Number One Stunna!
Monday, December 10, 2007
Well guys here’s a little glimpse into my psyche. While I may post irregularly, I frequently write entries in my head. Not that is does a lot of good to my ones and ones of readers (each of whom I really, deeply appreciate by the way), but more often than not that moment of clarity or my perception of my internal dialogue as worth of sharing seems to dissipate before I transfer it to our site.
So today I’ll keep it pretty basic – our beautiful little boy Nicky and our first year as parents. We recently celebrated his first birthday and as utterly cliché as this statement is, time truly does go faster. Is it because we have a kid or because we’re simply getting older? I have no idea. All I know is that my little boy went from helplessly flailing in his crib or on a changing table to being THIS close to walking and asserting himself more each day. We were astounded when he first turned over…now we barely notice it since he’s trying to feed himself, opening (and emptying) drawers and generally finding that he’s able to do more by the hour. It’s amazing to watch yet at the same time a bit sad as we have to encourage him to be independent and by succeeding in doing so we’ll be pushing away the one we most want to hold close. I’ll tell you one thing, there’s no way to understand your parents better than to become one yourself. Today it’s him holding his own bottle, tomorrow it will be him having his own family. I want it to happen with all my heart…as long as it’s takes just a little longer than the 365 days that have just passed in a heartbeat.
Movies:
Zodiac
A compelling depiction of San Francisco Chronicle reporter Robert Graysmith’s pursuit of the serial killer behind the 1970’s “Zodiac” killings in the Bay Area. It’s a good movie, but here’s the thing. We LIVE in the Bay Area – the locations are familiar and that made it far more personal and let’s admit it freaky. They never actually solved the murders and I had to run out to to grocery store after watching it. Pitch black, windy and stormy night. Yeah, I was a little paranoid. I’m silly like that, yeah.
The Road To Guantanamo
The story of three young Muslim men in Britain that find themselves captures as “enemy combatants” and detained in Guantanamo for over two years. Their crime? Being young Muslim men in the wrong country at the wrong time. Perhaps they were simply naive if not downright stupid – but even if they were actually implicated as acting against US forces who would know as there was no actual process of law. A scathing indictment of the flawed process of the military detention as seen by those caught in the net. The movie itself is hindered by the recreations and often by the actual detainee interview footage – but it certainly stimulates discussion.
Maxed Out
A study of both personal and government debt spending and the impact on our families, society and future. The actual movie is less compelling than I expected so I’m not actually recommending it…but as someone that spent a lousy month as a temp in a medical collection agency (I felt dirty just being in that call center, there’s no way I could actually do that to people – “sorry your <family member> died, can you pay us something this month?”). Our complicity in the industry is also troubling, nobody forces anyone to sign on the dotted line. You can’t be exploited by the credit industry without direct involvement people. Yes, it sucks if you’re too uninformed to grasp the implications of terms of an agreement you commit to – be it an ARM mortgage or a 21% credit card – but if you do sign it then you can hardly point the blame to others unilaterally.
Pan’s Labrinth
Spanish-made (del Toro, not Aldomovár for once!) fantasy set during the Franco dictatorship. Stunning. Spooky. Lush. Wonderfully carried by child actress Ivana Baquero and immersive to watch. Loved it.
Quinceañera
Man. I still struggle with this one, as there are moments of truly touching acting (especially by Jessie Garcia) but this movie felt so amateurish and low-budget at times that it was almost laughable. It’s sweet and the story rings genuine, but it doesn’t quite achieve that charm that it strives for. Shame because a couple of the actors could truly shine given a better script and execution.
Ratatouille
I’ve said it time and again. It doesn’t matter how much technology you throw at a movie, be it a summer blockbuster or an animated film. It has to be a good STORY otherwise execution will do nothing more than simply highlight the inadequacies of the film (see: Star Wars prequel trilogy). Pixar pulls it off because they ALSO make the films look beautiful. This story of a gourmet rat in Paris has all the elements – laid on a little thick at times sure, but what would you expect in the world of haute French rodent cuisine? It’s a wonderful story and I look forward to watching it with Nicky.
Grindhouse: Death Proof
Started slow and I was about to give up on it – but then Kurt Russell (perfectly cast) as the maniacal Stuntman Mike meets some women with more than meets the eye and… Forget it, I can’t really get into it without ruining it and it’s worth seeing. Give the slow boil the benefit of the doubt (feel free to curse Tarantino for once again trying WAY too hard to write cool dialogue) and wait until the action ratchets up. It’s worth it.
Books:
Blowback – Chalmers Johnson
I had to keep reminding myself of one thing – this book was written in 2000. Before 9/11. A study of unintended consequences of foreign policy in Asia including the rise of Chinese communism as a reaction to Japanese colonialism and abuses. Basically it predicts the “blowback” in the Middle East (such as the overthrow the elected government in Iran in 1953 and support for the dictatorship of the Shah leading to the 1979 hostage taking at the US embassy) as the direct result of our own actions and not simply the rise of an anti-West ideology. Given the utter chaos that is US foreign policy and the simplistic language our government spoon feeds to us to explain why so many it is simultaneously enraging and eye-opening to follow the threads that would lead to Korea, Vietnam and Taiwan. Worthy reading, especially for folks that still think 9/11 happened in a vacuum instead of a reality that in many ways we created.
Hate Mail from Cheerleaders – Rick Riley
Ok. I am so not the sports guy. I watch two of the least popular sports in the US with any regularity – NHL hockey (rarely these days) and motorcycle racing (usually recorded from such ratings hot spots as 1am Tuesday morning so Speed can air the other 23 hours with NASCAR). I don’t subscribe to or regularly read Sports Illustrated. But I had run across some Rick Riley columns and one in particular led me to tears. His “Strongest Dad in the World” is profoundly moving, if you can read it and not be touched you’re not a person I understand. You can read it here (link goes to PDF file). Anyways, I spotted his compilation of columns and wanted to give it a shot. I read it in a single sitting. Laughter, tears – it’s inspiring and moving stuff. Laid on thick? Sure. Overdose of sports metaphors? Yep. Loved it. Go get it – I want to share some of those stories with others.
Born Standing Up – Steve Martin
I love his New Yorker articles and of COURSE I love “The Jerk” and his standup stuff from way back when. Has he made schlock? Hell yes, painfully bad crap at times. But he’s also made some sublime stuff and reading about his career and life was really interesting. I actually got the book from Mabel when she was done with it. Good call on her part – it was a great read.