TWIB Notes Update

I just got the latest issue of the SNR, and it looks like my first Cinema Scope column and the Fall Film Preview were pushed to next week. The Scene and Heard is in there, though, along with reviews of "Surrogates", "The Girlfriend Experience", and "Trouble the Water".

This Week in Barnesyard - TWIB Notes

It's a very exciting week for The Barnesyard, as my new SNR column Cinema Scope premieres on the movie times page. I also have the Scene and Heard this week, as well as 1/3 of the Fall Film Preview, a review of "Surrogates", and a handful of new DVD reviews. I'll also be returning to my usual 4:40 p.m. slot on KFBK 1530 AM this Friday with reviews of "The Invention of Lying" and "Zombieland".

TWIB Notes - This Week in Barnesyard

I was not on the radio this afternoon, as I had only seen one film ("Surrogates" - Dump It!!) and my phone is shit. I'll be back on KFBK 1530 AM next Friday at 4:40 p.m..

My new SNR column debuts next week - it's called Cinema Scope, and it's the typical free-form cinematic hey-hey that you've come to expect from The Barnesyard. The first column asks the question, "Are American movies worse than ever?"

Additionally, there will probably be some major changes to this blog in the coming weeks, as it may be folded into a larger Cinema Scope blog venture. Professional Fucking Designer Darcey Barnes is said to be working on the layout. More to come on that in the next few weeks...

Voices - "Patch Adams" (Netflix Member Review edition)

-"I can't believe I waited so long to watch this!?!"

-"If you are feeling down, laugther is the best medicine, not just chicken soup. Patch Adams prescribes us the medicine needed in this movie. I am doing well how are you."

-"Definitely include this little gem to your next Robin Williams film festival."

-"Two ways to look at this film. One way, watching the film as a film professor or professional movie reviewer and rip it to pieces for all the problems and overthe top acting that has been the downfall for so many movies. Or from another point of view just turn on the film and get hooked in so much into this true story."

-"[Patch] is unconventional and doesn't follow university rules. He sneaks into a pediatric ward of the teaching hospital and makes all the children laugh!"

-"The kind of guy a lot of people would love to be like. Very, enjoyable movie."

-"Patch Adams is the greatest movie ever made. I mean, who wouldn't want a clown to tell you that you have cancer. That is comic gold."

-"I love this movie! My kids love this movie! My whole family loves this movie & we rarely agree on anything! I know how cold & insensitive some doctor are towards there patients & they could use a few life lessons from Patch. You know, they ones who will stand there, hovering by the doorway, & tell you that you are dying from a disease with no known cause or cure & little in the way of treatment, as if they just told you have a cold & nothing more. Yep, those ones."

-"I have a unique perspective, since there are many doctors in my family. I'm not one, even though I was always supposed to be. Why? Because I watched what becoming a doctor did to my uncle. As each year of his medical school experience progressed into the next, he lost more and more of his humanity, with each new year carrying him further and further away from what to me should be all the reasons someone wants to be a doctor. What I thought medicine was isn't what he showed me, through the person he was becoming, was being taught to him. It's not about the money. It's not about the prestige. It's not even about the medicine, even though it's all about the medicine. What medicine is about is the people."

-"This movie is based on a true story; so to me that makes it worth watching. Robin Williams seems to play the role he was meant to play." [Ed.: That would have been really embarrassing if Williams had accidentally played Monica Potter's role.]

-"I really like true stories. Unfortunatly true life stories can also be sad at time."

-"If you need to work on communication skills rent this movie. This movie was recommended to me at a communication seminar, it took me 5yrs to rent it. I am glad that I did and have improved on many of my relationships in real life."

-"Great movie, is great for anyone in medical field. Makes you wonder why compassion has left some medical profession."

-"Makes you wish there were more Patch Adamses in the world!"

-"People and film critics that gave this movie bad reviews just didn't get the point or have no sense of humor. In order to enjoy this movie, you have to have a sense of humor. Patch Adams had a great sense of humor. He made people laugh. He made people feel good about themselves. He proved that laughter is the best medicine. A lot of people just didn't see that."

-"I work in medicine and the days of patients should be happy ,joyous yet maintaing effective care Bravo"

-"This guy (Patch) had a wonderful outlook, and making those sick people laugh, aaah..."

-"We thoroughly enjoyed this funny and sad film. This too much to have write, a brief review should be enough. Go saller."

-"I work in the medical profession. This was a wonderful movie. It so flys in the face of medicine as we know it, on the other hand, medicine has been so wrong many times. Thought provoking"

-"I don't see why most people this movie so much..."

-"Persons whose consciousness does not experience anything beyond sex, power, money, and violence will not like it."

-"LEAVE ROBIN WILLIAMS ALONE!!!"

-"A touhing story based on real life events of a an intern doctor and his stuggle to be himself. The regid einvironment is a challenge he is more than capable matchinf and chaning."

-"If you have a cold heart and think 'feelings' are for wusses, you may end up throwing your dvd player out the window."

-"One star? What a cynical bunch of whiner reviewers. So you want to discourage our offspring from ever seeing this movie? Why don't you go back under the damp, dank, dark rocks you crawled from, or listen up, here's a clue, Parents of Our Future Leaders--movies like these KILL FACIST."

