Category Archives: Random Musings

“I believe that if, at the end of it all, according to our abilities, we have done something to make others a little happier, and something to make ourselves a little happier, that is about the best we can do. To make others less happy is a crime. To make ourselves unhappy is where all crime starts. We must try to contribute joy to the world. That is true no matter what our problems, our health, our circumstances. We must try.”

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“What I believe is that all clear-minded people should remain two things throughout their lifetimes: Curious and teachable.”

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“Your intellect may be confused, but your emotions will never lie to you.”

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“I believe empathy is the most essential quality of civilization.”

― Roger Ebert

For those not in the know, Musings Through Filtered Ears are random thoughts by a hearing-impaired pop culture junkie….

Back to the daily grind.

It’s amazing how much fuller your day is when your face isn’t in front of a computer screen, smart phone or television set. This three-week sabbatical was an eye opener for me, a wake up call stating with alarming tenacity that I need to: A) watch less TV and movies, B) compute less, C) read more books, and D) do more introspection in my life. I am going to be making some tweaks (mostly minor, but no less important) to my daily lifestyle, some of which will affect the frequency (and hopefully, the quality) of my blogging. I can’t eliminate pop culture from my life — I just love it too much — but I can certainly manage it a little better.

So my advice for the day? Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.

Hmm… I know I heard that from somewhere.

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Every year, Entertainment Weekly delivers my most-anticipated issue of the year: Fall Movie Preview. It’s my favorite time of the year for movie watching, and I love the guessing game on what I think will be great, good or simply a misfire. I arranged below the titles I’m most looking forward to, and the ones I’m intrigued by. Of course, all are subject to change once buzz and reviews are out. Still, the gift of giving begins in just a few weeks, starting with my most anticipated film of 2012: Looper.

September

I’m most eager to see:
Looper
Rian Johnson is one of the most exciting new filmmakers working in the business today. After Brick, The Brothers Bloom and two standout episodes of Breaking Bad, I’m officially a fan of his. His new film has everything I could possibly want: time travel, Bruce Willis, Joseph Gordon-Levitt looking like Bruce Willis, Emily Blunt and time travel. If there’s only one film I see this fall, it’s this one. Did I mention it has time travel?

The Master
Even though I was a bit disappointed with There Will Be Blood, I can’t deny how incredibly awesome P.T. Anderson is. Magnolia and Boogie Nights are two big-time favorites of mine. Will The Master be as perplexing as There Will Be Blood? If the trailer is any indication, it seems that way. This makes me nervous and excited at once. Seeing The Master will be like going on a first date with someone who, on paper, looks absolutely amazing, while knowing that you’ve been burned once before.

Liberal Arts
I’m more excited for Josh Radnor’s sophomore directing effort than I have any right to be. I admired (though didn’t love) his debut, HappyThankYouMorePlease, but that film had flashes of true artistry and emotion. This one looks more promising. It stars Richard Jenkins, Alison Janney and current It girl Elizabeth Olsen. Radnor is really growing as a filmmaker and that’s just a joy to watch.

I’m intrigued by:
Trouble with the Curve
Clint Eastwood stepping out of a self-imposed acting retirement for a rookie director tells me that he has his reasons for doing this project. It looks like a lovely little human interest story, and I really enjoy Justin Timberlake as an actor. There’s also great support from John Goodman, Robert Patrick and Amy Adams. I’m hoping it’s a strong rental.

End of Watch
Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Pena are two actors I’ve always admired, and David Ayers seems to be the right fit for this taut police drama. I do have this nagging feeling, though, that I’ve seen this before. I hope to be proven wrong.

Arbitrage
Never count against Richard Gere. The dude has been working steadily and hard over the past decade making small films and acting the hell out of ‘em. This one (a financial thriller) looks no different, and he brought Tim Roth and Susan Sarandon along with him. Positive festival buzz makes this one hard to ignore.

Stolen
I love a good heist thriller, and Nic Cage reteams with his Con Air director, Simon West. There’s also the always-sparkling Malin Akerman and Josh Lucas. As with some Nic Cage projects, this one could suck balls, but as with some Nic Cage projects, it could be a helluva good time.

October

I’m most eager to see:
Argo
Look at this cast and tell me it’s NOT on your list of must-see films this fall. I dare you! Affleck. Cranston. Goodman. Arkin. Baker Hall. Victor Garber. Kyle Chandler. I mean, I could keep going, but you get the point. (Richard Kind! Titus Welliver!). Even if this cast sucked, I’d still see it because Affleck has proven himself to be a very strong director. I can’t wait to see where he goes with his career. (Chris Messina! Clea Duvall!). The story of Argo - a risky attempt to extract Americans stuck in Iran – feels fresh and exciting. (Tate Donovan! Zeljko Ivanek!). Man, I can’t wait for this one.

