Grateful Dead

Such a corny title, but a great plot and special effects.

Very good political thriller about the US presidential politics and the dirty pool machinations of the candidates and their handlers. This is a must see for anybody interested in just how policy can be made and who stays at the top of the heap despite many charges up the hill. Is the ending realistic? You be the judge!

A movie from the Sundance Channel about an Irish cop named Sgt. Boyle. The opening scene is really good with a bunch of kids partying in a car going down a country road passing around a bottle of whisky. They roar pass Sgt. Boyle's police car and he just rolls his eyes after he hears a screech and a crash. he slowly pulls up to the accident scene and gets out. He check for any survivors and, finding none, he searches one of the bodies and comes up with a plastic full of blotter acid with a happy face design. "Oh dear, your mother won't wanting to be seeing this now." he says as he throws the shett away after tearing off of the squares and popping it into his mouth. He turns away from the accident scene and looks toward the coast and says: "Ahhh, it's going to be a beautiful day!" The rest of the movie doesn't quite live up to the opening scene but it does have it's moments! Worth a watch if you can't find anything else in that Box outside the grocery store.

Don't walk, RUN to rent or buy this movie. It could change your life, if you are so inclined. It is about pilgrimage in Spain & France, the ancient trail the Christians have trod for over a thousand years. Miracles can happen there and it is the place where St. James is said to have died. This fictional movie is about a doctor whose son has just died on the trail. The father has to go ID and collect the remains. He decides to walk the the entire 800km with the ashes of his son. He meets up with three people and they form a bond. A gypsies steals his pack with his son's remains and the father of the thief makes him return them, and also gives him advice on where to place the remains of the ashes. Very well made movie with some good tunes. Really folks, this one is 2 thumbs up all the way. Long too, like 2:15! I'm not a Christian but I will do this pilgrimage. If you have something in your life you want to change this is a way to do it. You could be agnostic or of another faith or have no faith in anything. It doesn't matter. It's all about the concept. And if you don't have anything to change in your life? Well, I wish I was that lucky.

This was only a "good" movie. I liked the theme. Corporate rule over the planet after an uprising decides there needs to be a "lottery" pageant where young people kill each other till one is left. It looks like they filmed the capitol scenes in Victoria, British Columbia. The Capitol people are a trip with their clothes and hair-dos and their attitudes about the peasants in the outlying districts. The corporate hype around the Hunger Games is ridiculous. If you buy something with a "Hunger Games" logo then you are definitely one of the peasants from the outlying districts. I fell asleep for part of this movie. Definitely a "meehhh to good" rating.

Both of these movies deal with the theme of people fighting back against meth gangs who have taken over a locality. If you like action movies like The Punisher then you'll want to own a copy of Recoil. A Texas cops goes nuts on a rural motorcycle gang. All the violence you can handle. Some nice scenery of a mountain town in the Cascade Range of Washington. If you lean more to the humorous then In The Sun with Danny Devito is the one for you. This movie was filmed in what looks like either the high desert out by Palmdale or some where near the Salton Sea in an all to real mythical bust town of Trona. With the recent release of these two movies, it would seem that Hollywood is trying to make a statement here. I guess my local area missed these kind of buzzards and i do feel sorry for rednecks fiending on ice making otherwise nice people suffer. It's all too much...

On the Road, a movie at last... Promising people involved, but who knows...

i don't know about this just hope they don't hollywood up the keroauc vibe. After my wife and i moved in together we looked at our bookshelf and realized we had 2 copies of every kerouac book

Terrorists plan to blow up the country with suitcase A-bombs. Plot is foiled but the end scene is "The Rapture". Give me a break! Apparently God doesn't care abount anybody left behind so those fortunate souls who get plucked from the driver's seat in various machines just let them crash & burn. Welcome to Armageddon!

The London Perambulator Nick Papadimitriou walks rich pickings for the deep topographer

by Helmut Herbst. filmed with the cooperation of original Dadaists Hans Richter and Richard Hulsenbeck.

Derek Jarman

The movie! With sightings in the trailer of Bill Walton, Jerry and the boys, and other treats. As posted here somewhere in the distant past, by sheer chance (or perhaps cosmic karma..) I was at the very game where the Rex Foundation (Mickey, Bobby and others were on hand) presented the check to Sarunas Marciulionis of the Warriors, also of the Lithuanian team. One of the more memorable evenings...

