Last night I think I lost my shit. I watched the original 1997 Funny Games followed by the 2008 U.S. remake then Cache (Hidden). I'm really starting to think I may be completely in love with Michael Haneke. If you're into fairly slow moving films with heavy themes of guilt, fidelity, sexuality, violence, consumerism, etc., then I highly recommend the films of Michael Haneke. Mother fucker can shoot a movie.
Also, Michael Haneke never seems to use music in his films unless it is actually happening in the event. There are like two scenes in Funny Games, the one above with this ridiculous John Zorn song (whats up drewwwww) and the opening of the movie as the family drives to their vacation home and try to guess which cd is put on.
Starting points: - The Piano Teacher - Cache (hidden) - Funny Games (U.S. or original. Both are literally the same. I kinda prefer the German version as I'm not familiar with the actors and I'm not sitting there thinking, "Oh god, Naomi Watts is so fucking hot when she's half naked and crying.")
As I get older, and my conscience develops a bit more, I find stuff like this less funny, and more concerning.
I'm not saying it's not funny to see a kid doped up on pain killers and probably general or local anaesthesia, because that is hilarious. This kid is bonked out of his mind, and saying really funny things. ("Is this real life?", Yes David, and it's going to continue to suck until you find more of the weird gas that the doctor let you smell...) As I get older, what bothers me more is the periphery. Why doesn't his dad seem to be concerned? Why's he goading him on? Why's a six or seven year old getting oral surgery?
Here's a little test to see if you're getting old, like me.
1. You just watched Knocked Up, starring Seth Rogen and Katherine Heigl, produced by Judd Appatow. Which of these most closely resembles your current state:
A: That was fucking hilarious, and we're out of pot.
B: Oh my god, my sides hurt, that Jonah Hill is going to be the next Sam Kinnison/Chris Farley
C: That was cute, I bet Seth Rogen would make a great dad.
2. Your room mates are going out to the bar, because it's someone's birthday, unfortunately it's a work night, and you've got a long day ahead of you. You say,
A: "Let's get going, I've got some getting fucked up to do."
B: "If you buy the first round, I'll come, but only for a while"
C: "Goodnight, kids."
3. The dishes are piling up, the fridge is leaking some kind of vile liquid, the bathroom hasn't been cleaned, in earnest, since August, you've got at least four loads of laundry to do, you can't find your garbage can under the pile of trash next to your desk and you've got an afternoon off you...
A: Watch all three Back to the Future movies and then probably Ghost Busters 1 & 2
B: Watch all three Jurasic Park movies while getting less then half of your chores done, and still feel accomplished
C: Begrudgingly do all of your work, and then snap on the next person you see.
4. You just woke up on a work day. It's 6:50, you've got to be out of the house by 7:50. You:
A: Surf porn on the internet, watch a YouTube video, leave at 7:49 and still get to work 15 minutes late.
B: Check your email, brush your teeth and leave with almost enough time to stop and get a fast food breakfast on the way to work. You're still five minutes late.
C: Take a shower, brush your teeth, eat a bowl of cereal, take a mulit-vitamin, and surf internet porn.
5. You have $40.00 in your wallet, you're starving. You...
A: Get Chinese take out - $10. Four nights in a row.
B: Get a pizza delivered - $20. Feed yourself for dinner, and breakfast and lunch the next day.
C: Go to the grocery store, spend $38 dollars on groceries, feed yourself for a week, even though that means eating boring microwave soup for dinner four nights in a row
An A answer is 1 point, a B answer is 3 points, a C is 5 points.
1-8 Points: Did you graduate high school? Or were they just sick of looking at you. Now would not be a good time to start a family or try to get a job, I mean, unless you like being laughed at a failing.
9-17 Points: Your parents are so proud of you, unfortunately everyone else couldn't give a shit.
18-25 Points: Your life is over, you suck, and you're boring. Start buying stock in Centrum Silver, old man/woman.
So yeah, life, in general, no matter how youthfully carefree or mature and actualized, is kind of a bum deal.
Apparently, Russia hates Coca-Cola so much, that someone has taken it upon themselves to release an Anti-Coke propaganda 12 month calendar. (via English Russia)
Now, I consider myself to have a pretty good mind for politics, and to that end, I think I've got a good perspective on the business world, and it's intricate and subtle idiosyncrasies. My limited knowledge of Russia and it's systems notwithstanding, I'd assume it's a bit harder to get something published in Russia than it is here; I'd assume there's a level of government scrutiny involved.
Basically, what I'm getting at is such; how many people in a chain of artists, editors, managers, and political watch men can you find who see absolutely nothing wrong with this:
Translation: "Obey!"
But I mean, beyond all the strangeness involved, the art work is pretty fantastic, but then again, I'm a sucker for illustration.
Update: I just contacted my source for all things Russian. Apparently, everyone in Russia drinks Coke. Strange. I hope I'm not uprooting some serious political scandal meant to usher Western values and products out of Russia, starting with soft drinks. If I disappear, I'll be sure to send post cards from the Gulag.
Came across Alison Brady's photography today and was mightily impressed. She currently has a solo show at Massimo Audiello until Feb. 28th. Would anyone like to go with me?
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