The Dark Knight” just swept away the competition to become the best comic book movie of all time.

C2 at Lifeway

2008-08-11T18:16:00.000-06:00

Watching

2008-08-10T21:36:00.001-06:00

Relapse at River's Edge

2008-08-10T16:05:00.001-06:00

Relapse is playing at the River's Edge International Film Festival in Kentucky next week. Here's the info.

Dark City: Director's Cut

2008-08-10T09:47:00.001-06:00

It's good to see Alex Proyas's sorely under appreciated tour de force finally getting the treatment it deserves. The film has never looked better (on home video anyway) and the bonus features are, for the most part, satisfying. What's most interesting about this edition is that it includes the new director's cut, which does away with the studio-enforced voice-over at the beginning and extends some scenes.

I vividly remember seeing "Dark City" in the theater. It was one of those defining movie experiences for me. I walked into that theater one person and walked out another. And this was before I had seen any film noir, so "Dark City" was really my first encounter with the genre. And seeing it now, in glorious high-definition, I notice things I never saw before. I don't say this about many films, but I, along with Roger Ebert, consider "Dark City" to be a masterpiece. Check out Ebert's Great Movies essay here.

Watching

2008-08-09T16:44:00.001-06:00

Farmer's Market

2008-08-09T10:46:00.000-06:00

Watching

2008-08-05T21:45:00.001-06:00

Just Like Clockwork

2008-08-04T15:25:00.004-06:00

When I got married, my wife kindly suggested that I part with some of the movies in my DVD collection. Some of the titles I let go of were "Eyes Wide Shut", "Boogie Nights", and "A Clockwork Orange". Perfectly harmless family entertainment, right?

"A Clockwork Orange" has always fascinated me. In one sense, it's deranged and sadistic. In another, it's an artistic triumph. I have some of the same feelings about "Eyes Wide Shut". From a moral standpoint, I disagree with such graphic portrayals of sex. From a story perspective, however, I see the importance, at least in Kubrick's mind, of showing what he does.

The first act of "Clockwork" is not for the lighthearted. There are disturbing rape scenes and the murder of an elderly homeless man, all set to exultant classical music. This jarring juxtaposition of beauty and ugliness is a classic Kubrick touch. When married to the shocking images, the music creates a sense of unease that makes the scenes even more disturbing.

And yet, as Roger Ebert points out, Kubrick blatantly flaunts Alex as the hero of the story. The other characters (the "normal" people) are photographed with wide-angle lenses to create a sense of distortion in the world around him. Perhaps this was a sort of reverse psychology. Or perhaps, because the story is told from Alex's point of view, we are merely seeing the world through his deranged psyche.

Once the parade of senseless sex and violence is over, the story truly begins. Alex is arrested for his crimes and through a series of experiments is "reconditioned" to be a respectful, law-abiding citizen. The question Kubrick is asking is, "When you take away a man's free will, does he cease to be a man?" Is it then that he becomes merely a clockwork orange? Something organic that is forced into subservience and thus becomes mechanical and lifeless?

Had we not seen the extent of Alex's crimes, the rest of the story would not work. Kubrick shocks us and then, amazingly, invites us to sympathize. Perhaps the most astonishing thing about the film is that we do, in some way, relate to Alex. We all have a touch of the chaotic within us. In his character this dark side of human nature is displayed in a larger than life performance by Malcom McDowell that still holds up thirty-seven years later.

The film has become a cult classic. I have to wonder though if the countless devoted fans today understand that their favorite film is a cautionary tale and not just a senseless display of "ultraviolence"? Films are so gruesome today that it is difficult to be shocked anymore. I worry that perhaps these devoted admirers are living vicariously through Alex. I don't think that was Kubrick's point.

If you've seen "The Dark Knight", you've seen the influence that McDowell's performance still has today. It is clear that Heath Ledger was channeling the performance in his similarly larger than life portrayal of The Joker. Chaos for chaos's sake.

