The Waitress

Every time she came to our table
she would adjust our plates slightly
straightening to either
perpendicular or parallel
she would pause
as if inviting us to speak first
allowing us to show initiative
(which we didn't)
perhaps demonstrating her control
of the interaction
before she went through
the beats of the well worn script
there was something not
all-together welcoming about her
not to say unpleasant
but defiant, masked and hidden
defiant still
not to us or the artisan tacos she sold
but to the world
as if some time in the past
she had made a decision
not to be swept up in life
but a rock which parted its waters
a split in the current
rather than its prisoner
I think her name was Emily.

Her thin silver hoop noise ring
out of place in its predictability.

In The Mountains With A Friend

I'm in Denver the next couple days visiting one of my oldest friends Beanpole. He's lived here since shortly after college and this'll be my fourth visit. He's a teacher so his summer's are free but that time is typically pretty precious, doubly so now that he has a little boy. So I took a little time off, easy for me, and came to visit. Plan to make visits more frequent moving forward because we've known each other for close to twenty years at this point, there's not a whole lot of people I know better or have a more extensive history with. And now that he has a son I want to be a part of that kid's life, even if the most I can manage is every other year, that consistency adds up.

We went for a long hike today, something I always want to do when I visit because of all the wonderful options in the Denver area. Beanpole and I worked at a summer camp together for a number of years and even when we were just hanging out we'd typically trek around the various parks in Rockford so the activity has a bit more resonance for us above and beyond the obvious pleasantness.

We walked and talked and enjoyed the day. It's been a great visit so far, been able to spend some QT
with Beanpole's wife Jen and son Matthew and get a sense of his life here. Feels good to be here and be a part of it for a little bit. Much better than going through a catch-up check list on the phone.

The Incredible Perks of American Airlines

O' Xanadu
My own personal tablet
embedded securely
in the seat head in front of me
with all the latest
in cinema majesty
and catastrophe
at my disposal
through an easy-to-use
cutting-edge touch-screen
I can watch all the movies
I didn't bother to see
because of disinterest
but now, aided by confinement,
can indulge in
not to mention the games
and witless network TV shows
(American Ninja Warrior!)
that are available
I can even track the flight
on an "interactive" world map-
Mesmerizing.
Who knew flying could be so deliciously brainless!?

A Night of Jimmys

To celebrate Jimmy's birthday today all of Sight Unseen wore black t-shirts and blue jeans and drew fake tats on our arms for the show. The show went well and I think it's fun, especially for a team that has an open run, to mix it up every once in a while, to have a gimmick. It's playful and we celebrated Jimmy, win win.

Birthday's can be weird or maybe they just mean less as you get older but there still remains this expectation to make it a singular type day. Anyway, Jimmy has been a great friend for a long time so I was happy we did a little something for him, it's important to make a birthday special even in a small way. Life can be tedious or move fast or blur together so it's important to take a moment every now and again to let your friends know you love them, even if its just a reminder.

'Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets' A Review

Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets is a science fiction adventure based on the french comic series Valérian and Laureline. The movie opens on the international space station and through montage progresses hundreds of years in the future and shows additional countries on Earth joining then eventually representatives from different alien cultures, eventually the station called Alpha becomes too big for Earth's orbit and sets off to travel space. In the 28th Century two special agents of the human police force are sent on a mission to recover the last surviving Replicator, a creature that can replicate any object, and are unwittingly tangled up in a conspiracy.

Dane DeHaan as the titular Valerian is terribly cast, he puts forth a singular effort but almost every aspect of his performance rings false. Cara Delevingne as his partner Laureline is significantly more believable but their chemistry is non-existent and their proto-sexist dynamic is disturbing, discordant, and horribly out of place in 2017. The supporting cast sports some big names(Ethan Hawk, Clive Owen) but fails to give them that much to do.

Visually the film is stunning, like hot neon cotton candy, a smorgasbord of alien CGI. But without competent actors or a coherent story to inhabit the interesting landscape it doesn't amount to much. The narrative is promising but is bloated and drags at parts, taking extended scenes for unnecessary exposition and meaningless diversions.