Seven Psychopaths
On the surface, this one seems a bit weird. It involves a Los Angeles-based mob and a kidnapped cat. But it’s from Martin McDonagh, whose In Bruges was the best film of ’08, and that alone makes it a worth a look. Throw in some Farrell, Harrelson and Walken and it becomes a must-see.

Paranormal Activity 4
I’m just as surprised as you are. I never expected to enjoy the first, let alone the second or third one. I adore this series; I think these are well-crafted creep fests that essentially tell the same story while adding new dimensions to the overall arc. I’m excited to see this saga continue to grow.

I’m intrigued by:
Cloud Atlas
I feel like this one could go either way. The Wachowski brothers and Tom Tykwer are fascinating visionaries who have done some really amazing projects in their careers. This is an intriguing collaboration, not to mention ambitious and wholly original. Also, it’s nice to see Tom Hanks do some stretching after many years of phoning it in.

Killing Them Softly
Pitt. Gandolfini. Liotta. Jenkins. In a film by Andrew Dominik, who made a splash with the visually exciting though dramatically iffy Assassination of Jesse James. I think Dominik is going to improve on his skills, and make a big name for himself. … Or maybe he won’t.

November

I’m most eager to see:
Life of Pi
Ah, Ang Lee. As long as his name is attached, it’s immediately worth a look. I’m not familiar enough with the beloved novel (I know the gist of it), but it looks like this could be a tough sell. No wonder it took so long for the film to get off the ground! But Lee’s past experience with fantasy, breathtaking landscapes and meaningful themes of faith and religion should make him feel right at home.

Lincoln
Ah, Steven Spielberg. Let’s just call it right now. This one has Oscar written all over it. I’m sure Daniel Day-Lewis already has his speech memorized. This one has been in the works for a long, long time, and I predict it’s going to be Spielberg’s most accomplished film since Schindler’s List. And you know what? I feel like we haven’t seen enough of Joseph Gordon-Levitt this year.

Flight
Ah, Robert Zemeckis. What a month of long-time favorite directors! Zemeckis is actually one of my top guns; his output of films from the 80′s and 90′s have moved and inspired me more than any other director I know. I admire his attempt to invigorate motion-capture filmmaking, but thank you, thank you, thank you, Mr. Zemeckis, for moving on. Welcome back, boss, to smart, visceral, exciting movie-making. And of course, it’s the third John Goodman film listed in this post. I promise, I’m not stalking the guy. He’s just too cool for school, man.

I’m intrigued by:
Silver Linings Playbook
David O. Russell is hit or miss with me. I admire most of his work, but I never really loved any of his films. That said, this one is up my alley. I love a good domestic comedy-drama. Also, it’ll be nice to see Jennifer Lawrence in a modern middle-class setting that doesn’t involve bow and arrows.

December

I’m most eager to see:
Jack Reacher
I fucking love Tom Cruise. There, I said it. The man may be nuts or crazy or both, but he has got it. He is the movie star. Cruise killed it with Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol last year and he is on fire. With Duvall, Jenkins (again!), the lovely Rosamund Pike and the great Werner Herzog backing him up, I think this could be a very exciting detective thriller.

Zero Dark Thirty
On the heels of her amazing win for The Hurt Locker, we’re all just waiting with bated breath to see what the striking Kathryn Bigelow will do next. And she picked a timely, fascinating subject: Osama Bin Laden. And seeing Jessica Chastain headline the film makes me anticipate it even more.

Django Unchained
This is obvious. I mean, it’s Tarantino. Have I ever missed anything he did? No. Will I ever? Never. The man has never, ever failed me, and I don’t expect him to do so any time soon. Django Unchained looks to be balls-out fun.

This is 40
Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann were among the best things about Knocked Up, and seeing them together again in this spin-off is an inspired idea. I like Apatow’s comedies — they are heartfelt, thoughtful, brightly lit and always well-cast.

I’m intrigued by:
Les Miserables
Oh boy. Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway and Hugh Jackson break out in song in this one. That makes me slightly nervous, but you know, these actors are pros. If anyone can pull this off, it’s them. And Tom Hooper, the director? He’s a star in his own right. After a remarkable run that includes John Adams, The Damned United and The King’s Speech, he is truly unstoppable.

