Originally, I thought I might do something longer today, but it was immediately apparent once I got out there that the legs were still recovering, so I decided to just do another 3 miles.
1: 9:34
2: 9:34
3: 10:02
Total Time: 29:12
Now, I think I'm going to go lay on the couch for a bit and finish my book. I'm reading "The Hours" and I really like it -- and if the ending is going where I think it's going, it's gonna be pretty dang good. Earlier this week, I finished the novel "The Monsters of Templeton" and I thought it was alright. There were some innovative elements to it, but there were also a lot of trademark "first novel" aspects to it that detracted from the overall narrative. I guess I'd have to say that the best thing about it was the cover -- it looks cool.
I've also gotten to see a few movies as of late too. On Sunday, we watched "No Country for Old Men" and I have to say, that movie sure deserved its "Best Picture" Oscar. I thought it was the best movie I'd seen since "The Departed"; and it was one of the few movies adapted from a novel that looked exactly like I pictured it. On Monday, we continued our tour through Oscar nominees with "There Will be Blood," which I felt conflicted about: See, it was clearly a masterfully crafted movie and the acting was awesome, yet I really disliked some aspects of it. For one thing, it's like 3 hours long, and even though I have a pretty long attention span, I was getting antsy sitting through it. Plus, I felt entirely puzzled by the story's main character -- like there was some important aspect to him that was missing and that made it feel incomplete in some way.
Now, I still need to see "Atonement" (another novel I liked and am eager to see the film's interpretation of) and...what was another Best Picture nominee this year? I saw "Juno" (fabulous!) but I can't think of the 5th movie. Huh. This is gonna bug me.
19 comments:
The departed was depressing. Every body died!!
"michael clayton"
I enjoyed it. I hope you get some great rest on those legs and enjoy your book.
I've heard mixed reviews of most of the movies you mentioned, but think I might like to see Juno - that's the one that has had the most consistently positive reviews (from my friends)
Nice run and effort!
I love, love, love Juno. I'm heading out to buy my own copy tomorrow and force The Cowboy to watch it. Woot!
I loved Atonement the book, haven't seen the movie. And I really enjoyed There Will Be Blood, but I always get excited about gratuitous violence so I also enjoyed The Departed. Haven't seen No Country For Old Men, yet. Hope you had a good evening.
Nice Run!
I LOVED Juno:)
Oooooo I've wanted to see Atonement myself :-) YOu tell me how it is and then I'll watch ;-)
I'm watching Atonement now, and it's outstanding. Beautifully filmed. Do see Michael Clayton, too, and not just to see my boyfriend George Clooney. It's very good.
I loved No Country....best flick I've seen in quite some time.
agreed. best movie since the Departed for me as well...
The only one of the nominated movies I've seen was Michael Clayton - that one was good. Really want to see Juno and No Country for Old Men.
i have atonement at home right now - maybe will get around to watching it this weekend? i watched no country for old men last weekend and did not get it at all... i just was left saying "huh??" at the end of the movie... maybe just not my type :)
i want to see juno asap too!!
I passed up "No Country for Old Men" last weekend for...can't even remember. Oh I remember "August Rush". I will get Country this weekend.
Thanks for the review. I have wanted to see some of those same movies. I am lagging behind on my reading too.
I *loved* Juno, and No Country, and Atonement was ok....
There will be Blood though...I was as conflicted as you. When I thought about it, it struck me that the director was going for a literary movie....that it was like a modern movie version of Milton's Paradise Lost....It all begins with his *fall* afterall. And that the whole thing was a allegory of the battle between good and evil in the modern world. Good starting out as the church, and evil being corporate capitalism...which slowly but surely corrupts the church and finally vaniquishes it.
Personally, I thought the director paid so much attention to this alergorical layer, that he clean forgot to make DDL's actions and motivations wholly believably of a human/psychological level.
Nevertheless the acting was amazing.
just my two cents worth.
I heard tell that British families were asked to send *essentials* like tobacco, morphine, and syringes to *our boys* in the trenches in WW1. Maybe thats where Tim O'Brien got it from.
As for TWBB: I'll look out for the novel - and see if that is more emotionally involving. Did you notice that the not only was the guy presented as a bit of a sociopath (ie he had no real empathy with anyone else at all) but the director actively stopped us from having emotional connections with others. Eg that scene in the bar, where DDL is clearly trying to humiliate the oilman infront of his business associates, and rather than focus on their reaction/discomfort...the camera is fixed on DDL's monologue...
I think this might be another reason why its so difficult to engage with the film...cos we're not sociopaths...
Jeez...I do go on a bit...sorry... :)
Re: his son. I think I believed him when he said that he was just a business 'tool' -- a way of endearing himself to people from whom he might make money. After the accident he was no longer so 'useful' I suppose. And it was only when a fellow business man questioned his 'family values' that he sought the boy out again. Or maybe it was when he was forced to repent in the church...either way...it was easily chalked up to a business strategy.
Re: DDL's character. I think I saw him as being inherently corrupt. Satanic even, hence the fall at the beginning, and that protracted scene in the middle where he watches the oil well burn - and it is little more than a single image of him blackened by the oil (that has forced its way out of the belly of the earth btw) lit by the flames. Not to mention the fact that his actions become more and more violent, 'inhuman' and deranged as the film progresses.
But you are right about the preacher...his character was the most 'difficult', insofar as, he did come across as a fraud from the outset. We werent really allowed to believe in him at any point.
Interestingly when I saw it at the cinema...a good proportion of the audience laughed along with DDL as the preacher was being humiliated (which was kind of disturbing to witness) - almost right up until the point where he was killed. which kind of suggests that they had 'adopted' DDL as a kind of anti-hero, rather than being thoroughly replused by him, as me and my partner were.
Which perhaps suggests that the author/director *may* have been offering some kind of commentary on our cultural perception of religion....but I admit...this is a bit weak.
You're very polite...I do tend to bang on a bit...sorry! :)
Have a good weekend!
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