The Brain Demon

2011-05-02T01:20:00.001-07:00

From beyond the grave, Osama bin Laden will for one last time, unite the country in glorious bloodlust, blind hate, and murderous patriotism.

Today was supposed to be a post eulogizing the Haymarket Martyrs, victims of State Terror. However, this Labor Day (unfittingly falling on a Sunday this year! a year marking one of the greatest attacks on the rights of workers in many decades) has been overshadowed by reports of the confirmation of the killing of Osama bin Laden, America's favorite national enemy. Like Orwell's boogeyman, Emmanuel Goldstein, in 1984, bin Laden has been useful to our Nationalist-minded Militarists in maintaining national cohesion with the glue of patriotic fervor, all the while blinding us to their selling us out to their Corporate Masters, furthering the cannibalization of our planet, twisting our minds into justifying the death of other people's children, and hardening our hearts the the devastation of God's glorious creation.

Considering that statements from the Bush Administration statistically lack credibility (particularly in matters of that part of the world), it makes it very difficult for me to figure out who is lying. While the former administration was insisting on bin Laden's responsibility for 9/11, bin Laden on the other hand gave a surprisingly sober denial. I find this puzzling as it would seem to me he would have every reason to take credit for a startling strike against the hated USA enemy (in American political parlance referred to as "playing to his base") and thereby improve his "street/terrorist cred" amongst his supporters. In a CNN story from September 19, 2001:

"The U.S. government has consistently blamed me for being behind every occasion its enemies attack it.

I would like to assure the world that I did not plan the recent attacks, which seems to have been planned by people for personal reasons.

I have been living in the Islamic emirate of Afghanistan and following its leaders' rules. The current leader does not allow me to exercise such operations."

The CNN article here:

Bin Laden says he wasn't behind attacks

Later, when a videotape surfaced (referred to by US Government officials as the "fat bin Laden" video) confessing he was responsible, most viewers assumed it was an authentic admission of guilt. However, the FBI never indicted him, and we must assume they never took the "fat bin Laden tape" seriously, since video confessionals are always more than enough evidence to indict (and convict) criminals of their crime.

Read the article from Project Censored here:

No Hard Evidence Connecting Bin Laden to 9/11

Instead of dwelling too much over what the "truth" is (something I don't think can be known right now anyway), I find it more relevant to ask the questions: Who benefits? Who pays? Bin Laden's role he played in nationalist and militarist rhetoric fits too nicely. He is a politician's greatest gift. Stir up fear and paranoia amongst the populace, while you target them mercilessly with corporate agendas that leave them eviscerated, alienated, and impotent. It also helps us to justify our continued State-sponsored Terror upon the populations living, loving, and praying underneath the receiving end of our bombs and missiles. Bin Laden's specter gives our Imperial endeavors a narrative to justify its activities, a godsend to those who will convince us of the necessity of killing another mother's children.

State Enemies are useless when captured or killed, they only serve their purpose while (at least apparently) still alive, again, much like Emmanuel Goldstein's role as target of the nightly 2 minutes of Hate in Orwell's Oceania. Only as long as they live, do they serve their purpose. Which immediately forces me to ask: How genuinely did the mighty US machinery want to actually find him? Was it really so hard to locate him? Two years ago, a UCLA geographer, using science and publically available records narrowed down bin Laden's location to one of three buildings in Parachinar (one which had "one of the best maintained gardens in all of Parachinar")!

Read the report here:

UCLA geographers urge U.S. to search 3 structures in Pakistan for bin Laden

Now that Osama bin Laden is dead, I see Obama and the Democratic Party taking credit for the "good kill", leveraging this in the upcoming elections to win a second term of the Imperial Presidency. I suppose this will be bin Laden's final role he plays in the tragi-comedy that is the unraveling of the great US Empire.

While others orgiastically cheer his killing, I make the morbid observation, that from beyond the grave, Osama bin Laden will for one last time, unite the country in glorious bloodlust, blind hate, and murderous patriotism.

The Brain Demon

Inventing God

2011-04-25T18:02:00.000-07:00

The very notion of a male god is a very recent innovation. Prior to the invention of writing, agriculture, animal husbandry, and militarized (genocidal) states, the very idea or concept of a god being male was quite literally inconceivable.

Because the importance and function of a divine being was to produce and cultivate life and to "bring forth" the universe or the world, it went without saying that, naturally, this deity would be female, in that a female deity would "give birth" to the phenomenal world we see around us. It was preposterous to the human imagination that a male deity would "give birth" to anything-- let alone the cosmos! This means that there was always a Creatrix, but only recently was it possible to conceive of a Creator (as a metaphorical extension of "builders" crafts and monument-ism).

