Strange Culture

Ryan Reynolds as Green Lantern - What About Deadpool?

strangeculture@gmail.com (RC) — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 16:09:00 +0000

Ryan Reynolds has been around, but lying low on the scene for awhile now, and then all the sudden, it's 2009 and he has significant roles in two of the bigger summer movies -- The Proposal, and Wolverine, and suddenly he's on the radar as an actor to watch, with massive entertainment coverage.

And now, according to Mike Flemming's blog on Variety, Ryan Reynolds has been cast in Warner Brothers next big super hero film, Green Lantern. (Apparently the other actors in consideration were Bradley Cooper and Jared Leto).

I expect that the Green Lantern film should be entertaining, especially with Martin Campbell as director. Campbell re-captured James Bond fans with his entertaining Bond film Casino Royale in 2006.

The only question I have at this point, is how this will play out with Ryan Reynolds also slated to play the comic book character Deadpool/Wade Wilson in the comic book adaptation of Deadpool. Reynolds played the Wade Wilson role in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, and was supposed to reprise this role (pictured right), headlining his own film in 2011.

Production has not begun yet on either of these films, and with limited details, I have to wonder if the Cinematic Universe has room for two Ryan Reynold's Superheroes? Not to mention both are supposed to hit theaters presumable summer 2011. Somehow that just seems odd.

Winning & Manhood: King of Kong (A Fistful of Quarters)

strangeculture@gmail.com (RC) — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 04:01:00 +0000

The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters is an interesting and popular 2007 documentary that tells the story of one man's desire to be the best at something -- the classic arcade game -- while another man tries to defend his claim to fame.

Steve Wiebe is clearly the hero of this documentary as an almost-successful guy who isn't really making it. I can't imagine how he must feel watching the footage of those near and dear to him describe his personal "almost there" status. Almost a great baseball player, almost a great musician, etc.

Watching the unique personalities in this film, there is something 'every-man' in Steve Wiebe's quest to have the world record in Donkey Kong.

I remember watching the exceptional documentary series Michael Apted's Seven Up series in 2007 and being struck by these real people (particularly there discontent and personal struggles in their 30s). And something happens to modern men as they grow out of adolescence and begin the routine of adulthood. It seems like there is a part of male hood in the modern world that is unconfirmed. A part of man that needs affirmation that is often unmet in the home, the work place, and so forth.

And so it is that I believe Steve Wiebe desired to be the best at something, even if it was as unconventional as a classic style arcade game.

Is all the hours, emotions, family strain, heart ache, and joy stick callous' worth it? I don't know. Does a Donkey Kong record make someone more of a man? Where can a man feel successful? Where can a man truly gain that sense of winning in our modern world?

Director Seth Gordon doesn't formally come out and discuss these things in his documentary, but I think it is within these issues is the relatable truth the makes people connect with this film.

It's not about Donkey Kong -- it's about being a man. It's about pride. It's about winning. And it probably leaves you wondering how it all maters in the big picture.

Sometimes

strangeculture@gmail.com (RC) — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 04:31:00 +0000

"Sometimes it's the boring stuff I remember the most."

-Russell (Jordan Nagai), Pixar's Up

A Vision: Woody Allen Writes/Directs "Palm Beach Psych"

strangeculture@gmail.com (RC) — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 04:41:00 +0000

Previously I wrote a piece about how I hoped that Woody Allen would direct a Bernie Madoff biopic, using the source material from the Steve Fishman article for NY Magazine about Madoff titled The Monster Mensch.

Moviezzz even clued me in that Allen was already spinning his wheels and own unique comedy with his own column about Madoff (and Lobsters) in The New Yorker.

But my vision for Woody Allen has slightly shifted. I would certainly take a biopic, but now that Bernie's in jail for 150 years I've focused my energy to the rich people on the palm tree and Tiffany-diamond speckled island of Palm Beach, Florida who are now finding that they must sell their yachts, fine jewelry, and lavish homes due to their friend's web of lies.

The true consequences of the Madoff scandal are certainly real and are far from comical. Sure it's hard to feel pity for the wealthy when lay-offs, unemployment, foreclosure, and financial hardships are on the rise...but Woody Allen's unique comic brand is perfect for telling the story of Palm Beach Psych.

Palm Beach Psych

A recent doctoral student graduates, and through chance circumstances (a crazy aunt lives in town, a boyfriend who dumps her after she moves to Florida, or a donation from the estate of Uncle Warwick) leads her to open up a Psychology office on the island of Palm Beach.

This young woman (let's say it Rebecca Hall, who worked with Allen as Vicky in Vicky Christian Barcelona, pictured right) is very inexperienced, but somehow everyone is drawn to her and find that she is extremely helpful in dealing with their emotional angst.

Woody Allen, of course, would be one of Hall's patients, but I could see a number of Palm Beach characters as well.

Perhaps the 30 year old woman who's marriage to a 70 year old isn't working now that they have to move out of the mansion and stay with his kids in the Carolina's.

Or the woman who is secretly stealing from the neighbors and pawning off their items off the island.

Maybe there's a man who knew Bernie Madoff and always felt like he knew he was a crook and wonders if knowledge of his past suspicion makes him a criminal.

Allen could certainly cast some of his favorite supporting characters in a film of this nature as well.

Maybe the story all ends when the older more established Palm Beach psychologist begins trying to demolish Rebecca Hall's practice as he faces his own financial ruin.

Somehow I can just see this film so clearly.

Who would Allen cast in Palm Beach Psych? What might their character be like?

Reel People: Hilary Swank is Betty Anne Waters

strangeculture@gmail.com (RC) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 04:56:00 +0000

The film is Betty Anne Waters directed by Tony Goldwyn, with a screenplay written by Pamela Gray (Music of The Heart) and Richard LaGravenese (writer/director of recent Swank films P.S. I Love You and Freedom Writers, as well as The Fisher King, Bridges of Madison County).

Betty Anne Waters (the person)

Betty Anne Waters was born in 1965.

