HER, HIM AND HIM AND THEM-THE WEEKENDER

JOEL,ETHAN AND SPIKE

a range of artistry

MEDITATIONS ON HER

    A well read, sophisticated, professional woman who is a friend said she wanted to walk out of this film, so I went in with guarded expectations, despite the critical acclaim.  I had the opposite reaction and understand why director Spike Jonez won the Golden Globe and why the film has been nominated for film of the year.

   HER pushes boundaries and is fresh and original in many ways. It is about a lot more than the curious storyline. Jonez's work is a marvelous study into the nature and life-cycle of relationships. It is a fascinating speculation on a likely outcome of our increasingly technological and communication driven culture. HER is a mirror to how we look and behave since we have become obsessed or addicted to our phones. It is a poignant reminder of how lonely we can become, even amidst a world seemingly bound together by the Internet. We see how we can be alone in our connectedness. It lampoons the intimate chats and sexual experiences of those who so engage via phone or computer.  It also raises some marvelous science fiction speculations about intuitive artificial intelligence and the rise of crowd sourcing and ponders a great what if.  

    Joaquin Phoenix is masterful in playing a heart broken, lonely citizen in an increasingly impersonal world where actual human contact is limited. And it was this prospect where Jonez engages in good sociology. 

    Amy Adams once again demonstrates her versatility.  And it seems no mystery why the Phoenix character fell in love with the voice of Samantha, his operating system.  Scarlett Johansson is seductive even without being seen. 

    The scenic design, cinematography and feel of the film emphasize how the brave new world can be a lonely place. This is a film that will seem foreign, distant and even contrived to some. But for others it seems to hit on several themes that will make you want to upgrade your own personal operating system.

A DOSE OF COEN

  The Coen brothers make films that you either enjoy or consider a waste of your time and money. I'm in the enjoy category, though in varying stages. Often I like the way they do the film-the actors, the shooting and editing, music direction, sense of vision-more than I like the story. Not that they don't spin imaginative stories, but I wonder about what if they tried to do cinema with a purpose, other than as a kind of grand gag, yarn, or put on. They entertain, they tell rich stories, but at the end of the day I often question if there was any "nutritional value?"  This is not to discredit their obvious talent, skill and mastery of the craft. And perhaps all we should expect is only an entertainment, well done.  But these guys are so good what if they did a film with soul, or a philosophic or political point or axe to grind? 
     In this comparison today, I think of how Jonez moved the goal line a bit. As good as Inside Llewyn Davis is, as nuanced, as musically rich, as well acted, it is at most the portrait of a fictional folk singer and a snap shot of the Village music scene on the cusp of Bob Dylan's arrival. Maybe there is an underlying examination of the tortured soul of a poet or a mash up on commercialism vs. artistry, but that is pretty thin.
    Oscar Issac is an incredible talent and discovery.  John Goodman, Justin Timberlake, Carey Mulligan, Pappi Corsicato, Garrett Hedlund and for that matter all of the supporting cast are superb. The music, under the supervision of T-Bone Burnett is worth the price of admission alone. The Coens are that way, they do all of the little and big things right and they deliver a film excellence. And they always give it that Coen twist, or a turn into darkness or despair, or depression though admittedly in entertaining ways.  
    I don't know that it will ever happen, but I'd like to see how the brothers could do with something in a different emotional timbre or with a story that means something.

    Don't you love neighborhood Italian restaurants with white table clothes and lace curtains?

AN ELEPHANT SEAL'S LIFE

   We are deep into birthing season in the Elephant Seal colony at Piedras Blancas, north of Cambria. Another 2-4 weeks of birthing and then mating season begins, just in time for Valentines day.

WATCH THE SAND TOSS AND HEAR THE SOUND

    See you down the trail.

ABOUT A WOMAN AND WOMEN

HE SPOKE WISDOM

     Pay attention to the women in your life. Treat them with kindness, tenderness and affection. That in essence was an early lesson from my father.  He is the man who always made a point of kissing my mom when he returned home from a day at work, and always before leaving.  Not just a peck, a real kiss. There were times in my life when I was embarrassed by it.  I grew out of that.

     He was always quick to compliment my mother on her appearance, the meal she had prepared or something she may have said or done in a group or professional setting. He always had a good word for his mother or her sisters, all of whom were English, properly presented and sticklers on good manners.

