Saw Saturday matinee with Lynae at AMC Barywoods theater.
In Ray, Jamie Foxx bore a striking resemblance to Ray Charles. I am reminded of Oliver Stone's movie, "The Doors", in which a Doors band member spoke of how Val Kilmer so much resembled Jim Morrison that it was spooky. I don't know too much about Ray Charles, but from what I know, I wouldn't have known it was an actor in the movie if I didn't know Ray had died earlier this year.
The movie itself was entertaining. These types of movies are called biopics, I guess for epic biographies. Biopics are limited somewhat if they are going to be true to the protagonist of the story. There is not as much room for creativity. So, at times, the movie seemed dry, or drawn out. However, I would rather a biopic get the facts right than manipulate them for entertainment's sake.
It was a rather long movie, clocking in at over two hours. Still, I was disappointed that it wasn't a little bit longer so that more could have been communicated about Ray's later life. The movie narrative stopped virtually in about 1969, or thereabout. What about the last 30+ years of Ray's life, where he was clean from heroin. While I applauded the effort to look at his heroin addiction and infidelity honestly, his life continued after he kicked these habits. It would have been nice to see some narrative from this time period. Also, I would have liked to have seen what became of some of the other characters, such as his "bosses" at his first record company, and his manager Jerry.
Sunday, October 31, 2004
Movie: Shark Tale
Saw Friday night with Dominic at AMC Barywoods theater.
I liked it. Dominic liked it. I had heard other people say that they did not like it, but I thought it was just fine. I was especially entertained by the mobster shark voiced by Robert Dinero. The shark even had the Dinero mole on his face.
I liked it. Dominic liked it. I had heard other people say that they did not like it, but I thought it was just fine. I was especially entertained by the mobster shark voiced by Robert Dinero. The shark even had the Dinero mole on his face.
Sunday, October 24, 2004
Movie: Man on Fire
Date: 10/23/04
At home on DVD
Starring: Denzel Washington, Christopher Walken, Mickey Rourke, among others
Man on Fire was worth watching because of Denzel Washington. I will always take the time to watch one of his movies. The story was fine, but it got a little bit lengthy. I did not like the ending, not because it was sad or predictable, but because of the way that it was portrayed. I guess the director, Tony Scott, is notrious for "flash cuts" and superimposed images, and other tricks of the screen. In my opinion, these tecniques take away from the movie, and make it harder to watch. Christopher Walken and Denzel both play their characters awesome, as they always seem to do.
At home on DVD
Starring: Denzel Washington, Christopher Walken, Mickey Rourke, among others
Man on Fire was worth watching because of Denzel Washington. I will always take the time to watch one of his movies. The story was fine, but it got a little bit lengthy. I did not like the ending, not because it was sad or predictable, but because of the way that it was portrayed. I guess the director, Tony Scott, is notrious for "flash cuts" and superimposed images, and other tricks of the screen. In my opinion, these tecniques take away from the movie, and make it harder to watch. Christopher Walken and Denzel both play their characters awesome, as they always seem to do.
Saturday, October 23, 2004
Movie: The Final Cut
Date: 10/22/04
At Barrywoods 24 AMC theaters
Starring: Robin Williams & Mira Sorvino, among others
The Final Cut was not a great movie. Considering there were only 5 other people in the theater with me on a Friday night, I'm assuming it is not doing too well in official review literature either. Robin Williams played his character well, as he always does. But, the story, while it seems like it could have been intriguing, just did not grip my attention. I felt that the premise of the movie asked me to take too much for granted and did not adequately explain troubling aspects. Maybe this is the type of a film that a professional reviewer would say could benefit from better directorship. If I had to choose between thumbs up or thumbs down, I would have to pick the latter. I feel like I wasted a rare opportunity to see a movie on the big screen, but there really wasn't much to choose from.
