A Movie Marathon

This past Thursday, I had the privilege of literally spending the day (more like the afternoon and night) at the Grove and their fancy cineplex. I do these all-day movie-thons from time to time, especially if there's one movie that I like enough to pay for and a couple others that I like but not enough to donate another 10 bucks to the industry. I especially like these outings when I've got things to do and I'm busy. I know that may be a contradictory philosophy, but it helps to keep me sane and remind me why I want to make movies.

This was an especially good movie-thon because of what I saw: a blockbuster fluff piece (Pirates 2); an indie darling (Little Miss Sunshine); and a new movie by an old friend (Kevin Smith's Clerks 2). Here's a quick lowdown...

Pirates 2: It's not surprising that this movie has made the gajillion dollars that it has thus far. It's mindless visual spectacle with a crowd favorite actor (Johnny Depp) playing a crowd favorite, new classic character Jack Sparrow...er, Captain Jack Sparrow. But, it's a flawed movie that's needlessly complicated, slow at times, and overly long. Plus, it's really just a big setup for Number 3. I think this series is feeling eerily like the Matrix trilogy; a great first movie that the studio and the writers never envisioned expanding into two more sequels. Oh well...at least we'll have one more movie to enjoy Depp's impersonation of Keith Richards.

Little Miss Sunshine: One of my favorites of the year. A great family film that parents should be taking their kids to see. It's extremely moving with fantastic ensemble acting (Greg Kinnear and Steve Carell are notable among them). The opening sequence is one of the best I've seen...introduces each of the characters with an awesome music score. Impressive debut for the filmmakers.

Clerks 2: I really think Kevin Smith is one of those filmmakers that can only make one kind of film. This movie felt like a reunion of sorts. Smith fits his movies like a glove. In one of the many talks I've been to, he says his dialogue (which is always commented on for its reality) is the ideal way he wishes him and his buddies would talk. Clerks 2 is Kevin Smith's ideal movie. Not his best (Chasing Amy still rocks); but certainly not his worst.

Raconteurs and a Lady

Caught the Raconteurs at the Wiltern with Chubbs...great show. Lots of energy. A bold prediction...Jack White is ready to hang up the White Stripes. Saw him and Meg in their last show in LaLa, and I have to say that he demonstrated a ton more energy with his new band. He's having a ton of fun playing with these guys, and I think he's found a new home. Oh, and I got a neato t-shirt, too.

PG

PS M. Night's new film/bedtime story ain't that bad...pretentious, overly self-reflexive (Night's in the film...sigh) and complicated at times; moving and funny at other moments (thanks to another killer performance by Giamatti).

Canada's National Treasure

It's not Michael J. Fox, Jim Carrey, or Mike Myers. Nor is it Hockey, Canadian beer, or the word aboot.

It's Degrassi, the seemingly neverending TV series about teenagers struggling with angst, date rape, abortion, self-image, just to name a few coming-of-age issues. Watching Degrassi: The Next Generation has become my summer's TV obsession, overtaking Giada and her Food Network clan to claim the top spot in my TV To-Do List.

Weirdly, during my recovery from being sick over the 4th, I was channel-surfing when I decided to stop on The N (Nickelodeon's Tween/Teen Channel). When I channel-surf on Satellite, I use the Page Up/Page Down button to get through the Guide and always saw Degrassi come up. Now, the first and only time I heard about the show was through the brief mention of it in Chasing Amy. But, I was feeling ill and bedridden, and, suffice to say, I gave the show a chance. Soon, I found myself scanning forward to find out when it'd be on again, and now I've got it on my trusty VCR timer (no Tivo for me, I'm old school).

I'm a sucker for Coming-of-Age stories which explains my obsession with Dawson's Creek and my thesis film, so Degrassi is right up my alley. The show is fantastic simply because the actors actually are teenagers, and their stories (albeit very issue-oriented) are compelling and fun. While the actual performances of these actors vary (some very good, others bordering on bad), I appreciate the authenticity of the high school experience within the contrived teenage-soap opera genre filled with pretenders like The OC and blatantly controlled docu-dramas like Laguna Beach. Plus, it doesn't hurt that some of the girls are pretty hot (waiting for the lightning bolt to hit me).

I'm so obsessed with the show that I'm thinking of doing casting sessions in Canada to find actors for my thesis film. I think there's something in that Canadian water that creates fantastic teenage actors.

Roger Federer Rocks

I know what you're thinking. Why is Phil writing another story about men's tennis and Roger Federer? Do people really care about tennis, let alone men's tennis? Why doesn't Phil write about women's tennis? Hell, that Maria Sharapova chick's hot.

Well, first of all, I love the game of tennis. Been playing since I was Maddie's age (that's my goddaughter whose picture graces this blog)...ok, maybe not for that long, but still you get what I'm saying. It's like boxing, only without the blood and bruises (This is only partially true...if you're like Boris Becker whose famous lunges on Centre Court in Wimbledon caused knee and elbow scrapes, then you can be bloodied by tennis). Mano y mano. It requires speed, strength, athleticism, and guts. It's a fantastic sport. It's a shame that more American kids are going into skateboarding, etc. rather than tennis. I love it.

Anyways, onto Roger Federer, the best tennis player in the world. He's awesome. He's got the best forehand I've ever seen (Sampras had a nasty one as well), but his game is so versatile. He can duke it out from the baseline or take it at net. That's why I root for him. I want to see this guy break records. He deserves it because he's so freakin' good.

So, congrats, Roger on yet another Wimbledon title...you rock, buddy.

Things To Do in Hemet When You're Completely Zonked Out

1. Watch Amelie Mauresmo beat Justine Henin-Hardenne for the Wimbledon championship. Mauresmo played a tight second and third sets, serving and volleying like you should on the grass courts. She clearly deserved it and, finally, exorcised past Finals demons.

(On a completely side note, I love how NBC markets these weekend finals matches as "Breakfast at Wimbledon"...even though I never have breakfast at 6am...but it'd be nice to actually have breakfast at Wimbledon)

2. Wait in high anticipation for Nadal and Federer to play for the Wimbledon crown. These are clearly the two best male players in the world, and they're meeting again for a grand slam (Nadal defeated Federer a few weeks ago at the French Open). Will Roger win his 4th in a row and join the pantheon of great tennis players? Or will Rafa spoil another of Roger's triumphs? This is what makes being a tennis fan so fantastic right now. I think Federer is the best tennis player I've ever seen...it's like watching Jordan in his prime. Better than Sampras. I'll probably dedicate a whole entry to the dude. He's freakin' awesome.

3. Sleep. This is a highly underrated activity IMHO.

4. Sleep some more.

Gettin' My Hurt On...

So, it sucks being so sick you have to wake up in the middle of a mutha-funkin' hot LA-LA Land night and visit the john only to repeat this unrelenting wheel of gut-wrenching (literally, not figuratively) pain every other hour. There's my "me being sick the weekend of the birth of this blessed nation and this blessed Philmmaker" rant...

On another note, did anyone catch the new Superman movie this weekend? Not exactly Spider-Man 2, but great nevertheless.