The small talk these days is about how long and difficult this winter is. This is my 46th, and to me, there does seem to be an overall warming trend in my climate. Winters not as 'wintery' as when I was a kid. This winter's been the exception to that, with the arctic vortex happening this year. So it's been consistently in the minus 20s and not a few days go by without a windchill in the air. There are brief, swift 'warmer' periods of -5s that bring with it a generous load of snow. Following the snow, it's right back to the chill. Oh well, it's better than freezing rain. So, any 'Canadien' will tell you though, that you need to get outside to slay the winter blahs. You go outside and play.
Mid-March and, the weather was a tiny bit nicer, minus teens at night and a pleasant -5 or so during the day. Cold enough so that you don't sweat too much on hikes, and warm enough so that when you do stop and enjoy the scenery, you don't freeze. This good winter weather sent me running to the forest.
My father considered a walk among the mountains as the equivalent of churchgoing.
― Aldous Huxley
I came across that quote on Neil Peart's latest blog post via this LINK. This man continues to live the way I want to. He took off for a month to live out in his house up in the Laurentians. He normally lives in Southern California, but he's originally from Canada, grew up in Toronto, but bought himself a place in the Laurentians in the 80s. So, yes, he went up North during the winter. Winter is actually very nice, when you're not in the city. His wife and daughter visited him for a week during his stay. To have time to be with your books, thoughts, ideas, documentaries, exercise, nature, fresh air... Then, the occasional and welcome diversion of friends and family. An introvert's utopia.
I don't have the luxury of a month, but I did manage to steal a couple of days and ran for the hills. Here is a LINK to the pictures I took along with some words.
I had been stalking Wartard's blog when things started shaking in Ukraine and Crimea. It was worth the wait. Entertaining and Informative. Read it. The only thing I can add is I fear how the west handles this and doesn't get caught up in any jingoist noise bound to creep up.
Disfarmer: Critics have hailed Disfarmer's remarkable black and white portraits as
"a work of artistic genius" and "a classical episode in the history of
American photography."
I was watching another Wes Anderson movie. His movies are beautiful, artistic, smart and funny. You can watch them over and over and amaze at the details. The movie was Rushmore. Not my favourite of his, that title belongs to The Fantastic Mr. Fox. Rushmore's soundtrack is filled with British Invasion Mod music.
Ooh La, La by Ronnie Lane was played over the credits. Here's the video for the song:
It's called Ooh La La by Ronnie Lane. The tune of his was included in Rushmore, because Ronnie Lane was part of the Mod scene in the 60s. I did not know that until I viewed this documentary. I'd heard the song before, but seemed like I was hearing it for the first time. It's one of those 'perfect' songs. I equate with Angel from Montgomery, Aint no sunshine, Dead Flowers.
The subject matter is not necessarily happy, but Ronnie Lane's smile is contagious, and he really enjoys his craft. All the musicians in here are just groovin. Music was cool back then. And how cool is it to have a girl come in and do a can-can dance, beautiful.
It's a simple, poetic tune. The chorus is a brilliant turn of phrase. The lyrics describe a dialogue between a grandfather and grandson, with
the elder man warning the younger about the perils of relationships with
women. But really, it doesn't have to be about women, it could be about anything really. We want to give advice to our children, so they can avoid the pains we went thru. It hurts and makes you cringe when they have to learn on their own...just like you.
Ooh La La (Ronnie Lane, Ron Wood)
Poor old Granddad I laughed at all his words I thought he was a bitter man He spoke of women's ways
"They'll trap you, then they use you Before you even know For love is blind and you're far too kind Don't ever let it show"
I wish that I knew what I know now When I was younger. I wish that I knew what I know now When I was stronger.
The Can Can's such a pretty show They'll steal your heart away But backstage, back on earth again The dressing rooms are grey
They come on strong and it ain't too long Before they make you feel a man But love is blind and you soon will find You're just a boy again
When you want her lips, you get a cheek Makes you wonder where you are If you want some more and she's fast asleep Then she's twinkling with the stars.
"Poor young grandson, there's nothing I can say You'll have to learn, just like me And that's the hardest way Ooh la la"
I wish that I knew what I know now When I was younger. I wish that I knew what I know now When I was stronger.
Yet another fantastic Wes Anderson movie. There is a love story. But also, what if we lived in a world where a delinquent, instead of being punished and locked up, is finally understood, loved and accepted. The attention to detail, the colours, it all draws you in. It is a feast for the senses. Pay attention to Sam's coonskin hat after the explosion.