The Hobbit
I proudly own the Extended Director’s Cut of the each LOTR film and have spent many, many, many hours with these delightful hobbits, elves and wizards. So, as you can see, I’m a huge fan of all things LOTR. But do I really want more? Oh, who am I kidding? This is going to be great. It’s going to be brilliant! Where can I get my ticket back to Middle Earth?

Hyde Park on Hudson
Could this be it? Could it be Bill Murray’s chance to win an Oscar? In short: NO. Daniel Day-Lewis already made a space for it in his trophy room. But it’s so nice to dream, isn’t it? He looks charming as FDR and I love seeing Murray tackle a serious role and disappear. He doesn’t do it often, so it’s a treat.

Bottom line: This fall is going to be awesome-sauce.

–

On a solemn note, I’m haunted by the passing of Tony Scott. He has been a steady presence for pretty much all of my movie-going lifetime. He had his ups and downs, but man, this guy has provided me with so many hours of fun either in a movie theater or my own living room. His best: True Romance, bar none. But The Last Boy Scout and Unstoppable are showstoppers in their own right. He will be missed.

It’s been a while since I’ve done one of these. For those new to the game, these are just random thoughts from an obsessive listmaker…

So, I went to the movies for the second time in 2012. Ever since I had children, I never made much time to venture out to the theaters. Quite frankly, I don’t miss it too much. I’m perfectly happy with my home viewing experiences (Netflix is in my bloodstream; I’m still beating myself for not buying stock in it when I first joined in 1999). But every now and then, an opportunity arises to grace my presence in a movie theater and I grab it. This weekend, I saw The Cabin in the Woods. I won’t review it here, but suffice to say, I enjoyed it quite a bit. It was opening weekend, I was not spoiled, and I didn’t let the deafening buzz kill the experience. Sure, I could have waited for DVD like I do with hundreds of other titles but there was something about this one that made me want to see it in a theater. I knew I needed to go in as blindly as I could. I’m glad I followed my gut. The film just kept unraveling its surprises while spinning in new and exciting directions. It felt so good not knowing what the hell was going to happen next. For a well-worn genre like horror, that’s refreshing. Full credit goes to my Buffy heroes, Drew Goddard and Joss Whedon.

Giles would be proud.

I’ve been reading Entertainment Weekly since its inception many, many years ago. I’m a faithful subscriber. There are a handful of issues I look forward to every year, and The Summer Movie Preview is one of them. Summer films don’t quite have that magic as they used to. I’m not sure if the quality of the films have deteriorated over the years or if I’ve become cynical in my old age of 35. Maybe it’s a little bit of both. That said, when I see these movie preview issues in my mailbox, I get a little excited inside. The magazine is heavier than usual. Maybe a little glossier. I dig into the anticipation of what’s to come in the hot, summer months ahead. As I’ve said earlier, I don’t venture out to the movies as much as I used to, but for some hotly anticipated summer films, I’ll make the trip. So after studying this issue closely, which films do I want to see the most?

8. Expendables 2
All you have to do is say, “Stallone, Schwarzenegger and Willis do battle. And somehow, Van Damme is involved.” Do I really need to know more? Even though the original was just so-so, these guys pump me up more so than those wimpy superheroes in spandex costumes.

7. Brave
I’m a little nervous about this one but I’m blindly trusting my faith in Pixar. The story and setting don’t thrill me but it does look gorgeous. I’m not a hater of Cars 2, but it was a bit of a step down for the greatest animation studio in the history of the world. Time for them to step back up.

6. The Bourne Legacy
I wasn’t initially a Bourne fan. The series got better as it went along, and The Bourne Ultimatum was actually one of my favorite films of ’07. I’ll miss Damon but Jeremy Renner and the rest of this pretty awesome ensemble looks right at home.

5. Safety Not Guaranteed
Not featured prominently in EW (they just had a one line summary, really.) But I had learned about this when it played in Sundance and the whole thing just jumped at me. It’s a time travel comedy with Kristen Bell, Audrey Plaza, Mark Duplass and one of the dudes from New Girl. Count me in!

4. Take This Waltz
Michelle Williams is married to Seth Rogen (how cute is that pairing?). But she’s tempted to cheat on him with some dreamy guy. Sarah Polley directs. I saw the trailer and I gotta say, I’m smitten. Looks like a heartfelt romance and Williams looks absolutely resplendent.

3. Ted
I have never seen anything with Seth McFarlane. I have not witnessed a single minute of Family Guy. But this trailer made me laugh. Hard. Mark Wahlberg is a gifted comedic actor.

2. Prometheus
Well, OK, it depends. If they PG-13 this sucker, I’m not all that interested in seeing it. This is an R-rated film series. Once you soften up the Alien franchise, you suck the life out of it. See also: Die Hard 4. So don’t fuck it up again, 20th Century Fox! This has the potential to really scare the shit out of us.

