OBLIGATORY OSCAR POST

I know they're meaningless, I'm aware that they have little to do with actual merit and that frequently the most deserving not only don't win but are often not even nominated. Still, I watch the Academy Awards every year. I try not to miss them. The fact is, they are the only time of the year that a major network turns over 3 1/2 to 4 hours of prime air time to focus the eyes of the world on the art of cinema. I don't care about red carpets or who the actresses are wearing, and I'm only marginally interested in the door prizes themselves but at least it's a celebration, as shallow and abrasive as it can be, of the movies and the people who make them.

I've been thinking all week about how I would organize this post and I've decided to be pretty loose about it. There's no way I'm going to go through every category and besides, there are only four in which I've seen every nominee. Those would be supporting actor, director, adapted screenplay and best picture. I'll give my predictions and picks for the major nominees, spend some time discussing the best picture contenders and then maybe add a few things I hope will happen tonight. So, okay then. The Nominees are:

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

127 Hours - Danny Boyle & Simon Beaufoy

The Social Network - Aaron Sorkin

Toy Story 3 - Michael Arndt (screenplay); Joh Lasseter, Andrew Staunton and Lee Unkrich (story)*

True Grit - Joel and Ethan Coen

Winter's Bone - Debra Granik and Anne Rosellini


Will Win: Aaron Sorkin

Might Win: N/A (it's a lock)

What I Would Like to Win: I'm actually okay with this one. As a writer Sorkin can be glib, self-righteous and oh-so-precious but this is a smart, entertaining, beautifully constructed script. By far the best thing he has ever done. I'd also be cool with Winter's Bone winning but that ain't gonna happen.

" Wait a minute. What the hell is Toy Story 3 "adapted" from? Is it a true story or something?


ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

Another Year - Mike Leigh

The Fighter - Scott Silver, Paul Tamasy and Eric Johnson (screenplay) Keith Dorrington, Paul Tamasy and Eric Johnson (story)

Inception - Christopher Nolan

The Kids Are All Right - Lisa Cholodenko and Stuart Blumberg.

The King's Speech - David Seidler


Will Win: David Seidler

Might Win: Another lock

Haven't Seen: Another Year (and shame on me, Mike Leigh is almost always great)

What I Would Like to Win:  Toss up. Inception was ingeniously constructed but The King's Speech is actually pretty moving. Either would be fine.


BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Christian Bale - The Fighter

John Hawkes - Winter's Bone

Jeremy Renner - The Town

Mark Ruffalo - The Kids Are All Right

Geoffrey Rush - The King's Speech


Will Win: Christian Bale

Might Win: Geoffrey Rush (but I doubt it)

Who I'd Like to Win: John Hawkes. Like all of the cast of Winter's Bone, I never caught Hawkes "acting". Can't say that about the others.


BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Amy Adams - The Fighter

Helena Bonham Carter - The King's Speech

Melissa Leo - The Fighter

Hailee Steinfeld - True Grit

Jacki Weaver - Animal Kingdom


Will Win: Melissa Leo

Might Win: Helena Bonham Carter

Haven't Seen: Jacki Weaver

Who I'd Like to Win: Totally fine with Leo. A great actress who deserves her due.



BEST ACTOR

Javier Bardem - Biutiful

Jeff Bridges - True Grit

Jesse Eisenberg - The Social Network

Colin Firth - The King's Speech

James Franco - 127 Hours


Will Win: Colin Firth

Might Win: ANOTHER lock

Haven't Seen: Javier Bardem

Who I'd Like to Win: Firth is fine by me.


BEST ACTRESS

Annette Bening - The Kid's Are All Right

Nicole Kidman - Rabbit Hole

Jennifer Lawrence - Winter's Bone

Natalie Portman - Black Swan

Michelle Williams - Blue Valentine


Will Win: Natalie Portman

Might Win: Annette Bening

Haven't Seen: Nicole Kidman, Michelle Williams

Who I'd Like to Win: Jennifer Lawrence. Her performance was subtle and intelligent with no opportunity for showboating. Portman and Bening are both terrific but Lawrence most resembled an actual human being. I do wish I'd seen Michelle Williams.