As in the Fantastic Mr. Fox, Bill Murray also plays a lawyer in this movie. Cussing right he does. There's a scene where he's lying in bed, his eyes are blackened for some reason, and he looks just like his badger alter ego.
You will definitely want to stay for the music over the credits.
The doc. is supposed to be about a <gravitas voice>Megafactory</gravitas voice> being refitted for Tesla. It ends up being a 44 minute commercial for the newest Tesla electric car. It works, I want one.
This isn't your father's electric car. Although built in a former GM plant, this car is cool, and somehow Elon Musk, the rock star CEO is allowed to proceed with his vision. Tesla started out with the expensive (US$128,500) roadster. Now, Tesla wants to leverage profits from its sedan. Eventually, moving in to mass-producing affordable electric cars.
Although the doc is filled with typical Amercian docu-drama music, it does have good information.
The watermelon sized engine, sits in the back.
There is no transmission
The battery pack is the car's chassis floor, and contains thousands of AA sized cells.
Very roomy: no bulky engine, transmission, etc.
Fast
400 + km range
Clean, no emmissions!
Watch the doc. Gives you hope for the future. Hopefully these cars will be able to handle Canadian winters.
Its release has had a coincidental, yet tremendous influence in the way electricity is produced to this day. It was released 12 days before the 3-mile island incident. Needless to say, it fed the hysteria surrounding nuclear energy.
This film is 34 years old:
Jane Fonda's character is forever hit on, in and out of the workplace. It kind of reminded me of Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy Men openly behave like pigs.
Michael Douglas was creepy even back then. His hair rivals the leading lady's.
Jane Fonda's answering machine is larger than a few of my outdated PCs.
It is on itself a good movie, and it managed to keep my interest for the entire 123 minutes. It is worth watching.
I watched the latest movie about Alfred Hitchcock. It is called Hitchcock.
It was ok. As I was watching, I suddenly realized that Hitch was being played by none other than Sir Anthony Hopkins. He is best known for Silence of the Lambs, but is a very accomplished actor. The movie highlights the importance his wife Alma Reville played in his life and his movies. The role of Janet Leigh who plays the role of Marion Crane in Psycho was played by the beautiful Scarlett Johansson. I think it is a good introduction to Hitchcock's story, but there are tons of books about him. Some of the books contradict each other. For example his reliance on storyboards, how he directed etc. Of course there are the stories of how he pursued the leading ladies in his movies. The Hitchcock icy blondes. There are also stories of him being creepy, voyeuristic, and more than weird. True or not, I enjoy how he builds his movies.
The movie subject matter he chooses is mostly dark, but his movie-making craftsmanship is what drives me to watch his movies. Each scene is carefully created. Each pan, travel draw you in. One can spend lots of time researching the symbolism in his movies. Sometimes I do, sometimes I just sit back and catch the ones I can, and enjoy the show.
It got me in the mood to re-re-watch some of his movies again.
It all started one dreary Ottawa February. I was strolling down the aisles at the library, when I was drawn to a colourful book cover. I read the jacket. Two guys on a road trip in Florida. Now that sounds like something I'd much rather be doing.
Well, it's a lot more than that. The main character, Serge A. Storms is a lovable, yet undeniable insane Floridiaphile. His obsessive
love of Florida history leads to madcap adventures throughout the state,
often with his stoner best friend Coleman. Oh, and Serge is a serial killer, who preys on the rude, abusive or
greedy. He comes up with elaborate methods of dealing out death.
The first one in Tim Dorsey's series about Serge and his sidekicks is Florida Roadkill. The writing style is sparse, witty, manic, funny. Each one of his books reads like a cool movie I would love to see. All sewn up with apt social commentary skewering all sides of the political spectrum under zany, sunny Florida skies.
Serge is like a permanent tour guide and is always sharing his knowledge of Floridian history. From Ponce to Ponzi, he knows it, and shares it.
I love to watch movies (who doesn't right?). Serge does too. During many of Serge and Coleman's road trips, or as some call them: 'police chases', or 'being on the run', they will often make a detour, or stop where a famous movie scene was based or shot. This of course infuriates the rear-seat occupants who usually aren't too thrilled, about, or even consenting, to be driving around with Serge in the first place.
