The middle slice of Oregon
It’s been a while since I got out into the deep backwoods. When I heard I’d be staying near Klamath Falls this summer I realized it was the perfect chance to strap into some back country, rather than taking the predictable I-5 on the way back. What I discovered, OF COURSE, was another dimension. One that only tickled my interest. I still had to skip over the majority of the spectacular wonder that is Central Oregon. I mean, I didn’t... Read More
Tanner Goods on film
How many times have I watched this short film? The first time I was exposed to it I was standing in a small circle of friends huddling around a laptop. We were all silent for the full 7 minutes. Ryan Bush was standing behind us biting his nails. We applauded him immediately at the finish. But Mr. Bush had no reason to be nervous. He executed a great short film deliberately in a very short amount of time. He has been kind enough to credit me in... Read More
40,000-piece textile archive
It was an accident really that led me to Andrea Aranow. I was working in the Goldsmith Building in Chinatown when Caleb Sayan poked his head into the studio. He was looking for Jelly Helm. In his stead I followed Caleb up to to the fourth floor and caught my breath when I walked into what is the largest private textile archive in the world. Caleb mentioned that his mother, Andrea Aranow, was flying in from New York in a few weeks and what started... Read More
“The Tree of Life” review
“Tell us a story from before we can remember.” Terrence Malick as a director polarizes his viewers. There are hordes who would rather clean cat litter all night over sitting in a theater under the weight of one of his films. For the record I adore this mans work, and relish in the opportunity to enjoy his films on the big screen. It is a rare event, after all, since his feature-length debut in 1973 with Badlands, Malick has only directed... Read More
Public domain, white gold
Recently I was doing some digging and came across the largest public domain film archive I’ve ever imagined in my life. I was absolutely giddy when I realized that all the videos in the archive were simply a click away from being downloaded onto my machine, ready for the cutting board. There are a few tricks to learning the keyword system, but once you get comfortable understanding how the archive stores information it’s basically an endless... Read More
The Answer, lightning equals life
It starts as just another rather unassuming Vimeo HD short film until you hear this man speak. Ray Winstone was in his yard in Hammersmith as a young man when he was struck by lightning. He survived, and this film literally explodes within his description of how incredible living is now that he’s been spared. It will knock your socks off, shoot through you, and infect your brains. And in just six minutes! Just things that happen, you know.... Read More
Tarantino vs Coen Brothers
Filmlist… Dir.: Joel and Ethan Coen: Blood Simple (1984) Raising Arizona (1987) Miller’s Crossing (1990) Barton Fink (1991) Fargo (1996) The Big Lebowski (1998) O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000) No Country for Old Men (2007) Burn After Reading (2008) A Serious Man (2009) Dir.: Quentin Tarantino: Reservoir Dogs (1992) Pulp Fiction (1994) Jackie Brown (1997) Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003) Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004) Death Proof (2007) Inglourious... Read More
Nature’s Assasin – A Tetrology
Becoming is an acclaimed, visually stunning short film that is part of a tetrology by Ayelen Liberona. The fist shot is so incredible when the main character emerges from a stream. The rest is just odd + incredible. It’s a little scary, partly disturbing, but so very well done. I love the contortion, gestures, and movements of the assassin. I’ve never seen a human move like that before! Well, that’s the point, right? She’s... Read More
Dancing cast members
Originally I was going to talk about two of my favorite martial arts films because, well, they’re just too good not to talk about. Then I realized both films involve serious cast-wide dance sequences in them. What are the chances!? Clearly I am the culprit here, there can not be many of these out there. I’ve loved both of these for years, and for your moment of appropriate Zen, check it if you want it: Kung Fu Hustle A self-aware flick... Read More
Wes Anderson Acceptance Speech
When The National Board of Review awarded Wes Anderson a Special Filmmaking Achievement earlier this month he gave his thanks in the same manner that his latest film The Fantastic Mr. Fox was created. The results are, well, fantastic. Read More