ESCAPE FROM FANDOM EXPECTATIONS

ESCAPE FROM FANDOM EXPECTATION
On the Genius of John Carpenter’s
“Escape from L.A.”

Let me speak to the genius that is John Carpenter’s “Escape from L.A.” How ahead of his time was he with this film? Think about it. We live in a time of constant remakes and reboots, movies and television that try to revive past media either in name or concept but mostly entirely in nostalgic callback. In the last ten years alone, we got movies based on everything from comic books, to old TV series like “Miami Vice”, “CHiPs”, “Baywatch”, “21 Jump Street” and more, and cartoons like GI Joe and The Transformers. We are inundated yearly with wholly unoriginal concept movies, which is what they are in the end, that we dare not strike out into anything original for fear of being left out of the rock ’n’ roll, hipster-geek tip.

“Escape from LA” was Carpenter’s sequel to his underground cult hit “Escape from New York”. Carpenter has always been a filmmaker ahead of his time, with “Escape from New York” only gaining popularity on cable and home video. The rest of his Kurt Russell team-ups follow the same pattern. “The Thing” failed at the box office (Thanks to “E.T.”) but is now hailed as one of the great horror films of all time. “Big Trouble in Little China” also failed, but has since gained a hardy following thanks to its insouciant attitude towards the action genre, honoring of the marital arts genre that is balanced with great characters, great comedy, and a great twist on leading man action heroes.

In 1996, there were all together, including “Escape from LA”, about a dozen remakes, comic book movies, sequels, remakes, and reboots, and aside from “Star Trek: First Contact”, “Mission: Impossible”, “A Very Brady Sequel” and possibly, “Muppet Treasure Island”, not a one was successful. We are talking “Lawnmower Man 2”, “Flipper”, “Diabolique”, “SGT Bilko”, “Barb Wire” “The Phantom”, and “The Crow: City of Angels” to name the rest. Sure, one or two may have that hipster appeal now, but back in the 90’s we barely cared about remakes, sequels and movies based on old TV shows.

“Escape from LA” was a film much demanded by the fans of Carpenter’s works. It had been 16 years since the release of “Escape from New York” and the movie and the character of Snake Plisken grew in such adoration, that fans of the movie demanded a sequel to continue the adventures of their new hero. Now, Carpenter had never done a sequel before, or since. But once again, he was so ahead of his time. What he did with “Escape from LA” needs to be appreciated now in the light of our modern remake/reboot movie glut that we are in the midst of today. How would have thought that such a film could have predicted this slate of unoriginality in filmmaking that would happen over 20 years later.

In the meantime, Snake Plissken grew in adulation. He became the star of comic books that told prequel and sequel stories and furthered his adventures. Characters in popular video games were based on him and pushed his status further. The fans demand for a sequel adventure on the big screen reached the ears of the producers and John Carpenter, who was courted to direct, said he would not do so without the star Kurt Russell’s and his approval of the script. It seemed that everything was falling into line to make the innocuously “epic” sequel that fans were expecting of their favorite action hero.

When released, the film was met with such disdain not only from critics, but also from the very fandom that praised Carpenter. What we got instead was a retread of the first film almost beat-for-beat of the original. (Sounding familiar now?) “There is nothing original here,” we cried, yet, that is the very point of any sequel, not matter who made it or what genre it is, sequels can only ever be copies of the first film. That is the point Carpenter was making with the great “Escape from LA.” He did this way back in 1996.

Later on, an unused script laying out a brand new adventure based on the theme of escaping from Los Angeles was discovered and a big hubabaloo was made because it differed vastly and still the fans complained that this unused script should have been the basis of “Escape from L.A.” But since the sequel did poorly at the box-office, there can never be the possibility of a third film, for a trilogy. Yet, fans still clamor for an “Escape from Earth” triquel. I am happy with it never happening, because to me, the fans entirely missed the point of the sequel.

Think of it this way; “Escape from LA” is to “Escape from New York” as is “The Force Awakens” is to “A New Hope”, a long-delayed sequel produced only to appeal to and capture the adoration of the fandom that surrounded the original by practically remaking the first film with enough modern touches to set it apart. Fans wanted more of the same, disguised as epic and cooler. Carpenter made the only sequel that his sensibilities would allow, something unexpected, masked as expected, thumbing their nose at the producers and the over-eager fans wanting that more of the same. He did this back in 1996.

It is a filmmaking sensibility that lost on today’s generation of filmmakers who try to promote a Nuevo form of “Edgy” masked at fan appeasement. Films like “The Force Awakens”, unfortunately, the new “Evil Dead” series (Which locks poor Bruce Campbell forever in a role that he cannot grow as an artist.) and most egregiously, Fox’s “Deadpool”.

The first (Yes, I say ‘first’) “DEAPOOL” movies only wishes it reached such satiric heights of the action genre that “Escape from L.A.” did.” If the producers were as smart as Carpenter, they would simply remake the first film nearly scene for scene with different villains that are just the same villains in different costumes. With extensive use of CGI, they don’t even have to shoot the sequel, just simply replace the heads and faces of the secondary characters and locations. How completely “meta” would that be to sell their fandom the EXACT same film as the first? Now, that would be taking the concept to greater height that the first “Deadpool” failed to even attempt.

Looking on “Escape from LA” with this new lens, you see how much satiric glee that Carpenter bastardized his own film, to make a very subtle point about the point of sequels. Though this new perspective, I find that the genius of John Carpenter remains truly ahead of the game and way over the head of the very fans that worship him.

Judgment: “Escape from LA”: A MASTERPIECE OF SATIRIC CINEMA

Respectfully submitted;

Ernest M Whiteman III, 2017

The Uncomfortable Truth About Growing Up

The Uncomfortable Truth About Growing Up
Or, How to Save “The Simpsons”

Fox Television’s “The Simpsons” has grown to be the longest running animated show in history. It started as crude shorts on “The Tracy Ullman Show” and has since gone on to become such a large popular culture phenomenon that I will wager that anyone reading this can name all of the Simpson Family members and at least three side characters.

