Do I Need Netflix?

 

Tonight again I tried to bring up my Netflix streaming service in my bedroom. That's where I have my main TV, in my bedroom which Pat calls "The Tipton Cinema." Lately I've been having problems having a strong signal. Often I can't bring anything up and if I do, it pauses (buffers) and then tries to download the signal again. Sometimes I wish I had the old Netflix service of renting DVD discs. 

Then there is a problem of the paucity of movies and series that I'm interested in when I am able to get a strong signal. I see other series and movies that I'm interested in on other platforms like Hulu, Prime, Paramount, and Max but one has to subscribe to each one of those services. Damn if I'm going to put out about $200 a month looking for a decent movie or series.

Then when I do get a movie that I'm interested in, I invariable have to sit through the obligatory soft porn sex scenes, which quite frankly bore me. I usually close my eyes because I'm so bored and just waiting for that part of the movie to move on, and the next thing I know I'm asleep. How many times have I seen the scene where as soon as the couple gets to their home or apartment they start tearing each others clothes off and have sex on the kitchen granite countertops, grunting and groaning. Not sexy at all. BORING. 

Another problem I have is with the heavy emphasis on diversity in all the current movies and series. I am taking a chance on offending with my remarks here but here goes, King George the 3rd's wife was not black regardless of what series Shonda Rhimes creates. I'm all for minority (black) actors having as much opportunity as white actors and not being just relegated to stereotypical roles of maids, pimps, gangsters and whores but come on. Even the most liberal person has to admit that the diversity bit is overplayed in current movies and series just as the soft porn is. I get it, I get it. To me much of what is being produced today is just not realistic. And what's with all the whispering? 

Remember when you could watch a movie and you didn't need subtitles? Look at the ads for movies and series on TV. A lot of "Boom! Boom" and a woman or man whispering. I know sound has come a long way since the introduction of talkies a hundred years ago but I do yearn for a movie or series where I can understand what the actors are saying.

I'll give this a few more months and if I'm still not finding the content I want I'm opting out. Not worth it to me. 

Watching Movies

This evening I finished watching the original movie version of "The Talented Mr. Ripley."

This is the Matt Damon version released in 1999.

I have seen this movie before and liked it. Why did I watch it again? Interesting question.

First of all, I have a difficult time finding a decent movie on my Netflix subscription which I now pay $25 a month for. 

Maybe I'm too jaded or just have seen too many movies in my lifetime that they all seem the same to me now. One thing is for sure, the quality of many of today's movies is very poor. 

I saw the most recent version of "The Talented Mr. Ripley" and it was good but I was put off by a woman playing "Freddie", the character that Phillip Seymour Hoffman was so perfect in the original version.

I normally don't watch movies during the week, only on the weekends. And always at night, never in the daytime. 

But I'm so exhausted watching the non-stop coverage of the latest Trump chaos on TV that I just wanted a release. An escape from the hellscape that is currently enveloping America. Just today I saw on my NextDoor app that ICE was in Lewes and Rehoboth Beach today. Yes, Trump's Gestapo has even invaded our peaceful communities here on the east coast of the Delmarva peninsula.

So while I was scrolling through the movie selections on my Netflix app, I was wishing for the original "The Talented Mr. Ripley." Bill helped me out again as he often does from the Afterlife and this movie popped right up on my thirteen year old 65 inch Aquos Sharp screen TV in my bedroom. I selected that icon and start to watching the movie last night. It's a long movie. While I remember the general story I found much to my surprise, I didn't remember many of the specific scenes. So this was like a whole new movie to me. 

What a delight! Good actors! Great script. Wonderful scenes of Italy. Superb script writing. Perhaps the only downside was that this movie was a Miramax (Harvey Weinstein) production. Only Harvey is sitting in prison now, after all his sexual abuse of young actresses came to light during the "Me Too" witch-hunts. 

Why don't they make movies like this anymore? 

I know the answer: MONEY.

The producers of today's movies throw in some sex scenes and graphic violence and that's the majority of today's movies. Not for me. 

Oh, there is the occasional good movie today. They're hard to fine though. 

"The Watcher"

After about six weeks of futile and aborted attempts at finding the next Netflix series to bury myself into, I finally found one:  "The Watcher."

Great cast, (with Naomi Watts, Mia Farrow and Jennifer Coolidge - how can you go wrong? And even the little boy isn't the usual annoying moped that Hollywood often casts in these roles).

Good script based on a true story. Well directed, and cinematography is fabulous. And best of all well acted.  

I've tried to watch other Netflix series like "Ozark" and "Virginia River", all of which got high marks from Rotten Tomatoes but I just couldn't get into those far fetched, cliche ridden, ridiculous stories with (mostly) B list actors (a few exceptions). This series actually got a lower rating on Rotten Tomatoes but I like it anyway. Just goes to show you can't always go by ratings. You have to check out the series yourself. 