BEST DIRECTOR

Darren Aronofsky - Black Swan

David O. Russell - The Fighter

Tom Hooper - The King's Speech

David Fincher -The Social Network

Joel Coen and Ethan Coen - True Grit


Will Win: David Fincher

Might Win: Tom Hooper (unlikely and a travesty if it did happen)

Who I'd Like to Win: Fincher, no question. I love the Coen Brothers but it's David Fincher's year.


BEST PICTURE

I'm going to do Best Picture a bit differently. I'm going to list the nominees in what I consider their order of merit. Then I'll say why and reveal which I think will actually win.

10. 127 HOURS

9. THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT

8. INCEPTION

7. TOY STORY 3

6. THE FIGHTER

5. THE KING'S SPEECH

4. BLACK SWAN

3. TRUE GRIT

2. WINTER'S BONE

1. THE SOCIAL NETWORK



It's not that I think 127 HOURS is a bad film. James Franco is excellent and Danny Boyle does a pretty good job of rendering a fairly static situation in a cinematic way through editing, camera angles, the use of the camcorder etc. However, the situation, although unquestionably dramatic, did not hold my interest for even the relatively short running time of 93 minutes. Basically, you end up just waiting for the big unpleasant scene to happen, and although that is rendered well for maximum effect it's just not enough.

THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT is a good, well meaning film with terrific acting. It's also unimaginative and riddled with cliches. It's sad that in 2011 a film can still be considered progressive, even radical, just because it dares to portray an "alternative" family unit and treat it as normal. Don't get me wrong, that is a very good thing indeed, the film really has it's heart in the right place.  However, that doesn't prevent it from being, in my opinion aesthetically and dramatically dull. It feels like a well made TV movie, no more.

I've already written on this blog about INCEPTION. It's a smart entertaining movie with an ingeniously layered structure. Unfortunately I found it emotionally remote and it's portrayal of dreaming and dreamworlds to be sadly flat and literal.

TOY STORY 3 is a fine film, beautifully crafted, funny and poignant. It also feels a just a little smug in it's ability to push our collective buttons. Pixar films are always very well made, but they are rarely truly surprising or innovative.

I liked THE FIGHTER a lot, but I was not blind to it's predictability or it's conventionality.

THE KING'S SPEECH was actually a pleasant surprise. I'm on record as not being a fan of a) the royal family or d b) British Oscar bait. Turns out the film is undeniably effective, with a good literate screenplay and a fantastic cast.

BLACK SWAN is basically trash, and derivative trash at that. It's also, wonderful, passionate, go-for-broke cinema.

I loved everything about TRUE GRIT. Strong performances, quotable dialogue painterly cinematography and a familiar story that still works a treat. I'm going to cherish this movie for years to come.

WINTER'S BONE stuck with me for weeks. It felt entirely true and was so quietly powerful I just couldn't shake it off. I couldn't be more pleased to see it get multiple nominations. I hope star Jennifer Lawrence has a long, rewarding career.

THE SOCIAL NETWORK is not only flawlessly crafted but it's the nominated film that speaks most directly to who we are at this moment and time and where we are headed. For that, and for David Fincher's exquisite execution, it deserves the win.



WILL WIN: THE KING'S SPEECH

It's based (loosely I hear) on history, is about a noble (literally in this case) character overcoming an affliction, it's British (never hurts) and has a real "rooting factor", something THE SOCIAL NETWORK doesn't really have at all.
  

MIGHT WIN/SHOULD WIN: THE SOCIAL NETWORK

One last thing, as I look over the entire list of nominees I see one that would make me very happy. I would love to see the great Roger Deakins win best cinematography for his work on TRUE GRIT. One of the world's great cameramen, often nominated, but has never won. Here's hoping this is his year.

Enjoy the show

My "very pleased to meet you" list.

This is a list of people (in the arts, media, pop culture, what have you) that I like, but not just for their work. I like them as people. You know how there are some people you admire but you don't necessarily think that they'd be someone you'd like to know?  For instance, I have no idea what I'd say to Cormac McCarthy if we met, or Werner Herzog. I admire both of these men intensely, but I don't know what we'd have to say to one another. I guess what it comes down to, is that this is a list of people who (I think) I would like to meet and talk to. That's all. I'm not saying they're the best, or most important in their fields, it's just that I consistently like, not just their work, but what they have to say and the way they conduct themselves.

I've over explained haven't I? Oh well, let's get on with it then.

