SethinksThat:

Cowboys & Aliens & Failed Genre Mashing

Fri, 29 Jul 2011 22:40:15 -0400

Cowboy & Aliens was a fun and entertaining movie with cool aliens and consistent thrills

but…

with two genres as rich as Sci/Fi and Westerns on the table, I expected them to cook up something a little bit more original than a simple, generic hollywood style action flick.

Right from the get go, you’re dealing with one of the oldest story cliches in the book. A main character who can’t remember who he is, which is something that’d be forgivable if the movie worked it from an original angle (ie Bourne Identity, who took the amnesia plotline and spinned it into a cutting edge action flick), but Cowboys & Alien’s original angle felt less like a unique blend of storytelling and more like something Michael Bay would make if he was really stoned.

Contemporary cinema is heavily influenced by films that broke new ground in blending genres, from Ridley Scott’s beautiful fusion of sci/fi and noir in Blade Runner to basically everything Tarantino has ever made. A more current example would be Zombieland, where the horror/comedy marriage has been thriving since Evil Dead 2 splattered across screens in 1987, but even the western/sci fi mash has existed since 1973, when Michael Crichton made Westworld, a great film that’s about to see itself remade soon.

Cowboys & Aliens just didn’t follow these examples. Instead, they took two genres and just packaged them inside the shell of a hollywood action flick that followed an all too conventional narrative with two dimensional characters and basic lack of any homage to the western or science fiction genre.

Granted, who would expect a movie called “Cowboys & Aliens” to be very good in the first place? Not your general audience, but with Jon Favreau (director of Iron Man 1, 2 and Elf) at the helm under the production guidance of none other than Steven Spielberg and Ron Howard, you better be seeing some pretty damn good filmmaking, but it looks like this little clustercuss of talent didn’t pay off. I’d have suggested a director like Edgar Wright, whose films like Scott Pilgrim and Shaun of the Dead illustrate his willingness to commit to something stylistically new while being able to draw from traditions of the past.

Grade: C+

THOR

Sat, 07 May 2011 01:52:00 -0400

In their journey of paving the road toward The Avengers film that’s due in 2012, Marvel studios have never ceased to impress. And now with Thor released, the second to last in that journey, we can definitely look ahead with optimism.

Choosing Kenneth Branagh to direct Thor seemed unusual considering Branagh is most popular for his work in theater adaptions, but we can definitely see how his background lent itself to turning what could have been a two dimensional story into a 3 dimensional story (both literally and figuratively).

With such themes as sibling rivalry and heroic hubris driving the plot, it’d be hard to imagine a comic book film that didn’t fall into the cliches that come along with such stories and characters. Luckily, Thor was a fresh direction in depicting both heroes and villains who conveyed a more complex nature.

Besides the substance offered in the story and script, the overall art design and special effects were incredibly good. Asgard’s design stood out as a testament to the level of skill in modern comic book movie’s CGI, while the action brought it all to life with battle scenes that brought mythology to the screen on a whole new scale. (I had no idea how many tricks you could do with a hammer).

But speaking down to earth, the film was awesome. Basically as sick as the first Iron Man was and just as funny. There were moments of ridiculous humor, epic battles, and effective drama; so overall, I was impressed.

Grade: B+

Paul, 127 Hours, Away We Go

Mon, 21 Mar 2011 00:22:43 -0400

Paul

Didn’t look very appealing from the previews, but Simon Pegg and Nick Frost’s previous efforts (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz) alongside director Greg Mottola (Superbad, Adventureland) gave credit to this new spin on the alien buddy flick.

The laughs certainly weren’t on the same level as the previous mentioned movie, but it did deliver some good dialogue and hilarious situations for the ensemble cast that included Jason Bateman, Bill Hader, and a number of other currently popular comedians.

Seth Rogen was the highlight and luckily so, because Simon Pegg and Nick Frost’s characters were rather bland and undeveloped within a plot that never gained much momentum. Pegg and Frost’s script paid homage to a medley of classic films whose influence was seen throughout the story, but it also seemed to really take aim at Christians within the film in a very abrasive and stereotyped approach that I found to be offensive at times.

All in all, it was a fun and entertaining movie that I found enjoyable

Grade: B-

127 Hours

A true story that found its perfect vision through director Danny Boyle and James Franco’s extreme talents.