     So now I brag for a moment about Lana, who's art and gardening have been the subject of previous posts.  This is a more seasonal praise.  She has been baking bread for some 40 years and in that time has become a true master.  But this holiday time of the year, she hears an even different call.

A BUSY KITCHEN

     Here is a representative sample of her efforts a couple of days ago.  There was more of everything, but these were captured before they too were boxed or gift wrapped. Biscotti, cranberry bread and oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. Nice to look at, but even better to taste. An incredible output you may think?  Well, on this day she also baked her regular bread and made pasta! 
     There are also chocolate covered orange peels, spicy almonds and sugared pecans, come to life on a different day.
     It is amazing that in all the effort, and there is a lot involved, she is humming or singing and operates with the efficiency a finely tuned factory. I get tired simply watching her, but she moves like an athlete.  I do my part my sampling.  And there is a later shoulder massage, well earned.

REEL THOUGHTS

     American Hustle is a brilliant film adventure and it is no wonder it's gotten a lot of buzz.  The acting is the brilliance! 

     It is a "somewhat truthful" retelling of an odd moment in American history, ABSCAM, thus a good story. It is well directed by David Russell and made entertaining by its capture of time by wardrobe and bad haircuts and amusing. But the acting sells the deal.

      Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper, Jeremy Renner are all-have I used the word-BRILLIANT. Louis CK is perfect in his supporting role and Robert DeNiro turns in a short but stunningly haunting role.

      This is a fun and captivating entertainment and I suspect you'll leave the theater talking about how good the cast was. 
       If you are interested in such facts, Amy Adams and Jennifer Lawrence are dazzling beauties. I notice these things. Again it goes back to my dad, who while always an English gentleman-he was raised that way-truly enjoyed the company of women and they were comfortable with him.
      He was chivalrous and sensitive. My memory is somewhat hazy, but it was fortified by mom's recounting. When I was a wee one, dad taught me how to wink, using the women of his office as my training partners.  Never a full wink, like a blink.  No, as he was in teaching me basketball skills, he was specific.  A real wink needs to be subtle, a gentle motion to be seen only by the recipient. 
       As I recall a wink toward a blond coed led to something that more than 40 years later leaves me with a partner I gladly kiss on arriving and departing. And who does things in the kitchen for which there are not enough compliments.
      Maybe you are shopping for a new year's resolution-pay attention-work on your wink and as Otis Redding sang "Try a little tenderness...."
      See you down the trail 
      
     

THE WEEKENDER-VISUALS

VISUALIZING

     THE WEEKENDER provides a few minutes of visual diversion for your weekend enjoyment.

Lonely Tree

     This caught my eye as I drove past a parking lot where they kept a narrow wedge of grass tipped off by a lone palm.  How are decisions like that made?

SPEAKING OF DRIVING
Here's a five minute excursion into driving
in the Sierra. You can find more polished and refined
videos, but this gives you a sense of the extraordinary
and expansive views available on the eastern slope.
 In a puff of self aggrandizement you may wish to pay attention to the "score."

REEL NOTES

for real

ARGO
Ben Affleck directed a riveting and suspenseful film, borrowed from an historic moment of success by a CIA clandestine operation during the Iran Hostage Crisis.
ARGO is  superbly entertaining and leaves you with a sense of fulfillment and success.  The acting is great, all around.
The attention to historic detail, especially in the casting match up is also great. I suspect this film will do well at the box office.  It is also one of those rare moments when
a member of the Intelligence Community is singled out for a victory, and that happened only because Bill Clinton declassified the operation during his administration.
This is a thoroughly enjoyable film. Oh yea-the 
short roles of John Goodman and Alan Arkin are
worth the price of admission alone!  But there is 
so much good about this film!
THE MASTER
I've told a few friends this is not a great film-too long-plodding-the script is lacking, including a sense of direction,
BUT it is worth seeing because of the acting.  This is especially true of Joaquin Phoenix's performance.  It is masterful, full of nuance and a kind of internal contortion and pain that powers his every moment on the screen. It is one of the most brilliant acting performances I've seen.
Phillip Seymour Hoffman is extraordinarily competent in his role as science fiction writer who becomes a cult leader.
Amy Adams as the highly wired wife is good as is Laura Dern and so are all of the supporting cast.  It's a decent introspection into a cult though it is the acting that makes it a worthwhile view.
Phoenix especially is to be commended for his memorable work.
See something this weekend that moves you.
See you down the trail.