Whenever I watch a movie with Sacha Cohen (not to be confused with Sasha Cohen, which I did, but it turns out Sasha is a figure skater where Sacha is not) -- either Bruno or Borat -- I wonder many things:
What in the movie was set-up vs. what wasn't
Does he stay in character even when the cameras aren't rolling
How does his wife put up with him and just how mentally deranged is this guy.
But he could be a Howard Stern type person: obnoxious for the job and at home a pussycat. Who knows.
Both movies are worth seeing, but Borat is much, much better and funnier. Borat gives us a character that is naive and likable, whereas there is not much to like about the self-centered, worldly-wise Bruno.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Movie: 17 Again and 13 Going on 30 and my cousin Steve
Both of these movies have a lot more in common besides having numbers in their titles. In 13 Going on 30 Jennifer Garner (or the girl who was playing the 13 year old role) is magically transported to being Jennifer Garner and 30 years old. In 17 Again Matthew Perry goes back in time to when he was 17 and becomes Zac Efron. 13 Going on 30 is a "girlie" movie, and 17 Again tries to be more "manly" and had some kind of sporting event that required an orange ball and a hoop and some cheerleaders.
I preferred 13 Going on 30. Jennifer Garner was just too cute.
In 17 Again, however, Thomas Lennon played the rich, eccentric friend of Matthew Perry; and I'll be darned if he doesn't look exactly like my cousin Steve. He acted like him too, except Steve would be into sports and not into Dungeons and Dragons or Spock, or whatever it was with the ears. Thomas Lennon even had the same facial expressions and movements as my cousin Steve. Is that not amazing? I think he and Steve must be related and don't even know it.
Steve and I rarely see each other. We played together when we were kids and he was really mean and rough with me and never got into trouble for it. When we were real little we took baths together and the last time we were together he said: Ha, ha, ha remember when we were little and took a bath together and I peed in the tub and you were screaming. Ha, ha, ha.
I said: I think that was one of those memories I successfully repressed, thank you for bringing that terrible event back to the surface. It's coming back now, why I hate you.
I preferred 13 Going on 30. Jennifer Garner was just too cute.
In 17 Again, however, Thomas Lennon played the rich, eccentric friend of Matthew Perry; and I'll be darned if he doesn't look exactly like my cousin Steve. He acted like him too, except Steve would be into sports and not into Dungeons and Dragons or Spock, or whatever it was with the ears. Thomas Lennon even had the same facial expressions and movements as my cousin Steve. Is that not amazing? I think he and Steve must be related and don't even know it.
Steve and I rarely see each other. We played together when we were kids and he was really mean and rough with me and never got into trouble for it. When we were real little we took baths together and the last time we were together he said: Ha, ha, ha remember when we were little and took a bath together and I peed in the tub and you were screaming. Ha, ha, ha.
I said: I think that was one of those memories I successfully repressed, thank you for bringing that terrible event back to the surface. It's coming back now, why I hate you.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Documentary: The Corporation
The best thing about this movie is how it likens a corporation to a psychopath, which explains why according to the book Snakes in Suits, (see previous blog) why there are so many psychopathic personalities in the corporate world. The Corporation is well worth viewing maybe even a couple of times.
The problem with this movie (and with many documentaries) is that the the producers/directors -- whoever they are -- have information and a message they want to get across. But they are so focused on getting their message across they forget how their film will be perceived by the viewer. So many documentaries become "talking heads" films interspersed with photographs or video-clips. The Corporation did a good job steering away from being a "talking head" movie; but tried to encompass everything -- and I mean everything -- wrong about corporations into one film. Thus it runs around 2-1/2 hours which feels like 4 when you have to use the bathroom.
My recommendation for this movie is to take a break in the middle and come back to the final part later.
The problem with this movie (and with many documentaries) is that the the producers/directors -- whoever they are -- have information and a message they want to get across. But they are so focused on getting their message across they forget how their film will be perceived by the viewer. So many documentaries become "talking heads" films interspersed with photographs or video-clips. The Corporation did a good job steering away from being a "talking head" movie; but tried to encompass everything -- and I mean everything -- wrong about corporations into one film. Thus it runs around 2-1/2 hours which feels like 4 when you have to use the bathroom.
