Ron Howard won’t be directing any Dan Brown movies anymore. The director thinks it was the reason why indie booksellers always made fun of him when he asked for suggestions.
- Jennifer Egan has a new short story out, which we’re guessing Emma Straub will probably crush out about since, well, she has a girl crush on Jennifer Egan.
- Chuck Klosterman breaks down an Edgar Winter performance. This seems like a necessary part of your day.
- “Does Miranda July have any idea of how annoying she is?” – The Village Voice on Miranda July’s The Future.
- There’s also the Bat Segundo show interview with Ms. July. He doesn’t seem to feel the same way (or does he? I guess listen to the interview), but you should probably go see The Future and decide for yourself.
5 comments
Ron Howard bit prompted the question. . . who hasn’t wanted to direct a Somali pirate movie?
I was shocked to find out that Ron Howard directed Gung Ho! Did anybody else know that?
Thanks for the link. I’m technically on “vacation.” But I will say this. I’ve seen THE FUTURE twice. The first time, I was somewhat confounded by it — wondering if it was deliberately trying to annoy or trying to satirize. But I could not discount it. There was something about its presentation of diffident slackers in their mid-thirties that I felt was gutsy and odd — not your usually annoying twee bullshit or even some mumblecore opus. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that it was willing to feature surreal moments like a kid burying herself in the dirt to go to bed or that it was willing to make nearly EVERY character a failed artist — which, in some ways, makes THE FUTURE a nice companion piece to Dana Spiotta’s excellent novel, STONE ARABIA.
Fuck, am I writing a review in your comments? I guess I am.
So like much of art, THE FUTURE has a perspective. And I guess I was more inclined to accept it for what it was because I’m more interested in understanding other perspectives — especially those perspectives that accidentally capture a mode of life that we don’t want to talk about (in this case, what do we do with the people over 35 who lack the drive or the discipline to take care of themselves? how do we accept them?). The second time I saw it, I liked it a lot more, even empathizing with the Jason character in a weird way (who I hated the first time). I honestly could not shake the film, especially because of that damn Jon Brion score that gets into your head. But I don’t think that I was annoyed by it.
When the opportunity came to talk with Miranda July, I had to take it. I think my conversation with her on Bat Segundo speaks for itself, but my feeling is that July, like many artists, isn’t really aware of what she’s doing (that “sincerely calculated naivete” that Hoberman nails). And that this is a good thing — especially if it shakes certain people out of what they expect out of art.or pisses off people who write for the Voice. (And I like Jim Hoberman, but feel he’s a bit off the mark here.)
The bottom line is that I liked THE FUTURE, tended to laugh at moments that other critics didn’t get, and that I feel it’s probably worth your time if you’re into this sort of thing.
I like Miranda July, but I can see why other people don’t. However, I kinda think some of the reviews I’ve read seem a little too reactionary and/or maybe a bit jaded. I need to see the film, and maybe, like Ed, I need to see it twice. I dunno. Will let you know.
No One Belongs Here More Than You was a good book. Shut up, yes it was.