Stop Thinking

Several years ago I stopped caring what other people thought about me . . . and it has made all the difference in my life . . . now I've stopped caring what I think about me and it has made my life experiences much richer. "Carpe Diem children, because every soul you see in these pictures are now food for the worms" - Dead Poets Society. 

Normal is Worthless

So many people walk through their day to day lives twitching with banality; work and love in such predictable ways it often would seem so comical were it ever faced with a mirror. What do people expect  of you…fitting in? But the best of men seek new kinds of experiences pleasurable to only the individual who experiences them and not to the masses he may thrust his story on in order to feel important, special, normal, human. Living in such a rigid state of life is comforting but cowardice. It's too easy to do what life expects of you…than to surprise it and yourself by stepping out onto a limb. But surprises are often the best things life can show us. I'd rather spend my nights with raving loons howling at the moon who have the gaul to call themselves artists…than spent one moment with someone who would dare to have the gaul to call themselves normal. Because normal is in fact one of those few words in the English language that has such a vague definition, different to each person that speaks the word, and diluted down so much it might as well serve English better not even existing at all. It's worthless. It's funny how in my 26 years of life I've yet to met a single classifiable normal person. 

normal |ˈnôrməl|

adjective

1 conforming to a standard; usual, typical, or expected : it's quite normal for puppies to bolt their food | normal working hours.

• (of a person) free from physical or mental disorders.

We all have our little twitches. And I find it even more absurd that puppies bolting to food is the dictionary (on my computer's) example of what it means to be normal. 

Even the people I know who try to be normal (all fail) some still indulge in creating their own hallucinations and madnesses . . . by doing drugs…so artificially twisting their own mind into something gaudy and unkempt to keep up with those whose minds do it naturally. It's a hilarious social game most people don't have the patience to observe.

 <- .="." is="is" it="it" nbsp="nbsp" normal="normal" not="not" or="or" p="p" this="this">

Quills Review (Or a rant of my thoughts of the meaning of the film)

QUILLS REVIEW: (OKAY IT'S MORE AN INTELLECTUAL RANT OF THE FEELINGS THE FILM STIRS UP IN ME RATHER THAN A BORING DISSECTION OF THE STRUCTURE AND PARTICLES OF THE FILM.) 

*this review contains harsh language and a mature subject matter reader discretion is advised* 

This film might shake the foundation of your morals. 

In case you don't know what a moral is I've provided the definition below. 

morel |məˈrel; mô-|

noun

a widely distributed edible fungus that has a brown oval or pointed fruiting body with an irregular honeycombed surface bearing the spores. • Genus Morchella, family Morchellaceae, subdivision Ascomycotina: several species, in particular the common M. esculenta.

ORIGIN late 17th cent.: from French morille, from Dutch morilje; related to German Morchel ‘fungus.’

 - The abby "Your not suppose to entertain people in your quarters" - Marques De Sade "I'm entertaining you now?" - The abby "Yes, but I'm not a young prospect ripe for corruption." - Marques De Sade "Don't be so sure." 

 - "I write what I see, the endless processions of the guillotine, we're all lined up waiting for the crunch of the blade, the rivers of blood are flowing beneath our feet abby. I've been to hell young man, you've only read about it." 

Quills is one of the most beautiful films about the human condition and the artist condition ever written. Oh no it's a movie about sex and perversion. It's about the Marques De Sade *.* . . . no it's about much more than that. 

Geoffrey Rush won an oscar for "Shine". A weak movie but a radiantly brilliant performance I must say, he deserved it. Although if he won an oscar for playing Barbosa in "Pirates of the Caribbean" I'd of thought he deserved it then too. He's simply marvelously engaging. I can imagine he the type to capture an audience on stage with his energy. 

"Quills" is simply put one of my all time favorite films that most people I know haven't had the pleasure of viewing. "Quills" and "Y Tu Mamma Tambien" (And your mother too?) are both films about that universally taboo subject . . . sex. Penises, vaginas; ideas of things to do with them and the like. Why the earth has around 7 billion people in it all created through this practice yet most people are so desperately afraid to talk about it or dare I say have it, befuddles me…yes I'm in supreme befuddlement about why no one ever seriously talks about this subject in film (it's extremely prevalent in literature and paintings) and I don't mean in the juvenile 'yeah I totally banged this broad at this party bro, yeah bro high five, way to go dude, bitches ain't shit but hoes and tricks' kinda way…but in a real way…a human way. Or dare I say, a poetic way. 

