"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

PEOPLE, THEY LOVE BLOOD: The Best of 2014

People, they love blood.

They love action. Not this talky, depressing, philosophical bullshit.
The Top Ten (More or Less) Best of Stuff Lists

By Ernest M Whiteman III

The allotted span of three hundred and sixty-five days entitled "2014" has passed. As we started working through the next allotted portion, I take a look back at what I think were the best things of the year, because that is way much more important than say, world peace, what the best movies were. Very important.

But, as I usually do, I hold that for last as I plunge into more than simple movies. I typically include books and music. So, here they are, loosely defined as the "Best of 2014" for your reading pleasure and my ego's satisfaction:

BOOKS of 2014

I have not bought many books this last year as in previous years, nor did I check uch out from the library. I could not find any new books that intrigued me enough to read or buy new books. Son, once again the top spot goes to the Moss Roberts translation of “Three Kingdoms” which I read four times last year:

5. The Three Kingdoms (Tuttle Publishing) - This is a brand new translation by Tuttle Publishing, which is famous for bringing Eastern, primarily Asian, texts to the West. This is a new, high-gloss print that once I saw in the B&N, I knew I had to pick up and own. I am always on the lookout for new translations of "Three Kingdoms" so I was pretty pleased to see this. But the first strike against it came when I read the description on the back:

"…a guide to success in life and business…” Why is it that anglo-Western audiences always have to turn Eastern philosophies into horse shit about “business”? Strike two also comes from the description:

"…will appeal to modern readers who find the twists and turns of ‘Game of Thrones’ so compelling." Believe me, the story of the Three Kingdoms, owes nothing to the TV series Game of Thrones. Then I began reading it.

I am sorry to say that the story has been subtly westernized, which is shitty. They call "Heaven" or "The Heavens", which typically means the sky, stars, and weather, sometimes, providence, God. Yes. Then, they call Buddhists monks or Confucian Mystics, Saints. I get it. China and Asia in general have a growing Christian population, but you don't re-write your histories, (Yes, these are based on historical events) to suit modern tastes. I guess these were re-translated to appeal to western audiences. So, I am slogging through less detailed text than I am used to with the Roberts' translations, even the footnotes are paltry as if they did not want to engage the reader's brain and actually try to make it like "Game of Thrones", which is stupid as "Three Kingdoms" is ten times better than that series.

I typically breeze through 2 -3 chapters while reading the other translations in my free time. But I have found myself just barely making three pages at a time with this one. I still love the story and characters but this has been a tough read from the beginning. Still, I would recommend this as an ease-in to the longer, unabridged editions, read this before you read the #2 pick on this list.

4. Deathmatch v.1-3 (BOOM! Press) A long-finished miniseries about kidnapped superheroes who must fight their archenemies and each other in order to save the universe in a series of death matches. The catch is they do not know why they are doing it until they enter the fighting arena and then their memories are erased afterwards. This is a good miniseries with a lot of intrigue and mythologies. Very good. I recommend.

3. Ms. Marvel #1-8 (Marvel Comics) As soon as I read that Marvel was making Ms. Marvel a Muslim teenager, I knew I had to start reading this. It is bad enough that many typically portray people of Islam badly and I thought it was pretty brave for Marvel to switch many of their main characters to people of color, i.e.: Ultimate Spider-man became a African-Mexican teenager and Captain America became an African-American man, and hell, even Thor became a woman, much to the chagrin of their audiences. I never cared about who Ms. Marvel was or how she fit into the overall Marvel Universe, but the title is fun, funny, adventurous, and comes from a point of view not regularly seen in comics and from which it draws its humor and adventure from: being a teenaged girl. Kudos Marvel, you got me buying comic books again. The trade paperback of the first six issues is out now. Get it. The two-part Wolverine appearance is awesome!

2. Three Kingdoms - Moss Roberts, Single Volume Abridged UC Press Edition

1. Three Kingdoms - Moss Roberts, Four-volume, FLP Edition

No surprises here. What can I say about these books that I am in continual reading of that I have not writ before? I still not have found a book or book series that draws my attention away from “Three Kingdoms”. Even while reading “A Song of Ice and Fire”, I was still reading “Three Kingdoms” on the side.

On to music:

MY MUSIC of 2014

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. This list reflects what appealed to me but probably would not be “good music” to you:

5. The National - The Boxer

Now, in the long absence of U2 on the music scene, my friend Dave introduced me to an up-and-coming band called The National. I was skeptical at first, until I heard this track from them. Then, I was firmly on board. “The Boxer” is their third album and the first one I could find in the library to check out and listen to. “Fake Empire” is a masterful song about self-illusion. The album is full of great tunes overall and the lead singer is a baritone instead of a tenor which makes the music that much more interesting. This is a very good album.