Of late, as the show rolls out its twenty-eighth season, criticism has grown that in the past five years, at least, that the show has grown tired and stale, with more pop culture referencing happening than actual storytelling. I must agree because I have not ever, in those last five years, found myself compelled enough to seek out any new episodes. They have grown tired and over-reliant on the formula – Homer gets into a fantastical situation, in which Marge wavers in her support, Bart serves as a comedic foil to Homer, Lisa the condescending liberal voice of reason, and Maggie squeaks on her pacifier, while peripheral characters do what they were created for, to push along Homer on his exploits towards a useless climax that resets everything to status quo and the next episode does this all over again, but maybe they focus on Bart or Marge or Lisa, or one of those many, many side characters. Slate Magazine does this great breakdown of the “Sitcom Formula” that “The Simpsons”, having been on for so long, that many its many fans have come to subconsciously recognize the formula that it bores them.

The writers of “The Simpsons” work in what is called a “floating timeline” which means that while everything changes around them, points of reference in history and pop culture remain, the Family Simpson will stay their set ages. For a while this has work, but now we find ourselves, nationally, in an era of self-reference. Prequels, sequel, reboots, pre-boots, se-boots, and spin-offs all ride that corporate brand recognition train where getting the reference substitutes for comedy writing. Because of this new media mentality, I must agree that the quality of “The Simpsons” in terms of storytelling, character-building, heart, and souls have all suffered in quality.

One day, it struck me that in the quagmire of Internet fandom criticism, that the fix to the quality of the series has been sitting in front of us the whole time, and the show has pulled it off with some of their best episodes, that I am shocked that no one thought of it before. Instead of changing show-runners, or producers, or simply ending the show as many fans scream for, to fix “The Simpsons” is as easy as any reboot can be: age the characters.

That’s right. Reset their ages, stick them back on that floating timeline and you will find such a wellspring of fertile storytelling ground that could possibly help the show last another ten year, at least. Some of the best and most memorable episodes have been the timeline altering peeks into the character’s futures. Here is how I envision the characters changing in the first episode of this new age, in an episode I want write entitled: “The Inexplicable Eight Year Leap”.

The Simpson Family is now a housed divided; Marge has long had enough of Homer’s antics and has divorced him. She still lives in the familiar home on Evergreen Terrace, having residential custody of the three children who seem happy in the face of their separation. Her primary concern is of Bart, who is now eighteen, and what he will do now that he does not have to live under her roof legally.

Bart: 18 is now in high school having grown out of his childhood wildness and has shown to be more circumspect with an aptitude towards math and business. In this episode, he is a side character to the main plot, but revolves around his trying to win a date with a young lady he has long had a crush on. We see that he still has a steak of wildness about him that he is at constant odds with, which sometimes, humorously, ruin his chances of winning his crush’s heart, much to the worry of his mother.

Lisa: 16, is now a sophomore in high school, now having grown out of her vegan stage, through still a vegetarian, and Buddhist phases, with a lean toward agnosticism and soft liberalism. Hers is the main plot as she is applying to the new charter high school with every family member letting her down in appointment keeping and moral support, and seems very bothered by those name “Simpson” of late. She works out her complications to attend workshops and interview sessions and when a crucial interview is threatened due to the nature of her family, her old grade school substitute teacher shows up to help her get to the crucial appointment, gain the confidence once more to ace the interview, and gives her a glowing review. In a twist, she may give him his own confidence back as a teacher as he faces his age. (In later episodes and seasons we learn of his passing and how it affects Lisa.) Lisa is not as lauded for her intelligence as before and she harbors the notion that she suffers from a chemical imbalance that mires her in depressions. Much of the focus of the new episodes is of Lisa learning to live with this challenge and find balance with it. Writers could find that balance of finding humor with her character without making fun of her affliction.

Maggie: 8 or 9, is very much the New Lisa; an academic and artistic superstar, in which Lisa fears and, is proud of, the fact that Maggie may be smarter than she ever was; progressive, staunchly so, feminist, artistic, world-weary, musically inclined towards a number of instruments while practicing none, more likely to debate her sister, often correcting her outdated assumptions. “Well, actually,” will become a phrase that drives Lisa up the wall. It is the crux of antagonism between them, as they will often clash. Maggie is the physical evolution of Lisa’s ideology. Maggie will be the true, subtle star of the new era, as she has learned many things from her family which showcases how much the Simpson clan is truly a caring and supporting lot when all is said and done, and in a bouts of vulnerability, she harbors the secret hope that her parents will get back together. Over the course of the new episodes, we find out from whom she has learned her ways – her morals are from her mother, her stubbornness, her father, her fearlessness, her brother, but most important, and this can be the tie that binds the two sisters when Lisa is at her nadir, she learned her ideals and courage from a big sister who stood up to so many things in her young life. How can she not see Lisa as her hero in her life?

Marge: will have gone back to policing to make ends meet which can be troublesome as she will not be at home as often as she would want. This can be the primary conflict between her and her two daughters. She has an easy-going, attractive demeanor while dealing with Chief Wiggum and his impending retirement, which has him sweating bullets. It will be implied that Marge is back on the dating scene much to the chagrin of her remaining sister Selma; Patty long having passed from lung cancer. Flanders and she are the rumored couple now, much the chagrin of Homer, though in reality, they are only close friends. As an officer of the law she encounters many of the aged side characters of the show in various ways and often finds ways to help them out of their predicaments. She remains the moral center of the show, only more solidly so than in the past seasons. She is a woman more sure of herself.

Homer: is down to one line on his head and it is gray. Having won a lawsuit against the nuclear plant, he now lives in semi-retirement in a bungalow with his dying father Abe. He takes the occasional odd job here and there to help friends and this is where we see his growth of character. Here is a man who has learned to be more careful and of the value of family. He no longer goes on wacky adventures and is more concerned at being there for his kids now that the family is split and often dispenses nuggets of wisdom accrued by those wacky adventure to help his visiting children cope with their growing lives. Flashback episodes can involve some of those wacky adventures. Homer becomes more of a background character and maybe, sooner or later, a lovely country singer comes back into his life giving him one last chance to get romance right.

