'Kedi' A Review

Kedi is a documentary about street cats in Istanbul. The film follows half a dozen cats and interviews their respective human caretakers/friends. What emerges is, not surprisingly, cute but also offers a striking depiction of the connection humans and animals can have as well as paints a clear portrait of the personalities of the cats and highlights their cultural importance to the city.

The film is a combination of interviews, cityscapes, and shots tracking various cats on their various comings and goings. It, obviously, celebrates cats but it also functions as a love letter to Istanbul itself. We walk the harbor and winding streets with humans and cats alike getting a real feel for the city. Visually sharp and striking whats most impressive is the way the camera follows the cats, on their level, allowing us to see the world from their perspective. And yes the cats do adorable things but the film focuses more on what they mean to the people they interact with, the city in which they inhabit, and who they are individually. The film is sincere not a greeting card gimmick, its able to lightfully almost playfully get at some deeper truths about companionship, nature, life and loss without being over the top or melodramatic. Perfect balance of pleasing and provocative.

Affirming, meditative, and hopeful. What the lives of quasi-feral street cats can teach us about our own.

Don't Miss It.

Buying Donuts

(There is that thing
in every office
that perk,
that fringe benefit,
periodically people
bring in consumables
cookies, pastries, treats
soda, coffee, LaCroix
maybe even movie passes
[the kind you get from Costco
after a substantial purchase])

After passing by
Chicago's own
Glazed and Infused
every day
for two weeks
the desire
for fired dough
became irrefutable
and perhaps
using my office cohorts
as an excuse
I purchased a box full
of those breakfast treats
sharing them
so I could have one
guilt free.

'Get Out' A Review

Get Out is a horror/thriller with satirical elements about an African-American photographer Chris(Daniel Kaluuya) who goes with his Caucasian girlfriend, Rose(Allison Williams), to visit her family over a weekend. The film follows Chris as he's faced with the initial tone deaf pseudo liberal presentations and denigrations but the longer he stays the more insidious sinister their attitudes and actions become.

Kaluuya gives an incredible performance, strong, nuanced, and empathetic. As the protagonist and the audience stand in he allows us to experience this bizarre and frightening series of events as well as be let in on some of the subtle and overt, am-I-crazy-or, type situations that racism or more broadly race can evoke. The entire ensemble does well most notably Lil Rel Howery as Chris's best friend Rod who is hilarious, charming, and just plain watchable. He exudes a confidence onscreen which provokes comfort from us the audience, this is doubly effective given the tense nature of the plot which he is, mostly, a bystander of. Although having limited screen time Betty Gabriel as Georgina gives a good turn with one stunning knock-your-socks-off scene. Williams, Keener, Whitford, and completely unsubtle psycho Jones(as the brother Jeremy) all do well as the hosting family, they convey mystery and menace and do a great job building tension but they, justly, are not the focal point. Kaluuya carries the majority of the dramatic and narrative and he soars.

Filmed with richness and style writer/director Jordan Peele makes a powerhouse of a cinematic debut. A tight script builds pressure and momentum to the boiling point then resolves with eminent satisfaction. The score is evocative and the imagery is layered begging for repeated viewing. Constructed like a classic social horror but with humor and contemporary style and substance that put it above the artistic but narratively flat It Follows and the pleasing but campy The Guest it makes its mark with authority and originality. Contemporary horror has a new champion.

Thought provoking, thrilling, and fun.

Don't Miss It.

'The Great Wall' A Review

The Great Wall is a period fantasy set in the Song dynasty China. A group of European mercenaries are in China searching for gun powder and get picked off until the two remaining William(Matt Damon) and Pero(Pedro Pascal) are captured by the Nameless Order, a large military contingent manning the Great Wall. During their interrogation by Commander Lin Mae(Jing Tian) the wall is attacked by a horde of Tao Tei, large monster-lizards which attempt to invade every 60 years. William and Pero are conflicted, they can either follow their greed or join the Nameless Order in their fight for the greater good.

Damon gives a bizarre uneven performance, shifting questionable accents a couple times per scenes, is he Irish, English, Scottish, also what year is it? He's tonally kind of all over the map, sincere to jocular to reserved martyrdom all inauthentically. Pascal fairs a bit better but the camaraderie and humor of his and Damon's relationship seems out of place in the film. Tian, the Chinese strategist played by Andy Lau, and the other military commanders all fair better seeming to fit appropriately within the story.

