More Vimeo HD goodness

I've posted two more videos on Vimeo - check em out.


The Conference from Jed Findlay on Vimeo.
"The Conference" is a parody of "The Office" that I did for work. The interlacing has issues but I am too lazy to re-encode it.


The single greatest performance ever!! from Jed Findlay on Vimeo.
This is, as Dan puts it, the single greatest performance ever. Enjoy!

yo

BTW - Weezer just put out a video for their new single "Pork and Beans!" The video is absolutely brilliant!!



yo

Vimeo HD

Higher quality Nelson video and Honeymoon...


Can't Live Without Your Love and Affection from Jed Findlay on Vimeo.


Jed & Cara's Fantastically Unbelievable Honeymoon!!! from Jed Findlay on Vimeo.

You can watch this in HD on the Vimeo site - just click on the video and click on the "HD off" button.

yo

TV REVIEW : LOST 4.09-4.12

As the TV season draws to a close ("The Office" and "30 Rock" have ended on high notes!) I am sad to see LOST reach its long-long hiatus. It will be another 9 months before we get a new episode! ACK!!

Regardless, this season has been simply amazing. I have been slacking on reviews due to some wedding or something... so I wanted to do a little catching up.


LOST came back from a short hiatus with a huge bang! In episode 4.09, "The Shape of Things to Come," we find Ben Linus waking up in the middle of Tunisia - in a parka! The ep centered on Ben off island recruiting Sayid to do his killing - and on island there was tons of action as Keamy and crew arrived to do some Lostie killing.

The scene where Ben allows Alex to be murdered was breath-taking. In fact, his line immediately after, "He changed the rules," sends shivers down my spine. Michael Emerson cranked a big one out of the park with this episode.

LOST Episode 4.09 "The Shape of Things to Come" : A


"Something Nice Back Home" saw an interesting life for Jack and Kate off island. Jack came to find happiness (for a moment) with Kate and even asked her to marry him. Though his jealousy began to rear its ugly head by the episode's end. On the island, Jack is operated on and Claire runs off into the woods after Christian, her dad.

Weird but fun.

LOST Episode 4.10 "Something Nice Back Home" : B+


"Cabin Fever" was a brilliant episode which centered on the life and times of John Locke. There was an amazing sequence in which young John is show several items that might have belonged to him... very similar to the way a young Dali Lama is chosen. That was uber cool.

Inside Jacob's cabin we discovered Christian and a very creepy Claire - John emerged to announce that need to move the island... WHU????!?!?

LOST Episode 4.11 "Cabin Fever" : A


Finally, Thursday brought us part 1 of a 3 part finale. The Oceanic 6 have arrived back home to some tumultuous times. Hurley has the numbers showing up on his car's dash - Sun has taken over her father's business (that was pretty cool too) - Sayid meets up with his woman that will soon be dead - Kate is clinging to Aaron - and Jack finds out Claire was his sister! Jeez, that was part one.

On the island Ben Linus walks into the Orchid (the Orchid!!! Finally!!!) and into Keamy's angry gun butt. Everyone else is prepping for a fantastic finale - Kate and Sayid are with the Others - Sun, Jin, Aaron, Michael and Desmond are on a C-4 laiden boat - Jack and Sawyer are off to find Hurley... and the world is about to end.

Awesome.

LOST Episode 4.12 "There's No Place Like Home, Part 1" : A-

This show - this season - it all... ROCKS!!!!

yo

Jed & Cara's Fantastically Unbelievable Honeymoon!!

We are back - ready to take on the world - and flabby from some major over-eating and drinking.

Mexico was brilliant. We actually stayed on Isla Muheres, a small island just off the coast of Cancun. It was definitely a smaller place, but we found plenty to see and do.


Cara and I survived an entire week together - even taking one full day of laying out and reading!!! I finished two books and a third was nearly digested. She got stuck reading "The Stand" - the 1300 page version.

