Let's Work With Orphans

2012-02-04T03:50:00.000-05:00

The first Charles Parsons Film Festival (please note that the #CPFF is a private/by invitation only viewing audience and by no means a public broadcasting of copyrighted materials) has come to a finish!

Here at the #CPFF we know that you have a lot to read in your daily lives and that it would be trivial to post the 64,000 word essay/film guide prepared over the course of the month (contact me personally, available for 19.95$), so just a few words and awards.

If you have been following me on twitter, you have likely noted that many of the films were viewed out of order from the original list, that being a difficult situation for potential viewers who wished to know what film he or she would be seeing if she "dropped by."

Many apologies.

Circumstances, including the turn around on films from Netflix and what was available streaming and/or from the public library, pushed festival facilitators (me) to the breaking point, but the point is, there was a film shown from the list every single day of the #CPFF.

This was, in the passive voice, it is felt, to be an achievement.

Now for the awards, other achievements, (ten films to be recognized):

Most pleasant surprise--Avatar (2009)
Thought that this film would be cumbersome, didactic, and uninspired quasi-Native American rehashing of European imperialism; turned out to be, though predictable, a visual spectacle with a compelling plot. Can see why it almost won best picture.

Almost did not get the movie in-- Sunday, Jan 29; Tetro (2009)
Wanted to watch the Finding Bigfoot on Animal Planet because it was set in Ohio. Got a late start on the movie due to being out at my dad's. Watched half when I got home. Caught Bigfoot (I wish). Watched the rest later. Pushing 11:55 p.m. with the finish. It was hard to concentrate on Tetro, though it did have its moments, but overall, I did not care for it much.

Biggest surprise in an unpleasent way--Boondock Saints (1999) and The Sweet Hereafter (1997)
Know a lot of people like (LOVE) the Boondock Bros and, obviously, some people think so much of Hereafter to rate it as a MOST underrated movie. Boondock (boodock?) was really wild, and left me gasping at the implausibility, but I can see the attraction in a B movie kind of a way. Still, not really my thing. Hereafter was awesome for the rehashing of the Pied Piper of Hamelin (if you have never read it, read it), and not awesome for anything else. Was surprised that Mr. Ondaatje was so supportive of that movie, but then again, we all know that the Canadians stick together. And I know that Ondaatje is not a native Canadian. Save it.

Best Picture--Gone with the Wind (1939)
It swept me away, like a gust of wind. Really vivid, important, country changing kind of wind. What can I say? I particularly liked the first three hours. A tour de force of story telling.

Runner Up-- City Lights (1931)
My pal and often collaborator friend, Ryan deBiase, helped me gain interest in silent films when TCM had its Buster Keaton month early in 2011. The Artist (2011) did not have anything to do with that. City Lights was a pleasure to watch.

Just Plain Fun--Die Hard (1988)
A bit long if you ask me, but otherwise, a BLAST! It goes, also, on the subtle Christmas movies list.

Most Moving--Man on Wire (2008)
Makes me want to re-read McCann's National Book Award Winner, Let The Great World Spin (2009) . I teared up at the passion of Philippe Petit. It had me with the story of tightrope walking the Notre Dame Cathedral. From that point on, I was captivated.

Got the most cheers--Singin' in the Rain (1952)
Silent movies really are getting some play this year. This is the lighter companion piece to Sunset Boulevard (1950). Tons of fun.

Film with the best cat--That Darn Cat! (1965)
This was a childhood favorite, and I can see why. It is a shame that there are not more tastefully done live action children's shows and movies these days. I'm not talking remakes.

I really want to thank everyone who showed interest in this project (because it was one). Depending on the economy and unpredictable forecasts of THE FUTURE (not Miranda July's), there may just be a #CPFF 2013. Currently, the plan is for four week long categories: Animation, Foreign, Silent, Documentary.

Feel free to make nominations. In person. Enough of this internet crap...

#CPFF, signing off.

