Wednesday, May 22, 2024

New thoughts about social media

Why do we share things on social media?  

I thought the the term “social media” came from the early days of Facebook where the prompt said “Phil is…”.  Since 2009, it now says “what’s on your mind?”  https://talkingpointsmemo.com/idealab/facebook-tests-new-status-prompt-questions-how-are-you-feeling#. But from Samual Stroud, the term has older origins to the days of AOL.  https://www.giraffesocialmedia.co.uk/who-coined-the-term-social-media-first/#:~:text=In%201997%2C%20Ted%20Leonsis%2C%20was,which%20being%20AOL%20Instant%20Messenger.


At its simplest, social media is the way many people communicate today.  Think about it this way.  You’re invited to a party and you just got back from a European vacation.  It’s natural that you want to share your stories with friends and maybe even new acquaintances at the party.  You may even take out a photograph to share.  Or maybe even further back - the postcard.  When you were on vacation, you’d write your impressions of a new place on the back of a pretty picture of your vacation spot and mail it to a single person.  Are there people that would go to a party and not tell their friends why they haven’t been around for a few weeks?  That’s kind of weird, right?  You may say it’s even anti-social not to share what you’ve been doing.  Ok, if you don’t got to parties or don’t have friends, this may not be for you.  


Some people use a “trick” in social settings.  They ask you “how was your weekend?”  Many people ask this out of true interest or are simply being polite.  But some may hope that after you share your story, you ask them about their weekend which they’d love to tell you all about (and oh, by the way, they just happen to have some photos to share).  I apologize as a keen storyteller, after telling my story, I often forget to ask the initiator “thanks for asking, and how was your weekend?”.  I see some people on social media simply post “how’s your day?”.   It may not be fair to all, but I’d guess that may be a similar strategy for people wanting to (politely) share their story.


This is a stretch - when some of us log into our social media platform of choice, are we not asking the question “what’s new”?  We may not ask it directly, but we’re here aren’t we, we came to the party, what did we expect?  We want to see what’s new with our close friends, old friends, new acquaintances and maybe even strangers.  Then, when we’ve made the rounds, we’re comfortable sharing [in case you were wondering], this happened on my weekend (and here are a few photos that I took to remember it).


I feel that social media is an amplified digital version of traditional social meetings and gatherings.  It’s a new form of communication that lets us connect with friends and with strangers beyond the limits of physical proximity.  But, the social contract is delicate - I confess, I don’t appreciate all of its finer points and I can dominate a conversation at times or accidentally offend some people.  Digital amplification on social media can potentially create more serious issues or bigger embarrassment for some people.  I don’t have the new rules, but there are some commonly accepted guidelines for social media.  You need to carefully monitor your frequency of communication.  You need to be conscious of the amount of information you share.  And just like an office party, you cannot talk about sex, religion or money.  


I take a huge amount of photos of many subjects.  I record my impressions and ideas on video.  I travel quite a lot.  I have some friends that have the interest and time to see my longer-form stories while others like to get a glimpse into what Phil’s been up to.  I’m trying to be careful how much I share, but there’s lots more if you’d like to sit down.


Epilogue - remember that guy that used to come to all the parties with a mixed tape of all the new tunes he wants to share, what’s he doing now on social media?

Sunday, March 10, 2024

Just in time - my movie reviews on the day of the Oscars

I've really enjoyed the diversity of this year's Oscar best picture nominees.  I've been lucky to have seen all of the 10 films, including 4 in the last week.  I rated most of these films highly because of the depth of character complexity - sometimes relating to real people, other times - beautiful creations that are three dimensional.  Most are wonderful cinematic productions and a feast for the eyes that create a rich visual background for super storytelling. But, I'm sorry, Oppenheimer should not win.  No one would be unhappy if The Holdovers won and some may dare to say Poor Things is worthy of the top prize.

Best to worst:

  1. Poor Things
  2. The Holdovers
  3. Anatomy of a Fall
  4. Killers of the Flower Moon
  5. Past Lives
  6. Maestro
  7. American Fiction
  8. Oppenheimer
  9. Barbie
  10. The Zone of Interest


Poor Things


Loved it.  Like what - the chaos of Moulin Rouge + the artistry of Wes Anderson + the poetry of a Woody Allen character?  Stunning visuals.  Superb performances - Emma Stone is my pick for Oscar’s best actress.  Loved the dance scene, and the scene on deck of the ship, and Paris, and the end.  Beautiful adaptation of the book that I assume was a master class in imagination - my pick for Oscar's adapted screenplay.  As it says “a fantastical tale” but one with lots of lessons for humans wandering this crazy blue orb.  Mark Ruffalo is my pick for Oscar’s best supporting actor.  9/10.  


