Intriguing Preview Corner: Dogtooth

Well, I'm not really sure what to think of this preview, but it certainly fits the word Intriguing.

Thoughts?

Opinions?

Gonna go see it?

Sex and the City, Part One: Carrie the Protagonist

Regardless of your opinion of Sex and the City, there is no denying its cultural impact at the turn of the century. This writer happens to love the show and has decided to devote this corner of teh interwebz to discussing the larger themes that made the show unique and quite clever in its prime. I have seen this series many times over and it is time to put that obsessive knowledge to good use. I will be talking about the entire series, one DVD disc at a time. I welcome comments and discussion, provided it is more intelligent and thought-out than "Those women are ugly" and "Sarah Jessica Parker has a horse face." I will delete you so fast you won't even be certain you left a comment. I love this show and have written this column not to convert you; only to celebrate that which I enjoy. This piece covers Season 1, episodes 1-6.

How does a writer draw a casual reader or viewer into the realm of fantasy? How does someone relate to a world in which they will never dwell? They need a character just like them, someone to whom they can relate. They need a sympathetic protagonist. A relatable main character is the single most important facet of good fantasy. And Sex and the City is good fantasy. This is a series set in a fantasy version of New York; a world of clubs, clothes and wealthy men likely to never be experienced first-hand by the show’s legion of fans. This world could be off-putting due to the very nature of its inaccessibility and decadence. Carrie Bradshaw spends on a pair of shoes what some spend on a month’s rent. Yet women consistently rank her as the character most like them. This dichotomy is arguably the reason for the show’s success. The balance Carrie manages between fairy tale lifestyle and audience surrogate is the key to this particular fantasy’s popularity.

Don't worry, there's more>>>

Pop Culture News: The Internet Uprising over Toy Story 3's Rotten Tomato Ranking

Oh Armond White, the grand master of being contrary. His review of Toy Story 3, besides claiming that "Transformers 2 already explored the same plot to greater thrill and opulence," has kept the otherwise well-received movie from a perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes. This in turn has held the beloved Pixar franchise back from being the only trilogy to have earned three 100% ratings. (I especially enjoy Roger Ebert's very prescient Tweet.)

Come on Mr. White, at least keep Transformers 2 out of this!

Links I Like: A Hell of an Essay on Television Today

As always, the AV Club has put out another piece that made me really stop and think. This one talks about the past and present of television and how our viewing habits have changed and/or lagged when it comes to keeping up with them. I found this piece particularly engaging because I saw a lot of myself in it; serialized television is definitely my bread and butter-my raging Law and Order addiction aside. I love reading about the stuff I watch as much as I enjoy writing about it and this piece also includes a laundry list of prominent critics everyone should check out.

It also got me thinking; I would love a writing partner for occasional pieces that mimic this one's format. Do you love or hate the stuff on TV and in the theatres? If it's not you, does someone you know feel that strongly? Do either of you want to write? Email me and we'll talk. This is all just tiny little zygotes in my brain at the moment, but I would love another voice to bounce ideas off of from time to time.

Movie Things I Hate: The Poster for Killers

I walk by this stupid poster every day in the subway and every time I see it I am compelled to stab things.

I don't think a tiny image on your laptop screen does the awfulness of this picture any justice. You should really try to stand 2 feet away from it with it's terribleness just as tall as you. There are so many thing to hate in it; the idiotic looks on their faces, the way she is holding the gun as if it were a dirty diaper, Ashton Kutcher's clear confusion, the ridiculous graphic design student aesthethic of the superscript dot--I hates it all so much!

I know none of this blog's fans would never dream of seeing this movie; just in case I implore the world to not only avoid the waste of space at all costs but to also tell all their friends how terrible this movie MUST be.

Parallel Lines, the Finished Product

Back in March I brought an interesting preview to your attention. Philips, the electronic company, sponsored a short-film contest. The catch was all the submissions had to follow the same script. Well, the results are out and I have to say the films are all very cool. Go check them all out. My personal favorite is the animated one, although the hunters are a very close second. All of them are incredibly unique and have a voice of their own, even if those voices are all saying the same lines.

If this is the future of advertising I might actually support it.

So many more ways to follow Microcosmic Movies around the web!

We are on twitter and facebook now! Make sure you "like" and "follow" them accordingly.
Facebook-http://www.facebook.com/pages/Microcosmic-Movies/127263010635983
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In addition to asking me questions in the comments, feel free to email me personally with any thoughts and opinions. rebecca.barnhart@gmail.com

I think this blog is officially in the 21st century now!

