Crime within a jungle of clothes...

Film: The Garment Jungle (1957)
Director: Vincent Sherman, Robert Aldrich
Producer: Harry Kleiner
Writers: Lester Velie, Harry Kleiner
Cast: Lee J. Cobb, Kerwin Mathews, Gia Scala, Richard Boone, Robert Loggia
Genre: Film Noir, "Based on Article"



The Garment Jungle tells the story of the garment businesses in Manhattan during the 50's and how they worked as rackets for the gangsters. Lee J. Cobb plays Walter Mitchell, the owner of a womens-dress store who is protected by bad guy Artie Ravidge, played by Richard Boone. Mitchell's son Allen (Kerwin Mathews) returns after being away for more than three years, only to find out the truth about his father and his involvement with the gritty underworld. Going against his father, Allen meets Union leader Tulio Renata (Robert Loggia) and learns all about the Union's inability to help his father's workers because of Ravidge and his gang. He is also introduced to Theresa Renata (Gia Scala), Tulio's beautiful wife. Soon, Tulio is killed and there is a lot more to what happened then people think. With the help of Theresa, Allen must try to rightfully justify Tulio's death and knock some sense into his father so that he will start making some right decisions...

I've watched a few film noirs within the last week or so, and this little gem was one of the most enjoyable one. Rather than the usual "cops-and-robbers" plot, the film goes into the secret world of the garment factories. The audience gets to see what it is like to be behind the scenes of it all, both standing in the boss' office as he deals with dirty business and watching the chaos that unfolds in the workers area between the workers and the bosses as they fight for their right to have a Union.

Robert Aldrich was the original director of the film, but was then fired with only two weeks left until completion! That's when director Vincent Sherman stepped in to finish the job. When the film was released, Aldrich received no credit for the work he did. I can only imagine that a majority of the film's shots were done by Aldrich. The bottom line is, however the shots of both directors were put together, they work well in the end result.

Some of the acting in this film was just perfect. Lee J. Cobb is able to do a really great job in the role of "head boss VS. respectable father". I feel like I've seen him in another film once before, but I'm not completely sure. I was extremely impressed with the young Robert Loggia. He had a lot of passion in his performance, very fitting for a Union leader who puts helping other before looking out for himself or his wife and child (unfortunately). I'd have to say that my favorite part of the film was watching actress Gia Scala do her thing for the first time. She knows how to act and has a beauty to her that is different then other actresses. When she has control of what is happening on the screen, she knows how to take advantage of it so that she stands out strongly. I'm interested in finding out more about her and hoping to catch her in a few more films over the summer.

Also worth talking about is actor Kerwin Mathews. He doesn't do that great of a job as Alen Mitchell, that's for sure. His acting is very amateur, and it doesn't help being surrounded by supporting actors who are obviously much more talented. I wonder what could have possibly been the reason for giving him the part. I read somewhere that his acting career actually went downhill after this film was released. A way of looking at it on the bright side? Someone left a comment on IMDB, stating that Mathews' novice acting woks for the film. Since it portrays him as a type of outsider from the rest of the cast, the audience can identify with him as an outsider of the garment business, not being aware of everything that is going on.

When you watch the film, keep on the look-out for the great shot of Mathews and Scala in the bar, right before Tulio is killed. They are sitting with their backs to each other in opposite booths. The medium-shot shows each of them on the sides of the screen with the big piece of wood (the booth) right in between them. I loved it.

R.I.P. Sydney Pollack (July 1st, 1934 - May 26th, 2008)

On May 25th, 2008, Academy Award-winning film director, producer, and actor Sydney Pollack passed away at the age of 73 after a nine month bout with cancer.

I've never seen any of the films Pollack directed, but I knew it would only be appropriate to post something about him in his memory. Plus, it is never to late to start. That goes for both me and you...

TCM has changed their original scheduled programming for Monday, June 2nd, in order to salute Pollack who was a dear friend of theirs (Pollack actually used to host The Essentials segment!). Everybody should try to make it their duty to check out at least one of his films.


Monday, June 2nd on TCM

8:00 PM The Slender Thread (1965) (Directorial Debut, starring Sidney Poitier)
10:00 PM Three Days of the Condor (1975)
12:00 AM Tootsie (1982) (One of the most popular titles of his)
2:00 AM Jeremiah Johnson (1972)


Hope you enjoy the viewings.

A Film Serving 937...

Film: Voyage of the Damned (1976)
Director: Stuart Rosenberg
Produced: Robert Fryer, William Hill
Written: David Butler, Steve Shagan
Cast: Faye Dunaway, Oskar Werner, Lee Grant, Malcolm McDowell, Orson Welles
Genre: Drama, War, Antisemitism


In 1939, the S.S. St. Louis left Hamburg, Germany with 937 German Jews aboard, all in hopes of being able to flee from the country. Antisemitism was rising in Germany and the passengers felt this was there only chance left in escaping to safety. The ship was to make its way to Havana, Cuba where it would dock and the passengers would be able to leave. Little did they know, the ship was never meant to land and free the people. The German government was only letting the German Jews go in order to use them as a form of propaganda. Knowing that no other country would accept the refugees, the world refusal would work as a way for Germany not being held responsible for the fate of the Jews. In the end, the ship was denied by both Cuba and the United States. The Captain reveals that he plans on intentionally crashing the ship into a reef on the southern coast of England. Before the very end of the film, it is revealed that the governments of the United Kingdom, Belgium, France, and the Netherlands have agreed to accept a share of the passengers of refugees. The statistics on the screen then reveal that more than 600 of the 937 passengers eventually died in concentration camps, but it is strange since others have came up with statistics showing that over 700 passengers were in fact saved.

