Errata is a web journal written by Robert Davis who has neither spent a night in a ghost town nor pulled a turnip from the earth. He doesn't even know if turnips grow in the ground. Perhaps on trees, like candy corn. Therefore, Errata is a non-commercial project.

Observation #1: It may be appropriate, when leaving a movie theater, to say "mysterious."

Observation #2: It may be appropriate, when leaving a movie theater, to say "mysterious" at the top of your lungs. Bring your eyebrows together before you say it. Effective!

Observation #3: Same for books. Even at libraries.

There is a prize for people who correctly guess the thing about Metropolis, Nevada.

Except where the text specifically states otherwise, Errata's vagaries are indicated vaguely and its authors are indistinct in the traditional way of the Internet, except where the authors lay claim to their work. In some cases Robert Davis lays claim to work that is not his own but has been abandoned like so many ghost towns. Except where held presently, fistfuls of dirt are suspended via dispersal, or dispersed via suspension (in the air), and thus their dissolution is their transcendence, or their transcendence is their dissolution. And yet our eyes tear, and our vision is impaired, demonstrating for the umpteenth time that one entity's gain is another's fit of sneezes. Except where indicated, storms shall outlive the clay upon which they rain, unless storms are improperly delimited by their clouds, which dissolve, rather than by their inevitable return. Thus the clay loses, unless the clay is said to own the storm, to use it to make itself heavy, to make itself cling to white garments, refuse dispersal, cake upon the facades of abandoned buildings, and sit like Man [sic] upon the earth where it is pelted by a storm that it owns. In which case the clay still loses, if you ask us.

Some of the above is legally binding and should be considered a mental contract between Errata and those upon whom it acts. The bit about the prize should be considered an overstatement insofar as prizes differ from dirt and prize dispersal differs from dirt dispersal. Please recall that ownership is a weight and, therefore, hope that you do not win the prize.

One day Errata or its representatives will call upon you for a favor. It is expected that you will hop-to without delay.

You may contact Robert Davis by email unless it's about the rock that was thrown in anger. The rock is more properly called a clod. Why do you continue to raise the topic?

10 June 2004

This Week in SF

Ah, yes, back to the movies. Here are a few ideas for people in the Bay Area:

The Corporation — Continuing at the Castro through the 17th is this epic Canadian documentary that tackles the dominant institution in our society, the transnational corporation. It's a huge amount of information, and you can't really prove something with a pile of anecdotes, but the pile is so damn high that it does provoke some fundamental questions about this system we're all a part of.
Control Room — Jehane Noujaim's informative documentary about Al Jazeera's coverage of the war in Iraq should be required viewing, not only for the information about Al Jazeera, which is hard to come by in this country, but because it shows some of what goes on behind the scenes at military press conferences. The US military's media liason comes across as a surprisingly likable guy who's caught in the middle, convinced his side is right but not always able to empathize with the people who live in the war zone. The movie starts Friday at the Bridge.
Since Otar Left — I think I could recommend Julie Bertuccelli's debut feature to just about anyone. Since Otar Left opens at Opera Plaza on Friday. Not only is it a warm and humorous drama, but it has a structure so subtle that it rewards consideration well after you've left the theater. Incidentally, Reverse Shot has an interesting take on the movie, reading it as an anti-Amélie, but the piece has pretty massive spoilers, so don't read it until after you see the movie.
San Francisco Black Film Festival — Running through the 13th, the SFBFF is another of the city's many specialized festivals. The Brava theater is hosting 60 new films, many of them premieres. I haven't given the schedule a very thorough perusal, but I did notice that Girl Trouble, a documentary about San Francisco's juvenile justice system that I missed at the SFIFF, will be showing at the Bayview Opera House on Saturday afternoon.
Los Angeles Plays Itself — You have one more chance to catch Thom Andersen's latest documentary on Sunday evening at the PFA. Not that it matters, but that's where I'll be. Also, you'll recall that the PFA is using Andersen's film as a good reason for a series of movies that highlight Los Angeles.
Oscar-Nominated Shorts — For five days starting Thursday the 17th, the Red Vic is showing this year's Academy Award-nominated shorts. It's hard to see shorts these days, but the Red Vic is making it easy by holding onto these for so long. Doug Cummings made the case a few months ago for checking these out. They're also showing Touching the Void for three days starting Friday, in case you missed it like I did.

The Life of Brian is continuing at the Bridge, and in the non-movie list, if you're interested, Dave Chappelle is doing two shows at the Fillmore. I was expecting to see Sam Phillips at the Great American Music Hall on Wednesday, but just this minute discovered that the show was last night! I had the wrong date! I suppose my tickets are at the bottom of the will call waste bin. I could cry. By the way, her new album is fantastic, and for now it'll have to do.

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