Post Your Resolutions

That's right...go public and this way, an entire community of people will be around to celebrate your successes or mock your failures. Joy.

Mine:

1. lose the weight I lost this time last year...again....but this time keep it off for the WHOLE year, not just the warm months

2. control my temper better

3. make smarter financial decisions

Atonement

Watched Atonement last night and I was ready to tout it as the best of last year's best picture nominees, until the ending...which was wretched.

So wretched in fact, that it nearly made me forget about the exceptional story of Ian McEwan or the excellent performances from James McAvoy and Keira Knightly.

My relationship with Atonement has been heavy-handed, after the NYT named it book of the year in 06., I tried to read it, twice, and neither time did I make it past the scenes from Brioney's play. I would imagine that McEwan's novel ends the same way as the film. Does anyone know for sure?

For those counting, here's how I rate last year's Best Picture nominees...a nice thought heading into this year's festivities...please comment the same if you have seen them all:

1. I would've given the Oscar to Juno

2. followed closely by Michael Clayton

3. There Will Be Blood

4. Atonement

5. No Country for Old Men (If you checked, I wouldn't be surprised to find that this is possibly the EXACT opposite of the way the films finished in the actual voting)

Shane Acker's '9' trailer

(watch it in HD on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIdXt8vu_MM and be amazed at how pretty things can look on youtube now)


Thoughts?

I'm pretty hopeful about it, myself. It's a movie based on Shane Acker's animated short, 9 (which can be found here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=964QHmjLqa0). I'm happy to see some CGI animation used for something which can include intensity and fantasy in one. It definitely doesn't look like a kids movie.


by the way, Tim Burton is only producing this, just so that there's no confusion.

Christmas Memory

So I was sitting in my great-grandmothers (aka Nanny) house for Christmas dinner, something that's been a tradition in my family since before Nanny was even a thought, when random members of my family started to play a game that I used to play when I was just a little grasshopper. I don't know if any of you are familiar with it, but it's called "Huckle Buckle Bean Stock" and what you do is hide a spoon in a random place, but still in the open, and you just run around the house hiding it in different places. It's like hide-and-go-seek, only with a spoon and everyone is looking for it. From what Nanny "Huckle Buckle Bean Stock" was started back when my great-grandma was a child back in the 1930's, during the Great Depression. Her family would always play it on Christmas, or other occasions when the family was together. It's actually quiet fun, and it brings up a lot of fun Christmas memories....

So I'm just wondering, what's a good Holiday Memory you have with your family? Or just a game that you really enjoyed playing as a kid tat you wish you could still play? Or maybe, what's a fun tradition for you?

I've always enjoyed playing Huckle Buckle Bean Stock while watching The Christmas Story... It's not Christmas in the Heiler Household if The Christmas Story isn't playing at some point during the two days.

From the Costals to You....Merry Christmas

http://casacostal.blogspot.com/2008/12/from-all-of-us-to-all-of-youa-very.html

FYI....College Values Researched

http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/190/story/351931.html

"Normal" people vs The Media...kinda

Somehow i think I'm crazy, but i think how we view ourselves and movies/tv are connected.

For instance, there is a reality TV show called Americas Next Top Model, hosted, owned, created, and judged by super model Tyra Banks. The show started back in late 2001 and is still as popular as when it first came out, if not more. If you aren't familiar with Americas Next Top Model, it's a show about girls who get picked by Tyra Banks and a panel of other almost as famous but not heard of judges, to become Americas Next Top Model. It starts off with thousands of girls from around the country, after that it gets narrowed down to 25, after that, to 15 and that's when the competition starts. It's a modeling show, so of course it's going to be about cloths, makeup, and other modeling things, but throughout the course of the season you have to wonder how these girls get so comfortable with their bodies. Two seasons ago, for the first time in ANTM history a "plus size model" won. The sad part is, she was only a size ten. I know the modeling world very well, and how sizes work, so that to models is considered "fat". (Size 10 and up is considered plus size, size 4 and down is a models normal size.) Most of these girls didn't start out looking like this, they used to be normal people. Somehow though, in some way, something made them want to change how they looked.

