But in the case of this extraordinary film written and directed bY Martin McDonagh, who created IN BRUGES and THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI, the "buzz" — from my point of view — is well deserved.
I'm a huge fan of Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson and Kerry Condon, and thus perhaps I was predisposed to enjoy their work, which was nothing short of fantastic.
The film was beautifully shot. The plot is quite simple, and in the hands of lesser creative folks, it would have been a mildly disturbing snooze fest.
But that's not the case.
Precision and nuance guided all involved.
It's one of those stories that you keep thinking about it long after you've finished viewing.
Colin Farrell, particularly, disappeared into his character and gave us a remarkable, haunting portrait. One of the very best of excellent performances I've ever seen.
It's no doubt that what we're experiencing is The Summer of Discontent, made possible by a charlatan's coup of a political party in 2015 that has since fallen off its moral cliff. Toss in the long list of enablers — NRA, Rupert Murdoch, Mitch McConnell, Bill Barr, and a throng of elected officials who have chosen the dark path of payoffs, bribes, denial and sheer lunacy.
Trump's Supreme Court picks assured this evil.
Climate change. Human and animal rights. Voting rights. Gun control. And as of today, abortion rights.
Those still sitting on the fence about the direction the far right wing is shoving our country would be well advised to sit up and smell the thorns. Forget the roses. You lost that chance 6 years ago.
Woke up today with this Bob Dylan classic on my mind with the notion of rewriting the various scenes to depict the bullshit that has happened in just the past 18 months.
But honestly, why bother? Dylan's lyrics apply to now as much as they did when the now was 1965.
It's a long song with a LOT of lyrics. A big ask of time.
Just think about the first line and change one word ... hanging to lynching .... and i believe you'll get the gist.
They're selling postcards of the hanging
They're painting the passports brown
The beauty parlor is filled with sailors
The circus is in town
Here comes the blind commissioner
They've got him in a trance
One hand is tied to the tight-rope walker
The other is in his pants
And the riot squad they're restless
They need somewhere to go
As Lady and I look out tonight
From Desolation Row.
Cinderella, she seems so easy
"It takes one to know one," she smiles
And puts her hands in her back pockets
Bette Davis style
And in comes Romeo, he's moaning,
"You belong to Me I Believe."
And someone says, "You're in the wrong place, my friend
This is the poster for a film that was shot last fall and has finished post production.
i played a thriller author who wrote grisly stories and committed murder to find his muse for the telling.
Below are excerpts from a letter sent by producer/writer/director Quis Wallace.
Hello Everyone!
I know it's been quite some time since we last checked in. I hope everyone is doing well, I know you've all since moved on and went to other projects/ventures and I hope everything is working out great for you all! You guys are some of the most talented individuals I've ever met!
Now for the news!
So first up, The Red Room is officially done with post-production (yay!). You guys worked so hard and I can't wait for you all to be able to reap the benefits of your hard work. The film is complete with a runtime of (1) hour and (24) minutes. It's not a perfect film (though no film truly is perfect) but it is still a good one, it wasn't an easy feat to complete a feature length film in two weeks but we did it! Shout out to us!
The next steps. So as I explained to everyone early on, the goal was to enter this film in festivals and further our connections. So The Red Room has been entered into several festival competitions. I will list them along with the notification date and festival date. There are no guarantees we will get in them all (or any which is the truth) but I am optimistic and I believe in this film! So whichever ones we do get into I will notify everyone so that you have the opportunity to make it!
Festival:
Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) Notification Date: Aug 19th Event Date: Sept 8th
Sundance Film Festival (Sundance) Notification Date: Dec 2nd Event Date: Jan 19th (2023)
Austin Film Festival (AFF) Notification Date: Sept 23rd Event Date: Oct 27th
Flickers Rhode Island International Film Festival (RIFF) Notification Date: July 25th Event Date: Aug 8th
New Orleans Film Festival (NOFF) Notification Date: Aug 9th Event Date: Nov 3rd
Utah Film Festival (Utah) Notification Date: Jan 1st (2023) Event Date: Jan 28th (2023)
Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF) Notification Date: Sept 6th Event Date: Sept 29th
Chicago International Film Festival Notification Date: Sept 16th Event Date: Oct12th
Tribeca Film Festival (Tribeca) Notification Date: April (2023) Event Date: June (2023)
LA Film Fest Independent Filmmakers Showcase (LAFF) Notification Date: April 7th (2023) Event Date: May 3rd (2023)
*These are the first (10) festivals The Red Room has entered into. Next month, another (10) will be added to the list(festivals do cost money which is the reason for the gap).*
4.) Up next, the trailer is still being worked on. I did want to have that ready to tie in with this email but these things take time and I didn't want to wait to let you guys in on all the things going on with the film! Hopefully I can get that out to everyone within the next (2) weeks!
