My entirely opinionated list of the top films I saw this year (taking into account that I’ve missed some of the bigger hits due to being busy) in no particular order:
Oldboy
The film that made the most impact upon me this year, from Korean director Chan-Wook Park, with a superb performance by Min-sik Choi.
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Assured direction by Michel Gondry brings this off-beat story about the fragility of love and memory to life, and proves that Jim Carey can act.
Lost in Translation
Not one for everyone, but I loved this lyrical and soulful film by Sofia Coppola, with a fantastic performance from Bill Murray.
Hellboy
Guillermo Del Toro brings one of the best comic book adaptations to the silver screen with this action comedy romp. Beats the disappointing Spiderman 2 hands down.
Adam and Paul
My goodness, this Irish gem does not have an IMDB entry! This début film by Lenny Abrahamson about the day in the life of two Dublin junkies sounds like gruesome viewing, but it evokes a Beckett-like poignant beauty that lingers despite the sad futility of the namesakes’ meandering lives.
The Machinist
Brad Anderson proves he’s a director to watch with this dreamy tale starring a starving Christian Bale.
Calvaire (The Ordeal)
Fabrice Du Welz directs a brutal but compelling film about why you should never accept help from a stranger in the woods if your car breaks down.
Kill Bill Vol 2
Quentin Tarantino continues his tale of revenge by the Bride (Uma Thurman). Worth it for the stonking good fight between Black Mamba and the Californian Mountain Snake (Daryl Hannah).
Dodgeball
Stupid entertainment of the highest calibre from Rawson Marshall Thurber. Starring Vince Vaughn and Ben Stiller in fine form.
(Yeah, I’ve omitted The Incredibles, because despite everything the film just didn’t move me. Perhaps I saw it on the wrong day…)
Worst film this year (i.e. I watched this so you don’t have to make the same terrible, terrible mistake):
Resident Evil: Apocalypse (no I won’t link to it; avoid at all costs!).
If you want to read other people’s opinions about the best moments of 2004, then check out the fantastic list of lists compiled by Fimoculous.
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I’m back from my NY excursion. There was a lot of drinking and eating involved, visiting friends, and considerable shopping. Book stores, and DVD shoppes, and restaurants, oh my! My credit cards are slightly warm to the touch now.
I’m struggling with jet lag, but I’m doing quite well at the moment. I attended a party last night, so that forced me to keep awake and active.
I received a rejection, before the celebration, from one of the clutch of markets to which I sent work in November. What can you do? Except shrug your shoulders, and decide if it requires reworking before sending it on to another market, or if it should be pegged as a “useful, but failed, experiment.”
Last night I had a particularly vivid nightmare, which involved people I know and respect telling me in rather blunt terms that my writing was terrible, and I’d better get my shit together or get out of the business. I was glad to wake up.
Self-doubt is part of the package when you embark on a creative career. Yet, I continue to write. Like other people, I think I have something worth saying, and I want others to read it. Even though part of me cobbled together the horrendous scenario of being marked as a self-deluded and talentless hack for my night-time entertainment, I chose to dismiss it as the product of my fears and insecurities, and settle back to writing.
One thing is true: I need to write. Vacation is lovely, but there’s a hell of a lot of work to do now. I’m expecting visitors tomorrow, however, so it will be 2005 before I can tackle any of my numerous projects.
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I’ve been away catching up with people and spreading good cheer (I hope, for those concerned), and tomorrow I’ll be in NY for the following ten days. Lots of people have been telling me to relax, and take a break. I’m under orders I guess!
There hasn’t been much movement on the writing front, however my idea stew pot is simmering on the back burner. I hope to dish out a story after I return, and before the College schedule obliterates my free time.
I suppose I should pack…
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I just finished watching The Return of the King, the extended edition of the final segment of The Lord of the Rings trilogy (in case you’re from Amish Country or something).
It’s a great film.
Like the previous instalments the film benefits from the extra material because it smooths out the pace. The theatrical release of the three films exhibited a jerkiness in the pacing (though the middle film suffered the most from this). It means the long ending does not jar as much because it fits in better with the overall length of the film.
I was struck again by an aspect of the material that I noticed a long time ago when I wrote my final year BA dissertation on the book. It’s relatively simple: the mission of Frodo and Sam is at the heart of the book.
The action sequences, with duelling wizards, stomping Ents, and sieges of massive fortresses are a distraction (though, of course, they have their own arcs, and reflect the central themes). The story revolves around a simple act of courage on the part of Frodo, and the friendship between him and Sam. Tolkien seems to say that battles and fights are useless unless they are centred around conscious attempts to face fear, and remain brave, against the most frightening odds. It also points to the importance of human hope, especially in opposition to the corrupting force of evil in all its manifestations. All the main characters are faced with temptation, and those who resist survive, while those who give in are destroyed eventually.
