Still the Fairest of Them All

So last night I experienced a real treat. My friend Carly and I decided to go see Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs on the big screen. Yes, that's right, Walt Disney's 1937 masterpiece that launched the animation movement into the next dimension of awareness and respect. What had been relegated to short cartoons for the kiddies shown before the actual feature film finally came of age in 1937. Walt Disney had this crazy idea, a belief that people would come and sit through an entire feature length film that was animated.

Critics at the time scoffed at the idea, some referring to the film as "Disney's Folly" predicting it's failure. No one had ever attempted anything on this scale before. Would it succeed? Would it find an audience? Was Walt Disney but a flash-in-the-pan? Sitting at the El Capitan Theatre (pictured above) in downtown Hollywood, California, I reflected before the film began about how growing up this was the first film I ever saw in theaters. I was born in 1985 and right before I turned 3 my parents took me to the Alabama theatre to see the 1987 50th Anniversary screening of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. I don't remember it (in fact, the first film I actually remember seeing in theaters was The Little Mermaid in 1989 when I was 4), but my parents told me that the wicked witch frightened me so much that when she turned into an old hag I crawled under the seat and cried. I somehow made it through the whole film though, and they tell me that whenever the dwarfs were on the screen I was bouncing and smiling in my seat. In the scene where the dwarfs sneak upstairs, conscious that someone is in their house, but unaware that it's Snow White, I reportedly said out loud multiple times, "They're SNEE-king mommy! They're SNEE-king!" Fitting that for my first movie I would go see the one that started it all...

Growing up in the 80's of course, Disney is a part of your childhood. You grow up in a world surrounded by his famous characters and most everyone I knew growing up went through the childhood right-of-passage of visiting Disneyworld or Disneyland at least once in their life. You just sort of take Disney for granted. But reflect for a moment on what it must have been like in 1937 to watch Snow White in it's original theatrical run... before Pinocchio, Fantasia, Dumbo, Bambi, etc would follow, before Disneyland would be built, before television and The Wonderful World of Disney would be beamed into people's living rooms... through the hindsight of history of course we know what Disney became, but I wonder how many people in that original release, Walt himself included, could ever dream of what Disney would come to be and represent to millions of children (and adults) around the world.

It's exciting to think about and try to put your mind in that 1937 atmosphere and watch the film... WWII hadn't reached America yet, there was no television, not even Gone With the Wind had been made yet (try and wrap your mind around THAT one). What a magical experience this must have been. Even watching the film restored the other night, I couldn't help but marvel at how well it's held up after more than 70 years. The humor, the music, the characters... all timeless and just as charming and endearing as when they first made their way into the hearts of audiences everywhere way back when.

Now, with a film school education firmly beneath me, I was able to sit back and enjoy the film on even more levels, taking in the small technical details... the ripple effects when Snow White looks down into the wishing well, the use of the multi-plane camera to create depth in many of the shots, the richly colored cells, the simple hand-drawn magic of the characters, and the facial expressions and personalities given to each of the dwarfs and the forrest creatures just to name a few. All that timeless melding of color, motion, and music to tell a timeless story. To see the labor of love displayed on screen, from the matte painting backgrounds to the rich and full cell animation of the central characters, this film continues to inspire and blow me away ever time I see it and think about how much of a landmark in cinema history it is. I found myself laughing anew at the antics of Doc, Bashful, Sleepy, Happy, Grumpy, Dopey, and Sneezy; once again remembering the terror of the sequence where Snow White gets lost in the woods and every tree morphs into an evil face. After 20 years, I still find myself singing along to the music and smiling throughout the film. If you live near Hollywood, it's still screening daily at the El Capitan theater for one more week on the big screen, ending on October 1st. I strongly encourage you to take your friends and family and relive the magic again. At my screening, all ages were present, from a very elderly couple on a date together (they were cutest couple of old folks ever too!) to little children experiencing the film for the first time.

In a few weeks, they will be releasing Snow White on Blu-Ray for the first time (October 6), as well as on DVD for the 2nd time since it's original platinum edition release in 2001. This after numerous theatrical re-issues, televised screenings, and VHS releases as well. I gotta hand it to Walt and his talented team of animators... watching Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs tonight I had to think to myself, it's been over 70 years, and she's still the fairest of them all. ;-)

The Return

So yeah... it's been like... um... 4 months since my last update. That's gonna change... right now. Read on faithful readers, Ben is back and blogging again! :-)

Every Grain of Sand...

Well if any of you follow my blog regularly, (I think maybe there's like... ummm... one person other than me who qualifies), you've probably noticed a lack of posting as of lately.  Here's what this means:  I'm lazy.  It doesn't mean I'm busy.  Sadly, I would very much like to be busy, but thanks to the great tranquility of our current economy (sarcasm intended) I've been more or less unemployed and hard hit for money as of the last few months.  On top of that, remember when Paul wrote in the New Testament (as opposed to all of his Old Testament writings I suppose - had to catch that before some of you wise guys did) about having a "thorn in his flesh?"  Yeah?  Well I got one of those... it's called a 1995 Nissan Maxima that has officially been taken into the mechanic for the "last time" about 4 times now over the course of the last 3 months... each time I take it in, I get hit with anywhere from $340 to $1260 in repair costs.  Suffice it to say, Los Angeles eats cars alive with the horrible roads and constant driving everywhere, so yeah, Murphy's Law has been after me for the last few months in regards to my automobile.  For those of you unacquainted with Murphy's Law... well... how should I explain it?... good for you.  Ignorance is bliss.  

So where does this leave me? Well as of today I've applied to a few job posting on craigslist and finally got my car out of the shop for the 4th time.  What I hope this means is that we're about to see a change... and no, I'm in no way referencing or referring to Barrack Obama with that remark.  I'm hoping that starting soon, things will begin to work together for my good.  And here's the catch: I know they will.  How do I know that?  Because a few nights back I read through Ephesians... for those folks who stumbled upon this blog and are scratching their heads, it's in the Bible.  Allow me to explain a little more.  When you read through Ephesians, a few things "oughta' slap you upside the head" as my granddad would say.  First, the precious promises of God.  These aren't earthly promises folks.  They don't get changed, altered, skewered, or come with strings attached.  These are promises made to those whom God loves, to those He has called according to His rich mercy and love.  I'm not always sure of a lot, but one thing I am sure of is this: God loves me.  There's no better explanation for the fact that I'm still breathing.  I know He certainly doesn't have to love me... He doesn't have to love any of us.  But for whatever reason that is beyond my comprehension, God chose me before the foundations of the earth were laid as someone He would love, and I can take that to the bank.  

Reading through Ephesians 2 might be the best remedy ever devised for feeling frustrated and anxious.  It really hammers home a few things: 1) It's not about me... I didn't do anything to earn or gain this favor and love... in fact, I ran from it as an enemy of God.  2) It's all about Him... His grace... His mercy... His love... poured out on undeserving sinners like you and me.  3) There was a terrible cost... his grace doesn't exist apart from his justice... someone had to pay.  That someone was the one person who shouldn't ever have had to, his perfect son, Christ Jesus.  4) It's through these two things: the sheer grace of God and the ultimate costly sacrifice of Christ, that we are in fact reconciled to God... brought into His favor... more than that, we're actually made heirs and family members, adopted into His family! Read Romans 5 if you really want a kick in the head!

