At the Movies (on my comfortable couch)

Since I'm up a little past 3 in the morning, I thought I would share some thoughts on recent movie screenings.  I'm not going to crib my work with a rating system, so you will have to read what I say to understand the review (sorry for being so difficult).

 

Cars

 

Overall, this is a pretty good film.  The animation appears amazingly realistic, especially in several landscape scenes (except for the cars, of course).  The story works well, yet it still follows Pixar's continued effort to interject some degree of liberalism into their plots.  This time, they discuss how the creation of the Interstate Highway, ruined one facet of America.  Not as bad as the politics of Monsters, Inc., which infuses commentary on energy source dependence and the promise of alternative fuels, but it is still there.  The best part is including Richard Petty as the voice of "The King".  I was also impressed how they incorporated a remake of his spectacular late-1980's Daytona 500 crash during the into the script.  One review I saw criticized the movie for manufacturing a moral focal point, as if it was trying too hard.  Honestly, it was telegraphed from about the first 5 minutes of the movie, and everything fell pretty easily into place.  Not much guess work for an adult, but plenty of fun and thoughtfulness of younger audiences.

 

The 40-Year Old Virgin

 

My wife prefers Wedding Crashers, but I really think, having now seen this movie a couple more times, that this is easily comparable.  The fact that Steve Carrell and friends join an adult movie full of debauchery with a pretty serious and positive message promoting responsible relationships without making it seem like it is preaching in a sinner's lair ( i.e., Christian Metal), shows what is possible if Hollywood's inspiring minds focus on their craft.  The humor gets better with every viewing, as does the acting.

 

Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang

 

This movie just made the video rental counter after a short time early in the year in theatres.  It should have gotten more publicity early on, because it is a great film.  The banter between Val Kilmer and Robert Downey, Jr. is fantastic, as is the storyline intermixing Hollywood, murder, rekindling of relationships, and personal introspection.  The best part, in my mind, was the fascinating action sequences, featuring some of the best gun play I have seen in quite a while.  What else do you expect from Richard Donner (of Lethal Weapon fame).

 

Brokeback Mountain

 

Yes, I saw the film.  For a movie to work, especially a drama, you have to have sympathy for at least some of the characters.  Not all, just some.  This would include identifying a protagonist.  Even if they are only a shade of gray better than the antagonist, it does help to have one.  This film does not have one, nor do its characters encourage you to feel sympathy or share their struggles.  Gay sex aside, the principals (Jack and Ennis) are both flawed and undeserving.  Those around them, save Ennis' wife and Jack's parents, are not much better. It also does not help that the second half of the film feels twice as long as the first half.  Perhaps this was Ang Lee's intent, to emphasize that Jack and Ennis, though they did not know it until it was too late, had a long, meaningful life together.  I really do not know.  If someone can clue me in, please do so.

 

Transamerica

 

This was far better than Brokeback.  Your are able to come away from this film without morally judging Felicity Huffman's character, a transsexual awaiting gender changing surgery.  You can still disagree with her lifestyle, as I do, but the film does not portray her as anything more than someone seeking to be happy with themselves, not necessarily concerned with the acceptance of others.  While the film does probe into the lead's relationship with their estranged family, made complex with the revelation of a teenage son, you do not see the usual "will you accept me for who I am" cry often found in movies featuring characters of alternative lifestyles.  Also, you have to kind of admire an successful mainstream television actress (and network at that) performing in a full frontal nude scene that actually, as my wife explained it, served a purpose with regard to the story.

 

Match Point

 

To wrap up this round, I want to praise my choice for last year's Best Picture.  It should have been nominated, and it should have won.  Woody Allen finally resurrected himself as a writer and director, putting together a riveting story that resurrects the forbidden love storyline, cast in a modern light.  The acting was superb as well.  I remember the previews emphasizing the conclusion, and I honestly felt disappointed... until the last three minutes.  I honestly think that this is Allen's best work, of those I have seen.

 

With the exception of Cars, all of these films were seen at home, on DVD (The 40-Year Old Virgin is now available on HBO).  Honestly, it's how I prefer to see them nowadays.  Theatre visits are for important, life-changing exceptions.

Is training useless?

Most of it, according to this management coach .  His arguments are sound.  I agree that the best training leads its students toward searching out for their own information.  As a self-starter, this is pretty easy.  Noticing a deficiency in my work, I seek out information and perform self-study.  Not everyone acts this way, especially when dealing with skill improvement (rather than knowledge).

Are we really serving the people... or talking with their money?

Instapundit linked to a blog that published a recent New York Times Letter to the Editor where the writer described how a recent article made them think of a personal episode where a friend borrowed a couple of dollars in order to have a conversation with a bum.  The blogger looked beyond the writer's initial context and argued that they should have been angry that someone wasted their money for their own selfish purpose.  I agree with her.

 

This also makes me think about the effectiveness of the public sector in solving society's problems.  I do believe we have success, but often the results are disappointing.  How often do we initiate programs and services (and spend the money of others, through charities and government) just to busy ourselves?  Public servants want to be creators just as much as artists or private entrepreneurs.  The difference is we use other people's money with no mandate to return (or increase) it.

 

I appreciate the lesson of the analogy and its relevance to my field.  It is definitely something worth thinking about for all of us in the public sector.