This post is not intended to join the long and ever growing list of critics of Tyler Perry.  However, it is time to weigh in on the issue of the character he has made a part of the sub-culture. While, I have never seen a Madea movie, I continue to support and thoroughly enjoy his movies like Why Did I Get Married and The Family That Preys.  I could never get past long held beliefs that there was no need for us as a people to continue along the path that others have carved for us.

Nearly 40 years ago, the great Flip Wilson, gave the world Geraldine, a character for which he dressed up as a loud mouth, tell it like it is, black woman. Since that time, we have seen Eddie Murphy, Wesley Snipes, Martin Lawrence and Jamie Foxx all play the role of women.  Now enters Madea. 

It is important to point out that while much of the criticism of Tyler Perry appears to be motivated by jealousy and even some envy. There must be room in our community for lawful and constructive debate surrounding topics that affect the entire community, without the vitriol and self-loathing that seems to permeate much of our discussions.

Image via cocoalounge.blogspot.com

The question we ask is what of the power of images, especially in a community already lacking in good male role models? Charles Barkley once famously remarked, “I am not a role model,” all the while modeling his Nike shoes.  The lack of strong black males has our community in crisis!  We appear on Maury Povich denying our parental responsibilities and look to be more interested in the latest styles, rather than that, which will last. The nightly news depicts us as gun toting, self-shooting, dog killing, ear biting, white women killing, and now mass murdering.

Young black men continue to wonder about absent fathers and try to help with overworked mothers.  Anger has replaced hope; faith that was never nurtured is all but gone. In addition, for recreation, we go to the movies and see our talented tenth, not using the awesome power at their disposal to lift, but to keep us laughing at our men not being men.  Playing the role that is the only one that has been kept up in our lives, the strong black woman.

Some have said that it’s only a movie.  Recently I had a discussion with another brother about this very topic.  He was of the mind that it’s harmless fun.  My question to him is, as a father of a young black male, what if you came home and your son was dressed in his mother’s clothes, just for fun, that is? Of course, he would not like that.

The fact that Tyler Perry, at this stage in his career, is now able to finance his own projects puts more of a challenge on him to bring out not the old stereotypical images of us as a people, but he must lift his end of this burden by charting a new course, as we are headed for higher ground.

Even though they may not be able to state it themselves, Tiger Woods, Kobe Bryant, and yes President Obama are all black men, whose stories are only indicative of the many stories, which exist about successful, young and old black men.  Rapper Jadakiss asked the question,

“Why did Denzel have to be crooked before he took it?”  

Why do we have to be the cross dressing loud mouth? Why in 2009, when our best and brightest have the opportunities we have so longed for, do we seem to be part of the conspiracy to continue in the destruction of young black males? The dictionary defines the word image as-mental representation, idea or concept.  Is Geraldine, Madea, Sheneneh, or Wanda the image we, as black people, want as our representation across the globe?  Is that the idea?

And what about the church going fan base that makes up the large percentage of Madea supporters? What are their ideas, and concepts of black men, and how does this fit into the larger issue of men not being in church?  Tyler Perry said he continues the Madea series for them. Well it’s time he demand more of them and they of themselves. Madea got him this fan base, and if they are true fans, not of Madea, but her creator, then they will appreciate the growth. As a solution to these problems, we would recommend that Spike Lee, John Singleton, Tyler Perry and other black filmmakers, sit to discuss projects that will uplift, not just us as a people, but the human family.  Let’s stop talking at each other and talk to one another.

To those who would say, it’s their job, my simple reply is from the old black church and the warnings of our grandparents, “Don’t gain the world and lose your soul.”

Brother Richard

This week sees one of the more interesting releases of the year. “9″ directed by Shane Acker and produced by Tim Burton and Timur Bekmambetov. Its main competition will by Tyler Perry’s “I Can Do Bad All By Myself” and “Whiteout”. Who will come out on top?

I realize its being released in under 2000 theaters, but I’m calling for the upset. “9″ will take the top spot because of the hype and its cast which includes Elijah Wood. I think an opening of $14-17 million is in order.

I know this is wishful thinking, but I’m hoping Tyler Perry’s latest film bombs. Hopefully Perry’s last film, “The Family that Preys” shows that America is growing tired of his films and an opening of $13-16 million.

“Whiteout” starring Kate Beckinsale will lose a lot of its potential audience to “9″. Look for $7-10 million. After that it will be a toss up between the horror remake “Sorority’s Row” and “The Final Destination” with each taking about $5-8 million.

