What I've been watching

Its beautiful outside, but I wouldn't know because I have been inside watching the following:

Re-watched Magnolia this morning, yet again.  Every time I make new connections, observations, hear a new line. Watch the extras, do your research, and re-watch with subtitles for all the gems you might have missed.  (Beat the game on your own first, then buy the cheat code so you don't feel guilty).  About to read Charles Fort's Wild Talents, in which he writes of freak happenings and natural disasters, from which P.T.A. commandeers the apocalyptic idea of frogs falling from the sky as "something that happens."  These tragic tales of carefully interwoven characters remind us that "We may be through with the past, but the past ain't through with us." 

Magnolia (1999)

Writer/Director:  Paul Thomas Anderson

Starring Julianne Moore, William H. Macy, John C. Reilly, Tom Cruise, Phillip Baker Hall, Phillip Seymore Hoffman, Jason Robards, and Melora Walters, to name a few.  And they ALL CRY, like really cry.  Insane awesome cry scenes.  For three hours.  Take the time, because you need it. 

Also this morning, (happy fourth of July) watched one of Quentin Tarantino's inspirations for Reservoir Dogs, The Taking of Pelham One Two Three.  1974, Walter Mattau and Jerry Stiller as racist, sexist cops with thick New York accents, mustachioed bad guys with huge guns, a million dollars and 18 lives at stake, jokes and stereotypes and a great ending...  need I say more?

The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974)

Director:  Joseph Sargent

Writers:  John Godey (novel)

 Peter Stone (screenplay)

Another Tarantino catalyst for his latest film, Death Proof, was 1971's Vanishing Point.  Ex-cop/failed race car driver, Kowalski (Barry Newman), works for a car delivery company for which he promises to deliver an all white, suped-up 1970 Dodge Challenger from Colorado to California in record time.  With legions of police and helicopters hot on his tail, blind deejay Supersoul (Cleavon Little) acts as Kowalski's eyes on the road, leading him to safety through the desert to his final destination.  The nation listens and watches, some helping along the way,  as the last free soul races to freedom.   

Vanishing Point (1971)

Director:  Richard C. Sarafian

Writer:  Malcom Hart (story)

G. Cabrera Infante (screenplay)

Thanks for reading!  Now do the watching.