That being said, his new film “Sicko” is absolutely incredible. When I first heard he was doing a movie about health care, I thought, “Who gives a crap?” Sure, I hear about it all the time, but does it really matter? Aren’t there more important things he could be concentrating on? Thing I could be concentrating on? But now that I’ve had the chance to see it, I can say without a doubt it is probably the most important movie anyone should see this year. Yes, even more important than “Knocked Up”.

“Sicko” takes a look at how health care works in the US. We pay lots and lots of money to companies who make lots and lots of money, and make even more money when they don’t have to spend anything to treat us. It makes sense… it’s just business, right? The less you spend, the more you make. Plain and simple.

But what Moore’s film does, more importantly than pointing out how things work here, is pointing out how things work in some other small, insignificant countries like, oh, Canada… France… England… Cuba! Universal healthcare allows anyone to go to a hospital or pharmacy and get treatment for near nothing. In the film, an American man had a shop accident, and chopped off the tips of two of his fingers. At the hospital, he had to choose which fingertips he could afford to have put back on. In the UK, a man had sliced off all 5 fingers on one hand, and the procedure to reattach them all cost him nothing. God bless America.

The film goes around the globe to point out how America is the only nation left in the western world that doesn’t provide Universal Healthcare, and it does a good job of pointing out why. I think one of the most insightful quotes in the movie comes from a former member of British Parliament: “An educated, healthy, and confident nation is harder to govern, and I think there’s an element in the thinking in some people, we don’t want people to be healthy, educated, and confident, because they might get out of control.”

Moore’s latest might not be objective or balanced, but then again, is any of the news we hear or read balanced either? I can’t fault him for using the same tactics that the government and the media use to provide us with what they want us to know… it’s obviously what works. The release of “Sicko” right before an election year is a fantastic move on Moore’s part, and I hope the film does enough to spark a dialogue (aside from “he’s a commie pinko bastard!”) to do a whole lot of good come November 2008.

More on Sicko here.

You know, when the government doesn’t want you to see something, chances are it’s going to be pretty good. After the government tried to seize the negatives to Michael Moore’s latest film “Sicko”, which takes a look at healthcare in the US, Moore and friends took it to Cannes, and it was all over from there.

Earlier today, Michael Moore was on Oprah, who called “Sicko” “the one film you must see this summer”. Coming from Oprah, that’s some pretty serious business. Most of us here in the US only think of healthcare as an “important issue”, but if you’re under 40, chances are you just expect things to be the way they are. Hopefully this film will help raise awareness that we’re all getting shafted – big time.

Check out the official trailer on Youtube here.

[UPDATE] You can check out the Oprah interview on Youtube in 2 parts:

Part 1

Part 2

After watching the theatrical trailer for the new Transformers movie, however, I have but two words: Holy crap.

Download it here and see for yourself:

Transformers Theatrical Trailer in 480p (22MB)

You know, what can I say? I loved Napoleon Dynamite, and I loved Nacho Libre. Jared and Jerusha Hess + Jack Black + a Danny Elfman score = Very good times.

The story goes Jared Hess originally wanted Beck to do the score, but Paramount hired Elfman without telling Jared. Drama ensued, but in the end the winner is truly the viewer, as Danny Elfman yet again delivers magnificent ear candy.

One of the pre-existing songs used in the movie, “Hombre Religioso” by Mr Loco, is probably the most popular song off the not-yet-released soundtrack, but you can get your fix by downloading it from the (unofficial?) Nacho Libre myspace profile.

While you’re at it, you can head over to the Nacho Libre site and play Nacho Kung-Fu and work your way up to the top! The sexy flash site also features “Nombre Magico”, where you can find out your luchador name as well as your signature move, fan-submitted content like photos and drawings, and other Nacho-related goodies to download.

Sharing is caring! Hopefully the soundtrack will be released soon, but until then, I guess all you can do is go to the theater and see it over and over and over again.

Kiss kiss, hug hug, big kiss little hug, kiss kiss…

Look familiar? It looks like Bollywood is taking a cue from Hollywood now and remaking Asian blockbusters! Zinda stars Sanjay Dutt and John Abraham in the Hindi remake of Old Boy.

I loved Old Boy, and I love Bollywood… with the American remake coming up, directed by Justin Lin who brought us “Better Luck Tomorrow“, it will be interesting to see how these two compare. One thing I can guarantee you though… the American remake will not have the awesome song and dance numbers that made Bollywood famous.

Visit the official Zinda site here.

Have you found yourself lying awake in bed at night, wondering what the next Jared Hess joint is going to be? Well wonder no more!

Nacho Libre stars Jack Black as an aspiring mexican wrestler. Need I say more?

Check out the site here: Nacho Libre!!!!

“As founder of the Mesa Frozen Entree Enthusiasts’ Club, Shawn (writer-director Sean Anders) brings his love for collecting TV dinners to the world, gathering a motley crew of co-collectors (most of whom are members of his punk band turned Christian rock group) to host the world’s first Frozen Entree Enthusiasts’ Convention.”

Sounds right up my alley! I thought it was interesting that they’d send me an email about this though, considering most of their recommendations are showed when you log in. But hey, you know what? I’m going to play along and add it to my queue. I’ll let you know how it is… thanks Netflix!

Now if only they could start recommending me Bollywood…….