The sad fact is that the characters of the Simpsons are stuck in a history and at ages that they cannot easily be written for anymore. The go-to solution is to mire their stories in pop culture referencing and lost are some of the human touches that made the series great worthwhile viewing in its earlier and middle seasons. Now, we only stay for the opening couch gag, and then change the channel. But what happens when Bart is suddenly 18 and needs to be in two places at once? Or Lisa has to compromise one of her long-standing principles to secure her dream summer job? Or that Maggie now has a more complete function in the world of ‘The Simpsons’? How do we view Homer now that he is older and wiser, and Marge who is more confident in herself and her purpose?

Aging the characters was used to great affect in some flash-forward episodes and maybe two to five seasons of writing that subverts all those expectations, making the Simpson Family more human and relatble again is what is needed to help to series flourish once again.

Respectfully Submitted,

Ernest M Whiteman III

PS: I do have futures in mind for such characters as Milhouse and the Bullies that is mature and kind of complex, but aging the characters dovetails with these complications nicely and steering the series into a more dramatic function can also help, in my opinion. – EW3

"If You Must Blink, Do It Now" - The Best Of Stuff 2016

“If You Must Blink, Do It Now”
TOP TEN OF 2016
My Best of Stuffs Lists
By Ernest M Whiteman III

I’m going to be frank with you all. I have been out of work since April and running into all kinds of financial problems, so I could not go out and see a lot of movies and buy DVDs and books and music like I have in years past. But from that I have had to be more carful in what I selected in watching and buying. Plus, the public library is a great place to catch up on books.

So, here we are once again at the ending of another year, this time it is 2016. As with other years, we have been inundated with a plethora of media that demand our attention, our responses, and our opinions and actions, because these things are more important than creating a world we can all live in peaceably. Also, as in other years, I have compiled what I think are the bestest things of that all-attention-grabbing media and force you to listen to my opinions on them, like some drunken uncle at a holiday meal. But you are too polite to say anything for causing undue “drama” at a time when we are supposed to be nice to that stupid, stupid uncle.

BOOKS of 2016

This has been another good year for me, book-wise. I was able to read a lot more this year and I have had my mind and eyes opened through reading for the first time in a long time. Is that not the purpose of books to begin with? Unfortunately, due to all the added reading, I have read “Three Kingdoms” only once (!) last year. So, what did I think were the best things in books this past year? Please note that I will not include a list of brand new books, as I have not really gotten around to reading anything new. But without further ado:

Still Reading: “THE THREE BODY PROBLEM” Cixan Liu – About an alien invasion that takes place within an online multiplayer video game that asks participants to try and solve “the three body” problem. I am only halfway through as I started reading on other things and I bought a paperback so I can come back to it. I found it difficult to follow at first due to the nature of the sciences involved but I am enjoying it.

Still Reading: “GODLESS” Dan Baker – Lately, one of my personal heroes. About his de-conversion from an Evangelical minster to one of the nation’s leading atheist advocates. Just started this one.

Received as a gift: “The Inconvenient Indian” by Thomas King – Sorry, haven’t read it yet. Got it got participating on a panel at a conference at Northwestern’s “On Book, One Northwestern” event. I peaked at some of the chapter and most of it contains things I have been saying for years.


5. “IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF CRAZY HORSE” Joseph Marshall III (Library) I checked this out because it was released in the glut of Native YA books that came out after Alexie's "True Diary..." became a hit. I am one of those men that deifies Crazy Horse and do believe Joseph Marshall, a former CWC teacher of mine, wrote THE BEST biography of Crazy Horse and was interested in his foray into young adult novels.

This reads like a typical older person trying to sound like a young teen. But the advantage is that most reservation adults still talk like their young teen selves and not much changes out on a reservation. It is about a young light-skinned boy, who is bullied at school for being so, going on a journey with his grandfather as they retrace the life of Crazy Horse by going to all the important locations he was known to have been. Very touching in that the boy is not insouciant towards his grandpa, but is very loving and respectful toward him.

"Crazy Horse is the only Native man that Native men are allowed to be in love with." EW3

4. “The New Jim Crow” Michelle Alexander (Still Reading) – I am still reading this because after every page I read, I have to put it down in frustration.

3. “THE GUIN SAGA” Kaoru Kurimoto, (Library) Kaoru Kurimoto wrote 130 episodes such as this, this episode is comprised of five short novels, between 1979 and 2009 before her passing. From Wikipedia: "A record 100 volumes were originally planned, but the final total stands at 130 volumes and 22 side-story novels, with the last four volumes and the twenty-second side novel published posthumously. She was working on the 130th volume of Guin Saga up until May 23, 2009, after which point she became too ill to write."

The first five books detailing the "Marches Episode" introduces us to the warrior Guin, whom has the head of a leopard and body of a warrior god, the Twin Pearls of Parros, Rinda and Remus, and Istavan the Rogue, and tells of their adventures in the Rood Wood where evil spirit creatures dwell and in the Nospherus, the wide desert wastes that are home to all manner of beast looking to quench their thirst for blood. The Marches episodes tell of their journey into the wastes to escape the vast Mongual armies, led by a brave warrior princess General Amnelis, and how they must unite the primitive Sem and the mythical Lagon giants to repel them.

Though I have finished all five of the only publish books in the US, I cannot bring myself to take the book back to the library for fear of breaking the spell of what I just discovered within these pages. Here is the list of books:

Book One: The Leopard Headed Warrior
Book Two: The Warrior in the Wastelands
Book Three: The Battle of Nospherus
Book Four: A Prisoner of the Lagon
Book Five: The Marches King

Alas, only five books have been published in English so far. I have stated reading them again. They are written in a very easy, pulp style that I like, though it is a translation. It has shot up to the top of my favorite books list. I am so happy that this has not found a huge audience in the US, as the charm and tone of the tome will be trashed into the Game of Thrones TV Show nonsensical cash grab once it has.

2. “LADY SINGS THE BLUES” Billie Holiday (Library) It is a fascinating autobiography of Billie Holiday titled "Lady Sings the Blues", which is a simple recounting of her life. Just to read all that she went through in her life is stunning, compelling, and ultimately inspiring. She was a very strong woman in any sense and very tied to living life as she wanted.

