Such a Joe Moore Film

I know this is beyond late but...

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Yes, 306 is awesome and very classy. Are we good? Moving on!

Every year or so a movie comes out that really speaks to me. A few years ago The Perks of Being a Wallflower was one such film, and a year after that Frances Ha completely blew me away. As per my buddy Joshua, both of these films are "Joe Moore films". Nailed it! 

I love coming-of-age stories. Usually the lead character is stuck in a rut in life and needs a boost in the right direction. I completely understand that feeling. For the past couple of years, I've realized I'm tired of going through the motions with my job. Don't get me wrong. I still love performing. It's one thing I do very well, and I'm blessed to have a full-time job where I can have fun. However, it's about time I move on with my life. I'm just not sure where to go next. These films make me feel better about where I am in life. They remind me that no matter the age, most everyone feels like this at one point or another.

You've probably seen the picture above somewhere around the interwebz for the past few months. It is from Richard Linklater's masterpiece, Boyhood. Linklater is the man behind such great films as Dazed and Confused, the Before trilogy (Sunrise, Sunset, and Midnight), and the decidedly mainstream but still very good School of Rock. 

Boyhood blew my mind. Linklater is a genius, and I hate him. He created the ultimate coming-of-age story. The film follows the life of the same kid from ages 6-18. Linklater shot with the same cast a little bit every year or so starting all the way back in 2002. What a wonderful use of the medium! I wish I had thought of that. Though in 2002 I was still a teenager. There was no way I would've even imagined making a film for the next 12 years or so. So good for you, Linklater. Jeez.

The great thing about the film is not a whole lot happens. Nothing life-changing. There aren't serious dramatic moments showcasing the actors' talents. (I will say Patricia Arquette totally deserves all the praise she's getting for her role as the boy's mother. What an amazing performance!) The scariest thing that happens is a vignette early on about an abusive, alcohlic stepfather. Other than that, the film remains pretty low-key yet manages to enthrall you during its nearly 3-hour runtime.

Even if the above paragraphs don't pique your interest, I urge every one of you to see this amazing film. It's on Blu-Ray/DVD so you can go rent it from Redbox, throw it on when you get home, and start doing other things. Though I guarantee you it will grab you, and in a few minutes you will be sitting on your couch (or at least cuddled up with your pet) wondering what happens next in the life of this boy and his family. I wouldn't mind if in 20 years a film entitled Manhood came out with the same cast shot in the same way. I wanna know what happens to these people!

Oh! I didn't mention the soundtrack. What's great about the soundtrack is it has hits from every couple of years as the story goes on. So in the first few scenes there's songs from Coldplay and White Stripes while later in the film some Gotye plays. The screenplay I'm currently writing is set in 2004, so I've been listening to some turn of the century alternative music to inspire me. I'm sure my roommate loves me oh so much. Love you too, Anderson!

Yes, Boyhood definitely inspired me continue working on my coming-of-age script. So if you see me at work, and I'm buried face-deep in a notebook with my earbuds in, I'm not being antisocial. I'm just working on my passion project. 

In 10 years or so, my film will come out, and people who know me will be like "that's such a Joe Moore film". Then they will see my name in the credits and freak out. Because it will be awesome. Not Boyhood awesome. Just Joe Moore awesome. And that's good enough.

Top 10 of 2014

It's already New Year's Eve? Where has this year gone?!

Irregardless! Here is Joe Moore's Top 10 movies from 2014. There are films I didn't have time to see (The Babadook, Into the Woods, John Wick) that unfortunately will not be on this list. Nor will there be many "Oscar bait" movies since I am but a wee peasant, and most award-caliber films don't get a wide release until the new year. There will also not be any Marvel flicks on this list, though a couple were definitely runners-up. So, ya know, here goes nothing!

10) Snowpiercer

I'm really glad this post-apocalyptic flick is accessible on Netflix because it's one of the best sci-fi movies to come out in recent years. Chris Evans is excellent going against type, but Tilda Swinton steals the show as always. Check it out!

9) The Fault in Our Stars

Yeah that's right. I loved the book, and this is a great adaptation. YA queen Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort share an amazing chemistry. If this flick doesn't leave you in tears, you have no soul.

8) Edge of Tomorrow

What is essentially Groundhog Day with aliens is one of the most fun sci-fi/action romps to come along in quite some time. Cruise plays up his image hilariously until his character eventually becomes the action hero, and Blunt astounds as the tough-as-nails war heroine. 

7) The Skeleton Twins

This is my favorite of many wonderful independent flicks released this year. Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig continue their great chemistry from their SNL days. Also I may be biased because of my love for 80s movies, but their lip synch to Starship is one of the best scenes of the year.

6) Interstellar

This is the 2001 of our generation. Even though I guessed a couple of the twists early on that didn't impact the overall experience. Nolan has crafted a wonderful film that I will treasure forever. The father-daughter relationship is the heart of the story, and what a heart it is.

