Perfect Days (2023) - Dir. Wim Wenders
10/18/2024 - At Captain's House Dog Sitting
Simple. Prideful. Sad. Happy. Enlightening. Tender. Healing. These are the words that came to my mind minutes after finishing this film. Have you ever thought of Sisyphus as being happy? Even the most mundane chore that doesn't change in its basic form is a sense of freedom when you control it. The moment the rock rolls back down the hill Sisyphus is unencumbered and free as he walks back down taking in the world around him appreciating what he can control taking pride and if I dare say finding some sort of happiness. Am I comparing this movie's main character to Sisyphus not quite but I'm more comparing it to finding happiness in anything. Happiness can come from the simplest things with little needing to be spoken or said. The lack of dialogue the main character partakes in was soothing to me. Such peacefulness the less you have to worry about. But worry is a human condition we put onto ourselves from overstimulation. These days have now turned into a massive ADD problem with people needing so much going on at once to get something done and feel accomplished. The main character takes pride in his routine and having such a routine has so many benefits. His sense of peace but also listening and awareness skills were very satisfying to watch.
Do shadows get darker when they overlap? Questions we don't know are what life is all about just make sure you never stop asking them. Even if you'll never know the answer. This movie made me feel very stoic and made me feel like you can always achieve peace in your life even in this judgmental, fast-paced, money-first world we live in. I loved the hobbies and habits he had just like the routine of a simple man but he isn't simple. He is just as important as anyone else. Something about physical media and physical jobs that can really create a sense of being present and not so programmed. Forces you to make more intentful choices. But so many people don't care enough so they just want things chosen for them (i.e. Spotify on shuffle, or scrolling on the search page of social media). Even buying a piece of media isn't really heard of now. It feels less yours to me. Like a stranger in your home who you know but don't truly know. You know each other are there and acknowledge that but you never sit down to truly take in and understand each other. I feel people misinterpret comfortability with building/community. There is no shame in a simple life of listening and learning and creating routine and foundation. With so much human to human life comparisons something like this is needed in my opinion. We don't find like-minded individuals or intellectual conversation, no one wants to put in that kind of work they just give up quickly when it isn't working. We complain about why we are so disconnected on a human level. We don't have conversations anymore, we are even at the point where having a text conversation is too scary and we let AI or an App choose a topic or response for us. It is incredibly unhealthy the people we compare ourselves to that we will never meet and the expectations those set for people both young and old. That's why this movie felt like such a sweet breath of fresh air.
This movie really helped me put things like this in perspective and the first step is being aware. Everything about this guy's life was comforting even the family issues but everything that needed to be talked out was talked out. And when no words needed to be spoken he did not speak. The appreciation for nature the simple glass of water at the food/bar spot every time, the bike rides, the quick snap of a picture of his favorite tree while smiling. Beautiful. I am SOOOOOOOO glad I found and watched this movie. Watched it at the same time with my mother even though we were in different cities. Life is in the eyes of the beholder. It's a new dawn, its a new day, its a new life......and im feeellinnggg goooooddd. But there is still no such thing as perfect soooooo.
9.5/10 😀🍃
Joker: Folie a Deux - Dir. Todd Phillips
11/18/2024
I totally understand where people are coming from regarding this movie. A lot of people going to these movies are comic fans and the Joker is one of if not the most notorious villain in any superhero world. People expect A LOT. Now we saw the first movie so we knew this isn't any normal superhero DC movie. I truly believe it was chastised too hard. I just think there was a lot more to this that people overlooked because on the surface it was silly, weird, bad singing, and sloppy. But I believe that was the intent. This movie was Arthur Fleck, it was Joker. It was a play-by-play inside the mind of a psychotic, traumatized, mentally ill, poverty-stricken man who copes with music, dancing, violence, and comedy. It starts off so subtle he's just Arthur Fleck living his life out in the Asylum Prison and the movie ramps up as he gains courage from his followers and then from Gaga's character which I want to dive into a tad bit more later. He cares a lot about what people think of him as Arthur Fleck and even as Joker but Joker is more charismatic and boisterous so it seems easier to hide. He wants people to like him. In his head, he is the main character. We saw multiple times where he broke out in singing and some showed the actual reality, him just singing to people in a room in his terrible singing voice, but then some had the extra spotlight, or the "talk show" he and Lee Quinzel (Gaga) were "on", or them escaping the Asylum dancing and singing. Then it cuts back to reality which to me clearly shows this is how he is seeing all this in his head whether it's Fleck or Joker in control. This is a tortured traumatized mind we are watching.
