I'm sorry that all of these posts are movie related. Perhaps I should write about subjects more life changing or something...I'll work on that.
Either way, I just read this article that informs us that David O. Russell and Christian Bale working together on a new film.
I laughed out loud when I read this. If you've seen either one of the following videos you'll realize why:
I think we can expect some good footage to be leaked from the set of this new movie.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Monday, April 20, 2009
The Bike King and The Ten Commandments Part 3
Response from the creators of "The Bike King.."
Nathan
Thanks for you interest we will inform you when the DVD is available. We are looking at a theatre release first.
God Bless
Julius
I wish this movie would ever come to theaters.
Nathan
Thanks for you interest we will inform you when the DVD is available. We are looking at a theatre release first.
God Bless
Julius
I wish this movie would ever come to theaters.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
The Bike King and The Ten Commandments Part 2
Good news. The movie is legit and my friend sent me the link to the official website: http://www.bikeking10.com/
After watching the trailer about 32 more times I've decided to try everything within my power to add this jewel of a film to my collection.
I just sent this email to the producer...or whoever checks their emails:
How can I get a copy of your inspirational film?
I've watched the trailer countless times and just can't wait to see the feature!
Thanks!
Nathan
I'll keep you updated in my quest.
After watching the trailer about 32 more times I've decided to try everything within my power to add this jewel of a film to my collection.
I just sent this email to the producer...or whoever checks their emails:
How can I get a copy of your inspirational film?
I've watched the trailer countless times and just can't wait to see the feature!
Thanks!
Nathan
I'll keep you updated in my quest.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Reason 74 I'm Excited to Move to Austin
Once I get married in August I'm going to be packing up my life here in Greenville and settling down in Austin, Texas. It's a town I knew little about until I found out my wife-to-be is going to school there. I figured Austin was your stereotypical Texas town. A place where people wear cowboy boots and still like George W. Bush.
This is not the case.
It's a town full of small businesses, live music, and Barack Obama stickers.
It's also home of a little place called the Alamo Drafthouse.
Alee recently told me a story about the Drafthouse that nearly had me packing up my suitcase and catching the next plane out of Greenville:
The Drafthouse recently had a free screening of what was supposed to be Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn, with some special scenes from the new Star Trek to follow. The night of the event, before the film started, the theater announced that the writers of the new Star Trek were in attendance. The writers gave a little speech and then the lights dimmed and Kahn began.
A few minutes into the movie something happened to the film, so the manager ran up to the projection booth to "fix" the problem and the writers got back up on stage to stall. Then, to everyone's surprise, Leornard "Spock" Nimoy emerged from the audience.
Anyway, to make a long story short, the movie goers did not get to watch The Wrath of Kahn that night. They watched the new Star Trek instead.
So if the booming independent film scene, the home of arguably the best film school outside of L.A. or New York, or Alee Franklin weren't enough to make me completely stoked about being a resident of Austin, Texas in a few months, the fact that I'll be in a town where Leornard Nimoy stops by every now and then and hosts world premieres of movies does.
This is not the case.
It's a town full of small businesses, live music, and Barack Obama stickers.
It's also home of a little place called the Alamo Drafthouse.
Alee recently told me a story about the Drafthouse that nearly had me packing up my suitcase and catching the next plane out of Greenville:
The Drafthouse recently had a free screening of what was supposed to be Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn, with some special scenes from the new Star Trek to follow. The night of the event, before the film started, the theater announced that the writers of the new Star Trek were in attendance. The writers gave a little speech and then the lights dimmed and Kahn began.
A few minutes into the movie something happened to the film, so the manager ran up to the projection booth to "fix" the problem and the writers got back up on stage to stall. Then, to everyone's surprise, Leornard "Spock" Nimoy emerged from the audience.
Anyway, to make a long story short, the movie goers did not get to watch The Wrath of Kahn that night. They watched the new Star Trek instead.
So if the booming independent film scene, the home of arguably the best film school outside of L.A. or New York, or Alee Franklin weren't enough to make me completely stoked about being a resident of Austin, Texas in a few months, the fact that I'll be in a town where Leornard Nimoy stops by every now and then and hosts world premieres of movies does.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
You gotta give 'em hope...
I've recently had an...um...change of heart...
For the past 5 years my favorite movie has undoubtedly been Cinema Paradiso. If you know anything about me and you know anything about this movie, then you know exactly why it held the number one spot in my heart.
If you haven't seen it, it's basically about a broken hearted filmmaker.
It's quite a depressing movie with little hope presented to the audience. Either way I identified with the main character more than any other character I'd ever seen in a movie. That's why I loved it so much.