No matter how may passengers aboard the S.S. St. Louis were saved, it doesn't change the fact of how horrible a situation this was. I was never aware of the story of the S.S. St. Louis before watching this film. I feel director Rosenberg did a great thing by telling the passengers' stories to people like I, who never even knew they existed. The film dives headfirst into the emotional states of the passengers aboard, forcing the viewer to feel involved with the situation since they know what the fat of the ship is from the get-go. A very sad situation, Germany assigned the passengers tourist visas rather than immigrant visas in order to insure their plan. Hitler knew that antisemitism was rising in the West and that Cuba would not accept them; that way, Hitler would be able to prove that the world agreed on his idea of the so-called "Jewish problem".

What is even worse for a viewer like myself who is American, I must come to terms with the fact that my own country also denied the ship any access into Atlantic territory that was theirs. Later on they would go and defend the world against Hitler and his Nazi regime, but prior to WWII, they only helped him in solidifying his malicious ideas. America has made a mistake this detrimental more than once, but I guess no country can be perfect. Still, it's hard to hear that the country you live in, the one that is most known for its claim on "freedom", was the same country that denied other human beings that freedom. I know acknowledging this sort of thing is very redundant in terms of U.S. history, but that is exactly what this film aims at doing: making sure that people never forget the lives that have been lost and those who will forever be held accountable.



God rest their souls.

"Give me a scotch. I'm starving." - Tony Stark

Film: Iron Man (2008)
Director: John Favreau
Produced: Mark Fergus & Hawk Ostby (Screenplay), Stan Lee (story)
Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Terrence Howard, Jeff Bridges, Gwyneth Paltrow
Genre: Action, Adventure, Comic Book


I decided it would be nice if I took my little brother out to the movies today. Since he is a big fan of Spider-Man, I thought it would be a great opportunity to see Iron Man for the second time. I enjoyed it very much the first time around, and I stand by my personal opinion that every film should be viewed at least twice. As was expected, I loved it even more the second time. I am a huge supporter of this film.

The story follows the multi-billionaire that is Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.). Stark is the head of Stark Enterprises, an industry that was initially started by his father that deals with creating what are known to be the best weapons in the world. When Stark takes a trip to Afghanistan in order to present a demonstration on his brand new top-of-the-line missile, he is suddenly captured and held prisoner by a terrorist group who wants him to assemble a missile for them. Instead of assembling the missile, Stark, with the help of one other prisoner, creates a suit made out of iron that serves two purposes: 1) helping him to escape from the cave and his heavily-armed captors and 2) helping in the prevention of his death due to the shrapnel that his left in his chest from the initial attack. After escaping and being brought back to America by his men, Stark has a huge change of heart about what his corporation actually does for the world and decides to cease making weapons in the future. In his workshop, he then begins to work on a better and more updated version of his iron-suit creation, only to soon find out that his co-partner Obadiah Stane (Jeff Bridges) has been selling weapons under the table to the same people who captured him months before. Once the new suit is completed, Tony uses it in order to go back to Afghanistan and destroy all their arms. Next, he must find a way to stop Stane from misusing his researh, something that could lead to very serious consequences...

I knew this was a film that I would only love more after viewing a second time. Iron Man has to be at the top of my list in terms of comic book films I have seen. I might even go as far as to say in terms of action/adventure films I have seen, but I do warn you that the genre isn't my favorite in the first place. I can say that, without a single doubt, this is better than any of the flashy comic book films that have been coming out within the last five years or so. I don't have Hellboy (2004) and Sin City (2005) in mind when I say this, but more the Spider-Man's, X-Men's, and Fantastic Four's. While those films are ones that all the young children seem to love and flock to, Iron Man is one that will forever be loved by people of all ages for it's great storyline and awesome action sequences. Not to mention, it is Robert Downy Jr. who plays the role of Tony Stack; I mean, c'mon now.

I tip my NY Mets hat off to John Favreau in being able to make such a great film. This is the man's fourth feature-length film as dirtector, and I've yet to see any of the others. What I do know is that this little diddy is a ways off from films like Made (2001) and Swingers (1996) (the cult-classic favorite that Favreau stars in, along with Vince Vaughn). Who knew that Favreau even had it in him?! This film is so damn enjoyable that the man better be getting ready for the next installment, because this film has "sequal" written all over it.

Robert Downey Jr. does not disappoint in this film. When asked about his portrayal of Stark, the actor described it as "a challenge of making a wealthy, establishmentarian, weapons-manufacturing, hard-drinking, womanizing prick into a character who is likable and a hero." That does indeed sound like quite a challenge, and Downey proves that he was up for it fro the get-go. The opening scene with Downey and the military men (and woman) immediately ensure the audience that they are in for a great performance from the man who does what he does best: drinking martinis and making witty statements with a real "Im-The-Man" mentality.