In a way, shows like Americas Next Top Model, The Biggest Loser, and even American Idol all effect how people view themselves. It almost seems that in today's world, you focus on how you look more than anything else. With comments we've all heard ranging from "Does my butt look fat in these jeans?" to "Hows my hair?" we're always thinking about how we look.

Even in movies, you don't often see a normal person. All movies stars are pretty, and thin. Very rarely do you see a movie with a leading lady that a plus size. Actors on the other hand, that's an entirely different story. Men can look as normal as they want, and they don't have as much pressure on them as actresses do. In some weird way, the actresses almost sells a movie. Correction, a good looking actor/actress sells a movie. I would have continued with just the actress, but then i remembered Broke Back Mountain. Very rarely do you see an "ugly" and "fat" female news anchor. The man can look however they want, but women HAVE to be perfect in order to get the job and to be on camera.

My point is, there is pressure on us to look a certain way and if you don't look that way you're considered by society to be "normal" or "not as good looking" or "ugly". It's almost like war propaganda, only its more under the radar. What's wrong with "normal" people? Why don't they have a fashion company for "normal" people. Why don't they considered you a model if you're between size 10 to 5? Why are we (mostly women) allowing ourselves to think badly of ourselves because of what society thinks of us? How can we let ourselves be so easily brainwashed? Who decided that you have to be pretty, thin, hansom, or for lack of a better term "perfect"? Who decided what was considered fat, normal, or thin? Who started all of this?

Three words

wolverine trailer anyone?

Synecdoche, New York

Not too long ago Mr. Costal canceled The Game, but the memories of The Game are still very much alive. For me, the memory of the trailer of Synecdoche, New York would forever be tucked safely in the back corner of my mind until tonight, when James and I decided to go to the movies. While debating between Synecdoche and The Boy in Striped Pajamas the trailer for Synecdoche suddenly smacked me in the face and said “hey, go see me! I’ve been out since like October. Go see me!” and so James and I went.

I’m not going to ruin the plot for anyone, I’m not going to rave about how much I liked it or how confused I was by it, and I’m surely not going to recommend it to anyone. Why? Because it’s something you should be willing to go see on your own without any pre knowledge of what it’s about, how good or bad it might be, and who in your circle of people you know liked it. It’s simply a movie about life.

Throughout the entire movie it constantly beats your down with little hints about death. From the opening scene, until the closing scene you find little remarks, little comments, and little songs telling you that someone died. Throughout the entire movie, people die. Throughout the entire movie, bad things happen that can’t be explained. That’s all part of life though. We all sit here, going on with our own lives, and never notice that tomorrow is our last day. Days turn into weeks, weeks into months, and months into years and yet regardless of what we all think, that will never stop changing. It all moves so quickly that by the time we start to understand the concept of time, it’s already over for us.

While watching the Synecdoche, I found myself going “hey, wait a minute. That seems all too familiar.” Either it’s happened to you, or to someone you know, some scenes will strike a cord. I cried like a baby for the last half hour because so many things going on in Synecdoche we either extremely relatable or all too familiar.

If you want to see this movie, I guess it just comes down to if you can handle life. With all of its ups and down, halfhearted lies and empty promised, things we regret and forget, memories that we never seem to move away from, and points in our lives we wish we could stay at forever. Go see it or don’t, but if you do watch it with an open mind. It’s a movie that could possibly be worth the 9.50 a ticket.








PS-Mr. Costal Go SEE IT!!!!!

A Very Costal Christmas Part 1

Creepy insights into Costal Christmas

Want a Job in TV?

Figure out the answer to this problem...there's millions waiting for the mind that does. I have an idea, but of course, if I told ya, I'd have to kill ya.

Speaking of innovations, check out our new addition to the links column: the most exhaustive video search engine I've ever stumbled upon: Videosurf

Those Who Make the Movies

Let's face it, without a director movies would never be what they are today. Like favorite movies, directors are just as plentiful and amazing. My questions are: Who is you favorite director? What makes you love their films? How do they influence your work?

