Sunday, March 30th, 2003
Went and played hockey today with SUDEEP, who complains that I never mention him in my blog. This was the most exercise I’ve gotten in a dog’s age, and I felt it. First shift was fine. Four or five shifts in, I was dizzy. I am so lame. I even turned my ankle, and it hurts. But on the positive side, these guys play every Sunday and anyone can show up. I may have found a new regular activity. On the negative side, I am sooo going to be feeling this tomorrow. But it’s a good kind of hurt… except the ankle. That’s a bad kind of hurt.
Also went and caught 25th Hour at The Royal. It was not what I’d thought it would be. It’s a smaller film than I expected, the story of one man’s last day before he goes to prison for seven years. I had figured it’d be more along the lines of a caper, maybe Edward Norton would come up with some masterful plan to escape his certain fate by playing his enemies off of one another. Instead, it’s primarily a character study of one man dealing with the impending consequences of the choices he’s made, and how he and the people around him spend the last day of his life. The film also functions as a sort of allegory for New York pre and post September 11th – the aftermath of that day hangs over the whole film like a shadow. I couldn’t appreciate the full depth of what Lee was trying to convey, but the imagery of Ground Zero and the towers of light, for example, were pretty stirring in and of themselves.
So yeah – while it wasn’t the thriller I’d maybe signed up for, it was definitely a more thought-provoking movie and all in all, a better movie. Good performances all around. Philip Seymour Hoffman was particularly impressive, playing against type as an awkward, nebbish, sweaty mouth-breather. Ha.
np – The Posies / Dream All Day – The Best Of The Posies
Sunday, March 30th, 2003
So I defy you to find me a more contentious mainstream film in the last few years than Bowling For Columbine. Everyone either loves it or hates it, and based on which side of that particular fence a person falls on, you can probably get a good idea of how they voted in the last few elections. Me, I enjoyed it as how I reside on the same general ideological turf as Michael Moore. While watching it, I laughed at the points I was supposed to laugh, felt disgust towards the villains of the piece, empathy for the victims. I walked out of it, however, with a definite sense of having been manipulated. There’s not much doubt in my mind that Moore plays fast and loose with the facts to make his point, or that his grandstanding stunts are designed to draw as much attention to him as the causes he champions. What I hadn’t done before was taken the time to actually investigate the veracity of his claims. Thanks to an article in today’s Star, I was led to this page that rebutts and debunks some of Moore’s claims and supporting evidence. I’m well aware that the author probably has as much of a personal agenda as Moore, but I found a reasonably well-researched dissenting POV an interesting read. I would encourage fervent Moore supporters to at least have a look through some of the points presented. Don’t get me wrong – I still like Moore and I still like the fact that someone with his ideology has such a high profile in America these days when I think they need it – but I also think it’s important to remember that in all things, there’s what we believe, what they believe, and the truth, and far too often never the Twain shall meet.
Through the magic of archiving, you can see my initial impressions on Bowling For Columbine here.
np – The Cars / The Cars
Saturday, March 29th, 2003
This is neat – Will Sergeant from Echo & The Bunnymen is auctioning off a bunch of stuff – music and guitars – on ebay. But starting bids on some of those CDs at five pounds? Come on Will, that’s a little steep.
Saturday, March 29th, 2003
My friend Dave down in sunny Virginia has been pestering me the last few days to find some Baxter Drury to listen to. He wasn’t able to give me any more info than the name – Baxter Drury. Is this a guy? A band? A manufacturer of mobile homes? Well it turns out he’s the son of the late Ian Drury, of The Blockheads fame. Baxter’s stuff is a lot on the spacey and droney trip – cool sounds abound thanks to collaborators Adrian Utley and Geoff Barrow from Portishead and Richard Hawley, ex of Pulp and Longpigs. I found a used copy of his debut album Len Parrot’s Memorial Lift and bought it, sound unheard. Initial impressions are this is some interesting and eclectic stuff. More after I’ve listened to it a while – this will take some time to absorb, methinks.
I also finally got a copy of Ivy’s covers album, Guestroom. I already had about a third of this material either in mp3 or on EPs or whatever, but it’s still a pleasant if slight slice of synthy pop.
Also on a covers trip, Yo La Tengo’s annual performances indie radio station WFMU are the stuff of legend. Basically, people call in with a pledge and a cover request, and Yo La Tengo play the song. Whether they know it or not (though more often than not, they do, at least in part). I’ve been trying to find at least some of the performances from one of these telethons for ages, and finally have (thanks to this month’s Magnet). Go here and scroll to the bottom – almost the whole of their 2000 set is available in mp3. The sound isn’t archival quality, but it’s fun for free. There’s also more rare mp3s and some videos (“Sugarcube” is still the greatest vid ever).
My mom just called to warn me to stay away from public places while this SARS nonsense is going on. She’s so cute.
np – Baxter Drury / Len Parrot’s Memorial Lift
Saturday, March 29th, 2003
Mmm, sushi at 12:15 in the morning. A rare pleasure. Fishy fishy.
A fun night tonight, went bowling with Kate – I may have found a sport I don’t completely suck at. Okay, I probably still suck at it, but less so than others. But the high point was driving out to the chi chi part of town and finding Prince’s house. Yeah, Prince. Little purple guy. Kate knew his address off by heart so we drove around till we found it. Big place. I saw his garbage can! No recycling boxes though. I hope Prince is recycling. But it was pretty cool, regardless.
So I have a big stack of magazines and newspapers that need reading. Four issues of TapeOp (new issue out!), a new issue of Magnet (those styling kids from Interpol grace the cover), and a new Exclaim!.
Bought a new portable CD player, too. This one has a remote control!
Too tired. Sleeep.
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