Watched a Film (and #BOTB Results)

My cup of ideas hath been running over, but thus far it's all just been making a mess on the table and spilling onto the floor...

        Just finished watching Federico Fellini's I Vitelloni.   This 1953 film follows a year in the lives of five male friends in their thirties.  The ones who work only do so out of necessity.   Trapped in the small town where they grew up, they spend time goofing off and dreaming about a vague future that includes wives, families, and getting away from their home town.

         What a great film!  This is the second time I've watched it in the past couple of years.  Once again I'm convinced that Fellini films are some of the best films about writers and writing you can find.  The late Italian director was a master at capturing everyday people wound up in everyday lives while dreaming of something vague and often fanciful.

         For some reason this film really spoke to me.  I could see myself in these young men.  This is the kind of film that prompts me to reflect on life and the different paths we all take.  If you have the patience for subtitled films I highly recommend this film.  Or any Fellini film for that matter.

          What can I say?  Fellini is my favorite film director.


Battle of the Bands Results

         This previous Battle between Johnny Winter and Taj Mahal did not turn out as I had expected.  To me Johnny Winter seemed like he would get the most votes because I figured his version was the one known to most.  I certainly remember Johnny Winter being very popular back in the early seventies.  I've heard Johnny's version of "Good Morning Little School Girl" so many times.  The rendition by Taj Mahal was new to me prior to compiling this Battle.

         Both artists turn out excellent performances, but I prefer the softer funkier version by Taj Mahal.  The juke joint band sound really does it for me.  The vocals are drenched with a lechery with a sense of fun.  Johnny does rock this song, but the style of Taj Mahal suits me better.

Final Vote Tally

Johnny Winter          8

Taj Mahal                12

Next Battle on Sunday October 1st

          Maybe some others will join me on my next Battle day.   We'll just have to check.  In the meantime, I might just fulfill my threat to post about something else before the next Battle.

  Have you ever had plenty to say, but just didn't feel like saying anything?   Have you watched any Fellini films (and enjoyed them)?   When have you felt like you were stuck in a holding pattern and waiting for your time to land?  

#IWSG: Mad About Movies

         Time for another meeting of the Insecure Writer's Support Group conducted by founder Alex J. Cavanaugh.   This is the time when writers everywhere can bitch and moan about life or do happy dances depending on what kind of spirits they're in.   And if your problem is being in the spirits too much then you're looking for the 12 Step group down the hall--please leave immediately so you don't drag us down into the depths of despair any more than we are now.



My Insecurity for Today

        For the past few posts I've been researching the topic of preferences and why we like what we like.  Last Friday I suggested that Flannery O'Connor's "Revelation" is the best short story ever written.   After that I posted my Battle of the Bands post with a discussion about what makes music good.  If you have not visited that post and voted I hope you will--I'd love to get your feedback.

         Both those posts stirred some interesting discussion and maybe bordered on ticking a few readers off.  After all I gave my warnings that I might be saying some outrageous things.   This post will be no exception.

         Today I'm going to go even further.  I'm a little concerned that I might irritate some readers in such a way that they might want to avoid me in the future.  Trust me--I'm doing this in the name of science or something like that.  Please don't get too mad at me.   So here I go...

Crappy Movies

         One of the worst movies of recent years is 2012's The Avengers.  The movie concept held promise and most people seemed to love it.   Why, why, why?   That was one of the dumbest movies I've seen.  I mean really now--a wormhole opens up to let some angry bunch of aliens through to attack Earth.  I like wormholes almost as much as Stephen Tremp, but this was a bit much.

         Then there was that stupid cast of superheroes.  Thor is a freaking idiot so I'm not even going to go there let alone go to Asgard.  I do kind of like Captain America and Iron Man, but why do these movies have to go so over the top with things.  The Hulk was one of my favorites when I was young, but now he's bigger, badder, stronger, and more annoying than ever.

         Part of the problem is the filmmakers are drunk on CGI.   I'm starting to get so sick of computer generated imagery.  I used to think it was really cool--and it is--but then the effects departments started going overboard with it.   Now one movie has to top everything that came before with bigger more elaborate computerized effects.  Pretty soon we won't need actors, which actually could be a good thing, but that's the subject of a future post in some far-off galaxy.

