Surfwise: Documentary #6

From the road trippin' to the beaches to the philosophical nature of creating your own version of utopia, Surfwise (2007) is a fascinating documentary about the Paskowitz family - and some surfing too.

Like the other documentaries that I've written about as part of this 9 Docs Project, I picked up this movie when the Movie Gallery went out of business.  When you have nothing to go on except the cover of the movie you're setting yourself up to be surprised, and Surfwise did that in a great way.

On the surface it seemed like just a story about a family of surfing hippies, but in actuality it's about the conflict between total freedom and social responsibility.  More specifically, it's about parenting.  The Paskowitz family lived for experiences, but in an effort to be truly free from the makeup of everyday society they (as in the parents) made some clear sacrifices on the part of their children.  

While watching this movie I just kept thinking about how much fun it looked, but how I'd come to despise the reality of constantly being stuck in a motor home for those long drives with 11 people.  As you might expect, a lot of the kids felt the same way.  The entire experience is essentially a way of life dictated by the father.  His lessons are earnest and steeped in self-fulfillment through dedication and passion, but at the same time you're left to continually question the disconnect.  I empathized with the kids, but felt like Dad was taking the easy way out under the banner of 'if I can't have it my way it's not worth doing'.  

Obviously no one wants to be a slave to a job or live a life without enjoyment, but in some capacity you have to ask yourself what you are contributing to society - even in some small way.  We can't be in it just for ourselves - or can we?  There's not a right or wrong answer here exactly, which ultimately leaves you asking more questions.

Surfwise was fascinating, entertaining, and a great looking documentary.  I was really impressed with how much this one got me thinking about so many of my own views in contrast to theirs. Whether you agree with how they did things or not, the truth is you can't deny that they got a great story out of it all.  Check it out.  8/10  

Almost Famous (2000)

To say that growing up is awkward in the best of circumstances doesn't quite encompass what it would be like to do so around those who you idolize. Few movies have really embodied this experience as well as Cameron Crowe's (loosely-auto-biographical) flick, Almost Famous (2000). In my view, it's one of the best movies about rock-and-roll, and the knocks that come from seeing the reality of your fantasies.

Some people love this movie because they want to be journalists, some musicians or critics, but what I really love about this movie is that it's about passion. I can relate to knowing what I wanted to do from a young age, and sharing that curiosity, that single-handed pursuit to find some answers in an overwhelming and personally uncharted landscape, is as engrossing as it is occasionally cringe-worthy.  That's just good entertainment in my books.

At its core, Almost Famous idealizes both the positive and negative rock stereotypes with successful twists, painting a great visual portrait of the '70s scene. The fictional up-and-coming group Stillwater experiences an entertaining range of hiccups on their tour, as high school student William accompanies them to write an article on the group for Rolling Stone magazine. The scenes with Will are arguably the best, not only because he's playing a fly on the wall a lot of times, but because his vulnerability brings out the utter absurdity of the culture he's thrown into. Despite William's love of being there, his reactions and reasoning are often the glue holding things together in a cast of conflicting personalities and superficial egos.

Almost Famous has a grit and rawness about it that makes it feel genuine, almost like shuffling through a stack of old records. There are enough little pop history references mixed in to make even the casual music fan feel in-the-know.  Even with the characters having pretty clear flaws, their predictability is kept in check by William's curiousity to understand it, and because of that everyone is along for the ride. 

The relationships between Will and his mom, Will and Penny (the lead groupie), and Will and the band all paint a different picture of the rock lifestyle.  It's apparent that the fine line between living the fantasy and dealing with the reality hits everyone hard when they suddenly stumble into either too quickly.  And that's probably what I like best about Almost Famous, it makes you feel like you're right there on the bus, on that tour.  You feel privy to inside information, and even though you know the fantasy can't last forever, you're still rooting for it to continue.  



Cameron Crowe is great because he really thinks about the music that he uses. More often than not, he allows his song choices to really be featured in his films, not as a crutch to aid in false emotion, but as an exclamation point to enhance the scene and allow viewers to really listen to the lyrics. The Tiny Dancer scene in this flick is the clear standout, but there are numerous examples in his work (like Secret Garden in Jerry Maguire or In Your Eyes from Say Anything).