SARAH VOWELL    ( Author, Essayist, Journalist, Radio Personality)

A consistently delightful cultural commentator who I first observed trading quips with Jon Stewart on The Daily Show, this native of Muskogee, Oklahoma is a frequent contributor to "This American Life" on NPR, author of six books and was the voice of Violet in Pixar's "The Incredibles. I've never read an interview or watched an appearance by her where she was less than completely engaging. Her primary topics are politics, history and occasionally pop culture and her take on all these is funny and accessible while remaining sharp and insightful. Anyway, I think it would be amazing to meet her and get her take on all the days events, perhaps over drinks or coffee. My only fear would be boring her. She strikes me as someone who does not suffer fools well.

GUILLERMO DEL TORO   (Filmmaker, Author)

To listen to one of Del Toro's DVD commentaries is to get a master level lecture on, all aspects of film making, myths and legends, horror, pulp fiction, art and literature liberally sprinkled with earthy humour, self deprecating wit and lots of gratuitous "f-bombs".
Born in Guadalajara, Del Toro has risen from being a makeup artist for low budget Mexican television to one of the foremost names in horror and fantasy film making. All of his films from his most commercial (Blade 2, the Hellboy movies) to his most personal (Cronos, Pan's Labyrinth) display the unique visual style and unfettered imagination of a true artist. I would go as far as to say he's the best designer of monsters since the great Ray Harryhausen. He is also the co-author of  the "Strain Trilogy" a series of vampire novels combining his encyclopedic knowledge of folklore with a forensic obsession with realistic physical detail. They aren't great literature but they are pulp of a very high order. Nothing wrong with that.
On top of this he is a kind, generous hearted person who always has times for friends and fans, making him one of the most beloved people in the industry. I would love, more than anything to be taken on a guided tour of "Bleak House" his "man cave" where he stores all his treasures, from movie props to valuable antiques and rare books devoted to legends, myths, fairy tales and other esoterica.

KARI BYRON   (Artist, Mythbuster, Stone Cold Hottie)

Smart, sexy, with a passion for science, education and high explosives. What's not to like?
Before Mythbusters, she graduated magna cum laude from San Francisco State University with a degree in film and sculpture. However, for the last seven years she's been joyously building, experimenting on and destroying all manner of things in the name of science and entertainment. She's even the host of her own show "Head Rush" on the science channel intended to get children and teenagers interested in science. Funny, charming and totally comfortable in her own skin, she'd be a lot of fun to spend a day with (at the bomb range of course.)
Oh yeah, and for my money she's the most attractive woman on television. Just sayin'.

NEIL GAIMAN   (Writer, Geek Icon)

Of all the people on this list Neil Gaiman is probably the one with the most devoted fans. One of a small but important group of English writers who revolutionised the comic book industry, he first gained notoriety in 1988 with his brilliant series for DC, "The Sandman" which not only ranks as one of the greatest "graphic novels" of all time but is one of the key texts in modern fantasy literature. He has gone on to write, not only more outstanding comics, but screenplays, television scripts and several bestselling novels and short story collections. Also, his online journal is one of the most consistently entertaining blogs known to me.
Needless to say I am a fan of his work, but it's more than that. Every interview with him, blog post he's written or article about him I've ever read reveals a genuinely charming , humble and witty personality. Someone who is generous with both his time and talent, respectful and polite to fans and just a cool guy. Why wouldn't you want to meet him?

KEVIN SMITH   (Filmmaker, Podcast Mogul, Racontuer)

Here's the thing about Kevin Smith. He's become, through his network of podcasts, an almost constant presence in my life. Basically I feel like I already know him, and even though he can be a bit annoying, even obnoxious, I like the guy. As an artist he's hit and miss. I like some of his films and find others almost completely uninteresting, but still my fondness remains. I like that a regular guy from a lower middle class background in New Jersey was able to scrape together enough cash to make a small, profane movie that hit a chord with his generation and that he's been able to spin that into a career spanning almost 20 years. I've watched and been to, a few of his Q&As and he's a great talker, frank and funny with a real talent for turning anecdotes into epic comic tales. His podcasts are rambling, dirty and completely hilarious. Kevin is like that guy we all know who can be a bit overbearing sometimes but is good hearted and fun to be around. Good guy.