I need to "bury" myself into these Netflix series to offset the daily stress of my life here at Casa Tipton-Kelly. I watch the series after Bill goes to bed. I never watch movies in the daytime, only at night in the dark. And this is the perfect series to watch.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I am.

More Hollywood Casting Lies

 

Continuing with my previous unpopular post about Hollywood casting lies, there is a new trend I'm noticing in Hollywood casting deceit. 

Now I know I'm dipping my big toe in dangerous territory during our politically correct of "woke" culture but what's up with casting black actors into white roles? I'm all for diversity, diversity that has been lacking for far too long in the film industry, but what's the deal with the new series "Great Expectations?" I haven't watch the new series, nor will I, but I have seen the previews. Who knew there were that many blacks living in England during Dickens time. Maybe, but I don't think so. 

Most if not all of the current movies these days cast minority actors in roles other than domestic servants are criminals. Good! It's about time Hollywood. But please, don't go overboard and cast minority actors in roles that are obviously white. A black Hitler? 

While Hollywood produces much entertainment, which is part of our culture of recreation, they do tend to go overboard. Just as in the past ALL the roles were for white people, heterosexual white people, now sometimes they tend to go overboard to prove that they are not racist. Of course I realize I will probably be called racist by some who read this post because I even dare to address the elephant in the room. 

Lately there has been a spate of movies about African warrior queens and other black themed movies. What's next? Casting a white actor as an African slave? 

We live in a multicultural society. There is beauty in both black and white and everything in between. Even hillbillies. Yes, I said "hillbillies", which is my paternal heritage. My father was a real hillbilly from the hills (Pisgah Mountains) of western North Carolina. My Mom's line is from Pennsylvania Quakers. She even remembers her aunts and uncles still talking with "thees" and "thous" when she was a child. What does that make me? "Half a hillbilly" as my father used to call me. I'm also gay and white. Talk about being out of favor these days. There is one thing I can be sure of, Hollywood will never cast a hillbilly as "Pip" in Great Expectations."

Three of my hillbilly uncles - two boys on far right my Uncles Bruce and Tip and far left my Uncle Sam. Wringer washing machines always on the front porch. Photo take around 1938

Clean Bill of Health

 

Casa Tipton-Kelly daffodils 2023

Today was a good day. I had two health care appointments scheduled. 

The first was Bill's hospice nurse, who comes by once a week. She was scheduled to visit between 11 AM and noon. She came right on time. Which was good because my annual appointment with my cardiologist was scheduled for 1:45 PM. 

She came, checked out Bill and left with enough time for me to have some of my homemade black bean soup (I LOVE this soup!) in time before we had to leave for my 1:45 PM appointment.

Today was a beautiful sunny day of a chilly, windy fifty degrees. Daffodils are in full bloom. We needed more good news today. And I got it.

My last visit with my cardiologist showed an aneurism of my aorta vein in my stomach. My doctor told me it had either shrunk or he misread the tests before. Whatever, that was good news.

My heart rate was 110 over 72. Bill heart rate was 90 over 62. Bill has a slower heart rate but it's been steady for a while now. His open leg wound has also completely healed. I attribute that to his increased use of the high protein foods I've been feeding him. Two egg custards a day and I give him is crushed pills in high protein yogurt. Almost overnight the healing of his leg wound noticeable increased. 

Looks like we're good for a few more days, weeks, months and I daresay years? 

In other news here at Casa Tipton-Kelly, I finished watching the series "Dead To Me" with Christina Applegate. I enjoyed this series although at times the plot line was far fetched but hey, this is entertainment. "It's a movie". Good acting and also bravery by Christina who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis during the filming of "Dead To Me." She was given the option of leaving the series but she decided to finish the series even though she gained forty pounds and had other side effects of her multiple sclerosis. What bravery! I found it fascinating to continue to watch this series knowing the real life health problems Christina was fighting. Tonight I look for a new series to binge on. 

I am so happy that I can now stream these series in the Tipton Cinema (my bedroom). I did have a momentary setback though when I got the bill in the mail from the service that set up my home WIFI system so I can stream like "Dead To Me" but I quickly rationalized that $105 an hour that was charged to me (he was here several hours plus the cost of the equipment). Is it me or does everything seem to cost more these days? I go to my favorite local supermarket and pick up a few items and I have a bill of $38. The other day I got a couple extras and had a bill of $60? Thank God I don't have a mortgage.

My online Scrabble games on Facebook aren't coming up again. Playing online Scrabble is one of my main stress reducing activities. This has happened before when the games don't come up. They usually come up again in a week or so. In the meantime I plowed through some of my old e-mails and answered the maintenance requests of my Find A Grave accounts. Not as interesting as playing online Scrabble but something my anal personality needed to address. 

