#michaelrogers

I recently was invited to an early screening of the upcoming Panos Cosmatos film Mandy by Alamo Drafthouse, and like any fan of film, I was blown away by the amazing trailer.  Luckily, I have friends equally dedicated to their love of film as I am, and in my spreading the word about getting to see what appears to be a new classic, I was told that I must watch the first Panos Cosmatos film, Beyond the Black Rainbow.  I am a lucky man to have friends with such great taste.

The Arboria Institute is a Reagan-era hospital run by Head of Research Barry Nyle (Michael Rogers).  The hospital, in operation since the 1960′s, holds dark secrets beneath it’s surface : Arboria Institute founder Mercurio Arboria (Scott Hylands), the man responsible for Nyle’s psychosis and instability due to experiments with the aim of transcendence, lays dying... Elena (Eva Bourne), daughter of Mercurio and Anna Arboria (Sara Stockstad), is captive to Nyle and a pyramid shaped object he uses to quell her dangerous psychic abilities... and that barely pierces the veil of secrets and experiments within the institute.  As Nyle learns more about Elena and her powers at the expense of nurse Margo (Rondel Reynoldson), he experiences an awakening that puts the two on a course that points equally towards freedom and self-destruction.

The purposefully old school look of this film immediately puts viewers in the perfect state of mind to absorb a movie of this nature.  The desaturated color that dominates the look, uses of rear projection, the synthesizer heavy score and the post-modern set designs really echo to a distinct era of filmmaking, at once playing as homage and participant in the lineage.  Things really get going when the desaturated and academic look suddenly switches to a much more expressive color palette, however.

The extreme washes of color are extremely informative in terms of emotional mindstate.  The confrontations between Nyle and Elena are dominated by the color red, creating a natural tension and sense of anger... Elena’s isolation is often drenched in either mind-numbing white or blue sadness... Nyle and his final confrontation with his old mentor is awash in the green of envy, jealousy and resentment over the control exerted on his life.  The symbology used throughout the film is extremely strong as well.  The mind controlling aspects of television and medication are represented quite well in their roles as story elements.  The pyramid and it’s historical significance, as well as the scientific study and lore that surround it, make it the perfect controlling tool that limits Elena’s abilities.  The entire film feels like a wonderful version of Cronenberg meets Argento.

The real story going on is played out in several cat and mouse games that run on different levels and aspects of control systems.  The overarching narrative is an allegory on finding the ‘absolute self’, and whether mind expansion or extreme discipline and focus are the correct route towards pure enlightenment.  On a more personal level, the control exerted by Mercurio Arboria over Nyles, or even the much more subtle control Nyles exerts over his wife Rosemary (Marily Norry), hits home because of the way that closeness and trust can sometimes be a tug of war.

Michael Rogers is wonderfully intense and unsettling in his antagonist role, playing just as captivating as he is intimidating.  Eva Bourne brings a true sense of innocence and wonder to her acceptance of great power, harnessing a majestic sense of control that makes her frightening despite her calm.  Scott Hylands plays bigger than life, literally serving as a living deity to most of the characters in a sense, with his despicable actions not being enough to break the reverence given to him.  Marilyn Norry mirrors the captivity of Elena in a pitch perfect manner, with her walls of captivity being more so emotional than literal.  Rondel Reynoldson embodies the 1980′s wonderfully in her portrayal of the nurse.  Gerry South and Chris Gauthier help bring a bit of levity into the film, while also serving to raise the stakes near the climax. 

Lately all I have been doing is daydreaming and fantasizing about marriage. why? well for a few reasons. For one, I have been in a very happy and Jesus-centered relationship for over a year now with my teammate Michael Rogers and the longer we are together the more intriguing it is to want forever with him. In my weakest of moments I want it so badly. I want it now and for good.

Things like this tempt me: http://marriedincollege.wordpress.com/

and this:

and of course this:

Then reality sets in. We have no money, I'm still in college, and our futures are still very unsecured. Scary!! Secondly I am approaching graduation from college. Isn't this the perfect time according to American culture?! Of course it is, well, atleast that's what I've convinced myself of in my weakest moments. Thirdly, I am just so tired of the everyday. Him coming to see me at my mom's house, me commuting to hang out with him for an hour or so. It just continues to seem less and less convenient as it continues.

it all boils down to it for me, personally: I'm ready to take on life. I'm ready to take on the world with him, grow in my faith with him and take on the challenges of loving him in every way.

you know what though? I have so much growing to do in my relationship with the Lord. and I want to be financially stable. IMPORTANT THINGS!! and I want us both to be comfortable. We keep dancing around the talk of our life together and how it will be. It's fun. Dreaming IS fun, but what's most important for us right now is to focus on loving each other well day in and day out. Practicing God's love for ourselves and for each other on a daily basis. It's time to hunker down and tuck my dreams of futures away. Its my beautiful dream for now. How beautiful it will be when God's will for my life and his are fulfilled. Those will be beautiful days. Today is a beautiful day, especially since I have opportunities, God's love and my whole life ahead of me.