Movies

"The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill" - This was a sweet, quirky documentary about an intelligent, compassionate homeless man who takes it upon himself to care for a flock of wild parrots in San Francisco. The differences between Mark Bittner and effing Timothy Treadwell could not be more dramatic. This was not an exciting film, and I can't say that it lingered too long with me afterward, but I thoroughly enjoyed it while I watched it, finding it calming and soothing and satisfying.

"Munich" - OK, not calming or soothing or satisfying here. As everyone knows, this one is Spielberg's take on the aftermath of the murder of 12 Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympics. I didn't really know much about this, and I still don't know how much Spielberg had to fabricate, but at the very least we know that Israel sent its own assassins out into the world to kill those responsible for the murders. Many, many important questions are left hanging, not least of which is whether it's even worth it to kill someone who will be replaced by someone even more dangerous—and whose assassination will be matched by retribution at embassies around the world. As you know, I try not to read too much about movies before I see them, but I recall hearing that the Jewish community at large was not happy with this movie (nor were the Palestinians, I'm sure), but I think it was presented quite even-handedly, and I can't really see how anyone could take it as an unfair or offensive statement against Israel, or as a sympathetic statement in favor of Palestinians. Beyond all that stuff, it was an exciting movie to watch plot-wise, and I think Eric Bana is a hottie. So there you go.

"Jarhead" - War movies depress me to no end, particularly those that take me into the hearts and minds of the young soldiers who fight them. This one is based on the autobiography of Marine Anthony Swofford and takes place during Operation Desert storm. The Marines' boredom, frustration, and fear comes through with every step of their dusty boots, and you get only a glimpse of what kind of men they'd be if they hadn't enlisted. Jake Gyllenhaal was thoroughly believable in the lead role, and if Andy could have found a way to quit drawling, "I wish I could find a way to quit you" during every pause in the action, I might have taken it even more seriously.

Comments

[Susan Barr]

I've read enough about your Andy to think what a nice fellow he must be, so I did a little inquiry at "search this blog" on your page and typed in "Andy" (hoping for a picture). I found three verbatim references to Andy and a picture of Andy Milonakis...

[Karen]

Here's our most recent family photo:
http://verbatim.blogs.com/verbatim/2005/12/peace_on_earth.html
And, yes, he's indeed a nice fellow! :-)

[Risottogirl]

The guy in Parrots wasn't homeless...we saw the parrots on Saturday - they nest this time of year in the huge old palms in Fort Mason. They are so beautiful. I miss SF, I didn't want to leave.

[Karen]

No, you're right, not homeless in the true sense, but he was just staying in that couple's cottage and had no means of support. He had been homeless until they let him stay there, and I sense he would have become homeless again if he hadn't hooked up with the filmmaker!

[Paul]

What does one do when people are murdered in cold blood as at Munich ? I detest violence and killing, but if someone killed my family I would hunt them until justice was served!