tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24692231216298547602024-03-07T23:50:24.849-08:00Alison GangAlison Ganghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04499758829247882718noreply@blogger.comBlogger64125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2469223121629854760.post-79708982707732644752013-05-10T09:00:00.000-07:002013-05-10T11:32:48.511-07:00My Own Personal Summer BlockbusterWhile I'm sure there's plenty to say -- good or bad -- about Baz Luhrmann's glitzy 3-D version of "The Great Gatsby," I'm staying mum. Same goes for "Star Trek into Darkness," "Frances Ha" and all the other movies coming out this summer that would surely appear on my review schedule.<br />
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Instead of spending my summer evenings inside of a movie theater, notebook in hand, I'll be settling in to what will undoubtedly be an overpriced, undersized San Francisco studio apartment and preparing for the early morning shuttle ride down the peninsula to my new job at Google. Considering that the movie houses didn't let me bring my dog to work, and they never once provided me with a catered meal, I think I'm coming out a winner on this one. </div>
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Of course, I'll also get to work for a company that is, as cheesy as it sounds, inventing the future. Alright, fine. As a technical writer, I won't exactly be the one churning out the killer code that makes the future a reality, but I will be responsible for helping the rest of us figure out how to use it. I couldn't be more excited, both for the career shift and the location leap. I've always wanted to live in San Francisco.</div>
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Will I miss reviewing movies? Did you really have to ask that? Of course I will. </div>
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But I won't miss trying to cram a film critic's job into a few nights per week and most of my weekends, which I've been doing ever since I started freelancing for U-T San Diego in January 2010. I spent business hours (at least until 5pm today) in a cozy, double-wide trailer on the UCSD Extension campus, where I've been happily employed as <a href="http://www.uctv.tv/" target="_blank">University of California Television</a>'s communications director since 2003. (I can't yet bring myself to officially say goodbye to the job and the people on this blog.)<br />
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Just like when I decided to leave L.A. and the entertainment business behind in 1999, movies will once again become my hobby. Sure, I'll have to get to the theater early to make sure I get a good seat, suffer through the commercials and eardrum-busting previews and, of course, buy a ticket. But at least I can put the notebook down and pick up a handful of popcorn instead.<br />
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Of course, if I feel so inclined, I can always write about the movies I see on my blog. Just like everyone else.</div>
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I'm eager to see where all of this new found free time will take me. My plan is to resume my own writing projects, which have been on hold since I signed on with the U-T. If you're interested, I'll be posting updates right here. </div>
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And just in case you start missing me, I will have one more story running in the U-T in June. It's my SXSW interview with Joss Whedon about his micro-budget summer release, "Much Ado About Nothing."<br />
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Until then, enjoy your San Diego summer. While you're soaking up the sunshine, I'll be in San Francisco, adjusting to what it's like to wear a jacket in July.</div>
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Alison Ganghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04499758829247882718noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2469223121629854760.post-18317531795813491342013-04-07T10:26:00.000-07:002013-04-07T10:26:21.132-07:00"Evil Dead's" Bruce Campbell, SXSW Interview
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lIM-iobspck/UWGpPRGn4jI/AAAAAAAABeE/0ESa5LN64cU/s1600/Bruce+CAmpbell+Evil+Dead.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lIM-iobspck/UWGpPRGn4jI/AAAAAAAABeE/0ESa5LN64cU/s320/Bruce+CAmpbell+Evil+Dead.jpg" width="252" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I sat down with Bruce Campbell the day after the SXSW premiere of <i>Evil Dead</i>, which he produced along with his good friends and collaborators on the original <i>The Evil Dead</i> trilogy, Sam Raimi and Rob Tapert. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The dapper B movie icon with the chin that just won't quit kept me on my toes with his biting sarcasm and absolute lack of pretension. Here's the complete transcript of the interview, during which he shares his thoughts on fervent <i>Evil Dead </i>fans, how much he enjoys taunting his old buddy Sam Raimi, and why he doesn't watch horror movies. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">You can read my </span><a href="http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/apr/04/evil-dead-icon-campbell/" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;" target="_blank">story here</a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> and my </span><a href="http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/apr/05/return-of-the-dead-review/" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;" target="_blank">review of "Evil Dead" </a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">here.</span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Alison Gang: I saw the
movie last night. What an
outrageous reaction.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><br />Bruce
Campbell: </span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Yeah. It was fun.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">AG: Did you get the reaction that you were
expecting?</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><br />BC: </span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Yes. Yeah, we’re good. We’re done. This is what you want.
You need a verbal reaction. </span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">AG: Tell me
about this remake idea. Obviously
you were a little nervous about fan reaction and I know there was some in the
early days.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><br />BC: </span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Yeah, they
were visceral. They were
loud. They were nasty.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">AG: What were
they worried about?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><br />BC: </span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">That
everything would be ruined. If
there’s no Ash character then there’s no <i>Evil
Dead</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">All of
these absolute statements.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">And I’m
like, hey, relax.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Sam’s behind
it.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Rob Tapert’s behind it.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I’m behind it.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">We are the only producers.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">There are no other cigar chomping producers
looking to make a fast buck.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">This
is the first movie that ever got us into the film business so as violently as
opposed as a fan is or careful as they are with this </span><i style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Evil Dead</i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> franchise, what do you think we are?</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">We’re going to take more time with it
than the average fan I can tell you that right now.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I care more than the average fan about this movie.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">But we appreciate their zeal.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">We appreciate the fact that they care
enough to say, don’t screw this up.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">
</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">You know, like verbally threatening us.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Based on the reaction last night we didn’t’ screw them
over.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">That’s the goal when you
make a horror film, they’ve got to react.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">
</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">If they don’t react, you’ve failed.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">You’ve completely failed.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Laughter.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">
</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Nervous laughter.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">
</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Screaming.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Hiding.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">It’s all good.</span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">AG: Can I be
honest? I actually almost threw
up. And not because I was grossed
out but because it didn’t let up.
I didn’t get a chance to breath and I thought I was going to jump out of
my skin.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><br />BC: </span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">It’s kind
of like a noose that gets tightened a little bit. You’re in a shoot and there’s no way out.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">AG: I was like,
my knees were up to here, there’s people trapped all around me, I kind of
almost had a claustrophobic attack so I thank you for that.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><br />BC: </span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Good. I like that.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">AG: Did you see
any of the internet buzz [after the premiere] or anything?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">BC: </span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Not
since. No. Fede’s [Alvarez, the film's director] been on it. He’s good. These younger guys, their fingers work good. I haven’t’ read it yet but I just
got an email with a link to a bunch of reviews so I can’t wait. Because the first <i>Evil Dead</i> was pretty much split. There were some very good reviews and some very bad
reviews. An Atlanta paper called
it the sickest of the sick, the first <i>Evil
Dead</i>. In another one, the
headline was 'Films That Stoop,' like they’re not even trying to be a legitimate
movie.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">AG: Now,
sickest of the sick was a compliment to you I would imagine? <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><br />BC: </span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Well no,
they followed it by saying Sam Raimi took every low-budget bad idea and put it
in a low budget blender.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">AG: Oh
boy. Yeah.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /><b>BC: </b>Yet, the
L.A. Times comes out and says instant classic. So that’s the thing with reviews, you can’t throw yourself
off the cliff for a bad one and you can’t go buy a new Cadillac with a good
one. The truth is usually
somewhere in the middle. Nothing
is ever that bad and nothing is ever that good.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>AG: I read you </b></span><b style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">were looking originally to make a comedy before you decided on doing the <i>The</i> </b><i style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold; line-height: 115%;">Evil
Dead</i><b style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> way back then.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><br />BC: </span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">That’s all
we’d ever done was comedies. We
were Three Stooges fans. If we are
going to raise money from a group of business men in Detroit, comedy was like,
who’s your main actor or who’s your comedian that you know? None of us. But horror movies you can make with no name actors. Jane Levy [Mia in <i>Evil Dead</i>] had a lot of experience,
and Shilo Fernandez [David] and same with Lou [Taylor Pucci, who plays Eric] and all of the other actors. They’re all
good, solid actors but we don’t have like a star or starlet that everybody
knows. Horror movies can do
that. You can have no name people.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">AG: Because the
gore is the star.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><br />BC: </span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">The gore is
the star. Yeah, that’s pretty much
the deal.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">AG: There
were a lot of low budget horror movies around that time. Why was t</span></b><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">he original <i>Evil Dead </i>different?<i> </i></span></b><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Why did it hit the way
it did?</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /><b>BC: </b>Sam
Raimi. His visual style. I doubt that some of these other late
70s horror movies, like <i>I Know What You Did Last
Night</i>, <i>Friday the 13<sup>th</sup></i>,
all of those movies were shot in about three weeks and it looks like it. <i>The</i> <i>Evil
Dead</i> took 12 weeks of principle photography. That was twice as long as we had intended. When you shoot that long you can take
an entire day to get one shot. We
would never do that again and have never done it since. It’s too inefficient. As a result there are shots in the
movie that are arrestingly cool that are not in any other low budget horror
films because they don’t have the time. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Roger Corman movies, god bless him for being so prolific, but
memorable? No. He makes impossible challenges, like make a movie in 10 days.
You’re going to get what you get.
You really are. The
occasional guys like [George] Lucas will come out of there, or [Francis Ford] Coppola. Out of
the hundreds of directors, very few survive that world because they were not
given a chance to do their stuff. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sam from the get-go had these ridiculous ideas that Rob [Tapert] and I were like, 'Oh god, how do we do that? How do
we do that shot?' It was before
green screen. It was before blue
screen. So we just had to figure
out a way to do it. I think that’s
what set it apart. They knew that
there was somebody behind the camera that had a little more something going on.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">AG: What did
you guys see in Fede [Alvarez, the film's director]?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><br />BC: </span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Sophistication. This movie is more sophisticated than
the original. He brings a really
interesting sensibility. He’s not
a kid. He runs a very successful
effects company in Uruguay and has a very good living and just got
married. He’s not a 21-year-old
know nothing. He has
opinions. He’s worked extensively
with special effects. We just
lucked out there. The rest was a
little bit of a gamble. Can he
make his day? What do you say to
actors? Does he know how to deal
with them? What if they’re pissed
off, how do you calm them down?
There’s a lot of that. But
he had it. I sat in on a lot of
the casting. To me, that’s what I wanted
to see. What does he say to that
actor to make him better without pissing them off? Actors are these weird, volatile creatures. So by the time those sessions were
done, I’m like he’s good. I could
see how when someone asked a question, he would answer it and how he would help
them understand more of what it is they should be doing and what he’s looking
for. That was very reassuring to
me. We were very fortunate to get Fede
and Jane [Levy]. We hit two
homeruns. One was with Fede and
one was with Jane.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">AG: You’re like the king of this nerd B movie empire and you guys are shepherding this franchise. Was that ever how you saw
your career ending up way back when?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><br />BC: </span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Well, you
know, all roads lead to B movies.
You start B movies as an actor because that’s how you get in movies and
you end in B movies when your career is over. It’s a logical place to be. I just never left.
I have no problem with B movies.
I don’t apologize for them.
You can make more interesting movies. You can make twist endings. You can kill your lead character. You can cut their arm off. If this movie was made by a studio it would not be this
movie. It wouldn’t be anything
close to this movie. Thank
God. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’m happy to work in a low
budget arena as long as I’m left alone because then all of the mental shit is
gone. It’s just the physical
challenge of making the movie without the politics and without any other
pressure. We wanted to give Fede
that environment. Sam is so
supportive of directors. He’d get
on Rob’s case and my case and be like, 'Hey what are you bugging Fede so much for? Leave him alone.' And we’re like, 'Shut up, we’re doing
our job.'<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">AG: What were
you bugging him about?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><br />BC: </span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Anything.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">You see the
film and it’s time for your editing notes. Well, we can either give him a lot
of notes or few notes.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">It depends
on what we thought.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">We each have things
that bug us about editing.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">That
shot seems very similar to that second shot.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Why don’t we lift one of those shots?</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Do we need that shot?</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">It’s stuff like that.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">AG: What did
you really want to keep from the original?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><br />BC: </span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Some of the
sounds.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">AG: </span></b><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Like what?<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;"><br />BC:</span></b><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Well the room where everything goes
down, where the chick is burned alive in the beginning and where they find the
book, there’s a wind in there that we buried with two other winds that is the
original <i>Evil Dead</i> wind. In the cabin for half of the movie is
this very dead, creepy, subtle wind and that’s in that room. Whenever you go in that room the
original sound is there and only there.
