Head vs. Heart: Counterfitters or Katyn?

HEAD: Now that the Global Cinema class has spoken on their thoughts for the foreign-language Oscar, it's my turn.

HEART: Our turn!

HEAD: Ok, our turn.  But I'm not so sure about this mind/body dichotomy.  Does Descartes know you nicked his blog password?

HEART: Erm....right.  So let's see what the collective intelligence of COMM 371 has to say about Sunday, and we'll throw in our two cents too.

HEAD: First off, nobody's buying Beaufort, which was actually Israel's second choice for their national pick.  I just realized that each and every film nominated this year centers around war.  Sign of the times?

HEART: Afraid so.  The Russian film 12 got two votes--I have to say that I really hope this film doesn't win.  I want to see the film a lot, but having a bunch of Russians sitting around in a Chechyn gymnasium to decide this case (we get it, folks, we get it) is more than I can stomach.

HEAD: Don't you think the 12 Angry Men angle helps it more than it hurts?  But I think that's negated by the fact that Mikhalkov already won one of these in the mid-'90s--Burnt by the Sun is a great film, by the way.

HEART: Then we have a tie--two films that got 2 1/2 votes.  Mongol is a Kazak film on Genghis Khan--we're going to be seeing a lot more films from Central Asia @ BSC in the next year (thanks Soros!), and a win here would be a nice catapult.

HEAD: But...even though this is the foreign-language category, don't you think this is a bit too....erm....foreign for US audiences?  

HEART: And the other film at 2 1/2 is Katyn, the latest from Andrzej Wajda.  We watched several films of his in 430 last semester (Ashes & Diamonds, Man of Marble) and the latter is screening this week for 371.  Did you know that Wajda won a lifetime achievement Oscar several years back, but has never won the foreign-language Oscar?  Here's the chance to right that wrong before he's dead.

HEAD: But they've already done the right thing with that lifetime achievement award--I think they're going to go elsewhere....to The Counterfeiters, to be specific.  Collective intelligence points to the Austrians to win, albeit narrowly at 3 votes.  You've got the WWII angle like Katyn, but it targets Nazis instead of Soviets (always a better Oscar strategy).

HEART: Do we get to talk about the crowds in Vienna welcoming Hitler with open arms upon annexation?  Or do we talk about how we were all victims of Nazism?  I'm afraid it's the latter, and it's depressing.  My vote is for Katyn.

HEAD: And I'm saying The Counterfeiters takes home the trophy.  In the end, I just hope these nominees make their way to Boston-area screens sometime this year--or at least get to f**king Netflix.

HEART:  Peace out.  Tune in Sunday!

Persepolis gets my vote!

Seems to me that the foreign films that have gotten the most buzz / traction this past year (Golden Door, 4 Months..., Persepolis) have unsurprisingly all gotten passed over for the foreign language Oscar. Maybe that's how it should be, as often films get catapulted into our consciousness as "Oscar-nominated" or even "Oscar-winning," and we've already sorted these out. And Persepolis is nominated for best animated feature (what are the odds?!?). So.

My COMM 371 (Global Cinema) students are weighing in on who they think will (or should) get the Oscar on Sunday--I have committed to sorting out my guess / vote by then, too, so look for that later in the week. In the meantime, though....three cheers for Persepolis, which Lorka & I got to see this afternoon. The film is adapted from a graphic novel via animation--I'm embedding a teaser here:



Don't worry--the film has subtitles in US theaters. But what I love about this clip is how American popular culture circulating globally becomes fodder for youthful rebellion....although to placate the Old Lady Morality Police (circa early 80's Iran), the young girl tries to pass Michael Jackson off as Malcolm X. Priceless!

Spike delivers, students out in force!

Spike Lee took the BSC stage by storm last night--in a Giants Super Bowl sweatshirt! Spike was enjoying giving Pats fans the business--still on a high from the game the other week. (Want to relive the nightmare? Check this out, and note the gentleman in the Strahan jersey--WARNING: CONTENTS OF THIS VIDEO MIGHT STILL BUM OUT PATS FANS.)



We got the nonsense taken care of early, and spent the vast majority of the time talking either politics or film...I wonder how many students might have been nudged to register as a result of last night?

It was fascinating to hear themes coming up in classes this term being worked through in this public forum: race and politics, how to get into filmmaking, the evolution of Malcolm X, stereotyping, the importance of pre-production strategic planning....and yes, even Spygate!

