Cinephile Journal - October 19th, 2021

After many years of starting and stopping, I've finally completed what exists of the series,
The Walking Dead on Netflix.  This completion felt like a real accomplishment.  It really is a remarkable series too.  The show takes the roots of its George Romero ancestry into the 21st Century.  It has a vast array of characters and storylines, almost in a Robert Altman-like style.  What the creators are doing with the character of Negan and his trajectory is really compelling and groundbreaking.  To make his character, after some of his atrocious, unspeakable acts in previous seasons, into an actually admirable and redeemable figure is quite extraordinary and daring.  There has never been a show where so many major characters die either.  The show constantly thwarts expectations and breaks new ground in narrative content and character development.  I look forward to the final, 11th season when it is released on Netflix next year.

I also just completed Ken Burns' 2-part documentary on Thomas Jefferson.  He was a very conflicted, complex and multi-faceted man.  I didn't find this 2-parter as fascinating as Jazz, which I also recently completed, but there is something about Ken Burns documentaries that I love.  It may be the enthusiasm of his interview subjects or the poetic narration.  Still, I look forward to diving deeper into Burns' body of work on Hoopla and Kanopy.

I'm almost finished Netflix's Maid and I can predict that this limited series will get a lot of awards consideration when the time comes.  It has great acting, charismatic, endearing characters, engaging writing and sparkling dialogue.  this is the best Netflix series I have seen since The Queen's Gambit.  

I'm also nearing the end of an HBO series from nearly a decade ago, Enlightened.  After seeing Mike White's more recent series, The White Lotus, I felt compelled to investigate some of this earlier efforts.  This one isn't as good, but it has its moments. As I'm nearing the end of its 2nd and final season, it seems to be catching some wind in its sails.  

So much to watch and enjoy.  The life of a cinephile is a rich and rewarding one.  

Dark - Season 1, Episode 3 "Past and Present"

I have been initiated into the world of Netflix's Dark, having now watched the first 3 episodes and I'm starting to get hooked.  It is a German thriller, recently made and it has a Stranger Things vibe in its supernatural, ominous tones and 1980s nostalgia.  

In episode 3 of season 1, after an initial 2 episodes taking place in modern times where children are disappearing inexplicably, we are thrown into 1986, where one of the disappearances, young Mikkel, suddenly finds himself.  Upon entering a foreboding cave, he has been mysteriously sucked into this previous time period and there is no explanation given yet for how this happened.  Like a deer caught in the headlights, Mikkel staggers zombie-like around trying to get his bearings in an unknown, unwelcoming, and unfamiliar new time period.    

Like the modern day of previous episodes, there are rain-storms of birds falling from the sky, dying in droves.  Perhaps it has something to do with the nuclear power plant, where a local woman has recently been put in charge.  A teenage girl takes an interest in the dead birds and appears to be collecting, studying and drawing them.  A large population of sheep (33 sheep to be exact) have also been discovered, totally wiped out, lying dead in a field.  When one of the sheep is autopsied, it is discovered that they all died from cardiac arrest. Why? the viewers are forced to ask themselves.

Mikkel looks for his parents and family and discovers that they are existing in unfamiliar 1986.  His father, Ulrich, is still a teenager here, and the local police officer suspects that he is responsible for the rough condition Mikkel finds himself in upon arrival. 

There is a really cool sequence late in this episode that makes use of split-screens to convey the two different time periods.  The characters older and younger selves are juxtaposed beside each other to emphasize the difference and provide dramatic counterpoint.

Like Peter Weir's Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975), the jagged, devouring, cavernous rock formation deep in the forest can be seen as a threatening, unknowable living presence.  This mysterious force of nature cannot be fathomed and to venture into it is to enter a truly dangerous place with the possibility of not returning. 

If this and the previous two episodes are any indication, this appears to be an engaging and atmospheric series and shows a lot of promise after three episodes. 

Discovering Jack Nicholson

The streaming platform Kanopy has a series of short documentaries on various actors and they are well-made and provide a good overview of the specific actor's film career.  It highlights the the films that are of most importance to a given actor's body of work in chronological order.  My first viewing was Discovering Al Pacino, which was fun and enlightening to watch.  Tonight I watched Discovering Jack Nicholson.  He is one of my all-time favourite actors and I had seen the majority of the films highlighted.  This is a pleasant trip down memory lane and also offers new information on Nicholson's early life and film career.  I was unaware that he was a skilled writer, especially in the 60s.  His writing would lead to a partnership with Bob Rafelson, who would direct him in Five Easy Pieces (1970).  With Rafelson, he wrote the screenplay for the Monkees experimental vehicle, Head (1968).  

