Thursday, April 16, 2009

Blog Page RE-updated

...let's see how long this lasts.

www.joehilliard.com is now fully current. I believe that page will be comprised mostly of my OCD lists with headlines for blog entries that will link back here. So what do I intend these blog entries to be?

What with the podcast and the radio show and all my other 'stuff', invariably, not all is conveyed, and frankly both shows don't allow for some information to be conveyed. Let's break it down shall we?

The podcast
TMH has a strict format with a loose presentation: one new-in-theater release for x minutes, DVD (maybe two) for y minutes, the magic segment and then LRFF. Now that's a solid show--first class entertainment--but at the end of the day I'm seeing more movies in a week than we can discuss on the show AND I'm seeing films, bc I try to see anything with potential cultural value, that we may not want to discuss on the show.

Two examples:
There is no pop culture phenom in the literary world larger, currently, than Twilight. So I rented Twilight in spite of the horrible critical reception it received. And that negative, unanimous critical reception will keep it off the show. I'll write a review of Twilight here, then. Harry Potter is a different story and had TMH existed when HP I was released of course we would have discussed it due to it's at least average, if not above average, critical reception. The second example, a Netflix currently at my house, is Marley and Me. I doubt we'd ever discuss M&M on the show, but, again, very successful book, actor with a recent suicide attempt, controversy over its rating: yeah, I want to check that out. So, again, I'll review that here.

The Radio Show
KWM is admittedly in a state of flux right now. I have no idea what it should be or what it is right now. Suggestions? However, this will be the avenue to blog about things we discuss on the show

CCFS Stuff
CC7D 2009 is on its way. I'm considering this location to be the 'sneak peek' point of information transfer.

So, I have plenty to say.

...Optimistically, this will last forever.

Review - Slumdog Millionaire


Originally published elsewhere and writen as a quick, short paragraph nutshell on 1/16/09.

I saw this one in New Orleans when I'd learned it hadn't opened in CC the same weekend as scheduled. I need to see it again. It's visually stirring and I understand why people enjoy it, but I am not a part of the unabashed love train this film is getting. It will win the Oscar and I will be saying, after the fact, that I disagree with that decision...unless I see it again and am moved in that direction.

Review - The Wrestler


Originally published elsewhere and writen as a quick, short paragraphs nutshell on 1/26/09.

Saw The Wrestler on my first double date in...don't know how long. Dinner at Thai Cottage which was excellent and then on to the movies. This was the biggest weekend in local theaters all year with the release on the same day of The Wrestler, Slumdog Millionaire, Frost/Nixon, and Revolutionary Road. Longest line at the theater? Underworld: Rise of the Lycans. Welcome to CC.

If you consider what makes a great film, you break it down into a few pieces: acting, story, filmaking technique, etc. The Wrestler is a very good film. Easily one of the most entertaining of the year. What makes it a very good film is the performance of Mickey Roarke. IT IS as good as you're hearing. Sadly what keeps it from being a great film is the flimsy, cliched story. You know what will happen at every step of the way and hardly see anything new (except for the in-ring wrestling scenes). You know what will happen at every step of the way. For many this will not be a factor bc there is a true emotional heart that will pull the heart strings. I would have liked to get there in a less conventional manner.