"Batman vs. Superman" Review

I went into Batman vs. Superman with low expectations, and although I am attempting to compensate for setting the bar so low, it might still have something to do with why I give the film an above average mark. It also could be that I have been on a streak of average or slightly below average movies (Deadpool, 10 Cloverfield Lane, etc). It goes without saying, cause what sort of jerk catches a pre-screening and ruins the movie for everyone, but there will be no spoilers here. There is a Star Wars like turn in the movie, and I will do my best to distance myself from any clues.

If you've talked to me about Batman vs. Superman over the last month you know that I am not pleased with how they have been promoting this movie. It feels like I've been watching trailers for this movie for years, and then after the makers of the movie exposed their entire hand, they had nothing to show leading up to the actual release date. This Batman vs. Superman team should look to Marvel and take notes. The way Marvel slowly gave us bits of Civil War and then dropped Spiderman on us recently was perfect. Now they only need to give us one more reminder that Spiderman is in the film 2 weeks before the actual release date and excitement will be a fever pitch. I've been complaining for the last month that I've already seen the entire Batman vs. Superman film due to the trailers, and I wasn't entirely wrong. We should not have seen Doomsday and Wonder Woman before entering the movie.



From the trailers, I thought I was going to hate Jesse Eisenberg's performance. I don't know much about the character of Lex Luthor, but I did not despise Eisenberg's portrayal of Luthor. It still did feel a bit rigid and forced at times, but it worked for the most part. Where I was unsure of Eisenberg, many were against Ben Affleck as Batman. I think most fans are having a difficult time detaching themselves from the Christian Bale Batman. I, however, was not a doubter of Affleck. He's coming off a string of successful movies, and I felt like he was at the top of his game again. We have to forgive him for Daredevil and Gigli at some point. Plus, I will always have a soft spot for Affleck because of Good Will Hunting.

This is the most Zack Snyder film since 2009's Watchmen. I've never doubted Snyder's artistic ability, but his stories aren't always air-tight and can drag. Batman vs. Superman suffers from exactly this. My film theory is a bit rusty, but If my memory serves me right, I remember really embracing Dziga Vertov's "Kino Eye Theory". It's the theory that cinema can see and express more than the human eye can capture. This is why I'm generally not a fan of the recent James Bond films because you can't see a damn thing. The cuts are too quick and the camera is too shaky. However, facets of Kino Eye is what Snyder does great in a lot of his films, and Batman vs. Superman pulls this off to a certain extent. With the musical help of Hans Zimmer and Junkie XL, Snyder's ability to use slow motion and close-ups doesn't slow down the film, but rather makes the movie swell with detail and anticipation.

While I think fans of the superhero genre will enjoy the film, and serious movie watchers won't be totally disappointed, the movie does have its shortcomings. It has spans of exposition and I-don't-care moments, so it's hard to justify the 152 minute runtime. I guess we have to factor in that they were burdened with the duty of setting up the Justice League movie. DC is clearly playing catch up to Marvel's well established franchises and Avengers movies. Not only that, but if you were following the production of this film, you know they ran into snags and that their budget was quickly swelling and on pace to become to most expensive movie ever (suck on that, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides).  On top of that, although I give Snyder credit for long shots and actually allowing us to see all the action, a lot of the choreography is slow and clumsy. There were also moments I felt like this movie was made for children. The action, especially with Superman, gets so ridiculous at times I thought I was watching Japanese anime. There is a reason I enjoyed Dragon Ball Z in the 7th grade, but could never re-visit it as an adult. It's a strange dichotomy considering Snyder is taking this franchise down a darker path than what Marvel is doing. If rumors are true, and I hope they are, we will get a rated R version when the Blu-Ray comes out. You could tell Snyder really wanted some CG blood and a sex scene, but you can't have a rated R movie pushing 410 million dollars in budget.

So did I love the movie? No. But did I enjoy it enough? Yes. It's a silly movie, but there are still some cool things being discussed, like ethics and Lex Luthor discussing the logic of god. I do think nerds will like it, and the set up for Justice League even got me excited. The movie also made me want to check out Wonder Woman. With all this in mind, I think I enjoyed (this superhero's) monologue at the end the most. Mostly because of the tragic events that happened in Brussels yesterday. You'll see what I mean when you go watch the movie.

Oh! And don't wait around like Marvel movies. There is no teaser after the credits. At least there wasn't one at my special pre-screening.

Amazing Couple To Spend Entire Year Exploring United States

Meet Carl and Anna. They started an amazing project called US ANYWHERE at the start of 2016 where they will explore every state in these United States. You can see some of the photos they took and videos they made here, but you'll want to follow their travels for the remainder of the year.


Introducing US Anywhere from US Anywhere on Vimeo.

