Film As An Art Form

Hey everybody,

I haven't written in awhile because I just moved to a new town (well, not new, as I lived here a few years ago... but new as in different city/state than where I lived 2 weeks ago) and I've been spending just about my entire day looking on-line and in town for jobs.

I had a little break in my day, so I thought I would spout off about something that I was told this morning...

See, I have been emailing local newspapers to see if there was any need for an entertainment writer (more specifically, writing about film) on their staff. With one paper, I've had the privilege to write an article about a music-based fundraiser for a local performance venue (in which they are taking the "free" in freelance to the nth degree - my article is getting published, but I'm not seeing a dime for it...). The other paper I contacted this morning had no film articles anywhere in their Arts & Entertainment section, so I thought I would be an asset to their team. I emailed the editor and told him about myself and how I noticed the lack of film articles.

He graciously wrote back to me a couple hours later and said Thanks but no - his publisher (and I quote) "doesn't think of film as an art form".

Hold the phone.

WHAT?!?!

Now, I wrote a paper about this very subject for my Art and Morality course in college. Crappy movies like "House of Wax" or "I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry" are probably not perceived as art. They aren't classy pictures like "The English Patient" or "The Crying Game". But making film *is* an art form. It's amazing that movies get made... they take hundreds, maybe even thousands of people working together using sound, technology, film, actors, various crew members, etc... all working towards a single objective - a finished movie.

Each person who works on a movie is like a different color of paint used in different combinations and applied with different techniques to create this massive moving mural.

This paper's Arts & Entertainment section was full of articles abotu music and theater. I LOVE music and theater. But aren't those also means of entertainment that are created by a group of people working towards one goal? The music articles are about local musicians and not people like Miley Cyrus or Britney Spears. Miley and Britney have out out some catchy songs, but I wouldn't say that their music has shaped history like Mozart or Beethoven. I wouldn't say that the local artists have shaped music history like Mozart or Beethoven... or even Miley and Britney.

Art is meaningful to the eye of the beholder. While I trash films like the aforementioned "House of Wax" and "I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry", those might be somebody's favorite movies ever. To that person, these movies are works of art.

When I walk around art museums and see those paintings that are just one, solid color (like Red, or Blue) covering an entire canvas, that does not scream "art" to me. But it's hanging in a musuem in New York City, so it's obviously pretty special, right?

I think it's unfair for someone, especially a publisher of a newspaper, to say that film is not an art form. It is. And there are thousands upon thousands of people who take pride in working in an art form as interesting as film. Movies have been around for less than 150 years... which is a blink of an eye when compared to how long people have been doing other art forms, like drawing and making music. But film is still an art form. And movies and people who love movies will be around for many, many years to come.

***

I'd also like to mention that I did go see The Dark Knight and Mamma Mia! on opening day a couple weeks ago... what a day for movies!!

The Dark Knight was amazing. The best film of the summer, by far. The ensemble is top notch, the script was engaging and was thought provoking. The characters, like Joker and Harvey Dent, are complex people - there aren't cartoony charicatures like in earlier films, these men have depths to them that are worth exploring. The effects and action sequences were great - I jumped in my seat on multiple occasions out of shock/fright.

The whole cast did a great job, but it really is Heath Ledger's portrayal of The Joker that stands out. Even if Ledger were alive today, people would still be talking about the performance. Is it Oscar worthy? When compared to other films that have already been released - Yes. Will that still be the case come nomination time? We'll see.

The Joker is one interesting guy... he's crazy, but not silly-crazy. The Joker was in complete control of his actions throughout the entire film - and in that way, he is entirely sane. The stuff he does is quite grizzly (that whole pencil bit "You wanna see a magic trick?" is unsuspecting, yet highly entertaining) and the way he cackles or licks his lips and brushes his stringy greenish hair off his face is downright disturbing. If all of that was written on the page, props to the screenwriter. But it's Ledger's execution of these little details that stand out and give you the willies.

The Dark Knight was entertaining, but so was Mamma Mia!. The songs are so catchy and everyone just looks like they are having fun.

The biggest problem with the film is Pierce Brosnan... man, it is uncomfortable to watch him sing. He kind of roars while he sings... he doesn't just open his mouth and belt one out, it looks like his face is winding up much like a pitcher ready to bring the heat. The group of people I was with, as well as the women behind us were laughing hysterically each time Bronsan sang - we couldn't help it. I had to look away from the screen because I was laughing so hard. Tears were pouring out of the corners of my eyes and my sides hurt from shaking in my chair. It was *funny*!

I plan on seeing Swing Vote this weekend. I freely admit to being a fan of Kevin Costner and I think it will be nice to see a comedic political film especially since it's Election Year and politics are on everyone's mind.

Have a great day and stay cool... it's getting hot out there.

I'll see ya at the movies!

Batman vs. Mamma Mia! - everyone's a winner here

This morning, I watched the HBO First Look for "The Dark Knight" as well as a VH1 special on the Top 10 things you should know about "Mamma Mia!". Both films open on July 18th, though it would seem to a largely different audience.

I am the exception to the rule, and I’m sure I am not alone. I will be seeing both of these films on opening day because they both are right up my cinematic alley.

