Recap Roundup

These are the last few films I watched at Sundance:

HERE

Hmmm... so this is a movie that I should like. I liked the ideas and the images and the landscape and the message and everything. I liked the concept. But something was missing. And I just found Ben Foster....just... distracting. I kept picturing him as this kid:

and this kid:

Yes, that was Sisqo. And yes, I did own this movie soundtrack. And don't forget Ben Foster's contribution to Freaks and Geeks!!!:



Anyway. He just didn't seem to fit into this movie.

But I liked it anyway.

I want to go to Armenia.

The Convincer

BAHAHAHAHAHAHAH

This movie was kind of funny, and then there was a distinct, and violent change of tone. Like you start out laughing cause it's kind of goofy and then your laughing cause you're like, shocked and your reflexes don't know what's going on

Crime After Crime

This one really touched me, especially because it seems I have quite a few friends who are in law school/preparing to go to law school right now. They are the ones who can make a difference! Pretty much everyone I spoke with told me they teared up while watching this movie. If you want to find out more, you can go to this website. Also, if you want to help out now, you can text the word DEBBIE to 50555 and donate $10 to the organization.

So thank you for the movies Sundance. See you next year!

The Disconsolate Desolate

I saw these movies on Tuesday while I was volunteering.

Little Birds

Let's do a slow clap for Elgin James.

This is his first film, and it is good. 

But I don't plan on ever seeing it again.

It broke my heart.

This guy went from homeless to Sundance. Cool. 

I want to learn more about this Salton Sea, where the first third of the film is shot. This is what I found out so far. Thanks wikipedia:

The Salton Sea is a  saline, endorheic rift lake located directly on the San Andreas Fault in California's Border Region. Like Death Valley, it is below sea level. The sea is fed by the New, Whitewater, and Alamo rivers, as well as agricultural runoff drainage systems and creeks. The lake's salinity, about 44 g/L, is greater than the waters of the Pacific Ocean (35 g/L), but less than that of the Great Salt Lake; the concentration is increasing by about 1 percent annually.

The creation of the Salton Sea of today started in 1905, when heavy rainfall and snowmelt caused the Colorado River to swell, overrunning a set of headgates for the Alamo Canal. Over a period of approximately two years these two newly created rivers sporadically carried the entire volume of the Colorado River into the Salton Sink. The lack of an outflow means that the Salton Sea is a system of accelerated change. By the 1960s it was apparent that the salinity of the Salton Sea was rising, jeopardizing some of the species in it. The Salton Sea currently has a salinity exceeding 4.0% w/v (saltier than seawater) and many species of fish are no longer able to survive. Fertilizer runoff combined with the increasing salinity have resulted in large algal blooms and elevated bacteria levels.

Chris McCandless visited the lake in the early 90's, which was featured in the 2007 film "Into the Wild".  

The director said that 

fish would basically suffocate from the algae 

and die. 

Then birds would eat the fish,

get sick,

can't fly. 

Hence the name of the movie.

I've always been drawn to desolate, abandoned places. I think that began with my weekend trips over the salt flats to West Wendover. 

Sometimes we would go on walks through the rocky hills behind my house. You could find seashells hidden in layers of sediment leftover from the ancient sea. My dad said guys from the air force would throw parties in caves in the hills during World War II. They left behind shells too. Bullet shells, that is. 

If A Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front

Another version of desolation. 

This movie was mildly interesting. It traces the history of the Earth Liberation Front (ELF) and their classification as a domestic terrorist "organization". I think in the battle between people and trees, the trees will eventually win.

Chimp Champs

I saw "Project Nim" on Friday. It's about this. I wish I could write you an insightful review and tell you about it, but over the past few days, my brain has turned to mush. I have not slept enough or studied enough. I skipped five classes already. FIVE. Not the way it should be. 

And I'm trying to keep up on my jogging mileage. Luckily I have the most beautiful paths right outside.

ANYWAY.

The director, James Marsh, directed "Man on Wire," which won for best documentary a couple years ago. I got to meet him, as well as Bob and Laura from the film. Cool.