-"I watched this movie until it displayed a flaw. My DVD stopped and a message appeared demanding my immediate attention to check the DVD for scratches. Patch Adams was found with a mark on the back that kept me from watching the entitre movie. Please send me a different copy of the amazng movie, Patch Adams."

-"Well i did dent even order it in the first place i was supposed to get dill bit Taylor and i also did dent order getting even with dad so im not going to pay for some thing i did dent order and i was supposed to get super hero move like i said i wont pay for them."

NEXT WEEK - The Barnesyard reviews "Les Dames du Bois de Boulogne", "Pickpocket", "Mouchette", and "Patch Adams". What a week!

Hump Day Netflix Member Review Zen

I have seen all 3 of the Bresson films, but haven't had a chance to write about them yet. I'll try to get something up by the end of the week. Here's your zen:

-"As this movie ended we all looked at each other and said, "WHAT"." ("Memento")

-"Hello up there. Is the movie over? I'm still down here... and I'm still in quite a lot of pain. Maybe someone in the lobby could call an ambulance. Oh, the pain is really quite severe. I... I've ..." ("Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me")

-"Disc did not work in my lg blue ray/dvd player or the built in player on my tivo. It did work on my computer but I wasn't going to sit in front of a 15" monitor in an armless computer chair for an hour and a half." ("Adventureland"; their rating: 1 star)

-"Just another worst movie." ("Sex Drive")

-"I am highly offended at this movie! First of all, the title is a blatant drug reference... as in "C'mon, let's FIRE IT UP and smoke the pot." ("Fire it Up")

Tuesday Afternoon Netflix Member Review Zen

-"This movie was fair. It looks like they want a sequel." ("No Country For Old Men")

Monday Morning Cup O' CH Zen

-"I thought that this movie was wonderful. I am man enough to say that. I did enjoy this movie. Miley Cyrus is very talented. Along with Shia LeBeouf and Zac Efron, Miley Cyrus does have talent." ("Hannah Montana: The Movie")

-"After watching this movie, you might want to set yourself up a budget. This movie shows how dangerous credit card spending can be. There is nothing funny about credit card debt. I didn't think this movie was hilarious." ("Confessions of a Shopaholic")

CH From Dinuba's Relationship Advice

"Bride Wars is for the marriage type. If you are the marriage type, this movie is for you. If you're not the marriage type, stay away from this movie. I didn't care for it." ("Bride Wars")

Tuesday Afternoon Ice Cold Glass of Netflix Member Review Zen

-"I love this movie. True, there is no linear narrative/plot. And one character takes a dump on camera (gross). And the Viking language is not accurate. But, it is beautifully filmed." ("Severed Ways")

-"It is horrible acting and bad story line." ("Christy: A New Beginning")

-"The choice of writing or direction was what was really perplexing." ("The Kingdom")

-"Sad but kind of movie to see only once." ("Danika")

-"This film should be required viewing for every high schooler, college resident and politicians." ("Trouble the Water")

-"Yes it was refreshing to see a ordinary gay character. But another "tortured homosexual", please!" ("The Country Teacher")

-"i totally recommend this movie is the best" ("The Hangover")

-"I love a good, violent action movie like any other guy. But really now, this guy flies halfway around the world in his metal suit, with no fuel tanks, no defined alternative energy source. Then he dashes around the skies of Malibu and downtown LA, which the Air Force can characterize as a "training flight"? Plus, I can't stand Terrence Howard. He's gay, and it shows." ("Iron Man")

-"This movie wont play on my Roku instant player. I wish I could have seen it, but it is only available until 10/1/09." ("The 13th Warrior")

-"i love Johny Depp but this movie makes me think it about him in a whole different way." ("Sweeney Todd")

-"Okay Mr. Mendes (director) so suburbia isn't everything it's cracked up to be? While 3rd worlders around the globe pray for some fresh water and a bit of food each day, you poke fun at Americans who can't get over themselves, and their "issues". Yawn..." ("Revolutionary Road")

-"Off the hook!!" ("Crank 2: High Voltage")

-"Very slow movie (esp the ending when everything was slowmo)." ("Natural City")

Tuesday Morning Bowl of Netflix Member Review Bran

"The movie is dark." ("Seven Pounds")

Previews - "Pickpocket"

This Week in Barnesyard - TWIB Notes

I've got 4 new reviews in this week's SNR - "Gamer", "Adventureland", "Local Color", and "The Brothers Bloom". Once again, I'll be on the radio this afternoon at 4:40 p.m., talking about such films as "9", "World's Greatest Dad", and "Whiteout". Tune in if you get the chance.

I was able to watch "Les Dames du Bois de Boulogne" on Tuesday, but a ridiculously protracted fantasy football draft that stretched over three days (longer than the actual NFL draft, which only takes place at Madison Square Garden) didn't leave me enough time to write about it. That will have to wait for this weekend, along with my review of "Pickpocket".

Previews - "Les Dames du Bois de Boulogne"

We kick off Robert Bresson Month on Tuesday with his 1945 "Les Dames du Bous de Boulogne".