of cows, communists, and oddly-named pies

or Old News, which I meant to Post Some Time Ago, but which I Hope will still be of Interest to my Gentle Readers (if indeed any still Remain after my late lengthy Silence)

********************************************

May 24th-28th, 2007

Movies in theaters make me happy. I went to see Spiderman 3 a few weeks ago; it was enjoyable, but not as good as the last two. The story felt crowded, with too many characters and plots, and the character development left something to be desired. (I was particularly annoyed with a moment late in the film, when a major revelation is made in a way that feels contrived and retcon-y.) But despite the flaws, it's still a good movie in the best superhero franchise to date (and *far* better than a certain deplorable movie from last summer.)

But my favorite summer movies so far aren't blockbusters, and may not be coming to theaters near you. They're about communists and pies, respectively, and are very much worth checking out, if you can.

Last week, I caught the German film The Lives of Others on its last night in Rivertown. We only have one theater that shows foreign films, and each film is only there for a week--which has regrettably caused me to miss several films I wanted to see (like last year's "The Science of Sleep"). "

The Lives of Others is a film about life in Communist East Berlin, told through the eyes a secret-police agent who is whole-heartedly committed to the regime--and through the eyes of the the playwright and actress he spies on. The two artists have made compromise upon small compromise to live in peace, to avoid the silence imposed on their bolder (or more foolish) friends . . . and yet, though they don't know it, they're still suspected.

As the writer struggles with his compromises, the Stasi agent hides in the attic, a patient spider in a technological web, waiting for the one treasonous word that will damn his victims. Yet he's gradually drawn in to the drama he's witnessing, gradually comes to care about the people he's spying on--and, without understanding his own motivation, begins his own series of compromises. He ignores a small detail here, changes a small detail there, hiding suspicious things from his superiors, but assuring himself that he'll catch them in the end.

The turning point, for both the writer and the spy, comes after the writer learns of a friend's death. He hangs up the phone in silence, and turns to the piano, playing to honor his friend's memory, to mourn for him, to protest the regime that destroyed him, to seek comfort in his own grief and confusion. There are no tears. But as he plays, thinking he's alone in his flat, the spy sits in the attic, listening . . . and is so moved by the beauty of the music that he weeps.

(Unfortunately, this is a movie for older viewers only . . . if it weren't for a few scenes, this would be an excellent movie for older children, making Communism something more than a word in a textbook.)

Yesterday, I went to see the independent film "Waitress," an intelligent, funny, and surprisingly moving film that transcends the chick-flick genre. Written and directed by Adrienne Shelly, it tells the story of a woman trapped in a terrible, emotionally abusive marriage who discovers that she's pregnant. I know--it sounds like a dark, depressing drama. But it's not. While it never makes light of the abuse, the story is told with a deft, light touch, an array of delightfully quirky characters, and lots of pie.

Jenna, the eponymous waitress, has a knack for making unusual pies, which she names after events in her life. There's "Falling in Love" pie (made for her friend Dawn before a date); "I Don't Want Earl's Baby" pie (invented after her positive pregnancy test); and "I Can't Have No Affair Because it's Wrong and Earl Will Kill Me" pie. This last she invents after realizing that her gynecologist is attracted to her--and that it's mutual. The doctor, incidentally, is played by Nathan Fillion. (Yes, that strongly influenced my decision to see the movie; but it's well worth seeing for its own sake. Our favorite ship captain is just an added bonus . . . whipped cream on the pie, extra chocolate in the filling, sugar and a cherry on top. Or, um, something.)

Anyway, I'll stop there; but you should go see it, if you can, or rent it later. And then you should eat pie. Because pie is good.

Oh--I almost forgot the cows!

For those of you who may or may not know, I've been looking for a job for quite a while, and have successfully acquired one. I'm now working at the Purple Cow, a sandwich-icrecream-coffee place in Chipley, about 15 minutes from home. Its name gives me great delight.

************************************************

Herewith endeth the Old News . . . there may possibly be Newer News sometime in the near future. (If so, it will most likely involve starfish, sparrows, affairs, and books-I-want-to-like-but-can't.)