Have a Look at the Work of Artist Theo Jansen

Notes on Recent Films

I recognize film as a form of poetry. These time capsules of juxtaposed mood, music, words, images, and movement add up to much more than the sum of their parts. I learned about film by repeatedly watching the work of filmmakers like Ingmar Bergman, Robert Bresson, David Lynch, Jaques Tati, Alfred Hitchcock, and Andrei Tarkovsky, and by reading the criticism of Jonathan Rosenbaum. I'm surprised at their ability to edify and inspire me. Films that move me on a poetic level are few compared to the number of movies that are produced. I know a film hits that spot when it bears more than one or two viewings.

I've been watching "A.I." by Spielberg, over and over again for a few years now. Weirdly, his other efforts fade quickly for me; "War of the Worlds" , "Schindler's List" , and Indiana Jones, all fall flat by comparison. "Minority Report" doesn't speak as deeply to me as "A.I.", but has a spark that he aforementioned do not. I would dare to say that "A.I." has mostly to do with the question; "What is love?"  

Most films I've seen clearly and powerfully demonstrate what love isn't.  I saw "There Will Be Blood" by P.T. Anderson three times at the theater and rented it once. It's theme of emotional stiltedness and spiritual isolation connected with (and some times paled in comparison to) "Before the Devil Knows You're Dead" (Lumet), which I rented a few days ago. Both films had strong things to say about the relationship between fathers and sons and how emotional alienation can bring about tragedy.  You really know what love isn't when you hear someone say to you "I drink YOUR milkshake!"

If "There Will Be Blood" was a shot of whiskey, "Before the Devil Knows You're Dead" would be two more shots from the same bottle.  Despite the similarities, I experienced both films as having a very different style and character.

I was shocked at how "I Am Legend" (Francis Lawrence) was so transparent in it's unloving evangelical message that a few "special heroes" are our saviors, and only a select few are believers living in isolation, but most are infected with evil and hide in the shadows. It smacked of dehumanization. My gut told me it was even dangerous that the "vampires" had no will or ability to save themselves from the shadows of compulsion. They lacked "Will" - get it? It made the phrase "saved by the blood" a sour message for me. I prefer Abel Ferrara's "Addiction" instead, or "28 Days Later" (Boyle) , from which I gleaned a clearer message of "we're responsible due to our addiction to anger."

I was really impressed by "King Corn" by Aaron Wolf. It's affected my eating habits.

The Existence of G-d

My strongest argument for the existence of G-d is that I have within me a certain knowledge of G-d's presence. This is not a feeling or a craving, it is a certainty grounded within me and I see it also outside myself in others and in nature. I'm unsure, however, if this is translatable to you except through my artwork. Even still, I don't know if I've transmitted those particular signals clearly or strongly enough. And what of the condition of your antenna? You may not be tuned into that frequency.

So my next best argument is an image of perfection that I believe we all harbor. And If you don't harbor one, you might sense the absence of it. I believe we all hold within us a need and a desire for perfection, nirvana, heaven, etc. I see it expressed clearly from others in art, architecture, music, and also in forms which I judge to be more twisted and desperate. I see it as persistent, pushing it's own way through no matter what.

And I recognize the divide that lies between where I'm at and the image of perfection I hold. The division triggers pain in me. I can't let it go.