Sunday, November 29, 2009
Antichrist Review
I don't make it to the movies much these days for a variety of reasons, but when I found out Lars von Trier, the Danish bête noir of the film industry, had made a new film, and that this film was called Antichrist, I knew what had to be done. The film is alternately the most entrancing work I've seen by von Trier and at times downright disgusting, but I would call it a success and a much needed dose of Gothic and intra-familial horror in a genre now dominated by dull torture porn.
The film stars Willem Dafoe and Charlotte Gainsbourg as a nameless married couple only known as "He" and "She," whose child dies by jumping out of a window while husband and wife are making love in one of the most over-stylized sequences I've ever seen in film. The design of the sequence, dominated by slow-motion and digitized color-editing, is no doubt von Trier playing with his audience, who have come to associate him with the stripped down, Dogme95 aesthetic. The sequence is beautifully edited, with the Italian chamber music soundtrack almost invoking a feeling of ballet, but it does eventually begin to try one's patience. After this opening prologue, the cinematography is more subdued, yet still much more stylized than other von Trier films.
After the death of her son, She is hospitalized when she collapses at her son's funeral, crippled by grief. Feeling his wife is being over-medicated and not allowed to experience her emotions properly, He, a therapist with unconventional methods, decides he is better suited to treat his wife. The two hike to a secluded cabin in the woods named Eden in the hopes of overcoming her maternal guilt.
Once they arrive, the film slowly builds toward its extreme yet ultimately unsatisfying conclusion. He has visions of still-born dear and talking foxes so well crafted that they will linger with you long after you leave the theater. It is during these moments that Antichrist is at its best, as von Trier has the nerve to to take time to use sound and image to build mood, all the while making his audience tear their hair out in anticipation of the horrific climax they know is coming. She continues to be tortured by grief until one day she wakes up feelin' fine, and we know it's all downhill from there. What follows are closeup shots of genital mutilation the Saw films only imply, and while von Trier's desire to shock his "seen-it-all" audience is admirable, it feels oddly superfluous to the film as a whole. These scenes have added to the film's notoriety, but not to the film itself.
The first hour and a half of the film, leading up to the explosion of violence, is masterful. More than anything else it recalls Stanley Kubrick's The Shining with it's slow, brooding terror and its demonstration that the person you share your bed with every night can be a source of dread. However, if von Trier had shown some restraint in the film's final twenty minutes, he would have delivered film that signified the best of the horror genre, but as is Antichrist showcases the best and the worst. Still, that's more than you can expect from the latest Eli Roth camp dreck.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Wars Cost Money Too
Lots of money, in fact. And despite what hawks and neocons would have you believe, they cannot be paid for with magic money the war fairies leave under our pillows at night. Therefore, it's encouraging that a growing group of Democrats in the House are insisting we find a way to pay for the upcoming escalation of the war in Afghanistan.
At the moment, the most developed proposal would be a surtax on the incomes of the wealthiest-ish Americans, with veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and their families being exempted. This idea obviously needs some work, but it's an important first step in what I hope will be a fundamental altering of the way we discuss foreign policy in this country.
Necons like to say Obama doesn't know how to be a "War President," but I can think of no better way for him to provide leadership than to call upon all Americans to sacrifice in some way. Since I doubt we're going to reinstate a military draft anytime soon (which I'm for but that's a topic for another post some day), than we can ask the country to give up a chunk of change every two weeks specifically to buy armor and ammunition. It will be a welcome change from the "support the troops by going shopping" mentality that has prevailed over the last nine years.
This proposal would also force several politicians, and the public at large, to put their money where their mouth is. All those deficit hawks who want to expand the war in Afghanistan, and bomb Iran and build missile shields Poland will probably balk at such a proposal and vote against it. That wont surprise me, but at least it will expose them as the hypocrites they are.
As for the American people at large, if they don't want to part with some money to support the war, then maybe they will try to put more pressure on our political leaders to change course. If they still are unwilling to pay more taxes and they favor continued escalation, then they're pretty piss-poor excuses for citizens.
At the moment, the most developed proposal would be a surtax on the incomes of the wealthiest-ish Americans, with veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and their families being exempted. This idea obviously needs some work, but it's an important first step in what I hope will be a fundamental altering of the way we discuss foreign policy in this country.
