I've had a rough week. After the Webster Groves Criterium, I haven't touched a bike. Every chance I've had, I've slept instead. I promised my mom that I would visit her on no less than three occasions, but instead I've slept in.
I did nothing for the fourth of July weekend.
1/3 of my life equals work...1/3 equals drinking...and the last third is spent sleeping. But there's another 1/3 of it is spent watching movies. It totally throws off the equation. To be honest, it's a new and not totally unwelcome development in my life.
I have a stack of DVD's and I'm going to run through them for you.
"There Will Be Blood" is the most compelling movie I've seen in a long time. I love the fact that Daniel Day Lewis plays the roll with his native accent, though he supposedly hails from Fon Du Lac Wisconsin...or wherever the fuck. The bowling alley scene at the end of the movie is one of the most incredible scenes I've ever seen in a movie. Eli Sunday is forced to recite, "I am a false prophet. God is a superstition." During the closing credits I noticed that it was based on the novel "Oil" by Upton Sinclair. Suddenly, it became clear why the movie was a perfect vehicle for the tenets of socialism and atheism. If you've ever read "The Jungle" think hard about what Sinclair's point was. The man is a master manipulator.
Most recently, I watched "The Edge" with Alec Baldwin and Anthony Hopkins. I remember watching this movie, years ago, and being scared by the massive grisly bear. Now, it just looks like a joke. The most important and compelling thing about this movie is the relationship between Baldwin and Hopkins. I love the inscription on Baldwin's watch, "For all the nights." Baldwin gets all fucked up on a bottle of tequila at a wayward cabin but isn't able to dust off his adversary. Hopkins takes mercy on him and tries to save his life. The single-most thing that I love about this movie is the unwarranted compassion offered buy Sir Anthony Hopkins for the undeserving Baldwin.
I remember going to the theater to see "Breakdown" with my mom and her "man friend" back in the mid 90's. In this movie, Kurt Russell does everything possible to save his beautiful wife from death and rape from J.T. Walsh and his evil crew of bandits. Though Kurt has a brand new Jeep Grand Cherokee, it doesn't mean that he or his wife actually have any real money. I understand completely. New cars and displays of wealth are nothing but an illusion.
After several years of owning "Girl, Interrupted" on DVD I finally got around to watching it. I was surprised that I really liked the movie. Winona Rider was a compelling heroine. I related most to Angelina Jolie's character. I too am too honest to maintain the friendships that matter most in my life. When Jolie talks the valium-addicted girl into killing herself, it's the most compelling scene of the movie.
I finally watched another movie I have owned for many years, but I've never watched..."Donnie Brasco." Forgetaboutit! I love the scene where Johnny Depp's character tells Al Pacino that his diamond ring is, "Fugazi." Al and Michael Madsen stand by Johnny's character to the end even though we know he's a phony. I think the whole point of this movie is, we all have friends that are a bunch of liars and fakes, and maybe it's easier for us to treat them like family and not question their true intentions. Forgetaboutit.
In addition to the previously mentioned titles, I bought "48 Hours" for a few measly dollars. I was intrigued with how much the scrawny, undersized, over-compensating Eddie Murphy character was built up. The movie was sublimely fictitious. I loved it when the undersized Murphy, in his "five hundred dollar suit" fought with the more legitimate Nolte in his outdated Cadillac. I totally want to get a crucifix earring in my left ear, just like the main bad guy in the movie. Then, maybe I can lay around and watch outdated cartoons while my girlfriend struts around naked.
I can't even begin to tell you how long I've had "The Falcon and the Snowman" in my DVD collection. I love how Timothy Hutton is totally an alcoholic sucking down shots at every chance he can get, but somehow he is superior to his drug-addicted friend Sean Penn. Snorting cocaine is kosher, but huffing horse is indicative of being a total loser.
Finally, but not lastly, I viewed "2001: a Space Odyssey." The movie is forty years old but I loved it. "Open the Pod bay doors, Hal." Keir Dullea and his cuzzo attempt to conspire against Hal in their secret little pod, but Hal can read lips. Hal is lonely and he needs friends. Therefore, he feels compelled to kill the yellow astronaut. Who can blame him.