Day: May 7, 2016

As reported by the N.Y. Times in mid-April, nightly political protests in the vein of Occupy Wall Street have been happening every night at Place de la Republique. The gatherings, mostly attended by Millenials and being called Nuit Debout, began as a pushback against proposed labor-law reforms, but several leftie causes and grievances were being aired when I dropped by last night around 9 pm. It felt like a huge, amiable community gathering — speeches, banners, placards and the usual pamphlets, T-shirts and buttons being sold. I was particularly impressed by the respect and sense of fraternity shown by a small crowd that was listening to one short speech after another by anyone who felt moved to pick up the mike and share. Each and every speaker was politely applauded. No way would that happen in Union Square.

This has to be one of the most striking artistic appropriations of the 1945 flag-raising on Iwo Jima I’ve ever seen, hands down. Sculpture was sitting in an art-gallery window.

To go by screen captures contained in Gary Tooze‘s DVD Beaver review, Criterion’s 4k Bluray of Robert Altman‘s The Player (5.24) looks distinctly darker than New Line Home Video’s 2010 Bluray (which I own and am totally fine with). On top of which the Criterion version, cropped at 1.85:1, offers less picture information on all sides than the 1.78:1 New Line version. The cropping alone is a major issue, but coupled with the darker images = definite fail. You also have to consider that with the exception of McCabe and Mrs. Miller, Altman films have never offered super-captivating, exquisitely composed cinematography so in most instances creating 4K versions is a bit of a head-scratcher. I didn’t request this puppy from the Orange Media guys, and I’m not buying it either. God forbid the possibility of Criterion delivering a 4K Bluray of McCabe down the road. That candle-and-kerosene-lighted 1971 classic is already dark and hazy and murky — given their established tendencies the Criterion guys would probably take it even deeper into this realm. I couldn’t stand their darkened-down 4K version of Only Angels Have Wings.

Now that first-wavers have seen Captain America: Civil War, mini-reviews are requested. Please answer the following: (1) As efficient and well organized as the film obviously is, does there seem to be something missing nonetheless? Some spark of soul or feeling or genuine inspiration?; (2) Is there common agreement that the film does pretty much peak after the airport brawl or…?; (3) Was anyone vaguely bothered by the similarity to Batman v Superman in that CA:CW is basically about superheroes facing adversity and repression because the public feels threatened by the chaos-creating battles between the Avengers and supervillains?; (4) Scott Mendelson has tweeted that the film “is more of a parable for World War I than the U.S. Civil War” — agree or disagree?; (5) Is anyone else feeling fatigued and dispirited by the presence of Robert Downey, Jr.? Once again, my original review.

I’ve no room in my soul for stupid boner comedies, but there’s something about the tone of Amateur Night…I don’t know what it is but at the very least the trailer suggests that it might be half-genuine and therefore might half-work. Maybe because co-directors and co-writers Lisa Addario and Joe Syracuse based the premise (out-of-work husband driving hookers around to pay for pregnant wife’s medical insurance) on their own experience when they first hit Hollywood. I also love the original title — Drive, She Said. The presence of Jason Biggs suggests a low-rent horndog attitude but maybe not. I’m a teeny bit concerned that this August 2016 release wrapped in late 2014 (20 months is too long of a lull, suggesting there may be content issues) but let’s put that aside for now. Costarring Ashley Tisdale, Janet Montgomery, Bria L. Murphy, Jenny Mollen.

Erectile dysfunction is commonly defined as an inability to get it up. A more accurate definition: a difficulty with keeping it up, better known as the Moody Johnson syndrome. It’s up, it’s down, it’s up, it’s taking a break, it’s distracted, it’s up again, etc. When special moments of intimacy with a loved one occur, most guys want their appendages to commit whole-hog to becoming small (8″ to 9″) baseball bats made of hickory. As I understand it, that’s what the taking of Viagra and Cialis is mostly about, i.e., wanting to be “bat”-man.

Side issue: There are people out there who actually intend to buy the Deadpool Bluray. So, you know, they can watch it with their kids or with friends on a weekday evening or Sunday afternoon…whenever. Think about that. On second thought, don’t.

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