Bling Ring

I really liked The Bling Ring. It was a focused, small movie about a group of teenagers in LA who regularly burglarized celebrity homes, stealing high end luxury accessories and clothing.

The characters were all vapid and empty and two dimensional, but that coincided with their lame, materialistic, limited desires. The film was sort of an ethnography of excess, and it was beautifully filmed in a way that held my attention, even if none of the characters did.

Of note was the family of two of the girls, a new-age, Secret-devoted mother who was oblivious to and complicit with the shallow narcissism of her daughter.

Elsewhere

Elsewhere, Richard Russo's memoir about his emotionally disturbed mother, was the first audiobook I listened to. I listened to it on the treadmill at gym, bored with my music. I found the experience enjoyable, and will listen to more.

I was often frustrated with Elsewhere as it seemed to focus almost unrelentingly on the logistical details of numerous moves. This emphasis had the effect of numbing me to the emotions and relationships, and many of the specific narrative points ran together for me in a blur.

But, there is a deep emotional heart to the memoir, and it is a moving depiction of a woman incredibly dependent on her only child. Towards the end Russo offers more reflection as his perspective on her and their relationship shifts after her death. What touched me most was his sense of guilt, even though he did more for her throughout her life than most people would.

I enjoyed his reading style, and listening to him tell this story made the experience more intimate.

The Out List

Last night I watched HBO's The Out List. It was a series of interviews of prominent openly gay people, including a number of celebrities. One interview followed the other, presented as monologues, without the voice of the questioner.

The cumulative effect was of a proud panorama of LGBT identities, perspectives and experiences. The 60 minute documentary got a lot in -- the trans experience, the early drag queens, AIDS, marriage equality, etc. But I also felt like it glossed over these things, not really contextualizing the importance of pre- and post-Stonewall, pre- and post- AIDS, pre- and post- Ellen. These were important social and political moments that make the fact that we can have a glossy mainstream documentary of out celebrities possible. Yes, these things were touched on, but not brought forward. For instance, one person talks a bit about ACT-UP. But takes knowing what it was for granted. As a college professor I know that many young people watching will have no clue what ACT-UP was, no clue about Stonewall. No clue about how important it was when Ellen's character came out...

Of course, The Out List is not intended as a history of the gay movement. It is more of an extended "It Will Get Better" campaign, offering an array proud, happy, well adjusted and successful role models for younger people, and reminding everyone how far gay visibility has come in recent decades. It isn't a bad documentary, but it has more of the feel of a long public service announcement...

Natalia Zukerman and others

Last night I saw Natalia Zukerman perform at Union Hall with three other singer/songwriters. I had seen her perform last year when she opened for Keb Mo, and was struck then by her lovely voice and terrific songs.

The four musicians, including Dayna Kurtz, Ed Romanoff, and Benjamin Scheuer, all sat on the stage with their guitars and performed in the round, one after another. Each had a very unique style -- different ways of phrasing lyrics, different voices, different moods of songs. But all were wonderful. Dayna Kurtz has a particularly powerful voice. I will be looking out for all four of them to see them perform again in the future. I would have bought their CDs but I had no cash on me.

Lost Memory of Skin

It took me forever to read Russell Banks' Lost Memory of Skin. Mainly because I was so bored by it I hardly ever picked it up and when I did I would fall asleep.

The novel is about a young man convicted of a sex offense and who, as a result of residency restrictions, is unable to find anywhere to legally reside other than an encampment under a causeway. A sociologist who studies the homeless takes an interest in him, and Lost Memory of Skin follows the relationship between these two odd characters. In spite of how bored I was by the prose, I did feel somewhat drawn to the character of "the Kid" - as the young sex offender was known. However the plot took an annoying turn as it focused on the professor and I continued reading with little investment in the outcome.

Wanda Sykes: I'ma Be Me

Last night I watched the HBO comedy presentation of Wanda Sykes: I'ma Be Me, filmed in 2009.

I think she's great -- I just love listening to her. Love her attitude, her timing, her sense of self and presence. The material already seemed slightly dated -- it was still when Obama was a new president. And, in spite of how much I enjoyed the hour and a half episode, there were only a few times where I was literally laughing out loud. For the most part I was just pleasantly amused.

Searching for Sugar Man

Searching for Sugar Man is a documentary telling a moving story of a musician, Rodriguez, who made two albums in the US in the early 70s which didn't sell.

However, they became gigantic hits in South Africa. He had no idea of his fame in that country, where it was rumored that he had committed suicide on stage. His South African fans, who listened to his albums for decades, comparing it to Abbey Road, knew nothing about him.

Then two journalists decided they wanted to find out how Rodriguez died. In the process they discovered he was still alive and living in obscurity in Detroit.

The documentary includes long stretches of his music (which I'm listening to now on Spotify) which is bluesy and folksy with strong lyrics. I think I now consider myself a Rodriguez fan.