When I first saw the previews for Jarhead, I thought oh lord, not another Pearl Harbor. Not another patriotic call to arms at a time when a military operation has the lowest public support ever… but alas, looking more into the film, while I’m sure it takes the patriotic “I love my country, and I’ll fight for it, but only for the right reasons” route, it doesn’t look to be the blatant flag waving I thought it was at first glance. Interestingly enough, the television spots are much more rock ‘n’ roll, America, Fuck Yeah! than the trailers, and possibly the movie, actually are.

On the other hand, there’s Warner Independent’s Paradise Now, which follows two Palestinian friends, normal average men, in the last 48 hours of their lives after they’re both chosen to become suicide bombers in an attack on Israel. The taglines for the movie are, “From the most unexpected place, comes a bold new call for peace” and “Sometimes the most courageous act is the one you don’t do”, so it might be a thoughtful exposé on terrorism, war, and peace.

Trailer at Apple.com:

Jarhead

Paridise Now

Eeeeeee!!!! Excuse my girlish squeals, but it seems like performance artist/musician/filmmaker Miranda July who has long both frightened and delighted me has a feature length film coming out, ACTUALLY PLAYING IN THEATERS.

A long while ago I accidentally discovered her spoken word-ish-somewhat-beyond-classification albums of yesteryear, and ever since I’ve recognized her scary genius with humble respect. I’ve seen her previous shorts and not so shorts and other works such as Nest of Tens and Love Diamond up and down the West Coast, and I’m absolutely overjoyed that she’s getting the chance to be up on the big screen, nationwide.

Judging by the trailer, Miranda July is Miranda July, the movie looks undoubtedly fantastic, and I hope that “Me And You And Everyone We Know” finds the audience it deserves.

Check the site to see if it’s coming to a theater near you, and go see it. If you don’t like it, you can send me an angry email with a drawing of a dead teddy bear, but I think that you should definitely give it a chance.

Munnabhai MBBS – “No tension… apun hai na!”

I really like Sanjay Dutt, who stars in this drama/comedy about a local crime boss, Munnabhai, who pretends to be a doctor when his parents come to visit, setting up an elaborate scheme using all his friends and connections to create a fake hospital with fake nurses, fake doctors, and a fake staff. This elaborate ruse falls through when his father, proud of his son, meets and old friend who happens to also be a doctor and wonders why he’s never heard of Munnabahi. The father’s friend looks into it and discovers the lie, and then reveals it to the father, who is crushed. This crushes Munnabhai, and everyone else involved. Our hero is determined to prove he can be a doctor too, so he goes to medical school and meets his childhood friend Suman, who happens to be the hot sexy daughter of the father’s friend, who happens to be the dean of the medical academy. All hell breaks loose. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry. A wonderful movie all around.

Main Hoon Na – “Avoid, man!”

Bollywood heartthrob Shahrukh Khan stars in this awesomely mixed-genre movie. Part drama, part comedy, and part action movie, Kal Ho Naa Ho follows Major Ram Prasad Sharma in his mission to see that a peace gesture between India and Pakistan follows through, ending long standing tension between the two nations. Enter Raghavan, the ruthless bad guy who will stop at nothing to see this doesn’t follow through. Raghavan attacks the head of the military during an interview, and Ram’s father, a brigadier general, takes a bullet for him. The Chief General asks Ram to protect his daughter who is at University, but Ram naturally wants to track down his father’s killer. The twist, however, is that also at this University is Ram’s long lost brother, so he decided to go, posing as a student. Hijinks ensue and lots of action follows as Ram protects his new friends from the bad guys as well as dodges spit from a professor who sprays it, not says it. Musical numbers abound in this fun film.

Kal Ho Naa Ho – “I LOVE YOU, pretty woman!”

That hunk Shahrukh stars this time along side upcoming Bollywood heartthrob Saif Ali Khan in this great story about the value of life. This one takes place in New York and has some of the best musical sequences I’ve ever seen. I won’t begin to try and explain them here, but Shahrukh plays a man who wanders into Naina’s family’s life and turns everything around by bringing happiness to all. Naina who rejects him at first ends up falling madly in love with him, and he, her, but Shahrukh claims to be married already, crushing Naina’s dreams. On the side is Rohit, Naina’s long time friend, who, after Naina finds she can be a happy person, falls in love with her suddenly. Love triangle ensues and then super twist, lots of drama, lots of tears. Great movie, definitely highly recommended.

That’s about it for now. All these movies are available on Netflix, which has what must be the best Bollywood selection available to mass audiences. However you want to do it, check out these selections if you’re interested in seeing what the genre has to offer!

The second I heard of this movie, making the rounds at various film festivals that had nothing to do with my part of the world, I wanted to see it. Jim White, a man with an amazing set of both chops and musical talents, sets forth on a road trip into the American South collecting “stories and testimonies” that paint an honest human history of the area that produces so very, very much weird stuff.

Just go watch the trailer ok? Also, it’s playing around the US at a few theaters far before the DVD release, so check out the news section to see if you can catch it at a theater near you.

I didn’t know this was an MTV film, but once I saw the spaceman in the opening credits, I realized why they were giving out buttons and other things and having coloring contests at this small theater that usually only has photocopied schedules to hand out. Marketing! Lovely!

Go see it! It was great. I was smiling the entire time. And while you’re at it, get yourself some buttons! They had many different ones aside from these!