The Muse Films

09/09/2024

"I wouldn't want to be a white American for all the tea in China...I wouldn't want to live with all those lies. I don't want your salvation anymore...I can save you...You don't know me, but I know you..."

It's clear to me that most people in The West lack the capacity to listen to James Baldwin. There is a well-designed blind spot in the "Western European" psyche that prohibits profound self-examination.

Listen to him if you can; it's a short film, or read "The Fire Next Time (1963) or "Another Country." Then, if you are courageous enough, think of what's been happening to Palestinians and other local peoples of the world for a very long time and ask yourself if it should end.

"The world will change because it has to change."

"Love has never been a popular movement, and no one has ever really wanted to be free."

"...everyone you're looking at is also you. You could be that person...You could be that monster. You could be that cop, and you have to decide for yourself not to be."

In 1970, a British film crew set out to make a literary portrait of James Baldwin set in Paris, insisting on setting aside his activism. The author visits Parisian landmarks and reflects on revolution, colonialism, and what it means to be Black in Europe—while bristling at the filmmakers’ questi...

09/09/2024

Good stuff!

Watch Fallen Leaves & Passages with your extended free trial of MUBI: https://mubi.com/thomasflightIn this video I dive into the complicated history of how A...

06/09/2024

It works.

05/09/2024

We recently lost another 1970s icon, just a few weeks after the passing of Donald Sutherland. So we had to look back over the extraordinary life of Shelley Duvall and put to bed some of the awful rumors surrounding her in recent years.

We recently lost another 1970s icon, just a few weeks after the passing of Donald Sutherland. So we had to look back over the extraordinary life of Shelley D...

03/09/2024

https://youtu.be/NIBMybpw6W8?si=nLb28IElNA9ziDyJ

A profile of actress Jeanne Moreau in 2001.Yves Saint Laurent, Louis Malle, William Friedkin, Pierre Cardin

03/09/2024

The enigmatic resurrection, rampage, and retribution of an undead monster in a remote wilderness unleashes an iconic new killer.

Starring: Ry Barrett, Charlotte Creaghan, Liam Leone
Director: Chris Nash

Opening in theaters May 31.The enigmatic resurrection, rampage, and retribution of an undead monster in a remote wilderness unleashes an iconic new killer.St...

02/09/2024

https://youtu.be/PLQe_d5uj7c?si=JInr9flI4-T9RgsD

Today, we look at Il Maestro: Federico Fellini. A director that re-envisioned the very idea of a filmmaker as creator and subject.Join our Discord and suppor...

26/08/2024

Classic Mods.

26/08/2024

The Good Old End Times Fetish—someone should make a movie about it. It makes the Civil War look like Girl Scout Cookies.

The following was inspired by the following post: "Israel's Path of Peril" Simplicius Aug 26, 2024

25/08/2024

Music Break

"In Mdou Moctar, it is not out of the ordinary for well-laid plans to collapse at the last-minute. For example, this happens a lot with flights being cancele...

21/08/2024

https://youtube.com/shorts/HNYi8_R053A?si=Xh2KpAib2sF0VR13

Submit to our Screenplay Competitions: https://www.outstandingscreenplays.com/Submit your FEATURE Film Screenplay: https://www.outstandingscreenplays.com/com...

18/08/2024

Love is complicated for creators.

Christians interpret the Bible literally because it is, at its core, literature. This shared understanding unites us, even as we acknowledge the diversity of interpretations among Christians. We are extraordinary creatures, and our shared exploration of these texts is a testament to our shared curiosity and understanding.

We may never know what it's like to be a whale or a crow.

Recently, I shared an article with a dear friend: " Whitehead and Evolution" by John B. Cobb, Jr. Below are his thoughtful and well-considered comments, which are much appreciated. Thanks for the article. Open Horizons looks like a great website, and the particular article you sent is

17/08/2024

What one writes on one's "Staying Alive Day."

