Ryan Colucci's Blog, page 36
December 6, 2010
Movie Review: Winter's Bone
I know next to nothing about the Ozarks in Missouri. I know these are good, country people in the heart of America. I also know that I never want to live there. Thanks to Debra Granik's riveting
Winter's Bone.
Ashamed I didn't get to see this on the big screen, I had been clamoring for the DVD release of this film for months. I tried not to know too much about the film (although I did listen to the Creative Screenwriting podcast with Granik), because I had heard the film was very good and didn't want any preconceived notions about what was going to happen.
I really don't think knowing what was going to happen would have mattered. It was getting to that resolution why the film was so great. And it was great. The cinematography was the first time I have seen a film shot on the Red that looks like film. The production design (Ozarks themselves) was amazing. The score and music were outstanding and sucked me into this tale about a girl with a lot on her plate and very little help.
I had gone into this film thinking Carey Mulligan was the best young actress around, with the best female performance of the year (sorry Noomi Rapace). But after seeing this, how anyone can think there is a better performance than Jennifer Lawrence's Ree Dolley would really amaze me. And she is going to give Mulligan a run for her money as best young actress - and she was 17 years old when this was made. She was completely absorbing. Strong and vulnerable at the same time. Granik and her team hit the jackpot with Lawrence. The other cast were all good too, particularly John Hawkes as Teardrop, Lawrence's crank dealing uncle. There was a dark edge to his familial bounds that kept you on edge the entire time he was onscreen.
Seek this movie out. It is currently battling The Social Network for my favorite film of the year so far. We'll see how I feel on December 31.
Ashamed I didn't get to see this on the big screen, I had been clamoring for the DVD release of this film for months. I tried not to know too much about the film (although I did listen to the Creative Screenwriting podcast with Granik), because I had heard the film was very good and didn't want any preconceived notions about what was going to happen.
I really don't think knowing what was going to happen would have mattered. It was getting to that resolution why the film was so great. And it was great. The cinematography was the first time I have seen a film shot on the Red that looks like film. The production design (Ozarks themselves) was amazing. The score and music were outstanding and sucked me into this tale about a girl with a lot on her plate and very little help.
I had gone into this film thinking Carey Mulligan was the best young actress around, with the best female performance of the year (sorry Noomi Rapace). But after seeing this, how anyone can think there is a better performance than Jennifer Lawrence's Ree Dolley would really amaze me. And she is going to give Mulligan a run for her money as best young actress - and she was 17 years old when this was made. She was completely absorbing. Strong and vulnerable at the same time. Granik and her team hit the jackpot with Lawrence. The other cast were all good too, particularly John Hawkes as Teardrop, Lawrence's crank dealing uncle. There was a dark edge to his familial bounds that kept you on edge the entire time he was onscreen.
Seek this movie out. It is currently battling The Social Network for my favorite film of the year so far. We'll see how I feel on December 31.
TV Review: Terriers
Somehow, FX's Terriers was able to bull through sluggish ratings to a full series. I believe it is because they shot most of the show before the pilot and because numbers on FX don't need to be as high as a network. Thankfully, because it quickly established itself as my favorite new show this year (yes, more so than The Walking Dead).
All of the casting is great... Donal Logue is good as Hank Dolworth, but Michael Raymond-James really shines as his partner Britt Pollack, the former thief turned Private Eye. I don't have any experience with Raymond-James, but he was a standout.
Ted Griffin and Shawn Ryan did a great job of pulling multiple (interesting) storylines through the season and then tying them all together. The production value on the show was top notch as well.
If you haven't seen it, definitely check it out when it comes out on DVD/Netflix. Well worth your time.
If I had one knock, it would be how Britt and his finance Katie's relationship played out in the final episode. She does something shitty to him, he breaks up with her, he does something shitty - but goes groveling back to her. Then she says she can't trust him. It made no sense to me - because she did something much worse to their relationship.
Also, rather than let each storyline play out with a resolution, they sort of wrap things up in a 5 minute 'wrap-up'. It seems like time ran out on them and the finale could have been 90 minutes rather than 30, although only for fans so we can have some satisfaction. I say that knowing it is only because I was a fan and wanted to be hit over the head with the resolutions. They would have been the same, I just wanted more - this wasn't a bad thing.
