blue doors.

i'm excited to say that i will be moving in the hopes of living in a place for more than a year. in the last four years i have moved 5 times so, my purpose in life is to find a home. insert apartment in that statement. so, as excited as i am i haven't found a place yet but, i am excited in the prospect of being able to decorate a place of my own and am constantly on the lookout for decor ideas.




how fitting that black orpheus directed by marcel camus came on. first of all this is a great film set in 1959 brasil and the cinematography by jean bourgoin was gorgeous.





to make a short story shorter, i love everything about the vibrant colors on wood as well as the very simple yet cluttered arrangement. i am a very messy person, and i am attracted to clutter, which is why i find these rooms appealing.

here are some stills just to get an idea of the brilliance of the small village.





and so with that, i'm sorry anthropologie, your too expensive for me but i see the inspiration. hopefully i can incorporate some of the character, i really love it.

franky.

turn off the lights.

okay, i hate to be just another blog talking about another big movie but anyone who knows me knows how i feel about dicaprio and knows i argue his oscar is long over due but anyways this isn't about that. oscars i mean. this is about inception directed by none other than christopher nolan. now, kill me for saying that i am not a huge fan of hollywood since about the last 20 years but every now and then i can appreciate a well conceived film.

without giving too much away this movie is, at it's heart, about lucid dreaming. i draw similarities between this film and the film waking life by richard linklater because they both deal with similar ideas about the subconscious in the dream state. the dimensions between reality and the dream world are so fascinating because when you think about it.. as richard linklater puts it "Are we sleep-walking through our waking state or wake-walking through our dreams?"

i think this was a brilliant movie. it seems as though nolan is bringing the psychological to the big screen and making people think rather than just being passive. i mean, going from a conceptual thriller like memento which cost around $9 mil to make, a low budget indie, to inception, a $160 mil major blockbuster, is a big deal. and nolan managed to take its concept to big hollywood.



now i bring up waking life again because it was a smaller budget film and not too many people i know have seen it yet, it deals with very similar issues. minus the espionage. so i wonder, what does it take to make people think about ideas such as these.. a few car chases, a beautiful lead actress, 100 million dollars. maybe, but i think making the majority of people excited about the concept of a film is a start to a beautiful beginning.

franky.

You rock, rock.

i ♥ huckabees dir. david o. russell
as much as i really wanted to understand this film, i ultimately had no deep understanding of what the hell was going on. especially since i am writing this post a couple weeks after i saw the film, its hard to recall the specifics. because the film is about existentialism, you really have to be keen on it's underlaying philosophy to truly grasp what is going on in the film.

nonetheless i really enjoyed it because it made me curious and intrigued to understand more. the concepts i managed to fit together gave me that feeling of when you have a sort of minor epiphany. very interesting.

'ello govnah.

lets just say, during the 90's i wasn't exactly into politics; for one thing i was under 11. but now that i am older i can understand some of the issues that were prevalent during that era.

last night i watched you don't know jack, the story of jack kevorkian. i found it to be a really interesting film profiling some of the patients and trials dr. kevorkian dealt with prior to serving his 8 1/2 years in prison for euthanasia. those of which i really had no idea about until i watched this film.

weather you agree with him or not, you should watch this film to get a better understanding of who he was and some of the methodology behind such an issue. i feel it is better to understand issues such as these than try to shut them out from your mind and act as though they dont exist, when in reality they do.

haze.

haze dir. pete schuermann was truly eye opening. i don't know if it because i'm older now or a college student or both, but i really recommend you watch this film. it is centered around a student by the name of Lynn Gordon Bailey Jr. who passed away due to alcohol poisoning at his fraternity. the film deals with many different issues of binge drinking on college campuses.

i know this is an intense issue, and film, but i think the reason people are so quick to dismiss some of these issues for discourse is because of just that. I really encourage you all to take a look at this film when you get some free time. you can find it on hulu.com and watch it for free.

entre les murs.

entre les murs dir. Laurent Cantet is an amazing film. It profiles a particular group of students as well as their teacher during one school year. I felt that this was a powerful film because it depicted the life of the students as they're seen by the outside world. We see what the teachers and education system see, no knowledge of the home life or other factors that play into adolescence life. We see how the classroom becomes a haven for the students to speak their minds and embrace their emotions. Although the film appeared slow, it gave way to analyzing and processing the setting in a detailed manner. I enjoyed it and I highly recommend seeing it if you haven't already. Watch the trailer here. btw, the actors were extremely excellent as well. Okay, time to study. I hope april ends quicker than it came.

harmony korine.