And the number one movie I’m most looking forward to this summer is:

1. Premium Rush
The action thriller I’m most stoked about. Why? Mostly because it’s from David Koepp, an extraordinarily gifted writer and director (check out his credits on IMDb). But also because Joseph Gordon-Levitt is our next Bruce Willis – a chameleonic action star with strong acting chops given the right material. And Michael Shannon is the villain! No monsters. No aliens. It’s not a sequel or based on a comic series. It’s an original old-fashioned old-school Hollywood thriller.

It’s that glorious time of the year. The Super Bowl of Movies. We celebrate the year that was, a remarkable time we all had at the movies in 2011.

I have no stake in the Oscars. I don’t get upset when people lose or are snubbed. I don’t rally around the block screaming, “HE WON!”

Because, really, none of this stuff matters. It doesn’t matter who wins, who loses, what she’s wearing or who he’s with. All of this will be forgotten a few weeks from now. I can’t tell you how many times I have to stop and wonder, “Hey, who won Best Actor last year?” What matters is that good movies are celebrated and appreciated. It’s not easy making a movie that entertains the hell out of people. So when it happens, a party is in order.

It’s all in good fun.

Now, if anyone has money riding on this year’s Oscars, I’ve got a sure thing for you. BET AGAINST ME! I’m notoriously sucky at correctly picking the Oscar winners. So, do what you will with that.

Best Picture

Best Director 

WILL WIN: Hazanavicius will win this one. No one has made a hit silent film since the 1920′s.

Best Actor

WILL WIN: It’s a toss up between Clooney and Dujardin, and I think Dujardin will be the surprise winner.

Best Actress 

SHOULD WIN: I haven’t seen Dragon Tattoo or Rooney Mara in anything, except for that brief role in The Social Network. I don’t think she has a chance here. But I absolutely adore each of the other actresses on this ballot, even if I’ve only seen The Help. I’ll be pleasantly happy with either of them.
WILL WIN: For a while, Viola Davis was a front runner. But I’m feeling buzzy about an upset for Meryl Streep in what will be her first win in 29 years. It’s time to give her another one!

Best Supporting Actor 

SHOULD WIN: I really liked Hill in Moneyball, but I didn’t think he was worthy of a nomination. Love Branagh, Nolte and Sydow, but didn’t see their work here yet. Beginners was one of my favorite films of 2011, and Plummer was nothing short of extraordinary.
WILL WIN: Plummer will get what he deserves: a career-capping Oscar statuette.

Best Supporting Actress 

WILL WIN: Octavia Spencer may very well be the sole winner for The Help on Oscar night…

WILL WIN: Woody Allen’s charming, well-received Midnight in Paris will get its sole win here.

WILL WIN: Moneyball is popping out here, and will get its sole win of the night. Sorkin’s streak is currently unstoppable.

SHOULD WIN: I’ve only seen Rango, and liked it quite a bit. It’s a fresh, funny and spirited comedy. I have no opinion on the others.

SHOULD WIN: No opinion, haven’t seen any of these.
WILL WIN: A Separation is well-loved worldwide. It’s a clear cut winner.

SHOULD WIN: The best looking movie of the year is The Tree of Life. There is no competition.
WILL WIN: The Tree of Life

SHOULD WIN: The Academy usually rewards extravagance here, and while I haven’t seen Hugo, that one looks like a clincher for this award. That being said, I always thought all of the Harry Potter movies were designed beautifully and the finale was no exception. I’m rooting for Potter.
WILL WIN: Most likely, Hugo

WILL WIN: The Artist

WILL WIN: Let’s give it to Hugo.

WILL WIN: Hugo again.

WILL WIN: I think Hugo will continue its sweep of technical awards here. The 3D supposedly is pretty amazing.

WILL WIN: Despite positive rumblings about Hell and Back Again, I have heard even more amazing things about Pina, so that’s the winner. Plus, it’s from Wim Wenders!

SHOULD WIN: No opinion
WILL WIN: God is the Bigger Elvis, based on the title alone. Yes, that’s grounds for winning.

SHOULD WIN: No opinion
WILL WIN: Time Freak. But only because it describes me very, very well. Well, the freak part, anyway.

