Song of the Moment: Ryan Adams "Doomsday"

To listen to the entire "Song of the Moment" playlist, click HERE. 

Be good to each other, 

-Nathan 

Cinephile No. 641 "The Lost City of Z"

"Ambitious Exploration" 

A Review of "The Lost City of Z" by Nathan H. Box 

Starring: Charlie Hunnam, Robert Pattinson, Sienna Miller Director: James Gray, Writer: James Gray (Screenplay)

Rating: 4 Stars, SHOWTIME!

In the 1920's, a British explorer by the name of Col. Percival Fawcett disappeared looking for "The Lost City of Z" in the heart of the Amazon rainforest. Almost 100 years later, we are treated to a spectacular film detailing his two earliest expeditions, as well as those he left behind, the people who doubted him, and the fire in his belly to do something daring and monumental. 

First and foremost, this is an ambitious film. Set over the course of some 25 years, we're offered an opportunity to develop a personal relationship with Col. Fawcett, as well as the men in his command. Films such as these usually try to take on too much in an effort to give us a fully painted canvas. They tend to fail under the weight of their own details. This movie doesn't make that mistake. Instead, every scene seems to be important and is only eclipsed by what happens next.

This movie is also a case study into man's nature. We once looked across the plains of Africa and thought, there must be more. We then looked across oceans and thought, still there must be more. We've stared up at the stars, through the deepest of oceans, travailed canyon, cliff, mountaintop, and the densest of forest all in an effort to satisfy our explorer's heart. In these epic quests, we've lost men, women, families, time, and treasure, still, we push forward because to do otherwise would be against our nature. 

There is nothing wrong with curiosity. Our greatest follies and mistakes have been found once we arrived. With us, we've brought disease, slavery, famine, and destruction. We've sat with people from other cultures and disregarded their cherished traditions. Our chase for something new was and is often replaced for a chase of the almighty dollar. "The Lost City of Z" asks us to do something simple; rediscover our sense of wonder but be kind once we arrive.

Be good to each other,

-Nathan  

Cinephile No. 640 "Colossal"

"Imaginative But Not Much Else" 

A Review of "Colossal" by Nathan H. Box 

Starring: Anne Hathaway, Jason Sudeikis, Austin Stowell Director: Nacho Vigalondo, Writer: Nacho Vigalondo

Rating: 3 Stars, STREAM!

When Hollywood takes a risk and attempts to tell a familiar story in a new and fascinating way, I tend to offer some leniency. From the effort, comes a pioneering spirit and new way of looking at the world. "Colossal" is a film attempting to tell the story of a woman experiencing a mental breakdown. Instead of feeding us the same old tropes, it takes a different approach that serves as one long metaphor. See if you can follow along! 

A jobless woman played brilliantly by Anne Hathaway, becomes addicted to the social scene in New York City. She finds her life falling apart as she loses a job, lacks the ambition to find a new one, drinks too much, and routinely takes advantage of her partner's generosity. Seeking a fresh start, she returns to her hometown and runs into a childhood friend played by Jason Sudeikis. Here is where your suspension of disbelief is required. Not long after returning, Hathaway's character discovers she is somehow connected to a Godzilla-like creature terrorizing Seoul, South Korea. Much like her, the creature terrorizes without any connection to the destruction she is causing or inflicting upon herself. Things get really interesting when we discover Sudeikis' character is in worse shape. 

Now, I have an idea what you're thinking. The plot seems too far out there for me. I thought the same thing but decided to give the film a chance. Overall, it was imaginative, fresh, and a reintroduction to the acting brilliance of Anne Hathaway. Beyond that, there isn't much here. The connection between our main characters and the destruction in South Korea is never clearly defined and we are left with too many unanswered questions for my taste. All in all, this is an average movie worthy of a night in streaming. 

Be good to each other, 

-Nathan 

Cinephile No. 639 "The Zookeeper's Wife"

"Those Who Fail to Learn from the Past..." 