The movie reminded me of this episode of Radiolab. 

My one complaint is the use of the word "Nim" in the title. It reminds me too much of this movie:

I guess they are sort of connected. They both deal with experimentation on animals.

Did I tell you that I listened to this book on tape the beginning of last semester? Except it's true title is "Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh". And it isn't half as creepy as the movie. I highly recommend it. 

And that's it for now.

Sundance First Glance

It's official. Sundance is upon us.

First off was a little training session about a week ago. I got my vest, gloves, a beanie, a water bottle, and ...mascara? 

I guess that's a subtle suggestion for us to look our best. I don't know if you can read it, but the package says it will "millionize" my lashes. 

WOW. 

Andy got this tube that has a rollerball thing at the end that you are supposed to swipe under your eyelids to help you feel/look more awake... what? They are obviously really concerned with the state of our eyes.

I love it. 

Bring on the swag.

I'm going to be volunteering in this screening room:

It's smaller, and doesn't get as much traffic since it's out of the way. Should be fun though! Hopefully I will see some of you there. 

Wednesday we had another orientation and a staff party. 

Last night I went to my first screening! I really liked it:

It's adapted from a book that came out in 2008. The director is Richard Ayoade and this is his first movie. Before this he did a bunch a British shows that sound pretty funny. And music videos. These, to be exact:

He also directed the Arctic Monkeys "Cornerstone" and "Fluorescent Adolescent" videos. Note: Do not watch the latter if you are afraid of clowns.

NOTE: There are eff words in this video.

He also directed "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa". Another note: whenever I hear Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa, I think my cell phone is ringing. Annoying. 

He did this video too:

So you know the man has good taste. The songs featured in the movie are by Arctic Monkeys frontman Alex Turner. 

Side note: One of the guys from Vampire Weekend did the Soundtrack for a movie called "Sound of My Voice," which I really want to see. I think one of them is the director as well. But that got me thinking. There are a few sets at the Music Cafe that are "To Be Announced" and I'm betting that Vampire Weekend will be playing at one of them since two o their mates are involved with this filmy stuff. SO, go to the cafe with me. Should be a fun time.

Anyway, the movie is about a 15 year old kid in Wales and his mum and dad and girlfriend and stuff. Basically, it's what you would get if you combined Flight of the Conchords with a Wes Anderson movie. 

Yep.

The woman who plays his mum is also in Made in Dagenham which I saw over break. 

Also, in doing research for this post, I discovered that it is the lead actors birthday today! Happy birthday kid!

I best get going. I'm having my first volunteer shift toniiiiiite!

This is our hope...

"With this faith, we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day."

- Martin Luther King, Jr. 

Just a Few Recommendations

I had trouble spelling the word “recommendation” while on Facebook chat with my brother. Here are some alternate spellings I prefer.

ROOKemendation

REEKemendation

ROCOCOmendation 1

ROCOCOmendation 2

- I watch/listen to this movie once every few months. Did you know that Sofia Coppola and Jason Schwartzman are cousins? Weird.

ROCKemendation

- I also watch this movie regularly. 

"Who says you need to buy a guitar?"...Ha. I love you, Jack White.

REIKemendation

RICKETYmendation

ROCCAmendation

25:34

Do you have twenty-five minutes and thirty-four seconds?

Then you have time to listen to this track: Impossible Soul - Sufjan Stevens

I finally bought the album last week. 

It is something.

My commute (on a good day) is almost exactly 25 minutes, which means I have an excuse to listen to this song quite a bit. It is a good track to listen to in the morning. Especially with lyrics like this:

It's a long life / Only one last chance / Couldn't get much better / Do you wanna dance? / It's a good life / Better pinch yourself / Is it possible? / Is it possible? / Boy we can do much more together... It's not so impossible

Isn't that what everyone needs to hear first thing in the morning? 

One of the speakers in sacrament meeting spoke about confidence, and said that we should look in the mirror and say to ourselves "I got the magic in me," a la Rivers Cuomo/B.O.B.... But I think this track is more my style.