IMJP

If you know me, you likely know I love movies.  It’s that love that drove me to leave my “day job” back in 2012 to co-found SeenTh.at, a social site for movie fans (but that’s another story). If you know I love movies, you likely also know that I’m quite fond of one Wesley Wales Anderson.

In my opinion, he’s one of the most original, consistent, and talented directors in Hollywood today. You could probably argue that most “A-list” stars agree, as Anderson has (impressively) brought so many legendary actors into his obsessively-detailed, storybook fantasies. 

Here’s a quick list with some fun Oscar numbers to mull over:

James Caan (1 Oscar nom) Gene Hackman (5 Oscar noms, 2 wins)

Anjelica Huston (3 Oscar noms, 1 win) Gwyneth Paltrow (1 Oscar nom, 1 win) Alec Baldwin (1 Oscar nom) Cate Blanchett (5 Oscar noms, 2 wins) Willem Dafoe (2 Oscar noms) Jeff Goldblum (1 Oscar nom) Adrien Brody (1 Oscar nom, 1 win) George Clooney (6 Oscar noms, 2 wins) Meryl Streep (19 Oscar noms, 3 wins) <--- WOW! Edward Norton (3 Oscar noms)

Frances McDormand (4 Oscar noms, 1 win) Tilda Swinton (1 Oscar nom, 1 win) Harvey Keitel (1 Oscar nom) Ralph Fiennes (2 Oscar noms)

Jude Law (2 Oscar noms) Tom Wilkinson (2 Oscar noms) and of course...THE Bill Murray (1 Oscar nom)

Anderson himself has been nominated for 6 Oscars, but has yet to win (Martin Scorsese has been nominated 12 times and won only once). Speaking of Martin Scorsese, he had high praise for Anderson in a tribute he penned for Esquire in March of 2000. 

Wes Anderson, at age thirty, has a very special kind of talent: he knows how to convey the simple joys and interactions between people so well and with such richness.

He even placed Bottle Rocket, Anderson’s first full-length film, at #7 on his 10 “Best Films of the 1990s.” Needless to say, Anderson’s got skills and lots of Hollywood’s elite know it.

With Anderson’s latest opus, The Grand Budapest Hotel, garnering so much critical acclaim (9 Oscar noms, 4 wins), I’ve noticed a lot of cinema pundits ranking his films. I guess it only makes sense, as Anderson’s self-proclaimed biggest fan, that I throw my own opinion into the marketplace of ideas. The below rankings are purely based on my enjoyment of each feature film Anderson has directed, and are opinion. But if you disagree, definitely tell me why!

#8 The Darjeeling Limited (2007)

This is one of two films from Anderson’s filmography that I’ve seen only once. Because of that, you can take its placement at the bottom of this list with a grain of salt. For me, the majority of Anderson’s movies have taken more than one viewing to truly “get it” and appreciate the full genius of the piece. The Darjeeling Limited deserves another viewing from me to get a truly fair shot, but since I’ve seen it once and enjoyed it the least I have nowhere else to put it but at #8. 

Based on that one viewing, Darjeeling lacks the “magic” I feel in all of Anderson’s other films. I can’t think of a better word for it than that. There were some strong scenes, some great deadpan delivery, but only an inkling of the heart Scorsese referenced in his Esquire tribute. With this film I didn’t relate as much to the characters, and found myself less-than-invested in their journey or success.

#7 The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)

I might get reamed for the placement of Anderson’s latest (and most critically-acclaimed) film on my list, but it also falls into the category of “seen it once,” which, for me, makes it really hard to place this any higher (the list is based on my enjoyment of each film, remember). 

Having said that, this was an incredibly ambitious film with AMAZING set design. From the moment I saw the first trailer for this film, I had high expectations for Ralph Fiennes, and he was absolutely wonderful, darling. I’ll be honest that I was a bit disappointed in the vulgarity of Adrien Brody’s character. Sure, it was fitting for the character, but it was off-putting for me.

All in all, this was a great film and I’m excited to watch it again when I find some time (I do own it).

#6 Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)

This is arguably Anderson’s most ambitious work to date. Who would have thought that after a string of quirky character-driven, live-action features Anderson would jump to a feature-length, stop-motion animation picture based on Roald Dahl’s story of the same name, and absolutely hit it out of the park?

George Clooney absolutely kills as the protagonist in this storybook fantasy, and the supporting cast does not disappoint at all. One of my favorite things in the movie is how characters say the word “cuss” when they would otherwise have said a swear word. It’s just funny, man!

#5 Moonrise Kingdom (2012)

With Moonrise Kingdom Anderson captures a youthful exuberance (the “magic”) that’s ignited when Sam first meets Suzy. It’s this young love that causes the underage pair to eventually flee their scout camp and home, respectively, as if in the act of elopement. Though young, forbidden love may be somewhat of a clichéd trope, Anderson masterfully tells the tale in his storybook fashion, charming us with kids that act like adults, adults that act like kids, and Anderson’s trademark insane level of detail that brings the picture to life.