My recommendation for this movie is to take a break in the middle and come back to the final part later.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Snakes on a Plane vs. Snakes in Suits
Snakes on a Plane is a movie that got very bad reviews which I didn't see, because it just sounded stupid. Snakes in Suits is a non-fiction book which I read and enjoyed and believe everyone who has to work for a living should read. Because Snakes in Suits is about the psychopath in the workplace. It turns out not all psychopathic personalities are serial killers. You actually may know a few.
If you also read the Sociopath Next Door, the author's statistic is about 1 in 25 people fit the psychopathic disorder profile. Wow. One evening after reading the book and driving home in the suburbs, I assumed two adults per house and disregarded children. That would be mean that statistically every 13th house could contain a psychopath/sociopath. That's a lot of people. Determining where they actually live is another matter.
Snakes in Suits is an easy and interesting read. It is very informative and a little bit scary. All of a sudden you will understand that those lying, manipulative, two-faced people you've worked with who made your life miserable were likely psychopaths. It explains what they do and how they do it.
The authors make it very clear you should not start labeling people psychopaths, but, of course, I ignored that advice and made a list of everybody who fit the profile. You can do the same.
Snakes in Suits is written by Paul Babiak and Robert D. Hare. Both have studied psychopaths, and Hare is a world-renowned expert on psychopathy and wrote the book: Without Conscience.
The Sociopath Next Door is written by Martha Stout.
If you also read the Sociopath Next Door, the author's statistic is about 1 in 25 people fit the psychopathic disorder profile. Wow. One evening after reading the book and driving home in the suburbs, I assumed two adults per house and disregarded children. That would be mean that statistically every 13th house could contain a psychopath/sociopath. That's a lot of people. Determining where they actually live is another matter.
Snakes in Suits is an easy and interesting read. It is very informative and a little bit scary. All of a sudden you will understand that those lying, manipulative, two-faced people you've worked with who made your life miserable were likely psychopaths. It explains what they do and how they do it.
The authors make it very clear you should not start labeling people psychopaths, but, of course, I ignored that advice and made a list of everybody who fit the profile. You can do the same.
Snakes in Suits is written by Paul Babiak and Robert D. Hare. Both have studied psychopaths, and Hare is a world-renowned expert on psychopathy and wrote the book: Without Conscience.
The Sociopath Next Door is written by Martha Stout.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Movies: "Babel" and "11:14
Excellent movie centering around a rifle. Different vignettes of people's lives who owned or used it.
Good movies need to be discussed and Babel left me with a major question. When the father comes home and sees his daughter standing naked on the balcony -- and he knows a man just left the apartment -- the father comes up and they share a tender moment. Deaf or not, if my father witnessed this, I would have heard: Get your clothes on! There would be no hugs, and definitely no understanding. So what was going on here? Is there a cultural different I don't understand, was it symbolic of her exposing her entire self to him, or was there some kind of incestuous relationship between them?
The movie 11:14 is similar to Babel -- and why did they title that movie Babel? The only Babel I know about is the Biblical tower of Babel? Was it because so many different languages were spoken in the film?
Oh, 11:14 is similar to Babel but it has several vignettes centering around an accident that happened exactly at 11:14. It is not as good as Babel, but well worth watching if you like vignette-types of movies. You have to watch these kind of movies more carefully and think a little bit -- that is if they are well done. Again, maybe I missed something, but what in the world was that girl going to do with that bowling ball? Did not get that at all!
Good movies need to be discussed and Babel left me with a major question. When the father comes home and sees his daughter standing naked on the balcony -- and he knows a man just left the apartment -- the father comes up and they share a tender moment. Deaf or not, if my father witnessed this, I would have heard: Get your clothes on! There would be no hugs, and definitely no understanding. So what was going on here? Is there a cultural different I don't understand, was it symbolic of her exposing her entire self to him, or was there some kind of incestuous relationship between them?
The movie 11:14 is similar to Babel -- and why did they title that movie Babel? The only Babel I know about is the Biblical tower of Babel? Was it because so many different languages were spoken in the film?
Oh, 11:14 is similar to Babel but it has several vignettes centering around an accident that happened exactly at 11:14. It is not as good as Babel, but well worth watching if you like vignette-types of movies. You have to watch these kind of movies more carefully and think a little bit -- that is if they are well done. Again, maybe I missed something, but what in the world was that girl going to do with that bowling ball? Did not get that at all!
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