(2000) dir. Wim Wenders – with Milla Jovovich, Jeremy Davies, Mel Gibson, etc. Review: Hard to describe. I was bored the first thirty minutes, and then realized I was paying attention to the wrong things, at which point I began to enjoy the movie. A very atmospheric and stylish movie (read: not a whole lot […]
The Million Dollar Hotel
Posted by Ben on January 16, 2004
https://www.swordbilled.com/the-million-dollar-hotel/
The Italian Job
(2003) dir. F. Gary Gray Review: I’m a sucker for caper-films. So sue me. I thought this was competent, exciting, and fun. Were there any really startling plot twists? No, but I wasn’t expecting there to be, either. I enjoyed the various stunts, chases, etc., which were consistently well done and believable. I’ll admit, this […]
Posted by Ben on January 16, 2004
https://www.swordbilled.com/the-italian-job/
Rules of Attraction
(2002) Roger Avery – starring James Van Der Beek, Shannyn Sossamon, Ian Somerhalder, etc. Review: I’m a big fan of Bret Easton Ellis, who wrote the book on which this movie is based (even though, if you want to get technical about it, it’s actually based on a play based on the book). Having said […]
Posted by Ben on January 16, 2004
https://www.swordbilled.com/rules-of-attraction/
28 Days Later
(2003) Danny Boyle – starring Cillian Murphy, Naomie Harris, Brendan Gleeson, Megan Burns, etc. Review: After hearing the positive reviews, I was disappointed to see what was passing as “decent.” This? Is it horrible? Well, no. Is it well-conceived? Maybe. But “good”? No, absolutely not. Vaguely enjoyable, but my expectations were dashed to pieces with […]
Posted by Ben on January 16, 2004
https://www.swordbilled.com/28-days-later/
Dolphin-girl, there is hope for us yet!
I’m not sure when the word chimera was commandeered for the pseudo-evil designs of genetics, but it surely must have been a fine, fine day. In a story from the New Scientist, pigs and humans become one, at long last! Read the story on pig-human chimeras, it’s interesting. And fun, too! (via the irrepressible die […]
Posted by Ben on January 14, 2004
https://www.swordbilled.com/dolphin-girl-there-is-hope-for-us-yet/
Tooth Imprints on a Corn Dog (by Mark Leyner)
Not many words come to mind to describe this book. But I liked it. Immensely. It seems like it’s probably the sort of writing that would polarize people’s opinions. I can’t say for sure, because I didn’t hate it nor do I know of anyone who hated it, but I also know of no one […]
Posted by Ben on January 13, 2004
https://www.swordbilled.com/tooth-imprints-on-a-corn-dog-by-mark-leyner/
Hostage
…so a loaded toothbrush—an electric one—is being held against my head, and I’m being told to brush. But not only must I brush, but I must enjoy doing it. I must fully and totally convince myself of the necessity, of the absolute enjoyment of the act, I must tell myself I am brushing my teeth […]
Posted by Ben on January 8, 2004
https://www.swordbilled.com/hostage/
A pet peeve
Fox rhymes with: box, socks, stocks, smallpox, and even Goldilocks. Faux rhymes with: bow, flambeau, crow, Soho, bravo and overthrow. With faux, fox does not rhyme. I don’t mind the implications, intent, or sentiment of cleverly mixing and matching Fox and Faux, as is the case in some places with the spicy phrase “Faux News.” […]
Posted by Ben on January 7, 2004
https://www.swordbilled.com/a-pet-peeve/
This list will probably make no sense, and that is how it should be
Ingredients: Bates College, for, well, whatever; Rumor Vroom, for being so damn thoughtful; Running Dog (Don Delillo) and Another Roadside Attraction (Tom Robbins), for disproving that you can’t judge a book by its cover (caution: links do not lead to said covers, but to other covers for th’ same books); Various movies, for instance: Starship […]
Posted by Ben on January 6, 2004
https://www.swordbilled.com/this-list-will-probably-make-no-sense-and-that-is-how-it-should-be/
Irrelevance
So I hear 2004 has begun. I’m excited. No, not about new generations of petrochemical-based food wrap. No, not about new special-effects-studded blockbuster failures. No, not about new technological advances in underarm deodorant. Not about brilliant new television commercials. Not new state-of-the-art NASA-researched hybrid polymer-fabric textiles. Not fantastic retailing inroads. (I’m not sure what I […]
Posted by Ben on January 2, 2004
https://www.swordbilled.com/irrelevance/