Regardless, we had a ball.


I am a happy boy.

Enjoy a slide show of images - it is very long and there is ample amounts of naked Jed. I know it is what everyone wants to see!!!



Yo

Wedding Day

Cara and I got hitched last weekend. It went very very well.

Love to all who came and to those who could not make it - we had a blast and we hope all of you did too!!

John Lee's fantastic pics below... just a taste though!

yo

The Big Day!!!

Wish me luck world!!!

yo

DVD REVIEW : THE PROPOSITION

I am so glad this older Australian Western came along and got the awful taste of "3:10 to Yuma" out of my mouth - "Yuma" was connect the dots lame and full of pompousity (as in to be pompous - I know it is going to catch on one day). "The Proposition" rolls in and truly combines the artful style of John Ford with the realistic brilliance of Robert Altman to create a really well done addition to the Western genre.


Guy Pearce shows up scraggily and very skinny, rolling as the more sane brother of three who are being hunted for the rape and murder of a farm family. Pearce is captured and his younger brother is taken away, being held on the condition that Pearce murder his older brother.

That is the plot, but the plot just gets in the way of some amazing performances!


Ray Winstone owns every frame of this film as Captain Stanley, the man who is put in place to bring justice to the lands of Australia. Winstone (along with Emily Watson, playing his wife) chews up every bit of the struggle Stanley endures with trying to bring peace to a violent world. I was particularly moved by the sequence when the youngest brother was flogged (whipped) and Winstone winced as even his wife moved against his word!

The ending moments with this character are fascinating and appropriate!


Danny Huston plays the oldes and nutty brother, Arthur. He tears through people with a hunger for carnage... yet shares many quiet moments trying to understand the world... sitting... listening... trying to figure out where he stands within it.

Sadly, the praise is not complete. The Burns Brothers story really goes nowhere - nor does the proposition. We get loads of good time with Cap. Stanley, but all is lost as the rest of the film Guy Pearce is trying to recuperate from wounds. Even his dialogue scenes with Arthur come up a little empty.

John Hillcoat does a very good job directing - in fact, his scenery got me excited at the concept of THE DARK TOWER being made one day with Pearce at the lead!! But my dork sensibilities need to acknowledge the unlikelihood of that. The failure is in the scripts 3rd act - Nick Cave should have found something for Pearce to do.

NICK CAVE!!! I forgot, his music was simply brilliant! I loved his work on "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford" and here, again, the composer comes up with a score for the ages. Fantastic stuff!!

"The Proposition" : B+

yo

TV REVIEW : LOST 4.08 "Meet Kevin Johnson"

Ah, Michael - Michael - Michael... life is so rough for a murderer. You cut your hair... you drop your kid off at your mother's... you try killing yourself over and over... nothing cuts it. Then the bummer of all bummers...

YOU ARE VISITED BY LIBBY WHO IS ASKING TO TUCK YOU IN?!?!?!

Yes, Thursday's LOST ep was all about murderous Michael and his major issues. But the awesome kick for me was seeing Cynthia Watros back in action. Granted, she showed up for a mere 2 seconds on screen... but, I take what I can get.

Oh my... Libby.

Anyway, Michael is on the boat in the form of Kevin Johnson - and things are a little nutty.

To begin with - Tom is gay. Wow, who knew?

The entire Manhattan sequence was rocking - Michael's attempt to kill himself by driving his car into a wall was fun... and I was a little shocked to see him survive - but that was cleaned up with "the island won't let you die - it ain't done with you" line that Tom delivered.


Walt arrived in the form of angry kid at dad for killing two women. It is really too bad we did not get to see him get a little angry at his pop, instead we got the angry window sill look.

That works too.


The most exciting moment of the episode can from Ben of course - he sent his daughter, her mother, and her boyfriend off to safety towards the Temple. Yet, sadly, Danielle and Karl bit the big one is an awfully cool way. Gunned down by silent snipers!!!