In 1980 a diner employee, Katharina Brow, was murdered in Ayer, Massachussets. One of Betty Anne Waters' eight siblings, younger brother, Kenneth Waters would be convicted of committing the crime in 1983. He was sentenced to life in prison.

Kenneth was known for causing trouble in Ayers, Massachusetts and when Katharina Brow turned up dead in her trailer home, Kenneth Waters was a suspect, particularly when witnesses came forward claiming he confessed to stabbing her. Both witnesses were former girlfriends, one of these witnesses even include the mother of his child.

Kenneth's younger sister Betty Anne didn't believe the conviction, and it was at this point that Betty Anne Waters began the passionate pursuit to free her brother from prison.

Betty Anne a young single-mother of two young boys dropped out of high school, but went back to get her GED, then her bachelors degree, masters in education, and then a law degree from Roger Williams University.

While earning her degrees, raising her family, and working part-time as a waitress she began to work with the Innocence Project in New York and in 1999 solicited the assistance of attorney Barry Scheck.

Scheck helped Betty Anne Waters get blood samples of her brother and the murderer cross referenced and it was determined that Kenneth was not the murderer. He was exonerated in March 15, 2001.

Betty Anne Waters continues her work in working to free wrongfully convicted criminals, as well as fighting for the rights of prison inmates.

Betty Anne Waters (the movie)

Betty Anne Waters stars Hilary Swank in the title role. Sam Rockwell plays the part of her brother, Kenneth Waters. Recent Oscar nominee Melissa Leo plays a cop who believes Kenneth is guilty of the crime, and Minnie Driver plays one Betty Anne's friends in law school. Juliette Lewis and Clea Duval also have roles in this film.

Hilary Swank plays a variety of parts, and could easily get attention this year for her role in another bio-pic playing the part of Amelia Earhart. But one should never underestimate Hilary Swank, you never know how critics and audiences will react to her performances, and there's always a chance for this talented actress to get Oscar attention for playing any role.

Will Swank get Oscar attention for playing this Real (Reel) Person?

2009 Oscar Best Picture Predictions -- Now With 10

strangeculture@gmail.com (RC) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 04:38:00 +0000

A week ago, Up would not be considered a strong contender for a best picture nomination - yet, now that there is 10 films that will be nominated for a best picture, at this point I would say Up in the only sure thing. Funny how things work.

A week ago my predictions for Best Picture nominations would have been...Invictus (formerly The Human Factor), Nine, Amelia, Bright Star, and Shutter Island.

Those five remains, but my new prediction for best picture now must contain 10 films...so here's my new list...and the addition to 10 means some "small potentials" like Up and Precious seem very likely.

1. Invictus

2. Nine

3. Up

4. Precious

5. Amelia

6. The Lovely Bones

7. Bright Star

8. Shutter Island

9. Public Enemies

10. Avatar

The next 10 on the fringe, with new opportunity thanks to the 10 best picture nominee change...

11. Greenzone, 12. The Informant, 13. The Road, 14. The Hurt Locker, 15. An Education, 16. Biutiful, 17. Broken Embraces, 18. Brothers, 19. The White Ribbon, 20. A Serious Man

10 Oscar Best Picture Nominees This Year

strangeculture@gmail.com (RC) — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 21:53:00 +0000

Have you heard the news this upcoming year there will be 10 best pictures nominees instead of the normal 5?

Clearly it's a movie to see if the Oscars would have been a more popular award show if movies like The Dark Knight and Wall-E were given Oscar nominations last year for best picture.

The argument is that it's connecting with the old days (1932-1943) when there were 10 best picture nominations.

I'm not a big fan of "mixing things up" and in the past years have felt like there isn't always 10 films worth honoring, but it could be interesting.

I think there is room for a few more nominations, but there could certainly be some films that get "Best Picture Nominations" this year that might never have been included.

How do you feel about this?

When I think of Michael Jackson...

strangeculture@gmail.com (RC) — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 00:57:00 +0000

I can't help but contrast the startled reaction of Michael Jackson's death with that of Heath Ledger.

When Heath Ledger died there was a sorrow and surprise, that was only tainted by the thoughts of suicide, and actions taken out of person self-loathing.

Yet, it was in the spirit of this sorrow, and respect that Heath Ledger's death intrigued America as they wanted to remember the life of this 29 year old actor.

Michael Jackson's death today, at the age of 50 was met with a different response. The life of "the king of Pop" is filled with so many unique side-stories, like his lack of childhood with the Jackson 5, his rise to fame, his family, Diana Ross, and enough random tidbits to fill up biographies, television specials, tabloids, and art collections.

So when I was at work and news came out, there was instantly mixed feelings of "who cares," saddness, and intrigue, and even happiness with a air of "Jackson deserved to die."

I imagine the next days will be filled with tributes, bitter griping of the attention given to Jackson, and many magazine covers, news specials, and video clips.

With that, I present the first 5 thoughts that come into my mind when I think of Michael Jackson...perhaps you will share your first thoughts as well.

1. Michael Jackson's 1993 Superbowl Performance - It Doesn't Matter if You're Black or White

2. Thriller Music Video

3. Michael Jackson's alleged inappropriate relations at the Neverland Ranch

4. The images of Michael Jackson hold "Blanket" over the ledge to paparazzi

5. ABC by the Jackson 5

What are your first thoughts when you think of Michael Jackson?

My Second Madea: Diary of a Mad Black

strangeculture@gmail.com (RC) — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 00:25:00 +0000

The in-laws apologetic after Madea Goes to Jail encourages us to watch Tyler Perry's Diary of a Mad Black Woman.

Suggesting that they enjoyed this Madea much more, and they had previously not seen Madea Goes to Jail.

Diary of a Mad Black Woman is interesting, Kimberly Elise's character, Helen, is actually the mad black woman in this film, not Tyler Perry's Madea.

In fact, Madea, while having an important role in the film and bringing a unique comedic twist is not nearly as central in this film as she was in Madea Goes to Jail.

Again, this film deals with serious issues, especially in African American culture, while mixing in some humor through the Madea character (as well as Madea's brother Joe).

