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This and that
May. 11th, 2004 05:50 pmWell...I've been productive these past few days. Networked. Met new people. Re-connected with a few. Ran into some more brick walls or log ones, not sure which. And am forcing myself to keep a stiff upper lip as the saying goes. "Don't let the turkey's get you down" - my Dad used to tell me when I was in college. Good advice.
Today, I interviewed with the Volunteer Referral Service - which uncovered two non-profit organizations that I might be able to do some volunteer work with. Both require computer skills, writing, organization and general office work. I'm hoping this will get me out of the apartment and honing my skills. Still afraid they are getting rusty. I've relied on volunteer work before - so this is nothing new. And I met with pumpkinpuss who kindly loaned me all her Jim Butcher novels.
Now if I can just keep myself from getting muddled.
( My muddled ramble on what to do, regarding the job-hunting deal..cut to protect bored and unwary )
In other news - I saw a couple of films this weekend. Three on video. One in the movie theater. Haven't rented a movie in ages. Don't tend to much any more due to lack of time and funds. At any rate - the films I rented were excellent, the film I saw in the theater was...bad. I'm sorry, Van Helsing by Stephen Sommers is not a good movie. The story in of itself, while a little on the sappy side, isn't all that bad. The acting is pretty good. The leads do have chemistry and are interesting. But it is bludgeoned and overwhelmed by special effects, sound, theme music, and one-too-many action sequences. Van Helsing is what would happen if you gave a 10 year old video game fanatic a 100 million dollars to make the movie of his dreams. Enough on Van Helsing, much prefer to discuss the one's I did like. Fussing over things I don't like feels like a waste of energy and time at the moment. Enough negativity in the world as it is.
The rentals were:
1. Master and Commander - The Far Side of The World, by Peter Weir. Peter Weir may be one of the few directors out there who can convincingly portray war without getting overly melodramatic or preachy. His other films Gallopi and Year of Living Dangerously - both show violent conflicts, show both sides of the conflict, and refuse to tell you what to think necessarily. Of the three Master and Commander may be the most impartial due to how removed it is from our present. It shows unflinchingly the violence of battle, the unethical dilemmas you run across, and the humanity. And Weir unlike some directors is far more interested in character, the battles are his means of examining and exploring his characters. He *never* does action for action's sake. A movie that will stay with you long after the closing credits. Certainly deserving of the academy award nomination that it garnered. But then, I admit, I'm partial to Peter Weir, a master of mood and character and style, without forsaking substance.
2. Love Actually. (no idea who the director was). It starred Laura Linny, Colin Firth, Hugh Grant, Liam Neeson, Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman - which alone makes me happy. Happen to be a fan of all of those actors. This movie surprised me - I didn't expect to like it. I loved it. Adore it. Finally a romantic comedy for those of us who don't find romance, who aren't married or dating, and struggle in the whole romance olympics. This lovely tour de fource is all about the struggle to connect. Loving people. Trying to tell them. Getting rejected. Circumstance getting in the way. Some of the people get together, some don't. One of the funniest bits is the couple that meets while doing a soft-porn film.
While pretending to have sex, they connect with conversation. This is juxatposed brilliantly with a couple who don't speak the same language, yet connect with body language (not sex) just being together. And with yet another couple that can't get together due to outside circumstances. A film that made me laugh and cry. Highly recommend it.
3. Ripley's Game based on the novel by Patricia Highsmith and starring John Malkovich and Dougray Scott.
If you want to know what a sociopath is? Rent Ripley's Game.
Or true "noir" for that matter. This film is noir through and through. With the anti-hero, Ripley, at its center. Here's a sample line, which is what Ripley tells one of the supporting players: "I lack your sense of conscience. It used to bother me when I was younger, it doesn't any longer. Why did I pick you? Because your conscience interested me and I knew you could and you insulted me and well it's the game." Violent in places but also focused on character. It uses the violence to further the characters and plot. It also comments on it. Like the other two films, showing not telling. This movie unfortunately never really made it to the theaters, direct to video. But it is brilliant and trust me, if you like noir films, better than most of the stuff out there right now.
