The Class

“The Class” is a French film inspired by a true story about a schoolteacher. Francois Begeaudeau, the teacher on whom the story is based, actually plays himself in the movie. Francois teaches French to a group of troublesome young teens with realistically mixed results.

Realistic is probably the best description for “The Class.” Francois and all of the students play their characters stunningly well. The characters, which the film is really about, are developed with a keen attention to realism. This is not the story of a good teacher, nor is a story of a bad one. The students are also not divided up into “good” and “bad” (even though it may appear so at first). The troublemakers develop redeeming qualities, but don’t reach perfect redemption and Francois - who seems slated to deliver Dead Poets Society type inspiration – stumbles along the way.

The classroom setting becomes secondary in this story of people struggling in the world. People sometimes shine, but sometimes struggle to do what’s good or fulfill potential. What is all too clear is that none of the characters can pull another out of the hole he or she is in, because they’re all in the hole, teachers and students alike. Humans can be good, but can never cease to be flawed. “The Class” makes it clear that we humans need a transcendent force to help us out, someone outside of the hole.

"Bad Romance" Musings

Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance" video has sparked many a conversation lately. Many critics applaud its production and unique idea, but others are deeply troubled by its premise. The video portrays Gaga being undressed and force-fed alcohol by two women before being displayed in front of an audience of men who bid on her. Gaga eventually approaches the highest bidder just before he and the bed he lays in burst into flames.

I will concede that the production values of the video are very praise-worthy, but I am also one of those disturbed by the video's subject matter. I would really like to sit down with Lady Gaga and find out why she chose human trafficking as the video's plot. I hope that her intention is to bring attention to a travesty that goes terribly unnoticed, but I'm afraid the true answer might be that "it makes a cool video."

I agree with critics who consider the effort put into this video to be a breath of fresh air in the realm of pop music videos. The music video is an art form that often goes unexplored in mainstream music; all night clubs now seem to blur together. But at what cost should something "cool" be created? The "Bad Romance" video does not glamorize human trafficking outright, but the line that Gaga toes is so dangerous.

I suppose it is possible to ethically justify the video that combines the horrors human trafficking (the video is appropriately dark) with the glitz and glam of pop music (sensual choreographed dancing) if it does reduce human trafficking through raising awareness. After all, the man who bids on Gaga gets what's coming to him at the end. But why include anything glamorous? Lady Gaga is a very popular artist and, if the goal is raising awareness, the video will be watched regardless of content or quality.

Is Gaga trying to raise awareness or is she simply trying to be edgy? Does it matter? Can a disturbing portrayal of a real-life atrocity be justified if it causes some good, even if that wasn't the intention?

I would prefer that artists take more responsibility for their art, but it can't be forced. I think the "Bad Romance" video has significant potential for good, but the portrayal is too ambiguous. At one moment it disturbs, but at the next it almost entices. Is the video making light of a horrible crime, merely trying to sell sex a new way, or perhaps trying introduce ourselves to the darkness within us that almost finds the "bad romance" enticing? All I can say for sure is that watching a video this controversial without meditating on its meaning can be very dangerous.

Del Negro's Bulls Win Fourth Straight

Perhaps the Bulls should have initiated coaching-change talks sooner. Vinny Del Negro, who only a week ago seemed certain to be fired, has the Bulls playing their best basketball of the season. They have won four straight games, most recently over the Orlando Magic, owners of the 2nd best record in the East and 3rd in the NBA.

Part of the turn-around can be attributed to Tyrus Thomas' return, but give Del Negro some credit as well. He had enough faith in rookie Taj Gibson to keep him in the starting lineup and bring Thomas off the bench and is being rewarded for it.

He also moved Kirk Hinrich into the starting lineup, allowing John Salmons to come off the bench. The productivity of both players has improved since the move. Salmons' size makes him the more conventional starting two-guard, but the last time the Bulls won a playoff series (2007 sweeping the reigning champion Miami Heat) Hinrich started at the two. Props to Del Negro for seeing past Hinrich's versatility (making it enticing to bring him off the bench) and having faith in starting the 6-3 combo guard against the likes of Dwyane Wade and Vince Carter. Hopefully Salmons will continue to produce offensively off the bench because his drop off has really hurt the Bulls so far this year.