I felt the fear down to my core and watched helplessly in total captivation. An excellent movie that was extremely moving.

Grade: A-

Away We Go

Knowing its reputation as a good film, I’d procrastinated on seeing this, but what truly wonderful movie this is.

With a brilliantly penned script, a stellar cast full of amazing leading and supporting roles, and a soundtrack full of soulful gems, this movie was a journey that pulled me into its charm and beauty.

Taking the subtle simplicity of indie films, Sam Mendes and team crafted a movie that really reflected life in all its humor, sadness, love, and hate and left you feeling an admiration and appreciation for the experience.

Grade: A

Battle: Los Angeles

Mon, 14 Mar 2011 00:53:00 -0400

Battle: Los Angeles. Who thought it would be hard to screw up a movie that’s about marines fighting invading aliens? We’ve got the examples of Independence Day and Cloverfield on hand, but this movie decided to model almost every aspect after Michael Bay films. Cinematography, quick cut editing, music, and the cheesy drama just made this feel like a poor man’s Transformers. The script painted cardboard characters who I cared nothing about, and while Michael Bay would’ve compensated with action, this film just delivered the same boring action scenes over and over like a video game that keeps replaying the same level. Even if they had cut half an hour (which they should have), I still would’ve been bored for most of it. Don’t waste your money.

Grade: C-

This Week in Movies

Sun, 06 Feb 2011 00:54:00 -0500

New to DVD:

Let Me In

This film is a remake of the Swedish book and film Let the Right One In, which I believe to be one of 2008’s best films and the most original vampire film in years. So, I was initially fearful of how it might be treated given Hollywood’s hit or miss track record for foreign remakes: misses including (Quarantine from Spain’s Rec, The Vanishing from the French/Dutch film of the same title, Last Man Standing from Yojimbo) and hits (The Departed from China’s Infernal Affairs, Insomnia from the Norwegian Insomnia, and The Ring from Japan’s Ringu)

Luckily, this film came through as a faithful remake that retained many qualities of the original, while contributing new depths of its own. It explored new angles of the story and characters and only minimally watered itself down with hollywood thrills and effects. The original is most certainly better, but both are good films that tell a dark and unglamorous portrait of childhood through the lens of a vampire story.

Grade: B+

Monsters

Alien monsters have settled in between America and Mexico, where national armies keep them contained, but through circumstances, two people must tread the dangerous land to make it back home.

It was like The Road meets Cloverfield and District 9. Monsters proved to be an original story that initially appeals on a sci/fi level, but leaves you with a dramatic appreciation for its well written story.

Grade: B+

Salt

No better or worse than what I expected. It entertains and engages those who like such action/espionage films like the Jason Bourne films or 24.

Grade: B

Oldies:

The Third Man

Classic film noir that delivers all the essentials from a witty script that drives the mystery/thriller plot, cinematography that’s both gloomy and evocative, and well played characters from Joseph Cotton, Alida Valli, and Orson Welles.

Grade: A

Spider-Man 3

There are some very strong feelings people have towards this film. And unfortunately for those who disliked this film, it will ultimately stand as the last contribution director Sam Raimi and Tobey Maguire will make to the Spider-Man franchise. I myself, am a huge fan of all 3 Spider-Man movies. 1 was entertaining backstory, 2 was comic book film perfection, and 3 is something altogether different.

Within Spider-Man 3, we have an excessive amount of storylines. Rumor has it that Raimi never wanted Venom in the picture at all, but producers pressured him into doing it. Therefore we have to suffer the randomness of an alien dropping from space without explanation, the interesting interpretation of black suit Spidey, and the strange decision to make Topher Grace Venom. These latter two points are where fans get hung up on, but somehow they forgot the amazing action sequences, the incredible special effects (Sandman’s formation was straight up beautiful image with music), and the story that appeals on a human level. Each character made mistakes, suffered, and persisted. Love, friendship, and forgiveness came through the script in poetic ways that few action films can deliver. I know the emo hair, disco dancing, and Chicagoesque bar room scene jarred people in uncomfortable ways, but if you know Sam Raimi’s style, you’ll know that he’ll bring in references from slapstick to Broadway. Was it a wise choice, no.. but I was entertained and am willing to overlook it in light of the film’s other accomplishments.