The supporting actors aren't half-bad either, although I must say, after seeing Terrance Howard in Hustle and Flow (2005), he did seem pretty corny with that high-pitched voice throughout the whole 2+ hours. Now, here's my main issue with Jeff Bridges and his bad-ass role as Obadiah Stane/Iron Monger: Favreau should've known better. There is a scene in the film where Paltrow is sceretly downloading important information off a computer and Bridges walks in. He walks up to the bar and grabs himself a drink of what looks to be an expensive whiskey of some sort. Now, Swingers has some great references that pay tribute to other films, particularly Quentin Tarantino's Resevoir Dogs (1992). You know what I'm thinking of... the Coen Brother's The Big Lebowski (1998)! What Favreau should have done is have Bridges pour himself a White Russian, maybe ask Paltrow if she likes Kahlua? It would've been too good to be true. Maybe that's why it didn't happen. Interesting fact: The Big Lebowski actually borrows/pays tribute to Howard Hawks' The Big Sleep (1946), so paying tribute to the Coen Brothers' film would've been a great way of continuing the legacy.

This film is absolutely great. If you are looking for an actually well-crafted comic book film, look no further. The direction is top-notch, the acting is exceptionally worthy of more than one viewing (in terms of comic book numbers), and the storyline is such a great one, I could imagine this film doing just as well as an ordinary film about a wealthy industrialist that decides it is time for a change. Lastly, this film does something great for its audience: it gets them even more excited for the other comic book films that are being released this summer. Hellboy II, Dark Knight, here I come!


Good day, kind sir.


P.S. - Gwyneth does a good job as well. She's also a cutey. =]

Pre-Codin' it up!

"Pre-Code films were created before the Motion Picture Production Code or Hays Code took effect on 1 July 1934 in the United States of America. Although an existing code of conduct for the film industry came into being in 1930, many ignored it and it was not enforced very enthusiastically." - Wikipedia


June 3 Bitter Tea of General Wu, Mask of Fu Manchu
June 4 Mary Stevens MD (Kay Francis decides to have a baby w/out marriage...and isn't doomed to a miserable life!)
June 5 Shanghai Express (assortment of people on a train in China that is hijacked by a warlord--Anna May Wong is great as a Chinese hooker--also Dietrich as the "White Flower of the China Coast--"It took more than one man to change my name to...Shanghai Lily")
June 12 The Thin Man (wonderful dialogue!)
June 27 Public Enemy (Cagney as a street hood who makes it big as a gangster--features the famous grapefruit scene)
June 29 Rain (Joan Crawford as a South Seas floozy)


July 19 King Kong
July 30 The Most Dangerous Game (a crazy millionaire hunts shipwreck victims on a desert island) The Old Dark House


August 4 Dinner at Eight (snappy dialogue and Harlow all in white), Annie Christie (Garbo's first talkie)
August 7 Queen Christina (Garbo as a bisexual queen of Sweden), Mata Hari (Garbo as the famous spy) Grand Hotel (Joan Crawford as a stenographer who "understands")
August 19 pretty much the entire morning
August 20 Little Caesar (Edward G Robinson as Rico the gangster)
August 31 Man's Castle (Spencer Tracy and Loretta Young)



Thanks to traceyk65 from the TCM Forums for this list of all the Pre-Code films airing on TCM this summer. Happy viewing!

"Defy The Demon Drink !"

Film: Hobson's Choice (1954)
Director: David Lean
Produced: David Lean
Written: Harold Brighouse, David Lean
Cast: Charles Laughton, Brenda De Banzie, John Mills
Genre: Comedy, Romance, Remake

The term "Hobson's choice" is a euphorism that dates back as far as the 16th century. The term represents a free choice where only one option is given. One either has the choice to accept the one option given or accept nothing at all. An example of a modern-day equivalent is the phrase, "It's my way or the highway."

Director David Lean's mainstream fame lies amongst films such as The Bridge on the Rover Kwai (1957), Lawrence of Arabia (1962), and Doctor Zhivago (1965). Hobson's Choice is a film that he made before any of these other classics. Lean was already a Hollywood director by the time the film came around to him, but he decided to go back to England (his homeland) in order to shoot it. As well, the playwright he borrowed the story from and all his actors all hailed from England.

Originally a play written by English playwright Harold Brighouse, the story takes place in Salford, England in 1880. Widower/drunkard Henry Hobson (Charles Laughton) is the owner of a bootshop. He has three daughters who live with him and work for his shop. When Hobson proposes the idea of having his two younger daughters married off and states that his oldest daughter Maggie (Brenda De Banzie), age 30, is way too old to marry, Maggie wants to prove him wrong and get back at him. What does she decide to do? She decides to marry the unappreciated bootmaker of the shop, Willie Mossop (John Mills). Willie is a simple man who doesn't know much else besides making boots in Hobson's shop. Thing is, he makes the best boots in town. A determined Maggie forces the idea of marriage on Willie, who doesn't put up much of a fight against the idea even though he initially doesn't think it best. After the two go through with their marriage, they receive a loan of 100 pounds from a faithful lover of Willie's work. Thus, they are able to open up their own boot shop and live on their own. Certainly, Mr. Hobson will not like this idea...