Here is my interview with Carl:

Min: Could you please explain what this project is about and what sparked the idea for this project?
Carl: My wife Anna and I are both native Minnesotans. We both grew up camping and have cultivated a love of travel domestic and abroad. But despite being passionate about these things, we’ve had difficulty making time for them in our busy lives. I’m a filmmaker by trade, and have developed a body of work organically by filming projects in my spare time involving friends and nature. These personal projects have led to job opportunities, and I found myself working in advertising, most recently doing work for Minnesota tourism. The idea for this project struck me a couple of summers ago, when my friends and I drove out to Glacier National Park for a backpacking trip. On our way home, I got stuck with the red-eye shift driving through North Dakota. I was white-knuckled as I tried to avoid hitting the seeming thousands of deer- but as the sun started to come up, it dawned on me that North Dakota could be truly breathtaking. I realized that I would love to come back to shoot something. At the same time, I realized that if I could find something interesting to shoot in North Dakota, an oft-maligned state, I could probably find something to shoot in every state. I started doing the math about how long it would take to shoot a short video about a state- and I decided a week would be about right. From there, it works out almost perfectly.  If you spend a week per state, it rounds out to almost exactly a year (if you include a week for Washington DC and a week in case anything goes wrong.) The concept of spending an entire year on the road and visiting every state was too compelling to pass up. I told Anna what I was thinking about, and she was immediately on board. We spent the next year and a half saving up and planning before launching the project in 2016. Our aim is to have a great adventure in seeing all of the USA, but to make creative work in the process so that we can bring people (virtually) along for the ride.


M: Were you ever worried this project wouldn't be possible leading up to the start of it?
C: There were a lot of times that we doubted our ability to do something so time-consuming and costly. The logistics alone are so complicated and daunting. We’d never even trailer camped before, and were talking about doing it for an entire year! However, I have a stubborn streak- once I’ve made up my mind that I’m doing something, I’m doing it. It was going to take a lot to prevent us from going- and luckily, we managed to pull it off!



M: What has been the toughest thing about the project so far? 
C: We absolutely underestimated how hard it would be to travel so quickly. We knew the week-per-state framework was ambitious, but we didn’t understand just how ambitious until we learned how long it takes to set up and take down camp, and how traveling with a camper has its own unforseen delays (slower speeds, more frequent stops for gas, fewer accessible places, more difficulty parking, etc.). This also makes our logistics a bit trickier, since we want to be flexible- RV campsites are limited and fill up quickly, so we have to be more forward-thinking than we’d like when planning future states. Also, the lack of WiFi is killer! We’d assumed it would be easy to keep connected from the road, since we have such an easy time with it at home (if it’s not at your house, it’s at work, or at a coffee shop, library, etc.) We’ve quickly learned that public wifi can be hard to find when you’re not in a city, and connection speeds are slow to nonexistant at most campgrounds. This has made working and planning tough!



M: What has been the most fulfilling and coolest thing you've seen so far?
C: We took a risk by starting in Wisconsin- the first week in January isn’t the friendliest time to be there by a long shot (especially if you’re camping!) But the gorgeous sunsets in Door County, ice-covered branches and snowy landscapes turned out to be just as beautiful as we’d hoped. Even though we were freezing our butts off, we were experiencing midwestern winter at its best, and we knew the decision to start there had been worth it.


US Anywhere: Wisconsin from US Anywhere on Vimeo.

M: Have expectations changed now that you've been on the road for a while?
C: They definitely have. For one, we’d planned to release videos about each state as we went, weekly- alongside blogging and posting to other various social media. We’ve quickly realized that all of that on top of moving so quickly leaves almost no time for the actual experience of the trip, which should really be the main point! We’ve had to scale back on the videos (for now, it’s still the plan to release a video for every state, but they will be released as I finish editing them, and actual experience will be the focus.) That means I’ll have a fair amount left to edit when I get back, but it will be a fun way to extend the experience of the trip! We’ve also realized that (aside from the northeast) the states are really big! We’ve started to become more focused in our planning.  Honing in on specific areas within each state, so we can have more in-depth experiences.



M: Now that you've explored the country a bit, what is one thing, in general, that even citizens of the United States might not know/expect about our own country?
C: The United States is an incredibly accessible place. Even though it’s massive, it can be surprisingly easy to get around.  Having grown up in the middle of the country, I always thought of the coasts as being so far away. I had only ever flown to the oceans, but it’s entirely possible to drive there in just a few days. If you get some friends together and take turns driving, you can go anywhere. With the current price of gas, there’s never been a better time.



M: If people wanted to stay in touch, follow your journey, and/or contribute to your journey, how can they do that?
C: We keep our channels up-to-date with lots of photos, fun facts, state recaps, and videos. OUR WEBSITE (USANYWHERE.NET) is a great resource where everything is pooled (and links to our Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Vimeo and mailing list can all be found there, too). We can be reached on all of those channels, but the best way to reach us is to shoot us an email at us@usanywhere.net! The best way for people to contribute to our journey is to share it with others that might be interested and to pass along their knowledge and suggestions. We rely heavily on input and suggestions from others when deciding what to do in a particular state!

Encryption: The F.B.I vs. Apple

Lunch + Last Week Tonight With John Oliver. It's a great combo until you're taking a sip of your drink and Mr. Oliver drops a funny line.

