CAP Reviews: Slumdog Millionaire

January 3, 2009
Best Picture of 2008?

Best Picture of 2008?

No matter how much money, star power, top of the line equipment, technical wizardry and good ‘ol fashioned “Hollywood” the movie making machine throws at any movie there are just certain things it can’t just buy or force: a heart. A soul. Truth. A perfect example of what I mean can be found in my review for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button just below this review.

However, at the complete opposite end of the spectrum you have this little gem: Slumdog Millionaire. This may be the best film of 2008.

I don’t do synopsis write ups in my reviews. It feels too “high school book reportish”. But if you’re one of those people who need it, read this.

This movie so perfectly balances out the oxymorons of raw honesty, Bollywood movie melodrama and Hollywood heightened realities that it’s actually difficult to say which country this movie should plant it’s flag on. By the way, the director is the incredible British director Danny Boyle who introduced us to such dichotomous films as Trainspotting, 28 Days Later and Millions. Plus Slumdog’s lead Dev Patel is a also a Brit. So you can toss in England in that pot as well.

There’s a point in many movies when you either wholly connect or completely divorce from it and you either can’t believe your good fortune of experiencing the great ride presented before you or you can’t wait to get out of the theater to grab a drink or a bite to eat. Most of the time you sort of lean more towards one way or another without ever truly committing to either. It’s sort of like people that way. I know that sounds bad (or something worse) but it’s my truth.

I knew pretty early on that Slumdog Millionaire is a great film the same way I knew pretty immediately that I loved Y Tu Mama Tambien, Lost In Translation and City of God. It was close to love at first sight. Again, sort of like people that way. By the way, those other movie comparisons aren’t random. If you saw those films then see Slumdog, you’ll understand what I mean.

Finally in all great films there is always always always a completely unexpected surprise that just serves as the perfect “cherry on top”. And as unexpected and uncharacteristic as it is, it still manages to fit perfectly and make sense. The nice ending after the plot’s ending of this movie does just that.

(Man, reading this review seems so fragmented and without a . I’m still out of practice and of my comfort zone of writing here. But one of the rules I’ve laid out when I started this was to keep my post editing down to a virtual nil. Bear with me.)

So I end this review with a few random points I was hoping to make more poetically:

- Shows that no matter your your IQ, books read, and studying one does nothing is more educational than living your life.

- Danny Boyle is turning out quite a kick ass legacy of classic films.

- As much as I love this film, it makes it wholly clear that there is not a shred of intelligent reason for me (or anyone for that matter) to visit India anytime soon.

- Just like the quintessential pop song, a good ‘ol fashioned love story that’s well told is timeless and the best.

- Go see this movie. Go see Slumdog Millionaire. Don’t waste your money or time on anything else first.

P.S. “sucker MC.. with his action hero in hand with the kung fu grip”

to be continued…

cap

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CAP Reviews: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

January 2, 2009

It’s been so long since I’ve had the pleasure to write in this blog. Lots has happened personally, locally, nationally and globally. I plan to write about much of it here. It’s a tale that concerns personal heartaches, revelations, redemption and poker. Lots and lots of poker.

All the while not a single day passed by without the lingering need and want to purge some off the cuff prose into this virtual official magazine that’s rewarded me with great joy last year.

But after a nearly four month hiatus I’m back. And rather than try to write a looooooong post about the what’s, where’s, who’s, blah blah blah, I think the best remedy for the long absence is to just jump right in. Eventually enough new posts will manifest to collectively offer answers to the aforementioned questions.

So enough of that and more to this…

Kinda good... then Super Lame.

Kinda good... then Super Lame.

I just got back from the Arclight theaters in chilly Sherman Oaks, California and sat through what might be one of the most curious movies I’ve had the… I don’t know quite which word to use here… of experiencing: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Written by Eric Roth. Directed by David Fincher.

The movie is a well disguised idiot flick that’s a beautifully executed gimmick of a tale with all the nutrition and depth of a pre-packaged fortune cookie including all it’s hidden, seemingly tailor-made “profound messages”. Check out the synopsis and Roger Ebert’s review here.