You can barely hear it but I can hear it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">AG: But you
wanted it there.<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">BC: </span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Hell yeah.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>AG: And then
the car, of course</b> [the </span><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #444444; font-size: 17px; line-height: 27px;">1973 Oldsmobile Delta 88 that Campbell’s character drove in the original films</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">.]</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;"><br />BC:</span></b><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">The car I
don’t’ give a crap about. That’s
Sam’s. Sam’s obsession with that
stupid car.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">AG: It
literally is the same car?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;"><br />BC:</span></b><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">I doubt it,
being in New Zealand. But find a
couple of car parts and glue them together and you’ve got a car.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">AG: I saw Raimi's <i>Oz the Great and Powerful </i>and I noted your cameo in
there, only because I saw a picture of it ahead of time. I probably would have never known. What was that experience like in that
film?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"></span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">BC: </span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Well it’s
fun to go on the big movie sets because…to me it’s just fun. I looked at the makeup station they had. It was like the infinity mirror. They had to make up 200 people every
day in prosthetic makeups. That’s staggering. So I worked one day and it was one
incredibly long day but working with Sam was just like nothing else had
happened. It doesn’t matter the budget;
it all felt very small and personal when we actually got to film it. It wasn’t about this big spectacle. It was about dicking with the scene and
having fun with it. But the crew
didn’t know how familiar I was with Sam.
These were all people who were Mr. Raimi this, Mr. Raimi that.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">AG: Mr. Hollywood.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;"><br />BC:</span></b><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">They’ve got
him…these crew members, they tip toe around him. Not because he’s mean but he’s a very competent director and
very confident. He knows what he
wants. He was getting pissy one
day, saying 'Well, that didn’t work, I’m going to do this and we’re going to do this
until we get this.' So I started
imitating him, and I was like, 'Yeah, we’re going to do this, we’re going to
shoot it 1,000 times in 18 different ways!' The crew members were looking at me like, 'Dude, what are you
sassing Sam for?' I’m like, 'You
don’t know anything. I went to
high school with this guy.' So that’s
great. And to watch a good friend
be so successful is just…that’s what it’s all about. That’s why you get in the business, to go, damn, Sam is swimming with the biggest of the
big dogs. He is a big dog. Sam’s a big dog. He’s’ a big Hollywood influence. Nothing could make me happier. I sit back and I laugh. I’m sure I’ll send
him an email about this weekend’s box office [</span><span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">for opening weekend of </span><i style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">Oz</i><span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">]</span><span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">, </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">because I think he’s going to pull
it out.</span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">AG: Last night you mentioned the sequel. You said that it's already been written or being written?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">BC: </span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Being
written.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">AG: Okay. Does it bear any resemblance to the
other sequel or is it a whole different path that it’s taking? <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"></span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">BC: </span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">I think it’s
going to go completely crazy in a different direction. It won’t be anything like this movie. Nothing like this movie. Which is cool.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">AG: One of the things about horror is that, to get the fans to keep coming back, you have to show them something new and it
gets more and more graphic, making me want to throw up and things like
that. I’m just curious, how much
more graphic do you think you can get? <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><b><br /></b></span><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">BC: </span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">That’s not
it.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">AG: No? What do you think it is to top it next?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">BC: </span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Just
different. There’s a lot of room
for different. It doesn’t have to
be more, just different. There are
different ways to show carnage and mayhem. I don’t know. Fede
will think of something. Sam will
tell us to leave him alone and he’ll come up with something big and ridiculous.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">AG: Yeah. The arm cutting…I think I’m going to
live with that for quite a while.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">BC: </span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">That was
cool. We got just the reaction
that we wanted. People were like, 'Oh my god, she’s doing it! Oh my
god, she’s still doing it. Oh, it
broke off.'<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">AG: My body was
reacting in a way that I had no control over. It was weird. <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;"><br />BC:</span></b><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Yeah. Isn’t that awesome though?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">AG: It was
pretty awesome.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"></span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">BC: </span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">This is the
beauty. People go 'Why are you in a horror movie?' Because the visceral
reaction that you can get from a horror film is so much bigger than dramedy or
a romcom or an action movie even.
This is where you get people to be vocal. That’s a powerful medium. Comedies and horror films.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">AG: Oh
yeah. And watching it in theaters
with people is such a great experience.
What’s your favorite modern horror film, besides the <i>Evil Dead</i> of course, that’s come out
in the past couple of years?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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been that impressed with any modern day horror films.</span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">AG: Really? Even <i>Cabin in the Woods</i>?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">BC: </span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">I didn’t see it. Half of these things I
haven’t seen.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">AG: What? <i>Cabin in the Woods </i>basically uses the beginning of <i>Evil Dead</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">BC: </span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">When I go
see a movie, I go to watch the actors working. I feel like I’m at work. I feel like I’m watching dailies. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">AG: It’s not
fun for you.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"></span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">BC: </span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">It’s
okay. Last night was a blast
because it was all about tormenting the audience.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">AG: Well, consider me tormented.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<!--EndFragment--><br />Alison Ganghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04499758829247882718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2469223121629854760.post-69588174205381555372013-03-13T22:21:00.000-07:002013-03-20T09:59:37.893-07:00Wrapping up SXSW<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm writing from 30,000 feet as I make my way home from SXSW and attempt to get my head back in the game of regular life. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While reading my previous blog entry, posted when I first arrived, I couldn't help but laugh at the silly anxieties I had about what was to come -- crowds, lines, not getting in. It took just that first screening, the premiere of "Evil Dead," for those small concerns to vaporize and one of the best weeks I've had in years to commence. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I charged through each 16+ hour day filled with films, fascinating Q&As with filmmakers and stars, one-on-one interviews, happy hours and meeting interesting people from all over the world, my mind only had room for excitement and appreciation. Even sleep and hunger took a backseat and, considering I'm a big fan of both sleeping and eating, that's saying something. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Over the next few weeks and months, I'll post the full write-ups of my interviews with Matthew McConaughey and Jeff Nichols (for "Mud"), Joss Whedon (for "Much Ado About Nothing") and Bruce Campbell (for "Evil Dead"), but during the festival I did find some time to chronicle my experiences each day. As a SXSW virgin, I wanted to capture what it felt like to be caught up in the whirlwind as a member of the press. I hope I was able to do that in a way that's interesting to you. You can read my updates at the links below: </span><br />
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<br />
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<a href="http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/mar/09/sxsw-festival-evil-dead-premiere/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Day 1: Evil Dead premiere and getting in the swing of SXSW</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/mar/11/sxsw-festival-busy-with-interviews/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Day 2: Joss Whedon, Bruce Campbell, Richard Linklater and more...</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<a href="http://m.utsandiego.com/news/2013/mar/12/sxsw-festival-mcconaughey-interview/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Day 3: Matthew McConaughey, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and more...</span></a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/mar/13/sxsw-festival-final-thoughts-levitt/" target="_blank">Day 4: John Sayles, Joseph Gordon-Levitt's "Don Jon" and festival final thoughts...</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The only downside to making the trip was that I used up all of my vacation time at my day job. But at least I have a reason to save them up again -- SXSW 2014 is less than a year away!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />In the meantime, here are some snapshots from my adventures.</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r5ye-TZCprg/UUFbccUwV9I/AAAAAAAABcE/Wl2gdWJJa14/s1600/578074_10152646611685613_2068713353_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r5ye-TZCprg/UUFbccUwV9I/AAAAAAAABcE/Wl2gdWJJa14/s320/578074_10152646611685613_2068713353_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Tony Danza visited the Fandango press lounge <br />
for an interview about Gordon-Levitt's directorial debut "Don Jon,"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E4V7tamJOeE/UUFb4ByS-EI/AAAAAAAABcc/tDgVDJ4vY5Y/s1600/208451_10152641028390613_1778354816_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E4V7tamJOeE/UUFb4ByS-EI/AAAAAAAABcc/tDgVDJ4vY5Y/s320/208451_10152641028390613_1778354816_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside the beautiful Paramount theater, just <br />
before the "Evil Dead" premiere.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c5zPpVT2Ctc/UUFbjY4xdNI/AAAAAAAABcM/Ea2TIz_MSiE/s1600/549378_10152645936630613_1086398275_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c5zPpVT2Ctc/UUFbjY4xdNI/AAAAAAAABcM/Ea2TIz_MSiE/s320/549378_10152645936630613_1086398275_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another view from the Fandango lounge, this time with an iconic Austin view from the Intercontinental Hotel terrace where host Dave Karger interviewed Brian Geraghty about "Kilimanjaro," which premiered at SXSW.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JRAeXDhDaAc/UUFbsjxvzFI/AAAAAAAABcU/dHjXyRHAdPA/s1600/579100_10152647215470613_1493255968_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JRAeXDhDaAc/UUFbsjxvzFI/AAAAAAAABcU/dHjXyRHAdPA/s320/579100_10152647215470613_1493255968_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Downloaded" director Alex Winter (L) with Sean Parker and Shawn Fanning, founders of Napster and subjects in Winter's documentary on the controversial music sharing site's rise and fall, take questions after the premiere.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Alison Ganghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04499758829247882718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2469223121629854760.post-22005913958857407582013-03-08T11:06:00.004-08:002013-03-08T11:07:19.497-08:00SXSW: Free Underwear<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BCQxSJ3CPl0/UTo1ibvSOTI/AAAAAAAABbo/SL0-RJi_sBE/s1600/photo+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BCQxSJ3CPl0/UTo1ibvSOTI/AAAAAAAABbo/SL0-RJi_sBE/s320/photo+(1).JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
I've been at the Austin Convention Center for 30 minutes and I've already been shut out of my first SXSW screening. Well, not entirely shut out, just not guaranteed a seat and a pass to the front of the line for tonight's premiere of "Evil Dead," the Sam Raimi-endorsed remake of his 1981 cult horror classic "The Evil Dead." There are plenty more films to see, but since I have an interview scheduled with Bruce Campbell (star of the original series and producer on the remake) tomorrow, I'm obligated to get my rear to the Paramount Theater two hours early and wait...in the rain.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pr6BzBfS--Q/UTo1tuMN9BI/AAAAAAAABbw/o9AzKK2Qfqc/s1600/photo+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pr6BzBfS--Q/UTo1tuMN9BI/AAAAAAAABbw/o9AzKK2Qfqc/s320/photo+(2).JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
Nobody said SXSW would be easy. This is my first visit to the festival, or any major film festival for that matter, and I've been gearing myself up for lines, crowds, disappointments and - hopefully - some exciting surprises. Like a few minutes ago when I arrived in the Press Suite and the attendant asked me, "Would you like a pair of underwear?" What's a girl to say? Yes, of course. So I snapped up the package of unisex underwear courtesy of GoToMeeting. And a harmonica, because what else do you do while lounging around in your underwear?<br />
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Now I'm off to wander the convention center and get my bearings before I hit the "Beginner's Guide to SXSW" panel where I'll hopefully glean a few tips. Then it's time to for a happy hour or two before I stake my claim in the "Evil Dead" premiere line.<br />