Perhaps it's an intimidating subject…it's a practice that can cause in some people heroine like addiction, extreme pleasure (when done correctly), and without proper measurements creates these little things called people that can walk around and have their own little dreams and aspirations one day.  

"Dead Poets Society" and "Quills" both in a way mirror each other. Because in a way they're both about teachers whose methods of thought cause an ordinary, school or madhouse, to be turned on its side and madness and chaos ensue to their non-logical end. "Carpe Diem, poetry is art, seize life by the horns, and live it to the fullest; with passion" - is the theme Robin Williams pines for in "The Dead Poets Society" and "We eat, we shit, we fuck, we kill, and we die…I write of the great human truths" is what Quills is about . . . not really but much more. And perhaps the reason it's higher on my list than 'Poets' in my list of favorite films is because in a way it's a farce and it has a far sharper cynical edge to it…that and Rush's performance out-paces Robin Williams though I think they are both magnificent and dare I use a big word…transcendent. 

The Marques De Sade was a real man who wrote smutty sex books and also philosophy from an asylum in 1700's France. His books are still widely read and republished today in many languages. Quills is a farcical drama inspired by his life and taken so many liberties with the real man it is definitely classified as fiction but contains the very spark of intellectual thinking that is what makes the Marques still remembered today…sort of the first punk rock star without the music. 

Any woman who picked up that FAD book "50 Shades of Grey"  should probably pick up "Philosophy in the Bedroom"   and pit the two books together in a cage match of perversions. If you wanted to read about depraved sexual activity rather than parade it around as if it were classy, start from the originals written in the 1700's. 

Though the Marques isn't the best writer in history by a long margin, he does have something to say, that's worth reading if people weren't so immature about other people's imaginations…thinking something and performing something, wanting something and stealing something are vastly two different things and there are still a lot of people who don't understand this. If someone wrote a poem about rape and it had a comical edge to it but lived their life like a saint, they might be condemned for writing the poem, even if they lived their life with 'a pure heart' (whatever the fuck that means). It says quite about bit out human society that some people would be so greatly condemned for their fiction and taken so seriously than the actual physical lives they lived. And any human being who says every thought that passes through their head is indeed wholesome, is a fucking, cunt, shit-bag lier, and I'd rather have someone think the most depraved thoughts ever (and not act on them of course; unless they don't hurt anyone then that's fine) than be a lier. Because people who lie are usually afraid and people who are constantly afraid are more likely to feel insecure, lash out, and hurt people. It's a simple fact of human nature. 

The Marques didn't live his life like a saint, but those are the thoughts the film stirs in me. Thoughts could not and cannot be governed and when you bury the dark thoughts, the animalistic thoughts that are a part of the human experience you simply cage them and make them more violent because they haven't an outlet and in electricity terms - no ground. Like priests that molest children when if only they were aloud to love like normal either themselves or another may be less likely to.

But from a society whose religious rights as many, many, many people were raised indoctrinates children that sex is inherently evil…well it does cause some problems with societies. "Quills" raises strong moral questions about religion, institutionalization of society, and human desire, than the simple cock and pussy jokes found on the surface of the film. And of course these should be obvious but I'm amazed at how many people I've met have seen a film like "A Clockwork Orange" and still don't get that it's a social satire about the freedom of choice and a government limitation not to attempt to homogenous human thought and simply think it's a gang film about violence; which is simply just the surface of the film. But then again in a recent speech the President of the United States Barrack Obama said that we should condemn that film that was made defaming Muslims…which was the President of this Country defaming and virtually pissing on freedom of speech and giving into fear because a handful of people were immature and because of their immaturity murdered some people over a bad film. Childish thought. But the film does play devil's advocate and shows what happens when someone hears stories and takes them too far to heart…which is a devastating scene I must say. 

Because the film (Quills) defames the institutionalization of societies, homogenized thought, and religion and asks its audience to empathize with a perverted lunatic maybe why a lot of people shy away from it. Sexuality after all is a lot like sense of humor. It's an extremely unique experience to the individual and is often much more engaging with someone whose thoughts are much more kindred than those who simply 'don't get the joke'. 

If I described the surface plot of "Quills" it may bore you to tears and seem conventional and even formulaic but in the hands of Philip Kaufman's directing a farce about a sexually depraved man writing perverted novels from inside a madhouse dances off the screen and right into my heart, pausing and making me ask questions and reminding me at times just keep telling yourself…'it's only fiction'. 

The themes of rebellion can also be found in Lindsay Anderson's classic film If…. , though that film is devoid of a relatable teacher character like "Quills" and "Dead Poets Society". 

