SANDY GARNETT ART BLOG

Broken Bridges is an inspiring coming home story of sorts.  Infamous is a better Capote movie than Capote, more compassionate, a more playful yet pained Capote exists in this film, and Sandra Bullock finally breaks stereotype in her best role as Harper Lee.  Half Nelson follows Ryan Gossling’s naughty habits yet charming personality with the school kids, but the movie goes nowhere.  Marie Antoinette similarly is a mere exercise in style as Ms. Capolla takes easy time after Lost in Translation, which all the women fell over for.  Hollywoodland mics Adrian Brody’s annoying whisper, which seems a director effect, one of those films where the sound guys go overboard.  Otherwise the movie has its moments, but how do you tell a story that is never resolved in real life?  You can’t really, so the film ponders.  12 and Counting is an okay movie about childhood trauma, its fallout, or what it’s like to be 12 maybe.

 Infamous is a very strong and enjoyable picture (you have to get over the voice otherwise you’re sunk), particularly if you make art for a living, and I liked Broken Bridges very much, although one must like country music and respect the heartland; metrollectuals need not apply to snicker.

What else?  I’m in renovation land, wiring the ceiling before I close it up, drywall central… making good moves, getting closer… and making some art as well. 

I saw another gem of a movie tonight on the heels of the excellent Lies and Alibis.  Winter Passing follows Reese (the riveting Zooey Deschanel) as she returns after a long absence to her father’s crumbling life.  The once adored author Don, played by Ed Harris, has accumulated a small cast of supporting characters, including Will Ferrell and Amelia Warner.  The film starts New York nights after the lights go down, an emotional darkness surrounds Reese and several factors conspire to return her to the home she grew up in.  Ms. Deschanel is one of my favorites suddenly, an emotive, skating spirit who plays with her feelings like every request might open pandora’s box, her diction rhythm keeping me always aware of her little charming riffs.  Mr. Ferrell is strangely suited for his role and it’s refreshing to see him not playing the big anchor man in a huge comedy tailored to match the risen star.  Ed Harris is always digging deep.  The story is rich, grows like a vine and builds with a nice blend of intellect and slow burning heart.  This is for the offbeat cinephiles by the way, not for mainstreamers, a smart film about the life of artists.

Lies and Alibis is one of the smartest, funniest underhanded caper type films I’ve seen.  The screenplay is excellent, written by Noah Hawley (rewrites by Collin Friesen), the direction is crisp by Kurt Mattila and Matt Checkowski, the score by Alexandre Desplat is pitch perfect.  Steve Coogan interviews Rebecca Romijn for his alibi service, in which he covers for cheating spouses.  The plot thickens quickly into a chess game of many intriguing dimensions.  The dialogue is intelligent and fast, the plot design endlessly amusing, the subject matter absurd, and I found this movie hysterical.  I am reminded of Gross Point Blank (Cusack, Minnie Driver, Dan Aykroyd), a film I loved, and the Whole Nine Yards with Bruce Willis, Amanda Peete, Matthew Perry, Roseanne Arquette (who had the awful accent), another smart and fun black comedy.

 This is one of my favorite movies of 2006 and I never saw it get out of the gate.  I think the infidelity subject is not so fun for daters or divorced viewers who will hate it unless they love black humor, but those who seek humor in all forms cannot pass this one up.  There are echoes of Intolerable Cruelty here as well, another Coen brothers mini master work, but this film is breezier, less heavy handed, less surreal, and I think funnier.

I’ve been on a movie tear for awhile now, for better or worse.  I use movies to prompt me to stay at the easel… I’ll paint a little, watch a little when I have to hang around the studio, which would be always.  Recent films -

Mysterious Skin - 2 Boys with shared childhood experience relink in this very unsettling and sexually graphic flick - for cinema freaks only really

Last Kiss - Jack Braff plays a wimp in love who’s girlfriend is having their baby.  Braff hangs out with his wimpy friends (with the exception of one stud) who are getting whacked around by girls.  Is Braff ready to settle down?  Who knows - a decent movie which reminds me that youth is extended in contemporary culture.  Maybe that’s okay since 30 was the average lifespan when the institution of marriage was established, apparently.

Factotem - Matt Dillon plays the peripatetic Charles Bukowski in a film that will prompt me to read this highly respected degenerate author.  I can’t wait.  Lillie Taylor plays his sometimes girlfriend very well.  This is slacker central and I was fascinated by the style of life this guy led.  I have a time card for my little studio, just to give you a taste.

Derailed - What happens when you flirt with a girl even when you’re married?  Watch out in this very frustrating Clive Owens Jennifer Anniston film - at least there is some satisfaction after an uncomfortable slide into the darkness of ‘totally screwed’.

This depressing film documents the oligopoly practices of Wal-Mart as it moves in and shutters all mom and pop stores to the point where you’re looking at a ghost town.  Most of our country is small town America, and unfortunately our government and media don’t give a damn about it.  I’ve got gripes with hiring illegal aliens and buying everything from China and for good reason.  What about our countrymen?  This is not the question big business cares about unfortunately.  Big business sees no border and they will be traitors to line their pocketbooks.  I am not a wonk on this issue, not an isolationist.  But Americans, most of whom do absolutely nothing with this badge, don’t stand up and ask for much else.  On the heels of this movie I don’t want to go to Wal-Mart any longer, although I’ve only been once.