today i had various murder ballads stuck in my head

[ontology]

I really don't want to know how many games of Solitaire I have played today. On the bright side, I wrote two thousand words. Keep that up, self, for verily thou art behind. (Also I think I have developed a crush on Mr Caruthers. IT IS NEVER GOOD TO FANCY ONE'S OWN CHARACTERS. It leads to soft-heartedness and -- well, I'm not going to kill him anyway, but I still might be far too hesitant to do other things that might be necessary for the story. The plot could up and require that he lose an eye! ...Well, eye-patches can be sort of...rakish. OKAY BRAIN ENOUGH.)

Now, here is my dilemma. He's got this Shady Past, right? I have no idea what that is, because I have no idea what Victorian era punks did for fun. I suppose he and the Bad Lot he fell in with could have -- robbed stores? or something, but that is lame, Jo, absolutely lame. Very Bad Magic Dabbling? Er -- playing chicken with vampires? I don't even know. It probably has something to do with a) his work with the vampire hunting society which seems to be a fairly powerful authority, although underground -- why? Everyone knows about vampires. Because they don't want their vampire hunters to be targeted by vampires? Because it's like the turn-of-the-century vampire-hunting CIA? Anyway, he worked with them but -- doesn't anymore, exactly, for some reason. Maybe they both had a falling out -- he was an impetuous youth and was all "[DRAT] THE MAN!" and they were all like "YOU JUST DID THIS STUPID IMPULSIVE THING!" and they were all "YOU ARE FIRED," and he was all "WELL, GOOD, COS I QUIT." Being a Society they are probably somewhat corrupt anyway and in no way the Watcher's Council even a little what are you even talking about. But he was so very -- good at something -- that they kept him on their contact list and occasionally call him to do Really Important Stuff when they're desperate, and somehow got him to give them the tip about Evangeline. (He feels terrifically guilty about this. Poor bloke. *ruffles his hair*)

Dilemma, part II: So, he has the Shady Past, yeah? Also he has the whole thing where it's kind of his fault the Society tagged Evy in the first place and dragged her into this. Which do we find out first? Does his past somehow resurface and he takes off his spectacles (metaphorically -- he's probably about as blind as I am) and kill several vampires without blinking, which sends Evy's entire view of the world tumbling about her pretty ankles, or does the Society, once Evy agrees to work with them, say something to the effect of, "So, now that you're helping us, let us introduce the person we have secured as your guide," and Mr Caruthers is all "Um...hi?" and Evy's like "...WHAT."?

...I think everyone is becoming very tired of my NaNo ramblings. Sigh. Mostly they are for my own record-keeping and inspiration anyway -- I think out a lot of things as I type. Then again I could simply type and not post it...

* * *

I dropped my bicycle off to get fixed today, the weather is broken because it is balmy, and I should get my contacts tomorrow. Also I sat on the cat.

And I should tell you all how absolutely glorious the film Wings of Desire is. I saw it with Dad several days ago and it is probably the best film I have seen in -- well, since Once, anyway, I think. Gorblimey. It is like a T.S. Eliot poem made visual, I am telling you -- it is beautiful, surreal, full of thoughts and philosophy, both large, poetic thoughts and little tiny fleeting human thoughts -- the whole first half of the film is almost entirely listening to people's thoughts, profound and mundane and both at once, all through the city of Berlin. It is sort of a love letter to Berlin, and it was partially inspired by Rilke (!!!), and it has both glorious solemnity and moments of absolute absurdity -- another reason it reminds me so intensely of Eliot -- Peter Falk as himself is just -- hee. And aww. And wow. Also the score is probably the best I have heard since The Illusionist, or Pan's Labyrinth, or Atonement -- ...okay, there were a lot of excellently scored films which I have seen and loved in the last year, but still. It's got cellos and surreal orchestral arrangements and one of the best choral pieces I have ever heard, and also eighties post-punk (Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds are prominently featured, and Dad was like "THIS IS THE WORST BAND EVER -- well, it was the last time I saw the film, but I have listened to more weird music since then, so it's not so bad now?" and I was like "THIS IS AWESOME I WANT MORE AKLHDHGH even if Nick Cave is, like, nancing all over the stage and making weird gyrations and stuff; also his hair is epic, but hey, eighties post-punk, also deep voice, yum") -- anyway, brilliant.