The interesting thing about The Lord of the Rings is that Frodo fails the task at the end: he succumbs to the lure of the ring. It is Gollum who destroys the ring: ironically through an act of murderous self-interest and a simple misstep: evil undoes itself. (In the film Frodo comes to after losing the ring and throws himself and Gollum off the cliff–but it didn’t happen that way in the book) It’s a rather unheroic end for Frodo’s struggle with the ring, but I like the fact that he does not make a speech and slam dunk the ring into Mount Doom. The human spirit has its limits: it can only endure so much pain before it is consumed.
It’s telling that Frodo cannot assimilate back into the pastoral glory of the Shire. There is no coming back from certain traumas and events. You carry a secret hurt with you for the rest of your life, and those who have not experienced it will never understand its magnitude. Tolkien had a direct experience of this. He fought in the Battle of the Somme, and no doubt found it difficult to adjust to normal life after the Great War ended. He knew loss, grief, and witnessed the brutality of war. Tolkien understood the severe pressure a person comes under when forced to deal with inhumane situations.
I was also struck by the poignant story between Denethor, Steward of Gondor, and his second son Faramir. The dynamics of disappointment, resentment and twarthed love evoke a complex relationship between the men. It lends credibility to Faramir’s decision to make his suicide dash across the plennior fields.
And Éowyn has her moment to shine. When I read the book, as a young teen, I rooted for her the most in the book–mainly because she was the only female character I could identify with since she was the only one who performed any action. She is seen as a woman who loves deeply (and who deals with the bitterness of rejection), but who also yearns to fight and prove herself as a warrior. Above all she fears being left behind, or “a cage”. She champions Merry, because she knows what it is like to be silenced, to be put aside, and to be made feel useless. It is she (with help from Merry) who kills the Witch King–even Gandalf could not complete that task. Tolkien shows us that the smallest person can play a significant part in the world, and that is a good thing to remember.
The problem I have with the film is Jackson’s decision to tie Arwen’s failing health with the rise of Sauron’s power. I understand it’s a device to give external reason to Aragorn’s decision to take the responsibility he has avoided for most of his life, but I don’t think it’s necessary. Any strength is removed (literally) from Arwen’s character by this decision: gone is the elf maid who stood up to nine Nazgûl at the ford.
I don’t think I could sit down and read The Lord of the Rings again: that style of writing is too dated for me now, and I don’t enjoy epic fantasy novels any more, even the original that inspired the countless knock-offs.
But, I could sit down and re-watch all three of the films again (but probably not in one day).
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I got a bit overwhelmed yesterday by the sheer volume of books I need to read, and DVDs I have to watch. Over the past few months I’ve amassed a pile of each medium for that mythical period in my life when “I’ll have more time.” Alas, as soon as one pressure is lifted, another usually takes its place. Still, I’m hacking away at a couple of books, though they’re film industry related. I’m enjoying them but they are kind of classified as “work”.
Sometimes, it takes Martin to haul me back on these matters. There is a constant background babble that implies I’m not doing enough, and so I generate a lot of work for myself to belay that sense of inadequacy. Some months ago I promised Martin I would take off one day a week, where I wouldn’t do anything I perceived as “work”, and I would relax.
I’m not very good at it.
When he took me to task about it lately, I blamed it on College. But, that’s probably not the whole truth.
Being a freelancer, and also working on a career that pays off only after a long-term investment of time, effort and money, means that I experience a huge pressure to show results. Any time I’m doing something for a laugh, there’s a creeping anxiety behind it that I’m lazy, and should be using my free time “better.”
It’s a great way to keep myself motivated when I want to achieve goals, but it has its drawbacks.
I’m not so obsessive that I can’t drown out the internal gainsayer that calls me a feckless dosser and tosses rocks (little ones) at my skull, but sometimes I don’t dodge so well.
My desk is beginning to bother me, so it’s time to sort it out. I can only endure a desk with piles of magazines, comics, DVDs, and books (neatly stacked, however) for so long. I had an excuse because of all the papers I had due recently, but that time has past. I need to tidy my desk. I think it is a sign of wanting to get my brain in order. To streamline and declutter it, and prepare it for the next project. I don’t mind my desk, or my house, lapsing into occasional states of untidiness (something I’ve had to train myself to endure), but the longer the situation is protracted, the more it irritates me. The final straw is approaching, and the mess will have to be resolved.
It’s an indicator of my personality type, which is INFJ (Introverted, iNtuitive, Feeling, Judging personality). I’ve taken the Myers-Briggs test three times (the third time a couple of minutes ago) and I’m an INFJ each time.
It’s weird reading the definition because some of it describes the way I view the world quite strongly. Apparently the INFJ group is the most uncommon of the personality types, with only 1.5% of the population being so inclined (if you want to believe the statistics). I was amused when I noticed that the common appellation for the group is that of “Author”, “Seer”, or “Counsellor-Idealist”. Though, I’ve never been too keen on the dolphin as the symbol of the group. I’d have preferred something that is less identified with wishy-washy stoners–though, dolphins aren’t that cute, and are capable of some very nasty behaviour; never trust an animal that smiles that much…
Of course, these categories rarely talk about the negative aspect of being an INFJ, which I’m sure, many of my friends could tell me! It is hinted at, in one description I read, that INFJs are prone to personality problems, probably manifesting from some of our more paradoxical impulses (i.e “These bozos are quietly insane; they just hide their freakish notions better than some.”).