Brighouse's story is a fun and lovable one, and although I haven't read the original myself, I can wholeheartedly assume Lean did it justice in this early work of his career. After viewing this and Lean's Brief Encounter (1945), I'm able to grasp certain aspects of Lean's directing and what makes him stand out amongst the others. For one, the cinematography is very important two him, at least concerning the two films I've seen of his. Hobson's setting in the cobblestone streets of Salford, surrounded by little independent shops, is a perfect place for the beautiful shadows and smoke to appear as they naturally do. The audience is always in for a treat when a scene takes place outside in the streets during the nighttime. A certain scene involving a drunk-as-usual Mr. Hobson stomping on the full moons reflected in rain puddles comes to mind, which leads to a 20-foot fall into a cellar of a man who promotes tolerance of alcohol.

I caught this film when it just recently had it's TCM premiere, courtesy of guest programmer, actor/director Tim Roth. When asked what he thought made Lean stand out as a director, Roth mentioned the director's unbelievable casting and his ability to bring such great performances out of his choices. No argument there! First off, Laughton does an outstanding job playing the role of Harry Hobson. This is one of the best performances I've seen in terms of playing a man who likes to drink a little too much of mother's milk. The above-mentioned scene is one I can't see myself being able to forget. In fact, I can't wait until I get around to watching the film again, that way I can rewatch the big man in all his glory and debauchery. Secondly, De Banzie does an excellent job in portraying the classy and independent oldest daughter. Maggie's determination in getting what she wants in perfectly executed. The way Maggie seems to hold herself in such high regard throughout the film's entirety, it wouldn't surprise me in the least if De Banzie felt the same way about herself in real life! Last, but certainly not least, is the superb job done by John Mills in the role of bootmaker Willie Mossop. A real stand-out in the film, I was blown away by how convincing he was playing the part. The shyness, the illiteracy, the inability to stand up for himself; all these aspects of Willie's character come to life on the silverscreen in a very powerful way. I don't know much about John Mills, but I'm very interested in seeing more of his work, because seeing him act as a completely different type of character would really open my eyes. When a viewer has a hard time imagining an actor playing a different type of role, that's sometimes a sure sign of real talent. My opinion will only be justified after I catch Mills in some other films. Until then!

I'd reccomend this film to anyone who is looking for something light,entertaining, and very enjoyable. It's also great to see an earlier B/W work of such a prestigious Hollywood filmmaker. The ability to make a masterful epic like Lawrence of Arabia had to stem from somewhere, right?

Thanks for reading.



First 4 minutes of Hobson's Choice (1954)

Film-Noir Galore !

Here is the upcoming TCM schedule that features 52 films listed on the "250 Quintessential Noir Films" list from the website "They Shoot Pictures, Don't They?":

http://www.theyshootpictures.com/noir.htm

All times are Eastern.

5/27 Underworld U.S.A. 12:15 PM
5/28 The Mob 12:00 PM
5/28 The Lineup 1:30 PM
5/28 Suddenly 3:00 AM
5/31 Lady in the Lake 4:00 AM
6/4 In a Lonely Place 10:00 AM
6/5 Union Station 9:15 AM
6/8 The Asphalt Jungle 8:00 AM
6/9 They Won't Believe Me 7:30 AM
6/9 Deadline at Dawn 10:30 AM
6/9 A Lady Without Passport 5:00 PM
6/13 Underworld U.S.A. 3:45 AM
6/14 The Third Man 8:00 AM
6/16 The File on Thelma Jordon 7:00 AM
6/19 The Desperate Hours 6:00 PM
6/24 The Crimson Kimono 8:00 PM
6/25 Crossfire 2:15 PM
6/26 Sweet Smell of Success 9:45 AM
6/26 The Blue Gardenia 11:30 AM
6/28 The Champion 4:00 PM
6/29 Force of Evil 10:00 AM
6/29 Notorious 2:00 PM
6/30 Spellbound 2:45 PM
7/3 Witness to Murder 11:00 AM
7/4 Notorious 7:30 AM
7/4 Shadow of a Doubt 9:30 AM
7/6 Suspicion 6:15 PM
7/7 He Walked by Night 9:00 AM
7/12 Out of the Past 10:00 AM
7/12 The Postman Always Rings Twice 8:00 PM
7/12 Brute Force 10:00 PM
7/12 Shadow of a Doubt 12:00 AM
7/15 Ace in the Hole 6:15 AM
7/15 Kiss Me Deadly 8:15 AM
7/17 They Won't Believe Me 10:30 AM
7/19 The Desperate Hours 10:00 AM
7/24 Kiss Me Deadly 2:00 PM
7/24 The Naked City 4:00 PM
7/24 711 Ocean Drive 12:00 PM
7/25 Nobody Lives Forever 2:15 PM
7/26 Sweet Smell of Success 10:15 PM
7/27 Dark Passage 8:00 AM
7/27 High Sierra 10:00 AM
7/29 Gilda 6:00 AM
8/5 The Unsuspected 6:15 PM
8/6 Nightfall 9:30 AM
8/11 Pickup on South Street 8:00 PM
8/12 Pushover 8:00 PM
8/13 Stranger on the Third Floor 9:15 PM
8/13 The Maltese Falcon 10:30 PM
8/13 The Mask of Dimitrios 12:15 AM
8/15 Gilda 9:45 PM
8/18 The Big Knife 8:00 PM
8/19 The File on Thelma Jordon 9:30 PM
8/19 Witness to Murder 11:15 PM
8/19 Crime of Passion 12:45 AM
8/19 Clash by Night 2:15 AM
8/20 Key Largo 9:30 PM
8/20 Nightmare 2:45 AM
8/22 The Third Man 10:00 PM
8/25 Notorious 8:00 PM
8/25 Spellbound 10:00 PM
8/26 Rogue Cop 4:45 PM
8/26 Act of Violence 6:30 PM
8/26 Touch of Evil 8:00 PM
8/27 Sweet Smell of Success 10:15 PM