KIM MORGAN  (Movie Critic/Blogger)

Somewhere in the world there lives an ethereal blonde who's romantic ideal is  Warren Oates as "Bennie" the doomed anti-hero of Sam Peckinpah's "Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia". What more do you need to know?
Okay, I'll tell you a little more. Her blog is entitled "Sunset Gun" and her writing is concise and insightful while never losing the passion of a real film fanatic. On her website you'll find outstanding essays devoted to particular, films, directors and actors, but also subjects as diverse as garage rock and classic muscle cars. She has appeared as guest host on Ebert and Roeper and hopefully will be a semi-regular comtributor to Ebert's new PBS show. Lately, she's also become something a muse for wildly eccentric Winnepeg filmmaker Guy Maddin, appearing in some short films and photo essays. If you have any interest in cinema or popular culture I highly recommend you visit her site.

PATTON OSWALT   (Comedian, Actor, Author)

First and foremost Oswalt is a brilliant stand up comic, one of my current favourites. I made the mistake of listening to some of his material on my iPod while riding on a crowded train and made quite the fool of myself trying, unsuccessfully, to stifle hysterical laughter. He's also a talented actor (check out his dramatic turn in the film "Big Fan", seriously, do it) and continues to grow as a writer. His first book of essays "Zombie, Spaceship, Wasteland" is frequently hilarious but also surprisingly poignant and confessional. An enthusiast of film, comics and literature, Oswalt and I have a lot in common and I think he's somebody with whom I could have a genuine conversation. In some interviews he does seem guarded but I think that's a question of respect.

NICK FROST, EDGAR WRIGHT & SIMON PEGG    (A fun trio of Englishmen)

Originally I was only going to write about Edgar Wright, filmmaker, encyclopedic movie geek and man after my own heart. However, after thinking about it, I had to include his friends and comrades-in-arms Pegg and Frost the co-stars of  "Spaced","Shaun of the Dead" and "Hot Fuzz". On the DVD for "Hot Fuzz" there's a lengthy documentary following the three of them around the U.S.promoting the film and it's a joy. No matter how tired and frustrated they are by the endless and repetitive interviews, the amount of fun they  manage have is infectious and made me want to be there. I've enjoyed all of Edgar's films up to and including, "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World" and will continue to seek out whatever he creates. It is is work with these other two clowns for which I have to most affection however, and I really look forward to their next project together. In particular, their TV show "Spaced' is one of my all time favourite pop culture creations and a subject I plan to write about sometime soon.
Oh, before I forget, Simon Pegg makes a splendid Scotty in the re-booted "Star Trek" franchise and his memoir "Nerd Do Well' is hilarious.


That'll do for know I guess. Like most subjects on this blog, I'm sure I'll revisit it some day. Some thoughts though:

I'm am very aware of how nerdy this list is. Wonder what that says about me? Anyway, it could be worse, I thought about including the cast of "Firefly".

No musicians, curious that. I think it's mainly because most of my favourite musicians are old, cranky and intimidating. I'm sure I'll think of somebody next time. Elvis Costello might be good.

Anybody who knows me well will have one question: "Where the hell is Tina Fey?"
Excellent question, but I think I'll save anything I have to say about Ms. Fey for a later date. For instance, I'm sure I'll write about 30 Rock one of these days.
Suffice to say, love her like crazy.

Anyway, feel free to name any of your own candidates in a comment below. After all, we're having a conversation here, aren't we?

Words with which one should never self-describe.

If you feel the need to describe yourself as any of these, then you probably aint none of 'em.

REBEL
HERO
INTELLECTUAL
SEEKER
ADVENTURER
OUTLAW
CELEBRITY
SAINT
MARTYR
POET (Unless writing poetry is your primary vocation in life, you're just a person who writes poetry, not a "poet")
PHILOSOPHER (See above)
PUNK ROCKER (Even if you're in a punk band - just don't)
WARRIOR (Unless you've fought in a war you're not a warrior, putting "eco" in front doesn't cut it)
RADICAL
MAVERICK (Unless you're James Garner)
FREE SPIRIT
NONCONFORMIST (Again, if you have to say it..)
NIHILIST
ROLE MODEL
REGULAR JOE (Even if it's true, it's a bit patronizing)
STAR ("Super" or otherwise)
DIVA
ICON
ICONOCLAST
PLAIN SPOKEN (By which you really mean "rude")
NURTURER
FUNNY
ECCENTRIC
TWISTED (As in, "I have a twisted sense of humor".  Fuck you, so you like "Family Guy".)
SENSITIVE
SPIRITUAL
INTELLIGENT
THE LORD YOUR GOD

ARTIST is okay if you can back it up.

