Well, someone finally posted The Power of Nightmares, a fascinating BBC documentary on how politicians have used fear to maintain their power and authority.

It’s surprising Curtis’s documentary (originally aired in 2004) didn’t become more popular in the United States; was it suppressed by the U.S. media?

Overall, it’s an interesting take on neoconservatives vs. radical Islamists. My only complaint is that it doesn’t address the $$$ flow, which is in some ways fundamental to the argument.

In case you missed it, Netflix is offering a $1 million prize to whomever can improve their referral system. With the likes of Dan Shiffman working on a solution, I think I’ll sit this one out.

I never pay much attention to user ratings on rental sites (I usually don’t have to with IMDB and Rotten Tomatoes around), but I wonder if Netflix ever considered taking into account the value of a good director or actor. For instance, I’d probably see any film Tom Hanks or Jared Leto is in, or any film David Fincher or Sam Mendes directs. It reminds me of when I lived in Baltimore and a nearby video store categorized not by genre, but by Director. How cool was that?!

Seriously, though, I wonder if they’d considered users tagging categories. I’d love to see what the top Sci-Fi or Gangster film would be . . .

It’s funny how all of these articles on Netflix throttling have really exposed what’s behind those movie delays in the mail. Suddenly, with grad school completed, there’s time again to watch movies! But along with that are those purposeful delays in shipping.
Oh well, onto what this post is about. My best rental of late was Lord of War. No U.S. studio willing to back a film that stars Nicholas Cage? That’s almost a formula for success in my book.

The other film I rented that has remained somewhat under the radar was The Shape of Things by Neil LaBute. I missed the play in NYC but finally caught this film (albeit three years late) and loved it. My wife was disgusted by it, but polarized opinions are to be expected with LaBute’s work.

Overall, I’m wondering if it’s just my tastes or if the indie film industry should attempt a coup. The music industry appears to be making a huge shift thanks to the online sales and communities like MySpace; maybe it’s time for the film industry to review its distribution methods. How about premiering films online for starters? Of course, big names would have to be tied onto such projects, but it doesn’t look like the theater business is really working anymore, and some alternative ideas wouldn’t hurt.

Oscar time is upon us again, and sadly it’s that opportunity for many film fans to complain (me being one of them). For instance: Star Wars gets in for makeup, but not special effects?!

Isuppose that’s not surprising, given the Academy has essentially snubbed every film in the series. I’m rooting for Wallace and Gromit and Clooney, who seemed to deserve the nods this year.

What really surprised me were the nominations for Crash, which was the most awful, cliché movie I’ve ever rented. I was particularly disappointed that Don Cheadle, who was pure gold in Hotel Rwanda, stooped to take this other acting gig in the same year. Don’t let me forget all the movie critics and reviewers who seemed to overlook how ridiculous the characters actions were in this film.

I guess I’m being a little harsh considering it’s director Paul Haggis’s first film. Hey, not every director can be Sam Mendes the first time around. It’s just that Crash pulls the formula stuff for tugging at the heartstrings. The characters are way too preoccupied with their prejudices—the film makes one believe that humanity’s every act is racially driven.

Are relations REALLY that bad in LA, because if so, I’m never visiting there!