4. REM - Collapse into Now

It had been a while since I tuned into anything REM had been doing, since “Monster” at least. When I first heard “Oh My Heart” on the p.a. at the coffee shop in 2012, I immediately looked it up and found that it was on their at-the-time, next album “Collapse into Now” which I promised myself to check out. Later, listening to tracks via the Internet, I was pleased that it had a fresh, yet-familiar sound to it. Then, I read this would be their last album. I have been a REM fan since I was in high school. They were the other band I enjoyed outside of U2 and the BoDeans. Hearing about their end was saddening but I understood their stance on it.

“Collapse into Now” was a recent purchase, an ever pushed-back promise to get, ever since I heard it in that coffee shop that time. Once I got it put it on and was happy with the result. Strong songs from beginning to end in that familiar REM jang and tumble, with that outstanding single “Oh My Heart” being, coincidentally, the heart to this, their final release. I know that I will be enjoying it years from now, much like I do, “Document”, “Green”, “Out of Time” and “Automatic for the People”. “Collapse into Now” is what final records should be and are not.

3. The National - Trouble will Find Me 
2. The National - High Violet

So, after listening to “The Boxer” straight on for a month, (Thank you for the new 15 online renewal system at CPL) I immediately sought out their latest stuff. Low and behold, B&N held a Buy 2, Get 1 Free sale and so I grabbed “Trouble will Find Me”, “High Violet” and “The Boxer” in one trip.

While I admit this output is more radio-friendly than their early work, I have not heard them too much on the radio to make that determination that their early works are any better. Still, these are strong albums with a rich, complex and different sound than the usual radio fare. Most people I talk to about them call them “Depression Music”, but this means they are not listening to the lyrics or hearing the messages beneath.

I really enjoy both albums but prefer “High Violet” over “Trouble will Find Me”. But the tune “I Should Live in Salt” has become one of my favorite all-time songs for the message it bears and how it connects me to my family back home on the reservation.

“High Violet” is filled with so many good tracks, but the two that shine the most for me are “Runaway” and “England”, two in-the-car-alone-sing-along songs that pack musical and emotional wallops for me. If you have to or want to check out only one “The National” album, if recommend “High Violet.”

1. U2 - Songs of Innocence

For me, U2 is always as good as their latest album. Much like the James Bond Series, who ever is the current Bond is the favorite. I have enjoyed every single one of there albums. It has been about five years since their last album, the much-ignored “No Line on the Horizon” was released and in the meantime, U2 has slipped beneath the radar of relevance. So much so, that when they released “Songs of Innocence” for free on iTunes, my niece downloaded it and thought they were an “Old School” Styled NEW band! (“They use drums and guitars!”) Because of this, “Songs of Innocence” has had an uphill struggle to gain an audience. This is probably the first time, since their inception that U2 has been in this situation. I find “Songs of Innocence” to be a really great album. Placed side-by-side with their other works, this stands out.

The album starts strong with “The Miracle (of Joey Ramone)” a loud, shouty crowd-rouser of an opener that I can easily see as the opening of their recently announced tour. It is a tribute to a moment in time when the singer first heard The Ramones. There are many strong tracks on this one; “Every Breaking Wave” of which this studio version sounds better than the rough sketch they played on their last tour, “Iris” a song about Bono’s mother. This album is full of songs about ‘first times’, like falling in love or hearing a noise. But I also like the rockers like “Raised by Wolves” and “Volcano” which gives their rhythm section a chance to shine. “Cedarwood Road” is another rocker about the street Bono grew up on. My favorite off the whole album is “A Song for Someone” which is sweet and tender and aching. This is a good album.

I have been a fan since I first heard their “War” album. My brother Allen introduced them to me via “The Unforgettable Fire” of which he had the LP. Then a couple of missionaries showed up at the school and played “Sunday Bloody Sunday” and “40” to a group of Indian kids. I was the only one in the class who had heard of them. When “The Joshua Tree’ came out I practically stole Allen’s copy and geeked out over them. In high school, I wanted to be the Edge. I even loved “Rattle and Hum” which all fans tend to overlook now. I saw the movie, loved it and because of them and that movie, I decided to be a filmmaker. (A short story but long explanation.) Of course, they will never sound like they did during “The Joshua Tree” Era, nor should they. They have earned that right to try to make music that they are proud of and not what an audience wants. Which is also why I respect them. They stick to their principles in music if nothing else.