Eye-candy but not much else.

Don't See It.

'The Little Hours' A Review

The Little Hours is a period comedy set in a medieval Italian convent which loosely follows three nuns Alessandra(Alison Brie),  Fernanda(Aubrey Plaza), and Ginerva(Kate Micucci) as they engage in various levels of debauchery. Tensions run high when Father Tommasso(John C. Riley) brings young hunk Massetto(Dave Franco) in as a handyman.

Out of the three leads Plaza is the stand out, her onscreen presence is always magnetic and she seems to especially relish the foul-mouthed witch-nun she is playing. Micucci also puts in a great turn in her first truly meaty screen role, goofy and unhinged she enlivens scenes and gags which would be rote with another actor. Brie is decent but has to play the most straight laced of the three and as such doesn't have as much play with. Franco is serviceable but as with most of his roles to date his dopey charm only goes so far and has a quality of sameness, he seems unable to reach any emotional or comedic heights. Riley and Molly Shannon(as the Mother Superior) are wonderful, no surprise, but underutilized.

The costumes and setting are all very faithful and contrast well the anachronistic language and humor. The film isn't altogether successful despite its production elements and gleefully manic cast because the story is somewhat rough and meandering. The screenplay could use another edit or two, a distillation. All the elements for a great comedy are there it's just too narratively bloated, despite its brief run time, to be all together successful.

Playful, fun, and delightfully irreverent but lacking needed focus.

Rent It.

Aftershocks

The past couple weeks I've been doing a sketch show at Second City, performing in the directors showcase for Craig, the prospective directors put up an hour long sketch show as their final project. It's been a fun experience, I haven't done a sketch show in almost five years so it's been fun to use those muscles again and the cast is people I hadn't known previously, mostly younger than me, so that has been invigorating in a way, working with people that, compared to me, have a relatively fresh perspective. The show itself I think is good, not groundbreaking but funny and well executed. Ultimately it's not really exactly my cup of tea anymore, I'm more interested in more personal emotional stories, more interested in narratives. Even so it's been a good experience.

Even though I told them it wasn't terribly important my parents were going to come to the show tonight and bring some other family members. They got a late start then got caught in traffic and ended up missing the show arriving shortly after it was done. Now running late is something that is typical in my family, you have to give most family events an additional hour leeway, its mostly understood. I know this but for whatever reason they're missing this show, something not out of character or much of a surprise, really upset me. There were other factors but basically I felt I was justified and was pretty prickly with them. We had dinner, they left, and the rest of evening I was still spinning about it, cycling through all the ways I felt I had been put in a position and not taken into consideration. But the reality is that all that anger, all that energy, had no purpose, no benefit, was only continuing to make me feel bad.

This past week was tough at work so I was pretty worn down and I think that contributed to my being more sensitive than usual but whether the feeling or the reaction was reasonable or not its immaterial. Perhaps if you're a boxer or talking to a Comcast customer service rep or slamming weights at the gym anger can be good but more often than not in actual day-to-day living its just poison.

Part of the issue in this instance was just lack of communication on both sides and that part of it can be worked on, clearer plans and expectations set. But things happen and for me I have to unpack why I reacted the way I did, honestly look at it, and do what I can to let go of whatever resentment I may still be carrying. I thought any issues I had with my family had been resolved and I thought I was pretty balanced in that department with healthy boundaries set but maybe that's not the case and it's my responsibility to look at my part. What unreasonable, unvoiced expectations have I put on them, what past perceived transgressions have I held on to. I need to figure that out and let go of whatever I find, move forward. Then in the moment that this kind of thing occurs I need to remember, no matter how tired or irritated I may be, to take a minute to breathe, be present, and let go of desired outcome. To remember that some situations although not ideal can be enjoyed if you allow yourself to do so.

