Hustler of Culture
What was the last movie you rewatched after not having seem it for a while? Did it hold up or seem silly, dated, whatever? Did you find yourself saying, “Yep, as good as I remember.” or saying “I used to like this?”
You tell me yours, I’ll tell ya mine. Hint: Chris Rock, as you never seen him before.
The trailer for Martin Scorcese’s new film Gangs of New York looks fantastic but that’s what trailers do–make everything look fantastic. Still, I’ll buy a ticket when it rolls out around Christmas time. His films are consistantly more interesting than just about anyone else’s.
I was supposed to take the day off but all I ended doing was watching Almost Famous on HBO. Even though I had rented two other movies not 15 minutes before.
I’m crying now. Crying at how beautiful, how lovely this film is, how much it reminds me of who I used to be, that I was once fifteen and thought rock ‘n roll will save us from everything, even ourselves. I feel like my innocence is a little pathetic now, now that I’m 28 with a career starting, manhood, a relationship, no luxury of regret.
My childhood home will be sold next year. I’ll be a permanent resident of San Francisco, 2000 miles from that beautiful little town in Michigan that is so much a part of who I am, that I can’t have back, except when I lie awake at night and can’t sleep.
I think off all of this as this wonderful movie settles over me. I’m weeping. Weeping becuase I can’t ever have who I was back, that I can’t do it over again and am not ready to let it go.
My friend Rory’s site is up. His 29 Films may be the next Dreamland Studios. Or View Askew.
I hope he remembers the little people.
Obligatory Waking Life review: A beautiful film to look at but overwritten to the point of insanity, like someone tried to film a staged reading of their undergraduate thesis. Brings up a good deal of interesting issues but they get lost in the self-involved, rudderless presentation. When it ended, I left quickly.
I went to the monthly dinner of ex-employees of the Film Yard Video store, my first job in San Francisco and heard perhaps the greatest movie question ever: What movie did you see, know was a great film, but hated because of your own issues? My answer: Diner.
Suzan and I went to see a movie at The Castro Theatre, breathtakingly beautiful like an old sultan’s castle. It made me homesick for the old Michigan Theatre, right down to the organist that warmed up the crowd before the show.
The historic theatre is such a rare treat. I’m reminded of how special they are everytime I step inside.