Up in the Air

Last night we watched Up in the Air which Sarah got from Netflix. Many of you know that I'm a big movie fan and always look forward to the Oscars. This year, my pick for best picture (even though I didn't see all ten and The Hurt Locker was one I didn't see) was Up in the Air. I've explained my rationale for wanting it to win to some people, but here it is for those who haven't heard it.

I collect past movies that have one the Best Picture Oscar, and enjoy watching these movies tremendously. One of the big reasons I so enjoy these films is that they serve time capsules in their own ways to the time s in which they were made. It's very interesting to me to go back and watch a movie from the 1930's or 70's or 90's or and time period in between and try to understand why that movie was made when it was made, and why it was so widely accepted, enjoyed and acclaimed in its time. Though I haven't seen every movie that has ever won, I've seen enough to notice some loose trends. It seems to me that there is a rotation of about 5 different kinds of movies winning: symbolic social commentaries, grand achievements that are ahead of their time, that capture and encapsulate the mainstream culture (often corporate culture) of America at the time, ones that represent the plight of a particular niche or sub-society delicately and gracefully, and movies that are just superior all around films. I know that there is always talk about Hollywood politics that go into picking the different pictures, and I'm sure there are, but regardless I think these categories represent a general, not-mathematically-perfect, cycle of movies that win. If I were to break it down and actually look year to year and try to force fit every movie, I would come up with a nonlinear, super generalized list of movies Venn-daigrammed into multiple categories. But regardless of the airtightness of the trend, it is the basis for my hopes that Up in the Air would win.

As I look back at the movies that have won since 2000 (Gladiator, A Beautiful Mind, Chicago, Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Million Dollar Baby, Crash, The Departed, No Country for Old Men, Slumdog Millionaire, The Hurt Locker), it has been quite a while since a movie won and was put into this cultural time capsule that will give the world of 10, 15, 20, 50 years from now a view of what it's like to be a live in mainstream American society today. I know that the content and subject matter of The Hurt Locker, and many other films from this past year give a wonderful view of very important events and aspects of the world today, but as far as capturing the essence of middle-class, mostly corporate America of this time period of American society, I think Up in the Air was timeless for this reason. Up in the Air is the film that will give future generations the best idea of what it was like to be alive here today. I know that I'm generalizing what it means to be alive and what mainstream American society is in a vast, borderline offensive way, but if Hollywood were to make a movie that attempted to capture the broadness of middle America today, it would be either way too long and extremely hard to tie together a comprehensible story, or like Crash for the suburbs and not-so-ethnically-diverse urban areas. Up in the Air is simply a superior snapshot of the trouble, trials, tribulations and timeliness of our middle society today.

With all of that said, if you haven't seen Up in the Air, watch it. If you consider yourself a film collector or like owning movies with decent rewatchability, buy it. If you like movies that make you think, share your thoughts so I can think too. If you like to be entertained, keep checking up on me for upcoming posts!

When Bex and Mel stole my camera

Last night Becka and Melissa stole my video camera while Sarah and I were out running errands. Little did I know that I would return to the house with musical gold recorded on my camera. I'm so glad that they filmed what they did, and gave me well wishes I can take with me.



For those of you who don't know the construct of my Spokane social circle, Melissa and Becka are two of Sarah's three housemates (Heather is the other, most famous for her cameo in the Enchilada video, but she is home for spring break so not around to take part in the cinematic goings-on). Melissa and Sarah have lived together since their freshman year (now seniors), except for one semester they lived apart. Becka and Heather have lived with them since the beginning of their junior year, but they've all been friends since pretty much the beginning. With as close as they all are, it makes for a very fun house environment, and one I've been honored to enjoy one step removed for the last 18 or so months.

And to be fair, when I say they stole my camera, I knew it was coming. Melissa told me she was probably going to do some filming when I was gone. I just didn't know I was going to get two songs for my blog. If you want to sign them to a record deal, I'll be their agent, so let me know.

I have two more videos coming including the first ever commercial filmed by Kyle's Grand Adventure studios! I know that you're feeling overwhelmed by the amount of advertisements and commercials you have to wade through on any given day, but when it's KGA, you know it's going to be a cut above (and entirely different from) the rest. The other video is of my first wilderness adventure with some superior camera work by Sarah. They'll be up as soon as I can edit them, so stay posted for my posting!