Encryption is a concept that's been in the public light lately due to the F.B.I vs. Apple debate. I saw a lot of people post and share Apple's defense of their position when it was released. It was almost as if the F.B.I was completely out-of-bounds in this case. I, however, saw nuance in this discussion.

I can see why so many people voiced their support for Apple. The tech giant is much sexier than the F.B.I and viewed favorably. Aside from style, there is substance to support Apple too. If someone held a gun up to my head and forced me to completely side with Apple or the F.B.I, I, too, would assemble on the Apple side of the debate. But this is not that easy. The conversation about security vs. privacy is a long and ongoing talk. I'm positive that the same people that swiftly and firmly sided with Apple would be equally outraged, at Apple, if a follow up incident occurred that the F.B.I could have prevented with encrypted information. You can't have both absolute freedom and absolute security.

When Someone Alters Your Life

On Thursday I learned that I will be starting a new chapter in my life later this year. It was a joyous day, but usually when one chapter begins, another one must end. As I begin to ink the first page of my new academic career, I might have punctuated the final period to my Christian career. I was born a Seventh-Day Adventist and I have been attending the same church for all 29-years of my life. Around the age of 21, I went on a spiritual journey that exposed me to many ups and downs. Over the last 5-years, I've grown into a comfortable atheist. I settled on being a huge skeptic about the physics of Yahweh, a lover of Jesus Christ's philosophies, and a continuing member of the church. The last remaining connective tissue between the church and I were long time members of my church and my pastor. This Saturday was my pastor's final day at the Minneapolis Korean Seventh-Day Adventist church. Pastor Kim came into my life at the perfect time. Had he not come when he did, I might have lost my connection to my church. My frustrations about religion were cooling, but hadn't completely hardened. He showed me that there is still space for love in religion and Christianity. He strengthened our youth group by opening the church doors wider than they had ever been opened, and by making his personal home, everyone's home. He never put himself above anyone, and treated everyone he interacted with like royalty. He was quick to nurture the ideas of other people (Without him A Night Back In Korea wouldn't have been possible). He embodied what Jesus Christ is to me.

With tearful goodbyes, we watched him and his wonderful family begin their new journey to Los Angeles. For every kind statement written about Pastor Kim, two equally great comments could be written about his wife. There will be an immense void at our church, but I am so happy for the church in L.A that will be adopting Pastor Kim. He will bring many great examples of love through his words and especially his actions. His children and his beautiful wife will enhance their new community exponentially. Thank you for changing my life, Kim Family, and I wish you nothing but the best.

Mission Accomplished! So, What's Next?

I sleep with my cell phone charging on my lamp stand. I do that so I have a fully charged phone to start my day, but also because I use my cell phone as my alarm clock. During weeks I abuse the snooze button, I will set my alarm song to something really aggressive. Imagine waking up to the sounds of Slipknot, As I Lay Dying, or Cradle of Filth. When I wake up, I normally shut my alarm off, and I check my e-mails. I have this horrible fear that I'll wake up and I'll have e-mails from people at work telling me I talked about something on-air that I wasn't supposed to talk about, or that I completely missed something. It's probably not a healthy thing to always be concerned about, but I'm not totally confident in my radio ability. In fact, feeling insufficient is probably an issue I will carry around with me for a long time. I guess the silver lining is that it always keeps me on my toes and open minded.

I move onto my personal inbox after I finish checking my iHeartMedia inbox. Yesterday, I had my usual spam, an e-mail from the Bernie Sanders campaign, and an e-mail that stuck out. It was from The University of Minnesota Graduate Admissions and the subject line was titled, "Subj: University of Minnesota - Application For Admission Decision". I locked my phone, stared at the ceiling for a second, and re-opened my phone. The e-mail was still there, and I didn't know what to do. A normal person might've quickly opened it, logged into their U of M account, and uncovered the University's decision, but not me. That lack of confidence slowly crept in again, and I thought, "Wouldn't it be awful to start your day with a rejection letter?" It's the sad way I approach everything that involves an appraisal of me (My job, girls, sports, etc).

I rolled out of and made by bed, started my morning routine, but I couldn't get that e-mail off my mind. I booted my computer up, because everything on desktop is better than mobile. I'm not here to brag about my computer, but I have some pretty sweet specs, and my operating system is on a solid state drive, so I only have to wait seconds to use my computer. I opened the e-mail, logged into my U of M account, and clicked on a link to open the University's decision. I decided before I did all of this to not raise any expectations. That way the fall back to reality would hurt less on impact. How incredibly shocked I was when the first word I read was, "Congratulations."Well, technically, I first skimmed over the date, my name, my student ID, and then congratulations.

