No Country For Old Men

As the tag line says, "there are no clean getaways." Not when you're a criminal. Not when you make a mistake that puts you in the path of the criminal. Not even in life. Ultimately, everything comes to an end and the best you can hope for is that you survived most of it unscathed.

Damn cheery, eh? Don't let that stop you from seeing this movie though. The Cohen brothers have come through to amazing effect in their latest offering. Their love of vistas is evident in the way they shoot Texas (or at least I'm assuming they actually shot a movie set in TX in TX...course it could be British Columbia for all I know). NCFOM feels much like Blood Simple and Fargo in that there is a continual tension running through the film. You never feel quite at ease, even in the funnier moments. It's as though you know someone is on your tail and they are insane and fully plan on killing you.

The set up to the film is this--Josh Brolin plays an average guy who stumbles upon a drug deal gone very, very bad. He ends up snagging the cash. It doesn't take long for various baddies to start coming after him. Among them, the seriously creepy in an overly calm and methodical sort of way Javier Bardem. The scene where he challenges a poor local gas station owner is full of menace but no guns are drawn and the man isn't even directly threatened. Instead, he is asked what was the most he ever lost on a coin toss. He directs the gas guy to call it. The guy wants to know what he gets if he wins. He is told "everything." It's chillingly obvious what he will lose if he doesn't guess correctly.

Tommy Lee Jones plays the sheriff who is also calm and methodical in his pursuit of Bardem. His character is not unlike Frances McDormand's (sp) in Fargo. He is smart but not showy. He is kind and warm, but he is world weary and feels as though he no longer understands the world around him. He and his deputy provide most of the laughs and the few bright spots in a dark plot.

The writing is lyrical and really stands out as there isn't a lot of dialogue in the film. Jones' description of a dream he had is virtual poetry and he delivers it as a man realizing that mortality is an ever encroaching burden. It's a powerful way to end the film.

If you are a fan of the Cohen's, I can't recommend this film enough. Everyone else, be prepared to not have a pat ending...or at least not a traditional one, but also be prepared to see a beautiful film unfolding in front of you.

Couple more quick things:

Saw a trailer for Funny Games and I've decided Michael Pitt is the go-to guy for creepy, young bastard roles.

Lifted 6000 pounds today. We got in 300 boxes, a double delivery. Nothing scheduled tomorrow which begs the question...why the f**k did we get a double today? Surely no one needs 75 boxes of bargain titles by tomorrow! Oh yeah, I also woke up with a headache that lasted from about 6:45am till around 3:30pm. At least I was better for the movie.

Hopefully this week I'll get out to see Lust, Caution, the latest from Ang Lee. I've heard mixed reviews for it, but I'd still like to see Tony Leung when I get the chance.

Cool exchange from today's movie: follows a moment where Tommy Lee Jones has described what he thinks happened during the commission of the crime.

Deputy: (paraphrasing) "That's pretty linear."

Sheriff: "Age flattens a man..."

Freudian Slip?

Today while making a list of book categories and where they could be found I made a mistake while typing up "Self Improvement." I typed the following...

Self Important.

Hmmmm....

Happy Thanksgiving!

Waiting For Bones To Be Over

Decided to do a quick entry while I'm waiting for Bones to finish up. I've discovered I can't eat while it's on, or at least I need to wait till the first 5 or so minutes have passed. Of course, once you miss the first 5 you have to wait till the whole thing is done and watch it from the top. It's a very complicated process my television viewing.

Speaking of TV's and other electrical items I am addicted to, I have two remotes that are on the verge of giving out on me. My tv remote only sporadically responds when I press either the channel up/down buttons or the volume controls. Sadly beating the crap out of it doesn't seem to help. My dvd remote is also acting the poo head. It won't let me switch from TV to DVD meaning I can't watch the DVD. Thank goodness for my PS2...of course I still haven't quite figured out how to run the dvd option using my controller. I've tried pushing the button that shoots stuff in most games, but that isn't the right one. Looks like I need to get another universal remote. That or read.

Quick update on the work front. I've mentioned having been very tired when getting home, etc. and there is a reason for that. Jinn, my fabbo co-worker, found out she has carpal tunnel. She is going to be out anywhere from 2-3+ months. She is out on the floor (and not really too happy about it by all accounts) which means I'm all by my lonesome most of the day. It's very weird to be back there without her. I run into her now and again, but it isn't really the same. The increased work load coupled with Jinn's floor status has me concerned with my sanity. Happy Holidays! Hopefully she will get good news with her next doctor's visit and will be better soon.

