Netflix Quadruple Feature(8/7/05)

Hello hello. Last week I was quite impressed with Netflix. They managed to get 5 movies to me in one week(I'm impressed with myself for watching them as well-but that's just because I generally have shit else to do). So without further ado, here are the movies that I watched last week.

Basquiat-Directed by Julian Schnabel

Recommended to me by my friend Aimee while we were at the SFMOMA, this turned out to be a wonderful movie. Going into this movie, I had no idea who Jean-Michelle Basquiat was. Aimee had a calendar of his in her house, so I got to see one painting before I saw the movie. His art was really very interesitng-very off the wall, very frantic. I went to Borders the other day and looked at an art book of his and saw pictures of the man-and the actor, Jeffrey Wright, looked just like him. I liked this movie much more than Pollock because Basquiat was much more sympathetic. There were times when he was an asshole, but never with the consitancy of Pollock.

This movie also had a huge cast of actors in it. Benicio del Toro was in it and did a fantastic job. Gary Oldman had a great subdued performance, which I enjoy. He does crazy amazingly, but also does low key just as well. Parker Posey was in it, and was good. Claire Forlani was just as beautiful as ever, and also did quite well. But the real standout is David Bowie as Andy Warhol. I'm going to assume that Bowie was friends with Warhol, and with that could draw from his experiences. But he was Warhol in this movie-he had the look and the mannerisms down. Bowie rules.

Overall I highly recommend this movie to anyone who enjoys art. It's got a good story and interesing style to it. Go see it!

Frida directed by Julie Taymor

This movie was visually stunning. It had a surrealness to it that I really enjoyed. Salma Hayek does a decent job in this movie, but she is just do damn cute and in love with this role, that you root for her the entire time. Alfred Molina is amazing as always as Diego Rivera. The surreal moments in this movie are amazing and the best parts about the movie. The scene with Frida and Trotsky on top of some pyramids is very impressive. There's not much more for me to say on this movie. I enjoyed it, but it isn't something I'm ever going to watch again.

I recommend this movie for it's visual style. It looks great. Check it out.

Constantine directed by Some Guy.

I must admit something. I didn't hate this movie. I thought I would. I thought it would be fucking terrible, but turns out-it was decent. But my question is this: If you're Keanu Reeves-how do you follow up the Matrix trilogy? The answer-make the same movie, but with the Devil. The premise to the movie is absurd, the special effects look rushed, the acting is pretty terrible-but goddamn I was rooting for Constantine. I wanted him to kick the shit out of all those demons. But Keanu Reeves needs to move away from special effects movies-and try his hand at a real movie to see if he is a good actor. Because in special effects movie, he's not a good actor. Rachel Weisz-also not a good actor. She's pretty attractive, but I kind of wanted to gouge her eyes out, which is never a good sign.

But the best part of this movie lies in one piece of casting. And that is this: Peter Stormare as Satan. Genius! If the devil had himself a body-he would look like Peter Stormare-cocky, frightening and you can't trust him. (For any of you not aware of who Stormare is-he was in Fargo as the guy putting Steve Buscemi in the wood chipper, he was one of the Nihlists in The Big Lebowski, gave Tom Cruise new eyes in Minority Report and does a lot of great stuff). Whoever talked him in to being in this movie deserves a medal, because it was genius.

Overall I'm going to go ahead and recommend this. It isn't good, but it is entertaining as hell. Watch it, turn your brain off and enjoy.

The Fearless Freaks directed by Bradyley Beesley

This is a great documentary about one of my favorite bands, The Flaming Lips. It's an honest journey through their long ass career. They are a cooky band who make beautiful, surreal, intense music. Musically, I'm not too interested in their earlier work-I'm more of a recent fan. But it was interesting to see how the band started out as a kind of Coyne family band and progressed into what it is today. Overall this movie was highly entertaining and very good examination of a band that still remains down to earth to this day.

Overall this is recommended if you are a fan of the band, or just good music documentaries. Watch it-then go and listen to The Soft Bulletin or Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots. You'll love it!

So this week I should be receiving Run Ronnie Run(the Mr. Show movie) A Very Long Engagement, and some Friday the 13th movies. And from last week, I'll be watching A Knife in the Water, a Roman Polanski joint. Should be awesome. Until then-see you then.