film stills of opening titles from movies from 1920s to the future! i'm actually a part of the film stills community on livejournal, so this is an added treat. some films you have to pay to have access to their stills, but i think the title lock-ups are gorgeous to look at nonetheless :]
so i watched speed racer a few days ago, and i have to be completely honest and say that i enjoyed it. of course, i wasn't taking it seriously, and while i was watching it, there were two toddlers running around and screaming, so my attention wasn't focused on the plot or the cheesey acting. however, both of those things are justified when you're remaking an old cartoon. there's a difference between speed racer and the scooby-doo remakes, and that is that speed racer rules.
the impressive thing about the film was the hyper reality of it. cat in the hat on crack. mario kart + fast and the furious mash-up. i loved the color. simple as that. i really liked the wardrobe, the set design, it all fit.
bottom line: awesome, fun visuals. don't take it seriously. cheaters never prosper. rain is so hot.
(note on the poster above: that is the MOST STATIC composition ever, making it the worst ever solution for speed racer. DUMB. however, rain is hot.)
just in case you're wondering, i'm trying to watch a film a day while i'm unemployed. so today's movie was danielson: a family movie, featuring the christian indie family band the danielson famile led by daniel smith (aka brother danielson). he's known for his totally rad 9-fruit tree costume and nurse/doctor outfits. oh, and he puts out sufjan stevens' records on his record label, 'sounds familyre.'
it's a colorful documentary. it was really interesting to see peoples' reactions to their music and whether or not they minded that their music was about God. daniel smith is really neat character -- someone you wouldn't expect to be christian, but you know is totally christian. there was an emphasis on family and of course spiritual freedom. it explored the boundaries of the christian music scene -- how it's presented and perceived.
oh oh, it was very weird that there is footage of him and daniel johnston together, especially since yesterday was daniel johnston movie day. (side note: i am listening to him nonstop.)
if you don't know danielson, they're quite good, fun, and morally sound, haha. watch this. it's cute.
just finished watching this, and i am so amazed by this guy's prolificness/osity (does that word exist?). daniel johnston is an underground music legend that has manic depression. the film tells the story of his life, his career, his illness, and his battles with the devil. i haven't actually listened to his music, but the way the people were talking about it, it's apparently amazing songwriting. i can tell right away though that it's the kind of truthful songwriting that anyone can identify with.. fears, loves, happiness, things like that. it's that uninhibited creativity that i really admire.
this film also inspires me to do a better job of documenting my life. writing things down, taking pictures, videos, etc. daniel johnston had tapes and tapes of him just talking and drawings and notebooks. those things are nice to have, and i think kind of prove that you exist. yah.. making things.
EDIT: ok, yip! jump music (the album he's holding in the picture) is pretty fricking awesome.
there is something special about this amateur video that impresses me, but i can't quite put my finger on it. i love the shaky party-cam thing in high contrast black and white.. it makes it look and feel 60s authentic. not to mention that it is recorded on 8mm. i just think it's pretty sweet, simple, and fun to watch. kinda wish i had friends who did this.
if you want to see a 60s dance party master, watch cassavetes' faces. all his shots are fricking killer. regardless, anyone who loves film needs to watch faces. gorgeous gorgeous film.
how can i not mention godard when talking about 60s dance sequences. i can only think of one real dance party scene that he's filmed (briefly in masculin feminin), but he's more known for choreographed stuff. one of my absolute favorites is of anna karina dancing around in a pool hall in vivre sa vie.
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