So here it is, my Florida Film Festival list:
Scarface
Cocaine Cowboys
Square Grouper
Key Largo
Notorious
Miami Vice
Plot: When Fidel Castro opens the harbor at Mariel, Cuba, he sends 125,000
Cuban refugees to reunite with their relatives in the United States.
Among all the refugees, there is one who wants it all, his name is Tony
Montana.
Best Quote"Say hello to my little friend"
Serge Connection: Serge is a proud Cuban and his heritage is often refered to. The Mariel boatlift is often referred to as well. Also, in Torpedo Juice, the vilain, who calls himself Scarface, is a psychotic drug lord obsessed with the movie.
Notes: This is an entertaining gangster movie. As an outsider, I don't pretend to know all the issues relating to the rise of the cocaine drug trade thru Miami in the 80s, or the Cuba/Florida issues either. But this movie serves as an entertaining start before viewing documentaries such as Cocaine Cowboys, or Square Grouper.
The drug trade has not served Florida well in many respects. Tons and tons of money were made and spent in Florida via the drug trade. However, the price is
much much more that what was lost. And that is the essence of what Tim
Dorsey is nostalgic about via his spokesman Serge.
Plot: In the 1980s, ruthless Colombian cocaine barons invaded Miami with a
brand of violence unseen in this country since Prohibition-era Chicago -
and it put the city on the map. "Cocaine Cowboys" is the true story of
how Miami became the drug, murder and cash capital of the United States,
told by the people who made it all happen.
Written by
rakontur
Notes: There is no direct Serge connection, but it is the best documentary I could find that explains the rise of the 1980s drug trade.
Plot: A colorful portrait of Miami's pot smuggling scene of the 1970s,
populated with redneck pirates, a ganja-smoking church, and the longest
serving marijuana prisoner in American history.
Serge Connection: I remember square groupers are mentioned in one of the books. Another entertaining drug smuggling documentary but this time about the far less damaging drug, marijuana. Brought to you by the same crew that made Cocaine Cowboys.
Plot: A man visits his old friend's hotel and finds a gangster running things.
As a hurricane approaches, the two end up confronting each other as they are all stranded in the boarded up hotel riding out the hurricane.
Notes: Films of this era are always fun to watch. The quick dialogue, everyone wearing suits, even in 100 degree weather. Men's pant styles at the time seemed to require them to go way up the belly, accented by short ties. Many Bogart films are sure classics: The Maltese Falcon, Casablanca, The African Queen, The Big Sleep. The Big Sleep by the way is based on a Raymond Chandler novel which inspired one of my best movie makers, the Coen Brotheres to make one of my all-time favourites: The Big Lebowski.
Serge connection: At the end of Hammerhead Ranch Motel, Serge and friends are riding out a hurricane in a bar by the beach. The plot twists and turns as Serge finally confronts Zargoza. Sound familiar? While all this is going on, Serge is playing, Key Largo on the VCR.
Funny how the movie poster's style is quite similar to Dorsey's book covers.
Notes: It's a Hitchcock movie with Carrie Grant, I mean come on. One of the early scenes shows the Ingrid Bergman character driving drunk. That scene kind of stuck. Either because it has the Hitchcock treatment or maybe drunk driving was not as much as a taboo? She does get pulled over, but still. Anywho, a fun movie to watch.
Synonyms: While googling Notorious, I came across Notorious B.I.G. the rapper who, along with Tupac, died in the infamous East coast / West coast rapper hip-hop feud. There is a movie Notorious (2009) which I found interesting because I don't know much on the genre.
Florida Connection: The only relevant connection is that the story takes place in Florida. Hey, thatwould be good enough for Serge. I don't remember if he references this film. If I find a reference in the books, I'll add it here later.
Trivia: Notorious begins with the title: "Miami, Florida, 3:20 p.m.,
April 20, 1946," a very specific bit of information that adds little to
our understanding or appreciation of the story. Hitchcock used the same
time and date specificity at the beginning of Psycho (1960).
Notes: This James Bond movie features Miami's Fountainebleu Hotel in the opening shots. The hotel has historical and architectural significance on Miami Beach. The Black Tuna Gang ran its operations from there. For more info on the hotel's role, check out the Wikipedia entry.
Serge connection: Serge gets a murder method inspiration from Goldfinger. A James Bond girl is killed buy a villain by painting her in Gold. This kills her via epidermal suffocation.
