Monday, June 28, 2004

One Moore Time...

The following post is a review of Michael Moore's film "Fahrenheit 9-11". You may have noticed that I have revised it more than once and it gets a bit harsher every time.

Well, I just got back from seeing the film again and I think it's even stronger than I originally gave it credit for.

I have always felt that it is an important film for all citizens, regardless of political slant(s) to see. Now, after a second viewing, I find the arguments of the films detractors more wanting, Michael's vision more compelling and his integrity (politically and cinematically) more intact.

New overall grade for "Fahrenheit 9-11": A-

I am not going to revise the following post again, but I wanted this to serve as a new intro.

Thanks,

Joe Nolan

Saturday, June 26, 2004

Get-the-Right 9-11

Jean-Luc Godard once famously said, "Every edit is a political act." But
Godard's denunciation of Fahrenheit 9/11 was ignored by a U.S. media fawning
over its Cannes victory (the latest Harvey Weinstein promotional stunt,
facilitated by stooge Quentin). No major American media outlets quoted
Godard: "Moore doesn't distinguish between text and image. He doesn't know
what he's doing."

From the New York Times-

FILM OF THE FASCIST LIBERAL

Michael Moore mistakes image for message, panders, gloats.

By Armond White


Hey everybody.

OK.

I saw "Fahrenheit 9-11" yesterday and have some ambivalent reactions.



This is not a work that explores and subtly teases apart an incredibly esoteric and complicated subject (the cause of violence in America) like "Bowling for Columbine" did (which I consider to be an almost flawless film).

This is a simple frontal assault on the Bush administration's foreign and domestic policy since the attack on the WTC and the Pentagon. It is also an insultingly clumsy attempt at marketing a propaganda film as a "documentary".

First, the bad news:

1. It will be very easy for Bush supporters to write this off as left-wing hysteria because of its relative lack of objectivity.

2. Although, to it's credit "...9-11" shows the Democrats in the Congress and Senate to be guilty for their hands in these same policy decisions, Moore is far too light on them and it hurts his film badly. Those of you who know me and/or have been reading this blog know that it is my contention (sorry if I am being cynical) that replacing Bush with fellow Bonesman Kerry will do little to change the Forever War or repeal the (anti)Patriot Act.



3. He totally ignores the PNAC and the greater arguments that the Bush administration's supposed negligence to respond to the deluge of warnings of imminent terrorist attack before 9-11, can easily be seen as complicity in allowing the attacks to happen in order to provide the perfect opportunity to roll out the black carpet for a bit of the old boot-in-the-face. I won't even start to talk about the idea of cooperation...

Now the good news:

1. Of course this movie is totally hilarious. There is nothing more powerful in social and political discourse than the ability to couch a fist in a spoonful of sugar. When it comes to waking people up out of their consumer slumber to the dark reality of life in America, Michael is a master and he has lost nothing when it comes to his ability to deliver a side-splitting body blow.

2. His editing and use of sound (and silence) and music in this film are at a new high and reminded me of that other American Master Martin Scorsese at times. Well done.

3. Moore's ability to capture the divine, the virtuous and the noble in the lives of the working class people of his beloved Flint, Michigan
continues to move us as it has in all of his films. Moore is really the closest thing we have to a Studs Terkel in the medium of film and I for one salute his care and commitment to his community in documenting their tragedies and triumphs alike.

4. Although much of the information in this film is not news to those of us who are actively tracking The Evil Men Do in Washington DC, it is not really a part of mainstream discourse and certainly never shows up on the evening news. The fact that it's been stitched together and is now rising to life in sold out theatres around the world is definitely a great thing. In 2001 when I would mention the fact that Afghanistan was being bombed in order to get a gas pipeline that had been nixed by the Taliban back on track people looked at me like I was David Duchovny on DMT.



Overall Grade: B - and thanks to Michael Moore for another infuriating, entertaining, flawed, clawed, mess of a movie.

That's it for now.

I got a "War on a War on Terror" to fight!

Don't forget to check out the latest with The Phoe!

Only the humble sacrifice their own needs for the needs of their brothers and sisters in all nations.

Be humble in your sleepy hands on this world.

Be a Killer in Heaven.

All power to the people.

www.joenolan.com

Tuesday, June 22, 2004

Phoenix Rising

Bon Soir, Mes Amis!

It's late...again!

OK

Happy Solstice to all of you. I hope this is the beginning of a spectacular Bacchanalia.

I am hanging with the Phoe and watching a documentary about Bruce Lee as I am trying to dig deeper into a Tarot reading I did on Sunday as I aligned my soul with the Spirit in the Night in anticipation of The Rising Son.



The Phoe and I thought this was a good opportunity to open up a project to the world. Here it is...