To be honest, as "the most popular Madea" movie, I think I actually enjoyed Madea Goes to Jail more. I say this with caution and aprehension. The fact of the matter is Madea is what makes these films enjoyable - the stories and acting leave something to be desired, and since Madea Goes to Jail has more Madea it was slightly more enjoyable to me.

Arrested Development & Fatherhood Comedy

strangeculture@gmail.com (RC) — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 16:14:00 +0000

Arrested Development is a hillarious television comedy, and really is must see television. If you haven't watched the three season series, do so immediatly.

Arrested Development is a comedy about family, and while it touches on many relationships, like mother-son, mother-daughter, grandfather-grandson, brother-brother, and cousin-cousin.

But off all the family relationships the one front and center is father-son.

The father-son relationship is featured prominently in this comedy, as it is in many television sitcoms. Comedy is usually most successful when it touches on something real and relatable.

It's unfortunate in someways that the father-child relationship is such a ballpark for comedy.

When I go "father's day card shopping" there are so many cards that deal with "apology for not being a good son" or "I forgive you for being a bad dad," or "I wish we were closer," and so forth.

Father relationships in our current society are mediocre.

And this can only be confirmed by comedy and how father-child comedy is so funny.

I'm thankful for having a good dad, who while comical in his own way, is very supportive and loving and far more of a Michael Bluth that a Goerge Sr, Tobias, or Gob.

But while my dad is the dependable Michael Bluth type of dad. I know people have George Sr dad's who manipulate their kids and use them for their own means, or Gob dad's who avoid there kids and are univovled, or even Tobias Fünke dad's who are so out of touch and self-involved that they can't begin to know their child.

I hope Father's day is a good day for you, and a pleasant opportunity to enjoy your dad. I'm thankful for my first Father's day, and an opportunity to be a dad that is worthy of the title.

Related Post:
* Dads in Media Blog-a-thon (June 13, 2008)
* Jack Bauer: an All-American Hero, NOT an All-American Dad (June 13, 2008)
* A Fictional Father to Admire: Atticus Finch (June 11, 2008)
* Beyond Santa & the Bunny - Mall Marketing Plan for Father's Day (March 21, 2008)
* 5 Fatherly Traits Worth Admiring in "In America" (June 17, 2008)

My First Madea: Madea Goes To Jail

strangeculture@gmail.com (RC) — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 05:17:00 +0000

So I watched my first Tyler Perry movie with the in-laws -- Madea Goes to Jail.

I am not sure what to think of this movie. Tyler Perry is not Ron Howard, I know that.

There definitely was laughter. There was occasional boredom - but I give it credit for carrying out what feels like a Saturday Night Live sketch for a feature length.

I don't know if all Tyler Perry films are like Madea Goes to Jail in that it often times, deals with heavy material in a campy style, in the midst of uproar-worthy sketches, but despite what seems somewhat amateur, it is also somewhat appealing.

Too often the drama and the comedy are separate. And I think somehow Tyler Perry's crazy off the wall characters somehow connect with something real in a unique and powerful way.

If you've indulged/endured a Tyler Perry film or show what's your take? Has Tyler Perry created something meaningful with value, or just a goofy/amateur/cheap comedy?

Happy Birthday RC, Love Your Wife!

strangeculture@gmail.com (RC) — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 19:44:00 +0000

So this may get me in a bit 'o trouble...but I wanted to wish my wonderful husband, RC, a very happy birthday today! I could do this on my own blog, but I don't get nearly the traffic that you do, honey. For some reason sporadic posts about baby food, diapers and randomness from our family is not nearly as interesting as say, the Julie and Julia movie coming out this summer.

Here's a few of the reasons I celebrate your birth...

You're a fantastic husband and father

You're one of the smartest people I know

Life is a lot more fun when experienced with you

You spur me on to be a better person

I have a whole new appreciation for white cake with white frosting because of you

You care about others around you

You live by un-swerving principle and value

You make the best guacamole in the world

So Happy Birthday R... C.........! I'm thankful for the brown house with red shutters that I share with the world's greatest husband!

Attempting the Art of French Cooking: Reine de Saba with Crème au Beurre, Ménagère

strangeculture@gmail.com (RC) — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 04:27:00 +0000

So my copy of Mastering The Art of French Cooking by Julia Child is due back to the library. (Side note: It's very strange to check out a cookbook from the library, it creates extra pressure not to get the pages dirty).

I've enjoyed my three weeks of challenging cooking, and I've learned a lot, although I've focused more on the baking then on de-boning ducks and sucking out bone marrow.

So, I've made Le Marquis with Glaçage au Chocolat, Supremes de Volialle a la Milanaise with Beurre Noisette and Choux Broccoli Etuves au Beurre, and Clafouti aux Myrtilles.

This most recent recipe is very similar to the first cake I made and already I see my skills have improved because my technique in many ways improved, most notably my egg white beating a la Julia Child. (I know understand why Julie Powell's book about cooking Julia Child recipes chose to use an image of beaten egg whites)

If you click on the picture to the right you will notice some beautiful stiff peaks that were perfect for giving this chocolate almond cake the body that needed. It cooked up well, not flat and skinny like the last cake.

This cake was unique too, because I don't think I've ever made a cake where I mixed nuts into the batter. Because of the whipped yolk and the way the recipe's put together the nuts, even though I could have made them smaller, were completly suspended in the batter and mixed in evenly.

This cake, was kind of like a decadent brownie texture, with crushed almonds mixed through out. Yum.

And because we made a chocolate frosting on the first cake, we made one of Julia's butter cream frostings...this recipe, the first of three is by far the easiest, the other two look almost harder to make then the cake. But the frosting, while good, is not like any butter cream I've ever had, because it is so buttery. In fact, it's mostly butter, and eggs yolks actually.

My wife did an exquisite job frosting the cake and decorating, I think Julia would be pleased, and if she wasn't it's okay, because we were. The cake was delightful.

