Cinephile No. 677 "Ingrid Goes West"

"Social Feedback Loop"

A Review of "Ingrid Goes West" by Nathan H. Box

Director: Matt Spicer, Writers: David Branson Smith, Matt Spicer, Starring: Aubrey Plaza, Elizabeth Olsen, O'Shea Jackson Jr. 

Rating: 4 Stars, SHOWTIME

This review will start with a request. I want you to open your phone or the phone of one of your kids. Look at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and/or Snapchat. Take a long hard look at who you are following and who is influencing your children. Before you, do you see Insta-famous celebrities with massive amounts of followers hawking pills, shakes, home decor, and a certain lifestyle? If this new realization bothers you, then "Ingrid Goes West" is the movie for you. I, for one, have been patiently waiting for a movie to address our new world in such a compelling movie and was pleasantly surprised to run across this film. 

The movie stars Aubry Plaza from "Parks and Recreation" fame as Ingrid. In a lot of ways, Ingrid is a social media stalker. In other ways, she suffers from a deep psychosis which finds her compulsively obsessed with social media. Ingrid's first bout with the mental illness finds her in the grips of a mental institution. After lots of pills, therapy, and meditation she finds herself ready to be released back into the wild. Unfortunately for her, it doesn't take long before she succumbs to her old ways. 

As she begins stalking Taylor played by Elizabeth Olsen, Ingrid receives money from her mother's estate. Taking her obsession to the next level, she uses that money to move to Los Angeles to be closer to Taylor. From here on out, things get really weird. Taylor, for her part, is the woman I mentioned in the opening paragraph. She is "Insta-famous" and can be found selling a certain lifestyle. What I found intriguing about the intersection of the two characters is how much they share in common. Both are victims of the social feedback loop which means they derive their worth from the likes and comments they get. They are focused like lasers on amassing huge amounts of followers. For Taylor, this means more money and influence. For Ingrid, this means someone out there likes here; a feeling she is seriously lacking. When the dust settles between the two characters, you can't help but wonder who is faker? Neither woman is being their authentic self. Instead, they are being who they think the world wants them to be. 

"Ingrid Goes West" is a vision of our world few of us realized is real. It shows the ability of social media to connect us but also reveals its dark power. One of the scary moments comes when you realize the web is filled with people who root for death but make you more famous after you're gone. In the end, this movie reminded me to unplug from social media every once in a while if for no reason other than my own mental health. 

Be good to each other, 

-Nathan

Cinephile No. 676 "Good Time"

"Why Care?"

A Review of "Good Time" by Nathan H. Box

Director: Benny Safdie, Josh Safdie, Writers: Ronald Bronstein, Josh Safdie, Starring: Robert Pattinson, Benny Safdie, Taliah Webster

Rating: 1 Star, SKIP! 

When I walk into a theater, I do so with a single thought on my mind; this is going to be a good film but I am open to being wrong. In other words, I sit down with the best of expectations. As the screen fades from black and we get our first glimpses of the characters and the setting, I begin to ponder new thoughts: Where is this plot going? Why should we care about these characters? In my mind, for a film to be truly great, the plot must be accessible. It can be smarter than us (Interstellar) or it can be stupid, yet entertaining (Dumb & Dumber). Whatever it is, it must be something the audience can put their faith in or easily suspend their disbelief. To the second question, you must be able to invest in the characters. They can be superheroes, the girl next door, or someone who is evil incarnate. Whoever they are, you must be able to feel what they are experiencing. 

For me, "Good Time" never answers either one of these questions particularly well. The film features Robert Pattison and his mentally handicapped brother (Nick) played by Benny Safdie. Pattison plays Connie, a down on his luck and overly protective brother, who in his desperation to make it in New York City turns to a life of crime. Connie either uses or includes Nick during a bank robbery. They successfully leave the bank with the money only to find out a dye pack has been placed in their bag. In the confusion, Connie and Nick run the streets of New York covered in dye. After cleaning themselves up in a Domino's bathroom, they calmly stroll down a sidewalk before being confronted by an officer. In the moment, Nick makes a run for it and is arrested by the police. Connie escapes and devises a series of failed plans to get his brother out of jail. These plans range from using the stolen money as bail to a love interest's credit card to breaking him out of a hospital after Nick is admitted from getting beaten badly in prison. 

Plan after plan, things continue to fall apart. Then, you as an audience member, are asked to stomach a ridiculous turn in the plot. I won't give it away here, but it literally made me gasp in the theater. Not from being surprised. Rather, I gasped because the plot point and the accompanying dialogue were so bad. After these scenes, I couldn't have cared less about what happened to the characters on screen. 

