Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Lars and the Real Girl (withTrailer)

This is easily the warmest, most touching movie I've seen all year. Go see this movie, but be prepared - it's not the yuk yuk laff-fest the premise might lead you to expect. I'd describe it as a Capra-esque mash up of Fargo and Mr Deeds goes to Town.

This movie Lars and the Real Girl
seems to me to be a perfect post-modern take on Capra; it's sentimental, sweet, and wry. gently poking fun at peoples expectations of what "normal" is, this is a great holiday season movie. It is, as they say, "life affirming", but minus the spoon feeding of "the message" that often plagues those films.

I was often ridiculed in film school for my deep fondness for Frank Capra. He was too sentimental, too kindly, not ironic or sardonic enough for the post-modern generation.

If you really need sardonic irony, "Lars and the Real Girl" features a blow up "love" doll in nearly every scene to give it the requisite post-punk edge.

Beautifully directed by Craig Gillespie, I'll be surprised if Ryan Gosling doesn't get a best actor nom for this.

View the Lars and the Real Girl - Trailer

Sunday, November 18, 2007

Boston police plan to search youths' homes for guns - The Boston Globe

Have you seen this story?

Boston police plan warrentless searches of youths' homes for guns - The Boston Globe

Police in Boston are beginning a program of warrentless searches of the homes of teenagers suspected of owning illegal guns.

Forget Reaganomics, this is the real "trickle down" theory. When those at the top violate our Constitution with reckless disregard then those further down feel justified in doing so as well.

Are you scared by what is happening in America yet?