For me personally I'd be torn between 6 or so directors. Paul Thomas Anderson, Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, John Huston, Akira Kurosawa and Sergio Leone. Obviously there are countless other names; Quintin Tarantino, Frank Capra, Buster Keaton, John Ford, etc. The first six however have such control over the cameras movements. Spielberg's use of the low tracking shot, Paul Thomas Anderson and Martin Scorsese's longer then average shots that move gracefully through the scenes, John Huston's use of lighting and gritty realism, Akira Kurosawa's use of elements and the telescope lens, and Sergio Leone's Spaghetti Western style. Each influences me in their own way and there are countless others. If I was to truly say who influences me the most, I'd say Sergio Leone but my favorite would have to be P.T. Anderson.

So please share, this is a question that's been on my mind for a long time.

Flyer by: Isabella Peralejo

Dark Knight as Dark Horse

You are still all abuzz over Dark Knight. You are still very mad at me for calling it, "meh."

Some defensive notes:

This isn't my first rodeo.

This is not the first time I have watched the Joker revitalize a Batman franchise. Joker on the cover of Batman books sales better than not having him on the cover. Caesar Romero stole the scenes of the 60s television show. Nicholson's The Joker was the best part of the 90s Tim Burton movie. The Joker drives the franchise...and the plot. He always has.

It's the Joker who kills Robin. The Joker burns Arkham. He tortures and paralyzes Commissioner Gordon's daughter in the "Killing Joke," a comic that in defied all the "rules" of graphic novels and reinvented the Joker character as a cruel, murderous lunatic instead of "the clown prince of crime" who gagged his way through the 60s and 70s.

Part of the Joker's appeal is simple. People fear clowns. Plus, no other Batman villain is worth his weight in intimidation. The Penguin? Waddling into your nightmares without flight? Horrifying. The Riddler? Oh no! Not riddles! Riddles makes me think of sitting next to my grandfather after one too many Amaretto sours. What's next, Crossword Man? King Tut? For real? The Scarecrow? Scary...for crows. Why not develop Stiff Breeze Guy. Mr. Freeze? Sounds like Shop-Rite's brand of popsicles.

None of these evil-doers pack the punch of the Joker. The Joker is the end all of Batman, and much like Heath Ledger's character points out, Batman can't kill Joker...without killing himself.

So sitting down to watch Dark Knight exclusively for the Joker is not a new experience. But questions persist. Ledger's performance is powerful. His Joker's contribution to the canon is intensity. This Joker makes us more tense, even upset than any other incarnation of the character. Even Nicholson, who made a career out of playing psycho, draws a more a more relieving  Joker. His one-liners and purpleness allows the audience to share in an internal smile. Ledger, with his lumbering gait, crack-addict mouth and streaked make-up, never indulges us with even a small wink.

This is all Ledger. He was a truly gifted actor. His legacy should rest more firmly in Ang Lee's gorgeous Brokeback Mountain. His portrayal of a man tortured by his personal truth is nothing short of breath-taking. The Joker is a solid addition to his legacy, but it should not define it.
 

And so goes Dark Knight. It's an excellent super hero movie, but is it more than that? Ledger's performance is great, but is it an Oscar-worthy? Is Dark Knight itself an Oscar-caliber film (Ebert and the NYT both place it pretty high on the "maybe" list)? 

Maybe the value of these questions are eclipsed by a larger one: Would Dark Knight be the Oscar contender it is if not for Ledger's tragic death? In other words, if Ledger were alive, well and starring in a period piece opposite Kate Winslet this Spring, would we be having an Oscar conversation about this movie?

Consideration of these and other questions will drive our conversation of Dark Knight. 

Art and Love are all you need

Throughout the first twenty minutes of Rachel Getting Married (RGM), I was ready to write the film off with a huge sigh of "over-rated!" Anne Hathaway, awash in Oscar buzz, seemed to be doing an impersonation of Maggie Gyllenhaal in Sherry Baby. Then, the music started. And hours later, it's still consuming me.