An Announcement for all the Ladies

Well, now that the Sex and the City sequel is polarizing critics and audiences across the nation, I feel it is time I put in my two cents. As an unabashed lover of the show even I am terrified by the previews I've seen. But I'm going to see the movie anyway. Eventually. Why? Because the show itself still speaks truth about women, men and relationships. It is fun and breezy to watch and rewatch. Plus, I would like to get more story on the ladies, even if I have to suffer to get it. Most importantly though, these women almost feel like friends now. I know them as well as I know some of my favorite people. This may be goofy, and perhaps a bit sad, but it's also true.

In the meantime though, I am embarking on the greatest project this little corner of the internet has ever seen. I will be reviewing the entire series of Sex and the City. This won't be an episode by episode plot breakdown; I will be reviewing the series one DVD disc at a time and examining the larger themes of the show. Part one will examine the character of Carrie and her role as the show's protagonist and audience surrogate. I will discuss how the first six episodes of the show create the character, take important steps toward making her sympathetic and then set her loose, both in New York and our imaginations. All of the main characters will eventually have a piece along with other important elements of that show that contributed to what made it so successful, loved and ultimately iconic.

This should be fun.

Links I Like: Academizing "Low" Culture

Oh NPR, your take on pop culture criticism is exactly my speed. This piece talks about how fans of the hoity-toity/"good" movies and music tend to look down on the more low-brow fare. As an unapologetic fan of summer blockbusters, the actiony shoot-em-ups that come barreling into the theatres and our lives once a year, I run into this problem all the time. My elitist friends who only venture into the cineplex for the latest Coen's piece or a Haneke retrospective don't understand my willingness to shell out $10 to see the explosions on a big screen and hear them in Dolby surround sound. My home TV doesn't look that good (although the new one is pretty close squeee!) and I think those are the movies that benefit from the big screen treatment.

I think this sort of divide in the movie-lover world boils down to a movies vs. films divide. People who are fans of "films" can oftentimes look down on mere "movies." Those who want to just be entertained by "movies" view the "film" aficionados as elitist snobs. It's the classic "us vs. them" battle playing out in the multi-plex.

Some movies try to bridge the gap. The first movie that pops into my head is Mr. and Mrs. Smith. It offered a clever and sharp take on the summer action movie. It was a pretty sharp satire on the dynamics within a marriage. Many dismissed it a just another piece of Hollywood schlock. Those people missed out.

The point I think everyone should take from the NPR piece? This line: "Something being Over There (this piece's phrase for referring to Low Culture) doesn't mean that there's nothing interesting to be said about it." This is the motto of this blog and as my readers I hope it is the motto of your movie-going experience.

Links I Like: The Surprise Factor in Movies

As I've mentioned before, I hate spoiling movies for people who haven't yet seen them. I think the joy of certain movies comes from a surprise twist or an unexpected tonal shift that the viewer never sees coming. But at the same time, I am guilty of over-researching the movies I pay to see. There are certain filmmakers or actors I will always seek out no matter what, but if I'm on the fence about something I will always read several reviews from trusted sources to help me decide if I want to spend $10 on it, or if I'm just going to wait for Netflix.

For all of these reasons I really enjoyed this piece. He argues that is a common problem and it stems from both the information explosion that is the internet and the new marketing scheme of the studios themselves. What do you think? Is this new ability to know so much more about the movies we see ruining the movies we see? Is this our responsibility to avoid potential spoilers? (On this note I am reminded of interviews with the creators of both District 9 and Hard Candy thanking both of their respective studios for putting out spoiler-free trailers. So is this a problem confined to the major studios?) What is our responsibility to our own movie-going experience?

Intriguing Preview Corner: Boardwalk Empire

If HBO is anything, it is a guaranteed place for some quality original television. The Wire, The Sopranos, Sex and the City (stay tuned to this site for a comprehensive analysis of this show coming soon!), Deadwood, etc. Now we have a new show, Boardwalk Empire, and it looks quite intriguing. Major talent from The Sopranos and Scorcese directing. It also has Gretchen Mol, a personal fave, starring.

Plus there's Omar! So many reasons to check this show out.

Links I Like: More Hating on the Dreaded Rom-Com

Oh NPR, you always bring me such snarky movie analysis. Like this piece laying out several of the ways romantic comedies degrade women and insult the viewer's intelligence. High box office numbers be damned, these movies piss me off!

Intriguing Preview Corner: Parallel Lines

Boing Boing brought this film to my attention. In it five filmmakers make five radially different films using the same dialogue. What does this say about movies? Is the script that inconsequential or that open to interpretation? This contest, for which I am currently working on a submission, raises the same questions. The only stipulation, other than the time limit, is that the script remain the same. How should one analyze this idea that the script is such an incidental part of movie-making? Or are these just gimmicks?