Lukas Eggen

While flipping thru the channels last night I was sooo excited when I came across none other than a flash of “Madea” If you are not familiar with Madea she’s a Tyler Perry (a christain film and play writer) character who is a little bit of most Mothers, Aunts, and Grandmothers secret thoughts,  Madea usually says and Does the things that people wouldn’t dare say or Do, but sometimes think in those quiet unseen corners of the mind.  Tyler Perry has done it again and is bringing to screen another one of his plays called ” I Can Do Bad All By Myself” in theaters Sep 11, Tyler Perry has even put a sneak peak link: http://www.tylerperry.com/special  I actually like the movie site preview better:  http://www.icandobadmovie.com/#/home He has gathered a really nice and surprising cast.  Gladys Night, Taraji P. Henson, (Oscar nominated for The Curious Case of Benjamen Button) Mary J, Blige and the very very handsome  latino “Adam Rodriguez”  from CSI http://www.cbs.com/primetime/csi_miami/bio/adam_rodriguez/bio.php

In the world of movies. interracial relationships have grown into a dynamic age. An edge with a lot of mixes. If you put a black woman and a black man together, it becomes a black movie. If you put a white man and  a white woman together, it is the white family. On the other hand, if you put a black man and white woman together, it is a conflict. If you put a black woman and a white man, it becomes a white-man entitlement syndrome!  But on the other side, when you mix the minority races, it is captured as more acceptable. A belonging together of those who don’t “belong”. Example. a black man and a Latina woman are seen as more acceptable than a date with a white woman. 

If there are more movies that I have not mentioned, add them to the list .  

Here is to the movies that portray those relationships. The movies that show that love has encountered resistance but love has no boundaries for those who choose love.  

1. A Bronx Tale

Calogero meets a black girl named Jane and starts dating her.

2. Missisipi Masala 

Denzel Washington falls in love with an Indian lady.

3. Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner

Sidney Poitier's welcome to the dinner table.

4. Something New

Simon Baker takes on Sanna Lathan.

5. Jungle Fever

Races mixing...let the action begin.

6. Save The Last Dance

Julia Stiles and Sean Pattrick Thomas dance into it.

7. O (with Mekhi Phifer)

Julia Stiles is at it again?

8. Monster’s Ball

Billy Bob goes for Halle Berry? Who wouldn't?

10. Boiler Room

Giovanni Ribisi and Nia Long have the flames burning...

11. Faking Da Funk

Tatyana Ali falls for an Asian boy

12. Black and White (1999)

Mike and Claudia in a ring of attraction.

13. Made in America

Whoopie and Ted Danson...mmm this moma has love of Vanilla.

Corrina Corrina….

Mizz Goldberg did it again....I don't blame you, I love a double scoop of Vanilla please.

14. He got Game

He Got Game----Spike Lee film.

15. Guess Who (remake with Ashton Kutcher)

Mom, dad, meet my white boyfriend....twist on Guess Whose Coming to Dinner.

16. Romeo Must Die

The Late Aaliyah in the arms of Jet Li

17. A Patch of Blue

Sidney is truly a vanilla lady magnet.

18. Strange Days (with Angela Basset and Ralph Fiennes)

Angela Bassett in the arms of Ralph Fiennes. So Fine. Who can resist.

29. Zebrahead

Michael Rapaport in a love-story set in Detroit.

30. Lakeview Terrace

Patrick Wilson and Kerry Washington look hot together but, Samuel L. Jackson says "HELL TO THE NO"

31. The Family That Preys (Sanna Lathan who rejects her black husband for a white male at the workplace)

Sanna Lathan runs from black hubby (Rockmond Dunbar) into the arms of a white co-worker (Cole Hauser)

32. Hitch: I’m sorry Will. We love you but this movie should have been called: “Ditch”

Lovable characters, terrible movie. Oh why Prince of Bel-Air? Art thou so desperado?

33. Out of Time

Denzel and Eva Mendez...mmm Eva likes brown choclate.."oh no you didn't" Leave us Denzel.

34. The Mix

Usher: "damn gurl don't be looking at me like that. There's other fine ladies who want this"

35. Under Classmen

Nick Cannon aka Mariah Carey's buttler. Enough said.

36. American Gangster

Denzel and Puerto Rican beauty queen..."oh no you didn't Denzel" said the voice of a million black sistas.

37. Money Train

Wesley Snipes and JLO around the block.

38. Training Day

Eva and Denzel. Eva, we all like Denzel so that's not a secret.