I always found it strange, that as good a band U2 is, their personal and business shenanigans notwithstanding, fans always seem to be stuck on how they do not sound like U2 anymore and make constant referrals to their “early work”, as if that was when the band was most creative. That is because we cannot admit that we are aging and that our f*cking-A awesome musical tastes are themselves slipping into the sea of irrelevance and make no impact to the earbud wearers of today. Which is why we crank on about: “In my day, we listened to REAL music! That phony, East-Europey, techno-hip-hop, sample-laden, Skrillex horseshit that I listened to when my age was what was being sold to the most, was REAL, it was real music. Made by pushing a button that played a sample of someone else’s beats and chords, but I rearranged them into something that is ART!”

“Songs of Innocence” is a great album, a much better entry to what is currently out there right now and a better alternative than what is on the radio, and is the best album I bought last year.

PS: If you are still going on about their free album release on iTunes, you have no clue about how cloud space works, about civil rights, and the legalese of user end agreements that you blindly agree to.

My DVDs of 2014

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 library of movies. I know, Blu-ray, but I am still happy with DVD’s for now and do not think I will ever convert to online viewing. First and foremost, I prefer seeing movies in the theater. That is the exhibition forms all movies are made for. Seeing a great film on the big screen is what makes the experience of a movie “true” to me. Yes, this includes the loud whisperers, punk kids, and the ever-annoying I-Think-I’m-So-Clever Riffers, as they are a part of the world of the theater-going experience. If a movie can rise above that, and hold everyone’s attention then that adds to the luster of being a great film. Well, for me, anyway.

Thanks to cut-rate, resell shops, super sales, and a whole lot of patience, I was able to, on my (very) meager income to really stock up my home DVD library this year with more careful choices and old favorites. Take a look at what I got (in order of most recent purchase) with added commentary:

The Godfather Trilogy: The Coppola Restoration (brand new, on sale): this is a trilogy that is probably in every guy’s collection (or should be). I tell my girls that if you want to understand guys, watch “The Godfather”. Though, recently a lady friend of mine said that, that the Standard Guy Movie has become “Fight Club”, which is kind of disappointing. Still, this is a restored edition. I have another copy of this trilogy already, but this one is a Director-approved color restoration and I could not pass up the sell price. I am not opposed to owning more than one copy of a film as something’s, depending on the video distributor, there are differing special features and commentary tracks on them.

Cosmos Season One (resell): I bought this sight-unseen as I do not have satellite, cable or antennae for television. I do not subscribe for TV shows, (“shows are free, man!”) so I am pretty ignorant of what is popular now on the big, colorful, flashing box that rules us all. I am a firm follower of reason and logic so this series appealed to me right away and watching it, I learned so much about this great big, so little thing we call the Universe and the people that tried to teach us about it. I recommend this series for everyone. Everyone!

Infernal Affairs (sale @ B&N): This is film that Scorsese’s “The Departed” was remade from. It stars the great Tony Leung and Andy Lau as an uncover cop and crook, respectively and how close they both come to being discovered while trying to find one another, and is much more tense and complex than the watered-down American version. Yeah! I said that. Check it out before you ever watch “The Departed” and you see what I mean. If you have seen “The Departed” first, well, I recommend staying away from “Infernal Affairs” because it just will not be for you. It has no Matt Damon in it. Sorry. “Infernal Affairs” is an excellent and the superior film.

Apocalypse Now: The Complete Dossier (resell): I had been interested in the changes of the “Redux Edition” for sometime but never really found a copy anywhere that would be worth the price. So, as I stated before, with a lot of patience, I found “The Complete Dossier” edition that contained both the original cut and the new Redux cut of Coppola’s crazy Vietnam War Odyssey based on Joe Conrad’s “Heart of Darkness”. This is another “Guy Film” for some reason. Most people are caught up in the “Ride of the Valkyries” Assault and all the projected male-machismo that the message of a sane nation going insane in a wrong-headed war is lost on many people. Still, glad I got this because I have decided the additional scenes of the Redux, really add nothing to nor take anything from this message.

The Passion of Jon of Arc – Criterion (resell): I knew of Carl Dryer’s work since film school and what intrigued me the most was his “The Passion of Joan of Arc” which has seen several different cuts since its first screenings. The people at Criterion have found the most completed cut and released it. I checked it out from the library a few times and enjoyed the extras feature that discusses the actual changes to the film with version-to-version comparisons. This is something I wish more DVDs had done. But the film itself is beautiful in its scope and detail and the story compelling in its performances and shot selections. It is truly one of the great films of the medium and I would recommend it heartily.