The visuals are the real star of the film- rich, grand, and vibrant. Each regiment decked out in striking colorful armor with medieval battlescapes a plenty. The monster-lizards are a bit derivative, Avatar-esk, but competently done and scary. Other than the decadent optics what is striking isn't the story exactly more the theme, the personification and celebration of collective Chinese identity in service of duty, honor, and personal sacrifice. This, ultimately, is what the changes the Damon character and, seemingly, is what the film is about.

Luscious and sprawling CGI, an interesting message, a somewhat goofy narrative.

Rent It.

Ode To Luke G.

It's been almost 15 years
since your fatal date
with Spring Creek Rd.
and you've never strayed
too far from my mind.

I didn't attend your funeral
and sometimes I regret that choice
instead I sang the first song
I ever wrote
at a collegiate open mic
thinking that a fairer tribute
than public grief
for you inspired me
more than you ever knew.

In our high school
creative writing class
you wrote a poem
about my notebook cover
at the time
a collage of xeroxed
LIFE magazine photos
and snap shots
from a family trip to AZ
and it was good
the best poem
to come out of that class
but more important,
more shocking,
it was cool.

More than Dickinson, Kerouac, or O'Hara
you made poetry cool.
You gave me permission to write,
devoid of fear or judgement.
Yes, I remember you as a great teammate-
your green and yellow cleats,
we called you Green Lightening.
Yes, you were a unique friend, funny and loyal
but also honest even biting.
But you, more than anyone, gave me poetry.

You live in every poem I write.
This one, perhaps, more than others.

Selling Out

The thing about making visual art
is you need rich people to buy it
and rich people kinda suck
and don't know anything about art.

That rich lady with the martini
almost fell on the potters wheel
while Claire was giving a demo
I bet martini lady makes 200K a year.

I'm glad I do free comedy.

'The Lego Batman Movie' A Review

The Lego Batman Movie is an animated superhero parody film, the next installment in the Lego franchise after The Lego Movie although not a direct sequel per say. Batman(Will Arnett) continues to fight crime in Gotham City full of confidence and self importance and after thwarting the Joker's(Zach Galifianakis) latest plot he hurts his arch enemies feeling by telling him he means nothing to him causing the Joker to seek revenge. Batman teams up with the new police commissioner Barbra Gordon(Rosario Dawson), his negligently adopted son Robin(Michael Cera), and his ever patient butler Alfred(Ralph Fiennes) to thwart the Joker and maybe learn something.

Arnett doubles down on his original turn as the Batman recapturing the know-it-all-obliviousness but also bringing a some heart, giving the titular character tons of humor and enough of a range to avoid the pitfall of repetition. The supporting cast all do well channeling a kind of manic humor and advocating a goofy fellowship however the humor is seemingly more important than the story or message so, although very funny, the performances are somewhat rote.

Visually the film is stupendous, vibrant colors and imaginative landscapes, vehicles, and characters. Within the confines of the Lego framework the film feels almost more imaginative, more evocative than conventional animation. The animators are more creative because of the restraints. The music is catchy and virtually constant but there is no break out hit and no actually complete songs, only spinets, which is a bit of a disappointment.

Hilarious and eye-popping but more a collage of references and jokes stitched together into a plot rather than an actual story.

Rent It.

PA Hiking

Today Heather and I went hiking first At Boyd Big Tree Preserve.

Beautiful but would have a bit more variance when there's leaves on the trees.

Then we went to Pine Grove Furnace State Park. Heather on top of the mountain we climbed. Maybe its technically a hill but it was a demanding hike either way.

There were lots of people on the trails. Gorgeous weather but kind of disturbing given its the middle of February.

We're going to Lego Batman tonight and then I'm headed back home. A great visit with an old friend.

Harrisburg

I'm visiting one of my oldest friends Heather in Harrisburg, PA this weekend. She moved here about two years back and I've been remiss in checking out her new city. This morning we went to The Broad Street Market for breakfast, one of the oldest continuous farmers markets in the country, then went across the street to Midtown Schloar a huge new/used bookstore.

