Viewings of a particularly contrasting nature:
*"Son of the Shark" -- give the film credit, it doesn't flinch. Depressing that two kids could be so far gone for anything to make a difference, even love, and know it. Interesting parallel, viz. the sea, with "Quadrophenia."
*"A Very Brady Sequel" -- (told you it was a stark contrast) let's hope this is the last one, since towards the end you could sense a grasping of TV nostalgia straws; hard to believe Shelley Long used to be a sex symbol, of sorts.
Feb. 14
Generally quiet day with sick child yields to pleasantly riotous evening at Non-Tour dinner party. Number of "kids" (i.e., minors) actually exceeds those of adults. Gulp.
Feb. 12
Book completed: "The Love Letter," by Cathleen Schine -- refreshing, in a way: a mystery that does not involve a dead body or homicidal tendencies. Noted, though, that the phrase "comedy of manners" appears twice on the book cover (the plot summary on the inside flap, and in a blurb of critical praise for her last book). Don't get yourself pigeonholed, Cath.
Feb. 10
Days I wished I worked in the headline department for a tabloid newspaper: "Teens weep as 'Titanic' hunk snubbed for Oscars"
Feb. 9
Book completed: "The Boer War," by Thomas Pakenham -- man, does this chapter of history deserve more than a passing glance: imperialism and colonialism at its worst; racism competing with paternalism; and military leaders who simply never learn their lessons. Pakenham, by the by, can fashion a descriptive narrative from letters and manuscripts with the best of 'em.
Feb. 8
Excursion to Girl Scout-sponsored Father and Daughter Square Dance. Somehow, promenades and ladies chains become that more meaningful...
Feb. 7
So, as I begin my fifth decade of existence, I have finally owned up to the very likely possibility I will never be an NBA power forward.
Birthday family movie viewing: "Masterminds" -- enjoyable just to watch Patrick Stewart have fun being the bad guy (the cheesy little mustache certainly helped). The message here appears to be, as long as your kid can learn to wield walkie-talkies, navigate electrical wiring and be sanguine on computer technology ethics, who cares about formal education?
Feb. 6
Viewing: "Suburbia" -- would be interesting to see the "stage version" of this. For all the exterior and location shots, it still feels as contained as if it were taking place in a theater -- which is, I suppose, the point. Very effective, subtle introduction of darker themes into what at the outset seems like a paradigmatic "hang-out/feel-good" film.
Feb. 5
British MP has urged return of A.A. Milne's original "Winnie-the-Pooh" characters from NYC Library to England. Unfortunately, when it comes to defiant oratory, Rudy Giuliani makes a poor Winston Churchill.
Feb. 4
Viewing: "Mystic Pizza" -- what can you say when the best scene in the movie involves pouring barrels of fish on top of a Porsche? Sadly under-utilized element: the local Portuguese culture, which does not truly surface until the very end -- and, sorry, I don't buy Julia Roberts as a descendant of the Sons of Lisbon.
Feb. 1
Small Japanese island reports frequent, unexplained aggression in the indigenous monkey population, apparently focused for the most part on women between 40 and 80 yrs. old. Could this be the inspiration for another shock-TV special, "Discriminating Animal Attacks"?
Jan. 31
Viewing: "House of Cards" -- wanted to like this movie, and in fact the first half or so is quite promising. But you can't help feeling a bit cynical: How many mothers of special needs kids are professional photographers _and_ architects _and_ virtual reality tech whizzes...and happen to be assigned by social services to a tough-but-caring child psychiatrist like Tommy Lee Jones?
Jan. 30
Banbury Morris pizza party. Young legs, young hearts, young lungs, all cutting capers, foot-ups and the like -- in-between inhaling pizza, soda and confectionaries. Yow. My ears are still ringing.
Jan. 28
Musings on PBS' "The Irish In America: Long Journey Home":
*Butte, Montana? A major locus for the Irish? Odd that it never surfaces in immigrant/expatriate songs. Get me rewrite!
*The last episode focuses on Al Smith, Joseph Kennedy and Eugene O'Neill. All prominent in their fields, yet all more or less finished by their 50s. O'Neill ultimately put his family on his canvas; Kennedy's family was his canvas.
*How could they have done the sequence on Boston without using Tom O'Connor?
Jan. 24
Viewing: "Liar Liar" -- I admit it, a sort of nostalgia for Jim Carrey's "In Living Color" days. Well, this ain't it. Most of the yuks come during the closing-credits series of outtakes. Look, it's simple: To be effective, a guy like Carrey must have absolute minimal connection to the moral universe.