Bosses Away

Working
in a storefront office
there is no management structure
to speak of
it's all very loosey-goosey
and undefined
so when continuing ed
and illness
took our two principals
out of commission
I took it upon myself
to shore up holes
and put out fires
that resulted
from their dual absence
the work got done
but I was unduly stressed
and only now
upon reflection
do I realize
no one asked me
to do any of it
and the reality is
I'd rather not think
about work
much at all
before, during, or after
would prefer
to drink coffee
in bare feet
and write poetry

'The Beguiled' A Review

The Beguiled is a civil war drama about a mostly abandoned girls school in Virginia lead by Martha Farnsworth(Nicole Kidman) and one teacher Edwina Morrow(Kirsten Dunst). The film opens on a student Amy(Oona_Laurence) picking mushrooms in the forest surrounding the school. She comes upon wounded union soldier John McBurney(Colin Farrell) who she brings back for medical attention. McBurney is nursed back to help by the women and girls and becomes a point of political and sexual tension.

Kidman is restrained, confident, and compelling hinting at desires and emotion but acting on duty and survival above all. Dunst is quiet and withdrawn, almost haunted, with layers of meaning implied but never stated. Farrell's performance is mercurial, we never know much about the character as he shifts to please whichever character is with him, through necessity. Impressive if not very honest it's always a pleasure to watch Farrell. Out of all the students Laurence is the most engaging and brings a much needed lightness and chemistry to her scenes. Elle Fanning as the sultry teen is the only weak link in the cast, her onscreen presence, a kind of ethereal internal vacancy, doesn't do her much good in a film so predicated on reserve surrounded by actors with substantial facility for depth.

There is no question of Coppolla's film making ability, the cinematography is gorgeous, the score perfectly melded, some great diegetic touches. The issue has nothing to do with the actual film making but with the storytelling. Ultimately there isn't much narrative to speak of, the slow pace is acceptable only if the characters are compelling and they are so reserved, so restrained, so buttoned up we really never learn much of anything about them. Back story aside we don't know what they want or need or believe. So although beautiful in every aspect the The Beguiled lacks much meaning. I'm sure the intention is to remain vague to allow the audience to interpret however there is such a lack of clarity in regards to motivation the result is indifference.

Gorgeous but lacking significant substance.

Rent It.

A place for everything and everything in its place

knickknacks big and small
need their homes
cupboards, cubbies,
cabinets, drawers

pictures on the walls
chairs on the floor
broom in the closet
knocker on the door

fill up the shelves
hang up the clothes
take out the trash
make sure it flows

don't forget the lamps,
bookshelves, or TV
bed and dresser
the all important A/C

unpacking means finding a place
for all the things that fill the space

'Spider-Man: Homecoming' A Review

Spider-Man: Homecoming is a coming-of-age superhero movie the latest in the MCU which takes place after the events of Captain America: Civil War. The movie begins with two extended prologues one setting up the villain Adrian Toomes(Michael Keaton) and the other showing Peter Parker aka Spider-Man's(Tom Holland) perspective during the events of CA:CW. Peter then returns to NYC and attempts to resume his normal high school sophomore life which proves difficult given his desire to become the type of superhero he looks up to as well as navigate the ever challenging situation- high school as a nerd.

The one thing the film got very right was its casting. Holland is a great Spider-Man, naive but determined with an incredible amount of heart of little crime-fighting finesse. Keaton is magnetic, easily one of the best villains Marvel has had, his late career resurgence is a boon for cinema-goers. Then there is the parade of wonderful supporting actors and cameos. Jacob Batalon as Parker's best friend Ned and Zendaya as one of Parker's classmates Michelle are especially good with Hannibal Buress putting in a playful cameo as a bored gym teacher. Among many other casting successes.

The problem is that of almost all the Marvel movies at this point. They look the same and the plots are predictable as well as marred by interference from the greater cinematic universe. The movie has a sterile gloss about it as the latest in an ever expanding series. The involvement of Iron Man and references to the events of the other movies is distracting and ultimately detracts even if you have seen those movies. Certainly playful and funny and perfectly cast Spider-Man: Homecoming doesn't have enough new about it and as the 15th installment of who knows how many a little freshness and uniqueness is necessary. Although minor the way Keaton's villain is set up at the beginning is preposterous, granted suspension of disbelief should be #1 when seeing a superhero movie even so the origin of his villainy, city awarded construction contracts being usurped with no compensation by a brand new governmental body, is ludicrous.