The feeling of being lifted away on cloud nine is not something you feel every day, and difficult to describe. If this gives you something to compare it to, it's the opposite of having your heart broken. That's a feeling I know better. Heartbreak starts in your chest, and you feel a ripple work its way out from there. It feels like your blood is being drained, your body temperature drops, and your soul feels heavy. I quickly picked up my phone and called my mother. She had been pressuring me over the last week to send an e-mail to inquire when a decision might be made on my application. In typical fashion, my call went to my mother's voice-mail. I followed that up by telling my dad, texting people that helped me with my application process (recommendation letters, proof reading my statement letter, etc.), and I thanked a few teachers that helped me with this journey. It was actually my high school civics teacher that put me on a path to public service. There was no way I could have appreciated his teaching methods at the time as my mental capacity wasn't all there yet. His non-indoctrinating, nurturing, and engaged way of teaching really unlocked my desire to connect to and help the world.


This idea of applying to the Humphrey School of Public Affairs started about a year ago at church. It was a couple of months into the new year, and like I do every year around that time, I assessed my life and attempted to project what the next year would look like. I shared some of my concerns with a lifelong friends. In actuality, she's more of a sister as I've known her since she was in elementary school. I listened to what she wanted to accomplish in 2015, and I told her how I felt about my prospects. I hit a wall at work, I was underemployed, I wasn't engaged in any creative freelance projects, and I really wasn't working toward anything. I felt like an idiot, but she peeked my interest by telling me that the Humphrey School of Public Affairs might be a good fit for me. Although I've known my friends for many years, and I adore her, I never deeply talked to her about politics nor policy (although I should have considering she had been attending the Humphrey School of Public Affairs). She probably assumed the school might be something that matches me because I can't seem to stop commenting on social issues on Facebook. The more she told me about their Master's in Public Policy program, the more I was intrigued. I took some time to think about all the information she had shared with me, and I followed up one day. After receiving more input from her I decided to at least apply. I mean, what's the harm in that? I e-mailed the fine people working in admissions, and of course the deadlines for the year had all passed. I was encouraged to still apply, but also warned about the limitations. My ignorant little boy mind also didn't factor in all the time, effort, and money that went into the application process. What's the harm in applying? Studying for the G.R.E exam after not doing anything school related for years, paying for the expensive test, reaching out to people for letters of recommendation, and crafting an application that gloats about your attributes without sounding like a jerk. I have never been all that good at self-promoting. When it was all said and done, it was too little, too late. I was told to try again in 2016, and I fully intended to do that.

What I lack in confidence, I might make up in determination. Confidence totes a line with arrogance, and determination a line with stubbornness. Given the option between arrogance and stubbornness, I take stubbornness every time. There is no way to disguise arrogance, but at least I can claim my stubbornness is conviction. I took a fresh approach, and started the entire process again. Things got a bit rocky in November with the passing of a close friend. My G.R.E exam was creeping up, but I had no desire to prepare for it as I tried to sort out the concept of death. It's the closest I've ever dealt with death, and I couldn't make sense of it for a long time. In fact, I still haven't, but I have gotten to a point where I can compartmentalize it enough to function.


Fast forward to yesterday. After learning I had been accepted to the Humphrey School of Public Affairs, I thanked everyone I needed to thank, and I skipped out the door to work. When I graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2009, I thought I would never call myself a student again. I'm always a student of life, but I never thought I would be a student in an institutional setting. Well, here I am gearing up to return to the University of Minnesota in the fall of 2016. So what's next and what I am I expecting? I guess I don't really know. I know it's going to get really crazy with work, school, and trying to get involved in anything I can. I foresee my social life shrinking, decreased visits to the gym, and unless I can tie my creative side into my school work, I don't see that getting a lot of attention either. That might not sound great, but I am really looking forward to it. For so long I've been spreading myself thin, and I longed for something to put all my focus into. This feeling of excitement and focus is something I haven't felt since my first boss at Cities 97 hired me.

My focus for the next couple of years will be to gather the tools and knowledge to better myself so I can better the lives of the people in the communities around me and the communities itself. I will chase a life of academia and social work. Clearly I can toss that dream of becoming a millionaire into the trash bin now. Some of my church members recently suggested that I go back to school to study business. Given the options of business school or social work, I think, Jesus would have chosen social work. I'm of the millennial generation so a job that makes you happy takes priority over a higher paying job. My family is of the proletariat class. It is a class of people I admire and value, and hopefully it will soon be my duty to protect the proletariat class.

 

"10 Cloverfield Lane" Review

10 Cloverfield Lane will leave you feeling - Meh.
It's not a horrible movie if you're searching for a sci-fi movie and you've already watched the top tier titles on your To-Watch list. I'm not even sure if we should consider this a sci-fi movie at all. If you loved the first Cloverfield movie and you are going into this one with the hopes that it'll be something similar minus the shaky camera work, you better change your mind set.
With names like JJ Abrams, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, and John Gallagher Jr. attached I really wanted to like this movie. I loved John Gallagher Jr. in Short Term 12 and The Newsroom. Many people already know I adore Mary Elizabeth Winstead because of her beauty and because movies like Smashed (film) and Alex of Venice. I wanted people to see Winstead's and Gallagher's names attached to future movies and feel like they have to see that movie. Even with my bias, the movie fell flat. It was actually John Goodman's performance that helped bolster the movie for me.
I think the movie will ultimately be classified as a sci-fi flick, but it might be more accurate to call it a thriller. I can't say too much without ruining the modest twists and turns, but the most engaging element of this movie was John Goodman's character, Howard. The movie forces you into a love-hate dynamic with Howard, and although the movie ties all the loose ends for you, you and your friends will be able to have a short ethics discussion about Howard. I will give the movie credit for its jump scares. There were two or three times I had to make sure I still had clean underwear. Oh, and did I mention how beautiful Mary Elizabeth Winstead is?