In the afternoon we went for a walk along the Susquehanna river which kind of runs through the center/along the edge of Harrisburg.

Capitol Building.

It was 3rd In The Burg this evening, the monthly city wide art walk, so we walked around and popped into a couple coffee shops and art galleries. Pretty cool!

Breakfast

The woman was flustered by how many donuts she'd sold
 she said
"I have these plain ones, they're fresh and warm."
 I said
"I'll have a warm fresh plain one please."
She laughed,
I think still reeling from the rush
which had emptied out her case.
She put the donut on a piece of wax paper in front of me
 and said
"Eat it right now. While it's warm."
So I did.

Sweet Potatoes - A Recipe

First poke holes
then bake
at 400°
until soft
(like mushy)
cut in half
squeeze out meat
add butter
salt and pepper
(obvi)
cinnamon
and honey
if the mood strikes

'John Wick: Chapter 2' A Review

John Wick: Chapter 2 is an action thriller, the sequel to the 2014 original. The film picks up almost immediately after the first installment. Having avenged his dog assassin/boogeyman John Wick(Keanu Reeves) goes to retrieve his stolen car mowing through would-be adversaries. Task completed he attempts to resume his retirement from "the life" however Italian crime boss Santino D’Antonio(Riccardo Scamarcio) calls in a blood debt and forces Wick back into action. Consequences ensue and bodies pile up as Wick does what he does best.

Reeves performances in the last couple years seem particularly unfettered. He is always charming and his action abilities have only become more precise and engaging, but he seems to no longer be bound by strict realism, there is an impressionistic quality to a number of his more recent roles. Less serious, louder, and more fun. And as John Wick he has particularly struck a cord with this new mode of performance. Both menacing and gleeful. The world taken together hints at an underworld mythology which gives all the performances this more-than real quality. Most of the cast is returning, all pleasing, with the notable and diverting new addition of Laurence Fishburne as a crime boss The Bowery King.

This installment expands and solidifies the John Wick universe and doubles down on the action. The fight choreography is incredibly precise and intense, the action sequences elaborate with a striking clarity. Taken together it's quite incredible. The only way Chapter 2 falls short of the original is emotional. Without the clear catalyst of the first installment the motivations of the sequel are somewhat muddled asking Reeves to not only fight and shoot his way out of certain death but also emote, a bit of a tall order.

Impressive world building, stunning action, somewhat lacking in why.

Rent It.

'The Founder' A Review

The Founder is a biographical drama about Ray Kroc the man credited with creating the McDonald's fast food chain. Ray(Michael Keaton) is a Chicago based travelling salesman selling multi-spigot milkshake mixers, he has a comfortable life but is on the road constantly and yearns for more. He gets an order for an unprecedented number of mixers for one store which prompts him to visit. McDonald's is a very popular walk-up restaurant with quality food, fast service, and disposable packaging. Ray, being well versed in the pitfalls of drive-ins, is stunned by the slick and successful model, he meets with the brothers who created it Dick McDonald(Nick Offerman) and Mac McDonald(John Carroll Lynch) and they strike up a deal for Ray to begin franchising.

Keaton gives a compelling layered performance as the charming yet morally suspect Kroc. We empathize with his struggle but we don't quite condone his methods. Both Offerman and Lynch are the real hearts of the film, you clearly understand their aspirations and pain and are just as impressed as Kroc by their innovation. Laura Dern as Kroc's wife isn't given much to do and the marriage storyline seems to be an afterthought, a real shame given Dern's ability. The supporting cast is stacked with incredible talent but it is Keaton who, rightfully, dominates the film. In his late career renaissance Keaton puts in his most dynamic performance to date.

Visually the film is serviceable, the score unobtrusive and effective up to a point. The real highlight of the production is the costume and set design. The film successfully evokes the past with interest and a little mystery but avoids cliche and the archaic humor some period pieces unintentionally evoke.

Wonderfully acted, a story that highlights cutthroat economics as, perhaps, the American Dream.

Rent It.

I Miss The School Bus

Yes,
it was a pain to get up before the sun
and trudge out to the street corner
where me and my fellow lethargic students
gathered to begin our cross-town school-trek,

But that mobile corridor
with the uniform brown upholstered seats
was always warm and mostly safe
save for those times when some delinquent
would light fires in the way way back
or provoke the mostly docile bus driver.