On the Ice (online order): When I first saw this at the Siskel Center in early 2012, I knew I was seeing something special. A Native film that did not rely on the stereotypical cultural images, and used the contemporary stereotypes to shift the gaze of Native peoples and have it focus on this taut thriller. It took me some time to get the DVD and regularly use it for my class on “Native Americans in Media” for which it has garnered nothing but accolades. I am happy to own and promote this as the new Native voice in cinema. One of my Number One films from 2012.

The Road Home (eBay): This is one of the few films that makes me cry like a sap. Touching love story set in rural China as directed by one of the greats, Zhang Yimou (Hero, House of Flying Daggers, Red Sorghum, Ju Dou, Raise the Red Lantern, etc.). I had looked for this on DVD for some time and finally was able to secure it. Played it non-stop for the first three days.

Tokyo Story - Criterion 
Early Summer – Criterion (eBay): I won these two in an auctioned two-pack as I already owned “Late Spring” the first of Ozu’s “Noriko Trilogy” with Setsuko Hara. I am just enamored of these three films and am crushing bad on Hara. Touching family dramas about parents and children, life, death, marriage, and social expectations. While “Tokyo Story” gets the label of ‘Masterpiece’, I find that I enjoyed the lesser-known “Early Summer” more. Ozu had a real sensual way of photographing the typical “modern” Japanese woman. (I don’t mean sexualizing them, because he never did that.) In “Early Summer” Noriko’s family is worried about her marriage prospects and work to arrange one for her, but she undermines them by selecting her own fiancée, much to their astonishment. It is scathing in its critique of changing Japanese social norms. “Tokyo Story” finds another Noriko, this time a widowed daughter-in-law, being the only one caring for an elderly coupe as they travel to busy Tokyo to visit their own too-busy children. When the mother takes ill, the tables are turned, as the children must travel home. Both, all three in the “Noriko Trilogy” are excellent, well-shot and scripted films. I really recommend all three if you can find them.

Brazil – Criterion Super Edition (resell): Another one bought sight-unseen. Had heard a lot about Gilliam’s sci-fi epic. This one has both versions of the film. Watched the Director’s Cut and was not overly impressed with it. I understand that at the time it was whiz-bang. So, what do I know?

Throne of Blood – Criterion (resell): Have always wanted to own the Criterion version of this. See re-screen notes below.

Blue Ruin (sale @ BB): One of my favorite movies last year. Got it as soon as it was available.

Late Spring – Criterion (50% @ B&N): The first of the “Noriko” Trilogy. I developed my movie crush on Setsuko Hara with this tender and funny story about a widowed father and his unmarried daughter named “Noriko”, and the family’s efforts to see her married.

Beasts of the Southern Wild (deep discount @ B&N): One of my Number One films from 2012. It is such a great little film that never fails to evoke an emotion response from me.

Three Outlaw Samurai – Criterion (50% @ B&N): Another Criterion bought sight-unseen and worth it.

Purple Noon – Criterion (50% @ B&N): Another Criterion bought sight-unseen and worth it. Based on “The Talented Mr. Ripley” but with Alan Delon instead of Matt Damon.

Medium Cool – Criterion (50% @ B&N): Another Criterion bought sight-unseen and worth it. Haskell Wexler’s film is a commentary on the manipulation of media, which was made back in the late 1960’s. About creating “reality” from reality and has one of the truest, fake “Real” moments as he filmed during the Chicago riots during the Democratic Convention of ‘68. Check it out, as it is still relevant today!

Firefly – Series Boxed Set (resell): I am a fan of the series so I finally got a super beat up boxed set for really cheap. Now, they are all over for cheap in their neat, shiny slim cases.

Doctor Who – Series One (2004) (eBay): Been a fan of the Ninth Version of the Doctor since I saw “The End of the World” in 2005, which is probably my most favorite episode of the new era. Took me a while to find a cheap boxed set, but I did.

Game of Thrones - Season Three (resell): As much as I like the series I could not help but feel that all the changes that are being made to the story, that maybe the hair-gelled Frat Bros are taking something from the fat nerd and saying they its theirs because they feel entitled to it.