MY FAVOURITE ALBUM EVER (if you're interested)

 TOM WAITS - RAIN DOGS

I don't think I'll be discussing music very much on this blog. It's not that I don't care about it or have strong opinions about it. Rather, I've never felt on particularly solid ground when discussing it. To put it simply, I don't really know anything about music, I just know that I like. I'm not saying I'm an expert on film or literature (for examples), It's just that I have at least some grasp of how to approach these subjects critically. I've never really been able to do that with music, I can discuss lyrics all right but the rest is a mystery to me. It either sounds good, or not.

However, I can hardly have a blog devoted to things that I'm passionate about without including Tom Waits. "Rain Dogs", released in 1985 was the first Tom Waits album I bought (on a recommendation from Bono(!) in Rolling Stone) and that did it. This eclectic, often discordant, but undeniably beautiful collection of songs captivated me immediately and I've been a fan ever since.

Over the course of 19 songs and over 50 minutes of music he runs the gamut of musical styles from delta blues (Gun Street Girl), old school country (Blind Love), romantic guitar ballads (Time), dissonant experimental songs with shades of Kurt Weill (Cemetery Polka, Rain Dogs) to at least one song commercial enough to be a hit for another singer (Downtown Train). We're also introduced to a gallery of bizarre characters lurking on the fringes of society but given their full measure of humanity by a great songwriter. I don't know how many nights I fell asleep to these hauntingly lovely songs coming over the headphones of my red sony walkman, but it seems like hundreds. There are many albums (that's right, I still say albums) I love that have enriched my life beyond words, but no other has ever spoken to me on the personal level of "Rain Dogs". If I was of a poetic turn of mind I'd say it was grafted to my soul, but that's a gaudy, pretentious statement, so I don't think I will. Even if it's true.

PETE POSTLETHWAITE (1946 - 2011)

I don't have much interest in movie stars but I love actors, and within the first few days of the new year, we lost a good one. This thin, bony-cheeked native of Cheshire, England was a character actor of the highest order, always contributing something thoughtful, unique and entertaining to any project lucky enough to have him on board. He could play broad and eccentric, or quiet and subtle. He could be frail and vulnerable or a figure of menace. A consummate professional, diligently plying his craft and building a substantial career in a field, as often as not, defined by image and ego.

In his thirty five year career he worked with such directors as Ridley Scott, Terence Davies, Michael Mann, David Fincher, Jim Sheridan, Brian Singer, Baz Luhrman, Steven Spielberg and most recently Ben Affleck and Christopher Nolan. Despite a very visible presence on British television, it's fair to say that his international breakthrough performance was opposite Daniel Day-Lewis in 1993's "In the Name of the Father", for which he was nominated for an Academy Award. The best way to pay tribute to an artist is to celebrate the work so here are some of my favourites from amongst his many performances.

"Montague Tigg" in the 1994 BBC adaptation Of "Martin Chuzzlewitt". A splendid Dickensian rogue played with all the theatrical gusto he could muster

"Sgt. Obadiah Hakeswill" from the ITV adaptations of Bernard Cornwell's "Sharpe" novels. A thoroughly evil villain, guilty of every crime or sadistic perversion imaginable. It's to Postlethwaite's great credit that he manages to find some dark humour in the character. The performance is a little on the broad side, all gravelly voice and facial tics, but it's a lot of fun to watch.

"Kobayashi" in "The Usual Suspects". The less said about the character the better, but as the mouthpiece of legendary underworld boogyman Kaiser Soze, Postlethwait was able to suggest profound menace with just a look or gesture. Also that accent was brilliant, whatever the hell it was supposed to be!

"Giuseppe Conlon" in "In the Name of the Father". Daniel Day-Lewis gave his usual powerful performance in this true story of "The Guilford Four" and their wrongful conviction for terrorism, but Postlethwite was the heart of the film. As the father of Day-Lewis' Gerry Conlon, he is quiet, dignified and heroically decent in the face of outrageous injustice. A great performance.

"Fergus "Fergi" Colm" in "The Town". Not a large role but a pivotal one. In just a couple of scenes he manges to let us know everything we need to about this character. He looks frail but he's not to be messed with.

