Groh Show with Danny Groh #4

Daniel and I take a question from the listeners, talk about 'The Grey', and find out what Danny would do with his own island.

Call Of The Riled: Puppets

Call Of The Riled, my sketch show, closed yesterday. This is a sketch I wrote called 'Puppets'. This was from one of our shows back in December, early in the run. Reflections to follow.

'Ghost Rider: Spirit Of Vengeance' A Review

'Ghost Rider: Spirit Of Vengeance' is a campy, fun, action movie. Ghost Rider is back and he has to save a little boy before he's turned into the Antichrist. Cage reprises his role and takes a little more joy with it this time. You can tell he relishes the scenes where the Rider is trying to claw its way out. This time around his performance is a lot more manic and uninhibited. Cage unleashed.

There's not much to the movie. The Rider is brought out of exile to save the world by stopping the devil from possessing this little boy. After the set up, the rest of the film is just getting to that final confrontation. The action is great, Nicholas Cage is a nut and totally watchable. The dialogue is kind of corny at parts but the story is clear and moves along at a good pace. Some of the exposition is done by narrated animation which is cool and adds a nice variety to the film. Cult hero Christopher Lambert makes an appearance.

The film is all frosting and no cake. But who doesn't like eating frosting out of the can every once in a while?

See It.

Don't Make A Time Machine

A while ago Julia and I had a show where the suggestion was 'Camera Phone'. We started this story of a couple who took some naughty pics on their phone and then didn't delete them. As the piece progressed the photo's were released at Diane's office. Julia playing Diane was about to deal with the shame of this happening. I could have cut to being her spouse (who inadvertently released the photos) and dealt with it realistically. The shame, the betrayal. I should have but I didn't. I cut to her boss who had invented a time machine which she could use to make it all better. That's what time machines do, right? I bailed. I went to the easy, to the safe, to the improv deus ex machina. The time machine. Of course after I made that move it didn't really work and we couldn't actually 'fix' everything anyway. The show overall was ok. Julia was great. I felt like at that moment I was afraid. I blanked. I biffed. I pulled the string on the parachute.

TIME MACHINE.

Don't make a time machine. It's not going to solve anything. You're not going to be able to seamlessly recreate your show in reverse. Creating a situation that you're not willing to follow to completion or face, is weak. If you feel that fear, follow it. Don't turn your back to it. That's where the scene should go. That's what people want to see.

Follow the fear.

The Worst Book I've Ever Read

The Marbled Swarm is the worst book I have ever read.

Matt gave the book to me for Christmas. He picked it up from some up-and-coming fiction list. I was so happy to get the gift and I appreciate it very much. My opinion is nothing against Matt. Matt, I love you. But this was the worst thing I've ever read.

The Marbled Swarm is a first person sadomasochistic-homoerotic-incestuous-cannibalistic narrative that calls itself a novel. The narrator speaks in 'the marbled swarm' which is a certain effected way of communicating that is vague, aristocratic, and never fully describes anything. The narrative follows the main character through undefined scenes through an undefined time line. It jumps through time so freely and describes the action so ambiguously it's never clear what the story is about. There are no real characters, there is no real story, nothing happens.

And the sex stuff. Woof. Incest between underage brothers. Male homosexual rape, then murder, then cannibalism. On and on. Just hard to take. It's a very short book. I was half way through it before I realized it wasn't about anything and things it were about were horrifying. It's written in such a heightened, sophisticated, psychotic way. It's only a story because it says it is. It's not prose, it's not poetry. It's inappropriate, boring, ramblings.

I finished it through force of will so I could speak about it fully if I ever had the fortune to meet someone who actually enjoyed it. After I finished it I thought back trying to think of a book that I liked less. I couldn't. I can now answer the question. Whats the worst book you ever read? For that I'm glad. Question answered.

Don't read this book.

Street Talk 5

(walking to the train)

Girl#1: I fucking love Qdoba.

Girl#2: I've never eaten there.

Girl#1: It's so much better than ummm whats-its-name.

Girl#2: Chipotle. aren't they, like, the same?

Girl#1: Oh no. Qdoba's got options. They have quesadillas or queso or whatever.

Girl#2: I haven't been to either.

Girl#1: Girl. In college that was like the big Saturday afternoon decision at the house. Qdoba or Chipotle. I always voted Qdoba.

Girl#2: (pause) Is Potbelly's OK?

Graffiti 53

Photo credit to Molly Jones

"Feet, what do I need you for when I have wings."-Frida

Recently I've dreamt and thought of butterflies. I don't know why, I don't have a particular interest in them, they've just crept into my psyche. In our last Salute Jive show I was a man who turned into a thousand little butterflies. I imagine maybe I feel the need to transform. Or maybe I'm just ready for winter to be over and butterflies remind me of spring.

'Coriolanus' A Review

'Coriolanus' based on the Shakespeare history 'Coriolanus' takes place in a modern European city called 'Rome'. It follows Ralph Fiennes on his military and political journey. He battles another nation as well as the mounting unrest of the Roman populace. Fiennes rage and single mindedness is mesmerising to watch although I was distracted at times by his odd walk. The film has a great cast that brings to life one of Shakespeare's more obscure works. It also draws some interesting parallels to modern day although those connections are all on you to make. You have to be in the right mood to enjoy it but if you are.

See It.

A Dam and A Girl

Julia and I on super bowl Sunday. A dam tells his daughter about love.