John SmithUK, 1976, 12 minutes B&W, Sound (Optical), 16mm ,Video 'In The Girl Chewing Gum an authoritative voice-over pre-empts the events occurring in the image, seeming to order not only the people, cars and moving objects within the screen but also the actual camera movements operated on the street in view. In relinquishing the more subtle use of voice-over in television documentary, the film draws attention to the control and directional function of that practice: imposing, judging, creating an imaginary scene from a visual trace. This 'Big Brother' is not only looking at you but ordering you about as the viewer's identification shifts from the people in the street to the camera eye overlooking the scene. The resultant voyeurism takes on an uncanny aspect as the blandness of the scene (shot in black and white on a grey day in Hackney) contrasts with the near 'magical' control identified with the voice. The most surprising effect is the ease with which representation and description turn into phantasm through the determining power of language.' - Michael Maziere.

Excellent new film by Peter Strickland.With sound design from Steven Stapleton and Andrew Liles.

My wife and I went to the movies yesterday to see "Raiders of the Lost Ark" in IMAX and paid $13 per ticket. The sad part is that we were far more excited to pay extra and see a movie we've collectively seen at least 100 times than see any of the new movies available at the theater.

Philippe Garrel

an introduction to free improvisation: practitioners and their philosophy Directed and edited by: Phil Hopkins. With: Otomo Yoshihide, Toshimaru Nakamura, Christian Fennesz, Keith Rowe, Eddie Prévost, Sachiko M., Evan Parker, John Tilbury, Werner Dafeldecker, Michael Moser and John Butcher. Produced by: Adrian Molloy for Opium (Arts) Ltd. Executive Producer: David Sylvian. Music: Excerpts from Manafon by David Sylvian, © 2009 Samadhisound llc.

In theaters now! Check it out!Grateful Dead! Lithuania! Basketball! Freedom! Tie-dyes! SF Chronicle review

Antonio Mercero

Matt Hulse

Dummy Jim Trailer from Matt Hulse on Vimeo.

Jim hails from Cairnbulg, a close-knit community on the North East Coast of Scotland, neighbouring Inverallochy. Folk here are descended from proud, hardworking Scottish fishermen. Locally Jim is well-known as 'Dummy Jim', or simply 'The Dummy'. A wee while ago he set forth alone on a Continental cycling tour which might have taken him from Scotland to Spain and Gibralter, and finally to Morocco. However, he encountered difficulties on route. He took a route Northwards, in a direction that eventually led him to the Arctic Circle. "If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans." Jim kept a journal of these Continental experiences that was published in 1955 with the title 'I Cycled Into The Arctic Circle', under his proper name - James Duthie. There has since been a beautiful website inspired by Jim's trip and an extraordinary album by The One Ensemble & Sarah Kenchington. There's also a Limited Edition artists' book that commemorates the 60th anniversary of his trip. In 2012 a feature film will be completed, starring deaf actor Samuel Dore, released along with a richly illustrated reprint of the original journal. DUMMY JIM IS HAPPENING - In May 1951 a profoundly deaf 30 year old Scotsman called James Duthie – known to his local community as ‘Dummy Jim’ – cycled solo on a return trip from the small fishing town of Cairnbulg in the north east of Scotland to the Arctic Circle. The round trip of 6000+ miles took three months and was managed on a budget of just £12. On returning to Scotland, Duthie wrote about his travels and in 1955 a slim volume called ‘I Cycled into the Arctic Circle’ was published. James sold copies of the book door to door to cover the cost of future excursions. Sadly the cyclist was killed in a road accident in 1965. In 2000, artist Matt Hulse received a copy of the book from his mother, who had unearthed the hidden gem whilst working at a second hand bookshop on Iona. Inspired by the journal’s eccentricity and genuine warmth, Matt decided to set about making a film of James Duthie’s unique story. A year later the wheels were set in motion with the blessing of an SAC Creative Scotland Award. http://dummyjim.com/ https://www.facebook.com/DummyJim Matt Hulse - http://vimeo.com/anormalboy http://anormalboy.wordpress.com/ Come rain or shine, friend or foe, hill or flat, puncture or no, Matt and his team have not stopped pedalling.