Meatheads Galore

The gym is one of my favorite places to play sociologist. As a timid member of the male gender, I am fascinated by the machismo culture that is accepted and promoted at the gym. I will, in screenplay format, share my latest hyper-masculine observation at Life Time Fitness.

The following is based on a true story.

Meatheads Galore 

Int. - Weight Room.
BEVIS and his pal, BUTTHEAD, are working out at a high end fitness center in their neighborhood. The weight room is stuffed with people as the two are working out during peak hours. They are using dumbbells and spotting each other. After what seems to be an especially difficult set, Bevis slams the dumbbell onto the floor and the noise of the weight echoes through the room.

BEVIS 

Woo! Dude, I've bee going really fucking hard on arm day lately. Plus, I got this new shit and it's making me jacked.

BUTTHEAD 

Fuck-yeah man. I was like 160 like three months ago. Now I'm like 168 and cut.

Both Bevis and Butthead are speaking at an unnecessarily excessive volume and occupying too much space. Other members of the gym turn to look at Bevis and Butthead as they have, against their will, eavesdropped on Bevis and Butthead's conversation. Butthead now takes the dumbbell into his possession and begins his set of bicep curls. Meanwhile, Bevis takes an enormous swig of the concoction he has in his mixing bottle while flexing and looking out the corner of his eyes to the mirror in front of him. Bevis exhales when he finishes drinking and wipes his mouth with his forearm. Bevis then adjusts his focus to Butthead.

BEVIS 

Don't quit on me. Give me three more reps, mother fucker! Come on!

Butthead, in manly fashion, grunts as he wills three more reps. At the conclusion of his third rep, Butthead drops the dumbbell, again letting out cacophonous echo throughout the room. As Butthead jumps out of his seat, he lets out a tremendous bellow.

BUTTHEAD 

Fuck-yeah, dude. Last time I got with Jenny she was loving the guns.

The end.

Is Bernie Sanders Too Smart For Us?

One of the most influential books I have read in my lifetime is "Looking Forward" by Jacque Fresco (A new hardcover copy of the book is going for $448 on Amazon). The book was published in 1969 and was way ahead of its time. One would assume having that sort of foresight would be a good thing, but I think it would be burdensome (Look at what they did to Jesus Christ). Jacque Fresco was quickly deemed a fringe thinker, and I see many doing that with Bernie Sanders. I would love to see someone with a prophetic like vision drag the rest of us knuckle-draggers into a more prosperous future. Many critics claim that Sanders is clueless on foreign affairs, and that may prove to be true, but he has the right outlook on war and wasn't wrong about the Iraq War.

"Spotlight" Review

With this, I have seen 6 out of the 8 films nominated for picture of the year. This will probably be the last movie I get to watch before the big night on Sunday. Prior to this viewing, I had The Martian and Room tied, and I tipped towards Room because Room had a budget of 6 million dollars whereas The Martian had 108 million dollars to spend. Spotlight has now bumped The Martian out of the picture, and I am having trouble choosing between Room and Spotlight. If I were to remain consistent and give the tie to the movie with the smaller budget, then Room still wins (Spotlight had a budget of 20 million dollars). However, it is not that easy in this case. Room is the more emotionally charged movie, but Spotlight is the more important one. My biggest critique of "popular art" (Better worded as "popular entertainment") these days is that it's void of "substance". I use "substance" to bundle elements such as emotion, artistic integrity, and social contribution into a simple and convenient package. Scan the bland summer blockbuster movies or listen to any mainstream song, and I think you'll see what I mean. And because I score art by measuring how much emotion and social importance is packed into a piece, the decision between Room and Spotlight is not easy to me.
I have a group of friends that I discuss politics, religion, and social issues with. We've been discussing morality a lot lately, and the more I try to define that word, the more I realize the world lacks morality. Perhaps I am being too pessimistic, but I can tell you this movie didn't help. Yes, the protagonists navigate through an arena of darkness and bring light into the picture, but I see how outnumbered they are and that's what breaks my heart. Wide spread and prevalent negligence and malevolence on an institutional, societal, and personal level with no one willing to step up except the team at The Boston Globe and Spotlight. I've had stronger chills run through my body due to a movie, but I don't remember the last movie to send this many chills through my body.
From a production standpoint, this movie receives many high marks. The writing, the acting, the use of sound, and photography. The film like look pulls you back into the years these events actually occurred, the lighting looked more natural making the movie feel less produced, and the use of long lenses forces a feeling of caution. Spotlight has a lot of tough competition, but I'll be disappointed if the movie doesn't go home with at least one award.