5) The Grand Budapest Hotel

I'm convinced that Wes Anderson can do no wrong. Well except for Darjeeling, but we'll forget that happened. This is probably his most accessible movie to date, but that doesn't make it any less whimsical. The entire cast is great, but Ralph Fiennes is an absolute delight as the wonderfully eccentric M. Gustave.

4) Gone Girl

I've been Fincher-ized again! He and author Gillian Flynn have done the impossible and created a nearly perfect film companion piece to her thrilling novel. Affleck is great as Nick Dunne, but this is Rosamund Pike's show all the way. What an astounding performance!!

3) Guardians of the Galaxy

I knew this flick was gonna be great just from the soundtrack, but I don't think anyone expected the fantastic soap opera we got. I'd even go as far to say that this is our generation's Star Wars. That's how awesome it is. What a fun ride!

2) The Lego Movie

Everything really is awesome! This is my favorite family flick of the year. It abounds in imagination, humor, and toward the end, a whole lotta heart. I'm pretty convinced Phil Lord and Christopher Miller can do no wrong. They're 4 for 4 in my book. Bring on the sequel!

1) Birdman

What can I say about Birdman that hasn't already been said? It's a highly entertaining film that everyone should see. The ensemble cast is terrific. Everyone gets at least one scene to shine. This is Keaton's film though. It's so great to see him back on top. Oh and how about that cinematography? Somebody stop me before I talk about this masterpiece for hours. See it now.

Now for the turds. They're mostly flicks the studios dumped early in the year. I hated I, Frankenstein, Pompeii, and That Awkward Moment. Then Escape From Tomorrow disappointed. I realize it was made on a minuscule budget AND extremely privately. However it was just weird for the sake of being weird. I wanted more.

There you have it. Again I can't believe 2014 is already over. 2015 is gearing up to be an even better year. I'll see you at the movies!

Stuff and Things

My last post was on Halloween so that shows how well I keep up with this thing. Although once I did go a couple of years without an update sooo compared to that length of time, I'm doing pretty well!

First thing's first. In case you missed my Halloween costume this year...

WHOA!

I know what you're thinking. "Those two are pretty awesome!" You would be correct.

Since Halloween I've had more car issues. My poor baby. My '97 Camry is on its last leg methinks. At least this time it wasn't as serious. I just needed a new battery. That still sucks though, especially when you've been at work all day, and all you want to do is go pick up some pizza and beer on the way home. Then you go out to your car to discover that the battery is dead. I mean, I had to wait until after work the next day to get pizza and beer! My life is so hard! Fortunately I have a handy dandy mechanic for a roommate. Or at the very least she can replace a battery. So there's that! Note to self: learn how to be butch.

Thanksgiving dinner '13

This winter at work I have 3 days off. That's right. I'm a 4-day/10-hour cast member with Tuesday Wednesday Thursday off. The point of all this? Guess which holidays are all on a Thursday this year?! Thanksgiving, Christmas, AND New Year's Day!! I've already booked my flight to go home for Thanksgiving, and I am SO EXCITED! It will feel wonderful to be back at 61 Lundy St having dinner with the immediate family including my uncle John and grandfather, Mr. Diddy. Hopefully this is going to become an annual thing again. That would be lovely.

Last year was the first time I spent Thanksgiving dinner with my family since 2006. We spent it in Charleston where my sister Emily lives with her Freddiehusband. We listened to Christmas music. We took family pictures. We stuffed ourselves with food and wine. I felt all warm and bubbly inside, and that feeling wasn't from the wine. The feeling was great, and I can't wait to feel it when I see my family next week!

Umm let's see... MOVIES!

Don't see Maleficent. Unless you have in which case I feel sorry for you. To be fair, I didn't hate it as much as I thought I would. It's certainly better than both Snow White and the Huntsman and Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland. The changes to the original story didn't bother me. The movie just didn't grab me in any way at all. Blah.

Do see Interstellar. It is our generation's 2001 though it isn't anything at all like Kubrick's classic. While Kubrick's film was opaque and weary of the human race, Nolan's film is all heart, full of hope that the human race will survive. The relationship between Matthew McConaghey and his daughter is the heart of the film, and if you don't cry once, you have no soul. Then there's the visuals of course. They are absolutely astounding, as is Hans Zimmer's booming score. See this flick on IMAX to get the full experience. It's totally worth it.

Okay I think that's more than enough for now. If you'll excuse me I'm going to enjoy the rest of my night off before my third day off this week. Yay for being a 4-day! Deuces.

Hide Behind the Chainsaws!

First things first.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN, Y'ALL!

I dunno if you could tell from my past couple of posts, but Halloween is my favorite time of year. Hands down. It's wayyy better than Christmas. I mean, sure you can get candy and watch Christmas-themed horror movies then too (hello Black Christmas and Gremlins!), but Halloween is where it's at yo! And yes I just said "yo". I'm constantly living in the past.

