Stuff of Life
The second installment in Amnesty Unsubscribe Me campaign, the first being Waiting for the Guards. As you can guess, this one is about waterboarding.
Watch it. (Flash Video)
Nightwish - The Islander
Can’t resist to such beautiful imagery, especially when they’re not just a senseless show up. Also, nice song.
Watch it. (MPEG-4)
Dove Onslaught(er)
Unilever, the makers of Dove beauty products, are buying palm oil from suppliers who destroy Indonesia’s rainforests. Greenpece says they got the proof: they’re causing forest destruction, species extinction and climate change.
Watch the spot.
via fubiz
Please Say Something
A new cartoon of love and loss in the distant future. Thirty second breakneck heartbreak internet turbodrama, emotion at nine thousand kmph…
The short (and/or series of five episodes) has been written and directed by David O’Reilly for Creative Review and it’s influenced by the comics of Jason AKA John Arne Sæterøy. Audio by David Kamp.
Watch it. (Quicktime, MPEG-4)
via Cartoon Brew
We’re Listening
What you’re about to hear is a portion of a jaw-dropping speech delivered by an Oklahoma State Representative at a gathering in her district. This is what they say when they think we’re not listening.
Listen. (Flash)
Learn more at www.victoryfund.org/listening
GTA 4: LCPD Trailer
Join the LCPD and fight the Terror. Yes, the Terror…
Watch it. (Flash Video)
From the Office
A dark comedy, circa 1992, in which an utterly random event reveals the most inhuman aspects of life in a bureaucratic system. A strange substance flies in from nowhere and lands on an unwitting Administrative Analyst, who is slowly consumed. Much paper-filing and bumbling ensues.
Watch it. (Flash Video)
Corporate Whore
Stop motion short film that tells the story of a female professional.
Strictly crafted with elements found in an office setting such as PowerPoint slides, photo copies and fluorescent lighting, it’s perfect for when you feel penciled in.
Written, directed and produced by A.M. Peters.
Watch it in hi res or low res.
The Lemon Tree
The Lemon Tree “addresses our constant hunt for perfection. The closer we think we are, the more distorted our memory of it becomes.”
“Perfection portrayed through a world of plastic beauty, leading to neglect the others and ourselves.”
The film was directed by Will Campbell and Tuyet Anh Vu, written and produced by Jett Steiger.
Watch it. (MPEG-4).
Official website. (Flash Video)
The Object
In which an airborne object (that makes nice sounds) disrupts a duo’s peaceful day hunting, bringing moments of happiness, and sorrow when it gets stolen…
Short movie by Leslie Ali, presented at Sundance 2008.
Watch it. (Quicktime)
via nozap and GreenCine Daily
New Bush Coins
Now that President Bush has declared martial law, it will be illegal to own precious metals after the first of the year. Here’s a sneak peek at the new currency.
Watch it. (Flash Video)
Review of Atonement
The book by Ian McEwan is one of my favorite books of all time. Surprisingly, the movie lives up to the book. I expected the film to be decent, not great, as I haven’t heard much of a buzz for this film. However, after seeing it, I’d be shocked if this film doesn’t get a Best Picture Oscar nomination.
One of the fears I had about the movie was it would abandon the beautiful structure that McEwan devised to tell the story. Thankfully Christopher Hampton, who wrote the script, not only keeps the structure but also manages to keep some of McEwan’s poetics. The scene where Briony sees her sister and Robbie near the water fountain is exactly how I had pictured it from all of the various perspectives.
A lot of credit should also go to Director Joe Wright. This easily could have been a film that we as an audience could watch from a distance. Instead, almost everything is seen through the eyes of a character. Everything is laced with a character’s subjectivity. To switch perspectives, there is no fade to black or any other visual device. It is a stream of consciousness that switches back and forth. So well done!
The biggest difference, in terms of emotions, is the beginning of the second half of the book/movie. The book’s second half numbs you to the pain from the 1st half. One of the greatest scenes in any book I’ve ever read. The movie sadly disappoints here, why wasn’t there more walking? more brown? more carnage?
The acting ensemble is solid. I am not entirely convinced of Keira Knightley as Cecilia, however, James McAvoy as Robbie is picture perfect. To many, this might seem like another stuffy costume drama. This is as modern as any film you will find. From the story to its character to the film’s style, there is a lot of risk taking. Go see it, this is one of the great tragedies of our time.
Crimes and Misdemeanors discussions
Prior to this movie, I had respect for him but little love. But here is a film that blew my mind. It was so ahead of its time in terms of structure. There is a certain ease in the writing that you will not see in many movies, maybe never.
Unlike Allen’s other work, there is weight here. Substance. It isn’t just about the clever conversations he can think up. At its core, it asks quite a lot of fundamental philosophical questions. But all of this never feels tedious or even remotely boring.
Annie Hall & Manhattan are great, fantastic films but Crimes and Misdemeanors put Allen in a whole different category. It is so bloody well written, as good as anything that has been ever written.
Here are three video that discusses the film’s central themes.
Part one, two, three. (lots of spoilers, so if you haven’t seen it, wait)
Money Money Money Money…
Money makes the world go ’round. Or to hell?
A campaign for WWF Brasil, developed by DM9 and realizd at PixPost.
Watch it. (Flash Video)
Tears and Co.
Because when others cry you get better.
A short movie by Tomas Garcia.
Watch it. (MPEG-4)
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