Moved: So Long and Thanks for all the Fish

This will be my last post at blogger. Goodbye for now blogger, you were great but it's time to move on to my very own url.

You can now check my own by just checking out www.sicknesscinema.com

That's it. THAT SIMPLE! Come check out our newer, sleeker, sexier design with all the great content you love.

http://sicknesscinema.com

Boom


And now to say goodbye:

Ch-ch-ch-changes

Big news. One of my co-workers in my day job is a pretty solid web-designer and all around creative type, so he's in the process in helping me radically renovate the site. This design will be smoother, more user-friendly and easier on the eyes. It's very, very exciting. We'll be looking into owning my domain name as well. Which, you know, all respect to blogspot, but it'll be way nicer to drop the "the" and the "blogspot" when I give out the link.

So lets see; brand new electrifying podcasts, quality content, sleeker, sexier design. Yep, 2010 is going to be a banner year for the Sickness Cinema. Stick around.

Link Island (Plus Site Update)

Wow, where did THAT week go? So it was a wonderful week full of all kinds of people saying nice things about the podcast. Let me tell you guys, my co-host and I are in constant communication about what we can do to make it even better. We will be recording on Sundays and it's looking like we'll be focusing more on movie and tv rather than music and some of the other minutia in pop-culture. That's probably more in our wheelhouse. This thing is just going to get tighter and better the more we do it (just like exercise, or so I'm told).

So where was the content this week? Well for one thing this White Ribbon review is killing me. It's a deep, complex film that has a lot to say and inspires a lot as well. Compound that with one of my busiest week's of work EVER (typically got home at around 9 every day) and you just weren't going to get new content.

Anyway, next week we'll get back on schedule with an entry a day PLUS you'll get some sweet podcast action.

Links:

Analysis: The sometimes controversial but always illuminating Matt Singer analyzes one of my absolute favorite scenes from one of my favorite movies Bringing Up Baby. Also at the AV Club, Scott Tobias considers Synecdoche, New York, a difficult film if ever there were one.

If you missed it, you MUST read this Esquire piece on Roger Ebert. Powerful and deeply moving, please, please, please read this.

Awesomeness (all QT edition): Someone made some amazing alternate Inglourious Basterds posters. I'd like these to cover my walls please.
And speaking of Quentin, the director purchased the New Beverly Cinema in Los Angeles. I have been a bad film fan and have not been to the New Bev, but I've heard nothing but good things. Amazing that QT has taken it upon himself to save this beloved institution.

Lists: The AV Club talked about the most frequently overused literary adaptations. But best of all they suggest some alternative choices from the same authors. So much fun.

What's going on around here?!?!

Ok so I've been busy. My day job took me to a conference in Conneticut (which was lovely by the way) but, well, the timing was not good. You know that storm you've been hearing about ever and been seeing on the news? Yeah, I got caught in THAT! So now I'm stuck here on the East Coast. No worries, I'm making the best of a bad situation and will try to squeeze in some writing. So what's coming up?

Lots of reviews for some very different movies: the hard hitting British drama Fish Tank, the Academy Award nominated White Ribbon and should all go according to plan the newest version of the Wolfman.

I will be good and put up my links from last week and should all go according to plan you may be getting the Sickness Cinema in an ENTIRELY NEW FORMAT!

I will give you a hint...rhymes with shmodcast.

You should see your faces

Ok so work is completely kicking my bum. Totally busy and the blog is going to have to go dark until after day job relaxes. Figure I'll grab onto a computer and blog it up after the 27th. I haven't even had time to see any movies. Wait, scratch that, I did see ONE movie. I want to cool down a bit and get it in my rear-view lest I bust out something I regret later. That being said the sheer spectacle is an absolute must see. Your mileage may vary but you've never seen anything quite like this, I guarantee. See it, see it on the biggest screen you can and see it in 3D. See Avatar, we'll meet back here in a week and we'll talk more.

Ugh sorry, I suck

Ok so I have a conference and this means the following: No new posts until Wednesday night (at the earliest).

Reviews will be forthcoming of Pirate Radio and Trick R Treat. Also the Last Waltz and should things go according to plan Fantastic Mr. Fox.

You can make fun of me in the comments.

It's Alive, ALIVE!

