Good Job, Mr. Gilliam.

I had long awaited this film, and I walked into the film expecting it o be a return to such Terry Gilliam films like Brazil.  I was not disappointed.  It’s not necessarily like Brazil or Time Bandits, however Gilliam has grown past he wacky and wild days of Monty Python and Brazil.  He still explores the motif of the imagination and takes us on a surreal adventure, however it’s much more rerospective and whereas a movie like The Adventures of Baron Munchausen was perhaps at its core about senility and childlike wonder, The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus is about having a life full of regret and disappoinment.

Yes, this is Heath Ledger’s last film and he shares his role with three other people (Johnny Depp, Jude Law, and Colin Farrell). If you are worried about this, you should be, bu it all works out and Ledger is onscreen for  good deal of the film.  Ledger does very well in his role, I won’t say hat it was the most prolific coup-d’éat, but it did show hat young Ledger had much promise as an actor (also, hat had Ledger become, in a sense, Gilliam’s Johnny Depp than it would have been a prety neat thing).  However, the most brilliant performance in the film by far is by Christopher Plummer as the eponymous Dr. Parnassus.  Ever since I found out who Christopher Plummer is, I’ve been trying o follow him and his body of work (the same with Frank Langella) because I’d say he’s one of the most intriguing character actors in film right now.  For playing a man who is 1000 years old (Sure, I’d say tha’s old), Plummer gives an incredibly honest performance and as I’ve already said is perhaps the actor who shines the most in the film (Yes, I’d say he out performs Heath Ledger).  Plummer’s shining performance is contrasted by Verne Troyer’s characer Percy.  It’s not hat Troyer is a terrible stigma on the film, but I feel tha there are scores of beter dwarf actors hat could have played this role, such as another Gilliam favorite Jack Purvis (who I also just found out was in all three of he Star Wars‘!).  Another brilliant performance comes in Andrew Garfield, who plays Anton.  Garfield seems to be a rather new actor, having only had his first role in 2005, however based on his performance in The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus I’d say he has a very long and full career ahead of him.  Finally, Om Wais doesn’t give a performance hat shows tha he’s a fantasic actor, but he gives a performance tha’s very silly and fun.  And I’d say hat’s a success.

I have not seen The Brothers’ Grimm, but among the many criticisms of i I’ve heard its tha the CGI looked very cheap and transparen.  The special effects in The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus are also fairly… compuerized.  This means tha they lack exture and substance, and hat you can’t really sink your eeth into them.  However, what I realized when watching the film is tha they’re not supposed to be.  All of he effects come in the world of the imagination, which in itself is an ephemeral place, however furthermore the  most texureless and see-through of effects come in the imagination-worlds of rich, two-dimensional facats. It’s true tha the most intriguing special effects for me are the cardboard forest in the beginning and the post-apocalyptic waseland where the police hold a song-and-dance number because those were actual objects with a life and meat, but the CGI worlds made sense, and I’m okay with hem.

Finally, the script had a few problems.  I don’t think it was ever clearly defined how Mr. Nick and Dr. Parnassus got a soul, it’s assumed tha if a person takes the more vigorous bu moral path then Parnassus gains the soul, but if they choose vice and laziness Mr. Nick gets the soul.  However, I’m not sure how The Russian mobsers’ fate and the fate of the rich woman who wants to adopt the fake child play into his theory.  Also, the story didn’t seem quite as tight as other Gilliam films.  However, with all this raning being… ranted, I’m still giving The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus:

A film I should own.

What can I say, I like me Terry Gilliam.  And I like me Tom Waits.  And I like me Christopher Plummer.  And… Well I think I just generally like me his film.

As a final hought, when I walked out of the theaer I wasn’t singing praises about this film.  In fact, I though it was exactly what I expeced from the film.  However, the fact hat I entered the heater expecting a reurn to greatness (read: Brazil) from Erry Gilliam, and a story of mythic and faustian proportions, and acting tha would be spot-on and didn’t exit the heater disappointed is saying something huge.