"It's a fiction, not a moral treaties" 

If this film shakes your morals too hard, indeed I pity you. The foundation you've built your life on is as flimsy as mist. Though if this film and its message inspire you . . . perhaps the soil you've build your life on is rich enough for some new ideas to bloom. I hope in your case its the second kind. We need more brave mad poets in this uninspired world yet. 

Box Office Slump: Huffington Post Debate I was a part of.

http://live.huffingtonpost.com/r/segment/504f7df6fe344446ac0001e7

Surreality: Fear and Loathing in Los Angeles

Surreality; when apparent reality suddenly becomes surreal without the aid of drugs. (Usually found in larger cities like New York or Los Angeles but often experienced in New Orleans)

It was somewhere off Sunset Blvd across from the Hustler Store when the sobriety started to kick in . . .  



Last night I was at the Whiskey A Go-Go to see a band called "Johna" (I've never heard of them either, but their cute lead singer Nadine has a beautiful voice and is German so that's a plus too.) (It's a duo, the lead singer (with acoustic guitar) & a keyboardist, a semi-unusual mix, but it works. Well they're both German. *.*)

I'd never heard of this band before however somehow (and this has happened to me 3 times in LA already) tracked me down and invited me to the show, and since I'm a curious adventuresome fella and don't mind new experiences I said I'll try...so I did http://www.facebook.com/#!/johnamusic ;-look em up if you're inclined.



I was out running errands and I let my invitee know I may not make it to the show :(

But I did...

That wasn't the weird part...that was the refressing part...the weird part happend shortly after I arrived.

So I parked at an overpriced lot next to the Whiskey. Though it is nicer only walking a few feet to get my car at the end of the night.

And I went for a walk cause the club wasn't opening. I had overheard the owner was coming late. (The show actually started about 30 minutes after scheduled, and not because of that 'make em wait' philosophy, but because the owner showed up to open the doors late. (Or so I heard.)

I waited in the line for about 30 minutes. And ended up waiting in the line specifically for people with tickets...I did not, so I had to get in a second line. And a magical scalper offered me a ticket to the show for 5$...having never head of the band I was about to see, I took that route, the woman next to me gave the scalper 10$. I flirted for a little while until I realized she was a bitch.
Earlier in the night, waiting in line, I started to get creeped out about this show because in the line...at a place called "WHISKEY A GO-GO" it has 'Whiskey' in the &*(*&(*@&(*@& title!!!! Were what appeared to be a very large group of 12-15 year old kids waiting in line for a field trip, with 1 adult shapperone. This was creeping me out. Why weren't their bar feild trips when I was in school?

Well it turns out the reason they were probably their was because of the opening band. The opening band looked like a group of 12 year olds attempting to be rockers. (The guitarists could play well enough) The first song they did were, ehem, "I've got 99 problems but a 'chick' ain't one" (Not that chick can't be construed as derogatory among women it's that bitch apparently is offensive, but 'bitches ain't shit but hoes and tricks'. (Nevermind) A least they didn't try a toned down version of Rape Me by changing the word 'rape' with the word 'hug' or something equally hilarious.  Regardless the moment the kids started singing I walked quickly and calmly to the bar. (Corona)

The real kicker that had me rolling on the floor was when the kids band covered "Hero of the Day" a Metallica song kidzbob style. It took all my strength not to laugh at the top of my lungs. I thought his voice was breaking into puberty in the middle of the song. "The hero of THE day YEahhhle" (you can imagine)

  <- Imagine this kid singing, the song below ~



They get an A+ for effort though.

Then they sang 'an original, instrumental' which sounded like noise, pure unkempt 12 year old angst noise. (The guitarist wasn't bad though) I had to go out for a smoke or heroin or something to get my mind off of this.

Other highlights. A bouncer telling a 15 year old looking British kid, not to pass out fliers at the club, the same bouncer kissing and hugging his mom (apparently) who had stopped by to say hello and a girl that looked at least 9 carrying part of a drum kit out to a car.

My drinking partner was a poster of Janis Joplin smiling on the wall next to the table.



I would have normally invited more friends (even though I did tell people about the show and posted about it on my FB, and am telling people about it now) but because I am very tolerant and I couldn't at points stand in the same room without laughing I'm sure any company I'd invited wouldn't have had the patience to stay for the band I was waiting on.)

The second band was a hispanic rap group I think, also kids, which covered "I Wanna be a Billionaire" and "Video Killed the Radio Star" I asked the bar tender if he had some rope and a tall stool and how sturdy the rafters were but said they were all out of rafters.

