Films I

I’ve watched quite a few movies in the last couple weeks. I was doing a lot of last-minute, Christmas gift crocheting, which lends itself to such companionship as a good wood fire and a film. Luckily, I’ve discovered my local library has a pretty good selection of recent movies that can be rented for a week at the rate of $1.

Following will be completely erratic thoughts:

I’d seen Pieces of April on the shelves for a long time. Picked it up a lot. Put it down each time. Starring Joey Potter, otherwise known as Mrs. Tom Cruise. It has sort of a real-life tinge to the filming in a B-movie, home-video way, but it wasn’t annoying. April is the mess-up runaway daughter in New York, set to the task of hostessing Thanksgiving dinner to her family, helmed by a cancer-ridden mother. Her stove dies and she meets people. Her family freaks out and lessons are learned. It was an interesting story I suppose. I liked the relationship between her and her boyfriend- basically that he kept her together, despite being the center of controversy. Sean Hayes was dreadful. He’ll never outlive “Just Jack”. Oliver Platt and Patricia Clarkson were good. Basically, a good film, but somehow, it must have fallen short. It didn’t move me. And I’m not a good enough critic to know why not.

I had heard that The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou was weird. And it was. But I’d heard some good stuff too. I’d finally seen the preview enough times to sacrifice for that $1 rental. I don’t know man, it was weird. All the relationships were strange and the people were strange. I guess, in retrospect, I might appreciate some of the subtleties of Bill Murray’s character wanting to believe so much in this impossible son whom he’s never wanted. And what of the son? I feel like either there’s some deeper meaning to this movie that I’m just not getting, or I’ve been duped into believing there must be some deeper meaning to this movie. OR at least other people have been duped. Like they say about rubbish lyrics in a song, it’s all the more people can read into it and make it their own. I wonder how many movies are like that? Well, anyway. I’m not saying it was a waste of my time. It was tragic comedy. Another grade of “interesting, but not moving.”

Aberdeen was just a little out there in a real sort of way. Another dying mother calls out to her daughter. This time the daughter is a successful London businesswoman with a nasty coke habit. Her name is Kaisa. I think that’s a weird name. She’s Scottish, I think. The mother asks the daughter, to whom I believe she is slightly estranged, to collect her good-for-nothing, alcoholic father from a pub in Norway. Mum says Father has agreed to try another rehab. In truth, she wants them back in their hometown to visit her before she dies. Stellan Skarsgård, from Good Will Hunting (he’s really tall), plays a chilling drunk. Chilling because it is SO sad and so real. Just the plain addiction and the sad sad depths to which it can drive you. And despite her success, the weird-named Kaisa’s hidden addiction, causes her to be as temperamental as her pathetic father. The trip gets all f-ed up, and people end up relying on someone they don’t expect. Oh and thank goodness for a dorky truck driver, who somewhat unrealistically continues to help them despite their f-ed-up-ed-ness, and ends up changing their lives. A good English-language foreign film. Not one to top your charts, but a decent story with some fine acting.

Christmas Etc.

It’s been a while since I last wrote. I always have many brilliant things to write of course, but I am likely thankful that most of them don’t get published. I’m fool enough as it is. Although, I am embracing that fool a little more ardently lately.

Regardless, I beg the holidays as reason for my absense. And then my third sickness this season. The first two being chest colds and this one being a stomach flu. Ick!

Christmas was good. The kids were the best. Since we didn’t exchange wrapped gifts among adults this year, the chitlans really were the focus. And why not? It is nice to see their joy. The VonFoht’s sang at 6 p.m. Christmas Mass. The two in-law husbands guarded the under-three brigade with precision, while the original five plus two oldest nieces commenced the primary family tradition. As it should be. After Mass we change clothes and sing Silent Night while the youngest children place Baby Jesus in the manger sets around the house. We’ve done this every year in my memory. Well, but the year in Medjugorje. And this year my niece Myka added something new. She lit a candle and stuck it in a piece of Christmas candy. We opened the front door and sang Happy Birthday and “let Jesus blow out the candle”. A good sentiment, especially from a young teen. You really have to fight to keep the reason for the season these days. Good lord, the Christmas paraphanelia was out in stores before Halloween! Instead of exchanging gifts among adults, we are pooling and donating money to Heifer International.