Fresh for a Marvel movie which is to say, all things considered, rote but pleasant.

Rent It.

I Forgot

I remembered moving was a pain
the procuring of boxes
the assembling of boxes
the putting-items-in-boxes
the moving of boxes
the unpacking of boxes.

I remembered the physical effort
the sore legs and back
the shortness of breath
from running up and down stairs
the sweat running down into eyes, stinging
the truck rental and all its painful machinations.

I forgot the mental toll
the days spent living amid blank walls
the irritation from not knowing where necessities are
the discomfort from routine disruption
the adjustment for new accommodation quirks
the countless homeware odds and ends that need to be acquired.

I forgot I was leaving my home
the first place that felt like one since my parents house
the familiarity and the ownership quickly swept away
by the transfer of books, beds, and dressers
simple yet so jarring, this moving thing
I forgot it could be this hard.

Top 10 Movies of 2017 So Far

Top 10:
Band Aid
Beatriz at Dinner
The Big Sick
Get Out
Kedi
Logan
The Lost City of Z
Okja
A Quiet Passion
T2 Trainspotting

Worst of the Year:
Colossal
Personal Shopper

'Baby Driver' A Review

Baby Driver is an action/heist film about a young getaway driver Baby(Ansel Elgort) who works for criminal architect Doc(Kevin Spacey) paying off a debt. Baby has severe tinnitus and drowns it out by constantly playing music, this provides a constant soundtrack to the film. Getting towards the end of his tenure Baby meets Debora(Lily James) at a diner and the two begin to see each other. He discovers however it's not so easy to escape the dark world he's become mired in and it threatens the few people he cares about.

Elgort has a laid back confidence and charm that makes him exceedingly pleasing to watch in the midst of all the action. His driving competence is believable but more importantly his young adult playfulness and curiosity feels authentic. James does well as the down-to-earth love interest but is mostly underdeveloped, this isn't that big of an issue because none of the characters really are. Spacey as Doc is good enough but flounders a bit in the third act, either he's not doing enough with the character or the script calls for too drastic of a shift. The supporting cast are all go big and clearly have fun most notably Jon Hamm, Jamie Foxx, Jon Bernthal(underutilized), and Eiza González as members of various crews. There's an infectious relish to the entire cast and all their portrayals, together with the relentless score, provide a pleasing propulsion to the film.

Most notable of the production elements is the music, a near constant list of hits over the past several decades from an eclectic mix of genres. The soundtrack alone makes the film worth a watch. The action sequences are a close second, extended car chases that are not only exciting but authentic. All the robberies and car chases are shot with clarity so we know what is happening, there's none of the ever popular close-up shakey-cam that plagues contemporary action.

Mostly all enjoyable the film kind of collapses towards the end falling into narrative cliche as well as unmotivated character "twists" but ultimately it doesn't really detract, by that time you're already so invested it doesn't really matter.

Fast, fun, if somewhat thin.

See It.

Gradations of Mobility

Last Saturday after going to a movie I attempted to start my motorcycle and the battery died. This spawned a four day trial trying to get it replaced. First I couldn't get the seat off to get at the battery because the bolt required a specific hexagonal wrench bit. Since I couldn't take the bolt with me I had to eyeball the size of the wrench head that I would need. It took three trips to Autozone. On my first trip I got a replacement battery and lugged that back and forth on each trip. On Sunday evening when I finally got the seat off the battery was so corroded I couldn't get it out. Andy, who's on Schwa and also rides motorcycles, graciously helped me out and we got it out after an hour of effort. Turns out the battery I got wasn't the right kind. Yesterday I went back to Autozone to get the correct battery which had to be externally charged for half a day before use. Of course I don't have a charger so I asked another motorcycle friend Charley who very kindly agreed to charge it for me. Today I went to Charley's to pick up the fully charged battery then back to install it. Finally its running again. It was quite the lil odyssey.

