I Know Now Why You Cry...

I have posted the following clip in order to illustrate a simple point: the action movie genre has gone to complete and utter shit. When I was growing up, action movies were more than just high-priced vehicles for which to showcase state-of-the-art special effects. They actually told captivating stories, providing a window into the very heart of humanity as well as warning us of the dangerous trajectory down which we are so fool-heartedly entrenched. Drama and social commentary tucked into the core of a Hollywood blockbuster--with an impossibly large budget. Can you imagine such a beast existing in today's climate? Of course not. Nowadays you have 'films' like The Avengers--largely devoid of any metaphorical significance whatsoever. Vapid wastes of celluloid specifically-engineered to cater to the lowest common denominator while steering clear--at all costs--of any sort of overtly controversial subject matter. When you hit up theaters this week to help make this pavlovian drivel the highest-grossest film of all time (I'm as guilty as the rest of you), just remember that there was a time in the not-so-distant past when action movies were actual films, capable of eliciting emotional connection and provoking us to contemplate the complexities of the human condition.

**Drive Soundtrack**

Just saw the movie Drive last night for the first time. Not sure exactly how I feel about it. Definitely captivating to watch, with a few scenes that will certainly stick out--particularly for their pronounced gruesomeness--but overall I thought there were some serious pitfalls in the story-telling and a few elements that just didn't make any sense at all. But there was some solid acting from usual standouts like Bryan Cranston and Albert Brooks (quite creepy sans eyebrows). From a technical standpoint, it's nice how the filmmakers often eschewed dialogue in favor of creating visceral moods through lighting, expressions and, most notably: music. I was a big fan of the heady beats that permeated the score. It at once felt nostalgic and somehow futuristic. Although I need more time to process my thoughts on the film itself, the undeniable impact of the soundtrack is immediate. Listen for yourself...