A New and Wonderful Find: Botero's Fat Women (mainly)

English language word of the week: Convivial

There's no room for somber thoughts on convivial occasions like fiesta, weddings, and reunions.
And of or relating to fondness for: eat, drink and be merry type stuff.
–adjective
1.
friendly; agreeable: a convivial atmosphere.
2.
fond of feasting, drinking, and merry company; jovial.
3.
of or befitting a feast; festive.
convivial
: relating to, occupied with, or fond of feasting, drinking, and good company

Human Condition

Isn't it interesting that as human animals we optimally have a close care giver the first 2-3 years of life. The caregiver was intended by Nature to be the Mother--but if need be, a substitute caregiver will do. One who is nurturing and consistently there 75% of the time is optimal. This substitute caregiver can be any race, religion, gender, color.
Babies don't know their gender until age 3 or 4. It doesn't matter up until then. Both need the SAME care, attnetion, nurturing, consistency to thrive as infants.

Film Essay on Michael Moore's documentaries.

Flaw weakness in Michael Moore's film Sicko:

Health care in England and France is not perfect and MM presents it like it is. I was surprised he showed only the best of what people had to say, including Americans living in France. It was compelling and moving but its too one-sided and therefore unbelievable. My cousin Suzanne had a medical emergency in France and it was all paid for; she was impressed. So I know it is good, but not perfect.

One of the best things about the film was in the outtakes: The old Britsih ww2 guy who was a member of the conservative party? and after the war they decided that, "the best of us will care for the least of us." They have this paradigm already in England, France, Sweden. The tea-baggers are the only ones who believe that very basic health care is a commie takeover.

Flaw weakness in Bowling for Columbine: Not necessary to do that to the old man Charlton Heston and the editing implied something that wasn't true about his appearance at an NRA rally.

Flaw weakness in Farenheilt 911.

The sequence/montage where all the past wars/ military conflict were the "fault" of the US supporting right-wing fascist dictators. This is way too simplistic. It desperately feeds into that stereotype of the far left blaming everything and always on the U.S.
Strength of 911: merciless on Bush but I admire that part. lol I mean he really gets you to squirm with the sequence where GWB is reading the child's book to kindergartners, and he gets the message that NYC is being attacked; he continues to read for 4 something more minutes. MM has a timer clock at the bottom of the screen.

His films go into the category of great for any genre, not just documentary. They are great entertainment because you both laugh and cry and get emotionally involved with the characters.

Film Theory, War-torn Romance: the core of the human condition.

It's not what it's about---- It is how it's about it. (That is four it's there) So says Roger Ebert about film. the art of film, storytelling. I agree because if is were not true, Filmmakers would not continue to make warfilms, coming of age stories, romances( in their many forms and guises)---Everything would have already been done. .An Going with Roger's philosophy, it's the same reason that film works as a story telling medium--everyone has a story, so there are millions of twists because of the individual personalities and characters of the story. There are that many stories out there---as many as individuals. And the one trait we share is the human condition. Examples: childhood/coming of age. love, lust sex, procreating, fear, pain, mental, physical sexual spiritual pain, disappointment, heartache longing, fear, Humans share all this. Living with these conditions under the larger context of war--and you have your war-torn romance like Atonement also a great HUMAN tragedy that is exemplified and by war. And war exemplifies and personifies on a grand scale. The human condition. Living under war and all the other mentioned human themes---What are the great ones: English Patient, Zhviago, From Here TO eternity, Has to be some European ones. Pearl Harbor with Affleck and Beckinsdale tried to be and sadly was not. Atonement tried to be and succeeded absolute . Atonement is under-rated. The long tracking shot was born out of necessity not showing off. But it made sense to do that long tracking shot there to show the vastness, the panoramic view of the war/beach scene.

Dennis Hopper: A true American original individual, Jack Nicholson, H-wood Walk of Fame Ceremony

A few pictures of Dennis Hopper at his "Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame." ceremony quite recently. He does look frail and underweight. I think the prostrate cancer may bring him down. I don't understand how so many men in this day and age can beat prostrate cancer--like my Father--and it kills others. Best to you Dennis. Also a few photos of Jack Nicholson in attendance with his old friend. Jack was wearing a kick-ass Easy Rider shirt which you really can't see in the photos here. But you can see ol' Jack who is getting old and aging like the rest of us! Oh, and the Divine Viggo Mortensen was there and looks like he shared a few words to honor Dennis.

Dennis Hopper: A true American original individual

By ANTHONY McCARTNEY, AP Entertainment Writer – 3 mins ago
LOS ANGELES – Dennis Hopper is terminally ill and unable to undergo chemotherapy as he battles prostate cancer, his attorney wrote in a court filing.
Attorney Joseph Mannis wrote about the "Easy Rider" star's grave condition in a declaration filed Wednesday asserting the actor cannot be questioned by his wife's attorneys in a deposition.
The prognosis contradicts previous filings in the divorce proceedings that were bullish about Hopper's recovery chances.
Hopper, 73, and his wife, Victoria, have been locked in a bitter feud since the actor, director and artist filed to end the couple's nearly 14-year marriage in January.
He weighs barely 100 pounds and was described by his physician Dr. David Agus in the court filing as extremely weak and unable to carry on long conversations.
Agus states that undergoing a deposition "could actually threaten his ability to survive his current health crisis."
The doctor added, however, that he approved an appearance Friday by Hopper to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame because it is likely to be a positive experience.

Film Log: Sideways and The Cove

Film Log Capitalism: A Love Story by Michael Moore

This is MM latest film and his best. His filmmaking style has continued to evolve. The way he tells his story and POV is very tight. Very entertaining film. You both laugh and cry. The bottom line is we need to get Wall Street out of bed with Washington. They can't be legislating on the financial industry if they stand to make a profit from it. And we can't have all these former Goldman Sachs employees running the government. Talk about a hypocrite and a conflict of interest! Obama needs to get rid of Geithner and Summers!!!

5 Questions Eddie Muller Film Log: Angel Face

GAh! where are my questions for Eddie Muller? And tell me about the three column shots instead of Mise en scene. I have Eddie Muller questions on this blog. Where are they? The Oedipel issues one sees in some of the Noirs. The Victor Mature film that was updated. The one where he marries the baby sitter. It was updated with the red-headed dude from NCIS. Plus Daisy Kenyon. .Asphalt Jungle