......and So did I Kanye, so did I. So finally we get to talk about what Kanye likes to call his debut as a "Movie Director" ehh em. I once had soo much to say on this short film but now I cannot fathom wasting my breathe on someone who doesn't appreciate others as much as he appreciates and is in love with himself. Don't get me wrong at all, I do think a lot of Kanye's work is absolute genius. Especially this track "Runaway". But when you can't say anything good about others because you are too worried about you always being on top, is something that I can not put up with. So here it is........I watched the whole hour long "Movie" and 45 minutes worth of the interview afterwards. In the beginning of the interview i was actually starting to believe that maybe his time off did him some good and his "I am God" level had calmed down but at one point he said a few things that turned it all back around and there he was, this insecure man with very low self esteem. When asked who he thought was at a very high point in their hip hop career and was growing as an artist, he did not point anyone out but himself. "No one can touch me. I'm making movies now." And that's when I got off the live viewing on MTV.com.
As for the small film in which he said and compared it to "some Michael Jackson shit"......well it was far from and please not to all artists: MJ was a legend, the King of Pop, the main reason why Music Videos are what they are today(Thriller anyone?). No one can touch him and do not compare yourself to him because you will come off as looking foolish. The short film, which I believe ran 35 minutes, I did not find impressive, creatively extensive, or well cast. This is the only clip where I do believe he speaks truth in what he says in the last minute. I have really begun to feel this way as well and what he says about "selling himself to the devil" and what it means to him. It's something that i will always refer to now because I love the way he developed this saying into something so meaningful to yourself and your dreams. Watch.
Speaking of the Phoenix character, Kanye decided to cast the exquisitely beautiful Selita Ebanks. In the beginning when she is found on the road I believe she was perfectly cast. Very tall, very thin, and lanky.....just like a bird. Until hahahaha omgosh I die when I see her stand up because she's soo gorgeous and she has the HUGE fake breasts which look ridiculous on her teeny tiny figure. I just did some research and she is the 1st Victoria's Secret model to ever be hired by them with fake breasts. That disappointed me to read that because I always like to think all those VS girls are all from Brazil and are just that fabulous. Well they all are but now there is a fake in there and I just don't think that should be allowed. According to every article I have found of her and read she originally had A cups which I am sure looked way more better on that skinny body. So that's one of the parts I think was miscasted. But I'm not going to focus on this character who's acting at the end with Kanye in a conversation about turning to stone and Kanye begs her to stay and they kiss and then the film gets dark but you see them having sex. That bugged me too. Kanye why are you having sex with a Phoenix? She probably scratched the hell out of you! haha. Moving on to what really mattered in this "movie"......The 10 minute long version of the track "Runaway".
This was absolutely gorgeous and filmed in Prague in this huge warehouse it looks like with the spectacular green wall you keep seeing in promo photos. The piece lasted from 13:50 until 23:08. I am a huge fan of the song and what it says and of course being a former ballerina didn't hurt either when I 1st saw it in performance. The casting of the ballerinas was horrific. Three en point and the rest on flat. Not attractive. If you've ever been a ballet dancer or studied the art you know that you DO NOT perform on flat past the age of pretty much 12. Watch the Corps de Ballet only, when you watch it through maybe on your 2nd or 3rd time through. They do not fit in the piece. There are 3 soloists, and I hate to say this, but even they are not perfectly cast either. Half of the Corps was dancing contemp ballet while the rest was purely classical. The had a sequence where they posed on the beats of the chorus of "Runaway" and half would be turned in, feet not pointed, bent knees; it was just not good to watch. The choreography was very basic. Positions and movements you learn in the very beginning stages of study. If I saw one more girl do another releve devlope I was going to die, but that's ALL the girls did. Horrendous! Just horrendous! Kanye, I know you wanted this to be perfect and if you have such a "strong passion for classical dance" then you should have cast the girls better. Period. I was expecting girls from SAB or NYCB.(even though I know sab and nycb contracts do not allow apperiences in music videos.) But no. And although I was upset with the dancing, there are the two beautiful touching moments. When the girls run on stage and when the girls run off. Very Swan Lake. And of course I had a predilection for the straight out classic Tutu's the ballerina's adorned.
Now I've written to much on the subject and person I said I wasn't going to take to much time on because he already feels he is a deity. Now I will end by saying Congrats on getting Phillip Lim to do your costume design. Hire a lead that if she is going to be naked for 35 minutes that her breasts move like normal birds/humans do. Take an acting class. And just come down a little from the high high cloud you are sitting on because you could fall through one day and find yourself sitting on the level ground with the rest of us. Humility Kanye, is key.
P.S. If you didn't know this I would just like to share it with you very fast. 2 of Kanyes great musical influences are Radiohead and NIN. I think Trent Reznor would kick your ass for even saying that.
Thoughts on the film? Feel free to speak your peace.
P&L
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