"Cinemania", full film on Vimeo

"Cinemania", the first film I wrote about on this blog, is on Vimeo in full:

Cinemania from Stephen Kijak on Vimeo.

Kumare

I have a very scientific view of the world and thus am highly skeptical of any claim that doesn't have good evidence to back it up. So it usually bugs me a little when people buy into beliefs that seem like bullshit, but I know they're just humans like me.

In this film, a man creates a persona of a guru from India and gets followers who buy into it, even though he's a fake. That's not really the whole story, though; you should just watch the film yourself.

Philip Glass: a Portrait in 12 Parts

I haven't actually watched this one in some time, but "Philip Glass: a Portrait in 12 Parts" gives us a view into the life and mind of a brilliant composer. Especially memorable is Philip Glass making pizza- he doesn't feel like he quite knows what he's doing, but he trusts that it will turn out okay. You get the sense that his approach to composition is not that different.

Hands on a Hard Body

No, it's not a porn. It's a film about a bizarre contest in which participants keep one hand on a pick-up truck for as long as possible. It's a somewhat older film but has a big reputation (deservedly, in my opinion).

"Okie Noodling"

I had no idea that grabbing a fish and letting it chomp down on your arm was an accepted (though rare) method of fishing. You learn all about it and get to know some of the best noodlers in this doc. They're interesting people.

Ecstasy of Order: The Tetris Masters

Like Spellbound, Word Wars, Word Play etc., this documentary shows us high performers, but I particularly like this one because the game in question is an old NES game.

"Dark Days"

This film shows us what life is like for a group of people who live literally underground, in an Amtrak tunnel. We see the human desire to survive and have a home (pets too!) even in crazy circumstances.

I really like how they hung out with each other, and I really enjoyed hearing the way they talk and express themselves. They may be homeless (in a way), but they don't seem lonely.

In fact one fellow said that they were a bit like a big family. As someone who often feels alone and isolated in NYC, I'm actually envious of this part of their otherwise very difficult lives.

I'm earning less and less money recently and have to find more work soon, so it was a little scary to see where I could end up if I don't keep working.

The soundtrack is great too- familiar music from DJ Shadow.