A Complete History of My Sexual Failures
by There is a strange voyeuristic pleasure in watching an incompetent and unenthusiastic loser trawl through the detritus that is his love life. The fact that Chris Waitt eventually made this film indicates that he’s not quite as useless as he makes out, but watching as doors slam and phones are slammed in his ear is both cringe-worthy and extremely entertaining. Part of the way through Chris chooses to pursue laughs instead of trying to figure out what has gone wrong with all his past relationships, which does make for some hilarious moments but means the question that instigates his journey is forgotten for a while. It all ties together well in the end though and through being so honest and recording the most uncomfortable and personal of experiences, including visits to a dominatrix, sexual therapist and disastrous dates, the film is honest and personal in a way that few documentaries ever are.
Tagged: documentaries
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Lately, we’ve been gifted a few astounding documentaries with the rare ability to educate and influence opinion, as well as being riveting viewing over their entire length. Documentaries can be a grind with no worthy content omitted as part of an effort to provide a comprehensive overview of a subject. The result is something that’s an essential item for any university library, but at over two hours a mission to watch. Read more
Actual footage from inside Burma, shot by Burmese, many of whom ended up in jail or tortured by Burma’s oppressive military regime. The material is shot using small handycams by Burma’s VJs (Video Journalists), then smuggled out of the country and broadcast back into Burma via satellite and offered free to the international media. Read more
Defamation documentary trailer
Does Israel use the Holocaust as an excuse for their continued issues with the Palestine people? According to this film, yes. Are people who criticise Israel’s foreign policy often unfairly labelled anti-Semitic? Again, yes according to this brilliant documentary made by an Israeli-Jew. Instead of passing judgment himself, filmmaker Yoav Shamir is smart enough to put himself and his camera in the right places, surrounded by the right people, and let the people damn themselves. Read more
Also by XAVIER TOBY
Australian movie A Few Best Men
With all the gross out jokes and silliness of the common comedy romp, you’d think making them would be easy. Well, it’s not. It’s actually really difficult. Writing a joke is one of the hardest tasks anyone can undertake. Read more
Melancholia: a film by Lars von Trier
I wish there were a lot more of the types of films made by Lars von Trier. Each is very different but still distinctly von Trier, and each is superb. Melancholia is the follow up to the wonderfully confronting Antichrist. This is all about the end of the world, and told with an honesty and pacing that is probably much closer to the actual end of the world than all the Hollywood crap would have you believe. Read more
We Need To Talk About Kevin: based on Lionel Shriver’s novel
A delightful uncomfortable film, told from the point of view of a broken woman. Kevin’s just not right, and that’s obvious from the outset as mother Eva battles to bring him up in a world where the onus is put squarely back on the mother. The intensity is poured on throughout, as tragedy seems imminent. Read more
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Taipei-born, LA-based artist James Jean creates works that combine elements of traditional Western painting with and cartoon elements. I particularly like his sketches. Read more
Jesse Balmer’s work gets better every time I see it. I follow him on Tumblr, so I see his work every day. Jesse Balmer’s work gets better every day. The dude is a monster drawer and an inspiration. He likes to draw cat-men and bird-planes, jungles, outer space, and cat-men getting their faces crushed. Read more
Improv Everywhere strikes again with a spontaneous musical in a Los Angeles mall. Wireless microphones hooked up to the mall’s PA system ensured the feeding masses didn’t slip into Cinnabon-induced comas until after the show was over. Note especially the angry dude in sunglasses at about 2:51 — apparently he thinks nothing can ever top Rent.
Forget about the giant Nazca lines that can only be seen from space (ooohhh, spooky), this effort from Argentine farmer Pedro Martin Ureta to create a guitar from 7,000 cypress and eucalyptus trees is even more mind-bending. Read more
A colourful thing to do on the net is surf on over to She Breaks for Rainbows, an evolving collection of images and videos featuring rainbows (with ‘Double Rainbow’ tastefully excluded). Read more
Why should the devil have all the good music? Finland’s Holy Blood is a great folk-black metal band by any standard, but its horn-raising tunes are all for the glory of the Good Lord rather than Satan or Odin. What would Jesus do? According to Holy Blood, he’d ride through the forests drinking mead and slaying non-believers.
Threads or Dead is a new Australian-based online clothing store, based in Perth, and selling streetwear and contemporary fashion for both guys and girls. Says site founder Justin Greenwood: ‘As well as stocking some of the more well known brands, we also import a lot of labels exclusively from America, and produce a small range of our own clothing. We want to sell clothing that is unique and often has a story behind it. We don’t want to sell clothing that is available in your average High Street store’. Read more
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Michelle Blade’s psychedelic artwork
Michelle Blade’s washed out paintings are deceptively simple, her washy acrylics creating psychedelic textures and conjuring ghostly figures from the past. Read more
Christoph Niemann illustrates a nightmare flight
New York Times illustrator Christoph Niemann has created a brilliant visual diary outlining the peril and pitfalls that beset the everyday passenger based on his recent experience flying from New York to his home town of Berlin. Read more
Matthew Dear’s Black City album totem
Our friends at Ghostly International are releasing Matthew Dear’s Black City album as a limited edition ‘totem’. A what? A totem – a limited edition metal bar used to access a private music chamber. Cool! Read more
Communication prosthesis by Sascha Nordmeyer
This ‘communication prosthesis’ by designer Sascha Nordmeyer is hilarious and awesome. I want to wear one to a job interview.
It’s refreshing to see artists like Joe Kievitt who are contented to explore the beauty in simple forms and asymmetrical patterns. Read more
Now this is fun. This 3D watch dial actually jumps to life. The dial is a modern version of the 19th century art form of lithophanes: carved porcelain sheets that, when lit, deliver astoundingly detailed images. When the pusher is activated, the dial springs to life in 3D, with an LED light and afterglow effect. Read more
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Bajingo said | 10 November, 2008
I enjoyed some of it, but the movie was so obviously a setup/fake in so many ways.