This explains why "gods" are so recent chronologically, being predated most often by numerous goddesses the world over. Human societies for most of human history worshipped either animals, spirits of nature, and once divine beings come into the picture, goddesses. Most of humanity lived this way, with male gods showing up on the scene very recently. Yet, though such deities are undeniably the youngest, they ironically often set themselves up, or are conceived of as "eternal", "all-powerful", "universal", or "singular and true" sky gods, above and beyond all lesser such divine beings. So it's important to understand that although male gods are factually the youngest dieties in human imagination, they arise in contexts of power that need for them to be what they are not: eternal, the oldest dieties around, omnipotent, because this is the all-encompasing (often termed "universal") nature of the imagination that created them (specifically: in relations to State Power).

So, with the advent, as stated, with militarized states that engaged in ritual genocide do we see male gods, who first, marry more important or more ancient goddesses, then later, these new gods often even just kill off the older goddesses in gory and brutal myth-stories. This development of new mythologies mirrored historical changes in the means of production in human societies from those that privileged "female capacities" to those that privileged male "muscle power". (Specifically: moving from a hunter-gatherer society to settled agricultural ones starting at around 10,000 BCE).

So, for example, at the dawn of the rise of "noble" families we begin to see the beginnings of "kings," who were usually the brother(s) of the queen, whom he would then marry to legitimate his "kingship" and finally be able to receive inheritances of wealth and power, which before had always passed from mother to daughter (all societies were MATRILINEAL at this time). This practice of marrying one's sister in wealthy families precedes the later concept of social taboos such as incest, of which I know of no evidence that there existed any such taboo at this time, but did represent the most common and typical way nascent "kingships" came to usurp the previous "matriarchies". Later, the kings take over human societies outright. Then we have the beginnings of "writing" and the invention of "history."

"History" as far as I know only and always is related to, arise out of, and is connected to States and is a form of Power. At least one reason for this is that States need to create an "us-and-them" mentality with their neighbors, an inherently difficult task considering an enemy is still just as human as they. So States must create an identity. Once this identity is established, then an "other" can be constructed which will be UNlike the constructed "us" in important ways (such as "they" eat babies). It is important to note here that throughout (recorded) history facts rarely play any particularly important role in human reasoning, but nearly every type of insanity and lie has consistently been terrifyingly effective at motivating nearly all members of any sort of group to engage in the most horrific sorts of all manner of unspeakable violence. This pattern of human behavior is so common as to be nearly predictable and even expected. Typically this process entails labeling these "others" as "barbarians" or other such denigrating titles. So long as any group or neighbor can become an "other" the battle is all but won, since all that's left to do is the fun, "pro-active" stuff such as annihilating them, stealing everything, incorporating/ co-opting whatever you please, and settling the area where they once lived.

It's difficult to see how goddesses could condone such behavior (the beings that give life even in the midst of the ultimate sacrifice of death), but every god I've ever known or heard of not only loves such practices, but typically models, commands, and receives as worship such deeds. Consider for example the Hebrew term "Shabbat" often translated as "to utterly destroy". This was God's command to commit such a complete genocide that even the heathen's technology of animal husbandry was to be completely annihilated. This made God smile, or at least grin. For this reason Noam Chomsky, whose father was a scholar of Hebrew, considers the Old Testament "one of the most genocidal books ever written."

A psychological diagnosis of the behavior of gods in our mythological systems would be interesting, appropriate, even crucial, such as the textbook narcissism of YHWH of the Old Testament described as a "jealous god" that demanded the "holy" and "sacred" sacrifice of entire peoples.

Monotheism is yet a more powerful and extremist a development than just the initial introduction of psychopathic gods into a pantheon, such as Zeus, the habitual rapist, murderer, and raging narcissist. Such personality traits seem critical to the development, establishment, maintenance, and success of States. This leads to the seemingly contradictory development of "laws" to prevent the behavior that is made possible by the increased anonymity of complex societies, indeed complex societies may help cultivate the conditions which not only give rise to such behavior but allow them to thrive. (We can just chalk such an analysis as an example of a "postmodern" contradiction).