Certainly one of the most time consuming cakes I've ever made before, yet delightful experience. My wife and I made "Julia Cooking" into a date, and the process was as fun as savoring the delicious rich flavor of this chocolate almond cake, Reine de Saba.

Indy 5 & Other Fives

strangeculture@gmail.com (RC) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 03:13:00 +0000

So -- Shia LeBeouf is gearing up for Transformers 3 set for a 2012 release - but that's not the only sequel LeBeouf's talking about Indiana Jones 5 in this BBC interview for Transformers 2.

Indiana Jones 5 - wow, probably not music to everyone's ears, and it's hard to tell what secrets and mysteries Speilberg is planning on exploring, but I'm sure it's hard to argue at the opportunity to make Indy 5 knowing good or bad it's going to make money in the box office, as these films define the popcorn genre.

Although I think one of the problems for the Indiana Jones franchise in continuing is deciding if they are going to stay true to the original films or if they are going to adapt in a way that captures new audiences.

Very few film franchises have had fifth films, especially with theatrical releases. (You will notice most fifth films are horror).

Fifth Installments that experienced theatrical releases...

"Alien 5": Alien Vs. Predator (2004)
"Child's Play 5": Seed of Chucky (2004)
Firday The 13th: Part V (1985)
Halloween 5 (1989)
"Harry Potter 5": Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)
"James Bond 5": You Only Live Twice (1967)
"The Muppets 5": Muppet Treasure Island (1996)
Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child (1989)
Police Academy 5: Assignment: Miami Beach (1988)
Rocky V (1990)
Saw V (2008)
Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989)
"Star Wars 5": Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002)

5 image from YaniG on Flickr

Life of Pi as a Movie - Some Thoughts

strangeculture@gmail.com (RC) — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 00:31:00 +0000

Earlier in the week, in "praising" M. Night Shyamalan for choosing non-original source material for his next project, I mentioned that I had thought a good project for him would the Booker Prize winning novel Life of Pi by Yann Martel.

This book has been a very popular book, both critically and by general readers.

To be honest, while I enjoy the book, it is hardly one of my favorites, in a way it is reminesce of other youth survival naratives like Gary Paulson's young-adult fiction novel Hatchet.

Life of Pi is as much about the unique character of Piscine "Pi" Molitor Patel, particularly his broad pluralistic religious paradigm that allows him to worship God through the different aspects of Islam, Hindu and Christianity.

In this regard, in order to get the full "impact" of the story, it cannot just be a novel about a young Indian boy from Pondicherry who through a unique series of events ends up lost in the Pacific Ocean on a boat with a Bengal tiger, a wounded zebra, and an orangutan.

Telling this story, would mean that the majority of screen time would be filled with a single character and a tiger. With many people familiar with the source material, veering from the history, religion, and emotion of this story would be very challenging, not to mention the complexities of filming a story where an animal plays a central character, and it's not a monkey who dances around in a bikini with a cigar.

Apparently, I wasn't the only one who thought Shyamalan could pull of this film, and at one point it was a possibility, but in 2005 M. Night Shyamalan was replaced by Alfonso Cuaron (Children of Men, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Y Tu Mama Tambien) to direct. Yet obviously, that didn't happen...and earlier this year Variety has reported that Ang Lee will be directing a film adaptation of Life of Pi.

Frankly, if I could chose a director for this project I think I would chose Richard Linklater, and this film would be handled similarly to Waking Life with different animators being able to take over different portions of this film. I think a more mature animation style would open the film up to truly explore the true nature of the text, and that animation would allow the writers ultimate freedom in telling the story. Although, I hardly think that's going to happen.

All the same, I think if Ang Lee or anyone else is capable of successfully pulling off a film adaptation of this story that their is true art and mastery in their work, because frankly I think there are far to many challenges to capture this story in a way that is engaging, captures the uniqueness of the source material, and is cinematicly cohesive.

Attempting the Art of French Cooking: Clafouti aux Myrtilles

strangeculture@gmail.com (RC) — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 01:27:00 +0000

"about as simple a dessert to make as you can imagine" - Mastering The Art of French Cooking in reference to the recipe for Clafouti

I mentioned in my post on my French meal, Supremes de Volialle a la Milanaise with Beurre Noisette and Choux Broccoli Etuves au Beurre, that I had also made a dessert to go with this meal.

I will keep you waiting no longer, it is a desert that Julia Child considers "a simple" dessert, but apparently Julia never bought a pint of Ben and Jerry's or made a box of Betty Crocker brownies.

This dessert is the Clafoutis which the cookbook calls a "Fruit Flan." All this is not why I would consider a flan but whatever, can't argue with Julia can I.

The recipe was wonderful because unlike all the other desert recipes I didn't have to split the eggs, in fact, I got to make the batter in a blender, and it was pretty easy, mostly milk and eggs, and a little bit of flour.

Julia gives us a number of variation for this recipie, cherry, cherry with liquer, pear, plum, apple, blackberry, and so forth. I chose to make it with blueberries...they're in season, they're yummy, and they worked great with this recipe.

First you do a light layer of the batter and cook it just a bit to create a crust, then add the berries a some sugar, and pour the rest of the batter over it and cook for an hour.

This is nice too because when it's done you don't have to "decorate it" or do any thing else -- it's done and ready to serve. The desert is impressive because even though you only have one batter you end up having three different layers and textures, the bottom layer, and inner "filling" and then a light and crisp crust. It's absolutely magical.

Then per Julia's recommendation, I sprinkler a little powdered sugar on top, and per my own recommendation made some coffee and enjoyed.

It even tasted good a couple days later. I have to say, I think I could easily become a clafouti fan.

I will definitely make this again, and can only imagine how it might taste with different fruit. Thank you Julia.

The New M. Night Shyamalan: Can The Last Airbender Save Him?

strangeculture@gmail.com (RC) — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 03:34:00 +0000

M. Night Shymalan is a director who has branded himself so well that most people recognize his name.

I think I've seen every M. Night Shymalan film in the theater with the exception of The Happening. After it's opening weekend, the film audience for The Happening almost disappeared immediatly due to the fact that this is was of the least satisfying films Shymalan has ever made.