39. The Bodyguard

Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner...Bodyguard was right. Guard my body.

40. Liberty Heights

Ben Foster. I would date you 1000% Rebekah Johnson, you were a heart stealer.

Tyler Perry’s the Family That Preys
★★★ / ★★★★

“You can’t make yourself happy [by] bringing misery into other people’s lives.” I think that quote sums up the central thesis of this film. Even though it may be a bit soap opera at times because of the multiple storylines and their big revelations, I can’t help but really like this film. There’s something about the characters that are very true to life, especially in a society where everyone wants to climb up on the economic ladder. While most may initially watch this just to see the drama unfold between and within each family, I think it’s worthy to notice the dynamics between the rich and the poor, between the young and the old, between the man and the woman, and between the whites and the blacks. I admired that this film didn’t have any African-Americans that live in the ghetto. To be honest, I want to see more African-Americans living the “normal” life because they do exist and they should be represented. I love Alfre Woodard and Kathy Bates as the two mothers of the family. The way they interacted with one another reminded me of times when I was with my best friend, just laughing our lungs off and not caring about what people think of us in public. I also loved Taraji P. Henson and Sanaa Lathan as the two completely opposite sisters, one sensible and supportive and the other is disrespectful and vindictive, respectively. But I have to admit that Lathan reminded me of myself at times because I can be quite insidious and sometimes I forget where I come from. I don’t like that about myself and I’ve been trying to get rid of those qualities over the past three years (which, I think, has been successful so far). I wanted to hate her but at the end of the day, I just felt really sorry for her because of the way she treats the ones that love her most. There are a lot of memorable and insightful quotes that could be found all over the film; they made me think where I am in life, where I was, and where I will be. This is the kind of movie that made me so happy that I choose to surround myself with people that I can love and will love me no matter what happens. Upon watching the characters figure each others’ intentions, it goes to show that you can have all the money in the world but if you’re not happy with yourself and you forget where you come from, your life is truly not worth much.

Check out today’s review of Not Easily Broken from Gerald by clicking here.

Not Easily Broken was adapted from the best selling author and clergy T.D. Jake’s novel by the same title. The plot is based on a story that plagues some married couples. Not Easily Broken raises the questions: how does a married couple fall apart and how does one go about saving a relationship?

The Writers Guild of America West has filed an unfair-labor-practice complaint with the National Labor Relations Board against Tyler Perry’s production studio after the studio fired four writers for the TBS comedy “House of Payne” who were seeking union representation. Jeff Hermanson, an assistant executive director for the Writers Guild, said the four writers – Kellie Griffin, Christopher Moore, Teri Brown-Jackson and Lamont Ferrell – had sought a union contract because they felt they were underpaid and lacked benefits. Matt Johnson, a Los Angeles lawyer representing Mr. Perry, above, said the firing of the writers was related to “the quality of their work.” The writers are planning to picket this weekend at the opening of Tyler Perry Studios, a 28-acre production complex outside Atlanta.

From The NYT

When it was revealed that Disney was making a movie called Beverly Hills Chihuahua from the director of Big Momma’s House and Scooby-Doo, the movie world took a collective stand of disgust, but Disney sure knows what the people wants, and what they want is apparently to see chihuahuas talk on the big screen, making that movie the most successful of the weekend by far. The only other new release to make the top five was Nick And Norah’s Infinite Playlist, at number three. The other five big new releases more or less flopped, but none less than the comedy How To Lose Friends And Alienate People, which came in nineteenth place. Last week’s winner Eagle Eye slipped into second, while the fourth and fifth spots were filled with the romance Nights In Rodanthe and the western Appaloosa respectively. Another big winner which deserves a mention is the Anne Hathaway starrer Rachel Getting Married, which averaged nearly 32600 dollars per screen while showing in only nine cinemas.

Full top 20 with earnings after the jump.

1. Beverly Hills Chihuahua                        29.3 million
2. Eagle Eye                                              17.7 million
3. Nick And Norah’s Infinite Playlist           11.3 million
4. Nights In Rodanthe                                 7.4 million
5. Appaloosa                                                5.1 million
6. Lakeview Terrace                                     4.6 million
7. Burn After Reading                                   4.1 million
8. Fireproof                                                  4 million
9. An American Carol                                    3.7 million
10. Religulous                                                3.4 million
11. Flash Of Genius                                       2.3 million
12. Blindness                                                 2 million
13. Igor                                                         1.7 million
14. Miracle At St. Anna                                   1.7 million
15. Righteous Kill                                            1.6 million
16. The Family That Preys                               1.6 million
17. My Best Friend’s Girl                                  1.6 million
18. Ghost Town                                               1.5 million
19. How To Lose Friends And Alienate People   1.4 million
20. The Duchess                                              0.9 million

For more details and films under the top 20, go here.