The Dark Knight looks to be the best film of the summer. Sorry, Iron Man, but your time to shine is over. And how! Three years ago, Batman Begins renewed the series, bringing a darker feel to the franchise and the best cast a Batman film has ever had (with the exception of Katie Holmes… sorry girlie, but that was not one of your better performances). Now, from the trailers and commercials, The Dark Knight appears to one-up Batman Begins with additional (though completely familiar) characters, as well as more action and more destruction ripping away at Gotham City, as well as the Bat Man.

I have been looking forward to The Dark Knight as soon as the credits rolled for Batman Begins. The teaser trailer that came out last summer really got me excited – the one with just dialogue between Bruce Wayne and Alfred, and then the Joker’s threat that "The time, people will die" followed by that delightfully hideous cackle that to this day sends shivers down my spine. Then, since this past winter, they’ve been showing full length trailers for The Dark Knight, giving us snippets of the Joker in action, as well as the "good guy" Harvey Dent, telling us all that "The night is darkest before the dawn. But the dawn is coming!" (or something like that) and my heart starts pumping and I wished that July 18th were right around the corner.

Well, now July 18th is nearing, and I am beyond excited. I know The Dark Knight is just a movie. But it’s also an event. Most of the effects in the film were done practically (as in, not CGI)… there is a different actress playing Rachel Dawes (Thank you, Maggie Gyllenhaal)… and this film is the last feature that was completed by Heath Ledger before his unfortunate and untimely passing in January. And what a film to end on… there has been speculation for months that he will be nominated for an Oscar for his portrayal of the Joker. And from the footage I’ve seen from trailers and commercials, I am going to agree. Heath Ledger was a talented actor, and in this film, it looks like he’s managed to take a memorable Jack Nicholson role, and completely make it his own. From the voice, to the look, to the way that he carries himself while he walks and add in that sickening laugh… and we have a new villain to give us the willies. And this villain will have willies staying power, much like Hannibal Lector, or that guy from A Clockwork Orange.

And then there’s Mamma Mia!... Right now, as I type this, I’m listening to my ABBA’s Greatest Hits CD in preparation for next week. I only know 4 songs now, but I’m sure I’ll have them all down by heart after seeing the movie.

So why would a girl who loves the action-packed, destructive nature of The Dark Knight want to see an ABBA filled movie musical with all singing, all dancing, all the time?

Because I friggin’ love musicals as much as I love action movies.

If I were a better singer and dancer, I would give musicals a go. But alas, I am not the greatest singer in the world, and my dancing skills, though somewhat lacking, are better than my singing voice. So, I take every chance I get to see live theatre/musicals or movie musicals. This past weekend, my sister and I drove up to Chicago on a whim to go see "Jersey Boys". We’ve been known to wake up before dawn, drive to NYC for a matinee and an evening show, and then drive straight back home. We loves our theater and show tunes And we also love our movie musicals.
Not only do we watching movie musicals, we feel obligated to support them by seeing them at least once while there are at a (movie) theater near us. Though we have yet to see Mamma Mia! on stage, we will be there opening day for the movie. We like ABBA, we love musicals, and we really enjoy the cast (Meryl Streep! Colin Firth! Amanda Seyfried! Woot!!).

On a more personal note, I’m glad to support this film because a woman wrote the script, a woman produced it, and a woman directed it. How many times is that the case for a major motion picture? (Answer: Not many, that’s for sure) You may call me a feminist all you want, but it would be great to see more female representation behind the scenes in the filmmaking industry. And if that is too much for the boys to handle, then please make more films where (strong) women are the main characters. Sex and the City: The Movie made a lot of money this summer… take the hint, already, Hollywood.

I hope you will join me in supporting both of these films. They have great casts and both look like a lot of fun.

I’ll see you at the movies… you know where I’ll be sitting :)

Tennis, anyone?

I hope that everyone got a chance to watch the Federer/Nadal match during the Men's Championship at Wimbledon yesterday... it was AMAZING.

I have been watching Wimbledon ever since I can remember... I cheered on Martina, Andre, Stefi, Pete, Venus, Serena and Roger... and I simply cannot get enough of Joe McEnroe's commentary (yep, I even used to watch his talk show... it lasted, what, like a week? But I watched it!).

Instead of packing and cleaning my apartment like a responsible person, I sat in front of the television for the whole of the day, unable to pull myself away from what will go down as probably the greatest Men's Finals EVER. Two rain delays, two tie breaker sets (3 and 4) and then that final set... 6-6, 7-7, then finally 7-9 (Nadal). In all my 24 1/2 years, I have never seen tennis like that. 

Though I was rooting for Federer, there is no denying that Nadal brought his A-game to Centre Court. He played well, and was helped by Federer's inability to hit stuff over the net when he was all up in the net's grill. Both men played well. Nadal just came out victorious this time. 

After the game ended, I felt jazzed to play tennis or at least watch more tennis. But then it dawned on me... there are really no good tennis movies. There is that ill-fated Paul Bettany/Kirsten Dunst fiasco, "Wimbledon", but that movie sucks. A lot. I saw it when it first came out on video because I like Bettany and tennis, but WOW, that was really bad. I watched it again sometime last year because I had become a huge James McAvoy fan, and he plays Bettany's little brother in the movie... so I suffered through it for my second (and ultimately FINAL) time.

Disney needs to get the ball rolling on a "Based on a true story" tennis film. They've made some great other sports movies (Miracle, Remember the Titans, The Rookie, etc...). Why not tennis? 

Maybe I'll just have to write one myself :)