Despite a few internal ups and downs for me, I ultimately enjoyed the holidays- seeing old friends and spending intimate time with family. I hope that anyone who happens to be reading this had a wonderful holiday too.

Tomorrow I look forward to waking up without a fever and eating more normally.

King Arthur

Game: Word Association
Subject: King Arthur
Words: Arthur, Lancelot, Guinevere, Merlin, Lady of the Lake, Excalibur, Knights of the Round Table, the sword in the stone, Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

Well, those are some thoughts at least. A grand legend retold in at least a dozen ways. But no one knows the truth. Or even that Arthur existed at all.

When my two friends and I were in Wales attempting to follow in the last Princes’ steps, we met a wonderful woman, Kathryn Pritchard Gibson, who is a well-known Welsh historian. Some may remember that I wrote of visiting her home, which many believe was the dwelling place of the Princes Llywelyn. When we met her, Kathryn was finishing a long non-fiction book supporting her theories of the real background of Arthur, whom she believed was Welsh. She felt she could prove who he was. She also believed his court was held on the same ground on which she lived.

Well, David Franzoni, who authored the screenplay for Gladiator, ran across some information while delving into that Roman drama. It was new archeological evidence that named a conquered Sarmatian knight as leader of a group of supreme fighters in the Roman outpost of Brittania. His name was Arthur Castos. Hence, Franzoni’s screenplay King Arthur.

However, I started with the book. The book written from the screenplay. (I listened to the book on CD actually). I’d barely noticed that fact when I checked it out from the library. I listened to the book in the car on a road trip last weekend, and then while sanding in the shop.

I’d only listened to one other book written from a screenplay before – Pearl Harbor. In that case, I had seen the movie and listened to the CD a while later. It was predictable of course, but still interesting as the book takes the time to flesh out the details one only sees briefly onscreen. This time, I listened to the book first, and I must admit it made a huge difference.

When I finished the book and rushed to rent the movie last Tuesday evening, I was quite apprehensive. The author Frank Thompson had done a pretty good job of endearing me to the characters. The rough and tumble, Dark-Age knights each had their own personalities, dreams and fighting styles. It was amazing how quickly the long-winded and gory battle scenes flew by onscreen. But I’m jumping ahead of myself.

What Franzoni wanted to do was offer a different, more realistic idea of whom a historical Arthur could have been. Premise: The infamous Sarmatian knights are conquered by the Romans and forced into a pact that has they and their sons and their sons’ sons etc. serving 15 years in the Roman army. Considering that living to age 40 was a feat in the Dark Ages (we’re talking around 300 AD), 15 years of hard service was nearly intolerable. Arthur was the son of great knight who had led the Sarmatians in Britain, and Arthur was destined to do the same. Who would have thought of Arthur as a Roman?

But he wasn’t really a Roman. He was half Sarmatian and half British, but raised on Roman ideals. His primary function as leader of the knights was to hold the Roman territory south of Hadrian’s Wall from the indiginous people they called the Wodes. The leader of the Wodes was Merlin, and his daughter was Guinevere.

Okay, okay. A bunch of hogwash. Maybe so. And I suspect that some of my friends saw and hated the movie. It was a little ridiculous having Guinevere/Keira Knightley in that thongy, leather thing. But if you put that aside and suspend your disbelief – as all movies call you to do – well… I have to say I enjoyed it. And I KNOW that I only enjoyed it so much because I had listened to the book. I had heard the further explanation of the fine details. And frankly, I most enjoyed the much more realistic version of the knights of the round table. I mean really, we ARE talking about the Dark Ages here. And I found Franzoni’s tale to be as viable, in fact much more viable, than any other I have heard of Arthur. Of course, I never did finish reading Kathryn’s book. It was in such a rough state when she passed us the manuscript and we have lost touch with her now. I’m sure she’d laugh mightily at the thought of Arthur in the Roman army. But, as I began, who knows?

Also, if you are remotely interested in this sort of thing, I do recommend watching the bonus features. The book ended as the movie’s alternate ending, which was MUCH less corny. And it was interesting to hear the historical research behind the movie as well as the trials of filming it.

Let It Snow

It’s snowing again. Big chunky flakes. I had to go outside and stand in it… stick my tongue out…

And last night…

…well, the world is just beautiful by the glow of moonlit snow.

I should mention too, that although I don’t love shoveling, I AM very happy that I home to keep my dad from doing it while he recovers.