We trundled along,
lulled by rhythmic blasts of hot air in winter
sparing breezes from cracked windows in summer
and the constant jostling from the overused shocks,
content and mostly quiet with our whispered preteen scheming.

It was a floating island in-between
a safe harbor, home base, a steady place
where all was changeless waiting
accompanied by Top 40 hits
like some prepubescent Brigadoon.

Adulthood can be weighty
and looking back
youth, although torrid
was mostly simple.

'A Dog's Purpose' A Review

A Dog's Purpose is a family dramedy about the various incarnations of a dog's soul. The dog is the companion of a small town boy, part of a CPD K9 unit, a lap dog for a lonely women, a forgotten accessory in a red neck couples back yard among others. In each life the dog(voiced by Josh Gad) attempts to discern the purpose of life while having as much fun as possible.

The supporting human cast as the various dog owners- Dennis Quaid/K. J. Apa/Bryce Gheisar all as Ethan at various ages, John Ortiz, and Kirby Howell-Baptiste- are all wonderful with great chemistry with their canine counter parts. Although potentially sickly sweet there is never any winking at the camera or cliche, the actors are both funny and sincere. The dogs, of course, are the real stars and what comes across is not only that they're well trained but that they are incredibly emotive. The dog actor human actor parings are all rife with possible pitfalls but they manage to hit both humor and the heartstrings in a perfect balance.

The story seems on the surface to be family friendly fluff but remarkably portrays some of the suffering dogs have to endure in various situations as well as the satisfaction that can be found in human companionship. This duality, and the seriousness which the film delves into both the dark and the sweet, elevate this seemingly pedestrian dog film to something much more moving and entertaining, dare I say sophisticated, than what it at first appears to be.

A shockingly effecting and enjoyable film about the small(or perhaps cosmic) role pets play in our lives.

See It.

Fishbowl Two Year Anniversary

The team I perform with at the Annoyance, Sight Unseen, has been hosting the student jam show The Fishbowl for two years this week. The team formed about six months before we started The Fishbowl and its been a great experience. At first we didn't have a form persay, and like any new team the first couple shows were relatively scattershot, but over time we developed a style which uses loose narratives to showcase strong emotion and flawed(sometimes pathetic, sometimes apoplectic) characters.

In some ways two years does and doesn't feel like a long time. The show serves, not only as straight up fun, but as a marker of time. An engaging constant. All of us were talented and experienced before we started the team but it has allowed us to grow in a more experimental and perhaps sophisticated ways. One of the reasons is that we have had total control over the show. Jimmy or Mary Beth typically hosts, I do the lights, we book the vets that play with the students, its our space for that chunk of time. And with that ownership comes substantial comfort and freedom. The audiences aren't always full but we've only cancelled two shows over the course of two years which isn't too bad. It's our thing and although not a smash hit it is a success.

With how fast the world can move and with how busy people can be its nice to have the show to help stay connected. I know, for the most part, I'm going to see the team at least once a week. And that constant, that routine allows for a friendship and ease that make the time we have together valuable and the improv we do engaging.

Top 5 Movies of 2016

Top 5:
Arrival
Christine
Hunt For The Wilderpeople
The Lobster
Moonlight

Top 5 Documentaries:
13th
Cameraperson
Dark Horse
The Eagle Huntress
Tower

Honorable Mentions:
Hell Or High Water
Midnight Special
Mr. Right
Paterson
Zootopia

Top 5 Disappointments:
Don't Think Twice
High Rise
The Light Between Oceans
Passengers
The Witch

Most Underrated:
Ghostbusters

Most Overrated:
La La Land

Worst Movie Of The Year:
Everybody Wants Some!!

Performances Of The Year:
Kate Beckinsale, Love & Friendship
Colin Farrell, The Lobster
Sally Fields, Hello My Name Is Doris
Rebecca Hall, Christine
Alex Hibbert/Ashton Sanders/Trevante Rhodes as Chiron, Moonlight

Scenes Of The Year:
Overpass dance, The Fits
Two Guns Holtzman, Ghostbusters
"Would that it were so simple", Hail, Cesar!
Bathroom speech, Hidden Figures
Father & son car ride, Morris From America