Lördag.

Eftersom Ad’s villkor om curfew:t för kvällen innan va att jag va pigg vid 8 gick jag upp klockan 7 och försökte pigga på mig. Klädde snabbt på mig och va ready for action på mindre än en kvart Vad ska jag göra med resten av tiden? Jag hörde att flickorna va igång på övervåningen, men jag tänkte inte gå upp tidigare. Börjar jag åtta så börjar jag åtta. Behövde lite tid att förbereda mig för iordninggörning av frukost och ihoppackning för 6 småtjejer. Kollade ett avsnitt av Heroes (som jag helt slutat kolla på sedan våren förra året). Extra checkade att mina klockor gick rätt flera gånger. Varför, kanske vissa frågar sig? Jo, för er som känner mig vet ni att jag kan råka se fel på digitala klockor när jag är trött och tro att klockan är mer än vad den egentligen är. Jag har otaliga gånger gått upp alldeles för tidigt, för att sen kolla på klockan igen och inse att den är mitt i natten..

I alla fall. Jag gick upp och tog hand om tjejerna tillsammans med päronen. Playroom:t såg ut som ett bomdnedslag med pryttlar överallt. Tjejerna satt i en hög och gjorde vänskapsband tillsammans med Jake. Självklart joinade jag dem. Har alltid tyckt om att pyssla!

När så äntligen alla tjejerna blivit hämtade stack familjen iväg på Jessie’s och Jake’s olika soccer games med Poppop. Jag gick ner å pustade ut tills Emma va redo att åka till mallet och hjälpa mig välja ut saker till vår pysseldag.

Åkte till Michael’s och köpte färg och bokstäver och sen till Ross för att hitta tshirts. Sen blev det till att trycka tröjor hemma hos mig. Kunde inte göra allt på en gång, för färgen va tvungen att torka i minst 24h innan man gjorde nåt mer med dem.. Ni får se bilder sen!

När vi pysslat klart åkte vi och åt lite mat, och sen blev det bio. Såg The Family That Preys. Den va söt och kul – bra skådisar med i den!

Efter bion stack jag över till Liam. Hyrde film som vi hade tänkt se, men sen kom Hallie och Mike förbi.. Stack ner till Hallies och förfestade där ett tag innan vi drog till en fest hos Collin, som Amanda va på. Träffade en massa folk som jag inte minns namnet på, mestadels killar Var där ett bra tag innan vi stack vidare till en bar för att träffa Andrew och hans brorsa Steve.

Där va även Liam’s svågers hela släkt, som efterkrökade efter ett bröllop dem alla varit på. Tyvärr missade vi precis Liam’s syrra med man.. Pratade med en massor av släktingarna och med vårt lilla gäng. Där stannade vi inte så överdrivet länge. Tror jag. Inte helt säker på det där med tider mitt i natten

Anyways.. Blev en riktigt rolig kväll! Spontana kvällar blir nästan alltid roligast.. Eller vad tycker ni?

As expected, Eagle Eye, the new thriller from Disturbia director D.J. Caruso took the top spot at the US box-office this weekend, making more than 29 million bucks. The romantic comedy Nights In Rodanthe came in second while last week’s big winner Lakeview Terrace dropped to third place. Finishing up the top 5 are the Christian-themed drama Fireproof, which did incredibly well consider its theater count, and Burn After Reading, which is holding quite well. Interestingly, Miracle At St. Anna, the World War II film from Inside Man director Spike Lee flopped big time, entering at number 9 with only three and a half million.

Full top 20 with earnings after the jump.

1. Eagle Eye                                          29.2 million
2. Nights In Rodanthe                          13.6 million
3. Lakeview Terrace                              7 million
4. Fireproof                                           6.5 million
5. Burn After Reading                            6.2 million
6. Igor                                                   5.5 million
7. Righteous Kill                                    3.8 million
8. My Best Friend’s Girl                          3.8 million
9. Miracle At St. Anna                            3.5 million
10. The Family That Preys                        3.2 million
11. Chost Town                                        2.9 million
12. The Women                                         2.7 million
13. The Dark Knight                                  1.7 million
14. Choke                                                  1.3 million
15. The House Bunny                                 1.2 million
16. Tropic Thunder                                    1.2 million
17. Vicky Cristina Barcelona                      0.7 million
18. The Duchess                                        0.6 million
19. Mamma Mia!                                         0.6 million
20. Journey To The Center Of The Earth      0.5 million

For more details and films under the top 20, go here.

