π

π is director Darren Aronofsky's first feature film.  Along with co-writer and star of the film, Sean Gullette, Aronofsky begins a path of obsession and compulsion.  The search is for perfection.  As in "Black Swan," Aronofsky's characters are driven mad by the pursuit to be more than the sum of their parts.  Unlike "Requiem for A Dream," his next film after π, where the characters are fighting forces within themselves, Pi's main character Max, is fighting against the forces of the corporate world and the forces of the religious world.  Max (Sean Gullette), is obsessed with finding a pattern to the stock market. His goal is neither wealth or fame, but an understanding of the universe through numbers. Obsessive compulsive, and on the verge of a psychotic breakdown, Max's search perfection takes him places not only in his mind, but also in his life where he never wanted to go. This gift of his, to see the world as numerical sets of data, is also a curse. Max's curse hounds him all through the film as he eventually realizes that his hunt for perfection has brought him to the very source of perfection -- the name of God.

94143243431512659321054872390486828512913474876027
67195923460238582958304725016523252592969257276553
64363462727184012012643147546329450127847264841075
62234789626728592858295347502772262646456217613984
829519475412398501 

Like π (Pi) is irrational number, meaning it never ends, and will never repeat.  Like the nature of God, who is never ending and never beginning, it is always there.

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The Adjustment Bureau

I had the opportunity this weekend to sit with my kids and watch the "Adjustment Bureau."  When the Hollywood Science Fiction idea well runs dry, they have a tendency to fall back on a story by Phillip K. Dick.  You know, "Minority Report," "Paycheck," "Total Recall," "Impostor," and the daddy of them all, "Blade Runner." This year "King of Elves" was supposed to come out but that was pushed back, perhaps forever.  

When "The Adjustment Bureau" came out last year on March 4th, 2011, I was excited, not that it was a Phillip K. Dick story, but because I was hoping to see Matt Damon doing something other than Jason Bourne.  The film's opening weekend only saw $21,157,730 in domestic ticket sales, and only went on to make $62,495,645 in domestic sales in 12 weeks.  Foreign audiences, however gave "The Adjustment Bureau" another $65,373,734 in sales bring the grand total up to $127,869,379.  With a production budget of $50.2 million, the film made some money, however it wasn't a blockbuster. I liked that the film's attempted to tackle the concept of free will, or at least the appearance of free will.  The film also has a tendency to make one wonder "what if?."  

Make no mistake, The Adjustment Bureau, starring Matt Damon, and Emily Blunt, is a love story. That being said, the Science Fiction element adds an interesting layer of fantasy to this tragic romance between two lovers, who, while fated to be together, destiny interferes to keep them apart. "Mad Men's" John Slattery and Terrence Stamp also star in this twisted tale of love, humor, fate, destiny, and freewill. A pleasant surprise is the portrayal of Adjustment Bureau Team member 'Harry' as portrayed by Anthony Mackie ("Notorious"). Mackie gives a human feeling to the film and acts not only as a guide for David Norris in navigating this world, but also acts as a conscience for this familiar but altered world. "The Adjustment Bureau" is a fast paced, but thoughtful film, and full of plot holes if you think about them too hard, so don't. Read more of the Adjustment Bureau review...

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On The Road

I read Jack Kerouac's "On The Road" several times in my life. The first time was in High School, when I needed to write an essay on a book of my choice.  The first time I read it, I can't say I was "amazed." I was too young with no real experience behind me to evaluate such a phenomenal novel against.  A few years later I saw  "Heart Beat," a film released in 1980 before I graduated. Once again my interest peaked and I pulled my copy out and read it again.  This time with some life experience I could read it in a new light. This time I could "see" more of what Dean and Sal a bit more from their perspective.  


Later in the early 90's after settling down and having time to reflect after the last 10 years of insanity that I called my life, and the amount of miles I put on myself and my poor 86 Charger (200,000 miles in just over 4 years) I could see what Jack Kerouac envisioned.  This year (2012) sometime, MK2 Productions is releasing "On The Road." No date is scheduled, however, I just saw the trailer, which stars Sam Riley as Sal Paradise whom in the book is told from his point of view.Dean Moriarty, the main character, is played by Garrett Hedlund ("TRON: Legacy"). Kirsten Stewart ("Twilight" series, "The Runaways") plays the ditzy Marylou, Dean's first wife. 

Also listed in the cast are Kirsten Dunst,Viggo Mortensen, Amy Adams, Alice Braga, and 
Steve Buscemi.  Also coming out this December is F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby."  So if 2012 isn't remembered for the apocalypse, then perhaps the audience will rember 2012 as  the year that the great literary giants Fitzgerald, and Kerouac, had their novels come again to the big screen and a new generation will take inspiration from Jay and Dean.

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The Lone Ranger

Due out at the end of May 2013 (if the world as we know still exists) is "The Lone Ranger."  A remake of a remake of a famous TV series and before that it was a radio show back in the 1930s,  When I was a kid, the Lone Ranger was played by Clayton Moore. In 1981 Klinton Spilsbury played the title character in the movie "The Legend of the Lone Ranger."  Armie Hammer ("The Social Network") plays the Texas Ranger who along with six other Rangers were ambushed by the Butch Cavendish gang.  Not sure if this is going to happen in this version. Oh yes, that pirate looking Native American is none other than Johnny Depp ("Pirates of the Caribbean" franchise, "The Rum Diary").  Looking forward to hear Armie shout "Hi-yo, Silver! Away!"

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The Lone Ranger - Trailer (previous)

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