A Little Less Losing, A Little More Lost

The Writer's Guild strike is just plain bad news. Sure, the impact hasn't been huge as of yet, but the effects will be apparent very, very soon. There is a lot of reading out there about the topic, but it boils down to the residuals from the internet and digital content. The WGA got burned during the last negotiations with DVD revenue, which was a great unknown at the time, and are not about to do the same with the unknown world wide web returns. They are really not asking for much, and I believe it is fair, but it looks like nobody is willing to budge.

That's all nice and good, but how is it going to affect us as consumers? The daily written shows were the first to go, such as late night television (which has recently been forced to go back to work, due to the fact that other workers who are not writers are left in the cold). This wasn't a big deal to most, as their fans are not "invested" as other shows. I really believe that this whole thing is going to reach its tipping point when television shows are adversely affected.

"Lost" is one of those shows. The fans of this show, me included, are very dedicated and invested, if you will, to its soap opera storyline. When people realize that the Lost season will be cut in half due to the strike, with Lost already on countdown to its end, there are going to be some angry island watchers.

I mean, if you thought there was some crappy TV gracing your HD screen, just wait. Reality and game shows up the wazoo.

I learned in Economics that there could be gains on both sides every transaction. Well, this strike has taught me that everybody can be losing too.

So please, let's get this settled. Just give the writers their due, and maybe we all can be Lost in good writing again.

Across the Universe for a Dollar and Fifty Cents

Among the many things I love about being home is the "Dollar Theater" just a few minutes away. It's actually $1-2 dollars depending on the time and day, but still cheap nonetheless. There may be a little stink, and it's a little dirty...but c'mon people. In the land of the privileged, some left over popcorn on the floor still isn't a big deal.

What it did though, was give me the chance to catch the film Across the Universe on the cheap. Musicals are my guilty pleasure, so I was excited to pay for my buck and a half ticket to see it on the big screen (how all movies should be seen).

I liked the film. I'll open with that.

When the actors and actresses, who are largely unknown, are singing, there is a lot to like about this film. They have wonderfully dynamic voices, and its hard to go wrong with a song list featuring Beatles tunes.

I also liked the portions where they went into "art house" mode and went into full-fledged psychadellic scenes that were wildly spectacular and interesting.

It was the in-between moments that disappointed. The "story," if you want to call it that. The characters were under-developed and the story didn't mesh together well. I know that the rules of a musical are a little different, as breaking into a song in the middle of a scene is par for the course. But showing a character who we don't know anything about singing a song about something we don't care about in a place we don't...well you get the point. Too often, the film spends too much time on characters who are supposed to be secondary. I'm sure they could have cut down on their two-plus hour runtime to cut out those scenes non essential to the story.

The film really is in its element in the darker moments, the abstract moments, the artistic moments. Across the Universe is really about the spectacle of it all, so I recommend a viewing just to witness it in all its wonder. Just be patient with the slow parts and the undeveloped story and the movie will be a pleasure to watch.

About to nerd out for a second...

I am in nerd heaven. I just found out that a new Street Fighter film is being made. Not only that, but it is based on the ever so hot Chun Li (probably one of the top 5 video game hotties of all time)! Not to be outdone, Chun Li will be played by Kristin Kreuk, who played Lana Lang in the Superman TV series Smallville.

Pimple faced nerds everywhere are rejoicing!

M for Magnificent

If you haven't already, watch the German film M, directed by Fritz Lang. Hell, if you've already seen it, watch it again.

I just finished watching it for the first time and it has renewed my faith in filmmaking (which tends to dwindle after watching crap like Transformers). It is chilling, suspenseful, thought-provoking, and most of all, timeless. It quite simply does not get any better than this film.

M is a film that demands discussion afterward; one of the greatest goals a film, in my opinion, can achieve.


Fair warning: spoilers follow. Please read if you have already watched the film, but please do not read if you haven't! Experience it as it should be experienced!


**SPOILER ALERT**

Was it just me, or were there times in this film where other were just absolutely floored by some of the shots/scenes?
The scene in which the M gets placed on the murderers back was so clever and for me unexpected. This is where the film really picks up.

The blurring of the lines between the underground and police was a great theme that perpetuated the film; Lang did a masterful job with the sound and film editing to heighten this theme. What about the reveal of the jury of criminals? I mean WOW. When they showed the initial group I literally said "WOW" aloud, and then when the camera kept panning to reveal more I slowly uttered "oh my God." Only a film as masterful as this can have one root for the criminals as hard as I was rooting for them.

The two performances that really stood out were Hans Beckert the murderer(played by Peter Lorre) and Schränker the Mob Boss (played by Gustaf Gründgens). They were absolutely perfect in these roles. Beckert with his eyes popping out of his face had the exact look of a troubled, sinister, yet disarming murderer. His eyes...man those eyes. Gründgens was the perfect mob boss. Cold, smart, ruthless, and an absolutely great leader. His judgement was always on point, and held some sort of honor within the underworld, judging by his "fair trial" and mob code of conduct.

**SPOILER DONE**


I could likely go on and on about this film, but I won't. Everybody deserves to watch a great film like this one.

So next time you add a movie to you Netflix queue, make it M for magnificent.

Welcome

Welcome to my film and television blog, Ray the Director.

This blog will feature reviews, opinions and my general thoughts on the film and television industry.

Enjoy your stay.

-Ray