Heartbeats

For You

Pretty, touching, ridiculous and hilarious. Okay, not always hilarious but there are plenty of delightful moments that balance out the surprisingly sad and honest ones. Now that I've used every possible adjective, I think you should see it. If you're "into" film you'll like it, if you don't and just use movies to "escape" - yup you'll still like it. At the end of the day though its kind of a film for ladies and gays (can't imagine Tomasz or Ben being interested in it other than the fact its one giant homage to Truffaut and Goddard), so I guess this makes Heartbeats a date movie. Or a Miss Crystal party of one.

For Me

Enough with the slow mo! There's too much - but at the same time it signifies that the film is modern. French New Wave was too busy spazing about the jump cut to be bothered by excessive slow mo so I'll let Exavier Dolan get away this. Most of Heartbeats is spent recreating (although I hear Mr. Dolan denies this) our favorite movies from the past and in most cases I am infuriated and annoyed by this - I still can't justify the Fellini portion of I'm Not There - but all this recreation mixed with the story mixed with the soundtrack mixed with the cinematography makes this particular movie stand out. Not in the Oh Lord he's broken the mold kind of way - Mr. Dolan uses old methods to tell a modern story and I commend him for it. I liked the movie AND saw through it (its not even close to perfect) which usually says to me that the filmmaker is talented but still having fun and not taking himself too seriously. All I have to say is I can't wait to see his next film. Oh yea, and fuck the Oscars.

How to Talk to Me About Movies

So New Yorkers have failed me yet again (not trying to start shit, just keepin it real). Today, while on the Oscar's website reminding myself what a bunch of nincompoops were nominated, I realized that The Fighter was directed by David O Russel, who I have loved since Three Kings. Haven't seen that one yet? Don't let Ice Cube fool you - its a good movie. People kept saying, "Oh Crystal, you have to see The Fighter. Oh Crystal, Christian Bale is amazing in it. Oh Crystal, they did so much research to keep the movie true to real life." Guess what y'all? I don't care about actors. (Well maybe a few, but Christian isn't one of them.) If you want me to see a movie, tell me who the goddamn director is.

Clockwork Orange Anyone?

Only the first 50 seconds really. I've always been a little sore about the fact that college males age 18 to 21 were somehow able to claim A Clockwork Orange as their stoner manifesto. I think Clockwork is one of the better films of the seventies and that's coming from a woman who thinks Kubrick is a misogynist.

Pauline Kael about lost her mind when she saw it - glorifying violence and how this was the worst thing that could ever have happened to cinema. (What would she have said about Quentin Tarantino I wonder?) I, on the other hand, am a male viewer trapped inside a tiny white girl body, so this movie was a joy ride for me. The rest of this Lotus Flower hoo-ha? Not a joy ride.

Béla Tarr

A little too self indulgent for my taste. Try watching this instead: Silent Night by Carlos Reygadas.

Janus Films

Oops. Sorry. I meant Criterion, which is teaming up with Hulu. Wow. Double wow on this though. Thanks to Graydon Gordian, the newest edition to OR Books. We consider him awesome.

In the Future I Plan to Keep Better Notes

Red Riding

The Wrong Guy

A Prophet (Thankfully I saw this one. Absolutely fantastic)

Barbarian Invasions

Last Train Home

Danton

Dark City

My American Cousin

A list of movies I recently found hiding in my blackberry. Note to self: Good God woman put the name of the person you were talking to next to these things.

The Old Man and Me

I broke out the typewriter and wrote Gordon Lish a letter this week. We're going to see Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives at Film Forum in March. And you should too.