Jan. 23
American Demographics includes data from National Opinion Research Center General Social Survey on, yes, the "S" thing. Characteristics which tend to indicate regular, considerable activity:
*Some college, no grad school
*Avid TV watching, especially PBS
*Two or more kids
*less than $75,000 yearly income
Right.
Jan. 22
The World Turned Upside Down, v.1998: Front pages of NY Times and Boston Globe. Left side: Pope being greeted by unrepentant, unreconstructed Communist leader, now seemingly humbled and humble. Right side: Leader of the Free World portrayed as immoral, deceptive villain.
Jan. 21
Viewing: "The Piano" -- talk about shrewd casting; Holly Hunter and Anna Paquin seemed so perfectly matched as mother and daughter, someone ought to check the birth records. Hunter, for her part, uses her entire face as everything from an instrument to a weapon; Paquin is otherworldly; and Sam Neill raises impotence to an art form. Compelling soundtrack.
Jan. 17
*Viewing: "Titanic" -- just try giving a cool, objective assessment after sitting in the front row for this one. In a way, a classic American story: love, sex, ruminations on power, class and money, all sandwiched around a helluva disaster. The seisun in steerage particularly well done.
*Aside: based on recent and forthcoming releases, we are apparently in the era of the one-word movie title -- "Titanic," "Bean," "Sphere," "Armageddon." An economy measure, perhaps?
Jan. 13
Apologies for today: Japan, to Britain, for treatment of WW2 prisoners; Le Croix, for its demagogic editorializing during the Dreyfus affair.
Jan. 12
Yet another Martha Stewart revelation prompting disinterest: she keeps a stopwatch handy to prod herself to come up with a new idea in three minutes or less. Compare with last verse of "Oleanna":
The women there do all the work/around the fields they swiftly go
They carry around a little stick/and beat themselves if they work too slow.
Jan. 11
Excursion to Girl Scout Family Rollerskating night brings opportunity for parental indulgence in reckless abandon, much to consternation of pre-teen daughter. And, yes, I even did "YMCA" -- with all the hand motions.
Jan. 10
Recent musical acquisition: "Solace," by Sarah McLachlan -- pre-"Brothers McMullen," pre-"Mystery." Subtle Celticisms amidst the contemporary zeitgiest. Have to say I'm impressed.
Jan. 9
Bad, Throwing Bad Money After -- virtual pet graveyards.
Jan. 7
Scientists conclude the universe is likely to continue expanding forever. A great relief to those of us who were of the same mind as little Alvy Singer.
Multimedia indulgences
The last couple of weeks also were a veritable cornucopia of listening and viewing experiences. Briefly: Viewings
*"Men In Black" -- good, dumb fun. Amusingly clever endorsement of tabloids' value.
*"Mousehunt" -- one of few theater-going excursions in recent years of which it can truly be said we got our money's worth. Nice to have ending in which both sides win.
*"Zentropa" -- add it to the World War 2 era "train as a metaphor for the human condition" genre, along with "Closely Watched Trains," "The Train," even "Bridge Over the River Kwai." Visuals kept it from being a likely pedestrian espionage story.
*"Contact" -- the '90s "Close Encounters of the Third Kind," complete with ambiguity; still, Jodie Foster can redeem most anything.
*"Toys" -- could have done without most of the Battle for the Factory scene, but generally enjoyable, especially Robin Williams' Shakespearean address to the troops. Set designs, exterior shots especially well-done. Listenings
*"Sound Magic," Afro Celt Sound System -- wish there was a little more variety of tempos, but undeniably haunting.
*"Jacket of Batteries," De Danann -- few bands align fiddle and accordian as completely as they do. Could've done without the "Eleanor Rigby" cover, though.
*"Shifting Gravel," Four Men and a Dog -- somewhat similar problem De Danann has encountered in its history, integrating the vocal and instrumental qualities in its work. But the dual banjo sound is dynamic.
Christmas Vacation
All things considered, could've been a whole lot more chaotic and frenetic than it turned out. Oldest daughter undergoes thorough assimilation by Hanson industry, and discovers joys of (meaningless) phone conversation. Acquisition of supplies for Girl Scout cookie sale temporarily blessed us with some 500-plus boxes of Thin Mints, Caramel Deelites, et al. Much enjoyable and rump-bruising sledding. Christmas Eve take-out segues into family Monopoly game, and much later, a half-baked attempt by junior household members to stage a pre-emptive present-opening session.
The days all seemed to merge, but somewhere in there was a sattelite phone conversation direct from Kabul with Mum, the BC-Villanova game with OD, the New Year's Eve chowdown, an excursion to Harvard Square with OD and friend (who were intrigued by the handcuffs and other interesting accessories at a used-clothing store). Much movie-viewing and music-listening...details to follow.
So now, time has apparently regained its former, inexorable structure. Hello '98.