Don't call it a comeback. Ok, call it a comeback. After a year of hard-work and career re-shaping the Sickness cinema has dug its way up out of the more of internet inertia and has sprung back to life. I am your host, the Sickness, and I will be here reviewing, critiquing, commenting, snarking and most importantly LOVING the world of film. So much has gone on since that fateful last post in 2008 and I'd love to sit around and reminisce about what we missed discussing, but as of today this site is about looking ahead about what's going on with me and the amazing world that flashes by at 24 frames per second. I've been discussing some feature ideas with fellow twitter'er @twunder and I'm really excited about interacting with old fans and getting some new ones.

Ok so, what sort of things will we be doing. Well, first and foremost I'll be doing some criticism-that means netflix rentals, Blu-Ray purchases (oh yes, we've moved onto Blu-Ray) and of course good old fashioned going to the movies. Friday Night links will be back as will birthday inspired thoughts. There will also be new features, lists and all kinds of exciting stuff. Check back here DAILY for updates.

I'm a total google hit whore

Went to an amazing Italian restaurant in North Hollywood last night to say goodbye to a friend of mine who is moving to New York (very jealous). The restaurant was hit by a major case of the 90's as other tables were filled by such luminaries as James "Dawson" Van DerBeek and not one, not two, but three Lawrence brothers. I know, I know, hardly a Clive Owen sighting but still good times, good wine, good friends and good 90's teen heart-throbs. What more could you want from a Friday night? Much more sophisticated (yeah right) and movie centric postings to resume shortly.

Oh and I suppose this is appropriate given the deluge of advertising I'm seeing for it, is anyone planing checking out the new 90210? Veronica Mars mastermind Rob Thomas was originally show-running but left the project so that's a bad sign right there. On the other hand the show has Tristan Wilds (Michael from The Wire) as one of the main kids and Lucille Bluth herself Jessica Walter as a snarky lush (PERFECT). So what say you readers, yea or nay?

Site Report

For a long time I've attempted to maintain a post a day (or at least an average of a post a day) but since my fellowship program is starting officially tomorrow I really want to focus the bulk of my time and concentration there.

I will still be seeing movies, reviewing movies, bitching about movies, advocating on behalf of movies and my favorite just plain old referencing movies right here on the blog. I just can't guarantee every day. Who knows I've got some long bus rides in my future maybe if I'm done with my other work I'll start writing ON the bus. Just think, I can ask the transients what they think about Jim Jarmusch and Sam Fuller. So don't cry cause this is hardly goodbye. I'm not Cary and totally WANTONLY abandoning my blog like a little bitch.

They moved the island and other excuses

My internet was naughty, Lost was excellent and then I got bummed (at the passing of Harvey Korman-an actor whom I have tremendous affection for) and now you know why I took a day off from posting. No fears loyal fans, I'll be doing my usual Friday link round-up early tomorrow morning, talk about the late, great Mr. Korman and then, oh man, oh jeez, oh man, review The Sex and the City Movie. That's right, tonight I will be sitting down to a prada crunching TWO AND A HALF HOUR estrogen fest all in the name of your blogging entertainment (and for my friend Allison's birthday). Those are the only two reasons.

Hello, I must be going and my Clive Owen Encounter

Sorry, I'm about to undergo a massive life change as I leave New York for at least a year for a fellowship program in Los Angeles. The good news is that this blog is going nowhere and I will continue to update. Plus being in LA means that I am at the heart of the movie making world. Well, maybe not quite the dead center because New York certainly has it's share of filmmakers and actors that can be seen around town all the time. Which bring me to the subject of this post. So the other night I went to a farewell dinner with some friends at one of my favorite places downtown Westville East (gotta love the combination of a paradoxical name and market fresh vegetables). Once we're seated one of my friends says "Hey I just saw that guy, the guy from Sin City going to the bathroom." I love my friends but we love to mess with each other so several of us think it's bull right away. We run through a bunch of actors who it could be. "Clive Owen?" I ask, "Yeah, that's it." Sure enough several moments later in a suit (sans tie) strides out the greatest tough-guy actor of our generation. Clive Owen is every bit as cool live as he is on the big screen. He's also huge, the guy is tall and looks just completely bad-ass. I don't think anyone else noticed he was there, or maybe it was the fact that it's New York and nothing phases us he was left alone. But man oh man do I love Clive Owen. His CV isn't flawless but he's shown up and done a splendid job in Closer, Shoot 'Em Up and one of the best movies of the decade Children of Men.

