50/50

It also takes a pair to keep on fighting even when it seems you might lose.

Fayes Video and Coffee Bar

Great Charlotte

Hugely talented Charlotte Gainsbourg has two movies coming out this summer to be excited about: The Tree and Melancolia, her second film with often disturbing directer Lars Von Trier (Antichrist, Breaking the Waves, Dancer in the Dark).

Beginners

Finally saw this last week and it's quite lovely. Subtle, sweet and heartbreaking; just how I like 'em. Plus, huge crush on Ewan McGregor and Melanie Laurent.

Splitscreen: A Love Story

Really pretty!

Splitscreen: A Love Story from JW Griffiths on Vimeo.

Vogue

"Voguing: The Message, is a nice little pre-”Paris Is Burning” documentary about the emerging New York voguing scene with a lot of footage and some awesome performances and statements by Willi Ninja from the House of Ninja. The film was shot in 1988 by Jack Walworth, David Bronstein & Dorothy Low and released in 1989."

50/50

I found about this movie a while ago, being the big Joseph Gordon Levitt fan that I am. The trailer is finally out! I'm pretty stoked about it. I couldn't have thought of anyone better to play me in a movie!



"When his friend Will Reiser developed cancer at 25, Seth Rogen thought, ''How can we turn this into a movie?'' And they did. The Reiser-penned dramedy 50/50 (out Sept. 30) stars Gordon-Levitt as Adam, a cancer patient, and Rogen (who's also producing) as his loutish friend. 50/50 doesn't downplay the disease's toll, but it definitely finds humor, like when Adam exploits his condition to attract women. ''Often with films about cancer I think, 'You made something sad seem sad for two hours. Congratulations!''' Rogen says. ''The real challenge is to make it seem anything but completely miserable.'' Entertainment Weekly

Another Chance

So I'm back from the hospital and just awaiting recovery to face my final session of chemotherapy. This last cycle wasn't as rough as I imagined it could be but the long term side effects and scars are starting to become more apparent. Small prices to pay for a possible cure.
Anyway, I had to share my excitement about this trailer for what looks like could be a really powerful movie.



As always, most interested in stories about second chances, redemption and people facing incredible circumstances; I'm pretty pumped about Another Earth. Some would say I fit the bill of one of these people, taking a step away I might agree, and on a perhaps less egotistical level I would also say that my life is no different from anyone else's and no can really imagine the pain that goes on behind closed doors even though mine might be a little bit harder to disguise.

Pretty soon I might have gotten my second chance. Time will tell if I do, the cancer could come back soon and I could have less than a year to live or it could come back never and I might live till old and gray. I suppose I should get used to the ambiguity.

Faced once again with the possibility of leading a healthy life and getting a second go of it as I face my 30th birthday more questions arise than answers.

I have found a new meaning in life and a reawakening perhaps of what's really important and valuable...but now that I know that...what comes next? What do I really want to make of my life? How do I want it to be? How I can get there, as I face a potential new chapter of adulthood?

Questions I suppose will be answered on a day to day. There is no use worrying about what hasn't happened yet. Right now I can only learn to forgive myself for irreparable mistakes made only against myself and just let go. Time will tell and I hope to be given the chance not to fuck it up.

Darren and Natalie plus Rodarte

So last night I went to see Black Swan again to a theater near my house. I loved the movie so much I felt it deserved a second viewing in the theater to appreciate things I might have missed the first time around. So I salute Rodarte for the gorgeous costumes, Natalie Portman for her well deserved Oscar and Darren Aronofsky for being able to consistently create movies that are visceral, moving and unsettling.

Minimalist Movie Posters

Found here. There are some pretty cool ones, I must say.

Morgan M. Morgansen’s Date with Destiny

A clever short film featuring Joseph Gordon Levitt, presented at last year's Sundance.

Swoon

Oh James! Could you be any hotter?! I can't imagine how...

...More Please

I'm a sucker for quirky indie dramas about people trying to find themselves. This one looks promising. The trailer alone has several quotable one liners.

"Let's meet people who deserve to be loved, who are worthy. Go get yourself loved."
Sounda like a good new year's resolution to me...

Ryan and Michelle

Finally! After months of anticipation I finally saw Blue Valentine. The wait was worth it. The film was every bit as arresting, beautiful, ugly and heartbreaking as I hoped it would be. The first must-see of the year!

Sam's Myth

Most movie posters today are mostly sad, poorly photoshopped blownup photos. Not these. I came up on this artist's awesome work. Sam Smyth design's movie posters are ones you actually wish you owned. He doesn't just design movie posters though, here's a sample of what he does but there's alot more to see on his blog.





And how about these rad stamps!

Favorites of 2010

In no particular order...

Black Swan
Inception
The Town
The Kids Are Alright
Going the Distance
Rabbit Hole

Brutal Winter Wonderland

Black Swan

Right now I can't post about anything related to my ongoing cancer battle, my recent stint in the hospital was excruciating and the thought that this is only the beginning and I have long road ahead of hospital stays and chemo is overwhelmingly terrifying.
But I will post about this. I just saw Darren Aronofsky's Black Swan and it was beautiful. Dark, uncomfortable, visually enthralling, creepy and thrilling to watch Natalie Portman's performance and her psychological unravel as the movie progresses. A must see! Definitely one of this year's best movies.
But also...how cool are these posters? Haven't been able to find out who the designer is but I could definitely see the last one on my wall.




Also...go see it!

Bring on the Drama

The other day friends and I saw this devastatingly beautiful movie, which I recommend. It's based on a novel and called Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro and stars the ever enchanting Carey Mulligan. I'm going to read the book next as it left me wanting to know more.

John Cameron Mitchell, of Hedwig and the Angry Inch and Shortbus fame has a new movie coming out...Rabbit Hole. Nicole Kidman and Aaron Eckhart are parents grieving the loss of their child.

From the director of 21 Grams, Babel and Amores Perros comes Biutiful with Javier Bardem. Alejandro González Iñárritu definitely know how to deliver when it comes to powerful and thought provoking stories.

I have to say I love these films that are often quite yet heart wrenching. Movies that touch on themes of love, life and loss. Ordinary people living through extraordinary circumstances. As perhaps one of those people, I noticed yesterday that when you are in the middle of it, it often times doesn't feel so big as it becomes your day to day. Only when viewed from a distance can you realize the intensity of what happened and go WTF?!
You do get little moments here and there that are very surreal. Life can be many times equal parts beautiful and terrifying at the same time.

Scream Again

Gotta admit, getting kinda excited about this.