Eating Insects With Rustle Up Sum Grub

I read an article at the beginning of 2016 that stated that crickets might be a food item to catch on this year. I expressed my interest about looking into foods created with crickets a bit more, and Kiah Brasch of RUSTLE UP SUM GRUB reached out to me. I visited her and recorded my experience trying foods made with insects.



A huge thanks to Kiah for teaching us about new food items and feeding us.
Thank you to Brad Olson for also helping me film this project. Brad runs a film company in Minneapolis. CLICK HERE to check out his website. You can watch one of his short films below.

Article XVII from Braddon Alexander on Vimeo.

"Room" Film Review

Thank you to the team that made Room. We are in your debt. What a layered, deep, and fantastic movie. I am now up to 5 out of the 8 films nominated for best picture this year at the Oscars. Room is currently tied with The Martian for this year's award, but like I did when it came down the The Wolf of Wall Street and Dallas Buyers Club, I gave the edge to the film with a smaller budget.
Brie Larson is quickly becoming my favorite actress. If you haven't seen Short Term 12, it may be on Netflix still so get on that. Larson and Mary Elizabeth Winstead are my favorites because they are intelligent and they seem more selective about their roles. I will be cheering for Larson for best actress. I only wish Jacob Tremblay was also nominated for something because he was great.

(Insight on how Larson picks her roles)


Room is a film that no review can encapsulate, and that's what makes it so amazing. I think each individual will get something unique from the film. Mothers will be drawn to the mother-child relationship in the movie. You will see that guidance, inspiration, and love can and should flow from mother to child, but that the stream can be reversed. A great reminder to listen to your children, because you never know what they might teach you. Many people will find the concepts of innocence and youth appealing. There are many powerful forces in this world, but the innocence of youth has to be included in the top tier. Despite dire circumstances, Jack Newsome found joy in simplicity reminding us that perception plays a large role in everything we do. Jack's youthfulness and innate curiosity also allows him to recover from traumatizing events and assimilate into a foreign world much quicker, whereas Joy Newsome has difficulty sliding back into her old life.
Watch the movie as soon as possible, but also be ready to cry and to juggle a lot of thoughts. You'll think about your family, bravery, exploration, kindness, the corporate media, the fragility and toughness of the human psyche, and so many other elements. This is cinema.

"The Martian" Review

Now that I have seen The Martian, I have seen 4 out of 8 movies up for best picture at the Oscars. I will be watching "Room" soon, but as it stands, I have The Martian winning with The Big Short following (Sorry Mad Max & The Revenant).
The Martin is one of those movies you wish never ended. The movie has a runtime of 2 hours and 24 minutes, but the story flies by at warp speed. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll be drawn in, and you'll be on the edge of your seat. Director Ridley Scott was confused at the Golden Globes when the movie won for best comedy, and after watching the film, I am too. I read articles and had people try to justify why the movie could be considered a comedy, but sorry, you're just wrong. There are good dramatic movies, good horror movies, documentaries that you are meant to laugh during. That, however, does not make it a comedic movie.
Good luck to Matt Damon who is up for best actor. The large cast full of talent made it sort of an ensemble cast, but without a doubt Damon put on a great performance. He handled the complexities of his character, Mark Watney, the way a Hollywood vet should handle it. He made you believe Watney was in pain, frustrated, determined, joyful, and anxious on command. We all want to see Leonardo DiCaprio win an Oscar, but he might just have to wait again.
I am disappointed in myself that it took me this long to watch this film. How did I think that a Ridley Scott directed movie set in space was not going to be good? I believe with the help of charismatic scientists like Neil deGrasse Tyson and Bill Nye, and with Hollywood's increased interest in space exploration (Star Wars, Interstellar, Guardians of the Galaxy, Star Trek, Gravity), we have re-stimulated the country's interest in the cosmos and S.T.E.M. Hopefully with the help of this momentum, we can re-prioritize education in our country.
If you're looking for a movie that revolves around the concepts of "determination" and "home", this is your film. "Home" is not four walls and a shelter. Home is where you find comfort, happiness, and a place where you feel safe. Watney tried to make a home on Mars, and despite his most valiant efforts, he found out there is no faking what home really is. Do yourself a favor, and watch this movie now.

