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East LA Interchange (2015)
I loved this movie
I saw "East LA Interchange" at the New Urbanism Film Festival where it won the Best Feature Film Award. "East LA Interchange" explores how the freeways - a symbol of Los Angeles ingrained in America's consciousness - impacted the melding of Boyle Heights' distinct tribes. The freeway systems changed the face of the U.S. and no community was impacted more than Boyle Heights with five major freeways dissecting the neighborhood, including the behemoth "East L.A. Interchange." Filmmaker Betsy Kalin interviews current and former Boyle Heights residents including,will.i.am, Father Greg Boyle of Homeboy Industries, and Josefina López of Casa 0101 while actor Danny Trejo narrates.
"East LA Interchange" tells the story of how this one neighborhood found its political voice in its fight against the freeways. It documents the evolution of Boyle Heights as city planners and highway officials made unilateral decisions - that affected the city greatly - with no input from its residents. Over time, this created an atmosphere of political activism where the residents came together to have a say in what was being done to their city in the name of "progress." The film provides a compelling look at what the future of America can be if the people in communities such as Boyle Heights can learn how to work together to secure our nation's pledge of providing justice for all.
An Honest Liar (2014)
I loved this movie
This week a stunningly beautiful, brilliant and poignant new documentary about James Randi comes out and it is as riveting as any narrative film I have ever seen. "An Honest Liar: Truth and Deception in the Life of James 'The Amazing' Randi" paints a luscious portrait of James Randi and a fascinating history of the crusades that he has waged in the name of honesty - as well as two provocative discrepancies in his personal life.
Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction.
And sometimes revealing untruths is even stranger than anything you can wrap your mind around.
James Randi is a vigilante. He is exceptionally bright, gifted, articulate, audacious and relentless in a quest for truth that often consists of denouncing psychics/magicians who fall below his moral barometer. He feels that taking advantage of the limitations of consciousness as entertainment is perfectly acceptable; however, taking advantage of the limitations of consciousness to scam people for financial gain or trying to pass it off as "science" is utterly abhorrent.
James Randi devised elaborate hoaxes over many years to prove that renowned scientists could be easily fooled by magicians into thinking that such gimmicks as psychokinesis (supposedly moving or influencing objects with one's mind) were real and not optical illusions.
For four decades Randi took particular umbrage with master showman Uri Geller and publicly implored him in his book "The Truth About Uri Geller" and on multiple television appearances to stop referring to himself as a psychic. His main disgust was at the money wasted by lauded institutions such as Stanford University investigating illusionists such as Gellar. In the end, it is Uri Geller who sells fake diamonds on QVC while James Randi's Million Dollar Paranormal Challenge remains intact.
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (2014)
Why Alejandro Iñárritu's "Birdman" Will Sweep The Golden Globe Awards And Academy Awards
"There is no female Mozart because there is no female Jack the Ripper." ~ Camille Paglia
"...for man is, if I may say so, 'the sterile animal'." ~ Nietzsche
Alejandro Iñárritu's "Birdman" is a ballet cum emotional and visual roller-coaster. If you enjoy sitting at the edge of your seat with your mouth agape watching dramatic pyrotechnics then this is your movie.
The first awards will go to Emmanuel Lubezki for his soaring and searing cinematography. How he was able to dance so fluidly with the actors, careen through intricate mazes, and move from exteriors to interiors via windows will remain a mystery to me. The choreography of the interaction between the camera-person and the actors must have resembled the architectural plans for a small city. Mr. Lubezki has taken cinematography to an entirely new level and you will be bedazzled by the fruits of his labors and artistry.
The next award will go to Emma Stone for Best Supporting Actress. The breadth of her character is wide and Ms. Stone's profundity is apparently inexhaustible.
It is possible that both Edward Norton and Zach Galifianakis are nominated for Best Supporting Actor awards but I imagine Mr. Norton will win because nobody will believe that a comedian - the fat guy between two ferns - could deliver such a mesmerizing performance.
Unfortunately Douglas Crise and Stephen Mirrione will be overlooked in the category of Best Editing because it appears as if they have done so little actual work - meaning that the film is the most seamless adventure you will be taken on in a movie theater and it feels as if there are less cuts than I have fingers. The enthralling dynamic between camera and actors will be to blame for Mr. Crise and Mr. Mirrione not receiving Best Editing award. A shame. Similarly, although the primal music and sound editing of "Birdman" are integral parts to what make this film akin to riding a raft through a tempest, "Birdman" will probably be robbed in these categories by bombastic summer tent-pole movies.
Michael Keaton will win awards for Best Actor for the sheer bravery he exhibits in plumbing the depths of the fruitless and bootless American Dream, of a man who has everything on the outside and nothing on the inside save despair, regrets, dashed hopes and a modicum of talent. That the role may somewhat resemble Mr. Keaton's own career is immaterial. This is a stunning, stellar performance. Period.
Alejandro Iñárritu will win the award for Best Director because of the comprehensive scope of his artistic vision and his flawless execution. Subtle details and nuances speak volumes in "Birdman" and it is easy to see how his grandiose portrayal of common characters and themes raises the bar on storytelling in what remains of Western civilization. The only possible deficit of this film is that the final scene echoes the final scene of the French version of Luc Besson's "Le Grand Bleu," but given the options of the often tragic, hollow trophy of commercial/financial success à la Gatsby and the often comedic, pursuant quest for spiritual/artistic redemption, the Birdman's leap into our fantasy-land is the only viable ending.
"Birdman" encapsulates almost every classic male protagonist from Icarus through Faust, Charles Foster Kane, Willy Loman, Stanley Kowalski, Jake Gittes, Tony Montana... every man's dire quest to ultimately to be heard, be appreciated, and to be not just admired but loved. The film is a masterpiece. Easily Best Film of 2014. And if you love literature and painting and music and ballet and theater then you should not miss it.
The Road to Empire (2007)
I love "The Road to Empire"
Michael Sibay is a brilliant filmmaker and storyteller. The plot of "Road to Empire" is engaging and I felt I was following the twists, turns and thrills of a master raconteur. Normally I don't care for thrillers - I rarely go to see them in the theaters - but I found "The Road to Empire" to be compelling to the point of riveting. All of the shots are very well composed and the editing is fluid. Overall the pacing is perfect - not too fast and not too slow - and the music and sound were very well done. This film is one of those rare gems that should be a darling of Sundance or some other festival. I hope Michael makes more films soon - he is a truly gifted writer/director.
Scarecrow (2002)
Pleasantly surprised
In general I don't see the point of horror movies but I was shocked to find myself actually enjoying "Scarecrow." Alot of the humor is tongue-in-cheek and I found the gore to be absurdly entertaining. The plot, I imagine, is somewhat secondary in B-movies like this but compared to Troema and Roger Corman's stuff I thought "Scarecrow" was great!
Nick and Jane (1997)
A great directorial debut!
This is a great directorial debut from someone to watch out for. The characters are genuine and the story is very real. It's really the perfect date movie and I'm glad that it received the acclaim that it received. All of the secondary characters and cameos are well-placed and the pacing is very smooth. Let's see more!