There will be a lot of T's (or is it tease or maybe teas) in this Thanksgiving post. I am super excited to see Thomas Pynchon's work put on the big screen by pT. Anderson. But this post isn't about upcoming films. Instead click through for a series of top 3's (Three's) of all the things I've been thankful to witness so far in 2014 (Twenty FourTeen). Happy Thankgiving!
2014 – Top Three Thankful Things: Film, Music(al), and The ArTs
FILM – A solid year of film's so far in 2014 with potential greatness like Inherent Vice and many more quality movies to come. Here are the 3 (Three) films so far this year that I'm most thankful to have seen.
Narrative Film:
3. The Grand Budapest Hotel – Wes Anderson. Easily the most impressive cast of characters ever assembled for a film. It's Wes' most ambitious film and thus his best. A quirky laugh riot that allows for some wonderful performances. Sadly this early 2014 film has become lost in the eyes of most. Here's to a film that deserves the respect of the major award givers…Dear Oscars, in otherwords.
2. Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) – Alejandro G. Inarritu. Nolan's Interstellar may take home a bunch of technical awards, but there is NO DOUBT what is the best shot film of 2014. DP Emmanuel "Chivo" Lubezki is a God among Boys!
1. Boyhood – Richard Linklater. Films are usually made in weeks or months, not decades (plus Two more years). Linklater's latest film is a unique venture into the perspective of character. We literally have the chance to see someone grow up before our eyes.
Documentary Films:
3. No No: A Dockumentary – Jeffrey Radice. Sports docs rarely outshine the hard hitting doc films that come out each year. This sports doc does outshine a majority of the films I've seen this year. It's a hell of a wild tale that has the tremendous ability to also be shocking and heartbreaking.
2. Supermensch The Legend of Shep Gordon – Mike Myers. Austin Powers has made one of the year's most intriguing documentaries. The crazy life and times of Shep Gordon are finally unleashed on the masses and boy does he have a HELL of a life.
1. Kids For Cash – Robert May. Haunting look into how the power of a few can impact the lives of many. A doc that is unforgettable and horrorfying.
Film Interviews:
3. The One I Love – Writer/Director Charlie McDowell and Star Mark Duplass.
2. Marisa Tomei – Art of Film 2014
1. Kids For Cash – Director Robert May – (Check back next week for a brand new interview with Robert about the amazing journey the doc has taken since last time we chatted).
MUSIC(AL) – Here are my favorite songs, artists and locally based musicals of 2014.
Musicals:
3. Dallas Summer Musicals – LITTLE MERMAID.
2. Dallas Summer Musicals – GHOST.
1. Mirage Cirque Du Soleil – THE BEATLES LOVE.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtn3m7F4Vog
Songs:
3. Stolen Dance – Milky Chance
2. Shut Up and Dance – Walk The Moon
1. Habits (Stay High) – Tove Lo
Artists:
3. First Aid Kit – Stay Gold (Album)
2. U2 – Songs of Innoncence (Album)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFfGNSRxZlA
1. Shakey Graves – And The War Came (Album)
The Arts – A look at the plays, events and television shows that I'm thankful to have seen in 2014.
Television:
3. Fargo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C96AfevLkQ4
2. TIE – You're The Worst / Silicon Valley
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBY0Xl6tSGU
Tie with –
1. The Knick
Theatrical Plays:
3. Dallas Theater Center – Oedipus El Rey
2. Dallas Theater Center – Les Miserables
1. Second Thought Theatre – Booth
Events:
3. Dallas Institute's – 9th Annual MLK, Jr., Symposium (full event video!)
2. AS Roma Vs Real Madrid at Dallas Cotton Bowl.
1. My good buddies – The Monks of the Drepung Loseling Monestary visit Dallas as guests of the Crow Collection of Asian Art.
Have a terrific thankgiving!