A good example of this development is the law of Karma. As cities began to develop in the 6th Century BCE in the plains of Northern India, behaviors such as rape, theft, and murder (once kept in check in small village or tribal societies, which not only lacked the requisite anonymity to "get away" with such behavior, but which probably also lacked the requisite amounts of alienation to produce such extreme pathologies), began to see such atrocious practices. As a result a new "law" or "ethical imagination" developed, that if you do someone dirty, then either in this life (but mostly understood to be "paid" in the next incarnation), such things will just come right back to you. Victimizer will become the victimized in ever increasing cycles of misery and violence.

One of the important symbols of the goddess is the snake (or serpent in the Old Testament). The snake was one of the most important religious symbols because it represented the cycles of life: birth, death, and renewel, as seen every time it sheds its old skin (and dies) which then gives birth to a new life (the new, bright, larger snake). Women (and therefore goddesses) also often displayed this important pedagogical symbol as women commonly died in childbirth, or the menstrual cycles (the bleeding, "dying", and renewel all of which life-giving) also "taught" us this life lesson. For this reason, the demonization of snakes is critical if your new god is to usurp the important religious imaginations of the goddess-dominated worlds. This is why snakes appear in the oldest "layers" of many religions, such as village deities in Hindu "Untouchable" castes or the Nagas of Buddhism.

Given this is such an enormous topic, I will leave you with just this taste and will continue to elaborate on this (pre-)history of gods and goddesses.

A Solution to this Mess

2011-04-21T20:08:00.000-07:00

A plan to get us out of the mess we find ourselves in:

I propose we organize underemployed ex-offenders by training them in careers that will give us what our civilization under crises needs (sooner or later anyway). We can both employ them (taking them off the streets), as well as give us what we all need urgently.

This underutilized, often forgotten, usually for forsaken, always scapegoated population can be mobilized to rebuild our social infrastructure, re-energize disintegrating civic culture, advocate for social justice, educate on sustainability, to help create genuine community that humans find a necessary foundation for an integrated life.

This model can be a win-win situation, as it addresses the increasing population of the permanent underclass, while also giving our civilization the badly needed "shot in the arm" that we need to take back our world from the corporate oligarchs and their political lackeys and military henchman who hurl our world headlong into destruction, collapse, and implosion.

Ultimately my thinking on this is to insist that there is no other way but to do it all the way. Both my personal life, civilized existence, and ecological urgency (for the same reasons) all require that the time for cosmetic repairs and reformist attitudes are invariably too little, way too late. Our inaction on repairing our broken world, healing the dying ecosystem, and the cultivation of our own personal lives (mental, spiritual, physical) has brought us to a point in history, where we have to get serious about humanity's next step forward.

This will also address several issues in a fresh, imaginative, and revolutionary way:

By equipping this population to "re-integrate" into society is not inspirational, since it completely begs the question of "reintegrate into WHAT?!" Society and our social-economic configuration already creates tremendous alienation, dissatisfaction, and exploitation, degradation, and humiliation as it is. We cannot rightfully expect any sort of "reintegration" to have a large appeal for this population or for anyone with any dignity, humanity, or authenticity left in their soul.

Such programs to reintegrate this population only serves to actually in the end STRENGTHEN the current corrupt, unjust, unforgiving, racist, and inhumane criminal "justice" system, as it will in the end (if completely successful), take away the negative social and cultural consequences of such a vicious system. That is, if reintegration is made to be 100% successful, then it will not only take away the impetus and reason to change the system, but will strengthen this institution by rendering it effectively unproblematic (from a societal, albeit not an ethical or moral, point of view).

Also, there is nothing expressly religious about the program as I envision it. Homeboy Industry, Detention Ministries, and the Ex-offender Action Network in Southern California are funded and run by religious organization, and to varying degrees have EXPRESSLY religious practices contained within them. This is (rightfully) odious to a sense of justice, democracy, and ethics not informed by historically and institutionally religious forms of ethical imaginations.

Some sources:
1) http://www.democracynow.org/2011/4/14/grace_lee_boggs_on_detroit_and

Grace Lee Boggs has a discussion with Thomas Frank (What's the Matter with Kansas and Wrecking Crew), and your boy Jim Wallis (on his hunger strike). What she suggests in her new book is that we have to have a "cultural revolution" that rebuilds what's been taken from our humanity. Rebuilding community, interacting with one another in genuinely human ways, and advocating for justice that will help address the powerlessness (that is very real).

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0520269241/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=0816629552&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0NRCNKC1GB54SBBE07QN

2) The Right to Useful Unemployment (Ivan Illich, a clergyman and radical thinker)
The idea that what we really need is unpaid work that is what makes life worth living (artistic, cultural, social movements that make our world a better place that's outside the industrial system)

3) Pedagogy of the Oppressed
Paulo Friere suggests that the purpose of education should be to equip underprivileged and poor to advocate for their own social justice, etc.

4) Beyond Civilization:
The functioning of "tribes" to bring about vast social change by reinventing and reinvigorating culture to "go back" to a sustaining, nourishing life that can also produce the repair that we need.

Whistleblowers

2011-04-21T00:43:00.000-07:00

http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/WhistleblowersD

Julian Assange debates "Do Whistleblowers make us safer?"

Motion:

Whistleblowers Make the World Safer

Climate Deniers

2011-04-21T00:19:00.000-07:00

Here are the facts: The ONLY issue that is "debated" by climatologists is the range, scope, and severity of global climate change NOT whether it is happening or not, or how much of it is anthropogenic. The only ones that are doubting it is man made at all or that it is a hoax are not skeptics, they are CRANKS.

Quite literally, some of the same scientists that "proved" that cigarettes are healthy and nutritious are the same being paid by the oil industry to mislead the hysterical and ignorant.

Merchants of Doubt: How a Handful of Scientists Obscured the Truth on Issues from Tobacco Smoke to Global Warming

Climate Cover-Up: The Crusade to Deny Global Warming

The root core is that too many in the public are far too suceptible to "experts" who have lots of letters after their name. They will whip up hysteria of things that are not even a real threat, while misleading from issues that are pressing and urgent.

Doubt is Their Product: How Industry's Assault on Science Threatens Your Health

Shotgun Weddings Among Korean Celebrities

2010-06-02T20:44:00.000-07:00

I've been noticing lately a rash of celebrity weddings in Korea. Nearly all of them, the wife is 3-4 months pregnant. So it makes me wonder: do you have to get knocked up for a male celebrity in Korea to marry you? (That is, you have to be a celebrity yourself, if you're not, then I suppose it doesn't matter if you do get pregnant by a male celebrity, it's just that a female celebrity can't be hidden away, paid off, or hushed up!)

So far there's major Hallryu star Jang Dong Geun and Ko Soyoung. There was Kwon Sang Woo and his celebrity wife. Recently Tablo and his celebrity wife. Park Myungsoo the comedian also married because his girlfriend got pregnant. The guy from One Two also married his celebrity wife because she was pregnant.

I wonder to what extent the robust Sex Industry in Korea has to do with this. Where sex is pretty much readily available not just to ordinary citizens but especially to the rich and famous.

Relocating the Population of an Island

2010-06-02T20:35:00.000-07:00

Where in the world is Diego Garcia?

The US and British militaries conspired to kidnap all the residents of the island of Diego Garcia and move them to a nearby island. Being in the Indian Ocean, the Indian Goverment while complaining, did not do what it could have because of some of it's own complicity.

Island of Shame: The Secret History of the US Military Base on Diego Garcia.

By David Vine, Professor of Anthropology

http://flonnet.com/fl2626/stories/20100101262607700.htm

Bush Family Nazi Connections

2010-03-23T20:34:00.000-07:00

I first starting hearing about this story before the 2004 election, by the director of the Holocaust Museum, who was doing research on how Nazi money was laundered out of the country in 1945 in the last days of the war. He then came upon a dummy coporation set up in the Netherlands, and then linked it to Prescott Bush's firm in New York. He estimates about 1.5 million dollars at the time was illegally laundered out of Nazi Germany through this dummy corporation and filled the coffers of Wall Street.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2004/sep/25/usa.secondworldwar

The Rich Get Richer and the Poor Get Prison

2010-03-02T13:08:00.000-08:00

The Rich Get Richer and the Poor Get Prison: Ideology, Class, and Criminal Justice, is now in it's 8th Edition.

Big Brother is Tracking You!

2010-03-01T00:39:00.000-08:00

This is a link to a Newsweek article on how the Federal Government is tracking the users of cellphones' location in real time!
http://www.newsweek.com/id/233916?GT1=43002

This is no longer a conspiracy theory, just an actual conspiracy. In Orwell's 1984, it was "Big Brother is Watching You" now it's "Big Brother is Tracking You"

The Age of Big Brother is here. Now while I'm not opposed to federal investigators trying to track corrupt public officials and human traffickers, such a vast erosion of civil liberties is slippery slope to overly pervasive government and corporate control over the lives of ordinary citizens. Where does the line get drawn as to who the enemy of the state will be? Since rich and powerful smugglers usually have little to no problem bribing, coerecing or otherwise corrupting public officials with their power, influence, and cash, (so they can afford themselves at the least some protection) what happens to local community groups opposed to official policy?

