Why Scorsese Deserves the Oscar

Well, there are a lot of reasons, not least of which is the fact that he has never been awarded one (Goodfellas? Raging Bull? Hello?), but check out this article that provides screen-captures from The Departed demonstrating how Scorsese borrowed Howard Hawks' techinique in Scarface of using X as a visual symbol for death. It's nice to know that there are directors out there who still have faith in the audience.

Movie Faves of 2006

The Oscar nominations were announced this morning, but I want to wait a bit before I offer my picks. The offerings at the local theaters are slim, especially if you are interested in seeing anything in a language other than high-school level English. But I'm hoping today's nominations will encourage the Cedar City theater chain to offer something besides teen comedies and "family safe" features for a change. (Oscar-nominated Babel only debuted here last week, and Dreamgirls arrived a week before that. No sign here yet of stuff I'm dying to see like Letters from Iwo Jima, Pan's Labyrinth, or Children of Men. I'm holding out hope that I'll get to see these in a theater before they get released to DVD and/or the Oscars are awarded.)

Anyway, since I have last year's movies on the brain, I thought I'd offer a short list of the films I did manage to see that I consider Oscar-worthy, whether or not they actually scored any nominations.

The Queen
I was prepared to disbelieve the hype surrounding this film, especially after I learned that it involved the death of Princess Diana. However, the film's depiction of the political self-interest, merciless class snobbery, and general human failings of the English royal family is Shakespearean in its icy observations. The camera that follows these people doesn't need to be judgmental; their actions tell us everything.

The Departed
I wouldn't call this any kind of masterpiece, especially in comparison with some of Scorsese's other films, but I found a great deal of satisfaction while watching it, mainly because of the sense of reassurance I felt in seeing a movie made by someone who not only enjoys what he is doing and takes his work seriously, but who also knows how to captivate an audience without manipulating them or resorting to cheap tricks. I will see anything this director does, Jack Nicholson's accents notwithstanding.

Casino Royale
This is the first Bond film I've seen that I didn't feel the need to designate as a guilty pleasure. While it doesn't entirely break free of the Bond stereotypes, it goes a long way towards making Bond a realistic human being, and showing us the effects of living a life devoted to murder. When Daniel Craig finally delivered his trademark introduction ("Bond. James Bond."), I felt more frightened than amused. By that point in the film, Craig's Bond has shut himself off from nearly all human emotion, and we realize what a monster we've created.

Little Miss Sunshine
Like most great comedies, this film is less of a deliberate farce than a documentary-like portrayal of an interesting (and disturbed) group of people in an unusual situation, more sad than funny. Even its most deliberate comedic moments (particularly the climax) are achieved with honesty and a touch of sympathy.

A Scanner Darkly
I'm not sure why this film was animated, or animated in the rotoscopic style of Linklater's Waking Life, but if you can get past the hypnotic distraction of the visuals, this becomes a rather chilling projection of our drug culture, and even includes Philip Dick's sobering personal roster of
the victims who beat him to the grave. More prescient than the trailer would lead you to think.

Marie Antoinette
I hated it at first. I still feel the need to see it a few more times before I'm comfortable with my reaction to it now. I think Sofia Coppola's heritage is working for her in unexpected ways--by trying to distance herself from the epic scope of her father's classics, she humanizes the epic mythology of Marie's life, bringing it down to the level of a teenager sporting Chuck Taylors and listening to Bow Wow Wow. The beheading is never shown, but, like any teen who is given access to all her immediate wants (other than sex), Marie loses her head long before we want to cut it off of her. We leave her at sunset, when we are suddenly reminded why the smile on her face is dying.

Books Read in 1989

I started keeping track of my reading in mid-1985, so I've got a few more of these lists to add, for completion's sake, if nothing else. As always, favorite and/or influential titles are in boldface.

Total number of pages read: 5892
Pages read in 1990: 7743
Pages read in 1991: 4870
Pages read in 1992: 5395
Pages read in 1993: 7568
Pages read in 1994: 4441
Pages read in 1995: 5417
Pages read in 1996: 4268
Pages read in 1997: 6890
Pages read in 1998: 6546
Pages read in 1999: 4324
Pages read in 2000: 8639
Pages read in 2001: 12,542

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Hard Times by Charles Dickens
LaBrava by Elmore Leonard
Fire on the Mountain by Edward Abbey
Lord Jim by Joseph Conrad
The Bonfire of the Vanities by Tom Wolfe
A Brief History of Time by Stephen W. Hawking
Radix by A.A. Attanasio
Doctor Rat by William Kotzwinkle
The Talisman by Stephen King & Peter Straub
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger by Stephen King
Doctor Who: The Gunfighters by Donald Cotton
The Jehovah Contract by Victor Koman
The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
The Science Fiction Hall of Fame, Vol. I edited by Robert Silverberg