So yeah... I'm starting to ramble a little now, and I'm not trying to preach, that's not my area of strength by any means.  I only know that ever since reading through Ephesians, my mind has been consumed with the love of Christ and the power of the gospel, and not as tied up by my current situation out here of not having a job, a perfect car, etc.  Has my situation out here changed?  On the outside, not at all.  But in my soul, I've been reawakened to the beauty of the gospel and God's love for me, and also been rudely awakened to the fact that I need to do a much better job of repenting and confessing and being a good deal more thankful than I am now for what I have been given.  As my understanding of my sin increases, my understanding of God's love, mercy, grace, and righteousness also grows.  Charles Spurgeon once said "If your sin is small, then your Savior will be small also.  But if your sin is great, then your Savior must be great."  Well I know my Savior is great... Ephesians (and the rest of the Bible) screams this with every verse... so what's that tell me about my sin?  Uh yeah... time to hit my knees folks.  I've no more got it together than any of you reading this.  

So yeah... I'm not gonna lie, things aren't exactly fluffy little bunny rabbits and fields of golden daffodils right now, but you know what?  Who said they should be?  If they were, I probably would be living in ignorance right now more than ever.  All this to say, sometimes God uses dark brush strokes to paint his masterpiece, and we can't be scared to face those dark times.  This is still the same God who can silence the wind and waves with a simple command, and as rough as it may get sometimes, He has promised to never let us go... to close, I'd like to call up two songs.  For one, I'm reminded of the children's song I used to sing growing up, "He's Got The Whole World in His Hands"... man, how often do we "grow up" and leave behind our child-like faith when in fact we had the truth and understanding right there in front of us? Seriously... He's got the whole world in his hands folks.  It wasn't like He dropped it when the stocks fell.  It still answers to Him and Him alone, as He is the sole Creator with power of his creation.  It's got the scars of sin, sure, but it's still a beautiful world in many ways... Just because it's dark doesn't mean we should give up.  As long as we're here, we're called to grow.  Yes, this world is not our home, but we're still ambassadors here for the time being, temporarily being used to grow and impact the kingdom of God, and it's time we learned to act as such.  

The other song I'd like to reference I'll simply close with here... the source may not be what you'd expect, but then again, if God could use a talking donkey, then don't be so quick to throw this guy out.  You've probably heard of him... he goes by the name Bob Dylan.  Check out his lyrics to "Every Grain of Sand" below and you may be surprised...  I for one think he hit the nail right on the head here:

In the time of my confession, in the hour of my deepest need

When the pool of tears beneath my feet flood every newborn seed

There's a dyin' voice within me reaching out somewhere, 

Toiling in the danger and the morals of despair.

I don't have the inclination to look back on any mistake

Like Cain, I now behold the chain of events that I must break.

In the fury of the moment I can see the Master's hand

In every leaf that trembles, in every grain of sand.

Oh, the flowers of indulgence and the weeds of yesteryear,

Like criminals, they have choked the breathe of conscience and good cheer.

The sun beat down upon the steps of time to light the way

To ease the pain of idleness and the memory of decay.

As I gaze into the doorway of temptations angry flame

And every time I pass that way I always hear my name.

Then onward on my journey I have come to understand

That every hair is numbered just like every grain of sand.

I have gone from rags to riches in the sorrow of the night

In the violence of a summer's dream, in the chill of wintry light,

In the bitter dance of loneliness fading into space,

In the broken mirror  of innocence in each forgotten face.

I hear the ancient footsteps like the motion of the sea

Sometimes I turn, there's someone there, other times it's only me.

I am hanging in the balance of a perfect finished plan

Like every sparrow falling, like every grain of sand...

Satisfied

All my life long I had panted

For a drink from some cool spring

That I hoped would quench the burning

Of the thirst I felt within

Hallelujah He has found me

The one my soul so long has craved

Jesus satisfies all my longings

Through His blood I now am saved

Feeding on the filth around me

Till my strength was almost gone

Long my soul for something better

Only still to hunger on

Poor I was and sought for riches

Something that would satisfy

But the dust I gathered 'round me

Only mocked my soul's sad cry

Well of water ever springing

Bread of life so rich and free

Untold wealth that never faileth

My Redeemer is to me

It's Been A Long Silence....

For those of you wondering if I feel off a cliff or met my end to one of LA's street gangs, rest assured, I am alive and well... and busy.  Sort of.  While I may not always be working for money, I'm always in some way or another too busy to update my blog.  But don't worry, it's all about to change... check back often!  There will be lots of new posts soon, I promise!

Oscar Predictions

Anyone who knows me well knows that for me, the biggest night in television isn't the Superbowl.  Matter of fact, I pretty much hate the Super Bowl.  No, for me, it's Academy Awards, which of course are lovingly called "The Oscars" by most folks.  This year I've been living near Hollywood, and the buzz around this town come awards season is even more magnificent than it was back home or at college on the East Coast.  I love trying to predict the Academy Awards as well, so now with roughly 12 hours to go before the statues are handed out, I'm gonna post my final thoughts and predictions on most all of the categories.  I'm not even sure if you'll read this before the Awards actually do happen, but here goes: 

Best Picture

What the critics are saying: Slumdog Millionaire

What I'm saying: Slumdog Millionaire

I've only seen this film in theaters 7 times, so I may be biased, haha, but I'll be darned if there's a better film out there (that also got nominated for Best Picture).  If it had to go up against The Dark Knight or even Wall-E there might be some competition, but I don't see Benjamin Button, The Reader, Milk, or Frost/Nixon putting up much of a fight here.  Expect the "little film that could" to finally get it's due, I'm calling Slumdog by a landslide.  In the event that I'm wrong... Hmm... my second favorite of this bunch is actually Frost/Nixon, but I think if there's a film that could upset Slumdog, it would be Milk due to the political nature of the film and the awards.  And by the way, if that happens, I will be severely upset for some time, because I HATED Milk. 

Best Director

What the critics are saying: Danny Boyle

What I'm saying: Danny Boyle

By winning the DGA he's a safe lock in my opinion based on what little I know of the way the votes are cast.  Plus, he's got the best film of the year (Slumdog Millionaire), and while there are exceptions to every rule, more times than not the film that goes all the way goes hand-in-hand with best director too.  Kinda wish poor Christopher Nolan had been given a chance here... Dark Knight was awesome, and had much better directing than Milk and The Reader for sure...  

Best Actor

What the critics are saying: split between Sean Penn and Mickey Rourke

What I'm saying: Frank Langella

This is easily one of the closest calls in this category that we've ever seen... Call me crazy, but I have a hunch that Frank will get his due for his portrayal of a very unpopular president in Frost/Nixon.  I know the tables are stacked against me as Mickey won the Golden Globe for The Wrestler and Sean won the SAG award for Milk, but everyone thought I was crazy last year as well when I said I thought Marion Cotillard would win Best Actress too.  We'll see... I'm personally unmoved by Sean's performance, but I could easily see any of the three (Frank, Mickey, Sean) taking this one home.  All of this is a real shame for Richard Jenkins, who gave a great performance in The Visitor.  Oh well, it's nice to be nominated, right?

