Houses

I've joked a few times with Dala that maybe we ought to just buy a plot of land, dig a big hole, throw a tarp over it, and call it a house. Last night I had a dream I was in a log cabin, like you see in movies or travel commercials, but a little nicer, like one you could live in year round. It had big flat rocks for the floor spread out and filled in with mortar. The walls were made out of massive, dark logs and the mortar in between them looked very rough but very solid. It was a nice little place. I woke up this morning kind of wishing I lived there. Not enough that I'd actually go out and have a log cabin built, but enough to where it's a really pleasant thought.

Movies

If and when we ever do get our own place, provided there's ample street parking, I'm starting a film club. My living room. Surround sound. At least a 45" television. I'll learn to cook so I can make and serve dinner to everyone, the dog can come and go as she pleases and enjoy people's company, and it'll be awesome. I'm gonna show good, classy shit, like Kurosawa and Cohen Brothers and Chuck Jones and such.

Watched On the Waterfront for the first time in about five years yesterday. It's good. I forgot how sloppy the ending felt though.

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

One of my buddies the other day asked me if I'd recommend The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly to him. I called him up to tell him the movie in general is absolutely great, but pointed out a few things to him that would make it easier for him to watch since this is generally not his kind of movie. I'd figure I'd share them here cause I think they're actually good tips.

1) It's a much slower paced movie than the summer block busters you're used to. If you were having trouble appreciating the slow unfolding of Hard Boiled, you'll have trouble appreciating the slow unfolding of this film. That's okay. This is just that different kind of movie. There's a decent chance your mind might wander. To combat this, watch the movie in two parts. When Blondie and Tuco get captured by the Union Soldiers, have that as a cliffhanger. Take a break and watch the rest of the movie later that night or the next day.

2) The movie is dubbed. Yes, I know all of the actors speak English, but it's dubbed anyway because Italian cinema. At first, this makes the movie seem kind of cartoony, but after a few scenes you'll actually appreciate it because it gives the characters a subtle, ghostly quality that adds a sort of otherwordly accentuation to everything they say.

3) Pay attention to the scenery and landscape surrounding the characters. It's an unspoken antagonist that's constantly trying to kill Blondie and/or Tuco or at the very least, impede their progress. Sergio Leone spends a lot of time and effort to illustrate that and it works really well.

4) Appreciate Leone's extreme close ups. They're very artistic.