cynical behavior

11/30/04:
      I am picturing all of The Radiation Kings lined up on one side of a conference table, similar to the commentary feature of the The Goonies DVD.  I am so fixated on my own transformation in the last 5 years, aligning myself with Jeff Cohen who played "Chunk" in that film and who also appears much thinner on that track.  Is it too narcissistic of me to say I'm expecting a lot of compliments?
       Tour is likely to be an awkward experience as much as an exciting one.  Most of the people involved on screen are nervous and possibly even afraid of what will be shown.  Even I worry about my many tactless comments and monologues.  I also worry that there will be so many overwelming reunion moments throughout the night. 
     What I hope to get out of watching the documentary is a new found inspiration and ambition.  If it makes me feel that my best years are behind me or that my 15 minutes have passed, I will probably get more depressed. 
      Oh, not that I'm really depressed, but I am on a bit of a downer of late.  As you could see, the mood -along with busy work season - affect this site.  I haven't even written a full review in November.  I've barely kept up with my low expectationss.  Let me tell you what has been causing my waning motivation of late:
      The final, in-store, retail DVD for Rick lacks my quote (or so I am told).  As much as my ego was raised for the promo copies, it fell fast. 
       I will not be attending or reporting on the 2005 Sundance Film Festival.  My credentials must not have passed their selection process and I did not receive a press pass for READ Magazine. 
      My concentration on returning to college (via online classes) has taken priority over the "hobby" that is film criticism for as long as I lack the feeling of success and worth whether by recognition, respect, credit, appreciation or financial gain.  The path toward going back to school has also been discouraging at times by way of cost and commitment necessary. 
      Last week hit another mark with my viewing of Sideways, a highly rated critical darling of a film.  I didn't think it was a bad film, but I found it so dull that I can't understand how so many writers bothered commenting on it let alone exclaiming praises.  This has caused me to doubt my credibility as a film critic.  It isn't so much that I have a difference of opinion.  It is that I don't care to spend the time defending it, both because it is in such disagreement with the popular consensus and because I haven't enough passion at the moment to do so. 
       I can hope that once the change in weather passes, and hopefully with it the bad luck and the disheartened disregard for my priorities as a writer, that I might allow for a higher output of content on not just this site but Cinescene and Readmag. 
      All I want for Christmas is a muse, a dedicated fan base not consisting of friends, determination, a goal and a movie I can enjoy and care about and recommend.  Oh and RoboSapien!  I want a RoboSapien!

11/14/04:
       Because I think so much like Entertainment Weekly (or are they trying to be like LowExpectation.com??), the very subject and item featured in my blog is similarly mentioned in the new issue (Nov. 19).  The main difference is that they compare the cover of Turan's new book with that of Curtis White's paperback edition of his cynical The Middle Mind:



I knew there was another one!

11/09/04:
       Supposedly this is the date of release for Rick on DVD but I couldn't find a copy at Borders.  What I did find, instead, while perusing the film books was this graphic design fiasco:

   Both these books, sharing neither publisher nor designer, are roughly in the same section though Turan's unnecessary new book is on recommended movies you may have missed (I guess every film critic needs to write one) and Jazwinski's is about acting and is actually found in the adjacent Drama bookshelf.  I took it upon myself to reshelf them next to one another. 

   Also, I could swear that I've even seen the picture used for one other book.  Somebody help me out in my search.


Here is a picture I took with my phone while at Barnes and Noble later on: