The WordPress.com stats prepared a 2013 annual report for Stillness of Heart.
The WordPress.com stats prepared a 2013 annual report for Stillness of Heart.
Here’s an excerpt:
The concert hall at the Sydney Opera House holds 2,700 people. This blog was viewed about 11,000 times in 2013. If it were a concert at Sydney Opera House, it would take about 4 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.
Click here to see the complete report.
‘Gettysburg,’ certainly at times a ridiculously flawed film, mostly succeeds with an elegant force that never fails to stimulate me emotionally and intellectually.
I’m occasionally sharing some light thoughts on a few videos that make me smile, make me think, or preferably do both. Read more from this special series here.
I’ve always thought that “Gettysburg” is an amazing film. Few recent films are as ambitious in scope, as beautifully filmed and scored, with as outstanding acting and stunning battle sequences. So few films are able to bring so many of these elements of greatness together, but “Gettysburg,” certainly at times a ridiculously flawed film, mostly succeeds with an elegant force that never fails to stimulate me emotionally and intellectually. I’ve seen that film at least one hundred times, and I could watch it another thousand times and still find something new and inspirational.
As I’ve written before, this film came along at the perfect time in my life. The trailer captures the film’s heavy-handed we-were-all-brothers sentimentality, but don’t let that dissuade you from watching the four-hour behemoth. If nothing else, let it become merely a visual introduction to “The Killer Angels,” the novel that inspired the film. A novel or a film can change someone’s life. I’m not ashamed to say that “Gettysburg” and “Angels” certainly changed mine, all for the better.
Read the novel. Spend a weekend with reading about the battle, or about the commanders, or about Lincoln. You’ll find it absolutely fascinating.
It’s been my best year ever. Thank you all for your interest.
WordPress.com prepared a 2012 annual report for Stillness of Heart.
Here’s an excerpt:
600 people reached the top of Mt. Everest in 2012. This blog got about 7,900 views in 2012. If every person who reached the top of Mt. Everest viewed this blog, it would have taken 13 years to get that many views.
It’s been my best year ever. Thank you all for your interest. Click here to see the complete report.
For those of you out there wishing for a way to escape unpleasant family gatherings this season, just remember …
I’m occasionally sharing some light thoughts on a few videos that make me smile, make me think, or preferably do both. Read more from this special series here.
For those of you out there wishing you could escape unpleasant family gatherings this season, just remember that at least you don’t have these idiots “enriching” your holiday.
Click on the link to watch the Hulu video.
Park it!
Saturday Night Live: Christmas Dinner
The roar of Crockett’s Daytona Ferrari racing past. Castillo’s silent scowl. The police helicopter landing beside a glittering ocean.
I’m occasionally sharing some thoughts on a few videos that make me smile, make me think, or preferably do both. Read more from this special series here.
Some of the very best parts of “Miami Vice” were its musical sequences. The music of Phil Collins, Depeche Mode, and Russ Ballard both immortalized and were immortalized by the series’ grand sweep through Florida’s 1980s drug wars and the enduring post-Vietnam bitterness and cynicism that undermined Reagan’s hopeful vision for a reborn Cold War America. They often enhanced the few moments of decent acting and writing.
Admittedly, in retrospect, much of the series’ writing was not all that great, and much of the acting elicits from me, one of the show’s biggest fans, painful winces or laughter (when I’m sure laughter was not meant to be the reaction). Nevertheless, overall, the series was gorgeous.
My favorite musical sequence comes at the end of an episode titled “Definitely Miami,” the twelfth episode of the second season and the first episode of 1986. The sequence featured “Cry” by Godley & Creme. Click on the link for an episode synopsis that will place the ending in the proper context.
I think the “Cry” ending is truly amazing. The roar of Crockett’s Daytona Ferrari racing past. Castillo’s silent scowl. The police helicopter landing beside a glittering ocean. Crockett left alone in the sunshine, exhausted and shattered. It was another one of those moments where the series achieved a film-like quality, anticipating by decades what HBO drama series strive for and what Michael Mann would finally realize with “Heat,” “Collateral,” “Ali” and the wholly unnecessary “Miami Vice” movie.
Note: NBC Universal recently pulled the YouTube video to which this post refers. I have substituted a less-than-great approximation until I find another version of the original episode sequence.