Ultimately, as the movie draws near a conclusion, you are left to wonder if Pattison's character will do the right thing and take the fall for his brother. Again, I won't spoil the plot, but his options become less and less as the movie moves forward. After the film was over, I left with nothing more than regret. This was my first Robert Pattison movie. I skipped the "Twilight" craze. Sincerely, he has the range and the chops to be a great actor. He just needs a decent movie. 

Be good to each other, 

-Nathan

Cinephile No. 676 American Football "American Football"

At the center of every album is a musical thesis. American Football's second self-titled record is filled with a level of introspection often missing from popular music. Every single track is about how someone views the world or how the world might view them. Of course, this view inward tends to be dark, negative, and critical. Believing no self-aware person can be so bad, I longed for a song about happiness and finding joy in moments that matter. Alas, that moment never came. I don't blame the songwriter(s) for this, though. This is their art and their form of expression. 

From this album, I also get these sense of someone questioning their worth. Not to repeat myself, but once again this worth skewed to some dark places. There is no fault to be found in questioning one's own impact. I do believe one shouldn't linger for too long in these poorly lit places or they will become you. Rather, we should check ourselves, make a commitment to do better, and get to work. I believe this because I know the life of every person to be important, worth living, and worth cherishing. To do otherwise, leads people down dark and lonely paths. Those are often paths which it is hard to escape. 

Finally, this album left me questioning how I will be remembered. Now, if you have ever read anything I have written, you know this is a subject I like to tackle with some regularity. I am of the mindset that most of us will be forgotten to the sands of time. I always follow up that point with this plea; life is still worth living and trying to positively impact. We can dream of being the next Lincoln or King. More than likely, we will fall short of such iconic figures, yet, we should still try. Our names may be lost to time but our impact can reverberate from here to eternity. If we value humanity, then we should strive to do just that. 

Be good to each other, 

-Nathan

Musical Thesis: Mutual Benefit "Love's Crush Diamond"

At the center of every album is a musical thesis. In my mind, this is a north star guiding an artist while they create. The journey may take them on strange and interesting turns but the goal is always at the forefront of a band's mind. For Mutual Benefit's "Love's Crushing Diamond," I hear a quietly haunting album meant to rise above the conversation. There aren't a lot of lyrics to be found on this album but those that are present speak of challenges we all experience. You, as the listener, are meant to fill in the gaps with your own challenges, struggles, and celebrations. Rarely, does an artist provide an opportunity like this to explore. 

One of the experiences I was left to ponder was my understanding of nature and how it operates. This made me think of systems that would operate perfectly on their own without human interactions. Every day, the sun rises. Animals begin their daily routines. Plants reach for the sun. Life comes alive before being replaced with new and strange activities that can only be found when the stars come out to play. For billions and billions of years, the cycle has worked without my input. Now, we find ourselves in the age of man and things are changing. When I hear the music on this album, I am left to think of those things. 

Of course, an album named "Love's Crushing Diamond," pays some attention to that one natural resource we always fail to name. In these songs, I feel the pressure of searching for love. I hear time and the passing of it. I hear the hard work that is required for love to occur. It reminded me to stay grateful for the love in my own life. It reminded me to count my lucky stars that such an amazing thing has happened to me. An intimate love won't visit every person on this planet. For those lucky enough to experience such a feeling, I feel as if we are called upon to share and help relieve some pressure. 

Be good to each other, 

-Nathan 

Cinephile No. 675 "Logan Lucky"

"Ocean's 7-11"

A Review of "Logan Lucky" by Nathan H. Box

Director: Steven Soderbergh, Writer: Rebecca Blunt, Starring: Channing Tatum, Adam Driver, Daniel Craig

Rating: 4 Stars, SHOWTIME!

The plot to "Logan Lucky" is simple. Two brothers attempt to pull off a heist during the busiest racing weekend of the year at Charlotte Motor Speedway. From the plot point, things get beautifully complicated. 

We all know the work of Steven Soderbergh. He is the genius mind behind "Ocean's 11, 12, and 13." As a reporter brilliantly points out in the movie, this heist is a lot like "Ocean's 7-11." Instead of the glitz and glamor of the Las Vegas Strip, this movie turns its attention on coal country and the line between West Virginia and North Carolina. 

