Stuff

Helping my friend
move some furniture
from the apartment
he's vacating
to a storage unit
I wonder how often
the average person moves,
how one decides
what keepsakes
are left behind
and which kept,
of items discarded
through necessity
over years
and various habitations,
what small treasures
time and convience
consume,
the memories
lost up and down
flights of stairs
and left in the back
of worn box trucks.

I remember
that iron
I forgot at college
which I could use now
as the dryer
at my new apartment
leaves my dress pants
slightly wrinkled.

'Logan Lucky' A Review

Logan Lucky is a comedy/heist movie about West Virginian Jimmy Logan(Channing Tatum) and his brother Clyde(Adam Driver) attempting to turn their fortunes. With the help of their fast driving sister Mellie(Riley Keough) and resident bomb expert Joe Bang(Daniel Craig) they plan to rob Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Tatum and Driver utilize their natural charms, affable and quirky respectively, to good effect. Craig seems to relish the opportunity to play an actual character after years of brooding, cackling and posturing as the con with s screw loose. Keough is striking and effective, nice to see her in a more mainstream film in a likable role after she stole last years American Honey. On the whole nothing terribly surprising or innovative is done by the cast as far as performance however they are all clearly enjoying what they are doing and that brings an infectious fun energy to the film. The sole exception is Seth MacFarlane with an ill advised accent and a doubly ill advised fake mustache, his performance doesn't belong in any movie let alone one as slick as this one.

The pacing of the film is quick, the tone light, and underneath there's a sometimes subtle sometimes not so subtle celebration of America that is pleasant if not downright needed given the current climate. Unlike the sparkly Oceans movies this film, essentially, focuses on normal working class folks and because of that it's more relatable and more compelling. Soderberg is a master, there's no question, and all the production elements weave together to make a entertaining if relatively straightforward film. It also contains one of the most affecting renditions of "Take Me Home, Country Roads" although some may find it overly sweet it encapsulates what this film is really trying to be- sincere.

Pure fun with a heartwarming message if you want it.

See It.

My Father Watching Horror Previews

"Disgusting" he said

"What is this crap" he said

he grimaced

he groaned

turned his head

and made a bleck face

tongue extended

pantomiming a retch

"If I would have known" he said

"I'd have taken a powder"

'Good Time' A Review

Good Time is a New York set ticking-clock psuedo-heist thriller about second-rate Queens hustler Connie(Robert Pattinson) who at the start of the film robs a bank with the help of his mentally handicapped brother Nick(Ben Safdie) who is subsequently arrested. Inexplicably immediately put into general population at Rikers Island Connie fears for Nick's safety and begins an all night mad dash to come up with bail.

Pattinson puts in one of his most interesting performances to date as the slimy, morally bankrupt, ineffectual hood, who's only redeeming quality is his love for his brother. This is somewhat problematic given he is onscreen for the entire film and is purposefully obtuse and unsympathetic. Safdie gives the substantially more layered emotional, and therefore interesting portrayal however he only appears briefly at the beginning and end of the film. Jennifer Jason Leigh is underutilized in a small confusing role. A standout is Buddy Duress who plays whiny knucklehead paired up with Connie by happenstance. He's funny and unique, projecting a reality Pattinson strives for but doesn't attain. The other supporting cast are either non-actors or unknowns either way they create a rich sense of authenticity.

The production design is pulse-pumping and on point. The color palette is a sickly shadow and neon capturing the small time underworld the characters inhabit. The score is catchy and effective. The issues mainly arise from the script. The story hinges on the relationship between the two brothers, on Connie's affection for Nick, that is the most compelling thing about the film but other than a couple scenes at the beginning and end that relationship is used almost solely as motivation to send Connie on his ill-conceived and disastrous journey. Further what gives Connie the urgency for this is his brother Nick being beaten senseless by a bunch of rage-filled minority inmates at Rikers. It is relatively unbelievable a mentally handicapped person would be put into Rikers initially, doubly so that they would almost immediately be assaulted, triply so by violent prison stereotypes. Those are some huge and extremely questionable leaps to set Connie on his path.

Problematic plot and dubious motivations in an otherwise promising film.

Rent It.