From my brain to Apatow's camera

The other night (and by other night I mean Sunday) as I watched the Night of Too Many Stars benefit for autism (a night where the pendulum swung back and forth between delightfully hilarious and incredibly awful so many times I got motion sickness) I was pleased and delighted to briefly see Jonah Hill but befuddled. Befuddled because the basis for his appearance was a joke about how he wasn't famous enough yet to join the other celebrities on stage. Pretty galling considering it was Ben Stiller who delivered his brush-off (Duplex star Ben Stiller), the fact is that Hill has a pretty solid track record for films and Hollywood always needs a sardonic chubby guy. No, the Superbad alumnus who is going to have to be very canny in his career is McLovin' himself, Christopher Mintz-Plasse. It will be very tempting for him to take a bunch of McLovin'-esque roles in the future and coast on convention appearances if he doesn't show range (which frankly I think he has and will). Amusingly enough Chris AND Judd Apatow are well aware of this and no sooner did I have this thought THIS video showed up on the interwebs:

Awesome. What else did I want to mention? Oh right, that Mary Poppins thing I promised. It's on it's way. I promise. I want these Sickness Cannon entries to be really solid so I'm taking a little more time with this one. I think I may have been a tad premature on saying they'd be weekly. Maybe more like monthly. But that's love isn't it? It takes time.

Mazal Tov

Alas, no posts this weekend. "Why?" you may ask. Well why tell you when I can show you. And why show you when I can show you with Muppets.

Yes, this weekend I will be serving as best-man to one of my best friends as he takes that great, big, scary step further into the Stargate of real-life (which would make me Kurt Russel in this analogy...bitchin'). Anyway I'll be kicking ass and taking names this weekend in Milwaukee so no new posts until Monday. Enjoy the weekend kids.

Your Sickness Background

Hey everyone have a little task for you. I'm thinking of making some changes to the design of the blog. Nothing drastic mind you, just time to shake things up a wee bit. So I will put it to you, which of these following pics, posters and screen shots should be the official background (you know, the still from Manhattan up top) of the Sickness Cinema.
I like this one for obvious reasons. It's like she's introducing me. :)
Oh Wall-e I've seen maybe two minutes worth of you and you already may be the greatest thing Pixar has EVER done. My God.
Start the plane Jock! Start the plane Jock! I like this one because it's like you're about to begin an adventure.
This was briefly my opening image, it's the stand-off from The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, and if you needed me to tell you that drop what you're doing and go watch The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.
A big face full of Jack Elam from the opening of Once Upon a Time in the West. Another Leone showdown.
You can never have too much Paulie Bleeker. It's just science.
My favorite New York based action film. This poster is, as the kids say "teh sex."

Please put your votes in the comments.

I'm sorry

Oh please forgive me internets. I know I've been a bad daily blogger. Two WHOLE days post-less. Real-life has demanded a great deal of my time and there was just no time for you. Don't worry though, I've got a big exciting line-up and this time blog-less has left me refreshed and ready. Coming up I'll be providing you with some counter-programming suggestions for this weekend's film's releases and since it's Friday you know what that means...links! I'll be back either later tonight or early tomorrow. Until then put some more comments on that Wire post. Or rent it.

Ugh, My Lost Weekend, My Headache and one last post before Monday

Billy Wilder's The Lost Weekend is a very good movie. It speaks volumes about Wilder's filmography that despite the film's best picture, director, actor and screen-writing wins I wouldn't even put in a Wilder's ten best list. Why go to the trouble of explaining this? Well, last night, jolted by weekend enthusiasm, friends and just an overall positive and fuzzy feeling about my life I went out and partied hard. I am paying for it today though and I feel like Lost Weekend star Ray Milland (an otherwise bland actor) in this, his greatest performance. When Milland takes a swig it goes down the viewers throat and when he detoxes you get the mightiest migraine ever. Powerful stuff. When he hallucinates a bat though you kind of giggle cause that shit looked ridiculous. Wilder was never Mr. FX anyway so I'll let it slide.

Sorry guys no links (there weren't that many good ones this week anyway). Plus come on there weren't exactly a lot of prime viewing options that came out this weekend anyway. Rent something you've been meaning to see, catch up on Oscar nominees, have you seen The Wire? It's MY favorite TV show. Shouldn't it be yours too? Go, have fun, enjoy the Superbowl, I'll be here cuddled up on the couch feeling like warmed over death.

No, that's not an absolute truth, I will be back later tonight with a quickie review of an off-Broadway play I checked out earlier this week.

Oh I Got Trouble!