I am aware that some exclusion, exaggeration and hyperbole arise when telling your own story but when you read this though, you see how she speaks in a way that allows you to read between the lines and you can make the connections for yourself to what she means. Compelling.

1. “Three Kingdoms” Luo Guanzhong, translated by Moss Roberts (Still Reading) – You must be so tired of this by now but I cannot tell you how much this book means to me. On its surface, it is a piece of romanticized historical fiction with a blend of warfare, magic, and politics, with the original text being so dense that many translations are packed into as many as four volumes with copious notations, and over 1000 individual characters that cross the story that tell the saga of the “Three Kingdoms” Era of China, when the country, wracked by constant warfare, falls into three warring kingdoms vying to unite the country. But deeper readings reveal so many personal, political, and storytelling lessons that I am constantly picking up the abridged translation and re-reading at every chance. The stories of valor resonate with me in trying to be complete human being. It opens the book on politics and shows you that even a friend could betray you in the right circumstances, that holding onto a status quo will only push you further towards a fall, and that personal integrity, while a nebulous thing, can be the only solid foundation for building a true life. Read it if you can.

Now, on to music:

MY MUSIC of 2016

I know a lot of you do not really care about my taste in music. You never will. You all like the grungy-punk-electro-rap so-I-can-mention-MIDI-in-my conversations tip that makes you cool. Well, I never subscribed to being “cool”, no one ever thought I was cool, and I really do not care to be cool. “Cool” is fleeting. Good music is subjective and if you cannot comprehend that, I cannot convince you what makes “good music”. I just know what I like and what appeals to me. I also know that that prior text was written for last year’s list but think of it instead as my sample, that I am looping here, cool?

Here is what I bought last year:

The Best of Nina Simone (CD): I finally bought some music from Nina Simone. I have always been curious about her from since my days in Wyoming mainly because she had a cool fucking name: Nina Simone. Then, my interested was further piqued when I watch the Bridget Fonda bomb of a remake “Point of No Return” when Nina’s music was featured. It was when I here “Another Spring” in a Starbucks maybe three years ago that I fell in love with her music. I remember that I once tried to see her live once at the Chicago Theater not long after I moved here. So, I should try and take in one of the greats. But alas, a mere two months before the show, it was sold out. It was the closest I got to seeing her play live. I was further intrigued when I saw the two documentaries “The Amazing Nina Simone” and “What Happened, Miss Simone?” that opened up her life, her artistic philosophy, which was much like mine, and the mental health issues she faced in silence. None of this however, diminishes her great voice and musical output. I had to own some of her music and when I found “The Best of Nina Simone”, I bought it. I look forward to acquiring more of her music in the coming years.

I did, also, rediscover my former Adobe Youth Voices co-worker’s music and really enjoy it. I push it every chance I get:

Samantha Spencer (SoundCloud): I have worked with Sam for a couple of years and have come to know her in her stances and performances. She would share her music from time to time, but after the job ended, I checked out a Song a Day project she shared and was entranced with the first song “Alarms” which is really good. Sam Spencer is a singer-songwriter who plays a ukulele and sings torch style in that modern twee throaty cadence but there is a heaviness and dark that pervades the spirit of the songs that give them heft and mood, which other modern singers lack. I have not stopped listening to her music since. Check out another song that has become my favorite of hers: By Hand.

This next artist came up in my YouTube Recommendations Feed and I clicked it out of curiosity and now, I am happy I did as I have become a huge fan of hers:

Hako Yamasaki (YouTube): I am surprised that Tarantino has not snapped up this artist yet for his movie soundtracks. When this singer popped up in my YouTube, I ignored it. But it kept popping up, so, out of curiosity, I listened to a song called “Wandering” and the jazzy, bluesy, 70’s R&B style caught me by surprise. I played it on a loop, then checked out the entire album and just fell in love with the voice and style. Then, I checked out a song called “Wandering” and this has become the song I will use in my own action film. It has also become my favorite song of hers.

Hako Yamasaki was a singer on the pop scene of 70’s Tokyo, though she never broke through to mainstream there. Her music today is still widely overlooked. I am just happy enough to know that she exists and that her music is there. I hope she does not get some huge revival like “The Sugarman” because like the Guin Saga, I want this all to myself.

Well, despite not getting many new albums, it has been a remarkable year for me, music-wise with quality and depth over quantity and popularity (though I still love my Billie Holiday albums). I admire more and more the talented musical women and what they work so hard to do.

So, that does it for music. Let’s look at what I got on home video this past year.

MY DVDs of 2016

Patience is the greatest key to finding the DVD that you want. I am so happy that places like Disc Replay, Reckless Records, and Half Price Books exist, because I find that, if I am patient enough, I can find my favorite movies on DVD for a steal. That is how I got my vast library of movies.

THE COMPLETE LADY SNOWBLOOD (CRITERION # 790 & 791) – The first DVD I purchased was under the annual B&N Criterion sale and a film series I have been curious about since learning about it in certain filmmaking circles.

DOCTOR WHO SERIES NINE – PART TWO – I am a late-comer to the Doctor Who Fandom. I am by no means what are called a “Whovian” but have had limited access to the new series. I watched one episode during the 2005 revival with Christopher Eccleston as the Doctor and loved the episode “The End of the World” and vowed to keep watching. But life got in the way and about a decade later finally got the first series and I still hold it as my favorite series of Doctor Who. Now, fandom is always based on likeability and I never cared for Matt Tennent or David Smith, or whoever, but was charmed by the 50th Anniversary episode “Day of the Doctor” and begin watching series Eight and Nine via YouTube reaction videos. Then, I came across PART ONE of Series Nine in Target on sale for cheap and got it on a whim. I am a fan of Capaldi’s Doctor and had to get PART TWO. Great overall series and it made me look forward to Series 10 and the new companion Bill.

THE ASSASSIN – My pick for Best Film of 2015. I had to get it and bought it full price. If you have not seen it, do so. I know it will move slowly for the pew-pew Manly Action Bros and the fight scenes will disappoint but to me, this is a great martial arts film. This and “The Grandmaster” try to dig in beneath the veneer of martial arts and elevates it to something way above somebody knocking out the latest popular MMA fighter.

