October | 2011 | Nicholas Dale Taylor's Blog

Exactly one year ago I become a blogger so today I say “HELL” – O Anniversary.

yes, there's two of me

Some of you may have been wondering why my blog has remained neglected these past two months. I have been writing in other places. One place is with local Uptown, Chicago graphic design company, Andiamo Creative as their Guest Blogger. Another place is with and at local Wrigleyville/Uptown Cafe, Emerald City Coffee as I developed their website, Flickr, Facebook, basically all of their online content; recently I stepped it up for them and changed from my regular daily posts regarding “specials” to writing SEO content highlighting some of their more delectable options. And I’ve also been writing in HELL.

Twilight Edition for the Game Show of HELL

those are my arms babes

Yes, my company Awesomonster has returned to the seedy earth belly of the Underground Lounge at 952 W Newport for another round of the comedy game show, The Game Show of HELL. Chicago goers might have seen some flyers or posters around sporting our mock of “life,” but still might be asking “what is this?” So, here it goes. The Game Show of HELL is an interactive, sketch comedy show featuring seven creative games revolving around a single deadly sin awarding one winner not only a fabulous prize but also a spot in the Final Challenge. The October “Twilight Special” (as the entertainment night stretches to midnight) will feature pre-show and post-show entertainment from stand-ups Sherman Edwards, Eric Oren character Renee Gilbo, live music from Fatally Cool and Valley Dolls and more! The main more is the following show will be a live maybe first-time-ever Chicago production of the Rocky Horror Picture Show. How much more Halloween do you want? This month our final challenge will be a face-off between our two remaining post spin-off contestants to compete in a ridiculous way for $100 cash. It is silly, fun and worth loads of laughs.

Incidentally, this show is available for private bookings including birthdays, holiday parties, and only the darkest of anniversaries. BAM! There I tied it into my anniversary post.

Nonetheless to forget shameless display of advertising my own show to those of you who read my posts, I need to do one thing that is far more worth it and thank each of you for reading, commenting and remaining the encouragement that you all are. Blogging, while still a weird word that rolls off my tongue has proven to be a highly effective outlet for me as an artist. Getting my thoughts onto this form of digital print has allowed for me to rant, review and reflect on topics and items of noticeable resonance. It’s been my digital confession, my soapbox and my own personal autobiographical newspaper and though it will soon be getting a facelift of sorts, it is here to stay.

So, just as one year ago I published my “Hello World,” and left it as such today I write a thank-you-note plugged with my other writings ending in HELL … O Anniversary (Now, come to my show).

Few movies have made me leave a “sold out” screening at one theater to hunt down another time but The Ides of March did just that.

Here we follow testing days before numbers reveal the outcome to a pivotal presidential primary for hopeful runner Governor Mike Morris (George Clooney [also director here, fantastic job!). Our story unfolds in Ohio with damage control campaign man, Stephen Meyers (Ryan Gosling) standing on a stage, testing the space, mocking a later speech made by his boss. Loyalty will be the point on which the plot spins as the faces of these two men become interchangeably guilty of the professionally unforgivable. A bedroom at 2:30 in the morning reveals more than post-coital bliss.

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The many stars (including the haunting Evan Rachel Wood) of this film could fill earlier versions of our great flag. Campaign head Paul Zara (Phillip Seymour Hoffman) encourages Mike to coax a man desiring a cabinet position. Without the endorsement of this official the race will be lost. Anxiety thickens when trust falters between comrades after a meeting with the opposing team under Tom Duffy (Paul Giamatti). These always exquisite performers give plane faces as to the jaded, bitter malaise basting political careers and, in short, stick a fork in one of these characters; they are done.

Post meeting, a great scene follows with Hoffman and Gosling silhouetted against familiar red and white stripes. These stripes provide no camouflage for the scandal ready to fly across pages. Yet, blood-splattered headlines would reach no great end.

This film’s genius falls in the lines of dialogue that show men’s continuing ability to swallow dark secrets for the hopeful, greater good. To paraphrase a shocking line and leave you hanging in the process, They’ll forgive you for lots of things, they’ll let you start a war, cheat, steal, but you can’t… they’ll getcha for that. Sad reality when this mistake trumps all other atrocities.

Anthony Weiner comes to mind.

Acknowledging the faults of man should always be easy but never will be when so many faces are fueled by their own interests, bias and underlying agendas. Upon seeing this film voters may become disillusioned regarding the veil of perfection surrounding their chosen man or woman in a race. We can elevate anyone to certain plains of grandeur but peaks allow for fatal falls. To be cryptic, the great accomplishment of this present day drama lets light fall on the person for whom we vote and the person behind the vote itself.

I heard the buzz, saw the poster and simply wanted to see something outside of the blow ’em up, shake ’em up, wow ’em with spectacle action flick (which mind you, I love). I wanted to watch an American movie that embraced ugly truths, acknowledged hypocrisy, and featured daunting performances and just like any worthy Presidential candidate I got more than the bargain. Surpassing my expectations in all shades and colors while renewing some shaken feelings for the red, white and blue, it is The Ides of March directed by George Clooney.