"The Big Short" Review

I'm on a hot streak, and although that luck didn't carry over to the Powerball drawing, I did catch another fantastic movie. The Big Short will make you confused, it'll make you laugh, and terribly depressed. It is a very important film to watch before this year's election.
The movie shows you the horrendous underbelly of capitalism and deregulation. You see what happens when the greed of our species, a species that mostly evolved during times of scarcity and is hardwired to hoard, is handed a system that allows greed to act without impunity.
The movie moves swiftly and is mostly reckless, much like the financial sector. There are hefty temporal and spatial jumps, but you are never lost. The cuts are quick and disjointed. You are given shots for fractions of a second and the jump cut is utilized often, but all the coverage is worthwhile. There a many scenes shot with a long lens that gives the film a very voyeuristic feeling. The fourth wall is not only broken in this film, but it is knocked over with a wrecking ball and jackhammered to pulp. You are in the movie, and you are an accomplice to the greatest financial failing in the history of mankind.
There is no shortage of names attached to this film. Brad Pitt is not only in the movie, but helped produce it. Christian Bale, Steve Carell, and Ryan Gosling all put on great performances. I have a feeling most people will rave about Carell and Gosling, but it was how Bale handled his character that struck me. His character had very distinct characteristics, and he owned and gave life to all of them. There are no prominent actresses, and I that is only a poor reflection of Wall Street. It seems to me that any institution that is void of a female presence fails to hold any moral standard. For example, religion.
See you at the Oscars, The Big Short.

"Steve Jobs" (2015) Review

Audiences really missed out by not catching Steve Jobs. I doubt that the platform release hindered its box office performance, but maybe two Steve Jobs movies in two years had something to do with it. How unfortunate the Ashton Kutcher film had to come out first, although that's me judging without having seen that movie. When I first saw the trailer for this movie I thought, "Another Steve Jobs film?" but then I quickly saw that Aaron Sorkin wrote film and Danny Boyle directed it. Instantly I thought it was a must see. Then I saw the box office numbers and I thought maybe the film was a miss. It isn't. Don't let the lack of commercial success dispel you from watching this movie. It has the quick wit and pacing like Sorkin's other works, and it's all tied together by the creativity that Boyle always brings.
Many viewers claim that the film depicts Jobs as an egomaniac. Perhaps there is some truth to it. However, I am jealous, turned off, and I admire Jobs in equal parts. His conviction/stubbornness wouldn't allow himself to fail or succeed in any other way than his. That is the complete opposite of what I am. My timid personality is content with walking down the middle as long as no one is hurt. I do not see this as a Jobs bash movie, but rather a deep and honest look into three major and stressful times in Jobs' life. 
The performances throughout are great. Michael Fassbender seems to have a one-on-one scene with each of the other actors and each dance is full of angst and direction. I also really enjoyed Boyle's choice to shoot with film and digital. He always seems to tinker with some production mechanics in each of the movies, and it really pays off in this one. Two different types of film helped show which year the events took place in, but it also showed where Jobs was professionally. Then shooting shifted to digital leading up to the release of the iMac. This choice may be subtle, but I think it made a big difference. The movie is two hours long, but it won't feel that way. I hope it gets some Oscar consideration.

Marco Rubio's New Ad

I'm positive this will play well with most Republicans, but please keep in mind that it offers absolutely no substance. Not a single policy was offered or even suggested. Approach on education? Nope. What are we to do about climate change? Who knows. Should America be so involved in the Middle East? Try again. How should we handle gun violence? Maybe next time.
Everyone is allowed to have faith and practice it. As an agnostic/atheist/anti-theist, I tend to think faith is a detriment to intelligent thinking. But who cares what I think. If you have sound policies, and faith is an important part of your life, then so be it. You at least still have sound policies. In this case, Marco Rubio's faith took up the entire spot, and we learned nothing (Well, something, but probably not what Rubio had intended).

I Saw "Hateful Eight"

Finally got around to checking out The Hateful Eight tonight. When the crazy and talented Quentin Tarantino puts out a film, you just strap yourself in and you expect a crazy ride that honors cinema. Without a doubt this is a Tarantino film. Plenty of dark humor that is timed perfectly. Moments that'll make you uncomfortable, but fit into the context of the film. Lots of dialogue and excess that traditional Hollywood would be too afraid to attempt. Easter eggs for the cinema buff. All of that neatly laced together by the usual Tarantino conventions that we have gotten so used to. Hateful Eight is a slow burner. The movie plays out almost in real time. There aren't many temporal jumps, nor are there many spatial jumps. I think that really tested Tarantino as a writer, and it also challenged the actors. I remember walking out of Inglorious Basterds thinking, "That's not one of my favorite Tarantino films", but it is apparent now that I jumped to a decision too quickly. Perhaps I had to let it absorb and sink in. Basterds is one of my favorite movies now. So, I won't be hasty with my grading of Hateful Eight.

Racism Is Alive And Well

This video has been popping up in my feed a lot lately. I've been reading the comments and it's very apparent we approach racism the same way we approach illness. We're very adept at recognizing the symptoms and remedying them, but in our fervor the cause(s) often slithers by out of sight. I wrote an op-ed for a blogging site a few years back where I touched on how racism is much harder to clearly show to others these days. I described it as a "Veiled Racism". Racism in the form of physical and verbal harassment, relatively, aren't as prevalent these days. I believe racism has become more crafty, and it has found a cozy home within systemic racism. Mr. Pisone has failed to keep up with the evolution of racism, and now finds himself in hot water. What I find troublesome is when racism of Mr. Pisone's nature is documented, we can get everyone on board. But when evidence about systemic racism is presented, it is often written off as "Liberal Sympathy". Don't be distracted by how raucous the symptoms of racism are, but focus on the cause.