A dead battery on a motorcycle isn't like one in a car, it's not as if anyone with a pair of jumper cables can help you out. Another motorcyclist won't most likely be carrying equipment for a jump and even if they were that kind of thing is pretty fickle given the size of the batteries the motorcycles use, they're so small! Point being there's not much else you can do other than change the battery and unless you want to drop a couple hundred bucks on a tow you have to change it wherever it happened to die, for me that was about a 40 minute train ride from my house, about 50 minutes from Autozone.

I'm not complaining, being able to ride motorcycles is a privilege and having one even more so. It's one of the greatest, most freeing feelings, riding a motorcycle, the roar of the gas the dance of the clutch and the shifter. There's a reason motorcycle riding is such a thing in popular culture and there are so many books written about it, on both ends of the lifestyle spectrum- rebellious to therapeutic. And the thing motorcyclists know is you'll have one snafu per season on average, either a dead battery or an electrical problem or a flat or you run out of gas on the highway. It goes with the territory, it's the cost of the wind whipping by your face and the roar of power between your legs and that exquisite feeling infinity you get when you tear up an empty street as if time stands still and all roads lead home.

Although tiring it wasn't the amount of time and travel I had to put in to get the bike running again that bothered me it was my loss of mobility. Having to take long circuitous public transit in order to do the things I needed to do. How I would imagine an avid runner feels who gets an injury that sidelines them for a month. It was like part of me was out of commission. I felt incomplete, grounded. In the penalty box, prevented from participating. For me I use my motorcycle just as much for function as leisure, more so. It's how I get around and not having it unexpectedly left me feeling flat footed and a little down. Like Icarus but instead of hubris my fault was simple happenstance and instead of hurtling toward the unforgiving ocean after my wings were melted by the sun I had to take the red line.

'The Big Sick' A Review

The Big Sick is a romantic comedy/drama based on the real life courtship of Kumail Nanjiani(playing himself) and Emily Gordon(played by Zoe Kazan). Kumail, a struggling stand-up comic, and Emily, a psychology grad student, meet at a show and develop a cautious relationship as both of them profess not to be interested in being in one. The two become closer but cultural differences abruptly end the relationship before it began. A short time later Kumail gets a call that Emily is in the hospital suffering from an undiagnosed illness which thrusts him back into her life.

Both Kazan and Nanijiani are grounded, empathetic, and funny. They have great chemistry and have a dramatic authenticity that is effecting yet doesn't sacrifice any comedy. The real stand out performances are by Holly Hunter and Ray Romano as Emily's parents. Hunter is incredibly compelling, nothing new for her, but it is the meatiest role she's had in some time. Romano is stunning in his range, we see a side of him we've never before, pathetic yet loving, almost tortured and more genuinely funny than he's ever been. Nanijiani's parents played by Zenobia Shroff and Anupam Kher aren't given as much screen time or as much to do but are still good and have a nice small turn towards the end which is played wonderfully. Nanijiani's brother played by Abdeel Akhtar is great and a good foil for Nanijani's family's perspective, given more screen time he's more a fully flushed out character than the parents.

As a Chicago resident the only criticism I have of the film is that it supposedly takes place here however is clearly filmed in New York. Row houses and garbage in the streets are a dead give away. Other than that the film is incredibly balanced and relatable. It's a successful romance, comedy, and drama. All genres are woven together and none of them dropped. It portrays the seriousness of the illness and it's fall out realistically but also maintains an authentic vein of comedy throughout. We see both the leads evolve and fall in love but each on their own timeline. It addresses cultural differences in a refreshing and unique way. Above all it's really funny and refreshing to have a movie with serious subject matter portray that like it happens in real life, people making jokes and eating despite the possibility of tragedy.

An affirming, funny, distinct love story.

Don't Miss It.

Lizard Wisdom

Perhaps we have more to learn
From the dinosaurs
They who admitted complete defeat
Eons ago
Yet are still remembered