'Patti Cake$' A Review

Patti Cake$ is a drama about a young aspiring rapper, Patti(Danielle Macdonald), in Bergen County, New Jersey. Tensions between Patti and her mother Barb(Bridget Everett) are strained due to the persist illness of her grandmother Nana(Cathy Moriarty) and her mother's hard living lifestyle. Patti along with her friend Jheri(Siddharth Dhananjay) attempt to record a demo but are unsuccessful until hooking up with local nihilist goth Basterd(Mamoudou Athie).

Macdonald puts in a great lead performance. She conveys a compelling vulnerability and courage, she is persistent almost dogged about her artistic dream, in the midst of a relatively pedestrian underdog story she breathes new life, perspective, and depth into the somewhat predictable beats. Everett also brings freshness to the neglectful parent dynamic the story utilizes. She struggles a bit with some of the scenes but even when her performance isn't seamless she maintains her natural and substantial magnetism. Moriarty's role isn't large but it brings humor and heart effortlessly and is a much needed foil for Macdonald. Dhananjay and Athie both do well but serve mostly to propel Patti's story.

The music, soundtrack and the songs performed, are great. Effecting in a raw and real way. The cinematography feels gritty and real with occasional playful day dream sequences that set it apart. The plot itself could be compared to 8 Mile and Hustle & Flow but that's irrelevant due to the unique lead character. The music is original, the performances are absorbing, and the story is moving. Period. Some sequences or scenes you may anticipate but that doesn't make them any less enjoyable.

A fresh and inspiring take on an underdog artist story.

Don't Miss It.

Affluence

I wear my jeans, black t-shirt,
and denim jacket like armor
amidst all the cargo shorts,
flip-flops, and tommy bahama
short-sleeved button ups
straining over large and swaying
bellies

Here in this Wisconsin resort town
I'm surrounded
by a thoughtless, bloated
American opulence
where all immensities are expensive
but have no real quality
(the food down right repulsive)

I feel like the only human
in a crowd of alien lemmings
all shoving intoxicants
and flavorless fuel
inside their maws
squawking their elitism
and entitlement

The idea that this place
is some coveted
well-to-do vacation spot
is sickening
all these bumbling, mumbling,
pleasure seekers
models for dystopian drones

I can't wait to leave and hope never to return.

4th Anniversary

Four years ago today Nicole and I had our first date at Navy Pier riding the Ferris wheel. Today we took the day off and went to the art museum and out for a great dinner at Elizabeth Restaurant. It's been a wonderful four years, it feels both like a long time and no time at all.

We've had a couple challenges this year, we got burglarized back in December and had to move unexpectedly last month, nothing too trying all things considered but we've had to deal with some unanticipated stressors. We've also had some great times, special trips and events, cooked a lot more, and generally become more comfortable in our partnership.

For me, as the years go by I learn more and more what a relationship is and what it can be. And it boils down to communication and compromise. When things aren't going well it's because I'm keeping my thoughts, feelings, and needs to myself. Closing myself off out of fear or my own habit of isolation. Being inflexible about certain things I expect or anticipate or am willing to do. The importance of things need to be given voice and consideration. You can't hope for it to simply be intuited. The reality is that its a balancing, attention given to the individual and the couple as an entity in and of itself. Both need to be given weight. Things done separately, things done together. And the resulting relationship can be(is for me at least) incredibly fun and inspiring, a source of strength and comfort, something I lean on but not something I'm dependent on. Nicole and I take vacations separately and together, we go out with friends separately and together, we have varied interests. Parts of our lives are intertwined, other parts aren't. It keeps the partnership fresh and evolving. And our partnership has helped me figure out who I am, clarified and refined it, and who I want to be. I don't know what the future holds for us but I'm eager to find out.

A Ghost Story

I think there is a ghost in my apartment.

She lives
in hinges,
scuffed parquet
and the absence
of paint
on the window frames

I don't think she's malevolent
just exhausted
as I imagine all ghosts
to be
so I put on shows
I think she'd like
baking ones mostly
mindless and quiet
to help aid
in eternity

When I hear
the creak or crack
of something shifting
the brush and rustle
of nameless drifting
I leave a glass of water
clear and cool
on the table
for though I know little
of the hereafter
I do know
the dead
are thirsty.