2012-01-03T16:25:00.001-05:00

NOTICE:
There is no excuse for this, but for the second day in a row, the CPFF will be off schedule. There will be a private viewing of The Boondock Saints (1999) tonight. It is highly likely that the festival will offer as promised tomorrow. Hope you are nice and cozy, Northeast Ohio. We are in for another snowy eve, it appears.

2012-01-02T12:24:00.000-05:00

NOTICE:
Due to circumstances beyond our control, the coming of inclement weather and poor management of DVD resources, there will be no showing of Source Code tonight for the private viewing audience making up the attendees of the Charles Parsons Film Festival 2012 (*now referred to as the CPFF).
Instead, adjust your calendars, as there will be a very limited viewing (whomever can fit around my laptop) of Gregory Holbit's masterpiece, Primal Fear (1996), the movie Richard Gere and Edward Norton are most proud of.
We are sorry for any inconvenience.
Please watch LWWO for updates on the CPFF throughout the month.
We hope to be back on schedule beginning tomorrow or the next day.
Heck, just call me if you wanna know what's up.

this message has been brought to you by the CPFF. All rights reserved.

2011-12-29T10:20:00.001-05:00

In case you have been wondering, as I have, with rounding, the mean of the dates when these movies were released is 1986. The median, 1994.
A bit too recent, if you ask me.

2011-12-20T23:52:00.000-05:00

This is an announcement for the Charles Parsons film festival beginning January 2nd, 2012 and ending January 31st, 2012. The list is based off a list I found online for a thirty day movie challenge. That list was lacking, so this one is improved with the extra challenge that each movie be a movie that the viewer has not seen before or at least not seen in its entirety or that needs revisiting because one does not really remember it.

If you feel so inclined, create your own list based off this one. Though you may feel this list needs improving, challenge yourself.

It was a challenge to put together the list, realigning the categories while at the same time using the WWW (the webrcrawler, as I call it) to specify the titles.

Regrets. This list is not perhaps as artsy as it could have been (should have been?). It is, for the greatest part, a popular American box office driven movie list. This, I feel, is forgivable.

In all sincerity, this whole thing has to be seen as an indulgence. I will not be reviewing each movie on this blog. This is due to the concern that I am in my thirties (not at an earlier point in my life where I may have felt that I had something important to say about everything), and in all likelihood, what could I hope to add to the vast and superior artistic/historical criticism already existing on a film such as, let's say, Joe Dirt. This project, if it is a project, this festival, if it is a festival, this challenge, if it is a challenge, is only an indulgence that may, if lucky, help to spur some creative idea out of the fire and into the frying pan's center region.

Maybe not. Maybe it will add little to no value to anything. But I will be watching them. Barring catastrophe of Zone One proportions.

Without further ado, I provide you with the list itself:

Best Movie of the Last Year (Tomatometer): Source Code (2011)

Most Underrated Movie: The Sweet Hereafter (1997)

Movie that will make you Happy: The Wizard of OZ (1939)

Movie that will make you Sad: The Champ (1979)

Movie with a Love Story: Singin’ In the Rain (1952)

Movie that is a TV Adaptation: The Fugitive (1993)

Movie with a surprise twist ending: Primal Fear (1996)

Movie that is the most watched of all time: The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

Movie with the best soundtrack: A Hard Day’s Night (1964)

Movie that is the best classic: Dr. Strangelove, How Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)

Movie that changes opinions: An Inconvenient Truth (2006)

Movie that Ebert hated the most: Joe Dirt (2001)

Movie that is a guilty pleasure: The Boondock Saints (1999)

Movie that no one would expect me to like: Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994)

Movie with the most influential character: Gone with the Wind (1939)

Movie with the most love/hate public reaction: Avatar (2009)

Movie that was the most disappointing: Lady in the Water (2006)

Movie that I have criminally not seen: City Lights (1939)

Movie based on a book that I have not seen: The Hunt for Red October (1990)

Movie with my favorite actor: Quiz Show (1994)

Movie best action: Die Hard (1988)

Movie best documentary: Man on Wire (2008)

Movie best animated: Toy Story 2 (1999)

Movie top rated for me on NetFlix: Midnight Cowboy (1969)

Movie best comedy: Airplane! (1980)

Movie that I used to like but can’t really remember: The Truman Show (1998)

Movie of the Last Year I had Wanted to See in Theaters but didn’t: Super 8 (2011)

Movie from my favorite director that I have never seen: Tetro (2009)

Movie from my childhood: That Darn Cat (1965)

Movie that is top grossing that I have never seen: E. T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

The viewing times. M-F movies begin at 8 p.m.
Saturday at 10 a.m.
Sunday at 6 p.m.