HE NAMED ME MALALA – Saw the documentary in theaters. Despite having three of his film on home video now, I am not a fan of Davis Guggenhiem. But the story of Malala Yousafzai’s experience overcomes the white, upper-class, liberal agenda of the film. She is a compelling person overall and her story should be known all over.

THE BEST OF U2 (1990 – 2000) – Saw this for cheap and got it. Has some of their best songs from the 90’s “Achtung, Baby!” era to “All That You Can’t Leave Behind” which some call a return to the “classis U2” that I feel belittles U2 and its work to remain relevant. It is that nostalgia thing happening in movies now, being transferred to the music scene and U2, unfortunately, is getting the brunt of it. Anyways, I got this collection.

MAD MAX BEYOND THUNDERDOME – I decided to complete my collection with the most under-appreciated Mad Max film. I first saw this in the theaters and was very enthused by it. At the time, this movie influenced my fashion decisions moreso than “The Road Warrior”. It is a great story that transcends Max into a mythology.

THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST (CRITERION # 70) _ This DVD is one I have been on the fence about for years. I enjoyed its themes and story and even read the novel on which it is based. But, after a while, it felt tedious to me in its depictions and direction. Yeah, I said that, about Scorsese too. But, I felt that having this was important to my own belief systems and filmmaking.

CREED – One of my Top Ten films of last year that I had to own to complete my Rocky Film collection. Plus, it is simply a great story and film.

OLIVER STONE’S THE UNTOLD HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES – Produced for Showtime and offers a great new perspective on US history. I recommend it wholeheartedly.

A TOUCH OF ZEN (CRITERION # 825) – The King Hu classic finally makes it to Criterion in a beautiful restoration. I do not have enough movies featuring a kickass woman lead. I was only recently made aware of the works of King Hu and discovered his “Come Drink with Me” a few years back and enjoyed that one. I was struck at his use of women leads. This one is no exception and at three hours plus, is considered his masterpiece. Watching it, I finally saw the influence he has had on many other films and filmmakers.

CLASSIC ALBUMS: U2 THE JOSHUA TREE – This documentary covers the making of the album “The Joshua Tree”. Saw this DVD for cheap and got it. With the 30th Anniversary Tour coming to Chicago in June, I find it is good to recall the making of this seminal album.

As you can see, I got less DVDs this last year. Thank goodness for sales, resell shops and a whole lot of patience. Let’s move on to movies on the big screen. But first a look back at what I was looking forward to last year:

LOOKING BACK: The Top Ten Films I WAS Looking Forward to in 2016

1. Kubo and the Two Strings (8.19): See List Below

2. Ghostbusters (7.15): My childhood remains intact. Maybe, because I grew the fuck up. Hmm? It was a great and funny showcase for the four leads but worse at when it tried to evoke nostalgia. It was just a remake and we really need to get the fuck over ourselves.

3. X-men: Apocalypse (5.27): I don’t get the hate for this one. It’s a comic book movie not a New Testament. It pulled strings together and wove new stories. I enjoyed it a lot.

4. I Saw the Light (3.25): Good movie that also almost made the Top Ten. I am a Hank Williams fan due to my dad being one. Tom Hiddleston did all right, stop complaining.

5. Shin Gojira (7.29 JP): MISSED! I am beating myself up over missing this one, but it has been a rough year from me financially and employment-wise. I have seen only the original Gojira on the big screen and love it for its drama and allegory, not for the kitsch of a man in a monster suit crushing model cities it has become and I hope this reboot is a throwback to that very serious and intelligent beginning.

6. Deadpool (2.12): Hated it.

7. The Magnificent Seven (9.23): Antoine Faqua directing Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke in a remake of “Seven Samurai”? Sounds intriguing. But it was boring. A revisonist western that does not work as well as it supposed to.

8. Untitled Bourne Movie (7.29): This was since re-titled “Jason Bourne”. I never saw it. Somehow, I do not feel like I missed anything…

9. Doctor Strange (11.4): Passable, will serve as a bridge to get the Guardians of the Galaxy together with the Avengers….

10. Hail, Caesar! (2.5): Not a Good Coen Brothers Film. Skip it.

Wow, only ONE of my Most Anticipated Films of 2015 made the cut!


The “Maybes” of 2016:

Jane Got a Gun (1.29): A Natalie Portman produced and starring western? Maybe. I rented this on DVD and only got past the first act before Bonnie and I got bored with it. Too bad.

Knight of Cups (3.4): The latest Terrence Malick Joint, starring Christian Bale. I just lost interest in it after trudging through his Ben Affleck movie.

Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Whatever (3.25): Ugh. I just avoided this. When it is writ that Ben Affleck is the best thing about your movie, sorry, your movie sucks.

Captain America: Civil War (5.6): This almost made my Top Ten. But I am kind of burning out on the blockbuster.

Snowden (5.13): This came and went so quick. Almost as if someone were trying to hide something…

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (12.16): Yet, another Star Wars story? Telling a story we did not need, simply to show fanboys shit they have seen before. Don’t waste your time. Yeah, diversity in roles, I get it. I am a Northern Arapaho and a filmmaker, but don’t rewrap old packages with different colored paper to make us forget how shallow the box is….

THE “WHY BOTHER” OF 2016:
Meaning, why bother seeing these at all? I probably will because I love my little girl who will want to see them:

ID: Resurgence (6.24) – When Char decided she had enough callback nostalgia films, this movie was the turning point. I avoided it with her.

Star Trek Beyond (7.22) – Actually, kind of enjoyed this one. Maybe because it was not a JJ Abrams Joint.

Suicide Squad (8.5) _ I avoided this one as well. The DCEU Sucks Ass. Seriously, get some standards people….

HIDDEN GEMS THAT I MISSED:

Hunt for the Wilderpeople – I have become a fan of Taika Waititi thanks to “What We Do in the Shadows” and am kind of looking forward to his THOR 3. I heard this story about a young boy and his foster parent evading police was great and funny.

Captain Fantastic – This looked intriguing. Sorry to have missed it.

Shin Gojira – I am still beating myself up over this one. I guess I will have to see it on home video. Rats! Nothing beats seeing a Gojira movie on the big screen.