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I suspect this is the last time I'll feel well-rested during the next week, s o I shall try to savor my clear-headedness. Here's hoping my future posts make sense!Alison Ganghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04499758829247882718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2469223121629854760.post-33817625971510814982013-02-23T15:24:00.002-08:002013-02-23T15:24:58.046-08:00For Your Consideration: My 2013 Oscar Ballot<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_urWPV4qP1g/USlOT9mMSAI/AAAAAAAABas/0fHXR6Xbjy8/s1600/Oscars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="194" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_urWPV4qP1g/USlOT9mMSAI/AAAAAAAABas/0fHXR6Xbjy8/s320/Oscars.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">After a case of <a href="http://alisongang.blogspot.com/2013/01/oh-oscars.html" target="_blank">early-onset Oscar fatigue</a>, I was surprised to find myself rather interested in the race while processing my predictions in the major categories for my Oscar preview article (<a href="http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/feb/22/big-race-academy-awards-predictions/" target="_blank">you can read it here</a>, especially if you want to know my rationale for picks you probably disagree with). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I think my rebound is due to the fact that 2012 was actually a strong year for film, which means there was a lot less cynical eye-rolling as I vacillated between the candidates. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">But enough stalling. Let's get down to the ballot. Just one disclaimer: I am not to be held responsible for any losses you might incur by following my lead. I will, however, be happy to take a cut of the winnings. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Either way, enjoy the show - even if Seth MacFarlane ruins it with too many Hitler jokes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">BEST PICTURE<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Will win: Argo</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Should win: Argo</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Because it's a perfect distillation of everything a conventional Hollywood film should be -- and this is, after all, a night about Hollywood. <a href="http://alisongang.blogspot.com/2013/02/on-second-thought-life-of-pi.html" target="_blank">After a second viewing of "Life of Pi,"</a> however, I'm almost ready to change my mind. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">BEST DIRECTOR</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Will win: Steven Spielberg, Lincoln</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Should win: Ang Lee, Life of Pi</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Because he pulled off the impossible and created a film that actually made me want to pay extra to see it in the best possible venue.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">BEST ACTOR</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Will win: Daniel Day-Lewis, Lincoln</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Should win: Daniel Day-Lewis, Lincoln</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Do I need to explain?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">BEST ACTRESS</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Will win: Emmanuelle Riva, Amour </b>OK, I actually think Jennifer Lawrence will win, but I'm demonstrating wishful thinking that Academy voters will see past the Weinstein marketing assault and vote the way they should. I loved Silver Linings Playbook and Lawrence's performance, but she'll have plenty more chances at the podium.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Should win: Emmanuelle Riva, Amour</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Because she is astounding in the role. Because her co-star wasn't nominated. Because Amour won't win in any other major categories, except Foreign Language Film. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Will win: Tommy Lee Jones, Lincoln</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Should win: Philip Seymour Hoffman, The Master</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Because he's masterful in The Master and none of his equally incredible co-stars, Joaquin Phoenix and Amy Adams, have a chance.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Will win: </b><b>Anne Hathaway, Les Miserables<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Should win: Amy Adams, The Master</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Because just when you think you've figured her out, she reveals another side to her talent.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">DOCUMENTARY FEATURE</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Will win: Searching for Sugar Man</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Should win: How to Survive a Plague</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Because director David France definitively redefined the American hero.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">DOCUMENTARY SHORT</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Will win: Inocente</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Should win: Inocente</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Because it's the only one I've seen and because it's about an inspiring young artist from San Diego.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Will win: Amour</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Should win: Amour</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Because director Michael Haneke gave us a love story wrapped in a bleak, bloodless horror film.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">ANIMATED FEATURE</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Will win: Wreck-It Ralph</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Should win: ParaNorman</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Because I've simply never seen anything like it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">CINEMATOGRAPHY</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Will win: Life of Pi</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Should win: Life of Pi</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Again, because I've simply never seen anything like it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Will win: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Should win: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Even though much was betrayed by the hyper-vivid HFR photography, the work was exceptional. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">PRODUCTION DESIGN</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Will win: Anna Karenina</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Should win:Anna Karenina</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Because it was sumptuous and inventive and the best thing about the film. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Will win: Mark Boal, Zero Dark Thirty</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Should win: Mark Boal, Zero Dark Thirty</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Because Kathryn Bigelow wasn't nominated and his script is the other half of the reason I was riveted for the entire 2 1/2 hours. (I'm choosing to ignore the politics surrounding torture in my assessment because there is simply nothing new to say about it.)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">ADAPTED SCREENPLAY</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Will win: Chris Terrio, Argo</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Should win: For the life of me I can't decide.</b> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">And because I don't have to, I'm making it <b>a four-way tie between Terrio, David Magee (Life of Pi), Tony Kushner (Lincoln) and David O. Russell (Silver Linings Playbook). </b>Think about the range of films and subject matter represented here and you'll see why I think these kinds of contests are fundamentally flawed. Talk about apples and oranges.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">ANIMATED SHORT FILM</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Will win: Paperman</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Should win: Adam and Dog</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Because it's serene, picturesque and about the incomparable bond between human and dog. I'm a sucker for sappy dog stories.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Will win: Curfew</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Should win: Asad</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Because it helped me understand a social issue that's otherwise just a news headline, and I love that the cast was made up mostly of Somali refugees.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">VISUAL EFFECTS</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Will win: Life of Pi</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Should win: Life of Pi</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Because it opened up a whole new level in what technology can do for storytelling.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">COSTUME DESIGN</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Will win: Anna Karenina</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Should win: Anna Karenina</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Because you want to reach out and touch every garment Keira Knightley dons.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">FILM EDITING</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Will win: Argo</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Should win: Argo</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Because you can't effortlessly weave intense suspense and humor without one hell of an editor.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">SOUND MIXING</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Will win: Les Miserables</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Should win: Les Miserables</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Because they sang live, people.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">SOUND EDITING</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Will win: Life of Pi</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Should win: Life of Pi</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Because I can't get the sound of that shipwreck out of my head.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">ORIGINAL SCORE</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Will win: Life of Pi</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Should win: Life of Pi</span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Because it was magical, dramatic and inclusive of non-western sounds.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">ORIGINAL SONG</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Will win: Skyfall, by Adele</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Should win: Skyfall, by Adele</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Because it's been a long time since a Bond theme song seemed even slightly relevant.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Alison Ganghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04499758829247882718noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2469223121629854760.post-5045795779831913992013-02-16T21:57:00.000-08:002013-02-16T21:57:36.314-08:00On Second Thought: "Life of Pi"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3jsLPURDFS4/USBwUIDsquI/AAAAAAAABac/d1iDpmuXmds/s1600/Life+of+Pi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="193" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3jsLPURDFS4/USBwUIDsquI/AAAAAAAABac/d1iDpmuXmds/s320/Life+of+Pi.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I saw "Life of Pi" in October, several weeks before it was released, in preparation for a phone interview with its director, Ang Lee (you can read the story <a href="http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/nov/19/up-to-the-challenge/" target="_blank">here</a>). It was a 10am screening, with just me and two studio security guards in attendance.<br />
<br />
Not exactly the ideal time of day and atmosphere for film appreciation, but when I walked out of the theater to rush back to my "regular" job, I knew I'd seen something special; something that elevated 3D filmmaking from a spectacle to be gawked at, like "Avatar," to a tool used to express an artistic vision. I valued its technical accomplishment, the performance of its novice lead actor, Suraj Sharma, and Lee's overall achievement of successfully adapting a book that most of Hollywood had deemed unfilmable.<br />
<br />
I <i>knew</i> all of that, but I didn't really <b><i>feel</i></b> what the film had to offer. That is, not until I saw it again last night.<br />
<br />
In the four months since I first saw the film, what stuck with me most was its beauty, particularly the scenes that melded ocean and sky, and the wonder of the world beneath the surface of the sea. With this in mind, I decided to see it for the second time at one of the "luxury" cinemas here in San Diego, where the cushy recliners would set me up to absorb Lee's wondrous canvas in comfort.<br />
<br />
I'd yet to visit one of these fancy theaters and, I have to say, I was impressed by the one I chose, <a href="http://www.cinepolisusa.com/Home/Cinemas" target="_blank">Cinepolis in Del Mar.</a> How wonderful to walk into a theater lobby and see people milling about, drinking cocktails or coffee and chatting. No cattle herding through the snack stand lines; no sullen teenage staff upselling you popcorn or rolling their eyes as they tear your ticket stub. Finally, the movies are a <i>place to be</i> again. When I discovered I could order SweetTarts off the menu (the good kind, small chewy nuggets of sugary tang) and have them delivered to my seat, I thought I'd died and gone to heaven.<br />
<br />
While my moviegoing experience was transformed by the theater upgrade, it was the film itself that transformed upon second viewing. The artistry and hypnotic beauty were still front and center, but since I'd already been introduced to it, it didn't steal every ounce of my attention as it did in round one.<br />
<br />
In fact, I was struck by the volume of sheer, spectacular horror Lee puts Pi (and us) through before he winds up on the open sea with his hungry tiger companion. I was reclined, not in relaxed comfort, but in clutching anguish as I was transported to the depths of Pi's despair, then up and back again as he battled with the elements, the animals, and his own understanding of and belief in God.<br />
<br />
After first seeing the film, I was bothered by the exchanges between the grown Pi (Irrfan Khan) and a visiting writer (Rafe Spall), which felt almost like a beloved uncle reading old-fashioned fables to an awestruck child. As I pointed out in <a href="http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/nov/21/spiritual-journey/?_r=true" target="_blank">my original review</a>, I found these scenes simplistic and repetitive, if not somewhat condescending to anyone on the mid-to-upper end of its PG-range audience.<br />
<br />
I was still somewhat uncomfortable with the tone of these scenes upon second viewing, but I was entirely unbothered by the simplicity of their content.<br />
<br />
With an opportunity to tune in more closely to David Magee's script, it became clear to me: the act of faith actually is that simple. You believe because you need to. Or you don't. You can debate the fine points and break down your rationalizations for accepting or rejecting them, but in the end the decision to believe the "story" that, for you, makes your life meaningful really is as simple, and potentially profound, as that.<br />
<br />
Once the end credits concluded and the lights came up, I was surprised to see nearly everyone in the theater still in their seats, casually talking to one another as the waiters quietly cleared the tables. No mad rush to the exits. No obnoxious cell phone conversations. My companion and I remained seated for quite some time discussing the film, relating it to our lives and, for me, drying my eyes.<br />
<br />
