Notes from a Genius

I was recently asked by a friend, who's been reading (hopefully, consistently) my blog about movies, to compile a list of some of the best "hidden gem" type of films that I've seen (in other words, movies that I think are great/good but have been seen by a very small audience). This has turned out to be a harder task than I thought, perhaps because I'm putting too much thought into it, or perhaps it's because it's hard to know or gauge the kind of audience certain movies may or may not have gotten, upon release. So, I'm still working on that list, but it has made me think of a couple of other lists that I could work on, so I'll present to you a different kind of list while I still ponder the "hidden gems." MY ALL-TIME FAVORITE FILMS (Now, keep in mind that I am 32 years old. I was born in 1981, so I am only considering movies that struck me in some emotional way when I first saw that. These are the movies that affected me, for whateve...

"Evil Remains" (aka "Trepassing" starring: Estella Warren, Ashley Scott, Clayne Crawford, Jeff Bryan Davis, Daniel Gillies written and directed by: James Merendino This is what appears to be an independent film that was either made-for-TV or straight-to-DVD movies from a writer/director who really likes to here himself talk (via his actors)- and they talk a lot. And now, the film plays out like a cross between "The Blair Witch Project" and "Texas Chainsaw Massacre," but the only problem is (besides the terrible acting) that both original movies were great when they first came out and they didn't need anyone paying homage or ripping them off. Similar to all slasher films in the last 20 years, it concerns a group of pretty college students who unwisely travels to a house in the boondocks so that one of them can finish up his thesis on the nature of infamous myths. They break into the property and set up shop as if they own the place, an...

Even though it seems contradictory to celebrate the work of a man who died of a drug overdose, it should be noted that every single one of us has our own vices (some more negative, obviously, than others, and even more so, some are detrimental to our mental/physical health). I won't begin a diatribe on drug use and addiction, instead, I wanted to list Philip Seymour Hoffman's best work, in my opinion (in chronological order). When a Man Loves a Woman (1994) Twister (1996) Boogie Nights (1997) The Big Lebowski (1998) Happiness (1998) Magnolia (1999) The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999) State and Main (2000) Almost Famous (2000) Punch-Drunk Love (2002) 25th Hour (2002) Cold Mountain (2003) Capote (2005) Empire Falls (2005) The Savages (2007) Synecdoche, New York (2008) Doubt (2008) Mary and Max (2009) Pirate Radio (2009) Moneyball (2011) The Master (2012) ...

"Inside Llewyn Davis" starring: Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan, Justin Timberlake, Ethan Philips, Robin Bartlett, Max Casella, John Goodman, Garrett Hedlund written and directed by: Ethan and Joel Coen This is easily, hands down the best film of the year, and maybe even perhaps the past 10 years. That's right, a decade. Now, I know, that's putting a lot of weight on a film, especially a film that just isn't getting the award recognition during the award season. Oscar Isaac is one of the best non-actors to ever appear in film, I believe, because every time he is on the screen, and since he plays the main character, it's a lot, you get a complete sense of his despair and utter depression just from looking/watching his face/facial expressions as well as his mannerisms. Llewyn Davis (Isaac) is the protagonist and perhaps the antagonist of his own story. When we meet him for the first time, we definitely get the sense that he has a lack of interest in ...

How foolish of me to forget the fact that I've been writing about concerts I go to and completely pass over the fact that I saw a great British band at the State Theatre a couple of weeks ago. The Arctic Monkeys have released 4 albums and with each one, they seem to be getting bigger and gaining more of an audience. They are all over the place, finally, here in the States. And they sold out the State Theatre in a mere few hours. I was happy to be able to get tickets for myself and my girlfriend (who apparently missed them the first time they came to Portland, a couple of years ago, because of another sellout). Well, this time, we were lucky. And it was an amazing show, filled with intense energy the entire time. Although, I have to admit to not really being fully aware of their expansive catalogue of songs, I was impressed with their stage presence and sound. Do I Wanna Know?   Brianstorm   Don't Sit Down 'Cause I've Moved Your Chair   Snap Ou...

"Wallpaper Cover-Up" Alone, contemplating in a dark room All that matters is gray All I am is grey matter Cover my eyes with unwashed hair Dirtied hands Block noises of past lovers' voices Heard through yellowed walls On to new endeavors Forgetting old transgressions Chalked up to outlines Of mistakes I knew you knew you were making Her last words ring in my ears "It would have never lasted" Piercing eardrums Better for never hearing The truth is  It would have never worked out  If you think that we could work out  The differences You hid behind Were your calloused alibis  "Untold (Love) Story...You Told All Wrong" To hear her retelling Of our tragic love story  Details strategically omitted   Make her out to be  The victim-the queen   Is like jumping from a plane Without the ripcord To the parachute Which will save my life Left suspended in mid-air Like our romance Long enough to appreciate The beauty...