Le Samourai - Criterion (repurchase)(eBay): Had to re-buy this one after scratching it up in a rage. Then, I found out it was out of print with Criterion, which stinks but I got a brand-new one for a great price anyway. This film is the template for lone assassin films. Check it out. It is a bit cerebral and I am sure there is not enough “pew-pew” for the manly-man gun-bros.

In the Mood for Love – Criterion (eBay): After seeing “The Grandmaster” I got interested in Wong Kar Wai’s other works and found this gem on Hulu, which is a tender love story about two jilted spouses who find that their spouses are cheating on them with each other. After watching it, it made his “2046” make sense suddenly. Bought the Criterion Edition for repeated viewing without having to sign on to anything.

Man of Steel (deep discount @ Target): Here is my review here. I am writing up a Defense of MAN OF STEEL. Well, it will not be so much a ‘defense” as it will be an explanation. So, stay tuned to this website for that.

The Grandmaster (deep discount @ Target): Still the best of the Yip Man films. Yeah, I said it. Here is my review as to why.

As you can see, I got a lot of DVDs 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 2014

As you can see, last year I only listed six movies that I was looking forward to seeing. Let’s review them, shall we?:

1. Big Hero 6: This was my most anticipated film for 2014. I still have not seen it. I guess the problem arose when after seeing such great production design, was expecting a cool, semi-serious story with a unique character design. Instead, I found a “The Incredibles” repeat. I kind of lost interest after the full trailer. It looks okay, I may still see it (and love it) on DVD but I really want a great, animated superhero CGI movie.

2. Interstellar, dir. Christopher Nolan (See below)

3. The Wind Rises: Reportedly Miyazaki’s final film about one of Japan’s pioneers of aviation. I could never find a theater close enough that was playing it, so I missed out on this one due to location and my work schedule. I will look for it on DVD, much how I experienced every Miyazaki film.

4. X-Men: Days of Future Past, dir Bryan Singer (See below)

5. The LEGO Movie: The Lego video games have brought Char and me great enjoyment and we find their humor something charming in the games. As much as I enjoyed this, I could not get past the subtle message that “Put Your Faith in Made-up Bullshit and Everything will be Awesome”. It also subtly promotes a hive mind mentality with that stupid song. Still, it is fun if you overlook all that and take it for a fun, silly film. I am pretty happy that it was not nominated for Best Animated Picture. Because once you get past the whiz-bang of how it looks like “real Legos”, it is a silly chase film, with a lot of Wil Farrell mugging and referential humor, which does not a compelling story make. I hear you now, “But, but, but, it’s an “ANIMATED film”, it does not have to have an original story but look cool. They should be rewarding the animation NOT the story.” Sorry. Don’t buy it. “Dragon 2” had a better story for being a second part….

6. The Monuments Men, dir. George Clooney: “Ocean’s Eleven” set in WWII. I only saw this on DVD and was pretty disappointed by it. With this much star power and acting prowess, it should have been so much more than “Ocean’s Eleven” set in WWII.

The Maybes of 2014:

Guardians of the Galaxy (See below)

Sin City: A Dame to Kill For: Weak Sauce, that is all. It was too little, way too late.

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (See below)

Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit, dir. Kenneth Branagh: Yes, this was actually on the list! I really did enjoy this one. It was a great reboot to the series. Branagh’s villain made for an excellent foil to Jack Ryan. Branagh is really starting to stretch his action movie muscles. People forget that he is very capable in this regard. Look at the Battle of Agincourt in his “Henry V”.

TOP TEN RE-SCREEN & SPECIAL EVENT SCREENINGS OF 2014

From the looks of it, I saw a lot of repeat screenings and special event screenings. I really am not interested in what has been coming out. Oh well. Here is what I saw:

10. Monty Python and the Holy Grail w/ Bonnie & Char – Funny, but I knew the skits too well from YouTube. Also, Char never got into it.

9. Dr Who Season 8 Opener “Deep Breath” – For some reason people afterwards were saying “darker” but I could not see why.

8. Rope – the first movie I saw last year. This is my favorite Hitchcock film.

7. Godzilla (1954) – Stuck with the original instead of the new remake. Still have not seen the new one.

6. Rifftrax Live: Godzilla W/ Char & Bonnie – Seeing the first US Godzilla remake being riffed by the guys from MST3K with my ladies is priceless.

5. Ghostbusters w/Char & Bonnie – I went out of pure nostalgia and found that it is one of the great comedies of all-time. Plus, it reminds me of how smart Char is, as she taught me the difference between punishment and negative re-enforcement using the scene of Venkman’s psychic experiment.

