But A Dream

When the Matrix made it's debut in 1999, it was praised for it's stylish sensibilities and the way it redefined the sci-fi genre. However, the originality of it's premise has frequently been called into question by fans of a much lesser known film called Dark City (which was released just one year before), and these allegations helped boost the film to it's current cult status. However, to claim that the Matrix not only had the same goals, but also had the malicious intent of aping Dark City would be to fundamentally misinterpret what both films were trying to do.

The most prominent similarity between Dark City and the Matrix is the existential dilemma at their very cores. John (Rufus Sewell) and Neo (Keanu Reeves) have primal doubts about the legitimacy of their realities, and their paranoia is given form when they are pursued by bogeymen who would strip them of their individuality and turn them into cogs of the greater machine. They get to experience the trauma of being born all over again; they are thrust into their worlds naked, submerged in water and assaulted with information from all sides. However, the device is used in entirely different contexts. While John's birth represents his initial tumble down the rabbit hole, Neo is tumbling out of it.




In terms of morality, the Matrix draws a sharp contrast with the war between the humans and the machines, as opposed to the much more nuanced struggle between John and the aliens. I can see why some would consider this to be the most common thread between them given the collective nature of their enemies, but the way both films distinguish the relationship between the protagonists and antagonists is where Dark City and the Matrix differ the most. The Matrix pits the machines against the humans in a direct show of hostility, and their only directive is to endlessly consume, a not-so-subtle reflection of humanity's penchant for mindless consumption. However, the aliens in Dark City hold no such hostility, and their ultimate agenda is not to eradicate. Instead, they seek to further assimilate the human race into their experiements in an attempt to chart a map to the human soul. Murdoch and the aliens' relationship is not defined by conflict, but by their common struggle to discover what constitutes identity and individuality.

Dark City's message essentially raises the question of what influences our behavior and what it is that allows us to define ourselves as individuals, rather than a mere collection of instincts and memories. On the other hand, the Matrix's message was a condemnation of humanity's tendency to incessantly consume while ignoring it's consequences, and questions of what kind of standards we applied to reality felt more like tacked on pseudo-philosophy rather than a genuine meditation on the subject.

I can certainly understand why people feel that Dark City accomplished what the Matrix attempted. In this vain, Dark City treated the human spirit as the only thing separating us from merely being slaves to our own programming, and I think it would have made the Matrix a much more interesting film if it tried to present the dichotomy between man and machine in this way, rather than defining the relationship by underlining our penchant for mindless consumption. However, I wouldn't go so far as to say that it would have worked better, considering that the Matrix was first and foremost an action film. I think that it would be more accurate to say that Dark City wasn't an example of what the Matrix attempted and failed to do, so much as it was what the Matrix should have been. This may sound like mere semantics, but the distinction is necessary because to say otherwise would be to unfairly dismiss what kind of film the Wachowskis were trying to make in favor of what some wished it was.

With that being said, I won't deny that both films redefined the genre in their own way. The Matrix was a pop culture phenomenon that directly influenced hundreds of action films and thousands more pseudo-philosophical conversations among stoners about the nature of their own realities. Although Dark City seems to draw heavily from Blade Runner (82), I think it's a unique enough entry to still be considered groundbreaking in it's own right. Both films are very satisfying on different levels, but if I was stranded on a deserted city floating in space and had to choose between the two, Dark City would win every time.

Unlike the Matrix, Dark City doesn't bear the mark of it's time mainly because it didn't operate on the same visual level. The Matrix's aesthetic was essential from a marketing standpoint, and a large part of the selling point was it's heavy use of iconography. This is not to say that Dark City does not look equally gorgeous in comparison, far from it. In fact, the shots of Dark City's visuals are a testament to how well they executed the marriage of the noir and sci-fi genres. The city casts beautifully expressionistic shadows that do a great job of punctuating it's mysterious and ominous nature.