RGM is a film about a dysfunctional, tragic family on the eve of a huge wedding celebration. It is taped in mostly a hand-held, shaky, Cloverfield-esq faux documentary style. It adds a richness and beauty to the narrative that no other movie like it has ever achieved. The actors don't seem to be performing. It's the most "in the moment" movie I have ever seen. Demme's vision is enriched by Cinematographer Declan Quinn's masterful interpretation, bold close-ups, passionately lingering takes, wide, ambling, trailing scenes that go on forever, and one particular scene of grimacing tension shot POV through the windshield of a careening car (seen in one of the video's linked to this post). Demme's style brings great depth to the film, but most of all, it brings a heightened sense of reality. This cinematography has proven effective in the horror genre (most effectively in the Spanish film REC), but Demme shows us, for the first time in my memory, the breadth of its effect upon a drama. We are AT Rachel's wedding, which is especially cool, because it's the awesomest wedding ev-ah!

Rachel is Kym's more socially adjusted, though anguished sister. Her wedding is an explosion of expression. A multi-cultural, multi-religous, eclectic affair of intriguing people with infectious charms. The wedding is filled with a fantastic array of personalities that defy type and culture. They are profound. They are cute. They are wickedly talented and completely unpretensious about sharing these talents in the name of a good time. I wanted to lift my glass. Pose for pictures. RGM's allure is its greatest power,and it is symbolic of all the things that make life worth living: namely love, friendship, companionship and most of all....the music.

Rachel's wedding and rehersal dinner is a dream-like musical revue. It's a myriad of live musical performances that twist and whirl through the movie's plot like whacked-out Sand-Art. They drive the film. From jazz to rock, dub reggae to trance, brit pop folk to choral singing, and then, just when you think you've seen it all...a hot latin precussion group, complete with Carnivale-style, scantily clad dancers pounce onto the scene. Their arrival is equally uplifting and improbable. " Upon further consideration of this fact, I realized that Demme has a history of incorporating concepts so seeminglessly into the plot that they seem inseperable. Consider the fusion of the City of Philadelphia into the film Philadelphia. In that film, the city was more than a backdrop, it seemed to contain and expound the pain and suffering of Tom Hanks' character. Music works very much the same way in RGM, driving and guiding the plot, equally satiating and compounding the tragedy. RGM has no score. All of the film's music is played by characters, and the effects are entrancing.

This is no wedding I have ever been to. It's unlike anything anyone I know has ever been to. My family finds the chicken dance exhilarating. But Rachel's wedding isn't supposed to be probable...it's supposed to be beautiful. It supposed to represent the reason why these trauma-wracked people bother waking up in the morning. It's an artist's dream. They love one another, and that love is so big and true and consuming and infectious, that it literally MAKES the movie. It makes the pain in the movie bearable.

Life is hard, and RGM's characters, who are coping with the death of a family member as well as a myriad of other problems: drugs, divorce and detachment, painfully explore this truth. Mark Twain said, "life is pain, an anyone who tells you differently is selling you something." The only recourse for the torture of existence is love and art. RGM has plenty of both. P.S. -- yes, Anne Hathway is THAT good, but I thought Rosemarie DeWitt as Rachel was even better.

Copyrights, Things to Know

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUPsfYJONrU

What is your favorite Film Institute Memory?

I know most of you are only half into your film institute memories, but you still probably have many wonderful memories. Lets talk about some of our favorite stories.

I recall, on a sunny mild day in May of 2008 we were playing Costal's elaborate and infamous Disney game. We were in the final part of the game where the teams bid the points for the final question. My team was in the lead but we were feeling saucy so we put all our points on the line. The question was, "What famous person starred in the Disney 3-d show Captain EO showed in the Disney theme parks?" I don't know how I remembered it, I saw it when I went to Disney land when I was 6, but I knew the answer. I looked Bill Smallwood in the eye with a serious look and with a cut the red wire type disposition i say, "Micheal Jackson" My team laughs, the room laughs but I remain serious and say,"Its Micheal Jackson. Say Micheal Jackson, Bill." And we won.

Whats your Film Institute story?

CHILDREN OF THE 90's!