Perhaps what's most interesting about Kubrick's films is that they are all so different, all so unique, and yet they feel consistent. Aside from stylistic consistencies, the binding tie that is evident in all of his work is a deeply rooted cynicism about modern society and, even deeper, about human nature. Nowhere is that more apparent than in "A Clockwork Orange". Take it or leave it.

Watching

2008-08-03T15:33:00.001-06:00

Watching

2008-08-02T16:09:00.001-06:00

Lolita

2008-08-01T19:09:00.001-06:00

I'm revisiting Kubrick's "Lolita". I had forgotten how wonderful it is, in so many ways. The performances by James Mason, Shelly Winters, and Peter Sellers are priceless, and the screenplay (by Vladimir Nabokov, adapted from his novel) is stellar. In a time when you couldn't be overly risqué in American film, Kubrick managed to make a movie about the sexual relationship between a grown man and an underage girl. And what's more, he somehow made it a comedy (albeit a dark one). It's amazing what they got away with in the dialogue. It's the same reason I love Douglas Sirk's films. How do you say it without really saying it? That's where great dialogue is born.

And Kubrick's direction is spot-on. This is truly one of his most underappreciated films, and one that gets better with every viewing.

Watching

2008-07-31T09:25:00.001-06:00

Radiohead vs. Third Day

2008-07-29T10:36:00.002-06:00

Hmmm...

Relapse in Collide Magazine

2008-07-28T14:45:00.002-06:00

Collide Magazine mentioned Relapse in a piece about visual curriculum. They had some nice things to say. Read it here.

Robby Hecht, "Late Last Night"

2008-07-28T12:45:00.002-06:00

I love this Robby Hecht record. Download it free here:

Listening

2008-07-28T10:14:00.001-06:00

Hey, where'd you go?

2008-07-27T18:51:00.001-06:00

Uploaded by www.cellspin.net

Moorestown

2008-07-17T09:14:00.001-06:00

Mark Kozelek's music wrecks me. His nostalgic, bittersweet
recollections tear the flesh from my bones. Check out this track from
the latest Sun Kil Moon record:

Sun Kil Moon, "Moorestown"

Her window looked out on North Church Street
An attic space overgrown
A photobook of smiling friends
Road maps, New York, Los Angeles
Her walls are Mediterranean blue
Her baby sister picked the hue
Saltwater taffy, Jersey shore
Blue like the fingernails she wore

The house is not far from the school
Her mom taught on the Hudson
Her dad's guitar sings open tunes
Reverberates up through the floor
Our love grew more one summer there
We'd spend our days just driving round
Old parking lots and neighborhoods
Are framed and charmed in Moorestown

I followed her across the Earth
Through parks in London, coasts of Perth
Newport, Kentucky and New Orleans
We shared a million lives it seems
I slept with her so many nights
We moved together heavenly
So close the North Pacific slept
You too were once beside me

She moved away to Williamsburg
Her eyes sad eye were waving
My thoughts will pause, my throat will swell
When her name is spoken
And looking past the cold, long sea
I cannot bear to wonder now
If the cascading soft lights
Are glowing for us in Moorestown
Are glowing for us in Moorestown

Signing

2008-07-16T08:39:00.000-06:00

C2 Mania

2008-07-15T19:46:00.001-06:00

Well, maybe not mania. But C2 Volumes 1 & 2 were officially released today and there has actually been some positive buzz. We're in Orlando promoting the product at ICRS (the International Christian Retail Show), doing interviews and signings and dodging the mobs of screaming fans (we wish). Here are some sites where you can currently purchase the product:

LIFEWAY
Volume 1: Love At First Sight
Volume 2: Relapse

CHRISTIAN CINEMA
Volume 1: Love At First Sight
Volume 2: Relapse

BARNES & NOBLE
Volume 2: Relapse

CHRISTIAN BOOK DISTRIBUTORS
Volume 1: Love At First Sight
Volume 2: Relapse

RANDALL HOUSE
Volume 1: Love At First Sight
Volume 2: Relapse

Way FM

2008-07-14T17:56:00.001-06:00

I'm doing an interview at Way FM. Strange...