If activity under the Bush Regime is any indication we can be assured that small local activist groups will be targeted while CIA agents (gun runners, human and drug traffickers, and terrorist) will run free.

The Prophet of Kindness (Profeta Gentileza)

2010-02-26T18:40:00.000-08:00

Marisa Monte wrote this beautiful song about a street poet, who walked the streets of Rio de Janeiro, preaching a message of kindness in the purported murder capital of the world.

In her essay here, she explains, "What generates violence is the anonymity and loneliness we feel in the middle of a crowd.

Gentileza used to preach fraternal love and urged people to devote their attentions to others and create intimacy with each other.

A prophet is somebody who lights up the people."

The song is off her seminal 2000 album "Memories, Chronicles, and Declarations of Love" The song is titled simply "Gentileza"

See the song here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKnVAZHehV0&feature=related

Alone in Four Walls

2010-02-26T14:10:00.000-08:00

This is a German-made documentary about young, Russian boys sent to a "reform school" which is a military style prison. What was fascinating was the comparison to draconian and unforgiving sentencing that goes on in the "freest" country in the world America, in comparison to the former "evil empire." At the beginning of the film the boys all tell their crimes which range from theft, to strong armed robbery, to multiple murders! yet nearly all of them had the same sentence of two years!!

As the kids tell their stories, some of them come from such dysfunctional homes that in the end some quite literally dread returning home to a life far worse that some of the comforts provided by a strict regimen, daily classes, and warm meals.

For the Bible Tells Me So...

2010-02-26T13:58:00.000-08:00

This is a must see for anyone who's gay and struggles with Christian Fundamentalist, ideological violence, or anyone who struggles with any form of "otherness" (and as it turns our ONLY EVERYONE has at the very least some level of "otherness" as part of their subjectivity), or anyone interested in understanding the Christian Faith.

One thing I particularly appreciated was them helping to bring light to the astronomical rates of teen suicide amongst gay teens. this is a critical issue.

Infidelity Article

2010-02-21T13:26:00.000-08:00

some critics question the cultural, biological, social constructions of such notions in the first place. however the article below DOES point out the cultural legacies and twisted psychologies that result from male dominance and wealth and power.

http://lifestyle.msn.com/relationships/articlecosmo.aspx?cp-documentid=23343761>1=32023

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Media violence & Fear-Based Politics

2010-02-18T17:03:00.000-08:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msfu8YCCc8Q&feature=sub
The theories of George Gerbner

media violence, fear based politics here.

God's "Chosen People" Assassinate Again

2010-02-17T20:54:00.000-08:00

http://www.bing.com/videos/watch/video/dubai-hit-squad-used-fake-british-passports/9185deb1a92bcaa854339185deb1a92bcaa85433-1685619540003?form=msntod

This video report shows cctv camera footage of an 11 person assassination squad, undeniably a mossad operation from Israel, as they assassinate a prominent Hamas operative in a Dubai luxury hotel.

There is a good reason why assassination is against international law, as it would open a floodgate of bloodletting as those in opposition would simply engage in gangland style "hits" on opposing leaders. This would lead to chaos and paralysis. It's a wonder why there is no international outcry about such criminality perpetrated by the state of Israel, which conducted such operations almost chronically in the past.

Interestingly the trigger"man" was probably the lone woman of the group. The mossad used sexual politics in their kidnapping of Israeli nuclear whistleblower Mordechai Vanunu. An alluring Mossad agent seduced him and drew him away to be kidnapped and taken to Israel where he was imprisoned under their ultra-draconian State's Secrets Laws.

Fat burning workout

2010-02-17T12:55:00.000-08:00

Some good exercises that you can do at home.

Page 1: http://health.msn.com/weight-loss/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100235355>1=31036

Page 2: http://health.msn.com/weight-loss/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100235355&page=2

page 3: http://health.msn.com/weight-loss/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100235355&page=3

Standard Operating Procedure

2010-02-08T22:47:00.000-08:00

"Errol Morris investigates the Abu Ghraib prison scandal. Errol Morris investigates the U.S. for abuse and torture of suspected terrorists at Abu Ghraib." Directed by Errol Morris. 2008. 116 mins.

The Last Picture Show

2010-02-08T22:41:00.000-08:00

Odd that the co-stars all went on to become significantly more famous than the star. Maybe it was the films from the 70's where this happened a lot, or maybe it's a larger phenomenon.

