Don’t forget- CBS Sunday Morning is on and worth watching.
I stayed up really late last night- it is my fault, had a half a bottle of wine (the nightly glass of wine for the heart turned into three), got a little ranty (as you can see below), and then got sucked into watching American Beauty. I don’t know how that happens- yet another movie in my DVD collection, but it comes on and I get sucked in and can’t stop watching it.
At any rate, what a great movie it is. And before the experts and the critics come in to tell me why it really sucked, save yourself the time. I liked it and just love how it makes it abundantly clear that there is no storybook life- everyone is screwed up in their own way, and that is what makes people great. More people should internalize that message.
Plus, it had some great quotes. My personal favorite is when Lester was starting to get back in shape, and was seeking advice from the “partners” next door. They asked him if he wanted to burn fat, gain endurance, etc., and he blurted out- “I want to look good naked.”
Who doesn’t? Consider this an open thread.
JT
I might have to start dropping by more often. Get “ranty” more often. That stuff is good. Damn shame Sully got the credit for your questions.
Ted
“Look Closer” – (quote sprinkled occasionally in that very good movie)
JT, Sullivan did finally credit John with the questions on his blog, and he used it as an occasion to bash Hillary. You can’t blame him I guess; it’s in his nature.
Eural
Just got back from attending the Stephen Colbert presidential campaign kick-off rally at the horseshoe on USC campus in Columbia – lots of fun, very energetic crowd (especially for early Sunday morning) and a surprising number of kids (my two included) who enjoyed the chanting, music and speech.
You know, its just cool to be there during a historical moment and realize how close you are to greatness.
They even threw Doritos to the crowd!
jcricket
You know, I periodically get really depressed when I think of the idiots that rule our country. But it does cheer me up a little if I think of Bush, Cheney, etc. as the Crocs from Pearls Before Swine.
It’s funny because it’s true :-)
jcricket
I think the only reason anyone listens to Sully anymore is the British accent and the affirmative action for “bears” that got him his column. He writes these 10,000 word essays about Kant and Burke and whomever to supposedly ground his “conservatism” in something loftier than it is.
But really he’s basically as fragmented and politically expedient as the rest of us. There are many issues where he’s basically a liberal. Some where he’s a libertarian. And some where he’s a fraidy-cat “9/11 changed everything” conservative type. And he viscerally hates Hillary, so that blinds him to anything good she might do. But wrap it up in the veneer of philosophizing and it sounds like something better than it is.
The difference is that most of us admit it. I’m a pragmatist. I favor what works, which is why I support the Democratic party (and I’m not being ironic). Things like knowing that abortion and birth control bans actually don’t stop abortion or teenage sex are just one of many things that makes me not want to ban abortion/birth control. Going through life wedded to an ideology, rather than striving to achieve particular outcomes, is pretty stupid (with a few exceptions where the “means” are too morally repugnant to be followed).
Punchy
I’m not gunna stop asking until Cole gives us a YearlyJuice2008 in some remote exotic location, like Chicago.
We can do like the KosKlowns and hire a bunch of expensive speakers to tell us how awesomest our typin’ sKi\\z are, and how we singlehandedly changed ’06 with our bright orange monitor screens.
Or we can just meet up in a seedy bar, drink a ton of Grey Goose and force TZ to sit in the men’s stall and start tapping.
By the way, I just noticed Atrios linked to BJ. Fuckin christ, the apocolypse is already underway and my Bears haven’t even kicked off yet.
montysano
Ricky Fitts: It’s like God’s looking right at you, just for a second, and if you’re careful… you can look right back.
Jane Burnham: And what do you see?
Ricky Fitts: Beauty.
Yeah, screw the critics, American Beauty is a real favorite of mine as well. As a not-all-that-happy middle-aged dude, Lester Burnham is my hero. Well…….. at least until that last scene.
Ted
And “Colonel Frank Fitz, United States Marine Corps” is a perfect republican these days.
merciless
Morning, John! The problem with having half a bottle of wine is that you can see the wine level in the bottle as you pour another glass, and it makes you feel guilty. Buy it by the box, and you won’t have that problem. Fish Eye pinot grigio is good.
Anyway, a couple ibuprofen and lotsa water will fix you right up.
And don’t worry about ranting; it was a good and just rant, and if you can’t rant on your own friggin’ blog, well, what’s the point of having one?
The Other Steve
1970 Pontiac Firebird. The car I’ve always wanted and now I have it. I rule!
rilkefan
Umm…
Ah, ok.
The Other Steve
To be fair, I didn’t like Clark’s going off on him about Hillary like that. It just seemed non-sequitor.
There was an article in the NYTimes this week about Hillary, mentioned that her close circle is very protective, just like Bush. I’m not sure I like that, but I understand it.
The article did note, however, that Hillary and her circle are in fact competent, unlike Bush. :-)
rilkefan
1970 Firebird. Now you just need a cute 17-year-old girl who hasn’t aged for 37 years and some eight-tracks.
MNPundit
American Beauty, Fight Club for the Squeamish ;)
Mark Jones
But the greatest line of all in that movie:
“Never underestimate the power of Denial”
And this is a pretty good line too:
“You know how they say that ‘Today is the first day of the rest of your life?’ Well, thats true on every day, except one, The Day you Die”
VidaLoca
Good new is, now and then you find one (the only aging that matters happens between the ears!).
Robert
My favorite American Beauty scene: “I will sell this house today.”
mrmobi
Well, it’s not a great movie, John, but your point is well taken, and there’s plenty of other stuff in the film that is terrific, from the video of the plastic bag doing a dance to the lovely, oft imitated music from Thomas Newman.
I also enjoy any chance to watch the work of Chris Cooper, one of our very best.
The Other Steve
Normal is a state of mind.
mrmobi
I think there’s every reason to believe that’s true, TOS. I also thought it was odd of Clark to go off on Sully like that. But he has endorsed Hillary, so I guess it’s no surprise.
As I’ve said before in here, I’ll hold my nose and pull the lever for Hillary, if she’s the nominee. I just can’t stomach the idea of another four years of off-the-books war-mongering, science-denial, gay-bashing, and constitution smashing from the Party of Torture. Enough already!
Hell, I’d even vote for Kucinich if he was the nominee. Moonbats are good for the environment, I’m told.
capelza
Oh boy..go over to ObWings and read “In Defence of Beauchamp”…
Jess
Absolutely. His work in “Lone Star” completely captivated me, and I was delighted that he got his well-deserved Oscar for “Adaptation,” another awesome film. John, if you liked American Beauty, you’d probably like Adaptation–have you seen it?
GeoX
Can’t say I loved American Beauty (and just TRY watching the hilariously auto-fellatory featurette on the dvd), but Alan Ball DID create Six Feet Under, so he’s still kind of a god in my book.
YellowJournalism
Personally, I’m partial to: “Fuck me, your majesty!”
Krista
Half a bottle? That’s not bad. Just enough fuel for a proper rant, in my opinion.
Apologies for commenting while smashed out of my gourd the other day, by the way. An 8-course tasting menu is great. It’s the accompanying 8 glasses of wine that spelled a wee bit of trouble for my motor skills.
BIRDZILLA
Why should we have anything at all to do with the UN its sure not there for world peace