Like most Americans, this part of the country remains a mystery. I have had the distinct privilege of hiking around the Smoky Mountains and have met some of the people who call this part of the world home. Their southern accents are thick as their humidity. They come across as simple people who live in an area of the country devastated by the loss of jobs and opportunity. Some of their traditions and beliefs should have been retired after the Civil War. Beyond these things, they are just like anyone else in America. 

Channing Tatum's character follows much of what I experienced. He is a divorced and present father. His southern accent and the accents of those around him are slow and focused. Most of the coal jobs are gone and Tatum's character finds himself digging a new money transfer system underneath the Charlotte Motor Speedway. When it is discovered Tatum has a limp, he is fired. With nowhere to turn, he gets desperate. 

His desperation is on full display in a brilliant bar scene where we meet his brother played by Adam Driver. Driver stars as a bartender who lost his hand in Iraq. After some rowdy patrons come through led by Seth MacFarlane, a fight breaks out, Tatum's character reaches his wit's end. Then and there he decides he will be pushed around no longer. 

Calling on his brother, sister, an explosive expert played by Daniel Craig, and his two brothers an intricate plan is devised to take advantage of the cash highway underneath the racetrack. Seeing the pedigree of the talent before you on screen, you automatically think there is no way in hell these individuals can pull the crime of the century off without getting caught. 

Much like the "Ocean's" trilogy, the drama is high and keeps you on the edge of your seat guessing until the very end. Of course, I won't spoil the ending but the whole heist and the impending investigation was a beautiful thing to watch. When it was all over, I was reminded of why we go to the movies. 

Be good to each other, 

-Nathan 

Cinephile No. 674 "An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power"

"A Voice That Cannot Be Silenced"

A Review of "An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power" by Nathan H. Box

Director: Bonni Cohen, Jon Shenk, Starring: Al Gore, Hilary Ashford-Ng, George W. Bush

Rating: 4 Stars, SHOWTIME!

In 2006, Al Gore took his slide deck on global warming to the masses via "An Inconvenient Truth." When he did, he brought the science behind climate change to the forefront. With "An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power," he returns with a more personal story hoping to instill new faith and excitement for the oncoming energy revolution. 

All great social movements usually coalesce around a single voice. These individuals are not alone in the struggle. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. wasn't the only soul leading the battle for civil rights, yet his ability to synthesize the messaging made him the natural leader. The same can be said for Al Gore. With a doubt, there are countless individuals focused on climate change but the masses look to Mr. Gore for his leadership and messaging. 

Within former Vice President Gore, we find a voice that cannot be silenced. For more than three decades, he has been a tireless advocate for our planet and those impacted by her changing weather patterns. There are many subtle differences between the original film and this version but the greatest is perhaps the focus on Mr. Gore. This backstage pass allows us to see his frustrations, setbacks, and joy for the battles won. The view was intimate and welcomed. It also made me long for a return to adults leading our country. 

Beyond the focus on Mr. Gore, another theme emerged from the film. The Earth is our only home. When we look at the only planet we've ever known as our own, we can either feel paralyzing despair or we can continue fighting for real change that is being realized every single day. As I left the movie theater, I was filled with the latter. In fact, I was stunned at how far we've come and filled with hope for the miles before us. 

My hope for the environment, the single most important issue to me in any election, has been through a roller coaster this year. From Trump's denial of climate science, his selection of Scott Pruitt to head the EPA, to his decision to leave the Paris Climate Agreement, I haven't had a lot of hope. In this film, the former Vice President recognizes my frustration and those who believe as we do yet he keeps working. In the midst of a failure of the US government, Gore, state/civic leaders, and other world leaders are pushing forward on an agenda of reducing the world's carbon footprint. 

The last half of the film focuses on the Paris Climate Agreement. One of the great roadblocks that had to be dismantled for that agreement to go forth was the role of the developing world. Countries, such as India, are trying to move a vast amount of people from poverty to the middle class. To do this takes a tremendous amount of energy. Rightfully so, India looks at the west and thinks we've been allowed to pollute the environment for 150 years in order to secure a better world for our people. Now, with great privilege, we are preaching a sermon of environmental restraint. Naturally, these developing countries want the same advantage. For the Paris Climate Agreement to be reached, these countries had to have their concerns on energy answered before signing. From this film, we learn Mr. Gore had a tremendous amount of influence in getting India over the roadblock. 

