The Ides of March

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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.

The Ides of March in Theaters

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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.

Mass Emails and Given Circumstance

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Friends, I never thought I would be writing an article with Warren Buffett in mind. Most of my news comes straight from Colbert and Jon Stewart. Incidentally, I think Stewart was responding to this on The Daily Show the same night I made this entree. But that is neither here nor there at present, onto mass emails and given circumstance.

Warren Buffett and Credo Action

Click on the image to be taken to Credo Action to take online action.

First of all… unless you have subscribed to one of my venues or associated companies I respectfully do not do the mass email thing as I know people regard such contact as “annoying” or “impersonal.” However, when one person knows a lot of people is he or she really expected to make a personalized email to hundreds of people? Ask yourself how many FaceBook “friends” you have. Or again, ask yourself how many Twitter “followers” do you have. I say irrelevant. What counts is people who are at least listening and hopefully participating in the conversation. That said, if you did not receive my earlier email as part of Credo Action it follows here:

Whether you know me as an Awesomonster Comedian from Chicago, a host of Uptown Variety Live or Green Screen Variety Hour, or a performer from Theatre Memphis or various other things from my favorite southern city, I am cashing in one of my two all contact emails per year. [Here I inserted the name of the main recipient in question with a witty comment and] Bcc’d [everyone else] to protect their privacy… deal.
Our economy could recover quickly or sludge ahead at a preposterously slow pace. Here, as my nerdy self I quote Spiderman, “With great power comes great responsibility (to be more accurate it’s Uncle Ben).” I ask all of you why do the rich continue to receive a weighted relief in this time of stress? Is it because they are more intelligent than most? Maybe more than more one would think… or maybe they are family members of old money coasting on behalf of a “dignified name.” Nonetheless, they are our monetary leaders and as leaders they should set an example of the utmost contribution.
Personally, all I can do is strive to become a debt-free American and pay what I owe both in money and in service. I have continued to do that to the best of my ability within the given circumstance. Perhaps annoyingly to some, but regardless, I share various politically charged items on FaceBook and Twitter rather regularly as I believe this outlet contributes to a giant voice of the public made readily accessible and ultra-convenient.
Here is my most recent share.
You can find out more information and sign the petition at the link below:
Apologies again for the sometimes perceived “impersonal” mass email… yet, ironically, this is very personal to many of us.
Way of the World by Ron Suskind

a future

So, I know I say a mouthful every now and again and sometimes may appear a little crass due to my blunt nature. Yet hear this! In my estimation political exchange is so woefully inhibited by mitigation and strategically developed facades (with the idea of the permanent campaign in mind *see Ron Suskind’s Way of the World) that the truth has become a devalued asset of communication. It has become more of listen to what I want you to think I’m saying rather than what I’m actually saying. Why so much spin? In truth, representatives are very fearful of their constituents as they know, ultimately, there are way more of “us” than of “them.” But in a much more prevalent truth “us” and “them” remains the same thing. We are all one being walking around on this planet trying to make ends meet. Some will sacrifice “them” to get ahead while others look to “us” as dignified, exalted faces. Right and wrong is becoming to manufactured and everyone would benefit from taking one step back to look at the larger scope of “us” as a country, a continent and as a global population of various faces all subject to their own given circumstance.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

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Of the seven, a favorite for a huge number of fans is J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. It is this volume that proves most amazing to revisit as no translation to film could hope to contain all the fantastic detail presented in these spanning 734 pages all leading to an uncelebrated rebirth and the Triwizard Tournament.

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Harry Potter

Here Harry’s reputation and name are plunged into darkness with no light in sight. After a murderous introduction, post portkey, we are taken to the fields of the Quidditch World Cup. The victory camaraderie is destroyed by a Death Eater assault branded by the dark mark itself which first brings Harry into question by the ever suspecting Barty Crouch, the man who sentenced his own son to Azkaban imprisonment.

Aside from smaller details such as with the fun Omnioculars, there are glaring omissions and many liberties taken regarding the film version of this installment. The importance of Winky a house-elf under the Crouch name comes to mind and Dobby (not Neville) being the one to give Potter the gillyweed prior to the second challenge of the tournament. As everyone has their “I can’t believe they left that out of the movie” moment, mine concerns the sphinx riddle within the maze of the final challenge:

“First think of the person who lives in disguise,

Who deals in secrets and tells naught but lies.

Next, tell me what’s always the last thing to mend,

The middle of middle and end of end?

And finally give me the sound often heard

During the search for a hard-to-find word.

Now string them together, and answer me this,

Which creature would you be unwilling to kiss?” (pg. 629)

Nonetheless, this article isn’t meant to throw stones at the film version or drag involved parties through the mud; that later task is left to the despicable Rita Skeeter. Once Harry’s name bursts forth from the Goblet of Fire, this scamp of a reporter makes of mockery of our young Triwizard Champion and his companions. She is a constant perturbation not unlike a beetle (which is, incidentally, her unregistered form as an animagus and preferred form of eavesdropping). Yet even she can only speculate as to how this underage wizard’s name ended up inside of the goblet. The most obvious suspect appears with the introduction of the Hogwarts’ guests from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling

click on the image to purchase Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Respected heads Madame Maxime and Igor Karkaroff arrive with students to participate as Triwizard Champions. Among those selected are Fleur Delacour of Beauxbaton, Viktor Krum of Durmstrang and Cedric Diggory of Hogwarts. The addition of the fourth champion, Harry, creates a more than hairy dilemma. He could die. Yet, someone always acts as guide for the lucky competitor, chief among which is new dark arts instructor, Alastor “Mad Eye” Moody who shamelessly introduces the student body to the unforgivable curses. It remains not only within this man’s best interest but Ludo Bagman’s as well for Harry to win.

Facing dragons, a sea of underwater life and unforgettable aftermath awaits our competitors. Little does the victorious know that deathly grounds follow as we are transported to a scene bearing witness to the return of the dark lord in the flesh, as predicted. Upon Voldemorts return Harry learns the vicious, summoned faces behind the masks of the Death Eaters which include none other than Lucious Malfoy. In a great clash of heroism and courage versus corruption and fear, the brotherly wands of the boy who lived and he who must not be named collide in a magical spectacle known as Priori Incantatem.

Returning victorious from the ends of the tournament are far from sweet. He has returned. Nothing will ever be the same in this world of fantasy for the young hero in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.