If I had made the choice to actually rank my <a href="http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/dec/27/top-10-and-then-some/" target="_blank">Top 10 films of 2012</a>, I would most definitely be moving "Life of Pi" up the list after last night's screening. If you haven't seen it yet, please make sure to do so -- in 3D -- before it leaves theaters.Alison Ganghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04499758829247882718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2469223121629854760.post-76726461685358674802013-01-10T22:18:00.000-08:002013-01-11T17:55:52.517-08:00Oh, the Oscars<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u9oHyCQYOyo/UO-tcgULDfI/AAAAAAAABaM/x9XSqzIn5IA/s1600/85th-oscars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u9oHyCQYOyo/UO-tcgULDfI/AAAAAAAABaM/x9XSqzIn5IA/s200/85th-oscars.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Well, I suppose I can't deny it anymore. With the <a href="http://oscar.go.com/nominees" target="_blank">nominations</a> out, Oscar hysteria is now at full throttle. Even more so this year due to a few Academy surprises, most notably the absence of Kathryn Bigelow ("Zero Dark Thirty") and Ben Affleck ("Argo") from the Best Director list, despite both of their films being included in the Best Picture category.<br />
<br />
But when has the Academy ever really gotten it right? Or perhaps a better question is, whose "right" are we talking about? Each year I'm amazed at how worked up everyone seems to get over the Oscar race. Either people feel vindicated when the movie they championed made the cut, or disgusted when it didn't. Maybe they think the selections are overly commercial, or they're complaining that they're too arty for a mass audience. Perhaps they blame the Academy members, calling them a bunch of old fogies. Or maybe they're saying that the voting population is packed with left wing nuts who hold political grudges against films or filmmakers.<br />
<br />
Every year these arguments get trotted out, whipped into a frenzy in the weeks leading up to the star-studded night, then slowly seep away like a malfunctioning whoopee cushion as everyone shifts their focus to what really matters -- how boring/funny/long/controversial the awards broadcast was.<br />
<br />
I can understand all the hoopla and hysteria over a campaign that had to do with something that actually affected our lives -- like, you know, an election. Even if the democratic process is starting to seem like donor-backed political theater, it's still a process that, in the end, each and every eligible citizen can participate in.<br />
<br />
But the Oscars? It's all hot air. It's movie studios spending months and millions ramping up their lobbying efforts to convince an exclusive group of individuals to support their candidate. Sometimes really amazing work is rewarded with a statue, and all the glory and money that comes with it. Just as often, a hack gets the gold. Again, it depends on who's talking and, when it comes to the Oscars, it isn't the moviegoer that anyone's listening to. More often than not, it's the Weinsteins.<br />
<br />
The best spin I can put on it is that it's horse race political coverage with no real consequence. In politics, all that breathless minute-by-minute reporting tends to distract and detach the voting public from what's happening in the larger context -- stuff that actually effects their lives. But with the Academy Awards we can root and hoot, complain and caterwaul, ogle designer gowns and celebrity dates, all without undermining our own democracy. I guess that's what you call entertainment!<br />
<br />
So what do I think of the nominations. Well, first of all I'm happy to say I interviewed <strike>two</strike> five of this year's nominees: <a href="http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/nov/19/up-to-the-challenge/" target="_blank">director Ang Lee ("Life of Pi")</a>, <a href="http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/jul/13/tp-new-orleans-inspires-a-southern-wild/" target="_blank">"Beasts of the Southern Wild" director Benh Zeitlin and lead actress </a><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/jul/13/tp-new-orleans-inspires-a-southern-wild/" target="_blank">Quvenzhané Wallis</a>, and</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; font-family: museo-sans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 18px;"> </span><a href="http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/nov/01/flight-took-a-12-year-journey-to-the-big-screen/" target="_blank">screenwriter John Gatins ("Flight")</a>, which is kind of cool to say. Otherwise, here are my thoughts in bullet point:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Passing on Bigelow was an overstated and unjustified slap in the face.</li>
<li>Passing on Affleck, petty.</li>
<li>Love that "Amour" got so much love. Same for "Silver Linings Playbook."</li>
<li>A bit baffled that "Django Unchained" made it to Best Picture, but pleased Christoph Waltz did too.</li>
<li>I was sure Joaquin Phoenix would be ignored since he's so bitter about Oscar campaigning, but thrilled he wasn't because he was amazing in "The Master." </li>
<li>Disappointing that Jean-Louis Trintignant wasn't recognized for his amazing work carrying the other half of "Amour's" heavy load, but Emmanuelle Rivas' recognition is a delight.</li>
<li>Nice to see "Searching for Sugarman" on the documentary list (I neglected to mention it in my cheat of a <a href="http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/dec/27/top-10-and-then-some/" target="_blank">Top 10 - plus 12 more</a> - list). Equally pleased that the overhyped, accidental commentary on the most vulgar of American consumerism, "Queen of Versailles," was left off.</li>
</ul>
<br />
If I make it through the campaign season, I'll give you my predictions when we get a little closer to the big night. In the meantime, don't you have some movie catch-up to do?<br />
<br />Alison Ganghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04499758829247882718noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2469223121629854760.post-26630874214820062992012-12-30T16:36:00.000-08:002012-12-30T16:36:57.141-08:00Close the Book on 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e1lc88FAt_I/UODb9NfjdQI/AAAAAAAABZw/FuuACf01EzE/s1600/End+of+Year.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e1lc88FAt_I/UODb9NfjdQI/AAAAAAAABZw/FuuACf01EzE/s200/End+of+Year.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
All in all, this was a pretty darn good year for film. Or maybe I should say, a pretty darn good last three months since so much of the good stuff got jammed in at the end of the year, just in time for awards season.<br />
<br />
It seemed like the studio screeners came later than usual this year and, since a birthday significant enough to celebrate fell right smack dab in the middle of the mad scramble of advance screenings, it seemed impossible that I would be able to see everything worth considering. I know I didn't in time for the <a href="http://www.sdfcs.org/san-diego-film-critics-select-top-films-for-2012/" target="_blank">San Diego Film Critics Society vote</a>, but I participated as best I could and am generally happy with the winners.<br />
<br />
I had more time to cram before the deadline for <a href="http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/dec/27/top-10-and-then-some/" target="_blank">my own end of the year list</a>, and since I cheated by working in an "also try" section of a dozen smaller, lesser-known films worth seeking out, I feel like I've 2012 some justice.<br />
<br />
Between the deadline for my year-end summary and today, I've had time to pop in a few more DVDs that never quite made it to the top of the pile, but deserve a shout-out, so here goes:<br />
<br />
<b>"ParaNorman" and "Wreck-it Ralph"</b> - I admit it. I tend to avoid the kid stuff since I don't have kids and feel completely out of my element trying to assess what is kid-friendly. And then I watch a great animated film like "ParaNorman" and, to a lesser extent, "Wreck-it Ralph," and remember that only the bad ones are strictly for kids. After our critics group picked "ParaNorman" as best animated film of the year (I abstained from that vote), I gave it a shot and was simply delighted at what I experienced. It's the first animated film in a long while that I've wanted to immediately watch again. I'd watch "Ralph" again too, if just to catch the hundreds of visual gags and references I'm sure I missed the first time, but I'd turn down the volume -- it gets about as irritatingly clamorous as an 80's arcade.<br />
<br />
<b>"Ai Wei Wei: Never Sorry"</b> - This was the one documentary I just wasn't able to get to and I really wish I had. Watching this artist/activist take on the Chinese government and model the role of the rebellious artist for his countrymen and women was truly inspiring, and even frightening. (The film is also an unintended Twitter infomercial). I definitely found another hero to admire.<br />
<br />
<b>"Room 237"</b> - I always believed I was traumatized when a babysitter allowed me to watch "The Shining," but insisted I run right to bed when my mom came home. After watching "Room 237," I know I was. I was just a little older than Danny, the little kid with the extrasensory gift, and I still recall the cold shiver of terror that ran through my body as I sprinted through the house and pretended to be asleep in my pitch black bedroom.<br />
<br />
I hoped I could find someone to watch the documentary with me, but last night I finally gave in and watched it all alone in my apartment. I thought since it was about the crackpot theories that fans of the film have devised over the years (actually, one of them I totally buy), and not the creepy film itself, I thought I could handle it. For much of the film, narrated by the perpetually off-camera theorists over corresponding footage from "The Shining" and other films, I could. It feels like a strange puzzle poem of imagery, with recognizable actors and scenes acting out the text. But once I clicked in to director Rodney Ascher's rhythm, the cold shiver returned.<br />
<br />
Maybe it's the distinctive music, the possessed face of Jack Nicholson, those damn Arbus twins, or just the fact that Kubrick himself was such an enigma, but I just don't think I'll ever be able to treat "The Shining" as a text for critical study. I'll leave that to the crackpots.<br />
<br />Alison Ganghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04499758829247882718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2469223121629854760.post-64075548721123220602012-11-16T21:30:00.000-08:002012-11-17T00:16:34.640-08:00Later, Beav. Ya' never even existed.<a href="http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-november-15-2012/it-was-the-best-of-times--it-was-the-best-of-times" target="_blank">This clip from last night's Daily Show </a>is a brilliant piece of media criticism (if Fox news still qualifies) and a reminder that history isn't just something that happened before our time; it's still happening, and will continue to happen, every moment that a society, civilized enough to keep some record of its existence, manages to survive. It seems that Jon Stewart and his writers are the only ones calling it in real time -- well, in entertaining and easily digestible video format, anyway.<br />
<br />
I love how Stewart cuts Bill O'Reilly and Bernie Goldberg down in such a way that we just "awww, how cute" at them like caricatures as adorably irrelevant as the Muppets' Statler and Waldorf, the two old coots blathering and bemoaning from the balcony seats about the inevitable end of their era as the American ruling class.<br />
<br />
Oh, and the clip is damn funny too. Pairs well with "Lincoln."<br />
<br />
<br />
!!!!
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #333333; font: 11px arial; height: 340px; width: 512px;"><tbody>
<tr style="background-color: #e5e5e5;" valign="middle"><td style="padding: 2px 1px 0px 5px;"><a href="http://www.thedailyshow.com/" style="color: #333333; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">The Daily Show with Jon Stewart</a></td><td style="font-weight: bold; padding: 2px 5px 0px 5px; text-align: right;">Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 14px;" valign="middle"><td colspan="2" style="padding: 2px 1px 0px 5px;"><a href="http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-november-15-2012/it-was-the-best-of-times--it-was-the-best-of-times" style="color: #333333; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">It Was the Best of Times, It Was the Best of Times</a></td></tr>
<tr style="background-color: #353535; height: 14px;" valign="middle"><td colspan="2" style="overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 5px 0px 5px; text-align: right; width: 512px;"><a href="http://www.thedailyshow.com/" style="color: #96deff; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">www.thedailyshow.com</a></td></tr>
<tr valign="middle"><td colspan="2" style="padding: 0px;"><embed allowfullscreen="true" allownetworking="all" allowscriptaccess="always" bgcolor="#000000" flashvars="autoPlay=false" height="288" src="http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:cms:item:comedycentral.com:421311" style="display: block;" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="512" wmode="window"></embed></td></tr>
<tr style="height: 18px;" valign="middle"><td colspan="2" style="padding: 0px;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="height: 100%px; margin: 0px; text-align: center; width: 100%px;"><tbody>
<tr valign="middle"><td style="padding: 3px; width: 33%;"><a href="http://www.thedailyshow.com/full-episodes/" style="color: #333333; font: 10px arial; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Daily Show Full Episodes</a></td><td style="padding: 3px; width: 33%;"><a href="http://www.indecisionforever.com/" style="color: #333333; font: 10px arial; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Political Humor & Satire Blog</a></td><td style="padding: 3px; width: 33%;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/thedailyshow" style="color: #333333; font: 10px arial; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">The Daily Show on Facebook</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Alison Ganghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04499758829247882718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2469223121629854760.post-33985714888200996722012-11-15T22:29:00.000-08:002012-11-16T15:33:14.567-08:00Off the Clock: "Silver Linings Playbook"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cdeMeGLFoEE/UKXag9K-q7I/AAAAAAAABZc/Fbn5eD6n71o/s1600/Silver+LInings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cdeMeGLFoEE/UKXag9K-q7I/AAAAAAAABZc/Fbn5eD6n71o/s1600/Silver+LInings.jpg" /></a></div>
<div>
Tonight was a rare free night for me - no screenings I had to see, no articles I had to write. Instead of grocery shopping, cleaning my house or making plans with a friend, I went to a movie (god help me). I saw "Silver Linings Playbook." </div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
Instead of my mini-notebook in hand, scribbling in the dark, I balanced an overpriced bag of popcorn in my lap, trying not to feel guilty for the munching that normally drives me insane in the theater. Tonight was all about passive enjoyment.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
Well damn that David O. Russell ("The Fighter") for writing and directing a film that gave me no choice but to sit down at my computer, if only to say this: I just saw what could be my favorite movie of the year, and certainly my favorite romantic comedy in as long as I can remember. Here's my "off the clock" review.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
"Silver Linings," based on a novel by Matthew Quick, has the warmth and wit of a classic like "When Harry Met Sally," but instead of a sanitized, pre-9/11 New York City, where the characters' adorable neuroses drive the witty banter, we're in working class Philadelphia where feuds over football regularly lead to fights and mental illnesses get swept under the rug within a loving but misguided family. These people have real problems.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
