March 2007 - Ted Mills

No Direction Home

March 30, 2007March 30, 2007 tedmills Leave a comment

Four-hour Scorsese documentary on Bob Dylan, from his beginnings to the motorcycle crash. By the end of the 1966 tour you can see that Dylan wants out out out. Everybody wants something from him, the press want to pick him apart, the folkies want him to give up the electric, the pop people want a hit, the hipsters want salvation, the peaceniks want a poster boy.
Great footage, great obscurities. You can forgive Dylan for never reaching the heights of Bringing/Highway/Blonde again. That Dylan crashed along with the motorcycle.

Photographed by mills70

Beau Travail

March 29, 2007March 29, 2007 tedmills Leave a comment

Claire Denis’ super odd version of Billy Budd, which (unfortunately, I can hear Mr. C say) contains some of Benjamin Britten’s tuneless opera of the same name (although, to be fair, it sorta works here). French Foreign Legionaires exercise, fight, iron shirts, and not much else under the Djibouti sun. Mesmerizing, elliptical. Very strange ending too.

Photographed by mills70

Avenue Montaigne/Orchestra Seats

March 25, 2007March 25, 2007 tedmills Leave a comment

Mildly amusing romantic comedy of a young country girl coming to the big city o’ Paris and becoming entangled in three mid-life crises of the mildly and/or extremely rich. Just okay, I thought. On the other hand, a bit actress with one major scene, Annelise Hesme, was stunningly attractive.

Photographed by mills70

Water Drops on Burning Rocks

March 24, 2007March 24, 2007 tedmills Leave a comment

Two words: Ludivine Sangier. The French Scarlett Johannsen, just with less clothes. Francois Ozon’s 2000 film is based upon an unpublished Fassbinder play, and he’s kept the 1970s German setting and all the funky furniture. A very oddly directed film that shows how you can make one apartment look like a hundred different locations.
And Ludivine is only in the second half of the film, but, well, you’ll understand when you see it.

Photographed by mills70

The Art of Andrew Schoultz

March 24, 2007March 24, 2007 tedmills Leave a comment

Going through some old files I came across an art postcard for an exhibition of Andrew Schoultz. I meant to blog about him at the time (2005), but forgot. The large scale of his art and the fine linework don’t get fairly represented on the ‘net, so seek him out if you have a chance. He has a thing for wood, elephants, and battles.

Knut, Polar Bears, and the Right

March 22, 2007March 22, 2007 tedmills Leave a comment

I wrote my first ever diary/article for Daily Kos, about the polar bear cub story.
Daily Kos: Knut, Polar Bears, and the Right

When does a right-winger suddenly want to save the polar bears? When there’s an opportunity to bash “Animal Rights Groups” of course!
Let’s follow the story back to the source, then make our way out again!

Click on the link to read the full article.

US Govt Killing Internet Radio

March 19, 2007March 19, 2007 tedmills Leave a comment

I know this is small potatoes compared to, gee, I dunno, torture, loss of habeas corpus, domestic spying, etc. bleedin’ etc., but pending legislation threatens to kill online streaming radio by asking webmasters for royalties for every listener to an online station. Which, unless you are some corporate anus shitting out Top 40 hot squats (yes, I just said that), means you will have to close down your station. Which means most of NPR’s online streams, and for me my beloved KCRW! Sooooooo:

Online Petition
A Save Our Internet Radio blog
An article in today’s Salon
It’s always something, isn’t it?

Cyriak’s Madness

March 18, 2007March 18, 2007 tedmills Leave a comment

I think Cyriak is one of the b3ta.com crew. Here’s a compedium of stoooooopid looping animation. Terry Gilliam would be proud.
UPDATE: In fact, they made a TV Pilot.

Critical Mass!

March 14, 2007March 14, 2007 tedmills 1 Comment

I tried to add some movies to my Netflix and got this message! D’oh! I have since deleted a few (on the saved/upcoming/never-will-come-out list), but mostly I need to start watching more.
That magic number by the way is…500 movies.

I held a blogging seminar! Wha?

March 3, 2007March 3, 2007 tedmills Leave a comment

Photographed by mills70

Yep, that’s right, I was asked by SBCC (my employer) to hold a seminar on blogging this Friday. I spoke for about 3 hours to a mixed (mostly older) crowd of people. Fun and easy.
For those who attended the seminar, thank you once again. If you click on “Continue Reading” you can see the full entry and a series of links to all the sites I showed. If you would like the “Rules of Blogging”, drop me a line and I will send it to you.