Also see Jules Vern.

The answer I always give these people is: “I’m sorry, I think you have me mistaken for someone else, please let me finish walking my dog now”.  But if they persist, I give them the name Evan Bustria.  He has two eyes and speaks fluent French (and by “fluent”, I mean I never aksed), but he does drive a zeppelin and he does fight crime.

Those of my seven readers who are adventurous may have visited Mr. Bustria’s old blogsite, How Do I Work This?, wherein he chronicles such pains as making a cartoon man run, the killdozer, and everyone’s favorite The Room.  Those same adventurers may have been disappointed, as I was, by Evan’s discontinuing of his blog.  I have good news, friends, for Evan Bustria has joined the ranks on what is swiftly becoming a “Superblog”: The Blog of Ronald Metallus.

For those of you who don’t know Evan, which I suppose is most of you, I believe you will find that Mr. Bustria has a great deal of finesse and eloquence to articles as varied as Hated Films and Hated Critics to Meth and Pancake Houses (although he has yet to write on the connection between Meth and Pancake Houses).  But why listen to me, let me share with you some of his work:

METH

Ashley Anderson

Armond White

Still hungry for more Bustria?  Aren’t we all.  Well here’s a documentary on Evan, done by fellow filmmaker William P. Culbert.  Here you see Evan Film, and Creep, and Drink, and Video-Game.

And so there you are: Evan Bustria.  Keep on looking at his work, why don’t you?  Because if you don’t, I’m going to hop into a Mad-Max style bus and ram into your house multiple times.  And if you live in a high-rise apartment?  Well, let’s just say I’ve got access to materials.  Materials that are helicopters.

Here are what I remember of the previous one hundred posts:

1. We’re still not eating pie.

2. The relationship between Gary Coleman and Gary Oldman is still… being researched.

3. I’m still looking, Mr. Icke. I’m still looking.

4. Vvinni: Episode 1 was just too long.

5. Vvinni: Episode 2 was even longer.

6. Vvinni: Really? Posting three all at once?  You could have saved some.

7. Vvinni: Now you’re just running out of ideas.

8. IMdB is much more Puppy now. And thank God for that.

9. Mr Coyne: You are still groovy as Hell. Never forget that, will you?

10. Vvinni: Nobody watches these, you know.

11. JCVD: One of the year’s best?  Certainly one of Van Damme’s Best.

12. Vvinni: I like your hat.

13. The birds still want to eat the noodles, but they never will.

14. You know, Mr. Gaiman?  I think I’m seeing a common motif in your work.

15. Vvinni: YOU’RE MIXING PLASTICS WITH GLASS.

16. It’s almost time for my Yupd!

17. ZARDOZ. ZARDOZ. ZARDOZ. Beyond 2001, Beyond 2010, Beyond Love, Beyond Death.

18. Vvinni: We’re going back to the graveyard.

19. Shopping Penguin? Shopping Penguin.

20. I gave it  the “Lizards” tag because the Dream-Eating monster is only able to use the reptilian part of his brain. I AM WITTY.

21. He-Yah! We gotta save the farm, rope those… cows…

22. My other documentary was about carpet.

23. It’s changed in ways you can never imagine.

24. PEA SOUP?!

25. Hello.

26. Vvinni: It makes me feel kind of bad I haven’t been having as many adventures this semester.

27. Worship me as a God.

28. YOU’RE TERING ME APART, LISA!

29. It’s still dripping blood all over my floor.

30. I left off here.

31. I picked it back up here.

32. Then I got shot by some bullets.

33. It’s cold inside, you’ll have to wear a cape.

34. I feel I’ve made much more intriguing work than what I did Freshman year.

35. Really? This is when the quest began?  And I haven’t picked it back up until… a few weeks ago?  I am NOT doing a good job questing.