Big thanks goes out to FrankGrimes from the TCM Forums for putting together this thorough list!

Everyone enjoy!

Sebastian said, 'Truth is the bottom of a bottomless well'...

Tonight I watched Suddenly, Last Summer (1959), a drama directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz. The film is based off of a one-act play by Tennessee Williams. It is produced by Sam Spiegel, an Oscar-winning producer responsible for such popular films as On The Waterfront (1954) and Lawrence of Arabia (1962). The leading all-star cast is made up of Katharine Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor, and Montgomery Clift.

I wasn't sure at all what to expect when I decided to DVR this film. My main reason for doing so had to do with the fact that it was a film that starred both Hepburn and Taylor, women well-known for being two of the best actresses to ever live. Presently, I haven't seen so much of their work, so I figured this would be a great opportunity to kill two birds with one stone. Little did I know I would be so intrigued by my introduction to actor Montgomery Clift, someone who I knew nothing about beforehand. The man is most-definitely a great actor. Now I'm planning on buying myself a copy of From Here To Eternity (1953), since I saw it in the store the other day for only $10. It's also part of a "Buy-One-Get-One-Free" sale. Can't go wrong with that!

The plot of the film holds up really well. The film added things to the story that were not there in the original play, but that mustn't have been an issue for Williams since he wrote the screenplay together with Gore Vidal. I never read the play itself, but I have a gut feeling that the film did a good job of recreating it. A reason I feel this way is because the film is very dialogue-driven, containing more than a few scenes that are serious long-takes. I was impressed with the film's ability to keep my attention through the use of these scenes. It shows good craftsmanship on behalf of the writing team and furthermore proves that Williams really knows what he's doing.

Overall, the acting was very well-executed. Both Hepburn and Taylor received Oscar nominations for Best Actress and I think that the Academy made a very good decision with that. I would say that Taylor was more the leading actress. She had more time on the screen and the story primarily focuses on her character. The only previous film I've seen of Taylor was 1950's Father of the Bride, alongside Spencer Tracy. I loved the film, but it was during Suddenly, Last Summer that I was hit with the fact of how absolutely gorgeous Elizabeth Taylor really was back then. She really carries the whole package, being both a great actress and a sexual icon and having both be so off the charts. Taylor really shines in certain scenes in the film, not to mention the last 20 minutes or so which is basically a a straight-up monologue, helped to increase its beauty by the juxtapositions and superimpositions that come with it as she describes what really happened the previous summer.

I never knew anything about Montgomery Clift before watching this film. After reading up on him, he seems to be one of the most interesting actors in terms of his life story. After a car accident he had on his way home from a party at Elizabeth Taylor's home (she actually saved him from choking by yanking two teeth out of his throat!), the actor got heavily involved with drugs and alcohol. His post-accident days are looked upon as a kind of downward spiral that eventually led to his early death at the age of 46. Director Mankiewicz and producer Spiegel did not like him much at all, due to the facts that he was a homosexual and could only film for a few hours a day. Hepburn was so disgusted by the way Clift was treated that when she was finished with everything she had to do for the film, she supposedly spit in both of their faces! I swear, you have to love Katharine and her superiority.

Eeeeeeeeeezay.........

The job-hunting is still going on, but it looks as if I have a good shot at getting a job at a couple different places. A few days ago, I got something going with a restaurant called On The Border. It's a Mexican restaurant owned by the same people who own Chilji's and Macaroni Grill. The place seemed nice enough inside, and I was able to sit down with the Manager and talk to him. Whenever the Manager wants to sit down and talk to you, it always seems more likely than not that you have a chance at getting a job. He's a nice young guy, and he said he would give me a call by Friday the latest. Until today, that was the job I had at the top of the list in my mind.
Yesterday I went around checking out different restaurants in Birkdale Village, which is one of those nice outdoor malls that is a mix of places for entertainment and places for people to live. I learned about these type of places in my Consumerism class this semester. The outdoor malls are gorwing all over the country, and they are as great as they sound. It's a really nice place to walk around. It has a great atmosphere. Anyway, I checked out this place called Eez Fusion and Sushi. The restaurant is sweet, with a really nice inside and a section for outdoor dining also. It's nice and clean, and the bar looks like a nice place to buy a drink. I filled out an application yesterday and went back today in order to have an interview with the manager. The manager is a nice, young guy as well and it seems as if I have an even better chance of getting a job at this restaurant. He said they are currently training four new employees and are still in need of two more. The decision-making on who they choose for the jobs will be happening on Monday, so I should be getting a call either then or Tuesday morning. He said I was in good shape for it since they base their decision off of availability, prior experience, and a people-personality, all which I have to offer. If I get a call from the guy over at On The Border, I think I'm going to tell him that I found another job. I don't feel totally safe doing that, but I'd rather work at Eez and I have a feeling I can get a job there. Any disagreements on that decision?