Lee Quinzel put him over the edge or opened his mind up at that point however you the viewer want to see it. I thought it was a great writing touch of the duality of mental illness Quinzel's side from privilege and wealth and Fleck's side from poverty and abuse. Quinzel clearly a manipulating character who wanted to bring out Joker for herself or truly believed that was best for Fleck. We knew that when we first figured out she lied about being put in the Asylum they met at in the first place. Damn good acting job. She loved the idea of Joker's F*** the world F*** the system they don't care about us which is a VERY strong message these days. Joker being the extreme choice for that type of change but man with the little actual change happening for people less fortunate I wondered if the writers wanted it this way as a way of saying hey maybe this kind of extreme is where we are heading. Anyway, Quinzel clearly had this plan of being the devil on Fleck's shoulder. She wanted the thrill she wanted to see what Joker could and would do if pushed and convinced enough. The court scenes are where everything shows itself. I do believe this is one of the far-fetched moments of the movie. The amount of leeway the judge gave Fleck/Joker wasn't super convincing. But it was pivotal to see those huge Joker outbursts but also the moments of acceptance and change. You see that break where Fleck and Joker think more as one. Quinzel doesn't like that. I guess I wonder what made him as Joker and Fleck come together and decide the person he wants to portray to the world. Because mentally ill or not you absolutely have the power to shape how people view you. Outside forces play a part clearly (environment, privilege, upbringing, location, etc) but you are the only one always inside your own head. Make the next best choice. This movie weirdly made me feel happy. I was laughing and it was funny, some sad triggering parts for my love, but I know she was happy and also got a lot out of this film as well. The music helped in my opinion as a lot of the songs were positive affirmation type songs. I do wonder what about Gaga's character made Fleck fall for her. Another question I have is what state are these writers in for scripts like this? Do they just disassociate and dive deep into the story adding real-life experiences? Just seems like such a fulfilling feeling whether the movie is well-received or not.
**SPOILERS BELOW**
One other thing I don't think many people thought about is how cool this Joker is to the DC villain universe. The Joker character specifically. This is all a guessing game but I do believe this storyline could be a very cool Joker character origin story. A way to tie all the Jokers (in the DC timeline) together. How this Joker was the first one that started the "movement" with the makeup and the masks people would wear at the end of the first Todd Phillips movie to portray Joker. He started the uprising through violence to "the man" to the rich shitty people who looked down on people like Fleck. He is set up as quite the martyr when he dies in the he did (stabbed by another mentally ill person). I believe this set of 2 Joker movies could've been the start to the origin of the Joker, that it wasn't just one person it was different mentally ill, traumatized, angry people that took it upon themselves to continue what the original Joker started and his persona building off of it. But as we know from other Joker portrayals they use much more extreme measures. Just a thought, but seems like a cool idea to accept every Joker portrayal to be standalone. To be their own.
7.7/10 🤡
The Iron Claw - Dir. Sean Durkin
May 24th, 2024
At my cousin's in Bakersfield for his graduation. Late night my parents and I did not know what to watch. We tried "High Life" at first the space movie with Robert Pattinson but found some things about it from Google that I know my Mom wouldn't have enjoyed so we decided on this. It's a movie we've all been wanting to see but slipped our minds and now its on Max, lovely. Start of the movie I can already tell the wife and husband are NOT on the same page. But the Father is on the brink of something special in wrestling. The beginning of Wrestling as a true entertainment spectacle. I remember watching WWE as a kid thinking it was real but I honestly now think it is an incredibly taxing job mentally and physically. You are playing a character while throwing your body everywhere. And this is where it started very very cool to see.
This old-school Texas family doesn’t want to talk about real issues because it makes them uncomfortable clearly. They don’t believe there is a world where you can’t be tough and live correctly from the parents ' perspective. But the brothers seem to really look out for each other and remind them that their father's opinion and voice aren't everything. I love the old-school feel. I loved the behind-the-scenes aspect we get of the wrestling world. Way tougher than you expect I couldn't imagine.
Very well-paced movie. Classic tale of a father living vicariously through his sons but doesn’t treat them all equally and correctly. What a tragic story all because he believes a family curse. The father won’t take any accountability and the detriment he’s caused his family and his sons just because he wants them to live how he wants to. Self-centered father who has kids to tell them who they have to be.
It’s so tragic and sad but so well written and acted all around. Zac Efron has come into his own all these actors man just wow what a great performance. Efron has been upping his drama game and doing a hell of a job. Just so goddamn sad that the last brother alive is in the most pain and has no brother left to understand and help him as they are the only ones that can. While the other brothers are living together in the afterlife. The 6th brother I have no idea why he wasn’t involved but the most tragedy struck family I’ve ever seen.
The ending is so bittersweet so happy to see Kevin live on the legacy and break that curse with his family and stay strong. To have his boys as "brothers" really helps the pain and the hole left by the passing of his brothers. He even started using a different name to not associate it with his father who clearly had narcissistic issues. Beautiful movie. Beautiful story of a real historic family story.
