Two posts in one day is certainly not something subscribers should come accustomed to, but since I just started this I figured I should post something of substance to go with my introduction post.
There are a few things I have seen and done this summer that have made my transition into blogging that much more enjoyable. A couple of the movies I've seen are long overdue for some online praise by your humble narrator. Midnight in Paris is my favorite so far and The Tree of Life is by far the most stunning film of the year. Future movie posts will undoubtedly by longer but since I'm pairing multiple things together, these will be somewhat diluted.
Before I get into the films I want to pay respect to the best TV show so far this summer. No Reservations started its new season about a month ago and continues to impress. Although I may disagree with some of Mr. Bourdain's politics, he is one of my favorite people in the world and I thoroughly enjoy watching him. I can go on all day about Anthony Bourdain and his genius television show but I will just say, in particular, the El Bulli episode is one the best hours of television I have ever watched. If you have the chance to watch this episode, honoring the closing of what most consider the greatest, most progressive restaurant in the world, please do.
Midnight in Paris:
Woody Allen continues to prove that he is one of the great American film writers. Midnight in Paris is a romantic comedy (stay with me) set in Paris (please stay with me) starring Owen Wilson and Rachael McAdams. It is the story of a man who is unhappy with the life he is living and believes he was destined to live in another time period. Gil (Owens) is a writer and a hopeless romantic who finds himself out of touch with his fiance (McAdams) who is somewhat infatuated with an old friend who they run into while in Paris. While she is interested in going to museums during the day and dancing at night, all Gil wants to do is take a walk and revel in the splendor of Paris.
While out on a walk one night Gil finds himself perched on a stoop in an alley way. As the clock strikes 12 a car from the 20's pulls up and the passengers wave him over. They ask him to come with them to a party and Gil hesitantly accepts. Upon meeting F. Scott Fitzgerald and his exuberant wife Zelda at a party filled with the live warbling of Cole Porter, Gil realizes he has been transported to the Golden Age and is so pleased that he doesn't dare question it. Once he meets Ernest Hemingway there is no looking back.
Midnight in Paris is a movie for the movie person, but also for the history person. With characters previously mentioned joined by the likes of Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali, and Degas with mentions of Faulkner and T.S. Elliot, the art (in every sense of the word) history buff is sure to be pleased. With Woody Allen behind the script and behind the camera there is no further need for me to explain the brilliance of the film itself. Owen Wilson's dry personality gives this film its dark humor and Paris is the perfect setting for this nostalgic drama.
Tree of Life:
With my Midnight in Paris segment being longer than anticipated, I'll keep this one shorter. However, the film itself lends little to be said. Starring Brad Pitt, Sean Penn, and Jessica Chastain and written and directed by Texas native Terrance Malick (Badlands, The Thin Red Line), Tree of Life is a stunning coming of age tale that takes place mainly in Waco, Texas (home to my alma mater).
The story is about a young boy growing in the South in the 1950's with his two younger brothers. We witness his relationship with his father (Brad Pitt) who is a stern man, very reminiscent of fathers of that time and place. The boy witnesses a loss of innocence which seems to be the underlying theme of the film along with ambiguous heaven/hell and life/death undertones.
To me this film was more of an artistic achievement over all else. The cinematography was stunning, for lack of a better word. The dialogue was sparse as far as a 2 hour and 20 minute film is concerned, but was executed well. The film has received mixed reviews, due in part to about 20 minutes of unnecessary shots of space and time meant to represent what I can only surmise to be the beginning of time. I may be bias toward a film based in Waco, but I enjoyed this movie. Nevertheless, I can't see another film outdoing the cinematography of this one, placing Tree of Life as the front runner for that respective award category.
More films to come as we leave the summer, which is always filled with more over-budgeted action movies than actual substantive films, and enter into the Fall, which is full of end of the year artistic attempts to stick in the minds of Academy voters.
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