Sorry, Tree

I read this recent book of poems by Eileen Myles, Sorry, Tree the other day. It was wonderful, reading a book in more or less one sitting. Getting immersed in the poetry and the voice. These poems seem different than her previous work, but I'm not sure how exactly. A little more interior, a little more probing of language. Really great. I read everything she writes because everything manages to hit just the right spot.

The Man in the Grey Flannel Suit

I started watching The Man in the Grey Flannel Suit last night, and finished it tonight. It is very interesting. It takes it time developing conflict and character and relationships and is very introspective and thoughtful. It's about a man who suffers PTSD from WWII trying to live an average life, and goes into all the frustrations of that average life. That makes it sound simple and cliche, which of course it kind of is. But the slowness and methodicalness of it created this kind of quiet restrained feeling. Gregory Peck was very dignified and cold. In fact, there was much missing from all of the performances.

I think it should be remade. I think a new director would create more narrative tension. The war flashbacks would be scarier and more intense. And they would do away with the cheesy music and stylized acting...

In the Line of Fire

You know, I don't know what to say about movies like these (In the Line of Fire). They are kind of gripping and suspenseful, but so riddled with cliches and predictable. It's like, while I'm watching I get tense and scared at parts, but am rolling my eyes and flipping through a Land's End catalogue during most of it. Resenting all these obvious tropes -- the failed agent who has to prove himself: do you doubt for a second he will be vindicated. Then again, the dialogue was rather good in parts. Malkovich as the crazy was riveting. It was worth watching. Not worth losing important writing time over, however...

Double Indemnity

I watched the noir thriller Double Indemnity last night and thoroughly enjoyed it. Aside from the cheesy noir rhetoric, which rubs me the wrong way, I found the cynical lack of love throughout the film to be quite gripping. It was sexy too, and suspenseful.

I know I'm alone among my friends on this score, but watching old movies I always think about how they could be remade. I just don't like the rinky-dink sets and the old-fashioned way tension and suspense are created. Although, I don't like it when remakes update the time; things make less sense that way and don't quite work.

Hair

I saw Hair tonight! It was wonderful!

I had LOVED the movie when I was a kid; saw it many, many times. So, I couldn't help comparing.

Anyway, I had to wait in line for HOURS, to get tickets because it was part of Shakespeare in the Park. The musical numbers were all enthralling and I didn't want any of them to end. Unfortunately I was extremely tired after spending basically an entire day waiting and waiting and waiting.

But it was worth it (sort of). I was so tired that I didn't feel an emotional investment in the story and themes, so that was kind of disappointing. But I would definitely go again -- if the tickets just magically appeared, that is.

Master & Man

I read the second Tolstoy story, Master & Man, in the collection that included The Death of Ivan Ilyich. I didn't like it as much. I found the quotidian descriptions of the beginnings of the journey kind of boring and flat, and the terrifying parts left me cold (ha, ha!). It just didn't do it for me. Plus, the romanticizing of peasant life was a little much, as was the rather two-dimensional portrayal/critique of the materialistic master.

Ironically I read the story in the blazing sun, while waiting for tickets to Hair.

Eddie Izzard

I watched Eddie Izzard: Dressed to Kill this evening when I should have been working.

He is very, very funny; and very charismatic. I guess that's what makes most comedians work. It's not just their jokes, it's the enjoyment you feel in their performance, like you like their presence. You wish you could hang out with them.

He made a lot of funny jokes about Europe. Very cute and clever.