5.) Lastly, I know the one question you all might have is when will we see the film. I can't send anyone personal copies yet, not until after the festival run is over due to potential distribution. Now we are all scattered across the land from New York,Georgia, to North Carolina. Ideally, what I would love is if everyone would be able to make it to one of these festivals and you see it for the first time on the big screen. BUT, I know that won't be possible for everyone. So I'm going to try and work something out where everyone is able to view it virtually. I know everyone is busy and has their own life schedules, so maybe what will end up happening is either I'll have a set date or there will be an online link set up for a few days where you'll be able to tune in and watch the film. I will keep you all posted on this!
In conclusion, I want to thank everyone for their hard work. Films do not get made by themselves. If you have any questions feel free to email me or shoot me a text. I hope everyone enjoys the upcoming holiday and stay safe!
P.S. The IMDB will be up in about (2) weeks as well along with the updated website.
Well, it has been such a wild and intense journey since April 1, 2021 when Roy Williams announced his retirement.
The loss in the championship game was obviously disappointing, but I am so proud of the effort that the team gave, particularly Armando Bacot who played through an ankle injury.
Kansas has a great team and they brought the A game in the second half.
And though UNC struggled with its shooting, it still had a chance.
Carolina lost that battle last night, but in my view, UNC won the war with its resurgence, its two very acceptable victories over its arch rival in Durham, the win in OT against Baylor, its win over a gifted UCLA team in the next round.
Many of us have learned that Hubert Davis can coach at the highest level; that his style is to encourage and support, rather than badger or blame. And yet Coach Davis has plenty of fire to unleash when needed.
The future of UNC basketball, which was in such high doubt a year ago on this day, is quite bright.
As for next season, we know Bacot and Black are returning, as of this morning, April 18, 2022, Love is still in the process of what he will do next.
If you're a Tar Heel basketball fan, get a new pair of shades.
Learn a new skill and enjoy the self-satisfaction of “doing it yourself” on National DIY Day. Try knitting a scarf, building a chair, or cooking something new.
Spend time with your pet ferret, support a ferret rescue or adoption center, or learn about these fascinating mustelids on National Ferret Day.
Note:If you are considering a domesticated ferret as a pet, here are some important things to know. Ferrets aren't rodents – they are actually part of the weasel family! Ferrets are playful and affectionate like dogs and independent like cats, making them a perfect companion for some people.
Firewalking is an ancient practice that relies on skill and confidence to literally walk through fire without getting burned. Learn from an expert—not at home!
Learn about the symptoms and effects, be better prepared to help those with autism in your life, or participate in a fundraiser or event on Autism Awareness Day.
National Love Your Produce Manager Day was initiated in 2012 to celebrate all the hard work that Produce managers put in to bringing us the best and brightest of the world’s produce straight to your storefront. Produce managers are members of a rarely seen group within a grocery stores administrative staff. They are responsible for choosing what produce their store is going to carry, and where it is going to be obtained from. The next time you are in the produce section of your grocery store, take a moment to look around and appreciate all the choices you have, and realize that someone has to keep those orders flowing, the shelves stocked, and new selections coming to you every day.
It’s a song. It’s an idiom. It’s one of everyone’s favorite sandwiches: get out your favorite fruit jelly and enjoy the iconic combo of Peanut Butter and Jelly.
Still, I kind of wondered about how it was decided that today was THE day for peanut butter and jelly.
History:Peanut Butter was first invented by the Aztecs, who ground roasted peanuts into a rich nutritious paste. Peanut paste has been used all over the world in many different derivations ever since, being an absolute foundation of many cuisines. One thing that made this protein and calorie dense food popular is it’s resistance to going off, and the ease with which it could be transported. Combine that with an amazing taste and texture, and it’s no wonder that peanut butter is a world favorite!
It comes in so many different varieties too! Chunky, smooth, natural, salted, unsalted, even premixed with jelly! Peanut Butter really is an amazing food, and has been used to feed those who haven’t been able to eat ‘solid food’ for one reason or another. It’s been used for a myriad of snacks, including ants on a log (Celery filled with peanut butter topped with raisins), peanut butter cookies, but it’s most popular derivation by far is the peanut butter and jelly sandwich!
Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwiches were thought to be invented during the American Civil war, when the men mixed their peanut ration and jelly ration to create a delicious new treat while out on the field. When the men finally returned from the war, bedraggled and tired, they also brought with them news of this wonderful treat that brought them comfort on the field. Peanut butter and jelly sales soared at the wars end, all thanks to this delightful combination of sweet jelly and smooth peanut butter!
It’s referenced in a million different ways, across as many cultures and religions. “Do unto others as you’d have them do to you”, “You reap what you sow”, “What goes around comes around”, all of these statements speak of one suspected truth of the universe. That the energy you put out into the world is what will come back to you.
Tangible Karma is your opportunity to help yourself while helping others, by putting out those items around your home that you no longer need and passing the on freely to those who need them. The nice thing is, with Karma, you can expect it all to come back to you.
Tangible Karma is a company founded by Amber Nicole Dilger in 2005 and her idea was to recycle and reuse. You can visit their website to donate goods and track how they are used to help others.
Amber knew that a cluttered life can lead to a cluttered mind, which in turn leads to an instability of emotion and overall nervousness that can take away from the calming space that a home is supposed to be.