A Review of "The Zookeeper's Wife" by Nathan H. Box 

Starring: Jessica Chastain, Johan Heldenbergh, Daniel Bruhl Director: Niki Caro, Writer: Angela Workman (Screenplay) 

Rating: 4 Stars, SHOWTIME!

I thought I knew everything there was to know about the Holocaust and World War II. As Americans, we justifiably glorify our sacrifice made during the world's greatest war and we use the Holocaust as a line in the sand; something that should never be crossed again. Our movies, television shows, books, and spoken stories are filled with imagery from both. We use them to characterize evil and the decency of human beings. Naturally, this filled me with some arrogance. There were no more stories to hear about this moment in time. "The Zookeeper's Wife" proved me wrong. 

It also instilled in me a belief of how important these stories are. We've all heard the phrase, "those who fail to learn from the past are destined to repeat it." As this movie played out before me, I watched Jews huddled into ghettos, robbed of their possessions, and killed without any reason other than anti-Semitism and ignorance. Then I watched with an immense sense of love in my heart, as a local Polish family used their home and the zoo they used to operate as a safe haven for Jewish families. Stories from this period in time have a way of robbing you of your humanity and reinforcing your belief in your fellow man. 

As I sat through the anxious moments before the credits rolled, I was instilled with a sense of wonder. What are other stories to tell? What sacrifices did other Europeans make to keep Jews and the marginalized safe? What other unspeakable acts of terror did the Nazis do? After I left the theater, I went and bought a couple of books on the Holocaust and Hitler's rise to power.  I know each of these will be gut-wrenching much like several moments throughout this film but I also know we can't just close the book on this point in history. It and the stories it provides must continue to be told in unique and enthralling ways. We must learn from them in an effort to ensure they never happen again. 

Be good to each other, 

-Nathan 

The Cinephile's Odyssey: "Cimarron" (1932)

For my 2017/18 writing project, I am watching, ranking, and reviewing every film to win The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Oscar for Best Picture. Below, is my review for the 1932 winner, "Cimarron." 

Everyone from the state of Oklahoma is familiar with the words Boomers and Sooners. In 1989, Oklahoma territory was opened up for settlement beyond the Native American tribes who already called the land home. The day of the land run, thousands of people lined up on the borders of neighboring states. At high noon, they would be prompted by a booming gun. This signaled the beginning of the mad dash for a new opportunity. As guns everywhere exploded, people ran, rode, and fought their way toward prime real estate. Those who waited for high noon would come to be known as Boomers. Those who cheated and left before the guns sounded were known as Sooners. 

Overnight, new towns exploded on the plains. "Cimarron" is a story about one those towns and the people who called it home. It is also the worst movie I have seen this far in my writing challenge. Unlike the other films, the audio mixing on this film hasn't withstood the hands of time. I often found myself missing dialogue and turning the volume way up or way down. With the other films, including the silent film, this hasn't been a problem. Now, don't get me wrong the audio quality on all of these films hasn't been stellar. Each stands as a testament to the lengths we've traveled in filmmaking. 

Another thing that bothered me about this film was the blatant racism toward Native Americans. As a student of American and Oklahoma history, I know many of the Indians who would come to call Oklahoma home were forcibly removed from their homes back east. They took the long and deadly journey across the Trail of Tears to what the government promised would be their new home. Not long after that promise was made, once again the White man broke his promise and the land run would begin. These things don't happen without the ruling class thinking of Native Americans as second class citizens but to be confronted with phrases like savages and dirty Indians was almost more than I could handle. It may have been historically accurate but I don't think it added anything to the film. 

I will say that I felt a sense of pride to see my home state on film and a story about its birth win an Oscar. I think people from outside Oklahoma have long associated the state with two films, "Oklahoma" the musical and "Twister." This film is a reminder that there is much to the history of the Sooner State. 

