Back in March, we posted a review about the Spike Jonze-created short film, “I’m Here“.  The project, which is provided for free of charge on it’s own specially designed website, focuses on the love connection between a pair of robots, inhabiting some alternate version of Los Angeles.  Of course, there are underlying elements in the film which are much deeper than that.  The complexities of love, self-worth, social hierarchies, risk, trust, and even life itself are all explored throughout its half hour running time.

After reviewing the film we got a few comments, all relating to the soundtrack which accompanied the piece.  For those who haven’t read that last article about the project, the following excerpt should bring you a little more up to speed on the subject. (more…)

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Something my brother said as we were leaving the movie theater: “Man, I’m glad that they made that into a movie, because when I try to explain Scott Pilgrim to people, it sounds soooo dumb!”

I could totally relate to that sentiment and, if you’re already a fan of the graphic novels that were the basis for the new film, I’m sure that you probably could too.  Those who are not may be asking “So, what is it all about?“  Well, Scott Pilgrim is this unemployed, Canadian twenty-something bass player who begins dating Ramona Flowers, an American hipster girl on Roller Blades (how one can remain hip while on Roller Blades is never quite explained, but it manages to work ).  It is soon discovered that for them to continue to see each other, Scott has to fight and defeat Ramona‘s ex-boyfriends.  It sounds sorta dumb, right?  I know, but there are a million reasons why its not and a million reasons as to why it is, in fact, one of my most favorite things ever.  To read through Scott Pilgrim‘s 6 manga-like volumes is to get an honest look at creator Bryan Lee O’Malley‘s tastes and hobbies.  If you have even the slightest bit of a nerd streak in you, you will instantly be able to relate.  You get references to comic books, manga, video games, and indie-rock… and the fighting ex-boyfriends thing?  It sounds silly, but look, its a metaphor.  Scott is trying to stack up against Ramona‘s past relationships.  The series itself is a really great read.

Now there’s always a danger when a beloved comic book gets adapted into a movie.  Hell hath no fury like a scorned comic book geek with a modem.  When Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World was first announced, a lot of people began monitoring its development nervously.  With Micheal Cera backlash at its peak, things got even more tense when he was announced as the lead.  Still, there remained faith in director Edgar Wright (Shawn of the Dead, Hot Fuzz), and O’Malley‘s involvement/endorsement of the project.  The biggest fear, I think, was the potential to lose much of the lovable quirkiness found in the comics.  How much of the video game and comic book tributes would be lost?  These elements are integral to the feel of the series and one of the keys to its success.  A romantic comedy is all the more fun when a “save point” magically appears in the corner of the room! (more…)

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When KIDS was released in 1995, there was a lot of “controversy” behind it’s explicit content involving teens, drugs, and violence.  I remember all of the hype clearly; I was 16 at the time.  The film’s writer, Harmony Korine was 22, however, he was only about 19 when he wrote it [wikipedia claims "18" Korine has guessed "20"].  I watched KIDS and thought that it was a solid film, but it didn’t change my fucking life like the nightly news had claimed that it would.  Then again, I think that any lack of shock value for me may actually be a testament to the reality that had been infused within it.  While KIDS jump started the careers of first time actors like Rosario Dawson and Chloe Sevigney, Korine didn’t quite live up to the “promise” that many had expected for him.  That’s not to say that he didn’t continue to produce amazing pieces of work or to move forward in his career, it’s just that he never seemed harnessed into the limitations and ideas that had been placed on him by others.  One way to put it would be that the “promise” that the golden boy had placed on him wasn’t a promise that he had actually ever “made” himself.  In ways, his story is Pecker-esque and, as quickly as upper class socialites might take in a troubled youth for their own self-righteous ego boost, they will toss his ass out and turn their backs on him once he lives up to his inherent nature by intentionally smashing their Fabergé eggs, getting their daughters drunk, and stealing their cars. (more…)

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Early last month, multi-Oscar-nominated actor, Edward Norton was invited to the Northwest as part of the 2010 Seattle International Film Festival.  Beginning on June 3rd, with American History X, and ending on the 5th, with Spike Lee‘s 25th Hour, SIFF helped to celebrate the actor’s illustrious career by screening some of his most successful work.  Norton was on hand to provide short personal introductions to each of the films, but the most substantial portion of the tribute took place on June 4th at the Egyptian Theatre and included the festival honoring him with their trademark Golden Space Needle award.  The festivities at the Egyptian also featured a live interview with the actor and a screening of his latest project, Leaves of Grass.  I was there for the events and, for an artist who’s managed to build a career off of his ability to shift characters effortlessly, often within the same role, I can safely say that Norton only exposed one of his faces that night. (more…)

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About 4 years ago, I spent a lot of time on Threadless.com.  In fact, one of the only reasons that I visit the site so rarely, at this point, is because I’m always so busy with this one.  I had been working the graveyard shift as a night auditor at a shit-hole of a hotel across the street from a public park full of crackheads and the one thing that I had to occupy myself during the long nights was a computer screen and the internet.  A lot has changed, both with my life and with Threadless, but every once in a while, they produce something so crazy and awesome that I remember what drew me to them in the first place. (more…)

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The name “Spike Jonze” can immediately evoke a number of connections and, depending on your particular frame of reference, they can vary quite a bit.  “That’s the dude dancing in that Fatboy Slim video, right?“  “Wasn’t he married to Sophia Coppola?“  “He’s a skateboard photographer, isn’t he?“  The answer to all of these questions is “YES” but, these days, Adam Spiegel (as he was born) is probably best known for his film work.  Jonze began with a history in the BMX and skateboarding worlds, even holding positions as a major photographer for both Freestylin’ and Transworld Skateboarding magazines.  These roots aided in Spike‘s smooth transition into the filming of street skate videos, the co-founding of Girl Skateboards, and in producing/co-creating Jackass (both on TV and the films).  He is also an accomplished commercial and video director, having been nominated by the Directors Guild of America for “Outstanding Achievement in Commercials in 2005” and directing such music video classics as Pavement‘s “Shady Lane“, Sonic Youth‘s “100%” (starring himself and Jason Lee),  “Sabotage” by Beastie Boys, “Feel the Pain” – Dinosaur Jr., and Weezer‘s  “Buddy Holly“.  He has produced, written, and even appeared in a few films, but Jonze truly became a household name in 1999 after the breakthrough success of Being John Malkovich.  Having only directed a total of 3 and with a 7 year gap before the release of his most recent, it may seem odd that he would be primarily acknowledged as a feature film director and that it could overshadow his previous efforts.  However, these few films have been incredibly successful.  Being John Malkovich and 2002‘s  Adaption (both written by Charlie Kaufman) were honored with Oscar Nominations and last years Where the Wild Things Are has already already begun to collect numerous award nominations of it’s own.  Fortunately, while the latter film was in the making for nearly a decade, Jonze remained active in other projects and has even reconnected with the art of the short film.  Last Friday (March, 19th) one such short by the name of I’m Here was released for free on the internet. (more…)

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