These are a few of my favorite things (from the last decade)

At the end of 2009 I posted my “Best of the year” lists, but I no longer consider myself qualified to do that. For one, I really only watch and listen to things that I want to watch or listen to, meaning there are so many great things I miss each year. Also, I’m not sure that one person can decide what’s best on his or her own. When judging a group of excellent products, the selection often becomes one of preference and not superiority. So I have decided to post some of my “favorite” things, but they may not necessarily be the best.

“Funny People’s” take on romance -
Too often romantic comedies pervert the idea of relationships through oversimplification. Mutual attraction is not always enough to build a relationship on and “Funny People” realizes that. The truth is that couples need more than to simply look at each other lovingly with sappy background music playing. Sometimes there are factors to consider beyond "I like you and you like me." “Funny People” is one of the few movies that considers a relationship’s consequences after the credits roll.

The 8th, 9th, and 10th songs in Bloc Party’s “A Weekend in the City” –
Bloc Party warmed my heart with “Blue Light” and “This Modern Love” on their debut album “Silent Alarm.” There was no way they could fill me with even more warm fuzzy feelings, right? Wrong. “Kreuzberg,” “I Still Remember,” and “Sunday” constitute the most touching three-song block I have ever heard – and that includes Bon Iver. The album as a whole is pretty decent, but those three songs serve as its goose bump-supplying climax.

“Kill Them With Kindness” by the Jealous Sound –
This album may be the only non-Bloc Party album on which I love every song. It’s pretty upbeat emo-pop for the most part- which I’m normally not a fan of, but I’m a sucker for a good hook and “Kill Them With Kindness” has plenty to offer. My favorite song on the album is “Recovery Room,” a churning waltz with guitars crashing like waves on the beach. The Jealous Sound broke up shortly after the release, but has recently remembered. I can only hope they recapture some of the magic.

“King of the Hill’s” Longevity –
The show is so understated and could be so easily overlooked, but it almost survived the entire decade, airing its last episode September of 09. Mike Judge has such a unique brand of humor and I’m glad he was able to display it through “King of the Hill” for so long.

“2012” –
Yeah, that’s right. I do like saying that I like it more than I actually like the movie, but it’s pretty cool. It has a surprising amount of laughs, mainly coming from Woody Harrelson’s character (exactly what such an over-the-top movie needs). The disaster sequences are the coolest I have ever seen and excel both as spectacle and suspense. I only wish the filmmakers would have taken it the next level, the ridiculous level that “Snakes On a Plane” so boldly went. When John Cusack sneaks on board the ark and finds the animal pens (a la Noah’s ark), I wish he had discovered a terrible government secret: genetically engineered dinosaurs. Cusack and his family evading velociraptors to make it on board the arks would have been the perfect icing on the decade’s most epic cake.

Braid - Video Game Review

Sometimes I reminisce about video games. Weird? Maybe, but I grew up playing them and since my PS2 broke down two years ago, I really miss them sometimes. I thought about splurging on a Wii or PS3 to recapture the chance to explore foreign worlds, even if it is through an avatar. Then I found Braid. I downloaded it on my Mac, paid a cool $15 for the license, and had a one-of-a-kind gaming experience without buying a whole new system.

Braid has everything I love about video games: stunning visuals, beautiful music, and – for lack of a better word- memorableness. I have never been so smitten by a game right away. Braid is a side-scrolling platformer that pays shameless homage to the original Mario Bros. You must hop on goombas, avoid piranha plants, and go through worlds searching for the princess. Though the object of the game is not to survive the level (like Mario). That is very easy to do because you are able to manipulate time in Braid, including rewinding so you never die. Braid is a game of genius puzzles that you must solve.

Each world has a few puzzle pieces to collect and, though they are very accessible at first, they soon prove to be quite tricky to reach. Each world reveals a new set of books with information about the character’s search for the princess. It is beautifully written and provides continuity and depth. If you ever get stumped (I did many times) do not resort to walkthroughs. It ruins the game. Often taking a few days or weeks off from the game allowed me to get back in and figure out how to solve puzzles I couldn’t. Be patient. It took me about 5 months to finish (with extensive breaks) and I had to check walkthroughs for a couple pieces (which I immediately regretted).