I've been coming across some interesting things while reading The Makioka Sisters. As slow as I am in terms of getting around to reading it, the things I come across are cool to read about. For example, there is this thing that the sisters suffer from called "beri-beri", which I never heard of before. It's caused from a lack of thiamine, which is a lack of Vitamin B. It is more common with Asian people since their diet lies heavily on white rice which contains no thiamine. In the novel, the sisters take the feeling of drowsiness and such as an indication of needing more Vitamin B. In order to make things better, the sister's use injections of Vitamin B. Interestingly enough, it was due to the research on beri-beri that the discovery of vitamins occurred! Dutch physician Christiaan Eijkman was responsible for the discovery and awarded the 1929 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine.

Another really important thing to think about is the idea of arranged marriage. So far, the main plot in the novel has to do with the 3rd oldest sister, Yukiko, and that fact that she has not yet married though women her age do so years earlier. Her older sister Sachiko tried her best to find her the right prospect, but, so far in the novel, to no avail. It is very important that Yukiko finds a husband. Traditionally, the younger sister must wait to marry until the older sister has married. Taeko, the youngest sister, already has a love for a man but cannot fulfill her love because of Yukiko and her lack of a husband.

A lot of people consider the idea of an arranged marriage completely wrong, and rightfully so. I am not one in favor of the idea, but I can understand why the practice was done by others. In traditional Japan there was a class system, and family names were highly regarded by many. Living in that time period, it makes sense to carry out arranged marriages in order to make sure that one family wasn't marrying into another family that would shun their name. The people were just moving with the times. It seems that the idea of the individual wasn't so big back then. It was one's duty to make sure that they represented their family's name in the most positive way possible.

I can't wait till I can watch William Wyler's Wuthering Heights(1939) again. I viewed it for the first time over Winter Break and absolutely loved it, but have yet to catch it on TV since! I watched another Wyler film the other night, and it didn't disappoint: Roman Holiday(1953) with Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck. It was the first of Hepburn's films that I've been able to watch, and I thought she was great. She also won an Oscar for Best Actress for that role. Check it out if you get the chance.

Happy 100th to mah boy Jimmy !

So all day today (May 20th, that is), TCM was airing James Stewart films in honor of his 100th birthday. Luckily, i made a good decision in DVR'ing one that looked good that was airing at 8:00 AM. The film was definitely well-worth watching.

The film is Frank Borzage's The Mortal Storm (1940). It stars James Stewart, Margaret Sullavan, and Frank Morgan, among others. These three actors were all great performers, and ones that I was already familiar with. The same three actors were in another film I love that was also released during 1940, prior to Borzage's: The Shop Around The Corner! For those who aren't familiar with this film, you might be unaware of a connection you have with it. That cute little film called You've Got Mail (1998) with Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan is actually a remake of Shop; they simply updated the idea from pen-pals who work together to emailers whose businesses are going at each other. I highly reccomend checking out both if you haven't already. Another insightful piece of information, Frank Morgan is most well-known for his role as the Wizard in The Wizard of Oz (1939). In my opinion, his role as the Wizard doesn't do him much justice, especially since you don't see him in the spotlight very much. Once you see him in Shop as Mr. Matuschek, only then will you really begin to love him. =]

The Mortal Storm really impressed me. The film is one of the most straight-up anti-Nazi films I've gotten the chance to watch, and it most definitely gains a lot of credit being such a film and being released in 1940 during the era of Classical Hollywood. How big of a deal was it? After the film was released, Hitler banned all films distributed by MGM in all of Germany. Supposedly, MGM gained a lot of profit from Germany, so this film works as a prime example of a Hollywood Studio choosing to stand up for what they believe in over making the big money.

The film is a melodrama at heart, but then again, it is so much more. The film delivers a straight-forward message of following through with your beliefs. The combination of these two ideas are executed greatly by director Frank Borzage. Borzage was a director whose peak came during the later period of the silent era and the beginning of sound films. He borrowed visual ideas from F.W. Murnau, the director who made that little film called Nosferatu (1922). Borrowing from the ideas of German Expressionism, he created his own beautiful imagery through the art of romanticism. I wasn't aware of this while watching the film, but Borzage is remembered by many for his silent film Seventh Heaven (1927) which held the most nominations at the 1st Annual Academy Awards and also took home the award for Best Director. So basically, it comes as no surprise to me that The Mortal Storm was so great since Borzage had obvious talent to put to good use.