One of the very few issues I have with Dark City is it's pacing, which moves at a break-neck tempo just south of frantic. The last time I saw Dark City was with a few friends, and they weren't quite as obviously taken with the film as I was. However, I actually started to become acutely aware of just how long it actually was right along with them. It's possible that their impatience had a residual effect on me, but Dark City's excessively economical storytelling is undeniable. Once the film straps you in, it immediately takes off without so much as a backwards glance. There's a way to tell a tight story without turning everything into an exposition-fest, and unfortunately, Dark City was victim to it's own plot.

Considering the relatively sparse plot, Dark City didn't take the time to balance out the constant exposition with many opportunities for the characters to pause and breathe in their surroundings because they were constantly on the move. This led to the tragic downplaying of the cast by forcing all of the characters to interact with the sole purpose of moving the plot along, and this is most apparent with Detective Bumstead (William Hurt), Mr. Hand (Richard O'Brien). Everyone in the cast (aside from Jennifer Connelly) was exceptional, but those two were a treat to watch and not only did they steal every single scene they were in, they did it in such a way that it only elevated the performances of those around them.

Call me an apologist, but Dark City is such a unique entry in the sci-fi/noir genre that even it's flaws only serve to contribute to what made it so endearing in the first place. I first saw it years ago at a friend's recommendation, and I've only come to love it more with each viewing. It's not hard to see how Dark City gained it's cult status, and it will always and forever hold a special place in my heart.

Up, Up and Away!

I'm no dinosaur, but the fact that last night marked my very first 3-D theater experience puts me well past being fashionably late. While I recognize the appeal of watching a film in all of it's three-dimensional splendor, I always preferred to spend the extra 5 dollars on a dixie cup of soda. It's not that I'm a technophobe by any means, but the prospect of seeing a movie with the added perception of depth and occasionally having shit fly out of the screen at you always seemed more like a gimmicky distraction rather than a truly immersive tool, and after watching Up in Glorious Three Dee, I'm glad to put my bias to rest.

When I put the glasses on for the first time, I immediately noticed that the lenses made everything seem much darker than I expected, which never bodes well if you're about to watch a Pixar film. However, as disappointed as I was by the prospect of not being able to see Up's full range of color, the effect really grew on me. In spite of a few (very) brief instances where it was more distracting than anything, I found that the majority of Up's 3-D struck a wonderfully balanced effect, and the fact that it wasn't outwardly noticeable after the first 5-10 minutes is a Good Thing in my book. The immersion was subtle but effective, especially when you're already treated to such a fine piece of animation. I wish that I had watched the 2-D version first so I could have a better point of reference for comparison, but by no means do I regret the experience, and I honestly doubt that it would make much of a difference anyway.

Excuse the tangent, but if any of you are keeping up with news on James Cameron's Avatar, there are a couple of really cool interviews where he talks about the revolutionary technology that's supposedly going to change 3-D and/or cinema as we know it. Part of what's so interesting about this movie is the effect it will have on the sub-conscious level. The human brain processes information through different channels when presented with a 2-D or 3-D image, and apparently, the latter allows the brain to recall the details of said image better, which I'm guessing happens because you're processing more information, but I digress.

Up is yet another top-notch effort from Pixar. I'm not a big fan by any means, but I honestly can't think of a single film of theirs that I haven't been able to enjoy on some level. It's rare to find a production house that churns out such consistently charming films that entertain on a wide scale without feeling like they've compromised anything in the process. Every time I see a Pixar film, it usually comes with such a level of polish (on all accounts) that it keeps on reinforcing the feeling that these guys know exactly what they're doing.

