LIGHTS AT THE CASTLE and BETWEEN TAKES ON THE TODAY SHOW-BACK THEN

YULE NIGHTS

 We had the good fortune of an invitation to see the Christmas decorations at San Simeon, the Hearst Castle.

   It is a visual blitz of texture, detail and history.

 Halls are decked.

 The juxtaposition of the tapestries hint at multi dimensional story lines.

 The kitchen is a world unto itself.

  It was a windy and foggy night on the mountain as we moved around the massive grounds.

   

A visit to the indoor pool, beneath the tennis courts, 
before our drive down the mountain to reality.

Some nights as I stand gazing at the deep star field arching from the coastal mountains to the wide sea it's easy to imagine that six miles up the Pacific coast the Hearst Castle is a door to another world. Crossing the threshold is magical.

THROWBACK 

JANE PAULEY & TOM

   The Today Show broadcast live from Indianapolis in the mid '80s.  As the local NBC affiliate anchor we did live reports around the NBC Today Show live telecast.  During a break Jane Pauley and I chat.  We were friends from her pre television days in Indianapolis.  We shared a high school speech and debate instructor as well.  Jane remains one of the most authentic people who have achieved great celebrity. 

HUNGERING FOR MORE?

    The Hunger Games Mocking Jay is not as good as the first two films in what has now become a franchise. Jennifer Lawrence is still exceptional as is Donald Sutherland as the contemptible character President Snow. Julianne Moore was especially good in this installment. Woody Harrelson, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Elizabeth Banks continue in their well portrayed character roles. Same for Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth. Acting is not the issue, it is the thinning of impact and weakening of integrity that happens when a good idea gets overplayed.  

    Hunger Games was always about being a commercial success, but the narrative theme and social comment woven into the dystopian drama had more impact in the first book and films. Now it is beginning to feel like serial and as good as she is, we know Lawrence is capable of more than the script is giving her.

    Still, there are moments. The frightening politics of a too powerful state, of huge economic gaps, of surrendered liberties and a manipulative media are still vivid. I also thought of Syria, Iraq and Libya when viewing the affect of war on communities.  

    It's time to resolve this conflict, for liberty and justice to prevail and for Donald Sutherland/President Snow to get his smug face and well coiffed beard stomped in the muck, at least. On further consideration, it may be those widening economic divisions that undergirds the sense of justice that flys with the Mocking Jay.

   See you down the trail.

GOOD IS GOOD-GREAT IS BETTER and A THROWBACK

ENTERTAINED

AMUSED

MOVED

     "I just love films. I have since I was a kid," my friend Troy says sitting on a shaded park bench, near the theatre he and Syrie had departed while Lana and I are on the way to the box office, our third time in three days.  Yea, we love films too.

        A MOST WANTED MAN

     A masterful John le Carre' intrigue populated by a great cast including another brilliant Phillip Seymour Hoffman portrayal. I mourned this great actor's tragic death seeing him embody the wizened soul of Gunther Bachman, a German counter terrorism spy running the snares of life including bone headed politicians and their sycophants. Hoffman seamlessly weaves a character into life. He gets first class cooperation from Rachel McAdams, Willem Dafoe, Robin Wright and Grigori Dobrygin. The excellent Daniel Bruhl (RUSH, THE FIFTH ESTATE) shines in a supporting role. Wright's performance as a CIA executive is so good you may end up wishing her a bad outcome. 
      Director Anton Corbijn and screenwriter Andrew Bovell do le Carre' and this great cast a great service. A MOST WANTED MAN is entertaining, with more than a hint of truth.  As an old spy quoted to me-"There's a lot of fiction in truth and a lot of truth in fiction."

I WISH I WAS HERE

     Lana and I consider this a great film.  Zach Braff, who gave us Garden State, ups his skill as director, writer and star in this smart, funny, challenging and moving cinema art.

       Braff is a clever actor and his co-stars were incredible. Kate Hudson and Mandy Patinkin create roles that will stay with you.  Patinkin as the aging patriarch, and Hudson as Braff's long suffering and supportive wife. Pierce Gagnon is a cute son and Josh Gad as the genius ner-do-well brother displays his great comedic chops as awarded in his Broadway work the Book of Mormon. Young Joey King as daughter Grace can break your heart with just a look. She stole several scenes, and you'll see why.

       Some scenes are indelible; Patinkin in a couple of moments not to be disclosed so as to not spoil the plot,  Hudson and Braff's interaction by a washing machine as a couple "rediscovering" each other. Hudson is brilliant here.  And there are precious moments with Braff with his running interior dialogue.

       Beside the obvious story line and full screen entertainment there is the lasting truth of coming to understand limits to dreams. It can be tough to come to a realization about goals for a life.  As Braff says "We can't all be the super heroes, some of us are the ones who need to be rescued."

       This is another important work from a superbly talented story teller.

AND SO IT GOES

     Rob Reiner is another great director and I consider this film as his tribute to a 1940's era romantic comedy, coupled by in this case two Academy Award winners who you just enjoy watching.
       Michael Douglas and Diane Keaton could read letters to the editor and light up the screen.  Douglas as a cranky realtor, living next to a fragile and frequently tearful lounge singer Keaton set up plenty of light, though still probing moments that are well crafted by Reiner's talent as a director and humorist.  Reiner himself dons a terrible toupee and makes a supporting appearance as Artie the always smiling but somewhat hapless piano player.
       Cute is an appropriate description. There is nothing ponderous, but there are nice reflections on family, forgiveness, finding romance later in life and getting past grief. This is a feel good, date night type film.  And during this summer season Reiner's stunning visual treatment of Connecticut lake country feels like a vacation.

LAUNCHING IMAGINATIONS

      Memories of this visit to the shore will last while.

FILLING THE BAY

    Smooth sailing on this side of Morro Rock, inside the bay.

THROWING IT IN THROWBACK

   It may have been a few years ago, but once I had a vertical leap! The arms, hand and wrist tell you I have just let go with an outside jump shot.  I'm thinking, "nothing but net!"  Where did that slender hot shot go?  Well, it was 1964.

   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.