After finding all the pieces, the final world is unlocked. It is not difficult, but that is not its purpose. The final world is there to bring a narrative to a close. The ending is pretty surprising and a little confusing. I checked blogs to see how others interpreted it to better understand the game myself. I was very satisfied once I did understand it. Braid starts out as a simple but lovely story about the search for the princess, but becomes something much deeper in the end. Braid is a game with a moral. I don’t think I have ever played a game with a moral before. Braid may not be the fanciest car on the lot, but it’s got the whole package. It’s beautiful, deep, and a whole lot of fun.

Golden Globes, What's the Deal??

Now I have not seen close to half of the films nominated for Golden Globes, but I have seen enough to consider myself eligible to complain about the nominations.

Let's start with Best Lead Actor - Drama. I haven't seen any of the nominated performances, but I have seen "Moon" starring Sam Rockwell. And I use "starring" with it's strongest meaning. He's the only actor in the movie. He even plays the same character twice. Not making sense? Go see the movie!! It's terrific.

And as happy as I am to see "The Hangover" nominated for Best Musical or Comedy, it has a snowball's chance in hell of bringing home the Gold. I think "Up" should be considered for that honor. It was one of the best pictures of the year.

I am more dumbfounded that Julia Roberts was nominated for "Duplicity" than I am at the fact that I paid to see that movie. I seriously can't believe that of the "(500) Days of Summer" couple, Joseph Gordon-Levitt was nominated and Zooey Deschanel wasn't. Gordon-Levitt is very deserving, but I think Deschanel is slightly even more so. I can't think of another actress who could have played Summer. She should have Roberts' slot.

I wanted Woody Harrelson to be nominated for Best Supporting Actor so badly. Unfortunately he's nominated for the wrong movie! OK so this complaint is a bit indulgent on my part, but if you're going to nominate Roberts for "Duplicity" and Sandra Bullock for "The Proposal," it shouldn't be such a stretch to nominate a "2012" performance. Harrelson's character is one of the most entertaining I have ever seen. His character is unbelievably ridiculous, ludicrously outrageous, and he steals EVERY scene he's in.

It really saddens me to write this next part. My favorite film of the year was overlooked twice. "Ponyo" the heart-warming Miyazaki film is, in my opinion, "Up's" biggest competition for best animated film and it wasn't even nominated. I believe that in any other year "Ponyo" would be the best animated film, but "Up" is really good. "Ponyo" is so beautifully animated and powerfully narrated that it can melt even the coldest of hearts. It was also overlooked for Best Foreign Language Film (though it was released in America with English dubs so I don't know how that works). Please, do yourself a favor and see "Ponyo."

My finally complaint is with Best Original Song. Editor's "No Sound But the Wind" is hauntingly beautiful. I want to see "New Moon" just to see how they use the song. It's too bad that it has to be a film's signature song or "single" that gets nominated for these. So if any from "New Moon" were to be nominated it would be "Meet me at the Equinox" and I'm glad that very average song wasn't nominated. But I still love that Editors song.

The Voice of Humor

So many of the funniest television shows of my lifetime have been animated. It seems like the comedy with both the most laughs and longevity has been found in cartoons. So much of the humor comes from the talent of the actors. I have often overlooked the ability of the voice actors to say something in a really funny way. South Park's actors are so talented that they even base entire episodes off of being able to say something in a funny way. So here are my top 5 funny things said in cartoons:


5. "If you don't like it, you can get out!" by the citizens of South Park. - The episode "I'm a little bit country" was built around the ability to say this in a funny way, and boy did it work. Especially in a very effective flashback.

4. Hank Hill's shudder - I think if I had the choice between being able to make this sound or sing like Josh Groban I would pick the former.

3."They took our jobs!"- Many characters exclaimed this in the "Goobacks" South Park episode. The episode was also built around being able to say this in a funny way, but this one gets the nod over "get out" because of a very funny reference in the later "WWE" episode.

2. Homer Simpsons' yell - Yes, his high-pitched yelp takes the cake over his infamous "D'oh!" The yelping sound he makes when he's scared tickles my funny bone every time. I also love the way his tongue quivers in his mouth.

1. Anything out of Eric Cartman's mouth - There are too many to choose from so I grouped them all together. "But MOOOM," "That's a bad Mr. Kitty!" and other things that maybe only appear in one episode are vocal gold. Though Cartman is one of the most easily despised characters around, his voice makes him so likable.