Saturday, September 06, 2008 Toronto just wants to have fun... POST A COMMENT "We could say we are living in quite difficult times with wars and economic problems, but I think filmmakers understand that audiences just need a break sometimes from that," said Toronto festival chief Cameron Bailey (via AP)... 'Bucking a trend that started way-back when American Beauty busted out of Toronto to win a (best picture) Oscar; followed closely by other high-brow flix like Crash, Capote, Sideways, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, to name a few... Toronto, quickly became known for its love affair with small artsy pix. Just last year they hosted -- 'the North American launches of several eventual Oscar winners -- Juno, No Country for Old Men, Michael Clayton and Atonement..' This year got a bad-case of amnesia, asking 'Oscar-who?' 'Going instead with (I-kid-you-not) -- Rocknrolla type comedies -- '30 comedies in total, including Zack and Miri Make a Porno starring Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks, Anne Fontaine's La fille de Monaco, and the Coen brothers' dark comedy Burn After Reading. 'Sometimes it is just about having a good time,' says the NY Times. 'That was the message here on Thursday night, as the Toronto International Film Festival got going with a face-smashing, belly-laughing gangster caper from a director best known as Madonna’s husband...' No, really, Madonna's husband is now a festival darling? -- Is that the best we can come up with? 'Politics is in surprisingly short supply here, given the imminence of a United States election and the festival’s past record.' In fact during a panel discussion, the moderator fished for a political thought in connection with one of the more commercial films. The filmmaker scoffed at the message-driven fare of the past, saying the film is just meant to be enjoyable. “Change happens,” he added, “in very personal, subtle, minor ways more than it does in a big landscape.” Source: NY Times Labels: Art versus Commerce, directing, Film, Film Festivals posted by Henry Cruz at 2:15 PM Wednesday, September 03, 2008 Could Jesus Christ have morning wood? POST A COMMENT What sounds like Much Ado About...'morning wood is having a very real day in court: The case is against an art gallery in the U.K. that dared to exhibit a statue of Jesus Christ with an erection -- (they're being sued by a devout Christian who said she was offended). To me, the least interesting thing about all this is the art, by Terence Koh, which actually isn't very good (my three year niece could do so much better)... 'More interesting was the debate: 'Art is made to move people, to make them question, to expand their perceptions, to have an effect on the way they think,' says a civil minded person. 'Sometimes, some art is going to offend some people. But if we let a vocal minority get away with censoring art, the majority loses.' A spokesman arguing against Koh said they believed in freedom of expression, but "this statue served no other purpose than to offend Christians and to denigrate Christ." I can't disagree more with the "offend" part -- from what I see here, Christ was packing (and, ahem, truly-blessed) -- I gotta agree with this commenter: "Jesus just has a lot of love to give!" Plus, think about it logically, assuming Jesus was indeed a real person, the biology and science would strongly suggest he might also have had morning wood. I would even go so far as to say Jesus also sat on the bowl and moved his bowels...'at least once. Source: Guardian, U.K. Labels: Art versus Commerce, Jesus Christ, News Trends, religion, Terence Koh posted by Henry Cruz at 11:58 AM Wednesday, May 21, 2008 Tanning-Lines of Commerce POST A COMMENT When Artist push the limits, it's called a social statement... What about this new Liquor ad -- for "Cabana Cachac" - leaving little to the imagination...except a killer tan-line: That company, in defense, offered: "it has an art feel to it that is very relevant." - hmmm, but will anybody really notice the bottle of Cachac? Source: Women's Wear Daily Labels: Ads, Art versus Commerce, Culture, Media Trends posted by Henry Cruz at 2:45 AM     ARCHIVES October 2005 . November 2005 . December 2005 . August 2007 . September 2007 . October 2007 . November 2007 . December 2007 . March 2008 . April 2008 . May 2008 . June 2008 . July 2008 . August 2008 . September 2008 .