Kyle Kerr

Professional Procrastinator At Work

08/21/07 | Books, General, Movies, Procrastination | 0 Comments

I’ve been procrastinating again.  All of my ‘worry’ voices keep telling me to get more work done on editing my novel, but I can’t even seem to force myself to do it the past week or so.  I actually got through a nice chunk yesterday, but a whole helluvalot of procrastination happened before that.  What have I been doing instead?  Why don’t I tell you…?

READ:

The Black Tattoo by Sam Enthoven

It was actually an interesting read.  It’s about a demon from Hell who takes over this boy’s body, hell-bent on, well, destroying the universe.  It is Sam’s first novel, and is written for the young adult crowd (which is fine, because I think there’s a bit too much violence for the children’s crowd!).  Bit dark, but a lot of humor is brought in with the character of Jack.

Mysterious Skin by Scott Heim

This story begins during the summer of ’81, when two boys from a Little League are molested by their coach.  One of them likes it, believing it to be love, and goes on to be a hustler when he gets older.  The other blacks out the experience and, later in life, is convinced that those five hours are missing from his life because he was abducted by aliens.  He’s not too far off, actually.  Stunningly written, though I would extend a word of caution if you don’t have the stomach for a bit of violence.

REWATCHED:

Children of Men

Director Alfonso Cuarón impresses again.  I’m not shy about my love of all things Harry Potter, and I was first introduced to his work with Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (the most visually stunning of all five HP movies so far, I think).  Here, he does it again, and with seeming ease.  If you haven’t seen the movie, you should definitely check it out.  But, if you HAVE seen it, you should take a second look, and pay attention to the three or four scenes in the movie that are actually ONE CUT.  The opening scene with the coffee shop, the scene where they are attacked in the car, as well as the final battle scene are ALL done in one shot.  Amazing.  Alfonso is one of the top directors I would choose for my screenplay Bethanine if I were able to pick the director myself.

Million Dollar Baby

I get more and more amazed by this movie with each viewing.  Everything is so subtle.  Nothing is thrown into your face.  From Clint Eastwood’s quiet struggles, to Hilary Swank’s determination (even at the end) to go out a champ, and rounded off nicely with Morgan Freeman’s soft narration, you get sucked in and just nestled in the flow of the movie.  Throw in Paul Haggis’s superb writing, and it’s no wonder this movie won the Best Picture Oscar.  Paul Haggis is another person who intrigues me… To have written TWO Best Pictures in a row (MDB and Crash), as well as being versatile enough to take on projects like the recent Casino Royale, he’s the kind of screenwriter I want to be.  (Oh, and try HUNDRED MILLION Dollar Baby… That’s right, this little movie brought in BIG bank!)

WANT TO SEE:

Since it came out almost 10 years ago, Elizabeth has been one of my favorite movies.  Cate Blanchett is one of my favorite actresses.  So, you can imagine my joy when I learned they were making a sequel!  I first heard about Elizabeth: The Golden Age about a year and a half ago, and have been eagerly awaiting its arrival since.  Now, the trailer has finally been released, stating an October release date (!!!).  So, if you have a moment, why don’t you bask in the gloriousness that is Elizabeth: The Golden Age…

A line that gives me the chills every time I hear it?

Queen Elizabeth I: Tell your king I fear neither him nor his armies.
Spanish Minister: There is a wind coming that will sweep away your pride.
Queen Elizabeth I: I too can command the wind, sir! I have a hurricane in me that will strip Spain bare if you dare to try me!

What was that line of Jim Carrey’s?  Joygasm?

Until next…

Kyle W. Kerr