in the archives:
week
1: getting to know me, getting to know
all about me; also, hanson rock my world, britney fails to give me "satisfaction,"
tom waits talks about the weather, massive attack gets dark, the sims:
a cautionary tale, WILLIAM SHATNER,and more.
week
2: for love of mixtapes; god is a dj
(and his name is fred); wyclef returns; A-HA RETURNS (!); the twenty greatest
songs ever scientifically determined by a three man panel consisting of
me, myself and i; oh, and, boobs.
week
3: get drawn to the magnetic fields;
three movies that are grossly overrated; some of the greatest movies...ever;
xtc murders love...again; james brown breaks out in a "cold sweat";
morrissey and springsteen...separated at birth?; i bare my soul...again;
and MORE!
week 4: gladiator slays me, eminem and xtc reviews, a new look!, i poke fun at my own writing, the inmates take over the asylum, and MORE!
the movies were as bleak as the weather, yes. ;) i should make it known that graham greene is one of my favorite novelists, and that his the third man is the basis for one of my favorite films, so i had high expectations for this one. unfortunately, i think i like this movie more for the film that it isn't instead of the film that it is. it has many strong qualities: an excellent story, punctuated by greene's patented sharp dialogue; lavish direction by neil jordan; and beautiful cinematography. however, i believe that its weaknesses are glaring.
ralph fiennes, normally a very good actor, doesn't seem to quite express the rage required for the lead role, understating things a bit too much. where i feel that we should know where his character stands, he expresses ambiguity -- one is never quite sure if he truly loves julianne moore's sara, or is just jealous that he can't have her (if this is the point, then my apologies). also, jordan's adaptation is too obvious, leaving little surprises for the end.
i did enjoy this picture, really. i'm just disappointed in the final product as i feel it could've been a great picture instead of merely good. i'm a hopeless romantic, myself, so i was near tears at the end, even though i did see it coming. definitely recommended as a date movie and as something to do while trapped indoors by tempestuous weather. other than that, unless you're a fan of jordan or greene, you may want to pick out one of the films from a very fine crop that's now available at your local video store (i recommend the straight story, my favorite film of 1999).
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current playlist:
cds: primal scream, xtrmntr xtc, wasp star roy orbison, 16 biggest hits eminem, marshall mathers lp johnny cash, 16 biggest hits u2, best of 1980-1990 lambchop, nixon
songs:
asian dub foundation, "new way, new life"
janet jackson, "it doesn't really matter"
clearlake, "don't let the cold in"
britney spears, "lucky"
son of bazerk, "the band gets swivey on the wheels"
eminem, "stan"
roy orbison, "running scared"
future bible heroes, "o! what a dream it was"
prince, "raspberry beret"
charles mingus, "goodbye pork pie hat"
my current mixtape:
side a:
bruce springsteen, "born to run"
elvis presley, "jailhouse rock"
rolling stones, "sympathy for the
devi"
freda payne, "band of gold"
shangri-las, "give him a great big
kiss"
abba, "s.o.s."
talking heads, "burning down the
house"
xtc, "you and the clouds will still
be beautiful"
beatles, "hello goodbye"
johnny cash, "ring of fire"
roy orbison, "in dreams"
johnny cash, "i walk the line"
funkadelic, "i'll bet you"
side b:
nick cave & the bad seeds, "the
mercy seat"
cheap trick, "speak now or forever
hold your peace"
xtc, "church of women"
roy orbison, "running scared"
depeche mode, "enjoy the silence"
stevie wonder, "i'm happier than the
morning sun"
elton john, "tiny dancer"
roy orbison, "it's over"
johnny cash, "i still miss someone"
roy obrison, "crying"
xtc, "the wheel and the maypole"