xmas eve eve

[fflo]

Here comes the snow again

(improvise variations on Annie Lennox as you wish)

I find myself contemplating how many hours of leave I'm about to use vs. how many of those days off will be hectic. It's pretty much a one-to-one ratio. Seems a shame, somehow. Maybe I'll take some time in January to recover.

Still to see this holiday season: The Return of the King; Bad Santa; Master and Commander. Saw The Cooler last night. Perhaps not truly great, but entertaining, and a fresh concept for a casino flick. There were few really cringe-y violent moments. And it was most refreshing to see regular bodies in the sack (Wm. H. Macy and Maria Bello) having unspectacular sex that represents just itself. I mean, the sex in the film is great, even though it's not great sex. And I loved the look of Macy's motel and motel room and wardrobe. They were having fun with color and light in this one.

The Alec Baldwin casino owner is a parody of the cinematic stereotype---it looks for a while as if we're going to be asked to appreciate his old-style Vegas purism, but in the end, albeit in a scene that presses credibility, he is told off in human terms, and that's kinda fun. There's another turn subsequently that so surpasses credibility as to wink at the self-conscious tongue-in-cheek nature both of it and of those earlier moments. And, of course, throughout is the running winky required suspension of disbelief at the protagonist's luck, or lack thereof.

And I confess I have a fondness for Vegas movies.

I also enjoyed going by myself---it had been a while. I like seeing movies alone now and then. Walking out alone, without returning to social discourse, the movie can wash over me as I head down the street or into the alley or around a corner or into a parking garage, and the mere walking and seeing and hearing feels surreal and somehow full of movieworldness.

Comments

[groovesinorbit]

The Cooler sounds interesting, and I do like Macy. Will that make up for my strong dislike of Alec Baldwin, though? We're talking Tom Cruise-level dislike here.

I bet you'll love Return of the King. Fun, fun stuff.

there is Alec, but you're supposed to hate him

[fflo.livejournal.com]

I peaked in the window at ROTK on the way to The Cooler. (ROTK was playing the 1700-seat main theater at the Michigan; The Cooler was in the comparatively petite Screening Room.) It was very exciting. I'm waiting for Holly on that one, though, as she's pretty sure she won't get around to it if I don't go with her. (E. was waiting for us, too, for a while, but has probably gone by now, as we are going to be leaving town soon and won't see it for a while still.)

As far as Baldwin goes, maybe it's like Magnolia for Cruise-haters---a character you're supposed to hate, so the hatred of the actor just adds to it?

Re: there is Alec, but you're supposed to hate him

[groovesinorbit]

Well then I'm already there! May have to check it out.