(Brutally) Honest Advert

Errol Morris tweeted that this is the best commercial ever made (or, at least that he has viewed). I have to agree that it is quite strong (quite, to quite quite strong). The camera angles, lenses used, editing, and use of sound are all very interesting, intelligent, and provocative. It's almost unbelievable, but I did google the company and found it here.





Putting the technique aside (and the fact that there is just something quintessentially "American" about the commercial), obviously the brutal honesty of the voice over is what catapults this ad ahead of so many others. "My wife's boyfriend broke my jaw with a fence post, so if you don't buy a trailer from me, it ain't gonna hurt my feelings." It's intriguing to me to have such honesty, because it's just not what we expect as television viewers. We tend to save that kind of visceral moment for our own lives, and may only expect it from our favorite primetime drama. In the latter case, though, it's always removed from reality, behind the fourth wall and safe from our reach. And those moments of honesty are either built up through a dramatic climax, or set aside for a pensive and introspective moment between the players. We don't expect them from a real-life hardened, used trailer salesman in rural Alabama. And we don't expect them so quickly. It's almost uncomfortable, the amount of trust he must have in us to tell us such personal things.

It's also interesting to me that despite all the honesty, they're ok to poke some fun at the art (running/skipping along at the end). Plus, the cougar sound bytes are quite funny.

Behold the beauty that is Troll 2

In preparation for a screening of BEST WORST MOVIE at the Alamo, I give you a rather notorious clip from the movie, TROLL 2 (which has absolutely nothing to do with the 1986 film, TROLL). Filmed in the US by a crew of non-English speaking Italians and a cast of non-professional actors, the movie follows a family's move to a small town plagued by human eating creatures (they don't actually eat meat, but rather turn the people into large plants, and then eat them...makes sense, no?)

BEST WORST MOVIE is a documentary, made by one of the child actors in the film, about the movie, it's cult following, and the finally realized stardom of it's leading man.

I like a lot of different film makers...but those are some of them.

One of my favorites discussing some of his favorites.

Turkish Star Wars

Alamo South Lamar is playing the highly provocative film, Turkish Star Wars. Seeing a preview during a recent viewing there of DATE NIGHT (review to come), I had to do some research. Turns out that this is a fairly well known film to fanboys, notorious for its blatant (and unauthorized) use of footage from from the first Star Wars movie which is spliced (unsuccessfully) into a new feature. While the plot has little to do with George Lucas' storyline, it does capitalize on the success of his film and poaches his ground breaking special effects.

There's a great training montage, which may become my new fitness routine. A mix of cardio, strength training and martial arts, it's arguably the precursor to p90X and involves substantially less financial investment (although it looks like a trampoline and a sweet white belt would come in handy).

NYC Subway gets Rickrolled

Is it only in Manhattan that subway passengers could be so indifferent to this kind of act, jaded by the mass amount of performance art they are subjected to on a daily basis? Look at those despondent faces. Although, it was kind'a pitchy, dogs.

I think these lads should try the 1am crowd.

Ending Hunger for Seniors

Meals on Wheels Association is a great organization that focuses on ending senior hunger, and also helps ensure that these folks have some type of human interaction with others. As the video below mentions, this may be the only interaction they have all day long.

You can make a donation here