Necons like to say Obama doesn't know how to be a "War President," but I can think of no better way for him to provide leadership than to call upon all Americans to sacrifice in some way. Since I doubt we're going to reinstate a military draft anytime soon (which I'm for but that's a topic for another post some day), than we can ask the country to give up a chunk of change every two weeks specifically to buy armor and ammunition. It will be a welcome change from the "support the troops by going shopping" mentality that has prevailed over the last nine years.
This proposal would also force several politicians, and the public at large, to put their money where their mouth is. All those deficit hawks who want to expand the war in Afghanistan, and bomb Iran and build missile shields Poland will probably balk at such a proposal and vote against it. That wont surprise me, but at least it will expose them as the hypocrites they are.
As for the American people at large, if they don't want to part with some money to support the war, then maybe they will try to put more pressure on our political leaders to change course. If they still are unwilling to pay more taxes and they favor continued escalation, then they're pretty piss-poor excuses for citizens.
Humpty Dumpty Had a Great Fall...
So, it's possible Michael Crichton wasn't far from the mark when he wrote 2004's State of Fear. Reports of hackers exposing a ton of information from climate scientist computers reveals that the "science" behind climate change might not be so science..eee.
It's not surprising I'm a little bit giddy hearing this news, but its not because I don't believe the climate of the earth does not shift, it's because all those who worship at the alter of GLOBAL WARMING have a little esplainin' to do after shoving their green ideology down our throats for the last few years.
This also lends credence to my belief that Al Gore and the rest simply used global warming as a scheme to rip people off by investing in things like "carbon credits" and what not, as opposed to truly being interested in saving the earth. (Like when Sean Penn went down to New Orleans to video the tragedy, but didn't go to really help out).
As I've said in private many times, I'm not opposed to "going green," but I refuse to participate in something I perceive as smoke and mirrors. And, what do you know, my suspicions are starting to look less like suspicions. If you want people to go green teach them how it can save them money, don't proselytize.
Anyway, it will be interesting to see what happens to Cap & Trade in the face of this revelation. I didn't support it before because it's just a gigantic business killing taxing mechanism, but now it may lose whatever moral weight it had because its based on possibly phony science.
Just to be fair, here's another article that seems to be more apologetic to climate change.
It's not surprising I'm a little bit giddy hearing this news, but its not because I don't believe the climate of the earth does not shift, it's because all those who worship at the alter of GLOBAL WARMING have a little esplainin' to do after shoving their green ideology down our throats for the last few years.
This also lends credence to my belief that Al Gore and the rest simply used global warming as a scheme to rip people off by investing in things like "carbon credits" and what not, as opposed to truly being interested in saving the earth. (Like when Sean Penn went down to New Orleans to video the tragedy, but didn't go to really help out).
As I've said in private many times, I'm not opposed to "going green," but I refuse to participate in something I perceive as smoke and mirrors. And, what do you know, my suspicions are starting to look less like suspicions. If you want people to go green teach them how it can save them money, don't proselytize.
Anyway, it will be interesting to see what happens to Cap & Trade in the face of this revelation. I didn't support it before because it's just a gigantic business killing taxing mechanism, but now it may lose whatever moral weight it had because its based on possibly phony science.
Just to be fair, here's another article that seems to be more apologetic to climate change.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Fútbol Americano
My local sports franchise is doing uncharacteristically well this season. My understanding is that they have an important match against another sports franchise tonight. Go team!
Mayor White vs. Governor Goodhair
The current ruler of my urban hellhole, Bill White, has changed his mind and decided to run for governor of Texas instead of senator from Texas in a special election to replace Kay Bailey Hutchinson, current senator from Texas who is most likely resigning to challenge current governor of Texas, Rick Perry, in a primary. Got that?
This is a smart move on White's part, as I believe Rick Perry will probably be nominated again for governor, but in the process he has had to be a secessionist whack-job tenther. Also, the guy has been governor since 2001. I think we'd all like a, yes, change. Therefore, I think White will actually have a shot as a Democrat in a heavily Republican state due to the dislike of Perry and the fact that White is pretty moderate and his tenure as mayor is widely seen as a success.
As for the senate, a Democrat doesn't have a chance in hell of winning in Texas in the current political climate. It will be too easy for Republicans to tie anyone running to the national party, don't need more Democrats in congress, blah, blah blah...
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