Best Actress

What the critics are saying: Kate Winslet

What I'm saying: Meryl Streep

I'll probably be wrong on this one, but quite simply put, I haven't seen The Reader (and I won't either, I've not heard good things from the majority of my friends whose opinions I trust).  Whenever Meryl is nominated, it's a safe bet to vote for her, and of the performances I've seen, she's the strongest for her role in Doubt.  I did like Changeling a lot, but I'm afraid this won't be Angelina's year. 

Best Supporting Actor

What the critics are saying: Heath Ledger

What I'm saying: Heath Ledger

Do I even need to explain this one?  He's the closest thing to a sure bet you're ever going to get at the Academy Awards for his portrayal of the Joker in The Dark Knight.  If he doesn't win, the world may very well be ending... 

Best Supporting Actress

What the critics are saying: Penelope Cruz

What I'm saying: Viola Davis

A lot has been said about how hard this category is to predict.  That being said, I'm not going to say Penelope Cruz for Vicky Cristina Barcelona and instead say that I thought Viola Davis gave the best one scene performance of any move this year in Doubt.  Will it be enough to get her the Oscar?  We'll see... she may always split votes with co-star Amy Adams and there's always the notorious Marisa Tomei upset for The Wrestler (in my book though, just prancing around in the nude as she does for 90% of her role doesn't equal acting, so she doesn't even deserve the nomination)

Screenplay - Original

What the critics are saying: Milk

What I'm saying: Wall-E

Screenplay - Adapted

What the critics are saying: Slumdog Millionaire

What I'm saying: Slumdog Millionaire

Best Animated Feature

What the critics are saying: Wall-E

What I'm saying: Wall-E

Best Foreign Language Film

What the critics are saying: Waltz With Bashir

What I'm saying: My heart still says Israel's Waltz With Bashir is probably gonna walk away with this one, but be on the lookout for a little film called Departures from Japan... I'm just saying, it could happen... Also, France has The Class to potentially spoil things

Best Documentary

What the critics are saying: Man on Wire

What I'm saying: Man on Wire

Best Art Direction

What the critics are saying: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

What I'm saying: The Dark Knight

Best Cinematography

What the critics are saying: Slumdog Millionaire

What I'm saying: Slumdog Millionaire

Best Costume Design

What the critics are saying: The Duchess

What I'm saying: The Duchess

Best Film Editing

What the critics are saying: Slumdog Millionaire

What I'm saying: Slumdog Millionaire

Best Make-Up

What the critics are saying: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

What I'm saying: Hellboy 2: The Golden Army (because I really want to one day tell someone they should watch "the Oscar winning film Hellboy 2: The Golden Army." Haha)

Best Original Score

What the critics are saying: Slumdog Millionaire

What I'm saying: Slumdog Millionaire

Best Original Song

What the critics are saying: "Jai Ho" from Slumdog Millionaire

What I'm saying: "Jai Ho" from Slumdog Millionaire

Best Sound Mixing

What the critics are saying: The Dark Knight

What I'm saying: Slumdog Millionaire

Best Sound Editing

What the critics are saying: Wall-E

What I'm saying: Wall-E

Best Visual Effects

What the critics are saying: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

What I'm saying: Iron Man or The Dark Knight

Best Documentary Short Subject

What the critics are saying: Smile Pinki

What I'm saying: I haven't seen any of these, so I have no clue

Best Live Action Short Subject

What the critics are saying: New Boy

What I'm saying: The Pig or Auf Der Strecke (On The Line)

Best Animated Short Subject

What the critics are saying: Presto

What I'm saying: Man, these were all excellent... I kinda lean towards La Maison en Petits Cubes, but also could easily see Lavatory - Lovestory and This Way Up taking it home. 

A Southern Boy's Adventures in LA: Ben vs. The Walt Disney Concert Hall

So I finally got the chance last week to visit the Walt Disney Concert Hall.  For the uninformed, it's the home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra and also one of the most uniquely designed buildings in LA.  Envisioned by renowned architect Frank Gehry, the WDCH has been used in countless films and commercials (among them: Get Smart, Iron Man, Fracture, and the upcoming Robert Downey Jr./Jamie Foxx film The Soloist) and is a prominent land-mark here in Los Angeles.  It's no secret that I'm in no way a student of classical music, but I do appreciate it, and along with ballet, opera, art museums, and other such "high-brow" artistic endeavors, I seek to learn more about it, and so for the longest time since moving here I've wanted to attend a concert inside the Hall.  I only live a mile from this magnificent building, and after months of deliberation, I finally found myself presented with a free ticket to see a concert there.  This wasn't just any concert either.  Oh no.  This was Jazz vocalist Patti Austin singing the Gershwin songbook, and she would be flanked by a big jazz band, including a small string section and also the essential jazz quartet set of piano, upright bass, and percussion.  All in all, it was everything I could ask for.  

The interior of the WDCH is every bit as elaborate and imaginative as the exterior, and the main hall itself is a pleasing array of wood carved seating areas and a massive pipe organ that practically defies geometry the way it protrudes from the wall.  The acoustics are amazing, the seats are relatively comfortable (a little more leg room would have been nice) and all in all, it's an experience that every person who lives in LA or comes to visit for any amount of time should have at least once.  The concert was awesome, albeit Patti couldn't resist making some obligatory political comments about how her new black president was gonna protect her from racist white folks like me and how the whole nation is going to hell thanks to Bush and his economy.  Stick to the Gershwin Patti, that's what we're paying you for and what we came to see.  I don't give two cents about you (or any other celebrities) political views.  The best part of the evening (in my opinion) was when Patti was still back stage and the band opened with new version of the ever popular "Rhapsody in Blue".  Magnificent.  Music truly transcends all barriers... 

Anyway, yeah, I'm gonna put a few pics with this post so you can see the beautiful concert hall as I saw it, and hopefully on your next visit here I can take you to hear the LA Philharmonic.  Enjoy!    

A Southern Boy's Adventures in LA: Ben vs. The $1000 Tow Truck

It's so cool to see how God works.  This past week I got to experience what grace looks like in a very tangible, practical way.  Living in LA you simply have to own an automobile.  I guess you could use public transportation if you really wanted to, but this place is so spread out it's pretty much a given that you have to have a vehicle to hold down any kind of job here.  As many of you know, I brought my old 1995 Nissan Maxima out here with me.  Handed down to me by my father, this vehicle has a little over 181,000 miles on it and has been taken very good care of all things considered.  As it so turns out, this past week was a trying one for the old Maxima.  

I had just checked the mail and got a check for a little over $500 for my last job.  Combined with the $200+ dollars I currently had stashed away, this would more than cover my rent for the month and also give me a little something to live off of for food and gas.  Needless to say, I was excited.  February has been rough, work has been nonexistent and the whole industry is slowing down like an overweight jogger who bit off more than he could chew by entering that marathon race.  Anyway, I was in route to the Wells Fargo bank in Chinatown, which is my favorite branch for two reasons: It's the closest one to where I live, and the tellers there are so friendly... I'm actually pretty sure they are all in love with me because every time I go there they all clamor for my attention to go to their window, and then when I get there they all blush and say things in hushed and hurried Chinese.  Back to the car: I was driving along, when I suddenly detected a shuddering sensation coursing through the frame of the vehicle.  I knew this wasn't good, and could tell I was in trouble when I stepped on the gas and nothing happened.  I started to involuntarily grind to a halt in the middle of the road, so I quickly turned off the iPod and AC to divert all remaining power from the battery to the engine to simply keep me running.  