Too bad they did not pick off annoying Alex as well.

Actually, I have been complaining quite a bit here for what was a great episode - I just wanted more Libby!!!

LOST 4.08 "Meet Kevin Johnson" : B+

yo

Irish for a day

Yesterday was fun - and filled with Guinness.

I am not Irish, but rather, Scottish - and full of Scottish-like qualities. For instance, I have been known to toss a few logs... and run around in a skirt. Hmm. Anyway, yesterday I faked like I was Irish to spend some time with a few friends and take a day off to continue my descent into full alcoholism.

Above is an image snapped by the local cooler than cool newspaper Des Moines Juice - Matt had to lie about his age or our pic would have been dumped in the "too old to care" pile. Dan, Matt and I were at Sully's (just down the street from my house) doing shots and downing very expensive pints (plastic cups) of Guinness.

Afterwards, I was treated to an incredible English breakfast at the Loy's home (Dublin and Jill were there too) and from there we spent the day drinking at my place and playing Guitar Hero. Brian and Matt came over for most of the day - Matt took a bit to learn... but he finally came around. Then the Loy's stopped in for some Guitar Hero fun - that was cool.

In the end, around 6:30 at night, I was in a lot of pain. My old bones just can't booze it up like I used to.


This just in today - Anthony Minghella, director of "The English Patient" - "The Talented Mr. Ripley" - "Cold Mountain" etc., has passed away at age 54!!

He was very talented (though is Oscar winner "Patient" left me cold) and will be missed. I am interested in hearing the information around his death.

yo

TV REVIEW : LOST 4.07 "Ji Yeon"

I have to admit, I am a sucker for all Jin/Sun based episodes of LOST. I find their back story most compelling, with the over bearing father in law - Jin being forced into a violent job by him, Sun's shocking affair with Jae Lee... hell, I even fell for the Jin's mother as a prostitute episode!

Last night brought another Jin/Sun episode... yet this one is unlike all of the rest. Sun had a flash-forward... and Jin had a flash-back!

The flash-forward finds Sun as the final member of the Oceanic Six (count em - Jack, Hurley, Sayid, Kate, Aaron, and Sun). She is seen early on with full preggers and in some sort of birthing problem. Her story continues as she goes to the hospital and begs for Jin to be called.

The corresponding island story finds Sun talking with Daniel Farraday asking about being rescued. Poor Daniel, who is turning out to be one of the most identifiable characters on the show, is unable to lie to her and admits he can't make the decision to save them. This sends Sun on a mission to head out to Locke's camp... Juliet tries to stop her - Sun resists - and Juliet announces to Jin that Sun had an affair.

Whoops.

Jin is a fantastic character on the show, he has transitioned from angry controlling husband all the way to understanding English learning ass kicker! He struggles with the realization that Sun cheated - but in the end, his acceptance, is one of the more honest moments for the series. Jin absolutely could understand why she would pull away... and admitting that to her is huge.

Of course that means he has to die. This show has a history of killing off characters when they realize their personal journey... and here, we see that Jin's story was a flash-forward fake out... and actually a flash-back. Getting dizzy yet?

Jin is seen rushing to buy a stuffed panda to take to the hospital - for a client of Mr. Paik! Jin's tale actually takes place only 2 months after his marriage to Sun... and it is used to at once trick the audience... but also show what is missing in Sun's world now...


Back on the boat we some weird crap going on. Ragina, Zoe Bell, kills herself after only having one on screen scene! What is the deal? They get these interesting actors (Fisher Stevens!!!!) and kill them off immediately!

Anyway, Michael is seen for a moment. Surprise.


It is strange that the series builds up to the Michael reveal... but I do a lot of LOST podcast listening and reading... so to the normal viewer - this may have been a surprise. Next week we learn all about Kevin Johnson.