Dinnertime now folks! I just got another chicken parmesan takeout from our local fabulous Touch Of Italy restaurant. During the winter they offer half priced specials during the off season. Even at half price the chicken part still costs a hefty $15.95. But I get at least six, sometimes seven meals out of that tasty pie pizza type dish of chicken parmesan. And oh the flavor, delicious!

Streaming

 

Finally, I have streaming video.

Pat's been on my case for several years now to get streaming video. 

For the past ten years I've been watching my movies via DVD's mailed to me from my Netflix account. 

I can only get three DVD's at any one time. 

When I get them I have to use my CD player which is hooked up to my Samsung Surround Sound system that Bill put in my bedroom way back in 2013. The video quality is only 480 DPI. Good enough but not HD, which I much prefer.

I tried streaming several years ago but my WIFI house signal wasn't strong enough for bedroom to watch a DVD without frequent pauses for buffering. 

I know I was behind the digital curve, which you know I hate, but I didn't have much choice. Me, with the annual update on the latest iPhone. 

I had debated getting a whole new wide screen TV but hesitated because what would I do with the perfectly good 60 inch Sharp Aquos TV I now have in my bedroom, also known at The Tipton Cinema?

So I procrastinated. And procrastinated. 

Then last month I noticed that my whole house WIFI signal was almost totally defunct. I bit the bullet and called my Computer Guy to give an analysis of what I needed at Casa Tipton-Kelly to have a proper whole house WIFI.

He came (Justin), looked and tested the previous WIFI extender he had installed about five years ago. It was done. Kaput. Finished. He suggested the latest equipment which cost $225. YES! Whatever works!

After a morning of installing the new equipment and getting all the passwords in, it works! In fact it works GREAT! 

Firestick, which enables me to stream my Netflix account and other services!

And now not only can I stream the latest movies I can access my YouTube account with has that fabulous "shop" continuous DJ mix of Deep House Music which so relaxes me. OH JOY!

The last two nights I've been watching "Emily In Paris", which I highly recommend. And what a pleasure to watch that series in high definition 1080 DPI instead of the old semi blurred 480 DPI which my CD player was providing. 

Now that I'm basically under a form of house arrest that I'm caregiving for Bill these past two years, having an outlet like watching a good movie or series is so important to my mental well being.  When Bill goes to bed early (about 6:30 PM) I will now have the rest of the night to myself to watching the latest movies or just listen to my music in my bedroom. I can't play my music on my computer when Bill is in bed because my home office is right above his bedroom in the basement and the thump! thump! of the beat keeps him awake. My  bedroom is across the other side of the house, far enough away from him that he can't hear that throbbing beat.

Now if I can just get my online Scrabble games to work on Facebook. Yes, my games aren't coming up again. Playing online Scrabble (Scrabble GO) is my other form of relaxation. 

Now I'll close out this blog post and take Bill for his daily Ride. When I get back I'll lay two wheelbarrows of mulch, yet another form of relaxation for me. 

This weekend in Palm Springs began Modernism Week. The last time Pat and I was there was three years ago. COVID knocked us out the first two years but this year we would have returned if I wasn't caregiving. Hopefully next year we can make a return. But Bill has stabilized again. His leg wound is healing finally. Whatever way our lives work out is fine with me. Maybe I won't be in Palm Springs next year for Modernism Week. At least I'll have a good streaming service here at Casa Tipton-Kelly. Nice that Alexa is working too.

Have a great day everyone!

the Day The Earth Stood Still

 

Time for a rant folks. 

Regular followers of my blog know how I like to rant but I haven't done one in so long. But last night I was watching a movie and I noticed something that so angered me I just have to rant about it. So get ready folks, here goes.

Last week I bought some DVD's at the local thrift store for a dollar. One of them was "The Day The Earth Stood Still." Normally I wouldn't watch a movie like this because there is nothing there except CGI and a ridiculous plot (even if there is a plot). But last night I just didn't want to watch any more of the MSNBC shows because they were having a glitch with commercials interrupting the regular show. So I thought I would wallow in the trash and watch the movie "The Day The Earth Stood Still", knowing that I would learn nothing from it except for what I guess was the message, "Peace in the world." Who doesn't want peace? Apparently a lot of folks in this world don't including some Americans but I digress.

So here we go. 

The movie opens with Keanu Reeves struggling in a snow storm in the Himalayan Mountains and he comes across a "something" that just landed in the snow storm from space. He enters the "thing" them the movie is transported to the present (2008 time that movie was made). A warning goes out to gather all these "experts" because the United States knows a "thing" from outer space is going to land on New York City. Of course the movie has to focus on someone and this person is the actress Jennifer Connelly, she of the heavy eyebrows. 

The action picks up and then slows down when she begins interacting with her stepson, a biracial boy of about ten years old. Oh, okay. Politically correct movie, I get it. But the movie slows down every time she interacts with this kid with the cock rooster hairdo because he can't act. His acting is wooden. I can't get past the hairdo. But that's me. 