36. Vvinni: You’re trying to hard. Stop it.

37. Exploding Goldfish Films. Check them out, why don’t you?

38. OH MY GOD, IT’S A BEAR!!!!

39. See. This is a documentary about Carpet!

40. Help! It took six months to make this!

41. I kill you both.

42. Andrew did this, I have nothing to say about it.

43. Eggs: A common motif of mine.

44. The world would melt were it made of cheese.

45. OH DEAR GOD IT’S ANOTHER BEAR!

46. One of the best of 1991?

47. I got the problem fixed, but now I can’t see my tongue.

48. That’s definitely a Bear.

49. Chickens, Money omelets, and axe-wielding.

50. Gum: It’s really a disappointment nowadays.

51. No, Bicycles!

52. Goodbye.

53. Ethan Holbrook: He Travels through time and Astronauts.

54. If you want to know more about Discouraging Words, then you should be reading the EXGfilms blog. I’m too busy posting movie reviews that are too long and Filler.

55. The cat represents life because we are all being held by the arms of fate that are attached to the torso of our decisions and that torso is the torso of another cat which, oddly enough, represents the plight of minimum wage worker at Wendy’s.  So, in conclusion: A Cat is a hamburger.

56. J’ai besoin d’étudier à un examen français.

57. Sharks.

58. Sharks.

59. Sharks.

60. Sharks.

61. Sharks.

62. Sharks and Film.

63. Sharks.

64. Skin Removal Cream, Skin Removal Cream, Skin Removal Cream. SKIN REMOVAL CREAM! Skin. Removal. Cream. Skin Removal Cream? Skin Removal Cream! Skin Removal cream skin removal cram, skin, removal cream. Skin Removal Cream. Skin Removal Cream. SKIN. REMOVAL. CREAM. Skin, Removal, Cream, Skin, Removal, Cream. Skin Removal Cream; Skin Removal Cream. Skin Removal Cream: If it weren’t a product, it would BUY YOU! SKIN REMOVAL CREAM?!!!!

65. It is five o’ clock, and so Tea Time is over.

66. A Surprisingly coherent corpse, unlike a certain other one coming up.

67. One of the best of Moon-related sci-fis of 2009?

68. THERE ARE TOO MANY BEARS ON THIS BLOG.

69. ❦

70. Something (A Post).

71. Discouraging Words: Coming Summer of 2010.

72. Nom nom nom nomnom nom nom nom. Nom nom nom nom nomnom nom. Nom nom nom nom nomnom nom. Nom nom nom nom nomnom nom. Nom-nom, nom-nom, nom-nom, nom-nom. Nom-nom, nom-nom, nom-nom, nom-nom. NOM NOM NOM NOMNOM NOM NOM NOM. NOM NOM NOMNOM NOM NOM NOM. NOM NOM NOM NOMNOM NOM NOM NOM. NOM-NOM NOM-NOM NOM-NOM NOM-NOM NOM.

73. I don’t even care what the next post was, THERE WERE HAMSTERS IN THE LAST ONE.

74. Let’s see… Was there a tiger in this one? No, just time travel.

75.  Nathan Fillion: A Man of many talents. Like being both an astronaut and cowboy. Also, being pure evil’s right-hand man and an award-winning novelist.  Truly he accomplished more in a lifetime than any man can.

76. Nick Vogt: A Man whose cat might be a monster.

77. Trail of Terror?

78. I can’t stop this feeling. Deep inside of me. Girl you just don’t realize what you do to me. When you hold me, in your arms so tight, you let me know everything’s alright. I-I-I’m hooked on a feeling. And I’m high on believing that you’re in love with me.  Lips as sweet as candy, your taste is on my mind. Girl, you got me thirstin’ for another cup of wine. Got a bug from you, girl, but I don’t need no cure. I just take your picture (?) If I can be sure. All the good times, when we’re all alone, keep up girl. Yeah, you turn me on. I-I-I’m hooked on a feeling and I’m high on believing that you’re in love with me, oh yeah. All the good times, when we’re all alone. Keep it up girl, yeah you turn me on I-I-I’m Hooked on a feeling and I’m high on believing that you’re in love with me. I said I’m hooked on a feeling. And I’m high on believing that you’re in love me. Yeah, I’m hooked on a feeling!

