280 of 1001 Movies: Fahrenheit 9/11

Several years ago when John Kerry and George W. Bush went up against each in the election, there was a movie that was released around the same time, and it would become the biggest earning documentary still to this day. The movie for some was just a biased opinion, and for some it had views they could believe. It really just depended on the political party you were in. What we do know is that Michael Moore isn't a fan of George.

Summary: George Bush was elected president in a way that was very whirlwind. Almost so much so, no one even knows how the election really ended up with the whole Florida debacle. Anyways, not long after being elected President Bush would have a lot of defining events happen during his presidency. This would also lead to much speculation from the public, and scrutiny, while some were left supporting the ideas. Whatever your thoughts Michael Moore tries to go really in depth in to why he thinks the way he does. He conducts interviews, he stakes out buildings, and he shares what his bases are in what he believes and why.

Plot: Going into this movie it's just safe to say depending on the political party that you already identify with will be what you think of this movie. I don't think this movie will convert conservatives to changing their minds about Republicans, or something, and I think when it was released it mainly just viewed to the crowd who already believes or speculates much the same. Anyways, regardless I think the movie will provide some food for thought.

There is a reason that Moore is so popular, and viewed, and that is because with the variety of movies he has released we can all witness a guy who doesn't cater to any party. If he thinks you're up to something fishy then he will cover it and expose it. I honestly think the positive for him is that he doesn't ever seem to be feeding into a politicians agenda just for the sake of feeding into a party. Now the movie has it's weak points though in covering the thoughts he has on Bush. Because even if you do agree the hate that you can hear in Moore's voice for the GOP and Bush are just too present, and perhaps that is the problem with narrating your own movie. You are already passionate about this subject, and well anyone watching is going to hear in your own voice how much you already despise the topic. Plus, there were moments where I felt Moore was talking about some legitimate issues with the system, like who is targeted for the military, and yet the tone of his voice sounds so relaxed and almost proceeding in a comical way as he has with various points of the movie. Perhaps I'm just looking at how my own emotions got when viewing those topics in the movie but I definitely didn't feel that any of the topics were comical as much as a I did a form of victimizing and causing terrible acts to fall on innocent people. I just found nothing very funny as I did shocking about what was being alleged in the movie.

The movie is a good overview though of some things to think on once you finish viewing. Depending how staunch on one side or moderate you are will be the guidance of how you ultimately feel about this one though. I think some little touches here an there would have strengthened it, like a different narrator, or a less relaxed approach in telling the facts. I understand that Moore narrated because he might feel he is the most passionate about the subject matter, and might be the best to share, but for me it took a few to get into. It hits an interesting pattern though, and if I doubt it will be hard not for someone to at least give an ear to what Moore has to say.

Wednesday Movie Night: Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)

With the recent release of the second movie about Ron Burgundy I figured it was a good idea to check out the first one. I wasn't sure what to expect considering Will Ferrell can be a hit or miss, and that this movie was intended to be a really silly movie. With a good dose of a buzz though, and a nicely timed comedic movie though, this one works to be a comedy hit. I also have had Afternoon Delight stuck in my head since watching the movie.

Summary: Ron Burgundy sits atop the best of San Diego's newsman, but that is about to change. Him and his male-dominated crew are quite rude and crude when Veronica Corningstone arrives at the station. They also all are set on winning a date with her, which Burgundy achieves himself. Things turn ugly though when he discovers that Corningstone won't let their relationship risk her getting to the top of the news station as a newswoman. Now Burgundy's career could be threatened if the crowd loves her more.

Library Reads: Ben Sherwood's The Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud

This is one of those stories where you probably heard of the movie before you did the book. Actually, I had forgotten it was a book till I stumbled across it in the library. Thinking that it looked like a compelling story I picked it up. While the first half of the book really isn't intriguing it does hit it's stride about midway through. I guess I couldn't help thinking though was that this reminded me a lot of Nicholas Sparks, and the endorsement on the back from Sparks doesn't help. It's like Supernatural Sparks.

Summary: Charlie and his brother, Sam, have an unbreakable bond. After a tragic accident almost killed Charlie, and left his brother dead the two can still communicate. Sam appears in a graveyard to Charlie, and Charlie can also see the others that are buried there. Some move on, and others have stayed behind. Charlie meets Tess though. Tess is making an attempt to sail around the world though, so when Charlie learns that Tess shouldn't be where he is seeing her he discovers the truth. Charlie must choose between staying with his brother so he doesn't fade, or seeking out where Tess really is.