A series of random thoughts by a new Qwikster addict…

Evolution is necessary
When I got the mass email this morning from Reed Hastings, founder of Netflix, and saw that it was a big fat mea culpa and alerted us of major changes coming, I really thought it was spam. Hastings has been pretty smart in building his business since Netflix started back in the late 90s (I’ve been a very happy subscriber since the near beginning) and this announcement seemed not only sudden (especially after the recent price hike) but unusually risky. When I soon realized that this was real, that these changes are actually happening, my initial thought was: this man is driving this company into the ground. It just smelled fishy: the company’s stock was tumbling, users were abandoning ship after the DVD/streaming price split, and customers were just pissed off. It just seemed like a cheap attempt to appease to the stock’s shareholders and do away with the stagnant DVD business.

Since that email this morning, I had time to think about this new change coming up and I now feel the same the way I felt after this summer’s price split: I can roll with it. Netflix, and the industry it is in, are both evolving, and the changes are more than the company can handle. Hastings is right – Netflix sucks at communicating. They seem to favor making changes without explaining motive (removing the friends feature, for one) or even elaborate how they are willing to make their customers happy. I mean, are they even listening to us? The “apology” in the email feels a bit empty, but bottom line: I do feel the actions taking place in the near future feels right.

The DVD part of Netflix is perfect, there’s nothing to improve. I think it’s more than fairly priced, the selection is unending, and the turnaround is nearly instantaneous. Like I said earlier, I’ve been a very happy customer for over 10 years, and I’m thinking I will be a happy customer when I log onto Qwikster every day. As long as they don’t change too much in that aspect, I see nothing to complain about. It’s a business decision. It really doesn’t affect me as a customer except for the URL name on my browser, the logo on the envelope and the name on my credit card bill. All these changes are cosmetic.

The new Netflix, on the other hand, has a lot of work to do. Putting its entire focus on streaming is smart business. They need more – and better – content, though it has significantly improved since last year. The amount of TV shows available to stream is satisfactory – my son loves Dora the Explorer, Thomas and Friends and Sesame Street, and has a large selection of episodes to choose from. I’m working my way through Damages now and will catch up with Mad Men and Breaking Bad pretty soon. The movies, on the other hand, are a mixed bag. The older catalogue titles are far more impressive than their new releases, but that’s why I still use the discs. I take advantage of the best of both worlds and there’s a breadth of choices available for me.

The new Netflix also needs to focus on subtitling their streaming content across all platforms. They are providing more shows/movies with captions each day but I cannot yet access them through my Blu-ray player.

The amount of vitriol I’m reading on these changes is laughable but I understand that nobody likes changes. I can adapt to these minor cosmetic fixes while the business restructures itself to better serve their customers. Some people may not agree but the combined $25 a month I spend on 3 discs at a time and unlimited streaming is an absolute steal. Whatever I need to do in order to continue enjoying this great service(s), count me in.

Everyone is a winner
Some thoughts on last night’s entertaining Primetime Emmy awards:

*Host Jane Lynch was hit-and-miss. She’s not a stand up comedian and some of her jokes fell flat, but I did enjoy her opening act and a few quips here and there. Her best line: “A lot of people are curious why I’m a lesbian. Ladies and gentlemen, the cast of Entourage.”

*Big, big yahoos on the two major wins for the dearly departed Friday Night Lights: best writing for creator Jason Katims and best actor Kyle Chandler. It is so great these guys are recognized and seeing this show go out on top.

*The early part of the Emmys really did turn into the Modern Family Awards Show. Well-deserved wins for writing, comedy series, and the delightful Dunphy folks, Ty Burell and Julie Bowen.

*I don’t watch Justified or Mike & Molly, but I was thrilled for Margo Martindale and Melissa McCarthy. Martindale is an extraordinary character actress who has been in the business for years and I hear she’s fantastic in Justified. I can’t wait to catch up with it. And I’ve been in love with McCarthy since her days on Gilmore Girls. I haven’t even seen Bridesmaids but I already know how adorable she is.

*The best comedy actress presentation was hilarious. These 6 women are equally gifted and well worthy of many awards, and it was so great to see them all take the stage.

*Charlie Sheen’s kind words for his cast and crew of Two and a Half Men seemed unbelievably hammy. I don’t think anyone believed a single word of it. I’m surprised Fox cut the Baldwin/News Corp joke and still let Sheen take the stage. So much for good taste.

*What was Julianna Margulies wearing? And did anyone actually hear Julie Bowen and Kate Winslet accept their awards on the stage? I was too busy staring at their bare chests.

All in all: fun show, strong winners. I skipped the reality portion and zapped through the commercials and walks to the podium so the 3-hour Emmy telecast was a 90 minute breeze. Gotta love DVR’s!

A series of random thoughts by a DVR-overloaded addict….

September, it’s so great to see you!
Fall is right around the corner and I cannot wait. It’s my favorite time of the year. The roaring fireplace. Falling leaves. Football. The crisp, clear New England air.