Early in his film career, he came under the tutelage of Roger Corman with whom he cut his teeth in the movies, and as the documentary iterates, learned a lot about the craft of filmmaking.  This education, along with his early films with Monte Hellman, would pave the way for occasional directing jobs in the future, including one in the early 70s called Drive, He Said (1971).  

Nicholson's breakthrough role was his supporting act in Dennis Hopper's Easy Rider (1969).  Here, he exploded onto the cultural landscape in a role that was originally intended for Rip Torn.  Easy Rider would be a huge success all over the world and Nicholson really lights up the screen, as the talking heads in the documentary express.  It would also be the film that would garner his first Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor.  

The 1970s demonstrated an unprecedented string of starring roles for Nicholson including the aforementioned Five Easy Pieces, The Last Detail (1972), Chinatown (1974), One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975) and The Passenger (1975).  Of these, Five Easy Pieces is my favourite.   I loved its story of a rebellious former musical prodigy who rejects the lifestyle and lineage of his family of musical genius piano players.  The film had an electrifying affect on me when I first saw it and it shaped my early film-watching sensibility.  I was in awe of Nicholson's performance in Five Easy Pieces and the way he juggles volatility with laid-back standoffishness. 

In the 1980s, Nicholson would continue his critical and artistic success with The Shining (1980), Reds (1981), and Terms of Endearment (1983).  It always seemed that no two roles were ever the same for Nicholson.  He was a very daring and explorative actor who wasn't afraid to test the limits of his talent and range. 

It was during the 80s that experts in this documentary claim that the branding of "Jack" really started to be initiated.  He became associated with a certain personality as an actor that may or may not necessarily be accurate or true-to-life:  brash, energetic, free-wheeling, and rambunctious.  This was emphasized in his casting as the Joker in Tim Burton's Batman (1989).  I remember seeing Batman in theatres when I was at an impressionable age and was frightened and at the same time intrigued by the dark, noirish atmosphere of the film as well as Nicholson's captivating performance.  

Into the 1990s and 21st century, Jack would continue to strike gold with a series of performances that fit well with his aging persona.  A Few Good Men (1992), As Good as It Gets (1997), About Schmidt (2001), and The Departed (2006), all demonstrate the familiar persona of "Jack", but at the same time breathes new life into his ever-expanding body of work and personal expression on the screen.  

Nicholson has been nominated for Oscars 12 times and has won 3 of those times.  He is one of my, and millions of others people's favourite actors.  It is easy to identify with him and he always takes the viewer on an exciting journey.  

I loved this documentary entry in this "Discovering" series on Kanopy.  I look forward to finding out more about other actors in the future.  I highly recommend this series if you want to explore your favourite actors' careers and filmographies.  

The Culture Diaries: Frederick Douglass, Mindhunter, The Press Gang - August 17th, 2021

It's been a while since I've made a Cultural Diaries entry and over the past few months I've read and screened a lot, some great, some good, and some less so.  

I'm currently reading a biography on Frederick Douglass by David W. Blight.  Winner of the Pulitzer Prize, it is not light reading, especially at nearly 800 pages.  Still, I'm finding its depiction of an 19th century black man, who's journey from slavery to revolutionary orator, writer and leader very inspiring.  That's why I read biographies:  they give me an idea of how I can better live my own life.  Douglass's struggles and the advancements he made towards the abolition of slavery can be applicable to anyone who has ever had their own struggles and tribulations in life, and I fit into that category.    

I'm currently watching a Netflix series called Mindhunter.  It is produced and some episodes are directed by David Fincher.  The stylistics and motifs of the director of Seven, Fight Club and Zodiac is evident in the series' dark tone and visual style.  The series depicts of a group of FBI agents who interview incarcerated perpetrators of violent crimes and horrible murders o get a better sense of current cases and the psychologies of similar criminals.  It takes place in the late 70s with a very nice attention to period detail.  I just completed the first season and look forward to the next and so far only other one available.

I tend to read more than one thing at a time and besides the Douglass bio, I'm also reading an anthology of film criticism originally published in The New York Press called The Press Gang.  It covers the reviews and essays of Godfrey Cheshire, Matt Zoller Seitz and Armond White from the early 90's to 2011.  The entries are awesome to read, informative, and always engaging.  It is comprehensive and long, but I find myself flying through the book and coming away better informed about cinema in many different aspects.  The critics also draw on films and directors from before the time they write, such as pieces on Rainer Werner Fassbinder and 70's American independent films.