Lazy Sunday

2008-07-13T15:24:00.000-06:00

I caved.

2008-07-12T15:14:00.001-06:00

Things I Love

2008-07-11T16:18:00.001-06:00

The iPhone 2.0 update. Great stuff.

Speaking of, Evernote is one of my new favorite things. And the iPhone app's not too shabby either.

MobileMe is awesome. I just wish it would work all the time. But it is launch day, so I suppose the quirks should be expected.

Reading

2008-07-08T10:52:00.001-06:00

My View

2008-06-27T19:49:00.000-06:00

Beaver Creek, CO recharges my batteries. To me, the year is divided
between trips to Beaver Creek and the time when I'm not here. It's
good to be back...

New Do

2008-06-26T16:02:00.000-06:00

What do you think?

Things I Currently Love

2008-06-21T21:43:00.001-06:00

Our new house.

I just keep going back.

Jon Foreman's EPs.

The new Sigur Ros record.

Billy Wilder.

Somebody stop me. For real.

Beaver Creek. I'll see you soon.

Makes my life easier.

The Mighty Boosh.

LOST. Please come back soon.

"No, we don't eat the baby."

2008-06-21T09:08:00.000-06:00

Favorite Films

2008-06-20T15:47:00.003-06:00

Someone recently asked me for a list of my favorite films. Here are some that immediately come to mind:

Lost in Translation

2008-06-20T09:18:00.000-06:00

I love this scene from "Lost in Translation":

New Film

2008-06-19T14:55:00.001-06:00

I love this storyboard my brother did for my film ____________, which is scheduled for a September 1st start date (assuming we raise the adequate funds). And that's all I can say about that.

Lazy Saturday

2008-06-15T08:05:00.000-06:00

She's Not Shy, That's For Sure

2008-06-14T12:34:00.000-06:00

Walkin' Machine

2008-06-12T10:47:00.001-06:00

Pre-Order C2

2008-06-11T12:48:00.002-06:00

So we're about six weeks away from the release of C2. You can pre-order today from a number of sites, including Barnes & Noble:

C2 Volume 1: Love At First Sight
C2 Volume 2: Relapse

Yes please.

2008-06-10T08:55:00.001-06:00

Thoughts On "Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends"

2008-06-09T09:18:00.002-06:00

Using my prophetic powers, I will reach forward to June 19th and listen to the new Coldplay record. Or maybe someone just found a copy online and gave it to me. Either way, here we go...

First of all, let me say (and I'm a bit hesitant to be making claims like this before I listen to it all the way through another ten times), but I think this is probably their best record. Recorded in churches in Latin America and Spain and produced by Brian Eno (U2, David Bowie), there's a sense of freedom to these songs, as if Martin no longer feels encumbered by the pressure to write hits. And unlike the postmodern sensibility of the last record ("You're in control, is there anywhere you want to go?"), "Viva la Vida..." feels rooted in the past (albeit with a modern musical twist). We meet fallen emperors, ghosts of old London, bloody revolutionaries, and even God himself. There's not only a sense of history here, but also a curiosity about the metaphysical. Where X&Y was concerned with the possibilities of stretching the boundaries of human conquest through science and progress, "Viva la Vida.." is all about conquest through revolution (or perhaps even salvation).

The title comes from a Frida Kahlo painting and is interpreted, "Long Live Life" (the cover image is cropped from Eugene Delacroix's famous painting of the French Revolution). In reference to the title, Martin says, "Frida went through a lot of shit, then she started a big painting in her house that said 'Viva la Vida'. I just loved the boldness of it." Well, it certainly helps make sense of the odd characters and events inhabiting the world of Coldplay's latest creation. In terms of the songs themselves, Martin says, "I don't feel any pressure to do something that people might expect. I feel completely free. You have to stop caring about what you're known for. So even if it's shit, at least it's brave."

Pre-order the record on iTunes today. Off to my eleventh listen...