The movie Lincoln is a good chronicle of how the 13th amendment to the Constitution was passed. It intertwines scenes from the Civil War with the political drama going on in House of Reps. to get the 2/3ds majority needed to pass an amendment. The actor who plays Lincoln gives an excellent performance spinning his stories with folksy charm. Lincoln has won his second term and goes for broke on the 13th Amendment as the war is winding down in Jan. of 1865. The mood in Congress is grim as 600,000 people have fought and died and the Democrats want an end to the war at all costs. The Republicans (a far different party than the one we have today), led by Lincoln, want the amendment to make sure when southern states rejoin the union after the war they don't vote slavery back in. What purpose the war and all those dead, reasons Lincoln... He has an uphill battle in the House and is twenty votes short,18 of which he gets with patronage positions and various nefarious political arm-twisting. He is 2 votes short and thunders to his political handlers that he is the most powerful man on earth and they should get him those two votes. In reality, this is probably where the cash hit the table for an outright bribe. Lincoln also makes misrepresentations to Congress that he knows of no Confederate negotiating party wishing to the end the war,which he himself has initiated and is holding up on a riverboat somewhere in Virginia. Lincoln was a lawyer and a politician and the polishing of his image as almost a perfectly ethical man rings false. The lines written for Mary Todd Lincoln ring false at many times also. In the end, Lincoln pays with his life for his political legacy. A film worth seeing.

Interesting premise: A couple's four-year old son is tortured to death by a kidnapper. He is caught and gets off with a relatively light sentence. The mother is all broken up. The father is emotionally distraught, though less so. They set about for revenge of the eye-to-eye method. Crashing the prison transfer van and then transferring the prisoner to thre basement of an old, abandoned farmhouse where they begin the process of torture. They have all the implements and drugs and know-hoe to keep their prisoner alive, as well as the cruder tools. The wife negins to have misgivings upon watching their prisoner suffer. The prisoner escapes and ultimately hangs himself, but not before an element of doubt is introduced that they have the right man as there were two in the prisoner van. This was good case study in raw human emotion and what would likely happen if people acted on their impulses and the mistakes that ciuld easily happen.

Robert Fantinatto

I Dream of Wires: The Modular Synthesizer Documentary - Nov 2011 Promo from I Dream Of Wires A documentary about the history and resurgence of modular synthesizers. The film, directed by Robert Fantinatto, is currently in production. Jason Amm is serving as producer for the film. I Dream Of Wires started off as a modest exploration of the passion and obsession of a few designers, manufacturers, collectors and musicians, but interest in the film has convinced us that there is a demand for a comprehensive documentary that will explore, both geographically and thematically, the wide ranging influence of the modular synthesizer. http://idreamofwires.org/

I Dream Of Wires

Chris Carter: IDOW Extended Interview #9 from I Dream Of Wires on Vimeo.

Extended interview with Chris Carter.

So-so movie done about the killing of Osama Bin Laden, as told through a field CIA agent who has spent her whole career since just after 9/11 trying to get Bin Laden. It would seem to be part documentary as it shows the worst debacle of the Afghan conflict, CIA-wise. Seven officers including a station chief were killed when an Afghan defector blew himself up in 2007. Most all people know how the Navy Seals took out OBL. This movie shows the CIA efforts that found semi-conclusive evidence as to where he was hiding. Given the evidence, it is easy to come to the conclusion that President Obama made his decision on the possible political spoils. What is most troubling from all points of view is this: The most wanted man in the world is hiding in a compound and isn't even aware when two American helicopters, one of which ends up crashing, comes calling with all it's clatter. It's clear we aren't being told something. That or OBL was so sedated helicopters didn't wake him up and he even posted no guard. This movie left me with a lot of questions. (Although Justice Department lawyers maintained to the bitter end the US never used torture in Iraq, a settlement of 5 million dollars was announced for 173 prisoners of Abu Ghraib just yesterday. Torture was featured prominently in this movie)

Not a bad movie, if you like continuing actions sagas, Disturbing scene in this one though -- If you've watched these movies then you know the premise: Shadow govt. agencies are experimenting with viruses to make super-agents with high mental capacity and sub-super physical characteristics. So, in the middle of this one they are still trying to lay waste to the monsters they have created and in order to do that they psychologically program a scientist to wipe out all the workers in the lab. Massacre with a pistol. About 15 people in a locked lab. Reloading clips and shooting multiple times. I had a real, visceral reaction to this. This stuff is sick and shouldn't be acted out on television. It gives "lesser" intellects "unhealthy" ideas. I know, the freedom argument -- if you start there, where do you stop? I''m prepared to start right at this point.