If anyone out there is interested in hosting any particular film, please let me know it.
If you are interested in attending, give your keys to the valet.
If you are interested in complaining, save it for a loved one.
If I am your loved one, save it for me, but let us go over it in private.

Otherwise, and in all things, let me know what you think. If you cannot do that, try thinking anyway.

2011-12-19T13:18:00.000-05:00

Welcome to the latest reboot of Let's Work with Orphans, the blog.
It has been over a year since I contributed to this ongoing effort to capture the hearts of those people inclined to reading posts by friends and strangers as part of their daily endeavors on the World Wide Web, so I decided it was time for a reboot and a face lift. It seems that Blogger was as ready to switch it up as I am.
Forgoing the history of this blog, see the post below, I will jump back in by hoping to keep to an update of at least quarterly proportions in the year 2012.
Ye may see more updates than one per quarter and ye may not.
I may tell ye of my projects and I may not.
I may encourage ye to follow me on twitter and I may not.
Ye might report me to the SPAM control of Blogger and ye may not.
There will be an update in the next few days concerning my film festival taking place over the first month of 2012. Until then, feel free to browse through my recently updated "Essential Links". Many of these are blogs maintained and current. Some are not as current and I wish were current. Others are archives. Many involve cats. If you feel like I have missed your blog in error, and you would like it included in this list, you may petition via comment. I maintain all rights as to which links are included now and in the future, regardless of petition (do not make a nuisance out of thineself).
Wishing ye all a happy holiday season.

2010-02-13T23:07:00.004-05:00

Hello to all the followers of Let's Work With Orphans.

It is another transitional period for the blog. To understand the current changes, let's look back at what you may have missed.

Let's Work with Orphans, the blog, originated in late 2005 as a typical blog. This means it featured some life commentary, an occasional creative piece, and plenty of pathos.

In 2008 the old format was jettisoned, and the blog moved into a "recommendation" period known as: Charles Recommends. For one year, once a month, I suggested ideas ranging from music, brands of cat food, and the best season in which to visit Mongolia, to my family, my friends, and my enemies.

When the year was up, Let's Work with Orphans went on hiatus until the NaNoWriMo of November, 2009. I attempted to blog everyday for a month. When the month was up, I stopped blogging, and I turned my attention to the end of semester grading and the holidays.

I barely made it through the holidays. But, I made it. Whew.

2010 finds me back on the creative track. I am writing everyday. I have set some major goals for this year.

Right now, I am working on a screenplay. As I type this, I know that you cringe. Let it go. Let the doubts and desperate laughs fly out. They are welcome, and I can't wait to see you eat crow. This is the moment, and it will be seized (pathos).

The best part of this endeavor is that I am teaming up with my old creative writing friend and colleague, Ryan deBiase. Watch for the coming of the new Postmodern Experience Enterprises blog that will exhibit an ongoing look at our written movie creation. It will hopefully comment on our laughs, our doubts, our excitements, and our fistfights, as we try to put this thing together.

Other plans include shifting gears this summer back to the manuscript of a novel I worked on a couple of years ago, as well as planning out a new novel to write during 2010's National Novel Writing Month. Now we're talking about the "heavy-lifting."

I am also presently trying to read as much as possible. This means that I am reading as much as I can while still doing a competent job of teaching, grading, taking care of my father, and writing, and having movie meetings. After gorging myself on novels last year, I am in the midst of a buffet of short stories, and the last couple of days I've added some screenplays to the serving line.

Thanks for staying up to speed with the blog. I do appreciate it.

Let's Work with Orphans is switching gears, again. Expect some pathos, expect some life experiences, expect some dynamite laughs and some TNT tears.