Did see Wrinkle in Time last night. Not quite as wonderful as I remembered. But then I almost have no memory of the novel, having read it over 20 years ago.
Today, I interviewed with the Volunteer Referral Service - which uncovered two non-profit organizations that I might be able to do some volunteer work with. Both require computer skills, writing, organization and general office work. I'm hoping this will get me out of the apartment and honing my skills. Still afraid they are getting rusty. I've relied on volunteer work before - so this is nothing new. And I met with pumpkinpuss who kindly loaned me all her Jim Butcher novels.
Now if I can just keep myself from getting muddled.
( My muddled ramble on what to do, regarding the job-hunting deal..cut to protect bored and unwary )
In other news - I saw a couple of films this weekend. Three on video. One in the movie theater. Haven't rented a movie in ages. Don't tend to much any more due to lack of time and funds. At any rate - the films I rented were excellent, the film I saw in the theater was...bad. I'm sorry, Van Helsing by Stephen Sommers is not a good movie. The story in of itself, while a little on the sappy side, isn't all that bad. The acting is pretty good. The leads do have chemistry and are interesting. But it is bludgeoned and overwhelmed by special effects, sound, theme music, and one-too-many action sequences. Van Helsing is what would happen if you gave a 10 year old video game fanatic a 100 million dollars to make the movie of his dreams. Enough on Van Helsing, much prefer to discuss the one's I did like. Fussing over things I don't like feels like a waste of energy and time at the moment. Enough negativity in the world as it is.
The rentals were:
1. Master and Commander - The Far Side of The World, by Peter Weir. Peter Weir may be one of the few directors out there who can convincingly portray war without getting overly melodramatic or preachy. His other films Gallopi and Year of Living Dangerously - both show violent conflicts, show both sides of the conflict, and refuse to tell you what to think necessarily. Of the three Master and Commander may be the most impartial due to how removed it is from our present. It shows unflinchingly the violence of battle, the unethical dilemmas you run across, and the humanity. And Weir unlike some directors is far more interested in character, the battles are his means of examining and exploring his characters. He *never* does action for action's sake. A movie that will stay with you long after the closing credits. Certainly deserving of the academy award nomination that it garnered. But then, I admit, I'm partial to Peter Weir, a master of mood and character and style, without forsaking substance.
2. Love Actually. (no idea who the director was). It starred Laura Linny, Colin Firth, Hugh Grant, Liam Neeson, Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman - which alone makes me happy. Happen to be a fan of all of those actors. This movie surprised me - I didn't expect to like it. I loved it. Adore it. Finally a romantic comedy for those of us who don't find romance, who aren't married or dating, and struggle in the whole romance olympics. This lovely tour de fource is all about the struggle to connect. Loving people. Trying to tell them. Getting rejected. Circumstance getting in the way. Some of the people get together, some don't. One of the funniest bits is the couple that meets while doing a soft-porn film.
While pretending to have sex, they connect with conversation. This is juxatposed brilliantly with a couple who don't speak the same language, yet connect with body language (not sex) just being together. And with yet another couple that can't get together due to outside circumstances. A film that made me laugh and cry. Highly recommend it.
3. Ripley's Game based on the novel by Patricia Highsmith and starring John Malkovich and Dougray Scott.
If you want to know what a sociopath is? Rent Ripley's Game.
Or true "noir" for that matter. This film is noir through and through. With the anti-hero, Ripley, at its center. Here's a sample line, which is what Ripley tells one of the supporting players: "I lack your sense of conscience. It used to bother me when I was younger, it doesn't any longer. Why did I pick you? Because your conscience interested me and I knew you could and you insulted me and well it's the game." Violent in places but also focused on character. It uses the violence to further the characters and plot. It also comments on it. Like the other two films, showing not telling. This movie unfortunately never really made it to the theaters, direct to video. But it is brilliant and trust me, if you like noir films, better than most of the stuff out there right now.
Did see Wrinkle in Time last night. Not quite as wonderful as I remembered. But then I almost have no memory of the novel, having read it over 20 years ago.