"Danny" in "Brassed Off". My personal favourite of his performances. As the leader of a small town brass band he's again, the heart of the film. There's something indomitable about his stubbornness and commitment to the music, and how moving at the end when he finally decides what's really important to the life of his town. If you haven't seen it I can't recommend it enough.

Needless to say, this is hardly a summation of this man's career. The beauty of a great character actor is that whenever he or she shows up in a film or TV show we always recognize them and are glad to see them, like an old friend who you weren't necessarily expecting but are happy to welcome.  Pete Postlethwaite earned his success, his acclaim and of course, his welcome.

Don't call me "Bro", Bro.

Whenever something like the Superbowl rolls around It always gets me thinking about my lack of interest in conventionally "masculine" activities. Although I certainly don't reject it, I do not actively seek the companionship of other men. Understand, I have several very close male friends who's ideas, opinions and company I value very highly (you all know who you are) but they are all long term friendships. Over the last ten years or so, I think I've made one new male friend, while simultaneously I've made a number of new female friends. Curious, I know.

It's not so much that I prefer the company of women but rather, I prefer social situations in which both sexes are represented more or less equally. It's has been my experience, and I know I'm generalizing to some extent here, that in gatherings of exclusively men, the conversation is largely about sports which I find tedious in the extreme. Worse than that, in the absence of women, it's only a matter of time before latent sexism, if not outright misogyny, rises to the surface.

I don't really consider myself a feminist. Maybe I am. I don't know, and in some ways it's not for me to say. Rather it's that I cannot look upon the opposite sex as some sort of inexplicable "other". Yes, I realize that men and women are different (and vive le difference!) but that's only half the story. Actually the point is rendered moot with the simple realization that all human beings are individuals with their own thoughts and feelings independent from any other. I think higher of my species than to assume that character is entirely determined by gender. Oh and another thing, if you're over 25 and you look at every woman you meet as first and foremost, something to either fuck, or not, then you're a douchebag. Am I wrong here?

Despite what Camille Paglia says, I do not need the affirmation of other men to confirm my manhood. To my mind there is nothing more pathetic than a guy (especially as you approach your thirties) who has to surround himself with his "bros" at all times. This would explain why, as well produced a show as it is, I've never warmed up to "Entourage". The spectacle of these privileged child-men clinging to one another at the expense of maturity, intellectual growth and lasting relationships with women is kind of off putting. (On the flip side, "Sex and the City" is even worse, but that's a discussion for another time). This doesn't mean I can't or don't enjoy the company of male friends. Of course I do, it's just that I'm just as happy if you throw a few women in there.

Frankly, I'm something of a loner and I don't, as a rule, really seek out companionship of any kind.  However if and when it comes I welcome it wholeheartedly. Just don't ask me to play poker (holy shit I can't think of a bigger waste of time!) and do not, under any circumstances, call me "Bro".

Dude is okay. I like Dude.

STUFF THAT SUCKS (a sampler)

Poker (or rather it's bullshit mystique)
Hot Tubs (or as I like to think of them, boiling cauldrons of ass soup)
Brussell Sprouts
Flip-flops
Strip Clubs
Lime Flavoured Beer
Dane Cook
Fox News (duh!)
Shows like "Ancient Aliens" airing on the HISTORY(!) Channel
AMC cancelling "Rubicon"
The fact that Snooki wrote a book
The fact that people bought Snooki's book (notice I didn't say "read" her book)
The fact that I know who Snooki is
Chinatown is not available on blu ray
Snow
Wheatgrass
People who tell you wheatgrass is delicious
80's nostalgia
Bacon is really, really bad for you
Larry the Cable Guy
My cats won't let me sleep in
My friend Ashley can't catch a break
Anything "Star Wars" related after 1983
Fundamentalists
MMA (not because it's violent but because it's boring)
FX cancelling "Terriers"
Terry Gilliam can't finish his Don Quixote film
Nascar
That new sitcom with Betty White
The "New Age"section of Chapters is bigger than the poetry section
The "Self-Help"section of Chapters is bigger than the poetry section
Ayn Rand
Mosquitoes
.....to be continued

STUFF THAT DOESN'T SUCK. VOL.1

Exactly what it sounds like. This will, hopefully, be a weekly feature in which I share/recommend stuff that doesn't suck. Movies, books, t.v. shows, writers, musicians, the odd actor. That sort of thing. Got it?