Take a look at this Tarot reading and comment with your interpretations. Clearly I am in need of help!

Ok, I did a Celtic Cross layout. I use a Crowley deck.

1. 4 of discs (Power)
2. 8 of cups (Indolence)
3. The Lovers
4. The Hanged Man
5. Queen of Cups
6. Ace of Wands
7. 4 of Cups (Luxury)
8. 10 of Discs (Wealth)
9. 2 of Swords (Peace)
10. 2 of Cups (Love)

The best to you all and I am looking forward to your insights.

Only the humble labor to see the waters of the Spring become the wine of Summer.

Be humble in your sleepy hands on this world.

Be a Killer in Heaven.

All power to the people.

www.joenolan.com

Thursday, June 17, 2004

The Dirty South

Hello again.

Just got in from the show at Riverbend.

I played on a stage beneath a bridge that was sort of a cool combination of outdoor concert and intimate venue. All the Riverbend folks were really great and took care of all the artists with wonderful consideration.

Thanks!

The show was taped by fans and friends and public radio in Chattanooga as well, so I hope to be able to post some of that here at the site in the near future for those of you who couldn't join us.

Here was the set list:

Blue Turns Black
Dream in the Doorway
Henry Died in Dm
Plain Jane
Rush Hour Blues
See About You (See About Me)
Emily
Heartbreak Hotel
San Fransisco Girl
The First to Know
Brown-Eyed Boy
Fat Lady and the Clown

So I hope to be filling out the "poetry" section, finishing up the "lyrics" section (at least all the stuff from the released CD's) and getting some files up for listening and download in the "jukebox" section as soon as possible.

Look for remarkable progress to occur in the next 72 hours!

Also be on the lookout for high weirdness as we approach the Solstice. All the indicators are buried in the red zone and my Spidey Sense has been tingling for 2 weeks. In my minds eye the Armies of Chaos take back The Sun with spray cans, Abandon and the Secret Signs of the New Millenium.



Michael Moore's new film opens next Friday. I predict a huge turn-out indicative of the fact that most of America isn't stupid. Moore can be a bit of a drama queen, but, all in all, I think he is a fantastic film maker and he has a way of letting people show themselves for what/who they are without letting his opinions/agenda get in the way. I know most of his opponents wouldn't agree with that statement, but if you watch his films you'll find it's true. He is really quite fair and even-handed. Plus, he is a fellow Michigander and I hang by my homeys.

Pistons #1!

Ok more next time.

Gear up all you little sorcerers, lets highjack the astral plane and crash it into Monday morning!

Be humble in your sleepy hands on this world.

Be a Killer in Heaven.

All power to the People.

www.joenolan.com

Saturday, June 12, 2004

Lucky 13

Godard was right!

Bonjour Mes Amis!

Ok...so...

Tomorrow is my birthday! One more trip around that Great Ball of Fire. Older. Wiser. Taking gas and kicking memes!

This one goes out to all you Bad Boys (and Girls) who have been visiting the blog. This page is published at joenolan.com and we had almost 1000 hits yesterday!

Hey! Drop a comment or an email every now and then would ya. That's what I want for my birthday! Especially you visitors from Cali and the Garden State.

REPRESENT!

So, there is an internet rumor that 3 Comets will hit the Earth by the end of this week. The End is nigh and The Apocalypse is NOW!



NO FEAR!

Be humble in your sleepy hands on this world.

Be a Killer in Heaven.

www.joenolan.com

Tuesday, June 08, 2004

Snakes and Adders

Bonjour Mes Amis.

It's late, as always, and I am watching Oliver Stone's "Wall Street" instead of watching all the people filing by the casket in California.

"Greed is good".

Everyone knows that line.

"Say hello to my little friend!" (Scarface), "Thou shalt not kill women and children." (Born on the Fourth of July), "I am Death." (Platoon); it is a testament to Stone's writing that these lines spring to the fingertips with such ease.

"Greed is Good".

That infamous venom, spit so sweetly from the mouth of Gordon Gecko (Michael Douglas), is remembered for it's poetic irony but also for it's relevance to the 1980's.

In the '80's, culture became business-culture and that is now the story the world over. Greed is good. Wealth is right. Victory is Divine.

Losers (financial, social, political, aesthetic, ideological) don't exist.

In the 80's music became modeling, art became stock swapping and cinema became television.

As we watch the dark shadow that has gathered around this nascent milennium, we can see its black roots twisting out from beneath the Huxtable's doormat and crawling up Molly Ringwald's thigh.

God bless us every one.

God bless that dead human man with all of his flaws, lying in wait to lie in eternity where I hope he finds peace and an end to all longing.

Like all men his legacy will be writ large and small by all who knew him and all who did not.

By his fruits we shall know him.

Here's one for the Gipper.

www.joenolan.com