Miss Hokusai – I missed this at the Siskel Center. I may still get a chance to see it. It is a small drama about the daughter of the artist who painted the famous “Kanagawa Wave”. I find that I am more drawn to the human drama pieces of Anime or Asian animated films. As much as I liked Mayazaki’s “Spirited Away”, I found myself rewatching his “The Wind Rises” and films like “Only Yesterday” from Studio Ghibli. Even, “Ghost in the Shell” is a humanist drama more than a fantasy action film. Anyways, I hope to see this in the new year.

Birth of a Nation – The controversy surrounding the past of this film’s director made this fly under the radar and made audiences avoid it, which is what some people wanted, I guess. I will search for it on home video.

TOP RE-SCREEN & SPECIAL EVENT SCREENINGS OF 2016

From the looks of it, I saw a lot of repeat screenings and special event screenings. Look out; there is a LOT of Orson Welles on this list. Besides being one of my favorite film directors, you have to admit, in his later years, there was a LOT of Orson Welles wherever he went! Ha!  Here is what I saw as a re-screening or special event this year:

8. HAMLET (1996): Branagh’s magnum opus of the full-text play and the primary inspiration for my own full-text version.

7. BLADE RUNNER: Seeing this on the big screen for the first time ever revealed many small things – from the use of matte paintings (to the film’s detriment) to the child-like behavior of the Nexus 6 replicants.

6. BLAZING SADDLES: I do not think a movie like this can be made today – not because of PC (whatever that means) culture but because no one understands satire anymore.

5. GHOSTBUSTERS (1984): The original classic, viewed in 70mm. My childhood remains intact.

4. RIFFTRAX LIVE: MOTHRA: Seeing the gang riff the kaiju classic.

3. RIFFTRAX LIVE: TIME CHASERS: They re-riffed this film from their MST3K days and it was great.

2. THE CHIMES AT MIDNIGHT: Welles’ best film, well, one of them. I am so happy Criterion has released this one. I recently checked out Welles’ “The Immortal Story” and have to conclude that Welles’ latter work did not diminish his talent. This is one of the best Shakespeare adaptations I have seen on screen. Welles is true master.

1. RIFFTRAX LIVE: MST3K REUNION! (Saw twice!): This was a great event and funny as hell. We saw it twice in the theater and now we own the DVD.

OTHER NEW MOVIES I SAW IN 2016:

THE REVENTANT: 2015 holdover… the film that Dicaprio finally won an Oscar for…

SPOTLIGHT (2015 Rescreen): One of my Top 15 Films last year. This is such a great film that covers such an important period of contemporary history. I recommend that everyone see this film.

WHERE TO INVADE NEXT: Almost made this year’s Top 10, but there were better films out there. A rare ray of optimism before the whatever comes next for this country….

MAD MAX FURY ROAD (2015 Rescreen): Best Film of 2015. The “No Mel, No Max” Bro-skies need to grow up.

WHISKEY TANGO FOXTROT: Funny film about a journalist’s adrenaline addiction, starring Tina Fey.

RACE: Pretty vanilla retelling of the Jessie Owens story. Skip it. Try “Birth of a Nation” or “Straight Outta Compton” first.

ZOOTOPIA: Barley missed the top ten. I guess I could have made a Top 16 of 2016 but didn’t feel like expanding the list that far.

MIDNIGHT SPECIAL: Same, just missed the top ten. A pretty neat sci-fi story that collapses with the big reveal.

FINDING DORY: Another unneeded PIXAR Sequel, though Charlotte loves it for its “The Wire” reunion…

HELL OR HIGH WATER:  Meh, a lot of people liked it. I did not. So there. I appear to be the only one on the whole Andromeda Galaxy that did not…

That takes care of all the new films that did not make the Top Ten. I hope hearing about them helps.

So here we are at last:

EW3'S TOP 10 MOVIES of 2016

This time I will try to keep it to first-run, brand new movies, and not include re-screenings or special event screenings. I was surprised with how many really good, smaller, independent films that were out and no one was paying attention to at all.  So here we go with what I thought were the best movies of 2016. It does come down to my own personal taste:

10. ELVIS & NIXON (DVD): Director, Liza Johnson – I saw this on DVD and really enjoyed it. Michael Shannon is especially great as Elvis Presley in this highly stylized and partially fictionalized account of the historic meeting between Elvis and President Richard Nixon. Kevin Spacey is on hand to do a prolonged Nixon impersonation and the wacky high jinks ensue as they learn to navigate each other’s personalities to get what they want. For Elvis, it is a federal badge. For Nixon, it is legitimacy with youth. What I loved most is that in the middle of all these shenanigans, both actors really humanize their respective roles. You can see the out-of-touch desperation of Nixon, and the little-boy-lost of Elvis which only these two specific actors could bring out. It is a great, fun, funny, and for me, touching film.

9. EVERYTHING WILL BE FINE: Director, Wim Wenders – This is a small, dry drama about a writer who accidentally kills a child and how this impacts his life, the life of the mother and brother, who survived the accident. When the writer’s career takes off years later, the brother re-enters his life with an obsession. This story is slow but beautifully constructed, shot beautifully, and well acted by Charlotte Rampling, Rachel Evans, and James Franco, in a subdued performance. Originally shot in 3D, the cinematography is wide, subtle, and framed intelligently. Another Wenders’ film that will go into his already honored oeuvre.


8. THE 13th (Netflix): Director, Ava DuVerney – This is a very important documentary that explores the usage of the loophole in the 13th Amendment, where slavery is abolished except in cases of imprisonment. This makes the very strong case of the Prison Industrial Complex using this loophole to devastating effect on African-American communities to raise profits with cheap labor. It is on Netflix, so check it out if you can.