Went and saw Lars And The Real Girl (above photo) and it was fabulous. One of the best films I've seen this year. Ryan Gosling plays an introverted man who purchases a life size silicone doll. It's not for sex, it's for companionship. He is a bit delusional and is working through that delusion in his own way. In order for it to work, his doctor says, everyone else has to treat the doll like a person as well. Luckily for him, he is such a sweetheart his friends and family are willing to do this to help him get better.

The film has many funny moments, but is also quite sweet and gentle...much like Gosling's character. Ryan really plays him with just the right amount of kindness coupled with quite literal pain when people get too close to him (especially when they touch him). The supporting cast does extremely well as they try and make sense of a very weird situation. I strongly recommend seeing this one.

Hopefully I'll be able to catch what should be one of the best films this year--the Cohen Brothers' No Country For Old Men. It starts tomorrow, but I don't know if I'll be up for seeing it on opening night alone. I may have to wait till a Sun. afternoon or Mon. evening.

Okay, it's time to go check the Duke vs. Illinois score and watch the rest of the game. Hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving. Gobble, gobble.

Death By Meeting...and Life On Mars

Hey all. Glad to say I survived this year's Holiday Meeting. As seems to happen every year, it was full of lame attempts at humor, plenty of mind numbing info that no one will remember due to the early hour (7AM-9AM), some snarky heckling from the back row (wanna guess where I sat?), and someone eventually breaking down in tears.

I'm serious. Because one employee was interrupted, in a polite way by a manager to add to the discussion we were in the midst of, said employee immediately turns to another manager to complain and reportedly after the meeting was whining and crying in the office. This same employee reacted the same way last year when they felt the crowd hadn't applauded enough when they were given their lame 5 yr. pin.

My best line of the day had to be when the kids manager was pushing the American Girls "Your Changing Body" book and I loudly asked if this was the part when the boys had to leave the room. Got a good laugh thankfully. I always try for the funny obnoxious when possible. I was disappointed we didn't have a discussion of my favorite growing up book, "What's Going On Down There." Seriously, I love this book. The cartoons and commentary are funny and as a chick it's especially entertaining because it's all about the boys and their naughty bits.

On a different topic, I was extremely pleased to see that the new season of Life On Mars is starting on Dec. 11 via BBC America. The lovely John Simm (above) plays Sam, a police detective who has been transported back to the 70's. Or has he? He might just be in a coma and is imagining all of this. Either way, it's a really well written and acted show that I strongly recommend.

Didn't make it to Lars and The Real Girl yet as I tried to get some Christmas shopping done today. It gets harder and harder to go out amongst the herd the more I work in retail. Luckily, I'm not too far from being done. I should be going to see the movie tomorrow before dinner. Also on the list to check out that's new this week, Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium and Love In The Time Of Cholera.

WATCH IT:

Torchwood and Dr. Who--I just finished up the 3rd season of Dr. Who. I fell behind and waited till it was out on DVD before playing catch up. David Tennant gets better with every episode. Torchwood is a more adult companion/spin off from Dr. Who featuring the Scottish born, IL raised John Barrowman, whose charm and glee make up for any pitfalls in the script. I think the show is still trying to find it's footing, but the episode about the cannibal country folk was seriously creepy. I'm looking forward to the last few episodes of the season.

LISTEN TO IT:

The Hives--The Black and White Album.

I've always liked these guys. They are just a fun, fun band that are pretty much here to make you dance and sing songs referencing themselves. Normally, I'd find that annoying, but they have such a great sense of humor they can get away with it. Current faves on the cd are Try It Again, Tick, Tick, Boom, and T.H.E.H.I.V.E.S.

As I type though, I am listening to a mix cd I made called "Where's The Crackers?" Filled with some of my fave cheesy tunes--stuff from the 80's and some contemporary pop songs that I wouldn't normally listen to--I am currently grooving to We Got The Beat...actually it has just morphed into Hellagood...must go dance now....

EDITORS NOTE:

I HAVE NOW TRIED THREE TIMES TO GET EMPTY LINES BETWEEN MY PARAGRAPHS, BUT HAVE FAILED MISERABLY...UNLESS IT WORKS THIS TIME...SORRY.