My favorite line of the movie was, "A nature hike through the Book of Revelations." The Vice President uttered these words in reference to the unpredictability of storms, shifting viruses, mass migrations, droughts, and famine. As he uttered those words, I couldn't help but think of America's role in the world. The last century saw an America that wasn't afraid to lead on Democracy. We pursued it to every corner of the globe. In doing so, we become the world's lone superpower. Now, the world faces a new challenge. We find ourselves as the destructors and tormentors of our own fate. In this moment, American political leadership is all but absent. This can be demoralizing and defeating but before you give up I challenge to see this movie. The great movements of history have always started in the streets and not from above. Now is the time to return to the streets. 

Be good to each other, 

-Nathan 

Musical Thesis: My Morning Jacket "It Still Moves"

At the center of every album is a musical thesis. My Morning Jacket's "It Still Moves" is an alt-country inspired crawl about wide open spaces both seen and unseen. With each and every song, there exists a near perfect blend of genres. Beyond Wilco, no other act does this more effortlessly than My Morning Jacket. Each album, this one, in particular, proves the differences in genres is nothing more than that. All music is about the same things: love, loss, pain, pride, joy, etc. The deliverance is what separates. We spend our lives listening and searching for a deliverance that expresses itself in the same manner as we would if we could.

This album also expresses a longing. This longing is directed at friends, lovers, ourselves, and time. The lyrics expressing such moments are only intensified by the ringing of guitars holding together space and time. Here, the band invites you to stand in the gap and do some pondering and meditation on your own life. However you use the time and whatever results you conjure is up to your own journey. To be invited to do so by such a medium is welcome. We all need those quiet spaces where we can feel inspired to explore our own sense of longing. 

Finally, this album asked me to explore those I know and the gifts they give me. Within each relationship, is a gift. More often than not these are gifts for which I take advantage of what these people mean to me. Again, being invited to pause and think on them is welcome. With each song, I thought of someone and what they meant to me. I tied them to the lyrics I was hearing and then a slight smile was brought to my face. I couldn't help but feel thankful for the simple fact that I don't have to do this life alone. I am honored to have people standing by my side who love and support me. This music didn't make me realize that but it sure did reinforce it. 

Be good to each other, 

-Nathan 

Cinephile No. 673 "Detroit"

"Survive the Night"

A Review of "Detroit" by Nathan H. Box

Director: Kathryn Bigelow, Writer: Mark Boal, Starring: John Boyega, Anthony Mackie, Algee Smith

Rating: 4 Stars, SHOWTIME!

The film "Detroit" takes place in the late 60's during the Detroit Rebellion. It is about cops playing judge and jury. It is about holding a mirror up to ourselves and seeing how far we've failed to travel. It is about three young African American men being murdered in cold blood at the Algiers Motel. It is about America and the grand experiment of democracy and social justice. 

Earlier this year, I took my mother to the Seattle Art Museum. She was in town visiting from Oklahoma and I was looking for an excuse to play tourist in my adopted hometown. When we visited, SAM was featuring a collection called "The Migration Series" by Jacob Lawerance. At the time, the series of paintings helped me understand the migration of African Americans from the south to the industrial centers of the north. They helped me further understand the challenges that laid behind and before them. Much to my surprise, some of these paintings were used to open this film; setting the stage perfectly for the powder keg that was about explode.  

This film is divided into three acts: riots, Algiers Motel, and the trial/aftermath. The riots were about a rebellion and a city at war. Years of unfair housing policies and working conditions mixed with white police officers hiding behind their badges and using it as a shield for racism sets off a violent uprising which becomes next to impossible to contain. 

The riots quietly blend into a scene where the film spends the bulk of its time. On the inside, is innocence and young adults minding their own business. On the outside is a war zone with grudge matches between the National Guard, Michigan State Police, Detroit Police Department, and those leading the resistance. Mistakingly thinking a sniper is on top of the Algiers Motel, these two groups meet when policing forces begin rounding people up looking for the sniper that never was. 

These scenes are a microcosm. They give you a perfect picture of why distrust exists between African American communities and those meant to serve and protect. As the cops look for evidence, they torture, intimidate, belittle, and unload hell. Without a doubt, these are the most frustrating and infuriating moments of the entire film. It will leave you questioning the evil men do to each other and praying that every victim on the screen can survive the night. 

The final act comes abruptly and takes place in and outside the courtroom. After witnessing such injustice and lack of due process, your American heart will hope that this stage will set things right. If you are an African American, you are probably more than used to what comes next. It left me angry and hungry for a system truly resembling some sense of equality. 