'The Dark Tower' A Review

The Dark Tower is a fantasy/action movie a loose adaptation and amalgamation of the Stephen King series of the same name. The movie opens on the prescient otherworldly nightmares of Jake Chambers(Tom Taylor). He's a moody and disgruntled preteen we get little information about and barely know. His defining character trait is an irritating step dad. Enter the Man In Black(Matthew McConaughey) our personification of evil who harvests the psychic energy of children to bring down the titular Dark Tower and end existence. Jake, marginally aware of these cosmic events almost effortlessly finds a portal to Mid-World where all the action is taking place. He quickly hooks up with the last Gunslinger, a cowboy/knight, Roland(Idris Elba) and the two set off to thwart the Man In Black.

Taylor does a decent job with the borderline incoherent script he's given but his ability is not really clear as the character, as written, is barely a caricature. McConaughey defaults to his pre-Mud days and puts in a syrupy hand-wringing mustache-twirling lazy performance completely devoid of menace or energy. Certainly the script hinders but given the talent and range he has shown over the last five years he should be able to be, at the very least, engaging. Elba is the only one who is well cast and also the only one who puts in a credible performance although he is prevented from delivering on the potential depth the character has by the truncated running time and Frankenstein narrative.

As a huge fan of the books I admit some bias, so I will not provide a laundry list in the ways the adaptation aspect falls short suffice it to say it does, horrifically. So for direct and applicable criticisms- as a standalone story it moves too fast cutting back and forth between worlds and scenes speeding along in a seemingly protracted info dump-to the detriment of character development, hell basic character information, essential world building, and any kind of stakes- in order to get to a culminating gun-fight set piece that is cool but has no narrative or emotional resonance because of the chaotic and illogical way it was set up.

As an adaptation of the source material it is an abject failure, as a summer blockbuster it is a disjointed mess.

Don't See It.

'Brigsby Bear' A Review

Brigsby Bear is a dramedy about a young man who lives in an underground bunker with his parents, the only real outside engagement is an educational children's show Brigsby Bear. The first part of the film establishes James(Kyle Mooney) as an isolated, odd, Brigsby superfan under the impression that there has been some kind of nuclear/pandemic that has forced people underground. While stealing a couple minutes up on the surface in the middle of the night James is confronted by a SWAT team and taken into custody. James has difficulty adjusting to life in the real world and as a way of processing his experiences begins making a Brigsby Bear movie.

Mooney is very good, simple and grounded, empathetic and sincere. Taken in a broader context it is somewhat less impressive given the character is essentially derivative of the numerous nostalgia/AV obsessed characters he's played on SNL. Ryan Simpkins and Jorge Lendeborg Jr. as James's sister and friend respectively are very good, seemingly unaffected by his oddness they portray the blossoming of real friendship with authenticity. The cast sports some great names- Mark Hamill, Greg Kinnear, Clarie Danes, Michaela Watkins- who all do well but the film is about, justly, James and his journey so the cast is mostly there to tell his story, which they do well.

The performances are secondary to the story and the story basically boils down to one of imagination and creativity. And because of that a lot of time and attention is taken with the Brigsby Bear show within the film and the recreation of it by James. The production sports retro-nostalgia not in a pandering or ironic way but as an actual aesthetic. VHS and practical effects abound and they look great. The film is more meditative and straightforward than funny but it succeeds, it tells the story of a damaged young man who uses his favorite TV show to deal with the immensity of life.

An inspiring story, innovative throwback production design, if a somewhat predictable(but still effective) emotional arc.

See It. 

New Apartment

It's been about a month since Nicole and I moved into our new place. I forgot how much work it is, beyond the packing and the physical moving of stuff from one place to another, but the finding a place for everything, the arranging, the hanging of pictures, the repeated trips to Target for the miscellaneous home decor, because of course no apartment is uniform in its amenities. But now, seemingly, its all done and we've had a chance to settle in.

After living in Chicago on and off for eleven years I've lived in seven different apartments and six different neighborhoods. You become accustomed to moving and settling in to a new niche of the city. As time has gone on I've found it more fun than stressful. The finding of the new place is always the most stressful, the minutia that comes after requires time and effort but it ultimately boils down to simple tasks which you can check off.

Our new place is nice and spacious, the only weird thing is we suspect there may be a ghost. Spooooooky. The reality is that that old and tired adage "home is where the heart is" is true. And perhaps, I admit, I'm getting older and am more prone to see the wisdom in cliche rather than the irony. Wherever Nicole and I live we're going to make work, were going to have each other and be surrounded by those things that we value and have meaning- books, photos, art work, Ms. Kitty. We're also in this city which we've lived in for an increasing percentage of our lives. A place we know and we're apart of. Wherever we go, there we'll be, and it'll be home.