And while films like Lady in the Water and The Happening have recently been generally perceived as big disappointments, the curiousity can't keep everyone at bay.

While M. Night Shymalan plays with different types of paranormal themes, his films end up having a certain feel that is unique, but can also make his very unique films seem unoriginal.

I have long felt like M. Night Shyamalan should stop writing his own original screenplays for awhile, despite his Oscar nomination for writing The Sixth Sense. It's hard to be deeply creative, stylisticly and in creating rich stories and characters, and as a result I think the quality of films branded with M. Night's name have been weakened.

While I could think of a variety of potential stories I'd like to see M. Night Shyamalan adapt (like The Life of Pi by Yann Martel), I am proud, yes, that's right, proud of Shyamalan's attempt to veer away from the original modern paranormal fable and instead do something different. Next year, we will certainly all hear about the great success (or perhaps the failure) of The Last Airbender.

The Last Airbender

Avatar: The Last Airbender is the popular award winning animated television show about a mystical Asian world with four kingdoms represented by Eart, Wind, Air, and Fire. In this story the Fire Nation is waging war against the other nations, and the last hope is Aang the last known survivor of the peaceful Airbenders.

While a martial artsy mystical film with a full cast of characters doesn't quite line up with M.

Night Shyamalan's previous films, I commend him for working with a new type of genre and adapting from previous source material. I feel like not only does this film have great potential to draw from an audience that might have passed on previous films by this director.

Similarly, I think that Shyamalan's style has the potential to spring some creativity in a martial arts action film, that could create some lasting stylistic elements (I think of what the Wachowski brothers did with the Matrix, and how they really brought some new looks and feel to film).

As a person who even found redeeming qualities of Lady in the Water, I consider myself a moderate Shyamalan fan, and am interested to see how The Last Airbender is received, and really hope it's great. Additionally, this films elemental nature will of course have a water element, which I am convinced is Shymalan's deepest fear/fascination.

I have a feeling that the graph above will have a peak much higher than recent films, and that it will capture a whole new audience for the director and potentially lead the director down a new path, particularly if it is made into a trilogy with Shyamalan involved with each of the projects.

Pre-Thoughts on Food, Inc.

strangeculture@gmail.com (RC) — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 16:16:00 +0000

For some reason, food is interesting to me.

I think most people like food, but food in cinema is super interesting to me. Somehow wrapping a film around food, for example Pixar's Ratatoille or Lasse Hallström's film Chocolat.

(For more food films, you can read this post of mine from 2006 about food films, and films that sound like they are about food, but are not)

Next weekend, the documentary Food Inc. will have a limited release by Magnolia pictures. Food Inc. is the second film adapted from Eric Schlosser's book Fast Food Nation. The previous film with Richard Linklater's 2006 dramatic film title Fast Food Nation, that received a less that excited response.

Food, Inc.'s concept to explore the corporate nature of food, and expose the deception, abuses, and dangers associated with our current food system.

A film like this is compelling to me, but seems far from original, and certainly doesn't capture the excitement of a dramatic film that romanticizes food, all the same, done well this is a film I'm interested in. I think food is such a bid part of our life, getting us to stop and think about what we are eating and where it comes from is valuable.

I ran across the first three minutes of the film and if anything, they did a really fun job with their production credits, and their original music written by Mark Adler sounds well--very Danny Elfman like.

Reel People: Emily Watson is Evgenia Ginzburg

strangeculture@gmail.com (RC) — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 04:31:00 +0000

The film is Within the Whirlwind, directed by Marleen Gorris and written by Nancy Larson.

Evgenia Ginzberg

Whether you spell her name Yevgenia, Eugenia, or Evgenia, all depends upon how you want to translate her name from Russian (Евгения Соломонова Гинзбург).

Evgenia was born in Moscow in 1904. Her father was a Jewish pharmasist who relocated their family to Kazan (capital of Republic of Tatarstan, Russia, in the East-Central part of the country).

Evgenia went to college in Kazan in 1920, where initially she studied social sciences before switching her studies towards being a teacher.

Beginning her career became a teacher and married doctor Dmitriy Fedorov. Together they had a son, Alexei who was born in 1926.

Evgenia remarried a few years after the birth of her son, to the mayor of Kazan, Pavel Aksyonov. She had a second son in her second marriage, Vasily Aksyonov, born in 1932.

During this time, not only a teacher, Evgenia also became an active community member. Teaching at Kazan University she moved up through the ranks. By 1934 she was named head of a new department at Kazan University over the history of Leninism.

On December 1, 1934, Bolshevik leader Sergei Mironovich Kirov was assassinated. This assassination set off what is commonly referred to as "The Great Purge." This great purge was in many ways the Soviet Holocaust which occurred in the late 1930's under Joseph Stalin.

This change in the political climate in Russia had a great impact of Evgenia's life who was forced to quit the University just a year after receiving her prestigious position.

The conflict continued as the Great Purge and Stalin's power increased. After a long fight, Evgenia lost her party card, and in February 1937 was arrested as she was accused of being a counter-revolutionary. After a six minute trial, she was sentenced to 10 years in prison. This was followed by the arrest of her family and seizure of her property.

Evgenia was sent to many different camps across Russia, but the majority of her time was spent on the far Eastern edge of Russia in Magadan. In this port-town camp Evgenia, at a weak and unhealthy state was given the opportunity to be a nurse, at the recommendation of a German doctor at the camp, Anton Walter, who had been deported due to his German heritage.

Anton Walter and Evgenia eventually married.

In early 1949 Evgenia was released from the labor camp, but was required to stay in the city of Magadan. At this time she began to write her memoirs in secret, while she took on a role teaching kindergarten.

Despite Evgenia's release in Februray 1949, she was rearrested, with no reason given, in October of the same year. She was relocated to a labor camp in north-eastern part of Russia in the Kolyma valley.

Finally in 1955 she was released from prison, two years after Stalin's death. She was at this time allowed to return to Moscow.