          Think about it.  How stupid was it to see the Hulk flying through the air almost like he was Superman?  Those scenes were so phony that they were laughable.  I know this is comic book stuff but I don't think it was intended to be outright comedy.   The Avengers was less of a movie than it was an overly long computer simulated amusement park ride.   Fifteen minutes of that crap would have been enough for me.

         I've lost interest in superhero movies and haven't seen any of the latest ones.  Let's face it--they've all gotten very similar.   Mega budgets with storylines to match--if you can call them storylines.  I've been going back to the simpler films and enjoying them much more.

Better Movies

         Give me more sedate thoughtful movies where actors act and screenwriters write stories with decent dialogue and thought-provoking plots.   I don't need no stinkin' CGI.  Well maybe small doses sometimes, but not the whole movie.  Let my car chases be done with real cars on real streets and have stuntmen doing more realistic stunts than flying through the air like Superman.

          Better movies that I enjoyed more than any of the recent CGI extravaganzas?   Nebraska was nice.  It was about an old man going somewhere and it was so quiet that you could have slept to it.  But the story kept me awake and it had kind of a nice message that was more down to earth than false gods on imaginary Asgard.

           A series that has its flaws but stimulated my thinking was Atlas Shrugged Parts 1 and 2.  Part 3 is supposed be in the theaters in September.  I'm not thrilled by breaking the film up like that, but I like the idea of mixing entertainment with a thoughtful message.   The film had CGI, but the effects did not drive the film, the story did.

          There are plenty of other decent films but I'll let you add your own choices in the comments.

Best Films

           I don't think any films of the past several years can be ranked among the best ever made.   So what are the best films ever?  There are so many, but I'll name a few.  I can't imagine that anyone would disagree with me, but you can try.

1.   Fellini's Roma
2.   Fellini's 8 1/2
3.  Fellini's Ginger and Fred
4   Just about any movie by Federico Fellini
5.  Citizen Kane
6.  Singin' in the Rain
7.  Wizard of Oz
8.   Kiss Me Deadly
9.    Apocalypse Now
10.  The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

         All better than The Avengers.

         I doubt whether I'll have any disagreement on this so I'll ask why you think my choices are among the best films ever made?   If in the unlikely case that you disagree with me then what do you think are some of the best films ever made?   If you happened to actually have liked The Avengers please tell us why.  

          

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Movies About Making Movies (#atozchallenge)

Cover of Fellini's Roma

The films that I'll be listing in my April postings will not necessarily be films that I'd call my favorite films, but they will be favorites in the genres I'll be naming.   The A to Z genres are very specific micro genres as opposed to the broader genres like action, romance, or comedy.

       If we love movies, it stands to reason that we probably like movies about how the movies are made.  From early film history filmmakers have made movies about their process.  For one thing it's probably cost effective since they can often use preexisting sets and the studio lots themselves.  And it's an idea that sells.  Audiences like to peek behind the curtain.

       There are so many films that I could list here, but here are some of my favorites:

Singing in the Rain (1952)--  Silent movies make the transition to talkies.  Some old stars can't make the grade while new stars are born.  One of the greatest of all film musicals.

8 1/2 (1963) -- A film director encounters crisis in his life and on the set as he tries to make a science fiction film.  This film is a semi-autobiographical look at the film's maker Federico Fellini.  The theme examines the complexities of the creative struggle.  This should be required viewing for all writers, aspiring or already published.  It is in Italian with subtitles, but if you write I assume you can also read.

Fellini's Roma (1972)-- This is one of my top ten all time favorite films.  In this wildly surrealistic pseudo-documentary, Federico Fellini leads his film crew as they make a movie about the history of Rome and how the city intertwines with his own life history.  A lot of interesting social commentary with fascinating cinematic imagery.

Day of the Locust (1975)-- Based on the novel by Nathaniel West, the story follows Hollywood wannabes and victims of life into the insanity of the film industry during the years of the Great Depression. Strange and seriously disturbing, the film borders on greatness and is a very good film about Hollywood.

Living in Oblivion (1995)--  Steve Buscemi stars as a serious minded director trying to make a great independent film with a small budget and an incompetent staff and cast.  Buscemi does a fine acting turn here in a film with hilarious scenes mixed with serious drama.  It's a very entertaining film. 

Hearts of Darkness (1991) -- This is a documentary about the making of Francis Ford Coppola's Apocalypse Now.   This doc shows the travails that had to be overcome in making the theatrical release.  A great look at real film making that's nearly as good as the actual movie itself.   This is a must for any hard-core Apocalypse Now fan.