Then the movie picks up again and lots of action. Then it goes back to the cock a doodle hair do kid. What? Every time it goes back to this kid I'm thinking "What does he have to do with this movie?" I saw the original  movie back in the Fifties and I don't remember this character and what he has to do with the plot of the movie. 

The action picks up again only to again revert back to this bratty kid. WHAT? So now I have to look up who this kid is. And I find out. He is Jaden Smith, the SON OF ACTOR WILL SMITH. You all know Will Smith, the actor at the Academy Awards who thought it was alright to walk up on the stage at the Academy Awards and assault Chris Rock, the comedian who made a lame joke about Will Smith's wife. Yes, THAT Will Smith who showed his true thug colors by thinking it was alright to assault another human being in prime time and then strut back to his seat all proud of himself for protecting his woman Jada Pinkett Smith whose feeling were hurt by Chris Rock's joke. Then Will Smith not once but twice used the F word to respond to Chris Rock. 

Will Smith, Hollywood royalty who obviously used his power to insert his son Jaden into this movie, "The Day the Earth Stood Still." It would be one thing is Jaden could act. He can't. But to subject the viewer to his push to make his son A STAR.  Didn't work did it Will? 

Will Smith put his son in more movies like "Happyland" or something like that but little Jaden still isn't a STAR is he? 

Sometimes there is justice in this world. Will Smith, after his slapping incident, will no longer be able to insert his kids into movies. Especially roles that are created especially for their little darling kids. 

I admit I generally don't like kids in movies. Most of them are brats in real life. Some are good but the majority of them I find BORING and irritating. 

So when I found out why the kid was in that movie last night I did what I will always do when I don't like something, I ejected that movie. 

Keep trying Will, but you blew it when you slapped Chris. Tell your kid to get a real job.

Harvey Weinstein

Harvey Weinstein 

Many years ago I used to always watch the Oscars Awards show. One of the reasons I stopped watching the Oscars because I was tired of hearing almost every Oscar winner thanking Harvey Weinstein. 

After multiple thanks to Harvey Weinstein, I thought "Who is this Harvey Weinstein?"  "Is he some god?"  Then I heard Meryl Streep thank Harvey Weinstein and yes, she called him a god.

Being the inquiring person that I am, I did some research on this "god."  I did a Google search and came upon an image of Harvey Weinstein. I thought to myself "Now there is a stereotypical Hollywood mogul who probably requires a casting couch approach to casting his films."  But being the thoughtful and reasonable person that I am (no laughing), I didn't want to be unfair and make a rash judgement.

Over the years the accolades continued for Harvey Weinstein. WTF?  Ron Howard is a great director and I didn't hear near the amount of accolades his way.  Why all this adulation to Harvey Weinstein?

After a while I wasn't the only on who noticed the excessive "thank you Harvey Weinstein" accolades. In even posted to my Twitter account several times about all the "thank you Harvey Weinstein"as a joke.

Now it has been revealed that Harvey Weinstein is a sexual predator. He used his position of power and influence to take advantage of women who had much less power than him. Harvey Weinstein was who I thought he was, a pig.  

Of course I am disgusted by Harvey Weinstein and his actions but I am even more disgusted by those in the entertainment industry who know about his behavior and not doing anything about it. And I'm not talking about the women he assaulted and harassed. I understand why they didn't and couldn't come forward when they were harassed and assaulted. They didn't have the power. But there are those in the entertainment industry who are in power who knowingly looked the other way. 

You can't tell me that many didn't know of Weinstein's behavior. Especially those in the Weinstein company who enabled him by settling with at least eight women who Weinstein harassed and assaulted. 

I commend the courage of the actresses Rose McGowan and Ashley Judd who were courageous and went public with their experience with Weinstein. Now that they have broken the dam, many more women went public with their encounters with Weinstein.  What is disappointing is the silence of males in the movie industry. Have you noticed that too?  

Here is my suggestion for these movie types. At the next Academy Awards ceremony, leave all those ribbons de jour that you wear on your lapel home.  Leave all that phony baloney hypocritical displays of concern home.  When you are up at the podium accepting your Academy award, congratulating yourselves, apologize to the world for enabling this pig called Harvey Weinstein.  You should all be ashamed of yourselves for permitting this behavior to continue for so many years.  Show the same outrage at Weinstein's behavior that you should towards those other pigs Roger Ailes and Bill O'Reilly.  

And thank God we won't ever have to hear another 
"I want to thank Harvey Weinstein without this award would not have been possible." 

Game of Thrones

For several years now I've been hearing a lot about the HBO series "Game of Thrones."  Uh, okay. Is this another overhyped series? 