The director always has to be credited (in this case, very highly), but I honestly doubt this film would hold such "classic-status" were it not for the actors and actresses in the film. First of, who doesn't love James Stewart? There is something about him that just makes me feel...it's almost as if i feel nostalgic, as if I was actually around during the Golden Years to witness his career as it flourished. I really love the way he does his lines in his films; he speaks them, and then they are no longer lines meant for anyone, but lines crafted especially for him. Any fan of Jimmy should make sure they get a chance to add this under their belt. Secondly, there's the charm and warmth that Margaret Sullavan is able to bring to the screen. Her role as Klara Novak in The Shop Around the Corner always impressed me, and this film just stacks up more on the pile. Sullavan and Stewart made four films together, and the two that I have seen are real keepers. Although those two films are the only two that I've seen of hers, I have a feeling I'd love her in all of her roles. It's sad that an actress that was able to bring out so much happiness and emotion on screen was also the same actress who suffered from depression and was found dead in a hotel room due to a drug overdose. Thirdly, and probably one of my personal favorites, is the acting of Frank Morgan. This guy is just so great! Honestly, I don't even give a shit about the land of Oz. In both Mortal and Shop, Morgan's roles are supporting roles. Meanwhile, his scenes are able to climb up to the top as some of the most memorable of the films. Who could ever really forget when Mr. Matuschek invites the young boy to join him for a holiday dinner in the end of Shop? Just the same, his role as Prof. Roth in Mortal keeps the audience from giving all their devotion to Stewart and Sullavan alone. Lastly, I'd just like to mention how great it was to witness the acting of Russian actress Maria Ouspenskaya in the role of Stewart's mother, Hilda Breitner. A real first-class act, for sure. Make sure you pay attention there.

I really loved this film and hope I've inspired you to watch it whenever you get the chance.



James Stewart - # 3 Actor - Greatest Screen Legends


Stewart discovers that Sullavan is his secret admirer in The Shop Around the Corner (1940)

"You are my center when i spin away...Out of control, on videotape..."

So today was the first official day of job hunting. It didn't go too bad, considering the end results. I'm going back to an Olive Garden tomorrow for their "job-fair" from 2-4, which is basically showing up for an interview and giving them your job application. I'm not sure if they tell you right there on the spot whether you get the job or not, but if they do that would be pretty nice. As well as the Olive Garden, a Panera Bread seemed pretty interested in looking for new workers so that's also a possibility. Although I am a big fan of Panera in terms of food, I can't imagine making more money there than at the Olive Garden, so the latter is a better choice. Lastly, there was this really nice-looking restaurant that they have around these parts called The Fox and Hound. I filled out an application for them and supposedly they call within a couple of days. They told me if I didn't get a call within that time, I should give them a call myself. At least they're on top of things. So basically, being that I'm going to this "job-fair" tomorrow and they are actually looking for new people to hire, it looks as if Olive Garden is on top of my list as of right now. I've never eaten at the place before, but it seemed pretty decent inside and as long as they give me enough hours and I bring home the loot, it's all good with me.




When my friend Anthony left me a comment requesting I speak my mind about an album, the first one that popped into my mind is Radiohead's In Rainbows. I don't think I have one bad thing to say about this album. I can't get enough of it still, and it came out during Fall semester. One thing I absolutely love about the record is the fact that there are only ten tracks. Although I did enjoy Hail To the Thief a nice amount overall, my personal opinion feels that there was too much stuff going on with that record. Some filler, not all killer if you know what I mean. Meanwhile, In Rainbows is an album that goes straight to the point, and that's exactly what I like in a great record. From the opening sounds of "15 Step" all the way through to the hauntingly beautiful closing that is "Videotape", their is not a single song that one might feel the urge to skip over while listening to. Here are some highlights of my personal favorites off of the album:

"Weird Fishes/Arpeggi" - This song is currently my favorite song off of the album. I love the drums that open up the track, followed by the magnificent arpeggio that is played on the guitar that follows (hence the "Arpeggi" in the title). The atmosphere that is created by this song is simply incredible. Thom's voice sounds very fragile and frightening, which goes hand in hand with the music. Closing your eyes, you can imagine yourself moving along within "the deepest ocean/The bottom of the sea". During the verse at "2:12", Thom's background vocals sound as if they really are coming from the bottom, amongst the weird fishes. During the "Hit The Bottom" section, the bass stands out stronger than any other instrument being performed in the song. Bottom line (pun intended), make sure you pay attention to this song. It has already become one of my favorite Radiohead songs, very easily.

"All I Need" - If anyone already knows this record, then they don't really need an explanation on this one. Interesting thing: the very first time I listened to this record, this, along with "Reckoner", was a song that didn't impress me. Looking back, that is possibly the most ridiculous judgement I've ever made about this band. The beauty of this song lies in what appears to be its simplicity. It moves along nicely and slowly, building its way to "2:45" where the song just jumps ten levels, soaring into the sky. Led by Johhny Greenwood's xyelephone and Thom's repeated "It's all wrong/It's all right", your spaceship lands on a planet that you never knew existed. This song was my initial favorite off the album (not including that first listen, of course) and continues to be.

"House of Cards" - This one is just really nice to lay down to and enjoy. Thom's faint vocals in the beginning sound beautiful, preparing you for a great love song. In a way, this song was the underdog of the group. I used to consider it a good song on the album, but wouldn't rep it so much. The more and more I hear it, the more and more it grows on me. The metaphor of the song is really imaginitive. I understand the song in a way that it represents two people making the decisions to jump into a relationship that they aren't so sure of. Almost like a ToHellWithIt song. "Let's just do it and hope for the best." I like what the song represents.

