Media Mash-O-Rama

All this free time has given me opportunity to read and watch movies with impunity. If I weren't unemployed, I'd be in heaven. Here's my opinion on some of this stuff...

A Short History of Nearly Everything
by Bill Bryson
Non-fiction
Wow. Again, wow. Initially as I flipped through this book to preview it, a habit I have with all non-fiction, it appeared to be a dry review of all the science classes I had taken in college. I was already aware of the info that I spot-read. But near the end of each chapter was new info that has been uncovered since I was in school, and I got hooked. Thank God, because the beauty of this book is not only what it presents, but how it presents it (Bryson is a gifted writer), and the synthesis of the information. I ended up reading it cover to cover. This book should be the text for any Science 101 college class, or in high schools that still indulge in college prep courses. Anyone who likes good stories and has any sort of interest in history or science will treasure this tome.

Stiff
by Mary Roach
Non-fiction
Quite hysterical. It's odd to laugh out loud at a non-fiction account of the scariest reality of life. (I wondered about the wisdom of reading this after recent events, but I had put myself on the request list at the library months ago, and when it's your turn, it's your turn, so...) It eventually achieved a critical mass of gross-out for me, and I found I had to start skipping the more gory stuff near the end. The guy who was exploring full head transplants via transplanting the severed head from one monkey onto the recently head-challenged torso of another monkey did me in. The only sour note in the book was the now-almost-cliche sneering at anything to do with religious belief, particularly Christianity. Back in 1931 a French doctor was curious as to whether the blood stain patterns on the shroud of Turin were consistent with crucifixion, so he hung one cadaver on a cross to see. (They were.) After that, he wanted to verify the placement of the nails as it relates to supporting the weight of a body. He used limbs he'd amputated himself from folks who had damaged their arm beyond repair. The author doesn't mind a Swedish woman's current effort to use human remains as compost, but she objects to arms having been used to see how and when nails pull through the hand. Sheesh. But other than that, Mary Roach is a witty and informed stylist. I'll probably search out the rest of her stuff.

*** Caution - mild spoilers in all of the following film reviews ***

May
DVD
Interesting little horror film. The actress who plays May just breaks your heart, she's so good. She sells the character's lazy eye and tragic attraction to a guy with perfect hands to the extent that you forget she's acting. The interesting twist in this film is the guy is one of those "I strive to wake people up" artist/posers who hides his lack of talent behind ham-handed, prurient, gross-out films (see next review for prime example of same), but of course is shocked when he finds a true oddball, that being May, and his discovery that the kind of "waking up" provided by shock/schlock art is not really the kind anyone needs. The film is bloody and gross, so be warned.

Laurel Canyon
DVD
The worst sort of art-film tripe. Plotless, decadent, and dull. Francis McDormand, like Kathy Bates, automatically improves any film she's in by her mere presence, but that is the ONLY positive thing about this film, in my opinion. At the point where the new young wife is making out in the pool with her mother-in-law (McDormand) and the mominlaw's boy toy, I emotionally checked out entirely and, knowing only about 20 minutes was left, decided to hang on till the credits rolled because I was curious as to what the non-ending would be, as these types of films never have anything resembling a resolution of events because the writer/director will be one of those wanks who thinks it's more realistic when things don't have any sort of conclusion, not realizing that most audiences aren't watching movies for that sort of reality. I think I'll have to leave it up to the 2Blowhards to give this film any sort of a detached review. I hated it.

Adaptation
DVD
OK, when Meryl Streep was grinding away on top of the orchid thief, I thought to myself two things: 1) It's wierd watching perhaps one of the most renowned and talented actresses ever to essentially be doing porn moves, and my gosh it's a turn-on; 2) The woman she's portraying, who's supposed to really exist, must be appalled. However, though this movie is based on real events, it's about a screenwriter's angst at trying to adapt a virtually non-adaptable non-fiction book into a compelling screenplay. It becomes clear much license was taken in following the story of the writer's agonies, many of which are probably in his head, and in the clearly self-conscious, self-referential action ending tacked onto the flick. The writing credits for the movie are a big clue as to when we're not in Kansas anymore. It's a hoot, and a ride.