She worked as a reporter in Moscow while she worked on her memoir, Journey into the Whirlwind. She finished her memoir in 1967, and the manuscript was smuggled out of Russia where it has since been published.

Evgenia died in 1977.

Within the Whirlwind

The film, about Evgenia Ginzberg focuses on the trials of Ginzberg, particularly her life after "The Great Purge" began, as opposed to early life and experiences with the communist party in 1920s and early 30s. The twice nominated Oscar nominee Emily Watson, will be playing the role of Evgenia, in what is supposed to be an award winning performance. Watson's supporting actors include a foreign cast, including the acclaimed German actor Ulrich Tukur, who will play the part of the German exiled doctor Anton Walter.

Director Marlen Gorris has impressed the Academy of Motion pictures before with her writing and directing of the Oscar winning film Antonia's Line, and the power of Evgenia's life as portrayed by Emily Watson could make a splash on this years film scene.

Could Emily Watson's portrayal of Evgenia Ginzberg earn an Oscar nomination/win for portraying this Real (Reel) Person?

Attempting the Art of French Cooking: Supremes de Volialle a la Milanaise with Beurre Noisette and Choux Broccoli Etuves au Beurre

strangeculture@gmail.com (RC) — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 02:35:00 +0000

The other day you saw my attempt at the chocolaty semi-complicated cake Le Marquis. If you have been following this blog, you have seen that I have taken a chance to delve into the world of Julia Child, Julie Powell, and their books Child's biography My Life in France and Julie Powell's book Julie & Julia.

Well here's what happens when I get my hands on the book Mastering The Art of French Cooking.

Last night I attempted something more ambitious than Le Marquis - a chicken dish called Supremes de Volaille a la Milanaise.

This dish is a Chicken Breast that is rolled in a flower mixture, then an egg mixture, then a Parmesan and bread mixture and then sauteed in a lot of butter. Not just any butter, but butter that has been "clarified." (Julia Powell's blog post when she made this recipe can be found here).

I have never clarified butter before, but it worked out alright.

In fact the whole recipe of the Supremes worked out pretty well.

When these were done I continued to make the brown butter sauce (Buerre Noisette)...which was relatively simple, and gave me an excuse to chop up some fresh parsley.

Julia Child is all about fast cooking, and I think she would be disappointed that this took me about an hour and twenty minutes to complete -- but if it's any constellation, I also made Blanched Broccoli braised in butter.

I have never blanched or braised before -- but it worked out really good, and I feel like I successfully accomplished Julia Child's specifications of getting the vegetables impregnated with butter.

It was a lot of fun. One thing I am enjoying is the new techniques I'm learning how to do. Child's cookbook while complicated and sometimes composed in a complicated way, also is at least written in a way I can learn new things, and make some fabulous (and rich -- yes I used 2 1/2 sticks of butter here) to make this meal.

(And just wait, until you see what I made for desert - that post is coming next)

Attempting the Art of French Cooking: Le Marquis with Glaçage au Chocolat

strangeculture@gmail.com (RC) — Sun, 31 May 2009 23:50:00 +0000

If you have been following this blog, you have seen that I have taken a chance to delve into the world of Julia Child and Julie Powell including reading Child's biography My Life in France and Julie Powell's book Julie & Julia.

Well I got my hands on a copy of the book that really set both these books in motion, the cookbook Mastering The Art of French Cooking by Julia Child, Simon Beck, and Louisette Bertholle.

I have no intention of cooking the entire cookbook, in fact, it didn't take me long to discover that this cookbooks dedication to technique is far from simple, and that Julia's prose is very uncookbookery. Additionally, MOST recipes require the cook to flip back and forth from the "variation" to the "master recipe" to other recipes that serve as ingredients for what you are making.

I imagine that Julia Child expected people to attempt to cook through the whole book as if they were enrolled in one of the early cooking classes that the three authors put together.

My first recipes were from the end of the book -- the desert recipes. In fact, I cooked the very last cake recipe Le Marquis, which like most of the cake recipes required separating the eggs, "making a ribbon" as Julia calls it with the yoke and the whipping up the eggs real big.

It was in the egg white whipping that I think I did not live up to Julia's expectations, and frankly, my whipped eggs were not as "peaky" as I imagine she would have wanted.

I also had the joy of melting chocolate in a double boiler, and then mixing it all together (actually my wife joined me in this process, she's a great whipper). I also bought cake flour which I used for the first time -- kind of fun. This cake only has 1/3 cup of flour in it, it's actually very light.

As the pictures show my cake actually was pretty stout when all was said and done, so my wife and I cut it in half and layered it to give it some more height.

Julia gives a variety of icing and filling recipes in the book, but I decided to go with her final recipe in volume I, the chocolaty Glaçage au Chocolat...which I like the refer to as Mocha Butter.

By the time we finally got to eat the cake after the cooking, cooling, chocolate melting, egg white whipping, then we found it to be very good. In fact, I loved it. My wife told me my love for it was part "cognitive dissonance" and that my effort made me like it more. But that is not all true, I truly found it taste delicious, although are final product and presentation was lacking.

Blockbuster Newest Surival Strategy & My 8 Recommendations

strangeculture@gmail.com (RC) — Sat, 30 May 2009 04:48:00 +0000

In February I wrote, Will Blockbuster Survive in 2009? Should it? and now 4 months later, I'm still asking that same question.

Blockbuster shareholders met on Thursday with CEO Jim Keyes (and the rest of the Blockbuster board members who all were voted to retain their position in the struggling company).

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the way Blockbuster is going to try to save itself and differentiate itself from Netflix, Red Box, and Videos on Demand is by selling movie merchandise on consignment.

The company's stock (BBI) has dropped 90% in less than two years, and currently sits at 70 cents a share going into the weekend.

Film related merchandise on consignment? This sounds horrible.

I think it's going to take more than some Captain Kirk t-shirts and left over plush Samuel L. Jackson dolls to save Blockbuster.

--

Dear Jim Keyes, I think you business will be filing bankrupcy by year end. If you have a moment, may I suggest some last minute ideas I have to save your company?