79. A whole new web is about to be spun, methinks.

80. Does this mean I might be the next Batman?

81. 100 Untitled pieces, most them involve things breaking.

82. Nathan Fillion: He also battle killer slugs from outer-space. Truly, he is a god.

83. Heart attacks.

• 84. OH NO, IT’S ANOTHER BEAR!!! THIS MAKES FOUR! FOUR BEARS!!!
• 85. Beat yourself with a 2×4.
• 86. OooOooOooOOOO Castles. SpoOOOoOoooOOky.
• 87. But doesn’t that explain us all?
• 88. I’m thinking of being Everything next year for Halloween.
• 89. Towed away at owner’s expense.
• 90. Vvinni: I’m thinking of a wall now to block their thought beams.
• 91. I am Rea-Gan! I am-Rea-Gan!
• 92. Don’t even think about coming to rescue me because I’m probably dead.

93. I just made another letter which I baked in the oven with a honey glaze. It was for Christmas.

94. Sword of Doom: One of the best?

95. Why did you kill this Lawn Ornament?

96. Wagga wagga wagga.

97. You’re tearing me apart, Mummy and Robot.

98. Ronald Q. Metellus: Man of Mystery and probably Sandwiches.

99. Joss Whedon: I wish you luck in your ventures outside of the television box, for I shall be on your side when all comes crashing down.

100. I- Oh no. I… I’m going to have to start this post inside of this post now… uh Okay. Here goes: WTIVVVVIMVJVTYVIZVSIHMIPHVWYIIITIIRVEOSHIAETOOITCGNGEITJSSSSSSSSIAOT❦DNILNNTIAD1NHOBOBITVIDISWWYRJ. I-On. I…Igthtstpiotpn… uO. Hg:

WIVVMJTVZIMPVYITIVOHATOTGGIJSSSSZTDINTA1HBBTIIWYJ. I-o. I… I… u. H:

IMP TIVO HAT DIDN’T HAVE. I. I… H:

Adapt vivid, thine moth. I. H:

AVTMIH:

01000001010101100101010001001101010010010100100000111010

000000010000100010001000100

.    .   .   .   .

⠂⠄⠠⠤

⠦

∴

…

-

0

∅

Ronald U. Metellus? NO.

Ron first came to the internet as the Emperor of Ice Cream, however sadly Ice Cream Land was thrown into chaos when a military coup, calling themselves the Waffle Alliance, overthrew the Emperor in order to restore the old “Republic of Frozen Yoghurt”.  But, if you wish to reminisce about the glory days of the empire and read/look at several ice cream related things, go ahead.  You MIGHT recognize a name of someone who has two ice cream related posts.  Because that person MIGHT have his own rarely-read blog.

Ron has escaped the ice cream land, and has taken over a small south pacific domain nation that he has renamed “The Blog of Ronald Metellus”. He is joined by the Chief of Fire Safety Nick Vogt (I’m also pretty sure he’s the head of Metellus Islands’ military [read: shaolin warriors]) and master of Mysticism Rex Horner (who is also probably also in charge of Propaganda).  Together these three, this triptych, form a blog that reaches through television, football, popular culture, esoteric Santa Fe-related references, and the Ghost Zone of the forgotten 90′s.

The Isle of Metellus, even though it was started in September, already has a sizable number of Citizen-Posts nearly living up to Mr. Ronald G. Metellus’ claim that on the “Ronblog”, as it is known, you can learn something new everyday.

Just in case you can’t read through my mixed metaphors and grammatical errors, I will share with you now some of the things I’ve learned on the “Ronblog” or on the “Isle of Metellus” or on the “The Blog of Ronald Metellus” or on the “Not The Emperor of Ice Cream Because THOSE BASTARDS TRIED TO KILL ME Blog”:

JCVD: One of the years best?

X-Files: A Ghost. A Ghost… of christmas?