Almost Famous is addicting.  And just maybe, it might leave you with that post-concert buzz, like you just skirted euphoria and witnessed something truly amazing.

2012 Oscar Flicks

With nine best picture nominees this year, I was hopeful (as I usually am) that I'd come across at least one film that would blow me away.  For the first time in years though, I've been left confused by the selections made.  It was an interesting year in movies, but as it turns out, some of the best Oscar nominees I watched this year were all in the acting categories - go figure.

Here's my take on the Best Picture nominees for the 2012 ceremony.

The Artist
This picture seems to have the strongest contention for taking home the award, and even though I thought it was a charming film, is a picture based on a gimmick really that deserving?  Yes, the silent film aspect is interesting, but it's an homage, not a representation of what a Best Picture should look like in 2012.  That said, it also negates all of the impact and complexity that comes from having sound.  I truly believe a Best Picture, in addition to being a great movie, should be more representative (especially in technical terms) of the time in which it was made.

The Descendants
I really loved this movie.  It was funny, heartwarming, and not too overstated.  George Clooney and director Alexander Payne delivered a great character piece about holding on to the past while being locked into a future that is determined to change.  My only concern is that there were parts of it that still felt too light to really make it a serious contender.

Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
I went into this movie with high expectations for an emotional story about a father and son, what I got was the story of a kid incapable of showing genuine emotion in a sea of people who could.  I really disliked this movie because it willingly destroyed a great soul searching adventure with a character who lacked depth and relatability.  You can read my complete review on this one here. 

The Help
The performances here were strong, but the message seemed a bit misguided.  I think Emma Stone is a great actress, but her character actually robbed 'the help' of standing up for themselves in a story about race relations.  Not a bad movie, but certainly not the best.

Hugo
I was surprised by this one because of how unlike a Martin Scorsese picture it seemed. It is a children's movie I suppose, but that combination alone raises an eyebrow.  In any case, I liked Hugo a lot.  The nods to film history and early silent shorts in among the elaborate ongoings of a Paris train station were fun to watch.  I like movies about exploring and discovery, and this was a good one.

Midnight in Paris
Woody Allen's nod to great writers was also a pleasant surprise.  It was playful and humorous, and it kept you looking forward as Owen Wilson's character whimsically stumbled onto big names of the past.  I think I have a soft spot for this one because I went to see it at the Monarch with my folks.  That said, if I were recommending Woody Allen films I'm not sure that this one would be in my top five.

Moneyball
I liked this movie, but it was also a bit cold.  Despite the acting nominations for Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill, the whole thing felt a bit too rigid and structured.  Most of the film even takes place in offices.  It was interesting, but not what I would have thought a Best Picture nominee to be.

The Tree of Life
I give the Academy a lot of credit for nominating a film as experimental and esoteric as this.  The lack of a traditional story is made up for with beautiful imagery and I actually found myself thinking about how fun it would have been to edit.  It still feels a  bit misplaced for a Best Picture, but I'd be surprised if it didn't take home the award in cinematography.

War Horse
Spielberg's WWI epic seemed reminiscent of Best Pictures of the past.  It was grand, but it was also slow.  While I think Spielberg is awesome, I felt like I'd seen this kind of picture too many times before, right down to the Gone With the Wind style sunset to close out movie.  

So all that said, who will win?  Well, your guess is as good as mine.  I'd say that the Artist probably has the best chance, but if I were voting I'd personally go for Hugo or the Descendants.  

Other (and in some instances better) nominees to check out include, My Week With Marilyn, Beginners, The Ides of March, and of course, Bridesmaids.

Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close Review

Slowly but surely I've been crossing nominees off of my Oscar screening list.  A few nights ago, Andrea and I went to see Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, one of the nine nominees for Best Picture this year.  I'll be blunt about this one, it wasn't very good.

The trailer for this flick had me excited, sort of the way I felt after seeing the trailer for United 93.  I was imaging an emotional, but heartfelt picture about an innocent kid and his soul searching quest to find meaning against the backdrop of 9/11. It looked genuine and fresh.

The problem I had immediately with the film was the kid, to be honest. Part of his back-story is that he has some kind of social disorder or disability (never really defined in the movie) that makes him awkward and emotionally abrupt.  He was always on the verge of a panic attack or he was flying off the walls with rage.  In the first thirty minutes all I kept thinking was, what is his problem?  How am I supposed to relate to him if he's so aggravating to watch? And, really? Someone thought audiences wouldn't find it annoying to centre such a sensitive story around a character who is already this disconnected from reality to begin with?

