Groan… More proof of the complicated love/hate relationship the evangelical subculture has with popular culture. Also, but-gustingly funny. And, um, embarrassing, as my link is more proof of the complicated love/hate relationship I have with the evangelical subculture. (via Elise)
Author: James McNally
Merde
Brooke and I saw Chocolat last night. We always try to see all the best picture nominees so off we went. My review must begin with my suggestion for a revised title: Merde. It was sad to see such a great cast throw themselves into this ham-fisted “fable.” It’s all about the evils of tradition, as long as that tradition is male and Christian and European. The unnamed religion of Juliette Binoche’s character should be tolerated and embraced, even if it does lead her to hold a “fertility festival” of chocolate on Easter Sunday. Maybe she’s the one who started that damned Easter Bunny nonsense.
I haven’t even mentioned how ludicrous Johnny Depp’s character is, as an Irish gypsy. First of all, in a small village in France in 1959, would anyone speak English? No, but then why does Johnny Depp speak English with an Irish accent? And why is his character named Roux? And how does Lena Olin’s character transform from mentally unstable abused wife to assistant proprietress? Why, chocolate, of course. There are suggestions that chocolate can kindle sexual desire, which may be true. But the scenes of chocolate-induced debauchery are laughable. And tell me if I’m wrong. Has chocolate ever been banned by the Catholic Church? Of course, we get yet another ineffectual clergyman character, and several other characters whose Catholicism is portrayed as tyrannical.
There is just so much more that is maddening about this film that I’d love to see it again. Ok, well maybe not. I’ve heard that Miramax really “worked hard” to get this a nomination for best picture. I think it would win in a new category: “Best Fake Foreign Film.” What I think Miramax has done is to try to create a foreign film for people too dumb to read subtitles. Save your money and go see Like Water for Chocolate or Antonia’s Line or >Babette’s Feast for similar territory covered much more skillfully.
DJ Flow
Thinking more about the whole “flow managing” thing. It sort of reminds me of my DJ’ing experience in college. You know, trying to keep the same “groove” going (boy that sounds so uncool coming from me!). It sort of relates. It’s an art as well as a science. I’m more and more attracted to the field if I can approach it in this way. Should I put my DJ experience on the resume? 🙂
Thank You Andre
Last night I was in a really bad mood. Part of it related to what I wrote below. Part was just irrational moodiness. Nevertheless, through some fortuitous coincidence, I found torrez.org. Some of the smartest and funniest writing I’ve seen yet on the web. Go now and read all of it. Thank you Andre.
Exhausted From Not Working
Is it possible to be exhausted from not working? Things at work have been so slow since the beginning of December, I feel more stressed than if we were busy. My days are unfocussed, and with that goes a certain amount of guilt. I want to be productive, but I’m not being asked to do very much. And I either lack the motivation to start my own projects, or feel guilty working on them, like I’m stealing company time. It doesn’t help that my boss and I share the same tiny office space. I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about how service based companies work. We depend on a certain flow of work, and when the flow isn’t continuous (and it never is), we need people who know how to manage the flow so that the workers think it’s continous. This allows them be more productive and it reduces their stress. This is true when there is too much work as well as when there is not enough. Part of it is good time management, and part of it is just good communication. This is what I want to do, to be the “flow managing” guy. I suppose this is what project managers do. Well, I guess that’s what I should be preparing to do.