My default position on much hyped flavors of the day is to not jump on the bandwagon. Thus I haven't watch this very popular series produced by HBO.  

I had the same position when "Breaking Bad" was all the rage.  I held out for a long time until Pat introduced me to one of the episodes. Of course I was hooked after viewing the episode after ten minutes.  

Pat introduced me to "Breaking Bad" when we were staying at the Latham Hotel in Philadelphia during one of our quarterly get togethers. When I got home, I lost no time ordering the series from my Netflix account.  I binged watched that series, sometimes until 2:30 am in the morning. 

Lately I've been hearing and reading even more about "Game of Thrones."  So I gave in and put the first disc, in my Netflix queue.  Last week I watched the first episode.  Folks, I am hooked.  

HOOKED!

Wow.  Those that know me know that I don't like violence in my viewing of popular entertainment.  I don't care for excessive violence or sex.  Hmmm. I cannot deny that "Game of Thrones" has a LOT of violence and sex.  And I mean a LOT.  But having said that, "Game of Thrones" is also very well written, cast, and acted.  This is a damn good show.  

So I endure the violence.  Last night a pissed off knight chopped his horse's head off with one swipe of his massive sword.  

I endure the sex.  Oh man, the sex.  I can't even begin to tell you how many time I've seen flopping breasts, that I've almost become numb.  There's even gay sex. Nothing overt but still. But I guess that's the way life was in the 600's.  Yes, there was a time in our history from the year 100 to 1000 that people lives.  There were good folks and bad folks. Power plays. Life.

To me "Game of Thrones" has a lot in common with "Downton Abbey" or "Looking for Lady Mary's Teapot" as pat refers to that very popular series. Just a little more violent. 

Marilyn

Today would have been the 90th birthday of Marilyn Monroe.  

Happy birthday Marilyn!  

Me during our recent stay in Hollywood this past January on the Hollywood Walk of Fame with a Marilyn Monroe was figure outside a movie theater - Marilyn will always epitomize Hollywood and all its glamor

I remember exactly where I was when I heard of her death.  I was home on leave from the Army for the weekend.  I awoke on that warm, August, Sunday morning and heard the news on my transistor radio.

My first reaction was one of great sadness.  Profound sadness. For many reasons. 

Marilyn was a love goddess who died alone. 

I don't know anyone who didn't love Marilyn Monroe.  Everyone liked her and yet she had so much sadness in her life.  

I am forever thankful that I grew up in the Fifties when Marilyn lite up our movie screens. 

Didn't we all feel just a little bit protective of Marilyn?  Even me, gay as I was then and am now.  


My feeling for Marilyn wasn't sexual but I do know just looking at her made me feel good.

There are many beautiful women in Hollywood and the world but there were few who sparkled brighter than Marilyn.  

I've always considered Hedy Lamar the most beautiful woman in the movies but Hedy didn't have that special quality that Marilyn had.  That hard to describe quality that just made you feel good about yourself and being in the same world that Marilyn inhabited.  

On the next clear night, look up at the sky.  Look for the brightest star.  That would be Marilyn.

Happy birthday dear Marilyn.

Tangerine - The Movie

For the first time in several weeks I went to the Tipton Cinema.  That folks is the "cinema" in my bedroom.  A 60-inch flat screen TV with surround sound.  My home theater is better, WAY BETTER than any movie house I have ever attended with the possible exception of that movie theater at The Grove in West Hollywood during our visit last January.  Now THAT was an impressive movie theater. Expensive too but plus, magnificent, and old time grandeur. My bedroom movie theater?  Not so much but comfortable?  Oh yes.  

Nadege and Pat (Nadege in red jacket and Pat to her right) in the lobby of the Pacific movie theater, The Grove, Los Angeles - this is NOT the Midway in Rehoboth Beach folks!

Oh I do like me some luxury and my bedroom/home movie theater is every bit as comfortable as the Pacific movie theater at The Grove in Los Angeles was.  Plus, I can pause the movie anytime I want to and take just a few steps to the bathroom or kitchen as need be.

But back to the subject at hand.  Last night I choose to watch "Tangerine."  One of those independent Magnolia productions, that I am usually very disappointed in.  However, I was not disappointed last night.  Folks, this movie was great!  Different?  Oh yeah but really, REALLY good.  And to think they made the whole film with an iPhone camera.

Usually these types of movies are for shit crap.  I can't get through more than five minutes before I have to push the Eject button on my DVD remote control.  But this movie?  I was transfixed.

Was there great acting?  Well . . . not really.  Production values?  Are you kidding?  No way.  This movie was "filmed" with an iPhone camera.  Heck, Pat and I will be in the very area this movie was made (West Hollywood, Los Angeles) in a few weeks.  We could do our own movie.  Hey, maybe we will!  Regular followers of this blog know how successful the "Pat and Ron" mini-movies are.  We could extend those five minute gems into an hour or so and put titles.  But that's another whole subject that I won't get into here.