Saturday Movies: 50 First Dates (2004)

I've seen no cuter movie this year, and one that men can enjoy too at that. In one of Peter Segal's better movies he has two lead actors that really carry the chemistry of the movie. Drew Barrymore and Adam Sandler are sort of oddballs who are comedic who seem to be magnets in this movie. It is appreciated how this movie is simple, bright, cute, and while overall happy in tone, it also has this vibe that keeps it grounded in some form of reality. It ends on a very high note, but not one so high we forget the situation.

Summary: Henry Roth has avoided commitment, until he meets Lucy. After meeting Lucy he falls instantly, and goes to have a second date with her, only to find out she can't remember their first date. Now Henry may have to make more of a commitment than he ever has to a woman to win her over and over. Everyone is very protective of Lucy though, including her family, who plays along in repeating the same day over and over, so she doesn't realize that she is stuck on the last day she can remember.

213 of 1001 Movies: Crash (2004)

It's the movie that famously beat Brokeback Mountain for Best Picture at the 2004 Oscars.This left many stunned. I can see why as well, but I can also see why this was a more appealing pick as a winner. It's more hopeful and the dark tone is balanced well with a good vibe. I was depressed for days after watching Brokeback Mountain. While this movie was very well put together, acted, and written, there was also something about the movie that felt like it was trying to address an issue ahead of trying to develop characters. The characters suffered development because they became more trains to advertise an issue.

Summary: Graham and Elizabeth are investigating a crime that the movie ties back into by the end, but before it does we will go through a series of events that put us back to that spot. Showing how race, loss, and redemption are interwoven into the setting we see character dealing with who they can depend on most and how deeply their hatred has been seeded against those they strike out against for their own losses.

Wednesday Movie Night: Hotel Rwanda (2004)

I am sure people are aware of the events that happened in Rwanda, but it seems I don't hear many people truly seem to be talking about the horrendous events that took place there that was overlooked by much of the international community. This movie was much more emotionally riveting than I expected though, and I'm not sure how anyone could classify this film as boring unless you just don't have a heart. What really shines is the performance by Don Cheadle who makes this movie more than what it could have been.

Summary: This story is based on the real story of Paul, a hotel manager, who houses thousands of refugees from the genocide happening in Rwanda. The killings are over a long standing feud between the Hutu and the Tutsi's. Now that the Hutu's were the ones left behind in charge after the Tutsi's have moved out from oppressing them they are now attacking Tutsi citizens in the area and killing them and anyone who tries to hide them. In only three months, 3 million people are murdered, but Paul is determined to save his family and the people he has been housing from this same fate. Even with all the media coverage there is a little help from other nations to help them from the violence.

Wednesday Movie Night: Shaun of the Dead (2004)

I would say that the Cornetto trilogy are great comedies, but they take an acquired taste. For one the humor is definitely more well written and intelligent, and you may need a vast knowledge of an over array of things to get some it. If you're a zombie fan and watching a zombie spoof film then you probably will though. What makes the three movies that spoof popular genres so well done is that while they may be having a joke at the expense of the genre they make the characters though real enough that it seems they are really living through the horror of whatever it is they are placed in.

Summary: Shaun is thrown into a disaster of situations when he finds his relationship with his girlfriend has failed, his relationship with his mother strained, and the entire community he lives in seeming to be coming back from the dead. Instead of just sitting it out though he decides he is going to try putting everything back together by getting his friends, ex-girlfriend, and mother back to safety in the hopes it will patch up relationships. There is only one safe haven he knows though, and that is the local pub he frequents.

394 of 1001 Albums: Green Day's American Idiot

I think some songs on this album might be might guilty pleasure. I remember when "Wake Me Up When September Ends" was played at my high school prom and a goth couple did a slow dance to the song on the dance floor. Such sweet memories! Anyways, while every song isn't as strong as others on this album it does provide some good hooks, lyrics that make you think, and the wonderful pop rock sound. It also reminds me of better times of high school because the only good part was really the emotions I had toward music.

History: So in a first introduction of the word rock opera I found that it is essentially rock music united by a theme or story. Green Day created a rock opera on their album American Idiot after their songs for another album were stole in 2003. The album was a huge success upon release, and reached charts in many countries. It also was mostly a critical success as well, though there were some critics who thought the story wasn't consistent throughout.

