The Machinist

I got caught overnight in Brisbane (thank you Air Nuigini), and took the time to catch Christian Bale in the The Machinist. After being so impressed by his Batman Begins performance I had high hopes for this one. And I can report that he is equally impressive here as Trevor Reznik.

Which is lucky really. Because while this is a well made film, it's not necessarily an enjoyable one. It's a psycho-thriller with equally strong references to Fight Club, Memento and Kafka. It's a bleak industrial world in here, and I found myself drawn into Reznik's insomnia and paranoia (perhaps it's not a movie to see by yourself).

Its interesting to look back on three recent films aiming for that dark and bleak look - Revenge of the Sith is Hollywood CGI dark, Batman Begins is the cool and terrifying dark of film noir, and finally The Machinist gives us a guilt-laden, psychosis vision of darkness. And what's really scary is that I know which one holds closest to reality.

Not one for your Saturday afternoon off. Best served with a clean glass of water and quick phone call to some good friends.

Juliet's Birthday Party!

Juliet hanging
Originally uploaded by urbanstone.

Photo's from my God daughter Juliet's, 6th bithday party. Click on the photo and go to the friends set on my flickr page to see more.

Batman controversy and Katie Holmes

KATIEyb_1
Originally uploaded by urbanstone.

It seems my review of Batman Begins was the catalyst for a very interesting and bizarre debate (thanks Liliana). Indeed so bizarre that it drew in some friends of Katie's from the US. So thanks Pru from Ohio for sending this photo from Katie's high school year book. A few others pics are also on my flickr site if you want to have a look see (to get there just click once on the photo, tap your heels together and say "there's no place like home").

Poetic Collingwood

For those with an interest - or perhaps even disbelief - here is proof that not all footy fans are mindless twits. Haiku Bob is a regular over at Extreme Black'n'White, and his poetry is brilliant.

His latest work "talk of lesser things" is brilliant. Collingwood Melancholy as a category all of it's own?

The Whitlams new album

whitlams new album
Originally uploaded by urbanstone.

Tim Freedman at work on his new album. Mostly written in New York, currently recording in Sydney. Bring it on.

See SMH for details.

One Small Barking Dog

pure-green
Originally uploaded by urbanstone.

No, not a new pet, but a very creative bunch of people from Birmingham in the UK. They produce a whole range of "innovative media for contemporary culture".

Lots of stylish and useful resources around spirituality as well. Many of you will have known OSBD for a while. Just thought I'd take the chance to point out some of the creative stuff being done around the emerging church.

For some Australian samples check out:
- Cafe Church resources
- Mountain Masala
- Youth multimedia

ignition

ignition (c) West Coast 2005
Originally uploaded by urbanstone.

Absolutely love this photo! Discovered on the OCAU photopgraphy forum. Taken by an incredible photographer known as WestCoast - copyright 2005. Thanks for the permission!

Secret postcards

Secret postcards
Originally uploaded by urbanstone.

Thanks to Craig for pointing out this bizarre but fascinating site. PostSecret is an ongoing community art project where people mail-in their secrets anonymously on one side of a homemade postcard.

Interesting that people can trust confession to strangers but not those closest to us? I guess it sort of makes sense, but it makes me sad that people don't have mates they can trust. Who are we trying to be?

Batman Begins

Batman Begins
Originally uploaded by urbanstone.

Ok so the world doesn't need another superhero film right? Well not any more. Batman Begins, directed by Christopher Nolan of Memento and Insomnia fame, is absolutely stunning. Dark, brooding, and introspective - it pushes all the right buttons for me, and yet unlike Revenge of the Sith (which I did enjoy), manages to do so without feeling forced and soap opera-ish.

Does it follow the cliche's? It is Batman, but George Clooney and Adam West this ain't! Yes, there is the obligatory loss of parents scenario, the tortured soul looking for redemption and the doomed love interest; but there is so much more to this film. For a start Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman and Gary Oldman provide a superb support cast that add subtle humour and light, to Christian Bale's darkness.

And then there is this whole Nietzche and Freudian underplay of what do we truly fear? What makes for social responsibility and when is social obligation forfeit? What is the redemption that humanity really searches for? Freedom from guilt, or fear of power? Or ultimately is it the chance to be a brooding dark anti-hero scaring the crap out of people? Hmmmm

5/5 - brilliant.

Today's 23rd Psalm

TODAY’S 23RD PSALM

The TV is my shepherd.
I shall not want.
It makes me lie down on the sofa.
It leads me away from the faith.

It destroys my soul.
It leads me in the path of sex and violence for the sponsor’s sake.
Yea, though I walk in the shadow of Christian responsibilities, there will be no interruption, for the TV is with me.

Its cable and remote control, they comfort me.
It prepares a commercial for me in the presence of my worldliness.
It anoints my head with humanism and consumerism.
My coveting runneth over.

Surely laziness and ignorance shall follow me all the days of my life.
And I shall dwell in the house watching TV forever.

(with thanks to Smithy for tracking this down)

Who Would Jesus Bomb?

Who Would Jesus Bomb?
Originally uploaded by urbanstone.

Love this! Dad just back from a conference in San Fransisco, where he met some old hippies left over from the Jesus Movement of the 70's. Great question though - who would Jesus bomb? Much sharper than the What Would Jesus Do bracelet craze!

coldplay

coldplay
Originally uploaded by urbanstone.

Listening to "X&Y", the latest album from Coldplay. Not quite as immediate as "a rush of blood to the head", it is however a bit of a slow burn. The same sense of songs being layered and built up into harmonies and rhythms that sound epic without being overdone (although I must admit to being a bit of tragic for the orchestrated epic ala smashing pumpkins and U2).

Click here to hear some samples from X&Y

Putt Putt Golf revisited

It's essay writing time, and frankly, I'm just losing the ability to care too much about it anymore (there's only so far caffeine can carry me). So at times like these what better than a procrastination aid such as Putt Putt Golf! Scored a 44 on my second go. Ahh the benefits of a mispent life of youth work.

Beth mesmerized by the footy!

AJ and Beth
Originally uploaded by urbanstone.

Introducing my niece Bethany to football from the famous black couch at Dave and Tiff's place in Brisbane. As you can see, she's absolutely entranced by the mighty black'n'white pies! Clearly a smart young thing already.

And of course, more photos at Urban Stone, just look in the Bennett folder for the Bethany Jane Johnson extravanganza!