It's a Wonderful Life is Frank Capra at his most Capraesque. Also, what does Ambrose Bierce and Jacob's Ladder have to do with anything?

If you want to understand the origins of film, you need to understand that Edison, the Lumieres, all of 'em did not just hit on the right combination at the start. No, I am not saying that they had to fail a bunch of times before they hit on the right recipe, in fact they were on-target with their first attempts most times and went looking for an easier methodology (just like Edison with his lightbulb!) 

Monkeyshines #1 was an attempt at using a cylinder to store image for use in Edison's Kinetoscope. It was not ideal, and as you can see in the quality of the images that remain, the resolution was terrible, but it was the start. 

I can't help but think of experimental films of the 1950s and 60s when I watch this. It feels as if this could have been shot and seen at the most avant garde film festivals alongside Jonas Mekas or Emlen Ettin. These are beautifully abstract images that aren't meant to be abstract. The fact that they were made when nearly all of the Impressionists were still alive is an interesting fact, especially since many would claim they were both doing the same thing - trying to represent the world around them the best that they could. 

Tropic Thunder is a film that 100% be on the Registry. Not eligible until next year, here I talk about what it represents, and why it might be the most meta of all the meta Hollywood comedies. 

Magnolia, a 1999 classic, and I make a case for its inclusion on the Registry! 

You can view 13 Lakes as an endurance film, or perhaps as a meditative piece of long-take filmmaking. Me? I look at it as the single best example of minimalism in film history. 

A look at one of the most impressive American Avant Garde cinematic achievements that isn't yet on the National Film Registry. 

Those of you who follow my many media meanderings will know that Journey Planet is doing a Fashion issue coming up soon, and thus, I went looking for Fashion films for an article. This one came up and it's so much what I think about it. 

It's about fashion as a presentation, and the lengths we must now go to break ground. It is not only about fashion, but about just about everything. 
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