9.5/10
Dancing With Wolves - Dir. Kevin Costner
May 11th, 2024
So I surprised my Mom for Mother's Day and we always have a couple of movie nights when I'm back visiting home. This was HIGH on the list to watch especially with my parents. I believe they saw this movie in theaters and have always sworn by it. It took a bit but I understand why now. Probably the weirdest start to a damn movie what the heck was he running back and forth for. Seeing him do the dumbest most plot armor main character thing threw me off at first, I was not a fan. Why did his superior shoot himself was he just crazy? Was that just to show what coming to North America did to the weaker links in power?
I like how they had a fantastic cast for the Sioux and the Indians but I don’t like them making the Indians seen as not friendly and whites as always on the defensive. You can tell Costner's character is a good person though actually interested in learning about the natives of the land and not just taking and taking. He’s patient and so is kicking bird. The movie progressively got better and better as it went on. Love all the details each Sioux Indian does to their body and horses before they ride for the Buffalo hunt or into battle.
The horseback riding and Buffalo hunt scene is the most fascinating thing I’ve seen filmed in a while. Definitely top 5 non-CG scenes. It's so amazing how they can ride and shoot like that at the same time. I wish their relationship was how it went in real life. Also, the way he treats animals means something to me. Sad but shows every type of person had good and bad kinds of people just happens that the white man was the most dangerous and violent and brutal of them all.
Also, they had the firepower to overwhelm what the natives had. The Natives are fierce fighters. Europeans are so greedy. What a cruel movie killing these animals. It did erk me when Costner did not tell Wind In His Hair that he loved him too and would always be his friend... I feel like that would've been a nice touch. The beginning threw me off and could’ve been told way better but it got better and better and I thoroughly enjoyed this film. Felt closer to nature and a more natural way of living. The Natives had so many natural remedies and such, things I wish weren’t seen as weird and not aligned with the right religion.
Healing ways and healing properties lost to ignorance and the conquering and greed of their “American frontier” wish we did better. As a film, it sucks you in and keeps you there with a good ending.
8.6/10
Dune: Part 2 - Dir. Denis Villenueve
April 4th, 2024
I'm late but got to watch in 70mm which made up for it. The world-building of this movie, the culture of its people, the different planets and their inhabitants..... Christopher Walken as an emperor? What else could you want???
These movies are spectacles and when you add good writing, directing, and acting to it it’s amazing. I need to try to read the books again because I just remember it being such a tough read compared to most books I've read. I couldn’t really get through it but I want to try again.
The storytelling is incredible. Movies are so inspiring to me I am always looking past the movie into the humanity of these characters and why they think like this to then compare it to real-world shit. Imagination always has a true story hidden inside. Everyone gets lil parts of their ideas from something they’ve heard or seen.
The Fremen are the coolest fighters I’ve seen on screen and the systems in place to adapt to the planets, their suits, and being able to take water from dead bodies for themselves are genius. Also, the weaponry, size of the Harkonnens world and the ship designs everything is beautiful. I know the books are a little old so I’ll give em a break but a white man saying he is Fremen when Zendaya was like you aren’t because he isn’t lol nothing wrong with it. And the white man is supposed to be the “Messiah”. Maybe his character wasn’t supposed to be white maybe that’s just the movie casting (again I need to read the books so forgive me for my ignorance here) just speculating. The aspect of religion is slapped everywhere here. But all it is is the bene gesserit setting up babies around the world as prospects until they got one right. Can’t help but feel a way about religions we have where it was just planted there a story told over and over across thousands of generations. But in this movie they witness it come true.
“The Voice” so powerful and when the old reverend mother called Paul an “abomination” I understood why she was scared of a man holding her power as only women had the power of the “voice” and giving it to one man turned into a holy war. It’s a thought I kept having that he has such power and it went to arguably the best man suitable for it and still turned into an all-out war. They showed the women as planners that held all the cards and information at their fingertips while the fighting took place.
Zendaya was awesome in it honestly she fit that role. Javier is one of my favorite actors and he was great really good all around. Austin Butler's character was…..surprising ahaha but surprisingly disturbing in a good way.
It hurt me when you can tell Chani hates what he’s become but loves Paul and you can tell Paul knew what he had to do but wasn’t the same after drinking the water. I wish he explained to her more like “I literally know everything now and I want to do right by these people and bring them to the promised land and I see everything now the pain, the agony, the horrors. I could never explain it to you but I still love you until my last breath never forget that” I get he said the last thing but I guess I wanted him to give Chani more assurance. I think Chalamet was great with his change of demeanor after taking the water but I think that little extra dialogue to let us know he’s still him just with everything on his plate now would’ve been nice.
But who am I to say that’s the right way either way I loved it. Can’t wait for part 3 and I will try to start the book again.
