Blog News 9/12/11 & Blogging Around

The fall season is kicking off to a great start already as is the news about various film festivals in Venice, Telluride, and Toronto. This is the season where the real serious film-going season starts to happen as it's already been kicked off with Contagion. Of course, there's a lot of films coming out in the remaining months of the year yet it's not going to be easy to see all of them. Particularly as there's still some economical issues and location problems. This coming weekend will see the releases of two anticipated releases in Drive and Restless. The latter of which, I'm aware has received somewhat lukewarm reviews, will be the one of the final Gus Van Sant reviews that I do as I will release my fourth Auteurs essay on Van Sant within a couple of weeks.

With the little amount of cash that I have and a lot of the films that I want to see not really nearby a multiplex as the closest art house theater is about 15-20 minutes from where I live. Having to spend $15-20 on gas, since I drive a gas guzzler, definitely strains my funds as it's not enough to spend $8-10 on a movie and then go to that same art house theater a week later and lose money again for another movie. I've already decided that in order to save money, whatever art house theater is showing two films that I want to see. I will pay the ticket to see the first film, stay in the theater to type down notes on my laptop for a review and then sneak into the door to see other film.

I've done it before a few times and it's something that I need to do. Plus, I don't really think it hurts anyone unless you've paid to see a bad film. Besides, it's kind of a troubled time and you need to take advantage of what you can see. Notably as there's probably 4 films right now that I'm eager to see. One of which is the Pearl Jam Twenty doc that is only playing for one night on Tuesday as I hope to go to the 7 PM screening (that isn't sold out hopefully) and see another film at that theater. After I do that, I take a week off and wait for a chance for two other films to play in the same theater so I can go see it. Besides, I feel that it's better to spend your money wisely and save it rather than blow it easily.

While I've already gotten a strategy on how to deal with the fall film season, I'm set to release the first part of my 1991-20 project that will come out in a few days at my other blog in The Void-Go-Round. Right now, I'm finishing up a review of the Cure's 2004 box set Join the Dots that will be released later today to complete my Cure discography series. During the duration for the fall, I will release parts of my 1991-20 essay series that will culminate with the best albums of that year that will include the top album as the first of my Favorite Albums essay series. Around the same time, I will review some of the albums by acts like M83, Talk Talk, U2, Nirvana, and My Bloody Valentine during this period.

While I'm juggling both my film and music projects, I'm also starting to wind down on my screenplay which I hope to have finished at around October. Once the official first draft is completed, I will ask anyone if they want to read it as I need some critique and maybe guidelines on how it could be much better. Anyways, that's all there is to said in my own world.

In the world of the blogosphere, there is a lot going on at the Toronto Film Festival as there is a lot of great coverage happening as there's some great word on The Artist from Courtney @ Big Thoughts From a Small Mind and Ryan @ The Matinee. There's also some great reviews over Werner Herzog's new documentary Into the Abyss from Rachel @ The Final Girl Project & Courtney @ Big Thoughts From a Small Mind. Paolo @ Anomalous Material checks out Moneyball with some kind words about the film while Laura sees Drive with some good words about that film. Ryan @ the Matinee posted some thoughts about the festival to bring insight about the whole experience.

James @ Cinema Sights has a must-read review of what is one of my all-time favorite films in Todd Haynes' Safe that really dissects the film for its haunting tone as I commented that it should be re-released and remastered for a Criterion release.

Ed @ Between the Seats, among many others, is continuing his James Bond marathon as he has some very good words for another of my favorite Bond films in For Your Eyes Only.

Congrats to Bryce @ Things That Don't Suck for hitting 500.

At Film Intel, there is a great review of what I think is one of the worst films of 2010 in Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps where I comment about the wrongs about the film and suggest that Oliver Stone should hang it up now.

With the buzz concerning Steve McQueen's upcoming film Shame that just won Michael Fassbender the Best Actor Volpi Cup at the Venice Film Festival, Bonjour Tristesse has a wonderful review of McQueen's previous film Hunger that I'm really anxious to see.

Stevee @ Cinematic Paradox has a great review of another of my favorite films ever in Lars von Trier's Breaking the Waves.

Finally, there's Lesya @ Eternity of Dream who has a superb review of Cary Fukunaga's adaptation of Jane Eyre.

Well, that is all for today. I hope that Senna will still play this weekend as it will give me an excuse to see that and maybe Drive or Restless that same day so I can find something to see in the same day as the Pearl Jam doc. Meanwhile at home, I'm going to watch a couple of Godard films and see Nicolas Winding Refn's Valhalla Rising in anticipation for Drive to see what Refn is all about.

Finally, I want to express my condolences to the friends and family of Andy Whitfield who sadly passed away at age 39 from non-Hodgkin lymphona yesterday. Many will probably know him for his work on the Starz TV series Spartacus: Blood & Sand which is a great show and Whitfield had the makings of a real star. It's sad that he never got to chance to progress as he will be extremely missed. R.I.P. Andy.