And the return of high quality movies and appointment television.

First, the silver screen. George Clooney is everywhere and I couldn’t be happier. He’s the greatest actor-slash-movie star of his generation. He consistently produces strong films and all are not necessarily crowd-pleasers. I really admired The American, unlike most people I know. Clooney stretches and takes risks. I’m greatly anticipating both Ides of March (which he also directs) and The Descendants (welcome back, Alexander Payne!). The latter is precisely the kind of film I can see Payne and Clooney excelling in.

And apparently, Crazy Stupid Love wasn’t enough for Ryan Gosling this year. He’s having a terrific year, also starring in Ides of March and in Nicholas Winding Refn’s Drive (which, from what I hear, is pretty freakin’ awesome). March, Descendants and Drive top my must-see flicks of the season.

Some other big releases I’m looking forward to: We Bought a Zoo (from Cameron Crowe, another long-absent director, greatly missed since the hugely underrated Elizabethtown), Mission: Impossible: Ghost Protocol (with Brad Bird at the helm and a feel/tone reminiscent of the 1996 original has me feeling good about this one), and Carnage (the cast and director alone has me in line, and I don’t even care what it’s about). On a smaller scale, I’ll also be seeing Martha Marcy May Marlene (sure to be the indie sensation of the year), A Very Harold and Kumar 3D Christmas (it’s probably terrible, but how can I resist these two schlubs?) and Paranormal Activity 3 (they are pushing their luck, but you know, the first two didn’t let me down and this one is helmed by the directors of the terrific Catfish).

There are others I’m intrigued by (50/50, Contagion, Iron Lady) but I’m taking a wait-and-see approach. Are they worth the trek out to theaters or will they be merely appointment rentals? Only time will tell.

On the TV side of things, I’m not sure which new shows I’m eager to try. I’ve missed Buffy, big time, but do I miss Sarah Michelle Gellar enough to try the CW’s Ringer? Ehh, not sure. Pan Am and Charlie’s Angels? No thanks. Person of Interest has Michael Emerson back on TV (and those who know me know why I love this man), but frankly, I’m tired of procedurals. And there isn’t a new sitcom in the bunch that looks remotely appealing.

As for FX’s American Horror Story, well, it looks like it could be a winner, thanks to Connie Britton’s presence, FX’s lucky streak, and the warped mind of Ryan Murphy. But I’m thinking I may have to wait it out and follow the word of mouth before committing. Another potential keeper: ABC’s Once Upon a Time. The creators are Eddie Kitsis and Adam Horowitz, co-writers of Lost. I like the premise - fairy tale characters living in the present day - so I’m hoping it’s ambitious and has big ideas.

But I don’t want to get attached to anything new right now, really. I still have season one of Breaking Bad, Mad Men, Damages and Justified all hanging out in my Netflix queue. This is what I tend to do lately – I don’t watch new shows unless I know it’s good and then catch up with them later.

But of the returning ones, I think the one I’m most excited for (surprisingly enough) is Glee. After such a lackluster, directionless second season, I had a lot of reasons to believe the show was going down hill. But with a new writing staff, I think we may be in good hands. Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and Ian Brennan were stretching themselves thin writing every word for this huge cast. For the new season, they promised character driven plots (rather than theme or artist-driven), plus some closure (so long, graduates!) and new beginnings (hello Glee Project winners!). I’m putting a lot of faith in these guys.

Also, I never watched more than 4 or 5 episodes of Two and a Half Men, but I’ll be tuning in to the premiere. I think Kutcher is funny and I, like millions of others, are curious about how they are going to kill off Charlie Sheen’s character.

The fall season also signifies the return of great shows like Dexter, Modern Family and The Walking Dead.

Ah, fall. Good to have you back.

Screaming bloody murder

I’m a casual fan of Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back and, even in its own hokey way, Return of the Jedi. I’m not an obsessive fanboy, but these are treasured classics and should be treated as such.

So it irks me a bit to watch George Lucas fuck these movies up any way he possibly can. The atrocious prequels are one thing (he wanted to continue his story, and I get that), but really, George, must you continue to mess with the original films? It seems every re-release has something new he wants to add. A digitized Yoda. Han Solo shooting first. And now, in the new Jedi blu-ray edition, Lucas makes Darth Vader scream “Noooooo!” as he saves Luke from his death. What. The. Hell? What’s next, the Ewoks will start blinking their eyes? Oh wait.

What’s the point? Does this make the film better? Does he think his fans are asking, George, in your 47th re-release of the Star Wars franchise, you gotta do something about Vader in the end of Jedi? Make him vulnerable, make him weak. Show us that Vader can emote like the best of them!