4. Rifftrax Live: Santa Claus w/ Char & Bonnie – A great birthday experience. This was a trippy fun time with my ladies. “Santa Claus”, I believe, is the prequel story to the “The Man with No Name” Sergio Leone Trilogy….

3. Back to the Future w Char – Char’s favorite movie. Was so happy to bring her to see it on the big screen.

2. The Godfather w/ Char – Char was always interested in seeing this and this was the fourth time I saw it on the big screen. It works and holds my attention every time. Char also pointing out some things in the film that never caught my attention before.

1. Throne of Blood – the best film rescreened I have seen last year. Kurosawa’s take on Macbeth is considered the most unique and bold interpretation of Shakespeare on film, at least until my HAMLET comes out.

ALSO SAW:

Ramona (1928) – This film is an interesting look at how Natives were portrayed in the 1920’s Silent Era. (hint: almost humanely.)

Batman (1989) w/ Cuba – In retrospect, this is more a weak Tim Burton film than a strong Batman movie.

Expendables 3 w/ Bonnie & Char – This was more fun than expected. I hate the first two and will only tolerate this one. Gay Schwarzenegger is getting the “pew-de-pew, gun-gun, manly-mans” all mad. For that, I give it some credit.

Fury w/ Bonnie & Char – This has a pretty good tank battle in the middle of it. Still, standard war film.

So here we are at last:

EW3'S TOP 10 MOVIES of 2014

This time I will try to keep it to first-run, brand new movies, and not include re-screenings or special event screenings. Those were cheats to fill out the lists as I find that I really do not care for a lot of new movies out there now days. But I have found that I was hard pressed to fill this list as well. Which explains the #10 listing. So here we go with what I thought were the best movies of 2014.

I know that my list is not full of the independent, smart-alecky, faux-intellectual films that I am supposed to watch. But I do not subscribe to such antics. I watch films in the theater for way different reasons than the film snobs and the average popcorn eaters do. That is what makes me so fucking awesome. You know? So, what are the Best Films of 2014 According to Yours Truly?

10. (TIE) I could not decide which one to leave off the list so I added the both of them. I enjoyed both of them thoroughly.

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (w/Char): Liked the first and I look forward to the eventual rise of the LAWGIVER!!! (Oh, Lawgiver….)

X-Men: Days of Future Past (w/Char): I really did not to want to put “FURY” on this list at #10 because it did not meet my criteria for a good movie. But both “Apes” and “Future Past” were fun and heartfelt franchise films, proof that if you try for something a bit deeper, such as the anti-war message at the center of “Apes”, audiences respond. I rented these on DVD later and found them still enjoyable, hence, the addition of both movies on this list. Plus, if you are only filling your list with the pretentious art house fare, like that is a reflect of you, then you are only showing an unbalanced palate.

9. Dear White People (w/Char): I have noted that many white folk do not have this thought-provoking movie on their Best Of Lists. Most films about African Americans and their problems and situation are typically pushed off on African American audience so the rest of us can go on ignoring them. Look at the Taye Diggs romantic dramedies, the Oprah family productions and Tyler Perry movies. Let’s face it, the only way audiences will respond to problems in the African-American community is if there a white face saving them. (Dangerous Minds, The Blind Side, The Help, 12 Years a Slave… YEAH, I SAID THAT TOO!) But this film directly confronts the situation and it succeeds in stirring enough trouble and thought to be another touchstone film in the vein of “Do the Right Thing”, “Boyz in the ‘Hood” and others. I went and saw this with Char and had some frank talks about racism with her before and after, which is what people are avoiding when they avoid films like this one.

8. Guardians of Galaxy (w/Bonnie & Char): This movie was everything all the other Marvel movies should be. It was a self-contained story of a group of misfits and from what I hear, the series will remain self-contained, thank goodness. The Thanos stuff was the weakest though and I could not take the most vile, evil entity in the universe seriously when he is; 1) sitting in a floating Rascal chair, 2) wearing shiny clothes, and 3) speaking like Llewelyn Moss. (Quick, someone dub his lines from “No Country for Old Men” over his Thanos scenes and put them on YouTube! It’ll go viral!) Still, it was another fun film that had a completed third act, unlike every other fucking Marvel Films film! But I found the characters enjoyable, the situations they found themselves in great fun and the action to be whiz-bang. This could be the Star Wars for this generation….