If I had any complaint about this movie is that I do grow tired of the faggy "you girl!" and "hey girl!" language.  But this movie is about transsexuals. Specifically one transsexual "Sin-Dee", who just got out of prison and discovered through her friend that her pimp boyfriend now has a new girl-friend.  A REAL girl friend, with a pussy and all.  Basically the whole movie takes place one late afternoon into the night as "Sin-Dee" traipses through the familiar streets (to Pat and me anyway, last year we walked on those very same streets).  But that is the way of transsexuals, black or white.  Lots of what I call "laggy" talk which I think they think is "girlie" talk.  I find it offensive but hey, what do I know?  

But I did find all the characters believable, even the dog who belongs to the Armenian cab driver who has exotic sexual tastes.  Now how many movies have you seen a dog acting naturally?  Not many I daresay.  All the movies I've seen you can tell the dog trainer is just off camera prompting the dog, who is looking at the trainer, to do his whimpering which I assume they think is dog-acting.  But I digress (again). I am easily swayed off subject. Sorry!

But back to the movie.  I like movies with what I call human drama.  Pat likes his action movies.  I think they're alright but I am a "Downton Abbey" fan.  But I do have to warn you folks, this movie isn't "Downton Abbey" (as a matter of fact it's about a far away from "Downtown Abby" as you can get) but the human drama is just the same.  Social pecking order; love, hate, betrayal, loyalty and finally redemption.  

This movie won't receive any Academy Awards but folks, I guarantee you will be riveted.  Especially the car wash scene. (Note: this ISN'T the car wash scene from "Tangerine" but "Bad Teacher" with Cameron Diaz)

Another Halloween Gone

Well folks, another Halloween has come and gone.  

During my walk yesterday morning I was greeted with with scary apparition attached to my neighbor's mail box.

Fearsome skeleton pirate

During my walk this morning, the skeleton pirate was done, collapsed on the road.

Skelton pirate this morning, wiped out

Bill and I did not participate in the Halloween festivities last night.  We are now officially the "Bah humbug!" Old Guys.  

We moved to Casa Tipton-Kelly in November 2006, having just missed the first Halloween trick of treat trolling by the Little Neighborhood Monsters.  However, the following October we did the whole schlemiel.  I had the lighted pumpkins in the window, bags of carefully prepared (and packaged) Halloween candy.  I even had the spooky music.  

So how did it go?  We had a few groups stop in, only one we knew who was our neighbor across the street.  His little boy (probably about eight years old) was dumbstruck when they ushered him into the front door. Didn't say a word, just had that deer in the headlights look.  Of course that "little boy" is now 16 or 17 years old.  

Our neighbor next door has two little girls of the age (4 and 7) for Halloween blackmail trick or treat mischief. The whole family skedaddled out of town in their big camper trailer two days ago.

So there was no reason for us (the Two Old Grumpy Guys) to put on a Halloween display or pass out candy, which by the way, the last time we did it we had candy for six months afterwards. As a matter if fact we had candy (still niftily packaged) up to the next Halloween.  That's when we seriously reconsidered doing this whole "Halloween" thing.  

I'm all for Halloween celebrations and if someone invited me to a Halloween party, I probably would have dressed up and went to the party.  But as you all know, after nine years I have been unable to break into the exclusive D.C. (Washington) club of Rehoboth Beach Gays (my pension isn't that big).  

There are a few other venues (gay based) that I could insert myself, one being the local gay church.  But alas, I don't feel comfortable there because it is mainly a lesbian church and you know the lesbians, they stick together.  Most of them hardly tolerate gay men and when they do, they think we're all drag queens who do wonderful window treatments. Some of the  gay guys I have encountered (with a few notable exceptions) who attend the church seem to be more interested in hooking up than just being friends.  But then, a church, straight or gay, is a venue for meeting people so there.  I guess the main reason I don't go is because I just don't believe all the fairy tales propagated at the church, no offense to my religious readers.  

But I'm veering off again on other subjects.  I still have to do that long put off blog rant update.  

So last night I watched a brilliant Argentine  movie (with English sub-titles)  called "Wild Tales."  Then I went to bed early, satisfied that I had an excellent experience.   That was my Halloween folks.  Life goes on (and does it ever)!  

Unrepressed Rants on a Sunday Morn

Me and Pat (with out now lost out of fashion greasy hats) on Hollywood Boulevard with the Chateau Marmont in the background, last January and our unfashionable regular legged jeans - we were so gauche. But we will be back, albeit with new hats but the same unfashionable (and comfortable) jeans.

This morning I was trying to think "What do I write about in my blog today?"