The Ironic Federalist (#2 in a series)

from The Federalist No. 6 (written by Hamilton):

The causes of hostility among nations are innumerable. There are some which have a general and almost constant operation upon the collective bodies of society. Of this description are the love of power or the desire of pre-eminence and dominion -- the jealousy of power, or the desire of equality and safety. There are others which have a more circumscribed though an equally operative influence within their spheres. Such are the rivalships and competitions of commerce between commercial nations. And there are others, not less numerous than either of the former, which take their origin entirely in private passions; in the attachments, enmities, interests, hopes, and fears of leading individuals in the communities of which they are members. Men of this class, whether the favorites of a king or of a people, have in too many instances abused the confidence they possessed; and assuming the pretext of some public motive, have not scrupled to sacrifice the national tranquillity to personal advantage or personal gratification.

**********
Commercial republics, like ours, will never be disposed to waste themselves in ruinous contentions with each other. They will be governed by mutual interest, and will cultivate a spirit of mutual amity and concord.

Is it not (we may ask these projectors in politics) the true interest of all nations to cultivate the same benevolent and philosophic spirit? If this be their true interest, have they in fact pursued it? Has it not, on the contrary, invariably been found that momentary passions, and immediate interest, have a more active and imperious control over human conduct than general or remote considerations of policy, utility or justice? Have republics in practice been less addicted to war than monarchies? Are not the former administered by MEN as well as the latter? Are there not aversions, predilections, rivalships, and desires of unjust acquisitions, that affect nations as well as kings? Are not popular assemblies frequently subject to the impulses of rage, resentment, jealousy, avarice, and of other irregular and violent propensities? Is it not well known that their determinations are often governed by a few individuals in whom they place confidence, and are, of course, liable to be tinctured by the passions and views of those individuals? Has commerce hitherto done anything more than change the objects of war? Is not the love of wealth as domineering and enterprising a passion as that of power or glory? Have there not been as many wars founded upon commercial motives since that has become the prevailing system of nations, as were before occasioned by the cupidity of territory or dominion? Has not the spirit of commerce, in many instances, administered new incentives to the appetite, both for the one and for the other? Let experience, the least fallible guide of human opinions, be appealed to for an answer to these inquiries.

**********
From this summary of what has taken place in other countries, whose situations have borne the nearest resemblance to our own, what reason can we have to confide in those reveries which would seduce us into an expectation of peace and cordiality between the members of the present confederacy, in a state of separation? Have we not already seen enough of the fallacy and extravagance of those idle theories which have amused us with promises of an exemption from the imperfections, weaknesses and evils incident to society in every shape? Is it not time to awake from the deceitful dream of a golden age, and to adopt as a practical maxim for the direction of our political conduct that we, as well as the other inhabitants of the globe, are yet remote from the happy empire of perfect wisdom and perfect virtue?

Things I'm Excited About

ITEM! Starting today, the Sundance Film Festival is posting this year's short film entries for streaming and/or downloading on its website. This is an amazing opportunity to see some films that would be difficult to access anywhere other than the Festival screenings themselves. I hope this becomes an annual component of the Festival.

I've always wanted to attend Sundance, not necessarily for the opportunity to gawk at celebrities, but, oddly enough, to see the films. I'm not prepared to argue that the films that make it into the Festival are of a higher quality than any other festival's program, but I do like the idea of being exposed to a film on its own merits, without any of the publicity or hype that affects so many of my movie-attending decisions.

Another potentially interesting development at this year's festival is the presentation of the MPAA's revisions in their guidelines for film ratings. More on this here. Will this be the year that U.S. films are finally given an adult designation aside from the dreaded X or NC-17 rating? Stay tuned.

ITEM! Tonight, the Justice League of America makes its live-action TV debut on Smallville. I am unreasonably geeked about this, even without the appearance of either Batman or Wonder Woman, who are busy with their movie franchises, apparently.

ITEM! I want to buy this book--one of the few times I've seen an Amazon recommendation for something I haven't already heard of and/or purchased--solely on the basis of its title.

ITEM! I am only 50 pages into this book, which I purchased over the Christmas break, but it is already shaping up to be one of the most fascinating and intellectually stimulating SF novels I've come across in a long time. Weird and innovative.

ITEM! The Raelians are coming to Cedar City. I hope to blog on this later. Unless I am abducted again.

A Good Day to Die

Well, Billville beat me to the full story, but I thought these remarks should be reproduced. I can't decide whether I want to applaud this guy--sorry--the representative for his wily implementation of popular culture iconography to make a more resonant argument or if he's just an immature loser who is sadly indicative of the quality and general intellectual capability of the members of Congress. This little speech wouldn't sound out-of-place in a high school debating class, particularly the limp conclusion: "It is wrong." We're a long way from Lincoln, or even Kennedy. (But, then again, they didn't know about Star Trek. Or did they?)

