eveninghawk’s links

I watched Floating on Friday. I like the movie. I suppose this is partly because the main character reminds me of a guy I dated once, and also because the people in the movie get upset in a way that feels really tangible. It doesn’t come off as overly dramatic, it just comes off as raw. I have a bit of a fascination of stories about people who don’t “make it.” Not making it can be a variety of things, not going to school, not being employed, etc… but what happens to a degree is these people become disenfranchised, they become part of a different group all their own, and there are shared traits in that circle.

I thought this movie was a riot, full of little Catholic witticisms and action… and the occasional flare of Boston landscape was just plain fun (even though the movie was mostly shot on location in Canada). Norman Reedus actually reminds me of a guy I dated when I was 17.

Went to see Constantine at the cinema last night. I think it was well worth the money for the entertainment. The movie is fun and pretty, the characters are fun, and there’s a lot of play with occult mysticism. Everything I needed to keep me entertained for a Friday night.

Even better, my mom liked it, and I enjoyed the look of shock and embarassment on her face when I told her it was based on a comic.

This “based on a true story” flick goes far beyond the average after school special, and has the kind of gut wrenching feelings as Boys Don’t Cry and Monster. I adored Soldier’s Girl, and I loved the fact that there’s a well adjusted transsexual as a major character.

Last week I watched Monsoon Wedding, a movie I heard about when I was living in China, but never had the opportunity to see. I’ve lived through American, Puerto Rican, and Chinese weddings, and I’ve seen them all as daunting traditions that involve an insane amount of work.

I have to say I think the task pales in comparison to what goes on for this wedding in Delhi. Seriosuly though, I liked this movie. I’m not a big fan of weddings, and those feelings give me great reservations about movies focused on weddings. Still, I think this is a great movie and belongs on a list of films to see for folks contemplating a wedding.

I watched Before Night Falls today. The film examines the life of Reinaldo Arenas growing up as a writer in Cuba and facing persecution for his homosexuality and his art. His poetic turns of phrase are very strong, and sit well within the film, the film in turn trying to show the harshness of Cuba amidst moments of joy.

I’m very glad to have seen the movie, and I’ve added the memoir to my library request list.

If you haven’t seen Donnie Darko but like dark flicks like Heathers and appreciate sci-fi, then you should check out this movie. There’s a lot there, and it’s much fun, but to talk about it too much is to give it away. Keep that in mind if you go clicking the link to IMDB’s entry… spoilers abound.

I watched Ghost World in December, and really enjoyed the feel of the whole thing. It’s quirky and dark, like the comic, and manages to be optimistic in the end.

I still recommend reading Clowe’s comics more than seeing the movie, but if you like the comic, or refuse to read comics, then I suggest checking out the film.

I’ve been on a bit of a “watching” spree since I’ve been out of the loop for a while and enjoying a new Netflix account.

Northfork was pretty interesting since it’s so visual. The sights are stunning in a subtle way, and the movie is compelling in a subtle way. Definitely something neat to sit back and ponder.

The movie focuses on a town about to be flooded for a dam. This is a topic I’ve come back to now and again since I started college. Hampshire College worked to instill a knowledge of what lies beneath the Quabbin Reservoir that quenches Boston’s thirst. I had always wondered what the process was like, at the time, getting people to leave. I think this movie looks into that time and that feeling, but in a setting that has grander visuals than Massachusetts. Montana is, after all, rather vast in comparison.

I watched The Sum of Us this evening. First off, it’s a good movie that is touching and somehow manly at the same time. Bravo. Second, it’s a good Aussie flick, and we should all watch more good Aussie flicks. Third… Russel Crowe makes a pretty good gay man.

I also took a look at Punch Drunk Love. The movie was highly amusing and very dark, but I tend to like PT Anderson films.