Several subject matter has been trolling through my brain the past few weeks.  One thing that's been really bugging me is the ever increasing ads in the magazines I subscribe too.  I've already let my subscriptions to National Enquirer and Globe run out.  For as much as I pay (over $100 a year for each one) for those tabloid rags, I'm hardly getting my money's worth because there is little if any real gossip (I am a gossip monger).  Mostly their subject matter is Obama is gay, Obama is a womanizer (how can he be both?),

Obama isn't an American (heard that before), Obama is a secret Muslim (heard that one too before) - but you get the gist of it.  Also the other subject matter is that Camilla hates Queen Elizabeth

and is plotting against her to gain the crown for herself or variants thereof of that same subject matter.  

Especially the National Enquirer, where the ads kept creeping in through the back pages.  And Mike Walker, their gossip columnist?  He's more concerned with making up words like "spy witness" that one almost needs a translator to read his non-gossip crap.  No more, I let both subscriptions run out.

Then there is Vanity Fair.  I used to like that magazine because of its well written and researched articles. Even though I had to plow through slick pages and pages of perfume ads (usually while I'm eating, smelling magazine page perfume isn't a good mix), I tolerated that idiocy. But lately, the ads have increased and the quality of their articles have decreased.  Ever read an article, about people you don't know, and the article makes no sense.  Vanity Fair must been hiring recent college graduates who, of course, don't know how to write since many of them partied and cheated their way through college and are now among the cool set with their skinny legged jeans

Yeah, right. This looks "good." The Fashionistas has dictated this IS THE FASHION. 

(and, BTW, what's THAT all about?  Looks like crap on guys who have a horrible shape.  Doesn't even look good on guys with a good shape).  

This past week I received my Vanity Fair and guess who was on the cover?  Mark Zuckerberg. 

Major Gag.

Here we go, the deification of Mark Zuckerberg.

WTF?  Why in the world do I want to read ANYTHING about Mark Zuckerberg?  What's next? A retrospective on Bill Gates? 


And then, to top everything else off, not only is this issue of Vanity Fair stuffed with even more ads, I get a SEPARATE magazine of Ralph Lipshitz Lauren ads.  Big whoop!

Okay folks, this blog is becoming a Sunday Morning Rant Of Things That Are Bothering Me.

One more rant.  Notice how all the TV commercials for movies always feature someone SCREAMING?  And loud banging noises?  There's a movie about Mt. Everest.  BANG! BANG! BANG! and HOLLERING!  Loud hollering.

Then there's a movie about Bobby Fischer, the chess champion of a Previous Life. The despicable Toby Maguire

Okay, we got it. He can holler but can he act?

(and believe me folks, Toby is despicable, read the Vanity Fair article of a few years ago about him and his gambling and how he treats his underlings - like scum) plays Bobby Fischer.  And yes, lots of BANGING and HOLLERING in this trailer too.  




Is that what acting is about these days?  Hollering?

Last night I watched one of the current "in" movies by the Canadian director David Cronenberg called "Maps to the Stars."

 It was supposed to be a satire on Hollywood.    Well, if you want to see Oscar winner Julianne Moore (who I like by the way) sitting on the toilet, shitting and farting 

while talking to her murderous, crazy personal assistant, and, yes, wiping her ass - then this is the movie for you.  Rotten Tomatoes says:

"Narratively unwieldy and totally jumbled, Maps to the Stars still has enough bite to satisfy David Cronenberg fans in need of a cooly acidic fix"

You think?  Well, if you're the type that goes to one of those "cool" Vanity Fair get togethers, then this IS the film for you.  For me, I'm just trying to imagine one of my favorite film actresses like Olivia De Havilland sitting on a toiled, farting while delivering her lines.  

A satirical take on Hollywood?  Well, I guess.  I for one greatly enjoyed the exterior shots of Los Angeles, where I saw many of the same locations that Pat and I trod upon when we visited Los Angeles last January and will return again this January.  I love the palm trees but have absolutely no desire to see a famous Oscar winning actress sitting on a toilet taking a dump.

Ah, now I feel so much better now that I've gotten these rants out in the open.

Have a great day!!!!

Sub-Titles

Is it me or are movies hard to understand these days?  I don't mean the plot but when they talk.  

I . CAN'T. UNDERSTAND. THEM

I first noticed this phenomen a few years ago with a Nicole Kidman movie.  She was mumbling.  Then I noticed that with the enhanced sound in most movies these days, the actors (and actresses and that what I call women who act - "ACTRESSES" - give me a break on calling them "ACTORS") mumble.  I guess the powers-that-be who produce and direct these movies think that is realistic but:

I . CAN'T . UNDERSTAND . THEM

The past few weeks I binged watch "The White Queen".  Not only did I have to get passed the English accent (thank goodness their accent wasn't a Cockney accent) but I swear, they spent half the movie whispering.  

Now I'm binge watching "The Wire."  Not much whispering but man oh man, the lingo.  The street talk.  I need subtitles.  I tried watching a whole episode without the sub titles and I didn't understand A THING.  

