I don't tell stories.

[raybear]

Last night we watched the movie Storytelling. I didn't think it was as bad as many people said, and by "bad" I mean controversial, negative, fcked up, as well as poorly made, boring, annoying. In fact, I think it touched on some really interesting issues that never get played out in cinema, practically even a laundry list of taboos really: disability, rape, race, being poor, etc. etc. which walked the fine line of being tedious. Part of why I like Todd Solondz films are his characters which say and do the fcked up things that people say and do in real-life (including myself). And in this case, he's basically making a movie that incorporates the criticisms people had of his last movies. I'm not sure how I always feel about those types of movies -- a little self-serving and usually not as well-crafted. Leave the critics alone is probably a better mantra. But in the end I thought it was a pretty amusing movie that is nowhere near as good as Welcome to the Dollhouse and Happiness.

More amusing was that we watched the "Unrated" version, which I was sure just meant 5 additional seconds on a sex scene and I was pretty much right. Even funnier to me was going back to the "Rated R" version and watching that sex scene again -- they didn't actually cut away, they just placed a gigantic rectangular red box over the supposed "NC-17" fornication. Is this how it appeared in the movie theater?

I suppose I should also put in my vote for Americal Idol -- I'm all about Kelly. I'm not exactly sure why, other than the fact that she's got an amazing voice, so even if she gets voted off, she'll have a fine career. Actually, maybe she shouldn't be the American Idol since I can only see disaster and misery for whoever wins this horribly compelling contest. In that case, I think Justin should win. Maybe the heartbreak and pain will finally wipe that silly stupid grin off his face.

Other random pop culture goodness:
I'm mad at Paul Thomas Anderson for making me go see an Adam Sandler movie. But he gets bonus points for having "He Needs Me" by Shelley Duvall in the preview for Punch-Drunk Love. But it makes me mad to think about how I leant out my childhood copy of the soundtrack to Popeye and never got it back. Damn that Joe.

Oh, and I really really hate the Ja Rule and co. song that uses the same sample as Lil Kim's Crush On You. It gets my hopes up every time it comes on the radio.

Comments

[cruelnails.livejournal.com]

OK, so that was the way it played in the theaters (so I'm told, it didnt see it). It was his "commentary" on the rediculousness of MPAA handing out nc-17's willy nilly for sex when you can shoot someone in the head and get an R.

So I've only seen American Idol once, is Justin that carrot top looking fool? If so, he really freaks me out. His facil features don't look human. They look like he was put together in some boy band Mattel lab - and as much as I'd like to not give anything related to American Idol props, that Kelly girl really can saang (girl had too much sould for the pedestrian "sing").

And, as enjoyable as it was for the first year, I'm offically over Ja Rule's ... uhm ... rule over music. The only good thing that might come out of this is I think that video with him, a boat of hoochie mommas and every femal rapper on Murder Inc. may the final toll of the bling bling rap video.

i'm hatin' on jah rule

[geechee.livejournal.com]

may the final toll of the bling bling rap video.
gawd, i hope so. enuf already with that crap.

Justin = Carrot Top

[raybear.livejournal.com]

I agree that Justin's face is frightening. It looks completely plastic-ly structured, but without the obvious sign of plastic surgery. Like the androids from A.I.

I was over Ja Rule around the time of "I Cry" -- the end of his first round of singles and prior to the more recent onslaught of songs. I mean, there have been a few songs that I got suckered into (like "Livin It Up", I'm ashamed to say) but for the most part, if he had disappeared off the earth, I would not have missed him a bit. I'm NOT saying I'd want him to die -- that would actually be worse, because then he would be even more ubitquitous on TV and the radio.

Re: Justin = Carrot Top

[cruelnails.livejournal.com]

Yeah, then he'd finally become the 2pac he so desperately wants to be ...

Re: Justin = Carrot Top

[geechee.livejournal.com]

you got suckered into "livin' it up" because stevie wonder is a musical genius and jah rule is in the puff daddy school of musical appreciation.

Livin It Up

[raybear.livejournal.com]

Thanks for not making me feel so bad.

I mean, hell, I didn't necessarily MIND the stupid Will Smith song for Wild West, even though I HATED him for (ab)using a great Stevie tune.

[forcemajeure.livejournal.com]

I feel exactly the same way about Paul Thomas Anderson and Adam Sandler. I can't believe I'm going to see an Adam Sandler movie. But I will.