Review of Bukowski: Born Into This (2003) by The O — 13 Nov 2006

[size=3][font=Franklin Gothic Medium]Well I watched 4 movies this weekend, tried to watch one, but it was on pretty late (Electra Glide In Blue was the title). I also watched a documentry of the (supposedly) godfather of all directors: John Ford which was interestingly enough directed by film buff turned director before Tarantino made it cool: Peter Bogdonovich (The Lat Picture Show). Well a documentry on John Ford would be obviously good so I won't go over that. I also watched a documentry on probably my favorite poet (Which sadly isn't saying much cause I think he's the only poet I like or know of and like) Charles Bukowski. You might reconize the name because Matt Dillon's new movie Factotum (Which the book and the movie are reccomended by me) was based on the novel he wrote. Stardust memories was essentially Woody Allen's 8 1/2, but in Woody Allen style, which I found humorous and interesting, but not much people like Woody Allen, but I do (Sidenote: If you don't know the film 8 1/2, then know it). Anyways the main film I'm gonna review today is a film called Mo' Better Blues directed by Spike Lee with Denzel Washingto, Wesley Snipes, Spike's Sister, and Spike Lee. it's a tale of a jazz musician who's only love in the world is jazz, and the film shows how his music and his personal life start to intertwine. The first part of this film I really dug, especially now that I'm trying to get into Jazz music and also the tortured artist is always a subject I like. I found it funny when during a sex scene the soundtrack plays a Miles Davis song I recognized, and I felt pretty sweet at that moment *sigh*. However his use of long jazz scenes kind of takes away for time with the plot so the last half of the movie seems to be on fast forward. Ok he's crazy, then he's fine, then he get's married, then he has a kid, then the kid is 5 years old, etc. etc. Maybe that's a metaphor for how his art is more important than his life' problems, I don't know, but I found it quite irritating. Anyways of course everything film-making wise is good, it's Spike Lee for chirst's sake, yet he skimps the plot for the music. Thus making me give it a 7/10. See ya next time I do this.

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