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Jeff Desom, a young filmmaker originally from Luxembourg, has created a brilliant two minute and fifty eight second time lapse of Alfred Hitchcock's masterpiece Rear Window. I think it's worth a look. I just wish he'd used more Hitchcockian music.
A higher definition version is available on Desom's Vimeo page . He also has some of his other films posted there. I especially liked a moody music video called Morgenrot.
And HERE is an interview he gave, in which he explains the genesis of the project, as well as how he did it.
Now do YOU have a link to an interesting short film?
14 Ağustos 2012 Salı
Students' Favorite Movies, Spring 2012
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A couple of weeks ago, I asked 318I students to write down three of their favorite movies on the back of that week's quiz. Some wrote down three, some more, some less. I was surprised that there was so little overlap of choices. There were a total of 160 votes, and 132 different movies were chosen. Here they are:
5 VotesThe Dark Knight
3 Votes each
2 Votes each
1 Vote each
5 VotesThe Dark Knight
3 Votes each
2 Votes each
1 Vote each
"A Blessing" by James Wright (1927-1980)
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Just off the highway to Rochester, Minnesota, Twilight bounds softly forth on the grass. And the eyes of those two Indian ponies Darken with kindness. They have come gladly out of the willows To welcome my friend and me. We step over the barbed wire into the pasture Where they have been grazing all day, alone. They ripple tensely, they can hardly contain their happiness That we have come. They bow shyly as wet swans. They love each other. There is no loneliness like theirs. At home once more, They begin munching the young tufts of spring in the darkness. I would like to hold the slenderer one in my arms, For she has walked over to me And nuzzled my left hand. She is black and white, Her mane falls wild on her forehead, And the light breeze moves me to caress her long ear That is delicate as the skin over a girl’s wrist. Suddenly I realize That if I stepped out of my body I would break Into blossom.
"Shallow Grave": a "full-throttle bit of Hitchcockian nastiness"
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In 1994, before he directed Trainspotting or Slumdog Millionaire or 127 Hours (AKA the movie where James Franco cuts off his arm), Danny Boyle directed Shallow Grave--now out on a Criterion Collection DVD.
Here's Criterion's blurb:
"The diabolical thriller Shallow Grave was the first film from director Danny Boyle, producer Andrew Macdonald, and screenwriter John Hodge (the smashing team behind Trainspotting). In it, three self-involved Edinburgh roommates—played by Kerry Fox, Christopher Eccleston, and Ewan McGregor, in his first starring role—take in a brooding boarder, and when he dies of an overdose, leaving a suitcase full of money, the trio embark on a series of very bad decisions, with extraordinarily grim consequences for all. Macabre but with a streak of offbeat humor, this stylistically influential tale of guilt and derangement is a full-throttle bit of Hitchcockian nastiness."
Here's part of what Tom Charity said about it in his Time Out review:
"This impressively assured, highly accomplished British feature doesn't dwell on moral niceties, but goes straight for the gut. John Hodge's screenplay has the kind of unrelenting forward momentum and close-to-the bone sense of purpose which sees you safely through a good many logical minefields, even if nagging question marks occur in retrospect. Given that most of the action takes place in the flat, it's remarkable how agile and invigorating Boyle's direction is. As the friends fall out, the movie loses some of its black comic edge, perhaps, but only to gain in sheer, back-stabbing, bloody-minded mayhem."
The Criterion disc contains some great extras, including recent interviews with the cast and a behind the scenes documentary that shows how 20-something producer-wannabe Andrew Macdonald spent years trying to get financing to make John Hodge's screenplay into a movie. After financing was in place, they interviewed various directors, ultimately choosing the 37-year-old Boyle. While Shallow Grave is his first theatrical film, he already had years of experience directing in the theater, along with years of directing TV shows and TV movies in England.
Here's one of Criterion's fun "Three Reasons" videos for the film:
If you're someone who insists that you must like the characters to like a movie, book, or play (I guess that means no Macbeth or Othello for you), you might want to skip this one. Everyone here's a nasty piece of work.
Here's Criterion's blurb:
"The diabolical thriller Shallow Grave was the first film from director Danny Boyle, producer Andrew Macdonald, and screenwriter John Hodge (the smashing team behind Trainspotting). In it, three self-involved Edinburgh roommates—played by Kerry Fox, Christopher Eccleston, and Ewan McGregor, in his first starring role—take in a brooding boarder, and when he dies of an overdose, leaving a suitcase full of money, the trio embark on a series of very bad decisions, with extraordinarily grim consequences for all. Macabre but with a streak of offbeat humor, this stylistically influential tale of guilt and derangement is a full-throttle bit of Hitchcockian nastiness."
Here's part of what Tom Charity said about it in his Time Out review:
"This impressively assured, highly accomplished British feature doesn't dwell on moral niceties, but goes straight for the gut. John Hodge's screenplay has the kind of unrelenting forward momentum and close-to-the bone sense of purpose which sees you safely through a good many logical minefields, even if nagging question marks occur in retrospect. Given that most of the action takes place in the flat, it's remarkable how agile and invigorating Boyle's direction is. As the friends fall out, the movie loses some of its black comic edge, perhaps, but only to gain in sheer, back-stabbing, bloody-minded mayhem."