Frisk Based on the novel by Dennis Cooper. can you spit into my mouth, i mean...

Pirate Tape by Derek Jarman William Burroughs in a film by Derek Jarman with sound by Psychic TV. Featuring William Burroughs, Genesis P-Orridge, Peter Christopherson (Sleazy of Coil), Alex Fergusson (formerly of Alternative TV), Paula P-Orridge, John "Zos Kia" Gosling and Geff Rushton, a.k.a. John Balance.

Just found this on the web. Not what I was expecting to find with "Deadhead" in the title. I think a title change is badly in order. http://www.deadheadsevolution.com/?goback=%2Egde_1973983_member_2193896…

given that "deadhead" was used for everything from freightless return trips to the whacking of spent roses long before the boys ever took the stage, and probably for various plagues of the undead as well. In my experience there are lots of uses of the term that have nothing overt to do with us, but we find resonances just the same, in the strangest of places.

= the whacking of spent roses? Uhh, why do people whack spent roses?

Pretty good story about the 6 US Embassy workers hiding in a Canadian diplomats home in Teheran being rescued by a spook who disobeys orders. The story loses credibility at the end when the supposedly "trained and educated in Europe & the US Iranian Revolutionary Guards" can't use a telephone to stop a plane from taking off. They don't make enough of a case for chaos to make this believable. This movie wins the Oscar? Please! Lincoln was a million times better as evidenced by Daniel Day-Louis winning the Oscar for best actor. If you know who are the movers and shakers in Hollywood and which of their homelands might get nuked by the Iranians you will understand why this movie won. Fareed Zakaria GPS had the Iranian ambassador as a guest two weeks ago who took particular exception to this movie on two counts: 1) It portrays the mannerisms of Iranians falsely; 2) It wasn't the best film of the year. I have to agree with him. Having said that, does one of the world's largest oil producer's have to enrich a massive quantity of Uranium for nuclear power plants and/or medical purposes. Uggh, NO!

I don't know. I didn't like Argo, Lincoln, Silver Linings Playbook, Skyfall, or Beasts of the Southern Wild. Life of Pi was sorta fun (in 3D). My favorite last year was Moonrise Kingdom. Not a great year for movies, IMO

Lincoln had a lot going for it. But it was a political movie and without a knowledge of history a bit hard to follow. I thought Skyfall was underrated. It was a good Bond movie plot about a disgruntled agent who got traded for six other agents after being captured and left for dead, then seeking his revenge against "M", who retires in this movie. Skyfall won the Oscar for best original song and for a change I agreed with the judges. Argo was good, but not good enough to win an Oscar. It was a symbolic political statement and psychological preparation by Hollywood in tandem with the government in case America has to lead an attack on Iran. Look for more of these psych. ops. to prepare the public for an unsettling shock: The very possible use of bunker-buster tactical nukes. This is a major escalation of war in the Middle East that will have dire consequences. After watching Argo a second time I believe Bryan Cranston should have won the Oscar for best supporting role. He is such a good actor that he will not be typecast as a bad guy for his role in the TV series "Breaking Bad". Sally Fields was rather melodramatic with schlocky lines as Lincoln's wife (she won that Oscar). I missed Life Of Pi as of yet and from all the praise I hear think it will go on my bucket list.

Yeah, Life of Pi is good, I will probably see it a second time. Argo left a bad taste in my mouth because of the overdone and improbable ending, which bothered me even before I learned it was complete fiction. I loved the first 30 minutes of Skyfall- great chase scene and the sequence with Adele. After that, downhill for me. I really enjoyed "To Rome with Love", but mostly because of the great Rome scenery and I'm a hopeless Woody Allen fan. Still haven't seen "Flight" and "The Master". Both look promising.