I swerved into a CVS parking lot and made it into a parking spot before my car just died out right there.  I put it in park, pull out the key, count to ten, then try to crank it up again.  Nothing. Uh oh.  This isn't good.  I'm supposed to meet a friend for a movie later that evening, and this isn't a good situation to be in... I find a guy who's kind enough to jump me off with some jumper cables.  From there I'm off to the nearest mechanic, right?  Wrong.  I try to keep on rolling towards the library, where I have to return some materials before it's too late.  I end up in the center lane of a 5 lane road, right at the intersection of Broadway and Caesar E. Chavez Blvd.  (formerly Sunset Blvd.) trying to make a left turn on a green arrow.  Right there my car decides to die again.  Great.  It's rush hour, I'm in the middle of a huge intersection and traffic is surrounding me on all sides.  I'd like to especially thank the drivers at this point who speed by honking their horns, flipping my off, and cursing at me.  Gee, thanks so much fellas.  I sure do appreciate it, seeing as how I planned to do this you know... idiots.  Ah well, gotta love LA.    

I call my father and explain the situation, I'm upset because it's beginning to dawn on me that this will cost money to fix, and that's money I was about to deposit at the bank to pay my rent with.  I can't jump the car off again, (I try with the help of another kind soul who pulls up next to me), whatever the case is, the battery isn't holding the charge at all.  I can't push my car out of the intersection (I mean, I know I'm freakishly strong and all, but seriously, I'm one man and this is rush hour traffic on all sides here...) I'm going to have to get a tow truck either way, so I call a few different places.  I found out that the LAPD is apparently running a racket with the tow truck companies, because the first guy I talk to wants $1000 to put my car on the back of his flat-bed truck to take me about a mile to the mechanic.  Yes, there are three zeros after that one, and yes, I told him to forget about it and hung up on the fool.  I wasn't born yesterday you know... 

I end up finding a guy who will do it for $40.  Looks like that's the best deal I'm gonna get, so I hesitantly agree and he tows me to Radi's Mechanic Service right off of where I live on Sunset Blvd.  A few hours later I've walked home, leaving my precious vehicle in the clutches of a mechanic who I don't know for them to fix it.  The next morning I get a phone call and they inform me that this will cost about $400 to fix.  On one hand, I have the money.  On the other, that was my rent money.  This is one of those moments where you really want to wake up from a dream (more like a nightmare) but are troubled to find you are awake and this is reality.  I sigh and tell them to go ahead, I mean, after all, I need that car to live and work out here.  

Later that afternoon I pray.  I pray hard.  I need money to pay for this AND get me through the month, not one or the other.  I hop on everyone's favorite social networking website (facebook!) and chat with a few friends.  Within about 20 minutes I'm humbled to learn that God has provided someone who want to pay for my mechanic bill.  Wow.  You really can't begin to know how I feel.  I mean, here I am, simply telling someone what I've been through when they ask me "what's up" and within a few minutes, they've offered to foot the bill for my frustrations.  I never even asked them to or expected them to.  Talk about a clear picture of grace.  They didn't want me to pay them back - ever - they wanted to give me the money as a gift and cover all my expenses for me.  Wow.  God sure is awesome in the way He answers prayer.  This one He happened to answer quickly, and I'm forever grateful for His providence and provision to meet my needs.  

And to my secret benefactor, whose name remains a secret per their request, I hope the Lord continues to use you to bless others.  Thank you so much for letting Him use you to bless me.  I now have the car back and money in the bank just like the whole incident never happened.  Talk about the goodness of the Lord... I feel that this is a little picture of what the gospel is like.  We're given something we don't deserve from someone who certainly doesn't have to give it to us, and yet He does.  We can't pay Him back, otherwise it ceases to be a gift.  The struggle is to live freely in that grace, and not become a slave to the feeling of indebtedness and try to work our way to a point of paying back our benefactor.  Once again, when that happens, it ceases to be a gift.  We just have to realize that we're not in control of the giving, but must be obedient and grateful with a heart of praise in the receiving of such a gift.  It's beautiful really.  God used this individual to express His love and provision to me in a small way, in order to help me better grasp the big picture of just how great of a debt He has paid for us.  Thanks be to God for his faithfulness...

To My Valentine...

I struggled whether to post this yesterday or not, but decided to go ahead and put this up here anyway.  Let my friends judge me if they want.  I don't care.  I'm not sure who you are, or even if you are.  There are times when I feel that I'm called to a life of singleness, that perhaps the marriage train is just gonna pass me by, they I'll spend my days consumed with other things and never know the fellowship of an earthly helper suited for me.  Part of me actually wants this, since by all accounts it may make certain stages and decisions in life a little easier if I didn't have you and your well-being to worry about.  Truth is I feel more often that the opposite is true; that you do exist, and that's when things get freaky.  I start asking myself if I've even met you yet, what you look like, and how our lives are going to intersect according to God's timing and purposes.  

I'm not the kind of guy who gushes all of his insides out concerning relationships.  I have my views that I express to those who are interested, sure, but I have a deeper level too, a reservoir of feelings and expressions of myself reserved just for you.  One day I'll allow you inside that reservoir, but as I said, I'm not about to talk about some of that stuff here where the world can read it.  That's special and only reserved for you.  

I hope I can be the man I ought to be to win your heart.  In fact, please don't settle for less.  I know it won't be easy, but there are very few times in life that I have found that the right thing to do and the easy thing to do are the same thing.  I'm scared to let you see my faults and weaknesses, even though I'm fully aware that I have them just like everyone else does.  I like to appear like I have all the answers and everything together, so please bare with my stubbornness.  I've still got a lot of growing pains to go through in the area of sacrificial love, to learn to care about someone or something more than myself.  I humbly pray that I can be the man I know I'm called to be Biblically, to be there to serve, to protect, to provide, and to lead you in our relationship.  

I pray for you all the time.  Like I said, I'm not sure if you're someone I already know that I'll eventually discover I've fallen in love with or perhaps you're on the other side of the planet and we've not even met yet.  Regardless, I pray for your purity.  I want you to be attractive to me, and not because of your clothing or body or anything else that draws attention to yourself, but by your reputation and good works as a Godly woman.  I realize that this is a tall order, but I'm swinging for the fences here.  If you're that kind of woman, it will be a long hard road for me to win your heart, I realize that.  But that's the kind of woman that's worth pursuing.  One that doesn't attract the attention she deserves but instead she deflects it back to the source that gave it to her in the first place: the Lord.