The Criterion disc contains some great extras, including recent interviews with the cast and a behind the scenes documentary that shows how 20-something producer-wannabe Andrew Macdonald spent years trying to get financing to make John Hodge's screenplay into a movie. After financing was in place, they interviewed various directors, ultimately choosing the 37-year-old Boyle. While Shallow Grave is his first theatrical film, he already had years of experience directing in the theater, along with years of directing TV shows and TV movies in England.
Here's one of Criterion's fun "Three Reasons" videos for the film:
If you're someone who insists that you must like the characters to like a movie, book, or play (I guess that means no Macbeth or Othello for you), you might want to skip this one. Everyone here's a nasty piece of work.
The Moth: "True Stories, told Live and Without Notes"
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For some time, I've been listening to the free weekly podcast of "The Moth" (available on iTunes).
What is "The Moth"? Here's what Wikipedia says: "The Moth is a non-profit group based in New York City dedicated to the art and craft of storytelling. It was founded in 1997 by poet and novelist George Dawes Green, who wanted to recreate the feeling of sultry summer evenings in his native Georgia, when moths were attracted to the light on the porch where he and his friends would gather to spin spellbinding tales. George and his original group of storytellers called themselves "The Moths", and George took the name with him to New York. The organization now runs a number of different storytelling events in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Detroit, and other American cities, often featuring prominent literary and cultural personalities."
Back in March, I attended a sold-out evening of "Moth" storytelling at UCLA's Royce Hall that featured amazing true stories, hilarious and sad, told by a wide range of people--from writers to a professional poker player to a hand surgeon (and the surgeon told the best story of the evening). There are nearly 100 videos of "Moth" stories on You Tube HERE .
"The Moth" also holds StorySLAMs, open mic storytelling competitions where anyone can show up to tell a five-minute-long story that relates to the evening's chosen theme. The storytellers put their names in a hat, and ten are chosen. Judges score the stories, and the evening's winner moves on to compete at the semi-annual GrandSLAM. There are plenty of StorySLAMs coming up for you to attend (see "The Moth"'s WEBSITE for more information). Generally, tickets are $8 (and if you go to one of the shows at Busby's East, near LACMA on Wilshire, you can get half-priced food and drinks before the show--it's Happy Hour).
A couple weeks ago, I went to the GrandSLAM at a very packed Echoplex near Echo Park. That night's winner was Jessica Lee Williams. Here's a video of a story she told at a previous competition, when the night's theme was "Fight or Flight":
And here's a video of a previous GrandSLAM-winning story from Caltech neuroscientist (and regular L.A. slammer) Moran Cerf, about his bank robbing days back in Israel:
There are about three StorySLAMs each month in the L.A. area. There's one tonight, but the next one is at my favorite "Moth" venue, Busby's East, on August 14. HERE is that website again.
What is "The Moth"? Here's what Wikipedia says: "The Moth is a non-profit group based in New York City dedicated to the art and craft of storytelling. It was founded in 1997 by poet and novelist George Dawes Green, who wanted to recreate the feeling of sultry summer evenings in his native Georgia, when moths were attracted to the light on the porch where he and his friends would gather to spin spellbinding tales. George and his original group of storytellers called themselves "The Moths", and George took the name with him to New York. The organization now runs a number of different storytelling events in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Detroit, and other American cities, often featuring prominent literary and cultural personalities."
Back in March, I attended a sold-out evening of "Moth" storytelling at UCLA's Royce Hall that featured amazing true stories, hilarious and sad, told by a wide range of people--from writers to a professional poker player to a hand surgeon (and the surgeon told the best story of the evening). There are nearly 100 videos of "Moth" stories on You Tube HERE .
"The Moth" also holds StorySLAMs, open mic storytelling competitions where anyone can show up to tell a five-minute-long story that relates to the evening's chosen theme. The storytellers put their names in a hat, and ten are chosen. Judges score the stories, and the evening's winner moves on to compete at the semi-annual GrandSLAM. There are plenty of StorySLAMs coming up for you to attend (see "The Moth"'s WEBSITE for more information). Generally, tickets are $8 (and if you go to one of the shows at Busby's East, near LACMA on Wilshire, you can get half-priced food and drinks before the show--it's Happy Hour).
A couple weeks ago, I went to the GrandSLAM at a very packed Echoplex near Echo Park. That night's winner was Jessica Lee Williams. Here's a video of a story she told at a previous competition, when the night's theme was "Fight or Flight":
And here's a video of a previous GrandSLAM-winning story from Caltech neuroscientist (and regular L.A. slammer) Moran Cerf, about his bank robbing days back in Israel:
There are about three StorySLAMs each month in the L.A. area. There's one tonight, but the next one is at my favorite "Moth" venue, Busby's East, on August 14. HERE is that website again.
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