Spike Jonze interprets Shell Silverstein with I’m Here
Posted by Troy | Filed under Film
I have no idea how this released in March and I just discovered it today.
While I and everyone else was flipping out about Where the Wild Things are this winter, Spike Jonze was busy creating his first ever love-story film.
Of course, leave it to Spike Jonze to do so in the form of a short film about robots.
I honestly just finished watching this film and there is so much I could say… but you’ve really got to just see it for yourself.
It’s based on Shell Silvestein’s magical and timeless story of The Giving Tree, so as you can imagine the film is sad and hopeful and heartbreaking and inspiring all at once.
If you have a lunch break today, gather everyone around a computer, dim the lights and enjoy this together.
Go watch I’m Here. (then come back and tell me what you think.)
P.S. The soundtrack is… well……….
Tags: Shell Silverstein, short film, Spike Jonze, video
(500) Days of The Smiths
Posted by Troy | Filed under Culture, Film
(500) Days of Summer is the best thing I’ve seen in a while.
The title sequence alone is a great reminder of why I love movies.
But I think what really made me love it was how familiar it was.
Eerily so.
Tags: Film, Music, original illustration, The Smiths
Eternal Perspective
Posted by Troy | Filed under Faith, Film
Luminous beings are we…
not this crude matter.
Tags: philosophy, spiritual
No Backup Plan
Posted by Troy | Filed under Cancer, Film, Music
I discovered Rogue Wave a couple years ago… they just happened to play on my internet radio station.
They immediately became one of my favorite bands.
I had no idea at that time that their drummer Pat Spurgeon was enduring treatment for a life-threatening illness.
Is Capitalism a Sin?
Posted by Troy | Filed under Culture, Film, Traverse City
My sister shared today’s note from Michael Moore.
I like Michael Moore.
- He is a Traverse City neighbor
- He is funny
- He cares enough to say something
- He challenges people
- He respects others who earnestly seek justice (even if they disagree)
Of course the question he raises in the note (and apparently at some point in his newest film) is a provocative one (what else?):
Is Capitalism a sin?
Now at this point, people are already writing their blog post comments in their head (just as he hoped) quick to point out how Mike might be using certain particulars of his faith only when they happen to support his agenda du jour…
But that’s not really what he’s doing at all.
Michael Moore knows that question can’t be answered.
His films are never about black and white, I’m right-you’re wrong…
They are intended to make you doubt… to start asking yourself questions… to consider…
Because without doubt… where would I be?
If I just follow someone or some system… economic, political, religious, relational…
Then I’m merely a cog… a tool being used by that particular system and those that run it.
If I doubt however… If I question the system… If is say “Is this right?” or “Is this wrong?” even if those questions can’t be answered with a simple “yes” or “no” then I’m no longer being used by the system…
Instead of a cog, I’m a compass… or a refining fire… or a strong ingredient that somehow makes the whole thing smell less toxic and more intoxicating…
Salt, perhaps.
P.S. If the trailer doesn’t make you want to see his movie today… you must have some sort of super-power resistance to fantastic and effective advertising… and M.I.A.
Tags: Culture, Film, michael moore, politics
Fantastic Mr. Fox
Posted by Troy | Filed under Film
I love Wes Anderson.
I love stop-motion animation.
I love Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
I’m guessing I’m probably going to like this movie.
Accidentally True Story
Posted by Troy | Filed under Art/Design, Faith, Film
Walked out to the forest, plugged in my headphones to some Neko Case and started writing a story about a girl named Nadya and her family.
I used some historical facts and stories as a basis, but for the most part I was just making stuff up…
Tags: video
Wild Things and Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Posted by Troy | Filed under Art/Design, Culture, Film, Music
This is me apologizing in advance for the randomness of all this Wild Things related stuff…
I’ve been a fan of Spike Jonze since the first time I saw the video for “Undone” 15 years ago.
It just got better too, as he went on to create some of my favorite music videos (like “Sabotage”, “Buddy Holly” and a bunch more) and movies (Being John Malkovich and Adaptation)…. and when he created (and starred in) a video for the Fatboy Slim song “Praise You”, I realized we have identical dance styles…
and that pretty much sealed the deal that he’s my favorite…
Tags: illustration
Planet Earth Shark Attack
Posted by Troy | Filed under Family, Film
Our family has been making its way through Planet Earth this week.
This shark attach scene is probably my favorite from the entire series…
Can’t even describe it without using obnixious adjectives like “amazing,” “breathtaking,” “marvelous…”
Come to find out, the crew shot off the cape of South Africa for 28 days before catching this shot…
and with a special ultra-slow-motion camera, that can only shoot for 3 seconds at a time…
and the images captured are so enormous that it takes another 20 minutes before they could see that brief shot on their computers.
Discovery Channel is running the series again this week…
I insist that you watch…
(if you miss it, just check it out from the library like we did)
Tags: planet earth, science
On a Spiritual Journey
Posted by Troy | Filed under Culture, Faith, Film
Francis: Well, I guess I’ve got some more healing to do.
Jack: Gettin’ there though.
Peter: Anyway… definitely gonna add a lot of character to you.
Tags: darjeeling limited, Faith, movies, wes anderson