Pat (Bradley Cooper) has just returned home from a mental hospital after a violent outburst that broke up his marriage. Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence) is a hard-edged young widow who uses sex to blow off her anger and grief. How this film manages to be both a sweet romantic comedy that celebrates the freaks in all of us, and a portrait of how a family copes with mental illness, is why this film is a triumph and David O. Russell a genius.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
I expect Oscar nominations for screenplay and directing and, perhaps, some recognition for Cooper (who I can finally see as something other than that hot guy you'd fall for at a bar, even though you knew he's bad for you) and Lawrence, who's yet to give me a reason not to trust her. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
This is the perfect dysfunctional family Thanksgiving movie. And it might make that annoying thing your dad always says feel like a loving gesture with comedic undertones instead of just, well, annoying.</div>
Alison Ganghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04499758829247882718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2469223121629854760.post-18386870223590845982012-09-10T20:18:00.002-07:002012-09-10T20:18:39.223-07:00The 'Sleepwalk' StereotypeTonight I'm writing up the last review before my long-awaited, sorely-needed vacation. I'd be understating it if I told you I was totally burned-out. Not in what I do -- I'm thankful everyday to have two jobs I enjoy -- but in how much of it I've been doing. When one's on break, the other slog ons. Well, I'm shutting them both down, temporarily (I hope).<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ARZ6TcbVP4c/UE6qUKyNazI/AAAAAAAABY8/oyDCX4iZLpY/s1600/Sleepwalk-with-me-poster-690x1024.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ARZ6TcbVP4c/UE6qUKyNazI/AAAAAAAABY8/oyDCX4iZLpY/s400/Sleepwalk-with-me-poster-690x1024.jpeg" width="268" /></a></div>
So while I'm on an airplane somewhere over the Pacific later this week, you can read my interview with <a href="http://www.sleepwalkmovie.com/" target="_blank">"Sleepwalk with Me" </a>director, co-writer and star <a href="http://birbigs.com/" target="_blank">Mike Birbiglia</a>, and my review of the film, which both come out Friday. (You can find them at <a href="http://www.utsandiego.com/staff/alison-gang/" target="_blank">my U-T page</a> as I'll be blissfully unable to link them here).<br />
<br />
I make it pretty darn clear in both articles that I'm a fan of Birbiglia, <a href="http://www.thisamericanlife.org/" target="_blank">"This American Life"</a> and Ira Glass, who produced the film and co-wrote it. But what I don't get to say is that I'm kind of embarrassed about it. Not that I'm a fan -- because I think Glass and his peeps are doing terrific work that's led to a revolution of sorts in spoken audio entertainment -- but because I'm apparently exactly the <i>type</i> of person who is.<br />
<br />
I know this because I simply cannot escape "Sleepwalk with Me," Birbiglia, Glass or any combination of the three. They're everywhere: on my iPhone, on my radio, in the newsfeeds crawling up my screen all day.<br />
<br />
Now, I know there are plenty of people out there who've never heard of this film, or couldn't begin to tell you how to pronounce Birbiglia (I prefer Kristen Schaal's attempt in the film, Pandapiglio), so it isn't that Harvey Weinstein just threw in a couple million bucks to get this movie some Academy eyeballs. This is low-budget, grassroots, public radio-style marketing we're talking about.<br />
<br />
I'm inundated because I am the exact target audience for this film, and the marketing folks know it. (I even told this to Birbiglia during our phone conversation and he freaked me out by saying he remembered seeing my tweet about it the night before. It really never occurred to me that he might actually read said tweet). I'm in my 30s, white, over-educated, left-leaning, consider myself more urban than suburban (six years living in NYC gives me some street cred, no?), etc. I'd probably shop at Whole Foods and eat organic if I could afford it.<br />
<br />
That embarrasses me a little. And here I thought I was so unique.<br />
<br />Alison Ganghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04499758829247882718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2469223121629854760.post-56443570687378075792012-07-20T07:49:00.000-07:002012-07-20T07:49:13.163-07:00"Tsk, tsk," says Bruce Wayne<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_dVfNJ5Ee_I/UAjtXXGDAhI/AAAAAAAABUc/dVgmj5JKDBI/s1600/Dark+Knight+Tsk+Tsk.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_dVfNJ5Ee_I/UAjtXXGDAhI/AAAAAAAABUc/dVgmj5JKDBI/s320/Dark+Knight+Tsk+Tsk.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white;">Bruce Wayne would be ashamed.* </span><br />
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How dare a group of Batman zealots bully and berate innocent people (even if they are critics) in his name? </div>
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Or perhaps there's something more sinister taking place? Because, really, why would annyone -- even a rabid fanboy troll--issue a death threat because of a negative review of "The Dark Knight Rises?" My theory? Maybe these internet thugs are just the first wave of Bane's anarchist army, coming to destroy Gotham -- I mean, America-- by rotting it from the inside out?<br />
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Or maybe it's just that some of the fanboys and girls still have that post Comic-Con adrenaline pumping through their veins. You know what might cure that? A short walk away from the computer, to the outside world, where the sun is shining and people are going about living their actual lives.<br />
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I wonder if any of their bile will make it to the comments section of <a href="http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/jul/20/dark-knight-rises/?_r=true" target="_blank">my review</a>? I only knocked off one star, but I had the audacity to point out some of the film's obvious flaws. Because, you know, that's my job.<br />
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<i>*I wrote this post just hours before the tragic shooting in Aurora, CO. I can't even imagine what Bruce Wayne would say (or do, more likely) about that. My heart goes out to everyone affected.</i></div>
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</div>Alison Ganghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04499758829247882718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2469223121629854760.post-26517670166945202212012-06-18T23:04:00.002-07:002012-06-18T23:04:57.474-07:00The Freddie Mercury Thread<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
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Sometimes it's hard to remember that we live in a blessed technological era. Mostly because our gadgets, apps and social media networks flood our consciousness with a constant stream of
information -- some useful or perhaps entertaining, but much of it irritating, if not
downright upsetting.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mYhNvm09QZM/T-AWMbB0G8I/AAAAAAAABUQ/OrZ8ZwB3a_A/s1600/podcast_icon1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="181" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mYhNvm09QZM/T-AWMbB0G8I/AAAAAAAABUQ/OrZ8ZwB3a_A/s200/podcast_icon1.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;">But not tonight, when I </span><span style="background-color: white;">decided to pick up a thread of information I found
dangling before me. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;">These threads almost always appear while listening to one of the many podcasts that accompany me while walking the dog or driving to work. The subject of interest depends entirely on the podcast – debut films by actors-turned-director if it's <a href="http://filmspotting.net/reviews/filmspotting-svu.html" target="_blank">Filmspotting SVU</a> (Streaming Video Unit, cute); the frustrating career of Nikola Tesla if it’s <a href="http://blogs.howstuffworks.com/category/stuff-you-missed-in-history-class/" target="_blank">Stuff You Missedin History Class</a>; the evolution of the English language from <a href="http://www.slate.com/articles/podcasts/lexicon_valley.html" target="_blank">“Slate's Lexicon Valley;"</a> the oversized ego of a reality TV show producer on <a href="http://www.kcrw.com/etc/programs/tb" target="_blank">“KCRW’s The Business,”</a> or the most memorable TV sitcom finales on <a href="http://www.slate.com/articles/podcasts/culturegabfest.html" target="_blank">“Slate’s Culture Gabfest”</a> (or maybe
it’s <a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/archives/archive.php?thingId=129472378" target="_blank">“NPR’s Pop Culture Happy Hour,”</a> I always get them mixed up. They're both great, though one is a bit snobbier than the other. Guess which?)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;">I could go on,
but the point is that I’m usually learning something during my downtime (when I'm not horizontal on the couch). Of course, dog walking and driving aren't exactly ideal opportunities to start poking around on the Internet when I want to know more about a subject, so I usually absentmindedly drop the thread before I manage to get in front of a screen.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;">But tonight I listened to something that compelled me to go straight to the computer immediately after the leash was back on the hook. It was <a href="http://www.kcrw.com/etc/programs/uf/uf120608rhapsody_in_bohemia" target="_blank">this podcast </a>from <a href="http://www.kcrw.com/etc/programs/uf" target="_blank">“KCRW’sUnfictional,”</a> a show that features work by independent radio producers. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;">The concept </span><span style="background-color: white;">sounds terrible at first, but it is brilliantly
executed. It’s a deconstruction of Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” that lyrically weaves together different versions of the song in every style you can think of, from country to classical. There's also some clever "instructional" narration and a rotating cast of guest voices -- music
experts, composers, musicians, Mercury's bandmates-- all chiming in with their
interpretations and impressions of the song that defies all expectations.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ptHnOZUgY9c/T-ARmSMqEGI/AAAAAAAABT8/nCiRyVs56Fg/s1600/Waynes-World.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="113" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ptHnOZUgY9c/T-ARmSMqEGI/AAAAAAAABT8/nCiRyVs56Fg/s320/Waynes-World.jpg" width="320" /></a>I was three when “Bohemian Rhapsody” was released and I had
virtually no association with it until the “Wayne’s World” movie, based on an SNL skit that dominates more of my high school memories than it probably should. I remember seeing the movie in the theater and being completely taken aback during the now iconic car scene. It was the first time I paid any real attention to the song and I thought it was quite possibly the craziest,
funniest thing I’d ever heard (and a favorite movie scene as well). I also quickly caught on that just about everyone else in that theater was a hell of a lot more familiar with the song than this music dork. </div>
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<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.kcrw.com/etc/programs/uf/uf120608rhapsody_in_bohemia/queen.jpg/image_preview" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://www.kcrw.com/etc/programs/uf/uf120608rhapsody_in_bohemia/queen.jpg/image_preview" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Freddie Mercury</td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;">At that point, I affixed the song in the "pop culture classic" category and didn't give it another thought until tonight, when I listened to an audio collage of exactly why it deserved to be there. </span><span style="background-color: white;">Love it or hate it,
you can’t deny "Bohemian Rhapsody" its uniqueness, courtesy of Freddie Mercury. So I </span><span style="background-color: white;">picked up his thread and started reeling it in.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;">I started (where else?) on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freddie_Mercury" target="_blank">Mercury’s Wikipedia page</a>, where I discovered some fascinating and
surprising facts about his ethnicity (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parsi" target="_blank">Parsi</a>, another thread worth following), religion (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoroastrianism" target="_blank">Zoroastrianism</a>), romantic history (women!) and his near universal acceptance (again, according to Wikipedia) as "one of the greatest singers in the history of popular music."</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;">It was then I realized that I'd never actually seen a Freddie Mercury performance, only inferred what I thought it would be based on what I've heard about him over the years - flamboyant and outrageous. But was that all? </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TQsWczTsxBQ/T-ASNw63tUI/AAAAAAAABUE/9fN-oDgslTw/s1600/freddie-mercury-live+aid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TQsWczTsxBQ/T-ASNw63tUI/AAAAAAAABUE/9fN-oDgslTw/s320/freddie-mercury-live+aid.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Freddie Mercury at Live Aid, 1985</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;">I was led to what Wikipedia deemed "one of Mercury's most notable performances" at the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Live_Aid" target="_blank">Live Aid </a>concert in 1985. A quick YouTube search led me to <a href="http://youtu.be/9Y8q-cq4P-I" target="_blank">this video of Queen’s set</a> from that monstrous stadium show. I think
the other bandmates were on stage, but it’s hard to say for sure because the camera operators clearly couldn't keep their lenses off of Mercury as he paraded across the stage </span><span style="background-color: white;">wearing tight white jeans, a wife beater tank top and a leather-studded collar around his muscly bicep. His hair was slicked back, his buck teeth bad enough to distract you from his gyrations, tongue flickers and suggestive winks at the camera.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> He was simply electric. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When I did lose focus during some of the band's more dated 80s songs, I marveled at the mammoth television cameras surrounding the stage
and the multiple strands of electrical cords the crew and Mercury had to hop over and around. It all looked so cumbersome,
especially when considering the bit of technology (iPhone) that led me down this path in the first place.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The performance picked up again with “We Will Rock You,” a song that immediately took me back to the stands of my high school football field, stomping my feet
and clapping my hands while screaming the lyrics at the opposing team’s fans sitting across
the field. Then it was “We Are the Champions,” and I found myself sitting next to my big sister <span style="background-color: white;">in the backseat of my mom's car</span><span style="background-color: white;">, singing with passionate glee.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
By the time the 21-minute video was over, I was warm with Mercury’s infectious energy, only to turn cold when I recalled how he died in 1991, of
complications from AIDS at the age of 45. He left this world just one day after announcing he
was sick. This was around the time of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryan_White" target="_blank">Ryan White</a>, and it’s hard not to think of the
shame or judgement he must’ve faced. Or how, if he’d come of age today, he
could’ve avoided getting the disease at all, or at least not have succumbed to it so quickly. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A bit melancholy, I decided it was time to let the thread drop, although who knows where it would’ve taken me next. Well, I do know. It
took me here, to write this down and share with you. Maybe you’ll follow the
same threads I offered you above, or perhaps you’ll forge your own path.