Best Picture Ranking (So Far)

1. All Quiet on the Western Front 

2. Wings 

3. The Broadway Melody 

4. Cimarron 

Be good to each other, 

-Nathan 

Cinephile No. 638 "Ghost In the Shell"

"The Future Looks Bleak" 

A Review of "Ghost in the Shell" by Nathan H. Box 

Starring: Scarlett Johannson, Pilou Asbaek, Takeshi Kitano, Director: Rupert Sanders, Writer: Jamie Moss (Screenplay) 

The future is now. Robots are replacing our workforce. Artificial intelligence is no longer just a buzzword. It is real life. It is behind Facebook, Google, Apple, and Microsoft. Soon, we will have the option to make enhancements to our bodies but it won't just be plastic surgery. It will be mechanical, electronic, and AI enhancements. We will become science fiction. As progress marches forward, we will live with new facts and realities.

If this future looks anything like "Ghost in the Shell," then it looks pretty bleak.  Based on Shirow Masamune's comic book, the movie focuses on Major played by Scarlett Johannson. Her brain has been removed from her body and placed inside of a body built to be a cyber-enhanced soldier. Now, as property of the government, she fights some of the world's worst criminals. If this seems farfetched, Google "head transplant" and read in awe about an Italian neurosurgeon who will be attempting to remove a person's head, brain, nerves, and connecting tissue and attaching it to another body later this year. Then think to yourself, robots aren't that far off. 

This film opens and features some of the most graphically hypnotizing images I have ever seen in a movie. In every direction you look, there seems to be something to catch your gaze and focus your attention. I can't think of another movie that blended computer animated graphics and real images so seamlessly. For the first ten minutes of the film, I believed I was in the future and enthralled by the possibilities. 

Then I realized, this film and the source material is meant to be a frightening vision of our future. As organic beings are blended with machines, something tragic happens to us. We begin to lose our humanity. We are reduced to lines of code this is encrypted from ourselves and the world we were made to cherish. We lose our chance to emotionally connect with one another. We come across as cold and calculating. In fact, for much of this movie, I struggled to emotionally connect with Johannson's character. She is void of emotion and the inquisitive nature I cherish in my fellow human beings. Luckily for me, the story was fresh, succinct, and developed enough to keep me engaged. 

Long after the credits rolled, my mind was fixated on the ethical dilemmas that will arise as we crawl closer to this new dawn. If this movie meant to be more than just a futuristic action thriller but instead wanted the audience to consider these big questions then I wholeheartedly recommend it.  

Verdict: Showtime 

Be good to each other, 

-Nathan 

2017 March Musical Madness Champion: Pearl Jam

If you've spent any time on this website, you know we love music. This got us thinking! Of the songs we love, which ones are the best. Instead of trying to decide among ourselves, we decided to open it up to our readers. And you selected... 

Pearl Jam "All Those Yesterdays" 

Be good to each other, 

-Nathan 

March Musical Madness: Alabama Shakes vs. Pearl Jam

If you've spent any time on this website, you know we love music. This got us thinking! Of the songs we love, which ones are the best. Instead of trying to decide among ourselves, we decided to open it up to our readers. So, watch the two videos below and let us know which one you like better in the comments below. You can also vote via our Facebook Page or Twitter. 

Alabama Shakes "I Found You" 

VS. 

Pearl Jam "All Those Yesterdays" 

Be good to each other, 

-Nathan 

March Music Madness: Pearl Jam vs. Pete Yorn

If you've spent any time on this website, you know we love music. This got us thinking! Of the songs we love, which ones are the best. Instead of trying to decide among ourselves, we decided to open it up to our readers. So, watch the two videos below and let us know which one you like better in the comments below. You can also vote via our Facebook Page or Twitter. 

Pearl Jam "All Those Yesterdays" 

VS. 

Pete Yorn "Waking Up" 

Be good to each other, 

-Nathan 

March Music Madness: Death Cab for Cutie vs. Alabama Shakes

If you've spent any time on this website, you know we love music. This got us thinking! Of the songs we love, which ones are the best. Instead of trying to decide among ourselves, we decided to open it up to our readers. So, watch the two videos below and let us know which one you like better in the comments below. You can also vote via our Facebook Page or Twitter. 

Death Cab for Cutie "Little Wanderer" 

VS. 

Alabama Shakes "I Found You" 

Be good to each other, 

-Nathan