Today was the first time I ever had a dental visit conclude with the doctor recommending that I double check my teeth before going out in public to be sure they weren’t coated with blood. She thought that might not … Continue reading And if I was on my knees you’d have a pretty good view of my skull
I wonder if my teammate who wears number 19 still pokes around here every once in a while. This might tell us. More information on this lovely wonder is available elsewhere. (Posted simultaneously to “Jelly-Town!”) Continue reading I’ve been cheated, been mistreated
The Other Boleyn Girl (Justin Chadwick, 2008). Chadwick’s feature directorial debut suffers from many of the problems that make costume dramas one of the most dreaded of film sub-genres. It shoves needlessly complicated castle intrigue to the forefront in place of thoughtful plotting and intricate characterization. It is marked by static visuals that accomplish little more than sustained examination of the efforts of the costume designers and art directors. And actors emote wildly, flinging words aimlessly at one another with little apparent interest in finding depth in the language. Simply, it entirely forgoes imagination and probing details in favor of … Continue reading Like an old late movie show, you’ve seen it all before
“If I have all the tears that are shed on Broadway by guys in love, I will have enough salt water to start an opposition ocean to the Atlantic and Pacific, with enough left over run the Great Salt Lake out of business.” –Damon Runyon, as quoted in a recent New Yorker article. I don’t always have a high opinion of Adam Gopnik as a writer, but I will concede that he’s always a helluva quoter. (Posted simultaneously to “Jelly-Town!”) Continue reading His whiskey bottle spillin’ in a lake that’s made of salt
Sheboygan Confidential 1998 This has come up before. I had a long-standing tradition with my old college roommate of following the annual announcement of the Academy Award nominations by convening as quickly as possible to engage in what we termed “instant Oscar predictions.” This was fine in college, but became more difficult as pesky adulthood cast us to different corners of our mutual home state. Of course, during many of those years I was always looking for an excuse to take a roadtrip and compile a new mix tape for the occasion. So another part of the tradition for me … Continue reading Feelin’ better than yesterday and worse than tomorrow
Syriana (Stephen Gaghan, 2005). For his sophomore directorial effort, Gaghan returns to the sort of multi-thread, big issue storytelling that won him a screenwriting Oscar for Traffic. The result is dense, resolutely intellectual and dramatically inert. The unapologetic complexities of the film are admirable, but Gaghan almost entirely ignores the human element. Even the few details seemingly intended to flesh out the characters beyond their pawnlike roles in the major schemes of international intrigue come across as mere convolutions. As a treatise on the current ways of the world Syriana has some power. It could have used some more adept … Continue reading The movie star, well she crashed her car, but everyone said she was beautiful even without her head
Much as I might aspire to be a person of refined tastes, expounding on the art of cinema or submerging myself in some acclaimed literary wonder, I must also admit a taste for some less inspiring fare. This, sadly, is especially true of food. We are aspirational chefs in our household and strive to eat well. Given the opportunity, though, I would happily, greedily purchase and consume a whole sack full of thirty-nine cent hamburgers. Sometime during my first year of college, joyful drunkards of my acquaintance discovered this concrete bunker nestled within the strip of commercial eyesores on the … Continue reading One for Friday: Black Solid, “Hot N Now”
As usual, Hobbes knows what he’s talking about. (Posted simultaneously to “Jelly-Town!”) Continue reading I’ll be standing by, I’ll be standing by, first sign of injury is the pain after the fall
I seem to keep falling behind every day, leading this space to turn into nothing more than “Here’s the funniest thing I found today.” I’ll try to rectify that soon. In the meantime… Due credit: I found this on The Hot Blog. (Posted simultaneously to “Jelly-Town!”) Continue reading She disposes of her old toys, she badly needs a new toy
Now that the hype over the Watchmen movie starts to abate, the inevitable discussion as to which sequential art epic should next make the leap to the silver screen has begun. I initially intended to remove myself completely from this … Continue reading Black snake diamond role twist away across the floor
Coffee for Two 