OK so some of you may have noticed that there was no Monday Night Monologue last night, the reason for this being I came upon a terrible epiphany that the phrase "Monday Monologue" had burrowed its way into my subconscious by seeing it sporadically on Nate Rogers always excellent filmexperience blog. Damn. While Nate doesn't run the feature every week I don't want anyone accusing me of plagiarizing another site's feature. So I got trouble. Right here in Bloggy city. As such I will be trying out some new features and based on feedback (that means comments people) I will start a new weekly feature (or features depending on their popularity). I'm psyched and you should be too.

Oh and my good buddy over at Aaronology, had his first stand-up performance tonight and rocked...hard! So in honor of him (and another friend toiling away hard at scripting) here is a little celebration I think they'll both enjoy.

Some notes on what I missed

Many of you who have asked about why "such and such" movie was left off this or that list is for the simple reason that I missed that film (or it wasn't playing wide enough). I mean I did see over 80 films in theaters in 2007 (that's not even touching stuff I saw on DVD or on TV) so it's not so bad.

Anyway here's the biggies:
4 Months, 3 Weeks, 2 Days-Played at festivals and wasn't at those festivals (I will be checking it out when it opens at the end of the month).
Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford-couldn't find anyone to go with and by the time my schedule cleared up it was already out of theaters. This is the one that really irks me as it looks right up my alley.
Cassandra' Dream-I already saw Match Point. I'll wait until DVD and netflix it then.
The Great Debaters-Ehhhh, Antwone Fisher was fine but forgettable, I can foresee watching this on a plane some time down the line.
I Am Legend-Heard good things about the first hour or so, I'll netflix it.
The Kite Runner-I won't make the Atonement mistake again, I'll read the book first.
The Kingdom-Currently on my netflix q, looking forward to it.
In the Valley of Elah-A Haggis war film? No thanks. I am grateful for the mileage I got out of the elah, elah, elah jokes.
Lady Chatterly-Saw this one on some of the snootier lists, netflix will do the rest.
Lars and the Real Girl-Too indie quirky even for me. Also, REALLY, everyone in town is going to go along with this conceit? Really? Still the completest in me will at least take a look at it on netflix.
Lions for Lambs-The terrible reviews kept me away and I will stay away.
The Orphanage-Looks kind of derivative. But I'll take a look on DVD, just not urgent.
Redacted-I was looking forward to it but there was some stuff in DePalma's promotional interviews that kept me away. Netflixing it.
Rendition-Looked nice and glossy but the reviews say otherwise. I'll check it out but I won't move it to the top of the q anytime soon.
Starting Out in the Evening-Got very good notices for its performance but it's small and I picked big. But the prospect of seeing Frank Langella (in a lead role) and part of my holy trinity of redheads (that would be Lauren Ambrose) together in a move will shoot this one up to number one on my netflix q.
Southland Tales-I still enjoy Donnie Darko a lot but Domino suffered from a serious case of awful. This could go either way and I'll take a look on DVD.
Youth Without Youth-Couldn't find where it was playing and the reviews were less then kind. But come on I won't skip Coppola, even if I have to catch it on netflix.

As for people wondering where The Host (very entertaining with one of the best monsters I've seen in a long time), The Lives of Others and Black Book (both amazing) are they are on my best of last year list as they're 2006 releases (which yes, I saw them in 2007) so they go on the 2006 list. Same goes for Away from Her which was a nice thoughtful film with wonderful performances, but there's nothing that particularly makes a lasting impact about it.

All right I think we can officially close the book on 2007 (with the exception of Oscar coverage...hopefully) and get ready for an exciting 2008.

Alright back to the grindstone.

Some quick notes before the big push

First off thanks to all the people who visited the blog yesterday during the blogathon. I hope I provided enough meat for many of you to stick around. Let me just say its not all year end lists around here (we also talk about Enchanted...a lot). In all seriousness I hope that 2008 really turns this blog into a really varied web experience that is more then just reviews and lists but a lot more commentary, discussion, humor and analysis. Feel free to say hi or make requests for future features or stuff you'd like my thoughts on.

On to site business: Ok so my honorable mentions, the not quites and the worst lists are all up. So now all my fans (and Frank) are asking when will the Top 20 be up? The answer is by the end of the week, there is some personal back to work stuff that needs to get tended to first. My question to you is should I break each part of my top 20 into its own blog entry or just do a single post with all 20?

Thanks go out to the nimble read.dance.blog. for their recent loving.

Oh also a big shout out to the fine folks at ASU whom Joel has forced me onto you. I hope you're enjoying the blog, why not use this time to say hi and introduce yourself (right on, right on).

Come back around tonight, the Monday Night Monolgue I have planned is a doozy. It's from a movie we'll be hearing about a lot in the weeks and months to come.