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Voice, Point of View and Workshopping

March 12, 2010 in On Writing, Study

What the heck is “voice” in writing?

That’s what we’ve been discussing in my narrative class, even though we did traverse the subject in screenwriting and theory as well.  And after hours of discussion and studying texts, I don’t think the answer is any clearer.  Is it point of view?  Style?  Tone?  Simply the way a story is told?  All of the above?

The main reason the discussions went nowhere is because there was this old dude in class that would not shut up with the comments.  It was a night class, so it should have been past his bed time, but this guy just went on and on.  He just had to make a comment about everything.  Talking over the tutor, interrupting others in the class.  I wouldn’t have minded so much had these been constructive comments.  But no, it was just stupid, random, pointless stuff.  He told at least three ‘stories’ from over 20 years ago that had no connection to whatever we were doing.  It was a 70-year-old (okay, he was probably only 60), unstoppable force of nature.

That said, there was a bit of fun.  We discussed the readings for the week, including The Resurrectionist by James Bradley (an Australian novel about the apprentice of an anatomist in the 1800s), Bright Lights, Big City by Jay McInerney, and The Turning (a collection of interlinked short stories) by Tim Winton.

Bright Lights, Big City was interesting because it was told from a rare second person perspective.  Some people in the class loved it (especially the old dude), but others found it a little tedious reading “you you you” all the time.

Oh, and we also had to read out our shit in class and give constructive feedback.  They call it “workshopping”.  It was terrifying, even though only “positive” comments were allowed (with a bit of room for “development” suggestions).  I suppose it’s necessary and useful to get used to people reading your stuff and commenting on it if you ever want to get published.  Still, being left alone is what I prefer.

Anyway, back to voice.  The true definition is actually very simple.  According to John Farnham, the voice is YOU.  You just have to try and understand it.

You’re the voice, try and understand it
Make a noise and make it clear
(Oh Oh Oh Ohooooh)
(Oh Oh Oh Oh Ohooooh)

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Movie Review: The Men Who Stare at Goats (2009)

March 12, 2010 in Movie Reviews

The Men Who Stare at Goats is one of those light, quirky, darkly amusing comedies very loosely based on real events.  It features an all-star cast including George Clooney, Ewan McGregor, Jeff Bridges and Kevin Spacey.  It’s enjoyable, fascinating, and in no way meant to be taken seriously.  It’s not memorable, and is unlikely to win any awards, but it’ll give you a laugh and a good time for 94 minutes.

The film is told through the eyes of Ewan McGregor’s Bob Wilton, a journalist who ends up stumbling across the story of a lifetime – the US army’s attempts to develop psychic spies with super powers.  Yes, the US military actually tried to do this (and who knows, may still be trying to do this)!

You could be forgiven for thinking that The Men Who Stare at Goats is a Coen brothers movie in the vein of The Big Lebowski and Burn After Reading.  It has that quirky feel from start to finish; you wonder what the heck is happening and what might happen next.  Every character Bob Wilton comes across is fascinating and hilarious, especially Lyn Cassady, perfectly played by the “so serious it’s funny” George Clooney.

But actually, The Men Who Stare at Goats is written by Peter Straughan (How to Lose Friends and Alienate People), loosely based on the book of the same name by Jon Ronson.  It’s directed by Grant Helsov, who hasn’t done much directing and is more of an actor.  Hopefully Helsov will have more opportunities to direct after this film.

Anyway, there’s nothing particularly outstanding about the film.  It’s constantly amusing, but the big laughs are less frequent.  That said, it is clever, and somehow manages to stand on the fence when it comes to psychics.  The movie doesn’t endorse them as genuine, but it doesn’t exactly ridicule them as frauds either.  It does, however, suggest they may all be crazy!  My favourite thing about the whole film is that it makes constant references to Star Wars, especially because it stars young Obi-Wan Kenobi himself!

3.5 stars out of 5!

[PS: and yes, goats are stared at in this movie]

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Pacquiao-Clottey: Easy Win or Upset?

March 11, 2010 in Boxing

[For the results of the fight and analysis, click here]

I know a lot of people are still up in arms over the failed Mayweather-Pacquiao fight which would have taken place on Saturday, 13 March 2010, had the two sides not lost the plot over drug testing procedures.

Instead, we now have pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao taking on Joshua Clottey at Cowboys Stadium in Dallas (capacity 45,000) on the same day, and undefeated Floyd Mayweather Jr taking on Shane Mosley on 1 May 2010.

To be honest, the hype for the Pacquiao-Clottey fight has been relatively low.  And it’s perfectly understandable.

Fist of all, there is the disappointment over the Mayweather fallout.  Secondly, there is the related fury over Pacquiao’s refusal to accept blood testing.  Thirdly, many simply think Clottey is not a worthy opponent.  Clottey’s most recent bout (13 June 2009) was a split decision loss to Miguel Cotto, the man Pacquiao destroyed over 12 rounds on 14 November 2009.

However, there are plenty of factors at play in this bout, most of which have been ignored or downplayed.  Clottey is a much more dangerous opponent than most people give him credit for.

