Watching TV is a huge challenge for me no matter how innovative the show may seem. Last night I sat down to watch Homeland (episode 4…I’m behind) and found my thoughts drifting away every ten minutes. No matter how hard they tried to build drama, I just wasn’t going to buy in. This is my personal struggle with TV…once I have seen the premise it is hard for me to watch the same basic story again.

With film, the task is different because the commitment is much less serious. If you don’t like it, you move on…you don’t have to sit through six episodes and then feel guilty because you are done with it! Having said that, your taste filter is generally kicking in by about minute thirty when the voice in your head says, ”if this doesn’t get better in the next fifteen minutes I’m done!”

Birdman. Minute one exciting. Minute five better. Minute 20 insane…get my drift? I have never seen a more original work of art on film. The acting, sound design, and directing combine to create the most compelling film I have seen in ten years…maybe all time. OK, go see this film now and if you don’t like it I’m buying lunch!

And this Saturday, come see the opening of our new exhibition called 12” from 3-6PM. Some of the world’s most compelling artist’s pay homage through their art to rock albums that inspired them. We will have live performances from the School of Rock as well. BTW: Christian Marclay is in the show (he won the Golden Lion at the Venice Bienalle in 2011)…the Birdman is coming to Englewood!

Monday, November 3, 2014