Realism vs. Formalism

Troy: "Welcome to the suck"

-Jarhead

Go see this movie:



Jarhead has definitely made it to my top 10 movie faves of the year. It really is everything I could have asked for and needed to take from a movie - this stemming from my recent withdrawal of seeing a truly fantastic film. It may catch a few by surprise in how the film isn't necessarily about war, but a story that takes place during a war. This is a story about ambiguity of self, about dislocation, about ambivalence to war and love, about sexual frustration. In fact, the minimalistic use of actual warfare becomes a strong theme for this story resulting in one of the more powerful moments in the film where the character Troy (Peter Sarsgaard) reaches his breaking point and explodes with such heartbreaking frustration.

Speaking of performances, Jake Gyllenhaal has finally given me a reason to respect him even more as an actor by completely submerging himself in the lead role of Swofford. He's a terrific subtle actor, in that he doesn't need a "freak out" or crying scene to establish himself as a decent actor. I remember sitting in my film class weeks ago and replaying a scene from Citizen Kane where one actress gives the most strikingly poignant performance from the entire movie and all she is doing is staring out a window. It just reminded me of how Jake portrays such a unapologetic and broken character so perfectly. Let's see some Oscar nods, please!

These are the kinds of movies I want to make. Ones that challenge the audience greatly.

So if you're planning on seeing Jarhead to see a "shoot 'em up" war movie, save your money. I'm sure the director would rather you go see Chicken Little.




(photos from ww.cinema.com)

Trust me when I tell you that the band M83 has some of the best music around right now! I was pretty bummed when I found out that they were on tour and had actually stopped in Denton while I was home for the weekend. Suck ass! They are a french duo and their music is mostly comparable to Sigur Ros and/or Postal Service...Kevin said once that Radiohead is a band that you just have to sit and listen to straight through to really get a full effect and M83 is no different. Check out these songs for maximum pleasure...mmmmm.


"Don't Save Us From the Flames"
"Until the Night is Over"
"In the Cold I'm Standing"
"I Guess I'm Floating"
"Run Into Flowers"

This weekend was pretty chill, although it isn't over until 12am tonight so I guess something really unexpected could happen and I'll end up with my foot in my mouth...not exactly sure what though.

Friday night I sushi-ed with Laura and Kevin at Blue Fish and then resaurant-hopped to eat some good dessert. PF Changs apparently has a 2 hour wait up here too so we ended up at California Pizza Kitchen. Alex had been saying he was gonna come up for the weekend and I guess I underestimated him this time because he actually came! If he wanted to drive 5 hours there and back just to stay one night, it's fine with me...not my gas money! We had good times though getting dinner last night and catching a late showing of Jarhead (for my second time) at the theater.

Here are some pics from the past week...they're pretty lame, but you better not complain or I'll cut a bitch.

Shortly after taking this pic from the staircase of my apartment complex, I attempted to unlock the door to the wrong apartment number. Don't exactly know how I did that, but needless to say I ran my white ass away!


I'm allowed at least one "emo" shot, right?


I told him to flick off the camera. It's a recurring element to my pictures I enjoy!


A dramatic reenactment of Laura choking on the seaweed from the sushi. Apparently she didn't know the universal signal for "I'm choking" so she just sat there. "It's not my fault I didn't know the universal sign. They should teach you that when you're born!"


It was windy...the end.


CPK for dessert at the mall!


Without the flash, my camera can only soak up whatever lighting is existing at that moment, so that's why most of the pics are sepia looking.


I took Alex on a brief walk around the UNT campus, and saw a fallen tree...so I took a picture....you would have too.


A&M thinks they have weird squirrels on campus, but none beat ours. We even have a famous albino squirrel that lurks around the Eagle Studen Services Building. I saw him one day but didn't have my camera...nuts. (no pun intended)


I have a shit load of studying to do, and this blog just sucked an hour out of my life so I should probably go...leave comments! I love readin them! Laters for now!