#4 Bottle Rocket (1996)

What’s crazy about this film is how much I didn’t like it the first time I watched it. I saw it after I fell in love with Rushmore (the first Anderson movie I’d watched), and after I’d met the Tenenbaum family. As a result, it was very apparent to me that this was Anderson’s first film (i.e. t’was raw). It also felt very much like a short that had been stretched out to a full-length feature.

Having said that, I’ve since fallen in love with Dignan (Owen Wilson) and his rookie band of “thieves.” The dialogue is such a perfect preview into what Anderson and Wilson (and other co-writers) would go on to create in later films. The deadpan delivery of both Owen and Luke really showed what they would also be capable of as actors, and catapulted them both into the successful careers they’ve had as the “Wilson Brothers.”

#3 The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004)

Anecdotally speaking, I think this is one of Anderson’s least-adored films by the general viewing public. I, however, love it to pieces. There’s emotion (SPOILER), action, exquisite set design, and exactly what you’ve come to expect from Anderson in the way of deadpan dialogue (see embedded link above) and a killer soundtrack.

While Murray is wonderful as a supporting character in Rushmore, he absolutely kills as the lead in Aquatic. In fact, it’s sort of sad to me that this is the only film, of many where Anderson and Murray have worked together, that showcases Murray as the film’s protagonist. I guess we’ll just have to cross our fingers and pray that we can get at least one more before either Murray or Anderson finish their career.

#2 The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)

I think this film might have one of the best ensemble casts ever assembled, featuring Gene Hackman, Anjelica Huston, Ben Stiller, Gwyneth Paltrow, Luke Wilson, Owen Wilson, Bill Murray, Danny Glover, and Alec Baldwin. Maybe that’s going too far for some, but the way the characters all play together is just phenomenal. I can only imagine how hard it would be to so artfully compose an engaging story, but to do so while juggling so many intricate and lively characters/subplots all at once is just a work of art.

This is the second Anderson film I saw, about a year after I first discovered Rushmore, and I remember coming out of the theater and really not loving it at all. But that’s where I learned a truth essential for all Anderson fans: While Anderson’s films appear, on the surface, to be the “same thing,” each film is wildly different than all others. Each one takes the viewer on a uniquely compelling journey of self-discovery for one or more of Anderson’s crazy characters, all in the signature style of Mr. Anderson. But the stories differ enough that if you expect to see a rehash of something you’ve already seen from Anderson, you will be disappointed.

#1 Rushmore (1998)

Herman Blume: What's the secret, Max?

Max Fischer: The secret?

Herman Blume: Yeah, you seem to have it pretty figured out.

Max Fischer: The secret, I don't know... I guess you've just gotta find something you love to do and then... do it for the rest of your life. For me, it's going to Rushmore.

Oh my how I love this film. First off, I’m a sucker for the “coming of age” story. I love seeing quirky characters find themselves and grow from experiences. And with Rushmore Anderson delivers what is, in my opinion, the quintessential coming of age story.

I was introduced to the film by my brother sometime in 2000, when he purchased the Criterion Collection DVD.

With the style of artwork on the cover (done by Anderson’s brother), I thought for the longest time that Rushmore was an animated movie, and didn’t bother watching it until my good friend Nate called me one night after he and his wife had watched it for the first time. He said the ending brought him to tears (though knowing Nate that probably means he sniffed once), and that I had to watch it. I did. Then I watched it again. And then again. In that first week, I think I watched the film 10 or more times. I just couldn’t get enough. Every character, every scene, every line of dialogue was just perfect. 

Rushmore had become (and remains) my favorite movie of all time.

I don’t think there is a character in all of cinema that, for me, rivals Max Fischer, the film’s protagonist. The story goes that Max, in the second grade, wrote a play, “A little one-act about Watergate,” which got him into the prestigious Rushmore Academy. Now in 10th grade, Max is focusing entirely on extra-curricular activities and not at all on his studies, prompting a stern warning from the school’s head master, Dr. Nelson Guggenheim (Brian Cox), that if Max can’t bring up the grades he’ll be expelled.

It’s around this time that Max runs into two other characters that will soon change his life. One is first grade teacher Miss Rosemary Cross (Olivia Williams), and the other is Herman Blume (Bill Murray), a millionaire steel tycoon. I won’t go too much into the story from there, but I’ll say that Max falls in love with Miss Cross, befriends Herman, who also falls in love with her, gets expelled from Rushmore Academy for hilarious reasons, and then other stuff happens. 