The new movie from the incredibly prolific and successful Tyler Perry (The Family That Preys), produced, written, directed, and acted by the man himself and based on his own play, Madea Goes To Jail also stars Derek Luke (Miracle At St. Anna) and Sofía Vergara (Meet The Browns). I’ve seen none of Mr Perry’s movies because, well, they just don’t get released over here, but this looks like it could be amusing. The film will premiere in the US on February 20th.

Release Title The Family That Preys 2008 Cam XviD-KingBen (Kingdom-Release)
Release Date 12 September 2008 (USA)
Release Length 1:43:44
Storyline Academy Award®-winner Kathy Bates and Academy Award®-nominee Alfre Woodard star as the matriarchs of two very different families being torn apart by greed and scandal in the contemporary drama “Tyler Perry’s The Family That Preys.” The sixth feature film by Perry chronicles the inner workings of two familiesone upper-crust and the other working classthat become inextricably linked by scandal.

Cast
Alfre Woodard … Alice Pratt
Sanaa Lathan … Andrea
Rockmond Dunbar … Chris
KaDee Strickland … Jillian Cartwright
Cole Hauser … William Cartwright
Taraji P. Henson … Pam
Robin Givens … Abby
Tyler Perry … Ben
Kathy Bates … Charlotte Cartwright
Sebastian Siegel … Nick
Santana Pruitt … Christopher
Kaira Whitehead … Robin
Ron Clinton Smith … Construction Foreman
Jeffrey Alan Chase … Austin
Johnell J. Easter … Customer

Genre Drama
Language English
Original Source mrallen & ThaDoc << cheers Guys
Total Size 847,696,432 Bytes

Video Specs

Container: AVI(.AVI)
Video Codec Type: XVID
Video Codec name: XviD ISO MPEG-4
Bitrate: 950 KBS
Encoding: 3 Pass
Resolution: 720 x 384
Quality Factor (QF): 0.115
Frame Rate: 29.970 fps
Display Aspect Ratio: 1.875

Audio Specs

Audio Codec: 0×0055 MPEG-1 Layer 3
Bitrate: 128 KBS
Bitrate Type: CBR
Sample Rate: 48000Hz
Channel Count: 2

NOTE This is a nice cam it is a new source thanx to mrallen Very Happy video is great and the audio is much better i just tweaked the colors,brightness & contrast a bit hope you enjoy.

IMDB:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1142798/

Sample:
http://rapidshare.com/files/146353536/sample.avi

Stills:

Download Link

Register (its easy and free) and njoy.

I have never been able to see any of Tyler Perry’s works upon the stage, but I must say that he is becoming a force to reckon with in Hollywood. His previous movies, such as Medea’s Family Reunion and Medea Goes to Jail, were funny and became instant box-off hits. I noticed his move into a more positive and serious direction with films like Diary of a Mad Black Woman, Daddy’s Girls, and Meet the Browns. With his latest movie, The Family that Preys, Perry has most definitely stepped up his game.

Even though Perry himself was in the movie, I almost forgot that it was his creation. Of course, in true Tyler Perry style, most of the focus was on women and the family dynamics. But unlike most of his movies, this time black men weren’t centralized as the “dog”. This time they were stepping up to the plate, taking care of their children and loving their women. It was a fresh change.

I also enjoyed that although race was a part of the story, it wasn’t the entire story. The movie brilliantly portrayed how families of all shades can be dysfunctional and full of secrets. It showed us how life can be miserable for even the best of us, but somehow you still must push on. The message was clear: You cannot be in this world and just exist. To be truly happy you must live.

The Family that Preys is one of Perry’s best films. I was absolutely riveted at how such a simple message can speak volumes. If you haven’t seen it, I suggest you check it out for yourself and see what it’s all about. I doubt that you’ll be disappointed.

I watched and reviewed Tyler Perry’s The Family That Preys (200eight) over the weekend.

