Wednesday, November 17, 2004

Get Thee to a Video Store...

Yesterday Robert Altman's "Short Cuts" was released on DVD. I am getting my copy tomorrow after work. Anyone who loves film and loves humanity should have this movie. This is my favorite Altman film, it made me seek out his other work. I saw "Popeye" when I was a kid, but didn't know he directed it. And, I love that film. Different debate for a different day!

"Short Cuts" takes several stories and one poem from great American writer Ray Carver and weaves them in a coherent and realistic narrative. The film is long and some of the stories are not my favorites, but as a whole piece of work looking at human relationships it says a lot. The story has no formal ending and there are very few epiphanies. Unfortunately, this is true of life. Most of us don't change and most of us feel our lives are hermetically sealed. Altman's film refutes this, he makes us look at ourselves and determine if we truly make decisions that affect no one.

This is not a film for fans of Michael Bay. All the explosions are internal. But, there is some amazing acting. You will get to see an actual performance from Andie McDowell and look for cameos from Altman regulars. Also, this is the movie that foisted Julianne Moore on an unsuspecting society. Her performance here is one of her best and truly brave. Pubes are brave! Altman is also one of the few people who realizes that we live in a multicultural world. He never pushes it in your face, but he truly realizes that in the present cultures are not hermetically sealed.

So, go get it. Give Criterion a big kiss and thank God that some people follow their muse no matter how bleak or unprofitable it is.

Saturday, November 13, 2004

Guess Who's Back?

Okay, I'm done talking about politics and I'm gonna go back to writing crap.

I hope to post more and also make those posts fun and cute. I want to be a beacon of superficiality in these times. It has been a sad week and now it's time to get back to the business at hand.

But, on one sad note, I just read that ODB died. The rap world lost a true original and someone who always played it on the edge.

"Wu-Tang is for the children." Remember that. And listen to some WU and ODB in memory of his passing. You won't regret it!

Wednesday, November 03, 2004

The Revolution Will NOT Be Televised

I can't believe it...he won. Why?
Do people like losing their jobs to Indians and want to scrape together a mortage working the AM shift at Target and the PM shift at GM?
Do people want their family members to fight in a war and die that we created?
Do people want to make sure minorities and gays have no voice, including their family members? And trust me, you all have gay relatives, they are afraid to tell you.
Do people want a country where librarians can go to jail for doing their job?
Do people want a draft?
Do people want much of the Constitution over turned?
Do people want unbreatheable air and more gas taxes?
Do people want to never pay for a college education?
Do people want the US to never be respected again? Remember, once people around the world looked up to us?
Well, if this is what you wanted, congrats! You succeeded. Just remember, that all the "red" states will never be bombed. Us "blue" states (NY, DC, California, Illinois) with a lot at stake might never recover. 9/11 never forget, more like never remember.

Monday, November 01, 2004

A Quick One While He's Away

VOTE

VOTE

VOTE

VOTE

VOTE

VOTE

VOTE

Amazingly, I really think it matters this time. I'll be at the polls at 6am. See you there, bleary eyed but democratic!