The Hurt Locker

I finally watched The Hurt Locker last week. It sat on my counter for about two weeks before I could get up the nerve to sit down and watch it, but I am so glad I finally did. It was actually nothing like what I was expecting, which was a good thing (as opposed to Inglorious Basterds, which was exactly what I was expecting and featured enough gratuitous violence to convince me never to watch another Tarantino film). Considering the subject matter (war), which I often don't have the stomach for, The Hurt Locker took me completely by surprise. The script was well written, the characters entirely believable, and the situation suspenseful, terrifying, and utterly devastating. I kept thinking, "What have we done?" and "How can we ever make this situation right again?" And I don't have answers to either of those questions. This is an important film that I hope more people go see and I truly hope wins Katherine Bigelow a much-deserved Best Director Academy Award. This war needs to end, our soldiers need to come home, and Iraq needs to heal.

Everything is looking UP!

Just a few links from the Cannes Film Festival, where Pixar's latest film -- Up -- had the honor of being the opening evening's film.

• ITN News, video story with film clip
• Michael Giltz: Huffington Post story
• Variety review
• BBC News: Up Launches Cannes Film Festival

Who doesn't love Susan Boyle?

Watch CBS Videos Online

In case you haven't seen the original clip, go here. Truly inspiring!

Thought for Today

We habitually erect a barrier called blame that keeps us from communicating genuinely with others, and we fortify it with our concepts of who’s right and who’s wrong. We do that with the people who are closest to us and we do it with political systems, with all kinds of things that we don’t like about our associates or our society. It is a very common, ancient, well-perfected device for trying to feel better. Blame others. Blaming is a way to protect your heart, trying to protect what is soft and open and tender in yourself. Rather than own that pain, we scramble to find some comfortable ground.

Pema Chodron

Coraline, my favorite film of 2009 (so far)

What can I say about a girl named Coraline? I've been lucky enough to see this film in 3D *twice* since it opened in February, and each time it's been a revelation. Now, in the past I have not been a huge fan of the art of 3D filmmaking and have often left the theater a little worse for wear (slightly headachy and nauseated, not my favorite combo) after viewing a 3D film. This film, happily, did not produce that sensation and instead I was left to marvel at the storytelling and the craft involved. And I do mean marvel. The visual imagery and the soundtrack, oh my god, the soundtrack, will stay in your head long after leaving the theater. In fact, one of the first things I did after seeing the film the first time was to run out and purchase the soundtrack (there is even a handy, dandy link to it over in my sidebar if you feel so inclined or just want to check it out).

The first time I saw Coraline I got to hear the director, the amazing Henry Selick (director of Tim Burton's Nightmare Before Christmas), talk about some of the choices that were made in the making of the film. One thing they did that I truly appreciate was that they kept the majority of the action "behind the screen," which was a wise move. It means that the few times when something comes out of the screen, it really has more of an impact, and also, as a somewhat more timid 3D moviegoer, I was not sitting there in fear of the "pokey, pokey" effect and wondering when it would next occur. Also, the changes that they made to the book and the overall story translated well to the screen. It starts out with some foreboding, but not nearly as dark and scary as the book. You are gradually drawn in and when the Other Mother is revealed for who she truly is, you are ready for it. Now, I am not saying this is a film for children. No, no, no. In fact, I could not disagree more with Neil Gaiman (the author, who I've been following on twitter) on this point. I have a fairly timid 12 year old and he loved the movie, but I could not imagine taking a child younger than say 10 or 11 to this film. Of course, half the kids in my son's sixth grade class have seen The Dark Knight (which should have been rated R, curse you MPAA), so consider your source.

One of the things I have to hand Laika Studio is the incredible precision and attention to detail. The opening sequence with the sewing and the puppets is mesmerizing, and one of the few times the 3D breaks through the screen (to great effect), but my favorite sequence is in the garden with Coraline and the Other Father. The exquisite detail of each flower and the garden as a whole is breathtaking. I sat in anticipation of watching this again when I saw it the second time and this is one of the reasons I think everyone should try to see this in 3D. I cannot imagine seeing this any other way (although I will be happy to buy a Blu-Ray disc of this film when it is available). The film also really feels handmade, in the best possible way. Henry Selick brought one of the Coraline puppets with him, but unfortunately I had to get back to work and couldn't get close enough to really see it.

If you have an opportunity to see this modern masterpiece in 3D, please do so. I know this is one film I will be seeing again and again.