Up's story is deceptively simple, but it's one of the most mature and ambitious films they've made to date. They opt to tell the story of Carl and Ellie's relationship in a dialogue-free montage that's as poignant as it is effective. It's one thing to get basic information across to an audience, but Up didn't just show us that Carl and Ellie loved each other, it showed us how. I really love it when films do away with dialogue and allows the story to tell itself expressly through images and sounds. I'm guessing the sweetness of that scene along with the subtle 3-D must have subconsciously hypnotized me and melted my cold black heart while I wasn't looking, because that was easily one of the best sequences in the entire movie. The element of romance feels genuine and acts as a stepping stone rather than an obligatory hurdle the audience must cross to move the plot along (I'm looking at you, Lucas).

Although the protagonist and the antagonist are clearly established, the villain doesn't feel like one because his motivations mirror Carl's. They're both trying to break out of their self-imposed exiles and move past their pain and loss so they can get back on the horse and resume their lives. It's great how well both characters are developed with relatively little to go on, and it's a testament to the superb writing and animation that they both feel alive in a way that doesn't directly hinge on overbearing sentiment, which is refreshing in it's own way. Even the sidekicks are fleshed out relatively well, and Carl and Russel's interactions are great without submitting to all the associated cliches of such a relationship.

Up struck a deeper chord in me than I had expected it to, and is definitely my favorite Pixar film so far, with the Incredibles not far behind it. Up invigorates and uplifts without preaching, and Carl Fredricksen acts as the perfect vessel for this sentiment.

Set amps to SkullFuck

The Secret Chiefs 3 performed at the Music Hall of Williamsburg last night, and it's the closest I've come to having a religious experience without the aid of hallucinogenics. Some highlights of the night included realizing that the keyboardist looked exactly like Stephen Chow, shamelessly fishing a hundred dollar bill out of the urinal and fucking EXODUS. Which one of these doesn't belong? I went in expecting an epic show, and they delivered that in spades. It was easily the best concert experience I've ever had, and I can't wait to see them again next year! If you're a fan of Mike Patton and any of the million side bands that he was in, you'd be doing yourself a disservice not checking these guys out.

Hello Cleveland!

Hello, and welcome to my new blog! It's been more than a year and a half since I made my last post, but I decided to preserve my ancient xanga account as a testament of how cool I was compared to the shell of a man I am now. It's quite the time capsule!

One of the main reasons I decided to start this blog was because I wanted to talk about and share my love of all things related to film, television and video games, as well as anything else that tickles my imagination. I also wanted to get back into the swing of writing on a semi-frequent basis again, as I've wasted enough time allowing myself to become stagnant. Writing has always been one of the few consistent passions in my life, and with all this extra time on my hands, I decided to spend my summer doing something more productive than picking at my navel day and night. Hopefully, this blog will be a return to form, or at the very least, provide an entertaining distraction.

To christen this post, I'd like to introduce those who aren't familiar with one of the best shows on television at the moment:

The Premise
Breaking Bad follows Walter White, a high-school chemistry teacher that's diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. In order to ensure his family's financial security after his passing, Walt attempts to raise $737,000 by entering the meth business with Jesse Pinkman, one of his former students. As the show progresses, so does Walt's transformation from a middle class family man to a kingpin of the meth trade.

The Players

Walter Hartwell White a.k.a. "Heisenberg" (Bryan Cranston)

The man behind the curtain, Walt is a man with nothing to lose. Diagnosed with Stage 3 cancer, he justifies his foray into the meth trade by convincing himself that he is preparing his family for the worst. However, Walt's deeper motivation comes from the prospect of shedding his mid-life crisis for the much more dangerous but exciting alternative. Walt is a brilliant chemist that is easily overqualified for his day job, and previously worked at a company called Gray Matter, where his research led to a breakthrough that he never received credit for. Walt handles the production end of business while trying to keep his activities a secret from his family. His extensive background in chemistry allows him to cook top-quality meth with a signature blue tint, which has started to draw unwanted attention by the DEA. All he needs to do now is clear $737,000 before the law (or worse) catches up to him.

