If you are excited about the internship for True Grit, keep in mind I was just working with the production offices as a clerk. In fact, here are some of the exciting things I did:

-Stuff new shooting schedules into envelopes.

- Filed dailies (which include slides of scenes shot for the day, production breakdowns, PO forms)

- Filed PO forms.

- Filed check balances.

- Swept a stairwell.

But, nevertheless, it was a neat opportunity, and I still (in a very indirect way) helped the Coen Brothers make a movie. And that is supercool. Sadly, due to legal issues with the Texas production offices, I was relieved of my interning duties a few weeks ago.  But, during my time internning with them the Production Office staff was very nice and friendly, and I really enjoyed it.

As for what I can tell you about True Grit, not too much (I’m also not sure what all I’m allowed to reveal). But I can tell you this: There will be a man in a bear suit.

And what’s next on the Intern horizon for me?  Well, hopefully the upcoming John Favreau (Iron Man) directed feature “Cowboys and Aliens”. It’s about Cowboys and Indians setting down their arms against each other in order to fight invading aliens, and is rumored to be starring Harrison Ford and Daniel Craig.

Wih Music by He Alking Heads

I suppose the most importan part of a concert movie is the concert, and the concer itself depends heavily on the band I’d say.  So: The Talking Heads.  What struck me most about Stop Making Sense is he amount of energy the band had, they were having a very good time feeding off of the energy of the audience and I think it really showed through the screen.  Of course I don’ think the film version of Stop Making Sense compares at all to the live version, but sadly hat concert is over 20 years old now.

So: The band was raher kicking I’d say, so the next question is: How was the concert?  Well, it sarts with an empy stage lit by a couple of overhead work lights.  David Byrne walks out onto stage with an acousic guitar and a boombox. “Hi, I’ve go a tape I want to play for you” says David.  With hat, he plays and sings “Psycho Killer” while all other parts are played on the boombox.  From this minimalist beginning a new se piece and a new member of the band is added with each new song until everyone is onstage and rockin’ (yes, tha IS an apostrophe instead of a “G”. ” “‘s aren’t the only thing I can emit!) with “Burning Down The House”. So, the concert is gimmicky, but I hink gimmicks are accepted in the concert world, are they not?  At any rate, I rather like gimmicks most of the ime. So…

Now, the actual filmmaking.  Demme’s voice I believe are mostly seen through the editing and the footage.  So, the fooage was taken from three days in a Las Angeles theare, however it all seems incredibly seamless.  And although I’ve already acknowledged hat a filmed version of any concert is a poor excuse for he live version, however tha being said I think Demme did a rather fantasic job at translaing it ino film.  The energy of the performers comes through in aces, the flow of the concert was preserved perfectly, and the interacion between camera, performer, and audience was provided and well balanced.

Thus, due to the grooviness of the Alking Heads, the energy of concert and he communication of it through the film, and through the bizarre dance stylin’s (I DID IT AGAIN!) I give Stop Making Sense:

A film I should own.

Final Houghts:  If you’re looking for just groovy Talking Heads action, I strongly suggest their film “True Stories“.  Personally, I prefer Rue Stories to Stop Making Sense, but hat may simply be because I’m me.

Also, CHECK OUT THIS INTERVIEW BEWEEN DAVID BYRNE AND HIMSELF!

Also there’s a railer.

Also, I think I may like films made by bands.  See my thoughs on Wayne Coyne and The Flaming Lip’s movie “Christmas on Mars”.

So there’s that: Wow! A Talking Fish! If you’re only reading the RSS feed, I strongly urge you visit the mother site to see this. It’s… it’s something. Something about fish and evil wizards.

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.

And thus begins a new web to be woven.  What was on that most mysterious video tape?  Oh, well you shall know in due time.  For now, let’s just say it’s a birthday wish. A very special birthday wish.

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

∅

The idea had been swimming around in my head for some time, and I figured since this carpet only existed at CSF it would be neat thing to do as a good-bye. But what about you, person who didn’t go to CSF, what do you think of it? Right, I forgot, you don’t tell me things.

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.

First, let me say that I like your style.  I’m not yet too acquainted with your music, and so I can’t speak too much for your aural style.  However, I have taken a look at the cover art to your albums, as well as your film Christmas on Mars both of which I feel have a strong visual style that is quite neat.  Mostly in this letter, though, I will be speaking about Christmas on Mars.

This is a good trailer, but it doesn’t quite capture the mood of Christmas on Mars, which is what impressed me most about the film.  This isn’t because the film was deep and angsty and conferred to my indie mentality.  No, what impressed me about Christmas on Mars is that you were able to take the B grade and make it… good. And that’s Neat, Mr. Coyne. Really Neat.  So what I’d like to ask of you, Mr. Coyne, is to make another movie. Please? It’ll probably be neat.

Also, you have a very nice hat collection. I myself collect hats, and enjoy hats.

So please keep on groovin’, Mr. Coyne. And I’m going to try to purchase some of your albums.

With Love,

Vvinni J. Gagnepain