Random Review – The Social Network

movies

This movie is such a touchy subject.  All I’m going to say about its veracity-related issues is that I wish they didn’t bother me as much as they did.  Imagine if somebody made a movie about you – using your name, appearance, known aspects of your personal and professional life – but created you into a character that would forever alter how you were seen by the world.  God only knows who the fuck the real Mark Zuckerberg is, but everyone who sees that movie – me included – is going to think they know him, and that he’s basically a sociopath.

That said, I enjoyed it.  I can’t say I was overly impressed by the writing – honestly this might be the first Aaron Sorkin project I’ve ever seen – though the fast pace and rhythm was refreshing at least, and there were some choice zingers.  It’s more Fincher’s movie, for my money, and the best sequence comes early with a series of shots of Zuckerberg walking across the ersatz Harvard campus.  Visually (and aurally, as supplemented by Trent Reznor’s tense, menacing score) the sequence is moody and evocative, similar in look and effect to that wonderful shot of suburban houses near the start of Fincher’s “Zodiac,” in the way that neither quite look like anything you’ve ever seen before.  Jim Emerson has some great thoughts on that sequence over here (it’s the best piece I’ve read so far about this movie).

Random Review: “The Stoned Age”

movies

Repost from old blog, 8/5/2008

The Stoned Age (1994)

You’d think that “The Stoned Age,” an unabashadley low-budget, straight-to-video film, wouldn’t fit in the pantheon of classic stoner movies such as “The Big Lebowski” and “Dazed and Confused” (“Happy Face” is also up there for me). Mostly you’d be right. The film is almost relentlessly ugly, misogynistic and homophobic. Plus they only smoke weed once, and it’s schwag.

But it must be said that “The Stoned Age” has a charm all its own. Is it better than “Dazed and Confused”? Not by a long shot. But amid all those underlit interiors and garishly colored body fluids lies a pretty solid script. It moves at a steady clip, and by the end, you may be surprised to find yourself actually caring about the characters. There are some moments of subtle humor (the oft-repeating “just some guy” description) that had me laughing out loud.

Full Disclosure: I probably watched this a million times when I was in high school, but under the impression that I was watching it ironically. This is the first time I’ve seen it in years, and I could sort of appreciate the modest skill that goes into creating its characters.

Recommended? Yes.