"Up in the Air"... Worth Every Penny of it!

I am a George Clooney fan... have been always will be!  I had heard a lot about "Up in the Air," and it definetly lived up to the hype and more so.  If you've ever flown for business, you'll love this film... if you're over the age of 25, you'll love this film.  And if you just love a great film, beautiful story telling and great performances... you guessed it, you'll love this film!

When I set out to become a filmmaker, I guess I wanted to make films more like the new hit, "Panic Attack," although for my day it was more like the original "Star Wars."  But over the years I've developed into a filmmaker that loves quirkier, characater driven films.  The last two I've made were those kinds of films.

I hope more and more people see "Up in the Air."  Yes I plan to see "Avatar" and I suspect it will be good as well, but this film is more about the story and people and the kind of film I'd like to make and see more of!

Downtown... It's All Downtown!

Spending a little time... downtown of course and doing some writing here today. Odd place, because it's not my official mobile office location... aka Starbucks, but trying Panera again. The good, free internet, the bad, some times it runs slow so that jams up Pandora Radio, which I love listening too while I work, so songs start and then stop mid phrase... pick up again... stop... it's all very frustrating.

By the way, the building downtown... the Lee building, is not related to me in anyway, but it's a really cool Art Deco like building and at night the Lee lights up, so I really dig that.

In addition to spending some time working downtown, I'm going to check out the new Clooney film, "Up in the Air." I'm a Clooney guy... I've loved him since "Facts of Life," and usually love watching him work, so I hope this one lives up to the hype.

The best part of it all is I get to see the film at the AFI theater where... downtown... so I'm happy about that! Haven't seen a bad film there yet!

Can You Tell Where I Am? lol

Out and about writing today, so life is good. In addition to some touch up work on a couple of things, still working on a couple of scripts, may even go back to one I wrote a while back that I've been slowly updating and making more current. I love the idea, it's a comedy and I think pretty funny, but you never really know until it's read out loud and hopefully made! I can remember the last two scripts I wrote and worked on... the first time they were read aloud with the cast was very exciting and powerful. Both were really funny, still we tweaked things right up to the shooting as well, the life of a script. But that first read... the emotions and excitement behind it, it's hard to beat.

Now those of you who follow my blog, know I always respect anyone who gets a film made, it's a huge accomplishment. That goes for the big folks as well and Quentin Tarantino is back in the mix with his new flick, "Inglourious Basterds." Now I saw him on Letterman the other night talk about the film and what he was hoping to do with it, essentially throw his hat in the old time genre of a group of guys going on a mission during World War II, ala the "Dirty Dozen." I've also seen both Brad Pitt and Mike Myers talk positively about the film as well, but to be fair, they're both in it and helping to feed the publicity machine.

However to me and this is just one person's opinion... I don't think it's his "Masterpiece." Some of the performances are outstanding, namely Christopher Waltz as "Hans" and Pitt as "Aldo Raine." There is no mistaking the look and feel of a Tarantino film and it's all there in this one as well, but for me the film is entirely too long and slow in some places. It misses it's mark about being one of those "Guys on a mission" film because it leaves the mission for a huge part of the film and almost has a separate storyline that takes away from the overall idea of the film.

I am also tired of Tarantino using graphic images of violence just for shock value and there are a lot of these in the film. I get that's his thing and he wants to take those 70s kind genres that weren't allowed to be as graphic and make them up-to-date and graphic now, but you don't always need it.

A lot of folks like the film, it was number one in the box office after the first weekend, but I suspect this will be one of those films that will be enhanced by the DVD with extras and more insight into what Tarantino was thinking about when making the film and what he was trying to do.

As a stand alone film right now however, it's good, but not great and maybe not even worth seeing on the big screen, but on a big screen television instead.

Crunching Numbers...

(At my primary "Mobile Office")

So out and about, crunching some numbers regarding a possible project. This is always kind of a fun part because you can put in whatever numbers you like! Usually I try to put in the "dream numbers" then I do about 4 or 5 other budgets that range from the more "realistic" to the "drop dead minimum." You always hope you get your dream budget or something close, but you never know.

After doing some work here for awhile it's off to the AFI theater to see the Larry David film, "Whatever works." Any chance you get to see a film in a theater these days is always great!

Two Turned Into Three And Today Add One To Make Four!

**** 03.05.09 - The Wrestler... 2008... Director Darren Aronofsky

Wow... what a way to continue my run of movies. "The Wrestler," is a very good film and Mickey Rourke deserves all the accolades and awards for his performance. It's a rough life being in the ring and Director Darren Aronofsky does a brilliant job of giving you the flavor of Rourke's character's life. Marisa Tomei is sexy and interesting and I wished there were more to her character, because when she's on the screen... clothed and unclothed she is dynamic.

It is a sad, moving picture, but well worth seeing.

**** 03.04.09 - Local Hero... 1983... Director Bill Forsyth

This film wrapped up a day of watching films and continued the mood left over from "Big Night." If you've kept up with this blog you know I really love director Bill Forsyth's work and this is no different.

Like, "Gregory's Girl," Forsyth does an amazing job at bringing you into the culture and let's you feel apart of the town. The characters are well drawn, interesting and very funny.

It's a bitter sweet story about a big Houston oil company trying to buy up a town in Scotland and how the exec. sent over to negotiate the deal rediscovers what's really important in life.

No extras on the DVD, but you may not want them because after watching you'll be thinking about your own life and whether or not you're really living it or letting it drive you.

**** 03.04.09 - Big Night... 1996... Directors Campbell Scott and Stanley Tucci

I am a sell admitted "Foodie" and from one Foodie to another, this is a fabulous film. Directors Campbell Scott and Stanley Tucci does a a great job telling the story of two brothers from Italy trying to keep their restaurant afloat, banking everything on one huge night and superior meal.

Stanley Tucci and Tony Shalhoub are perfectly cast and Minnie Driver... looking amazing, gives a strong performance along with Isabella Rosselini.

Nothing extra on the DVD, but make yourself a big bowl of pasta, pour a great glass of wine and enjoy a "Big Night," in.

***1/2 03.04.09 - Kill Bill Volume 2... 2004... Director Quentin Tarantino

OK as I recall, Volume 2 ties up and explains so much of what happens in, "Kill Bill Volume 1." Watching the films consecutively gives you a interesting look into what Tarantino might have been trying to do with both films.

I'm not going to compare the two, but I will say both films are good and Tarantino does a wonderful job with both.

The DVD extras are nice and Robert Rodriguez, who does the soundtrack for Volume 2 plays with his band at the premier party and it's hot.