The obvious comparison to Forrest Gump was easily confirmed when Eric Roth’s name appeared in the final credits. However, as hokey and disappointing as I felt when I left the theater, I’d be lying if I said the film wasn’t entertaining and beautifully made while being well told. Much of the credit goes to David Fincher, Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett and the wonderful Taraji P. Henson.

Specifically the movie fell apart for me in the third act. It was as if the filmmakers totally wrote / directed themselves into a corner, basically said, “Well, they saw all the cool things we did with Brad’s face. Let’s just have him say some quick profound shit and end it off before the audience catches on.”

However at nearly three hours long, it takes a very well told, skillfully made movie to keep from walking out. I found myself only checking the time on my cell only four or five times throughout the film. I credit mostly Fincher and his post crew for that.

There are several moments in the film where you think to yourself: “How did… what the fu…” But that’s quickly thwarted by: “duh, with some time to kill and an internet connection for online tutorials I could rock that effect in photoshop.” Ahhhh the bittersweet era of technology and the age of information.

If you want to see a great movie about all the beauty and surprises a life can spring onto you, check out Danny Boyle’s much better, much much more rewarding Slumdog Millionaire.

Final verdict: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button gets: a pocket “King of Spades” and “Jack of Hearts” with a rainbow Ace, Seven, Eight flop. You’re second to act behind an aggressive raiser who opened with a continuation bet of half the pot.

I wholly understand if my temporary movie rating system isn’t well received, appreciated or even annoying. I told you I’ve been playing too much poker lately. Besides, someone already took those damn “thumbs down” idea.

By the way, I’d love to be more thorough and articulate about my feelings and opinions of this movie but getting back on the writing / blogging horse is much more difficult than I had ever anticipated. Please. If you agree with this review or it triggers something entirely different, please comment and let’s start a dialogue about this movie. I’ve been quite ostracized among my peers because all my friends and most audiences alike seem to absolutely LOVE this movie. You’re all suckers. Especially you CQ.

to be continued…

cap

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10 Reasons Gen Xers Are Unhappy at Work (non-cap)

May 19, 2008

This is so true.

It troubles me that so many companies are slow (or just plain blind) to recognize the massive transitions that’s going on not only in our society but our world. In order to compete with this global business community, we need to first reiterate internally that we’re all in the same team working for the symbiotically similar goal. And it starts by taking care of our own co-workers. After all, they’re the ones changing our world.

Any one else out there who feel the same way? Different? Inquiring minds want to know.

Corporations really need folks in their 30s to early 40s, but there is a tentative relationship at best between that cohort and Corporate America

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cap

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Random Shots: My DVD Library

May 19, 2008

My DVD Library

You see all those gaps in the shelves? Yeah, you can thank my ex-girlfriend for those. The thieving brat!

A couple weeks ago I started posting my top ten favorite films and I got a few emails with some great feedback. But I also received a few that kinda irked me. I had both friends and strangers call me something to the effect of a “cinephile elitist”

Say what now?!?

So I feel a responsibility to defend myself here with another set of random shots.

My DVD Library 2

Who’s a film elitist now?

You see that copy of Mean Girls side by side with Nashville, There Will Be Blood, Titanic? My tastes can be just as mainstream as the next geek!

DVD Library 3

And a few other must-haves in any DVD library.

DVD Library 4

Shopgirl is sort of a guilty pleasure.

DVD Library 5

Okay, so I have a few not so obvious choices. What do you want, huh?

cap

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Why and How Gen Y Is Changing the World (non-cap)

May 16, 2008

I just make the demographics cut here but based on how significantly my own life has changed in the last three years, this next piece seems to ring more true every day.

Gen Y is taking over. The generation of young adults that’s compromised of the children of Boomers, Generation Jones, and even some Gen X’ers, is the biggest generation since the Baby Boomers and three times the size of Gen X.

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