The final moments with Sun and Hurley at Jin's tombstone were very well done... in fact, I am not sure if Jin isn't truly dead. I know that seems odd to say, I should be thinking he is dead... but I expect this show to toss things on their ear. Jin might just be dead because of the words Sun speaks to him. She tells him of their daughter and that she named her Ji Yeon, just as he had asked. It was a very - sniff sniff - well done bit.

The show is continuing to rock... way to go Damon and Carlton!!

LOST 4.07 "Ji Yeon" : B+

yo

Weekend of Thrills

Hello precious blogosphere,

I don't have lovely images to show the fun that was this weekend - but I do have some kind words for all involved!

First, it was to be Cara's final birthday hurrah. We were going to dinner with her parents and her sister, Tricia. We went out to Johnny's Italian something... and it was great. Good food - good drinks... ok service... but it was great. As we were leaving, Bob (Cara's father) said he needed to take something upstairs, to the room we are renting for the wedding, for Cara's birthday. I carried his box o' goodies up to the room without thinking anything of it.

And of course... it was a surprise Wedding Shower.

WOW!!!

The family!!! The friends!!! The people who traveled far!!! The people who put so much work into making it all look so nice!!! The people who got the games organized!! The cake!! The gifts!!!

WOW!!!!

It was a blast. Thank you to everyone who was involved in the planning and execution. I was surprised - and that is a true feat!

So - to top that - this weekend had Drake winning the Missouri Valley Conference tournament (and the final game by 30 points!??!) - the stuffing of the wedding invitations... and tons of fun with family and friends.

Twas a good one.

Yo

GONNNA DIE DIE DIE DIE HAARRRRDD!!!

Josh alerted me to this video - it rocks.

Actually, I was kind of hoping they would have made mention of Bruce's lack of hair... but, whatever. The editing is funny - the lyrics are perfect... this is awesome!

yo

TV REVIEW : LOST 4.06 "The Other Woman"

As far as LOST goes, last week was a total mind blowing unbelievable gigantic episode - so it stands to reason that this weeks would take two steps back. Though, that ain't all bad.

"The Other Woman" focuses on Juliet and her early time with the Others - meeting with an Other therapist named Harper - hooking up with Goodwin - some odd moments with Ben making a block of ham for supper... and one major creepy moment with him as well.


Harper (above) turns out to be Goodwin's wife, and she knew about the affair Juliet was having with him. She warned Juliet that Ben might take offense to the affair and do harm to Goodwin - thus Goodwin was sent to the Tallies and off to his death.

Actually, I love that we see that Juliet is not as good as a person as we thought - she continues with the affair, knowing that Harper is wise... that is awful.

I did love Harper's appearance in the woods... methinks she was Jacob in disguise (or rather, Jacob in a form that Juliet would listen to).


The coolest moment of the night was when Ben took Juliet to visit Goodwin's corpse... and he announced "YOU'RE MINE!!" Michael Emerson is brilliant and he has tons of little moments in the episode to play with;

He is smitten with Juliet - he attempts to flirt - he bounces happily - he gets awfully jealous... and ultimately, shows his evil manipulative Ben face. Emerson owned this ep.


The only real nugget we got to further things was the tape reveal that Widmore is in fact trying to find the island and that he is a bad dude (demonstrated by showing him beat the crap out of a tied up guy). I am not completely sure Ben is really giving all the info - actually, I am sure he is not... but I am not sure that means Widmore is not an evil dude.

We will have to see.


In the end, we got some smooching from Juliet and Jack - which did not get any excitement out of me. Jack has become a weaker character, unsure of his choices and lost in his motivation... he was a tool this ep.

But hey - the show is great - no real complaints... just looking forward to seeing Michael next week... Ben's guy on the boat! And we will finally meet Zoe Bell as Regina!

LOST 4.06 "The Other Woman" : B

yo

HDDVD REVIEW : "Shrek" & "Elizabeth"

Two big wastes of time this week - first off is "Shrek the Third." Wow, what an utter disappointment.