Every aspect of this film was perfect, and rather awe-inspiring, whether you are an aspiring filmmaker such as myself or just someone who really loves film. I just...this film was made for me to watch it. It's like they took a poll and found out everything I love most in a film and especially things I love most which are difficult to come by and then they put them all together. Did I mention the cinematography? It may in fact be the most magnificent and ambitious cinematography I have EVER SEEN, and I have lists in my head of films who have breathtakingly fabulous cinematography (The Illusionist I can name off the top of my head, films made by Joe Wright namely Pride & Prejudice and Atonement (I LOVE LONG PAN SHOTS OMG), Aguirre the Wrath of God (more long pan shots! I love you, seventies art-house cinema!), and hey, that Russian film which was kind of weird but also filmed in one continuous unbroken shot for, like, two hours). I mean. I can't even describe it. Colour and black and white and long pan shots and interesting angles and iconic captures and oh dear oh dear oh dear. I haven't had anything close to the flash watching anything all of this year, but watching this film I came so very, very close.

This post would sound so much more intellectual if I sounded so much less giddy and used fewer italics and internetisms. Heh.

Comments

[last-archangel.livejournal.com]

I ADORE Wings of Desire. There's something about the silent impact of the film that kind of puts me into a trance when I watch it.

Have you seen the sequel yet? I haven't actually, although I have the movie in my files. Maybe this weekend. Apparently a lot more of it is in actual, conversational English - Willem Dafoe is in it! U2 did the theme song, and they "play" Berlin angels...you need to see it (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=838dPcVq0c4), because it really has that same feel as the films.

[faeriemaiden.livejournal.com]

I need to own this film. It is one that I need to drift through often. (I also need to own the soundtrack. A lot. ^-^)

I haven't seen the sequel, no, but Dad plans to Netflix it sometime in the near future. And blimey, the U2 video was fabulous. Often music videos for films are terrible, too, so it is doubly fantastic. :D

[spockodile.livejournal.com]

"This post would sound so much more intellectual if I sounded so much less giddy and used fewer italics and internetisms."

Probably true for you in general.

Some Nick Cave & the BS doesn't seem to have anything to do with Post-Punk, and some of it does seem relevant. Not that it matters terribly to anyone but me, but I think post-punk revival / industrial is rather palatable sometimes.

[bornofstars.livejournal.com]

...

I must see this film. Rilke!

[faeriemaiden.livejournal.com]

Indeed so! We watched the making-of and when the director said he'd been inspired by Rilke I kind of flailed a lot a little. :D

[suangelita.livejournal.com]

So I am just almost to 12k... which is happy.

Also, sad things are happening to Achaeus' (Sean Bean's character ;)) best friend. I've now determined that he is going to be mind controlled by evil Director (Marcus Hamilton ;)) and betray poor Achaeus. I feel so bad, because Myles would never, ever, in a heartbeat do that. However, it's necessary because Theia needs to see that the Socrarchs don't have free will.

And poor Thersander (Wesley) is going to be betrayed by the one person he trusts and actually likes...

So I guess I've a lot of betrayal. Because the Director is more or less being betrayed by Hecate, too. No deaths, just betrayal. Yay for dystopias?

[faeriemaiden.livejournal.com]

Hee! All the betrayal, it's like watching a season of Angel! :D

I like film geekage :)

[othergoose.livejournal.com]

Oh man, Russian Ark (unless there are other weird Russian films shot in one unbroken two-hour take...). I saw that one when I was 15 and well. I appreciated it for its technological achievement, but I can't say that I was a fan ;) But yay, Wings of Desire! It's next on my Netflix queue.

If you have a couple of hours to spare, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford is absolutely gorgeous. Really one of the most beautifully shot films I've seen in a while, and the music is to die for (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6KFvYCrB4E&feature=related). Composed by Nick Cave & Warren Ellis, but it's about as far from the Bad Seeds as you can get. It's an incredibly atmospheric and understated film, but also very very very slow. You might like it :)

Also, if you're looking for grittier fare, I'd recommend This Is England for some great cinematography, although it's a rather difficult film to watch at times (1980s Thatcherite England + skinheads = well...). The soundtrack is the perfect counterpart to the movie, though: a blend of '80s punk/ska and things like this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_gRRNfljk0&feature=related).