All of the casting is great... Donal Logue is good as Hank Dolworth, but Michael Raymond-James really shines as his partner Britt Pollack, the former thief turned Private Eye. I don't have any experience with Raymond-James, but he was a standout.
Ted Griffin and Shawn Ryan did a great job of pulling multiple (interesting) storylines through the season and then tying them all together. The production value on the show was top notch as well.
If you haven't seen it, definitely check it out when it comes out on DVD/Netflix. Well worth your time.
If I had one knock, it would be how Britt and his finance Katie's relationship played out in the final episode. She does something shitty to him, he breaks up with her, he does something shitty - but goes groveling back to her. Then she says she can't trust him. It made no sense to me - because she did something much worse to their relationship.
Also, rather than let each storyline play out with a resolution, they sort of wrap things up in a 5 minute 'wrap-up'. It seems like time ran out on them and the finale could have been 90 minutes rather than 30, although only for fans so we can have some satisfaction. I say that knowing it is only because I was a fan and wanted to be hit over the head with the resolutions. They would have been the same, I just wanted more - this wasn't a bad thing.
December 3, 2010
Harbor Moon Art Print Giveaway Winner - Martin Mulrooney!
After a ton of really great submissions, I have finally narrowed it down to one winner for the
Harbor Moon
Extra Content Art Print Giveaway - MARTIN MULROONEY.
Marty is an actual journalist with Alternative Magazine Online, based out of the UK. I had a lot of fun reading through everyone's submission and wish we could include them all. I have another piece of extra content we were going to write in-house, but after such a great showing I may have to open it up again.
Look for all of this extra content as part of the digital editions of Harbor Moon, which will be out on Graphic.ly (in the immediate future) and Comixology.
Marty is an actual journalist with Alternative Magazine Online, based out of the UK. I had a lot of fun reading through everyone's submission and wish we could include them all. I have another piece of extra content we were going to write in-house, but after such a great showing I may have to open it up again.
Look for all of this extra content as part of the digital editions of Harbor Moon, which will be out on Graphic.ly (in the immediate future) and Comixology.
November 29, 2010
Movie Review: The Losers
I finally got around to watching Sylvain White's adaptation of the comic book The Losers. I thought the trailer looked good, but it hit right before the A-Team and at the time I wasn't sure I was ready to accept the knock-off version of that. And most of the reviewers I respect had a hard time with it. But as a Netflix rental, I was ready to take the plunge.
For the most part it was a pretty fun movie. The movie moves along at a really brisk pace. You know the characters right from the onset, although further character development takes a serious backseat to the brisk plot and paper thin plot. And I guess like any 'fun' movie, it completely unravels in the third act - when things are actually supposed to add up and/or be resolved.
One of the things I didn't like about the movie was the 'villain'. Jason Patric spends most of his screentime chewing the scenery, and even for a movie that is over the top - he is even more so. It makes a somewhat ludicrous plot completely unbelievable and sucks you right out of the movie.
I also think that White was a bit too free-wheeling with the hyper-stylized techniques he applied to the film and its editing. It was like he was doing his best Tony Scott and it just didn't work for me sometimes. His use of slo-mo and jump cuts, for the most part, was unnecessary and only seemed like he was covering up deficiencies in the film with tricks.
Oh yeah, Zoe Saldana is very hot. Although unbelievable as someone with her extensive military-esque training and CIA-like master of disguises (especially when you find out who she really is).
For the most part it was a pretty fun movie. The movie moves along at a really brisk pace. You know the characters right from the onset, although further character development takes a serious backseat to the brisk plot and paper thin plot. And I guess like any 'fun' movie, it completely unravels in the third act - when things are actually supposed to add up and/or be resolved.
One of the things I didn't like about the movie was the 'villain'. Jason Patric spends most of his screentime chewing the scenery, and even for a movie that is over the top - he is even more so. It makes a somewhat ludicrous plot completely unbelievable and sucks you right out of the movie.
I also think that White was a bit too free-wheeling with the hyper-stylized techniques he applied to the film and its editing. It was like he was doing his best Tony Scott and it just didn't work for me sometimes. His use of slo-mo and jump cuts, for the most part, was unnecessary and only seemed like he was covering up deficiencies in the film with tricks.