Lucas has a history of screwing things up. Supposedly, he was the hold up for the 4th Indiana Jones movie and would not agree to make it unless it had aliens in it. Spielberg and Ford did what they could with Crystal Skull, but the film was a letdown. The aliens aspect nearly killed the damn thing.

So, Mr. Lucas, it might be best for you to retire. Especially before you start tinkering with Howard the Duck.

Milestones
Quietly, our little movie site had its 10,000th hit last week. Thanks to those who continue to show up and read our stuff!

A series of random thoughts from a closet Gleek…

Playing Ketchup
When returning from a long vacation, it’s tough getting back to the routine of things. Cleaning out the inbox at work, getting the house in order, paying the bills and, more importantly, tackling the stack of Netflix DVDs and clearing the overloaded DVR. If I had known coming home from vacation would be so taxing, I’d stay on vacation!

Ch-ch-ch-change is coming!
It was inevitable and we all saw it coming. I came home to the news that Netflix was splitting up its plans, effective 9/1. We knew that streaming would eventually become its bread and butter. So in order gradually step away from the DVD format, Netflix needed to separate the two entities. Some experts say that Netflix is making this move to push the studios into maximizing their online content, and that they are intentionally forcing out the DVD business. I know this has always been Netflix’s plan, that streaming will grow while the disc rentals will eventually become stagnant. While I admire that the folks at Netflix are forward thinkers, not all of us are advancing as quickly as technology is. It’s exciting but, at the same time, a little frustrating. I’m not ready to give up the discs!

I was a little disappointed with the price increase but when I did the math, I realized that I’m still getting a helluva sweet deal. I get to watch a ridiculous amount of movies for 20 bucks a month. 80% of my Netflix rentals come from DVDs and it’s going to continue to be that way for a while. I enjoy streaming titles on occasion but I don’t have the opportunity to do it frequently enough. I have streamed titles on my iPhone during my bus commute from NYC to NJ but with very mixed results. For one, I don’t like watching content on a 2″ x 3″ screen, and I don’t care how clear it looks. Secondly, I don’t know if it is AT&T’s 3G service, but I can’t get a smooth picture during some parts of my ride. I get a lot of skipping and the viewing experience is very frustrating to say the least. (That being said, streaming through Wi-Fi works wonderfully and is how it should be. But unless my bus company begins offering Wi-Fi hotspots on their buses, I can’t see myself enjoying Netflix’s streaming as part of my everyday movie watching.)

I know some people who have never streamed a single title, so why should they have to foot the streaming costs? And vice versa for those who have happily abandoned their DVD players. We should all pay for what we use.

Emmy Nomination Reaction
The Emmy nominations came out last week. A fairly mixed bag, as usual, but I must voice my pleasure of seeing Friday Night Lights nominated for Best Drama. The series just aired its finale on NBC and there is no better parting gift than this well-deserved nod. Connie Britton and Kyle Chandler also walked away with the nods for Best Actress and Actor in a Drama Series. Coach and Mrs. Coach are the heart of this spectacular show and they deserve the spotlight as much as the show itself.

Other Emmy thoughts:

• Yay for Modern Family and the entire cast getting nods. Ed O’Neill was snubbed last year, and he deserves the nomination as much as the rest of the clan.
• Nay for completely shutting out Parenthood. An injustice was done here.
• There’s a lot I don’t watch: Boardwalk Empire, Mad Men, The Good Wife, 30 Rock, so I can’t say I have an opinion on them. But even though I don’t watch Justified, I’m actually happy for its recognition. Maybe because it’s so refreshing to see a low-rated, critically-acclaimed drama getting their first nomination. I’m always rooting for the underdog!

Speaking of the best of TV…
Summer is not supposed to be a season of watching TV. I always looked forward to this season as a reprieve from the deluge of shows clogging up my DVR. Well, not this summer. I’m hooked on a handful of shows when I should be, oh, I don’t know, reading a book or something silly like that. I cannot tear myself away from the greatness that is Louie, Men of a Certain Age (RIP, and gone too soon, dammit) and Curb Your Enthusiasm. Those shows are firing on all cylinders this summer. I’m also paying my respects to Rescue Me, which will be laid to rest (finally!) after this summer’s run.