Lindsay Lohan and Personality Rights

This isn't exactly the normal push of this blog, but I just wrote this piece in preparation for an interview with a legal blog. I was asked to "find a current events topic related to the "Entertainment Law" practice area; research the legal perspective to that topic (this can be accessibly explaining a complex legal term or providing some useful tips for our consumer audience); and write an engaging blog entry that's no more than one page." I honestly enjoyed this writing exercise and figured I might as well put it on here and get some feedback. Enjoy!

Don't worry, there's more>>>

2010 Academy Awards: The Live-blog

12:10 OK, time to continue drinking and finish storyboarding my scene for the contest. That's right, I'm not just a critic, I'm also a creator. Thanks for reading! Stumble me, spread the word, and be sure to become an official follower!
12:01 I don't want to make it seem I hated the other movies, particular Avatar, but I just truly feel that a Best Picture is more than just pretty or revolutionary. It needs to resonate with the present and remind us of the past. The Hurt Locker does all of that. It is so much better than you think it is. I really hope all this Academy praise brings new people to this film.
11:59 So so so so so so pleased. I still was secretly pulling for District 9, but this was my little indie-that-could.
11:59 There are movie gods!

Don't worry, there's more>>>

Pop Culture News: Interactive Movies?

Software has been developed that enables an audience member in a theatre to interact with the protagonist on the screen. This video demonstrates the technology in action. This is an interesting technological development, but it's just Choose Your Adventures for the 21st century. Will making movies interactive strip them of the art and leave only the thrills? Is this a good thing for the form?

Rat-brains and Man-animals Unite: Nominating Battlefield Earth As The Comedy of The Decade

When terrible movies become B classics it is usually because they are so ill-conceived and wrongly presented they transcend their genre and become comedy classics. These movies are not supposed to make us laugh. Usually they hope to frighten and terrify us. The worst ones are those that try to make us think. A “deep” movie that fails miserably can be the funniest movie of the year. Battlefield Earth is best remembered as “the scientology movie” that is also terrible. The moviemakers hoped to take a best-selling science fiction novel and offer it up as insight into a little understood system of faith. What they created is instead a comic masterpiece. This movie is arguably the greatest comedy of the last decade not simply because it makes us laugh at its preposterousness. Battlefield Earth is a classic comedy and should be treated as such.

Don't worry, there's more>>>

Links I Like: Proper Hating on The Phantom Menance

Like all movie fans, I despise The Phantom Menace. But my rage has generally been relegated to "Jar Jar Binks sucks" and "Mitachlorines?" with the occasional "Did Lucas even watch the originals?" Finally though, in a mere 70 minutes, the true stupidity and lack of plot and character development has been fully articulated. This guy lays out fully, and quite cleverly, exactly why Lucas is a fucktard. Watch and enjoy!

And share! Apparently this has been around for a while and I'm a little late to the game. (Credit goes to Spencer's wife's comment on Paul's Facebook link.)

Links I Like: Film and Sound Editing Explained

Earlier I complained about not knowing how to judge some of the more technical categories. Well, Slate has a couple of great videos about those very things. If you want some criteria for judging explained by folks in the field, I highly recommend checking them out.

There's one for film editing.

And there's one for sound editing.

Enjoy!

Announcement: Live-blogging the 2010 Academy Awards

I felt the Golden Globe live-blogging went so swimmingly I am doing it again, only this time with the Academy Awards. The Oscars start at 8pm EST this Sunday so look online for me around 7 dissing the fancy dresses and frou-frou hair. Richmond friends should feel free to join me at home for this; drinking and the Oscars go hand in hand. Be sure to check out my predictions so we can figure out how good I am at this game.

See you Sunday night!

Links I Like: Combining the Male and Female Acting Categories

I'm not sure I have an opinion on this, but this piece from NPR raises some interesting thoughts. Does a post-feminism world make this the next step? Or are these characters and roles so different they need to be judged differently. Opinions?

Pop Culture News: Oscar Speech Changes

According to Rueters, there will be some changes to the Academy Awards acceptance speeches this year. Winners are being asked to save their thank-yous for a back-stage camera. The organizers are requesting the winner take this opportunity to "share your passion on what the Oscar means to you.

So, will they become pedantic and overwrought? Can they be any worse than a laundry list of agents and producers we've never heard of? Or are the true personalities of some of these people going to shine? Can we look forward to more Sally Field, Roberto Benigni and Jack Palance-style acceptance speeches? (I hope so!) Greatest fear? That this becomes a sounding board for every cause and political leaning of every uninformed celebrity who thinks their fame means their opinions are sacrosanct.

