Paragraph breaks... ugh

Just so you know - I have brilliant paragraph breaks in these next two posts, but Blogger is being idiotic today and not recognizing them... grrrr. Sorry it looks like bricks of text.

"Bent"

I'm doing a separate post just for this movie because it deserves it. The movie in question is Bent starring Clive Owen and Lothaire Bluteau, who are both so incredible in this film. Smaller roles are played by Mick Jagger, Ian McKellen, Paul Bettany, Jude Law, and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau. It's the story of a gay man, Max (Owens) in Nazi Germany. I'd seen this years ago and recently decided to re-watch it. In the course of one day, I watched it twice. It's so powerful. When Max is caught by the Nazis, he is forced to ignore his lover who has been beaten nearly to death and deny even knowing him or suffer the same end, and he must rape a young girl to 'prove' he is straight, thus earning him a yellow star (Jew) to wear. He meets Horst, who wears a pink triangle (Gay man). Max keeps telling Horst, "I'm going to survive" while he battles his own self-loathing over what he is doing to accomplish this. Eventually, the two are given the job of moving rocks from one pile to another and then repeating it in reverse, day in, day out for months on end. They do this task together away from everyone but a guard who watches them. Every two hours they have a three-minute 'break' where they are allowed to stand at attention, not moving. This is where the film really gets me. On a visceral level. As a writer, I know the power of words. This is the film where that power moves me with such strength of force, I am helpless to do anything but absorb and feel. I feel that strength surging through my chest right now just thinking about it. During these breaks these two men fall in love although Max is incapable of admitting he loves anyone including himself - this is the lesson he must learn. The two express that love the only way they can. They can't touch, they can't look at each other, but they can speak. Making love, holding each other, comforting and keeping one another safe and warm - these things they do through nothing but their words. I cry every time I watch it, I'm crying now remembering it. It is this that allows them to remain human in inhuman circumstances, hope when despair could devour you, and survive when everything is trying to crush you. Horst says to Max at one point (and I paraphrase), " A man killed himself last night. They [the Nazis] hate that. It;s an act of free will." This is a movie that is hard to watch. Man can truly be so horrible to one another, it sucks all the air from your lungs, but we also have such a capacity for love, hope and survival that it fills you up. This movie takes you to both places. It is not for everyone, but if you take this journey, I hope you will get as much from it as I did. It is terrible, wonderful, decadent, loving, sweet, sad, and inspiring. Max will eventually learn what love is, that he does love, and that we all always have a choice.

"Limitless" and "Cleopatra"

With the sad loss of Elizabeth Taylor, one channel was showing Cleopatra all day long. Which I, of course, had to watch. This was the Titanic of its time. Gorgeous, epic, broad in scope and star power and with a wow factor off the charts. When Cleopatra first goes to Rome and is entering the city with all the spectacle, carried in on that ginormous Sphinx? Crazy awesome, right? Right! Not to mention the drama and betrayal and passion and politics - seriously, the four hours it runs keeps you watching. And it holds up over time. You never think - that's cheesy or anything. I actually found myself a little shocked by what they got away with back then. Nudity and sex, so blase' to us now, yet I knew they were probably cutting the edge of censorship at the time. And Elizabeth Taylor - good grief she was a looker and talented... there was one scene especially where she just learned that Marc Antony married someone else and she knocked my socks off - her emotion was so deep and raw. She will be missed. Last night, I saw Limitless with Bradley Cooper. I'm not ashamed to say that while the movie looked cool in concept, I really went to spend 2 hours with Bradley :) Could he be any more smokin' hot - I don't think so. But the movie was really cool too. The premise was interesting and the way they accomplished certain effects was well done. The premise, without giving too much away, is that there is a pill that allows you to use all of your brain, not just the small percentage we normally have accessible to us. So what happens when you have that ability - watch the movie! But, how they displayed time and progress was pretty cool and how they distinguished between normal and uber-aware was also very cool. If Bradley Cooper, the cool premise or the neat effects aren't enough to draw you in - how about Robert DeNiro? He's in it too troops, doing his usual stupendous best. Plus, there's Russian gangsters, murder, and sex. Just go see it, sit back and enjoy - with popcorn.