Salute Jive has a run on Thursdays at the Skybox you should come and see.

Feel free to comment on past, present, and future posts.

Groh Show with Danny Groh #3

For our third episode Danny tells us about dancing, we have another installment of Groh-itry, Danny takes a compatibility quiz and there's a special guest!

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Photo credit to Matt Newman, Richmond, VA

"Who's Steve?"

I booked my flight to Richmond.

Signs from the universe.

Light And Dark

A light at night.

Snow's delight.

'The Grey' A Review

'The Grey' is a film about a group of oil drillers whose plane crashes in the Alaskan wilderness. They are hunted by a pack of wolves as they try to return to civilization. The movie follows their survival. 'The Grey' seems to me like a remake of the 1997 movie 'The Edge'. The Grey doesn't have a lot of character development and doesn't actually make a lot of sense. The film implies that there is a bigger question or a bigger comment behind the film but it is never clear what that is. The film dances around ideas of life, death, futility, survival, human vs. animal instincts but never develops any of those threads.

The ending is up to your interpretation. Depending on what you like you may love it. If you are interested in something clear and definitive this movie is not for you.

Rent It.

Dark Was The Night, Cold Was The Ground

I've been feeling a little funky lately. Too busy, spread too thin, worn out. This song always makes me feel better, puts things in perspective. Today I realized.

This is my favorite song.

When 'O Brother Where Art Thou?' came out I was obsessed with the soundtrack. I found some weird UK release which was a companion to the soundtrack called 'O Brother: The Story Continues'. It had a bunch of music from the 30's on it. I loved it all but 'Dark Was The Night, Cold Was The Ground' has been in my mind ever since.

" ...I agreed that what really matters is what you like, not what you are like... Books, records, films - these things matter." John Cusack, High Fidelity

The Badlands

The Badlands is my favorite place I've ever been. I've been there twice and I feel like its calling to me again. I think certain places have a power about them. A magnitude.

That draws you in.

I need to go.

To get out.

Groh Show with Danny Groh #2

For our second episode Daniel and I talk to Danny about football, fights, the mafia, and more.

Graffiti 51

Anthony Abbate is the CPD officer convicted of aggravated battery for the beating of a female bartender while off duty.

I can't disagree with the sentiment. Eye for an eye.

A Fable About Image

There once was a heron that lived by a lake.
Every morning the heron would wake up and wade in the beach shallows.
Staring at its reflection.
All day the heron would admire the light gliding along its feathers.
At dusk the heron would fish.
Eating as much as it could.
The more fish it ate the brighter its plumage became.
This made the heron happy.
At night the heron would rest its beak underneath its wing and sleep.
This was the herons life. Staring and fishing and sleeping.
The heron had no desire to search for a mate.
The heron had no desire to interact with other creatures.
The heron loved himself and that was all he needed.
The eagle, the crow, the duck, and the loon took offense to the heron's loftiness.
He thinks he's so special. He thinks he's so superior. They thought.

One day a hunter crept through the woods towards the lake.

The eagle and the crow saw the hunter coming and warned the duck and the loon.

They did not warn the heron.

The heron was admiring himself when he was shot.

The heron forgot you see,

There is more than just me.

Bus Trap

From the Rick show Friday. Pants gets caught on a bus. A dangerous bus.

'Chronicle' A Review

'Chronicle' is about a troubled kid who starts to film his life. It's a 'found footage' film like Blair Witch. Andrew has a troubled home life and his only real acquaintance is his cousin Matt. Matt convinces Andrew to go to a party. During the party Matt and Steve, the charismatic class president, find a cave. Andrew, Matt, and Steve discover a glowing object which changes them.

The boys discover they can move things with their minds. What follows is a fun close friendship made all the more special because Andrew has never had friends or had anything special about him. The more the boys use their power the greater it becomes. Andrew's home life effects his mental state and the film takes a dark turn.

Every year or so the film industry tries to produce a film like this: Jumper, Push, I Am Number 4 etc. This year they finally made a good one. The chemistry between the actors, the effects, and the story all come together for a cohesive ride. The ending is a little drawn out but other than that.

See It.

Jamison Talks Guy Fieri

I asked Jamison for 30 seconds on Guy Fieri without disclosing my feeling on him. I actually like him. My parents and I have spent many an evening bonding over 'Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives'.

Has Stephen King Gone Soft?

(over coffee)
Chloe: Steve. Have you read it.
Me: Um...oh yeah 11/22/63. What'd you think?
Chloe: It's great right?
Me: For sure. I loved it. All the stuff in Derry. And in that town where he falls in love.
Chloe: The kid Steve! That play, I was in tears.
Me: His love interest-
Chloe: The broom Steve. The broom in the bed.
Me: Did you notice those kids from 'IT'?
Chloe: No. Who...
Me: Those kids he meets who are swing dancing.
Chloe: Ooo this is good Steve. After I finished it my roommate randomly asked me if I wanted to take a swing dance class.
Me: 19. What did you think of the end?
Chloe: Um. I liked it. It was good.
Me: I feel like there was too much of a bow on it. I think Stephen has gone a little soft. I wanted...I wanted a punch in the gut at the end. Like the guy messed up the world. We'll never bee the same. The end.
Chloe: Did you read the end where he's like "thanks to my son Joe for the perfect ending."
Me: Yeah. He's a proud father. But he's lost some edge.
Chloe: Everyone has their broom.