Gummo dir. Harmony Korine
I cant really summarize what this film is about. narratively, Its not really about anything, but contextually its about so many things at the same time. You have to see it for yourself and make your own analysis because I think this is one of those films that everyone has a different reaction towards.

Although I have yet to see Mister Lonely and Julien Donkey-Boy I can already say that I am a fan of Korine. I love the way he just lets his characters be and the cinematography is excellent. Although the film is scripted, a large portion is what appears to be just the characters being in their environment.

To me, this film appeared more documentarial (I dont know if thats a word but it fits.) because most of the subjects are not actors, and I really appreciate that. The moments when the characters look at the camera for that slight second and you understand, that they understand, they are being watched. I love that, I think thats simply phenomenal.

ps, is it bad I am starting to post during CHEM315 and zone out the vital information of biological macromolecules?
um clearly, I think not.

Franky

that thing you do.

Last night I went to go see Shutter Island dir. Martin Scorsese. After long hours of contemplation wondering how I could do a post that wasn't similar to the billions of posts out there about Shutter Island, I realized I would just explain how this is another great Scorsese film that confirms why I want to be in filmmaking.

I think the film that really did it for me was Raging Bull. The first time I saw that film I think I fell in love with cinematography.

To me, Scorsese films are completely engaging. I mean I have seen a lot of films, many of which were awe dropping, amazing, etc. but every time I see a Scorsese film, I just become inspired. Satisfied if you will. There is something about the detailed, craft of it. Like your watching Da Vinci paint a painting. I know I sound crazy but to me, living in a time where Scorsese is still producing work, where I am alive to witness it is simply amazing and I want to embrace it.

Okay, I had to add that although the content of his films can be at times, objectionable, I still believe the films as an art are remarkable and although this post does not do his work justice, you get the idea.

Franky

raise hell.

Les Quatre Cents Coups Dir. François Truffaut
This is the first film I have seen of François Truffaut (the first of many to come). Not only was the setting beautiful, the social context of the film was equally intriguing. To be an adolescence in any time period is challenging, but add a dysfunctional family and you have Antoine Doinel. Because we are so closely attached to Antoine, we understand that there are issues deeper than his vandalism of poetry on the wall, but that his rebellious behavior stems from the same people who suggest to send him away.

Franky

jump, cut.

For one of my production classes, we were required to develop a ripomatic using images that help convey an emotion or scene we are trying to emulate for our final project. I used some images found from Creative Commons search engine and the rest are still frames shot from my XSI from live feed resulting in rush footage (the images of Bre Renne). Hopefully my final project will be similar to the feelings expressed with these stills. The music is by Gustavo Santaolalla titled "Walking in Tokyo".

Franky.

papa don't preach.

An Education dir. Lone Scherfig
"If people die the moment that they graduate, then surely it's the things we do beforehand that count."Sometimes I am conflicted with the way society brings us up. Its always, plan for the future, and then keep planning. Never, live your life in that moment. Because, at some point or another, you might not be able to anymore. Carey Mulligan's character does a great job expressing the way a lot of students feel, as I can say from personal experience. This movie is truly amazing and is nominated for Best Picture as well as Best Actress. If you havent seen it I highly recommend you do. Great song by Beth Rowley is featured in there as well.

franky.

love connection.

meet, hook up, fall in love, join the family, the end.
Gigantic dir. Matt Aselton

The movie was okay, it seemed a little bland. I am not sure how they went from meeting to being semi-awkwardly in love but it wasnt a horrible movie, and I am a fan of Zooey Deschanel, shes cool. Watch it if your probably not going to give it your full attention. Oh yea, and if anyone knows the meaning behind Zach Galifianakis's character please let me know because I dont think I caught it.

franky.

