WHISPERS, CAKE, PRETTY YOUNG WOMEN IN SWIMSUITS

DEPENDS ON HOW YOU LOOK AT IT

   A promise of what?

   What is this?  See it in context below.

  An afternoon whisper, excluding one? 

  The partner pictures follow below, but first

SLICING CAKE

    There's a lot about Cake that is improbable.  Most obviously is Jennifer Aniston. The glamorous star turns in an extraordinary performance as an actress, more than a marquee star. She portrays a woman horribly tortured by life and loss. Gone are her beauty and the often formulaic or predictable roles.  

    In CAKE she suffers from chronic pain, heartbreak that is slowly and effectively revealed, dependence on drugs and is not a nice person, though as the story unfolds you understand why.  Aniston moves in a way that makes you hurt for her and she brings life to those who must live with chronic pain, physical and emotional.  It is a powerful performance.

    Patrick Tobin has been writing for years and without a great deal of success. A few years ago his short story Cake started creating a buzz in Hollywood and Tobin adapted it for film. He's got a great new credit on his resume. 

     Anna Kendrick, Felicity Huffman and Sam Worthington turn in fine performances. Adriana Barraza as the long suffering and loyal house keeper Silvana is brilliant.

    It's a good film but even better as a kind of gentle slap in the face. It is easy to forget how absolutely difficult the simplest things in life can be, or how painful for some. If nothing else this film alerts your empathetic synapses and can make you aware of what it is to live with afflictions. This is a departure from normal entertainment fair. Cake's fresh story and the performance of its unexpected star give it more impact. Those who see  Cake are likely to see Jennifer Aniston in a new light.

THE SPORTS ILLUSTRATED SWIM SUIT DEBATE

     There's less than unanimity in this house, and a few others about the SI Cover.  

      Is the pose of model Hannah Davis lowering her bikini bottom, inappropriate, lewd or worse?  Depends on who you ask. 

      The SI Swimsuit issue is a kind of annual social divide.

Awful, exploitive, sexist or art, beautiful, sexy?  Eye of the beholder land here. 

       Some say it's terrible that men who could be their fathers or grand fathers leer at the models. Is it anymore terrible they look now than when were the models age.  SI has done this with a generational history and it seems the same arguments ensue. Are the readers "dirty old men?"

      Given all the other things people argue, fight and war over in this world, this annual debate is refreshing. I certainly look forward to it each year. And to the magazine as well!

THE NOT SO SI COMPANION PICTURES

   The more complete ballet.

   Sea spray.

   Left out. Were the two above, whispering about her?

   Peace descends and dreams are launched.

   See you down the trail.