"Videotape" - It's really hard to give this song the justice it deserves through words. The song is stunning. Out of all the songs on the record, this is the one that continues to blow my mind every time I listen to it. I'll say this: Radiohead is always known for having their last song of an album be great. There is no doubt in my mind that this is the very best of their closing songs, possibly tied up with The Bends' "Street Spirit". No song has been able to leave effects on me like this one does: so fucking beautiful, yet so fucking scary, yet again, so fucking beautiful. The meaning of this song can cause a discussion lasting for days, so I leave it to you to check it out. Just trust me, don't sleep on it.


Listen to the record if you haven't already. I promise you, it will not disappoint. It might even better your person. It most definately did mine.


Download for In Rainbows


Great live performance of "Weird Fishes/Arpeggi"

"Somehow it just don't seem fitting for a man to spend his wedding night in a tree..."

So I decided to start up a blog. I figured it would be a good idea to have something like this to spend time on each day. I'm hoping it turns out to be something that I can keep up with an enjoy going back to. Being here in Huntersville, North Carolina, something like this could be good for me.

I got here on Thursday night, which was the 15th of May. Since I've been back, nothing really out of the ordinary has happened. I don't know anyone else down here besides my family, so that is always a downer. I tried out Craigslist for the first time in order to look for a job around the area, but not much was going on with that. There was one place I was interested in: a Sushi/Pan-Asian Restaurant located in the city of Charlotte, which is no longer than 25-30 minutes from here. They were looking for a Host and the pay was $12/hour! It sounded like a good find, but I never got any response from them after I sent out an email the night their post went up. That was three days ago, so I am not counting on that job anymore. Tomorrow I am going to be driving out to an Olive Garden to see if it is possible to get a waitering job there. I've actually never been inside one of those, but my Dad seems to feel it is the only place where I will meet people my age from around the area. Anyway, it would be nice if I could have a job as of tomorrow. I need to get out of the house somehow...

Right now I'm reading Junichiro Tanizaki's The Makioka Sisters. The work is considered one of the greatest Japanese novels of the 20th century, as well as Tanizaki's "masterpiece". A little over 50 pages in, I am definately finding an attraction to it. I chose to start my summer reading off with this piece because I am taking an independent study on Tanizaki this coming fall and need to get a head-start on it as much as I can. The Makioka Sisters is his longest one, so i figured it would pay of to get it out of the way. I'm trying to take notes on it whenever I can as well, since it will probably be hard to remember every novel so well after reading them all. Tanizaki's work tends to deal with two major ideas: 1) erotic obsessions and 2) tensions caused from being caught in between both Japanese aesthetics and Western influence; this novel places most of its focus on the latter. The story focuses on four sisters who are part of a family that once was prominent and wealthy but has declined within society over the years. The story takes place in Osaka, approximately five years before the start of World War II. A very enjoyable aspect of the novel is the way it includes certain Japanese customs, both ones that I've heard of and ones I have not. Also, he portrays both sides of the spectrum through the roles of the sisters. While the 3rd oldest (Yukiko) represents traditional Japanese aesthetics, only wearing Japanese clothes and maintaining a type of "aura", the youngest (Taeko) almost always wears Western-style clothing, lives in a Western-style home, and acts very nontraditional in terms of relationships with men. Interestingly, Tanizaki writes: "Taeko had a round face and a firm, plump body to go with it. Yukiko, by contrast, had a long, thin face and a very slender figure." I feel like the author is using these traits to represent the difference between the East and West in regards to a type of greed, intake, ect...

Turner Classic Movies has been great for my viewing pleasure thus-far. I've been looking forward to spending my summer watching TCM, finding new Hollywood classics to love whenever I can. Two nights ago, the spotlight was on Sidney Poitier. After watching two of his films, I came to realize that Poitier might be one of my all-time favorite actors. As of now, I've seen three films he has starred in (A Patch of Blue (1965), The Defiant Ones (1958), Lilies of the Field (1963)); I've absolutely loved them all. In particular, Lilies of the Field was an amazing film, simply about people and their ability to love and respect one another, no matter what differences may exist. A film about coexisting...After watching Poitier, it's no wonder he became the first African American to win an Oscar for Best Actor. I highly suggest checking out this film and any other Poitier films you have the chance to watch. You won't be disappointed. I've posted a couple of links below of Sidney Poitier, involving the Oscars. They are really great to watch, for anyone.

The title of this post is a quote from the film I watched last night, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954). As far as I know, this is the only musical that was made for the big screen rather than being on Broadway beforehand, but you might want to check up on that one yourself since it's possible that there might be another one or two like it. The story tells of a backwoodsman who brings a wife back home with him, where he lives with his six brothers. After being taught by the wife how to act proper and respectful, the six brothers try to find themselves wives as well. I won't spoil anything else for you, but I'd say it is definately worth checking out in terms of musicals. The genre is new to me so I've only seen a few, but this one was great to see! I've posted a link below to one of my favorite songs of the film. Notice the way the song moves along with the men's actions, it's really fun to watch and listen to.



Sidney Poitier
--> Recieving an Honorary Oscar at the 74th Annual Academy Awards
--> On the significance of Denzel Washington's Oscar win for Training Day
--> Impressive ending of Lilies in the Field


Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
--> "Lonesome Polecat"
--> "Barn Dance"