At Barrywoods 24 AMC theaters
Starring: Robin Williams & Mira Sorvino, among others
The Final Cut was not a great movie. Considering there were only 5 other people in the theater with me on a Friday night, I'm assuming it is not doing too well in official review literature either. Robin Williams played his character well, as he always does. But, the story, while it seems like it could have been intriguing, just did not grip my attention. I felt that the premise of the movie asked me to take too much for granted and did not adequately explain troubling aspects. Maybe this is the type of a film that a professional reviewer would say could benefit from better directorship. If I had to choose between thumbs up or thumbs down, I would have to pick the latter. I feel like I wasted a rare opportunity to see a movie on the big screen, but there really wasn't much to choose from.
Thursday, October 21, 2004
The Bluest Eye
Author: Toni Morrison
Published: 1970
Genre: Fiction
Setting: primarily circa 1941, Lorain, OH
Protagonist: Pecola Breedlove, 11 year old black girl
Themes: Self-hatred; racism; beauty and ugliness; rejection; the myth of white superiority
I finished reading The Bluest Eye on October 24, 2004.
The Bluest Eye was Toni Morrison's first novel. I have read that it was well received by critics in 1970, but did not enjoy commercial success.
The narrative point of view of this novel shifts from person to person. At times, it is a first-person narrative by Claudia MacTeer. It also has portions written from the point of view of Pecola, Pecola's mother and a third person narrator. This is a quasi-stream of consciousness tecnique in the mode of William Faulkner, a writer that I've read influenced Toni Morrison.
The novel is divided into four primary sections named after the seasons of the year, beginning with autumn and concluding with summer.
Essays and Articles on this webpage.
One of the saddest parts of this story is the lack of love in Pecola's life. Her mother Pauline values the child of her white employer more than she values Pecola. It is bad enough that white people see black people as inferior. But, it is somehow worse that black people see black people as inferior. The result on Pecola is disasterous as she begins to loathe herself for being black, and wishes at all costs to be white. At least Claudia stands up and shouts loudly that she despises the fact that everyone seems to unjustly praise white children by the simple "virtue" of being white. Claudia dislikes Shirley Temple because so many other people seem to idolize her. In contrast, Geraldine is a black migrant from the south that has tried to become as anti-black as possible. She is ashamed of Pecola because of her "blackness", even though she herself is black. Pauline Breedlove is headed in the same direction as Geraldine, but is never able to cross over the barrier to the quasi-middle class stature that Geraldine achieves. Geraldine thinks that the reason she has a semi-successful economic situation is because she has figured out how to "un-black" herself. Pauline sees the path to success as figuring out how to "un-black" herself.
Cholly Breedlove, Pecola's father and later rapist, is a major character of the story. The presence of this character explores the question of whether a person can be both good and bad, not simply one or the other. This theme pops up often in literature, and reminds me of Robert Penn Warren's treatment of the idea of good and bad in his book "All the King's Men". Cholly is clearly an animal at the end of the story. But, is an animal to be blamed for his actions? Abandoned as an infant, Cholly actually was at least a decent man early in life. However, situations always seemed to work against him. Eventually, he seemed to break to the point where he didn't try to be good anymore. Pauline finds no problem judging Cholly as an unforgiveable monster, but Morrison includes enough information about him to make the reader think twice before judging him in such an unforgiving manner. As one essay I've read notes, the Western tradition of Christianity seems to have an either -or mentality. Either you are good or you are bad. It's a dichotomy. Morrison brings this theological and philosophical question into focus through Cholly.
Published: 1970
Genre: Fiction
Setting: primarily circa 1941, Lorain, OH
Protagonist: Pecola Breedlove, 11 year old black girl
Themes: Self-hatred; racism; beauty and ugliness; rejection; the myth of white superiority
I finished reading The Bluest Eye on October 24, 2004.
The Bluest Eye was Toni Morrison's first novel. I have read that it was well received by critics in 1970, but did not enjoy commercial success.