7. 70 ACRES IN CHICAGO: CABRINI GREEN: Director, Ronit Bezalel – This is another important documentary about the impact of gentrification on the near north neighborhood of Cabrini Green and how it, once again, impacted the African-American community that lived there. To see the tactics it took to move a whole neighborhood of people out of their long-time homes is crazy and to see the affect of gentrification on the community people themselves is surprising. To keep up with this project, visit the producers’ website. {{LINK: http://70acresinchicago.com/}}


6. PHANTOM BOY: Directors, Jean-Loup Felicioli and Alain Gagnol – This animated feature by French filmmaker Alain Gagnol is about a cancer stricken boy who has developed the superpower to leave his body, and when he meets an disabled Policeman, must use his gift to help him stop the machinations of a villain holding the city of New York to hostage. It is drawn is a great, bright style. I saw this as part of the Chicago Children’s International Film Festival but saw it again recently on home video. What I love best, is how the boy is not disabled by his illness, he is empowered. It is a great little film that I hope gains more exposure.


5. GREEN ROOM: Director, Jeremy Saulnier (Blue Ruin) – This one flew under a lot of people’s radar. Saulnier, who directed another of my best films a couple of year’s ago, “Blue Ruin”. Saulnier is great a constructing small, compact stories, with interesting characters, in very tightly constructed worlds. Here a punk band on a dwindling tour finds itself stuck in the green room of a Neo Nazi bar after witnessing a murder and must find a way to escape. Anton Yelchin, in one of his last roles is great as the bandleader, a burnt out, dispassionate young man, who finds himself in a battle of life and death. His band is a surprise as they reveal hidden talents and determination, as they all must pull together to survive. The real revelation is Patrick Stewart as the lead Neo Nazi and owner of the bar who must deal with the situation in a wry, world weary, and comic performance that had me fearing, loathing, and laughing. It is truly a great performance. Check it out on home video if you can.

THIRD SPOT TIE:

3. MOONLIGHT: Director, Barry Jenkins – “Moonlight” was a film I had heard little about but my little girl wanted to see it and I was interested enough to se it too. It is one of the best films on the African-American experience that I have seen in a long time. It follows the story of a young boy’s journey into adulthood. It is his search for his identity that drives the actions and makes the story compelling. Three actors all play the young boy at various ages into adulthood. It covers identity in various ways, either as an African-American, a homosexual, gang culture, or the forgotten communities of Cubans. It is beautifully shot, acted, and crafted. I recommend it at the highest. Go out and see it.


3. ARRIVAL: Director, Denis Villeneuve – This is probably the best science fiction film I have seen in quite a long time. What I think I love most about this is that Google labels this as "Mystery Science", which as any of you know, the significance of that term to me. As Google describes it: "Linguistics professor Louise Banks (Amy Adams) leads an elite team of investigators when gigantic spaceships touch down in 12 locations around the world. As nations teeter on the verge of global war, Banks and her crew must race against time to find a way to communicate with the extraterrestrial visitors. Hoping to unravel the mystery, she takes a chance that could threaten her life and quite possibly all of mankind."

Denis Villeneuve has done a couple of films I never cared about "Prisoners" and "Sicario", both I found overwrought in a lot of ways, cleverness for the sake of cleverness. Here, he pulls back and goes for a more subdued tone and story. As you read above, it is a fairly standard "sci-fi plot" but for the acting, the cinematography, the editing structure is great, and elevates it above his previous works; for me, at least. It feels like a Terrence Malick/Christopher Nolan hybrid in Malick's cinematography and voiceover, and how Nolan's best films should be edited, and done in the structure of both filmmakers.

There is not a wasted performance in this, the stakes are high, and the way humanity reacts to the arrival is very realistic, and the resolution is very surprising and has much to say about the need for empathy. I do not want to spoil what the resolution is and how it settles the whole plot as I think it was very unexpected and very fitting within the context of the story.


2. KUBO AND THE TWO STRINGS: Director, Travis Knight – I love stories about storytelling. I recently re-watched this with Bonnie and was very moved by many aspects of the story and characters, even when knowing the twists and outcomes. Laika Animation is fast becoming the place for epic stop-motion movies. This is a story of a young storyteller that uses magic to treat villagers to tales of heroism. But this is a great exploration of the fabled Hero’s Journey as Kubo is the very thing that must be discovered and he journey to find three magical pieces of armor to help protect him from his grandfather the Moon King and his two sinister Aunts. It is a journey of revelations and high adventure and great animations. It borrows heavily from Japanese samurai culture but is more a loving homage to martial arts films. From the time I saw this in theaters, it was at my Number One spot of 2016 for a long time. Then, I saw…


1. IXCANUL: Director, Jayro Bustamante – I went and saw this at the Gene Siskel Film Center just as it was closing out a limited run, but I know I had to see it before the year ended and was a good thing I did. It is probably the Best Film I have seen this year. I scraped up my pennies and ventured out to see this Mayan Guatemalan/French production of Jayro Bustamante's film. It was well worth the time and money. Beautifully shot, beautifully acted, and beautifully executed, this film tells the story of a young Kaqchikel woman, Maria, on the verge of an arranged marriage, whom does her best to avoid it. The story is simple but the choices she makes and their outcomes are complex and reflective of the culture she lives and the station the women in the community.

Both lead actresses are the best I have seen in any film. María Mercedes Coroy is great as the young Maria trying her best to satisfy her parents while struggling with her own needs. María Telón is spectacular as her mother, who while shocked at her daughter's actions, gives nothing but support for her survival. The mother became my favorite character of the story. I teared up many times watching this film.

It is a great film about contemporary Indigenous peoples and communities. Guatemalan director Bustamante directs with an assurance and keen focus on the characters without drowning it in anthropological cultural information that have wrecked other Native films by having to explain every little detail, mostly through voiceovers, as if attending the film were supposed to enlighten rather that tell the stories of Native people from their gaze. So wit; what I disliked about going to see it was the idea of a white person, a man, giving a lecture on Indigeneity and feminism. I found it distasteful.

The film returns to the Siskel Film Center on January 8. I recommend you go and see it. I probably will.

Seriously, with out a doubt, the BEST FILM OF 2016… that I saw.


Well, all 38 movies I saw last year are accounted for. Honestly, I think I have e very good list this year. I just did not care to see such things as “The Lobster” or “La La Land”, “The Nice Guys” and “Everybody Wants Some”, but I also avoided the DCEU Movies as well. I guess I did all right. So, lets take a look at the year ahead as it just gets started….


