DVDs Out This Week

As it is in Heaven

(Guest post from myself at The Film Talk)

Hey there folks – starting today, we’re going to try to post on Tuesdays about films new out on DVD, or available to stream over the coming week; so herewith the inaugural ‘It’s Tuesday, so it Must Be the TFT DVD/Blu-Ray and Miscellaneous Other Digital Media Report:

We like to think we’re all friends round here at TFT Central – so if you can, and if you trust me, then stop what you’re doing. Watch ‘As it is in Heaven’, finally available on DVD in the US (and to watch instantly on Netflix). If you like it, there’s a good chance you’ll adore it. If you don’t, please forgive me; it’s a source of real regret that this Swedish film, that does a far better job than ‘Chocolat’ of evoking ‘Babette’s Feast’ was never theatrically released in the US;hopefully it will get the audience it deserves.

Downhill Racer: Winning is Everything

Caught up with Criterion’s characteristically excellent release of  ‘Downhill Racer‘, another film that reveals Michael Ritchie as an under-appreciated director (Honeslty, imdb-chatters, have you really nothing to say about the guy who made ‘The Candidate’, ‘Fletch’, and the deeply serious thriller ‘Prime Cut’?), Robert Redford as a far more nuanced actor than his reputation permits, and sports movies as the genre that may reveal most about the US American male archetype.

It’s a fascinating movie, inflected with a bit of Godard here, some Arthur Penn there, discordant cutting, unconventional sound, and a central character who can’t really be seen as attractive, despite being played by beautiful Bob.  ‘How far must a man go to get from where he’s at?’ asks the portentous voiceover on the trailer (one of those great 60s Paramount previews that bears the weight of assumption that you won’t go to see the feature length version of the film unless you know absolutely everything that’s going to happen in it first).  The answer seems to be wherever there’s snow, lycra, and hill gradients steep enough to propel a man faster than he should really be going.

Start the Week

Nic Cage in ‘The Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans’

Sorry for light posting recently – still trying to get back on top of things – for now there’s a wee post over at TFT that may encourage a few DVD rentals this week.  One of the most honest (and therefore tragic) crime movies, and one of the most despairing stories about the current economy.  And a delightful little Chaplin bit.  Enjoy.

George, Vera, and Anna in The Tragedy of Our Time

Blue Light, Red Light: Paris, Texas and the Redemption of a Man

* Note: This post is so full of spoilers it’s almost ridiculous – so only read the first paragraph if you haven’t seen the film yet.  It’s also more of a personal review than I might otherwise write, mostly because ‘Paris, Texas’ has been resonating deeply with me since I first saw it about 15 years ago.  And finally, the photo credit: some images below are courtesy of the fine folks at the Criterion Collection.

I used to think that Thomas Merton, that earthy paragon of real life mysticism, who left this world too soon, was too wise to have lived in the twentieth century. But then I saw his character pop up in Robert Redford’s excellent little horror film Quiz Show and realised my mistake – his was a profoundly modern spirituality, with the gift of connecting ancient truth claims with contemporary reality, just what we need in these troubled times. Merton says that no one can find true life ‘unless you have risked your mind in the desert’. There’s something about the truth of Sam Shepard’s writing in Paris, Texas, available now in a classy Criterion DVD and Blu-Ray edition that leads me to believe Shepard must be familiar with Merton, and not just because it’s about a man wandering in the kind of desert that has real sand and baking sun.

Films of the Year: The ‘B’ List

I posted a Top Ten/Eleven the other day, but last year was such a rich one at the movies that I knew you, Dear Reader, would ask for more.  So, herewith: Films of 09 that I liked, but only just not enough:

The Girlfriend Experience (above): The first of two films Soderbergh made this year about the love of money, and the human as commodity.

Observe and Report: Vastly misunderstood, very serious story of the cruelty of consumer culture and insensitivity to mental illness that characterizes our age.

Star Trek: A wonderful adventure story, knowing in its humour, and let down only by the villain-for-hire/scriptbot nature of the central conflict between imperfect bully Kirk and understandably grieving villain.

