It's dialectic physics!

At long last, after days of delays, I was finally able to finish Brian De Palma’s 2002 feature Femme Fatale.  It’s far too early to say this with any degree of certainty but this may fall on my list of favorite films of the first decade of the aughts (or however it’s spelt, the 00’s).  Will it gain a much coveted position in the hallowed top 10 of that decade?  Only time and at least 59 more viewings will tell for sure.  It’s been a strange and surreal journey with me when it comes to DePalma.  As a child I hated the man and his Hitchcock cribbing and flamboyance but now as an older gent I find myself loving his stylistic choices and the wonderfully idiosyncratic nature of his work.  I recently purchased 9 additional feature films of his and I look forward to viewing them in rapid succession while also hastily jotting down (suicide) notes that I may further investigate his technique.  

So the new Muppets show premieres tonight at 8:00 PM on ABC and I’m so excited I think I’ll drink a bottle of wine (with a bottle of sleeping pills) before it starts!  Truth be told, I’ve been a lifelong Muppets fan and though I have severe doubts over this show’s longevity I have made a sacred vow to stay with it whether it lasts for one episode or one billion.  

Still, the program is already the source of some controversy as an offshoot group of the American Family Association who go by the sinister and sexy moniker One Million Moms is currently boycotting the show.  They are concerned that parents may unknowingly allow their children to watch this show believing it is appropriate for youngsters only to see the tykes transformed into raving lunatics, rapists and serial murderers when they discover the show actually has a bit of crass (for Muppets) humor.  In short, it’s basically another worthless group of folks with too much time on their hands complaining about whatever in a foolish attempt to fill the emptiness in their feeble lives.  I maintain it is the parents responsibility to monitor this sort of thing – especially when letting their kids watch something in a primetime slot – but naturally there exists countless parents who are lazy sacks of shit who don’t actually giving a flying fuck about their kids (who will grow up to be just as useless) but I guess personal responsibility means nothing and that is why we have such asinine groups as this whose boycotting will rightly accomplish absolutely nothing.  I’m thinking about joining this group though because I know their intent is just and their heart pure.  It’s a societal thing where all sides are damaged.  I’m even worse though!  I have nothing better to do but right about them.  They’ve already won.  I lose (just end it already). 

I will say that I love mothers and if these one million have so much free time on their hands I invite them to my posh flat for a night of mirth of frivolity!  Now that it is Halloween they should all go purchase Wonder Woman and Catwoman costumes, throw in some nurse and demon costumes too along with countless pairs of RHT pantyhose and high heel shoes (the hosiery and shoes should be worn for at least a day before coming to see me) which can be purchased at any local conglomerate.   I will provide the dialogue and scenarios and we will have a grand time up until the moment I weep uncontrollably for my chronic impotency (no one loves you).  

I spent a decent chunk of a recent afternoon watching Apocalypse Now Redux followed by the classic theatrical cut of the same film.  After years of deliberation I safely conclude that the original is the superior cut.  Dennis Hopper is still my favorite part of the thousand different versions.  I love his work.  He is so incredible!!!

Through the wonders of technology I was recently able to listen to the new Amaral song Llevame Muy Lejos. It’s a driving rocker and another I will blast out of my woefully inadequate car speakers while patrolling the mean streets.  The lyrical content pleases me on this track and I can strongly relate to many of the sentiments (I’m always a sucker for anything related to parallel dimensions).  Perhaps most joyous of all for me was the tune’s extended coda which is beautiful and daring.  I eagerly anticipate their new album and plan on buying 9 copies.  

I recently saw Black Mass and though I was delighted to see Johnny Depp do something other than what he’s been doing for the past decade or so I must say the movie itself was not quite the modern classic many were hoping for.  It was a fine film but I felt it lacked focus, neither working as a cold and detailed procedural a la Zodiac or as a stoney gangster flick like Goodfellas.  Thinking back to it now I would be hard-pressed to isolate any performance or scene as great and that definitely makes it a disappointment for yours truly.  I assume it didn’t help matters that I arrived at the multiplex fall-down drunk (or maybe it did!).  

I’ve been listening a great deal to Mos Def’s 1999 album Black on Both Sides these past few tortuous days.  More than a decade and a half later the stuttering jazz beats and Def’s stuttering flow remains every bit as effective as when this disc first dropped on an unexpected and doomed world.  Oh how I thirst for intelligent rap and hip hop and how infrequently my thirst is quenched.  

I recently watched Love & Mercy, the sort of biopic on the Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson starring Paul Dano and John Cusack as the musical maestro.  I feel content in saying the movie was able to overcome many (but not all!) of the usual trappings of the dull and dreaded biopics that are dumped on us each year.  I would give it a hearty recommend and plan on watching it every morning before watching Lane Bryant fashion show videos on YouTube (Good Lord Ashley Graham, you give me a thousand heart attacks in a row!  My love for you makes me weep!).  

Of course, it doesn’t hurt that the B Boys 1966 album Pet Sounds is a gorgeous piece of work and the flick captures with great sun-drenched beauty compelling composites of its curious cornucopia cacophony and at turns chaotic, caustic and canny creation.  I will say this however: I am sick to death of Paul Giamatti and maybe I’m complete jerk but I do not see the greatness so many ascribe to him.  I just don’t see it!  I never want to see him in another movie for the rest of my miserable worthless life!  But yeah, everyone should buy Pet Sounds but I know many will never give it a chance cause they’re dumb.  I feel sorry for those who limit themselves; I look down on them with my upper lip curled up in disgust.  “Trolls,” as my idol Charlie Sheen would say.

  
Well, I’m off to buy some soap – both bar and liquid – now and then I’ll have a quick session with my psychic Miss Cleo!  I’ll see you all in the funny pages!