In any case, it provides a good excuse to post a picture of Klingons on the site. (That's TV's John Larroquette on the right and Christopher Lloyd in the center, FYI.)

Here is the full text of Mr. Wu's remarks, via the Congression Record:

FAUX KLINGONS SENDING REAL AMERICANS TO WAR
(Mr. Wu asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute.)

Mr. Speaker, 4 years ago, this administration took America to war in Iraq without adequate evidence. Since that time, the administration has not listened to the American people, it hasn’t listened to our professional military, and it certainly hasn’t listened to this Congress.

It was said of a prominent businessman in downtown Portland that he never listened to anybody and that if he was ever drawn in a cartoon he would be drawn without ears.

Now, this President has listened to some people, the so-called Vulcans in the White House, the ideologues. But unlike the Vulcans of Star Trek, who made the decisions based on logic and
fact, these guys make it on ideology. These aren’t Vulcans. There are Klingons in the White House. But unlike the real Klingons of Star Trek, these Klingons have never fought a
battle of their own.

Don’t led faux Klingons send real Americans to war. It is wrong.

So say we all.

Now-Ironic Passages from "The Federalist" Papers

During the winter break, I began reading The Federalist, a collection of essays by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison, written in support of the Constitution. Each author takes turns presenting editorials on topics such as the dangers from foreign forces, domestic insurrection, economics, and legislative authority, to name a few. The essays provide fascinating historical insights into the rather contentious arguments for and against the development of not only the Constitution, but the nation that was eventually to become known as the United States.

In 2007, the essays also serve to remind us how a democracy is supposed to work, something that the Bush administration seems to have ignored or rejected. Sadly, many of the more stirring passages in The Federalist can now be read in an accusatory tone, if one pretends that George W. Bush is sitting within earshot of one reading the passages aloud.

I've only read the first four or five essays at this point. However, I have already found myself frequently shaking my head or clicking my tongue at certain passages that, while beautifully written and stirringly persuasive, mainly increase my contempt for the ignorance (and inherent danger) of the current administration.

Here then is the first in what may become an occasional feature of Chazzbot: passages from The Federalist that will serve as a reminder of how we got here, and how far away we are being taken from those noble beginnings. Enjoy, citizen!

from The Federalist #4 (written by Jay)

It is too true, however disgraceful it may be to human nature, that nations in general will make war whenever they have a prospect of getting anything by it; nay, absolute monarchs will often make war when their nations are to get nothing by it, but for the purposes and objects merely personal, such as thirst for military glory, revenge for personal affronts, ambition, or private compacts to aggrandize or support their particular families or partisans. These and a variety of other motives, which affect only the mind of the sovereign, often lead him to engage in wars not sanctified by justice or the voice and interests of his people.

More info on the historical background of the essays here.

And here is an important essay on how Bush is steadily, deliberately, and continually eroding the balance of power among the three brances of government.

Man Lands on the Fucking Moon!

Good reading here: the story of the ongoing search for the original transmission videotapes (with sharper, more distinct imagery than the footage that was broadcast on television) of the Apollo 11 moon landing.

Also cool: 360-degree panoramas of some of the moon landing sites (with audio of the astronauts).

And the original unedited (read: NSFW) audio recordings of the Apollo 11 landing are finally available. Who says the astronauts were unemotive techheads?

Holy living fuck!

Five Things You Don't Know About Me

Well, this will help get things started up again. Answering the tag from Billville:

1. I have written several incomplete novel manuscripts, which are safely hidden away, hopefully forever. (I can't quite bring myself to destroy them.)

2. I buried a small personal item in the ground near Stonehenge.

3. While working at a meat-packing plant in Hyrum, Utah (now-infamous site of a Homeland Security crackdown), I spent the better part of 9 months whacked out on speed and alcohol.

4. Periodically, I have disturbingly vivid dreams about future events that later become real. Among them: images of what I think is my own death, and a "revelation" that I will become well-known for something I have written (hopefully, not one of the aforementioned manuscripts).

5. I cried during the final scene of Episode III: Revenge of the Sith.

State of the Blog

So, I've been absent from my blogging duties for a while. Mostly due to a somewhat overwhelming teaching schedule last fall, a schedule that is pretty much the same this spring. But I have maintained an ever-growing list of post ideas, and my hope is that in the next few weeks I may be able to "catch up" with some of those ideas. What I really need to do is schedule out an hour or so a day to post. I already fear I've lost most of the people who used to check in here on a semi-regular basis.

So hang in there. If I don't add some substantial content in the next week or two, I'll try to give you some idea of when I will be posting. Chazzbot would very much like to be part of your daily blogroll check-in ritual.

Stay tuned!