9/10 🙌
Eyes Wide Shut (1999) - Dir. Stanley Kubrick
March 6th, 2024
As always the surround sound was bumping and I was fully immersed. Holllyyy Moly Kubrick's mind is something to be studied the way he brings a movie together what he thinks about and has ideas for just WOW.
I am not a fan at all of Full Metal Jacket (that being the only other Kubrick movie I've seen so far) but this one was a lot different similar tones as you can tell from the directors and the little quirks they all have. This movie was so sexual and erotic but pro-equality undertones or at least that's how I saw scenes with his wife and a lot of the women in the movie having this clear feeling of power. Showing the unfairness towards women being sexualized and never seeing the possibility that some women like so many men think about sex and love it and embrace their sexual prowess. That they shouldn't be seen as a prize but as the higher being more in tune and in control. It's a very different concept and insane movie that I kind of get which I was surprised I did.
The acting was great even with not being the biggest Cruise fan as he's kind of a nut job lol. But the art in this movie, how it was filmed, the scratchy piano score that was changed as other piano pieces were "too beautiful". The grimy New York scenery fit with that choice. Red being recognized in the same vein as love, sex, and fear even, was a constant color implemented throughout the whole movie. I've wanted to watch this movie for a very looonnggg time knowing nothing about it but the red carpet circle and people with masks ahaha. Its crazy to know there are legit parties out there just like that, that happens all the time I'm guessing. In light of that whole P Diddy situation, these people get too rich which in turn makes them bored and bold to try anything their minds can imagine. When you are that bored and rich who do they care about pleasing besides themselves and their ungodly gross fantasies? When you have no one to tell you no, nothing holding you back from doing anything you've ever thought of I believe that can make a very dangerous person. Its a dark hole that if you are not right within yourself, in your own head, that darkness will consume you so fast.
Sex sells its a sad reality that's only gotten weirder and more complex as the internet progresses and each new generation as more and more info at their fingertips. Sex is ingrained in so many people at a young age and it hooks to the depths of your being. So difficult to get out of or even face at all. In this movie, the couple is married for 9 years with a 7-year-old daughter. Both the wife and husband have these crazy sexual thoughts either through dreams (the wife) or through real-life scenarios. SPOILERS: They end up telling each other everything they dreamed thought and did. I think about that. No person can ever know every single thing that goes on in your head or you theirs. I think there is something special about that. As people would attest, they wouldn't wish their every thought upon the person they love the most. It does not make you a bad person for sometimes thinking bad things, I think it makes you a well-rounded person. Because we program ourselves (brainwash would be a harsher word) but we can convince ourselves we hate this and love this or I believe in this and if I do this I'm shamed forever blah blah blah. Yes there is a morality line there are boundaries but, to be able to let in your very good and very bad thoughts know the difference be able to talk it through, and be at peace knowing you aren't perfect is a skill we should develop. Crazy movie and I realllyyy liked it way more than I thought even immediately after the credits rolled. I HAVE to watch more Kubrick, I really feel like he cared about his craft and had a very interesting thought process.
8.2/10 🙌
The Killer 2023 - November 11th 2023
I was at my SD apartment overlooking Cowles Mountain about to move out actually. I had the surround sound system as usual, can't watch a movie without it. I've been WAITING for this movie for a while it has been in the works for years upon years and I can say it did not disappoint. Love me some Finch. The movie starts and locks you in explaining how small our lives matter in the end and that is okay, the quicker you realize that (the thought that there is most likely an endless void waiting for us) is freeing in a way. All of that within the first 5 minutes of the movie...LOVE IT. To see the thought process of a professional killer and how he explains his next moves or past moves and why it doesn't matter and isn't bad what he's doing is strange. Strange because I don't think he is wrong in many worldly things he is saying about how people are and how the world is. The idea of life being fleeting and fate being a full-on placebo makes me think about accepting many things as they are. Fate doesn't exist and no matter what waits for you at the end of life it's peaceful when you are truly dead, gives me a sense of freedom. A line that stuck with me was "No room for empathy, no room for improvising" That felt inhumane to me it took me away from the character but reminded me who this guy was i mean no matter the life experience he's a trained murderer. In a take and take and take world the easy way out is to just hop on and ride that train into the sunset. The hard part is doing right by people what is humanly right or morally right as subjective as that is. Think about your actions and who they affect because life is beautiful but to be a part of taking away that beauty from someone is indescribable. He is a Killer who shows you what a killer needs to do to make it out alive he stays calm knowing the terrible things happening around him and the terrible things he causes. My favorite scene had to be the 1 on 1 dinner with Tilda Swinton's character. Fantastic. When a movie uses a lot of silence it always has an effect on me that I love. The writing you can tell has been worked on and gone through many times over. I thoroughly enjoyed this movie.
8.7/10 🙌