The first two "Shrek" films were very good, filled with fun music, very funny nods to pop culture - fair tales - and old Disney films. Though crude at times, I found the two films to be a blast.

The third is a waste - Justin Timberlake is stuck in the horrid role of Arthur - a character that brings the fun to a grinding halt! This thing should have died at the script phase.

HDDVD REVIEW "Shrek the Third" : D


"Elizabeth - the Golden Age" is as big as of a mess - and just as shocking. The first film was great... all of the creators are back (same director!!!) - yet this pile came out.

Clive Owen is a major reason here - his role and performance are astoundingly bad.

HDDVD REVIEW "Elizabeth - the Golden Age" : D

yo

Cara's 30th Birthday Bash

This weekend was Cara's big weekend of birthday fun. We did a fake surprise party on Friday night... then the real one on Saturday!

She was shocked both times. Pics have been youtube'd.



I think everyone had a ball getting dressed up and listening to old 80's tunes all night. There were some amazing costumes (Graham and Tricia's) and some letdowns (me!!!)... but after a few extremely cold brews... all went well.

Happy Birthday chica!

yo

TV REVIEW: LOST 4.05 "The Constant"

Holy crap... HOLY crap... HOLY CRAP!!!! WOW! WOW!! WOW!!!

This show is completely blowing my mind!!!!

Ok, so the helicopter flew through a storm (which was required by Farraday) and Desmond starts time traveling through his own conscious.

Awesome!!


We finally get to see the freighter that everyone was speaking about... that crazy guy from "Smoking Aces" is there to creep everyone out... and doors magically open.

Ok - let's start again. This episode towers over... all. This episode takes LOST and floors it into the stratosphere.


My tiny brain is still digesting the ramifications of this episode... the mind time traveling... Desmond making contact with Penny... the amazing Black Rock journal sequence... WOW!!

I will have to watch this one again before I can really start posing some interesting notions.


I am seriously confused... I am seriously enthralled... I am seriously loving LOST!!!

LOST 4.05 "The Constant" : A

yo

TV REVIEW : LOST 4.04 "Eggtown"

Busy busy week - tomorrow is another LOST and I have not had a chance to speak on "Eggtown."

Things are still moving forward but for the first time this 4th season, we have a slow down. This is a regular flow for LOST, moving fast and slowing things down to a crawl - season 2 lost several fans due to it's lack of momentum. Those fans are back because of the end of season 3 and I think, because of the end date being chosen, they will continue to feel a strong drive until the end of the show.


What keeps this episode from exploding like the previous three... is Kate. Kate is a conundrum. Kate seemed far more interesting before we got to know her - she murdered her stepfather... she got her best friend killed... she can't choose between Jack and Sawyer...

Yawn.

I am wiped out on the Jack/Sawyer thing - it has zero dramatic power for me. And frankly, I am not sure the writers really have anything anymore... but they feel they need to. Poor Kate needs to decide... and move on.

The bit with Miles above was entertaining - but most of Locke's other choices in the episode were pretty weak and the situations were pretty lame.


The final bit with Aaron did get my mind churning again... is Claire dead? Is Jack acting like his father? Is Aaron the 5th member of the Oceanic 6?

Hmmm.... let's get back to the light not scattering right.

LOST 4.04 "Eggtown" : B-

yo

DVD REVIEW : Missing the "3:10 to Yuma"

I guess, for me, the western never really left. I got into film as Eastwood's phenomenal "Unforgiven" hit theaters - I watched "Wild Wild West" as a kid - hell, I've seen "Silverado" about a dozen times! I grew up watching contemporary westerns, then in college, I discovered John Ford and John Wayne. Then some Anthony Mann and the amazing Sergio Leone.

So when the marketing team behind "3:10 to Yuma" decided to proclaim that the western had finally returned... I did not feel the need to trumpet it. And after watching the film, I am glad I didn't.