Sore

It’s only mid-December and I am already SO sick of shoveling snow. In and of itself, it’s not such a bad job. Like the wood-hauling I wrote about a few entries ago, sometimes it’s nice to start a day with some good, hard work. If I didn’t have such a damn bad back.

And then there’s working in the shop. Mostly, I do sanding – the last stages. There are fourteen steps to making a PalmCross. Fitting. We call it our “Way of the Cross.” I think half or more of the stages in the creation of the smooth hand cross involve sanding . Today I did 300, 600 and emry paper before wiping them with solution. They’ll dry overnight and I will buff and package them tomorrow.

Anyway, it’s mostly just sitting at the flap sander, but after a couple hours, the tension really gets to the shoulders.

The endless crocheting hasn’t been helping either. At least the end of Jesse’s baby blanket is in sight. It’s my fault for making it larger than necessary. As soon as I am done, I will attempt to finish some hats and scarves before Christmas.

So, tonight my friend Janice is going to see U2. I, on the other hand, am going to see my old grade school’s Christmas concert. Harumph! However, my oldest sister is now the school’s music teacher, so I go to support her. I told myself I wouldn’t miss things like this while I am living at home. So… I go. Beginning with a hot shower – right now.

Catching up on a few movies…

Rented Millions for the fam. I wrote about it already, but still recommend it as a solid and enjoyable film. It’s a basic moral story with a twist – like the intervention of a few saints. Good though. I like the characters. And their attention to detail.

Went and saw Pride and Prejudice with my mom. Sometimes Keira Knightley bothers me. But she didn’t. Maybe just because I love the book so much – love the story. And she did a good job with the character I think. And I liked this Matthew MacFadyen fellow well enough. Which is saying a lot since he has big shoes to fill.

I was amazed at how well they condensed the book into a very respectful two hours. Of course, I was trying to compare it to the eight-hour BBC version that I remember liking so much. The one that made Colin Firth the perpetual Mr. Darcy. But not this time. Certainly too old for Ms. Knightly. Really, it’s been a while since I have seen the BBC one though. Still, eight hours was much more time to pay attention to detail. And really fall in love with the characters.

In all, I was entertained, impressed and pleased. Yet, not thrilled. I dunno…

Last night, my dad and I watched Assault on Precinct 13 on cable. I guess I had a passing interest in it when it came out because of some of the people in it, but I never took the time to rent it. I didn’t want to see it that bad. But there it was – already on cable. Anyway, it sucked. Just too many huge holes in the story. And everyone had to get shot on the head or stabbed in the head or something. Yuck.

Tonight, I went to Rent with my sister. It was pretty good. Not great. Filmed a lot like the play is staged. It’s just… filled out. Your imagination is filled out. They skipped some things and added some things. I liked some of that better than others. The music was great, of course. Though the guitar was too loud on Roger’s part of No Day But Today.

Anyway, I was mostly distracted by acting. I thought the cast members who have done more TV and film were much better. They are used to the camera in your face. It’s just a different type of acting. So basically, I thought Anthony Rapp, Rosario Dawson and Jesse Martin did the best. Taye Diggs was good, but doesn’t have a huge part. Wilson Jermaine Heredia and Idina Menzell were pretty good too. The character Joanne had a great voice, but her acting was just so so. Basically, I was horribly distracted by Adam Pascal’s acting. But then he wasn’t even originally a broadway actor. He was the lead singer in a band, I think.

But I just love the show anyway, so I still enjoyed it. I hate to admit to those that don’t already know, that I have seen the stage version five times. Of course, I know people who have seen it many more times. But even five times isn’t completely normal. First time in Minnesota, second and third time in St. Louis. Fourth in KC I think. And fifth in London, where I actually got to see Jesse, Anthony, Adam and Wilson. I met Jesse Martin in the alley before the show. And then since we’d lined and were in second row center, he actually smiled at me during Seasons of Love. I swear. I fell in love with him. And then I made a fool out of myself by attempting to speak to Anthony Rapp afterward, but we won’t talk about that.

I just tried not to have any expectations of the movie, so… I still liked it. But some of it was corny. That tends to happen with movie musicals. It doesn’t have the same style that the recent movie Chicago had. But that’s the script. Chicago could work with the vaudeville. Does anyone know anything about “La Boheme”?

Ooo, just read my friend Christian’s very good review.