Katherine Ross.

your foolish, sucka.

Eagle vs Shark dir. Taika Waititi

If your a fan of Flight, your a fan of this movie. If you dont know what Flight is, then forget it. This film is basically two really awkward people who develop a weird relationship with each other. However, the simpleness of the two individuals is what makes the film so pleasant to watch. I thought it was great, but then again im pretty awkward myself. XD

One thing I dont think is as debateable is the soundtrack composed by The Phoenix Foundation a group out of New Zealand. I thought the OST was great no matter what you thought of the film.

Franky

Love is a Paper Heart.

I seriously believe Charlyne Yi and I were ment to be friends. That girl just seems so chill and down to earth, not to mention is completely down with being herself.

Paper Heart (dir. Nicholas Jasenovec) seems to me, a perfect realistic view on "Love" in the 21st century; no bullshit. Part documentary part fiction, you dont know where the the reality and the fabrications cross paths, in other words Love.

Although I believe co-star Michael Cera helped give that film the extra push it needed, it was a great movie overall.
Thanks to my roommate Phil for hooking me up with this!

Franky

Goodbye 2009.

This is probably the most amazing piece of work I have seen all year literally. Composed by Kees van Dijkhuizen, this video compiles the past year in film in 7 minutes. So breathtaking I probably posted this link on every social networking sight I am registered to. XD, I cant wait to see what 2010 brings. van Dijkhuizen, thank you so much for taking the time to complete this.

Franky

Change of Plans.

Dont tell me.
I already know.
Im always late when it comes to watching movies. There is something about not knowing what it is you are in the mood for, and the endless options of films there is to choose from that I love about never always seeing a film the moment its released. Because sometimes its better to choose for yourself, when your in the mood for that perfect film in that particular moment, as oppose to blockbuster's New Release section choosing for you.

anyways, if you haven't already, you should watch this movie. ;)
Vicky Cristina Barcelona.

franky.

Video Diary.

My winter break to do list consists of watching every movie that received a Palme d'Or. I think it will be an interesting challenge for myself and keep me entertained through winter. On the list for the 1989 Palme d'Or was Sex, Lies, and Videotape directed by Steven Soderbergh. Oddly enough, I wasn't sure how I was going to react to this movie. But slowly as I watched it I found myself emerged in the characters and how each one possessed some sort of awkward personality that conflicted with each other, bueno.

ps. Laura San Giacomo has some nice late 80's attire. Acid wash cut off shorts with the vintage boyfriend shirt shouts anti-suburbia conformity.

Where have you been all my life?

So I want to be a filmmaker, and yet I just discovered vimeo. Talk about out of the loop. Anyways now, since I will be spending all of my time, half reading my all of my blogs and the other half watching amazing videos on vimeo, I just might actually forget to breathe.


just the first, of many beautifully done embeded vimeo videos.

Franky.

Brother for Sale, 25 Cents.

Going to the video store these days is like going to the bookstore to buy a novel. When you don't know what you want, its a hell zone.

Luckily, when I do see a movie I want to rent, I write it down so issues like this are minimal. So, tonights movie of choice, after some extensive research and no Shadow of a Doubt available, was L'enfant directed by Jean-Pierre Dardenne and Luc Dardenne.

This is the story of a couple who just had a baby. The boyfriend however, decides it would be better just to sell the baby and make a quick dollar, or euro in this case, then keep it. I thought the movie was really good. It was striking how easily this guy could do the things he did just to make some money. Its a bit slow, but deep and intriguing. I don't recommend it if you have a big group of friends over or arent in the mood to be deeply moved. But if you want to sit back, relax, and enjoy a good movie, this is for you.

Franky