December 29, 2004

• WEDNESDAY MOVIE

  This So-Called Disaster

  Count on me to find an oddball film to review. This one was out on shelves some time this past month and I grabbed it because I am fascinated by Sam Shepard, who is not only one of America’s foremost playwrights, but also an actor and director and just plain hell of a good-looking man. The photo here actually shows his father on the left and Sam as a young man on the right and herein lies the story behind the film. Shepard’s father was a drunk who died eventually by staggering in front of a car, but in the years of his decline into alcoholism his son kept trying to establish contact with love but without rescuing him. The film is about rehearsal for a play by Shepard about this relationship, called “The Late Henry Moss” that opened in San Francisco in 2000. It starred, among others, Nick Nolte, Sean Penn, Cheech Marin, and Woody Harrelson. You get to be a fly on the wall as they rehearse, learning so much about who they are as people from their styles of preparation and their interactions. Shepard himself sizzles with intelligence and insight. Enjoy.
  

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  Deep Thought: “I bet a fun thing would be to go way back in time to where there was going to be an eclipse and tell the cave men, “If I have come to destroy you, may the sun be blotted out from the sky.” Just then the eclipse would start, and they’d probably try to kill you or something, but then you could explain about the rotation of the moon and all, and everyone would get a good laugh.”
  Today I am grateful for: Dry land
  Guess the Movie: “This is where they fought the battle of Gettysburg. Fifty thousand men died right here on this field, fighting the same fight that we are still fighting among ourselves today. This green field right here, painted red, bubblin’ with the blood of young boys. Smoke and hot lead pouring right through their bodies. Listen to their souls, men. I killed my brother with malice in my heart. Hatred destroyed my family. You listen, and you take a lesson from the dead. If we don’t come together right now on this hallowed ground, we too will be destroyed, just like they were. I don’t care if you like each other or not, but you will respect each other. And maybe… I don’t know, maybe we’ll learn to play this game like men.” Answer: Remember the Titans, 2000. Winner: tikhead.
  UN, International Aid Groups Mobilize Relief Operations for Tsunami Victims
  by Jim Lobe
  WASHINGTON – In the wake of Sunday’s devastating tsunamis that killed at least 25,000 people across South and Southeast Asia, the United Nations and aid groups worldwide have mobilized what could be the biggest relief operation in history.
  Some three dozen U.S.-based relief groups active in the Asia region have also launched relief operations amid reports that thousands of people remain missing. Hundreds of thousands more have been rendered homeless by the devastating sea surges triggered by earthquake. (Rest of article here.)
  End of Day: 8:41 pm
  + = 5 straight days off coming up thanks to New Year’s.
  - = Ongoing numbers of dead increasing from tsumani plus more to come from sickness.

  • 8:52 am
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