Burden of Dreams (1982) -- Another making-of film that in some ways rivals the film it's about.  This documentary follows the creation of Werner Herzog's epic film Fitzcaraldo.   This was one crazy film about a true life crazy idea that encountered some amazing obstacles.  The obsessive Herzog was intent on filming this story and managed despite the odds against him to produce a great film.  A very interesting documentary about getting a movie made.

        Seen any of these?    What films about movie making do you think I should have added here?   Do you enjoy documentaries?   Why or why not?

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My Very Funny Fantasy Fellini Joke

Cover via Amazon

           Federico Fellini and Marcello Mastroianni  walk into a bar.  "Two glasses of vino," says the famous Italian director to the bartender.
            The barkeep serves the two glasses.  "Eight and a half lira," he says.
            Federico hands over a thousand lira bill and says, "Keepa the change."  Leaning over to Marcello he says, "Thisa place izza cheap.  It doesn't cost a fortunella to drink here."
            Federico raises his glass for a toast.  "To life--life is good."
             "La dolce vita," says Marcello with a smile.
             They sip their wine in a contemplative minute then Marcello says, "Have you heard fromma Nino lately?"
            "Ah, yes, Nino Rota me the other day.  Hearing from Nino is music to my ears.  Right now he's at an orchestra rehearsal for a soundtrack for some silly little American movie about Italian gangsters."  Fellini laughs.  "You'd think we Italians are a bunch of clowns."
           "It's a swindle.  Gangsters!  Why do the Americans always think Italians are gangsters?"
           "I guessa we hava too much fun, eh, Marcello?"  Fellini nudges his friend and winks.  "One for the road,"  Fellini calls to the bartender, holding up his wine glass.
            "And howsa life Federico?"   Marcello says in a quiet voice.
            "The usual circus.  Always surrounded by clowns, midgets, and androgynous men with make-up and feather boas.  And then of coursa the women witha big breasts."
            "Oh, yes, you lika those women witha big breasts, eh Federico."
            "And you don't, Marcello? says Fellini jokingly.  "You lika all the women.  You don't fool anyone.  And all the women they love you back.  You are such a Casanova.  I thinka you'd like to live in a city of nothing but women--and you the only man."
           "Sounds like another one of your dreams to me, Federico."
            The men both have a lusty laugh.
             Then Marcello turns to Fellini with a questioning expression.  "Itsa kinda funny--here we are, here in Roma, both of us Italiano and we speaka de English.  Why we speaka da English?"
             Fellini shrugs and says, "No subtitles."


               If you read my Wednesday post you have some idea where today's post is coming from.  Did you understand the hidden jokes?  I'm sure you didn't.  Nobody watches Fellini movies except for me and maybe a few other weirdo cinephiles.   Please tell me that somebody who read this got it.  Okay, then how about this:   Was the story kind of funny without knowing about the real life characters?

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F is for Favorites

       Today is Francis Ford Coppola's birthday.  And what's that got to do with the cost of fromage in France?, you may say-- besides his name having two Fs in it.   Coppola's Apocalypse Now is one of my favorite films and today I'm talking about favorites.

         Apocalypse Now is one of those films people either really like or strongly dislike. It partly relates to one of my favorite films of childhood--Wizard of Oz--which to this day remains a favorite.  The way I see it Apocalypse Now is a kind of Wizard of Oz for adults, with an assortment of characters on a strange journey to find some eccentric man who rules from his secluded place.  In one film the quest is for "home" and in the other the answer is "horror". 

          One of my favorite film directors is Federico Fellini.  Some of his films that I am especially fond of are La Strada, Roma, and Ginger and Fred.  I reviewed the latter film back in December. La Strada, or The Road, is a 1954 film starring Anthony Quinn.  Fellini Roma is a surrealistic bio-travel fantasy that looks at the city of Rome.

           There is a common theme in all of these films that makes me very partial to them. They all have to do in some way with journeys.  The story of the journey is a common one throughout the history of fiction.  In part the concept of journey represents the journey we face in life from birth to death.  Then there is the adventure of surprise and discovery of what is going to happen next.  The arrival is just the end of the story that we see in the film, but we are enthralled by what is involved in getting to the destination.

