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The WORD of the Week

Matthew 3:7-10

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?

Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.

And do not think you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.

The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.


Stupid Fact of the Week
There was only one civilian casualty during the three-day Battle of Gettysburg

27 December, 2008
2008 in Film (in Review), Part Two
Continuing...

[[February 2008]]

Many films that premiered this month I did not see... for good reason:

Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert
Fool's Gold
Shrooms
The Eye
How to Rob a Bank
The Hottie and the Nottie
Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins
Step Up 2 the Streets
Jumper
Penelope
Witless Protection (a film that has now [now that "2008" lists are being compiled] been named on at least 2 lists I've read as "The #1 Worst Movie of 2008")

Of those I DID manage to see, I certainly would not recommend:

Semi-Pro (Clearly not Will Ferrell's best work)
Strange Wilderness (Clearly not Happy Madison's best work)
Vantage Point (Not horrible, but far too much build-up with very nearly nil in the payoff department)

There were also quite a few "above-mediocre" films that may be worth looking into. These include:

- A zombie film: Diary of the Dead, the latest from zombie god Romero (probably the reason for its moderate success despite reports of sub-par offerings); a pseudo-zombie film: The Signal; a period piece with two fine females that everyone thought would do much better: The Other Boleyn Girl; and two films that despite garnering healthy reviews have both been disqualified from my "recommended" section: Definitely, Maybe, and The Spiderwick Chronicles (The former is disqualified as it is a "Chick flick," the latter because it is a childrens film).

For myself, I hope to see several films that I would encourage you to consider, though I am cautious enough not to recommend outright. Be Kind Rewind is on my radar because I am a huge fan of Michel Gondry ("Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind," "The Science of Sleep"), as well as both Jack Black and Mos Def. It was received luke-warm at best and I do not anticipate greatness in the traditional sense, but Michel has his own unique way of bringing about enjoyment. Also, Charlie Bartlett, the indie film about a rich boy who "becomes the self-appointed psychiatrist to the student body of his new high school," achieved only mild acclaim (to put it lightly), but the casting of Robert Downey Jr. in the school principle role was enough to pique my interest. Finally, In Bruges, starring Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson (two fine ol' Irish boys) as well as Mr. Ralph Fiennes, managed to fly pretty well under the radar, and I must say, upon viewing the trailer, I was not too terribly excited myself. This was, however, changed by an absolutely glowing recommendation from a friend coupled with the fact that this has now made at least 3 "best of" lists I've read for 2008 (keep in mind some of these lists are "the best 30..." or "the best 50...", but nevertheless...).

For the foreign-film-lover (or, rather, I should say, "foreign-language film lover"), your year is going quite well, as you now have 3 more worthy films to consider, in addition to last months Oscar nom. And once again, this (foreign) section ends the month, as it is the most impressive:

- City of Men (Brazil - "Cidade dos Homens")... I still have yet to see this film, and the only criticisms I recall from reviews were made in comparison to the amazing 2002 film "City of God" (directed by Fernando Meirelles, who produced "City of Men")... if the only thing lacking with a film is that it is not quite as good as "City of God," then I feel it is more than worth a watch.

- The Band's Visit (Israel - "Bikur Ha-Tizmoret")... I was working at Sony when one of there offshoots (Sony Pictures Classics) purchased distribution rights for this film. As such I was lucky enough to see a (free) screening of this much-lauded film. If you have not seen this film, you should. Although it didn't see a (being generous with the term here) wide release until February 2008, it did premiere in LA in '07, however it was ruled ineligible for consideration for a "Best Foreign Film" Oscar due to the fact that the film's dialogue is not "predominantly" in a language other than english. Good news for those of you who don't like subtitles! Even less reading required than your average foreign film. Plus it is quite easily one of the best films I saw this year (although it may have been '07 when I saw it, who knows).

- The Counterfeiters (Austria - "Die Falscher")... This was (another) one of the best films I saw this year, english or no. It was my pick (and, as it turned out, the Academy's pick) to win the foreign language film Oscar.

Alright, so this is getting long, and I'm beginning to run into the same films and the same reviews from when I last did this (sometime back in August I believe for DVD releases)... so I think for the next post I shall just compile a list of my ten, maybe twenty we'll see, favorite films from '08 and then move on to what's ahead in '09... I may also see if I can dig up "The Rockel 100": the list of my favorite films of all time so that I can update it and post it here for you (nothing wrong with checking out a good oldie every now and again)
posted by Rockel @ 7:12 PM  
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Lyrics of the Week

ON THE NICKEL
by Tom Waits

("I'd like to do a new song here. This is eh, it's about downtown Los Angeles on 5th Street. And eh all the winos affectionately refer to it as The Nickel. So this is kind of a hobo's lullaby.")

sticks and stones will break my bones,
but i always will be true, and when
your mama is dead and gone,
i'll sing this lullabye just for you,
and what becomes of all the little boys,
who never comb their hair,
well they're lined up all around the block,
on the nickel over there.

so you better bring a bucket,
there is a hole in the pail,
and if you don't get my letter,
then you'll know that i'm in jail,
and what becomes of all the little boys,
who never say their prayers,
well they're sleepin' like a baby,
on the nickel over there.

and if you chew tobacco, and wish upon a star,
well you'll find out where the scarecrows sit,
just like punchlines between the cars,
and i know a place where a royal flush,
can never beat a pair, and even thomas jefferson,
is on the nickel over there.

so ring around the rosie, you're sleepin' in the rain,
and you're always late for supper,
and man you let me down again,
i thought i heard a mockingbird, roosevelt knows where,
you can skip the light, with grady tuck,
on the nickel over there.

so what becomes of all the little boys,
who run away from home,
well the world just keeps gettin' bigger,
once you get out on your own,
so here's to all the little boys,
the sandman takes you where,
you'll be sleepin' with a pillowman,
on the nickel over there.

so let's climb up through that button hole,
and we'll fall right up the stairs,
and i'll show you where the short dogs grow,
on the nickel over there.

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