The Holdovers


Wonderful in every way.  Superb acting for multi-dimensional complex characters.   Lessons and love.  Characters and comedy.  Da’vine Joy Randolph is my pick for Oscar’s best supporting actress.   The only big movie of the year I watched twice.  9/10 


Anatomy of a Fall


I was glued from the opening scene with the beautiful border collie played by Messi. A terrific story and my pick for Oscar's best original screenplay (just pipping The Holdovers).  Perfect pacing throughout and felt the language switching added to the tension.  Magnificent performance by Sandra Hüller and 15 year-old Milo Machado-Graner.  Stunning location shots and cinematography.  So many elements contributed to a highly-entertaining movie.  8/10

Killers of the Flower Moon


Superb movie making, cinematography, sound, costume, soundtrack and directing.  Martin Scorsese is my pick for Oscar’s best director.  A very powerful story.  I loved DeNiro’s jail cell words about people will forget.  It was long but massive actors can keep your attention.   DiCaprio was superb - completely convincing portrayal of a tragic? slow-minded fool.  I sadly didn’t know it was based on a true story.   Superb cast with a few interesting cast members from the music world that I missed: Jason Isbell as Bill Smith, Peter Yorn as Acie Kirby and Jack White.  8/10


Past Lives


Cinematic visions galore.  Loved the tone and mood.  A simple, familiar story made more acute by the cultural (and language) differences.  Carefully acted on a delicate edge of sensitivity.  More artistic than I expected - in a wonderful welcome way.  8/10


Maestro


The scene in the cathedral was one of my favourites of the year - breathtaking. Cooper completely transformed for this role and gave us a beautiful memory of a music lover - Bradley Cooper is my pick for Oscar’s best actor.  Mulligan’s performance was also superb - perhaps creating the best duo performance of the Oscar year.  The revelation of complex characters always creates a great movie for me.  7/10


American Fiction


I came out thinking it was a decent movie but not Oscar worthy.  Then my wife explained what the movie was really about.  It was meta.  Then it became brilliant.  But I missed it.  I was the internal audience.  7/10


Oppenheimer


Torn on this one. Acting was superb - Downey Jr. was dazzling.  Cinematography was great.  But it was massively complex with so many characters.  Important from a historical point of view. 7/10   


Barbie


Fun, but way too silly to have any chance of making a serious point.  Musical bits were cringe worthy.  I’m man enough to admit I had to look up the meaning of patriarchy.  Loved McKinnon’s whackiness.  BUT, it's my pick for Oscar's best song.  6/10. 


The Zone of Interest


A strange film and hard-going - I don’t really understand why it’s nominated.  I did appreciate the cinematography, its premise and some shocking scenes.  Just hours before watching it, I'd seen Sandra Hüller in Anatomy of a Fall - I didn't know she was also in this film -I recognized her quite quickly.  The cut to a scene from today was perhaps its most concrete element and made the point. 5/10

Sunday, January 29, 2023

I’m way behind in posting movie reviews, but here are a few that have been nominated for awards in 2023

 In order of my favourites…

Everything Everywhere All at Once



Incredible filmmaking.  A true hero’s journey.  Very bizarre at times.  Crazy crazy scenes.  SFX and fight scenes WOW.  So much to absorb, ingest and enjoy.   You could consider it massively complex but the messages it delivers is simply spot on.  A multi-course journey for your eyes and ears.  I get quantum and multiverse theory, but I didn’t buy into the rocks. I’m buzzing.  Perhaps Tarantino-like but with magnificent Asian taste.  Bonkers.  Every feeling all at once.  Nothing matters and everything matters.  Life paradox.  9/10.


Really, really well done.  Modernized, fast paced version of the King’s rise to fame under the guided hand of a snowman.   It definitely reminded me of the style of Moulin Rouge and only now found it out it was the same director Baz Luhrmann.  8/10


Top Gun: Maverick



Even on a small Air Canada screen, the action was still magnificent.  Except for the expected melodrama and close to “jump the shark” story manoeuvres, the rest was perfect.  I’m man enough to say I bought in and my emotions were along for the warp speed ride.  I had heard about the accuracy (or lack of) the flight sequences so I’ll have to now do a little more research (lots of real pilot comments that suggest a lot of it was possible, if not realistic). Regardless, very impressive production, great cast, cool music and all around great fun.  8/10


The Fabelmans



I loved the story and Michelle Williams’ portrayal was mesmerizing.  But it was the filmmaking of the filmmaking that I really enjoyed.  Capturing the joy of film within a film.  Solid old-time movie with strong modern, complex themes of family and a personal journey.  7/10


Original notes that are a little cryptic now:

New release

Storytelling within moviemaking

Moviemaking = storytelling

Colour, framing, moments, editing

Very meta


Banshees of Inisherin



I liked it but for the wrong reasons.  Superb acting, magnificent cinematography.  Humour was a cruel joke.  I thought it may have been making sense but quickly turned horribly tragic.  The complete opposite of Everything Everywhere All at Once but Jenny the donkey was an adorable touch. 7/10


Turning Red 



Loved the Toronto connection and found the Chinese heritage interesting.  Fun, cute and superb rich animation.  Very cool to find out a friend taught the director Domee Shi at Sheridan College. 7/10


Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery



Superb cast, production design and sets.  Craig was incredible again, Norton was a superb baddy addition, and Monae was delightful.  Lots of fun all around and a satisfying mystery.  7/10


The Batman



Very long very slow.  Cool style was just enough for 6/10.