::Friday, November 08, 2002::

MILES FROM ORDINARY - I really didn't want to like "8 Mile." I don't like Eminem and I don't like his music. The story which has been buzzed as the partial true story of Marshall Mathers is more accuretly described, in the words of Edward Havens, the authorized unbiography of rapper Eminem. Going into the film I did see a few angles going in the right direction.

First off Curtis Hanson is the director and he is a genius. This guy started with "L.A. Confidential" and moved on to "Wonder Boys". The latter film was much better but the former was much more acclaimed (including a Best Picture nod). Either way the guy knows how to handle a movie. Also I have actually been digging Eminem's new theme song for the movie, "Lose Yourself." This might be because the trailer and the theme song contained within were everyway. (Also Brittany Murphy is kinda hot.) Still with all this I don't think I would like the movie very much.

I was, as I suspect many non-Eminem fans will be, pleasently surprised by "8 Mile." However as I did suspect the film is entirely Curtis Hanson's. His direction is all over this thing. From the atmosphere of the first scene, to Rabbitt's bus ride, to the house fire and all the way to the frantic finale scene. Hanson has craved out a distinct and very human visually style. Perhaps it's time to go back and enjoy the majesty of "Wonder Boys" again.

Emimem is okay, I guess. How much can you expect from an actor in his first role? Not everyone is Alan Arkin. Still Eminem holds his own and has plenty of scenes where he gets to play off of others and doesn't have to earn the screen by himself. He really does get to own it in the film's final sequence. You will believe the passion and determination in those unblinking eyes of his. He does pull it out in the end.

Brittany Murphy is cute, sorta, but she basically spends the movie walking around while making goo goo eyes at Eminem. We know as soon as she appears on screen that she's there to provide the romantic conflict. Sadly, that turns out to be entirely it for her. Hey not every filmmaker sheds the romance angle, like Stanley Kubrick. Her presence by the end just becomes distracting and even if she is cute, Eminem wouldn't give her the time of day if he had an ounce of smarts when he discovers the kind of girl she is. Her character (if it is one) is a waste as anything but something nice to oogle at and provide that oh so reliable girl for the guy to fall for.

The rest of the cast is very good. Kim Basinger slids into a role that appears 180% oppisite of the glamour role she played in Hanson's "L.A. Confidential." But she is still as full of the same fears, insecurities and hatred. One might say it was the same kind of character, but in different clothing. A very nice move by Hanson. Mekhi Pfifer also shines as Eminem best friend. Unfortunetly Pfifer handles himself so well that he often overshadows the shyer Enimem when they have to share the screen.

The movie develops very slowly and I imagine that some Eminem fans might even be distracted by this. We see him as a man, as a friend, as a brother, as a down on his luck worker, as a wannabe rocker, as a rapper with talent, as a man seeking a woman and we him struggle with all the issues that young men deal with. The un-Hollywood resolution might leave some fans wondering where the 40s and ho's are.

What seperates the movie from others is Hanson's complete control of the atmosphere. Detriot has never looked so alive as a city of the bleak and depressed. Not even Micheal Moore's tall tales could likely compare. Scott Silver's strong script which strives to tell a story and not conquer the world is also to be congradulated. In the end Eminem's character is a very human figure in a very human city. People hopefully will look past the overwhelming superficial star presence of Eminem (though he does redem himself) and through to the man who directed him.
:: Posted by Citizen Ryan | 3:03:06 AM| Link This ::

RAGGIN IN THE GARBAGE - If one picture is worth a thousand words from Election Night then the below picture is worthy of the Pulitzer.

NOTE: The head in the garbage can is James Carville's.

That above capture (courtesy of Drudge) came moments after Carville stated, "I'm trying to think of a good way to spin this, but I just can't." Maybe if all the Democrats who got trounced last night had only cheated on their wives, perjured themselves, obsturcted justice or been involved with shady land dealings might things actually look up for the Donkey. I just want to post that picture and leave that as my thought on election night...for now.
:: Posted by Citizen Ryan | 3:23:24 AM| Link This ::

BEFORE YOU DIE, YOU SEE - Well it's been a week and I lived. Of course it would have been one week last Thursday since I saw the first half of "The Ring," but a certain female (whom I still love very much) made me leave the run-down of the movie last Thursday because she was scared. It didn't matter though as I caught the film's concluding half last Saturday and that means, at least by my watch, that I've lived the seven days (whichever way you count the seven days), one is told they are doomed to die within upon seeing the ring or the tape or the girl or whatever you aren't suppose to see but will see if you paid the $8.25 to see the movie. (See?)

But hey just in case all of that is worth as much as a Bill Clinton promise I provide my penance, or duty, or need, or attempt at stupid run-on sentence comic relief...a copy of the video seen in "The Ring". I did what Samara wanted, the curse is broken (I hope). I've also download the video to my hardrive and shown it too as many people as possible.

In all seriousness though "The Ring" has really become a smash hit. We sold out three shows the of the film tonight and we're talking two weeks after it was released theatrically. That says one thing to me "Word of Mouth." People are talking about this movie. They are talking about it to their friends. It's the little secret everyone wants in on. When three people at a table of six are talking about exactly what in the world was going on in "The Ring," those other three want to know. So what happens? They go out and see the movie and sit down to discuss it, while other unintiated are around and the process starts all over again. That's the kind of movie "The Ring" has become.

On quick note, I didn't like the move very much. It was well executed, but was really fluff in the end. Like a baseball team that feilds beautifully but can't hit a lick. Naomi Watts is going to be a real star, there's no doubt about that. And we already know that a seqeul is in the works. For me though, "The Ring" was just average fair. It certainly wasn't nearly as good as Night's "Signs," which was a movie that creeped but made you care and made you think. But for all the talk you're getting from people seeing "The Ring," I certainly heard more gasps this week at the one-sheets for "The Matrix Reloaded." Now that's one movie that won't have to rely on word of mouth or creepy visuals to become a hit.
:: Posted by Citizen Ryan | 6:06:11 AM| Link This ::

UPDATED - Don't fear, Ryan has updated his archives! So just use the navigation to the left and find your way around an up-to-date website. Enjoy your stay. My email is at the top for correspondence. (Strange Thought: Stats indicated four seperate searchs for "Shirtless Pictures of Daniel Radcliffe" or some variation leading to this site. Creepy and scary.)
:: Posted by Citizen Ryan | 6:04:14 AM| Link This ::

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