So is this going to be just another easy win for Pacquiao?  Or will Clottey pull off the stunning upset?

(Click on ‘more…’ for the analysis)

Read the rest of this entry →

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Book Review: Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane

March 11, 2010 in Book Reviews

Nate from theninthdragonking was right.  I should have read the book first before watching the movie.

But then again, had I read the book first, the movie probably wouldn’t have been as good.

Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane (who also wrote Mystic River) is a solid book, an intelligent, well-written thriller with slick dialogue and fascinating characters.  But it didn’t blow me away or anything.  Like I said, maybe watching the movie (which was remarkably similar) first had something to do with it.  After all, it does reveal the ending.

The premise is simple.  In 1954, Teddy Daniels, a US Marshal, is called to Ashcliffe hospital (for the criminally insane) on Shutter Island to investigate the disappearance of a patient.  But of course, Teddy is thrown into a wild, dangerous world where nothing is as it seems.  Will he come out of it with his health and sanity in tact?

The atmosphere is dark and suspenseful.  The plot is full of twists and turns.  The characters are memorable, especially Teddy’s new partner Chuck Aule, a funny, likable sidekick.  Lehane is a master manipulator who knows how to keep readers confused.  However, the thing I liked most about Shutter Island was the way Lehane handles the dialogue.  Each character’s voice is distinct and easily recognisable, with their own tone, style, and beat.  It’s certainly something I can learn from.

That said, there was too much dialogue.  At times it felt like that was all I was reading.  I think the story stagnated because of it. For a 369-page novel (my movie tie-in edition), I kind of expected a bit more to happen.

And really, when you think about it, the story requires a ridiculous amount of suspending disbelief.  I suppose credit should go to Lehane for making such a preposterous premise semi-believable.

Ultimately, a good read, but not as good as I expected.

3.5 stars out of 5

[PS: SPOILER ALERT - a lot is made about the book's (and the film's twist ending).  Yes, it's not all that hard to figure out, but do reviewers have to keep reminding readers that a twist ending is coming?  Take for example the back cover, a review from the New York Times: "A deft, suspenseful thriller that unfolds with increasing urgency until it delivers a visceral shock in the final moments."  Then, inside the front cover, from Washington Post Book World: "Its shocking outcome kept me awake"; from Denver Post: "And then there's the ending.  You're sure to talk about this one over lunch..."; from Raleigh News Observer: "leads us hypnotically to a climax that is both absolutely shocking and wholly plausible"; and the worst one of all, from Atlanta Journal-Constitution: "Lehane throws in a beauty of a reversal toward the end, one as surprising as the revelation in the movie The Sixth Sense".]

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R.I.P Corey Haim (sob)

March 10, 2010 in Best Of, Entertainment

Corey Haim (right) and Corey Feldman back in more innocent days

Corey Haim (right) and Corey Feldman back in more innocent days

[Update: the coroner has finally released a report clarifying that Corey Haim did not die of a drug overdose as initially suspected.  Haim's official cause of death is pneumonia complicated by an enlarged heart and narrowed blood vessels.]

Tragic.

One of my favourite dudes from the late 80s and early 90s, Corey Haim, passed away on 10 March 2010, at just 38 years old.  No formal cause of death has been determined but it’s no surprise most speculate that drugs were involved.

Haim has been ‘troubled’ for many years now, to the point where his best mate Corey Feldman (also one of my faovurite dudes as a kid, who starred with Haim in many films and later on the reality TV series The Two Coreys) refused to have any contact with him until he got his life back on track.  Sadly, there’s no chance of that happening now.

This wound is fresh because I had just watched Lost Boys: The Tribe (review coming soon), in which Haim had a small cameo in the credits and was reportedly to be involved in a further sequel.  He also apparently said in a recent interview that he has to get clean or else he would die or go to prison.  I thought he had turned the corner…

Anyway, I’ll always remember watching Haim’s straight-to-video  ‘classics’ with my sister as kids – such as Prayer of the Rollerboys (I bought my first pair of rollerblades after this!), License to Drive, Dream a Little Dream, The Dream Machine and Fast Getaway (amongst others) – back in the day when those movies were cool, and Haim and Feldman were cool guys, heart throbs, the Robert Pattinson and Zac Efron of their day.

It’s such a shame.

[PS: Corey Feldman on his WordPress blog:

I was awakened at 8:30 this morning by my brother and sister knocking on my bedroom door. They informed me of the loss of my brother Corey Haim. My eyes weren’t even open all the way when the tears started streaming down my face. I am so sorry for Corey, his mother Judy, his family, my family, all of our fans, and of course my son who I will have to find a way to explain this to when he gets home from school. This is a tragic loss of a wonderful,beautiful,tormented soul, who will always be my brother,family, and best friend. We must all take this as a lesson in how we treat the people we share this world with while they are still here to make a difference. Please respect our families as we struggle and grieve through this difficult time. I hope the art Corey has left behind will be remembered as the passion of that for which he truly lived. ~ Corey

Well said Feldman.]

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