The First Grand Drive | Denver-Spokane

I know I'm doing this out of order, but sometimes the experience is best understood out of order... or at least that's my psuedo-philosophical sounding explaination for my disorganization. But if you want to steal that phrase and make a bumper sticker, feel free. Just let me know so I can order one.


Here is a compilation of clips I took on the way to Spokane on Wednesday. It doesn't seem like it's already been almost a week. It's definitely been a relaxing time so far. It's nice to have a sort of hang out vacation and be able to do fun things with Sarah. Yesterday we went to see Alice in Wonderland in 3D. It's definitely worth checking out. It made me think, which is one thing I like about movies, and has caused me to try to imagine more impossible things which is always fun.

Work has not really started yet. Still getting details together and waiting for all the loose ends to tie themselves together. I don't mind so much, not knowing what I'm doing, because it gives me time to take it slow, relax and play tennis. Sarah and I have played tennis twice and plan to play more later in the week. It is such a fun sport, isn't it?

Enchiladas and New Community

Prologue

So after the recent backlash and uprising against my knocks against my mother's backyard, I decided to change the opening video to something that is more sympathetic to the plight of a garden not yet teeming with life for the spring. I hope you enjoy.

But for the prologue to be complete, I do have to tell some of the story of trying to get ready to go tomorrow morning. As some of you know, I broke a bearing in my car in the last couple weeks and had to get it repaired. I dropped it off at Keller Bros Auto Monday morning before work. Late morning, they called me to verify that I did indeed have a broken bearing, but they also found that my water pump was leaking. At the advice of Lloyd, I agreed to let them fix that as well so my car would retain its functionality through my trip. I was also informed that all of this would cost upward of $800, a fair chunk of the money I had saved for the trip. At the end of the day, I was informed that it would be done Tuesday morning (this morning). I spent most of the day calling to see how it was doing and waiting. To make a long story short, it was finally finished about 5:00 this afternoon (just in the nick of time), and I picked it up. Now everything runs great, though the steering wheel seems to be very slightly crooked. So thank you Keller Bros Auto for job well done. If I had one complaint though, it would be the relative lack of communication during the process. But still got me set in time.

Secondly, I want to take a moment to public thank Gershwin, Lara and Doug for their support and freedom for me over the last few weeks. Though my car problems today forbid me from meeting with them one last time before I left, know that your blessings and encouragement will be taken forward with me as I go. To my freshmen guys: have fun while I'm gone; keep learning math; and be kind to each other. No matter how you differ, you are all going through this crazy life together. Be kind.

Also, thanks so much for the support and well-wishes of my collegues at work, both Lincoln and Harrison. You all have been tremendously positive to me, and I could not thank you enough. Keep selling dreams, smiling, dialing, and enjoying the easy life that the new scripter will provide :) I wish I was there with you to take it live.

And to my mom, dad, Bryan, Nathan and all my CO friends and family I say this: we'll be in contact. You have taught me strength so I can fly without my wings getting tired. I hope I have done the same for you as the crossroads of life are starting to unfold. And I know, as I hope you do too, that when my wings to get tired, I will always have a place to land... metaphorically of course... I don't really have wings... I'm not some sort of bird man... really.

Thank you all. Stay posted. I'll promise to keep updating this if you promise to keep looking at it. Deal? Deal.

Introduction and Explanation

Welcome to the multimedia blog for the Grand Adventure of Kyle Brooksher. If you've been invited to join, I welcome you and thank you for coming. If you've come across the blog from an outside source, thanks for visiting and I hope your mini-adventure on the the site is an enjoyable one. Either way, come back often and tell your friends. I'm sure there will be something on here for every person if they are open to taking something away. If you have ideas of things you'd like to see, suggest them. As in the sentiment of The Producers, if you enjoy what you see, spread the word, but if you don't... you can keep that to yourself.

I encourage you to watch the videos, look at the pictures, and read the words. As with any discipline, whether artistic or scientific, practice is the key to enhancement, so I hope my quality will improve with time across all the media I hope to utilize.

More to come as my adventure gets under way. Thanks for tuning in!