Oh yeah, Zoe Saldana is very hot. Although unbelievable as someone with her extensive military-esque training and CIA-like master of disguises (especially when you find out who she really is).
Film Review: The Losers
I finally got around to watching Sylvain White's adaptation of the comic book The Losers. I thought the trailer looked good, but it hit right before the A-Team and at the time I wasn't sure I was ready to accept the knock-off version of that. And most of the reviewers I respect had a hard time with it. But as a Netflix rental, I was ready to take the plunge.
For the most part it was a pretty fun movie. The movie moves along at a really brisk pace. You know the characters right from the onset, although further character development takes a serious backseat to the brisk plot and paper thin plot. And I guess like any 'fun' movie, it completely unravels in the third act - when things are actually supposed to add up and/or be resolved.
One of the things I didn't like about the movie was the 'villain'. Jason Patric spends most of his screentime chewing the scenery, and even for a movie that is over the top - he is even more so. It makes a somewhat ludicrous plot completely unbelievable and sucks you right out of the movie.
I also think that White was a bit too free-wheeling with the hyper-stylized techniques he applied to the film and its editing. It was like he was doing his best Tony Scott and it just didn't work for me sometimes. His use of slo-mo and jump cuts, for the most part, was unnecessary and only seemed like he was covering up deficiencies in the film with tricks.
Oh yeah, Zoe Saldana is very hot. Although unbelievable as someone with her extensive military-esque training and CIA-like master of disguises (especially when you find out who she really is).
For the most part it was a pretty fun movie. The movie moves along at a really brisk pace. You know the characters right from the onset, although further character development takes a serious backseat to the brisk plot and paper thin plot. And I guess like any 'fun' movie, it completely unravels in the third act - when things are actually supposed to add up and/or be resolved.
One of the things I didn't like about the movie was the 'villain'. Jason Patric spends most of his screentime chewing the scenery, and even for a movie that is over the top - he is even more so. It makes a somewhat ludicrous plot completely unbelievable and sucks you right out of the movie.
I also think that White was a bit too free-wheeling with the hyper-stylized techniques he applied to the film and its editing. It was like he was doing his best Tony Scott and it just didn't work for me sometimes. His use of slo-mo and jump cuts, for the most part, was unnecessary and only seemed like he was covering up deficiencies in the film with tricks.
Oh yeah, Zoe Saldana is very hot. Although unbelievable as someone with her extensive military-esque training and CIA-like master of disguises (especially when you find out who she really is).
November 17, 2010
Fancy Yourself a Writer or Journalist?
Then you should enter the Harbor Moon Art Print Contest.
We're putting together extra content for the digital edition of the book (we've got some cool stuff cooking)… and one of the things I wanted to do is have an article from a local paper (it plays a role in the book).
If you haven't read the book yet, what I would do is send you the headline, the details of the story and you would write a newspaper article which would appear in our extra content. It is actually better if you don't fully know what you're writing, as the article would only see things on the surface – but the readers of Harbor Moon would know the real reason for things.
If your article is chosen for our extra features, you will receive an 11" X 17" art print from the book (signed by myself – if you want). You will also receive credit for your work.
Email me at ryan@harbor-moon.com and get involved!
We're putting together extra content for the digital edition of the book (we've got some cool stuff cooking)… and one of the things I wanted to do is have an article from a local paper (it plays a role in the book).
If you haven't read the book yet, what I would do is send you the headline, the details of the story and you would write a newspaper article which would appear in our extra content. It is actually better if you don't fully know what you're writing, as the article would only see things on the surface – but the readers of Harbor Moon would know the real reason for things.
If your article is chosen for our extra features, you will receive an 11" X 17" art print from the book (signed by myself – if you want). You will also receive credit for your work.
Email me at ryan@harbor-moon.com and get involved!
November 8, 2010
Harbor Moon on Wikipedia and Good Reads
Just wanted to let everyone know that the greatest werewolf graphic novel to not officially come out yet has been added to Wikipedia. In case you don't know, it was financed, edited and written by myself (and Dikran Ornekian). Polish artist Pawel Sambor is the artist, with some additional artwork by Nikodem Cabala. Karol Wisniewski is the man behind the curtain who helped make it all happen.