"A gritty drama takes place in a dying 1950s Texas town." Starring Timothy Bottoms, Jeff Bridges, Cybill Shepherd, Ben Johnson, Cloris Leachman, Ellen Burstyn. Directed by Peter Bogdanovich. 1971. 118 mins. Also Eileen Brennan.

Bamboozled

2010-02-04T20:21:00.000-08:00

When I first saw this at the time, this film had me really conflicted, which was at the very least one of it's objectives. I personally felt at the time, that it was trying to be ironic and contradictory, yet I wondered if it truly was satire, or actually in the end committed what it was trying to be critical of.

The story is about the production of a satire of minstrel shows with black actors in blackface. I think Spike was asking a deeper question of the notion of black entertainers altogether. Even poking fun at himself, suggesting famous black actors like Denzel would never put on blackface (and then he cuts to a film of Denzel in his own film Malcolm X).

Paul Mooney's stand up act is some of the best moments of the film in addition to Savion Glover's unbelievable tapping!

"A disillusioned TV writer revives a black stereotype." Starring Damon Wayans, Savion Glover, Jada Pinkett Smit, Tommy Davidson, Michael Rapaport, Thomas Jefferson Byrd. Directed by Spike Lee. 2000. 135 mins.

Apres Lui

2010-02-04T19:30:00.000-08:00

This strange, almost creepy, yet intriguing film is about the best friend left alive after a tragic car accident that takes the life of a loving and devoted mother played by legendary actress Catherine Deneuve. She begins to obsess over him and "fixing" his troubled life. Bizarre as it is depressing, this film is another example of mixed genres from the mind of Christophe Honore.

directed by Gael Morel. Written by Christophe Honore. Starring Louis Garrel, Catherine Deneuve.

Dans Paris

2010-02-04T19:19:00.000-08:00

This film is an refreshing mix of genres: part Odyssey, part melodrama, part psychological introspection (a la Virginia Woolf).

A film quite literally about depression, Christophe Honore seems to be intimately familiar with the mood. Most of his films are utterly drenched in it. But not in a narcissistic or privileged way, but in response to the death of something wonderful or sacred, like love, family, goodness.

Love Songs

2010-02-04T19:09:00.000-08:00

Does this film defy genre classification? It is a musical, but it's narrative is a melodramatic one about coping with the death of a lover. Yet it's about the love that blooms after the tragedy, so is a romantic film. Lastly, throw in some homoeroticism, and this ambitiously artistic film moves and intrgues with its endless originality and intellectual and artistic challenges.

Christophe Honores seems to have single handedly resuscitated a dying French Film Scene, however without "going hollywood" as the industry tried (unsuccessfully for the past decade and a half). He has maintained a high level of "art house" cinema, while still being accessible and entertaining.

"A man tries to cope with the sudden death of his girlfriend." Starring Louis Garrel, Ludivine Sagnier, Chiara Mastroianni, Clotilde Hesme, Gregoire Leprince-Ringuet, Brigitte Rouan. Directed by Christophe Honore. From France. 2007. 95 mins.

Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story

2010-02-04T17:40:00.000-08:00

This is an (delightfully) convoluted movie within a movie (within a movie) where the actors play themselves, but their "themselves" are also scripted, and they talk about the making of the movie, then at the end credits talk about the making of the making of them movie. Though a British film, the power of Hollywood itself still has to make an appearance, itself one of the many "statements" of the film. Some radio clips of the current rise in violence in the Iraq War adds a serious backdrop to a most unserious film. (it's key is it's vanity and friviolity-- which is an implicit critique of it in it's own right.)

Of course, typical to such a movie about making movies, is the intern is the most passionate and knowledgeable about films, and those most involved in the project, and the most narcissistic are at the same time the most fraudulent and exploitive of those who actually are interesting and knowledgeable (again, another "stab" at the film industry).

"A director tries to film an undaptable novel." Starring Steve Coogan, Rob Brydon, Keeley Hawes, Shirley Henderson, Dylan Moran, Jeremy Northam. Directed by Michael Winterbottom. From UK. 2005. 94 mins.

Second Best

2010-02-03T22:04:00.000-08:00

An incredibly cynical and brutally honest screenplay about success, how to measure it, and how to creatively resist it. Another film about hollywood.

"A writer submits a screenplay to a Hollywood producer." Starring Joe Pantoliano, Boyd Gaines, Jennifer Tilly, Peter Gerety, Bronson Pinchot, Matthew Arkin. Written and directed by Eric Weber. 2004. 85 mins.