Write Or Wrong 79

Electioneering

While many of you would probably love to hear more and more about the current political climate in the United Sates this election year, I really couldn't care less. The democrats had their national convention and played it nice and safe, doing absolutely nothing to win over those voters on the fence about who to vote for. The Republicans had their convention and completely lambasted their Democratic counterparts in speeches that were at the same time venomous and childish. The Terminator got up on stage and let loose what could only be described as the equivalent of a high school student body presidential candidate speech. Former New York Mayor, Rudolf Giuliani, someone who was a rock during the 9/11 terrorism crisis unleashed some of the worst crap I've heard in a while. And current mayor, Michael Bloomberg's speech resembled more of a pitch to prospective tourists than a rousing opening address. And my favourite moment was when the vice president spoke about his gay daughter and how he disagrees with the presidents view on gay marriage. The kicker was that at the end of the convention the president and vice president stood on the stage with their families and wave to the crowd, pumping their fists and smiling, ready for that wonderful photo op. But lo and behold, where was that gay daughter and her significant other? Not to be seen. Not by me and any of the many political analysts covering the event. It's good to know that the republicans do care about that issue but won't let it see the light of day. But with that said I'll move on to the rest of my column.

The Peanut Gallery

As most of you all know, I'm very big fan of movies. Cinema, in all it's forms, is one of my favourite hobbies. As such I love to hit the movie theatre on a regular basis to catch what's good and what's not. The problem is that major multiplexes usually only show more "mainstream" movies and neglect audiences that like to mix it up with documentaries and smaller, more modestly budgeted, "indie" fare. Also, the local multiplexes have the rather annoying reputation of having young kids running around being, well, annoying and destroying the film-going experience. As such, I've turned to going to the Jacob Burns Film Center, a small theatre that shows foreign films, independent films and documentaries other than Fahrenheit 9/11 and Bowling for Columbine. But even in a place with such awesome films and more refined movie-goers, you still can't get rid of the jerks.

I recently went to the Burns Center to see two films. I was lucky enough to catch the `Director's Cut' of "Donnie Darko" on it's last night at the film center and "Garden State" on it's opening night. Both films are highly recommended, but hopefully, you won't have to see them under the conditions I had to endure. As I sat to watch Donnie Darko, a group of four girls sat to my left, giggling for what seemed like and eternity and talking about how cute Jake Gylennhal is. Finally, the movie began and they quieted down. But about a quarter of the way into the movie the girls pulled out cameras and periodically started snapping off pictures of the movie playing on the screen. They kept on doing this intermittently for the rest of the movie and I wanted to murder them for it. While watching Garden State with two friends who I'll identify as "Mike and Spike", I continued to be annoyed. But this time it was by my friends! I sat there watching the movie, enjoying it a great deal in fact, and then there was a scene in which Natalie Portman is in her underwear. My oversexed and utterly immature friend, "Spike" freaked out and made little noises and thrusting motions. As music from the films soundtrack kicked in, he'd name the artist and say how the film maker had great musical taste. This, to be quite frank, was really freakin' annoying.

When I go to a movie, I want to go and watch a film undisturbed by extraneous events or actions. I don't mind if people laugh, cry, are moved by the film, in the context of the film, but outside distractions just really take away from seeing a movie up on the silver screen. Maybe people don't get this. It's like talking to someone incessantly about quantum physics . . . during a concert by your favourite band. It really just doesn't mix well.