I also wanted to share with everyone Good Reads, a website that is sort of like Facebook for readers (in fact, it works in conjunction with Facebook if you want it to). It catalogs what you are reading, want to read, have read, etc... You can even keep in touch with actual authors (such as myself) and participate in give-aways. Currently, after getting 1000 entries into the initial Harbor Moon give-away I'm holding another that ends on December 15. So... go - sign-up and participate. Get active about your reading before you become a TV zombie. I was turned onto the site by someone extremely special to me (who maybe thinks she isn't that special but she'd be very wrong). Now I share it with you.
I also wanted to share with everyone Good Reads, a website that is sort of like Facebook for readers (in fact, it works in conjunction with Facebook if you want it to). It catalogs what you are reading, want to read, have read, etc... You can even keep in touch with actual authors (such as myself) and participate in give-aways. Currently, after getting 1000 entries into the initial Harbor Moon give-away I'm holding another that ends on December 15. So... go - sign-up and participate. Get active about your reading before you become a TV zombie. I was turned onto the site by someone extremely special to me (who maybe thinks she isn't that special but she'd be very wrong). Now I share it with you.
November 7, 2010
Movie Review: Social Network, The
This is going to be real short, as this is a near perfect film. I will focus on what is wrong with the movie:
Rashida Jones. Sorkin and Fincher are obviously extremely intelligent individuals, why on earth was this character in the film, let alone giving her this ridiculous end scene? Did they need to put a little bow on it? No, absolutely not. She's a decent actress (and very, very good looking), but her role here comes off clunky and obtrusive - because she has nothing to work with. Her two scenes should have been excised from this movie...
Still - best movie of the year so far. Did not let down in any capacity. Fincher has already been writing his place in history, and this only solidifies that position.
Rashida Jones. Sorkin and Fincher are obviously extremely intelligent individuals, why on earth was this character in the film, let alone giving her this ridiculous end scene? Did they need to put a little bow on it? No, absolutely not. She's a decent actress (and very, very good looking), but her role here comes off clunky and obtrusive - because she has nothing to work with. Her two scenes should have been excised from this movie...
Still - best movie of the year so far. Did not let down in any capacity. Fincher has already been writing his place in history, and this only solidifies that position.
November 5, 2010
Go For Broke
If you want to achieve greatness, you have to be willing to sacrifice everything. You need to be wiling to go broke, literally, figuratively and mentally. You need sharpened focus and a heightened ability to compartmentalize your life.
I believe I have that in me. And I think the only thing that holds me back is my desire to be great at too many things.
Sometimes at odds with this is my desire to be a good human being. Or even be a happy human being. It is a daily battle for me as I struggle with bi-polar disorder, but I think I am winning and I actually believe it allows me to forge the path I walk through this world. I bend, I do not brake. I am a rock others break themselves against. Everything I do is focused around where I'm heading and unfortunately anyone unwilling to take that journey gets left behind. Some really great travelers... But it is not for me to decide. Everyone has to make their own choices in life and it is up to them to decide which path they take.
I believe I have that in me. And I think the only thing that holds me back is my desire to be great at too many things.
Sometimes at odds with this is my desire to be a good human being. Or even be a happy human being. It is a daily battle for me as I struggle with bi-polar disorder, but I think I am winning and I actually believe it allows me to forge the path I walk through this world. I bend, I do not brake. I am a rock others break themselves against. Everything I do is focused around where I'm heading and unfortunately anyone unwilling to take that journey gets left behind. Some really great travelers... But it is not for me to decide. Everyone has to make their own choices in life and it is up to them to decide which path they take.
November 3, 2010
Why Comics?
It is, in my mind, the only medium where you can truly create whatever you want. You aren't bound by the limitations of your budget or reality. I know special effects exist today that enable filmmakers to create things like never before, but a budget is always attached. And a film has to pass through so many gatekeepers before it's made. Comics allow anyone with a pad and pen to create and share their vision. When writing or reading prose, things get lost in translation. Everyone has their own vision of what they are reading, but with comics, you can directly influence their vision and create 'your' world. The only limitation, if you yourself are not the artist, is communication with the artist.