1. All rentals, $1/day. I like the way Red Boxes and Movie Cube allow me to pay $1 a day. It gives me incentive to get that movie back quick enough to, which me they can have fewer copies rented out to more people. Let me pay $1 a day and maybe the velocity of videos in and out will increase. Plus, with so many neighborhood stores, it could sway some netflixers if they know they can watch the movies they want, when they want them without the "pressure" that comes from a subscription.

2. Train your staff. What differentiates Blockbuster from netflix, redbox, and video on demand is not the opportunity to sell movie junk...it's that you have live people in your stores who can recommend what movies I would like. Every other business out there has trained their staff on upselling customers -- if your staff actually made quality recommendations and were available to help I bet you could see more movies out the door.

3. Community. Get involved in the community. Libraries offer foreign film nights, cities offer movies in the park, there's mini film festivals here and there and I never see Blockbuster's name associated with these local events. Do some grass roots marketing, why doesn't blockbuster get the rights to exhibit some films in local parks and pull off some quality marketing events, remind people that Blockbuster is a part of their community.

4. If You Like Then... When I go to Borders and other bookstore/media outlets I see tons of recommendations and suggestions located on the shelves and throughout the store. Don't just expect the title and cover art to do the work for you. Help the customers know what they want...the die hard fans are probably going to have a Netflix account filled up to 500, but when Joe Six Pack goes to pick up a movie to watch with his girlfriend or Grandma Josefina, then they might need some suggestions, otherwise they're going to come home with direct to video train wreck that clutters the blockbuster shelves. I remember in the "old days" this type of information was on the back of blockbuster boxes, but it seemed like the information on the back of the boxes became worse and worse shortly after this type of information was added. How about some quality and thoughtful recommendations?

5. Encourage TV DVDs and other Series. Let me rent TV and series more efficiently than renting one disk of the 6 disk series at $5 a pop. If someone wants to rent a season of 24 or Lost they're going to be out $30 when all is said and done. Figure out a way to encourage these multi-disk rentals, not discouraging it.

6. Stores That Work Together. Blockbuster has multiple stores in multiple locations, but I hate the fact I have to return the video to the store I rented the video from. What if I rent the video on my way home from work and want to return it the following day to the store by my house. I can't...these similarly branded stores are not connected. Similarly, if one's store is out of a certain title, create a system where that store can borrow it from a local store that might have multiple copies.

7. Incentivize My Patronage. Clearly there are options, give me an excuse to chose Blockbuster, maybe a point system where my 6th rental is free, or maybe work with a major theater chain where enough rentals will get me free movie passes.

8. Think Kids. Sure you have a kid section, but do kid's ask their parents to take them to blockbuster. Take some time to figure out how the get kids to ask their parents to take them to blockbuster...maybe it'll take some 'McDonald's like thinking' - Maybe you have a kid's pack movie rental that comes with a small microwave popcorn and a toy (The Blockbuster Happy Meal, per se) or maybe a small play area in your store modeled off of the latest Pixar movie. Make your store a kid destination and parents will be walking out with movies for their kids and themselves. Plus, it passes on a culture of blockbuster that will create longevity for the company as those kids get older.

Sports Jersey Day

strangeculture@gmail.com (RC) — Sat, 30 May 2009 01:45:00 +0000

Because I live in a town that is doing well in the NBA playoffs, we received corporate communication earlier on the week about it being Sports Jersey day at work today. Yes, it's like Spirit Week from grade school.

Now, while the day was in honor of a successful home team basketball team, most people's "Jersey collection" was of the football variety, and so all day long I see co-workers and bosses in Ohio State, Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, and Miami Dolphin Jerseys.

Very professional. I know.

I did not dress in a jersey because (a) I don't own a jersey (b) I can't imagine working in a jersey (c) I know so little about sports, the jersey would only make me some unintelligent and a poser (d) all of the above.

As much as I mocked this day in my head (and once or twice vocally when asked, "where's your jersey?"). One lady works a few yards away from me, and I've never talked to her before, yet somehow because it was sports Jersey day and because she was practically matching another one of my co-workers her and talked to each other for the first time. Long enough, that I'm sure we will at least greet each other, and maybe talk more in the future.

I've talked before about community, and particularly the idea of "Borrowing the Egg" and I think that sometimes it takes something cheesy like "Sports Jersey Day" to get people talking and connecting...even if you're not wearing a jersey.

Honestly, offices/cubicle cities have to be the weirdest sociological environment of our modern age. Comical, but yet, so real. And although I have found redeeming value in "Sports Jersey Day" I for one, and perfectly happy with wearing jeans on Friday with out having theme days.

Julie & Julia, thoughts on the book (that is, the book based on the blog, that is the source material for the major motion picture)

strangeculture@gmail.com (RC) — Wed, 27 May 2009 02:15:00 +0000

I will say up front, I did not enjoy Julie & Julia as much as I expected.

After doing the "Reel People" post about Julia Child and Julie Powell, I instantly became interested in Julia Child. I felt like Julia Child's life had such an interesting course of events.

This interest in Julia Child was only reinforced by her posthumous biography My Life in France. If I was having a dinner party and I could invite anyone, I would easily consider inviting Julia Child over, not just to cook, but for the conversation.

Julie Powell's book, Julie & Julia is largely the inspiration, and half the source material for the upcoming motion picture.

As mentioned in the "reel people" post on Julie Powell's life, Julia Powell began a blog in 2002 called the Julie/Julia project, where she was going to try to make every recipe (524 apparently) in Child's Mastering The Art of French Cooking.

Enough introduction to this post. Here's some thoughts on the book, based on a blog, soon a major motion picture.

1. If you were going to read one of the source books to the upcoming movie, I'd actually recommend My Life in France by Julia Child, the story is more captivating, and I think the character of Child is more...endearing, shall we say?

2. Julia Powell's quest is ambitious. Not just kind of ambitious, but super ambitious in so many ways. The more I think about what she did, the more amazed I am by it. Julia Powell in essence made a Thanksgiving-esque dinner every night she came home from work (usually picking up the ingredients on her way home from work) so that she could complete her project.