'A Ghost Story' A Review

A Ghost Story is a pseudo-supernatural drama about a man who dies and lingers in the house he shared with his wife. C(Casey Affleck) and his wife M(Rooney Mara) share a small worn down home in a nameless suburb. C dies in a car accident outside of the house and returns from the morgue as a ghost that watches M as she deals with her grief and eventually moves out. The ghost of C stays with the house over the course of years and bears witness to the various inhabitants.

Mara puts in her same default performance we've seen from her numerous times. She is stoic, neutral, and reactive only. There is no doubt her looks are striking and that she has talent(The Social Network, Her) but it seems recently most directors use her as a cinematic model rather than an actual actor, which to be frank, is boring. Affleck is only actually seen for less then ten minutes and his time on screen is incredibly awkward, he does no acting to speak of just stumbles in frame and recites his lines, whenever he is called upon to be introspective(in this and in other films) he fails pretty badly. His talents fall more inline with bombast. The other cast members don't really have much to do save briefly glide in and out of scenes as the focus is more on the mood and tone. There is one notable monologue, which seemingly serves as the thesis of the film, delivered by William Oldham which is competently done but the content of which is insufferable collegiate existential gobbledygook.

The cinematography is sharp and interesting with a compelling score but unfortunately that's where the successes of the film begin and end. There are massive issues with the narrative and its pacing, starting relatively slow and then jumping years, decades, centuries(?) into the future and then back into the past. The film seems more concerned with doing these things rather than why they are being done and because of that the time machinations are virtually meaningless. This on top of the fact that the message of the film, bolstered by the aforementioned monologue, seems to be that nothing means anything, creation and ambition are futile, time is a prison, or some such other worthless ideas which every immature 19 year old convinced of their own non-existent intellectual prowess has after reading Notes From The Underground. The biggest problem is that writer/director David Lowery really wants to be a writer/director and he can't write. He has craft but, thus far, hasn't demonstrated any ability with narrative. Not to mention his repeated and inept cribbing of Terrence Malick which comes across as impotent rather than homage.

Derivative, clumsy, and juvenile. Worst of the year contender.

Don't See It.

Crockpot

sauerkraut
bratwurst
giardiniere

low heat
8 hours
to prepare

sour
earthy
tangy, sweet

minimal
effort
a glorious eat

'An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth To Power' A Review

An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth To Power is a environmental documentary, a follow up to 2006's Oscar winning An Inconvenient Truth. Whereas the original was more directly education about the causes, conditions, and effects of climate change this film is more personal following Gore on his chosen vocation to enact real tangible change and depicts the actual effects global warming has had over the past decade- from melting glaciers to the frequent and tragic extreme weather events that the original film foretold. The film also shows us a little more about Gore the man, touching on his family, their history in politics, and his 2000 presidential bid and how it shaped him.

The Al Gore we saw in An Inconvenient Truth was much more personable and loose than the politician we had previously known and in this film we see him even clearer, the film is not only an update on the climate change crisis, the set backs and advancements, a much needed call to action given the political landscape, it is also a somewhat intimate portrayal of a man who championed a cause, who wars between hope and despair, an aging and battered knight of Mother Earth who straps on his armor(suit) every day and continues on despite the overwhelming opposition.

And for all the negative environmental effects that have occurred between the time of the original film and the present, and the projected disasters inevitably to come, the film does offer hope. Highlighting the Paris Agreement, the advancement in renewable energy technology and its implementation, and a town in Texas use of close to 100% renewable energy. But with the election of Trump which the film portrays but doesn't address directly, the call to action at the end of the film is its most important part. Gore gives a speech to a crowd which inspires and energizes and gives us a glimpse of the President we might have had. That scene in and of itself is worth the watch.

Necessary viewing in our current time of turmoil.

Don't Miss It.

'Girls Trip' A Review

Girls Trip is a comedy about four lifelong friends who have drifted apart that take a trip to New Orleans for the Essence Music Festival. Ryan(Regina Hall) is a best-selling author and a celebrity power couple along with her husband Stewart(Mike Colter), she's asked to be the keynote speaker at the Essence Fest and takes the engagement as a good way to get her friends back together after five years without seeing each other. Sasha(Queen Latifah) a gossip blogger,. Lisa(Jada Pinkett Smith) single mother of two, and Dina(Tiffany Haddish) the lone adulthood holdout join Ryan in New Orleans and the four reconnect.