It’s great. If you haven’t seen it yet, please do. Max is a once-in-a-generation character full of naive ambition who challenges the status quo, exudes brilliance when he applies himself, and really doesn’t take “no” for an answer when he wants something. And his maturation and refinement through the course of the film entices me to become something greater than I currently am. 

Here's a nice, quick read by Jeff Weiner, CEO at LinkedIn on what goes into a great product.

What Makes a Truly Great Product Great

Roughly five months ago, my responsibilities at LinkedIn expanded to include directly overseeing product. Consumer web product development has long been a passion of mine and was one of the reasons I was initially hired as CEO, so I was excited about the opportunity. My overall objective for the team was simple: To build great products. LinkedIn has been able to create a lot of value for our members and customers, but there's clearly plenty of room for improvement throughout the platform. A few weeks into the role, I realized that as obvious as it was to me what qualities comprised a great product, defining "great" in this case could be a highly subjective exercise. If we were going to be successful as a team, it was important to ensure that we all shared the same definition of greatness, and were working from the same playbook. With that in mind, I shared the following thoughts regarding five dimensions shared by all great products.

Christopher Nolan and Heath Ledger worked together during, easily, Ledger's greatest performance. Here's Nolan's insight into the actor.

Millions of people have sworn off wheat, but there’s little science to support them. Michael Specter investigates.

Eyes Lips Eyes is probably the best live band you've never seen nor heard of. They played their last show earlier this month (October 4th) at Velour in Provo, UT and absolutely killed it.

Here's a great write up from the band's biggest fan, Robbie Petersen, on his music blog Making Flippy Floppy.

The following is a talk I gave in church yesterday. I hope it can inspire or edify in some way.

Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles candidly kicked off this last Priesthood Session with the following thoughts:

“We live in a world that is literally in commotion. We are surrounded by obsessive portrayals of ‘fun and games’ and immoral and dysfunctional lives. These are presented as normal conduct in much of the media.

Sometimes it feels like we are drowning in frivolous foolishness, nonsensical noise, and continuous contention. When we turn down the volume and examine the substance, there is very little that will assist us in our eternal quest toward righteous goals.”

As a result of his apostolic warning, I’ve done as Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf counseled in the same session, and have asked, “Lord, is it I?” I’ve looked at myself and wondered if I succomb to the enticement of ‘fun and games,’ frivolous foolishness and nonsensical noise to the point where I am, as Randall L. Ridd shared in his April 2014 Priesthood Session address, “...caught up in endless loops of triviality that waste [my] time and degrade [my] potential.” Sadly, the answer is a resounding, “Yes!”

I am an imperfect man. I try to be the son my Father wants me to be. I strive to be the disciple my Savior wants me to be. I yearn to be the patriarch that my sweetheart needs and wants me to be. But alas, I fall short. I often get caught up in the triviality of things that simply just waste time, which naturally degrades my potential as son, disciple, husband and father. And that sometimes leads to shame, despair and a bit of hopelessness. But thank heaven for a living prophet, for apostles and general authorities that give their lives to the building of God’s kingdom on earth. For it is from their words that I draw strength, peace and hope to continue on in the face of that commotion which surrounds us.

One of the talks from this last conference that had the biggest impact on me was given by Elder Carlos A. Godoy of the Seventy. In his talk he shares the following personal experience:

“At the end of the 1980s, our young family was made up of my wife, Mônica, two of our four children, and me. We lived in São Paulo, Brazil, I worked for a good company, I had finished my university studies, and I had recently been released as bishop of the ward where we had lived. Life was good, and everything seemed to be as it should be—until one day an old friend came to visit us.

At the conclusion of his visit, he made a comment and asked a question that unsettled my convictions. He said, ‘Carlos, everything seems to be going well for you, your family, your career, and your service in the Church, but if you continue to live as you are living, will the blessings promised in your patriarchal blessing be fulfilled?’

I had never thought about my patriarchal blessing in this way. I read it from time to time but never with the intent of looking toward the blessings promised in the future and evaluating how I was living in the present.

After his visit, I turned my attention to my patriarchal blessing, wondering, ‘If we continue to live as we are living, will the promised blessings be fulfilled?’ After some pondering, I had the feeling that some changes were necessary, particularly in relation to my education and profession.

It was not a decision between what was right and wrong but between what was good and what was better, as Elder Dallin H. Oaks taught us when he said: ‘As we consider various choices, we should remember that it is not enough that something is good. Other choices are better, and still others are best.’”

When I heard Elder Godoy share this experience, I was pricked by the Spirit. I was suddenly reminded of all the blessings and opportunities I was promised in my own patriarchal blessing, opportunities that I might very well miss out on if not properly prepared to receive them. That evening I pulled out a copy and read it intently, considering what changes I need to make in my life in order to attain all that Father has in store for me. In other words, I spent some time thinking about my “eternal quest toward righteous goals.”