The film is definitely sloppy - with some bland direction and an annoying amount of ADR work (I hate that fake empty voice that should be echoing throughout the lands!!). There is some truly flat moments (Doc's death) and some ridiculous casting (LUKE - FREAKING - WILSON IN A CAMEO?!?!?) and some really failed editing throughout the film (Bale gets zero, and I mean absolutely ZERO, love from the editor - in every scene with Crowe, it is obvious Bale is only cut in to remind you someone is with Crowe!).

The ending that the critics yelled about is not really good - in fact, it is the final moments that really sell the film out.


But I did have a little fun - the opening titles got me excited for the film. I loved the initial cut to Crowe and a bunch of his little moments (talking with Gretchen Mol, Bale's wife).

I did particularly like a line from the "boss" obsessed Ben Foster - "I hate posse's." After killing a group of men who wanted Wade (Crowe's character). Foster is feminized throughout the film and the line doubled as a declaration of his sexual oddness. That was fun.

Frankly though, I did not see much to enjoy here. Bale struggled and was given nothing in the editing room - Crowe never balances good and evil (though he comes close in telling the story of his mother leaving him) - characters die off and it means nothing (Fonda)... overall, just sloppy and disappointing.

I need to watch "Unforgiven" again.

"3:10 to Yuma" : C+

yo

"And the Oscar goes to..."

2007 was an amazing year for film and I am thrilled to say that all five of the nominations for Best Picture this year were among my top ten of the season! I would like to take a moment to comment quickly on each;

"No Country for Old Men" is simply perfect. This is the Coen Brothers at there best, doing a story that is familiar, handling the direction with assurance, and allowing actors to breathe in their film like I have not seen before.

Jones, Brolin, and Bardem all knock their roles completely into the stratosphere - all should have received nominations!

The film is taut - frightening - layered - fascinating... and perfect.


Paul Thomas Anderson is a really interesting filmmaker who continues to explore his creative abilities within a storytelling structure - "There Will Be Blood" does not play out like a historical biography, but more like a scattered image of a driven mad man. I loved watching the imagery and Anderson's direction - but Lewis' portrayal of Daniel Plainview dominated every aspect of the film.

He will win the Oscar - he is amazing in the film - it is fantastic.


"Juno" was marvelous. It is a story that I was happy to hear, a young girl who finds herself pregnant - decides to keep the baby and give it up to a couple in need... yet does not struggle with that decision but more with the relationships that surround her.

Cara, my mother, my brother and I got out to see this the weekend it opened in town, and we all really enjoyed the film. As most people mention, I was a little thrown off by Cody's ultra groovie dialog at the beginning of the film but the performances eased me back into a love for "Juno."

I would not complain if Ellen Page won for Best Actress.


"Pride and Prejudice" was a beautiful surprise for me - I am not a huge Keira Knightly fan and I had never heard of Joe Wright... but that film was captivating and a joy. "Atonement" was just as good.

The story was compelling - the acting was superberb... but the direction was what really excited me. There is a moment in the film where events are played backwards and we watch as Knightly is separated, yet joined, to her lover, McAvoy. The colors - the movement - everything worked fantastically in that scene.

Though the film was not perfect (8 min long take that did not work) - I would recommend it to anyone!


"Michael Clayton" is all about taking a story that we have seen before, but making it real. Screw "Erin Brokovich," this film actually looks at what it takes in a person to sell your soul for financial gain.

Clooney was really good but it is Tilda Swinton who steals every scene she is involved in. Her final moments in the film are brilliant.

Gilroy directed with a light touch (and I even loved those horses at the beginning) and I appreciated his respect for the characters. The film is very very good.

Buuuuut....


with out a doubt "No Country for Old Men" is a film that 40 years from now the world will still be looking at - still be analyzing... still be admiring.

It is the Best Picture of the year.

Now we just have to wait til Sunday for the world to concur.

yo