Filmmaker Love
Josh,
Hey ... I directed 19 Miles to Vegas, and just to let you know your film was one of my favorite pieces at the screening. Honestly, your dialogue was phenomenal and filming was very praiseworthy. I'm so glad you enjoyed my work as much as I enjoyed yours; thank you so much for that mention in your (August 18) article.
Sincerely,
Realm films
I Will Not Go Gentle Into That AARP Night, Either
Dear Sir,
I got a chuckle out of the rant by Steve Bornfeld (August 18) when he complained about getting a letter from the American Association of Retired Persons at the age of 48. I got the same letter two weeks after I turned 40. What made it even funnier is that I look 25 years old.
The Stones Have Always Been Political; Is Green Day Over Listeners' Heads?
Dear Richard Abowitz,
On the Stones and political rock, your pop culture column in the August 18th edition:
How about Under Cover of the Night? The video for the song aired on MTV and was aimed at the Salvadoran controversy around 1982 or so. I remember JJ Jackson talked about "the Stones getting political there" and my roommate and I laughing for several minutes ... the Stones have been "political" for a long time ... anybody remember Sympathy for the Devil?
I love how both Green Day singles have been airing for months—Holiday immediately comes to mind ... and nobody on radio thinks to mention what the lyrics actually say ... or mean ... haven't heard a blip about that one for months ...
Holiday is probably one of the more blatant anti-war songs since Wavy Gravy or CCR during the Vietnam era ... but how many kids who own the CD, or have the songs on their iPods, could even explain what the song is actually about?
Canucks Show Their Movie Review Stuff
Josh Bell,
I'm sure you get a lot of these little notes of admiration—but I just had to thank you for your absolutely-on-the-money reviews. I discovered you via the Internet after seeing the ham-fisted nightmare that was Crash recently and making sure that it wasn't me that was insane—it was the majority of critics. My local Toronto "arts" paper gave it five stars. Oh boy. I avoided that You and Me and Everyone We Know because that quote from the movie that you provided in your review made me KNOW I would hate it. If only I had read the Crash one first ... however, it is sort of fun going to a movie that is SO maddening. We've been making jokes at Crash's expense for weeks now. Long story short, I've gone back through your reviews and realized that you seem to be the best indicator of where to spend my film money. So ... thanks.
Going to see The 40 Year Old Virgin and Red Eye this weekend.
Best,
Toronto