Notes: Ah Miami Vice. Cringe-worthy tackiness, but the 80s were like that. I might have watched back then it if there was nothing else on. Remember, this was before pvrs. Anything worth programming the VCR had to be pretty dammned good. You had to scrunch down on the floor, and punch thru little buttons to navigate thru green led menus. The kids at school talked about it, so you had to watch it a little. The show may have tackled the issues, but the constant posturing, dick waving, gun-toting, drama made it difficult to watch in my opinion.
Maybe if I wear shades no one will recognize me in the future.
The Miami Vice Opening Theme is iconic.Quick shots that highlight Miami clichés, along with cool percussion music. It is just so good! During highschool, I took a cinema class, and we spliced in a scene where someone is watching the show. Being 18 year old trolls, we of course used the 2.5 seconds of bouncing boobies.
Palm trees shot from underneath against a blue sky, extra sun flare
Flamingos
Close racing shot at sea with Miami Vice logo fade in
Miami Vice logo fluorescent lights up
Wind surfer wets his hair by leaning back into the water while maintaining his ride
Bouncing Caribana boobies
Jai Alai player.
More racing sea shot
Horse race
Rolls Royces
Beach hotels
Parrots
Another racing sea shot
Dog race now
More racing sea shot
Opulent Miami beach hotels
Bikinis
A dozen speed boats complete with wake trails
Miami night skyline
Other movies filmed in Florida
The above films are direct references in Tim Dorsey's books, or paint the backdrop of why Florida has it's own Fark tag. While combing the net for references, I also came across lists of movies that were filmed in Florida, but the story doesn't necessarily take place there.
After watching Scarface, I was in the mood to watch another gangster movie, which brought me to Goodfellas. Ray Liotta is okay, but Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci are at their finest in this movie. Another thing Goodfellas is famous for is Martin Scorsese. Hislong take is a finely crafted choreography and worth seeing. This film was shot in Florida, but most of the story does not.
Edward Scissorhands (1990)
The strange tale about a boy with scissors for hands was filmed entirely
in Florida. The area of Lutz provided the houses for the film, and the
Southgate Shopping centre in Lakelands also features. Directed by Tim Burton and starring Johnny Depp.
Rebel Without a Cause (1955)
A good excuse as any to post a James Dean movie. Other of his films I like include Giantand East of Eden.East of Eden, written by a an author I enjoy: John Steinbeck.
Notable mentions
Caddy Shack (1980) includes the Baco Raton Resort and the Grande Oaks Golf Club in Davie. Apollo 13 (1995) for the Kennedy Space Center. The shot of Gary Sinise leaning against his corvette, watching the launch is pretty cool. Most of the early astronauts had Corvettes.The TrumanShow(1998) filmed in Florida.
Midnight Cowboy (1969), filmed in Florida. It is an odd story about a naïve Texan named Joe Buck (Jon Voight) who thinks he is God's gift to women. He decides to move to New York to become a male prostitute, but you know, for women? He is in for a rude awakening. He meets up with a con man Enrico "Ratso" Rizzo (Dustin Hoffman). Of note is the "I'm walkin here" scene:
Speaking of movies with Dustin Hoffman, The Graduate (1967) is a fun film to watch. A must see for theclassic final scene. You can say so much without using words. I recommend watching the whole movie, not just Youtubing the final scene. Body Heat (1981) Could.Not.Watch.This.Movie
Chasing references
When a book or a song lyricrefers to something, it makes me want to look up that reference. And that reference, opens up a whole other bunch of references too. I will try to update this post when I find more Florida movie references.
What is the socially redeeming value of your work? Dorsey:That it will get kids to read because it is fun.I’m not being facetious.There
are other things in there as well.I
think a lot of kids could get hooked on reading.You have readers and nonreaders--and that is the great divide.We all know where those paths lead.Having Beowulf force fed to me and hating it and then finding this other
stuff I loved made all the difference to me.I have talked to some teachers and classes.The other thing is that kids are sharp.I want to make the books entertaining.Everyone would like to be a literary icon, but the reality is
that literature now is often a fancy way of saying hard to read.I want to be entertaining first of all.I don’t just have a degenerate point unless it is funny.I don’t make a point unless it’s funny.But past that my books provide a constructive questioning of authority. Not
just skinhead stuff.But you have
to go through a naive idealistic phase.It
is healthy.That’s why Vonnegut
is good. He taps into that vein of naive idealistic outrage we all have to feel
at some point in our lives.I try
to harpoon hypocrisy--but only if it is funny.Otherwise, I’ll tell a degenerate joke instead.
