Films and Feelings

    This premise for Gareth Edwards' The Creator would be very interesting if it had not dropped in a time when actors are technically still striking over the introduction of AI into the industry. There's even a space in the film where we see a billboard inviting humans to "help AI: donate your likeness today!" that I can't believe wasn't dropped during editing.     Just the same, I have a feeling that time will be kind to this movie. I'm not interested in throwing all tentpole films under the bus or rendering all their accomplishments inert, but it is rare to see filmmaking at its most pure achieve such riveting ends against the canvas of blockbuster filmmaking. Dramatic, even artful storytelling can actually sit perfectly in the casings of an action-adventure film.     The year is 20?? and we're living in a world where artificial intelligence has not only been integrated into regular life, but half of humanity is actively trying to extricate it, vio...

Today’s essay is all about cynicism. By that, I mean a state of mind that is heavy on suspicion, that anticipates negative outcomes even before they have signaled themselves. The cynic has learned not to expect much from life, even when it appears to be offering good fortune.  Casablanca (1942)     The catch with cynicism is that i t is an easy position to take and defend because life naturally offers a plentitude of opportunities to be disappointed. It could be said that cynicism is a response to being repeatedly let down in life, and further, that cynicism acts as a coping mechanism.  Cyncism in healthy doses is not only valid, it's actually essential for having a proper understanding of reality. It helps to decenter oneself from artificial constructs perpetuated in common storytelling, such as ideas that just because one’s heart is true, one will succeed in all endeavors. Cynicism helps us to guard against the realities of life as well as the unrighteous designs ...