The narrative point of view of this novel shifts from person to person. At times, it is a first-person narrative by Claudia MacTeer. It also has portions written from the point of view of Pecola, Pecola's mother and a third person narrator. This is a quasi-stream of consciousness tecnique in the mode of William Faulkner, a writer that I've read influenced Toni Morrison.
The novel is divided into four primary sections named after the seasons of the year, beginning with autumn and concluding with summer.
Essays and Articles on this webpage.
One of the saddest parts of this story is the lack of love in Pecola's life. Her mother Pauline values the child of her white employer more than she values Pecola. It is bad enough that white people see black people as inferior. But, it is somehow worse that black people see black people as inferior. The result on Pecola is disasterous as she begins to loathe herself for being black, and wishes at all costs to be white. At least Claudia stands up and shouts loudly that she despises the fact that everyone seems to unjustly praise white children by the simple "virtue" of being white. Claudia dislikes Shirley Temple because so many other people seem to idolize her. In contrast, Geraldine is a black migrant from the south that has tried to become as anti-black as possible. She is ashamed of Pecola because of her "blackness", even though she herself is black. Pauline Breedlove is headed in the same direction as Geraldine, but is never able to cross over the barrier to the quasi-middle class stature that Geraldine achieves. Geraldine thinks that the reason she has a semi-successful economic situation is because she has figured out how to "un-black" herself. Pauline sees the path to success as figuring out how to "un-black" herself.
Cholly Breedlove, Pecola's father and later rapist, is a major character of the story. The presence of this character explores the question of whether a person can be both good and bad, not simply one or the other. This theme pops up often in literature, and reminds me of Robert Penn Warren's treatment of the idea of good and bad in his book "All the King's Men". Cholly is clearly an animal at the end of the story. But, is an animal to be blamed for his actions? Abandoned as an infant, Cholly actually was at least a decent man early in life. However, situations always seemed to work against him. Eventually, he seemed to break to the point where he didn't try to be good anymore. Pauline finds no problem judging Cholly as an unforgiveable monster, but Morrison includes enough information about him to make the reader think twice before judging him in such an unforgiving manner. As one essay I've read notes, the Western tradition of Christianity seems to have an either -or mentality. Either you are good or you are bad. It's a dichotomy. Morrison brings this theological and philosophical question into focus through Cholly.
Saturday, October 09, 2004
Movie: Ladder 49
I saw Ladder 49 last night at AMC Barrywoods. The movie stars Juaquin Phoenix and John Travolta. I enjoyed the movie. It was emotional. I was happy that I was able to enjoy a movie about firefighters, which has been done before, in films such as Backdraft.
The movie is set in Baltimore. This is interesting, because my cousin Derek is a police officer in Baltimore. He is probably familiar with a lot of the sites mentioned in the movie. In fact, I'm sure he works with the fire department on occasion.
I went to the movie by myself, because Sharon was not feeling well, and Dominic was sick. I think Sharon would like the movie, and I wouldn't mind seeing it again. We'll probably wait for the video though, since there are some other movies that we both want to see at the theater (if we ever get a chance to go together!).
The movie definitely inspired me. It made me want to do something heroic. And, it reminded me once again how important it is to live each day to its fullest, and always make sure those around me know that I love them.
The movie is set in Baltimore. This is interesting, because my cousin Derek is a police officer in Baltimore. He is probably familiar with a lot of the sites mentioned in the movie. In fact, I'm sure he works with the fire department on occasion.
I went to the movie by myself, because Sharon was not feeling well, and Dominic was sick. I think Sharon would like the movie, and I wouldn't mind seeing it again. We'll probably wait for the video though, since there are some other movies that we both want to see at the theater (if we ever get a chance to go together!).
The movie definitely inspired me. It made me want to do something heroic. And, it reminded me once again how important it is to live each day to its fullest, and always make sure those around me know that I love them.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)