This Film is Not Yet Rated

When i was little my movie watching was censored by my parents. Most films I saw were either taped off of television or rated pg or below. I think i saw my first R-rated film, independent of any sort of parental permission when I was 17. It was called 'Virtuosity.' Ahem.... exactly.

This documentary spends too much time trying to reveal the secret identities of the board of raters and not enough time trying to find solutions to prevent or avoid censorship. Yes the rating system is flawed, yes the rating system is biast to censor homosexuality, sex and yes they aren't as lenient with independent films. But really the NC17 rating controversy boils down to the 'stigma' of being labeled an adult film. What the MPAA needs to do is create a fair rating for 'art films' or independent films that can seperate certain artistic content from something that may be gratuitous or pornographic. How about an 'A' rating. Rated A for graphic Adult situations that may not be suitable for children or people who don't understand Art.

The documentary though makes a modest point but doesn't break any waves. It almost does the opposite by making the MPAA seem like a noble group of people, not, the evil censors the film suggests. I wasn't moved in anyway by this film even though the MPAA's inconsistency is bias sometimes. I already knew that. I've been to the movies. I'm going to go to movies despite the rating. Will I let future children see them? What little child is interested in any R-nc17 rated film that you think of?

MORE LYNCH!

We can strive to breach the surface of understanding the film with a little help from the man himself.

Too bad Florida didn't flood sooner.

I have received "An Inconvenient Truth" from netflix after a 3 month wait. Yes its scary. Its thought provoking and a very easy watch. I find myself wondering what i can do to make things better? Vote Democratic? Hire Matt Groening to do my very own cartoon? Yes. All these things.
As for the film. I thought it was well done and effective. As much as any documentary can be. Gore has a connection to the audience. I don't remember much of him as VP. Apparently he was a bit dry. Nonetheless, his passion shows through effortlessly in the film. He is a good man and really wants a change and warns us that we NEED to change secure our future. I recommend this film to anyone who drives, smokes and drinks bottled water.

Look thru this hole!

More Inland Empire reviews:
here is a link for a review from roger eberts website. Emerson puts it into perspective.

http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070125/REVIEWS/701250301

Lynch's Cigarette Ad

Little Children and Pans Labyrinth

I saw these two films last week. They are very different but for some reason i left with the same feeling. Here are the reviews i wrote up.

LITTLE CHILDREN

Life is complicated. Life is full of compromise and contradictions. Life is full of impulses, both good and bad and uncontrollable. So we have 'Little Children' the latest film from director Todd Field (In the Bedroom). The narrative is told like a bedtime story for adults. The Narrarator is unbilled and sounds like the 'movie trailer' guy. Kate Winslet plays Sarah, an unfulfilled housewife who seeks friendship with 'the prom king' Brad (Patrick Wilson.) Close friendship leads to sexual tension and then leads to sex. We also have the quality reemergence of our favorite bad news bear Jackie Earle Haley. He plays Ronnie, a registered sex offender who moves into the neighborhood of the families in the story. The film isn't so much about whats on the surface. Exactly the opposite. *( In Fields' 'In the Bedroom' the characters converse but in every scene they are speaking they actually mean something completely different.) The film, Little Children, is all about Impulses. Sarahs sexual disatisfaction with her husband and her impulsive nearly obsessive crush on Brad, Brads curiosity about Sarah and Ronnie's uncontrollable very public Psycho sexual disorder which leads him into a sex crime conviction. The storytelling is provocative and smart and lends itself to its audience. We almost feel impulsively guilty because while the main characters impulses get them into emotional trouble is that anymore of a crime or any more irresponsible than a sick man like Ronnie whose impoulses lead him to expose himself to a minor? At one point in the film we can't help but empathize with the sex offender who i believe maybe the most innocent childlike character in the film. Its well worth seeing in the theater becasue of its beautiful photography and impressive performances. let me know what you think if you see it or if you read this.



PANS LABYRINTH

Once in a great while i see a film that reminds me why it is that I like movies so much. Pans Labyrinth fits the mold. Its a beautiful film that blends a grotesque 'real world' with a grotesque 'surreal fantasy world.' A young girl and her sickly pregnant mother move into the country where her mother has wed the 'hilteresque' captain of a Spanish Army. The captains motive is greed and doesn't care for the mother or the the girl. The girl wraps herself up in her fantasy realm while the real world around her crumbles. The blending of the fantastic and the real world has been a constant theme in Guillermos work. From Hellboy to Harry potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. The fantasy characters he creates are so vivid and imaginative. This film speaks for itself. The girl in the film seeks shelter in her imagaination, she seeks to escape. Just like us, as movie goers, escape our sad world in Hollywood escapism and the like. This is one of the best films of the year. Ecspecially if you like 'children of men' and 'the fountain.'

Inland Empire

David Lynch has created a Transcendental Experimental Masterpiece in his new digitally shot movie "Inland Empire." I liked it. i mean I LIKED it. But, I also like to listen to RADIOHEAD alone in my car when its raining out. I then put on track two from 'Hail to the Thief' and as Thom utters "and the rain drops...." over and over I have an ethereal moment. Yes, I liked inland Empire, but can I recommend it to anyone? No. there is such a thing as Accessibility. Lynch is generally a unique filmmaker and his films are about 95% accessible to an audience that may not be familiar with his work. Lynch has spoken frequently about how he wishes to create a filmic "experience." Much like Kubrick's "2001" Empire is definitely a unique experience but not always an entertaining one.
The first hour or so is classic Lynch, cool and crisp. Cigarettes are lit, coffee is swallowed and fingers are snapped. But then, out of nowhere, the film takes a path into Lynch's surreal dream world where nothing makes sense to anyone. Especially the audience. I give Lynch props for doing what the hell he wanted with this project. He funded it himself and he distributed the movie himself. The film for Lynch is a success because he did exactly what he wanted. It also a terrific failure in that the movie is so experimental and so LONG that even the most loyal Lynch fan might be disappointed or even alienated. A few trims here and there and we would have a tight film, but we wouldn't have the film Lynch wanted to show. If you want to see this film, you should, but you need to start the Lynch films on an easy start.
Just follow these easy steps:

1. Wild at Heart ---fun and funny, classic Lynch.
2. At anytime watch The straight Story/Elephant Man-- these films were departures for Lynch and still quite good.
3. Watch BLue Velvet-- Lynch's surreal violent masterpiece. This will show you why Lynch is such an important filmmaker and his first film to show us what Lynch is capable of as a storyteller.
4.w atch the entire Twin Peaks series. (episode 29, in my opinion is one of the most visually captivating and cool things Lynch has ever done.)
5. Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with me- an R-Rated version of the TV show. Laura Palmer is naked a whole lot.
6. You now have a fully realized idea of what Lynch is all about. You've seen the Lynch that we all love. Now enjoy "Lost Highway" and don't try to put the pieces together until the movie is over. Wait a week. then
7. Watch 'Mulholland Drive"--Lynch's best film since Blue Velvet, a beautiful confusing sexy masterpiece, You'll talk about it for weeks.

8. Okay. if you've gone this far you are ready for Eraserhead. Lynch's first film, surreal and strange. Just relax and enjoy. Don't try to figure it out. Its just cool and weird.
9. Okay. Now light a candle, smoke some pot and watch Inland Empire. You are now a Lynch fan and you can go do other things like check out Lynch's failed TV series, "Hotel Room" and the 'radio' one...watch his Short Films collections and then get a one month membership on davidlynch.com and have a ton of fun.