Not Magical.

So I've started to learn about screenwriting. I've read several books, including Save The Cat. This doesn't make me an expert or anything. Far from it. The opposite of it. I probably know just enough to be dangerous. I've watched a lot of moview the past few months as well with an eye to understanding storytelling more. Today I watched The Sorcerer's Apprentice on Netflix.  I vaguely remembered bad reviews. And the fact that Nicholas Cage is in it made me figure it wasn't exactly the greatest. I just looked it up and it got a whopping 42% on Rotten Tomatoes. There are lots of issues with this film. But the very first is the set up. The exposition. In the film there is all this backstory they fly through at the beginning. It's boring. And bad storytelling. They don't reveal as we go. They tell us. And we don't care. We don't actually need  all of that information at that point to be engaged in the film. It seems very very elementary. If I can figure it out... By the way Jay Baruchel is charming even in a terrible film.

I Am David (not me, that's the name of it)

I just saw "I Am David" on IFC. It's not the type of movie I would have gone to see in the theaters, but perfect for a lazy Saturday (see my previous post, Mood Movies). This film is about a boy who escapes from a prison camp in Bulgaria in the 1950's. One of the key characters is played by James Caveziel (a.k.a. Jesus). This casting tells you that there may be Christ-like sacrifice and redemption ahead. Sure enough, those suspicions are proved true. I won't give away any more, but I recommend it. Here's the trailer.

Mood Movies

I've recently realized that I enjoy a totally different type of movie when I'm watching it at home, than when I go to see movies in the theater. When I go to the theater, I want something fun, not totally mindless, and not (usually) a thinker or a downer. Movies with great visuals that pull me in, or really funny ones are my favorites. But when I am at home, I really enjoy things that are darker and slower, or sometimes even more mindless and light. Let's just say, I am way more flexible and forgiving on my couch than in a theater. If I'm in the right mood, I might really enjoy something that I would have given a "thumbs down" had I gone out to see it.

I DVR a lot of movies from TCM. I prefer movies from just post-WWII through the 1970's. And these movies are often quite different than what I would pay $12.50 to see on the big screen. Recently, I saw The China Syndrome, for instance. Very Seventies, but good.

Sometimes I stumble onto other films that I don't expect to enjoy and I am pleasantly surprised. Take for instance, M. Night Shyamalan's Unbreakable. It didn't get great reviews, nor did it make anything near The Sixth Sense, but I was in the right frame of mind, on the right day, and in the right place to really appreciate it.

Oscar (Nominee) Time

Predicting the winners made easy. Click here for an "official ballot."

It's like March Madness, kind of.

Go Slumdog!

(okay, so maybe I say that because there are a lot of movies listed that I haven't seen)