Like I said, I expected an emotional story, but the kid overwhelms every aspect of the narrative.  His ticks and commentary seemed so gratuitous and heavy handed that I was actually relieved when some of the supporting players finally got a bit of screen time.

The thread of the film is the quest to find a lock for a key that is found in the father's closet after he dies during the attacks.  I actually really liked the concept, but was scratching my head again when it wasn't really explained why the key should be relevant to begin with.  Even the close relationship between the father and son didn't really justify that this seemingly random find would be worthy of scouring the city to find answers for. I suppose it could be argued that the quest to find meaning in some of these traumatic events is a hopeless search, but I still found myself thinking that wouldn't the kid be more content to search out a part of his father's actual history? Something that he already knew was important to his father?

I know in my own experiences in dealing with loss that I'm not looking to give random items more meaning. You end up looking to expand on the things that you already knew meant something - unfinished business.  The proposed scavenger hunt in Extremely Loud didn't seem grounded enough in many aspects.

When all is said and done though, I would have overlooked so many of the film's flaws if the kid was more relatable, a bit more innocent, more wide-eyed, more raw, and just far less stunted.  In a story that was genuinely full of compelling connections and human stories, why have the main character fight against all of those naturally inspiring encounters instead of adding to them? Why distract us with painfully enigmatic narration and a kid who you have to will yourself to even root for? In short, it was the perfect recipe to continually disconnect from the plot.    

It may be a bit harsh, but this flick isn't anywhere close to being one of the best films from 2011 and certainly shouldn't have been nominated in my opinion.  If you really want to watch a powerful film surrounding 9/11, there are literally ten other flicks that I could recommend to you - United 93 for starters.  Do yourself a favor and embrace the trailer for Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close and then move on to the other nominees.    

My Week With Marilyn

The Oscar nominations came out on Tuesday and so, like I do each year, my goal of screening as many pictures as possible before the broadcast is officially underway.  My Week With Marilyn just opened at the Monarch Theatre last night and so it was the perfect opportunity for Andrea and I to head down and check it out.

First things first, Michelle Williams is spot on in her portrayal of Monroe.  You might expect something shamelessly camp, but what's delivered is vulnerable, emotional, and intelligently nostalgic. It's a well earned Best Actress nomination for Williams, and her performance alone is a strong enough reason to see the film.  Thankfully, the supporting cast is no let down either and I was thoroughly engrossed throughout.

What I've always found fun about the Oscars is the variety of films that you can discover if you're willing to take a few chances.  I had a good feeling about My Week With Marilyn to begin with, but there are several flicks I know nothing about this year.  When you've grown up addicted to movies, sometimes it's just fun to find more ways to feel connected to them. 

The Monarch Theatre remains a great venue for watching smaller, more dramatic films. It was packed last night because it was 5+5 Wednesday - $5 ticket and $5 pop and popcorn.  If you live in Medicine Hat, you really should visit the Monarch.  They still have some of the best theatre seats in town.  

Lenovo Ideapad 32GB Review

So a few weekends ago I began doing some research about e-readers and inevitably found myself looking at tablets.  Some will argue that an iPad is the clear front runner in this category, but on price point that's far from the truth.  What I eventually decided on was the Lenovo Ideapad Tablet with 32GB and Wi-Fi.  Here's why I came to that decision and what I've come to really like about my tablet in general.

1.  Value for Money - A quick scan of tablets will show how competitively priced the Lenovo is (compared to other tablets and laptops).  I ended up spending about $350 for a tablet with 32GB of memory, a 10.1" screen, a front and rear camera, a stylish design, and that is easily customizable in terms of the display, apps, what widgets go where, etc.

2.  More Than an E-Reader - I was really just after an e-reader to begin with, but found it hard to pass up the ability to freely surf the web, watch YouTube, check facebook, download from the Amazon Kindle store, or scroll my emails (all at the same time).  The point is that this tablet is a lot more versatile for not much more money.

3.  Portable and Convenient - I found it cumbersome using my laptop in bed when I just wanted to check blogs or read web pages and a tablet is the answer to that.  The Lenovo is comfortable to hold thanks to the rounded edges and although it may be a bit on the heavier side for tablets, I still find it quite light. 