When we fall to the graceful tribal number 150 and stand on our clothes like little children, where fruit is sweet and edible, will we forget where we've been? Perhaps. Hopefully? Will ALEXA be a myth, like ancient giants and Atlantis? Will the data we generate be meaningful? Will there even be data anymore? What "technology" did Plato imagine Atlantis had? We are talking about Angels vs. Aliens. Now, that would be a fun movie franchise.

When we fall to the graceful tribal number 150 and stand on our clothes like little children , where fruit is sweet and edible, will we forget where we've been? Perhaps. Hopefully? Will ALEXA be a myth, like ancient giants and Atlantis? Will the data we generate be meaningful? Will there

16/08/2024

This conversation and book opens one's mind to new possibilities and ways of understanding.
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Jim talks with Alexander Bard for the first in a series of conversations about his and Jan Söderqvist’s recent book Process and Event. They discuss Jim’s process for reading the book, metaphysics, narratology, the sociont, dividuals vs individuals, a biochemical definition of individuality, eventology, Alexander’s conversion to Zoroastrianism, nomadology, Nietzsche’s concept of the eternal recurrence, 4 varieties of time, a defense of armchair philosophy, ph***ic linear time, the ph***ic gaze & direction, transcendental emergentism, the tendency to want a single explanation, problems with emergentism, emergence vectors, the ubiquity of uniqueness, the Great Filter, the narratological triad, 3 brains & their proportions in the population, the problem with literal belief in mythos, root of the phallus, the end of the age of mass religion, the barred absolute & whether it’s desirable, tribopoiesis, membranes & boundaries, lawful semipermeability, membranics as a dialectical process, ta***ic labs, coherent pluralism & Zoroastrianism, decentralization, avoiding tyranny, disenfranchising the emergence of big men, boy pharaohs vs pillar saints, and much more.

Alexander Bard is a philosopher, artist, songwriter and music producer, author of six books with Jan Söderqvist, living in Stockholm, Sweden. Bard built his career as a philosopher in parallel with a highly successful 25-years-plus career in the international music industry. Bard & Söderqvist’s philosophy concentrates on the relationship between human beings and technology, using human beings as the constant throughout civilization, with technology as the ever faster changing variable. Their work takes inspiration from thinkers like Hegel, Nietzsche, Whitehead, Deleuze, and Eastern philosophy and spirituality, in the latter case adding Persia to the well known triad of India, China and Japan. They are convinced philosophy will be the last human activity to ever be affected by AI.

https://www.jimruttshow.com/alexander-bard-2/

https://www.jimruttshow.com/alexander-bard-3/

https://www.jimruttshow.com/alexander-bard-4/

Jim talks with Alexander Bard in the last of three conversations about his and Jan Söderqvist’s recent book Process and Event.

15/08/2024

A New AI Narrativ

SAG-AFTRA and Narrativ have struck a deal that will give the union’s 160,000 members the opportunity to add themselves to a database that connects voice talent to advertisers. Narrativ is a startup with an online marketplace that helps advertisers create audio spots using AI tools.

Actors can negotiate the fees for using their voice on a project-by-project basis. It not only better ensures ethical use of AI technology, but also provides a new avenue for actors to get paid. Narrativ agreed to SAG-AFTRA’s informed consent and compensation requirements, among other “crucial A.I. guardrails.”

SAG-AFTRA has struck a deal for voice replicas with AI firm Narrativ that the union asserts sets 'a new standard' for ethical use of the technology.

15/08/2024

Dreams within dreams, illusions cracking in fragments. A symphony of noir and nightmare. David Lynch’s Warped Americana imagery and Angelo Badalamenti’s haunting touch. In 2001, David Lynch released ‘Mulholland Drive.’ It is an avant-garde work that defines the American zeitgeist towards the beginning of the 21st century, and not just in regards to cinema. In 2016, the BBC listed 'Mulholland Drive' as the greatest film of the 21st century....why?

Dreams within dreams; illusions cracking in fragments. A symphony of noir and nightmare. David Lynch’s Warped Americana imagery and Angelo Badalamenti’s haun...

15/08/2024

"Western World Observes Press Freedom Day," gloated the United Press International newswire back in 1961. "Trump v. CNN: lawsuit becomes test case on press freedom," declared The Guardian in November 2018. "The 10 Best and Worst Countries for Press Freedom," says US News and World report in 2022.

