Why I love Cinema, a Chronicle of Life itself

As some of you have probably guessed, in Ragged Insomnia I talk a lot about Cinema. And maybe you have asked yourselves why do I love so much the Seventh Art. Well, today I´ll talk about the various reasons that make me such a cinephile.

For most people, going to the theatre and watch a movie just means to (in some cases) enjoy some hours of their existence and then go home. That´s all. But, for others like me, watching a film is not just a way of entertaining ourselves, it is an experience, a catharsis of emotions and ultimately, a guide to understand Life.

Of course, by “catharsis of emotions” I don´t mean watching Fast & Furious or any Jackie Chang production, for not every film achieves to elicit an emotion so deep and complex as it is the love to Art. (Actually, in the future I will probably make a list of the films that made feel something else for cinema)

So, going back to the philosophical stuff, I just can´t understand Life itself without cinema. It makes us dream, understand ourselves, it makes cry, laugh, feel emotions for unreal situations and things that are not actually happening. But for us, they are. The educational, psychological and human potential films have is something beyond our comprehension sometimes. Some movies can make us feel better, others just sad, and just for that, cinema is something very special, and not just for me.

I suppose, then, that cinema can be even one of a human being´s dimension in his life, and for me it is also a fundamental part in my existence. I´m serious when I say I want to dedicate my entire life to cinema, and I find that very honorable. For, cinema is in some way Life: and what is better to be dedicated to than Life itself?

So, for worse or better, I am linked to this Art, this Wonder, called Cinema. It completes me, it makes me better, it makes my life worth living. And I suppose that´s why I love it so much.

“Cinema is the ultimate pervert art. It doesn’t give you what you desire – it tells you how to desire.”  

• Slavoj Žižek

Comic and Films, and the artistic potential they have

Today we live in an era of comic book adaptations. Last year, six movies based on comic characters were released, and four of them are on the top ten worldwide grosses, by Box Office Mojo. So, it is obvious this kind of movies do sell indeed, but, why? And more important, is this a genre worth exploring on a deeper way?

The first movie about superheroes (obviating the Saturday serial low-budget productions like Mandrake the Magician or Adventures of Captain Marvel) was Superman, released back in 1978, and it was of course a total success. Then, after multiple unworthy sequels, it was the turn of Batman to prove himself on the big screen with Batman film directed by Tim Burton. It was the time for DC Comics to make capable products of entertainment (until the piece of trash called Batman & Robin arrived), while Marvel was practically invisible, apart from television serials and things I am not going to mention for the benefit of everyone here reading this. On the next decade, the X-Men arrived, also with Spiderman first real movie, making this genre more and more famous.

But the real film came in 2008. We all know which motion picture I am referring to. A masterpiece, a work of art: The Dark Knight changed the game, giving the comic book adaptations a totally new tone and mythology. And, of course, the construction of Cinematographic Universes as the MCU and the DCEU are something to consider when the theme comes to light.

And now, people tend to associate superhero movies to lazy, cheap blockbusters with the narrative deepness of a sponge. And some of them actually are, but the worst thing we can do to the Film Business (and the Comics one) is to generalize things and matters, making comic-books and graphic novels be underestimated, while pretentious, empty stories like Moonlight get an Oscar, like if they deserved it…

So, the main problem within the superheroes movies is they don´t really take themselves seriously, they just cook us soulless products, made with one only purpose: sell as more tickets as possible. And some of these films should be this, but what about the real stories? The Killing Joke, Final Crisis, Joker by Brian Azzarello… all of this stories have enough potential to turn themselves into great pieces of art. It is not about the fact of having red men and millionaires dressed like flying rats, it is about to absorb their incredible personalities and mythologies and create deep, well-developed movies, make the comic book genre a great one and give us the films we deserve.

So, if this kind of movies can be made, why do the studios keep making commercial blockbusters? Well, probably because they sell, and that´s ultimately what studious want. Artistic matters are now considered something not very important, as long as the movie can make their day.

