Showtime's Californication

Showtime's new series "Californication" appears to be more interesting than it is, de facto. However, it is successfully imitative of the already much researched cinematic concept of the 'tortured writer.'

The story takes place, well, in Los Angeles, or rather that improbable land of tortured, but-oh-so-talented writers who don Diesel Jeans and form-fitting t-shirts and who still manage to look 'David Duchovny'-hot even though they consume exorbitant amounts of booze and grass.

But the improbability of the setting is not the reason why I think the show doesn't quite deliver. It simply seems to try too hard not to conform and yet it turns out to be nothing short of a replica of a good precursor.

But it's only 28 minutes and it could be worth watching when in-between chores, assignments, or whatever.

I have watched a couple of episode simply because I'm a junkie for quotes and this show, other than Duchovny's admirable hair styles and vintage t-shirts, comes with a healthy supply of sharp one-liners. And perhaps for that reason it could be watchable.



as per Showtime

3:10 to Yuma

"3:10 to Yuma" captures all that is unique about the Western genre. The pace is well maintained by all invoved, the soundtrack does justice to the plot and the faces of the charaters add to the overall poeticism of the film. And Russell Crowe and Christian Bale share unique screen chemistry.
I give it a big right thumb up!



as per imdb

iPod Touch

Apple's concocted a new toy: the iPod Touch. While it seems to be similar to the iPhone, it sports a feature that those of use who tend toward germophobia have a hard time embracing, i.e., it's touch-reactive. The following video shows how one operates it: http://www.apple.com/ipodtouch/guidedtour/large.html

The one feature I do enjoy, however, is that if one buys music from iTunes, one can also add these titles to one's computer iTunes library. Currently, the iPodRip seems to be the only program, I'm aware of, that allows for the iPod music to get transfered into the computer iTunes library.

Plus, Apple and Starbucks are now working on providing free WiFi connection to the iTunes store. But this feature does not impress me that much, actually.

I don't think I will trade in my current iPod for its flashier brother any time soon. It is, however, nice-looking. And black.


as per Apple

Das Leben der Anderen

Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck's "Das Leben der Anderen" is a worthy cinematic imitation of what life was like for the artistic soul in East Berlin.

The premise of the film is: can genuine goodness exist and moreover, can it be actually maintained, within a system corroded by uber-control, suffocating human micromanagement, and self-alienating sexualizations?

It is, by far, one of the best cinematic analyses of socialist East Germany in that it decodes such a system from a human and humanistic perspective. How far and to what degree can the artist compromise for the sake of her/his art?

The cast matches the brilliant screenplay most adequately. It features Martina Gedeck [also seen in Bella Martha], the brilliant Ulrich Muehe, and the dashing Sebastian Koch.

A total 'Gesamtwerk,' I found.


as per imdb

Miss South Carolina: Take Syntax, by Jove!

Here is Miss South Carolina full "answer."

“I personally believe that U.S. Americans are unable to do so because, um, some people out there in our nation don’t have maps and, uh, I believe that our, uh, education like such as, uh, South Africa and, uh, the Iraq and everywhere like such as, and I believe that they should, uh, our education over here in the U.S. should help the U.S., uh, should help South Africa and should help Iraq and the Asian countries, so we will be able to build up our future.”


I have parsed many a sentence in my short life but, I have to say, I have yet to see a concoction SUCH AS this one. What synaptic connections are responsible for such a phenomenon?

Mother Language: we all apologize.

And here's Jimmy Kimmel's parsing of Miss Carolina's 'sentence.'

Thanks, Jimmy!

http://it.youtube.com/watch?v=M4Khx0D9Vxg


as per youtube

Vogue Fact

One of my favorite economists posted the following fact on his blog today.

"Of Vogue’s 840 pages, 727 are ads, or: 13 percent is editorial."

Should anyone be surprised at this? A good friend/associate of mine actually subscribes to this magazine. I never thought it was for the 'articles.' The hunch was perhaps right this time.

The History Boys (2006)

Anybody interested in reading and decoding the very dense text of ‘academia’ would find the British film, The History Boys (2006), most gripping.

Some of the questions it addresses are:
What is the most efficient and effectual way to teach? How can the new and old styles of teaching be bridged so that the student might acquire the best education possible? Is knowledge actually quantifiable? How is one to walk the line of teaching and learning?

"The History Boys" is a successful rendering of the classroom experience capturing what it’s like to read and be read, relate and be related to.

And the cast delivers. Most successfully. Stephen Campbell Moore brought the character of Irwin, the young teacher to life thus portraying one of the hardest professions most dexterously.

And my favorite line therefrom would be: "There's no better way of forgetting something than by commemorating it."


as per imdb

Colbert

I had to watch Stephen Colbert's pre-taped Branson interview and see what the fuss was all about since the blog world was Report-buzzing.

It was amusing watching Sir Richard Branson and Stephen Colbert go at it and it got even more amusing when the water fight started. Branson 1-Colbert 0.

It was perhaps the most homosocial interview of the summer.

Colbert is no Cronkite, folks, nor does he try or want to be. He is in character when he does the show so let's see and understand him in character.

And it was only a while back when he was in Amy Sedaris' "Strangers with Candy" after all.

Tim Gunn

I enjoy Tim Gunn. His ubiquitous "make it work" phrase oozes a certain measure of caring parenting that's almost adorable.
And he has a book out. Of course. Doesn't everybody?
His book is called "A Guide to Quality, Taste and Style." I am amazed at how many new books are written by famous people these days. The moment one has some success on a popular medium, the next project of choice is book-writing. But I reckon if Pamela Anderson can write what she calls 'novels' and Madonna can pen 'children's books', I shouldn't really be surprised that much any more.
Is it too much to ask that writing be left to writers and clothing concoctions be left to catwalk experts? Drop the pen and pick up the needle, Tim. I like you better when you look at strange styles and lovingly tell the stylist to "make it work."



graph per amazon

Brand Mania and Japanese Fashionistas

Dana Thomas has a book out entitled "Deluxe: How Luxury Lost Its Luster." In it the reader learns about the obsession the Japanese have with luxury items. And it is not just the so-called socially hip and fashion-informed who fervently go after such things as ridiculously-priced Luis Vuitton purses and Hermes bags. Thomas even writes about a Japanese monk with an active penchant for French luxuries.

Knowing my natural inclinations, I am cognizant of the fact that the only shopping I can do while preserving my sanity has to be fast and 'to the point.' I have no time to waste looking at brands I don't know. I know what works for me and I stick with it.

Ergo, being brand-conscious saves me and mine time and resources eventually.

Now.

Having been a fan of Harajuku styles for quite some time, I wasn't as impressed by the book as some of my associates. The Japanese enjoy haute couture. And? I'm not sure this is something that only the Japanese nurse a fascination for. The premise is certainly not that idiosyncratic.

Could it be that much of haute couture is simly qualitatively superior? Granted, some couture notions are preposterous but that's another issue.

I hold the opinion that brand-loyalty is fundamentally a question of economy of time, resources, and space. It allows many to practice a way of living that is more quality- rather than quantity-oriented. Minimalism helps us all in the long run, oui?

And since the notion of 'space' in Japan is not akin to that of the new world, could it be that the spending habits of our Japanese friends could be a tad informed by it?

While Dana Thomas's book is an interesting read, it fails to impress and wow. The Japanese like brand names? Wow! Somebody do a movie about this. Quick!


graph per amazon