So depressing but it still followed that familiar, family movie theme—follow your dreams and in the end everything will turn out for the best. Ugh.

For me the film sparked a conversation about “What is art?” Only there was much to consider on a topic that-prior to viewing this film-seemed over-discussed.

The title of the film also made us think about the nature of journalism. If the unusual is more interesting to report on than the usual, then soon the unusual becomes the usual. Then what replaces it?

The rape scene was the most disturbing thing I’ve ever seen in a movie. Was that necessary? Or would we have taken away the same from the movie without it?

Also, I don’t know how this could be viewed as dark humor. Maybe I’m wrong, but I suspect that’s something the film makers came up with after the controversy started.

They also said this was just a film about movie making that could have been about a door-to-door salesman as easily as a serial killer. If that’s true then maybe they didn’t even understand what it is they created.

Not as depressing as I would have expected from the subject matter. All three main characters-Ethan, Zeena, and Mattie-are tragic characters. It is harder to identify with Zeena than the others, but in her own way she deserves as much pity.

This month I listened to 3 albums, read 2 books and watched 8 movies. I also watched two seasons of TV on DVD.

February was even longer than usual, being leap year, but it still felt like the month flew by.

Most of my time was spent reading Middlemarch. I think I actually miss lugging that 800 pound (I mean) page thing around.

I picked films that were fairly light this month. After the depressing Angel finale, I needed a break. There’s nothing like an ending that makes you feel like the whole series was a waste of time…

Bests of this month:
Best CD = Drastic Fantastic
Best book = Middlemarch
Best film = Down by Law

I watched this again today. About eight years since the last time I saw it, and it seemed much deeper to me the second time around. The best movie about making porn. No, the best movie about trying to make porn the is “true and right and dramatic.” Fine line there, but this movie walked it beautifully.

There was one line I just couldn’t stop laughing at:
“I like simple pleasures, like butter in my ass, lollipops in my mouth. That’s just me. That’s just something that I enjoy.”
The actor just delivered it was such seriousness—too much.

It’s interesting that never once throughout the film does anyone refer to the blob as the blob. I kept waiting and the characters would search for a name…and then just call it “the monster.”

Also, you could go to the movies in 1958 for 80 cents? Based on that (and some estimating) with inflation it’ll cost roughly 80 dollars to see a movie in 2058!

Becoming more and more a fan of Jarmusch. Loved the dreamlike, fairytale aspect to the film.

Some of the greatest lines from the film: (I might not be remembering these verbatim).

“This rabbit tastes like a tire.”
“Oh, my killer.”
“Red ants. They can eat a whole family in half an hour.”

Not as funny as I had expected, but thankfully not as didactic as it could have been either. Katie Holmes was an awful casting choice for the reporter, but other than that all the actors did a great job. I loved the character of Nick Naylor. I often wonder how spin doctors every where live with themselves; this movie gave me a glimpse into their “flexible morality.”

This is definitely going in my top ten list!

Best multiple, violent uses of a vegetable ever!