For decades, elite US media and government institutions have touted the sacred notion of freedom of the press. Our media, so we’re told, have the legally enshrined latitude and responsibility to criticize, to interrogate, to expose. According to this same high-minded rhetoric, freedom of the press preserves our media’s integrity and serves as a pillar of US democracy.

This all sounds well and good. After all, media’s ability to keep the public informed without constraints or compromise is intrinsically good and essential to any society - that’s kinda the whole point of this show. But there are far more limitations to US-based frameworks of freedom of the press than our media, and our government, let on. Far too often, the concept of press freedom is limited by liberal formulations of negative rights, and even those, selectively applied depending on short term US interests. As the US-backed wholesale destruction of Gaza by Israel enters its 10 month and more than 140 journalists have been killed in the assault –– many deliberately targeted by the Israeli military –– Western elite sanctimony over their alleged commitment to press freedom has been revealed as hollow, its ideological cracks and contradictions apparent for all to see.

On this episode, our Season 7 Finale, we examine lofty American conceptions of freedom of the press, especially as it emerged in the middle of the 20th century, looking at how US media organizations are more willing to award rights, sympathy, and security to those journalists and institutions who help prop up the usual State Department line.

Our guests are documentarian Kavitha Chekuru and journalist Hoda Osman.

I'm listening to Citations Needed | Ep 207: US-Backed Killing of Journalists in Gaza and the Limits of "Freedom of the Press" Sloganeering on Podbean, check it out!

"Western World Observes Press Freedom Day," gloated the United Press International newswire back in 1961. "Trump v. CNN: lawsuit becomes test case on press freedom," declared The Guardian in November 2018. "The 10 Best and Worst Countries for Press Freedom," says US News and World report in 2022. Fo...

14/08/2024

Dive into the gritty underbelly of 1970s New York City with Quentin Tarantino as he dissects Martin Scorsese's magnum opus, "Taxi Driver." In this enthralling video, Tarantino brings his signature blend of sharp wit, profound insight, and unfiltered passion to explore the film's raw power and cultural impact.

Disclaimer: This is an unauthorized fan-made video. The words are Tarantino's, but the voice is AI-generated. The script is taken from Tarantino's chapter on Taxi Driver. Some of the pages were cut for the video to hopefully encourage people to buy his book.

From Robert De Niro's iconic performance as the troubled Travis Bickle to Paul Schrader's razor-sharp screenplay, Tarantino leaves no stone unturned. Witness a master storyteller unpacking the layers of this cinematic gem, revealing the intricate dance between character, setting, and narrative that makes "Taxi Driver" a timeless classic.

Whether you're a film buff, a Tarantino devotee, or simply curious about the darker corners of American cinema, this video is your ticket to understanding the genius behind one of the most influential films ever made. Join us for an unforgettable journey into the heart of "Taxi Driver," where every frame pulsates with the spirit of rebellion and the quest for redemption.

Dive into the gritty underbelly of 1970s New York City with Quentin Tarantino as he dissects Martin Scorsese's magnum opus, "Taxi Driver." In this enthrallin...

14/08/2024

"Dirty Harry" is a 1971 American action film directed by Don Siegel. The movie stars Clint Eastwood as the titular character, Inspector Harry Callahan, known for his unorthodox and ruthless methods in pursuing criminals. The film is set in San Francisco and follows Harry as he tracks down a psychopathic sniper named Scorpio, who terrorizes the city. The main cast includes Clint Eastwood as Harry Callahan, Andy Robinson as the antagonist Scorpio, Harry Guardino as Lieutenant Al Bressler, and Reni Santoni as Inspector Chico Gonzalez. "Dirty Harry" is noted for its influence on the action genre and is famous for its iconic line, "Do you feel lucky, punk?"

"Dirty Harry" faced significant controversy and backlash upon its release in 1971, primarily due to its portrayal of police methods and attitudes towards law enforcement. The film was criticized for its apparent endorsement of vigilantism and the use of excessive force by its protagonist, Inspector Harry Callahan, played by Clint Eastwood. Critics and some audiences viewed the character's actions and the film's message as a reactionary response to the social changes and civil rights movements of the 1960s.