In the coming month, I'll be embarking on a new educational journey, starting an online Masters degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with a focus on Writing and New Media.  I'm hoping I can see it through, though I'm often feeling hesitant about the time and money I need to commit towards this venture.  I also hope that I can learn a lot about culture, writing and myself in a little more depth.

The Culture Diaries: Sidney Lumet, Sea of Love, Ryan's Daughter - April 1st, 2021

I'm nearing the end of a bio on film director Sidney Lumet (1924-2011) by Maura Spiegel.  I'm really learning a lot about this phenomenal director.  He can be described as an "Actor's Director," definitely.  This skill with working with actors was cultivated by his childhood experience as an actor in Broadway plays and briefly on the screen.  He directed some of the finest films of his era:  Twelve Angry Men, Serpico, and Network to name a few.  The bio is called Sidney Lumet: A Life and I highly recommend it.

I watched an Al Pacino vehicle last night called Sea of Love (1989).  Fairly mediocre and forgettable, but I really liked the repartee and comedic asides involving cop buddies Pacino and John Goodman's character. The film starts off really well, but soon takes a turn into a formulaic, standard whodunit.  

I also watched David Lean's epic Ryan's Daughter (1970) today, a 3 hour and 15 minute tale of a teacher's wife who has an affair with an officer in 1916 Northern Ireland.  There are some breathtaking shots of the beautiful landscape and while there were some memorable moments, it doesn't really stand up to some of Lean's better material such as Lawrence of Arabia or Brief Encounter.  The latter film's Trevor Howard turns up in Ryan's Daughter in a late-career performance as a priest.  The performances are good, but the character development isn't really substantial to the point where you don't really get heavily invested in the characters.

I did an hour of power yoga this morning.  As someone who has a desire to maximize my concentration on, absorption in, and enjoyment of movies, I found that exercise such as this will do a lot to promote these areas of the viewing experience.  I need to make this a habit!  I feel so much more content and present.  

The Culture Diaries: Insights into Note-Taking - March 31st, 2021

I made a discovery these past couple days that has really made a difference in my film watching:  taking notes during a film.  I first tried this out a couple nights ago while watching an Al Pacino movie called Sea of Love (1989) and I noticed that it really made a difference in my comprehension and enjoyment. 

I took notes on plot details and various observations I made throughout the screening.  This really helped in paying attention to the details of the story and made me hyper-aware and more mindful of everything that was happening on screen.  

I applied this once again to my screening today of Odd Man Out (1947) and the same results were found.  More understanding, better insights, an overall more-observant viewing experience.  This is not surprising given that memories tend to fade of little details and it is definitely helpful in writing a review afterwards when you have these notes in your hand.  

Pauline Kael, as I read in her biography, was also a user of notes during screenings.  This is probably why she is known as one of the most eloquent, focussed movie critics in her time.  Note-taking really heightens your overall awareness of everything going on in the film, but it also allows you to notate insights that may arise as the result of what you are watching. 

This could be a real breakthrough for me and it can apply to other areas of life as well.  Taking notes on everything from things you read to general life insights would be amazingly beneficial.  I look forward to continuing to employ this strategy going forward.  

Mindfully Watching

As an avid movie-watcher and occasional reviewer, I find it frustrating at times just how difficult it can be to fully absorb and concentrate on a movie or television show from beginning to end.  My mind frequently gets caught up in passing thoughts that disrupt my comprehension of and concentration on a given film or show.  This is especially prevalent with more complex, dialogue-laden films that require your undivided attention.  

In our hyper-connected world there is also an abundance of distractions.  Having your phone dinging away or the noises of people in other rooms taxes your level of concentration.  As someone who places great value on understanding the history, theory and instances of films, I have done my best to find ways to alleviate this problem of thwarted attention in movie-watching.  

One way to help you concentrate is to put your phone way, in another room perhaps.  This eliminates the need to pull your phone out during a film to look up something associated with it or even something not even pertaining to what you’re currently doing.  This will increase your focus and attention considerably. 

I like to make it my mission when watching films to limit my movement.  Even checking your watch to see how much progress you’ve made on what you’re watching can divide your attention.  In fact, you may want to take your watch off or not check it at all.  Try to invest completely in resisting to look away from the screen and hold your gaze on it through the entire film’s duration.  Not only will your concentration increase, but I have found that my enjoyment of the film increases considerably as well.  

One thing I have experimented with in watching films is to sit in a meditative, lotus position while watching, maybe on a meditation cushion.  By doing this, you will be forced to pour your whole being into what you’re watching, a very effective technique for comprehension, enjoyment, and absorption.  

One of the aims of meditation, if you could call it that, is to be fully present in the now.  By applying this aim to film-watching, one can drastically improve the quality of the watching experience.