But the one show I can’t get enough of? The Glee Project. I know! What’s gotten into me? A reality show about a group of wanna-be singers/actors vying for a 7-episode guest stint on Glee? It has disaster written all over it. I was prepared to dismiss it immediately. Well, dagnabbit, I was wrong. Foolishly ignorant! The Glee Project is a charming display of talent and nerves. It has more heart and suspense than American Idol ever had. There’s nothing mean-spirited about the show; the judges push the kids hard but treats them with respect and dignity. I’m glad I gave it a chance. I’ll be sad when it ends next month, but I look forward to seeing the new Glee star next season. My money is on Lindsey.

A series of random thoughts, kick-ass links and a movie poster that is NSFW….

Double Jackpot
Last week, when I was compiling the list of my favorite films from 1997, I was reminded of a movie going experience unlike any other.

Picture it. Boston. 1997. A chilly October afternoon.

My buddy Pete was visiting town from Ithaca. We weren’t interested in sight-seeing or anything like that. No, we wanted to take in a couple of flicks. You see, we were deep into the fall movie season, otherwise known as Oscar bait season. We had to catch the movies that people were talking about. We ultimately decided on a double feature of Boogie Nights and The Ice Storm.

I have never, ever, even to this day, experienced so much greatness in a single afternoon. I can write a very lengthy post about how wonderful these films are and what they mean to me, but that’s for another time. To give you an idea: if I were to compile a list called Top 20 Films of All Time, those two titles would be on it. That’s how much I love them.

What are the odds of lightning striking twice in one afternoon? These weren’t merely the best movies I’d seen that year but they were among the best I’ve seen in the 90′s! And I saw them back to back! In a theater! In my experience, this is unheard of!

When both movies were both over, Pete and I had to let it all soak in before we began foaming in the mouth on the awesomeness we just witnessed. Needless to say, we discussed them for hours. Boogie Nights remains a mutual favorite for both of us, but The Ice Storm has a very special place in my heart as well.

Tell me, I’m curious. What was the most memorable theatrical double-feature you’ve ever experienced? I want to know what your idea of a perfect double bill is.

Truth in advertising
We need Alamo Drafthouse to come to New Jersey.

By the way, would it be called Garden State Drafthouse? Hmm, not quite as catchy.

I love this.

No, no…Thank YOU!
Flickers is fast approaching its six-month anniversary, and I think we are settling into a comfortable groove. A few weeks ago, we officially became a Lamb member (number 943, baby!) and we just passed 5000 hits.

So, a heartfelt, sincere thanks goes out to all who have visited, browsed, and commented on the blog, and an extra thanks if you referred us to your friends. We are pleased to be in such fine company among fellow movie lovers. There is a whole world of film bloggers out there and we’re happy to get to know some of you.

Now THAT’S how you sell a movie 

I’ve been digging the marketing campaign for Fincher’s adaptation of the ridiculously popular novel, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. I’m a casual fan of the book and the original Swedish film, but I’m unusually psyched for this one. Maybe it’s the pedigree involved (I’m a longtime fan of Fincher’s and I think Daniel Craig’s casting is spot on), but I think what’s drawing me to it lately is Columbia’s viral marketing campaign. I know the red band trailer (now removed) and the poster above were “leaked,” but they are playing it smart. This is a very sexual thriller with heavy feminist undertones and it appears that Fincher’s is not shying away from that. A popular novel getting hard-R treatment from mainstream Hollywood? Count me in. And the official trailer, by the way, rocks.

Is Robert Zemeckis back?
According to several sources, it looks like my old favorite Robert Zemeckis is returning to live action filmmaking. This thrills me to no end. Now, I’m all about branching out and trying new things, but come on. He needed to take a break from the motion capture business and go back to doing what he was meant to do. Make brilliant films!

Don’t get me wrong: Zemeckis is a pioneer. The Polar Express was a delightful film, magical even. The motion capture technology was bold and innovative, if not entirely successful. The dead eyes, the stiff cheeks – the faces were just a little creepy. However, he continued to push the envelope with Beowulf and A Christmas Carol (both unseen by me), but when his company made the critical and box office failure Mars Needs Moms, everything Zemeckis worked for grinded to a halt.

I feel for the guy, I do. This technology was his baby, and he kept working to improve it. But I think this is a blessing in disguise. I believe Zemeckis has some more amazing live action films in him.

He is easily one of my favorite directors. The Back to the Future trilogy, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Romancing the Stone, Forrest Gump, Contact, Cast Away, even the underrated Death Becomes Her all landed on my Best of the Year lists. I miss this guy. I miss his old-school filmmaking style and the way his movies made me feel.

So upon hearing the news that he’s venturing back to real filmmaking, I cheered a little. Flight sounds like an intriguing premise (though not fantastical, like his older films), and is sure to be compelling. Washington and Zemeckis should complement one another very well.

I miss this guy, too