So how can we know that we are making the best decisions to progress and fulfill the Lord’s plan for us? Elder Godoy shared three specific principles he’s learned:

  Principle #1 - We need to consider our options with the end in mind.

Have you ever set out to write a story/book/poem, compose a song or maybe paint a picture without some sort of thesis or premise? It’s almost impossible! 

Elder Godoy similarly shares:

“Making decisions that can impact our lives and those we love without having the broader vision of their consequences can bring some risks. However, if we project the possible consequences of these decisions into the future, we can see with greater clarity the best path to take in the present.

Understanding who we are, why we are here, and what the Lord expects from us in this life will help give us the broader vision we need.”

And what better way to understand those things than through prayer and scripture study! In the Sunday afternoon session of conference, Elder Richard G. Scott spoke of these two tools we have been given. He counsels:

“Choose to converse with your Father in Heaven often. Make time every day to share your thoughts and feelings with Him. Tell Him everything that concerns you. He is interested in the most important as well as the most mundane facets of your life. Share with Him your full range of feelings and experiences.”

He then continues:

“We talk to God through prayer. He most often communicates back to us through His written word. To know what the voice of the Divine sounds and feels like, read His words, study the scriptures, and ponder them.”

I can testify that prayer is real. Father listens to us, and answers fervent prayers, often through the words of the prophets.

  Principle #2 - We need to be prepared for the challenges that will come.

Elder Godoy wisely states, “The best paths in life are rarely the easiest. Often, it is exactly the opposite.”

In the aforementioned talk by Elder Scott, wherein he discusses several tools we can use to strengthen our faith in Christ, he reiterates Elder Godoy’s sentiment that life is hard.

“I do not declare that your life will cease to have challenges. Remember when Adam and Eve were in the garden, they were free from challenges, yet they were unable to experience happiness, joy, and peace. Challenges are an important part of mortality…

...we came to mortal life precisely to grow from trials and testing. Challenges help us become more like our Father in Heaven, and the Atonement of Jesus Christ makes it possible to endure those challenges.”

  Principle #3 - We need to share this vision with the people we love.

Quoting Elder Godoy once more:

“It is very likely that when we decide to take a certain path, the people we love will be affected, and some will even share with us the results of this choice. Ideally, they should be able to see what we see and share our same convictions. This is not always possible, but when it occurs, the journey is much easier.”

In his talk, Elder Godoy shares how the support of his wife was essential to his success in reaching the goals he set as a result of reading his patriarchal blessing, a powerful reminder of how important the love and support of those closest to us can be in reaching our eternal potential. But I’d like to generalize this principle to include those we’ve been commanded to love, which includes all of Father’s children. We need to share this vision with the people we love.

Consider the countless children of our Father essentially wandering the earth with little real purpose, ourselves included, without an “eternal quest toward righteous goals.” Consider the deep desire we all have to feel the love of our Father, and to partake in the lasting joy the Gospel brings. That desire may be preeminent; something we long for daily. It may also be a hazy afterthought, even a latent, long-forgotten hope. Either way, that light of Christ exists in every soul on this earth.

D&C 123: 12-14

12 For there are many yet on the earth among all sects, parties, and denominations, who are blinded by the subtle craftiness of men...and who are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it—

13 Therefore, that we should waste and wear out our lives in bringing to light all the hidden things of darkness, wherein we know them; and they are truly manifest from heaven—

14 These should then be attended to with great earnestness.

With our new Chrome extension: InVision LiveCapture, you can quickly grab full-length snapshots of live websites, and add detailed feedback just like you would on a normal screen inside InVision.

Here's the latest and greatest productivity tool from InVision. I have to say I'm pleased and amazed by their continual innovation. There's no apparent desire to simply stick with their (amazing) product foundation, but instead they seem to be listening to their community and adding small, but beautiful, layers to their core product.

Over the past few years my career has taken a turn from account services roles at digital marketing agencies to product development, specifically UI/UX design. Having always had a self-proclaimed keen eye for good design, I've naturally flourished (on a personal level) in these roles. That's not to say I'm a killer designer at this point, but I've learned a lot and plan to push myself to be better and better. One step in getting better is identifying as a designer and becoming part of that community, with the goal of learning from those that have gone before. Luckily, a buddy came through for me and got me an invite to Dribbble, arguably one of the web's top communities for designers around the world.

Once a part of the Dribbble community, designers are urged to post their "debut shot," introducing themselves to the Dribbble community. There's even a section of the site dedicated to debut shots. As I thought about what to post for my debut shot (which, admittedly, wasn't a very long process), I wanted to do something that was reminiscent of the design world when I was born, way back in 1978. I also wanted to inconspicuously do something that had my initials (JP) in it, to some degree, as a personal stamp on the project. After playing around for an hour or so, I came up with the following shot...