Overall, I found Spider-Man 3 to be both thrilling and moving.

Grade: B+

January movies

Tue, 01 Feb 2011 01:19:08 -0500

At the Theaters:

Black Swan

So unsettling! It draws you into its claustrophobic environment and tortures you alongside the characters. Stellar performances and brilliant direction by Darren Aronofsky, who has made a psychological thriller here that draws on the works of Polanski, but comes out as a genuinely original contribution to film.

Grade: A

The Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader

Fun and visually stimulating, but It feels generic in comparison to the plethora of family fantasy films as of late. C.S. Lewis’ touch is present at times within the moral framework of the plot, but the magic feels recycled.

Grade: B-

On DVD:

A classic of German cinema, M is still an engaging thriller with great depth. It leaves you morally perplexed and thoroughly impressed.

Grade: A

Night at the Museum 2: Battle of the Smithsonian

Cheap gags, stupid jokes, and an endlessly boring storyline. Parts may have amused me, but the aftertaste is so bad that I refuse to acknowledge them.

Grade: D

Devil

Being a part Shyamalan film, my expectations were obviously low. The script was bad and the tension was minimal, but the story had some saving graces.

Grade: C+

Brick

High school film noir? That alone should sell what was an interesting and original film that may have been hard to follow at times, but left me impressed with Rian Johnson’s writer/director capabilities.

Grade: B+

Field of Dreams

Such an excellent movie. Warm and tender, but deep and sophisticated. Its story seems like one of the Twilight Zone’s more uplifting stories, yet its something altogether unique. A slice of Americana, a family drama, a piece of redemption. Not only is this one of the best baseball movies ever made, it’s one of the best dramas of the 90’s. I look forward to years of re-watching this and continually connecting to its beauty and spirit.

Grade: A

Bronson

Tom Hardy shows his worth here with a biopic of “Britain’s most notorious prisoner.” The film had brawn, yet subtle charm through its narrative and direct influences of 80s action films and a variety of other styles that blend together for an original film.

Grade: B+

Want!

Sat, 15 Jan 2011 01:28:38 -0500

Mark Ecko Star Wars hoodies. Through some crazy sort of magic/voodoo/craziness, you can dress like Star Wars characters, but still remain stylish and socially acceptable….wow. The Boba Fett is probably the sickest, but there are many others.

The Box

Mon, 01 Nov 2010 00:19:10 -0400

The director of this movie, Richard Kelly, will always have a special place in my heart for directing 2001’s indie scifi masterpiece Donnie Darko, but since then, he has unfortunately proven himself to be just a one hit wonder. 2006’s Southland Tales was a neverending nightmare of incoherent plot lines that attempted to weave together an elaborate story, but only left me disillusioned with his abilities as a writer/director. And now, with his third release, The Box, I was hoping redemption might be in store.

Interestingly adapted from the Richard Matheson’s story that was the premise for a popular Twilight Zone episode, Kelly reinvisioned it in many original and creative ways, but the end result was the same as Southland Tales: a very elaborate, yet convoluted story that collapsed under its own weight. I admired a lot of what Kelly tried to do with the story, from his style to some aspects of the story, but he’s shown once again that his reach exceeds his grasp.

I’m hopeful that he might return to something closer to the scale of Donnie Darko. A more compact and lower budget film might help organize his abilities into something a little more praiseworthy.

sidenotes:

Frank Langella was great!

the score was awful!

The Other Guys

Tue, 10 Aug 2010 19:02:00 -0400

I’ve been really surprised to see the positive reception this movie has been receiving, so I’m gonna go ahead and bash it because I thought it failed on a number of levels.

1. The story: this movie peaked in its first 10 minutes and then just went downhill. The plot was so uninteresting that it will hurt my brain to even recall its content. This movie was just scene to scene of ridiculous moments, silly quotations, absurd scenarios, but without any wit or real entertainment value. If you have ADD and love moronic comedies then you’ll love this.