I grew up watching Christopher Reeve in three Superman movies (we will all agree to pretend the fourth one never happened).
I’m occasionally sharing some thoughts on a few videos that make me smile, make me think, or preferably do both. Read more from this special series here.
The teaser trailer for the new Superman movie, “Man of Steel,” is playing in front of “The Dark Knight Rises.” It opens in 2013. Watch both versions here. Also, here’s a link to the trailer for 2006’s “Superman Returns,” which had some good moments. Re-integrating Brando’s originally unused dialogue was a thrilling treat.
As expected, the fanboys fight over the variations in the color of Superman’s new belt and cape, the look of his new chest emblem, and the actors portraying him. It reminds me of the fights people used to wage over who was the better James Bond. Whatever, fanboys. They miss the point.
As we all know, each film is a capsule of an age of American culture and concerns. The best superhero films, like the best and most interesting graphic novels, are reflections of a generation’s insecurities, internal strife, aspirations, and shortcomings. That’s why people look to the superhero — to fill the gap between what they need and what they are capable of accomplishing — as the superhero looks back down on them. Just ask one of my favorite pseudo-philosophers, Bill, about superheroes and us.
I grew up watching Christopher Reeve in three Superman movies (we will all agree to pretend the fourth one never happened), and I hope a small theater somewhere will host a screening of “Superman: The Movie” before “Man of Steel” opens. That would be a lot of fun. Check out the old trailer I found for it.
I often turn to David Attenborough’s nature documentaries to remind myself of the big, nasty, fascinating world out there. I find them incredibly relaxing.
I’m occasionally sharing some thoughts on a few videos that make me smile, make me think, or preferably do both. Read more from this special series here.
In the too-few instances when I realize how petty I can be or how overly concerned I can become about certain things, I often turn to David Attenborough’s nature documentaries to remind myself of the big, nasty, fascinating world out there. I find them incredibly relaxing.
“But life in the undergrowth,” Attenborough says with elegant foreboding, “is full of surprises …”
Thanks, Henry, for inspiring one of best films of the last 50 years, and good riddance.
I’m occasionally sharing some light thoughts on a few videos that make me smile, make me think, or preferably do both. Read more from this special series here.
This week came news that Henry Hill died.
Thanks, Henry, for inspiring one of best films of the last 50 years, and good riddance.
The biopic starring Johnny Depp explores the tragic rise and fall of George Jung, who built a U.S. cocaine empire in the 1970s, at the cost of everything most important to him.
I’m occasionally sharing some light thoughts on a few videos that make me smile, make me think, or preferably do both. Read more from this special series here.
I have tried really hard to be a fan of Johnny Depp’s work. His droll, smoldering style would seem perfect for my own skeptical and cynical outlook on the world. I was never drawn to his oddball Tim Burton roles or the whole “Pirates” thing. To me, the best Depp work has been in “Donnie Brasco” and in one his most underappreciated films, “Blow.”
The biopic explores the tragic rise and fall of George Jung, who built a U.S. cocaine empire in the 1970s, at the cost of everything most important to him. It’s no masterpiece, but some sequences are truly beautiful, and the soundtrack is excellent. Star turns include Ray Liotta as Depp’s father, Penelope Cruz as Depp’s psychotic wife, the strangely gorgeous Franka Potente as Depp’s girlfriend, and Paul Reubens as a Jung drug connection.
But the film’s real star was director Ted Demme, whose brisk, inventive style emulated P.T. Anderson’s and Martin Scorsese’s best work. He died of a heart attack months after “Blow” premiered, and fans and critics alike speculated on the interesting film directing career Demme may have had.
Friday night. You’re in the mood for a good movie. Here’s my suggestion, with the luscious trailer to whet your appetite.
I’m occasionally sharing some light thoughts on a few videos that make me smile, make me think, or preferably do both. Read more from this special series here.
Friday night. You’re in the mood for a good movie. Something substantive but not wearily pretentious. Something ambitious and sweeping in scope but not mentally exhausting. Something grand and maybe a little trashy. Something with a great story, great music, great acting, all in a great location.
Here’s my suggestion, with the luscious trailer to whet your appetite.
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