Me, a book festival, "Zombieland" and a gadget

Wow, back to my slacker ways, I see. What to talk about.... hmmmm...

I went to Tucson, AZ for their Festival of Books. That was terrific. It was free and had a ton of authors there signing books and doing informative panel discussions. So two thumbs up. If you get a chance to go next year, I say do it.

I'm reading a bunch of books right now, but nothing especially noteworthy at the moment.

On the movie front - I saw Zombieland. Can't say I'm a fan of zombies in any form, but I did like Shaun of the Dead and Zombieland had a similar irreverent feel to it that was amusing. There were some definite logic flaws you had to sort of overlook, but still, I enjoyed it for the most part.

I got a new gadget for my computer. It's a fan that sits underneath the laptop and keeps it cool. It plugs into an USB port and sends out a blue glow from under my laptop reminiscent of the cars that are all pimped out... kind of cool. Plus it's keeping my laptop cool (Duh - that's its purpose) which is total plus, since that last time I had computer problems, they were heat related. My mom got it for me for Christmas, but didn't find it until yesterday when she was moving her furniture around - funny huh?

Do I seem tired and not my usual perky self to ya'll? I feel tired and not my usual perky self. Sorry. We're having construction work done in the house and it's distracting and disruptive. It will be done soon I guess, but not soon enough :)
'Nuff for now. More soon.

"The Adjustment Bureau" and "Wristcutters: A Love Story"

You may be wondering what these two very different movies, The Adjustment Bureau and Wristcutters: A Love Story, have in common - wonder no more, friends, I'm going to tell you.

First, they are both worth watching. Second, they both have a plane or level of existence your average Joe knows nothing about. Third, they are both about love trumping all. So, lets look at them individually and I shall endeavor to convince you why both should be seen.

Let's start with the lesser known, lesser budgeted, lesser star-powered Wristcutters: A Love Story. It does have two stars in it that you may know: Shannyn Sossamon (remember her as Heath Ledger's hottie love interest in A Knight's Tale) and Will Arnett in a very small role. Mostly though, you won't recognize anyone - don't let that slow you down. What's it about? Calm your silly selves... I'm getting to it.

Ever wonder what might happen to you if you killed yourself? This is the answer to that question (whether you wondered or not). You go to another realm of existence that's pretty lackluster. And you can't smile. I know... bummer. But, what happens if you weren't supposed to be there or what if you were so in love that you had to find that loved one? Watch and see - the movie tells you. SPOILER ALERT at the bottom of the blog!!!!! I'll warn you again, don't worry. Keep reading.

Now, The Adjustment Bureau. Such a great movie. When it ended, I wanted to turn around and watch it again. Matt Damon and Emily Blunt are so sweet, you just hate that they are being thwarted at every turn. This is love, people. Love, like L O V E. Get it? Love! And The Adjustment Bureau is trying to keep them apart. Bastards.

This is what happens when the powers-that-be (call "it/him/her/them" whatever floats your boat) are in charge and have other plans for you. And in this movie, we get to figure out, sort of, who they are and why they are controlling our fate/destiny. We get to figure out why free will may be an illusion. We get to figure out other important things too... like why all the hats? Or, how to get across town in NYC during rush hour by just going through a few doors. I know... cool.

On one level this is simply a terrific action-romance fit for guys and girls alike. But on another level, it's really quite philosophical. So, whether you want a great popcorn movie or to have an hours long debate about the meaning of life - you go check this out. I promise you won't be disappointed.

NOW...the SPOILER ALERT... AGAIN. Do not read further unless you want a small hint about how things turn out for those suicidal love birds.

Small hint: it has a happy ending :)