7. Rhymes for Young Ghouls, dir, Jeff Barnaby: I found this to be a deep, dark and disturbing film about surviving the Canadian boarding school system in the 1980’s. It seems that Native directors can make something good without resorting to the trending, zeitgeist genre. Filled with great performances from its young actors, it deals with a young woman surviving by becoming a pot dealer with her uncle to pay off the school truant officer. When the young woman’s father is released from prison complications arise that threatens the stability of her life. It is disturbing on a visceral level in that this is what many Natives had to live with. The caper at the center of the film is a great act of revenge and the culmination of the story is logical. This is a really good movie. Again, this will not appeal to the pew-pew-bang-bang fans. But I found it to be a very satisfying film.

6. Interstellar, dir, Christopher Nolan (w/Char): This film has been hyped to death and it pays off. It is an emotional trip through space and time. Anchored with all round great performances, filled with unexpected cameos, and a story that is on the cusp of coming true, it struck the right notes in how it played out. The only weakness is that you do not go to another planet to have a fistfight, otherwise, an excellent film. I found myself intrigued by the science, dazzled by the special effect and anchored by the emotion of the story. It is probably one of Nolan’s more complete films. I will not belabor the already heaped-upon criticisms of this film as those have been covered enough. I find it funny that most people who recommend this will always throw in the widely-accepted criticisms like it is wrong to ‘like’ a Chris Nolan film because they are pretentious film snobs. I think Nolan is a very capable Hollywood filmmaker, more capable than the 90% of movie makers in Hollywood. His “The Dark Knight” and “The Prestige” are great films. Don't dislike the guy because he is not Paul Thomas Anderson. Why? Because he is Christopher Nolan. This film was better than most of the other I saw last year.

5. Locke: I was interested in the experiment – a single actor in a car for 85 minutes. I have seen a lot of single space movies that just did not work despite the advantage of being able to have the actors move around the space. Here, Tom Hardy is at the wheel of a car, his character of Locke, virtually, locked in place as he drives towards his life’s destruction. It all plays out in phone calls and Locke’s reactions, and it works on the strength of Tom Hardy’s acting skill alone. I recommend this one to all Native directors to show that you can make a film all about driving and have not just be filler scenery, and that is still compelling and powerful.

4. John Wick (w/Char): Probably the best action film I have seen in quite a number of years, since “Red Cliff” at least. It stars Keanu Reeves as a retired hit man called “The Boogey Man” because he is the one you call in to scare off the Boogey Man, and what happens when his car is stolen and the thieves kill his dog. That’s it. It also has Daniel Bernhardt as a kickass bodyguard redeeming his “Future War” offense. Go see this. I think this is better than that “The Raid” nonsense…

3. Blue Ruin (w/ Bonnie & Char): This small, independent film is probably the most tense, electrifying film of its genre, the revenge thriller. Yet, it turns the expectation on its head in the very first act. What follows is a story about love in the middle of a family feud. It is gripping, tense, and real in the aspect of performances, a great caper and better film.

1. (Tie): I had to do another tie again this year. These two films really stood out for me, inspired me and were captivating and fun and dramatic and tense to watch.

Jodorowsky's Dune: This is a stunning documentary by Frank Pavich about Alejandro Jodorowsky’s attempt to produce a film based on Frank Hubert’s “Dune” novel in 1973, despite the fact that he had never read it. The film follows him as he gains the creative freedom though his films “The Holy Mountain” and “El Topo” to produce whatever he wants as his next big feature and putting the greatest pre-Star Wars effects and visualization team together that included HR Giger (who would later on design for Ridley Scott’s “Alien”) and how he roped in stars like David Carradine, Mick Jagger, Salvador Dali and even Orson Welles to act, only to have the project killed before production due simply to the studios mistrust of Jodorowsky. It is a heartbreak you can tell still hurts him. His design team was then bought out by several movie studios and it is heartbreaking to see all of his great ideas used or duplicated in some of the greatest sci-fi and sci-fantasy films of all time. It broke my own heart seeing just how influential his designs were and how he stated, every studio had a copy of his design concept book, which he took around to sell the film. Why, the conceived opening shot alone would have steered film into a different direction all together. For filmmakers and cinéphiles, I wholeheartedly recommend this crazy, mad bastard of a doc.

Birdman (w/ Bonnie & Char): Michael Keaton was right to win the Golden Globe for this. This mesmerizing film by Alejandro González Iñárritu is captivating, bleak, weird, and hopeful. It tackles how an actor can create art after selling out for so long and how the “World of Art” sees his efforts. Shot to look like a single take, the performances all around are great, even from Edward Norton, whom I do not care for, taking a stab at his own perceived difficult persona. Keaton plays a faded Hollywood star famous for making superhero movies, and is now trying to reclaim his artistic soul by writing, producing, and starring in a stage play adaptation of a Raymond Carver short story. Except that everything does not go according to plan. Beautifully shot with a great soundtrack and great performances, it captured my attention and held it. It helps that Keaton brings the meta aspect to this having played Batman for two movies. I hope he thanks Batman if he wins the Academy Awards for best actor.


