November 17, 2004
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WEDNESDAY MOVIE Festival Express
Watched this on video recently and probably wouldn’t have reviewed it if I had any better alternatives because it isn’t the most riveting music documentary I’ve ever seen (that would be The Last Waltz). What it does have that makes it worth it though is footage of the magnificent Janis Joplin, not just in performance but in relaxed mode on the train. You see, this was the unique premise of this tour – to pile a bunch of 60′s musicians and a film crew onto a private train in the summer of 1970 and, starting in Toronto, barrel across Canada all the way to Calgary, stopping along the way for a performance in Winnipeg. Needless to say, the train became a 24/7 party scene with great food, flowing booze, and an on-board doctor to administer whatever restorative drugs were required. The musicians were clearly having a delerious time jamming with each other and hanging out – including The Grateful Dead, The Band, Buddy Guy, Delaney & Bonnie & Friends, and many more. The monkeywrench thrown in the works was that, being the 60′s, they were confronted at each concert by crowds protesting that they should perform free instead of for the $14 ticket price (a serious bargain by today’s standards). The Canadian Mounted Police have to be called in to control the crowds. What I will carry away in my memory the longest though is Janis wearing one of those amazing purple feather concoctions on her head, dripping with sweat, no make-up, singing Cry Baby like it was her chance to get into heaven.
Deep Thought: “Before a mad scientist goes mad, there’s probably a time when he’s only partially mad. And this is the time when he’s going to throw his best parties.”
Today I am grateful for: Clean slates
Guess the Movie: “My darling. I’m waiting for you. How long is the day in the dark? Or a week? The fire is gone. And I’m cold, horribly cold. I really want to drag myself outside but then there’d be the sun. I’m afraid I’ll waste the light on the paintings, not writing these words. We die. We die, we die rich with lovers and triumphs, tastes we have swallowed, bodies we have… entered and swum up like rivers. Fears we have hidden in – like this wretched cave. I want all this marked on my body. Where the real country is. Not boundaries drawn on maps, names of powerful men. I know you’ll come carry me out to the Palace of Winds. That’s what I’ve wanted: to walk in such a place with you. With friends and an earth without maps. The lamp has gone out and I’m writing in the darkness.” Answer: The English Patient.
Winner: thenarrator.
‘This One’s Faking He’s Dead’ ‘He’s Dead Now’
Fallujah: Video shows US soldier killing wounded insurgent in cold blood
by Andrew Buncombe in Washington
The US Marine Corps launched an investigation into possible war crimes last night after video footage taken inside a mosque in Fallujah apparently showed a Marine shooting dead an unarmed Iraqi insurgent who had been taken prisoner. (Rest of article here.)
End of Day: 9:13 pm
+ = I think sore butt kitty is feeling a little better.
- = Where is the love?
Comments (9)
English Patient (I loved the book, was less enamored of the movie)
and Janis. Oh, my original female fantasy. As a way too young kid I saw her play Madison Square Garden (in the late Cosmic Blues Band era) with Johnny Winter showing up to do the guitar riffs. A night I’ll never forget. Pearl is still one of my key “go to” albums when I need music to help.
For Fallujah? My God, do we still actually think our boys in wat are any different than anybody else’s boys in war? Did we really think we could invade and subdue a country without brutality? Are we that stupid? I’m neither defending nor attacking this (these) Marines, I’m just saying that when you hand huge automatic weapons to 20-year-olds, teach them to hate, teach them that the enemy “hates us for our freedom,” and turn them loose in a terrifyng, insane situation, terrible things are GUARANTEED to happen.
This is why people who think know that anyone who suggests war is anything but an absolute last resort are crazy, anti-human morons.
I didn’t know the movie, but now I want to see it!
I totally agree about this latest televized killing of the wounded Iraqi. We sit over here in this country and think about day-to-day stuff while they are immersed in this barbaric situation which would drive pretty much anybody over their sanity boundaries and then we act surprised when they do something like kill an innocent unarmed wounded person point blank. What the hell do we expect? I’m sure it happens every day over there. We just got to see that one by fluke.
I didn’t get to see Janis or Jim or Jimi to my great regret, but I did see some of the other greats.
And yes, it’s English Patient.
Janis was much more than “me and bobby mcgee” though that is what I remember her for.
I like your deep thought today – I think it is my life. And some of the parties are good, some less so.
shame musicians do not do that anymore…
She is remembered fondly, isn’t she? As for the incident, so sad, sad the incident happened, sad we put our young men into that situation & state of mind. Sad for everyone.
Never heard of this one. I’ll have to look for it.