It doesn’t really matter. The point is, we can so easily do that. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And that’s
why I love the Internet. </div>
<!--EndFragment-->Alison Ganghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04499758829247882718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2469223121629854760.post-68086014355007911842012-05-25T10:03:00.000-07:002013-02-28T23:00:37.648-08:00Help Me, Help You - The Skinny on ObesityIt's nearly June and I've yet to be enthralled by much of anything at the movies, including the two films I reviewed this week, <a href="http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/may/25/womens-health-reduced-to-farce/" target="_blank">Hysteria</a> and <a href="http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/may/25/shades-of-gray/" target="_blank">Men in Black 3</a>. So far this year, television has made the biggest impression on me as I catch up on the shows I've missed -- Breaking Bad, Downton Abbey, Mad Men-- and even a few current programs -- Modern Family, 30 Rock, Community. Sometimes I wish I were a TV critic.<br />
<div>
<br />
<div>
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gaIgGr9j8w8/T79QQ35yREI/AAAAAAAABSI/N7mrAQ34Lw0/s1600/Skinny+on+Obesity.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gaIgGr9j8w8/T79QQ35yREI/AAAAAAAABSI/N7mrAQ34Lw0/s200/Skinny+on+Obesity.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div>
But what's kept me most interested this Spring is a series I've been working on for my "real job" at <a href="http://www.uctv.tv/" target="_blank">University of California Television</a>, which now includes a YouTube original channel, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/uctvprime" target="_blank">UCTV Prime</a>. The series is called <a href="http://www.uctv.tv/skinny-on-obesity" target="_blank">"The Skinny on Obesity"</a> and it features seven short episodes that make the case that sugar is a toxin that's fueling the obesity epidemic. This is a theory most publicly espoused by UCSF's Dr. Robert Lustig, whose 90-minute UCTV talk, <a href="http://uctv.tv/search-details.aspx?showID=16717" target="_blank">"Sugar: The Bitter Truth,"</a> went viral, sparking national coverage that includes a recent <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7403942n&tag=contentBody;storyMediaBox" target="_blank">"60 Minutes"</a> segment with Sanjay Gupta. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
When YouTube awarded us with an original channel (the only university to be included in their historic effort to fund and develop original content on the platform), we knew we had to dig deeper into Dr. Lustig's message, which was obviously striking a chord in the public consciousness. Hence, "The Skinny on Obesity," which posted its <a href="http://www.uctv.tv/search-details.aspx?showID=23723" target="_blank">final episode</a> today.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Now, I 've had to watch these videos over and over again, in many different stages of completion. I've offered input and, more so, developed the complementary content for the programs on the <a href="http://www.uctv.tv/skinny-on-obesity" target="_blank">UCTV website</a>. I've also been swimming in YouTube annotations, playlists and comments. Who knew my job would one day be fiddling around on YouTube all day?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The point is, it's starting to sink in. I can sense a deep-rooted shift in how I think about food in my daily life now that I have a deeper understanding of how my body processes sugar and the biochemical impact it has on my brain and behavior. I'm making different food choices; just little ones for now, but ones that fall on the lifestyle changing spectrum, not a flash in the pan diet. Pretty cool job perk if you ask me.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Hope you'll watch the series too - -and spread the word! My day job may depend on it.</div>
</div>
Alison Ganghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04499758829247882718noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2469223121629854760.post-16039574840940212702012-03-16T12:47:00.000-07:002012-03-16T12:47:18.390-07:00"Undefeated" is Unquestionably Moving<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-62NyYYm0wSs/T2OYcpkR3XI/AAAAAAAAA8U/mGEUex7xKOs/s1600/undefeated-628.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-62NyYYm0wSs/T2OYcpkR3XI/AAAAAAAAA8U/mGEUex7xKOs/s320/undefeated-628.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Look, "Undefeated" shouldn't have won the Oscar for Best Documentary of 2011. I'd have to really think it through to decide what film should've won, but I know it would be between "Bill Cunningham New York," "Project Nim," "Senna" and "Buck."<br />
<br />
Even though I begrudge the film its Academy Award, I still cheer it on to victory in theaters. It's inspiring, poignant and heartbreaking. It's about how good coaching -- mentorship, really -- can change a kid's life. It certainly did for mine. And how can you not root for a movie that keeps you in a constant state of tears (happy and sad) the entire time -- BOTH times you watched it?<br />
<br />
Of all the interviews I've done to date, talking to Coach Bill Courtney was the most thrilling. Not just because he is a hoot to listen to (he is exactly the same as he comes across on film), but that he so eloquently explains just how fundamentally his experience coaching the kids at Manassas High School changed his views on America's supposed "level playing field." Whether he meant to go there or not, he makes a truly authentic and refreshing political statement.<br />
<br />
Here's <a href="http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/mar/16/some-victories-are-bigger-than-others/" target="_blank">my review of "Undefeated"</a> and my <a href="http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/mar/15/more-than-a-game/" target="_blank">interview with Coach Courtney</a>. Hope you all go see the film and hope every man who has the time joins up with a mentorship program for at-risk boys. You are needed.Alison Ganghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04499758829247882718noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2469223121629854760.post-84932309009672054992012-02-26T10:44:00.000-08:002012-02-26T10:44:07.326-08:00Annual Oscar Complaint and Predictions<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5VnyniPdgDc/T0p9EgUvuCI/AAAAAAAAA8A/DjcPLzGhnvs/s1600/oscar2012_teaser_1080_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5VnyniPdgDc/T0p9EgUvuCI/AAAAAAAAA8A/DjcPLzGhnvs/s320/oscar2012_teaser_1080_4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I have a serious love/hate relationship with the Academy Awards. As a television viewing event, it's by far my favorite -- even when it's torturously long, cheezy or just plain infuriating. Ripping on it is just as enjoyable as the rare moments of spontaneous elation (Cuba Gooding Jr.'s "Jerry Maguire" glee still probably tops it).<br />
<br />
I never really had friends who enjoyed watching the telecast, which was fine because it's really a tradition reserved for my mom and me. We both know when it's acceptable to talk during the broadcast, when to keep our mouths shut and, most importantly, we've actually seen most of the movies.<br />
<br />
And now, the hate. The entire premise that the Academy Awards have anything to do with the "best" films of a particular year is beyond bunk. It's politics, pure and simple, covered with the same depth and perspective as the horse race primary coverage for the Republican presidential nomination. None of it has to do with the actual quality of the candidate, but how much money he has in the bank and how many commercials he can put on the air. It's a competition, yes. But one of marketing savvy, not filmmaking (just ask the Weinsteins).<br />
<br />
And even if it was a legitimate competition between films, what's the point of that? Can you REALLY fairly compare "Tree of Life" to "Hugo?" And why would you want to in the first place? Ranking art (or at least attempts at art) is a premise that completely undermines the idea of art in the first place.<br />
<br />
And if that argument doesn't convince you how silly it all is, then this one should: "War Horse" was nominated for Best Picture. Yes, "Extremeley Loud and Incredibly Close" is also an injustifiable inclusion in the category, but at least I could sit through the entire thing. I found "War Horse" to be so tedious and predicatable that I actually got up and left half-way through, something I've never done before. (And this from a girl who has a slight equine obsession.)<br />
<br />
It wasn't until I became a professional film critic that any of this really bothered me because it suddenly became part of my job to participate in the ranking, or at least comment on it. Don't get me wrong, I'm excited to watch the Oscars tonight. I'll be with my mom, with Billy Crystal on-screen, just like the good old days. But when so-and-so's name is announced as the winner, I won't be thinking that anyone really "won."<br />
<br />
So now that I've taken all the joy and relevance out of the Oscars, here are my picks for the winners. Please keep in mind that politics really isn't my beat, but I did a fair amount of research -- and made a few Hail Mary picks of faith--so this really is my best effort. Let me know how you fared!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b>Alison Gang's Oscar Picks</b></div><b><div style="text-align: center;"><b>84th Academy Awards 2012</b></div></b><br />
<br />
You can read my justifications for the first six categories <a href="https://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/feb/17/tp-oscars-bright-night-here-are-alison-gangs/?ap" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
<br />
<ul><li>Best Picture: "The Artist"</li>
<li>Best Director: Michel Hazanavicius, "The Artist"</li>
<li>Best Actor: Jean Dujardin, "The Artist" (but Clooney is almost as likely a winner)</li>
<li>Best Actress: Viola Davis, "The Help"</li>
<li>Best Supporting actor: Christopher Plummer, "Beginners"</li>
<li>Best Supporting Actress: Octavia Spencer, "The Help"</li>
<li>Best Animated Feature Film: "Rango"</li>
<li>Best Foreign Film: "A Separation"</li>
<li>Best Original Screenplay: "Midnight in Paris"</li>
<li>Best Adapted Screenplay: "The Descendants"</li>
<li>Best Art Direction: "Hugo"</li>
<li>Best Costume Design: "The Artist"</li>
<li>Best Cinematography: "The Tree of Life" (this is one of the few picks I'm making out of sheer hope, because Malick's film should be recognized for something and this would be the most fitting category)</li>
<li>Best Film Editing: "The Artist"</li>
<li>Best Makeup: "The Iron Lady" (though I really want to be wrong. I'm pulling for "Potter." If "Albert Nobbs" wins, I might jump out a window.)</li>
<li>Best Sound Editing: "Hugo"</li>
<li>Best Sound Mixing: "Hugo"</li>
<li>Best Visual Effects: "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" (really, how could anything else win?)</li>
<li>Best Original Song: "Man or Muppet" </li>
<li>Best Original Score: "The Artist"</li>
<li>Best Documentary: "Undefeated" (but I'm rooting hard for "Pina")</li>
<li>Best Documentary Short: "God is the Bigger Elvis" (admission: haven't seen any films in this category, but this sounds like a promising pick)</li>
<li>Best Animated Short: "The Fantastic Flying Books for Mr. Morris Lessmore"</li>
<li>Best Live Action Short: "The Shore" </li>
</ul>Alison Ganghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04499758829247882718noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2469223121629854760.post-19325345250347403932012-01-17T18:28:00.000-08:002012-01-17T18:28:58.523-08:00Saint "Senna"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7fWYdt6ORFs/TxYsjnb7S_I/AAAAAAAAA6g/YCanQE2B3Pk/s1600/ayrton-senna-FILM-poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="308" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7fWYdt6ORFs/TxYsjnb7S_I/AAAAAAAAA6g/YCanQE2B3Pk/s320/ayrton-senna-FILM-poster.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>My head is spinning after watching "Senna" on Netflix Instant. I can't decide which revelation to begin with so, rather than trying to finesse it, I'm going to take full advantage of the blog format and just spill it as it comes.<br />
<br />
Before watching the documentary about Brazilian Formula One driver Ayrton Senna, I noted how my two favorite documentaries of the year --"Buck" and "Bill Cunningham New York"-- introduced me to two humble, inspirational men. First it was Buck Brannaman, the real-life "horse whisperer" who found healing and remarkable inner peace through rehabilitating horses and their owners. Then came New York Times fashion photographer Bill Cunningham, who quietly recorded the changing times from the seat of his bicycle. Both films made me want to pack a bag and show up on either of their doorsteps, asking for them to adopt me.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cu70mVFACwM/TxYsSr70n8I/AAAAAAAAA6Y/wM1_ZyfStyo/s1600/Ayrton_Senna-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cu70mVFACwM/TxYsSr70n8I/AAAAAAAAA6Y/wM1_ZyfStyo/s320/Ayrton_Senna-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>And now there's Ayrton Senna. I can assure you that I wouldn't be asking him to adopt me if I showed up on his doorstep (he is a simply stunning man), but my level of admiration for his honesty, humility and nearly inhuman determination would be unmatched. When it comes to the best documentaries of 2011, let's call it a trifecta of admirable men.<br />
<br />
Then there's director Asif Kapadia's choice to use only archival video from news coverage, team footage, home movies, and POV footage from inside Senna's car as it weaves so tightly through the narrow track that you can't help but hold your breath the entire time. There are no cutaways to in-studio interviews of the players (only the frugal use of voiceover narration from a select group of insiders). There's no sense that time has passed since Senna's prime in the late 80s through the mid-90s. You are on this ride with Senna and you are given no option to get off as the tension builds.<br />
<br />
Kapadia is able to pull this off because Senna's career coincided with the rise of video culture. He didn't have just one or two news clips to choose from for each significant event, as might have been the case had Senna been a star of an earlier era. No, the director had a veritable smorgasbord of options as everyone and their brother seemed to be sporting a video camera during this time period.<br />
<br />
We get different angles of the same event. Close-ups of Senna in anguish over another driver's crash. Press conference footage showing the awkward tension between the rising star and his threatened World Champion teammate, Alain Prost. Who needs a carefully scripted dramatization of one man's personal quest for victory and redemption, say "Moneyball," when you can piece it together using the real players, in the real moment?<br />
<br />
It's almost uncanny how well Kapadia assembled it all together. It's also a little frightening when you think about how the lives of today's legends in the making --or any of us average joes--could, twenty years from now, be reassembled, edited, beautifully scored (as "Senna" was by Antonio Pinto ) and retold to a public that was on the verge of forgetting.<br />
<br />
But the film also made me feel manipulated. I fell in love with the handsome, driven young man with a heart of gold. How could you not the way he's portrayed in the film? I'm not exaggerating when I say Senna comes off as Christlike. He's devoted to his family. His faith in God never wavers. He never brags. He never accuses. He drives with intelligence, not bravado. He rarely loses, and when he does or (gasp) makes a mistake, he always acknowledges the lesson learned. He values life outside the track, dedicating resources to help poor children in his homeland and pondering where life will take him once his driving career inevitably winds down. Senna's entire nation, crippled by poverty and political oppression, rested its hopes on his bronzed shoulders.<br />
<br />