Anyways after a walk up to the Hustler Store for a quiche or pastry or something (Yes they have a cafe) there cafe person was out so I walked slowly back to the club. The bouncer told me 'he wished he could go for a walk' made me laugh.



Finally the band I was there to see played and as a strange contrast to everything else they A.) Played well, she has a beautiful voice for that style and were a rather stripped down duo singer songwriter style music with a keyboard. Very relaxing as apposed to the caterwauling (of a cat) make a shrill howling or wailing noise;) I had heard from the previous bands.

I sat through their entire set but didn't stay to introduce myself. There wasn't a large turnout, which is sad because they were clearly the only thing worth listening to in the club that I heard last night. (Though I didn't stay for the group after them, but that one seemed adolescent too and probably just as inexperienced as the others.)

Johna was worth some semblance of my time...the others were not even worth a note.

In LA you try things and sometimes they pan out into other things.

- First chapter, LA is nuts - 

A Thing about Life and Friends

           Life is too short to care too much about menial mistakes or what unenlightened morons think of you. Too often in my experience there are two types of advice, genuine advice from friends who support you and advice given out of malice in order to change you into a person other's think will make you acceptable to whatever their view of 'society' is. It's total b.s. either way, stay healthy, keep a good appetite for life, and go for the throat and surround yourself with wonderful people that do the same…I also realize this looks like a  platitude salad. Watched "All that Jazz" again last night, if I can make a film 1% as good as that movie in my future I'll be happy. But it is a film about how your life choices affect you and those around you and possibly the most brilliant meditation on death ever filmed. (But that's just this ole boy's opinion) Be yourself, anyone who says otherwise; family, friends, god . . . it's not worth feeling bad just to be excepted by people who don't respect you in the first place. 

Movies That Have Made Me Cry.

        It takes a man to admit when something as trivial as a film as got to him emotionally and it takes a fantastic filmmaker to be able to make that happen and here are the 8 films I remember affecting me emotionally sometimes a full on sob other times just moist eyes but these are films I consider resonating emotional masterpieces. 

1The Deer Hunter

The Deer Hunter is the only war film that encapsulates post, pre, and during the vietnam war and how it changes people, it's known for being long and slow but that aspect just helps you to know, and truly know the family and friends of the people affected by the war as you would your own in the exact situation...the feeling of 'coming home' after the war has never been so earth shatteringly emotional than in any other film. The less said about "The Deer Hunter" the better, I did a review of this film in an earlier blog when I bought the blu-ray...if you haven't seen the movie, or haven't seen it recently, get yourself a nice meal take a few hours and let the brilliant performances, slow pacing, and masterful cinematography wash over you completely. This film is an epic. This film is an emotional feast if you let it take you right. 

2 The Grave of the Fireflies - Roger here spells this film out much better than I could.

3 Shindler's List - nuff said.

4 The Wrestler

This film on a personal level reminds me of someone very specific in my life. (Though much different than this character.) So I'm not going to elaborate more on this.

5 All that Jazz (Maybe spoilers)

If you know me you already know this is one of my all time favorite films. And if you haven't seen it you can't judge it. This film is about a man facing his own death and dealing with it in a dreamlike hallucinogenic dream state. It's about a man reflecting on the mistakes he's made and laughing about them and dancing with them. I think this film is a masterpiece.

6 The Men Behind the Sun (*Warning clip contains scary things*)

This is not the best made film on the list by far, it may in fact be the crudest. But it's brutal and about something real that happened in Japan during WWII at a place called 731 (look it up if you want to) A lab where Chinese and Russians were used as human guinea pigs to test various diseases and even performed vivisections (that's a dissection while a person is still alive) in order to study these diseases affects on a living human body. The subject matter brings me to tears that humans can be so dehumanized.

7 The Dead Poets Society

The ending of this movie is so real, human, poetic, and palpable to me. Robin plays this so human like a truly vibrant and loving teacher. I love poetry and art, that's why I work in the entertainment business, and this film encapsulates that youthful spirit I had toward it in high school. 'How do you make the girls swoon?' With poetry.

This is simply put one of the best coming of age films ever made.

8 Midnight Cowboy

If this film doesn't get to you on some emotional level...you may not have emotions. Midnight Cowboy is the only X or Unrated as such film to win Best Picture and it is a cinema classic and for my money a masterpiece. It's about a young man who comes to New York City to become a male prostitute (Voight) and he befriends a lowlife named Rizzo (Hoffman) who acts like his pimp, though mostly they just chat about life, sneak into parties, live a little, love a little, and learn to grow up. In the beginning they have their fights, their troubles, and then become great films. This is a must see for every cinefile.