2. characters: they’re all broken records. will ferrel acts weird, mark wahlberg get mad…will ferrel acts weird, mark wahlberg get mad…will ferrel acts weird, mark wahlberg get mad… the end. The best characters were Sam Jackson, The Rock, and Michael Keaton as the supporting ones

3. The action: Pineapple Express puts this movie to shame. The Apatow crew put together a well made action comedy, but Adam McKay put out this drivel of a buddy cop movie that bored me for half of its duration and has made me question my love of two actors I used to hold in high regard

…now as a critique, this may have sounded rather picky, cerebral, pretentious, etc, but bottom line is this: It just wasn’t that good. The stupid silliness doesn’t carry a movie with so much substance missing. It was like paying to hang out with a friend who tries to be funny, but only makes you feel uncomfortable.

my grade: C+

Dr. Livingstone, I Presume?

Sat, 07 Aug 2010 21:33:13 -0400

Just finished this. Great historical narrative of African exploration and introspective look at David Livingstone and H.M. Stanley. One thing I have learned is don’t hike through Africa! These men stood out for their endurance through the hardships of rough terrain, 120 degree heat, disease, carnivores, insects, cannibals, and a whole smorgasbord of suck. A common cold will seem so much less to me now that I’ve read of cerebral malaria, elephantiasis, dysentery, and smallpox (all suffered while traveling through the harshest climate on earth). A book is an experience that sinks in forever and I’ve been introduced to some inspiring figures. Though David Livingstone has always been a respected figure for his missionary travels, little did I know of the man’s limitless courage. He was attacked by a lion who jumped on him, bit into his arm and shook him in its jaws. Having survived the attack, Livingstone passed through life with a complete absence of fear. Pushing through all hardships, he explored Africa and moved natives with his demonstration of Christ’s love. An adamant adversary of slavery, Livingstone contended the wrongs of his generation and worked fiercely to serve God through his works. But this is no faith based book, it’s a thorough overview of the search for Livingstone by HM Stanley, an unprecedented accomplishment in journalism that rocked headlines and history. I could talk about this book and its contents for days, but what’s most important is that it’s brought back my passion for reading.

Iron Man 2

Sun, 09 May 2010 17:19:55 -0400

I’ve been greatly anticipating this movie, not only because the first one was awesome, but because Jon Favreau has been proving himself more and more as an excellent director. Of the five theatrical releases that he’s directed, you could definitely find a couple among the average film fan’s collection: Elf (the most endearing Christmas movie since possibly Home Alone), Zathura (the sci fi adventure kinda sequel to Jumanji), and Iron Man 1, the comic book that seemed to come out of left field and surprise people as one of the years most entertaining films.

With his growing reputation behind him, Favreau has continued to impress here. Now with Iron Man 2, I wasn’t blown away, but I was completely satisfied. The action sequences were few and far between, but the story was engaging enough to compensate. This sequel continued to contain what the first also had… heart. The characters are real, the dialogue is alive, and the story flows perfectly in sync with an all star cast that both comic book fans and average moviegoers love.

It is interesting to note what Marvel comics studios are working out here in their movies. Particularly The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man, and now Iron Man 2. They are orchestrating all of these releases and interweaving hints and subtle subplots within these movies that are all going to culminate with an Avengers movie. The Avengers being the comic hero superteam that dominates everything ever. So stay after the credits to catch another scene related to this.

Return to Oz

Sun, 04 Apr 2010 10:08:14 -0400

Return to Oz came out in 1985 and today exists usually as 1) a cult favorite like The Dark Crystal or 2) a nightmare kids from the 80s aren’t really sure they had or not. For me, it’s definitely #1, but my knowledge of it came as a result of my older brother reminiscing about some “scary sequel to the wizard of oz.” What could be more intriguing than that? So I eventually came across the movie, watched it, and have found myself revisiting it fairly often in these last few years.

Why this movie is awesome:

L. Frank Baum + Jim Henson + Disney

-the writer’s took multiple Oz sequels, Baum penned about 14 I believe, and they wove about 3 of them into a sequel that introduces characters like a mechanical soldier, creatures with wheel on the ends of their limbs, and couch with a moose’s head. Bring in the Henson crew and you’ve got amazing animatronics, stop motion, puppetry, etc. Most of the special effects still hold up fairly well.

-it’s dark. Dorothy is almost subjected to electro shock therapy right at the get go. She’s kidnapped by a witch who takes people’s heads and wears them.