Looking Forward to in 2017:
Since we got through all that, let's take a look at what I am looking forward to this year. Now, if I have learned anything doing these lists it is that the best films are not the huge blockbusters that I was looking forward to last year. I think that is a lesson I should continually be shown again and again. Meaning, that I will probably have movies not listed here on my Best of 2017 List next year as the small and independent films barely get cover in media or even listed on Wikipedia. So, based on research and trailers, here are the films I am looking forward to in 2017:

1. Dunkirk – Christopher Nolan: This tells the little known story of the evacuation of Dunkirk. I am interested in how Nolan will tackle a war film. There was news that he wanted to crash a vintage plane, but I think he was dissuaded from doing so. The cast alone, including Kenneth Branagh, Tom Hardy, and Mark Rylance, makes this my most anticipated film. JULY 21


2. John Wick: Chapter Two – Chad Stahelski, David Leitch: The first part was such a sleeper due to being a very well put-together action film with Keanu Reeves taking on what I am sure to be an iconic role. This film expands on the world of the Assassin’s World as John Wick appears to take on the higher echelons of power. The trailer looks great and most fans are excited to see a “Matrix” reunion with Reeves and Laurence Fishburne are onscreen together once again. FEBRUARY 10.


3. War for the Planet of the Apes – Matt Reeves: This series has been a surprise hit both with audiences and critics, with a retelling of the 70’s series with a modern spin addressing multiple themes with each film. “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” was such a step up from the very great first film “Rise of the Planet of the Apes”. This is looking to be yet another step up as the themes of warfare and humanity are explored. JULY 14


4. The LEGO Batman Movie – Chris McKay: This is a spin-off of the well-received “The LEGO Movie” that was a hit a couple of years ago. Although I personally did not care for it too much, I did enjoy the portrayal of LEGO Batman, voiced by Wil Arnett. It seems that they are imposing Arnett’s comedic personality onto Batman and I hope the result is fun and funny. I am a fan of Arnett’s but I know a little of his persona goes a long ways. Still, this in the ONLY Batman movie I care to see currently. FEBRUARY 10


5. Logan – James Mangold: This is the third of a Wolverine trilogy of film and the supposed FINAL portrayal of the character by Hugh Jackman, who was made a huge star in the role. The trailer looks spare and bleak, and the cinematography reflects this. The use of Johnny Cash’s cover of Nine Inch Nail’s “Hurt” in the trailer has helped sell a lot of people, including myself, on this film. The trailer alone moved this movie up from the “Maybe’s List”. My only worry is, that I have been burned before by “The Wolverine”, where I was expecting a grand ninja battle, but was given a lame third act instead. We will see. I only have to watch the trailer again and my enthusiasm returns. MARCH 3


6. I Am Not Your Negro – Raoul Peck : This is about the intellectual James Baldwin and the exploration on the need for whites to have a “negro” in society and how that affects the vast populations of African-Americans in America. The treatment of African-Americans is a social justice topic that I have had my own eyes opened to in recent years. FEBRUARY 3


7. Saving Banksy – Colin Day: This film explores the connection between commerce and art, a subject I am very interested in, in regards to Native American art. Though I do not care for Banksy, I am interested at how much collectors and experts continually lock artists and their creations into a structure of capitalism. I will definitely see this one, either in the theater or on home video. JANUARY 13


The MAYBE’S OF 2016
Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 2 – Enjoyed the first one. But, recapturing the flavor of a success is not success. They will need to really expand on the characters and story.

Thor: Ragnarok – I have not been blown away by any of the Thor Movies I saw, despite Kenneth Branagh’s directorship on the first one. (I only saw the first one) This one has Taiki Waititi and he deserves a chance like this . He has also put together some good comedies…. So, should I worry? Is Marvel taking their “Fun Tone” a bit too serious?

The Dark Tower – I want to see this though I have no interest in the book series. I found them dull. Movies now are hinging on nostalgia and folks want to see a young Clint Eastwood rather than Edris Ilba, so, I don’t think this will be as successful as it should be. Because, fanboys are fucking crybabies… I think they will pull a “Ghostbusters” on it.

Murder on the Orient Express – a Kenneth Branagh Joint, remaking a classic… movie? I do not remember the first versions of this story. We’ll see. Maybe.

Wonder Woman – Patty Jenkins directing the big DC Comics property featuring an Amazon Princess? Woefully, miscast in my opinion but I hope it is good. DCEU needs something good to succeed rather than relying heavily on the nostalgic connections of fans to their IP’s… You just know they will want some reference to the Wonder Woman TV series….


The “WHY BOTHER” of 2017
A short list of movies I will not bother to see, unless my little girl wants to see them, then, I will, because, I love her:

JUSTICE LEAGUE: Well, everything about setting up the whole DC Expanded Universe Movies has been bobbled from the start. “Man of Steel” with all its weaknesses did provide a great starting point for growth that they just never followed up on. These films are messes that no one wants to admit to because it is enough to just see their fave superheroes doing things. Which is stupid.

GHOST IN THE SHELL: Nothing will ever reach the acting and philosophical heights of the original 1994 anime film. The new film will be nothing but a nostalgic, callback to specific shots movie that seems more influenced by “Akira” than “Ghost in the Shell”.

STAR WARS EPISODE VII – I guess we all owe Carrie Fisher to go out and see this suddenly, right?


Well, that will do it for this year, or, for last year. Yeah, yeah, Blade Runner 2049, as long as they show skyhoppers and replicants, and glowing pupils, have shoot-outs, and have shallow discussions about existence, you’ll be cool with it. I don’t care. No interest in anything else that you feel I missed. If it is not on this list in any form, I don’t care about it. Really.

I know, I know, a lot to wade through just to get a stupid opinion and read the Riot Act about taste. But, that is why you read this every year. People want their opinions repeated back at them to be validated, or they want an opposing opinion to shoot down, all for ego’s sake. But the list keeps me writing and it helps me sort my own opinions about what is essentially useless stuff and opinions that we give meaning to.

So, tune in again next year to see if my opinions match yours or if yours are so much better in musical and movie tastes.

Until next year….

2016 Ernest M Whiteman III