The various personality groups remind me that I should remember them when creating characters. It’s an easy shorthand for establishing realistic personalities, because the Myers-Briggs types reflect that people are not straightforward, but often hold contrary opinions. That kind of complexity is important in creating three-dimensional, and real, fictional characters.
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I’ve started to wind down a little after the intensity of the past couple of weeks, but already I feel the internal pressure to get writing projects under way before the next semester starts in January.
There are other projects that require my attention as well, including web design work. I’ve already started on re-working my other journal, Babblogue Blog–I haven’t had much time for it lately, but I’ve been writing that journal for over four years, so I don’t intend letting it lapse.
Web design is a creative outlet I enjoy. I love the design end of it more than the coding–wherein lie 90% of the tribulations of erecting a viable web site. It reflects my love of creating art, and images. At one point a career in Art/Graphics/Design was a serious contender for my direction in life. Words have always taken precedence, but I enjoy switching gears and allowing my mind to think in a more visual manner.
Today I remembered, finally, to reserve a hotel room for Worldcon in Glasgow next year. It seems crazy to do this so early, but as I discovered, loads of people were more organised than me, and several hotels are completely booked out. I’m still uncertain if I can make it to the convention–next summer is awash with potential, none of which I can predict–but it makes sense to book a hotel now. I can always cancel the reservation if I can’t make it, but finding a hotel room will be a lot harder the longer I wait.
Worldcon will be a good opportunity to meet friends, have fun, and listen to the professionals working in the sf/f industry. Worldcons don’t get to Europe very often, so it’s a great opportunity to meet a wider spectrum of people than is normal at a European sf convention. If I can make it, I’m sure I’ll have a great time. Plus, I get to go to Scotland, a country I’ve always wanted visit.
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Sat, 04 December 2004 Yay!
Exams are over! All projects are handed in. I’ve just had a cool night out with my classmates.
I am really fucking tired.
I’m taking this weekend off. I deserve it.
Oh, and I recovered that post from the 1st of this month. After I came off the boil it didn’t seem important at all, but it’s nice to have it back.
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Even the most simple variety, such as the last two entries on this blog–the most recent was posted last night.
Early this morning the disk on our server’s hard drive decided to eat itself, and the hosting company we use didn’t have a proper RAID 1 set-up so there was no redundancy. There was a long downtime, and everything was restored from the last backup, which was from a number of days ago.
I am pissed off.
Yes, disk failures happen, but that’s why RAID was invented.
There is a chance we (and by this I mean Martin) can restore what we lost from the data retrieved from the crapped-out hard drive. But we shouldn’t have to resort to that kind of messing about.
Grumble.
I’m in a fucking rotten mood now, I have work to do, and I have to study for my exams tomorrow.
Technology is wonderful… until it lets you down.
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This week is insane.
Today I finished my film treatment, and handed it in–ten minutes before deadline. I wouldn’t have cut it so close but for the fact I was sick last week, and on Saturday I woke up with the idea for a totally new screenplay.
I plotted the film that day, and on Sunday I spent the day in front of the computer and completed the entire step-outline. Since I had classes Monday and Tuesday, that didn’t leave me with much time to write up the treatment for the new film by the deadline today. But, you’ve got to strike when the inspiration is hot.
In the past four days I’ve written 12,000 words. 10,000 of which were written in two days.
I don’t normally post word counts since I view them akin to ego-wanking, but this time even I was impressed. It’s amazing what you can achieve when you push yourself. For me there is a restlessness that builds up as I write. Once I top the 1,000 mark there is a sense that I’ve achieved
enough to stop. This antsy feeling escalates the more I write, but if I push past that I can write up to 5-6,000 words a day. Probably more if I don’t leave the office except for the absolute necessities.
It is exhausting, however. It makes you feel as if your brains were stuffed into a blender and poured back into your skull.
But the sense of accomplishment is fantastic.
The film idea I had been working on up until this point was fine, but I had doubts about its originality. I had come up with the idea because I needed one for the course, and not because it inspired a deep passion in me. I could probably rework it into a treatment and script level at some
point in the future, but not at the moment. No ideas are lost, after all, so I’m sure I’ll get mileage out of it at some point in the future.
I don’t think everything I produced in the past few days was gold, but I’m pleased with what I got considering my time constraints.
Unfortunately, I’ve more to do. I’ve five film reviews to hand in for Friday, as well as two exams that day. And a lecture tomorrow afternoon.
Friday evening, I celebrate. And then six weeks before another class!
Of course, I have a ton of work I want to accomplish during the holidays. I’d love to complete, and re-write, some short stories during that time. I’m even allowing for some time off during the vacation when I visit NY for 8 days.
A little bit pleasure, and a lot of work.
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