Ultimately, "Detroit," asks us to watch this story and make comparisons to our modern world. When I left the theater, I felt like I had a better understanding of what Black Lives Matter is fighting for with their protests. I also felt compelled to take the film further and have deep conversations with some of my African American friends. I realized we all need more of these interactions between races. We as white Americans need to have more instances where we just sit and listen. If we truly want the promise of America to be realized, then we need to do more listening and this movie proves it. 

Be good to each other, 

-Nathan 

Musical Thesis: American Wrestlers "American Wrestlers"

At the center of every album is a musical thesis. With American Wrestlers self-titled album, we get a collection of music for those moments in your life that are beyond explanation. Perhaps it is the beauty of a sunset you can't put into words. Maybe it is the sudden death of someone you loved dearly. Maybe it is the way your partner makes you feel. Whatever it is, this album possesses a near perfect ability to fill those gaps when words escape you and you're left struggling to explain the moment. Of course, lots of albums could claim this title but someone how this one does it better than most. 

To me, it has a poppy sentimentalism that is often missing from most popular music. It talks and looks back on big subjects without dumbing down the content. Instead, the band discusses adult issues without patronizing those of us who might be listening. This approach is more than welcome and involuntarily caused some introspection for me. At the end of the day, I think this is one of the big things any good form of art tries to accomplish. If it can get you to question your world, great. If it can force you to question yourself, even better. 

Because your place in the world matters. How you see yourself matters. How your measure yourself against others and your own expectations matters. When you listen to this album, you may be scratching your head trying to figure out how I came to such statements. That's fair. Maybe it was my mood or what is happening in my own life but in these songs, I saw bigger questions needing to be asked. For such an opportunity, I can only say thanks. 

Be good to each other, 

-Nathan 

Things I Used to Believe, Part I

As one ages, you are forced to stop and take stock of your life and the things you believe. In these moments of introspection, you have to come to terms with what you hold true, how you arrived at such a place, and whether you are still anchored to those beliefs. This is a four part series on things I used to believe. As you read along, I hope you can relate. 

I used to believe marriage and kids were meant for someone else. Throughout most of my twenties, I was single. This was not by choice necessarily. I spent much of that time coming to terms with my attractions and sexuality. I needed to find myself in compromising positions and discover who I was. As I inched closer and closer to the idea that my sexuality might be different than those around me, the idea of marriage and kids seemed further and further away. I watched in fits of jealousy as friends began getting married, buying homes, and starting families. Their love was legal and ordained. Mine was illegal and in many circles sinful. My thoughts on this matter wouldn't change until I decided to come out and the Supreme Court decided I and those like me mattered and were equal in the eyes of the law. Then and there, my beliefs changed. 

Before our highest court made such a decision, I had come to terms with reality. I made myself believe I could live without a wedding band and the movement of little feet running across my home. I looked at marriage as some ancient tradition. In my mind, I would create new traditions and wouldn't be held captive by what people expected of me. If this meant a civil union or committing myself to another in front of friends and family, then so be it. If this meant never being a father, then so be it. My life would be defined on my own terms. Then the Supreme Court issued their ruling and my whole world changed. 

Of course, none of this changed the fact that I was perpetually single. There were many days and sleepless nights where I believed love was meant for some else. For the better part of my twenties, I went on dates with men and women. I tried and I failed. I had a lot of fun and a great deal of disappointment. Through it all, I learned a so much about myself. I amassed my likes and dislikes. I was beginning to shape my perfect partner. I was coming to terms with the idea, through trial and error, that perfection may never be found. I learned to stop hunting for perfection but instead focused my attention on finding someone who could fulfill my needs. In return, I worked on becoming a partner who could do the same. Slowly my idea of loneliness melted away. Finally, I felt prepared and ready. I felt worthy of love. 

But first, I had to get rid of this idea that I could conquer this world alone. My move from Oklahoma City to Seattle cemented an idea in my mind; I didn't need anyone but me. For too long, I tried to get by without depending on others. Of course, I wanted to be liked and accepted by the collective people around me. I have tried to be a person others want to surround themselves but when it came to my love life I could never find the courage or bravery to make the trip across the bar. I eventually learned I wasn't being courageous or brave. I was being arrogant. It was foolish of me to believe I could do this world alone. Life is best when shared. To understand this, I had to retire some false notions; notions that could only be retired through experience. 

To arrive at a point such as this, one must first admit they were wrong. I was wrong about marriage and kids. I was wrong about weddings. I was wrong about dating. I was wrong about conquering this world alone. I was wrong and now I know it. 

Be good to each other, 

-Nathan