Russian Elenas
to equal one
Mexican Elena.
People who were able
to compare said
there was no comparison
72 percent cacao!
Friday, December 21, 2007
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Glad to be Back in the Dark
Two score years ago the movie theater was my second home (before multiplexes, before thumbs and scales). What I always wanted to do is direct.
Estranged from the silver screen for the past 15 years, I've recently rediscovered the youthful fervor and joy of being at the movies.
I've had to relearn how to eat popcorn in the dark; I've mistaken Frank Langella for Alan Arkin, and Daniel Day-Lewis for Sam Elliot. But I'm glad to be back in the dark.
Estranged from the silver screen for the past 15 years, I've recently rediscovered the youthful fervor and joy of being at the movies.
I've had to relearn how to eat popcorn in the dark; I've mistaken Frank Langella for Alan Arkin, and Daniel Day-Lewis for Sam Elliot. But I'm glad to be back in the dark.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Killer Films
Three and only three movies I chose to see during this pre-holiday season. All featured killing, lots of it. Why so much killing? Well, I suppose if I didn't want to see killing, I should have spent my discretionary entertainment dollars on Lars or Juno. But then I might have wanted to commit suicide.
The best of the three: "Before the Devil Knows You're Dead." Lumet, an old school director, knows how to get actors to act: Albert Finney from back in the day, Ethan Hawke from today. The squirming, maddening desperation of circumstances beyond one's control: this picture captures it. And the cast puts on an acting clinic.
Next best: "No Country for Old Men." Coen bros. films are just so damn well made; every shot is exactly right (even if casting isn't always, e.g. J.J. Leigh ruining "The Hudsucker Proxy.") and the scrupulous attention to cinematic detail is like fine wine. Thus, a perfect hook-up with Cormac McCarthy. McCarthy is a great writer, and even though "No Country" is not his best novel, the Coens have done it proud. (Film often elevates good but not great novels, whereas great novels usually stand on their own. Same with great music: ballet companies love to dance to Tchaikovsky, but you don't see many tutus en pointe with Mahler.) The bloodshed in "No Country" the film, as in the novel, gets old after awhile. But craft---scintillating craft--redeems both.
The pits: "Southland Tales." Silly plot, pretentious themes, bad acting. That the money spent on this picture wasn't instead donated to charity is a sin.
The best of the three: "Before the Devil Knows You're Dead." Lumet, an old school director, knows how to get actors to act: Albert Finney from back in the day, Ethan Hawke from today. The squirming, maddening desperation of circumstances beyond one's control: this picture captures it. And the cast puts on an acting clinic.
Next best: "No Country for Old Men." Coen bros. films are just so damn well made; every shot is exactly right (even if casting isn't always, e.g. J.J. Leigh ruining "The Hudsucker Proxy.") and the scrupulous attention to cinematic detail is like fine wine. Thus, a perfect hook-up with Cormac McCarthy. McCarthy is a great writer, and even though "No Country" is not his best novel, the Coens have done it proud. (Film often elevates good but not great novels, whereas great novels usually stand on their own. Same with great music: ballet companies love to dance to Tchaikovsky, but you don't see many tutus en pointe with Mahler.) The bloodshed in "No Country" the film, as in the novel, gets old after awhile. But craft---scintillating craft--redeems both.
The pits: "Southland Tales." Silly plot, pretentious themes, bad acting. That the money spent on this picture wasn't instead donated to charity is a sin.
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Argentina, Oil and Dem Politics
Today, hopefully, the Argentines will do what a few months ago the French failed to do: elect a babe to be president. Cristina is her name. She'll be the most exciting thing to happen to that pink crib since Shakira's boyfriend's old man had to be airlifted off the the roof. (Forget Evita.)
Is it true that the rising price of oil is due to the declining value of the US dollar? The price of a barrel of oil is approaching $100, yet there isn't much being said, unlike the tirades earlier in the year when the price was going over $60? Why? Granted that it isn't (or hasn't been) so much the price as the availablity that concerned USA citizens, but why isn't the press focusing on the current price level? Is there a scab that dare not be picked? i.e. Real money? i.e. China?
Although I don't give a fig about USA politics, I predict a Clinton-Richardson ticket.
Is it true that the rising price of oil is due to the declining value of the US dollar? The price of a barrel of oil is approaching $100, yet there isn't much being said, unlike the tirades earlier in the year when the price was going over $60? Why? Granted that it isn't (or hasn't been) so much the price as the availablity that concerned USA citizens, but why isn't the press focusing on the current price level? Is there a scab that dare not be picked? i.e. Real money? i.e. China?
Although I don't give a fig about USA politics, I predict a Clinton-Richardson ticket.
Friday, October 26, 2007
Iran and the Stans
Them, Russia, Azerbaijan and a few others, as well---all for one and one for all.
Another juggernaut---joining China and India---to challenge the USA for energy.
Those guys make deals, agreements, and alliances to get their needs met. Not to mention diplomacy. They wisely schmooze Africa and South America.
Meanwhile the USA goes to war. War. A box the USA apparently can't think outside of. That and television. It's either war, or dancing with the stars.
Time to wake up and smell the delta smelt.
Another juggernaut---joining China and India---to challenge the USA for energy.
Those guys make deals, agreements, and alliances to get their needs met. Not to mention diplomacy. They wisely schmooze Africa and South America.
Meanwhile the USA goes to war. War. A box the USA apparently can't think outside of. That and television. It's either war, or dancing with the stars.
Time to wake up and smell the delta smelt.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Let's Float Down To Peru
In llama-land ex-president Fujimori is in trouble. Back in the day, he rescued the Machu Picchu folks from a bad economy and the Shining Path; Peru was in such horrible condition the military refused to stage a coup, they didn't want the headaches. And remember this was a time in South and Central America that military coups were happening every other week.
Fujimori apparently got a little overzealous, and that's what he's in hot water for today. But you have to wonder about Peruvians: they recently re-elected as President Alan Garcia, the guy who stood helpless as the country fell aapart, and Fujimori had to be brought in for the rescue. And you have to wonder further about Peruvians: they perjoratively refer to Fujimori as "El Chino," the Chinaman.
Fujimori is of Japanese ancestry.
I guess USA citizens aren't the only confused Western Hemispherians.
Fujimori apparently got a little overzealous, and that's what he's in hot water for today. But you have to wonder about Peruvians: they recently re-elected as President Alan Garcia, the guy who stood helpless as the country fell aapart, and Fujimori had to be brought in for the rescue. And you have to wonder further about Peruvians: they perjoratively refer to Fujimori as "El Chino," the Chinaman.
Fujimori is of Japanese ancestry.
I guess USA citizens aren't the only confused Western Hemispherians.
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