Additionally, the portrayal of the antagonist, Scorpio, and the sympathetic depiction of a police officer taking the law into his own hands raised concerns about the film's impact on public perceptions of justice and police conduct. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and other civil rights groups criticized the film for what they saw as a glorification of police brutality and a disregard for legal rights.

The film also sparked debates about media violence, with some critics arguing that it could encourage imitative crimes and desensitize viewers to the seriousness of real-world violence. Despite the controversy, or perhaps because of it, "Dirty Harry" became a significant commercial success and has since been recognized as a classic in the action genre, spawning several sequels and solidifying Clint Eastwood's status as a major Hollywood star.

Written by: Quentin Tarantino* (taken from his book Cinema Speculation. Tarantino had nothing to do with the making of this video. This is a fan-made tribute to him and classic cinema.)
Edited and Produced by: Alan Berry
Narrator: AI Brown (Yes, it's an AI voice)

Explore the gritty world of Clint Eastwood's "Dirty Harry" through the eyes of Quentin Tarantino. Diving deep into the iconic film that redefined the cop gen...

04/08/2024

With excitement high over the recent release of the film’s stand-alone sequel, Twisters, Scientific American reached out to tornado experts Rick Smith and Jana Houser to chat about why so many in the weather community love the original movie, what they think about the new sequel and what the ups and downs of studying tornadoes are. Smith is warning coordination meteorologist at the National Weather Service’s (NWS’s) office in Norman, Okla., who was consulted for Twisters and appears in the film as an extra. And Houser is a meteorologist at the Ohio State University who provided forecast and other support to the new movie’s cinematographers when storm chasing to film real storm backgrounds and clouds. [The following conversation includes some spoilers for the new film.]

Weather experts talk about why the film Twister is often such a favorite among tornado researchers and what they think of its new stand-alone sequel, Twisters

04/08/2024

The right tool for the job.

Interview with Cinematographer Rob Hardy and his choice to use the DJI Ronin 4D to shoot "Civil War" 2024. RENT MY RONIN 4D 8K (LOS ANGELES ) https://geni.us...

31/07/2024

What kind of peace do I mean? What kind of peace do we seek? Not a Pax Americana enforced on the world by American weapons of war. Not the peace of the grave or the security of the slave. I am talking about genuine peace, the kind of peace that makes life on earth worth living, the kind that enables men and nations to grow and to hope and to build a better life for their children--not merely peace for Americans but peace for all men and women--not merely peace in our time but peace for all time.
I speak of peace because of the new face of war. Total war makes no sense in an age when great powers can maintain large and relatively invulnerable nuclear forces and refuse to surrender without resort to those forces. It makes no sense in an age when a single nuclear weapon contains almost ten times the explosive force delivered by all the allied air forces in the Second World War. It makes no sense in an age when the deadly poisons produced by a nuclear exchange would be carried by wind and water and soil and seed to the far corners of the globe and to generations yet unborn.
Today the expenditure of billions of dollars every year on weapons acquired for the purpose of making sure we never need to use them is essential to keeping the peace. But surely the acquisition of such idle stockpiles--which can only destroy and never create--is not the only, much less the most efficient, means of assuring peace.
I speak of peace, therefore, as the necessary rational end of rational men. I realize that the pursuit of peace is not as dramatic as the pursuit of war--and frequently the words of the pursuer fall on deaf ears. But we have no more urgent task. -- JFK

Listen to the speech. View related documents. President John F. Kennedy Washington, D.C. June 10, 1963

11/07/2024

This mini-documentary focuses on young socially engaged artists in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). These Congolese artists created artwork that was featured in our dossier no. 77, 'The Congolese Fight for Their Wealth', collaboratively produced by the Centre Culturel Andrée Blouin, the Centre for Research on the Congo-Kinshasa (CERECK), Likambo Ya Mabele (Land Sovereignty Movement), and Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research.