-the production is great from music, acting (little Fairuza Balk made a great debut as Dorothy here), special effects, sets, cinematography, and script

I’m a big advocate for this movie and personally would love to see further Oz sequels put on the screen. Having read some of the later Baum stories, I could easily see them taking off in today’s market of fantasy loving family films.

The cooking obsession is full on with sesame chicken being the...

Tue, 23 Mar 2010 23:04:15 -0400

The cooking obsession is full on with sesame chicken being the highlight. Other highlights include baked salmon, spicy wok-seared shrimp, smoothies, and tasty juices. There’s something fulfilling and fun in creating delicious food from the vast repertoire of tastes that this world has to offer. And I’m sure I could go on and on about food, but I’d be preaching to the choir. Next on the list is biscuits and gravy and martinis…not together though.

2012

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 15:54:40 -0400

2012:

C’mon, if you’re gonna destroy the whole world you could make it so much cooler instead of recycling the same scene of the earth crumbling inwards followed by tidal waves followed by earth crumbling inwards followed by tidal wave, throw in a volcano, more tidal waves. And in a movie like this, the destruction is supposed to be its saving grace in light of the generic characters, infantile script, and twoo and a halfff hourssss! Roland Emerich kinda just keeps recycling the same material, but never learning from his mistakes.

Another aggravation I continue to have with hollywood and modern american society is the continual bashing of Christianity. As a Christian myself, I find it disturbingly ironic that this country was founded by Christians seeking refuge from persecution. And in their success, they helped create a free people that have now become what they sought to escape. Today in society, it’s become quite popular to criticize and condemn people of faith, but not all faiths. Movies like 2012 illustrate a common trend, where eastern religions are paid respect and reverence with their deep insights and gentle wisdom as the Tibetan monks are shown as heroes within the story while pokes at Christians rage from redneck labeled born agains on the radio to Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel painting cracking between God and Adam’s finger. It’s very purposeful and it’s only a small example of straight up persecution that has become the norm.

but back to the movie, I did “kinda” enjoy it. The trailers definitely have all the highlights of the movie in case you want to condense 2 1/2 hours into 2 minutes and save yourself from aforementioned annoyances plus witnessing a world where John Cusack’s utopian literature might mark a foundation for future thinking….lammmme

Band of Brothers

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 22:56:00 -0500

Band of Brothers:

I find few subject as moving to me as the sacrifices our soldiers have made in war. I know of the trauma Vietnam had on my father and world war II on my great uncle, who was captured by the Germans and suffered horrifically, so films such as Saving Private Ryan, Platoon, The Best Years of Our Lives, All Quiet on the Western Front, and countless others all serve to remind me that my petty complaints and discomforts are all shallow misfortunes compared to the sacrifices so many soldiers have made on the battlefield.

Band of Brothers drew that respect and that reverence out of me within every episode. Though it could be noted for its impressive production quality and intense action sequences, I’m left most with its movingly intimate true story of Easy company. It begins each story with interviews of the surviving veterans and then proceeds to follow a different soldier POV within each episode. Through the series, you go through bootcamp, d-day, and the war in europe all the way until the war’s end.

I’d say it’s basically on par with Saving Private Ryan and certainly worth watching as a testament to the sacrifice our soldiers endured when they were called upon to serve our country.

It’s also worth noting that HBO is bringing the series back, but this time the story is about those who fought in the Pacific.

Coraline

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 00:15:28 -0500

Coraline:

I love Neil Gaiman… the man knows how to write a story. He penned The Sandman graphic novels, which drew on all sorts of mythologies; Stardust, an amazing fantasy/adventure/comedy that everyone overlooked; and countless more fantasy books. With Coraline, he aimed towards a modern fairy tale, full of intrigue with a mysterious door that leads to a parallel world where everything is perfect and everyone has button eyes. It’s fun, but dark with superstition and occult throughout.

Bring aboard the director of A Nightmare Before Christmas, Henry Selick (Tim Burton only produced) and we have the vision to bring this story to life. With stop motion, I’m usually always sold, but nowadays we have the benefit of adding CG to the mix and creating a whole new blend of animation. Watching this in HD was a treat because this is most certainly a beautiful movie. The detail that went into the style and sets and all the colors really gave credit to the art direction. It went from folk art to Van Gogh to styles reminiscent of Nightmare Before Christmas.

