Been thinking quite a bit about Robert Duvall, who passed away last week. How many of his films have been rafters holding up my personal cinematic roof. Of course there were the big deals like Apocalypse Now and Lonesome Dove, but so many others like The Apostle, Tender Mercies, The Great Santini, M*A*S*H, and Colors. All memorable.
I’ll take just one to talk about, and that is Colors, from 1988. You could say that it’s just another movie about cops and gangs in Los Angeles. But that would sell it so very short.
It’s a movie about people and relationships, with some of those people being policemen and some gang members. All are flesh and blood rather than caricatures. It’s been awhile since I first saw it, and … think I’ll go looking for it again. A good movie is always worth at least one revisit.
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Speaking of caricatures, the Cluckicans had their night with the State of the Union this week. I didn’t watch it, but then I never watch State of the Union addressses, even when I like the guy. Sounds like I saved a little part of my sanity by skipping the broadcast. Political theater is one of my least favorite entertainments. They are empty words for the most part, without usefulness or importance. A time for lies and fantasies.
My own one-word assessment of the State of the Union = fragile. Like Leonard Cohen said in that music video, Democracy is comin’ to the USA and the only question is how soon it will get here. There are many who are working very hard in making plans for when that happy day arrives, and we can be done with the vile man who is President and his lickspittle party. I believe that the resistance is succeeding, and my own problem now is impatience.
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Clattering branches
Their leafy cushions absent
Click like beetles’ wings
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Robin and I are watching the TV series The Closer, which is a cop procedural show that originally ran from 2005-2012. It tells the stories of a special detective squad within the Homicide Division in Los Angeles that handles “sensitive” cases. It’s pretty entertaining, actually, and LA always has stories to tell.
There is something unusual about the squad. It is almost perfectly diverse, with men, women, whites, blacks, an Asian, a Hispanic, a grumpy older cop, a toothpick-chewing younger cop, etc. But that’s it. There is no hint of intrasquad tensions or signs of racism, intolerance, or condescension as a result of this diversity. Mutual respect, professionalism, and intelligence are qualities each member embodies. It is therefore very pleasant to watch. To peek into a world where those differences are not drawbacks but strengths that further the work of the group.
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Robin and I have been in Steamboat Springs this weekend, catching up with Ally and Kyle, and with Ethan and Xian, who we haven’t seen in years. Good weather, good times. Steamboat is a total tourist town, but an attractive one. The only reason to buy anything here is if you really like being held up and robbed. So your mother’s admonition of “You can look but don’t touch” still holds as true as it ever did, here in Steamboat.
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I’m just going to toss in one little item at the very end about Cluck and his latest misadventures. He has now invaded another country, this time along with his co-criminal Netanyahu, and we have no idea what the consequences of this extremely rash act are going to be, nor is he.
There is something of course, missing in all of this, and that is the Congress of the United States. If anyone has any idea where this once august body could be, could you contact your representative and ask them if they wouldn’t please show up and do their freaking job.
We are in need of an impeachment and removal from office of a madman. Any time this week would be fine.
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Little Home In The Valley 