The documentary features interviews with M Kadima and members of the artists' collective of the Centre Culturel Andrée Blouin. The dedicated and talented artists spent weeks in the studio discussing the content of the dossier and creating this artwork. Drawing from historical and contemporary photographs that were collectively researched, these images centre the Congolese people as protagonists, rather than victims, of history.

This mini-documentary focuses on young socially engaged artists in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). These Congolese artists created artwork that...

09/07/2024

Let's see how Tim Roth got his start.

Tales Out Of School #4 Made In BritainDirector Alan ClarkeWriter David LelandCastTim Roth as TrevorBill Stewart as Peter CliveGeoffrey Hutchings as the Super...

08/07/2024

https://youtu.be/doaQC-S8de8?si=15BA0AC6YcA5rxbY

Can movement tell a story? Sure, if you’re as gifted as Akira Kurosawa. More than any other filmmaker, he had an innate understanding of movement and how to ...

07/07/2024

Movie Star Break

You have to love Joan.

Collins seems to love to kiss and tell, and we're here for all her steamy secrets. Five Husbands, a racy tell-all memoir, a 12-page n**e spread at age 50, and so much more.

Collins seems to love to kiss and tell and we're definitely here for all her steamy secrets. Five husbands, a racy tell-all memoir, a 12-page n**e spread at ...

07/07/2024

"If the moon invariably shows the same side to Earth during its revolution, it means that in that same period of time, it turns once on its axis." A fascinating lesson in radical cinema and an unhurried deep-dive into the hidden and fragmented side of female emotions is at the heart of The Flame of a Candle, a huis-clos by Portuguese director André Gil Mata (who was particularly well-received in the 2018 Berlinale Forum thanks to The Tree [+]), which blurs the boundaries of time and which was screened in the Ici et Ailleurs section of the 52nd La Rochelle Cinema Festival following its world premiere at FIDMarseille.

05/07/2024 - The talented and impenetrable Portuguese filmmaker André Gil Mata journeys through time to explore the space of a home and two women’s lives

07/07/2024

The Match Factory has sold the picture to Spain (via Avalon Distribución Audiovisual), Benelux (Imagine Film Distribution), Poland (New Horizons Association), Greece (Weird Wave), the former Yugoslavia (MCF MegaCom Film), the Baltics (SCANORAMA), Romania (Voodoo Films), Bulgaria (Beta Film), Australia and New Zealand (Potential Films), CIS excluding Ukraine (Mauris Film), South Korea (M&M International), Thailand (Movies Matter) and Indonesia (PT Falcon).

Mubi has recently announced the distribution of the film in North America, the UK, Ireland, Latin America, Germany, Austria, Turkey and India. Edko Films will be distributing the feature in Hong Kong and Macau. Ahead of its world premiere, co-distribution was confirmed for Grand Tour in France by Tandem and Shellac, and in Italy by Lucky Red. Uma Pedra no Sapato/Magenta is handling the Portuguese release.

05/07/2024 - The Match Factory has closed a raft of deals with key territories including Spain, Poland, Indonesia, Thailand, South Korea and Australia

05/07/2024

Revenge thrillers benefit the most from a simple premise. A guy can lose the one thing he’s ever cared about — be it his girl, his dignity, or even his dog — and that’s typically enough to justify a few hours of visceral, nonstop mayhem. There’s naturally something to be said for the way these films depict brutality without blinking an eye, but the best actioners still tout a kind of catharsis you can’t find anywhere else.

'Kill' is a scrappy, one-location thriller that gets in and out in just over 100 minutes, and won’t fail to leave an impression.

03/07/2024

In this week's episode of “Playing President,” Ray McGovern, 27-year CIA veteran and briefer of five presidents, continues to make sense of the world to “President” Scheer, who prepared for this role through his decades as a journalist, including in-depth interviews with five presidents from Nixon to Clinton. This week, McGovern briefs the President on the truth of some of the claims he made on the debate stage — and the President is not happy about it.

By Ray McGovern and Robert Scheer / Original to ScheerPost In this week’s episode of “Playing President,” Ray McGovern, 27-year CIA veteran and briefer of five presidents, continues to make s…