One Battle After Another

I feel conflicted reviewing this movie as it was already over hyped, and now it’s a multiple academy award winner, on top of that it’s not without controversy much of which I agree with, but I just love this movie so dang much.

First of all yes, why put so many black actors and characters into a film and then relegate them to the background akin to so much set dressing while the movie is still as always mostly about a white guy or guys.

Second, why is it filled with political imagery some of it seemingly couldn’t have been more relevant to the current times and then when asked about it, be all, I’m not political. Kind of an odd choice.

Thirdly, I don’t know, how could a movie with so much oscar buzz and now recognition actually be any good as a film, as a piece of art?

I don’t know, but it is.

Perfidia Beverly Hills is a flawed character but she does have her moments and she is firmly in control in the power dynamic between her and that racist f*ck.  He can’t get enough of her.

Secondly, Willa a biracial character and actor is central to the plot.  Is it weird to set a story in africa for some reason and then not acknowledge that choice? yes but I don’t see anyone arguing that the Christmas Adventurers Club featured in the movie didn’t get enough screen time. Background characters can be very important to the story and still remain in the background.

Fundamentally I saw this as a story about love and relationships. About a fathers love, about persistence and perseverance.  About funny moments that happen in life, even in life and death situations, when a hapless stoner stumbles his way into saving the day and reuniting with his daughter.

I loved the soundtrack, the oddly incongruous upbeat melody that plays in the middle of a relentless chase.  I loved the car pursuit scene. I loved Benicio Del Toro. I loved the pacing of the whole thing, reminded me of being on edge in Uncut Gems.

wow just wow – pudding street view

pudding.cool does it again

“What if you could search every visible word on New York City’s streets?”

This is just so up my alley and a great use of technology, great insight and just blows my mind on what can be possible. Of course just imaging what governments or nefarious entities might be doing with the same kind of insights… but anyway, let’s just enjoy what this project has to offer.  So cool.

https://pudding.cool/2025/07/street-view/

1917

Wow, what a disservice to market this movie as a “one-take” gimmick. I thoroughly enjoyed this film.  I’m not sure if it would hold up on repeated viewings, I watched it at home and I can’t even imagine the tension of watching it in a theater.  I’m not a WWI buff or a war movie buff or anything like that, just judging it purely on the merits of watching a very engaging movie. Thank you Sam Mendes.

Milena Naef – Fleeting Parts

Wow I’ve heard of exploring the body through sculpture but this is next level, verging on performance art.

“Due to the inevitable presence of our bodies… a reflection on ourselves as a material.”

This work is visceral and arresting and I can’t get enough.

http://milenanaef.com/

Pilvi Takala

I’m not familiar with her work but after reading this new yorker profile I knew I had to post about her.  At the very least she is an interesting live performance artist and I am a sucker for those.

In some ways she does what every artist does or at least I would hope does, which is examine, subvert, hold a mirror up to society, question assumptions, question everything.

But she does it in an impossible to ignore, live way. It’s one of the things I love about live arts, it’s thereness, that is hard not to engage with. Sometimes if only to get away from it.

There’s also something to admire in her quiet braveness, ability to commit to the inevitable extremes of simple starting assumptions, and simply the variety of subversions and situations she engages.

New Yorker

portfolio website