As I said, I know I have miles to go before I'm qualified to handle your heart.  In many ways I think I'm wise enough to know that at this point in my life, I'd be a terrible person to handle anyone's heart.  Perhaps that's why I've stayed single my whole life up to now.  Perhaps I'm still punishing myself for the mistakes of my past.  Whatever the case, I know it's only by God's grace that every morning I'm able to wake up and claim that which I know to be true.  I'm not even sure if any of this makes any sense or why you're still reading it.  I guess I'm struggling to put into words what I imagine it will take a lifetime to express to you, both by words and actions.  I fully acknowledge that we're going to have our ups and downs.  I only pray for God to grant me the wisdom and understanding to properly handle those tough situations when they arise, and also to acknowledge the giver of life in those times when the going is good and we are blessed with plenty.  

I truly feel like every day since my salvation has been a gift, and God willing, it will be a gift that I can one day share with you.  For what it's worth, I can promise you that so long as God gives me the strength to do so, I will fight for you and for your love.  

And yet, believe me when I claim that some of the hardest words I'll ever say are "I love you" since by all accounts I can never fully grapple and understand the source of such love, as much as I long to do so.  

I believe in the sovereignty of God, and so until I get more comfortable sharing these kinds of thoughts, I'll just have to keep trusting that He's got all the strings in his hands, and He's weaving a masterful tapestry with our lives.  Will our threads cross soon?  Have they already begun to be woven together?  Are they never destined to intersect?  These are questions for which I do not yet have the answers.  But I know the one who does, and so I will keep my eyes and heart fixed upon Him, in so much as he enables me to do so.  I pray you will too.  May He alone bring us together according to His plans and purposes, for the glory of His name and renown to the ends of the earth... 

With my whole heart, found only in Christ,

Ben

A Southern Boy's Adventures in LA: Ben vs. Elevator Celebrity Sightings

Man, what day is it today?  Valentine's Day?  It's been waaaaay too long since I updated this blog.  I have no idea how many of you have been reading this, but if you're reading it now, thanks for sticking with me through the long dry spells there.  I've been meaning to write more often, but for one reason or another haven't got around to it until now.  So yeah, what's happened over the past month?  Well... many of my friends constantly write and ask me if I've bumped into some celebrities around LA.  I'm here today to tell you that I do, and it's always at the weirdest places.  Like in elevators for example.  Allow me to elaborate with a few examples: 

A few weeks ago I was on a commercial shoot promoting the new Passport ID cards they (the Customs and Border Patrol people) are going to be issuing soon.  It was a pretty cool shoot, we were up at a lodge in Calabasas (north of Malibu, a good way out of the way actually... haha) and we were making the place look like Canada, because that's what the script called for.  So the art department guys are laying down all the fake snow and frosting up the windows.  The actors were wearing heavy winter clothing (which is awesome in the warm temperatures of sunny California... more than once one of them reminded us how much they loved the layers they were wearing by using the most descriptive and colorful language possible.  Gotta love these low-budget commercial actors.  So civil, so polite all the time... )  Anyway, yours truly got the call to return a bunch of this clothing at the end of the shoot, and so I loaded up my Nissan Maxima (14 years running and still going strong!) and headed off to Warner Brothers to drop off the winter wardrobe.  Seriously, my backseat was so full of overcoats and parkas that I'm pretty sure if you trying to crawl back there underneath it all you might end up in Narnia.  

I pull up to the main gate and have to go through crazy security measures to get admitted (because you know, everyone wants to break into Warner Brothers Studios)  and I drive onto the lot.  Actually kinda a cool experience, not gonna lie, kinda geeked out a little bit and took a wrong turn on purpose so I'd drove around and see more of the place.  Anyway, I find the costume and wardrobe department and pull into the parking garage.  I take the elevator down to ground level and go all the way down to 24 hour pick-up to inform them that I have a bunch of returns.  This place is like the biggest warehouse of clothing you could ever imagine.  Girls, seriously, stop reading, close your eyes and imagine as many clothes as you possibly can... OK, now open your eyes and be very very jealous, because that's where I was.  I got lost in the stacks of hangers and clothes everywhere... I felt my manhood slipping away with every step I took taking me deeper and deeper into this man-made (actually it had to be woman-made) hell.   

Well I get down there and learn that I'm in the wrong location, so I have to find my way out of this ridiculous labyrinth of clothing and back to the ground level.  From there I hop on an elevator to go back up and move my car around to where they told me to bring the returns, and I'm suddenly aware of a very large presence next to me on the elevator.  I look over and have one of those "You've got to be kidding me" kinda moments.  Standing next to me is Ken Davitian.  If you're not familiar with the name, you're probably familiar with the roles: the guy is a character actor, and if you've seen Borat you'll instantly know that when I say he's the big fat guy named Azamat Bagatov who wrestles naked with Sacha Baron Cohen, you can't mistake this guy for anyone else.  He's also in Get Smart as the dim-witted accomplice Shtarker who works for Terence Stamp's KAOS agent Siegfried.  Needless to say, the guy is instantly recognizable, and I'm on an elevator with him.  We make fleeting eye contact and ride in silence.  When the doors open for the 3rd floor of the parking deck, he steps halfway out, looks around, then steps back in and shrugs.  "I thought I was parked here" he says.  I laugh and nervously reply "Yeah, I guess it's just one of those days huh?" He smiles.  We strike up conversation as he tries to find his car, stopping at the next two floors and repeating his little exercise of poking his head out and not finding his vehicle.  I never ask him for a photo or autograph, don't even tell him I know who he is, and he's a really normal, down to earth kinda guy in the end.  Very cool.  That was moment number 1 with a celebrity on an elevator, and it was just kinda awkward in retrospect because all I could think while talking to him is "Man, I've seen you naked on a giant screen before, and it's not pretty at all!"  (And if you've never seen Borat, then steer clear unless you are prepared to see him naked.)

I leave Warner Brothers and go to the bank, and end up standing in line behind JJ Abrams, the guy who created Lost, Alias, and Fringe and the director of Mission Impossible 3 and this summer's upcoming Star Trek.  I didn't know it was him for sure until he walked out and the teller said "Have a great day Mr. Abrams"  Ahhh!! Curses!  If I had known earlier, I would have totally tapped him on the shoulder and found out what the smoke monster really was, (which for those of you who don't watch Lost, you wouldn't believe me if I tried to explain it).  Anyway, that story doesn't take place in an elevator, but hey why not include it here?  And that's the simplest and shortest one, because it really doesn't involve any interaction with the "celebrity" in question anyway... 

My final celebrity sighting on an elevator goes as follows: This time I'm in Target, everyone's favorite place to go and get everything.  I'm picking up some bottled water, toilet paper, and soap (only the essentials folks!).  I go to check out and stand in line behind a very slender, tiny girl.  She has her back to me, and a knit cap pulled down over her head, but I can clearly see some curls of red hair coming out from beneath it.  I get a quick glimpse at the side of her face and can make out the profile of a small little cute nose and large engaging doe-eyes.  Her phone starts to ring in her purse, she answers it and starts to talk with a voice that has a little Avril Lavigne accented-edge to it.  Before long, my mind is racing, I know I've seen this face and heard this voice somewhere.  Then it hits me, I know exactly who she is.  I check out and walk away, and yet - what are the odds? - end up on the same elevator as her (if I said I didn't orchestrate that I would be guilty of lying) as we take our purchases down to the parking garage beneath the Target.  