THE (unexpurgated) ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN 

Yeah, I know, Mark Twain, what a cutting edge choice. Well, I'm sure anybody reading this will realize that this 126 year old book is currently in the news, so it's on my mind. Also, it's one of the greatest books written by an American and (get this) fun to read.
I came to an appreciation of Mark Twain as an adult which is unfortunate for The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, which is a wonderful book but clearly meant to be enjoyed by younger readers. It's an ideal situation, however, for it's darker, more complex sequel.

For those who don't know, "Huckleberry Finn" tells the story of a young free-spirited boy who, in an effort to escape the "civilizing" efforts of his female relations, heads down the Mississippi River on a raft in search of adventure and freedom. Pretty good premise for a fun boy's adventure book don't you think? However, he has a companion who, then and now, has added a significant and troubling aspect to this simple story.  His name is Jim and he is a runaway slave. I'm not going to give a plot synopsis (you really should read it yourself) but suffice to say it's this central relationship between a good-hearted but ignorant boy and a grown man he considers stolen property that gives the novel it's lasting power and poignancy. If this simple, backwoods boy can come to the realization that this man is just that, a man, a human being with the same thoughts, feelings and right to be happy as any white person, than anyone can.
America can.

The above is a bit of a simplification, this is a multi-layered narrative with many conflicting themes and dramatic digressions but, I think I expressed the central idea pretty well.  Anyway, the reason I chose this book is because, as stated above, it's in the news. A new version of  "Huckleberry Finn" has been prepared with a certain word edited out. (WARNING: I despise euphemism and intend to use the offending word in the following paragraph. I assume we're all adults here but if you are upset by harsh words despite context, please stop reading now). Huck Finn is written from the point of view of the main character. The language  is honest, crude  colloquial, often ugly and contains the word "nigger" 213 times. Needless to say this has been a point of controversy throughout this book's publishing history. More to the point it has, especially in recent years, kept this important and relevant novel off school reading lists. In an effort to get the book back in schools and in the hands of young readers, a new version has been prepared in which "slave" has been substituted for "nigger". (Now, why "slave" is any less an offensive term is a mystery to me but we'll let that go for now.)

I understand why this has been done and I'm willing to concede that the editor and publishers have only the best intentions. Nevertheless, this wholesale censorship of a masterpiece of American literature is more than a little troubling. It is not the place of any modern editor to protect readers from the truths Twain was trying to portray. If readers are troubled by the casual use of an offensive term that's only because they should be. Hiding the rougher edges of literature can only infantalize readers and encourage complacency over active and engaged reading. I'm not expressing outrage, after all the unedited version will still be available, more concern and annoyance. Rather than try to sanitize history and otherwise dumb down the discussion of ideas can we not encourage people to think and deliberate, not just react? This is getting dangerously close to pompous so I'm going to move on.

Needless to say, great book.


"Come with us now, on a journey through time and space, to the world of......."

THE MIGHTY BOOSH

I don't normally like doing this, but if anything requires a composite description it's The Boosh. Imagine "The Goodies" (I hope you remember The Goodies, if not google them) combined with the Monkees with a dash of Python and filtered through the pop-surreal sensibilities of Sid and Marty Croft. In an era (mid 90s through late 00s)  of strong comedy on British television The Mighty Boosh stands as perhaps, the most original achievement of the bunch. Ostensibly, the adventures of two hapless zookeepers/musicians/shop workers, The Mighty Boosh can go anywhere and do anything, limited only by the bizarre imagination of it's two creators and stars.

Julian Barret plays Howard Moon, a pretentious , pedantic, jazz loving blow hard totally convinced of his own greatness. Noel Fielding plays androgynous uber-hipster Vince Noir, shallow, self absorbed and loved by almost everyone he meets. Why these two are best friends and constant companions is anyone's guess, but their collective weekly trials and tribulations reach heights of absurdity and strangeness that I find hilarious and irresistible.

The supporting cast is, if anything even more strange. There's Naboo, an enigmatic and mellow shaman, a talking gorilla named Bollo and the volcanic, insane, way-too-tight-polyester-suit wearing Bob Fossil. Over the course of 20 half hour episodes they encounter the Ape of Death, a green skinned cockney nutter called "The Hitcher", sex-crazed Yetis,  Mod Wolves, the officious Council of Shamen, a lonely merman called Old Gregg, Milky Joe, Sammy the Crab, the Crack Fox, a horrible demon (that looks like a friendly old lady) named Nanatoo, and many, many more.