However, comic-book fans like me should be very happy indeed. We finally can see our favorite heroes on the big screen, we can see them fight together, against each other, portray epic moments… And for God´s sake, they don´t make movies like Catwoman or Daredevil anymore. The closest one has been Captain America: Civil War and even that had his own logic. But this is not enough, at least for me. For this incredible stories deserve something beyond simple action movies, even if they are fantastic. They deserve being Art.

“We gaze continually at the world and it grows dull in our perceptions. Yet seen from another’s vantage point, as if new, it may still take the breath away”

• Watchmen

The Oscars Fever, a Journey through Hollywood´s pretentiousness

The Academy Awards are imminent; soon we will know which are the best pictures, performances, filmmakers… But, are the Oscars really a measurement of cinematographic quality? Personally, I don´t think so.

We all know there are several “points” a movie must approve to be on the Oscars, and sometimes the brilliance of the storytelling in every aspect is not even the important one. Films like 12 Years a Slave, A Beautiful Mind, Slumdog Millionaire or King´s Speech have won the Best Picture Oscar, and all of them have a common thing: they treat themes the academics love. There is no doubt, these are not horrible films, but did they really deserve the ultimate award? All producers know if they release a movie at the end of the year about racism, a biopic, or criticizing an actual issue, they will get a nomination for sure. And, is that even a positive thing?

For example, in 2008 two movies were released: the already named Slumdog Millionaire and The Dark Knight. One of them was a masterpiece, recognized by audiences and critics, and one of the best films of all time (via IMDB); and the other is the one which won the Oscar. Maybe it was because of its genre, for superheroes movies are not taken very seriously nowadays (thanks to Marvel), but Nolan´s work was at least worthy nominating, with an incredible story, plot and of course Heath Ledger´s apotheosis interpretation of The Joker.

And tonight, February 26, the Oscars 2017 are about to begin. This year we have a huge Hollywood propaganda (and, being honest, one of my favorite movies of all time), a film about dreams and how the industry can make them true: La La Land. We also have Manchester by the Sea, a deep drama, with no further meaning but to enjoy life until it punches you in the face, all seasoned with an incredible acting from the entire crew. Moonlight, on the other hand, represents the Oscar wet dream by antonomasia: racism, homophobia, society criticism and that´s all, folks, just enjoy the movie (fantastically well directed by Barry Jenkins, having all said). Accompanying this messiah of Hollywood´s obsession for showing how good they are, films like Hidden Figures or Fences stand out not because of their quality, but for just telling a story about tolerance and social acceptance. And, of course, Silence by Scorsese is completely banished from the Awards.

I´m not saying those messages are useless. Actually, it is necessary to show by cinema the correct ideologies to build a stable society; but here I´m talking about cinema itself, not politics, which are often confused.

I don´t want this to be a cheap critic to the industry, but we should think what really defines the Oscars, and if the academics are truly rewarding cinematographic creativeness, quality and beauty, or just doing what is “politically correct”. For cinema is something beyond politics, society or humanity: it is one of the highest ways of showing art, and we should respect that. I really hope tonight Los Angeles does so.

“I always like to leave art open to interpretation.”

• Dan Reynolds

 

Art and Life, an introduction to RAGGED INSOMNIA

Art is everywhere. It is in music, in cinema, in literature, in poetry. It is in our pain, in our expectations, in our love. It is even in this words I am writing.

As you should guess, in this blog I will talk about Art itself, in every possible form: movies, novels, albums, even in everyday life. For this is not one usual blog, and it is my desire to make you understand Art is not a concept, but a reality, an entire universe.

Finishing this little introduction to RAGGED INSOMNIA, analyze with this quote from Las Vegas band, Imagine Dragons:

Pain! You made a believer.

Having this said, let´s dive through the waters of our soul and conscience, let´s make pain our messiah and experience the real meaning of Art: Life.