More debate on jimformation about the (lack of) value of weblogs, including this guest piece by bwg. I didn’t like the piece at first, as it begins by making a play to elitism, but if you read the whole thing, bwg actually supports the idea of blogging but also the idea of not taking it so seriously.
Move notes: What has happened to Hal Hartley? He used to be one of my favorite directors–quirky, odd, a bit pedantic at times, but always worth checking out. All of his moves up until Henry Fool are good (some of them, Surviving Desire, Flirt, and Trust are way beyond good). But Henry Fool was awful–long, self important, and unconvincingly acted. At the time, I blamed this on the lack of Martin Donavan in the lead role (a mainstay of Hartley flicks and one of the reasons they’re often so good). But recently I sat through The Book of Life, Harley’s first film since Nenry Fool. I was glad to see Martin Donavan back in the fray, but the film is terrible. And Hartley abandons his usual shooting style for something far worse (the addition of P.J. Harvey as Donavan’s side kick doesn’t help. She’s a good singer. Her part in the film is so unecessary it’s hard to tell if she’s a good actress). I’m just at a loss. [Wheat hangs his head and cries].
I see two more recent films listed at imdb (I live in the midwest; it takes a while for independent films to make their way here in rental form). I’m keeping my fingers crossed.