Now, if you really knew me, you'd know that I'm not working on "the Game" finals project (THANKS FOR EMAILING YOUR WORK, JEFF!!), or organizing my journals... Nope, not even helping my family admire and decorate the christmas tree downstairs. But yes, instead, I'm watching the 100 greatest songs of the 90's on VH1. And since we are the children of the 90's, we've grown up to these songs. I thought I'd list a few great ones. :)

All I Wanna Do by Sheryl Crow
I Alone by Live
Peaches by The Presidents of the United States of America
Only Wanna Be With You by Hootie and the Blowfish
Shine by Collective Soul
Two Princes by the Spin Doctors
Sex and Candy by Marcy Playground
Wonderwall by Oasis
Creep by Radiohead
Mr. Jones by the Counting Crows
Black Hole Sun by Soundgarden
Jump Around by House of Pain
Loser by Beck
Enter Sandman by Metallica
Under the Bridge by Red Hot Chili Peppers
You Oughtta Know by Alanis Morissette
Losing my Religion by R.E.M.
Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana (taking the #1 spot of the greatest hits)

Amen!, as I drool over the Kurt Cobain poster hanging in my room.

Any songs to add?

The Beats are Back In Town

"I'm Not There", a film about Bob Dylan and the different aspects of his musical life and work, grossed over $11.5 million in 2007. The success of this movie was attributed to the unique storyline, which reeled-in even the slightest of Dylan fans. Or could it have been because it featured five A-list actors such as Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett, Richard Gere, and Heath Ledger (in one of his last films)? (link)


I was thrilled when I first read about Francis Ford Coppola producing an on-screen version of "On the Road", to be released in 2009 and directed by Walter Salles, the Brazilian-born director responsible for 2004's "The Motorcycle Diaries". (link). And now, after scouring around on imdb.com, I have come to find that James Franco will be playing Allen Ginsberg in the Gus Van Sant-produced biopic "Howl", a drama centered on the obscenity trial Ginsberg faced after the publication of his poem--also to be released in 2009. Franco is said to be playing alongside actors Paul Rudd, Jeff Daniels, and Oscar nominees Alan Alda and David Strathairn (link).


So my question stands: are these two movies coincidentally intertwined with similar story lines, or are the Beatniks making a comeback as the next profitable genre in Hollywood?

The Oakcrest Film Institute: Funniest Bunnies ever!!

http://www.angryalien.com/

Tis the Season -- Oscars Season

2 fiesty new addition to our links page are screaming for your attention...both are really well-done film blogs, one from the Times, the other by Roger Ebert.

Slumdog Buzz

SLUMDERFUL!

Check out this review site: www.metacritic.com/film/

This site has thousands of reviews - check it out!

www.metacritic.com/film/

My Favorite Artists on La Blogotheque

The Arcade Fire

Beirut

Architecture in Hesinki

Of Montreal

Andrew Bird

The Shins

Grizzly Bear

The Kooks

The Spinto Band

Youth Made Film Festival 22 and younger submissions from dec. 5-jan. 30

------ Forwarded Message

CALL FOR ENTRIES | YOUTH-MADE FILMS | 22 AND UNDER

The National Film Festival for Talented Youth – NFFTY (pronounced nifty) includes juried screenings of over 75 youth-made films in a state-of-the-art theater, filmmaking workshops and panels, and a gala opening night. Submissions are open to any filmmaker 22 years old or younger. NFFTY 09 will be held April 24-26 in Seattle, Washington.

The next deadline is December 5th. The final deadline for submissions is January 30th. We offer group submission discounts to schools and youth media programs submitting multiple entries. A limited number of travel scholarships will be available.

Young filmmakers who attend NFFTY unequivocally agree that it is one of the most valuable experiences of their lives - meeting industry professionals, networking with other young filmmakers, and receiving valuable audience feedback on their films. Students can download the official rules and submit here: http://www.nffty.org/submit.html

A flyer that can be posted or forwarded can be found here: http://nffty.org/NFFTY_09_Call_for_Entries.pdf

An overview of NFFTY and sign up for our eNews can be found on our website: http://www.nffty.org




------ End of Forwarded Message

star gazers all over the world...

will witness this...right now the moon, venus and jupiter are making a triangular alignment. it has been happening for the last hour and a half. This will not happen for another 50 years. enjoy this phenomena...
hmmmm although its just two planets and a moon making a triangal, it made me happy inside. witnessing something so rare, it made me think of my friends. what if i don't see anybody for a long period of time. like i will only see this happen one more time in my life. it makes me feel like life is too short

So in fifty years when you see

it for probably the last time in your life remember me

Remember all the friends you had the

first and last time

you saw this phenomena