Yep, all 25 movies I saw last year are accounted for. So, lets take a look at the year ahead as it just gets started….

Looking Forward to in 2015: 

Since we got through all that, let's take a look at what I am looking forward to this year. Now, if 2014 has taught me anything 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.

1. Mad Max Fury Road - May 15: a reboot/sequel of the Mad Max franchise. TRAILER

2. The Other Side of the Wind - Orson Welles - May 6: Welles was working hard to complete this film when one of the producers was forced to drop out. MOVIE INFO

3. Minions - July 10: I like the Minions. The least annoying cute sidekicks in animated films. Sorry. TRAILER

4. Spectre - Bond 23 - Nov 6: The latest Bond film. I actually hate that they are trying to bring their more grounded Bond back to status quo as it had subtly made some real leaps forward for its women characters. But I hope they do something fresh rather than rehash the old Bond. TEASER

5. The Peanuts Movie - Nov 6: The teaser trailer retains a lot of the charm of the old TV specials. I am hopeful. TRAILER

6. Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens… I guess… - Dec 18: I don’t know. Too Apple Store Shiny, but what do I know? Sigh, the TRAILER

7. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: The Green Legend - Aug 28: Based on the books, so I am hopeful they produce something pretty cool. Directed by Yuen Woo Ping and stars Michelle Yeoh and Donnie Yen. MOVIE INFO

8. Pixar's The Good Dinosaur - Nov. 25: Pixar took a year off to produce not one, but two original feature film. This has my attention for being about a dinosaur. MOVIE INFO

9. Ant-Man - July 17: Was very interested when Edgar Wright was attached. Now, not so much. I am sure they had to tie it into the large “Marvel Universe” meaning that the third act is a “The Avengers 2: Something with Ultron” commercial. TEASER TRAILER

10. Bone Tomahawk – TBA: This is a premise by Kurt Russell, I believe, about a bunch of cowboys and Indians (maybe?) running into violent cannibal cavemen. This sounds cool, like a Western “The 13^th Warrior”. No trailer or Info....

The Maybe's of 2015: 

MI5 - 12.25: I am always interested in what the next “Mission Impossible” will be. What I like about this series is that basically, every film has its own director that stamps their style on the film even though they tell the same story over and over: the MI Team is betrayed and cannot trust its superiors and must steal something to prove their innocence. But, I am kind of looking forward to this, kind of.

Mr. Holmes – TBA: Billy Condon (Gods and Monsters) takes on Sherlock Holmes, this time as the aged Ian McKellan is the famous sleuth in his 90’s reflecting on his past cases. Great premise. I hope it is as good as its premise.

The Kingsman - 2.12: Always up for a good, wacky “spy” tale. We will see.

The Visit (M. Night) - 9.11: I hope that M. Night gains his powers back. This is another horror flick on a much smaller scale. I’ll go see it. I am sorry his name has become a joke. I agree that “The Happening” and “The Last Airbender” were not good at all. I enjoyed “Lady in the Water” very much. I know some folks are pissed he cast himself in the most important role but almost every actor/director does that (e.g.: Kostner with Dances with Wolves, Mel Gibson with Braveheart, Fuckface in Argo) so why can’t a director cast himself? Hypocrisy, I think, that is tied to subtle racism. Yeah, I said that. Because I have seen a lot of directors cast themselves in the main role. She-it, I cast myself as Hamlet in HAMLET. Anyways, I will look out for this one.

The Hateful Eight dir. Quentin Tarantino – TBA: HYPOCRISY! Yes, I know. But I do always look forward to his films, each and every one of them, because unlike many other directors, he is trying something different and new. Plus, I always hope that his new film is a return to the form and maturity he showed in his first three films. HYPOCRISY #2! Yeah, I know, I am harkening back to his early works. But I do not see any growth here like I do with another group of artists, U2. Plus, music and movies: oil, water. Tarantino has stated that he is only making 10 films in his career, this will be the eighth.

Well, that will do it for this year, or, for last year. 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. Which is basically why I write this nonsense, to placate my own ego. 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 your are so much better in musical and movie tastes.

Until next year….

2015 Ernest M Whiteman III