At last: My Films of the Year 2009

Hello there –  after the privilege of matrimonial gallivanting in Godzone, it’s a delight to be back to the blog.  I wrote at length before I disappeared about the year gone by; and so here, with brief commentary, is part one of my list of what seem to be the best films released in 2009.   I’ll post a much more extensive piece on also-rans, near-misses, and dishonourable mentions in a couple of days…But for now:

10: Il Divo/Anvil: The rise and rise and rise of a fallen leader; and the fall and rise of an elevated twosome: the most compelling political biopic and most engaging music documentary of the year.

Radio Silence

Hi there – sorry for being absent lately – am away from the computer in a land where internet access costs more than I’m willing to pay (or able to justify).  But will be back up and running in a week or so.  Meantime, please do sign up for the ‘Beyond Cinema’ film & spirituality event on 22nd and 23rd Jan in LA if you’re able to be there.  (The 23rd is my birthday, so I’ll be in a good mood.  A New Year bonus!)

Take care, and keep in touch.

An Ending/A Beginning

Just a brief word as the year winds down for one side of the International Dateline – I’m experiencing the privilege of honeymooning in New Zealand, a summer Christmas has passed by, and I’m with people I love, already near the end of the first day of 2010.  I won’t keep you long as I’m sure you’ve all got parties to go to and people to kiss, but I want to express my sincere gratitude for the conversation on this blog – I’m thankful for your comments, questions, provocations, encouragement and critique.  I hope we can talk more in the year to come.  Before then, I have a wee request that may appeal to some:

Over at The Film Talk, there are mere hours to go in our attempts to keep the show on the air - if you’re a listener, a reader, or a friend, and can spare some cash to keep us afloat, we’d be most grateful…

And whatever is happening with you just now, remember that all things must pass; and my prayer for you would be best summed up by the words of my friend John, who invited us to live ‘as the river flows, carried by the surprise of its own unfolding’.  Don’t be too hard on yourself, look after others, and enjoy the light, wherever it comes from.

Beyond Cinema: Your Invitation to a Film & Spirit Event

Gaia

In just over three weeks some of us are getting together in LA to participate in a small festival of extraordinary films: You’re invited, and we’d love to have you with us – please read on:

Beyond Cinema: Film and Spirit will be a night and a day of movies and meaning, featuring Tibetan Buddhists, New Zealand communitarians, Russian mystics, and Native American wisdom.   We’ll have three local premieres, in-person appearances by the film-makers, and conversation to nourish the soul, provoke the mind, and encourage change.

Obama Report Card: Important Words from Frank Schaeffer

My friend Frank Schaeffer is a passionate advocate for challenging the current state of conservative politics in the United States, and an even more passionate advocate for President Obama.  I admire deeply his personal courage in speaking up, and offering a critique of the movement he helped found.  This has come at a significant personal cost.  I’m posting below in full his most recent article, which offers a corrective to both those on the right who would denounce Obama, and those on the left who feel let down.  I think that Frank’s words below, and John Dear’s comments about Obama’s role in American empire, posted here recently both offer helpful, contrasting lenses through which to interpret this new era in American history.  I’m grateful for Frank’s reminders of Obama’s significant achievements; and I’m grateful for John’s reminders that we should not trust in princes.  Both perspectives deserve serious attention.  I’m looking forward to reading more of both of these important voices in the year to come. (BTW – Frank’s new book ‘Patience with God’ is fantastic – one of the most illuminating reading experiences of the past year.)

‘Obama Will Triumph – So Will America’, by Frank Schaeffer (Original post here)

Before he’d served even one year President Obama lost the support of the easily distracted left and engendered the white hot rage of the hate-filled right. But some of us, from all walks of life and ideological backgrounds — including this white, straight, 57-year-old, former religious right wing agitator, now progressive writer and (given my background as the son of a famous evangelical leader) this unlikely Obama supporter — are sticking with our President. Why?– because he is succeeding. We faithful Obama supporters still trust our initial impression of him as a great, good and uniquely qualified man to lead us. Obama’s steady supporters will be proved right. Obama’s critics will be remembered as easily panicked and prematurely discouraged at best and shriveled hate mongers at worst.