The Film Talk

Hey people. For any other movie fans out there, I’ve got a great website/podcast I’d highly recommend. Gareth Higgins, my favorite movie critic and author of How Movies Helped Save My Soul, has teamed up with a friend of his to create The Film Talk. The Podcast is basically a review of a particular movie every week. The interaction between Jett & Gareth is great, and they point out a lot of neat stuff.

Recently, they discussed No Country For Old Men, The Assassination of Jesse James, & There Will Be Blood, which I found really interesting. Gareth points out that all three films essentially deal with an aspect of "America’s Shadow" & some of America’s foundational myths.

There Will Be Blood looks at the issues of land, greed, & the inevitable isolation that greed leads to. Like a lot of critics, Jett is keen on the similarities between Kubrick’s 2001 and this film.

No Country For Old Men is essentially about eradicating people that get in your way, which of course America did to the Native Americans. The ultimate point of the film being good people are just at a loss sometimes confronting evil.

The Assassination of Jesse James (my favorite out of the three) examines how we throw celebrity status on people who are famous for doing bad things. This definetely feels like a Terrence Malick film to me. I guess it’s kind of odd I really enjoy movies like this. Sarah fell asleep watching this one. Also, the soundtrack for this movie is one of the best I’ve heard.

So anyways, check out their podcast. Anyone else see these films? What’d ya think?

Winter update / misc. stuff

Man, I haven’t written a blog in forever. Life has been busy for sure. I’m loving school. I’m taking classes in Archaeology, Indians in American Culture, the Holocaust, & Museum Studies. My favorite is probably Indians in American Culture. We watch movies and read books/historical documents, and look at how Native Americans are portrayed. I lucked out this semester. Only 1 class with actual tests. The others are filled with various projects and papers. Most of my classes this semester are on Tuesdays & Thursdays, so essentially I’ve got 5 days a week to do homework and study.

Aidan is getting so big! I cannot believe he’ll be a year in April. That blows my mind. He’s just starting to walk a little; taking a few steps towards us at a time. It’s so cool to see him grow and do new things all the time. Our church here is doing baptisms/baby dedications on Aidan’s birthday in April. That’ll be awesome to have him dedicated on his 1st birthday.

Finances have been rough here. So much in fact, that I even admit it would have been smarter to stay in Phoenix for a while ’til I graduated. We even occasionally bring up the idea of moving back to AZ, even though it goes against every fiber of my being. Hopefully, we’ll be in better shape after I get a job this summer, whatever it is. Be praying for us if you could.

Aidan & I are flying out to Portland, Maine next week to visit my family for my Easter Break. It’ll be great to hang out with my parents. And Portland is amazing. In April, Sarah & Aidan are going to Phoenix for a visit. I wish I could go, but it’s the week before my finals. I know they’re looking forward to seeing family & friends.

Other stuff:
-I’m getting back into NBA basketball again. It sucks not having cable, so every Sunday afternoon I try to watch a game on ABC. Go Kings & Suns.

-I am beyond impressed with Victory Brewing Co. in PA. They make some of the best beer I’ve ever tasted. Their Hop Wallop & Storm King Imperial Stout are out of this world.

-Why does every printer we have end up biting the dust within a year or so after our purchase? We’ve gone through 4 of them. Screw it. We’re just gonna live without a printer for a while.

-Go Obama.