From my good friend Maria, I found this video on why we should all reflect, engage and of course blog!
MAKE MEDIA MATTER from MAKEMEDIAMATTER.COM on Vimeo.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Greenberg, 2010, Dir. Noah Baumbach, Film Review
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In my first attempt to see a film at the Nova, Carlton every Monday (during my university commitments and conveniently on their $6 movie day), I had the pleasure of viewing Greenberg, 2010, Dir. Noah Baumbach (The Squid and the Whale). It was written by Noah Baumbach (screenplay) and Jennifer Jason Leigh (story) who plays a small but poignant part in the film, as Roger's ex-girlfriend who has moved on with her life. This writing partnership resulted in what I consider a very funny, entertaining and strangely heartwarming comedy. In an observation that was quite scary, poor old Roger Greenberg (Ben Stiller) reminded me of an exaggerated version of myself in certain stages of my life; in his cynical, narcissistic, post nervous breakdown persona he offers a comedic reflection of a has-been musician who is getting older and questioning his past decisions and his place in the world right now. The buy line is "he's got a lot on his mind" and this is certainly reflected in his incessant need to write complaint letters to every organisation his encounters on a daily basis (a similar passion of mine, if only I had time!) My favorite line from the movie was on Roger's 41st birthday, when he sat with his only remaining friend and was reflecting on his much younger 'like' interest and the moments of youth that they both admit have passed them by. His friend, Ivan Schrank (Rhys Ifans) who plays a fellow ex-rocker, now running an IT business and married to what Roger insanely describes as a "racist", comments that "youth is wasted on the young", which Roger replies in his nonchalent depressive tone stemming from a true cynic, "I'd go further, I'd go, life is wasted on people."
Greenberg follows the story of Roger who has just arrived back in his hometown, Los Angeles, to housesit his wealthy and professional brother who seems to care more about his dog then of Roger and his recent admission to a mental hospital. Along comes the brother's assistant, Florence (Greta Gerwig) who takes care of Roger's needs in more ways than one. Despite, at least Roger's best efforts (if not spontaneously aggressive yet amusing attempts) to distance himself from falling for Florence, the couple in the very least bond over their shared notions of feeling lost and searching for their place in the world. There are consistent laughs found in the film, from punchy observational humor of Roger and his narcissistic reflections of others; to the once best-friends relationship of Roger and Ivan; the brother's phone calls to check up on Roger and the strange couple that arrive at the backyard pool every other day.
I left the cinema feeling satisfied with watching an intelligent, comedic effort, added with the new offering of Ben Stiller playing a dramatic role and not a characiature. It's philosophical edge, without being a heavy drama, offers a delightful film to enjoy with others or in ones own time grabbed between other commitments. Go and see it, I ensure you, if you have any reflective enquiries on your own past, like watching obsessive cynics write hysterical complaint letters or enjoy the notion of people finding love in unexpected places, you will sit through certainly without yawning or checking the time and even come out with a smile on your face!
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Wednesday, July 21, 2010
PunchyP's election coverage...the history
says it all really. money money money whereever he can get it and take it back out of actual needs i.e. education and public health (which he took $1 billion out of while he was 'health' minister for little johnny. If people can ignore these facts http://abbottfacts.com.au/video/tony-abbott-hooked-donations-tobacco-companies then they really do deserve this person as their leader...and if they do, I will remember fondly the small 2.5 years I had with a labor leader while I live in Spain post August 21 2010. All I ask, is that some real thought is taken by the voters. Look at the facts and form your decision on real facts and not mere campaign lies that anyone can tell. After all Abbutt did state that
<span style="font-weight: bold;">and for all those incessant users of the words "backflips" and "flip flops" in response to Labor's attempts with the ETS - the real history is this:</span><blockquote>Third, there is a major issue of integrity at stake here and Liberals should reflect very deeply on it. We have an Opposition whose current leadership dismisses the Howard Government's ETS policy as being just a political ploy. We have an Opposition Leader who has in the space of a few months held every possible position on the issue, each one contradicting the position he expressed earlier. And finally we have an Opposition which negotiated amendments to the Rudd Government's ETS, then reached agreement on those amendments and then, a week later, reneged on the agreement. http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/politics/abbotts-climate-change-policy-is-bu...</blockquote>
and if you think this is mere ALP spin...these comments were actually made by a fellow campaigning Liberal, mr banker Malcolm Turncash.
But if you insist on hearing it from the horse's mouth (literally), Abbott admits himself that he is introducing Climate Change into the election because "it's a vote changer" not due to any overwhelming concern for the environmental problems that he thinks "is crap"...but remember you cannot take anything Abbutt says as 'gospel' as he again states himself "don't believe all I say." I don't think it's the 'all' that we need to worry about, its the can we believe any of what he says that is the real concern right now. More to come on PunchyP's election coverage - and yes I will be sharing my views on spillard's policies and behaviour also, which you can see has not pleased me since her bullying act to Kev, powered by the right-winged factions in the ALP so stay tuned for who I will be voting for and why...
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