The Ballad of Jesse James

Last Friday, on my birthday, I took myself out to see a movie. It was at 71% on Rotten Tomatoes. It's 2 hours and 40 minutes long. And it stars Brad Pitt. Nuff said? Not by a long shot. And even with the ending given away before the movie starts ("Michael Clayton" anyone?), I was riveted.

Brad Pitt stars in "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford." Brad Pitt's pretty. Damn pretty. TOO pretty. But this is a performance I can appreciate. Cocky, self-assured, but unraveling slowly into paranoia and despair. The man sent chills down my back with a single laugh. Impressive.

The real story, though, is Casey Affleck as the aforementioned "coward." As Robert "Bob" Ford, every movement, every expression, every vocal inflection is pitch-perfect. There is no Casey, only Bob. What this guy does with his eyes alone, most actors can't pull off with their entire being. If there's justice in the world, Ben's younger bro is lying by the pool right now waiting for his Oscar nod to arrive.

There is SO much to pay attention to in this film. The lighting is incredible. The sound design is so distinct that it almost becomes a character in itself. And the film is blessed with a script that is a wonder for those with an ear for the near poetic use of language.

By the time Jesse gets his due, the movie has been slowly building for 2+ hours, and it ain't over yet. Some will say that the film is far too long, and though I myself would have appreciated a bit more brevity in dealing with Ford's life after the shooting, the content is needed to bring the story to its conclusion. For those who can appreciate the thoughtful way the movie unfolds- I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

For those who can't- saddle up, it's gonna be a LONG night.

You Had Me At Hello

I spend a lot of time at the "third place." You know the one- the place between work and home, the one popularized by a corporate conglomerate (dare I say, monopoly??) masquerading as a coffee shop. What can I say, I like their coffee. But more than that, I like having a comfortable place where I can sit, sip, and chat with friends about anything, everything. Movies. Music. Politics. Love. LIFE.

Thus the title of my blog site. I hope that this will become a second "third place," a comfortable corner cafe where I can come and write about all those things that inspire late-night conversations over a cup of coffee. Those things that interest me, excite me, even piss me off a little.

If you should chance to wander by and like what you see, please share with friends, and leave a comment so that I know you were here. This is a new experience for me. I welcome it. I look forward to it.