Thursday, November 6, 2008

People Need to Chill Out and Shut Up


Unless you've been living under a rock for the past couple of days or you're deaf, dumb and blind and no one told you about it, Senator Barack Obama was awarded the Presidency of the United States on Tuesday night. This seems to be causing two very different, yet equally inane reactions. On one hand you have the idiots running around, beaming from ear to ear telling everyone within earshot that our savior has come to rescue us from the previous administration's multiple blunders. On the other idiotic hand you have people threatening to move to Canada or Mexico because we elected a "terrorist."

So I want to say one thing to both these groups: Chill the hell out. The man has yet to take office. We have no idea what our situation will be like one year from now. I doubt we are going to start crapping rainbows and I also doubt that America is going to become a Socialist state. So please, for the ones who are still sane, shut the fuck up.

Werckmeister Harmonies (Bela Tarr, 2000)


Werckmeister Harmonies, a Hungarian film from director Bela Tarr, takes place in a small village. Janos is an optimistic young man who is eagerly awaiting a mysterious circus that is about to roll through town, carrying with it a giant, stuffed whale and a mysterious person known only as the Prince, who may possess some otherworldly talents. Everyone in the village besides Janos is fearing what the circus may bring after hearing awful rumors that the Prince's followers have been ransacking the towns that the circus visits.

The film's story, in this case, may be secondary to the images. In the 145 minute running time, Tarr uses only 39 shots. His camera floats as smoothly as if it were on air. This is especially evident in the 11 minute opening shot that shows Janos, in a pub, explaining how an eclipse works to a group of drunken villagers. The camera in this film is like the Energizer Bunny. It just keeps going and going long after you figured it would stop. But, the craziest thing about it is that it always works and never feels like a gimmick.

The images do have their fair amount of help, though. There is not a bad performance amongst this group of actors. And the fantastic score, by Mihaly Vig, complements the film perfectly. It all adds up to a completely enveloping, if not totally comprehensible viewing experience.

Sunday, November 2, 2008

The Inaugural Post

Welcome to the inaugural post of my blog. I hope you enjoy my maiden voyage into the world of blogging. I know what you're thinking. "What will be featured in this blog?" Good question! For the most part you will be treated to some poorly written, yet most likely entertaining film reviews. I'll probably also post things that aren't film related. If something pisses me off, you'll probably find it here. If something makes me laugh, that might end up here, too! Anything goes!

You're probably now thinking, "When will this here blog be updated?" Whenever I feel like it. For all you know I could lose interest in this blogging business five minutes from now and never post again, leaving these words to echo for eternity in the vast reaches of forgotten web pages.

So stick around for more messages soon. Or don't. I don't care.