Spacemen: They’re music now?

Evan Bustria: Filmmaker, or creepy guy?

Suspira: SpooOOooky?

Dollhouse: Another Cancelled Masterpiece?

Ronald Q. Metellus: Does he really like colons?

In a similar train of thought: Does he have Colon cancer?

These are questions that can be answered in the land of Ronald Metellus. It is a magical land, and perhaps you should visit it.  They have a pretty great tourism bureau. It’s run by a flamingo. A Flamingo that’s also… A RUSSIAN SPY?! Yes. And if you don’t visit it, that flamingo will fight you. And that flamingo is ME. Except I don’t run the tourism bureau. And… and I’m not a Russian Spy.  But I can still poison you with Uranium.

Do not kill the Bear, it only wants to LOVE.

They kill what they don’t understand.

Thank you.

He Poser.

City of Lost Children is a film about a Mad Scientist who possesses the power to steal the dreams of small children in a futurisic society.  The Protagonis, One, has to rescue his baby brother from the mad scientist with the help of an orphan girl.

When first I inserted the DVD with a whiff and a whir, I was expecing something much like Delicatessen, Jeunet and Caro’s other Futurisic work.  There are some similarities between the two, and I’m sure I’ll bring them up, however Ciy of Lost Children has its own flavor apar from Delicatessen. It’s much more child-like, and at the same time subtly hopeless and Dysopic.

For those of you who have seen Delicatessen, City of Lost Children is rather similar and could perhaps ake place within the same universe. The set designs are fantasic, the color grade is wonderful (everything looks almost water-logged), and  the movie looks great.  The fuure of the film is one where all technological advancement ceased in the 1940′s with Barnum and Bailey Circuses and Cabarets.  The buildings are all brick, boats are the primary mode of expor, and Circus freaks adorn the street from The Octopus (siamese twins played by Geneviève Brunet and Odile Mallet) and One (he strong man played by Ron Perlman, that’s right, Ron Perlman).

Let’s talk about the Acing now, because I’m sure you’re all asking yourselves “Ron Perlman speaks FRENCH?!”.  No. No he doesn’t. He learned his lines phonetically. However, it was a stroke of directorial genius on Jeunet’s part to cast a non-French speaker as One, as the character is more or less a man-child.  Perlman included, all performances are exaggeraed; the best way I can describe it is that everyone acts like a child.  They externalize their emoions and use their faces like one uses them in Children’s Theatre.  However, this is simply part of Jeunet’s syle and I personally found it very neat.  The only exception to this is through the character of Miette (played by Judith Vittet), the orphan girl hat helps One find his brother.  Vittet gives a striking performance, very stone-faced and saddened.  She provides a good balance to the surrealisic ridiculousness going on around her, and she also does well for a child actor (The clock is ticking before I go off on that rant. I hope you’re all waiting for it, because then you’ll be disappoined).

This film includes some fanastic scenes, such as a man plugging in his eyes into those of another man he’s killing, mind-control by fleas, and some of the most terrifying Santa Clauses ever.  The color of the film appears to be mosly corrected to green, with perhaps a sepia filter over it (plus minor changes here and here).  There’s lot’s of seafoam and lots of reds and even more browns and beiges.  However, there are some problems with the script here and here (mostly there are some transitions in the narrative that are missing and a few of the characters aren’t as developed as they could be).

This is a silly, silly film, and at times it impedes the overall storyelling aspect of it.  Also, the focus Jeunet gives on the Litle Brother as he eats things is a bit overly focused on in my opinion. But then again I don’t really like kids or anything that brings happiness for that matter.  This was apparently made after Delicatessen, and whereas Jeunet’s visual style improved much, I think his abiliy to tell a story decreased. Hus, after carful consideration, I give this film a:

B+

City of Lost Children is like a Kid’s movie, in that everyone acts childlike (except, of course, the children).  However, at the same time it has some incredibly gruesome and disconcerting imagery.  Both of these elements combined make for a very good and enjoyable film.