While I haven't taken it on the road with me yet, I also like the idea of having my maps downloaded and having a large screen to view them.  Navigating maps on my iPod Touch hasn't always been the most convenient and now I don't necessarily need to bring my laptop on the road with me either to stay connected.  

4.  The Show-Me Factor - How often do you have someone over and end up talking about a funny YouTube video or webpage?  The tablet is quick to launch and easy to pass around for moments just like that.  It's also what makes the tablet a great presentation tool, and it was really convenient to pull up my portfolio and scroll the pages when I had people over.

5. Adaptability - What I love about my Lenovo Ideapad (and a tablet in general) is the way that you can continue to change it based on how you use it.  There are plenty of apps to play with and explore, and the Lenovo Ideapad has 5 pages that you can flip through and customize however you want.  I'm sure I'll continue to find more fun ways to use it as I play around a bit more.

In my personal opinion having used this product for a couple of weeks now (in addition to my regular PC, laptop, and iPod Touch) I'd give the Lenovo Ideapad a solid 8/10. The only areas that I'd really make improvements to would be the speaker, which could be a bit stronger.  The tablet could also be a bit lighter, and I'd like to see more apps for Android products.  For the time being though, this is a more than adequate product for a casual user like myself and it's exceeded my expectations. 

For more specifics check out the review of this product on PC World.  

Flip Cam Wide Angle Lens

Last Christmas I got my Flip Cam and was excited about the opportunity to shoot more home videos with it.  I actually used the camera so much throughout the year that I began looking for ways to enhance it.  I'd come across several wide angle lens adapters on Amazon, and this Christmas I finally got one.

The Rokinon lens comes with several adhesive magnetic rings that you can easily attach to your Flip Cam.  The lens itself has a magnet in its base so attaching it is a breeze, and for any skeptics, the lens really does make a noticeable difference by increasing the field of view 0.45 times.  The connection also feels very secure so there's really no fear of the lens coming off unless you want it to.

As far as simple upgrades for your video equipment are concerned, this is by far one of the most affordable options available for what's already a very consumer-friendly camera.  Below I've posted a clip to give you a better idea of how the lens works and what the footage looks like.  Pick up one of these lenses for a bit of added versatility when capturing your next home video.

Pinnacle DV Hub

One of the big problems with digital video is the rate at which it changes.  For all of the benefits that this has delivered, it's also meant that I've had to look at new ways of keeping older projects and footage archived and accessible.  I recently incorporated the Pinnacle DV hub into my setup, and so far it's been a great investment.

As an editor I'm constantly working with various formats between clients (and for my own videos) - from old VHS or D8 tapes, to Mini DV or DVDs, to HD content and everything else accessed over USB.  When I upgraded my computer in the fall I wasn't surprised that it didn't come with firewire ports, what surprised me was that no one seemed to carry firewire in store anymore.  You can still get them online of course, but this was just another clear sign that everything has gone to USB.   

In my continued search the Pinnacle hub than seemed like the perfect option.  Available on the Pinnacle website, the hub plugs in through USB and allows you to connect firewire (DV), S-Video, and RCA cables. It's also an attractive little piece of equipment that can sit right on your desktop, making it easy to connect your cameras.  The Pinnacle DV hub has been a useful accessory so far, and I'm happy that it's made uploading different formats simple.  

A Christmas Story (1983)

We all have a Christmas story. Whether or not you've seen this movie won't change the fact that you've probably experienced some version of it growing up. Remember that toy you had to beg for as a kid? Or that Christmas dinner that didn't go right? That gift you absolutely hated? Or that snowsuit that made it so you couldn't put your arms down? These scenes are just the tip of the iceberg in Bob Clark's old fashioned homage to the traditional family holiday in, A Christmas Story (1983).

This classic centers around young Ralphie, a kid growing up in 1940's Indiana. Like all kids he has that one special toy in mind; the perfect reward, the ultimate Christmas morning highlight. For Ralphie it's the Red Ryder Carbine Action 200 Shot Range Model Air Rifle (or put simply, a BB Gun). His mother, his teacher, even Santa Claus all tell him the same thing, "You'll shoot your eye out!". And with that we have the makings of an entertaining couple of weeks as Ralphie sets out to prove that he really is deserving and responsible enough for such a gift.  