It's a very slow elevator, and so I hesitantly make eye contact and she gives me a little smile, those beautiful light brown eyes flashing in my direction.  I open my mouth and start to talk before I can think of what exactly to say, but it comes out sounding something like: "Hey, you're that girl from those movies... We Are Marshall and Shooter... Are you the same girl?  Your name is Kate Mara, right?"  She smiles and actually lets out a little laugh, in hindsight she couldn't have been more friendly or polite, considering she's alone on an elevator with a strange guy like me.  She nods and says "Yes, that's me." I kinda stumble through saying something like "Oh well, I don't wanna bother you, but I think you're a good actress and I look forward to seeing more of your work in the future."  She smiles and says "Aww, thank you.  So nice to meet a fan." I'm not sure how many seconds passed before the doors opened, (It felt like a lot... her gaze was hypnotizing), but they did, and off we go to our respective vehicles to return home.  It was kinda neat, I realized that she's the same as anyone else, does her shopping at Target just like the rest of humanity, and is pretty down to earth.  I didn't ask either for their autograph or a picture, and I have a suspicion that they probably are nicer and just prefer talking to fans like me when they can as opposed to doing such fan-crazed activities like pictures and autographs.  Both of them really were polite, down to earth, seemingly normal people. 

I guess that's what it comes down to: both instances were almost identical.  Both actors were polite, friendly, even courteous.  I got to speak to both of them.  Both encounters happened on elevators in parking structures.  They're both normal people.  A friend I told these stories to later pointed out that the only difference is that I've seen one of them naked on-screen and it's not the one you would guess that most people would want to see naked either, but hey, I'm not gonna go there... better to smile and walk away than open my mouth and get into trouble here on the world wide web where everyone can read it, haha.  

All in all, just a typical sighting in a very un-typical town.  That's the kinda situations I find myself in out here in crazy Hollywood land.  

Ben's Top 20 Films of 2008

Well I've finally decided that it's about time to unveil what I considered to be the best films of 2008.  I'm no professional critic by any means, but I do run a second blog with film reviews of my own.  I don't get paid for it, I simply do it because I love it, and it helps me process what films I've seen critically and also sharpen my reviewing skills.  In my humble opinion we've seen a great year in cinema overall, and seeing as how this is awards season in Hollywood and everyone is making lists and handing out awards in anticipation of the Academy Awards on February 22nd, I figured I'd make a "top ten" list of my own.  The only problem as I began to compile such a list was that I simply found too many films I liked and had to extend my list to a "top twenty" just to start to include a few of them.  These are simply my opinion of course, and I'd love to know what people think about my selections here.  I believe they reflect both my tastes and interests, and would heartedly recommend most all of these to anyone interested in seeing a good film.  There's a good chance at least one or two of the films on this list escaped your notice this past year and I recommend renting or seeing one of these excellent movies soon!  Where possible I've included a link to my original review from my other blog, but in some cases I may not have seen the film originally in theaters so there isn't a review available, or in other cases, the review is "coming soon" as I'm still catching up on writing reviews for many of the films I saw over Christmas break.  So without further ado, here are... 

Ben's Top 20 Films of 2008

20. Traitor

I'm a sucker for anything with Don Cheadle in it, and I found this story to be both well written and well acted.  Who would have thought that a international thriller by Steve Martin (yes, that Steve Martin) would be as intriguing or engaging as this?  Featuring brilliant turns by both Cheadle and Guy Pearce, the film certainly lives up to it's tagline that "the truth is complicated" and may very well be the most honest assessment of the duel nature of Islam as a religion and a ideology.  It may or may not live up to it's intrigue depending on who you talk to, but one thing is for sure, after viewing this movie you can have a very interesting conversation afterwards.  Read my original review here. 

19. Man On Wire

This may be one of the most entertaining documentaries I've seen recently, and the fascinating story of the equally fascinating Philippe Petit is sure to capture the imagination of viewers everywhere.  What would lead a man to commit the "artistic crime of the century" by stringing a tightrope between the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York and balancing precariously over the 1350 foot drop below?  This dramatic recreation and docudrama of the 1974 true story is both fascinating and magical in a unique way all it's own, and is currently the forerunner to win Best Documentary at this year's Oscars.  It goes against the commonly misunderstood notion that all documentaries are boring, on the contrary, this film is far more entertaining that many of the fictional stories released in cinemas each week, and Petit could almost make a case for Best Actor with his eccentric, quirky, and utterly fascinating personality.  I saw this one on DVD a few weeks ago and so don't have a full review available, but I highly recommend it.  

18. Redbelt

This David Mamet helmed-drama features one of my favorite young actors, the talented Chiwetel Ejiofor, in a role suited well for his personality and screen presence.  You could argue the film unravels a bit in it's final act, but I personally loved this story of a man fighting for his honor and dedicating himself fully to his craft amidst great resistance on all sides.  The characters have a raw feeling to them, and at times you feel like the acting is purposely underdeveloped to give more realism to the entire tale, a move that I think adds to the films strengths as a whole.  Read the full review here.

17. Where In The World Is Osama Bin Laden?

While Man on Wire may be the most award worthy of this years documentaries, I found the latest project by Morgan Spurlock to be one of the most entertaining to watch.  It balances a fine line between being engaging and thought-provoking whilst at the same time remaining humorous and captivating.  Anyone interested in learning more about life in the Middle East would probably enjoy this one, and while the subject of this film is certainly night and day from his past project, SuperSize Me, Spurlock is quickly making a name for himself in the documentary world.  I bought this one on DVD as a blind buy and wasn't disappointed, sadly though that means there is no full review available.  

16. The Children of Huang Shi

This film holds a special place in my heart since having seen it most recently of any of the films on this list.  It's certainly a passion project for it's director as well, Roger Spottiswoode.  The film tells the true story of George Hogg, a British journalist who went to Nanjing, China during the cities infamous 1937 rape at the hands of the Japanese in WWII.  What begins as a simply journalistic endeavor becomes a personal story of responsibility, courage, and hope as he takes into his care the safety and well-being of a group of 60 orphaned Chinese boys and leads them over hundreds of miles to the safe city of Shandon.  Criminally under-promoted and seen by only a few audiences in select cities around the country, the film was the victim of what looks like a small budget and weak advertising campaign that really didn't give it much of a chance, and regardless of some of the weaker moments in the film (the acting isn't as strong as it could be, some of the effects look a little fake), the story here is what counts.  I found it good enough and important for a little-known part of WWII history to include it in my top 20, and would highly recommend it.  It features a fairly strong cast including Jonathan Rhys Meyers (August Rush), Radha Mitchell (Pitch Black), Chow Yun Fat (Croutching Tiger, Hidden Dragon), Michelle Yeoh (Memoirs of a Geisha), and David Wenham (The Lord of the Rings).  The real star however, is China herself and the many children who play the orphans.  The film may have suffered from a small budget, but they sure didn't cut costs on production design choosing to film much of the movie on location in China amidst beautiful scenery.  I saw it only last week on DVD and so there's no full review, but I do heartedly recommend it.  