Links I Like: Famous Directors' Takes on the Super Bowl

In honor of Super Bowl Sunday. I particularly like the Wes Anderson and Herzog ones.

2010 Oscar predictions

After this year’s Golden Globes I am terrified to try and predict the Oscars. The last hour of the show saw every award go to upsets and generally unimpressive nominees. With the Academy voters skewing even older and more conservative, I have no idea what to expect.

But I’m willing to take a shot anyway.

Don't worry, there's more>>>

The Three Best Comedies You're Not Watching

Better Off Ted

Awkward name aside, this is THE show for all of the displaced Arrested Development fans. Screwball dialogue, tight writing, running gags and ridiculous characters come together into one dynamite package. Seriously, there's only a handful of episodes left before ABC officially pulls the plug on this one so hurry up and catch them while you can. Watch the latest episode right now! It's one of the best. And if you want to continue with this fantastic show, here's the best episode of the series to date, in my opinion.


How I Met Your Mother

It's somehow very fitting that your grandparent's favorite channel, CBS, is using the most routine sitcom format to turn the genre on its head. The traditional three camera sitcom may be looked down upon these days as a symbol of a vapid, lowest common denominator art form, but How I Met Your Mother shows what it can be when it's at its best. This decade's Newsradio, HIMYM uses the set and pacing of the format to showcase gags involving blocking that are damn near impossible on the seemingly now standard one camera show. Neil Patrick Harris has brought a ton of focus to the show, but the entire cast gels as a proper ensemble. Last week's episode was a series high. Plus, we get NPH singing and dancing!

Community

Speaking of ensembles, the newest member of NBC's dynamite Thursday night comedy line-up shows us all how it's done. Joel McHale anchors a cast of losers, loners, and general misfits as they share a community college Spanish study group. The writing has gotten so sharp that any combination of cast members can be placed together and the chemistry still sparks. But where this show really shines is in the meta-humor. Watch as the show explains to you why it is funny; not only on its own but within the larger pantheon of television history. My personal favorite is the Halloween episode, a smart and self-aware take on a sitcom tradition.

Watch, enjoy, and spread the word! Great network television is rare so we need to support what little there is.

2010 Golden Globes: The Live-Blog

11:02-I have never been happier to have my local news affiliate cut in with the local news.
11:01-Hey, its that guy whose famous for marrying a drama queen. Why do we care about what he has to say?
10:59-I don't mind that my predictions were so wrong, because these were some stupid upsets. Blah. Note to make this thing better, give Ricky Gervais a ton more screen time.
10:56-You've got to be kidding me. Avatar was aight, but all of those movies were way better from a storytelling, acting, and directing standpoint. They may not have been nearly as pretty, but I didn't realize that's apparently all it take to win the Best Movie.
10:55-Last award.
10:51-I wonder if his new statue will really tie the room together?
10:50-Colin Farrell's eyebrows make him look perpetually curious.

Don't worry, there's more>>>

2010 Golden Globe predictions

1. BEST MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA
a. AVATAR
b. THE HURT LOCKER
c. INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS
d. PRECIOUS: BASED ON THE NOVEL PUSH BY SAPPHIRE
e. UP IN THE AIR
In my opinion it should definitely be The Hurt Locker, but I think Up In The Air has an equal chance. Precious will probably get the Oscar, but not the Golden Globe.

Don't worry, there's more>>>

Announcement: Live-blogging the 2010 Golden Globes

I will be live-blogging the 2010 Golden Globe Awards, this Sunday. The awards begin at 8pm EST on NBC, but I will have some initial thoughts up around 7:30/7:45. Expect opinions on the nominees, the winners, the fashion, the drunken acceptance speeches, and the glory that is this year's host, Ricky Gervais. I will even respond to any comments in somewhat real time. Expect the comments to get snarkier as I get drunker during the evening.

Any Richmond area friends that would like to to imbibe and watch the drinkiest awards show of the season with me are welcome. Your comments may even be immortalized for the 10 or so person blogosphere I encompass.

Are you ready for this?

Best of 2009, and then some

2009 was not the best year for movies in recent memory, but it did produce some movies I will definitely talk about for years to come, as well as re-watch repeatedly. Here is my top five, plus an honorable mention and a handful of superlatives. This is absolutely a list of personal favorites and by no means a list of “films” that I expect to top all time lists any time soon. However, they all spoke to me for reasons I will try to explain. Plus, it’s my blog so I can list anything I damn well please.

Don't worry, there's more>>>