            Films like these are particularly appealing to me because I have a gypsy soul.  I love traveling.  I have spent much of my life doing things that have involved travel and I'm always ready for a new adventure.  From the comfort of my couch I can embark on an odyssey that brings me to places that are strange and that take me to the heart of my dreams, nightmares, and fantasies.  It is the exhilaration of getting to a destination where I can bask in memories and meditations.

            Such is the journey we are on in the Blogging From A to Z April Challenge.  This is our blog adventure and already we have been surprised by the many different approaches that can be taken to Z destination. There are many routes that we are taking and each offers a fascinating look at what blogging is all about.  It should not be the arduous trek of Captain Willard in search of Colonel Kurtz and his visions of horror, but it should be closer to the fun and magic of Dorothy and friends on their way to see the wizard.

            That is not to say that all of the blogs are frivolous fun.  Some are very serious and require a lot of thought.   Others dazzle, while some are like a relaxing friendly visit with the neighbors.  There are blogs that instruct us and there are those that entertain us.  They all have something special to add to the mix.

           If you ask me to name my favorite movies, I have already named a few of them.  Want to know my favorite music or books?   I can't come up with just one answer, but I can give you list.  And if you want to know which are my favorite blogs, you might as well be asking which of my kids are my favorite.  They all are because they are all part of my family. Every blog in this challenge is part of our blog family and you all have something unique and meaningful to offer and I thank you for that.

           Our blog journey has just begun and the enthusiasm is high.  Try to keep a steady pace and focus ahead.  Enjoy the scenery--keep checking those other blogs and making the comments so you can support each other.  Just don't run out of fuel.  This is not a contest or a job, but it is your own personal challenge. We are all rooting for you finish the journey to the end.

Special note:
You can now comment on the Box o' Whine site -- at last!  This site was having problems accepting comments and now the problem has been fixed.

Ginger and Fred

         Buffy Andrews at Buffy's Write Zone had posted a piece about her favorite Christmas movie and I liked the idea so much I thought I might review mine as well.  I left my comment on her site but am going to expand upon on mine further.  Buffy's favorite is  It’s a Wonderful Life  directed by Frank Capra and released in 1946.  I'm sure that's one of everyone's favorites.  I'm going to go for a less obvious and more obscure choice.

           A new favorite for me by one of my all time favorite directors, Federico Fellini, is GINGER AND FRED (1986). This is a brilliant and poignant satirical look at television. An aging Fred Astaire/Ginger Rogers look-alike dance duo is reunited after 30 years for a Christmas Eve marathon television show. The movie is bizarrely surrealistic as is most Fellini but wonderfully visual. The story touches upon the shallowness of modern television and the mass audience and also of aging and relationships. In Italian with subtitles, but I found it to be very rewarding when I watched it this past summer. I bought a copy and hope to watch it again for this Christmas season although it's a good movie for any season.

        I loved this movie --- it ranks with Fellini's best as far as I'm concerned. But the caveat here is that most movie viewers probably don't have the patience for Fellini's vision in this film or most of the body of his work. The story here is simple enough. It's a sweet story that could have been done by any other straight-forward director as a serious drama, a comedy, or even a musical. But why do it that way when you can make it a wacked out surrealistic dream vision of a film complete with midgets, transvestites, beautiful people, and the whole gamut of individuals that make the world the wonderfully various place it is. The vision concerns the decay of the modern world and the modern mind, alienation as brought to you by television, and the wistful longing for a past that is gone and perhaps was really never how we envision it now. The layers of the film's cinematography, dialogue as pertains to the story, absurdist antidialogue, sets and costuming, and every other aspect makes the film call for repeated watching. The acting is superb. The music is typically whimsical and lovely as any Fellini film.

         GINGER AND FRED  ranks high on my list of favorite films. But as I have warned, if your movies have to have action and traditional storylines then you may not appreciate this one, especially since it's in Italian with subtitles. But if you think you would enjoy watching a story presented in a manner akin to watching a dream (not a nightmare) full of strange visuals and off the wall ideas and dialogue then I would encourage you to give this a chance--it is an artistic coup.  I would compare Fellini's film to those of David Lynch except without the perversion, violence, and darkness. Fellini is more like Lynch at the circus. Before there was David Lynch, there was Fellini.

Actors: Giulietta Masina, Marcello Mastroianni, Franco Fabrizi, Friedrich von Ledebur, Augusto Poderosi
Director: Federico Fellini
Language: Italian
Subtitles: English
Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Warner Home Video
Run Time: 127 minutes

         How about you?  What's your favorite Christmas film?