Bava, existential detective

I heart the movie “I Heart Huckabees”. Seriously. I know it’s been said before, and it this point it’s already cliche, but I just saw it for the first time last night after an unfortunate and expensive trip to Best Buy, and damned if I’m not allowed to say that I heart it at least once!

So back in early January I looked on IMDB and checked out when cool DVDs were going to be released. The reply was a loud, “FEBRUARY!” And yet, being broke, throughout February I managed to avoid Best Buy, and its wiles and wares. Yet yesterday I had to go to the mall to get my hair cut, since the guy downtown took February off (lucky him), which has a Best Buy attached to it. So, after an expensive haircut, albeit by a very cute and friendly blonde who did a fine job, I walked outside and felt the irresistable lure of fresh DVD calling my name. I walked out with the special edition of “I Heart Huckabees“, the director’s cut of “Donnie Darko“, the Disney release (ugh, but still) of “Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind“, and “Chicago“. I don’t regret buying any of them, but my wallet does. But then, it worries about stupid stuff, like paying rent and eating food. What a stiff.

So, we watched I Heart Huckabees, and it was fantastic. If you’ve an existential or philisophical bone in your body, I think you’ll like it too. It reminds me of Wes Anderson’s work in that even at its most dramatic points, it never takes itself too seriously. And I can’t count the number of times I laughed out loud.

Have you ever crashed your bicycle into someone on purpose, and sent them flying literally thousands of meters, while your friends were lined up in a big, long row waiting to see if the guy you sent flying will land on or near them, so they can boot him back into the air and improve your distance? Yeah … well, ever done it in Japanese? I didn’t think so.

Have you ever performed the title song to “Singin’ in the Rain”, robot style? These things only happen in VW Commercials. Nice tagline, too. “The original, updated.”

As you can read on the Kottke site, it’s the same guy that did the Kollaboration video, which surely everyone and their step-niece has seen by now. That guy just blows my mind in a serious way. I mean … whoa.

And now for your moment of zen.