Combining this with her strong conviction of being a steward of the Earth and making the best possible use of its resources, she knew that recycling resources is a great way to tread lightly on our home.
We all have our favorite books from childhood, ones that set the tone for our imaginations and that bring back memories of home when we remember them, and some small comfort when we run our fingers over the well-worn and loved spines of the stories of our youth. The International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) founded Children’s Book Day in 1967. As an international non-profit organization promoting the importance of literacy and reading to our children, IBBY works tirelessly to promote Children’s Book and Authors, and organize events in schools and libraries all over the world to get children reading.
Meanwhile getting back today's date, the number 2, so says Numerology.com, represents partnerships -- the coming together or balancing of two individual people, concepts, or things. While it holds great power over any situation, it wields it with such diplomacy and tact that the result is not control and authority, but harmony and teamwork. It is a mediator, able to see two sides of a situation in an unbiased way and guide others down the middle road.
Lots of ways to interpret, but as basketball has taken center stage and 2's are wild, my view is that the UNC backcourt will be in sync, with, hopefully, another iconic performance from
Do you know what it means To miss New Orleans And miss it each night and day I know I'm not wrong
The feeling's getting stronger The longer I stay away Miss the moist covered vines The tall sugar pines
Where mocking birds used to sing And I'd like to see the lazy Mississippi A hurrying into spring The Mardi Gras memories Of creole tunes that filled the air I dream of oleanders in June And soon I'm wishing that I was there
Do you know what it means To miss New Orleans When that's where you left your heart And there's something more I miss the one I care for More than I miss New Orleans
My first intention was to share various memories of New Orleans, ranging from Johnny Horton's iconic hit, THE BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS, to the tv series YANCY DERRINGER to the song "Biloxi" by Jesse Winchester, where "the sky is red from off to New Orleans" to the rainbow jumper in 1982 to the HBO series TREME.
Then my own visits to New Orleans. How the folks there look you in the eye, smile and mean it.
Where the coffee is strong at the Cafe Du Monde, and the donuts are too hot to touch. And just like a fool when those sweet goodies cool, I eat till I eat way too much.
Coop's Place on Decatur ... a dingy hole in the wall-esque bar/restaurant that has the best damn gumbo on the planet.
One very early morning, a short drive from the hotel to a parking lot close to a nearly deserted Jackson Square, where there was no line at the Cafe Du Monde.
Then, after getting strong doses of sugar and caffeine, an impromptu drive in the quarter and then on to Magazine Street.
While it is always vastly pleasant to defeat Dook in anything, there are three major confrontations that are a given each season. Football and the home/away series in basketball.
Football gets the motor running, but it is a mild version of the rivalry, particularly as dook's default lackluster football prowess often falls far short of UNC's lackluster football prowess.
That said, it is never a bad thing to roast those assholes in hell.
Then we come to basketball, which on a given year forces two great (often great) basketball entities to share some sweat and spit in front of venom-fueled fans, some who are actually crazy, and others who are on the bandwagon.
This year UNC has a new head coach, while tonight is the last time (so he says) the rat will coach Dook in the Smith Center. For me, I hope it is a totally miserable experience for that shyster shithead and his cult.
I doubt that happens, however, as this year, as usual, Dook has the edge when it comes to talent. It will also have the edge with coaching. How much remains to be seen.
My thought is that UNC must shoot at least damn well to have a chance.
My mind, however, the day of a dook game meanders from looking ahead to looking back, and as those thoughts spiral in time, they operate as if a kaleidoscope roller coaster, a constant series of different yet familiar images, twisting into view and then morphing into a new frame, also different but also familiar.
There's no order.
Danny Green's dunk in Durham over Paulus.
Hansbrough's 3 as a freshman.
Bloody Montross.
Bloody Hansbrough.
"Gerald is the victim."
"Shut the fuck up!" The young rat yelling at Coach Smith.
Larry Brown and Art Heyman punching each other.
River's 3 in the Smith Center after Zeller missed from the line.
Sitting in the Smith Center before a dook game and watching the dookies slink onto the court, led by the coaching staff in their Armani suits.
Marvin Williams' rebound and put back that was like a bomb exploding. One of the most amazing moments in the long line of amazing moments.
Caleb and Kerwin going off in Cameron.
Tripper tripping.
David Noel leaving the man with the ball, and that man scores the winning layup at the buzzer. I watched that moment in a lonely hotel room in Houston, Texas.
Sometimes the kaleidoscope pauses ... and a voice that reminds me of Walter Cronkite says:
"It's more than a basketball game; it's an examination of contrasting styles with game tactics, strategy and personnel decisions, as well as how each program treats its players when attending school and after.
One school is about life, the other in recent seasons about a semester.
One program values passing and team play; the other program touts 3s and flopping. Get something for nothing."
Walter Cronkite coughs, glancing at his notes.
"It's not a stretch to say UNC vs Dook is a morality play And it's quite true, the good guys don't always win."
A guitar gently strums an opening chord ...then "In my mind, I'm going to Carolina."
No one has ever written or will write, In my mind I'm going to dook.