I really hope this wins the oscar for best animated feature. I love pixar and think they make movie gold, but Coraline has pushed the envelope in my opinion. Stop motion has so much creativity poured into the creation of each figure, set, and situation and this movie employed both CG and stop motion in a blend that complimented a fun and thrilling modern fairy tale that I’ll probably never tire of.

*this was the first movie in a long time where I went out to buy the soundtrack almost immediately. Bruno Coulais tapped the mood perfectly with his composing style. Sometimes having a chorus chant a gibberish language or giving a lullaby melody to solo voice with harp accompaniment. I loved his textures!

Barry Lyndon

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 17:30:00 -0500

Barry Lyndon:

Barry Lyndon has become one of Stanley Kubrick’s least remembered films, having been made in 1975, between A Clockwork Orange (1971) and The Shining (1980), both of which are unquestionable cinema classics. Although it may be obscure today, it received multiple oscars and has been cited as Martin Scorcese’s favorite Kubrick film.

Being a huge Kubrick fan myself, I love to revisit this film for a number of reasons:

this is one of the most beautiful period pieces you’ll ever see. Like the picture above, so many shots are like 18th century paintings that come to life. The cinematography is incredible! Kubrick wanted to rely on as little electrical lighting as possible and d.p. John Alcott certainly delivered.

it’s a good story! although a very slow paced film, it’s an intriguing story about one man’s journey as a wanderer and adventurer from rags to riches with duels, wars, and love affairs throughout amazing European locations

the music…mmmm. Each part to the story has a different piece representing it, from “The Women of Ireland,” the beautiful Irish melody that describes his youthful infatuation to the dark, brooding “Sarabande” of Handel as things start to take a turn for the worse. Leonard Rosenman certainly deserved his oscar for arranging the score

Some critics might look down on this film because the lead was given to Ryan O’Neal and although he gave no tour de force, I didn’t feel he brought the quality of the film down, instead I think Barry Lyndon still stands out as another testament to Kubrick’s genius.

For A Few Dollars More

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 09:46:40 -0500

Clint Eastwood + Sergio Leone part 2. That in itself should imply awesomeness, but I shall elaborate.

What we’ve got here is a follow up to Fistful of Dollars, one of the most violent and gritty westerns you’ll ever see, but unlike Fistful of Dollars, For a Few Dollars More is not a remake. It is a piece of pure Leone deliciousness. We’ve got a little over two hours of Clint Eastwood badassing it up all over the American west as a bounty hunter with his bounty hunter buddy Lee Van Cleef, while psychopath Gian Maria Volonté plays his part robbing banks, killing women and children, smoking weed, and trying to front on our boy Clint. And to think that I haven’t even mentioned Ennio Morricone’s score that brings back to our ears the exotic sounds of spaghetti westerns, ranging from Jew’s harp twangs to a mariachi trumpet so full of testosterone that you might have to purchase a firearm after viewing this movie.

Yes folks, this is certainly noteworthy among cinema for being a fine example of a brilliant director’s ability to weave together all the elements of cinema into another gritty adventure in the ~~Spanish~~, I mean American west.

Bold

Mon, 07 Dec 2009 14:18:28 -0500

2 more weeks…..nearly 14 days…..some large number of hours (i ain’t doin the math)

I went to a conspiracy theory lecture last friday. I think I bought a lot of it. Some, I just kinda assumed…rich white men have been running the world? psshht get outta here! I think we should adapt a system of colors to use on words so that it will give them emotional context…i.e. my previous statement should’ve been light red for sarcasm.

everything about it is a love song

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 22:15:06 -0500

Music & me….. it’s a relationship. Resounding deep within all who can hear, music strikes a chord and carries those overtones in a variety of ways. If we are willing, it’ll uplift, enrage, depress, or entertain. Today, I noticed something different in my relationship with music. I found an emotion and another and another in a sequence that revealed something new between us. It’s more than just me now, it’s a creation that has been molded into existence and now begs for autonomy. My songs will serve purposes and these purposes are above me, so I feel ready to send out my soldiers and arrows, my comforts and questions, my angst and anger into a world ready to absorb….

I saw Paul Simon today @ Berklee….he “partly” inspired some new revelations, but he certainly hasn’t been the muse who’s brought on so much change in my life