My evaluation can be summed up with the following:

As weirdly mesmerizing as it is to see Cole Hauser wearing a look of perpetual hunger on his face, the sequences devoted to Kathy Bates and Alfre Woodard’s cross-country drive are much more engaging. “The Family That Preys” fails to facilitate a more genuine investment in the adultery thread because it leaves out the best part: the initial flirtations, the escalating innuendo, and consummation of infidelity. When all pertinent hearts are flogged and egos shrunken, it’s nearly comforting to recognize that underneath the melodrama of cheating spouses and power struggles sits a road-movie-buddy-picture that could’ve been its own film.

Click here to read the whole review.

Product Placement & Branding: Coke, Wings &  A Prayer diner, Easy-Off, Fuze drinks, Luzianne Iced Tea, Mercedes (visual and verbal), Cadillac convertible, Country Crock butter, Nike track suit, Red Bull, Dasani, Budweiser, Doritos, Cheetos, Ruffles Potato Chips, Re/Max.

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And now for some fun in the sun.

My alma mater’s Creativity & Arts Initiative hosted a discussion with film critic A.O. Scott and actor-director Todd Field this afternoon.  I went because I love Little Children (2006) as a tangential football film.   Highlights from the talk include (verbatim and paraphrased):

A.O. Scott: on writing film criticism

–It’s “trying to think and write as deeply and quickly as you can” about the film you just watched with between two days or two hours in which to do it. It is articulating one’s engagement with artistic texts.

–He mentioned “relentless treadmill of new material” but I don’t recall in what particular aspect of criticism.  He remarked that writing about film is a “grand literary tradition” that, like all other great (literary) traditions, is “always on the decline.”

–For Scott, film criticism involves three points: as the “daily grind,” relating to other critics, and a “vocation, a calling.”

–He isn’t concerned with whether or not the reader sees a film.  Scott may “warn or encourage,” but he doesn’t feel compelled to communicate explicitly if a film is a must-see or a must-not-see.

A.O. Scott: on film adaptations

–”Fidelity is admirable in marriages,” but when it comes to film adaptations?  Why should it be hoped for or even a priority?

–He created a super cool way of expressing what happens when market and audience research and filmmaking converge: “subordination of taste to sociology.”

–Scott is a bigger fan of reading film criticism after watching the film.

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Todd Field on filmmaking:

–His voyage into cinema is the product of happenstance and girls.  A childhood interest in magic and sleight-of-hand brought forth the experience of having an audience and a critic.  Then age twelve hit and magic was replaced with an interest in girls, which fed into jazz and musical instruments.  The teens gave way to a job at a second run theatre and night after night of Ellen Barkin, Kathleen Turner, and Sissy Spacek on screen.  College was on music scholarship at a school in southern Ohio.  A fascination with an aspiring actress motivated him to change to theatre major.  New York City beckoned after graduation and attending the New York Film Festival in 1984 inspired Todd to decide that moving pictures was it.

–He reads reviews of his work out of necessity; and it’s a surreal experience.  Two years have to go by before he feels sufficiently distanced to gain any new perspective.

–”If you really love the book, don’t go see the movie.”  A.O. Scott concurred on this point and remarked that some film critics avoid reading the book when reviewing film adaptations.

–Prior to Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Field had never seen a Kate Winslet film.  She would eventually be cast in Little Children.

–Field is the anti-Hitchcock.  He needs the actors in order to tell a story, which is told best by collaborating with rather than dominating them.  The aesthetic and formal elements of the film are not predetermined.  I imagine he knows what he wouldn’t necessarily consider (eg. no classic Dario Argento theatrical colors).  I’m wondering if the lighting and color design are more sketched out, and it is the cinematography that is open for ideas or last-minute inspiration.

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I wonder what Scott thinks about viewers owing it to themselves to do a little research about a film before watching it.  Sometimes it is quite rewarding to know only a title, a country of origin, and maybe a genre.  But other times, knowing a bit more about the cast and director or the storyline could save a lot of disappointment. Don’t just buy the hype, dig into the hype.  If the hype is about X narrative or Y theme and you abhor either, then skip the hype.  Go do something you would enjoy.

Oh look, visual aids:

I asked A.O. Scott what he does when he finds himself reviewing the same film over and over again.

Click here for the original version.  Can you spot the difference?

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I told Todd Field that I wrote about Little Children as a tangential football film in the epilogue of my thesis.  His film is based on the book by Tom Perrotta, who also worked on the screenplay with Field.  I haven’t read the book yet, but there is apparently a lot of football in it.  In addition to changing the way the movie would end, Field and Perrotta had to figure out how much football to keep in the film.   I’m gonna get my hands on this book and then revisit my analysis of Little Children as a quasi-football film.

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The Impressionist rendering:

Click here, here, and here for more.