[aohdwyn.livejournal.com]

Could he be a veteran of some sort of war? Depending on when exactly it's set. There were lots of wars the English were involved in around the turn of the century. Hell, he could have been a soldier stationed in India. What we now recognize as PTSD causes many veterans to turn to drugs to escape the trauma.
And what exactly would constitute a shady past? Again, depending on when exactly this is set, there could be drug abuse ranging from opium to heroin, (Sherlock Holmes, from which readings I derive most of concept of turn of the century England, partook of both ...?) and including good old alcohol.

[faeriemaiden.livejournal.com]

Eep, youthful drug abuse! This is an interesting thought. I wonder how drugs affect magic? I wonder if drugs could be a gateway to Very Dangerous Magics? All I know is that he got mixed up with A Bad Crowd, and there might have been philosophy gone horribly wrong as a lure, and quite possibly something having to do with vampires, which is why the Society tagged him in the first place, and he worked with them for a while until something made him stop (disillusionment? unethical practises? he grew up and went "WAIT, WHAT?").

He could have been stationed in India, but then he might hate himself too much. :p OH GOD WHAT HAS OUR EMPIRE DONE WHY DON'T WE JUST LET THE VAMPIRES EAT US ALL.

[goddessreason.livejournal.com]

Well. You should give me this movie, or let me come over so I can watch it. What exactly is it about?

[missbaxter.livejournal.com]

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<i?Wings of Desire</i> is just spectacular, isn't it? That moment when Bruno Ganz starts seeing everything in colour, and the sequence of Solange on the trapeze...(Re. great cinematography and art-house movies, you might want to check out Antonioni's <i>The Passenger</i>, and <i>Danny Boy</i>, by Neil Jordan, if you haven't come across those already.)
Does Mr.Caruther's Shady Past involve anything along the lines of frequenting vampire brothels and opium dens, ostensibly as a spy for the supersecret organization, but in actuality to feed his supposedly kicked addiction to being bitten, or is that too sleazy?...

[faeriemaiden.livejournal.com]

I should not love the opium den idea as much as I do. Actual brothels might be too sleazy for him ever to recover from; I doubt he'd ever let himself be glimpsed by human society ever again if he'd stained his integrity that badly, but I do think vampires were involved somehow. I'm beginning to think that the reason the Society still keeps in touch with him despite them having a terrific falling-out is because he understands the vampire mindset in a way few other people do.

[lady-moriel.livejournal.com]

No no I like reading your NaNo ramblings! Especially because they have vampires in. :p

Um...I might have some thoughts on Mr. Caruthers the Bad Boy, but I am bereft of brain at the moment. I will think on it. However, of the two Big Reveals, it would be the most awesome if you could work in both--like, he goes all ninja on the vampires at one point and Evy's like "...WHAT WAS THAT." but he fobs her off with something about, I don't know, martial arts when he was younger or...something, which she doesn't really believe but she's trying so hard not to think about vampires in general that she files this encounter away with the original vampire attack, under "DO NOT THINK ABOUT FOR ANY REASON BECAUSE YOU DO NOT NEED A HUGELY TRAUMATIZING WORLDVIEW SHIFT OR A MENTAL BREAKDOWN". So she sort-of-kind-of forgets about it. And then when she ends up going before the Watchers Council vampire-fighting dudes and they pull out Mr. Caruthers as her mentor, it would still be...sort of a surprise?

That said, if it really wouldn't work at all to do it that way, I'm a big fan of the first option; that sort of thing is just really fun. (Probably part of the reason my favorite LotGK scene EVER is the one in The Shadow Within at the ball where he deflects those thrown daggers and disarms Gillard and everyone's like "...WTF.")

Also, I have done considerable research and come to a conclusion on the weak sales of the calendar kiosk, which is: you're not selling any Doctor Who or David Tennant calendars, and therefore your kiosk fails. So yeah.