All four leads give great performances and the chemistry they share is magnetic. The film allows them, for the most part, to simply be friends together in a fun setting mostly devoid of distracting plot devices. We are invited in to this longstanding friendship and watch it reignite as their time apart melts away, its like spending time with some of your oldest friends with all the shared history, spontaneity, conflict and comfort that can afford. Hall bears the brunt of the narrative work as her character is the one around which much of the film's tension revolves, she plays the character with a veneer of confidence and ambition but ultimately with significant vulnerability with a great monologue towards the end. Latifah is compelling and effortless, as she always is although its great to see her in a role with some substantial screen time unlike some of her recent supporting credits. Pinkett Smith plays somewhat against type as the buttoned-up responsible mother of two which allows her(and us) to have a lot of fun as she gradually cuts loose. But the most delicious, the most ferocious, the most transcendent performance comes from Haddish who puts in an award winning turn as the aggressive, loyal, partying Peter Pan of the quartet. She broadcasts a contagious fun energy with heart and hilarity to spare. A break out turn.

There is tension in the film, problems to be solved both within the group and with each of them and those are all handled with balance that never sacrifices the group's kinship or the film's humor(which is prevalent and delightfully raunchy at times). Filming at the actual Essence Festival gives the film a kinetic atmosphere with the four leads watching actual concerts, navigating a crowded Bourbon St, and interacting with stars playing themselves. One of the greatest scenes is a dance off with a younger version of the group while the four are coming down of off Absinthe. The argument could be made that the film's third act diverges into sentiment but the reality is that it has a message, one that is potent and elevates and gives context and dimension to all the playfulness and camaraderie that has gone before it.

At times heartwarming, often uproarious, always captivating, the four excellent leads anchor the best comedy of the year.

Don't Miss It.

'Dunkirk' A Review

Dunkirk is a WWII film about the English and French evacuation of Dunkirk under the pressure of Nazi forces in 1940. The film is segmented into three interconnecting story lines titled 'The Mole' which follows British soldier Tommy's(Fionn Whitehead) attempts to escape the beach, 'The Sea' which follows Mr Dawson(Mark Rylance) a civilian mariner activated by British Navy to aid in the evacuation, and 'The Air' which follows Farrier(Tom Hardy) a Royal Air Force pilot. The three stories begin on alternate timelines and eventually converge.

Whitehead as the marginal lead is very good, reserved but present, which to be fair can be said of almost every performance in the film. Hardy is magnetic as he always is, regal and aloof but hinting at the weight of responsibility his position in the war lays on him. Rylance is so remote his performance doesn't really even register as one, it's comes across as simple recitation. Recently he's received significant praise but he is continually so distant he doesn't emote in any way, I would hesitate to call it acting at all. Other than Rylance's usual uncompelling lack of effort the cast is all interesting enough but that is more to do with how they are framed, the scenery in which they appear, and the score. Ultimately it doesn't seem as if they are asked to do much of anything.

Of course the cinematography is stunning. The aerial dog fights especially are breath taking. The score is incredible and potent. Nolan is an amazing filmmaker, one of the greatest if not the greatest of his generation, so the various production elements are, of course, immaculate. However. Watching the film you can't help but wonder why. Why this story, why now. And there doesn't seem to be much of an answer. The message, the point, seems to be a vague and half-hearted statement of solidarity and even drawing that conclusion is a bit of a stretch. With the resources at Nolan's disposal and given his filmography Dunkirk shows a startling lack of ambition. Nolan has craft to spare and this feels almost like an exercise. After the excellent and expansive Band Of Brothers continually mining WWII especially the aspects of it that focus on battle seems uninspired.

Visually captivating with a non-linear structure that holds the attention but fails to deliver anything beyond thrill.

Rent It.

Matthew

Who knew a toddler
could have such boundless energy
and thirst for play
legs constantly pumping
walking, climbing, crawling
arms continually thrumming
grasping, lifting, throwing
incessantly moving
unable to be still
like some small and endearing shark

Who knew speech and locomotion
could be so enthralling,
the kinesthetic evolution
of this little human
a true marvel
even his cries
of peese(please)
sheese(cheese)
posch(pouch)
and the timeless classics
Ma-Ma and Da-Da
inspire wonder.