If the man had a flaw, Kapadia doesn't show it. Even his sex life, which one must presume was robust, is merely winked at. We get no sense of Senna as a boyfriend, friend, lover. Even his familial relationships are mostly unexplored. Believe me, I wanted to go along with the "Senna as Saint" storyline. Everyone wants a hero. All the better if he actually existed. For my own enjoyment, I was willing to buy in. That was, until this prominent credit popped up at the film's conclusion:<br />
<br />
Made with the cooperation of Institute Ayrton Senna<br />
<br />
This is the charitable organization established by Senna's sister after his death.<br />
<br />
All of a sudden it felt like I'd been taken in by a highly produced tribute video made by the Senna family in honor of their beloved Ayrton. That doesn't make him any less captivating, nor does it mean I'm no longer moved by the film. In fact, I can't get it out of my head. It just has an asterisk beside it now.<br />
<br />
But I'd say Kapadia's most impressive accomplishment is his ability to weave in to the story a sort of "Formula One 101." I knew nothing of the sport other than what Sacha Baron Cohen showed me in "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby." At the close of "Senna," I understood the basics of the Grand Prix competition, both on the track and throughout the season. I got a feel for the politics and money that brought the sport to the relatively corrupt level of almost all professional sports. I even came to appreciate the immense skill the sport requires and why someone might find the thrill of being behind the wheel enough of a reason to put their life on the line.<br />
<br />
So add an asterisk to my 2011 Best Of list and consider "Senna" to be on it.Alison Ganghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04499758829247882718noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2469223121629854760.post-85723588916819480032011-12-30T11:08:00.000-08:002011-12-30T15:21:07.427-08:00Obligatory Best of 2011 ListWell, here we are again. That time of year when I tell you how wrong it feels to whittle down an entire year's worth of films into a handy Best Of list. How does Terrence Malick's "The Tree of Life" stack up against Paul Feig's "Bridesmaids?" Do I opt for the silent glory of "The Artist" or the uncanny primates in "Rise of the Planet of the Apes?" <br />
<br />
Film isn't just one thing -- a "movie." It's everything: art, entertainment, music, story, experimentation, hope, death, revolution, joy, sleaze, divinity, despair. To rank them on the same scale seems entirely unfair.<br />
<br />
What I can do is offer an unranked list of titles that left an impression on me in 2011, whether for pure entertainment value, a breathtaking performance or a show of artistry that took a few viewings to fully appreciate. So here you have it, my list of notable films of 2011.<br />
<div><br />
</div><div>My top 5 (really 6) list appears in today's Union-Tribune. I've listed them here but <a href="http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/dec/30/move-criticaposs-best-of-2011/" target="_blank">click the link</a> for a brief justification for each.<br />
<br />
</div><div><b>"The Artist"</b></div><div><b><br />
</b></div><div><b>"Buck" </b>and<b> "Bill Cunningham New York"</b></div><div><b><br />
</b></div><div><b>"Drive"</b></div><div><b><br />
</b></div><div><b>"Of Gods and Men"</b><br />
<b><br />
</b></div><div><b>"Hugo"</b></div><div><br />
</div><div>If I'd chosen my top five on another day, I could just have easily substituted one of these three films for "Hugo" (the other films are solidly in place).<br />
<br />
<b>"The Descendants"</b><br />
<br />
<div>While I was immediately blown away by Shailene Woodley's performance, it took two viewings of Alexander Payne's family dramedy to really draw me in -- but it was well worth it.</div><br />
<br />
<b>"Midnight in Paris"</b></div><div>With the exception of Rachel McAdams' shrill character, Woody Allen's Parisian fantasy was pure joy.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div><b>"The Tree of Life"</b></div><div>A visual poem that envelops you in memory, light, existence...until Sean Penn's mug drags you back to an unwelcome reality.</div></div><div><br />
</div><div>A few more films worthy of honorable mention:</div><div><b><br />
</b></div><div><b>"Certified Copy</b>"</div><div>Having seen it only once, direc<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">tor <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">Abbas Kiarostami's</span> film is a puzzle that I've only half solved. I can't wait to give it another viewing and see what other pieces of this indeterminate relationship I can piece together. Either way, it's impossible not be be taken in by Juliette Binoche.</span></div><div><br />
<b>"Last Lions" </b>and<b> "Project Nim"</b></div><div><br />
<div>I admit it, I'm a sucker for documentaries about animals, especially when they take out your heart and stomp it to bits. In "The Last Lions," the circle of life is to blame for one lioness' struggles. But chimpanzee Nim can point the finger at a few too many despicable humans.<br />
<b><br />
</b></div></div><div><b>"Like Crazy"</b></div><div>The level of intimacy director Drake Doremus can create through this mostly improvised film is sometimes more effective than you're prepared for. And actress Felicity Jones declares herself to be the Jessica Chastain of 2012 (I hope).</div><div><br />
<div><b>"Moneyball"</b><br />
I was happy to see a movie about baseball with very little baseball in it (others saw this is a negative), but Brad Pitt's performance as Oakland A's general manager Billy Beane was the film's greatest accomplishment.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div><b>"Rise of the Planet of the Apes"</b></div><div>I went in thinking Franco could do no wrong. I walked out thinking, "Franco, who?" This prequel was the most enjoyable surprise of the year.<br />
<br />
</div><div></div></div><div></div><br />
<br />
<b>"Take Shelter"</b><br />
If you don't know Michael Shannon's name by now, his performance as a husband and father battling apocalyptic visions is the perfect introduction. You most certainly know Jessica Chastain's name after this year, and you'll see why yet again here.<br />
<br />
</div><div><br />
<div><b>"Weekend"</b></div><div>A gem of a little film about a weekend-long romantic encounter between two young men that transforms them both in subtle, unexpected ways. </div><div></div></div><div><br />
Thanks to everyone who's joined me on this journey through the films of 2011. Here's to a 2012 full of good film, great friends and lots of love.</div>Alison Ganghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04499758829247882718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2469223121629854760.post-70302980347353262252011-12-23T10:09:00.000-08:002011-12-23T10:09:57.320-08:00"The Artist," and I'm sticking to it.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xjgbpl-30w0/TvTCwGwA5YI/AAAAAAAAA5k/AB_DdG4bchU/s1600/artist_large_r620x349.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xjgbpl-30w0/TvTCwGwA5YI/AAAAAAAAA5k/AB_DdG4bchU/s320/artist_large_r620x349.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6a6a6a; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13px;">Jean Dujardin as George Valentin and<br />
Berenice Bejo as Peppy Miller in "The Artist." <br />
AP Photo/The Weinstein Company</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>With <a href="http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/dec/23/silence-is-golden/?page=1#article" target="_blank">my 4-star review of "The Artist,"</a> I give away one of my top picks of 2011 (the official list runs December 30). After winning a slew of awards from critics groups and festivals (including the <a href="http://sdfcs.org/" target="_blank">San Diego Film Critics Society</a>, which voted it Best Film, my vote included), this black and white silent film is now suffering through something of a backlash with accusations that its story is too slight, the content is low-brow, and its style is merely a "technical exercise" in filmmaking. Obviously I don't agree, though I can see some of what they're saying -- but I loved the film anyway. You can read why in <a href="http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/dec/23/silence-is-golden/?page=1#article" target="_blank">my review</a>.<br />
<div><div><br />
</div><div>I was thrilled to get the chance to interview the film's director, Michel Hazanavicius (a name I will forever know how to spell after fixing it in spell check dozens of times), a Frenchman who dazzled me with his ability to articulate the essence of American storytelling during our conversation and in the film itself. You can read the story <a href="http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/dec/22/the-artist-speaks-volumes/" target="_blank">here</a>.</div><div><br />
</div><div>You also might want to check out Mike Ryan's (Moviefone.com) astute and entertaining explanation of why <a href="http://blog.moviefone.com/2011/12/21/the-artist-best-picture-backlash/" target="_blank">"It's OK to Like 'The Artist,'"</a> in which he somehow manages to compare the film to the 90s band The Gin Blossoms -- and have it not be an insult.</div><div><br />
</div><div>A friend recently asked me what holiday movies are a must-see for her family, which includes a husband and two college-age sons. When I recommended "The Artist" she scrunched her face up and said with disbelief, "Really? Isn't that the silent movie?" as if that meant it was far too artsy-fartsy for her family's taste. My response was that this is a very mainstream film (hence the backlash, critics are supposed to hate anything mainstream, don't you know) that is perfect for the holidays because it just makes you feel good. </div><div><br />
</div><div>The way things are going these days, I'll take it where I can get it.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Happy holidays to all! I'll post my top picks of 2011 next week.</div></div>Alison Ganghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04499758829247882718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2469223121629854760.post-23222874416012777842011-12-19T15:15:00.000-08:002011-12-19T15:15:00.830-08:00This post will not be about movies.This post will not be about movies. I feel I deserve a short break from thinking about them after the tornado of screenings, screeners, think lists, nominations and voting I just experienced. (You can read how our critics group voted <a href="http://sdfcs.org/2011/12/12/sdfcs-2011-awards-nominations/" target="_blank">here</a> and stay tuned later this week for my personal Best of 2011 list.)<br />
<br />
Today I want to talk about another important part of my life -- my dog Luna, a border collie mix rescued in Baja after someone found her next to a litter of puppies that had been put into a garbage bag and thrown in the trash. My (now ex) boyfriend and I adopted her 3 1/2 years ago from <a href="http://www.thebarkinglotrescue.com/" target="_blank">The Barking Lot</a>, a phenomenal rescue group that's worth your support.<br />
<br />
From the moment we met, I knew she was a sweet old soul. When she first approached me, she stood up on her hind legs up and gently placed her paws on my waist. I loathe dogs that jump on me (sorry labs) but this was different. After she jumped up, she every so gently pulled me in for a hug. I swear, I am not exaggerating.<br />
<br />
She was a shedder with white fur - two of my supposed deal breakers right there. We didn't know how old she was and could see that her teeth were a total disaster. It was love at first sight.<br />
<br />
Once we got her home it quickly became apparent that I was her go-to human. She was fine with my boyfriend, but only if I was nearby. If I left the room, the house, the dog park, she would go in to what we came to refer to as her "dogatonic" state -- on her back, stiff as a board, totally refusing to move or react, even if she ended up being carried home (she weighs over 40 pounds).<br />
<br />
She soon got comfortable with my boyfriend and, eventually, most men. (I try not to imagine what happened to make her so fearful of men.) But she still hung on to a general anxiousness that took a lot longer to dissipate. In fact, I can recall the moment it happened.<br />
<br />
It was just a typical early evening walk. All bathroom business before figuring out what's for dinner. On the way home I glanced down and saw my newly transformed dog. Her normally flattened out, suspicious ears were perked up high on her head with eager curiosity. Her normally tucked tail was raised parallel to the sidewalk and swishing side to side in all its bushy glory. Her fear was lifted. She was a confident, happy dog.<br />
<br />
I know plenty of people, usually parents, who dismiss a devoted dog owner's love for their pet. Yes, I can admit that my dog (or my cat, who I've been gaga over since 1999) is not the same thing as a human being. I can't speak for the people who spend thousands of dollars on a pure-bred puppy shipped in from Oklahoma, but when I saw my abused, beaten-down rescue dog finally become so comfortable in the life I'd given her that her entire body language changed, well, that feels really damn good.<br />
<br />
Since then, I've made it my mission to do whatever possible to keep her ears and tail at an upward angle. Lucky for me, what she required turned out to be exactly what I needed to keep me well-adjusted and (mostly) happy: regular walks through fresh air and pretty scenery, socializing with dog-walking neighbors and, particularly now that I'm single again, a living being who is so happy to see me at the end of the day that I rush home from work excited for the moment I open the door. So, basically, we're a good match.<br />
<br />
Though Luna seemed as happy as one animal with emotional baggage could possibly be, a friend, who is also a veterinarian, recently noticed that her teeth looked pretty bad and were likely causing her pain. This was upsetting not just because of her suffering but because my bank account had already suffered $800 worth of dental bills the year prior to have her teeth cleaned and four pulled (like I said, her bad teeth were no secret to us when we adopted her).<br />
<br />
To hear that the original vet had barely even dinged the problem was upsetting to say the least. Forget the money. It's the almost two years since then that piss me off. During that time, her infections worsened (as did her breath) and her life was just a little less perky perfect -- all for something we could've got right the first time if only we'd been told that her dental problems were too severe for this general practitioner's skill set.<br />
<br />
Luckily, this vet friend told us about the best animal dentist in Southern California, <a href="http://dogbeachdentistry.com/aboutus.html" target="_blank">Dr. Brook Neimiec at Dog Beach Dentistry</a>. It wasn't cheap (cough, cough) but after an unspeakable number of extractions, two root canals and gum surgery to root out several infections that the experienced doctor described as "pretty nasty," she's on the road to being an even happier dog.<br />
<br />
But first she needed to do a little more suffering post-surgery. This pathetically cute picture pretty much says it all.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c1IQBjbF2rY/TuwSR8074cI/AAAAAAAAA5Q/p6TSeoWQCEk/s1600/LunaPostDentist.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c1IQBjbF2rY/TuwSR8074cI/AAAAAAAAA5Q/p6TSeoWQCEk/s320/LunaPostDentist.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Unlike humans, dogs pretty much put the bad experiences behind them almost as fast as they happened. By the end of day two, she was trying to get me to rough-play with her and leaping for joy when I gave her a treat (with a pill surreptitiously packed inside).<br />
<br />