15. Doubt   

Whenever you get 4 talented actors like Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams, and Viola Davis together, you're gonna have a hit on your hands.  Such is the case with the tightly acted and brilliantly written Doubt.  For a film that takes place almost entirely in a few enclosed locations, the acting and writing here do wonders, and the directing is surprisingly engaging as well.  Writer/Director John Patrick Shanley has made a very good movie here, and I was pleasantly engaged from the first scene to the end credits.  All four actors give performances of depth and beauty, and for anyone who likes a well written script in the hands of some very good actors, I can't recommend Doubt enough.  Full review is located here. 

14. Valkyrie

I really thought I would hate this movie before I saw it.  I didn't buy Tom Cruise in the trailers, and the film was plagued by delays and troubles all the way up until it was released.  Upon viewing it however, I was actually very impressed with the overall high caliber of the performances and the story.  To be fair, the film has it's flaws, but they are fewer than I anticipated and overall the film holds up.  Even though you know going into the film that they won't succeed in their assassination attempt of Adolph Hitler, the story nevertheless keeps you glued to your seat and holding your breathe until the very end.  It also does something unique historically in the way it certainly sheds light on a chapter of German history that I believe all modern day Germans can take pride in; that is, it shows how even in their nation's darkest hour there were men who loved their country enough to do what was morally right and necessary.  A strong supporting cast helps buoy a better-than-expected Cruise and gives us one of the more entertaining historical films of the year.  Full review can be found here.  

13. Waltz With Bashir

This unique blend of foreign film, animation, and documentary has proved to be a critical darling and frontrunner for Best Foreign Film at the Oscars.  The documentation of one man's desire to uncover the truth from a hazy war time memory makes for an engaging, if unconventional piece of cinema.  Director Ari Folman takes a personal story and creates a documentary of his findings, then overlaying them in animation to recreate the events in question.  The result is a juxtaposition of cinematic beauty and bizarreness, and yet the experience will haunt you after viewing.  Not for most audiences, Waltz With Bashir is certainly one of the most eye-catching and interesting films made in recent years.  A full review can be found here. 

12. Cloverfield

It seems like this film was released a lot earlier than this past year, but in fact it was the rare January hit of 2008, raking in a little over $80 million during the course of it's theatrical run.  Considering that the film had an overall price tag of just $25 million, you could say this one laughed all the way to the bank as audiences all across America, myself included, clamored to see the latest project from "Lost" mastermind J.J. Abrams.  This Blair Witch-meets-Godzilla film was the result of an excellent viral marketing campaign and a high curiosity factor, and even though the film looses a lot of steam upon repeat viewings, you have to admit that it was one of the most creative and risky projects that paid off of the past year.   Sadly, I didn't start my film review blog until midway into the spring of 2008, so there is no full review available.  

11. Iron Man

The latest entry to the superhero genre was a massive success both critically and commercially, and in my opinion the acting of Robert Downey Jr. was both pitch-perfect and superb in the title role.  This film encapsulated what the summer movie season was all about, and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing it twice on the big screen with friends.  Marvel Studios hit this one out of the park, and expectations now ride high for the inevitable sequel due out in 2010.  You can read my full review here. 

10. The Visitor

Screen veteran Richard Jenkins has received strong praise and a Best Actor nomination for his turn in this beautiful little gem of a movie.  Playing a disillusioned college professor named Walter who stumbles upon a couple living illegally in his New York apartment, he ends up taking a personal interest and stake in their lives.  The film features performances both subtle and striking on both sides as the characters learn more about each other in a film that is ultimately life affirming and uplifting in a poignant and personal way that few films achieve today.  It's nice to see Jenkins, long a background player, finally headline such a charming little film, and I can only hope more audiences discover the simple joys that are found in viewing The Visitor.  I bought this one on a blind buy, and wouldn't you know it, it's made it into my top ten!  No full review available.     

9. Changeling

Anytime Clint Eastwood steps behind the camera, be prepared to be moved in a masterful way.  Directing his latest project here (at least until Gran Torino, which comes up later in the list...) Eastwood tells the true story of a case of mistaken identity that resulted in a scandal that ripped the LAPD apart in 1930's Los Angeles.  The lead role of Christine Collins, played passionately by Angelina Jolie in one of her strongest dramatic roles to date, is sure to resonate with mothers everywhere, and the well crafted directing of Eastwood lead to one of the more simply beautiful and engaging films of the year.  Full review can be found here. 

8. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Regardless of what some critics and friends of mine have said, I actually rather liked Benjamin Button.  Sure, I know it was Forrest Gump 2.0 and incredibly long and humorless for the most part, but I found the film to be enchanting in a unique old-style Hollywood kind of way.  The makeup jobs were incredible, particularly on Cate Blanchett, and even though director David Fincher took many liberties with the original F. Scott Fitzgerald short story, I found the overall effect rather lovely and hypnotizing.  It reminded me of a cross between Forrest Gump and Big Fish, and seeing as how I enjoyed both of those films, it's safe to see why Benjamin Button ranked so high on my list.  Full review can be found here. 

7. Che

Technically this is two films, The Argentine (Che Part I) and Guerrilla (Che Part II), but you really have to see them as one massive effort from director Steven Soderbergh.  I found the documentary style and gritty storytelling used here to fit the subject perfectly, and Benicio Del Toro gives one of the most incredible performances of his career.  It's a crime he wasn't nominated for Best Actor, but the film suffered from distribution woes due to it's cumbersome length and independent nature.  Still, the fact that few will get to see it in it's entire 4+ hour entirely doesn't detract from the epic feeling associated with this film.  You'll probably have to wait for the DVD, but by all means, watch this when it comes out.  The fact that the film(s) have many similarities to one of my all time favorites, Lawrence of Arabia, didn't hurt it's image at all in my eyes, on the contrary, it scored even higher on my list because of it's epic qualities.  Grand in it's scope and intimate in it's portrayal, the film doesn't flinch but insists on giving a full picture of the man, both his political triumphs (mostly seen in Cuba in Part I) and his failures (mostly seen in Bolivia in Part 2).  If you watch this epic 2 part film after viewing The Motorcycle Diaries (2004) you can pretty much consider it one of the best biography trilogies ever made in recent memory.  A full review can be found here. 

6. Frost/Nixon

This may be Ron Howard's best work in a long time.  Based on the play by Peter Morgan (who you may remember as the guy who wrote The Queen), the film tells the story of the famous series of television interviews between British talk-show host David Frost and former US president Richard Nixon.  Featuring brilliant turns by both Frank Langella (who gets my vote for Best Actor in his portrayal of Nixon) and Michael Sheen (who is poorly overlooked too often for being a very impressive actor), the film is essentially a series of talking heads recreating history, and yet the way the story is told, it keeps you riveted to your seats the entire time.  The game of cat-and-mouse between Frost and Nixon keeps you engaged for the entire course of the film, and in the end you feel like you've seen both men at their most vulnerable and honest.  It's no surprise that this film is one of the 5 Best Picture nominees this year, and it would actually have my vote for Best Picture if not for another film, one which tops this list... A full review of Frost/Nixon can be found here. 

