"The Dolphin's Smile is Nature's Greatest Deception"

The Cove

Wow.   James Bond?  A Hollywood-made Expose?  No.  This is a documentary.  But it is very hard to remember that at times.  Whether it's our heroes planting cameras in the dead of night, or running from police tails, this never actually feels like a real story.  Until it becomes to real to ignore.  If you have not yet seen this movie you are missing something beautiful and alarming and deeply tragic.  

This is a documentary seen through the eyes of Richard O'Barry, the trainer and captor of the Flipper dolphins for the 1965 television series.

Ric O'Barry

Richard O'Barry narrates his change of heart towards the captivity of dolphins and brings us to Taijii where there is some extremely troubling treatment of animals going on.  As an audience member we watch as an "ocean's 11-like" team is assembled with state-of-the-art equipment to break into an area of Japan that is very viciously guarded by fisherman and local authorities, in order to document the heinous acts that not even some members of the Japanese public know about.  

This story is heartbreaking and somewhat graphic.  But it also shows a beauty and a deep appreciation for an animal that just may be the closest to us in brain capacity and personality.  This juxtaposition is encapsulated in one sequence where we watch as a free-diver is approached underwater by a wild dolphin, and the two develop a very personal bond right before our eyes, as if they are dancing... just a few minutes later we watch as the same free-diver has to watch a dolphin struggle to escape a massacre and dies right before her eyes.  it is tragic sequence but unfortunately the worst is yet to come.

i post this blog not because it is an exciting adventure (it is), or because I needed something new to blog about (i did), but because this story NEEDS to be told.  This is something that you can't watch and continue to look the other way.  You will be entertained but you will be moved.  Tremendously.  It is a Netflix Instant play, and if you don't have Netflix,  i'm sure it won't be hard to find, it is an Oscar winner.  Please watch.

The Cove Trailer

if you watch it, and it touches you the same way it has me... here are some things you can do.

More Information/Sign the Petition 

My Friend.  PSA

Watch.  Do Something.

"We Are Such Stuff as Dreams are Made On"

Here comes the vamp:
Starring-

Helen Mirren, Chris Cooper, Djimon Hounsou, David Strathairn, Alan Cumming, Alfred Molina, Russell Brand, Ben Whishaw

Sold yet?

It's Directed by:

Julie Taymor

You may be familiar with her track record, Broadway's Lion King, Frida, Across The Universe, Titus, etc.

She's had one or two hits...

Sold yet?

Watch:

i'm a sucker for a good Shakespeare adaptation.  One of my favorite plays from Shakespeare, a wonderful cast, and a visually stunning director.  it's getting to be that time of year for studios to start letting their oscar horses out of the gate, i can't wait.

"Push Up. Overload. Legendary Heavy Glow."

Weekend Roundup.

Things i Saw.  Thought i'd Share.

Welcome Back Coco

Conan's back in action tomorrow night after an 8 month absence.  11 PM on TBS.  

i want to see this:

Biutiful Trailer

i want you to see this:

Gorillaz: Stylo

And piggybacking on my last post, you should watch this Spike Jonze short:

We Were Once a Fairytale

Spike Jonze

Starring Kanye West

That is all.

Enjoy.

"Let's Have a Toast for For the Douchebags"

Concept Art for Kanye's Single Power.

  Ok so, by now you've probably heard that Kanye's new album My Dark Twisted Fantasy is due to drop on November 22nd.  I don't think anyone can forget the last time Kanye had national spotlight: 

2009 VMA's

  The world exploded a year and a half ago because he 'disrespected' Taylor Swift.  Yeah, it was messed up and a dick move on his part, but everyone overreacted.... it's a VMA... it's not an Grammy or an Oscar.  Fortunately now we can remember why most of us loved Kanye to begin with.  The man has a brilliant artistic mind. This is one of the most hyped albums I can remember in my lifetime, and so far the early samples and singles i've heard give me goosebumps.  Here is the latest piece of artwork from Kanye West. 

Runaway (Full Length)

  

  If you've got 34 minutes to spend you can get a good sampling of the forthcoming album, plus watch a beautifully shot short film.  This is why we tolerate Kanye's occasional brashness (something he also addresses on the album).  The short film has a strange feel all the way through, sometimes the plot doesn't quite click but the music never skips a beat and the cinematography looks fabulous.  The two brightest spots are the actual song that inspires the radio single: Runaway (which to me is one of the most beautiful 'music videos' i've ever seen.) the second is the music that leads to a stunning finish to the video.

Runaway (selection)

  Above is the shortened version of the video if you don't have time for the 34 minute one, but it cuts the song off early (right after Pusha T's verse) and takes a lot away visually from what the original version has to offer.  If you have to pick and choose i would say watch the long version from 13:33 to 24:00, but seriously check the whole thing out if you can.  The only person i remember hyping his releases with short movies like this was Michael Jackson (A la Thriller), who, as if on cue, Kanye lyrically references Michael Jackson (Twice, points for finding both.).  After watching this i'm reminded of why the man is gaining a reputation as the prodigal son of his genre.  I have a feeling that this CD will be to Kanye what "Blood on the Tracks" or "Highway 61 Revisited" was to Dylan.  An opus that redefines his corner of the music world.  But i could be wrong.  We'll see on the 22nd.

*Follow up
Rolling Stones Review... can't do better than 5/5