Don't Watch That, Watch This

     Cartoons are not just for kids anymore.  I came across these two feature-length films, and immediately noticed the striking similairities - both are basically vignettes of short stories and monologues, each section is animated in a different style, and both deal with very adult, dark themes.  If animated films interest you, and you're looking for something more twisted than Ren and Stimpy, look no further.  Turns out only one of these is completely worth your time though.

Don't Watch That:  "Fears of the Dark" ("Peurs du Noir")

Watch This:  "Cartoon Noir"

 Where Fears of the Dark loses:
     Fears of the Dark was not an incredibly awful film by any means.  It was just very...French.  Too much pretentious abstraction and not enough explanation.  Some sections were definitely creepier and easier to follow than other sections.  Some vignettes were a flat-out bore.  The animation was stunning, but to me, some of the stories fell flat.  This film did receive some praise, and does have a fan base; it was even nominated for a Golden Reel Award for Sound Editing.  As far as an "adult cartoon" goes, however, this movie would be a lost cause for most audiences. 
Where Cartoon Noir wins: 
     This animated gem is fantastic.  Six sections of terrifying fun.  Each animation style is impressive in its own right, from stop-motion to pencil.  There are two vignettes by American animators, one vignette by a Spanish animator, and the rest by Eastern European storytellers.  The diversity of cultures was an advantage to this film.  From alien abductions to suicide to mannequins that come to life, cartoons have never been so frightening and alarmingly original.  My personal favorite vignettes were "Ape", "The Cat and the Moon", and "Joy Street".  Overall I loved Cartoon Noir - so much so that I watched it twice.

This is also available on Netflix Watch Instantly (HINT HINT).  

(img sources=cinequest.org / knightscove.com)   

Teaser Trailer Tuesday - "Chronicle"

       The 'found footage film/POV' movie and the superhero movie - two totally original and not overdone genres.  Merged into one!  Wow, how crafty, and not at all expected.     

AMC Renews "Walking Dead" for Season 3

     While the first season ended horribly, Frank Darabont was fired quit, and the second season began just as bad, the second episode of the second season was apparently good enough to have AMC renew one of the network's biggest-hitters, The Walking Dead.  I can't help but feel that although this can be an entertaining thriller, it will eventually end up, just like a staggering zombie, with an axe to the head.  In the meantime, the fan base is most certainly relieved.

  

 (img source=gawkrasserts.com)

 

The Year of, "It's About Time"

I read an interesting article today about how the upcoming Oscars next year may yield some wins for certain actors and actresses that have been overlooked for awards their entire careers - some careers as long as 60 years.  Among the list include Glenn Close for Albert Nobbs, Gary Oldman for Tinker, Tailer, Soldier, Spy, Christopher Plummer, and Max Von Sydow.  It was interesting, and I thought I'd share it with my faithful readers.  It will be a difficult race with old-school contenders such as George Clooney and Leonardo DiCaprio, and brilliant new-comers like Jessica Chastain and Elizabeth Olson.

The full article is here:
http://movies.msn.com/movies/article.aspx?news=676540

(img sources = biographychannel.co.uk/trailersunleashed.org

Teaser Trailer Tuesday: "Miss Bala"

      Fun fact: Mexican pageants have a "Best Drug Mule" category.

 

Hey look, Shia Labeouf was in another bar fight

      Shia Labeouf apparently got into a "violent altercation"(E! News) at a bar in Vancouver over the weekend, and just like Lindsay Lohan's gray and decayed tooth, everyone shrugged and went, "Meh."  There's also apparently video footage of it all, and I won't spoil the ending...ok, yes I will.  Labeouf ends up on the sidewalk getting pummeled by some drunk guy and tries to fight back but his friends restrain him.  

   You know, I strangely kinda like Shia Labeouf.  I don't mind him most of the time.  He's a decent actor that unfortunately picks shitty movies to star in and then trashes them during the press junket (classy), and has a sense of humor that can teeter on the borderline of douchey...but I find myself intrigued by his coming-and-going scruffy facial hair and short stature.  In any case, I hate to see any American get his ass whooped by a Canadian.  This has to be repaid blood for blood.  I vote we hire an American actor to hit Michael Cera as hard as he can in the face, and then we call it good.  If you think about it that's the only fair thing to do.

(img source - virginmedia.com)

Blast from the Past! : "Skins"

     One of the most stereotyped, misunderstood and misrepresented ethnic groups in American media today are Native Americans.  It seems the only movies they're depicted in at all have teepees, headdresses, and cowboys chasing them with guns.  A question arises: Where is the Indian of today?  And how should he be represented?

     Luckily, we have directors like Chris Eyre, who, as a Native Indian himself, has appropriate insight into issues and lifestyles today on the reservation, and along with great talent, can make extraordinary films.  Skins is a perfect example.  Released in 2002 and based on a novel by Adrian C. Louis, Skins tells the story of Rudy Yellowlodge, a Sioux Indian working as a cop on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, one of the poorest places in the country.  While Rudy watches his people descend into alcoholism, unemployment, and senseless, violent domestic feuds, he tries his best to keep the peace within his own family - especially with his older brother Mogie, who lives up to almost every poor, drunken, deadbeat Indian stereotype.  Mogie and Rudy care deeply for one another as brothers; they both endured an alcoholic father and saw firsthand how isolating, discouraging and depressing "the rez" could be.  It's clear Rudy chose a different path in life, serving the community in law enforcement and contributing to society, but he is restless and infuriated by the politics of what goes on around him, though he's powerless to control them.  From drug addicts abusing their wives and killing their friends to white liquor store owners setting up shop on the border of the reservation, and making a killing off alcoholic Natives with a welfare check to spend and plenty of time to spend it, Rudy is at the end of his rope.  As Mogie begins to sink more and more into trouble, first with the law, then with his health, Rudy becomes a rez vigilante, out to set everything right that has been wronged against his people - realizing that the first changes must begin within himself.
     This film is better written, more endearing, and a more realistic perspective into the Native condition than Eyre's previous work, Smoke Signals, ever hoped to be.  No matter what your race or skin color - brown, black, yellow, or white - this movie will affect you.  Graham Greene's performance as Mogie is amazing, both funny and heart-breaking, proving exactly why he is one of the most well adjusted and successful Native Hollywood actors today.  Eric Schweig and Gary Farmer do not fall short in their roles either.  This film won a load of awards at Sundance, and in a perfect world, would be better-known and more famous than Smoke Signals and Pow-Wow Highway.    This movie doesn't enforce us in our perceptions and paradigms about Native Americans, and thankfully so.  It smashes and tears down every notion we've had, and everything we've supposedly learned about Native culture and issues.  We finally have an accurate film about the Indian of the present, not the past, and we're invited to see and share the burden laid on him everyday. 
     And just as a sidenote, I would be totally down with the renovations and "adjustments" to Mount Rushmore if the Ogala Sioux wanted them.


(img sources = artistdirect.com / brianredesign.com)

Trailer for a Thursday - "The Avengers" from Marvel

     You're welcome.

 

"Arrested Development" no longer arrested, is actually developing now

      It's official - the amazing never-should've-been-cancelled TV phenomenon Arrested Development is back.
    Even though it's only for 10 episodes (which apparently constitutes a season), those 10 episodes I'm sure will be funnier than any other crap that television has to offer today.   We'll take what we can get.  Not to mention a movie coming out in early 2013.
   The announcement was made over the weekend, at the New Yorker Festival.  Ahh, the nostalgia this video brings.  Reunited - and it feels so good!