5. Gran Torino

Clint Eastwood gives one of his most powerful (and quite possibly one of his last) performances in this film about a stubborn old war veteran learning to see past his racial prejudices.  Essentially it's a coming of age story for the young Asian characters desperate for some sort of role model or male leadership in their society, and Eastwood in a way becomes the "wise village elder" in a society where it is needed.   I was reminded of John Wayne's film The Cowboys, in which through tough love and gruff methods, an old cowboy teaches and trains a group of young boys and in effect, helps them make the transition to manhood.  The social implications and messages of Gran Torino may not be as subtle as some of Eastwood's other films, but the role he plays is beautifully redemptive in a very unique way.  Tainted with racial slurs and foul language, the film nevertheless rises above it's seeming intolerance to promote a type of maturity and respect that is especially lacking in the youth of today.  A full review can be found here. 

4. Defiance

I love the films of director Ed Zwick, and this is no exception.  Following in the traditions of Legends of the Fall, Glory, The Last Samurai, and Blood Diamond; Defiance is another worthy film that knows how to entertain and yet make an impact on it's audience as well.  Zwick is a master at knowing when to insert a joke, a kiss, or a tear, and masterfully weaves all of those elements into his movies.  Featuring mostly underdog heroes in times of danger and peril, his films have always been unique in that they are life-affirming while yet set amidst war and violence.  This true story of the Bielski brothers, Jews who struck back at the Nazis during WWII from their woodland base camp in the heart of the Belorussian forrest, has all the makings of a great film, and is wonderful entertaining while being historically important as well.  Featuring Daniel Craig in what may be one of his best roles to date, this film should be seen by everyone if for no other reason than that this story simply deserves to be told.  A full review can be found here. 

3. WALL-E

Pixar hit this one out of the park, and director Andrew Stanton may have made one of the most critically acclaimed animated films of all times in doing so.  It's good enough to run for Best Picture, and even though it won't be, it deserves to be seen as one of the best films of 2008.  The story of a robot desperate to experience love and relationships is quite simply one of the most perfectly told stories I've seen in some time.  If you haven't seen this film yet, where have you been?  Seriously, go out and rent it today, and look for the deeper message that lies beneath the supposed environmental agenda (and agenda that, if you read my full review here, Stanton actually denies he was aiming for...)  This "little robot that could" will win you over with his plucky attitude and heartwarming depth.  

2. The Dark Knight

This film is hands down the best superhero movie ever made.  Featuring a stellar cast and unforgettable performances, the plot is complex and tightly crafted in a way no other comic book film has been so far.  It's also understandably dark, and I even have to wonder how it avoided an R rating at times.  The film grabs you and never lets go, and even upon repeat viewings one had to admit the amazing craftsmanship that went into this motion picture. You can read my much longer musings on the film here, and if you haven't seen this one yet then you're certainly in the minority, it's become the 2nd highest grossing film of all time behind 1997's Titanic. In the hands of director Christopher Nolan, we have what is almost the most perfect film of 2008, with one little exception...

1. Slumdog Millionaire

I'm going to agree with Peter Travers of Rolling Stone who opens his review by saying "What I feel for this movie isn't just admiration, it's mad love." I've seen Slumdog an unprecedented six times in theaters now (trust me when I say that is huge, I never see a film more than twice in theaters, and even then that's incredibly rare) and am still absolutely obsessed with it.  You can read my full review here, and know that I'll be pulling hard for this film to win Best Picture and talking about it for years to come.  I can't ever recall having been so excited and in love with such a vibrant film - full of color, music, and life - in a long long time.  In my mind, it's as close to perfect as cinema can get, and I'll proudly agree with Richard Corliss of Time Magazine who says "This is a buoyant hymn to life, and a movie to celebrate."  Major accolades are due to the entire cast and crew of director Danny Boyle's pitch perfect Slumdog Millionaire.    

Well there you have it... my top 20 of the year.  No doubt someone will stumble upon this list and demand to know where films such as The Wrestler, Australia, and Milk are on my list (short answer: I saw them, and they didn't do much for me) while others will wonder why I've left off such films as Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Rachel Getting Married, The Reader, Revolution Road, and Synecdoche, New York (short answer: I still haven't seen them, probably will wait for the DVD).  Short of a few omissions such as these however, this list is simply my opinions based on what I have seen and I welcome all friendly and engaging debating over my selections here.  Enjoy!

 

A Southern Boy's Adventures in LA: Ben vs. Nastia Liukin

So as many of you were aware, back this past summer I watched the Beijing olympics rather religiously.  I loved them... (and if you didn't know this about myself, know that I LOVE the olympics... I have a few reasons listed in a round-about way in an old blog I posted here.)  I was glued to the television for the Opening Ceremonies, and I absolutely loved the Parade of Nations, one of the most amazing things we witness every time the games roll around.  The torch lighting ceremony was pretty unreal too!  As the games took off, I watched every single one of Michael Phelps 8 medal-winning races in real-time.  I cheered passionately for Aaron Peirsol and Natalie Coughlin, marveled at the skills of Kirsty Coventry, and went ballistic at the end of the men's 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay when Jason Lezak overtook the French and put America on top.  I watched Usain Bolt destroy the world records in the 100m and 200m dash in the track-and-field finals.  I loved watching Misty May-Treanor & Kerri Walsh dominate women's beach volleyball.  I was impressed by China's diving skills, disturbed by the youthful look of their women's gymnastics team, and overall loved their hosting of what some have called "the most memorable Olympics in history."    

Which brings me to Nastia Liukin.  Going into the games, everyone who talked about women's gymnastics was focusing on Shawn Johnson, the 16 year old petite balance-beam queen with the million dollar smile. I liked the red-headed Shawn, she's cute as a button and really did capture the hearts of America with her grace and poise.  But I was more interested in watching Nastia Liukin, the tall and elegant 18 year old blonde daughter of a Soviet gymnastic legend.  To me, Nastia was the quintessential American all-around gymnast, and she proved it when she took home the gold medal in the Women's All Around Competition.  To just go ahead and say it, I'll admit: I developed an Olympic crush on Nastia Liukin.  Nothing inappropriate mind you, but let's just say I just found myself in front of the TV every time she performed... :-)

At the end of the Olympics, I did a little research and found that according to her website, Nastia promises to respond to all of her snail mail from fans, and they even had an address to direct all autograph requests to.  You can see where this is all heading can't you.... :-)  I sat down and wrote my favorite gymnast a letter in which I thanked her for being a good role model for young girls everywhere, one that shows how discipline and hard work pay off, and how I respect people like her a lot more than the hollywood starlets and such who get in the news for their sexual and drunken escapades.  I also told her that I thought she seemed like a good sport on TV and I appreciated having girls like her represent the USA in the olympic games.   And I of course asked for her autograph, including a self-addressed stamped envelope with my fan letter.  

Well this was all written and mailed before October... so I just kinda waited for a reply, figuring it would take about 4 to 8 weeks because of her new Olympic fame and public demand.  As the weeks turned to months, I actually kinda forgot that I had mailed her anything, and just kinda figured that I wasn't going to get a response.  Then I got back to LA after a Christmas break in Birmingham, and I was pleasantly surprised and happy to find a familiar looking envelope waiting in my mailbox.  I opened it, and the rest is history... as you can see from the above photo, I succeeded in getting her autograph after all.  And she even signed it with a little heart... I think she loves me. Haha, No, I know I know, but still, I was pretty excited to get this response from Nastia Liukin.  Well, it's been framed and is sitting on my desk.  Happy 2009 everyone! Haha.