FilmMattic

        Review: Boardwalk Empire        For those who are not familiar with HBO, my first declarative act as a blogger is to get familiar.  Year after year, television critics clamor over HBO programming ... but why?        The best reason I can ferret out has to do with HBO's exemplary track record.  HBO is consistently recognized as a portal for both uniquely popular and critically acclaimed shows. Unlike most other cable or broadcast networks, HBO can proudly boast about an ownership of some of the finest representations of television 'art'.  I use the term 'art' to denote a certain subjective quality of cinematic beauty.       For me, this recognition of cinematic beauty began with The Sopranos.  But the list does not end there, not even close.  The Wire, Curb your Enthusiasm, The Pacific, Deadwood, Oz, and numerous other shows have graced ...

            The follow-up victor to my Person of the Week segment follows in theme with the rationale behind selecting my inaugural winner—a film actor.        In lieu of his highly acclaimed new film, The Fighter— playing the lead role of real life junior welterweight Boxer, "Irish" Micky Ward—Mark Wahlberg will be taking the reigns from James Franco as the Person of the Week.  In a close race, Wahlberg nudged out the sagacious James L. Brooks, award winning Director of the upcoming film, How Do You Know.       As he was pejoratively once known, Marky Mark has managed to successfully carve out a career that has brokered two competing feats.  Not only has Wahlberg trumped most of his fan's wildest expectations, but he has also defied the wry eye of some of his most cynical of haters.         After a short lived but pronounced singing and mod...

       "My Life's a movie, call me Martin Scorsese." These are lyrics from a mainstream hip hop song, "Shut it Down," by Pitbull and Akon.  It is not this aspect of the song that sparks my interest, but the implication behind it.         It strikes me as significant that a popularized and mainstream song would include a reference to Scorsese. The primary reason behind this importance is two-fold.  Given the inherent 'geek-esque' quality of the film industry—in terms of amassing a working knowledge of cinema—it is uncharacteristic for mainstream America to incorporate or accept these references. But everyone appreciates and knows what Martin Scorsese does for a living.  This fact is irrefutable.  It is as much a result of Scorsese's genius as a filmmaker, as it is his popularity as a contributor to the film medium.        If you include a song with a reference to Alexander...

      I just stumbled upon a new realization today. James Franco is the proverbial man.  My new film hero.  In lieu of this discovery, I have decided to post a weekly blog entry highlighting my favorite new "Person of the Week." The inaugural winner of this venerable award is indeed James Franco.        This guy has such an intricate depth of talent that I can only watch in awe.  As if being an Oscar nominated Actor is not enough accomplishment for one person, he decides to pursue four Master's degrees and a PhD from Yale University.        In addition, he will be the 2011 host of the Academy Awards, teaches a class at Yale, starred in daytime TV Soap Opera General Hospital, is currently starring in one of my favorite new films of the year, 127 Hours— with which an Oscar Nomination for Best Actor is all but guaranteed—and played iconic, but troubled film star, James Dean.   ...

        Call me an eternal optimist. Call me a delusional prognosticator. Call me an irrational thinker. I cede any pejorative title relating to my reservoir of inexperience from any reader of my blog—that is your right.        But, in the coldest of my reasoned thoughts, I call myself a calculating practitioner of manageable expectations, fashioned by a creative and smartly-premised bent. I have designs of one day honing my craft in the film business, initially as a screenwriter.        At this point, I will accept any role in the creative process. My one caveat, of course, is that it is concrete and not menial—i.e. if your looking for a gofer to fetch your coffee, I'm not your guy.  Ultimately, I would like the opportunity, as I'm sure most also do, of having my screenplay purchased from a studio and budgeted for production and wide-release. And of course, I'd be captaining the sta...

       As far back as I can remember, I always wanted to be in the film business. The opportunity to broadcast my thoughts to a public audience, keen on insightful commentary, is an undertaking I have yet to explore.        Thus, my rationale for creating this blog is to gain entrance into the film community—a community fraught with smart, diverse minds. Such accessibility, I hope, will engender meaningful debates and consequently, an opportunity to cultivate my knowledge of cinema.       As an aspiring actor/writer, I am yearning for the chance to subject my work to substantive criticism. One of the foreseeable ways by which I can hone my craft as a filmmaker is to connect with individuals of diverse sensibilities. This will allow for my work to undergo an honest critique.        Additionally, this blog will possess fundamentally intellectual qualities; specifically, serving...