Review of Flirting with Disaster (1996) by Nick M — 26 Oct 2004

Sorry for the sporadic journal entries, I just haven't had the time (now that's a lie), thoughts (another lie) or patience (there is a thruth) to write a bunch of entries lately. I've realized that the key is in making one every other day, with just your thoughts on a certain subject (and some film scribbles if you happened to see one the preceding day). It seems that I am incapable of just posting a rather brief and superfluous entry, which is not good, seeing as how that is what journals are mostly about. Ok, here is my attempt:

Have you ever noticed the sincerity in parent's voices when they talk about their children in a positive light to others. I couldn't help but notice on the train the other day that two business men, dressed distinctively in suits with a designer overcoat coverering all, were starting up a conversation. They seemed to have known each other, but hadn't talked in a little while. At first, they had spoke rudimentarily, almost subconciously reminding each other who the person they were talking to really was and recalling his personal situations. Then something in their conversation seemed to strike a chord with me as I overhead (ok...[i]listened to[/i]) them: children. One man asked the other about the kids and how they have grown. My receptors were on high. The one man talked about his son and how he is going to college and is on the football team. He added a few more words that we not so beautiful in their nature state, but made eloquent by the quiet sincerity in his delivery. I was equally impressed by the other mans kind words. Of course, my cynical tendencies started to kick in as I tried to imagine what their families were really like: his wife drunk again, his son having trouble dealing with drugs, his affair which he fears will soon be exposed by his unstable mistress. Then, an overriding sense of sentimentality occupied my mind. I began to think about my family, and what my father says about us when meeting up with a former business associate. It is true that I saw my father in these men, which is why I was so intent on eavesdropping. My family is not like the pessimistic theory I just formulated, but of course we have our problems like many do (which I tend to overlook...or suppress). My father can be a very complimentary when he wants to be, yet he is very honest (although he is apt to embellish at times) so I'm guessing that he describes accurate (if slightly idealistic) portrayals of all of us. As I sat, slumped down in the uncomfortable blue train bench, a smile was beeming on my head which was filled with optimistic thoughts (trying VERY hard to block out the misanthropic and succeeding).

"You, sir, are a sentimentalist at heart".

I don't feel like discussing the films that I've watched this week much. Both are very recommendable (but you have to know which type of person you would recommend it to), with[i] Flirting With Disaster[/i] being the surprisingly superior film. It good to remember back to a time when every Ben Stiller movie didn't suck. I haven't seen a flick this amusing in a while. The performances were great all around (with my favorites being from the mothers: Tomlin and Mary Tyler Moore). Some of the major plot turns were based on predictable coincidences, but it doesn't hurt the overall film too much. This is one quirky ride, and it is a hell of a lot of fun. [i]The Five Obstructions [/i]was an interesting challenge that just goes to show how much of a dick Lars Von Trier can be (he is every bit as challenging, stubborn and impish as one might expect). I wasn't totally "sold" until the end, but I was interested the whole time. Just watching these two genuises at work, no matter how frustrating (or brutally honest) they can be, is worth a watch.

It has been getting cold out. I've been watching my breath linger in the air on a daily basis now. It is sweatshirt season...I love it. That is why I decided to allude to my favorite Yo La Tengo song, "Autumn Sweater", in my journal title.

I watched the first six episodes of [i]Arrested Development[/i] last night. The show is pretty damn funny and quite brilliant at times. I highly anticipate the next batch of episodes on its way from Netflix. Thanks to the unbelieveable amount of people who recommended the show to me personally. Am I [i]that [/i]predictable?

It is a breezy and cool (in the weatherly respect) Wednesday afternoon and I dread the thought of having to go to the film committee meeting with the movie-cretins. I'm just sitting here, relxaing and listening to [b]The Kinks[/b]. Being lazy is a flaw, but what an enjoyable flaw it is.

I have a lot more things I can talk about (of course), so it shouldn't be another week until my next entry.

Until then..ta-ta.