3. As a blogger, I find her story interesting, because I think a lot of people may not understand the connection/reaction Powell has to her bloggers, and their comments, and readership without experiencing it themselves.

4. One of the most surprising aspects of this book is Julie Powell's "coarseness" shall I say...she is shameless in her discussion of her less than fascinating love life, her experience with pornography as a young child, and consistently aggressive language with multiple uses of the F-word -- hardly family reading...and clearly something that isolated and attracted blog readers.

5. The book interestingly enough mentions Meryl Streep and Stanley Tucci who will be in the upcoming film adaptation. Powell was supposed to see Stanley Tucci in "Frankie and Johnny" on Broadway (with Edie Falco) to celebrate her Father's birthday but was unable to go due to a day of bad moving experiences. Merly Steep is mentioned because one of the first times Powell is breaking eggs she mentions the grace that Streep cracks eggs in the film The Hours. (In the film Streep and Tucci play Paul & Julia Child).

6. While Julia Powell mentions this two actors in the book it is clear that her heart really belongs to David Strathairn (who she has baked for twice, including the second time when she saw him in a reading of Solome during the project). As a child, Powell's crush was on Jason Bateman (I couldn't help but wonder if she's had a chance to meet him yet since her fame...now that would make a good segment on Ellen or another talk show -- have Julia Powell read her pervie thoughts about Bateman she had as a child, while he's sitting in a chair next to her)

7. Julie Powell never had a chance to meet Julia Child -- it's a tragedy, especially since Powell had/has the impression that Child didn't care for her interest and work she was doing.

8. I think it's relatively easy for some blogs to get turned into books -- but for a blog to get turned into a movie, I think this is an uncommon occurrence.

9. I thought that in many way Powell's husband Eric was very very very supportive of Julie's project. In fact, it was his idea she start a blog in the first place, and not only did the blog provide her with eventual fame, it also provided her life with meaning, structure, and freedom from many of the personal frustrations she was experiencing in her own life, specifically physically and professionally. I felt like Julie Powell did not embrace Eric's support in the same way Julia Child embraced Paul's support...in many ways it's a pity.

10. There are many things that Julia Powell makes that I would never ever consider making, any ingredients I never want to work with - props to her for doing the project so completely, bone marrow, kidneys, eggs in aspic and all.

Final note: I wonder how Nora Ephron wrote the part of Julie Powell in the movie, and how Amy Adams plays this role. With the "coarseness" of Powell (point #4) be toned down in the film? Will Adams bring her light & fluffy? Or will be surprised with Adam's starts throwing around sexual analogies for how she is preparing her duck dish?

Reel People: Demetri Martin is Elliot Tiber

strangeculture@gmail.com (RC) — Mon, 25 May 2009 14:28:00 +0000

The film is Taking Woodstock, directed by Ang Lee. The script is written by Ang Lee's normal screenwriter/producer James Schamus (who wrote/produced films including Brokeback Mountain, Ride with the Devil, Lust, Caution, Hulk and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon). The screenplay is based on the book Taking Woodstock by Elliot Tiber and Tom Monte.

Elliot Tiber

Elliot Tiber was born in Brooklyn New York in 1935. When Tiber was 20, his parents acquired the El Monoco Hotel in Bethel, New York.

Tiber received his Bachelors of Fine Arts from Hunter College in New York, as well as took Master of Fine Arts classes at Pratt College.

1969 was a big year for Tiber.

The Stonewall Riots on June 28, 1969 in Greenwich Village, New York. This event was a riot that was led by Eliot Tiber among others who fought against the police deptment who targeted the Stonewall Inn and the gay and lesbian community in the neighborhood. Tiber was at the Stonewall Inn the night of the riot.

Shortly after the riots, the permitting for the Woodstock festival to be held in Wallkill, New York.
Elliot Tiber was very involved in keeping his families hotel running while eventually becoming a member of the Bethel Chamber of Commerce. When the permitting for the Woodstock festival was denied, Tiber connected with concert promoter Michael Lang who had founded Woodstock Ventures.

Tiber's attained very vague permits earlier for a chamber music event to be held at the Motel. The permits were under the event title of White Lake Music and Arts Festival. Tiber offered up these permits to Lang to be used for the Woodstock Music Festival in 1969, held in Bethel, New York.

The motel grounds were not big enough for the concert, but Tiber helped connect Michael Lang to Max Yasgur, a Bethel dairy farmer who's 600 acre dairy farm was the real location for Woodstock, the largest concert event ever featuring over 32 artists over three days with a half million concert goers.

After the success of the event, Tiber sold the motel and moved to Europe, where as a writer he wrote the book Rue Haute, which was directed and adapted by his domestic partner André Ernotte. This book was translated and released in the United States in 1977 with the title High Street. He also went on to write and translate other works of fiction and teleplays.

Tiber also taught creative writing classes, art history, fashion design, and theater for many years at New York University, New York Institute of Technology, and Hunters College.

Taking Woodstock

The film tells Elliot's story as portrayed in his autobiography. Comedian Demitri Martin will play the part of Elliot. His Jewish mother will played by Oscar nominee Imedla Staunton. Comedic actor Eugne Levy will play the dairy farmer Max Yasugar, and Tony award nominee and One Life to Live actor Jonathan Groff plays concert organizer Michael Lang.

The cast of characters further give an indication to the nature of the story. Liev Schreiber plays the part of Vilma a transvestite, Jeffery Dean Morgan plays a married man that Elliot Tiber is having an homosexual relations with during the time of this story. Emile Hirsh plays a returned Vietnam vet named Billy, and Paul Dano and Zoe Kazan play a hippie couple who come to the concert.

I expect this story to be the type of film that that the Academy could embrace, but be very polarizing to the typical film going public. Like most Ang Lee films of late, it's hard to tell how this film will figure into award season.

Could Demetri Martin's portrayal of this influential person in the succes of Woodstock earn an Oscar nomination/win for portraying this Real (Reel) Person?