My New Year's Resolution

I don't usually care for New Year's Resolutions. Although I do not doubt the feeling of a "Clean Slate", January 1st is a completely arbitrary day on the Gregorian Calendar. There is nothing intrinsically important about this day other than the meaning we give it.
However, I am using this arbitrary starting line to change a habit. Not for just another revolution around the sun, but hopefully for my remaining time as a sentient being. New Year's Resolutions usually fizzle because a year is a long time from the perspective of a human being, but the circumstances of society change rapidly. What you might need to adapt to today, you may not need to tomorrow.

With all that in mind, I want to make better use of the word "Love". The word "Love" in the English language is very limited. It doesn't differentiate the sort of love like some other languages do. That could possibly contribute to why I haven't learned how to use the word properly. Words have meanings, and we need to do a good job protecting the value of words. I quit using words like "Epic" because society has tarnished its value. A hamburger with 3 patties and 3 different kinds of cheese is hardly "epic". I didn't want to contribute to the contamination of the word "Love". It's too important of a word. I think in an overcompensation, my use of the word "Love" has become too conservative. Does "Love" really lose its value if I tell my friends and family that I love them all the time? Should it matter if my use of the word is genuine? I can't think of the last time I told my friend Mitchell that I loved him, even though I love him deeply. I didn't have a chance to tell him thank you, and that I love him, before I had to say goodbye.
Is "to love more" a unique and new New Year's Resolution? Absolutely not. But you look around, and you can see world could use a bit of love.

I'm Lost

In 2007, I wrote over 200 entries in my blog. I doubt most entries were profound or anything worth reading, but I remember writing whatever was on my mind because I found it therapeutic. I was going through a major identity crisis, and I remember waking up feeling afraid and depressed everyday. I somehow slowly drifted away from writing my thoughts out. I do not know what the catalyst was that created that change, but a shift happened. I feel like I've been carrying around a heaviness lately. I don't think it's one element that is creating this feeling, but rather a collection of stressors. I've been cramming for the GRE exam and preparing my application for Humphrey School of Public Affairs. Both those items probably would make any able and normal person feel at least a little anxiety. On top of that, I feel as though my discomfort is compounded as I still try to compartmentalize the concept of death. It's been over a month since Mitchell died and his funeral. However, I still catch myself falling into these stupors where I am swimming on my own thoughts. I've had trouble falling asleep a couple of nights this week. I'm low on energy, although the lack of sleep might have something to do with that. On Sunday, I almost texted Mitch to ask him if he wanted to watch the Minnesota Vikings game together. The nihilist in me tells me to let go of it. The teenager in me wants to scream and cry. The adult in me whispers to be strong and patient. Reality tells me I'm really confused. I've never dealt with uncertainty well, although I've been surrounded by it most of my life. Maybe writing will help. It's worth a shot. Just ramble on this vast digital canvas.

My Friend Mitch

-Eulogy-

There are far too many noble traits about my brother, Mitchell Hausdchildt, to unpack them all today. But, if there is 2 qualities that I want people to remember about Mitch, it is that he was beyond generous and loyal. When our circle of brothers gathered on the Sunday after his death as we tried to make sense of what happened, our brother Andy put it best: "Mitch was the most ferociously loyal person I have ever met".

I met Mitch when I moved from Minneapolis to Plymouth to attend Maple Grove Junior High. I had no friends at this new school, and I was a part of a completely different environment. My family moved from a mostly inner-city setting to a predominately middle-class and Caucasian community. To put it simply, I stuck out at school. How fortunate I was to randomly sit next to Mitch during lunch. I thought I was going to sit all alone and keep to myself, but since day 1, Mitch was my brother and protected me. He didn't have to defend me every time I was reminded I was an outsider, but he did, because that's the kind of person he was.

Our friendship would continue to blossom. Mitch fell in love with my neighborhood friends and he would soon show them the same level of generosity and loyalty he did to me. My neighborhood friends and I would gather every day after school, but Mitch lived 5 mile away. Which might not seem like a lot, but to a middle schooler without a car and many options, it certainly is a distance not easily covered. Mitch would ride his bike over every day after school to make sure he saw us. I would let him know that he didn't need to make that journey on days it was 100 degrees and humid, or 10 below zero and snowy, but no barrier was too great for Mitch.

Mitch would constantly let us know how much he loved us. From the first time he invited us over to his mom's house so we could have our very first eating contest, to anytime someone fell ill or injured them self, and to the countless bonfire we had. Every time Mitch and I had one of our deep conversations, we would always end it with: "I can't wait until we're all 50, and we are having these same conversations looking back at all the good times we had". My brother, Mitch, we are looking back at all the love you shared, and how happy you made us. And we promise you, that when we're all 50 and looking back at our lives, that you will be there.