Intermission

A Bakers Dozen (The End Is The Beginning)

“There are two mistakes one can make along the road to truth...not going all the way, and not starting.” ~ Hindu Prince Gautama Siddharta

“A hard beginning maketh a good ending.” ~ John Heywood

“The first step towards getting somewhere is to decide that you are not going to stay where you are.” ~ Unknown

“There is a woman at the beginning of all great things.” ~ Alphonse de Lamartine

“Vitality shows in not only the ability to persist but the ability to start over.” ~ F. Scott Fitzgerald

“A beginning is only the start of a journey to another beginning.” ~ Unknown

“The indispensable first step to getting the things you want out of life is this: Decide what you want.” ~ Ben Stein

“He who chooses the beginning of the road chooses the place it leads to. It is the means that determines the end.” ~ Harry Emerson Fosdick

“What we call the beginning is often the end. And to make an end is to make a beginning. The end is where we start from.” ~ T.S. Eliot

“The beginnings and endings of all human undertakings are untidy.” ~ Unknown

“No river can return to its source, yet all rivers must have a beginning.” ~ Native American Proverb

“I had as many doubts as anyone else. Standing on the starting line, we're all cowards.” ~ Alberto Salazar

“Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end.” ~ Seneca

what a shame

1979 - 2008

News broke today about the death of actor Heath Ledger at the age of 28. After starting off his career as a just another good looking teen hearthrob, Ledger had, in the past couple of years, started to make a name for himself as a serious talent, including his Oscar nod in 2005 for Brokeback Mountain. He was to star along side Christian Bale in the newest Batman film, The Dark Knight, as The Joker...a role that potentially could have taken his career (and fame) to a new level. Hopefully the director, Christopher Nolan, will be able to finish the film, because it is the 1 movie I am most looking forward to this year, even though I was not convinced about casting Ledger as the most famous comic book villain of all time. No doubt his performance in this film will take on a life of its own now that he is no longer with us.

A sad day. My thoughts are with his family and friends.

No Country For Old Men

"You can't stop what's coming."

****

From the moment I heard that the Coen Brothers were making a new film, I was psyched. Once I caught my first glimpse of the trailer, I was more than sure it was going to be a good film. Then the critics weighed in with numerous ‘one of the best movies of the year’ quotes. Then came the Oscar buzz. So, when I sat down to watch No Country For Old Men, my expectations were unusually high. And while No Country may not win Best Picture this year (though it certainly does deserve honorable mention at the very least...and probably will be nominated), it is another fantastic piece of movie making from Joel and Ethan Coen, the men behind such classics as Fargo, Raising Arizona and (personal favourite) The Big Lebowski. These guys just don’t make movies like the other kids do…and as a fan of cinema, not only as a form of entertainment, but as art as well, the Coen’s are truly among the elite.

The film is fairly straightforward. Texan is out shooting deer…comes across a bloodbath in the middle of nowhere…finds some money that isn’t his…and is soon the subject of a manhunt by the people who’s money he’s now carrying. Josh Brolin is superb as the ‘ho hum’, jaded Texan who doesn’t quite realize just what he’s gotten himself into until its far too late, and Tommy Lee Jones is excellent as a worn out Sheriff who’s faith in the world around him is slowly disintegrating, but it is Javier Bardem who steals the film (and probably the Best Supporting Actor Oscar) for his bone chilling portrayal of a man-as-machine killer whos focus on the task is laser like. His look…his interaction with the random people he comes across on his travels…his ruthless efficiency…and his philosophy all add up to produce one of the most unique, cold, and totally believable movie villains in a long time.

Unlike their Oscar hit from over 10 years ago, No County For Old Men unfolds at an even slower, natural pace. The fantastic eerie violin soundtrack of Fargo is replaced by a chilling calm…as if a dark void were surrounding the events on screen...watching, with an evil grin. And unlike Fargo’s bright snow covered scenes, No Country is very dark…and many important scene’s take place at night, in shadow or half light. You could say the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel is very, very faint in this film...and fading.

I don’t want to say too much more, other than all the hype about this movie is warranted. A fine, fine piece of work.

The Snow Walker (2003)

"Walk well, my brother."


***
Heartfelt film about a cocky bush pilot in post WW2 Canada who is asked to take a young Inuit girl who is ill to Yellowknife by her concerned community. Initially refusing the request, he soon relents (after being offered some ivory) but on the way, the plane goes down and, having strayed from the flight plan, the two opposites find themselves lost in the middle of nowhere...with little to no hope of rescue. As much as this film is about survival, its also about respecting nature and other cultures, and how no matter how much you know, or how good you are at something, you can always learn more...if you're willing to listen. Great performances by the two leads (I'm a big Barry Pepper fan)...and some great shots of the vast northern tundra. Good movie.

on an island

One man can’t do it all. Even Michael Jordan had Scotty Pippen. Wayne had Jari and Grant and Glen. Bird had McHale and Parish. This season, Mats Sundin came ready to play. He looked ready to play. He, along with the rest of the city, was cautiously optimistic that the Leafs would be a playoff team this year, and with a bit of luck, and some good play out of the likes of Bryan McCabe, Darcy Tucker and newcomer Jason Blake…this team might actually be capable of making some noise once the post season got underway.

Things started off well. The team was playing alright…giving up a few too many goals, but still looking capable. Mats was off to a flying start…his best in a few years. Nik Antropov continued to emerge as a pretty good player, and our new goalie showed flashes of the kind of game stealing talent that had been missing in recent years. But something happened on the way to the playoffs. Reality stood up and said ‘hey…what about me?’