I keep coming back to "surreal" because that oft misused word is perfectly applied in this case. Particularly in late episodes there is a dreamlike quality to the proceeding that keeps everything light as air, no matter how conceptually absurd the scripts become. A lot of British comedy is based on sour, nasty, sarcastic characters and that's great, I love that, but there is something joyous, even childlike about the Boosh. Even at it's most vulgar (at one point Vince sings a punk rock song called  "I took a sh*t on yer Mum") there's an invention and enthusiasm rarely seen in modern comedy (especially on television). I love the Boosh. It's a pop art masterpiece in motion

DEAD MAN

By 1996 director Jim Jarmusch was well established as one of the premiere names in American Independent film. His droll, deadpan sensibility had carried through all five of his feature films and he was seen as the quintessential "uptown" New York filmmaker. Something of a hipster but with a sincere interest in the world and the eccentric human beings that live in it. However, nothing in his previous work could have prepared audiences or critics for his sixth film, the trippy art western Dead Man.

On a train in what I assume is the late 1870's, a timid young man (Johnny Depp) in a loud suit is on his way west. In a series of dissolves, we see his fellow passenger grow more and more "wild", from Eastern "dudes" and their women, to buckskin wearing buffalo hunters. A strange, soot faced man (the engine's "fireman" played by Crispin Glover) sits and engages him in a weirdly intimate conversation in which we learn that he is William Blake (that name is no accident) an accountant on his way to the "end of the line" where he believes, a job is waiting for him. The conversation with this odd Melvillian character ends when the rest of the passengers all rise and begin wildly shooting out the windows at, we assume, passing herds of buffalo. Thus begins the strange odyssey of Dead Man, a one of a kind American masterpiece.

Needless to say there is no job and within twenty four hours Blake is on the run, with a bullet in his chest and three bounty hunters in his trail. In the woods he meets an eccentric Native American named "Nobody" who recoils in shock when he hears the name William Blake. It seems that Nobody, was once a captive in England and was much taken with the visionary poetry of William Blake. He automatically assumes that that this is one and the same and decided to help him on his way. The two have various strange encounters on the trail, some horrifying and violent, some hilarious, often both. This synopsis in no way captures the spirit or tone of this marvelous film, but I don't want to give away too much.

So much to recommend. The high contrast black and white cinematography by Robby Muller is haunting and beautiful, as is the atonal guitar score by Neil Young (yes, THAT Neil Young). The performances are note perfect from the late great Robert Mitchum as a mad industrialist to Lance Henrikson as the creepiest of the pursuing bounty hunters,(and a suspected cannibal). Depp is very fine in a performance of subtle comic befuddlement. He's like Buster Keaton with James Dean's cheekbones. The real standout, however, is Gary Farmer's Nobody. Odd, grumpy with a sardonic sense of humor and an innate passion for visionary poetry, there's never been a character quite like him in the movies, let alone a Native American character.

Throughout the film the poetry of of William Blake is alluded to or quoted outright. Nobody's belief in the transformational power of Blake's words drives the narrative far more than the "man-on-the-run" plot. This is one of the unique and elevating aspects of this film. It's one of the most profound explorations of the power of poetry to be found in cinema, far more so than crowd pleasing pablum like "Dead Poets Society" which assures us that poetry is primarily for the seduction of women. The other great theme of the film is death, what it is, what it means and how it should be met. Pretty heady stuff I know, but always entertaining with lots of subtle humor. I would go into more detail but I'm trying to avoid spoilers.

The film was met with primarily, indifferent reviews when first released and has been consistently poorly handled by it's distributor for the last fourteen years. This didn't stop it from appearing near the top of most international "best of the decade " lists at the end of the nineties. I doubt it will ever be a wildly popular movie, it's just too weird, but It's gratifying to see that it's achieved critical success and the status of a genuine cult film. Anyway, see it if you like Jim Jarmusch, Johnny Depp's more offbeat work, westerns or the poetry of William Blake.

So there you have it, the first installment. Stay tuned for more "Stuff that Doesn't Suck".
Volume 2 coming soon.