Jesse Pinkman a.k.a. "Captain Cook" (Aaron Paul)

Walt's partner in crime. Jesse handles the distribution end of business, along with providing the initial contacts. His relationship with his family is rocky due to his history of drug abuse, and he has a tendency to act without thinking. Although his contacts helped get their operation off the ground, they've also made way for even more complications and obstacles.

Skylar White (Anna Gunn)

Pregnant with their second child, Skylar suspects that Walt is up to no good as his demeanor becomes more distant. In spite of dealing with Marie's kleptomania, Walt's diagnosis/secretive attitude, the general pressure of her unborn baby and their unsteady financial situation, Skylar struggles to maintain an optimistic perspective and to take things in stride.

Walter Jr. White a.k.a. "Flynn" (RJ Mitte)

Walter Jr. is a high-school student with cerebral palsy, which requires him to move with the aid of crutches and gives him trouble speaking. With Walt's diminishing presence in his life, Walter Jr. is trying to establish his own identity and finds alternative father figures.

Hank Shrader (Dean Norris)

DEA agent and Walt's brother-in-law, Hank may be loud and goofy, but his heart is always in the right place and he possesses solid instincts. Hank is part of the detail that is investigating Walt and Jesse's encounter with Tuco in the desert and the identity of the mysterious "Heisenberg".


Marie Shrader (Betsy Brandt)

Skylar's sister and part-time kleptomaniac, Marie's lack of tact is made up for by her good intentions...sort of. She takes no pride in her penchant for theft, which eventually lands her in hot water.

Why you should be watching

First off, Breaking Bad's cinematography is beautifully composed and edited, the latter of which earned them an Emmy Award. The universe is established on such a solid foundation that the drama, comedy, action and suspense/horror all gel together to form a very cohesive and compelling narrative that never steps out of it's own bounds and feels very much like it's own entity. The pre-intro sequences are positively seductive and honestly deserve a separate entry of their own. This is where the show really gets to flex it's editing muscle, and not only do they work as a great foreshadowing device, but they also have a vaguely disturbing and/or surreal quality, which makes sense considering that series producer and writer Vince Gilligan also served in the same capacity for The X-Files.

Color is also a very important element in the show, and the way they utilize such a seemingly simple visual element to flesh out the characters and drive the story is nothing short of inspirational. Vince Gilligan intended for each character to have their own color scheme, and as the characters grow and develop, so do their palettes. The art direction is subtle yet incredibly effective, and the clever use of color breathes life into every aspect of the show.

One of the most consistently amazing and entertaining aspects of Breaking Bad is the sense of authenticity they bring to the characters. The writers always do an excellent job of capturing everyone's voices and making sure that the characters come first, all while tailoring them to a seamless fit for their slightly off-kilter universe. Another thing that the show should be commended for is the fact that they aren't afraid to take their time to set up the relationships, but even more important is the realism of Walt and Jesse's foray into the drug trade. Honestly, this is easily the most polarizing aspect of the show, but I personally love the fact that they want to show the most truthful scenario of what kind of challenges two middle-class shmoes with only the most basic knowledge of the business have to deal with. It's great that they're willing to pay a lot of attention to detail and have the show grounded in reality as much as possible, not to mention that Walt and Jesse have great chemistry (zing!) and their scenes together are always a joy to watch, especially with this show's penchant for dark humor which is often compared to the Coen Brothers' work.

Breaking Bad's cast is amazing, and this is never more apparent than when Bryan Cranston is on screen. The only thing I recognized him from was the goofy father in Malcolm in the Middle, and he makes a complete 180 for this role. His facial expressions manage to convey a thousand words, which makes his delivery even more of a treat. I can't praise the guy enough, and the fact that he won an Emmy for this role and managed to pull off such wildly varied characters so well gave me a newfound respect for the man, and I can't wait to watch him play Buzz Aldrin in From the Earth to the Moon.

Well, I think this wall-o-text is sufficient for a first post. If you want to learn more about the show, AMC's website is a great resource and has tons of extra videos, interviews, and all kinds of fun stuff. Cheers!