Instead of bouncing back from a bad year, Bryan McCabe got worse. Then got injured. Darcy Tucker, fresh off scoring 25 goals and signing a lucrative contract to stay in Toronto, is a shell of his former self. The intensity and grit that were hallmarks of his game are all but gone. And so are the goals. He has 5 in 37 games. Jason Blake scored 40 goals last year with the Islanders. To expect 40 more was bit much…but I had him pegged to reach 30 with no problem. He has 8 in 45 games. Defensively, the team is horrible. If its late in the game and the score is tied, or we are up by one or two goals, we get scared. That’s right….we get scared. We forget how to play…and give up games. Our coach doesn’t know what to do anymore. Our GM never did. And the people in the ivory tower aren’t all that concerned because the tower they’re in is made out of fucking ivory! So…its up to the blindly optimistic fans to continue to cross our fingers, and hope that the next game is a win…and go from there.

I will say this though. If Mats wants to stay…he can stay. I don’t care if it slows down the rebuilding process. I don’t care if we can get something for him and he re-signs in the off season. He is the Toronto Maple Leafs right now…and its not just sentimentality that’s driving my position on this matter…he’s still a dominant player in this league, and those don’t grow on trees. Wouldn’t the team be better served under his leadership for the next 1-2 years before he decides to hang them up…showing the younger players on the team what it means to be a Toronto Maple Leaf? Or, as some are saying, he has to go in order for a fresh start…and that Mats is as much responsible as the Captain of this hockey club than the GM or Coach? Personally, I’m a big Sundin fan and will stay that way, no matter what team he plays for. I’d just like to be able to root for him and my hometown team in the same breath.

But right now…there ain’t a whole lot to root for…

Leaf haters are loving this...

No End In Sight

"Stuff happens!"


***

This documentary about the many mistakes made leading up to, during, and after the invasion of Iraq by U.S. forces is both refreshing and infuriating. Refreshing, in that we are finally being shown what many of us have long believed…that Bush and Co. were completely unprepared to rebuild the country after they took out Saddam and his followers. Infuriating because, after watching this documentary, not only am I even more convinced they didn't even care about the country, its people and bringing all that 'freedom' they promised, but that Bush and Co. deliberately destabilized the country (disbanding the 500,000 strong Iraq army, putting half a million gun carrying young men out of work during the most critical time of the rebuilding effort for one) so as to create a chaotic environment, not only in Iraq, but potentially destabilizing the entire region. Why would they do this you ask? Go watch ‘Who killed the Electric Car’ and ‘Crude Awakening’ and you’ll know exactly why.

Frankly, I just don’t understand how Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, and their suit and tie henchmen-puppets are able to sleep at night knowing they are responsible for this disaster. The deaths of thousands of US Soldiers, tens of thousands of Iraqi’s, and the rape and pillaging of nation, all for a few billion dollars in military contracts and oil revenue. Actually…its not just a few billion…more like $1.8 trillion…but who’s counting?

One solider near the end of the film asks, ‘Is this the best America can do?’ Apparently…under the current leadership of this right wing lunatic government…I fear the worst is yet to come!

Please America…do not elect another Republican into the White House! We’re begging you!!!

late new resolution year

fitter
happier
more productive
comfortable
not drinking too much
regular exercise at the gym
3 days a week
getting on better with your associate employee contemporaries
at ease
eating well
no more microwave dinners and saturated fats
a patient better driver
a safer car
sleeping well
no bad dreams
no paranoia
careful to all animals
never washing spiders down the plughole
keep in contact with old friends
enjoy a drink now and then
will frequently check credit at bank
favors for favors
fond but not in love
charity standing orders
on Sundays ring road supermarket
no killing moths or putting boiling water on the ants
car wash
no longer afraid of the dark or midday shadows
nothing so ridiculously teenage and desperate
nothing so childish
at a better pace
slower and more calculated
no chance of escape
now self-employed
concerned but powerless
an empowered and informed member of society
pragmatism not idealism
will not cry in public
less chance of illness
tires that grip in the wet
a good memory
still cries at a good film
still kisses with saliva
no longer empty and frantic like a cat tied to a stick that's driven into frozen winter shit
the ability to laugh at weakness
calm
fitter
healthier
and more productive
a pig in a cage on antibiotics.

'Fitter Happier' by Radiohead (from the album 'OK Computer')

Sunshine

"Only dream I ever have... is the surface of the sun... everytime I shut my eyes... it's always the same."


***

Great sci-fi fare about a group of astronauts and scientists on a mission to give the dying Sun a boost. Common belief is that science fiction is the realm of aliens and monsters and star wars…and while this is true…science fiction can also be about humanity, technology, and the world (and universe) we live in. The spaceships, colourful aliens and laser guns are just flashy devices used to take us to another world to tell us these stories about who we are.

Despite our fears to the contrary, we are an advanced species…and it seems these days, our advancement knows no bounds. But as specialized, precise and as knowledgeable a species we’ve become…we are still very much prone to human error. We make mistakes by ourselves, and as a collective every day…but its how we face up to and deal with the consequences of our actions that we are able to redeem ourselves and grow as human beings on this journey called life. And I think that’s what this film is about.

3:10 to Yuma

"They had a lot of weapons, Mister - and they were shootin' bullets."


****

Another great 21st Century Western in the tradition of others of the genre that I've seen and enjoyed, such as The Proposition, Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada and Saraphim Falls to name three. There is still something missing from this movie...perhaps it is just too hard for me to suspend my disbelief when the bullets start flying and the good guys never get hit...or the fact that you can see the end coming a mile away...but for me, a good Western is still one of my favourite types of movies to watch...and I really enjoyed this one. Russel Crowe is solid, and Ben Foster is very good as his right hand man, but it is Christian Bale and the supporting players in the makeshift posse who really are the meat of the film...each one a Western cliche in many ways...but within the context of the film, and because of the fine acting of all involved, you forget about that and just go along for the ride.