However, I showed it to my fiancee, Alee, over Christmas break and the movie didn't feel the same. Whatever it was about the movie that made me love it so much for the past 5 years wasn't there upon this viewing. I didn't identify with Toto (the main character) anymore. It didn't make me feel the way it used to. The magic was gone.
I was scared to admit it at first, but I think I have to say that Cinema Paradiso isn't number one anymore. That doesn't mean I still don't think it's a great movie. I'm still convinced it's one of the greatest movies I've ever seen, but best does not always equal favorite.
Yes, Slumdog Millionaire has replaced Cinema Paradiso.
I guess some might say that the explanation for this change is an easy one. I don't identify with a brokenhearted filmmaker anymore, because I'm no longer as brokenhearted as I once felt yaddah yaddah yaddah...but I think the explanation is deeper than that.
I think the change has something to do with what kind of movies I want to make in my life.
Like I said, Cinema Paradiso offers very little hope to its viewer. The viewer leaves the film feeling regret, sadness, and confusion. I don't want people feeling this way while leaving a movie with Nathan Willis' name on it.
When movies first came out they were a means of escape for people. People would go to the movies to forget their problems and laugh. Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin reminded people that there was still good in the world, and that there was still stuff worth smiling about.
This optimism in movies seems to have disappeared. All of the critically acclaimed movies don't make us laugh like they once did, they make us want to throw back the Prozac and eat the barrel of a gun.
For the past few years the movies that have taken the Best Picture statue home from the Academy Awards leave the audience feeling pessimistic about the world we live in.
Slumdog Millionaire is a much needed change of pace.
When I make a film I want people to realize that, yeah, life really does suck sometimes, but there is hope. You don't have to live in regret and self pity.
A girl broke your heart? There is hope.
Your mom died? There is hope.
You're poor? There is hope.
I think Slumdog Millionaire embodies this idea perfectly.
I don't want to watch/make movies where people look behind them to a past filled with heartache and remorse. I want people to look ahead to a future filled with hope and optimism.
That's the reason I fell in love with movies in the first place.
For the past 5 years my favorite movie has undoubtedly been Cinema Paradiso. If you know anything about me and you know anything about this movie, then you know exactly why it held the number one spot in my heart.
If you haven't seen it, it's basically about a broken hearted filmmaker.It's quite a depressing movie with little hope presented to the audience. Either way I identified with the main character more than any other character I'd ever seen in a movie. That's why I loved it so much.
However, I showed it to my fiancee, Alee, over Christmas break and the movie didn't feel the same. Whatever it was about the movie that made me love it so much for the past 5 years wasn't there upon this viewing. I didn't identify with Toto (the main character) anymore. It didn't make me feel the way it used to. The magic was gone.
I was scared to admit it at first, but I think I have to say that Cinema Paradiso isn't number one anymore. That doesn't mean I still don't think it's a great movie. I'm still convinced it's one of the greatest movies I've ever seen, but best does not always equal favorite.
So what has taken its spot on my list?
I think I'm in a place where I don't have one favorite movie. I have several. Here are my current top 5 in no specific order:
Casablanca.
Good Will Hunting.
The Untouchables.
The Best Years of Our Lives.
...and Slumdog Millionaire.
Yes, Slumdog Millionaire has replaced Cinema Paradiso.I guess some might say that the explanation for this change is an easy one. I don't identify with a brokenhearted filmmaker anymore, because I'm no longer as brokenhearted as I once felt yaddah yaddah yaddah...but I think the explanation is deeper than that.
I think the change has something to do with what kind of movies I want to make in my life.
Like I said, Cinema Paradiso offers very little hope to its viewer. The viewer leaves the film feeling regret, sadness, and confusion. I don't want people feeling this way while leaving a movie with Nathan Willis' name on it.
When movies first came out they were a means of escape for people. People would go to the movies to forget their problems and laugh. Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin reminded people that there was still good in the world, and that there was still stuff worth smiling about.
This optimism in movies seems to have disappeared. All of the critically acclaimed movies don't make us laugh like they once did, they make us want to throw back the Prozac and eat the barrel of a gun.
For the past few years the movies that have taken the Best Picture statue home from the Academy Awards leave the audience feeling pessimistic about the world we live in.
Slumdog Millionaire is a much needed change of pace.
When I make a film I want people to realize that, yeah, life really does suck sometimes, but there is hope. You don't have to live in regret and self pity.
A girl broke your heart? There is hope.
Your mom died? There is hope.
You're poor? There is hope.
I think Slumdog Millionaire embodies this idea perfectly.
I don't want to watch/make movies where people look behind them to a past filled with heartache and remorse. I want people to look ahead to a future filled with hope and optimism.
That's the reason I fell in love with movies in the first place.
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