Here are some things I've learned this Halloween season:

1) Don't put off checking on your car.

Seriously. There was one Tuesday I was going to go get my oil changed and tires rotated, but I decided to be lazy at home instead. Bad idea. What followed is a week and a half of broken timing belts, cooling exchanges, spark plug housing problems, battered coils/cylinders, random tax liens from 2007, and remembering what it was like to be a CP i.e. life without a car. *SPOILER ALERT* It's not pleasant. 

So stay on top of your car care, people. You need it running when there is a serial killer after you. 

2) Don't dismiss movies so quickly.

I've never been a big fan of Hocus Pocus. It's all just too silly, and I prefer my Halloween movies to have more bite. However, over the past couple of years, I've come to find myself liking it. The trio of witches are wonderfully hammy. Bette Midler hasn't had a decent role since Winifred, and Sarah Jessica Parker has never appealed to me except here. She's beautiful, silly, and kinda sexy. Also there's a lot of adult humor that of course flew over my head as a kid. Kinda surprising for a Disney film. However I still question how on earth these witches would suddenly know how to work modern technology AND know modern music. And that line about the driver's license is just awful. 

I watched it at the Enzian this year with a packed house. People were sitting in the bushes watching this beloved film from their childhood, and I'm sure they're showing it to their kids. I guess what I'm trying to say is... good for you, Hocus Pocus. You go, Hocus Pocus.

3) Decide what you're dressing up as before Halloween week.

I'm sure I didn't actually learn this lesson. Next year my costume choice will be just as late. Also this year I was kinda limited with car repairs/lack of sufficient funds. I will say that despite the stress, my costume will be fairly awesome. Definitely not as awesome as last year, but if you have an affinity for late 80s/early 90s TV shows, you'll get a kick out of it.

Oh! I know you guys are oh so curious so I'll let you know that The Abominable Dr. Phibes, starring Vincent Price, is one odd ditty of a film. It was made in the early 70s, when horror movies didn't have much of a plot but a string a bizarre scenes that border on the macabre. Think an ahead of its time Final Destination and that's basically Dr. Phibes for you. So if that meets your fancy, check it out!

Alright everybody enjoy your Halloween! Dress up all slutty, nom on all that sweet sugary goodness, and get crunk off your favorite pumpkin beer/ciders. But keep your wits about you, just in case...

Head For the Cemetery!

It's October! It's Halloween season! There really isn't any time of year I like better. Christmas is cool and all, but it's so commercial and overrated. I mean let's be honest. Some hooligans out there are probably already decorated and/or listening to Christmas music. Enough, people! You only have to wait 40+ more days before that is officially acceptable. You can do it!

If you didn't know already, I am a huge horror movie buff. I watch horror movies all year round. The Halloween season is just an excuse to watch even MOORE horror movies (horror TV shows as well. I'm talking to you "The Walking Dead"!). This year I've decided to watch one horror movie each day. I've been mostly successful with this quest, except on days when Disney schedules me 13-hour work days. Thanks a heap, work. Don't you know I have better things to do?!

I'm trying to watch either movies I've never seen before or movies that I haven't seen in a while. The only flick from horror mastermind Dario Argento that I've ever seen is Suspiria. I've got two of his other flicks (Inferno and Phenomena) sitting in my Netflix queue. Then there's all the genius cheeseball movies from the 80s such as Re-Animator, Creepshow, and House. You think you've seen them all then 10 more pop up either on TV or Netflix, and it's like the heaven opening up its pearly white gates and the angels singing in chorus "Ahhhh horror movies you're welcome AHHHH!" Or ya know something like that.

There's nothing more terrifying than deep V-neck sweaters

There's a few movies I'm rewatching. I've already watched what is arguably my favorite horror movie, The Others. It was the first horror movie I ever saw. If it wasn't for The Others I wouldn't even like horror movies today. Okay that's not true, but that movie was a great launching pad. Another couple of my favorite movies from the turn of the century are The Ring and Signs. A lot of people bash Signs because of the ridiculous ending. Yes, the ending is ridiculous, but there's so much more to that movie than the ending. There's themes of faith, very dry humor, and crazy Mel Gibson... I mean what's not to like? Also how about that kid's birthday video? Scary stuff!!

I'm going to the Enzian later tonight. Every year they show different horror movies for free out on the lawn. Tonight's model is an oldie from the 70s: The Abominable Dr. Phibes, starring Vincent Price. I've never heard of it before, but it's supposed to be awesome. I'll let you know what I think.

Scariest movie ever

Enough about me though. What say you all? What are some of your favorite horror movies? Do you have any that you watch every Halloween season? Of course there's the classics such as Halloween, Friday the 13th, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Psycho, and Poltergiest. (I'm saving all of those for Halloween week.) Or maybe you have obscure horror movies you watch? Let me know in the comments below. Enjoy the next couple of ghoulish weeks!