Interestingly, the style of A Christmas Story was actually the inspiration for the television show The Wonder Years. Although the story remains in the 1940's, Ralphie's thoughts are narrated from his perspective as an adult. It's hilarious having that additional commentary as Ralphie explains the detailed context of the things that were happening in his youth. The rules of double-dog-dares for instance, or the scam of Orphan Annie decoder rings, or the affect of electric leg lamps on the family dynamic.  Hindsight is 20/20 as they say, and the narration hilariously bridges the gap between childhood naivety and adulthood cynicism.

What makes this movie a classic in my mind is that even though some of the incidents may be a bit outlandish, for the most part it's an entirely relatable, heart-felt, and honest depiction of what it's like to be a kid at Christmas. Even though I grew up in a completely different era than when the movie takes place, and even though I wasn't born yet when this film was released, the experiences speak to generations who remember what those last few weeks of December were like as a kid.

A Christmas Story is an innocent depiction of childhood excitement marred in the less-than-holy realities that surround the holidays.  Stories about Santa and the North Pole are great, but to me Christmas is really about family and the conflict that occasionally derails good intentions. A Christmas Story reflects this best when you see how even a flawed day doesn't mean that everyone can't still enjoy themselves. 

And let's be honest anyway, as good as Christmas day is it's never as perfect as our anticipation leading up to it. 

In short, of all of the Christmas movies you're likely to see this season few will be as genuine and nostalgia induced as A Christmas Story.  In some small way Ralphie's experience is your experience, and common ground is a great place for comedy. Watch this movie! I double-dog-dare you to.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Earlier this week I finished reading The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky and wanted to talk a bit about my thoughts on the book and what the experience of reading it was like.  I've kept this spoiler free so you can check it out for yourself. 

Wallflower is an interesting read, saturated in all of the heavy coming of age experiences that you might expect a teenager to be privy to.  The central character is Charlie, who shares his high school life in the form of letters addressed to the reader (us) - an anonymous person known through a friend of a friend.  It's an interesting concept that gives the book a realism and casualness that makes you believe Charlie is real kid.  

I'm 27, and although the book is bound to be a more profound read for those in high school, I found myself constantly reflecting on my own stories and the people I grew up with.  That's the charm in Wallflower.  High school is messy, you don't really know who you are yet, but you're so eager to grow up.  Charlie is an outcast, who's awkwardness is continually cringe worthy.  He's also a bit too heavy on the crying, which I felt was a bit disingenuous the more it seemed to happen.  

The story takes place in the early nineties, which I found refreshing considering the lack of Internet and cell phone drama.  I remember going home after school and feeling separated from what was going on - that's not really the case anymore.  The letters Charlie writes help to create a blunt recollection of events that he either doesn't understand yet or that he's contextualizing for the first time.  He befriends a couple of high school seniors who essentially give him a crash course in growing up.  I liked the fact that reading the book felt like you were in on the thought process - a kind of behind the scenes treatment to the actual story that was inspiring the letters.  

There's also some pretty heavy (if not a bit stereotypical) themes in terms of how family life, suicide, sex, and drugs are all weaved into the mix.  The fact that Charlie is so passive in how deals with them actually make these themes biting enough to seem fresh.  Charlie is always striving to give things more meaning or value, but still couldn't seem to overcome his lack of social awareness.  It actually served to make the book a bit more poetic while endearing us to Charlie's circumstance.

Overall, the book was kind of messy and scattered; an every-teenager story dotted with heavy plot points left with open ends.  And I think that's fitting.  High school in retrospect is a blur and there are key defining moments that we all use to give it meaning after the fact.  Even in the small window of a year that Wallflower takes place in I think that's still true.  In high school we spend so much time trying to find out who we are, what we want to do, where we want to be and go, that part of the experience is just embracing the confusion for the sake of trying to be happy in the midst of everything.  

I'm glad high school is behind me, frankly.  But, if you want to be taken on your own nostalgia trip The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a great book to do it with.

On a side note, this book is also going to be released as a film in 2012 starring Logan Lerman and Emma Watson.  I always love comparing books to the movies that follow them, and this one is going to provide some pretty interesting arcs if they can pull it off correctly.  I'll have to write a follow-up in the new year.