Now that I have sub-titles I can binge watch in the Tipton Cinema to my heart's content. 

Stranger by the Lake

When I was just a ten year old whippersnapper (1951), going to the movies at the Roosevelt Theater in Downingtown, PA I used to fantasize about seeing my favorite male actors……nude.  Well folks, that's happened.  And I don't mean porno films, I mean a regular, full production, well acted and written movie.  That movie I saw a few nights ago named "Stranger By The Lake."  

 Well folks let me tell you, be careful what you wish for.  First of all this isn't a "gay" movie.  You know, those cheapie movies done on a shoestring with shaky camera work and a nothing plot usually populated with stereotypical gay actors (the "gay accent" which is a big turnoff to me).  No folks, this movie is an Alfred Hitchock

genre psychological thriller….only with one BIG difference…..plenty of dingle dangle on display.  And I don't mean a 2/10th of a second shot of a man's gentiles   (I don't call a man's genitals "junk", thank you).  And I wouldn't call the genital display gratuitous, it is reality.  Yes folks, we have finally arrived at REALITY at depicting scenes of real life as they are.

I'm not going to do a review of the whole movies other than to say that once I got past all the casual, matter of fact full front nudity (none of that "Full Monty"

scam tease here folks, you do get the FULL MONTY…A LOT), the story was actually quite good.  In fact, I was rather enthralled and surprised by the ending which, to me, is always a sign of a good movie.  

Now some of you (mainly my very nice lady friends) will see this movie and think, "That can't be the way it REALLY is."  Let me assure you (ladies), it is.  Not that I have any first hand knowledge (well, maybe a…..little bit) but I'm telling you, this movie accurately portrays one of the more seamy aspects of the gay "lifestyle" (so to speak).  

To me, this movie was thought provoking on several different levels.  First it showed the banality of total nudity.  I didn't see anything sexy at all about the continual full display of "the goods."  But then, maybe that's me, I grew up with my sexual fantasies.  I've always preferred a bit of sexual mystery.  

Then there is the other level of the main character being attracted to an unattractive (to a typical gay man looking for surface beauty only), pot bellied older man.  I found "Henri"

Franck and Henri

a much more attractive human being than I found Michal, the Tom Selleck look-alike.  But then I never found Tom Selleck attractive either in a sexual manner.  

"Michal" and "Franck" from "Stranger By The Lake"

But that's me, I go for the nerdy, nice guys but not the smart alert Napoleon Dynamite smart assed jerk nerds.  In fact, the Napoleon Dynamites of this world I could smack in the head, they annoy me. There is a reason they're losers but I digress. 

Back to the main course subject at hand (no pun intended).

So so sum up, much to my surprise I found that I rather like this movie a lot.  One of my tests of a truly memorable movie is do I keep thinking about it?  Is it realistic? Does it raise questions?  Does it make me think…..about life and life's choices?  Well folks, this movie surely did.  

Choices

So if you decide to see it don't be put off by the very casual and matter of fact nudity.  Hang up your inhibitions and concentrate on the story….and the scenery.  Yes folks, this movie also had great scenery but no music.  None, nada, zilch.  A zero musical score unless you count the wind blowing…..no pun intended again…through the trees.

This is a haunting movie folks.  I recommend that you see it.  

Goodfellas

Tonight I saw the movie "Goodfellas" from my Netflix rental.  I'm probably one of the few people who hasn't seen this movie.  I certainly have heard a lot about it.

I like it.  I'm not one for violence and this movie opens up with a particularly violent scene.  Usually when one of my Netflix rentals opens up with a violent scene or an overtly graphic sexual scene I eject the DVD immediately and put it back in its Netflix envelope.  However, I made an exception for this movie and I'm glad I did.

Of course all the actors were great.  Ray Liotta (who I don't particularly like as an actor) was good; the great Joe Pesci and of course Robert Di Niro.  Lorraine Bracco as "Karen" was especially good and sexy and that's saying something coming from me, a gay man.  Samuel L. Jackson was even in it although he didn't speak a word, which is a shame because he is so good as a menacing character (I'm thinking "Pulp Fiction").

Yes folks, on this rainy night in southern Delaware, (thank goodness we're missing the snow storm that is going up the East Coast), this was the perfect movie to settle down in my cozy, comfortable bedroom, in front of my 60 inch Samsung flat screen TV with surround sound (great 70's soundtrack by the way on this film) and watch a GOOD MOVIE.  Oh how I like to watch a good movie in the comfort of my home on a Saturday night.  When I had to take a bathroom break I could put the movie on hold.  Can't do that in any of these multiplex theaters.

I needed something to come out of my funk of the past few days from being let down by a couple of folks who disappointed me.  I can't dwell on them and how they hurt me.  Have to move on folks.