We had a lot of solid questions from the community (including several current and former students of mine, he said proudly), and a great turnout overall. In fact, the turnout by my students was phenomenal: nearly two out of three students in my five classes this semester (64.8%) will be receiving their extra credit for being there last night.

Spike Lee showing up to talk on a Wednesday night? My friends, that's what a college education is all about. Brilliant.

Gratuitous mix lists!

It's getting close to 20 years ago, but at one time I too was a senior in college. Trying to sort out my senior seminar, going to NCUR (got Ray Bradbury's autograph!), spring break in Texas, ignoring the job market come May, the whole bit. Anyhow, I came came across a mixtape (D90, go!) I made that final spring at Gustavus, circa 1991. Here's the "set list":

*****SIDE A*****
"Soon"--My Bloody Valentine
"Fall"--The Darling Buds
"Dennis & Lois"--Happy Mondays
"Opportunity"--The Charlatans
"Been Caught Stealing"--Jane's Addiction
"International Bright Young Thing"--Jesus Jones
"Harold & Joe"--The Cure
"Sweetness & Light"--Lush
"Heaven or Las Vegas"--Cocteau Twins
"Bloodline"--Ultra Vivid Scene
*****SIDE B*****
"What is Love?"--Deee-Light
"Pro-Gen"--Shamen
"Tomorrow Never Knows"--Danielle Dax
"One of Our Girls Has Gone Missing"--A.C. Marias
"Of These, Hope"--Peter Gabriel
"Paper Dolls"--Innocence Mission
"Night & Day"--U2
"Love"--The Dream Academy
"Looking for Atlantis"--Prefab Sprout
"Been There Done That"--Brian Eno / John Cale
"The Moon in the Man"--David J
"Disappearer"--Sonic Youth

Geez, that was long. My idea was to post a list I did last month to compare and contrast, but why don't I let you all join in? What sets have you done recently? Or for that matter, in the distant past? Is this microphone on?

BTW, my email inbox is winning. I don't even want to run the numbers. It's sad.

Spike Lee: Coolin' that s**t out!

In case you haven't heard yet, Spike Lee is going to be on BSC campus on Wednesday, Feb. 13th, at 7 pm.  Tickets are free but need to be picked up at the Info Booth @ the RCC.  If you're in one of my classes this semester, you'll be hearing about it for sure--extra credit even!  Like Da Mayor says: always do the right thing. In my COMM 300 class, we are revisiting Malcolm X (1992), but any student can go get the link for the digitized stream for Do the Right Thing (1989) at the Circulation Desk @ Maxwell, and watch that on your laptop (ditto Malcolm X).

Here's a gratuitous list of another half-dozen additional Spike Lee films you'd be well to check out--preferably before the filmmaker arrives on campus (nothing like an informed Q & A session, that's all I'm saying). I bet you could come up with your own list of six different titles...In fact, drop me a comment and build on this:

1. When the Levees Broke (2006) A four-hour documentary on Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath. Incredibly hard to think that it was only 2 1/2 years ago....But it has to have felt like several lifetimes for those whose lives have been directly affected. His most recent full-length project, originally produced for HBO, and now out on DVD.

2. Inside Man (2006) This film was widely praised as a throwback to Classical Hollywood caper films--I kind of think some critics loved it so much because it didn't have the stamp of a Spike Lee film. Or so they say. Taut and full of momentum, this is his most recent film to get wide theatrical release.

3. Bamboozled (2000) A scathing critique of media representation of race, and our complicity with it in any number of capacities. Sure, the plot goes off the rails in the final reel, but still: a number of jaw-dropping moments, including a heartbreaking historical montage.

4. Clockers (1995) I remember seeing this one in the theater multiple times, thinking how Lee was taking his work to a new level of thoughtfulness and introspection. This is a story of circumstance and what one man does to try to write his own ticket....to Arizona.

5. 25th Hour (2002) This was one of the first cinematic reckonings with 9/11 that I remember--and still one of the most poignant.

6. Michael Jordan Nike Campaign Run a web search and you're bound to find some examples out there. Lee brought his "Mars Blackman" character that he developed in his NYU diploma film / theatrical debutShe's Gotta Have It (1986), and paired it with the generation's most iconic sports personality. It's gotta be the shoes!