382 of 1001 Albums: Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds' Abattoir Blues/The Lyre of Orpheus

I'm not really sure how I've made it this far and not heard of Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds before especially with my musical interest in bands like The National and Pearl Jam. Nick Cave has a voice that sounds like a blend of the singers of those two bands, and then the music itself sounds like a crazy blend of many genres ranging from Celtic, to folk, to blues, to various other rock.

History: Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds are an Australian Band who released one of their greatest hits in 2004, and it only took them 12 days to record. It's been quite a hit universally with a strong critical reception.  The album was something that sounds like a little bit of everything, and contains so many songs that it had to be split into a double album.

162 of 1001 Movies: Downfall (2004)

Downfall is perhaps one of the most well acted movies I've had the chance of seeing. It deals with people and topics that aren't easy to depict on screen because it does leave almost no one for the viewer to connect with in a movie, but somehow the director pulls it off and somehow really shows us what it would have been like to be around Hitler in his final days. Oliver Hirschbiegel bases his story on a memoir, and researches the story of Hitler's final months very well. He leaves almost no angle undiscovered, and if there are multiple views to how something happened he weaves it all in, such as the contradicting perceptions of how Hitler died.

Summary: Traudl Jung travels to Berlin, Germany in 1945 to be Hitler's secretary only months before he will commit suicide. Through her eyes you see his growing paranoia, and acceptance that he has lost as the Soviet Armies moves in on Berlin where he resides. Traudl also comes in contact with Hitler's wife, Eva,who marries him only a day before they kill themselves. Hitler though doesn't end the war with his death though, and the remaining military officers must figure out how to stop the Battle of Berlin against the Soviets.

375 of 1001 Albums: The Streets' A Grand Don't Come for Free

The Streets are an unique rap group. The mixture of rap and instrumentals is unlike anything I've heard. Oddly, as the album is supposed to be, I really felt a story about a broken relationship happening even before I picked up on what the lyrics were saying, which turns out to be different than I thought. It also introduced me to the term, rap opera, which I had never heard before. While there is music talent to go around in this album though I do feel it more meant for the love of storytelling rather than listening for a nice beat.

History: The band is definitely more popular in the U.K. They've topped charts in their country with the single from this album, "Fit But You Know It" This album does have a story the listener can follow while listening though, and I highly suggest do reading about it or trying to follow to get more into the album. It's about a guy who has lost a grand and is trying to find a way to get back the money, so the album follows multiple ways he does that.

Wednesday Movie Night: Ocean's Twelve (2004)

There are high expectations for Ocean's Twelve after the first one, and I have a feeling a lot of people were disappointed. Steven Soderberg comes back to direct, and he brings back the whole cast with him, but this movie runs like a good time between the actors than an actual plot line of continuing the story along. While that may be fun to watch if you're a fan of the actors in the movie it leaves you not feeling you got very far in the series after you're done watching the movie.

Danny Ocean is back and in Europe, and this time he's going to have to pull off even a bigger heist because Terry Benedict knows who stole his money, and he wants it back. Instead of having them thrown in prison though he is giving them the chance to pay it back. He needs to enlist one more to help out with this one though, making it twelve now instead of eleven. With Rusty also distracted this time though it is leaving Danny feeling a little stranded and more desperate to make this one work.

Wednesday Movie Night: I Heart Huckabees (2004)

Before his hit, Silver Linings Playbook, David O. Russell directed another moving delving into the human mind to show us one man pondering his existence, and what it means when things seem meaningless. It's definitely a movie that shows a director on his way to becoming a household name. Even though he sticks with his indie format it shows he is one of the best at creating unique and quirky people who are just looking to feel they relate to someone.

Albert is unsatisfied with his job, and where he believes it is leading him. In the hopes of preserving nature he is finding himself feeling meaningless when even his coworkers don't take him seriously, much less the community doesn't even listen to him. So he seeks the help of two detectives, but these detectives aren't like just any others. Bernard and Vivian solve existential issues, so when they are hired they investigate your life to find where your issue lies. When Albert meets Tommy, who feels let down by the detectives, and finds his coworker, Brad seeking help from the same place, he becomes doubtful they can help, and seeks help from their nemesis, Caterine, who has a much darker view of the crisis people face.