It also seems that, since her infections started clearing up, her sense of smell has improved dramatically. On our walks she is uncharacteristically stubborn, insisting that she sniff every blade of grass, branch and fire hydrant on our normal route. The same grass, branches and fire hydrants she has showed no interest in for the six months I've lived here. This passive (non-dogatonic) resistance is way out of character and actually really annoying. But once I figured out the likely cause, I got that same surge of grateful pride. Giving a dog back her sense of smell is like getting a paraplegic to walk again.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZGzePAkBzLM/TuwUecS1f0I/AAAAAAAAA5Y/28g4wxxvHpc/s1600/Regal+Luna.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZGzePAkBzLM/TuwUecS1f0I/AAAAAAAAA5Y/28g4wxxvHpc/s400/Regal+Luna.jpg" width="207" /></a></div><br />
Her ears are perked. Her tail is lifted. She is happy again and better than ever (minus 11 teeth, that is). Mission accomplished.Alison Ganghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04499758829247882718noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2469223121629854760.post-25944743283978574312011-11-23T14:09:00.000-08:002013-02-28T14:41:53.423-08:00Scorsese for Kids<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l2gMV0ZvQFQ/Ts1nFdLHTBI/AAAAAAAAA5E/lIXiUWRFhrA/s1600/Hugo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="132" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l2gMV0ZvQFQ/Ts1nFdLHTBI/AAAAAAAAA5E/lIXiUWRFhrA/s200/Hugo.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Asa Butterfield (left) plays Hugo Cabret and Chloe Grace Moretz <br />
plays Isabelle in HUGO, from Paramount Pictures and GK Films.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Watching <a href="http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-november-17-2011/martin-scorsese">Martin Scorsese chatting it up on The Daily Show</a> last week was a revelation. Or maybe it was just a good sales pitch. Either way, his easygoing, lighthearted interview was a far cry from the tightly wound, uber-serious director we've come to know over the decades. Considering his latest film, <a href="http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/nov/23/turning-back-the-clock-xxxxxxx-xxxxxy/?_r=true">"Hugo,"</a> is aimed at children, I'd say that's a good thing.<br />
<br />
I've had my own first-hand experiences with Scorsese over the course of my career -- first as an intern in his small New York production office, and later while working on an American Movie Classics event with his Film Foundation. While I walked away from these jobs with some darn good anecdotes (most notably the time his mother Catherine - you know her as the mother of Joe Pesci's character in "Goodfellas"- nervously pumped me for information about her overworked son when I went to her apartment to pick up a homemade calzone), I also cite both experiences as the reasons why I opted out of the entertainment business as a career. Or at least the star-pleasing side of the business that requires one to jump at every command, scurry around in a hushed panic, and suppress the ballooning urge to scream, "DID YOU FORGET WHERE YOU CAME FROM?!" Clearly this was not my cup of tea.<br />
<br />
Now that I'm happily ensconced on the outside of that nonsensical hysteria, I don't have to think about what kind of plates the great director requires for his take-out pizza or what pants his tailor needs to alter. I can shove that stuff in the gossip bin where it belongs and enjoy the results of his lifelong dedication to filmmaking, which he puts on display in "Hugo" (read my review <a href="http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/nov/23/turning-back-the-clock-xxxxxxx-xxxxxy/?_r=true">here</a>).<br />
<br />
That being said, I still like to spill an anecdote or two when the mood strikes.<br />
<br />
Happy Thanksgiving!Alison Ganghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04499758829247882718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2469223121629854760.post-69802663043769983772011-11-12T00:53:00.000-08:002011-11-12T00:53:39.000-08:00Lean on ThisI closed out my day off from work/Veteran's Day/11/11/11 with Thursday night's Colbert Report, which ended on an unexpected note with Colbert, Brian Eno and Michael Stipe's a cappella performance of "Lean on Me." I'd seen a few posts about it scroll by but didn't pay much mind until I saw and heard it for myself. I was truly taken aback by how much joy and comfort that song offers, especially when these guys sing it so earnestly.<br />
<br />
Lately it seems like even Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert can't cut through the ugliness we're living through these days, though I still appreciate their efforts at trying. Sometimes the funniest joke can't do what a simply perfect song can, especially when it's sung by such well-intentioned people for no reason other than the joy of doing it. The crowd joined in. There was no showboating, no horsing around. It was just pure sentiment and joy. And it made me feel better.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" height="340" style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #333333; font: normal normal normal 11px/normal arial; width: 512px;"><tbody>
<tr style="background-color: #e5e5e5;" valign="middle"><td style="padding: 2px 1px 0px 5px;"><a href="http://www.colbertnation.com/" style="color: #333333; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">The Colbert Report</a></td><td style="font-weight: bold; padding: 2px 5px 0px 5px; text-align: right;">Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 14px;" valign="middle"><td colspan="2" style="padding: 2px 1px 0px 5px;"><a href="http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/402026/november-10-2011/sign-off---brian-eno--michael-stipe---stephen-colbert----lean-on-me-" style="color: #333333; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Brian Eno, Michael Stipe & Stephen Colbert - "Lean on Me"</a></td></tr>
<tr style="background-color: #353535; height: 14px;" valign="middle"><td colspan="2" style="overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 5px 0px 5px; text-align: right; width: 512px;"><a href="http://www.colbertnation.com/" style="color: #96deff; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">www.colbertnation.com</a></td></tr>
<tr valign="middle"><td colspan="2" style="padding: 0px;"><embed allowfullscreen="true" allownetworking="all" allowscriptaccess="always" bgcolor="#000000" flashvars="autoPlay=false" height="288" src="http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:cms:item:comedycentral.com:402026" style="display: block;" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="512" wmode="window"></embed></td></tr>
<tr style="height: 18px;" valign="middle"><td colspan="2" style="padding: 0px;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" height="100%" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr valign="middle"><td style="padding: 3px; width: 33%;"><a href="http://www.colbertnation.com/full-episodes/" style="color: #333333; font: 10px arial; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Colbert Report Full Episodes</a></td><td style="padding: 3px; width: 33%;"><a href="http://www.indecisionforever.com/" style="color: #333333; font: 10px arial; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Political Humor & Satire Blog</a></td><td style="padding: 3px; width: 33%;"><a href="http://www.colbertnation.com/video" style="color: #333333; font: 10px arial; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Video Archive</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Alison Ganghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04499758829247882718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2469223121629854760.post-58490289080917606132011-10-27T13:32:00.000-07:002011-10-27T13:32:36.879-07:00A Singular Olsen Sister<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l1uEoLBsTxk/Tqm-35l7qvI/AAAAAAAAAsQ/X46ZluvFa3g/s1600/MarthaMarcy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l1uEoLBsTxk/Tqm-35l7qvI/AAAAAAAAAsQ/X46ZluvFa3g/s320/MarthaMarcy.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elizabeth Olsen and Sean Durkin, <br />
star and director of "Martha Marcy May Marlene"<br />
<a href="http://www.signonsandiego.com/photos/2011/oct/26/473419/">Photo credit: Earnie Grafton, U-T</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>At last, an Olsen sister who can have her photograph taken without posing in a ridiculous manner. But that's not the only quality Elizabeth Olsen has that's worth celebrating.<br />
<br />
I spent some quality time with Olsen, star of the new indie "cult" film (literally) "Martha Marcy May Marlene," when she was in town this summer with the film's writer/director Sean Durkin. We were the only two women at a sparsely attended critics' mixer and, while the men did that thing they do where they show each other how much they know, she and I sat together at a table chatting about going to college in New York City (she's at NYU, I went to Columbia), her suddenly exploding career and how she's the first Olsen sister who actually likes performing (her sisters prefer board meetings for their company, which they've been attending since their tweens).<br />
<br />
All in all, it was a pleasure to cross paths with Olsen at this precious moment in her life, between carefree young adult and celebrated actress.<br />
<br />
Here's my <a href="http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/oct/26/two-fresh-faces-touch-a-nerve-post-cult-life/">interview with Olsen and Durkin</a> and my <a href="http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/oct/26/olsen-shines-in-quotmartha-marcyquot/">review of "Martha Marcy May Marlene.</a>"<br />
<br />
You don't have to join any "families" to see the film.Alison Ganghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04499758829247882718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2469223121629854760.post-11767578149162285942011-10-14T07:13:00.000-07:002011-10-14T07:13:08.794-07:00Bill Cunningham: A pure portrait<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9p5pzHtZgdI/TpfLoJEII2I/AAAAAAAAAqs/KU9SWxuPfBM/s1600/Bill+Cunningham.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9p5pzHtZgdI/TpfLoJEII2I/AAAAAAAAAqs/KU9SWxuPfBM/s320/Bill+Cunningham.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My own personal fashion icon, Bill Cunningham</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I'm so thankful for having had just enough free time this week to finally catch <a href="http://www.zeitgeistfilms.com/billcunninghamnewyork/">"Bill Cunningham New York"</a> on Netflix Instant. What an absolutely perfect portrait of a true New York personality. Not the chic, filthy rich, high society New York, but a relic of the days when the city housed personalities known not for their ability to generate money, but for their truly original character.<br />
<div><br />
</div><div>More than the street fashion he admires enough to photograph, Cunningham himself is the work of art; perhaps the last "honest and straight" person to still be living and admired in New York. Director Richard Press captures the frugal fashion spotter exactly how he would prefer (if he didn't hate the attention so much) -- simply and naturalistically. </div><div><br />
</div><div>This delicate, touching portrait officially puts Cunningham right alongside Buck Brannaman on my extremely short list of men I wish would adopt me. If you haven't seen either "Bill Cunningham New York" or <a href="http://www.buckthefilm.com/">"Buck,"</a> do so immediately.</div><div><br />
</div><div>In the meantime, check out my preview of the <a href="http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/oct/13/crossing-borders/">San Diego Asian Film Festival</a>, running October 20-28 at Hazard Center. As for the Steve Martin, Jack Black, Owen Wilson release "The Big Year," I ask that you only commit the amount of time it takes to read <a href="http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/oct/14/watch-for-birds-wait-for-laughs/">my review</a>, full of many terrible bird puns that couldn't possibly be worse than the film itself.</div><div><br />
</div><div></div>Alison Ganghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04499758829247882718noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2469223121629854760.post-28176945566481391582011-09-16T07:28:00.000-07:002011-09-16T07:28:32.559-07:00Finally, a 4-star movie; Potter death march<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fgDbkbRi8aw/TnNcFjfk8xI/AAAAAAAAAhY/N2dmObBMSn0/s1600/drive_gosling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fgDbkbRi8aw/TnNcFjfk8xI/AAAAAAAAAhY/N2dmObBMSn0/s320/drive_gosling.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ryan Gosling in "Drive"</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">As much as I enjoyed certain summer fare like <a href="http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/aug/05/rise-to-power-rise-to-power/">"Rise of the Planet of the Apes"</a> and <a href="http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/jul/21/hero/">"Captain America,"</a> this summer's been something of a slog. But Nicolas Winding Refn's <a href="http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/sep/16/thriller-with-traction/">"Drive," which I reviewed this week</a>, took me on one hell of a ride. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"Drive" isn't just entertainment, it's art. Rarely do the two worlds collide, but Refn's managed it here. It's been years since a film left me buzzing with such excitement and, with a 94% Rotten Tomato rating, I'm clearly not alone. I admit that at least 1/4 of my 4 stars (out of 5) are attributable to lust for Ryan Gosling (on top of his tremendous performance). But even the male critics I talked to have admitted having a "man crush" after seeing this film. James Franco, you have been demoted -- big time.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K4dU4kQcgtk/TnNcOCYTIjI/AAAAAAAAAhc/FP9AovlNqPE/s1600/Harry+Potter.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K4dU4kQcgtk/TnNcOCYTIjI/AAAAAAAAAhc/FP9AovlNqPE/s200/Harry+Potter.jpeg" width="172" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I also must acknowledge a major milestone in my film watching life. As of Labor Day, I have seen all the Harry Potter movies, thanks to the persistence of the <a href="http://soberingconclusion.com/movies/">Sobering Conclusion</a>'s Ian Forbes, who had me on a Harry Potter DVD Death March of sorts during the month of August. The goal? To catch the final installment on the big screen. With a "Deathly Hallows" double feature on Labor Day, I can now say I accomplished something this summer.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I have to admit, I was a little disappointed. Not by the series (though the first two were enough to turn me off entirely, until Ian made his case), but by the indifference of the AMC lobby as we exited the theater having concluded the mission. I'm not sure what I was expecting --balloons, a round of applause, a tasteful awards ceremony--but a desolate lobby on a dark, rainy night just wasn't cutting it. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">What I most enjoyed about the films was how they matured along with the characters and, presumably, the young audience as well. Until Ian inflicted his obsession on me, I'd only read the first book and seen the corresponding movie. While I appreciated the world J.K. Rowling created, I concluded it was one mostly for children. But children grow up and the films (and I've been told the books) take that often difficult journey right along with them in subject matter and tone. While the third film, directed by <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 22px;"><em style="color: black; font-style: normal;">Alfonso Cuarón,</em></span> is easily the best of the bunch, I appreciated how each successive film reflected the emotional phases these kids - and I imagine most kids- are going through: facing adult responsibility, isolation, puberty, sexuality, pure silliness. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">While I didn't walk away with any new obsessions (Ryan Gosling wasn't in any of the films, after all), I'm glad I checked this off my list -- even if I am a few years behind the curve.</span>Alison Ganghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04499758829247882718noreply@blogger.com0